RERUM BRITANNICARUM MEDll MVl 
 
 SCRIPTORES, 
 
 OR 
 
 CHRONICLES AND MEMORIALS OE GREAT BRITAIN 
 
 AND IRELAND 
 
 DURING 
 
 THE MIDDLE AGES. 
 
THE CHRONICLES AND MEUOBIALS 
 
 OF 
 
 GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND 
 
 DURING THE MIDDLE AGES. 
 
 P( BLJ^^fiKU Br llOi AT lUOllLLt OF HiiK MAJE»TY> TKEASDlCr, LISDER 
 CUE DlEJi-OTluN OH THE MAbriiK OF TUK hOLl:^, 
 
 On the 26tli of January 1857, the Master of the Rolls 
 submitted to the Treasury a proposal for the publication 
 of materials for the History of this Country from the 
 Invasion of the Romans to the reign of Henry VIII. 
 
 The Master of the Rolls suggested that these materials 
 should be selected for publication under competent 
 editors without reference to periodical or chronological 
 arrangement, without mutilation or abridgment, prefer- 
 ence being given, in the first instance, to such materials 
 as were most scarce and valuable. 
 
 He proposed that each chronicle or historical docu- 
 ment to be edited should be treated in the same way as 
 if the editor were engaged on an Editio Princeps ; and 
 for this purpose the most correct text should be formed 
 from an accurate collation of the best MSS. 
 
 To render the work more generally useful, the Master 
 of the Rolls suggested that the editor should give an 
 account of the MSS. employed by him, of their age and 
 their peculiarities ; that he should add to the work a 
 brief account of the life and times of the author, and 
 any remarks necessary to explain the chronology ; but 
 no other note or comment was to be allowed, except 
 what might be necessary to establish the correctness of 
 the text. 
 
 a 2 
 
4 
 
 The works to be published in octavo, separately, as 
 they were finished ; the whole responsibility of the task 
 resting upon the editors, who were to be chosen by the 
 Master of the Rolls with the sanction of the Treasury. 
 
 The Lords of Her Majesty's Treasury, after a careful 
 consideration of the subject, expressed their opinion in a 
 Treasury Minute, dated ^February 9, 1857, that the plan 
 recommended by the Master of the Rolls " was well 
 calculated for the accomplishment of this important 
 national object, in an effectual and satisfactory manner, 
 within a reasonable time, and provided proper attention be 
 paid to economy, in making the detailed arrangements, 
 without unnecessary expense." 
 
 They expressed their approbation of the proposal that 
 each Chronicle and historical document should be edited 
 in such a manner as to represent with all possible correct- 
 ness the text of each writer, derived from a collation of 
 the best MSS., and that no notes should be added, except 
 such as were illustrative of the various readings. They 
 suggested, however, that the preface to each work should 
 contain, in addition to the particulars proposed by the 
 Master of the Rolls, a biographical account of the author, 
 so far as authentic materials existed for that purpose^ 
 and an estimate of his historical credibility and value. 
 
 Rolls House, 
 
 December 1857. 
 
MEMORIALS OF SAINT DUNSTAN 
 
 ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 
 
 EDITED FEOM VARIOUS MANUSCRIPTS 
 
 Br 
 
 WILLIAM STIJBBS, M.A., 
 
 REGIUS PROFESSOR OF MODERN HISTORY AND FELLOW OF ORIEL COLLEGE, OXFORD ; 
 SOMETIME LIBRARIAN TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 
 
 PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS OF HER MAJESTY'S 
 TREASURY, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE MASTER OF THE ROLLS. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 LONGMAN & Co., and TRtJBNER & Co., PATERNOSTER ROW ; 
 
 ALSO BY PARKER & Co., OXFORD ; 
 MACMILLAN & Co., CAMBRIDGE ; 
 A. & C. BLACK, EDINBURGH ; and A. THOM, DL^LIN. 
 
 1874. 
 
Printed by 
 
 Eyre and Spottiswoode, Her Majesty's Printers. 
 For Her Majesty's Stationery Office. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Page 
 
 Introduction- ■• - - - - vii 
 
 I. Vita Sancti Dijnstant, Auctore B. - - 3 
 IT. Eptstola Adelardi ad Elfegum Archiepisco- 
 
 ruM DE Vita Sancti Dunstani - - 53 
 
 III. Vita Sancti Dunstani Auctore Osberno - 69 
 
 Libei^ Miraculoriim, Auctore Osberno - - 129 
 
 , IV. Vita Sancti Dunstani Auctore Eadmero - 162 
 
 Liber Miraculoriim, Auctore Eadmero - - 223 
 V. Vita Sancti Dunstani, Auctore Willelmo 
 
 Malmesberiensi : — Liber 1. - - 251 
 
 Liber IL - - 288 
 VI. Vita Sancti Dunstani a J. Capgravio Con- 
 
 SCRIPTA ----- 325 
 
 VII. Reliqui^ Dunstanian-^ : — 
 
 1. Epistola ad Wlfhelmum Arebiepiscopiim - 354 
 
 2. Promissio Regis - - ^ - 355 
 
 3. CaxiinsQni Yoc^tnr Ki/rie Be jr Sp/endens - 357 
 
 4. Epistola Arnulfi ad Duiistaiium - - 359 
 
 5. Epistola ad Arnulfum Comitem - - 361 
 
 6. Epistola ad Eadgarum Regem - - 363 
 
 7. Epistola Johaiinis Papae XIll. ad Eadgarum 364 
 
 8. Epistola ad Eadgarum Regem - - 366 
 
 9. Epistola Lantfrithi ad Wintonienses - 369 
 
 10. Epistola ad Dunstanum Archiepiscopum - 370' 
 
 11. Epistola ad Dunstanum Arciiiepiscopum - 372 
 
 12. Epistola ad Dunstanum Archiepiscopum - 373 
 
 13. Epistola ad Dunstanum j??krcl:iiepiscopum - 374 
 
 14. Epistola ad Dunstanum - - - 375 
 
 15. Versus - - - - - 377 
 
 16. Epistola Abbonis ad Dunstanum - - 378 
 
 17. Epistola Widonis ad Dunstanum - - 380 
 
 18. Epistola Commendatori a . - . 381 
 
 19. Epistola Falradi ad ^thelgarum - - 383 
 
iv 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Page 
 
 20. Epistola Odberti ad JEthelgarum - - 384 
 
 21. Epistola B. ad .^thelgarum - - 385 
 
 22. Epistola Odberti ad Sigericum - - 388 
 
 23. Epistola cujusdam ad N. - - - 390 
 
 24. Adventus Sigerici ad Romam - - 391 
 
 25. Epistola Johannis papse ad -^Ifriciim ducem 396 
 
 26. Epistola Johannis XY^^ - - - 397 
 
 27. Epistola ad Sigericum . - - 399 
 
 28. Epistola Elfwerdi Abbatis ad Sigericum - 400 
 
 29. Epistola cujusdam - - - - 404 
 
 30. Epistola cujusdam ad Wulstanuin - - 404 
 
 31. Epistola Archiepiscopi cujusdam ad Wulfsi- 
 
 num ----- 406 
 
 32. Epistola encyclica Wulfsini - - 408 
 
 33. Epistola Wulfrici ad Abbonera - - 409 
 
 34. Tria poemata Abbonis ad Dunstanum - 410 
 
 35. Epistola Eadmeri ad Glastonienses - - 412 
 
 36. Epistola Nicolai de matre Eadwardi - 422 
 
 37. Versus Eadmeri de Sancto Dunstano - 424 
 
 38. Scrutinium circa feretrum Dunstani - 426 
 
 39. Epistola Willelmi Warham ad abbatem 
 
 Glastoniensem - 430 
 
 40. Exemplar litterarum abbatis Gla^toniae - 432 
 
 41. Exemplar litterarum archiepiscopi ad ab- 
 
 batem 436 
 VIII. Fragmenta Eitualia de Dunstano : — 
 
 1 . Oratio ad Dunstanum - - . 440 
 
 2. Ad Dunstanum - - - - 440 
 
 3. Hymnus de Sancto Dunstano episcopo - 441 
 
 4. Missa de Sancto Dunstano - - - 442 
 
 5. Missa Sancti Dunstani* - _ 444 
 
 6. Horse Sancfci Dunstani - - . 445 
 
 7. Oratio Anselmi ad Dunstanum - - 450 
 
 8. Sermo de maxima laude Sancti Dunstani - 454 
 
 IX. Collation of the S. Gall MS. 337 - - 458 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Among the original sources of medieval history no Historical 
 insisrnificant place belonefs to the Acta SanctormQ. The of the Lives 
 value of the results which flow from the study of these Saints, 
 monuments of devotion is not to be estimated by their 
 direct bearing on narrative history any more than by 
 the bulk of the volumes that contain them. The Lives 
 of the Saints were not written for the purpose of adding 
 to our knowledge of events, but for the purpose of 
 arousing pious affection, admiration for holy men, and 
 devotion to the principles and practices which they re- 
 presented. In some instances the object was lower ; it 
 may have been the mere desire of enlisting votaries in 
 some particular Order, or of drawing pilgrims to some 
 particular shrine. Tn these cases the student of history 
 finds his chief debt to these books in the fact that they 
 reflect certain phases of thought and character, illustrate 
 certain lines of education and illumination, or aflbrd 
 minute details of local colouring, which throw light in- 
 cidentally on the condition of society in which they were 
 produced and prized. 
 
 But a very large ijroportion of the men whose lives They are 
 
 generally 
 
 have been thus written owed the distinction to their the Lives of 
 services done to mankind. Even the saint whose repu- ' 
 tation is due apparently to the reported performance of 
 posthumous miracles, must be presumed to have been 
 really such a person as would be likely to perform such 
 acts. The ecclesiastical beatification is in a vast majority 
 of cases the result rather than the cause of popular 
 devotion. Many of the early biographies are thus con- 
 
• • « 
 
 Vlll 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 nected directly with history, because they profess to be 
 the private memorials of the lives of those who are the 
 more prominent actors on the historical stage. These 
 books,v although it may not be uniformly true that they 
 are the necessary supplements to the chronicles, are 
 always interesting and sometimes most valuable. 
 Lives of Chiefly is this the case when^ as it has so often 
 saints writ- happened with the English saints, the task of recording 
 pupils or the acts and thoughts of the great men has fallen into 
 ries. the hands of disciples whom they themselves have 
 trained, or of contemporaries who have survived them. 
 The life of Wilfrid by his disciple Eddius, the poetical 
 history of the archbishops of York by Alcuin, the lives 
 of Ethelwold and Oswald,^ the anonymous life of Ed- 
 ward the Confessor, and Eadmer s life of Anselm, are 
 the memorials of the best men of the time written by the 
 best scholars of the time. The best men may have been 
 narrow-minded and superstitious, and the best writers 
 may have been ignorant and pedantic, but the bigotry 
 and pedantry of an age in which pedants and bigots 
 , ruled, is a necessary matter of study to the scholar, who 
 would view facts as they are, and trace the gradual 
 shining of the light out of the darkness. But although 
 such charges may be sometimes true, the popular worship 
 has not generally been wasted on the memory of selfish 
 ascetics, nor have the works of mere pedants been, as a 
 rule, preserved and multiplied by an admiring, undis- 
 criminating posterity. 
 Importance Onco more, the incidental touches of fact which con- 
 
 of incidental , .-i t ±-i i ji i • i • • i 
 
 notices. stautly show themselves, the undesigned coincidences 
 that help us to recognize and realize the times, places, 
 and ' personages of history, the notices of social life, of 
 international intercourse, the very fashion of style and 
 
 1 Of these the life of Oswald, 
 contained in the Cotton MS. Nero E. 
 1 , has never been printed. We may 
 hope for an edition of it in Canon 
 
 Rain e's York volumes of this series. 
 It is an Invaluable and almost un- 
 known evidence for the reigns of 
 Edgar and Ethelred. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 ix 
 
 turn of thought, which are indispensable to the bio- Tone of 
 grapher, even when he tries to abstract his mind most 
 entirely from secular matters, and without which he 
 would fail to find readers or copyists, — these are points 
 of no small importance, where all material is so scanty. 
 
 These considerations must be allowed due weight in obscurity of 
 reference to the present volume. For the history of century, ^ 
 England in the latter half of the tenth century we have, by these 
 except the very meagre notices of the Anglo Saxon 
 Chronicles, no contemporary materials, unless we admit 
 the lives of the Saints of the Benedictine revival. 
 Florence of Worcester, wT^iting within fifty years of the 
 Conquest, could find nothing to add to the details of the 
 Chronicle for this period, except the notices of Dunstan 
 drawn directly from the biographies of the saint. The 
 light which they shed is not great, but it is precious in 
 proportion to its scantiness. 
 
 Of the importance of Dunstan as a historical personage importance 
 there can be no doubt. He was the close friend and 
 chief minister of Edgar, the king around whose name 
 the last glories of the Anglo Saxon kingdoms circle. His 
 wise influence, possibly his active share in the adminis- 
 tration, kept off the evil day for ten or twelve years 
 after Edgar's death. He was canonized in popular re- 
 gard almost from the day he died. He was the favourite 
 saint of the mother church of England for more than a 
 century and a half, during which there were nurubered 
 among his successors, the scholar Elfric, the martyr 
 Elfege, Lanfranc the statesman, and Anselm the doctor 
 and confessor ; his glory was at last eclipsed, but it was 
 by no less a heio than Thomas Becket. The memory of 
 his greatness was permanent, or the belief in his miracles 
 would have been impossible. Of the lives contained in 
 the present volume one was written within sixteen, 
 another within twenty-three years of his death ; both of 
 these are dedicated to his successors, who knew him well, 
 as being his fellow scholars or his own disciples. In both 
 he appears as a statesman as well as a saint. Neither 
 
X 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 E^aijy lives of them is of any sfreat literary merit; neither writer 
 
 of Dunstan. i i i i • i p 
 
 has troubled himseli much with dates or with the ad- 
 justment of personal and local relations; Yet they 
 open up several points of historical and literary interest, 
 without which our knowledge of the age, incomplete as 
 it is, would be more imperfect still. 
 Importance And some such interest beloncfs also to the later 
 
 of the later ^ . , . • n • ,i • i . ,-, 
 
 biographies Diograpnies ; especially m their bearing on the sources 
 of information open to the historians who follow the age 
 of the Conquest. The works of Eadmer and William 
 of Malmesbury, on secular history, are so important that 
 everything that illustrates the history of the writers is 
 important too ; and the infprmation supplied by Osbern, 
 who represents the Canterbury traditions as they were 
 at the eve of the Conquest and during the period of 
 transition that followed it, who himself witnessed the 
 second Benedictine revival under Lanfranc, and whose 
 book is really the basis of the work of the two later 
 writers on this subject, has a special value, whether it be 
 regarded in connexion with or independently of the work 
 of his predecessors. 
 
 Plan of this In the following pages I shall attempt to say some- 
 
 tion. thing on each of the heads to which I have referred. Our 
 stock of knowledge has many bearings, and can scarcely 
 be treated in each of these without much repetition. In 
 order, however, to make the statement as brief as pos- 
 sible, I will arrange my remarks in the following order : 
 taking first the view of our authorities, touching on their 
 narrative only so far as it affects their personal history ; 
 secondly, the literary history of the cycle ; and thirdly, 
 the chronology of the life of Dunstan ; noting at each 
 stage the light shed by these materials on the character 
 of his career and the history of his times. . 
 
 The first Duustan died in 988, and his first biographer dedi- 
 cates his work to Elfric,^ who ruled the church of 
 Canterbury from 996 to 1006 ; as early as the year 1004 
 
 ^ See p. 3 ; "cujus exstitisti successor in terri?," &c. p. 5. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 xi 
 
 it had been copied and a revised edition sent into Early pub- 
 France ;^ it had already reached the position of an it : about 
 approved work ; and the date of its composition uiay be * ' 
 approximately stated as the year 1000. The writer was 
 qualified for the task he undertook by personal ac- 
 (luaintance with his subject, and in two ])laces asserts 
 that he was an eye-witness of what he relates.'^ He 
 describes himself, with some marked expressions of 
 humility, as a priest, a Saxon, and by the initial letter 
 of his name.^ It seems fair to conclude from the first of Question as 
 these indications that he was not a monk. This in- author: 
 ference is borne out by the general tone of the work, 
 which is not marked by any strong bias towards monastic not a monk ; 
 institutions, and in which scarcely anything ^ is said of 
 the monastic reformation in which Dunstan imques- 
 fcionably took part. It may be further inferred that, 
 although he wrote the life of one archbishop of Canter- nor settled 
 bury and addressed it to another, he was not, either as bury; 
 monk or priest, attacihed to the cathedral community. 
 His connexion with Elfric was one of charity alone,^ and, 
 although he was able to ai)peal to personal knowledge 
 for his details of the daily life of Dunstan, he gives as nor a con- 
 authority for special statements the information derived panic n of 
 from a circle of disciples, who may indeed have been the 
 inmost circle of com[)anions,^' but who could not have 
 engrossed all the particular knowledge of a life, much of 
 which must have been lived in public, and the less 
 public parts of which must have been transacted before 
 the eyes of the cathedral clerks. Had the writer been a 
 monk or priest of Christ Church, he must have been an 
 eye-witness of much that he seems to describe on the 
 
 See below, p. xxvii, 
 ■2 a ygi videndo vel audiendo, licet 
 intellectu torponti, ab ipso didice- 
 *• ram," p. 5 ; " ea saltim quse vel 
 egomet vidi vel audivi," p. 49. 
 " Omnium extimus sacerdotum 
 " B. vilisque Saxonum indigena," 
 p. 3. 
 
 The oDly important passage is 
 at p. 25 ; and it will be discussed 
 further on. 
 
 ^ sola septus connexioue cari 
 
 tatis," p. 5. 
 
 '» Pp. 5, 49, 52. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Possibly 
 connected 
 with S. Au« 
 gustine*s. 
 
 He was a 
 Saxon. 
 
 Was he an 
 English 
 Saxon P 
 
 evidence of others. The fact that two of the three 
 MSS. in which his work is preserved are connected with 
 S. Augustine's, may point to that monastery as the 
 temporary home of the writer, but a settled monk of 
 S. Augustine s would scarcely have spoken o£ his house 
 as " sedicula." 
 
 A second note of personal identity may be sought in 
 his account of himself as '*vilis Saxonum indigena/' 
 The question arises immediately, whether we are to 
 understand by this an insular or a continental Saxon. 
 The internal evidence of the book is not decisive. In 
 one place the writer Speaks of the harp as a musical 
 instrument "quam lingua patema hearpan vocamus";^ 
 in another he mentions the city of Bath as " quem incolse 
 " locum sub patema lingua Bathum soliti sunt appel- 
 " lare ; in another he represents the mysterious person 
 whom he connects closely with the murder of king Ed- 
 mund, as declaring voce Saxonica se ex orientis regni 
 " partibus esse." ^ It is possible that in these passages 
 he speaks as an Englishman of the tenth century might 
 be expected to speak, that he describes his own language 
 as " paterna lingua," and by the word Saxonica " im- 
 plies the common dialect of the South of England. The 
 nation, however, is spoken of as " gens Anglorum," ^ the 
 king as the " rex Anglorum," ^ England as " Anglica 
 " terra," the West Saxones ^ are the people of Dunstan s 
 native province, the Orientales Saxones ^ the pastoral 
 charge of the bishop of London. It is quite as likely 
 that the terms " lingua paterna" and "lingua Saxonica" 
 are used more generically for the common tongue of the 
 continental and insular Saxon, and merely opposed to 
 
 1 P. 21. 
 
 2 p. 46 ; cf. Chr. Sax. A.D. 972. 
 
 3 P. 46. 
 
 * The gens Anglorum is men- 
 tioned, p. 5 } " universus popUlus 
 " Albionum," p. 6 ; Anglica na- 
 " tio," p. 25 ; " Anglorum princi- 
 
 " pes,*' p. 32 ; ** summus Anglorum 
 " pontifex, p. 40. 
 
 ^ The " rex Anglorum is men- 
 tioned, p. 6 ; " Anglica terra,'* 
 p. 50. 
 
 » See p. 6. 
 
 7 See p. 37; 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 i • t 
 
 Xlll 
 
 the Latin in which the work is composed. The vilis 
 Saxonum indigena" may have been prima facie as 
 probably an Englishman as a German ; on the other hand, 
 it may be asked why, in addressing his own archbishop, 
 a native Englishman should describe himself as a Saxon, 
 in a form which is scarcely ever used by an English 
 writer without some qualifying limitation, as in Angul- 
 Saxones, West Saxones, qr Orientales Saxones.^ 
 
 Unfortunately the general language of the book does The gues- 
 not serve to clear up this point, for it is marked by an decided by 
 inflated and involved style which is common to the the book.^^ 
 writers of the age wherever found; it contains few 
 words which can with any certainty be said to have been 
 
 ^ I have come across a curious 
 ease of the use of the word Saxones 
 whilst collating for this work. It 
 is in the Cotton MS. Nero A. 2 
 (Hardy, Catalogue of Materials, 
 I. 559) ; in a fragment apparently 
 w ritten by a Briton or a Scot. I 
 give it entire, with the very inte- 
 resting prayer that follows it ; the 
 first piece may be read as verse ; 
 " Carta dirige gressus per mare 
 per navium tellurisque spatium ad 
 reges palatium ; regem primum 
 salute, reginem et clitanum, cla- 
 rus quoque commitis, militis, 
 armieros, quorum regem cum 
 ^thelstanum ista per fecta Saxo- 
 nia vivit rex JEthelstanum per 
 " fecta gloriosa. Ille Sictric de- 
 " functum armatum in prselia Saxo- 
 " num per totum Bryttanium, 
 Constantinus rex Scottorum et 
 " velum Bryttanium salvando regis 
 " Saxonum fideles servitia." 
 
 " Dixit rex JEthelstanus, per 
 Petri praiconia " Sint sani sint 
 longSBvi Salvatoris gratia." 
 " Domine Deus Omnipotens, rex 
 rcgum et dominus dominantium, 
 " in cujus manu omnis victoria 
 
 ii 
 
 ii 
 
 ii 
 
 ii 
 
 ii 
 
 ii 
 
 ii 
 
 ii 
 
 ii 
 
 a 
 
 ii 
 
 ii 
 
 *• consistit, et omne bellum conteri- 
 " tur, concede mihi ut Tua manus 
 *' cor meum corroboret, ut in vir- 
 tute Tua in manibus viribusque 
 meis bene pugnare viriliterque 
 agere valeam, ut inimici mei in 
 conspectu meo cadent et cor- 
 ruant, sicut corruit Golias ante 
 faciem pueri Tui David, et sicut 
 populus Pharaonis coram Moysi 
 in mare rubro, et sicut Philistini 
 coram populo Israhel ceciderunt, 
 et Amalech coram Moysi, et 
 Chananei coram Jesu corruerunt, 
 sic cadant inimici mei sub pedi- 
 " bus meis. Et per viam unam 
 " conveniant adversum me et per 
 septem fugiant a me ; et conteret 
 Deus arma eorum et confringet 
 framea eorum, et eliquisce in 
 conspectu meo sicut cera a facie 
 ignis, ut sciant omnes populi 
 " terrse quia invx)catum est nomen 
 " Domini nostri Jesu super me, 
 " et magnificetur nomen Tuum 
 Domine in adversariis meis, Do- 
 " mine Deus Israel.*' The first 
 part is printed iir the Reliquiae 
 Autiquse, vol. ii. p. 179. 
 
 b 
 
 ii 
 
 ii 
 
 ii 
 
 ii 
 
 it 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 strange to English scholars of the time, and few references 
 to customs which are more or less English than they are 
 continental. Some light, however, may be afforded by 
 two or three words, for which it would be hard to find 
 , parallels in the English Latin of the tenth century. 
 Describing the expulsion of Dunstan from the court of 
 Edmund, the biographer tells us that he was bidden to 
 Use of the seek himself another lord, " sibi senioratum ubi vellet 
 
 word senio- . . ' . 
 
 ratus. " sine se suisque conquirere." ^ The reference is no 
 doubt to the Anglo Saxon custom, made obligatory by 
 the law of Athelstan, that a man who had neither lands 
 of his own nor kinsmen willing to be his sureties must 
 find a lord who would represent him or answer for him 
 in the courts of justice. The right of " hlafordsokne," or 
 choosing a lord, was open to the landless freeman, 
 whether he lived, as Dunstan had done, as gesith or 
 companion to i^he king in the royal mansion, or simply 
 required a patron. Dunstan, banished by the king and 
 renounced by his kinsmen at court, was in imminent 
 danger of being treated as an outlaw. He must seek a 
 new patron. The word senioratus, common enough in 
 the capitularies and in the countries governed by Frank 
 law,^ never occurs in English books, laws, or charters ; 
 and an English writer having occasion to mention the 
 custom, would scarcely have looked for a foreign word 
 to express his meaning. 
 The use of Another casual expression may be adduced which 
 decanus. points in the same direction. The writer, dilating on 
 the success of Dunstan's pupils, mentions that many of 
 them were promoted to the rank of archbishop, bishop, 
 abbot, " decanus," and " praepositus." ^ He also specifies 
 among the nursing fathers of the infant church " reges, 
 " pontifices, duces, decanos, prsepositos, cseterosque ec- 
 
 1 P. 23. 
 
 2 See Du Cange's Glossary, 
 under the word Senioratusi The 
 only passage quoted there, con- 
 
 nected with England, is the one 
 mentioned above. 
 3 P. 26. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 XV 
 
 " clesiae suae rectores/' ^ The ofBce of dean as an eccle- Rarity of 
 siastieal dignity was not introduced into England until 
 at least half a century later than the date of our author. 
 The word occurs, in this sense, in none of the contempo- 
 rary lives of the saints of the period, and is never given as 
 a title by any of the numerous witnesses of the charters ; 
 nor does it appear in the laws.^ It is found, as a desig- 
 nation for the monastic officer who ruled a company of 
 ten monks, in the rule of S. Benedict^ and may therefore 
 have been known in this sense in the English monaste- 
 ries, although it is not found in the Regularis GoTicordia, 
 sometimes ascribed to Dunstan,'^ and it would be difficult 
 to cite many instances of its use. In the work before us, 
 however, it is twice applied to the governor of a church. 
 
 1 P. 4. 
 
 2 This statement is made of 
 course subject to correction by 
 competent authority. The strongest 
 evidence against it is the following : 
 (1.) S. Oswald is said to have been 
 dean of the canons of Winchester 
 before he became a monk, on the 
 authority of a monk of Ramsey, 
 whose work is preserved in the 
 Historia Rameseiensis (ed. Gale, 
 p. 391). (2.) Ethelnoth, archbishop 
 of Canterbury in 1022, is said to 
 have been dean before his promotion 
 (Gervase, c. 1650), and Godric and 
 Henry, who were contemporary 
 with Osbern, and the latter of 
 whom was afterwards prior, both 
 bore the title of dean. In the cases, 
 however, of Oswald and Ethelnoth, 
 our information comes in a twelfth 
 century dress, and cannot be re- 
 garded as contemporary. If true, 
 I should be inclined to understand 
 by the term a disciplinary officer 
 rather than the head of the chapter. 
 Godric and Henry lived close upon 
 the Conquest, when we hear of the 
 title being given far more com- 
 monly, as, e.g., to the deans of 
 
 Waltham (Tractatus de S. Cruce, 
 p. 15), Thetford (Epp. Herberti 
 Losing, p. 73), Durham (Sim. Dun. 
 A.D. 1080). At Canterbury Ger- 
 vase expressly states that the title 
 was introduced after the martyr- 
 dom of Elfege in 1012, Neither 
 dean nor canons appear at Winches- 
 ter in the contemporary lives of 
 S. Ethelwold. In the contempo- 
 rary life of Oswald, MS. Nero, 
 E. 1, decanus is used two or three 
 times, always for a monastic officer. 
 
 3 Printed in the first volume of 
 the Monasticon and in Reyner's 
 Apostolatus Benedictinorum. See 
 below, p. cix. Wulstan, dean of 
 Glastonbury, whose death is noted 
 by Florence under the year 981, 
 must have been a monastic dean : 
 so Germanus is called dean of 
 Ramsey in the ancient life of Os- 
 wald, but Oswald is not there said 
 to have been dean at Winchester. 
 The several officers at Fleury are 
 named pater monasterii, decanus, 
 prsepositus, armarius, cellerarius, 
 cantor, magister scholse (Nero E. 1 , 
 f. 7). 
 
 b 2 
 
xvi 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Twice ap- 
 plied to the 
 ruler of a 
 church of 
 canons. 
 
 apparently a church of canons; an application which 
 was common enough on the continent, especially in 
 North France, Lorraine, and Germany, but of which there 
 is no instance in England until on the very eve of the 
 Conquest. In the Anglo Saxon Chronicle, as early as 
 A.D. 1037, we find recorded the death of Eafic "the 
 " noble dean " at Evesham ; but the title is interpreted 
 by later historians of the abbey as belonging to the 
 judicial president of their peculiar courts ;^ the dean is 
 not a substitute for the abbot. A little later deans and 
 canons are introduced, with or without the Lotharingian 
 rule, into cathedral and collegiate churches. The secular 
 clergy in these churches had, ixi England until then, been 
 called clerks, not ordinarily canons ; and their principal 
 officers were not deans, but either " prsepositi," priors or 
 provosts, or, in some cases probably, abbots. 
 The Oriens Another curious expression is the " oriens regnum " 
 already referred to. This occurs twice. When Dunstan 
 fell into disgrace with Edmund he sought the acquaint- 
 ance of certain venerable men, "regni videlicet orientis 
 nuncii,"^ who were then lodging with the king. He re- 
 presented himself as already sentenced to exile and devoid 
 of counsel ; the king had forsaken him ; he begged that 
 they would not leave him forlorn, but would take him 
 with them to their own country. They compassionately 
 replied that if he would accompany them he should 
 enjoy all that their kingdom afforded, " quseque regni sui 
 " commoda." In another passage we are told that the 
 mysterious person who appeared at court before Ed- 
 mund's death professed that he came from the " Oriens 
 " regnum " " ex orientis regni partibus and that he 
 had a matrimonial proposition to lay before the king.^ 
 In this passage it is possible that " Orientis regni parti- 
 " bus " may mean the eastern parts of the kingdom, and 
 
 Regnum. 
 
 ^ Chron. Evesham, ed. Macray, 
 p. 83 ; where he is called prior and 
 dean of Christianity for the vale of 
 
 Evesham. Elfward bishop of Lou- 
 don was still abbot. 
 
 2 P. 23. 
 
 ^ P. 46. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 xyii 
 
 one MS. of the life^ gives "nuntialis" instead of '^nup- Expiana- 
 tialis " as the description of the proposition to be made o^««^ 
 to the king; but this does not affect the meaning of the 
 former passage. What then was the " Oriens regnum " ? 
 The BoUandist fathers understood it to mean Essex, the 
 kingdom of the East Saxons;^ but there had been no 
 such kingdom for two centuries before the date of Ed- 
 mund ; Essex was a mere province whose envoys could 
 have no power to represent themselves as independent 
 of the king of the English. The same is true of East 
 Anglia, which is called by a writer of the time Orientale 
 regnum,^ It would seem almost necessary to refer 
 it to the German kingdom, now rising into great power 
 under Otto I., the king's brother-in-law, the kingdom 
 of the eastern Franks, the older Austrasia, not yet 
 united with the imperial dignity. In the mouth of 
 an Englishman it would perhaps have been more 
 naturally Germany or Eastern France, but the form is 
 conceivable enough in the mouth of a countryman of 
 Witikind of Corvey. Another possible explanation is 
 that the kingdom of the Ostmen, the Irish Danes, is 
 meant ; but to the English these old enemies would have 
 been Danes or Norsemen, and the fact that the emissary 
 spoke in the Saxon tongue seems fatal to this notion. 
 A subject of Otto I. might well speak the ''lingua 
 Saxonica," and the vilis Saxonum indigena " might 
 naturally regard his native land as the " Oriens regnum." ^ 
 It is important to observe that William of Malmesbury 
 paraphrases the words " regni orientis nuncii " by " extera- 
 
 rum gentium legati." ^ 
 
 1 P. 471. 
 
 2 Acta Sanctorum, Maii, iv. 352, 
 orientale regnum intelligo Es- 
 sexiam, Orientalem Saxoniam." 
 
 The biographer of Oswald 
 certainly uses Orientale regnum 
 for East Anglia, "^thelwoldus 
 " vero satis digniter principatum 
 " Orientalis regni adquisivit," — 
 Nero E. 1. fo. 8. 
 
 I do not find in the continental 
 writers any exuct parallel to this 
 use of the " Oriens regnum," but 
 Henry I., in his treaty with Charles 
 the Simple, is called by the latter 
 " rex Orientalis." Pertz, Leges, i. 
 G04. See Freeman, Norman Conq., 
 i. 604, where other illustrations will 
 be found. 
 
 Below p. 269. 
 
xviii 
 
 INTKODUCTION. 
 
 Slight indi- 
 cations that 
 the writer 
 of the first 
 life was a 
 foreigner. 
 
 His initial 
 letter. 
 
 It may be added that, if it be understood that the 
 writer was a foreigner, we have an adequate explanation 
 of the fact that he mis-spells the name of the archbishop 
 to whom he writes, calling him Albric ^ instead of JElfric, 
 the former name being common enough abroad but 
 strange to English ears, whilst the contrary is true of 
 the latter; and that he is so forgetful of the ancient 
 glories of English monasticism as to call Dunstan the 
 first abbot of the English nation,^ a statement equally 
 strange whether it be understood generally or in refer- 
 ence only to Glastonbury, which possessed at the time 
 a list of fifteen abbots, beginning in the reign of Ina. 
 
 The initial letter of the author's name is B. The 
 BoUandist fathers, by whom this first life was first 
 printed, contented themselves *with describing him as 
 " B. presbyter coaevus." Du Cange, who had used the 
 work in the composition of his Glossary, and who per- 
 haps had seen the S. Gall MS., in the margin of which 
 the name ''beda" is written,-*^ quotes it as "Beda in 
 " Vita S. Dunstani."* Mabillon,^ who knew the book in 
 MS., although he did not regard it as worth publication, 
 conjectured that he had found the author in the person 
 of Bridferth or Byrhtferth, the scholar of Ramsey, a 
 pupil of Abbo of Fleury, and a commentator on the 
 mathematical writings of Bede ; and this guess, for it is 
 little more, has been since generally accepted as con- 
 venient if not convincing. 
 
 * A similar use of Alhrich for 
 Elfric is found in the list of Athel- 
 stan's courtiers, who were admitted 
 by letter to fraternity with the 
 monks of S. Gall. Goldast, Rerum 
 Alamannicarum Scriptores, ii. 156.; 
 p. Ixxvi. below. 
 
 ^ P. 25, " primus abbas Anglicae 
 " nationis enituit.*' 
 
 3 P. 458. 
 
 ^ S. V. Senioratus. 
 
 5 Acta Sanctorum, O. S. B. sacc. 
 V. p. 640 : ** Hie ille stilus boni ora- 
 " toris, quem esse Bridferthum 
 ** coenobii Ramesiensis monachum 
 
 conjicio, tum ex B. littera nominis 
 " initiali, quam praefert Vedastinus 
 " codex, tum ex aetate Bridferthi, 
 " quem Abbonis discipulum Pitseus 
 " tradit, atque sub annum 980 
 " vixisse:" This was written in 
 1685. The conjecture is mentioned 
 by the BoUandists in the Vllth 
 volume for May, p. 809, but without 
 approval^ in 1688. Henry Wharton 
 in 1691 (Ang. Sac. ii. p. ix.) men- 
 tions it without accepting it, but 
 quotes the Life under the name of 
 Bridferth {ibid. p. 102); 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 xix 
 
 The name of Beda may be at once set aside ; the mar- Does it 
 ginal note of the S. Gall MS. is, no doubt, an instance of Beda p^*^*^ 
 the tendency to ascribe to the father of English history 
 any anonymous work connected with England. There 
 certainly were other persons of the name, and the writer 
 may have been one of them ; but no known Beda be- 
 longed to the age of Dunstan. 
 
 Mabillons conjecture has somewhat more to recom-Doesit 
 mend it. Byrhtferth was perhaps the most eminent Byrhtferth ? 
 English scholar of the time, next after Elfric or the 
 Elfrics. He was a pupil of Abbo, and not only was 
 Abbo connected with Dunstan, in whose house he had 
 lived, and to whom he dedicated his life of S. Edmund 
 of East Anglia,^ which he had composed from materials 
 furnishecj by the archbishop, but he was, as we shall 
 presently see, very closely connected with the later history 
 of this identical book. To the probabilities which in- 
 fluenced Mabillon may be added the fact that the penman- 
 ship of the most ancient MS. of this book, that preserved 
 at Arras, presents a remarkable likeness to the penman- 
 ship of the work of Byrhtferth on the Computus, which 
 is now among the Ashmolean MSS.^ in the Bodleian, and 
 which contains on a fly leaf, in a contemporary hand, a 
 little antiphon with musical notes addressed to Dunstan 
 himself : " Alleluia, veni, alme Dunstane, ad Christi so- 
 " lium sanctum humilibus et tuis deposce famulis reg- 
 " num coeleste." Byrhtferth has left several monuments 
 of erudition behind him : the commentaries on Bede ^ 
 afford evidence of wide reading and a familiar acquain- 
 tance with Latin authors. The book on the Computus, 
 however, presents more personal details, and although a 
 careful examination of it furnishes some curious facts, it 
 does not suggest any argument in favour of Mabillon's 
 hypothesis. 
 
 ^ See p. 378, below. 
 2 No. 328. 
 
 3 Printed with Bede in the old 
 editions of his collected works. 
 
XX 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Desmption The title of the work is thus given : " Incipit Compo- 
 
 olitheCom " Latinoruui ac Grsecorum Hebrseorumque et iEgip- 
 putus. " tiorum necnon et Anglorum." It is explained word 
 for word in Latin and translated into English on the 
 lower half of the page, the same plan being observed, 
 paragraph by paragraph. The name of the author is 
 given more than once indirectly. In a grammatical 
 example at p. 96 we read, " swylce ic thus ewethe, Byrht- 
 fer^us ipse scripsit bene, beneque docet ille suis 
 discipulis.'* At p. 152 we have a prayer, " Oratio 
 " patris ByrhtferSi " : 
 
 " Spiritus alme veni, sine te non diceris unquam, 
 Munera da linguse Qui das in munere linguas." 
 
 These words, which occur also in the history ascribed to 
 Simeon of Durham,^ and which may be much earlier, are 
 translated by Byrhtferth into what are perhaps the 
 earliest English hexameters : 
 
 " Cum nu Halig Gast butan the ne bise thu gewurthod, 
 " Gyf thine gyfe th^re tungan the thu gyfst gyfe on 
 " gereorde." 
 
 At p. 168 is another grammatical example : " swylc ic 
 " thus ewethe, Byrhtferth msesse preost stent on tham 
 " twelftan stede sefter tham biscope Eadnothe bththe 
 " he sitt." Eadnoth, who became bishop of Dorchester 
 in 1006, had been the first abbot of Bamsey, and was 
 nephew of another Eadnoth, prior of Westbury and monk 
 of Worcester.^ At p. 220 is a mention of S. Oswald, 
 the founder of Ramsey ; enumerating the sevenfold gifts 
 of the Spirit, he writes, " Spiritus timoris Domini in 
 " Oswaldo dignissimo archiepiscopo refulsit in nostris 
 " temporibus." At page 234 we have a reference to 
 Bede : O si quis devotus hujus numeri vel ceterorum 
 " desiderat agnitionem luce splendidius agnoscere, ape- 
 
 1 Mon. Hist. Brit. p. 658. 
 
 2 Hist. Ramsey; ap. Qale, pp. 3 91, 
 399, 429. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 ^' riat librum reverentissimi Bedae, quern de temporibus Byrhtferth 
 prsetitulavit, et mox in prima sententia invenit de computus. 
 " hac re satis dignissime disputatum/' I will quote 
 lastly his notice of Abbo, p. 240 : Ratio hujus numeri, 
 quam dignae memoriae Abbo super hunc invexit, libet 
 libari. Iste vero quantsG dignitatis refulsit in vita 
 ostendunt post mortem miracula. Erat enim in doc- 
 trinal! scientia peritus, et in ]jhilosophia perfectus. . . . 
 His explicitis ex rationibus doctoris nostri et martyris 
 Christi, accedamus ad alia." The connexion of Abbo 
 with Ramsey is a well-established fact. His biographer 
 Almoin tells us that he lived and taught there for two 
 years.^ The same evidence is given by the historian of 
 the abbey, and there is extant a work of Abbo on gram- 
 matical questions dedicated to his English pupils, and 
 especially to the inmates of S. Benedict's monastery at 
 Ramsey : 
 
 " O Ramesiga cohors amplis quae claudere stagnis, 
 " Purior obryzo niteris esse Deo." ^ 
 
 It is clear, then, that Byrhtferth and Abbo were closely 
 connected, and that both of them were friends of Dun- 
 stan. Further light will probably be thrown on this 
 point by one of the letters contained in this volume.^ 
 There is therefore no antecedent improbability in sup- Balance of 
 posing that Byrhtferth might have written Dunstan's as to^Byrht^^^ 
 life. But on the other hand it is most improbable that 
 the same author who wrote the commentary on Bedels 
 mathematical works, and the work on the Computus and 
 grammar, which has just been described, both of which 
 contain evidence that he could write good Latin, should 
 have written the life before us in the turgid and stilted 
 style which caused Mabillon to describe it as mere 
 
 ferth. 
 
 ' Aimoin, V. S. Abbonis, ap. 
 Mabillon, AA. SS. O. S. B. ssec. VI. 
 pp. 36, 37 ; Hist. Rams. ap. Gale, 
 p. 400 ; and see below, p, 378. 
 
 2 Mabillon, Annales O. S. B. torn. 
 IV. App.; Migne, Patrol. 139, p.534. 
 
 3 Below, p. 376. 
 
xxii 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Difficulties " stribiligo." It is still more improbable that he should 
 
 in ascribing i ji • • 1 1 i , . . , . 
 
 the life to nave done this without once mentioning his own monas- 
 tery, Ramsey, and his patron Oswald, who had been 
 Dunstan's successor in the see of Worcester, and who 
 shared and outdid all Dunstan's monastic reforms. It is 
 almost impossible that when the abbot of S. Augustine's 
 transmitted, as we shall see him doing,^ this very book 
 to Abbo to be turned into verse, he should have omitted 
 to tell him that it was the work of Bjnrhtferth, his most 
 promising scholar. 
 
 Notwithstanding then the general acceptance which 
 has been accorded to this conjecture, and although I 
 have nothing so definite to put in its place, I shall ven- 
 ture to suggest another theory which points to a different 
 school of writers, and may possibly furnish, if not the 
 name, yet some tangible data as to the personality of 
 this author. 
 
 PossMeciue The Cottonian MSS. Tiberius A. 15 and Vespasian 
 an ancient A . 14 coutaiu, appended to two collections of the letters of 
 
 letter. ' x x 
 
 Alcuin, a number of letters of the time of Dunstan, some 
 of them addressed to Edgar, and some to the archbishop 
 himself Several of these seem, from their style and tone, 
 to be the composition of the same writer, and the language, 
 forms of words, and construction of sentences, furnish a 
 very close resemblance to those of the first Life of Dunstan. 
 In one of the letters which are preserved in both the 
 MSS., which is addressed to archbishop Ethelgar, Dun- 
 stan's immediate successor, the writer ,although concealing 
 his full name, gives a clue to his own personal history.^ 
 He describes himself as " B. omnium faex Christicolarum," 
 
 Mm ' 
 
 a singular coincidence, if it be only a coincidence, with 
 the " omnium extimus sacerdotum B. vilisque Saxonum 
 indigena," of the Prologue to the biography. The 
 burden of the letter appears to be a lamentation for the 
 literary refreshment and educational privileges which 
 
 1 Below, p. 409. 
 
 I 2 p. 385, below. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 xxiii 
 
 the writer had enjoyed in his youth under the patronage The letter of 
 of the bishop of Liege, since whose death he has been in gar. 
 exile from the court of Wisdom. He further professes his 
 obedience to Ethelgar, who seems to have commissioned 
 him to go to Winchester to make a copy or to examine 
 a MS. of Aldhelm's work on the praises of Virginity. 
 Ethelgar had been abbot of the New Minster at Win- 
 chester before his promotion to the episcopate. The 
 writer of the letter was then neither a monk of Win- 
 chester nor a personal dependant of Ethelgar, but un- 
 questionably a foreign scholar who for some reason or 
 other was living in exile in England. 
 
 Another of the letters, which bears intrinsic evidence a letter to 
 of the same authorship, is addressed to Dunstan himself, himself. 
 The writer describes himself as " exilii catenulis admodum 
 " retitus ^ as having placed himself under the protec- 
 tion, mumliburdium, of the archbishop, and as having 
 been treated by him as a friend and companion. He also 
 addresses Dimstan as his " senior " or lord, and finally 
 breaks into hexameters in which he entreats the arch- 
 bishop to obtain for him a restoration to his own country. 
 A third letter, which contains some of the forms charac- ^^^^^^ 
 teristic of this writer, is addressed to a person whose same tone, 
 name is only indicated by the initial N. The writer, who 
 calls himself bellus sed causa, si dici liceat, infortunii 
 
 misellus,'' ^ has left his patron and crossed the sea : on 
 landing he has borrowed a horse, for the hire or purchase 
 of which he has incurred a debt, and in default of pay- 
 ment he is in danger of being sold. 
 
 Of these three letters the first is the only one which Possible 
 directly connects itself with the authorship of the Life of these three 
 Dunstan, and the others can be brought, only by their 
 similarity of style and juxtaposition in the MS., into 
 conjectural bearing upon the subject. But where other 
 
 1 Below, p. 374. 
 
 I 2 Below, p. 390. 
 
xxiv 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Possible 
 identity of 
 the writer 
 with Dun- 
 stan's bio- 
 grapher. 
 
 Similarity 
 of style. 
 
 and vocabu- 
 lary. 
 
 data are wanting, these considerations may, at least ten- 
 tatively, be allowed weight. We have then reason to 
 suppose that the writer of the letters, whose language is 
 so closely akin to that of the Prologue, whp addresses 
 Dunstan as a patron, and who indicates his name by the 
 same initial letter, was a foreigner, a pupil of the school 
 of Liege, and present in England about the time of 
 Dunstan's death, or at least within a year after it, 
 Ethelgar's pontificate lasting only fifteen months. 
 
 The first point, the similarity of style and vocabulary, 
 may be tested by a comparison of the several documents, 
 all of which are contained in the present volume. The 
 extravagant professions of humility, the involved form 
 of sentence, the constant use of diminutives in the most 
 inappropriate places, are illustrative if not convincing 
 evidence. In the vocabulary the coincidences are more 
 striking. The biographer styles Dunstan " decens sedi- 
 " tuus f ^ the letter- writer mentions the bishop of Liege 
 as " beat89 memorise sedituum ^ the form " senior ^* in 
 another of the letters answers to the senioratus " of the 
 biography ; ^ the use of the word " dagma " ^ helps to 
 identify two of the letters as written by the same hand ; 
 both writers describe their work as " titulatio ^ both 
 request the person addressed to correct grammatical 
 errors ; both use the simile of the bee gathering honey 
 for the student accumulating knowledge ; both use a 
 curious adjectiva.1 form in " eus from nouns ending in 
 " or," as " favoreo " and " lectoreo both run into Greek ; 
 the one calls the hand in the ablative " chyra," the other 
 calls the heart " cardian " in the nominative.'^ These are 
 small matters in themselves, for which parallels might 
 be found doubtless in other writings of the age, but 
 
 1 p. 3. 
 
 2 p. 386. 
 
 3 p. 390. 
 ^ P. 23. 
 
 5 Pp. 386, 390. 
 
 6 Pp. 5, 388. 
 
 7 Pp. 27, 387. 
 
INTRODUCTIOK. 
 
 XXV 
 
 which, taken together and coupled with the coincidence 
 of the initial " B." seem to imply identity. 
 
 We ask next who was the bishop of Liesre who had Question 
 
 ^ ^ to the bishop 
 
 been the patron and instructor of the letter- writer. He of Liege, 
 must have been the bishop who had died last before 
 the year 989, to which the letter belongs. This was 
 Ebraehar, or Euraclus, who had ruled from 959 to 971, 
 and whose successor Notker lived until the year 1007. 
 Ebraehar had been, previous to his elevation, provost of 
 the collegiate church of Bonn ; he was a pupil of arch- 
 bishop Bruno of Cologne, the brother of the emperor 
 Otto I., and a disciple also of Ratherius, the famous 
 bishop of Verona, who had governed the see of Liege 
 several years before the promotion of Ebraehar.^ Ebra- He was 
 char was sprung from a noble family in Saxony,^ and a Saxon. ' 
 was specially devoted to the memory of S. Martin, by 
 whose bones he was said to have been miraculously cured 
 of " lupus," and in whose honour he founded a church at 
 Liege. He was also a great promoter of education. Is 
 it possible that our " vilis Saxonum indigena " was a 
 kinsman or pupil of the Saxon bishop of Liege ? Such 
 a supposition has something at least to recommend it. 
 It accounts for the mention of the Oriens regnum," the 
 " Saxonica lingua," the " Senioratus ;" it is in perfect 
 harmony with the few other indications of personal 
 history, which we have traced in the Prologue and the 
 Biography. It accounts too for the special mention of 
 S. Martin,^ the patron saint of the patron bishop, and for 
 the likeness noticed between him and Dunstan. 
 
 On behalf of Bridferth, or Byrhtferth, not even such 
 slight argument can be advanced* There is not a trace 
 
 ^ Ann. Laubienses, Martene and 
 Durand, Thesaurus III. 1415, 1416: 
 there is a good sketch of the career 
 of Ratherius and Ebraehar in the 
 Art de Verifier les Dates, among 
 the bishops of Liege. 
 
 See his life by Reiner, a monk 
 of S. Laurence at Liege, in Pez, 
 Thesaurus, IV. pt. 3, pp. 153-166 ; 
 and Wattenbach's Geschichtsquel- 
 len, vol. I. pp. 278, 279. 
 =^ P. 50, below. 
 
xxvi 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 This theory 
 more pro- 
 bable than 
 the refer- 
 ence to 
 BjThtferth. 
 
 Name de- 
 noted by B. 
 
 Three MSS. 
 of the work. 
 
 of similarity of style, not an indication of common 
 history. The connexion of Byrhtferth is, as I have re- 
 marked, with Fleury, that of Dunstan and his biographer 
 with Flanders and northern France, Arras, Ghent, Rouen, 
 and Paris. Abbo of Fleury found a welcome in his house, 
 but his friends and correspondents were Wido of Blan- 
 dinium, Odbert of S. Bertin, and the great count abbot 
 Amulf, who had befriended him in his exile. The tra- 
 ditionary connexion of Canterbury with the Flemish 
 churches is traceable long after this, and the church of 
 S. Vedast in the city of London, which was in the 
 patronage of the prior and convent up to the fourteenth 
 century, was no doubt a result or a sign of this connexion. 
 The most ancient MS. of the earliest life of Dunstan is 
 found in the library of S. Vedast at Arras. 
 
 What name is indicated by the initial B. can only be 
 conjectured ; it may have been the common Saxon Bruno ; 
 or some name to which the Latin " Bellus " might be 
 supposed to answer, one of the many names that begin 
 with Bert,^ or it may have been Benedict or even Beda. 
 
 The special mention of S. Augustine of Canterbury, 
 which occurs twice in the book,^ may, as has been already 
 noticed, betoken some special relation to that monas- 
 tery. 
 
 We may now pursue the history of the book itself, as 
 it may be gathered from the three editions of it which we 
 possess in the three MSS. of the Arras, S. Gall, and 
 Cottonian libraries. 
 
 ^ William of Malraesbury, in the 
 first chapter of the book De Anti- 
 quitate Eccl. Glastoniensis, speaks 
 as if he thought that "B." stood 
 for " Britonum ; " " quorum unus 
 " Britonum historiographus." This 
 is curious ; we may conjecture 
 that William detected evidence of 
 foreign workmanship in the book, 
 or that he had seen a copy in which 
 
 the name was written at full " Brit- 
 " win," or lastly that the word Bri- 
 tonum was the unauthorized inser- 
 tion of a transcriber. The last is 
 the most probable, yet it is difficult 
 to say what meaning could be 
 attached to the word in the particu- 
 lar place. 
 2 t'p. 6, 48, 
 
INTBODUCTIOI^. 
 
 xxvii 
 
 The first of these bears on its face evidence of its The relative 
 originality ; the Arras MS, is not perhaps the autograph three! 
 of the author, but it clearly represents an original from 
 which the other two editions diverge. The S. Gall ^ 
 copy preserves the Prologue and the poetical portions of 
 the original writer, but corrects his grammatical mis- 
 takes, and in many cases paraphrases whole sentences. 
 The Cotton MS. retains the original text more faithfully, 
 but gives up the Prologue and the hexameters. Neither 
 of the two latter MSS. could have been derived from 
 the other without losing sight of the common original. 
 
 The first text is dedicated, as has been said, to arch- The Arras 
 bishop Elfric. The writer, apologizing in his Prologue for 
 the faults of his style, begs the archbishop to exercise 
 the office of a critic. He mentions, too, his attempts to The poetical 
 embellish his work with occasional poetical efforts, to mentioned 
 which he gives the appropriate title " satirica fatuitas." ^ logue! 
 It can scarcely be said, on a perusal of the book, that 
 this epithet is a mere result of the author's modesty. 
 The style is throughout rough, bombastic, involved, and 
 obscure. The poetical episodes are attempted in the worst 
 taste and wretchedly executed. The task imposed on 
 the critic was no light one. 
 
 The second text has a history of its own. The Life of The s. Gaii 
 Dunstan found a patron if not also a critic in the monas- recticTcopy 
 tery of S. Augustine. The work was re-written in great ^ft^e first, 
 part, the most glaring errors corrected, one or two 
 questionable statements expunged, and in one case an 
 additional piece of clumsy versification inserted. ^ But 
 the taste of the age was not satisfied with this. It was 
 desirable that the whole should be turned into verse, and g^nt to 
 for this purpose the book in its reformed shape was wsSic^.^^ 
 transmitted by Wulfric, abbot of S. Augustine's to Abbo 
 of Fleury, who just then was engaged in reforming the 
 
 1 The collation of the S. Gall 
 MS. will be found at pp. 458-472 
 of this volume. 
 
xxviii 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Letter to 
 Abbo in the 
 S. Gall MS. 
 
 This MS. 
 belonged to 
 the monas- 
 tery in 
 which Abbo 
 was mur- 
 dered. 
 
 The Cotton 
 MS. 
 
 monasteries of Aquitaine. The S. Gall MS. preserves 
 the letter in which the abbot requests Abbo to undertake 
 the versification.^ The date of the negotiation may be 
 ascertained within a very few years. Wulfric became 
 abbot in the year 989, and died in 1006.'^ The book, 
 being dedicated to Elfric, was not written before 995. 
 Abbo of Fleury died Nov. 18, 1004.^ But the interest 
 of the question does not stop here. The S. Gall MS. 
 contains, on its superfluous leaves, letters and charters 
 which prove that at a very early period it was the pro- 
 perty of the monastery of Squirs, afterwards called la 
 Reole, in Gascony.^ It was at this place that Abbo 
 suffered martyrdom. He was engaged in the work of 
 monastic reform, and staying at Squirs, when one day as 
 he was at work on his books or accounts, a tumult broke 
 out in the courtyard of the monastery. Abbo, holding in 
 his hand his tablets and style, went out to quiet the mob ; 
 one of the rioters struck him on the side with a lance ; he 
 was mortally wounded, died, and was buried at Squirs.^ 
 We can scarcely doubt that it was in this, way the MS. 
 life of Dunstan came into the monastic library. Abbo 
 was only visiting at Squirs, his home was at Fleury. 
 He may have brought the MS. to employ him in his 
 leisure ; it may have been the very work on which he 
 was employed, when, pen and note-book in hand, he 
 received his death wound.^ At all events we^ hear no 
 more of the poetical version, and the MS. never found 
 its way back to Canterbury. 
 
 The third text likewise has its history. The monks 
 of S. Augustine, despairing, it would seem, of the poetical 
 version, adopted another mode of treatment, and revised 
 
 1 p. 409, below. 
 
 - W. Thorne, ap. Twysden, c. 
 2246 ; Elmham, ed. Hardwickjp. 23. 
 
 3 Almoin, V. S. Abbonis, ap. 
 Mabillon, ssec. VI. p. 50 ; and see 
 the letter of the monks of Fleury, 
 ibid, p. 32. 
 
 * See p. 472, below. 
 ^ R. Glaber, ap. Mabillon, 1. c. 
 p. 32. 
 
 ^ Aimoin, however, speaks of the 
 work on which he was employed as 
 " computatiunculas," ibid. i^. 49. 
 
INTBODUCTTON. 
 
 xxix 
 
 the book on another principle. Under this process the P is a re- 
 
 i- I tr formed and 
 
 prologue, in reference to which the writer says that ^^5^^*^*^ 
 scarcely one endowed with common prudence and a cul- 
 tivated mind has so ^' deformis facundia " as himself in 
 the composition of prologues, is judiciously abandoned. 
 The satirica fatuitas " of the original hexameters is 
 superseded by a form of prose, which, whilst it pretends 
 to be no more than prose, preserves, in the general voca- ^^^|,^^" ®^ 
 bulary and in the rhymed cadences into which ii falls, los^e and 
 
 , . . ^ . . versified 
 
 some traces of the original from which it is adapted.^ passages. 
 On every page the redundancies of the earlier texts are 
 retrenched, and the obscurity and pedantry obviated 
 without destroying the essential .character of the work. 
 The reviser has done most in the earlier pages, which 
 indeed contained the most glaring offences against good 
 taste and grammar. These changes, which will be found 
 duly noted in the present edition, may be classified as, 
 first, the reduction of the hexameters to rhyming prose, 
 such as was usual in the sequences of the missal ; 
 secondly, the substitution of simple pronouns for the full 
 titles of the saint reiterated in the original ; and thirdly, 
 the substitution of ordinary Latin words for unmeaning 
 diminutives. 
 
 This revised edition, which was made before the mid- This text 
 die of the eleventh century, remained at S. Augustine's, to wiiiiam 
 William of Malmesbury saw it there, and by a quotation bury, 
 which he makes from it,^ in his book on the antiquity of 
 Glastonbury, enables us to identify it as the text which 
 he used, although he saw a copy containing the prologue 
 in the library of Glastonbury,^ and another at S. Ed 
 
 ' See especially pp. 9 and 20. 
 
 - He quotes thus : " Quorum 
 " unus Britonmn Historiographus, 
 
 prout apud Sanctum Edmundum, 
 " itemque apud Sanctum Augusti- 
 
 num Anglorum apostolum vidi- 
 
 mus, ita exorsus est ; ' In con- 
 
 , " ' finio,' " &c. ; p. 7, nulla ho- 
 ! " minum arte ut ferunt, constructam 
 "... virtutum mysteriis . . . 
 I " sanctajque Dei genitrici," &e., 
 I the readings of the Cotton MS, 
 I being always given. W. Malmesb. 
 ; Ant. Glaston., ap. Gale, p. 293. 
 
XXX 
 
 INTEODUCTION. 
 
 Later his- mund^s. There it still was at the dissolution, and there in 
 CoUonMl. August, 15^5, Johu Josselin, the friend of Parker, found 
 it among other old books.^ Shortly afterwards it came 
 into the Cotton Library. The history of the other MS. 
 we have no means of tracing. It may have been brought 
 to Arras very early during the close connexion with 
 England, which is attested by the letters given in this 
 volume ; or it may have been given to bishop Peter of 
 Arras when he visited Canterbury in 1188 on a vain 
 attempt to reconcile the archbishop with the monks of 
 Christchurch ; ^ or it may have gone through Normandy 
 by way of Jumieges, for the lives of two of the Jumieges 
 saints form part of the same volume."^ The matter is of 
 less importance, for there is no reason to suppose that it 
 is the original draught of the work. It is the most 
 ancient form of it, but the uncorrected clerical errors 
 which it contains show that it is a transcript, made 
 however earlier than the S. Gall MS. 
 
 The second The sccoud Life of Dunstan has no such interesting^ 
 
 Life, by 
 
 Adefard of history . Its author was Adelard or Adalard, a monk of 
 nium. Blandinium. It is addressed to Archbishop Elfege,^ who 
 ruled at Canterbury from 1006 to 1012, and was written 
 before 1011 at the latest. It is drawn up in the form 
 of lessons to be read in the services of the monastery, 
 and contains much that was intended for the spiritual 
 
 1 This he mentions in the Pro- 
 logue to his Life of Dunstan, below, 
 p. 252. 
 
 2 The folio wing note is in the 
 Cotton MS. : " Hunc librum, cujus 
 " auctor, ut apparebit lectori, cla- 
 *' ruit tempore ipsius Dunstani, de 
 " quo agitur, reperi inter veteres 
 " libros MSS. monasterii Augus- 
 ** tinensis Cantuarise,- A.D. 1565, 
 " mense August! ; Joan. Josseli- 
 " nus." Archbishop TJssher has 
 ** added, " lb hunc ipsum librum a 
 
 Gul. Malmesburiensi repertum 
 " esse ex libro ejusdem de antiqui- 
 
 " tate Glastoniensis monasterii ap- 
 " paret. Ja. Usserius." See Hardy, 
 Catalogue of Materials, vol. i. p. 
 594. 
 
 3 Epp. Cantuar., pp. 226-229. 
 Below, p. xxxviii. 
 
 5 P. 53. It mentions A.D. 1006 
 as the date of Elfege*s appointment 
 to Canterbury ; but it contains no 
 hint of the troubles which ended in 
 his martyrdom in 1012. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 xxxi 
 
 edification as well as for the information of the devout. Not an 
 
 abridgment 
 
 It professes to be an abridgment or breviate/ a sum- ^.^^^ first 
 mary rather than a history of the archbishop's life ; but 
 it is not to be understood as solely or even mainly drawn 
 from the earlier work. It contains evidence that Adelard 
 had that book before him. Probably it had been placed 
 in his hands by Elfege to be turned into verse, as it had 
 been sent by Wulfric to Abbo. " Patrem tuum sanctum 
 " Dunstanum/' says Adelard, " voluisti* et litteris com- 
 mendari et musis." ^ Instead of doing this he embodies 
 a quantity of current traditions in a new work, and pre- 
 sents it to the archbishop as a set of lessons and respon- 
 
 sories. The points of variation from the earlier life The source 
 
 . . of the 
 
 may be noticed by and by. Of Adelard himself nothing J>reviary 
 
 . . . . lessons. 
 
 is known ; but his work was rapidly multiplied, and 
 was the source from which the breviary lessons for 
 S. Dunstan's day were chiefly taken.^ There are no 
 great discrepancies in the MSS. of Adelard which would 
 lead to the idea that it was ever re-written ; but in all 
 the copies which I have seen, the responsories have either 
 been omitted altogether, or written so as to form an 
 integral part of the lessons. 
 
 The third Life of Dunstan was written by Osbern, the Jhe third 
 
 . , Life by Os- 
 
 precentor of Christchurch, Canterbury, during the pon- bem. 
 tificate of Lanfranc, or during the interval between his 
 death and the appointment of Anselm.^ Osbern had 
 been brought up in the monastery ; he had been a boy 
 in the days of Godric the dean,^ had seen the clergy, 
 calling themselves monks, but living like earls before the 
 coming of Lanfranc : he had been a helper in the arch- 
 bishop's reforms, and by his industry in the musical and 
 literary labours of the convent had earned promotion. 
 His book on the miracles of Dunstan preserves some 
 
 1 " Ex eadem vita quasi brevem 
 " sermonis versiculum," p. 53. 
 
 2 P. 53. 
 
 3 See below, pp. 445-450. 
 
 4 Below, p. 151. 
 
 5 P. 13S. 
 
 c 2 
 
xxxii 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 small particulars of his personal history. He had himself 
 been a subordinate agent in one of the miraculous cures 
 effected at the tomb.^ It was to him that Lanfranc gave 
 the charge to proclaim the story of the pirate Barabas.^ 
 He himself, when walking in Thanet with a knight, had 
 heard from him an undoubted case in which Dunstan 
 had interfered to prevent injustice attempted in the law 
 courts by the^ abbot of S. Augustine's.^ He had himself 
 had a dream, which he relates vividly and picturesquely, 
 about Dunstan in a state of bliss.^ Osbern wrote the life 
 also of S. Elfege with an account of his miracles and 
 the translation of his bones ; the other books ascribed 
 to him belong to other authors. 
 
 The manuscripts of Osbern's book are very numerous.^ 
 They fall into two classes which possibly represent two 
 editions issued by the author.^ It is, however, more pro- 
 bable that the second edition, being marked by certain 
 omissions and variations which seem to result from the 
 adverse criticism of his successor Eadmer, may merely 
 have been a transcript of the original edition after it 
 had been corrected by some later hand. The most im- 
 portant alteration is that touching on the seven years 
 penance of Edgar, and the parentage of Edward.-^ The 
 fact that some details given in the first edition were 
 removed in the second has led some writers to question 
 whether Osbem's work was the one criticised by Eadmer, 
 and to suppose that some intermediate biography had 
 been lost. This question^ is settled by a comparison of 
 the MSS. the result of which will be found in the notes 
 to the present edition. 
 
 Eadmer, the author of the fourth Life, was, like Osbern, 
 precentor of Christchurch. He is best known as the 
 friend and biographer of Anselm, and author of thie 
 
 1 P. 138. 
 
 2 p. 155. 
 ^ P. 156. 
 
 4 Pp. 158, 159. 
 
 ^ See below, p. 112. 
 
 ^ See below, p. xlii. 
 
INTKOBUCTION. 
 
 xxxiii 
 
 invaluable Historia Novorum. His eminence as a scholar Career of 
 and divine led to his nomination and election to the see 
 of S. Andrew's in or a little before the year 1120. The 
 quarrel between York and Canterbury prevented his 
 consecration : the king of Scots, Alexander I., insisted on 
 his receiving that rite from the archbishop of York ; 
 Eadmer was a faithful supporter of the supremacy of 
 Canterbury. Unable to convince the king, and unwilling 
 to yield, he renoimced the right conferred by election 
 and returned to Canterbury. In 1122, the see being still 
 vacant, he renewed his claim, and seems to have been 
 so far successful that no bishop was appointed so long 
 as he lived. He died on the 13th of January, and pro- 
 bably in the year 1124.^ His life of Dunstan and his 
 letter to the monks of Glastonbury furnish some few Personal 
 personal data. He had been brought up in the mo- Eadmer in 
 nastery, and was old enough to remember the luxurious Dunstan. 
 lives of the clergy and the imperative necessity for Lan- 
 franc's reforms. He was a little boy when the arch- 
 bishop removed the coffins of Dunstan and Elfege, 
 preparatory to the rebuilding of the church. Fifty years 
 afterwards he testified to the reality of that translation 
 in order to confute the fabulous assertions of the monks 
 of Glastonbury.^ 
 
 The Life of Dunstan was probably an early work. His pains 
 Eadmer was encouraged to undertake it by the discovery correct the 
 of Osbern's mistakes, and, it must be added, his fabrica- osbern!^ 
 tions. He sought information from Ethelred, his pre- 
 decessor in the office of precentor, who had been pro- 
 moted by S. Wulfstan in the monastery of Worcester ; ^ 
 and from the learned monk Nicolas of Worcester, who 
 seems to have been the treasurer of English traditions 
 there.^ He mentions in the work no event later than 
 
 1 Wliarton, Anglia Sacra, ii. p. 
 Xii., from the Canterbury Obituary. 
 
 2 See pp. 412-422. 
 
 3 Pp. 163, 164. 
 ^ Pp. 422-424; 
 
XXXIV 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Possible 
 date pf 
 Eadmer's 
 work. 
 
 Eadmer's 
 Life less 
 popular 
 than Os- 
 bem's. 
 
 Called by 
 Surius the 
 work of 
 Dsbert. 
 
 the pontificate of Anselm, and he refers to Anselm without 
 any of the conventional expressions which might lead 
 to the belief that he was dead when Eadmer wrote. It 
 would seem probable then that the book was written at 
 least as early as the year 1109. The letter to the monks 
 of Glastonbury on their claim to possess the relics of 
 Dunstan, must have been composed some years later: 
 at least fifty years after the translation of the relics, more 
 than a hundred years after the pretended removal to 
 Glastonbury.^ As the earliest, date for the former of 
 these events is the year 1070, the letter must have been 
 written soon after 1120. It will be found, together with 
 some verses of Eadmer on Dunstan and a letter of Nicolas 
 on the question who was the mother of S. Edward, in 
 the seventh section of the present volume.^ 
 
 Eadmer's work never obtained so wide a circulation 
 as Osbem's h^d done. It was written when the cultus 
 of Dunstan was on the wane. The sufferings of Anselm, 
 in his struggle against the royal claims, introduced a i^ew 
 idea of confessorship. Dunstan had been the king s 
 prime minister, Anselm was a leader of opposition, and 
 before men had had time to learn the superiority of 
 Eadmer's work to that of Osbern, Canterbury had got a 
 new saint. The book, further, seems to have been circu- 
 lated anonymously, for although in the earliest MS., that 
 at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, it appears among 
 the minor works of Eadmer, it must have been -copied 
 and sent abroad without any such ascription. Hence, 
 when the earliest collector of the Acta Sanctorum, 
 Surius, found a copy of it, knowing by report the name 
 of Osbern, or, as he called him, Osbert, as the biographer 
 of Dunstan, he inferred that this was his work, and 
 published it under the name of Osbert. The second 
 book, the Miracles, must also at an early date have been 
 circulated apart from the Vita, for if the single MS. of 
 
 1 Pp. 414, 420. 
 
 I 2 pp, 412-425* 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 XXXV 
 
 the Life by William of Malmesbury ^ is to be trusted, the 
 former was adopted in its integrity as a supplement 
 to William of Malmesbury s work, whilst there is no 
 certain proof that he had ever seen Eadmor's Life. 
 
 The fifth Life of Dunstan was written for the monks The fifth 
 of Glastonbury by the historian William of Malmesburv, Wiii'iam of 
 
 Malihes- 
 
 and was intended to supersede ttie work of Osbern, bury, 
 which, according to the author, displayed culpable ig- 
 norance of the antiquities of Glastonbury. As he 
 describes him under the title of " Novus Scriptor," ^ it 
 seems almost certain that he had not seen Eadmer's 
 work, at least when the first book of his own Life was 
 written, and even in the prologue to the second book, 
 which was written later, and which seems to show 
 some knowledge of Eadmer's work on the Miracles, he 
 still criticizes Osbern as the " Cantuariensis cantor." ^ 
 Yet William must have written several years after chronoio- 
 Eadmer, for in describing the benefits of Dunstan's cultLs^^' 
 administration he refers to his own " Gesta Regum An- work! 
 glorum " as having been written some years before,^ and 
 the date of that work cannot be earlier than 1120. On 
 the other hand, it is certainly strange that the subject 
 of Dunstan's translation to Glastonbury is unmentioned, 
 although Eadmer had lived long enough to refute it. If 
 we were able to trust our MSS., which in this case we 
 are not,^ we might argue thus ; — William, when he 
 wrote the first book of Dunstan's Life, was preparing a 
 work on the antiquities of Glastonbury, for which he 
 used the same authorities. After writing this first book 
 he completed the book on the Antiquities of Glaston- 
 
 1 P. 322. 
 
 2 p. 251. 
 
 3 P. 288. 
 
 4 P. 305. 
 
 ^ See Sir T. D. Hardy, Catalogue, 
 
 ii. 157, " No genuine MS. (of 
 " the De Antiquitate) has yet oc- 
 *• curred. It has been printed from 
 a MS. avowedly interpolated." 
 
xxxvi 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The ques- 
 tion of the 
 relation of 
 Eadmer's 
 book to 
 William's is 
 not to be 
 settled by 
 existing 
 MSS. 
 
 Question as 
 to the rela- 
 tion of his 
 two works 
 on Glaston- 
 bury. 
 
 bury, and incorporated in it the story of the Glaston- 
 bury translation, asserted to have taken place in 1012,^ 
 after which he wrote the second book of the Life. If 
 we suppose that Eadmer's letter to the monks of Glas- 
 tonbury was called forth by th^ story of the Translation, 
 which had appeared in William's intermediate work, we 
 may ascribe the silence of the latter author on the 
 subject in his second book, to the fact that he was con- 
 vinced by Eadmer's argument. Unluckily, however, no 
 copy of the book de Antiquitate Glastoniensis Ecclesi^e 
 is to be found, which is proof against the charge of inter- 
 polation, and the manuscript of William's second book is 
 so late in date that we cannot decide whether it is 
 not more likely for the story to have been omitted, 
 and the reference to Eadmer's collection of the Miracles 
 to have been inserted by a late transcriber. Our data 
 are too imperfect to warrant any distinct conclusion. 
 
 The difficulty of determining the connexion of the 
 Life of Dunstan with the "De Antiquitate" does not 
 concern the relation merely between William and 
 Eadmer. In the preface to the second book of the Life 
 the author states that he has completed the work Do 
 Antiquitate." ^ In the dedication of the work " De 
 Antiquitate " he states that he has some time ago 
 completed the two books on the life of Dunstan.^ The 
 dedication is addressed to Henry of Blois, bishop of 
 Winchester, who only reached that dignity in the year 
 
 ^ This is given nearly word for 
 word by Capgrave below, pp. 352, 
 353. See W. Malmesb. ap. Gale, 
 pp. 301, sq. 
 
 - P. 288, " Antiquitatem istius 
 " sanctissimi coenobii Glastoniensis 
 in quo ccelcstem profitemur mili- 
 " tiam, alio opere, quantum tlivinus 
 favor affuit, absolvimus ; quern si 
 cui voluptati erit legere, poterit 
 alias apud nos invenire." 
 
 it 
 
 " Undo sicut sestimo non con- 
 tenmendsB stilum dedi operae, qui 
 beati Dunstani prius Glastonien- 
 sis Abbatis, demum arcMepiscopi 
 Cantuariensis, vitam labore meo 
 £eternae mandavi memorise, duos- 
 que libros de hoc volentibus 
 GlastonisD fratribus ». . . . dudum 
 integra rerum veritate absolvi.'* 
 W. Malmesb. ap. Gale, p. 29L 
 
INTROBUCTION. 
 
 xxxvii 
 
 1129. The only way of accounting for the discrepancy 
 is to suppose that the dedication was an afterthought, cuities. 
 and if that were so, the introduction of the chapter on 
 the Translation of Dunstan may have been an after- 
 thought also, for it is scarcely fair to the historian to 
 suppose that having suppressed the story in the Life 
 owing to Eadmer's remonstrance, he reintroduced it in 
 the later edition of the " De Antiquitate." Lastly, it is 
 quite possible that the insertion of the story of the 
 Translation is not to be ascribed to William of Malmes- 
 bury at all. Certainly he knew nothing of it when he 
 wrote the two great works on which his fame as a 
 historian depends. 
 
 Besides Osbern, William had before him the Life by used by ^ 
 the priest B., which he had seen at St. Augustine's Ma?mes-^^ 
 and at S. Edmund's, the work of Adelard, and certain 
 writings in English, the memory of which has now 
 perished. He had found also at Glastonbury a MS. of 
 the first Life with the dedication to archbishop Elfric.^ 
 His own work never obtained popularity, probably for 
 the reason already given in relation to Eadmer. It is 
 known only by one manuscrij)t, and that of a very 
 questionable description.^ 
 
 The sixth Life printed in this volume is extracted Capgrave's 
 from Capgrave's compilation, published early in the stan. 
 fifteenth century. Its author, it is scarcely necessary 
 to say, was the famous provincial of the Augustinian 
 friars, whose death is placed in the year 1464, and 
 whose theological ancj historical works are sufficiently 
 well known. 
 
 Before proceeding to trace the literary and historical 
 connexion of the several Lives, the writers of which have 
 been thus accounted for, it may be as well to enumerate 
 
 ^ De Ant. Eccl. Glast. ^d. Gale, I ^ Below, p. Hi. 
 p. 293 ; and below, p. 252. | 
 
xxxviii 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 A. The 
 Arras MS. 
 
 ^e^MSS^^ and describe the several MSS. and printed texts that 
 volume^ have been used in the preparation of this edition. They 
 
 may be arranged in five classes in the order of the works 
 
 they contain. 
 
 1. Of the first Life, by the priest B., there are three 
 MSS. 
 
 A. The Arras MS., representing as has been said the 
 original text, has been made the basis of the present 
 edition. It is numbered 1,029 in the Catalogue made by 
 the present librarian,^ M. Caron, published at Arras in 
 1860, and No. 812 in the General Catalogue of the MSS. 
 of the Departments of France.^ 
 
 The volume, written late in the tenth or early in the 
 eleventh century, contains besides the life of Dunstan, 
 the anonymous life of S. Cuthbert, described by Sir T. D. 
 Hardy in the Catalogue of Materials for British History, 
 vol. I., p. 293 ; the life of S. Guthlac, by the monk Felix, 
 noticed in th^ same work, vol. I., p. 405 ; and the lives 
 of SS. Philibert and Aychadrus, abbots of Jumieges, 
 which are printed in the Acta Sanctorum of Mabillon 
 and the BoUandists,^ this MS. in each case having been 
 used in the formation of the text. 
 
 It is a small quarto MS. written throughout in the 
 same hand, rubricated in red, in single column, eighteen 
 lines to the page. The life of Dunstan begins on folio 66 
 and fills the latter half of the volume. It is unfortunately 
 imperfect ; the final folio had perished when it was seen 
 by the BoUandist Henschen, on his return from Rome in 
 1662,^ and since that time a quire of sixteen leaves has 
 been lost between folios 74 arid 75 of the present pagina- 
 tion. It was long the property of the monastery within 
 whose walls the library of which it forms a part is still 
 deposited, the great abbey of S. Vedast. The inscription 
 
 ^ Catalogue General des MSS. 
 des Biblioth^ques Publiques des 
 Departements, vol. iv. p. 322. 
 
 2 Mabillon, AA. SS* sebc. ii. 
 pp. 818-825, 953-971; AA. SS. 
 
 Boll. Sept. vol. V. pp. 85-100 ; Au- 
 gust, vol. iv. pp. 75-81. 
 
 3 Act. SS. Boll. May, vol. iv. 
 p. 344i 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 xxxix: 
 
 Bibliothecse monasterii S. Vedasti " testifies to this, but 
 the MS. contains nothing that shows how it came into 
 the hands of the monks, or how it fell into its present 
 condition. 
 
 AA. The S. Gall MS. forms part of the town library aa. The 
 of S. Gallen, which bears the name of the reformer Va- 
 dianus, on whose collections it is based. It is numbered 
 337 in the present catalogue, and described by M. Gustav 
 Scherer in his " Verzeichniss der Manuscripte und In- 
 " cunabeln der Yadianischen Bibliothek in S.. Gallen," 
 printed at S. Gallen in 1864, pp, 94 and 95 ; by Bethmann 
 in Pertz's Archiv., ix. p. 588, and by Hattemer in his 
 Denkmahle der Mittelalter, Vol. II., part 2, pp. 593, 594. 
 
 It is a small folio MS. of ninety-six pages, written 
 early in the eleventh century, rubricated in red and blue, 
 twenty-two lines to the page, and in single column. On 
 the first page is the letter of Abbot Wulfric, already 
 referred to ; at the end, in a thirteenth century hand, are 
 the documents which prove its connexion with the 
 monastery of Squirs.^ 
 
 A note " ex bibliotheca Schobingeri " shows that it was 
 not a part of the collections of Vadianus, but came into 
 the library in the seventeenth century with the books of 
 Bartholomew Schobinger. I am not able to say how it 
 came into Schobinger's hands, or how it had fared since it 
 ceased to belong to the monastery of Squirs or la Reole ; 
 but it had probably been carried ofi" during the wars of 
 Religion. 
 
 B. The Cottonian MS. Cleopatra A. 13. is a collection The Cotton 
 of Anglo-Saxon tracts and fragments, which are described 
 at leng-th by Wanley in the third volume of Hickes's 
 Thesaurus, p. 201, and some early pieces in Latin. The 
 life of Dunstan fills thirty-two folios numbered 59 to 90, 
 written in single column, not rubricated, twenty-four 
 lines to the page. The chief peculiarity of the MS. is 
 the way in which the letters ch are reversed in such 
 
 See above, p. xxviii.. 
 
INTRODtTCTIOK. 
 
 The first 
 Life pub- 
 lished by 
 the Bol- 
 laHdists. 
 
 Plan of the 
 
 present 
 
 edition. 
 
 words as chorus, which is written hcorus. This practice 
 runs through the whole work, and may perhaps, when 
 MSS., of this date are more extensively known, give a 
 clue to the person of the writer. The history of the 
 MS., which belonged to the library of S. Augustine's 
 Canterbury until it fell into Sir Robert Cotton's hands, 
 has been already given. ^ 
 
 This Life was first published by the Bollandists. Ma- 
 billon had seen it, but did not think it worthy to be 
 printed. He gives, however, as a specimen, in his notes 
 on Osbern, part of the prologue, and from time to time 
 compares Osbern s details with the Arras MS., giving 
 extracts from the latter, the accuracy of which makes us 
 regret that he did not print it entire. It abounded, he 
 says, with difficulties, " scatet salebris,'' and was such a 
 "stribiligo" altogether as to be unworthy of light. ^ 
 Fortunately Henschen thought differently, and imperfect 
 as it was, published it among the BoUandist Acta Sanc- 
 torum for May, vol. IV., {)p. 344 to 858. ' Mabillon's 
 notes and Henschen's edition appeared in the same year, 
 1685 ; both are reprinted by the Abbe Migne in the 
 139th and 149th volumes of the Patrologia. 
 
 In the present edition the following course has been 
 adopted. The superior originality of the Arras text being 
 indisputable, it was necessary to take it for the basis. 
 For the unfortimate lacuna,^ extending from page 10 
 line 14, to page 24 line 9> of this volume, it was necessary 
 to take the BoUandist edition, correcting the obvious 
 misprints and classical forms of the Latin by the Cot- 
 tonian MS., but not altering the arrangement of words. 
 Fortunately this was easy to do, as, with the exception of 
 the versified parts, the two versions were nearly identical. 
 As to the concluding page,^ which was wanting in the 
 
 * Above, p. xxix. 
 
 2 AA. SS. O. S. B. saec. v. pp. 
 639-642, 646, 648, sq. 
 
 3 The lacuna begins at the word 
 
 robora, p. 10, line 14; and endsi 
 with the word prsecipitii, p. 24, line 
 9. 
 
 4 Pp. 51, 62. 
 
INTRODUCTION. xli 
 
 Arras MS. a different plan was taken. That page con- 
 tains an account of the miraculous lifting up of Dunstan's 
 bed shortly before his death, which is not given in the 
 S.,Gall MS., and was apparently unknown to Adelard. 
 It seemed more likely to have been added in the later 
 copy, than to have been intentionally omitted in the 
 earlier. The last page is accordingly completed from 
 the S. Gall MS. The collation of the Cottonian MS. is . 
 given in the notes ; that of the S. Gall MS., for which I 
 am indebted to Dr. Dierauer, the present librarian of 
 Vadianus's library, is given at pp. 458-472. 
 
 2. For the edition of Adelard's Life three manuscripts 
 have been used. 
 
 C. The first is the Cottonian MS., Nero C. 7., a noble c^The 
 folio MS*, of the twelfth century, which contains several of Adeiard." 
 other biographies. It is written in double columns, 
 rubricated in red, thirty-nine lines to the page, and 
 illuminated with figures of angels and a very fine initiax 
 capital D. The life of Dunstan fills five folios numbered 
 72 vo. to 77, and the division into twelve lectiones is well 
 marked. This MS. furnishes our text. 
 
 G. The second MS. of Adelard is the property of the §i.JyJg 
 Honourable Society of Gray's Inn/ and is numbered 3 in 
 the new catalogue. It is a beautiful folio MS., almost as 
 fine as the Cottonian, and perhaps half a century 
 earlier, and contains a number of lives of the saints of 
 much the same character. It consists of 161 folios 
 written in double columns, rubricated in red, 40 lines to 
 the page. The life of Dimstan fills three folios num- 
 bered 75 to 78b. It omits the prologue, and one long 
 passage of considerable importance containing the vision 
 of Elfgar.^ Its various readings, which are not of any 
 great significance, are given in the notes. 
 
 ^ A Catalogue of the Ancient MSS. belonging to the Honourable 
 Society of Gray's Inn, p. 3. 
 2 Pp. 64, 65. 
 
xlii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Lambeth ^ third copy of this Life is found in the Lambeth 
 
 MS. 159. M.S., 159, a paper folio of the sixteenth century, which 
 contains several other biographies of the Canterbury 
 saints, and which lias been very useful to me in pre-' 
 paring this work. This copy is a transcript of that in 
 the Cottonian Nero C. 7. 
 Adeiard's The work of Adclard is found, no doubt, in many 
 
 life known ^ > > J 
 
 lan^st^^^" continental libraries, although I have not been so for- 
 wharton tuuate as to light upon a copy. It was known to the 
 ^the^pro-"*^^ BoUandists, and through them, apparently, to Mabillon^ 
 logue. ^i^Q j^Q^g j^Q^ mention it in his commentary on Osbern, 
 
 and was probably unaware of its existence in 1685. 
 Henschen had seen it in the monastery of Bee in 
 Normandy,^ remarking that it did not contain the 
 responsoria which, according to the prologue, originally 
 formed part of it. He gave extracts from it in the 
 notes to Osbern, but did not print it, regarding it chiefly 
 as an abridgment of the earlier Life, and preferring the 
 authority of Osbern for the additions common to the 
 later authors. Henry Wharton, in 1691, printed the 
 prologue by itself in the Anglia Sacra, vol. II., p. 148, 
 from the Lambeth MS. I am not aware that this book 
 has ever been printed, and the present is probably the 
 first edition. 
 
 Numerous 8. The mauuscripts of Osbern's work are very numerous, 
 osbem's but with the exception of the corrected passages refer- 
 ring to Edgar's penance, the birth of Edward, and the 
 offence given to Dunstan after death by the cathedral 
 clergy, they present a very uniform text, and furnish 
 few or rather no various readings of importance. They 
 differ, however, very much in respect of completeness. 
 Some omit the prologue, some contain the Life without 
 the miracles, some break off without the final paragraphs 
 of the Life, some omit considerable portions of the mira- 
 cles. These variations scarcely indicate several editions. 
 
 1 AA. SS. Boll; May, vol. iv. p. 344. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 xliii 
 
 but rather result from the purpose of the particular 
 copyist, and accordingly offer no principle of division 
 except according to quantity. The following MSS. have 
 been used, and collated for this edition. 
 
 D. This is the Bodleian MS., Digby, 110, a very gig^f no. 
 beautiful thirteenth century manuscript in quarto, con- 
 taining only the lives of Elfege and Dunstan, the latter 
 
 of which begins at folio 35, and extends to folio 88. 
 It is written in double columns, rubricated in red and 
 blue, twenty-two lines to the page. It does not con- 
 tain the prologue or the miracles, omits the contested 
 passages on Edgar's penance,^ and ends with the word 
 veniret, p. 128, leaving out the promise of the book on 
 the miracles. 
 
 E. The Cottonian MS., Tiberius, D. 3, is a large e- MS.Cot. 
 folio MS., much burnt at the edges. It is a thirteenth ^' 
 century MS., written in double columns, rubricated in 
 
 red and green, forty-three lines to the page. The 
 volume comprises a large collection of Lives, that of 
 Dunstan occupying folios 118 to 134. The Life is com- 
 plete, having both the prologue, the contested passages, 
 and the proper conclusion. The Miracles follow, but only 
 a fragment remains, ending with the words " qui 
 " homines at p. 133 of the present volume. 
 
 F. The Arundel MS., 16, in the librarv of the British f.m.s. 
 
 Arundel 16. 
 
 Museum, a fine octavo MS. of the twelfth centurv, 115 
 folios, single column, thirty-three lines to the page. It 
 contains the whole work in very good form, but the 
 contested passages have been erased and subsequent^ 
 supplied by Josselin, who also has added the miracle 
 of Egelward (pp. 144 to 151) which had been either 
 omitted or torn out of the volume. This MS. also con- 
 
 ^ The contested passages so con- 
 stantly referred to in the following 
 pages are (1) the sentence touching 
 the dedication of Wprcester Cathe- 
 dral, p. 106 ; (2) that concerning 
 
 the foundation of Shaftesbury, p. 
 112; (3) that on the birth of S. 
 Edward, also p. 112; and (4) that 
 on the spurcitice malorum, p. 142. 
 
xliv 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 tains on an inserted slip the letters on the miracle at 
 Saprington, which was worked up by Eadmer in his 
 text. 
 
 H. The Harleian MS. 56, closely resembles the last- 
 mentioned MS. It contains the prologue and the con- 
 tested passages, the first fourteen chapters of the miracles, 
 and part of the sixteenth chapter. The scribe seems to 
 have grown tired of his task, and stops just before the 
 account of the burning of the cathedral. 
 
 I. The Harleian MS. 315, a folio MS. of the twelfth 
 century, written in double columns, contains only a 
 fragment of the Life, beginning with the words " fidem 
 veram," p. 78 and ending with "legere," p. 129, in the 
 middle of the prologue to the Miracles. In the con- 
 tested passages the word quoddam is substituted as in 
 MS. for the name of Shaftesbury, and the account of the 
 birth of Edward is erased. 
 
 ^ K. The Cottonian MS. Tiberius D. 4. This is a very 
 fine folio MS. of the twelfth century, which has suffered by 
 fire, but contains nearly the whole, work,^ fairly legible. 
 It contains a collection of Lives, that of Dunstan filling 
 folios 282 to 304v<^. It is written in double columns, 
 forty-two lines to the page, and has red initial letters. 
 The text is tolerably complete, and contains the contested 
 passage about Edward, but omits the story of the founda- 
 tion of Shaftesbury and alters the relative position of 
 the 22nd and 23rd chapters of the miracles. 
 
 L. The Lambeth MS. 159, which has been mentioned 
 as containing the work of Adelard,^ comprises that of 
 Osbern as well. This is not a good copy. It has the 
 prologue, omits the contested passages of the Life, and 
 
 1 Pp. 144, 145. 
 
 - The most important omission is 
 of that the whole of c. 6 of the Life, 
 which shows perhaps that the MS. 
 has belonged to Glastonbury, the 
 traditional antiquity of which is 
 
 disparaged in that chapter. This 
 MS. also omits the word primus, 
 which would make Dunstan the 
 first abbot of Glastonbury, p. 92. 
 ^ Above, p. xlii. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 xlv 
 
 the twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth chapters of the The Lam- 
 
 . . . beth MS 
 
 miracles. It is an interesting volume, originally, it would 159. 
 seem from the inscriptions it contains, the property 
 of James Harley a monk of Christ Church, Canterbury, 
 who probably was the writer ; then of William Hadley, 
 who died on the 28th of January 154G. Hadley was 
 the first prebendary of the eighth stall at Canterbury : 
 he gave the volume to John Sarysbury, after whom 
 Richard *Hatton, Bachelor of Arts of Oxford, possessed it, 
 and soon after his time it must have come to Lambeth. 
 It has been annotated by Sancroft, and, containkig as it 
 does a large portion of the Canterbury Hagiography, 
 is altogether a very interesting book. 
 
 M. The Paris MS. Latin 2475,^ once in Colbert's m. The Paris 
 Library (Colb. 1418, R. 3791) is of the thirteenth century, 
 and contains lives of Cuthbert, Elfege, Odo, Edmund, and 
 Bede. It is a large folio volume written in double columns, 
 32 lines to the page. The life of Dunstan begins at 
 folio 106. It omits the contested passages of the life, 
 and the miracle of Egelward, c. 19 of the second book ; 
 but has at the conclusion of each book a number of 
 elegiac verses in honour of Dunstan, which are found in 
 no other MS. ^ This is a fine and perfect text, but bears 
 a few marks of revision which cannot be ascribed to the 
 author. 
 
 N. The Paris MS. Latin 5284 ^ (Colbert 2632, R. ^44) n The Paris 
 
 ^ '44/ MS 5284. 
 
 was written early in the 13th century. It is in folio, 
 double columns, 84 lines to the page, and besides the 
 life of Dunstan, contains the biographies of several early 
 saints, all except S. Brendan belonging to the continental 
 churches. Osbem's work begins on folio 161 and ends 
 on folio 181 ; it has the prologue and the contested 
 
 1 
 
 See the Catalogue of the MSS. 
 
 of the Iloyal Library, vol. iii. pp. 
 286, 287. 
 
 2 See pp. 128, 161, below. 
 
 3 See the Catalogue of the MSS 
 
 of the Royal Library, vol. iv. pp. 
 68, 69. 
 
 d 
 
xlvi INTRODUCTION. 
 
 passages, but not the miracles, ending with a doxology 
 after the word veniret, at p. 128. 
 
 o. The Paris O. The Paris MS. Latin 5348,^ (Colbert 1049, R. ^ff^-), 
 belonging to the twelfth or early thirteenth century ; 
 a folio in double columns, 36 lines to the page. It con- 
 tains lives of Brendan, Cuthbert, Anselm, and Dunstan, 
 the last filling folios 58 to 88. It is very perfect as 
 far as it goes, having the prologue, the contested^passages, 
 and the miracles, but has unfortunately lost the last leaf, 
 ending with the words "adjuvante et Dunstano," p. 159. 
 
 p. The Paris P. The Parfs MS. Latin 5989 ^ (Colbert 375, R. 839 5)^ 
 once the property of J. Pithou, contains a considerable 
 fragment of Osbern's Life of Dunstan, and a life of S. 
 Romanus of Rouen. It is of the 14th, century, folio, 
 double columns, 36 lines to the page. Osbern's work 
 begins at folio 31, without the prologue, and ends with 
 the words " non denique uUo humani," p. 100. 
 
 R. The Bod- R. The Bodlciau MS. 285, of the twelfth century, is 
 
 285. * a large volume of 183 folios containing a considerable 
 collection of the lives of the saints. It is written in 
 double columns, rubricated in red and green, thirty-six 
 lines to the page. The life of Dunstan fills folios 83 v^. 
 to 99 ; it has no prologue and does not contain the 
 miracles, but has the contested passages, and ends with 
 the word veniret, p. 128. 
 
 CO. The MS. CC. The MS, 328 ^ in the Library of Corpus 
 
 Corpus MS. 
 
 328. ' Christi College, Cambridge, once the property of Win- 
 chester Cathedral, "Liber Ecclesi^ Sancti Swythuni 
 Wyntonise," contains a very fine and pqrfect copy of 
 Osbern. It is an octavo of 78 leaves, of the twelfth 
 century, in single column, rubricated in red, and with 
 finely ornamental initial letters. It has both the life and 
 the miracles, with the contested passages, untouched. 
 
 1 See the Catalogue of the MSS. 
 of the Royal Library, toI. iv. pp. 
 103, 104. 
 
 2 Ibid. vol. iv. p. 188. 
 
 3 See Nasmith's Catalogue of the 
 Corpus MSS., p. 347. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 xlvii 
 
 After the life it has " Missa Sancti Dunstani," ^ fo. 75 ; 
 which is probably also the work of Osbern, and which 
 is printed in this volume at p. 442. 
 
 MS. DD. The MS. 42,^ also in the Library of Corpus dd. The 
 Christi College, Cambridge, contains Osbem's Life, to- 42!^^^ 
 gether with those of S. Martin and S. Edmund, and 
 some other pieces. It is written in a twelfth century 
 hand in single column, 40 lines to the page. It has 
 the prologue, agrees with MS. M. in substituting " ali- 
 " quod " for the name of Shaftesbury in the account of 
 Edgar's penance, leaves out the birth of Edward, and 
 ends with the words '^videantur quae dicamus," p. 128, 
 omitting the miracles and the prefatory paragraph at 
 the end of the life. The volume once belonged to John 
 Ringwolde, a monk of Dover. 
 
 Besides these MSS., all of which have been used for ^/q|^^J^^' 
 this edition, there is one in the Vatican, MS. Christina 
 646, fol. 1-50;^ an octavo of the twelfth century. The 
 Cottonian MS. Vitellius D. 15, also contained Osbern s 
 life, but has been nearly destroyed by fire, and has now no 
 fragment of it that can be detected.^* The Library of 
 Montpellier possesses a complete copy in the second 
 volume of its magnificent collection of lives numbered first 
 in the catalogue,^ and once the property of the monastery 
 of Clairvaux ; and in the binding of MSS. 85, 37, 40, 
 and 62, of the library of Boulogne-sur-Mer, are four 
 fragments of another ancient copy which once belonged 
 to the great abbey of S. Bertin.^ 
 
 Osbern's Life has been three times edited, the miracles 
 twice. 
 
 1 Below, p. 442. 
 
 2 Nasmith's Catalogue, p. 26. 
 
 3 Hardy's Catalogue of Materials, 
 i. 598. 
 
 4 Ibid. p. 597. 
 
 ^ Catalogue General des MSS. des 
 Bibliotheqties publiques des De- 
 
 partements, vol. i. p. 283. Hardy, 
 Catalogue of Materials, i. 599. The 
 Laon MS. 163, mentioned by Sir 
 T. D. Hardy, is a copy of Eadmer, 
 not of Osbern. 
 
 ^ Catalogue General, &c., vol. iv. 
 pp. 595, 596, 613. 
 
 d 2 
 
xlviii 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Osbern, 
 edited by 
 Mabillon ; 
 
 by the Bol- 
 landisto ; 
 
 by Henry 
 Wharton : 
 
 and Migne. 
 
 Mabillon, in the Acta Sanctorum, ssec. IV.,^ published 
 in 1685, gave both the life and miracles from a MS. 
 which had belonged to de Thou and afterwards to Col- 
 bert, and which may safely be identified with MS. M. 
 described above. 
 
 The BoUandist fathers, also in 1685, published both 
 life and miracles, in thfeir fourlih volume for the month 
 of May, pp. 359-384 ; from two MSS. " Antwerpiensi 
 " et Bonifontensi." Their text is almost word for word 
 the same as Mabillon's, but does not contain the con- 
 cluding verses. Besides the Antwerp MS., which the 
 editors saved from destruction by purchasing it, and the 
 Bonfont MS., they mention a third which they had seen 
 at Bodickheim in Westphalia. 
 
 Henry Wharton, my most illustrious predecessor in 
 the charge of the archiepiscopal library at Lambeth, 
 published in 1691 the life and the prologue to the 
 miracles in the second volume of the Anglia Sacra, pp. 
 88-121. He had used only the Lambeth MS. 159: thus 
 by a curious fatality the contested passages, although 
 they occurred in so many of the MSS., and in all the 
 good ones, have not until now been printed, and com- 
 mentators have supposed that the criticisms of Eadmer 
 and William of Malmesbury refer to a lost biography.^ 
 
 The Abb^ Migne in the 149th volume of the Patrologia 
 has reprinted among the works of Osbern, the Life and 
 Miracles of Dunstan from Mabillon and the BoUandists. 
 
 Eadmer's 
 Life in MS. 
 
 4. Eadmer s Life of Dunstan is very rare in MS., con- 
 trasting strongly in that respect with the work of Osbern. 
 On the other hand we possess, in the MS. which has 
 been used for the text of this edition, what is either the 
 
 1 pp. 659-688 of the edition of 
 1685 ; pp. 639-684 of the Venice 
 edition, ^vhich I have used in pre- 
 paring this volume. 
 
 " Hardy, Catalogue, i. 602 j Whar- 
 ton, Ang. Sac. ii. 211. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 xlix 
 
 autograph of Eadmer himself, or a copy taken directly 
 and immediately from the original. 
 
 P. This js the MS. 371 in the library of Corpus Christi ^i^^^l^^^'- 
 College, Cambridge, which also possesses a MS., pro- Sadmer.*^ 
 bably original, of the invaluable Historia Novorum 
 by the same author. It is a fair quarto MS. of the 
 twelfth century, and bears a contemporary title, " Opus- 
 
 cula Edmeri Cantoris." It is written for the most part 
 in single column, 33 lines to the page. It contains, 
 as the title states, all the minor works of Eadmer, in- 
 cluding besides the Life of Dunstan, the lives of Wilfrid, 
 Bregwin, Odo, Oswald, and Anselm, and three other 
 pieces printed in the present volume, the verses on 
 Dunstan,^ the letter to the monks of . Glastonbury,^ and 
 the letter of Nicolas of Worcester on the mother of 
 S. Edward.^ Besides these the MS. has several devo- 
 tional compositions of Eadmer, some of which are printed 
 by Gerberon and Migne in the Appendix to their edition 
 of the works of Anselm, and some of which are yet 
 unpublished. 
 
 The Life of Dunstan fills folios 103 to 154 of the MS. other ^ss. 
 
 ofEaamer. 
 
 Another MS. of Eadmer s Life is found in the MS. 163 
 bis, of the public library of Laon ; ^ a volume which con- 
 tains also the lives of S. Cuthbert, S. Oswald, and S. Aidan. 
 It is a folio MS. of the twelfth century, and was formerly 
 the property of the monastery of Vauclair. It contains 
 both the life and the miracles. 
 
 These are the only two MSS. which are known to 
 contain the entire work. Two others have, however, 
 been used in the preparation of this edition, which may 
 be noticed here. 
 
 The Cottonian MS. Nero E. 1, is a well-known trea- Thf g>ttoii 
 
 MS. Nero 
 
 sury of early hagiology. It contains, bound up, almost e. i. 
 wantonly, with a mass of much earlier matter, a life of 
 
 1 p. 424. 
 
 2 p. 412. 
 
 3 p. 422. 
 
 ^Catalogue General, &c., vol. ii 
 p. 122. 
 
1 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 TJ^eLifein Dunstan, which has been understood to be Eadmer s, but 
 compilation reality a composite work, mo.de up of long extracts 
 from this author, and from the corresponding work of 
 William of Malme^bury. The life of Dunstan occupies 
 folios 401 v° to 409 v"*, written in double columns, 46 
 lines to the page, rubricated in red, and with red and 
 blue initial letters. The penmanship is of the thirteenth 
 century. A collation of the whole shows that it is 
 worthless as illustrating the text of Eadmer.^ 
 
 The Lansdowne MS. 436, in the library of the British 
 Museum, is a collection of lives adapted to the use of the 
 nuns of Romsey : Iste liber est de » librario ecclesiae 
 Sanctse Marise et Sanctse Ethelfledse Virginis de 
 Romesey." It is written throughout in a good four- 
 teenth century hand, in double columns, rubricated in 
 red and blue. The life of Dunstan fills folios 59 to 
 
 The Lans- 
 downe MS. 
 436. 
 
 << 
 
 ^ The following collation is suffi- 
 cient to indicate its contents : — 
 
 The text of Eadmer is kept pretty 
 closely from the beginning (p. 165) 
 to '*sortitus est," p. 175. From p. 
 1 7 5 to 1 80 is omitted. It begins again 
 Sublato " p. 180, and continues to 
 "operam dedit,*' p. 184. Pp. 184- 
 187 omitted. It resumes witli " Post 
 " haec" to " consignavit," p. 187: 
 then, omitting the intervening por- 
 tions, " Ipse quadam die," p. 188, 
 to " consecrari," p. 189. Then 
 comes the first extract from Wil- 
 liam of Malmesbury, " Sepulto 
 " igitur," p. 282, to " petulantiam," 
 p. 283. Returning to Eadmer, 
 ** Erat in illis diebus," p. 190, to 
 p. 197 ; ** memorato 
 197, to "ascendit," 
 
 " exsequens," 
 « Odone," p. 
 
 p. 198. After this we have a sen- 
 tence abridged from William of 
 Malmesbury, ^ p. 293, ** nec minus 
 " cum Cantuariensi primatu susce- 
 " pit beati Andrese in urbe Rofensi 
 ** sedem, quse nunquam potest di- 
 velli ab ejus caritate sicut neo 
 
 ** membrum a capite." Then, from 
 William of Malmesbury, "Pro 
 " more," p. 294, to ** impetravit," 
 p. 296, with the date of Pope John's 
 letter, p. 298 : ■— « Beatum " bo- 
 " nus Odo," p. 299 ; "Eo tempore " 
 — " rivum," p. 305^ — ** Interea rex," 
 p, 306 — " concedentibus,'* p. 308 ; 
 " Quadam deinde," p. 315 — "desi- 
 " derio," p. 317; "multa sunt — 
 " transierat," p. 317. The story of 
 E^^gar's Sunday hunt is given from 
 Eadmer, ** Alio quodam " — " canit," 
 p. 207; "dies igitur," p. 217, to 
 " dilapsi sunt," p. 218 ; " Dunstanus 
 "itaque," p. 219, to "haberes," 
 p. 219 ; "mox autem," p. 219, to 
 ** exspectabat," p. 221. Then, 
 " mente sobria," p. 320, to " timen- 
 « tibus se," p. 320 ; from William. 
 " Tunc subito " to " prsemium," 
 Eadmer, p. 221. " Transiit autem " 
 — "immensse," W. Malmesb. p. 321. 
 " Sepultus"-.-"ascendebatur," Ead- 
 mer, p. 221: — " Cui est honor et 
 "gloria in saecula saeculorum. 
 " Amen.'* 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 li 
 
 68. It is an abridgment of Eadmer's work, and contains This is an 
 nothing from any other source. A collation of both 
 these MSS. will be found in the notes. ^ 
 
 A late copy of the book on the miracles is annexed to 
 William of Malmesbury's life of Dunstan in MS. Eawlinson, 
 Misc. 263, an account of which will be found further on. 
 
 The Life by Eadmer was printed by Surius, in his ^^'^^'^ 
 collection of the Acta Sanctorum, first in 1578, and re- 
 
 ^ The Lansdowne Life is divided 
 into twenty-three chapters : — 
 
 1. Beatus — amissum,p. 165. De- 
 hinc — reversi sunt, p. 166. 
 
 2. Proficiebat utique beatus Dun- 
 stanus in scientia et moribus, cujus 
 summum studium, p. 168 — devitaret. 
 Sciens, p. 169 — concedi, p. 170: 
 followed by an abridgment of c. 6. 
 
 3. Post aliquantos, p. 173 — sor- 
 titus est, p. 175. 
 
 4. Sublato, p. 180 — persolvere 
 fecit, p. 181. 
 
 5. Inde ad hospitium, p. 181 — 
 sumpsisse, p. 182. 
 
 6. Contigit, p. 183 — testati sunt, 
 p. 184. 
 
 7. Post ha;c rege E. occiso, p. 184 
 very much abridged, to admonuit, 
 p. 187. 
 
 8. Post hunc, p. 187 — esse vera, 
 p. 189, very much abridged. 
 
 9. Inter beati, p. 189 — coram Deo 
 advertit, p. 195, abridged. 
 
 10. The vision of Edwy's soul, 
 p. 196, abridged, to Cantuariensis 
 effectus, p. 197. The copyist has 
 then grown weary: " Quis igitur in 
 " cunctis quae religioni competunt 
 '* Dunstanus fuerit, videlicet, cujus 
 
 virtutis ad omnes omnium per- 
 sonarum injustitias deprimendas, 
 ad bona quseque opera fovenda et 
 munienda extiterit, qui novit his- 
 torias et legerit vitas sanctorum 
 temporis sui cognoscit. Ideo non 
 
 (S 
 
 opus esse arbitror ut me brevitati 
 *' studentem in illis scribendis fati- 
 get grandis labor. Nonnulla 
 tamen de miraculis quae archiepl- 
 scopus gessit, breviter subnecten- 
 tur." 
 
 11. Abridgment of c. 27 of Ead- 
 mer. 
 
 12. Per idem — quiescent, p. 205, 
 ut pluribus omissis in sequentibus 
 patebit exemplis. 
 
 13. AHo quodam — canit, p. 207. 
 
 14. Quadam nocte, p. 208 — mo- 
 dulatse sunt, p. 209. 
 
 15. Ordo clericalis, p. 211 — eli- 
 minatis, p. 212. 
 
 16. Quod citato gressu, p. 212 — 
 nemo fuit, p. 213. 
 
 17. Illis autem, p. 213 — suarum, 
 p. 214. 
 
 18. Inter hsec, p. 214 — asseruit, 
 p. 215. 
 
 19. Post hsec dies, p. 217— dilapsi 
 sunt, p. 218. 
 
 21. (sic) Dunstanus itaque, p. 
 219 — ascendebatur, p. 221. 
 
 22. The account of the transla- 
 tion by Lanfranc and cure of the 
 deaf woman, from the Book of 
 Miracles, p. 232, to the word effecti^ 
 p. 233. I 
 
 23. Accedit post hsec, an abridg- 
 ment of the story of Egelward, p. 
 234, as far as the word " examina- 
 tio," p. 238, and there the Vita 
 endsi 
 
Hi 
 
 IKTEOBTJCTION. 
 
 Edition of printed in 1576-1581, in 1581 at Venice, and in 1618 at 
 Elmers Q^j^gj^^ Venice edition it fills folios 99 v° to 
 
 106 The editor added a compendium of the miracles, 
 retaining for the most part the language of the original, 
 but very much abridged. He ascribed the whole, as has 
 been already mentioned, to an imaginary Osbert. 
 Portions Mabillon, in his appendices to the life by Osbern, re- 
 by MabiUon ; printed from Surius such portions of the life by Eadmer 
 as furnished new information, and published from a MS. 
 • at Compiegne, which had no author's name, a consider- 
 able part of the book on the miracles. These will be 
 found at pp. 684-695 of the Venice edition, pp. 689-712 
 of the original edition of 1685. 
 
 The BoUandists in 1685 also gave lai^ge illustrative 
 extracts from Surius (AA. SS. Mail, vol. iv. pp. 359 sq.). 
 They had a copy of it in a fine MS. Legendary oT the 
 Saints of May and June. In the year 1688 they printed, 
 from a MS. of their own and from MabiUon, the extracts 
 from the looifacles ; AA. SS. Maii, vii. pp. 812-816. 
 
 Henry Wharton in 1691 printed, in the second volume 
 of the Anglia Sacra, pp. 211-221, large extracts from the 
 Corpus MS., including the prologue, which was then first 
 published. Wharton was able from his knowledge of this 
 MS. to assign the authorship to Eadmer. These portions 
 were reprinted by Migne with other works of Eadmer, 
 as an appendix to Anselm, in vol. 159 of the Patrologia. 
 
 by the Bol- 
 lan^dlsts ; 
 
 and by Hen 
 ry Warton. 
 
 Q. The MS. 5. The fifth Life, that by William of Malmesbury, is 
 
 of Maime&i found Only in oue MS* 
 
 Q. This is the Eawlinson MS., Misc. 263, in the Bodleian 
 Library. It was given to, Thomas Hearne by James 
 Westj, M.A., of BalUol College,^ and was bought by Dr. 
 Kawlirison after Hearne's death. It cbntains no notes of 
 
 1 ** To Mr. Thomas Hearne, of 
 Edmimd Hall in Oxford, Jan. 1, 
 1726. Feliqes multos tibi Jnppi- 
 ter augeat annos, sic optat sic 
 precatur vester J; W.— -Suum 
 
 u 
 
 li 
 
 " cuique: Tho. Hearhe, Feb. 7, 
 " 1726 ; ex dono amici ornatissimi 
 " Jacobi West. A. M. e Coll. 
 Ball." 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 liii 
 
 its earlier history. The MS. is written in single column ^he^^f^s^.^^, ' 
 throughout, 23 lines to the page, with initial letters of Misc. 263. 
 red and blue. It contains 83 folios, of which the first 33, 
 forming the first book of the life^ are in a bad hand of 
 the latter part of the fourteenth or fifteenth century ; 
 folios 34-65, forming the second book, are in a small 
 cursive hand of the period of the Reformation, and have 
 18 or 19 lines to the page: the remainder, which is 
 Eadmer's book of the miracles, is in the same hand and 
 fills the rest of the volume. It is a very curious book, 
 and the character of the modern writing can scarcely be 
 described so as to be intelligible to a person who has not 
 seen it. I am quite unable to conjecture which of our 
 sixteenth century scholars has transcribed it, or where 
 he found his text. It is not however, certainly, the 
 writing of Hearne, as has been svipposed.^ This life is 
 now printed foi' the first time. 
 
 It may be as well to say here what little need be said 
 of the other MSS. used for the latter portions of this 
 volume. 
 
 "The text of Capgrave's Life of Dunstan is from a fine clpgrave's 
 MS. of his collection, now MS. Tanner 15, in the Bodleian. 
 It has been carefully collated with the edition printed by 
 Wynkyn de Worde, and with another MS. in the Bod- 
 leian, Bodley 240, of the fifteenth century, the writer of 
 which has so well counterfeited an earlier hand, that at 
 first sight I was inclined to refer it to the twelfth. The 
 collation gives no various readings of any value, the 
 printed text being on the whole the best of the three. 
 
 The letters of Dunstan's contemporaries which form ^rP^I vii. 
 the most valuable portion of Part VII. of this volume, 
 are all found in the unlucky Cotton MS. Tiberius A. 15 ; ^ 
 and seven of them in the MS. Vespasian A. 14. 
 
 The Tiberius MS. is a collection of Alcuin s letters. 
 
 1 Hardy, Catal. Materials, i. 605. 
 
 2 The present volume contains all 
 the letters comprised in this MS., 
 additional to those of Alcuin, except 
 
 one of S.Augustine, and two, printed 
 by Canisius, of Halitgar to Ebbo 
 and Ebbo to Halitgar. 
 
liv 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The Cotton to which those here printed are appended, arranejed and 
 
 MS. Tiberius . , . ^ ^% , . ° 
 
 A. 15. copied, as it seems to me, early in the eleventh century. 
 
 In this opinion I am confirmed by Sir Thomas Hardy's 
 authority,^ but the recent editors of Alcuin's letters, 
 MM. Diimmler and Wattenbach, mark it " saec. XII." It 
 has furnished twenty new letters to the collection formed 
 by Dr. Jaffd, and published in, 1873.^ It was also used 
 very largely by myself in the third volume of the " Coun- 
 " cils aiid Ecclesiastical Documents," published in 1871.^ 
 It has nearly perished by fire and water ; many whole 
 pages can only be read by catching the light on the 
 hollows in which the ink has once been. I cannot ven- 
 ture to affirm that I have recovered the exact text in 
 many places ; but I hope that whoever, coming after me, 
 proves more successful, will ascribe my failure to a lack 
 of power, rather than to a want of pains. Mr. Bond 
 and Mr, Thompson have helped me in the task, and I 
 am sincerely grateful to them. 
 The Cotton Tho MS. Vcspasian A. 14 is a very miscellaneous 
 A. 14. volume, great part of it consisting of theological scraps, 
 put together under the patronage of Wulfstan, archbishop 
 of York, early in the eleventh century.^ Some part of it. 
 
 1 Hardy, Cat. Mat. 1. 504. 
 
 2 Monumenta Alcuiniana, p. 134. 
 
 ^ Councils, &c., iii. pp. 495, 498- 
 500, 520, 615, &c. 
 
 The following lines, -which fix the date of a great part of the volume, 
 are worth preserving : — 
 
 Qui legis hunc titulum, Domino da vota Tonanti 
 Archipbntifice pro Wlfstano venerando. 
 
 Floret in hoc opere pia mentis prsesulis archi 
 Wlfstani cui det Dominus pia regna polorum, 
 Et sibi commissos tueatur ab hoste maligno. 
 
 Pontificis bonitas manet hoc memoranda ierarchi 
 Wlfstani supero qui sit conscriptus in albo. 
 
 Est laus Wlfstano mea pulchritudo beriigno 
 Pontifici cui sit Dominus sine fine serenus; 
 
 Comere me comiter jussit ita prsesulis archi 
 Wulfstani pietas, data sit cui arce corona. 
 
 Praesule Wlfstano hoc opus est censente paratum, 
 PoUice quod docto impressit subtilis aliptes. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Iv 
 
 however, is much earlier, and some later. This also was 5^^^^^^^^*^^ 
 used for Dr. Jaffa's Monumenta Alcuiniana.^ That emi- 
 nent scholar also transcribed six of the later letters con- 
 tained in it ; and for his copies I have to thank very sin- 
 cerely the kind liberality of his editors, who transmitted 
 them to me through Dr. Pauli, and at his suggestion.^ 
 The MS. had been already used by me in preparing the 
 ''Councils" and some of the letters, as well of those 
 contained in thp Tiberius MS., I had copied as long ago 
 as 1859, in preparation for an edition of Alcuin to be 
 edited for the Surtees Society, a design which the pub- 
 lication of Dr. JafF(3\s collection has now quite superseded. 
 
 The MS, C.C.C. 161, of Corpus Christi College, Cam- The sermon 
 bridge, which furnished the *' Sermo de Maxima laude stan.' 
 Sancti Dunstani," pp. 454-457, is a fine Legenda 
 
 Sanctorum " written in double columns, late in the 
 twelfth century. It contains lives of most of the early 
 English saints, and of four saintly abbots of Cluny, Odo, 
 Maiolus, Odilo, and Hugh.^ 
 
 The Cottonian MS. Tiberius B. 5, is a precious treasury The itine- 
 
 rpjT'y of 
 
 of Anglo-Saxon relics, far too extensive to be described sigeric. 
 here. It was used by the editors of the Monumenta 
 Historica Britannica for the , Fasti appended to the 
 Chronicle of Florence of Worcester ; ^ and has furnished 
 to the present work the Itinerary of archbishop Sigeric, 
 and the list of the popes, and of the abbots of Glaston- 
 bury, which will be found at pp. 891 and Ixxxii. 
 
 The MS. Nero A. 2, furnishes a little prayer to S. 
 
 1 Mon.'Alc. p. 134. 
 
 ^ These copies reached me by 
 post the very morning on which I 
 was starting for Cambridge, to bor- 
 row the Gale MS., which I believed 
 to contain copies from the Tiberius 
 MS. As I had had no communica- 
 tion with the German scholars on 
 the subject, the coincidence was 
 curious, and if it had occurred in 
 
 Dunstan's own times might have 
 passed for something more. Un- 
 fortunately the Gale MS. at Trinity 
 which contains transcripts of the 
 Alcuin letters does not contain the 
 Dunstan ones. 
 
 3 Nasmith's Catalogue, p. 229. 
 
 ^ Mon. Hist. Brit. p. 616. Wan- 
 ley, ap. Hickes, Thesaurus, iii. 
 215. 
 
Ivi 
 
 INTEODtrCTIOK. 
 
 Dunstan, printed at p. 440. This is a very curious volume 
 put together by Sir Robert Cotton from fragments of the 
 earliest MSS. in his possession, and well deserves careful 
 analysis. 
 
 Sketch of II. A complete investisfation of the literary history of 
 
 the history x o v 
 
 of the cycle, the cycle is not called for here; and to attempt it would 
 be merely to recount in detail the several parallelisms 
 and divergencies of the first five authors, which are 
 noted in the margin of this edition. On the other 
 hand, it is scarcely sufficient to say merely that each of 
 the five writers, whilst he added somewhat of his own 
 or of independent tradition, was indebted for the main 
 string and most of the marked details of his narrative 
 to the works of his predecessors. I will therefore briefly 
 state the chief conclusions to which I have come after 
 a careful study of the books before us, on the growth 
 of what, without any intention of disparagement, I shall 
 venture to call, in the ancient sense of the word, the 
 Dunstan legend. 
 
 The origin of the cycle must not be looked for at 
 Glastonbury, but partly at Winchester and chiefly at 
 Canterbury. The priest B., Adelard, Osbem, and Ead- 
 mer, wrote at Canterbury or for the Canterbury clergy. 
 William of Malmesbury, alone of the five, wrote for the 
 monks of Glastonbury. All that part then of the original 
 story which concerns Glai^tonbury must be supposed to 
 rest upon contemporary belief, and probably on the 
 statements of Dunstan himself, who, as we learn from 
 Abbo,^ was accustomed to recount to his scholars stories 
 of the kind, bearing upon the history of the nation. 
 The priest B. had, as he tells us in his Prologue, learned 
 
 Its origin 
 not at Glas- 
 tonbury. 
 
 ^ Pp. 378> 379: "tua sanctitas ex 
 ** antiquitatis jnemoria coUectam 
 " historialiter me praesente retulis- 
 " set . . . sicut tuus mos est, fra- 
 
 " tribus quos * pabulo divini verbi 
 " Latina et patria lingua pascere 
 " non desinis.*' 
 
INTRODUOTION, 
 
 Ivii 
 
 much of what he relates from Dunstan's own mouth,^ The work of 
 much from, the scholars whom he had educated from P^est. 
 their childhood. We can then, without any great stretch 
 of imagination, see the white-haired old bishop sitting 
 with the children of his household, his counsellors and 
 guests, by the fire in winter, and telling the little ones 
 the story of his childhood as he told the elders the his- 
 tory of S. Edmund, king and martyr, which had been told 
 
 /by 
 
 him when a boy by the king's armour-bearer. To this f^e story 
 direct source, it may well be, we owe our knowledge of Junstan 
 the names of his parents Herstan and Cynethrythis, his ^i^^^eif. 
 brother Wulfric, and his kinsmen Elfege and Kinesige ; 
 the legend of the unfailing barrel of mead,^ which 
 marked the occasion of King Athelstan's visit to his 
 niece at Glastonbury ; the mention of the Irish teachers ; 
 the narrow escape from falling stones at Winchester and 
 at Glastonbury ; the story of King Edmund's chase in 
 Cheddar, and all that is of local and personal interest 
 in the early part of the story. In particular we must 
 assign to Dunstan himself most of the marvellous tales Especially 
 of the first biographer : the child's dream at his first veiioSs por- 
 visit to Glastonbury, his walking in his sleep to church 
 and climbing the mason's ladder ; his dream oi' his 
 friend Wulfred ; his vision of the mystic dove at Ethel- 
 fleda's death; the mysterious music of his harp as it 
 hung against the wall ; and the noble words which 
 formed themselves in his mind as he heard it. The 
 several temptations by the devil are also probably of 
 Dunstan's telling; one took place on his own showing 
 
 ' vel videndo, vel aiidiendo licet 
 intellectu torpenti ab ipso didice- 
 ram, vel etiam ex ejus alumnis 
 qiios a tenella juventutis aetata ad 
 vires usque perfectos, doctrinarum 
 pabulis decenter instruetos ipse- 
 met educando deduxit," p. 5. 
 - This story, we may observe, is 
 a digression, not told in connexion 
 
 with any part of Dunstan's history, 
 and may have been made up before 
 he was born. It is told also of a 
 visit of Athelstan to Abingdon, in 
 the life of S. Ethelwold by Wulf- 
 stan, Mabillon, AA. SS. s^c. V. 
 pp. 600, 601 ; and in the life by 
 Elfric, in Chron. Abend, ed. Steven- 
 son, ii. 258. 
 
Iviii 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Dunstan's 
 temptations 
 probably 
 were iii 
 dreams. 
 
 They reflect 
 his own 
 mind. 
 
 The silence 
 of the first 
 writer on 
 public 
 matters. 
 
 in a dream; he had fallen asleep before S. George's 
 altar/ and the enemy looked over his shoulder in the 
 shape of a bear ; he awoke with the words of the psalm 
 on his lips, Let God arise and let his enemies be 
 scattered." Another, when the devil took the form of 
 a bear, a dog, and a fox, was perhaps told by Dunstan 
 as a dream also, but has taken in the narrative of the 
 biographer the form of a waking vision.^ The same is 
 probably true of the dream that Dunstan had in Flan- 
 ders touching his enemies at Glastonbury,* his vision 
 of his mother's marriage,^ and of the choir of virgins 
 at S. Augustine's,^ and possibly the warnings that came 
 to him, at different times, of the death of his friends.^ 
 All these stories bear the impress of the same mind, a 
 mind slightly morbid and very sensitive, but pure and 
 devout, void of grossness and grotesqueness. They seem, 
 to be stories for the children, told by one who had a 
 strong belief in dreams, and to be magnified and made 
 important in the repetition chiefly on account of the 
 greatness of the narrator. On public events of his own 
 time we may well understand the archbishop to have 
 been far more reticent; hence the silence of the bio- 
 grapher on the history of Edgar, and his mistakes or 
 misrepresentations, for such we shall see them probably 
 to have been, of the history of Edwy. Midway be- 
 tween these two classes of stories, one of which Dunstan 
 must have told, whilst the other he could scarcely have 
 told as we have them, come two or three half private 
 half public reminiscences, such as the warning of the 
 death of Edred,^ and the appearance of the swarthy 
 stranger before the murder of Edmund.^ In these cases 
 we shall probably not venture to guess whether the tale 
 
 ^ P. 27 : " nee, ut ita dicam, peni- 
 " tus vigilanti neque penitus dor- 
 " mienti." 
 
 ** quadam nocte," p. 26. 
 
 Pp. 34, 35. 
 
 * Pp. 41, 42. 
 5 Pp. 48. 49. 
 « Pp. 45^ 46, 47. 
 
 7 P. 31. 
 
 8 P. 45. 
 
INTRODUCTION. lix 
 
 is due to the somewhat excitable imagination of the The most 
 
 . ° wonderful 
 
 saint, or to the exaefe^eration oi common rumours at the story not 
 
 rrn 1 n 1 r» n 1 • t fourid in the 
 
 time. The most wonderful story oi all, the miraculous i>est ms. 
 lifting up of Dunstan in his bed just before his death, 
 is not to be assigned to the authority either of the 
 archbishop himself, or of the first biographer.^ As it 
 does not occur in the S. Gall MS., as there is no hint 
 of it in the earlier part of the book, and as Adelard 
 was clearly ignorant of it, I think that we may safely 
 regard it as a later insertion. If, however, it be re- 
 ferred to the author of the rest of the book, as he does 
 not relate it as an eye-witness, its truth or falsehood 
 does not affect his personal veracity. The chief state- 
 ment, to which the priest B. deposes on his own know- 
 ledge,^ is the account of Dunstan's manner of life, his 
 constant devotion, his literary labours, the great success 
 of his work in the enlightenment of England, and that 
 gift of tears, which is so curiously unintelligible at the 
 present day, but on which we have the unquestionable 
 testimony of Abbo of Fleury in his letter to Dunstan 
 himself.^ 
 
 Such being: the sources, and such the recorder of the Special 
 history, we shall not be far wrong m attributing to 
 this life of Dunstan a value as illustrative rather of 
 character than of external history. It has what may 
 be called a " subjective " value ; its marvels are not 
 miracles but visions and impressions. Its bearing on 
 objective history is mediate. Such in his inner life, in 
 rest and meditation, in his talk with the children, in 
 his recollections of his own childhood, was the man 
 who for thirty years was the mainstay of the safety 
 and glory of the English. From this point of view, 
 the work of the Sa:5^n priest is one of the most valuable 
 monuments of our too scanty history. I cannot agree 
 
 ' Pp. 51, 52. 
 2 Pp. 49, 50. 
 
 3 p. 379. 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 Character 
 of Adelard's 
 Life. 
 
 Not an 
 Abridg- 
 ment. 
 
 with the critics who look on it as a mere farrago of 
 " monkish fables."^ 
 
 The work of Adelard is in strong contrast. The idea 
 that this book is a mere abridgment of the former has 
 led to a general misunderstanding of the relations of 
 the two. It is from Adelard, in point of fact, that the 
 most startling of the " objective " marvels of Dunstan's 
 career are derived. Not that he invented them, per- 
 haps, but that the legend had, in the seven or eight 
 years that intervened between the two, had time to grow, 
 and had grown luxuriantly. Dunstan had already be- 
 come a legendary hero. Adelard then is the authority for 
 the supernatural event that heralded the birth of the 
 saint ; he first tells how, at the feast of the Purification 
 themarveis. at Glastonbury, when the tapfer,*^ of all the congregation 
 were suddenly and miraculously extinguished, the taper 
 of the expectant mother was relighted, and from it all 
 the rest f in the first life, the delirious boy on his mid- 
 night walk had held a stick, as if he were keeping 
 off* mad dogs,^ but with Adelard the possible dogs be- 
 come ghostly messengers of the evil one. It is Adelard 
 who tells first of the divine warning given at the birth 
 of Edgar,^ of the falling beam arrested by the sign of 
 the cross.^ The temptation by the bear which, accord- 
 
 The source 
 
 * It is important to notice the 
 mention made of this Life by the 
 biographer of Oswald, who was also 
 contemporary with Elfric: "Post 
 hsec eximius pater Dunstanus et 
 decus omnis patriae, ex hac luce 
 " subtractus, ad seternse lucis gaudia 
 " ovanter est perductus. Qualiter 
 ** caerulos sestuantis undse fervores 
 " exsuperaverit, et quomodo pue- 
 *' ritiam suae pubertatis misericors 
 " totius mundi Salvator servaverit 
 " atque juventutis prseconium sub- 
 " limaverit, vel florentibus compsit 
 actibus, sive quomodo senectam 
 
 (i 
 
 sua? sanctEB senectutis finierit, 
 liber ejusdem vita3 descriptus 
 " luce clarius demonstrat." Nero, 
 E. 1. fo. 16. The writer then gives 
 the temptation by the bear, the 
 choir of virgins, and the Kyrie elei- 
 son. To the same source we are 
 indebted for the poems of Abbo 
 given in -this volume. 
 2 P. 54. 
 
 ^ " a canibus rabidis quasi se de- 
 " fenderet, ibat," p. 8 ; coinpare 
 Adelard, p. 55. 
 
 4 P. 56. 
 
 5 P. 59. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Ixi 
 
 insr to the first writer, attacked Dunstan in a dream, Exaggerated 
 
 tone of 
 
 now becomes an incarnation of the devil.^ Adelard, ^^^j^]^^^ 
 too, first gives the vision of cherubim seen by Elfgar 
 the week before Dunstan's death.^ A similar idea of 
 amplifying and glorifying more ordinary events may be 
 traced in this writer, as if it were necessary to sur- 
 round the simplest details of the saint's life with a halo 
 of sanctity. Dunstan's dream of the three apostles,^ 
 simple enough in itself, is applied, although not with the 
 fulness of interpretation developed by the later writers, 
 to his future elevation to Canterbury. The part taken 
 by S, Andrew in the original dream, which probably 
 accounted for Dunstan's devotion to the gentlest of the 
 apostles, is transferred to S. Peter; and S. Andrew is 
 represented as ministering bodily consolation to Dunstan 
 in exile. The account of his appointment to a bishopric 
 is related so as to show that Odo had a special divine 
 intimation that he was to succeed him ;^ and Dunstan 
 in like manner has a divine intimation that he must 
 consecrate Elfege to Winchester.^ 
 
 Some of the minor variations in Adelard's story are Minor vai*ja- 
 noteworthy ; Elfege the Bald, bishop of Winchester, is ^^^^^-i^^^'^ 
 mentioned as having made Dunstan monk and priest,^ ' 
 but Athelm, the archbishop of Canterbury, is made, in- 
 stead of Elfege, the kinsman and early patron.^ Dunstan 
 has his first offer of a bishopric on the death of Ethelgar 
 of Creditoh, in the first life f Adelard supposes the va- 
 cancy to be made by the death of Elfege, and the see 
 to be Winchester.^ 
 
 Adelard's work, however, has its value over and above its value, 
 its illustrations of the growth of legend. Scarcely 
 twenty years had elapsed since Dunstan's death, and 
 
 ^ Compare the priest B., p. 27, 
 "vvith Adelard, p. 59. 
 - P. 64. 
 
 3 P. 57. 
 
 4 P. 60. 
 
 ^ P. 61. 
 
 6 P. 56. 
 
 7 P. 55. 
 
 8 P. 29. 
 
 9 P. 56. 
 
 e 
 
Ixii 
 
 IKTRODUCTIOK 
 
 Adelard's 
 account of 
 Punstan's 
 death. 
 
 His story of 
 I)unbtaii'» 
 rejection of 
 a papal 
 letter. 
 
 His identifi- 
 cation of 
 Arnulf. 
 
 some real reminiscences of his acts must have remained. 
 I have no doubt that the record of his last words is 
 derived from authentic tradition. The story is beau- 
 tifully and most simply told. " On the morning of the 
 Sabbath, when, the matin hymns were now finished, 
 he bids the holy congregation of the brethren come 
 to him. To whom again commending his spirit, he 
 received from the heavenly table the viaticum of the 
 sacraments of Christ which had been celebrated in his 
 presence ; and giving thanks to God for it he began 
 to sing, ' The merciful and gracious Lord hath so done 
 
 * his marvellous works that they ought to be had in 
 ' remembrance. He hath given meat unto them that 
 ' fear him — ' And with these words in his mouth, 
 rendering his spirit into his Maker s hands, he rested 
 in peace. Oh too happy whom the Lord found thus 
 watching."^ 
 
 Again, the story of the nobleman who had obtained 
 a papal letter for an unlawful marriage,^ seems to bear 
 the stamp of truth : it was at least very unlikely to 
 have been gratuitously invented, and yet it is in full 
 accord with the state of the Roman church at the time 
 and with Dunstan's zealous vindication of the ,law of 
 marriage. Finally, we owe to Adelard the definite iden- 
 tification of Arnulf, the count of Flanders, as Dunstan'-s 
 
 ♦ ... - 
 
 patron in his banishment; and of the monastery of 
 
 Blandinium, the writer's own home, as his temporary 
 asylum.^ Both of these facts are only' hinted at in the 
 most general terms by the first biographer. 
 
 Period of 
 
 Osbern's 
 
 writing. 
 
 At least seventy years elapsed between the date of 
 Adelard and that of Osbern, and they were for the most 
 part such years of trouble and humiliation as to add 
 still more glory to the memory of the last rulers under 
 whom England had been at peace and powerful. The 
 
 1 p. 6G. 
 
 2 p. 67. 
 
 3 Pp. 59, 60. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Ixiii 
 
 misrule of Ethelred, the oppressions of the early years Growth of 
 
 "Dun stall's 
 
 of Canute, and the tyranny of his sons, the political fame, 
 turmoil of the great provincial struggles under Edward, 
 and after that the apparently hopeless humiliation of 
 England under the Conqueror, all helped to invest 
 Dunstan and Edgar with a character which they had 
 scarcely possessed in their lives. The English feeling of 
 the time, which is sensibly apparent in Osbern, Eadmer, 
 and William of Malmesbury, was one of somewhat que- 
 rulous helplessness. The new rulers of the state, Wil- National 
 liam the Conqueror and his son Henry, although they ciency. 
 were willing to fortify their throne against their dan- 
 gerous barons, by courting the support of the native 
 people, had not, nor indeed could be expected to have, 
 much sympathy with the national regrets. Even 
 Lanfranc and Anselm were not at first sight able to Regard ef 
 recognize the merits of the English saints, whose rough and^Anseim 
 names were unfamiliar to their ears, whose principles of English 
 church government were so widely different from their 
 own, and whose doctrinal teaching even was behind 
 the developed dogma of their age. The burning of the 
 monastery of Christ Church, in the winter of 1067, pro- 
 bably involved the entire destruction of the ancient 
 library, and it became necessary to replace the lost books 
 either with new works or with new copies of the old. 
 The monastic reform promoted by Lanfranc worked its 
 way at Canterbury with great success, owing in some 
 measure to the zeal and consistency of the archbishop 
 himself \ and the new books produced under his direc- 
 tion reflected the circumstances of the time. Osbern, Osbern a 
 a monk of English birth, a musician and a scholar, took Canterbury, 
 
 1 1 ,T !• T TT* a* !• and friend 
 
 up zealously the new monastic line. Jlis anections are of Lanfranc. 
 divided between his devotion to Dunstan and his love 
 for Lanfranc; and the picture accordingly which he 
 draws of Dunstan is toned to the colouring of the 
 changed times. Dunstan is the prophet of the evil 
 days, the intercessor for better times to come, the great 
 
 e 2 
 
Ixiv 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Osbern's moiiastic reformer. In this there is, I imagine, no eon- 
 Dunstaii. scious misrepresentation. Osbern views the old facts 
 through a new medium ; he combines the forms of le- 
 gend which he found in the two former writers, and 
 adds a record of the posthumous miracles and later 
 grown traditions of the saint. 
 He com- By Osbcm the narrative of the Saxon priest and the 
 earlier nar- panegyric of Adclard are welded together with eonsider- 
 ratives. ^^^^ ^^.^ YroiopL the latter he borrows the miraculous 
 
 illumination at the feast of the Purification ; from the 
 former the vision of the buildings at Glastonbury, which, 
 however, he ascribes to the parents instead of the son.^ 
 The account of Dunstan's education is a blending of the 
 two legends. The sleepwalk is described, with the addi- 
 tion of the direct ministration of angels.^ Dunstan's 
 first patron is archbishop Athelm, as he had learned from 
 Adelard ; his second is Elfege, as he had learned from the 
 priest B. From the latter he takes the story of the 
 harp, the expulsion from Athelstan's palace, the reception 
 of the tonsure, the miracle of the mead, the deathbed 
 scene of the great lady, the vision of Wulfred, the king's 
 hunt in Cheddar, the nomination to Glastonbury, the visit 
 to Bath, where he had a divine warning of the death 
 of his scholar, the vision before the death of Edmund, 
 Edred's attempt to promote him, the divine warning of 
 Edred's death, the misrule of Edwy, the scene on the 
 coronation day, tho flight to Flanders, the revolution in 
 Mercia, Dunstan's return and promotion, his manner of 
 life as a bishop, his vision of his mother's marriage 
 and of the choir of virgins, and the last days of his 
 life, including the miraculous elevation of the couch, 
 which he must have taken from the MS. at S. Augus- 
 tine's.^ From Adelard he takes the divine warning at 
 
 1 P. 73. 
 
 •2 P. 76, " angelicis manibus:*' in 
 the first life the boy simply waits 
 in sleep or delirium : in the second 
 
 he is beset by the devil's dogs : in 
 the third he is borne by angels. 
 3 See pp. 51, .52. 
 
INTRODUCTION, 
 
 Ixv 
 
 the birth of Edgar, the interpretation of the vision of His im- 
 the three apostles, the story of the^ beam, the election of of the early 
 Edward the Martyr, the promotion of Elfege, tha vision 
 of Elfgar, the burial of Dunstan, and his prophecy of 
 coming troubles. In all this there is nothing absolutely 
 new, but everything is told in the grand style, and ap- 
 propriate speeches are constantly put in the mouths of 
 the actors, for which there is no authority in the earlier 
 lives. ^ 
 
 Osbern's additions, whether derived from tradition, or 
 the product of an imae^ination intent on the contempla- previous 
 tion of what ought to have happened, are mainly these : 
 the description of the cell at Glastonbury, which he had 
 himself seen ^ and measured ; the famous story of Dun- 
 stan seizing the devil by the nose,^ the vision of Edwy's 
 soul carried oif by devils, the hamstringing of Ethelgifu, 
 the bringing water out of the rock, the whole story of 
 Edgar s sin and penance, and the monastic revival that 
 followed, with the struggle between the monks and 
 clerks at Winchester and Calne, the prophecy at Ethel- 
 red's coronation, the warning of the death of the two 
 bishops, and the story of the siege of Rochester, where 
 Dunstan bribed Ethelred with a gift of a hundred 
 pounds. Of these particulars, the only one which can Some par- 
 with certainty be ascribed to another source is the story added from 
 of the synod at Calne, which is found in the Chronicles.^ cies. 
 The devastation of the diocese of Rochester in 986,^ and 
 the coronation of Edgar at Bath,^ are also told in the 
 Chronicles, but without any of the circumstances described 
 
 1 r. 83. 
 
 - p. 84. This story is so famous 
 that one can hardly doubt that it 
 had some foundation. The version 
 in which the devil took the form of 
 a woman is comparatively modern- 
 It seems not unlikely that Dunstan 
 may have taken some one by the 
 nose, and that the identification 
 was an afterthought. Eadmer in 
 
 this story improves on Osbern, 
 making the devil himself cry out, 
 " VsB ! quid ille calvus diabolus 
 " fecit ! " Cf. pp. 85, 174. 
 
 3 Chron. S. ed. Thorpe, p. 231. 
 The Council of Winchester also is 
 mentioned, but without the miracle, 
 in the Regular is Concordia. 
 Chr. S. p. 238. 
 
 5 Chr. S. pp. 224, 225. 
 
Ixvi 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Osbern's 
 variations 
 from the 
 earlier 
 writers. 
 
 Tradito^of by Oebern. The prophecy at Ethelred's coronation, 
 coronation, which Osbcm gives as traditional, " ut fertur," ^ is found 
 also in nearly the same words in Florence of Worcester, 
 who does not elsewhere quote Osbern ; it is, therefore, 
 probably a fragment of independent tradition. 
 
 Lastly, we may note some minor particulars in which 
 Osbern departs from his authorities, in a way which 
 shows that he either was a careless copyist, or had other 
 information. The great lady of Glastonbury whom the 
 priest B. calls Ethelfleda, Osbern names Elfgifu.^, The 
 lady Ethelwynn is merely " matrona qusedam." ^ The 
 name of Wulfred,^ Dunstan's early friend, is suppressed, 
 although, the story which belongs to him is given in full. 
 The words of the anthem played on the harp are varied, 
 " gaudebunt " ^ being substituted in all but one late MS. 
 for " regnabunt ; " and the hymn which Dunstan learned 
 in his dream of the marriage feast is, except the opening 
 words, altogether different.^ 
 
 The whole of Osbern s second book, that on the mira- 
 cles, is new. We learn from the little prayer printed at 
 p. 440, that early in the eleventh century Dunstan had 
 gained the reputation of a worker in miracles ; most, how- 
 ever, of those recorded by Osbern seem to be of much later 
 date. For the mass of these he professes to have written 
 authority. " They are seletited," he says, " from the 
 " books of miracles which are not now extant." ^ Some of 
 the later wonders he had seen himself ; some few he had 
 heard from others. The interest of this part of the work 
 is, however, quite apart from the history of Dunstan, and 
 
 Osbern's 
 aecouiit of 
 Dunstan's 
 miracles is 
 new. 
 
 ' Pp. 114, 115. Flor. Wig. A.D. 
 1016. 
 2 P. 85. 
 
 ^ P. 80. Cf. pp. 20, 21. 
 
 4 P. 89. Cf. pp. 15, 16. 
 
 5 P. 80. 
 
 6 P. 118. 
 
 3^ P. 128. Osbern gives at p. 160 
 
 a slight sketch of some of the won- 
 ders contained in the lost books ; 
 from which it appears that Eadmer 
 used them. Eadmer certainly has 
 several stories which Osbern de- 
 clines to tell as beyond ordinary 
 belief. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Ixvii 
 
 the illustrations which it supplies to later history cannot 
 be considered here. 
 
 Osbern's work had not been written many years Avhen Eadmer, 
 it came under review by Eadmer, who represents the Anseim. 
 school of Anselm much as Osbern did that of Lanfranc. 
 Both are thoroughly English : Osbern, like his master, is 
 a maintainer of discipline ; Eadmer, like Anselm, is zeal- 
 ous of doctrine.^ It may be added that Eadmer's Latin 
 style is much more chastened and succinct than that of 
 his predecessor. 
 
 Eadmer undertook to write this book, because that of He wrote 
 Osbern contained some grievous faults : he had mistaken correct the 
 the dedication of the cathedral church of Worcester, and Osbern. 
 had misrepresented the character of the mother of S. 
 Edward, making her out to be a nun, whereas she Avas 
 only accidentally veiled. Both of these points Eadmer 
 was enabled to correct by the information of his friends 
 at W orcester. Besides these inquiries, he had studied 
 the original books, the Saxon priest and Adelard. The 
 two mistakes specified may seem to give slight occasion 
 for the rewriting of the whole book, and we can scarcely Possibly he 
 doubt that Eadmer's principal aim was to rival the fame rival of 
 of his predecessor. Two or three strokes of the pen 
 would, as we have seen in oar view of the MSS., have 
 reduced Osbern's text to a conformity with Eadmer's 
 views ; but this would not have contented him. He 
 was, we should infer, a very young man, and he certainly 
 wrote very much simpler Latin. Yet the work of Ead- Yet he 
 mer follows, almost with servility, the lines of Osbern, closely, 
 even in the points in which he diverged from the earlier 
 writers, and their few variations may be summed up in 
 very few words. He retrenches and abridges the 
 speeches which are the most audacious efforts of Osbern's 
 
 ^ The most important passages in 
 proof of this will be found in Ead- 
 
 mer*s Life of Odo, on the subject of 
 the Eucharist. , 
 
Ixviii 
 
 INTEODUCTION. 
 
 Eadmer's 
 treatment 
 of Osbern's 
 narrative. 
 
 His addi- 
 tions, and 
 variations. 
 
 His addi- 
 tional 
 miracles. 
 
 invention ; he gives the story of the death of the monk 
 Elfsige,^ which Osbern had omitted ; he makes Dunstan 
 break his stick on the back of the devil, who, having 
 appeared in a dream in the first life, had visited the 
 saint bodily in the second,^ and tells how he placed a 
 tooth of S. Andrew in the new staff ; he inserts Dunstan's 
 dream at Blandinium from the first life,^ and enlarges 
 on Adelard's story oT the nobleman who had obtained a 
 papal dispensation, a story which Osbern may have 
 omitted as being on tender ground for his patron, who 
 had obtained a similar dispensation for William and 
 Matilda.^ He gives another story which Osbern knew, 
 but would not tell, Dunstan's refusal to say mass until 
 the coiners- had been mutilated,^ a tim^ely tale enough 
 whilst Henry I. was reforming the coinage ; and another 
 which Osbern slurred over, how the saint hung his 
 chasuble on a sunbeam.^ He returns to the first version 
 of the hymn learned in the dreamt He gives the story 
 of Edgar's Sunday hunting,^ and the orientation of May- 
 field church by a push of the saint's shoulder.^ In his 
 account of the institution of monks at Winchester he has 
 borrowed some details from the biographers of S. Ethel- 
 wold. He gives a new account of Dunstan's last words ; 
 and five new miracles, one of which, the pilgrimage of 
 the monk Egelwin, was knoAvn to Osbern ; one, that of 
 Saprington, which had been recorded after Osbern wrote 
 and one, or a series, of cures effected by water in which 
 the saint's staff* had been dipped. It is safe to add that if 
 Eadmer had never written anything more valuable, his 
 name would in all probability have been forgotten. 
 
 1 P. 189. 
 
 2 Compare the several stages of 
 the story, at pp. 27, 59, 189, 190. 
 
 3 P. 193, 
 
 ^ Osbern hints at the story, p. 
 106: Eadmer works it out in de- 
 tail, pp. 200, 201. 
 
 5 Pp. 202, 203. Cf. Osbern, p. 
 106. 
 
 6 Cf. pp. 160, 204. 
 
 7 P. 206. 
 
 8 P. 207. 
 » P. 204. 
 
 ^0 Cf. pp. 160, 245. 
 ^1 Pp. 144, 247. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Ixix 
 
 William of Malmesbury comes before us, in relation to William 
 Dunstan's history, in a threefold capacity ; as the his- bury, as 
 torian, the champion of Glastonbury, and the critic on advocate' 
 Osbern. In the first point of view, writing long after 
 he had published his " Gesta Regum," he now and then 
 corrects or modifies statements which he has made in 
 that work. These passages, so far as they have any real 
 importance, may be pointed out by-and-by. The advo- 
 cacy of the historic claims of Glastonbury is a branch of 
 the criticism on Osbern. The life by Eadmer there is 
 no reason to suppose that William ever saw ; he nowhere 
 quotes it or refers to it ; and as we ktiow from both his 
 great works that he entertained a high respect for the 
 writer, both as a man and as a historian, we can scarcely 
 doubt that, had he known the book, he would have 
 mentioned it, either for praise or for blame. Yet several 
 of the faults which Eadmer had pointed out and cor- 
 rected, were also pointed out and corrected by William. 
 
 With the exception, however, of Eadmer, William had His mti- 
 
 cism. of 
 
 all the previous writers before his eyes, and keeps closer osbem. 
 to the first life than either Osbern or Eadmer. His 
 criticism on Osbern touches four chief points. His ac- 
 count of Dunstan's mother is clothed in language which 
 verges on heresy : ^ his pompous account of Dunstan's 
 mathematical knowledge is attacked as bombastic and 
 pedantic ; ^ everywhere the antiquity and primitive 
 monachism of Glastonbury are either denied or lost sight 
 of ;^ and the history of King Edgar is written without 
 regard to historic evidence or decent loyalty.^ Again 
 and again these points are touched on ; Osbern's artificial 
 speeches are rejected scornfully;^ his laudations of Dun- 
 stan are viewed as merely intended to embellish the 
 style or increase the bulk of the work : " we well under- 
 stand that of our praise, especially of artificial false 
 praise, Dunstan stands not in need.'' The authority 
 
 1 Pp. 251, 322-324. 
 
 2 P. 251. 
 
 Pp. 251, 258, 270, 271, 301. 
 
 4 P. 2.52. 
 
 5 Pp. 287, 288. 
 
Ixx 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 His ortho- 
 doxy. 
 
 His addi- 
 tions from 
 other 
 
 sources, and 
 attempts to 
 harmonize. 
 
 His refer- 
 ence to the 
 Regularis 
 Concordia ; 
 
 the letter of 
 the Pope ; 
 
 the relics at 
 
 Malmes- 
 
 bury. 
 
 of S. Augustine is brought to bear on the "-sacrum 
 " puerperium " of Kynedritha in a way which, consider- 
 ing the unintentional nature of the error, is a little out 
 of proportion.^ 
 
 Setting aside the points of controversy, William of 
 Malmesbury's book is not an unfavourable specimen of his 
 powers. He brings additional matter from the lives of 
 other saints, especially those of Odo, Oswald, Ethelwold, 
 and Edith,^ and weaves in the details with considerable 
 skill. He attempts to harmonize the stories of the Saxon 
 priest, Adelard, and Osbern, thinking it probable that 
 their differences are only apparent : they may differ as 
 to arrangement whilst they agree as to fact, and what 
 one has omitted the other may well have supplied with- 
 out any suspicion of having invented it.^ Besides the 
 constant assertions of the importance of Glastonbury, 
 there is little that the writer states on his own respon- 
 sibility. He tells the story of Edgar's early intention to 
 revive monasticism, from the English commentary on the 
 rule of S. Benedict, the Regularis Concordia, which is 
 still extant.^ The letter of pope John XII. to Dunstan 
 he gives from a copy which he also used in the composi- 
 tion of the " Gesta Pontificum," ^ and which he may have 
 derived from that Pontifical of Sherborne, his own 
 diojcese, which is now in the National Library of Paris, 
 although he does not reproduce it with much exactness. 
 Dunstan's gifts to Malmesbury, the bells, the organs, the 
 shrine of S. Aldhelm, he describes from the closest per- 
 sonal knowledge, but nearly in the same language which 
 he had used in his other books ; ^ his accounts of Elfric of 
 Crediton,'^ Ethelwold of Winchester,^ Oswald of Wor- 
 
 1 p. 322. 
 
 2 See at p. 294 an extract from 
 Eadmer's Life of Odo ; pp. 262, 299, 
 from Wulfstan's Life of Ethelwold ; 
 p. 310, from Gotseliii*s Life of S. 
 Edith. The story of Elfsige insult- 
 ing the tomb of Odo at p. 294 is 
 taken from the life of Oswald. 
 
 3 P. 289. 
 P. 290. 
 
 5 Pp. 296-298. 
 
 6 Pp. 301, 302. 
 
 7 P. 302. 
 
 8 P. 303. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Ixxi 
 
 cester,^ and Wulfsiefe of Westminster,^ are the result of His addi- 
 his own reading, and repeat m some degree his own 
 inaccurate statements. His account of the death of 
 Edward the Martyr is a paraphrase of what he had said 
 in the " Gesta Regum." The story of Alwold and the 
 foxes is the only direct addition to the legend. The 
 most remarkable passage in the book is the amplification 
 of the exposition of Osbern on Dunstan s prophecy to 
 Ethelred,^ a passage which shows that William was by 
 no means devoid of that English feeling which is so 
 strong in Osbern and Eadmer, and which he himself, 
 when writing for the Norman courtiers, is generally so 
 careful to keep in check. 
 
 Capgrave's sketch, abridged as it is partly from Os- Capgrave'a 
 bern and partly from John of Tynemouth, has no great 
 interest either historical or literary. The collation seems 
 to show that he had used Osbern, but that he knew 
 the life by Eadmer only through the " Historia Aurea." 
 Some few indications may be traced that seem to show 
 a knowledofe of Eadmer's book on the miracles. 
 
 We ask, finally, what is the relation of these bio- Relation of 
 
 T T J Chroni- 
 
 g-raphies to the Chronicles, the more weighty and direct ciers to the 
 
 tj biofirrannei^. 
 
 evidences of our national history. Florence of Wor- pio^ence of 
 cester, the first of these, had both the Saxon priest and ^0*"^®^*^^' 
 Adelard ; and, from them only, adds to the very scanty 
 details of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle what he saj^s of 
 Dunstan;^ The coincidence between his account of 
 
 ? Pp. 303, 304. 
 
 2 P. 304. There is a MS. Life 
 of this bishop in the Lansdowne 
 MS. 43G, the Komsey Legenda ; but 
 it seems to be utterly devoid of 
 credit, and at variance with ascer- 
 tained chronology. The utmost 
 that can be inferred from it is that 
 Wulfsige -was traditionally regarded 
 as the monastic reformer at Sher- 
 borne. 
 
 3 Pp. 321, 322. 
 The following references mark 
 direct extracts made by Florence : 
 A.D. 924, Dunstan's birth, from B.; 
 A.D. 942, his appointment at Glas- 
 tonbury, 943, the birth of Edgar, 
 from Adelard ; A.D. 946, the suc- 
 cession of Edred, from B. ; A.D. 
 951, the death of Elfege, from Ade- 
 lard ; A.D. 953, the succession at 
 Crediton, from B. ; A.D. 955, the 
 
Ixxii 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Florence of 
 Worcester. 
 
 Henry of 
 Hunting- 
 don. 
 
 Ordericns 
 Vitalis. 
 
 Ralph de 
 Diceto. 
 
 The S. Al- 
 ban's his- 
 torians. 
 
 Higden. 
 
 John of 
 Tynemouth. 
 
 Dunstan's prophecy and that given by Osbern, may be, 
 as we have seen, accounted for on another theory be- 
 side that of direct quotation. Henry of Huntingdon, 
 using the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle as his chief authority, 
 mentions Dunstan only three times, in connexion with 
 the synod of Calne, his prophecy about Ethelred, and 
 his death. Ordericus Vitalis seems to have had no di- 
 rect acquaintance with the Lives, noticing the saint 
 only in connexion with the monastic revival. William 
 of Malmesbury has been already accounted for. The 
 information of Ralph de Diceto is chiefly if not entirely 
 from William of Malmesbury. Gervase of Canterbury 
 abridges Osbern,^ making additions from the " Gesta 
 Regum" and " Gesta Pontrficum." The S.Albans his- 
 torians knew the work of the Saxon priest. John of 
 Wallingford gives considerable extracts from it, as well 
 as from Adelard f Matthew Paris and Roger of Wen- 
 dover {used not only the Saxon priest but Adelard, 
 Osbern, and the " Gesta Pontificum and the same is 
 true of the work known under the name of Matthew 
 of Westminster. Ranulf Higden used chiefly Osbern 
 and William of Malmesbury, but quotes Adelard, pos- 
 sibly through the medium of Florence of Worcester.^ 
 John of Tynemouth used both Osbern and Eadmer, 
 quoting the former verbatim, the latter with variations 
 that seem to imply some manipulation of his own.^ 
 Capgrave, as we have seen, used. Osbern and John of 
 
 death of Edred, and 956, the exile 
 of Dunstan, from Adelard; A.D. 
 957, the division of the kingdom, 
 and 958, the character of Byrht- 
 helm, from B. • A.D. 959, Dun- 
 stan' s promotion, from B. 
 
 1 Ed. Twysden, cc. 1645-1648. 
 
 2 Ed. Gale, p. 541, the death of 
 Edmund ; p. 542, illness and death 
 of Edred, from B. ; p. 543, account 
 of Blandinium, from Adelard. 
 
 ^ See extracts from B. in Matthew 
 Paris, under the years 929, 940, 
 955, 957, 959 ; from Adelard, A.D. 
 946 ; from Osbern, A.D. 946, 979 ; 
 from William of Malmesbury, A.D. 
 958. 
 
 ^ R. Higden, ed. Gale, pp. 264- 
 270. 
 
 ^ See below in the collations of 
 Capgrave's Life, pp. 336 sq. 
 
INTKODTJCTION. 
 
 ' Ixxiii 
 
 Tynemouth. The writer of the book of Hyde followed The^book of 
 Hisfden ; Rudborne used the same materials with ex- later ' 
 
 writers • 
 
 pansions or forgeries of his own. Polydore Vergil held 
 by the historians rather than the biographers ; Harps- 
 field followed Osbern, Eadmer s Miracles, and John of 
 Tynemouth.^ Archbishop Parker used all the autho- 
 rities already enumerated, and Ussher did the same. 
 From the date of the publication of the Saxon priest 
 by the BoUandists, all writers of church history have 
 had the most ancient life before them. The works of 
 Adelard and William of Malmesbury are now first 
 printed, and that of Badmer for the first time in integrity. 
 
 III. The determination of the chronology, and the (Questions of 
 identification of the places and persons that come into and identi- 
 Dunstan's history, is a very limited but not a very easy 
 task. The authorities are vague on each point, and their 
 evidence, even where it is exact, is not very weighty. 
 Yet some of the most curious problems of our early 
 history, especially the history of the reign of Edwy, are 
 inseparably connected with this inquiry. The dates 
 and names are so few, however, that it is scarcely worth 
 while to subdivide them ; and they may be best discussed 
 in the natural order of the events of the saint's life. 
 
 Dunstan is said to have " sprung to light " in the reign Date of 
 of Athelstan. We may question whether the word birth. 
 
 oritur " ^ refers to his birth or to his coming before the 
 eye of history, in what year of Athelstan's reign the 
 event took place, and in what year Athelstan began to 
 reign. All our authorities agree in referring the word 
 to Dunstan's birth. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles^ which 
 Osbern follows, fix the first year of Athelstan as the 
 date, and for that first year we have to choose between 
 924 and 925, the former date being given in four MSS. 
 of the Chronicle^ and by Florence of Worcester, the 
 
 1 Harpsfield, Hist. Eccl. pp. 193- 
 197. 
 
Ixxiv 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Date of - latter by two MSS. of the Chronicle. Unfortunately the 
 birth. exact date of the death of Edward the Elder is unknown, 
 but, as Athelstan in his charters speaks of 929 ^ as his 
 sixth year, his first must at all events have begun in 
 924. Alford places Dunstan's birth in "the spring of 925, 
 arguing that if his mother were pregnant in February, 
 as must be supposed to have been the case if Adelard's 
 miracle of the candles has any semblance of truth, and 
 if Athelstan's accession took place about the middle 
 of the year 924, the child must have been born in 925.^ 
 And this computation is borne out by an entry in an 
 ancient Anglo-Saxon Paschal Table, preserved in the 
 Cotton MS., Caligula A. 15, under the year 925, " on 
 " thison geare wees see Dunstan geboren.'' The matter 
 is not in itself of great importance, but it is compli- 
 cated with questions touching the date of archbishop 
 Athelm, and the age at which Dunstan took holy orders. 
 His parents. Dunstan s parents were, as the Saxon priest tMls us, 
 Heorstan and Kynedritha f his near kinsmen were among 
 the palatini " ^ or members of the court ai^d household 
 
 ' Alford had seen a charter in 
 ■which 925 is called the first year of 
 Athelstan, Annales, III. 242: — 
 A.D. 929 is the sixth year in Kem- 
 ble, C. D., Nos. 347, 348. A.D. 931, 
 Nov. 12, is in the seventh year, ibid. 
 353 ; A.D. 934, May 28, is in the 
 tenth year, ibid. 364; A.D. 931, 
 Mar. 23, is in the seventh year, ibid. 
 1102 ; and July 31 also, ibid. 1103 ; 
 A.D. 932, Aug. 28, is in the eighth 
 year, ibid. 1007. If these dates are 
 calculated on one principle, his 
 reign must have begun after Nov. 
 12, 924 ; but I should not venture 
 to take this for granted. The reign 
 of Athelstan lasted, according to the 
 MS. Tiberius A. 3, fourteen years 
 and seven weeks and three days, 
 which, calculated back from Oct. 27, 
 940, the day of his death, would fix 
 
 his coronation about the first week 
 in September, 926. The Chronicle 
 gives him a reign of fourteen years 
 and ten weeks, which may have 
 been calculated from his father's 
 death, and would fix that event 
 about August 10 : — if for four- 
 teen we read sixteen, Edward's 
 death would be determined on or 
 about Aug. 20, 924 ; if not, Athel- 
 stan must have been crowned two 
 years after his reign began, which 
 is improbable. Perhaps the day 
 may yet turn up in some monastic 
 kalendar. It is, however, very 
 curious that all the ancient regnal 
 lists give him a reign of only four- 
 teen yearss. 
 
 2 Annales, iii. 242. 
 
 3 P. 6. 
 
 * P. 11. 
 
INlRODUCTION. 
 
 Ixxv 
 
 of Athelstan ; Elfege the Bald, bishop of Winchester, ^K^on^.^^^ 
 and bishop Kinesi^e of Lichfield/ were also near rela- the royal 
 
 ■•- house. 
 
 tions. Dunstan had a brother named Wulfric.^ The 
 great lady Ethelfleda was also connected with him 
 by the ties of relationship,^ and she was of royal descent, 
 being Athelstan's niece.^ These circumstances certainly 
 give some foundation for the statement of Dunstan's no- 
 bility, made by the later biographers, who, however, have 
 a strong tendency to define what the earlier writer has 
 left indefinite. Adelard goes further, making archbishop His other 
 Athelm his uncle.^ Osbern and Eadmer make his 
 parents noble, and turn the lady Ethelfleda into Elfgifu 
 or ^thelgifu.^' They ialso ignore the existence of 
 Wulfric, making Dunstan an only son.^ 
 
 The probability is in favour of Dunstan's noble birth. Kynedritha. 
 Of Heorstan nothing more is known, but Kynedritha is 
 very probably the same as Keondrud, a lady whose 
 name is found among those members of Athelstan's 
 court who were made partakers of the prayers of the 
 monks of S. Gall, when in the year 929 they were 
 visited by bishop Kynewald of Worcester.® Wulfric, who 
 
 1 Pp. 13, 32. I p. 18, "salutata nepti." 
 
 2 P. 18. ! 5 P. 55, patruo scilicet suo." 
 
 2 " causa religionis, simiil etiam 
 religionis," p. 17. 
 
 «Pp. 85, 175. 
 ^ Pp. 89, 178. 
 
 ^ The form is printed by Goldastus in the Scriptores Rerum Alemanni- 
 carum, vol. ii. part II. p. 153, and also in the Appendix to the Report on 
 the Fcedera. It is so closely connected with Dunstan's ^period that it is 
 worth while to give it entire : — 
 
 Anno ab Incarnatione Domini 928, indictione ii. (lege 929) Keonwald 
 venerabilis episcopus profectus ab Anglis, omnibus monasteriis per 
 " totam Germaniam, cum oblatione de argento non modica, et in id ipsum 
 rege Anglorum eadem sibi tradita, visitatis, in idibus Octobris venit ad 
 monasterium Sancti Galli ; quique gratissime a fratribus susceptus et 
 ejusdem patroni nostri festivitatem cum illis celebrando, quatuor ibidem 
 " dies demoratus est. Secundo autem, postquam monasterium ingressus 
 *' est, hoc est in ipso depositionis S. Galli die, basilicam intravit et pecu- 
 " niam secum copiosam attulit, de qua partem altario imposuit, partem 
 " etiam utilitati fratrum donavit. Posthaec eo in conventum nostrum in- 
 " ducto, omnis congregatio concessit ei annonam unius fratris, et tandem 
 
 ii 
 
 a 
 a 
 ii 
 
Ixxvi 
 
 IKTROr>UCTlON. 
 
 Wuifric. is described as managing the secular affairs of Glaston- 
 bury under the title of praepositus or reeve,^ may also 
 with some probability be identified with Wuifric, the 
 " comes or "gesith " of the kings Edmund and Edred, 
 to whom many grants of land were made which ulti- 
 mately became the property of Glastonbury. The estates 
 thus bestowed were situated at Idemestone, Nellington, 
 Grutelington, Langleath, and other places not far from 
 Glastonbury, and the gifts may possibly have been made 
 with the intention of their being appropriated to the 
 monastery; they begin as early as 940,. when Dunstan 
 could scarcely have become abbot, and Wuifric the re- 
 cipient must have been an elder brother, if he were 
 brother at all. Another glimpse of him may be caught 
 in a curious MS. of the Irish collection of canons, now 
 among the Hatton MSS. in the Bodleian, entitled " Liber 
 " Sancti Dunstani," which belongs to the .date, possibly 
 to the school or hand of Dunstan. The scribe has drawn 
 
 " orationem quam pro quolibet de nostris, sive vivente, sive vita decedente, 
 " facere solemus pro ijlo facturam perpetualiter promisit. Hsec sunt 
 " autem nomina quae conscribi jussit vel rogavit: rex Anglorum Adal- 
 " stean, Kenowald episcopus, Wighartli, Kenwor, Conrat, Keonolaf, Wun- 
 " dych, Keondrud." A longer list appears in the general catalogue of 
 the Fratres Conscripti (Goldast. p. 156): — 
 
 " Hie regis Anglise et comitum suorum nomina denotata sunt ; 
 Adalsten, Rex. Wolfhelmus, archiepisc. Elwinus, episc. Eotkarus, episc. 
 Winsige, episc. Sigihelm, episcopus. Oda, episcopus. Fridosten, epis. 
 
 Kenod, abba. Albrich, abba. Cudret. Erdulf. 
 
 Fridolef. Wulfun. Ortgar. Osfred. Elfsie. 
 Adalwerd. Elwin. Adalwin. Berectwin. Wulfilt. 
 
 Wighart. Conrat. Keuwin. Wundrud. Kenowald, episc. 
 
 Kenolaf. Keondrud." 
 
 cum ceteris. 
 
 The bishops are Wulf helm of Canterbury ; Elfwin of Lichfield ; Edgar of 
 Hereford; Winsige of Dorchester; Sigelm of Sherborne; OdoofRams- 
 bury ; Erithstan of Winchester ; and Kynewold of Worcester. Of the 
 abbots, Kenod belongs to Evesham or Abingdon, and Cudret to Glaston- 
 bury. Elfric, abbot (Albrich) ; Osferth, ealdorman ; Wulfhun, bishop ; 
 Wihtgar, minister ; and others may be identified with the witnesses of 
 Athelstan's charters. 
 
 1 P. 18. 
 
 2 See the charters in Kemble, 
 
 Nos. 381, 382, 398; MS. JBodl. 
 Wood, I. folios 233, 234, 238. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Ixxvii 
 
 in one place the head of a boy, in rubric, with the name 
 " Wulfric Cild." 
 
 The lady Ethelfleda bears a name too common among Btheifieda. 
 the Anglo-Saxons to furnish any basis for identification, 
 and the fact that she is called Athelstan's niece scarcely 
 helps the inquiry. A certain lady, -^Ifleda, has, like 
 Wulfric, grants of land from Athelstan and Edmund/ 
 which came to the same monastery. This lady is not to 
 be identified with Ethelfleda of Mercia, At-helstan's aunt, 
 who died in 922 at the latest, nor with Ethelfleda of 
 Damerham, the second wife of king Edmund ; nor with 
 Eadfleda, Athelstan's sister. Ethelfleda of Romsey, 
 abbess, virgin, and patron saint, cannot, if her recorded 
 history be true, have been the widowed friend of Dun- 
 stan. The main part, however, of the history of the 
 abbess of Romsey is apocryphal, and the dates assigned 
 to her are inconsistent with one another. It is therefore 
 possible that she was the person whom we are seeking. 
 She is said to^ have been the daughter of an ealdorman 
 Ethelwold and his wife Brihtwina.^ If this ealdorman 
 be identical with Elfweard, Athelstan's brother, who died 
 in 924, his daughter would be the king's niece ; but this 
 is barely probable. The fact that Osbern and Eadmer caiied also 
 give her the name of Ethelgifu or Elfgifu, would show ^ ^ 
 that in their time no such identity was recognized, nor 
 can the latter name with any probability be regarded 
 as the true one, although the practice assigned to her, 
 of ministering of her goods to the kings and the seed 
 royal, does curiously coincide with the ofiice which has 
 been with great probability ascribed to that more famous 
 Ethelgifu,^ who exercised so baneful an influence on 
 
 1 MS. Wood, I. folios 223, 240 ; 
 Kemble, Cod. Dipl. No. 389, where 
 she is called " religiosa foemina." 
 
 2 Her life is in Capgrave, abridged 
 
 from the MS. Lansd. 436. See 
 Hardy, Catalogue, &c. i. 568. 
 
 2 Robertson, Historical Essays^ 
 pp. 200, sq. 
 
 f 
 
Ixxviii 
 
 INTRODtlCTION. 
 
 Relations 
 between 
 Athelm and 
 Dunstan. 
 
 Question 
 as to 
 
 Wulfhelm. 
 
 Dunstan 
 born at or 
 near Glas- 
 tonbury. 
 
 the career of king Edwy. We know Ethelfleda only on 
 the testimony of the Saxon priest, who, however, dis- 
 tinctly asserts her relationship with both Dunstan and 
 Athelstan, 
 
 Our earliest authority does not determine the degree 
 of relationship between Elfege, Kinesige, and Dunstan, 
 but Adelard makes Athelm, archbishop of Canterbury, 
 the brother of Heorstan. In this by itself there is 
 nothing improbable ; Athelm had been bishop of Wells, 
 and was very likely to have been connected with the 
 royal family, as one at least of his successors was ; his 
 name occurs also in the list of bishops given by William 
 of Malmesbury, as having been monks of Glastonbury.^ 
 Adelard, however, is so manifestly niistaken in making 
 him the patron as well as uncle of Dunstan, that no 
 weight can be attached to his evidence. Athelm died 
 either when Dunstan was a baby, or before he was born.^ 
 Wulfhelm who succeeded him had likewise been bishop 
 of Wells, and among the Dunstan letters there is found 
 a copy of verses addressed to him, which may point to 
 some connexion between tlihe two, but he is nowhere said 
 to have been connected with Glastonbury, or to have 
 been a patron of Dunstan. 
 
 Glastonbury, or its immediate neighbourhood, was the 
 place of the saint's birth and early teaching ; he was a 
 pupil of the Irish pilgrims, who had taken up their 
 abode at the resting place of the younger Patrick.^ Whilst 
 
 ' Ant. Glast. ap. Gale, p. 324. 
 
 2 There are no genuine charters 
 to which the name of Athelm is 
 attached. The name of Wulfhelm 
 his successor appears in 923 and 
 onwards. The statement of Flo- 
 rence (A.D. 924) that Athelm 
 crowned Athelstan is derived from 
 Adelard, p. 55. If the evidence of 
 charters as to Wulfhelm in 923 be 
 
 rejected, still it is certain that 
 Athelm was dead long before Dun- 
 stan could have gone to court. See 
 Chr. S. A.D. 924, 925, from which 
 it would seem that Athelm and 
 Edward the Elder died the same 
 year. 
 
 3 P. 10. The Arras MS. says the 
 younger Patrick, the other two 
 MSS. the elder Patrick. This is a 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Ixxix 
 
 quite a boy he lived also in the palace of Athelstan, at Dunstan's 
 no great distance from Glastonbury, it would seem, as he ^^^^^ 
 had already received the tonsure, and was serving in the 
 church of S. Mary in which he had been baptized. After 
 his expulsion from Athelstan's court, he stayed a long- 
 time at Winchester with Elfege, who prevailed on him to 
 become a monk. After this we again find him at Glas 
 tonbury in attendance on the lady Ethelfleda, who had 
 built herself a house there, and who left her estates to 
 be disposed of by him. He next appears in attendance 
 on king Edmund at Cheddar, and, after a short disgrace, 
 is made by him abbot of Glastonbury, in which office he 
 continues until he is made bishop. 
 
 For this part of Dunstan's life we have very few dates. Date of 
 Athelstan died in the year 940, when Dunstan would be appointment 
 about sixteen, no doubt a clever somewhat precocious bury.^*^ 
 boy, whose dreams and prayers might very likely expose 
 him to the rough treatment of his playfellows. His 
 appointment to Glastonbury is placed by the Canterbury 
 copy of the Chronicle in the year 943, and by Florence 
 of Woreester, whose authority, if independent of that 
 copy, is preferable, under the date 942, but only as one 
 of the remarkable acts of king Edmund. The direct 
 evidence being so slight, we may rest on the authority 
 of the charters, in which Dunstan as abbot apj)ears 
 among the witnesses only in 946, the year of Edmund's 
 death. The only charter of earlier date in which he is 
 
 trace of the growth of the legend that 
 connects Patrick with Glastonbury^ 
 and may be the germ of the tradi- 
 tion. Whether the later MSS. 
 altered ^Mmor into senior in the idea 
 of enhancing the greatness of Glas- 
 tonbury, or whether the writers 
 knew of the existence of Sacn- 
 Fatric, Patricius senior, who is said 
 
 to have been bishop second in suc- 
 cession after the great Patrick, and 
 who might safely be called either 
 senior or junior, I cannot take on 
 myself to decide. By William of 
 Malmesbury's time Glastonbury 
 claimed not only the great Patrick 
 but his successor Benignus. 
 
 f 2 
 
Ixxx 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Date of ^ mentioned is one of the year 940, which is apparently 
 ap^intment admitted by Kemble as genuine, and which is a grant 
 bury. made to him as abbot, of land at Christian Malford.^ 
 But although this document has no overt evidence of 
 fabrication, it is found only in a copy, like the other 
 Glastonbury charters, and either the name of Dunstan 
 or the title of abbot may have been an insertion of the 
 copyist. Dunstan, as one of the sons of the nobles, 
 might have had a grant of folkland at sixteen, the age 
 at which the young warrior received his arms ; but it is 
 very improbable that if he had then become abbot, and 
 that in a church so near the royal court, his name should 
 not appear in the charters for six years longer.^ I think, 
 however, that the date cannot be thrown later than 946, 
 and I see in the chronology no diflSculties that need 
 hinder the belief in the story of Edmund's hunt in 
 Cheddar as substantially true. 
 
 A more important point, perhaps, and certainly a more 
 interesting one, is the condition of Glastonbury at this 
 time ; and although it cannot be touched on here except 
 in the most cursory manner, it cannot be dismissed with 
 a word. The Saxon priest represents it as an ancient 
 sanctuary, a retired spot possessing a church to which 
 a more than human origin was ascribed,^ a holy place 
 to which Athelstan resorted for the purpose of prayer,* 
 Sk place of pilgrimage ^ colonized by Irishmen, who had 
 gathered at the tomb of Patrick. As the place of Dun- 
 stan's birth, education, and promotion, Glastonbury had 
 
 Condition of 
 Glaston- 
 bury. 
 
 1 Kemble, Cod. Dipl. No. 384. 
 
 2 Dunstan attests only one char- 
 ter of Edmund: No. 406, marked 
 by Kemble as suspicious, a grant 
 to Ethelnoth, in the Glastonbury 
 Cartulary: "ego Dunstan abbas 
 " nolens sed regalibus obediens 
 " verbis banc cartulam scribere 
 
 " jussi." Mi\ Robertson regards 
 as his first historical appearance, 
 his attestation to a charter of Edred 
 in 946, K.C.D. 411. 
 
 3 P. 7. 
 
 Tp. 17, 18. 
 
 5 Pp. 9, 10. 
 
TNTKODUCTTON. Ixxxi 
 
 a later history, much of which is coloured by its con- Antiquity 
 
 nexion with the Canterbury saint ; it became a rich Gfastonbury 
 
 abbey, and laid claim to an early history and remote times/ ~ 
 
 antiquity ; not content with claiming the senior as well 
 
 as the junior Patrick, it adopted Joseph of Arimathea as 
 
 its first founder, and produced evidence of its existelice 
 
 and sanctity under kings and in times long anterior to 
 
 the West Saxon rule ; not only Edmund the Magnificent 
 
 ruler of Britain, and Edgar the Peaceful, and Edmund 
 
 Ironside, but king Arthur himself slept there. Such 
 
 claims doubtless provoked criticism, and criticism forced 
 
 on the monks the need of a forged history to assert, and 
 
 of foro-ed monuments to support them. And the fabrica- rabricated 
 
 ^ \ evidence. 
 
 tion of such evidences must have gone on at Glastonbury 
 on a scale proportioned to these claims. Westminster 
 claimed the apostle Peter as its founder, but that by a 
 miracle. S. Alban's rejoiced in the protomartyr of Bri- 
 tain, but contented itself with Offa as the restorer rather 
 than the founder of its greatness. But Glastonbury 
 would have a history ^^ithout a miracle, and a continuous 
 existence which needed no restoration. William of 
 Malmesbury, it would almost seem, undertook to erect 
 the story out of materials which he distrusted, but this 
 did not content his employers, and they interpolated his 
 work to a degree which makes it impossible to rely with 
 confidence upon any part of it. 
 
 The later developments, however, of Glastonbury his- True evi- 
 
 ^ ^ dence on the 
 
 tory need not make us shut our eyes to such earlj^ r^omt. 
 evidence as is afforded by the Saxon priest.- Further, 
 we have in a MS. of the same date, or even a few years 
 earlier, a list of the abbots of Glastonbury, which runs up 
 tothe 'ao:e of Ina.^ Ethelwerd mentions the coenobium 
 
 ^ It is very useful, in order to get an idea of the Glastonbury workman- 
 ship, to compare the list of abbots given in the Tiberius MS. with that 
 given by William of Malmesbury, and the few dates ascertainable from 
 
Ixxxii 
 
 INTKODUCTION. 
 
 Early of Glastonbury as the burial place of the ealdorman 
 Giaston- Eanulf ;^ its early history is indeed unnoticed by Bede, 
 or by the authors of the chronicle, but its existence as a 
 monasterium is proved by an incontrovertible authority, 
 the letters of S. Boniface, and the life of the same great 
 West Saxon saint written by his countryman and dis- 
 ciple S. Willibald.^ And this mention by S. Boniface 
 carries us back to the day^ of Ina, who according to 
 William of Malmesbury, writing apart from Glastonbury 
 influences, was the founder, and to the early abbots of 
 
 early historians and charters, with the elaborate array of years which he 
 produces, possibly in some degree, from the same materials. 
 
 Tiberius B. 5. 
 
 W. Malmesb. Ant. Giaston, 
 
 1. Hsemgils. 
 
 
 After five British 
 
 
 2. Wealhstod . 
 
 Bp. Hereford in 731 
 
 abbots, Patrick, 
 
 
 
 (Bede). 
 
 Benignus, Wor- 
 
 
 3. Coengils. 
 
 gret, Lademimd, 
 
 
 4. Beorhtwald . 
 
 Contemporary with 
 
 and Bregored : — 
 
 
 
 S. Boniface, epist. 
 
 1. Beorthwald . 
 
 670-680; abp. Can- 
 
 5. Cealdhun. 
 
 
 terbury. 
 
 6. Muca 
 
 At the Council of 
 
 2. Hemgisel 
 
 680-705. 
 
 
 Clovesho in 805. 
 
 3. Beorwald 
 
 705-712. 
 
 7. Wiccea. 
 
 
 4. Aldbeorth 
 
 712-719. 
 
 8. Eosa. 
 
 
 5. Atfrith . 
 
 719-729. 
 
 9. Stitheard. 
 
 
 6. Kemgisel 
 
 729-743. 
 
 10. Herefyrth. 
 
 
 7. Guba 
 
 743-744. 
 
 11, Hunbeorht. 
 
 
 8. Ticca 
 
 741-752. 
 
 12. Andhun. 
 
 
 9. Cuma 
 
 752-754. 
 
 13. Guthlac. 
 
 
 10. Walthun 
 
 754r-786. 
 
 14. Cuthred 
 
 Confr. S. Gall, above. 
 
 11. Tumberth . 
 
 786-795. 
 
 
 p. Ixxv. 
 
 12. Beadulf . 
 
 795-802. 
 
 15. Ecgwulf. 
 
 
 13. Muca 
 
 802-824. 
 
 16. Dunstan 
 
 A.D, 940 or 946-958. 
 
 14. Gutlac . 
 
 824^850. 
 
 17. Elfric. 
 
 
 15. Ealmund 
 
 850-866. 
 
 18. Sigegar . 
 
 Bp. of Wells in 975. 
 
 16. Herefyrth 
 
 866-880. 
 
 19. ^Ifweard 
 
 975 onwards. 
 
 17. Stiwerd . 
 
 880-905. 
 
 
 18. Ealdhun 
 
 905-927. 
 
 
 
 19. Elfric . 
 
 927. 
 
 
 
 20. Dunstan 
 
 940. 
 
 
 
 21. Elfward . 
 
 962. 
 
 
 
 22. Sigar 
 
 972. 
 
 The order and dates of Malmesbury's list seem to be quite at random ; 
 yet there is enough likeness between the two lists to show that he had 
 older materials to work upon. 
 
 1 Mon. Hist. Brit. p. 513. 
 
 2 There is a letter of Brihtwald, 
 archbishop of Canterbury, to For- 
 there, bishop of Sherborne, referring 
 to abbot Beorwald (Mon. Mogun- 
 tina, ed. Jaffe, p. 48) ; this Beor- 
 wald is called by Willibald abbot 
 of Glastonbury " coenobium . . quod 
 
 antiquorum ijuncupatur vocabulo 
 " Glestingaburg " (ibid. 439) ; and 
 there is a letter from the priest 
 Wiehtberht to "patribuset fratribus 
 in monasterio Glestingaburg con- 
 stitutis "(ibid. 246); written during 
 the life of Boniface. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Ixxxiii 
 
 the ancient list just mentioned. And the certainty of Possible 
 this much of the early history gives probability to many ?f threartr 
 of the charters, the place of which in the Glastonbury 
 Cartulary would afford by itself very little presumption 
 of their credibility. 
 
 On such evidence we may assume that there was an Condition 
 ancient ecclesiastical settlement at Glastonbury, dating monastery, 
 from the seventh century at the latest, which had shared 
 the changes and experienced the fate that had befallen 
 most of the establishments of the centuries of the con- 
 version ; the churches and other buildings standing, the 
 libraries perhaps in a few cases continuing entire,^ but 
 the monastic life extinct, the name preserved only as 
 giving a title to the ownership of the lands, and the 
 abbots and monks, if there were any that called them- 
 selves so, being really secular priests and clerks.^ The The Irish 
 Irish pilgrims who instructed Dunstan may or may not 
 have been members or officers of this establishment, but 
 
 pilgrims. 
 
 ^ Asser's account of the state of 
 the monastic institute in Alfred's 
 time was true of the next half cen- 
 tury : " per multa retroacta annorum 
 curricula monasticsB vitae deside- 
 rium ab ilia tota gente, necnon 
 ct a multis aliis gentibus funditus 
 desierat, quamvis perplurima 
 adhuc nionasteria in ilia regione 
 constructa permaneant, nullo ta- 
 men regulam illius vitse ordina- 
 biliter tenente, nescio quare, aut 
 pro alienigenarum infestationibus 
 . . . aut etiam pro nimia illius 
 gentis in omni genere divitiarum 
 " abundantia," &c. M. H. B. 493. 
 According to Alfred himself the 
 books remained, but there was no 
 one who could use them. Pref. to 
 S. Gregory's Pastoral Care. 
 
 2 Elfric the biographer of Ethel- 
 wold, the earliest describer of this 
 state of things, draws a sad picture 
 of the old Minster at Winchester, 
 
 (C 
 
 (< 
 
 (i 
 
 and although it may be exaggerated 
 it is the testimony of an eye-witness : 
 " malemorigerati clerici, elatione 
 " et insolentia ac luxuria praiventi, 
 " adeo ut nonnulli eorum dedig* 
 " narentur missas suo ordine cele- 
 brare, repudiantes uxores, quas 
 illicite duxerant ; et alias accipi- 
 " entes, guise et ebrietati jugiter 
 " dediti.'' Hist. Abend, ii, 260. 
 The biographer of Oswald, after 
 telling us that Oswald bought him- 
 self "monasterium quod est in 
 Wintonia positum . . . donando 
 digno pretio," proceeds, " in diebus 
 illis non monastici viri nec ipsius 
 sanctae institutionis regulse erant 
 in regione Anglorum, sed erant 
 " religiosi et dignissimi clerici, qui 
 " tamen thesauros suos quos avidis 
 " adquirebant cordibus non ad 
 " ecclesige honorem'sed suis dare 
 " solebant uxoribus," folio 4. 
 
 ct 
 
 (C 
 
Ixxxiv 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Low state of the right of patronage was clearly in the hands of the 
 at the time. King, and the state oi monastic rule, discipline, and pre- 
 tension was so attenuated, that the contemporaries of 
 Dunstan regarded him as a founder rather than a re- 
 former. Monachism there was in England, although it 
 was not after the rule of S. Benedict, and a monk Dun- 
 stan had already become ; but that Dunstan s monachism 
 had little or nothing in common with the state of things 
 existing at Glastonbury at the time, appears from the 
 words which the biographer puts in the mouth of Edmund : 
 " Be thou of thi^ seat the lord and potent occupant, and 
 " whatsoever from thine own means shall be lacking for 
 " the increase of divine service, or for the completeness 
 " of the sacred rule, that I will supply devoutly by my 
 rpyal bounty." ^ It is clear that the abbacy must 
 have been vacant and the lands of the monastery in the 
 king s hands, much as was the case at Abingdon at the 
 Condition of Same time. The words of the biographer of S. Ethelwold 
 Abingdon, j^jgj^^ applied to the one as to well as the other ; it 
 was a place in which a little monastery' had been kept 
 up from ancient days, but it was then desolate and 
 neglected, consisting of mean buildings and possessing 
 only a few (in the case of Abingdon, forty) hides ; the 
 rest of the land of the place the king possessed by his 
 royal right." ^ That is, there was still a monastic 
 establishment, but it had become ruinous and im- 
 poverished. It was in name an abbey, but really served 
 by clerks, or altogether neglected. The renewal of dis- 
 cipline was really a foundation rather than a revival. 
 
 The name of the abbot who had vacated the seat 
 taken by Dunstan, as given by William of Malmesbury, 
 
 (C 
 
 (C 
 
 (C 
 
 ^ p. 25. Osbern's expansion of 
 the speech is also worth noting, 
 p. 92. ■ For it is impossible to sus- 
 pect either the Saxon priest or 
 Osbern of a desire to undervalue 
 the antiquity of Glastonbury as 
 
 compared with Canterbury. Com- 
 pare Robertson, Hist. Essays, p. 
 190. 
 
 2 Elfric's Life of Ethelwold, Hist. 
 Abend, ii. 257. 
 
INTRODUCTION, 
 
 is Elfric, the successor of Aldhun, under whom he says Uunstan's 
 
 T-i 1T1 1 1T1 • T1 predecessor. 
 
 Dunstan had been educated. In the ancient nst, how- 
 ever, Dunstan's immediate predecessor is named Ecg- 
 wulf ;^ and the next in order, counting backwards, is 
 Cuthred, whom I am inclined to identify with that 
 ^' Cudret" who appears among the courtiers of Athel- 
 stan in the compact with the monks of St. Gall.^ 
 
 It miejht be difficult to define the monastic character Dunstan's 
 
 early 
 
 that Dunstan had assumed ; but it differed as much monacMsm. 
 from the system which it superseded as it did from 
 the more perfect form into which it ultimately grew. 
 No doubt the name and dress of the monk was re- 
 sumed. Wulfred, Dunstan's early friend, is called a 
 deacon,^ but the companions of his retirement w^hilst 
 he is abbot are called monks.* He himself in the fa- 
 mous drawing, whicli with very much probability is 
 ascribed to his own hand, appears in the dress of a 
 monk.^ Yet the establishment at Glastonbury under 
 him is much more of a school than a convent: the 
 words " scholasticus " and discipulus " come more 
 naturally than ''monachus." In this again there is 
 nothing peculiar to Glastonbury ; exactly the same pro- 
 cesses are traceable at Abingdon. I conclude that there 
 had taken place, probably under the influence of Elfege 
 the Bald, a strong tendency towards pure Benedic- 
 tinism : that tendency was represented by Dunstan and 
 Ethelwold in their early efforts, but it was not crowned 
 with success, or brought into perfect accord with the 
 Benedictine discipline, until Dunstan had seen the old 
 rule in working at Blandinium, and Oswald and Ethel- 
 wold had brought instructors from Fleury. The dif- 
 ference between the laxer rule of Dunstan and the 
 stricter discipline of the other two, may be partly attri- 
 buted to the difference of their foreign relations, partly 
 
 ^ Soe above, p. Ixxxii,, note. 
 - See above, p. Ixxv, note. 
 
 4 P. 23. 
 MB. Bodl. See below, p. ex. 
 
Ixxxvi 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Dunstan's also to the fact that Dunstan beinsf a statesman, and, 
 
 cliscipliiiG 
 
 mMerthan after the accession of Edgar, in a position of supreme 
 oswaid^and importance, was obliged, whatever his own wishes may 
 have been, to avoid a policy of persecution. In the 
 biographies of Ethelwold and Oswald, Dunstan plays a 
 part quite secondary to theirs in the expulsion of the 
 clerks from the monasteiies ; and in his own churches, 
 Canterbury, London, and Worcester, he attempted no 
 such measure : it is possible that he acted as a check 
 rather than a spur on the zeal of Edgar. At the same 
 time it cannot be supposed that the, clerks were ex- 
 pelled without his permission ; and although the stories 
 of his active participation, detailed by Osbern and Ead- 
 mer, were borrowed and adapted from the career of 
 Ethelwold, there is evidence enough in the first life to 
 show that he sympathized with the movement, and 
 that his own life and personal influence were guided 
 by an ascetic spirit. 
 Dunstan at Edmund rcigucd but a short time after Dunstan's 
 Edred. appointment as abbot, dying on the 26th of May 946:^ 
 Edred, who succeeded him, reigned until November 23, 
 955.^ ThB former king was eighteen when he began 
 to reign, twenty-four when he died. Edred must have 
 been within a year of the same age as Dunstan. These 
 dates help to reconcile us to the fact that Dunstan 
 became abbot at twenty-two. They serve to account 
 for his close intimacy with Edred ; they had been play- 
 fellows probably at the court of Athelstan. Edred was 
 a sickly young man ; the Saxon priest has drawn a 
 picture of his ill health too graphic to be an invention 
 of his own.'^ His mother Eadgifu was his chief ad- 
 viser, and next to her Dunstan, who acted as treasurer 
 of the royal estates, and perhaps in an official position 
 somewhat like that of the later chancellors. His time 
 was divided between his abbey at Glastonbury, where 
 
 1 Chr. Sax. A D. 946. 
 
 2 Ibid. A.D. 955. 
 
 P. 31 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Ixxxvii 
 
 he was teachine: and buildine^, and his attendance on Court at 
 
 o Winchester. 
 
 the king, who seems to have kept court, not in the 
 western shires like Athelstan and Edmund, but chiefly 
 at Winchester. His reign was on the whole a success- 
 ful one ; for, whether by his own energy, by Dunstan's 
 policy, or by the divisions of his enemies, he acquired 
 finally the allegiance of Northumbria. It was, no doubt, 
 during a visit paid with Edred to the north, that Dun- 
 stan saw the remains of S. Cuthbert.^ 
 
 It is to these years, no doubt, that Dunstan's period q^J^^^"** 
 of active teaching): is to be referred. It was Edred who relation to 
 
 c5 ^ monachism. 
 
 by his mother's advice placed Ethelwold as abbot at 
 Abingdon ; and this is the time of Oswald's mission to 
 Fleury.^ The part taken by archbishop Odo in the 
 government of the country has been obscured by the 
 glory of the younger men, and by the fact that his life 
 was not written until a century and a half after his 
 death. It is, however, certain that he did nothing to 
 thwart the policy of Dunstan, and enough of his eccle- 
 siastical legislation remains to show that, in a determi- 
 nation to enforce the observance of both monastic vows 
 and the laws of marriage, he came in no degree behind 
 his more famous successor.^ 
 
 In 953, the death of Ethelgar, bishop of Crediton, Proposal 
 gave Edred and Eadgifu an opportunity of promoting Dunstan a 
 Dunstan to the episcopate. It may or may not be true 
 that, as Adelard relates,^ a like offer was made to him 
 on the death of Elfege the Bald in 951. He was not 
 yet of canonical age for consecration, and he refused 
 the bishopric, alleging as the reason, if we are to credit 
 the later writers, his unwillingness to leave the court 
 as long as Edred lived. There can, I think, be no 
 doubt about this part of the story, or about the dream 
 which followed his refusal. Elfwold was appointed at 
 
 » See p. 379. 
 
 2Elfric's Life of Ethelwold, 
 Chroii. Abend, ii. 257 ; Hist. Ram- 
 sey, Gale, p. 391. 
 
 * See his Constitutions, pub- 
 lished in the reign of Edmund, in 
 Wilkins, Concilia, i. 212, sq. 
 
 4 P. 56. 
 
Ixxxviii 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Date of 
 Edred's 
 death. 
 
 his recommendation to Crediton, and as bishop of Cre- 
 diton Elfwold attests the charters of Edred from 953 
 onwards.^ 
 
 Edred's death must have been sudden ; he was at 
 Frome;^ Dunstan who was at Glastonbury was sum- 
 moned to attend him, but the king died before he arrived, 
 and the crown fell to Edwy, the elder of the two sons 
 of Edmund by his first wife Elfgifu.^ Edred's reign 
 is said in the table of the kings to have lasted nine 
 years and six weeks f a computation which agrees but 
 imperfectly with the dates given by Florence of Wor- 
 cester for his coronation and death, the former event 
 being placed on the 16iJi of August 946, and the latter 
 on the feast of S. Clement, November 28, 955.^ The 
 rougher computation of the Chronicle, nine years and 
 a half, dating from the death of Edmund,^ is nearer 
 the mark. 
 
 As Edwy reigned three years, thirty-five weeks, and 
 coronation, five days,^ and died on the 1st of October 959, his 
 coronation feast must have taken place on the first or 
 second Sunday after the Epiphany, 956. He could 
 scarcely at this time have been more than fifteen years 
 old. Dunstan was still at court, and on him and his 
 kinsman Kinesige ^ was thrown the disagreeable task of 
 
 Date of 
 Edwy's 
 
 1 F. 30. 
 
 2 Chron. Sax. A.D. 955. 
 
 5 Chron. Sax. ^.D. 955 ; Mon. 
 Hist. Brit. p. 662. 
 
 4 MS. Tiberius, A. 3 ; Chr. S. 
 ed. Thorpe, 1. 238. 
 
 5 So also Ethelwerd, M. H. B. 
 p. 520. 
 
 6 Ethelwerd sajs the same, p. 
 220. 
 
 7 " Four years less seven weeks," 
 MS. Tiberius, B. 5; Rel. Ant. ii. 
 171 ; " quadriennio " Ethelwerd, p. 
 520 ; " three years, thirty-six weeks, 
 
 less two days," MS. Tiberius, 
 A. 3 ; Thorpe, Chr. S.- p. 233. 
 
 ® Kinesige appears first in a char- 
 ter of Athelstan to Abingdon, 
 Kemble, CD. 1129, as bishop of 
 Berkshire. Berkshire was properly 
 in the diocese of Ramsbury, of 
 which Odo was bishop at the time. 
 In the lists of bishops (M. H. B. 624) 
 he is bishop of Lichfield ; he may 
 have been administering Berkshire 
 for Odo at the date of the earlier 
 charter. He attests charters from 
 931 to 934, antl from 949-963 ; but 
 possibly enough there were two 
 persons of the name. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Ixxxix 
 
 bringing back the careless and obstinate boy, from the fojoJ^uon^ 
 chamber of Ethelgifu and her daughter, to the solemn ^^^^st. 
 banquet. On this event much has been written, and 
 an amount of criticism spent, altogether out of propor- 
 tion to the materials for its history.^ The narration 
 of the Saxon priest is the primary authority ; written 
 forty years after the event, and not by an eye-witness, 
 it bears marks of having been coloured by popular tra- 
 dition. The distinction which I have drawn above, as 
 to the narrative of our author, where it concerns Dun- 
 stan's private history, and where it touches on public 
 events, may be applied here. The monstrous lust of 
 such a mere child as Edwy was could not have been a 
 main feature of a story told by Dunstan himself, who 
 knew the truth, and who, although he had been perse- 
 cuted by Ethelgifu, had no temptation to pervert facts. 
 The offence given to Dunstan may easily be accounted 
 for by the relationship of Edwy and Ethelgifu, and the 
 bulk of our historians have so construed it. 
 
 Dunstan's flight to Flanders must have followed early Dunstan in 
 
 exile. 
 
 in the year 956 ; the charters of Edwy, which are at- 
 tested by him,^ may some of them be referred possibly 
 to the day of the coronation. Edgar continued much Edgar still 
 longer at his brother's side, at least until the summer 
 of 957.^ The rebellion of the Northumbrians and Mer- 
 cians cannot be throw^n later than the spring of 958. 
 
 ^ On this subject may be read 
 with advantage Mr. Allen's Essay, 
 appended to his work on the Pre- 
 rogative, p. 220, and Hallam's note 
 in the History of the Middle Ages. 
 The former is very speculative. 
 Hallam's conclusion is in defiance 
 of his argument. 
 
 - These are, a grant to Wilton, 
 dated 955, Kemble, 436 ; one to 
 Abingdon, dated 956, Kemble, 441; 
 
 one dated 956 at Cirencester, in 
 favour of Worcester, Kemble, 451 ; 
 one to JElric, in the Abingdon 
 Cartulary, dated 956, Kemble, 1 1 86, 
 1187. 
 
 Edgar attests charters of his 
 brother as late as May 9, 957, 
 Kemble, 465. A charter to bishop 
 Oscytel, which is attested by him, 
 dated 958 (Kemble, 472), is shown 
 by the indiction to belong to 956i 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Edgar be- 
 comes king 
 of Mercia. 
 
 Dunstan 
 made a 
 bishop. 
 
 Council of 
 
 Brandan- 
 
 ford. 
 
 In that year Edgar begins to issue charters as king.^ The 
 revolt is placed by Florence of Worcester in 957, and 
 as bishop Kynewald of Worcester, whose death made 
 room for Dunstan as bishop, disappears in that year 
 from the charters, the recall of Dunstan probably fol- 
 lowed immediately on the revolt. Edgar is reckoned 
 to have reigned two years at the time of his brother's 
 death. 
 
 Dunstan's return was followed by his promotion to 
 the episcopate. Glastonbury was in the hands of Edwy, 
 and for the time it appeared that he had no chance 
 of recovering it. It was accordingly determined in a 
 council of the witan attached to Edgar, that Dunstan 
 should be made a bishop. This council was held at a 
 place called in the various MSS. of the first life Bra- 
 danford or Brandanford.^ If the latter reading be right, 
 and it is the reading which Mabillon recognized in the 
 Arras MS., and is clearly that of the Cottonian, the 
 place was probably Brentford, the earlier form Of which, 
 Bregentnaford, was probably lost. If the other reading 
 be the true one, Bradford in Wiltshire would seem to 
 be the place meant; but if so, then Edwy's kingdom 
 must have been much more circumscribed than we have 
 a/Uy other reasons for supposing it to have been. The 
 Wiltshire Bradford must, I think, have been in Edwy's 
 hands,, and the balance of probability is in favour of 
 Brentford. , 
 
 ^ These of course are not nume- 
 rous: one from the Peterborough 
 Cartulary, dated 958, in, which 
 Edgar calls himself "rex Anglo- 
 rum," is signed by Oskytel of Dor- 
 chesterj Dunstan of Worcester, 
 Kinsige of Lichfield, Athulf of 
 Hereford, and Leofwine of Lindsey, 
 Kemble, 471 ; another, dated 959, 
 from the same Cartulary, has the 
 
 signature of Dunstan as bishop of 
 London, and Oskytel as archbishop 
 of York (Kemble, 480), Edgar 
 calling himself king of the Mer- 
 cians. 
 
 2 Pp. 36,^ 470. The account of 
 this council given by Wilkins, Con- 
 cilia, i. 224, is an extract from 
 archbishop Parker's Antiquitates^ 
 
INTRODUCTION. XCl 
 
 The story further reads as if the resolution of the The ques- 
 
 *i 1111 11 ^® 
 
 witan merely was that Dunstan should be promoted. Dunstan's 
 
 ^ consecra- 
 
 No see is mentioned, perhaps no see was vacant. We tion. 
 are not told that Dunstan was consecrated upon this 
 recommendation, and Adelard probably records the truth 
 when he describes him as consecrated by Odo to the 
 see of Worcester. Yet it is quite possible that he was 
 consecrated as an unattached bishop, as the Saxon priest 
 describes, to attend personally on Edgar and give him 
 the benefit of his counsel. Such an appointment would 
 not have been entirely out of keeping with the system 
 of diocesan episcopacy that had prevailed in Wessex, 
 where from the time of Ethelwulf there had been occa- 
 sionally shire-bishops with no fixed see. On this hy- Thetradi- 
 pothesis might be explained, the tradition preserved by 
 Adelard that Odo consecrated Dunstan, " titulo ecclesi^e 
 cui episcopus datus est conticito the idea that he did 
 so by divine instruction, that he might succeed him at 
 Canterbury, being an after-thought. 
 
 Whether or no this was the case, the death of Kyne- He is ^ 
 wald, bishop of Worcester, gave the new bishop a see. Worcester, 
 Kynewald's name appears for the last time in a charter 
 of 957 ; and, in the few charters of 958 which were 
 issued by Edgar during his brother's lifetime, Dunstan 
 appears as bishop. If the festival kept on the 21st of 
 October at Canterbury, as the ordination of S. Dunstan,^ 
 commemorates his episcopal consecration, it must, I 
 think, be referred to the year 957. In 959 he received and of 
 
 London. 
 
 the see of London,^ and held it together with Wor- 
 cester until the settlement that followed Edwy's death. 
 This arrangement may not improbably have been made 
 
 1 P. 60 ; cf. pp. 103, 104, 195, 
 292, for the amplification of the 
 idea. 
 
 2 From the Obituary or Marty r- 
 ology of Canterbury, Wharton, 
 Ang. Sac. i. 54: " xii. Cal. Novem- 
 
 " bris, Cantuarige, ordinatio B. 
 Dunstani archiepiscopi, cujus vita 
 quam fuerit pontificatii digna 
 " etiam divina revelatione inno- 
 « tuit." 
 3 P. 37. 
 
XCll 
 
 INTRODUCTIOI^. 
 
 either because Odo was dead, or because C^jiterbury, 
 where a new bishop would have had to seek consecra- 
 tion, was in the hands of Edwy. 
 
 Edwy's marriage must have taken place in 956, or 
 early in 957 ; the charter of Abingdon, attested by Elf- 
 gifu the king's wife, and Ethelgifu the king's -W^ife's 
 mother, bearing also the attestation of bishop Kynewald.^ 
 It is not attested by Odo, who had no doubt been 
 offended with the marriage. Edwy's charters in which 
 Odo's name appears in 957 may have been granted 
 most probably before that event : those of 958, after 
 the forced reconciliation, following the separation of 
 Edwy and Elfgifu, which is placed by the Ajiglo-Saxon 
 Chronicle of Worcester ^ in that year. 
 
 The next point to be considered is one of the most 
 complex in our early annals, but it is also one on 
 which our Saxon priest is a primary authority: the 
 
 ^ Hist. Abend, i. 218 ; Kemble, 
 CD. No. 1201. The charter is not 
 quite simple. Edwy bestows Ken- 
 nington on the priest Brihthelm, 
 with the date 956, and the attesta- 
 tion of Odo, Edgar, Elfsige, Oswulf, 
 Wulfsige, Kynewold, and Daniel; 
 that is clearly before the revolt of 
 the north, and probably before the 
 marriage. After this Brihthelm, 
 now a bishop, exchanges the Ken- 
 nington estate for one at Crydan- 
 bridge with abbot Ethelwold of 
 Abingdon ; this exchange being 
 without date, and attested by 
 " -Elfgifu thaes (/ininges wif, and 
 " Ethelgifu thaes cyninges wifes 
 
 modur," Elfsige, Oswulf, and 
 Coenwald, bishops. This exchange 
 is undated, but it must have taken 
 place some time after the grant. 
 Brihthelm had in the meanwhile 
 become a bishop, Odo and Edgar 
 were away from the court, and Elf' 
 
 gifu and her mother supreme for 
 the time. All then that it proves 
 is the fact of the marriage, and that 
 it took place during the life of 
 Kynewald, Dunstan's predecessor. 
 
 2 Tiberius, B. 4, " Her on thissum 
 " geare Oda arcebiscop totwaemde 
 " Eadwi cyning and ^Ifgyfe, for- 
 " thaem the hi waeron to gesybbe," 
 It is to be remembered that this is 
 all the evidence we have on the 
 subject except the tradition preva- 
 lent a hundred and 'fifty years after. 
 The Saxon priest says nothing about 
 the completion of the marriage, and 
 the biographer of Oswald gives a 
 different story, making Edwy an 
 adulterer: " subuxore propria alte- 
 " rum adamavit quam et rapuit . . . 
 " Antistes autem (Odo) . . . equum 
 " ascendit et ad villam qua miilier 
 " mansitabat pervenit, eamque 
 " rapuit et de regno perduxit.'* 
 (Nero, E. 1. fo. 1). 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 xciii 
 
 circumstances that followed the death of Odo, and the Question as 
 appointment of Dunstan as his successor. Our author, of odo's 
 who gives no dates, tells us that on Odo's death, Elfsin 
 or Elfsige, bishop of Winchester, succeeded him ; that 
 Elfsige on his way to Rome crossed the Alps in deep 
 snow, and caught the cold which killed him. His 
 companions returned. Byrhthelm, the bishop of Dorset, 
 was chosen in his place, and havinef shown himself in- Succession 
 
 ' ^ of Elfsige 
 
 competent to enforce discipline was sent back to his anOByrht- 
 see by the king, who then with the advice of his witan 
 appointed Dunstan.^ We are not told who was king 
 when Elfsige and Byrhthelm were appointed ; the king 
 who nominated Dunstan was of course Edgar. There 
 is thus nothing in the original story that is fatal to who pro- 
 the belief that Elfsige and Byrhthelm were the nomi- 
 nees of Edwy, and the humiliation of the latter prcJate 
 a result of the changes that followed Edwy's death. 
 The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, except in its latest and 
 most questionable edition, does not mention either the 
 death of Odo or the names of Elfsige and ByThthelm ; 
 and Adelard also is silent on the whole transaction. 
 
 When, however, we come to the time of Osbern and Later state- 
 
 ^ ' ments at ^ 
 
 Florence, we find an immediate difficulty. Osbern at- variance, 
 tributes the appointment of Elfsige and Byrhthelm to 
 Edgar : ^ Florence of Worcester, perhaps wavering in his 
 own mind, places the election of Elfsige before, and that 
 of Byrhthelm after, the accession of Edgar to the whole 
 kingdom.^ William of Malmesbury follows Osbern in 
 ascribing the • appointment of Elfsige to Edgar,^ and 
 although in the Life of Dunstan he adopts the same 
 statements about Byrhthelm, does not mention him 
 
 > Pp. 37, 38. The life of Oswald 
 (Nero, E. 1), which is the original 
 authority for the insult offered by 
 Elfsige to Dunstan (pp. 294, 338) 
 below, is also silent as to the king 
 who appointed Elfsige. 
 
 2 P. 107 ; the name of Edgar is 
 not given, but the king who first 
 pressed the election on Dunstan 
 could not have been Edwy. 
 
 3 Elor. Wig. A.D. 958, 959. 
 
 4 P. 294. 
 
xciv 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The later amone: the archbishops in the Gesta Pontificum. Ead- 
 
 writers refer ^ ^ 
 
 the pro- mer, who ini2:ht have been expected to be accurate, 
 
 motion of ' ^ ^ 
 
 idgar^*^ follows Osbcrn.^ Such an array of writers, who pos- 
 sessed, in the records of their churches, authorities 
 which have not come down to us, might be supposed 
 to afford a conclusive comment on the original state- 
 ment, strong enough certainly to refute an argument 
 founded on the first reading of that statement. 
 Real Such, however, is the scantiness of all information 
 
 evidence, added by these writers to the original stock preserved 
 in the Chronicle, that we can scarcely give them credit 
 for possessing or for using materials that have not come 
 down to us. We have resource, therefore, to the infor- 
 mation which we may find in charters and kalendars, 
 and in a more precise examination of the chronology. 
 What time Edwy died on the 1st or 2nd of October 959.^ Odo 
 between the died on the 2nd of June : ^ but in what year ? His name 
 Odo and that IS found attached to an Abingdon charter dated May 17, 
 959, which has no decisive mark of forgery.* If he 
 died in June 959, there is still time before the 1st of 
 October for Elfsige to go as far as the Alps, thirty- 
 three days journey, for his companions to return home, 
 and Byrhthelm to be elected. And the existence of a 
 charter of Edwy, dated 959, and attested by Byrhthelm 
 as " Dorobernensis ecclesise episcopus," may be regarded 
 as conclusively proving that he was appointed by that 
 king.^ On the other hand, such a succession of events 
 
 1 p. 198. 
 
 ^Four MSS. of the Chronicle 
 give the year 959 ; two 958 ; one 
 Oct. 1, 958. Florence gives 959 ; 
 the Kalendar printed by Hampson, 
 gives the day Oct. 2 ; the charters 
 afford ample proof that Edwy was 
 aHve in 959. 
 
 3 Obituary of Canterbury, Angl. 
 Sacr. i. 54. 
 
 ^Kemble, Cod. Dipl. No. 
 
 1224, an Abingdon charter, at- 
 tested not only by Odo but by 
 Eadgiva the king's grandmother, 
 Hist. Abend, i. 169-172. It is 
 worth observing that of the two 
 copies of this charter one (Clau- 
 dius, c. 9) omits the name of Odo. 
 
 ^ This charter, which is not in 
 Kemble, is in the book of Hyde 
 (ed. Edwards), p. 177. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 XCV 
 
 is SO rapid as to be almost unprecedented Elfsige odo died 
 would hardly have found the Alps so blocked with in 953. 
 snow in June that he should be really frozen to death ; 
 and Florence of Worcester distinctly places Odo's death 
 in the year in which he separated Edwy and Elfgifu, 
 that is in 958. It is important, too, to observe that one 
 copy of the Abingdon charter omits the name of Odo. 
 On the whole we may safely conclude that sufficient 
 ground is found for setting aside the statements of Os- 
 bern as to the nomination of his two successors, and 
 for interpreting the Saxon priest accordingly. 
 
 A minor question is this : Byrhthelm is called by our what was 
 
 ^ . *^ , ^ Byrhthelm s 
 
 first author the bishop of Dorset,^ that is, of Sherborne ; see ? 
 but the lists of the bishops of Sherborne contain no 
 such name, that see having been occupied successively 
 by Wulfsige, who, as we know from charters, disappears 
 in 958, and Elf wold, who signs first in 961. It is true 
 that between these years there is room for Byrhthelm, 
 but the lists, which are nearly contemporary, do not 
 admit him. On the other hand, we find prelates of this 
 name at this period, in the sees of Wells, Winchester, 
 and London. It is not by any means impossible that 
 the bishop who was elected to Canterbury was the 
 bishop of Wells, who is called electus in 956,^ and who 
 may either have held Sherborne after Wulfsige's death 
 in 958, as well as Wells, iust as Dunstan held London, Weiisor 
 
 ' . . . Sherborne, 
 
 or have been called bishop of Dorset in mistake for or both. 
 Somerset. We find his name, however, so often in the 
 Abingdon charters, that it seems more natural to adopt 
 the former supposition. The fact that we find two 
 
 ' p. 38. 
 
 2Kemble, C. D. n. 349: from 
 a Bath Cartulary. Byrhthelm of 
 Wells succeeded a bishop named 
 Wulfhelm in 956 : Wulfsige of 
 Sherborne disappears from the 
 charters iu 958; and his successor 
 
 Elfwold first appears in 961. I am 
 strengthened in this conjecture by 
 finding that Mr. Robertson, Hist. 
 Essays, p. 194 note, also supposes 
 Byrhthelm to have succeeded 
 Wulfsige in 958. 
 
 g 2 
 
xcvi 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 name. 
 
 Dunstan 
 becomes 
 
 More than bishops of the name constantly attesting tosrether ^ hin- 
 
 oneofthe ^ . • V, «=>«=> 
 
 ders us from identifying this Byrhthelm with the occu- 
 pants of the sees of Loiidon and Winchester ; but it is 
 obvious that if Canterbury were practically vacant as we 
 have supposed from June 958 to October 959, any bishops 
 appointed in the meantime must have either sought 
 consecration elsewhere or have held sees in plurality. 
 I think that on the whole it is most likely that Byrht- 
 helm, who is called the king's kinsman,^ was a com- 
 petitor with Dunstan in more ways than one ; he was 
 probably Edwy's prime minister, as Dunstan was Ed- 
 gar's, and Edgar's triumph was the decisive cause for 
 his final defeat. 
 
 Dunstan then became Archbishop of Canterbury in 
 archbishop. 959 ; the entries in the Chronicle which place this event 
 in 961 ^ being late insertions, and at variance with the 
 evidence of charters. The commemoration of his ordi- 
 nation on Oct. 21,^ before mentioned, may possibly refer 
 to his installation at Canterbury ; and if this be the 
 case, no time could have been lost after Edwy's death 
 in removing Byrhthelm, a fact which is moreover proved 
 by two charters of 959 ^ which Dunstan witnesses. 
 After the settlement of the kingdom he went to Kome 
 for the pall. This he received from Pope John XII. 
 probably in 960, in which year very few charters con- 
 tain his name. In 961 he consecrated Elfstan and 
 Oswald his successors in the sees of London and Wor- 
 cester, probably also the new bishop of Sherborne. In 
 963 he consecrated Ethelwold, his old fellow pupil or 
 disciple, to the see of Winchester,^ and from that date 
 
 Goes to 
 Rome. 
 
 e.g. 
 
 Kemble, C. D. Nos. 
 1225. 
 
 2 Kemble, C. D. 469. 
 
 ^ See Thorpe's edition, pp. 218, 
 219 ; where it will be seen that the 
 passage is an interpolation in one 
 MS., is altogether omitted in four, 
 and at home only in the Canterbury 
 
 MS. Dom. A. 8, which is the least 
 valuable as an authority. 
 
 ^ Ang. Sac. i. 54 ; above, p. xci., 
 note.2 
 
 5 Kemble, C. D. Nos. 1221, 
 1225. 
 
 c Chr. S. A.D. 963. 
 
INTRODUCTIOiSr. 
 
 xcvii 
 
 begins the struggle of the monks and clerks which fur- struggle 
 nishes most of the historians of the reign with their monks ami^ 
 chief subject of discussion. We must, however, dismiss 
 this famous question with a very few remarks in addition 
 to those already made. 
 
 All evidence seems to show that, whilst the monastic Rise of 
 movement had taken its rise at Winchester, it had monachism. 
 been received with the most fervour in Mercia. Dunstan 
 received his impressions in its favour from Elfege the 
 Bald. Ethelwold was a native of Winchester, and 
 Oswald had been trained and held preferment in the 
 same city. The revival of Glastonbury and Abingdon, 
 under the patronage of Edred, was the limit of success 
 in Wessex for a long time, and the four years of Edwy's 
 rule were unfavourable to its extension. The statements 
 of Osbern and Eadmer, that Edwy confiscated all mo- 
 nastic property,^ are not borne out by the authority of 
 the earlier writers, but Glastonbury had certainly been 
 seized, and the condition of Winchester under Ethelwold 
 seems to show that such monachism as had existed 
 under Elfege was extinguished under his successor. We 
 may safely infer that the monastic party shared in the 
 disgrace of Dunstan, and was made to bear the effects 
 of the quarrel between Edwy and Odo. Accordingly connexion 
 when the revolt of the Mercians and Northumbrians mo*n^tic 
 placed Edgar in the position of a rival, and a too Sfercia!^**^ 
 powerful rival, to his brother, it was natural that he 
 should find support in the monastic party; it is also 
 quite possible that that revolt was prompted by the 
 leaders of the religious reform, who were provoked by 
 Edwy's foolish and unlawful marriage. The story that 
 Edgar in his early youth had been moved by the sight 
 of the ruined monasteries to make a vow of restitution ^ 
 
 1 Pp. 101, 191. 
 
 " Regularis Concordia : preface. 
 See p. 290, below. " Clericos pero- 
 *' SOS habuit, nostri habitus viros 
 
 " sicut diximus honoravit," says 
 the monk of Ramsey. (V. Oswaldi* 
 Nero E. 1. f. 8). 
 
xcviii 
 
 INTEOBUCTION. 
 
 Edgar s may very well be true ; he owed his crown to men 
 
 monastic . 
 
 zeal. who were sincere in their desire to bring about the 
 same end. Unquestionably there were many other 
 points at issue. Wessex and Mercia were held together 
 by a very slight thread, as both earlier and later history 
 show ; but there can, I think, be no doubt either that 
 religious questions entered, into the struggle, or that the 
 results bound Edgar, even more firmly than they bound 
 Dunstan, to the monastic interest. The very scanty 
 notices of the £)hronicle during Edgar's reign illustrate 
 this, and what little truth can be sifted from the ex- 
 aggerations of the later monastic writers seems to confirm 
 the conclusion. Oswald, under the protection of the 
 _ East Anglian ealdorman Ethelwin, was working at 
 
 in Mercia^ Eamscy. Ethelwold was nursing a scheme of extension 
 which was to revive the churches which had perished 
 in the Danelaw. Archbishop Oskytel of York, the near 
 kinsman of Oswald and Odo, and of the half mythic 
 Thurkyte|, abbot of Bedford, whom Crowland after- 
 wards claimed as founder, must have been one leader 
 of the " populus brumalis," when they renounced Edwy. 
 Edgar's success placed these men in possession of all the 
 power they could desire. With Dunstan at Canterbury, 
 Ethelwold at Winchester, and Oswald at Worcester, 
 their course was clear. Ethelwold was the moving 
 spirit, Oswald tempered zeal with discretion, Dunstan's 
 hand may be credited with such little moderation and 
 practical wisdom as can be traced. The movement, with 
 all its drawbacks, was justifiable, perhaps absolutely 
 
 irajg^rtance nccessary. The cleansing of Winchester from the 
 
 revivaJ. " spurcitise clcricorum " may not have been indispen- 
 sable to the welfare of Ramsey, Ely, Peterborough, and 
 Thorney ; but we cannot doubt that a monastic mission 
 system was necessary for the Tecovery of middle Eng- 
 land from the desolation and darkness which had been 
 brougtt upon it by the Danes, or that the monastic 
 revival was in those regions both successful ~«,nd useful. 
 
INTRODUCTION. XCIX 
 
 In his first year, 964, Ethel wold, with Edsfar's assis- Process of 
 
 nil 1 ^» recovering 
 
 tance, expelled the seculars from the two sreat monas- monastic 
 
 . estates. 
 
 teries of Winchester, from Chertsey, and from Milton,^ 
 and after doing so, carried out his scheme in middle 
 England. He recovered Ely, Peterborough, and Thorney 
 from the hands into which they had fallen, and esta- 
 blished a body of monks in each, under abbots of his 
 own training. Oswald acted with less energy ; instead 
 of driving the clerks out of his cathedral at Worcester, 
 he removed his episcopal chair to. the neighbouring 
 monastery ; but he carried on his educational and mis- 
 sionary work at Ramsey with not less zeal than was 
 shown by Ethelwold. It is accordingly on this part of 
 England that the storm falls when the old causes of 
 quarrel revive after the death of Edgar. 
 
 The only other question of interest in the career of story of the 
 Dunstan during the reign of Edgar is that which con- ^ii*on and 
 cerns the king s coronation at Bath, and, in connexion .years' 
 with it, the story of the nun of Wilton and the septennial 
 penance. According to Osbern,^ Edgar violated a nun 
 at Wilton, who became mother of Edward, his successor, 
 and Dunstan imposed as a penance, besides other ob- 
 servances, the disuse of the crown for seven years and 
 the foundation of a nunnery at Shaftesbury. Eadmer 
 denies that the young woman in question was a nun, 
 or that she was the mother of Edward, but admits the 
 fact of the crime and the penance, with the exception 
 of the foundation of Shaftesbury, which was known to 
 have been a work of King Alfred.^ Gotselin, the bio- 
 grapher of S. Edith, and a contemporary of Osbern, 
 gives to the lady of Wilton the name of Wulftrudis, and 
 asserts that Edgar would have married her had she not 
 retired to take the veil at Wilton.^ Nicolas of Wor- 
 
 1 dir. S. A.D. 964. 
 
 Pp. Ill, 112. 
 3 Pp. 163, 209, 2l0. 
 
 ^ Mabillon, AA. SS. O. S. B. seec, 
 V. p. 623. 
 
C IKTRODUCTION. 
 
 Different ccster, Eadmer's friend, denied the connexion between 
 Edgar's°sin. the disuse of the crown and the sin of Edgar, and gave 
 the name of S. Edward's mother as Egelfleda, daughter 
 of Ordmser, ealdorman of the East Angles.^ William of 
 Malmesbury, in the Gesta Regum, whilst he related 
 three legendary stories of Edgar s vices, attempted to 
 harmonize the several accounts which he had read, and 
 gave the full account of the murder of Ethelwold and 
 marriage of Edgar and Elfthritha, adding that the 
 nunnery of Were well was founded as an expiation for 
 the crime.^ 
 
 Certainty So far as direct evidence ffoes, the story of the nun 
 was an of Wiltou rcsts ou the testimony of Osbern, which is 
 scandal in itsclf suspicious, and is told with circumstances that 
 about Edgar, ^^^pj^ ^ partial refutation. As on this the truth of 
 
 the septennial penance depends, it may fairly be argued 
 that the whole story stands or falls together. The life 
 of S. Edith, however, which represents a quite inde- 
 pendent tradition, clearly shows that there was an ancient 
 scandal about a veiled lady at Wilton; William of 
 Malmesbury's legend of the murder of Ethelwold proves 
 a tradition as to the foundation of an expiatory monas- 
 tery. The words of the Anglo-Saxon poet, imbedded in 
 the Chronicle, are a telling proof of Edgar's vices.^ The 
 coronation taking place in 973, just seven years after 
 the marriage of Edgar and Elfthritha, affords a pre- 
 sumption as to some connexion between the story of the 
 seven years penance and that ill-omened marriage. But 
 
 ' Below, p. 423. The biographer 
 of Oswald (Nero E. 1) says the 
 Elfthritha was the daughter of 
 Ordmer, ealdorman of the " Oeci- 
 " dentales Angli ; " but he also 
 makes her mother of both Edward 
 and Ethelred ; so that he must have 
 confounded two of Edgar's wives. 
 The Chronicle says that Elfthritha 
 "Was daughter of Ordgar. 
 
 2 Gesta Regum, lib. I. (ed. 
 Hardy, p. 254). 
 
 3 A.D. 958. Canute thought Ed- 
 gar " vitiis deditus, maximeque li- 
 " bidinis servus in subjectos propior 
 
 tyranno fuisset." W. Malm. 
 G. P. (ed. Hamilton), p. 190: from 
 Gotselin's Life of S. Edith j Mabil- 
 lon, ssec. v, p. 626. 
 
INTHOBUCTION. ci 
 
 the very circumstances which seem to us to afford a im^jtssibie 
 practical clue to the explanation may have themselves certain 
 
 inference. 
 
 suggested the legend. It may be quite as wise to reject 
 the whole of the legendary matter, and deny, with 
 Nicolas of Worcester, the connexion of the coronation 
 with the penance. If this be done, we cannot do better 
 than accept the theory which has been recently worked 
 out with great research and ingenuity by one of our 
 most eminent historical scholars,^ that Edgar's coronation 
 at Bath was a solemn typical enunciation of the con- 
 summation of English unity, an inauguration of the king 
 of all the nations of England, celebrated by the two 
 archbishops, possibly with special instructions or recog- 
 nition from Rome, possibly in imitation of the imperial 
 consecration of Edgar's kinsmen, the first and second 
 Otto, pos^bly as a declaration of the imperial character 
 of the English crown itself. 
 
 The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle sui^plies only three facts Scantiness 
 
 ^ ^ ^ of details 
 
 during the seven years that intervene between the f^o™ 965 to 
 marriage and the coronation ; the war in Westmoreland, 
 the ravaging of Thanet by the king, of which no ex- 
 planation is given, and the appointment of Oswald to 
 the see of York. Florence of Worcester throws into 
 these vacant years the several stages of monastic pro- 
 gress ; the year 967 is marked by the foundation of 
 Romsey ; in 968 Edgar placed monks at Exeter ; in 969 
 the clerks were banished from the monasteries of Mercia ; 
 in 970 ^ the relics of S. Swithun at Winchester were 
 
 ^ The Life of Oswald, which gives 
 a full detail of this coronation, has 
 not a word about the penance, and 
 represents as " de more solito." 
 However, as it gives at length the 
 Promissio Regis, as taken on the 
 occasion, it is clear that it was not a 
 mere crown-wearing festival. 
 
 2 Robertson, Hist. Essays, pp. 
 
 203-215, a most learned and in- 
 structive essay. 
 
 * This translation must be dis- 
 tinguished from the more famous 
 dedication of the church celebrated 
 by Wulfstan in the poem published 
 by Mabillon, sasc. v. pp. 614 sq., at 
 which Dunstan was present, and 
 the bishops Elfstan, Ethelgar, Elf- 
 
cii 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 No authen 
 
 Death of translated: and in 972 the new minster was dedicated. 
 
 Edgar. ' ^ 
 
 The great coronation at Bath took place at Whitsuntide 
 97 and the homage of the eight kings shortly after at 
 Chester. Two years after, on the 8th of July 975, 
 Edgar died, and was buried by Dunstan by his father's 
 side at Glastonbury. 
 
 Dunstan survives his friend for thirteen years, during 
 
 tic history of i«iJii« i' i , i •I'l r- 
 
 Dunstan's wuich the biographcrs do not supply a single item oi 
 a er years, ij^^j^p^j^j^j^^ information. The Saxon priest tells us little 
 
 of the reign of Edgar, and does not even mention his 
 successors. Adelard records that the saint crowned and 
 anointed both Edward and Ethelred,^ and that he pos- 
 sessed sufficient influence with the latter to induce him 
 to appoint Elfege to Winchester. The Chronicle does 
 little more than record the reversal of Edgar's monastic 
 policy under his youthful successor by the** agency of 
 Elfhere, ealdorman of Mercia. Florence adds that the 
 influence of Elfhere was counteracted by the three 
 East Anglian and East Saxon nobles, Ethelwin, Elfwold, 
 and Brihtnoth, and gives an account of the election of 
 Edward which bears a somewhat suspicious likeness to 
 the language of Osbern. It is to the Chronicle that we 
 owe our knowledge of the council of Kirtlington in 
 977, and that of Calne in 978, the history of which was 
 interwoven by Osbern into his account of the monastic 
 quarrel.^ The murder of the young king is there re- 
 corded without the mention of the names of the guilty. 
 It is in Osbern that we first find it laid to the charge of 
 Elfthritha. But the Chronicler, who records under the 
 year 980 the translation of Edward's body from Wareham 
 to Shaftesbury, by Elfhere and Dunstan, the former the 
 
 How sup 
 plied by 
 later au- 
 thorities. 
 
 Stan, Escwig, Elfege, -^thelsige, 
 and Athulf : — 
 
 " Quorum summus erat vultu ma- 
 
 *' turns et actu 
 '* Canitie uiveus Dunstan et an- 
 " gelicus." 
 
 The names of the bishops fix the 
 date I think to the year 980, in 
 which Ethelgar was consecrated; 
 Elfstan of Kamshury died in 981. 
 
 1 P. 61. 
 
 2 Pp. 113, 114, 
 
INTEODUCTION. 
 
 • • • 
 
 cm 
 
 leader of the secular, the latter the patron of the monastic Eifthritha 
 party, shuts out the probability that Edward was sacri- SStrWed 
 ficed to political rather than personal aims. The in- of Edwarlf 
 ference drawn from the silence of the contemporary 
 chronicles is unfavourable to Eifthritha ; the statement 
 that Edward's kinsmen would not avenge him ^ does not 
 warrant us in supposing that he was the victim of a 
 conspiracy. Duns tan crowned his successor at Kingston, 
 and then attempted to impress upon him the binding 
 character of his royal obligations in a document, the 
 " Promissio Regis," with its commentary, which is still 
 preserved.^ We may ask, but we cannot answer, who 
 guided the state during the childhood of Ethelred. The 
 political history of Dunstan ends with his accession. 
 
 It is, however, to this period of his life that the letter idea of 
 of Abbo belongs,^ and the picture of his daily occupations life in his 
 drawn by the Saxon priest. His chief employment was 
 on the divine service, prayer and psalmody, and holy 
 vigils ; now and then he resumed the employments of 
 his youth, exercising his old skill in handicraft in the 
 making of musical instruments like the organs which 
 were kept at Malmesbury, or the bells that were known 
 at Canterbury as his own work ; the early hours of the 
 morning he gave to the very needful task of correcting 
 the faulty manuscripts of the library. Even after he 
 had retired from political life, leaving Ethelred to mis- 
 manage his kingdom as he chose, the great domains of 
 his church afforded him abundance of public work ; it 
 was his delight to make peace between man and man,, 
 to receive and assist the widows and fatherless, pilgrims 
 and strangers of all sorts ; as an ecclesiastical judge he 
 never stayed his hand against unlawful marriages, or in 
 the maintenance of ecclesiastical order. He was an ad- 
 mirable steward of the church's wealth, a founder and 
 endower of new churches, and indefatigable in the work 
 
 1 Chroii. Sax. A.D. 975. 
 
 2 Pp. 355-357, below. 
 
 3 Pp. 378-380, below. 
 
civ 
 
 IKTROBUCTION. 
 
 Pictureof of instruction, gathering young and old, men a«id women, 
 old age. clerk, monk, and lay, to listen to his teaching. " And 
 " thus all this English land was filled ^^ith his holy 
 " doctrine, shining before God and men like the sun 
 " and moon. When he was minded to pay to Christ 
 " the Lord the due hours of service, and the celebrations 
 " of the mass, with such entireness of devotion he 
 " laboured in singing that he seemed to be speaking 
 " face to face with the Lord, even if just before he had 
 " been vexed with the quarrels of the people ; like 
 " S. Martin, he constantly kept eye and hand intent 
 " on heaven, never letting his spirit rest from prayer."^ 
 Probable ^^^^ skctch is that of a good and faithful 
 
 sketch?^ servant; there is nothing grotesque about the man as 
 he appears in the pages of the eye-witness ; nothing of 
 the tyrannical ascetic. It is the crowning of a laborious 
 life, of a man who has had great power and has used 
 it for his country, and who, now that other rulers have 
 arisen who do not know or love him, falls back on the 
 studies of his youth, and spends his last years in the 
 promotion of pious and learned works. The end, if we 
 set aside, as I think we may safely do, the strange 
 story of the miracle,^ is quiet and peaceful. He was 
 only sixty-four when he died, but his public life had 
 begun early and lasted long, and his fame lived both at 
 home and abroad, in the praises of the strangers whom 
 he had befriended, the churches that he had planted, the 
 scholars whom he had taught, but chiefly in the longing 
 remembrance of the peace and glory which Edgar under 
 his teaching had maintained ; the peace and glory which 
 were written iii the hearts of the English, although they 
 left vacant pages in the chronicles, and which were the 
 last glimpses of national prosperity. Yet Dunstan's 
 memory was worshipped not only from a feeling of regret ; 
 as I have remarked more than once, his beatification in 
 
 1 Pp. 49^ 50, below. ] 2 pp, 52^ below. 
 
TNTRODUCTION. CV 
 
 popular regard scarcely waited for his death ; and it is His early 
 no small proof of the estimation in which his memory tion. 
 was held that when, in 1017, Canute set the laws civil 
 and ecclesiastical upon the ancient and national footing, 
 together with the feast on the anniversary of S. Edward, 
 a perpetual protest against the line of Ethelred, he 
 ordered the solemn and universal observance of S. Dun- 
 stan's mass day.^ 
 
 The true mark of Dunstan's mind must be looked Dmistan's 
 
 , . snare m 
 
 for in Edgar's legislation, and in the few canons passed j^gj^j'tlon 
 at the ecclesiastical assemblies of the reigm These will 
 all be found among the ancient laws and institutes of 
 the Anglo-Saxons, published by Wilkins, Thorpe, and 
 Schmid.^ That Dunstan had a chief part in the enact- 
 ment of these is a necessary inference from the fact 
 that throughout the reign he was the king's closest 
 friend and adviser, the chief of his witan, the ecclesi- ^ 
 astical head of the nation. The laws that bear Edgar's 
 name must bear the impress of Dunstan's mind. We 
 cannot follow the writers who argue that because 
 Edgar's canons do not forbid the marriage of the clergy, 
 they must be referred to the period of his reign when 
 Dunstan was not yet archbishop, and argue, therefore, 
 that they were the work of a king of fifteen years old 
 who was under the guidance of a party far more 
 monastically inclined than Dunstan himself.^ 
 
 Of the secular laws of Edgar, the institution of the 
 
 ^ Leges Canuti (Schmid, p. 265), 
 I. 17. 
 
 - Thorpe (folio ed.) pp. 109-118. 
 Schmid, pp. 182-199. 
 
 ^ Johnson's Canons, ed. Baron, 
 i. 408, "Though these laws and the 
 " first set of canons following next 
 " after them are ascribed to king 
 
 Edgar, jet they have nothing of 
 
 the spirit of Dunstan in them: 
 
 I mean they inflict no punish- 
 " ments or hard censures on the 
 " married clergy, as they certainly 
 " would if Dunstan had been at the 
 " making of them." Also, p. 412, 
 " these canons, which I place be - 
 " fore Dunstan's accession to the 
 
 see of Canterbury, as containing 
 " no censure against the married 
 
 clergy." 
 
cvi 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Dunstan*s 
 share in 
 Edgar's 
 legislation. 
 
 Ecclesiasti- 
 cal laws of 
 the period. 
 
 Hundred seems to be a reconstruction and development 
 of the old German Hundred system, for special purposes 
 of police, from which no inference can be drawn as to 
 the policy of its author; The secular ordinances and 
 the ''supplementum" are in this respect more important; 
 and the preamble to the first of these asserts a noble 
 principle : " I will that every man be worthy of folk- 
 right, as well poor as rich, and that righteous dooms 
 be judged to him." The enactments that follow are 
 few but definite, and touch on the remedial jurisdiction 
 of the king, the regular holding of the popular courts, 
 the general system of borh or security for appearance 
 in the gemots, and the uniformity of coins and measures. 
 In the Supplementum the hand of Dunstan is distinctly 
 traceable ; it is an enactment in the time of pestilence, 
 that the wrath of God may be turned from the people. 
 I and the archbishop command," says the king, " that 
 ye anger not God " by robbing him or his church. 
 The practices of religion are enjoined, the rights of the 
 king and his thegns, the legal freedom of the Danes, 
 and their possession of their own laws, are secured ; 
 the points included in the earlier laws are repeated, 
 and the observance of the peace enforced by threats and 
 promises. Although these few ordinances bear but a 
 slight proportion to the laws of Ethelred and Canute, 
 they are distinctly constructive : the administration of 
 justice, the equal rights of poor and rich, Dane and Eng- 
 lish, and the careful maintenance of the " frith " by the 
 hundred system, are progressive measures of reform. If 
 Dunstan's work is here, we have some justification of 
 the praises of his biographers. 
 
 The ecclesiastical laws of the period are of the same 
 constructive and progressive stamp. Those few enact- 
 ments which are included among 'Edgar's laws touch 
 chiefly on payments to the churches, church scot, tithe, 
 and Rome penny, and on the observance of festivals 
 and fasts. The canons which touch on spiritual matters 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 cvii 
 
 a 
 
 have a wider interest ; ^ but like most canonical legis- Canons of 
 lation they incorporate very much of earlier law. they E&^rf " ^ 
 fall into two classes ; the first are called the sixty-seven 
 canons of Edgar, many of which are taken from the 
 Karolingian capitularies, and which touch on synods, the 
 exercise of spiritual discipline, the abolition of the relics 
 of heathenism, the observance of Sundays, festivals, and 
 fasts, the decent and solemn celebration of the sacra- 
 ments, and the guidance of the lives of the clergy. One 
 or two are characteristic, we may think, of Dunstan: 
 
 That no priest receive a scholar without the leave of Dunstan's 
 the other by whom he was formerly retained "that t^em. 
 every priest do teach manual arts with diligence ; " 
 that no learned priest reproach him that is less 
 learned, but mend him if he know how ; " " that no 
 noble born priest despise one of less noble birth ; if 
 it be rightly considered, all men are of one origin." 
 The penitential canons which are found in connexion Penitential 
 with these are a compilation of the period from the 
 earlier penitential books of the church, and contain 
 nothing original. Nor do they contain anything that 
 connects them with the reign of Edgar or the pontifi- 
 cate of Dunstan. It is in these only that any mention 
 is found of clerical marriages : " If a mass priest or a 
 monk or deacon had a lawful wife before he was 
 ordained, and dismisses her and takes orders, and then 
 receives her again by lying with her, let every one of 
 " them fast as for murder and vehemently lament it ; " 
 — a very necessary safeguard in an age in which it was 
 so common to play fast and loose with sacred obliga- 
 tions. But this canon, on which apparently depends the 
 charge of persecuting the married clergy made so com- 
 monly against Dunstan, is an extract from penitentials 
 of much earlier date, and cannot with any certainty be 
 assigned to him as its re-enactor.^ 
 
 canons. 
 
 2 It is taken from the fourth book 
 of the Fseudo-Egbertine Peniten- 
 
cviii 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 r 
 
 Tradition William of Malmesbury has preserved a tradition 
 ^vifiiam o?^ which serves to present Dunstan in a light that can 
 touching the hardly offend popular reformers of this day. He intro- 
 cus"o^ duced the custom of inserting pegs in the drinking cups, 
 that no man might run into excess without knowing 
 it.^ Human nature, which is so apt to mistake a limit 
 for a law, a maximum for a minimum, soon put the 
 pegs to the opposite use, and required legislation that 
 forbade the custom ''of drinking to pegs," or, as we 
 should say, " allowing no heeltaps." 
 
 The early and more trustworthy writers connect the 
 memory of Dunstan with no cruel or barbarous asceticism. 
 The evidence of the laws does, I think, confirm the tes- 
 Dunstanan timouy of the Lives. Dunstan is a constructor not a des- 
 ?afcher*than troyer, a consolidator not a pedantic theorist, a reformer 
 anasce le. j^^j^^j^ innovator, a politician not a bigot, a statesman not 
 a zealot. His merits as a scholar, an artist, a musician, 
 a cunning craftsman, are a part of the contemporary pic- 
 ture which ought not to be disregarded. His zeal for 
 education is a far more authentic trait than his zeal for 
 celibacy. His vindication of the law of marriage can 
 never be regarded as a blot by those who know any- 
 His zeal for thing of the state of society, especially in the royal 
 houses of his day ; or consider the strange way in which 
 religion and courtly adulation could be combined when 
 the uncorrupted body of a king like Edgar was believed 
 to work miracles. Yet this has scarcely been fairly 
 recognized. Dunstan's zeal for the purity of marriage is 
 acknowledged as a matter of merit when it was exercised 
 against the corrupt papacy ; yet because by the com- 
 mand of the witan of the kingdom he draws a wanton 
 boy of fifteen from the dangerous society of a girl whom 
 
 marriaffe. 
 
 tial, which again is from the Pseudo- 
 Theodore, which takes it from the 
 Poenitentiale Romanum, published 
 by Halitgar of Cambraj : here it is 
 taken from the Penitential of Co- 
 
 lumbanus, and the earlier writers. 
 See Wasserschleben,Bussordnungen 
 der Abendlandische Kirche, p. 365. 
 Thorpe, pp. 408, 378, 283. 
 1 Ed. Hardy, p. 237. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 cix 
 
 it was unlawful for him to marry, we are told that " a strange mis - 
 " young king was persecuted and dethroned by the tfon^^^^"**' 
 " insolence of monkery exciting a superstitious people 
 
 against him." ^ There must be a sacredness, it would 
 seem, about the very sins of kings. 
 
 It is strange that of a life so important and diver- No literary 
 sified as that of Dunstan not a single literary monu- SmStan.^ 
 ment survives ; not a single letter that can with any 
 possibility be attributed to him, although several ad- 
 dressed to him are extant, and will be found in this 
 volume. Diligent in his ecclesiastical work, diligent in his 
 political work, diligent as a student and as a teacher, he 
 has left, beyond a few lines of writing, the endorsement of 
 a charter, and the prayer put into the mouth of a kneel- 
 ing figure in an illumination, no wiitings whatever.^ 
 
 It is true that during the middle ages, when the The tract on 
 study of alchemy was rife, a tract bearing the name 
 of Dunstan was circulated among the initiated ; but it 
 was no doubt assigned to him as to a celebrated saint 
 and philosopher, whose name might gain for it a circu- 
 lation that it could not demand upon its merits. This 
 work, the " Tractatus maximi Domini Dunstani archi- 
 " episcopi Cantuariensis vere philosophi de lapide phi- 
 
 losophorum," was printed at Cassel in 1649, in the 
 " Clavis portsB aurere " of George Ripley.^ It is also 
 found in a fifteenth century MS. in the Library of 
 Corpus Christi College, Oxford.* 
 
 Another book which has been attributed to Dunstan The Regu- 
 is the Reg-ularis Concordia," a body of rules for monks, cordia, 
 which has been at least twice printed ; first by Reyner 
 in the " Apostolatus Benedictinorum," and again in the 
 
 1 Hallam, Middle Ages, ii. 267. 
 
 - The statement that one of the 
 MSS. of the Chronicle is supposed 
 to be in Dunstan's handwriting 
 (Allen, Prerogative, 223) is based 
 on the merest conjecture. 
 
 2 Clavis aurese portse, p. 240. See 
 
 Wright's Biographia Literaria, I. 
 462. 
 
 4 No. 128, Coxe's Catalogue of 
 MSS., C.C.C. p. 47. It is a fifteenth 
 centurj^ MS., once the property of 
 Brian Twyne. 
 
cx 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The Con- 
 cordia is not 
 Dunstan*s. 
 
 Commen- 
 tary on the 
 Benedictine 
 Rule, not 
 Dunstan's. 
 
 Books that 
 have be- 
 longed to 
 Dunstan. 
 
 preliminary matter of the " New Monasticon." It is an 
 interesting and valuable work, written very "shortly after 
 the monastic revival, and so early received as authori- 
 tative that it was translated into Anglo-Saxon before 
 the Norman conquest. It cannot, however, be ascribed 
 to Dunstan, who is mentioned in it as egregius hujus 
 " patriae archiepiscopus, prsesago afflatus spiritu," al- 
 though it is easy to see that it might, by a very natural 
 mistake, be regarded as his work. It has a considerable 
 historical value, giving an account of the way in which 
 Edgar was induced to promote the monastic revival, the 
 missions from Fleury and Ghent, and the council, of 
 Winchester, of which so much is said in the lives of 
 Dunstan by Osbem and Eadmer. It may conjecturally 
 be referred to the abbot Elfric. 
 
 There is in the Royal Library, in the British Mu- 
 seum,^ a large commentary on the Benedictine rule, 
 written in the twelfth or thirteenth century, and illus- 
 trated with a very fine full page picture of a bishop. 
 This has been attributed with some confidence to Dun- 
 stan, but the MS. contains nothing to justify such a 
 statement ; neither the Latin style nor the general ar- 
 rangement of the book is at first sight consistent with 
 the assumption; and if there be among the minuter 
 points of the work anything that suggests it, I h?tve 
 been unable in a careful examination to discover it. 
 
 Of the other books with which the name of Dunstan, 
 not as author but as traditionary owner, is connected, 
 the most important is the well-known Bodleian MS. 
 marked Auctarium F. iv. 32.^ This volume consists of 
 a bundle of very ancient remains, the chief of which 
 are, a large part of the Liber Euticis Orammatici de 
 
 1 MS. Reg. 10 A. 13. See Wright, 
 Biogr. Lit. i. 461. 
 
 2 Described in Macray's Annals 
 of the Bodleian, p. 20 ; Hickes, 
 Thesaurus, i. p. 144, where the first 
 
 page is engraved ; and iii. p. 63 ; ViU 
 lemarque's Notices des prinbipaux 
 MSS. des Anciens Bretons, Paris, 
 1856. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 cxi 
 
 discernendis Conjugationibus, a quantity of extracts 
 from the Scriptures in Greek and Latin, Tables for with a 
 
 T-kii -I drawing 0 
 
 calculating the Full Moon, a Paschal table reaching nunstan. 
 from A.D. 817 to 832, the first book of Ovid's Art of 
 Love, a homily in Anglo-Saxon on the Invention of 
 the Cross, and several minor fragments or notes on 
 measures and numbers. Several of these pieces contain 
 British glosses and furnish some of the earliest written 
 specimens of Welsh. On the first leaf of the volume 
 is a large drawing of our Saviour, holding in his right 
 hand a long rod or sceptre, and in his left a book, 
 with a monk kneeling at his feet. On the sceptre 
 is inscribed the text, Et virga recta est virga regni 
 " Tui on the book, " Venite filii, audite me, timorem 
 Domini docebo vos from the mouth of the monk 
 proceeds a scroll, and over his head is the couplet — 
 
 " Dunstanum memet clemens rogo, Christe, tuere 
 Tenarias me non sinas sorbsisse procellas." 
 
 A later inscription at the top of the page tells us that 
 this is Dunstan's work : " Pictura et scriptura hujus 
 " paginae subtus visa est de propria manu sancti 
 
 Dunstani.'' This drawing was engraved in Hickes s 
 Thesaurus, vol. i. p. 144, and in other later works. The 
 manuscript itself is described in a very early catalogue 
 of the Library of Glastonbury, now in the Library 
 of Trinity College, Cambridge, and is also mentioned 
 by Leland as seen by him there, with the note that 
 the book had been Dunstan's.^ It is one of the most 
 curious volumes in existence, and would go further to 
 prove the antiquity of Glastonbury and its connexion 
 with early British as well as Anglo-Saxon history than 
 all the forged charters even if they were genuine. 
 
 Another Glastonbury book in the Bodleian is among 
 the Hatton MSS. No. 30 ; a copy of S. Augustine on 
 
 Leland, Collectanea, iii. 154. 
 
 h 2 
 
cxii 
 
 INTKODUCTION. 
 
 TheHatton the ApocalypsG, at the end of which in large capitals 
 * is the inscription, Dunstan abbas hunc libellum scri- 
 " bere jussit/' a note evidently made before Dunstan 
 had reached the rank of either archbishop or saint.^ 
 The Liber The Hatton coUection contains another book (No. 42) 
 Dunstani. inscribed on the back " Liber Sancti Dunstani," which 
 has been already mentioned as the volume in which 
 the head of Wulfric cild is drawn.^ This is a col- 
 lection of canons ; the first portion written about the 
 time of Dunstan, the latter about a century earlier. The 
 more ancient part consists of the Apostolic canons, and 
 decrees 'of councils which form part of the early collec- 
 tions of decretals. The rest of the volume comprises a 
 copy of the great Irish collection of canons in sixty- 
 seven chapters, which is found in the much damaged 
 Cotton MS. Otho E. 13, in the St. Gall MS. 243, and 
 in the Paris MSS. 3,182 and 12,021, which was pre- 
 pared for the press by the late Mr. Arthur Haddan as 
 a part of the second volume of the councils, and has just 
 been printed in Germany from a collation of various 
 MSS. by Dr. Wasserschleben af Giessen. The Hatton MS. 
 furnishes a somewhat enlarged edition, such as Dunstan 
 might be supposed likely to make. Besides this it 
 contains the canons of Adamnan, a selection of pas- 
 sages from the Koman and Frank law books, and a 
 quantity of regulations about degrees of kindred. The 
 fact that it contains the Irish canons adds a presump- 
 tion that it was written at Glastonbury, an inference 
 we should be inclined at first sight to draw from the 
 company in which it is found. If it was really Dun- 
 stan's book, we may see in it reflected the nature of 
 his studies; the Irish canons he might get from his 
 teachers at Glastonbury ; the Frank and Koman law 
 during his exile at Ghent ; the regulations touching 
 
 ^ Also mentioned by Macray, 
 Annals, p. 20. 
 
 - Above, p. Ixxvii. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 cxiii 
 
 marriages and the degrees of kindred would illustrate 
 those peculiar points which come out most strongly in 
 the traditions of his discipline. 
 
 The National Library at Paris possesses what is called Jiie 
 
 Sneroorns 
 
 the Pontifical of Dunstan, a magnificent folio of the tenth Pontifical, 
 century, which once belonged to the church of Sherborne 
 in Dorsetshire, and may not improbably have been given 
 by Dunstan or one of his early successors. Its number 
 in the catalogue of Latin MSS. is 943. It contains 
 besides the Pontifical, on vacant leaves, a number of 
 interesting pieces touching English church history. 
 Amongst these is a list of the bishops of Sherborne, 
 ending with Ethelric who became bishop in the year 
 1001 the letter of Pope John XII. to Dunstan;^ the 
 letter of an archbishop, whose name is not given, 
 to bishop Wulfsige, printed in this volume,^ and a 
 list of the books quos custodit Dodo perhaps the 
 Sherborne Library. This list, which may possibly have 
 been printed, mentions amongst other books, Liber 
 
 Legis Salicse," Liber Bernelini in Abaco," and Liber 
 " Helprici artis calculatorise." Other articles in the 
 volume are an Anglo-Saxon sermon " de dedicatione 
 
 ecclesise f the order for the benediction of an abbot, 
 " tempus inter hominis mortem et ultimam resur- 
 " rectionem and " this is thsera geraednessa sum the 
 " bisceopas gersed habbath." Besides these there are 
 some Sherborne charters which have been printed by 
 Kemble. 
 
 Of Dunstan's penmanship, besides the picture in the 
 Bodleian MS., there are possibly two or three specimens 
 
 ^ I give the list from this MS. : — 
 
 I. Aldhelm. 2. Forthere. 3. Here- 
 waid. 4. j^thelmod. 5. Benefrith. 
 6. Wigberht. T.Ealhstan. 8. Ealh- 
 mund. 9. jEthelheah. 10. Wulfsige. 
 
 II. Asser. 12. ^thelwerd. 13. 
 Waerstan. 13. vEthelbald. 14. Si- 
 
 gelm. 15. Alfred. 16. Wulfsige. 
 17. Alfwold. 18. -^thelsige. 19- 
 Wulfsige. 20. JEthelric. It agrees 
 exactly with MS. Tiberius B. 5. 
 See Registrum Sacr. Angl. p. 165i 
 
 2 Pp. 296-298, below. 
 
 3 Pp. 406^408, below. 
 
cxiv 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 existing in charters. The cathedral church of Christ at 
 ' Canterbury possesses one, a grant by king Edred dated 
 in the year 949, in which he gives the monastery of 
 Keculver to the mother church. A duplicate of this 
 exists among the Cotton charters, and has been photo- 
 graphed by order of the trustees of the British Museum. 
 Dunstan professes himself to be the writer : " Ego Dun- 
 " stan indignus abbas rege Eadredo imperante hanc 
 " domino meo hereditariam kartulam dictitando con- 
 " posui et propriis digitorum articuUs perscripsi." ^ 
 Another is said by Mr. Wright to have been in the 
 possession of the church of Winchester.^ 
 
 Of Dunstan's musical ability it is possible that we 
 have a trace in the trope or cantus " Kyrie rex splen- 
 " dens," which according to the Salisbury use is appointed 
 to be sung on his festival, after the ojfficimn. The text 
 of this composition will be found in the present volume, 
 p. 3*57, taken from the Gradual,^ collated with the 
 printed editions of the Missal. All, however, that can be 
 §aid of it is that it may be Dunstan's. The history of it 
 is this. Eadmer relates a story of Dunstan falling asleep 
 one Sunday at mass, whilst waiting for Edgar who had 
 gone out hunting. In his sleep he heard a solemn ser- 
 vice in heaven, and when he awoke dictated to his 
 servants a " Kyrie Eleyson " which he had learned there, 
 which, according to the biographer, was in his days sung 
 in many places among the solemn ceremonies of the 
 mass.* It would seem a natural conclusion that the 
 " Kyrie rex splendens " which was sung only on the 
 feasts of Dunstan and S* Michael should be identified 
 with this ; and although William of Malmesbury does 
 
 ^ Kemble, C. 1). No. ccccxxv. 
 
 2 Wright, Biog. Lit. i. 459. 
 
 ' In the Bodleian, among the . 
 " Gough Missals." 
 
 4 P. 207. The Kyrie Eleyson 
 $tory, however, oecurs much earlier 
 
 in the Life of Oswald, Nero E. 1> 
 fo. 16: " Hoc non conticescendum 
 ** puto quod et Kyrie Eleyson exi- 
 " mium e superis auditum agmini- 
 bus, quod nostrates satis dulciter 
 " personare consuescunt.'* 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 CXV 
 
 not notice it except in a very cursory way, it must have Deveiop- 
 been believed soon after his day. Higden is, however, history, 
 the first writer who distinctly states that the kyrie 
 which Dunstan learned contained the " modulos harmo- 
 " niae " which were contained in the trope so famous 
 among the English, " Kyrie rex splendens." The state- 
 ment is copied by Capgrave, and appears also in Bromton, 
 and possibly in other writers of the fifteenth century.^ 
 If, however, we venture to assume thus much, it may 
 reasonably be questioned whether the words or the music 
 only should be attributed to Dunstan. Higden's lan- 
 guage seems to refer to the music, that of Eadmer to the 
 words. It has indeed been thought that as the peculiar 
 tropes or variations on the kyrie are not found until the 
 thirteenth century in the common missals, the music 
 only of this one could even by tradition be Dunstan s. 
 But this is a mistake, for we possess a tropary dating 
 nearly if not quite from Dunstan's days, which contains 
 a large number of kyries, both words and music. In 
 this we do not find Kyrie rex sptendens, but several 
 forms of expression more or less coinciding with it.^ If 
 we suppose that Dunstan wrote the trope, it would not 
 of course appear at once in the service books, but there 
 is nothing in it inconsistent with this antiquity. It may 
 have been many times remodelled like the other kyries 
 and rearranged afterwards. 
 
 In the later pages of this book much will be found Question of 
 about the claim of the monks of Glastonbury, first lation of 
 asserted in the twelfth century and stoutly maintained bones, 
 down to the age of the Keformation, that they possessed 
 the bones of Dunstan.^ They had been removed, accord- 
 ing to the story, in the reign of Edmund Ironside, and 
 proved their genuineness by working miracles. Into the 
 
 ^ Higden, ap. Gale, p. 270; Cap- 
 grave, below, p. 346 j Bromton, ap. 
 Twysden, c. 879. 
 
 2 MS. Bodl. 775. 
 2 See pp. 352, 353. 
 
cxvi 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Parallel 
 traditions. 
 
 beiieve^the ^ details of this story we need not enter : there is no 
 nSan's ^^^^^^ whatever for believing that such a translation 
 translation, ever took place, or that Glastonbury ever possessed a 
 single bone of Dunstan. The tale, like so many other 
 marvels of hagiology, has its parallels elsewhere : no 
 doubt relics were stolen on a large scale as well as given 
 and purchased. King Edmund was believed to have 
 removed from the north to Glastonbury the bones of 
 Aidan, Ceolfrith, and Hilda ; ^ and these saints had spe- 
 cial commemorations at Glastonbury so early that the 
 invention of the story cannot fairly be ascribed to Wil- 
 liam of Malmesbury.^ Edred and Odo again were be- 
 lieved to have carried off the body of S. Wilfrid from 
 Ripon to Canterbury. These were cases in which the 
 bodies of the saints were removed to save them from 
 the profane hands of the Norsemen. A still closer pa- 
 rallel may be found in the history of Ely. Ecgfrid the 
 abbot of S. Alban's, according to the Ely historians, 
 flying at the command of Stigand from the Normans, 
 carried with him to Ely the shrine containing the bones 
 of the protomartyr, and in order to obtain admission 
 into the brotherhood, deposited them or allowed them 
 to be deposited with the bones of S. Etheldreda.^ The 
 S. Alban's historians denied the truth of this. The flight 
 of the abbot, Fretheric they call him, is admited, and 
 his death and burial at Ely ; " whence/' says Matthew 
 Paris, " they of Ely, lying against their own heads, 
 assert that he brought thither with him the bones of 
 S. Alban, not fearing to allege against the holy man 
 the crime of sacrilege.'^ The reverence paid to S. Al- 
 ban was therefore diminished, as was the case also with 
 other saints of the kingdom, and miracles in their 
 
 (C 
 
 it 
 
 1 W. Malmesb. Gesta PontiflF. p. 
 198. 
 
 ^ See especially the Kalendar in 
 MS. Cotton, Nero A. 2 ; and that 
 
 in the Missal of Leofric in the 
 Bodleian Library. 
 
 ^ Liber Eliensis (ed. Stewart), p. 
 227. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 cxvii 
 
 churches became less frequents Before 1129 another story at 
 
 • • j> i? 1 1 S.Albans. 
 
 competitor, quoddam collegium m Dacia, lalsely as- 
 serted the possession of the relics, and in that year the 
 coffin at S. Alban's was opened and the bones counted. 
 Still the men of Ely contended that miracles constantly 
 proved them in the right. At last, under papal pres- 
 sure, early in the reign of Henry II. they confessed that 
 they had been deceived by a pious fraud.^ Not so the 
 monks of Glastonbury, who carried on the battle until 
 the eve of the Reformation. There is no probability 
 that Dunstan's remains ever left Canterbury; they 
 rested in the shrine which so many ages of pious affec- 
 tion had provided and adorned until the Reformation, 
 when, if they escaped the blind profanity of Henry VIII., 
 it was because the glories of S. Dunstan had been 
 eclipsed by a more famous ecclesiastical hero.^ 
 
 Of the cultus of Dunstan the illustrations given in 
 the eighth section of this volume will probably prove 
 sufficient to content the reader.^ 
 
 I shall not attempt to draw a minute character of 
 Dunstan, for the materials before us afford too small 
 data to make it possible to do so with any definiteness. 
 But I tliink we may, from the language of the first 
 biographer, the letters of Abbo and the other ^mters 
 included in this volume, get a glimpse of the man, truer 
 if fainter than the fancy portraits drawn by later writers, 
 who have seen no mean between indiscriminate adula- Misrepre- 
 tion on the one hand and the most hateful detraction 
 on the other. Dunstan has been represented by a very 
 learned recent writer as a man whose whole life was 
 
 a crusade, cruel, unrelenting, yet but partially successful, 
 
 ' Gcsta Abbatum (ed. Eiley), i. 
 51. 
 
 2 Ibid. p. 176. 
 
 3 In the twelfth and thirteenth 
 centuries the great bells which he 
 had made for Abingdon were pre- 
 
 served ; and at Glastonbury, crosses, 
 chasubles, censers, and other vest- 
 ments of his making. Wright, 
 Biogr. Lit. i. 435, 459. 
 ^ Pp. 440 sq. 
 
cxviii 
 
 INTROBUCTION. 
 
 Misrejj^re- 
 seutation of 
 Dunstan. 
 
 (t 
 
 it 
 
 <( 
 
 << 
 
 against the married clergy, which in truth compre- 
 hended the whole secular clergy of the Anglo-Saxon 
 kingdom." " Dunstan was, as it were, in a narrower 
 sphL, a prophetic type and harbinger of Hildebrand. 
 Like Hildebrand, or rather like Damiani doing the 
 work of Hildebrand, in the spirit not of a rival sove- 
 reign but of an iron-hearted monk, he trampled the 
 royal power under his feet. The scene at the coro- 
 nation of king Edwy, excepting the horrible cruelties 
 to which it was the prelude, and which belong to a 
 more barbarous race, might seem to prepare mankind 
 for the humiliation of the emperor Henry at Canosa." ^ 
 For this invective there is not in the writings of con- 
 temporaries, or in any authentic remains of Dunstan s 
 legislation, the shadow of a foundation. What Dunstan 
 did at Edwy's coronation he did by the order of the 
 assembled witan of the kingdom. The cruelties which 
 are said to have followed are asserted on the authority 
 of Osbern and Eadmer, the earlier of whom wrote nearly 
 a century and a half after the death of Edwy, and de- 
 pend on no other testimony. If they ever took place 
 at all, they took place during Dunstan's exile, during 
 the war that preceded the election of Edgar. Such at 
 least is' the statement of Osbern, who is the sole wit- 
 ness; Eadmer's additions in his life of Odo resting on 
 no evidence at all.^ The charge of persecuting the mar- 
 ried clergy is as baseless. We have no means of ju4ging 
 what proportion of the secular clergy was married : the 
 secular clerks who held monastic property were married, 
 and the same evidence which proves their marriages 
 proves also how lightly the marriage tie sat upon them. 
 
 1 Milman, Latin Christianity, vol. 
 iv. p. 25 (ed. 1867). 
 
 2 I will content myself with a 
 general reference to Mr. Bohert- 
 son's invaluable essay on Dunstan's 
 policy, Hist. Essays, pp. 189 sq.: 
 
 and to Dr. Hook's Life of Dunstan. 
 I think little can be added to the 
 exhaustive summary of the former 
 writer. Both works stand, as might 
 be expected, in strong contrast with 
 Milman, Hallam, and Lingard« 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 cxix 
 
 But aejainst these it was not Dunstan chiefly, but Os- No evidence 
 
 ^ - /»p as to Dun- 
 
 wald and Ethelwold who took the measures oi reiorm stan'sharsh- 
 
 . T 1 • 1 ness towards 
 
 which are represented as persecution, and which were no the married 
 
 clergy. 
 
 doubt severe and undiscriminating. In this Dunstan, as 
 I have already remarked, takes only a secondary part : 
 he does not remove the clerks from his own cathedral 
 churches ; his sympathy with the monastic movement is 
 only to be gathered by inference from the fact that he did 
 not oppose it. As to the married clergy in general there is 
 absolutely no evidence whatever ; and here is the most 
 astounding amount of assumption. It is scarcely to be 
 believed that our canonists in discussing the date of the 
 little ecclesiastical legislation that belongs to Edgar's 
 reign, have determined that it does not belong to Dun- 
 stan's pontificate because it contains no enactments 
 against the married clergy.^ Yet Dunstan became- arch- 
 bishop as soon as Edwy was dead, and beyond a doubt 
 inspired whatever ecclesiastical law was made in that 
 reign. In fact the only laws which can with any pro- snenceof 
 bability be ascribed to Dunstan are altogether silent on fe|iffat?on^ 
 the point. We know that when he was a young man 
 in minor orders he intended to marry, and it was the 
 taking of monastic vows that showed his renunciation 
 of the design.^ It is the enforcement of monastic disci* 
 pline, not the compulsory celibacy of the clergy, that is 
 the object of the clerical reforms ; and in this Dunstan 
 only partly sympathized. As for the charge of trampling 
 on the royal authority, it may be dismissed in a word. 
 Men's views of what constitutes vice may differ, but any 
 rule that condemns Dunstan condemns John the Bap- 
 tist also ; and if any error on the side of severity is 
 pardonable, it is when the rebuke is addressed to the 
 vices of princes : why is Dunstan to be blamed for that 
 which is the glory of Ambrose and Anselm ? 
 
 But in truth the career of Dunstan was no anticipa- 
 tion of that of Hildebrand : it was the very counterpart 
 
 ^ See above, p. cv. | ^^3^ 
 
IKTBODUCTXON. 
 
 No likeness 
 between 
 Dunstan 
 and Hilde- 
 brand. 
 
 Connexion 
 of England 
 with Flan- 
 ders. 
 
 of that of Gerbert, the student, the practical workman, 
 the wise instructor of a royal pupil, the statesman, the 
 reformer, and the patriot. Osbern and Eadmer drew 
 the character of their saint in the spirit with which 
 they were themselves inspired, imputing to him cyaalities 
 which in their imagination were virtues, as in the eyes 
 of more modern writers they have seemed to be vices, 
 but which the world may be almost said to have learned 
 from the life of Gregory VII. They drew the picture 
 of the saint in lines and colours that seemed to them 
 indispensable to sanctity, and read the history of Dun- 
 stan through the history of Henry the Fourth. 
 
 Another point has been already referred to, which 
 receives some important illustration from the early lives 
 and letters here printed : the connexion of England with 
 Flanders, especially in the point of monastic reform. It 
 must not be forgotten, that while monasticism had 
 become under Alfred practically extinct in England, on 
 the continent it had merely languished. The monasticism 
 of Flanders was active and energetic compared with that 
 of England, just as the monasticism of Fleury was defi- 
 nite and severe as compared with that of Flanders. 
 Count Baldwin had married the daughter of Alfred ; she 
 took a part in the monastic revival in her adopted coun- 
 try, such as Alfred had attempted at home, and which 
 was carried out by two men of very different character 
 in the two countries, Edred and Arnulf, both grandsons 
 of Alfred. In the year 918 the monks of Blandinium 
 had received from Etheldritha, or Elstrudis as they called 
 her, a grant of lands in Kent which were in their hands 
 when the Domesda.y Survey was made.^ Whilst Edred 
 
 ' Meyer, Annales Rerum Belgica- 
 rum, p. 20. " A.D. 929. Obiit 
 " Elstrudis magni principis mater 
 " 7ino kalendas Junias, jacetque se- 
 pulta prope maritum Blandinii in 
 sedicula parentis virginis. Haec 
 " Blandiniensibus coenobitis amplas 
 
 " donavit poseessiones in Anglia 
 " in finibus Cantii unde tabulas ha- 
 *' bent anno 918." A cbarter con- 
 firming the grant of Etheldritha> 
 made by Edward the Confessor, is 
 printed in Kemble, C. D. Ko. 
 dcclxxi. 
 
INTROBUCTION. CXXi 
 
 was reviving Glastonbury and Abingdon, Arnulf was re- monachism, 
 building and refilling S. Bertin, S. Veda'st, and Blan- 
 dinium. Eighteen great monasteries were restored by 
 him. All this was well known to the West Saxon 
 princes. Elstrudis was buried at Blandinium. Edwin, 
 the brother of Athelstan, who perished at sea by his 
 brother's cruelty, it was said, found his resting place at 
 S. Bertin.^ The so-called monks who were expelled in 
 the process of reform and would not accept the revived 
 Benedictine rule, found refuge with Athelstan in England.^ 
 It is thus easy to account for the hospitable treatment 
 which Dunstan found in the territories of Arnulf, and for 
 the letters addressed to Edgar, to Dunstan and his suc- 
 cessors, by the Flemish and North French monasteries, 
 asking or returning thanks for help. 
 
 This serves to open a comparatively untrodden field of continental 
 
 J- ^ ^ ^ relations of 
 
 ecclesiastical history, for the illustration of which it is the West 
 
 . Saxon Kings. 
 
 probable that more remains are extant than is generally 
 suspected. It is extremely desirable that the history of 
 the foreign relations of England, political, ecclesiastical, 
 and literary, in the tenth and eleventh centuries, should be 
 more carefully explored. There is no reason to suppose 
 that the invasion of the Danes, when they destroyed so 
 much else, really interrupted the intercourse of England 
 with Germany. The marriages of the daughters of Alfred 
 and Edward do not stand alone. The political negotiations 
 of Odo placed Lewis d'Outremer on the throne of the 
 West Franks ; the wanderings of Kynewald brought 
 Athelstan and his court into close ecclesiastical afiinity 
 with the monasteries of Germany. It is true that there 
 is some uniformity in the result : English gold is as in- 
 genuously asked for, and as freely bestowed, as it con- 
 tinues to be for ages after. English manuscripts are bor- 
 rowed, of which there is no notice of return. Few and far 
 
 1 Meyer, p. 20. 
 
 I 2 p, 21. 
 
cxxii 
 
 INTKODUCTION. 
 
 Intercourse between are the notices of Englishmen in continental 
 
 of England " 
 
 with the authors, but nevertheless there are traces of a continuous 
 
 continent. 
 
 and lively intercourse, which might be multiplied by- 
 close examination, and might yield an unexpected har- 
 vest to patient labour. 
 Greek words The number of Greek words that occur in the early 
 
 in the Latin , . , , 
 
 of the time, lives and letters will necessarily attract the notice of 
 scholars. This is no peculiarity of English writers ; it is 
 a common feature of the period ; and it is one the exa- 
 mination of which has never been thoroughly carried 
 out. The superficial use of glossaries without any know- 
 ledge of grammar, will account for some part of the 
 vocabulary which so curiously diversifies the Latin of 
 the Saxon priest. The use of Greek hymns or Greek 
 versicles in the services of the church may account for a 
 phrase here and there. The occasional visit of a Greek 
 pilgrim or exile awoke from time to time the desire of 
 knowing a few Greek words, or the forms of the Greek 
 letters. But the exact amount of knowledge of Greek 
 literature is not easy to calculate; the few references 
 that occur seem to be stock quotations, drawn probably, 
 if not certainly, through the medium of the Latin fathers. 
 Phenomena like John Scotus Erigena were rare indeed ; 
 yet the age of Dunstan almost reaches the age of John 
 Scotus, and what was possible for one scholar was not 
 > quite impossible for others. The struggles of the Saxon 
 emperors in Southern Italy probably did something to 
 bring spoken Greek to the ears of western ecclesiastics. 
 
 I feel that in this preface I have pointed out rather 
 than illustrated many questions of interest. Perhaps it 
 is hardly consistent with the character of a preface to 
 attempt more. A careful re-editing of the original lives 
 of the English saints will, I have no doubt, supply 
 materials of yet unappreciated value. 
 
 I beg leave to present my very sincere thanks to those 
 scholars and societies whose MSS. have been used in this 
 work, for the kindness with which they have allowed 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 cxxiii 
 
 me access to them. In particular I have to thank the 
 Archbishop of Canterbury for the loan of the Lambeth 
 MS. 159 ; and M. Leopold Delisle for the readiness with 
 which he promoted my use of the Paris Library. I have 
 also to thank for various good offices M. Caron of Arras, 
 M. Dierauer of S. Gallen, the Rev. S. S. Lewis of C. C. C. 
 Cambridge, and the Rev. Canon Raine of York, 
 
VITA ET MIRACULA 
 S. DUNSTANI. 
 
 32741. 
 
 A 
 
SANCTI DUNSTANI VITA 
 
 AUCTORE B. 
 
 Incipit prologus de vita VEL CONVERSATIONE ALMI 
 
 CONFESSORIS DUNSTANI. ^ 
 
 Perprudenti domino archonti Albrico,^ omnium ex- The 
 
 writer 
 dedicates 
 
 to 
 
 timus sacerdotum B. vilisque Saxonum indigena, alta his work 
 polorum gaudia. Eifric!^^^^ 
 
 1. Te quidem, pastor prsecelse, ob enormitatem di- 
 vulgatse peritias, perque magnificam, placidam, priyi- 
 legii dignitatem, ad insuperabilem mihi tutionem^ 
 cseteros quosque, quamvis sint doctrina perspicui, ex- 
 cipiendam secernam ; qui, quodam luculento compe- 
 tentis facundise calamo, decentis seditui, almi scilicet 
 Dunstani, merita monimenta protelare conarer, ni in- 
 coepta gloriosJD vitae ipsius prooemia^ omnemque hujus 
 opusculi diffinitionem degeneri vitiorum stilo, ut cernis, 
 attaminando foedarem. Quapropter primus prae caeteris 
 hujuscemodi dedecus patula protestatione tuae sereni- 
 tati profiteor, meque adeo more aligerorum, qui se 
 priusquam professionis vocem emittant, alarum plausi- 
 bus flagellare videntur, propriis verborum verberibus, 
 tuis provolutus genibus, exonerans affligo ; eotenus, 
 inquam, ut quicquid hac in editione contra orthographiaG 
 
 ^ The text is from the Arras MS. 
 1029 (A.). The collations are from 
 the Cotton MS. Cleopatra B. 13 
 (B.), which omits the Prologue. 
 
 2 Elfric, archbishop of Canter- 
 bury, 995-1006. 
 
 3 tutionem'] tutiorem, A. 
 ^ procemia] prsemia, A. 
 
 A 2 
 
4 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 He begs the 
 archbishop 
 to correct 
 his gram- 
 matical 
 errors, and 
 deprecates 
 harsh 
 criticism. 
 
 He will do 
 what he can 
 in praise of 
 his subject ; 
 in mingled 
 prose and 
 verse. 
 
 normam compositoris vitio usurpatum repereris, impe- 
 riali potentia abradere, ac ploranti pinnicula profluentis 
 incausti in melius ab errore ^ reformatum emendare prae- 
 cipias. Quinetiam utriusque ordinis in utroque sexu 
 sagaces, banc quoque tenuem nostri libelli segetem lit- 
 terarum pedibus transmeantes, toto cordis intuitu tuoque 
 potitus suffragio, itidem facere permoneo; astu tamen 
 ne rari germinis seminaria ponderosis pedibus incaute 
 calcantes deprimant, neu interea, dum in annona de- 
 pressa peritura olera penitus exstirpare nituntur, justa 
 potius plantaria cum malis pariter, secanti intercepta 
 sarculo, eradicando praecidant ; sed execrabilia hujus 
 superficiei lolia, quodam levi conamine passim per loco- 
 rum spatia neglegenter respersa fundotenus ^ explodant. 
 Si haec mihi affectanti precaria quiscunque e nebulosorum 
 corculis concedenda persentio, satis gratiosa beneficia 
 rependenda depromo ; sin autem invidis semulorum ab- 
 dicamentis refutata tempnuntur, ignoratur utique quid 
 satius incoeptem quam ut propria falcicula, licet sit 
 scabrosa, mutilatione tenuatim obducta, propriam mes- 
 sem sudati laboris pro posse virium piare procedam; 
 si tamen quodam demonstranti digitulo corrigentis in- 
 dicetur qua parte locorum inserta vitiabilis campi vitu- 
 peria provocatus incidam. Ergo quoniam causa inscitiae ^ 
 id fieri quod volo nequibit, sed id tandem quod queo 
 velle compellor. Hoc siquidem ut optatam praelocuti 
 theologi mentionem quam lepido facilitatis eulogio, vel si 
 possem singula summorum rimatum capitella omnemque 
 proceram hujusce texturse seriem, crisidineo schemate ac 
 biformi renitentis electri colore gemmatim disserere ges- 
 tiebam, nunc saltem satirica fatuitate gressuque lap- 
 santi quasi minus sapiens vacillando incedam. Melius 
 tamen tantae vitae venustatem idoneis compositoribus, 
 ni beati antistitis inminentem iram pertimescam, con- 
 scribendam reservo; quia non summe profitente quo- 
 
 1 errors'] errare, A. 
 ^fundotenus'] fundentesnus, A. 
 
 3 inscitice] insithise, A. 
 
AUCTOBE B. 
 
 5 
 
 quam in hujus cosmi situ prsestantior, ast personis He apoio- 
 
 • 1 T * 1 IT -vT gizesforhis 
 
 omnibus ciivo carens dogmate despectior. JNam e pru- prologue; 
 
 ..^ . TT T T, . . and will 
 
 dentibus nemmem iiberali eruditum mgenio propemo- make correc- 
 
 tions * eX" 
 
 dum pernoscis, qui tarn deformi facundia in scribendis cept in the 
 prolofi^is ut effo, videatur albuti. Has tamen sequentes derived di- 
 
 ° ..p. ^. rectly from 
 
 pagmulas, parvo capacitatis lomite utcunque compositas, ^"^^^^^^^^ 
 fidissima fidelium attestatione purgabo, si qua propria 
 temeritate effigiata insignia in his me conseruisse diffi- 
 das ; nisi forte quae vel videndo vel audiendo, licet in- 
 tellectu torpenti, ab ipso didiceram, vel etiam ex ejus 
 alumnis, quos a tenella juventutis setate ad viros usque 
 perfectos, doctrinarum pabulis decenter instructos, ipse- 
 met educando deduxit. Acceptes, obsecro, sola septus 
 eonnexione caritatis, horum apicellorum tenuem con- 
 geriem, vix ebinina titulatione styloque fuscanti con- 
 cretam, contra omnes invisorios semulos invicta propug- 
 natione tuendam, non favoreo deditam rumusculo, sed 
 tuae specialiter sublimitati collatam. In hac quippe 
 litterali planitie, mentem magis spontaneam ambientis, 
 quam agrestem^ componentis ignaviam explorare de- 
 posco ; teque sine tuae offensionis molestia, moneo tanti 
 patris virtutibus informari, exemplis ejus instrui, mori- 
 bus mimiri^ disciplinis justificari, ut cujus extitisti 
 successor in terris, ejus merearis perennis esse consessor 
 in ctelis, largiente Domino nostro Jesu Christo, Qui 
 cum cogeterno Patre Sanctoque Spiritu vivit et regnat 
 Deus per omnia saecula sseculorum. Amen. 
 
 Incipit vita sancti Donstanni archiepiscopi.2 
 
 2. Cum multorum temporum a vero cultu Christianee The English 
 religionis vacua ^ transissent curricula, quibus vetusto heathen, 
 errori ritu gentilitatis gens Anglorum magis quam 
 Christo Creatori cunctorum mancipari decernebat, mise- 
 ricors Dominus, ne factura Sua laqueis inretita diaboli- 
 
 ^ agresteni] egrestem, A. 
 
 - sancti . ,, . archiepiscopi] sacra? 
 
 commemorationis beati scilicet Dim- 
 stani archiprajsalis, B. 
 vacua'] om. B. 
 
6 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 They were 
 converted 
 by Augus- 
 tine and 
 others. 
 
 under the 
 influence of 
 good kings 
 and other 
 rulers. 
 
 Of these 
 Athelstan 
 was one. 
 
 in whose 
 time Dun- 
 stan was 
 horn. 
 
 cis in setemum dampnata periret, salutis SGternae reme- 
 dium ejusdem csecitati prospexit, ac venerandum patrem 
 Augustinum, a beato papa electum Gregorio, ad hujus 
 partes patriae miseratus destinavit ; qui sagaci mentis 
 ingenio hseredem sociaret inde conversam plebem fide- 
 lium beato contubernio Angelorum. Mox igitur ut vir 
 Dei inter inscise nationis vepres sulcum saluberrimse 
 doctrinae vomeremque Dei visitationis infixit, et triti- 
 ceum Sanctae Trinitatis semen inseruit, sic vipereum 
 pereuntis lolii germen ab hac exstirpavit, ut ulterius 
 dumosi ruris rudera in ea puUulare prohiberet, et dig- 
 nos Deo poenitentise fructus documento pariter et ex- 
 emplo debere offerri demonstraret. Itaque qui ante 
 eum spreverat credidit universus Albionum populus 
 Domino, et adjunctus est per verse fidei agnitionem 
 Deo suo. Hie autem sine Cujus soUicitudine parvi non 
 succumbunt passeres, curam optimae provectionis ob suae 
 statum conditionis ipsi deinceps adhibuit. Elegit nam- 
 que Venturis ad Se ^ exinde ^ nutritios liberis, reges, 
 pontifices, duces, decanos, praepositos, caeterosque Eccle- 
 siae Suae rectores, qui post emensa singulorum spatia 
 gregem Deo renatum sub pacis custodia regerent cum 
 justitia. 
 
 3. Inter hos praecipuos regiae praelationis viros, quem 
 Christianissimi et orthodoxi multi regnando praecesse- 
 rant, quorum nunc nomina difficultas non sinit rimare 
 per singula, gloriosus rex ^ iEthelstanus annis succedenti- 
 bus est rex Anglorum adnumeratus. Hujus igitur im- 
 perii temporibus oritur puer strenuus in Westsaxonum 
 finibus, cujus pater Heorstanus, mater vero Cynethrydis ^ 
 vocitatur. -Quem pii parentes sacri baptismatis undis 
 renatum Dunstanum vocaverunt. Crevit itaque puer et 
 effectus est tam Deo quam hominibus carus. Erat 
 autem quaedam regalis in confinio ejusdem praefati viri 
 
 ^ Venturis ad Se] om. B. 
 2 exinde] ex, B. 
 
 ^ rex] om. B. 
 Cynethrydis] Cynethryth, B. 
 
AUCTORE B. 
 
 7 
 
 insula, antique vicmorum vocabulo Glsestonia nuncupata, Description 
 
 1 ,. T . .T . . ... ofGlaston- 
 
 latis locorum dimensa sinibus, piscosis aquis stagneis- bury, 
 que circumducta fluminibus, et plurimis humanse indi- 
 gentise apta usibus, atque saeris, quod maximum est, 
 Dei dicata muneribus. In ea siquidem ipsius loca primi 
 catholic99 legis neophitse antiquam Deo dictante reppe- 
 rerunt secelesiam, nulla hominum arte ^ construetam, 
 immo humanse saluti coelitus paratam ; quam postmo- 
 dum Ipse coelorum fabricator multis miraculorum sjestis The 
 
 churches 
 
 multisque misteriorum virtutibus,^ banc ^ Sibi sanctse- built there 
 
 . . , p , to S. Mary 
 
 que genitrici Suae* Mariae consecratam fore demonstravit. and s. Peter. 
 Huie etiam aliud addiderunt opere ^ lapideo ^ oratorium, 
 quod Christo ejusque Saneto Petro apostolo dedicave- 
 runt. Porro dehinc universorum circumquaque fidelium 
 frequentia colebat, et jam dictae pretiosum insulae humi- 
 liter locum frequentabat. Contigit ergo hujuscemodi 
 causis praedictum virum Heorstanum comitante secum Heorstan ^ 
 beato puero Dunstano transire Glestoniam, et cum inibi s. Dunstan, 
 
 . , , ... . and his son 
 
 causa orationis pernoctarent, ecce suavissimi aoporis visit there, 
 felicem obtexit pausatio puerum,^ viditque mentis ex- 
 cessu quendam senem niveo candore vestitum^ per 
 amoena se sacri templi atria ^ ducentem, ac monastica Dunstan's 
 
 . . . -i-nin vision of new 
 
 aedincia, quae post per ejus pastoratum aedincanda lue- buildings, 
 rant, demonstrantem eo ordine quo nunc statuta refe- 
 runtur fuisse.^^ 
 
 4. Postea vero reli2:iosi pueri Dunstani parentes sa- Dunstan's 
 
 T . progress in 
 
 cris eum litterarum otiis contulerunt studentem, cui con- learning, 
 festim Dominus tantam in his largitatis Suae conferre 
 dignatus est gratiam, ut coaetaneos quosque praecelleret, 
 et suorum tempora studiorum facili cursu transiliret. 
 
 1 ar/e] ut ferunt, ins. B. in marg. 
 
 2 misteriorum virtutibus'] virtutum 
 misteriis, B. 
 
 ^ hanc^ om. B. 
 4 SufB] Dei, B. 
 ^ oper.e'] altered to operes, A. 
 
 ^ lapideo] altered to lapideosy A. 
 
 pausatio puerum] tr. B. 
 * niveo . . vestitum'] tr. B. 
 ^ atria] pavimenta, B. 
 '^^ fuisse] fore, B. 
 1^ Dunstani] om. B. 
 
VITA SANOTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 Sed quod contulerat sibi signum summa Majestas 
 In studiis ipsis parvo pro posse patebo. 
 Contigit hunc laborare diu nam febribus artis/ 
 In tantum ut frenesis morbum pateretur amarum, 
 Inmemor atque sui per deliramenta nugarum, 
 Plurima verbomm vacua jactastset ab ore. 
 Cladibus his fessus, committitur et mulieri 
 Cuidam, quae tenero tunc suppeditaret alumpno, 
 Et curam gereret sub ea ne peste periret. 
 At memorata lues puerum superaucta premebat, 
 Ut velut exanimis jacuisset ad ultima stratus. 
 Omnibus et membris fieret quasi jam moriturus. 
 Cumque diu sic mole mali gravaretur operti, 
 Ecce repente movens abiit, propereque resurgit, 
 Fustem ac surculeum rapuit tunc forte repertum; 
 Quocum percutiens ambabus partibus auras, 
 A canibus rabidis quasi se defenderet, ibat. 
 Sic quoque nocte ferunt ut ad usque peribula templi 
 Solivagus properaret, et inde veniret ad altos 
 Ascensus graduum, quo scandere summa solebant 
 Artifices operum, qui cum discrimine grandi 
 Ipsius, heu ! timidi texere cacumina templi. 
 lUic ut validus summam conscendit in arcem, 
 Et nimis incaute super hac stetit atque meavit. 
 Sed Domini pietas rapuit de fastigiorum 
 Casibus insontem ; ponens quoque inde deorsum 
 Incolumem membris salvum, sanumque locatum 
 Intus in hoc eodem templum, de culmine vexum. 
 Quo duo custodes pariter de more cubabant, 
 Ut simul inter eos pausaret tertius ille. 
 Ipse tamen nescivit qua ratione veniret 
 Excogitare modum, vivensve sub sethere quisquam. 
 Ostia nam templi nuUi patuere meanti, 
 Arcuit ast eadem ferrum sub cortice durum. 
 Optime nunc lector, celeri sermone fatere 
 Quid tibi veridico videatur in hoc pusione : 
 Si talem dubites superum conscendere templum. 
 
AUCTOKE B. 
 
 9 
 
 Qui hie clausis foribus pro salvatione ruinse 
 Conditur in templo, ut redimat de labe maligna 
 Postea perplures et mittat ad aethera turmas, 
 Dogmata distribuens necnon exempla relinquens : 
 Exsurgat patiens humilis ruat atque superbus. 
 
 Nam ^ quanto erat crescendo sublimior, tanto acuita- 
 
 Mystical 
 meaning of 
 this miracle. 
 
 <( 
 
 1 Sed quod . . JVam] Instead of 
 these verses, MS. B, reads the follow- 
 ing, in which the rhythm of a se- 
 quence may be easily detected : " Eo 
 autem hoc modo de virtute in 
 virtutem proficiente, in vexatione 
 febrium quodam casu corruit re- 
 pente. Quibus dum die nocteque 
 in tantum torqueretur ut amarum 
 " frenesis morbum pati videretur, 
 immemor sui per deliramenta nu- 
 garum, ore suo jactavit inania 
 " verborum. Postremo vero cladi- 
 " bus his per teneros artus diutis- 
 sime fatigatus, cuidam mulieri 
 " jussu parentum est commendatus, 
 " ut omni sagacitatis sollertia prse- 
 videret, sub ea ne peste periret. 
 " Iterum autem memorata lue eo 
 modo adgravabatur, ut ad ultima 
 velut exanimis prostratus jacuisse 
 " monstraretur, et, resoluta mem- 
 " brorum compage, quasi jam mo- 
 " reretur. Deinde vero, ac si num- 
 quam quisquam mali perpessus, 
 propere exsurgens, et fustem 
 *' quem forte repperit arripiens, per 
 " montes et valles vagando discur- 
 " rebat, et quasi a rabidis canibus 
 " se defenderet ibat. Subsequenti 
 " ergo nocte, ut ferunt, ad usque 
 " templi peribula errando propera- 
 vit ac ad altos ascensus graduum 
 solivagus pervenit, quo operarii 
 scandere solebant, qui tunc cum 
 " ingenti periculo cacumina templi 
 tegebant. Nihil denique quid 
 ageret in se reversus, summam 
 tecti arcem conscendit intrepidus, 
 
 (i 
 
 4< 
 
 ({ 
 
 Si 
 
 a 
 a 
 (( 
 a 
 a 
 a 
 a 
 a 
 « 
 a 
 (( 
 (( 
 i( 
 
 Si 
 Si 
 St 
 
 a 
 ss 
 ss 
 ss 
 
 ss 
 
 Si 
 Si 
 
 ss 
 
 Si 
 
 ss 
 
 Si 
 
 ss 
 ss 
 is 
 ss 
 ss 
 ss 
 is 
 ss 
 ii 
 
 et nimis incaute super illam stetit, 
 ac magno sub discrimine hac il- 
 lacque cursitavit. Haud enim 
 Miseratoris omnium cceleste ei 
 deerat solatium, a Cujus laude 
 numquam ejus cessaverat orga- 
 num; sed ita sanum observavit 
 ilium et incolumem ut nec pedis 
 oflFendiculum faceret ad lapidem. 
 Eodem in templo superna dispo- 
 nente dementia deponitur, et in- 
 ter geminos custodes, ubi solito 
 more cubabant, collocatur, ut 
 dulci paulisper recrearet membra 
 sopore ; qu8B diu fatigata fuerant 
 labore. Exsurgens autem post 
 moment! spatium ammirari ad- 
 modum una cum custodibus coj- 
 perat, quo pacto quove ingenio 
 introierat ; cernens etiam quod 
 quodque templi ostium clausum 
 munitumque exstiterat. 
 " Acta quidem hsec postremum 
 divino nutu agnovit, et omnipo- 
 tentem Dominum, Qui sic eum a 
 tanta tribulatione liberarat, col- 
 laudare et glorificare non distulit, 
 sciens se tanto feliciorem interius, 
 quanto durius punifetur exterius. 
 Porro tanquam aurum in fornace 
 probat Dominus electos, ut quasi 
 holocausta hostiai accipiat illos. 
 Beatus autem qui suffert tempta- 
 tionem, quoniam, cum probatus 
 fuerit, accipiet coronam vitae. 
 Non quidem mirandum est si Do- 
 minus ardore dumtaxat febrium 
 beatum Dunstanum temj)tare per- 
 miserit, cum justissimum Job qui 
 
10 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 Dunstan tis ingeuio locupletior ; quantoque ^ roticulis annorum 
 wisdom. maturior, tanto Dei dilectione ferventior ; quanto vero ^ 
 
 in divinis laudibus assuetior, tanto perseveranti animo ^ 
 
 instantior. 
 
 He takes the . 5. Videntes itaque parentes prsenominati tantam sui 
 Glastonbury excellentiam filii, dignam sibi clericatus inposuere ton- 
 
 and serves • • n /-^ -i , • • -i • • 
 
 in the^ suram omcii mque lamoso Glestoniensis secciesiso socia- 
 s. Mary. verunt coenobio ; quatenus ibidem die noctuque Deo 
 Deique genitriei deserviret Marias tempore eontinuo. 
 Jamque disciplinis innexus Deificis florentes suae puber- 
 tatis annos evicta juventute calcavit ; et Justus in 
 domo Dei sui, sicut cedrus Libani, vigoribus virtutum 
 floruit ; inque divinis plantatus atriis incrementi sui 
 robora singulis diebus protendebat ad sidera. Interea 
 tam magna suse constantise fama regis in palatio pa- 
 tuit, ut longe lateque magnifieis rerum laudabilium 
 divulgaretur indiciis. Non autem hujus mimdi vanos 
 captabat favores, sed copiis virtutum prseventus illam 
 seterni Regis gloriam ab intus gestabat, quam sibi pol- 
 Hisvarious lens sapientia docto digito donorum spiritalium, varietate 
 etiam studiorum, necne gemmante nitore aureorum 
 ornatuum, dictavit. Nam multa sacrorum et divino- 
 rum ^ voluminum prata, velut apis ingeniosa sic ^ rapido 
 cursu capacis ingenii pervolavit, ut mentem potius 
 quam corpus divinis reficeret lectionibus, et receptacu- 
 lum casti pectusculi, Sancti Spiritus fl^tu perfusum, 
 Irish pii- fi^ustu. ucctarco devote suppleret sensum.^ Porro Hiber- 
 Giaston- ncusium percgrmi locum, quem dixi/ (jrlestonise, sicut 
 et cseterse fidelium turbse, magno colebant affectu, et 
 maxime ob Beati Patricii junioris ^ honorem, qui faustus 
 
 " nec labiis suis i)eccavit, tot tor- 
 " mentorum generibus fatigari con- 
 " senserit. Beatus itaque ado- 
 lescens . . 
 
 if 
 
 ^ quantoque] quanto vero, B. 
 2 quanto vero'] quanto autem, B. 
 
 ^ perseveranti animo'] perseveran- 
 tia nimia, B. 
 
 ^ et divinoruni] om. B. 
 
 ^ sic] om. B. 
 
 ^ sensum] serenum, B. 
 
 7 quem dixi] prsedictum, B. 
 
 ^junioris] senioris, B. 
 
AUCTORE B. 
 
 11 
 
 ibidem in Domino quievisse narratur. Horum etiam Dunstan 
 libros rectse fidei tramitem phylosophantes, diligenter books, 
 excoluit, aliorumque prudentum, quos ab intimo cordis 
 aspectu patrum sanctorum assertione solidatos esse 
 persensit, solubili semper scrutamine indagavit. Ita 
 vero vitse su8e studium cohercebat, ut quotiesciimque He draws 
 
 T . ri • 1 T1 1 I T\ "J edification 
 
 divmae bcripturse libros scrutaretur Deus cum eo pariter from Holy 
 
 T . , . . . 1 M 1 i Scripture. 
 
 loqueretur; quoties autem cuns ssecularibus solutus, 
 orationum otiis mulcebatur, ipse cum Domino pariter 
 fari videretur.^ 
 
 6. Igitur dum hsec exercitia bonorum operum secum 
 agerentur, nonnuUi propriorum sodalium et palatino- ^j^J^^^^Qf 
 rum, tum quam maxime vero consanOTineorum suorum, the court 
 
 ^ . ... . with envy. 
 
 qui salutiferis actibus ejus ^ invidebant, sanctse vmese 
 vitem ^ palmitemque ad coelestia regna ^ tendentem, 
 beatum videlicet Dunstanum in Christo poUentem,^ 
 Unguis acutis serpentium morsibusque dirorum den- 
 tium, ^ ut hirci setigeri, rodere vel prsecidere conati 
 sunt. Conflabant enim sub livido antro nsevosi pectoris They accuse 
 
 him of occult 
 
 inopinatam in eum scabiem mendacii, dicentes ilium ex knowledge, 
 libris salutaribus et viris peritis, non saluti animarum 
 profutura sed avitse gentilitatis vanissima didicisse 
 carmina, et historiarum frivolas colere incantationum 
 nsenias.'^ Huic autem morbo mendacii beatus tyro 
 semper Christum opposuit, Qui omnia antequam fiant 
 novit f in Cujus persona benignus propheta David et He trusts 
 fidelissimus Ejus testis,^ oraculo prseventus Spiritus 
 Sancti, in falsos auctores Dominicse passionis ita in- 
 Ps. xxvii. 14. quiens, ait, " Insurrexerunt in me testes iniqui, et 
 Ps. xxiviii. " mentita est iniquitas sibi." Et iterum, " Qui qusere- 
 " bant mihi mala locuti sunt vanitates, et dolos tota 
 
 1 videretur] videbatur, B. ; pari- 
 ter, om. B. 
 
 2 actibus ejus'] tr. B. 
 
 3 vitem'] ad Christum, ins. B. 
 
 * palmitemque . . regna] om. B. 
 ^ beatum . . pollentem] om. B. 
 ^ dirorum dentium] om. B. 
 
 ' historiarum . . ncenias] histria- 
 rum colere incantationes, B. 
 
 ^ Qui . . novitj^om, B. 
 
 ^ et . . testis] om. B. 
 
 in falsos auctores] de falsis tes- 
 tibus, B. 
 
12 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 Dunstan 
 .bears his 
 troubles 
 piously. 
 
 He is ex- 
 pelled from 
 the court : 
 pulled about 
 by his 
 enemies 
 and half 
 smothered 
 in a muddy 
 pond. 
 
 He escapes 
 and is recog- 
 nized by the 
 dogs of a 
 good neigh- 
 bour. 
 
 " die meditabantur."^ Et Ipse Dominus in evangelio 
 ait: "Beati eritis cum vos oderint homines," etc.^ Etf-^^^^e 
 auditoribus Suis, " Si de mundo fuissetis mundus quod 
 " suum erat diligeret; quia vero de mundo non estis, 
 " sed Ego elegi vos de mundo, propterea odit vos mun- ^ohn 
 " dus." Itemque, " Beati estis eum maledixerint vos 
 " homines et persecuti vos fuerint, et dixerint omne 
 " malum adversum vos mentientes propter Me. Gaudete 
 in illo die et exsultate quoniam merces vestra copiosa s^- Matt, 
 est in coelis."^ Hac ergo servus Dei Dunstanus, fir- 
 missima sponsione confortatus, velut homo surdus et 
 quasi ^ vocem objurgationis non curans efFectus est; 
 cum vix unquam canibus contra se latrantibus aperue- 
 rit OS suum per amarse increpationis eloquium. Ipsi 
 vero in machinamento malitise perseverantes, criminati 
 sunt ilium falsa quadam objectione coram rege/ im- 
 petraveruntque ut ab eorum consortio pelleretur ; quem 
 si sanae mentis essent unice dilexissent. Deinde atro- 
 cissima impietatis prsevalescente rabie, rapientes in- 
 sontem quadrifidis membris^ velut ovem patientem, 
 manibusque ac pedibus restrictum, projecerunt in lutu- 
 lenta palustrium loca, et ut eum in furoris sui dementia 
 contemptibiliorem efficerent, pedibus superimprimebant 
 quousque secundum voluntatis eorum ^ malitiam in 
 foetenti volutabro dehonestarent. Illis autem receden- 
 tibus vix ipse e palude fluminis quasi depicatus sur- 
 rexit; et ad quendam amicorum, uno inde distantem 
 miliario, ut ibi se ablueret, venire disposuit. Occurrerunt 
 vero illi canes ejusdem acerrimi, et quoniam luto detur- 
 patum,^ magis monstrum quam hominem putaverunt/^ 
 
 ^ et . . meditabantur~\ om. B. 
 
 ^ etc."] et cum separaverint vos et 
 exprobaverint et ejecerint nomen 
 vestrum tanquam malum propter 
 Eilium hominis, gaudete in ilia die 
 et exsultate quoniam merces vestra 
 copiosa est in coelis, B. 
 
 ^ Et auditoribus . . coeUs'\ om. B. 
 
 ^ quasi^ om. B. 
 
 ^ coram rege] apud regem, B. 
 
 ^ quadrijidis membris] om. B. 
 
 ^ superimprimebant'] eum concul- 
 cabant, B. 
 
 ^ eorum~] illorum, B. 
 
 9 quoniam . . deturpatum] quia 
 luto deturpatus erat, B. 
 
 putaverunt] ac idcirco, ins. B. 
 
AUCTORE B. 
 
 18 
 
 <( 
 
 crudeli latratu hunc^ invaserunt, tamen nt blandientis He reflects 
 
 . . T 9 onthedif- 
 
 vocem audierunt mox esse illius ex eo tantummodo ^ ference 
 
 between tne 
 
 retieentes amoverunt.^ Tunc ille secum ex promndo men and the 
 
 . . . dogs. 
 
 cordis suspirio ingemiscens ait, " 0 sseva propinquorum 
 " meorum vesania, in caninam ssevitiam de dilectionis 
 " humanitate mutata ! Nam inrationabilis canum natura 
 " humanitatis mihi dilectionem cauda blandienti exbi- 
 buit ; propinquitas vero humanitatis ^ oblita, canum 
 mihi infestantium severitatem inseruit ; sic improbus 
 " ordo amborum in utrisque mutavit justam viam."^ 
 
 7. Intellexit igitur ille avitus humani generis inimicus The devil 
 
 , , /. • • I • • • 1 tries to cir- 
 
 memoratum juvenem ^ per smistros nuncios mvidorum cumvent 
 
 T T . , . 1 1 J M • him with 
 
 sodalium quos miserat pravis voluntatibus suis parum temptation 
 
 • T . T • • 1* j*i • T • " to marry. 
 
 cessisse, quibus m eum ^ msidiantibus armis dimicare 
 inchoavit ; sed ^ quanta sibi temptamentorum ^ luctamina 
 ingesserit, sequens libelli hujus pagina partim intimabit. 
 Primum enim mulierum illi injecit amorem, quo per 
 familiares mulierum amplexus mundanis oblectamen- 
 tis frueretur. Interea propinquus ipsius iElfheagus/^ iifege 
 cognomine calvus, prsesul quoque fidelis, petitionibus ^^^^g^^*^^ 
 multis et spiritualibus monitis eum rosfavit ut fieret become a 
 
 ... . . . monk. 
 
 monachus. Quod ille instinctu praefati fraudatoris 
 renuncians, maluit sponsare juvenculam cujus quotidie 
 blanditiis foveretur, quam more monachorum bidentinis 
 indui panniculis. Ut autem vir Dei verba abnuentis 
 audivit, mox ex imo pectoris suspirio petivit regna 
 superna regentem quatinus illi inferret correctionum 
 suarum judicia;^^ ut cujus monita tempneret acriter 
 agnosceret; quod, Deo misericorditer favente, in parvi 
 
 ^ hunc\ eum, B. 
 
 2 esse . . tantum modo] om. B, 
 ^ agnoverunf] humanum animal 
 intellexerunt, B. 
 
 4 humanitatis'] humanitatem, B. 
 ^ sic . . viani] om. B. 
 ^ memoratum juvenem] eum, B, 
 7 eum] ipsum, B. 
 
 s sed] unde, B. 
 
 ^ temptamentorum ] postmodum 
 tormentorum, B. 
 
 mulierum] earam, B. 
 
 11 Elfheah, or Elphege, the Bald, 
 bishop of Winchester, 934-951. 
 
 12 verba abnuentis] tr. B. 
 ^^judicia] indicia, B. 
 
14 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 Illness ^^^^^^^^ spatio factum comprobatur fuisse. Eo namque 
 becomesa ^^^^ turgentium vesicarum dolor intolerabilis omne 
 monk. corpus ipsius obtexit, ut elephantinum morbum se pati 
 putaret, et spem vitae proprise penitus non haberet. 
 Tunc festinanter, magno angore correptus^ misit, et ad 
 se pontificem jam ante a se^ spretum, humili prece 
 vocavit et obedire se velle ejus salutaribus monitis 
 nuntiavit; at ille visitando veniens consolatum et 
 emendatum Deo monachum consecravit. 
 
 8. Pius igitur et misericors Dominus servum Suum 
 Dunstanum ab amore mulierum taliter miseratus retraxit, 
 Qui, ut historise tradunt, Johannem apostolum et evange- , 
 listam specialiter Sibi dileetum a thalamis nuptiarum re- 
 vocavit.^ Cum hac ergo Dei correctione* et beati antistitis 
 ^Ifheagi documento salutari, sanioris effectus esset intel- 
 ligentise, nonnunquam post ejusdem pontificis^ almitati 
 gratia saluberrim^e doctrinse causaque parentelse sedula 
 He goes adhserebat continuatione. Interea relie^iosi Wintonien- 
 
 with bishop .... . . 
 
 Eifege tothe sium cives invitarunt eundem Dei pontificem ad quandam 
 
 dedication , . . 
 
 of a church novae ecclesise dedicationem quam in sua civitate Win- 
 near the . ft • T n • 
 
 wlnci^ste^r ' ^^^^^ qua ^ regimen prassulatus ^ ipse tenebat, pro summi 
 Numinis^ reverentia condiderant in parte meridiana 
 popularis platese quae nunc ecclesia^ occidental! portae 
 omnibus ecclesiis vicinior perhibetur esse. In cujus 
 consecratione affuit inter alios plures cum pontifice^!^ 
 etiam Dunstanus cum praecipuis unus. Qua dedicata^^ 
 coegerunt more humanitatis virum venerandum cum 
 suis ad parata caritatis convivia, laetum diem 
 
 ^festinanter . . correptus"] tr. B. ; 
 demum, ins. B. 
 
 2 ante a se] antea, B. 
 
 3 Qui . . revocavit] ut secundum 
 Johannem quondam a nuptiarum 
 thalamis revocatum privilegio amoris 
 prsecipui eum sibi prsedestinaret, B. 
 
 ^ hac . . correctione'] tr. B. 
 ^ post . . pontificis'] postea ejus, B. 
 6 Wintonia qua'] id est Vfintonia 
 quo, B. 
 
 7 ipse] om. B. 
 
 ^ Numinis] Nominis, B. 
 
 ^ ecclesia] om. B. 
 
 cum pontificel om. B. 
 ^1 cum] e, B. 
 
 *2 Qua dedicata] dedicata autem 
 ecclesia, B. 
 
 13 virum . . suis] pontificem, B. 
 1'* caritatis] ire, ins. B. 
 15 latum] IjEtumque, B. 
 
AUCTORE B. 
 
 15 
 
 pro tanti viri veneratione proque ^ consecrationis du- ^^^^^^ 
 centes celebritate.^ Pontifex autem post gratiarum the fe^t^vai 
 actiones cum suis imminente ^ jam nocte ^ surrexit, et the church 
 data benedictione convivantibus^ tam viris quam foeminis, gory, 
 Deum benedicendo ad propria remeavit ; et venerunt 
 incedentes per viam ad secclesiam beato papse Gregorio 
 consecratam. Ibique subsistens episcopus dixit beato 
 Dunstano, " Compleamus hie apud oratorium sancti 
 " patris nostri Gregorii nostram completorii horam." Et 
 aecesserimt post voces orationum jungentes capita sua 
 in imum, quo confessiones suas solita consuetudine 
 vicissim proderent. Qua peracta, dum daretur ab where they 
 episcopo delictorum remissio, lapis permamus ab alto racuious 
 
 esc3ipe. - 
 
 aere irruit et, parcente Domino, inter utraque capita ^ 
 vehementi lapsu in terram corruit; tantumque tangens 
 capillos^utriusque capitis^ nullum eorum Isesit ; quern, ni 
 fallor, ille malignus cujusque justi operis inimicus, ex 
 improbitatis su8e jaculis furiendo ^ dejecit, quasi geminam 
 iram in utrisque foret ulturus. 
 
 9. Contigit autem hisdem temporibus quendam Glesto- Wuifred a 
 niensis secclesiee diaconem nomine Wulfredum,^ mortem Giastonhury 
 subiisse temporalem ; qui beato Dunstano tempore dum aFffdeath 
 viveret,^^ praelatus pariter exstitit et familiaris amator. 
 Hie ergo non admodum^^ longo tempore post discessum 
 apparuit ei pandens multa de coelestibus incognita, 
 insuper etiam omnem seriem vitse suae, suseque futuree 
 setatis et eventuum bonorum malorumve fata diffiniens. 
 
 ^ tanti . . proque'] om. B. 
 
 ^ ducentes celehritate] celebritate 
 ducere, B. 
 
 ^ Pontifex . . imminente'] immi- 
 nente igitur, B. 
 
 ^ nocte] gratiarum agens actiones, 
 ins. B. 
 
 ^ convivantihus] conviviis. B, 
 ^ capita] eorum, ins. B. 
 " ntriusque capitis] om. B. 
 
 ^furiendo] furiendo, Boll. 
 *^ Wulfredum] Wuluredum, B. 
 tempore . . viveret] om. B. 
 admodum] om. B. 
 ^2 incognita , . seriem] et omnis, 
 B. For pandens the BoUandists 
 read gaudens. 
 
 suceque . ,/ata] conversationem 
 sive prosperam sive sinistram, B. 
 
16 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 Dunstan Auditis vero ^ beatus vir tantis mysteriorum luminibus, 
 
 asks a sign , ^ ' 
 
 of thlJeve-^ talibusque inevitabilibus vitse suae casibus, ait in excessu 
 
 lation. 
 
 The sign 
 and its 
 fulfilment. 
 
 « 
 
 « 
 
 « 
 
 mentis positus :^ " Si quae certo relatu affirmas vera sunt 
 et credenda, unde cognoscam ? Quibus signis patulse 
 demonstrationis ^ ilia mihi patebunt ? " At ille duxit 
 eum in atrium templi quo corpora defunetorum humata 
 quiescunt, digitoque^ demonstravit in australi eeclesise 
 parte locum inconvulsum et dixit, " Quia haec quse tibi 
 " retuli vera sunt evidenter scito, quia hoc in loco ante 
 triduum presbyter quidam sepeliQtur, et nondum infir- 
 matur ; corpusculum vero ejus ab occidentali parte 
 templi praesentis tumulandum deferetur/' Ad banc 
 visionis vocem beatus expergefactus Dunstanus, postque 
 horam primam diei memor mir^ revelationis, cum qui- 
 busdam in prsenotatum sibi spiritaliter cimiterii locum 
 venit, necnon ^ accipiens lapidem unum jactabilem, in 
 eum ^ projecit, hocque addidit, " Si vera suiit quae 
 in somnis vidi, quidam presbyter hie ante triduum 
 " debet humari." Porro recedentibus illis venit cujusdam 
 iEthelflsedse, nobilissimse ac religiosissimse matronse, 
 magister et sacerdos cum alio sociorum contubernio, et 
 obtinuit sibi inter aliqua eloquiorum famina eundem 
 locum in sepulturam, dicens, " Cum mortuus fuero, hie 
 " precor sepelite me." Erat siquidem ipse multorum 
 testimonio adhuc in corpore sanus, sed cum inde post 
 paucum abiissent, gravi morbo finitimse vitse sarcinatus 
 est. Deinde in nocte futura extremum spiritum 
 Christo Domino commendavit, et ante triduum in ipso 
 suae electionis loco, qui beato Dunstano prius assignatus 
 fuerat, sepultus est. 
 
 Tunc Domini servus sensit per saecula faustus 
 Talibus ex signis fuerant quia cuncta futura 
 Quae sibi jam dictus Wulfred sermone ferebat; 
 
 ^ Auditis vero'] Ad quae, B. 
 2 tantis . . positus'] quamvis ob- 
 stupefactus respondit dicens, B. 
 ^ ilia] om. B. 
 
 digitoque] illi, ins. B. 
 
 necnon] necne, B. 
 ^ in eum] pro signo inibi, B. 
 7 hocque] dicendo, ins. B. 
 
AUCTORE B. 
 
 17 
 
 Visibus atque istis humilis sapiensque beatus, hit?X*els^ 
 Felix et validus, cautus castusque refulsit, theTto?y of 
 
 Ante Deum vel ante homines per tempora vita3.^ ^themeda. 
 
 10. Nunc^ coeptum sermonem paulatim differendo 
 intermitto,^ donee quaedam brevia verba quae omittenda 
 non autumo parvo proferam eloquio. Erat namque^ 
 qusedam praedives matrona, regali ex progenie orta, sed 
 strictis nodis divinse religionis innexa, eujus nomen brevi 
 mentionis attactu nuper contigimus, Heec post amissum 
 virum vitam ducere vidualem pro virium qualitate de- 
 siderans, casulas sibi commanendi in affinitate sacri 
 templi ad plagam occidentalem ^ constituit, ut pro regni 
 coelestis desiderio ibidem Domino Jesu Christo die 
 noctuque non desisteret famulari. Huic vero semper 
 beatus adhserebat Dnnstanns, qui banc ^ prse cseteris modis house at 
 
 T . . . 1 Glaston- 
 
 mirabilibus adamavit ; ejusque causa religionis simul ^^^^'j^^^j?'*® 
 etiam propinquitatis esrestatem sedulo sublevavit. Non tamed the 
 
 ,^ ^ A . & . royal family. 
 
 est autem nostrae possibilitatis enarrare per singula 
 verborum eloquia, qualem vel quantam se in divinis 
 prsepararet obsequiis. Dominus tamen omnium inspector 
 secretorum, tam in ultimis metse Suse temporibus, quam 
 etiam dum in hoc mundo deguit/ cujus esset meriti 
 declaravit. Hsec igitur omne semen regium, de quo ipsa 
 nobilitatis originem duxit, intimo'^ caritatis ardore 
 dilexit, ideoque gratia dulcedinis de suis ssepe rebus 
 regibus ministravit.^ Ex hac ergo pia consuetudine ^an^l^S*^^' 
 glorioso regi ^thelstano prandium quod potuit obvia ™sit her, 
 prseparavit, quia hunc causa precaminum Glestoniam servant^ to 
 
 ^ Tunc . . vitce'] Tunc servus 
 Domini ordinem revelationis proba- 
 bilem experiraento didicerat, quern 
 ei praefatus vir prophetico sermone 
 praedixerat. Ex hoc igitur populo 
 manifestabatur quantse sanctitatis 
 vir apud Omnipotentem habebatur, 
 B. Here again the form of a se- 
 quence is observable. 
 
 " 7ninc'] itaque, ins. B. 
 
 ^ intermitto] intermittam, B. 
 ^ namque] itaque, B. 
 ^ ad . . occidentalem] om. B. 
 ^ qui hanc'] quia hunc, B. 
 ' deguit] degeret, B. 
 ^ intimo~\ nimio, B. 
 ® Haec narratio habetur in libro de 
 miraculis beatse Mariaj. B. in marg. 
 
 10 obvia'] obviam, B. 
 
 11 quia] quoniam, B, 
 
 B 
 
18 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 see whether venisse praescivit. Scientes vero ministrationis regise 
 provision prsevisores quod dedisset rex nepti suae divertendi ad 
 
 enough to . . ^. i j • t • i i 
 
 entertain se proHiissam, venerunt die prsecedenti ad videndum si 
 
 his retinue i 
 
 they find ' omnia paratuum ministeria habilia fuissent vel apta. 
 of mead. Et conspectis omnibus dixerunt ad illam, " Universse 
 " ministrationis sufficientiam habes, si tibi medonis 
 " liquor non defuerit." At ilia : " Non patiatur domina 
 " mea sancta Mater Domini mei Jesu Christi Maria, 
 " ut ille mihi vel quid in regia dignitate deficiat." Et 
 haec dicens antiquam Dei genitrieis Marise ecelesiam 
 quantocius intravit, seseque ibi rogatura prostravit, diu 
 deposcens superni Regis opulentissimum sibi adesse sup- 
 plementum ad augendam regis ministrationem. Quid 
 ergo ? Venit rex stipatus multo ^ comitatu ad tempus 
 prsefinitum, et post precum Missarumque celebrationes 
 to the^^^'^^ Isetus invitatum introivit ad prandium. Et tunc quidem 
 viSin and primo propinatu exhausere illud vas medonis ad unius 
 suppited.^^ palmulse ^ mensuram ; et sic postea, Deo augente et beata 
 promerente matrona, nil minuens substitit, pincernis, ut 
 assolet in regalibus conviviis, cornibus, sciphis, aliisque 
 indiscretse quantitatis vasibus totum diem ^ propinanti- 
 bus. Quod dum mirabile factum rex ipse relatu minis- 
 trantium audisset, ait mente inmutatus ad suos, " Pecca- 
 " vimus, nimis banc famulam Dei superfluitate multi- 
 " tudinis nostrse adgravantes." Et surgens salutata nepti 
 subit^ viam suam. 
 Dunstan n. Coepit autcm hsec famula Dei,^ transact© beati 
 
 waits on her ^ , 
 
 Ig^eriast ccrtaminis cursu, proximante jam fine, ex numano jure 
 graviter infirmari: cui beatus Dunstanus causam provi- 
 dendi solers exhibuit, et quasi propriam matrem unice 
 custodivit. Contigit ergo his impedientibus curis, ip- 
 sum horis vespei-tinalibus abesse, et cum psallentibus 
 more solito non fuisse catervis : ipso tamen finiti diei 
 crepusculo, cum se sequentibus ^ scolasticis, ibat ad jam 
 obseratam ecelesiam ut tardatum compleret officium. 
 
 ^ stipatus multo'] tr. B. 
 2 palmulce] palmse, B. 
 ^ totum diem~\ toto die, B. 
 
 ^ subW] ivit, B. 
 ^famula Dei\ tr. B. 
 ^ se segueritibus'] tr. B. 
 
AUOTORE B. 
 
 19 
 
 Et dum foris ante ostium ecclesisD psallendi pratia He sees a 
 
 , , . T, . ... T T beautiful 
 
 staret, vidit emmus ex orientis coeli climatibus pro- white dove 
 
 desceud 
 
 rumpentem niveam eolumbam, mira ^ pulchritudine et from 
 
 . . .1 heaven. 
 
 nova specie remtentem. Erant vero extremitates alarum 
 suarum igni scintillanti consimiles, ex quibus volatum 
 fulmineum ictuantibus pennis sparsim fundebant per 
 aera ; quae ad beatae matronae atria celeri meatu convo- 
 lavit. Beatus autem Dunstanus, infirmae amicae non 
 inmemor, continuo perpletis^ psalmodiis regressus est, 
 et veniens audivit illam intra suorum septa velami- 
 num seriis sermonibus, quasi cum quodam familiari 
 amico, per vices verborum sermocinantem. Accessit He finds 
 
 , , T . .11 1 -I I • ^ iEthelfleda 
 
 ergo humane ad consedentes ancillulas, observatrices ^ engaged in 
 
 T . , . , , . i . talk with a 
 
 dommae suae, et mirans cum quo loqueretur mterrogat. person in- 
 At illae se nescire dixerunt, sed "Antequam tu," in- 
 quiunt, " venires, immensi splendoris jubar totum hoc 
 " cubiculum rutilando replevit; et postea cessante lu- 
 " mine, ipsa, ut ipse nunc audis, loqui erga loquentem 
 " non cessavit." Tunc quidem paulatim et ipse spec- 
 tando resedit, donee ilia quodammodo a loquela qui- 
 esceret. Et dum ea etiam ab eloquio quievisset,^ mox ad 
 illam rejectis velaminum anfractibus intravit, et cum 
 quo loqueretur ipsam familiariter interrogavit. At ilia 
 dixit ad eum, Tu quoque ilium, antequam hue ve- 
 " niret,^ venientem vidisti, et nunc cum quo sim locuta the person 
 
 . with whom 
 
 mterrofifas ? Ipse enim mecum loquebatur, qui tibi she con- 
 
 ^ ' versed was 
 
 " psallenti dum stabas ante ostium ecclesiae apparuit ; the being 
 
 ^ , ' whose 
 
 " qui et mihi modo omnem exitus mei rationem per descent he 
 
 ^ ... had seen. 
 
 " ordinem nunciavit. Vobis tamen amicis meis non 
 " est admodum necesse contristari de me, quoniam mihi 
 " morienti^ Dei mei misericordia obibit et paradisi 
 " gaudia misericorditer intrare concedet. Tibi autem 
 " quasi singTilaris amicae ministro,'^ id operis impono, ut 
 
 1 mira] siquidem, ins. B. 
 
 perpletis] completis, B. 
 ^ observatrices'] videlicet, ins. B. 
 ^ Et . . quievisset] Postquam au- 
 tem quievit, B. 
 
 ^ veniret] venires, Boll. 
 
 ^ mihi morienti] me morientem,B. 
 
 7 quasi . . ministro'] tr. B. 
 
 B 2 
 
20 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 iBthelfleda 
 dictates her 
 last wishes. 
 
 She dies. 
 
 " tu quoque^ mane mature mihi facias balneas accele- 
 " rare, et funerea vestimenta quae mecum sum habitura 
 " prseparare, postque corporis lavationem missas cele- 
 " brare, et mox tempore participationis Sacri Sanguinis 
 " Corporisque ^ Domini nostri Jesu Christi communio- 
 " nem accipere, ut sic eodem momento viam universse 
 " nationis, Domino ducente, incedam." Quod ille in- 
 stantissime parens in omnibus beatse matronse praeceptis 
 ne ultimam praejussionis suae custodiam, taedio quoque 
 tarditatis submissam, torpenti curse committeret, adim- 
 plevit.^ Sed et ilia quod sibi de se in nopte hoc in 
 die futurum [erat ostensum] ordine quo prsedixerat 
 certissime complevit, ita inquam ut post* missae mys- 
 terium, post ^ saluberrimum Eucharistiae gustum, ipsa ^ 
 pariter cum finita missa vitam felicem in Domino Jesu 
 Christo finiret.'^ 
 
 Tunc praeyisor ovans animam cum sorte propinqua 
 Commisit Domino, tumulans sub honore cadaver, 
 Et sua dat Sanctis sicut antea ipsa volebat 
 Oorpore dum vixit. Sed et assecla liber abibat, 
 Optans hoc Domini requiescat ut in suavitate.^ 
 
 Dunstan 
 finds time 
 for music 
 and paint- 
 ing. 
 
 12, Hie etiam^ inter sacra litterarum studia, ut in om- 
 nibus esset idoneus, artem scribendi necnon citharizandi 
 pariterque pingendi peritiam diligenter excoluit, atque 
 ut ita dicam, omnium rerum utensilium vigil inspector 
 effulsit. Quapropter nobilis quaedam matrona ^Ethel- 
 wynn nuncupata quodam momentulo vocavit^^ eum 
 
 ^ tu quoque] om. B. 
 
 2 Corporisque] ac Corporis, B. 
 
 ^ adimplevit] bene adimplere dis- 
 posuit, B. 
 
 ^ Sed . . post] Mane autem jam 
 facto sicut ipsa prsedixerat in ves- 
 pere, post, B. 
 
 ° post] postque, B. 
 
 ^ ipsa] om. B. 
 Jiniret] finivit, B. 
 
 8 Tunc . . suavitate] Tunc praj- 
 visor ovans animam cum propinqua 
 
 sorte commisit Domino, cinerem 
 cineri commendans, omni dignita- 
 tum obsequio insuper etiam hoc af- 
 fectans dominse, ut requiescat in 
 pace. Deinceps vero egentes quos- 
 que in unum conglomeravit, et sub- 
 stantiam dominse suae, ut ipsa vove- 
 rat, non solum eis erogavit, verum 
 etiam ubi ubi ad exaltanda Dei 
 officia, prout potuit, distribuit. B. 
 
 ^ etiam] itaque, B. 
 
 ^0 vocavit] evocavit, B. 
 
AUCTORE B. 
 
 21 
 
 familiari precatu ad se, quatenus ille ^ ad divinum cul- duS?'^ 
 turn quandam stolam sibi ^ diversis formularum scema- ^^ke a de- 
 tibus ipse ^ prsepingeret, quam postea posset auro gem- f^^^^^ * 
 misque variando pompare. Quod cum veniendo fecisset, 
 sumpsit secum ex more cytharam suam quam lingua 
 paterna hearpam^ vocamus, quo se temporibus alternis 
 mentesque ad se^ tendentium joeundaretur in ilia. Tunc 
 quippe quadam die post prandium, dum ad iterata 
 opera tam ipse quam prsedicta matrona cum suis opera- 
 tricibus reverterentur, ex eventu mirabili contigit ut 
 hsec eadem beati tjrronis cithara, pendens in cubilis ^ J^^g ^is^ 
 pariete, audientibils cunctis, sponte sua sine tactu cu- anTnthem 
 jusquam jubilationis modulum alta voce personaret. itself. 
 Hujus enim antiphonae melodiam concinendo personuit, 
 et ad finem usque, serie cantando perduxit, " Gaudent 
 " in coelis animae sanctorum qui Christi vestigia sunt 
 " secuti ; et quia pro Ejus amore sanguinem suum 
 
 fuderunt, ideo cum Christo regnabunt in seternum." 
 Quod cum audissent, perterriti ^ tam ipse quam memo- 
 rata matrona,^ omnesque operatrices ipsius obliviscentes 
 omnino operum in manibus,^ attoniti sese invicem as- 
 piciebant, satis mirantes quid illud mirabile gestum 
 novi praefiguraret exempli. 
 
 13. Deinde autem defuncto rege -^thelstano et statu Dunstan 
 regni mutato, regis succedentis, Eadmundi scilicet, sub- counsellor 
 limitas beatum Dunstanum, qui vitae probabilis et Edmund, 
 linguae extiterat eruditse, conspectibus ejus adesse prse- 
 cepit, ut etiam ipse^ inter regios proceres et palatinos 
 principes annumeraretur^^ electus. His ille imperils te- 
 
 1 ille'] illi, B. 
 
 2 sibi] om. B. 
 ipse] om. B. 
 
 * hearpam] harpam, Boll. 
 ^ se] om, B. 
 6 cubilis] om. B. 
 perterriti] om. B. 
 
 ^ memorata matrona] ipsa, B. 
 ^ operum in manibus] opera ma- 
 nuum, B. 
 
 Athelstan died at Gloucester, 
 Oct. 27, 940. Chr. S. 
 qui] quoniam, B. 
 ^2 annumeraretur] enumeraretur,B. 
 
22 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 Dut.y of 
 obedient 
 service to 
 princes. 
 
 mere non resistens, sed ^ memor potius Domini prsecepti, 
 quae regis erant regi, quae autem Dei Deo reddere festi- 
 tinavit. Similiter autem ^ beati Jacobi apostoli admo- 
 nitus jussione^ omni humanse creaturse,^ maximeque 
 potenti se subdere non cessavit/ " sive regi quasi prse- 
 " cellenti, sive ducibus tanquam ab eo missis ad vindic- 
 " tam malorum laudem vero bonorum," etc. ; non minus i s. Pet. ii. 
 
 13 
 
 vero, ni fallor, beati Pauli apostoli infra comminiscens 
 qui ait, "Omnis anima potestatibus sublimioribus sub- 
 dita est ; non est enim potestas nisi a Deo ; quae 
 aut6m sunt a Deo ordinata sunt ; itaque qui resistit 
 potestati Dei ordinationi resistit ; ' qui autem resis- 
 tunt ipsi sibi damnationem acquirunt." Et iterum, Rom. xiii. i. 
 Reddite ergo, fratres, omnibus debita, cui tributum, 
 tributum ; cui vectigal, vectigal ; cui timorem, timo- 
 rem ; cui honorem, honorem et item huic eidem apo- Rom. xiii. 7. 
 stolo in ipsa sua electione Dominus dicebat, " Durum 
 " est tibi contra potestatis Mese stimulum calcitrare." ^- ^• 
 Heec enim et hiis similia sacrarum Scripturarum prse- 
 cepta beatus Dunstanus in sinu cordis sui diligenter 
 Dunstan's abscondit ne peccaret Domino ; sed in mandatorum 
 
 resolutions -ry. i • f • • i i r» 
 
 about beha- Jijus eloquia lauciDusque ipsius super mel et lavum 
 
 viour at 11* 1 * t ' ' 1*1 • '1 
 
 court. dulciora, lucernam veri lummis pedibus suis qui bus 
 vias Domini ambularet, disposuit. Et postquam^ se 
 mandatis Dei sui cordatius^ edoctum vel illumina- 
 tum^ agnoverat, juravit secum et firmiter statuit in 
 cordium suorum ^ secretis, custodire fine tenus judicia 
 justitiae Suae, ut idem Dominus de hac eadem sen- 
 tentia alibi dicebat,^^ " Qui perseveraverit usque in |^ ^^tt. x. 
 finem, hie salvus erit ; " et iterum, " Esto fidelis usque 
 
 1 sed] subito, B. 
 
 ^potius . , autem] om. B. 
 
 ^ apostoli . . jussione] ammoni- 
 tionis subject! estote," B. 
 
 creaturce] propter Deum, ins. B. 
 
 ^ maximeque . . cessavit] om. B. 
 
 ^ Non minus . , postquam] regiae 
 potestati se subdidit, quia, B. 
 
 7 cordatius] cordetenus, B. 
 ^ vel illuminatum] om. B. 
 ^ cordium suorum] cordis sui, B. 
 custodire] se, ins. B. 
 ut . . dicebat] reminiscens banc 
 etiam sententiam alibi Dominum 
 auditoribus suis dixisse, B. 
 
AUCTORE B, 
 
 23 
 
 Rev. ii. 10. 
 
 ad mortem, et dabo tibi coronam vitae/' Sic namque His virtuous 
 
 1 T • 1 T •! • T life there. 
 
 quamvis Jabonose, una cum subiimibus m regali pa- 
 latio diu degebat, binas habenas sacro moderamine 
 tenons, legis videlicet et theoric^e necnon et practicse 
 vit^e.^ Videntes vero nonnuUi comniorantium inilitum 
 banc conversionis^ suae constantiam, coeperunt eum unica 
 caritatis dulcedine vel germanitatis amore diligere. 
 Perplures autem e contrario, nebulosis mentibus ob- 
 ducti, coepere eundem Dei virum amarissimo odio va~ His^enemies 
 nitatis detestari, et prosperitatibus ipsius morte tenus brin^him 
 invidere. Hi nimirum exsecratores in augmentum ma- grace, 
 litise suae quoscunque alios poterant ad persequendum 
 etiam famulum Dei deposcebant. Tamdiu enim circa 
 ilium torserunt funiculum iniquitatis eorum, seipsos po- 
 tius in eo nexuri quam ilium, ut ipsum regem infec- 
 tum vitiis ipsorum attaminarent,^ et credulum fallaciis 
 eorum efficerent;^ qui continuO; ut prius fuerat ab ini- 
 quis instructus, magno furore permotus, jussit eum 
 ablata dignitate etiam omni honore privari, et sibi 
 senioratum ubi vellet sine se suisque conquirere. Erant WMist the 
 autem apud Ceodrum ^ ubi haec facta fuerant viri vene- Cheddar he 
 
 is driveu 
 
 rabiles, regni videlicet orientis nuncii, cum rege tunc ^ from it. 
 hospitantes, quos ille quasi jam exilio deputatus, aliud 
 sibi ignorans consilium, aggressus est id orans ne se 
 relictum a rege ipsi^ desererent, sed secum ad patriam 
 quam vis ad incolatum perducerent. At illi moestitia^ 
 ipsius compatientes spoponderunt ei quaeque regni sui 
 commoda si secum comitaturus adiret. 
 
 14. Ibat itaque rex mox ^ altera die quo se una cum The king 
 
 T,. T, TT . ^ I'l goes to hunt 
 
 suis more solito jocundaretur venabulo ; et dum ad silvas and follows 
 
 , . . , T , a stag alone. 
 
 venaturi perveniunt diversos caiies nemorosorum tra- 
 mitum certatim arripiunt. Et ecce ex multimodo cor- 
 
 1 vit(B'] om. B. 
 
 2 conversionis] conversationis, B. 
 attamiriarent] fallerent, B. 
 
 * trfficeretit^ afficerent, B. 
 
 Ceodrum] CeodriuU;, Boll. 
 Ceoddrum, B. 
 tunc'] om. B. 
 ipsi] ibi, B. 
 ^ mox] om. B. 
 
24 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 niculantium strepitu canumque latratu, multi cervorum 
 The stag levem fufifam inierunt; ex quibus rex solus cum canum 
 
 and dogs ® . . 
 
 fall down a caterva unum sibi venaturus^ excepit: et hunc diu 
 
 precipice. ^ ^ ^ . . 
 
 per diversa devia equina agilitate canumque insecta- 
 tione fatigavit. Est autem ibi in proximis locis Ceod- 
 dri, quoddam inter alia plura prsecisi mentis prsecipi- 
 tium, mira quidem et immensa profunditate devexum ; 
 ad quod idem cervus, nescio quo pacto nisi ex Dei esset 
 occulto^ arbitrio, fugiendo devenit; et praeceps sese in 
 ima ejusdem prsercipitii una cum canibus sequenti- 
 bus demersit,^ et particulatim attriti in mortem pa- 
 riter corruerunt. Similiter autem et rex sequens 
 cervum et canes, cum magno volantis equi impetu 
 venit, et statim viso prsecipitio cursum accelerantis 
 The king's equi quantum quibat viribus retinere conatus est. Sed 
 
 horsecarries . it . . , . , ^ . . , 
 
 him at full Quoniam colli contumacis et rigidse cervicis erat non 
 
 speed after ,., • ^ -it n • •, iij* 
 
 them: he Dotuit. Uuid multa ? Omm spe vitse suae ablata m 
 
 prepares for ^ . . . t • i t , 
 
 death by manus Dei sui animam commendavit, dicens tamen 
 
 confession 
 
 of the intra se, "Gratias Tibi asfo, ' Altissime, quod me non 
 
 wrong done , . . , . , . . 
 
 toDunstan. " momini aliquem his diebus Isesisse, nisi solum Dun- 
 He escapes, u g^anum, et hoc prompta voluntate et vita servata 
 " reconcilians sibi emendabo." Ad quod dictum, 
 beati viri meritis, restitit equus, quod jam horret 
 dicere, in ultimo praecipitii cespite, ubi pedes priores 
 equi ipsius pene fuerant in ima^ voraginis ruituri. 
 Tunc ille corde pariter et ore maximas Deo pro vitae 
 suae restitutione gratias referebat et laudes, secum 
 plane intelligens, et saepius in cordium suorum secretis ^ 
 recompensans, se esse pro tanti viri vindicta finitimae 
 morti ferme deputatum ; et veniens domum jussit sibi 
 propere beatum Dunstanum magna cum festinatione 
 advocare. Qui cum vocatus venisset,^ ait ad eum rex, 
 " Festina quantocius praeparare tibi caballum, ut possis 
 " mecum parvo comitatu quo iturus sum ire/' Et 
 
 1 venaiurus"] venaturum, B. 
 
 2 esset occulto~\ tr. B. 
 
 ^ demersit] dimersit, B. 
 ^ pene . , z'wGf] tr. B, 
 
 ^ cordium suorum secretis'] corde 
 suo, B. 
 
 ^ venissef] advenisset, B. 
 
AUCTORE B. 
 
 25 
 
 continuo, ascensis equis, viam quae ducit Glestoniam He makes 
 recto tramite tenuerunt ; et cum ^ illuc ducatu pervene- abbot of 
 rant secclesias Dei ut oportuit oraturi intraverunt. Et bury, 
 statim precibus impletis tersisque ocellis e lacrymarum 
 rivulis, rex iterato vocaverat ad se famulum Dei Dun- 
 stanum et, adprehensa ejus dextera, causa plaeationis 
 seu etiam dignitatis osculatus est illam, ducensque ad 
 sacerdotalem cathedram et imponens ^ ilium in eam, et 
 dixit, "Elsto sedis istius princeps potensque insessor, et 
 prsesentis secclesiae fidelissimus abbas ; et quicquid tibi 
 ad divini cultus augmentum vel ad sacrse regulse sup- 
 plementum de propria adminiculatione defuerit, ego 
 illud regia largitate devote supplebo." 
 
 15. Igitur post hsec servus Dei Dunstanus lam dictam Hisbeha- 
 
 *-* . . . , ^ , viour as 
 
 dignitatem jussu regis regendi gratia suscepit ; et hoc abbot, 
 prsedicto modo saluberrimam sancti Benedicti sequens 
 institutionem, primus abbas Anglicse nationis enituit: 
 sicque spontaneum ex afFectu cordis famulatum^ Deo 
 reddere devovebat. Tunc ergo ^ perprudens opilio, pri- 
 mum scepta claustrorum monasticis sedificiis caeterisque 
 inmunitionibus, ut jam olim a quodam sene sibi de- 
 notatum per revelationem fuerat, ex omni parte firmiter His buiid- 
 munivit ; ubi ovos Dominicas longe lateque gregatim 
 coUectas, ne a lupo invisibili dilaniarentur, includeret. 
 Deinde idem Dei dogmatizator adgregatum coenobium 
 sibique commissum divini verbi coepit fomento nutrire, 
 et fonte superno, sacrse scilicet Scripturse mellifluo do- 
 cumento potare, docens per angoreas hujus vitse se- 
 mitas ad setemas delicias epularum coelestium esse 
 transiendum. Patet namque omnibus pene^ circum- 
 •quaque fidelibus, quod post paucorum annorum inter- 
 capedines,^ discipuli quos ipse teneros in versej fidei 
 vitem, Christum videlicet Dominum sudando inse- 
 
 1 cwm] ut, B. ; ducatu, om. B. 
 
 et imponens] imposuit, B. 
 ^ Sicque . . famulatuni] tr. B. ; 
 cordis sui, B. 
 
 ^ ergo] om. B. 
 ^ pene] om. B. 
 
 ^ inter cap edines] curricula, B. 
 
26 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Promotion rucrat, ubertim crescebant, et fructum boni operis 
 
 ofDunstan's . i j i» ^ i i j i i 
 
 pupils. morigena venustate lerebant; quodque post naec plu- 
 rimi ecclesiarum pastores documentis illius et exemplis 
 instructi, ad diversas jam civitates vel ad alia sanc- 
 torum loca petebantur, electi ut essent inibi sacri 
 regiminis et normse justitise imbutores, prsepositi vide- 
 licet/ decani, abbates, episcopi, etiam ^ archiepiscopi, 
 cseteris^ ordinibus prsestantissimi. Quicunque autem 
 de discipulatu ipsius, isdem temporibus corporeis nexi- 
 bus fine tenus enodati, necem subierant inevitabilem, 
 alta polorum gaudia procul dubio petierunt. 
 
 The devil 16. Cumque vetemus invisor mente perspicaci compe- 
 iS^helrorm rirct quod beatus pater, equidem Dunstanus ^ tantas sibi 
 turmas diripiendo e manibus extorsisset, fraudibus qui- 
 buscunque valuit adversari sibi, sicut jam superius 
 loqui coepimus, diebus ac noctibus non cessavit. Nam 
 quadam nocte, dum adleta^ Dei infra scepta claustro- 
 rum psalmodiis vigiliisque constans immoraretur, appa- 
 ruit ei Dei et hominum inimicus, hispidus et horrens 
 in ursina specie, volens eum quodammodo torva ima- 
 ginatione perterrere,^ et ab opere satis sibi contrario 
 dolositatis industria aliquatenus dissociare. Sed cum 
 agonista Dei monstrum hoc inimicale spiritali magis 
 quam corporali ^ intuitu perspexisset, eo securior ^ incep- 
 tis Dei laudibus velut vir invictus perduravit. Postea 
 autem parvo intermisso momento adfuit illi iterum non 
 and in the in priori lusionis effigie, sed in canina satis sibi con- 
 
 form of 0) 
 
 dog. digna specie, ut sunt fraudes ipsius in omnibus im- 
 probse ; quatinus hunc simulata canum ssevitia impedi- 
 endo deluderet et ab orationis studio, si quo potuisset 
 ingenio, sequestraret. Nequidquam tamen tenax ille 
 temptator in famulum Dei nefandis versutise suae frau- 
 
 ^ videlicet] om. B. 
 
 2 etiani] om. B. 
 
 3 cceteris'] demum, ins. B. 
 
 * beatus . . Dunstanus'] om. B. 
 
 ^ adleta] adhleta, B. 
 ^ perterrere] perterere, A. 
 7 corporali] carnali, B. 
 ^ securior] securius, B. 
 
ATTCTORE B. 
 
 27 
 
 dibus insanivit ; quern undique armis fidei fulcitum Bunstan 
 
 . ^ . ^ , repels liim. 
 
 fuisse comprobavit ; ideoque ex eodem praedicto sanetse 
 crucis spicule, quod secum semper chyra-*^ dextra con- 
 vehebat, repercussus adnihilatus est. Sed et ipse nihil- 
 ominus in laudem ^ Christi sui spretis adversarii temp- 
 tamentis manebat intrepidus. Addidit quoque idem 
 perfidus draco more vipereo tertio reserpere, probans si 
 forte adhuc virum Dei remissions animi ad vincendum 
 invenisset : et tunc quidem ex improba cordis compo- a third time 
 
 ... J • J - i 1 1 J 1 • he comes as 
 
 sitione sese mutavit m turpem vulpeculam, ut vel sic a fox and is 
 famulum Dei ^ cauda quatienti varioque discursu. ab in- 
 tentione Dei sui everteret. Quem cum beatus pater 
 Dunstanus ^ toties transmutatum vidisset, subridens 
 dixit illi, "Vade jam, inimice, quia nunc tibimet satis 
 " similis effectus apparuisti/' factoque crucis signaculo 
 inimicus disparuit. 
 
 17. His et hujuscemodi armis ^ larvalibus sjBpe se- once wWist 
 ductor antiquus beatum patrem Dunstanum, licet inani before the 
 conflictu, fatigavit : velut etiam tempore quodam dum m S. George 
 orationis ^ opere ante altare martyris Christi Georgii Vlgl- looks over 
 
 TTTT.x L • I his shoulder 
 
 lando desudaret. Ignoratur itaque quo casu, utrum ex in the shape 
 prsefati fraudatoris injectione, an ex vigiliarum continua- ^ ^ ' 
 tione, sed ibi subito inter psallentia verba levis soporis 
 dormitio inrepserat ipsum ; visumque est illi, nec, ut ita 
 dicam, penitus vigilanti neque penitus dormienti, quod 
 hyspidus ursus, ingens et horribilis, magno cum impetu 
 veniret, poneretque pedes horrendos ad dilaniandum 
 prseparatos, super utrumque humerum illius sedentis, 
 avido quoque hyatu superstans, quasi ^ ad devorandum 
 eum. Cumque vir Dei ex inlato terrore funditus evi- 
 gilaret, arripuit quantocius quem secum semper manu 
 advehebat baculum, nisus ex humano furore nefandum 
 
 ^ chyra] om. B. 
 
 2 laudem] laude, B. 
 
 ^famulum Dei] eum, B. 
 
 ^ beaius . . Dunstanus] om. B. 
 
 ^ arnds] figmis, B. 
 
 ^ orQtionis] oedem operationis^ B. 
 
 7 quasi] om. B. 
 
28 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 Dunstan monstrum percutere ; ictu tamen supervacuo percussit 
 vaWijdtha templi parietem, maximum plausum per omne templum 
 drives him audientibus reddens. Ipse autem in se resrediens, va- 
 
 away with 
 
 a psalm. lidioris pugnse congressus miit, nunc videlicet psalmum 
 
 sacri certaminis decantando, " Exsurgat Deus/' usque Ps. uviii. i. 
 " sic pereant peccatores a facie Dei," ^ ut supra ; nam 
 co in loco superatus a somno psallendi studium dere- 
 liquit, et confestim, ut aiunt, in hoc resumpto psalmo- 
 dio, ille nebulosus illusor agnitus est velut umbra niger- 
 rima in praedicto scemate confusus abscedere. 
 
 Wuifricthe 18. Erat namque huic eidem ^ viro Dei ex humana pa- 
 brother of ^. ^ 
 
 Dunstan rentum propagatione quidam germanus frater, nomine 
 Wulfricus,^ quem sibi forinsecus in villarum suarum ne- 
 gotiis potentem prsepositum, ne vel ipse vel quispiam ex 
 monastica professione foris vagaretur, inepta rei ssecularis 
 discursione, constituit. Hie nempe post emensum tem- 
 poris sui spatium, letali conditione prseventuSi tempora- 
 lem necem obiendo subibat. Hac de causa contigit 
 omnes prsescripti templi monachos ad funus ipsius exisse ; 
 nuUumque excepto abbate solo parvoque scolastico, qui 
 postea pontifex effectus hsec nobis intimavit, domi re- 
 mansisse, ut cum sacris exequiis exanime corpus ad 
 monasterium quo tumulaturum erat perducerent. In- 
 terea abbas cum eodem scolastico ambulabat ad viden- 
 dum, ut autumo, si jam fratres cum defuncti corpus- 
 ttircwnat ^^^^ propinquasscut. Et dum semper ex more psallentes 
 Dunstan by inccdercnt, venit ex inproviso ultra antiquam secclesiam 
 
 super- . . ' . 
 
 natural quoddam missile saxums, vehementi volatu conans^ beati 
 
 agency. ^ ^ , > 
 
 patris caput coUidere ; sed Deo defendente nequibat ; 
 verumtamen pilleum quo caput velabat, procul quasi 
 perticam unam a capite decussum, projecit. Qui con- 
 
 1 usque . . Dei] et dissipcDtur 
 inimici Ejus et fugiant qui oderunt 
 Eum a facie Ejus, sicut deficit fumus 
 deficiant j sicut fluit cera a facie ignis 
 
 sic pereant peccatores ^ facie Dei, 
 B. 
 
 ^ eideni] idem, A. ; om. B. 
 3 Wulfricus'] Wuluricus, B. 
 ^ conans'j conatu, A. 
 
AUCTOEE B. 
 
 29 
 
 versus dixit secum ineedenti scolastico, " Accelera ergo He escapes 
 " et cape quantocius hoc rotabile saxiim, ut deferas the^stoneto' 
 " eum conspiciendum ad me/' Quod cum ille nimis memory of 
 
 1 . , . . T , 11-, the event. 
 
 ponderosum ex jussu patris vix elevando reveneret, ait 
 venerandus pater Dunstanus, " 0 adversans inimice ! 
 " jamdiu ex industria maligna hujus mihi lapidis ictum 
 " insidians prseparabas." Non enim erat, testimonium 
 multorum, hujusmodi lapis admodum magnus vel mo- 
 dicus in hiis Sumersetensium finibus, nisi forte in qui- 
 buslibet lapideis operibus ; et idcirco palam patuit de 
 cujus improba manu emissus prosilivit.^ Verumtamen 
 post base jussit ipsum saxum, licet in sui detrimentum 
 missum fuisset, custodise invectum quasi pro testimonio 
 reservare. 
 
 19. Perempto igitur rege Eadmundo^ ab iniquo clep- Edredbe- 
 
 . . T ^ •iTi^ comes king, 
 
 tore, mox proximus nseres, Jiiadrsedus videlicet, regnum and takes 
 
 ^-^ Du.IlStj£tTl fox* 
 
 naturale fratrem succedendo suscepit. Hie itaque in his chief 
 sublimitate roboratus beatum patrem Dunstanum tanto 
 caritatis ardore dilexit, ut nullum poene ex primatu 
 sibi^ prsetulisset. At contra vir Dei, ut diligenti se 
 vicem amoris ab intimo cordis affectu rependeret, om- 
 nium sibi carissimum solita appellatione regem^ accla- 
 mavit. Ex hac quippe caritatis fiducia, commisit illi 
 rex optima qu£eque suorum suppellectilium, quamplures 
 scilicet rurales. cartulas,^ etia^m veteres prsecedentium 
 regum thesauros, necnon et diversas proprise adeptionis 
 suae gazas, sub munimine monasterii sui fideliter cus- 
 todiendum. Et dum post meantia tempora felix vir, Edred pro- 
 senex scilicet iEthelgar, Chrydionensis secclesise prsesul,^ Se him 
 carnali lege coactus, vitam in Christo finiret, persuasit Crediton. 
 jam dictus rex virum Dei Dunstanum crebris horta- 
 mentis, quatenus orbatum patre pontificatum sub cura 
 
 ^ I^on , . prosilivit\ om. B. 
 
 2 Edmund was killed in 946. 
 Chr. S. 
 
 3 videlicet] om. B. 
 
 ^ pcene . . sibi'} tr. B. 
 
 ^ regem] om. B. 
 ^ cartulas"] ac, ins. B. 
 7 Ethelgar, bishop of Crediton, 
 934-953. 
 
80 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 3 
 
 Dunstan pastorali ipse ^ suscepisset. At ille statim ^ facilis sibi 
 verbi excusationem rejecit, inquiens se non esse hujus 
 pastoralis curse prospectum nec adhuc tali tantaque 
 dignitate idoneum, quo posset tarn latum Christi ovile 
 probabili cautela sine sui exitio custodire. Hsec et his 
 similia contradicentium sermonum nonnumquam regi 
 opposuit, donee omnem ejus suasionem penitus abnu- 
 endo compeseeret. Verumtamen seeretam voluntatis 
 illius intentionem nequaquam adhuc mutare prsevaluit ; 
 quoniam quern prse cseteris altius amabat, hunc altioris 
 excellentise fieri cupiebat. Quapropter posuit verba 
 voluntatis suae in ore proprise genitricis^ dicens illi, 
 
 hismotlJer " ^olo, O mi dilectissima mater, ut tu^ sub prandii 
 
 with^Dun^^ " tempore nostrum specialem amicum Dunstanum 
 " tecum habeas invitatum : et dum inter laeta convivia 
 " blandis vicissim utimini loquelis, studeas eum foemi- 
 " nali facundia adhortari, quo fiat juxta nostram sugges- 
 " tionem nuper viduatse ® ecclesise pontifex." Quod cum 
 ilia nisibus universis fecisset, non potuit eum a pristinb 
 renunciationis eloquio remutare. Consilio tamen ipsius 
 
 a^fnted ^^^^^1^^^/ vencrandus, ob poUentem venustatem 
 sortitus est ad pontificatum eundem. 
 
 Dunstan 20. Noctc itaoue subsequenti visum est illi per noctur- 
 
 has a vision i • q t . 
 
 of s. Peter, nam revelationem,'* quod, cum prompto comitatu Romam 
 
 o. X aul, and n • » 
 
 S.Andrew, properarc deberet, adparuerunt^ ipsi in viis eisdem 
 Petrus et Paulus cum Andrea, pandentes ei diversa et 
 inopinata eventuum suorum secreta, finitoque familiari 
 apostolorum '^^ coUoquio, Andreas virga quam manu ge- 
 rebat percussit ilium ictu non modico dicens, " Hoc 
 " habeto prsemii quod apostolatus nostri consortium 
 
 ^ ipse] om. B. 
 
 2 statim'] om. B. 
 
 3 sibi] ei, B. 
 
 4 Eadgifu, widow of Edward the 
 Elder. 
 
 5 tu] om. B. 
 viduat(B] viduitate, A. 
 
 7 Elfwold, bishop of Crediton, 
 953-972. 
 
 ^per . . revelationem] om. B. 
 
 ^ properare . . adparuerunt] ten- 
 deret, et apparerent, B. 
 
 ^0 apostolorum] om. B. 
 
AUCTORE B. 
 
 31 
 
 " heri recussando tempsisti." Statimque expergefactus 
 
 post ictum ^ requisivit cubantem coram se monachum, 
 
 quis ipsum aero virgulae ictu temere percussisset. At hms chas- 
 
 ille, " NuUus/' inquit, " te quiescentem aliquo pereus- s. Andrew. 
 
 sionis tactu me sciente contigerat/' Is ergo praeme- 
 ditatus ait, " Modo, fili mi, scio, modo a quo sim per- 
 " cussus agnosco." 
 
 Eratque, proh dolor, rex Eadraedus dileetus Dun- ^^^^j 
 stani per omne tempus imperii sui nimium languens, 
 ita ut refectionis tempore sorpto succo ciborum. ^ reli- 
 quam partem parumper dentibus obtritam^ ab ore 
 rejeeisset, et sic ssepe convivantibus secum militibus 
 foetentem nausiam exspuendo fecisset. Qui licet sic 
 segrotantem vitam utcunque diu vivendo in abutenti 
 corpore pertraheret, languor tamen augmentabilis ssepius 
 milleno pondere invadendo hunc usque ad occubitum 
 misere perduxit. Time ille ex longo languore anceps 
 proprise vitse, misit circumquaque ad congregandas fa- 
 cultates suas, quas dum posset spontaneo liberoque 
 dictatu ipse suis vivendo disponeret ; per hoc enim p^^l^^n^foj. 
 vir Dei Dunstanus, velut alii regalium gazarum ^ cus- t^^a- 
 todes ibat ; ut quas causa custodiendi secum habuerat 
 regi reportaret. Et dum post aliquos dies viam per 
 quam venerat cum sarcinatis facultatum opibus rever- 
 teretur, facta est vox coelitus emissa dicens illi, "Ecce 
 " nunc rex Eadrsedus obiit in pace." ^ Ad banc ergo Dunstan mi- 
 vocem caballus in quo vir Dei equitabat subito per- warned of 
 
 . ... . the king's 
 
 cussus interiit, quia non valebat sublimitatis angelicse death, 
 sufferre prsesentiam. Et cum venisset, repperit regem 
 sub eodem tempore quo angelus ei in ipso itinere nun- 
 ciavit, morte suprema finitum ; cujus emissum spiritum 
 astantes catervse fidelium pariterque exanimes artus 
 more mortalium sepeliendos conditori Domino sub pacis 
 requie commendaverunt. 
 
 * post ictum] om. B. 
 
 2 sorpto . . ciborum] sorbita tan- 
 tum sorbitiuncula, B. ; sorto soco, 
 A. 
 
 3 obtritarn] attritam, B. 
 
 regalium gazarum] tr. B. 
 ^Edred died in 955; Nov. 23. 
 Chr. S. 
 
32 
 
 VITA >SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 Edwy suc- 
 ceeds. 
 
 He falls 
 under the 
 influence 
 of two bad 
 women. 
 
 On the day 
 of corona- 
 tion he 
 leaves the 
 royal feast 
 to join 
 them. 
 
 Dunstan 
 and Kine- 
 sige go to 
 bring him 
 back. 
 
 21. Post hunc surrexit Eadwig, filius videlicet^ Ead- 
 mundi regis, sotate quidem juvenis parvaque regnandi 
 prudentia ^ pollens, licet in utraque plebe regum numeros 
 nominaque suppleret electus. Huic qusedam, licet na- 
 tione prsecelsa, inepta tamen mulier, ciim adulta filia per 
 nefandum familiaritatis lenocinium sectando inhserebat ; 
 eotenus videlicet quo sese vel etiam natam suam sub 
 conjugali titulo illius innectendo sociaret ; quas ille ut 
 aiunt alternatim, quod jam pudet dicere, turpi palpatu 
 et absque pudore utriusque libidinose trectavit. Et 
 cum tempore statuto ab universis Anglorum priucipibus 
 communi electione ungueretur et consecraretur in regem, 
 die eodem post regale sacrse institutionis unguentum, 
 repente prosilivit lascivus, linquens Iseta convivia vel 
 decibiles optimatum suorum consessiones, ad prsedictum 
 luparum palpamentum.^ Et cum vidisset summus pon- 
 tificum Oda regis petulantiam, maxime in consecrationis 
 suae die, omni per gyrum consedenti senatui displicere, 
 ait coepiscopis suis et cseteris principibus, " Eant, oro,^ 
 " quilibet ex vobis ad reducendum regem quo sit suo- 
 " rum satellitum, ut condecet, in hoc regali convivio ^ 
 " jocundus consessor." At illi molestiam regis vel 
 mulierum querimoniam incurrisse metuentes, singuli se 
 subtrahentes recussare coeperunt. Ad extremum vero 
 elegerunt ex omnibus duos quos animo constantissi- 
 mos noverant, Dunstanum scilicet abbatem, et Cyne- 
 sium ^ episcopum ejusdem Dunstani ^ consangiiineum, 
 ut omnium jussu obtemperantes regem volentem vel 
 nolentem reducerent ad relictam sedem. Et ingressi 
 juxta principum suorum jussa, invenerunt regiam coro- 
 nam, quae miro metallo auri vel argenti gemmarumque 
 
 * videlicet] om. B. 
 
 ^prudentia] gratia, B. 
 
 ^ luparum palpamenlum] scelus 
 lenocinii, B. ; lupanarum pulpamen- 
 tum, A. 
 
 ^ or 6] qusBSO, B. 
 ^ suorum . . convivio] tr. B, 
 ^ Cynesium] Kinsige, bishop of 
 Lichfield, 949-963. 
 
 " ejusdem Dunstani] ejus, B. 
 
AUCTORE B. 
 
 33 
 
 vario nitore conserta splendebat, procul a capite ad They find 
 
 ^ ^ ^ the crown 
 
 terrain usque nesflee^enter avulsam, ipsumque more ma- on the 
 
 ^ r ^ ground. 
 
 ligno inter utrasque, velut in vili suillorum volutabro, 
 creberrime volutantem ; et dixerunt/ " Nostri nos pro- 
 " ceres ad te rogitando miserunt, ut eas quantocius ad 
 " condignum sessionis tuee triclinium, et ne spernas 
 " optimatum tuorum laetis interesse conviviis." At Dunstan 
 
 . . . T . i- brings him 
 
 JJunstanus primum mcrepitans muiierum meptias, manu b^k to the 
 sua dum nollet exsurgere, et ^ extraxit eum de moechali 
 genearum occubitu, inpositoque diademate duxit^ se- 
 cum, licet vi a mulieribus raptum, ad regale consortium. 
 
 22. Tunc eadem ^th9ele:yvu,^ sic erat nomen imomi- Threats of 
 
 .... ? 1 X Ethelgifu. 
 
 niosae mulieris, manes orbes oculorum contra veneran- 
 dum abbatem ferventi furore retorsit, inquiens hujusmodi 
 hominem ultra modum esse magnanimum qui regis in 
 secretum temerarius intraret. Audivimus enim in veter- 
 nis regum libellis Jezabelem errore gentilitatis et vi- 
 pereo veneno perfusam die noctuque ^ in prophetas Dei 
 amara detestatione saevisse, et in mortem ' usque per- 
 sequi non destitisse : ita et hsec inpudens virago, ex 
 hac die praedicta, eodem Jezabelis flatu venenifero per- 
 fusa, licet nomine Christiano uteretur indigna, virum 
 Dei Dunstanum consiliis inimicabilibus persequi non 
 quievit, quousque pestiferam execrationis suae volun- 
 tatem cum adaucta ree^is inimicitia adimpleret. Tunc Dunstan's 
 
 .... property is 
 
 ilia ex prsedicti regis consensu omnem illius ordinis seized, 
 honorem omnemque subpellectilis sui substantiam suis 
 legibus subjugavit ; quinetiam, urgente regis imperio 
 ipsum ad incolatum calamitatis celeriter ipsa ^ prsescrip- 
 sit. Non enim erat hujus furentis foeminse vesania 
 adeo adtendenda, sed discipulorum, quos ipse teneros 
 nectareo dogmate inbuendos nutribat, clancula machi- 
 natio magis stupenda ; nam et ipsi conspirationis iniqu^e 
 
 ^ dixerunt'] ei, ins. B. 
 
 - et"] om. B. 
 
 ^ duxit~\ eum, ins. B. 
 
 4 
 
 j^thcelgyvu'] Ethelgifu, B. 
 
 ^ noctu] nocte, B. 
 ^ ipsa] ire, B. 
 
 C 
 
84 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 His own pu- sub occulta fraude assentatores fuere, qui si possent 
 
 pils conspire ^ ^ . 
 
 ^insthim; iniqua ejus dispendia detestari debuissent. Et dum 
 {^a^eshis ejectores ejusdem cunctas res ecclesiasticas ad conscri- 
 bendum prospicerent, ecce in parte occidentali ^ templi 
 aspera vox ridentis diaboli, quasi vox plaudentis an- 
 ciUulse audita est. Ad quern vir Dei, dum quis esset 
 mente perspexit, " Noli/' inquit, " inimice, tantum gau- 
 " dere ; quia quantum nunc in recessu meo gaudebis, 
 tantum iterum in adventu, dampnante te Deo, tris- 
 " taberis/' 
 
 ms friends 23. Quicunque enim amicorum post hsec hunc eundem 
 punished, yirum Dei,^ injusto arbitrio criminantis foeminse ejec- 
 tum, causa caritatis vel compatientise hospitio susce- 
 perunt, frementem regis iram graviter incurrerunt, et 
 propterea insanos fluctus turbidi sequoris periculoso 
 He sails navi2:io trauarc,^ et incerta Galliarum exilia adire co- 
 
 toGaul; ^ i.r» 1 • 'A I ' 'T • 
 
 actus est. Et dum velincata veloci quasi ^ tria miliaria 
 maris ingressus fuisset, venerunt nuncii ab iniqua po- 
 pulatrice,^ ut ferunt, qui^ oculos illius si in his maris 
 littoribus inventus fuisset,^ eruendo dempsissent. Ipse 
 autem sequoreas vias ponti cserulei rapido cursu tran- 
 siliens venit ad ignotam jam regionem dictu Gallise,^ 
 cujus poene loquelam ritumque ignorabat. Sed comi- 
 tante secum misericordia Dei sui, invenit coram quodam 
 entertaTned ^^^^^ iUius principe gratiam, qui eum paterno caritatis 
 therein afFectu sub exilii sui tempore custodivit. Hie itaque, 
 
 his exile. . . ^ ... « 
 
 quamvis benigne sub ejusdem principis cura loveretur 
 cotidie, assidua tamen mente manebat in patria, de 
 qua remotus fuerat sine pietatis censura. Qui etiam 
 ssepe habundantem lacrymarum imbrem ex oculorum 
 
 ^ parte occidentalQ tr. B. 
 2 hunc . . Dei] eum, B. 
 ^ tranare'] transire, B. 
 velijicata . . quasi] veils in al- 
 tum extensis, quasi, B. 
 
 5 populatrice] muliere ; B., pepu- 
 la trice, A. 
 
 ^ ut ferunt, qui] tr. B. 
 
 7 inventus fuisset] inveniretur, B. 
 
 ^ regionem . . Gallice] jam regio- 
 nem dictam Galliam, B. 
 
AUCTORE B. 
 
 « 35 
 
 fluentis ingemiscendo deduxit^ quoties constitutus in He has a 
 
 • • ^ vision as* 
 
 exsilio ^ meminit quantam religionis celsitudinem in surmg him 
 monasterio dereliquit. Et dum diu in moesti cordis enemies wiu 
 meditatione circa rem hujusmodi cogitaret,^ ecce qua- prevail, 
 dam nocte vidit visione notissima dormiendo quod 
 jam mente peravida ambiebat vigilando ; hoc dumtaxat 
 quod more solito fuisset in monasterio una cum astante 
 fratrum caterva, dum laudes vespertinales psallendo 
 persolverent canerentque post novissimum canticum, 
 " Magnificat quoque ^ anima mea Dominum," banc anti- 
 pbonam, " Quare detraxistis sermonibus veritatis, ad in- 
 " crepandum verba componitis et subvertere nitimini 
 Job vi. 25. amicum vestrum^ verumptamen . . . . " hoc in loco visi 
 sunt omnes pariter relicto cantu penitus reticere, neque 
 ulterius earn uUo modo posse verbo vel voce perfinire, 
 quamvis casso labore multoties iteratam nonnisi ad 
 eundem locum cantando perducerent ; et nunquam duo ^ 
 finitima verba modulantes admitterent. At ille per 
 eandem visionem increpans eos, Cur/' inquit, " ad 
 " perfiniendam antiphonam non vultis dicere ' quae cogi- 
 " ' tastis explete ?' Mox ille divinum responsum ex alia 
 parte perpendit sub hac voce, " Ideo, inquam, quia num- 
 quam quod mente moliuntur implebunt ; ut te quo- 
 que^ ab hujus monasterii potestate auferendo evel- 
 lant." Et evigilans post visum gratias egit consolanti 
 se Altissimo. Patuit quippe ex hac certissima revela- 
 tione, quod, sicut superius sermonibus quibuslibet com- 
 memoravimus, nonnuUi eorum clanculi persecutores 
 illius exstitere. 
 
 24. Factum est autem ut rex prsefatus in pra3tere- Edwy's 
 untibus annis penitus a brumali populo relinqueretur mS^^^" 
 contemptus, quoniam in commisso regimine insipienter 
 egisset, sagaces vel sapientes odio vanitatis disperdens, et 
 ignaros quosque sibi consimiles studio dilectionis adscis- 
 
 ^ constitutus in ex!dlio'\ om. B. 
 - cogitaref] cogitarat, A. 
 ^ quoque] om. B. 
 
 ^ duo'] om. B. 
 ^ quoque] om. B. 
 
 c 2 
 
36 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Edf^ar is 
 chosen king 
 by the peo- 
 ple north of 
 the Thames. 
 
 He recalls 
 Dunstan. 
 
 Death of 
 Edwy. 
 
 Edgar re- 
 stores the 
 estates of 
 his grand- 
 mother. 
 
 cens. Hunc ita omnium conspiratione relictum/ elegere 
 sibi, Deo dictante, Eadgarum ^ ejusdem Eadwigi ger- 
 manum. in regem, qui virga imperiali injustos juste 
 percuteret, benignos autem sub eadem sequitatis virgula 
 pacifice custodiret. Sicque universo populo testante 
 publica res regum ex diffinitione sagaeium sejuneta^ 
 est, ut famosum flumen Tamesse regnum disterminaret 
 amborum. Tunc Eadgarus a prsedicto populo sic sor- 
 titus ad regnum, misit nutu Dei ad revocandum vene- 
 randum abbatem ab exoso in quo degebat exilio : non 
 inmemor quantse reverentise fuerit^ antecessoribus ip- 
 sius, quibus secum ,cum salutifero consilio infatigabilem 
 fidelis obsequelse famulatum persolvit : quern ^ ab inco- 
 latu reductum ^ omni honore dignitatis ut tantum 
 oportuit patrem custodivit. 
 
 Interea germanus ejusdem Eadgari, quia justa Dei 
 sui judicia deviando dereliquit, novissimum flatum 
 misera morte exspiravit ; et regnum illius ipse, velut 
 sequus hseres ab utroque populo electus, suscepit, di- 
 visaque regnorum jura in unum sibi sceptrum sub- 
 dendo copulavit. Hie iterato beatum Dunstanum in 
 ademptum ^ pristinse dignitatis honorem restituit,^ simi- 
 liter et atavam suam et nonnuUos alios quos frater 
 ipsius, in eadem antea sublimitate constitutus, iniquo 
 judicio prsedari prsecepit. 
 
 Council 25. Postea factus est mamus sapientium conventus in 
 
 m which Q . 
 
 Dunstan is Iqco Qui vocatur Brandauford,® et eo in loco omnium ex 
 
 chosen to be ^ 
 
 a bishop, elcctionc ordinatus est Dunstanus ad episcopum, eotenus 
 maxime quo regali prsesentise propter provida pruden- 
 tiarum suarum consilia jugiter adfuisset. Et dum ritu 
 regali moribus Deificis rex fuisset a beato Dunstano^^ 
 
 1 Hunc . . relictum] Hoc . . re- 
 licto, B. 
 
 2 On the date of Edwy's death, 
 see the remarks in the Preface. 
 
 ^ sejuncta] segregata, B. 
 ^fuerit] extiterit, B. 
 
 ^ quern'] dum autem, B. 
 6 reductum'] reductus fuisset, B. 
 ^ ademptum] adeptum, B. 
 ^ restituit] constituit, B. 
 ^ Brandanford] Bradanford, Boll. 
 a beato Dunstano] ab eo, B. 
 
AUCTORE B. 
 
 87 
 
 vel ceeteris sapientibus decenter instructus, coepit passim Edgar's 
 
 ^ . . , , 1 , reforms. 
 
 mprobos opprimere, justos quoque et modestos puro 
 pectore diligere, reges et tyrannos circumquaque sibi 
 subicere, destructas Dei secclesias renovare vel ditare, 
 et ad laudem Summi Numinis ^ famulantes catervas 
 adgregare, omnemque regionem illius sub pads mu- 
 nimine regaliter custodire. Deinde pastor Wygori- Dunstan is 
 
 !• 11 IT made bishop 
 
 censis eeelesi89, utpote Cynewaldus more mortalium of worces- 
 cursuque vitse temporalis edueto suecubuit, et suscepit 
 beatus pontifex Dunstanus constitutus a rege hanc^ 
 eandem ecclesiam sub solertia pastorali servandam ; in 
 qua statim verae fidei vitem palmitemque justitiae sa- 
 gaci cultu plantavit, et triticeum SanctsB Trinitatis 
 semen in credentium cordibus, evulsis errorum tribulis, 
 seminavit: per quod post prsesentis saeeuli metam bo- 
 norum operum ^ ad vitam jugiter manentem pervenirent 
 indempnes. Yidens itaque rex praenominatus quod com- He is also 
 
 !• I •! -I IT bishop of 
 
 missam aecclesiam pervigil pastor rite regendo custodi- London, 
 ret, commisit ei Lundoniensem aecclesiam, pio postea 
 pastore viduatam, quo plurimo civitatis illius populo, 
 nec non et reliquae Orientalium Saxonum multitudini, 
 pontem ^ etiam ad alta polorum cacumina scandendi 
 praepararet. Has ille geminas aecclesias per multa an- 
 norum transeuntium tempora sub regimine pontificalis 
 excellentiae curiose regebat ; et utrique gregi viara quae 
 ducit ad vera Jesu Christi ovilia exemplo pariter et 
 documento monstravit. 
 
 26. Postquam autem mors peravida venerandum odo dies 
 
 r\ t J. Ti. • *± ±' I.* 1 !• andElfsin 
 
 Odam, metropolitanae civitatis arcnipraesulem aecclesiae- succeeds, 
 que Christi rectorem, ex Adamica conditione consump- 
 tum,^ insatiabili voratu finierat, connumeratus est iElfsi- 
 nus Wintoniensium pastor ad eandem summi sacerdotii 
 
 1 Numinis'] Nominis, B. 
 
 2 kanc'] om. B. 
 
 3 bonorum operum] om. B. 
 
 ^ pontem] pontum, A. B. 
 ^ ex . . consumptum] om» B. 
 
38 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Eifsindies sedem. Qui cum ex . summorum pontificum consuetu- 
 toKomef^ dine, post pallium principalis infulse Romuleam urbem 
 contenderet properare, obfuit illi in Alpinis montibus 
 maxima nivis difficultas; quae tanto eum gelu rigoris 
 obstrinxerat, ut in his moriendo deficeret, et regressi 
 tumulato pontifice^ ejusdem ^ comitantes tyrunculi, re- 
 nunciavere lacrymanti relatu tantum sibi infortunium 
 in prsedictis montibus contigisse. Post cujus consum- 
 Byrhtheim mationem elefifere Bvrhtelmum, Dorsaetensium prsevi- 
 
 chosento o »/ j- 
 
 Canterbuiy. sorem ad summum sanctsB Dorobernensis secclesise sacer- 
 dotem ; et erat vir iste mitis et modestus et humilis, 
 et benignus, in tantum ut tumidos quosque vel rebelles 
 sub correctionis verbere non, ut debuisset, cohiberet. 
 Est namque jus rectorum ut bene bonos custodiant, et 
 ad meliora quantum queunt viribus universis infor- 
 ment ; reprobos autem et rebelles sub asperitatis cor- 
 rectione redarguant, done6 eos a viis vanitatum aver- 
 
 Side by Compcriens ergo rex quod prsedictus pontifex ^ 
 
 Edgar. j^ggQ jy^j.^ prsBscripta in commissa sibi plebe mansues- 
 cendo minime adimpleret, jussit eum vias per quas 
 veniebat redire et relictam dignitatem rursus recipere 
 
 Dunstan possidcndam. Dehinc constituit ex divino respectu 
 
 chosen to ^ . t\ 
 
 Canterbury, et sapicntum consilio Dunstanum, quem noverat esse 
 constantem, ad summum praedictse secclesise sacerdotem. 
 
 27. Mox ille suscepto sacerdotio prolixa itinera quae 
 summis sunt sacerdotibus solita, Romanam prospero 
 calle tetendit ad urbem ; eratque Dominus socius itineris 
 illius, et pura fide se retinentem^ non reliquit, sicut 
 He goes to Ipse per prophetam cuicunque ^ fideli repromisit, dicens, 
 the pau. " Intellectum tibi dabo et instruam te in via hac qua Ps. xxxii. 9. 
 " gradieris; firmabo super te oculos Meos;" et iterum, 
 Ego ante te jbo, et gloriosos terrse humiliabo." isa. xiv. 2. 
 
 1 pontifice'] eo, B. 
 
 2 ejusdem] ipsius, B. 
 
 ^ prcedictus pontifex] om. B. 
 
 ^ se retinentem] tr. B. 
 ^ cuicunque] cuique, B. 
 
AUCTORE B. 
 
 39 
 
 Cumque longum iter properando fecisset, et omnia His libera- 
 
 • iT 1 . IT 1,. li*y on the 
 
 victualia, qu8e vel eqmno gestamme vel alia conductione way pro- 
 
 • • * • vokes Iiis 
 
 ferebant, propriis vel alienis hominibus penitus fuissent steward, 
 expensa, ait proeuratori suo, "Quid nobis administra- 
 " tionis habes ^ ad noetis hujus sustentationem con- 
 " ferendum?" At ille stomachando respondebat dicens, 
 " Prorsus nihil, quia tu tibimet nil reservare curabas, 
 dum quicquid victus habere videbamur propriis vel 
 externis dapsili jussu distribueras." Et dixit illi 
 episcopus, ''Noli quseso nimium inde turbari; quoniam 
 " Christus Dominus^ noster erga omnes in Se cre- 
 " dentes est satis largus et dives." At ille rursum, 
 Modo," inquit, "videbis quid tibi comessuro Christus 
 tuus sub hujus noctis spatio sit daturus." Et sur- 
 rexit pontifex, quia tempus vespertinum instabat, ut in 
 locis remotis congrua vespertinae laudis offieia adimple- 
 ret. Adhuc enim jam dietus procurator stulto murmure 
 postclamabat dicens, Perge oppido adorare tantum 
 " Christum tuum, nil aliud nostrse necessitatis adten- 
 dens." Erant namque in hac ^ eadem villa, qua tunc His wants 
 
 x^• * ^ 'xii T supplied 
 
 vir Dei cum suis nospitabatur, cujusdam venerandi by a kind 
 abbatis nuncii triduo beati adventum pontificis prse- 
 stolantes ; et venerunt priusquam ille coepta vespertinse 
 laudis ofScia cantando perageret, cum opimis gratiarum 
 muneribus omnibusque regionis illius deliciis, carita- 
 tive ex ore abbatis fratrumque suorum fideli phalange 
 salutantes episcopum. Quas ille benedictionum cari- 
 tates gratanter accipiens, resalutavit gratiosum abbatem 
 cum devoto secum morantium fratrum^ contubernio. 
 Postea vero ex isdem ^ muneribus fratrum quoque 
 prsedictorum caritate coUatis,^ diu deliciose properando 
 vivebant : ac stulta dehinc murmuratio procacis mini- 
 stri, firma ex fide pontificis sic superata, quievit. 
 
 ^ administrationis habes ] habes 
 ministrationis, B. 
 
 - Dominus'] Deus, B. 
 ^ hac~\ om. B. 
 
 ^ morantium fratrum'] commoran- 
 tium, B. 
 
 ^ isdem] hisdem, B. 
 ^fratrum , . coUatis] om. B. 
 
40 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 He receives 28. Tandem ad optatam Romanse sedis aecclesiam, Do- 
 mino ducente, pervenit, ubi pallium principale sub prsesu- 
 latus privilegio, una cum benedictione apostolica gloriose 
 suscepit : rursumque locellis sanctorum lustratis et solatis 
 Christi pauperibus, per pacis itinera ad patriam usque 
 remeavit.- Et cum venisset summus Anglorum pontifex, 
 spiritali charismate affectus/ coepit^ primum, ut^ sub- 
 limior caeteris sacerdotum ordinibus,^ sublimioribus 
 Christi servitutibus se subjugare ; ne cum aliis verse 
 
 His govern- fi(Jei fomenta ministraret, vel iter rectum ad coelestia 
 
 ment as ^ ^ 
 
 archbishop, yerbo salutifcro monstraret, ipse, ut ait apostolus, re- i Cor. ix. 27 
 probus efficeretur, propriasque prsedicationi contrarius. 
 Deinde autem destructa*'' renovare, neglecta quseque 
 justificare, loca sancta ditare, justos amare, errantes ad ^ 
 viam revocare, Dei secclesias fabricare, nomenque veri 
 pastoris in omnibus adimplere. 
 
 His visions 29. Efifo Quidcm si die noctuque ^ millenos sonos fer- 
 
 and reve- o u 
 
 lations. ^ca liugua contra naturam emitterem, nequirem utique ^ 
 omnia beneficiosa virtutum suarum opera, quae vel ma- 
 nifeste vel etiam secrete peregit, prompsisse.^ XJnum 
 autem ex ipso me posse referre profiteor, quod quam- . 
 vis hie carneo septus velamine deguisset in imis, mente 
 tamen sive vigilaret, sive somno detentus quiesceret, 
 semper manebat in superis, ut Paulus ait apostolus, 
 " Nostra autem conversatio in coelis est." Hoc nimi- phii. iii. 20. 
 rum ssepissime patuit, dum divina sacrorum modu- 
 laminum cantica quae ab hominibus quidem nunquaiA 
 accepit, sed ex beatis supernae regionis civibus per 
 sopitalem revelationem capaci didicerat intellectu, 
 ut haec sequens sententia manifestat. Quadam nocte 
 hujus visionis exemplar post pia precum studia post- 
 
 1 JSt . . affectus] om. B. 
 
 2 co^it] autem, ins. B. 
 uf] CO quod, B. 
 
 ^ ordinihus] esset, ins. B. 
 ^ destructa] festinavit,! ns. B. 
 a<i] veritatis, ins. B. 
 
 7 noctuque~\ nocteque, B. 
 
 ^ utique] om. B. 
 
 ^ prompsisse] promere, B. 
 
 sopitalem'] sospitem, B. ; sopita- 
 tem, A. 
 
AUCTORE B. 
 
 41 
 
 que novissimum completorii officium, dum beata mem- His vision of 
 
 bra quieti dedisset, certa demonstratione conspexit marriage to 
 
 quomodo propria qu89 se ^ huic mundo ediderat mater king. 
 
 cuidam regi prsepotenti ad conjugalem sponsam sub 
 
 summo principum suorum testimonio dotisque sub 
 
 titulo copularetur conjugio f et ut fieret in his rega- 
 
 libus nuptiis tanta psallentium Isetitia, ut omni ex 
 
 parte jocundantes militiae hymnum suavissimum cum 
 
 laude sonora eidem^ regi modulando personarent. Et 
 
 dum hsec diu agerentur, aceessit inter psallentium voces 
 
 quidam juvenis niveo vestitus candore, dicens sub ipsa 
 
 visione pontifici, " Nonne vides et audis quomodo omnis 
 
 " hsec ovans multitudo regem magnum in turmis suis^ 
 
 " concrepando glorificatur, te solo silente ? Tu quare 
 
 " in prseconio tanti regis condignas laudes ore soluto 
 
 " nobiscum non resonas, qui prae caeteris prsecipue gau- 
 
 " dere deberes pro tanta copulatione parentis T Tunc 
 
 ille hujusmodi carmina se nescire respondebat, neque ^ 
 
 prorsus quid in laude regis prselocuti cantaret igno- 
 
 rasse.^ At ille, " Vis/' inquit, " ut instruam quid te can- 
 
 " tare oporteat ? " ^ Et dum humili professione se velle He is taught 
 
 testaretur, mox imbuit eum hujus exemplar antiphonae ; antliem. 
 
 " 0 Rex gentium dominator omnium, propter sedem 
 
 " majestatis Tuaa da nobis indulgentiam, rex Christe, 
 
 " peccatorum. Alleluia." ^ Hac etenim saepius iterata, 
 
 et in eadem visione bene firmuta, murmur gemabile 
 
 expergefactus emisit ; sed continuo jussit eam littera- 
 
 rum in memoria, priusquam oblivioni daretur, conscri- 
 
 bere, et conscriptam cuidam monacho tam recentem 
 
 didicisse^ praecepit: et facto mane universos sibi sub- 
 
 jectos, tam monachos quam etiam clericos, fecit banc 
 
 ^ se\ eum, B. ^ ignorasse'] ignorare, B. 
 
 2 conjugio'] om. B. " oporteat'] oportet, B. 
 
 ^ eidein] eodem, A. . ^ Alleluia] om. B. 
 
 ill . . suis] intermissius, B. ^ didicisse] discere, B. 
 ^ neque] et, B. 
 
42 VITA SANCTI BUNSTANI 
 
 He orders discendo personare : ipso semper inter modulantium 
 
 the anthem ^ . . \ ^ t i tt 
 
 tobeieamed voces cum nimio rore laerymarum dicente, " Verus €st 
 monks. " enim et non falsus, qui hanc mihi sonoram modulatio- 
 
 " nem^ sub noctis hujus visione inbuendo monstravit." 
 
 Hine proculdubio, sicut jam superius diximus, claruit, 
 
 in quibus loeorum partibus, dum corpore quiesceret, 
 
 spiritu felici interim ipse ^ mansisset. 
 
 interpreta- 80. Nunc vellem priusquam hine lone^ius lesrendo 
 
 tionofthe . ^ . j\ ' • 
 
 vision. properarem, peritum mini mterpretem ad nujus mirsB 
 visionis mihi ^ mysterium coaptare ; aut si quodam 
 eonamine valuissem, ipse ejus interpretationem pro 
 posse virium, licet igiie tepenti liquefaetam, exsolvere. 
 Matrem quoque almi pontificis, magni regis eonjugio 
 copulatam, sanctam puto designare secclesiam, quae vel 
 ilium vel etiam ^ alios quamplures more matemo per 
 spiritalem sacri baptismatis uterum a primi parentis 
 privilegio regeneravit. Ipsa quidem, quae ^ nunc summo 
 mother^e ' ^^S^' Christo videlicet Domino, per verse fidei agni- 
 presents tionem, peroue divini amoris amplexum velut sponsa 
 
 the church. , \^ ^. . - f , . T_ fi -, 
 
 conjuncta viro suo mhserere videtur, hsec** eadem 
 
 sancta et mater secclesia in Cantica Canticorum clamat, 
 
 " Introduxit me rex in cubiculum suum, exsultabimus 
 
 " et Isetabimur in te, memores uberum tuorum super Cantic. i. s. 
 
 " vinum : recti diligunt te." Et iterum, " Introduxit 
 
 " me rex in cellam vinariam: ordinavit in me cari- 
 
 " tatem ; fulcite me floribus, stipate me malis, quia 
 
 " amore langueo. Lseva ejus sub capite meo, et dextera 
 
 It majnmean " illius amplexabitur me/' etc. Aliter autem autumo Cant. ii. 4-6. 
 
 own church, matrem ejusdem almi pontificis, regi prsecelso in matri- 
 monio conjunctam, proprii prsesulatus secclesiam posse 
 designare, quam sub manu seterni Regis, Christi vide- 
 
 ^ modulation em^ om. A. 
 
 ipse'] om. B. 
 ^ mihi'] om. B. 
 
 ^ etiam]'Om. B. 
 
 ^ Ipsa . . quce] sive quod, B. 
 
 ^ hcec] unde hgec, B. 
 
AUCTORE B. 
 
 43 
 
 licet Domini,^ matris vice custodiendam ac ^f|^j,^|ig^ 
 virginitatis integritate solaturam ^ susceperat, ut idem tion. 
 Dominus pro populorum piaculis, crucis in patibnlo 
 affixus, matrem Suam Virginem virgini discipulo com- 
 mendabat dicens ; " Ecce tibi in matrem Meam com- 
 " mitto genitricem." Turmas quoque militares, regi 
 suo laudum canticum exsultando perstrepentes, super- 
 nos esse angelorum cives, qui quandoque ^ inimici 
 hominum bb discordantem delictorum distantiam ex- 
 titerant, non diffido: nunc vero, quoniam coelestium 
 simul et terrestrium incolas in unam patris familiam 
 conjunctos esse conspiciunt, Deo regi vero die noctu- 
 que ^ hujusmodi carmina canere non desistunt ; " Laudem 
 " dicite Deo -nostro omnes sancti Ejus, et qui timetis 
 " eum pusilli et magni, quoniam regnavit Dominus 
 " Deus noster omnipotens in coelo, pariter et in terra: 
 " et propterea ^ gaudeamus et exsultemus et demus 
 
 Bev.xix.5. " gloriam Ei." Hanc eandem gloriam coelestis militise 
 multitudo nato Domino decantans^ in excelsis et in 
 terra pacem bonse voluntatis hominibus ^ nunciabat ; 
 
 s. Lukeii. ipsam ^ equidem pacem quam beatus apostolus expone- 
 bat dicens, " Ipse est pax nostra Qui fecit utraque 
 
 Eph. ii. 14. " unum," etc. Quod enim iuvenem viderat veste nivea The hymn 
 
 a • • was dictated 
 
 candentem, partim ^ se aspere increpantem quod in by Dun- 
 
 scan s guar- 
 
 prsedicti principis laude reticeret : angelum vel custo- <iiau angei. 
 dem ipsius esse non dubito, qui verbis eum spirita- 
 libus erudiendo prsemonuit ne muti canis taciturnitate 
 permitteret latentem inimicum, furem videlicet diabo- 
 lum, animas sibi commissorum, talentumve Dei ^ui 
 furtim prseripere : sed ut ore perpatulo praedicaret, 
 et pia cordis confessione personaret Christum esse 
 
 ^ Christi . . Domini~\ om. B. 
 
 2 solaturami solandam, B. 
 
 3 quandoque] quando, B. 
 ^ noctuquel nocteque, B. 
 
 ^ in cwlo . . propterea] om. B. 
 
 ^ decantans] decantabat, B. 
 ^ boncB . . hominibus] tr. B. 
 ^ ipsam] ipsa, A. 
 ^partim] parum, B. 
 ore] ora, A. 
 
44 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 majestatis Suae, prius pro suis deinde pro populorum 
 delictis interpellans exoraret, ut eis pius peccatorum 
 extitisset indultor, pro quibus Se semel Paterno parens 
 prsGcepto offerre non distulit. 
 
 Besidesjius 31. His modis prsedictis ^ ssepe sacrorum carminum 
 angels, modulamina seu cseteras Deo decibiles laudes spiritu 
 
 pervigili ex divinis inbutoribus didieerat, quamvis ejus 
 humani artus in somni sopore subacti jacuissent, ut illud 
 
 est Salomonis, " Ego dormio, et cor meum vigilat." Et Cant. v. 2. 
 iterum propheta Isaias ^ ait, " De nocte vigilat spiritus 
 " meus ad Te Domine, quia lux mea prseeepta Tua isa. xxvi. 9. 
 he had a sunt." Qui etiam in mundo positus, ipsos humani 
 
 more solito convivaturus lustraret, contigit beato Dun- 
 stano adhue abbati ejusdem regis interesse comitatui,^ 
 ad cujusdam primarii ducis, utpote ^Ifstani,^ ipso^ 
 in itinere proximum esse coequestrem. Et e' 'le re- 
 pente progressionis viam coram se aspiciens, vidit inter 
 regios tubicines horrendum inimicum ludendo cursitare. 
 Quern cum diu attonite fuisset intuitus, ait prsedicto 
 comitanti secum primario, " Putas te, mi dilecte, videre 
 
 mscom- " posse quod video?" At ille, " Nil," inquit, " prseter 
 
 panion Elf- ••jjt-ijmi oc i -i • 
 
 Stan abo " quod oportet conspicio. hit ille, " bigna ergo salubri 
 
 evil spirit. " sanctse crucis sigillo oculos proprios, et proba ^ si quod 
 
 " video possis videre." Cumque jussu beati patris 
 Dunstani levi sanctse crucis impressione oculos suos con- 
 signasset, vidit ilico, quasi pro tanti viri testificatione, 
 eundem Dei et hominum quem beatus pater viderat 
 
 ^ prcedictis] om. B. 
 
 ^propheta Isaias'] tr. B. 
 
 ^ ejusdem . , comitatui] existenti, 
 
 4 ^Ifstanq Probably iEthelstan 
 
 B. 
 
 ealdorman of East Anglia. 
 5 ipso] ejus, B. 
 ^ proba] probe, A. 
 
AUCTORE B. 
 
 45 
 
 inimicum, sub cujusdam homuncii nigelli ^ specie sali- The evil 
 
 I 19 r»Ti •! spirit ap- 
 
 entem ; et ^' mox ex mimicabiii neiandi daemonis de- pears as a 
 
 ... .. QT IT T black man. 
 
 monstratione utrique ^ deprehendere prsescii, aliqua 
 infortunia^ quibusdam ex eis adesse futura; faetisque 
 seematibus crueis inimicus disparuit. 
 
 32. Postquam autem de hac improba apparitione con- Duustan 
 
 -n .1 . . . , •■ . T 1 interprets 
 
 specu illusoris loqui qmevissent, rogavit idem praelocu- for Eifstan 
 
 I « • 1 • J -p-v •• .T....a vision 
 
 tus prmceps lam dictum Dei virum, quatmus sibi visioms wWch he 
 
 . , 1 -, . -r^. . has had of 
 
 suse somnia nuper promulgata solvendo enexuisset. Dixit t^e king's 
 namque se per visionum indicia vidisse memoratum 
 regem cum suis principibus universisque optimatibus, 
 solita ex consuetudine, in palatii sui triclinio consedere ; 
 et inter Iseta ministrantium ac jocundantium convivia, 
 eundem quem dixi regem ^ somno sopitum obdormisse ; 
 postque gravem dormitionis suae sarcinam, omnes poene 
 principes vel sapientes ipsius in hyrcos caprasque humana 
 relicta efSgie commutasse. Cui confestim beatus Dun- 
 stanus prophetico instructus eloquio respondebat dicens, 
 " Dormitio regis mortis ipsius indicium est ; quod autem 
 magnates vel sapientes illius in muta animalia et in- 
 sensibilia ^ commutatos vidisti, futurum tempus designat, 
 in quo poene universi regionis istius principes rerumque 
 rectores voluntate ultranea a via veritatis, cum ipsi 
 sint sapientes, tanquam stolida animalia non habentes 
 pastorem, deviabunt. 
 
 33. His ita gestis ad vicum regium, de his semper ser- Dunstan 
 
 • 1 . -f-^ . 1 « • • • 1 sees the 
 
 mocmantes pervenerunt. Jb actoque diei ipsius crepusculo evil spirit 
 
 . T ■ • -n^ • T\ I • !• • again, and 
 
 vidit iterum vir Dei Dunstanus m vespertmo regis con- on the third 
 
 . . 1 1 . 1 . .... . , r. <iay> sees 
 
 vivio eundem vel quempiam alium immicum inter ire- him again, 
 quentantes ministros oberrantem. Deinde ni fallor post 
 triduum, ipso quoque die quo rex jam dictus ferro fuerat 
 periturus, vidit tertio quendam ignotum, ignoro quidem 
 
 ^ nigelli'] iEthiopis, B., over an 
 erasure. 
 
 2 eQ sed, B. 
 uirique] nutrique, A. 
 
 ^ infortunia] infortuna, A. 
 
 ^ eundem . . regeni] om. B. 
 
 ^ animalia , . insensihilia'\ tr. B. 
 
46 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 He says that 
 he comes 
 from the 
 east king- 
 dom, and 
 disappears. 
 
 That day 
 the king is 
 killed. 
 
 Dunstan's 
 prophecies 
 are not 
 attended to. 
 
 utrum inimicabileni seu etiam spiritalem virum, magnam 
 tamen prolixse cartute rotellam in manu gestantem, den- 
 sim apicibus conscriptam, eo videlicet temporis momento 
 quo rex a Missarum celebratione novissimo potiturus 
 convivio, ad aulam usque redibat. Quern cum interro- 
 garet quis esset, respondit voce Saxonica se ex Orientis 
 regni partibus esse, seque una cum rege qusedam nup- 
 tialis verbi habere secreta. Is dum esset regi nunciatus, 
 atque in illius prsesentiam supervenientium more induci 
 deberetur, nusquam apparuit ; sed eodem, proh dolor, die,^ 
 ut diximus, amarse mortis acerbitas per sicam perfidi 
 latronis penetralia cordis ipsius latenter introivit. 
 
 Ecce enim quam mature de rege beati viri claruere 
 prsesagia. De principibus autem non nisi Eadwigi regis 
 temporibus, si rex jure queat appellari qui nec sese nec 
 alios quosque bene rexerat, patuere. Quoniam quidem 
 beatus pater Dunstanus spiritu Dei, ut ait apostolus, Rom.viii.i4. 
 agebatur, idcirco hsoc et his similia quasi filius Dei pro- 
 meruerat mysteria ; in tantum quoque ut plerique eum 
 assererent vanissima verborum deliramenta proferre, dum 
 ore prophetico Sanctique Spiritus inbutione perplura 
 prsediceret quae postea signis evidentissimis conspeximus 
 facta. 
 
 Dunstan 
 visits the 
 monastery 
 at Bath. 
 
 34. Hie etiam vidit et audivit sine cujuslibet difScul- 
 tatis obstaculo qusedam mira spiritalium secretorum, quse 
 nunc pangam mysteria. Erat namque vir venerandus in 
 amore Dei, ut diximus, semper accensus, et propterea loca 
 sacrorum coenobiorum ob animarum sedificationem circui- 
 bat soUicitus. Venit etiam ex hac salubri consuetudine 
 ad locum thermarum, ubi calida lympha de abyssi lati- 
 bulis guttatim vaporando ebullit, quern incolse locum ^ 
 sub patema lingua Bathum soliti stmt appellare. Et cum 
 ibidem ab ejusdem loci fratribus caritative susceptus 
 deguisset, vidit post prandii horam cujusdam scolasticuli 
 
 ^ proh . . die\ tr. B. 
 
 j 2 locurn] om. B. 
 
AUCTORE B. 
 
 47 
 
 ex Glestonise coenobio animam, ad coelorum sublimia, ab He has a 
 
 ' ^ vision of 
 
 angelis Dei cum hymnorum laudibus deportatam, ^c*hedeath^ 
 magnis supernomm civium exequiis hinc et inde stipa- j^^®*^'^" 
 tarn. Venit autem postera die, quasi ad hujus mirse 
 visionis testificationem, quidam e prsedicto ccBnobio prse- 
 positus, nomine Ceolwyus/ volens monastica consilia 
 causasque^ fratrum suorum cum pontifice pariter more 
 solito captare.^ Hunc ille de monasterio venientem, 
 statim post datam benedictionem, soUicite si omnia cum 
 fratribus suis essent prospera interrogavit ; isque mortem 
 pueri minime comminiscens respondit universa sub in- 
 tegritatis sospitate fuisse constituta. At ille sermone 
 modesto, quoniam propriae visionis fuerat admodum per- 
 spicacior illo, " Non autumo," inquit, omnia apud omnes He receives 
 humanis in excessibus fore profutura." Et ille, " Sunt that the 
 
 ^ . , . vision was 
 
 equidem omnia, excepto quod quidam nostrse societatis true- 
 puerulus hesterna die sub tempore meridiano necem 
 inevitabilem moriendo subibat." " Hoc est," inquit 
 sanctus episcopus quod dixi. Requiescat feHx spiritus 
 ipsius secundum visionem nostram in pace." 
 
 35. Iterum autem dum proprio inmoraretur monaste- He has a 
 
 . A , , . . warning at 
 
 rio, hoc est Glsestonise, ambulabat idem ^ ovilium Christi 
 
 solers^ prse visor, cum quolibet ejusdem monasterii mona- ^f^^g®^^'^® 
 
 cho, de domo in domum, fratrum quoque communium monks. 
 
 pabularia seu csetera eorundem ^ necessaria consideratum. 
 
 Et dum remeando conspectis copiis veniret ad occidenta- 
 
 lia antiquse ecclesise climata, audivit eminus vocem 
 
 coelitus inopinato omine emissam, quae secum inceden- 
 
 tem monachum ad coelestes delicias blando sub eloquio 
 
 invitaverat, dicens, " Veni, veni, iElfsige,^ veni sic enim 
 
 erat, ut opinor, ejusdem fratris nomen. Tunc beatus vir 
 
 meriti clientis sui advocationem intellegens, dixit, " Ac- 
 
 ^ Ceolwyus] Ceolwius, B. 
 
 - causasque^ causaque, A. • 
 
 3 capture] captitare, B. 
 
 ^ idem] ut, B. 
 
 ^ ovilium . . solers] tr. B. 
 
 ^ pabularia . . eorundem] om. B. 
 
 7 ^Ifsige] ^Isige, B. 
 
48 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 The warn- " celera emo fortiter, frater, apparare ^ te quantocius : 
 
 mg comes . ® . ... ' rr ' 
 
 true. " quoniam diebus citissimis vocatus a Domino, ab hujus 
 " mundi scoriis migrabis ad Ipsum/' Quod quidem, 
 diebus non adeo multis interpositis, ita de eo ut prsedixe- 
 rat, probabili indiculo adimpletum est. Dehinc ^ in eodem 
 loco quadratam paribus angulis secelesiam in modum 
 
 ?churchto ^^^^^^^^^ constiuere jussit, et constructam in hono- 
 s. John the rem ^ almi Baptistse Johannis honorifice consecravit. O 
 
 Baptist. , , 
 
 magnum gloriosi prsesulis meritum, qui meruit vivens 
 videre angelorum visiones vocesque mirabiles eorundem 
 audire. 
 
 He goes 36. Huic iffitur dum in propria prsesulatus sui civi- 
 
 round the ° , . . . 
 
 holy places tate commauebat, sanctse consuetudinis inter esetera sub- 
 
 at Canter- -,. . 
 
 i>ury. hmitatum studia fuit, ut in seeretis noctium tempori- 
 bus sancta loea, propter multimodam populorum ad se 
 venientium inhaesionem vel etiam aliorum multorum 
 occupationem, sancta semper psalmodia decantaiido 
 lustraret. Et venit hac^ lege religionis innexus ad 
 almi patris Augustini sediculam,^ nocturnis ut dixi 
 temporibus oraturus ; et dum se sacris inibi suppleret 
 orationibus, processit ad orientalem Dei puerperse sec- 
 
 Ats.Augus- clesiam tantumdem precaturus. Cumque ad banc pro- 
 
 tme's he has 
 
 av^wwnof^ pinquando psallendoque venisset, forte ex insperato 
 singmg^a noctis eventu audierat insolitas sonoritarum voces, sub- 
 Seduiius, tili modulamine in hac eadem basilica concrepantes. 
 
 At ille continuo per quendam^ patuli foraminis hia- 
 tum^ inspiciens, vidit prselocutam ecclesiam omni esse 
 fulgida luce perfusam, et virgineas turmas in choro 
 gyranti hymnum hunc poetse Sedulii cursitando can- 
 tantes, "Cantemus socii Domino,® etc." Itemque per- 
 pendit easdem post versum et versum voce reciproca, 
 quasi in circuitionis suae concentu, primum versicu- 
 
 ^ apparare^ prsBpara, B. ; appa- 
 rere, A. 
 
 2 Dehinc'] Deinde, B. 
 
 3 honorem] honore, B. 
 hac] ac, A. B. 
 
 ^ cediculam] erased in B. 
 
 ^ quendam] quandam, B. 
 ^ 7 hiatum] rimam, B. 
 
 ^ Domino] cantemus honorem, 
 ins. B. 
 
AUOTORE B. 
 
 49 
 
 verses. 
 
 lum ejusdem hymniculi more humanarum virginum in alternate 
 repsallere/ dicentes ; 
 
 " Cantemus, socii, Domino cantemus honorem ; 
 " Dulcis amor Christi personet ore pio," et caetera. 
 
 Hsec inquam veneranda donorum spiritalium in- His innume- 
 
 1 . . T rable spiri- 
 
 sigma, aliaqne mnumera, quae nec ego nec alius tuai gifts, 
 quisquam hujus vitse incola quolibet humano eloquio 
 praevalet enarrare, egregius praesul Dunstanus quo- 
 niam vias justitiae ambulavit suscipere^ mernerat. 
 
 37. Nunc ergo quoniam universa bonorum aetuum 
 suorum exercitia, si die noctuque in summa meditationis 
 sagacitate, somno naturali privatus immorarer, nequeo 
 explanare ; sequum tamen esse arbitror ut ea ^ saltim 
 qu88 vel egomet vidi vel ^ audivi, justa Dei ammoni- 
 tione stimulatus, pro posse caritatis enodem. Huic His constant 
 
 ,. ^ iT !• • 11 ii« devotion. 
 
 etenim dum tsediosum nujus vitse mcolatum labonose 
 incoluit, summum studium fuit ut videlicet ^ sacris in 
 orationibus et in Daviticis decern chordarum psalmo- 
 diis jugi frequentia insisteret, aut in vigiliis suavem 
 somnum superando pemoctaret assiduis, aut in eccle- 
 siasticis fervidus semper insudaret operari operibus ; 
 aut etiam mendosos libros, dum primam orientis diei His literary 
 
 1 ,. I'l •! o 1 • 1 I 'J-nd other 
 
 lucem contueri potuit, erasa scriptorum lalsitate cor- labours, 
 rigeret; aut ut^ vera et falsa inter virum et virum 
 sagaci ingenio judicando discerneret ; aut inpacatos 
 quosque vel rixantes placido sermone Concordes efficeret 
 et quietos ; aut viduis, orphanis, peregrinis et ^ advenis 
 in suis necessitatibus pio profuisset amminiculo ; aut 
 ut ^ justa sequestratione inepta vel injusta dissociaret 
 conjugia, aut omnem humanum ordinem trifarie paratum 
 in proprio soliditatis proposito verbo vitse firmaret vel ^ 
 exemplo, aut de justo conquisitionis suas censu, vel citra,^ 
 
 ^ repsallere~\ resallere, A. 
 
 suscipere] suspicere, B. 
 ^ ea] om. B. 
 ^ vel] et, B. 
 
 ^ videlicet] om. B. 
 
 ^ ut] om. B. 
 
 7 et] om B. 
 
 ^ vel citra] om. B. 
 
 D 
 
50 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 His labours 
 in teaching. 
 
 He fiUed 
 England 
 with light : 
 
 yet was 
 always em- 
 ployed in 
 prayer. 
 
 His many 
 tears. 
 
 The end of 
 his labours. 
 
 ecclesias Dei placida probitate sublevaret ditandas ; 
 aut enim^ utriusque ordinis inperitos, viros videlicet 
 vel foeminas, quoscunque die noctuque ^ pot erat coelesti 
 sale, id est, salutaris sapientise documento condiret. 
 Ideoque omnis h83C Anglica terra doctrina ejus sancta 
 repleta est, fulgens Coram Deo et hominibus, sicnt sol 
 et luna : aut etiam quando debitas vernulitatis suae 
 horas cseterasque Missarum celebration es Christo Do- 
 mino solvere censuisset, tanta mentis integritate eas 
 decantando exercuit, ut cum ipso Domino facie ad faciem 
 fari videretur, licet antea e tumultuantis populi conflic- 
 tibus nimium esset irritatus ; oculis interim ac manibus 
 more beati Martini in coelum semper intentis, numquam 
 ab oratione spiritum relaxans. Quotiesque ^ aliquod 
 aliud opus perfectionis dignae vel etiam laude ^ exerceret,^ 
 in sacris scilicet sacerdotum ordinationibus, ecclesia- 
 rumque vel altarium consecrationibus, seu etiam in 
 quibuslibet rerum divinarum institutionibus, hoc semper 
 nimio rore lacrymarum peregit, quas invisibilis habi- 
 tator Sanctus quoque Spiritus, Qui in eo jugiter ha- 
 bitavit, ex oculorum rivulis potenter elicuit. 
 
 38. Cumque supernus inspector ad alta polorum fasti- 
 gia,^ hsec pia omniaque beati viri studia diutissima spe- 
 culatione conspiceret, tandem decrevit clementius finem 
 laboriosorum luctaminum suorum, ut cum beatis ange- 
 lorum agminibus remunerantem nummum acciperd) in 
 coelis, pro quo ssepissime sudarat,^ dum portaret leve 
 onus Ipsius in terris. 
 
 Instabat namque dies pariter Domini Dei nostri Ascen- 
 sionis, diesque advocationis ipsius, in quo tamen die^ 
 Domino dictante Missarum celebria sine aliqua Isesione 
 
 ^ enim] om. B. 
 
 2 die noctuque^ om. B. 
 
 ^ que'] autem, B. 
 
 ^ vel , . laude] laudisque, B. 
 
 ^ exerceret] exercebat, B. 
 
 ^ ad alta . . fastigia] ab alto . % 
 fastigio, B. ; fastigio, A. 
 
 7 omniaque] om. B. 
 
 ^ sudarat] sudabat, B. 
 
 9 tamen die] om. B. The feast of 
 the Ascension, May 17, 988. 
 
AUCTORE B. 
 
 51 
 
 compleverat, et novissimiim verbi Dei fomentum com- His last ser- 
 
 • T . T T,. 1 • 1 •! mons, on the 
 
 misso sibi populo multis cum lacrymarum imbri bus feast of the 
 
 ministravit ; docens semper Dei Filium de summis coe- a.d. 988. * 
 
 lorum sedibus pro humana salute descendisse ad terras, 
 
 quo Se Patremque Suum una cum Flamine sacro unum 
 
 esse Deum patula patefaceret pietate ; et ut eadem qua 
 
 prsefatus sum^ die, devicto diabolo et liberato populo 
 
 Suo, coelos de quibus venire videbatur ascenderet. Qui 
 
 cum hujus exhortationis clausulam terminando posuis- 
 
 set, nimia cordis caritate poposcit quod ipse primitus 
 
 celeri petitione impetravit, hoc siquidem ut Omnipotens 
 
 Dominus paterna pietate quibuscunque fidelibus mem- 
 
 bris videlicet Jesu Christi, scandendi facultatem condo- 
 
 naret ^ quo principium caputque quorumcunque Cliristus 
 
 in prsedicta die potenter ascenderat. His ille alloquiis He preache 
 
 T TI M J 1 T» three times. 
 
 c^terisque prsedicamentis salubribus ter sub una diei 
 ipsius celebratione commissorum corda affatim permo- 
 nuit; primo enim ut ecclesiasticus ordo post lectionis 
 Evangelium ^ jure insinuat ; secundo post gratuitam col- 
 latse sibi potestatis benedictionem ; tertio vero post pise 
 pacis conferentiam quando communi carmine cecinimus, 
 "Agnus Dei Qui toUis peccata mundi, miserere nobis," 
 tunc quidem et ipse commissos sibi agniculos, a pecca- 
 torum prius ponderibus leviatos, pio ^ pastori, Agno He enter- 
 
 • T 1 • I T /-i-t • I /-\ • 1 ' 1 ' tains all 
 
 videlicet Jesu Cnristo Qui mundi nujus crimma miser- comers with 
 tus toUere venit, sub pacis custodia servandos sine course! 
 macula commendavit. Ipse tamen, post missarum cele- 
 bria, nihilominus ipso die cum suis coenaturus^ adibat. 
 
 ^ que . . sum'] om. B. 
 
 2 condonaret] cundonaret, A. 
 
 ^ lectionis Evangeliunij lectionem 
 Ewangelii, B. 
 
 * pio] Here the Arras MS. ends. 
 The remainder is supplied from the 
 S. Gall MS. 
 
 ^ coenaturus'] MS. B. proceeds as 
 follows : " aulam Isetus adibat uni- 
 
 versosque ad se venientes cum 
 
 ** omni gratulationis blanditia laeti- 
 ficabat. Dum autem post horam 
 " refectionis moribunda membra 
 paulatim ex more sestivi temporis 
 quieti subdidisse vellet, ecce os- 
 tensum est valde magnum mira- 
 " culum, minime nobis inter plura 
 prsetereundum. Ambulavit ita- 
 que, ut diximus, prsefatus Dei 
 " famulus Dunstanus ad requietio- 
 
 D 2 
 
52 
 
 VITA SANCTI DtTNSTANl. 
 
 last illness 
 comes on. 
 
 i^stS his P^^^^ horam refectionis moribunda membra 
 
 paulatim ex more sestivi temporis quieti dedisset, 
 ecce in hac eadem dormitionis requie vehemens mor- 
 bus, index quoque ultimse vitse, venerandum patrem 
 invadendo subrepsit, caputque candentis ealvitiei cunc- 
 tis solutum juribus ad occubitum usque subruendo 
 coegit ; ac beat'um lumen diu coram Deo et homifiibus 
 r(Hiitens decima^ kalendarum Junii poenitus effocatum 
 extinxit. His ille legibus avitae mortis, ut nunc dixi, 
 praeventus, otio adgravationis suae, die Sabbato scilicet 
 qui reqtiies interpretatur, senex plenusque felicium die- 
 rum ad perhennem requiem Domino Jesu Christo du- 
 cente commigravit; Cui est honor et imperium, virtus 
 et potestas, una cum Patre pariter Sanctoque Spiritu, 
 in saecula sseculorum. Amen. 
 
 Explicit vita Sancti Dunstani, archiepiscopi et 
 confessoris. 
 
 His death, 
 (May 19, 
 988). 
 
 " nis suse locum, in edito scilicet 
 " boenaculi honorifice coUocatum ; 
 " vocatisque ad se perpaucis quos 
 
 volebat, super sedile suum recu- 
 " bans sedendo paululum pausabat. 
 " Erat enim ob venturse dormitionis 
 " susD eventum cor illius ita adgra- 
 " vatum, ut nequiret se a lenti go- 
 " poris gravedine posnitus abstinere. 
 " Interea denique cum ita dormitas- 
 " set, ecce subito, suis qui aderant 
 
 intuentibus, mirabile dictu, una 
 " cum sella in qua residebat trabem 
 " adusque elevatus, atque ,iterum 
 " amminiculante superni inspecto- 
 
 ris pietate leviter est depositus ; 
 
 ipsi vero qui praesentes erant, 
 " statim ut talia perspexerunt, ni- 
 
 mio pavore cordetenus concussi, 
 " timide retrorsum fugerunt. Cum- 
 " que expergefactus evigilasset, in- 
 " terrogavit eos, * Quid vidistis, 
 
 ' filii? Quomodo ibam? ' lUi 
 " autera per ordinem universa quse 
 " viderant exposuerunt ei. Servus 
 " autem Dei Dunstanus, sicut Do- 
 " minus noster discipulis Suis diffa- 
 " mare probibuit visionem in monte 
 " coelitus ostensam, ita portendere 
 " prsecepit istam, dicens, * Mea vita 
 " * cosmicali comite, nemini dixeri- 
 
 * tis visionem.' " 
 
 * Properly decima quarta : May 
 19: the Saturday after the feast of 
 the Ascension. 
 
II. 
 
 EPISTOLA ADELAEDI AD ELFEGTJM 
 ARCHIEPISCOPUM DE VITA 
 SANCTI DTJNSTANi; 
 
 Dommo vere sancto ^Ifego, sancte Dorobernensis A(ieiard,in 
 
 1. 1.. ATI! j'-niT*' obedience to 
 
 ecclesisG arcniepiscopo,, Adaiardus sancti lilandmiensis the invita- 
 coenobii exiguus famulus. Patrem tuum sanctum Dun- Eifege, 
 stanum voluisti et literis commendari ^ et musis. Sed 
 quoniam vel jussus parui, et indignus dignum, peccator 
 sanctum, tangere prsosumpsi, veniam humi stratus peto. 
 Nam pungit me memoria Ozse sacerdotis, arcam Dei 
 2 Sam. ii. 6. Israel irreverenter tangentis ; et, quamvis jumentum 
 Balaam, ofScium sumpsi aut angeli aut hominis sancti, 
 tamen respiro confidens per me tam tuis quam etiam 
 filiorum tuorum satisfieri votis. Suscipe, pater, obedi- p^-esents not 
 
 ^ ^ . , . ^ biography, 
 
 entise debitum ex quo etsi debentem nulla suis meritis a, series 
 
 ^ ^ ^ ^ of lessons on 
 
 respexit gratia, te tamen pro pie imperato debita respiciet j^^^Jg^^ 
 corona. Scias autem in opere isto historiam vitaa ejus 
 non contineri, sed ex eadem vita quasi brevem sermonis 
 versiculum ita compactum et ita distinctum, ut et in 
 conventu piorum auditorum totus quasi historialiter 
 recenseatur, et vice sermonis inter sacras vigilias in 
 lectiones ter quaternas distinguatur, ea videlicet ratione 
 ut ab exordio usque ad sanctam consummationem vitae, 
 eodem fere sensu eisdemque miraculis, et responsoria 
 lectionibus suis, et lectiones respondeant responsoriis 
 suis ; vale pra^sul gloriose. 
 
 I The text is from the Cotton MS. 
 Nero C. 7 (C.) ; the various read- 
 ings are those of the MS. Lambeth 
 
VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 In depositione sanctissimi patris nostei Dunstani: 
 
 lectio prima. 
 
 The example Quia solemiiibus excubiis transitum beati Dunstani 
 
 of Dunstan t ^i . , • t j. 
 
 to be used; coliHius, QUO Gum ad Christum migrasse eredimus, post 
 
 foredifica- « . ... . j n ^i • i x 
 
 tion. eum iratres carissimi suspiremus, et ad Ciiristum post 
 eum Iseti quique tendamus. Sed quoniam mortalitate 
 gravati ad nos relabimur, quaa de eo agnovimus inter 
 hymnos divinos conferamus, et sermone exhortatorio 
 quasi scalam nobis post eum tendendi erigamus. Ac 
 primo dicendum quod tam^ Sanctis parentibus ortus 
 claruit, ut eos sseculo exemptos inter choros conspicere See B. p. 7. 
 mereretur angelicos. Ipso autem maternis adhuc retento 
 visceribus, de praesentato puero Jesu in templo dies 
 illuxit Celebris. Cumque mater ejus et plebs Christicola 
 cereis et lampadibus, ut eo die moris est, in templo 
 staret corusca, ecce cunctorum pariter luminaria nutu 
 
 The miracle Dei repente extincta sunt. Attonitis autem de novitate 
 
 ofthecand- \ . .. . , ttj. 
 
 lesonthe^^ prodigu omniDus, miraculum accessit miraculo. Ut 
 Purification enim Dominus revelaret quid per hoc simum indicii 
 
 before his tit . . 
 
 birth. daret, solam duntaxat matrem ejus per ignem respexit, 
 per quem cereus quem manu tenebat priori subito luce 
 incanduit. Et factum est ut totius sanctse coUectse illius 
 luminaria ex illo splendorem luminis sint mutuata. 
 Quid, fratres mei, Deum hoc in facto dicemus prsefigu- 
 rasse, nisi filium ex ea nasciturum, in matris jam utero 
 a Se electum, et seterni luminis ministrum affuturum ? 
 
 Lectio ii^^. 
 
 Sin andui ^^^^^ ^^g^ pucr Dei, saero est ^ lavacro intinctus, et B. pp. 7, s. 
 
 ness at^Gias- Glcstonise^ diviuo servitio mancipatus,^ ubi primordia in- 
 fantile decora Konestatae indole^ acerrimus, ut interdum 
 solet, corripuit languor. Quo cum putaretur mox 
 
 ' torn] sanctam, ins. L. 
 
 2 esf] om. L. 
 
 3 Glestonice'] Glastoniae, G. L. 
 
 m(fncipatus] mancipatur, G. 
 ^ honestatce indole^ honestatem in- 
 dolem, G. 
 
AUCTOEE ADELARDO. 
 
 55 
 
 B. pp. 7, 8. dissolvi, eece mtempestse noctis silentio desuper respectus, His wonder- 
 
 1 .. . . T . T Y» J 1 1 fulpreserva- 
 
 ccBlesti immo et angelica, ut vere credi las est, medela ^^^^ 
 pristin89 saluti est redonatus. Ilico sursrens et coelestis waii of the 
 
 . T , . p T . , . . church. 
 
 medici ductamme periruens ad monasterium, nescius 
 quid in se divinitus ageretur, impiger tendit. At 
 callidus temptator ejus saluti invidens, fantasticam 
 canum suorum ei importunitatem suscitat, quos in se 
 horrido latratu irruentes tenui virga nescienter fugavit. 
 Ventum ergo est ad aulae Dei januam, quam postibus^ 
 hserentem offendens, ascensorium, quo se artifices ad sarta 
 tecta templi mittebant, secure transcendit, sicque altera 
 tecti parte descendens ductii divino cubiculum petiit, 
 et se quieti nescius dedit. Ubi mane inventus cum He is found 
 consuleretur qualiter illo incolumis adveniret,^ qui sero the church, 
 pene contiguus morti exterius erat relictus, hoc se ig- 
 norare respondit, et rumorem miraculi grata ignorantia 
 auxit. At matrona cuius curse seOTotans est creditus, Testimony 
 
 . . n /> 1 1 • of his nurse. 
 
 cum usque ad transcensum pmnse mdeiessa exploratrix 
 cuncta prospiceret,^ coelesti prodigio fidele testimonium 
 perhibuit. Miraculum plane divinum, cujus cum se pius^ 
 puer negaret conscium, totum constat coelitus peractum 
 et totum fuisse Deificum. 
 
 Lectio iii^i*. 
 
 Hac ergro siernorum sratia primsevam commendans He goes to 
 
 .1 T . . live with 
 
 setatulam, tam Deo quam omnibus complacuit pie archbishop 
 
 , . ... . .. Athelm,who 
 
 viventibus. Sicut enim mentis, ita crevit et joratiis. introduces 
 
 . . -Til linn to the 
 
 Cumque jam flos adolescentise m annis adolesceret, de king- 
 Glsestonia egressus arcbiepiscopo Dorobernensi Athelmo,^ 
 patruo scilicet suo, se junxit et cohabitare coepit. In 
 quo idem pontifex gratiam Dei admirans et futurorum 
 honorum indicia prsevidens, in palatio eum prsesentavit 
 
 ^ postibus'] Dei, ins. G. 
 adveniref] advenisset, G. 
 prospiceret^ perspicere, G. 
 pins'] om. G. 
 
 Athehno] Adelmo, C. ; Edelmo, 
 G. The most probable date for 
 
 Athelm's pontificate is from 914 to 
 923 ; but he is often confounded 
 with his successor Wulfhtilm, who 
 held the see of Canterbury from 
 923 to 942. 
 
56 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 He is pro- 
 moted by 
 Athelstan. 
 
 Edmund 
 gives him 
 Glaston- 
 bury, 
 
 He has a 
 divine reve- 
 lation at the 
 birth of 
 Edgar. 
 
 et regi -^thelstano, quern sacra unctione livit/ magno B. pp. 21- 
 affectu commendavit ; ubi quotidie crescens virtutibus 
 magnus coram rege factus est et principibus. At rege 
 eodem inter intelligibilia disposito, frater ejus Edmundus 
 monarchiam imperii suscepit, et ipse^ beato Dunstano 
 summissus et ejus consiliis gloriosus. A quo etiam^ 
 diversis honoribus sublimatus locum quoque in quo 
 educatus est, Dei informandum servitio suscepit. Unde 
 primum eliminato quicquid oculis superni Inspectoris ^ 
 offendebat, monachus et abbas effectus,^ monachorum ibi 
 scholam primo primus instituere coepit. Cujus ibi studio 
 sic in brevi sancta excrevit religio, ut sicut dixi de 1am- 
 pade praegnantis genetricis suae cseterorum per omnem 
 ecclesiam lampades accensas, ita per eum ex hoc loco 
 columen religionis monasticse toto Anglorum orbe dif- 
 fusum sit. Cum autem eidem regi regina sua ^Ifgeva 
 filium genuisset, regem videlicet pacificum nomine 
 Edgarum, sanctus Dunstanus in cella sua iis quae ad 
 Deum pertinent ex more intendebat, et audivit quasi 
 in sublimi voces psallentium atque dicentium, " Pax 
 " Anglorum ecclesise exorti nunc ^ pueri et Dunstani 
 " nostri tempore." Quod ita fuisse omnibus pene notum 
 est. 
 
 Lectio iiii. 
 
 Edred takes Interfecto autem in palatio rege Eadmundo inclito fratri b. pp. 29- 
 chief minis- CJ US Eadredo thronus regius confirmatus est. Hie beatum 
 Dunstanum prsefatis regibus non impar amore coluit, ho- 
 noribus auxit ; cujus prudentise et consilio tam se quam 
 omne commisit imperium. Interea ^Ifegus^ sanctse recor- 
 dationis Wentanus episcopus, qui beatum Dunstanum 
 
 monachatus et presbyteratus gradu decoravit, huic vitse 
 modum fecit. Prsefatus autem rex Dunstanum subrogare 
 
 ' livif] linivit, G. 
 
 2 ipse'] ipso, L. 
 
 ^ etiaTTi] om. L. 
 
 ■* superni Inspectoris'] om. G. 
 
 ^ monachus . . effectus] om. G. 
 
 ^ nunc] vere, L. 
 
 ^ ^If heah, bishop of Winchester, 
 934-951. The occasion here spe- 
 cified is referred in the earlier life 
 to the death of Ethelgar of Grediton. 
 
AUCTORE ADELARDO. 
 
 volens per reecinam matrem Eadarivam ^ eum super his Edred pro- 
 
 ^ f=> ..... poses to 
 
 convenit. Quae ad se accersitum resfio ascivit convivio. make Mm 
 
 ^ ^ .° , bishop of 
 
 Cui inter prandendum de episcopio suadere et regiam 'W'inchester. 
 
 sententiam coepit aperire. Ad heec ille, " Rogo," inquit, 
 
 " domina, hujusmodi te precibus ultra cessare. Vere 
 
 " enim dico tibi me diebus filii tui regis pontificio non He^refuses 
 
 " promovendum." Dixit hoc vir Dei ree^em dilis^ens, bishop 
 
 ^ . , 1 1 1-.- V -x J. whilstEdred 
 
 nec ei abesse causa sacerdotii volens. Displicuit autem is king, 
 verbum hoc coram Domino, ut ei nocte insequenti ^ per 
 visum revelatum est. Visum enim est sibi se Romam 
 adisse, et adoratis apostolis ilico redisse. Cumque adnis^sionof 
 Montem Gaudii applicuisset, ecce sanctus Petrus^ cum apostles, 
 coapostolis Paulo atque Andrea occurrit,^ singuli singulos 
 gladios manu tenentes eique ofFerentes ; et gladio sancti 
 Petri aureis inscriptum legebatur litteris, " In principio 
 " erat Verbum, et Verbum erat apud Deum, et Deus 
 
 s. John, i. 1. " erat Verbum." Gladii vero sanctorum Pauli atque 
 Andrese propriis inscripti erant nominibus. Tunc 
 sanctus ^ Andreas blande ex evangelio modulando cecinit, 
 Tollite jugum meum super vos, et discite a me, quia 
 
 s. Matt.xi. " mitis sum et humilis corde, et invenietis requiem 
 
 " animabus vestris." Sanctus autem Petrus^ arofuendo Peter 
 
 ^ ^ ^ strikes him 
 
 virgam levavit et in palmam levem ictum vibrando dixit, with his rod. 
 " Hoc habeas commonitorium, de non recusando ulterius 
 " jugo Domini." Ad hsec evigilans reliquum noctis 
 divinis laudibus impendit. Mane autem regi visionem 
 retulit admiranti. Rex vero ut erat divina eruditione 
 praoditus, " Cum gladii," inquit, " quos ex apostolica E^dred mter- 
 " benedictione suscepisti armaturam prsetendant Spiritus vision. 
 " Sancti, scias pro certo per gladium beati Petri verbo 
 " Dei inscriptum, te archiepiscopatus solio coelitus donan- 
 " dum." Non ergo cecidit in terram de his omnibus 
 quae gloriose locutus est gloriosus rex. 
 
 1 Edgivam, G. Eadgifu, wife of 
 Edward the Elder. 
 
 " nocte insequentr\ in nocte se- 
 queiiti, L. 
 
 ^ Petrus] apostolus, ins. L. 
 
 ^ occurrii] occurrerit, L. 
 ^ sanctus] ei, ins. G. 
 
 ^ This particular is assigned in 
 the earlier life to S. Andrew. 
 ^ ex~\ in, G. 
 
58 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Lectio v. 
 
 Dunstan 
 may be be- 
 lieved to bo 
 present with 
 the worship- 
 pers. ' 
 
 Last illness 
 of Edred. 
 
 Dunstan 
 warned of 
 his death. 
 
 He finds the 
 body of the 
 king de- 
 serted and 
 buries him. 
 
 He had be- 
 fore buried 
 Edmund at 
 Glaston- 
 bury. 
 
 Inter haec, carissimi, spem erigamus et beatum Dun-B. p. 3i, 
 stanum nobis de se coUoquentibus et Cbristum in eo 
 mirabilem prsedicantibus veraciter adesse credamus/ 
 lampadibus ei accensis appareamus, atque pervigiles 
 inceptis de eo coUoquiis divinis perseveremus. Et ut 
 ad ordinem redeamus ; rex ^ Eadredus segrotavit et de- 
 speratus est, qui missa celeri legatione patrem confes- 
 sionum suarum Dunstanum accersivit. Quo festine ad 
 palatium tendente et medium jam iter peragente, vox 
 desuper, ipso audiente, clare insonuit: "Rex Edredus 
 " nunc in pace quiescit." Ad hanc vocem equus cui 
 insedit, pondus vocis angelicse ferre non valens, absque 
 uUa sessoris laesione, cum interitu suo in terram corruit. 
 Comitibus autem de repentino jumenti interitu stupore 
 attonitis, vir Dei et de voce angelica et de obitu regis 
 quod latebat aperuit. lUis ex hoc Deum benedicentibus 
 et spiritum defuncti in manus Creatoris commendanti- 
 bus; ecce nuncii post nuncios occurrunt, quodque vox 
 de coelo sonuit dictis innuunt. Et emenso jam itinere, 
 luctu ululantia palatii moenia pater reverendus intrat, 
 ubi erat videre quid moneat sors conditionis humanse. 
 En rex paulo ante milite septus, bysso et purpura 
 splendidus, nunc lamentabile funus, verme et putredine 
 operiendus. Ostendit sane hie vir virtutum fidem et 
 veritatem, qui gratiam, quam prsebuit vivo, prsebuit et 
 defuncto. Cseteris enim retro abeuntibus, et exsequias 
 regias fastidientibus, ipse cum suis glebam cadaveris 
 in sua suscepit, et sepulturse honestissimse tradidit. Sic 
 quoque et fratrem ejus Eadmundum olim funeravit et 
 Glestonise matri terrse commendavit. 
 
 ^ veraciter . , credamus] om. L. | ^ rex'] prsefatus, ins. G. 
 
AUCTORE ADELARDO. 
 
 59 
 
 Lectio vi. 
 
 Sepulto resre, beatus Dunstanus remenso itinere mo- Bunstan 
 
 ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ prevents the 
 
 nasterio recipitur. Hie eo tempore trabes maxima in ^^^^^^y 
 culmen templi levabatur, et cum tecto jam foret contigua, of^the^ 
 in prseeeps miiltorum minitans interitum vergi coepit. c^^s^- 
 Sublatus in coelum cum fragore ruinse clamor populi 
 Dunstanum oculos cum dextra signo salutis armata 
 opponere coegit. Cerneres ilico vergenti machinse Dei 
 potentiam obviare, et invisibili quodam effectu eandem 
 machinam in locum ex quo labi coeperat revehi. Quis 
 ibi a laudibus Creatoris se contineret ? Hsec et talia 
 B. pp. 27, ad lucra animarum fieri dolens, diabolus ut virum 
 sanctum exturbet omnia temptamentorum genera per- 
 currit. Quem, nocte quadam orantem, in ursi effif^ie The devil 
 
 ^ ^ . . attacks him 
 
 aofpfreditur et cambuttam brachiis complexans, frendens i" shape 
 
 ^ r > of a bear. 
 
 ore et dentibus, de manu sancti auferre conatus est. In 
 quem vir Dei imperterritus insurgens cambutta in altum 
 triumphaliter sublata horrendum monstrum ciBdendo 
 
 Ps. ixviii. 1. persequitur. Quo psallente " Exsurgat Deus et dissi- 
 " pentur inimici Ejus, et fugiant qui oderunt Eum 
 " a facie Ejus/' per subdola bestiarum transformatum 
 fantasmata evanuit. Contritus hie coluber tortuosus, 
 
 B. pp. 32- Edwii reeris se inherit palatio, ubi per aliam Jezabel womaii to 
 
 34 ^ ^ ^ _^ . provoke 
 
 et palatinos quorum corda noverat, verba sibilans anoruina, Edwy 
 
 3- ^ o ^ against 
 
 ad hoe regem provocabat ut columnam lucis ^ eliminare i>Linstan. 
 et regno juberet exterminare. Gemente^ super hoc 
 grege Domini, diabolus horum se incentorem fuisse 
 turpi prodidit cachinno. Dunstanus autem exsilio pro 
 justitia ascriptus mare transiit, regime stirpis virum 
 magnum videlicet adiens Arnulfum.^ Hie tempore He goes into 
 eodem nobile quoddam coenobium nomine Blandinium, Biandinimn, 
 a sancto quondam Amando structum,^ in majori ele- 
 gantia renovavit, ibique magnum Dei sacerdotera Wan- 
 
 1 hicis^ ccenobio, ins. G. 
 
 2 Gementeli Veniente, L. ; autem, 
 ins. G. 
 
 ^ Arnulf, count of Flanders, son 
 
 of Baldwin II. and Elfthritha, daugh- 
 ter of Alfred: he ruled from 918 to 
 965. 
 
 ^ structum~\ constructum, G^ 
 
60 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 He stays dresdsiluHi cum sociis archiprsesulibus nutu Dei trans- 
 
 with count . ^ 
 
 Arnuif. tulit. Quo beatus Dunstanus aliquamdiu moratus 
 exempla lucis imitanda reliquit. In quo exsilio Tua 
 Christe gratia non est destitutus, Qui inter crebra 
 He visited sanctorum solamina sanctum ei Andream apostolum 
 drew. consolationis Tuse gratia destinasti. In quo Te ipsum 
 magnus ille famulus Tuus amplexus, Alleluia totis 
 animi organis dixit, gratias Tibi et hymnos persolvit. 
 
 He is re- 
 called by- 
 Edgar; 
 
 and made 
 bishop of 
 Worcester. 
 
 Odo conse- 
 crates him 
 as arch- 
 bishop. 
 
 He becomes 
 bishop of 
 London ; 
 
 and at last 
 archbishop 
 of Canter- 
 bury. 
 
 Lectio vii. 
 
 Misertus interea Omnipotens Anglorum ecclesise Eadgari 
 
 adolescentis, futuri scilicet regis, spiritum excitavit, ut 
 
 tiecessarium regno exsulem quantocius reduceret, firma- 
 
 taque sapientum consilio sententia, eum ab insigni 
 
 Arnulfo cum honore et gloria revocavit. Quem honori- 
 
 fice susceptum, Dei plenum gratia, in episcopatum B. p. 37. 
 
 Wigracistris ^ ecclesise promovit. In cujus ordinatione 
 
 cum Odo archiepiscopus debitum omne rite ^ persolveret, 
 
 titulo ecclesisB cui episcopus datus est conticito, eum 
 
 ecclesise Christi Dorobernensis metropolis cunctis ad- 
 
 mirantibus titulavit. Super quo a circumstantibus 
 
 modeste redargutus, " Scio," inquit, " carissimi, quid 
 
 " loquatur in me Deus." Dixit hoc ^ sacer pontifex per 
 
 Spiritum Sanctum, Cujus ministerio fungebatur, futurse 
 
 in ordinatum a se sanctum antistitem gratiae Dei 
 
 prsescius. Adaucto deinde Lundoniensis ecclesise prae- 
 
 sulatu tanquam a Domino ^ audiret " Amice, ascende s. Luke, xiv. 
 
 10 
 
 " superius," gemini pontificatus claruit insigni. Et ut 
 veniamus ad summam, praedicto archiepiscopo patribus 
 suis apposito, cum electione totius ecclesiae in cathedra 
 patriarchatus successit, cui eum ordinationis tempore 
 Spiritus Sanctus prsetitulavit. Num inter hsec, fratres 
 mei, prseclara visio memoriae occurrit, qua ex apostolica 
 benedictione tres ut dictum est gladios promeruit ? In 
 
 1 Wigracistris^ Wygracistris, L. 
 
 2 rite'] om. L. 
 
 ^ hoc] autem, G. 
 a Domino] om. L. 
 
AUCTORE ADELARDO. 
 
 61 
 
 qua sicut per s^ladium verbo Dei inscriptum primam Fulfilment 
 
 i r n 1 J. ^ ^jjg vision 
 
 Anglorum sedem Christi scilicet ecclesiam sentimus, sic of the three 
 per giadium Pauli Lundoniam ejusdem apostolatu in- 
 signem perpendimus. At gladius a Sancto Andrea 
 oblatus Rofecistris infulsB speciem tenet, in qua etsi 
 non ^ sedit, cura tamen et soUicitudine suam fecit. Sic 
 Omnipotens pro justitia patientes non solum in futuro, 
 sed etiam in prsesenti, exaltat, Cujus beneficiis seternis 
 sit gratiarum actio in ssecula saeculorum. Amen. 
 
 Lectio viii. 
 
 Dunstanus ergo archiepiscopus, doctus ^ uti armatura The excei- 
 verbi Dei olim per visum in o^ladio verbo Dei inscripto Dunstan as 
 
 archbishop. 
 
 prsesignata,^ et sibi tandem a Domino credita, sseculo 
 et principibus sseculi altior, in ipsum serpentem anti- 
 quum ut gigas insurrexit, membra ejus debellavit et 
 armis in quibus confidebat denudavit. Humiles erexit, 
 mitibus blanditus est, Deum timentes et colentes pro- 
 vexit, auctoritate et animi virtute ipsis etiam regibus 
 quasi imperator dominatus est. Eadgarum regem paci- He anointed 
 ficum et filium eius sanctum Eadwardum martyrem, Edward, and 
 
 Ethelred. 
 
 cum rege ^thelredo, in throno patrum suorum sacra 
 unctione perfuses coUocavit. Hierarchia ecclesiastica 
 nisi aut claros abbates aut monachos religiosos fungi 
 non permisit, et ipsos divina interdum revelatione 
 designates, ut subjecto probatur exemplo. Beato igitur He is mi- 
 Athelwoldo ^ a se educato et in prsesulatu Wentonise ^ Mdden to^ 
 
 , 1 1 J • • ... . consecrate 
 
 promoto ante se ad coelestia prsemisso, piissimus eique Eifege to^ 
 usitatissimus Andreas per visum astitit apostolus, hoc Winchester, 
 oraculo usus, " Abbatem nomine Elfegum Wentoniae 
 " consecrabis episcopum.'" Qui morae ^ nescius, Athelre- 
 dum mox regem per internuncios convenit, Dei et 
 sancti apostoli suamque super Elfego abbate aperiens 
 
 * etsi noTi] et, G. 
 
 2 doctus'] ductus, L. 
 
 ^ prcEsignata'] signata, G. 
 
 * Ethelwold was bishop of Win- 
 chester from 963 to 984. 
 ^ WentonicB'] Wyntoniae, L. 
 ^ morce] mox, L. 
 
62 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Ethelred 
 complies 
 with Dun- 
 stan's ad- 
 monition. 
 
 Elfege be- 
 came arch- 
 bishop in 
 A.D. 1006. 
 
 Dunstan 
 twice saw 
 the mystic 
 Dove. 
 
 voluntatem. Kex autem, Dunstanum fidei et veritatis 
 cubum pernoscens solidissinmm, ejusque invincibili auc- 
 toritati contraire sciens periculum, praefatum abbatem 
 sua munificentia et beati Dunstani benedictione dona- 
 tum Wentoniam destinavit ad perennem Isetitiam civ- 
 ium, ubi postquam annis sedit viginti tribus, patris 
 sui Dunstani meritis Cantiam translatus et arehiepi- 
 scopus ibi levatus est. Actum anno inearnati Verbi 
 millesimo sexto.^ Magna sunt hsec quibus, O pater 
 Dunstane, angelica visione et apostolica visitatione 
 dignissime, nostro attoUeris quocunque prseconio. At 
 majora tibi debentur, sed haec poUuti labii cymbala 
 tangere non merentur. Quae ergo majora, quod tibi 
 purissimo coelestium contemplatori columbam in Jor- 
 dane Christo baptizato visam, velut alteri Johanni bis 
 videre datum est ; primo quidem ante, secundo autem ^ 
 post susceptum episcopatum. Sed tantse puritatis vi- 
 sione purioris eloquentise auctori commissa, utinam in 
 aures ecclesise de transitu tuo scd Christum quid digne 
 referam ad *Quem semper expeditum te dederat.^ 
 
 Lectio ix. 
 
 The warn- " Yidete," inquit Dominus,^ vigilate et orate, nescitis 
 
 ing to watch . t , * , a /-\ * 
 
 and pray, " ouim quaudo tempus Sit. Quoniam per viam mira- s.Mark,xui. 
 
 not knowing , j • i • • i i , i .33. 
 
 when the culorum Dunstani patris mcedentes, et ad sanctum 
 death comes, ejus transitum quern die hodiema colimus loquendo 
 tendentes, in hsec verba sancti evangelii oflfendimus, 
 quibus ipse viam ad coelestia ducentem, videndo, vigi- 
 lando et orando direxit; — ad hsec consideranda ita 
 cor erigamus, domini et fratres mei, ut et ea beati Dun- 
 stani glorise aperte respondeant, et Dunstani gloria 
 eis grata vicissitudine respondeat. " Videte," inquit 
 Dominus, "vigilate et orate." Dunstanus igitur videns 
 
 ^ millesimo sexto'] quinquagesimo 
 et sexto, G. 
 2 autem"] om. L. 
 
 ^ ad . , dederat] Ipsi honor et 
 
 imperium in saecula sseculorum, 
 Amen, G. 
 
 ^ inquit Dom:inus] om. G. 
 
AUCTORE ABELARDO. 
 
 63 
 
 Rev. iv. 6. vidit, qui velut animal coeleste ante et retro oculatum, Dunsfcan 
 
 T I'l .... •., t I IT obeyed this 
 
 oculis apertis, laqueos inimici cavit et prudenter decli- command, 
 navit. Vigilavit ut pastor bonus et super se et super 
 
 B. p. 44. gregem Domini sui, undo et merito cum pastoribus, 
 Christo nato pernoctantibus, crebro est coelesti visita- 
 tione gloriatus, Qui transformans in Se sponsam quae 
 
 Cant. V. 2. loquitur in Canticis canticorum, "Ego dormio et cor 
 " meum vigilat/' dum corpore interdum dormiebat dorde 
 pervigil coelestibus intendebat. Nonne quod dicimus His heaven- 
 hoc clarebit exemplo ? quod nocte quadam sancto sopori ^^^^^'^ 
 deditus, tanquam ad supema raptus, angelicis mulceba- 
 tur concentibus : ibi sanctos spiritus Sanctissimj© Tri- 
 nitati in laudem et hominibus in salutem audivit 
 
 B. p. 21. modulantes et dicentes, " Kyrie eleyson, Christe eley- 
 son, Kyrie eleyson." Rursus aliquando cum suis 
 sedenti, et cuidam artificio manibus, sed mente orationi 
 et coelestibus intendenti, apparuit gloria Dei. Ecce His harp 
 
 .,T . .T . , T ... ..^ miraculously 
 
 emm citnara ejus, ssepe manibus ejus et digitis sanctin- sounded an 
 cata, ut forte parieti hserebat affixa, cum nil pateretur warning, 
 humani ingenii, ac si arte et pulsu tacta incitaretur, 
 distincte banc ei antiphonam, sicut ab ecclesia canitur 
 modulando resonabat,^ "Gaudent in coelis animae sancto- 
 rum qui Christi vestigia sunt secuti," et caetera 
 usque in finem. Dulcedo citharse aures omnium de- 
 lectabat, sed signum sine exemplo stupidos reddebat. 
 Ipse vero sanctorum conscius secretorum quibus an- 
 gelicum quem solus vidit conjubilare intellexit citharoe- 
 dum, gloriabatur in Domino. Sic ergo sive dormiens 
 sive aliud quid corporaliter agens, semper orando vigi- 
 labat Qt vigilando orabat. 
 
 Lectio x. 
 
 Quare autem vigilandum sit et orandum subinfertur, The^ti'^ae of 
 cum dicitur, " Nescitis enim quando tempus sit et certain, 
 interposita similitudine de homine peregre profecto ^ 
 
 ^ hanc . . resonabat] om. G. | ^ peregre profecto] tr. L. 
 
64 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Anargu- sermonem attentius commendat dicens, "Vigiiate ergo, Mark, xiii. 
 
 being always " nescitis enim quando dominus domus veniat." Piano 
 sermone commendat nobis Dominus diem vocationis 
 nostrsD, paratos nos desiderans invenire. Sed cum 
 
 Dunstan plures electorum tum etiam beatum Dunstanum diem 
 
 and others ^ , . . , , . m • j i 
 
 warn^n%f ^^^^^^^^^^ certum ost prsescisse, nec sibi tantum 
 his death, soli, sed aliis quoque super eo revelatum fuisse quid 
 est quod pius magister dieit, " Nescitis quando tempus 
 " sit," et item " nescitis quando dominus domus veniet." 
 Ad quod dicendum quia quod interdum Sanctis vocatio 
 eorum revelatur, hoc prius orando, vigilando et legitime 
 certando promeruerunt. XJnde cum Paulus diceret, " Ego 2 Tim; iv. e. 
 " jam delibor et tempus resolutionis mese instat," sub- 
 junxit, " bonum certamen certavi, cursum consummavi, 2 a^m, iv. 7. 
 
 fidem servavi." Hujusmodi ratione liquet venerabilis 
 Dunstani transitum tum sibi quam etiam aliis revela- 
 tum fuisse. Quod si^ diligenter audieris exempla re- 
 On the feast texam. Dics Dominica Ascensione festivus sexto de- 
 sion, AlfgaS" cimo kalcudas [ Junii] ^ effulsit, diem quo sacer Dun- 
 bishop of stanus coelos conscendit prsecedens tertius. Et erat 
 
 Elmham, , , , . . . 
 
 had a vision quidcm uocte cadcm unus ex clerp ecclesise Cnristi 
 
 of Cherubim . . „ . . i -t • tpi t_ i 'x 
 
 and Sera- nommc Alfrarus,"* qui post nobilis m Elmham claruit 
 
 phim calling . ^ . ^ i t • ... 
 
 Dunstan cpiscopus, somno quidcm carnem sed divmse visioms 
 
 away. 
 
 refectione refovens spiritum. Huic salubriter soporato 
 visum est in ecclesia se fuisse, et ecce dominus Dun- 
 stanus in solio pontificali sedens, astanti sibi clero jura 
 canonica dictans. His intendenti visa sunt agmina 
 coelestia coronis aureis rutilantia et stolis albis canden- 
 tia per omnes ecclesise januas magna irruere frequentia. 
 Hsec sese Cherubin atque Seraphin esse proclamantia, 
 et inthronizatum Christi antistitem festa nimis ambi- 
 tione circumdantia, " Salve,'' inquiunt, " Dunstane noster ! 
 " si paratus es veni et nostro gratiosus jungere con- 
 tubernio." Kespondit Dunstanus, " Scitis, 0 sancti 
 " spiritus, hodie Christum coelos ascendisse, et mei esse 
 
 1 si] om. L. 
 
 2 Blank in C. and L. 
 
 3 
 
 Alfgar was bishop of Elmham 
 
 from 1001 to 1021. 
 
AUCTORE ADELARDO. G5 
 
 officii concursum in sinum matris ecclesiae ' populum Dunstan is 
 communicare verbo et sacramento Christi. Ideoque the next 
 
 1 • j> T-1, T -r* Saturday. 
 
 modo venire nequeo. Et dixerunt, "Paratus esto 
 die Sabbati nobiscum hinc Romam transire, quia 
 oportet te coram summo pontifice nobiscum Sanctus, 
 Sanctus, Sanctus, ^eternaliter canere." His dictis visio 
 disparuit. Hoc ideo per alterum, fratres carissimi, re- 
 velare summae placuit divinitati, ut sanctitas transituri 
 prseconio fulciretur Celebris testimonii.^ 
 
 Lectio xi. 
 
 Se quoque de imminente sibi gloria divinitus edoc- The^wonto- 
 tum inter sacrosancta ejusdem diei demonstravit solem- 
 nia. Cum enim ad locum sanctse exhortationis su?e courses, 
 ventum est, O qualia, O quanta per organum suum 
 Spiritus Sanctus effudit ! Nam in verbis gratise qnse 
 procedebant conspectui solis hujus apparuit quern ore 
 et corde gessit. Evangelizavit ergo qualiter nunquam 
 ante evangelizavit, et exemplo Domini passuri discipulis 
 in coena mystica pacem et caritatem Suam commen- 
 dantis, Carnem Suam et Sanguinem in tiibum spiri- 
 tualem transferentis, commissam sibi ecclesiam Deo His la&t 
 
 ' ^ ^ public com- 
 
 assignavit, verbo erexit atque auctoritate apostolica bunion, 
 a peccatis omnibus absolvit; postremo sacrificio Agni 
 Dei oblato, Deo reconciliavit. Ante communionem 
 vero sanctam, data ex more benedictione ad populum, 
 solito Spiritu Sancto afflatus processit, et sanctarum 
 sententias benedictionum gratiosus absolvit. Dein com- 
 missa omnibus pace et caritate sua, commissorumque 
 absolutione rursus iterata, cunctis velut in angelum 
 Dei intendentibus " Vale ultimum " dixit. Adhuc His fare- 
 autem populo sanctum ejus colloquium desiderante et 
 desiderabilem ejus vultum ardenter sitiente satisfactum 
 judicavit, et vitam suam epulaturus ad sanctum altare 
 rediit ; sicque pane vitse refectus, diem ilium spiri- 
 
 Quod si . . . testimonii'] om. G. | ^ gloria] hora, G. 
 
 E 
 
6G 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 tuali Isetitia consummavit. Nonne his claret, domnii 
 et patres, beatum Dunstanum pretiosao mortis suae 
 His last tempus prsescisse ? Sed, ut dictum est, merito praece- 
 dentis vitsB. At jam nunc quomodo invenerit eum 
 Dominus vigilantem audiamus. Die ergo Ascensionis 
 Dominicse prsedicta, coepit columna Dei lente viribus 
 destitui ; languore autem praevalente, lectulo suscipitur, 
 in quo tota sexta feria cum nocte sequenti coelestibus 
 intendens, advenientes et recedentes in Domino confor- 
 tabat. Mane autem^ Sabbati hymnis jam^ matutinalibus 
 peractis, sanctam adesse jubet fratrum^ congregatio- 
 Hetakesthe nem. Quibus itcrum ^ spiritum commendans, viaticum 
 last^sacra- gg^^jj^g^j^^j^^Qj^^jj^ Christi coram se celebratum, ex mensa 
 
 coelesti suscepit. Unde gratias agens Deo psallere 
 coepit; "Memoriam fecit mirabilium Suorum misericors 
 " et miserator Dominus ; escam dedit timentibus Se." Ps. cxi. 4, 5. 
 Inter quae verba spiritum in manibus Creatoris red- 
 His death dcns, in pacc quievit. O nimis felicem quem Dominus s. Luke, xii. 
 
 and burial. . • m j o li i • i ^* 
 
 mvenit ita vigilantem. Sepultus sane est m sepulcro 
 a seipso condito, ubi quosque transeuntium pontifica- 
 liter monet sortis proprise. 
 
 Lectio xii. 
 
 Dunstan Et factum est in hoc sacro transitu in coelo gaudium 
 
 enters into t • -i , • i«» i 
 
 the company angelis, pius luctus in ccclcsiis, coiiiusio m inieris. Certum 
 Angls ; est enim Jerusalem coelestem animam hanc sanctam ob- 
 viis Isetitise ministris suscepisse. Incitabant enim eam 
 crebra suspiria cum ingenti desiderio post se emissa. 
 Num sanctos angelos laudes Dei in adventu ejus ere- 
 dendum est siluisse, quem totiens organorum suorum de- 
 mulcebant suavitate ? Maxime autem dum per sancta 
 cherubin et seraphin, velut quidam angelus aut arch- 
 angelus ad concinendum sine fine Sanctus/ gloriose 
 of thePatri- per testcm idoneum invitari sit visus. Patriarchse autem 
 
 archs; 
 
 * autem] facto, ios. G. ^ iterum] om. G, 
 
 ^jam] om. G. 
 ^ fratrurn] om. L. 
 
 ^ Sanctus] Sanctus, Sanctus, ins. 
 L. 
 
AUCTORE ADELARDO. 
 
 G7 
 
 quasi patriarchiam suscepere ; et in sinu Abrahse feliciter 
 condidere. Jure quasi patriarcham quern cseteris patribus 
 et loco et merito prseesse noverunt. Quid de Sanctis refe- 
 rendum prophetis nisi quod certatim se dederint in oscula 
 prophetse venientis ? Prophetae, dico, quia inter plura of the Pro- 
 qua3 prsedixit barbarorum quoque quam patimur inipug- 
 nationem in spiritu prsevidit, et post excessum suum ven- 
 turam prophetavit, a quibus populum suum liberet om- 
 nium liberator Deus, tanti vatis Sui piis intercessionibus. 
 Num ab apostolis est desertus ? non utique desertus, of the Apos- 
 immo gloriose receptus. Num desererent ad patriam et 
 ad Christum venientem quem frequentare dignati sunt 
 in terra peregrinantem. Sed nec sancti martyres ; et of the Mar- 
 merito, quia si non deesset occasio occumberet utique 
 gladio. Exempli gratia ; quidam illustrium pro illicito 
 matrimonio ssepius ab eo redargutus, sed non correetus, 
 gladio tandem evans^elieo est a Christo divisus. Qui Example of 
 
 F his boldness 
 
 Komam adiens dommum apostolicum pro se Dunstano rebuking 
 
 . y» vice. 
 
 seriptis satisfacere optinuit. Hie Dunstanus juxta inter- 
 pretationem nominis sui, montanus utique lapis, ut mons 
 immobilis, u.t lapis angulari lapidi afExus, moveri non 
 potuit : sed ipso apostolieo mente altior in se solidus He refuses 
 
 . . to obey a 
 
 perstitit, " Scias, inquiens legato, " nec capitis plexione g^pai man- 
 " me a^ Domini mei auctoritate movendum." Ecce 
 quomodo cum Johanne propter Herodiadem truncato 
 paratus est e^ladio occumbere. Jure ere^o dictum est eum He had the 
 
 ^ . * ° . spirit of a 
 
 a Sanctis martyribus non desertum. A Sanctis autem martyr, 
 confessoribus ut cohseres agnoscitur, cum quibus etiam in 
 mensa Domini epulatur. Quid de virginibus dicam ? 
 Virginem virgines suscipiunt et reginse suse, angelorum He js num- 
 videlicet dominatrici, Marias a Filio et Domino suo coro- with the 
 natum offerunt. Beatus igitur es, care Dei Dunstano, 
 qui cum angelis angelus, cum patriarchis patriarcha, 
 cum prophetis propheta, cum apostolis apostolicus ; cum 
 martyribus martyr, plura pro justitia passus, cum con- 
 
 ^ a] ad, L. 
 
 E 2 
 
68 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 fessoribus cohseres, et cum Sanctis virginibus virgo esse 
 Proof of his probaris mundissimus. Qui cum nubere quondam vo- 
 character. luisti, ut Johamies dilectus Domini, salubriter segrotans 
 virginitatem perpetuam elegisti. Et ideo cum iis qui 
 Ad^ress^of non inquinaverunt vestimenta sua Agnum Dei sequeris. 
 prayer for Ideo in ccBua nuptiarum Ami laetus discumbis.^ Erffo 
 * cum talibus et tot civibus in perpetuum feliciter gaude- 
 bis, et in ligno vitse setemaliter epulaberis. Euge nunc 
 Dunstane pie, euge pater benigne, ex hominibus quidem 
 assumpte, sed ^ angelis atque archangelis conjuncte. Quae- 
 sumus ergo per tantas felicitates tuas, servulorum post 
 te suspirantium clementer memorare, jugiter miserere. 
 Offer, egregie^ Dei antistes, pro nobis hostias placationum 
 et thymiamata precum, quibus expiati te Iseti quique 
 sequamur ad sancta sanctorum, ubi Christus pontifex ad 
 interpellandum Patrem pro nobis introivit. Ubi et te, 
 die hodierna pontificali gloria coronatum, regnare prse- 
 cepit. Qui cum cosoterno Patre et Spiritu Sancto vivit 
 et regnat nunc^ et per immortalia ssecula sseculorum. 
 Amen. Laus Deo. Amen. 
 
 [Explicit^ vita sancti Patris nostri Dunstani ah- 
 breviata per Adelardum exiguum famnlum 
 Sancti Blandiniensis coenobii ; epistola per eum 
 missa ad Sanctmn Elphegum Cantuariensis 
 ecclesice archiepiscopvm. Soli Deo honor et 
 gloria.] 
 
 1 discumbis'] discumbebis, G. 
 
 2 sed^ secundus, G. 
 ^ egregie"] om. G. 
 
 wMWc] om. G* 
 ^ Explicit, &c.] from MS. L. 
 
III. 
 
 Adelard, 
 p. 53. 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI AUCTOUE 
 
 OSBERNO. 
 
 Prologus, 
 
 Epistola de vita Sancti Dunstani, archiepiscopi et 
 
 Gonfessoris} 
 
 1. Universis catholicae matris ecclesise filiis, confrater psbern has 
 
 . beenfre- 
 
 eorum per earn qu86 m Cnristo est regenerationem, Osber- g^^^^^^ 
 nus, paeem bonam et perpetuam salutem. Multorum saepe J^J^^^*^® 
 ac venerabilium patrum veneranda mihi auctoritas Dunstan. 
 innuit,^ ut vitam magnifici patris Dunstani littei-arum 
 monimentis tradere, atque ad Dei laudem hominumque 
 utilitatem ecclesise deberem auribus insinuare. Quibus 
 dum ego, pro facienda exeusatione, illud et verum obten- 
 derem, esse plura a plerisque non ignobilis usquequaque 
 scientise viris de hac re conscripta : vererique me homi- He argued 
 
 \ ^ ^ that many 
 
 num reprehensiones, qui forte mimos nos aut eerte teme- J^^^^J^gi^ 
 rarios vocare possent, dum non tam nihil satis nos already, 
 habere, quam nihil nobis satis esse posse contenderent ; 
 contra illi magis nihil satis se habere quam nihil satis 
 esse posse retulerunt, et hoc probabilibus rationum firma- 
 mentis velle se astruere dixerunt. Nam eorum, inquiunt, J^^^^^^^^^^ 
 quorum- prsecipuam interfuit hujus rei diligentiam habere, ^^^4^^^^' 
 alii etsi satis eleganter non tamen satis diligenter, sed 
 quantum ad nocturnum festivitatis officium satis esse 
 judicavere, sermocinandi ad populum modo scri])sere. 
 
 1 The text of the Prologue is 
 from the Harleian MS. 56. (H.), col- 
 lated with the Lambeth MS. 159 
 
 (L.), and with the other MSS. F. 
 K. M. N. O, mentioned below, p. 71. 
 2 innuit] imminuit, F. H. L, M. 
 
70 
 
 VITA SANCTI BUNSTANI 
 
 After allud- 
 ing to 
 
 Adelard and 
 B., he men- 
 tions that 
 the better 
 writings on 
 the subject 
 were burnt 
 at Canter- 
 bury in A.P, 
 1067. 
 
 Some, how- 
 ever, in 
 English had 
 survived. 
 
 Osbern 
 therefore 
 undertakes 
 the work. 
 
 The merits 
 and faults 
 of it must 
 be charged 
 to his ad- 
 visers. 
 
 Alii autem dum nimis diligenter, quemadmodum quaeque B. p. 4. 
 res acta sit explicare conarentur, elegantiam perdiderunt, 
 atque in illud dicendi genus quod suffultum Romanee 
 princeps eloquentise vocat, ineiderunt, quod facilius 
 taedium legentibus quam aliquod audientibus emolumen- 
 tum gignere consuevit. Qui vero in utraque parte 
 dicendi elaboraverunt ^ ut essent festivi pariter atque 
 secundum gestas res bene ordinati, horum scripta in illo 
 incendio consumpta sunt, quod ante hos annos sancta 
 Dorobernensis ecclesia cum magno suarum rerum ^ detri- 
 mento perpessa fuisse dinoscitur. Sed ab his, inquiunt, 
 aliqua in patrium id est in Anglicum sermonem translata 
 supersunt, ex quibus id quod petimus elicere, et in La- 
 tinam denuo poteris linguam Deo suffragante transferre. 
 
 2. Itaque his sive rationibus sive rationum auctoribus 
 ad scribendum traductus, malebam aliense voluntati bene- 
 dicendo obtemperare quam proprise serviens voluntati a 
 bene dicendo temperare. Verum ad hoc audendum non 
 sine quadam pudoris suffusione accedo ; propterea quod 
 omnium ora in me esiSe existimo veluti in hominem more 
 Lselii novas dicendi victorias poUicentem, et quasi ea quae 
 ab aliis commode dicta sunt commodius se dicturum prse- 
 sumentem. Sed ego neque illos minus commode dixisse 
 reprehendo, neque me commodius dicturum promitto ; 
 sed sive id dignum fuerit, sive pro tanta rerum materia 
 digno contrarium ; quod intendo illorum meritis aut 
 culpse ascribo, quorum imperio atque importunitate victus 
 hsec scribo. Quam vis et mea voluntas tantum devotionis 
 erga eundem patrem et dominum nostrum obtinere de- 
 beat, ut si nuUi vellent ista a me expetere, ego pro 
 persona mea non dubitarem ingerere. Ita namque cum 
 in alios me vidente, tum in meipsum me sentiente, ejus 
 merita valuere. Sed non fuit consilium quid vel in alios 
 me vidente, vel in meipsum me sentiente, hoc in libello 
 dicere ; in alio vero qui de signis ad sepulcrum ejus per- 
 
 1 elaboraverunt] laboraverunt, L. | ^ suarum rerum] suorum, H. 
 
AUCTORE OSBERNO. 
 
 71 
 
 petratis scribetur, dicere consilium fuit. Nunc autem He adds a 
 
 T i» •! I i. book on the 
 
 primordia nativitatis iliius, processum fetatis, cum aug- Miracles, 
 mento gratiae coelestis, commutationem mortalis sseculi 
 pro immortalitate sDterni saeculi, quam verissime cona- 
 bor absolvere ; omissis omnibus hiis quae ita fuere mi- 
 rabilia ut infidelibus videantur incredibilia. Ac me 
 quidem hiis enarrandis imparem scio ; sed in Ejus 
 nomine, in Quem ipse fideliter credidit et Cui ipse fidele 
 operis ministerium exhibuit, ista aggredi temptabo. 
 
 Explicit 'prologus in vitam Sancti Dunstani archi- 
 episcopi Cantuariensis per Osbernum 'tnona- 
 chnm et prcecentorum ejusclem ecclesice Christi 
 Cantuariensis. 
 
 Incipit Vita Sancti Dunstani Cantuariensis Archi- 
 
 EPISCOPI ET CoNFESSORIS.^ 
 
 3. Regnante magnifico Anglorum rege iEthelstano, Dunstan 
 
 . ... . T, was born in 
 
 anno quidem imperii ejus primo, adventus vero Anglo- the first 
 rum in Britanniam quadrinsrentesimo nonae:esimo sep- ^Mstan, 
 
 A.D. 924. 
 
 timo, cum idem rex hostibus circumquaque subactis pace 
 et Concordia regnum tueretur/ natus est puer Dei Dun- 
 stanus Wessaxonicis ^ Angliae partibus, magnis quidem 
 pro seeculi dignitate parentibus, sed ad religionem, quae 
 Christianos decet, longe majoribus. Tanta siquidem 
 virtutis ratione viventes animum colebant, tot piis ope- 
 ribus laborantes insudabant, ut communem mortalibus 
 viam ingressi angelicis spiritibus mererentur associari; 
 sicut eidem filio suo postmodum divina ^ revelatione 
 innotuit. Quod non alienum est divinitatis consilio fac- 
 tum conjicere ; ut videlicet tantus infans tales paxentes 
 
 ^ The text is from the Bodleian 
 MS. 285 (R.), collated with the 
 MS. Digby 110 (D.), the Harleian 
 56 (H.), the Harleian 315 (I.), the 
 Lambeth 159 (L.), the Arundel 
 MS. 16 (F.), the Cottonian Tibe- 
 rius, D. ni. (E.), and Tiberius D. 
 IV. (K.),theMSS. 2475 (M.), 52S4 
 
 (N.), 5348 (O.), and 5989 (P.), in 
 the Royal Library at Paris; also 
 with the version of Mabillon and 
 the Bollandists. 
 
 2 tueretur'] teneretur, L. 
 
 ^ Wessaxonicis] Saxonicis, O. 
 
 ^ divina] om. R. 
 
72 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 The merits haberet, qui cum ipsi bene viverent, turn bene vivendi 
 parents. formam nascituro ex se filio tradere possent. Mag- 
 num quippe Deus ilium futurum prsevidebat, quem 
 ibi dulcedinis Suae benedictionibus prsevenerat, ubi 
 omnes filii Adam nativse maledictionis sententiam ex- 
 cipiunt, si non per assumptam a Filio Dei humani 
 habitus formam ad pristinam reformentur beatitudinem. 
 Magnum inquam Deus ilium futurum prsevidebat, cui 
 tantum muneris donatum est, ut ante mundo signis 
 innoteseeret ^ quam hune in hujus mundi lucem mater 
 fudisset. Atque ut esetera dilucide et ordinate proce- 
 dant, hinc dicendi initia constituam. 
 Themiracie 4. Matemis ififitur sinibus sacro puerperio intumescen- Adelard, 
 
 on the feast , • -n * • r r .•n'i4 
 
 fication ^^^^^> Purificationis sanctse ac perpetuae Yirginis 
 
 ^eforehis Marine illuxit festivus. Cumque vicinus illic undique 
 populus ad ecelesiam eidemVirgini inGlestonia^ dicatam 
 eonflueret, ut devotionis suae ministerium in tanta solem- 
 nitate E.egi regum Christo persolveret, contigit patrem 
 pueri Herstanum cum conjuge sua^ Kynedritha^ adve- 
 nisse, accensisque lampadibus sacris Missarum solenniis 
 interfuisse. Jamque plurimam diurni servitii partem 
 cletus absolverat, jam quemadmodum puerum Jesum 
 in templum parentes inducerent, recitari coeperat, cum 
 repente majestas Domini in templo apparuit, qu8G 
 omnia omnium luminaria extinxit totamque domum 
 tenebrosa caligine obtexit. Hinc gelidus omnium 
 membra pavor perserpit, rigent comse, genua coUidun- 
 tur. Stabant quippe sensu hserentes, et alternis obtu- 
 tibus stuporem indicantes. Sed ut omnibus clarum 
 fieret quid in hac re ea qusG apparuit majestas^ in- 
 tenderet, extemplo lux coelitus ^ emissa in templo 
 resplenduit, et eum quem puerpera manu tenebat 
 cereum accendit. Si ante populus de amisso lumine 
 miratus est, nunc majori admiratione simul et ex- 
 ultatione detinebatur. Exultabat namque prsesentem se 
 
 * innotesceret'] ignotesceret, 0. 
 2 Glestonia] Glastouia, L. 
 ^ sua"] om. L. 
 
 * Kynedritha] Kynedryda, L., 
 Kynedrida, H. M. 
 
 ^ majestas'] Domini, ins. R. 
 ^ ccelitus'] om. O. 
 
AUCTORE OSBEBNO. 
 
 73 
 
 Dei sjratiam vidisse ; sed mirabatur banc sibi per foemi- Pa^^uei 
 
 , ^ with John 
 
 nam provenisse. Hue itaque ab omnibus est perrec- the Baptist 
 
 ^ , ^ ^ andJere- 
 
 tum et bine lumen omnibus porrectum. Habemus ergo ^i^-^- 
 s^Lukei. novum de nova Elisabeth^ Johannem, habemus nostri 
 Jerem. i. 5. temporis Jeremiam : quorum alterum Deus, alterum Dei 
 archangelus, in matris ^ utero sanctificatum asseruit. 
 Atque ut excellentiorem gratiam advertas, qua die 
 Filius Dei^ a matre virgine in templo est prsesentatus, 
 ea nimirum puer Dei in matris utero ad templum est 
 deportatus. Lumen ad revelationem gentium et glo- 
 s^Luke,ii. riam Israel Sanctus Symeon exultando proclamabat :^ 
 lumen nihilominus in terra Anglorum exortum Christus, 
 Qui verum lumen est, lumine deelarabat. 
 
 5. Postquam autem edendi partus tempus advenit, mu- Birth, bap- 
 lier genuit filium, quantitate quidem corporis parvulum, naming of 
 sed ea qua praeventus fuerat gratia Dei immensum. 
 Inde statim seeundse generationis honore potitus, fu- 
 turam fidei illius soliditatem jam tunc divinitus prse- 
 figuratam in nomine ^ sortitur ; Dunstanus, quod petra3 
 firmitatem sonat, parentum suorum annotatione voci- 
 tatur.^ Deinde cum teneros infanti^ annos sequens 
 jetas exclusisset, et linguam in apertos sonos jam 
 formare coepisset, ad templum nascentise illius miraculo 
 quondam insigne cum oblationibus hostiarum defertur, 
 immo ipse hostia viva sancta Deo placens ofFertur. Ibi vision of 
 B. p. 7. illis in oratione pernoctantibus apparuit vir, sethereos buildings at 
 habens vultus. Locum dixit non multo post tempore bury, 
 sublimandum, puerum ibidem Deo relinquendum, et 
 beatum ilium per ssecula prsedicandum. Tum mensoris 
 funiculum per plana atrii extendens, " Sic/' inquit, 
 " sedificabitur locus iste ad prseparanda corda illorum 
 " Domino qui hoc in loco per hunc puerum Domino 
 " credituri sunt." Qua illi revelatione vehementer gavisi 
 immensas Omnipotenti Deo laudes persolvunt; com- 
 
 1 Elisabeth} Elizabeth, L. 
 
 2 matris] om. R. 
 Dei] om. L. 
 
 ^ proclamab'xf] proclamat, L. 
 
 ^ prcejiguratam in nomine'] om. R. 
 ^ vocitatur] vocitatus, D. F. K. 
 L. M. 
 
74 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Hewas^^ mendantes puerum in templo ut esset Levi^ Domino 
 * et portio illius existeret Dominus, quemadmodum Moysi 
 dictum est, cum divideret Judaeorum per tribus sin- 
 gulas incolatus^ ; " Non erit tribui Levi sors inter fratres 
 " suos, dicit Dominus; quia Dominus Deus pars illorum Numb.xviii. 
 " est." Unde Petrus ostendens se portionem in Deo 
 habere, non in sseculo, " Argentum/' inquit, " et aurum 
 " non habeo ; sed quod habeo hoc tibi do. In nomine 
 " Jesu Nazareni surge et ambula." Hoc est ; aurum non Acts ui. e. 
 est portio mea ; argentum non est portio mea ; portio 
 mea Christus est ; hoc nomen munificum, hoc nomen mihi 
 fructuosum est. Talis ergo portionis fructum tirun- 
 culus Christi in timore sancto assecutus,^ assidua mi- 
 nistratione Domino serviebat, proficiens quotidie tam 
 in scientia pietatis quam in virtute sanctitatis. 
 
 state of 6. Ea tempestate Glestonia ^ reefahbus stipendus ad- B. p. lo. 
 
 Glastonbury t . . ., ° i k • tvt Adelard 
 
 at the time, dicta, mouasticse rengioms penitus erat ^ ignara. IN on- p 54 
 
 dum enim in Anglia communis vitsG ratio colebatur, non 
 usus deserendi proprias voluntates hominibus affecta- 
 batur. Abbatis nomen vix quisquam^ audierat. Con- 
 ventus monachorum non satis quispiam viderat. Sed 
 cui forte id voluntatis erat ut peregrinam vellet trans- 
 igere vitam ; is mod-o solus modo paucos ^ ejusdem 
 propositi comitatus, patrios egrediebatur fines, et qua 
 opportunitas vivendi licentiam dabat, illic alienigena 
 vitam agebat. Hicque mos cum plerosque tum vehe- 
 irish^pii- menter adhuc manet Hibernos^ quia quod aliis bona 
 * voluntas in consuetudinem hoc illis consuetudo vertit 
 in naturam. Quorum multi atque illustres viri divinis 
 ac saecularibus litteris nobiliter eruditi, dum relicta 
 Hibemia in terram Anglorum peregrinaturi venissent, 
 locumque habitationis suae Glestoniam delegissent; 
 
 1 Levq Levis, F. H. O. M. 
 
 2 incolatus'} incolatum, R. 
 ^ assecutus] est, ins. L. 
 
 ^ Glestonia^ Glastouia, L. The 
 whole paragraph down to redundaret 
 is omitted in K. 
 
 ^ erat] om. L. 
 
 ^ quisquam] quispiam, L. 
 
 7 paucos'] So E. F. H. L. D. R. ; 
 paucis, Boll. Mab. 
 
AUCTORE OSBERNO. 
 
 propterea quod esset et a civili multitudine sequestra- School of 
 
 the Irish 
 
 tus et humanis usibus accommodus, et, quod maxime whereyoung 
 affectabant peregrini, Patricii religiosa veneratione, glo- taught, 
 riosus, qui olim evangelizando regnum Dei illue perve- 
 niens, vita, doctrina, signis, mirabilibus, multipliciter 
 claruisse et post omnia hsec ibidem in Domino quievisse 
 perhibetur. Cum ergo hi tales viri talibus de causis 
 Glestoniam venissent, nec tamen quicquid sibi necessa- 
 rium erat sufficientissime in loco repperissent, suscipiunt 
 filios nobilium liberalibus studiis imbuendos, ut quod 
 minus ad usum loci ubertas exhiberet, eorum quos 
 docebant liberalitate redundaret. 
 B. p. 8. 7. Adest ergo nobilissimus in Christo puer Dunstanus, Dunstan's 
 
 Adelard, • x t • v i i.* i Progress. 
 
 p 54 mter alios unus, immo prae ains solus ; ubi paulo 
 diligentius quam imbecilla setas ferre posset, litterarum 
 studio intentus, acerrimo in tenello corpore languore 
 fatigatur; adeo ut per aliquot dies nec quid ageret 
 nec quid ab aliis ageretur, ipse intenderet. Flebat au- His illness, 
 tern scolasticorum coaetanea^ turba, flebat tota domus 
 familia; ipsi doctores recordantes modestiam pueri, 
 ingenium, nobilitatem, educationem. Cumque jam in 
 limine mors ^ adesse putaretur, nihilque aliud quam and miracu- 
 
 lous rC" 
 
 funeris obsequium meditaretur, ecce intempesta nocte covery. 
 coelestis ilium medicina revisit, quam ei per angelicum 
 ministerium Christus exhibuit. Ac ne qua salutis 
 mora innecteretur, ubi divina provenerat medicina, con- 
 festim de lectulo surgens doloris, ad templum Deo gra- 
 tias acturus moderata velocitate currit,^ habens Ilium 
 in itinere ductorem, Quem in ^egritudine habuit Sal- 
 vatorem. Stupefacti magnitudine facti qui in domo He rises 
 
 J • J J." 'IT 1 J 1 1 1 from his bed 
 
 erant, qui segrotantis lilius curam gerebant, lento pede and goes to 
 
 J. i» • i in • • 'T. . the church. 
 
 praeeuntis vestigia terunt, nnem rei curiosa agilitate 
 explorantes. Necdum medium itineris confecerat cum 
 malignus spiritus, sive ejus saluti invidens seu futuram 
 religionem suspectam habens, latrantium canum multi- 
 tudine stipatus occurrit, viamque eunti intercludere 
 
 ^ cocElanea'] coretaueoruni, IJ. 
 mors^ mortis, K. 
 
 rnrrit] ciiciirrit, R. 
 
76 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 He drives contendit. Exclamat itaque piler Christum, pavore 
 
 away the . ... . 
 
 devil's dogs, contemtus, sed ductoris sui prsesidio vallatus ; virgam 
 arripit/ quam in faciem obsistentis simulacri vibrans, 
 ipsum cum omni comitatu in fugam compellit. 0 sanc- 
 tum et terribile Christi Nomen, sapientibus absconditum, 
 parvulis revelatum ! Ecce draco quem initium figmenti Ps. civ. 26. 
 sui finxit Deus ad illudendum ei, non solum ab angelis 
 Dei illuditur, verum etiam a puero parvulo superatur. 
 Vere detracta est ad inferos superbia ejus, in profundum isa. xiv. 15. 
 laci concidit cadaver illius. Sed in quo ista noster potuit 
 parvulus, nisi in lUo Qui cum sit Deus super omnia 
 benedictus in ssecula, parvulus de virgine natus est 
 
 He finds the nobis, Filius a Patre datus est nobis ? Dunstanus igitur isa. ix. e. 
 
 close?: ad portam templi veniens, sed eandem repagulis obser- 
 
 climbs the i • • i •••j.'iij 
 
 ladderand atam invcmens, scalam cui mniti solebant, qui superiora 
 
 descends j t • i j. • j j • 9, 
 
 inside. tempil sarciebant, ignoranter et quasi per excessum"^ 
 mentis ascendit. Inde ad alteram tecti partem qua 
 nuUus erat descensus progrediens, angelicis manibus ad 
 solum deponitur, et in interiora templi non patentibus 
 claustris inducitur. Orta autem luce dum per vicinas 
 domos quaestio de puero facta faisset, repertus est in 
 templo cum iis qui nocturnas custodias agebant, 
 leni sopore offusus.^ Eogatus ut tam mirabilis eventus 
 He declares Hiodum exponerct, non esse hsec in sua conscientia 
 mSonscious rcspoudit, et ignorantium mentes majori ambiguo de- 
 at the time, (j^^it. Sed hii quos explorandi gratia puerum secutos 
 fuisse prsediximus, de omnibus quse usque ad suprema 
 templi fastigia contigerant, claro et probato^ sermone 
 testificantur. Csetera vero quoniam et illos et puerum 
 latuerunt, sola Dei potentia mirabiliter patrata fuisse 
 claruerunt. Magno igitur ^ timore concussi omnes qui 
 audierunt cogitabant quidnam esset quod puero con- 
 tigisset ; dicentes ad alterutrum, " Quid sibi vult- puer 
 " iste, cui tot et tam* sancta prseconia attestantur ? Qui 
 
 ^ arripit] arripuit, L. ; accipit. 
 Boll. 
 
 2 excessum] excussum, D. 
 
 R. 
 
 3 offusus] efiusus, L. D. ; effessus, 
 
 * 
 
 prohato] turbato, L. 
 ^ igitur'] ergo, R. 
 
AITCTORE OSBERNO. 
 
 77 
 
 ante beatus quam natus ; ante virtus prodidit s^lori- The wit- 
 
 1 ri • 1 • • nesses ac- 
 
 osum quam ?etas probaret adultum/ Smgulari gratia cept it as a 
 hunc pr?editum videmus, quern angelus segrotum 
 sanavit, diabolus sanatum contremuit, eeclesia signata 
 excepit." Et denuo orantes, " Augeat/' inquiunt, 
 Deus meritum pueri ad gloriam Sui." At ille regentis 
 se Christi Spiritu repletus, aures quidem corporis a suis 
 laudibus avertebat, sed in secreto pectusculi Deum bene- 
 dicebat. Ab illo itaque die in tanta admiratione habitus 
 est, ut plurima ilium utriusque sexus multitudo quamvis 
 adhuc delicatum videre cuperet. Ipse vero quanto 
 excellentiora audiebat, tanto de se minora sentire.^ 
 
 B. p. 10. 8. Jamque vernans setas adolescentiae decus mduerat, He takes 
 cum eum parentes sui sacros ordmes rogarent susci- orders, 
 pere, ut qui fuerat a primaeva aetate Domino electus 
 per hujusmodi gratiam eidem conjunctius adhsereret. 
 Quorum ille voluntate humiliter parens minores gradus 
 et habitu suscepit et vitae honestate servavit. Turn 
 vero, quod illi aetati non parvo ornamento ^ est, certabat 
 omnes officio superare, gratia et affabilitate omnes an- 
 teire, servare pudicitiam, fugere lasciviam ; appetitor 
 honesti, turpitudinis ^ execrator ; majorum natu coUo- His demean- 
 
 . IT IT •! 1 our in his 
 
 quiis adesse, juvenum ludicra declmare ; ciborum ab- youth, 
 stinens, somno temperans, incessu gravis, neque facile 
 moveri loco, neque abrupte loqui ; magnae fiduciae ad 
 incipiendum bonum, constantiae ad perficiendum ; prin- 
 cipium bene agendi Deum semper habere, finem vero 
 Eidem commendare. Moribus^ quoque bonis accessit 
 studium sacrae lectionis,^ cujus exercitio et vitiorum 
 importunitates evitabat et virtutum augmenta nutrie- 
 bat. Et quoniam studium parvam habet efficaciam ubi 
 naturale ingenium non suggerit intelligentiam, auctore 
 Deo sic utraque praeditus erat, ut et facilitate ingenii 
 
 ^ Quid . . . adultum] om, R. 
 - sentire'] sentiebat, R. 
 ^ ornamento^ om. R. 
 honesti, turpitudinis ] honesti, 
 
 turpis, R. ; honestatis, turpitudinis, 
 O. L. 
 
 ^ Moribus] Majoribus, D. 
 ^ lectionis'] religionis, R. 
 
78 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 His progress Quamlibet rem acutissime intellifferet, et occupatione 
 
 in learning. . . 
 
 studii quodcunque intellectum fuisset firmissime retine- 
 ret. Ex quo in brevi factum est ut neque prseceptoribus 
 suis imperitior, et condiscipulorum peritissimis ^ multo 
 esset ipse peritior. Philosophorum scientias quas earum 
 rerum quae sunt et quse aliter esse non^ possunt cog- 
 nitionem^ veritatis vetustas esse diffinit, ut sunt mag- 
 nitudines, et earum alias manentes motuque carentes, 
 alise vero quae mobili semper ratione vertuntur nec 
 uUis temporibus adquiescunt; multitudines quoque, et 
 earum nihilominus alisG per se, aliae in ratione positae ; — 
 horum inquam scientias diligenti excoluit ratione, mag- 
 nam in his et constantem prospiciens esse perfectionem. 
 mus\^^i)ut quamvis his omnibus artibus magnifice poUeret, 
 pfeceof ^J^^ tamen multitudinis quae musicam instruit, eam 
 luxury. videlicet quae instrumentis agitatur, speciali quadam 
 affectione vendicabat scientiam ; sicut David psalterium 
 sumens, citharam percutiens, modificans organa, cimbala 
 tangens ; sed non sicut hii quorum inertiam et luxu- 
 riosum otium propheticus noster increpat armentarius ; 
 " Qui dormitis/' inquit, "in lectis eburneis, et lascivitis 
 " in stratis vestris; qui comeditis agnimi de grege et 
 " vitulos de medio armenti ; qui canitis ad vocem 
 " psalterii, sicut David. Putaverunt se vasa cantici 
 " habere, bibentes in phialis vinum." Nec eo ista com- Amos, tI. 4-6. 
 memoramus quo hiis opus esse ad perfectionem ten- 
 denti arbitremur, sed ut multiplices Dei gratias in 
 He loved juvcnc commcndcmus. Nam omnibus saecularibus 
 
 piety above , t- pti -j- -jj* 
 
 all things. stuQiis praeicrebat scientiam pietatis, quae m evange- 
 licis et apostolicis continetur litteris, dum sua semper 
 ingenia sanctorum patrum auctoritati contradens, et 
 ambas res ad easdem litteras conferens,^ fidem veram, 
 morum disciplinam, et quod unum ac solum prae om- 
 nibus quaerendum est, vitam aetemam se invenisse 
 
 ^ peritissimis'] peritissimorum, R. 
 
 2 nori] om. L. 
 
 3 cognitionem ] cognitione, R. 
 
 This is a quotation from Bdetius de 
 Arithmetica, 0pp. p. 1296. 
 
 * conferens^ Here the Harleian 
 MS. 315 (I.) begins. 
 
AUOTORE OSBERNO. 
 
 79 
 
 Adelard, 
 p. 55. 
 
 gaudebat. Sicxit ergo David nostri simphonista vasa 
 cantici habuit, quia usum illomm non nisi in divinis He could 
 laudibus expendit. Preeterea manu aptus ad omnia, carve, 
 posse facere picturam, litteras formare, scalpello ^ impri- 
 mere, ex .auro, argento, sere et ferro, quicquid liberet 
 operari. 
 
 9. Tunc audita fama venerabilis viri Cantuariorum 
 archiepiscopi Athelmi, cujus ipse erat nepos et filius 
 fratris, permissu parentum suorum proficiscitur ad eun- 
 dem, quatenus tanti parentis et cognitionem haberet et 
 vitse illius exemplo juveniles mores informaret. Laeta- 
 batur itaque episcopus nimis in adventu nepotis, con- 
 siderans in illo venustatem corporis, animi vigorem ac 
 totius honestatis eminentiam. Undo eo quo afflatus est 
 Dei Spiritu vas electionis ilium futurum prsenoscens, 
 potiori gradu decorare et regi -^thelstano familiari 
 contestatione eum studuit commendare. " Hunc/' ait, 
 ' juvenem mihi quidem plurimum, regiae vero stirpi non- 
 ' nullo consanguinitatis jure devinctum, vestrse excel- 
 ' lentise commendo, ut stet jugiter in conspectu vestro, 
 ' audiatque verbum ex ore domini mei regis. Expe- 
 ' riar^ in illo gratiam vestram, quam multiplicem 
 ' saepe in maximis rebus expertus sum, et deinceps 
 ' amplius me experturum confido." Quod rex prompta 
 cordis alacritate accipiens, oblatum juvenem gratissime 
 excepit, unice dilexit, post hsec necessariis quoque rebus 
 regia vice praeesse constituit. Dunstanus igitur, terreno 
 degens in palatio, egrediebatur et- ingrediebatur ad 
 imperium regis, et prosperatum est in manibus ipsius 
 quicquid operis ipse coepisset. Et nunc quidem sur- 
 gens ad orandum Deum, nunc sedens ad dijudicandas 
 causas hominum, ita se sapienter ac circumspecte age- 
 bat, ut et Deo j)er omnia placeret, nec aliquem pie 
 viventium sua culpa offenderet. Dominus enim erat 
 Gen. xxxix. cum iUo, ct Omnia ejus opera dirigebat. Iterum cum 
 
 23. 
 
 He goes to 
 visit the 
 archbishop, 
 
 who intro- 
 duces him 
 to the king. 
 
 He becomes 
 a favourite 
 of Athel- 
 stan. 
 
 ^ scalpello'] sculpello, L., sca- 
 pello, I. N. 
 
 2 Experiar] circa me, ins. R. 
 
80 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 He plays on videret dominum resfem sajcularibus curis fatiofatum, 
 
 his harp . ^ ... 
 
 before the psallebat in tympano sive in cithara, sive alio quo- 
 libet musici generis instrumento ; quo facto tarn regis 
 quam omnium corda principum exhilarabat. 
 
 He is asked 10. Tunc cujusdam matronse frequenti ac religioso ro- B. pp. 20- 
 desiSifora gatu compcUatus est, ut ei stolam sacerdotalem artificiosa 
 operatione prsepingeret, quam postea ad divinos cultus 
 aurifactoria imitatione figuraret. Qui assumpta in ma- 
 nibus cithara, ad domum tendit religiosse, citharam in 
 pariete suspendit, opus ad quod venerat diligenter in- 
 stituit. Cumque manum operi, cor autem atque labia 
 Deo prgepararet, apparuit in domo gloria Domini, quae 
 ilium jocunda suavitate reficiebat, cseteros vero insolita 
 admiratione exterritos reddebat. Nam cithara illius 
 quam affixam parieti fuisse diximus, ita ut erat, pen- 
 dens in paxillo, absque uUo moventis dumtaxat hominis 
 impulsu, consuetam omnibus hujus antiphonae melodiam 
 acutissima simul ac discretissima modulatione perso- 
 
 His harp j^^j^ . « Gaudent in coelis animse sanctorum qui Christi 
 
 plays an ' ^ ^ ^ ^ J- 
 
 wMsfheis vestigia sunt secuti, et quia pro Ejus amore sangui- 
 so employed. « ^q^d. suum fuderunt, ideo cum Christo gaudebunt ^ in 
 " seternum." Exsiliunt itaque obstrepentes puellulse,^ 
 materfamilias, omnisque domus clientela, vociferans^ 
 hominem nimium esse sapientem, amplius eum quam 
 quod expediat scire. At ille mundissimo mundissimi 
 cordis intuitu coelestem ilium musicum intendens, ad- 
 moneri se intelligit, ut vias duriores arripiat, ut Christi 
 vestigia propius sequatur, ut sanguinis sui effusionem 
 non metuat, si ^ Dei regnum et vitam delectat ^ habere 
 seternam.^ Audivimus olim rudentem asinam verba edi- 
 disse ; citharam vero sine humano impulsu ' sensualiter 
 cecinisse nunquam audivimus. Ilia insidentem ne mo- 
 reretur retinuit; ista ne mors timeretur admonuit.^ 
 
 ^ gaudebunt] regnabunt, L. See 
 above, p. 21. 
 2 puellulce'] puellse, R. 
 ^ vociferans'] vociferantes, R. 
 ^ si] sed, D. 
 
 ^ delectaf] delectet, L. 
 ® aternam] perpetuam, R. 
 7 impulsu] pulsu, L. 
 ^ Ilia . . admonuit] om. L. 
 
AUCTORE OSBERNO. 
 
 Ilia angelicos vultus pertimescens subsedit, ista ad as- This was 
 
 i 1 • J 1 TIT T I • • a miracle 
 
 pectum ^ JJei et angelorum lllius omnes audientes mvi- indeed, 
 tavit. Sed Tua haec sunt, Christe, magnalia, qu8D in 
 Tuo Dunstano operari et per nostrum ministerium 
 prsedicari hominibus voluisti. 
 B. pp. 11- 11- Aecensus er^o^ furore diabolus, quod tarn Sanctis The devii 
 
 » contrives 
 
 principiis juvenem niti eonspiceret, in invidiam aliquo- Dunstan's 
 
 . . ,11- 1 1 overthrow. 
 
 rum eum conatus est adducere, ignorans malam volun- 
 tatem suam Deo famulari, ad perficiendam Dei bonam 
 voluntatem in homine, quern ad conregnandum et eon- 
 gaudendum ipse praedestinaverat. Inflammat itaque in- 
 videntise stimulos, operarios iniquitatis, qui confieto 
 mendacio opinionem juvenis apud regem laedant; asse- 
 rentes^ ilium malis artibus imbutum, nec quicquam 
 divino auxilio sed pleraque dsemonum prsestigio ope- 
 rari. Advertens autem Dunstanus faciem regis non esse He leaves 
 sieut heri et nudiustertius, palatio discedere parat ; 
 malens regem sponte sua deserere quam ipse invitus 
 a rege derelinqui. Quod ubi compertum est ab his 
 qui probitatis illius improbissimi aemulatores exstiterant, 
 insidiis iter obsident, socios disturbant, ilium equo de- 
 jiciunt ; supplieiis affligunt ; postremo vinculis irretitum He is at- 
 
 . , . , J 1 n i • J • tacked and 
 
 m cisternam quse luxta erat depeilunt. Cum interim plunged in a 
 
 IT, -It* '11 cistern, but 
 
 norrendo molossorum agmme deiensus, a quibusdam delivered by 
 hominibus invenitur, quorum studio ae pietate ad vicum 
 fovendus transfertur. Tum ille ex profundo cordis sus- 
 B. p. 13. pirio ingemiscens ait, " O sseva propinquorum meorum 
 " vesania, in caninam sa3vitiam ex dilectionis humani- 
 tate mutata. Nam irrationalis canum natura dilec- 
 " tionem mihi humanitatis blandiendo exhibuit, pro- 
 " pinquitas vero humanitatem oblita infestantium canum 
 " me severitatem ostendit." Intellexit ergo hoc esse 
 principium certaminis ad quod ilium divinus nuper 
 citharoedus prsemonuit. 
 
 * aspectum'] affectum, L. I ^ asserentesli affirmantes, R. . 
 
 2 ergo'] igitur, D. F. K. L. M. I 
 
82 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Dunstan 
 is invited by 
 Elfege to 
 become a 
 monk. 
 
 His a^u- 
 ment in re- 
 ply, and 
 Elfege's 
 answer. 
 
 Dunstan 
 deliberates. 
 
 12. Profectus autem inde cognatum pontificem adiit 
 -^Elphegum/ qui tunc temporis, Wentanse prsesidens eccle- 
 sise, vitam virtutibus decorabat. A quo frequenti sup- 
 plicatione rogatus ut monachum indueret, quatenus qui 
 angelicas conversationis initia haberet, perseverantiam 
 in habitu demonstraret ; respondit ille excellentioris 
 gratise esse qui in sseculo consenuit et tamen quae mo- 
 nacho digna sunt fecit, eo qui se monasterio dedit, nec 
 quicquam aliud praeterquam quod sibi statutum est 
 post haec facere potuit. "Alterum/' inquit, "necessi- 
 " tatis est, alterum libertatis." Ad haec episcopus, 
 " Omnibus/' ait, "in commune summa necessitas est, 
 ut qui ignem gehennaa voluerit effugere, ignem con- 
 cupiscentiae studeat extinguere. Ignis vero concu- 
 piscentiae non multum extinguitur, si fomenta illius 
 " humanis sensibus non subtrahuntur. Sicut enim 
 ligna ad ignem, sic ea quao sensibus subjacent, ad 
 concupiscentiam. Sed nulla erit fomentorum sub- 
 tractio, si saecularium negotiorum non fuerit renun- 
 ciatio. Ex quibus omnibus id elicitur ; ut si ignem 
 gehennae volueris effugere, saeculo studeas renunciare. 
 Ad haec quod praecipue in mundo appetitur, libertas 
 " est hominis. Hac enim omissa, caetera possideri ne- 
 queunt.^ Quod si possidentur, ilia non desinit ha- 
 beri. Quapropter quamdiu illam retinueris, illud 
 Deo non dedisti, quod maxime dilexisti: ut ergo 
 des quod maxime diligis, ilia desinat haberi." Cum 
 ergo ^ hiis et hujuscemodi verbis per singulos dies 
 episcopus insisteret ; et Dunstanus aut veris aut verisi- 
 miUimis rationibus insistentem differret, quadam die 
 vehementer hoc cogitationis ambiguo pulsatus est, ut 
 quid in vita quam maxime appetendum fuisset, virtus 
 an voluptas, uxor an virginitas, magnopere deUberaret. 
 Quem sub tali ambiguo positum gravissima febris in- 
 vasit, atque ad desperationem vitae perduxit. Jacebat 
 
 B. pp. 13, 
 14. 
 
 << 
 
 (C 
 
 ii 
 
 ff 
 
 I JElphegum] Elphegum, H. L. ; | 2 nequeunt] non queunt, L. 
 Elfegum, D. | 3 g^^^-] igitur, D. F. H. L. M, 
 
AUCTORE OSBERNO. 
 
 88 
 
 itaque sine exspectatione salutis segrotans, nec ullum After a 
 
 - severe ill- 
 
 ness In 
 termin 
 beconn 
 
 - ^ ^ — Q . — _^ — — monk 
 
 " cio, hie me sempiternum sibi adversarium promitto. 
 
 • • • sovorG ill" 
 
 mtuentibus viventis sensum prsebens. Tuifi ex inspe- ness he de- 
 rate recalescens, " Hie/' ait, " legibus voluptatis renun- become a 
 
 " Nil eum uxore- foederis paeisear ; sola me virtus mili- 
 tern habebit. Insanum quippe est illam animi mei 
 " dominatrieem sustinere, quae nee viventes reddit sa- 
 " tiatos, et morientes relinquit desperates. Virginem 
 " me Virginis Filius hue usque servavit; virginem me 
 " virginum regina Maria habebit/' Confestim aeeito 
 ad se episeopo, postulat sibi dilatse religionis benedie- 
 tionem dari. Episcopus, immensa Isetitia pro . salute and is re- 
 
 1 , ... « 1 •, ceivedasone 
 
 simul et conversione juvenis periusus, eeleriter ilium by Eifege. 
 monachali ae saeerdotali gratia promovit, attitulans 
 ecelesise beatse Marisa ^ Virginis, cui eum ab initio 
 parentum suorum sponsio dieavit. 
 
 13. Consummatis autem primis ineeptse conversionis ^® 
 diebus, cum eum episcopus adversus insidias diaboli et church at 
 
 . T . . Grlaston- 
 
 sermone mstruxisset et auctoritate roborasset, dimisit^ury. 
 eum profieiseentem ad locum suae generationis prin- 
 cipium ; ibique in ecclesia prsefatae ^ Virginis mansitabat, 
 operans ea qusG piae religionis norma exigebat. Cui 
 etiam adhaerentem cellam sive destinam sive spelaeum, 
 sive alio quolibet nomine reetius nominari potest, non 
 enim invenio qua id appellatione quam proximo voeem, ^^^g* 
 cum non tam humani habitaculi quam formam g®^^^ ^J^^^^^j.^ 
 sepulcri ; propriis laboribus fabricavit. Ut enim de re 
 quam ipse vidi, testimonium feram, quantum mea fert 
 aestimatio, longitudo ejusdem cellae non amplius (juin- 
 que pedum, latitude vero duos semis pedes habet. Porro 
 altitude staturam exprimit hominis, si quis in defossa 
 terra eonstiterit. Alitor enim neque satis ad pectus 
 porrigitur, ut, sicut dixi, magis mortui videatur sepul- 
 crum quam viventis habitaculum. Undo manifestum 
 
 Marice} om. R. | ^ prafatce'] beatse, L. 
 
 F 2 
 
84 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Dunstan's 
 cell. 
 
 Visited by 
 the author. 
 
 A visit from 
 the devil. 
 
 Dunstan 
 heats his 
 tongs. 
 
 est ilium neque^ jacendo somnos cepisse et^ stando 
 semper Deum orasse. Ostiolum autem idem est quod^ 
 paries. Quod enim ingredienti ostium, idem ingresso 
 paries fiebat. Neque vero in tantillo opere ostium nisi 
 in toto fieri valebat. Medium ostioli fenestella aperit, 
 per quam lumen operanti irradiavit. Miserum me ac 
 peecatorem fateor inspexisse sanctum sessionis ipsius 
 locum, vidisseque etiam manuum illius opera, pecca- 
 tricibus manibus contrectasse, oculis apposuisse, rigasse 
 lacrymis et flexis genibus adorasse. Recordatus nam- 
 que sum quam ssepe clamantem me in periculis exau- 
 dierit, quam misericorditer auxiliatus fuerit, et idcirco 
 neque lacrymis temperare, neque si fieri potuisset inde 
 recedere volebam."* Hsec juveni domus, hie lectus, hoc 
 de toto mundo spectaculum. Sed his angustiis ampla 
 et spatiosa urbium moenia comparari non possunt, cum 
 per easdem angustias hodie et febricitantes ^ salutem 
 obtineant, et dsemonum furores quiescant, et plurima 
 invalitudo convalescat. 
 
 14. Verum ne paupertatem illius diabolus misereri ^ 
 videatur, quem antea non sinebat in palatio habitare, 
 eum nunc nititur depellere tugurio. Fallax ergo fallacem 
 hominis adopertus imaginem, sub obscuro vespere 
 cellam petit ^ adolescentis, immisso capite fenestras in- 
 cumbit, cemit ilium fabrili opere occupatum, postulat 
 sibi quippiam operis fabricari. Dunstanus autem neque 
 ealliditatem ejus advertens, neque importunitatem ferens, 
 operi quod postulabatur animum intendit. Interim ille 
 perversa compositione verba facere, mulierum nomina 
 inserere, luxurias ^ commemorare ; deinde religionem os- 
 tendere, et denuo eadem ^ repetere. Tum vero athleta 
 Christi quis esset intelligens, tenacula quibus ferrum te- 
 nebat fortiter ignire, suppressis labiis Christum invocare. 
 
 ^ neque] om. li. 
 
 2 somnos . . et] somnum . . sed, K. 
 
 3 quod] qui, R. 
 
 '* Miserum . . . voleham] om. R. 
 ^ fehricitantes] fabricantes, L. 
 
 M. 
 
 ^ misereri] miserari, H. I. K. L. 
 
 7 petit] om. R. 
 
 ^ luxurias] luxuriam, R. 
 
 9 eadem] earn, R. 
 
AUCTORE OSBERNO. 
 
 85 
 
 Cumque per summos fines eadem tenacula candentia VI- He seizes 
 deret, sancto actus furore, eeleriter ea de igne rapit, lar- the face, 
 valem faciem tenaculis includit, et totis viribus renitens 
 monstrum introrsum trahit. Jam stando vires sumebat 
 Dunstanus, cum is ^ qui tenebatur avulso pariete tenentis 
 se manibus aufugerat, tales immani rugitu fremens ulu- 
 latus : " O quid fecit calvus iste, O quid fecit calvus iste." Outcry of 
 Tenui namque sed formosa csesarie erat, et ea re talia de 
 homine clamitabat. Mane autem facto congregata est ad 
 eum non parva propinqui populi^ multitudo, sciscitans 
 quisnam ille clamor fuisset, qui tanta eos vehementia 
 dormientes terruisset. " Dsemonis," ait, " furor ille fuit, 
 " qui nusquam me vivere sinit, e cella quoque ejicere 
 " temptat. Caute vos agite ab illo ; quia si vocem 
 " irati ferre non potuistis, societatem damnati quo pacto 
 " sustinebitis ? " Post hunc diem Dunstanus quasi in Wonder of 
 procinctu belli manere,^ virtutibus diabolum ad certamen 
 lacessere, corpus inedia macerare, animam orationibus 
 decorare, sciens in nulla re magis diabolum superari 
 posse quam in ea quam Dominus dicebat, in jejunio 
 " et oratione." Unde cum pudicitia corporis tantam 
 cordis munditiam obtinuit, ut vix eum latere posset 
 quicquid sinister spiritus molitus fuisset. 
 
 Fama itaque nominis ejus universam percurrit regio- His great 
 nem, quse^ ad visendum hominem Dei omnium corda 
 accendit. Omnis setas, uterque sexus, clarus et ignobi- 
 lis, tenuis et pecuniosus, privatus et cum potestate, 
 omnes omnino Dunstanum loquuntur, sapientiam prse- 
 dicant, virtutem magnificant. 
 
 B. pp. 11, 15. Mulier qusedam nomine iElfgiva,^ regali e^xorta The lady 
 
 1 Q . . Elfgifu. 
 
 10. progenie, magnarum divitiarum, quse omne semen regium 
 
 materno semper affectu dilexerat, foverat, nutriverat, 
 innisa manibus suorum ad hominem Dei accessit, sanc- 
 
 S. Mark, ix. 
 28. 
 
 1 zs] om. L. ; hie, Boll. 
 
 2 propinqui populi^ propinquo- 
 rum, R. 
 
 ^ manere] ccepit, ins. D. L. 
 ^ quce] qui, R. 
 
 ^ JElfgiva] Ethelgifu, L. ; nomine, 
 om. R. ; Elgifu, Mab. ; Elgive, Boll. ; 
 Elfgifu, O. D. ; Elfgiva, H. ; MM- 
 gifu, F. ; iElfgiva, E. ; JElfgifa, 
 K. ; JElfgiva, R, 
 
VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Her devo- 
 tion and 
 attachment 
 to Dunstan. 
 
 Visit of 
 Athelstan, 
 
 Deficiency 
 of mead mi- 
 raculously 
 supplied. 
 
 tissimo iUms coUoquio perfrui desiderans. Quae cum 
 ex ore illius verbum audisset, adeo delectata est dul- 
 cedine vitse setemse, ut ulterius neque domum repetere, 
 neque loco discedere, sed cum beato Dunstano manere, 
 vivere, mori diKgeret. Proinde habitationem sibi in 
 afl^tate sacri tempK constituens, audiendo verbo Dei 
 sedula adesse, famelicis stipem dare, vestem algentibus, 
 ipsa multse continentise operam dare, prorsus ad omne 
 opus justitise promptissima existere. Circa venerationem 
 beatse Virginis^ Marise ita fervens erat, ut in templo 
 illius ^ quamplures sacri ordinis viros locaret, quibus ipsa 
 quaecunque necessaria forent sua liberalitate exhiberet. 
 Qua de re in tantum apud eandem Virginem ejus me- 
 rita valuere, ut si quando, necessitate coacta, quippiam 
 postularet, vix aliqua intercedente morula, ab eadem 
 susciperet. Ut enim sine tsedio legentium aliquantulum 
 ab incepto digressionem faciam (neque enim a re quam B. pp. 17, 
 tenemus multum deviat); dum quodam tempore prsefa- 
 tus rex -^thelstanus ^ propter loci religionem Glestoniam 
 venisset, ilia veterem volens servare consuetudinem, qua 
 regibus ministrare solebat, orat eundem ut ad se di- 
 vertat, prandium quod sibi paraverat dignanter suscipiat. 
 Quod rex non sine verecundia annuens, non enim igno- 
 rabat quid in pauperes Christi ipsa expenderet, prsecepit 
 regise ministrationis provisoribus, ut scirent si omnia 
 commode ac moderate parata fuissent. lUi autem cir- 
 cumspectis omnibus abunde omnia esse^ renunciant; si 
 ejus tantummodo potus, qui mollis ac myrti aspergine^ 
 conficitur, sufficientiam haberent. Quibus ilia, " Non 
 " patiatur," inquit, " Domina mea mater Domini mei 
 " Jesu Christi Maria, ut in omnibus rebus quae regiam 
 " decent magnificentiam deesse quippiam valeat." Et 
 accurrens in templum beatissimse Virginis^ rogat per 
 ejus largifluam bonitatem augeri quod in regali minis- 
 terio minus videbatur haberi. Sedit itaque rex multo 
 
 ^ Virginis'] om. R. 
 
 ^ j^thelstanus ] om. F. H. I. D. 
 L. M. 
 
 * esse'] om. R. 
 
 ^ aspergine] aspersione, R. 
 
 ^ Virginis'] Marise, ins. L. 
 
AUCTORE OSBERNO. 
 
 87 
 
 stipatus militum ^ satellite ; hauriunt mimstri modicum Abundance 
 
 •n 1 p i- T • Tj. 1 -1 • • instead of 
 
 illud coniecti liquoris. ita vasculum permansit immi- want, 
 nutum ut mulieris Sareptense ^ vel hydriam farinae vel 
 lecythum olei putares. Denique tota die de vasculo 
 hauriunt, tota nihilominus die inexhaustum reperiunt. 
 Ad quod factum rex mente immutatus, " Peccavimus," 
 inquit, "nimis in famulam Dei, multitudinis nostrse su- 
 perfluitate eam aggravantes/' Ita dixit ; post dictum 
 faciem avertit, via qua coepit^ profectus est. 
 
 B. pp. 18- 16. Sed jam ut ad id quod instituimus attingamus ; lUness of 
 transacto laborum suorum glorioso certamine, gravi cor- 
 poris infirmitate coepit hsec eadem laborare. Ad quam 
 dum moerens pater Dunstanus intraret, post uberrimas 
 alterutrarum lacrymarum inundationes, post humillimam 
 pise confessionis devotionem, post dulcissimam de beata 
 spe et adventu Domini Salvatoris consolationem, hor- 
 tatur illam, ut nudam se ab omni mundana specie 
 faciat, ne in transeunte quicquam suum princeps mundi 
 inveniat. Cui ilia, " Neminem," inquit, " in mundo sicut Her final 
 
 ^ ^ ^ disposition 
 
 " te carissimum habeo, propterea quod te preecipuum 
 
 " salutis mese auctorem scio, salvo eo quod Deum om- ^^nstan^ 
 
 " nipotentem totius bonitatis principatum tenere credo. 
 
 " Ilium ergo rerum mearum hseredem facio, te vero 
 
 " hsereditatis tutorem constituo ; ut quicquid Ilium 
 
 " cognoveris^ velle, tui arbitrii sit efFectui mancipare." 
 
 Quod beatus Dunstanus audiens, et quamvis invitus 
 
 ejus voluntati morem ^ gerere volens, universas gazas 
 
 ejus quae in rebus mobilibus superesse poterant, ex- 
 
 templo pauperibus erogabat : csetera autem ® ad eccle- 
 
 siarum sublevationem reservabat. Jam sol vergebaf^ 
 
 ad occasum, et® Dunstanus nocturnas fugiens tenebras, 
 
 ad suum remeat ergastulum. Et ecce dum ostium 
 
 ecclesise psallendo praeteriret, erectis ad coelum oculis. 
 
 1 militiirn] om. F. H. I. D. L. M. 
 
 2 SarepterKs] Sareptinse, L. ; Sa- 
 reptanae, Boll. 
 
 3 ccepit] fecit, R. 
 
 4 cognoveris'] noveris, L. 
 
 ^ morem] favorem, R. 
 ^ autem] om. R. 
 7 vergebat] urgebat, L. 
 ^ et] om. L. 
 
88 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Dunstan omnipotentis Dei Patris et Filii coaetemum Spiritum B. pp. 18- 
 mysticDove. in ^ columbse specie videt descendentem ; Cujus corpus 
 omni candore nitidius, alarum vero remigia scintillantis 
 ignis splendorem per aera spargebant.^ Quam ® ille tunc 
 vere beatus pia mentis aviditate contemplatus, pene- 
 tral illud morientis matronae subintrantem conspicit.. 
 Concite igitur unde venerat regressus, videt domum 
 Divini splendoris fulgore splendescere, audit foeminam 
 intra septa oppansi veli gratias agentem, miratur col- 
 loquium ac dicendi finem patiens auditor exspectat. 
 Deinde velo levato penetral subintrat; stelliferi illius 
 nomen requirit, nuncium interrogat. Ilia excellenti 
 quadam gratia vultus perfusa modeste arridens ait, 
 Eifgifu ex- " Tu stelliferum antequam hue venires vidisti ; et nunc 
 Lr^wonder- " cui sum locuta iuterrogas ? Ipse est Qui tibi ad 
 
 ful visitor is, /, i» i . n 'j • j. j 
 
 andpre^res ostium ecclesisB psallenti apparuit, Qui et me de 
 " pavore imminentis mortis conterritam visitationis suae 
 " gratia consolari dignatus est. Annuncio itaque om- 
 " nibus amicis meis tristandum de mea morte non esse, 
 " quoniam morientem me aetemae vitae claritas susci- 
 " piet. Tibi autem, carissimo ac singulari amico, ube- 
 " res gratias refero, propterea quod tuis semper in- 
 " structa admonitionibus et adjuta orationibus, ecce ad 
 " Deum vado; unum tibi et ultimum si ausim dicere, 
 " facio praeceptum ; ut summo ^ diluculo unguinis ^ sacri 
 " ac Dominici Corporis participem me facias, quatenus 
 " his vivificis munita mysteiais non confundar in 
 " porta, dum ibi fuero inimicis meis locuta." Cujus Ps. cxxvii. 5. 
 imperio venerabilis pater Dunstanus annuens abiit, mane 
 juxta condictum rediit; itaque omnia peregit, ut finita 
 fere Missa, cum ipsa Corpus et Sanguinem Christi sus- 
 cepisset, animam pariter Christo tradidisset. Qua hono- 
 rifice in ecclesia beatae Mariae sepulta, Dunstanus cum 
 de illius tum etiam de sui ipsius patrimonio soUicitus, 
 nam uterque parens obierat, nec praeter eum alium 
 
 * in] om. R. 
 
 2 spargehanf] spargebat, R. 
 ^ quam] quern, H. K- R. 
 
 ^ summo] om. L. 
 5 unguinis] sanguinis, R. ; sacrse 
 unctionis, E. 
 
AUCTORE OSBERNO. 
 
 89 
 
 B. pp. 15, 
 16. 
 
 hseredem reliquerant, primo quidem eandem ecclesiam Dunstan 
 
 ... .1 . I'M i • . . founds and 
 
 vicimoribus atque uberioribus terns, quae m omni pa- endows 
 
 . , 'i^, r»i T monasteries. 
 
 trimomo erant, muneravit. Caeteras vero lundandis 
 quinque monasteriis pro situ terrarum ab invicem se- 
 junctis reservavit. Quae monasteria, sequentium regum 
 temporibus in tantum per ejus industriam sic aucta sunt,^ 
 ut singulis complurium monaehorum turbae inessent, 
 qui omnes secundum regulam ab eodem patre institutam 
 viverent. 
 
 17. Exinde sanctus vir majoribus sese virtutum pro- He has a 
 fectibus dedens, deprecatus est Dominum ostendi sibi dead friend 
 gloriam justorum, ut qui eam per fidem bene creditam toMm Ws 
 haberet, per manifestationem cognitam dulcius amaret. 
 Talia ex corde meditanti astitit juvenis, decore insignis, 
 quem puerum olim in corpore ipse puer noverat et 
 sancta semper familiaritate dilexerat, referens ea quae 
 sunt aeternaei vitae gaudia, ilium vero in hoc saeculo 
 plura passurum, daemonum insidias, malignitates homi- 
 num ; post omnia h^c ad summos gradus perventurum, 
 multa hominum millia Deo lucraturum, cumque iis 
 coeli regna scansurum. Sed cum ille propter cautelam As a sign of 
 
 T ,. 1 T J - 1 -n his truth, he 
 
 dicenti assensum non dedisset, apprenensum ilium points to a 
 
 .. . t ^ 1 place where 
 
 juvenis m atrium templi mduxit; ostendensque locum apriest,now 
 eatenus inconvulsum, ait, " Ut nulla te credendis hiis heSthfwiu 
 " quae audisti dubietas attingat, ante triduum pres- within three 
 " byter quidam hie sepelietur, qui nondum infirmatur." 
 Exsurgens autem mane ab oratione Dunstanus, convo- 
 catis in unum clericis ad locum venit,^ positoque 
 signo ait " Si vera sunt quae mihi nocturno tempore 
 " ostensa sunt, ante tres dies presbyter quidam hie 
 " sepelietur; et nondum infirmatur." Vix illis ab in- 
 vicem digressis ^ supervenit ejus foeminae, quam proxime 
 laudavimus, curialis quondam presbyter; qui facta cum 
 clericis conventione praefatum locum in sepulturam ob- 
 tinuit, dicens, " Cum me Deus e corpore migrare jus- 
 
 ' aucta sunt] creverunt, R. 
 
 2 m] om. R. 
 
 3 venW] pervenit, R. 
 
 4 ab invicem digressis] abeuntibus 
 . . . digredientibus, R. 
 
90 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Fulfilment 
 of the sign. 
 
 " serit, hoc in loco meas precor reliquias sepelite." B. p. 16. 
 Recessit ergo presbyter vespera^ sanus; noctu rediit 
 segrotus ; decubuit, agonizatus est, defungitur, in loco 
 beato patri signato sepelitur. Stupor ingens circum- 
 dedit omnes propterea quod idem vir tarn mira de loco, 
 tempore, ac persona prsedixisset ; quae omnia post haec 
 vera ipsi et manifesta vidissent. Ipse autem de ostensa 
 ac promissa sibi seternse vitsB^ gloria Isetissimus effi- 
 citur; de cseteris vero non parum tristis ac soUicitus 
 redditur. 
 
 Edmund 
 becomes 
 king., 
 
 His confi- 
 dence in 
 Dunstan. 
 
 Dunstan's 
 power under 
 Edmund. 
 
 Envy of the 
 nobles 
 against him : 
 he is dis- 
 graced. 
 
 18. Defuncto autem rege ^thelstano, frater ejus Ead- B. pp. 21, 
 mundus imperii monarchiam suscepit. Qui cum sciret^^* 
 quanta olim virtute venerandus pater Dunstanus in 
 palatio fulsisset, quam justis operibus et rectis consiliis 
 prseditus fuisset,^ ac per hoc fraterno semper eum amore 
 dilexisset, directis ad eum nunciis orat, ad se^ dig- 
 netur venire, ut quem omnipotenti Deo noverat ac- 
 ceptum, eum inter regios proceres et palatinos prin- 
 cipes summum faceret principatum tenere. At Dun- 
 stanus sive prseceptis apostolicis obedire volens, quibus 
 omnis anima potestati sublimiori subdita esse debere Rom. xiii. 1. 
 praecipitur, sive regnum justitise, quod ex ^ magna parte 
 obsoleverat, in terra Anglorum exaltare cupiens, regiis 
 petitionibus assensum tribuit, consistens pro temporum 
 vicissitudine in palatio, et tam ipsum regem quam omnes 
 Anglorum principes justitise legibus summittens. Sed 
 cum fere semper^ fiat ut ex aliorum industria aliorum 
 crescat invidia, cumque ad quam virtutem pessimus 
 quisque non valet assurgere, eam in assurgente conetur 
 expugnare ; iterum sicut olim. a plerisque nobilium in 
 prosperos Dunstani successus est ofFensum, et regi ut a 
 consortio illorum pelleretur falsa criminatione sugges- 
 tum. Rex autem plus honesto falsis favorem attri- 
 
 ^ vespera] vcspere, L. 
 2 cEternce vitce] om. R. 
 
 quam 
 
 fuisset'] om. R. 
 
 ^ dignetur ad se] ut, ins. L. ; in- 
 ter]. B. ; om. Boll. Mab. 
 
 ^ ex'] et, L. 
 
 6 semper] om. D. E. F. H. I. L. M. 
 
 7 assurgente] assurgentem, R. 
 
AUCTORE OSBERNO. 
 
 B. pp. 23, buens, Dunstanum et rebus et regia gratia privatum on the 
 curia proturbari jubet. Sic primo, sic secundo die tran- the king^ 
 situm. Jamque ^ tertia lux advenerat et rex cum suis Cheddar, 
 
 . . comes to the 
 
 venatum ibat. JNemus autem quod venandi gratia edge of a 
 intraverat mons Ceddrorum ^ perexcelsus concipit,^ qui ^ 
 medio sui interruptus ingens baratrum et immane prse- 
 cipitium de summo spectantibus ostendit. Igitur rex 
 per devexa montis frsena laxare, et per devia quseque 
 fugientem cervum insectari. Fatigantur utrique, rex pro 
 cervo, cervus pro semet ipso. Omni tandem fugiendi^ 
 libertate negata, bestia prsecipitium petit, ruit, ac in 
 partes minutissimas conscissa deperit. Sequentiun* ca- 
 num similis interitus ; ultimum regem sonipes advexit ; 
 qui viso comminus quod prse se fortuna pararat, retraxit 
 habenas, vectorem quoque reflectere nisus ; cum repente 
 ruptis fraenis et de manu porro rejectis, volucri cursu 
 sessorem regem equus asportat. Quid plura ? Omnino 
 de se diffidens, de Dei vero misericordia nonnihil 
 confidens, coeleste auxilium implorat, sicque confitendo 
 orat, " Deus Rex omnipotens Qui, cum sis super omnia He confesses 
 " excelsus, humilia respicis et alta semper ^ a longe cog- ^^^^^^ 
 Ps. cxxxviii. " noscis, adesto nunc non ^ re^i sed ^ homini cseteris and is ml- 
 
 6. I T-i . -T . . , raculously 
 
 mortalibus simili, mque supremo mortis periculo con- preserved. 
 " sistenti; nec reminiscaris injuriarum fideli Tuo Dun- 
 " stano per me illatarum ; quoniam si me ipsius meritis 
 " a prsesenti morte eripueris, quoad vivam, devotum 
 " me ^ Tui nominis et illius laudatorem habebis." Nec- 
 dum plene verba finierat, et quod dictu^^ est incredi- 
 bile, sed Deo nihil impossibile, quasi Divina manu 
 retentum animal in summo voraginis fixum manebat. 
 At ille corde pariter et ore excelsas Deo gratias 
 
 1 Jamque] Itaque, Boll. 
 
 2 Ceddrorum] Cedrorum, E. H. R. 
 
 3 condpit] conspicit, L, 
 qui] in, ins. L. 
 
 ^ tandem fugiendi] itaque fugienti, 
 
 R. 
 
 ^ semper] om. L. 
 ' non] om. L. 
 ^ sed] om. L. 
 9 me] om. R. 
 
 dictu] dictum, D. 
 
92 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Edmund 
 proclaims 
 his deliver- 
 
 ance. 
 
 << 
 
 He gives 
 Glastonbury ^^ 
 to Dunstan. 
 
 n 
 
 Dunstan's 
 reforms at 
 Glaston- 
 bury. 
 
 referens, Dunstanum snse liberationis auctorem adesse B. pp. 24, 
 jubet, et quae per ijlum Divinitas operata sit, coram 
 omni principe^ exponit. Et apprehensa dextera viri 
 osculatus est earn et dixit, "Agnosco, virorum sanetis- 
 sime, quid in te commiserim mali ; non per fidem 
 meam quod ego voluerim, sed quod a pessimis ego^ 
 hominibus coactus id fecerim. Grates ergo clementise 
 Dei, quae non modo debitum mihi supplieium non^ 
 inferre, verum etiam indebitum voluit beneficium 
 praerogare, dum me a prsecipitio mortis eripiens lon- 
 gioris vitae spatia in tuis nominibus * concessit. Sit 
 ergo deinceps inter nos perfectae familiaritatis per- 
 petua integritas ; sit disponendis in palatio rebus 
 libera tibi semper facultas; sit in toto Anglorum 
 imperio judicandi inter virum et proximum ejus 
 summa potestas. Atque ut animi mei affectum ^ circa 
 te cognitum habeas, ilium locum tibi in quo te geni- 
 tum, educatum, conversatum accepi, perpetuo jure 
 possidendum trado, ut quodcunque de illo velis sta- 
 tuere, tui arbitrii sit considerare. Quod si id cordi 
 tuo potissimum sederit, ut ejusdem ordinis viros cujus 
 tu habitum geris, ibidem aggregare placuerit, quidquid 
 eis in quacunque re defuerit ego ob gratiam tui regia 
 liberalitate supplebo." 
 19. Igitur Dunstanus, accepta potestate super regiam B. p. 25. 
 mansionem, quse Glestonia vocabatur,^ post paucos dies 
 augustioris ecclesise fimdamenta jacere, officinas secun- 
 dum exemplar olim sibi ostensum construere, et con- 
 summatis omnibus magnum pariter atque egregium 
 monachorum agmen ibidem coadunare."' Quibus ipse 
 primus ^ abbas effectus, ad tantam perfectionem justitiae 
 omnes cohabitantes adduxit, ut quasi coeli luminaria 
 
 (C 
 
 (C 
 
 ^ principel plebe, R. 
 2 ego'] om. L. M. 
 ^ noTi] noluit, R., on an erasure. 
 in tuis nominibus'] tuis oration- 
 ibus, R. 
 
 ^ affectum] eflFectum, D. 
 ^ vocahatur] vocatur, D., with the 
 correction to vocahatur. 
 7 coadunure] coepit, ins. L. 
 ^primus] om. K. 
 
AUCTORE OSBERNO. 
 
 B. p. 26. ad effugandas totius erroris nebulas et peccatorum tene- 
 
 bras viderentur. Tunc ad omnes -circumquaque eccle- Theflourish- 
 sias ex hisdem monachis pontifices eligi, tunc abbates ti(m of the 
 
 . -, . T m ' monastery 
 
 assumi, tunc demque diversorum omciorum prsepositi provokes the 
 
 .... . T .. anger of the 
 
 mstitui, propterea quod essent et religioms merito prse- devil. 
 
 cipui et doctrinse sapientia clarissimi, et ad catholicse 
 
 fidei defensionem prsestantissimi. Sed tantae religionis 
 i^sam. xvi. spiritus Domini ^ malus impatiens, quo pacto virum a 
 
 statu rectitudinis dejiciat, quantis valet insidiis ela- 
 B. pp. 26, borat. Cuius oculis in cubiculo quadam nocte orantis Dunstan 
 
 27. . 7 • 'J 'L ill detects him 
 
 immanem se iupum mgerit ; iterumque post paululum m two dis- 
 vulpem blandientem confingit. Quam ille specierum 
 varietatem subridens, te," inquit, "per omnia simi- 
 lem tibi ! O formas tuse actioni congruas dum in 
 altero cruentum, in altero te comprobes fraudulen- 
 " turn ! Vade jam, inimice, quoniam in Ejus nomine te 
 " vincam in lupo et vulpe, Qui te in leone superavit et 
 " dracone." Cernens autem magnam se a dsemonibus 
 invidiam pati ; nec suis nec filiorum suorum viribus 
 satis confidens, adhibuit vitse suae patronum Andream Dunstan 
 
 chooses 
 
 apostolum, ut esset fidus interpres apud Deum, assiduus s. Andrew 
 in terra comes, atque in omnibus hujus mundi turbi- patron, 
 nibus custos indeficiens. Hujus ipse assidua protec- 
 tione quasi muro vallatus, securus infra cellam agebat 
 setatem, excelsa mente universa mundi transcendens, 
 et in amore Divinitatis jugi meditatione requiescens. 
 Adelard, Unde suavissimis superorum spirituum concentibus 
 ssepe interesse promeruit, bonam futurse mercedis spem 
 Deo tribuente, ut qui angelorum conversationem agebat 
 in terra, illorum societatem agnosceret in coelo. Deni- His warning 
 
 T £. J • -n 1 T r»T . at the birth 
 
 que dum prserato regi Eadmundo nlius nasceretur of Edgar, 
 nomine Eadgarus, puer videlicet pacis ac justitise baju- 
 lus futurus, audivit idem beatus beatos in coelo ange- 
 los gratulantes, et cum magna gratulatione psallentes, 
 " Sit pax, sit magna Anglorum ecclesise Isetitia, quam- 
 " diu puer natus regnum tenuerit, et noster Dunsta- 
 " nus mortalis vitse metas transegerit." Quod dictum 
 
 ^ domini] dsemonis, Mab. ; om. Boll. 
 
94 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 quanta rerum veritate subnixum sit congruus ordo 
 prsesentis lectionis faciet manifestum. 
 
 Dunstan at 20. Qua etiam tempestate vir Dei precibus regiis B. pp. 46, 
 miracuLous devinctus, Bathensem ecclesiam Divinis cultibus insti- 
 thTdSthof tuendam invisere peregit. Ubi dum facta refectione^ 
 
 one of bis _ , , j i q j 
 
 scholars. solitarius oraret, repente ad^ supema raptus cujus- 
 dam discipuli nobiliter a se apud Glestoniam educati 
 animam immmera angelorum frequentia hinc inde sti- 
 patam, atque immensi luminis fulgore perfusam ad coeli 
 palatium provehi conspicit. Moxque in manus Divinse 
 pietatis earn ^ commendans, dominOs quoque loci ad com- 
 mendandum invitat. Stupentibus quidem omnibus et 
 vix fidem dictis exhibentibus, velocis cursoris testimonio 
 et mors et mortis hora secundum Dei viri testifica- 
 tionem vera probatur. 
 
 He sees the 21. Eegressus autem a loco ut regem loquendi sibi B. pp. 44, 
 
 devil before .t • t j t i i • 'it 45. 
 
 the death of cupidissimum adiret, diabolum scurrse simiiiimum coram 
 ' equitantibus deprendit saltantem, et quasi de futuro 
 aliquo lucro gloriantem. Cujus prsesentiam dum coes- 
 senti populo indicasset, formamque omnium conspectibus 
 horribilem ex imperio denudasset, requisitus postea 
 quid ejusdem monstri tam petulans Isetitia portenderet, 
 ille mortem regis regnique mutationem proximam esse 
 denunciat. Cui mox prophetise rerum Veritas contestata 
 respondit. Nondum enim sol septies diem creaverat, 
 et rex occiditur, et regnum mutatur. Ex quo satis est 
 advertere quanta hujus viri pectus gratia Dei regebat, 
 qui invisibilem hostem tam facile deprehendere et ejus 
 vestigia tam^ veraciter posset denudare. Translatse 
 sunt autem exsequise regis Glestoniam, ibique a beato 
 Dunstano sub magna lugentis populi frequentia terras 
 commendatse. 
 
 Edred be- 22. Successit in regnum jure fratris egregius vir Edre- B. p. 29. 
 comes king. ^^^^ i^omo cultor justitiss ac pietatis, Deum valde diligens 
 
 1 
 
 Dei^ pretiosus, ins. L. 
 
 2 facta refecUone] facta oratione 
 post refectionem, K. 
 
 3 ad2 de, D. 
 '* earn] om. R. 
 ^ tam'} om. B. 
 
AUCTORE OSBERNO. 
 
 95 
 
 B. p. 29. 
 
 B. pp. 29, 
 30. 
 
 Adelard, 
 p. 56. 
 
 et ipse a Deo multum dilecttis ac per hoc ^ paterno His esteem 
 
 . X J. f Qj. Dunstan 
 
 verbere quasi bonus filius crebro ab lUo flagellatus. In 
 hujus conspectu venerabilis pater Dunstanus adeo erat 
 pretiosus, ut omni humano generi eum prseferret, prin- 
 cipem testamentorum statueret, thesauros ei delegaret, 
 animam, corpus, et regnum committeret ; nec quisquam 
 in toto regno Anglorum esset, qui absque ejus imperio 
 manum vel pedem moveret. Proinde Dunstanus quasi Dunstan is 
 
 . . n(* . ... all powerful 
 
 rex et regis imperator effectus, virgam sequitatis, vir- at court, 
 gam regni Dei per omnes Anglorum fines extendere; 
 ecclesias quas aut ipse fundaverat, aut ab aliis fundatas 
 egestas oppresserat, amplis hsereditatibus munerare, pror- 
 sus magnam Isetitiam populis in sua potentia facere, 
 dum pax et justitia in mutuos amplexus concurrerent, 
 et osculandi munus per invicem libarent. 
 
 Dum hsec ita geruntur JElfegus/ apud quem ilium olim 
 conversatum fuisse prsediximus, ad vitam spiritualis 
 sseculi^ dispositus est. Existimans autem rex tempus 
 se opportunum accepisse, quo majoris honoris Dunsta- 
 num compotem faceret, aggreditur rogare ilium ut ec- 
 clesiam pastorali solatio destitutam ipse pastor susci- 
 piat. Sed cum videret se quod suadebat persuadere The king 
 
 , asks his 
 
 non posse, reerinse matri ^ Eadivse ^ verbum imposuit mother to 
 
 r ^ Q ^ ^ r persuade 
 
 suadelse.^ " Scio," inquit, " carissima mater, ac totius J^^^^^J^ 
 imperii Anglorum regina, quod te communis ^ noster of Winches- 
 amicus Dunstanus prsecipue inter homines diligat, in 
 tuis quam maxime operibus delectetur ; dum quicquid 
 pro consilio vitee ^eternse ipse tibi prseceperit, sive id 
 esset in sustentatione pauperum, sive in muneratione 
 ecclesiarum, tu sedula semper executione implere ^ non 
 cessaveris. Qua de re magna animus meus spe de- 
 tinetur, ut si quid ab eo quod me atque ilium deceat 
 
 (C 
 
 « 
 
 « 
 
 R. 
 
 ^ per hoc'] om. R. 
 
 2 Mlfegus] Aelphegus primus, L. 
 
 ^ spiritualis sceeuW] spiritualem, 
 
 • 
 
 ^ matri"} om. D. 
 
 5 EadivcB'] Eadgivse, D. ; Eadi- 
 thae, Boll. ; Edivse, O. 
 
 6 suadelcd] om. R. 
 
 7 communis'] om. L, 
 3 implere] om. R. 
 
96 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Ar|umeiit " postulaveris, nulla tibi ratione denegare velit. De- B. p. so. 
 
 with Dun- " cere antem utrumque nostrum ut summum ipse at- ^^^7^^' 
 
 " tingat sacerdotium, omnibus manifestum est, qui 
 
 " omnes honores vita et sapientia illius seimus esse 
 
 " inferiores, et regem Anglorum multis eseterarum terrar- 
 
 " rum regibus noscimus ^ potentiorem. Aggredere igitur, 
 
 " mater ^ mi dulcissima hominem foeminali facundia ; 
 
 " hortare ea qua apud ilium niteris gratia, ut tibi con- 
 
 " sentiat, quatenus ex hoc Deo familiarius adhserere, 
 
 " et nos potentius valeat a peccatorum vinculis absol- 
 
 " vere." Paret igitur regi filio mater regina, Dunstanum 
 
 asciscit convivio, demulcet alloquio. Sed ille juxta ety- 
 
 mologiam nominis sui, ut mons persistens immobilis. 
 
 He refuses " Nolo," ait, " domina, illud a me expeti, quod vel con- 
 to become a . i i j i 
 
 bishop " cessum meos ammos perturbet, vel non concessum 
 king lives. " tuos offendat. Neque enim nescio quam difficulter 
 " suam quisque ante tribunal Christi causam agat, 
 " nedum alienee causse cognitor aut judex existat. 
 " Quod si ista rationum maxima non esset ; ilia nimi- 
 " rum a suscipiendo episcopatu multum me cohiberet, 
 quod dominum regem constanti video languore peri- 
 " clitari, nec multum me ab e.o posse separari, cum 
 " me tam sui patrem quam regni totius dominum ipse 
 " statuerit." Cumque ilia negitantem ^ suis adhuc ratio- 
 nibus tenere voluisset, motus ille aliquantisper, " Certis- 
 " simum," inquit, " habeto, in diebus filii tui ponti- 
 " ficali infula me non esse sublimandum." Inde fluctu- 
 antes animos gerens cubiculo se dedit ; ibique secum 
 His vision of multa volvcnti somnus obrepsit. Et ecce assunt prin- B. pp. 30, 
 Apostles, cipes regni Dei et judices sseculi, venerabiles Christi ^^Jelard 
 apostoli, Petrus et Paulus cum Sancto Andrea, et quasi p. 57. 
 de urbe Roma egredienti occurrentes et ad Montem 
 Gaudii sibi se adjungentes. 'A quibus gratiosissime salu- 
 tatus, videbat singulos in singulorum manibus gladios 
 
 1 noscimus'] noscamus, D. 
 
 2 mater'] om. M. 
 
 3 negitantem] negantem, E. E. ; 
 
 vegitantem, L. ; restitantem, Mab. ; 
 negitantem, Boll. 
 
AUCTORE OSBERNO. 
 
 B. pp. 30, enitere, quos omnes officiosa benimitate sibi obtulere. The legends 
 
 ,31 on the three 
 
 Adelard, Cumque visum per extensos ante se gladios dueeret, swords. 
 
 P- banc in gladio beati Petri legebat scripturam aureis 
 
 litteris intextam : " In principio erat Verbum, et Ver- 
 
 s.john,i.i. " bum erat apud Deum, et Deus erat Verbum." Cse- 
 terorum vero gladii propria tenentium illos nomina 
 habebant inscripta, Pauli Paulus, Andrese Andreas. In- 
 terea Andream exhilarato vultu aspicit conniventem, et 
 evangelicis verbis audit prsecinentem ; " ToUite jugum 
 meum super vos, et discite a me, quia mitis sum et 
 
 ^Matt.xi. " humilis corde, et invenietis requiem animabus vestris." 
 
 Tunc a beato Petro iussus Isevam extendere modicum s. Peter^s 
 
 f. 1 . .1 1 -n T rebuke and 
 
 crepitantis ferulae ictum excepit, hoc ab illo audiens, ^^^^Ji^®- 
 " Hoc tibi sit poena abjecti, et signum ulterius non ab- 
 " jiciendi pontificatus." Ad cujus virgulse tactum a 
 somno evigilans, divinitus se intelligit visitatum. Agit 
 gratias Deo Cujus munere ita se conspicit honoratum. 
 Cumque die illucescente regi quae viderat enarrasset, 
 Adelard, miratus ille tali enodatione visionem absolvit ; " Quo- Edred inter- 
 
 K7 ... pretsthe 
 
 p. 07. (f jQ^Qj^ arma apostolicse benedictionis potestas ex- vision. 
 " primitur pontificalis, noveris te pro eo quod hesterno 
 " die jugum Domini contempseris, increpatum ac divina 
 " electione futurum pontificem designatum. Porro quod 
 " ' In principio erat Verbum ' gladio beati Petri Apostoli 
 " inscriptum vidisti, cum Verbum Dei sit Unigenitus 
 " Filius Dei, Deus apud Deum semper, homo autem 
 " pro hominibus inter homines factus : profecto scias te Dunstan is 
 
 ^ \J. . . . . tobearch- 
 
 " ejus sedis principem futurum, quae Christi nomine m b^hopi of^^ 
 " urbe Cantuariorum caeteris ecclesiis insignior celebra- 
 " tur." Hoc signo divinae praenunciationis Dunstanus 
 est glorificatus, et hac regiae interpretationis conjectura 
 pontifex designatus. O signum insigne ! O gratiam 
 gratis homini datam ! O cordis illius sinceram puritatem ! 
 Adhuc summus Anglorum pontifex Odo in humanis rebus 
 vitam agebat, et Dunstanus in oculis Superni Inspec- 
 toris summus pontifex erat. Mirandum valde quod ipse 
 adhuc terrigena angelicis concentibus admisceretur in 
 
 G 
 
98 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Spiritual coelis ; mirandum nihilominus quod eum coeli cives fre- 
 
 privilegGS of • • • • 
 
 Dunstan. quentabant in terris. Quid cui prseponam, hominem 
 coelicolis adjunctum, an ccelicolas homini destinatos, non 
 satis comperio, nisi quod in altero felicior, in altero 
 erat ille securior. Stupeant alii diversas diversarum 
 virtutum donationes quibusdam hominibus divinitus 
 coUatas ; ego nihil ita magni pendo, quomodo hominem 
 in hujus mundi turbinibus consistentem, uni versa mundi 
 animo transcendentem, et in amore Conditoris quies- 
 centem, Martham videre ministerio, Mariam desiderio, 
 fidem operantem, caritatem ardentem. Sed nihil diximus, 
 si ^ ea qu8e reliqua sunt dixerimus. 
 
 Illness of 24. At rex Edredus, letali morbo correptus, deeidit in B. p. 31. 
 
 Edred: he^ . , . . . Adelard 
 
 DunstarT ^^^^^^ ; ullam evadeudsB mortis spem medici promit- ^ ' 
 tebant. Celeriter itaque nuncios legat, qui patrem vitse 
 suse Dunstanum accersiant, ut sit ultimi arbitrii testis, 
 confessionum susceptor, et fidelis apud Deum intercessor. 
 Contristatus ergo ad animam Dunstanus, quanta velo- 
 citate potuit, amicum regem invisere pergit. Videns 
 autem ilium Deus et cordis dolore affligi et corporis 
 laborem pati, non est passus ut ultra eum afflictio 
 tangeret, quin et dolorem lenivit et laborem imminuit. 
 
 Dunstan Nam cum esset in itinere, tendens ad palatium,^ et 
 
 has a divme ... .... . 
 
 Edred's membra jejuniis confecta infatigabiliter fatigaret, vox 
 death. summo setherc delapsa insonuit, " Ecce rex Edredus 
 
 " obdormivit in Domino." Cujus vocis emissione equus 
 cui insidebat percussus interiit. Comites tremuerunt, 
 audientes . quidem fragorem tonantis, sed qui tonaret 
 non intelligentes. Quibus ipse rem aperiens, commen- 
 dat animam defuncti regis in manu setemi Regis, sta- 
 timque deferentibus nunciis audit quod ante sibi de 
 coelo angelus absolvit. Ingressus ergo^ palatium Dun- 
 stanus contemplatur dilecti hominis cadaver jacere, co- 
 
 ^ si} nisi, D. E. Mab, ; non, ins. | ^ et laborem . . palatium'] om. R. 
 R. I 3 ergo"] om. R. ; vero, L. 
 
AUCTORE OSBERNO. 
 
 99 
 
 B. p. 32. 
 
 Adelard, 
 p. 59. 
 
 mitum turbas qui olim aurati solebant assistere procul 
 recedere ; miratur commutationem, miseratur conditio- 
 nem. Deinde fidem qua viventem dilexerat defuncto 
 quoque impendere studens, corporis involucrum in sua 
 suscepit, debitumque sepeliendi officium d^bito illi honore 
 persolvit. 
 
 25. Post hunc surrexit Eadwi/ filius Edmundi regis, 
 setate quidem juvenis et nulla regnandi gratia pollens ; 
 qui neque ipse sapiens, neque ^ sapientum consilia ad- 
 quiescens ; sed alter Roboam despectis majoribus natu, 
 puerorum consilia sectabatur. Hos ille perniciosissimos 
 satellites nactus, et eorum consiliis, non tarn consiliis 
 quam insaniis fretus, optimum quemque rebus exspoliare, 
 locupletes proscribere, exhseredare ^ ecclesias, detrahere 
 religioni, multiplices in civitatibus exercere exactiones. 
 Nec solum alienis ab ejus cognatione illius obfuit cru- 
 delitas, verum etiam Neronis Caesaris more in homines 
 sua stirpe oriundos, in ipsam quoque regum ^ matrem re- 
 ginam Eadivam ^ sua dementia debacchari. Prseter hsec 
 libidinis ardens sine intermissione sestuabat ad coitum. 
 Quibus rebus venerabilis pater Dunstanus graviter 
 offensus, frequenter eum simul et acriter in locis oppor- 
 tunis increpare, ille increpantem ridere, simulque multa 
 mala illi minari. Postquam autem ^ industriam suam 
 nihil videt prsevalere, omnino decernit ejus coUoquio 
 abstinendum. 
 
 He buries 
 him. 
 
 Folly and 
 wickedness 
 of Edwy. 
 
 He perse- 
 cutes his 
 grand- 
 mother. 
 
 Dunstan 
 quits the 
 court. 
 
 Adelard, 
 p. 59. 
 
 26. Itaque relicto illo, monasterio xecipitur ; ibique in At Giaston- 
 tanta celsitate deguit religionis ut mensuram sancta beam in 
 excederet devotio. Hoc in loco turris extructa erat, buiidmg^ 
 quam necdum uUa in supremo cacumine tectura claude- to fail, 
 bat. Cumque populus trabem totius operis sustentatri- 
 cem summis muris applicare contenderet, repente ruptis 
 funibus eadem trabes deorsum ruere coepit. Clamor 
 
 L. 
 
 1 Eadwi'] Edwi, D. F. H. ; Edwy, 
 
 2 neque] ipse, ins. L. 
 
 ^ exhceredare] exhsereditare, L. 
 
 ^ reguni] om. L. 
 
 5 Eadivam] Edgivam, D. F. H. 
 Mab. ; Elgivam, Boll. 
 ^ autem] om. L. 
 
 G 2 
 
100 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Dunstan infifens oritur ^ totius populi Dunstanum iteratis vocibus Adelard, 
 
 arrests the ^ , . ' it»59 
 
 maidng the P^^^^^^P^^^i^ ? advolat itaque ocior sanctus, elatam dex- ^' ' 
 sjgnpfthe teram machinse opposuit, e regione crucem depingit. 
 
 Necdum sancta manus sanctos extraxerat digitos, cum 
 ea quae vergere coeperat trabes, non vinculis astricta, 
 non machinis levata, non denique uUo humani ingenii 
 apparatu sustentata, ad locum de quo ruere coeperat 
 revehi videbatur. Si tantse glorise malignus spiritus 
 non invideret, cui invideret? Si tunc virus maligni- 
 tatis suae non effunderet, quando efFunderet? Nihil 
 ergo dubietatis ulterius de viro Dei habens, semel 
 atque simul omnes insidiarum suarum laqueos illi 
 He is intendere statuit. Translatus itaque in speciem ursi 
 thTSeviim consimilem hianti rictu orantem aggreditur, injectis B. pp. 27, 
 
 the shape of . ± -u j. ' 28. 
 
 a bear. ungulis pastoralem quam manu tenebat virgam com- 
 plectitur, atque ad se trahere conatur. At divinus 
 Dunstanus divinitatis spiritu fortiter roboratus, retrac- 
 tum ad se baculum erigit in sublime, fugientem beluam 
 dirissime csedit, nec prius monstrum csedendo desistit, 
 quam flagellum tergo illius tribus in partibus commi- 
 nutum apparuit. 
 
 Edwy's 27. Victus crgo in se diabolus in aliis victorem suum B. pp. 32, 
 
 wanton . • « -kt • ' t Hii 
 
 behOTiour vincere quaerit. JNeque enim rerum occasiones longe 
 nation quibus id quod perverse moliebatur^ in 
 
 usus malignos transferret. Nam rege prsefato eodem 
 quo consecratus fuerat die, in turpes concubitus publico 
 devoluto, ac per hoc omni senatorio ordine offenso, 
 nemine tamen ejus lasciviam redarguere auso, pari ac 
 dragfthe communi omnium voto Dunstanus compellatur,^ qui 
 to^le fe^t regem constanter adeat, regium stuprum divina hu- 
 manaque ratione compescat, mulieris adulterse meretri- 
 cium suspendii comminatione percellat. Fecit ille hoc, 
 et parum est hoc. Repertum insuper cum adultera 
 simul et filia illius principem a moechali toro violenter 
 abstraxit, positaque in capite ejus corona, ante sum- 
 
 1 oritur"] om. E. F. H. I. K. L. M. | ^ compellatur] compellitur, L. 
 
 2 moliehatur] moliebantur, D, | 
 
AUCTORE OSBERNO, 
 
 101 
 
 B. pp. 32, mum pontificem Odonem adduxit. At ganea san- Threats of 
 guitieos intorquens oculos, " Tu/' inquit, mortis me woman. ^ 
 
 suspendio addixisti ? Ego te membrorum decore 
 " privatum sempiterno exsilio damnabo." Cujus in- 
 vectionis tenore spiritus nequam arrectus^ ultionem de 
 viro Dei nefandse meretricis impulsu exspectat. Itaque 
 mulieris animum diabolus instigat, regis iram mulier 
 exaltat ; ambo exsilium Dunstano intentant. Et primo Persecution 
 
 • 1 , 'j'j. !• of monks. 
 
 quidem urgente regis edieto omnes monasticse religioms 
 ecelesise suis rebus spoliabantur, ut quae prsGcipuse 
 semper fuere viro Isetitise, nunc eidem quam maximo. 
 B. p. 33. fierent moerori. Deinde cum ventum fuisset Glestoniam, Glastonbury 
 
 T . . . . « . . seized. 
 
 et descriptis omnibus ipse proscriptus fuisset, inter 
 lacrymas monachorum ejus manu nutritorum, inter 
 lamenta venientium ad se ex omnibus locis amicorum, 
 inter gemitus pauperum consuetis stipendiis per singu- ^^g^^j^ 
 los dies ab illo recreatorum, audita est in atrio templi 
 vox plaudentis diaboli, quasi vox juvenculse acriter 
 atque minute cachinnantis. Quem sanctus ^ severa 
 fronte suspiciens, " Nihil," ait, " super exsilio meo gra- J^^^^^^^'® 
 " tuleris, quoniam plus est quod me redeunte doleas, 
 " quam quicquid me exulante Isetari valeas." Ad quod 
 dictum pallidi regni pallidus minister abscessit. Dun- 
 stanus autem non immemor quid sibi divinus olim 
 B. p. 34. citharoedus prsecinuerit, immo Dominicse memor pro- 
 Adelard, missionis, qua beatos fore qui pro justitia persecutionem 
 patiuntur Ghristus asseruit, marinis se fluctibus tradidit, 
 contrarium littus in gente Flandritarum ^ attingens. 
 Ubi eminenti coram principe terrae illius gratia inventa, 
 manebat in monasterio beati Petri, quod situm est 
 Gandavi, propterea quod illud caeteris illius regionis 
 monasteriis et professione virtutis et philosophise docu- 
 mentis excellere videbatur. Nec tamen cessat vesana 
 furentis mulieris insania, quin omnibus qui virum Dei 
 tempore suae recessionis hospitio foverant, perscrutatis, 
 
 p. 59. 
 
 1 ar rectus^ arreptus, K. R. 
 
 2 sanctus'] Dunstanus, ins. L. 
 
 ^ Flandritarum] nandrensium,R 
 
102 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 The messen- proscriptis, damnatis, ipsius quoque oculis eruendis B. p. 34. 
 
 gerssentto , j. i • • i tr • ± 
 
 put out maliffnos transmitteret mimstros. Verum miserante 
 eyes are dis- divina clemeutia, CUIUS nunquam ^ auxilio destituebatur, 
 
 appointed. ^ n. • t 
 
 ante lUum Gallia susceperat, quam sequoreos servi Jeza- B. p. 34. 
 belis fluctus attigissent. Exultat itaque sanctus, nulla ^^^5^9^^^' 
 exsilii per gratiam Dei damna deplorans, dum suis 
 meritis ita omnes sibi devinciret, ut patriam esse ex- 
 silium putaret. Super hsee ilium amici apostoli con- 
 solatio fovit; qui nuUius rei quam ipse expeteret eum 
 indigere permisit. 
 
 ^^north I^^spiciens ergo Christi dementia Anglorum popu- B. pp. 35, 
 
 people. iixm tanto patrono destitutum, susdtavit eorda virorum 
 ab Humbre ^ fluvio usque ad fluvium Tamisium supra 
 quod ^ urbs Lundonia ^ est fundata, adversus impiuin ^ 
 regem Eadwium; qui omnes quasi in unum hominem 
 translati non modo regnum ipsius abjieere,^ verum etiam 
 ipsum regno expellere moliti sunt, propterea quod in 
 commisso regimine insipienter egisset, sapientes dis- 
 perderet, ignaros boni suis consiliis asdseeret, prorsus 
 libidine atque arrogantia prseceps abiret. Coacti ita- 
 que in turbam regem cum adultera fugitantem atque 
 in inviis sese occultantem armis persequi non desis- 
 womln^^^^ tunt. Et ipsam quidem juxta Claudiam civitatem 
 hamstrung.8 ropcrtam subnervavere, deinde qua morte digna fuerat 
 mulctavere. 
 
 driven be- Porro regem per diversa locorum semetra deviantem, 
 Tham^^f ultra flumen Tamisium compulere. Deinde accito fratre 
 illius optimso indolis adolescente, nomine Eadgaro, quem 
 futurum regem coelesti quondam oraculo designatum 
 fuisse prsediximus, dum pacem regnique salutem suis 
 ac Dunstani temporibus angeli prsedicarent ; statuunt 
 ilium regem super omnes provincias ab Humbre magno^ 
 
 1 nunquam'] nusquam, R. 
 
 2 Humbre'] timbre, D. 
 ^ quod] quem, L. 
 
 ^ urbs Lundonia] civitas Lmido- 
 niarum, L. 
 
 ^ impium] om. L. 
 
 ^ abjicere] abjecere, R. 
 
 ^ magno] om. R. 
 
AUCTORE OSBERNO, 
 
 103 
 
 B. p. 36. flumine usque ad flumen Tamisium, quo flumine am- Edgar 
 borum remum ab invicem dirimebatur. Ita remum, of the 
 
 ' Thames. 
 
 quod unum fuerat, in duos reges divisum gravibus 
 aliquantisper conflictibus bellorum sudabat. Impleta 
 tunc veridica ilia Salvatoris sententia, qua omne reg- 
 s.Luke,xi. num in seipsum divisum destruendum asserit, et do- 
 mum super ^ domum esse casuram, Eadgarus quotidie 
 erat proficiens, ut David pietate ac fortitudine, atque 
 ut Salomon sapientia, divitiis et gloria. Domus autem 
 Eadwii indies decrescere, cum ipse in flagitiis crescere 
 non desiverit. 
 
 17. 
 
 B. p. 36. 
 Adelard, 
 p. 60. 
 
 Adelard, 
 p. 60. 
 
 29. Post paucos autem electionis suae dies praecepit 
 Edgarus diarcha,^ totius regni sui concilium celebrari, 
 in quo annihilatis omnibus quae a fratre suo iniquis 
 fuerant legibus decreta, ac restitutis omnibus qusG 
 violenta illius ^ fuerant dominatione ablata, Dunstanum 
 quoque venerabilem^ abbatem in magna gloria de ex- 
 silio revocavit, et majore quam ab omnibus ante regi- 
 bus honoratus fuisset gloria sublimavit. Cui etiam ut 
 pontificale decus susciperet, vehementi petitione innuit,^ 
 nec ante a precibus quiescere voluit quam ilium a 
 sententia ad consentiendum retraheret, et ecclesije Wi- 
 gornensi, quae sub honore beatae virginis Maria3 pol- 
 lebat, pontificem praeficeret. Qui cum Doroberniam 
 sacrandus advenisset, et recitata^ petitione cleri ac po- 
 puli, summus Dei sacerdos Odo gaudenter annuisset, 
 mirabile dictu, caetetum consecrationis ministerium, non 
 quasi super antistitem Wicciorum/ sed sicut super 
 archiepiscopum Cantuariorum, mirabiliter atque hilariter 
 absolvit. Qua de re a circumstante clero reprehensus, 
 quod contra patrum decreta ageret, qui unius ecclesiae 
 duos probibent esse sacerdotes, nec per jus haereditatis 
 fieri electionem successionis, tale fertur dedisse respon- 
 
 Edgar re- 
 calls Dun- 
 stan. 
 
 He is made 
 bishop of 
 Worcester. 
 
 Odo conse- 
 crates him 
 as arch- 
 bishop. 
 
 1 super^ supra, L. 
 
 2 Edgarus diarcha] rex Edgarus. 
 
 K. R. 
 
 3 illius} om. R. 
 
 ^ vcnerahile7n] patrcm, ius. L 
 
 ^ innuit] imminuit, F. I. R. 
 ^ recitata] citata, R. 
 7 Wicciorurri] Wigomiorum, L. 
 and R. as a correction. 
 
104 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 His argu- suHi ; Si divinis humana non cederent, jure mihi Adelard, 
 dSence of " hominum anctoritas praetendi posset. Nunc vero ^* 
 ^ * " quoniam * auctor omnium Deus est, non possum illud 
 " non facere, quad faciendum ^ Spiritus Dei dignatus 
 " est prsBcipere. Erit namque beatus iste proximus 
 " post mortem meam hujus sedis archiepiscopus, et 
 " adversus mundi principem fortissimus prseliator." 
 Hac ille summi pontificis ratione defensus, procedit ad 
 populum, summus et ille pontifex Cantuariorum prse- 
 titulatus, gestans insignia Aaron non legis velamine 
 adumbrata, sed divinse propitiationis munere per gra- 
 ^vernment ^^^^ Cliristi iusignita. Inde ad ecclesiam quse sibi 
 church fiierat consignata reversus, atque in cathedra pontificali 
 sublimatus, recordatus est quid olim exsultanti diabolo 
 promisisset, cum ilium regalis impietas exsilio ascrip- 
 sisset. Itaque obviis in ilium manibus insurgere, mem- 
 bra ejus evangelico gladio dividere, et oves quae cir- 
 cumquaque errabundse ferebantur ad Dominicum ovile 
 revocare. 
 
 He has^a 30. Intcrca mortuo impio rege Edwio, atque in sor- 
 Edwy's soul tcm maKmorum spirituum translato, Dunstanus in ec- 
 
 carried olf ox • 
 
 by devils, clesia cui praerat, Deividis meditationibus inserviebat, 
 nihil sciens quid de rege actum fuisset. Et ecce tartarea 
 cohors sub ejus aspectu exultando quasi chorum du- 
 cere, et veluti capta prseda laetas victorias agere. Per- 
 scrutatur itaque sanctus causam IsGtitiaD ; audit regem 
 obiisse, animam illius statim gehennalibus incendiis 
 tradendam, sed prius hoc Dunstano ex divino imperio 
 nunciandum. Motus itaque pietate Dunstanus solotenus 
 prosternitur ; largifluus ex oculis lacrymarum imber 
 SsdeUvCT- P^oducitur ; pulsat Deum precibus, nec ab lUo orando 
 ance. quiescit, quousque spiritum regis liberatum agnoscit. 
 
 Brevi autem morula peracta, redit tristis legio inferna- 
 lis, magnoque clamore in has voces erumpit ; " O te 
 " hominem hominum ! O fidei alienum ! O nostris 
 " beneticiis semper ingratum ! Nos detulimus obse- 
 
 1 quoniam] quia, L. | ^ faciendum'] om. L. 
 
AUCTORE OSBERNO. 
 
 " quium ; tu nobis retulisti supplicium ; ad ulciscendas Complaints 
 
 T • i 1 • 1 I of the devils. 
 
 mjurias tuas de regione tenebrarum venimus, et ecce ! 
 " adversis imprecationibus tuis confusi redimus." 
 
 Cumqne ille depromendae veritatis prseceptum dsemoni- Dunstan 
 bus indiceret, agnoscit animam regis angelica virtute them by ar- 
 illis sublatam, ad statutum terminum sub signaculo 
 servatam, nihil juris in illam dsemones habere, sed in 
 sortem poenitentium animarum eandem cedere.^ Turn 
 ille exultans in Domino furores illorum tali ratiocinatione 
 compescuit ; " Quid," inquit, " injuste actum est vobis ? 
 " Si peccavit homo iste, in Christum et in me peccavit. 
 " Sed quoniam meas propter Christum dimisi injurias, 
 " dimisit et Suas Christus, cujus ego clementiam de- 
 " precatus sum. Quod ergo Christus et ego dignati su- 
 " mus clementer ^ indulgere, vos qua temeritate audetis 
 " improbe reprehendere ?" Qua sententia tetri spiritus, 
 quasi Parthica percussi sagitta, muscarum modo a vento 
 raptarum dissiliunt. 
 
 B. pp. 36 SI- Edgarus totius imperii monarcha effectus, cogi- Edgar, now 
 
 ' • solo kinff 
 
 37. tabat beatum virum super omne regnum constituere, makes Duu- 
 
 , . . .-,1 , stan bishop 
 
 nolens m regno sme illo crescere, quem ante regnum prse of London, 
 caeteris studuerat familiarius® diligere: unde apposito 
 patribus suis Lundoniensi episcopo, rogatu regis ac prin- 
 B. p. 37. cipum Dunstanus successione* donatur, annuentibus quo- 
 ^^^0^^' que omnibus ejusdem urbis habitatoribus et importunis 
 vocibus illius nomen acclamantibus. Audierant namque 
 quam fuerat a primseva setate Deo acceptissimus, quam in 
 ilia cui praeerat ecclesia soUicitus, quam denique in omni 
 re bona et optima probatissimus f et ea re noluerunt 
 habere alium cum possent habere lectissimum. Neque ^ 
 ilium juvit excusatio canonum auctoritate prsetensa, qui 
 sicut unam ecclesiam duobus esse episcopis contradicunt, 
 ita duas ecclesias uni episcopo fieri ^ posse non permittunt. 
 
 ' cedere] sedere, L. 
 
 2 clementer^ om. R. 
 
 3 familiarius] om. R. 
 
 4 successione] successioni, L. 
 
 ^ probatissimus'] promptissimus, L. 
 
 6 Neque] enim, ins. L. 
 
 7 fieri] committi, R. 
 
106 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Argument 
 for his plu- 
 ralities. 
 
 Fulfilment 
 of the vision 
 of the 
 Apostles. 
 
 His rigour 
 against 
 unlawful 
 marriages : 
 
 for strict 
 justice. 
 
 cum Johannes, inquiunt, dilectus Domini ^ septem ecclesiis 
 atque earum episcopis prsefuerit, et beatus Paulus 
 omnium sollicitudinem ecclesiarum simul et magisterium 
 habuerit. Talibua beatus pontifex rationum testimoniis 
 victus, Lundanse urbis antistes inthronizatur, non relin- 
 quens eam quam ante habuerat ecclesiam ; sed utrique 
 prsesidens, utramque regens, utriusque verus ac proprius 
 pontifex existens. Habes ergo sanctissime pater gladium Adelard, 
 Pauli, quem tibi eoelitus destinatum olim ipse detulerat, 
 et ad dividendos eeclesise inimicos habendum tradiderat ; 
 et quam vis prior tua pontifiealis potestas non absque 
 vigore evangelicse disciplinse administrata sit, non tamen 
 eam aut gladio aut persona prsesidentis prsemonstrajri 
 oportuit, propterea quod neque Virginem gladius decet, 
 viros autem decet, neque mutando locum mutasti ob- 
 sequium, cum a Virgine transires ad virginem, a matre 
 Domini ad matrem Domini,^ a beata Maria ^ ad ejusdem 
 nominis foeminam.* Accingere ergo bellator fortissimo, 
 accingere gladio potentise Dei, factus potens per eum Ps. xiv. 4. 
 qui supra femur quoque est potentissimus ad dimicandum 
 adversus mundi rectores tenebrarum harum, contra Eph. vi. 12. 
 spiritualia nequitise in coelestibus. Divide illos qui per 
 nefarium scelus illicito ^ abutuntur matrimonio, nec te Adelard, 
 revocet ab inferenda ultione, aut regalis potestas, aut ^' 
 Romani pontificis singularis sublimitas. Da sententiam 
 in populi seductores argentarios, et non prius ad sacrum 
 altare die Pentecostes oblaturus procedas quam et illos 
 vindicta feriat et populo Dei justitia proveniat.^ Ubique 
 tuarum signa virtutum relinque; ubique Dominicse 
 Crucis trophsea erige. Promereberis etenim post modi- 
 cum gladium Petri in quo innumera omnium generum Acts, x. 13. 
 sicut Petrus animalia occides, et in corpus ecclesise man- 
 
 ^ dilectus Domini'] om. R. 
 cum . . . ad matrem Domini'] 
 cum a virgine matre Domini tran- 
 sires ad apostolum Domini, Boll., 
 MSS. r. M. 
 
 ^ a heata . . foeminam] a Wigra- 
 
 cistra ad Lundoniam, Mab., F. M. ; 
 Wirecestra, Boll. 
 
 ejusdem . . foeminam] eandem 
 dominam, L. 
 
 ^ illicito] licito, R. 
 
 ^ proveniat] praeveniat, L. 
 
AUCTORE OSBERNO. 
 
 107 
 
 ducando ^ trajicies ; promereberis, inquam, gladium Petri ffis use of 
 insignitum nomine Omnipotentis Filii Dei, ut in omni of Peter. 
 Anglorum latitudine ligandi solvendique potestas per 
 ilium tibi augeatur, nec valeat in ovile intrare ovium 
 qui te ductore non aseenderit per ostium. Quam merito Dorobemia 
 ostium horrei Dorobernia sonat, ut horreum sit ampli- the barn, 
 tudo imperii Anglorum, ostium vero principatus ecclesise 
 Cantuariorum. 
 
 B. pp. 37, 32. Excessit ergo humanis rebus deductus angelorum Death of 
 Adeiard i^^nibus ad Paradisum prineeps sacerdotum Odo, vir ^* 
 p. 60. clarus sapientia et virtute laudabilis, et, nisi Dunstanus 
 succederet, ab omni Anglorum orbe semper deflendus.^ 
 Post cujus obitum, cum rex Dunstanum adjuraret ut 
 prineeps fieret sacerdotum, nec ille adjuranti uUa ratione 
 assensum accommodaret, assistunt quidam, quorum 
 manus Wentonise episcopus ^Ifsinus ^ impleverat, pos- Succession 
 tulantes confirmari illi summum sacerdotium. Hie enim 
 et ante Odonem summum sacerdotium ambierat, sed cus- 
 tos ecclesise Suae Christus ambitionem illius impediebat. 
 Itaque rex eos qui muneribus pontificis corrupti fuerant 
 nihil suspicions, et ob hoc simplici eos animo exaudiens, 
 orbatam pastore ecclesiam eidem tradidit gubernandam. 
 Sed cum Romam profectus fuisset ut pallium a sede He dies on 
 
 XT • \ • • i A 1 n ' ^ the Alps. 
 
 apostolica susciperet, gravi inter Alpes irigore correptus 
 misere interiit, digna sibi ultione divinitus recompensata, 
 ut qui ab amore ccBlestium friguisset in corde, per 
 frigoris asperitatem periret in corpore ; et qui alienos 
 honores ambire prsesumpsisset, ipse in aliena regione 
 mortuus honorem pariter et vitam amitteret. Iterum 
 preces de archiepiscopatu Dunstano funduntur, nec quic- 
 quam in animo illius consensionis operantur. Quaprop- ^^^^^^^ ' 
 ter dirigitur ^ ad patriarchatum Cantuariensis ecclesise Brihthehu. 
 Beorhtelmus ^ Dorsatensium episcopus, homo mansuetior 
 
 ' manducando] mandendo, R. 
 
 2 defiendus"] esset, ins. L. 
 
 3 Mlfsimis] Elfegus, R. ; Alfsi- 
 
 liU5, L. 
 
 dirigitur'\ deligitur, Mab. eligi- 
 tur, L. 
 
 ^ Beorhtelmus'] Bryhtelmus, L. ; 
 Brihtelmus, I. ; Berchtelmus, F, H. 
 
108 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 He^s^sent^ quam industrior, et qui su86 magis quam aliense vitse b. p. 38. 
 
 diocese. nosceret consulere. Is post paucos suscepti pontificatus ^^g^Q^^^' 
 dies, cognitus quod ad tantam rem minus" esset idoneus, 
 jussus a j::ege et ab omni populo Cantuaria discedit, atque 
 ad rolictam nuper ecclesiam suam non sine verecundia 
 redit. Dominus namque agebat pro Dunstano, ut im- 
 pleret verbum Suum quod promiserat in manu principum 
 regni Sui. Advertens autem rex Edgarus horum repro- 
 bationem melioris esse voeationem, solumque in omnibus 
 
 Dunst^^^ hominibus esse Dunstanum cui nemo conferri, immo 
 omnibus posset prseferri, tertio ilium precibus fatigatum, 
 tandemque tum sui ipsius tum omnium episcoporum im- 
 portunitate superatum, primse metropolis Anglorum pri- 
 matem ac patriarcham instituit. Quern statim ob robur 
 
 He goes to apostolicse fidei vel auctoritatis ad Romuleam urbem 
 
 Rome for 
 
 the pall. profectum, Romanus pontifex videre promeruit, eumque 
 sacris pontifiealibus decoratum, quasi angelum Domini 
 exercituum ad exhibendam divinse legis scientiam, aut 
 quasi columnam lucis ad illuminandam faciem terrse, 
 genti Anglorum transmisit. Ecce quemadmodum impleta Adelard, 
 sunt quse per gladium verbo Dei inscriptum, ac beatil**^^* 
 principis apostolorum Petri legatione exhibitum, tanto 
 
 ^uuhe ^^^^ prsenunciata fuerunt. Sed quid sibi vult quod 
 
 sword of (Je manu tertii apostoli tertium gladium acceperit, cum 
 in ecclesia quse sub ejus nomine apud Rovecestrem ^ 
 venerabilis habetur, pontifex nunquam sederit ? Sedit 
 plane potestate, etsi non corporali sessione. Sedit in- 
 quam potestate ; imperio sedit ; defensione sedit ; bene- 
 ficiis sedit. Sed ne virtutum illius gratia urbs Cantuaria 
 esset privata, aut augmentum suscepti ^ honoris dimi- 
 nutio prseteritse videretur fuisse virtutis, dignatus est 
 
 The answer. Spiritus Sanctus novis quibusdam gratise suae principiis 
 ita virum in ecclesia Salvatoris clarificare, ut mirabilis 
 ipse extra hominis naturam videretur esse. Nam cum 
 die adventus sui primo sacris altaribus assisteret, et 
 
 1 Rovecestrem'] Kovecistrem, D. 
 F. I. ; Roffensem, L. : Rovecestram, 
 
 Boll. ; Rovecestriam, E. ; Roveceas- 
 tram, H. 
 
 2 suscepti"] suscepit, L. 
 
AUCTORE OSBERNO. 
 
 109 
 
 Adelard, populo Dei vivificum panem ^istribuendo porrigeret, vision of 
 
 p. 62. 11 1 1 • T 1 T tlie dove. 
 
 repente contecta nube domo columba m Jordane a Jo- 
 hanne olim visa iterum apparuit; quae quousque sacri- 
 ficium fuisset consumptum super ilium mansit. Cumque 
 consumptum fuisset sacrificium, requievit supra memo- 
 riam beati Odonis, quae ad australem partem altaris in Dunstan's 
 
 . . « . . . , reverence 
 
 modum pyramidis exstructa fuit. Ex qua die ita ponti- for Odo. 
 fex meritum ejusdem hominis Dei reveritus est, ut 
 nunquam pertransiret nisi genua flecteret, bonumque 
 ilium vocaret, ita dicens, " Hie requiescit Odo bonus." 
 
 34. Per idem tempus quidam magnus videlicet et po- At the con- 
 tens Salvatori sediculam instituit, ad quam sacrandam of a new 
 
 church 
 
 et jure proprio possidendam venerabilis pontifex Dunsta- Dunstan 
 
 ... ., TTi • 1 • • J • IT calls water 
 
 nus invitatus accessit. Ubi cum ad mimsterium dedi-out^ofa 
 cationis aqua defuisset, et per hoc invitatori verecundia 
 accessisset, ad vocem viri, quam per naturam non habuit 
 per gratiam Dei arida rupes aquam profudit. Quae de 
 eadem rupe usque hodie manat, ac salutiferum fidelibus 
 poculum prsebens, Dunstani nomen celebre facit. 
 B. p. 40. Dunstanus igitur Candida apostolatus sui stola a He travels 
 Romano pontifice, ut diximus, infulatus, et universae preaching 
 Anglorum genti necnon et aliis regionibus Anglorum country, 
 regno suppositis patriarcha destinatus, festinabat singu- 
 las regionis ^ digredi civitates, ut si quibus nomen 
 fidei incognitum fuisset, pra3dicaret, et domesticos fidei 
 apostolica traditione ad bonum opus instrueret. Nec 
 facile erat quempiam auditorum ejus non esse docibi- 
 lem, propterea quod tanta illi rerum subtilitas inerat, 
 tanta dicendi facultas, ut nihil esset aut inventu sapi- 
 entius, aut dictu ornatius, aut auditu jocundius. Cum His ordi- 
 autem a forinsecis rebus requies data fuisset, tunc con- pioyment. 
 junctius cum Deo manere sacris vigiliis insistendo, 
 divinas scripturas legendo, aut earum codices emendando. 
 Summumque studium erat ut nunquam a divinis ope- 
 ribus vacaret ; sed nunc verum judicium inter virum 
 
 ^ regionis"] regionum, R. 
 
110 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 His^^Hs^ et virum discernere, i^inc impacatas hominum mentes B. pp. 40, 
 placido sermone tranquillare ; homm inepta dissolvere 
 conjugia ; illorum haereticam refutare opinionem ; hie 
 neglecta renovare, illic nova construere; neque aut su- 
 perfluas sedificationes aggredi aut necessarias prseter- 
 mittere. Viduis, orphanis ac peregrinis, ex justis ecelesise 
 redditibus subvenire, pecuniam non lucri sestimatione 
 sed pietatis adquisitione habere. Totam operam suam 
 patriae impendere et magis repellere ejus, excidia ^ quam 
 
 fluence with P^^P^^^ pericula. Proinde rex consilio ejus ut vitse suae 
 
 Edgar. credens, et omne quod ab eo diceretur quasi ab Omni- 
 potentis ore prolatum fuisset suscipiens, qusecunque 
 erant statuenda statuit, quaecunque damnanda ^ dam- 
 navit : hoc consiliario omnes diabolicae malignitatis 
 ministros, fures, sacrilegos, perjures, fidei violatores, 
 
 General veneficii compositores, libidinis appetitores ; adhaec qui- 
 cunque contra patriam ^ conspirassent, qui in parentes 
 manus extendissent ; mulieres etiam quae adulterina 
 fraude viros sues interfecissent ; postremo omnes quos 
 irato Deo vivere sciebat, ex omnibus regni sui finibus 
 proturbatos diuturno aut perpetuo relegavit exsilio. 
 
 His disci- Huius quoQue consilio omnes ecclesiarum ministros, qui 
 
 plmeofthe *^ ^ ^ . . ... t i. 
 
 clergy. spreto professioms suae mimsterio, aut venandi studio 
 intenti, aut quaestuosis negotiis dediti, seu concumbendi 
 insolentia deturpati, aetatem agere solebant, omnes hos 
 aut districta animadversione decrevit coercendos aut 
 cita subversione de ecclesiis ^ expellendos. Ex quo fac- 
 tum est, ut quarundam clarissimarum ministri ecclesia- B. p. 26. 
 rum, dum in eligendo quodcunque deliberarent volup- 
 tatem honestati praeferrent, regali sanctione de eisdem 
 ecclesiis expulsi, melioribus se et alterius ordinis homi- 
 nibus sua loca relinquerent. 
 ^mon^ Propter haec igitur sanctissimae instituta disciphnae 
 achism. tautus in regno Anglorum divinitatis cultus excrevit, ut 
 
 ^ repellere . . excidia] expellere 
 . . excidiam, L. 
 
 2 erant . . damnanda] damnanda 
 
 damnavit, D. ; statuenda damnavit, 
 L. 
 
 2 patriam] om. E. 
 ecclesiis] ecclesia, R. 
 
AUCTORE OSBERNO. 
 
 Ill 
 
 et nobilissimi quique aut in sseculo prsepotentissimi, 
 spretis omnibus mundi pompis, ad divina confugerent 
 servitia; et hii quos jam ecclesiasticus ordo admiserat 
 de virtute contenderent, scientes neminem ad honorem 
 posse pertingere quem non virtutum merita juvarent. 
 Ob hujus quoque diseiplinse excellentiam tanta paeis 
 constantia, tanta rerum exstitit opulentia, ut omnia 
 mundi elementa Ipsum quoque elementorum Creatorem 
 Deum regiis temporibus arridere putares. Sic pontificis ^^^^^^^ 
 sapientia dietabat regis justitiam ; regis justitia obti- Edgar and 
 
 • T-^ • • • T • -T-v • • • JJiinstan. 
 
 nuit Dei misericordiam, Dei autem misericordia omnium 
 rerum prsestitit abundantiam. 
 
 35. Sed hsec communia totius ecelesise gaudia eupiens Snareofthe 
 disturbare, malignus accendit animum Christianissimi 
 regis in amorem Deo devotse virginis, ut quoniam a 
 tramite justitise Dunstanum dejicere non potuisset, eum 
 quem praecipue Dunstanus diligebat, et supei* quem 
 totius religionis vigor incumbebat, dejicere temptaret. 
 Perpetrato itaque in virginem velatam ^ peccato, atque Edgar cor- 
 ad publicam populi audientiam perlato, Dunstanus tarn veiled 
 
 1 m n m • .•11 Virgin. 
 
 pro culpa quam pro miamia regis gravissimo dolore 
 affectus, mox ilium veluti alterum David cum Bethsa- 
 bee ^ dormientem, alter ille sed longe ^ severior Nathan 
 intrepidus adiit ; furibimdus ad eum introiit. Assurgens 
 autem rex venienti obviam pontifici, extendit manum 
 ut eum ad re^rium deduceret thronum. Qui renuens Dunstan 
 
 ^ .... refuses to 
 
 manum dare, oculos cum quadam animi indignatione in ^ouch Mm. 
 ilium torsit, et ait, " Tu pontificis manum audes con- 
 
 tingere, qui virginem Deitatis munere arratam non 
 " timuisti prseripere ? Sponsam tui Conditoris adulte- 
 
 rasti, et amicum sponsi aliquo tuo obsequio existimas 
 " posse placari ? Nolo amicus esse cui Christus fuerit ^,i»?> 
 
 ^ ^ , , humiliation. 
 
 " inimicus." Territus ergo verborum tonitruo rex, ob- 
 jurgantis se pedibus pontificis extemplo prostemitur. 
 
 ' velatam'] om. L. 
 
 - Bethsahee] Bersabee, L, 
 
 longe] valde, L. 
 
112 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 scelus flebiliter^ fatetur; veniam humiliter precatur. 
 Quod ut vidit pontifex, expavit, perfusumque regem 
 lacrymis, lacrymis ^ et ipse madens tellure levavit. De- 
 inde cum magnitudinem peccati per amplificationem 
 exposuisset, et paratum ilium ad omnem satisfactionem 
 His seven reddidisset, septemiem ei poenitentiam indixit, ut in hoc 
 penance, toto spatio coronam regni sui non gestaret; jejunium 
 in hebdomada biduale transigeret: avitos pauperibus 
 thesauros large dispergeret. Super hsec sacrandis Deo 
 virginibus monasterium Sceftonise^ fundaret, quatenus 
 qui unam per peccatum Deo'virginem abstulisset, plures 
 Ei per plura sseculi volumina aggregaret. Clericos 
 autem male actionales de ecclesiis expelleret; mona- 
 chorum agmina introduceret, justas Deoque acceptas 
 legum rationes sanciret, sanctas conscriberet, conscriptas 
 per omnes fines imperii sui populis custodiendas man- 
 daret. Nihil ergo residuum fuit quod minus aut seg- 
 nius rex implevit quam a rectore vitse suae prseceptum 
 He is fuisset. Septimo autem anno, cum redeunte quasi lu- 
 
 crowned at / . . a r» • 
 
 theendofit. bileo termmo poenitentise tempus exactum* fuisset, 
 sacer prsesul accitis omnibus imperii Anglorum princi- 
 pibus, episcopis, abbatibus, et universis ecclesise digni- 
 tatum ordinibus, imposuit regi coronam coram omni 
 multitudine populi Anglorum, laetantibus cunctis et in- 
 effabilibus jubilationis vocibus Deum in Dunstano lau- 
 dantibus. Puerum quoque ex peccatrice quondam pro- 
 genitum sacro fonte regeneratum levavit, et aptato illi 
 nomine Edwardo, in filium sibi adoptavit.^ 
 Reforms in Iiiterea tanta clericalis ordo quibusdam in locis 
 
 the church, (jonfusione agebatur, ut non solum a vita ssecularium 
 excedentius nihil haberet, verum etiam improbis ac- 
 tibus longe inferior jaceret. Qua de re pastores ec- 
 clesiarum turbati, Dunstanum ut proprium primatem 
 
 ^ Jlebiliter'] om. R. 
 
 2 lacrymis^ om. R. 
 
 ^ Sceftonice] Scephtoniae, R. ; ali- 
 quod, M. ; quoddam, D. I. L. ; sen- 
 tence omitted in K. 
 
 ^ exactum] adactum, D. 
 
 ^ Puerum . . adoptavif] om. D. 
 L. M. ; erased in F. and I. The 
 importance of these variations is 
 remarked on in the Preface. 
 
AUCTORE OSBERNO. 
 
 113 
 
 adeunt, res male gestas exponunt, correetionis ^ consilia He turns out 
 
 . ' n 1 !• the secular 
 
 perquirunt. At ille m homines iniandos suse auetori- clerks, 
 tatis proferens sententiam, " Aut canoniee," inqmt, " est 
 " vivendum aut ecclesiis exeundum." Ex quo factum 
 est ut complurium ecclesiarum clerici dum contempne- 
 rent proposita conditione corrigi, auctoritate pontificis 
 sint expulsi. Qui rege adito vel quos regis gratia 
 proximos effecerat, Dunstanum injuriarum accusant ; se 
 virtutis amatores pronunciant, ut in prsesentia regis 
 conveniatur orant, Dunstanus itaque his quse quasi At a council 
 
 • X A J. ^VincheS" 
 
 rationabiliter ^ postulabantur contraire nolens, coacto 
 concilio Wintoniam venit ; ubi ex sententia totius con- are heard, 
 cilii de adversariis victoriam cepit. Cumque ex jure 
 nihil sibi superesse conspicerent, usi auxilio regis et 
 principum, ad preces se vertunt, quibus episcopum fla- 
 gitant quatenus intromissse personse de ecclesiis expel- 
 lantur, expulsse restituantur. Dubitante viro Dei 
 nullumque ad rogata responsum porrigente, res mira 
 et sseculis inaudita, ecce Dominici Corporis forma 
 vexillo crucis infixa atque in editiore domus parte lo- 
 cata, humanos exprimens modos, omnium voces com- Miraculous 
 pescuit dicens, "Absit hoc ut fiat, absit hoc ut fiat." a crucifix, 
 
 A J -in which de- 
 
 Ad quam vocem rex omnesque majores natu lere usque cides the 
 ad exhalationem perterriti, clamore pariter et Dei lau- 
 datione aream ^ complent. Et his quidem adversariis 
 viventibus cessatum est a contentionibus, quousque per 
 successionem filiorum prior discordia renovata est. Qui 
 abeuntes et iniquitatis su8e defensorem Beornelmum^ 
 Scottorum pontificem assumentes, hominem videlicet tam it is revived 
 
 1 •! i r» f; • 1 •! 11' in the next 
 
 mgenio quam loquacitate lere ^ msuperabilem, ad homi- generation, 
 nem Dei in villam quae Kalne vocatur tendunt, turgenti 
 spiritu scandalum proponunt. Dunstanus autem longo 
 quidem senio et magnis ecclesise laboribus effractus, 
 jam praeter orationem post tergum omnia posuerat ; 
 attamen ne pars iniqua divino quondam miraculo victa. 
 
 ^ correetionis^ correptionis, O. 
 2 rationabiliter^ irrationabiliter, L. 
 ^ aream^ aerem, L. 
 
 * Beornelmum] Heornelinum, M. ; 
 Byomnelmum, R.] 
 
 5 /ere] om. R. 
 
 H 
 
114 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Dunstan 
 declines to 
 contest the 
 matter. 
 
 Pall of the 
 floor of the 
 room where 
 the council 
 was held. 
 
 nunc de adipiscenda gloriaretur victoria, hoc in hostes 
 responsionis jaculum vibrat, "Quoniam," inqnit, "tanto 
 tempore elapso calumnise ansam^ non prsetendistis,^ 
 nunc autem senescente me ac tacitumitati operam 
 dante, antiquis querelis deservire contenditis, fateor, 
 vincere vos nolo, ecclesise Suae causam Christo judici 
 committo." Dixit, et quod dixit irati Dei censura 
 firmavit, mox etenim concussa^ domus; coenaculum 
 sub pedibus ^olutum ; hostes solo prsecipitati ac ruen- 
 tium trabium pondere oppressi;^ ubi vero cum suis 
 sanctus accubitabat ibi nulla ruinse suffusio fiebat. 
 
 (e 
 
 « 
 
 (C 
 
 « 
 
 Dunstan 
 obtains the 
 election of 
 Edward as 
 king. 
 
 37. At rex Edgarus immatura morte prsereptus, Ed- Adelard, 
 wardum filium suum et regni et morum haeredem reliquit. ^' 
 In cujus electione dum quidam principes palatini ad- 
 quiescere noUent, Dunstanus arrepto crucis vexillo, quod 
 prae se ex more ferebatur, in medio constitit, Edwardum 
 illis ostendit, elegit, sacravit, patrisque ac magistri 
 affectum quoad vixit impendit. Versumque omnibus 
 in gaudium est quod paulo ante triste putaverant, ex- 
 istimantes juvenem regem inhumanum futurum, consilia 
 sapientium non curaturum, sed pro libidine omnia ac- 
 turum. Sed postquam secus esse cognovere, secus et 
 ipsi rem tenuere, et displicuisse sibi regem vehementer 
 displicuit. Sed illo post triennii tempus novercali 
 Etheiredis fraude occiso, Ethelredus, quem fama fratrem ejus lo- 
 
 chosen. 
 
 quebatur, regnandi sceptra obtinuit. Quae res quamvis Adelard, 
 infesto fieret Dunstano, vel quia per effiisionem san- ^' 
 guinis innocentis ad regnum perveniret, vel quia 
 parum prudentise ac fortitudinis illi inesset, non^ erat 
 tamen consilium resistere, propterea quod filius regis 
 et proximus tunc hseres videretur esse. Attamen in 
 die consecrationis suae, post impositam coronam, fertur 
 hoc illi praedixisse Dunstanus, "Quoniam aspirasti ad 
 
 On his 
 death 
 
 ^ ansani] causam, E. L. R. Mabil- 
 ]on reads ansam, and the Bollandists 
 also, as well as MSS. F. H. I. K. 
 D. M. N. and O. 
 
 2 prcetendistis'] protendistis, L. 
 
 3 concussa] est, ins. L. 
 ^ oppresst] sunt, ins. L. 
 
 ^ non] 61, ins. L. ; tamen, om. R. 
 
AUCTORE OSBERNO. 
 
 115 
 
 refiTiiim per mortem fratris tui, quem oceidit ignomi- Dunstan 
 
 , propli6si6s 
 
 " niosa mater tua, non deficiet e^ladius de domo tua Etheired's 
 
 . . . , -I , ' i. n ' misfortunes. 
 
 sseviens m te ommbus diebus vitse tuse, mteriiciens 
 " de semine tuo, quousque regnum tuum transferatur in 
 " regnum alienum cujus ritum et linguam gens cui prsG- 
 
 sides ^ non novit. Nec expiabitur nisi longa vindieta 
 " peccatum tuum et peecatum matris tuae et peceatum 
 " virorum illorum qui interfuere consilio illius nequam.''^ 
 
 38. His temporibus contigit iEthelwoldum ^ Wentanse ^^^^^^^^^^^f 
 ecclesise antistitem, cum alio quodam Rofensi episeopo, ^^^^^^^ 
 Cantuariam venire, mamumque Dunstano de adventu suo visit Canter- 
 
 ' * ^ ^ , bury. 
 
 gaudium prsestare, propterea quod ejus doetrina ae cura, 
 alti, docti ae per varias virtutum disciplinas ad summos 
 ecclesise honores fuissent proveeti. Plerisque ergo die- 
 bus in mutua sermocinatione simul et exultatione per- 
 aetis, egreditur archiepiseopus de civitate, volens ad 
 locum ecclesiae Christi^ mansionarium proficisci. 
 
 im On their 
 ^ . . journey 
 
 vero comitabantur deducentes eum quousque illos vianomeDun- 
 
 * ^ stan accom- 
 
 diximeret, quae unumquemque ab altero separatum ad ^^^^^ *J^tSe 
 locum quo ire disponebat dirigeret. Cumque imminente w. 
 jam vespera procul adhuc a loco distarent, tardiuscule 
 enim quam hora postulabat de urbe exierant, archi- 
 episcopum deprecatur Rofensis antistes ut ad vicinum 
 ecclesise suae patrimonium divertat, noctumum tempus 
 secum transigat, mane vero si ita placuerit migrationem 
 faciat. Cujus ille postulationi dignanter annuens ait, 
 " Si confrater noster ^thelwoldus mecum venire volue- 
 " rit, in me nulla veniendi mora erit." Assenserunt 
 ergo pontifices in eodem, pariterque ^ paratum sibi h abi- 
 taculum subeunt. Jam aurea lux noctis fugaverat um- 
 bras, cum beati illi, in viam progressi, collem ascendunt, 
 inde ab invicem vicaria pacis relatione dividendi ; ex- 
 
 ^ prcesides] praBes, R. 
 
 2 nequam] neci, R. 
 
 3 ^thelwolduni] Ethelwold died 
 Aug. 1, 984 : the name of the bishop 
 of Rochester at the time was Elf- 
 stan : if this story is true, two Elf- 
 
 stans must have been bishops in 
 succession, one of whom is other- 
 wise unknown. 
 
 * Christi] om. R. 
 
 ^ pariterque] om. R. 
 
 H 2 
 
116 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Dunstan tendens aut'em manum summus Dei sacerdos ut coes- 
 that they are sentes SGCum minores pontifices benediceret atque dimit- 
 todie. " teret, extemplo erupit in fletum, fletum adeo magnum 
 ut vix de sancto ^ pectore vocem valeret efFerre. Expa- 
 vescunt ad factum pontifices insolitum. Fletuum cau- 
 sas soUiciti perquirunt, et post modicum hoc ad qusesita 
 responsum accipiunt, " Ea/' inquit, " re fleo quoniam 
 " vos in proximo morituros scio." Cumque illi refer- 
 rent, "Noli, sanctissime pater, tam dira nobis prophe- 
 " tia occurrere, non enim moriemur, sed iterum atque 
 " iterum pariter nos incolumes videbimus," tali quod 
 dixerat responsione firmabat ; " Quod dixi necesse est 
 " fieri ; moriemini namque huic sseculo sed vivetis Deo ; 
 " moriemini in hae vita diutius non mansuri, sed ad 
 Deum vadetis setemaliter cum illo victuri." Diver- 
 The pro- tunt ergo ab invicem pontifices moerentes pro invicem, 
 SuedT ^ " magis tamen pro se quisque pio timore soUicitus. Sed 
 Rofensis episcopus abiens in civitatem suam, mox ut 
 intravit vehementer segrotavit, postque paucos dies, prout 
 veriloquus vates prsedixerat, e sseculo migravit. iEthel- 
 woldus vero priusquam ad proprise sedis urbem veni- 
 ret, ultimo corporis languore correptus coelestis sedis 
 habitationem suscepit. 
 Dunstan has Super cujus morte venerabilis pater admodum con- Adelard, 
 directing tristatus, sive quod sanctissimise semper religionis fuerit, P^' * 
 mote E^ege seu quod magnam de substituendo sacerdote litis occa- 
 
 to Winches- . • i«i it 'it i j. • 
 
 ter. sionem viventibus dereliquerit, deprecatus est Dommum 
 desertse ecclesise benignum fore provisorem. Cui mox de- 
 precanti assistit familiaris amicus suus Andreas aposto- 
 lus, precibus ejus Deum dicit annuere, Bathensem abba- 
 tem nomine Alfegum monet adducendum et ex divinitatis 
 consilio Wentanae ecclesise antistitem praeficiendum. 
 Ita quicquid rerum ipse desiderasset per interpretem 
 apostolum confestim a Deo consequebatur. Sed et ille 
 vicem honoris apostolo persolvens in omni obsequio illi 
 studebat deferre, basilicas in ejus nomine fabricare, fab- 
 ricatas muneribus decorare. 
 
 ^ sancto] om. B. 
 
AUCTORE OSBERNO. 
 
 117 
 
 B. pp. 40- 
 44. 
 
 39. Dum ergo quodam tempore praGfatus rex Athel- Etheired 
 redus propter quasdam dissensiones civitatem obsideret Rochester; 
 Rofensem, et facta capiendi illam difficultate, patri- 
 monium beati apostoli devastando invaderet, manda- 
 
 vit eidem beatissimus pontifex ab stultitia quiescere, 
 Andream sicut ad prsestandum faeilem, sic ad ulciscen- 
 dum virilem, in promptu esse ut potentiam ipsius Dunstan 
 
 . , . 1 T. . .11. -, bribes him 
 
 ipse experiatur si nsereditatem lUius vexare non des- to leave it 
 titerit. Contemptus a rege Dunstanus, iterum cur- 
 rentibus nuneiis eadem suggerit, insuper argenti pondo 
 centum transmittit. Qui accipiens recessit ab obsidione. 
 Quod simul atque ^ pontifici ^ renunciatum fuisset, mira- 
 tus cupiditatem hominis hoc illi scribere curavit, Quo- Dunstan's 
 
 . . T-v ^ contempt 
 
 mam prsetulisti pecuniam Deo, argentum apostolo, for him. 
 mese voluntati tuam cupiditatem, velociter venient 
 super te mala quae locutus est Dominus, mala qualia 
 non fuerunt ex quo gens Anglorum regnare coepit His pro- 
 usque ad tempus illud. Attamen vivente me ista ceminghim. 
 non erunt,^ quoniam et hoc locutus est Dominus." 
 Quae omnia ita^ contigisse in aimalibus legere, et nos- 
 tris temporibus est videre. 
 
 40. Sed ut jam beatum ilium de quo loquimur fiden- Dunstan's 
 
 ,. T_ • n J. • 1 \c T • visions of 
 
 tius pro obsequlo alioquamur, et sic ad felicem ejus heaven, 
 transitum madentibus oculis transeamus, quantse illud 
 contemplationis est, pater mirabilis, pater insestimabilis, 
 quantse illud contemplationis est,^ quam excedens om- 
 nium mortalium mentes, quod vel Dei genitricem in 
 hac mortali vita vel tuam genitricem in ® seterna vide- 
 bas vita. In coelum namque deducebaris, intereras bea- His vision of 
 tis agminibus illis, oblectabaris modulationibus angelo- marriage, 
 rum, eandem genitricem tuam quasi nuptiali thalamo 
 seterno regi copulantium, et suave Kyrieleyson modu- 
 lantibus organis resonantium. Cumque de tuse tacitur- 
 nitatis silentio arguereris, quod inter tanta setemae 
 vitae gaudia solus tu a divinis laudibus cessares, cum 
 
 1 simul atque] postquam, R. 
 
 2 pontifici] Dunstano, L. 
 
 3 eruntT] fuerunt, L. 
 
 ■* itd] ista, D. 
 
 * quantce . . est] om. L. 
 
 ^ hac mortali . . in] om. D, 
 
118 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 His vision 
 of the 
 virgins. 
 
 He is taught prsecipue tibi pro honore parentis gaudendum fuisset, B. p. 4i. 
 
 a hymn in « i • i i i» • • j i 
 
 the vision, reierresque nujus tantae suavitatis mscium te^ esse, quam 
 , breviter, quamque dulciter, a civibus civitatis ^ illius 
 edoctus in has voces cantando erupisti, rex domi- 
 nator gentium, salva genus ^ Christianorum in terra 
 adhuc peregrinantium, ut et ipsi post inimicitias ad 
 gratiam revertantur et angeliese ruinse per illos damna 
 reparentur." 
 
 Jam vero quibus exultationis labiis edicam, quod 
 matrem Domini Salvatoris, reginam mundi,^ dominam 
 angelorum, virgineis oculis vidisti, non vestali choro 
 cireumdatam, sed virginali corona circumfusam. Feli- B. pp. 48, 
 ces oculi tui qui illam videre potuerimt cujus castis- 
 sima viscera coeli ac terrse Opificem portare meruerunt. 
 Felices oculi tui quibus datum est illam videre quam 
 speciosam super filias Jerusalem angeli venerantur, ho- 
 mines desiderant, pavescit tartarus, et omnis creatura 
 heram miratur. Nec inde solummodo felix quod illud . 
 singulare totius orbis decus videre potuisti ; potuisti 
 etiam ^ mellifluas ejus voces audire quibus socias vir- 
 gines ad coUaudandum Regem saeculorum ex sua carne 
 temporaliter procreatum hortabatur, concinens illud viri 
 sapientis ac senatoris Sedulii, 
 
 " Cantemus Domino, socise, cantemus honorem ! 
 " Dulcis amor Christi personet ore pio;" 
 
 cumque ab aliis virginibus hoc fuisset exceptum, alisG® 
 qui sequuntur versus pronunciabant, 
 
 . " Primus ad ima ruit magna de luce superbus 
 " Sic homo cum tumuif primus ad ima ruit. 
 Unius ob meritxim cuncti periere minores, 
 " Cuncti salvantur unius ob meritum ; 
 Sola fuit mulier patuit qua janua lethi, 
 " Ex qua vita redit, sola fuit mulier." 
 
 They sing 
 the hymn of 
 Sedulius. 
 
 1 te] om. R. 
 
 2 civitatis'\ coelestibus, R. 
 
 3 genus~\ humanum, ins. L, 
 * mundi^ coeli, L. 
 
 ^ etiam'] om. L. 
 
 ^ alice'] alii, R. 
 
 ^ tumuW] timuit, L. 
 
AUCTORE OSBERNO. 
 
 119 
 
 Atque m hunc modum totius carminis bim ac bmi Hymn of the 
 
 1 , -n. .... ... virgins. 
 
 versus procurrebant, illis semper repetitis qui primi a 
 matre Domini dicebantur ; 
 
 " Cantemus Domino, socice, cantemus honorem ! 
 " Duleis amor Christi personet ore pio." 
 
 Hsec tu, pontifieum dimissime, acutissima vi cor- Apostrophe 
 
 1 . . • I 1 J J. , 1 , to Dunstan. 
 
 poraiium oculorum m spiritualem potentiam translato- 
 rum videre potuisti ; hsec tu, intime coelestium areanorum 
 perserutator, audire potuisti, his tantis tamque stupendis 
 rebus interesse potuisti. O saneta animi tui puritas et 
 pura sanctitas, quam sic honorat supernae civitatis su- 
 prema dignitas ! 0 decus ac prsemium virginitatis, cui 
 sic adgaudet natiira virgineee simul atque angelicas 
 dignitatis ! Sed ecce supra vires viventium est viventis 
 tui in corpore laudibus immorari, quanto minus trans- 
 euntis tui et cum Christo setemaliter regnantis condig- 
 nas laudes valebimus effari. Praestet omnipotens Deus 
 per potentissima merita tua, ut vel finem vitse tua3 
 quantulumcunque laudabili valeamus sermone descri- 
 bere, quatenus quem semper nobiscum corporaliter vi- 
 ventem non licuit habere, liceat saltem ex consideratione 
 pretiosissimse mortis sempiternam tui vitam agnoscere, 
 et agnoscendo diligere, et diligendo beatae mercedis 
 aliquid per te piissimum patrem a Deo obtinere. Dis- 
 cant interim devoti tantorum mirabilium auditores 
 exemplo tui sobrie vivere, sacras frequenter excubias 
 celebrare, castis orationibus inservire, quoniam ^ et tu 
 idcirco talibus tantisque gaudiis interesse meruisti, 
 quod aliis dormientibus ipse in Sanctis desideriis vmi- His visit to 
 
 the church 
 
 lasti, orasti, horamque ultimam sine intermissione co- ^^^^1-^^^^^" 
 gitasti. Nec tamen sufficiens erat in secreto cubiculi ^ night. 
 B. p. 48. tui ista operari, nisi etiam nocturnis frigoribus aedem 
 beati patris Augustini frequentares, et inde ad vicinum 
 praefatae virginis templum banc gloriam Dei visurus 
 procederes. 
 
 1 potentissima] omnipotentissima, I " quoniam'] quomodo, R. 
 E. I cubiculi'\ cubili, 1\. 
 
120 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 The year of 
 Dunstan's 
 death, 
 A.D. 988. 
 
 Vision of 
 Alfgar, be- 
 tokening 
 Dunstan's 
 death. 
 
 41. Anno igitur Verbi incamati duodedm minus a mil- 
 lesimo, adventus Anglomm in Britanniam quingentesimo 
 sexagesimo tertio, sanctissimus Deoque dilectissimus 
 Dunstanus transitoriam prsesentis vitae deserens lucem, 
 ad lucem beata atque seterna jocunditate^ prseditam 
 pervenit, ubi sicut sol ex claritate Dei resplendet,^ et 
 diem setemum setemaliter possidet ; anno patriarchatus 
 sui tricesimo tertio, nativitatis etiam '^ eirciter septua- 
 gesimo, cum jam esset omnium virtutum charismate 
 plenus et Deum videndi desiderio fatigatus; cujus ve- 
 nerabilis transitus tam a se quam ab aliis multiplici 
 revelatione prsescitus, sibi gaudium aliis gravem ingessit 
 moerorem; sibi gaudium, quoniam quod per spem in 
 vita jocundius habebat, id per rem se visurum et eo 
 perpetuo fruiturum gaudebat; cseteris moerorem, quo- 
 niam qui similiter divinis et humanis rationibus ex- 
 celleret, neminem deinceps in terra appariturum ^ existi- 
 mabant. Sed nos, multiplicium revelationum multimoda 
 relatione postposita,^ eorum quae proposuimus singula 
 singulis tantum rationibus demonstrabimus. 
 
 Dies ergo ascensionis Christi festivus diem clarificatio- 
 nis beati Dunstani prsecessit tertius. Tantse itaque diei 
 surgente aurora, sacerdos quidam nomine Algarus doc- 
 trinae et actionis merito prsecipuus, quem postea nobilem 
 in Elmham episcopum claruisse accepimus, dum sacros 
 Dominicae Ascensioni honores in ecclesia Salvatoris per- 
 vigil impenderet et mentem ad coelestia contemplanda 
 extenderet,^ se ipso et omnibus mundi hujus rebus 
 transcensis, Dunstanum pontificali throno conspicit prse- 
 sidentem et clero jura canonica dictantem. Et ecce 
 per omnes ecclesise januas irruentium angelorum infi- 
 nita ingrediuntur agmina, stolis candidissimis fulgentia, 
 
 Adelard, 
 pp. 64, 65. 
 
 1 jocunditate] immortalitate, R. ' ^ multimoda relatione postposita'] 
 
 2 resplendet} resplendent, D. multimodis relationibus postpositis, 
 
 3 etiam'] om. R. ; autem, L. Boll. R. 
 
 Mab. ^ et . . , extenderef] om. R. 
 
 * appariturum^ om. R. 
 
AUCTOEE OSBEENO. 
 
 121 
 
 coronis aureis rutilantia/ cherubin atque seraphin ^ The^ai^eis 
 sese proclamantia, et quasi divinum nuncium deferentia. ^^^^^ 
 Qui dum coactis ordinibus sedenti astarent pontifici, 
 hoc illi salutationis alloquium persolvunt, " Salve," 
 inqi^iunt, " Dunstane noster, si paratus es veni et nostro 
 " gratiosus utere contubernio." Respondit Dunstanus, 
 " Scitis, O sancti spiritus, hodie Christum coelos con- 
 " scendisse, nostrique officii esse tarn verbo quam Sa- 
 cramento populum Dei reficere, ideoque venire hodie 
 nequeo." Dixerunt itaque sancti spiritus, " Paratus He is to go 
 esto die Sabbati hinc nobiscum Romam transire, et to Rome 
 ante summum pontificem sanctus seternaliter canere." Saturday 
 
 after the 
 Ascension. 
 
 42. Postquam ergo dies eetemse retributionis est indic- 
 tus, et Dunstanus divina^ fide ad consentiendum inductus, 
 confestim qui apparuerunt angeli disparuerimt. At sacer- 
 dos, qui rerum tam evidens contemplator exstiterat, exitum 
 earum stupidus simul et tacitus explorator observabat. 
 
 Cumque inter sacrosancta ejusdem diei gaudia ilia The Gospel 
 
 T.T,. , . • I T on the feast 
 
 evangeiii lectio recitaretur, m qua Dommus noster Jesus of the 
 
 • Ascension. 
 
 Christus post resurrectionem Suam discipulis apparuisse, 
 et exprobrata incredulitate illorum atque duritia cordis, 
 mandatum legitur dedisse ut in toto mundo evangelium 
 regni prsedicarent, fide^l ac baptismum annunciarent, 
 salutem proponei ent credentibus, non credeiitibus mina- 
 s.Mark,xvi. rentur condemnationem ; cumque^ ad hsec confirmanda 
 signorum illis faciendorum potestatem delegaret, deemo- 
 num ejectionem, linguarum novitatem, toUere sei-pentes, 
 mortiferse potionis virus extinguere, et super omnem aeg- 
 ritudinem salutiferam manuum impositionem ; cum ergo 
 ista evangeiii lectio pronunciaretur, et post hsec quemad- 
 modum videntibus illis, quibus hgec potestas^ delegata Dunstan 
 esset, Christus in coelum ascenderit, subjiceretur, processit 
 pontifex de sacrario latius hsec eadem in populo trac- 
 taturus, et memoriam misericordiarum Dei cordibus 
 
 B. p. 51. 
 Adelard, 
 p. 65. 
 
 14. 
 
 1 rutilantia] radiantia, R. 
 
 2 seraphin] sanctus, ins. M. 
 
 3 divina'] divinus, R. 
 
 * cumque'] om. R. 
 
 ^ post hcec . . . potestas] om. R. 
 
122 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 His sermon eorum arctius impressurus. Locutus est ergo qualiter B. p. 5i. 
 
 on the . r» J n 1 J IT J.* Adelard, 
 
 Gospel. nunquam antea fuerat^ locutus, ostendens qua ratione. ^ 
 Filius Dei camem induerit, cur humani generis salva- 
 tionem non nisi moriendo compleverit, quemadmodum 
 resurgens a mortuis mortis principem superaverit, et 
 famulantibus angelis coelum ingressus fuerit: deinde 
 sanguinem Christi incomparabiliter omnibus creaturis 
 docuit esse prsestantiorem, tantamque fiduciam in efFu- 
 sione sanguinis lUius mundum habere posse, ut si unus 
 aliquis totius mundi peccata haberet, neque de multi- 
 tudine neque de magnitudine criminum illi esset despe- 
 randum, si Mediatorem Dei et hominum haberet Ad- 
 vocatum. Inter hsec felicia felicis sponsionis gaudia 
 
 He conse- pontifex ad aram reducitur, transferens omnipotentissimis 
 
 crates the J-v .. . . ..... 
 
 elements. Dommi verbis speciem panis et vim in veram substan- 
 tiam carnis et sanguinis Christi. Jamque hora benedi- 
 cendi populum advenerat, et iterata vice beatus ille ad 
 populum procedebat volens illis abscessum suum denun- 
 
 His second ciaro, sed amore dulcedinis filiorum revocabatur. Proinde 
 
 exhortation. , , , ^^^ i , j • • j i • j 
 
 exhortatus est omnes ut illuc tota mentis mtentione ten- 
 dant, quo Caput nostrum principiumque Jesus Christus 
 eadem die processerat. Dataque super illos suse auc- 
 He gives the toritatis benedictione, orabat Spiritum Sanctum illis 
 blessing. ^^Q^^Q quemadmodum Filius Dei promiserat cum redeun- 
 tem Ilium ad Patrem coelestis nubes suscipiebat. " Ego," 
 inquit, " mittam vobis Spiritum veritatis ut maneat vo- s. John, 
 biscum in setemum." Cum his igitur disserendis beatis- 
 simus pontifex immoratus diutius fuisset, videbant faciem 
 The people ejus tanquam faciem angeli Dei, ut vere ac visibiliter 
 scions of esset agnosccro, .quod Is Quem invocabat Spiritus Sanc- 
 parture. " tus majcstatis Suae praesentiam dignatus fuerit ^ demon- 
 strare. Volente autem illo ad altare converti, suspirabat 
 populus post eum, desiderans adhuc desiderabiles vultus 
 ejus videre, et coUoquio perfrui ; proinde quasi ejusdem 
 Spiritus Sancti magisterio edocti quod iUum ulterius in 
 carne non essent visuri. Quibus in amore sotemse 
 
 '^fuerat'] est, E. 
 
 I '^fuerit'] sit, R. 
 
AUCTORE OSBERNO. 
 
 123 
 
 B. p. 51. Trinitatis tertio confirmatis, post libatum pacis su8g Hj^^thM 
 ^^6^5^^^' et caritatis osculum, non valuit sibi imminentem glo- them.^^ ^ 
 riam diutius contegere, sed rogat ut sui memores 
 existant, diemque vocationis suae dicit instare, nec 
 se ulterius in hoc mundo cum iUis manere. Tunc 
 tantam lugentis populi videres confusionem, tarn 
 permixtam lacrymis cleri conclamationem, viduarum 
 ac pupillorum miserabilem perturbationem, ut diem 
 judicii adesse, et omnia ssecula in supremam horam 
 coisse putares. Sacerdos etiam qui tarn mirabilem inAifgarre- 
 
 J 'J 1 •• • veals his 
 
 ecciesia extasim mduerat, cognito quod non m imagine vision, 
 sed in rerum veritate eandem sustinuisset, palam om- 
 nibus et cum magnis gemitibus quae viderat absolvit. 
 Quorum moestitiam pater ^ pretiosissimus prout potuit 
 benigne consolatus, ad altare rediit, susceptoque vitao 
 soternsB epulo, tarn se quam omnes sibi commissos 
 seterno Pastori consignavit. 
 
 43. Inde refectionis domum tetabundus ingrediens Bunstan^ 
 omnes ad se confluentes et cibo corporis et spiritualis refectory.^ 
 vitae alimonia saginavit. Post prandium vero, vel 
 magis ultimam coenam, denuo cum fratribus eccle- 
 siam Christi ingreditur, signatoque sepulcri sui loco, After dinner 
 B. p. 52. omnibus ad altare Christi ascendentibus conspicuo, rest in an 
 
 , T J • • J . . , upper cham- 
 
 coenaculum pro modo sestivi temporis requieturus her. 
 ascendit. Circumdat pausantem luctifica ecclesi^e fa- 
 milia, quae sive metu sui seu morte illius turbata, 
 horrendos lacrymando questus insonuit. Quos illo sanc- 
 tissimis ut semper^ rationibus fovente atque ad spem 
 futuri sseculi diligentius informante, conspiciunt virum 
 invisibili quadam Dei virtute e terra moveri, motum He is lifted 
 ad suprema domus fastigia toUi. Hi autem qui paulo couch to^he 
 ante propinquiores astiterant, miraculi insolentia territi, iiouse. 
 relictis sedibus devolant omnes. Stant tamen innixi 
 parietibus et maceriarum liminibus de longe sursum as- 
 picientes, rei exitum^ videre cupientes. Existimabant 
 namque aut sicut Helyam cum came eum transferen- 
 
 ^ pater"] om. L. ; Dunstanus, R. 
 in marg. 
 
 ^ ut semper'] om. 11. 
 ^ exitum] eventum, R. 
 
124 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 ^is spe^ dum, aut alio quovis et insolito modo ab eis tollendum. B. p. 52. 
 
 the m^fe ^^"^ subvectus fuerat suavitate depositus, 
 
 convocat omnes qui fugam inierant, tali eos allocutione 
 demulcens. "Vidistis," ait, "filii, vidistis, carissimi, quo 
 " me Deus vocat, quo Dei ineffabilis misericordia in- 
 " vitat. Semita itineris mei prse oculis ostensa est 
 " vobis, ut nuUus vestrum de praemio capiendi coeli 
 " diffidat, qui vitse me^ diligens sectator exstiterit. 
 " Non herebi sedes animam meam tenebit, non foeda 
 • " facies profundi ditis^ animam meam terrebit, non 
 " ignis inextinguibilis, et vermis non moriens animam 
 " meam tenebit.^ Sursum est quod amplector, sursum 
 " quo gradior, Estote ergo vitse imitatores, si itineris 
 " mei cupitis esse seetatores. Discite voluntatem Dei 
 " semper nosse, et cum eam noveritis nihil ei velitis 
 
 ^hrt\ion " P^'seferre. Quod si ab Ejus . volimtate facienda quan- 
 ' " tulumcunque vos exorbitasse cognoveritis, statim 
 " ad depreeandam Ejus clementiam convertimini, ne 
 " dum minorem quam oporteat reverentiam exhibue- 
 " ritis, non solum prsevarieatores verum etiam infideles ^ 
 " judicemini. NoEte boni videri, sed esse; nec tam 
 mali non videri quam non esse ; hoc enim maximum 
 " inter homines malum est, quod omnes cupiunt boni vi- 
 " deri et esse nolunt ; nuUi volunt mali videri, et nolunt 
 " non esse mali. Pacem semper sectamini, nec prius 
 " ab ilia sectanda desinatis, quam illam in coelo appre- 
 " hendatis. Atque ut hanc efficaciter attingere valea- 
 " tis, Ilium semper in animo dulcissimum habete, Illi 
 " continuo gratias agite, Illius prseceptis humiliter obe- 
 " dite. Qui singulare pro omnibus sacrificium immolari 
 " voluit, in Quo complacuit omnem plenitudinem in- 
 " habitare, et per Eum reconciliari omnia in Ipso Coioss. i. 20. 
 " pacificans per sanguinem crucis Ejus, sive quae in 
 " terris sunt sive quae in coelis. Prsedico etiam^ vobis 
 " Anglorum gentem dira ac diuturna mala ab exteris 
 
 1 cutis'] om. R. ; profunditatis, L. 
 Mab. Boll., and so altered in K. 
 
 2 tenebif] cruciabit, R. 
 
 3 infideles] infidi, R. 
 eUani] cm. R. 
 
AUCTORE OSBERNO. 
 
 125 
 
 " gentibus esse passuram, sed in fine dierum misera- He holds out 
 " tionem Dei super earn stillaturam, vobis autem EngiaM 
 " commodum erit horum verborum reminisci, ut sive miseries. 
 " hsec ad peccalorum emendationem, sen ad perficien- 
 
 dam virtutem contigerint, animas vestras divinse 
 " semper^ dispositioni subjiciatis, ne sicut mali filii 
 " diligatis blandientem, erudientem, quod a vobis re- 
 
 motum sit, contempnatis. Profecto nuUius hominum 
 " vel tam grave supplicium vel tarn excellens est meri- 
 " tum quo Dei omnipotentis visionem, visionem beatse 
 " aeternitatis, visionem seternse veritatis Patris et Filii 
 " et Spiritus Saneti, valeat promereri ; magis autem si 
 " naturalem clementise SuiB bonitatem Deus non at- 
 
 tenderit; nihil homo patitur quod sibi justo Dei 
 " judicio ex sua culpa non debeatur." 
 
 44. In his verbis sensit^ beatissimus pater vires cor- He begins to 
 
 • • * • • sink 
 
 poris paulatim deficere, cum spiritus ab integritate sui 
 deficere nesciret;^ itanamque facie serenus, sensu sobrius, 
 docendi locutione, assiduus tota ilia die ac sequenti feria 
 sexta permanebat, ut quicunque se commendaturi et bene- 
 dictionem tanti patris postulaturi advenissent, recrea- 
 tos se et multipliciter in amore Divinitatis confirmatos 
 assererent. Et jam promissse beatitudinis sabbatum The Satur- 
 
 •n J. • X • J- 1 -n 11- day arrives. 
 
 illuxerat, jam tempus requiescendi ab omnibus labori- 
 
 bus suis Dunstano instabat; cum ecce multiplex filio- 
 
 rum caterva concurrit,^ filiorum quos ipse infra gremium 
 
 matris ecclesise * tenerius nutrierat, atque ad excellen- ^Jons^of the 
 
 tiorem spiritualis gratise perfectionem adduxerat, clamo- people. 
 
 ribus atque ejulatibus nimiis queritans quod se derelictis 
 
 recederet, nec illis commori liceret. At ille in manus 
 
 Dei omnipotentis eos commendans, et gratiosa benedic- 
 
 tione confirmans, jubet sanctse communionis mysterium 
 
 ante se celebrari : quod cum protensis manibus de coelesti His last 
 
 . , . T-. prayer. 
 
 mensa porrectum suscepisset, hac oratione Deo suppli- 
 care coepit ; " Gloria Tibi, omnipotens Pater, Qui timen- 
 
 ' semperJi om. R. I ^ cum . . nesciret] om. L. 
 
 2 sensii] sentit, Mab. | ^ concurrW] occurrit, E. 
 
126 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Dunstan's " tibus Te panem vitse de ccelo dedisti, ut memores B. p. 52. 
 
 last prayer. , • I'v m • j* j. Adelard, 
 
 simus mirabilium Tuorum quae m medio terrse ope- 
 ratus es, mittendo nobis unigenitum Tuum verum 
 Hominem vera de virgine natum ; Tibi, Sancte Pater, 
 meritas referimus grates, Qui et nos dum non eramus 
 creasti, et dum peccatores essemus hujus gratise par- 
 tieipes feeisti per eundem Filium Tuum Deum et 
 Dominum nostrum, omnia Tecum et cum Spiritu 
 Sancto facientem, gubernantem et per infinita ssecu- 
 Hedies. " lorum ssecula regnantem." Inter quae verba ex om- 
 nibus animi meduUis ad Deum Quem semper deside- 
 raverat effusa, videt illos qui se ad coeleste convivium 
 invitaverant, beatos angelos assistentes, et coeleste illi 
 obsequium prseparantes. Quorum veneranda prsesentia 
 felix anima illius gratulata, Iseta egreditur de habi- 
 taculo sanctissimi corporis, proficiscens cum illis ad 
 contemplandam claritatem seterni Conditoris. Ecce ! 
 quomodo honoratus est, quem Deus honore dignum 
 judicavit ! Ecce quomodo in gaudium Domini sui in- 
 travit, qui in commissa sibi^ doctrinse pecunia fidelis 
 erogator exstitit ! O viscera misericordise Dei, quae sic 
 semper dulcia expertus fuerat iste homo Dei. O cor 
 viri ad voluntatem Dei semper parati, qui potuit dicere 
 " Paratum cor meum, Deus, paratum cor meum !" Ecce Ps. ivii. 8. 
 nunc psallit in gloria sua illustratus lumine visionis 
 glorise Dei. 
 
 He is buried 45. Suscipiuut autem venerabiles Domini sacerdotes Adelard, 
 
 m the place i .i • i . -i D 66 
 
 appointed, venerabile corpus summi sacerdotis, deierentes illud ad ^' ' 
 basilicam magni Basilei Domini Salvatoris, sub im- 
 menso murmure lugentium populorum feretrum den- 
 sissime ambientium, facies suas dissecantium, palmis 
 sese ferientium, atque amaris vocibus " Heu, heu, caris- 
 " sime pater ! " ^ clamantium. Et ibi in eo loco quem 
 ante biduum ipse dictaverat cum omni ^ diligentia sepul- 
 tus, et post hsec eminentioris operis structura decenter 
 
 ^ si6i] om. R. 
 2 pater'] om. R. 
 
 ^ omni] om. L. 
 
AUCTORE OSBERNO. 
 
 127 
 
 opertus, flebilem simul et amabilem cunctis, sive in Mixed feei- 
 choro psallentibus seu per gradus ad altare ascend enti- the loss of 
 bus, sui meanoriam dereliquit. Flebilem ideo dixerim, ^ 
 quod ejus quotidie monumentum prse oculis haberent, 
 cujus venerandos.aspectus videre non possent. Amabilem 
 propterea quod, licet ejus visibili prsesentia carerent, in- 
 visibilem tamen et incorporeum ejus spiritum in coelesti 
 sede gaudere, et pro eis apud Deum misericordiam 
 enixius orare sciebant.^ 
 
 Adeiard, 46. Post cujus mortem, si mors dicenda est cui vita 
 P' successit setema, ita omnes res contrarium motum 
 
 sumpsere, ut Dunstani mortem omnia deflere, nec ejus 
 absentiam ferre posse viderentur. A summa quippe 
 pace fit commutatio ad bellum intolerabile ; ab immensa ^owed his 
 Isetitia ad enormem tristitiam ; ob omnium rerum abun- 
 dantia ad omnium rei'um indigentiam. Denique aer ipse 
 immutatus est, naturales temporum vicissitudines disside- 
 bant invicem ; coelum non exaudivit tellurem, nec tellus 
 ea qu8e seminabantur, in ea. Hostilis incursio Dano- 
 rum foedam ubique faciem dereliquit, dum eorum irrup- 
 tione urbes diruerentur, ecclesise spoliarentur, suffbde- 
 rentur altaria, et sacerdotes Domini interficerentur. 
 
 E quibus vir virtutum ^Ifegus, qui quartus erat a Martyrdom 
 
 -r>v 1 r-H , ' 1 • • ^' Elfege. 
 
 magno Dunstano Cantuariorum archiepiscopus, cum 
 multam hostium multitudinem ad Christianam religio- 
 nem convertisset, et eos quos ab infidelitatis errore 
 convertere non posset, quotidiana invectione ^ reprehen- 
 deret, tentus ab eisdem post dirutam illius urbem, post 
 cruentam innocentis populi csedem, post templi sacri 
 exspoliationem,^ simul et combustionem, vinctus abduc- 
 tus est, et per septem menses variis tormentorum cru- 
 ciatibus vexatus, et post hsec omnia eorundem manibus 
 lapidatus, spiritum cum triumpho direxit ad coelum. 
 Sic ergo impleta simt quae vel de rerum prosperitate 
 
 ^flebilem . . . sciehant\ om. R. 
 2 invectione] invocatione, L. 
 
 ^ exspoliationem ] expilationem, 
 Boll. 
 
128 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 angeli Dunstano, vel de adversitate earum Dunstanus 
 Mercy in the rem Ethelredo/ prsedixerunt. Sed in his tam gravibus 
 
 midst of ,1. T ... in', 
 
 judgment* tumultuantis populi angustiis non demit supernse mise- 
 ratio pietatis, quso tanta coruscantis gratise prodigia 
 ad memoriam illius ostendit ut et reprobis terrori et 
 afflictis essent consolationi. Neque enim aliter coeles- 
 tis ejus Spiritus operatus est, quam si in terra redivivo 
 corpore suo quotidie veniret.^ Verum nos non omnia 
 quae de illo sunt propter infinitatem dicere poterimus, 
 nec ab omnibus abstinendum putamus, ne nulla esse 
 
 Dunstan's videantur quae dieamus. Et qusedam quidem de libris 
 
 miracles are . , . . . . , 
 
 to told in miraculorum ejus qui nunc minime supersunt excerp- 
 Book. simus ; qusedam vero nostra setate aut in alios facta 
 vidimus aut in nos patrata ipsi experti sumus. Sed 
 hie libelli hujus sit finis, ut quod intendimus ab alio 
 principio sumi possit. 
 
 Explicit vita Sancti Dunstani Cantuariemis 
 archiepiscopi et confessoris.^ 
 
 1 Ethelredo"] Ailredo, R. 
 
 2 veniret] With this word the life 
 in the MS. Bodl. 285 (R.) ends. 
 
 3 MS. N. proceeds : " donante 
 " Domino nostro Jesu Christo, cui 
 " cum Patre et Spiritu Sancto honor 
 " potestas et imperium per infinita 
 
 ssecula ssBculorum. Amen." 
 
 Mabillon adds the following verses, 
 which are not given by the BoUan- 
 dists, but are found in MS. M. 
 only: — 
 
 Justus homo, nudus vitio, sedes 
 subit almas, 
 Ex quibus expulsam se dolet 
 atra cohors. 
 Iste polum petit, ilia rogum Sty- 
 gis ardua moles 
 Deserit, atque levis gleba natare 
 solet. 
 
 Mansio diversa, diversaque prsB- 
 mia, quantum 
 
 Ortus Solaris distat ab occiduis. 
 Imperat huic Agnus circumdatus 
 agmine laeto, 
 lUi cum prava Pluto cohorte 
 prseest. 
 
 Uritur ilia gelu, nive, grandine 
 perpetuali, 
 Vemos ista dies mansio semper 
 habet. 
 
 Haec generosa duce jocundo cive 
 decora, 
 
 Carmine festiva pace quieta 
 jugi. 
 
 Tu venerande piis mixtus, Dun- 
 stane, catervis, 
 Exerces hilares hac regione 
 dies ; 
 
 Quanti sis meriti, plebs indicat 
 astricolarum, 
 Quae famulata tuam vexit ad 
 astra animam. 
 
AUCTORE OSBERNO. 
 
 129 
 
 Incipit liber miraculorum beatissimi patris nostri 
 
 DUNSTANI ARCHIEPISCOPI CaNTUARIENSIS ET CGN- 
 FESSORIS.^ 
 
 1. Diximus in superiori libello quibus parentibus ve- Havmg in 
 nerabilis pater Dunstanus ortus claruerit, quorum reOTm book de- 
 
 , , . scribed the 
 
 tempora nobilitaverit, quos virtutum processus habuerit, Mfeof Dun- 
 et quemadmodum ad coelestia regna gloriosus migra- 
 verit. Nunc autem propositum habemus ea narrare, 
 quae, post depositionem corporalis sarcinsB, felix spiritus 
 ejus in hoc sseculo dignatus est operari, ut omnes 
 futuri temporis Angligense populi agnoscant quid tanti 
 nominis viro honoris ac reverentise debeant. Verum we now 
 
 ^ , p undertake 
 
 quoniam eorum quse scribenda sunt pleraque ac lere to relate 
 
 some of his 
 
 omnia nostris temporibus facta comovimus, pauca vero nJracies 
 
 performed 
 
 aliis quidem temporibus facta sed nobis verissima after his 
 
 . . . ^ T . death. 
 
 verissimorum virorum relatione exposita accepimu^, 
 hac ratione omnes qui hsec dignabuntur legere^ ad 
 credendum invitamus, ut sicuti sibi credi volent, si They are to 
 
 f» T . -IP •! 1 • be believed 
 
 lorte aliqua suis temporibus lacta scribere voluerint, ^^Jj^^^^^^ 
 ita nobis credant, cum audierint ea narrari qua) a own stories 
 
 . , tohe be- 
 
 nobis potuere videri. Quam enim de se veri sestima- lieved. 
 tionem a sequentibus haberi volent, eam recte praice- 
 dentibus concedere debent. Quod si nulla quae scribi 
 debeant suis temporibus fieri contingant, non ideo nos 
 statim falsitatis arguant, quasi quod alio tempore oc- 
 culta Dei providentia non fit, alio tempore pro corri- The disuse 
 
 T , ..T,..., y>. of particular 
 
 ffendis vel corripiendis nommibus neri non possit, cum forms of 
 
 ^ . . miracle is 
 
 semper opportunitatem rerum et temporum exigat gra- not proof 
 tia miraculorum. Num enim idcirco minus credendum miracles in 
 
 1 T T general. 
 
 est principem apostolorum Petrum ad portam templi 
 
 ^ The text is from the Arundel 
 MS. 16 (F.), collated with the Lam- 
 beth MS. 159 (L.), MS. Harl. 56 
 
 (H.)., MS. Tiberius D. 4 (K.), and 
 the Paris MSS. M, and O. 
 
 2 Here the Harleian MS. 315 
 ends. 
 
 I 
 
130 
 
 MIRACULA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 It is no dis- 
 proof of a 
 miracle that 
 the unbe- 
 liever has 
 not seen 
 anything of 
 the kind. 
 
 Miraculous 
 cure of a 
 blind man 
 at Lenham 
 in Kent. 
 
 speciosam claudum sanasse, quod nostris temporibus 
 istud non fecerit ? Aut ideo beatus evangelista Jo- 
 hannes venenum sine Isesione non bibit, et qui veneno 
 deperierant non resuseitavit, quod ista nescio quis im- 
 postor et calumniator non viderit ? Quasi si quis 
 nauclerum vel aurigam laudari audierit, quod hie 
 navim in proeella naviter regere, ille equos artificio 
 seiat in cursum ducere, supra humanam natui^am hoc 
 esse contendat, ideo quod ^ ille fieri posse non credat. 
 Non itaque hoc ^dmittendum,^ sed quod unaquseque 
 res tempus et ordinem spectet credendum. Dignentur 
 ergo credere, qui haec dignabuntur legere, ut quemad- 
 modum merito fidei nostrse qua credebamus vera esse 
 quae non videramus, actum est ut aliqua videre posse- 
 mus, ita illi prsemium fidei habeant quandoque videre 
 posse quod narrantibus nobis indubitata fide potuerunt 
 credere. Jam ad proposita transibimus, et quo ordine 
 quseque res acta sit, quantum possumus breviter atque 
 dilucide narrabimus. 
 
 2. Vicus est urbi Cantuarise vicinus, Leonham ^ ab in- 
 colis dictus. Hunc quidam vir inhabitabat, quern longa 
 oculorum csecitas gravabat. Admonitus ergo in somnis 
 est, ut patrem patriae Dunstanum adeat, commissa mala 
 deplangat, futurum esse ut amissum lumen per eum 
 recipiat. Narrat suis homo quae viderat; favebant et 
 auctores illi itineris procurabant. Ingreditur itaque 
 csecus ecclesiam Christi, orat sibi pernoctandi ibidem 
 licentiam dari, "Tale/' inquiens, "praeceptum suscepi." 
 Sequenti vero et media nocte coepit de tumulo viri 
 Dei omne genus odoramentorum sentiri, et csecus* 
 interim gravissimis oculorum punctionibus gravissime 
 torqueri. Clamavit itaque fortiter, sanatus est mira- 
 biliter; laudavit Deum et Dunstanum hilariter. 
 
 1 quod'} om. L. 
 
 ^ admittendum ] ad imitauduni) 
 Boll, 
 
 ^ Leonhani] Leoham, Boll. Mab. 
 ^ ccecus"] secus, Mab. 
 
AUCTORE OSBERNO. 
 
 131 
 
 3. Tres etiam mulieres m una domo commanebant, Three blind 
 
 . T , ... , women who 
 
 simili ex longo tempore eseeitate percussse, et onere tad been 
 paupertatis oppressse. Has magnus ille Dunstanus dum of Dunstan, 
 in corpore vixisset, inter cseteros ecclesiso stipendiarios ^ 
 pauperes alere solebat ; quae, aceepto rumore patrati 
 miraeuli, alternis se hortabantur sermonibus, "Quid 
 " hie/' ^ inquiunt, " sedemus,^ quae patrem vitse nostrsB 
 reviviseere audimus ? ^ eamus ad ilium ; calamitatem 
 deploremus, auxilium flagitemus. Qui nostram suevit 
 " depellere paupertatem, dignabitur corporis nostri ]3ro- 
 " fligare csecitatem; compatietur fame morituris, ut 
 " reddita luce gratiam praestet pauperculis, operibus 
 manuum suarum deinceps victuris." Dixerunt et 
 rectore baculo viam quae ducit ad civitatem pergere 
 coeperunt. Cumque ad portam ecclesise venissent, jimc- 
 tis ^ ad invicem manibus ingressaG sunt, procidentes- J'J® 
 que ® ante memoriam viri hac moerorem supplicatione his tomb, 
 depromunt ; " Pater sancte, pater serene, ad has tu89 
 " misericordise stipendiarias intende, ut aut solito more 
 " victum eis tribuas, aut lumen oculorum per quod 
 " vitam transigere possint restituas." Et iterum dixe- 
 runt, " Piissime, potentissime, his tuis misellulis ^ mise- 
 " rere." Sic oraverunt, et inter orandum clare viderunt, 
 magnumque gaudium populo prsestiterunt. 
 
 4. Sacerdos quidam Folcanensium prsepositus, nomine ceowuif the 
 
 provost of 
 
 Ceowlfus,^ vir locuples valde erat, multaque nobilitate ^^^J^^p^^iy 
 inter suos poUebat. Hie per multos annos ita omnium tic. 
 membrorum paralysi dissolutus fuerat, ut neque vicinas 
 possessiones adire, neque ecclesiae limina contingere, 
 nisi in grabato deportatus, valeret. Suasus itaque ab 
 intimis suis, ut ad memoriam domini Dunstani miserum 
 cadaver sineret transferri, primo quidem verecunde^ 
 
 1 stipendiarios'} stipendarios, L. | ^ procidentesque] procedentesque, 
 
 2 hie'] hinc, Mab. i L. 
 
 ^ sedemus'] sedimus, Mab. ' misellulis'] misellis, L. 
 
 ^ audimus'] vidimus, L. I ® Ceowlfus\ Ceonulfus, Boll. 
 
 ^ junctis] vinctis, L. ! ^ verecunde] verecundia, Mab. 
 
 I 2 
 
132 
 
 MIEACULA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 He is per- 
 suaded to 
 have re-I 
 course to 
 Dunstan, 
 
 and is 
 healed. 
 
 He gives a 
 feast on the 
 occasion. 
 
 and speak- 
 ing with 
 contempt of 
 Dunstaii, 
 has another 
 paralytic 
 stroke. 
 
 distulit homo dives, dedignans consortium paupertatis, 
 ex omnibus locis propter spem recuperandse salutis 
 illuc confluentis. Sed cum jam prse doloris magnitudine 
 sibi ipsi esset intolerabilis, jussit feretralem equorum 
 lateribus machinam coaptari, seque in ea positum ad 
 ecclesise januas, ubi memoratus sanctus requiescit, per- 
 trahi. Ibi clientum suorum humeris sustentatus intro 
 illatus est, prosequente ilium non parva multitudine 
 agnatorum, flebilibus vocibus Dunstani nomen invocan- 
 tium. Secunda autem die factus in agonia, sagrotus 
 sensit quasi manum hominis per totum corpus discur- 
 rentem, omnBsque totius corporis nervos distringentem.^ 
 Inde vociferans e terra exsiliit, in pedibus suis con- 
 stitit, et restituta ad integrum sanitate, exclamare 
 coepit, "Benedictus Filius Dei viventis in bono servo 
 " Suo Dunstano, et benedictus bonus servus Ejus Dun- 
 " stanus in Illo. Vere pius, vere omnipotens Christus, 
 " Qui servos tarn potentes, tantaque pietate prseditos 
 " habet." Mox hymnis et laudibus devotissime Domino 
 persolutis, qui alienis manibus fuerat deportatus suis 
 pedibus cucurrit, equum ascendit, et cum omni comi- 
 tatu gaudens et hilaris recessit. Sed post paucos dies 
 facto convivio in domo sua, convocavit omnes amicos 
 et notos, ut sibi de adepta sanitate congauderent et 
 congratularentur. Cumque in magno gaudio conviva- 
 rentur, coeperunt Deum laudare et glorificare Qui, cum 
 sit potens, potentem non abjecerit, sed cum pauperibus 
 Suis poenitentiae ei spatia concesserit. Super quo indig- 
 natus ille respondit, "Num me inter ceeteros pauperes 
 " computatis, quia inter eos sanatum asseritis ? Non 
 " ita est, quoniam, etsi Dunstanus non fuisset, ita mihi 
 " contigisset." Ad banc vocem toto corpore intremuit, 
 itaque uno momento eadem quae ilium dimiserat in- 
 firmitate percussus est, ut nihil in omnibus membris 
 esset quod ab hac percussione intactum remaneret. 
 
 ^ distringenteni] distinguentem, Mab. 
 
AUCTORE OSBERNO. 
 
 133 
 
 Vociferabatur ergo miserabiliter et post paulum exspi- He dies, 
 rabat infeliciter. 
 
 5. Ex illo die multus timor, multaque circa sanctum Muitipiica- 
 Dei veneratio excrevit, restitutis ad integram sanitatis miracles, 
 perfectionem nunc unis, nunc pluribus per singulos 
 
 dies segrotis ex diversarum regionum longinquitate 
 porro adductis. Inter haec multorum cervicibus impen- 
 dens juvenis ferebatur, formosa quidem facie sed a 
 nativitate fandi impotens, ut qui undenis^ annorum A dumb 
 
 ^ ^ cripple IS 
 
 temporibus nec caput sursum erexerit nec deorsum ^^^^f^^^Jg 
 
 gressum direxerit. Quern super capita illorum Celsius to^^- 
 
 elevatum hiis precibus fletu permixtis sancto obtu- 
 
 lerunt ; " O Christe/' inquiunt, " Salus et Creator 
 
 " omnium, Qui homines hac^ etiam in parte cseteris 
 
 " animantibus excellere voluisti, quod loqui possunt ^ 
 
 " et erecto capite incedere, reforma in hoc filio nos- 
 
 " tro vel quod natura informatum reliquit, vel quod 
 
 " formatum inimica saluti segritudo corrupit. Solius 
 
 " enim Tui est ex eo quod non est in id quod est 
 
 " perducere, et quod est in quascunque volueris formas 
 
 " mutare. Exaudi ergo preces supplicantium propter 
 
 " Temetipsum et propter Dunstanum dilectum Tuum." 
 
 Tunc demissus ex humeris bajulantium se segrotus, 
 
 ut ad memoriam sancti vicinius applicari * deberet, mox and speaks/ 
 
 ut tumbam tetigit, in pedibus suis constitit, ca,put 
 
 cum scapulis sursum erexit, et resoluta lingua quae 
 
 nunquam antea fuerat locuta, excelsa voce clamare coe- 
 
 pit, "Gloria in excelsis Deo, Alleluia.'' Sicque perse- 
 
 veravit in integritate susceptse locutionis, ut usque ad 
 
 finem vitse iion solum expedite verum etiam diserte 
 
 omnia loqueretur. 
 
 6. Paupercula etiam cum csetera multitudine advenitApoor 
 
 ^ , , , woman 
 
 ferens in ulnis triennem natam ex utero suo sine lu- brings her 
 
 1 qui undenis'] quindenis, Mab. 
 hac'] ac, L. ; here MS. E. ends. 
 
 3 possunt] possint, Mab. 
 ^ applicari'] applicare, L, 
 
134 
 
 MIRACULA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 little daugh- mine natam ; quae cnm per aliquot dies orationi pro- 
 born^bSndL^ salute filisD suse sollicita incubuisset, nec exauditam se 
 aliquatenus sentiret, deprecata est omnem clerum aux- 
 ilio sibi apnd Dei sanctum fore, confidens eos tanto 
 citius impetraturos quod vellent, quanto ei prse eseteris 
 hominibus familiarius servirent. Affecti itaque pietate 
 monachi pro dolore matris et languore puellse coeperunt 
 instantissima prece sanctum deposcere, ut earum afflic- 
 on the tenth tioni solita bouitate dignaretur subvenire. Decima 
 chUd sees, autem die dum forte materno gremio puella incumbe- 
 ret, subito apertis oculis clare omnia videbat, et prse 
 gaudio exsiliens dicebat, "Mater mi, quae sunt hsec 
 " pulcra quae video Cui ilia, " Videsne," inquit, " mi 
 " cara ?" Quae dixit, " Pulcher homo ille jussit me 
 haec pulchra videre." Clamatum itaque est per totam 
 ecclesiam puellam a nativitate caecam a magno ponti- 
 fice Dunstano illuminatam. Fit concursus omnium 
 The by- matrcm cum filia constipantium. Sed cum aliqui ex 
 
 standers try , , j i i j m t 
 
 whether she clero credcre non possent quod patentibus oculis acu- 
 
 can really .... , . , ..... 
 
 see. men visionis messet, volentes mdagandae veritatis sig- 
 num videre, jactant poma, sicut pueris alludi solet, 
 per pavimentum ecclesiae, ut experirentur si absque 
 errore infantula posset ea sequendo comprehendere. 
 Quae confestim de sinu matris exsiliens, rotantia poma 
 per diversos anfractus insectabatur, eisque apprehensis 
 celeri cursu ad matrem revertebatur. Tunc deprehen- 
 sum est puellam patentibus oculis posse videre, qui 
 antea sine lumine videbantur patere. 
 
 An old 7. Item anus quaedam ad memoriam sancti pontificis 
 
 man comes perducta est, ut quod in juventute perdiderat, in extrema 
 
 in vain to be . . -, -, • x tt i • • 
 
 healed, and aetato lumen oculorum reciperet. Vacans ergo oratiom 
 guide. nec uUa salutis remedia consequens, egreditur de civitate 
 volens ad locum unde venerat remeare. Jamque pontem 
 fiuminis Sturae ascendere coeperat, cum forte ductoris sui 
 auxilio destituta clamabat, "Dunstane, Dunstane, nec 
 speratum a te lumen obtinui, et ductorem nunc per- 
 
AUGTORE OSBERNO. 
 
 185 
 
 didi.'' Mirabile dictu et malefidis difficile creditu, she cries to 
 protenus ilia luvenes per medium pontis lima ferentes and recovers 
 
 .... her sight. 
 
 clarissime vidit, qiiibuscum in civitatem rediit et quid 
 factum sit omnibus indicavit. 
 
 8. Quid de Clemente Teutone dicam, cui magis aptum clement the 
 
 . -7^ n German, 
 
 nomen est JJemens quam Clemens, quem sacerdos pro possessed by 
 culpa voluptatis et contumacise in interitum carnis spirit, 
 Satanae tradiderat, et ita maledictionis sententia septem 
 annis devinxerat ut non solum in eodem loco toto 
 corpore tremendo, verum etiam de loco ad locum cursi- 
 tando, instabili ferretur motu. In basilica vero Salvatoris 
 ante memoriam magni Dunstani praesentatus, cum forte 
 ad noctumas vigilias responsorium " Videte miraculum " is cured, 
 inciperetur, saltum in sublime dedit, dsemonium cum 
 sanguine evomuit, et post haec omni tempore secundum 
 omnimodam sensatorum qualitatem quietus et loco et 
 corpore^ mansit. 
 
 9. Aut QUO modo factum in te miraculum, Elwarde,^ ^i^ard, a 
 
 , ^ cripple of 
 
 narrabo ? hominem gigantese magnitudinis si repentem p^at sta- 
 te in terra tota ^ mole corporis per triginta annos thirty years 
 
 , ^ ^ mnrmity is 
 
 pondus non ^ premeret gravissimse infirmitatis ; postea i*estored. 
 vero caro patri Dunstano oblatus, atque ab eo mirabiliter 
 sanatus, non solum cunctis factus es amabilis propter 
 adeptsB sanitatis miraculum, verum etiam admii-abilis 
 propter corporese quantitatis spectaculum. Tu musicus 
 in conviviis didicisti posthgec convivantium animos 
 carmine demulcere, et inter cantandum tibiis carmen 
 modificare. Sed inde tibi excelsi honoris insigne accessit, 
 quod universitas hominum concordi voce Dunstani te 
 hominem servulumque vocavit.^ 
 
 10. Sed et illud ^ non parva dignum est admiratione, 
 qiiod quodam venerabili sene et re^ in omni religione 
 ])robato referente agnovimus. Ait naraque eundem pa- 
 
 1 corpore^ tempore, L. 
 
 2 Elwarde ] Edwarde, O. Boll. ; 
 Elvarde, F. L. M. 
 
 3 terra tota'] tota terra. Boll. Mab. 
 
 ^ non~\ om. Jj. 
 
 ^ Aut . , vocavit^ om. H. 
 
 ^ Sfid et illud] Illud quoque, K. 
 
 7 re] om. Mab. 
 
136 
 
 MIRACULA SANCTI BUNSTANI 
 
 Dunstan trem et dommum nostrum cuidam loripedi m somnis 
 
 appears ma . , . n . • • i 
 
 dream to a apparuisse atoue ut ad requiem corporis sui sanandus 
 
 cripple and ^ . r\ - i \ 
 
 directs him vemret prsBcepisse. Qui ad locum veniens, nec quicquam 
 tomb. per multos dies orando salutis inveniens, tsGdio sive 
 desperatione fractus recessit, itinere quo venerat redire 
 temptavit ; jamque mediam pene viam peregerat, cum is 
 qui dudum dormienti apparuerat, vultu severus, veste 
 decorus occurrit, sciscitans unde veniret, vel quo pergendo 
 He does so tenderet. " Kecuperandse/' inquit, " salutis gratia jussus 
 on his re- " ad sanctum Dei Dunstanum perrexi, sed nihil profi- 
 Dunstan!*^ " cicus ad domum meam redeundum putavi/' Tum ille, 
 " Ego/' inquit, " sum Dunstanus, omnium servorum Dei 
 " conservus ; necessariis quibusdam causis occupatus, non 
 " poteram his diebus requiem corporis mei visitare, nec 
 " praesentiam meam filiis ibidem manentibus exhibere. 
 who says " Nam ccclesiam Dei Alfricus, comomento Bata,' ex- 
 
 that he has . . . 
 
 been en- " hsercdarc temptavit, sed me tutore nihil efficere potuit. 
 
 gaged else- ^ . ... 
 
 where.a^d " Nuuc autcm confccto ucgotio ad locum requietioms 
 return. « mcse vado. Vide ergo ut ilia die et hora ibi te inve- 
 " niam, quatenus per te gratiam meam meis civibus os- 
 " tendam." Kegressus itaque est languidus in civitatem, 
 narravit omnibus quae audierat, indictum diem patienter 
 He returns expcctabat. Stupcndum valde, die et hora qua sanctus 
 
 andis.cured. ^ txi . l i - 
 
 sese venturum praedixerat, de suscepta sanitate loripes 
 gaudebat, et ineffabili totam urbem laetitia replebat. 
 Hactenus ea quae aliorum testimoniis ad nostram notitiam 
 perlata sunt enarravimus ; nunc iis quae nostra setate 
 facta sunt enarrandis operam dabimus.^ 
 
 A girl blind H. VirsfO qusedam Deo devota orationis sratia in civi- 
 
 fromher . , . , ° . . 
 
 CanteSi^ tatcm vcuit, ludc misera quod ex quo nata est hujus 
 * mundi lucem non viderat, sed ex hoc beata quod seter- 
 nam lucem ardenti semper desiderio qusesiverat. Et cum 
 forte natalitius dies sanctorum Bartholomsei apostoli et^ 
 
 1 Bata] Beta, Boll. 
 
 2 Hactenus . . dabimus'] om. H. 
 
 3 sanctorum . . . ei] om. Mab. 
 
 Boll. L. M. ; erased in F. ; found 
 in K. and O. 
 
AUCTORE OSBERNO. 
 
 137 
 
 confessoris Christi Audoeni episcopi instaret, in quo on the eve of 
 
 • i 1 T • 1. . . -, . S. Bartholo- 
 
 pariter et aliomm omnium quorum reliquise m ecclesia mew and 
 Salvatoris continentur, praecipua veneratione memoria Aug. 23 'she 
 celebrabatur ; postulabat ilia a custodibus ecclesise ut sibi an<f atnoc-! 
 liceret eadem nocte vigilias ibidem celebrare ; quod dum cured/^ 
 facile propter vitae religionem obtinuisset, remansit in 
 ecclesia juxta requiem beati patris Dunstani stans, tota- 
 que nocte vigiliis et oxationibus vacans. Jam noctumas 
 laudes inceperamus, jam octavum responsorium, "Sint 
 lumbi vestri praecincti/' modulatis vocibus concineba- 
 mus/ cum virgo Dei vehementem in facie sustinens pru- 
 ritum, arctissima digitorum impressione coepit oculos per- 
 fricare. Inde statim sanguis ubertim exiens, in supposi- 
 tum capitis sui velamen defluxit, modesteque ilia circum- 
 stantibus innuens, "Praebete" inquit, " mihi vas, sanguinis 
 " susceptorium, ne terra sancta ejus coUuvione maculetur." 
 Quod postquam illi fecissent, lympham quoque lavandis 
 oculorum orbibus praebuerunt. Interim nos pueri vultus 
 illuc dirigere, oculis subaspicere, iterumque ad invicem 
 mutuis aspectibus simul ac nutibus laetitiam significare ; 
 suspicati namque sumus, quod res erat, bonum patrem 
 nostrum boni aliquid operatum fuisse. Jam cantus de 
 praecinctione lumborum et ardentium lucemarum gesta- 
 tione secundo terminabatur : jam a cantoribus gloria 
 sanctae et individuae Trinitati reddebatur ; et ecce ilia 
 quae lumbos sues castitate semper praecinctos habuerat, 
 ad gloriam Dei lucernas in ecclesia ardentes in magna 
 cordis laetitia videbat. Mirata est ergo de omnibus quae Her wonder 
 videbat. Ostendebantur ei laminae aureae, cruces, baccilia, shown her. 
 claves ecclesiae; omnia mirata ridebat. Ipsas quoque 
 hominum figuras cum ingenti stupore considerabat.^ 
 Videres ergo omnes in ecclesia lacrymas exprimere, et The next 
 cum vocis modulatione cordis jubilatione Deum laudare. were to be^^ 
 Orto autem mane forte ad magistros intravimus, vapu- ^^^^p®^* 
 laturi pro culpis quas commiseramus. Et ecce de 
 
 1 concinehamus ] concinabamus, I ^ Jpsas . . considerabat] om. L. 
 Mab. 
 
138 
 
 MIRACULA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Godricfor- transverso vir bonus Godricus furibundus irrupit, ita 
 
 OTi^aSicount ^1^^^^^^^ ? " homines ineptissimi,^ crudelitatem 
 
 of s. Dun- in innocentiam evomitis, et dulcissimns pater noster 
 miracle. " Dunstanus suavitatem misericordiae suae in nos peeca- 
 " tores ostendit. Exite : prserogativam miraculi quondam 
 " a Salvatore iji cseco nato celebratam iterum celebrari 
 " videtis, et aliquid crudeliter facere audetis ? Exite." 
 Ita impias manus evasimus et post hsec eeclesiam ingressi 
 s. Dunstan's sumus. Tuuc Dulsato siguo beatissimi patris nostri, quod 
 
 bell is rung . • t r» • t i i n 
 
 and the ipse mambus suis oiim lecisse dicebatur, quo nullum 
 
 whole city i , . ^ , . • 13 i 
 
 comes to re- dulcius neoue ad commovendos nommum animos liebilius, 
 
 turn thanks. .| . ... i t«i in 
 
 concumt universa civitas volens oculis videre quod lama 
 reserante audierat. Coepimus itaque excelsis voeibus 
 simul et lacrymabilibus Dominum Deum nostrum lau- 
 dare, Qui per beatum servum Suum Dunstanum tantis 
 Isetitiis nostra tempora dignatus est beatificare. Et cum 
 multa populorum millia in eeclesia starent, neminem 
 inter omnes videres, qui non prse gaudio pie ac dulciter 
 fleret. 
 
 On the eve 12. Vi2:ilia beatorum Christi apostolorum Petri et Pauli 
 
 of S Peter , . . . 
 
 and s. Paul, erat, et inelinata jam die vespertinas orationes clerus in 
 author and ecclesia agebat. Forte ego cum alio puerulo cosetaneo 
 
 another boy i t , i-^i • 1 • • • j 
 
 wereap- meo ad altare Cnristi ministraveram, eonsummatoque 
 
 pealed to, by .... , , ^ . 
 
 a poor wo- mimsterio per gradus descendere mcipiebamret ecce m 
 
 man with a , ii i oti -it 
 
 daughter ^ccursum nostrum vetula qusedam cum nlia bene adulta 
 obviam se dedit, proeumbens gradibus simul et clami- 
 tans, " Miseremini mei,^ pueri Dei, ut Deus omnipotens 
 " misereatur vestri,^ profeetum virtutis coneedens et 
 " aetatem puerilem ad maturos annos feliciter perdu- 
 " cens." Nos autem, ut id setatis pueri, factum foeminae 
 expavescentes, hsesimus loco, miseriae causas flebiliter 
 sciscitantes. Tum ilia, " Hanc," inquit, " quam videtis 
 " filiam meam, a summis humeris usque ad extremos 
 manuum articulos coUisam, obstetricis suas nescio aut 
 
 ^ ineptissimi] om. Mab. | ^ vestril nostri, Mab. 
 
 2 met] om. L. I 
 
AUGTORE OSBERNO, 
 
 139 
 
 " furor aut negligentia foedam atqiie inutilem reddidit. 
 " Audivi magnam quandam in hoc loco Dei virtutem 
 " esse, et ideo ad supplicandum Ei longo itinere temp- 
 tavimus hue venire ; vos nobis quid agendum sit, edi- ' 
 cite." Aspiciebamus interim manus sine forma manus, Description 
 junctursB juncturis non cohserebant, sed qusedam discors cripple, 
 deformitas informem^ quandam ossium concretionem ^ 
 faciebat, poUices retrorsum deflexi immobilem gerebant 
 sensibilitatem.^ Cseterorum namque digitorum figura 
 nulla, sed radices qusedam de palma prominentes in- 
 trorsum curvabantur, quae in vola confixse unguibus 
 eam perforabant; quae res intolerabiles patienti angus- 
 tias inferebat. Avertimus ergo oculos hoc solum dicentes. They send 
 " Non nos, bona mulier, non nos quid agendum sit con- stau's tomb, 
 " sulere velis ; juxta est qui et tibi consulere et ^ filise 
 " tuae salutem valet procurare : solet namque secundum 
 " fidem suam omnibus ilium invocantibus subvenire." 
 Tum ilia comprehensa lacinia vestis filiae suae traxit 
 eam ad locum, moxque toto corpore in terram prostratae 
 adorant sanctum ambae, fletibus et ejulatibus illius boni- 
 tatem pulsantes. Et vere pulsabant, quibus tam cito ^^f^. «he is 
 
 , , , neaieci. 
 
 misericordiae illius viscera* patebant. Necdum enim 
 Phoebus marinis fluctibus caput intulerat, et ilia quae 
 morbo contracta fuerat, ruptis venis brachia extoUebat, 
 manuum articulos omnes extendebat ; et quae ab annis 
 puerilibus digitos movere non poterat, expedite jam 
 omnia contrectabat.^ Itaque accurrimus, vidimus, flevi- 
 mus, et facto mane cum exultatione totius urbis, Domi- 
 num Deum nostrum Jesum Christum ® laudavimus. 
 
 18. Epheborum aliquis prope civitatem manebat, ita Ayoung 
 a puero debilitatus, ut a lumbis ac deorsum per totum pie, on Good 
 emortuus duobus inniteretur bacillis, totius corporis adores the 
 
 1 informem'] informam, L. \ ^ juxta . . et] om. L. 
 
 - €oncretionem ] connexionem, 
 Boll. 
 
 poUices . . sensihilitateni] om. L. 
 
 conirectabat] contractabat, L. 
 ^ Jesum Christum] Deum, Mab. 
 Boll. 
 
140 
 
 MIBACULA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 cross, and 
 stays by 
 Dimstan's 
 tomb. 
 
 On Easter 
 morning he 
 is cured. 
 
 post se trahens medietatem. Hie ea die in qua Filius 
 Dei in assumpta carne dignatus est mori, Ejus ecclesiam 
 ingressus, vexillum crucis, in qua moriens mortem nos- 
 tram destruxit, cum csetera multitudine adorabat, et 
 futursB festivitatis gaudia juxta corpus venerandi pa- 
 tris ^ Dunstani manens exspectabat. Adveniente autem 
 hora in qua Dominus noster Jesus Christus triumphato 
 diabolo a mortuis resurrexisse creditur, clamor in eccle- 
 sia factus est magnus, tumultuans adolescentem rectum 
 toto corpore stare, qui a multis annis inferiores corporis 
 partes post se consueverat trahere. Quod quamvis cle- 
 rus sciebat, patienter tamen simul et Isetanter solis 
 ortum exspectabat. Mane vero Dominicse resurrectionis 
 convenit infinita totius urbis multitudo in ecclesiam 
 
 city comes .t.,. . 
 
 together to vidcrc Quid m hommcm divma potentia operata fuisset, 
 
 see mm. , , , , 
 
 quem antea in infirmitate bene cognitum habuissent. 
 Viderunt itaque et Deo gloriam dederunt, clamantes 
 bono Domino Dunstanum in vita servisse, cui post 
 mortem non solum contigit beatius vivere, verum etiam 
 beneficiorum suorum gratiam hominibus prsestare. 
 Cure of a 14. Pucrum quoquc omnibus membris contractum per 
 
 crippled boy. t\ ' i • t x 9 
 
 eundem Dei sanctum vidimus sanatum.^ 
 
 The whole 
 
 One day the 15. Quadam ctiam die, dum plus solito magistrorum 
 were deter- furor in pucros dcsseviret, nec spes intercessionis uspiam 
 whip the ulla suppeteret, hoc unum et solum superesse remedium 
 
 boys* ^^rlio • • • • * 
 
 betake crcdidcrunt, ut ad memoriam dulcissimi patris Dunstani 
 
 themselves n . .mi ^ ' l 
 
 toDunstan's coniu2T.um laccrent, lilumque non tam mtercessorem 
 
 tomb 
 
 quam adversus impietatis ministros defensorem exhibe- 
 rent. Conferunt itaque se summo diluculo ad ilium, 
 multis lacrymis ejus clementiam postulantes, sedenti- 
 bus per diversa loca magistris, qua transitus puerorum 
 esse deberet, exitumque illorum de ecclesia multiplici 
 diligentia aucupantibus. Et ecce lacrymantibus illis 
 apparuit, pios vultus gerens, plus pater Dunstanus, 
 
 ^ pairis^ nostri, ins. L. 
 
 2 sanatum'] From this point H. 
 
 omits all down to parvipendebat, 
 p. 142 below. 
 
« 
 
 (C 
 
 AUCTORE OSBERNO. 141 
 
 tangensque virga quam manu gestabat unum illorum Dunstan 
 
 t t appears to 
 
 apertis oculis videntem, sed movendi se omnmo impo- one^of them 
 tentem, ita adorsus est fari ; " Jam desitum sit, pueri, mises^heip. 
 a fletu, quoniam nullum vobis hodie molestum esse 
 permitto. Ideirco enim veni invitatus lacrymis doloris 
 " vestri. Ecce nunc ibo, et magistros egressum vestrum 
 
 explorantes gravissimo somno soporabo. Tu vero He bids him 
 
 1 , . , T tell the prior 
 
 puer, qui me loquentem cerms et audis, cum vos meo to remove 
 
 TT . . . , . , . the body of 
 
 munere liberatos esse cognoveris, m hoc mini gratiam eari Ha- 
 
 1 . . rold'sun- 
 
 prsestabis, si nujus ecclesise prseposito ex meo nomine christened 
 prsecipias ut initiatum infantulum hunc, qui juxta 
 me ^ nuper conditus est, filium comitis Haraldi,^ foras 
 projici faciat. Indecens namque valde est, ut ibi 
 paganorum corpora sepeliantur ubi divina quotidie 
 mysteria celebrantur. Quod si ipse aut metu aut 
 incredulitate prseceptum meum neglexerit, noverit hac 
 in ecclesia nihil prosperum processurum quamdiu hoc 
 meum prseceptum opere non fuerit impletum." Hsec 
 dicens sepulcro receptus est. Is autem qui haec viderat 
 tum quidem puer, nunc vero reverendse setatis senior, 
 quique ^ ut ista sublato nomine illius scriberentur, soUi- 
 cite nos admonuit, statim sui compos effectus innuit soda- 
 libus pueris dicens, Num patrem Dunstanum vidistis ? ^^^^^ ^9 
 
 ^ , ... , companions. 
 
 " Num quid locutus fuerit audistis ? " Narravitque 
 omnia seriatim, " Haec," inquiens, " et '* hsec locutus est." 
 
 Surgentes ergo pueri ut intrarent domum mar- 
 tyrii,^ transierunt ante primos magistros ; dormierunt. 
 Transierunt ante secundos; dormierunt. Transierunt 
 ante tertios et quartos ; dormierunt. Post paulum ^ They pass 
 
 . .T , , 1 • 1 1 J • . the masters 
 
 vero evigiiantes et derisos se graviter dolentes, versi m who have 
 
 p , .. L 1' 1' ' ^ 1 • fallenasleep. 
 
 furorem, statuunt saevissimam tertia diei hora de pueris 
 ultionem sumere, quos protegente Dunstano mane non 
 potuerunt contingere. Talis enim mos in ecclesia tunc 
 temporis erat, ut quos prima diei hora sine vindicta ser- 
 varet, eos hora tertia durius puniret. Sed Dunstanus 
 
 a 
 « 
 (( 
 
 (C 
 
 « 
 <c 
 <( 
 
 <( 
 (( 
 (( 
 (( 
 
 ^ me'l om. L. 
 
 2 Haraldi} Haroldi, Mab. Boll. 
 quique] qui, L. 
 
 4 et] haec et, Mab. 
 
 ^ martyrii] partly erased in L. 
 
 ^ paulum] paulo, Mab. 
 
142 
 
 MIRACULA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 The boys 
 escaped the 
 whipping. 
 
 The prior 
 disbelieves 
 the message- 
 
 Dunstan 
 leaves the 
 church in 
 ■disgust ; 
 
 and it is 
 burned: 
 (in 1067.) 
 
 semper et ubique fidelis ita prsefatos eadem hora a se 
 magistros di visit, ut non tarn de puerorum Isesione cogi- 
 tare quam de sua liberet confusione traetare. Ita pueri 
 periculum . diei illius evasere, atque in crastino vigilias 
 Dominicae Nativitatis gaudenti animo videre. At is, 
 qui legatione patris fungebatur, qusB audierat prseposito 
 fideliter nunciabat, sed ille infideli mente nunciata 
 parvipendebat. 
 
 16. Quotiens ^ etiam in nocturna visione visus est fra- 
 tribus de ecclesia exire ! quern cum exeuntem retinere 
 vellent, " Non possum," inquit, " ibi manere propter foe- 
 " torem pagani pueri, licet initiati, in hac ecclesia se- 
 " pulti." ^ Nec multo post Ecclesia Salvatoris igni 
 combusta est, parietes ceciderunt, nec quicquam ex 
 omnibus monasterii officinis incombustum remansit, 
 prseter duas domos sine quibus monachi remanere non 
 possent, dormitorium scilicet et refectorium : tantamque 
 claustri partem sub quanta absque imbrium infusione 
 ab una domo in aliam possent introire f ex quo satis 
 videre fuit quantam nostri curam pater ^ Dunstanus 
 habuerit. 
 
 Lanfranc 17. Sed horum ruina in melius commutata est, veni- 
 foundations cutc vcncrabili viro Lanfranco archiepiscopo, et omnium 
 
 of a new . /» i •! 
 
 church, qui nostra setate m terra luerunt sanctissimo simul ac 
 sapientissimo. Qui cum fundamenta construendse novae 
 ecclesise ponere vellet, neque hoc absque translatione 
 corporum infra ambitum ejusdem ecclesise quiescentium 
 facere posset, indixit jejunium omni populo, quatenus 
 
 and removes sanctorum voluntas fieret, ut eorum corpora ad alia 
 
 the bodies of, , p-ti i-¥-\» i* i« j« 
 
 the saints, loca transiem deberent. Die vero nuic negotio consti- 
 tuto, orante omni populo, clero cereis et aromatibus 
 omnique genere gaudiorum occurrente, paraverunt se 
 
 * Quotiens] Here MS. H. re- 
 sumes. 
 
 ^ propter . . sepulti] written over 
 an erasure in F. ; propter spurcitias 
 
 malorum morum et reorum in ec- 
 clesia sepultonim, H. K. 
 
 3 introire] Here MS. Harl. 56 
 ends. 
 
 ^ pater] noster, ins. L.. 
 
AUCTORE OSBERNO. 
 
 143 
 
 sacerdotes ut thecam sancti patris Dunstani absque con- Dunstan's 
 trectatione corporis illius e terra levarent, et ad locum moved, 
 cum omni diligentia prsoparatum deferrent. Quam cum 
 in humeris accepissent, retinetur a quibusdam ecclesise 
 militibus qui pacem regis Willelmi ^ nuper infregerant, ^ert^n ^ 
 occisis duobus equitibus, nepotibus videlicet Scotlandi,^ had killed 
 qui erat abbas monasterii Sancti AuOTstini extra urbis take hold of 
 
 . , ^ . Dunstan's 
 
 muros constituti. Timebant autem ne mors occiso- coffin, 
 rum morte sua solveretur, et ideo evitandi hujus mali 
 causa, neque a sancto recedere, neque thecam ejus 
 dimittere voluerunt. Vocati sunt itaque tam abbas The abbot of 
 quam omnes ^ ii quorum intermit vindictam donare ; ne- tine's, whose 
 
 ^ ^ .... kinsmen 
 
 e^averunt, nec mortem occisorum sine vindicta remittere tf^ey had 
 
 ^ ' slam, having 
 
 voluerunt. Quid emo ? Deductum est sacrum corpus refused to 
 
 . . .... forgive the 
 
 infecto negotio, atque in oratorio beatse virginis Marise ^SrMe^^^ 
 coUocatum. Summo autem diluculo nobis adtiuc in vision, 
 stratis quiescentibus, irrupit in ecclesiam abbas stipatus 
 parentum catervis. Postulat fratres celerius excitari. 
 Dicit se necessario illis loqui velle. Qui cum venissent, 
 accessit ad corpus sancti, genua flexit, atque in lisec 
 verba lacrymabiliter erupit ; " Peccavimus in te, sancte 
 " Dei, nolentes tibi in conspectu populi exhibere ho- 
 " norem obsequii. Ecce, nunc et injuriam donamus, 
 " et de mentis nostra3 obstinatione veniam imploramus." 
 Nos autem mirantes tam subitam rerum mutationem 
 cognovimus illos per visionem a sancto Dei fuisse per- 
 territos, et vix noctem illam transesrisse vivos, prop- The knights 
 
 ' ^ .... are forgiven. 
 
 terea quod presbyter quidam aspectu terribilis, qui ex 
 figuratis imaginibus Dunstano visus est simillimus, gra- 
 vibus eos cruciatibus vexasset, diuque vexatos ardenti 
 rogo concremandos violenter pertraxisset. Ita illi quam 
 sponte noluerunt, coacti injuriam donaverunt. 
 
 18. His temporibus conflictum iniit Lanfrancus archi- Lanfranc's 
 
 ^ . . great plea 
 
 episcopus ad versus natu majores regni Anglorum, prse- ^g^yeux^^ 
 
 1 Willelmq Willermi, Mab. M. 
 
 2 Scotlandi] Scoclandi, M. Scol- 
 
 land, abbot of S. Aug:'stine's, 1070- 
 1087. 
 ^ (mnesi om. L. 
 
144 
 
 MIRACULA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Claims of cipue adversus episcopum Bajocensem, nomine Odonem, 
 Bayeux. qui erat frater regis et comes Cantise, de jure ecclesisB 
 Christi et quibusdam terris inde ab antiquis tempori- 
 bus injuste ablatis. Sed nihil de viribus snis confidens, 
 erat namque sicut omnibus sapientia incomparabilis, ita 
 in conspectu Dei prse omnibus semper humilitate ad- 
 Lanfranc mirabilis, deprecatus est beatum Dunstanum auxilio 
 
 seeks help , ' ^ 
 
 from Dun- fore ad defendendam causam ecclesise suse. Et 
 
 Stan. 
 
 oblata pro exauditione hostia salutari, quietus sedebat 
 in loco exspectans advocationem causidicorum, simul ac 
 meditans quid vel ipse adversariis objicere, vel qualiter 
 ad objecta quseque posset respondere. 
 Dunstan Tunc interim excessum mentis patienti apparuit 
 
 appears and , - , • tt t 
 
 encourages sanctus JDei, stans m medio duorum aliquorum ange- 
 lica dignitate prseditorum, angelicos et ipse vultus 
 habens, atque in vultu quandam frontis et oculorum 
 conniventiam Lanfranco ostendens. Ex qua visione de 
 capienda victoria securus ille effectus concilium^ malig- 
 nantium intrepidus adiit, munitiones illorum torrente 
 rationum funditus dissipavit. Ita enim cunctos Christi 
 
 Heisvicto- ac suos dcvicit adversarios, ut et quae sui luris erant 
 
 rious. 
 
 ecclesise Christi integerrime restituerentur, et hoc non 
 humana sapientia sed divina factum fuisse virtute, 
 idem Domini servus gloriaretur.^ 
 story of 19. ^ Sed illud supra omnia quae vidimus admirabile 
 Bgeiward. p^^g^j^^g^ quod in -<Egelwardum ecclesiae Christi mona- 
 
 chum factum agnovimus ; qui cum juvenis esset et evan- 
 
 1 concilium'] consilium, L. The 
 story, vhich is told by Eadmer in 
 his Historia Novella as well as in 
 his book of the Miracles, must be- 
 long to the year 1076, in which the 
 placitum of Pennenden was held* 
 See Anglia Sacra, i. 334, 335. 
 
 2 gloriaretur] gloriabatur, L. 
 
 3 The following miracle is omitted 
 in the Lambeth MS., and also in 
 MS. M. by Mabillon and the BoUan- 
 dists. It is found in the other MSS. 
 
 K. and O., and is inserted on a blank 
 leaf in F. The Arundel MS. has 
 here on a leaf inserted the following 
 story : — 
 
 " Quoddam miraculum, quod mi- 
 " randa Dei potentia dignata est 
 " ad honorem beati Dunstani boni 
 " vestri patroni, vobis volumus no- 
 " tificari. In Gloecestreschira quse- 
 " dam villa est quae vocatur Sapre- 
 " tune, in qua qusedam basilica ii^ 
 " memoria et veneratione Sancti 
 
AUCTORE OSBERNO. 
 
 145 
 
 gelium Christi ad sacras Missarum celebrationes legere Hehadbeen 
 
 1 , n . n , 1 • • T ^ warned by 
 
 soleret, irequenter a prseiato arcniepiscopo Laniranco Lanfranc to 
 admonitus est ut castum se haberet, nullas corporis life. ^ ^^^^ 
 sui immunditias contraheret, ne indigne ilium ad al- 
 tare servientem malignus aKquando spiritus invaderet. 
 Quadam ergo die dum ex prisca consuetudine altari 
 deservirent, jamque Dominica oratione finita ad hoc 
 ventum fuisset ut in manus archiepiscopi patenam dare He sees evil 
 
 T T , , TIT • /• spirits dur- 
 
 de beret, tembiles ac diabolicas nescio quas lormas ing divine 
 
 juxta altare conspidit assistentes, et quasi impetum in 
 
 se facere volentes. Ad quarum intuitum usque ad ani- 
 
 mam juvenis conterritus, nec omnino execrabilem vul- 
 
 tum illorum ferens, tales horrendis stridoribus clamores 
 
 insonuit, " Christus vincit, Christus regnat, Christus 
 
 " imperat." Inter quae verba totus a malimo spiritu He is seized 
 
 ... . . . . . oy an evil 
 
 invasus expansis brachiis archiepiscopum divina sacri- f^^g^j^^i^^^^f 
 ficia agentem apprehendit timidusque tenuit ; nec ab illo j^^^^^^jj^' 
 recedere voluit, quousque ministri capellani accun-erent, 
 violenter eum avellerent, exertisque militibus custodien- 
 dum traderent. Expleta autem missa intravit Lanfran- 
 cus in secretiorem domus partem, dsemonicum duci ad se 
 prsecepit, clausoque ostio solus cum solo remansit : con- 
 stringensque Sanctis manibus sseva brachia patientis, praG- 
 cepit .illi culpam confiteri propter quam a tam saevo dse- 
 
 Dunstani ab antiquis temporibus 
 est oBdificata et dedicata. Hujus 
 presbiter suis prsecepit parochia- 
 nis quatemis celebrandum Sancti 
 Dunstani festum celebrarent, cele- 
 brantesque exultarent. Quod 
 omnes ut justum est fecerunt, ex- 
 cepto quodam villano fatuo et in- 
 sane, qui, aliis feriantibus festmn- 
 que celebrantibus, solus in agro 
 suo operatus est. Sed illius convi- 
 canei hoc videntes, hocque repre- 
 hendentes, rogaverunt ilium ut a 
 tali cessaret opere, ne sibi male 
 contingeret. Quibus ille maligno 
 
 " inflatus spiritu respondit diceiis 
 " * Cur ego pro Dunstano de Sapre- 
 " * tune meara dimitterem utilita- 
 " * tem ? Quis ille est ? ' Res mira et 
 " audienda et tenenda ! Mox rus- 
 ticus ille miserrimus unum absque 
 " mora perdidit oeulum ; nam a 
 " capite decidit, et ad sui doloris 
 " augmentum quaedam quae habuit 
 " vacca, arrepta rabie incompesci- 
 " bili, eadem hora insanivit, sicque 
 " periit. Hujus vero facti tot sunt 
 " testes quot homines in ilia regione 
 " habentur ubi hoc evenit et ubi 
 " rusticus ille adhuc habitat." 
 
 K 
 
146 
 
 MIRACULA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 The evil mone potuisset invadi. Coepit ille velle confiteri, sed mox 
 vents him ut ad vcrbum veniebatur lingua illius a dsemone detine- 
 fessing,hut batur. Adiurat itaque Lanfrancus diabolum ut loquen- 
 
 IS overcome ox- 
 
 byLanfranc. tem noii impediat, sed culpam quam fecerat confiteri 
 permittat. Itaque divina virtute diabolus superatur, 
 commissum crimen monaehus confitetur, in utroque pon- 
 tifex magnifiee gratulatur. Post hsec in capitulum duc- 
 tus, corporali disciplinse subditus aliquamdiu mansit quie- 
 tus. Deinde recidens ad pedes archiepiscopi perstringebat 
 unumquemque tgrvis ac minacibus oculis, minitans se 
 palam dicturum quod unusquisque in secreto operatus 
 
 He threat- fuisset. Erat autem inter cseteros fratres adolescens 
 
 ens to reveal , m , • 
 
 the wicked- quidam qucm speciaii quadam anectione arcniepiscopus 
 companions; diligcbat, CO quod matcriam boni illi inesse conspiceret, 
 
 one young . ^ , ^ *,t , . . ^ -.. 
 
 man in par- SI quis cam possct ciiccre ct prsscipicndo meliorem 
 reddere. Hunc ergo inconsolabiliter propter rem quae 
 acciderat gementem, atque amaras ad Dominum 
 lacrymas profundentem, malignus spiritus compescuit, 
 dicens, " Quid tu," inquit " lacrymaris ? Yanse sunt 
 " lacrymse tuse, vanus ploratus tuus. Idem nos locus 
 habebit, ambos infernus tenebit." Nolens autem Lan- 
 francus adolescentem a dsemonio verecundiam pati, 
 confestim de loco surgit, apprehensum ilium seorsum 
 ducit prius, ut solitus erat, precibus agens, ut si quid 
 in illo peccati lateret in vera Deo confessione ediceret, 
 ne diabolus ilium ligatum teneat, et coram omnibus 
 
 The young quse commisissct valeat improperare. Qui statim q use- 
 man con- ^ ^. ., ,. 
 
 Lanfra^c ^unquc a pucritia de se scire poterat magna cordis 
 
 who does* alacritatc confitens, tantis archiepiscopum efaudiis re- 
 alms m sign . , ^ 1 r> 
 
 of gratitude, plevit ut ct manibus conntentis crebra oscula ngeret, 
 et pro redemptione illius trecentis pauperibus eadem die 
 stipem porrigeret. Hujusmodi namque cunctis peccata 
 sua apud ilium deplorantibus prsestare solitus erat, ut 
 juxta modum culparum largitionem exhiberet eleemosy- 
 Themad- narum. Ducitur interea vesanus ille ad tumbam sancti 
 brought to patris Dunstani, prosequente ilium tota monasterii con- 
 
 Dunstan's , . . . , t • • 
 
 tomb. gregatione ; xbique exorcismo super ilium ab arcmepiscopo 
 facto, toto ' illo die incolumis permansit et quietus. 
 
AUCTORE OSBERNO. 
 
 147 
 
 Proinde nos immensis Isetitiis exultare veluti homines qui After being 
 
 'nil 1 quiet for a 
 
 talem pontmcem haberent per quern furores dsemonum day he be- 
 
 . ^ i X . /» comes mad 
 
 sedan possent: verum hsee cordis exultatio futurse again and 
 
 ...... . . . . attacks the 
 
 humiliationis exstitit designatio. Necdum enim ejus- prior, 
 dem diei sole occulto, cum jfratres ultimam divini servitii 
 horam psallendo complerent, iterum monachus a diabolo 
 invasus ad priorem ecclesisD, virum venerabilem nomine 
 Henricum, cucurrit, manibus eum constrinxit, nec 
 uUatenus dimittere voluit. Qui statim paterna pietate 
 motus duxit juvenem in domum quietis, custodias super 
 ilium prsecipiens haberi; sed non cessantibus stimulis 
 diabolici furoris, non cessat juvenis jactare voces 
 miserandi doloris. Quod cum archiepiscopo nunciatum 
 fuisset, mcDestus valde effectus, " Sciebam/' inquit, quod 
 " immoderatam Isetitiam immoderata animi tristitia esset 
 " secutura. Est namque verum verbum prophetise, ^ Ante Lanfranc 
 
 T T . . . . 1 • 1* ? orders him 
 
 Prov. xvi.18. " 'rumam exaltabitur cor, §t ante ignomimam gioriatio. agatn^to ^^ 
 Deferatur rursus ad memoriam patris nostri Dunstani, tomb, 
 ibique communis omnium supplicatio fiat ut sua virtute 
 " saevum ipse daemonem expellat." Raptus igitur mane 
 fortissimorum manibus virorum, toto corpore vinctus, ad 
 tumulum sancti insanus pertrahitur, stridoribus et nimiis 
 ejulatibus basilicam replens. Prsecipiebatur illi sym- ^® 
 bolum dicere, respondebat de Se Filium esse. Jubebatur ^^1^^^^^,^ 
 orationem Dominicam enunciare, non cessabat ille sputis prayer, 
 et execrationibus omnes impetere. Sic tota ilia die cum 
 sequenti nocte in magnis doloribus simul ac laboribus 
 exacta, in cellam languidorum deportatur, funibus et 
 cseterorum generum vinculis grabato alligatur, et ita ^®j^g*^^^ 
 pluribus diebus sub arctissima custodia tenetur. Inte- g}.^^^"" 
 rim omnes ad se venientes torvis oculis intueri, singu- 
 lorum occulta detegere^ prorsus multam multis vere- 
 cundiam facere, quos in peccatis suis noverat jacere. 
 Cseterum de iis qui peccata sua confessi fuerant omnino He had no ] 
 
 . power 
 
 nihil improperando potuit efferre. Inter hsec prsefati agains*, 
 adolescentis nomen seepius inclamare, et socium velle 
 suppliciorum videre. Super quibus pater Lanfrancus 
 
 K 2 
 
148 
 
 MIRACULA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Lanfranc, vehementer indismiatus apprehensa adolescentis dextera 
 
 with Albert . , . ^ , . in i 
 
 thephysi- coepit ad demoniacum ire, comitantibus ilium Alberto 
 
 cian, and ^ . _^ , 
 
 others, go to medico, Quem postea cardinalem sanctse Komanse eecle- 
 
 visit them. ^ 
 
 siae clericum vidimus, et aliis quibusdam quorum no- 
 mina non satis memorisB occurrunt. Jamque coeperamus 
 ad domum, in qua daemoniacus sub magna custodia ja- 
 cebat vinctus, appropinquare, cum illorum duorum ad- 
 huc parietum septis inclusus nec potuitque nos corpo- 
 ralibus oculis videre, prsevalens rabidissimis voeibus hsec 
 to1,hem be-* " Lanfrance, Lanfrance, et tu Alberte medice, 
 
 them^® et tu ille et ille, et juvenis cujus ego soeietate gaudeo, 
 " non vos video, et ad me venire atque de me verba 
 " habere scio." Ad quae dicta supra quam dici potest 
 pontifex admiratus ingreditur ad segrotum, furorem illius 
 sancta mitigat asperitate ; offert juvenem tanta qusesi- 
 Themad- tum importunitatc. Quem ille nunc contractis luminibus 
 
 man fails , . , , t j r» i 
 
 to recog- subaspiciens negat eum esse quem quaere bat : tactoque 
 young man impetu nisus est discerpere ilium. Tum Lanfrancus 
 
 whom he ... « . . , • . it i 
 
 threatened, per virtutcm coniessioms actitatum mteiiigens, quod 
 juvenem toties inclamatum malignus spiritus non ag- 
 nosceret, conversus ad daemonem, " Etsi mendax," inquit, 
 " sis et pater mendaciorum, in hoc tamen veritati, velis 
 " nolis, contestaris, quod hunc adolescentem non esse 
 " quod fuit attestaris, quoniam per confessionem est ab- 
 " solutum quicquid aut per propriae fragilitatis negligen- 
 " tiam dimissum, aut per diabolicam expugnationem ex- 
 
 The evil stiterat commissum." Exinde maioribus tormentis pos- 
 
 spirit be- . , . ^ 
 
 comes sessum corpus diabolus agitare. Et nunc simulabat se 
 
 stronger ^ ^ , 
 
 in him. mutum, nunc ostendebat sine modo multiloquum. Ite- 
 rum amarissime flere et subito turpissime cachinnare, 
 aliquando suaviter loqui, et confestim clamoso tumultu 
 vociferari. 
 
 The removal Sed jam qucmadmodum et daemon ejectus, et . ob- 
 
 of the relics • • • 
 
 into the sessus Sb daemouc liberatus sit, contexam. Per pau- 
 cos dies exegit ratio ut transferri deberent corpora 
 sanctorum de praefato praefatae virginis oratorio in do- 
 mum quandam refectorii, quoniam oportebat idem ora- 
 
AUOTORE OSBERNO. 
 
 149 
 
 torium pro extendendis novse ecclesise fundamentis ^^g*^^®^^ 
 destrui, nec prseter illam alia domus inveniri poterat in are carrying? 
 
 the i*elics of 
 
 qua vel divinum servitium fieri vel reliquise sanctorum Bunstan, 
 
 . J; the madman 
 
 congrue atque nabiliter locari possent. Exeunti bus ergo 
 fratribus de oratorio cum corpore venerandi patris 
 Dunstani et canoris vocibus Isetanias modulantibus, ecce 
 obvius efFertur a multa hominum turba terribilis ille 
 daemoniacus, multis vinculorum nexibus per totum cor- 
 pus grabbato alligatus. Qui mox ut sanctissimi cor- 
 poris thecam vidit, innumeras voces jactare execra- He bias- 
 biliter in Dominum et in omnes sanctos blasphemias ^aps up, 
 
 T T\ I • I • 1 i lifting his 
 
 dicere, nec Dunstani aut corpus videre aut nomen heavy bed. 
 audire, iterumque in modum depositus in terra, 
 ita ut ligatus erat, ingentis ponderis grabbatum 
 erexit, et quasi cum illo incedere temptavit. Quid 
 plura commemorem ? Tantos denique furores immun- 
 dus spiritus, vel potius immundi spiritus, de obsesso 
 corpore saeviendo jactaverunt, ut quicunque illud vide- 
 rant, aut procul aufugerent, aut remanentes immensis 
 terroribus quaterentur. Neque enim ex occulto atque The devil 
 
 • f* 1* ' ' i.± 1 j_ 1 runs about 
 
 mvisiDili jam lurore maiignus spiritus, emittebat, sed in him like 
 
 iiiT T • J.* a little dog. 
 
 modo catelii per diversos viscerum meatus discurrentis 
 visibilem se atque palpabilem prsebebat. Quidam au- 
 tem dum manum fluitanti monstro superponere vellet, 
 magnis a daemone minis impetitus est. Unde cum post 
 hoc Missas celebraret, ex improviso calicem vidit ver- 
 satum et Sanguinem Christi super altare effusum. His threats. 
 Alii quoque terrorem incutere temptavit, dicens se in 
 loco ubi ad requisita naturae acceditur insidias ei struc- 
 turum ; sed ille in Domino confisus diabolum terrentem 
 longe despexit, et sub Christi protectione nihil adversi 
 incurrere potuit. Exclamat iscitur inerenti fletu tota punstan is 
 
 ^ ^ T n 1 1 invoked to 
 
 monachorum plebs adversus reclamantem diabolura mul- cure him. 
 tis vicibus magnisque vocibus, mellifluum Dunstani 
 nomen frequentans. Ac prostrati in terra, "Sancte," 
 inquiunt, "Sancte Dunstane, ora pro nobis." Ingressi 
 ergo domum sanctorum reliquiis praeparatam, hi quidem 
 
150 
 
 MIRACULA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Heisde- bajulantes venerabile corpus Sancti Dunstani, iUi de 
 fore Dun- transverse ferentes semivivum cadaver insani, depo- 
 stan s coffin, g^^^.^^^^ utrumque in terram clamantes et dicentes, 
 
 " Bene tibi, pater Dunstane, cum diabolo conveniat ; 
 " tu videris si in domo tua tecum manere debeat." 
 Egressis autem omnibus, remansit quidam monachus 
 qui familiari quodam affectu dominum Dunstanum 
 semper dilexerat, et ei in multis rebus secundum posse 
 A monk suum obsequium detulerat. Hie ergo fisus de ilia quam 
 him, lays ad sanctum Dei habuerat familiaritate, arreptum crucis 
 
 S. Dunstan's it x mi t • • * t 
 
 staff upon vexillum quod olim ante ilium beatissimum episcopali 
 
 him and • ■ t r» • > -j t 
 
 pra^rs. ritu deierri consueverat, posuit illud super msanum, 
 ita cum lacrymis Dunstanum exorans ; " Tu dulcior 
 " melle, tu omni pulchrior flore, multimodis paradisi 
 odoribus plene, cur nunc virtutum tuarum aromata 
 non spirant, quae tarn ssevum dsemonium extricare 
 valeant ? Dignus ego non sum quem orantem exau- 
 dias, sed si quis est in omnibus hujus ecclesise filiis, 
 qui secundum voluntatem tuam tibi unquam servie- 
 Th© devil rit, pro cjus amore hunc dsemonem expelle." Inter 
 leaves him. j^^^^ verba dsemoniacus quievit et lassato furore quasi 
 exanimis jacuit. At monachus ille majorem adhuc de 
 sancto confidentiam sumens omnia jacentis vincula dis- 
 His reco ^olvit. Qui statim quasi de alio saeculo eductus graviter 
 gratitud^ suspiraus de lectulo surrexit, amplexusque crucem quam 
 ante vehementer horrebat, incubuit super eam piissimo 
 iietu, ista dicens ; " Gratias ago tibi, sanctorum piissime, 
 domine et communis pater Dunstane, qui me de 
 manibus dsemonum, quorum potestati traditus fui, 
 dignatus es eripere." Et conversus ad monachiim sic 
 ait, " Gratias et tibi ago, venerabilis domine, qui tanta 
 compassione erga miseriam meam actus voluisti, aliis 
 egredientibus, hie remanere, tuisque lacrymis pias pii 
 " Dunstani aures pulsare. Ecce divino jussu qui me 
 " vexaverunt recesserunt, nec amplius mihi nocere 
 He lived " poterunt." Ab illo ergo die liberatus est monachus 
 
 long after. ^ • i i ; • 1 1 • 
 
 ab omnimoda dsemonum vexatione, multisque anms 
 
 iC 
 
 (< 
 (( 
 (< 
 
 (C 
 
 (C 
 
 (( 
 
AUCTORE OSBEENO. 
 
 151 
 
 postea vixit, et saneto fine ultimum diem clausit. Osbern ex- 
 Latius fortasse quam opus esset hoc miracTimm scrip- prolixity, 
 simus, verum ideo hoc fecimus, ut considerata magnitu- 
 dine mali magnitudo agnosceretur miraculi ; et tanto ma- 
 gis amor confessionis in cordibus andientium dulcesceret, 
 quanto virtutis istius sublimitas efficacius appar(3ret. 
 
 20. Post aliquot dies Lanfrancus corporali infirmitate iiiness of 
 
 . . . ^ Lanfranc. 
 
 gravissime tactus omnino a medicis desperabatur. Cum- 
 que finem vitse jamjamque adesse putaret, missa lega- 
 tione mandat fratribus ecclesise Christi queo circa se He sum- 
 
 , , , ■ • J • , • • nions the 
 
 agebantur, exoptat seniorum prsesentiam quatenus, si m ^J^^^.^jen of 
 corpore diutius vivere non liceret, defancti, ut verbis church to 
 utar illius, cadaver ad urbem secum transveherent. 
 Nam in quodam ecclesise patrimonio procul ab urbe 
 distante, quod Ealdintune ^ vocatur, idem pater venera- 
 bilis segrotabat. Veniunt itaque illi ad locum, inveniunt 
 omnia lacrymis repleta, plorant cum plorantibus, no- 
 lentes hominem morte videre finiendum, cui similem 
 post hsec ^ sciebant non esse inveniendum. At ille sivo 
 suas angustias, sive filiorum suorum miserias non 
 ferens, sicut enim mater unicum filium, ita singulos nos 
 unice diligebat, convertit faciem suam ad parietem, di- 
 vinam quantis posset suspiriis clementiam deprecaturus. 
 Confestim autem sursum raptus, videbat quasi exer- He has a 
 
 TT ^ • n • ir» vision of 
 
 citum virorum candidatorum, lucmuas sicut sol facies a procession 
 
 . . of horsemen 
 
 habentium, albos equos cum laleris aureis comptos insi- in white 
 
 ^ . ^ riding on 
 
 dentium, et liberales iocos locunda quadam suavitate white 
 
 ^ . • . horses : he 
 
 adinvicem exhibentium. Quos ille prsetereuntes Iseta- f^^-g 
 bundis oculis intuens sciscitabat cujusnam ista profectio Stan's, 
 esset. Dictum autem est hanc domini Dunstani esse, 
 ilium vero non longe abesse. Exspectabat itaque Lan- 
 francus, explorans singulorum transeuntium vultus, cu- 
 
 1 EaIdintune']l^si\ditune,M'd'b. Boll. 
 
 2 These words would seem to fix 
 the date of the composition of the 
 book before the appointment of An- 
 selm, whom the writer would scarcely 
 
 have reckoned inferior to Lanfranc 
 in monastic merit ; but the mention 
 of Cardinal Albert, in page 148, 
 may point to a later date. Albert 
 was Cardinal under Urban II. 
 
152 
 
 MIRACULA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Dunstan 
 appears. 
 
 Lanfranc 
 tries to kiss 
 his foot : 
 Dunstan 
 withdraws 
 it. 
 
 He awakes 
 and finds 
 himself well. 
 
 He sends 
 back the 
 brethren to 
 thank Dun- 
 stan. 
 
 piens ilium prse cseteris cognoscere a quo prse caBteris 
 remedia sperabat salutis accipere. Et ecce beatissimus 
 pater Dunstanus venerabilium seniorum cuneis hinc 
 inde stipatus veniebat, similem per omnia cseteris habi- 
 tum gerens, nisi quod ab humeris et sursum celsior 
 cunetis eminebat. In cujus occursum Lanfrancus hu- 
 militer progrediens, jungensque se ad latus equitantis 
 illius, amplexatus est pedem simul cum aseensorio cui 
 videbatur inniti, atque ad se ^ oseulandi gratia trahere 
 conatus est. At Dunstanus quasi ad factum expave- 
 scens, sive Lanfranco honoris gratiam exhibens, con- 
 stricto genu utraque manu pedem ad se videbatur 
 retrahere. In hac beata certaminis lucta Lanfrancus ad 
 id quod fuerat redit, et ita se sanum reperit, ut nul- 
 lum infirmitatis vestigium in toto corpore remansisset. 
 Agit itaque gratias Deo, Cujus dono et Dunstanum vi- 
 dere et cupitam salutem illo potuit donante suscipere. 
 Vocatis ergo iis^ qui propius accumbebant narrat ex 
 ordine quse viderat, simul se convaluisse asseverat. 
 lUis vero existimantibus quod alienata mente loqueretur, 
 ' Pr^paretur/' inquit, " mihi altare, videbitis namque 
 ' ilium sacrificium Deo offerentem quem paulo ante 
 ' videbatis vix labia moventem." Deinde accitis qui 
 nuper advenerant senioribus, " Hie dies," ait, " erit 
 ' vobis boni nuncii dies ; dominum et patrem nostrum 
 ^ Dunstanum hie fuisse, et me ab omni corporis mo- 
 ' lestia sanasse scitote. Regredimini ergo ad ecclesiam, 
 ^ portas ejus super vos obserate; ad memoriam sancti 
 ' accedite ; genua flectite, ac pro reddita mihi sanitate 
 ' uberes gratias referte. Nolo etenim ^ per me ipsum 
 ' modo venire, ne existiment me homines aliquid esse, 
 ' quasi qui potuerim Dei sanctos videre." Faciunt illi 
 imperata, magnamque fratribus de morte patris sus- 
 pectis gaudium prsestant. 
 
 * se] om. L. 
 
 2 its'] his, Mab. Boll, 
 
 etenim] enim, L. 
 
AUCTORE OSBERNO. 
 
 153 
 
 21. Quidam capellanus presbyter arehiepiscopi adeo OneofLan- 
 
 i 1/ XX f rauc s chat)- 
 
 gravi febrium vexatione per octonos menses cruciatus lains at the 
 
 ^ . ^ same mo- 
 
 luerat, ut consumptis carnibus vix innrmis ossibns ment re-^^ 
 
 pellis hsereret. Hie eo momento quo arehiepiscopus a fever. 
 
 salvus effeetus est, optatam a Deo salutem et ipse con- 
 
 secutus est ; et mane ad archiepiscopum Isetabundus 
 
 ingrediens, didicerat namque ilium convaluisse, require- 
 
 bat modum receptee sanitatis, et audiebat. Rogatus ^ 
 
 etiam ipse ut quemadmodum sese haberet edieeret, 
 
 ' Plane," inquit, optime valeo, quoniam is qui te in 
 
 ' mortis periculo miserando respexit, mihi quoque ob 
 
 ' gratiam tui in hac noete salutem conferre dignatus 
 
 ' est. Jacebam namque ^ in stratu meo, quod ligneus 
 
 ' solummodo a stratu tuo paries dirimit, videbamque 
 
 ' in visione beatum Dunstanum solemnes in ecclesia He too had 
 
 f oi I j_ • • 1 'IT • • • i • had a vision 
 
 ' fealvatoris missas agentem, meque illi m mimsterio of Dunstan. 
 ^ subdiaconatus servientem. Cumque perlecta a me 
 ' fuisset epistola, ad pedes illius ex more deosculandos 
 ' accessi, benedictionem petii, et ita cum ejus benedic- 
 ' tione recedens convalui." Audiens hsec venerabilis 
 pater Lanfrancus, erumpens in gaudium, sic ait, ''Non 
 ' potuit quicquam infirmitatis in loco remanere, quem 
 ' sanctus Dei visitationis suae gratia dignatus est 
 ' illustrare." 
 
 22. ^ Ea quoque tempestate duse qusedam res apud nos Two stories 
 
 I • 1 • 1 i tS i. which may 
 
 contigerunt, quas non magis beato Dunstano quam or may not 
 
 , . .1 . T . ■ .n J . •11 L concern 
 
 cseteris ibidem quiescentibus Sanctis ascribendas puta- Dunstan. 
 vimus. Ex praecepto siquidem Bajocensis episcopi, qui- 
 dam vir in vincula conjectus fuerat propterea quod 
 cervum in sylva illius a canibus insectatum,^ seseque in odo had 
 
 . T , . ordered a 
 
 occursum ejus prsecipitem dantem, emissa sagitta oc- man to be 
 cidisset. Habitus ergo in vinculis in civitate Can- chains for 
 tuaria, diebus ac noctibus ecclesiam frequentare, lacry- stag"^ ^ 
 
 Rogatus'] Rogamus, L. 
 namque'] om. L. 
 
 ^ Sections 22 and 23 are trans- 
 posed in K. 
 
 insectatum] incitatum, Mab. 
 
154 
 
 MIRACULA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 This man: 
 was always 
 found in the 
 church. 
 
 After two 
 years his 
 chains 
 dropped off. ' 
 
 Lan franc 
 tells the 
 tale to a 
 great man 
 who tells 
 him an- 
 other. 
 
 A pirate 
 named 
 Barabas had 
 been ar- 
 rested and 
 escaped. 
 
 When he 
 came near 
 Canterbury 
 and saw the 
 golden 
 cherubin on 
 the church 
 steeple. 
 
 mas pro peccatis suis fundere^ magnumque populi 
 affectum ex sonitu stridentium catenarum circa se ex- 
 citare. Cumque hoc per duos annos indesinenter fecis- 
 set, quadam die, xmm ante altare Dominicse Crucis 
 prostratus jaceret, videntibus cunctis qui circumstabant, 
 catenae diruptse sunt, boiae in quatuor partes com- 
 minutse, clavi in minutas partes confracti.^ Ipse vero 
 quid de eo divinitus agebatur penitus ignorabat. Sur- 
 gente autem illo ab oratione, ceciderunt vincula de pe- 
 dibus suis ; quae toUens in manibus suis per medium 
 fratrum omnipotentem Christum pro miraculo laudan- 
 tium perrexit, eaque super altare Christi posuit, offerens 
 Deo pro munere quod sibi fuerat pro onere. Post 
 paucos dies dum rem istam Lanfrancus archiepiscopus 
 cuidam prsepotenti viro narrasset, ille vicaria relatione, 
 Et ego," inquit, " tale aliquid vestrae excellentiae nar- 
 rare valeo ; quod non minoris admirationis apud te 
 fore existimo. Tertius namque dies est hodie ex 
 quo sedecim naves piratarum, validissimo vento actse, 
 ad ripam maris sunt jactatae. Homines autem qui 
 intus fuerant partim maris fluctibus sunt immersi, 
 partim a regiis exactoribus comprehensi, cum prin- 
 cipe suo nomine Baraba, compedibus astricti sunt. 
 Qui idcirco Baraban se appellari voluit, quoniam 
 nimiae semper crudelitatis fuisset, multamque hominum 
 " turbam manu sua occidisset. Evadens autem de com- 
 pedibus viam quae ducit Cantuariam arripuit, sciens 
 se neque vita neque membris cariturum si ecclesiam 
 Christi contingere posset asylum. Sed cum jam 
 prope civitatem fuisset, mox ut pinnam ecclesiae et 
 cherubin aureum vidit, quasi coelestis cherubin vir- 
 tute repulsus, ultra progredi non potuit. Nititur 
 itaque totis virilus contra vacuum aerem, semper 
 eum quasi murum ferreum sentiebat. Haesit vero 
 stupens, et iterum resumptis viribus prioris luctaG 
 
 (C 
 
 cc 
 
 (C 
 
 <( 
 
 <( 
 
 (C 
 
 (C 
 
 f under e] effundere, Mab. 
 
 2 confracW] confractae, L. 
 
AUCTORE OSBERNO. 
 
 155 
 
 << 
 
 c< 
 a 
 (( 
 
 (C 
 
 (( 
 a 
 (( 
 (( 
 (( 
 
 (C 
 
 (( 
 
 " certamen assumpsit, sed ea qua ante virtute repulsus, ||je could g^o 
 majore quam ante spatio resiliit. Temptabat si unde 
 venerat regredi posset, currere poterat quantum vo- 
 lebat ; si vero quo disponebat progredi vellet, mox ut 
 ecelesiam videbat pedem movere non poterat. Des- 
 perans ergo de salute sua et de misericordia Dei, 
 ' Manifestum est,' inquit, ' cum damnatis me sortem He^iaments 
 ' habere, cui ecelesiam Christi non licet videre. Quid 
 ' ergo prodest crudelem Christum invocare, a Quo non 
 ' sit misericordiam impetrare. Ut fortuna volet, eat ; 
 ' ego deinceps fugam non inibo, sed unde veni mori- 
 ' turus redibo/ Hsec dicens prsecipiti cursu rediit, He returned 
 
 •I.- 4-- 4. 1, • -n-U in despair to 
 
 quae sibi contigerant multis nommum millibus nar- ins prison, 
 ravit. Post hsec condimas factis poenas solvit." His Lanfranc 
 
 . . bids the 
 
 acceptis Lanfrancus, vocato me, praecepit ista in populo writer^pro- 
 prsedicari, adjungens ideo hunc ab ecclesia terribiliter story, 
 repulsum quod ficto corde ad eam accesserit, ilium 
 vero alium ea re in ecclesia mirabiliter liberatum, quod 
 ad eandem quotidie devoto animo tetenderit. 
 
 23. Sed et illud perpetua dimum est memoria quod Edward 
 
 ^ , ^ , . . ^ , who had 
 
 in ^ Edwardum, urbis Lundoniae archidiaconum, eius ^^en arch- 
 
 . ^ deacon of 
 
 dementia mirabili modo . operata est. Qui cum esset London and 
 
 ^ ... "^^^ become 
 
 in saeculo deliciis pollens, conspiciens omnia saoculi ^monkat 
 
 , . Canterbury, 
 
 bona esse angusta, contulit se ad unum incommu- 
 tabile, commune, sufficiens bonum, Deum, suscepta 
 sanctae religionis veste in ecclesia Cantuariensi sub 
 regimine praefati gloriosi viri Lanfranci archiepiscopi ; 
 ubi per aliquot annos honeste conversatus, magnum 
 apud omnes cohabitantes gratiam obtinuit. Sed post 
 haec malignus spiritus ejus conversioni simul et con- 
 versationi invidens, occultis quibusdam et importunis 
 sufiffifestionibus animo illius taedium reliefionis in^e- wishes to 
 
 f . . ... T , X- • • SO back to 
 
 rebat, cupiens ilium ad nanc mentis msaniam per- the world, 
 ducere, ut ad saeculum unde venerat repetito vomitu 
 sordium rediret. Immittebat namque diabolus in 
 cor ejus saeculi voluptates, amplexus foeminarum 
 
 ' in] circa, Mab. 
 
156 
 
 MIRACULA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 He yields to 
 temptation 
 and pre- 
 pares to 
 leave the 
 monastery. 
 
 He goes to 
 Dunstan's 
 tomb to ask 
 his leave. 
 
 At the door 
 of the 
 church he 
 meets Dun- 
 stan who 
 sends him 
 back. 
 
 After two 
 months* 
 illness he 
 confesses, 
 and dies. 
 
 amplas domos, amicorum societates ; nec permittebat 
 ilium cogitare quam dulcis est Dominus gustantibus 
 Eum, quam magna domus Dei, et ingens locus habita- 
 tionis Ejus, quam beata societas angelorum Deum in 
 sseculum sseculorum laudantium. Victus tandem im- 
 portunitate temptatoris, exitum de ecclesia moliebatur, 
 et paratis omnibus quse ad hoc sacrilegium explendum 
 idonea videbantur, ingreditur ecclesiam, a SanctO Dun- 
 stano licentiam exeundi, et ad sseculum revertendi, 
 petiturus ; sciens proculdubio quod nihil ei prospere 
 procederet, si illo offenso discedere non timeret. Et 
 surgens ab oratione ut ostium ecclesise egrederetur, rep- 
 perit in ostio Dunstanum cum virga stantem, non 
 talem tunc qualem ilium viderat Lanfrancus, sed terri- 
 bilem 'vultu, oculis minacem et mordacibus labiis haec 
 infrementem, " Regredere, miser, regredere ; omnipotenti 
 " Domino te prosterne ; conceptumque diaboli venenum 
 " de corde tuo evome." Cumque ille pavens ac tremens 
 hsereret, Dunstanus elevata contra ilium ^ virga, ait, 
 " Non exibis, sed hie morieris." Hoc dicto, qui loque- 
 batur disparuit; et cui loquebatur graviter segrotavit. 
 Mox itaque lectulo receptus duobus mensibus in mag- 
 nis angustiis vixit, et post hsec vitam consummavit. 
 Sed cum ad hoc ventum fuisset ut animam reddere 
 deberet, accersitis iis^ quos primos in amore fraterni- 
 tatis habuerat, universa per ordinem quae vel male dis- 
 posuerat, vel bono suo viderat, in magna cordis con- 
 tritione narrabat. Hsec eadem alius quidam frater, 
 bonse indolis adolescens, nomine Adrianus, coram om- 
 nibus confessus est, dicens se et conscium consilii et 
 consentaneum operi. 
 
 The writer 24. ^. Ante hos dics, cum in insula Tanatos essem, gradie- 
 Thanet. bar juxta littus maris cum milite, qui me pro defensione 
 sui invitaverat, considerans ea quae ibi sunt mirabilia 
 
 1 ilium] eum, L. 
 
 2 US'] his, Mab. Boll. 
 
 3 The following two miracles are 
 omitted in MS. L, 
 
AUCTORE OSBERNO. 
 
 157 
 
 << 
 (( 
 a 
 
 Dei, et materiem boni sermonis exinde eliciens. Inde He con- 
 
 . versed with 
 
 sermo ad patrem Dunstanum protractus est, quoniam a certain 
 
 1 \ 1 T 1 knight, 
 
 maximum semper lucrum reputo quoties loquendi de about Dun- 
 
 __ .-• . T ■■ stan. 
 
 illo occasionem reperio. Tum miles idem memorato hoc 
 nomine totus expalluit, ac veluti dolorem ex intimo 
 suspirans, " Vse," ait, " mihi ingrato, qui tantorum 
 beneficiorum hucusque immemor existo/' Tum ego, 
 Et quid," inquam, hi tam molesti anhelitus ? " 
 Nosti," ait, " quantum, mihi infestus abbas ^ Sancti 
 Augustini, dum adviveret exstiterit, dum diripere The knight 
 cuperet quae ad me hsereditate venissent ? " " Novi," his story, 
 inquam. " Num et illud nosti quod non modo nihil 
 " ejus immoderatio obfuit, verum etiam ad majoris 
 " mihi glorise cumulum excrevit T " Nec hoc," inquam, 
 " latet, sed quorsum ista commemores ignoro." Scies,^ The night 
 inquit ; " nocte siquidem quae diem statuti inter .me et cause: 
 
 • n , ... 11, • against the 
 
 ilium placiti prsecedebat, memorans cum essem m abbot of s. 
 domo mea, quae prope est, quod frequenter patrem was to be 
 
 tried he had 
 
 Dunstanum tuis rationibus extoUere consueveris, nunc, prayed in 
 
 . . 1 1 . , • -i -n 1 T 1 •!• Dunstan's 
 
 aio, experiri habeo si ut accepi, ita ille laudabilis ex- name, 
 sistat. Flexus ergo in oratione, ' Deus,' inquio ^ ' patris 
 ' Dunstani, fave hodie nostrse parti.' Inde corpusculum 
 requiei dedens, video in somnis urbem Cantuariam, 
 basilicam Salvatoris, meiiioriam patris ; cui quasi in- 
 cumbens, aspicio virum juxta stantem, decorum 
 forma, veste speciosum, lampadem lucis manu tenen- 
 tem ; ad cujus imaginem perterrefactus, * Quisnam, in- 
 ' quam,' ' es tu, hominum pulcherrime ? ' ' Idem,' inquit Dunstan ^ 
 ' ille cujus tu paullo ante auxilium precabare.' ' Pap?e,' promises 
 inquam, ' quam citus es ad miserandos miseros ! Nosti 
 ' quid dominus minatur ? ' ' Nihil,' ait, ' ejus minas 
 ' pertimescas, nec magni eas omnino pendas.' " Ita 
 miles ille oravit, post hoc versus ad me ait, "Jam 
 
 « 
 (( 
 (( 
 
 <( 
 <( 
 
 (C 
 
 (< 
 <( 
 <c 
 (< 
 (( 
 <( 
 
 (C 
 
 1 Scolland, abbot of S. Augus- 
 tine's, died in 1087 ; and if he is the 
 person meant, the mention of him 
 as now dead would fix the date of 
 the work later than that year. This 
 
 section, which is not found in the 
 Lambeth MS., may have been one 
 of the latest additions. 
 
 2 Soles'] Scias, Boll. 
 
 ^ inquio'] aio, Boll. 
 
158 , MIKACULA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 The knight 
 won his 
 cause. 
 
 The writer 
 was once in 
 danger from 
 his enemies, 
 in a lawsuit. 
 
 He sought 
 Dunstan's 
 tomb by 
 night, and 
 then went 
 to bed. 
 
 His vision 
 of a palace 
 beyond a 
 flood. 
 
 " csetera tu nosti, quemadmodum ego et tu conveneri- 
 " mus, contenderimus, convicerimus." "Signum/' in- 
 quam, "grande in ilia die dedit sanetus, propterea 
 " quod dum illi plures et elimato acumine fuerint, a 
 " paucis et minus acutis victi abierint."^ Turn ego 
 respieiens ad eos qui prsesentes erant ostendi verbis 
 quod nunc prodo litteris. 
 
 25. Nunc ad ea quae meam proprie attingunt personam, 
 ut minus fortasse sapiens, transibo, et sic ori silentium 
 ponam, manibus quoque otium indicam. Quodam tem- 
 pore quidam homines gravi me odio infestabant, nec 
 prius ab infestando quiescere volebant, quam magnis 
 injuriis affectum gravioribus minarentur af&ciendum. 
 Eorum vero, qui agendse causae nostrae judices dati 
 fuerunt, ita animus sive gratia, sive importunitate ad- 
 versariorum, a me alienatus est, ut neque oratione 
 inflecti, neque ulla possent ratione moveri. Desperans 
 ergo de subventione hominum, solius Dei ac beati 
 istius auxilium duxi esse quaerendum. Itaque nocturno 
 tempore soporatis omnibus, ejus memoriam in magna 
 confidentia adii, et multitudinem miserationum illius 
 gemebundis vocibus ac lacrymantibus ^ oculi pulsavi. 
 Deinde mente fessus, luctu anxius recessi, secretum 
 petii, dolorem cordis requie corporis, ut interdum fit, 
 lenire desiderans. Necdum satis ad pausandum dispo- 
 sueram corpus, dum animo cuncta excedens viderer 
 mihi in atrio templi domum videre, cujus magnitudo 
 mirabilis, pulchritudo inaostimabilis, ad quam nemo 
 nisi per quandam aquarum coUuvionem poterat transire. 
 Verum ista transeuntibus lex erat, ut quanto magis ad 
 introitum domus appropinquarent, tanto minus easdem 
 sentirent aquas. Transibam ego cum transeuntibus, ac 
 rarescentibus aquis ad ulteriora alvei littora pervenie- 
 bam, moxque domum ingrediens videbam totam illam 
 majori quam solari claritate fulgentem, coetum quasi 
 
 * abierint] abierunt, Boll. 
 
 ^ lacrymantibus\ lacrymabilibus, 
 Mab. 
 
AUCTOIIE OSBERN O. 159 
 
 sanctorum ineffabili quadam suavitate laetantium cir- ctossgs 
 cumsedentem, et quandam decoris subtilitatem, quae enters the 
 
 . T . T • • house and 
 
 modo crystalli pervideri posset, oculis mtuentium prae- ^l^fQ^^jf'gjji. 
 tendentem. Considerabam dilisrentius, volens deprehen- proceeding 
 
 o / ^ from the 
 
 dere unde etiam immensae lucis claritas coruscaret ; et bodies of 
 
 the saints. 
 
 videbatur mihi quod non aliunde quam de corporibus 
 sanctorum idem splendor exiret. Interroganti autem 
 mihi quae hsec essent, edoctum est hung esse clerum 
 mami Dunstani, ilium vero paulo ante affuisse, divina He icams 
 
 ^ ... that Dun- 
 
 sacramenta celebrasse, et necdum communionis anti- stan has 
 
 been there ; 
 
 phona decantata recessisse, atque ut ilium exspectaret gf^^^J^ 
 qui ad requiem illius decumbebat praecepisse. Cogita- ^^^^j^^^* 
 bam itaque ne forte ego ille essem. Cumque hoc in 
 animo volverem, consurgenfes viri illi apprehensum me 
 statuerunt in medio sui, alterutris vocibus sese oohor- 
 tantes, " Eja, fratres, Missas terminemus, quoniam is ^^|^^^^*^ 
 " adest cuius ejratia ista dilatio facta est/' Coeperunt sing inviting 
 
 *^ , P , ... . Osbern to 
 
 itaque dulcissimis ac modulatissimis vocibus psallere, play, 
 et me ad organizandum quod psallebant invitare, " Dico 
 " autem vobis amicis meis, ne terreamini ab iis qui vos 
 s. Luke, xii. " pcrscquuntur/' Ad quas voces experrectus confestim He awakes 
 
 4 , T . . T -n 1 • and runs to 
 
 ad sepulcrum sancti cucum, medium lUud utrisque the tomb, 
 brachiis amplexatus sum, vociferans ac nimia cordis 
 exsultatione proloquens, "AfFuisti, pater carissime, af- 
 fuisti, affuisti in angustiis laboranti, et gratiam tui 
 humiliter postulanti. Yere sanctus Dei es, et quod- 
 cunque vis ab lUo impetrare potes. Jam securus 
 judices adibo, nec minas cujuspiam hodie formidabo." 
 Venientibus ergo judicibus quorum interfuit causam ter- He wins 
 
 ... . , T 1 . , . , .his cause. 
 
 mmare, accesserunt ii qui me turbare moliti sunt, accessi 
 et ego ; calumniam de adversariis movi. Itaque, Deo 
 adjuvante et Dunstano^ patrocinante, omnes mihi adver- 
 santes devici, ut et ipsi propria sua ratione caderent, 
 et ego non solum factam mihi injuriam non effugerem, 
 verum etiam in mea defensione simul et exaltatione 
 plurimum exultarem. 
 
 C( 
 (C 
 
 <c 
 a 
 
 1 With this word MS. 0. ends. 
 
IGO 
 
 MIRACULA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 These are 26. ^ Satis essG ista existimo, domini et patres carissimi, 
 
 but speci- ^ ^ ^ r ^ 
 
 Dunltan's insinuandos temporales sancti viri labores, vel ad 
 
 rairacies. ejus sempitemam gloriam catholic^e ecclesiso fidelibus 
 commendandum. Non quo plura non sint, et fortasse 
 his majora, quse ad hsec narrari valeant, sed quod ea 
 solummodo voluerim narrare, quae fidem, sicut prooemio 
 Who would dixi, non viderentur exeedere. Quis namque statim mihi 
 
 behevethat ' . , . ^ ..^ 
 
 he hung his creduiitatem accommodaret, si dicerem aut vestem ilium 
 
 robe on a • i i . 
 
 sunbeam; m columna lucis suspendisse, aut extremam comati 
 
 or dehvered . ^ ... .... 
 
 a monk parentis ee^estatem ad summas divitias nummi dimidio 
 
 from the ... 
 
 emperor's perduxisse ? Cuius animum horror non percelleret, si 
 
 army, or ^ . *^ , ^ \ 
 
 made a thief audiret monachum J erosolimam properantem ab exercitu 
 
 restore his , , ... 
 
 ^ unished a i^P^i'^^^^^s Constantinopolis ^ circumventum ad solam 
 cSfzenp sancti illius invocationem ab eorum molestissima irrup- 
 tione liberatum"? Quem, inquam, stupor non apprehen- 
 deret considerantem vel furem a sancto perterrefactum 
 res a requie illius exportatas in atrio templi illibatas 
 reliquisse; vel civem Cantuarise contra oppositam sancti 
 auctoritatem substantiam ecclesiae Christi surripientem, 
 post paucos dies poenam suae temeritatis solvisse ? 
 Videtis quibus abstineo, propterea quod sestimationem 
 audientium supergredi nolo; quae tamen si commemo- 
 rarem, incredibilis esse non deberem, propterea quod 
 nihil est difficultatis ubi Dominus Christus auctor est 
 off before ^P^^^s- Deinde more cantorum in conviviis agentium 
 *^ereaders fecimus, qui dum pulcherrimum est medium carmen 
 too much, recidere assolent, quo et tsedium audientibus tollatur, 
 rursumque audiendi oblectatio major excitetur. Ad 
 postremum vero dicendi prseceptis vel in fine hujus 
 orationis parere voluimus, qui commotis animis audi- 
 torum finem ponunt officiis oratorum. Nam lacryma, ut 
 TuUius ait, nil citius arescit.^ Quod si ego, sicut oportuit, 
 ofiicium peregi, grates obsecro omnipotenti Deo mecum 
 
 ^ Here MS. L. resumes. 
 2 Constantinopolis ] Constantino- 
 politaui, Boll. These two stories 
 
 will be found in the work of Eadmer, 
 below. 
 
 ^ Cicero, De Inventione, i. 55. 
 
AUCTOKE OSBERNO. 
 
 161 
 
 exsolvite, Cujus ut peragi posset actum est miseratione. ^f^^^^^^^^^^j. 
 Sin vero minus apposite dixi, non ideo minus is de quo dixi ^^"1^^^^^^^ 
 debet appretiari, propterea quod nihil est indignius quam work, 
 propter vitium scribentis virtutem minuere bene prome- 
 rentis. Potius in illo Deum magnifieemus nomenque 
 illius certatim in invieem exaltemus, agentes Ei gratias 
 Qui ilium, ante mundi constitutionem in seterna Sua 
 sapientia elegit, et Anglorum tempora per ostensionem 
 corporalis praesentiae illius beatifieare voluit. Veneremur Exhortation 
 
 • TT . T\ • -i • 1 •! to honour 
 
 quoque ilium m Deo, ejusque merita summis nonoribus Dunstan. 
 attollamus, eerti quod ad Dei gloriam pertineat quic- 
 quid in ejus veneratione nostra devotio informat. Ame- 
 mus ilium ex omnibus cordium nostrorum meduUis, 
 ac per ilium quiequid a Deo fideliter petierimus nos 
 recepturos speremus, propterea quod nihil nobis Dei 
 dementia poterit denegare, si quem lUe diligit nos 
 studuerimus et animo diligere et obsequio venerari. 
 Gloria omnipotenti Deo Patri Qui ilium fecit ; Gloria 
 Unigenito Dei Filio Qui ilium redemit ; Gloria Spiritui 
 Sancto Qui ilium Sua gratia illuminavit ; Uni, Soli, vivo 
 et vero Deo, laus et gratiarum actio per infinita saecula 
 saeculorum. Amen.^ 
 
 Explicit Liber Miraculorum beatissimi patris 
 nostri patroni Dunstani archiepiscopi Cantu- 
 ariensis ecclesice, secundum Osbernum hujus 
 ecclesicB commonachum et prcecentorem et 
 suppriorem.^ 
 
 ^ Laus Deo, Add. L. 
 " Quem genus insignit, virtus at- 
 " toUere certat, 
 " Huic dare nostra cohors mu- 
 " nera laudis habet. 
 " Dunstanus pater eximius vene- 
 ** randus in orbe 
 " Post hyemem, veris tempora 
 « laeta subit.'* 
 
 Add. Mab. from MS. M. 
 
 2 suppriorem] qui erat vir doctis- 
 simus, ut scribit "Vincentius, Histo- 
 rial. libro xxv. capitulo cii:ii°., ubi 
 dicit, "Osbernus Cantuarise cantor 
 " nulli nostro tempore stilo secun- 
 
 dus, in musica omnium primus." 
 Soli Deo honor et gloria. Add. L. 
 " Explicit Vita S. Dunstani Archie- 
 " piscopi et Confessoris." F. 
 
 L 
 
lY. 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 ARCHIEPISCOPI CANTUARIENSIS, 
 AUCTORE EADMERO. 
 
 Prologus. 
 
 Incipit Prologus in vitam Sancti Dunstani archi- 
 
 episcopi et confessoris.^ 
 
 The^writer Quia DeuHi in Sanctis Suis mirabilem prophetica Ps.ixviii.35. 
 induce- vocG laudare lubemur, Eum in iis qu^ in Sancto Dun- 
 
 mentswhich .at -n -i't 
 
 Jedhim to stano, primse metropolis Anglorum pontince, mirabiliter 
 the work, opcrari dignatus est, quorundam simplicium in bono 
 fratrum non contemnendse voluntati obtemperantes, 
 usitato more loquendi, stili officio laudare decrevimus ; 
 scriptis,^ quae alio quodam elocutionis genere ipsa gesta 
 commemorant, sapientum considerationi relictis. Cui 
 ut licet insipiens adquiescerem, me nonnihil illexerunt 
 eadem scripta, eo quod in quibusdam nonnuUis modum 
 The work of usitatsB narrationis excessisse videntur. Adductus 
 
 his prede- 
 
 inTomr^^ etiam in hoc sum quorundam calumniis, qui frequenter 
 variance* q^^sti suut et couqucri non desistunt, auctorem ipso- 
 withhistory. j-um scriptorum vulgatae rerum historisB non omnimodis 
 concordasse : quod non quidem in miraculis quae de 
 ipso patre scripta sunt ei surrepsisse confitemur. De 
 quibus, verbi gratia, est quod scribit episcopatum Wi- 
 
 » The text is from the MS. C.C.C. 
 371 (P.) ; the more important va- 
 riations of the text, as printed by 
 Surius, are marked S. 
 
 2 A reference to the work of Os- 
 bern. Surius prints, of the Pro- 
 logue, only from Quia to relictis. 
 
AUCTORE EADMERO. 
 
 168 
 
 gornensem, cum ad eum pater Dunstanus electus et His mis- 
 consecratus est, fuisse in honorem beatse Matris Dei the dedica- 
 Mariae/ cum revera fuerit in honorem ^loriosi ai)Osto- dste? cathe" 
 
 1 . . . ox dral and 
 
 lorum principis Petri. Et quod refert secundum Ed- aboAt the 
 wardum martyrem ex sanctimoniali foemina natum/ s. Edward, 
 cum proculdubio constet eum ex legitima conjuge 
 procreatum ; et alia qusedam in hunc modum. Quorum 
 omnium puram veritatem rogatus ab amicis meis tanto 
 studio investigare soUicitus fui, ut quaque per Angliam, 
 ubi talium studia vigere sciebam et ipsemet ire non 
 poteram, pro hoc ipso me mittere non pigeret : omnino ^^^JJ^^^-^^'^j 
 videlicet detestandum existimans a rerum limite exor- into these 
 
 T .. . . points. 
 
 bitantia veritatem nosse volentibus dicto vel scripto 
 summinstrare, Unde ne quis me quavis arrogantia vel 
 invidia ductum judicet istis scribendis manum impo- 
 suisse ; fateor, testimonium mihi perhibente conscientia He is led 
 
 , only by the 
 
 mea m ipsa veritate, a qua Christianum deviare nonjoveof 
 
 . ^ . » . ^ truth ; and 
 
 licet, quia nisi me humanse mentis coecitas fallat,, nil ^eiies on the 
 
 ^ ' authority 
 
 m hac parte quae dixi vitia valuere, sed solus amor of eiders, 
 veri, quo tantum patrem et praesentibus et secuturis 
 omni seposita ambiguitate commendare cupiebam. Nec 
 in his meo sensu usus sum, sed firma et, cui non cre- 
 dere nefarium esse credebam, patrum auctoritate sub- 
 nixus ; quos mihi quondam attestatos fuisse recorder se One of these 
 
 , ^ . Ill i^ Ethelred, 
 
 res ipsas juxta quod eas describimus, certo relatu eo- 
 rum qui optime illas noverunt cognovisse. Horum 
 unum, ^gelredum^ scilicet, qui supprioris et cantoris 
 
 1 See Osbern, above, pp. 103, 106. 
 
 2 See Osbern, above, p. 112 ; and 
 the letter of Nicolas on the subject, 
 which will be given in the seventh 
 section of this volume. 
 
 ^ The dates of Ethelred's precen- 
 torship at Canterbury, as well as of 
 his tenure of office at "Worcester, 
 are unknown. Wharton, Anglia 
 Sacra, i. 547, conjectures that he 
 may have been the archdeacon Agel- 
 
 ric or Alric of Worcester, who at- 
 tests charters of the years 1088 and 
 1095 ; or that he took another name 
 after moving to Worcester, in which 
 latter case he may have been either 
 Thomas who was prior in 1089 and 
 1093, or Nicolas who was a corre- 
 spondent of Eadmer and became 
 prior in 1114 or later. Wulfstan 
 died in 1095, so that Ethelred must 
 have left Canterbury before that 
 
 L 2 
 
164 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 once pre- 
 centor at 
 Canterbury, 
 and after- 
 wards an 
 officer at 
 Worcester. 
 
 He had 
 heard much 
 from Ethel- 
 ric bishop 
 of Selsey. 
 
 There are 
 also more 
 ancient 
 lives. 
 
 The sources 
 of informa- 
 tion about 
 the miracles 
 
 officium in ecclesia Cantuariensi strenuissime per mul- 
 tum temporis administrabat, quique postmodum ob 
 religiosam prudentiam et prudentem religiositatem suam 
 Wigornensi eeclesiaD sub beatse memorise Wulstano epi- 
 scopo prselatus erat, et multis qui adhuc supersunt 
 notissimus fuerat, ne nudis solummodo verbis agere 
 judicer, omissis aliis proponere cordi fuit. Hie iEgel- 
 rico Cicestrensi episcopo, homini magnarum rerum pe- 
 ritia prsedito, antehae diu adhseserat, et ab eo multa 
 de beato Dunstano, cui pene contemporaneus fuit, didi- 
 eerat, quae ille ab eis qui interesse meruerunt se acce- 
 pisse fatebatur. Sunt super hsec scripta veterum 
 simpliciori stilo digesta,^ et ehronicorum abbreviatae nota- 
 tiones iis quae scribimus attestantes.^ De iis autem, 
 quae post saeratissimum transitum ejus per eum facta 
 significamus, quaedam ex litterarum monimentis, quae- 
 dam ex propriorum sensuum approbationibus, quaedam 
 ex veridicorum virorum allegationibus, qui ea partim 
 visu, partim auditu, partim experimento, in seipsis 
 didicerunt, omni remota scrupulositate cognovimus. Si 
 quis igitur haec legere dignabitur vel audire, ita quaeso 
 legat vel audiat, ut conscientiae meae simplieitati non 
 deroget. Nam ea non detrahere studiosis, sed parvitati 
 meae meorumque similium condeseendere scientibus 
 atque paratis, pro captu meo deseripta esse pronuncio. 
 Non itaque se illis quae scribimus inaniter occupet, cui 
 quod petimus in mente non sedet. 
 
 Explicit Prologus. 
 
 year. Ethelrie, bishop of Selsey, 
 was consecrated in 1058, and was 
 alive as late as 1076. 
 
 1 A reference to the life by B. 
 
 2 The work of Adelard is gene- 
 rally mentioned as abhreviata. 
 
AUCTORE EADMERO. 
 
 165 
 
 IXCIPIT VITA BEATI DUNSTANI CaNTUARIENSIS ARCHI- 
 
 EPISCOPI ET CONFESSORIS. 
 
 Adeiard, 1, Beatus ergo Dunstanus ex nobilissima gentis An- Miracle 
 
 P- 54. , ... , preceding 
 
 Osbern glorum prosapia origmem ducens, eo nobilius m hums the birth 
 
 19 J- 1 J.-X T 1 T'i 1 L • ' ' ofDunstan. 
 
 mundi latitudmem ^ prodiit, quo sub materni smus ipso 
 adhuc angustia clauso divino miraculo designatum est 
 prseclarum mundo per eum lumen oriturum. Cum et- 
 enim mater ejus eo gravida spe prolis futurse laetaretur, 
 dies purificationis beatae matris Dei festivus illuxit. 
 Multitude igitur utriusque sexus hominum, pro excel- 
 lentia tantse festivitatis circumquaque coacta, fluxit ad At Glaston- 
 ecclesiam quae antiquitus Glastonise de lignis ^dificata feast of the 
 
 1 j'iT-\' 'J*' IT purification, 
 
 m nonorem erat ejusdem Dei gemtricis consecrata. in 
 qua multitudine multos nobilitate dignitateque prseeel- 
 lens, pater Sancti Dunstani, Herstanus nomine, cum 
 Chynedritha matre ejus ad Dei servitium properabat ; 
 ambo cereos quos pro ritu ipsius diei Deo offerrent 
 deferentes. Jam missae ofScium celebrari coeperat, et 
 immensus populus, immensa luminum elaritate refulgens, 
 in domo Dei divinis laudibus intendebat. Tune subito aii the can- 
 
 . . dies are ex- 
 
 m sua serenitate coelo manente, admirantibus cimctis tinguished, 
 cuncta simul luminaria extineta sunt. Aspiciunt igitur 
 singuli super se invicem ac pro novitate insueti pro- 
 digii metu nimio percelluntur. Verum dum attoniti 
 starent et quid certi de tali eventu sentire deberent 
 ignorarent, ereetis vultibus intuentur flammam ignis and re- 
 
 tj 1 T . . i J • lightedfrom 
 
 coelitus labi, et cereum quem mater Dunstani manu the candle 
 
 ji' r\ ' 'Ji'* ofKynedri- 
 
 tenebat ex ea aceendi. Qui ergo prius de lummarium tha, which 
 
 .... i» X J • J.- XT is lighted 
 
 exstmctione magnopere luerant admirati, nunc tarn de fromheaven. 
 
 coelestis flammae emissione quam et de cerei praegnan- 
 
 tis mulieris accensione, majori sunt admiratione perfusi. 
 
 Accedunt itaque singuli ad lumen coelo demissum, et 
 
 inde recipiunt lumen amissum. Ex eo tempore cultus 
 
 ac reverentia omnium circa Chynedritham ac virum 
 
 ejus magnifice aucta est. Nam sicut eos nobilitate, 
 
 divitiis et gloria mundi inter homines eminere sciebant, 
 
 ^ latitudinem] lucem, S. 
 
166 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 becoming saiictitate vitse in conspectu Dei ex signo quod 
 child. acciderat, enitere intelligebant. De prole etiam qu86 
 expeetabatur, spe magni boni tenebantur, et Deum, ut 
 in gaudium atque Isetitiam parentibus suis et omnibus 
 benevolentibus earn nasei, creseere, dilatarique concede- 
 ret, precabantur. 
 
 bi^tism of ^' I^^hi^c, instante partus tempore, puer eleganti b. p. 7. 
 Dunstan. forma nascitur, et post dies paucos sacro fonte regenera- p ^yg™' 
 tus, Dunstanus, montanus videlicet lapis, nuncupatus est. 
 Is ubi teneros infantise annos exivit a parentibus ad 
 prsefatum sacratissimse Virginis templum ducitur, ac 
 pro vita ejus atque provectu Deo preces et munera 
 iwought to offeruntur. Ob quae devotionis obsequia ipsis in loco 
 Surci?^^^^ pernoetantibus apparuit vir quidam angelieo speciosus 
 parent^have ^mictu, qui puerum coram eis per manum accipiens, et 
 futurebuM- huiG iude modesto discursu per atrium ducens, 
 erected by dixit iUis : " Sic sedificabitur locus iste ad conversatio- 
 him. (c illorum qui sive a pueritia in servitio Dei nutri- 
 " endi, sive a pravitate veteris vitse in novitatem gratise 
 " Christi, per hunc puerum sunt convertendi." Hsec illi 
 videntes et audientes valde gavisi sunt, et misericordi 
 Deo uberes gratias super admirabili gratia Ejus retu- 
 lerunt. Deinde puero diligenti studio in ipsa ecclesia 
 sub cura magistri commendato, tum ut litteras disce- 
 ret, tum ut Dei servitio sedulus inhaereret, ipsi in sua 
 reversi sunt. Dunstanus ieritur litteris traditus, et eis B. p. 8. 
 
 and sudden o ^ Adelard 
 
 recovery. ^Itra quam setas sua ferre poterat, die ac nocte inten- p 54 ' 
 tus, languore gravi corripitur et, gemebunda in dies Osbern, 
 vexatione tortus, usque ad exhalationem ultimi flatus ^* 
 perducitur.^ Sed cum jam velut morti contiguus jace- 
 ret et confluens coetus vicinorum mortem potius quam 
 uUum sanitatis ejus remedium expectaret ; en, circa 
 mediae noctis silentia per gratiam Dei visitatur, et 
 integrae sanitati contra omnium opinionem donatur. 
 Ilico stupentibus cunctis lecto desilit, domum exit, ad 
 
 1 perducitur~\ producitur, S. 
 
AUCTORE EADMERO. 167 
 
 Ad^i ^^^l^'^i^^ P^o reddita sibi sanitate Deo gratias acturus on his way 
 p 55^ ' impiger tendit. Cujus devotioni diabolus invidens, church the 
 Osbern, eumque a proposito deflectere nitens, simulate teterri- ens him 
 
 p. 76. ^ IT.- • 1 X X i. . with dogs. 
 
 morum canum globo, immani latratii ac terrinco im- 
 petu in eum ruit. At ille dsemonum sciens esse fig- 
 menta, invocato nomine Christi, signo se sanetse crucis 
 armavit, arreptamqne virgulam quae forte in via jaee- 
 bat, contra illos ^ malignorum incursus vibravit,^ et sicut 
 ventus fumum, sic omnes a facie sua fugavit. Post 
 haec ad ecclesise januas veniens, eam undique obseratam 
 invenit. Hue igitur illucque deambulans, et oratorium He ci^bs 
 intrare desiderans, scalam ad parietem templi erectam to the top of 
 
 . . . . the church. 
 
 oiiendit, quae m superiora tecti nitentibus ascendendi 
 viam prsestare solebat. Quam. puer Domini nescienter 
 ascendens, atque ad fastigium ecclesise ascendendo per- 
 tingens, nullum quo ingredi posset aditum repperit, 
 indeque statim ex altera tecti parte descendere coepit. 
 Deus autem, Qui delectabatur innocentia cordis ejus, 
 viam inter invia ipsa disponebat eressibus eius. Tunc He is found 
 
 ... . laid before 
 
 repente angelico ministerio sublatus intra ecclesiam the altar, 
 omni ex parte clausam, ipso puero quid circa se divi- 
 nitus ageretur ignorante, coram altari depositus est. 
 li autem qui prius in domo segrotanti deserviebant 
 ipsum egredientem secuti sunt, contemplantesque rei 
 eventum fidele testimonium divino miraculo perhibue- 
 runt. Puer vero, cum mane ante altare leni sopore He cannot 
 quiescens inventus, et quali modo illuc venisset qui ^^.^g"^® 
 sero morti proximus habebatur interrogatus fuisset, 
 hoc se nescire pia simplicitate professus est. Omnes 
 ergo qui tunc temporis rem audiere mirati simt, et 
 Deum,^ gratiam Suam in puero multiplicaret, devoto 
 affectu deprecati sunt. 
 
 3. Jam Dunstanus adolescentise decus induerat et 
 ipse humilis atque submissus omnibus erat. Nam cum 
 
 1 illos] illorum, S. I ^ JDeum'] iit, ins. S. 
 
 - vibravit^ visitavit (usitavit ?),S. ( 
 
168 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Dunstan 
 grows in 
 favour with 
 all. 
 
 He takes 
 
 minor^ 
 
 orders. 
 
 His pru- 
 dence and 
 piety. 
 
 His studious 
 character. 
 
 His devo- 
 tion. 
 
 ilium omnes honorare, ill! suum obsequium exhibere 
 satagerent, et affabilitatem ab eo sibi exhibitam magni 
 sestimarent, ille e contra nihil in se dignum honore, 
 nihil alicujus dignum obsequio judicabat, immo quic- 
 quid affabilitatis seu commodi sibi^ quivis exhibebat 
 gratise exhibentis non suis meritis ascribebat. Promp- 
 tus itaque erat ad ministrandum omnibus, et ipse ad 
 suscipiendum aliorum ministerium tardus. Inter hsee 
 rogatur a suis quatenus in sortem^ Domini transeat, 
 et in quibus Christo deserviat^ saeros ordines susci- 
 piat. Annuit ipse petentibus, atque ut liberius orato- 
 rium frequentare, luminaria accendere, manibus sacer- 
 dotum ae Levitarum aquam fundere, vinum et aquam 
 in Eucharistiam Corporis Christi sumministrare, legere B. p. lo. 
 atque cantare in- officio diei ac noctis posset, minores p^^^"^' 
 gradus suscepit. Videres igitur ilium omnia mundi 
 oblectamenta calcare, ludicra juvenum fugere, majorum 
 coUoquiis delectari, in fovendis pauperibus assiduum 
 esse, et ad quseque pietatis opera soUicitius invigilare. 
 Si autem aliquando, ut fit, a cosetaneis suis ad mundi 
 vanitates invitabatur, obtendebat potius necessario sibi 
 oportere illis et illis ecclesiasticis ministeriis curam 
 adhibere, et ea quse in Dei servitio legenda erant vel 
 canenda prsevidere. Sic servus Dei se et a mundi 
 contagiis purum custodiebat, et proposita rationabili 
 occasione nuUi scandalum, nuUi in qua Deum quis 
 ofFenderet aliquam causam suggerebat. Summum itaque 
 studium in oratione, in sacra meditatione, in divino- 
 rum librorum lectione habebat ; in his semper Deo ad- 
 haerere, Deum in mente habere, quid voluntati Dei 
 potissimum placeret ediscere gestiens. Unde factum 
 est ut et quae Dei sunt investigaret, et Ejus jugi con- 
 sideratione fretus cuncta peccati inquinamenta devita- 
 ret. Proximus ergo ac familiaris Deo effectus omnibus 
 in Ipso pie viventibus carus factus est et acceptus. 
 
 1 sibi^ om. S. 
 sorteni] sororem, S, 
 
 ^ deserviaf] seryiat, S. 
 
AUCTORE EADMERO. 
 
 169 
 
 Adelard, 4, Audita inter hsec fama venerabilis Athelmi Can- 
 p. 55. 
 
 Osbern, tuariensis archiepiscopi, fratris scilicet patris sui, eum 
 P- adire atque cum eo habitare disposuit. Videns enim 
 
 lascivias saeculi et iter adolescentis viam vitse retinere 
 volentis valde lubricum et laqueis undique plenum, 
 1 Cor. X. 12. illudque apostoli meditans, " Qui stat videat ne cadat," 
 timebat ne, si loco quem lasciviis et voluptuosis deliciis 
 effluere^ in circuitu suo, et hoc inter notos suos, videbat, 
 non cederet, a statu rectitudinis aliquo eventu deceptus 
 miserando casu decideret. Has ergo intentione ductus, 
 accepta a parentibus suis licentia, praefatum antistitem 
 adiit, et, quo vitae suae qualitas ad modum conversa- 
 tionis ejus jugiter informaretur, sedulus ei adhaesit. 
 Yerum cum elapso aliquanto tempore pontifex in mo- 
 ribus adolescentis omnia quae verae religioni congrue- 
 rent perciperet, et ex dono gratiae Dei qua fuerat as- 
 piratus, Deum multa Suae majestatis opera per eum 
 in futuro facturum praevideret, ipsum ad palatium^ 
 regis ^thelstani secum duxit, et ei magno affectu fo- 
 vendum necne ^ a cunctis adversis suo nutu protegen- 
 dum pio studio commendavit. Quod^ ipse benigna 
 mente suscipiens, juvenem dulciter amplexus est et 
 multo sinceri affectus amore percoluit. Dunstanus 
 itaque, licet in palatio regis terreni conversaretur ac 
 pro sua industria et ad omnes affabilitate ab omnibus 
 honoraretur, amplecteretur,^ nunquam tamen religionem 
 quam a puero conceperat quemlibet defectum in suis 
 actibus pati sinebat ; sed quo labilius inter vitiorum 
 fomenta gradiebatur, eo firmius ne ab ipsis aliquo 
 modo dejiceretur praecavebat. Sciens quoque otiosita- 
 tem inimicam animae esse, nunc istis nunc illis operi- 
 bus intendebat, et diversitate eorum subrepens fasti- 
 dium sibi toUebat. Peritia namque scribendi, pingendi 
 quicquid vellet, in cera, ligno vel osse sculpendi, et ex 
 
 He goes to 
 Archbishop 
 Athelm, 
 
 Adelard, 
 p. 56. 
 Osbern, 
 p. 79. 
 
 and attaches 
 himself to 
 him. 
 
 The arch- 
 bishop pre- 
 sents him to 
 king Athel- 
 stan. 
 
 His careful 
 behaviour at 
 court. 
 
 His indus- 
 try in learn- 
 ing diverse 
 arts. 
 
 1 effluere\ affluere, S. 
 ^ palatium^ solatium, S. 
 ^ necne'] necnon, S. 
 
 Quod] Quem, S. 
 ^ ab omnibus ... amplecteretur] 
 charus haberetur, S. 
 
170 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 His skill 
 in music. 
 
 His willing- 
 ness to 
 oblige. 
 
 He is asked 
 to draw a 
 design for 
 a vestment. 
 
 His harp 
 plays an an- 
 them with- 
 out touch 
 of human 
 fiand. 
 
 He under- 
 stands this 
 to be a 
 warning of 
 coming 
 trials. 
 
 auro, argento, ferro vel sere fabricando, ita claruit ut B. p. 20. 
 a multis quam maximse admirationi haberetur. Super 
 hsec instrumentis musici generis, quorum scientia non 
 medioeriter fultus erat, non tantum se sed et multo- 
 rum animos a turbulentis mundi negotiis ssepe demul- 
 cere, et in medicationem coelestis harmonise tam per 
 suavitatem verborum, quae modo materna modo alia 
 lingua musicis modulis interserebat, quam et per eon- 
 cordem concentum quem per eos exprimebat, concitare 
 solebat. Propter hsec igitur a multis frequentabatur et 
 ab eo malta fieri petebantur. lUe autem quoniam erat 
 ad omnes caritate difFusus, nulli negabat quod vellet 
 ab alio sibi concedi. 
 
 5. Hsee inter opera ejus ^ rogatur a quadam matrona, B. p. 21. 
 religiosa quidem et studium habente placendi Deo, ^^go™' 
 domum suam venire et orarium sibi quod ad ornatum 
 et ministerium ecclesise Dei^ inaurare volebat, artifi- 
 ciosa, quam in auri opere imitaretur, arte prsepingere. 
 Jam Dunstanus in manibus opus habebat, et cithara 
 ejus quam ad domum veniens seeum forte detulerat, 
 parieti affixa juxta pendebat. Coepit ergo ipsa cithara 
 nuUius hominis tactu impulsa ^ per se antiphonam istam 
 distinetis vocibus resonare, " Gaudent in eoelis animse 
 " sanctorum qui Christi vestigia sunt secuti, et quia 
 " pro Ejus amore sanguinem suum fuderunt, ideo cum 
 " Christo gaudebunt in seternum." Ad hsec admiratio 
 non parva comprehendit omnes qui in domo consiste- 
 bant. Singuli ergo, deflexis oculis ab opere juvenis quo 
 prius intenderant, vultus et aures ad citharam erige- 
 bant : et alii quidem simplicem sonum * chordarum 
 aure captabant, Dunstanus vero quid sonus depromeret, 
 quidve moneret, solus intelligebat. InteUigebat enim 
 in eo quod citharizabatur, quia si cum Christo vellet 
 in seternum gaudere, non formidaret, si ne^jessitas urge- 
 
 ^ ejus^ sua, S. 
 2 Dei^ om. S. 
 
 ^ tactu impulsa] attactu pulsata, S. 
 ^ sonum] vocem, S. 
 
AUCTORE EADMERO. 
 
 171 
 
 ret, pro Eo sanguinem fundere, nec anima ejus gaudium 
 in coelis adipisceretur, si Christi vestigia non seque- 
 retur. Itaque citharoedum istum vere angelico modu- 
 lamine administratum ita aecepit quasi ex sensibili 
 prsesentia Dei doceretur quid sibi deinceps foret 
 agendum. 
 
 B. p. 11. 
 Osbern, 
 p. 81. 
 
 B. p. 12. 
 Osbern, 
 p. 81, 
 
 6. His ita se habentibus, ii qui virum primo se valde 
 diligere demonstrabant, et ei quasi fidelem societatem 
 in cunctis conservabant, nunc provectibus ejus invidere, 
 et eum sinistris artibus uti, ac mansuetum ^d omnes 
 habitum ejus hypocrisi et quorumque simplicium de- 
 ceptioni magis quam alicui religioni inservire, convi- 
 ciari coeperunt. Ad cujus calumnise firmamentum id 
 quod in cithara factum fuit velut quoddam argumen- 
 tum inducunt, adstruentes in hujusmodi instrumento 
 nil tam insolitum fieri potuisse, nisi constaret aliquo 
 diabolico carmine illud ^ per eum cujus erat antea 
 tactum fuisse. Quid plura? Crescit iste nequissimus 
 rumor et indies fit sibi ipsi^ deterior. Spargitur per 
 curiales^ et perducitur usque ad principis aures. Rex 
 ergo et multi ex primoribus, qui hominem paulo ante 
 magni habebant,^ vultus suos, utpote ab illo qui jam ipsis 
 despectui erat/ avertebant. Quae ^ Dunstanus advertens, 
 et ne in pejus proficerent nonnihil metuens, malignorum 
 hominum iracundiaG cessit, et ad cognatum suum ^Ife- 
 gum Wentanum episcopum, cognomine Calvum, profec- 
 turus curia regali decessit. Quod prsefatse malitise 
 commentatores agnoscentes, viam observant, eumque 
 cum sociis comprehendentes equo dejiciunt, injuriis 
 multis afiiciunt et acriter flagellatum ac vinctum in 
 horrido coeno prsecipitatum relinquunt Ne autem pe- 
 nitus ab eis perimeretur, post^ gratiam Dei quae ilium 
 
 Envy and 
 calumny of 
 his com- 
 panions. 
 
 They accuse 
 him of sor- 
 cery. 
 
 The king is 
 offended. 
 
 Dunstan 
 goes from 
 court to 
 his kinsman 
 Elfege. 
 
 He his ill- 
 treated by 
 his com- 
 panions. 
 
 1 illud^ ilico, S. 
 
 2 sibi ipsi"] se ipso, S. 
 ^ curiales~\ aulicos, S. 
 
 * habebant] pendebant, S. 
 
 ^ erat] esset, S. 
 ^ Qiice] Quod, S. 
 7 post] per, S. 
 
172 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 He is 
 
 rescued by 
 dogs. 
 
 He comes 
 to bishop 
 Elfege, who 
 urges him 
 to become 
 a monk. 
 
 Dunstan's 
 reluctance. 
 
 His severe 
 illness. 
 
 Suis in posterum reservavit, qusedam ingens molossorum PP- 12, 
 multitudo obstitit, qusB ex insperato in eos horridis Osbern 
 latratibus irruens, adolescentem defendit. Quod ille P-^^- 
 percipiens, pravorum hominum miseratus errorem, canes 
 eis faetos humaniores gemens, erubuit. Verumtamen 
 Deo super inefFabili gratia Ejus ^ ex intimo eorde gra- 
 tias agens, sensu ipse percepit in se cantum eitharse 
 nonnihil sibi significasse. Interea vicini, prsGdicto mo- 
 lossorum latratu audito, perterriti accurrerunt quid 
 accident discere gestientes. Et agnoscentes quod fac- 
 tum est, illos nequam homines jam fuga dilapsos detes- 
 tati sunt, et Dunstanum de coeno educentes fovendum 
 ad sua perducunt. Profectus dehinc venit ad memo- ^- P- 13. 
 ratum episcopum et aliquanto tempore deguit apud 32. ' 
 ipsum. Erat autem episcopus idem magnse in Christo 
 religionis, et apud omnes id locorum conversantes 
 magni nominis. Egit igitur industria qua vigebat ut 
 Dunstanus monachus fieret. Proposuit ei inter alia 
 monachi vitam esse viam perfectionis de qua Dominus 
 illi qui se omnia legis mandata dixit servasse, " Unum " 
 ait " tibi deest ; si vis perfectus esse, vade, vende omnia 
 " qu8B habes et da pauperibus, et veni sequere me." I^^^**- ^i^- 
 Et adjecit, " Ita, fili, si vis ut ea quse in te jam magni 
 " boni spem prsestant, perfectionis culmen attingant, 
 " necesse habes omnia quae in sseculo possides relinquere 
 " et Christi vestigia nudus sequi." Ad hsec licet ^ ille 
 qusedam quae sibi rationis videbantur, objiceret, nec 
 subito assensu iis quae dicebantur animum summittere 
 vellet, tamen non parum in ipso verba pontificis ope- 
 rata sunt. De nuptiis quippe, quas se facturum certo 
 sibi ipsi ante promiserat, jam utrum eas faceret annon 
 dubius fluctuabat. In qua dubietate constitutum, nutu B. p. i4. 
 Dei, valida febris invasit, et in tantum corpus ejus p ^53™' 
 attenuavit, ut nihil minus quam de ducenda uxore 
 cogitaret. Cum autem ^ jam aliquantum sopito lan- 
 
 ^ Ejusl om. S. 
 2 Ucet~\ cum, S. 
 
 ^ autem^ om. S. 
 
AUCTORE EADMERO. 173 
 
 B. p. 14. guore et verba pontificis et duritiam sui cordis in se His shame. 
 
 Osbern, t ± i i • -i. 
 
 p. 83. reversus ad mentem reduceret, suspirans graviter eru- 
 buit quod potentior in eo fuit tertiari86 febris ignicu- 
 lus ad exstinguendam carnis suae concupiscentiam quam 
 ille ignis, quern ut in cordibus fidelium vehementer 
 arderet Dominus venit mittere in terram. Versa igitur 
 
 s. Luke,xii. vice ardorem ignis divini in se succendens, earnalibus 
 illecebris funditus renunciavit, seque perpetuo virginem 
 perseveraturum divinitatis confisus auxilio vovit. Mit- He sends 
 
 . . r» • T • forElfege 
 
 tens itaque episeopum fecit ad se venire, et apud eum and is made 
 
 . . . , , a monk and 
 
 poenitentiam egit quod sibi ^ viam perfectionis suadenti ^^f^^"^*^ 
 non statim obtemperaverit, quod habitum religionis 
 monasticse ad verbum ejus non susceperit. Quibus 
 antistes auditis, gaudio gavisus est magno, et de con- 
 versione juvenis immensas grates persolvit largitori 
 omnis bonitatis ^ Deo. Dunstanus ergo monaclius sine 
 dilatione factus est, et deinde legitimo tempore per 
 canonicas sacrorum ordinum successiones etiam ad sa- 
 cerdotii gradum ab eodem episcopo provectus. 
 Osbern, 7. Post aliquantos novae conversionis suae dies Glasto- He goes to 
 pp. 83, 84. j^jg^jj^ Dunstanus perrexit, et ibi luxta ecclesiam sanctse and builds 
 Dei genitricis et virginis Marise, in qua lumen, ut small ceii. 
 supra meminimus, ccelitus emicuit, sibi domunculam 
 adeo parvulam fecit ut mirum habeant qui eam nove- 
 runt, qualiter ibi vivus homo degere potuerit. Ipsemet 
 enim eam mensus sum, et nihil ultra quatuor pedes in 
 longitudine nec plus quam duos ac semis habet in la- 
 titudine. Altitudo autem staturam hominis concipit. 
 In medio ostii fenestra est. lUic ergo conversari, orare, 
 psallere, nonnuUa quae loci angustia patiebatur mani- 
 bus operari, et uni Deo placendi,^ per omnia et in om- 
 nibus, operam dare.^ Quibus exercitiis ejus antiquus 
 humani generis adversarius invidens, sicut eum a curia 
 regis nuper expulit, ita qualiter a loco isto expelleret, 
 
 1 sibi] iUi, S. 
 
 2 bonitatis'] boni, S. 
 
 ^ placendi] ut placeret, S. 
 4 dare] visus est, ins. S. 
 
174 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 vSits him ^Q^lig^^ soUicitus fuit. Quadam igitur vice, cum vir Osbem, 
 and tempts ipge jam die advesperascente fabrili intenderet operi, ^' 
 astitit fenestrse ipsius daemon unus, humana effigie tec- 
 tus, rogans sibi nescio quid operis ab homine fieri. At 
 ille pietatis affectu ex more permotus, intermissis iis 
 quae faciebat, parabat se satisfacere^ postulanti. Inte- 
 rim is qui venerat formam ac verba mutare, ut nunc 
 senis, nunc pueri, nunc lascivse puellse, sestimares te 
 vultus cum voce videre. Quod Dunstanus audiens quis Osbern, 
 esset protenus agnovit,^ et sedens motus ejus patien- ^* 
 ter se ferre dissimulavit.* Sumptis interea tenaculis, 
 quibus calida ferra tenere solebat, fortiter ea ignivit, 
 et candentia de fornace subito proferens, monstrum 
 He seizes per nasum arripuit, et strictissime tenuit. Videres 
 
 tJuB devil 7 ^ 
 
 by the nose, itaque pulchrum certamen inter amicum Dei et inimi- 
 cum. Ille ardorem sentiens, ac detectis insidiis, super- 
 biam suam dejectam non ferens, totis nisibus conaba- 
 tur evadere. Iste ilium retinens et intro viriliter 
 trahens, Isetabatur quod in Nomine Christi poterat de 
 inimico Ejus triumphare. Tandem cum dedecore a 
 viro abjectus fugit et per plateam currens, querula 
 voce clamitabat, dicens, " Vse quid ille calvus diabolus ^ 
 
 Cries of the " fecit ! Ydd Quid ille calvus diabolus fecit! En me 
 
 enemy. , . , , . 
 
 " miserum, misericordise opus ab eo petentem, misere 
 " afilixit, et nil mali de eo merentem, ign^e ® malignitatis 
 " suse longo cruciatu combussit." Has voces multi 
 audientes, et eas mane viro referentes, sciscitati sunt 
 Dunstan's quiduam hoc esse potuerit. Quibus ille, " Dsemonum," 
 
 explanation. , . ii* 
 
 ait, "msidias sunt, qui suis lallaciis nos volunt mquie- 
 " tare si possunt. Sed si in servitio Christi stabiles 
 " fuerimus, l^viter eos in Ejus adjutorio devincemus, 
 " et confusi fugient a nobis." Haec dixit et securus 
 postmodum in sua domuncula habitavit. Nec enim in 
 
 S. 
 
 1 maligne] malignus, S. 
 
 2 satisfacere] ad satisfaciendum, 
 
 I 
 
 3 agnovit] cognovit, S. 
 
 S. 
 
 ^ dissimulavit] simulavit, S. 
 
 5 diaholus'] om. S. 
 
 ^ merentem iyne\ narrantem ille, 
 
AUCTORE EADMERO. 
 
 175 
 
 ipso loco unquam amplius eum inimicus ag^redi ausus His fame 
 
 \ ' X I n • ± • • and popu- 
 
 est, m quo talem belli apparatum m primo congressu lanty. 
 sortitus est. Ex eo igitur tempore cum munditia cor- 
 dis tanta claruit in Dunstano pudicitia corporis, ut 
 omnes qui vitam illius noverunt similem angelo judi- 
 carent. Unde quamplures utriusque sexus homines, 
 tam divites quam non omni ex parte locupletes, ad 
 eum properare, eum de salute consulere, ab eo via vitse 
 festinabant informari. Ipse autem, singulis prout quis- 
 que opus habebat sua verba dispertiens, quemc^ue ad 
 voluntatem Dei instituebat. 
 
 8. Dum hsec fiunt, venit ad eum mulier qusedam The lady 
 ^Ifgiva nomine, quse ab ineunte setate grata fuit et comes to 
 
 . MAT • 1 • -T 1 Glastonbury 
 
 accepta regibus Anglise, cum quia boms moribus et to be near 
 castis actibus praedita, tum quia filios eorum educando 
 et nutriendo gnara erat atque soUicita. Hsec igitur, 
 audito Dunstano, habitationem sibi prope oratorium 
 sanctee Mariae instituit, ubi ad eam Dunstanus venire, 
 eam de provectu bonorum operum, de spe retributionis 
 futurse, de gaudio regni coelestis imbuere posset. Et 
 factum est, quicquid ei Dunstanus dixit, ita opere 
 implere sollicita fuit ac si ab ore Dei corporeis auribus 
 id acciperet. Quapropter diebus ac noctibus ecclesiam 
 frequentare, orationibus insistere, egenis de facultatibus 
 suis, quibus affluebat, largiter ministrare, et prorsus iis 
 quae Deo placere posse sperabat sedula studebat operam 
 dare. Circa venerationem vero beatse matris Dei quam she i^ain-^ 
 devota extiterit, ex eo aliquantum adverti posse pu- J^^J^^^^ 
 tamus quod ipsa nonnuUos clericos in templo ejus 
 fecit, quibus, ut die noctuque servitio illius libere in- 
 vigilarent, omnia quorum opus habebant abundanter 
 sumministrabat. Ipsa quoque pia domina pro fideli 
 famula sua multa faciebat, quando ab ea quid medi- 
 ante rationed postulabat. Verbi gratia ; rex iEthelstanus, 
 
 1 quid . . rationed quippiam ration! consentaneum, S. 
 
176 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 She invites 
 Athelstan to 
 visit her. 
 
 She finds a 
 deficiency of 
 mead, and 
 prays to the"" 
 Virgin to 
 supply it. 
 
 Miracle of 
 the mead. 
 
 Illness of 
 Elfgifu. 
 
 cum quadam vice Glastoniam venisset, divertit propter b. p. 1 8. 
 loci religionem ad prsefatam ecclesiam Sanctae Marise. p^gg^^' 
 Quod ilia sciens rogat eum quatenus dignetur in domum 
 suam divertere et aliquantum quieti indulgere, ac 
 modicum cibi potusque in vera caritate suscipere. Con- 
 cedit rex, licet invitus, nolens scilicet cam quam et 
 sibi ex antiquo familiareuL habebat et nunc devotam 
 Deo noverat, contradicendo in aliquo offendere. Lseta 
 igitur non parum effecta, se ad regium ministerium 
 totam impendit, et prsevidens ea quae tali negotio con- 
 venire sciebat, nihil eorum quse volebat minus esse 
 advertit, illo dumtaxat potu excepto, qui medo vocatur, 
 quo Angli quam maxime uti solebant. Verens ergo 
 ne hujus inopia aliorum copiam obnubilaret, oratorium 
 pise Marise, ipsius sufFragium de re postulatura ingre- 
 ditur. Et prostrata solo orat eam quatenus sua prece 
 a Deo obtineat, ut memorato liquori unde parum 
 habebat divinae Suae benedictionis augmentum infundat. 
 Mira res ! rex magna suorum multitudine septus ad 
 prandium sedet, et prandentibus de praefato potu copiose Osbem, 
 hinc inde defertur, semperque vasculum unde haurieba- ^' 
 tur solito plenum invenitur. Factumque est ut, rege a 
 loco discedente, in vasculo minime appareret quod inde 
 quicquam sumptum fuisset. Haec idcirco hie inserui- 
 mus, ut quantum verba viri Dei in cordibus audien- 
 tium ad voluntatem Dei conciliandam ^ profecerint 
 hujus exemplo intelligamus. Igitur cum ipsius Suae 
 famulae merita Deus vellet aeterna quiete remunerari, 
 paterno eam verbere percussit, volens scilicet illam, hoc 
 ordine ab omnis peccati macula castigatam, numero 
 filiarum coelestis Jerusalem celerius aggregare. Quam B. p. 18. 
 ubi Dunstanus infirmari ^ cognovit, venit ad eam ac de p^^gy™' 
 salute animae ejus, de gloria vitae aeternae, de poenis 
 gehennae et horum infinito fine ipsi locutus, illam ad 
 
 1 in cordibus . . . conciliandam] 
 consiliaque, S. 
 
 2 infirmari'] segrotare, S. 
 
AUCTORE EADMERO. 
 
 B. p. 18. 
 
 Osbern, 
 p. 87. 
 
 B. p. 19. 
 
 Osbern, 
 p. 88. 
 
 sectanda vestigia Christi, renunciato^ sjbcuIo et rebus 
 sjToeuli, exhortatus est. Ad quae ilia, " Cuncta quse mei 
 juris sunt Christo relinquo, atque ut ea distribuas se- 
 " cundum quod lUi melius placere cognoveris super te 
 " pono !^ Nec enim aliquem in hac vita seque carum habeo, 
 " nec alicui sicut tibi per omnia credo." His ille auditis, 
 omnia fere quae in mobilibus ipsa habebat pauperibus 
 sine mora distribuere coepit, aliis interim ad ecclesiarum 
 consolationem pro temporum qualitate servatis. Jam dies 
 in vesperam declinabat, et Dunstanus ne a nocte extra 
 cellulam deprehenderetur, illue properabat. Ibat itaque 
 vespertinum ofEcium psallens, et cum ante fores ecclesije 
 perveniret, nec eam, quia clausa erat, intrare A^aleret, 
 substitit, volens prse foribus perficere horam quam in- 
 ceperat. Tunc subito ex dulcedine psalmodiae, uti 
 plerumque accidere solet, mente compunctus, oculos ad 
 coelum sublevat, et conspicit inde columbam miri candoris 
 prsepeti volatu descendere, quae aera scintillantis radii 
 fulgore diverberans domum morientis matronae, ipso 
 considerante, subintrat. Ilico reflexo gressu concitus 
 redit, et ante cameras ^ introitum stans totum habitacu- 
 lum incredibili videt nitore splendere,^ eamque interius 
 audit cum quodam de jocunditate patriae ccielestis 
 sermocinantem ^ et eidem innumeras gratias jDersol- 
 ventem. Cujus rei fine patienter exspectato, tandem 
 ingreditur, et praeter eam neminem inveniens., quis 
 fuerit interrogat cum quo loquebatur. " Ille idem," ait, 
 qui tibi ante fores ecclesiae psallenti priusquam ad me 
 veniret apparuit. Ille, inquam, dignatus est me visi- 
 tare, et suae mihi consolationis gratiam praerogare. 
 Quapropter dico tibi, amicorum carissime, ne tu vel 
 aliorum quis de meo discessu doleat, quia non poena 
 infernalis sed gloria me suscipiet regni ca^lestis. 
 
 She entrusts 
 her pro- 
 perty to 
 Dunstan. 
 
 Dun Stan's 
 vision of 
 the Dove. 
 
 (< 
 
 « 
 
 Elfgifu's 
 account of 
 her conver- 
 sation with 
 the Dove. 
 
 s. 
 
 ^ renunciato2 nuntio remisso huic, 
 
 super te pono'] tibi impono, S. 
 ^ camera"] cubiculi, S. 
 
 * splendere'] affectum, S. 
 ^ sermocinantem] sermonem con- 
 ferentem, S. 
 
 M 
 
178 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Her last TantuHi precor ut eras mane ad me venias, et mihi B. p. 29. 
 
 wish ^ •* 
 
 " cum Sacramento sacrse inunctionis viaticum Dominici p.^ss™' 
 
 (C 
 
 Corporis tradas." Annuit ille, et diluculo reversurus, 
 tristis simul et Isetus in suam domunculam abiit. Hu- 
 manitatis namque affectu contristabatur, quia tanto 
 solatio ad prsesens destituebatur, sed altera considera- 
 tione magnam in corde Isetitiam concipiebat, propterea 
 quod ipsam, cui seternam salutem unice concupiebat,^ 
 eandem salutem apprehendere jam jamque videbat. 
 Her death Mane ififitur iuxta condictum reversus est, et ipsa sacra- 
 
 and burial. o j ^ r 
 
 mentorum quse desideraverat pro ritu ecclesise compos 
 efFecta beatum finem adepta est, et in ssepedicto oratorio 
 decenter sepulta. Post hsec Dunstanus non solum de 
 possessionibus quas, ut diximus, ab eadem matrona 
 commendata susceperat, sed et de illis quas sui parentes 
 Ssposafof ^^^^ Christum migrantes ei, quem unicum 
 
 her wealth, genucre, dimiscrant, sollicitus tractabat apud se quem- 
 admodum Christi membra commodius inde^ posset 
 sustentare. Et iis quidem qui Deo sub patrocinio beatse 
 Marise in ejus ecclesia serviebant vel servituri erant 
 propinquiores terras perpetuo jure possidendas donavit, 
 remotiores vero ad opus quinque ecclesiarum, quas 
 construere disposuerat, juxta locorum positionem dandas 
 reservavit. Quse nimirum ecclesise postmodum institutse, 
 ac subsequenti tempore in tantum sunt mobilibus ac 
 immobilibus rebus illius instantia auctse, ut in singulis 
 ' multiplex monachorum coetus ad nutum patris Dunstani 
 sub regularis vitse custodia militaret. 
 Bunstan's, 9. Exin vir Domini infatigabili desiderio ad supernam Adelard, 
 parents in^^ patriam mentis obtutum dirigere, et civibus ejus quibus ^* 
 conversatione necdum poterat, jugi meditatione satagebat 
 interesse. ITnde contigit ut quadam die in contem- 
 plationis dulcedine positus subito raperetur super se, et 
 patris ac matris suae animas inter choros angelorum 
 conspiceret in coelorum regno gaudere. De qua visione 
 
 concupiebaf] concupiscebat, S. | ^ inde"] om. S. 
 
AUCTOEE EADMERO. 
 
 179 
 
 B. p. 15. 
 
 Osbern, 
 p. 89. 
 
 valde gavisus, immensas omnipotenti Deo gratias egit, 
 et deinde, juxta apostolum, qu9G retro erant obliviseens, 
 Phil. iii. 13. id ea quae ante sunt quotidie sese extendit. Inde 
 quoque semper animo secum volvebat se videlicet pa- 
 rentum suorum legitimnm filium nuUatenus esse^ si 
 minus illis voluntati Domini obsequendo propter suam 
 desidiam perderet hsereditatem quam eos viderat in 
 terra viventium adquisisse. Hac meditatione quadam 
 nocte illi yehementissime oceupato apparuit juvenis 
 quidam vultu splendidus, amictu decorus, quem ipse ado- 
 lescens adolescentem olim noverat et sancto sancti amoris 
 fervore multum dilexerat. In quem oeulos Dunstanus 
 defigens paulisper expavit, ex antiqua scilicet notitia quis 
 esset advertens, sed eum jamdudum huic vitse exemptum 
 reminiscens. Tunc ille hominem ne timeret hortatus, 
 et ipse ab eo de vita in qua tunc erat familiari alloquio 
 percunctatus,^ coepit ei de gaudiis regni Dei multa 
 disserere, ac demum ea quse illi erant eventura prsedi- 
 cere. Ait ergo eum multas hominum malignorum ad- 
 versitates et insidias djBmonum plurimas perpessurum, 
 sed ei in cunctis Dei auxilium afFuturum,^ ad summos 
 ecclesiae gradus promovendum;, multas populorum mul- 
 titudines sua prsedicatione et exemplo Christo Domino 
 adquisiturum, cum quibus sciret se post banc vitam 
 perennem gloriam adepturum. Quibus dictis virum 
 foras in atrium ecclesise ducit, eique locum quendam 
 eatenus incontaminatum ostendens dicit, "Ut de iis 
 " quae audisti omnino certus existas, hoc in loco ante 
 " triduum presbyter unus sepelietur qui nondum aliqua 
 " corporis infirmitate tenetur." Dixerat et ab oculis 
 ejus evanuit. Mane facto clericos ad locum Dunstanus 
 ducit, et eis quid de presbytero inibi sepeliendo audierit 
 edicit. Eadem die venit ad eosdem clericos presl>yter, 
 qui doming© cujus actus paulo ante paucis tetigimus in 
 servitio Dei assiduus esse solebat, conventionem cum eis 
 
 His devout 
 meditations. 
 
 B. p. 16. 
 
 Osbern, 
 p. 89. 
 
 He has a 
 vision of a 
 dead friend, 
 who reveals 
 to him his 
 future life. 
 
 A sign of 
 the truth of 
 the warning. 
 
 percunctatus] rogatus, S. 
 
 I ^ sed . . affuturuTn] om. S. 
 
 M 2 
 
180 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Puifiiment faciens quatenut^ eum m prsedicto loco cum defunctus B. p. 16. 
 
 of the sign. . . i , tit i • j. Osbern, 
 
 esset tumularent. lUis vero adquiescentibus, sanus et p go 
 alacer domum reversus, statim est infirmatus, ac sequent! 
 die defunctus, juxta verbum servi Dei, in prsesignato 
 loco sepultus est. Omnes igitur qui rem gestam audie- 
 runt mirati sunt, et opera Dei mira in Dunstano prsedi- 
 caverunt. 
 
 Edmund 
 
 becomes 
 
 king. 
 
 Dunstan at 
 court ; 
 
 he adminis- 
 ters justice. 
 
 Envy and 
 detraction. 
 
 10. Sublato de hac vita rege iEthelstano, successit ei in 
 regnum Eadmundus frater ejus. Hie post aliquot su8e 
 consecrationis dies, missis nunciis rogat Dunstanum 
 venire ad se. Sciens quippe qua ratione, qua pruden- 
 tia, quam omnis probi consilii gratia praeditus fuerit, 
 magnopere desiderabat ilium sibi proximum esse, cujus 
 industria fultus tam se quam regnum sibi commissum 
 sub sequitatis virga facilius gubernaret. Dunstanus 
 itaque regi quasi praecellenti, secundum prseceptum 
 apostoli, obediendum fore^ perpendens, regem adiit, et 
 salva in omnibus reverentia ordinis sui ejus imperio 
 se subjecit. Ipse suo consilio regni negotia disponebat, 
 ipse lites et contentiones si quando oriebantur destrue- 
 bat, ipse pacem et concordiam inter omnes nutriebat. 
 NuUus in qualibet causa unquam 5e injuria sibi illata 
 conquestus est, nisi ad comprobandam judicii senten- 
 tiam Dunstanus mediator aut arbiter sedit.^ Rex ipse, 
 principes quique, ita ei summissi erant, ut contra id 
 quod ipse juberet vel ordinaret nemo quid faceret. 
 Magnus itaque habebatur a cunctis. Hsec omnium 
 bonorum invidus hostis attendens, et quonam modo ea 
 turbaret sua arte perquirens, invenit quosdam quorum 
 corda bene noverit virum non sincere diligere, sed ei 
 specietenus obsequii sui amorem prsetendere. Hos ad 
 dissipandum bona quae non amabat ardenter contra 
 virum inflammat, ac primo clam postea palam in de- 
 tractionem ejus illorum ora relaxat. Quid dicam ? in 
 
 B. p. 21. 
 
 Osbern, 
 p. 90. 
 
 1 S. Pet. 
 ii. 13. 
 
 B. p. 22. 
 Osbern, 
 p. 90. 
 
 B. p. 23. 
 
 Osbern, 
 p. 90. 
 
 ^ fore'] esse, S. 
 
 I 2 seditli sederet, S. 
 
AUCTORE EADMERO. 
 
 181 
 
 B. p. 23. 
 
 Osbern, 
 p, 91. 
 
 B. p. 24. 
 Osbern, 
 p. 91. 
 
 tantam discordiam profecerunt verba malignantium, iit 
 subversa omni pace Dunstanus non solum piistino 
 honore privaretur, sed et curia depelleretur. Quo facto 
 die tertia rex in sylvam venatum ivit. Sylva autem 
 ipsa montem magnse altitudinis occupat. Qui mons in 
 summitate sui interruptus ingens prsecipitium et horri- 
 dam abyssum spectantibus affert. Cum ergo fugitan- 
 tem cervum rex hac et iliac insequeretur, cervus ad 
 preeruptum montis hiatum perveniens introrsum ruit 
 ac in partes discissus interit. Insectantes canes par 
 ruina involvit. Equus quem rex sedebat, ruptis habenis 
 efFrsenis effectus, obstinato cursu regem post bestias 
 portat,^ ad ultimam sortem regi prse se ^ patens barath- 
 rum intentat. lUe trepidat et angustiatur. Occurrit 
 interim animo ejus injuria Dunstano nuper^ illata. 
 Ingemit et se quam citissime ilia multiplici emenda- 
 tione correcturum, solummodo imminentem sibi mortem 
 ejus meritis ad horam Deus avertat, Deo celeri mentis 
 sponsione promittit. Cujus cordis prseparationem auris 
 Dei e vestigio audiens illius misertus est. Equus 
 namque ilico substitit et regem, a periculo mortis libe- 
 ratum, valde magnificas Domino grates ex imo cordis 
 persolvere fecit.^ Inde ad hospitium rex reversus, ad- 
 unatis principibus suis rei quae acciderat ordinem pan- 
 dit, et Dunstanum cum honore ac reverentia adduci 
 prsecepit, actaque coram eo poenitentia pro injuriis quas 
 ei intulerat, veniam cum magna ^ humilitate postula- 
 bat. Qua potitus fidum se amicum viro deinceps omni 
 tempore futurum, nec ulterius cujusquam maledicis 
 verbis de eo fore crediturum, poUicitus est. Ac ut 
 maledicorum ora inter eos perpetim obstruerentur, sci- 
 rentque omnes quo vinculo, qua stabilitate amicitia 
 eorum copularetur, ei locum in quo natus fuerat atque 
 
 Dunstan 
 driven from 
 court. 
 
 King Ed- 
 mund's nar- 
 row escape 
 when hunt- 
 ing at 
 Cheddar. 
 
 He confesses 
 his sin 
 against 
 Dunstan, 
 and is saved. 
 
 He asks 
 
 Dunstan's 
 
 forgiveness. 
 
 S. 
 
 1 bestias portat] bestiam portans, 
 
 2 prce se\ prseceps, S. 
 ^ nuper'] om. S. 
 
 ^ magnificas . . fecit] gloriosum 
 Deo redit, S. 
 
 ^ magna'] om. S. 
 
182 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 He gives 
 him Glas- 
 tonbury. 
 
 Dunstan 
 builds there. 
 
 Promotion 
 of his 
 scholars. 
 
 Tempta- 
 tions of the 
 devil. 
 
 nutritus perpetuo jure possidendum dedit, eo pacto ut 
 quod arbitrii ejus tenor magis eligeret, exinde^ potis- 
 simum ordinaret. " Et si," ait,^ " tibi plaeuerit illic 
 " tuae professionis viros multiplicare, tanta eis regia 
 " liberalitate per miserieordiam Domini tribuam, ut 
 
 multitudini eorum semper superabundet multitudo 
 " donorum meorum." Pro quibus Deo et regi Dun- 
 stanus gratias agens, et Glastoniam in dominium suum 
 aceipiens, secundum exemplar parentibus suis sibique 
 ostensum, ut prsediximus, in augmentum majoris eecle- 
 sisD fundamenta jaeere, claustra et ofSeinas construere, 
 et quseque poterant esse monachis Domino Christo ser- 
 vientibus accommoda, inibi coepit sedifieare. Post quae 
 plurimis sibi fratribus associatis loci ipsius abbas efFec- 
 tus est. Crevit itaque monasterium ipsum intus et 
 extra tarn in sancta et monachili religione quam et 
 in multimoda terrenarum rerum possessione. Et qui- 
 dem de possessione rerum terrenarum usque hodie scitur 
 quod ita sit; de religione vero ex eo probatur quod 
 ita fuerit, quoniam inde ad episcopatus, ad abbatias, 
 ad quaoque officia ecclesiastica personse eligebantur, et 
 ad eruditionem aliarum ecclesiarum constituebantur. 
 Factumque est ut, sicut supra diximus ex cereo matris 
 Dunstani totum ecclesise conventum lumen amissum 
 recuperasse,^ ita ex hoc loco, ipsius Dunstani doctrina 
 instituto, omnes ecclesias Anglise constet verse religionis 
 lumen sumpsisse. 
 
 11. Inter hsec vita et conversatio Dunstani magnum 
 contra se generabant odium diaboli. Qui gemens ne- 
 quaquam inconvulsa mansisse qu^ per suae voluntatis 
 ministros in eum adversa conjecerat, per seipsum ilium 
 aggredi temptat, ratus vel sic eum a bonis quibus die 
 ac nocte insistebat deterrendum. Quadam itaque nocte, 
 dum solus ex more oraret, in lupi efSgiem demutatus 
 
 B. p. 25. 
 
 Adelard, 
 p. 56. 
 
 Osbern, 
 p. 92. 
 
 B. p. 26. 
 Osbern, 
 p. 93. 
 
 B. p. 26. 
 Osbern, 
 p. 93. 
 
 ^ exinde] inde, S. 
 2 ait] inquit, S. 
 
 ^ totum 
 
 conventum 
 
 recupe- 
 
 rasse'] totus . . conventus 
 peravit, S. 
 
 . recu- 
 
AUCTORE EADMERO. 
 
 183 
 
 B. p. 26. 
 
 Osbern, 
 p. 93. 
 
 B. p. 27. 
 
 Osbern, 
 p. 93. 
 
 Adelard, 
 p. 56. 
 
 Osbern, 
 p. 1)3. 
 
 Ps. xci. 13. 
 
 coram eo aperto ore et distectis dentibus nngens horn- He appears 
 
 T ., T p • • • as a wolf 
 
 dus apparuit. In qua lorma quoniam virum nec m and as a fox. 
 puncto^ quidem ab intentione sua deflectere valuit, 
 statim in vulpeculam vertitur, et quo ilium ad se in- 
 tendere faceret variis anfractibus et jocosis motibus 
 hue illucque perlabitur. Tunc Dunstanus modicum 
 subridens, " Vere," ait, " ostendis quod agere soles. 
 Jocando namque blandiris incautis ut eos devores, 
 devoras ^ ut tibimet ipsi blandiaris. Sed jam discede, Dunstan's 
 
 rH^ • i r\ ' -i < i words to 
 
 miser, quoniam Cnristus Qui leonem et draconem him. 
 " conculcavit, Ipse te lupum et vulpeculam per me 
 " Sua gratia superabit." Sentiens ergo Dunstanus pro- 
 phetiam amici sui jam ex rerum eventibus partim 
 demonstrari veram esse, semper quasi novus accederet 
 ad servitutem Dei stabat in timore, et praeparabat 
 animam suam ad temptationes, jugiter ad exsequendam 
 voluntatem Dei operam dans, nec uUa hora uUove 
 momento otio vacans. 
 intra cellam suam 
 
 angelos Dei in sublimi congratulando psallentes audiret Edgar" 
 in hunc modum, atque dicentes, "Pax Anglorum eccle- 
 " sise, exorti nunc pueri et Dunstani nostri tempore." 
 Regina siquidem regi Eadmundo filium, qui Edgarus 
 appellatus est, eodem tempore peperit, atque hoc ipsum 
 simul et quod pacis sectator esset futurus, per angeli- 
 cas voces atque concentus Dunstano Deus innotescere 
 voluit. 
 
 Unde contigit uno dierum ut He hears a 
 
 T . • , i T • ■ miraculous 
 
 corde et opere mtentus, subito voice at the 
 
 ^ birth of 
 
 B. p. 46. 
 
 Osbern, 
 p. 94. 
 
 12. Per idem fere tempus servus Dei Bathoniensem At Bath he 
 
 T . ... TT1 • 1. i» X' has warning 
 
 ecclesiam visitare perrexit. Ubi post reiectionem cor- of the death 
 poris in oratione detentus, levatis in altum oculis, at Giaston- 
 vidit animam cujusdam juvenis quem ipse a puero 
 Glastonise in sancta conversatione nutriverat, multis 
 angelorum fultam agminibus, in coelum deferri. Qui 
 pro tanta gloria fratris ultra quam dici queat exultans 
 
 in puiicUi] ad punctum, 8-, | -devoras^ om. S. 
 
184 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Thewarninget immensas corde et ore Deo cnnctipotenti ^ gratias B. p. 47. 
 
 isprove g^g^j^g^ sociis quid accident manifesta voce exposuit, et ^^94"^' 
 diem ac horam transitus ejus notari praecepit ; illis ad 
 hsec obstupescentibus et verbis ejus non ex toto fidem 
 accommodantibus, venerunt quidam ad patrem qui et 
 de fratris obitu, et obitus bora, sic quemadinodum 
 dixerat accidisse testati sunt. Dehinc sanctus a loco b. p. H. 
 
 He goes to digrediens, et ad regem secum loqui desiderantem cele- ^^q!™' 
 
 see the king . . , . t -j* i i n • i • P« 
 
 and sees the rius tendens, m medio itmere diabolum sibi obviam 
 
 devil on the t t . . • ^^^ i i i 
 
 way. nabuit. Qui mimo similis coram eo ludere, subsilire 
 et multis modis coepit laetitise frsena laxare. Quod 
 Dunstanus intuens et quid tantum daemonis gaudium 
 portenderet per spiritum praevidens, jussit monstrum 
 tale se cunctis qui secum erant visibiliter demonstrare 
 quale sibi apparebat. Quod et factum est. Requisitus B. p. 45. 
 ergo Dunstanus quid sibi vellet ilia lascivientis^ hostis p ^9^^^' 
 
 He explains Isetitia, rcffem in proximo respondit moriturum, et 
 
 this vision, *^ ^ , . 
 
 of the com- remum non multo post multas tribulationes perpessu- 
 
 ing death of ^ . . ^ r r 
 
 the king. rum. Quae sententia Veritas facta est, ut ea quae post 
 dicentur declarabunt. Super haec tamen qua9 vir Dei 
 de petulante inimici gaudio dixit, ut aliis quibusdam 
 visum est, nonnuUa ejusdeto causa fuit hoc, scilicet quia 
 sperabat, defuncto rege qui Dunstanum in magna reve- 
 rentia semper habebat, alium regem mox surrecturum 
 qui nec eum revereretur nec ejus prudentem sanctitatem, 
 qua se et alios innumeros in Dei servitio constringebat, 
 regali providentia tueretur. Sed in hoc ad tempus 
 
 The^king's deccptus cst. Rcgc namquc in palatio antequam dies B. p. 46. 
 septem transirent occiso, et a venerabili Dunstano ^^9^^^^' 
 Glastoniae sub immensa lugentis populi frequentia ho- 
 
 Edred sue- norifice sepulto, successit in remum Edredus frater B. p. 29. 
 
 ceeds, and . . ^ • . ? n -r^ . A^^plar^^ 
 
 DuSan ^J^^' ^'^^ quidem egregius et ad exercenda quae Dei p 5 g 
 sunt fervido mentis affectu subnixus. Hie Dunstanum Osbem, 
 non minori caeteris regibus amore percoluit, immo ut P* 
 ei majoris^ dilectionis signa monstraret operam dedit. 
 
 ^ cunctipoiente] om. S. | ^ majoris'J majora, S. 
 
AUCTORE EADMERO. 
 
 185 
 
 B. p. 30. 
 
 Adelard, 
 p. 56. 
 Osbern, 
 p. 95. 
 
 B. p. 30. 
 
 Adelard, 
 p. 57. 
 Osbern, 
 p. 96. 
 
 Cant. V. 2. " 
 
 B. p. 30. 
 
 Adelard, 
 p. 57. 
 Osbern, 
 p. 96. 
 
 ^Ifego siquidem Wentano episcopo, cujus supra memi- 
 nimus, de hac vita translate, multis eum precibus ut 
 in episcopatum succederet postulavit. Cui cum ille 
 nulla ratione adquiescere vellet, rex non modico moe- 
 rore suffusus matrem suam, Edgivam reginam dico, 
 omnis bonitatis titulo insignem, de negotio convenit, 
 atque ut ilia Dunstano persuaderet quod ipse nequi- 
 verat summo studio deprecatus est. Tunc ilia horninem, 
 ad se evocatum et ad prandium suum invitatum, inter 
 epulas de suscipiendo epi^copatu coepit ihterpellare, et 
 ne coUum suum a jugo Domini alienaret multa sua- 
 sione insistere. At ille perpendens quid sibi recondant 
 qui episcopatum loco proficui et honoris non officio 
 tenent morum et praadicationis, " Obsecro te, domina," 
 inquit, "ne tali prece amplius, te fatigando, me fatiges. 
 
 Nam revera noveris quia in diebus domini mei filii 
 " tui regis, me pontificali cathedrae nemo prsasidere 
 " videbit," Dicebat hsec cum quia sibimet ipsi ne sub 
 tanto onere deficeret formidabat, tum quia impium 
 fore judicabat, si se a rege qui frequenti corporis lan- 
 guore vexabatur propter episcopatum elongaret, maxime 
 quia totum se, totum ^ regnum suum in illius provi- 
 dentia et disposidone posuerat. 
 
 13. Et de pontificatu tunc inter eos quidem res ita 
 remansit, et ^Ifsinus quidam in pontificatum ipsius 
 ecclesise ilico assumptus est. At Dunstanus, qui ex 
 voce sacri eloquii veraciter dicere poterat, "Ego dor- 
 mio et cor meum vigilat," cum sequenti nocte sese 
 quieti dedisset, vidit in somnis se R-omam perrexisse 
 ac in sua ecclesia beatissimum Petrum, in sua quoque 
 sanctissimum Paulum adorasse, ac demum urbe relicta, 
 in patriam reditum accelerasse. Itaque cum Montem 
 Gaudii attigisset, apparuerunt ei principes regni Dei, 
 beatissimus videlicet apostolorum princeps Petrus et 
 Sanctus Paulus atque Andreas, singuli in manibus suis 
 
 Edred pro- 
 poses to 
 make him a 
 bishop. 
 
 Dunstan 
 refuses the 
 pressing 
 persuasions 
 of the king 
 and his 
 mother. 
 
 Elfsin is 
 
 made 
 
 bishop. 
 
 Dunstan's 
 vision of the 
 apostles. 
 
 ^ se, toturn] om. S. 
 
186 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Inscriptions singulos gladios auro inscriptos prseferentes, eique pro Adeiard, 
 
 swords. munere apostolicsB benedictionis conferentes, Et in P- 
 
 gladio quidem beati Petri scriptum erat, "In princi- p 97^ ' 
 " pio erat Verbum, et Verbum erat apud Deum, et s. John i. 1. 
 " Deus erat Verbum." At gladius Pauli nomen Pauli, 
 gladins Andrese nomen Andrese continebat. Beatus 
 igitur Andreas in hominem blando intuitu oculos 
 dirigens modulata voce ex Evangelio cecinit dicens, 
 
 Words of s. " ToUite jugum meum super vos, et diseite a me, quia 
 
 " mitis sum et humilis corde, et invenietis requiem |^^att,xi. 
 " animabus vestris." A glorioso autem prineipe apo- 
 stolorum, ut manum extenderet jussus, Isevam extendit 
 
 St. Peter et in palma levi ietu ab eo virga percussus, ne ulterius B. p. 30. 
 
 strikes mm, ^ .... . Osbern 
 
 awakens abjiceret jugum Domini ipso est signo preemonitus. ^ ' 
 Ad quem ictum ille expergefaetus fratrem qui coram 
 se quiescebat interrogavit quis ipsum percusserit. Quo 
 respondente " Nemo," jam a quo sit percussus scire se 
 dixit; sicque residuum noctis in servitio Dei pervigil 
 expendit. Mane narravit regi quae viderat. At ille Adeiard, 
 non modica admiratione permotus, et quid visio signi- Qg^^'^^ 
 
 Edredin- ficaret ex magna parte per Spiritum edoctus, hoc modo p. 97. 
 
 the dream, respondit ; "Si, quemadmodum accepi,^ per gladium non- 
 " nunquam intelligitur Verbum Dei, cum tibi beati 
 " apostoli gladios suos contulerunt, nimirum Verbum 
 " Dei quod acceperunt tibi vice sua dispensandum 
 " tradiderunt. Et quoniam episcopus vices apostolo- 
 " rum ad erogandum Verbum Dei agere scimus, epi- 
 " scopatus h^nore te sublimandum certissime scias. 
 " Quod autem in gladio beati Petri 'In principio erat 
 " ' Verbum, et Verbum erat apud Deum, et Deus erat 
 
 Dimstan ' Vcrbum ' scriptum accepisti, fixum tene quia, sicut 
 
 Will flifch* X -L X 
 
 bishop of " ipsa verba specialiter nobis innuunt Filium Dei, ita 
 
 Canterbury 
 
 " tu in ipsa ecclesia arcniepiscopatu sublimaberis quae 
 " specialiter CantuariaD dedicata subsistit in honore 
 ipsius Filii Dei, Domini nostri Jesu Christi. In qua 
 
 ^ accepi'} recepi, S. 
 
AUCTORE EADMERO. 
 
 187 
 
 Osbern, 
 p. 97. 
 
 " etiam vices ejusdem apostoli agendas snscipies, et and su 
 
 potestatem ligandi atque solvendi, quam ille a Deo bSp of 
 " accepit super totum orbem terrarum, tu ab eo acci- t^e 
 
 u ' X X- A T • • XT islands. 
 
 pies super omnes totius Anglise provmcias et adja- 
 
 centium insularum." 
 
 B. p. 31. 
 
 Adelard, 
 p. 58. 
 
 Osbern, 
 p. 98. 
 
 B. p. 32. 
 
 Osbern, 
 p. 99. 
 
 14. Post hsec ^ Dunstanus desiderio videndi fratres suos 
 Glastoniam abiit, et ibi aliquantis diebus inter eos 
 habitavit. Interea rex Edredus lethali morbo correp- 
 tus mandans rogavit sub celeritate Dunstanum venire 
 ad se. Ille audito nuncio, suse imbecillitatis quam ex 
 inedia atque vigiliis necne aliarum virtutum exercitiis 
 contraxerat oblitus, protenus ascenso equo ad sogrotum 
 festinat. Jam fere medium iter exegerat et suis comi- 
 tatus quod residuum erat vise explere laborabat: et 
 ecce ! subito audivit vocem de coelo quae dixit, " Rex 
 " Edredus in pace quiescit." Ad cujus vocis sonitum 
 equus cui vir Dei insidebat, sine omni insidentis Ise- 
 sione, ad terram corruens extinctus est. Stupefacti co- 
 mites de subitaneo animalis interitu, quidnam hoc esse 
 potuerit peravidi percunctantur. Quibus Dunstanus et 
 de voce angelica et de regis obitu quge latebant ape- 
 ruit, ac ut spiritum defuncti una Creatori omnium Deo 
 comifiendarent admonuit. Inde lugentis palatii moenia 
 subiens, regem quern ante paucos dies purpuratum et 
 toti Anglise imperitantem reliquerat modo invenit ca- 
 daver stupidum jam terrae pulvere operiendum, et escam 
 vermium mox futurum. lis ergo qui vivo assistere, 
 vivum suis solebant ambitibus delinire, se ab exse- 
 quiis defuncti subtrahentibus, ille cum suis exanime 
 corpus suscepit et decentissime matri omnium terrse 
 consignavit. 
 
 15. Post hunc Edwius, filius Edmundi regis, obtinuit 
 regnum, corpore quidem juvenis, sed nulla qua regnum 
 gubernaret prseditus industria mentis. Hie omisso se- 
 
 Dunstan 
 at Glaston- 
 bury hears 
 of Edred's 
 illness. 
 
 He has a' 
 miraculous 
 warning of 
 the king's 
 death. 
 
 He finds 
 his body 
 deserted, 
 and buries 
 him. 
 
 Edwy 
 succeeds. 
 
 1 Post h(Ec'] Anno doccclv. P. in margin. 
 
188 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 His mis- 
 government, 
 
 He perse- 
 cutes his 
 grand- 
 mother. 
 
 Dunstan 
 retires to 
 Glaston- 
 bury. 
 
 Miracle of 
 the beam. 
 
 num consilio satellites sibi et consiliarios de adoleseen- B. p. 32. 
 tibus fecit. Ibat igitur secundum desideria cordis sui p ^99™' 
 et iniqua gerens laudabatur a suis et benedicebatur. 
 Unde quid mali circumquaque succreverit, quam infa- 
 mis fama populorum aures et ora repleverit, leve^ est 
 et me tacente videre. Ipse namque possessiones quo- 
 rumque diripere, hos et illos exhseredare, majores natu, 
 qui nequitiis ejus inimicabantur ^ proscribere, totumque 
 regnum innumeris oppressionibus conturbare.^ Accessit 
 his malis ejus nimis detestabile malum. Matrem quippe 
 totius Anglici regni auctricem et nobilitatricem, eccle- 
 siarum consolatricem, et sustentatricem oppressorum et 
 inopum, Edgivam dico supra memoratam reginam, in 
 immensum afflixit, ac vastatis rebus ad earn pertinen- 
 tibus, ab eo statu, in quo esse solebat, saevus et cru- 
 delis dejecit. Gemebat Dunstanus in istis, et eo amplius 
 gemebat, quo correptionem suam rex non solum non 
 admittebat, sed insuper furiosi more, irrationabilibus 
 eam objectionibus contradicendo deridebat. Quid igitur 
 circa talem hominem faceret ignorans, ad monasterium 
 suum relicta curia Glastoniam secessit. Ea tempestate Adelard, 
 structura ecclesiae in fabrica tecti perficiebatur. Ad Qg^ern 
 cujus tecti sustentationem dum trabes ima prsegrandis p. 99. 
 multiplicibus funibus in sublime raperetur, subito funes 
 dirumpi et trabes deorsum vergens nonnuUis coepit in- 
 teritum minitari. Tunc Dunstanum, qui praesens ade- 
 rat, ingenti strepitu plebs inclamitat,^ ac ut extensione 
 dexteree suse imminenti periculo obviet obsecrat. At 
 ille statim signum salutifer^ Crucis ruenti machinee 
 objiciens, eam sine funibus et sine omni humano cona- 
 mine in superiora redire, ac in loco ad quem prius 
 cum magno labore trahebatur jacere coegit. Inter hu- 
 jusmodi opera accidit ut ipse quadam die ofScinas 
 monasterii sociato sibi uno ex monachis suis circum- 
 
 1 leve'] facile, S. 
 
 2 inmicabaniur'] adversabantur, S. 
 
 ^ conturbare] festinavit, ins. S. 
 ^ inclamitans'] inclamitat, S. 
 
AUCTORE EADMERO. 
 
 189 
 
 B. p. 47. 
 
 B. p. 48. 
 
 B. p. 27. 
 
 Adelard, 
 p. 59. 
 Osbern, 
 p. 100. 
 
 B. p. 28. 
 
 Adelard, 
 p. 59. 
 
 Ps. Ixviii. 1. 
 
 cc 
 
 iret, et quid in unaquaque domo ad supplendas fratrum 
 necessitates haberetur, diligenti cura prospiceret. Quo 
 facto ad claustrum ^ iter reflectens ac juxta oratorium 
 transiens, repente audivit vocem de coelo clare sonan- 
 tem et fratrem qui cum eo ibat, ex nomine hoc modo 
 vocantem, " Yeni, ^Ifsi, veni, veni, veni." Ilico Dun- 
 stanus rem intelligens, "Eja, frater/' ait, " audisti quo 
 vocaris ? Prsepara ergo te quatenus conversatione 
 ilia unde appellaris, quando hinc migraveris, dignus 
 habearis. Nam pro certo noveris quod in hac vita 
 non diu manebis." Quas viri verba velox fratris 
 obitus, qui cito post accidit, declaravit esse vera. In 
 ipso itaque loco in quo vocem de coelo Dunstanus 
 audivit, oratorium in modum turris non multum por- 
 rectee sublimitatis ae^dificavit, et illud sub patrocinio 
 beati Johannis Baptistae fecit consecrari. Hsec videns 
 omnis boni inimicus diabolus ingemuit, non ob hoc 
 solum, quod pro tantis virtutibus virum coram homini- 
 bus magnum haberi, sed quia de die in diem videbat 
 tam ipsum quam et alios per ipsum in Dei servitium 
 exinde magis ac magis ^ promo veri. Licet igitur jam 
 saepe ab eo se confusum et victum meminisset, cohiberi 
 tamen ab ejus infestatione non potuit. Nam adhuc de 
 suarunt versutiis artium confisus, eum orantem in ursi 
 effigie hispidus aggreditur, et hianti rictu super eum 
 insurgens, horrore sui oratione deterrere molitur. Ast 
 ille zelo divino correptus arreptum baculum quem manu 
 ferre solebat, in hostem vibrat, et eum csedendo tam 
 diu insequitur donee idem baculus in tres partes com- 
 minutus confringeretur. Inter quae hunc versum miles 
 Dei psallere coepit, " Exsurgat Deus, et dissipentur ini- 
 " mici Ejus, et fugiant qui oderunt Eum a facie Ejus." 
 Tunc Dunstanus videns baculum suum sic in hoste ^ 
 contritum dixit, " Si vivit Dunstanus, scias, inimice, 
 
 He has a 
 warning of 
 the doath of 
 a brother. 
 
 He builds 
 an oratory 
 and dedi- 
 cates it to 
 S. J ohn the 
 Baptist. 
 
 Dismay of. 
 the devil. 
 
 He attacks 
 Dunstan 
 as a bear. 
 
 Dunstan 
 breaks his 
 stick on him 
 and sends 
 him away. 
 
 ^ (id claustrurn] om. S. 
 2 magis ac magis"] om. S. 
 
 in hoste'] in honeste, S. 
 
190 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 He makes " huiusHiodi baculum faciet, ut si amplius veneris, ne- 
 new staif, " quaquam, sicut iste confraetus est, sua gracilitate aut 
 " imbecillitate confringatur." Fecit itaque sibi alium 
 baculum grossum ^ et fortem, ac illius summitatem 
 argento circumposito decoravit. Quod argentum in 
 suprema parte sui in modum concavse sphserse forma- 
 and places a tum, dentcm bcati Andrese apostoli e^estat inclusum. 
 
 tooth of ^ -, ^ . . . ^ 
 
 S.Andrew Quem dentcm Dunstanus inibi posuit, cum ut msupe- 
 
 m it. ^ • • . • T • 
 
 rabile munimen sibi prsestaret contra mcursus malig- 
 norum spirituum, tum quia prse cseteris Sanctis dulci 
 affectu diligebat eundem apostolum. Propter quse sse- 
 pissime illius familiari fovebatur alloquio, muniebatur 
 consilio, et auxilio relevabatur. Sentiens ergo diabolus 
 suam pugnam, qua Dunstanum a bonis operibus arcen- 
 dum putabat, semper sibi ad confusionem et Dunstano 
 procedere ad gloriam et exaltationem, continuit se a 
 corporali illius accessu, aliam viam ad conturbandum 
 ilium perquirens. 
 
 The devil 
 tries other 
 means. 
 
 The kin^ 
 falls into 
 the hands 
 of two evil 
 women. 
 
 His mis- 
 behaviour 
 at the coro- 
 nation. 
 
 16. Erat in illis diebus mulier qusedam ex magna et B. p. 32, 
 alta progenie nata, filiam adultam secum habens. Utras- p ^iqcT' 
 que quantum ad corpus spectat fbrmosa species decorabat ; 
 sed quod pudicis mentibus non parvse offensioni erat, 
 libidinosus animus et habitus, qui juxta in eis opera- 
 bantur, eandem speciem valde decolorabant. Hse prse- 
 fato regi Eadwio assidue adhserebant, suis blanditiis 
 et nutibus illecebrosis pro posse ^ operam dantes, qua- 
 tenus unam illarum sibi in conjugium copularet. Ad 
 quas ille impudico illiciti amoris desiderio fervens, in- 
 decenti amplexu nunc banc, nunc illam, neutrius ad- 
 spectum in hoc erubescens, destringebat. Prseterea die 
 quo ipse Edwius in regem est consecratus, a loco con- 
 vivii in quo cum archiepiscopis, episcopis, abbatibus, 
 totiusque regni principibus sedebat, jam pransus exsilit 
 
 * baculum grossum'] scipionem 
 crassum, S. 
 
 2 posse] viribus, S. 
 
AUCTORE .EADMERO. 
 
 191 
 
 B. p. 32. 
 
 Osbern, 
 p, 100. 
 
 B. p. 33. 
 Osbern, 
 p. 100. 
 
 B. p. 34. 
 
 ct relictis omnibns, in cameram ubi prsedict?© teminse 
 erant solus secedit, capitique corona sublata, se inter 
 illas medium jecit. Quod optimates agnoscentes oppido 
 indignati sunt, et rem tractantes inter se Odonem archi- 
 episcopum Cantuariensem, qui dignitate cseteris emine- 
 bat, unanimiter hortari coeperunt, quatenus viros qui 
 regem sive volentem sive nolentem festine reducerent 
 destinaret. Ad quod agendum cum hi et illi, regiam 
 iram metuentes, se excusarent, tandem super Dunstanum 
 abbatem et ejus consanguineum Kynsinum episcopum 
 sententia versata est. Qui ex prsecepto summi ponti- 
 ficis et aliorum omnium ad regem ingressi, eum ut dixi 
 in medio duarum illarum decubantem reppererunt. 
 Tunc Dunstanus primo in ignominiosas mulieres asperse 
 increpationis verba vultu et voce contorquens, lascivias 
 earum, sicut verum castitatis amatorem decuit, detesta- 
 tus est. Deinde regem ut se tanti opprobrii exsortem 
 faceret monens, ad proceres eum redire, eosque sua 
 prsesentia exhilarare summissa voce precatus est. Qui, 
 animi sui furore simul et vultus rubore perfusus, dum 
 se rediturum omnino negaret, Dunstanus manum illius 
 arripuit, et a loco violenter abstractum, imposito capiti 
 ejus diademate, ad convivantes introduxit. Quod mu- 
 lieris ignominia nuUatenus sequanimiter ferens saevis 
 verborum invectionibus in virum surrexit, et se eum 
 confusioni perpetuse tradituram garrula contestatione 
 devovit. Et hoc quidem detestabile votum, non tepes- 
 cento malitia ejus, facto exercere soUicita postmodum 
 fuit. Effecit namque apud regem ut cuncta quae in 
 monasterio Dunstani habebantur diripi ac devastari, et 
 ipsum a regno eliminatum in exsilium pelli juberet. 
 Qua tempestate sseviente, contigit quoddam lacrymabile 
 malum. Quidam enim ex fratribus monasterii qui virum 
 contra omnes ^emulos tueri, et ei usque ad mortem 
 more bonorum filiorum obsequi, deberent, propria nequi- 
 tia magis quam ipsius doctrina imbuti, se medios ad 
 provocandum regem contra ilium clanculo injecere, et 
 
 The counsel- 
 lors send 
 Dun Stan 
 and Kinsigo 
 to bring him 
 to the feast. 
 
 Dunstan 
 upbraids 
 the women 
 and brings 
 back the 
 king. 
 
 Vengeance 
 of the 
 women. 
 
 Confiscation 
 of the 
 monastic 
 property. 
 
 Faithless- 
 ness of some 
 of the 
 brethren. 
 
192 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 quo edictum de expulsione ejus immobile faceret B. p. 34. 
 
 quantum poterant institere. ^^59^^^' 
 Voice heard 17. Dehinc ministris impii principis in direptione rerum Osbern, 
 stan's^de- ecclesiasticarum, sicut jussi fuerant, occupatis et multis ^* 
 
 parture. . , . , , • t j j 
 
 exmde gravi moerore consternatis, audita est vox cujus- 
 dam in atrio templi, exeussum risum edentis et more 
 lascivse puellse summo gaudio et exultatione perstre- 
 pentis. Quae Dunstanus audiens et dsemonem esse, qui 
 pro suo discessu petulanti Isetitia jocabatur, advertens, 
 versus ad ilium dixit, "Eja, eja, auctor et amice om- 
 He promises nium malorum, modo de exsilio meo Isetaris et pro 
 
 to return ... . . 
 
 strength " tribulatiouo plurimorum, unde me dolere conspicis, 
 " jam gratularis. Sed absque dubio fixum habere potes, 
 " quia nihil est gaudium quod nunc habes me rece- 
 " dente, comparatione tristitise quam habiturus es me 
 " revertente." In his verbis daemon aufugit. At Dun- 
 stanus videns suos in direptionem datos, pietate per- 
 motus, qua supra quam dici queat fretus erat ad omnes, 
 prout sibi possibile fuit exsilium inire distulit, cogitans 
 ne forte Deus cor principis aliquo modo tangeret, et a 
 concepto furore mitigaret. Verum ubi eos, qui se hos- 
 
 Persecution pitio vcl aliquo humanitatis officio confovebant, vidit in 
 
 friends. immensum affligi, depraedari, proscribi, damnari, ratus 
 est melius malignitati hominis cedere quam tot inno- 
 centes pro suo commodo indebita poena vexari. Ponens 
 itaque ecclesiam Angliae sub tuitione Regis omnium 
 
 He goes to Christi, mare petiit, ad ignotam sibi regionem transi- 
 turus navem conscendit, ductuque divino prosperrimo 
 cursu Flandriam venit. 
 
 The woman 18. Igitur ad hsec praefatae ^ mulieris ira in immanem B. p. 34 
 
 sends to put . • . i • i • • .. , . Osbern 
 
 out his eyes, vesaniam mstmctu daemoms acta, missis nunciis ^bi ^ ^ 
 Dunstanus esset perquiri fecit, et si comprehendi vale- 
 ret, sine uUo respectu misericordiae oculos ei erui prae- 
 eepit. Sed Deus Qui Sua sapientia et bonitate privari 
 
 prcBfafce'] om. S. 
 
AUCTOKE EADMERO. 
 
 193 
 
 B. p. 34. 
 
 Adelard, 
 p. 59. 
 
 Osbem, 
 p. 101. 
 
 B. p. 35. 
 
 He is com- 
 forted by S.| 
 Andrew. 
 
 Job. vi. 25. 
 
 nequit, prius servum Suum per marinos fluctus placido Dunstan is 
 
 1 .... 1 Ti i. T , . wellreceived 
 
 lapsu evexit, quam mimstri crudelitatis ad portum mans in Flanders, 
 eum insequendo pertingere possent. Cum itaque Dun- 
 stanus Flandriam venisset et principis terrse notitia 
 functus ^ fuisset, magni habitus est et ab eo valde 
 dilectus. Quern quoniam virtutis virum esse mundique 
 contemptum funditus habere cognovit, Gandavi eum 
 conversari^ rogavit, utpote loco qui majori^ religione in He lives at 
 omni sua potestate^ eo tempore praeditus erat. Venit 
 ergo Dunstanus ad locum, ibique in omni sanctitate 
 degens omnibus est carus factus et admirabilis. Exsi- 
 lium itaque in patriam sibi versum est; tamen in hoc 
 S88pe animo deficiebat, quod corpore remotus erat ab eis 
 quos in hac vita cariores habebat. In quo defectu con- 
 stitutum dilectus dilectior ejus venerandus^ Andreas 
 apostolus crebra visitatione consolabatur, nec eum ali- 
 quo incommodo ultra quam facile ferre poterat gravari 
 patiebatur. 
 
 1 9. Prseterea accidit ut ipse Dunstanus, quadam vice in 
 oratione prostratus, ingenti cordis contritioue suos quos 
 in Anglia reliquerat filios Deo commendaret. Et ecce 
 dum orationis prolixitas tenditur, moerore gravatus, 
 somno opprimitur. Visum ergo illi est se Glastonise in 
 oratorio cum fratribus vespertinam horam psallentibus 
 pro consuetudine stare. Qui fratres cum 'dicto evangelii 
 cantico antiphonam Quare detraxistis sermonibus veri- 
 tatis " subjunxissent, et eam usque ad id quod dici- 
 tur, " Quae cogitastis explete " percantassent, conticue- 
 runt nec uUo modo ipsa ultima verba dicendo eam 
 finire potuerunt. Quibus dum Dunstanus vultu, voce, 
 signis, insisteret, ut parum quod de antiphona restabat 
 perdicerent,^ et ipsi e contra muta voce confusi starent, 
 audita est vox de transverso in sublimibus ita dicens, 
 " Nequaquam, nequaquam fiet hoc ut quae cogitaverunt 
 
 In a vision 
 lie sees the 
 brethren at 
 Glastonbury 
 unable to 
 finish their 
 anthem. 
 
 ^ functus"] potitus, S. 
 
 conversari'] ut conversaretur, S. 
 3 majori] prsecipua, S. 
 
 ^ potestcUe] ditione, S. 
 ^ venerandus] beatus, S. 
 ^ perdicerent\ perficerent, S. 
 
 N 
 
194 
 
 VITA SANCTI BUNSTANI 
 
 ™ rjfreted ' ^P^^^ expleant. Neque enim unquam se a tua potes- B. p. 35. 
 to mean that « tate, Dunstane, evellent, aut te ab istius coenobii prse- 
 
 they cannot j > j x ^ 
 
 evifde^^s " l^tione deponent." Ad hsec Dunstanus evigilans in- 
 againsthim. ^ellexi^ visionem, et quia nommllos quos verbo vitae 
 imbuerat, et de quibus nil mali se meruisse sciebat, in 
 suo damno stetisse advertit, graviter ingemuit, et eis 
 Deum propitium fore supplici prece oravit. 
 
 Changes in 20. Post hsec Hiisertus est pius et omnipotens DeusB.p. 35. 
 
 England. a i j. -it i j. i Adelard, 
 
 genti Anglorum, ac, ut lilis ad perpetnam consolationem p 
 patrem suum Dunstanum redderet, tali consilio, dictante Osbem, 
 sequitatis ac misericordiae Suae censura, usus est. Exei- ^' 
 tavit quosque potentes a terminis magni fluminis Hum- 
 brae usque ad terminos fluvii Tamisiae contra impietatem 
 regis Eadwii, et eum quia talem se fecerat qualem, ceu 
 praolibavimus,^ regem non^ esse decebat, unanimiter 
 persequi et aut vita aut regno privare moliti sunt. Et 
 ^cSby^ne ^P®^^ quidcm ultra Tamisiam fugaverunt, nefandam Osbem, 
 ^^rth^eo- meretricem .ejus juxta civitatem Glawomensem P* 
 
 garfor their ^^^^ uiortc, quod brcvi ct summatim dictum accipiatur, 
 king. perdiderunt. Quibus patratis Edgarum fratrem illius 
 super totam terram a praedicto Humbrae fluvio usque 
 ad flumen Tamisiae regem fecerunt. Regnum 'itaque, B. p. 36. 
 quod prius erat unum, in duo divisum est, Tamisia suo p.^103?' 
 illud alveo disterminante. Unde frequentes lites, sedi- 
 -tiones nonnullae, varii conflictus hinc inde^ suborti, 
 totam terram gravissimis tribulationibus concusserunt. 
 Ex quibus omnibus patuit verum esse quod supra dixi- 
 mus per lascivum diaboli gaudium Dunstanum intel- 
 ^rtunes Icxissc. Yerumtamcn Edgarus de die in diem semper ^ 
 improve, ^p^^ melius proficicus, et Edwius e contra in deterius 
 quotidie deficiens. Erat enim Edgarus ipse prudens et 
 strenuus ac mandatis Dei intimo corde adhaerens, prop- 
 ter mala quae in Anglia per fratrem suum emerserant 
 
 ^ ceil prcelibavimus] uti diximus, 
 
 S. 
 
 2 wow] neutiquam, S. 
 
 5 hinc inde] hominum, S, 
 * semper'] om. S. ' 
 
AUCTOEE EADMEKO. 
 
 195 
 
 Osbern, 
 p. 103. 
 
 B. p. 36. 
 
 Adelard, 
 p. 60. 
 
 Osbern, 
 p. 103. 
 
 Adelard, 
 p. 60. 
 
 Osbern, 
 pp. 103, 
 104. 
 
 non modico moerore tabescebat, eaque modis quibus His good 
 poterat restinguere gestiebat. Hic itaque adepta^ re- 
 gaK dignitate pravos quosque, et qui alios iniqua domi- 
 natione solebant opprimere, potestate qua gloriabantur 
 coepit privare, atque illos qui suis rebus injuste spo- 
 liati fuerant fecit amissa recuperare. Omnibus ergo 
 ecclesiis Angliae quae in regno ejus erant, pax et Con- 
 cordia orta est, et juxta quod vox divina, sicut supra 
 meminimus, hoc rege nato prsenunciavit, donee ipse 
 vitae prsesenti superfuit, in melius aucta et roborata 
 est. Ad haec missis in Flandriam viris, Dunstanum Dunstan is 
 patriae cum ino^enti honore restituit, ac se suaque omnia made wshop- 
 
 . , . ' . . of Worces- 
 
 ejus sapientiae atque consilio disponenda commisit. De- ter. 
 inde ut major auctoritas facta ejus in cunctis comita- 
 retur, eum Wigomensis ecclesiae episcopatum suscipere 
 petiit, nec a precibus destitit, quoad eum suae volun- 
 tati consentaneum fecit. In summum igitur sacerdo- 
 tium consecrandus ex more Cantuariam venit. 
 
 21. Reefebat eo tempore^ Cbristianitatem in Anglia odo conse- 
 paulo superius nominatus Odo, ipsius civitatis archiepi- as mi arch-^ 
 Scopus, vir equidem sanctus et magnarum virtutum prae- 
 rogativis apprime ornatus. Hic Dunstanum in pontifica- 
 tum Wiciorum consecraturus, admirantibus qui astabant, 
 eum, omisso ipsius ecclesiae titulo, ad archiepiscopatum 
 Cantuariensem titulavit, et quasi successorem seu consor- 
 tem sibimetipsi consecravit. Unde a praesentibus cur and justifies 
 hoc faceret percunctatus ^ respondit, " Non constringitur 
 " lege donum et vocatio Dei. Et utique vir iste scio 
 " quis sit, et ex dono gratiae Dei video ad quid eum 
 
 Spiritus Sanctus elegerit." Ex quibus verbis meri- 
 tum utriusque turba quae circumstabat praeclarum esse 
 coram Deo advertit. Inde vir Dei ad ecclesiam ad 
 quam primo electus fuerat regressus, et ab ea praeclare 
 susceptus, summopere nitebatur opere perficere quod 
 
 ^ adepta] percepta, S. 
 
 2 Anno DCCCCLV. P. in marg. 
 
 ^ percunctatus] rogatus, S. 
 
 N 2 
 
196 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Dunstan's se ante exitum saum de Ansrlia meminerat exultanti 
 
 reforms as . 
 
 bishop of diabolo spopondisse. Omnes ie^itur in quorum moribus 
 
 Worcester. . K . , . 
 
 diabolum^ aliquid habere intelligebat, arguere, monere, 
 castigare, corrigere satagebat, nihil usquam a correctio- 
 nis voce vacuum relinquens unde gauderet adversarius i s. Pet.v.s. 
 qui circuit quaerens quem devoret. Nec ullius persona 
 in istis ab eo considerabatur, sed quisque juxta meri- 
 tum suum, observata rationabili discretione, tractaba- 
 tur. In omnibus itaque et per omnia perquirebat Dei 
 honorem et diaboli confusionem. Interea ^ rex Edwius Osbern, 
 vitse prsesenti subtractus est, et anima ipsius Dunstano, ^^g^*^*' 
 Edwy^Isoui ^^^^i^^i^^s occupato, a quibusdam teterrimis hominibus 
 byTiack^ cursim est e vestigio prsesentata. Cujus miseriam mise- 
 obtains^its ^^^^^ suarum injuriarum immemor, pro liberatione ejus 
 deliverance, immcnsos omnipotenti Deo lacrymarum imbfes effudit, 
 nec ab eis destitit donee se pro eo exauditum agnovit. 
 Facto igitur non grandi intervallo mauri illi ad Dun- 
 stanum sua prseda vacui redeunt, et quia ipsius inju- 
 rias supervacue ulcisci venerint calumniosa voce furi- 
 bundi depromunt. Quorum ille furores nihilipendens 
 Deo super ineffabili misericordia Ejus ineffabiles gratias 
 egit. 
 
 * 
 
 He is made 22. Post hsec Eadgarus partem regni quam diximus B. pp. 36, 
 London. Edwio remausissc obtinuit, regnumque sui unitatem ^^Jgi^j.^ 
 recepit, bellis ac seditionibus quae ex ejus divisione p. 60. 
 emerserant quaquaversum sedatis. Exin defuncto epi- Osbern, 
 scopo Lundoniensi, quaesitum est quis in episcopatum ^* 
 digne succedere posset. Et cum in hoc aliquantulum 
 temporis expenderetur, nec persona decens et idonea 
 reperiretur, tandem electio omnium super Dunstanum 
 versa est, et ipse pontificatum prsedictae ecclesise susci- 
 pere communi cunctorum conclamatione coactus est. 
 Utraque igitur ecclesia, Wigornensis videlicet et Lun- 
 doniensis, eo preesule gloriabatur, quandoquidem ipse 
 
 diaholum-] eum, S. . ^ ^'^^erea] Anno DCCCCLVin. P. 
 
 in marg. 
 
AUCTORE EADMERO. 
 
 Osbern, summa necessitate compulsus, utriusque pontifex per Jthl^fSon 
 106^^^' nonnullum temporis spatium erat, utrique soUicitudinis of^^he^^ 
 suae curam impendens, utramque intus et extra sua 
 defensione contra omnes semulos muniens, in utraque 
 ofScium pontificale opportune tempore sedulus exse- 
 quens. En visio quam supra descripsimus in gladiis 
 apostolorum partim impleta est, cum in episcopatu Lun- 
 doniensi, qui ex nomine beatissimi apostoli ^ Pauli Cele- 
 bris habetur, confirmatus est. Profecto namque gladium 
 ipsius apostoli ipsi ecclesiae prselatus accepit, quia Yer- 
 bum Dei, morem illius secutus, subditorum cordibus 
 excellenter infudit, et potestate qua ille in virtute Do- 
 mini Christi gloriatus est, ipse ad terrendos impios, ad 
 demulcendum pios, circumquaque usus est. Quod et in Explanation 
 ecclesia Wigornensi strenuus egit, quam in gladio beati ^jj^^^^^* 
 Petri regendam suscepit. Siquidem episcopatus idem ^i^^^^J^^^^" 
 per id temporis in honorem ipsius gloriosi apostoli fun- 
 datus habebatur. Sed Oswaldus vir sanctus et religio- 
 sus, quem in regimen ipsius ecclesise beatus Dunstanus, 
 antistes Cantuariensis efFectus, sibi succedere fecit, quia 
 clericos ibi degentes nec a pravitate sua convertere, nec 
 inde, eo quod nobiles juxta sseculum atque potentes 
 erant, quibat eliminare, construxit pene contiguam ipsi 
 ecclesise ecclesiam beatse Dei genitrici Mariae, in qua 
 ipse cum monachis quos se proposuerat adunaturum 
 Christo serviret. Quod et factum est. Religio itaque Growth of 
 
 - , . T . . 'J I 1 • monasticism 
 
 monacnorum contemptum clericis peperit, et vulgi con- there, and 
 ventum ab eis alienatum sibi " assiduum fecit. Quid the bfshop's 
 plura ? Numerus clericorum passim minuitur, mona- 
 chorum conventus in dies augetur. Quidam insuper 
 ex ipsis clericis conversi numero illorum additi sunt. 
 Hoc modo sedes pontificalis mutata est in ecclesiam 
 beatse Marise semper virginis. 
 
 B. pp. 37, 23. Memorato"^ Odone archiepiscopo Cantuariorum adododies. 
 
 38- perennis vitse gaudia translate, immensum omnibus 
 
 p. 60. 
 
 Osbern, 
 
 p. 107. 1 apostoli] om. S. | ^ Memorato'] itaque, ins. S. 
 
198 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Dunstan Anglorum ecclesiis luctum suus transitus intulit, et in- B. pp. 36, 
 succeed. numeros populos acerbo moerore percussit. Postulatus ^^elard 
 Dunstanus Odoni in patriarchatum . sedis Anglorum p. 60. 
 
 I 1, i. ..... .. OsberD, 
 
 succedere abnegat, suscepti regimims onus satis grave p jQy ' 
 sibi ad portandum, nedum majus superaddatur, esse^ 
 protestans. Unde iElfsinus Wentanso urbis ^ antistes 
 Eifsinis per regni principes, quorum alios re prsesentium, alios 
 
 ciioseii and 
 
 frozen to gpe munerum futurorum ad hoc sibi fautores effecerat, 
 
 death. ^ . . . . . 
 
 arcniepiscopatum rege annuente obtinuit. Qui post ali- 
 quot adeptae dignitatis dies, Romam pro archiepisco- 
 patus stola petens, in Alpibus nimia frigoris asperitate 
 correptus ultimum flatum ibidem emisit. Post quem 
 substitutus est in summum ecclesise Dorobernensis pon- 
 tificatum Birhtelmus Dorssetensis populi prsesul, vir 
 totus ex mansuetudine, bumilitate et modestia factus. 
 Byrhtheim Verum ubi compertum est nihil in eorrigendis vitiis, 
 sen^ba^ nihil in exercendis ecelesiastieis disciplinis, nihil deni- 
 que virtutis seu constantise in eo esse ad tuendos bonos 
 vel coercendos malos, ad ecclesiam suam jussus^ rediit, 
 et ita sedes Cantuariensis a pontifice aliquantis diebus 
 vacua sedit.^ Itaque unanimis omnium electio Dun- 
 stanum inclamitat, ilium solum se nosse vociferans, 
 quem tanta sedes digne valeret habere rectorem, prse- 
 sertim cum a primsevo setatis flore vitae sanctitas, 
 morum gravitas et, cui nemo contrairet, eum perlustra- 
 ^^tan verit invicta, constans et sequenda auctoritas. Hac 
 ^Mi^rbury ^^^^ Dunstanus acclamatione, quasi voce vere divina 
 constrictus, primatem totius Britannise sedem regendam 
 suscepit et eam immensa omnium adjacentium eccle- 
 siarum ac populorum exultatione et gloria deductus 
 ascendit. 
 
 S^^me ^^^^ temporis opportunitate accepta, beatissi- B. p. 38. 
 
 morum apostolorum Petri et Pauli limina petiit, et ^^jq™' 
 
 1 nedum . . esse] etiam si majus 
 non addatur, S. 
 
 2 urbisl civitatis, S. 
 
 3 jussus"] om. S. 
 * sedit'J stetit, S. 
 
AUCTORE EADMERO. 
 
 B. pp. 38- 
 40. 
 
 Osbem, 
 p. 108. 
 
 Adelard, 
 p. 61. 
 Osbem, 
 p. 108. 
 
 eum summse sedis pontifex magno sincerse dilectionis He receives 
 
 /Y» I •n • I •! 1 f» • the pall and 
 
 aiiectu iJIo vementem excepit ; secumque postea lami- becomes fuii 
 
 , 1. 1 ri archbishop. 
 
 nanus agens et agendo templum Dancti Spiritus esse 
 indubitanter ^ cognoseens, magnifiee ilinm honoravit ac 
 stola sui apostolatus pro qua venerat decentissime de- 
 coravit. Sicque delegata ei legatione apostolicsB sedis, 
 genti Anglorum pastorem ac salutis eorum provisorem 
 destinavit. Itaque vir Dei Roma reversus et in patri- 
 archatum primse sedis Britannorum receptus, in ipsum 
 mundi principem quasi gigas surrexit, et armaturam 
 verbi Dei a dextris et a sinistris constanti virtute in 
 eum vibrare, et membra ejus circumquaque debellare 
 et prosternere coepit et enervare. 
 
 25. Inter hsec visionem quam sibi in oblatione apo«to- Further 
 
 ill . t . . , explanation 
 
 liese armaturse dudum apparuisse descripsimus, mente re- of the vision 
 
 1 . . . T . . , ,. ..... of the 
 
 volvens, et eam jam m admimstratione regimims duarum apostles, 
 ecclesiarum, Wigornensis videlicet et Lundoniensis, ferme 
 impletam conspiciens, dicendum existimo per quid 
 archiepiscopatus Cantuariensis, qui hos dignitate prae- 
 cedit, et in quo ipse excellentius sedit, ei praesignatus 
 sit: nimirum per verbum Dei quod scriptum suscepit 
 in gladio beatissimi Petri, secundum quod illud rex 
 Edredus exposuit, quando ei visionem ipsam ipse Dun- 
 stanus, ut preediximus, retulit. Sicque gladius Petri 
 ecclesiam ■ Petri, et Verbum Dei ecclesiam Verbi Dei, 
 quae Cantuariae sita est, significavit. Exin videtur ra- 
 tionis ^ dicere quid gladius beati Andreae cum caeteris Question 
 oblatus praetenderit,^ quandoquidem ipse in nulla eccle- Andrew, 
 sia quae sub nomine ipsius apostoli consecrata sit, sicut 
 in praedictis tribus ecclesiis, sedit. Quod quidem, quan- 
 tum attinet ad nos Anglos, quibus quid hoc sit luce 
 clarius patet, superfluum reor dicto commemorare vel 
 scripto. Propter externos tamen, si forte aliquando ali- 
 quo * casu ista inter eos ceciderint, breviter dico, ilium 
 merito cum gladio Petri Verbo Dei inscripto gladium 
 
 1 indubitanter] om. S. 
 
 2 rationis'] rationi consentaneum, 
 
 S. 
 
 3 prcetenderit] portenderit, S. 
 ^ aliquo] om. S. 
 
200 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 p. 108. 
 
 Rochester, suscepisse Andreae : nam qui ecclesiae Cantuariensi per Osbern, 
 
 the church ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ mo 
 
 drew^epen- P^i^tificatum prsesidet, Kofensi ecclesisS, quso sub patro- 
 Oanterbury beati Andre89 subsistit, per episcopi institutionem, 
 
 per horum et horum^ intus et extra, cum res exigit, 
 dispositionem, utpote suo dominio prsesidet. Quis ergo 
 in cunctis quae religioni competunt Dunstanus fuerit, 
 videlicet cujus virtutis ad omnes omnium personarum 
 injustitias deprimendas, ad bona quseque opera fovenda 
 et munienda exstiterit, usque hodie tota Anglia canit, 
 nec opus esse arbitror ut me in illis scribendis fatiget 
 grandis labor. NonnuUa tamen quae ab illis qui ex ejus 
 tempore usque ad nos per successus setatum fluxere, 
 accepimus, compendioso relatu subjiciam, quatenus inde 
 percipiatur Veritas verborum quae proposuimus. 
 
 A certain 26. Comcs quidam prsepotens cognatam suam illicito Adelard, 
 an unlawful sibi matrimouio copulaverat, et a Dunstano semel, se- J^* 
 
 marriage: t , ^ i - . t i- • Osbern, 
 
 and is ex- cuudo ct tcrtio rcdarerutus, mcestum suum divortio piare p. io6. 
 
 communi- iTrN»» n • • 
 
 Dunstan ^C)lebat. Quaproptcr gladio Spiritus Sancti a viro per- 
 cussus, a liminibus est sanctae ecclesiae separatus. Qui 
 typho tactus superbiae regem adit, Dunstanum immo- 
 deratae et impiae severitatis accusat, regia sanctione se 
 ab ejus tyrannide liberum constitui querelosa^ voce 
 precatur et obsecrat. Cujus verbis rex acquiescens 
 
 Edgar inter- Dunstano mandat ut hominem cum ea quam duxerat 
 
 cedes but . • , , m ' t i t • • 
 
 Dunstan m paco maucrc smat, et a qui bus suspenderat limini- 
 yieid. bus sacris ipsum restituat. Miratur ille ad audita, et 
 dolet religiosum regem per mendacem hominis linguam 
 ante rei inquisitionem et examinationem esse seductum. 
 Ponit tamen hominem ad rationem, et tam pro com- 
 misso crimine, quam et propter injustam sui crimina- 
 tionem apud principem terrae factam, paulo durius in- 
 crepat, cupiens eo modo ad poenitentiam et correctionem 
 cor iUius emollire. At ubi vidit ipsum non solum 
 verbis suis non consentire, sed insuper contumaci 
 
 * et horum'] om. S. | ^ querelosa] querula, S. 
 
AUCTORE EADMERO. 
 
 201 
 
 Adelard, spiritu contra se furere minarique, supra id quod eum The sen- 
 ^* ab ingressu domus Dei suspenderat, ut dixi, omnem ne^edand 
 
 ei communionem fidelium, donee a sua pravitate dis- heavier, 
 cederet, interdixit. Tunc ille seipso deterior effectus 
 immani est furore correptus ; et nihil eorum quae pos- 
 sidebat alicujus momenti reputans, ad hoc solum se 
 totum ^ impendere, ut Dunstano excitaret ^ scandalum ^ti® ^^ri^ 
 et Christianse lesris iusrum, quod a sua libidine coerce- letter from 
 
 T . -r» the pope. 
 
 batur, sibi faceret alienum. Legatos itaque suos Ko- 
 mam destinat, et talibus assueta quorundam Romanorum 
 corda et ora in suam causam largo munere largiori 
 sponsione permutat. Quid deinde ? Praesul apostolicse 
 sedis Dunstano peccatori homini condescendere verbis 
 ac litteris mandat, et eum ecclesise gremio integre con- 
 ciliare monet, hortatur, imperat. Ad quae Dunstanus 
 ita respondit, Equidem cum ilium de quo agitur sui 
 " delicti poenitudinem srerere videro, prseceptis domini Dunstan 
 
 ^ jr jr refuses to 
 
 " papse libens parebo. Sed ut ipse in peccato suo la- obey the 
 
 , . . . T 1 • i- T • T 1 • • papal letter. 
 
 ' ceat, et immums ab ecclesiastica disciplma nobis in- 
 " sultet et exinde gaudeat, nolit Deus. Avertat etiam 
 ^' Deus a me, ut ego causa alicujus mortalis hominis, 
 " vel pro redemptione capitis mei, postponam legem 
 " quam servandam statuit in Sua ecclesia idem Domi- 
 " nus mens Christus Filius Dei." Hsec sibi relata ille 
 audiens, et Dunstanum ab his quae certo diceret in- 
 flexibilem esse certissime sciens, excommunicationis Repentance 
 
 andhumilia- 
 
 suse poena cum pudore hominum constrictus, tum timore of the 
 periculorum quae talibus nonnunquam accidere solent 
 perterritus, obstinaciam ^ suae mentis deposuit, et abdi- 
 cate illicito conjugio poenitentige sibi cultum imposuit. 
 Dunstano namque generale totius regni concilium de 
 observantia Christianitatis celebrante, ipse suiraet ob- 
 litus, nudis pedibus, laneis indumentis corpus amictus, 
 virgam manu ferens, concilio sese medium ingessit, et 
 ante pedes Dunstani gemebundus et ejulans corruit. 
 
 1 totum] studebat, ins. S. 
 
 2 excitaret'] om. P. 
 
 ^ obstinaciam] obstinationem, S. 
 
202 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Dunstan's 
 rejoicing. 
 
 Three false 
 coiners con- 
 demned to 
 be punished. 
 
 Dunstan 
 refuses to 
 celebrate 
 mass on 
 "Whitsun- 
 day, until 
 the punish- 
 ment has 
 been in- 
 flicted. 
 
 Quo viso moti sunt omnes qui aderant ad pietatem, Adeiard, 
 et ipse pater omnium majori prse cseteris pietate mo- P' 
 tus est. In vultu tamen servato disciplinse rigore, ut- 
 pote hominem pleniter^ Deo reconeiliare desiderans, 
 lacrymas ejus ad horam severus sustinuit ; ac demum a 
 toto concilio postulatus, lacrymans et ipse culpam in- 
 dulsit. Itaque ab excommunicationis vinculo absolu- 
 tum communioni fidelium, gaudentibus cunctis, eum 
 restituit. 
 
 27. Alio tempore monetarii tres, qui in potestate viri Osbem, • 
 erant, cum falsa moneta capti, ad subeundam poenam ho- ^' 
 minibus per totum regnum promulgatam sunt judicati. 
 Quae res Dunstano abscondi non potuit. Die ergo Pente- 
 costes idem pater Missarum solemnia celebraturus, per- 
 cunctatur utrum Dei populo statuta justitia de ipsis 
 monetariis facta fuerit annon. Respondetur eam ob 
 reverentiam tanti diei in alium diem esse dilatam. 
 Nequaquam," inquit, ita fiet : monetarii nempe,^ qui 
 falsos ex industria denarios faciunt, fures sunt, et 
 eorum furto nullum nocentius esse cognosco. Nam 
 in falsa moneta quam faciunt totam terram spoliant, 
 seducunt, perturbant. Ipsi divites, ipsi mediocres, ipsi 
 pauperes, in commune Isedunt, et omnes quantum sua 
 " interest ^ aut in opprobrium, aut in egestatem, aut in 
 " nihilum redigunt. Quapropter noveritis quia ego 
 " hodie ad sacrificandum Deo non accedam, nisi primo illi 
 qui deprehensi sunt eam, quam in seductione totius 
 populi promeruerunt, subierint poenam. Si enim in 
 ultione tanti mali, cum negotium me respiciat, Deum 
 placare supersedeo, quomodo Ilium de manibus meis 
 " sacrificium suscepturum sperare queo ? Sed hsec licet 
 crudelitati possint ascribi, Deo tamen patet intentio 
 mea. Lacrymae, gemitus atque suspiria viduarum ac 
 pupillorum, clamor quoque vulgi totius mihi incum- 
 bit, et correctionem hujus mali deposcit. Quorum 
 
 « 
 
 (C 
 
 « 
 
 (C 
 
 « 
 
 it 
 
 ^ pleniter] om. S. 
 
 2 judicati] adjudicati, S. 
 
 3 nempe] namque, S. 
 
 ^ sua interest] ad eos pertinet, S. 
 
AXJCTORE EADMERO. 
 
 203 
 
 Adelard, 
 p. 62. 
 
 Osbern, 
 pp. 108, 
 109. 
 
 afflictionem, si quantum in me est mitigare non in- ^^^J''^" 
 " tendo, et Deum Qui gemitibus eorum compatitur 
 nimis offendo, et alios ad idem malum exercendum 
 promptiores et audaciores facio." Dixerat, et pro 
 poena illorum, qui manus erant perdituri, pietate motus 
 lacrymis manat, ut satis esset videre de quo fonte pro- 
 cedebat edictum, quod nonnuUis videbatur crudele. 
 Ubi vero audivit prsestitutam justitiam factam, sur- 
 rexit et lota facie ad oratorium exhilarato vultu abiens when the 
 ait, Quia Deum, obediendo statutis justitiae legibus, ISsfied^he^ 
 " audivi hodie, confido quod et Ipse per misericordiam 
 Suam sacrificium de manu mea suseipiet hodie cujus 
 confidentiae effectu privatus non est. Eo quippe inter 
 sacrosancta Missarum solemnia sacras manus extendente 
 et Deum Patrem omnipotentem ut eeclesiam Suam 
 catholicam pacificare, custodire, adunare, et regere dig- Vision of 
 naretur toto orbe terrarum interpellante, nivea columba dovef^^*^*^ 
 multis intuentibus de eoelo descendit, et donee sacrifi- 
 cium consumptum esset, super caput ejus expa^nsis et 
 quasi immotis alis sub silentio mansit. Inter h^c quid 
 animi gereret servus Dei, quo amore, qua dulcedine, 
 quo desiderio putas in Deo pascebatur, qui ex prse- 
 senti gratia Dei tali visitatione fovebatur ? Consumpto 
 sacrificio columba eadem in australem altaris partem 
 declinavit, et super tumbam beati Odonis, cujus supra 
 mentionem fecimus, se reclinavit, alis suis illam hinc inde 
 complexans, et quasi rostro deosculans. Quod beatus 
 Dunstanus intuens, et exinde ^ meritum jacentis appen- Dunstan's 
 
 1 'i^j. 2 • j.*T_i*j-j^ j« reverence 
 
 dens, m tanta eum demceps reverentia nabuit ut quoties for odo. 
 coram sepulcro illius transibat^ genua flecteret. Cog- 
 nomine quoque boni in materna lingua post base eum 
 semper nominare consuevit, videlicet, "Odo se gode," 
 quod Latine sonat " Odo bonus." Quo cognomine ex 
 eo tempore usque ad banc nostram setatem solet ab 
 Anglis, maxime tamen a Cantuaritis nuncupari. Percan- 
 
 * exinde] inde, S. 
 
 2 coram . . transibat] sepulchrum 
 ejus transiret, S. 
 
204 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 His chasu- tata Missa Dunstanus ab altari diereditur. Ministris gee 
 
 Die hangs . , . . ^ T^ 
 
 in t&e^^r^ autem ejus pro signo quod acciderat, his et illis innuen- ^g^"' 
 tibus, et alios ex fratribus ministerio pontificis afFuturos 
 suspieantibus, ipsi se in diversa toUunt ac virum, im- 
 mensis adhuc ex praesentia gratise Dei lacrymarum 
 imbribus madentem, solum relinquunt. Et ecce, dum 
 casulam qua inter sacra vestiebatur deponeret, nec uUus 
 adesset qui earn susciperet, disponente Deo suspensa 
 pependit in aere, ne cadens in terram servum Dei a sua 
 turbaret intentione. 
 
 He^caiis 28. Per id ferme temporis, rogatus a quo dam viro no- Osbern, 
 spring of bill et relie^ioso, dedieavit ei ecclesiam unam quam ipse ^* 
 
 water at the . n T-n • i • • • 
 
 dedication m suo fundo construxerat. TJbi ad ministerium aqua 
 
 of a church. . , , 
 
 deficiente et ob hoc hominem nonnuUa moestitudine cor- 
 ripiente,^ famulus Dei prsemissa prece terram baculo 
 percussit, ilicoque fons limpidissimus erumpens omnes 
 qui prsesentes erant non modicum laetificavit. Qui 
 fons usque hodie manans Dunstani nomen et meritum 
 celebre facit. 
 
 He builds a Idem pater a Cantuaria in remotiores villas suas 
 
 Dyooden • • • • . 
 
 church at opportuua spatiis hospitia sua disponens, apud Ma- 
 
 Mayfield: n • x i • t- i -x- i • 
 
 and adjusts gavcldam sicut ct in aliis nospitiorum suorum locis 
 
 itsorienta- r*. , . n i - r\ • i t t 
 
 tionby ligncam ecclesiam labricavit. (juam ipsemet dedicans, 
 
 pressing it ^ . -i, i -i-t t 
 
 with his dum ex more circumiret, et eam ad SGqumoctialem sons 
 
 shoulder. . . - ± n i. i i - 
 
 ortum minime versaiji perciperet, lertur quod transiens 
 
 humero suo illam aliquantulum pressit, moxque muta- 
 
 tam a proprio statu, in medium orientis tramitem pro 
 
 voto convertit. Quod ipsum facile potuisse efficere 
 
 nemo ambigit, nisi qui verbis Domini Christi, quibus 
 
 fidem sicut granum sinapis habentibus promittit, quod Matt. xvii. 
 
 etiam montem dicto transferant,^ incredulus exsistit. 
 
 Inter hujusmodi opera Dunstanus Deum semper in 
 mente habere, Deo quicquid boni perficiebat non sibi 
 
 1 hominem , . corripiente] homini . . subrepente, S. There has been 
 an erasure in P. 
 
 2 transferant] transferrent, S. 
 
AUCTORE EADMERO. 
 
 205 
 
 adscribere, mamum humilitatis, minimum elationis cor His regular 
 
 , . employ- 
 
 per omnia et in omnibus possidere. Cum autem a ments. 
 ssecularium negotiorum occupationibus ei quies arridebat, 
 modo contemplationi divinsB et orationibus incumbebat, 
 B, p. 49. modo sacrarum scripturarum lectioni et earum exposi- 
 tionibus intendebat, modo fratrum exhortationi seu 
 librorum emendationi sedulus operam impendebat. In 
 compunctione vero lacrymarum tanta gratia prseditus 
 erat, ut quoties eum sacris altaribus sisti vel aliquo 
 officio pontificali fungi conspiceres, Spiritus Sancti fer- 
 vore mentem ejus accendi, et quae ille exterius ad- 
 ministrabat, Ipsum interius operari per indices ex oculis 
 illius decurrentes lacrymas non dubitares. Ha)c inter 
 sibi et successoribus suis competentia, tam infra muros His building 
 
 T . , . ., -IT T 1 • • i of churches. 
 
 urbis quam et m quibusque viliis ad arcmepiscopatum 
 pertinentibus, aedificia constitui, vel constituta, si qua 
 ex parte diruta essent, renovari faciebat, se scilicet in 
 istis non modo sibi sed et multorum utilitati natum 
 vivereque perpendens. Prseterea cunctarum ecclesiarum His care for 
 
 the church 
 
 B. p. 50. totius Britannise adjacentiumque insularum soUicitudi- generally, 
 nem strenuus gerebat, et earum causas, quae ad eum 
 sicut ad primatem et patriarcham quotidie ferebantur, 
 disponebat. Et quia vigilanti studio Domino Christo 
 per omnia famulabatur^ saepe supemorum civium gau- 
 diis atque concentibus angelorum, ad quos anxie ^ suspi- 
 rabat, miscebatur aliquando corpore vigilans, aliquando His reve- 
 
 . . T p J • • lations. 
 
 sancto sopore quiescens ; quodque lortassis non minus 
 stupeas, per visum quaedam a beatis ^ spiritibus didicit, 
 quae ipse postea in servitio Dei canenda suos edocuit. 
 
 B. p. 41. 29. Quadam etenim nocte cum membra quieti dedisset, His vision 
 
 n >r • • • • mar- 
 
 p ] 17°' per visum in superna raptus est. Conspexit itaque et ^^^^^ 
 ecce, mater sua cuidam regi potentissimo in conjugium 
 sub immensa confluentium magnatum laetitia exsulta- 
 tione copulabatur, resonantibus undique hymnis ac 
 
 1 anxie'] om. S. 
 
 I 2 heatis] om. S. 
 
206 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 His silence laudibus in gloiiam ejusdem regis, organis quoque acB. p. 4i. 
 
 rebuked. , it. j .-i • i • ti j.** Osbern, 
 
 diversis melodiis concrepantibus m ms regalibus nuptiis. ^ ^^^^ 
 Quibus dum ipse magnifice deleetatus intenderet, atque 
 ad ea totum siii cordis affectum arrigeret, accessit ad 
 eum juvenis quidam candidissimo tectus amictu, dicens 
 illi, " Cum videas et audias istos laetantium ac jubilan- 
 " tium chores, cur te illis non copulas ? Cur laudibus 
 " eorum non commisces laudes tuas ? Et quidem si in 
 " desponsatione matris tu8e a voce laudis et exultationis 
 cuncti silerent, tu silere non deberes, nedum illis non 
 " tacentibus solus taceas." ^ Ad hsec verba, quid in B. p. 41. 
 laudem tanti regis cantaret ignorare so respondit. p^^i x™* 
 Sciscitatur ergo ^ an a se quod decenter canere posset 
 instrui vellet. Quod cum sibi acceptissimum fore profi- 
 He is taught teretur, docuit eum antiphonam istam, "O Rex gentium 
 
 a new an- . . ^ ... >« 
 
 them, which domiuator omnium, propter sedem maiestatis 1 use da 
 
 on awaking , 
 
 he records. nobis iudulgcntiam, rex Christe, peccatorum ; Alleluia." 
 
 Quam pater per visum ssepius repetens et in laudem 
 prsefati regis frequentius canens, mira jocunditate pasce- 
 batur. Expergefactus autem a somno surrexit, gemens 
 eo quod a tantis gaudiis tam subito se in hujus mundi 
 jBrumnis invenit. Antiphonam vero statim ne oblivioni 
 daretur scribi prsecepit, eamque a suis postmodum can- B. p. 42. 
 tari ssepius in sui prsesentia fecit. Ex qua etiam magnse 
 suavitatis fervor ob recordationem gloriosae visionis 
 sibi generabatur, et grande desiderium pertingendi ad 
 tantum bonum in animo illius multiplicabatur. Hanc 
 visionem, quae, prseter illam qua olim patris sui et matris 
 
 Question of animas inter choros angelicos vidit, ei apparuit, quidam 
 
 the interpre- . , i ' , > • 'i i. ' i 
 
 tationof the qui ante me de istis scripsit, vult mystice reierri ad 
 matrem ecclesiam quae Christo summo regi per bona 
 opera desponsatur, et ex qua Dunstanus, et quisque 
 fidelium per sacri baptismatis . undam renatus, ejus ali- 
 mentis pascitur atque nutritur. Quod autem Dunstanum 
 angelus docuit a Dominatore gentium petere indul- 
 
 1 taceas"] tacere, S. 
 
 I ^ ergo"} juvenis, ins. S. 
 
AUCTORE EADMERO. 
 
 207 
 
 R pp. 42, gentiam peccatorum, ostendit quod pontifices agere 
 debeant, quoties ad exorandam majestatem Dei pro 
 suis populique delictis sancta sanctorum introeunt. 
 
 80. Alio quodam tempore rex in die Dominica mane Dunstan 
 
 . . _ ^ . waiting for 
 
 venatum ivit, et Dunstanum, qui tunc forte secum erat, Edgar to 
 
 return irom 
 
 Missam suam donee rediret ^ difFerre petivit. Appropin- hunting, 
 
 , . before he 
 
 quante iedtur hora tertia vir Dei ad ecclesiam procedit, begins ma^s, 
 
 , . . . . has a vision 
 
 et mdutus sacris vestibus, regem sicut ei promiserat of heaven. 
 
 exspectabat. Stabat ergo cubitis innixus altari, orationi 
 
 ac lacrymis deditus. Tum subito sopore leviter pressus 
 
 in coelnm rapitur, et beatis angelorum agminibus asso- 
 
 ciatus, audit eos summse Trinitati in laudem modulatis 
 
 vocibus decantantes atque dicentes,^ " Kyrie eleyson, 
 
 " Christe eleyson, Kyrie eleyson." ' Quorum melodiam 
 
 coelestium contemplator edoctus ad se reversus est. Et 
 
 conversus ad suos interrogat rexne venerit annon. At 
 
 ubi eum nondum venisse accepit ad suas preces sese 
 
 convertit. Factoque non grandi intervallo, iterum extra 
 
 se ductus audivit in coelis altisona voce dici, " Ite, 
 
 " Missa est." Ad quod cum " Deo eratias " respon- He refuses 
 
 . , . , to say mass. 
 
 deretur, accurrentes clerici regis regem adesse vocife- 
 rantur, sacerdotem ut festinantius Missam celebret 
 obsecrant. At ille versus ab altari Missam se habere 
 pronunciat, et aliam se ea die celebraturum abnegat. 
 Depositisque vestibus sacris a suis de re inquiritur, Hebids 
 quod latebat operitur. Ex hoc itaque sumpto sermone tSlbstain 
 
 T 1 • • ^ 1 • ± from Sun- 
 
 regem m diebus Dommicorum demceps a venatu day hunting 
 prohibuit. " Kyrie eleyson " vero quod in coelestibus 
 didicit, suos docuit, idque multis in locis hodie sancta 
 ecclesia inter Missarum solennia canit. 
 
 B. p. 48. 81. Moris erat viro loca sancta quando Cantuarise He visits 
 p 'jjg^' morabatur uno tantum fideli socio comitatus noctu pera- at uight.^ 
 
 grare, et se inibi per compunctionem et contritionem 
 
 cordis Deo mactare. 
 
 ^ rediret'] veniret, S. 
 2 atque dicentes] om. S. 
 
 Dominicorum] Dominicis, S. 
 
208 
 
 VITA SANCTI BUNSTANI 
 
 (C 
 
 One night Quadam igitur vice ad monasterium beatissimorum B. pp. 48, 
 
 hfi^ apostolorum Petri et Pauli, in quo beatus Augustinus o^g\,ej^^ 
 heavenly et alii nonnuUi de patribus ecclesise Christi Cantuari- p. lis, 119. 
 
 anthem. . . ^. i* m 
 
 ensis tumulati sunt, ex more circa mediae noctis silentia 
 perrexit, ibique Deo se diutius in oratione prostravit. 
 Egressus vero ad oratorium beatse Dei genitricis et 
 perpetuse virginis Marise, quod in orientali ipsius monas- 
 terii parte situm fuerat, eadem facturus divertit. Cui 
 appropinquans audivit intus voces psallentium atque 
 dicentium, " Gaudent in coelis animae sanctorum qui 
 Christi vestigia sunt secuti : et quia pro Ejus amore 
 sanguinem suum fuderunt, ideo cum Christo gaude- 
 " bunt ^ in aetemum." Ad haec ille stupefactus adstitit 
 ostio, ac per rimas 'illius introspiciens, erat enim ob- 
 Lookingin seratum, intuetur oratorium totum immensa luce splen- 
 
 at a chink ' ^ 
 
 chdr^of* dere, et quendam cuneum candidatarum personarum 
 virgmsand ipsam antiphouam laetis concentibus resonare. Alio 
 heileff item tempore praefata pastorum ecclesiae limina simili 
 hora pari voto requirens, ubi inde discessit, memoratam 
 sacratissimaB virginis aedem, preces illic Deo fusurus, 
 adire coepit . Ecce autem ipsa beatissima virginum virgo, 
 comitata numeroso virginum choro, venienti viro occurrit, 
 et summo cum honore susceptum ad suam ecclesiam 
 quo tendebat ducere coepit, praecinentibus duabus de 
 cboro puellis illud Sedulii carmen atque dicentibus, 
 
 " Cantemus sociae, Domino cantemus honorem; 
 " Dulcis amor Christi personet ore pio." 
 
 Their song. Quos versus chorus virginum resumendo percantans,^ 
 praedictae binae cantrices ^ binos qui sequuntur in ordine 
 versus subsecutae^ sunt: 
 
 " Primus ad ima ruit magna de luce superbus, 
 " Sic homo cum tumuit primus ad ima ruit." 
 
 1 gaudehunf] regnabunt, S. 
 
 2 percantans~\ cum . . percanta- 
 ret, S. 
 
 3 cantrices] praecentrices, S. 
 ^ subsecutce] prosecutse, S. 
 
AUCTORE EADMERO. 
 
 209 
 
 B. p. 49. 32. Sicque donee vir Dei in oratorium perductus esset. From this 
 
 , ^ , vision the 
 
 virgineus chorus primos et virgines binse binos j^^^^fj^^^n 
 quod series hymni sese habet versus modulatse sunt, pay be 
 
 _± T ... . . inferred. 
 
 Propter nsee et horum similia facta ^ insignis pater 
 Dunstanus quanti honoris, quantae reverentiae, quantaeve^ 
 magnificentiae apud omnes bonos exstiterit aestimo quod 
 qui talia Dei dona amplecti novit magna ex parte et 
 me silente videbit. At iis qui potius in malitia quam 
 in bonitate vitam agere satagebant horrorem atque ter- 
 rorem vultus ejus incutiebat, ut ab eo fugere quam ad 
 eum accedere mallent. Omnes vero qui perversa acta 
 sua deserere et ad recta opera cupiebant transmigrare, 
 verae pietatis ac misericordiae visceribus eum redundare 
 sentiebant, et ultra humanam aestimationem consilium 
 simul et auxilium suae salutis in eo reperiebant. A His great 
 
 ^ fame and 
 
 remotis itaque terrarum partibus ad eum passim cur- influence, 
 rebatur, et quo ilium praeminere notum erat, Spiritus 
 Sancti consilium ab ipso petebatur. Si ad ista diaboli 
 odium et invidia saeviebat, nulli mirandum. Sed quia 
 se in perturbatione viri nihil posse, nisi quod verecun- 
 diam sui et eius efloriam mamificaret,^ lam certo scie- The devil 
 
 ^, ^ , . lays a snare 
 
 bat, ab ea qua ilium saepe fatigare solebat impugnatione for Edgar, 
 sese cohibuit. Verum ut eum redderet conturbatum, 
 Eadgaro regi, quem multum pro sua reverentia dilige- 
 bat, laqueum gemebundae ^ deceptionis tetendit et irre- 
 titum gravis peccati naevo involvit. 
 
 83. Quadam enim vice idem rex in monasterium vired- Edgar fails 
 
 ... ... ^ m love with 
 
 num quod Wiltuniae situm habetur venit, ibique captus f^^^-^^^^^^ 
 Osbem, specie cujusdam puellae, quae de nobilibus Anglorum Abbey, 
 nata inter sanctimoniales non velata nutriebatur, cus- 
 todiebatur, eam suo coUoquio adduci secretins jussit. 
 Ilia cum duceretur, timens pudori suo, raptum ab una 
 sanctimonialium capiti suo velum imposuit, eo modo se 
 
 ^ facta'] ova. S. 
 
 2 quantcBve] vel, S. 
 
 ^ verecundiam . . . magnijicaret\ 
 
 ignominiam sibi et illi majorem glo- 
 riam adferret, S. 
 
 '* gemebundas'] miserandse, S. 
 
 O 
 
210 
 
 VITA SANCTI DIJNSTANI 
 
 In spite of 
 the veil 
 wliicli she 
 has put on, 
 the king 
 abuses her, 
 although 
 he was 
 married. 
 
 Dunstan's 
 grief at 
 hearing of 
 this. 
 
 He refuses 
 to take the 
 king's hand. 
 
 Edgar's 
 humiliation. 
 
 Hispenance. 
 
 protegi sperans si forte rex quid inhonesti a se exigere Osbem, 
 vellet. Quam ipse velatam intuens, " Quam subito," ^' 
 inquit, sanctimonialis effecta es ! Arreptumque ve- 
 lum detraxit capiti ejus, ilia conatu quo poterat frustra 
 obnitente. Abusus siquidem ea est, et gravi scandalo 
 quique per Angliam religiosi ex hoc mente vulnerati 
 sunt. Quod scandalum eo vehementius fuit quod rex 
 idem legitimam uxorem habebat, ^Iflaedam^ videlicet 
 cognomine Candidam, Ordmseri prsepotentis Orientalium 
 Anglorum ducis filiam de qua et Sanctum Eadwardum 
 genuerat. Ubi vero res Dunstano innotuit acerbo 
 moerore percussus est. Igitur cum pro re non segnis 
 ad regem veniret, et illi venienti pro more occurreret, 
 eumque per manum ad solium suum perducere vellet, 
 manum Dunstanus turbato vultu retraxit, nec eam ab 
 homine contingi passus est. Ad quod ille attonitus, 
 non enim ilium scire putabat quod clanculo a se factum 
 existimabat, cur manum sibi non dimitteret inquisivit. 
 Ait : " Tu, postposito omni pudore adulterium commi- 
 " sisti ; tu despecto Deo, signum castitatis non veritus, 
 " virgini suam integritatem prseripuisti. Et cur ma- 
 " num, Summo Patri virginis Filium immolantem, im- 
 " puris manibus non tradam quaeris ? Lava prius per 
 " poenitentiam manus tuas a sordibus suis, et tunc 
 demum quo gratise Dei recoricilieris honora et am- 
 " plectere manum pontificis." Territus ille ad hsec terrse Osbem, 
 procumbit, pedes antistitis petit, se peccasse, gemitu^'^^^* 
 verba interrumpente, contestans. Quod Dimstanus 
 videns tantum in rege humilitatis exemplum vehemen- 
 ter amplectitur. Velocius ergo ilium erexit et pacato 
 vultu, cum eo familiariter quae salutem animae ejus 
 operarentur loquens, septennem ei poenitentiam injunxit. 
 At ille pontifical! absolutione potitus, omni studio in- 
 junctse sibi poenitentise operam dare, et multa quibus 
 Deum placaret pietatis opera ipsi poenitentise, instinctu 
 et consilio patris sui, sollicitus coepit superaddere. 
 
 See the letter ofNicolasinSect.vii.of this Volume, 
 
AUCTORE EABMERO. 
 
 211 
 
 Osbern, Ipse prseterea omni ordini hominum in suo regno He enforces 
 ^* ^^^* consistentium legibus sibi in Christiana religione san- Swf^^^ 
 citis uti prsecipiebat ; ipse secus agentes indicta vindicta 
 corripiebat, ipse in pravitate persistentes condigno ex- 
 amine puniebat. ExempK causa : ordo clericalis ea 
 tempestate plnrimum erat corruptus, et canonici cum 
 presbyteris plebium voluptatibus camis plus aequo in- 
 serviebant. Quod malum Dunstanus corri2:ere cupiens, nunstan 
 
 , or' proposes to 
 
 Osbern, fretus auctoritate Johannis apostolicse sedis antistitis, 
 ^' apud regem obtinuit quatenus canonici qui caste vivere canons, 
 
 nollent ecclesiis quas tenebant depellerentur, et monachi 
 loco eorum intromitterentur. Praesidebat ea tempestate 
 Wentanse ecclesise prsesul Athelwoldus, vir eximise 
 sanctitatis et educatione patris Dunstani non parum 
 insignis. Hie prsescita ^ de canonicis ecclesise su^, qui 
 nimium sseculares existebant, voluntate Dunstani, mo- 
 nuit eos semel et saepius mores et actus mutare, cor- 
 rectioris vitse semitas, relictis foeminis, arripere. At How Ethei- 
 illi, inprsesentiarum quidem id sibi possibile esse ne- ^^^f^g^ 
 ga^ntes, voce corvina semper in crastinum correctionem canons, 
 sui pollicebantur. Quod ipse gnarus non diu sustinuit ; 
 paratis nempe^ quamplurimis monachorum cucullis, die 
 quo Communio " Servite Domino in timore " cantaba- 
 tur, chorum intravit, vestes quas paraverat secum de- 
 ferri faciens. Et projectis illis in medium, canonicis 
 ait : " Animadvertistis quid modo cantaveritis ? " Ani- 
 " madvertimus," inquiunt. " Igitur," inquit, " si servire 
 Ps. ii. 11, 12. Domino in timore et Ei vultis exultare cum tremore, 
 apprehendite disciplinam, vestem videlicet monachi- 
 " lem, ne pereatis, sicut cantastis, de via justa." ^Ad 
 quod illi obstupefacti, more solito inducias petunt, id 
 se facturos in futuro promittunt. Tunc iUe, "Mihi 
 " credite, amplius non credam huic vestrse sponsioni 
 " corvinse ; sed aut disciplinam in prsesenti apprehen- 
 
 ^ fretus'] om. S. ^ nempe} namque, S. 
 
 2 prascitd] cognita, S. 
 
 o 2 
 
212 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 He gives detis, aut loci istius beneficiis et conversationi, hinc Osbem, 
 
 them tneir . , , n» p 113. 
 
 choice « eliminati, lam lamque cedetis." Itaque nonnulli ^* 
 
 between .. . . .. . 
 
 becoming ex iUis statim abiecto clericali habitu monacni 
 
 monks and ^ . , • r» • i i • 
 
 leaving the facti STint, csetcris iuxta verba ^ pontificis de ecclesia 
 
 church. *^ ... .. . 
 
 eliminatis. Cseterum quia ipsi qui ita noviter sunt 
 conversi regularis disciplinae normam sine aliorum 
 magisterio docte servare nequibant, monachi de 
 Abendonia illuc ab eodem pontifice adducti sunt, qui 
 Monks are monachicse institutionis tramitem ibi edocerent. Cle- 
 
 brought 
 
 do™ rici vero, qui ejecti sunt, citato gressu regem adeunt, 
 judicium atque justitiam sibi de expulsione sui fieri 
 postulant. Refertur negotium ad audientiam Dunstani, 
 et ipse eos aequa postulare pronunciat. Igitur ex prse- 
 cepto regis et archiepiscopi coit Wintoniam nobilitas 
 regni totius, et rex cum sua conjuge adest ad determi- 
 
 Councii at nandum querelas negotii huius. Surgunt hinc inde lites 
 
 "W^inchester 
 
 to discuss quas Dunstanus propositis rationibus destruit omnes. 
 
 the claimsof .. i .t, . i tj i • 
 
 the canons. Kationabiliter quippe cunctis ostendit clericos, qui a 
 sorte Dei incorrigibiliter ^ per pravitatem vitse suse dis- 
 siliunt, nil per rectitudinem sibi vindicare posse ex iis 
 quae ecclesiis data sunt ad subsidium eorum qui in 
 clericatu pura conversatione sese custodiunt. Quibus 
 auditis, omissa omni controversial rex et de^ principi- 
 bus plures,^ clericorum precibus ad pietatem usque per- 
 moti, Dunstanum interpellant quatinus hac sola vice 
 parcat, et clericos, jam quid amodo si se non correx- 
 erint incursuri sint re ipsa edoctos, de ecclesia sua 
 revestiat. Silet ille ad ista, quidque potissimum de 
 negotio sit agendum, demisso capite mente pertractat. 
 
 Miraculous Silcntium ino^ens occupat omnes et suspensi ad respon- 
 
 utterance of, , ^ m i- 'n » 
 
 the crucifix, sum pontificis crigunt aures. Tunc subito crucifixi 
 Dei imago, signo crucis in edito domus affixa, audien- 
 
 1 juxta verba] verbo, S. 
 
 2 quippe . . incorrigibiliter'] om. S. 
 ^ omni controversia] omnis con- 
 
 troversia est, S. 
 
 ^ et de] atque ex, S. 
 ^ plures] plerique, S. 
 
AUCTORE EADMERO. 
 
 213 
 
 Osbem, tibus cunctis dixit, Non fiet, non fiet. Judicastis tws decides 
 " bene, mutaretis non bene." Tremefaeto in his simul ^orw.* ^ 
 universo conventu, intulit pater Dunstanus et ait, 
 " Quid amplius vultis, fratres mei ? Divina sententia 
 " definitum andistis negotium prsesens." Aiunt, "Au- 
 " divimus vere." Kesederunt igitur monachi Wintonise 
 deinceps ^ securi, et, quoad clerici ipsi vixerunt, qui eos 
 super causa ista inquietaret nemo fuit. 
 
 34. Illis autem huic vitse subtraetis, filii eorum cupi- The quarrel 
 
 revived in 
 
 entes recuperare qusB perdiderant in parentibus suis, the next 
 
 Oi.* • xx-j J Ti generation. 
 
 m bcotiam miserunt, et mde quendam prsegrandis, ut 
 fama ferebat, eloquentiaB virum Bemelmum nomine, 
 magno conduetum pretio, in tuitionem suae causae con- 
 tra Dunstanum adduxerunt. Conglobati ergo sub uno ^^j^^^^ ^* 
 clericorum filii regem atque Dunstanum apud villam 
 qu8B dicitur Kalne in quodam coenaculo consistentes 
 reperiunt ; et armati rhetore illo, qui suse victorise spes 
 maxima erat, antiquse calumniae coram eis jurgia pro- 
 munt. Ad quse Dunstanus his verbis brevi respondit; 
 ' Calumniam istam quam movetis divino ore jam ^ 
 ' olim definitam novimus, nec eam novo conflictu 
 ' amplius in medium revocandam existimamus. Ego i>unstan 
 ^ quoque grandsevus sum, et vitse meae residuum, quod dispute. 
 ' pauci temporis esse non nescio, in pace si licuerit 
 ' transigere cupio. Laboravi dum potui, amodo totius 
 ' laboris impatiens Domino Deo causam ecclesi^ Suae 
 ' contra insursjentes hostes tuendam committo." Dixit, The floor of 
 
 the chamber 
 
 et ecce solarium, sub pedibus eorum qui adversus ^a-iis. 
 virum convenerant, e vestigio cecidit ; omnesque pari- 
 ter praecipitatos in suo casu non modicum laesit. Ubi 
 vero Dunstanus cum suis consistebat,^ nulla fuina do- 
 mus, nuUius * emerserat casus. Hoc ieritur modo calum- Dunstan's 
 
 . I T party IS 
 
 nia clericorum est sopita, et usque hodie monachorum ^^ii^rt. 
 conversatio in ipsa ecclesia stabilita. Ejecti nihilominus 
 
 Osbern, 
 p. 114. 
 
 1 deinceps~\ om. S. 
 
 2 jam] om. S. 
 
 3 consistehat] considebat, S. 
 * nullius] nullus, S. 
 
214 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Increase of per id temporis et alii quamplures clenci horum 
 
 monastic . .i t . i . , i • • i 
 
 devotion similes cle suis ecclesiis sunt, et monaeni m locum 
 
 thereupon. . ii-ji- ai t* a 
 
 ipsorum suDstituti. Aucta est igitur religio per An- 
 gliam in tantum ut quadraginta octo monasteria mona- 
 chis vel sanetimonialibus instituerentur, eooperantibus 
 beato Dunstano in hoc viris venerabilibus, Oswaldo 
 videlicet, qui primo Wigornensis, postea fuit episcopus 
 Eboracensis, et Athelwoldo ^ Wintoniensi, quorum supra 
 meminimus. Vitam itaque beati^ Dunstani et actus 
 formidabant omnes qui incedere volebant juxta vias 
 adinventionum suarum. 
 
 Edgar is 35. Inter hsec sopito negotio quod regem Eadgarum ne Adelard, 
 crowned, regio more coronaretur detinuerat, Dunstanus adunatis P'^^^^ 
 iepiscopis, abbatibus et cseteris principibus cum tota regni p. ii4. 
 ingenuitate, coram eis astante innumera populorum^ 
 multitudine, imposuit illi coronam regni, gaudentibus 
 cunctis et jubilantibus Deo in voce laudis et exulta- 
 Onhis death tionis. Ipso autem, post biennium quo hsec facta sunt, 
 Dunsten^ immatura morte praevento, Eadwardo filio suo totum 
 influence, rcgnum hsereditario jure reliquit. Qui Eadwardus cum 
 in regem consecrari deberet, nonnulli de principibus 
 terrse contraire ne rex fieret nisi sunt, tum quia mo- 
 rum illius aeveritatem, qua in suorum excessus acriter 
 saevire consueverat, suspectam habebant,^ tum quia 
 matrem ejus, licet legaliter nuptam, in regnum tamen 
 non magis quarn patrem ejus, dum eum genuit, sacra- 
 tam fuisse sciebant. Sed Dunstanus discretione et 
 industria confisus adolescentis, unum non metuens, et 
 observato paternse hsereditatis et testamenti jure aliud 
 contemnens, arrepto sanctse Crucis vexillo, medius con- 
 stitit, et per rationem cunctis quae objiciebantur eKsis, 
 Edwardum regem constituit, et constituto paternum 
 affectum, consilium et auxilium in omni negotio dum 
 
 1 Athelwoldo] episcopo, ins. S. 
 
 2 beati] om. S. 
 
 3 populorum] populi, S. 
 
 * suspectam habebant] om. S. 
 
AUCTORE EADMERO. 
 
 215 
 
 Adelard, 
 p. 61. 
 Osbera, 
 p. 114. 
 
 Osbem, 
 p. 115. 
 
 Osbera, 
 p. 115. 
 
 vixit exhibere curavit. Eex quoque ita mores suos Edward^s 
 in omnibus et per omnia componebat, ita totum reg-m^ni^^^^' 
 num Sanctis legibns disponebat, ut et actus ejus Deo 
 placerent, et eo quod in suscipiendo regno ei contra- 
 dixerant quique sibimet ipsis displicerent. Sed illo He is slain 
 
 J. T I /» T . « andEthel- 
 
 <post aliquot annos per iraudem novercse suae mterfecto, red sue- 
 -^tnelredus filius ipsius malee mulieris in regnum sub- 
 stitutus est, matris ignominia magis quam Edgari ^ 
 patris sui sollertia prseditus. Cujus provectio non 
 usquequaque sedit Dunstano, ideo tamen quod proxi- 
 mus regni hseres existebat, complevit ei jus regium, 
 sciens se inoffensis legibus terrae atque principibus id 
 non posse transferre in quenquam alium. Attamen 
 ilium solio res^ali potitum, severo quodam verborum Dunstan's 
 
 ... . . n , ' n. invective 
 
 tomtruo, quia per sangumem iratris regnum obtmuerat *° 
 increpavit, et quod in sanguine victurus ac posteri 
 illius crudeli barbarorum incursu devastandi, tota etiam 
 terra per plurima ssecula ssevo illorum dominatu foret 
 depopulanda prsedixit. Quae licet se vivente eventura His^pro- 
 neerarit, eventura tamen omnimodo esse nimis veraci, misfortune, 
 
 . ..T. iT»T 1 which is 
 
 ut et m cromcis legimus et nodie videmus, propnetia stiu feit. 
 asseruit. Accelerabit, cum Sibi placuerit, omnipotens 
 Deus, quam subsecuturam promisit liberationem per 
 tanti vatis Sui merita et intercessionem. Et quidem 
 ilium spiritu prophetiae claruisse non tantum hinc 
 sed et ex nonnullis aliis, quae constat eum veraciter 
 praedixisse, confirmamus, et id subjecto exemplo pro- 
 bamus. 
 
 36. Quodam tempore venit Cantuariam supramemora- Jj^^^^^^JJ® 
 tus Athelwoldus Wentanus episcopus, et aliquot diebus wlnclester 
 
 _ • T» r» Roches- 
 
 ibi detentus est. Detentus est etiam Rofensis episcopus, *er. 
 qui illo simul venerat, detinente utrumque patre Dun- 
 stano caritativa affectione, dulciflua vitae perennis con- 
 templatione, divini verbi collatione et sacrorum morum 
 exhortatione et instructione. Cum autem ipse pontifi- 
 
 Edgari\ om. S. 
 
216 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 accompanies 
 them on 
 their de- 
 parture 
 from Can 
 terbury. 
 
 death. 
 
 « 
 
 « 
 
 Dunstan cum pater comitatus ipsis duobus episcopis Cantuaria Osbern, 
 decederet, et pariter longius ab urbe^ remotos quein- 
 que ab altero destinati hospitii via dirimeret, ambo 
 pontifices, a Dunstano benedici petentes, ab eo divertere 
 et suum iter cupiebant accelerare. Verum ipso manum 
 extendente ad benedicendum, subito in lacrymas acer- 
 bas erupit, coeptaeque benedictionis verba singultus 
 subsequens interrupit. lUis vero ad rem grandi stu- 
 pore perterritis, quidnam haberet, quod tam anxie 
 ^liJ^^^^j^ fleret, sciscitati sunt. Respondit, "Fleo quia vos, quos 
 modo sanos et alacres video, in hac vita me nequa- 
 quam^ amplius visurum admodum doleo. Nam in 
 proximo estis morituri, et ad gaudia regni coelestis 
 " transeuntes me in hujus vitae miseriis relicturi." 
 Cui cum ipsi dicerent "Ne pater, oramus, de nostra 
 morte ita loquaris " Fixum," ait, " quod dixi tenete, 
 quoniam sic est et omnino immutabile.'' ^ In his 
 dato altrinsecus osculo pacis ab invicem divisi simt. 
 Igitur antistes Rofensis mox ubi sui pontificatus civi- 
 tatem ingressus est, elanguit, et evolutis in infirmitate 
 paucis diebus defunctus est. Wintoniensis vero prius- 
 quam ad sedem suam venire posset, languore corripi- 
 tur, et juxta verbum viri Dei non longa mora in- 
 terveniente finitur. Ex cujus obitu gravis moeror Adelard, 
 Dunstanum corripuit, tum quia tanti viri ingens sola- ^^^^ 
 tium amiserat, tum quia cui potissimum tenerse adhuc p. lie. 
 statum ecclesise regendum committeret dubius fluctua- 
 bat. Quos fluctus ingerebant animo ejus hinc monachi 
 nuper intromissi, hinc clerici ab ecclesia ilia ejecti. 
 Monachi quippe suae professionis virum habere episco- 
 WMiester^ pum praeoptabant ; clerici vero sui ordinis hominem . 
 sibi praefici desiderabant ; illi videlicet per monachum 
 in ecclesia sibi collata cupientes solidari ; isti per cleri- 
 cum ecclesiae sibi ablatae sperantes reformari. ^ Sed haec 
 providens sapientia et sapiens providentia Dei citius 
 
 The pro- 
 phecy is 
 fulflUed. 
 
 Dunstan*s 
 grief. 
 
 Question 
 about the 
 
 1 ah urbe] om. S. 
 
 2 me nequaquam] non, S. 
 
 ^ omnim immutabUe] non est mu- 
 tabile, S. 
 
AUCTORE EADMERO. 
 
 217 
 
 ^^^^2*^^' d^t®^^i^9;vit. Nam per beatum Andream apostolum, s. Andrew 
 Osbern cui speciali quodam dilectionis aifectu Dunstanum ad- command 
 
 lie -that Elfege 
 
 P- 116* hserere Deus concesserat, Dunstano mandavit quatenus shall be ap- 
 
 . pointed. 
 
 nihil haesitans ^Ifegum abbatem Bathoniensem con- 
 stitueret Wentanse ecclesiae summum sacerdotem. Lseta- 
 tus est Dunstanus in istis, et reddita Deo gratiarum 
 actione pro beneficiis Suis in ^Ifego, perfecit quod ei 
 per apostolum Suum Deus ipse prsecepit. 
 
 87. Multa de hoc viro, juxta quod multorum non 
 spernenda testimonia ferunt, adhuc litterarum memorise 
 veraci stylo commendare possemus ; verum ne incultse 
 narrationis prolixitate quemlibet^ gravemus, praeter- 
 missis illis, ad sacrum transitum ejus enarrandum cor 
 et linguam prseparemus. Quod prseparare quia nostrae 
 opis non est, oremus ut ipso de quo agimus inter- 
 veniente perficiatur ab Eo Cujus hoc donum et gratiam 
 scimus esse. 
 
 Adelard, Dies igitur quo Dominus noster Dei Filius, Deus 
 Osbern pp. ^^ster,^ devicta morte coelum victor ascendit, Celebris 
 120, 121. illucescebat, et Dunstanus expleto noctis officio solus 
 in ecclesia Salvatoris Cantuariae, pro tanti gaudii con- 
 sideratione, Christo totus inhaerebat. Interea conspexit 
 et ecce innumera candidatorum multitudo ^drorum 
 coronas aureas in capite gestantium, inaestimabili ful- 
 gore micantium, per ecclesiae januas irrumpens, coram 
 se sub uno ^ conglobata constitit, et una voce ei hujus- 
 modi salutationis alloquium persolvit, Salve, Dunstane 
 noster, salve ! Mandat tibi Quem pie desideras Filius 
 Dei quatenus, si paratus es, venias et diem hanc, ad 
 cujus gaudium unica dilectione suspiras, nobis asso- 
 ciatus in Sua curia gratiosus et hilaris celebres." 
 Ad quorum vultus et voces ille imperterritus manens 
 sciscitatus est, quinam essent. " Cherubin," inquiunt, 
 
 Much more 
 might be 
 told about 
 Dunstan. 
 
 On Ascen- 
 sion day, 
 Dunstan has 
 a vision of 
 cherubim 
 asking if he 
 is ready to 
 depart. 
 
 « 
 
 * quemlihet] quenquam, S. 
 2 Deus noster'] om. S. 
 
 3 se sub Mwo] ipso, S. 
 
218 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 (C 
 « 
 
 ^^j^ysthat « ac Seraphin sumus : quidquid velis ad hsec respondeas Adelard, 
 the feasf " volumus." Tunc iUe sacro cordis ac mentis affectu Qgj^eni 
 cum supplici voce pro tanta gratia grates debitas p. 121. 
 agens ; " Hac/' inquit, die, qui honor, quae spes, quod 
 " gaudium in Ascensione Christi Dei et Domini om- 
 " nium^ generi humano provenerit, O sancti ac beati 
 spiritus, nostis. Nostis nihilominus ofScii mei esse 
 " oves Ipsius Domini mei mihi commendatas hac die 
 " vitae setemae pane reficere, et eas quo tramite Ilium 
 " sequi debeant, quo praecessit, informare. Cujus etiam 
 rei gratia plurimi convenere, nec meum est in tali 
 negotio illos decipere. Propter haec, quo me invitatis 
 T^^id « non possum hodie venire." Dixerunt, " Eja ! provide 
 ready on the « die Sabbati praesto sis bine nobiscum Romam 
 
 Saturday. ^ 
 
 " transire, et coram summo pontifice Sanctus, Sanctus, 
 " Sanctus aetemaliter^ canere." Annuit ipse dicto, et 
 illi in invisibilia ab oculis ejus dilapsi simt. 
 
 tSfb£p Hujus admirandae visionis presbjrter quidam JElf- Adelard, 
 
 ^^the ^* garus nomine, qui in excubiis domus Dei assiduus esse osbern, 
 th£^vSion. solebat, quique postmodum, sicut scriptura referente P- 120. 
 accepimus, insignis in Elmham episcopus claruit, con- 
 scius esse promeruit. Nam nocte eadem pefvigil sacris 
 meditationibus deditus, illucescente aurora, supra ^ se- 
 ipsum per visum raptus est, viditque beatum Dunsta- 
 num cathedrae pontificali praesidere, et ei ^anonica jura 
 clero dictanti formosorum juvenum immensum agmen 
 assistere. Audivit etiam ea quae proxime digessimus 
 eosdem juvenes ei dixisse, quaeque retulimus ab eo illis 
 responsa fuisse. Quod, ut reor, ea de re viro illi Do- 
 minus patefieri voluit, quatenus et gloriam transituri 
 j&deli testimonio commendaret, et ipse ad eandem 
 gloriam tanto indicio vehementius anhelaret, necnon 
 antistes quandoque futurus cam suis utpote cognitam 
 certius praedicaret. 
 
 1 Dei , . omniuTn] Domini Jesu 
 . onmi, S. 
 
 2 ceternaliter] setemum, S. 
 
 3 supra] extra, S. 
 
AUCTOEE EADMERO. 
 
 219 
 
 B. p. 51. 
 
 Adelard, 
 p. 65. 
 Osbern, 
 p. 121. 
 
 Dunstanus itaque de sfaudio Domini sui ac de im- Bunstan's 
 
 /. T . exhortations 
 
 mmente si ox setema felicitate securus, gratulabundus on tt^e feast 
 in Domino Isetabatur, et spirituali ad omnes jocunditate 
 replebatur. Jam diurni ofBcii hora instabat, et pontifex, Gospel: 
 illud celebraturus, festivus ad altare proeessit. Popu- 
 lorum turba, quasi Deitatis instinctu, ad aliquid novi 
 audiendum solito numerosior advolans, ecelesise parietes 
 vix multitudini sufficientes undique complet. Lecto 
 igitur ad Missam evangelio, procedit episcopus, populo 
 prsedicaturus, et regente cor ejus et linguam iSpiritu 
 Saneto, locutus est qualiter ante nunquam fuit locutus. 
 Reversus deinde ad altare panem et vinum in Corpus 
 et Sanguinem Jesu Christi immaculata benedictione 
 convertit. Ubi vero ad benedictionem super populum 
 ventum est, iterum populo prsedicaturus ab altari di- and before 
 
 the Iwne- 
 
 greditur, et debriatus Spiritu Dei sic de veritate Cor- diction, 
 poris Christi, sic de futura resurrectione et vita 
 perenni tractavit, ut ipsius perpetis vitse civem. loqui 
 putares si personam loquentis agnitam^ prius non 
 haberes. 
 
 Osbem, 
 p. 122. 
 
 89. De obitu tamen suo mentionem nullam fecit inter 
 loquendum, pia videlicet animi teneritudine et tenera 
 pietate praeventus, nolens eis tristitise malum duplica- 
 tum ingerere, quibus diem mortis suae judicabat in 
 simplici tristitiao malo posse sufficere. Sermone finito, 
 altare repetiit, et pontificalem benedictionem super 
 populum edidit. Interea nimium mente vulnerabatur, 
 metuens videlicet ne carissimi sui quos deserebat, im- 
 proviso mortis su8b jactilo percussi, atrocius dolerent 
 quam si antequam ad ictum venirent illud praeviderent. 
 Unde data benedictione tertio populum cunctis stupen- 
 tibus adiit. Mox autem ut os ad loquendum aperuit, 
 tanta claritate vultus ejus resplenduit, ut in toto iUo 
 conventu nemo esset qui radios oculorum irreverberata 
 acie in eum figere posset. 
 
 He does 
 not men- 
 tion his 
 approaching 
 death. 
 
 After the 
 benediction 
 his face 
 shines like 
 that of an 
 angel. 
 
 agnitam] cognitam, S. 
 
220 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 to^revMihis ^^S^ dulcedo, qusQ suavitas, quae jocunditas Osbern, 
 
 en§^^*^^"^ repleverit corda et ora cunctorum, qui praesentes quae ^' 
 dicebantur meruerunt intelligere, verbo seu scripto ex- 
 ponere scio nulli esse possibile. Sed ubi servus Dei 
 instantem sui obitus diem detegere coepit, omnis exul- 
 tatio moerore coneutitur, et tali mcBrore ut ipse pater, 
 qui jam gaudiis perennibus inserebatur, motus admi- 
 randa pietate qua praeditus erat, unus de moerentibus 
 He comforts esse videretur. Verum tamen injecta vi spiritui suo 
 
 the weeping , . . 
 
 people. laerymans lacrymantes eonsolabatur, dicens inter alia 
 eos nequaquam debere de transitu illius dolere, quem 
 non labor aut poena sed quies et gloria perpes exci- 
 peret. Dicebat etiam neminem verae earitatis radice 
 fundatum, qui magis suum temporale commodum quam 
 proximi perpetuum diligeret emolumentum.^ Ad firma- 
 mentum quoque consolationis ipsorum promisit in spe 
 gratiae misericordis Dei, quod, licet illis corpore absens 
 fieret, nunquam tamen eis praesentia spiritus sui abes- 
 set. Finitis hujuseemodi dictis, commendavit omnes 
 Christo, et demum illis adhuc gloriosum vultum ejus 
 desiderantibus ad mensam Domini vitam suam epula- 
 
 He marks turus ascendit. Ipsa die cum a mensa sumpto cibo 
 
 a place for . ^ , , • • 
 
 his burial, surrexisset, venerando suorum coetu stipatus, oratorium 
 petiit, designatoque loco in quo sepeliri volebat, sepul- 
 crum sibi praeparari praecepit. Inde jam languor sacri 
 corporis artus invadit, et sua Dunstanus invalida mem- 
 He te-kes to bra quieti tradit. Itaque sexta sequenti feria lecto 
 decumbit, et incessabili mentis devotione Deo intentus, 
 omnes adventantes ad sectanda vestigia Jesu Christi 
 incitabat. 
 
 TheSatur- 41. Sic dies iUe defluxit et laboris Dunstani ultimus, 
 beataeqtie quietis primus dies illuxit. Confluit clerus 
 et populus omnis, trepidi praestolantes eventum quem 
 de se praedixerat pastor communis. Et jam Dunstanus 
 
 1 diligeret emoiumentuni] om. S. 
 
AUCTORE EADMERO. 
 
 221 
 
 B. p. 52. 
 
 Osbesn, 
 p. 123. 
 
 gaudium Domini sui intrare avidus, horam angelica 
 sibi visitatione prsedictam, Corpore Christi saginatus 
 et Sanguine Isetus exspectabat. 
 
 Tunc subito invisibili quadam Deitatis virtute, cum He is mira- 
 lecto in quo jacebat, usque ad doi ius superiora levatus raised to the 
 est ; sed trabibus ne ultra veheretur obsistentibus, house, 
 leniter est ad terram demissus. Pavore percussi non- 
 nuUi circumsedentium in diversa dissiliunt. Sed illo 
 jam demisso, cum quasi ad quiescentem reverterentur, 
 iterum sicut prius ad trabes rapitur, eisque ofFensis ad 
 solum demittitur. Hoc et tertio factum est. Tunc 
 pius pater congregatos circa se conspiciens fili(Ds suos 
 dixit, " Fratres mei dilectissimi, oves pascuse Dei, vos 
 ipsi oculis vestris intuiti estis quo vocor, quo vadam. 
 Nostis viam qua incessi, nostis opera quibus insudavi His last 
 
 . . i • Ml • exhortation, 
 
 cium vixi. hicce consummatio illorum m supema me 
 toUit. Quapropter breviter moneo^ hortor et consulo, 
 si quo vado vultis venire, via qua incessi non pigeat 
 vos ire. Ipse benignus Deus, Qui direxit iter meum 
 ad Se, dirigat ad omnem voluntatem Suam corda and death, 
 et corpora vestra in pace." Et responso a cunctis 
 Amen, transiit, et angeKcis eum choris ducentibus mi- 
 gravit ad Christum Qui ei factus est corona et perenne 
 prasmium. 
 
 ft 
 
 « 
 
 Osbern, 
 p. 126. 
 
 42. Sepultus sane est in loco quo ipse disposuerat, loco ?®^jf ^^J^®^ 
 scilicet ubi quotidie divinum officium a fratribus cele- gP^^^^^Jl^' 
 brabatur, qui fuit ante gradus quibus ad altare Do- altar, 
 mini Christi ascendebatur. Quod ab eo grandi pietatis 
 affectu dispositum non dubitamus. Volebat enim be- 
 nignissimus pater filiis suis quos veraciter diligebat, 
 quosque in mundi turbine post se relinquebat, etiam 
 defunctus corpore jugiter interesse, quatenus quae vel- 
 lent sicut vivo fiducialiter coram eo depromere possent, 
 cujus spiritum ex promissione quam ipsis fecerat sibi 
 semper afFuturum non dubitarent. Et hoc quidem ita 
 dixerim, secundum quod ex eo tempore factum scimus. 
 
222 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 There are 
 daily evi- 
 dences of 
 his power. 
 
 He fore- 
 knew the 
 troubles 
 that were 
 coming on 
 England. 
 
 There is still 
 hope for the 
 land from 
 his influence 
 in heaven. 
 
 et usque hodie fieri a monaehis ipsius circa sacratissi- 
 mum corpus ejus conspicimus. Quotidie namque de 
 suis necessitatibus tarn corporis quam animi levamen 
 desiderantes, illuc currunt, et sicut a piissimo patre 
 inter eos corporaliter conversante suffragia petunt. Ut 
 autem justse petitiones alicujus eo fusse inefficaces 
 existant, et miracula quae post hsec de multis pauca 
 scribimus, et ipsi qui ejus beneficia experiuntur singulis 
 diebus, penitus negant. 
 
 Non ergo dubitandum hsoc ilium ante obitum suum Adelard, 
 prsescisse, et idcirco se suis spiritu affuturum promi- osbern, 
 sisse, bisque de causis corpus suum inter eos pietate p- 127. 
 plenus voluisse potissimum poni. Miseriam prseterea 
 quae post decessum ejus Angliam totam involvit et 
 involvendo pessundedit, satis est in chronieis et in 
 nostris tribulationibus me tacente videre. Unde cur 
 quid inde scribam non video, quoniam sine omni lit- 
 tera res ipsa evidens est, ut veras miserias non pos- 
 sit ibi cernere nemo. Finis illarum quis vel quando 
 sit eventurus ignoro, sed tantum procul dubio ignorare 
 non queo, quod omnia quae fecit nobis Deus in vero 
 judicio fecit, quia peccavimus Ei et mandatis Ejus non 
 obedivimus. Quapropter quid aliud dicatur aut aga- 
 tur, vis enim humana et consilium omne sublatum est, 
 non intelligo, nisi ut humiliato corde rogetur Deus 
 Qui nos contrivit, quatenus det gloriam nomini Suo, et 
 faciat nobiscum secundum multitudinem misericordiae 
 Suae, ac per merita et intercessiones beatissimi patris 
 nostri Dunstani, qui haec eventura praodixit, eruat nos 
 in mirabilibus Suis. Quod sive Tu, bone Domine et pie 
 omnipotens Deus, aliquando propter immensam miseri- 
 cordiam Tuam feceris, sive propter inscrutabilem justi- 
 tiam Tuam minime feceris, sit nomen Tuum,. Deus 
 Israel, benedictum in saecula. Amen. 
 
 Explicit vita beati Dunstani archiepiscopi Cantua- 
 riensis. 
 
AUCTORE EADMERO 
 
 223 
 
 Incipiunt qu^dam de miragulis qu^ idem pater 
 mundo exemptus fecit in mundo.^ 
 
 1. Nonrmlla^ qu8G de vita Sancti Dunstani vitseque de- we proceed 
 
 ,Q<, ji** 'i-i to describe j 
 
 cessu, aut scripto aut ab iis qui ab ejus tempore usque some of 
 
 T 1 i» n • • A Dunstan's 
 
 ad nos per successus setatis nuxere, aceepimus, in * quan- miracles, 
 turn Deus illius intervenientibus meritis coneedere dig- 
 natus est, suecincte digessimus. Nihilo igitur minus 
 succinate^ digerere placuit quae vel ad sacratissimum 
 corpus ejus vel ad beatam memoriam beati nominis 
 ejus, partim scripto, partim veracium virorum relatu, 
 partim proprio visu gesta didicimus. 
 
 Osbem, 2. Caecus quidam prope civitatem Cantuariam habita- Cure of a 
 P* bat. Hie admonitus in somno ad tumbam beati Dunstani ^ 
 
 a suis perductus est. Ubi eo in oratione pernoctante, a 
 tumulo ipso mira suavissimi odoris fragrantia prodivit. 
 Interea amissorum luminum loca pruritus vehemens 
 subit, et ad defricationem ^ iUorum coecus statim lumen 
 perditum Isetus recepit. Hoc factum in brevi circum- 
 quaque innotuit, et Dunstanum jamjam mundo revixisse 
 discurrens fama personuit. 
 Osbern, 3. Erant quoque tres pauperculae mulieres qusE) visum Cure of 
 et vitae subsidium juxta perdiderant, et pariter in unabiSI^^^ 
 mansione degebant. Hanc curam beatus Dimstanus 
 dum vixit habebat, et eas inter alios ecclesiae praeben- 
 darios vitse necessariis sustentabat. Hae igitur audito 
 miraculo de coeci illuminatione, communi consilio ductse, 
 ad ecclesiam Salvatoris properant, sperantes se a beato 
 viro lumen perditum recuperaturas, per quem^ se me- 
 
 1 The text is from the MS. C.C.C. 
 371 (P.); the various readings from 
 the Bodleian MS. Rawlinson, Misc. 
 263 (Q.). 
 
 2 Nonnulla ] Superior! libello, 
 prsef. Q. 
 
 ^ aut] quae, Q. 
 
 in] om Q. 
 ^ suecincte] om. Q. 
 ^ defricationem] fricationem, Q. 
 7 quern] om. Q. 
 
224 
 
 MIKACULA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 They are . minerant diu ab omni corporis e^estate protectas : Osbem, 
 
 healed. ^ . ° , ^ t p 133 
 
 procedunt ergo ad sepulcrum sancti, et inter orandum 
 lucem quam petebant una recipiunt, magnumque gau- 
 dium in populos exinde spargunt. 
 A rich priest 4. Prsedives quidam presbyter et inter ^ suos nobilis, Osbern, 
 
 IS persuaded , ^ , . • "D 133 
 
 to have re- paralvtico morbo percussus, totius corporis usum ami- ^' 
 
 course to i ./ i-^ ^ ± ^ 
 
 Dmistan^s^ serat. Hic ab amicis suasus ut se ad requiem patris 
 
 cured of the Dunstani transferri permitteret, renuit primo, indignum 
 videlicet sibi fore superba mente existimans, si ipse 
 nobilis ac dives, turba admixtus,^ Dunstanum pro adi- 
 piscenda sanitate^ requireret. Yerum cum ingraves- 
 cente languore seipsum ferre non posset, adquievit 
 voluntati suorum atque ad corpus sancti delatus est ; 
 ubi die postera gravi molestia defatigatus, sensit quen- Osbem, 
 dam per corpus suum quasi manum hac et iliac ducere 
 et singulas membrorum suorum juncturas consolidare. 
 Confestim sanatus exsiliens stetit, sublimi voce Dei 
 
 He is cured. Filium in famulo Suo Dunstano, et Dunstanum in Do- 
 mino suo Dei Filio benedicens ; exinde in sua gaudens 
 hilarisque reversus, post aliquot dies grande. convivium 
 fecit, volens vicinos et amicos ^ de reddita sibi sanitate 
 
 At the feast couOTatulari. At ipsis inter epulas exultantibiis, ac 
 
 held in com- ° ^ , .. . 
 
 memoration Dcum omnipotcntem, potentes non abjicientem, sed cum 
 he speaks mitibus atquc pauperibus eis quoque Suam misericor- 
 
 contemp- ^ r r x x ^ 
 
 tuously diam conferentem, in voce laudis simplici spiritu exal- 
 
 of Duns tan, ' ^ . 
 
 is stricken tantibus,^ turbatus ille an se pauperibus annumerarent 
 
 a^ainand ' ... 
 
 ^i^s. tumide quserit, et subdens, Si me," inquit, " per Dun- 
 " stanum more pauperum sanatum putatis, non est 
 " verum, propterea quod pari modo mihi sanitas pro- 
 " venisset si Dunstanus non fuisset." Necdum plene 
 dicendi finem fecerat, et ecce pristino languore acerrime 
 percussus, in voces miserandas miser erupit, et infelix 
 ultimum continuo flatum emisit. Metus igitur et vene- 
 ratio multorum erga locum famuli Dei excrevit, et ex 
 
 ^ inter'] in, Q. 
 
 2 admixtus] mixtus, Q. 
 
 3 sanitate] salute, Q. 
 
 ^ vicinos et amicos] vicinis et 
 amicis, Q. 
 
 ^ exaltantihus] exultantibus, Q. 
 
AUCTOEE EADMERO. 
 
 225 
 
 Osbem, remotis partibus multi illuc confluebant, turn gratia Cure of a 
 p. 133. recuperandse corporeas sanitatis, turn ut per ejus merita whowS*^ 
 
 ,1-1 . . i» T J 1 • • both dumb 
 
 mererentur Jiberari a suis peccatis. Inter nos juvems and a 
 
 • « cripple. 
 
 quidam, vultu formaque deeorus, suorum humeris ad- 
 vehitur, pedum quidem officio penitus carens, atque 
 a nativitate mutus existens, incurvus seapulis jam un- 
 decim amiis sursum nequibat aspicere. Hie itaque, 
 mox ubi sepulcrum viri sanctissimi ^ attigit, in pedibus 
 constitit, et erecto capite linguam in laudem Dei laxa- 
 vit, excelsa voce damans ^ " Gloria in excelsis Deo, 
 " Alleluya," sicque ex integro sanus sua Isetus revisit. 
 
 Osbern, 5. Turbse ad sepulcrum beati pontificis confluenti mis- a poor 
 pp. 133, ^^^^ quaedam paupercula mulier ferens in ulnis brings her 
 
 134. 1 ^ ^. 1 , . T p little blind 
 
 parvulam liiiam quam m lucem nujus mundi proiu- daughter to 
 
 \ , T 1 'I •! m' • the tomb. 
 
 derat csecam. lncubu.it ergo precibus pro nlise sospi- 
 tate, et plures dies in hoc quasi vane ^ consumpti sunt. 
 Implorat fratres ecclesise et eos precum suarum. ad- 
 jutores efficit. Grant sanctum in commune quatenus 
 solita benignitate subveniat afflictse foeminse. Tandem 
 decima die coepit puella videre, et in gremio matris 
 recubans dixit ei, ''Mater, mater, qusenam sunt ista On the tenth 
 " quae conspicio ? " Ait,^ " Vides, filia ? " Respondit, recovers'her 
 
 " Homo quidam forma decorus mihi astitit et ut hsec^^^^** 
 " speciosa ^ quae coram video considerarem prsecepit." 
 Res itaque per totam ecclesiam statim innotuit,^ ac 
 per magnum Dunstanum Sua opera Christum -reno- 
 vasse, in ^ illuminata cseca nata confluens multitudo 
 intonuit.^ Hujus facti puram^ veritatem quidam ad- 
 discere cupientes, poma per pavimentum jaciunt, ex- 
 periri volentes an ea more parvulorum puella insequens 
 directo gressu comprehendere posset. Ilia post rotan- 
 
 1 sanctissimiji beatissimi, Q. 
 - clama7is^ proclamans, Q. 
 3 vane'] vani, Q. 
 ^ Ait] ilia, ins. Q. 
 s speciosa] om. Q. 
 
 ^ statim innotuit] patuit, Q. 
 7 in] om. Q. 
 ^ intomnt] innotuit, Q. 
 ^ puram] om. Q. 
 directo] recto, Q. 
 
226 
 
 MIRACULA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 She runs 
 after the 
 apples. 
 
 Cure of the 
 blind wo- 
 man who 
 lost her 
 guide.; 
 
 tia poma ^ matemo gremio desilit, et arreptis iUis ad Osbern, 
 matrem alacris redit; patuit ergo quod oculi, qui prius P' 
 sine luce patebant, jam luce perfusi, qu8B coram erant 
 clare videbant. 
 
 6. Anus qusedam visum quem perdiderat in juven- Osbern, 
 tute recuperare desiderans in senectute, perducta est ad 135^^^*' 
 memoriam prseclari Dunstani. Ibi precibus dedita sed 
 nihil remedii consecuta, ad sua unde venerat regredi 
 coepit. Et ecce ascenso fluminis ponte, ductor ipsius 
 ab ea difFugiens ^ solam reliquit. Anxiata itaque spi- 
 ritu clamavit dicens, " Ah ! Dunstane, Dunstane, quam 
 vane, immo quam malo meo ad te veni. Qusesitum a 
 te lumen nequaquam obtinui, et vse miserse,^ lumen 
 quo in meo ductore fruebar, per te amisi." Dixit, 
 et e vestigio quosdam homines per pontem ligna ges- 
 tantes apertis oculis vidit; hos comitata redit qua 
 venerat, et quae secum Dei pietas per beatum virum 
 sit* operata palam^ cunctis edixit. 
 
 (C 
 
 Cure of 
 Clement the 
 possessed 
 German. 
 
 Cure of ' 
 Alf word the 
 long. 
 
 7. Teuto quidam, Clemens nomine, demens actione, ab Osbem, 
 episcopo suo pro crimine pravee voluptatis et immanis 
 arrogantise sententia excommunicationis mulctatus fae- 
 rat. In interitu ergo camis Sathanse traditus per 
 septem annos sine loco manens, seu per diversa terra- 
 rum spatia perdito sensu discurrens, corpore toto tre- 
 mebat. Hie tandem ad sepulcrum patris Dunstani 
 pertractus, in nocte purificationis beatae Mariae ad 
 inceptionem responsorii videte miraculum " subito ex- 
 siliit, daemonem quo tenebatur multo cum cruore evo- 
 muit, ac sic sanissimus effectus ab omni laesione tanti 
 flagelli dum vixit immunis permansit. 
 
 Alfwordus^ nomine vir erat cognomine Longus, per 
 triginta annorum spatia contractis membris per terram 
 
 1 poma] mala, Q. 
 
 2 diffugiens] defugiens, Q. 
 
 3 miser ce] mihi, ins. Q. 
 
 * beatum virum sit] Dtmstanum 
 est, Q. 
 
 ® palam] om. Q. 
 
 6 Alfwordus] Alwardus, Q. 
 
AUCTORE EADMERO. 
 
 227 
 
 Osbern, 
 p. 135. 
 
 reptans. Hie a piissimo patre Dunstano mirabiliter 
 curatus, omnium ora in Dei laudem et ex insolita sui 
 proeeritate vultus et voces quorumque vertit in admi- 
 rationem. 
 
 Osbern, 
 pp. 135, 
 136. 
 
 Osbern, 
 p. 137. 
 
 8. TJnus alter homo earens unius pedis officio, loro a bme ^n 
 astrictum limeum sibi crus et pedem creaverat. HuicgotoDun- 
 
 T\ • • i • •! T Stan's tomb. 
 
 Dei amicus Dunstanus, per visum apparens, suasit ad 
 locum suse quietis accedere, pollicens eum illic sani- 
 tatem recuperare.^ Ille visioni credens locum petiit, 
 pro pollicita sibi sanitate precibus institit, sicque per 
 plures dies orans, sed nihil remedii sentiens, tsedio 
 simul et desperatione affectus loco discessit,^ ad locum Returning 
 
 T , . • 1 • 1 T T • unhealed 
 
 de quo venerat reverti desiderans. Jam medium vise he meets 
 peregerat, et ecce beatus Dunstanus homini occurrens 
 inquirit unde venerit vel quo vadat. Refert ille se ad 
 tumbam Dunstani causa recuperandse sanitatis perrex- 
 isse, sed quia exaudiri non meruit spe frustrata do- 
 mum redire. Ait, "Ego sum Dunstanus, qui tibi per 
 
 visum dixi quod in basilica Salvatoris, ubi quiesco, whoteiis 
 
 ^ . , . him that he 
 
 neres sanus. Verum te ibi in oratione prostrato has been 
 
 T busy, and 
 
 adesse nequivi, necessariis quibusdam filiorum meo- bids him 
 
 . . .. . . return on a 
 
 rum inibi mihi obsequentium negotiis alibi detentus. certain day. 
 Siquidem -^Ifricus,^ qui Bata cognominatur, eccle- 
 " siam Christi voluit exhseredare. Sed me obsistente* 
 malam voluntatem suam non potuit ad effectum per- 
 ducere. Nunc igitur redi, et ilia die et hora ex- 
 perieris prsesentiam meam recepta sospitate quam He obeys 
 promisi." Regreditur iRe, praedictoque sibi tempore healed, 
 sanus efFectus magnum gaudium intulit clero et civibus. 
 
 9. Dies qui est nono kalendas Septembres festus habe- Festivity 
 
 ^ , , . on S. Ouen s 
 
 batur Cantuarise in honorem beati Audoeni coniessoris day. 
 Christi, necnon aliorum sanctorum quorum reliquiae 
 requiescunt in ipsa ecclesia Ejusdem Domini Ghristi. 
 Ad hanc itaque festivitatem inter alios qusedam mente 
 
 « 
 
 1 recuperare] recaperaturum, Q. 
 
 2 discessit] decessit, Q. 
 
 ^ JSlfricusI Elfaricus, Q. 
 ^ obsistente'] obstante, Q. 
 
 P 2 
 
228 
 
 MIEACULA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 A maiden et corpore virpfo, quam maternus uterus csecam ediderat Osbem, 
 
 bhndfrom ^ o ' t. t i P 137 
 
 her birth huic luundo, orandi gratia venit. Msec ad nocturnas ^' 
 
 receives ' *® 
 
 her sight, vigilias tumbse gloriosi Dunstani prsesens, dum respon- 
 sorium " Sint lumbi vestri prsecincti in choro cantare- 
 tur, defricare sibi oculorum sedes gravi pruritu titil- 
 lantes acrius coepit, et defluente undatim sanguine, 
 statim ex insperato visum ggratiosa recepit; hinc popu- 
 lorum concursus in fletum prse gaudio, monachorum 
 chorus concitatur ad Deum glorificandum in voce laudis 
 ac jubilo. 
 
 On the eve 10. Gloriosa ffloriosorum Petri et Pauli dies passionis Osbem, 
 
 of S.Peter . ^ i n d 138 
 
 and s. Paul, instabat, et mulier una filiam suam jam pene adultam ^' 
 ad ecclesiam Jesu Christi Cantuarise secum adduxerat. 
 Ipsa namque puella, contractis et deflexis a cervice in 
 gibbum humeris, digitis quoque in volam reflexis, ita 
 ut ungues crescendo transita cute et carne nervis 
 ^.^j^grmed hserereut, sibi^ vix tolerabilis, prsestabat se pie intu- 
 heaied. entibus magnam materiam compassionis et affectuosse 
 pietatis. Hanc mater sepulcro boni Dunstani applicuit, 
 et utraeque procidentes unanimiter sibi sanctum mise- 
 reri postulavere; dictis vesperis in vigilia ipsius fes- 
 tivitatis, precibus ^ incubuerunt et ante solis occubitum 
 sanitatem juvenculse anus et ipsa perfecte obtinuerunt. 
 Quid laudum, quid gratiarum, quid votorum Domino 
 Christo Ejusque Dunstano hinc a confluenti multitu- 
 dine persolutum sit, quis describet ? 
 Anobieiady 11. Item matrona^ qusedam nobilis oratum veniens ad Osbem, 
 fe^he^tomb ^^^^^^^^ ssBpc uomiuati ^ pontificis parvulum, quem ^* 
 It is healed, stupcutibus ucrvis claudum genuerat, coram se fecit 
 deferri. Ilia igitur circa sepulcrum sancti prostrata 
 orationi, parvulus, longiuscule in pavimento ecclesise 
 situs, pomo quod ludens inter manus versabat inten- 
 debat. Et ecce subito de manibus infantis pomum 
 dilabitur, et usque ad tumulum viri Dei rotando per- 
 
 * sibi"] sibique, Q. 
 
 * precibus] om. Q. 
 
 3 matrona] onj. Q. 
 nominati] memorati, Q. 
 
AUCTORE EADMERO. 
 
 229 
 
 vehitur ; quod puer aspiciens et pomum perdere nolens, The chM 
 sese in pedes, ac si prius in nullo Isesus fuisset, con- an apple, 
 tinuo^ misit, directo gressu pomum insequens appre- 
 hendit; itaque matrem laetabundus et incolumis adit, 
 amplectitur et alludit. In quas ergo lacrymarum in- 
 undationes matrona prse nimio gaudio cordis erupit, 
 quasve voces concurrens ^ ad rem tam mirabilem turba 
 in gratiarum actiones emiserit, pietas facti intelligere 
 quenquam docebit. 
 
 Osbern, 
 p. 140. 
 
 12. Huic facto pie in puerulo ^ facto aliud pietatis opus Before 
 
 C Mt*istiui3iS 
 
 ipsius piissimi patris in pueris ecclesise factum annectere it was usual 
 
 for tho boys 
 
 placuit. Instabat festa dies Nativitatis Christi. Moris in the 
 
 . . « . . . . T monastery 
 
 autem antiquitus fuerat m monasterio ipso, quinto die ^^^^^^^^ 
 ante festum, pueros qui in scholis sub disciplina coerce- 
 bantur gravibus et immoderatis verberibus cruciari, qui 
 cruciatus miseris non pro commissis sed pro usu infere- 
 batur,^ et ea re nullo modo evadere poterant, nisi ssevi- 
 tiam magistrorum deliniret irrefragabilis intercessio 
 advocatorum. Igitur vice quadam in tantam iracundiam 
 maffistri contra pueros uno assensu exarserunt, ut omnis The masters 
 advocatorum supplicatio, omnis omnium fusa pro eis cUned to be 
 
 > J. very severe. 
 
 intercessio, nihil ad sedandum conceptum furorem pro- 
 
 ficere potuit. Quid miseri agerent, quo se verterent 
 
 ignorabant. Unicum refugium supererat, pietatem pii The i:M^ys 
 
 Dunstani interpellare. Jam prsevia nefandss crudelita- ?>uiistan, 
 
 tis nox inhorruerat, cum ecce ! plus pater uni puero- 
 
 rum in somno ^ assistens blanda affabilitate, cur ipse et 
 
 socii ejus tanto moerore afSigerentur interrogat. Ipse 
 
 quis esset qui secum loquebatur ignorans, perfusus laciy- ^^^^^^^^ 
 
 mis, quomodo magistrorum furor in se sine uUo respectu them. 
 
 misericordise conspiraverit enarrat. At ille " Ne time- 
 
 " atis " ait, ego enim sum Dunstanus pater vester. 
 
 1 continuo'] om. Q. 
 
 2 concurrens'] accurrens, Q. 
 ^ puerulol parvulo, Q. 
 
 * inferebatur'] inferebantur, Q. 
 5 somno'] somnis, Q. 
 
230 
 
 MIRACULA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 He promises " quem vobis auxiliari postulastis : consideravi magis- Osbern, 
 " trorum vestrorum indiscretam et impiam iram, et P* 
 " intuitus sum grandem necessitatem vestram : ne for- 
 " midetis, quia adero ^ vobis et nihil mali habebitis. 
 " Hodiema itaque ^ liberatio vestra sit tibi pro signo, ut 
 " ex mea parte dieas custodibus ecclesiae quatenus aufe- 
 
 Heis "rant foetidum cadaver ^ filii Harpldi, quod quorundam 
 
 oireiicieci at ^ ^ ^ 
 
 of thechSd " ^^^^8, mihi adulatio juxta me sepelivit, et hoc quidem 
 of Harold. « eo molestius fero quod animam ipsius pueri, quoniam 
 " renata non fait, damnatam esse non nescio ; si ergo 
 " ablatum in proximo non fuerit, noverint quia post non 
 " multum temporis grave dispendium pro hoc ecclesia 
 " tota subibit." Ad hsBC puer evigilans et quid audierit ^ 
 mente pertractans, inter spem et formidinem medius 
 fluctuabat. Jam aurora, id est hora tremenda, adve- 
 when^the ncrat, cum magistri flagris taureis et nodatis corrigiis 
 whippmg armati locis sibi opportunis pueros illo transituros 
 
 came the ^ 
 
 masters prsestolabautur ; sed malivolos illos subito eravissimus 
 
 were asleep. ^ . . . . ^ 
 
 sopor simul involvit, et qui pueros per medium illorum 
 transeuntes ^ retineret vel in aliquo Isederet nuUus fait. 
 Hinc magistros non ssevitia qua fervebant contra inno- 
 centes, sed ipsorum innocentium cantus et congratulatio 
 a somno excitavit^; et alta dies. Confusus ergo quod 
 effectum ssevitise suae, a qua nullius prece discedere ' 
 passi sunt, dormiendo perdiderant, sero doluerunt. Puer 
 igitur, cui pius pater apparuerat, re ipsa sciens Dun- 
 The boy stanum esse quem viderat, custodibus ecclesise de aspor- 
 
 carriestne ^ 
 
 message to tando foetenti cadavere innotuit quae audierat. At illi 
 
 the keepers ^ 
 
 chSch who pa^vip^^^d^^^^^ dicta adolescentis, monita et minas beati 
 disregard it. pontificis seque spreverunt ; unde post haec a quibusdam 
 religiosis ipsius ecclesise monachis ipse pater nonnun- 
 quam loco decedere visus est. A quibus cum detinere- 
 
 ^ quia adero'] om. Q. 
 
 2 itaque] om. Q. 
 
 3 cadaver] om. Q. 
 
 ^ quid audierit] quod audierat, Q. 
 
 ^ illorum transeuntes] transituros, 
 
 Q. 
 
 ^ excitavit] excitabat, Q. 
 7 discedere] decedere, Q. 
 
AUCTORE EADMERO. 
 
 231 
 
 ^^ilT* quamobrem discederet ^ interrogaretur, se foetorem Dunstan 
 
 paganse carnis et quorxindam nequam hommum iniqui- fSus^^*^ 
 tates illo in loco diutius tolerare non posse responde- tion of the 
 bat ; " sed hsec/' inquit, si citius emendata non fuerint, 
 prsedico contestans quod tota civitas et ecelesia meritas 
 " exinde^ pcenas in proximo solvet." Quae verba rei 
 Osbem, Veritas subsecuta declaravit esse vera. Nam non multis 
 p. 142. p^g^ diebus elapsis, civitas et tota ecelesia cum 
 
 officinis servorum Dei igne consumpta est. In qua The church 
 
 / n ±' • • T J • J • is burned, 
 
 tamen connagratione magna misericordia et mtercessione and only the 
 pii Dunstani actum est, ut duse domus, sine quibus dormitory, 
 
 P i i J -n 1 • T / and cloisters 
 
 Iratres esse non poterant, illsesse ab mcendio remanerent ; remain, 
 refectorium, videlicet,^ et dormitorium cum claustris quae 
 appendebant. Dehinc sedificata est domus non adeo 
 grandis super locum quietis beati viri, et in ea circa 
 sacrum corpus ejus missse cum reliquo servitio Dei 
 quotidie fiebant. Ipse vero pater suae pietatis non 
 immemor, eis qui sua ope subventum iri postula- 
 bant clemens aderat, et quam petebant opem largiter 
 tribuebat. 
 
 13. Nam quidam sibi ipsi^ a renibus et deorsum pene a cripple is 
 inutilis duobus baculis pro pedibus utebatur.^ Hie ad ® Good 
 
 Friday 
 
 tumbam viri Dei sexta feria ante diem Paschae per- 
 veniens, humi prostratus sanctum sibi misereri intenta 
 mente lacrymosa voce poposcit. Quid moror? subse- 
 quenti nocte Dominicse resurrectionis, dum sub specie 
 trium mulierum in sepulcro qusereretur corpus Domini 
 Salvatoris, idem claudus personantibus nervis suis 
 extendit se, et erectus in pedibus constitit sanus et 
 rectus. Metus ac veneratio invasit nos hoc videntes/ ac 
 ut dignum fuit pro tali facto dignas Deo persolvimus ^ 
 laudes. 
 
 1 disced^efl decederet, Q. 
 
 2 exinde] inde, Q. 
 
 3 videlicet] om. Q. 
 
 4 ipsi] ipse, Q. 
 
 ^ utehatur] uteretur, Q. 
 
 6 ad] om. Q. 
 
 " Metus . . videntes] om. Q. 
 ^ persolvimus] persolvit, Q., as a 
 correction for persolvimus. 
 
232 
 
 MIRACULA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Lanfranc 14. Inter huiusmodi veneranda venerandi pontificis Osbem, 
 
 becomes *f ■ 149 
 
 Ind aSives ^^^^^> Lanfrancus Cadomensis ccEnobii abbas, vir prse- P* 
 bu^Sn the ^^^^^^ sapientia pollens, Cantuariensem pontificatum 
 August- regendum suscepit. Qui more electi antistitis Cantua- 
 riam xviii^o kalendas Septembres veniens, susceptus est 
 a clero et popxilo sicut patrem tantse sedis et virum 
 ingentis famse suscipi sequum erat.^ Hie adepta ponti- 
 fieali benedietione, quam quarto kalendas Septembres 
 He is con- Cantuariae suscepit, eeclesiam Salvatoris, quam cum 
 
 secraDecL on 
 
 Au^stioTo P^^fa^^i^ incendium tum vetustas inutilem fecerat, fun- 
 ditus destruere et ^ augustiorem construere cupiens„ 
 jussit corpora sanctorum, quae in orientali parte ipsius 
 ecclesiae humata erant, in occidentalem partem, ubi 
 memoria beatae Dei genitricis et perpetuae Virginis ^ 
 Mariae Celebris habebatur, demutari. Quamobrem cele- 
 
 Heprepares brato triduano ieiunio, sub innumera hominum multi- 
 
 to translate ^ u o ^ ... 
 
 the saints tudine levata sunt corpora pretiosissimorum pontincum 
 
 and begin a . . 
 
 new church. Christi Dunstani atque -^Ifegi ; jam transferebantur ad 
 destinatum locum sepulturae, et omnium ora personabant 
 in Domini laude.^ 
 On the day Intcrea duo milites archiepiscopi, rupta constipatione Osbem, 
 tion two consertae multitudinis, coram feretro beati. Dunstani, 
 
 knights who . . , 
 
 had^kiUe^a tcrrae procumbunt, misericordiam et mdulgentiam per 
 s^ Angus* iii^^ita €jus sibi ab abbate Sancti Augustini, Scotlando ^ 
 hold on the ^^minc, dc morte nepotis ejus, quem nuper occiderant, 
 ask ft)r par ^^^^ postulautcs. Dcucgat abbas, denegant ^ quoque 
 theabbo? fratres dcfuncti qui astabant; jungunt alii preces suas 
 refuses, precibus militum, sed in vanum. Neque enim iUos aut 
 reverentia sancti aut supplicans multitudo ad miseren- 
 dum flectere potuit. At pius Dunstanus non sic ^ auditu 
 difficilis, surdam ab infantia® mulierem ipsa hora se 
 requirentem^ exaudivit, et ei coram omnibus auditiun 
 
 ^ eraf] est, Q. ^ denegant'] denegabant, Q. 
 
 2 et] in, ins. Q. 7 Dunstanus non sic] non adeo, Q. 
 
 ^ et . , Virginis] om. Q. ^ infantia] puellam, ins. Q. 
 
 * laude] laudem, Q. ' requirentem] quserentem, Q. 
 
 * Scotlando] ScoUando, Q. 
 
AUCTORE EADMERO. 
 
 Osbem, integerrimum reddidit. Itaque sacratissima corpora de- The abbot 
 centissime tumulata sunt, et dies totus festivus, aC alarming 
 excepta obstinatione abbatis, gaudio plenus effulsit. following 
 Sed gaudium quod ipsa dies diminutum habuit, crastina "^^^** 
 duplieatum obtinuit, siquidem abbas idem, in sua perti- 
 nacia rigidus, nocte sequenti cum suis nepotibus coram 
 se quendam reverendi habitus sacerdotem irato vultu 
 stare conspexit, et quibusdam teterrimis hominibus, in 
 medio camerse in qua jacebant,^ mirse magnitudinis 
 cacabum supposito igne succendentibus, praecipere audi- 
 vit, quatenus illos simul ligatos in candentem cacabum 
 sine miseratione comburendos prsecipitarent ; percunc- 
 tantibus quare tam crudeli poense subjici deberent, re- 
 spondetur, propterea quod vos, furoris igne succensi, 
 " mortem vestri germani noluistis perdonare^ propter 
 amorem et reverentiam domini Dunstani." His dictis 
 rapiuntur ad ignem. At illi nimia anxietate constricti 
 miserandas voces emittunt, et se quam citius possent 
 ad requiem sancti venturos eumque super illata injuria 
 digna satisfactione honoraturos devovent; solummodo 
 eos ab imminenti miseria sua gratia ^ liberet. Ad hsec 
 tetri ministri nutu sacerdotis exterriti * cum suis ignibus 
 disparuerunt. Nec dum splendor solis abegerat tenebras Early in the 
 
 .. 1 1 i • i • 1 J • naorninKhe 
 
 noctis, cum ecce abbas stipatus suis sepulcro patris comes to the 
 
 . , T 1 • 'J i -1 • monastery 
 
 assistens, monacnos ecclesiae citato accurrere si bique and pardons 
 succurrere flebilis orat. Accurrunt illi, et audita serie 
 rei dignis laudibus extoUunt Deum in meritis gloriosi 
 famuli Sui. Indulgetur ergo reis militibus mors defuncti, 
 et redeunt in sua Isetantes, prius tamen homines pii 
 patris Dunstani effecti. 
 
 15. Alio tempore idem abbas in vigilia festivitatis eius- ^^same 
 
 ^ abbot has a 
 
 dem nobilissimi patris forte m vindario suo vespertina vision in his 
 
 J- , , garden. 
 
 hora sedebat. Dum itaque cum considentibus confabu- 
 laretur, in ecclesia Domini Salvatoris, in qua quiescit 
 
 1 jacebani] jacebat, Q. 
 
 2 perdonare'] remittere, Q. 
 
 3 sua gratia] om. Q. 
 * exterriti] deterriti, Q. 
 
234 
 
 MIRACULA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 venerabile corpus ipsius beati sacerdotis, ad nocturnas 
 gi^to Ms ^g^li^® omnes campanse pro usu loci simul pulsari coe- 
 theeve'of P^^^' ^^^^ abbas, erectis ad^ coelum oculis, vidit ingen- 
 his festival, tem splendoreiB inde super ecclesiam ipsam descendere, 
 eamque de superioribus penetrare ; quo viso et ^uis qui 
 hoc videre merebantur secum ostenso, pio afFectu sus- 
 pirans ait, "Vere pius pater Dunstanus jam ad suam 
 " festivitatem vadit, interesse volens obsequio quod sui 
 " filii hac in ^ Hocte Deo et sibi exhibituri sunt." Quod 
 ita sicut dixerat actum est ; experti sunt fratres qui 
 ipsi festo meruerunt interesse. Nam ex dulci sanctoque 
 affectu quo in Deum et famulum Ejus jocundati sunt, 
 sanctam prsesentiam ejus sibi adesse persenserunt. 
 Igeiward Q^^^ ^^^^ circa juvenem quendam, iEgelwordum ^ Osbem, 
 
 nomine, in ipso monasterio gestum sit,* istis annectere 145^^^' 
 cordi fait. Juvenis idem ejusdem monasterii monachus 
 erat,^ et una dierum vocatus ad missam Lanfranci ar- 
 chiepiscopi evangelium legerat. Hie cum dicta oratione 
 Hes^s evil Dominica patenam pontifici ex more offerret, vidit coram 
 whiMjie^is jge quosdam teterrimos et horridos malignorum spiri- 
 ^^-ss. tuum vultus ; ad quorum aspectum nimio pavore per- 
 territus, antistitem inter manus sacra tenentem utris- 
 que brachiis strictim amplectitur, horrido clamore vo- 
 ciferans ac dicens, "Christus vincit, Christus regnat, 
 " Christus imperat.'' Conterriti sunt omnes qui ad- 
 erant, et arreptum juvenem milites de ecclesia in 
 He is pontificis cameram rapiunt ; post quae fratribus in 
 
 possessed, ^ . 
 
 but, after capitulo adunatis Lanfrancus pater inereditur, et luve- 
 
 havingbeen ^ n ' o 
 
 prayed for, nis lam daemouc plenus a plurimis fortissimis viris 
 
 seems to , . . ^ 
 
 recover constrictus ducitur m\medium ; prout petebat negotii 
 tenor, sermo de illo conseritur, et fit oratio communis 
 pro eo. Mox sano sensui, ut dabatur intelligi, redditus, 
 ac demum pro agendis gratiis sepulcro patris Dunstani 
 ab archiepiscopo et conventu praesentatus, tota die ilia 
 
 1 ad"] in, Q. 
 
 2 in] om. Q. 
 
 3 ^gelwordum'] Agelwordum, Q. 
 
 ^ *tV] om. Q. 
 ^ erat'] fuit, Q. 
 
AUCTORE EADMERO. 
 
 285 
 
 Osbern, inter fratres mansit quasi nihil vesanise passus. Lse- in the even- 
 ^* tantur fratres in hoe, et Isetitia ftituri moeroris prse- a^iai)se^ 
 
 nuncia modum exeessit. Jam dies in vesperam de- the prior, 
 
 1 . . -I . • 1 takes 
 
 clinaverat et horam completorii monachi m choro iiim into 
 
 ^ the dormi- 
 
 psallebant. Tunc ille subito, suae stationis loco relicto, j^y^^^^ 
 ad priorem ecclesiae, Henricum nomine, cucurrit, et 
 impetu facto manus illi injicere voluit. At ipse, por- 
 rectis contra brachiis, patientis manus arripuit, stiinxit, 
 ac in dormitorium ducto, noctem illam ante lectum 
 ejus residens insomnem super eum soUicitus duxit. 
 Tunc subito circa mediae noctis silentia rupit silentium 
 fratrum ac in immoderatos clamores irrumpens confusis 
 vocibus omnia inquietabat. Turbati fratres, nec tam in the night 
 grave malum diu fere valentes, lectis exsiliunt, furio- great dis- 
 sum arripiunt et ad tumbam confessoris Christi Dun- ragmg and 
 
 . T T . . , blasphem- 
 
 stani omni modo reluctantem coactis viribus pertrahunt. ing at Dim- 
 
 . Stan's tomb. 
 
 Furit ibi sicut primo, et in Christum ac in famulum 
 Equs horrendas blasphemias jactitat, nec ab eis destitit 
 donee sequens dies illuxit. Nil ergo remedii consecutus,^ 
 mane fertur in domum infirmorum, ubi per multos dies 
 loris astrictus et funibus miserabili cruciatu torqueba- 
 tur ; inter quae contingebat quoddam mirabili modo ; P^^^g^f^fir-*^ 
 ut cum quidam ad eum accederent, ilico, si quid ;^avis ^ary. 
 peccati de quo necdum confessi erant in cordis secreto 
 habebant, detegeret, et illos sibi in poenis perpetuis He has great 
 socios fore futuros gaudens et hilaris pronunciaret. Ex against 
 
 . , TT J T • • 1 those who 
 
 hoc dum nonnulii gravem contumeiiam mcumssent, have neg- 
 
 T 9 , . ., T , T lectedcon- 
 
 ipsi apud"^ semetipsos graviter erubescentes remedium fession. 
 sibi purse confessionis adhibuere. Confessi ergo et 
 poenitentia cum absolutione peccatorum a praesidente 
 suscepta, iterum se praesentaverunt daemonioso, quos 
 ille ex ^ transverso intuens, nec eos sicut primo cog- They con- 
 
 , „ , _ fess and he 
 
 noverat recomoscens, qui fuerint, unde venerint, quo scarcely 
 
 o . . , , recognises 
 
 lavacro loti tam subitam purgationem meruerint, quidve ttem. 
 
 1 consecutus'] est, ins. Q. 
 
 2 apud'\ om. P. 
 
 3 ex"] de, Q. 
 
236 
 
 MIRACULA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 It is true rei contigerit quod suam societatem taiji cito alterati Osbern, 
 were^pri^ amiserint, fiiribundus, spumans et ejulans mirabatur. 149^^^^' 
 amon^ the Et hsec quidem, ut reipsa clarum fait, Christus provida 
 the time. Su8e miserationis dispensatione faciebat, propter^ mona- 
 chos ipsius ecclesise, in istis videlicet eos ad correctio- 
 rem vitam erudiens. Quos a tempore Danorum qui 
 beatum ^Ifegum occiderunt, cessante disciplina, in sse- 
 culari videbat conversatione ultra quam debebant ja- 
 cere. Inter haec proficiente novo opere coeptse ecclesise, 
 res exegit residuum vetusti operis, ubi memorata 
 sanctorum corpora erant locata, subverti ; pa'tato igitur 
 refectorio fratrum ad divinum officium inibi celebran- 
 Thereiics dum, omncs cum festiva processione illuc a veteri 
 
 of the saints , . ^ 
 
 are removed, ecclesia perreximus, prseferentes cum honore et re- 
 verentia gloriosos ac dulcissimos patres nostros Dun- 
 stanum atque JElfegum. Et ecce daemoniosus ille, 
 toto corpore fortissimis funibus^ lecto strictim colli- 
 gatus, a multis delatus est, et e regione ostii per quod 
 
 The de- §ancti inferri debebant, cum ^ lecto depositus : quos 
 
 moniac is . , . . ^ . . 
 
 carried, tied ipse * cmiuus iutueus horrido clamore infremuit, et 
 
 to his bed, ^ 
 
 and starts Quod dictu fortassis alicui incredibile videbitur, cum 
 
 up, carrying ^ . . . 
 
 thesighrof ^^^^^ cxsilieus erexit se, fugere volens prsesentiam sanc- 
 the relics, torum quos horrebat. Sed illatis Sanctis intra domum 
 allatus est et ipse ac positus in medio eorum. Erat 
 itaque infelicem miseriam videre; jacebat captivus in 
 lecto supinus, undique constrictus nec in se sui juris 
 quicquam habens. Cemebatur daemon qui eum posside- 
 bat in ventre ejus hac et iliac discurrendo vagari, ut 
 putares ilium modo per os, modo per inferiores corporis 
 partes fugam parare. Quibusdam vero qui circumsta- 
 ^t^oves ^^^^ manus ad discursum inimici protendentibus, et 
 a^^tin quod in modum parvuli cati discurreret Francigena 
 lingua dicentibus, ille contra qui linguae ipsius omni- 
 modis inscius erat, subridens, eadem lingua similiter 
 
 ^ propter"] om. Q. 
 
 2 fortissimis funihus'] om. Q. 
 
 ^ cum] om. Q. 
 * ipse] om. Q. 
 
AUCTORE EADMERO. 
 
 237 
 
 Osbem, verbo diminutivo consonanter respondebat dicens, " Non ^^^^^^^^^^ 
 pp.149, <( catulus, sed ut catellus." Interim hora refectionis guardofa 
 
 . . single monk, 
 
 advenit; manducante ergo conventu, remansit tmus 
 ex senioribus iElfwinus nomine cum patiente domum 
 observans. Hie ab infantia sua beato Dunstano dulci 
 quadam et officiosa dilectione semper solebat adhserere, 
 ac pro posse suo in ejus obsequio assiduus existere. 
 Qui miseratus jacentis infelicitatem, et non parum 
 eonfisus de beati Dunstani pietate, constantior/ crucem 
 quam ipse pater in corpore degens coram se more 
 summi pontificis ferri faciebat, accepit, eamque super JlJ^g^^j^,^ 
 dsemoniacum posuit devota mente, lacrymosa voce stajfonhim, 
 
 ^ and he is 
 
 damans et dicens ; " Care domine, Sancte Dunstane, f^^*}^^^*^ 
 " miserere." Mirabile dictu, ilico fugato daomone, seger 
 elevatis pie sursum oculis et perfusus lacrymis ait, 
 " Gratias tibi ago, piissime pater, gratias et tibi caris- 
 " sime frater, quia tuis meritis, sancte domine, et tua 
 " frater caritativa intercessione, hostis qui me vexabat 
 " discessit^ perterritus, diutius manere non potuit." 
 Quod monachus audiens gaudio gavisus est magno, et 
 persolutis debitis gratiis pio Dimstano, vincula quibus 
 erat irretitus absolvit. Cum itaque fratres post refec- 
 tionem illo^ intrassent, et quem furiosum reliquerant 
 leni sopore quiescentem repperissent, obstupefacti, im- 
 mensas Deo et Ejus Dunstano gratias intimo corde He had no 
 persolverunt. Mansit ergo post hsec inter fratres per 
 multos annos ab ilia infirmitate sanus et incolumis; 
 expletoque cursu vit^e prsesentis sancto fine quievit. 
 
 Quantum autem percussio istius valuerit ad correc- Good effects 
 tionem eorum qui in ipso monasterio monachi erant, ?Luiou™^" 
 facile est videre omnibus qui unde ad quid ordo 
 monasticus ab eo tempore illic profecerit sciunt. Sciunt 
 quippe quia qui prius in omni gloria mundi, auro 
 videlicet, argento, variis vestibus ac decoris cum 
 
 ^ constaniior] constanter, Q. 
 2 disceasit] decessit, Q. 
 
 2 illo] om. Q. 
 
238 
 
 MIRACULA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 hadi^e?fn P^^tiosis lectistemiis, ut di versa musici generis instru- 
 spieSour quibus ssepe oblectabantur, et equos, canes et 
 
 aecipitres, cum quibus nonnunquam spatiatum ibant, 
 taceam, more comitum potius quam monacborum vitam 
 agebant. Hoc flagello, misericordia Christi cooperante 
 et sagacitate boni patris Lanfranci archiepiscopi, ad id 
 provecti sunt, ut omnibus illis abrenunciarent, et in 
 veram monachorum religionem transeuntes cuncta qua- 
 A great si stcrcora reputarent: et nos quidem, qui qualiter ea 
 
 reformation ^ ' ^ ' t. m 
 
 follows. tempestate res agebantur^ novimus indubitanter, fa- 
 temur quia nequaquam processisset tam subita et 
 salubris rerum mutatio, si prso oculis non fuisset 
 ostensa ilia crudelis et quae cunctos terruerit^ sseva 
 examinatio. 
 
 Bishop odo 17. Circa hsec ferme tempora comes Cantise, qui et epi- Osbem, 
 
 prepares to . * r\i • - -i n • dd 143 
 
 attack the scopus Bajoccusis, Odo uommo, promisit fratri suo regi ' 
 Canterbury WiUclmo copiosam pecuniam, eo pacto ut sibi liceret 
 
 m a great ^ ^ , ^ 
 
 court of the movero quasdam calumnias super terras et consuetu- 
 
 shires 
 
 dines ecclesise Cantuariensis, et inde adversus Lanfran- 
 cum archiepiscopum ^ pro more ac legibus terrse pla- 
 cita inire. Cui cum rex acquievisset, ille de cunctis 
 comitatibus totius Angliae prudentiores et juxta usus 
 ac leges regni doctiores viros Cantuariam statuto die 
 fecit venire, praecipiens eis ut, nihil bsesitantes, se tu- 
 tore, armarentur ad impugnandum libertatem nominatse 
 ecclesise. Jam nox prsevia statuti placiti instabat, et 
 Lanjfrancus quid' regno super se ruenti responderet sol- 
 Lanfranc licitus cogitabat. Scicns itaque ad tantum nesfotium 
 
 seeks aidand , , , . " 
 
 co^se^from omuiuo ncccssarium fore divinum prsesidium, ad hoc 
 obtinendum beatum Dunstanum sibi ascivit advoca- 
 tum. Fusis igitur precibus apud ^ sanctissimum corpus 
 ejus disposuit sua membra quieti. Adest ergo ei in 
 visu quem interpellaverat pater Dunstanus, angelico 
 
 1 
 
 agebantur'] agebatur, Q. 
 2 terruerit'] exterruerit, Q. 
 
 3 
 
 archiepiscopum] om. Q, 
 * apud] ad, Q. 
 
AUCTORE EADMERO. 
 
 239 
 
 Osbern, vultu conspicuus, stola sui patriarchatus insignitus, di- Dunstan 
 
 p. 144. it T J* J 1 J • 'J I 'J appears and 
 
 cens illi, Lanirance, ne tur betur spiritus tuus m te groinises 
 propter multitudinem Eanc quae coacta est contra vfcto^.*^ 
 ' me et te. Quin securus placitum ingredere, et, me 
 ' tibi per singula afFuturo, meas et ecclesiae Domini ^ 
 ' nostri causas age ; quod si eos qui obstiterint non 
 ' deviceris, me qui tecum loquor, Dunstanum, nec vi- 
 ' vere, nec meorum negotia curare, nec vera tibi dixisse 
 ' certissime noveris." Expergefactus a somno Lan- 
 francus confortatus est animo, et Deo ac beato Dun- 
 stano pro sua visitatione gratias agens, promissam vic- 
 toriam bono potiri efFectu ^ iteratis precibus obsecrabat. 
 Adunata Anglia aulam et curiam pontificis implet, et 
 querelse hinc inde consertae undique volant. Procedit ^^J^P^ 
 in medium pater Lanfrancus, et superno vallatus aux- cause, 
 ilio, omnia quae objiciebantur, stupentibus cunctis, anni- 
 hilavit. Sicque juxta sponsionem veridici vatis nobili 
 victoria functus est, quae juris ecclesiae erant incon- 
 vulsa servavit, quae sub dubietate aliqua^ fluctuabant 
 irrefragabili veritatis ratione et antiquorum exemplo- 
 rum auctoritate imposterum confirmavit. 
 Osbern, 18. Post haec idem antistes, gravissima corporis infirmi- lUnessof 
 tate perculsus, desperatus est. Mittens itaque^ praecepit AMington? 
 majores fratrum personas^ ad se venire, nolens in ab- 
 sentia eorum quos patemo affectu diligebat, et in qui- 
 bus magnam suae liberationis fiduciam posuerat, vitam 
 finire. Decumbebat autem in villa sua quae Ealdin- 
 tune ® appellatur, et nihil de eo nisi ultimam horam 
 confluens multitudo praestolabatur. Verum cum a suis, 
 videlicet monachis, clericis et aliis hominibus, hoi 'a qua His vision 
 decederet noctu observaretur, leni sopore circa ortum horsem^ru*^ 
 aurorae fessus opprimitur. Intuetur itaque et ecce viri 
 candidissimo amictu fulgentes coram se bird et bini in 
 
 5 personas^ om. Q. 
 
 6 Ealdintune] Eldintune, Q. 
 
 7 vm] om. Q. 
 
240 
 
 MIRACULA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Vision of 
 the proces 
 sion of 
 Dunstan. 
 
 albis equis longa serie iter agebant, Isetitiam animi Osbem, 
 jocimdis vultibus cum modesta alacritate alterutrum PP;,^^^' 
 
 Lanfranc 
 tries to seize 
 
 himself 
 quite well. 
 
 demonstrantes : par et urdformis erat cunctis amictus, 
 par species et sequa magnitudo omnibus equis, setate 
 sola discrepabant, et post pueros adolescentes, post ado- 
 lescentes ^ juvenes, post juvenes senes equitabant. Erat 
 ergo processionem pulchram videre. Percunctanti vero ^ 
 Lanfranco cujusnam talis ac tanta profectio^ esset, re- 
 sponsum est illius magni ac prseclari patris Dunstani. 
 Ait, " Et ille, quseso, ubi est ?" Respondetur " Non longe 
 " hinc." Transibant i^tur, ut dixi, duo et duo, et 
 tandem ipse qui maxime et solus exspectabatur, inter 
 senes reverenda^ canitie niveos sublimior caeteris, ad- 
 vehebatur. Quem Lanfrancus ut vidit protenus agnovit, 
 et appropinquans eum per pedem strictissime tenuit ; 
 him. and on cumque caput ad pedem quem tenebat deosculandum 
 
 wakmj? finds i 
 
 demitteret, apprenensum crus suum ambabus manibus, 
 pater sanctus reniti coepit ne boc faceret. In qua lucta 
 Lanfrancus evigilans penitus se sensit convaluisse. Ilico 
 surgens^ et Salvatori suo gratias agens, eos quos circa 
 se dolentes et gemebundos conspexit blande consolatus 
 est, se integerrimae sanitati restitutum contestans. Ex 
 quo cum illos stupere nec verbis suis fidem prsebere 
 adverteret, retulit quid viderit et qualiter sanatus sit. 
 Deinde subjunxit, " Surgite, praeparate vos, quia volo 
 " missam celebrare et Deo ac piissimo amico Suo pro 
 " adepta sanitate debitas laudes exsolvere ; vos autem ^ 
 " filii et fratres carissimi, qui de Cantuaria ,huc ve- 
 " nistis, cum benedictione Dei et mea redite, et caeteris 
 fratribus quae Deus per merita communis patris nos- 
 tri, eorum intercessione permotus, circa me peregerit 
 edicite, ac in commune debitas, ut nostis, grates in 
 voce laudis exsolvite." Fecerunt sicut praecepit, et 
 
 He orders 
 thanks to 
 be offered 
 for his 
 recovery. 
 
 ^ post adolescentes'] om. Q. 
 
 2 vero"} om. Q. 
 
 3 profectio"] processio, Q. 
 
 4 reverenda] veneranda, Q. 
 
 5 surgens'] exsurgens, Q. 
 ^ auteTn] om, Q. 
 
aUctore eadmero. 
 
 241 
 
 gaudiis ac laudibus repleti sunt ad quos facti hujus Kejoicings. 
 fama pervenit. 
 
 Osbero, 19. Eadem hora atque momento quo venerabilis ^ patev a clerk of 
 ^' Laiifrancus sanatus est, quidam de clericis ejus quern lying^sick 
 
 , , . T T • 1 1 in the next 
 
 aegrotantem panes unus a Laniranco dirimebat, a quar- chamber, 
 
 , . T .1 , . T 1 -Ti has a vision 
 
 tanis lebripus, qui bus per octo menses irremediabiliter at the same^ 
 vexabatur, liberatus est. Nam Lanfranco in conatu recovers, 
 osculandi pedera sancti antistitis, sicut retulimus, ela- 
 borante, vidit in somnis se, ut referebat, lecta epistola 
 ad mi^am ejus, pro benedietione pedes illius ex more 
 deosculantem ; sancto autem benedictionem super eo ^ 
 edente, sensit se omni ^ pristina? infirmitatis molestia 
 caruisse. Visa itaque sospitate utriusque compertum est 
 beatum Dunstanum una et eadem hora per diversas 
 visiones suam utrisque gratiam prsestitisse. 
 Osbern, 20. Inter haec jmn monachica religione in ecclesia j^j^^^^ 
 V' Salvatoris Christi ^ quoque fundata, eircumquaque 
 
 perunt boni clerici illuc ad conversionem venire et mo- London, 
 
 ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ becomes a 
 
 naehi fieii. Quos inter Edwardus quidam nomine, vir«ionk,and 
 
 ^ ^ secretary at 
 
 in scientia litterarum strenuus et Lundonia3 civitatis Canterbury, 
 archidiaconus, veniens lionorifice suseeptus ad ordinem 
 est. Qui novo conversionis suso tempore religiosse 
 vitse in suis moribus indicia prseferens, post annum 
 quo monachus factus est secretarii ofBcio functus est ; 
 in quo officio constitutus, dum aliquantum majori liber- 
 tate cseteris potiretur, coepit a religione paulatim tepes- 
 cere, et in quibusdam negligentius agere. Cum igitur 
 ab hiis qui eo scientia et ordine videbantur inferiores 
 modo privatim modo publice corriperetur, moleste fere- 
 bat, et quam prius amaverat religionem fastidiebat. tired^ofWs 
 Quid plura ? Proponit animo de monasterio fugere : jP^o^as^ic 
 qujB itaque fugitivis necessaria videbantur^ sibi et 
 
 1 
 
 tenerabilis'] om. Q. 
 
 2 f>ro] om. Q. 
 
 3 eo~\ eiim, Q. 
 
 omni'] omnino, Q. 
 ^ Christi^ om. Q. 
 ^ videbantur^ sunt, Q., Mab* 
 
 Q 
 
242 
 
 MIRACULA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 He prepares cuidam juveni Quem fngm suae socmm asciverat^ de Osbern, 
 
 to leave the , , . . ^ . n i i' ± V- I'^'S. 
 
 monastery, rebus ecclesise parat. Jam noctem lugse aestmatam ^ 
 dies prseibat, et fratres meridiana hora in lectis pausa- 
 bant, ille vero in oratorio, quasi pro suo officio vigilans, 
 de hoc quod se facturum cogitarat animo fluctuabat. 
 Statuit tamen penes se praster licentiam patris Dun- 
 
 Dmistan's staui S0 disccssurum minime fore. Itaque ad tumbam 
 
 leave. ^j^^ ^^^^ coufert, et stratus pavimento querula voce illos 
 et illos injuriarum sibi illatarum accusat, utque sua 
 benedictione propositum iter ejus comitetur obsecrat, 
 poUicens quocunque pertingeret ipsius sese futurum. 
 Deinde ecclesiam exiturus post chorum venit, ibique 
 monachum quendam reverendi vultus decore conspi- 
 
 As he leaves cuum, vividos oculorum super se radios dirio^entem, 
 
 the church J. J. 
 
 he is^^^e^Jjy virga quam manu tenebat se sustentantem, stantem 
 
 asks where inveuit. Quo viso, noc quis esset uUatenus amito, ex- 
 he IS going, , , , n • 9 
 
 and bids pavit, coquo relicto quo dispdsuerat pers^ere voluit."^ 
 
 him change ^ , ^ , . .. f> 
 
 his mind. At ipse opposita virga sciscitatus est " Quo vadis ? 
 
 Ille sciens moris non esse monachos in oratorio loqui, 
 digitis innuit ei ipsum ibi nequaquam loqui debere ; 
 cui moijachus, " Si loquor, nihil ad te, sed tu ad ea 
 " qu80 interrogo mihi responde, die quo vadi,s ?" " Dare," 
 ait, " operam iis quse mea intersunt." Respondit " Nihil 
 " est, redi magis ad sepulcrum ubi modo fuisti, et 
 " mutata voluntate tua intentius ora." Stupefactus ille 
 reversus est ad tumbam sancti viri, modum primse 
 orationis oratione secunda non mutans. Inde rediens 
 et monachum ubi primo habuit obvium habens, se- 
 cundo quo tenderet ab eo ]?equisitus est. Ille animo- 
 sior factus, quid hoc ad eum paululum dure inter- 
 
 This occurs rogavit. " Multum," inquit, ad me, quod et tu, si te 
 
 twice. ... . , T 
 
 " non correxeris, m proximo experiere, sed nunc vel 
 " secundo admonitus redi, muta mentem, muta precem." 
 Cumque potius transire quam redire conaretur, is qui 
 monachus videbatur virgam contra vibrando erexit. 
 
 ^ expavit^ om. Q. 
 
 I 2 voluW] CCBpit, Q» 
 
AUCTORE EADMERO. 
 
 243 
 
 Osbem, atque ad requiem saneti ^ reverti coegit. Grandi ergo On iiis tinni 
 
 p. 156, . 1 •! ., . . attempt he 
 
 ^ payore percussus, mcumbit precious qui bus jam mcu- finds the 
 
 buerat duabus vicibus. Posthgoc ad locum rediens sed door of the ' 
 virum minime reperiens, jam se bene feeisse ratus est, ct 
 ad ostium quo claustrum intratur properavit. Ubi virum 
 turbato vultu contra se stantem, et quo iret solito ^ in- 
 terrogantem ojffendens, turbato et ipse spiritu, quis ille 
 vel cujus potestatis esset, qui eum tanta auctoritate 
 constringeret inquisivit. Ait Quseris quis ? audi. Ego ! The monk 
 
 17, . . T-v J • I • dechires 
 
 ll*go nimirum sum JDunstanus, pro visor et proprius that heis' 
 
 1»» -.«•,♦ . . I'l 1^ 1 1 11 still) J 
 
 arcniepiscopus loci istius, amator atque adjutor om- and threat- 
 nium illorum qui vere^ filii sunt ecclesicO istius. with death. 
 Sed tu voluntate perversa vis contra morem filiorum 
 bonorum deserere ecclesiam matrem tuam ; vis deserere 
 Deum Patrem tuum ; et ad id peragendum petis suf- 
 fragium meum. Stulta cogitasti dum in his me tibi 
 sufFragaturum existimasti. Nec enim ^ tali via per- 
 veni^ ad Deum. At semel monui et secundo qua- 
 tenus te corrigeres, et noluisti. Nunc igitur scias, 
 quia mea ^ licentia hinc nunquam exibis ; sed velis 
 nolis hie remanebis ; hie morieris. Propterea tamen 
 quod me monentem exaudirQ contempsisti, in poena 
 tua ecce probabis quod non bene fecisti." Quibus He then 
 dictis virgam leVavit, et eum tertio acriter j^^i'cussum and dis- 
 in terram prostravit, et disparuit. Remansit igitur ^p^®'^^'"' 
 f rater graviter debilitatus, et demum a fratribus in do- 
 mum est infirmorum delatus. Facta sunt hsec inter duas 
 festivitates Assumptionis et Nativitatis beat^B Marine. 
 Fuit ersfo in infirmitate quotidie proficiens, et semper Edward 
 
 falls sick 
 
 sequenti die praecedente deterius habens. Quse infir- unto death, 
 mitas talis erat ut qualitas ejus dinosci a nemine pos- 
 set ; nec ipse uUi volebat exponere unde processisset. 
 Tandem languor vitalia subit, et morti propinquus 
 inunctionem et communionem Corporis Christi suscepit. 
 
 1 sancti^ ilium, ins. Q., Mab. 
 ^ solito^ more, ins. Q. 
 
 2 vere^ veri, Q. 
 
 enim ] om. Q. 
 ^ perveni] pervenitur, Q. 
 ^ mea] om. Q. 
 
 Q 2 
 
244 
 
 MIRACULA SANCTI DUNSTAKI 
 
 On 8. Mar- 
 tin's day he 
 begins to 
 recover his 
 senses. 
 
 He confesses 
 to the prior 
 Henry. 
 
 He prays 
 for death, 
 and dies. 
 
 Confession 
 of his com- 
 panion. 
 
 lUuxit dies festivitatis ^ Sancti Martini, et ille juxta Osbem, 
 quod putabatur in suprema hora constitutus ad terram ^* 
 super cilicium positus est. Accurrentes fratres septem 
 psalmos poenitentiales et letanias pro obitu ejus ex more 
 decantabant. Igitur in letaniis cum dicerent " Sancte 
 " Dunstane, intercede pro anima ejus," et id ipsum, pro 
 spe subventionis' quam in ipso dulcius habenf, iterarent, 
 coepit seger pene defunctus respirare, et in circum- 
 stantes pio intuitu oculos dirigere. Incurvavimus nos 
 qui propinquiores stabamus ad ilium, nosse quod vellet ; 
 at ille, " Ponite me, quseso," inquit, " super lectum nos- 
 " trum, quia modo mori non possum." Quod et factum 
 est. Deinde accersito Henrico priore, cujus supra me- 
 minimus, ei rem totam sicut eam ^ retulimus ex ordine 
 pandit, ac pro mala voluntate quam habuerat disce- 
 dendi^ a mOnasterio poenitentiam egit, absolutionem ac 
 veniam petiit. Asseruit quoque so nullatenus mori 
 posse donee et rem eatenus cunctis incognitam denu- 
 dasset, et remedio poenitentiae cum absolutione rcatus 
 sui potitus fuisset. Quod prior audiens admiratus mise- 
 ricordiam Dei est, et, poenitentia morienti injuncta, de 
 peccato quod fuerat confessus eum absolvit. Tunc ille 
 mente exhilaratus, et, quod nihil peccati unde confes- 
 sionem poenitentiamque non fecerit in se cognosceret, 
 Deo gratias agens, quatinus sibi jam de corpore liceret 
 egredi postulavit. Ad quod prior ait, " Proficiscere 
 cum benedictione Dei Omnipotentis. Comitetur iter 
 tuum beatus_et plus pater Dunstanus, et suscipiat 
 te in regnum Suum Filius Dei Dominus noster Jesus 
 Christus." In his verbis antequam lecto deponi pos- 
 set, emisit spiritum. Cum igitur in conventu fratrum 
 ecclesise ipse prior hsec omnia seriatim* enarrasset, 
 juvenis quem fugae, ut diximus, socium sibi Edwardus ^ 
 delegerat, surrexit, et humi stratus lacrymisque perfusus 
 
 (< 
 
 1 festivitatis'] om. Q. 
 
 - earn'] om. Q. 
 
 ^ diicedendi] decedendi, Q. 
 
 ^ seriatim] om. Q. 
 
 ^ Edwardus] prsedictus frater, Q 
 
AUOTOTIE EADMERO. 
 
 245 
 
 se in fuera quidem homini consensisse, sed quod tali He was 
 
 ^ ^ /» Ignorant of 
 
 modo a patre Dunstano retentus merit illuc usque the vision, 
 nescisse confessus est. 
 
 SeeOshem. 21. Alius quidam ipsius ecclesiae monachus, nomine ^ monk 
 
 D IfiO named 
 
 ^' ^gelwinus, cupiens ire Jerusalem, accepta licentia 9'bEgeiwJ" 
 
 archiepiscopo et fratribus profectus est, commendans Jerusalem, 
 
 ^ . ... having 
 
 se et poUicens beato Dunstano quia, si iter suum pro- p^P^H^^ 
 
 A ' jr brmgBun- 
 
 speraret, pallium unum quam melius posset rediens de- s*^" ^ p^i^- 
 ferret. Hoc siquidem quod nunc scribo factum fuit 
 eo tempore quo monachi Cantuarienses, ut habita supe- 
 rius mentio est, magis more comitum quam pauperum 
 et proprii nihil habentium monachorum vitam agebant. 
 Profectus ergo frater, ut dixi, prosperrimo^ itinere 
 pervenit ad sepulcrum Domini, et inde rediens per 
 Constantinopolim, emit ibi quod beato Dunstano 
 deferret pallium unum pretiosum valde et pulchrum. 
 Qui ubi, pertransita Apulia et Roma, venit in Longo- On his 
 
 I*Gt/U.I*ll ill 
 
 bardiam, obviavit expeditioni imperatoris. Quem plures LombaVdy 
 
 , , . 1 • J • • 1 J T ^^^lls in 
 
 nonorati de exercitu viri cum nonore et sseculi pompa with the 
 
 n ' ' • • J i T army of the 
 
 proncisci conspicientes, et magnum aliquem esse con- emperor, 
 jectantes, humiliter salutatum benedicere sibi postu- 
 lavere. Verum cum inter ultimos et ignavos mul- 
 titudinis homines devenisset, ipsi considerantes mulam 
 ejus divei^is sarcinis digniter oneratam, rati sunt 
 eam magna et multa pretiosa portare. Monachum 
 igitur cum sociis vii30 dimittentes, mulam invadunt. The camp- 
 rapiunt, abducunt At ille, utpote in patria aliena, seize his 
 metuens ne plura perderet si eos insequens sua repe- 
 teret, substitit, et intuens bestiam cum suis rebus Ion- 
 gius abductam vehementer indoluit. Occurrit interim 
 animo quid de ecelesia sua exiens promiserit beato 
 Dunstano. Descenso itaque animali quo sedebat,^ terrao He prays to 
 
 IT T Dunstan 
 
 procumbit ; Dunstanum, ne pallium suum quod aspor- for aid. 
 tabatur perderet, precatur et obsecrat. Mirabile dictu, 
 necdum precem finierat, et ecce mula inter manus ab- 
 
 ^ prosperrimo~\ prospero, Q. ( ^ quo sedehat] cul insidebat, Q., Mab. 
 
246 
 
 MIRACULA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 The mule 
 goes mad 
 and shakes 
 off the 
 robbers. 
 
 The monk 
 recovers the 
 mule and 
 his biiggage. 
 
 The writer 
 will tell 
 tv/o stories 
 more. 
 
 He omits 
 miracles of 
 recovery of 
 sight by a 
 man, and 
 the healing 
 of a sick 
 horse. 
 
 ducentium se coepit quasi insanire, ore et pedibus in 
 eos qui sese tenebant mordendo et feriendo dessevire. 
 Cumque illi eam^ exonerare et sic a se dimittere vo- 
 luissent, ilia, rejectis pedibus hunc et ilium graviter 
 laedens, qu83 credita susceperat Integra conservabat. 
 Tandem de manibus illorum rupto frseno elapsa rapi- 
 dissimo cursu post dominum suum cucurrit, semper 
 subsiliens et se ab inseetantibus fortiter defendens. Quod 
 monachus eminus intuens exhilaratus est, receptoque 
 animali cum omnibus rebus suis patriam loetus revisit, 
 ac patri Uunstano pallium quod promiserat obtulit. 
 
 22. Quid faciam ? si cuncta quae de isto gloriosissimo 
 patre hoc tempore mira narrantur describere velim, prius 
 mihi tempus quam materia scribendi deficiet.^ Omissis 
 igitur multis in quorum silentio scio me nonnuUos 
 offensurum, duo tantum quae nuper acciderunt et celebri 
 fama feruntur, brevi referam : sicque . coepto operi finem 
 imponam. lUud tamen quod homunculo cuidam Lam- 
 berto nomine, qui in camera venerabilis Anselmi suc- 
 cessoris gloriosi Lanfranci archiepiscopi ministrai'e 
 solebat, oculos quos ferme^ amiserat reddidit,^ et item 
 quod uni clerico, capellano ejusdem Anselmi, nomine 
 et natione Normanno, equum, quem pestis quam camo- 
 riam vocant ad mortem fere ^ afflixerat, incolumem 
 restituit ; et plura hujusmodi in numero miraculorum 
 tanti patris hac vice computare minimum judicavi. 
 Unum igitur de duobus quae spopondi me relaturum 
 hoc est. 
 
 ster.' 
 
 Dunstan's 23. Plaucta qua ipse pater Dunstanus inter missas 
 was kept at frequenter usus fuerat in^ abbatia beati Petri, quae in 
 occidentali parte Lundoniae sita est, absque uUo auri 
 apparatu existens habebatur. Matrona vero quaedam 
 Lundoniensis gravi infirmitate diutissime tenta, sanita- 
 ; tem se amplius recuperaturam nulla ratione credebat. 
 Huic sicut putabatur jam et extemplo moriturae, per 
 
 ^ earn'] om. Q. 
 
 2 deficiet] deficiat, Q. 
 
 ^ ferme] fere, Q. 
 
 reddidit] reddit, Q. 
 ^ /ere] peue, Q. 
 
AUCTORE EABMERO. 
 
 247 
 
 visum vir Dei Dunstanus apparuit, sciscitans utrum ab He appears 
 ilia infirmitate ^ convalescere vellet : qua et " maxime " woman and 
 
 •1 1 • • mn !• tells her to 
 
 quidem respondente, mquit, " Tone auriirigium quod m put an^^ ^ 
 " area tua reconditum habes, et pone illud in casula 
 ^' mea quae habetur apud Westmonasterium, et conva- 
 lesces." At iUa mox facto mane misit et casulam 
 deferri fecit, quam deosculans et aurifrigio sicut erat 
 admonita perornans, ilico integerrime convaluit, et deinde She obeys 
 
 • . . . . . and rc- 
 
 pluribus annis incolumis vixit. In quo illud quoque covers, 
 admirationi nonnullis fuit, quod illud aurifrigium 
 planetae appositum nec majus nec minus inventum est 
 quam vestis ipsius mensura petebat. 
 
 24. Aliud sponsionis meas miraculum in Glawornas 4*Gkm^^^" 
 civitatis proyincia ab eodem sancto nuperrime factum costershire 
 
 ^ .... wa'^ a church 
 
 accepimus.^ Instabat beata solennitas ipsius beati d^edicated to 
 
 A ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ r Uunstan. 
 
 famuli Dei quae pro depositione ejus colitur, xiiii^.^ 
 kalendas Junii. Est autem in pr?efata provincia villula 
 qu?edam Saprintune'* dicta, et in ea ecclesia non adeo 
 magna in honorem beati Dunstani antiquitus consecrata. 
 Dominico igitur die ipsam solennitatem prsecedente in- 
 dixit parochianis suis plebeius presbyter imminens The parish 
 
 ^ JT 1 ^ ^ priest an- 
 
 festum celebrare, et ab ^ omni opere manuum sicut in nounced the 
 
 ' ^ ^ holyday on 
 
 Dominico die vacare. Quod prseceptum unus rustico- s^i>"i»stan's 
 
 rum nihili pendens, junctis bobus summo mane festivi- 
 
 tatis agrum suum colere coepit. Arguentibus autem ^ 
 
 ilium pro audacia sua notis suis, subsannando respondens 
 
 ait, " Quid ! ^ pro Dimstano de Saprintune esfo culturam a certain 
 
 ^ ^ ni ««' 1 rustic went 
 
 " meam intermitterem ? Stulta opmati estis cum hoc to plough 
 
 . j> A 1 1 notwith- 
 
 " mihi vos persuasuros sestimastis. Adnuc verba sub standing, 
 
 ... ^ud spoke 
 
 lingua volvebat, et ecce unus oculus ejus, de capite in ^^g^^^^^" 
 terram decidens, dedit ei intelligere quod in laborando Dunstan. 
 terram ilia die non bene faciebat ; una quoque ex vaccis. He loses an 
 quae juxta aratrum vacua ibat, eodem momento vesania 
 
 1 infirmitate'] oin. Q. 
 
 2 See above, p. 144, note. 
 
 3 xiiii^'] quarto, Q. 
 
 ^ Saprintune] Saprintran, Q." 
 
 5 ab] om. Q. 
 ^ autem] om. Q. 
 ^ Quid] om. Q. 
 
248 
 
 MIRACULA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 He nearly capta super boves efferata est, ita ut eorum nonnuUos 
 oxen. perderet, si concurrentis multitudinis manibus jion statim 
 interfeeta fuisset. Sequenti anno ipso die festivitatis 
 ejusdem apud Burgum scindebant simul campum unum 
 The next aratra septem. Igitur inter arandum unus eorum qui 
 ploughing bobus prseerat, aratro sedens, sibi ac bobus quietem 
 
 on the same ^ . 
 
 day a man prsBstabat. Et ecce cum ml sibi simstri suspicaretur, 
 
 ishftedup \ . , . . 
 
 and dashed dc loco sufe Quietis, licscit a quo, rapitur, sursum se 
 
 down on the . ... i . . 
 
 earth, and ipso cclsius iacxtur, iudeoue rursum ad terram alliditur. 
 
 loses his ^ ... 
 
 oxen. Boves sub ipso aratro juncti, fractis jugis, vesani dis- 
 siliunt/ silvas et devia petunt ; par fuga, dispersio eadem, 
 alios juxta arantes boveg involvit. Boum qui dispersi 
 sunt quidam cum difficultate et vix capti, quidam nulla 
 sunt ratione reperti.^ Heec duo de bobus arantibus 
 acta ea consideratione sub uno posuimus, quod et 
 similia pro quadam parte existunt, et pro ostendenda 
 reverentia tanti diei, licet evoluto anno una die facta 
 sunt. 
 
 other mi^ 25. Hiuc jam, expleto promisso, debitum finem ratio 
 addedlna postulat, et nos quidcm ilium, ecce, hie ponimus, licet 
 de tahto patre jugiter loqui dulce habeamus. Quod 
 tamen ea rationis consideratione nos facere accipiatur, 
 ut nemo nos mendacio arguat, si iis ^ quso digessimus 
 pater idem suae miserationis opera in futuro aliqua ad- 
 jecerit, et ea si vita comes fuerit descripserimus. Scimus 
 etenim quia pro pietatis suae abundantia nuUi earn ex 
 corde quserenti novit non exhibere. 
 Water in 26. De baculo interim illius, quem, sicut longe supra ^' Above, 
 ^ai?s stick narravimus, dente beati Andrese apostoli insignivit, l^oc ^' ^^^* 
 wOTks paucis dicendum existimavi, quod ex aqua unde idem 
 
 miracles. 
 
 baculus abluitur multa solent febricitantibus et aliis 
 modis infirmantibus sanitatum beneficia prsestari. Ex 
 
 ^ dissiliunt] desiliunt, Q. 
 
 2 quidam . . reperti] written over 
 an erasure in P. Q. reads, " re- 
 
 " perti, quidam sunt flumiuis pro 
 fuuditate submersi." 
 ^ iis] in his, Q, 
 ^ supra] cm. Q. 
 
AUCTORE EADMERO. 
 
 249 
 
 quibus quamvis plurimos, quos sanatos certissime scio, The writer 
 
 ... , . p , will not, 
 
 possim nommatim m medium proierre, ea, tarn en re however, ■ 
 
 • TT i • 1 •! i • • 'J • give names. 
 
 ilios cum. cseteris ^ silentio premo, quoniam res ita evi- 
 dens est et usitata, ut plus nonnunquam miraculum 
 videatur ^ cum aliquis eadem aqua in potum sumpta ab 
 infirmitate ^ non sanatur quam cum sanatur. Qua- 
 propter vas unum in quo de ipsa aqua assidue servatur ^Y^^^^l o^. 
 
 f ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ this water is 
 
 in ecclesia Salvatoris Cantuariae habetur, videlicet ne always kept 
 
 in the 
 
 ii qui ea indio^ent aliqua mora vel incommodo ab ctoch, and 
 
 ^ p ^ daily works 
 
 adipiscenda sanitate prsepediantur. Nam fere qiiotidie i^iii'acies. 
 illuc pro ea a pluribus curritur, et certa medicina 
 ^egrotantibus ^ inde defertur. Pro his igitur et omnibus 
 beneficiis Tuis sit Tibi, Omnipotens Deus, laus et gra- 
 tiarum actio, et super populum Tuum, cui tantum 
 pafronum dedisti, sit, precamur, Tua semper larga bene- 
 dictio ; Qui unus in Tiinitate et Trinus in ITnitate 
 vivis, regnas, et gloriaris^ Deus per infinita specula 
 speculorum. Amen.^ 
 
 Expliciunt qucedam de miraculis gloriosi confes- 
 soris Christi IXmstani 'pontificis Cantuariorum. 
 
 Q. 
 
 ^ Ameii.'] 
 
 Hactenus exscripsi tanti mira- 
 
 cula patris 
 Scribar et ipse sui me, precor, 
 esse gregis. 
 
 c't gJorlaris'] om. Q. Add. Q. 
 
 ^ ccEteris'] ora. Q. 
 - videatur^ habetur, Q. 
 
 ah infirmitate'] om. Q. 
 ^ aqrotantihus'] pro aegrotaiitibiis, 
 
V. 
 
 VITA SANCTI BUNSTANI 
 AUCTORE WILLELMO MONACHO 
 MALMESBERIENSI. 
 
 \' ^ \.' V/ 
 
 Incipit PpvOlogus de vita Sancti Dunstani 
 
 archiepiscopi.^ 
 
 William Dominis suis venerabilibus et fratribus patribusque 
 
 dedicates , . . i • t\ n i • i 
 
 his work to m sancta Glastomensi ecclesia Deo famulari e^ratulan- 
 
 the monks of •^ ^ i . 
 
 Giaston- tibus, Guilelmus vester devotione servus, commilitio 
 frater, dilectione filius. In beatissimi patris vestri Dun- 
 stani amore et honore eelebrando nostra, sanctissimi 
 patres, cum omni Anglia devotio semulo deeertat ex- 
 emplo. Et iiescio an major sit nostra in hoc certa- 
 mine gloria, cum nos eum diligamus ut alumnum, 
 quem illi suspiciunt ut sanctum et archiepiscopum. 
 Jungimus ergo amorem reverentise, in neutro Cantua- 
 ritis cedentes, qui se olim eum gloriantur primatem 
 He^finds habuissc. Unde factum est, ut, scripta de vita ejus 
 older writers dilisfcntius rimautcs, expectationi vestrse non respondere 
 
 want grace, a • • i» ' i- 
 
 the^newer dolcamus. Antiquas enim sermonum gratiam, recenti- 
 bus integritatem fidei deesse deprehendimus. Quare 
 non immerito indulsimus eatenus moestitise, quia et 
 agrestia parum delectant, et pudet recitare quae solida 
 veritate non constant. lUe profecto abutitur litteris et 
 otio, qui, de operibus sanctorum falsa scribendo, dum 
 negligit famam consciscit infamiam. Quod novo scrip - 
 tori^ vitae beati Dunstani accidisse utinam nescirem. 
 
 1 The text is that of the only known MS., Rawlinson, Miscell. 263 (Q.). 
 
 2 A reference to Osbern. 
 
AUCTORE WILLELMO MALMESBERIENSI. 
 
 251 
 
 Plerumque enim aUt opinione decipitur, aut favore Remarks on 
 
 Osbcm's 
 
 inflectitur. Sed hoc si pace animae ipsius dici potest, credulity, 
 delictorum singula exempla, licet plura suppetant, 
 subjiciam. 
 
 Primo cum de miraculo luminis in templo exhibiti He fuids 
 
 . . fault with 
 
 sermonem adoriretur, "maternis," inquit, "sinibus sacro doctrine. 
 
 puerperio intumescentibus ; " ^ egregie et pulchre dic- 
 tum si esset catholicum. Non enim recte dicitur 
 sacrum puerperium quod, iniquitati originali obnoxium, 
 nondum est sacro baptismo dilutum. Cujus dicti mei 
 rationem in fine vita3 sancti Deo juvante persolvere 
 meditor. 
 
 Secundo cum de indole studiorum puerilium loque- He accuses 
 retur, sensum secundi prologi de arithmetica ■ pene foisting in 
 
 , , , unnecessary 
 
 totum induxit, loquens de pbilosophorum scientia de matter, 
 rebus quje sunt et qua^ aliter esse non possunt, ut 
 sunt magnitudines fet alise earum sibi adhserentes, alise 
 separatee, multitudinesque aliiB per se, aliae in relatione 
 positae.'^ Videtis, domini, quantos fumos excitayit, cum 
 potuisset simpliciter dicere puerum arithnieticse et cog- 
 natis artibus invigilasse. 
 
 Tertio quod Glastoniam ree^ali fisco addictam,^ etpe^james 
 
 J- ^ ^ ^ ^ ' him forms 
 
 Dunstanum ibi fuisse primum abbatem dicendo,^ non ignorance of 
 
 ^ , . . the antiquity 
 
 mediocriter in historiae veritate delinquit. Quod quan- 
 tum a vero exulet testantur abbatum vestrorum no- 
 mina, qui annis ccccliii., sicut ex consequentibus li- 
 quebit, ante nativitatem Dunstani fuere in Glastonia. 
 Ipsa quippe multo ante beatum Patricium, qui anno 
 Incarnationis Dominicae cccc^.lxxiP. decessit, in jus 
 ecclesiasticum transivit, et ipse nongentesimo vicesimo 
 quinto anno ejusdem Incarnationis, qui fuit Ethelstani 
 regis primus, cum esset Glastoniae abbas Aldhunus, in 
 
 ^ Osbern, above, p. 72. 
 
 2 Osbern, above, pp. 77,78. The 
 reference is to Boethius de Arith- 
 
 metica, lib. i. c, 1 (ed, Basel, 1570, 
 p, 1296),- 
 
 3 Osbern, above, p. 74. 
 
 ^ Osbern, above, p. 92. 
 
252 
 
 VITA SANCTI BUNSTANI 
 
 A new 
 history is 
 therefore 
 needed. 
 
 He has mis- lucem venit.^ Nec minus quod Edgarum regem, uni- 
 
 represented j i j • t • • j < ,» • t 
 
 King^Bdgar. cum sciucet totius reiigionis tutorem, cum sanctimoniali 
 volutatum ass^everat. lUud cum omni historiarum tes- 
 timonio careat, etiam si probari posset, magis pie dis- 
 simulari quam improbe propalari et in vulgus efferri 
 deceret. 
 
 He has Quarto quia dixit eundem Edgarum Sceftonise mo- 
 
 made Edgar J? -I Q i n ' ' ± ± !• 
 
 the founder nastcrium luudasse/ ut loemmei animi tanto gloriaren- 
 bury. tur fuudatore ; cum multo ante tempore sub Eluredo 
 rege constet^ ibi monachas habitasse. 
 
 His igitur falsitatibus offensi, fraternitate qua vobis 
 obnoxius sum obedientiam meam pulsastis, ut gesta 
 beati viri renovarem, et quasi quodam laboris mei 
 prselo falsitatis foecem depellens, rerum puritatem eli- 
 quarem. Quod ut fidentius facerem, scripta mihi tam 
 The monks Latiua Quam Ansrlica in antiquissimo armario vestro 
 
 have sup- . . T . , 
 
 plied mate- reperta exhibuistis, e quibus sicut e speculo rerum 
 
 rials m Y . ' t. r ^ 
 
 ^^gijshand mihi resultaret Veritas. Quae falsa nuUo modo credi- 
 derim, quia calente adhuc gestorum memoria, ad Elu- 
 ricum, qui tertio anno post decessum patris Dunstani 
 successit in archiepiscopatu, sunt edita.^ Nam ut men- 
 daeia demer^m et studio meo interruptam seriem 
 resarcirem, non fuit consilium quin esset lacrymosum 
 et vanum. Liber enim ita dilaniatus nec alterius esset 
 nec mens. Prseceptis ergo vestris festinus parui, et ut 
 saneti et* vestrum mercarer favorem, maledicorum me 
 
 He.antici- dcutibus fortassis exhibui. Non enim defuturos opinor 
 
 pates severe . • x i v • i i, • 
 
 criticism, qui me ista ob aliorum scriptorum reprenensionem 
 scripsisse pronuncient, Sed ab hiis Dominus Jesus 
 
 ^ See the list of abbots compiled 
 by William of Malmesbury him- 
 self in his work on the antiquity 
 of the church of Glastonbury, ed. 
 Gale, p. 328. 
 
 2 Above, pp. Ill, 112. 
 
 ^ W. Malmesb. Gesta Pontificum, 
 cd. Hamilton, pp. 184-188. 
 
 ^ This is the life by B., dedicated 
 to Elfric, who became archbishop in 
 995 ; not in 990, as William here 
 sta,tes ; but he transposes Sigeric 
 and Elfric in the list of archbishops 
 in the Gesta Pontificum also. See 
 G. P., ed. Hamilton, p. 32. 
 
AUCTORE WILLELMO MALMESBERIENSI. 
 
 253 
 
 bonam mihi veniam impetret, Qui me in his dumtaxat Butheoniy 
 scriptis nihil vel odio vel livori deferre videt. Ego love of truth 
 enim mihi conscius sum nunquam me laboribus insi- please the 
 diatum alienis, sed ut vobis morem gererem stilum 
 his apposuisse gestis. Adde quod is de quo memoravi 
 scriptor, jamdudum vita defunctus et invidia, divinse- 
 que subditus censune, humana parvipendit judicia. 
 Facile autem exeusabitur, quod minus continue fidem There are 
 
 excuses for 
 
 rerum attexuit, quia per incendium quod, sicut i pse in the former 
 
 writer. 
 
 prologo ^ dixit, Cantuariensis ecclesia passa est, anti- 
 qua scripta non habuit. Quae cum ita sint, obedientise 
 meae pignus injunctum suscipite* et si malivoli contra 
 me jacula maledictorum intorserint, umbone vestrae 
 auctoritatis elidite, domini venerabiles et merito ama- 
 biles patres. 
 
 Liber primus. 
 
 B. p. 6. 
 Adelard, 
 p. 54. 
 Oshern, 
 p. 71. 
 Eadmer, 
 p. 165. 
 
 1. Annus igitur regis Athelstani primus produxit p^^g^jifj,g'J of 
 mundum puerum Dunstanum totius Angliae patronum nunstan. 
 futurum. Pater ejus Herstanus, mater. Kynedrida no- 
 minati, ambo pietate in Deum et- nobilitate generis 
 insignes, pari virtutum studio et concordi morum ele- 
 gantia sovum exegere. Quam vero grata Deo eorum 
 fuit vita, Deus Ipse non dubitavit monstrare post 
 funera. Siquidem hie idem eorum filius de quo ser- 
 monem adoi^si sumus, postea jam archiepiscopus, utrum- 
 que parentem inter coelestium choros gaudentem, ma- 
 trem etiam Dominicse genitricis familiari obsequio 
 assistentem, defoecatse mentis conspexit intuitu. Dig- Marriage of 
 
 T . ,. , , « . his parents. 
 
 num nimirum divma providentia opus, ut bonus luturus 
 filius boni lineam non peregrinis disceret exemplis, sed 
 intra domesticos parietes a bonis mutuaretur parenti- 
 bus. Hii ergo legitimo nuptiarum foedere maturis 
 amoribus in juventa convenere. Jamque post aliquan- 
 
 ^ Osbem, above, p. 70; 
 
254 
 
 VITA SANOTI DITNSTANI 
 
 BeforeDutt- tum copulfe tempus Kynedrida in spem prolis grandes- Adelard, 
 on the foast' cebat utero, cum earn 4uminosa purificationis festivitas Jl; 
 
 ofthePimft- .... . . . . >Osberii, 
 
 cation at Glastoniain invitavit. Quo die soUemnibus iam in- p. 72. 
 
 Glaston- ^ ^ ^ ^ *f Jj, , 
 
 bury, the choatis officiis in vetustam ecclesiam frequens matro-„ ,1" ' 
 
 hghts arc . ^ ^ ^ , p. Ibo. 
 
 put out, narum ordo cum Kynedrida convenerat. Micabant per 
 totum atrium lumina, ipsa constipatione turbse aerius 
 oculos perstringentia. Tum vero cessante .intra eccle- 
 siam omni ventorum inquietudine, divino credo nutu, 
 omnium lumina uno confusa et extincta sunt ictu. 
 Perculit ingens pavor omnem populum ambigentem de 
 facto quid diceret, utrumne casui an miraculo deputa- 
 ret. Extorsit metus silentium, attonitisque tantum, 
 oculis et vultibus mutam inter se agitabant moesti- 
 tiam. Sed non mora^ propitia Divinitas factum cor- 
 uniied ^'^^^^j stuporem paventium in Suse laudis materiam 
 from that of transduxit. Continuo enim serenum lumen coelo emis- 
 
 Kynednda. 
 
 sum, cereo KynedridsD infulsii, communionemque lucis 
 cunctis accurrentibus exhibuit. Venerabile miraculum 
 quod et antiquis respondit et futuris preeludit. Ipsa 
 enim quondam die beata Dei genitrix et perpetua 
 Virgo Maria tulit ad templum Dei Dei Verbum Filium 
 suum. Quem senilis devotio benignis astringens com- 
 plexibus Ipsum prsedicavit esse Qui lumen setemitatis, 
 quondam per Adam amissum, declararet oculis omnium 
 Prophetic poDulorum. Nunc autem beata mulier, iiibar Anglisd 
 
 meaning of ^ ^ ^ , . „ , . 
 
 the sign. per Dci gratiam luturum alvo contmens, collatione 
 cerei sui damna perditse lucis toti reparavit agmini : 
 hoc profecto significante Spiritu Sancto, quod in illius 
 lateret ventre, qui spleYidorem prsedicationis omni dif- 
 funderet provinciae. 
 
 DuHstau is 2. Emensis ergo post conceptionem mensibus, absolvit B. p. 6. 
 
 bom, bap- , n ' n* tj. ' '± i tAdclard, 
 
 tized, arid partum loemma, eiiuditque m vitam masculum, quem p. 54, 
 named. continuo per ministerium sacerdotis Deo renatum et Osbern, 
 
 . D. 73 
 
 in adoptionem filiorum Ejus translatum gavisa est. Eadmer, 
 Dunstanus infanti nomen inditum, quod et montem et P* 
 petram sonat; convenienti rerum prsesagio, quia in 
 utroque Salvatoris nostri pedissequus, et montem se ' 
 
AUCTORE WILLELMO MALMESBERIENSI. 
 
 255 
 
 B. p. 7. 
 
 Osberii, 
 p. 73. 
 Eadnier, 
 p. 166. 
 
 per virtiitum sublimitatem et petram per fidei solidi- ^^^gs^^fjj!^ 
 tatem exhibuit. Gratia enim eum divina exeepit, et jfJJ^^y^^^^"' 
 in omnibiLs dono liberalitatis Suse prsevenit et provexit. 
 Et jam junioribus annis decursis, pueritise infantia ces- 
 serat, venitque ad solvenda vota Glastoniam illustris 
 vir Herstanus cum religiosa conjuge et prosperrimse 
 indolis sobole. lUis igitur in prsefata ecclesia excu- 
 bias agentibus, puer irrepente somno indulsit quieti. 
 Visus illi senior stellanti vultu, niveo habitu, assistere ne has a 
 
 J 1 T .1 vision of 
 
 manuque prensum per cireumjecta loca ducere, simul future 
 dnlci aiFatu jocundari puero, et habili gestu dexterse there, 
 mensuram sedificioriim inibi per eum construendorum 
 deliniare. lUe solutus somnio, et tune parentibus 
 assignavit visionem, et cum setas tulit efFectui manci- 
 pavit. Eadem enim forma posteriori tempore abbas 
 erexit tecta qua recolebat sibi puero per angelicum 
 indicium prsesignata. At vero parentes ad indaginem 
 visionis non hebetes, felixque prsesagium libenter am- 
 plexi, filium ibidem litteris imbuendum reliquerunt. 
 
 B. p. 8. 
 
 Adelard, 
 p. 55. 
 Osbern, 
 p. 75. 
 Eadmer, 
 p. 167. 
 
 3. Nec vero illorum spei defuit pusio, sed raptim He is an apt 
 elementa litterarum addisQens ad reliqua etiam alacri 
 tendebat animo. Meditantem occupat febris, teneras- 
 que paulatim depasta medullas desperabilem medicis 
 facit. Sternitur ergo lecto et pe^ horarum momenta his iihxess. 
 morti accedere videtur. Certe animo absentissimus, 
 nec quid ageret norat discernere, nec quid ab aliis 
 ageretur |>oterat advertere. Adeo pestis cerebro inse- 
 derat ut aliena jactaret verba et freneticus hand dubie 
 putaretur. Spes itaque parentum quam sibi de filio 
 proposuerant jam dabat terga, cognatorum frigebat 
 gaudium, languebat pollicitatio medicorum. Verum- lie is given 
 tamen accurrit necessitati, nec diutius passa puerum 
 torqueri, pietas Christi medicabili visitationis Suae 
 prsesentia cuncta propulsavit incommoda. Nec tamen He leaves 
 
 ^ T* • •! i the house. 
 
 modum remedii novit ipse qui sensit, sed nocte mtem- 
 pesta, quasi extasi captaretur, domum cursim exivit. 
 
256 
 
 VITA SANCTl DUNSTAKI 
 
 A woman Exeuntem secuta est mulier quae cseteris tasdio languo- B. p. 8. 
 
 ris sternentibus sola super alumnum sollicitas prseten- p 55 ' 
 debat vigilias. Nactus ergo baculum quo vel viam Osbern, 
 regeret vel obstantes repelleret, noeturnam carpebat ^'^^^^^j,^ 
 semitam. Et ecce magnum latrantium agmen rapidis p. 167. 
 
 He js beset^ in properaiitem inhians rictibus obviam veniebat. 
 
 drives them Quorum unus iufestior dum etiam terera premeret, ille, 
 
 away With a • i i i 
 
 stick. aliud esse mterpretatus quam canem, baculum totis 
 . viribus contortum, invocato Christi Ifomine, in os 
 beluse ssevientis intentat. Qua 'pue^'i constantia hostis 
 elusus furvis inferni unde emerserat se indidit umbris. 
 Ita Dunstanus Jesu Domini auxilio tutus coeptum ad 
 ecclesiam callem persequitur. Sed eam firmis intus 
 
 He climbs repasfulis ofFendens obseratam, machinas quibus insis- 
 
 the ladder f ^ i . . t -r^ . ^ . . 
 
 outside the >tebant architeeti conscendit. Forte enim fastis^mm 
 
 church. T ^ ^ , , T 
 
 templi dirutum manus artincum, prsestolabatur. Ita 
 quem aon sine cautela talium rerum consueti moli- 
 rentur ascensum, ille intrepidus invasit. Jam vero 
 quia in interiori parte superiora inferioribus nuUi con- 
 tinuabant gradus, mirum quomodo descenderit. De- 
 scendit tamen, inventusque est mane a qusBrentibus in 
 He is found uua porticu inter duos eedituos tertius, levi sopore 
 ing asleep membra confotus. Rogatus ut salutis et descensus 
 
 inside. » o 
 
 modum exponeret, respondit se neutrum scire, et non 
 minus quam ipsos de talibus miraculum habere. Mulier 
 sane quae praeeuntis lento pede terebat vestigia, rerum 
 usque ad ascensum index fuit. Caetera ad banc diem 
 incognita. 
 
 He^sjtudies 4. Ubi crgo Dunstano salutis refusus vigor, intermis- B. p. lo. 
 scholars^ sum litterarum studium acrius aggressus, nihil quod p^^^^]^^' 
 
 cura sua dignum aestimaret inexpertum reliquit. Con- 
 veniebat honestis studiis divinae serenitatis assensus, 
 conciliando ei magistros, tum indigenas tum et Hiber^ 
 nienses. Hujusce quippe nationis homines cum magna 
 frequentia locum incolebant ilium ; viri usquequaque 
 peritissimi, et qui liberales artes ad plenum subdidis^ 
 sent iiigeniis, quique ut perfectius philosophiae inser^ 
 
AUCTORE WILLELMO MALMESBERIENSI. 257 
 
 B. p. 10. virent, relicto natali solo cunctarumque necessitudinum He studies 
 pp. 7^ 7 7, afFectibus objuratis, Glastoniam contenderant, Patricii tures^^^ 
 primi praedicatoris sui amore adducti, cujus corporales 
 exuviae ibi ab antiquo habentur repositae. Horum 
 ergo discipulatui Dunstanus deditus sacram scripturam 
 meduUitus ad extremam satietatem hausit; ssecularium 
 litterarum quiddam negligendum, non nihil etiam ap- 
 petendum putavit. Poetarum siquidem scripta dum- poetry, 
 taxat quae fabulis strepunt, et artes quae citra utili- 
 tatem animae armant eloquium transeunter audivit. 
 Arithmeticam porro, cum geometria et astronomia et mathema- 
 musica quae appendent, gratanter addidicit, et diligen- music. 
 - ter excoluit. Est quippe in illis et magna exercitatio 
 scientiae et veritatis Integra castitas, et mirabilium 
 Dei non vana consideratio. Harum artium scientiam 
 hodie quoque Hibemenses pro magno poUicentur ; caete- 
 rum ad formanda Latine verba et integre loquendum 
 minus idonei. Quapropter cum caeterarum tum maxime His skill 
 
 TIT , . . J • J .in miisic, 
 
 musicae dulcedme captus, mstrumenta ejus tum ipse 
 libenter exercere, tum ab aliis exerceri dulce habere. 
 Ipse citharam, si quando litteris vacaret, sumere, ipse 
 dulci strepitu resonantia fila quatere. Jam vero illud on the 
 instrumentum quod antiqui barbiton, nos organa dici- 
 mus, tota diffudit Anglia ; ubi ut fistula sonum com- 
 ponat per multiforatiles tractus " pulsibus exceptas, foUis 
 " vomit anxius auras." Hoc porro exercebatur non ad 
 lenocinium voluptatum, sed ad divini amoris incita- 
 mentum, ut etiam ad litteram impleretur illud Daviti- 
 Ps.ci. 3,4. cum, "Laudate Dominum in psalterio et cithara; laudato 
 Eum in chordis et organo." 
 
 B. p. 10. 5. Interea aetas progressior, et adolescentiae foribus His parents 
 
 take Ho 
 Orders. 
 
 Osbern, • • j j. t j j. • urge him to 
 
 p 77^ ' msistens, spem parentum olim de puero conceptam intake Holy 
 
 majus animabat. Quam ^ illi religiosis alentes affectibus 
 ut sacros ordines reciperet invitaverunt filium, divinum 
 circa eum favorem non negligendum arbitrate Ille, 
 
 ^ Quami quern, MS. 
 
 R 
 
258 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 He goes to 
 live with 
 Atheim, 
 archbishop 
 of Canter- 
 bury, who 
 presents 
 him to king 
 Athelstan. 
 
 ne prsecipientibus durus videretur, supposuit collum, B. p. lo. 
 minoribus gradibus titulatus ad Dei genitricis eccle- ^f^fj^' 
 siam provectus, sui maternique miraculi consciam. Eadmer, 
 Ita sacris initiatus ad patruum suum, (ex monacho ^' 
 Glastoniensi primus Wellensis episcopus) Cantuariensem 
 archiepiscopum, Athelmum, contendit, ex cognati pec- 
 toris auctoritate religionis exemplum sumpturus. Ex- 
 cepit nepotem archiepiscopus qua decebat dignatione, 
 patrio affectu qusecunque commoda liberaliter et af-^ 
 fluenter indulgens. Deinde spectata ejus alacritate 
 ingenii, cui etiam mores non dissiderent, regi Athel- 
 stano, quem sacra unctione in regem ipse sublimaverat, 
 commendare curavit. Accessit curse pontificis industria 
 adolescentis, qua brevi effectum ut per se commenda- 
 bilior esset tam regi quam aulicis. Familiarium ergo 
 partium habebatur, nec erat quisquam in curia id 
 setatis juvenis qui posset cum rege aut esse secretins 
 He becomes aut loqui locundius. Denique frequenter ante ilium, 
 
 a favourite x »/ x x 
 
 and exposed vcl vocali mclo citharse vel tympani sono psallebat, 
 
 to the envy in, . • 
 
 onhecour- nunc ut curas depelleret, nunc ut soporem somm dis- 
 cuteret. Felix eventus excitavit cognatorum invidiam, 
 qui adolescentis successum reputarent suse felicitatis 
 detrimentum. Quocirca opinionem ejus apud regem 
 lacerare aggressi, dicebant eum maleficis artibus niti, 
 proindeque gratiam regalem mercari. Repulit ille 
 primo susurronum calumnias, livori attribuens delationis 
 amaritudinem. Hoc illi acrius instare et occasiones 
 rimari donee rem divinse dignationis in argumentum 
 concinnarent faroris. 
 
 He is in- 6. Eoffatus cst DuHstanus a quadam matrona Alwinna ^ B. p. 20. 
 
 ^tedby - J ' ± ' 1 Osbern, 
 
 Etheiwynn nomme domum suam venire, quatenus m casula sacer- - 
 
 to draw a , , P* 
 
 pattern for dotali faceret picturam, unde puellse suae insuendi auriEadmer, 
 
 a stole. ^ ^ , ..pi 70. 
 
 traherent formam. Opus plumarium vocant Latini. 
 Erat enim Dunstanus etiam pingendi artifex, semulari 
 arte naturam, et quicquid vidisset uspiam speciosum a 
 
 1 The Etheiwynn of the first 
 biographer (p. 21). No name is 
 
 mentioned by the intermediate 
 writers. 
 
AUCTORE WILLELMO MALMESBERIENSI. 259 
 
 B. pp. 20, vivo animali in mutum transferre simulacrum. Venit His harp 
 Osbern ^^S^ assedit operi. Interim cithara ejus paxillo ap- ^t^em\n- 
 p. 80. pensa canoros edere sonos, et sine uUo digitorum pulsu ^j^^^ 
 p ^ ^ hujus antiphonsD melodiam modulari audita est, Gau- 
 " dent in coelis anim^e sanctorum/' et caetera. Mirum 
 id, ut erat videri cseteris et maxime mulierculis, Iseto 
 plausu gannientibus ; Dunstano autem, cujus et sensus 
 perspicacior et oculus interius mundior, non tam videri 
 praesentis rei miraculum quam futurse mysterium. In- J^i^^^tan 
 tellexit enim cantu hoc se admonitum ad tribulationum a warning, 
 tolerantiam, quo fidentius Christi opperiretur gloriam. 
 Hespondit rerum Veritas veraci preesagio. Namque 
 sutores calumniarum rem quasi Dunstani maleficium 
 curise auribus intulerunt. Serpsit rumor ab imis in His enemies 
 
 1. T«T iij'i 11 , . accuse him 
 
 aiteros omnesque lividis obtutibus adolescentem aspi- of witch- 
 
 ... craft 
 
 ciebant. Quod quam vis ille animadverteret, omnes 
 tamen susurros malignantium sicut Scylleeos latratus 
 placido et potius obturato transibat auditu. Nec minus, 
 secundum prseceptum Salvatoris, bona pro malis red- 
 IB. pp. ii, dens, persecutores suos blande alloqui, ipsis etiam be- 
 Osbern, nigne et opportune obsequi. Quo illi nihil infractiores 
 Eadmer calumnias serere in vulgus non cessabant. Nec P^^^^ aUenated 
 pp. 171,' abstiterunt quam res et regis aures obsedit et animos gj^^^ekves 
 a Dunstano avertit. Ita turbatis rebus adolescens curia t^^e court, 
 ultro cedendum putavit. Excedentem machinatores fla- 
 gris adorsi ; parum abfuit quin exanimarent. Nam 
 equo dejectum, foedeque csesum calcibus, quo tardius 
 exsurfiferet pressum eo-erunt in coenum. Tum quasi He is at- 
 
 tacked and 
 
 furori probe satisfecissent, abierunt. Ille vero vix plunged in 
 segreque into emergens m viilam cujusdam amnis sui 
 e vicino commanentis concessit. Jam vero domui pro- 
 pinquante, canes domestici oblitum coeno et horrendum 
 visu conspicati, pene fuit ut invaderent. Sed mox, but recog- 
 
 , ^ , , nised by a 
 
 blandientis voce cognita, frsenarunt impetum et adulan- J®^*^^*^"*''^ 
 tibus caudis domum introduxerunt. Hanc canum mu- 
 tationem primo Dunstani excepit suspirium, mox etiam 
 hujusmodi dictum, "Alternat, ut video, natura rerum, 
 
 E 2 
 
260 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Dun Stan's 
 reflexions. 
 
 " dum cognati bestiali feritate ssevi, et canes in me B. p. 13. 
 " humana lenitate sint blandi. Sed patienter feren- p ^gi!^' 
 " dum est quod Deus jubet, quia pulchrum Sua gratia Eadmer, 
 
 dedit commercium, quoniam assentantur canes etsi ^* 
 " adversantur homines." 
 
 He goes to 
 Winchester, 
 to visit 
 Elfege. 
 
 Correction 
 of a state- 
 ment of 
 Osbern. 
 
 Elfege ad- 
 vises him to 
 become a 
 monk. 
 
 He is re- 
 luctant. 
 
 His illness. 
 
 7. Hujus tempestatis jactatione discussa, Dunstanus b. pp. 13, 
 Wintoniam ire perrexit. Erat tum ibi Deo acceptissi- q^^^^^ 
 mus sacerdos Alphegus cognomento Calvus, cujus con- pp. 82, 83. 
 sanguinitatis lineam proximo gradu Dunstanus attin- pp^™|^' 
 gebat. Hunc fuisse monachum Glastoniensem certum 173. 
 et abbatem constans apud Wintonienses opinio est. 
 Unde perspicuum est quod is, quisquis est, fallitur qui 
 beatum Dunstanum monachos in Glastonia posuisse et 
 primum ibi abbatem fuisse allegare conatur. Nam ut 
 in epistola dixi,^ et tempore nativitatis ejus Alduhunus 
 abbas ibidem fuisse cognoscitur; et hie Alphegus ante 
 monachus quam abbas Dunstanus. Ad hunc ergo veniens 
 saepeque ab eo salubribus monitis pulsatus ut mona- 
 chus fieret, distulit facetis responsis episcopum vel elu- 
 dens vel suspendens, nonnunquam etiam monachorum 
 vitam non magis placere Deo quam Jaicorum cavillatus. 
 Irrepserat enim jam adolescenti voluptatum fomes, ut 
 nihil minus quam monachum cogitaret. Quapropter 
 Deo dilectus episcopus, qui prsevideret in «piritu quan- 
 tum deperiret religioni dilatio habitus mutandi, totius 
 d^votionis in orationem diffudit viscera, quatenus ado- 
 lescens flagello admoneretur corporeo, ne animse obsta- 
 ret commodo. Auditum est continuo in coelis quod ille 
 submurmuraverat in terris, et scintilla caritatis ex 
 corde procedens episcopi reluxit in Dunstano ad flani- 
 mam segrotationis. Ita enim vesicis turgentibus per 
 totum corpus intumuit, ut morbo intercutis vel regia 
 valetudine laborare videretur. Hoc periculo territus 
 nunciis missis rogavit ejus adventum. Maturavit iter 
 
 ^ Above, p. 251. 
 
AUCTORE WILLELMO MALMESBERIENSI. 261 
 
 episcopus, et veniens audit quod diu optaverat, Dun- Dunstan 
 
 ^ . ^ ^ becomes a 
 
 stanum anxie expetere quod ante rogatus supersederat monk, 
 facere. Datur ergo efFectus desiderio, alteratur Dun- 
 stanus et fit monachus. 
 B. pp. 14, InaBQualitate imtur corporis fugata, mansionem circa He stays 
 
 15. TTii^ 4. 1 -i X • • -t 1 1. WithElfege. 
 
 Jiiliegum protelavit, ut m ejus vita legeret quid regu- 
 
 lare tenere deberet. Interea oblitterandum non est 
 
 quanta sub illo tempore providentise divinse pietas am- 
 
 bobus consuluerit. Rogatu civium suorum dedicaverat Dedicg^tion 
 
 pontifex ecclesiam extra occidentalem civitatis portam. 
 
 Solenniis expletis, petitus ut domum unius convivio 
 
 dignaretur suo, caritati non defuit invitatoris. Jam 
 
 vero luce occidua cum vespertinum crepusculum. vide- 
 
 ret accedere, data benedictione convivis Dunstano comi- Dunstan 
 
 tante valefecit. Tum forte viantibus obtulit se beati returning 
 
 ^ .. T . . , . -rn from the 
 
 papse Ureoforii ecclesia viae contermma. lllam ex vo- feast have a 
 
 , , , . , . miraculous 
 
 luntate prsesulis in^essi completorium dicturiebant. escape in 
 
 T . . , \, , *he church 
 
 Jamque pro more lunctis et mclmatis capitibus conn- of s. Gre- 
 
 gory. 
 
 tebantur, et ecce ingens lapis, ambiguum quo casu, tecto 
 elapsus, ita illorum periculo proximus fuit, ut ambo- 
 rum libaret csesariem sed non turbaret salutem. Cre- 
 diderim insidias antiqui hostis fuisse, qui totis machi- 
 nis saxum detorserit, cum saluti utrorumque invidens 
 tum etiam alterius celsitudinem futuram suspectam 
 habens. Sed e vicino repulit ejus calliditatem divina 
 dignatio, volens ut illi de hoste optimam raperent prse- 
 dam, non ille de ipsis usurparet victoriam. 
 
 8. Isdem diebus Dunstanus, eodem antistite iubente, ad Dunstan is 
 
 ordained 
 
 gratiam presbyteratus accessit, habens ad eundem gra- p^est. 
 dum collaterales coUegas Athelwoldum et Ethelstanum. 
 Hii viri, sicut par in bono habuere principium, ita 
 divisum habuerunt exitum. Quod, spiritu meduUis in- 
 fluente, Elfegus prsesentiens, ipsa eadem die ordinationis EHe^'s 
 cum mensse assideret, tali secretum mentis sermone ^^^'^^^^ 
 resolvit. Hodie sub ope Dei tribus viris manum im- companions. 
 " posui, quoi'um primus erit a]:)ud Cantiam archiepisco- 
 " pus, secundus mihi quandoque in hac sede succes- 
 
262 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Fulfilment 
 of the pre- 
 diction. 
 
 Dunstan 
 goes to 
 Glaston- 
 bury, and 
 builds 
 himself a 
 cell there. 
 
 His labours 
 and mortifi- 
 cations. 
 
 The devil 
 comes and 
 asks him to 
 do some 
 smithes 
 work. 
 
 " sums, tertius abjecto religionis quo nunc velatur 
 " simulacro vitam terminabit in voluptatum volutabro."^ 
 Nihil hac prophetia mirabilius aut divinius ; nihil ejus 
 effectu verius aut sincerius. Dunstanus siquidem postea 
 culmen archiepiscopatus, Athelwoldus ordinem episco- 
 patus conscendit; Ethelstanus ut canis reversus ad 
 vomitum miserabile apostasise fuit exemplum. 
 
 9. Nec multo post Dunstanus Glastoniam a pontifice Osbern, 
 missus est, ut qui abunde mores ad junius composue- jj^^mer 
 rat speculum, nunc ad multorum coaptaret exemplum. p. 173. 
 Ibi praeter quotidianam cantandi soUertiam, ne mens 
 inerti 'marceret otio, manuum se dedit exercitio. Sed 
 ut operanti suppeteret diversorium, quoddam prope Dei 
 genitricis ecclesiam tecto appendice continuavit spatium. 
 Jam vero par est animadvertere quanta cura colebat 
 animum, ut eo loci sedem poneret quo etiam licentiores 
 cogitatus interpellaret et argueret. Mentem ergo frse- 
 nabat loci reverentia, simulque corpus arctabant jejunia. 
 Ibi manus applicabat operi, labia psalmis, animos coelis. 
 Ibi currebat per tabulam stilus, per paginam calamus. 
 Ibi sumebat pincillum ut pingeret, scalpellum ut scul- 
 peret. Et, ut faciam compendium, ibi exercebatur quic- 
 quid est licitarum et utilium artium. Denique et 
 fabrile studium quondam aggressum vicinia frequens 
 ad emendandas recellas ^ suas precibus fatigabat. Ille in 
 commune bonus omnibus, nihil alicui negare, sequum Osbern, 
 affectum cunctis prsestare. Inde diabolus occasionem jJadmer 
 aucupatus, quadam die sole jam occasum meditante, ad p. 174. 
 fenestram astitit quidlibet operis molienti. Intuitus 
 Dunstanus eum, qui et oris hilaritatem et hominis 
 prsetenderet efiigiem, dolos non attendit. Quocirca ro- 
 gantem ut, opere quod coeperat intermisso, suis serviret 
 usibus, non aspematus manum ejus suggestioni applicuit. 
 Inter hsec inimicus sermone coUato verba delicata jac- 
 
 1 Our author tells the same story 
 in the Gesta Pontificum (ed. Hamil- 
 ton), pp. 164, 165. See too Wulf- 
 
 stan's life of S. Ethelwold, Mabillon, 
 AA. SS. O. S. B: saec. v. p. 599. 
 2 recellas \ altered from rescellas, Q. 
 
AUCTORE WILLELMO MALMESBERIENSI. 263 
 
 Osbern, 
 p. 85. 
 Eadmer, 
 p. 174. 
 
 Lucan. 
 Phars. 
 X. 132. 
 
 tabat in medium, mollitiem inferebat foeminarum. He begins 
 Verumtam'en ne aperta fronte proderentur ai-guti^, looseiy. 
 simulationis velabatur pallio, eludens juvenem religionis 
 fuco. Nec mora, relictis bonis rediebat ad noxia, talia 
 commemorans quae possent cujuslibet religiosi robur 
 enervare, vigorem infleetere. Audiebat hsee sanctus, et 
 multa volutabat animo. Tandemque, instinctu credo 
 Dei, artificem doli comperiens ad ultionem armatur, 
 Forcipes itaque ferrarias celeriter expedit, easque foeo Dunstan 
 immittens in majori flatu fornaculam exsuscitat. Stri- tongs, 
 debat ergo incendium, fervebant tenaeula. Qua3 can- 
 dentia corripiens in faciem portenti, jam se deprehen- 
 sum intelligentis jamque fugam parantis, vibrat. lUe 
 longe reducta facie ictum cavet. Sed insistit proms He takes 
 
 .•1 -I ' • TiP ••IP the devil by 
 
 nisibus presbyter,- jamque impudentes fauces igmto ferro the jaws, 
 prsecluserat. Nec ullo modo effugisset pestifer nisi, ad 
 notas recurrens artes, inter manus tenentis in noctur- 
 nas elaberetur auras. Fugiens tanto hiatu insonuit, ut, 
 procul repercusso aere, hujusmodi vox pene toti audi- 
 retur provincise, " O quid fecit calvus iste ! O quid 
 " fecit calYus iste !" J ocatus vel potius grassatus in 
 hominem cui^ refugis a fronte capillis, damnosa caesa- 
 ries erat. Diluculo vicinis a Dunstano auctorem ulu- Dunstan 
 latus percunctantibus, respondit " diabolum fuisse : ipsum the ones of 
 
 . -1 • J • • T • n • tbe devil. 
 
 " mquam nunc sibi struere msidias qui quondam m 
 " palatio conflasset calumnias ; ipsum nunc blandientem 
 ad vitia, sed post exacturum supplicia. Cujus com- 
 " moti clamor intolerabilis monet ut caveatur consor- 
 " tium in poenis." Dixit plura fortassis ad banc sen- 
 tentiam quse magis conjicienda sunt animo quam 
 committenda scripto. 
 
 B. p. 15. 
 
 Osbem, 
 p. 89. 
 Eadmer, 
 p. 179. 
 
 10. Eodem tempore Glastoniensis ecclesise monachus, Death of 
 felicem vitae sortitus terminum, feliciter supremum in- 
 currit arbitrium. Is erat Wlfredus nomine,^ diaconus 
 
 * The name seems to be taken directly from the original biographer ; 
 above, p. 15. 
 
264 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 He appears 
 to Dunstan, 
 and foretells 
 his future 
 Hfe. 
 
 Dunstan 
 demands a 
 sign. 
 
 Wulfred 
 points out 
 a place 
 where a 
 
 Eriest will 
 e buried 
 within three 
 days. 
 
 Fulfllmeht 
 of the sign. 
 
 ordine, adolescens setate, Dunstano jam inde a pneritia B. p. is. 
 sancta devinctus amicitia. Quse inter eos parili virtu- 
 turn et morum coaluerat studio, nec earn ulla unquam Eadmer, 
 amara dumtaxat interpellaverat ofFensio. Hie post ^* 
 paucum decessus sui tempus amico apparuit nocte, 
 familiari qua cognosceretur specie. Turn visus futurse 
 vitse seriem ad unguem exponere, adversa et prospera 
 juxta et incunctanter prsedicere. Nec tamen ad audita 
 Dunstanus credulo statim exilivit gaudid, doctus in 
 omnibus apponere cautelam, adhibere diligentiam. Qua- 
 propter, ut etiam in somniantis animo contempleris 
 sapientiam, visus est talia referre, " Pulchra sunt/' inquit, 
 " quse promittis, sed quo indicio habeam fidem pro- 
 " missis ?" Turn ille manu ut videbatur comprehensum 
 duxit ad australem partem atrii ecclesise ssepe nomi- 
 natsD. Scatebat ibi tota humus defunctorum memoriis, 
 ita ut, sicut hodie quoque apparet, vix alicubi pedem 
 poneres si non ad aliquod sepulcrum offenderes. Parvu- 
 lum modo erat spatium hujus immune injuriae, ubi vide- 
 batur intactus cespes et herbosa virens planitie. " Hie," 
 ait, et digito locum ostendit ad verse visionis indicium, 
 " sepelietur presbyter infra triduum, qui nullum adhue 
 " patitur ineommodum, corpus autem ejus ab occidentali 
 " parte hue deferetur tumulandum." Dixit et evanuit ; 
 alter etiam sopore solutus surrexit. Nec vero diu 
 ingrato indulsit silentio, quin continuo mane amieis 
 visionem communicaret. Simulque ad fidem dictorum 
 jaculatus calculum in locum prsedictum, subjecit, "Si 
 " vera est visio, illic infra hoc triduum tumulabitur 
 " presbyteri corpus qui adhue est alaeer et sanus." 
 Vix illi discesserant, et ecce capellanus matronse nobilis 
 Ethelfledse ad eundem se locum matutinus agebat. Is 
 cum totum cimiterium circuisset oculis tantillumque 
 spatii mortuorum. vidisset carere reliquiis, ait his qui 
 in tempore advenerant sedituis, " Paeisear qusGSO vobis- 
 " cum hane gratiam, ut cum anima exuerit corpus hie 
 " sit requietionis mese locus." Assentientibus illis abiit, 
 statimque tactus incommodo naturseque cedens, ubi 
 
AUCTOEE WILLELMO MALMESBERIENSI. 265 
 
 B. p. 16. 
 
 Osbern, 
 p. 90. 
 Eadmer, 
 p. 180. 
 
 B. p. 16. 
 Osbern, 
 p. 85. 
 Eadmer, 
 p. 175. 
 
 B. p. 18. 
 Osbern, 
 p. 86. 
 Eadmer, 
 p. 176. 
 
 Dunstan 
 strives to 
 increase in 
 grace and 
 virtue. 
 
 Ethelfreda 
 comes to 
 Glaston- 
 bury, 
 
 rogaverat ante triduum sepulcrum promeruit. Nihil 
 erat ultra quod de missione Dunstanus ambigeret. 
 Quapropter ad virtutum incrementa exsurgere, ludicris 
 mundanis, si quae animo ejus restiterant, valefacere ; 
 conari prorsus ut labor suus accederet Dei gratise, 
 quatenus quae sibi promittebantur gratuito non confer- 
 rentur immerito. Nec vero ejus industria in vacuum 
 cessit, quin potius cum multiplici Dei gratia favor 
 potentum hominum bene viventi non defuit. Quod 
 uno exemplo faciam in propatulo, si prius qusedam ad 
 id pertinentia, quasi extrinsecus a materia, posuero. 
 Brevi ergo diverticulo utar si forte relationis necessi- 
 tatem faciat brevitas lectionis excusabilem. 
 
 11. Neptis Ethelstani regis Ethelfreda/ summse poten- 
 tise foemina, de cujus presbyter o paulo ante dixi, viro de 
 compari nobilitate nupsit primo vere adolescentise. Is 
 cum diem clausisset, castitatem suam Deo consecravit, 
 ut nunquam post primi damna tori secundos experiretur 
 ignes. Quod ut expeditius teneret, Glastoniam sese in 
 otium contulit, sedificatis propter ecclesiam domibus, 
 sive ut Dei genitricis familiarius inhsereret obsequiis, 
 sive ut Dunstani liberius frueretur colloquio. Erat 
 enim ejus proxima cognata, et, ad bonum audiendum 
 salutaribus animata monitis, quotidianis etiam ne defice- 
 ret roborabatur exemplis. Utrumque ergo agebat sedulo, 
 tantumque corporis curse deerat quantum illis operam 
 impendebat. Proinde vicario dilectionis munere tan- 
 tum illi Domina nostra impertiebatur gratise ut nec in 
 minimis eam contristari sustineret. Quod dictum ut 
 evadat ambiguitatis offensam argumentum subn(3ctam. 
 
 12. Rex Athelstanus, quo nuUus unquam reenim vel Atheistan 
 
 visits Glas- 
 
 in pace justior vel in bello victoriosior fuit, Glastoniam tonbury. 
 veniebat. Quo Ethelfleda cognito matrona, quse cum in 
 omnes tum pronius in regiam sobolem semper fuisset 
 dapsilis, mandat ei ut non aspernanter ad se pransurus 
 
 and builds 
 herself a 
 house there. 
 
 Her devo- 
 tion to the 
 Blessed 
 Virgin. 
 
 1 The ^thelfleda of the first biographer, p. 16 ; the Elgifu or JEthelgifu 
 of Osbern, p. 85 ; the JElfgiva of Eadmer, p. 175. 
 
266 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 He accepts introcat. Expositis mandatis. oneravit frontem regiam b. p. is. 
 
 the invita- , - ~ O 
 
 ^ pudor. Si enim obaudiens dicto non esset, reverebatur ne q^°*o^ 
 
 Ethelfreda ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ' , pp. 86, 87. 
 
 and sends anciUam Dei commoveret : si veniret, timebat ne minus Eadmer, 
 
 his servants ' n 176 
 
 shelfas^^* sufficientem paratum ostenderet. Librato ergo consilio, ^' 
 provision neptis precibus resisteret nec ipse verecundiam 
 
 suam urgeret, misit ministros qui sufficientiam victus 
 explorarent. lUi coneito equorum cursu arva morantia 
 rapientes jussum exsequuntur, renunciantque invitatrici 
 de cseteris quidem plurimum, de hydromelle vero mi- 
 nimum esse. Hujus si possit emendari detrimentum, 
 nihil obstare quin rex ad ejus concordet votum. Quod 
 ubi accepit mulier immodicse in Deo spei respondit, 
 the virgfn " ^^ii^ uuquam saucta Christi mater, ut propter minus 
 that she " sufficientem huiusmodi potum dominus rex declinet 
 
 may not be . 
 
 put to shame " meam domum." Et cum dicto templum ingressa 
 
 on account \ ^ ^ 
 
 of the^want compellat Virginem, ut quod deerat de industria sup- 
 pleret ipsa ex misericordia ; ipsa dolium emendaret, 
 ipsa pateras spumantes coronaret. Has preces cassas 
 non fuisse oste^dit miraculum e vestigio subsecutum. 
 Assedit rex mensse totas secum in prandium trahens 
 catervas. Accelerant pincernse inter et post dapes fre- 
 quentioribus poculis invitare convivarum hilaritatem. 
 Apportant ultro citroque potionem Anglis gratam et 
 pene naturalem. Contendebat liquor cum haustoribus, 
 et quasi de fonte scaturiens damnis increscebat suis. 
 Crederes hydriam farinse et lecythum olei, quibus Sa- 
 reptenam viduam ipse pascebat qui pasci venerat. i Kings, xvii. 
 itfOTth-^*^^ Verumtamen nescias an Mc majore miraculo et excel- 
 coming. lentiore gratia, quia ibi unius sustentata est natura, 
 istic multorum oppleta est gula. Sed profecto imitata 
 est mater Domini Filii miraculum in deserto, quando 
 sub dentibus crevit panis, et majus augmentum invenit 
 in mensa quam in unda piscis. Applausit rex miraculo 
 per 'ministros cognito, nimietatem suam ultro inculpans, 
 qua potuisset Ethelfreda premi si noluisset ei Maria 
 opitulari. 
 
 13. Expedita re quae aliquantum deviabat a propo- 
 sito, nunc eam aggrediar quae partem Dunstani spectat 
 
AUCTORE WILLELMO MALMESBERIENSI. 267 
 
 B. p. 18. 
 
 OsbeiD, 
 p. 87. 
 Eadmer, 
 p. 176. 
 
 B, p. 19. 
 Osbern, 
 p. 88. 
 Eadmer, 
 p. 177. 
 
 e proximo. Hsec eadem matrona, decursa reKgiosissime 
 prsesentis vite meta, lethalem valetudinem iniit. Jam- 
 que morbus quatiebat vitalia, et ilia, Dunstano quadam 
 die accito, ad ingressum alterius sseculi oratione et 
 confessione animam composuit. Hsec occupatio sanc- 
 tum avocaverat ne ilia die vesperis monachorum in- 
 teresset. Curis explicitis, cum damnum sarcire vellet, 
 ad ecclesiam cum scholasticis contendit. Stabat ergo 
 prse foribus clavigerum opperiens. Et ecce. porrectis in 
 sublime oculis, vidit alitem pernici volatu aera secare. 
 Diligentius intuitus animadvertit esse columbam scin- 
 tillanti alarum plausu flammeam, intellexitque esse 
 Spiritum Sanctum, Qui quondam ejusdem avis mu- 
 tuatus simulacrum apud Jordanem descendit in Domi- 
 num Christum. Laetis igitur luminibus tam gloriosam 
 visionem hauriens, acuto volantem prosequebatur in- 
 tuitu, donee tecto decumbentis vidit illapsum. Reflexo 
 proinde pede, eo unde venerat impigre revertitur.' Pul- 
 santi ostium patuit, sed murmur intra cortinam auditur, 
 gradum festinantis continuit. Interrogat ancillas foriii- 
 secus excubantes, quisnam cum domina interius con- 
 sereret sermones. Nihil illae certum referunt nisi quod 
 nuperrime jubar splendidissimum domo infulgens om- 
 nem tenebrarum crassitudinem dispulerit. "Et extunc," 
 inquiunt, "usque modo, prsetento ante nos velo, 
 " loquitur cum aliquo.'* Persistit pius explorator, aure 
 apposita, donee cessaret sermocinatio altema. Tum im- 
 missus cortinee domestica personam collocutoris percunc- 
 tatur audacia. At felix matrona vultu placido renitens. 
 Quasi vero tu," inquit, "non ilium videris de quo 
 percimctaris. Ipse tibi prse foribus ecclesise visus 
 est : Ipse a me omnem hujus mortis sollicitudinem de- 
 molitus est. Quapropter de hoc exce^su nec tibi nec 
 cseteris amicis meis lamentandum censeo, quia non est 
 hsec vitse amissio, sed de captivitate in libertatem 
 migratio. Tibi autem speciales gratias et aga et 
 habeo, quoniam banc beatitudinem meam tuis monitis, 
 tuis exemplis debeo. ISlec vero fructu laborum tuo- 
 
 lUness of 
 Ethelfreda. 
 
 Dunstan 
 sees the 
 mystic dove. 
 
 He hears 
 Ethelfreda 
 conversing 
 behind her 
 curtain. 
 
 She tells 
 him with 
 whom she 
 has been 
 talking. 
 
268 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 for^he^iast " Gxcides, quoniam quod cum aliquanto labore in B. p. 29. 
 
 sacraments, " me sevisti cum gaudio metes. Hanc porro unam etp^g®^' 
 " supremam petitionem dilectrieis tuse, dileete dileetor, Eadmer, 
 " ne respuas, ut, cum aurora in primos ortus eruperit^ ^' 
 " ad ingrediendum longum iter sacra unctione et 
 " vivifica communione me communias." Dixit et con- 
 valescente morbo exercebatur. Nihil fuit ex his quod 
 segniter impleret Dunstanus, omnium obsequiorum 
 
 and dies, officiis abeuntem animam prosecutus, pulchro et mi- 
 rabili prorsus ordine, ut, cum ille mane missam cantans 
 eam communicasset, ipsa supremum efflaret. 
 
 onAthei- 14. Defuncto interea Ethelstano rege, fratqr ejus Ed-B. p. 21. 
 
 Edmund^*^ muuHus successit solio, annorum decern et octo adolescens. p ^qq"'' 
 
 becomes Q^i^' ut teneritudinem setatis maturiori firmaret consilio, Eadmer, 
 beatissimum Dunstanum inter primos optimates primum ^* 
 prsefecit palatio. Non enim exciderat animo amicitia 
 tempore fratris cum eodem viro foederata. Hserebant 
 menti prudentia in consilio, facundia in verbo, constan- 
 tia in facto. Quocirca cum jam omnia nutum ejus 
 spectarent, citra rationem putavit nisi cum eo partici- 
 paret potestatem novam cui veterem communicaverat 
 
 Dunstan amicitiam. Assensus est precibus ro^antis Dunstanus, 
 
 continues , , ^ ^ . 
 
 at court. remansitque in curia, quse sunt Csesaris Csesari reddens, 
 et qtise sunt Dei Deo. Regem ergo et principes primo 
 de justitia convenire, nec ut flecterentur^ omnino sinere. 
 Post etiam inferiores in eandem instruere formam, in 
 delinquentes acrem exercere disciplinam. Nam et hoc 
 non levi momento animos ejus impulerat, ut regiis se 
 commodaret precibus, quatenus Anglorum regno con- 
 suleret, et jamdudum laborante justitia labefactatum in 
 His^severity statum priscum erigeret. Rigor igitur viri, mentes pro- 
 enemies, cerum turbans, ignes irarum quondam sopitos exsusci- 
 tavit, donee in immensum flamma excanduit. Ad 
 nocumentum ergo ejus nec temperabant palam convitio 
 nec clam maledicto. Furor arma ministrat ; invenit 
 ira quod confingat ; exsculpit livor quod arrodat. ~Et 
 quia malignitas nunquam complicibus caret, turn per se, 
 
AUCTORE WILLELMO MALMESBERIENSI. 269 
 
 B, p. 23. 
 
 Osbern, 
 p. 90. 
 Eadmer, 
 p. 180. 
 
 B. p. 24. 
 Osbern, 
 p. 91. 
 Eadnier, 
 p. 181. 
 
 turn per satellites, regem temptantes in eandem traducunt 
 sententiam. Postposito enim jure amicitise, oblitus sal- 
 tern humanse verecundias, jubet eum omnibus necessa- 
 riis ablatis curia eliminari. Stulte prorsus et proterve, 
 quia nihil turpius est quam si cum eo bellum geras 
 quocum familiariter vixeras. Hac tempestate sanctus 
 perculsus fluctuabat animo et sententise ambiguo. Ita 
 quippe hostes omnes aditus prsecluserant, omnes calles 
 obsederant, ut ei ad Glastoniam commeatus non esset, 
 quamvis nec ubi possit commorari tutOj averso a se 
 regis animo. Ees apud Ceddrum gerebatur. Erant 
 ibi exterarum gentium legati, quos Dunstanus con- 
 veniens eis hostiles exponit calumnias, implorans ut 
 fortunas tutentur suas. lUi dignitate viri et indigni- 
 tate rei permoti, civilem induerunt animum, bona terrae 
 suae maxima poUiciti, si vellet comitari secum. Et 
 profecto nisi Deus illius tempestatis solvisset nebulam, 
 amisisset tunc Anglia lucem clarissimam. Sed enim 
 statim in crastinum serenior aura regis afflavit animum 
 per Dei omnipotentis miraculum. Quod quatenus fac- 
 tum sit breviter expediam. 
 
 15. Mons est in Ceddro arboribus opacis declivi cres- 
 cens supercilio, faiicibus immane quantum p^tentibus. 
 Ibi cervi et cseterse ferae venatibus aptae in praeruptis 
 posuere cubilia saxis. Ad eas persequendas rex mane 
 surrexerat ingenita divitum consuetudine, ut nihil putent 
 voluptuosius quam indulgere venatibus. Canes ergo 
 emissi copulis exciverant feras lustris ; inter quas ingenti 
 corpore cervum cursu insuperabilem, cornibus ramosis 
 minacem. Hunc alipede cursu per plana, per avia fu- 
 gientem animosius rex persequebatur. Jam fera declivia 
 percurrerat, jam in summum montis jugum evaserat. 
 Ibi quoque canibus terga ejus vellicantibus, negata omni 
 fugiendi copia, praecipiti ad ima saltu complevit fata. 
 Nec vero capacitas canum moUiori mortis genere ab- 
 sumpta. Horum casu rex perterritus et equi rapidita- 
 tem fraenare conatus, lusit operam, vires consumpsit 
 anhelas. Nam nisui hominis repugnante bestia., habenae 
 
 He is 
 banished 
 by Edmund 
 from court. 
 
 He asks the 
 help of some 
 foreign 
 envoys. 
 
 The king 
 goes to hunt 
 at Cheddar. 
 
 He pursues 
 a stag to 
 the brink of 
 a precipice. 
 
270 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Edmund diruptse et procul disiectse. Ita conatn irrito equus b. p. 24. 
 
 preparing ^ ^ i r» Olf 
 
 for death, furens regem sub ipsnm matnm faucium pervexit. Non p 92"*' 
 tamen ille in tanfo periculo sui oblitus, sensatas cogi- Eadmer, 
 tationes volvebat animo, et fortassis expromebat dicto ; ^' ^^^* 
 se in proximis diebus nullum aliqua temerasse injuria, 
 nisi quod Dunstanum summa lassisset arrogantia, quod 
 expulisset amicum curia, prius addictum quam convic- 
 
 bethinks tum, ante damnatum quam auditum. Id se plane 
 
 himself of ^ t. r 
 
 the wrong corrccturum ex placito, si eum Deus ipsius meritis a 
 
 Dunstan. praesenti eximeret periculo. Tua Deus misericors gratia, 
 Tua Christe omnipotens dementia. Vix Ihsqg vel cogi- 
 taverat vel dixerat, et equus, jam positis in voragine 
 pedibus anterioribus, qui ante ssevierat tyrannico cursu 
 superbus, constitit ove placidius. Hsec res tantum apud 
 
 He is saved. Eadmundum valuit, ut ex ilia die in reliquum nuUus 
 in animo ejus fuerit Dunstano gratiosior, nuUus in 
 
 He orders reono erloriosior. Denique statim accitum benioTio qui- 
 
 Dunstan , , it»ii . 
 
 to go with dem respexit oculo, sed dissimulato pauiisper ammo 
 
 himtoGlas-. ... j ' i t , 
 
 tonbury. jussit ut asccHso equo sccum ulastomam contenderet. 
 
 Quo ubi perventum est, rex inclinatus ad preces de sua 
 liberatione Deo recitavit grates. Comitabantur omnes 
 lacrymse veris singultibus expromptsB. Quas ubi et 
 ratione resorbuit et digito compescuit, avide beatam 
 beati yiri dexteram apprehendens grato earn demulsit B. p. 25. 
 osculo. Tum deinde ut veteris scriptoris verba sub- ^^^l^^^' 
 
 He makes liciam, ducens eiim ad sacerdotalem cathedram et eum Osbern, 
 
 mm abbot , . . , p 92 
 
 there. imponens dixit, Esto istius sedis princeps potensque Eadmer, 
 " insessor, et prsesentis ecclesise fidelissimus abbas.'' Si- P» 182« 
 quidem proxime episcopus factus fuerat abbas Alfricus ^ 
 successor Ealdhuni. Adjecit deinde rex quod quicquid 
 
 1 This is in accordance -with our 
 author's own arrangement of the 
 abbots of Glastonbury ; but in the 
 more ancient list given in the Cot- 
 ton MS. Tiberius, B. 5, Dunstan's 
 predecessor is named Egwulf, and 
 two other abbots, Guthlac and Cuth- 
 red, are interposed between him and 
 
 Andhun, the Aldhun of the text. 
 There were more than one bishop 
 of the name of Elfric at this time ; 
 one at Hereford, consecrated about 
 941, and one at Ramsbury, in or 
 about 942. In the ancient list, just 
 referred to, Dunstan's successor at 
 Glastonbury is named Elfric. 
 
AUCTORE WILLELMO MALMESBERIENSI. 271 
 
 B. p. 25. 
 
 Osbem, 
 p. 92. 
 Eadmer, 
 p. 182. 
 
 necessariorum habitatoribus deesset ipse regia liberalitate 
 suppleret. Quibus verbis novus scriptor indiscretionis, 
 ut molliter dieam, arguitur, qui, ut alias dixi,^ dicit et 
 repetit Sanctum Dunstanum primum abbatem Glastonise 
 concedente rege monacbos posuisse. Quid enim per 
 cathedram sacerdotalem nisi sedes abbatis intelligitur, 
 cui Dunstanus a rege impositus dicitur ? Quae- quomodo 
 ibi sine monachis et abbate fuerit, dicat qui intelligit. 
 Cseterum quanti penderet Edmundus Glastoniani ab eo 
 tempore notius est quam ut nostro indigeat illustrari 
 relatu. Ob hunc in Deo favorem arridebat ei omnis 
 prosperitas et omnium bellorum invicta felicitas. Deni- 
 que et Northanimbros, magnum et gentile tumentes, 
 ita contudit ut omnem laborem sueeessoribus suis ab- 
 stulerit. Illud fuit tempus quo Sanetus Odo Cantuari- 
 ensis archiepiscopus ossa beati Wilfridi ab ea regione 
 ablata apud sedem suam aurea condidit theca. Quo- 
 modo autem et quo auctore reliquiae sancto]'um ex 
 Transumbranis Glastoniam sint advectse, in libro de 
 Antiquitate ejusdem Ecclesise accepta inserere non 
 pigebit, si Deus mentem meam ad quod intendo 
 direxerit.^ 
 
 Criticism 
 on Osbem's 
 statement 
 that Dun- 
 stan was the 
 first abbot 
 of Glas- 
 tonbury. 
 
 Victories of 
 Edmund. 
 
 Odo trans- 
 lated the 
 bones of 
 Wilfrid. 
 
 B. p. 25. 
 
 Osbera, 
 p. 92. 
 Eadmer, 
 p. 182. 
 
 16. At Dunstanus, ree^ise liberalitatis et amicitise com- P^nstan*s 
 
 •r\ • n • • buildings at 
 
 pos, monasterium Dei dignatione sibi concessum in sum- 
 
 mum provehere contendit. Est ibi ecclesise liefneae, ut t?^®^ and 
 
 . , , , o ' aisles. 
 
 ante dixi, lapidea contermina, cujus auctorem Inam 
 regem non falsa confirmat antiquitas. Hanc ille adjecta 
 turri ad multum spatium prorogavit ; et ut latitudo 
 longitudini conquadraret, alas vel porticus quas vocant 
 adjecit. Ita vir industrius impendit operam ut, quan- 
 tum antiquse structurse patiebatur schema, utrobique 
 fieret ingens basilica. Ubi et si aliquid desideratur 
 venustse pulchritudinis, nihil deest necessarise capaci- 
 tatis. Cimiterium monachorum ab australi ecclesiae 
 
 1 Above, p. 251. 
 
 2 W. Malmesb. de Antiq. Glaston. EccL (ed. Gale), p. 301. 
 
272 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 He built the 
 Vail of the 
 cemetery. 
 
 Monastic 
 revival in 
 England. 
 
 Pame of 
 Ethelwold. 
 
 He was a 
 scholar at 
 Glaston* 
 bury. 
 
 Dunstan's 
 vision 
 about him. 
 
 p. 182. 
 
 pariete maceria in multos pedes protenta inclusit. 
 Ipsnm spatium quadratis lapidibus excitavit in tumu- 
 lum, videturque quasi pratum amcenissimum ab omni 
 ambulantium strepitu alienum, ut merito de Sanctis 
 ibi pausantibus dici queat, " Corpora eorum in pace 
 " sepulta sunt." 
 
 17. rtaque ob prseconium religionis ejus, quae dulci B. p. 26. 
 compatriotarum fines impleverat aura, undatim ad ejus p.^^^"' 
 disciplinam confluebant homines. Suscipiebat ille om- ^^^^^^> 
 nes et offerebat Deo, promovens eos tam verbo quam 
 exemplo. Dedit felix emolumentum divinitas. magistri 
 doctrinae et auditorum obedientise, dum ex eodem grege 
 abbatibus electis multse per Angliam et emendatae et 
 fundatae sunt abbatiae. Quid dico de abbatibus ? Epi- 
 scopi et archiepiscopi, de conventu illo procedentes, 
 dederunt orbi Britannico indicium quale de Dunstano 
 mundus deberet habere judicium. 
 
 Unum pro exemplo Ethelwoldum advoco, quia de plu- 
 ribus dicere in immensum esset pergere. Is nec iners 
 nec imprudens nec praeterea tenuis patrimonii clericus, 
 cum multa monasteria voluntati ejus occurrerent quae 
 ilium obviis manibus exciperent, solum omnium morta- 
 lium Dunstanum suae vitae consiliarium elegit, illius 
 commilitium, illius contubemium desiderans, ei convi- 
 vere, ei commori exaestuans. Venit ergo Glastoniam et 
 ibi grammaticam artemque metricam edoctus, postremo 
 etiam monachus factus monachi vigilavit in actus. 
 Cujus religio quantum conferret mundo Deus Ipse os- 
 tendit Dunstano veraci et perspicuo somnio. Visus est 
 sibi videre ^ infra septa monasterii arborem patulis ra- 
 mis omnem Angliam obumbrantem. Ramos omnem 
 monachilibus tunicis onustos in summo culmine unam 
 latitudine sui caeteras obvelantem. Dunstanus, visionis 
 subtilitatem discemere impotens, ducem venerandae ut 
 
 ' See W. Malmesb. Gesta Pontiff., 
 pp. 165, 166 ; Wulfstan, V. S. Ethel- 
 
 woldi, Mabillon, AA. SS. O.S.B. 
 S8BC. V. p. 607. 
 
AUCIORE WILLELMO MALMESBERIENSI. 273 
 
 videbatur canitiei presbyterum consulendum putavit. interpreta- 
 
 , , , . tionofthe 
 
 Ille remotis ambagibus dilucide omnia prosecutus est. vision. 
 " Arbor/' ait, " est hsec insula ; major cuculla est Ethel- 
 woldi monachi tui religiosa gratia. CseteraE) sunt 
 " multorum monachorum animse quas ille conti'a dia- 
 " bolum religionis suae velo, et quodam justitise defendet 
 " umbraculo." Hanc visionem abbas tunc quidem si- 
 lentio dedit, sed cum vidisset spem suam, quam de 
 Athelwoldo taciturnus alebat, in effectum procedere, non 
 dubitavit quae viderat multis coram ingerere. Secutus Fulfilment 
 
 ^ ^ in the 
 
 est rerum effectus cceleste oraculum, tantaque ac tot career of 
 
 ^ Ethelwold. 
 
 per ilium virum, postea W3m.toniensem episcopum, con- 
 structa sunt monasteria, quanta ut aggrediatur nullius 
 regis modo spirare ausit industria. Sed de hiis con- 
 traham stilum, ne videatur vagari extra propositum, 
 quamvis a meta dicendi hsec relatio non exorbitaverit, 
 cum deceat abbatem subjectorum bona provehere et 
 prosperitates animo prsesagire. Quocirca hoc de vita 
 ejusdem Athelwoldi sumptum quominus apponerem non 
 abstinui, quia, ut scriptum est, " Gloria patris est filius 
 sapiens." Onmia ergo Athelwoldi benefacta in Dun- 
 stanum redundant, quorum fructum eo gratiosius tulit, 
 quo cumulatius semen in alterum transfudit. 
 
 B. pp. 26, 18. Horum ere:o et similium bonorum fimdamenta Dun- Attacks of 
 
 o*? ^ ^ ' t ' • devil. 
 
 Osbern stanus probe faciebat m Glastoma. Sed enim antiquus 
 p. 93. hostis ssepenumero aperta monstrabat impudentia quan- 
 pp.^m,' prsesentibus livor angeret, quantus de futuxis 
 
 183. timor torqueret. Armatus enim feralibus et malitiee 
 SU88 congruis simulacris, beluinosque indutus vultus 
 crebris eum fatigabat impulsibus. Denique nocte qua- 
 dam orantem ter appetiit, trium ferarum figuram emen- 2®/^^^ 
 titus. Primo visus ursus hians et horrendis hispidus ^^^'^^^^^ 
 setis; secundo canis prsemisso latratu torvos in eum 
 rictus irritans ; tertio ganniens vulpecula dolosaque allu- 
 dens Cauda. Quibus omnibus Christi signo in fugam 
 actis, non solum non motus sed etiam materiam l^etitiae 
 
 s 
 
274 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANl 
 
 Dunstan iiactus est. Severitatem quippe frontis risu solvens ultro B. p. 27 
 Cscorn.^^ injecit hosti obprobrium quod speciem mutuaretur ^ ^g®^' 
 ferarum ; ille qui quondam par Deo appetisset fasti- Eadmer 
 gium nunc se ostenderet in urso saevum et sanguina- ^' ^^^* 
 rium^ improbum et ingratum in cane, versipellem et 
 mendacem in vtilpe. 
 Defeatedby 19. Confusus diabolus de sancti victoria, consilia, utB. pp. 27, 
 
 Dunstan t n , i i -r^ . . . 28 
 
 teSptsMm ' volvebat yersuta. Et quoniam vigilanti non Xielard, 
 
 asleep, at pr^valuerat, arbitratus fortassis, si solutis in somnium p. 59. 
 
 the altar of ^ . , Osbern 
 
 s. George. sensiDus cum adoriretur, levi negotio cessurum, has non p ' 
 neglexit insidias. Sedebat ille quadam nocte ante beati -Eadmer, 
 Georgii Martyris altare, et exercitio psalmodise noctur- ^* 
 nas protelabat excubias. Peccavit in psallentem lassi- 
 tudo, quae paulisper eum dormitare coegit. Jamque 
 somno in oculos serpente, et summissis palpebris nuta- 
 bat mento, cum affuit ille cui nulla festinatior 6st 
 voluptas, quam ut bono viro machinetur insidias. Vil- 
 tSIn vain ^^^^^ eiAm ursi speciem assumens, et pedibus super 
 Mm! but he ^^^^^ humeros insistens, pestifero hiatu minari et un- 
 sound*ofttie S^^^^^ arpagare visus est. Timor quietem ' depulit, 
 Psalm. statimque arrepto quern pro more gerebat baculo, dum 
 informe portentum percutere conatur inanes ventilavit 
 auras. Ictus vero non cassis viribus in lapidem proxi- 
 mum delatus, terribilis stridore soni ecclesiam implevit. 
 Ita interruptum psalmodisG ordinem continuans, ubi 
 dimiserat incepit ; " Exsurgat Deus et dissipentur ini- 
 " mici Ejus, et fugiant qui oderunt Eum facie Ejus." Ps.ixviu.i. 
 Quibus verbis se notatum intelligens hostis, exjiit for- 
 mam alienam et recepit suam. Namque nebulosa ob- 
 tectus fuKgine, visus est paulatim ante oculos viri in 
 subtilem aerem evanescere. 
 
 ^gjstenhad 20. Nocturno aggressui diumse successere insidise. B. p. 28. 
 
 Wuifric. * Habuerat hie sanctus fratrem, Wlfricum nomine, bonse 
 religionis laicum. Huic exteriorum curam delegaverat, 
 ut ipse ab omni strepitu causarum feriatus avidius 
 coelestia gaudia praelibaret. Wlfricus fideliter et grate 
 
AUCTORE WILLELMO MALMESBERIENSI. 275 
 
 B. pp. 28, officium exsecutus vitse dies explevit. At Dunstanus WuiMc 
 
 29 ' dies. 
 
 germanse necessitudinis pietate devinctus funus honorifice 
 eurari jussit, Monachi omnes, ut patri morem gererent, 
 communem dolorem private luctui aceommodarunt. Ita- 
 que quidam ut corpus adveherent longe profecti, quidam 
 ut acciperent extra septa pros^ressi, coenobium vacuo- On the day 
 
 o I o 1 J. '± ' ofthefune- 
 
 lecerant. bolus pater remansit cum puero, qui sevo rai,Dunstan, 
 accedente factus episcopus hujusce relationis index fuit. with one 
 Lento ersfo OTadu intra atrium quod supra dixi spatia-inthe 
 
 ^ T , 1 monastery, 
 
 bantur, adventum, ut credo, monacnorum prsestolantes. narrowly 
 
 - „ - . . escapes from 
 
 Et ecce, dubium quo eventu, velut funda omissus melons a stone mi- 
 
 ^ ^ ' ^ ^ raculously 
 
 lapis stridulas everberans auras in Dunstani caput ve- cast at him. 
 nit. Nec vero ille praevidit ictum vel prsecavit, sed 
 Deus ab eo avertit. Nam citra ullam Isesionem capitis 
 pileo excusso, lapis longe ruit. Bone Deus 1 quid hoc 
 monstri fuit ? Mortales cuncti aberant, de puero porro 
 nulla suspicio. Nam quomodo ei fuisset saxum jacula- 
 bile, quod cum sibi Dunstanus afferri jussisset vix potuit 
 humo toUere ? Prseterea forma, Summertensi pago incog- 
 nita, omnem de hominibus suspicionem purgabat. Qua- 
 propter dtemonis fuisse missile telum, sanctus et intellexit 
 et dixit, qui suae invideret saluti quam servire videret 
 multorum profectui. Assignavit tamen cautelse lapidem 
 perditum iri non debere, ut hostiles insidias monachi 
 tanto caverent promptius, quanto earum formam conspi- 
 carentur prsesentius. 
 B. pp. 44- 21. Interea suprema dies regis Edmundi mortis pulsa- Dunstan.on 
 bat ianuam, accitusque nescio qua de causa Dunstanus 
 
 court, rides 
 
 Osbern, -i • -n i j. i -n • mi with the 
 
 p. 94. venit £(,d curiam. Pergebant ex more de villa m viliam, eaidorman 
 
 Elfetan 
 
 ^^m^^' quod unus locus diu tantam non sustineret frequentiam. 
 
 ^ ' Adequitabat sancto dux Elfstanus, et serebatur inter 
 eos sermo varius, cum Dunstanus, porrectis ad agmen 
 tubicinum oculis, vidit dsemonem histrionicos motus 
 agere, gesticulari et saltare quasi plane ipsum <iiceret 
 inter eiusmodi artifices esse. Diu hsesit obtutu intento He sees an 
 
 1 . Ti*- 1 i evilspmt. 
 
 petulantiam hostis admiratus. Mox ducem percuncta- 
 tus an idem ille videret, ubi eum nihil prseter solitum 
 
 s 2 
 
276 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Elfstan, 
 having 
 signed his 
 eyes with 
 the cross, 
 sees him 
 also. 
 
 Elfstan 
 relates a 
 dream. 
 
 Dunstan 
 interprets. 
 
 The evil 
 spirit ap- 
 pears again. 
 
 The king 
 sits down 
 to meat. 
 
 He sees a 
 robber and 
 tries to ar- 
 rest him, 
 but is killed. 
 
 videre intellexit, Signa/' inquit, " vir illustrissime, B. pp. 44- 
 " signa oculos tuos crucis signaculo, si forte possis Qg'^g^jj 
 " videre quod video." Paruit is et non distulit : nec p. 94. 
 mora, lux adeo clara bruta prius exacuit lumina ut non p j^^^' 
 minus quam ipse sanctus conspicaretur impudentis 
 monstri saltus. Inde abbas malum regi ominatus mor- 
 tem ejus non quidem aperto sed suspenso prodidit 
 vaticinio. Tum prsBtenta cruce et disparente fantas- 
 mate, protulit dux in medium proximse noctis somnium. 
 Visum sibi regem inter medios convivii strepitus ob- 
 dormiscere, proceres omnes in hircos et capras mutates 
 esse. Corripuit verbum Dunstanus ab ore loquentis, et 
 subjeeit, "Dormitio ergo regis mors est. Mutatio pro- 
 " cerum in petulcas pecudes est eorum vita putida et 
 " lasciva perfidia." Mirum id dietu et verum ! Nam 
 partem prophetise in tempora regis Edwii fortuna dis- 
 tulit, partem continuo in effectum rapuit. Quod nimi- 
 rum palam fecit eodem die repetita dsemonis visio et 
 inter coenantes discursatio. Hsec adeo sanctus prseclare 
 videbat et ostendebat, ut a quibusdam putaretur vel 
 male credere vel parum prospere mente valere. Jam 
 lux fatalis illuxerat, et rex auditis officiis ad curam 
 corporis ab ecclesia in aulam festinabat. Ibi obvius 
 qiiidam Dunstano rotulam undique perscriptam manu 
 gestitabat. Consultus quis esset, respondit Anglice juxta 
 polite ut indigena, ex orientali regno se venisse, quse- 
 dam se regi secreto communicanda deferre. Ei nunciatus 
 jussusque introduci, reperiri non potuit. Hac de causa 
 qusestione inter aulicos orta, dum res diligentius disr 
 quiritur positis mensis rex discubuit. Adduxerat eo 
 funesta sors quendam sicarium, quern quondam viola- 
 tarum legum remn patria expulerat. Hunc intuitus 
 Eadmundus, ira prsefervidus et animum contin^re im- 
 potens, nemini quicquam dicens, in capillos involat. 
 Latrunculus, qui ad tale infortunium se paraverat, sica 
 velociter extracta, regem antequam a satellitibus ac- 
 curri posset confodit. Exivit in orbem fabula, magno 
 
AUCTOKE WILLELMO MALMESBERIENSI. 277 
 
 B. pp. 44> 
 46. 
 
 Osbern, 
 p. 94. 
 Eadmer, 
 p. 184. 
 
 dedecore AngKse, quod nulla possit emendare memoria. 
 Communi ergo decretum consilio et funus Glastoniam bury, 
 delatum, ibique in aquilonali parte turris magnifice 
 humatum. Id eum voluisse pro familiari abbatis ami- 
 citia per nonnuUa claruerat indicia. Data in inferias 
 villa in qua occubuerat, ut qu8G semel conscia fuerat 
 homicidii, semper in posterum pro anima ejus esset 
 adjutrix beneficii. 
 
 B. pp. 29- 
 31. 
 
 B. p. 29. 
 
 Adelard, 
 p. 56. 
 Osbern, 
 p. 94. 
 Eadmer, 
 p. 184. 
 
 1 S. Pet. ii. 
 17. 
 
 22. Quia vero fiKi Edmundi pro setate puerili ad reg- 
 nandum non videbantur idonei, substituerunt proceres 
 Eldredum, ut regnaret loco fratrum suorum ; virum paci 
 et justitise accommodum, hominibus morigerum et jo- 
 cundum, Deo devotum non minus pene quam monachum. 
 Temptabat eum frequenter improspera valitudo, et ve- 
 hementer ad patientiam exercebat. Nam praeter alia 
 quibus quotidianis horis anhelabat ad exitum, interraneo- 
 rum maxime cruciatu vexabatur, cibum omnem sto- 
 macho nausiante rejiciens. Annis ergo novem in regno 
 non tam vixit quam vitam traxit, totius corporis tor- 
 mentis infractus et debilis. Quapropter Dunstanum, 
 qui eum primus in regem acclamaverat, et aliis et sibi 
 prpefecit, ut pro scientia imperitaret regno, pro religione 
 mederetur incommodo. Prseterea quicquid pretiosissi- 
 mum mortales opinantur ejus delegavit tutelse, thesauros 
 ab antecessoribus elaboratos et sibi hsereditario jure 
 transfusos. Suscepit ille et suo reposuit monasterio, 
 non auri specie captus sed depositoris amore devinctus. 
 Tunc justitise normam per totum regnum extendere, et 
 quae ultra vagarentur severe simul et opportune reci- 
 dere. Pati nullum peccatis insolescere, cunctis pri- 
 mum Dei judicium, secundo legum vigorem, proponere. 
 Cuncta regis gratise, regis fidei, attribuens, magnis suis 
 laboribus commoda ejus ssepe nundinatus ; Dei timorem 
 semper prse oculis habens, nihil quod Eum offenderet 
 in se regnare permittens. Sciebat enim scriptum, 
 " Deum timete, regem honorificate." Nec minus Ed- 
 
 Edred sue 
 ceeds, a good 
 man but 
 very sickly. 
 
 He reigned 
 nine years. 
 
 Dunstan 
 was his 
 chief ad- 
 viser and 
 treasurer. 
 
278 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Diiiistan's 
 friendship 
 with Bdred. 
 
 Ethelwold 
 made abbot 
 of Abingdon. 
 
 Dunstan 
 refuses the 
 see of 
 Crediton. 
 
 On the 
 death of 
 Elfege, 
 Winchester 
 is offered 
 him. 
 
 redus grato benefacienti concurrebat animo, nec unquam 
 eum aliquis uUo potuit concutere maledicto, ut existi- 
 maret prave de Dunstano. Aderat ille pene semper et 
 mansitabat in palatio, quamvis ejus curam cuneta in 
 Anglia exspectarent negotia. Adeo eum amor regis 
 sibi devinxerat, ut ne puneto quidem temporis abesse 
 pateretur. Frequenter etiam captatis occasionibus tum 
 in eum tum in sibi subjectos perliberalis et munificus 
 fuit. Denique Athelwoldum, de quo supra dixi, Glas- 
 tonia extractum in abbatem Abbendoniensem provexit, 
 multa de suo viro largitus. Tantumque amori ejus 
 detulit, ut raro stipatus satellite, ipse per se ad monas- 
 terium venire ofScinasque monachorum metiri non 
 erubesceret. 
 
 23. Jam vero relatu arduum est, quotiens Dunstano b. pp. 29, 
 ut episcopatum dignaretur suaserit nec persuaserit. De ^^^^^^^.^ 
 duobus narrare sufficiet. Ethelgari Gridiensis episcopi p. 56. 
 senis anima, vetustate corporis deposita, in juventam ^®q^^^' 
 aquilse transierat. Ejus locum Edredus per Dunstanum Eadmer, 
 supplere conatus plurimas in irritum fudit preces. P* 
 Excusationis ejus ratio fuit in causa quod dominum 
 regem, et debilem, et prsesertim sui amantem, occasione 
 tam longinqui episcopatus deserere videretur barbari et 
 minime mitis animi. Prseterea rem esse magni oneris 
 et se minimse religionis, nec expedire ut episcopatum 
 accipiat nondum patientibus meritis. Ne tamen nihil 
 pro rege, qui tam prona devotione amori suo deditus 
 erat^ facere videretur, de consilio suo electus est Al- 
 woldus, qui maturis moribus juvenis sedi succederet 
 boni senis. Hoc consilio rex dejectus molimen alterum 
 aggreditur. Nam Elphego Wintoniensi episcopo, de quo 
 supra diximus, ad felicem quietem composito, res sug- 
 gerere videbatur ne Dunstanus ulterius petenti regi 
 negaret assensum. Nam et ipse sanctus rudimenta 
 religionis in eadem urbe conceperat, et Edredus episco- 
 pali ecclesise honorificandae mentem addixerat. Quippe, 
 ut verba illius qui vitam sancti Athelwoldi composuit 
 
AUCTORE WILLELMO MALMESBERIENSI. 279 
 
 B. p. 30. 
 Adelard, 
 p. 57. 
 Osbem, 
 p. 96. 
 Eadmer, 
 p. 185. 
 
 apponam, erat rex " veteris in Wintonia coenobii specialis 
 " amator et defensor, ut plura testantur " quae ibi larga 
 manu contulit. Qui etiam, si vita comes esset, orien- 
 " talem porticum ejusdem ecelesiae auratis imbricibus 
 " adornare disposuerat." ^ Ad hunc ergo episcopatum Dun- 
 stanum sublimare intendens, sed pudori suo consulens 
 ne iterum repulsam pateretur, simulque sciens quantum 
 foemina valeat viriles animos tentare viresque inflectere, 
 Elfgivse matri suse opus injungit. Monentis fuit sermo 
 ut Dunstanum communem amicum, tutorem unicum, 
 precibus ad suscipiendum episcopatum impelleret. Id 
 convescens faceret, quo facilius hilaritas convivii et 
 astantium frequentia eum a sententia negandi deduceret. 
 Ilia, quae non minore dignatione sanctum suspiceret, 
 nescio etiam an ei majori dilectione obnoxia esset, 
 adornat probe convivium, adornato amicum introducit, 
 alFectat blanditias, sermones componit, precibus pulsat, 
 promissis onerat, postremo quantum foemina, quantum 
 amans, quantum regina potest, aggreditur. Sed parum 
 procedit, parum aut nihil ille omnibus his motus urget 
 propositum, rationes quas prsedixi allegans. Nec vero 
 adhuc ilia desineret nisi sanctus nonnihil stomachatus 
 diceret, "Certissimum tibi, domina, constet quod nun- 
 quam in diebus filii tui ero episcopus." Quo dicto et 
 reginsB silentium et sibi otium indulsit. 
 
 Edred's 
 love for 
 Winchester. 
 
 He asks his 
 mother to 
 persuade 
 Dunstan.' 
 
 Dunstan 
 refuses to 
 be made 
 bishop while 
 the king 
 lives. 
 
 24. Et quidem tanta placidi viri ex intentione boni pro- Dunstan^s 
 cedebat obstinatio, sed eam minus Deo placere sequentis 
 noctis ostendit visio. Qua etiam luce clarius constitit, 
 quanta ilium semper gratia miseratio divina prsevenerit. 
 Adhuc puero senex in somnis apparens, Glastoniam per 
 eum reparandam promiserat. Juveni seque juvenis visus 
 ad summos eum ^adus provehendum preedixerat. Nunc He now has 
 
 ^ , a vision of 
 
 vero ut omne visionum suarum eluctaretur involucrum, apostles. 
 
 ^ The passage is very nearly in 
 the words of Wulfstan, the bio- 
 
 grapher of S. Ethel wold ; Mabillon, 
 AA. SS. O.S.B., Sscc. v. p. 600. 
 
280 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 He dreaded solvit Ipse Deus per apostolos Suos omne ambififuum, B. p. 30. 
 
 that on his . . o ' Adelard 
 
 from^Rome ^^^^^ ecclesiarum pontifex esset futums palam prse- p 57 ' 
 he met conatus. Visus sibi erat Romam isse et apud apo- Osbem, 
 
 S.Peter, p 96 
 
 I'^jJ^^d stolos deposita oratione pedem ad reditum reflectere. Eadmer, 
 each hold- Tum ad locum citra Sutrium venisse cui Mons GaudiiP-i^^- 
 
 ing an m- 
 
 sword^ nomen a peregrinis datum. Ibi enim ab itinerantibus 
 Romana cemuntur moenia, ibi magnse viae laboribus 
 emensis peregrini felicis spei prsesumunt gaudia. Eo 
 loci Petrus et Paulus et Andreas apostoli ei oceurrere 
 visi, singulos gladios tenentes singuli. In duorum 
 autem gladiis eorum nomina legeres ; porro in beati 
 Petri ense aureis litteris scriptum cemeres, " In prin- 
 " cipio erat Verbum et Verbum erat apud Deum.'' s. John i, i. 
 Omnes ergo parili liberalitate gladios Dunstano prse- 
 buere, Andreas autem hilariori vultus Isetitia visus 
 amicum perstringei*e. Quantum enim mortales possunt 
 supernorum hserere contubernio familiari ab aevo ine- 
 unte famulatus ei fuerat obsequio, multa ejus beneficia 
 frequenter expertus. Ille igitur quasi etymologiee cog- 
 nominis sui alludens, qua mitissimus sanctorum et sen- 
 titur et dicitur, simulque legationem allegans suam, 
 suavi melo insonuit, " Tollite jugum meum super vos, 
 " quia mitis sum et humilis corde." Deinde Dunstanus 
 l^l^^owof dulci beati Petri conventus imperio manum porrigere, 
 blandientisque virgulae crepitum persentiens, audire pro- 
 meruit, banc esse pridie refutati prsesulatus vindictam, 
 et ulterius non refutandi suadelam. Hoc excitus sono 
 finem dedit somno. Pro magno sane miraculo quasi 
 He awakes, alicnatus animo, interrogavit prope accumbentem mona- 
 chum quisnam eum perculerit. lUo percussorem ne- 
 gantCj sobria tandem ad se reversus mente dixit, Nunc 
 " scio, fill, nunc scio, inquam, quis me perculerit." Nec 
 mora, noctis reliquias in Dei egressus laudibus, prorum- 
 pente diluculo, ad regem ingressus totius visionis non 
 falsus index fuit. Tunc gloriosus rex concepto vati- 
 Edred in- ciuii spiritu, futura incunctanter exsolvit, 2:ladios apos- 
 
 terprets. i i • . - • r* 
 
 tolorum ecclesiasticum sigmficare pontincatum. Fu- 
 turum ergo eum episcopum ecclesi^* ''im quae praedic- 
 
 The words 
 of S. An- 
 drew. 
 
AUCTORE WILLELMO MALMESBERIENSI. 281 
 
 B. p. 30. 
 
 Osbern, 
 p. 97. 
 Eadmer, 
 p. 186. 
 
 B. p. 31. 
 
 Adelard, 
 p. 58. 
 Osbern, 
 p. 98. 
 Eadmer, 
 p. 187. 
 
 torum apostolorum operiuntur nutum. Porro scrip- 
 turam quae de beati Petri micabat gladiO;, sigiiificare 
 futurum eum in Cantia primatem ; ibi est enim Sal- 
 vatoris Jesu Christi ecelesia ; depostea protulit verba 
 beatus et yerus symmista. Dixit hsec ille, non conjec- 
 tantis animo sed veraci prsesagio, sicut et rerum ef- 
 fectus ostendit et lectionis eontinuatio manifestabit. 
 Quid in his mirabilius dicam non diffinio, Dei gTatiam 
 oecurrentem viro, an viri meritum concurrens Deo, an 
 regis mentem accurrentem vaticinio. Sed Tua, Christe 
 Deus, sunt omnia. Tua fluxit in Dunstanum gratia, 
 Dunstani^ excrevit per Te gloria. Tuo munere fuit 
 vera regis propbetia. 
 
 25. Non post multum tempus, Edredus, violentia morbi 
 pressus, lento in mortem agebatur spiritu. Mandatum 
 ergo curavit Dunstanum vitse arbitrum, mortis tuto- 
 rem. lUe tristi perculsus rumore, eeler equum insilit. 
 Tantum morse in medio nt jumenta thesauris oneraret 
 quos rex supremse voluntatis arbitrio dispensaret. Con- 
 ficit iter noete dieque stimulis amoris negotium acce- 
 lerans. Nulla viro pausa, nulla requies calcaribus ; 
 labor ingens subinde mutatis animalibus. Sed Deus 
 et amici pectoris soUicitudinem, et afflicti corporis la- 
 borem miseratus, utrumque demissa superne voce com- 
 pescuit. "Modo/' inquit, "Edredus rex obdormivit in 
 " Domino." Tum jumentum cui sedebat coelestis toni- 
 trus impatiens animam amisit, sed ipse itineris con- 
 tinuationi securior indulsit. Turbavit sodales vocis 
 crepitus et animalis interitus, qui sonum quidem au- 
 dierant, sed sensum non discreverant. Absolvit Dun- 
 stanus timorem, rem ut erat ordine pandens, et pro 
 regis anima preces Deo meduUitus fundens. Modicum 
 inde cum progressus esset, venientibus nunciis post nun- 
 cios alteris post alteros, coelestis oraculi fidem approbavit. 
 Jam vero, ubi ad locum perventum, fuit videre miseriam ; 
 exanime regis corpus pene sine custode jacere, familiam 
 omnem diffugisse. Momentum fortunee sequebatur pro- 
 
 He foretells 
 
 Dunstan's 
 
 promotion. 
 
 Illness of 
 Edred. 
 
 Dimstan 
 goes to visit 
 him. 
 
 He has a 
 warning of 
 the king's 
 death. 
 
 He receives 
 the news, 
 and finds 
 the king's 
 body un- 
 cared for. 
 
282 
 
 VITA SANCTI DXJNSTANI 
 
 Neglect of cerum fides, et qui olim adulantes astiterant vivo nunc 
 
 thecour- , . 
 
 tiers. subsannantes abibant a mortuo. Fit enim fere in rebus 
 hominum ut in divitibus magis quidam sectentur pe- 
 cuniam quam gratiam, magis avaritise famem quam 
 amicitiae fidem. Indoluit visu vir beatissimus, tum de- 
 functi modestiam recordatus, tum in desertores vehe- 
 buriedat ^^^^^^ indiguatus. Regales ergo exuvias suo diversorio 
 Winchester, intulit, eisque cum presbyteris et monachis suis justa 
 persolvit. Mane autem succollantibus ministris, Winto- 
 niam in episcopatum provectas, quieti seternse sedis 
 imposuit. 
 
 Dunstan 
 retires to 
 Glaston- 
 bury. 
 
 Miracle of 
 the falling 
 beam. 
 
 26. Quo sepulto curiales tumultus perosus monasterii sui 
 sinibus exceptus est. Ibi dulci pace componens animum 
 religionem de integro novat, divinae contemplationis 
 sedulus explorator. Sed quamvis Marise partem elegerit, 
 Martham tamen non usquequaque aspematus, semper 
 aliquid utilis fabricse comminiscebatur. Unde factum 
 
 est ut turri quae proxime facta erat tectum juberet Adelard, 
 imponi. Fervebat igitur labor artificum, stridebat fu- osbern, 
 nalis machina immensas rapiens ad fastigium trabes. P- 9^. 
 Et caeterse quidem ordines agnoverant, una vero ruptis, p. i88. ' 
 ut credo, funibus deorsum vergere coepit. Tum fragore 
 cadentis trabis et strepentis vulgi clamore concitatus 
 abbas impiger accurrit. Rogantibus cseteris ipse imma- 
 nitate periculi constantior et fidei arma concutiens, 
 ore Christi auxilium asciscit, et manu signum crucis 
 emittit in auras. Vis signaculi trabem ruentem retro 
 depulit et in altum actam suo loco restituit. Hoc mi- 
 raculum sicut et csetera quibusdam in eodem monasterio 
 fratribus bonis erant ad augmentum in patrem gratiae, 
 malis ad cumulum invidiae. Nec enim vir ille, cujus 
 purissimam vitam nuUius unquam contagionis naevus 
 infecit, livorem suorum effugere potuit, quominus in 
 eum occultis dumtaxat saevirent calumniis. 
 
 27. Sed haec postmodum etiam divino claruere indicio ; 
 tunc autem causa exstitit ut omnibus principibus patriae 
 
AUCTORE WILLELMO MALMESBERIENSI. 283 
 
 B. p. 32. 
 Osbem, 
 p. 99. 
 Eadmer, 
 p. 187. 
 
 B. p. 32. 
 Osbem, 
 p. 100. 
 Eadmer, 
 p. 190. 
 
 convocatis ad curiam deesse non deberet. Nam e duo- 
 bus filiis Edmundi superioris regis, major electus est 
 qui patruo succederet ; Edwius nomine, juvenculus sevo, 
 immaturus consilio, perniciosus omnibus, pestifer sibi ; 
 prseceps ad omne vitium, maxime crudelitatem petu- 
 lantiamque; altera in omnium et in bonorum potissi- 
 mum fortunas et vitas sseviens, altera pudicitiam suam 
 omni pene momento laedens. Captus enim miraculo 
 pulchritudinis cujusdam Elfgivse, qu88 sublimitatem 
 generis pravitate morum premeret, nihil non arbitrio 
 ejus faeiebat. Hserebat mulierculse filia plenis jam 
 nubilis annis, quse genitrici haud absimilis, vitricum 
 delinimentis etiam suis devinxerat. Ferebaturque 
 Edwius lascivire tam in matrem quam in filiam et in 
 ambabus satiare voluptatem vicariam. Sed hujus dicti 
 credulitas penes antiquos auctores sit. Utinam in hoc 
 dumtaxat sim vanus nuUusque ad imitandum mihi 
 fidem acCommodet, quod unquam Christianus se tali 
 probro subjecerit. Enimvero tunc, sicut est ignara 
 futuri mens hominum, qui plerumque magno favore 
 aliquid faciendum commendant, quod postea magno 
 dolore factum deplorant, consensu principum aulam 
 vacantem occupat Edwius. Convenerunt ad eum cor- 
 onandum, ut mos est, omnes patriso magnates, episcopi 
 et abbates, vocibus in gaudium profusis futurura sui 
 dispendium urgentes. Dictis missis cum cibo curassent 
 corpora, ille quasi ventris desiderio pulsatus primo in 
 secretum, mox in triclinium, foeminarum concessit. Cum 
 moram faceret, res interrogantes latere non potuit. 
 Tum Odo Cantuariensis archiepiscopus omnium sevo et 
 gradu maximus, paterno cunctos frementes lenivit hor- 
 tatu. Iret aliquis et regem, dedecoris quod faeiebat 
 admonitum, ad consessum reduceret optimatum, renuen- 
 tem excommunicationis minis percelleret. Cunctis pro 
 inertia conscientiae fugientibus, duo se voluntati ar- 
 chiepiscopi obtulere, qui periculo suo rem tractarent 
 justitiae, Kinesius episcopus et Dunstanus abbas, par 
 
 Edwy is 
 chosen king. 
 
 His love for 
 Elfgiva and 
 her daugh- 
 ter. 
 
 The writer 
 doubts. 
 
 On the coro- 
 nation day, 
 at the festi- 
 val Edwy 
 leaves the 
 banquet. 
 
 Odo pro- 
 poses to 
 send for 
 him back. 
 
284 
 
 VITA SlNCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Dunstan msime constanti83 nec minus affines sanmime. Abeun- B. pp. 32, 
 
 andKinsige , ^ .^^ x j x- i i. • 33 
 
 find him tes comitatus est sedentium plausus, more nommum 
 
 with the . .. . , . ^sbern, 
 
 women. qui nonnuncjuam in aliis laudare sciunt quod ipsi p. loo. 
 facere non prsesumunt. Egerunt illi primo legationem p 
 placide constanti animo non titubanti verbo. Verum- 
 tamen parum promoventes terruerunt eum exeommuni- 
 cationis suspendio. Volutabatur ille inter meretrictilas, 
 diademate proeul excusso et humi jacente. Quapropter 
 adhuc eunctantem Dunstanus. apprehendit dextera, im- 
 
 The crown positaque corona violenter eduxit triclinio. Is nihil 
 
 lying on the ^ . j 'i j • • i • • j.» 
 
 ground. coutra sive auetoritate viri motus, sive conscientia sua 
 territus. At Elfgieva muliebris impatientise signifera, 
 torvos in eum vibrans oculas, "Quia/' inquit, "tam 
 " audax es ut educas regem, velit, nolit, triclinio; fa- 
 " ciam ego ut hujus diei meique semper memineris 
 " cum potero." Sed licet ilia sacrilega in ipsum cceltim 
 verba jactaret, Dunstanus juxta firmitatem nominis 
 sui, velut pelagi rupes immota resistens, ut coeperat 
 regem educens prostibulo, coUocavit et sedere fecit 
 in solio. 
 
 Designs of 27. Tum vcro mulier ad omnem se proterviam armans, B. pp. 33, 
 
 the evil . , . . -i n j. t\ 34. 
 
 woman suasiouum suarum classico virum m bellum contra Deum osbern 
 Dunstan acccndit. Excogitato enim quid Dunstano maxime p. loi. 
 monastery, possct csse dolori, feralia per totam Angliam mittun- i^^' 
 tur ^dicta. Tunc res monachorum prseceps agi, tunc 
 monachi proscribi, tunc mona^teria fisco regio addici. 
 Putabat enim adultera minus regime majestati conve- 
 nire, si omnem in unum hominem vim furoris effun- 
 deret, nisi, ut de quodam dicitur, incendium suum 
 ruina extingueret. Jamque proscriptores Glastoniam 
 venerant, et arrosis omnibus eum loco excedere jube- 
 bant. Convenerat frequens vicinia, velut ad patris 
 exsequias, omnes praeter paucos de quibus diximus et 
 dicemus susurrones lamentabantur in coelum, onerabant 
 sethera suspiriis. Interim non potuit dissimulare Iseti- 
 tiam suam diabolus, foedos et petulantes cachinnos in 
 
AUCTORE WILLELMO MALMESBERIENSI. 285 
 
 B. p. 34. 
 
 Adelard, 
 p. 59. 
 ()sbern, 
 p. 101. 
 Eadmer, 
 p. 192. 
 
 B. p. 34. 
 Adelard, 
 p. 59. 
 Osbern, 
 p. 101. 
 Eadmer, 
 p. 193. 
 
 atrio ecclesise ingeminare auditus. Dunstanum auctor 
 risus non latuit, qui etiam quamvis majora urgerent, 
 dicere hosti non abstinuit, " Nihil est, diabole, quod 
 " de abscessu meo gaudeas, si vaticinari possis quam 
 " multiplicius in reditu meo doleas." Cedendum ergo 
 tempori ratus, ne praGsentia sua furentes exstimularet, 
 transito mari Flandriam intravit. Quo audito, altera 
 Jezabel nihilo modestior ministros direxit e vestigio, 
 scrutarique jussit eos quicunque sanctum Dei caritatis 
 suscepissent hospitio. Omnes itaque accusati, proscripti 
 vel absumpti. Quid enim non auderet furiarum max- 
 ima quae illius oculos, oculos columbinos, oeulos semper 
 superius intentos, si forte inventus esset^ intentaverat 
 cavis orbibus evellere. Sed prsevenit audaciam foemi- 
 neam saneta sancti viri providentia, immo ut verius 
 fatear, Dei Omnipotentis Qui Anglise consultum vole- 
 bat dementia. 
 
 28. Erat eo tempore Arnulphus comes Flandrise, Elfredi 
 superiorum regum avi ex filia Ethelsuitha pronepos. 
 Princeps magnificus et Dei amori deditus, qui monas- 
 terium apud Gandavium, olim a beato Amando episcopo 
 constructum, nobiliter eo tempore ampliabat. Cui etiam 
 ad tutelam sui et patriae corpora sanctorum intulit, 
 Wandregisili, Ansberti, Wlmari. Quorum primus Fon- 
 tanellse abbas, secundus et tertius primum ibidem 
 abbates, mox alter apud Retomagum, alter apud Seno- 
 nes arcbiepiscopi fuerant. Hoc ergo audito et expul- 
 sionis suse causis expositis, convenientem religioni suse 
 benignitatem ejus expertus est. Siquidem eo jubente 
 in prsedicto exceptus monasterio, non mansitabat ibi 
 ut exul et incola, sed colebatur ut domesticus et abba. 
 Frustra enim certabatur totis Anglise tumultibus ad- 
 versus eum cui Deus aderat. Frustra gloriabantur 
 quidam expulsum patria, cui familiaris sui Andrese 
 apostoli non deerant suffragia. Ipse vigilanti qusecun- 
 que placita suppeditabat ; ipse dormienti consolationes 
 divinitus exhibebat. In eodem quippe monasterio multa 
 
 Laughter of 
 the devil at 
 Dunstan's 
 expulsion ; 
 Dunstan's 
 answer. 
 
 He goes to 
 Flanders. 
 
 Amulf, 
 count of 
 Flanders. 
 
 He receives 
 Dunstan 
 at Ghent. 
 
 Friendship 
 of S. An- 
 drew. 
 
286 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 ei coelitus ostensa, quibus vel dolorem de suorum per- 
 fidia extenuaret, vel exitium hostile cognosceret. Verbi 
 causa utrorumque sequantur exempla. 
 
 ^ou/his^ 29. Visus est sibi quadam nocte in Glastoniae ehoro B. p. 35. 
 gJl^jf^.^* - esse, ibique a monachis banc antiphonam cantari ^ 
 bury. audire ; " Quare detraxistis sermonibus veritatis ? ad 
 
 " increpandum verba componitis et subvertere niti- Job, vi. 25. 
 
 mini amicum vestrum." Ibi antiphonam interruptam 
 silentio monachosqne scientia sequentium verborum 
 frustratos, quamvis multiplici temptarent repeiitione, 
 nunquam potuisse titubantem memoriam emendare. 
 Turn se vehementi eos invectione arguere, quod ita 
 sequentia nescirent, " "Verumtamen quae cogitastis ex- 
 " plete." Sed mox divinum oraculum auditum a tem- 
 pli latere, " Ideo fraudantur horum verborum notitia 
 quominus ea dicere sciant, quia nunquam explebunt 
 opere quod cogitant, ut te a possessione hujus mo- 
 nasterii funditus extrudant." Quibus auditis somno 
 excedens, rediit ad vigilias, miserieordi et omnipotenti 
 Deo de tam manifesta consolatione quales deeebat re- 
 ferens gratias. 
 
 Whiistat 30. Nec minus mors Edwii regis, quae quomodo acci- Osbem, 
 so^^cj^'d ^^^^^ sequens libellus deelarabit, mors inquam Edwii jQg^^^^' 
 off by evil Dunstano in Gandavio prseelaro monstrata est indicio. Eadmer, 
 
 spirits. ^ . . p 196 
 
 In ipsa nocte obitus ejus ante altare pro more orans 
 stabat, ejusmodi quippe consuetudinem pene in naturam 
 traxerat. Et ecce mirabile dictu videt cominus trans- 
 euntes picese fuliginis formam indutos dsemones. Nec 
 vero ipse more nostro inerti pavore refugit, sed dili- 
 gentius in ipsas tenebras exacuens oculos vidit ab eis , 
 
 t( 
 
 trahi regis animam continuo Gehennse mancipandam. 
 Id illi et tripudio Isetitise suae et imperioso sancti jussu 
 coacti prodidere. Stetit ante oculos Dunstani humanse 
 conditionis miseratio, et si quid residuum erat rancoris, 
 fugit ex animo. Hsec consideratio scaturivit in corde 
 beati hoDlinis, et profudit uberem fontem lacrymarum 
 
AUCTORE WILLELMO MALMESBERIENSI. 287 
 
 ab oculis, gratum Deo sacrificium et suave holocaustum. Dunstan's 
 Quod ille prostratus in humum thurificavit in coelum, forEdwy 
 pro eo qui se patria expulerat, qui denique, suum san- 
 guinem sitiens, cupiditate si non mucrone ilium liba- 
 verat. Quo facto Dunstanus palam fecit mundo quam 
 bonus esset in amicos qui tarn gratus erat in hostes. 
 Oderat ergo in Edwio non naturam sed culpam ;; ama- 
 verat quidem hominem, execrabatur libidinem. 
 
 31. Hactenus librum primum protraxisse et de hoc The author 
 miraculo dixisse suffecerit. Caeterum verba sancti ad pretend to 
 
 1 ^ J J • X "u ' Sivethe 
 
 dsemones vel dsemonum ad ipsum, prseterea precibus ejus exact words 
 
 T , , « . . ofDunstan's 
 
 animam a dsemonibus extortam, narrare reiugio, quia speeches, as 
 
 , . T . , T T . . Osbem has 
 
 m veteri exemplari nec nsec nec alia perplura mvenio. done. 
 Talia enim novus scriptor, ut esset sermo politior et 
 voluminis moles grandior, ex suo adjicienda putavit. 
 Sed nos ea inserere fastidivimus, intelligentes quod 
 nostrse laudis, prsesertim falsse, non est indigus Dun- 
 stanus. 
 
 Explicit Liber primus ; incipit Prologue secundi. 
 
288 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Liber Secundus.^ 
 
 Prologus. 
 
 The author 
 has com- 
 pleted his 
 work on 
 the anti- 
 
 quity of 
 Glaston- 
 bury. 
 
 Antiquitatem istius sanctissimi coenobii Glastoniensis, 
 in quo coelestem profitemur militiam, alio opere quan- 
 tum divinus favor affuit absolvimus ; quam si cui 
 voluptati erit legere, poterit alias apud nos invenire. 
 Negotium sane illud nos frustra suscepisse non causa- 
 bitur posteritas, quoniam subinde legens intellexerit 
 quam immaniter Cantuariensis cantor in describenda 
 patris nostri vita peccaverit. Nam, prseter paucissima 
 in quibus rectam semitam tenuit, multa sunt vel pene 
 omnia, ubi vel turbavit miraculorum ordinem, vel minu- 
 endo et augendo neglexit veritatem: rhetorum morem 
 OsiSrii 0" imprimis semulatus multorum repraesentans verba quae 
 dici quidem potuerunt in tempore, sed quis, quseso, ea 
 nostro sseculo intulit integra veritate ? Vix enim, vix, 
 inquam, tenuis^ ad nos gestorum manavit fama, nedum 
 ego crediderim potuisse teneri verba, cum ipso dicto, 
 volatica. Nihil tale scriptores antiqui, secundum quo- 
 rum tenorem ego, vestris obsecundans jtissis, miracula 
 Hi^ account ordini suo reddidi, et rerum inteeritatem restitui. Ad- 
 
 of his own ' o 
 
 ufeand*^® j^^^ quae deerant, abscidi quae superfluebant. Sed huic 
 dicto timeo ne difficulter ab improbis detur venia, 
 quamvis, secundum sententiam oratoris egregii, in re 
 vera crimen arrogantiae non debeam vereri.^ Inter quae 
 notandum quod utriusque linguae scriptores, quos mihi 
 ad exemplum dedistis, dicunt quidem plerumque unus 
 plus altero, sicut se ' habebat scribentium memoria vel 
 intentio. Caeterum in biis quae utrique dicenda puta- 
 verunt in unanimem concurrunt assensum, ut nihil 
 
 miracles. 
 
 ^ The second book is in a much 
 later hand than the first, but it is 
 the only known copy of the work of 
 
 William. See the Preface to this 
 volume. 
 
 2 Cicero, Orator, (ed. Steph.) s. 72. 
 
AUCTORE WILLELMO MALMESBERIENSI. 289 
 
 videatur diversum. Solum excipiatis licebit quod dia- General 
 
 T T « . IT harmony 
 
 boll lantaBma m urso, cane et vulpe, alter tempore of the an- 
 
 -nn^'T-v • Cieut lives. 
 
 regis Edmundi, alter Edwii, Dunstano mtentatum asse- 
 rit. Sed quid hoc sugillare attinet, in quo etsi discre- 
 pant de tempore, nihil dissident de facti veritate ? Nec 
 illud generabit litem quod alter Ethelgari Cridiensis, 
 alter Elpheagi Wintoniensis, episcopatum ab Edredo 
 rege Dunstano dicit oblatum ; credibile enim est ut 
 quod unus dixerit alter tacuerit, et rex utrumque ob- 
 tulerit, sed de neutro impetraverit. Hsec dixi fortassis 
 quam lex prolog! sit loquacius ; sed, quia dicenda erant, 
 non dici potuerunt brevius. Quapropter, quia omnia 
 quae in scrupulum venire poterant vera fide absolvi, 
 nunc secundum librum de vita Dunstani ab ortu regis 
 Edgari incipiam. Et quoniam primo minores ejus 
 annos et gradus percurri, nunc eum per auxiliatricem 
 Dei gratiam ad bravium supemse coronae per summos 
 honores deducam. 
 
 Explicit Prologus. 
 
 Liber Secundus. 
 
 Adelard, 
 p. 56. 
 Osbern^ 
 p. 93. 
 Eadmer, 
 p. 183. 
 
 1. Eadmundus rex, de quo supenus diximus, duorum Edmund 
 
 ^ , T • T_ J • andElfgiva 
 
 fratrum regum medius, m spem naeredum pruriens, had two 
 
 accepit uxorem Elfgivam summo loco natam, pudicitia 
 
 et sanctitate prsestantem. Ea foecunda utero contulit 
 
 marito liberos, Edwium, quem superior sermo infamavit, 
 
 et Edgarum de quo nunc dicere pergam. Cujus futu- 
 
 ram magnitudinem et felicia tempora Ipse auctor 
 
 felicitatis Deus Dunstano Suo prsenunciare dignatus 
 
 est. Sub ipso enim momento quo eum mater eifun- Prophecy of 
 
 . ^ the birth of 
 
 debat in lucem, audivit Dunstanus tum abbas vocem Edgar, 
 de coelo dicentem " Pax Anglorum ecclesiae, exorti nunc 
 " pueri et nostri Dunstani tempore." Audivit hsec 
 ille facienda, nos audivimus et vidimus facta, nam 
 quanta fuit eis viventibus pax in Anglorum ecclesia 
 non est in promptu dicere. Cseterum Edgaro defuncto 
 
 T 
 
290 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 per aKquanta monasteriorum membra pax elanguit, sed 
 Dunstano excedente hie fax bellorum aeterna, illic febris 
 interna malormn per omne Anglise corpus exeanduit. 
 te^rmhis 2. Edgarus, per increm^nta temporum in pueritiam 
 contem- provectus, crebro adhue privatus monstrabat indicio, cui 
 ?Sormation ^ regno appKcaturus esset studio. Spirabat enim 
 ' tenera setas illustris et prudentis pueri, quod robus- 
 tiores anni mirifico dedere afFectui. Denique, ut in 
 cujusdam prologo legi,^ qui regulam Benedicti Anglieo 
 enucleabat fuso, dum quadam die ludibundus sagittis 
 exerceret animum, animadvertit procul sedifieia magna, 
 sed situ et minis deformia ; consuluit ergo soeios quid 
 esset, indaginem veri sollicita mente rimatus : dictum 
 est ab eis fuisse ibi monasterium olim magnificum, 
 nunc, vel bellica hostium clade vel tyrannica regum 
 destrudtum, raro incoli habitatore. Tum ille levatis in 
 altum oculis huic se voto fecit obnoxium, ut si unquam 
 regnaret, et istud et alia in statum pristinum excitaret, 
 per haec Deo, Qui scrutatur interna, et hominibus qui 
 praesentem indolem fiituri boni viderent interpretem, 
 carus, statim ut anni tulere ascitus est in regnum 
 magna hominum feUcitate. 
 
 Ec^wy^crje- 3. Gravabat adhuc superas auras vivendo Edwius, Osbem, 
 grand- CUIUS Quanto cxteudebatur vita, tanto ausrebatur malitia. & 
 
 mother. tvx i • • . t . . ^ Eadmer, 
 
 JNam prseter msaniam, qtiam retuli superius, m eccle- p. 188. 
 siam et Dunstanum, etiam in aviam suam Edgitham 
 crudelitatem anhelavit et evomuit ; foeminam cujus nulla 
 unquam littera digne mores effigiabit, nobilitate et re- 
 ligione juxta praestantem. Contempsit in ea Edwius 
 dignitatem regiam, quod duorum fuisset mater regum : 
 parvipendit generis affinitatem quod tulisset utero pa- 
 trem suum; despexit annorum maturitatem quod jam 
 
 ^ See Mon. Angl. i. p. xxvii. 
 Keyner, de Apostolatu Benedictino- 
 rum, pt. iii. p. 77, where the Regu- 
 aris Concordia is given in Latin ; 
 
 the prooBmium is printed by Selden 
 in Anglo-Saxon and Latin in the 
 notes to Eadmer, p. 145. 
 
AUCTORE WILLELMO MALMESBERIENSI. 291 
 
 B. p. 36. 
 Osbern, 
 p. 103. 
 Eadmer, 
 p. 194. 
 
 B. p. 36. 
 Adelard, 
 p. 60. 
 Osbern, 
 p. 103. 
 Eadmer, 
 p. 195. 
 
 B. p. 36. 
 
 vergebat in senium ; nihili duxit dapsiKtatem quod 
 esset omnium gentium quasi fidum serarium. Conscidit 
 igitur omnia, interdicens ei curia et patrimonio. Non 
 potuerunt ultra ferre Angli proterviam insani juvenis qui 
 etiam in proprios sseviret affectus. Uno ergo consensu 
 plusquam civile bellum consciscunt. Quicunque citra 
 Humbram, quicunque citra Tamensem fluvium populi 
 erant, in Edwium pari armantur sententia. Ita laultis 
 conspirantibus, nuUis vel paucis auxiliantibus, facili 
 negotio pulsum ultra Tamensem reliquere, has interim 
 ei partes ad tutandam quam ei polliciti fidem con- 
 cedentes. Fuerunt enim semper tenaces fidei, nec un- 
 quam in dominos quantumlibet asperos rebelles. De- 
 nique per ducentos et quinquaginta annos audivimus, 
 cum eos West Saxonum reges multis saepe irriiiassent 
 injuriis, semper tamen illorum ditioni succiduis sub- 
 debantur sseculis. Quocirca cum istum, ut dixi, justis 
 et necessariis causis parte tantum regni mutilassent, 
 Edgarum fratrem prsefecerunt alteri, voluntati nimirum 
 Dei consentanei. Ille statim ut setatis infirmitatem, 
 non enim major quam sedecim annorum' erat, maturiori 
 fulciret consilio, partis suae optimates indicto convocavit 
 consilio. Ibi cum aliis illud praecipue decretum ut 
 privilegia ecclesiarum, quae saeculo suo tyrannus invi- 
 derat prona libertate restituerentur. Quod ut enuclea- 
 tius fieret, Dunstanum ab exilio revocandum, qui et 
 ea omnia nosset, et quominus renovarentur nulli potes- 
 tati pro conscientia religionis cederet. 
 
 4. Edwius interim fatali sorte vitam exivit, festinatae 
 mortis beneficio multis exemptus injuriis, sive dolor 
 repulsae obitum celeraverat, sive sustulerat Deus homi- 
 nem de medio, parum ecclesi^e profuturum, non dico 
 multum nociturum. At Dunstano ab exilio reverso ab 
 omnibus optimatibus libenter occursum, a rege favor 
 effusus, parum intercessit temporis et, coacto apud 
 Bradford consilio, censitum est ab episcopis ut Dun- 
 stanus episcopatus gradum sumeret, quo majori auc- 
 toritate regis tirocinia posset regere. Tunc enim Ke- 
 
 T 2 
 
 This pro- 
 vokes a 
 rebellion. 
 
 He is re- 
 jected by 
 the people 
 north of the 
 Thames, but 
 retains the 
 south. 
 
 Loyalty to 
 the West- 
 Saxon kings. 
 
 Edgar at 
 the age of 
 sixteen be- 
 comes king 
 and recalls 
 Dunstan. 
 
 Edwy dies. 
 
 Dunstan 
 
 is chosen 
 bishop. 
 
292 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTAI^I 
 
 As bishop 
 of Worces- 
 ter, he has 
 the promise 
 of S. Peter 
 fulfilled. 
 
 Criticism on 
 Osbern. 
 
 Odo conse- 
 crates Dun- 
 stan as 
 archbishop. 
 
 nenwaldus Wigornensium antistes moriens ei locum 
 yacuefecerat. Properabat quippe impleii quod viderat 
 somnium, quod verius quilibet vocet divinum vatici- 
 nium. Tunc enim beatus Petrus suum tradidit ensem, 
 quum ei in Wigornia suam non invidit sedem. Nam 
 thronus pontificalis in Wigornia nondum transierat 
 in nomen beatae Dei Genitricis. Quomodo autem et 
 quando transient sequens sermo elucidabit. Quo de- 
 inceps ambiguo Osbernus multa casso labore verba 
 consumpsit/ dum aliquid verisimile conaretur procu- 
 dere quare Dunstanus in Wigornia episcopus fuerit, 
 cum eam sedem a Domini matre sibi datam non 
 viderit. Unde comperio parum eum investigasse his- 
 torias, qui suae patriae nescierit ecclesias. In banc 
 ergo sedem consecrandus, pro more Cantuariam con- 
 tendit. Durabat adhuc in rebus humanis beatus Odo 
 archiepiscopus infractus setate sed integer mente. Is 
 super electum egit consecrationis solemnia, non ut 
 Wigomiae pontificem sed ut Cantuariae primatem. . Nec, 
 quamvis multo circumstantium interpolatus murmure, 
 abstitit. Quinimmo susurros eorum levi sermone com- 
 pescuit, non se oris vel mentis titubaiitia peccasse, sed 
 esse factum suum non inane, ore suo loqui Spiritum 
 Sanctum, Qui praesignaret beatum ilium post se fore 
 archiepiscopum. Hujus denunciationis praesagio Dun- 
 stanus insignis omni constanti reverentia et reverenti 
 constantia agere, vitae suae potissimum intendere, postea 
 subjectorum mores non negligere, postremo tota niti so- 
 lertia, ut minae quibus obstrinxerat diabolum prodirent 
 in effectum. Credo nequam spiritum saepe momenta- 
 neam deplorasse laetitiam, cum tantum videret a se 
 dissociari turbam. Hoc quippe quotidianum pontificis 
 erat exercitium, comminisci unde faceret gaudium bonis, 
 tristitiam spiritibus protervis. 
 
 5. Impleta erat jam visionis portio, pars implenda 
 restabat. Petrus fidem poUicitam solverat; ut Paulus 
 
 B. p. 36. 
 
 Adelard, 
 p. 60. 
 Osbern, 
 pp. 103, 
 104. 
 
 Eadmer, 
 p. 195. 
 
 1 Above, p. 106. 
 
AUCTOEE WILLELMO MALMESBERIENSI. 
 
 298 
 
 B. pp. 36, idem faeeret supererat. Nec vero distulit, sed, ut 
 credi fas est, exorato Deo Londoniensium episcopum in 
 
 Adelard, 
 p. 60. 
 Osbern, 
 p. 105. 
 Eadmer, 
 p. 196. 
 
 becomes 
 l)is.hoi) of 
 London. 
 
 qnietas sedes traduxit. Turn vero rex, qui nuUam oc- 
 casionem praetermitteret quominus Dunstanum subli- 
 maret, eum ad Pauli ecclesiam gubernandam crebro 
 invitavit ; prudens primi episcopatus administratio 
 regis animum exstimulaverat, spem auxerat. Nihil 
 quippe nimium videbatur committi ei in cujus animo 
 ad multa gubemanda coneordabat sapientia cum re- 
 ligione, ingenium cum virtute. Renuit ille diu, frus- 
 traque trivisset Edgarus preces, nisi communis epi- 
 scoporum assensus renitentem superasset, quamvis et 
 mentem ejus sollicitare potuit supradicta visio, ne ob- 
 stinate putaret negandum quod per apostolum jam 
 noverat prsesignatum. Quapropter subjecit jugo quod 
 imponebat caritas ex fraterno episcoporum animo. Nec 
 fuit hoc transgredi canones, quia cedunt leges humanse 
 ubi promulgantur divinse. Quocirca nulla sanctum 
 virum transgressionis pulset invidia, ubi non fuit am- 
 bitus honoris, non appetitus potestatis. Nam quid 
 horum in ejus pectore potuit esse qui fuit per apo- 
 stolos designatus, per collegium sacerdotum ascitus ? 
 Sed de hiis cuique liberum erit judicium, dummodo 
 *non avertatur in pravum, sed declinet in bonum. Ego 
 coeptam narrationem prosequar quomodo secundum pro- 
 phesiam regis Edredi pro "in principio erat Verbum,'' 
 quod erat scriptum in gladio Petri, fuerit Dunstanus 
 constitutus princeps et primas Anglise in ecclesia Salva- 
 toris Cantuaria^: nec minus quomodo Andrese gladium 
 acceperat, quia Rofensis ecclesia, eidem apostolo dedicata, 
 sequitur Cantuariensem sicut matrem filia, sicut do- 
 minam pedissequa. Qui enim Cantuariensis archiepi- 
 scopus est in Rofensi ecclesia proprius vel dominus 
 si ssevus, vel patronus si bonus. Hoc igitur dicturus 
 quaedam ad rem pertinentia prsemittam. 
 
 6. Maturus erat jam coelo sanctus archiepiscopus Odo, 
 poscebaturque a superis civibus, ut ejus adventu eorum 
 augeretur numerus. Nec ille vi morbi tactus, uUa 
 
 His re- 
 luctance is 
 overcome 
 by the per- 
 suasion of 
 the bishops, 
 and the 
 
 gromise of 
 . Paul is 
 fuinlled. 
 
 The third 
 promise still 
 remained. 
 
 How S. An- 
 drew's was 
 to be ful- 
 filled. 
 
 Death of 
 OJo. 
 
294 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 tristitia excusavit adventum, sed " exultavit ut videret ^- pp- 
 
 37 
 
 " diem Domini, vidit et gavisus est." Tum vero Adeiard, 
 Edgarus rex oblatum sibi tempus existimans quo Dun- 
 stano faeere bene tantum posset pene quantum vellet, p. 107/ 
 ut archiepiscopatum susciperet preces ingessit et reges- pp ^J^y'^' 
 
 Dunstan sit, sed nihil pyofecit. Quapropter Elfsius Wintoni- 198. 
 
 Canterbury, ensis episcopus sedem summam involavit continuo, 
 surreptis per advocatos suos regis edictis; homo in- 
 tractabilis • avaritipe, ambitionis nimise, qui multum diu- 
 que Cantuarise ii^iaverat. Quod ipso die processionis 
 
 Eifsmsuc- suae dissimulare px)n potuit. Magna enim cum fuisset 
 pompa exceptus, eacrilegum spirans accessit ad tumbam 
 beati Odonis. Putabant fortasse comites quod sanctse 
 animse vellet o^&cium deferre. At ille, O dolendum 
 nefas, et tumbaija pede depulit et in defunctum convicia 
 
 He insults effiidit. "Tandem," inquit, "vivacem animam effudisti, 
 
 Odo. " pessimo senex ! Tandem tua mala, gratia potior sede 
 " eupita." Fa,cinus miserandum et ssevimi, fuisse pon- 
 tificem qui in memoriam defuncti pontificis tam exe- 
 crandas ructaret injurias ! Sequenti sane nocte, appa- 
 rente sibi sancto, temeritatis admonitus et in futurum 
 minis territus, nihilo secius Romam pro pallio ire 
 
 He^is k^iUed perseveravit. Jam vero prope Alpes ventum cun^ 
 
 tiieAips. esset, miserabile frigus medullse concipiens, nulla copia 
 vestium, nullo ignis admotu calefieri potuit. Itaque 
 exinteratis equorum ventribus pedes immittens, cum 
 nec in \;eporem eos animare posset, anima fugiente 
 diriguit. Hoc in Angliam nuncio delato, iterum ad 
 Dunstanum de archiepiscopatu preces relatse, iterumque 
 
 Brihtheim cassatse. Tum fuere qui dicebant Brichtelmum Dorsa- 
 
 succct'cls. 
 
 tensem episcopum pro animi modestia et vitse munditia 
 debere Cantuariam migrare. Facilis fuit regis concessio, 
 qui ad hoc animum induxerat suum, ut, amplitudine for- 
 His weak- tuuse uou abutcus, bouorum precibus refragari non vide- 
 retur. Verumtamen post paucos dies cognitum est, 
 quia illud quod putabatur in Brichtelmo mentis modestia 
 erat potius inertia. Quapropter remissioris animi judi- 
 catus minusque magno regimini accommodus, ex volun- 
 
AUCTORE WILLELMO MALMESBERIENSL 295 
 
 B. p. 38. 
 Adelard, 
 p. 60. 
 Osbern, 
 p. 107. 
 Eadmer, 
 p. 198. 
 
 tate regis valefecit alienis honoribus in suos regressus. His retire- 
 
 xi T 1 •! • • • I ment. 
 
 ita rex, adjuncto sibi omnium episcoporum et procerum 
 suflTragio, Dunstanum precibus tentavit, nec destitit 
 quoad ille importunitati succumbens omnium voluntati 
 manus daret. Omnes enim illi, non tam humani casus 
 quam divini nutus, servierant somno Dunstani et vaticinio 
 regis Edredi. Non enim otiosum esse vel in vanum 
 cedere poterat, quod gloriosus rex per Spiritum dixerat. 
 Suscepit ergo Dunstanus nostrarum ecclesiarum prin- Dunstau 
 cipem, eeclesiam olim sibi praecellentis metaUi litteris 
 
 11. ... ,1 i'. , f-H •! Ai^d the rest 
 
 in gladio pnncipis apostoiorum designatam. buscepit of the vision 
 
 •w-v • • /->j 1 J * • TP1 • T t • 1 • • • fulfilled* 
 
 Domini Salvatons m iLjusdem basilica jugum, Qui 
 Ipse principium, et Ipse in principio Verbum, caro 
 factus est in fine sseculorum. Non minus, ut ante 
 dixi, cum Cantuariensi primatu suscepit beati Andrese 
 in urbe Rofensi sedem, quse nunquam potest divelli 
 ab ejus caritate, sicut nec membrum a capite ; nihil 
 restat ergo de debito; solutum est quicquid debebatur 
 ex promisso. Itaque probatur non fuisse frivolum 
 somnium quod tam nobili ordine constat esse im- 
 pletum. 
 
 B. pp. 38, 
 39. 
 
 7. Pro more igitur antecessorum, pro insigni primatus He goes 
 sui suscipiendo ad Romam iter composuit. Currente S^^ln 
 per regiones vise coterminas fama> turmatim ad eum 
 ruebant populi, hii victum, hii vultum, omnes bBnedic- 
 tionem ejus optantes. Impartiebat ipse omnibus neces- 
 saria, et dabantur eo jubente cibi, effiindebaturque pecu- 
 nia. Suggerentibus ciborum ministris, jam exhaustum 
 esse marsupium, jam in angusto esse victum, semper His lavi 
 prsetendebat Christum, darent illi libere, redderet Chris- the w*^.^^ 
 tus liberaliter. Prseterea convenire archiepiscopo ut 
 omni die omnem hominem suo iUustret beneficio. Non 
 erat ministris obniti constantia auctoritate viri devinc- 
 tis. Ita quamvis darentur omnia quae vel extulerant 
 patria vel largitas contulerat aliena, nunquam tamen 
 eis defuit Christus. Denique cum quadam die, con- 
 
296 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANl 
 
 Complaints 
 of his 
 steward. 
 
 His wants 
 
 fortunately 
 
 supplied. 
 
 Privilege 
 granteu by 
 pope John 
 Xll. to 
 Dunstan. 
 
 sumptis sumptibus, ne diumTis quidem suppeteret vie- b. pp. 38*;, 
 tus, secessit pontifex jam illatus hospitio, ut vesperas 
 hora monenie conficeret. Cavillante interea ministro 
 cui dispensandi provintia fuit delegata, quod frustra 
 sibi de Christo applauserat, ex insperato abbas e vicino 
 commanens multa intulit xenia, tanta congessit obsonia, 
 ut eo et sequentibus diebus non solum toUeret famem 
 sed etiam cumulavit satietatem. Sic ministro ne grun- 
 niret eohibito, prsesul liberalitatis in pauperes propen- 
 sior Romam pervenit, ibi ab apostolico Johanne' dignan- 
 ter exceptus, pallium cum gratia, cum gloria reditum,. 
 impetravit ; privilegium etiam intulit patriae quod hie 
 pro antiquitatis indicio volo apponere ; ^ 
 
 " Johannes episcopus servus servorum,^ confratri Dun- 
 stano Dorobem^nsis ecclesise archiepiscopo vitae ^ per- 
 manendam in Christo . salutem. Si pastores ovium 
 solem geluque pro gregis sui custodia nocte ac die 
 ferre contenti sunt, et oculis circumspectant ^ vigilan- 
 tibus ne^ aliqua ex ovibus aut errando pereat aut 
 " ferinis laniata morsiBus rapiatur ; quanto sudore, 
 quantaque cura debemus esse pervigiles ob salutem 
 animarum, qui dicimur pastores earum ! Attendamus 
 igitur nos officium exhibere erga custodiam Domini- 
 carum ovium, et ne quasi lupo veniente territi fu- 
 giamus, ne in die divini examinis pro desidia nostra 
 ante summum pastorem ex ^ negligentia nostra ex- 
 cruciemur. Unde modo honoris reverentia in subli-^ 
 miore arce cseteris dijudicamur. Primatum itaque 
 tuum, in quo tibi ex more antecessorum tuorum vices 
 apostolicse sedis exercere convenit, ita tibi ad plenum 
 
 it 
 
 ^ Given also partly in the Gesta 
 Pontificum (ed. Hamilton), pp. 61, 
 62 ; Eadmer, Hist. Nov., p. 128 ; 
 and in Mabillon, AA. SS. O.S.B. 
 ssec. V. p. 643, from the Paris MS. 
 943, whence the following various 
 rieadings are taken. 
 
 ^ servorunt]" Dei, ins. Mab. 
 ^ vitce ] tu8B tantummodo, in&. 
 Mab. 
 
 * circunispectant ] conspectant,. 
 Mab. 
 ^ ne~\ ut ne, Mab. 
 ^ ex'] pro, Mab. 
 
AUCTORE WILLELMO MALMESBERIENSI. 297 
 
 confirmamus, sicut beatum Augustmum ej usque sue- How he 
 
 1 . 11- was to ufee 
 
 cessores praeiatae eeelesiao pontmees pienius nabuisse the pan. 
 di^oseitur.^ Pallium vero ^ fratemitati tuse ex more 
 ad Missarum solemnia celebranda commendamus, quo 
 " tibi non aliter, ecclesise tuae privilegiis in suo statu 
 manentibus, uti eoncedimus,^ nisi quern usum ante- 
 cessores vestri ^ prodiderunt. Neque tua prudentia ^ 
 hoc incognitum habet,® quoniam indumenti honor 
 moderatione actuum tenendus erit, honestati morum 
 tuorum hsec ornamenta conveniant, quatinus auctore 
 Deo ' possis esse conspicuus, ita ut vita tua filiis tuis 
 sit regula, et in ipsa si qua tortitudo ^ illis inest, 
 dirigatur, dum in ea quod imitentur aspiciunt,^ in 
 ipsa semper considerando proficiant, ut tecum Deum 
 per hoc quod bene vixerint videre mereantur. Cor Good advice 
 ergo tuum neque prosperis, quae temporaliter blan- pope^ 
 " diuntur, extoUatur, neque adversis dejiciatur. Quic- 
 " quid illud fuerit adversi virtute in Christo patientiee 
 devinciatur. Nullum apud te locum favor indiscre- 
 tus inveniat, in omnibus discretionem alii in te cog- 
 noscant. Insontem apud te culpabilem suggestio 
 mala non faciat. Nocentem gratia non excuset. 
 Kemissum te delinquentibus non ostendas, nec quod 
 illis non profuerit hos perpetrare permittas. Sit in 
 te boni pastoris dulcedo, sit et judicis severa de- 
 strictio. Unum scilicet quo innocentes foveas, aliud 
 quo inquietos feriendo a pravitate compescas. Sed 
 quoniam nonnunquam praepositorum zelus, dum dis- 
 
 (i 
 
 (C 
 
 (C 
 
 * Primatum . . dignoscitur] " HaBC 
 " desunt in MS." Mab. 
 
 2 vero] autem, Mab. 
 
 3 concedimus] nisi solummodo in 
 Nativitate Domini et in Epiphania, 
 atque in Resurrectione, et Ascensione 
 Domini, ac Pentecosten, pariterque 
 in AssumptioneDei genitricis Marise, 
 seu in natalitiis apostolorum ; verum 
 etiam in consecratione episcoporum 
 atque in natalis tui die, necnon in 
 
 die consecrationig ecclesisB, quern 
 usum, &c., ins. Mab. 
 
 "* vestri] nostri, Mab. 
 
 ^ tua prudentia] tuus us us, Mab. 
 
 ^ habet] vel cujusque, ins. Mab. 
 
 7 tenendus] tremendus, Mab. 
 
 s tortitudo] fortitude, Mab. 
 
 9 aspiciunt] aspiciant, Mab. 
 
 10 patientice] a te, ins. M:ab.*; de- 
 vincatur, Mab. 
 
 '1 te] et, ins. Mab. 
 
298 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Privilege " trictius malorum vindex est, transit in crudelitatem, 
 
 of Pope , .... 
 
 John XII. " correptionem ^ in ludicio refrsena, et censuram dis- 
 
 toDunstan. » . . , 
 
 " ciplinse discute, ut et culpas ferias, et a dilectione 
 
 " perversomm quos corripis^ non recedas. Miserieor- 
 
 " diam, prout virtus patitur, pauperibus exhibe, oppres- 
 
 " sis defensio tua subveniat ; opprimentibus modesta 
 
 " ratione contradicas. Nullius faciem contra justitiam 
 
 " accipias. Nullum quaerentem justa despicias. In 
 
 " eustodia sequitatis excellas, ut nec divitem pro poten- 
 
 " tia sua apud vos aliquid quserentem ^ extra viam * de 
 
 " accusatione audias ; nec pauperem faciat humilitas 
 
 ^' sua desperare ; quatenus Deo miserante talis possis 
 
 " existeie qualem sacra lectio prsecipit dicens, * Oportet i Tim. iii. 2. 
 
 " ' episcopum irreprehensibilem esse.' Sed hiis omni- 
 
 bus uti salubriter poteris, si magistram caritatem 
 " habueris; quam qui secutus fuerit a recto ^ tramite 
 " non recedit. Ecce, frater carissime, inter multa alia, 
 " ista sunt sacerdotum, ista sunt pallii jura, quae si 
 " studiose servaveris, quod foris accepisse ostendis ^ 
 " intus habebis. Sancta Trinitas fratemitatem vestram 
 " gratis© Suse protectione circumdet, atque ita in timo- 
 " ris Sui viam te dirigat, ut post vitse hujus amaritu- 
 " dinem ad seternam simul pervenire dulcedinem me- 
 
 reamur. Et hoc scriptum est per manum Leonis 
 " scrinialis sedis apostolicse, in mense Octobri, indictione 
 « iiiita. (jata die i."^ kalendas Octobris ; anno duodecimo® 
 " summi pontificis Johannis." 
 
 1 correptionem ] correctionem, 
 Mab. 
 
 2 corripis'] corrigis, Mab. 
 ^ quarentem] om. Mab. 
 
 viam] suam, ins. Mab. 
 * recto] aliquando, ins. Mab. 
 ^ ostendis] ostenderis, Mab. 
 ' i. ] Mab. ; primo, Gest. 
 Pontif. 
 
 s As John XII. only reigned 
 from 955 to 964, we should perhaps 
 
 read vii™°. for xii*"^., or accept the 
 conjecture of Baronius, and read 
 " anno vi°. Johannis duodecimi." 
 The indiction seems to point to 
 960, which would be the sixth 
 year of John. There is no reason 
 to question the genuineness of the 
 letter, which is found in the pontifical 
 of Sherborne, a MS. of Dunstan's 
 own time, in the Boyal Library at 
 Paris, MS. 943. 
 
AUCTORE WILLELMO MALMESBERIENSI. . 299 
 
 Adelard, 
 p. 62. 
 Osbern, 
 p. 109. 
 Eadmer, 
 p. 203. 
 
 8. Beatum ergo pontificem felieiter totum iter emen- Dunstan's 
 sum desideriis patriae sospes carina restituit. Cujus redi- 
 
 tum tarn sibi prosperum quam suis votivum, primo excep- 
 tionis suae die in Gantia, miraculum divinitus ostensimi 
 commendavit. Assistebat candidatus altari, archiepisco- 
 patus sui redimitus insigni, cum interim templum lu- 
 cida oppievit nubes, et columba, incertum unde, veniens, Miraculous 
 sacrificantem diu multumque plausibili volatu circuivit. I^f vis^iuo 
 Ad postremum ejus vertici, familiari sciKcet Sancti 
 Spiritus subsellio, insidens, ante peractum officium non 
 abscessit. Inde super sepulcrum beati Odonis pausam 
 habuit, quod modo pyramidis in australi sedis parte 
 fabrefactum fuit. Quod pontifex intuitus tantura reve- 
 rentise in sepultum concepit, ut non facile locum trans- 
 iret nisi et genua flecteret et caput submitteret. Nec 
 dubitabat cum omni occasione sanctum vocare et patrio 
 sermone utens coucinna urbanitate, " Ode the ffbode " 
 dicere. 
 
 9. Sedit ergo in Cantia Dunstanus, ut verbis ilLius qui Dunstan's 
 
 character a 
 
 vitam beati Athelwoldi composuit, utar, vultu angelicus, archbishop, 
 quasi columna immobilis, eleemosynis, doctrina et ac- 
 tione prsecipuus, prophesia prsepollens. Paucis profecto 
 scriptor ille ^ comprehendit beati pontificis vitam. Cujus 
 ego particularius enodabo sententiam. Nam quod in 
 Dunstano nitori animi respondent claritas faciei, tes- 
 tantur multse quas ssepe legi epistolse ad eum missse, Exposition 
 
 . . ... T T I . of the words 
 
 quae mvi capitis candorem morum dicunt convemsse. of the bio- 
 Quamvis quantulum hoc ad ejus attingit laudem, in itifeiwofl 
 quo majora fuerunt omnia quam ut ea quselibet possit 
 adomare facundia, nisi major videatur^ Dei g]:atia in 
 homine quando hilaritas frontispicii concordat pectoris 
 puritati ! Fuit porro vir ille columna immobilis, quo- 
 niam nullius unquam potestatis terrore concussus est a 
 
 ^ Wulfstan, the biographer of S. 
 Ethelwold; Mabillon, AA. SS. 
 O.S.B. ssec. V. p. 601 : " Mansit in 
 
 Cantia triginta et septem annis 
 
 " quasi columna immobilis, doctrina 
 
 " et actione praBcipuus, angelico 
 
 " vultu decorus, eleemosynis et pro- 
 
 " phetia prsepollens." 
 
300 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Excesses of 
 the secular 
 clergy. 
 
 Dunstau 
 prevents 
 their pro- 
 motion ; 
 
 and orders 
 them to 
 live canDn- 
 ically. 
 
 The king 
 mediates : 
 but after- 
 wards com- 
 pels them to 
 obey. 
 
 Treatment 
 of robbers 
 and fraudu- 
 lent money- 
 ers. 
 
 veritatis soliditate. Namque, ut a sanctuario Dei exor- Osbern, 
 diar, eo tempore omnium ecclesiarum in Anglia clerici ^^3^^^' 
 omnino a canonum regula desciverant, nundinis negotio- Eadmer, 
 rum dediti ; aleae lusores studiosi, fluxu vestium, volupta- ^' 
 turn luxu, laicis vel pares vel prseminentes ; cibo intenti 
 ad gulam, potui ad vomicam ; litterarum perinde neseii, 
 quasi dedecus esset si clerici essent litterati ; usitata ofii- 
 eia citra intellectum verborum vix aegreque balbutientes. 
 Huic verecundse miserise Qt miserse verecundise antistes 
 medendum arbitratus, ita, consilium expedivit, ut nullum Adeiard, 
 ad ecclesiasticos honores, episcojpatus dico, aspirare pate- 
 retur, nisi religiosse vitae abbatem aut monaehum ; id 
 ideo ut subjectis clericis tales praesules verbo et exemplo 
 facienda formarent. Paruerunt sedulo pontifices summo 
 primati ad emendationem clericorum ; parum propemodum 
 hac profecerunt industria. Tum ille severioribus reme- 
 diis inveteratos rescindens morbos, , clericos omnes hoc 
 eonvenit edicto ; " aut canonice vivite aut ecclesiis exite." 
 Illi calcantes contra stimulum, mollioremque vitam 
 eligentes, ecclesias itionachis vacuarunt. Cumque mise- 
 rabiliter per patriam vagabundi a fortunis suis exularent, 
 et regem et principes fautores apud archiepiscopum 
 habuerunt ut sententiam temperaret. Verumtamen 
 nunquam ille ullis precibus adduci potuit ut canonicos 
 sumptus haberent qui canonice vivere nollent. Qua- 
 propter rex rei sequitate et archiepiscopi voluntate 
 permotus, cessavit ultra illis suum exhibere favorem, 
 qui turpiter viventes antistitis non mererentur absolu- 
 tionem, quia vulnerarent mentem. Nihil enim putabat 
 expetendum quod vel saltem ejus turbaret vultum, in 
 omnibus ei deferens obnoxius ut gratissimo parenti 
 filius. Nam ubi antistitis in delinquentes minus ope- 
 rabatur sermo, ipse judicium exserens legali utebatur 
 gladio, omnes legum rebelles earundem severitate coer- 
 cens. Itaque omnes vel clam fares vel palam prse- 
 dones exitio dati vel exilio deportati. Monetarii qui 
 damno provincialium suum infarciebant marsupium, si 
 corrigi nollent, pedibus et pugnis exspoliati. Veneficse, 
 
AUCTORE WILLELMO MALMESBERIENSI. 801 
 
 Osbom, 
 p. 110. 
 
 Adelard, 
 p. 67. 
 Osbern, 
 p. 106. 
 Eadmer, 
 p. 200. 
 
 et quae caritatem connubii oblitse viros necasseiit, in- 
 cendio date. Alieni matrimonii expugnatores ab 
 ecclesiae liminibus coherciti. Qui conjugia incesta con- 
 traxerant diducti ; quod si qui eorum opibus freti, 
 subreptitiis a rege vel apostolico papa epistolis niti 
 coepissent; nihil quod suis artibus conducerent in Dun- 
 stani pectore invenientes, vigorem apostolicum inflexi- 
 bilem in eo mirabantur. Hsec erat columnse immobilis 
 constantia, hoc robur, hie status, quibus factum est ut 
 omnes peccata committere timerent, dum ilia impunita 
 non fore scirent. 
 
 Dun Stan's 
 
 severity 
 
 against 
 
 unlawful 
 
 marriages. 
 
 10. Jam vero quam liberalis ilia quae vulgo dicitur His uberai- 
 eleemosyna in pauperes fuerit, alio scripto non constat. 
 Verumtamen hujus fides non vacillat. Quod si gratum 
 Deo est perituras hominum carnes cibo ne deficiant 
 sustentare, quam eo gratius monasteria in aetemum 
 victura a fundamentis erigere. Haec sunt illius opera 
 in Domino stabilita. Has ejus eleemosynas enarrabit 
 omnis ecclesia sanctorum. Nam si Osbemo credimus,^ Themonas- 
 quinque monasteria de suo patrimonio fecit ; Glasto- founded, 
 niense vero monachis, prsediis, aedificiis ampliavit. 
 Antiquum id quidem, ut dixi, et multum ejus antici- 
 pans tempora, sed quod, ut prioribus veterem funda- 
 tionem, ita Dunstano novam sublimitatem debeat. 
 Certe quod procul ambiguo et exacta fide dico,^ coeno- 
 bium Malmesberiense, clericis ejectis quos Edwius sifts to 
 intruserat illuc, ad pristinum statum, id est ad mona- 
 chorum habitationem reparavit. Multa ibi largitus in- 
 signia, quorum qusedam ad hunc diem oblivionis senium 
 potuerunt eluctari. Mirae magnitudinis signa, non 
 quidem, ut nostra fert aetas, dulci sed incondito sono 
 strep entia, organa quae concentu suo in festivitatibus 
 
 ^ Above, p, 89. 
 Much of what follows about 
 Malmesbury is also in the Gesta 
 
 Pontificum, pp. 407, sq., and in the 
 book de Antiquitate Eccl. Glaston., 
 Gale, pp. 324, 325. 
 
302 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI-^ 
 
 gifts^to^^ IsDtitiam populo excitarent, in quorum circuitu hoc 
 Maimes- distichon litteris seneis aflixit, ' 
 
 bury. ' 
 
 " Organa do sancto prsesuf Dunstanus Adhelmo ; 
 " Perdat hie setemum qui vult hinc tollere regnum/' 
 
 De fulvo sere vas aquatile fusili opere, in quo scriptum 
 erat cemere, 
 
 " Idriolam hanc fundi Dunstan mandaverat archi- 
 " Prsesul ut in templo sancto serviret Aldhelmo/' 
 
 He trans- Erant tunc ejusdem Sancti Aldhelmi ossa composita 
 s^Aidheim scrinio, pretiosi metalli mole operosa. Hsec ille 
 scrinio exempta reposuit tumulo, dictante Spiritu, non 
 ignatus quatenus post dies suos Danorum turbo pro- 
 vinciam esset inquietaturus ; maturum commentus con- 
 siKum ne quis barbarus auri specie captus scrinium 
 occuparet, ossa quoque pariter exportata et sanctissimos 
 dghUrf" cineres coelo alicubi exponeret. Et certe paulominus 
 doing so. contigit quod spectabilis viri providentia cavit, quamvis 
 ultioni SU83 Aldhelmus non defuerit: dum enim Dani 
 post multos annos per monasterium grassarentur, unus 
 eorum cui mens prseruptior, extracto cultello, aurum 
 excrustare conatus, sine mente in terram ruit retroac- 
 tus et illisus. Sed haec postmodum ; tum vero Dunsta- 
 EUric abbot^ nus ibidem Elfricum, cui multum religionis, plurimum 
 and after- litterarum inesse comoverat, abbatem constituit ; nec 
 
 wards o ' ? 
 
 c^eStorf' iiiulto post in episcopatum Cridensem, qui nunc Exo- 
 niensis, promovit ;^ virum singularis utrobique industrise, 
 hie in constniendis sedificiis, ibi in refrsenandis clericis. 
 Talia archiepiseopus eleemosynse opera per totam sere- 
 bat Angliam, eommilitonibus suis fortissimis et magna- 
 nimis viris singulas provincias delegans, et rempublicam 
 Dei multorum collato umbone et communicato labore 
 velut strenuissimus imperatorum administrans. 
 
 Dunstan's 11. Doctrinam multam, sicut ante dictum est, per Dei 
 learning, gji^^itiam hauserat, quia in ejus animo cum strenuitate 
 
 ^ Elfric succeeded Sideman as bishop of Crediton in 977. 
 
AUCTORE WILLELMO MALMESBERIENSI. . 303 
 
 studii praecedebat vivacitas ingenii. Doctrine porro res ^^^p^^^ 
 duse adminiculabantur, eloquentia elimata sed illabo- in?- 
 rata, dictorumque executio prompta et impigra. Neque 
 enim tantam procemm cervicositatem suo unquam sub- 
 didisset eloquio, si ei defaisset bona operatio ; quorum 
 alterum in prsedicatore pendet ex altero, quia neutrum 
 valet, vel si bona dicta male vivendo destruxeris, vel 
 bonum exemplum sermone non firmaveris. Utrumque 
 autem in Dunstano vigebat, qui esset et facundus 
 verbo et foecundus exemplo. Sed quod dico proprio Examples 
 nititur argumento, si quam emcax ejus m auditon- pupils, 
 bus fuerit doctrina paucorum discipulorum exemplo 
 monstravero. 
 
 12. Athelwoldus, ut supra dixi, ex monacho Glasto- Etheiwoid 
 niensi abbas Abbendoniensis, idemque post episcopus Win- wincL*ster 
 toniensis, tot et tanta monasteria fecit quod vix modo three mon- 
 videatur credibile, ut talia fecerit unius urbis episcopus 
 qualia vix posset rex Angliae totius. Mentior si non 
 palam sit quod loquor, qualia sunt coenobia de Heli, 
 Burhc, Thomi ; quae ille a fundamentis suscitavit et sua 
 industria perfecit. Quae cum semper exactorum vellitse 
 nequitia, sunt nihilominus habitatoribus suis sufficientia. 
 
 Taceo quod monasteria qugp sunt apud Wintoniam mo- 
 nachis vel monachabus replevit ; quod clericos de epi- 
 scopatu projecerit, qui cum, data optione ut aut regula- 
 riter viverent aut loco cederent, magis delicatam vitam 
 elegissent, pulsi nec unquam redire permissi sunt. 
 
 13. Oswaldus Odonis archiepiscopi nepos per Dunsta- Oswald 
 
 -r-yr* • • • J Tr«i • 1 • • bishop of 
 
 num Wigomiensis episcopus et Jiboracensis archiepisco- Worcester 
 pus, titulos non inferiores Athelwoldo promeruit. Nam 
 easdem terens orbitas, monachorum regulam jure suo am- 
 pliavit, monasteria plura, inter quae praecipuum Eamsi- 
 ense, construens. Sedem episcopalem Wigomiae clericis placed 
 
 , . . . . monks in 
 
 non VI expulsis, sed sancto mgenio circumventis, regu- 
 laribus implevit monachis ; siquidem ecclesiam beati 
 
304 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 He^worships Petri, cui sedes ilia serviebat antiquitus, artifici negli- 
 s^MSry^' gentia destituens prsesentia sua, in ecclesia beatso Dei 
 Genitricis, quam in cimiterio construxerat, cum mona- 
 chis suis pontificale officium agebat. Ita populis ad 
 episcopum et monachos conj9uentibus, clerici destituti 
 aut effiigere aut monachatui collum subdere. 
 
 Sanctissimae memoriso Wlsius/ ex abbate Westmo- 
 nasterii Dunstano agente Sirebumensis episcopus, mo- 
 nachos ibidem posuit, posteris factum vel gaudendo 
 semulantibus vel invidendo patientibus. Ita per bea- 
 tum archiepiscopum multiformi sanctorum lampade An- 
 gliam serenante, crassse tenebrae vitiorum evanuere. Sic 
 vigebat religio, sic florebat justitia, sic omnia bona, ut 
 crederes de coelo renidere sidera. - 
 
 Wulfsige 
 introduces 
 monks at 
 Sherborne. 
 
 Good effect 14. Postremo in Edgari regis pectore, quantam Dun- 
 stan's coun- stani doctrina frugem tulerit, gr^ve cogitatu, nedum non 
 
 sels on <-f <~j 
 
 Edgar. facilc dictu. Nam prseter severitatem ill improbos quam 
 superius explanavi, bonis dulcis, religiosis acclivis, mo- 
 nachis affabilis erat. Nec idlus fere annus ejus in 
 chronicis praeteritus est, quo non magnum aliquod et 
 • patriae necessarium fecerit, quo non monasterium no- 
 vum fundaverit. Nemo ejus tempore privatus latro, 
 nemo popularis praedo, nisi qui mallet in fortunas gras- 
 sari alienas propriae vitae dispendio. Per haec Dei 
 favore tuto quantum pacis arriserat, quantum favoris 
 suorum, quantum timoris hostium accesserit, libenter 
 dicerem, si non a proposito vagabundus indulgere vi- 
 derer eloquio. Caeterum cui curae sit de talibus legere, 
 
 ^ The ancient list of the hishopa 
 of Sherborne in the Sherborne Pon- 
 tifical (MS. Paris, 943) was drawn 
 up in the time of Ethelric, who pre- 
 sided there from 1001 to 1009. It 
 contains two persons named Wulf- 
 sige who were contemporary with 
 Dunstan, one of whom, however, 
 
 disappears from the charters in 958, 
 before Dunstan was archbishop, and 
 the other appears as bishop only in 
 992, four years after Dunstan's 
 death. The letter to Wulfsige as- 
 cribed to Dunstan, which will be 
 given below, must be referred to 
 another archbishop. 
 
AUCTORE WILLELMO MALMESBERIENSI. 
 
 Osbern, 
 p. 109. 
 Eadmer, 
 p. 204. 
 
 Gesta Eegum Anglorum, quso ante aliquot annos edidi,' 
 dignetur invenire ; hie quod ad rem attinet diximus, 
 sententiamque antiqui scriptoris de Dunstano intellectu 
 latiori diffudimus. Quapropter quaedam miracula quae 
 ad nos fama sua manarunt, necnon et vaticinia de 
 quibus dicere restat, apponemus, quae ita conspicue vi- 
 debat et enunciabat ut nulli prophetarum videatur esse 
 seeundus. 
 
 15. Eo tempore quo primum post susceptum pallium 
 archi6piscopatum reditu suo nobilitavit, a quodam mag- 
 nate ad ecelesiam quam in villa sui juris fecerat con- 
 seerandam invitatus, non recusavit offieium. Proeessum 
 est ecelesiam ; antistes ad consecrationem stabat ac- 
 cinctus. Yerumtamen fefellit officiales ineuriositas, quo- 
 minus omnia procurassent. Nam ministraturo aqua 
 defuit, cujus copiam in tali officio esse debere nemo 
 fere est qui nesciat. Cursitabant ministri ; stabat at- 
 tonitus dominus magno pudore frontem oneratus ; pal- 
 lebat illorum culpa, hujus tumebat verecundia. Erat 
 pontifieis pro amico confusio. Erat ingens vulgi ex- 
 speetatio, praesertim quia non erat aqua de proximo. 
 Omnibus hiis humanitas sancti consuluit, et oratione 
 fusa de rupe proxima aquam affluentem elicuit. Cre- 
 diderim ducem tunc amasse negligentiam suam, per 
 quam sanctus sacerdos tanti miraculi rapuisset causam ; 
 facit certe in praesenti hominibus ejus provineia(3 gau- 
 dium, qui vident per rupis amfractus levi susurro 
 dulcis aquae serpere rivum. 
 
 General 
 reference to 
 the Gesta 
 Regum, 
 
 At the con- 
 secration of 
 a church 
 there is a 
 want of 
 water. 
 
 Dunstan 
 prays and 
 the water 
 flows from a 
 rock. 
 
 B. p. 46. 
 Osbern, 
 p. 94. 
 Eadmer, 
 p. 183. 
 
 16. Beatus igitur pontifex, ut nihil qugd sui ^ffi^^^i ^"^f ^(f ^ 
 interesset negligeret, saepe obibat coenobia, ut quaE) bene monasteries, 
 fiebant auctoritate sua muniret, quae perperam corri- 
 geret. Hac consuetudine Bathoniam venit, ubi calidae To Bath, 
 aquae vis emergens buUatis scatebris balneas quibusdam 
 ^gritudinibus salubres evaporat. Susceptus dapsili fra- 
 
 1 This passage definitely deter- 
 mines the authorship of the present 
 work ; the Gesta Regum (as distinct 
 
 from the Historia Novorum) ends in 
 1120. William lived for more than 
 20 years longer. 
 
 U 
 
806 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 At Bath he trum caritate : iam cibo curatus inter eos pro moreB. p. 46. 
 
 IS warned of ^ Oshprn 
 
 l^pupliaV^ assedit, et ecce animo coelum transvectus, videt cujus-p ' 
 
 bury dam Glastoniensis scholastici animam supernis sacrariis Eadmer, 
 magno angelorum plausu importari. Laetatus de felicis ^* ^^^* 
 pueri gloria, gaudium considentibus participavit. Pos- 
 tero die prsepositus Glastoniensis eo venit, antistitem. 
 de quibusdam necessariis consulturus, cum statim post 
 impartitam benedictionem interrogavit rectene an secus 
 circa fratres constaret. lUe, cujus menti mors innocen- 
 tis exciderat, recte omnia Dei gratia et ejus orationi- 
 bus agi respondit. Non se putare, retulit Dunstanus, 
 eos sine proximo funefe fuisse ; tunc demum praepositus, 
 memorise redditus, omnia dixit bene procedere, praeter 
 quod quidaih puer pomeridianis horis excessit pridie. 
 " Hoc est/' ait pontifex, " quod dixi ; anima ergo ejus 
 " requiescat in pace. Amen." 
 
 bur^bl*^^" coenobia caetera, tum frequentius visitabat B. p. 47. 
 
 filing on^^^ Glastoniam, felicitatis et religionis suae nutriculam. 
 
 Eifsige. -j^Qj^ peregrino diversorio, sed ut in domes- 
 
 tico contubemio, seposita episcopalis comitatus pompa 
 commanebat. Exierat quadam vice in atrium ecclesiae 
 spatiatum uno tantum fratre obambulante. Elfsius 
 ei nomen. Venerat ad occidentalem veteris ecclesiae par- 
 tem, cum vox coelestis sethere pulso sonuit, " Veni, veni, 
 " Elfsi veni;" continuoque Dunstanus concepto vaticinio, 
 
 SL^fS respiciens comitem, " Praepara ergo," inquit " te, frater, 
 
 death.^°^^^^ " viaticum compara quo possis ingredi tantum iter. 
 
 " Instat enim vocationis tuae dies." Paruit patri mona- 
 chus, post paucos dies prophesiae veritatem expertus. 
 Quid hoc divinius, quid hoc mirabilius homine 1 cura- 
 verunt alii paucorum valetudines corporum, hie depulit 
 innumerabilium morbos animarum; fuerunt alii pru- 
 dentes in saeculo, iUe et hoc non omittebat, et totus 
 inhaerebat Deo ; fecerunt alii duo vel ut multum tria 
 monasteria, hie a fundamentis multa extruxit nova, et 
 quae jam ruinam minitabantur reparavit Vetera. 
 
 anJ^sbSd Interca Edgarus renunciavit vitae, vir omni aevo 
 
 bu^!^*^^' prsedicandus. Namque non infirma inter Anglos fama 
 
AUCTORE WILLELMO MALMESBERIENSI. 307 
 
 Osbern, 
 I>. 114. 
 Eadmer, 
 p. 214. 
 
 Osbern, 
 p. 113. 
 Eadmer, 
 p. 212. 
 
 est, nullum nec ejus superioris setatis regem in Anglia 
 sequilibri judicio comparandum Edgaro. Ita nihil vita 
 ejus sanctius, nihil justitia probabilius fuit, qui patriam 
 suam prseclara fortitudine illustravit, et rerum gestarum 
 claritate et Deo servientium multiplieitate, in pa,ucorum 
 annorum angustia rem sseculorum ineludens. Sepultus 
 est Glastoniae. Coi*pus tunc quidem terra opertum, 
 sed post scrinio in argenteo et inaurato locatum pro 
 merito personse honoratur. Successit ei Edwardus filius, Edward sue- 
 
 . ceedSj by 
 
 annitente Dunstano quamvis obnitentibus proceribus Dunstan's 
 
 , . - advice, not- 
 
 et maxime noverca, quae vixdum septem annorum withstand- 
 puerulum Es^elredum filium provehere conabatur, ut queen's 
 
 . .. T . . . •ij-rii opposition. 
 
 ipsa potius sub nomine ejus imperitaret. Jixtunc ma- 
 litia hominum puUulante felicitas regni immutata, jam 
 enim Edgarus in supemum regnum obierat, cujus tem- 
 pore futuram pacem coelestis vox Dunstano nuncia- 
 verat. Tunc ergo visus cometes qui vel pestem. homi- 
 num vel mutationem regni portendere pro vero asseve- 
 ratur. Nec mora, secuta sterilitas anni, fames hominum, 
 mors jumentorum. Apud vicum regium quae vocatur 
 Calna casus insolitus, quem equidem scriptores vitae 
 Dunstani praeterisse miror, cum in chronicis^ ad ejus 
 praecipuam gloriam annotatus sit. 
 
 19. Nam Edgaro rebus exempto, clerici quondam ab The clerks 
 
 T 1. T. T ., ,. attempt to 
 
 ecclesiis expulsi rediviva praelia suscitarunt, mgens esse recover their 
 
 . churches 
 
 et miserabile dedecus, ut novus advena veteres colonos with the 
 
 n , TT T X -1 ' ' ± help of the 
 
 expeileret. Hoc nec dico gratum videri qui veterem nobles, 
 eis a longinquis saeculis habitationem concessisset, nec 
 alicui probo homini qui sibi idem timere posset, quod 
 aliis praejudicio accidisse cemeret. Ea de re in cla- 
 mores et iras surrectum et ad Dunstanum perrectum ; 
 proceribus praecipue, ut laicorum mos est, succlamantibus 
 praejudicium quod passi fuerant leniori consilio succidi 
 debere. Itaque frequenti synodo coacta, primo Winto- Council at 
 
 .... . . . . "Winchester 
 
 niam ventum. Quis ibi fuerit finis certaminis alias 
 docent litterae. Cum enim omnes adversariorum objec- 
 
 1 Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, A.D. 978. 
 
 u 2 
 
308 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 A crucifix 
 speaks. 
 
 Council at 
 Calne. 
 
 Fall of the 
 floor. 
 
 Dunstan's 
 escape. 
 
 tiones rationalibus responsis confutasset archiepiscopus, 
 illi contentione irrita, versi ad preces, favore optima- 
 turn fulciebantur. Is responsum non retulit, ne vel in 
 tempore optimatibus adversari, vel nefandis precibus 
 assentire videretur. Quapropter Dominicse crucis 
 imago quae adhuc Wintonise habetur antistitem dubie- 
 tatis absolvit periculo, repetens tertio " Absit hoc utOsbern,pp. 
 " fiat." Sed adhuc non sedatis animis Cahise consilium ^^^'^g^' 
 edictum, ubi cum in coenaculo, absente propter setatem p. 213. 
 rege, insidentibus totius Angliae senatoribus, magno 
 conflictu res ageretur, et validissimum ilium ecclesiae 
 murum, Dunstanum dico, multorum jacula impeterent 
 convitiorum, nec quaterent suas partes, cujusque ordinis 
 viris summo studio tuentibus, solarium totum repente 
 cum axibus et trabibus dissiluit et concidit. Omnibus 
 ad terram elisis, solus Dunstanus stans super unam 
 trabem quae superstes erat probe evasit. Reliqui vel 
 exanimati vel perpetui langoris compede detenti. Hoc 
 miraculum archiepiscopo exhibuit pacem de clericis, 
 omnibus Anglis tunc et deinceps in ejus sententiam 
 concedentibus. 
 
 Edward, 20. Interea Elfthrida mater Egelredi novercali odio 
 
 tired with . ^ . . . t . . . 
 
 hunting, vipcrcum dolum rummans msidias privigno struere, quas 
 
 visits his , t . , t . , • , i , 
 
 stepmother, hoc modo consummavit. Lassus venatione revertebatur 
 propter laborem siti anhelus; comites quo quemque 
 casus tulerat canes consequebantur ; auditoque qUod 
 illi in contigua villa habitarent, equo concito iUuc 
 contendit juvenculus solus, nihil propter innocehtiam 
 metuens, aliorum quippe animos ex suo ponderans. 
 Tunc ilia muliebri blanditia advenientem alliciens sibi 
 fecit intendere, et post libata oscula, porrectum sibi 
 
 He is slain, avidc poculum haurientcm, per satellitem, sica trans- 
 fodit, quo vulnere saucius cum quantis potuit animae 
 reliquiis sonipedem calcaribus movisset ad suos reverti, 
 uno pede lapsus alteroque per devia tractus, undante 
 
 1 See W. Malmesb. Gesta Regum, § 162, p. 258, where the story is 
 tod in very similar language. 
 
AUCTORE WILLELMO MALMESBERIENSI. 309 
 
 cruore, indicia interitus sui se quaerentibus dedit. Et 
 tunc quidem sine honore apud Werham sepeliri lusse- and buried 
 runt, invidentes scilicet mortuo cespitem ecclesiasticum 
 cui vivo inviderant decus regium. Sed afFuit divinse 
 serenitatis assensus qui innocentem csesum miraculorum 
 sublimaret gloria. Quapropter Elferius dux, sacro Eifhere 
 
 1. I'TT 1 •! J • • I* removes his 
 
 corpore de ignobili loco levato, justas et egregias mie- body to 
 rias apud Sceptoniam solvit. Creditumque et celebriter • 
 vulgatum quod propter Elfthridae in Edwardum inso- 
 lentiam multo post tempore tota patria servitutem 
 infremuisse barbaricam, quam fidem minse Dunstani 
 firmarunt, sicut paulo post narrabitur. Nam et regis ^^^^g^^^^^*^ 
 sanctitas antistitis proxime attinscebat sfloriam, quod country for 
 
 . . / T , T . . the murder. 
 
 ejus sunragio impermm conscendisset, quod ejus moni- 
 tis paternse religionis vestigia trivisset, quod ejus 
 meritis commercium regni coelestis pro terreno fecisset. 
 Osbem, 21. Tunc obsedit regnum Egelredus frater ejus de patre, Etheired 
 
 p. 115. ^ • "x ...... -,. becomes 
 
 Eadmer, cujus vitse cursus, ssevus m prmcipio, miser m medio, king. 
 
 p. 215. turpis in exitu asseritur. Ita parricidio cui conniven- 
 tiam adhibuerat immanis, ita fuga et moUitie infamis, 
 ita morte miserabilis fait. Ignaviam ejus pra^dixerat 
 Dunstanus foedo exemplo admonitus. Nam cum pusio- 
 lus in fontem baptismi mergeretur, circumstantibus epi- 
 scopis, alvi profluvio sacramenta interpolavit. Qua re 
 ille turbatus, " Per Deum," inquit, et matrem Ejus, Dunstan's 
 " ignavus homo erit.'' Matris ergo sufFragio proceribus |isbaptfsm, 
 congregatis, dies dicta, ut Dunstanus adveniret. lUe coronation, 
 licet infensus esset supersedit resistere, pontifex sevi 
 maturioris et in saecularibus emeritus; jam vero dia- 
 dema componens non se continuit quin spiritum pro- 
 pheticum totis medullis haustum ore pleno effunderet. 
 Verba ipsa quae alias legi dicturus sum, quamvis, ut in 
 prologo hujus libri dixi, eis consensum non obligem 
 meum, qui verba nusquam audita vel lecta apponunt 
 quia dici potuerunt. " Quia," inquit, " per mortem fra- Dunstan's 
 
 «x-x- -x-j X J' V prediction 
 
 tris tui aspirasti ad regnum, propterea audi verbum concernmg 
 " Domini ; hsec dixit Dominus Deus, ' Non delebitur 
 " * peccatum ignominiosee matris tua) et peccatum viro- 
 
310 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 " ' rum qui interfuerunt consilio illius nequam, sine Osbern, 
 ' multo sanguine miserorum provinciaKum/ Et veni- jjadmer 
 " erit super gentem Anglorum mala qualia non passa p. 215. 
 " ex quo Angliam venit usque in tempus iUud." Nec 
 multo post simile vaticinium effiidit ejus pervicacia hoc 
 modo irritatus. 
 
 Ethelred's 
 quarrel with 
 Rochester. 
 
 Danstan 
 bribes him. 
 
 Dunstan's 
 contempt 
 for him. 
 
 Character 
 of S. Edith 
 the daughter 
 of Edgar. 
 
 Dunstin 
 foretells her 
 death. 
 
 22. Surrexerat inter regem et episcopum Rofensem si- Osbem, 
 multas, incertum qua de causa. Quocirca contra civita- P* 
 tern exercitum duxit. Mandatum ei ab archiepiscopo ut 
 furori desisteret, nec Sanctum Andream, in cujus tutela 
 episcopatus est, irritaret, sicut ad indulgendum facilem, 
 
 ita ad ulciscendum terribilem. Verborum nuditate con- 
 tempta adomat praeceptum pecunia, et mittit centum 
 libras, ut obsidionem solveret, pretio emptus abiret. 
 Quo ille accepto, receptui cecinit, procinctum militum 
 feriari permisit : miratus Dunstanus hominis cupiditatem 
 liaec per nuncios retulit ; " Quoniam prsetulisti argentum 
 Deo, pecuniam apostolo, cupiditatem mihi, velociter 
 venient super te mala quae locutus est Dominus, sed 
 " hoc me vivente non fient, quia et hoc locutus. est 
 " Dominus." 
 
 23. At non ita melior Edgari soboles Edgitha; non 
 ita Dunstani animum offendebat, sed ejus potius gratiam 
 sedulo demerebatur. Unde quiddam, quod in ejus vita ^ 
 legi, apponere non fastidiam : quod quia alienum non 
 est a Dunstano, non interim a materia vagabitur oratio. 
 Ea abbatissa Wiltoniae, videratque illam Dunstanus in 
 consecratione ecclesise Sancti Dionysii, quam ilia in 
 amorem martyris sedificaverat, pollicem dexterum fre- 
 quenter protendere, et signum crucis fronti e regione 
 pingere. Delectatusque admodum, " Nunquam," inquit, 
 " putrescat hie digitus," continuoque intra Missarum 
 agenda prorupit in lacrymas adeo profluas, ut singul- 
 
 1 See the Life of S. Edith by Got- 
 selinus in Mabillon, AA. SS. ssec. 
 V. pp. 624, 625. The story is told 
 
 by our author in much the same 
 words in the Gesta Pontiff, ed. 
 Hamilton, § 87. 
 
AUCTORE WILLELMO MALMESBERIENSL 311 
 
 tiente voce ut discipulum propter astantem concuteret. 
 Reique causam qusesitus, " Cito," ait, " hsec florida rosa 
 " marceseet, cito avis dilecta Deo avolabit, post sex ab 
 " hoe die septimanas." Conseeuta est igitur rerum 
 Veritas pontifieale vatieinium. Namque ilia, nobilis pro- 
 positi tenax, praedieta die citra juventae terminum 
 efflavit, cum esset annorum viginti trium. Nec multo 
 post idem beatus vidit somni visione Sanctum Diony- vision of 
 
 . T , , , S.Denis. 
 
 Slum virginem amicabiliter manu tenentem, et ex ora- 
 culo divino constanter jubentem ut a famulis bonorifi- 
 caretur in terris, sicut a sponso et Domino venerabatur 
 in coelis. Ita crebrescentibus ad tumbam miraculis, 
 edictum, ut corpus virgineum levaretur et altius efFer- 
 retur. Inventumque totum in cineres solutum, P^^^^^^^^^k 
 digitum et alvum et alvo subjecta. Unde disputantibus ^^^g^^^j^ 
 nonnullis, uni qui viderant dormienti ipsa virgo astitit 
 dicens, " Nimirum ^ si partes illse corporis putruerint, 
 " quod usus habeat exanimata corpora in quosdam arca- 
 nos recessus defluere, et ipsa, utpote puella, membris illis 
 " peccaverat ; cseterum juste ventrem nulla putredine 
 " corrumpi, qui nulla sit unquam aculeatus libidine ; 
 " immunem se fuisse . crapulae et carnalis copulse." 
 
 Osbern, 22. Similem prophesiam in preenunciando Adthelwoldi mdktion; 
 p. 115. Wintoniensis episcopi excessu Dunstanus exhibuit. Is woid's 
 
 Eadmer, ^ . . . . . death. 
 
 p. 215. veniens Cantiam benigne et liberali aliquamdiu confo- 
 tus est hospitio. Suspiciebat enim in eo archiepiscopus 
 verae virtutis specimen et non fictse religionis simula- 
 crum, quod ab eo in se rapuerat et semulo exemplo 
 praetendebat. Post dies abeuntem, cum Rofensi episcopo He had been 
 
 r»i i.T i 1 i T-ii^» visiting Oan- 
 
 qui eo lorte venerat, dimanter prosequebatur. lam terbury with 
 
 V , r J. 2. 'J XI- thebishop 
 
 aliquantum coniecerant, et vesper occiduus tenebris of Roches- 
 minabatur, quoniam in movendo moras nexuerant. Tum 
 Rofensis antistes sanctum submissis precibus ambit 
 archiepiscopum, ut non refutaret diversorium quod sui 
 
 1 Nimirum'] non mirum, G. P. § 87. 
 
312 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Dunstan juris erat, viae proximum. Qui cum in Athelwoldum Osbem, 
 dearth of ^ suge Voluntatis refudisset arbitrium, Adthelwoldo ©xo- ^'^^g^.^ 
 rato, Rofensis utrorumque obtinuit assensum. Fugata p. 216. 
 nocte, mane inclaruerat et illi viam adoriebantur. Cum- 
 que collem ascenderent qui plurimus villse imminet, 
 postulant a summo pontifice benedictionem episcopi mox 
 digressuri. lUe porrecta dextra et benedictionis verba 
 concipiens suspirium dedit ; liquitur doloris imber ex 
 oculis, succutitur singultu pectus, vestes lacrymis infun- 
 duntur; pavifacti ambo, tam subiti et tam effusi fletus 
 portento, inter se diu multumque mussitare ; demum 
 lacrymarum occasionem placide percunctati, audierunt 
 doloris sui esse causam illorum proximam. Contra illi 
 orare ut asperum amoveret vaticinium, futurum Deo. 
 auctore ssepe hujusmodi conventum, si quid praesagii 
 vidisset alio intellectu divinandum. Nec minus Dun- 
 stanus sententiam astruere, sed spe blandienti lenire; 
 morituros eos saeculo, sed victuros cum Deo ; praasenti- 
 bus carituros, sed gaudiis perpetuis fruituros. Ita unus- 
 quisque diversis afFectibus viam suam abiit ; ille vati- 
 cinii sui conscius, hii curiosi de hora imminentis trans- 
 Death of the itus. Et Rofensi quidem ingresso moenia suae urbis 
 
 two bishops. ., .. ., AiiTiT 
 
 statim occurrit exitus vitae. Atnelwoldus porro prius- 
 quam iter a Cantia emensus esset, decubuit incommodo . 
 quod eum intulit coelo. Cujus excessus magnas turbas 
 conscivit in Wintonia ; clericis olim amisso loco inhian- 
 tibuS; monachis regis Edgari privilegia obtendentibus. 
 Contest at Ita dum quisque sui ordinis cupit habere episcopum, 
 
 Winchester. . . .. 
 
 * partes fecere, crevissetque immanis tumultus, nisi Dun- 
 stanus arbitrium litis refudisset in Deum, orans ut 
 litigantibus bonae voluntatis suae objiceret scutum. Sta- Adelard, 
 tim consecutus precum effectum, vidit Andream aposto- osbem 
 
 Dunstan is lum Dei manifeste dicentem sibi orationem suam coelum p. 11 6. 
 
 consecrate pcnctrassc, providisso Deum desolatae pastorem ecclesiae, p.^2i6T' 
 proinde securus abbati Bathoniensi Elphego episcopa- 
 tum imponeret, cujus ad utramque religionem temperata 
 tantam seditionem sedaret modestia. Nec potuit bea- 
 
AUCTORE WILLELMO MALMESBERIENSI. 
 
 813 
 
 tus vates, (][uem nullum unquam fefellerat prsesagium, ^Jheired 
 de visione dubitare, quippe qui faciem apostoli probe 
 norat et ssepe benivolentiam comperisset. Itaque per 
 nuncios regem Egelredum rei certum facit, voluntatem 
 simul allegans suam. lUe quanquam insulsus in csete- 
 ris, in hoc tamen resipuit, ne voluntati Dei contra- 
 stare prsesumeret. Ita Elphegus episcopatui datus, c^^er of 
 quinque annis Dunstano vivente, decem et octo post 
 ejus excessum Wintoniae praefuit. Turn archiepiscopatu 
 septem annis potitus, postremo martyrium iniit. 
 
 25. lUud erat in Dunstano mirabile quod etiam verba Even the ^ 
 quse 'casu non studio efiunderet effectu non carerent, of Dunstan 
 
 •1 T ., , . . T • 1 are fulfilled. 
 
 ninil unquam pene dixerit, quod mam pondere m leves 
 auras efflueret, ut illud. Opulentus quidam Alwoldus 
 nomine pulsatus valetudine agensque poenitentem, mo- 
 nachi pannos apud Glastoniam petierat et impetraverat. 
 Accessio temporis, vel potius sanctorum virorum con- Aiwoid, 
 
 ... T 1 Ti • J. T X having be- 
 
 versatio, mcommodum depulit, visusque est aliquanto come a 
 
 , . .li. r\ -t ± monk, grows 
 
 tempore mte2:errim8e sospitatis compos. Uua eiatus tired and 
 
 A ^ demands his 
 
 iterum spiravit sseculum, concepitque regulse et monas- grogerty 
 terii nauseam. Obstinata intensio perversam cogita- 
 tionem aluit, donee rejecto habitu in mundum prosili- 
 vit. Ante, cum morbus insedisset prsecordiis, parvi 
 faciens divitias contulerat monasterio quasdam posses- 
 siimculas. Tunc vero abbatis et monacborum aures 
 tum per se tum per amicos fatigabat de restitutione. 
 Cum nihil promoveret, regis Egelredi animum oblatione 
 nummorum tentavit. lUe, sub cujus regimine magnus 
 erat labor justitise, sub quo nuUus tutus nisi pecunio- 
 sus, missis apparitoribus Alwoldo quicquid interrogabat 
 in solidum restituit. Ita rusticus invadens omnia, 
 etiam multa praeter haec monasterio inflixit incommoda, Dunstan 
 
 said "Let 
 
 ut est agrestium cum incipiunt ssevire protervia. Mona- foxes eat 
 chi, ad unicum recurrentes patronum, archiepiscopo de 
 fugitivo monacho querelam deponunt ; multis respon- 
 dit ille plangentibus, sed heec fuit summa, "a Domini 
 
 matre ultionem exigite ; ilium comedant vulpes 
 quod ilium non crediderim dixisse maledicentis animo, 
 
314 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 oAiii wd lapsum vel vaticimo impulsum. Nec 
 
 tamen secus evenit ; nam post aliquantum tempus 
 prsevaricator morbo corripitur, excruciatur, defungitur, 
 prius tamen, anima in egressum festinante, jusserat ut 
 As Aiwoid's cadaver suum Glastoniam deferretur, quatenus locum, 
 brou^to quem superbe contempserat vivus, suppliciter occuparet 
 eaSby^ mortuus. EffertuT ergo corpus exanime ; aliquantum 
 foxes. vise processerant qui ferebant, et ecce undique yulpes, 
 incertum quo spiritu agente, accurrunt ; acclamatur 
 undique " Vulpes, Vulpes," et exceptum clamorem 
 setheris convexa multiplicant. Strepit vulgus ignobile, 
 ita ut vespiliones etiam deposito cadavere ad bestiolas 
 insequendas incurrerent. lUse parumper fugientes mox 
 compendiaria via sunt reversi ; antequam recurri posset, 
 cadaver invadunt, corrodunt, disjiciunt ; nec scio si 
 aliquid superfuit, quod posset condi humo, tremendo 
 Dei judicio, ut parum aut nihil de illo in placiditatem 
 sinus sui terra susciperet, qui Dei matris benignitatem 
 irritasset. 
 
 Description 26. Hactcuus foreusia ejus lectoris notitise intuli; nunc B. pp. 40, 
 
 of Dunstan's ... ., . -ii aj.* 49. 
 
 daily life, mtcriorem vitam ejus paucis absoivam. At primum osbem, 
 ille vetus vitse scriptor eum observasse potissimum p. no. 
 commemorat, ut nihil citra doctrinam suam ageret, 
 nihil quod a subjectis digne reprehenderetur aut doceret 
 aut faceret. Et diebus quidem hoc fere modo vivebat, 
 si alise curae non evocarent, aut hymnodise jugi, in- 
 defessseque orationi insudaret, aut litterarum studio et 
 librorum emendationi totum diem insumeret. Nec 
 
 His studies, aliud prseter curam corporis actitaret ; hoc post peracta 
 solemnia, statim subeunte aurora, incipiens. Sin vero 
 infirmis negotiis hominum servire cogeretur, rectum 
 
 His disci- semper pensabat judicium, ut nec divitem pro persona 
 susciperet, nec pauperem pro fortuna despiceret; prse- 
 cipuum studium habens legitima conjugia conciliare, 
 iUicita diducere, pronuncians frigidam esse virtutem 
 sobolis adulterinse, et parum valentem ad defensionem 
 patriae quae furtivo conciperetur calore : pacifici salu- 
 
AUCTOKE WILLELMO MALMESBERIENSI. 315 
 
 britate sermonis jurgia sedare, et turbulentos animorum His charity, 
 motus in serenam quietem revocare, vidiiis et orplianis 
 non solum patrocinium exhibens, sed etiam dignanter 
 s. James, i. eos juxta prseceptum Jacobi revisens. Omnibus post- 
 remo pauperibus ssepe et opportune adesse, his victum, 
 illis vestimentum largiri ; aliquibus tectum, nomiuUis 
 nummum, cunctis auxilium. ^dificia labantia et Vetera His care of 
 
 , . . , T T the monas- 
 
 restituens, nova nec ignave aggrediens, nec avare ab- teries. 
 solvens, provisioni monasteriorum curam suam in patria 
 exponere, nec transmarina maximeque in Flandria 
 negligere. Prsedicationis ex ejus ore manabat imber 
 continuus ; bonis lenis et profluus, malis ut fulmen et His sermons 
 
 ... TT -I 1 T • 1 1 1 and letters. 
 
 tonitrus. Hoc agere ad praesentes verbis, ad absentes 
 epistolis. Jam vero in ipsis negotiorum tumultibus 
 constitutus, reducta ex his cogitatione, ssepe quidem 
 oculum, semper autem animum librabat in coelum, nec 
 unquam eum tantarum rerum moles inquietare pote- 
 rant, quin animo tranquillo vultuque immoto decederet. 
 Quietem mentis faciei commendabat alacritas, simulque 
 quod statim imperturbato vocis sono psalmodiam in- His gift of 
 cipiens in curam transibat animse. Quanta sane ipsi 
 compunctionis inesset gratia, quae possit explicare lin- 
 B. p. 50. gua. Nunquam dedicationes ecclesiarum, nunquam or- 
 dinationes sacerdotum sine lacrymis peregit. Quicquid 
 in ecclesiis majoribus fiebat solemniis, suis nobilita 
 fletibus, tanto diluvio beatam irrorabant animam, irri- 
 guum superius, et irriguum inferius. Haec diebus; 
 noctibus porro nunquam ad plenam satietatem indulsit His employ- 
 
 • (^11* T* J* mcnt at 
 
 somno ; nec vero pervigiliam labulis vel merti con- night, 
 sumebat otio, sed orationibus assiduis, genuflexionibus, 
 crebris suspiriis ex imo petitis. Unde factum est ut 
 defoecato carnis et mentis intuitu, utriusque substantise 
 oculis hauriret divina mysteria, dum adhuc gravaretur 
 mole terrena, multoties audiens agmina supema suave 
 Kyrie eleyson cantantia. 
 
 27. Quadam deinde nocte post multas vigilias delinito 
 in soporem corpore, mente in coelum evasit ; ibi festivam 
 
316 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 His vision of frequentiam supemorum civimn, ibi concentum insesti- B. pp. 4i, 
 
 his mother's 
 marriage 
 
 mabilis suavitatis audivit. Sedebat mater ejus, ut osbem, 
 videbatur, instar sponsse compta crinem steUante pp. ii7, 
 diademate ; sedebat inquam sublimi solio nixa, cuidam Eadmer, 
 prsepotenti regi nuptura. Erat magna constipantium pp. 205, 
 caterva, fervebat vigor Isetitise, resultabant atria vocum 
 dulcedine; solus Dunstanus diuturnam premebat silen- 
 tium, vel melo captus vel gaudio attonitus. Turn 
 juvenis de proximo starts, cujus prsestabilis forma 
 reverberabat oeulos, arguit tacentem, cum vel propter 
 matris gloriam debuisset in Christi erumpere laudem. 
 Cumque ille retulisset se nec ignavum nec ingratum, 
 sed hujus concentus esse ignarum, "Vis," inquit, " ut 
 doceam te ; " simulque cum dicto ita modulatus est, 
 O Kex gentium Dominator omnium, propter sedem 
 majestatis Tuse da nobis indulgentiam, Bex Christe, 
 peccatorum, AUeluya hiis verbis frequenter ad 
 subsidium memorise repetitis. Pontifex somno amisso 
 cunctis prope cubantibus monachis et clericis statim 
 verba et melum insonuit, quibus in disciplinam propere 
 surgentibus, ipse interim largo imbre humectabat faciem, 
 subinde repetens,' "Discite, filii, quia fidelis et bonus 
 est a quo ego hsec didici." 
 
 The hymn 
 he learned. 
 
 « 
 
 it 
 
 His vision at 28. Hac vigilandi consuetudine, noctibus ad coenobium B. pp. 48, 
 tine^f^' beati Augustini extra "muros Cantuarise procedebat. q^^^^^ 
 In eo coenobio est beatse Dei Genitricis ecclesia, app. ii8, 
 Sancto Adriano abbate constructa. lUuc una noctium, jj^^^^j 
 post consummatos in majori ecclesia psalmos, cum p. 208. 
 tenderet, eminus quoddam coeleste murmur auribus 
 captavit. Ulterius felici audacia progressus, videt totam 
 ecclesiam crebris micare luminibus. Nec cunctatus 
 cuncta rimari, rimis ostiatim patentibus oculo apposito, 
 conspicatur in solio sedentem ipsam Dei genitricem, 
 quam circumdabat chorus virginum, et vultibus et 
 vestium cultibus insigne Deitatis prseferentium. Has 
 omnes domina imperatrix blando sono ad Christi laudem 
 
AUCTOEE WILLELMO MALMESBERIENSI. 317 
 
 49. 
 Osbern, 
 pp. 118, 
 119. 
 
 Eadmer, 
 p. 208. 
 
 B. pp. 48, hortatur his versibus, " Cantemus Domino, socise, can- The choirs 
 
 * " of vi *ns 
 
 " temus honorem, Dulcis amor Christi personet ore pio." singing. 
 Respondebantque beatsB virgines herse praocinenti 
 versus sequentes hoc modo; "Foemina sola fuit patuit 
 " qua janua lethi, Per quam vita redit, foemina sola 
 " fuit." Magna sunt hsec ad ostentandam hominibus 
 beatse Marige dulcedinem, quam exhibuit servulo, qui 
 eam multo mulcebat obsequio ; magna viri prseconia, ut, 
 lutea nondum compage solutus, videret oculis, hauriret 
 auribus quod in futura vita concredendum alii sancti 
 magno et diuturno suspirant desiderio. Senserint alii 
 quodlibet, ego unam beatissimse dominse visionem toti 
 prseponerem mundo, et omnia miracula quae quisquam 
 fecit facturusve sit in ejus libra minus pondero. 
 
 29. Multa sunt ejusmodi et quae numerum excedunt, No words 
 
 n , {* • 'iJ J can tell the 
 
 nec erit ulla meta reierenti, qui consideret quantum happiness of 
 
 ATI • • i • n 'i England 
 
 Anglia bonorum virorum copia et pacis sereno noruerit under him. 
 per gratiam Dei agente Dunstano, viro cujus, ut ita 
 dicam, vita tota in virtutes transierat. Pauca tantum 
 eademque strictim libavimus, propenso ad utnimque 
 consilio, ut lectoris mederemur fastidio. Nunc quia 
 sufficienter ostensum et pene digito notatum quam 
 pure et gratiose hunc incolatum coluerit, restat paucis 
 absolvere quam sancte et gloriose migravit ad patriam. 
 In quibus dicendis, sicut et in antedictis, hanc paciscor 
 regulam, ut nihil verborum apponam nisi quod veterum 
 scriptorum adomet sententiam. 
 
 Adelard, 
 pp. 64, 65. 
 
 30. Annus erat Incarnationis Domini nongentesimus vision of 
 0^bem,'pp. octogesimus octavus, et in Ascensione Domini, quee ttie^eve^of 
 120,121. tunc ad xvi. kalendas Junias fuit, Dunstano in coelum Day, 988. 
 struebatur ascensus. Cujus rei gloriam prsesaga mente 
 vidit Elfgarus, tunc beati antistitis curialis presbyter, 
 post episcopatui datus, qui tunc apud Helmam,- nunc 
 apud Norwic sedem tenet. Is igitur ipsa Dominicae As- 
 censionis nocte prseclarum imaginatus est somnium, esse 
 se in Salvatoris ecclesia, sedere Dunstanum in throno 
 
 Eadmer, 
 pp. 217, 
 218. 
 
818 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 Vision of pontificali forma quam solebat aus^ustiori. Turn undatim Adelard, 
 
 angels. ^ ^ ^ , pp 64 65 
 
 per omnes fores angelorum catervas irruere, adeo ut osbera, 
 
 confertae multitudinis constipatione videretur ostium PP- 120, 
 
 . . . . 121. 
 
 laxari capacitas. Compositis autem ordinibus ante Eadmer, 
 
 pontificem, stationis officium exhibentes gratissima ^^J^^^^' 
 
 They bid iUum salutatioue impertire ] " Salve," aiunt, " Duustane 
 
 Dunstanbe . . ^ ' . „ . 
 
 ready _^the nostcr, quia jam tempus est ut consortio fruans 
 Saturday. " nostro. Esto compositus die Sabbati ut nobiscum hinc 
 " abeas, et setemas laudes ante summum pontificem 
 " psaUas setemaliter." Hiis dictis angelorum sublata 
 est visio, et presbyter excessit somno, tacitumque quod 
 viderat usque ad missam tulit, quid tam manifesta visio 
 portenderet quodam stupore mentis opperiens. 
 He preaches 31. Interea procedit dominus archiepiscopus ad solem- B. p. 51. 
 
 three times * " ' 
 
 on As 
 Day. 
 
 AscenSon nia sine ullius incommodi sensu, sed imminentis transitus, ^^^5^^^ 
 ut post palam fuit, baud dubie conscius. Ter ea die Osbern, 
 infudit populo verba salutis, primo post evangelium, 122.^^^' 
 quem morem omnes terunt ; secundo post benedictionem Eadmer, 
 episcopalem; tertio post perceptam Eucharistiam, sem- laof^^' 
 per tanta sermonum gratia, tanta vultus elegantia, ut 
 nihil supra. Procedebat ex ore tanta verborum copia, 
 ex facie claritas quanta prius nunquam ; profecto aderat 
 ei de Cujus adventu loquebatur Spiritus, ut claritate 
 faciei nihilo minus quam angelus, a prsedicationis uber- 
 tate nihil minus videretur quam apostolus. Inhiabat 
 populus verbis ejus, suspirabat vultui, quasi et ipse 
 His exhorta- prsesagirct quod eum ulterius visurus non esset. Vole- 
 *^^^^* bsLt antistes eis suam gloriam manifestare, sed dictu- 
 rientem retrahebat passio, superabat affectus. Magno 
 ergo suo gaudio obstrepebat, et aliquantum moeroris 
 nubilum praetendebat filiorum d^solatio. Jam vero ter- 
 tio, ut dixi, sermonem adorsus, erupit in vocem, vocem 
 qua eis incomparabilem efFudit dolorem, haberent cari- 
 tatem et dilectionem fratemam qua sola cum Deo 
 foederatur mortalis hominis anima. Hanc reliquisse 
 Dominum Salvatorem in signum Sui amoris discipulis ; 
 hanc se commendare illis f hoc munus extremum. Haec 
 
AUCTORE WILLELMO MALMESBERIENSI. 319 
 
 B. p. 51. suae dilectionis esse pimora, quae filiis suis continuo He an- 
 
 Adelard t x o ^ x ^ nouncesms 
 
 p. 65. ' decessurus contraderet. Neque enim se cum illis ulte- departure. 
 Osbern, pp. rius commoraturum, sed celeriter ineressurum viam 
 
 121 122 .... . . . 
 
 Eadmer,* patrum. Hiis dictis surrexit in ecclesia ingens clamor 
 pp.219, omnium, "Eheu pater, eheu domine," clamantium. Itum 
 
 est in planctum, itum in singultum, profluebantque f^g^]J^^gj.g 
 lacrymsB doloris interpretes, praecordiorum arbitrae. 
 Quibus iterum sermonem ejus rogantibus suppliciter, 
 verba quidem sufficere respondit. Yerumtamen ad 
 multos amplexu mutuo, ad omnes osculi caritate decuriit. 
 Nam et Elfgarus sacerdos visionis suae iam compos, cum Eifgar 
 
 ^— ' rcvGOils Ills 
 
 quae viderat tulisset in medium, baud incertum dedit vision, 
 indicium pontificem sabbato proximo migraturum. Ille 
 igitur, omnibus, ut dixi, quoquomodo consolatis, dedit 
 extremae benedictionis gratiam, et auctoritate sibi tra- 
 dita peccatorum absolutionem et remissam. 
 
 B. p. 52. 
 Osbern, 
 p. 123. 
 Eadmer, 
 p. 221. 
 
 32. Ita pransurus, cum zetam intrasset, omnes partici- 
 pare volentes hilariter excepit, liberaliter pavit ; prandio 
 sancte et sobrie ut solebat celebrato, editiorem locum 
 ascendit. Ibi ut, quia claudicante jam vere tempus in 
 aestatem vergebat, calorem effugeret, vel ut meridianum 
 somnum more solito invitaret, assedit subsellio. Erat 
 sedile viminea crate contextum et ita falciendis lateri- 
 bus accommodum ut etiam dormitantem a casu defen- 
 deret. Ministri qua quisque poterat in circuitu indulsere 
 quieti. Jamque ille et quidam eorum in soporera con- 
 cesserant, cum ipse primum quodam leni motu percussus, 
 mox cum ipso sedili ad tectum usque subjectus est, 
 inaudito saeculis omnibus miraculo, ut cum gravis camis 
 pondere vacuum per inane ferretur. Diriguere omnes 
 metu, stratisque excussi per angulos difiugiunt ; sed 
 delinimentum fuit pavoris, ea modestia qua subvectus 
 fuerat, demissio pontificis. Demissum ergo atque ex- 
 perrectum, ritu obsequentium circumstant, reliquias for- 
 midinis pallidis vultibus praeferentes ; eos antistes blando 
 filiorum nomine compellans, interrogat quid vi<iissent 
 
 He joins in 
 the festival, 
 and after 
 dinner re- 
 tires to an 
 upper room, 
 and hes on 
 his couch. 
 
 He and the 
 couch are 
 miraculously 
 lifted up and 
 set down. 
 
320 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 He forbids 
 them, to tell 
 the miracle 
 during his 
 life. 
 
 He grows 
 worse until 
 the Satur- 
 day. 
 
 His latest 
 prophecies. 
 
 He receives 
 the extreme 
 unction. 
 
 and the 
 Holjr Com- 
 munion. 
 
 His last 
 words. 
 
 quod ita buxeum colorem et exanimem induissent. Illi B. p. 52. 
 rem ordiiie pandunt, et se miratos in tempore aiunt. 
 Turn ille, " Si hsec," inquit, vidistis, filii, videte ne dum 
 " STipersum divulgetur hoc factum cuiquam; si dixeritis, 
 " Deum et obedientiam meam ofFendetis." 
 
 33. Incubuit interim valetudo, et tota iUa die cum 
 sequente usque ad Sabbatuiti vires accepit in corpore, 
 sed animam nescivit gravare ; liberum ilia volatum 
 moliebatur in coelum, quantoque ergastulum erat dis- 
 solutius tanto ilia emicabat plausibilius. Excubabant 
 propter monachi et clerici de pastoris voeatione sus- 
 pensi et soUiciti. Quibus ille indefesse salubria verba 
 inculcans deliniabat in memoria qua3cunque videbat 
 necessaria. Multa tunc et singulis et patriae imposte- 
 rum profutura vaticinatum crediderim, quoniam propior 
 setemae vitae capacior erat prophetise. Quae tamen ilia 
 fuerant, quia in veteribus libris non invenix), dicere non 
 praesumo. Nam ut alias dixi, quicunque de gestis 
 sanctorum plusquam ab antiquo scripta sibi arrogat, 
 profecto mente non constat. Jam ergo pollicitae quietis 
 Sabbatum accesserat, cum beatissimus praesul horam 
 gloriae suae adventare sentiens,. fratres omnes adesse 
 imperat. Festinus fuit eorum sed moestus accursus ; ex- 
 hibitumque inunctionis officium patri amantissimo non 
 indeploratum. Doloris immensitatem verbis amplificare 
 otiosi est hominis ; quis enim non possit conjicere quod, 
 si unquam fuerint, ibi non defuerunt lacrymae, ubi plan- 
 gebatur casus patriae, religionis ruina, quae nitebantur 
 in eo solo homine ? Corpus Domini porrectum qua Adelard, 
 decebat veneratione suscepit, eoque usus mente sobria, 
 sensu integro, voce sonora, hunc psalmi versum concinit, 
 " Memoriam fecit mirabilium Suorum misericbrs et 
 " miserator Dominus, escam dedit timentibus Se." Haec Ps. cxi 4, 5. 
 verba beato viro fuerunt ultima, haec extremi anhelitus 
 vestigia, dum inter has Dei laudes ad Eum Quem 
 laudabat pretiosa subvolabat anima. Magnum perfectse 
 felicitatis indicium, ut egressum omnibus mortalibus 
 
AUCTORE WILLELMO MALMESBERIENSI. 
 
 321 
 
 suspectum tarn facili meatu evaderet, dum sensu ver- His death 
 bisque non titubantibus supremum efflaret. Igitur Do- 
 niinici thesauri splendidum margaritum, Sanctique 
 Paracliti coeleste quondam organum, humeris sacerdo- 
 Osbern, tum in ecclesiam delatum, ibidemque post officia solem- 
 Eadmer, loco ubi ipse vivens dietaverat venerabiliter 
 
 p. 221. sepulturse datum. Et corpus quidem dulci naturae 
 gremio confovendum humus excepit, spiritus autem, 
 jamdudum eoelesti regno exhibitus, a Domino Christo 
 prsemia meritorum petiit et aecepit. Transiit autem ad ]^^^® f^"** 
 patres suos gloriosus amicus Dei Dunstanus anno seta- episcopate, 
 tis, ut ex chronicis supputare potui, sexagesimo quarto, 
 archiepiscopatus, ut multum, vicesimo septimo ; vir 
 senectutis non multse, sed sanctitatis immensae, qui 
 famam virtutibus vicerit, qui gloriam meritis suis in 
 sevum omne propagarit, qui patriae jam diu nutantis 
 ruinam ad suum exitum distulerit. 
 
 Osbern, 34. Nam ut sine fastidio legentium breviter ostendam Fulfilment 
 
 p 127 • • • of his 
 
 Eadmer, quantam Dunstani vaticinium in Egelredum intortum prophecy. 
 
 p. 222. habuit efficaciam, statim post obitum ejus, qui decimo 
 anno regis fuit, Dani venerunt in Angliam, quibus 
 omnia littora infestantibus et levitate piratiea discur- Danish 
 
 n . . . invasion 
 
 rentibus, decretum ut repeiierentur argento qui non 
 potuerunt ferro; ita decem millia librarum persoluta 
 cupiditatem Danorum explevere ; exemplum infame et 
 viris indignum, libertatem pecunia redimere, quam ab 
 invicto animo nulla violentia possit excutere. Et tunc 
 quidem paulisper ab excursibus cessatum. Mox ubi 
 otio vires resumpserunt ad superiora redeunt ; tantus 
 timor regem incesserat ut nihil de resistendo cogitaret ; ^^^y^* 
 itaque Northanhumbria tota populata, occidentali pro- 
 vincia pessundata, ad sedecim millia librarum solvenda 
 coactus est. Cantia depraedationi data ; urbs metropo- 
 lis et patriarcharum sedes incendio data, ipse archiepi- 
 scopus Elphegus, de quo superius dixi, abductus et 
 vinculis tentus, ad extremum apparente sibi Dunstano, 
 ad gloriam benigne invitatus, lapidatusque et securi 
 
 x 
 
822 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI 
 
 percussus, anima coelum dorificavit. Durat ad hoc 
 tempus et recens ejus sanguis et lUibata integntas cor- 
 poris ; miraculoque ducitur posse cadaver exanimari 
 et non posse tabifieri. Rex interea strenuus et egregie 
 ad dormiendum factus oscitabat; qui, ut pemiciosus in 
 MMTmgeof posteros esset, commentatus est qualiter successio sua 
 and Emma; omnem Anejliam amitteret, Emmam filiam Richardi 
 
 leading the , , ^ , ... -. , 
 
 way to the comitis Normannise coniugio asciscens, unde succedenti 
 
 Norman . . . 
 
 Conquest, tempore factum ut Normanni Angliam jure suo clami- 
 tantes ditioni subjicerent, sicut hodie melius videtur 
 oculo quam exaratur stylo. Interea felix Dunstani 
 spiritus non feriebatur, sua tantum in coelis gloria con- 
 tentus, sed in terris miraculis plurimus affuit, miseriis 
 expostulantium plurimus assistebat. Eorum copia ve- 
 tustate absoleta memorise excidit ; pauca qusD per patro- 
 cinium litterarum supersunt sequentis libelli pagina sibi 
 vendicabit.^ 
 
 Proof of the 85. Nimc auxiliantc Dei gratia hoc quod in epistola 
 
 heterodox . . .. , t ^-w. 
 
 doctrine of libro primo prsemissa promisi conabor expedire. Qui- 
 dam enim mihi vitio vertunt quod scriptorem vitse 
 Dunstani arguerim eo quod maternos sinus sacro puer- Osbem, 
 perio intumuisse dixerit. " Potest," inquiunt, " dici ^* 
 " sacrum puerperium, sicut dicit bonum conjugale et 
 " honorabiles nuptise." Assentirer si idem esset con- 
 jugium quod puerperium. Enimvero, ut Augustinus 
 ait/ conjugium non facit tantum commixtio corporum 
 Argument quantum consensus animorum. Nam et Joseph et bea- 
 gustine. tissima Mana dicti sunt conjuges, mter quos nulla luit 
 virginitatis defloratio, sed placida et Deo grata volun- 
 tatum consensio. Puerperium autem, ut nomen ipsum 
 indicat, non tantum 6st prolis in ventre gestatio, quan- 
 tum in lucem effusio; omnem autem hominem in ini- 
 quitatibus concipi et pari psalmista testatur ; " Ecce 
 " enim," inquit, " in iniquitatibus conceptus sum, et Ps. li. 6. 
 
 ^ S. Aug. Serm. li., 0pp. v. 293. 
 2 This book is followed in the 
 MS. by a copy of Eadmer's book 
 
 on the Miracles of Dunstan; see 
 above, p. 223. 
 
AUCTORE WILLELMO MALMESBERIENSI. 823 
 
 " in delictis peperit me mater mea." Sic enim habet Osbem's 
 
 j 1 • i« words op- 
 
 antiqua transiatio, siquidem quod m peccatis concipitur posed to the 
 
 .. . T I', true doc- 
 
 in peccatis nascitur, et eorundem mvomcro volvitur, trine of 
 
 . . -r^ . , . . original sin. 
 
 priusquam per regeneratricem Dei gratiam renascatur. 
 Fallor si non omnes catholici tractatores id6m asseve- 
 rant. Quorum unius Fulgentii testimonium ponam ex 
 abundanti. " Firmissime," inquit,^ "tene et nuUatenus 
 " dubites omnem hominem, qui per concubitum viri et 
 mulieris concipitur, cum originali peccato nasci, im- 
 " pietati subditum mortique subjectum ; et ob hoc 
 " natura irse filium nasci." Quomodo ergo dicitur 
 sacrum quod cum peccato nascitur, quod impietati sub- 
 ditur? Ab hoc sane quod dicunt, posse dici de Dun- 
 stano quod dictum est de Johanne Baptista, "Spiritu 
 
 s.Luke,i.i5. Sancto replebitur adhuc ex utero matris suae/' respon- 
 deo miracula Dei in exemplum non trahenda. Quis 
 enim ad illius sanctitatis aspiret gloriam quo inter 
 natos mulierum non surrexit major, qui dictus est 
 Angelus, si non natura, officio tamen et gratia; qui 
 sicut singulare meruit donum prophesise, ita singulari 
 prseventus est munere: nam quod ad Iheremiam pro- 
 phetam dictum est, "Priusquam te formarem in. utero 
 
 Jerem.i. 5. " novi te, et antcquam progredereris sanctificavi te," 
 magis ad spem prsedestinationis quam ad effectum rei 
 praesentis accipi debere, verba sequentia prseconantur, 
 cum subditur, " et prophetam in gentibus dedi te." 
 Neque enim Iheremias vel quilibet alius potuit ante 
 exercere prophesise munus, quam esset natus. Quamyis 
 de Domino Christo absolutius intelligatur, Qui gentium 
 desideratus praedicationis gratiam in eas effudit ad quas 
 nunquam Jeremias accessit. Ex eadem forma praedes- 
 tinationis dictum Eebeccae, "Duae gentes in utero tuo 
 
 Gen. XXV. 23. " sunt, et duo populi ex ventre tuo progredientur." 
 
 Non enim catervatim et agmine facto duo populi ex 
 
 1 Liber de Fide ad Petrum, sect. 69, Aug. 0pp. vi. App. p. 30. 
 
 X 2 
 
324 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 ventre mulieris prosiluere, sed in singulis parvulis sin- 
 guise gentes sunt signatse. 
 
 The writer's 36. Jam vero quod dicunt propter redarffutionem alio- 
 
 defence of a x o 
 
 his work, rum scriptorum me posse inire odium, ad illud comicum 
 dictum mihi occurrit solatio, "Veritas odium parit;" 
 quamvis mihi conseius sum multa merito redarguenda 
 suppressisse silentio, et cauta egisse diligentia, ut non 
 periclitaretur Veritas ubi superbiret falsitas ; facessat 
 igitur invidia, malignus interpres absistat. Nullius 
 innoeentiam sauciavi, sed bona integre, vitia parce, per- 
 strinxi. Deeet enim scriptorem integritatis reverentiam 
 non deserere, qui dictorum suorum se novit habere 
 quot lectores tot judiees. Quoeirea, domini fratres, hoc 
 non abstinui dicere, ut purgarem suspiciones hominum, 
 nec sinistrum de me relinquerem judicium : meliori 
 siquidem setatis parte consumpta, quanto fini accedo, 
 tanto curare debeo ne mea laceretur opinio. 
 
 Finis vitce Sancti Dunstani archiepiscopi. 
 
VI. 
 
 VITA ET MIRACULA DUN8TANI 
 A JOHANNE CAPGRAVIO CONSCRIPTA.' 
 
 De Saricto DumtaTiOj episcopo et confessore. 
 
 Osbem, 1. Eegnante rege Ethelstano, anno regni sui primo, adven- Parentage 
 P* ^1* tus v6ro Anglorum in Britanniam quadringentesimo nonage- 
 si mo septimo, natus est puer Dei Dunstanus, in Westsaxonica 
 Angliae plaga, magnis quidem pro saeculi dignitate parenfcibus, 
 sed ad religionem quae Chris tianos decet longe majoribus. 
 Tanta siquidem virtutis ratione viventes animum colebant, tot 
 piis operibus laborantes insudabant, iit, sicut eidem filio suo 
 postmodum divina revelatione innotuit, viam universae carnis 
 Osbem, ingressi, spiritibus angelicis associari mererentur. Magnum 
 P* enim Deus puerum futurum praevidebat, cui tantum muneris 
 
 donatum est, ut ante mundo signis innotesceret quam hunc 
 in mundi hujus lucem mater .fudisset. Cumque -^^^^fi*^^" ^^^^1^°^^ 
 tione beatae Marias popalus ad ecclesiam in Glastonia con- the Purifica- 
 flueret, contigit patrem pueri Herstanum cum conjuge sua hhbirthf^ 
 gravida Kinedrida ad ecclesiam advenisse ; accensisque 
 candelis sacris Missarum solempniis inter fuisse. Et cum 
 recitatum esset quern admodum puerum Jesum in templum 
 parentes inducerent, majestas Domini repente ibidem appa- 
 ruit, quse luminaria cuncta extinguens totam domum tene- 
 brosa caligine obtexit. Pavore igitur singuli tabescunt, 
 rigent comas, genua colliduntur, sensu stabant haerentes et al- 
 ternis obtutibus stuporem indicantes. Sed ut omnibus clarum 
 fieret quid hac in re quae apparuit majestas intenderet, ex- 
 teraplo lux coelitus emissa resplenduit, et eum quem puerpera 
 manu tenebat cereum accendit. Si ante populus de amisso 
 
 ^ The text is from the Bodleian 
 MS. Tanner 15, collated with the 
 Rawlinson MS. A. 294, and the 
 edition printed by Wynkyn de 
 
 Worde, A.D. 1516. The marginal 
 references are made only to the books 
 from which the text is directly taken. 
 
326 
 
 VITA ET MIRACULA DUNSTANI 
 
 Miracle 
 before his 
 birth. 
 
 Dunstan is 
 bom, and 
 carried to 
 Glaston- 
 bury. 
 
 lumine miratus est, nunc majori admiratione simul et exulta- Osbem, 
 tione detinetur. A lumine itaque illo lumen omnibus non p. 72. 
 
 immerito gaudentibus porrectum est. 
 
 2. Nato itaque Dunstano, cum linguam ad loquendum Osbem, 
 temporis processu formare coepisset, a parentibus suis ad 
 ecclesiam defertur; et illis in oratione pernoctantibus, appa- 
 ruit vir setbereum habens vultum 3 locum dixit non multo post 
 tempore ' sublimandum, puerum ibidem Deo relinquendum, et 
 beatum ilium per saecula prssdicandum. Et mensoris funi- 
 culum per plana atrii extendens, "Sic," inquit, sedificabitur 
 **• locus iste ad praeparanda corda illorum Domino, qui hoc 
 " in loco per bunc puerum Domino credituri sunt." Qua illi 
 revelatione vehementer gavisi, imm'ensas Deo laudes persol- 
 vunt, et puerum ad serviendum Domino ibidem dereHn- Osbem, 
 quunt. Qui tam in scientia pietatis quam in virtute sanoti- P* 
 tatis quotidie proficiens assidue Domino ministrabat. 
 
 Condition of 3. Ea tempestate Glastonia regalibus stipendiis addicta, mo- 
 bury. ' nacbicae religionis penitus erat ignara : nondum enim in Anglia 
 communis vita colebatur, non usus deserendi proprias voluntates 
 affectabatur : abbatis nomen vix quisquam audierat. Yenerant 
 The Irish autem de Hibernia illustres viri quidam, et locum babita- 
 
 tionis SU8B a civili multitudine sequestratum apud Glastoniam Osbem, 
 elegerunt. Tilios idcirco nobilium liberalibus studiis im- P* 
 buendos susceperunt, ut quod minus ad usum loci ubertas 
 exhiberet, eorum quos docebant liberalitate redundaret. ' 
 
 Vision of 
 the future 
 buildings 
 there. 
 
 school there. 
 
 Dunstan's 
 application. 
 
 His illness 
 and mira- 
 culous re- 
 covery. 
 
 He goes to 
 the church ; 
 and puts to 
 flight the 
 devils. 
 
 4. Adest ergo nobilissimus puer Dunstanus inter alios unus, 
 immo prae aliis solus. XJbi, paulo diligentius quam imbecilla 
 setas ferre posset, litterarum studio intentus, acerrimo lan- 
 guore fatigatur. Cumque in limine mors adesse putaretur, 
 ecce intempesta nocte coelestis ilium medicina refisit, quam 
 ei per angelicum ministerium Cbristus exbibuit. Qui con- 
 festim de lectulo surgens ad ecclesiam, Deo gratias acturus, 
 moderata velocitate currit. Stupefacti qui ejus curam gere- 
 bant, lento pede ejus vestigia sequuntur, finem rei explo- 
 rantes. Necdum medium itineris confecerat cum malignus 
 spiritus, sive ejus saluti invidens, seu futura^ religionem sus- . 
 pectam babens, latrantium canum multitudine stipatus occur- 
 rit ; viam eunti intercludere contendit. Exclamat itaque puer Osbem, 
 Christum : payore conterritus, virgam arripuit, quam in faciem P- 76. 
 obsistentis inimici vibrans, ipsum cum omni comitatu, divino 
 suffultus suffragio, in fugam compulit. Yenit igitur ad ec- 
 
AUCTORE J, CAPGRAVIO. 
 
 327 
 
 clesiam, et earn obseratam inveciens, scalam ibidem reper- He climbs a 
 tarn quasi per excessum mentis ascendit ; ad alteram inde is found 
 tecti partem qua nullus erat descensus progrediens, angelicis 
 manibus ad solum deponitur, et in interiora ecclesise non pa- 
 tentibus claustris inducitur. Orta autem luce, levi sopore de- 
 pressus in ecclesia reperitur. Kogatus vero ut tam mira- 
 bilis eventus modum exponeret, non esse hoc in sua conscien- 
 tia respondit. 
 
 5. Oertabat itaque adoleseens faetus gratia et aflPabilitate His beha- 
 viour as a 
 young man. 
 
 omnes excedere, pudicitiam servare, lasciviam fugere, appe- ^^^"^^^^ 
 
 titer honesti, turpitudinis execrator; majorum natu colloquiis 
 adesse, juvenum ludicra declinare ; ciborum abstinens, somno 
 temperans, incessu gravis, magnae fidentiae ad incipiendum 
 bonum, constantiae ad perficiendum ; principium bene agendi 
 Deum semper habere, finem vero Eidem commendare. Lectioni- 
 bus sacris intentus erat, quarum exercitio, et vitiorum op- 
 portunitates evitans, virtutum augmenta nutriebat. Et quamvis His know- 
 variis scientiis magnifice polleret, musica tamen instrumenta music?^ 
 speciali quadam affectione scire vendicabat, sicut David, psal- 
 terium sum ens, citharam percutiens, modificans organa, cim- 
 bala tangens. Nec eo ista commemoramus quod his opus esse 
 ad perfectionem tendenti arbitremur, sed ut multiplices Dei 
 gratias in juvene commendemus. Nam omnibus saecularibus 
 studiis praeferebat scientiam pietatis, sua semper ingenia sane- He was a 
 torum patrum iauctoritati contradens. Praeterea manu aptus ^^kJJJIi^. 
 ad omnia, picturam facer e, litteras formare, scalpello im- 
 primere, ex auro argentoque, aere et ferro, quicquid liberet 
 operari. 
 
 6. Permissu tandem parentum suorum ad Aldelmum^ Can- He goes to 
 tuariensem archiepiscopum, avunculum suum, profectus, ShSm^^^ 
 benigne suscipitur ab eo ; et regi Athelstano addiictum 
 familiariter studuit commendare, dicens, *'Hunc," ait. '* ju- 
 
 * venem mihi quidem plurimum, regiae vero stirpi nonnullo 
 
 * consansruinitatis iure devinctum, vestrge excellentige com- who pre- 
 
 • J. X J., sentshimto 
 
 * mendo, ut stefc jugiter m conspectu vestro, audiatque ver- tingAthel- 
 
 * bum ex ore domini mei regis. Experiar in illo gratiam 
 
 * vestram, quam multiplicem in maximis saepe rebus expertus 
 ' sum, et deinceps amplius experturum conMo." Rex vero 
 
 oblatum juvenem gratanter excipiens unice dilexit, et neces- 
 
 sariis rebus regia vice praeesse constituit. Et prosperatum His promo- 
 
 est in manibus Dunstani quicquid operis ipse coepisset. Et 1^^^^^^ 
 
 nunc quidem surgens ad orandum Deum, nunc sedens ad 
 
 dijudicandas causas hominum, ita sapienter ac circumspecte 
 
 se agebat, ub et Deo per omnia placeret, nec aliquem pic vi- 
 
328 
 
 VITA ET MIRACULA DUNSTANI 
 
 He charms ventmm sua culpa offenderet. Oumque videret dominum re- Osbern, 
 \dth music. saecularibus curis fatigatum, in citliara psallebat sive alio P* SO. 
 
 musici generis instrumento, quo tarn regis quam principum 
 
 corda exMlararet. 
 
 Whilst he 7. Matrona qusedam frequenti ao religiose rogatu exoravit. 
 a stol^"^ ilium, ut ei stolam sacerdotalem artificiosa operatione praspin- 
 geret, quam postea ad divinos cultus aurifactoria imitatione 
 figuraret. Qui assumpta in manibus citliara, ad domum tendit 
 religiosae, citharam in pariete suspendit, opus ad quod venerat 
 diligenter incepit. Cumque manum operi, cor autem atque 
 labia Deo praepararet, citliara illius parieti suspensa in pax- 
 illo, absque ullo bominis impulsu, hujus antiphonae melo- 
 his harp ml- diam acutissima simul et disertissima modulatione personuit, 
 plays an- " Gaudent in coelis animae sanctorum qui Christi vestigia 
 anthem. ^^^^j. ggcuti, et quia pro Ejus amore sanguinem suum fu- 
 
 ** derunt, ideo cum Christo gaudebunt in aeternum." Et 
 exsiliens omnis familia et vociferans, hominem nimium esse 
 sapientem, et amplius eum quam expediat scire protestatur. 
 At ille, coelestem musicum intendens, admoneri se intelligit, ut 
 vias duriores arripiat, ut Christi vestigia propius sequatur, 
 ut sanguinis sui effusionem non metuat, sed Dei regnum et 
 vitam delectet habere aeternam. 
 
 He is ac- 8. Accensus ergo furore diabolus quod tarn Sanctis princi- Osbern, 
 ^Jitchcraft, piis juvenem niti conspiceret, invidiae stimulis operarios ini- P* 
 quitatis inflammat, qui conficto mendacio opinionem juvenis 
 apud regem laedant, asserentes ilium malis artibus imbutum, 
 nec quicquam divino auxilio sed pleraque daemonum praesti- 
 ^m-t^andis^^ operari. Advertens autem Dunstanus faciem regis non 
 maltreated esse sicut heri et nudius tertius, discedere parat, mallens re- 
 onmsway. sponte deserere quam a rege invitus derelinqui. -^mu- 
 
 latores enim ejus insidiis iter obsident, socios disturbant, 
 ilium equo dejiciunt, suppliciis affligunt, et vinculis ligatum 
 in cisternam quandam depellunt. Intellexit ergo hoc esse 
 principium certaminis, ad quod ilium divinus nuper citharoedus 
 pra3monuit. 
 
 He goes to 9. Profectus inde, cognatum suum Elphegum, Wentanse ur- Osbern, 
 Elfege, who Hs episcopum, adiit, a quo frequenti supplicatione rogatus P* 
 tolf^ome ^s*' monachum indueret, " quia," inquit, " necesse est ut 
 a monk. ** qui ignem gehennse voluerit effugere ignem concupiscentiae 
 ** studeat exstinguere. Ignis vero concupiscenti^ non multum 
 ** exstinguitur, si fomenta illius humanis sensibus ;ion sub- 
 trahuntur. Sicut enim ligna ad ignem, sic ea quae sensibus 
 ** subjacent ad concupiscentiam. Sed nulla erit fomentorum 
 
AUCTORE J. CAPGRAVIO. 
 
 329 
 
 subtractio, si saecularium negotiorum non fuerit reniinciatio. After a 
 Ex quibus elicitur ut si ignem gebennas volueris effugere, ness^he be- 
 
 ** saeculo stiideas rennnciare." Quod cum facere differret, comes a 
 
 ^ monk and 
 
 priest at 
 
 desperationem vitee perduxit. Et accito episcopo postulat sibi 
 
 J monk an* 
 
 m ambiguo positum gravissima febris mvasit, et usque ad priest at 
 
 dilatBB religionis habitum dari. Qui cum magna laetitia cele 
 riter ilium monaobali ac sacerdotali gratia^ promovit, attitu- 
 lans eum ecclesi86 beatse Marise in Glastonia, ubi parentum 
 suorum sponsio eum dicavit ab initio. 
 
 10. Ibi euim adhgerentem ecclesise cellam, sive destinam, Hebuilds 
 sive speluncam, sive alio quolibet nomine rectius mbminari ^ose to the 
 potest, non enim invenio qua illud appellatione vocetur, cum church, 
 non tam humani habitaculi quam formam gerebat sepulcri, 
 propriis laboribus fabricavit. Ejusdem vero longitudo cellae 
 
 non amplius quinque pedum, latitude duos et semis habebat 
 pedes. Porro altitudo staturam exprimit hominis, si quis in 
 defossa terra constiterit; aliter enim neque satis ad pectus 
 porrigitur, ut, sicut dixi, magis mortui videatur sepulcrum, The mea- 
 quam viventis habitaculum. Unde manifestum est ilium neque 
 jacendo somnum cepisse, et stando Deum semper orasse. Os- 
 tiolum autem idem est quod paries. Quod enim ingredienfci. 
 ostium, idem ingresso paries fiebat. Medium ostioli fenestr el- 
 lam aperit, per quam lumen operanti irradiavit. Hsec erat 
 juveni domus, bic lectus, hoc de toto mundo spectacidum. 
 
 11. Yerum humani veneris inimieus, quern ante non sine- The devil 
 
 . ^ . .i T Ti J. • Visits him 
 
 bat babitare in palatio, eum nunc mtitur depeliere tugurio. in his work- 
 Sub obscure namque vespere cellam juvenis petens, immisso Ipeaks evU 
 capite fenestrse incumbit ; cernit ilium fabrili opere occupa- ^^rds. 
 tum ; postulat sibi quippiam fabricari. Dunstanus autem neque 
 ejus calliditatem advertens, neque importunitatem ferens, operi 
 quod postulabatur animum intenttit. Interim ille mulierum 
 nomina inserere, luxurias commemorare, deinde religionem os- 
 tendere, et denuo eadem repetere coepit. Tunc Dunstanus 
 quis esset intelligens, tenacula quibus ferra te!tebat, fortiter 
 ignire, et suppressis labiis Cbristum invocare conatur. Cum- 
 que tenacula candentia videret, celeriter de igne ea rapit, ^V^**^^ 
 larvalem faciem tenaculis includit, et totis viribus monstrum wThthe^ed 
 introrsum trahit. Jam stando vires sumebat Dunstanus, cum ^ongs, 
 is qui tenebatur, avulso pariete, de manibus se tenentis aufu- 
 git, tales immani rugitu fremens ululatus, " O quid fecit cal- 
 " vus iste ! 0 quid fecit calvus iste ! " Tenui namque sed 
 formosa csesarie erat, et ea re talia de bomine clamitabat. 
 Mane autem facto congregata est ad eum non parva> populi 
 multitude, sciscitans quisnam ille clamor fuisset, qui tanta eos 
 
330 
 
 VITA ET MIRACULA DUNSTANI 
 
 He explains vehementia dormientes terruisset. " Daemonis/* ait, ** furor Osbem, 
 theenemyf ** ill® nusquam me vivere sinit, e cella quoque ejicere P* 
 
 *' temptat. Oaute vos agite ab illo, quia si vocem irati ferre 
 non potuistis, societatem dampnuti quo paoto sustinebitis ?" 
 Post hsec Dunstanus corpus suum inedia macerare, ani- 
 His growth mam jugi oratione decorare satagebat; Unde cum pudicitia 
 famef^^ corporis tantam cordis munditiam optinere meruit, ut vix eum 
 latere posset quicquid sinister spiritus molitus fuisset. Fama 
 itaque nominis ejus universam percurrit regionem, quaa ad vi- 
 dendum hominem Dei corda accendit. Omnis aetas, uterque 
 sexus, Dunstanum loquuntur, sapientiam ejus prasdicant, vir- 
 tutem magnificant. 
 
 The lady 12. Mulier quaedam nomine Alfgiva, regali progenie orta, 
 aJmestolive magnarum divitiarum, qnse omne semen regium materno sem- 
 nearhim. affectu dilexerat, nutrierat, innixa manibus suorum, ad 
 
 bominem Dei accessit ; sanctissimo illius colloquio perfrui de- Osbem, 
 siderans. Qua3 cum ex ore illius verbum audisset, adeo delec- P- 86. 
 tata est dulcedine vitae aeternae, ut ulterius neque domum re- 
 petere, neque loco discedere, sed cum beato Dunstano manere, 
 vivere, mori eligeret. Habitationem juxta ecclesiam sibi fabri- 
 cavit, multas continentiae et operibus .bonis et eleemosynis 
 operam dedit. Plures sacri ordinis viros in loco statuit, qui- 
 bus necessaria jugiter ministravit. 
 
 Her ainess. 13. Cumque gravi corporis infirmitate laboraret, Dunstanus Osbem, 
 ad earn intrans consolatur, et hortatur illam ut nudam ab P* 
 omni mundana specie se faciat, ne in transeunte quicquam 
 She makes suum princeps mundi inveniat. Oui ilia, " Jesum Christum 
 her will, <« ^q^^xxi mearum h^redem facio, te vero haereditatis tutorem 
 constituo, ut quicquid •Ilium cognoveris velle tui arbitrii sit 
 effectui mancipare." Dunstanus vero gazas ejus mobiles 
 continuo pauperibus erogavit, castera ad ecclesiarum subleva- 
 Dunstan tionem reservabat. Et dum vespere ostium ecclesias psallendo 
 mystic Dove prasteriret, erectis ad coelum oculis Spiritum Sanctum in co- Osbern 
 go to visit imnb» specie videt descendentem ; cujus corpus, omni candore p. 88. ' 
 nitidiiis, alarum remigia scintillantis ignis splendorem per aera 
 spargebant. Quern ille contemplatus, domum matronae subin- 
 trantem vidit. Gonfestim regressus, aspexit domum divino 
 fulgore splendentem, audit foeminam gratias Deo agentem, 
 miratur colloquium, et dicendi finem patiens auditor expectat. 
 Shede- Demum subintrat, stelliferi illius nomen requirit, nuncium 
 viSt.^^^^^ interrogat. Ilia autem modeste subridens illi ait, *'Tu stel- 
 liferum antequam buc venires vidisti, et nunc cui sim locuta 
 '* interrogas? Ipse est qui tibi ad ostiupa ecclesise psallenti 
 
 (S 
 
AUCTORE J. CAPGRAVIO. 
 
 Osbern, ** apparuit, qui et me de pavore imminentis mortis perfcerri- 
 P* 88. tarn visitationis sii89 gratia consolari dignatus est. Aimun- 
 
 cio itaque omnibus amiois meis tristandum de mea morte 
 *' non esse, quoniam me suscipiet claritas aetemse vitaB. Tibi 
 ** autem singulari amico gratias refero, quia tuis sempcjr in- 
 ** structa admonitionibus et adjuta orationibus, ecce ad peum 
 ** vado." Quae, cum spiritum tradidisset Deo^ in ecclesia 
 beatae Marias honorifice sepulta est. Dunstanus vero turn de 
 illius, tum etiam de sui ipsius patrimonio soUioitus, nam uter- 
 que parens obierat, nec prseter eum alium baeredem relique- 
 Osbern, rant; prime quidem viciniores patrimonii terras eidem eccle- 
 P' sise contulit, cseteras fundandis quinque monasteriis reservavit. 
 
 Qua9 monasteria, processu temporis, per ejus industriam mo- 
 nachorum numero et divitiis multipliciter aucta sunt. 
 
 14. Exinde Dunstanus majoribus sese virtutum profectibus 
 subdens, deprecatus est Dominum ostendi sibi gloriam jus- 
 torum, ut qui earn per fidem bene creditam haberet, per mani- 
 festationem cognitam dulcius amaret. Talia ex corde meditanti 
 astitit juvenis, decor e insignis, quem puerum olim in corpore 
 ipse puer noverat, et sancta semper familiaritate dilexerat, 
 referens ei quas sunt aeternae vitas gaudia, ilium in hoc sasculo 
 plura passurum, dsemonum insidias, malignitates hominum, ad 
 summos gradus ilium ascensurum, multa millia hominum Deo 
 lucraturum, et post hasc ad coelestia regna migraturum. Sed 
 cum dicenti assensum non dedisset, apprehendit eum juvenis, 
 et in atrium ecclesisB deducens, ostendit ei locum eatenus 
 inconvulsum, et ait, *'Ut de auditis singulis dubietas omnis 
 " auferatur, ante triduum presbyter quidam hie sepelietur, et 
 nondum infirmatur.'* Exsurgens autem mane ab oratione 
 Dunstanus, convocatis in unum clericis, ad locum venit, posi- 
 toque signo ait, Si vera sunt quae nihi nocturne tempore 
 *' ostensa sunt, ante tres dies presbyter quidam hie sepelietur, 
 et nondum infirmatur.*' Yix illis ab invicem digressis su- 
 per venit presbyter quidam, qui facta cum clericis conventione, 
 praefatum locum in sepulturam optinuit, dicens, " Cum me Deus 
 Osbern, " corpore migrare jusserit, hoc in loco meas precor reli- 
 p. 90. " quias sepelite." Eecessit presbyter sanus, nocte rediit 
 asgrotus, obiit in erastino, et in loco beato patri assignato 
 sepelitur. 
 
 She tells of 
 
 assured 
 
 hope. 
 
 Dunstau 
 spends her 
 fortune and 
 his own in 
 building 
 monasteries. 
 
 Dunstan 
 prays for 
 a sign. 
 
 Vision of 
 a dead 
 friend who 
 tells him 
 his future 
 career. 
 
 As a proof 
 of his truth 
 he tells him 
 of the ap- 
 proaching 
 death and 
 burial of 
 a priest. 
 
 The sign 
 fulfilled. 
 
 15. Defuncto tandem rege Ethelstano, frater ejus Edmundus Athelstan 
 in regem erectus est, qui statim accito Dunstano, inter l^^^^j^^ 
 palatines proceres summum tenere fecit principatum. At favours 
 ille justitiam et judicium ubique in terra coUapsum exal- 
 tare cupiens, tam regem quam omnes Anglorum principes 
 
382 
 
 VITA ET MIRACXJLA DUNSTANI 
 
 His enemies 
 prejudice 
 the king 
 against him. 
 
 Edmund 
 whilst out 
 hunting 
 comes to 
 the edge of 
 a precipice. 
 
 He confesses 
 his sin 
 against 
 Dunstan 
 and is saved. 
 
 He receives 
 him again 
 into favour. 
 
 and gives 
 him Glas> 
 tonbury. 
 
 justiti^ legibus submittere curavit. Iterum sicut olim a pie- Osbern, 
 risque nobilium, malorum satore stimulante, in prosperos P* 
 Dunstani successus est offensum, et regi ut a consortio illorum 
 pelleretur falsa criminatione suggestum. Rex autem plus ho- 
 nes to falsis favor em attribuens, Dunstanum et rebus et gratia Osbem, 
 regia privatum a curia proturbari jubet. Adveniente vero p. 91. 
 tertia luce, rex venatum pergens per devia quaeque fugientem 
 cervum insectari coepit. Omni tandem fugiendi liber tate ne- 
 gata, bestia prascipitium quoddam arduum et excelsum 
 valde petit, ruitque, et in partes minutissimas contrita depe- 
 rit ; et canum sequentium similis interitus evenit. Cumque 
 regem illuc equus adveheret, viso comminus quod pras se 
 fortuna pararat, retraxit habenas, vectorem reflectere nisus. 
 Et ecce, ruptis repente fraenis, regem veloci cursu equus 
 asportat. Omnino igitur de se difiidens, coeleste auxilium 
 implorat, sicque confitendo orat, ** Deus, Rex omnipotens, Qui, 
 ** cum sis super omnia excelsus, humilia respicis et alta sem- 
 
 per a longe cognoscis, adesto nunc non regi sed homini 
 " caeteris mortalibus simili, in supremo mortis periculo con- 
 " sistenti; nec reminiscaris injuriarum fideli Tuo Dunstano 
 
 per me illatarum, quoniam si me ipsius meritis a prsesenti 
 *' morte eripueris, quoad vivam devotum me Tui nominis et 
 ** illius laudatorem habebis." ISTecdum plene verba finierat, 
 cum animal, quasi divina manu retentum, in summo voragi- 
 nis fixum manebat. Tunc rex corde pariter et ore Deo gra- Osbern, 
 tias referens, Dunstanum adesse jubet, et quae per ilium p. 92. 
 Divinitas operata sit, coram omnibus exponit. Et apprebensa 
 dextera ejus, osculatus est eam, dicens, " Agnosco, viroram 
 " sanctissime, quid in te commiserim mali, non quod ego 
 
 voluerim, sed quod a pessimis hominibus coactus idfecerim. 
 " Gratias ago dementias Dei, quse non solum debitum, mihi 
 
 supplicium noluit inferre, verum etiam, a praecipitio mor- 
 ** tis eripiens, longioris vitae spatia in tuO nomine concessit. 
 ** Sit ergo deinceps inter nos perfectae familiaritatis integritas, 
 
 sit in disponendis in palatio rebus libera semper tibi facul- 
 " tas ; sit in toto Anglorum regno judicandi inter virum et 
 " proximum ejus summa potestas. Et ut animi raei affectum 
 
 circa te cognitum habeas, ilium tibi locum in quo te geni- 
 " turn, educatum, conversatum accepi, perpetuo jure possiden- 
 ** dum trado, ut quodcunque de illo velis statuere tui arbitrii 
 
 sit considerare. Quod si ejus ordinis cujus tu habitum 
 ** geris ibidem aggregare volueris, quicquid eis in quacunque 
 
 re defuerit ego ob gratiam tui regia liberalitate supplebo." 
 
 He begins 
 to build. 
 
 16. Dunstanus igitur ecclesi^ fundamenta jacere, officinas 
 secundum exemplar olim sibi ostensum construere, egregium 
 
AUCTORE J. CAPGRAVIO. 
 
 Temptation 
 by tne devil 
 as a wolf 
 and as a fox. 
 
 Dunstan 
 takes S. An- 
 drew as his 
 patron. 
 
 Osbern, monachorum collegium coadnnare curavit. Quibus ipse pri- He becomes 
 
 p. 92. mus abbas effectus, ad tantam vita3 perfectionem omnes ad- 
 duxit, ut ad omnes circumquaque ecclesias ex eisdem monacbis 
 
 Osbern, pontifices electi et abbates assumpti sint. 
 
 P- 93. Quadam enim nocte oranti Dunstano malignus spiritus in 
 
 immanem lupum se transfigurat, iterumque post paululum 
 vulpem blandientem confingit. Quam ille specierum varieta- 
 tem snbridens, '*0 te," inquit, per omnia similem tibi ! O 
 ** formas tuse actioni congruas ! dum in altero cruentum, in 
 altero te comprobes fraudulentum. Yade jam, inimice, qno- 
 *' niam in Ejus nomine te vincam in lupo et vulpe,^ Qui te in 
 leone superavit et dracone." Videns "autem vir Dei se 
 magnam a djemonibus invidiam pati, adhibuit vitse suae patro- 
 num Andream apostolum, ut esset fidus interpres apud Deum, 
 assiduus in terra comes, atque in omnibus mundi bujus turbi- 
 nibus indeficiens custos. Hujus ipse assidua protectione quasi 
 muro vallatus, quse mundi sunt transcendit, et in amore Dei 
 jugi meditatione quievit. Unde suavissimis supernorum spiri- 
 tuum concentibus ssepe interesse promeruit, ut qui angelorum 
 conversationem agebat in terra, illorum societatem agnosceret 
 in coelo. Cum autem regi Edmundo filius nasceretur no- 
 mine Edgarus, audivit beatus Dunstanus angelos in coelo 
 gratulantes, et cum magna exultatione psallentes, " Sit pax, 
 sit magna Anglorum ecclesise Isetitia, quamdiu puer natus 
 ** regnum tenuerit, et noster Dunstanus mortalis vitas raetas 
 transegerit." 
 
 Osbern, 17. Apud Batensem ecclesiam, dum solitarius oraret, re- At Bath he 
 94. pente ad superna raptus animam cujusdam discipuli SUi, apud ^^ead 
 Glastoniam educati, innumera angelorum frequentia hinc inde P^P^l- 
 stipatam, atque immensi luminis fulgore perfusam, ad coeli 
 palatium provehi conspexit. 
 
 18. Gontigit ut regem loquendi sibi cupidissimum Dun- 
 stanus adiret, diabolum scurrse simillimum coram equitanti- the death of 
 bus deprehendit saltantem, et quasi de futuro aliquo lucro ' 
 gloriantem. Cujus prsesentiam dum populo indicasset, formam- 
 
 que omnium conspectibus borribilem ex imperio denudasset, 
 requisitus quid ejusdem monstri tam petulans Isetitia proten- 
 deret, ille mortem regis regnique mutationem proximam esse 
 denunciat. Post hsec vero infra septem dies et rex occi- 
 ditur et regnum mutatur. 
 
 19. Sepulto apud Glastoniam rege Edmundo, successit ei E^^^ 
 in regnum frater suus Edredus, cultor justitiae et pietatis, 
 
 He has an 
 angelic 
 warning at 
 Edgar's 
 birth. 
 
334 
 
 VITA ET MIRACULA DUNSTANI 
 
 ri8es?o^eat •^^^-'^ valde diligens. In Cujus conspectu pater Dunstanus Osbern, 
 power un- adeo pretiosus erat, ut omni eum Immano generi prseferret, ut P» 
 derEdred. ppin^jp^jji testamentorum statueret, thesauros ei delegaret, 
 animam, corpus et regnum committeret, nec quisquam in toto 
 regno Anglorum esset qui absque ejus imperio manum vel 
 pedem moveret. Proinde Dunstanus quasi rex et regis impe- 
 rator effectus, virgam aequitatis et justitise per omnes Anglo- 
 rum fines extendit, ecclesias quas ipse fundaverat, aut ab aliis 
 fundatas egestas oppresserat, amplis possessionibus rele- 
 vare curavit. 
 
 Edred tries 20. Defuncto Elphego Wentanae urbis episcopo, cum 
 him to be- rex Edredus Dunstano pastoralem suscipere curam persua- 
 of^in?^^^ dere non posset, reginss matri suae Eadivas verbum posuit 
 Chester. suadelse. Quod cum instanter regina fecisset, ille respon- 
 
 dit ; **Nolo," ait, " domina, illud a me expeti quod vel con- Osbem 
 " cessum meos animos perturbet, vel non concessum tuos p. 96. 
 
 offendat. Neque enim nescio quam diflSiculter suam quisque 
 ** ante tribunal Christi causam agat, nedum alienae causae 
 ** cognitor aut judex exsistat." Cumque ilia negantem suis 
 adhuc rationibus tenere voluisset, motus ille paulisper ait, 
 ** Certissimum habeto, domina, in diebus filii tui pontificali 
 His refusal. ** infula me non esse sublimandum." Cumque sopori mem- 
 bra dedisset adsunt ei in somnis apostoli Dei, Petrus et 
 Paulus cum Sancto Andrea, gladios in manibus tenentes. Osbem, 
 Erat autem scriptum aureis litteris in gladio Petri, In p. 97. 
 His vision principio erat Yerbum, et Verbum erat apud Deum, et 
 apostles^^^^ Deus erat Yerbum." Caeterorum gladiis nomina tenen- 
 tium scripta erant, Pauli Paulus, Andreas Andreas. Hos 
 gladios officiosa benignitate sibi obtulerunt. Interea Andream 
 exhilarato vultu aspicit conniventem et evangelicis verbis 
 audit praecinentem, "Tollite jugum meum super vos, et dis- 
 " cite a me, quia mitis sum et liumilis corde, et invenietis 
 " requiem animabus vestris." Tunc a beato Petro jussus 
 Isevam extendere, modicum crepitantis ferulas ictum excepit, 
 hoc ab illo audiens, "Hoc tibi sit et poena abjecti et signum 
 " ulterius non abjiciendi pontificatus." Evigilans autem vir 
 Edred^mter- Dei gratias egit Deo, Cujus munere ita se conspicit honora- 
 ^slon! ^ tum, et divinitus visitatum. Cumque regi cuneta narras- 
 set, ille visionem absolvens dixit, ** Quoniam per arma apo- 
 *' stolicas benedictionis potestas exprimitur pontificalia, noveris 
 te pro eo quod jugum Domini contempseris increpatum, aut 
 " divina electione futurum pontificem designatum. Porro 
 " quod * in principio erat Yerbum ' gladio Petri apostoli 
 scriptum^ vidisti, cum Yerbum Dei sit unigenitus Filius 
 Dei, Qui homo pro hominibus inter homines factus est, 
 
AUCTORE J. CAPGRAVIO. 
 
 S85 
 
 profeoto scias te sedis ejus principem futurum quae Christi 
 nomine Oantuariao honoratur." 
 
 21. Interim vero rex Edredus, lethali morbo correptus, Edred, sick 
 decidit in lectum, et celeriter nuncios mittit qui patrem vitse s^ds^for**^* 
 suse Dunstanum accersiant, ut sit confessionum suscepfcor, et Dunstan. 
 fidelis apud Deum intercessor. Contristatus igitur Dunstanus 
 quanta velocitate potuit, anaicum regem invisere pergit. Yi- 
 
 dens autem ilium Deus et cordis dolore affligi et corporis 
 laborem pati, non est passus ut ultra ilium afflictio tangeret, 
 quin et dolorem linivit et laborem imminuit. ISTam cum esset l)unstan 
 in itinere, et membra jejuniis confecta fatigaret, vox ab cuiojfliy 
 sethere lapsa insonuit dicens, Ecce rex Edredus obdormivit t^g^^lng^g 
 
 in Domino." Ad quam vocem equus cui insidebat per- death, 
 cussus interiit. Et suis rem aperiens commendavit animam 
 regis defuncti in manu Eegis aeterni. 
 
 22. Huic Edredo successit Edwinus, filius Edmundi regis, Edwy 
 aetate quidem juvenis et nulla regnandi gratia pollens. Qui 
 neque ipse sapiens neque sapientum consilio acquiescens, sed 
 alter Roboam, despectis majoribus natu, puerorum consilia sec- 
 tabatur. Optimum reputabat quemque rebus spoliare, locu- His mis- 
 pletes proscribere, exhffiredare ecclesias, detrahere religioni, sovernraent. 
 in civitatibus exactiones exercere, libidine ardens, sine inter- 
 missione ^stuabat ad coitum. Ob lioc Dunstanus graviter 
 offensus, frequenter eum acriter in locis opportunis increpare Dunstan 
 coepit ; ille increpantem ridere, multa illi mala minari non Gl*aston-*^ 
 timuit. Postquam autem industriam suam nihil praevalere ^^^y* 
 videret, omnino decrevit ejus colloquio abstinendum, sicque 
 
 ad monasterium snum regressus est. 
 
 23. Erat autem in monasterio turris exstructa, quam Miracle of 
 necdum uUa in supremo cacumine tectura claudebat. Oumque beam*^^^"^ 
 populus trabem totius operis sustentatricem summis muris 
 applicare contenderet, repente ruptis funibus eadem trabes 
 deorsum ruere coepit. Clamor ingens fit totius populi, Dun- 
 stanum iteratis vocibus perstrepentis. At Dunstanus elevatam 
 dexteram machinse opposuit, e regione signo crucis trabem 
 depingit. Necdum sancta manus sanctos contraxerat digitos, 
 
 cum ea quae vergere coeperat trabes non vinculis astricta, non 
 machinis leyata, nec ullo humani ingenii apparatu sustentata, 
 ad locum de quo ruere coeperat revehitur. 
 
 Translatus hostis antiquus in speciem tirsi hiante rictu 
 orantem aggreditur Dunstanum, injectisque ungulis pastoralem 
 
336 
 
 VITA ET MIRACULA DUNSTANI 
 
 Dunstan quam manu tenebat virgam complectitur, atque ad se trahere Osbern, 
 sS^on the conatur. At Dunstanus divinO spiritu fortiter roboratus re- p. 100. 
 devil's back, tractum ad se baculum erigit in sublime, fugientem beluam 
 dirissime caedit, nec prius monstrum caedendo desistit, quam 
 flagellum in tergo illius tribus in partibus comminutum 
 apparuit. / 
 
 AtBdwjr's 24. Victus enim in se diabolus, in aliis victorem suum 
 fS°Dun^ sincere quaerit. li^fam rege praefato, eodem quo consecratus 
 Stan is sent fuerat die, in turpes concubitus publice devoluto, nemine 
 thekii^^^ tamen eiim redarguere auso, pari omnium voto Dunstanus 
 an^ of compellitur, qui regem adeat, divina humanaque ratione regium 
 women.^ stuprum compescat, mulierem adulteram suspendii commina- 
 tione percellat. Quo factp, regem a moecliali toro violenter 
 absfcraxit, positaque in capite ejus corona coram archiepi- 
 scopo Odone adduxit. Itaque mulieris animum diabolus in- Osbernr 
 stigat, regis irara mulier exaltat : ambo exsilium Dunstano ?• 101. 
 intentant. Omnes monachorum ecclesiae, urgente regis edicto, 
 suis rebus spoliabantur, et descriptis omnibus cum ipse pro- 
 scriptus fuisset, inter lacrymas monachorum et gemitus pau- 
 Heis perum audita es in atrio templi vox plaudentis diaboli quasi 
 l^ve^Glas- VOX juvenculae acriter atque minute cachinnantis. Quem 
 tonbury. Dunstanus severa fronte suspiciens, ** Nihil," ait, "super ex- (Joh. 
 
 silio meo gratuleris, quoniam plus est quod me ^^^^^'^^^ g^g^^^*^^ 
 ** doleas, quam quicquid me exsulante laetari valeas." Quo p 324) 
 dicto malignus ille confestim abscessit. 
 He goes to Dunstanus vero in Flandriam navigans in monasterio 
 Flanders. Q-andavensi arctissimam vitam duxit. Nec tamen cessat 
 mulieris vesania quin omnibus qui Dunstanum hospitio 
 foverant perscrutatis, proscriptis, dampnatis, ipsiusque oculis Osbern, 
 eruendis, iniquitatis ministros rex transmitteret. Verum p. 102. 
 divina dementia miserante ilium ante Gallia suscepit, quam 
 servi Jezabelis fluctus maris attigissent. Exsulat itaque 
 Virulence of Dunstanus, nulla exsilii dampna deplorans, dum suis meritis 
 the women. .^^ ^^^^.^ omnes devinciret, ut patriam esse exsilium putaret. 
 
 Ilium quoque apostoli Andreae consolatio fovit, qui nuUius 
 rei quam ipse expeteret eum indigere permisit. 
 
 The north 25. Insurgunt interim contra regem omnes ab Humbre 
 poseEdwy fluvio usque Thamisim, et ipsum cum adultera fugientem 
 E^ar^°* persequuntur, et qua digna fuerat morte comprehensam 
 adulteram mulctant, et regem latebras quserentem usque 
 Cantiam fugere compellunt. Deinde accito fratre ejus 
 Edgaro, super provincias inter aquas prsedictas regem 
 
AUCTORE J. CAPGRAVIO. 
 
 337 
 
 Osbern^ 
 p. 103. 
 
 Osbern, 
 p. 104. 
 
 statuunt. Edwinus vero flagitia non deserens in CantisG 
 regno aliquamdiu tyrannizat. 
 
 26. Edgarus ad regimen regni assumptus concilium Edgar re- 
 convocat, iniqua fratris decreta annihilat, a fratrc ablata gt^i.''^^'^" 
 restituit, Dunstanum ab exsilio in magna gloria revocat, nec 
 ante a precibus quiescere voluit quam pastoralem curam 
 Wigorniensis ecclesias Dunstanus susciperet. Qui Cantua- ^^^^^^^^ 
 riam sacrandus adveniens ab Odone archiepiscopo cum Worcester, 
 honore maximo susceptus est, et consecrationis ministe- 
 rium, non quasi super antitistem sed super arcbiepiscopum 
 Cantuariensem hilariter complevit. Ob hoc a clero repre- 
 liensus sic respondit : "Si divinis humana non cederent, Hisconse- 
 ' jure mihi hominum auctoritas praetendi posset ; nunc vero, 
 
 * quoniam auctor omnium Deus est, non possum illud non 
 ' facere, quod faciendum Spiritus Dei dignatus est praecipere. 
 ' Erit namque beatus iste proximus post mortem meam. hujus 
 
 * sedis archiepiscopus, et adversus mundi principem fortissimus 
 
 * praeliator." 
 
 Osbern, 
 p. 105. (c 
 
 27. Interea mortuo impiissimo rege Edwino, atque in 
 sortem malignorum spirituum translate, Dunstanus in ecclesia 
 cui praeerat cum orationibus vacaret, ecce tartarea cobors 
 sub ejus aspectu exsultando quasi cborum ducere, et veluti 
 de capta prseda liBtas victorias age re coepit. Inquirit Dun- 
 stanus causam loetitiae : audit regem obiisse, animam illius 
 gehennalibus statim incendiis tradendam, sed prius hoc sibi 
 ex divino imperio nunciandum fore. Motus idcirco pietate 
 Dunstanus in terram prosternitur ; copiosus ex oculis lacry- 
 marum imber producitur ; pulsat Deum precibus, nec orando 
 quiescit quousque spiritum regis liberatum agnoscit. Peracta 
 autem hrevi mora, redit tristis legio infernalis, magnoque 
 clam ore in has voces erumpit : " 0 te pessimum hominem, 
 0 fidei alienum, 0 nostris beneficiis semper ingratum. 
 ISTos detulimus obsequium, tu nobis retulisti supplicium ; 
 ad ulciscendas injurias tuas de regione tenebrarum veni- 
 mus, et ecce adversis imprecationibus tuis confusi redimus." 
 Cumque ille depromendae veritatis praeceptum d^monibus in- 
 diceret, agnoscit animam regis angelica virtute illis sublatam, 
 ad statutum terminum sub signaculo servatam ; nihil juris in 
 illam daemones habere, sed in sortem poeriitentium aniraarum 
 eandem cedere. Tunc ille exsultans in Domino furores illo- 
 rum tali ratione compescuit. "Quid," inquit, " injusti actum 
 " est vobis? Si peccavit homo iste, in Christum et in me 
 
 Y 
 
 On Edwy's 
 death Dun- 
 stan sees his 
 soul carried 
 off by devils. 
 
 He obtains 
 its release. 
 
 His argu- 
 ment with 
 the devils. 
 
S38 
 
 VITA ET MIRACULA DUNSTANI 
 
 confutes the 
 devils. 
 
 Dunstan ^ " peccavit: sed quoniam meas propter Christum dimisi in- Osbem 
 jurias, dimisit et Suas Christns, cum Ejus ego clementiam p. 105. 
 deprecatus sum. Quod ergo Christus et ego dignati sumus 
 clementer indulgere, vos qua temeritate audetis improbe 
 " reprehendere ?" Quar sententia spiritus maligni quasi sagitta 
 percussi, velut musc8G a vento raptso dissiliunt. 
 
 He is chosen 
 bishop of 
 London. 
 
 28. Defuncto Londoniensi episcopo, rogatu regis et prin- 
 cipum Dunstanus successione donatur ; a civibus urbis, im- 
 portunis Yocibus, nomen illius acclamatur. ISTeque ilium juvit 
 excusatio canonum auctoritate prsetensa, qui duas ecclesias 
 uni episcopo fieri posse non permittunt. Sicqiie utrique Osbem, 
 ecclesise, Londoniensi scilicet et Wigomiensi prsesidens, P* ^^^* 
 utramque regens, utriusque proprius episcopus fuit. Sicque 
 gladium Pauli liabuit, quem sibi destinatum olim ipse detulit, 
 et ad. dividendos ecclesiae inimicos habendum tradidit. 
 
 Odo dies ; 
 Elfsin suc- 
 ceeds. 
 
 Elfsin's 
 ambition. 
 
 29. Mortuo quoque arcliiepiscopo Odone, cum rex Dun- 
 stanum adjuraret ut archiepiscopatum sumeret, nec ille 
 adjuranti ulla ratione assensum praeberet, Elsinus Winto- 
 niensis episcopus, paratis advocatis/ quorum manus impleverat, 
 surrepto regis edicto Oantuariam intrusus est. 
 
 Hie enim^ et ante Odonem archiepiscopatum ambierat, 
 sed custos ecclesise Suae Christus ambitionem illius impedie- 
 bat.^ Primo itaque apud Cantuariam exceptionis suae die 
 non abstinuit quin conceptas mente furias evomeret, et 
 tumbam beati Odonis pedibus pulsans, ait, '* Pessime senex, 
 animam effudisti, sero satis te meliori locum fecisti ! Ita- 
 que quod diu conciipiYi, te invito teneo, undo tibi malas 
 grates ago." Cum autem cubili se dedisset, vidit beati 
 Odonis effigiem improperare convitium, minari exitum. Ille 
 vero, qui volatico phantasmate se putabat eludi, ad recipien- 
 He is frozen dum pallium Eomam pergit; per Alpes tracsiit, ubi nivali 
 theSps^^ frigore congelatus exenteratorum equorum spirantibus adhuc 
 extis pedes, quibus tumbam Odonis pulsaverat, involvit;'* 
 
 He insults 
 Odo. 
 
 te 
 
 < ( 
 
 Osbem, 
 p. 107. 
 Will. Mal- 
 mesb. G.P. 
 § 17. 
 
 Will. Mal- 
 mesb. G. P. 
 §17. 
 (Job. 
 Tynem. 
 Hist. 
 Aurea, 
 p. 332.) 
 
 ^ paratis adiwcatis . . . intrusus 
 esf] From William of Malmesbury, 
 Gesta Pontificum, lib. i. ed, Hamil- 
 ton, p. 25. 
 
 2 Hie enim] The following para- 
 graph is partly from Osbern, but 
 principally from William of Mal- 
 mesbury, who seems to have taken 
 
 the story with more or less modifi- 
 cation from Eadmer's Life of OdO, 
 Angl. Sac. ii. 85. 
 
 ^ Hie . . . impediehat'] Osbern, 
 above, p. 107. 
 
 ^ Primo . . . involvit"] from Wil- 
 liam of Malmesbury, Gesta Pontifi- 
 cum, i. § 17. From this point the 
 
AITCTORE J, CAPGRAVIO. 
 
 339 
 
 et sic mi sere interiit, ut qui ab amore coelestium frigtiisset in He dies, 
 corde, per frigoris asperitatem periret in corpore, et qui 
 alienos honores ambire prsesumpsisset, ipse in aliena regione 
 mortuus honorem pariter et vitam amitteret. Iterum preces 
 Dunstano de archiepiscopatu funduntur, nec quicquam in 
 animo illius consensus operantur. Quapropter Bertbelinus Birhthelm 
 Dorsetensium episcopus ad archiepiscopatum assumptus, et ISdts re- 
 post paucos dies ad tantum onus minus idoneus inventus, «i<^"^6<^- 
 non sine verecundia rediit ad ecclesiam snam. Dutistanus 
 igitur, regis et episcoporum importunitate superatus, ad 
 archiepiscopatum electus est. 
 
 Eomam profectus, a papa Johanne pallium suscepit, et An- Dunstan 
 gliam rediit. succeeds. 
 
 Primo enim apud Cantuariam adventus sui die, cum sa- Appearance 
 
 T, .1 • i. J. J. T T\ ' ' 'n J* X • of the dove 
 
 ens altaribus assisteret, et populo Dei vivificum panem distri- on his first 
 
 buendo porrigeret, repente contecta nube domo, columba de Canterbury 
 
 coelo descendens, quousque sacrificium fuisset consummatum, 
 
 super ilium mansit. Peracto autem sacrificio, requievit 
 
 super tumbam beati Odonis, qu83 in modum pyramidis ad 
 
 australem partem altaris constructa fuit. Ex qua die sanctum 
 
 Odonem ita Dunstanus reveritus est, ut nunquam pertrans- 
 
 iret nisi genua flecteret, bonumque ilium vocaret, ita dicens, 
 
 Requiescat Odo bonus." 
 
 Dedicabat aliquando Dunstanus ecclesiam cuiusdam nobilis, He brings 
 
 ^ . ^ ^ water out of 
 
 ubi dum aqua deficeret ad ministerium, et ille nobilis turba- a rock, 
 retur, prsemissa ad Deum prece, baculo terram percussit, et 
 arida rupes aquam produxit, quae usque hodie manans, ac 
 salutiferum poculum preebens, Dunstani nomen celebre facit.^ 
 
 30. Cum enim a forensibus rebus requies data fuisset, tunc His daily 
 secretins cum Deo manere coepit, sacris vigiliis insistendo, ^Etsf" 
 divinas scripturas legendo, aut earum codices emendando. 
 Summumque ei studium fuit ut nunquam a diVinis operibus 
 vacaret; sed nunc verum judicium inter virum et virum dis- 
 cernere, nunc imp^,catas hominum mentes placido sermone 
 tranquillare ; horum inepta dissolvere conjugia, illorum haere- 
 
 traces of a third authority besides 
 Osbern and Eadmer, which is also 
 represented in the Historia Aurea 
 of John of Tynemouth, become 
 apparent. A few occasional words 
 before noted are borrowed from this 
 source, but now whole clauses ap- 
 
 pear. The MS. of the Hiistoria 
 Aurea refen'ed to is the MS. Bodl. 
 240. 
 
 * Dedidabat . . . facit'] A piece 
 of patchwork from Osbern and Ead- 
 mer, but taken directly from the 
 Historia Aurea. 
 
 Y 2 
 
340 
 
 VITA ET MIRACULA DUNSTANI 
 
 Dunstan's 
 ecclesiasti- 
 cal reforms. 
 
 ticam refutare opinionem ; hie neglecta revocare, illic nova Osbern, 
 construere, viduis, orphanis ac peregrinis ex justis eccjesiss P- 
 redditibus subvenire. Proinde rex consilio ejus nt vitae suae 
 credens, et omne^ quod ab eo diceretur, quasi ab Omnipotentis 
 ore prolatum fuisset, suscipiens, quaecunque statuenda erant 
 statuit, quaecunque damnanda damnavit. Omnes ecclesiarum 
 ministros, qui aut venandi studio intenti, aut quaestuosis ne- 
 gotiis dediti, sen fornicationis insolentia deturpati, aetatem 
 agere solebant, aut districta animadversione decrevit - coher- 
 cendos, aut de ecclesiis expellendos. Unde factum est ut 
 quarundam clarissimarum ecclesiarum ministri, dum volupta- 
 tem honestati prgeferrent, regali sahctione de eisdem ecclesiis 
 expulsi, melioribus se et alterius ordinis viris sua loca relin- 
 querent. 
 
 Dunstan 
 reproves 
 him. 
 
 Sin of Edgar 31. Hostis enim antiquus totius ecclesiaa gaudia cupiens 
 ^gin.^^^^^^ disturbare, accendit animum regis in amorem Deo sacrataB 
 virginis, nt quoniam a tramite justitise Dunstanum dejicere 
 non posset, eum quern praacipue diligebat dejiceret. Perpe- 
 trato itaque in virginem velatam peccato, atque ad publicam 
 populi audientiam perlato, Dunstanus tam pro culpa quam 
 pro regis infamia gravissimo dolore affectus, mox ilium veluti 
 alterum David redargaendam alter ille Nathan intrepidus 
 adiit. Oui assurgens rex, cum manum extenderet, ut eum 
 ad regium thronum deduceret, ille renuens manum dare, 
 oculos cum indignatione in ilium torsit, et ait; " Tu pontificis 
 manum audes tangere, qui virginem Deitatis munere ar- 
 rbatam non timuisti prgeripere ? Sponsam Gonditoris tui 
 adulterasti, et amicum Sponsi aliquo tuo obsequio existimas 
 posse placari? Nolo amicus esse cui Christus fuerit ini- 
 micus ? " Territus ergo verborum tonitruo rex pedibus 
 Dunstani prosternitur ; scelus flebiliter fatetur, veniam humi- 
 liter precatur. Quod ut vidit pontifex, expavit, perfusumque 
 regem lacrymis, lacrymis et ipse madens, de terra levavit. 
 Denique cum magnitudinem peccati exposuisset, et paratum 
 ilium ad omnem satisfactionem reddidisset, septennem ei poeni- 
 tentiam indixit, ut in toto hoc spatio coronam regni non ges- 
 taret, jejunium in hebdomada biduanum transigeret ; thesauros 
 SUOS pauperibus large dispergeret: super hsec sacrandis Deo 
 virginibus monasterium Septonias fundaret, quatenus qui unam 
 per peccatum Deo virginem abstulisset, plures Ei per plura 
 saeculi volumina aggregaret; clericos etiam malse actionis de 
 ecclesiis propelleret, monachorum agmina introduceret, justas 
 Deoque acceptas leges sanciret, et per omnes fines regni 
 populis custodiendas mandaret. Nihil enim erat quod minus 
 
 Osbern, 
 p. 111. 
 
 Edgar's re- 
 pentance. 
 
 (Joh. 
 Tynem. 
 Hist. 
 Aurea, 
 p. 324.) 
 
 Osbern, 
 p. 112, 
 
 His pen- 
 ances. 
 
AUCTORE J. CAPGRAVIO. 
 
 341 
 
 Osbern, 
 p. 112. 
 
 (Job. 
 Tynem. 
 Hist. 
 Aurea, 
 p. 326.) 
 
 Eadmer, 
 p. 209. 
 
 Higden, 
 
 Polycr. 
 
 lib. vi. 
 
 Liber de 
 
 Hyda, 
 
 p. 179. 
 
 (Job. 
 
 Tynem. 
 
 Hist. 
 
 Aurea, 
 
 p. 326.) 
 
 Eadmer, 
 pp. 200, 
 201. 
 (Job. 
 Tynem. 
 Hist. 
 Aurea, 
 p. 324.) 
 
 After seven 
 years he is 
 crowned. 
 
 William of 
 Malmes- 
 bury's ac- 
 count of 
 Edgar's 
 wives. 
 
 aut segnius rex impleret quam a rectore \it8e suae praeceptum 
 fuisset. Elapso tandem septennalis poenitentiaa termino, 
 congregatis omnibus Anglise principibus, episcopis et abba- 
 tibus, imposuit regi coronam coram omni multitudine populi 
 Anglorum, cunctis lastantibus, et Deum in Sancto Dunstano 
 laudantibus. Puerum vero ex peccatrice quondam progeni- 
 tum, sacro fonte regeneratum, levavit, Edwardum illuill vo- 
 cavit, et in filium sibi adoptavit. 
 
 Willelmus^ in libro secundo Pontificum, et etiam 
 
 Historise nonnuUse asserunt Edgarum ex prima uxore 
 genuisse Edwardum, ex secunda Etbelredum, et tandem de 
 Wilfritba genuisse Editbam virginem sanctam. Hanc enim 
 Wilfritbam non vere sanctimonialem, sicut opinio vulgaris 
 delirat, sed timore regis Edgari, eam illicite concupiscentis, 
 proprio arbitrio esse velatam constat. Unde legitur^ quod 
 cum apud Wintoniam rex veniret, quandam puellam in communi 
 babitu speciosissimam videns et concupiscens pro ilia misit. 
 Quae timens pudori suo raptum velum a quadam sanctimo- 
 niali capiti suo imposuit, et sic ad regem ivit. Quam videns 
 ille, ait, " Quam subito sanctimonialis effecta es I" Et ablato 
 velo renitenti vim intulit; et secundum quod praedicitur sep- 
 tennem poenitentiam egit. Ilia quoque- partu explicito, volup- 
 tati renuncians, religiose vixit, sanctaque celebratur apud 
 Wiltboniam, ut asseritur. 
 
 Illis enim diebus multis in locis abjectis clericis, insolen- 
 ter viventibus, monacbi instituuntur. Nam clerici la.borem 
 cbori fugientes, et bona ecclesia3 pro libito suo illicite consu- 
 mentes, vicarios parum ad victum babentes loco sui constitue- 
 runt. Sed cum sa)pius admoniti non corrigerentur, rex prae- 
 bendas clericorum vicariis praefatis contulit. Sed et illi in 
 personatum promo ti vicarios sibi facientes, prioribus pejores 
 facti sunt. Rex igitur turbatus, annuente papa, monacbos 
 introduxit.^ 
 
 32. Eo tempore * quidam comes duxerat cognatam suam, et Bunstan 
 correptus a Dunstano parere noluit. Excommunicatur ille; unSwIuf 
 adiit regem conquer ens de Dunstano. Rex mandavit arcbi- inarriage. 
 episcopo ut eum absolveret, qui noluit, sed eum gravius ex- 
 
 Another ac- 
 count of the 
 veiled virgin. 
 
 Monastic 
 abuses and 
 reforms. 
 
 ^ William of Malmesbury, Gesta 
 Regum, lib. ii. § 159, Gesta Ponti- 
 ficum, ii. § 87. 
 
 2 Tbe following version of the 
 story is from Eadmer, above, p. 209. 
 
 ^ This paragraph is from Higden's 
 
 Polycronicon, lib. vi. (ed. Gale, p. 
 264) ; through the Historia Aurea. 
 
 ^ The following story is taken 
 from Eadmer, above, p. 200, ap- 
 parently through John of Tyne- 
 mouth. 
 
342 
 
 VITA ET MIRACULA DUNSTANI 
 
 communicavit. Ille Eomam cum multis muneribus misit, et Eadmer, 
 He resists apostolicus mandavit Dunstano ut eum absolveret. Absit P- 201. 
 command. " boc," inquit Dunstanus, ut causa alicujus mortalis bomi- ^^^'jjj 
 nis contemnam legem Dei mei." Quod videns comes poe- ^{^t, 
 
 nituit, et uxorem suam repudiavit, nudisque pedibus, laneis Aurea, 
 
 indutus, virgamque in manu gerens, cecidit ad pedes Dun- P- 324.) 
 
 stani, et tunc primo absolutus est. 
 
 Three 33. Quodam tempore capti sunt tres fabricator's falsae mo- Eadmer, 
 
 demrSitl?' Ji^tae, qui mox adjudicati sunt ad manuum abscisionem, et PP- 202, 
 mutilation. Dunstanum non latuit. Die autem Pentecostes celebraturus^j^^ 
 
 Missam, percunctatus est utrum lex impleta esset ; respon- Tynem. 
 sum est propter reverentiam diei dilatam esse poenam usque Hist, 
 in diem alterum. Nequaquam," inquit, ** ad altare ego bodie Aurea, 
 " ascendam, donee debitam sustinuerint poenam; nam nego- P* ^^^*^ 
 Dunstan tium ad me respicit." Ipsi enim viri in potestate ejus erant. 
 mMs^unti?^ Dixit, et pro eis qui manus perdituri erant, multum plorans, os- 
 ^I^P^^is^" tendit de qua affectione boo dixit. Quibus punitis ascendit ad 
 been in- altare lota facie, dicens, "!N"unc confido quod sacrificium de 
 flicted. it jjjg^jj^ jj^QQ^ suscipiet Omnipotens.'* In quaMissa dum diceret, 
 Ecclesiam Tuam quam pacificare, custodire, adunare et re- 
 gere digneris," nivea columba super eum multis videntibus 
 descendit, et alis expansis super caput ejus sic mansit in 
 Appearance silentio usque dum sacrificium compleretur. Quo impleto di- 
 dovef vertit super tumbam Odonis, quondam arcbiepiscopi, alis suis 
 eam complexans, et rostro deosculans. Undo Dunstanus, quo- 
 ties postea sepulcrum illius pertransivit, ut prsemittitur, 
 genua flexit et eum postea Odonem so goode, id est, Odo- 
 nem bonum appellavit. 
 His chasuble Dum autem digrederetur ab altari, ministris pro signo quod Eadmer, 
 S^yheld acciderat in diversa euntibus, non fuit qui casulam illius Py^^^* 
 "P- susciperet. Quae pependit in acre, nec terram tetigit, ne ser- ijiy^Jj^^ 
 
 vum Dei a sua intentione turbaret. Hist. 
 He turns Cum autem Dunstanus quandam dedicaret ecclesiam, Aurea, 
 
 Mayfleld , 'ii • t j • . i V- 325.) 
 
 church to et lllam vicLisset versus orientem non esse conversam, nu- ^ 
 
 theeafit. j^ero suo parum suppressit eam, et mox fertur eam ad 
 orientem se convertisse. Villa autem in qua hoc factum 
 legitur Magavelda vocabatur. 
 
 it 
 
 Changes on 34. Post mortem vero Edgari regis, status regni turbatio- joh. 
 
 d^S'^ nem pertulit ; nam plures magnates, ejectis monacbis de Tynem. 
 magnis monasteriis, quos rex Edgarus et Dunstanus institue- ^^^t. 
 rant, clericos cum uxOribus reduxerunt. Coacto super boc "^^25* 
 apud Wintoniam consjlio, imago Grucifixi, in capite refectorii 
 
AUCTORE J. CAPGRAVIO. 
 
 343 
 
 Eadmer, 
 
 p. 213. 
 
 Joh. 
 
 Tjnem. 
 
 Hist. 
 
 Aurea, 
 
 p. 325. 
 
 Osbern, 
 p. 113. 
 
 Osbern, 
 p. 114. 
 
 modo locata, humanas exprimens voces dixit, "Absit lioc ut 
 fiat, absit hoc ut fiat ! judicastis bene, mutaretis non bene." ^ 
 Ad quam vocem omnes, incredibiliter perterriti, clamore 
 pariter eb Dei laudatione aream complent. Hanc enim ima- 
 
 ginem ego Johannes Wintoniao vidi in capite refectorii 
 
 monachorum Saneti Swithuni in altum erectam, et in 
 
 pariete supra caput imaginis sic scriptum erat, 
 
 " Humano more crux praesens edidit ore, 
 Coelitus affata quae prospicis hie subarata ; 
 Absit hoc ut fiat," 
 
 et caetera superius memorata. His enim adversariis vi- 
 dentibus cessatum est a contentione, quousque per succes- 
 sionem fiUorum prior discordia renovaretur. Quibus in villa 
 nomine Calne Dunstanus sic respondit : *' Quoniam, senes- 
 *' cente me, antiquis querelis deservire contenditis, fateor, vinci 
 ** nolo, ecclesia3 Suae causam Ohristo judici committo.'* Dixit, 
 et quod dixit irati Dei censura firmavit. Mox etenim concussa 
 domus ; coenaculum sub pedibus est solutum : hostes solo prae- 
 cipitati, ac ruentium trabium pondere sunt oppressi. Ubi 
 vero cum sui s sanctus accubabat, ibi nulla ruinse suffusio erat. 
 
 Miracle at 
 tlie council 
 of Winches- 
 ter. 
 
 The writer 
 has seen the 
 memorial 
 of it. 
 
 Miraculous 
 escape of 
 Dunstan at 
 Calne. 
 
 (Joh. 
 Tynem. 
 Hist. 
 Aurea, 
 p. 325.) 
 
 Osbern, 
 p. 115. 
 
 35. Edgar o rege mortuo, et Edwardo ad regnum relicto, 
 dum quidam principes acquiescere nollent, Dunstanus arrepto 
 crucis vexillo in medio constitit ; Edwardum illis ostendit, 
 elegit, sacravit ; patrisque ac magistri aflPectum quoad vixit ei 
 impendit. Sed illo post triennium novercali fraude occiso, 
 successit Ethelredus frater suus. Attamen in die consecra- 
 tionis suae, post impositam coronam, fertur Dunstanus hoc illi 
 prsedixisse : " Quoniam aspirasti ad regnum per mortem fra- 
 " tris tui, in cujus sanguine conspiraverunt Angli,^ cum 
 
 Dunstan 
 secures the 
 succession 
 of Edward. 
 
 it 
 
 ignominiosa matre tua, non deficiet gladius de domo tua, 
 S£eviens in te omnibus diebus vitas tuae, interficiens de 
 semine tuo, quousque regnum tuum transferatur in regnum 
 alienum, cujus ritum et linguam gens cui praesides non 
 novit. ISTec expiabitur nisi longa vindicta peccatum tuum, 
 et peccatum matris tuse, et peccatum virorum qui interfuere 
 consilio illius nequam. 
 
 (t 
 
 it 
 
 i i 
 
 i t 
 
 His pro- 
 phecy about 
 Ethelred at 
 his corona- 
 tion. 
 
 5> 
 
 ' jadica.slis . . bene] From Ead- 
 mer. 
 
 " In cujus . . . Angli] from Hig- 
 
 den, Poly or., vi. p. 269 ; also 
 Hist. Aurea. 
 
344 
 
 VITA ET MIRACULA DUNSTANI 
 
 Prophecy of Hio etiam Ethelredus dum pusiolus a Dunstano baptiza- ^^^^^ 
 retur, minxit in sacro fonte ; unde et beatus Dunstanns prae- Hist. 
 
 dixit exterminium Anglorum tempore ejus futurum. Aurea, 
 
 p. 334.) 
 
 Dunstan 36. Contigit enim Etbelwaldum "Wintoniensem episcopum Osbern, 
 Sihofthe cum Koffensi episcopo Cantuariam venire. Quibus cum PP- 
 T^nohester Hiagno gaudio susceptis, cum tandem ad sua reverti 
 and Roches- yelleilt, confestlm Dunstanus erupit in fletum ; fletum adeo 
 magnum ut vix loqui posset. Inquisitus cur fleret, ait: 
 ** Ea re," inquit, "fleo, quoniam vos in proximo morituros 
 scio." *']Sroli/' inquiunt, ''pater sancte, tam dira nobis 
 propbetia occurrere." Et ille, Quod dixi necesse est fieri. 
 Moriemini enim huio saeculo, sed vivetis cum Deo. Nec 
 '* in bac vita diutius manere debetis, sed seternaliter cum 
 lUo victuri pergetis ad Deum.*' Et infra pauoos dies, 
 sicut praedixerat, ambo episcopi mortui sunt. 
 
 He is 37. Defuncto ut prsemittitur episcopo Etbelwaldo, et (Job. 
 
 s.*Sidrew de cligendo pontifice habita dissensione, oravit Dun- S"®^' 
 
 toconse- i. i -r^ . , . 'T 
 
 crate Elfege. Stanus ad Dommum ut dignaretur ostendere quis regendaa A^urea, 
 
 ecclesiae deberet idoneus pastor succedere. Et ecce ^* 
 affuit Andreas apostolus dicens ; Quid, car issime, contrista- 
 " ris ? Surge et Elpbego abbati manum impone, eumque Osbern, 
 * ' desolatae ecclesiae sacerdotem constitue. Nee te aliquorum Elfegi, 
 
 probibeat potentia, quia non ab homine sed a Deo processit "^'g * 
 *' bsec sententia.'* ^ 
 
 Ethelred 38. Dum cuim rex Etbelredus propter quasdam dissensiones Osbern, 
 Shfstcr urbem obsideret Eoffensem, patrimonium beati Andrese apo- P- 
 Du^tan.-^^ stoli devastando invasit. Mandavit ei Dunstanus a stultitia 
 quiescere, Andream sicut ad prsestandum facilem, sic ad ulcis- 
 cendum virilem in prompfcu esse, ut potentiam illius ipse ex- 
 periatur, si baereditatem illius vexare non destiterit. Con- 
 temptus a rege Dunstanus iterum eadem suggerit, insuper 
 argenti pondo centum transmittit. Quo accepto ab obsidione 
 recessit. Miratur Dunstanus bominis cupiditatem; boc illi 
 confestim scripsit : ** Quia praetulisti pecuniam Deo, argentum 
 Dunstan's ** apostolo, meae voluntati tuam cupiditatem, velociter venient 
 forhkaf* " super te mala quie locutus est Dominus, mala qualia non 
 *' fuerunt ex quo gens Anglorum regnare coepit usque ad 
 *' tempus illud. Ac tamen vivente me ista non erunt, quoniam 
 " et boc locutus est Dominus." 
 
 1 Quid . . . senteniia] From Osbern's life of S. Elfege, Aug, Sac. ii. 126. 
 
AUCTOEE J. CAPGEAVIO. 
 
 845 
 
 (Joh. 
 Tynem. 
 Hist. 
 Aurea, 
 p. 325.) 
 Eadmer, 
 p. 205. 
 Osbern, 
 p. 117. 
 
 Eadmer, 
 p. 206. 
 
 Osbern, 
 p. 118. 
 
 Eadmer, 
 
 p. 206. 
 
 (Joh. 
 
 Tynem, 
 
 Hist. 
 
 Aurea, 
 
 p. 325.) 
 
 Eadmer, 
 p. 207. 
 
 (Joh. 
 Tynem. 
 Hist. 
 Aurea, 
 p. 333.) 
 
 39. Quadam nocte dum dormiret Dunstanus, per visum In a dream 
 raptus est^ in coelum, efc intererat beatis agminibus illis. mother 
 Oblectabatur modulationibus angelorum Suam genitricem ^ 
 quasi nuptiali thalamo aeterno Rege oopulantiuin, et suave 
 
 Kyrie eleyson et hymnis et laudibus modulantibus organicis 
 resonantium. Quibus - dum ipse magnifice delectatus inten- 
 deret, accessifc ad eum quidam juvenis candidissimo tectus 
 amictu, dicens, " Quare omnibus aliis gaudentibus et can- 
 tantibus tu solus taces in nuptiis matris tu89 ? Qui re- 
 spondit se ne scire quid in laudem tanti regis cantare posset. 
 Cui ille, *'Yis," inquit, *' instrui quid cantare debeas ?" ^ The hymn 
 Respondit, *'Cupio." Et ille, "Canta, 0 Bex, dominator gen.^^^^^"^^^' 
 *' tium, salva genus Christianorum adbuc in terra peregrinan- 
 
 tium, ut et ipsi post inimicitias ad gratiam revertantur, 
 " et angelicse ruinae per illos damna reparentur." 
 
 Ego enim ssepius legi Dunstanum in eadem visione Another 
 quod subsequitur cantare edoctum, "0 Eex, gentium ^j^. 
 " minator omnium, propter sedem majestatis Tu89 da nobis 
 
 indulgentiam, rex Christe, peccatorum. Alleluya." Quod 
 saepius ille cantans et repetens miro modo delectabatur. 
 Expergefactus statim illam antipbonam jussit scribi. 
 
 40. Quodam tempore rex Edgarus adhuc vivens, dum Dunstan, 
 venatum pergeret, Dunstanum donee rediret Missam differre ^g^for™ 
 
 rogavit. Appropinquante hora tertia, vir Dei sacris induitur Edgar, falls 
 ._ iij I'i*.. ij'T asleep at the 
 
 vestibus, regem exspectat, stans cubitis mmxus altari, lacry- altar and 
 
 mis deditus et orationi. Et ecce ! subito sopore leniter ^^^^^ ^ 
 
 pressus, raptus in coelum et junctus angelis audit eosdem 
 
 Trinitati modulatis vocibus canere, *' Kyrie eleyson, Christe 
 
 eleyson, Kyrie eleyson." Et rediens ad se interrogat si 
 rex advenisset. Eespondetur, " Non." Iterum ergo orat, et 
 iterum in coelum raptus audit ibi altisona voce dici., " Ite, 
 
 Missa est." Cumque responderetur, " Deo gratias accur- 
 rerunt clerici regem adesse dicentes. Quibus ille respondit 
 quod jam Missam audierat, nec aliam eo die auditurus vel 
 celebraturus erat. Interrogatus quare, visionem aperit, et 
 sumpto ex boc sermone prohibuit regi ne ulterius in die 
 Dominico venatum iret. " Kyrie eleyson," quod in coelo 
 audierat suos clericos docuit. Cujus modules harmonise 
 
 * Quadam . . est] From Eadmer, 
 p. 205, above. 
 
 - Quibus, etc.'] Eadmer, above, 
 p. 206. 
 
 3 See B., p. 41, above. 
 
846 
 
 VITA ET MIRACULA DUNSTANI 
 
 TheKyrie adhuo continet tropus ille apnd Anglos famosus, ** Kyrie Higden, 
 ^P^^- rex splendens."^ '^%o''''' 
 
 Vision of 
 virgins at 
 S. Augus- 
 tine's sing- 
 ing the 
 hymn of 
 Seduiius. 
 
 Address to 
 Dunstan. 
 
 41. Vidit enim Dunstanus vice quadam corporeis ocu- 
 
 lis in ecclesia Sancti Augustini in capella beatae Mariso, 
 
 ubi modo in crypta sub feretro beati Augustini imago 
 
 ejusdem virginis locatur, matrem Domini Salvatoris virgi- Osbern, 
 nali corona decoratam, mellifluasque ejus voces audire me- P* 118- 
 ruit, quibus socias virgines ad coUaudandum Eegem saeculorum 
 hortabatur, conoinens illud carmen sapientis ac senatoris 
 Sedulii, 
 
 Oantemus Domino, socise, cantemus honorem ; 
 " Dulcis amor Christi personet ore pio." 
 
 Oumque ab aliis virginibus hoc fuisset acceptum, alise qui 
 sequuntur versus pronunciabant, 
 
 " Primus ad ima ruit magna de luce superbus ; 
 Sic bomo cum tumuit primus ad ima ruit. 
 
 Unius ob meritum cuncti periere minores, 
 
 ** Cuncti salvantur unius ob meritum. 
 ** Sola fuit mulier patuit qua janua letho, 
 
 *' Et qua vita redit sola fuit mulier." 
 
 Atque in hunc modum totius carminis bini ac bini versus Osbern, 
 percurrebantur, illis semper repetitis qui primi a matre Do- P- ^l^- 
 mini dicebantur, Cantemus Domino, etc." Hasc, pontificum 
 sanctissime, acutissima vi corporalium oculorum in spiritualem 
 potentiam translatorum videre potuisti. Haec coelestium arca- 
 norum perscrutator audire meruisti. Praestet Omnipotens 
 Deus per Dunstani merita gloriosa, ut quem semper nobis- 
 cum corporaliter viventem^ habere non licuit, liceat saltem ex 
 consideratione pretios89 vitsB SU3e suam vitam sempiternam 
 agnoscere, agnoscendo diligere, et diligendo sempiternae vitse 
 gloriam a Deo per te patrem piissimum obtinere. Non 
 enim safficiebat Dunstano in secreto cubiculi sui sacras ex- 
 cubias celebrare, castis orationibus inservire,' nisi etiam noc- 
 turnis frigoribus ecclesiam Sancti Augustini frequentaret, 
 et inde ad vicinum Virginis Marise templum prsedictam 
 gloriam visurus procederet. 
 
 42. Anno auten;i Domini duodecim minus a millesimo, Osbern, 
 adventus Anglorum in Britanniam quingentesimo sexagesimo p. 120. 
 
 ^ On this see the Preface to the present volume. 
 
AUCTORE J. CAPGRAVIO. 
 
 847 
 
 tertio, archiepiscopatus sui tricesirao tertio, setatis SU86 Date of 
 
 . . m • j« r» • Dunstan's 
 
 septnagesimo ; sanctus Christi coniessor Dnnstanns, virtnti- death, 
 bus plenns et operibus bonis, migravit ad Dominum. 
 
 Cum enim instaret dies Ascensionis Dominicsa, peractis His vision of 
 vigiliis, remansit Dunstanus in oratione in ecclesia solus, 
 et ecce innumera candidatorum multitudo, coronas aureas in 
 capitibus gestantium, in^stimabili fulgore micantium, per 
 ecclesise januam irrumpens ante ipsum conglobata astitit, 
 una voce salutans et dicens, Salve Dunstane noster, salve ! 
 Mandat tibi Quern pie desideras Filius Dei, quatenus, si 
 paratus es, venias et diem banc, ad cujus gaudium spiras, 
 nobiscum celebres." Ad quod ille imperterritus manens, 
 sciscitatus est qui essent. Oberubin," inquiunt, *'et Sera- 
 pbin sumus, et responde quid velis." Tunc ille, Hodie 
 dies solemnissimus est, et incumbit mibi pane Verbi Dei They warn 
 plebem reficere, et ostendere illi quomodo ad boc gaudium ^ofUs 
 possit pervenire. Propter quod et multi convenerunt, nec departure. 
 
 debeo illos decipere, et ideo bodie venire non possum," 
 Qui dixerunt, "Eja paratus esto, in die sabbati pra£)sto sis 
 bine nobiscum Eomam venire, et coram summo pontifice 
 Sanctus! Sanctus! Sanctus! aeternaliter canere." Annuit 
 ille, et illi recedunt. 
 
 43. Lecto igitur eo die ad Missam evangelic, locutus estOnAscen- 
 ad plebem qualiter nunquam antea fuerat locutus ; ostendens piJ^^i^^,^ 
 qua ratione Filius Dei carnem induerit, cur bumani generis ^^ss^*^^ 
 salvationem non nisi moriendo compleverit, quemadmodum 
 resurgens a mortuis mortis principem superaverit, et famulan- 
 tibus angelis coelum ingressus sit. Deinde Sanguinem Cbristi 
 incomparabiliter omnibus creaturis docuit esse prasstantiorem, 
 tantamque fiduciam in effusione Sanguinis illius mundum babere 
 posse, ut si unus aliquis totius mundi peccata baberet, neque 
 de multitudine neque de magnitudine criminum illi esset de- 
 sperandum, si Mediatorem Dei et bominum baberet advocatum. 
 Et reversus ad altare celebravit mysteria. 
 
 Ubi autem ventum est ad benedictionem super populum, and warns 
 iterum ab altari prsedicaturus regreditur, ita ut non hominem Ms leaSif 
 sed angelum loqui putares. Iterum ad altare revertitur, et 
 data benedictione iterum ad populum redit, stupentibus cunc- 
 tis ; et mox ut ad loquendum os aperuit, tanta claritate vultus 
 ejus resplenduit, ut nemo in eum intendere posset. Obitum 
 suum illis instare prasdixit, promittens se illis nunquam defunc- 
 turum. Et tunc ad mensam Domini reversus est. 
 
348 
 
 VITA ET MIRACULA DUNSTANI 
 
 He chooses M. Eadem die cum a mensa sumpto cibo surrexisset, Eadmer, 
 ecclesiam petiit, et designavit locum in quo sepeliri voluit. PP* ^^^» 
 Mox languor eum invasit : sexta feria lecto decubuit, omnes- (joh. 
 On the adventantes ad sequenda Christi vestigia incitavit. Sab- Tynem. 
 
 fs^mhicu-^^ ^^^^ enim cum horam suam exspectaret, subito cum lecto ^J^^^ 
 lously wted in quo jacebat usque ad superiora levatus est, et trabibus ^ ^^5'^ 
 ceiling. obsistentibus ad terram leniter demissus. Iterumque usque 
 ad trabes cum lecto suo raptus est ut prius, et iterum 
 leniter demissus : hoc usque tertio factum est. Videntes Osbern, 
 hoc qui astabant territi fugientes, et parietibus innixi de P* ^2^* 
 louge sursum aspicientes, exitum rei yidere cupiebant. Con- 
 vocat omnes Dunstanus qui fugam inierant, taliter eos de- 
 His address mule ens : "Yidistis," ait, "filii, vidistis, carissimi, quo me Osbern, 
 friends " Deus vocat, quo ineffabilis Dei misericordia invitat. Semita P- l^*- 
 " itineris mei praa oculis ostensa est vobis, ut nullus vestrum 
 de prsemio diffidat, qui vitae mea3 diligens sectator exstite- 
 rit. Sursum est quod amplector, sursum quo gradior. Es- 
 ** tote ergo vitae imitatores, si itineris mei cupitis esse' sec- 
 '* tatores. !N'olite boni videri, sed esse. Hoc enim maximum 
 " inter homines malum est, quod omnes cupiunt boni videri 
 ** et esse nolunt. NuUi volunt mali videri, et nolunt non esse 
 
 mali. Pacem semper sectamini. Praedico etiam vobis An- Osbem, 
 ** glorum gentem dira ac diuturna mala ab exteris gentibus P* 125. 
 ** esse passuram; sed in fine dierum miserationem Dei super 
 
 illam stillaturam." Et extensis ad COelum manibus, inter Osbern, 
 verba orationis, videt illos, qui se ad coeleste convivium invi- P* 126. 
 He dies and taverant, beatos angelos assistentes et coeleste illi obsequium 
 IS buried. prasparantes. Quorum veneranda prsesentia felix anima illius 
 de habitaculo corporis egressa, ad contemplandam seterni Eegis 
 claritatem cum illis profecta est, xiiii. kalendas Junii, et 
 in ecclesia Salvatoris Cantuarise cum magno honore 
 sepelitur. 
 
 Sad changes 45. Post enim ejus obitum ita omnia in contrarium versa Osbern, 
 Ws d^th. sunt, ut Dunstani mortem omnia deflere, nec ejus absentiam P* 
 se ferre posse viderentur. A sumraa quippe pace fit commu- 
 tatio ad intolerabile bellum ; ab immensa laetitia ad omnium 
 rerum indigentiam. Denique aer ipse immutatus est, coelum 
 non exaudivit tellurem, nec tellus ea qvLsa seminabantur in ea. 
 Hostilis incursio foedam ubique faciem dereliquit, dum eorum 
 irruptione urbes diruerentur, ecclesiae spoliarentur, et sacer- 
 dotes Domini de terra delerentur. 
 
 Miracles. 46. Vir quidam et mulier longa csecitate percussi 
 
AUCTORE J. CAPGKAVIO. 
 
 849 
 
 juxta sepnlcrum Sancti Dunstani vigiliis et orationibns 
 insistentes perfectae sanitati restitui meruerunt. 
 
 Presbyter quidam inter suos nobilis paralysis morbo per- A noble 
 cussus, ad sepulcrum Sancti Dunstani delatus, sensit quan- cured' of 
 dam manum per totum corpus suum ducentem, et membra p^vrng mi- 
 sua resolidantem. Sanatus enim grande convivium amicis ^^pg^J'^nd 
 suis parat, et dum convivse pro ejus salute gratias Deo dies, 
 et beato Dunstano referrent, ille tumens ait, "Et si Dun- 
 
 stanus non esset, sanatus fuissem." Quo dicto statim pris- 
 tina infirmitate correptus et miserabiliter clamans, post pau- 
 lulum spiritum emisit. 
 
 Juvenis quidam a nativitate mutus et claudus, mox ut Cure of a 
 
 tumbam Sancti Dunstani tetigit, erectis pedibus stetit, et lame boy. 
 soluta lingua excelsa voce clamare ccepifc, " Gloria in excelsis 
 " Deo, Alleluya." Et sic omnibus diebus vitse sU8e non 
 solum expedite verum etiam diserte omnia loquebatur., 
 
 Puella quaedam a nativitate caeca ad tumbam Sancti Cure of a 
 
 ^ girl born 
 
 Dunstani a matre sua adducta, apertis oculis omnia clare ^ii"^- 
 videbat, et prse gaudio exsiliens dixit, "Mater mi, qua3 sunt 
 " haec pulcbra quge video?" Cui ilia, "Yidesne," inquit, 
 " cara mi ? " Quae dixit, " Pulcher homo quidam jussit me 
 " b^c pulcbra videre." 
 
 Quidam vero Teutonicus, nomine Clemens, quern sacerdos Cure of 
 pro culpa voluptatis efc contumacise in interitum carnis Sathanas ^ho had 
 tradiderat, septennio a daemone possessus de loco ad locum glg^^^f^^' 
 instabili ferebatur motu. Hie ad tumbam Sancti Dunstani 
 perlatus, cum ad nocturnas vigilias responsorium, " Yidete 
 " miraculum," inciperetur, saltum in sublime dedit, et dsemo- 
 nium cum sanguine evomuit. 
 
 Cuidam seni et claudo prsecepit Dunstanus in somnis An old lame 
 sanitatis gratia tumbam suam visitare. , Quod cum fe- Sunstan^s ^ 
 cisset, et nihil salutis consecutus fuisset, desperatus ad cure, in 
 sua redire CCBpit. Cui is qui dudum dormienti apparuerat, 
 vultu severus, veste decorus, occurrit, sciscitans unde veniret, 
 vel quo pergendo tender et. " Recuperandge/' inquit, "salutis 
 " gratia jussus ad sanctum Dei Dunstanum perrexi, sed nihil 
 " proficiens ad domum meam redire decrevi." Et ego On his re- 
 " sum," inquit, " Dunstanus, omnium servorum Dei conservus, ^^t^the 
 " necessariis quibusdam causis occupatus, non poteram his 
 " diebus requiem corporis mei visitare, nec prsesentia-m meam go again. 
 " filiis ibidem manentibus exhibere. Nam ecclesiam Dei qui- 
 
 dam adversarius exhaeredare temptavit; sed me tutore 
 
350 
 
 VITA ET MIRACULA DUNSTANI 
 
 The man ** nihil efficere potuit. Nunc autem confecto negotio ad locum Osbern, 
 ishe^edf^'^ " requietionis meae vado. Yide ergo ut ilia die te ibi inve- P- L36. 
 ' " niam, quatenus per te gratiam meam meis civibus osten- 
 dam." Kediens ergo, et sanns effectus, palam cunctis 
 qu8B viderat et audierat enarravit. 
 
 Dunstanis 46. Quodam enim tempore in nocturna visione visus est Osbern, 
 thl^churcS* Dunstanus a fratribus de ecclesia exire. Quem cum exeun- P* 
 burnt.^^ tern retinere vellent, "]^on possum,'^ inquit, **ibi manere 
 
 " propter spurcitias malorum morum et reorum in ecclesia 
 sepultorum." ^ Nee multo post ecclesia Salvatoris igni com- 
 
 busta est, parietes ceciderunt, nec quicquam ex omnibus mo- 
 
 nasterji officinis incombustum remansit, praeter dormitorium 
 
 et refectorium et modieam claustri partem. 
 
 Lanfranc^^ 47. Lanfrancus autem arcMej^iscopus ecclesiam Sancti Eadmer, 
 bodiesof the Salvatoris, quam prasfatum incendium inutilem fecerat, simul P* 
 saims. vetustas funditus destrueret, et augustiorem construere 
 
 cupiens, celebrato triduano jejunio, jussit corpora sanctorum, 
 qu88 in orientali parte ipsius ecclesiae humata erant, in occi- 
 dental em partem, ubi beatse Mariae memoria Celebris habeba- Osbern, 
 tur, transferri. Interea duo milites arcbiepiscopi coram feretro ^j'^^^^'j. 
 beati Dunstani terras procumbunt, misericordiam et indulgen- p 232 ' 
 Story of the tiam per merita ejus sibi ab abbate Sancti Augustini, de morte 
 abbot^nd^ nepotis ejus, quem nuper occiderant, dari postulantes. Dene- 
 his nephews, g^t abbas; denegant et fratres defuncti qui astabant. Jungunt 
 alii preces suas precibus militum, sed in vanum. Nec enim 
 illos aut reverentia sancti, aut supplicans multitudo flectere 
 potuit ad misereiidum. Pius autem Dunstanus, non sic au- 
 ditu difficilis, surdam ab infantia mulierem ipsa hora se requi- 
 rentem exaudivit, et ei coram omnibus auditum perfectum 
 reddidit. Abbas autem in sua pertinacia rigidus, nocte se- Eadmer, 
 quenti cum suis nepotibus coram se quemdam reverendi babi- P* 
 tus sacerdptem irato vultu stare conspexit, et quibusdam 
 teterrimis hominibus, in medio cameras in qua jacebant, mirae 
 magnitudinis*cacabum ^upposito igne succendentibus, praecipere 
 Their vision audivit, quatenus illos simul ligatos in candentem cacabum 
 - sine uUa miseratione comburendos prsecipitarent. Percunc- 
 tantibus autem quare tam crudeli pcenge subjici deberent 
 respondetur, **Propterea quod vos furoris igne succensi mor- 
 tem vestri germani noluistis perdonare propter amorem ac 
 
 ^ sepultoruni] Here Capgrave fol- 
 lows the reading of two MSS. of 
 
 Osbern, which omit the story of 
 Harold's child, above, p. 142. 
 
AUCTORE J. OAPGRAVIO. 
 
 351 
 
 Eadmer, 
 p. 233. 
 
 reverentiam Sancti Dunstani." Hiis dictis rapinntur ad Their ten-or 
 ignem, et illi nimia anxietate constricti miserandas voces ^ce.^^^^^' 
 emittebant; et se quamcitms possent ad requiem sancti ven- 
 tures, eumque super ilia injuria digna satisfactione honoraturos 
 devovent, si solummodo eos ab imminenti miseria sua gratia 
 liberare dignaretur. Adhaec tetri ministri, nutu sacerdotis 
 exterriti, cum suis ignibus disparuerunt. Mane autem abbas 
 idem, Scotlandus nomine, ad sepulcrum Sancti Dimstani 
 cum suis veniens nepotibus, monachos ecclesiaB congregates 
 sibi precibus succurrere flebilis orat. Indulgetur reis militi- 
 bus mors defuncti, qui homines pii patris Dunstani effecti ad 
 sua laetantes redierunt. 
 
 Eadmer, 
 p. 234. 
 
 Eadmer, 
 p. 235. 
 
 Eadmer, 
 p. 236. 
 
 Vita Lan- 
 franci, (ed. 
 D'Achery, 
 p. 14). 
 (Job. 
 Tynem. 
 Hist. 
 Aurea, 
 p. 362.) 
 
 48. Monachus quidam juvenis eeclesisB Salvatoris in 
 Missa Lamfranci arcbiepiscopi Evangelium legebat ; et cum 
 dicta oratione Dominica pafcenam ex more pontifici offerret, 
 vidit coram se quosdam teterrimos et borribiles malignorum 
 spirituum vultus. Ad quorum aspectum nimio pavore perter- 
 ritus Lamfrancum inter manus sacra tenentem utrisque 
 brachiis strictim amplectitur, horrido clamore vociferans ac 
 dicens, Christus vincit, Christus regnat, Christus imperat." 
 Post Missam, adunatis in capitulo fratribus, et juvene illo 
 adducto, Lamfrancus, habito prius sermone, omnes pro fratre 
 rogare monuit. Loris autem astrictus juvenis ad tumbam 
 Sancti Dunstani omnino reluctans pertrabitur, in Christum ac 
 Sanctum Dunstanum blasphemias jactans, miserabili cru- 
 ciatu torquebatur. Et cum quidam ad eum accederent, gravia 
 peccata nondum confessa detegebat, et illos sibi in poenis 
 perpetuis socios fore futures gaudens et hilaris pronunciavit. 
 Confessi autem et absoluti cum se ei prassentarent, illos ex 
 transverso intuens, nec eos sicut prius recognoscens., unde 
 venerint, quo lavacro loti tam subitam purgationem meruerint, 
 quidve contigerit quod suam societatem sic cito alterati ami- 
 serint, spumans et ejulans mirabatur. Dicebat ^ quoque de qui- 
 busdam fratribus nefanda. Tunc nominavenmt quondam, as- 
 serentes quoniam de illo non haberet quid diceret. At ille 
 affirmare coepit quod ad prsesentiam suam nunquam auderet 
 accedere. Tunc frater ille Lamfranco puram fecit cenfessio- 
 nem, et ingressus ante daamoniacum stetit. At ille in eum 
 torvo respiciens oculo ait cachinnans, Pro malo homine 
 
 A monk is 
 seized by 
 evil spints 
 during 
 mass. 
 
 He betrays 
 the sins of 
 his com- 
 panions, and 
 threatens 
 them with 
 exposure. 
 
 ^ Dicebat'] The following addi- 
 tion to the story is from the Life of 
 
 Lanfranc by Milo Crispin, also fil- 
 tered through the Historia Aurea. 
 
352 
 
 VITA ET MIRACULA DUNSTANI 
 
 Blessings of 
 penitence. 
 
 quomodo es nunc rebnllitus et candidatus ? quis te sic V. Lanfr. 
 " rebuUivit et dealbavit ? " Et nihil plus dicere voluit. 
 Unde datur intelligi quia virtus confessionis et absolutionis ipyug^^ 
 aufert diabolo aut memoriam peccati de quo pura facta Higt. 
 est confessio, aut certe potestatem hominem accusandi. Aurea, 
 Hoc enim misericorditer Christus fecit, monacbos ad cor- P* 
 rectiorem vitam erudiens, qui cessante disciplina in sseculari -^^^®'*' 
 conversatione ultra quam debebant jacere non timebant. ^* 
 The evil CuHique inter Sanctos Dunstanum et Elpbegum ponere- 
 Xout^dthin tur, dasmon qui eum possidebat in ventre ejus hac et iliac 
 the man. discurrendo vagari coepit, ut pu tares ilium modo per os, modo 
 per inferiores corporis partes fugam parare; et si quis ma- 
 num super tumorem quern faciebat superponeret, statim 
 in alium locum exsiliebat. Quidam vero Gallica lingua 
 quod sicut parvus catus saliret dixit. Juvenis vero, qui 
 linguam illam non novit, subridens, eadem lingua responde- 
 He is at last bat dicens, "Non ut catulus, sed ut catellus." Nec multo 
 healed. ^^^^ meritis Sancti Dunstani dsemone fugato liberatur, 
 
 et sensus ei redditur. 
 
 story of the 49. ^ De translatione autem corporis Sancti Dunstani Will, 
 onhe b^ones de Cantuaria ad Glastoniam, sicut in monasterio Glasto- ^nt^Glas- 
 toGiaston- nicusi scriptuHi inveni, hie inserens, opiniones varias ton. p. 30i. 
 
 hury in , . • • 
 
 1012. circa hoc discutiendas penitus reliqui. Anno Domini 
 MXII., regnante rege Edmundo cogjiomento Yrensyde, Dani 
 Angliam intrantes orientales partes Anglise et totius Cantias 
 fines in suam redigebant potestatem, et incolae multi, a patria 
 eliminati, multa crudelissima sunt morte perempti. Sic usque 
 Lundonias non gradui nec setati vel sexui parcentes homici- 
 diis, rapinis, incendiis, divina aeque et bumana exterminabant ; 
 et expulso a sede propria Elphego arcbiepiscopo, praedia 
 devastantur, possessiones diripiuntur; monachos Cantuariae 
 trucidant, ecclesiam et omnia incendio consumunt. Oontigit W. Mal- 
 bisdem temporibus praefatum regem Edmundum Glastoniam mesb. Ant. 
 advenire : et ibidem aliquantulam trahens moram abbati et ^^^^^g^* 
 fratribus tantae captivitatis ex ordine retulit bistoriam, et ^* 
 Cantuariensem ecclesiam incensam, et babitatoribus et reli- 
 gione penitus viduatam. Quibus auditis, abbas cum tota con- 
 
 ^ The following narration is from 
 the book de Antiquitate Glastonien- 
 sis Ecclesise, written by William 
 
 of Malmesbury; printed in Gale's 
 Scriptores, pp. 301, sq. 
 
AUCTORE J. CAPGBAVIO. 
 
 853 
 
 Will. gregatione valde contristatus, inter caetera eximii patris sui The abbot 
 Malmesb. Dunstani virtu tes praecelsas recitabant, qui dum viveret amplis obtain leave 
 ^n* ^30^2 P^ssessionibus libertatibusque magnificis, et regularibus insti- ^^to^ 
 ^' ' tutis, Glastoniam mirifice insignivit. Precibus enim uberrimis search for 
 opem consilium que regis implorant quatenus reliquias gloriosi j)lfn^an.^^ 
 viri ad loca transferre possent religiosa, ubi quondam reli- 
 gionis lacte nutritus ad tantas virtutes excreverat, ut non 
 solum gregem Glastoniae, sed totius Anglias provincias sua 
 doctrina illustrare posset. Quibus auditis, rex eorum desideriis 
 pio occurrens affectu, quod petierant celeri effectui mancipari 
 decrevit. Brithredus igitur abbas, quatuor confratribus 
 suis bujus legationis oflBcium injunxit, ut assumptis sociorum 
 auxiliis, Cantuariam properantes, ossa Sancti Dunstani Glas- 
 toniae transferrent. Idem enim monacbi beato Dunstano in 
 came degenti, capellae suae complentes officium, adhserebant, 
 qui etiam corpus ejus, anima ad coelos translata, sepulturse 
 tradiderunt. Postea quoque cum successore suo Elpliego 
 arcbiepiscopo usque ad ejus martyrium commanebant. Dice- 
 bantur autem fratres illi Sebricbtus, Etbelbricbtus, Bursius, 
 Adelwordus. Cantuariam igitur advenientes fratres locum 
 sicut a rege didicerant omni habitat ore nudatum inveniunt. 
 Aperientes ergo sepulcrum, ossa Sancti Dunstani tanto it is found 
 temporis processu carne resoluta reperiunt. Annulum vero Sted.^^^^' 
 digito sancti cum terrse traderetur impositum, quem juvenili 
 aetate fecisse dicitur, recognoscunt. Glastoniam igitur reli- 
 quias Sancti Dunstani secum deferentes cum gaudio redie- 
 runt. Facta est autem haec translatio anno Domini supra- 
 dicto ; post interfectionem Sancti Elpbegi martyris anno 
 secundo, et anno post dormitionem Sancti Dunstani vicesimo 
 Ibid. p. 304. quarto. Per cujus intercessiones et merita Deus ibidem non 
 cessat operari magnalia, mortuis vitam, infirmis sanitatem 
 
 crebrius restituendo ; brutis etiam plurimis in periculis sub- 
 veniendo.^ 
 
 ^ On the question whether this 
 story ought with justice to be 
 ascribed to William of Malmesbury, 
 
 see some remarks in the preface to 
 the present volume. 
 
 Z 
 
VII- 
 
 RELIQUI^ DUNSTANIAN^. 
 
 letters and other documents connected 
 with dunstan, his age and his 
 
 ;biographers. 
 
 I. Epistola ab Wulfhelmum archiepiscopum.^ 
 
 (MS. Cotton, Tiberius, A. 15, fo. 166.) 
 
 Good wishes Pastor apostolicus, Wulfhelmus, nomine Christi 
 bish^ In terris clarus, cunctis laudabilis, usque in 
 
 Regna Redemptoris regalis regmine recto 
 Possideat, regnet, teneat, servet, regat atque. 
 Ut quando prsesul sublimis ssecla per ignem 
 Advenerit purgare, locu[tu]s eritque, " Venite, 
 " Percipite sethereum Patris regnum, benedicti, 
 " Principio mundi quod vobis nempe paratum est 
 Sic invitetur postrema luce dierum, 
 " Euge veni, quoniam bone serve in pauca fideKs 
 " Tempore transacto mansisti, gaudia regni 
 " Suscipe coelestis Domini venerabilis, Amen." 
 
 1 Wulfhelm became archbishop 
 in 923 or 924, and died in 942. He 
 is no doubt the prelate mentioned 
 in the life of Dunstan written by 
 Adelard, above, p. 55, under the 
 name of Athelm. As Athelm died 
 in 924 at the latest, and that year 
 is the earliest date for Dunstan's 
 
 birth, it is obvious that the saint 
 could not have been a pupil of the 
 earlier archbishop. The verses 
 given above, which are preserved 
 among the letters addressed to Dun- 
 stan, may possibly have been an 
 early composition of the saint. 
 
RELIQUI^ DUNSTANIANiE. 
 
 355 
 
 II. Promissio regis.^ 
 
 (MS. Cotton, Cleopatra B. 13, fo. 66.)] 
 
 This gewrit is gewriten stsef be staefe be tham ge- The pledge 
 write the Dunstan arcebiscop sealde urum hlaforde set^stanat 
 Cingestune tha on daeg tha hine man halgode to cinge, tion of the" 
 and forbead him selc wedd to syllanne butan thysan 
 wedde the he up on Cristes weofod lede, swa se bis- 
 cop him dihte : " On ^ thsere halgan Thrynnesse naman, 
 " Ic threo thing behate Cristenum folce, and me under- 
 " theoddum : An serest thset Godes Cyrice and eall The king's 
 
 Cristen folc minra gewealda sothe sibbe healde ; other his people. 
 " is thset Ic reaflac and ealle unrihte thing eallum 
 " hadum forbeode ; thridde, thset Ic behate and bebeode 
 " on eallum domum riht and miltheortnisse, thaet us 
 " eallum arfsest and mildheort God thurh thait his 
 " ecean miltse forgife, se lifath and rixath." Finit. 
 
 Translation. 
 
 This writing is written, letter by letter, after the writing 
 that archbishop Dunstan delivered to our lord at Kingston on 
 the day that they hallowed him king, and he forbade him to give 
 any pledge except this pledge which he laid up on Christ's 
 altar, as the bishop directed him : In the name of the Holy 
 " Trinity I promise three things to the Christian people and 
 
 my subjects : first, that God's church and all Christian 
 ^* people of my dominions hold true peace ; the second is that I 
 " forbid robbery and all unrighteous things to all orders ; the 
 " third, that I promise and enjoin in all dooms justice and 
 
 mercy, that the gracious and merciful God of his everlasting 
 
 mercy may forgive us all, who liveth and reigneth." Finit. 
 
 ' Also in Vitellius A. 7, printed 
 by Hickes in the first edition of his 
 Institutiones Grammaticae, praef., 
 and in the Reliquiae Antiquae, ii. 
 194. See also Wanley's Catalogue, 
 in Hickes, iii. 202, 241 
 
 2 The form is given in Latin in 
 the Pontifical of Egbert, and in the 
 order for the coronation of Ethelred, 
 and was used also at the coronation 
 of Henry I. See Taylor, Glory of 
 Regality, pp. 245, 330, 395, 405. 
 
 z 2 
 
356 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 ofa chris^^ Se Cristena cyng the thas thing gehealdeth, he ge- 
 tianking. eamath him sylfum woroldlicne weorthmynt, and him 
 eee God segther gemiltsath ge on andwerdum life, ge 
 ac on tham eeean the aefre ne ateorath. Gif he thonne 
 thaet awsegth thaet Gode wses behaten, thonne sceal hit 
 syththan wyrisian swythe sona on his theode, and eall 
 hit on ende gehwyrfth on thset wyrste, butan he on 
 his lif faece ser hit gebete. Eala leof hlaford beorh 
 huruthinga geome the sylfum ge thenc thset gelome 
 theet thu scealt tha heorde forth set Godes dome ywan 
 and Isedan, the thu eart to hyrde gescyft on thysum 
 life, and thonne gecennan hu thu geheolde thast Crist 
 ser gebohte sylf mid his blode. 
 
 Gehalgodes cynges riht is, thset he naenig ne man ne 
 fordeme, and thset he wuduwan and steopeild, and sel- 
 theodige werige and amundige, and stala forbeode, and 
 unriht hsemedu gebete, and siblegeru to twseme, and 
 grundlunga forbeode, wiccan and galdra adilige, mseg- 
 myrthran and manswaran of earde adrife, thearfan mid 
 88lmyssan fede, and ealde and wise and syfre him to ge 
 
 Translation. 
 
 The Christian king who keeps these engagements, earns for 
 himself worldly honour, and the eternal God also is merciful to 
 him, both in the present life and in the eternal life that never 
 ends. But if he violate that which was promised to God, then 
 shall it forthwith right soon grow worse among his people, and 
 in the end it all turns to the worst, unless he in his life first 
 amend it. Ah ! dear lord, take diligent heed to thyself by all 
 means ; often call to mind this, thou wilt have at God's judgment 
 to produce and lead forth the flock of which thou hast been 
 made the shepherd in this life, and then give account how thou 
 heldest that which Christ afore purchased with his own blood. 
 
 The duty of a hallowed king is that he judge no man 
 unrighteously, and that he defend and protect widows and 
 orphans and strangers, that he forbid thefts, and correct un- 
 righteous intercourse, and annul and altogether forbid incestuous 
 alliances ; extirpate witches and enchanters, drive out of the 
 land kin-slayers and perjurers, feed the needy with alms, and 
 
RELIQUIAE BUNSTANIAN^. 
 
 357 
 
 theahterum hsebbe, and rihtwise msen him to wicne- ^^fiJ|^^®"' 
 rum sette, for than swa hwset swa hig to unrihte ge- 
 doth thurh his aful, he his sceal ealles gescead agyl- 
 dan on domes dseg. 
 
 Translation. 
 
 have old and wise and sober men for counsellors, ^nd set 
 righteous men for stewards, for whatsoever they do unright- 
 eously by his fault, he must render account of it all in the 
 judgment day. 
 
 III. Cantus qui vocatue Kybie Rex splendens. 
 
 ^ In festo 8. Michaelis in rmnse Septembris dicitwr Kyrie 
 Rex splendens^ cvmi mis versihm; in festo S, 
 Dnnstani et St. Michaelis in Monte Twmba dicitur 
 Kyrie Bex absque versibus. 
 
 1. Kyrie Rex splendens coeli arce salve jugiter, ^^f^i^^^g 
 Clemens plebi Tu98 semper eleyson. 
 
 2. Hymnidicse quem turmae cherubin laude perenniter 
 proclamant incessanter, nobis eleyson. 
 
 ^ The rubric of which this is a 
 part begins thus, " Omnibus dupli- 
 " cibus festis per annum, sive sit 
 " de temporali sive de festo sanc- 
 " torum, dicitur unum istorum 
 " Kyrie eleyson, cum suis versibus 
 " pro dispositione cantoris, ita ta- 
 " men quod in festis majoribus 
 " duplicibus dicitur Deus Creator, 
 " et in cajteris duplicibus per or- 
 " dinem dicitur, Kyrie rex genitor, 
 " Kyrie fons, Kyrie omnipotens, 
 " Kyrie Hex splendens, Lux et Ori- 
 " go, Cunctipotens, Conditor Kyrie, 
 " Orhis factor.^^ Missale sec. 
 usum Eccl. Sarisb. 
 
 2 The story told by Eadmer, p. 
 207, represents Dunstan as learning 
 in his sleep a heavenly melody of the 
 
 Kyrie eleyson. This melody, as we 
 learn from Capgrave (p. 346 above), 
 was identified in his days with the 
 QdLnimKyrieRex splendens, ythioh, as 
 appears from the rubric given above, 
 was in some special way connected 
 with the festival of S. Dunstan. In 
 the Winchester Tropary of the tenth 
 century, now MS. Bodl. 775, which 
 contains most of the Kyries men- 
 tioned in the last note in a ruder 
 and earlier form than that in which 
 they appear in the Salisbury Missal, 
 this particular Kyrie is not found. 
 It may therefore have been origi- 
 ginally drawn up by Dunstan ; but 
 it is impossible to say with anything 
 like certainty that the words given in 
 the text represent the original form. 
 
 z 2 
 
VITA SANCTI DUNS^ANI. 
 
 Kurie Bex 
 splendens. 
 
 3. Insigniter catervaa praecelsse et quibus seraphin 
 respondent Te laudantes, nostri eleyson. 
 
 4. Christe Eex altithrone, ordines angelorum novem 
 Quern laudant incessanter pulchre^ dignare servis Tuis 
 semper eleyson. 
 
 5. Christe Quern toto orbe unica ecclesia hymnizat, 
 sol et luna, astra, tellus mare Cui et famulantur, semper 
 eleyson. 
 
 6. Ipsi idem inelitae patriae perpetuse hseredes sancti 
 omnes digno carmine proclamant quem ovanter, nobis 
 eleyson. 
 
 7. Virginis pise Marise O alma proles, Rex regum, 
 benedicte Redemptor, eruore mercatis proprio mortis ex 
 potestate semper eleyson. 
 
 8. Insignissime, ingenite, O genite, origine jam expers 
 et fine, virtute excellens omnia, catervae huic Tuse Cle- 
 mens eleyson. 
 
 9. Limpidissimse glorise Sol, justitise Arbiter, omnes 
 gentes districte dum judices, turmee obnixe precamur 
 tunc astanti clemens eleyson. 
 
 The Kyrie was said immediately 
 after the collect or officium, and was 
 not a part of the ordinary of the 
 Mass, or peculiar to the English uses. 
 Cardinal Bona (Opera, p. 508) was 
 not aware that the custom was earlier 
 than the thirteenth century ; but this 
 is distinctly proved by the evidence 
 of the Bodleian MS. cited already, 
 
 the date of which is sufficiently clear 
 from the penmanship, and is shown 
 by the prayer in the litany, "Ut 
 <* JEthelredum regem et exercitum 
 Anglorum conservare digneris." 
 Fo. 18. 
 
 ^Jine, virtute] The Gradual (ed. 
 Paris, 1532) reads " fide mortua." 
 
BELIQUI^ DUNSTANIAN^. 
 
 359 
 
 IV. ^ Epistola Arnulfi ad Dunstanum 
 
 ARCHIEPISC0PUM.2 
 (MS. Cotton, Tiberius A. 15, fo. 159, b.) 
 
 Summo archipontificatus amplificato honore Dunstano, a.d. mi. 
 Amulfus marchisus salutatoria mitto affamina, quin- co^nt^of 
 etiam devotissima mando obsequia. Grates habeo quod desires a 
 
 n -I . . . T . continuance 
 
 nulla vobis piguit ratione memor esse mei ; unde quasi of Dunstan's 
 
 IT ii'j* • /»• friendship. 
 
 quoddam jubilum laetitiae sic a me excipitur fami- 
 liaritas vestri ; nec tenacius volo subsistat aliqua res 
 sub sole quam nostrse amicitise permaneant deinceps in 
 omni tempore. Qua de causa in me sic de omnibus 
 adquisitis et adquirendis potestis confidere quod non sit 
 vobis opus dubitare de uUa qualicunque rem quam 
 super terram possideo, quse sit expetenda ab aliquo 
 qualicumque amico. Nam si scirem quod res vobis ali- 
 
 ^ The MS. from which this and 
 most of the following letters are 
 taken has been terribly damaged 
 by both fire and water ; hence the 
 numerous lacunae which will be 
 found in the text and some little 
 uncertainty as to the endings of the 
 lines. Sufficient, however, remains 
 generally to show the meaning of 
 the writers. 
 
 2 There is not much in this letter 
 that indicates to which of the two 
 Amulfs it is addressed. Amulf I., 
 who had protected Dunstan during 
 his banishment, and who, as we 
 learn from Adelard (above, p. 59), 
 had restored the monastery of Blan- 
 dinium, niled Flanders from the 
 year 918 to 965. Arnulf his grand- 
 son, who succeeded him, ruled from 
 965 to 988. The tone of the letter 
 suggests that the elder Amulf was 
 the writer, and the younger, who 
 was a child at his succession, could 
 scarcely have remembered the exile 
 
 of Dunstan. On the other hand, 
 the fact that the count's ambassa- 
 dors required an introduction 
 through Dunstan to the king, seems 
 to indicate that the letter was writ- 
 ten at the beginning of a new reign, 
 that of Edward or Ethelred. How- 
 ever, on the whole the former theory 
 is most probable. If this be ac- 
 cepted, the letter may be dated in 
 961, in which year Adalulf, who 
 was made abbot of S. Bertin on 
 April 4, visited England with pre- 
 sents from the count to the king. 
 This fact is mentioned by the monk 
 Folkwin in the Cartulary of S. Ber- 
 tin, which he dedicates to Adalulf. 
 The latter ceased to be abbot on his 
 return in 962. See the Cartulary 
 among the Documents Inedits Bur 
 rHistoire de France, pp. 152, 153 : 
 Quo in tempore comes isdem eun- 
 dem dominum Adalolfum cum 
 exeniis ad regem trans mare di- 
 rexit Anglorum." 
 
 ti 
 
360 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 A.D.9G1. quae ex nostris placerenfc, inprsesentiarum vobis liben- 
 to be in- tms mitterem. Et quia ita pro certo et non aliter se 
 
 formed what i , , , n t 1 1 
 
 he can do res ha bet, peto per prsesentem gerulum litterarum quae- 
 
 for, or ^ive • » » • 
 
 theardi- cuiique vobis de meis plaeuerint rebus enucleati ex- 
 bishop. 1 • 1 X- J. 
 
 ponere, quatenus vel sic valeatis agnoscere quantum 
 vobis cupiam esse in omnibus ubique amicus. Itaque 
 quod petimini si gratanter vultis agere, agnoscam tunc 
 quod communem verius velitis nostram amplificare dilec- 
 tionem. Sin aKas,^ de vobis plus dubius ero quam aut 
 He desires expedit aut mcse voluntatis exstiterit. Deus autem Om- 
 
 his prayers. , „ . 
 
 mpotens faciat votum meum prosperari, ut pro me et 
 conjuge mea^ copiatis^ supplicare Ipsum. Cseterum 
 He begs him obnixius oro ut amicitias inter me et inter dominum 
 
 to promote , r • j.- 11,1, xx 
 
 friendship vcstram rcgcm tales nunc laciatis, quales nabuerunt et 
 
 between 
 
 himself and antccessorcs nostri ad invicem foederatas. Et ut pro- 
 
 the kins:. ..... , • 1 t / • j • 
 
 pmquitatis mutuee memor sit, volo ut ei suggeratis nec 
 obliviscatur sed magis intelligat et sciat, quod non ut 
 extraneum, verum etiam sic me debet amplecti sicut 
 fratrem et sicut proximum propinquum.^ Misurus sum 
 itaque legatos meos ad ipsum cum competentibus sibi 
 honoribus, sed per consilium vestrum hoc agere volo. 
 He is about Vobis itaquc, si visum fuerit utile mihi, tunc mandate 
 
 to send am- ^ i • i i • i j x . 
 
 bassadors^ mihi quomodo vobis de his placeat, et quo tempore 
 a«t by uim- hoc csse possit, scilicet ut in promptu rex habeatur. 
 vice. Volo enimvero vos auctorem hujus esse operis, quia hos 
 quos misurus sum recto tramite ad vos destinabo nun- 
 cios. Nam humilius rogo ut cuncta quae acturi sunt per 
 manus et consilium vestrum, favente Deo, prospere diri- 
 gantur. Addo etiam his meis petitionibus rem quamdam 
 
 * The wife of the elder Amulf 
 was Adeliza, daughter of count 
 Herbert II. of Vermandois. The 
 wife of the second was Susanna or 
 Bosala, daughter of Berenger king 
 of Italy. The former lady was alive 
 as late as January 7, 962. Cart. 
 S. Bertin, p. 150. 
 
 2 copiatis^ from Komdoo, to labour, 
 as in S. Matt. xii. 28. 
 
 3 The elder Arnulf was the son of 
 Baldwin II. the Bald, by Elfthritha, 
 the daughter of Alfred, who was 
 great-aunt to Edgar : the relation- 
 ship is more likely to have been 
 brought into prominence by the 
 elder than by the younger Amulf, 
 
RELIQUI^ DUNSTANIAN^. 
 
 361 
 
 nimis mihi devotam ; hoc est ut nostris viris monachos a.d. mi. 
 cum conpetenti vestro illorumque honore ad nos usque Sm^tlfcon- 
 
 • iii* • jji* •• I'll J. duct them 
 
 mittatis ; sic etiam ut testimonii causa vestri habeant on their 
 secum vestrum missum aut brevem, donee nostram 
 videant faciem. 
 
 V. Epistola ad Arnulfum^ comitem. 
 
 (MS. Cotton, Tiberius A. 15, fo. 155, b.) 
 
 < 
 
 Cunctarum virtutum religione composito excellentis- The writer 
 simoque ducatus apice adornato, et largiflua philo- ciesiastic, 
 
 .. •• • • offers his 
 
 sophise scientia redimito, atque utriusque vitse, quam good wishes, 
 quidam sophistarum, immo, ut ita dicam, sapientium 
 mirifice per n . et e . Grsecum ^ tropice expressit or- 
 namentis insignito, marcioni non sececundum ^ provi- 
 dentiam Dei et duci, ego Sancti N., confessoris adque 
 pontificis ccenobii archimandrita, et gratia Dei antistes, 
 devotum ac inenarrabile obsequium . sicut salutem 
 
 conlaterani tuae in Domino opto cum omni He ims 
 
 clero meo : dum vestrse munifi centime rumor, per totius the good 
 
 . . worKS of 
 
 Albionis plagas passim pervolitans percrebrescit, exi- Amuif. 
 mius inde orthodoxorum catalogus, non theatrales ut 
 comicus vulgo applausos, sed theoricas, uti catholicas 
 atque theologus tripudians, laudes pro vestra subnixius 
 
 ^ This letter again appears to be 
 addressed more probably to the 
 elder Amulf. It is almost impos- 
 sible to identify the writer ; but he 
 must have been an English ecclesi- 
 astic of high position, the head of a 
 monastery, and perhaps a bishop. 
 The letter N. probably represents 
 merely the word nomen. None, 
 however, of the English cathedrals 
 has any such dedication, except 
 Winchester, which might possibly 
 be regarded as the church of St. 
 Swithun confessor and bishop ; and 
 the fact of the letters ix., xiv., and 
 
 xxi., existing in the same collection 
 may point to bishop Ethelwold or 
 Elfege as the writer. 
 
 2 This is unintelligible. The 
 copyist probably met with a word 
 he could not read, and put Gr cecum 
 to show it. 
 
 ^ We may conjecture that this 
 stands for nonno secundum, &c. 
 but the second word is unintelligible. 
 Arnulf acted as chief officer, or 
 abbot of S. Bertin. Nonnus is said 
 to be equivalent to Domnus. See 
 below, p. 380. 
 
362 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI, 
 
 Heeniai^es solet impendere sopitate:-^ jure nimirum cum in vobis 
 
 on Arnulfs •r»i t i "j. *l 'l i* 
 
 fame, ninil aJiud esse eognoseitur, quam assiduitas ventatis, 
 statera reetitudinis, conspicua erga omnes bonitas, uni- 
 versa morum prseclara honestas, secclesiarum quoque 
 prsefulgida lampas, qua non modo affines parrochise, 
 quod plurimorum est, fuleiendo corroborantur, verum 
 
 andbenefac- etiam longe direptse ac remotse quod paucorum est, in- 
 
 churches. super etiam coenobia et delubra, maeeriis penitus caden- 
 tibus culminibusque carie confractis solotenus jam diruta, 
 recuperanda instaurantur. Hoc rumore et hac fama de- 
 ferente et reportante talia vestra facta ad nos usque, 
 
 He sends a direximus vobis nostri patris fratrem amatum videlicet 
 
 messenger n . . t^t • 
 
 with letters, usuau appeilamme vocatum JN . agnomme, per manus 
 N. Scireburnensis episcopi, quem scimus plenum cari- 
 tatis et veritatis, ut in se innotescat tibi quod habes 
 quondam nostri coenobii librum, scilicet evangeliorum, 
 
 to recover a quem vendiderunt tibi duo nostrates clerici inveterati 
 
 book which , 9 p x i i • -n i • 
 
 igsbeen dicrum malorum/ lurantes ab ecclesia lilum nobis nes- 
 the^urch^ cioutibus, dum essent quasi creduli nobis, quod factum 
 by the count, ipsi postea coufcssi sunt, facto miraculo jam in illis. 
 
 Hoc sane volumen, venditum ab illis quaerentibus 
 quandam mulierculam captam a Danis vestris, emptum 
 etiam a te in villa tua quae dicitur vulgo ^ tribus 
 mancusis nummorum. Undo nos obnixe precamur te, 
 ut remittas nobis librum nostrum, quem juste adquisi- 
 vit, ut perperam amisit, aecclesia, pro Policrati amore 
 pantorumque agiorum^ in Christo quiescentium bene- 
 dictionibus : valeat semper incolomes. 
 
 ^ So MS. for sospiiate. 
 
 * inveterati dierum malorum ] 
 " waxen old in wickedness," Dan. 
 xiii. (Susanna), 52. 
 
 3 Thie name seems to be omitted, 
 or lost in the word vulgo, but there 
 is no blank in the MS. 
 
 * Policrati amore pantorumque 
 agiorum] " for the love of God and 
 " all the saints : " a good instance of 
 the way in which the borrowed 
 Greek words were treated. 
 
RJELIQUI^ DUNSTANIAN^. 
 
 363 
 
 VI. Epistola ad Eadgarum regem.^ 
 
 (MS. Cotton, Tiberius A. 15, fo. 159.) 
 
 A.D. 959-976. 
 
 Regi inclito sceptmm regiminis bajolans dimicando, The abbot 
 
 . lai o j.*T>j_»j_ AT * 9 convent 
 
 dominus et abba oancti JPetn atque Audoem,^ una cum of s. ouen, 
 
 i.q.-|. J** o-ii* * Rouen, offer 
 
 monarcnia ^ sibi subjects© congregationis, lideiia m their best 
 Christo optant sibiere^ munia. Ea namque devotione the king; 
 qua compuncti corde necnon ore nec mora psallimus for^iim^as 
 
 for their 
 
 nocte ac die pro illustri comite nostro Richardo om- own count, 
 nipotentis Dei adminicula, eademque reciproca interven- 
 tione, scitote pro vobis orantes, quatenus diu longeve 
 vigeatis, valeatisque in futuro residens ut curales ^ in 
 curia. Est enim ventus ingens retonans auribus nos- 
 tris, et exemplo bonse actiords fraglans, ut odor bonus 
 ubique per cuncta cosmi curricula, quae scilicet in 
 sancta Dei secclesia agitur a vobis in viduis, in orpha- They have 
 
 .-1 , -, heard the 
 
 nis, in omnibus necessitatem patientibus ; ex qui bus report of his 
 laudatus ab omnibus in Christo desrentibus caveatis ^ and desire 
 illud Psalmistse, " Dispersit, dedit pauperibus," et caetera, the restora- 
 
 t ' n • J TT • I tion of their 
 
 quia omnis laus m nne canitur. llaec ergo scientes church, 
 flexis genibus oramus ut a nobis perveniat aliquid 
 auxilii vestri, quo, ob amorem vestrse animae in redi- 
 mendis peccatis videlicet vestris, restauretur monaste- 
 rium Sancti Petri atque Audoeni, qui etiam pro vobis 
 erat interpellans Dei clementiam, in cujus consortio 
 nostrorum copulari vos cupimus ex hinc et deinceps. 
 
 ^ Epistola Audoeni, MS. This 
 is one of the letters transcribed by 
 Ussher from the Cotton MS., as 
 additaments to Spelman's Concilia : 
 MS. Rawlinson, Misc. 1074. 
 
 2 Perhaps Hildebert abbot of S. 
 Ouen, who appears to have been 
 making great efforts for the restora- 
 tion of his monastery about this 
 time. See Martene and Durand, 
 Thesaurus, iii., 1 67 6. There is some 
 uncertainty as to the date at which 
 he became abbot; William, after- 
 wards abbot of Dijon from 990 on- 
 
 wards, being named as his prede- 
 cessor, whereas Hildebert himself 
 is said to have ruled S. Ouen's for 
 46 years. Gallia Chr. xi. 140. 
 
 3 monarchia] used in its theo- 
 logical sense of unity, 
 
 "^sihiere] subire (?) or sumere (?) 
 or sincere (?). 
 
 ^ Richard I. duke of the Normans, 
 943-996. 
 
 ^ curales] possibly for choraules, 
 a flute-player, musician, or carol- 
 singer ; or for curiatis. 
 
 7 caveatis'] so the MS. f or canatis. 
 
364 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 A.D. 959-975. si libet. Testis sit nobis Deus quia non pro id quod do- 
 a^Vstance^*^ miuus uoster illud prsevaleat peragi, verum ne per omnia 
 nobis necessitate indigentia potest compleri auxilia. 
 Qua de re magno clangore exposcimus, ut non dedig- 
 nemini nostras despicere preces, quin ad nos perveniat 
 auxiliumque consilium vestrum, quibus valeamus ope- 
 rari libita circuli nostri, ut decet sine intermissione pro 
 vobis orantes si feceritis ea. 
 
 VII. EpISTOLA JoHANNIS PAP^E XIII. AD Eadgarum 
 
 REGEM.^ 
 
 A.D. 965-972. Johanncs episcopus, servus servorum Dei, Edgaro 
 tiwkmrand regi excellcntissimo, atque omnibus episcopis, ducibus, 
 people. comitibus, abbatibus, et cuncto fideli populo Anglicae 
 
 gentis, Christianam salutem et apostolicam benedic- 
 
 tionem. 
 
 The pope Quoniam semper sunt concedenda quae rationalibua 
 
 h&s uedi'd. of 
 
 Edgar's zeal, quseruntur desideriis, oportet ut vestrse piae petitionis 
 studium in privilegiis minime oftendatur prsestandis. 
 Scimus enim, gloriose fili, imperii vestri dignitatem 
 zelo divinse legis ita undique munitam, ut indesinenter 
 pro venerabilium locorum percogitet stabilitate; quate- 
 nus proveniente pro labore schola Dominici . multiplici- 
 
 ^ The folio-wing letter was first 
 printed by archbishop Parker in the 
 Antiquitates, whence it was taken 
 by Alford, Annales iii. 349; by 
 Coquelines, Bullarium, i. 262 ; and 
 by Mansi, xviii. 483. If it be ge- 
 nuine, and it is received as such by 
 Jaffe, its date will fall between the 
 years 965 and 972 ; the chronology 
 of the life of Edgar and Ethelwold 
 furnishes no closer limits. I have 
 not succeeded in discovering the 
 MS. from which it was taken by 
 Parker, and I should not vouch for 
 its genuineness ; but if it be a for- 
 gery, it must be an early one, as 
 the monks of Winchester after the 
 Conquest tried to maintain that 
 
 their church had been originally 
 monastic, whilst this letter would 
 show that it was filled with secular 
 clerks in the time of Ethelwold, as 
 indeed is clear from his biography. 
 A late forger would, however, have 
 spoken of the church under the title 
 of S. Swithun. The use of the 
 word canonici for secular clerks, 
 occurring in a papal letter, is not 
 significant ; but there is no evidence 
 that the cathedral clergy bore this 
 name in England until the eve of 
 the Conquest. It is worth while 
 observing how nearly the language 
 of the letter resembles that of the 
 Begularis Concordia, in the Mon. 
 Angl. vol. i. p. xxviii. 
 
RELIQUIiE DUNSTANIANuE. 
 
 365 
 
 ter servitii, et largitori omnium Deo abunde fructus a.d. 966-972. 
 referantur milleni. Quare, rex inclyte ac fili carissime, the canons 
 quod vestra excellentia per fratrem et coepiscopum moved^from 
 nostrum Dunstanum ab hac apostolica sede, cui licet Minster at 
 immeriti prsesidemus, exposeit, omnibus modis concedi- 
 mus, auctoritate apostolica sancientes, ut de monasterio 
 in Wintonia civitate in honorem Sanctse Trinitatis et 
 beatissimorum apostolorum Petri et Pauli conjuncto, 
 quod vetus, differentia novi illius quod juxta est cce- 
 nobii, cognominatur, canonici, domino episcopo et omni- 
 bus catholicse fidei cultoribus ex patentibus culparum 
 suarum turpitudinibus odibiles, et in eisdem secundum 
 impoenitens cor eorum inverecunde perdurantes, cum 
 suo praeposito, utpote vasa diaboli, ejiciantur ; et sicut Etheiwoia 
 vestra sublimitas desiderat, dilectissimus frater et co- duce and 
 episcopus noster Ethel waldus, reralaribus disciplinis body of 
 
 , T ^ monks, who 
 
 apprime imbutus, monacnorum secundum prsecepta re- 
 
 guise viventium gregem enutriat, eisque inibi perpetuum head. 
 
 mansionem statuat ille, qui eorum vitam ita sanctitatis 
 
 moribus exornet, ut pastore ad laboris sui prgemium 
 
 vocato, non aliunde quam ex ilia congregatione alter 
 
 in locum regiminis succedat. Quod si impedientibus, 
 
 quod absit, peccatis, ad hoc pontificale officium in eadem 
 
 congregatione idoneum inveniri minime posse contige- 
 
 rit, auctoritate apostolorum principis Petri, cui Dominus 
 
 ac Salvator noster ligandi solvendique potestatem con- No clerk is 
 
 tradidit, prsecipimus ut nemo ex clericorum ordine ad that^church. 
 
 hujus regimen ecclesise promoveatur ; sed potius ex 
 
 alia qualibet congregatione qui dignus inventus fuerit 
 
 monachus assumatur, et huic ecclesiae prseficiatur. Si 
 
 quis enim interea, quod non credimus, haec apostolica^ 
 
 sedis privilegii decreta irrita facere, et ea quae: nobis 
 
 pie indulta sunt intaminare prsesumpserit, auctoritate 
 
 ejusdem coelestis clavigeri Petri, omniumque successo- 
 
 rum ejus, sciat se anathematis vinculo innodatum, et 
 
 in iUo magni judicii die perpetualiter damnandum. In 
 
 Christo valeas, domine fili. 
 
366 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 A.D. 959-975. VIII. EpISTOLA AD EADGARUM REaEM.^ 
 
 (MS. Cotton, Tiberius A. 15, fo. 167.) 
 
 The^^np|- Anglorum in regno regalis antistiti suggestu lucu- 
 ^ne\Teve,* lenter prseminenti, Eadgaro, uranei terrenique dogmatis 
 giutetiie fastu inedicibiliter omnino poUenti, principum aposto- 
 lorum Petri ae Pauli insignisque virginis Genovefse con- 
 cio,^ quicquid honoris gj^us continet orbis, ac quicquid 
 tripudii ambitus coeli. 
 They pray Vestrae altitudini reedae notum fieri molimur, quod in 
 
 for him con- . . ° , . 
 
 stantiyat unanimitate consonoque rabulatu devincti, quantum 
 
 theshnne . , ... , ' ^ 
 
 ^^^eir divinse pietatis quimus eontemplari oromate ^ intemo 
 theoremata, ecBlicse majestatis auditum orandi continua- 
 tione perceUimus, ante mausoleum prsecelsae virginis 
 GenovefsB, ut rex regum inoleat inefFabiliter vestri 
 numinis eulmen inter vivendum, et dehinc, post fata 
 busti, perpetis vitae natalem, secumque regnandi prae- 
 rogativam, enpirios^ inter lapides siderei diadematis 
 Th^y thank conferat vobis. Egregia siquidem cupidine connexi 
 gift of velle remandi cum lUo, trans freta nobis direxistis ar- 
 
 money. , ° , , ' ^ 
 
 genti munia, ut hujusmodi largitate exultans pneuma 
 per tantae virtutis bratthea ^ perveniat ad aeternae amoe- 
 nitatis peribula. Vestras profecto vere felicissimas ad- 
 serimus gazas, quae sic in egentium manus ecclesiarum- 
 que agmina erogantur, ut aethereo foenore coelestis doxae 
 
 ^ This letter also was transcribed 
 by Ussher : see above, p. 363. It 
 is mentioned by Leland, CoU. ii. 
 404, who, however, gives the title 
 as " Epistola Fecontionis decani 
 " S. Genovefse ad Eadgarum Re- 
 ** gem," having read the words 
 
 GenovefsB concio" confusedly. 
 
 2 The monastery of S. Genevieve 
 at Paris. The first dean of S. Gene- 
 vieve named in the Gallia Chris- 
 tiana, vii. 705, is named Felix, and 
 is placed in the tenth century. He 
 
 may have been the writer of the 
 letter. 
 
 ^ oromate] for Spd/j-are; a form 
 not uncommon from the time of 
 Aldhelm. 
 
 ■* enpirios'] empyrios. 
 
 ^ bratthea'] fipax^a, brevia, as op- 
 posed to cetemce amoenitatis peribula. 
 The last word occurs in the first 
 life of Dunstan in the meaning of 
 walls (above, p. 8), in which sense 
 peribolus is used in the Vulgate, 
 Ezek. xlii. 7, 10. 
 
RELIQULE DUNSTANIAN^. 
 
 367 
 
 mercentur voHs prsemia insestimabili ac ineffabili or- a.d. 959-975. 
 natu decussata. Vere prseclara nus ^ vestra et sanctao ^^^s*^®^- 
 intentionis opinione subnixa, quse sic coelitis aregidise^ 
 dogmate irrigatse, ut ia ea cunctipotens habitet, omni 
 pravitate castigata postulatibus maritata, cuncta boni- 
 tate augustissima ! Syrmatis hujus munuscula, mystici ^^P^^* 
 caumatis retinentes crusmata, ^ his aforismis ^ accipite dation. 
 quomodo nostri apex loci exordia sumpsit, *et famulans 
 ibi Domino katerva obsequi sategit. Chlodovseus deni- ^^J^g'j^*^® 
 que rex Francorum, totius tropheei compos, qui primus tjan ^s^i 
 rex apud nos, admonitu prsetaxatae virginis, baptismi i^'iiit their' 
 gratiam nactus periergiam ^ ampere decrevit, et arcnis- 
 teum ^ mirse pulchritudinis in honore principum aposto- 
 lorum confecit; et adeo mens ejus devota huic loco 
 extitit, ut quibusque modis penitus ab eo sublimatus 
 " altera Roma " sortitus adesset vocabulum. Hoc siqui- it was called 
 dem, cooperante fide Christi, repletus victor evolavit ad Rome?*^ 
 sidera, clavigero coeli reserante illi paradisi ostia. Ibi 
 exinde prselibata virgo humata adfuit, tantis prsefulgens Miracles of 
 prodigiis ut lingua centenis distincta boatibus expri- vieve. 
 mendis nuUatenus sufficiat, nisi quia per plurimum ejus 
 verbo coecis dies, claudis gressus, exanimatis vita, et a 
 quacunque peste detentis sospitas sine mora restituta 
 fuit. Centenus namque canonicorum ordo ibi floruit, a hundred 
 
 -I T\ • • 1 • ^• 1 1 a canons 
 
 sed pro Uanorum^ immmutione media pars depreta there. 
 
 ^ nus'] vovs, 
 
 2 aregidioi] The passage is un- 
 intelligible and probably corrupt. 
 The word regidium is explained by 
 Papias as divinitas. 
 
 3 syrmatis and crusmata are mu- 
 sical terms, the former signifying a 
 long drawn sound, and the latter 
 the single notes produced by striking 
 the string of the lyre : the cauma 
 must refer to the mystic fire of in- 
 spiration, but there is a cross me- 
 taphor. 
 
 * aforismis'] aphorismis. 
 
 5 periergiam'] from ircplcpyos ; 
 
 apparently in the sense of exceeding 
 rare. 
 
 ® archisfeum] archisterium = asce- 
 terium, hcKrjTrjplov ; a monastery. 
 
 7 The church was burned by the 
 Danes in 856, according to Mabil- 
 lon, Ann. O. S. B. iii. 55 ; who, 
 however, would have learned from 
 this letter, had he ever seen it, that 
 canons, and not monks, were then 
 in possession. 
 
 ^ depreta] The word is illegible 
 in the original MS. : possibly it 
 should be depressa, or depradata. 
 
368 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 A.D. 959-975. consistit, etiam enormi temporis interstitio mulciberis 
 ruined by gutture ipse locus omnino persistit concrematus, in cujus 
 
 denotatum habemus nomen nostra inter agiographa, ut 
 vestrum memoriale in vita obituque sit semper nobis- 
 cum, et gratia regnandi cum Christo optentu sanctorum, 
 quibus deserVimus, vobis eveniat; bmfn.' 
 
 O decus imperii certissima spes quoque regni, 
 Aule Dei mentem obducat tibi et entole^ convict,^ 
 Alluat sethereusque calor banc de pietate, 
 Pauperi ut aporiam^ toUas et gaudia prsestes ; 
 Donis ditaturque tuis canonicus ordo ; 
 Gaudia sanctorum ut capias cum stemmate doxae,^ 
 Muneribusque tuis nosmet si visere Sanctis 
 Ambigeris, totum Domini gestabit in aulam, 
 Angelicus templumque tibi hie splendens struct ordo. 
 Quae bona sunt jugiter facias, et quae mala nunquam, 
 Crimine depulsus consistas in bonitate, 
 Junctus coelicolis socius laetaris in astris ; 
 Hanc rem quo capias animo rex surgere nobis, 
 Talis in theca fac quam sentire queamus. 
 
 ^ bmfn] Cypher for Amen. See read comnet or comoet : the forms 
 
 Hampson, Med.JEv. Kalend. i. 434. are equally unintelligible. Conviet 
 
 2 aule . . entole'] Aule is pro- from conviare, to accompany, gives 
 
 bably the av\^ of S. John x. 1, the some sense. 
 
 Periodos. 
 
 sheepfold ; entole is evroXrj, the 
 command. 
 3 conviet'] The word may be 
 
 * airopla, helpless poverty. 
 ^ arififxare dS^rjSf the crown of 
 glory. 
 
RELIQUI^ DUNSTANIAN^. 
 
 869 
 
 IX. Epistola Lantfrithi ad Wintonienses.^ 
 
 (MSS. Cotton, Tiberius A, 15, fo. 144 ; Vespasian A. 14, fo. 156.) 
 
 Dilectissimis fratribus Wintonise commorantibus in a.d. cir.gso. 
 Sancti Petri coenobio quod nuncupatur vetustissimum ^^JjJ^^*^^^ 
 jugis Concordia, salus ac perheimis gloria, gaudium in- oil" 
 enarrabile, splendor sine fine, pax sempiterna, karitas 
 continua hie et coelo multiplicetur a Domino. 
 
 Licet, karissimi atque affabiles adelphi, per universam Heunder- 
 ferme Europam sint divulfi^ata penitus miracula, quae great mis- 
 
 . . givings to 
 
 praepotens Auctor miraculorum dimatus est larmri sfen- relate the 
 
 . o o miracles of 
 
 tibus Anglorum per Sancti Swithuni meritum, tamen s. Swithun. 
 ne tanta Dei beneficia queant posteritatem latere suc- 
 cedentem, nequissimus cunctorum pravis actibus homi- 
 num, utpote nulla divinse prserogativa scientise, nulla 
 fultus bonitatis auctoritate, verum vestris obtemperans 
 jussionibus, vestris confisus orationibus, tremens ad 
 tantam pelagi magnitudinem accessi, et quasi stillam de 
 undis oceani, ita de plurimis sancti miraculis perpauca 
 decerpsi. Quapropter efflagito Conditorem rerum, qua- 
 tenus non meum respiciat meritum sed effectus juben- 
 tum ; vos etiam pro meis precor orare deliquiis, ne me 
 ^educat spiritus falsitatis. Nimirum animus terrenis 
 inretitus curis nihil veritatis excogitare poterit, nisi 
 prius fallacis caligines erroris spiritus scientiae et pie- 
 tatis expulerit. Et quoniam perparum scimus de sig- He^knows 
 nis mirabilibus, prodigiis ac virtutibus, quae sanctus iste those which 
 in sua gessit orationibus vita, nimirum ut inquid Pris- wrought 
 
 „ , , . , . • J • • . T • when alive. 
 
 cianus ^ auctor grammaticae artis peritissimus, studiis 
 litterarum transeuntibus in neglegentiam propter scrip- 
 torum inopiam, veniamus ad ea quae post ejus obitum 
 
 ^ This is the dedicatory epistle 
 prefixed to Lantfrith*s work on the 
 Miracles of S. Swithun, which 
 exists in MS. in the British Museum, 
 MS. Reg. XV. c. 7. The letter has 
 been printed by Wharton in the 
 
 Anglia Sacra, i. 322. It was tran- 
 scribed by Dr. Jaffe from the Ves- 
 pasian MS., see p. 380 below. 
 
 2 Priscian, Institut. p. 1, ed. 
 Hertz. 
 
 A A 
 
370 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 Sous^dity i^dubitanter sunt peracta ad viri Dei tumulum. Id- 
 thSe^^- c^^^^^^® accessimus maxime ad evolvenda hujus sancti 
 cies known, miracula, quoniam ut beneficia Dei dignissimum est 
 laudare et justissimum ea ixescientibus praedicare, sic 
 iniqxiissimum est ilia silendo negare, et nequissimum 
 eadem ignorantibus non enarrare. Humanus animus 
 istius est naturae ut, quotiescumque legendo didieerit, 
 vel audiendo, sacros actus antiquorum vel mores patrum, 
 relinquat cordis duritiam deseratque mentis contuma- 
 ciam, sectatricem vitiorum, et inclinetur ad misericor- 
 diam, secteturque humilitatem magistram virtutum. 
 
 X. Epistola ad Dunstanum aechiepiscopum. 
 
 (MS. Cotton, Tiberius A. 15, fo. 154 b.) 
 
 A.D. 959-988. Gloriosissimo et sanctissimo fratri Dunstano archi- 
 s^drSk^ episcopo, visitationem omnimodam, salutem mellifluam 
 to Dimstan! bcnedictionem apostolicam.^ De vestra valde gaud^o 
 prosperitate et de munere caritatis vestrse multum ga- 
 visus sum, tot agens gratias quod dentes in dono 
 numeravi. 
 
 Multiplices grates tibi sint, laudesque salutes. 
 Tot tibi sint grates sunt guttse quot pluviarum, 
 
 Quot folia et sabula, sidera quotque poli. 
 Tot tibi sint laudes per mundum quot creaturse, 
 
 Quot gleuse ^ et pulvis, saxaque, ligna simul. 
 Quot fieri possunt ponti de gurgite stillae, 
 
 Tot tibi proveniant munera clara Dei. 
 Cunctaque complector ; tibi tot sint gaudia semper 
 
 Quot nullum capere cor queat os[ve] loqui. 
 
 1 From the salutation the writer 
 appears to have been a prelate of 
 high rank, though scarcely the pope 
 himself. The present for which he 
 returns thanks must have been, 
 unless the word dentes is corrupt, 
 
 the head of some saint ; or perhaps, 
 as is suggested to me by a learned 
 friend, a comb of English work- 
 manship. 
 
 2 gleuce] glebse (?). 
 
RELIQUIAE DUNSTANIANiE. 
 
 371 
 
 Te delecte . . pe me quia laetificasti a.d. 959-988. 
 
 Doctorum ductor sapiens tu vir sapientum I ofDunstarf. 
 Tu tuba coelestis, tu nabli^ cordaque cantrix, 
 Tu in montem passer migrans, tu castaque turtur, 
 Tu astutus colober, cervus qui transilit Alpes, 
 Tu coecos bis tinetus ^ Christum et amando propin- 
 quus, 
 
 Tu fons irriguus foecundans arida mentis, 
 Promere digne nequeunt te famine mille; 
 Carne es sic pulcher sic pulcher acumine sensum 
 
 Alter te nuUus pulchrior esse queat ; 
 Es sapiens, verax, sellers, mitissimus, . . . 
 Praesagus, Celebris, dapsilis atque po[litus], 
 Facundus, castus, clemens, cautusque, benignus, 
 Jocundus, famosus, clarus, fortis, amandus, 
 Angelicus, dulcis, verecundus, gequus ubique ; 
 Tu coluber prudens, simplex sine felle columba; 
 Te genus et sensus dat cunctis esse sodalem, 
 
 Te mihi propitium prsestet amica fides. 
 
 Quapropter, O karissime frater, inter occupationes ^^J"^ 
 sseculi non obliviscas tui, sed, dum corpus epulis pasci- ings. 
 tur, anima eleemosynis reficiatur, et dum fatigata ex 
 itinere membra quiete refocilantur, mens in Deo ora- 
 tionibus roboretur. Nam pietas in pauperes gesta 
 setema remuneratur beatitudine. Haec, frater mi, faciens 
 floreas in omni virtute decore, et te quocunque vadis 
 divina comitetur protectio. Cujus . . ubique deducat, 
 prosperet, ac redeuntem cum omni prosperitate citius 
 reducat ; vigeas, valeas, dulcissime Dunstane. 
 
 ^ The name of a musical instru- 
 ment occurring several times in the 
 Vulgate, and translated in the Au- 
 thorised Version by the word psal- 
 tery, 1 Chron. xv. 16, 20, 28. 
 
 2 coccos bis tinctus2 the scarlet of 
 the Authorised Version, Exodus 
 xxvii. 16. 
 
 A A 2 
 
372 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 XI. Epistola ad Dunstanum ARCHIEPISCOPUM.^ 
 
 (MS. Cotton, Tiberius A. 15, fo. 158.) 
 
 A.D.959-9S8. Praestantissimo D. Dorobernensis ecclesiae archiepi- 
 umnkfood scopo pacem et triumphalem justitise coronam. Bene- 
 [IpDmiTtIn dictus sit Deus Qui vos inter tot sevi labentis pericnla 
 ^:uide^to genti Anglorum, veluti quondam Babiloniae Danielem 
 thne of Israhelitico populo, tarn idoneum prsestitit advocatum ; 
 trouble. prsecipue ex quo vulgus, multitudinis arbitrio deditus, 
 divinum cultum abhominando spernit penitus, et rem- 
 publicam, omnino lege soluta majorum, Petro apostolo 
 dicente, Subditi estote omni humanse creaturse propter 
 " Deum, sive regi," et csetera. Sed quia nuUi comes 
 agrum serere nisus quo frui debeatur in messe, agonio 
 tristi horno calumpniaris, adeo ut vix in limine te stare 
 permittit improborum insolentia, ideo Deo gratias refe- 
 rens, ineptias eorum flocci pendens, satis, nimis gratu- 
 HecOTiforts larfs in seona, apostolo dicente, " Non sunt cqndignse 
 Scripture " passiones hujus temporis ad futuram gloriam," et 
 caetera exemplaria agise scripturae, per quae, omni vani- 
 tate calcata, et spe vocationis nostras per . . . uducente, 
 transeamus ad coelestia amoena, qualia nec oculus vidit, 
 nec auris audivit, nec in cor hominis ascendit. Amen. 
 
 Dimstan^ Augc potcus spcculaus speculator gentis Anglorum 
 
 Assecla gregei ^ Dunstane curagulae. 
 
 T lepos, lex quotidiana 
 
 V . . . . verax rethoris Ausoniae. 
 O .... is habens tripplicis discrimina linguae, 
 PervoUtans rumor implet ovile tuum. 
 
 ^ This letter would appear, from 
 the scanty internal evidence, to 
 have been written to Dunstan dur- 
 ing some political struggle in which 
 he had been defeated ; probably 
 that which occurred after the death 
 of Edward and the election of Ethel- 
 red the Unready. 
 
 2 gregei^ The word is nearly 
 illegible ; possibly it should be 
 *' egregie or " Gregorii " ; curagule 
 is a low Latin form from cura, and 
 is used by several of the Anglo- 
 Saxon kings in the sense of the 
 guardian of the people. 
 
RELIQUI^ DUNSTANIANiE. 
 
 373 
 
 Cingiila utrinque tuee redolent abdomine Pauli, 
 
 Qui fuit ipse Dei gratia sola quod est.^ 
 Scilicet exemplar prophetarum luce coruscans, 
 
 Perversos stolidos corripiensque doces. 
 Instar Hieremise infundens luctabile carmen, 
 
 Psalmodias replicans saepe Deum alloqueris. 
 Inde super nardum fragrat tuus odor in aula, 
 
 Quae meminit moderans simbola apostolica. 
 Emulat adomenon, psallomenon, aulomenonque 
 
 Armonias omnes, psallere laude tua. 
 Arcitenens tandem superabis fraena Bachantum 
 
 Tissiphone cincta temporis id comitum. 
 Dextra Minerva protexit edem insseviente PhilippO; 
 
 Sic operse pretium est, subvenias citius. 
 Oratione tua seu forte inlaqueantur iniqui, 
 
 Qui actuum usurpasse jura aliena avide. 
 Discriminando Deus videat molimina sparsa 
 
 Coelotenus servans teque tuosque. Satis. 
 
 A.D. 959-988. 
 Comparison 
 with S. Paul 
 and Jere- 
 miah; 
 
 with 
 
 Apollo and 
 Minerva. 
 
 XII. Epistola ad Dunstanum archiepiscopum. 
 
 (MS. Cotton, Tiberius A. 15, fo. 160, b.) 
 
 Dunstan amande vale, praesul dignissime, salve, Farewell t& 
 
 Dulcis amor patriae Dunstan amande vale. 
 Dunstan amande vale, florens in tempora salve, 
 
 Tu decus ecclesise Dunstan amande vale. 
 Dunstan amande vale, carpendo gaudia vitae, 
 
 Tu mihi pars animae Dunstan amande vale. 
 Francia quot vites gignit, quot Fresia flores, 
 
 Gaudia perpetuse prosperitatis alas. 
 R pisces 
 
 Tot tibi felices sint, pater alme, dies. 
 Quot coelo stellse, pelago numerantur arense, 
 
 Tot tibi sint vitse gaudia perpetuae. 
 
 1 1 Cor. XV. 10. 
 
374 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 A.D. 959-988. Noii lam pastus erit dime dulcedine coense 
 
 to charity, Qui dommo mensse non iniert iragmma [plensej 
 
 Quisquis et extremum spreverit sine tegmine [virum] 
 lUic stridorem patietur frigore durum. 
 Lueis amore caret tenebris demersus iniquis, 
 Non curans alios, solis qui parcit amieis. 
 Auctorem vitse non coeli in culmine cernit 
 Pauperis et minimi vocem qui in lumine spemit. 
 Mansuram Dominus requiem non sequiparavit 
 Poscenti sedem qui sic prsestare negavit. 
 Solvere qui non vult hie vinctum pondere [poense] 
 Non jam pastus erit digne dulcedine coense. 
 
 XIII. EpISTOLA ad DuNSTANUM ARCHIPRiESULEM.^ 
 
 The writer 
 knowing 
 the merits 
 of Dunstan 
 scarcely 
 ventures 
 to accost 
 him. 
 
 (MS. Cotton, Tiberius A. 15, fo. 165.) 
 
 Reverentissimo Dei magno cultori D. archiprsesuli, 
 
 exilii catenulis admodum retitus servus 
 
 intimse subjectionem precumque ad i tionem 
 
 corporis, cum certitudine quae Christus instans ait. 
 Cernens te in ecclesia Dei plurimarum virtutum 
 fulsum doctrinis, paternitatem tuam gratulabundus 
 subirem, si linguae nodositatem jubilatione non de- 
 sperarem infirmari, antequam articulus voluntatis stilo 
 cederet servitutem dictanti. Sed si omnes corporis 
 mei artus in unum gratulationis globum unirentur, 
 prius lassarentur ossicula quam laudationis verbula. 
 Qui recolarum^ universarum consolationisque expers 
 
 ^ The tone of this letter may be 
 compared with that of B. to Ethel- 
 gar, No. xxi. below. Possibly they 
 are the work of the same writer ; 
 and some similarity may be traced 
 between this letter and the prologue 
 to the life of Dunstan, above, pp. 
 3-5. The writer would seem to 
 have been a foreigner who had put 
 himself under the patronage and 
 
 mund-byrd of Dunstan, and had been 
 received by him within the circle of 
 his friends and counsellors. 
 
 ^ recolarum'] recularum or rescu- 
 larum ; recola, a diminutive of res, 
 used by Apuleius. It seems to be 
 the same word as rescella, the more 
 common form, used by Dunstan's 
 biographer above, p. 262. 
 
KELIQUIiE DUNSTANIAN^. 
 
 375 
 
 cum exstitissem, mundiburdium tuum velut tutissimi 
 litoris herbidantes planities adii, gremiique tui sinu 
 velud filius propemodum adoptionis beneficio susceptus ; 
 ac veluti quinquagenum vernulam quern tibi nota 
 famulaminis dictavit agnitio, muneribus ditasti^, et de 
 stercore erexisti, nobiliumque tuorum societati sequi- 
 parasti. Talia me ad rependendum edoctum assentio, 
 illius tamen adminiculum nuper . . . quimus, qui digne 
 flagitantibus non denegavit, tibi . . . cum exultatione 
 
 metere faciat quod pro veneratione nomi- 
 
 nis sui largius seminasti, ut cum beatorum numero 
 solares merearis intrare amoenitates, ac Deum facie ad 
 
 faciem videndo cum ipse 
 
 regnando. Vale. 
 
 Jam mea cura premit, quo me quod nescio vertam, 
 Anxia mens mihimet curarum fluctuat sestu. 
 Ad te confugio D. dignissime prsesul, 
 Domne pater miserere, tui miserescito servi. 
 Sola salus in te ; per te confido juvari, 
 Regis ut almiflui merear pietate potiri, 
 Quo donet reditum patriae prsestetque reversum, 
 Meque simul domino qui vult legata remandet. 
 Instat hiems metuenda maris minitando periclum, 
 Decrescunt soles, augentur tempora noctis. 
 Auxiliare mihi potis es, succurre dolenti. 
 Sola mihi superest pietas tua certa juvaiidi 
 Unica spes, et tuta fides, ne desine coeptum. 
 Me mare transmenso clemens hucusque juvabas, 
 Myq gravem, donis bilarem, fuleimine laetum, 
 Regis adusque fores hujus tua per loca ducens. 
 Me, venerande pater, per te nunc opto reductum ; 
 Porrige, domne, manum jam jam sub gurgite merso. 
 Si mihi sis dextra quid agat non euro sinister, 
 Nam mihi te solum delegi ex omnibus unum 
 
 Ex esse mei fer 
 
 Sum tuus id quod sum, dum spiritus hos regit artus, 
 Quomecunque vocat [mundi] vel temporis ordo, 
 
 A.D. 959-988. 
 
 He calls to 
 mind the 
 kindnesses 
 he has re- 
 ceived from 
 him. 
 
 He prays 
 God to re- 
 ward him. 
 
 Dunstan is 
 his only 
 protector, 
 and media- 
 tor with the 
 king for his 
 return to 
 his own 
 country. 
 
 Dunstan 
 had intro- 
 duced him 
 to the king. 
 
 He declares 
 himself 
 altogether 
 his. 
 
376 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 A.D. 959-988. SalvG sancte pater, salve carissime, salve \ 
 
 Accipe domne tuus quae dat 
 
 Velle magis sapio quod tu quam dona requiris : 
 Sint monimenta mei tamen haec, ea spernere [nolis}. 
 
 XIV. Epistola ad Dunstanum.^ 
 
 (MS. Cotton, Tiberius A. 15, fo. 168.) 
 
 A.D.974-988. Pontificali infulse dignitatis apostolicse sublimato di- 
 giltitude^to eentissimo cunctarumque virtutum claritudine . . . ► 
 Dunstan. prge^lui D. archiprsesuli, L . . . infimus dnlorum,^ j^g^ 
 et indefessum utriusque vitse tripudium in Christa 
 redemtore omnium. Grates vobis ineffabiles, munificen- 
 tissime pater, pura de mente refert de bonis quae ei 
 eontulistis paterno more, quam plurimis valde egenti, 
 in finibus vestris ; quapropter quam diu vixerit, non 
 solum vobis, verum etiam servulis vestrse devotioni 
 subditis, ut decet, fidelis erit ; et si quod poterit uspiam 
 The writer agere, quod acceptum sit benignitati vestrse, libenter 
 if bidden, studebit adimplere. Idcireo tamen ad vos minime re- 
 
 not else. , . . . . 
 
 pedavit ceu promisit, quoniam putat . . . neeessa- 
 rium cuipiam ex vestris fore quod si rescierit . . 
 . . osiose jubente ocius aderit vita comite ; nuUo tamen 
 He wants to alio vocanto ad Anerlorum fines poterit accedere. Dein 
 
 htivG his 
 
 book re- vestram flaeritat benivolentiam ut eommentum Flori 
 
 turned to ^ * q i . i . i 
 
 bim. quod nabet domnus abbas : : scbr : : s ^ et alios libel- 
 
 1 Written apparently from Fleury, 
 either by some friend of Dunstan's, 
 "writing for himself in the third per- 
 son, or by L. on behalf of Abbo, 
 who may have returned to Fleury. 
 Abbo was abbot of Fleury from 988 
 to 1004. 
 
 2 dulorurn] i.e. servorum ; ^ovKos 
 = servus. 
 
 3 wschrws] These marks are 
 either intended for a sort of cypher, 
 as in the word "periodus" below, 
 
 or signify th:it the transcriber could 
 
 not read his MS. Malmesbury anci 
 Glastonbury are the two monaste- 
 ries to which reference is most likely 
 to have been made ; but Ramsey^ 
 Thorney, and Ely were the houses 
 most closely connected with Fleury. 
 Possibly the word is Westberiensis j 
 the monastery at Ramsey was colo- 
 nised from Westbury. The Com- 
 mentum Flori was probably the 
 Commentary on S. Paul's epistles, 
 by Florus, the deacon of Lyons, 
 circ. A.D. 837. 
 
RELIQUI^ DUNSTANIANJE. 
 
 377 
 
 los qui habentur pknt : : nke,^ quique conda sui fuerunt A.D.974-988. 
 . . pio Christi nomine illi reddere faciatis, quoniam qui Yiew-y^ 
 . . hoc coenobium Floriaccense quo nunc degit, utpote ^ooks"* 
 igne consumptum his caret codicellis. Sit vobis salus 
 karissime perennis. P : rkod : : s.^ 
 
 XV.^ Versus. 
 
 Viscera ne sanctum triplo curvamine panem 
 
 Interiora sanctificand . . 
 
 Mysticus ... us stricta servatur in alvo 
 Quern celo celebrant novenarius ordo polorum. 
 Nec fas in terras cuiquam est gustare profano, 
 Qui nisi jam pridem Sanctis mergatur in undis 
 Ac gestus almo trepidos rogitamine solvat, 
 Qui vel jam modicam panis vult sumere partem. 
 
 Verses on 
 the sacra- 
 ments. 
 
 Quisquis amat dictis absentum rodere vitam 
 Hanc mensam indignam noverit esse sui. 
 Felix qui modico contentus vivere pastu 
 Abstinet, et veterum servat vestigia patrum ; 
 Quique Dei tacito volvens sub pectore dicta 
 Terreni fragilem moderatur corporis usum. 
 Frustra corporeis aliquis se temperat escis, 
 Si cupiat verbis ialiorum carpere vitam. 
 
 Against 
 calumny. 
 
 Praise of 
 temperance. 
 
 Charity is 
 better. 
 
 ^ j)knti:nke'] This cypher can 
 only mean Wintonice. It is clear 
 from the last word of the letter that 
 k represents i, and the four dots 
 must refer to the fourth vowel. 
 
 2 The fire at Fleury, to which 
 reference is here made, is probably 
 that of the year 974, when the mo- 
 nastic buildings were burnt on 
 Aug. 10, owing to the carelessness 
 of the workmen. Baluze, Misc. 
 
 i. 122 ; Mabillon, Annales O. S. B. 
 iii. 632. 
 
 3 p: rkod US'] On the principle 
 stated above, this word, which is no 
 doubt periodos, gives the key to the 
 cypher so far as it goes. 
 
 X F'. ] I am unable to say 
 whether these two fragments are in 
 any way connected with the pre- 
 ceding letter, which they follow in 
 the MS. without any intervening 
 rubric. 
 
378 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 XVI. Epistola Abbonis ad DunstanumJ 
 
 A.D. 985-988. 
 
 Abbo writes 
 to Dunstan. 
 
 He has been 
 pressed to 
 write the 
 life of S. 
 Edmund, 
 
 which he 
 had heard 
 related by 
 Dunstan. 
 
 ^ Domino sanctse metropolitanse Dorobernensium ^ ec- 
 clesiae archiepiscopo Dunstano, vere moribus et estate 
 maturo, Abbo Floriacensis monachus levita etsi indig- 
 nus, a Christo Domino irriguum superius et irrigunm 
 inferius.* 
 
 Postquam a te venerabilis pater digressus sum cum 
 multa alacritate cordis et ad monasterium quod nosti 
 festinus redii, coeperunt me obnixe hii, cum quibus 
 fraterna caritate detentus hospitando hactenus degui, 
 pulsare manu sancti desiderii, ut mirabilium patratoris ^ 
 Eadmundi regis et martyris passionem litteris digere- 
 rem ; asserentes id posteris profuturum, tibi gratum ac 
 mese parvitati apud Anglorum ecclesias non inutile 
 monimentum. Audierant enim quod eam pluribus ig- 
 notam, a nemine scriptam, tua sanctitas ex antiquitatis 
 memoria coUectam historialiter, me prsesente, retulisset, 
 domino Roffensis episcopo ecclesise et abbati monasterii 
 quod dicitur Mealmesbyri,® ac aliis circum assistentibus. 
 
 1 This is the letter in which Abbo 
 dedicates to Dunstan his life of S. 
 Edmund, the king of the East 
 Angles, who was killed in 870. 
 The MSS. in which it is found are 
 enumerated in Sir T. Hardy's Ca- 
 talogue of Materials, i. 526. The 
 collations are from MS. Fairfax 12, 
 MS. Rawlinson C. 440, and MS. 
 Digby 109. It was written out by 
 Ussher as an additament to Spel- 
 man's Concilia, in MS. Rawlinson 
 Misc. 1074. 
 
 2 " Sxmi swythe ilsered munuc 
 " com suthan ofer sse from saincte 
 " Benedictes stowe, on JEthelrsedes 
 " dagum kynges to Dunstane arche- 
 " biscop threom gearae sertham the 
 
 he forthferde, and sum munuc 
 " hatte Abbo tha wurdon heo on 
 
 " spece oththet Dunstan rsshte be 
 " Sco Eadmundo.'' MS. Bodl. 343, 
 fo. 62. 
 
 3 DcfTobernensium'] Dorobernen- 
 sis, MS. Rawlinson C. 440. 
 
 ^ See Judges i. 15. The same 
 words are applied by William of 
 Malmesbury, above, p. 315, to Dun- 
 stan's gift of tears. This use of it 
 may have been suggested by his 
 knowledge of this letter, which he 
 quotes in the Gesta Pontiff, lib. v. 
 § 254. 
 
 5 patratoris^ patroni, MS. Fair- 
 fax 12. 
 
 ^ This abbot of Malmesbury is 
 identified by William with Elfiic, 
 afterwards bishop of Crediton ; but 
 apparently with little probabiUty. 
 See Gesta Pontiff. § 254. 
 
RELIQUI^ DUNSTANIANiE. 
 
 379 
 
 sicut tuus mos est, fratribus quos pabulo ^ divim verbi a.d.985-988. 
 
 T 1' i J • T 1 • • •! Dunstan 
 
 Latma et patria lingua pascere non desims. Qiubus had heard 
 
 n.T. T rv* 1 . T ..it from the 
 
 late bans, oculos sunusus lacrymis, quod earn junior king's ar- 
 
 TT. T T ., . .T.., mourbearer. 
 
 didicisses a quodam sene decrepito, qui earn simpliciter 
 et plena fide referebat gloriosissimo regi Anglorum 
 Ethelstano, jurejurando asserens quod eadem die fuisset 
 armiger beati viri, qua pro Christo martyr occubuit. 
 Cujus assertion!, quia in tantum fidem accommodasti, ut 
 promptuario memorise verba ex integro reconderes, quae 
 postmodum junioribus mellito ore eructares, coeperunt 
 fratres instantius meae pusillitati incumbere, ut eorum 
 ferventi desiderio satisfacerem, ac pro virium facultate 
 tantorum operum seriem perire non sinerem. Quorum 
 petitioni, cum pro sui reverentia nollem contradicere, 
 posthabitis aliquantulum saecularium litterarum studiis, He proposes 
 
 • 1 '-I -i • ,T to write 
 
 quasi ad mteriorem animae pnilosopniam me contuli, chiefly on 
 
 1 • • 1 '1 1. ± ± • n • Edmund's 
 
 dum ejus qui vere philosophatus est m throno regni miracles, 
 virtutes scribere proposui, maxime tamen eas quae post 
 ejus obitum saeculis inauditse factae sunt, quibus nemo 
 crederet nisi eas tuae assertionis irrefragibilis auctoritas 
 roborasset. Siquidem tu cui nix capitis credi compel- 
 lit,^ quando referebas de ea quae nunc est incorruptione Dunstan's 
 
 jis sort ion 
 
 regis, quidam diligentius requisivit, utrum haec ita esse that Ed- 
 
 , ^ . I • • 1 • 1 mund's re- 
 
 possent. Cujus quaestioms ambiguum volens purgare, mains were 
 tu vastae ^ peritiae sacrarium pro exemplo adjecisti quod corrupt, 
 multo magis audientium attonita corda concussit, quia 
 sanctus Domini Cuthbertus, incomparabilis confessor et 
 episcopus, non solum adhuc exspectat diem primae 
 resurrectionis incorrupto corpore,^ sed etiam peifusus 
 quodam bland o tepore. Quod ego admirans pro argu- 
 mento habui quo tandem ad sancti regis gesta elucu- 
 branda certior accessi, fidens de ejus et tuis incompa- 
 
 ^ pabulo'] papule, MS. Digby 109. 
 
 2 This is possibly one of the pas- 
 sages referred to by William of 
 Malmesbury, above, p. 299. 
 
 3 vastce'] magnae, Rawl. C. 440. 
 
 ** The remains of S. Cuthbert 
 had not yet found their resting- 
 place at Durham, whither they were 
 removed from Chester-le- Street in 
 995. 
 
380 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 A.D. 985-988. rabilibus meritis. Cui primitias mei laboris consecrans 
 Du!?stlnto suppliciter obsecro, ut vel una die vertas mihi tuum 
 crftfr.* otium in honestum negotium, resecando hinc superflua, 
 supplendo hiantia, quoniam ex ore tuo, praeter seriem 
 ultimi miraculi, omnia veracem secutus verax digessi, 
 exhortans omnes ad amorem tanti martyris. Vale pater 
 in Christo. 
 
 XVII. Epistola Widonis ad Dunstanum.^ 
 
 salutes 
 Bunstan. 
 
 (MSS! Cotton, Tiberius A. 15, fo. 156 ; Vespasian A. 14, fo. 169.) 
 
 A.D. 981-986. MeritoruHi virtute pontificali donato dignitate prin- 
 Sandinium cipaliter domiuo serenissimo arehypraesuli D., frater 
 Wido peccator ^ Blandiniensis coenobii destinatus rector 
 cum unanimi fratrum coUegio optabile cselici principa- 
 tus contubernium. 
 
 Minore quidem ambigentes fiducia, dulcissime pastor, 
 vestrse paternitatis expeteremus magnificentiam, ni plu- 
 rimum nota et saepius comperta afFabilitatis vestrse nos 
 animaret benignitas. Post recentem itaque nuperrimae 
 legationis commendationem per fratrem nostrae societa- 
 tis nonnum^ Leofsinum vobis directum, licet judicandi 
 minus verentes, maxime tamen confidentes hoc littera- 
 rum indiculo vestrae celsitudinis pulsamus aures, a qua 
 He asks for clcmentissimum benimae subventionis praestolamur suf- 
 
 help; the ^ . n . - it 
 
 crops have fragium. Ut vcrc namque lateri compellimur, peccami- 
 num nostrorum exigente mole, nostris in regionibus, ut 
 saepius, hornotina deperierunt saltuum pascua. A ves- 
 
 He has been 
 assured of 
 Dunstan's 
 kindness ; 
 or would 
 not write so 
 soon after 
 Leofsin's 
 embassy. 
 
 1 The following letter is found 
 fortunately in the two MSS. men- 
 tioned above, from the second of 
 which it was transcribed, with five 
 other letters, by the late Dr. Jaffe, 
 whose copies were kindly sent to 
 me, through Dr. Pauli, by Drs. 
 Diimmler and Wattenbach, the lite- 
 rary executors of that lamented 
 scholar. 
 
 2 Wido was abbot of Blandinium 
 from 981 to 986. Ann. Bland, ap. 
 Pertz, V. 25 ; Mabillon, Annales 
 0. S. B. iv. 8, 36. 
 
 3 nonnum] a senior or dignified 
 monk, or oflScer of a monastery : 
 " juniores autem priores suos non- 
 
 nos vocent, quod intelligitur pa- 
 terna revejentia Reg. S. Be- 
 ned. c. 62. 
 
 it 
 
RELIQUI^ DUNSTANIANiE. 
 
 381 
 
 trse igitur dapsilitatis largitate sustentationem adipisci a.d.981-9£6. 
 
 J r n-j. • J. • T_ J. * •! The bearers 
 
 speramus et humiliter ponimus, ut m hoc et m quibus- are to act 
 
 Till tj_* • • J J Ti'T* in common 
 
 libet Denedictionum impensis, prout vestrse multiplici with Leof- 
 
 1 • 1 i-Y» 'i* !• ''I 1 sin if he be 
 
 libuerit sumcientiso nos dignemim clementer soiaciari. stiu with 
 Si igitur prsesentium latores apud vestrse celsitudinis 
 prsesentiam prsefatum nonnum Liefsinum invenerint, 
 eis in commune vestras miserationis injungere dignemini 
 destinationem. Si vero ille jam prsecessit, hos ipsos 
 sufficere non diffidimus. Yale. 
 
 XVIII. Epistola^ commendatoria. 
 
 (MS. Cotton, Tiberius A. 15, fo. 157.) 
 
 Omnie:enis Catholicse fidei cultoribus in caritate ra- After pious 
 
 o ^ ^ reflexions, 
 
 dicatis et fundatis gratiam et pacem tandem a Domino 
 consolatore omnium qui digne lugent, omniumque re- 
 muneratore eorum qui recte desudant in cultu vinese. 
 Quoniam apostolo teste non sunt condignae passiones 
 hujus temporis ad futuram gloriam quae revelabitur in 
 nobis ; et Dominus, Beati qui lugent nunc, inquid, quia f^^jj^fas^' 
 ipsi consolabuntur. Hie monachus, olim militarem in-^^nawar- 
 
 Jl ^ nor, IS re- 
 
 duens clamidem, conversus jam elegit abjectus esse in toTh^^gwxf 
 domo Domini quam habitare in tabemaculis peccatorum f^tiifuf 
 
 brevi curriculo suspe .... fatigatus miserque 
 paucis lugere contemptus ut . . . securus quiescat, con- 
 solatusque beatitudinem sine fine percipiat. Nos autem 
 hsec scripsimus illi in caritate Dei, ut hsec pagina dig- 
 nantibus eam tractare loquatur pro ipso idiota et elin- 
 gui. Accipite ergo hunc optime psalmidicum, in Bri- 
 tannia circa marina clare editum, adhuc quiete temporis 
 et pacis ultro exilium trans freta subisse in vestram 
 
 ^ A few lines of this letter are 
 given by Leland in the Collectanea, 
 ii. 404, from the MS. used in the 
 text. It would seem to be a letter 
 
 of introduction or recommendation 
 given to a pilgrim to secure the good 
 offices of the faithful on his route. 
 
382 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 The bearer fideli Aiifflo Saxonum Britanniam, ubi consulto Chris- 
 
 nas been an , , . P . 
 
 anchorite, tianissimi regis jEthelstani anaclioreta factus religiose 
 ac laudabiliter apud Cen^ non paucis diebns conversus 
 est. Cujus consilio ac lieentia in banc quoque pere- 
 grinationem pro amore Christi venit, non quod Deum, 
 Qui ubique est, iter agendo localiter quserat, sed dum 
 plus laborat plus mercedis accipiat. Ubi enim durior 
 pugna ibi gloriosior corona. Hinc est quod perfecti 
 etiam viri, de suis actibus non confidentes, ad sancto- 
 
 tion^o/pii martyrum protectionem currunt 
 
 grimages. corpora fletibus adsilum promereri fruendum .... 
 
 ubi deliquerant eis intercedentibus credunt 
 
 juxta quod ibi de infirmioribus dicit non habentes 
 velamen amplexantur lapides, id est apostolos, csete- Job xxiv. s. 
 rosque sanctos. Sed hoc . . heu ne scientes agra- 
 ventur prolixitate. Vos vero . . scientibus erga hunc 
 
 vestrum exercete fratemitatis participes 
 
 sanctitatis illius isque de mamona iniquitatis recepturi 
 setema tabemacula. Quod mihi vobiscum fieri precor. 
 
 ^ Cen ] There are two places 
 named Kenn, one in Somersetshire 
 and one in DeTonshire, to "which 
 this passage may be referred ; but 
 the mention of the anchorite makes 
 it not impossible that Cerne in Dor- 
 setshire is the place meant. Ac- 
 cording to William of Malmesbury, 
 Gesta Pontiff, ii. § 185, Edwold,the 
 brother of S. Edmnnd of East An- 
 glia, lived as a hermit at Cerne, and 
 his hermitage became the germ of 
 a great monastery founded by the 
 
 ealdorman JEthelwerd, to which a 
 grant made by his son -ffithelmar is 
 in Kemble Cod. Dipl. iii. 224. The 
 anchorite in the text, however, was 
 a Breton, and not an Englishman, 
 and the early name of Cerne is Cer- 
 nel. It is better, therefore, to regard 
 the story as one of the not infre- 
 quent cases of Breton hermits set- 
 tling on the Devonshire or Cornish 
 coast, where the name of Cen may 
 have been superseded by the name 
 of the saint himself. 
 
RELIQUIAE DUNSTANIANiE. 
 
 383 
 
 XIX. Epistola Falradi ad ^Ethelgarum 
 
 ARCHIEPISCOPUM.^ 
 (MS. Cotton, Tiberius A. 15, fo. 151 ; Vesp. A. 14, fo. 156.) 
 
 Antistanti naviter sanctitatis summa archiprsasuli a.d. 988-990. 
 honore M? abba Falradus ^ inmeiitus istius sevi futu- fafiad to 
 rumque sotemse in Christo beatitudinis bravium, promp- 
 tumque fidelis servitutis obsequium. 
 
 Prsecessoris vestri non oblitterandse memorije Dun- The writer 
 
 had been a 
 
 stani memorialis nexilis amicitiae vinculo nodoque ita^iendof 
 
 ^ Dunstan. 
 
 usi sumus, ut inter amicissimos nobis non secundus 
 haberetur amicus. Cujus summos gradus dignitatis 
 adquisivit vobis summa claritudo ingenii in omni stu- 
 dio prsefulgens luce sanctitatis, non tantum accipiens ab 
 excelsis gradibus honorum pretii quantum addens de- He rejoices 
 
 . . x-^ . T 1 1 M .J 1 • that Ethel- 
 
 cons tui. Cujus loco, pro competentibus merito vobis gar has suc- 
 
 ... ... 1 j'l i 1 i 1 iJ ceeded,and 
 
 virtutum msignis, vos substitutum gaudemus, et ut alter hopes to 
 
 •IT T . T T r» • T ..... find another 
 
 ille nobis quodammodo neri dignemim, sicuti prsesentia Dunstan 
 
 . . ... IT in him. 
 
 vestn promisit onomatis, quamquam nuilius pretiosae 
 servitutis mercemur precari cordetenus per mille mean- 
 dros gliscimus. Nunc igitur si statu utriusque hominis 
 vigetis incolumis, vobiscum agitur, quod medullis imis 
 
 ' The following is another of the 
 letters transcribed by Dr. Jaffe from 
 the Vespasian MS. It is also no- 
 ticed by Leland, Coll. ii. 404. 
 
 2 JEthelgar, Dunstan's immediate 
 successor, had been abbot of the 
 New Minster at Winchester from 
 964 to 980. He was consecrated 
 bishop of Selsey May 2, 980, and 
 became archbishop of Canterbury 
 in the summer of 988. He went to 
 Rome for his pall in 988 or 989, 
 and died Feb. 13, 990, after a pon- 
 tificate of fifteen months. His death 
 is commonly dated Dec. 3, 989, 
 owing to a mistake of Wharton in 
 the Anglia Sacra ; but the day is | 
 
 given, no doubt correctly, in the 
 West Saxon Calendar, printed by 
 Hampson, i. 436. 
 
 3 Falradus, or Fulradus, abbot of 
 the great monastery of S. Vedast 
 at Arras. He is described by Bal- 
 deric, in his Chronicle, as an un- 
 faithful monk, who betrayed the 
 interests of his order and attended 
 to secular business only. He was 
 deposed in 1004, and died soon after. 
 He must have been abbot, however, 
 at the time when the first life of 
 Dunstan was written, the MS. of 
 which is now at Arras. See Mabil- 
 lon, Annales, iii. 177, 200. 
 
 I 
 
384 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 A.D. 983-990. gratulamur, proinde vestrse sublimitatis excellentiam 
 ^od wishes praescire volumus nos una cum omnibus, nullis Kcet 
 and prayers, giiflragaj^^iib^s mentis, mihi commissis, sacri scilicet 
 
 ordinis viris, pro benignissimo regiminis vestri statu 
 preces divinitati die noctuque effundere non desistere, 
 quae universam suam conditam movet seseque essen- 
 tialiter immobilem servat, veluti exiit caritas intepescens 
 vestrae in nos fraternitatis. Caeterum majestati vestrae 
 ^present^^ curavimus delegere, de beneficiorum exeniis nobis pro- 
 missis non pigeat per litteras aut per internuntium 
 remandare, ac tali freti fiducia, ut eclipticos loquar, et 
 nos sine mora. Valere vos faciat Trinitas Sancta semper 
 memores vestri memoris. 
 
 A.D. 988-990. 
 
 Odbert 
 Abbot of 
 S. Bertin to 
 Ethelgar. 
 
 He returns 
 thanks for 
 Ethelgar's 
 kind pro- 
 mises. 
 
 XX. Epistola Odberti ad ^Ethelgarum 
 
 ARCHIEPISCOPUM.^ 
 (MSS. Cotton, Tiberius A. 15, fo. 161 ; Vesp. A. 14, fo. 155.) 
 
 Divini cultus amatori archipraesuli inclito A. stola 
 jocunditatis praecipue vernanti, frater O.^ quern Scithi- 
 ensis coenobii abbatem fatentur, cum commissa fratrum 
 caterva, quae Domino vemula, precumque afFamina cum 
 salutis successu. 
 
 Quam inbianter vestrae desideremus salutis successum 
 aevique longaevitatem, non verbis aut apicibus quimus 
 affari, cum quidem omnis nostrae spei fiducia in vestri 
 consistat juvaminis anchora. Siquidem, vestra vigente 
 incolomitate, non adeo nos secularia detrimenta con- 
 cutient. Gratulamur etiam non modice vestrae benig- 
 nissimae sponsionis relevati magnificentia quia nos im- 
 meritos vestra voluit pietas intra numerum aggregare 
 
 1 Another of the letters tran- 
 scribed by Dr. Jaffe from the Ves- 
 pasian MS. 
 
 2 Odbert, abbot of the monastery 
 of S. Bertin, or Sithiu, near S. Omer, 
 died in the year 1012. The year of 
 
 his elevation is given in the Gallia 
 Christiana, iii. 492, as 1000 ; but it 
 is clear from this and another letter 
 that follows that this date is ten 
 years too late. 
 
RELIQUI^ DUNSTANIANiE. 
 
 385 
 
 devote vobis famulantium, vosque nobis fore perseve- a.d. 9S8-990. 
 rantem patronum eotenus ut unanimiter vestris insis- Schb^hop\s 
 tente commodis unum inter nos et vestram patemi- indifro^'^ 
 tatem fieret nolle, unum velle. Tantum ergo adepto ^aylrsl'' 
 beneficio nihil constat nobis esse jocundius. Ac pro 
 tanta gratia sciat vestra excellentia nos perhennes futu- 
 ros, in quantum sat erit posse, apud Dei praesentiam 
 intercessores. ^Elemosinae vero vestrae, quod mihi m- He will soon 
 posuistis negotium, ita, Deo cooperante, me COnfido pended the 
 
 _ • 1 . . archbishop's 
 
 mox peregisse per clericum nostrum communem, ves- aims, 
 trum etiam omnimodis servulum fidelissimum, Kicha- 
 rium, et per Sigeberhtum, quo vobis merces digna 
 maneat, meque innoxium a fraudis dolo observare stu- 
 dui. Haec vero nostra fragilitas vestram pronis votis He offers his 
 potissimum exorat clementiam, quatenus nobis propriis 
 servulis vestris imperare dignetur quaedam sibi placita 
 beneficia, quia promtissimo parebimus devotionis ob- 
 sequio. Valeat sublimitas celsitudinis vestrae plurimum 
 in Domino. 
 
 services. 
 
 XXI. Epistola B. ad ^thelgarum archiepisoopum^ 
 
 (MSS. Cotton, Tiberius A. 15, fo. 162 ; Vesp. A. 14, fo. 155.) 
 
 Domino venerando episcopo intendenti patri ^ summo, a.d. 988-990. 
 nobili videlicet spiculo,^ nequitiarum utpote spiritalium litSig^r! 
 ob eliminanda molimina cuncta, B.^ omnium faex Chris- 
 
 * This letter, which is in many 
 respects the most important of the 
 present series, is another of the six 
 transcribed by Dr. Jaffe from the 
 Vespasian MS. 
 
 ^ patri] p. MSS. 
 
 3 nobili videlicet spiculoj The name 
 of -^thelgar (aethel, noble ; gar, a 
 dart) is concealed in these words, 
 by a custom not uncommon with 
 Alcuin and some other later writers. 
 
 * J5.] It seems almost certain 
 that this " B. omnium fsex Christi- 
 
 *' colarum " and B. " omnium exti- 
 " mus sacerdotum, vilisque Saxo- 
 " num indigena," the author of the 
 first life of Dunstan, were the samB 
 person. In the notes following I 
 have called attention to the points 
 of agreement between the two com- 
 positions, and to other points in 
 which peculiarities of phraseology 
 suggest that some of the other letters 
 of this series may have come from 
 the same hand. 
 
 B B 
 
386 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 A.D. 988-990. ticolarum, et, licet nuUo vel certe parvo laudamine dig- 
 S^humUity. nus, humili tamen intentione, quicquid in superis sum- 
 mum, quicquidve in terris amoenum. 
 He feels un- Talis GxcellentisB dignitatem, tantaeque evectionis 
 
 able to dis- . ., •ij 
 
 cuss the virum, justum videretur ac sequum moderm lamims 
 
 archbishop's ,, t ti • -i 
 
 merits but venustate pulcnrseque capacitatis adire dictamine, ni tor- 
 
 says what • •i* ii» -i • • 
 
 he can. pentis stilum mgenioli muitimoda latuitatis ignavia 
 duro obtunderet repulsu. Sed quamvis inscitia morum 
 haud diuturnum intermittat ministrare oblivionis fo- 
 mentum, quoniamque assidua artis lectore^^ non adsit 
 instantia, quae dogmatizando conferat lepidinis adesse 
 peritiam, cunctis tamen conceditur faeilis faciendi facul- 
 
 it is one tas. Nam singulis impertitur egisse juxta virium posse. 
 
 thing to be . . . ^ . -,. . 
 
 content with Novimus emm mopes quosque ob eorum mediam cibis 
 
 poor food, .. ... ,. TT • 1 I 
 
 another to uti paupertmis, qui bus rerum diversarum diiicise desunt. 
 
 be robbed of ^ ... . , . i* i 'tj* it 
 
 a rich feast. Qui mmimm SI semel mvitati basilitio vel aiiquorum 
 procerum interessent convivio, etiam paulatim rigidis 
 morsibus avidorum palatuum potirentur dapibus talium 
 escarum insolitis, jam jamque duleorante saporis nec- 
 tarei fauce forte quidam inportunus dagmate^ adsur- 
 geret et diriperet enerviter miseris vivendi victum op- 
 tabilem. Quid illos autumandum est inopes, si ita res 
 se haberet post melliti gustaminis* demptionem egisse ? 
 esurire inquam eo avidius et sitire quo talis tantique 
 dulcoris delicias inopinato ammitterent. 
 
 The writer Parem igitur lugubris infortunii moestitiam, quam 
 
 had been ... . ... . 
 
 priviie^d patulo relatum de prsedictis inopibus perstrinxi, in mei 
 
 to receive . . . • • • -xt t t 
 
 intellectual miseri comperi congessisse miseriam. JNon ea admodum 
 
 nourish- ., . ,. . . -i* , • j« 
 
 ment from a ratioue ut ossem divse regmse, sanctse scilicet sapienti8e> 
 
 good bishop. ., - - ± j ± ± jj.t\ 
 
 idoneus conviva, mtroductus tamen a devoto Deoque 
 digno, sacrarum videlicet eruditionum sedituo,^ et per- 
 missus lambere sum vescentium abjectas uti catellus 
 esuriens miculas. Quem quippe beatae memorise sedi- 
 
 1 lectorece] Cf. the form favoreo, 
 p. 5. 
 
 3 dagmate'\ Cf. dagmata, below, 
 p. 390. 
 
 3 adituo ] The same word is 
 used of Dunstan, " decentis aeditui,'* 
 above, p. 3. 
 
RELIQUI^ DUNSTANIANiE. 387 
 
 tuum, sancte siquidem sedis Leodii prsesulem/ dempsit, a.d. 988-990. 
 pro dolor, dulcissimum amarissima leti conditio. Qui of*^^ 
 
 • i> 1 • J. 1 • • Liege; since 
 
 peritise panem non solum mini, ast mecum p lurimis whose death 
 
 • •i.*j_Tr< i.'TT_ • J. he has been 
 
 mimstravit. Jiix ea etenim die nuc usque igiioratur hungering 
 quid injurii, quid mali, quid angoris, quidve fastidii foo<r^^ 
 meum perpessum sit cardian, moerens, dolens, esuriens, 
 sitiensque sedulo, post preegustatas saluberrimse doctrinse 
 miculas ; ut etiam ex mei tantilli adtestatione veridica 
 agise sophiae firmius comprobetur assertio. Ait namque 
 per stoma Salomonis, viri siquidem sagacissimi, " Qui 
 " edunt me adhuc esuriunt, et qui bibunt me adhuc 
 Eccias. xxiv. " sitient. 
 
 ^* Erpro, domine mi dilecte, solotenus vestris advolutus TMsneedhe 
 
 . , . 1 • 1 begsEthel- 
 
 pedibus, cernuaque cervice, vestram imprecor benivolam gar to help 
 pietatem, nuUis licet meis exigentibus meritis, de ves- satisfy, 
 tris tamen fisus beneficiis, quatenus esurietis et sitis 
 prsenotatao plus potator vel fautor, sacro inbuimine 
 adesse dignemini. Ego vero, ut necessitatis vis cogit, 
 prompta voluntate concurrere pareo, quocumque vestra 
 deliberaverit jussio, etiamsi sit cis vel citra imi aequo- 
 ris, et si qua sanse doctrinse flore odorifluo dulci anima 
 adffreeravero libens in vestrum paternitatis alvearium, tis sendee, 
 
 ? . . -I 1 . i . 1 J 1 I _ ^ and begs to 
 
 veluti apis obediens, prsepeti volatu revenere et condere be useful, 
 curabo. Hoc tamen difficultatis onus nolo me exiguum 
 audaci rogatu petisse putetis vobismet imponere, sed 
 quodammodo vestris quibus pridem panem doctrinae 
 ipse constanter adtribuistis. Nam ferarii forcipibus ea 
 lege utuntur, ne eorum digiti ignetenus concremantur. 
 
 ' Leodii prcesulem] The bishop 
 of Liege who preceded Notker, the 
 bishop at this date, and who must 
 be here referred to, was Everaclus 
 or Ebrachar, a Saxon by birth, and 
 provost of Bonn before his elevation 
 to the episcopate. He was bishop 
 from 959 to 971. Although this 
 lamentation for him was written 
 nearly twenty years after his death, 
 
 as the date of the letter can be fixed 
 within a year, there can be no 
 doubt as to the person meant. Eb- 
 rachar was a great promoter of edu- 
 cation and founder of schools ; and 
 the fact that he was a Saxon, whilst 
 the writer of the life of Dunstan 
 was a Saxon also, serves as another 
 point for the identification of the 
 latter. 
 
 B B 2 
 
888 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUISSTANI. 
 
 A D. 988-990. Pergam igitur, si placet dxilcedini vestrse, Wintoniam, 
 S^winches- uno tantum contentus comite, ut Ealdelmi ibidem per- 
 AWheimrfa curram de parthenali laude libellum et caetera, domine 
 Virgimtate. ^^-^ u^ui necessaria fore videntur. Hsec est enim 
 nostri nuntii summa. Hie in prsesenti titulatione, quo- 
 niam vitia obviantur innumera, aut aequo animo pati- 
 antur, aut justo precor insinuamine corrigantur.^ 
 Valeatis in Domino, hoc ut opto. 
 
 XXII. Epistola Odberti^ abbatis ad Sigebicum^ 
 
 ABCHIEPISCOPUM. 
 (MSS. Cotton, Tiberius A. 15, fo. 145 ; Vesp. A. 15, fo. 157.) 
 
 A.D. 990. Norma sacrse religionis ab ipsis cunis inbuto prsesuli 
 SfboTof frater Odbertus abbas cum coadunatis fratribus 
 
 archwshop^ coeuobii Sancti Berhtini Scithiensis, cuncta prospero 
 sigenc. successu poUentia in Rege regum. 
 
 Archbishop Scire et meminisse cupimus paternitatem vestram, 
 
 iEthelgar , , . i • a i i • j. • o • 
 
 had visited Quomodo prsedeccssoris vestri Adelfifan pontmcis pro- 
 
 . Jiertiu on , , . , . . 
 
 the way to meruimus gratiam ac patermtatis ipsius miationem, et 
 
 Rome and . . ..... /» i • , , ., , 
 
 on his re- utriusquc partis m mvicem iraternitatem ; ita ut prse 
 cunctis Franciae monasteriis Sancti Bertini prsecipue 
 dilectione ^bi assciverit coenobium. Namque Romam 
 pergens, a nobis honorifice susceptus, Romaque rediens, 
 ut tantum decebat patrem magnificentius receptus, pri- 
 vilegium quoddam singulare nobis suae contulit dilec- 
 
 ' This curious request, that the 
 recipient of the letter vi'Al correct 
 the grammar of it, is parallel with 
 the similar, but more reasonable, 
 petition to archbishop Elfric, that 
 he will revise the life of Dunstan : 
 " quicquid in hac editione contra 
 orthographise normam composi- 
 toris vitio usurpatum repereris, 
 imperial! potentia abradere ; " 
 above, pp. 4, 5. 
 
 2 See above, p. 384. 
 
 ^ Archbishop Sigeric succeeded 
 to the see of Canterbury on the 
 death of Ethelgar in 990, and went 
 to Rome for his pall the same year 
 or early in 99 1 . He had been bishop 
 of Ramsbury from 985, and, before 
 that, abbot of S. Augustine's. This 
 letter must have been written before 
 his journey to Rome. 
 
RELIQUIAE DUNSTANIANJS. 389 
 
 tionis : quatenus ipse nobis pater pariterque frater, nos- a.d. m 
 que ei filii et fratres in uno efficeremnr Domino. Multa ^len^ims 
 vero benefieia suae nobis largitus est elemosinae ; plu- SSsesI^" 
 rima quoque spopondit vita comite se collatura ; sed 
 heu ! pro dolor, tali nos inmeritos fore patrono, secun- 
 dum propheticum dictum palam patuit, quod dicit 
 Jerem. v. 26. " Peccata nostra prohibuerunt bonum a nobis." Apud Dunstan 
 
 J • T-v I 1 j« • r» had been a 
 
 domnum quippe Dunstanum locum optmuimus lamilia- Mend, 
 rem ; aput domnum vero Adelgarum ampliorem, ita ut gr^S' ^ 
 monasterium Sancti Petri apostoli, ab ipso Bertino in 
 primordio sui adventus constructum, a fundamentis 
 statuerit restaurandum. 
 
 Totis ergo prsecordiorum votis suppliciter cemui ves- Grimwaw 
 
 , J T 1 1 1 J • • • the bearer 
 
 tram petendo, pulsando, quaerendo praeanticipamus pie- win explain 
 
 ^ i X x-j^i- theabbot's 
 
 tatem : quatenus vestrae paternitatis mereamur adipisci wishes, 
 dulcedinem, velut praesens frater Grimwaldus^ vobis 
 intimabit, parati vobis nostrae fraternitatis exhibere 
 communionem, si vestrae id sederit clementiae. Quem 
 idcirco praemittimus, ut vestrum p.d nos praescientes He begs 
 
 T , . . . .... Sigeric to 
 
 adventum m omnibus promtiores vestris mvemamur visit him. 
 obsequiis adesse : obnixe rogantes ne nos transire velit 
 vestra patemitas, nisi pernoctetur nobiscum.^ Si quid 
 autem ex his quae nostratis repperiuntur, vobis placue- 
 rit, tantum per eum nobis mandate; quia hilariter 
 vestro praesto erit obsequio. Quia post dilecti patris 
 nostri Adelgari decessum, Dei gratia, ut vere confidi- 
 mus, contulit patronum. Valeat vestra patemitas in 
 Domino. 
 
 * Grimwaldus is one of the monks 
 of S. Bertin mentioned by Folkwin 
 in the list at the close of his work ; 
 Cart. S. Bert. p. 155. 
 
 2 It will be seen by the Itinerary 
 
 of Sigeric which follows that the 
 archbishop did not accept this invi- 
 tation, which might have involved 
 him in heavy expenses. 
 
390 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 XXIII. Epistola cujusdam ad N. 
 
 The writer 
 has crossed 
 the sea and 
 got into 
 trouble 
 about a 
 horse. 
 
 He must 
 pay or be 
 sold. 
 
 (MS. Cotton, Tiberius A. 15, fo. 169.) 
 
 Pulcherrimo perpulchro divinaeque theorise facultate 
 decorosse haud mediocriter sufFuso, domino N.,^ bellus ^ 
 sed causa, si dici liceat, infortunii admodum misel- 
 lus, quicquid uspiam famulitu. A te digressus, alta 
 postquam velivolavi maria, trossolus^ deerat ad sub- 
 
 sidium genus honera vehentium. Forte 
 
 cujusdam clerici mutuavi caballum dignum triginta 
 solidorum sub sestimatione pretii. Igitur laribus eodem 
 advectus stratorium, antequam possem et ergo prseripere 
 dagmata,* occulsus interiit ; cujus foenoris angore con- 
 stringor, qua libram soluturus sum integram ; tantum 
 mediam susciperam a clerico Remis. Pro hujus cautio- 
 nis redibitione conquiro a te, senior beatissime, solamen. 
 Pentecostes enim die illud debeo persolvere. Per prse- 
 sentem gerulum, ni velitis succurrere, necesse est me 
 ipsum venire. Flebilis musa te valere optat per 
 ssecula. 
 
 Vivere nos faciat Quem quisque fidelis adorat. 
 
 ^ N. probably stands for nomen. 
 The letter seems to be written to 
 some one in England ; but if it is not, 
 N. might stand for Notker, bishop 
 of Liege, the successor of Ebrachar ; 
 and we might have another specimen 
 of the work of the writer of the let- 
 ter given above, p. 385. 
 
 2 Is it possible that under this 
 almost illegible and unintelligible 
 word is hidden the name of the 
 
 author of the first life of Dunstan ? 
 The peculiar use of the words dagma 
 and senior seems to suggest it. See 
 above, pp. 23, 386. The tone is 
 pitiful, and the suggestion that if 
 help is not forthcoming the writer 
 must be sold to pay his debts, is 
 very significant. 
 
 3 trossolus'] a wallet, a trousseau. 
 
 * dagmata] See above, p. 386. 
 
RELIQUL^ DUNSTANIAN^. 
 
 391 
 
 XXIV. Adventus archiepiscopi nostri Sigerici ad 
 
 ROMAM.^ 
 (MS. Cotton, Tiberius B. 5, fo. 23 
 
 Adventus archiepiscopi nostri Sigerici ad Romam: — a.d.99o. 
 
 primitus ad limitem beati Petri apostoli : deinde ad churches of 
 
 S101116 
 
 Sanctam Mariam scolam Anglorum : ad Sanctum Lau- visited by 
 
 Sigeric. 
 
 * In conjunction with this curious Itinerary of Sigeric is a list of the 
 popes of the tenth century, beginning with John of Ravenna, which is 
 perhaps worth preserving : — 
 
 " In nomine Domini nostri Jesu Christi. 
 Johannes Rabennati sedit annos xiiii. m. iii. dies vii. [914, May 15-929, 
 « Jaffe]. 
 
 " Item, Leo tituli Sanctae Susannse sedit m. viii. dies x. [929]. 
 
 " Item, Stephanus tituli Sanctae Anastasise sedit annos iii. dies x. [929- 
 
 931]. 
 
 " Item, Johannes tituli Sanctae Mariae trans Tyberi sedit annos vii. 
 « dies xii. [931-936]. 
 
 " Item, Leo tituli Sancti Sixti sedit annos iv. dies v. [936-939]. 
 
 " Item, Stephanus tituli Sancti Silvestri et S. Martini sedit annos iii. 
 " et menses ii. dies iv. [939-942]. 
 
 " Item, Martinus tituli Sancti Ciriaci sedit annos iiii. m. i. dies v. 
 " [942-946]. 
 
 " Item, sanctissimus Agapitus sedit annos ix. m. viii. d. xi. [946-955]. 
 " Item, Johannes tituli Sanctae Mariae qui vocatur in Dominico, sedit 
 annos ix. m. i. d. v. [955-963]. 
 
 ** Item, Leo sedit annos unum et dimidium et dies xi. [963-965]. 
 "Item, Johannes sanctissimus sedit annos vii. d. xii. [965-972]. 
 " Item, Benedictus diaconiae Sancti Theodori sedit annos i. et dimi- 
 dium dies xii. [972-974], 
 
 " Item, Bonifatius sedit dies sexaginta et expulsus est foras [974]. 
 
 " Item, Benedictus sedit annos vii. et dimidium, dies xiiii. [974-983]. 
 
 " Item, Petrus Papiae sedit annos i. m. viiii. dies vii. [John XIV., 
 " 983— Aug. 20, 984]. 
 
 ** Item, re versus est Boniphatius Roma et sedit menses ix. dies iii. 
 " [984- July 985]. 
 
 " Item, Johannes tituli Sancti Vitali sedit annos iv. m. unum et dimi- 
 
 dium [consecrated between Aug. 6 and Oct. 19, 985 ; died Apr. 996]." 
 
 As John XV. survived the visit of Sigeric at least five years, the 
 number of years, months, and days assigned to him must be referred to 
 the date of Sigeric's visit, which would thus fall in February 990 ; but 
 as his predecessor died in that month, we must suppose that the word 
 dimidium refers to annus, and not to mensis ; and this would bring the 
 date of the visit to July 990, which is very probable. It may be observed 
 that the numbers in the above list rarely agree with those of the tables 
 used by Jaffe. The MS. is contemporary with Sigeric's pontificate»J 
 
392 
 
 VITA SANOTI DUNSTANI 
 
 A.D. 990. 
 
 The 
 
 churches of 
 Rome 
 visited by 
 Sigeric, on 
 the first day. 
 
 On the 
 second day 
 he visited 
 the pope, 
 and the 
 other 
 churches. 
 
 The stages 
 of his jour- 
 ney home. 
 
 rentium in craticula : ad Sanctum Valentinum in ponte 
 Molui : ad Sanctam Agnes : ad Sanctum Laurentium 
 foris murum : ad Sanctum Sebastianum : ad Sanctum 
 Anastasium : ad Sanctum Paulum : ad Sanctum Bonefa- 
 tium : ad Sanctam Savinam : ad Sanctam Mariam sco- 
 lam Grsecam : ad Sanctam Ceciliam : ad Sanctum Criso- 
 gonum : ad Sanctam Mariam Transtyberi : ad Sanctum 
 Pancratium. Deinde reversi sunt in domum. 
 
 Mane ad Sanctam Mariam rotundam : ad sanctos 
 apostolos : ad Sanctus Johannes in Laterane. Inde 
 refecimus cum domini apostoKco Johanno: deinde ad 
 Jerusalem : ad Sanctam Mariam majorem : ad Sanctum 
 Petrum ad Vincula : ad Sanctum Laurentium ubi corpus 
 ejus assatus fuit. 
 
 Istse sunt submansiones de Roma usque ad mare.^ 
 
 1. Urbs Roma. 
 
 2. Johannis Villi. 
 
 3. Bacane. 
 
 4. Suteria. 
 
 5. Fiu'casi. 
 
 6. See Valentine. 
 
 7. See Flaviane. 
 
 8. Sea Cristina. 
 
 9. Aqua pendente. 
 
 10. See Petir-in-pail. 
 
 11. Abricula. 
 
 12. See Quiric. 
 
 13. Turreiner. 
 
 * In the following list some con- 
 fusion may have occurred owing to 
 the fact that the scribe has used the 
 Roman and the Anglo-Saxon forms 
 of the letter s indiscriminately ; so 
 that in some places where I have 
 read s the letter r should be substi- 
 tuted, and vice versd. 
 
 3. Bacano. 
 
 4. Sutri. 
 
 5. Forum Cassii. 
 
 6. Probably Viterbo. 
 
 7. Montefiascone. 
 
 8. Bolsena. 
 
 9. Acqua-pendente. 
 
 10. On the river Paglia. 
 
 11. (?) 
 
 12. S. Quirico. 
 
 13. Torrenieri. 
 
RELIQUI^ DUNSTANIAN^. 
 
 393 
 
 14. Arbia. A.D.m 
 
 t p ct • Archbishop 
 
 15. beOCine. Sigeric's 
 -t /> T> Itinerary. 
 
 16. liurgenove. 
 
 17. ^Ise. 
 
 18. See Martin in Fosse. 
 
 19. See Gemiane. 
 
 20. See Maria glan. 
 
 21. See Petre currant. 
 
 22. See Dionysii. 
 
 23. Arneblanca. 
 
 24. Aqua nigra. 
 
 25. Forcri. 
 
 26. Luca. 
 
 27. Campmajor. 
 
 28. Luna. 
 
 29. See Stephana. 
 
 30. Aguilla. 
 
 31. Puntremel. 
 
 32. See Benedicte. 
 
 33. See Moderanne. 
 
 34. Philemangenur. 
 
 35. Metane. 
 
 36. See Domnine. 
 
 37. Floricum. 
 
 14. The river Arbia. 
 
 15. Sienna. 
 
 16. Borgo Nuovo. 
 
 17. The river Elsa. 
 
 18. S. Martino, Eosci. 
 
 19. S. Gimigniano. 
 
 20. S. Maria, Chianni, near 
 Gambassi. 
 
 21. S. Pietro, Corazzano. 
 
 22. S. Genesio, Sanminiato. 
 
 23. The passage of the Arno 
 near Eucecchio. 
 
 24. (?). 
 
 25. Porcari. 
 
 26. Lucca. 
 
 27. Camajore. 
 
 28. Luna. 
 
 29. Borgo S. Stefano, near Sar- 
 zana. 
 
 30. Aulla. 
 
 31. Pontremoli. 
 
 32. S. Benedetto, in Val di Ma- 
 gra. 
 
 33. The monastery of S. Mode- 
 rannus at Bercetto. 
 
 34. (?). 
 
 35. Costa Mezana, on the R. 
 Verda. 
 
 36. Borgo S. Donnino. 
 
 37. Firenzuola (?). 
 
394 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 A.D. 990. 
 
 38. 
 
 Placentia. 
 
 Archbishop 
 Sigeric's 
 
 39. 
 
 S. Andrea. 
 
 itinerary, 
 through 
 
 40. 
 
 See Cristine. 
 
 Piedmont, 
 
 41. 
 
 Pamphica. 
 
 
 42. 
 
 Tremel. 
 
 
 43. 
 
 Vercel. 
 
 
 44. 
 
 Sea Agath. 
 
 
 45. 
 
 Everi. 
 
 
 46. 
 
 Publei. 
 
 
 47. 
 
 Agusta. 
 
 
 48. 
 
 See Remei. 
 
 
 49. 
 
 Petreseastel. 
 
 
 50. 
 
 Ursiores. 
 
 
 51. 
 
 See Maurici. 
 
 
 52. 
 
 Burbulei. 
 
 
 53. 
 
 Vivaec. 
 
 and 
 
 54. 
 
 Losanna. 
 
 Burgundy. 
 
 55. 
 
 Urba. 
 
 
 56. 
 
 Antifem. 
 
 
 57. 
 
 Pimterlin. 
 
 
 58. 
 
 Nos. 
 
 
 59. 
 
 Bysiceon. 
 
 
 60. 
 
 Cuscei. 
 
 
 61. 
 
 Sefui. 
 
 38. Piacenza. 
 
 39. Casa di S. Andrea, on the 
 river Lambro. 
 
 40. Santa Cristina. 
 
 41. Pavia(?). 
 
 42. Trumello, on the river Ter- 
 dopio. 
 
 43. Vercelli. 
 
 44. S. Agata, Santhia, half-way 
 between Vercelli and Yvrea. 
 
 45. Yvrea. 
 
 46. Foley, near Aosta. 
 
 47. Aosta. 
 
 48. S. Remi, under the Great S. 
 Bernard. 
 
 49. S. Peter's castle in the Valais. 
 
 50. Orsieres. 
 
 51. S. Maurice. 
 
 52. Vervey (?). 
 
 53. Vevay. 
 
 54. Lausanne. 
 
 55. Orbe. 
 
 56. Probably Yverdun. 
 
 57. Pontarlier. 
 
 58. Nodz, between Pontarlier and 
 Omans. 
 
 59. Besan9on. 
 
 60. Cussey. 
 
 61. Seveux, or Savoy eux: these 
 villages stand one on each side of 
 the Saone. 
 
KELIQUI^ DUNSTANIANiE. 
 
 395 
 
 62. 
 
 Grenant. 
 
 A.D. 990. 
 
 63. 
 
 Oisma. 
 
 Archbishop 
 Sigeric's 
 
 64. 
 
 Blaecuile. 
 
 itinerary 
 throu|?h 
 
 65. 
 
 Bar. 
 
 Champagne, 
 
 66. 
 
 Breone. 
 
 
 67. 
 
 Domaniant. 
 
 
 68. 
 
 Funtaine. 
 
 
 69. 
 
 Catheluns. 
 
 
 70. 
 
 Rems. 
 
 
 71. 
 
 Corbunei. 
 
 
 72. 
 
 Mundlothuin. 
 
 Laonnois. 
 
 73. 
 
 Martinwaeth. 
 
 and Artois. 
 
 74. 
 
 Duin. 
 
 
 75. 
 
 Atherats. 
 
 
 76. 
 
 Bruwsei. 
 
 
 77. 
 
 Teranburh. 
 
 
 78. 
 
 Gisne. 
 
 
 80. 
 
 Sumeran. 
 
 
 62. Grenant, a small parish be- 
 tween Gray and Langres, on the 
 Saulon, the first halting place in 
 Champagne. 
 
 63. Humes. 
 
 64. Blessonville. 
 
 65. Bar-sur-Aube. 
 
 66. Brienne. 
 
 67. Donnemant, four leagues S.E. 
 of Vitry le Franyais. 
 
 68. Fontaine. 
 
 69. ChMons on the Marne. 
 
 70. Kheims. 
 
 71. Corbeni, Corbiniacum, whi- 
 ther the bones of S. Marculf were 
 translated in 898 ; in the Laonnois. 
 
 72. Laon, Mons Lauduni. 
 
 73. S. Martin. The route from 
 
 Laon to Arras is not clear. Martin- 
 waeth may be S. Martin on the 
 river Amignon, in which case Duin 
 will be Douen close to Peronne. 
 If the former be Mont S. Martin 
 near le C^telet, then Duin may be 
 Thun I'Eveque near Cambrai. There 
 is a place called Martinpuich, near 
 Bapaumes. 
 
 74. Duin (?). 
 
 75. Arras. 
 
 76. Brouai, on the river Lave, 
 
 77. Terouanne. 
 
 78. Guisnes. 
 
 80. Sombre, near Witsand. I 
 have followed the computation of 
 the MS., which omits No. 79. 
 
396 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 The pope 
 begs the 
 ealdorman 
 Elfric to be 
 a^ood 
 neighbour 
 to Glaston- 
 bury. 
 
 XXV. Epistola Johannis papje ^ ad Elfricum ducem. 
 
 (MS. Cotton, Tiberius A. 15, fo. 169.) 
 
 A.D. 986-995. Johannes episcopus, servus servorum Dei, -^Ifrico 
 inclito duci, amantissimo filio nostro spirituali, salutem 
 continuam et apostolieam benedictionem. Relatione 
 quorundam fidelium comperimus te plurima agere mala 
 in secelesia sanetse Dei genitricis Mariae quae nuncu- 
 patur Glestingaburugh,^ et praedia et villas^ ab ejus 
 jure tua avida cupiditate diripuisse, et propter quod 
 eodem loco propinqua inhaeres habitatione illi semper 
 nocivus esse. Oportunum enim exstiterat ut tuo suf- 
 fragio sancta Dei ecclesia, cum propinquus habitando 
 effectus es, perplurimum accresceret, et copia tui adju- 
 torii proprietatibus ditaretur: sed, quod nefas est, tuo 
 decrescit impedimento, tuaque humiliatur oppressione. 
 Et quia, licet indigni, non dubitamus nos in beato 
 Petro apostolo omnium ecclesiarum curam omniumque 
 fidelium suscepisse soUicitudinem, ideoque tuam mone- 
 mus dilectionem, ut pro timore apostolorum Petri et 
 Pauli, nostraque veneratione, ab ipsius loci cesses direp- 
 tione, nihil ab ejus proprietatibus,^ villis et possessioni- 
 
 • This letter is referred by Dr. 
 Jaffe, following William of Malmes- 
 bury, to pope John XIII. and the 
 year 971. As, however, Dunstan 
 was then at the zenith of his power, 
 and Edgar was not likely to have 
 allowed the rights of Glastonbury 
 to be interfered with, and as, more- 
 over, there is no West Saxon eal- 
 dorman of the name of Elfric at the 
 time, — it seems better to refer it to 
 John XV. and the ealdorman Elfric 
 whose tenure of office began in or 
 about 982, and who fell at the battle 
 of Assandun. The interpolations of 
 the copy used by William of Mal- 
 mesbury (G. R. lib. ii. p. 246, ed. 
 Hardy) are given in the notes, and 
 show how the originally simple let- 
 ter of the pope was adapted by the 
 monks to the maintenance of their 
 
 claim on particular estates. It is 
 printed in the Monasticon, i. 63, 
 from the Cotton MS. Vitellius D. 7, 
 which professes to take it " ex libro 
 " epistolarum Alcuini qui fuit Caroli 
 " institutor," that is the MS. Tibe- 
 rius A. 15. 
 
 2 Glestingahurugh ] quae totius 
 Britannise prima, et ab antiquis 
 primoribus ad proprietatem et tute- 
 1am Romani pontificis pertinere di- 
 noscitur, ins. W. Malmesb. 
 
 ^ villas'] sed et ecclesias de Brente, 
 de Piltune, quas Ina rege dante ope- 
 ram cum aliis ecclesiis quas juste 
 et canonice possidet, scilicet Soweie, 
 Stret, Merlinc, Budecal, Sapewice, 
 ins. W. Malm. 
 
 proprietatibus'] ecclesiis, capel- 
 lis, ins. W. Malmesb. 
 
KELIQUIiE DtJNSTANIANiE. 
 
 397 
 
 bus invadens. Quod si hsec non feceris, scias te vice a.d. 935-995. 
 apostolorum principis nostra auctoritate excommunica- threatens 
 turn, et a coetu fidelium remotum, perpetuoque anathe- excommuni- 
 mati submissum, et setemo igni cum Juda traditore 
 perenniter mancipatum. 
 
 XXVI. Epistola Johannis pap^ XV^^.^ 
 
 (MS. Cotton, Tiberius A. 15, fo. 171 b.) 
 
 Johannes quintusdecimus, sanctse Romance ecelesiae A.D.991. 
 papa, omnibus fidelibus.^ Noverint omnes sanctae ma- has^S-d 
 tris ecclesige fideles et nostri utriusque ordinis per ell- j 
 mata saeculi dilatati, qualiter nobis relatum est a com- red and 
 
 duke Rich- 
 
 pluribus de inimicitia Ji^thelredi Saxonum Occidenta- ard,and 
 
 7. . i -r». T 1 • • 1 • • sent bishop 
 
 hum regis necnon et Kicardi marcnioms, unde nimium ^^^^^^^ 
 tristis eifectus, utpote de filiis nostris spiritualibus, them, 
 tandem inito salubri consilio accersivi quendam apocri- 
 sarium nostrum Leonem,^ videlicet episcopum sanctae 
 Treverensis ecclesise, et misi eum illuc cum litteris nos- 
 tris exhortatoriis, ut resipiscerent ab hac superstitione. 
 Qui transiens vastas intercapedines terrarum, tandem Leo presents 
 marinos transmeavit fines, et in die Nativitatis Domini tiais. 
 pervenit ante conspectum regis praefati ; moxque ex 
 parte nostra salutato obtulit litteras, quas illi misera- 
 
 ^ This letter is given by William 
 of Malmesbury in the Gesta Regum, 
 lib. ii. § 166 ; and with very slight 
 variations from the text of the Cot- 
 ton MS. Notwithstanding its ex- 
 ceptional form, it is accounted genu- 
 ine by Dr. Jaffe (Regesta Pontificum, 
 p. 338). It was printed by Wilkins, 
 Cone. i. 264, and by Mansi, xix. 81. 
 The fact that it is found in the Cot- 
 ton MS. proves it to be a contem- 
 porary document. 
 
 ^ omnibus Jidelibus'] interl. MS. 
 
 3 Leo is not counted among the 
 archbishops of Treves ; Dr. Lappen- 
 burg (Gesch. Engl. i. 422) under- 
 stands that he was a vice-bishop or 
 sufiragan. The mention of him has 
 been thought to throw doubt on the 
 genuineness of the document ; see 
 Freeman, Norman Conq. i. 631 ; 
 Palgrave, Hist. Normandy and Eng- 
 land, iii. 106. I have no doubt that 
 the Leo in question was the abbot 
 of S. Boniface at Rome who was in 
 the year 991 employed in Germany. 
 
898 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 A.D. 991. 
 Ethelred 
 called his 
 wise men 
 and agreed 
 to make 
 peace. 
 
 Names of 
 
 ambassar 
 
 dors. 
 
 Biichard re- 
 ceived the 
 embassy, 
 and agreed. 
 
 Oaths of the 
 sureties. 
 
 Dated at 
 Biouen, 
 Mar. 1. 
 
 mus ; qui accersitis cimctis sui regni fidelibus utriusque 
 ordinis sapientioribus, ob amorem et timorem Dei Om- 
 nipotentis, necnon et Saneti Petri apostoldrum principis, 
 et per nostram admonitionem patemam, firmissimam 
 concessit pacem, cum omnibus filiis suis et filiabus prse- 
 sentibus et futuris, et cum omnibus fidelibus suis sine 
 dolo. Qua de re misit^ ^thelsinum, sanctse Scirebur- 
 nensis ecclesise prsesulem, necnon Leofstanum filium 
 Alfwoldi, atque Wistani filium Ethelnothum ; qui ^ 
 transierunt marinos fines et pervenerunt usque ad Ki- 
 cardum praefatum marchionem ; qui et monita nostra 
 pacifice suscipiens, simulque audiens decretum suprafati 
 regis, libenti animo eandem pacem firmavit, cum filiis 
 et filiabus suis prsesentibus et futuris, et cum omnibus 
 fidelibus suis, eo rationis^ tenore, ut si aliquis eorum 
 vel ipsi injuste aliquid contra alterum perpetraverit, 
 digna emendatione purgetur, paxque maneat perpetuali- 
 ter et inconvulsa, sacramentorum utriusque partis stig- 
 mate stipulata ; ex parte scilicet regis uEthelredi Ethel- 
 sinus prsesul sanctse Schireburnensis ecclesise, et Leofstan 
 Alfwoldi filius, et Athelnothus Wistani filius ; ex parte 
 Ricardi Rogerus episcopus, Rodulfus Hugonis filius, 
 Turstenc filius Turgis. Actum Rotomago kalendis Mar- 
 tii, anno ab Incarnatione Domini nongentesimo nona- 
 gesimo primo, Indictione quarta : et de hominibus regis 
 vel de inimicis suis, nullum Richardus recipiat, nec rex 
 de suis sine sigiUo eorum. 
 
 1 misW] mittens, MS., corrected. 
 Ethelsige bishop of Sherborne ruled 
 from 978 to 992. 
 
 2 quQ interl. in MS. 
 
 ' eo rationis'] et orationis, MS. 
 
EELIQUIiE DUNSTANIAN.E. 
 
 399 
 
 XXVII. Epistola ad Sigericum. 
 
 (MS. Cotton, Tiberius A. 15, fo. 164.) 
 
 Consentaneo typici nominis prsesagio Sig.,^ Apostolico a.d. 990-994. 
 summi praesulatus ciriceo ^ largiflua Dei gratia decur- oflerrhif ^ 
 rato,^ levitarum infimis ^ N. commodissima vacillantis wishes, 
 tempora sseculi, necne in generalis judicii examine 
 senatorum apostolici prioratus snmmam. Clamentissimi 
 Eedemptoris nostri veridica valere oraeula in tuo, prse- sigeric has 
 sulum karissime, dominio divinitus collate non anireo chaffpro- 
 seu quovis mercatus quomodo multorum mos est mn- 
 nere adepto, luce clarius expleta patescit, quibus pro- 
 prios alumnos vivificse doctrinso sequaces, quorum 
 tu in ecclesia Dei vicarium apicem septiformis spiri- 
 tus sancti obtitulatum insignitus prsecluenter exerces 
 mystico summo die rationis et iste fovit potando . . 
 evangelia . . . sene sic ut alicubi exorsus est ; Omni 
 habenti dabitur et habundabit, ei autem qui non habet, 
 quod habere videtur, etiam auferetur ab eo. Hujus ergo 
 Dominici lactis . . . mo ingeniolo ^ habetur . . 
 
 . medio frigore astico 
 
 pastori delitescat prsesagio . mellifluse 
 
 caritatis amplitudine limpidissime patescere incunctan- To describe 
 
 , T r»T ••I'j* •! *be happi- 
 
 ter credimus. Quam lelix provmcia loci etiam situ ness of the 
 
 • 1 _L'x 1 ±T . province he 
 
 amoena, tantum animularum sortita promum salutiferi wiu not use 
 Christi sacramenti misteriarcbe, non perifrasticis elle- so^y.^^^^^' 
 bori aut Aristotelis sive reliquorum sophistarum cavil- 
 lationes indagantem, quorum multifida perplexionum 
 argumentatio, quia stolida hujus mundi elegit Deus, 
 velud fumus per inane longiuscule diffusus, irrita ad- 
 nullatur, verum orthodoxorum catholicge fidei cultorum 
 omeliis canonicis gregem Dominicum sibi comraissum 
 ambrosciatim pascentem. Nec mirum competente quo- 
 
 ^ Probably from the writer of 
 No. xxviii., who also uses the word 
 misteriarcha ; if not, it may be re- 
 ferred to the writer of No. xxi. 
 
 2 ciriceo"] Probably tcnpvKeicp ; the 
 
 herald's stajff, used here for the 
 pastoral staff. 
 
 3 decurrato'] decorato. 
 
 ^ infimis'] So MS. ; read infimus. 
 
 ^ ingeniolo] Compare the use of 
 this word in No. xxi. p. 386 above. 
 
400 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 A.D. 990-994. rumlibet religiosorum merito, talem prsefectum gra- 
 tuita Dei miseratione prsedestinatum constat quia sicut 
 mms.^^' exigentibus perfidorum legirupum excessibus sermo 
 doctoris saepe adimitur, sic benivolus Deo subditorum 
 votis coelitus augetur. 
 
 Subjectus mecum populus nunc pl^/udat ovando 
 
 Paulo quo totum sternat seseque magistro 
 
 Limpida vitalis capiens alimenta salutis 
 
 Ut Stigias Zabuli valeat vitare lacunas 
 
 Ac paradisycolis . . . conjungere turmis. 
 
 Salve summe . . praesul praes . . 
 
 Angelicis comitatus eas proventibus opto. 
 
 XXVIII. Epistola Elfwerbi^ abbatis ad Sigericum 
 
 ARCHIEPISCOPUM. 
 (MS. Cotton, Tiberius A. 15, fo. 170.) 
 
 A.D. 990-994. Dilectissimo in Christo patri Sigerico misteriarchae, 
 doubt^^iie humilis vestrse paternitati abbas Elfwerdus setemse 
 fan^ge to beatitudinis et perpetuae prosperitatis salutem. 
 
 Amico antiquo novus non est similis ; amicus qui for- 
 tunam sequitur et tempus observat, qui juxta loci qua- 
 litatem mutatur, nunquam verus fuit. O si ferrea vox 
 esset omnipotens pilivertentia in Unguis, vel sic ad 
 aures tui cordis verba dilectionis sincerse pervenire va- 
 luissent, vel in tuo pectore spiritus esset prophetise, ut 
 perspicere cordis mei archana potuisses ; crederes itaque 
 quam suavissimo sapore tui amoris pectus meum com- 
 pletur; sed nunc quod valeo faciam, hos parvos apices 
 magnse indices caritatis tibi dirigo, ut per hos intelligas 
 quod vix intelligi potest, sicut flamma videri, tangi hoc 
 
 non potest karitas 
 
 Abbot^if-^ in litteris cerni potest, sed vix . 
 
 archbwhop scntiri valct scribentis, quasi scintillse . . de igne 
 continuance ut dilcctio littcrarum officio valet, sed 
 
 in good . , , 
 
 works. plurimi sunt, m quibus . corde extmguuntur, ideo 
 
 express his 
 affection for 
 the arch- 
 bishop. 
 
 ^ Elfweard succeeded as abbot of 
 Glastonbury on the promotion of 
 Sigar to the see of Wells, which 
 took place between the years 975 
 
 and 978. He continued abbot for 
 several years in the next century. 
 Sigeric as a monk of Glastonbury 
 may have been his pupil. 
 
RELIQUI^ DUNSTANIAN^. 
 
 401 
 
 gratius lucescit, ubi vel aliqua ejus flamma ardescit. a.d. 990-994 
 Quia in te, pater karissime, veram inveni karitatem, 
 ideo nulla terrarum spatia me prohebent secundum 
 opportunitatem portantis cupientem in Christo per- 
 henniter frui ; eujus amor nostram utinam . . . dam 
 per Ejus dilectionem nobis inviolabilis .... pa- 
 
 ternitas cujus caritatem si consacerdos 
 
 sicut tuba coelestis, sicut prseco salutis cunctorum in- 
 gerere eordibus studeas ; quicquid illius respuit saneti- 
 tas instantissime respue : quicquid illius diligit bonitas 
 ardentissime prsedica. Memor esto semper quod guttur 
 tuum tuba Dei debet esse, et lingua tua omnibus praeco 
 salutis. Esto pastor non mercenarius, rector non sub- 
 versor, lux non tenebrae, civitas firma fide murata., non He wariis 
 domus pluviis diruta, miles Christi e^loriosus, non apo- responsi- 
 
 o ' jr bilities of 
 
 stata vilis, pater prsedicator et non adulator. Melius est great 
 Deum timere quam hominem, plus Deo placere quam 
 hominibus blandiri. Yirgam accepisti pastoralem, et 
 baculum consolationis fratemse ; illam ad regendum, 
 istum ad consolandum, ut moerentes consolationem ha- 
 beant in te, et contumaces correctionem sentiant per 
 te. Potestas judicis est . cendere . vivificare. Quid 
 times hominem propter gla . . . vem regni accepisti 
 a Christo ; recordare quia passus est pro te et non me- 
 tuas loqui pro Illo. lUe pro tuo amore clavis confixus 
 
 pependit in cruce et tu si dignitatis 
 
 tuee ob timorem hominis tacueris . . novit, pater, 
 novit ; sed, sicut lUe dilexit, ita dilige et Ilium. Qui 
 plus laborat plus mercedis accipiet. Si ... . de- 
 linquentes, tibi est merces apud Dominum et summa 
 
 salus odierit increpantem. 
 
 Ille est tudo. Esto miseris Exi ortatiou 
 
 to a life of 
 
 consolator, pauperibus pater, ommbus aifabilis, donee edification, 
 intelligas quid cuicumque respondeas, et semper tua 
 responsio sale sit sapientiae condita, non temeraria sed 
 modesta, non verbosa sed honesta. Sint tibi mores 
 humanitate prseclari, humilitate laudabiles, pietate ama- 
 
 c 0 
 
402 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 A.D 990 094. biles, ut non solum verbis sed exemplis erudias tecum 
 viventes vel ad te venientes. Sit manus tua larga in 
 elemosynis, promta in reddendo et cauta in accipiendo. 
 Pr^epara tibi thesaurum in coelis : divitiae viri redemp- 
 tio est animae illius, quia beatius est dare quam acci- 
 pere. Invenimus unam pretiosam margaritam, demus 
 omnia quae habemus et emamus illam. Lectio sanctse 
 To^he study scripturse ssepius tuis inveniatur in manibus, ut ex ilia 
 Writ. te . . saturare et alios pascere valeas. Vigilise et 
 orationes assiduae sint tibi, eo magis quia pro tuo populo 
 Christiano intercedere debes ; esto omnibus .... 
 vicarius Dei, exemplum honestatis .... medicina 
 vulneratis, afflictis consolator ; pastor non mercenarius ; 
 domus Dei non spelunca latronum; palma florens, 
 oliva semper virens. Non terrena fragilitatis terreat 
 potestas, non saecularis ambitio pontificalem severitatem 
 compescat. Noli timere eos qui corpus possunt occidere, 
 animam autem non possunt. Noli columbas vendere Dei; 
 To Wame- da quod gratis accepisti. Irreprehensibilem te ipsum in 
 and read omnibus exhibe, ut vita tua doctrina sit populi, ex bona 
 
 S.Gregorys , r r ^ 
 
 Pastoral. convcrsatioue tua sedincentur plurimi : lege diligenter 
 obsecro evangelia Christi, libros quoque alios canonicae 
 auctoritatis, sed et Pastoralem beati Gregorii papse saepis- 
 sime perscrutare. His epulis animam tuam pasce, ut ha- 
 beatis unde alios reficere valeas. Dulce mihi est saepius 
 tuae scribere reverentiae, opiniatissime pater, tuamque 
 implorare clementiam, quatenus quae vestrae perpaucas 
 paternitati literulas theoricae causa karitatis omisimus, 
 me quoque per cimct . . implere nequisse cognoscas, 
 nostraque cordetenus taediosum verbositas baud videri 
 optamus ; tuae quoque celsitudinis litteris recitatis gau- 
 debam de tuae prosperitatis salute, cujus praesens quan- 
 tum valui fautor fui etiam et nunc absens cupidus, et 
 utinam ... in litteris praemisisti, memor sis utique 
 patemitatis et dulcedinis inter nos in Domino, qui sem- 
 per nos in sua provehat voluntate et proficere faqiat in 
 suis mandatis. Memores simus quod nos de stercore 
 
RELIQUI^ DUNSTANIANiE. 
 
 403 
 
 erexit, ut collocet inter principes populi sui, non nostris a.d. 990-994. 
 meritis, sed sua gratuita misericordia, Cui semper gratias ion t?^" 
 agamus in omni vita nostra ut ille qui exaltavit etiam [n^^^ne^ 
 et conservet. Omnes vero ecclesias quas . ad dirigen- 
 dum accepisti, diligentissime in Dei laude exorna ; in 
 eis horis psalmorum melodia, orationum instantia, mis- 
 sarum solemnia, et intercessiones pro te . . tuisque 
 amicis. Sint tibi filii minores cum honestate et tem- 
 perantia vestimentorum, moderatus cultus, convivia non 
 in luxuria et ebrietate, sed in sobrietate, et congruentia 
 temporibus et personis. Ubique Dei amorem ante oeu- 
 los habeas ; humilitas te exaltet, et Veritas honorabilem 
 faciat, misericordia amabilem ; sit tua manus pauperi- 
 bus larga, amicis benigna ; esto fidelis dispensator do- 
 mus Dei; forma esto salutis omnibus tecum habitanti- 
 bus, quia te Deus honore nobilem fecit. Esto quoque 
 ex moribus nobilis ; luceat lux tuse bonitatis coram 
 omnibus, ut glorificetur in te Pater coelestis, Qui te in 
 hac prsesenti vita custodiat, et in futura vita gloriam 
 tibi concedat ^ternam. Mei quoque obsecro ut memo- 
 riam habeas inter missarum solempnia et in Sanctis 
 orationibus tuis, ut anima . . . perpetua prosperi- 
 tate gaudeat vitse. Ego devotus tuae paternitatis filius 
 nunquam obliviscar tui, sed semper super omnes alios 
 diligo karitate. Deum cotidie cum . . . cordis com- 
 punctione deprecantem seterna pietate custodiat, regat, 
 protegat, sine fine defendat. 
 
 Mitis ab sethereo dementia Christus Olimpo 
 Protegat, exaltet, omet, amet, foveat. 
 
 Nec mine nostras 
 
 L . . scripsit quae pietatis amor. 
 
 Terra, polus, pelagus, homines volucresque feraeque. 
 Cantoris resonent voce, valeto pater. 
 
 Pagina si brevis est non est brevis ardor amantis, 
 Nam plus corda colunt quam mea verba sonant. 
 
 Christicolse angelica Sigerico carmina laudent 
 Salve, sancte Dei prsesul resonantque per gevum. 
 
 c c 2 
 
404 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 XXIX. Epistola cujusdam. 
 
 (MS. Tiberius A. 15, fo. 160.) 
 
 The writer C . . . . nalium fratri gloria fideli . . feliciter 
 friend of his candenti N. amicitiso sine segr . . deficiendi totum 
 
 constant j.* i i? i 
 
 employment posse inter angelicarum consortia turmarum cum lul- 
 gentis nuptialis indumenti consessionem. Fratri merito 
 fidissimo, ne minus . . memora . . nulla patens 
 dilectionis intimet, mando quia meditatio benivola cordi 
 tenet amando, et fit per amplas regiones kartula amoris 
 nuntia quae Paulinos clientulos de Graecia per Timo- 
 theum . . . exortabatur gratiosa, ne nos doleas 
 absentes .... conversari intimamus nos dulciter 
 cum probabilissimis refoveri; cotidie lectum quampluris 
 convenimus, nec minus voluntati proficimus. Jamque 
 vale inceptse ferto karitatis amorem. Per commodum 
 remitte qui nobis quid tecum agatur nuncium nunciet, 
 O jugiter ben . . . 
 
 XXX. Epistola cujusdam ad Wulstanum.^ 
 
 A.D. 996- 
 1003. 
 
 The writer 
 sends good 
 wishes to 
 Wulstan. 
 He has 
 received a 
 command 
 to translate 
 some book 
 into Latin. 
 
 (MS. Cotton, Vespasian B. 14, fo. 177.) 
 
 Domino illustrissimo atque divinis dogmatibus et 
 operibus plenissimo, metropolitanse Lundoniae ecclesiae 
 pontificum dignissimo Wulstano, cunctorum sanctse cru- 
 cis caracterem gestantium famulus supplex, post virtu- 
 tum omnium expetibilem ubertatem, summamque inter 
 apostolicos doctores coelo fulgidos felicitatem. Quia 
 salutare prseceptum beatitudinis vestrse, quae me quadam 
 sapientise prserogativa nescio unde arbitrata florere, 
 archana quae nostis meis studuit auribus insinuare, 
 quae litteris Latinis deberem commendare, impotens 
 
 ^ Wulfstan, bishop of London 
 996-1003. The bishop seems to 
 have ordered the writer to turn some 
 
 work into Latin. He finds himself 
 unequal to the task, and humbly 
 declines. 
 
RELIQUI^ DUNSTANIAN^. 
 
 405 
 
 sum parere : in multa cordis fluctuatione me scitote a.d. 996- 
 
 1 1 • < ^ • • J 1003. 
 
 laborare ; emmvero si nanc jussionem vestram, quae 
 divinsB dulcedinis absque dubio fert joeunditatem, frue- 
 tuosa obedientia explere valerem, tempestuosae consci- 
 entise mese cupitae temperiei tranquillitatem obtinerem. 
 Igitur quia sic mihi fluctuanti h^c denegatur tranquil- 
 litas optima, multum expavescens quo indignationis 
 vestrse offensam mea patiatur supplex et artibus om- 
 nibus nuda inopia, ad poenam suam satis sibi sit, quseso, 
 magna quam sustinet verecundia ; banc inquam vere- 
 cundiam ipse in me acriter reprehendo, quia ipsam ^^^^^ 
 adeo mihi molestam non sustinerem, si quod mihi im- decline, 
 
 . . ^ being diffi- 
 
 posuistis me expleturum non devoverer, si quidem spem dent of his 
 
 ^ ^ . . ^ ^ own power. 
 
 aliquantulam habebam me in hoc negotio posse obe- 
 dire ; quandoque jussus fueram ad primum studui inire, 
 sed revera postmodum diligenter dulcissimam eloquii 
 vestri considerans sagacitatem, decenterque dispositae 
 narrationis prolixitatem, simulque profunditatem, me 
 ad haec transferenda nuUam reputo habere facultatem. 
 Attamen si temporis opportunitatem et linguae vestry 
 praedulcem sonoritatem haberem, piis imperils vestris 
 quoquomodo parere valerem. Yos ergo clementer banc 
 excusatoriam suscipientes querimoniam Ejus pro amore 
 Qui nos cotidie audit plus Sibi promittere quam per- 
 solvere, insipientiae meae quae amplius quam potuit 
 non puduit promittere dignemini parcere. Omnipotens 
 Dominus ad Suae utilitatem ecclesiae dies vestros in Sua 
 pace disponat, atque vos cum multiplici numero com- 
 missarum vobis animarum ad gaudia coelestia perducat. 
 Valete. 
 
VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 A.D. 992- 
 1001. 
 
 The writer 
 gives his 
 best advice 
 to the 
 bishop. 
 
 XXXI. Epistola archiepiscopi cujusdam ad 
 
 WULFSINUM.^ 
 (MS. Paris, Lat. 943.) 
 
 [ ] Dei [gratia] archiepiscopus, fideli amico Wlf- 
 sino episcopo, SBternee sospitatis et pacis in Domino Deo 
 salutem. Gratias agamus Deo, qui nos indignos et 
 ultimos servorum suorum prseordinavit ad regimen Suae 
 sanctse ecclesise in tam pericnlosis et laboriosissimis 
 temporibus. Et nunc in commune depreeemur Omni- 
 potentis Dei elementiam ut Ille nos adjuvet in omni 
 opere bono. Et tu, carissime frater, viriliter fae, et for- 
 titer opus Domini quod habes in manibus perfiee, ad 
 mercedem animse nostrse et ad salutem multarum ani- 
 marum. Non cesset lingua tua in prsedicando, non pes 
 tuus cireumeundo gregem tibi commissum, non manus 
 tua a laborando, ut eleemosynse fiant per te, ut sancta 
 
 * This letter was first printed by 
 Mabilion, AA. SS. O. S. B., saec. v. 
 p. 239, from the Paris MS. Mabil- 
 ion ascribes it to Dunstan, but gives 
 no reason for doing so beyond the 
 fact that it is found in what he 
 calls the Pontifical of Dunstan, that 
 is the Pontifical of the church of 
 Sherborne. That the Wulfsige to 
 whom it is addressed was bishop of 
 Sherborne may be proved by this ; 
 but no such bishop was consecrated 
 by or contemporary with Dunstan. 
 The same MS. gives a list of the 
 bishops of that see, which exactly 
 agrees with the results of an exami- 
 nation of the charters. The dates 
 seem to be as follows : — A bishop 
 Wulfsige of Sherborne rules from 
 943 to 958 ; Elfwold succeeded and 
 signs charters from 961 to 978 ; 
 then Ethelsige, from 979 to 991 ; 
 then another Wulfsige, from 993 
 onwards. It is possible that the 
 elder Wulfsige survived to 961, and 
 saw Dunstan on the archiepiscopal 
 
 throne ; but it is scarcely likely that 
 Dunstan would write such a letter 
 as the above to a person much older 
 than himself; and it would seem 
 probable from the fact that Briht- 
 helm bishop of Wells is spoken of 
 as Dorsetensium episcopus 
 (above, p. 38), that he was ad- 
 ministering the see of Sherborne, 
 at the time that Canterbury was 
 vacant on the death of Odo. It 
 seems best, therefore, to refer the 
 letter to the later Wulfsige, in which 
 case the writer would be archbishop 
 Sigeric, or more probably the more 
 famous Elfric, who succeeded to 
 Canterbury in 995 or 996. The 
 reference to the troublous times may 
 also belong more probably to the 
 reign of Ethelred than to that of 
 Edgar. The tone presents a re- 
 markable likeness to No. xxviii., 
 and suggests that Sigeric, if he 
 were the writer, had adapted the 
 letter he had received from Elfwerd 
 to his own use. 
 
RELIQUI^ DUNSTANIAN^. 
 
 407 
 
 Dei ubique exaltetur ecclesia. Esto forma salutis om- a.d. 993- 
 nium : in te sit exemplum eonversationis sanctissimae, He warns 
 in te sit solatium miserorum, in te confortatio dubitan- th?i^SaJ 
 tium, in te disciplinse rigor, in te veritatis fidueia, m world, 
 te totius bonitatis spes. Non te sseculi pompa exaltet, 
 non eiborum luxus enervet, non vestimentorum vanitas 
 emoUiat, non adulantium lingua decipiat, non detrahen- 
 tium adversitas conturbet, non tristia frangant, non 
 Iseta elevent, non sis arundo vento agitata, non flos 
 aurae tempestatis decidens, non paries ruinosa, non 
 domus super arenam posita ; sed templum Dei vivi 
 super firmam petram constructum, cujus ipse sit Spiri- 
 tus Paraelitus inhabitator. Mitem te et humilem ad 
 meliores ostende, durum et rieridum ad superbos, omnia He urges 
 
 • 1 jy , , 1 . . 1 1 . urges him 
 
 omnibus lactus, ut omnes lucrari possis; habeas m ma^ to_a ufe of 
 nibus tuis mel et absinthium, quicquid cui placeat edat reading, 
 
 • IT . T . T i. . Ti V • • i prayer and 
 
 ex illis ; cui de pia prsedicatione vesci libeat, accipiat worship, 
 mel ; qui dura invectione indigeat, bibat ex absinthio, 
 ita tamen ut liceat ei mel venise sperare, si rosea con- 
 fessio poenitentise prsecedat. Omnia vestra honesta cum 
 ordine fiant ; tempus statuatur lectioni, et oratio suas 
 habeat horas, et missarum soUemnia proprio tempore 
 eonveniant. Qui diem sapit Domino sapiat. Sit mo- 
 desta in conviviis Isetitia, sit casta in jejuniis percep- 
 tio ; lavetur poenitentia facies, unguatur oleo miseri- 
 cordise caput, ut omnia acceptabilia fiant Domino Deo, 
 Qui te elegit Sibi sacerdotem. Ducem ^ ammone et He bids him 
 
 T . . I • J J 1 • • T advise his 
 
 omnes saecuiares prmcipes, ut pietatem et misericordiam eaidorman 
 
 T... . T,. Ti • and other 
 
 m judiciis conservent, munditiam cordis et corporis chiefs to 
 
 TT , 'Ti* T 1 • •• defend the 
 
 semper diligant, quia beati mundi corde, quoniam ipsi Church. 
 Deum videbunt ; ecclesiam Christi defendant, ut eorum 
 adjutor ac defensor fiat Dominus ecclesiae; viduis et 
 pupillis misericordes ut illorum misereatur Deus, et in 
 
 ' If the ascription to the second 
 Wulfsige be admitted, the dux here 
 spoken of will be the eaidorman 
 
 Elfric to whom the letter No. xxv, 
 is addressed. 
 
408 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 A.D.993- omnes homines mites et benigni, populum Dei congre- 
 gantes et non dispergentes, pacem inter se habentes. 
 He urges quia beati pacifici, quoniam filii Dei vocabuntur. Et 
 S.Gregory's tu, carissime frater, ante oculos cordis semper habeto 
 timorem Dei et amorem, et liber Pastoralis beati Gre- 
 gorii patris, ubi Dei rectorum subjeetorumque vita 
 diligentius discernitur^ ssepius ante te legatur ; et nostri 
 memoriam nominis habeto in tuis Sanctis orationibus, 
 ut Dei Omnipotentis misericordia nos defendat, regat 
 atque custodiat, sicut vos velle credo, ut in dilectione 
 Dei et voluntate cursum agamus vitse nostrse. Et su- 
 perfluum non sestimes, nec arrogantise, ut vos ammo- 
 nerem, sed intimo caritatis affectu suscipite, quia urbs 
 firma frater qui a fratre juvatur. 
 
 Te Deus Omnipotens salvum conservet in aevum. 
 
 XXXII. Epistola encyclica W. Scireburnensis epi- 
 
 SCOPI ^ AD UNIVERSOS EPISCOPOS, ABBATES ET FIDELES. 
 (Martene & Durand, Ampl. Coll. i. 354.)2 
 
 A.D.993- 1. Annuente atque favente melliflua Dei gratia epi- 
 The bishop scopis, abbatibus, ducibus, universisque inclytis vemaculis 
 som ofthe^^ sauctsB Dei ecclesisB, W. humilis apostolicus minister 
 Church. g pa^pj.Q(»]^igg pacis prosperitatem permanendamque in 
 
 Christo salutem. 
 
 Cain had Igitur nullatcuus dubitamus vobis esse cognitum, 
 
 been doomed , . . t i • i i "j j • i_ 
 
 to be a wan- quomodo in primordio nujus labms vitse nostri proto- 
 plasti parentis natus multatus fait a Deo pro sola fra- 
 temi sanguinis effusione, et sic postea longe lateque 
 per climata totius cosmi perplurimse similes miserise, 
 instigante zabolatico conatu, perpetratse sunt. Idcirco 
 pro certo reminiscamini vos, quicumque litteras has per- 
 legitis, quod ista imago Dei est in poenitentise loco con- 
 
 1 Wulfsige, bishop of Sherborne, | 2 « Ex MS. Bibliothecae Regiae.'* 
 992-1001. 
 
RELIQUIiE DUNSTANIAN^. 
 
 409 
 
 stituta pro sui interfectione fratris, filii aut avunculi, a.d. 903- 
 sive fratruelis, quam provise sen improvise aut etiam The bearer 
 
 /-».!, T, 1 ,.T J. has slain a 
 
 per meunam periicieoat suadente nostili versutia. kinsman. 
 Qua de re vos benignissime preeamur, ut pro Dei dilec- 
 tione sitis illius auxiliatoies, administrantes ei corporale 
 indigentise subsidium, verum etiam quod multo melius Give iiim 
 
 . . ., T , ... .n. . T . . T .. -p. . bodily and 
 
 est, spiritale, ut spiritus illius m die magni iudicii Uei spiritual 
 
 , ^ T-\« succour. 
 
 servetur mlsesus, cum ommbus electis m dextra Dei 
 coUocatis. 
 
 2. Domno papse cunctisque generaliter matris ecclesi^ The bearer 
 
 .. . • • • .is doing 
 
 filiolis W. Seireburnensis ecclesise. Notum fieri vobis penance for 
 cupimus de portitore schedulae prsesentis, quia diabolico kinsman, 
 instinetu avunculi sui filium interemerat ; unde a no- 
 bis poenitentise fructum inquirentem, in hujus vitse 
 peregrinatione constituimus, corporalique cruciatui da- 
 mns quo spiritus ejus in tremendi examinis die salve- 
 tur. Valete cuncti fideles vinese Domini cultores, ipsius 
 inopiam benedictionum vestrarum copia reficere volen- 
 tes in Christo. 
 
 XXXIII. Epistola Wulfrici ad Abbonem. 
 
 (MS. S. Gall, 337. f.l.) 
 
 Wilfrieus, abbas Augustinensis monasterii,^ dignissimo ad. 1000- 
 abbatum doetissimoque abbati, Aboni, seternse prosperi- '^ufric, 
 tatis salutem in Christo. Quod vestra, O obtime vir, s. Augus- 
 
 1 T ., i 1 . !• i- 1 tmes, sends 
 
 leefatio ad nos pervenit, vestrse bemmitati eratias nu- the Life of 
 
 00 Dunstan for 
 
 militer Deo volente persolverimus. Istum itaque libel- Abbo to 
 
 , versify. 
 
 lum pro magnifici viri Sancti Dunstani amore, quatinus 
 ornate in metricse artis versus transferatis, nostra exi- 
 guitas solliciter prsecatur, ut vos promisistis. Ergo pro 
 multiplicis obstaculi retardatione quanta deliberavimus 
 vobis intimare breviter pitaciolo isto nequimus. 
 
 Arbiter sethereus salvet vos tempore cuncto. Valete. 
 
 ^ Wulfric became abbot of S. Augustines, A.D. 1000. 
 
410 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 A triple 
 acrostic 
 addressed 
 by Abbo to 
 Dunstan. 
 
 XXXIV. Tria poemata Abbonis ad Dunstanum.^ 
 
 (MS. Nero E. 1. fo. 14.) . 
 
 SUMME SACER, TE SUMMA SALUS TUBATUR AMICIS, 
 
 Virtu tis veras speculo sUb carnis amictU, 
 Mundo fulgenie qui Magnus culmine moruM, 
 Munificus pastor, hoMinum spes, ara 
 
 Esse videris et 
 
 Septa gregis 
 
 Ad quern lativii 
 
 Cui solito largus 
 
 Exul in orbe alio 
 
 Rauca subit, quae 
 
 Turn devota sacro 
 
 Et laudando 
 
 Suavior auspieiis 
 
 Unde tibi recinens, 
 
 Mira refert quod 
 
 Munere donasti 
 
 Angliea cui tandem 
 
 reoruM? 
 ubiquE, 
 oviliS, 
 aurA, 
 doneC 
 
 es plEnus pietatis 
 servanS divini totus 
 pelAgi pia protulit 
 feCistis tot bona, 
 crEvit sua vocula sed mE 
 claRa diu, nec noxia nupeR 
 canTu quern spero resumeT, 
 omni nectarea mus-^ 
 devincta suetiS, 
 vivis nobilis ortXJ, 
 earn dignatus eodeM 
 reputando supernuM, 
 sic voce LatinA, 
 
 canEt 
 iStic 
 qUi 
 
 priMus 
 donuM 
 cAntat 
 
 SUMME SACER, TE SUMMA SALUS TUEATUR AMICIS. 
 
 Ansrelicam 
 
 Lacteolus 
 
 qui fers 
 vultu. 
 
 fAciem de luce supemA 
 polLens ex ordine prassuL, 
 seU civibus utilis actU, 
 cenSor qui jure sacerdoS 
 fuiT,' sat nos amplexus amaviT, 
 deVovi scribere quod tU 
 senEx secretus in urbE 
 grAmmata pandit AchivA, 
 Tarn sapiens ut te cum Te plus scire timereT, 
 Verum semotus babitu, Velut angelicus astU, 
 Restat te dignus sacRo omnes agnitus ardoR, 
 
 Vir 
 Solus 
 Te 
 
 Unde 
 Exigeres 
 Argivum 
 
 patrise 
 Odo 
 pater 
 tibi 
 
 car us, 
 pius 
 
 ante 
 
 supplex 
 
 tractare 
 vatem qui 
 
 Ante 
 
 Mitia 
 
 In 
 
 Cui 
 
 Ima 
 
 juvenes Audax deponere verbA, 
 septem deMum discrimina vocuM 
 quse pertimul tibi scribere patrl, 
 genus et species Curae felicior ex hoC 
 tibi mea musa canit, quod protulit audi. 
 
 quidem 
 dans 
 verbis 
 
 SUMMA SACER, TE SUMMA SALUS TUEATUR AMICIS. 
 
 ^ A curious specimen of misdi- 
 rected ingenuity. A similar puzzle 
 addressed by Abbo to the emperor 
 
 Otto III. will be found in Fabri- 
 cius, Bibl. Lat. vol. iii. lib. iv. c. 1. 
 
KELIQULE DUNSTANIAN^. 
 
 411 
 
 munia curanS, 
 salubria verE. 
 innoxie doctoR, 
 
 II.i 0 prsesul Dunstane prObus, sine fine valetO, 
 Ruriculis cunctisque Reis tua vita videtuR 
 Omnis esse boni renOvatus, more aquilinO. 
 Sciris enim clemens Sortito 
 Et gratis pan dens crEdenda 
 Recta doces et recta Rogas, 
 Efficiendo quod ipsE mones, ne voce monerE 
 Non feoisse velis taNtum devotus in agmeN, 
 ExtoUar tandem juvEnis, qui si tua dignE, 
 Summe patrone, meiS ascripsi vota CamoeniS 
 Ad coelum rursum veniAm, quo sistitur amplA 
 Conditione salus, neC sese jactitat illiC 
 Effera vis qusecunquE mali, cum desiit indE 
 Rabbulus ad veteris Rixae divortia libeR, 
 Mordicus unde furit Matri Sion ira suoruM ; 
 En te corde sequar quEm qui seceatur in axE 
 Major erit plenus euMulo virtu tis avoruM. 
 0 prsesul Dunstane prObus, sine fine valetO, 
 Rumpe moras, ne sis duRus, cui ludo parumpeR 
 Inque tuis tutatis primi hie jam carmina noli 
 Stertere, sed prsesens de S odse vortior aureS, 
 Memet enim satis ore Moves, ut talia dicteM, 
 Et Isetator quod adessE piis addicis opiraE, 
 Mirus ubique cavens Mores ac facta reoruM 
 Obsistendo rudi, ne mOx male crescat avitO. 
 Rex regum tali proceRum dans gaudia nupeR 
 Ob sua gesta sibi decOret de vertice mundO. 
 Totus enim candes, te Tandem parcius urgeT 
 Ira, furor, quia sis agills sub corpore 
 Vir fervens animis, pUro ferventior 
 Sum dare verba pater Senio felicior 
 Ecce tibi tuus Abbo pEtit, ne despice 
 Si quseris laudum cauSas quia fabar iniquuS 
 Turpia, tu carmen nosTrum, mi, suscipe, sicuT 
 0 prsesul Dunstane prObus, sine fine valetO. 
 
 A farewell 
 to Dunstan 
 in triple 
 acrostich. 
 
 leni, 
 aestU; 
 ausuS, 
 ferrE, 
 
 ^ This poem like the preceding contains much unintelligible stuff ; but 
 it is characteristic of the age. 
 
412 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 Abboasks HI. Illustris merito virtutum sancte sacerdos, 
 
 Dunstan s r~i i* * 
 
 prayers. ConfessorquG Dei pulcherrima gemma salutis, 
 
 O Dunstane tuis precibus per ssecula servis 
 Assis in auxilium regnum poscendo polorum. 
 
 A.D. cir. 
 1120. 
 
 Eadmer to 
 the monks 
 of Glaston- 
 bury. 
 
 He retains 
 a vivid re- 
 collection of 
 their hos- 
 pitality, and 
 IS therefore 
 jealous of 
 their 
 honour. 
 
 XXXV. Epistola Eadmeri ad Glastonienses. 
 
 Quale sit qvx)d Glastonienses asserunt se corpus beati 
 Dunstani habere. 
 
 (MS. C.C.C. 371, fo. \o,y 
 
 Glorioso conventui monachorum coenobii Glastonien- 
 sis, frater Edmerus unus ex minoribus bonitate et sci- 
 entia ecclesiae Christi Cantuariensis filiis et fratribus, 
 fidelem amicitiam et earitativum servitium in Christo 
 Jesu Domino nostro. 
 
 E,ecordor me jam olim quadam vice ad vos venien- 
 tem magno gaudio et honore suseeptum, et cum majori 
 tripudio et exultatione, donee mihi velle fuit, vobiseiim 
 morandi, habitum ac detentum. Unde vobis hucusque 
 gratiosus exsisto, nec minus gratiosus ero dum in vita 
 praesenti subsisto. Dum igitur talis sim et jure ^ esse 
 debeam erga vos, nuUi mirandum existimo, si vestrum 
 honorem diligo, si ea quae vobis conducunt approbo, si 
 denique ea quae vobis opprobrium generant detestor et 
 improbo. Nec enim aliter fidus amicus essem, nec fra- 
 temae dilectionis legem servare dici veraciter possem. 
 Quod quam grave videri debeat Christiano ad Dei reg- 
 num pervenire volenti, advertit qui beato apostolo 
 
 ^ Printed in the Anglia Sacra, ii. 
 222-226. A copy of this letter 
 exists in the Lambeth MS. 159 (L.), 
 fo. 31, with the title "Epistola ad 
 " Glastonienses Elmeri aliter Ed- 
 
 meri, quo tempore Glastonienses 
 asserunt se corpus patroni nostri 
 " Sancti Dunstani habere." 
 - jureJi de jure, L. 
 
RELIQUI^ DUNSTANIANiE. 
 
 413 
 
 credit dicenti omnem ^ non amantem fratrem suum a.d. cir. 
 homicidam esse, et ejusmodi in regno Christi et Dei The duty 
 hsereditatem non habere. Cur hsee prselibaverim ac- 
 cipite. 
 
 Quidam ex vestris noviter, ut putamus, inter vos Some of the 
 
 . T . \* n ' brethren 
 
 eonversi, prsedicant antiquos patres vestros fures fuisse have said 
 
 , . . . , that their 
 
 et latrones, et quod nequius est, etiam saerileefos : idque forefathers 
 
 , , . . ° were thieves 
 
 illorum prsedicandi laudi aseribunt quod tales fuerunt, and traitors, 
 fortassis ^ eadem voluntate debriati, non perpendentes 
 quod divina intonat pagina : " Fures scilicet et latrones 
 1 Cor. vi. 10. regnum Dei non possessuros." Super hsec ut firmius 
 eis credatur ita esse, Judse traditori eos similes fuisse 
 affirmant, qvii loculorum Domini custos ea quae custo- 
 dire debebat ^ sceleratissime furabatur. 0 homines ! 0 
 fratrum honoratores ! O verborum Domini intentissimos 
 auditores ! Centum et eo amplius anni evoluti sunt ex Those men 
 
 • • n i 1 X T i -i livedahun- 
 
 quo ipsi, quos lures et latrones prsedicant, a vita prse- dred years 
 senti sunt elongati : et modo noviter tantum iis oppro- 
 brium invehitur, ut^ seterna poena, qua juxta senten- 
 tiam istorum miserrime cruciantur, infelicissime illis 
 innovatur. Yere magna impietas ! Nam et si ipsi 
 non fuerunt tales quales isti eos esse volunt, non est 
 propter hoc horum impietas minor, immo, remoto omni 
 ambiguo, major, qui infamant innocentes, qui se omni- 
 bus manifestant esse mendaces ac impudentes. Testis 
 enim mihi est omnia sciens et disponens Veritas Deus, ^^^^^^^ 
 quia cum adhuc in scholis puerulus essem, ex prsecepto 11*^^^^^^^^^ 
 beatse memorise Lanfranci archiepiscopi, primatis vide- JlJ^^^^f g^" 
 licet totius Britannise, indicto jejunio toti populo Can- j^^J^^®**^^'^ 
 tiae, levatum est corpus beatissimi patris ^ Dunstani a 
 primo sepulturse suae loco, astante abbate Sancti Au- 
 gustini Scodlando,^ et Gundulfo post facto Ehofensi 
 episcopo, cum toto monachorum agmine utriusque ec- 
 
 1 
 
 orwwem] hominem, L. 
 ' fortassis] et, ins. L. 
 ' dehehat] debeat, L. 
 
 ^ ut] et, L. 
 
 * patris] om. L, 
 
 6 Scodlando] Scotlando, L. 
 
414 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 A.D.cir. clesise, nostrse scilicet ousd est Christi Cantuariensis, et 
 
 1120. ... 
 
 A great ^ vicinae nobis beatorum apostolorum Petri et Pauli, quae 
 was present, usitatiore ^ nomine hoc tempore dicitur beati Augustini : 
 confluente ad hoc innumera virorum ac mulierum mul- 
 titudine, qui omnes ipsum ^ coelestem thesaurum cum 
 ingenti modulamine vocis ac jubilo cordis usque ad 
 locum quo recondendus erat prosecuti sunt, et diem 
 ilium divinis miraculis illustratum Isetum atque solen- 
 Now after nem peregerunt. Nunc autem effluxis quinquaginta 
 
 fifty years, .« •njii.j- x 'j ± ' ' 
 
 itissaidthat annis ex quo lilud factum est, quidam ex vestris, si 
 hadbeen tamcn cx vcstris,* surrexerunt, et ubi eis libet praedi- 
 hundred cant jam ante centum annos ecclesise vestrse monachos 
 custodes .ecclesise nostrae deputatos, quae ob martyrium 
 gloriosi patris nostri ^Ifegi in magnam ut aiunt deso- 
 lationem venerat, et ibi quod pretiosissimum habebatur 
 fraudulenta calliditate furto surripuisse. Yae homines 
 omnibus hominibus nequiores ! Ecclesia totius Britan- 
 niae insulae mater in occisione sui patris ac filiorum 
 afflicta confugit ad filiam suam unice ab ea dilectam, 
 It is incredi- et ca ^ re, Quod Quasi factum sit ad praesens accipiatur, 
 
 >>lethatthe . . ^ , -n. n ± . t - 
 
 Glastonbury ^^^^ protcctiouc illius connsa, ut SO ct reliquias suas 
 should have scrvarct ; et ipsa, sicut . vos praedicatis, meliores filiorum 
 of Canter^ suorum ei ad quod petebantur destinavit ; et ipsi illic 
 hury. custodes sacrorum effecti, uterum matris suae quam 
 tuendam susceperant, invaserunt, diripuerunt, cor ac 
 intestina ipsius depraedati sunt, rapuerunt, asportave- 
 runt. Judaei cum mortuum Dominum ac sepultum, ne ab 
 apostolis auferretur, in sui custodiam accepissent, quam- 
 diu potuerunt a custodiendo non defecerunt;^ nec sibi 
 commendatum furto surripere aut alias auferre conati 
 sunt, sed potius furti crimen aliis se dormientibus im- 
 
 1 usitatiore"] usitatorio, L. 
 
 2 ipsum] ilium, I/. 
 
 3 The translation of the relics 
 took place soon after Lanfranc's 
 appointment to the see in 1070. 
 
 See Eadmer's own account of the 
 matter above, p. 232. 
 
 * ex , . , vestris'] tamen ex ves- 
 tris, L. 
 
 s ea] ipsa, L. 
 
 ^ defecerunt] defiierunt, L. 
 
RELIQUI^ DUNSTANIAN^. 
 
 415 
 
 TDOsuerunt. Si simili modo custodes Glastonienses fecis- A.D. cir. 
 
 . 1120 
 
 sent, hoc est, si sacrilegium quod laudantur commi- itigq^uite 
 sisse, ab aliis se somno depressis, dicerent comrnissum ^^^^^ 
 fuisse, forte aliquantulum famse suae consuluissent, nec 
 tarn detestabili modo deliquissent. Nunc autem quid 
 dicemus ? ut prselibavimus, Judse similes eos in furto 
 approbamus, non tamen nos sed eos sequentes fratres 
 sui Glastonienses. Nos enim revera scimus eos omnino 
 immunes esse ab hoc peccato. Quid igitur ^ illis erit 
 qui conficto tarn infrunito mendacio fratres,^ immo 
 patres, suos criminantur ? Sed utique nec fratres nec shame 
 patres. Nam si fratres aut eorum filii essent ipsi, p?|vent^ 
 naturalis affectus,^ aut certe pudor humanus, doceret pubSshi^ 
 eos parcere linguse suse,^ doceret eos providere famse ^^^^ * 
 suae. Sed esto ut furtum suum sancti fratres Glasto- 
 nienses prudenti astutia cunctis absconderent, cadaver 
 cujusdam abbatis sui, cujus nomen ab iis qui ista 
 componunt ignoratur, secum tulisse feruntur, ac loculo 
 sancti patris ^ Dunstani, ne vacuus remaneret, reposu- 
 isse. 0 prudentise ! Non erant ossa mortuorum inter But it is 
 Cantuariam et Glastoniam, ut necesse eis fuerit, ad 
 celandum furtum suum, cadaver nesciunt cujus per du- 
 centa, ut ita dixerim, milliaria transtulisse. Noverit Englishmen 
 
 , , . , T . . . 1 .1 could not 
 
 beatitudo vestra, quia ego qui nsec sen bo non parum have been 
 
 n 1 ' i • 1 ±- ± ii-±' I • 1 • • so foolish. 
 
 coniundar m tam evidenti stultitia, et omm homini 
 risu digna, maxime quod ab Anglis dicitur esse con- 
 ficta. Vdd ! quare non consuluistis aliquem hominem 
 transmarinum, qui in multis conversati, multis imbuti, 
 multa confingere sciunt, et vel pretio ageretis quasi 
 ipsi saltem vobis aliquid verisimile mendacium de tanta 
 re componerent. Vae vos ! meae gentis homines, tam 
 stolida simplicitate notaremini, ut omnibus deridendi 
 in perpetuum judicaremini. 
 
 ^ igitur^ om. L. 
 
 2 fratres^ suos, ins. L. 
 
 3 naturalis affectus ] naturales 
 effecti, L. 
 
 * suce^ om. L. 
 
 ^ patris^ nostri, ins. L. 
 
416 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 A.D. cir. 
 1120. 
 
 How could 
 the body of 
 an unknown 
 abbot have 
 been substi- 
 tuted for 
 Dunstan's? 
 
 Did abbots 
 wear the 
 pall? 
 
 The body 
 seen at the 
 transla- 
 tion was 
 fully ha- 
 bited. 
 
 But have 
 you any 
 writings to 
 prove it ; or 
 to explain 
 it? 
 
 Ad hsec rogo prsedicatores tarn praeclari sacrilegii 
 quatenus mihi compatriotae ^ suo dicant, utrumnam ca- 
 daver sui suppositi abbatis noviter defuncti et integrum 
 a Glastonia Cantuariam detulerunt ? et ^ utrum more 
 summi pontificis infulatum, palliatum, spindulatum, et 
 sandaliis fuerit ealciatum, necne ? Quod si hsec om- 
 nia habuit,^ unde quseso pallium, ut de aliis interim 
 taceam, habuit ? Numquid antiquitus abbates Glasto- 
 nienses pallio utebantur ? Sed hoc patriarchis solum, 
 primatibus et archiepiscopis a Roma et apostolica sede 
 conceditur. Sed hactenus sseculo omni inauditum est 
 patriarchatum Glastoniae fuisse, vel etiam pontificatum. 
 Si ^ igitur palliatum cadaver ad deceptionem futurorum 
 antecessores vestri Cantuarise detulerunt, hoc efFecerunt 
 ut ipsi Romano pontifici et omni Christiano homini 
 qui se ad fidem Christi sub magisterio beati Petri 
 tenet,^ obnoxii sint et infames ac omni opprobrio digni 
 judicandi. Scitur enim quia illud a sede apostolica 
 non habuerunt ; sed ipsi illud, malignitatis illos auctore 
 docente, vel ^ composuerunt vel componi, si ita fuit, a 
 sui similibus effecerunt. Re etenim'^ vera corpus quod 
 invenimus ita fuit inventum scilicet quasi omnino in- 
 tegrum, infulatum, annulatum, palliatum, spindulatum, 
 sandaliis venustissime adomatum ; cum quo et scrip- 
 tura in plumbea tabula exarata inventa est, quae plane 
 testabatur beati Dunstani archiepiscopi Cantuariorum 
 corpus esse quod tumulatum ibi jacebat. Habetis quseso 
 aliqua litterarum monimenta, quae hsec ita se habuisse 
 probent ? videlicet quse ferant cadaver abbatis illius eo 
 quo diximus modo redimitum. Adhuc quaero ; illi an- 
 tiqui patres et fratres vestri, qui ad tuendas destitutae 
 ecclesiae nostrse reliquias, ut dicitis, adducti fuerunt,^ 
 attuleruntne secum cadaver illud beato Dunstano sup- 
 
 1 compatriotce'} patriotse, L. ^ tenet] tenent, L. 
 
 2 ef] ut, L. ^ vel] om. L. 
 
 ' habuit] habuerit, L. ^ etenim] enim, L. 
 
 * Si] Sed, L. * fuerunt] sunt, L. 
 
RELIQUIAE DUNSTANIAN^. 
 
 417 
 
 ponendum, utpote de futuri ^ furti sui effectu securi ? ^-^^f^' 
 An ipsi primo venerunt et effossum corpus patris ^ Did they 
 Glastoniam detulerunt, ibique insignibus ^ pontificalibus nunstan to 
 
 T, iij 1 •! T' Glastonbury 
 
 spoliatum, abbatem vestrum eisdem msignibus redimi- and then 
 
 , . T IT.. J. 11 1 ,1 remove their 
 
 tum m sepulcro sublati patris recondendum transtule- abbot to 
 runt ? Quicquid horum dixeritis factum fuisse, quantse ^ bury? 
 dementiee sit vobis credere, facillimum est cuivis etiam 
 caeco videre. O infelices, qui sic immani ^ stoliditate 
 involuti sunt, ut® intelligere nequeant ipsam stolidita- 
 tem suam nuUius prudentis oculos posse latere. Chris- 
 tus, Qui est Veritas, dicit, " Veritas liberabit vos." Et 
 vestri vates hoc tempore dicunt, furtum et sacrilegiuni 
 patrum nostrorum et nostrum mendacium honorabunt 
 ecclesiam nostram et nos. Quod mendacium ! Corpus, it is a faise- 
 inquiunt, beati Dunstani pontificis Cantuariorum et pri- 
 matis totius Britannise a sua ecclesia patres nostri ^ 
 furtim abstulerunt, et nostrum ^ abbatem tali sacrilegio 
 emptum, quia nobis inutilis erat, illuc delatum sepul- 
 cro illius intulerunt. 0 gaudium ! O luctum ! O locum 
 vestrum tali, tanto, foenore magnifi candum ! Sed O 
 contrarii purse veritati, quid facietis, oro vos, cum ipsa 
 Veritas venerit perditura omnes qui loquuntur menda- 
 cium ? Et quidem omnibus luce clarius constat men- TheGiaston- 
 
 T . . . .-, . . . 11 . . bury monks 
 
 dacium vos imponere patribus vestris, quia nec mvi- were not 
 tati Cantuariam secum cadaver sui abbatis detulerunt ; Canterbury, 
 nec ibi degentes asportato corpore beati Dunstani illud bring their 
 
 li 1 « Til 1 • • • i • Ti 1- dead abbot. 
 
 attulerunt. illud enim nimiae et mcredibihs, non dico 
 stultitise, sed dementiae esset. Hoc autem impossibilis 
 perpetrandae audaciae effectus existeret. Cum enim ipse 
 beatus sepulcrum sibi efFodi, ut liber vitae ejus veracis- 
 
 ^ de futuri'] om. L. 
 
 * patrisl beati Dunstani archi- 
 episcopi Cantuariensis ad, L. 
 
 ^ insignibus] insigniis, L. 
 
 * quanta] quantum, L. 
 ^ immani] inani, L. 
 
 * ut] et, L. 
 
 " nostrorum et nostrum] vestrorura 
 et vestrum, L. 
 
 ^ nostri] vestri, L. 
 ^ nostrum] vestrum, L. 
 
 nobis] vobis, L. 
 
 nec] om. L. 
 
 D D 
 
418 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 A.D. cir. sime testatur, praDcepit, et infra terrain ad staturam 
 Canterbury virilis corporis fovess profunditas penetraverit, qui quseso 
 depopulated, tam immani ^ furto locus et opportunitas esse potuit ? 
 req*^res.^^^ cum et ecclesia ipsa nunquam sine monachis domestieis 
 filiis suis fuerit, et civitas Cantuaria civibus suis ne- 
 quaquam fuerit exinanita. Ad lisec eonsiderandum 
 quod ^ ecclesia ipsa in passione beatissimi martyris ^ 
 nec igne consumpta, nec tecto aut parietibus diruta 
 The church fuit. Violatam quippe fuisse et pluribus ornamentis 
 
 was de- , . . . . , ^ . . , , 
 
 spoiled but spoiiatam, ac supposito de ions igne ut concremaretur 
 
 not burned, , . ^ . . . . 
 
 when Eifege adorsam, novimus, quo vesana manus pontincem mtus 
 
 was killed. . . \ ^ i j • n 
 
 sese tuentem quern invadens mandaret exire compelle- 
 ret. At ubi ipsum exeuntem comprehenderunt, omissis 
 ignibus et aliis malis quibus ad captionem illius occu- 
 pabantur, ipsum, necatis aliquibus monachis in oculis 
 ejus, abduxerunt, et usque ad locum exitio illius desti- 
 natum multis afflictum injuriis et cruciatibus perduxe- 
 How could runt et peremerunt. Quae cum ita sint, qua fronte dici 
 taken up potcst pavimcntum ecclesise, sub oculis omnium ^ spatio 
 the grave septcm pedum hinc inde ad sepulcri profunditatem ten- 
 a\rtnightT dcnti cffossum ; aliter enim ,nullo modo attingi valeret ; 
 
 et ita, abstracto corpore sanctissimi patris Dunstani, per 
 quindecim ut dicam dies patens remansisse, donee mona- 
 chis cum furto euntibus ^ ad monasterium suum, et ibi 
 non dico peremptum ab eis sed in occursu ^ illorum 
 statim mortuum abbatem suum, detractis ^ beato Dun- 
 stano pontificalibus ornamentis, ilium adornasse, et ita 
 cursim forte ^ asello aliquo Cantuariam delatum in 
 sepulcro ejus coUocasse ? Adhuc interrogo. Vastata 
 fuit tota^ terra inter Glastoniam et Cantuariam illis 
 diebus, et in sqlitudinem acta ? ut liber cursus ac re- 
 cursus nuUo obstante deferentibus tantum thesaurum 
 
 ^ immani^ inani, L. 
 
 2 quod"] quia, L. 
 
 ' martyris'] Elphegi, ins. L. 
 
 * omniuni] omni, L. 
 
 ^ euntihusj subeuntibus, L. 
 
 ^ occursu"] cursu, L. 
 7 detractis] a, ins. L. 
 ® forte] fortasse, L. 
 ^ tota] om. L. 
 
 solitudinem] solitudine, L. 
 
RELIQUI^ DUNSTANIANiE. 
 
 419 
 
 quaquaversum pateret, annon ? Verum utique ubique A.D.cir. 
 quando ista, ut astruitis, ^erebantur, Danorum scatebat ^ How could 
 
 . •! T n 1 these monks 
 
 immanitas : nusquam pax, nusquam securitas ; beila et have tra- 
 
 veiled un* 
 
 seditiones quaque^ fervebant. Super hsec, quemadmo- noticed from 
 
 Canterhury 
 
 dum certissime scitur, in medio chori ante eradus, qui- to Giaston- 
 
 T • 1 11 1 1 • ' Tx 'bvLvv and 
 
 bus ad majus altare ascendebatur, corpus beati JDun- back, 
 stani humatum fuit, in plumbeo loculo, et illo in magna 
 profunditate terrse locato, uti Anglis olim moris erat 
 suorum cadavera tumulare. Qualiter igitur monachi How could 
 
 T . . , . . , ^ . ^ , « the monks 
 
 ecclesise, qui ad minus, juxta quod dommus Osbemus of canter- 
 refert, quatuor tantse cladi supererant, cum clericis qui overlooked 
 
 T'l'TN* •!• • • !• 1 • • I opened 
 
 eis admixti Dei servitium m ipsa ecclesia administra- grave, 
 bant, ipsum terrae hiatum per tot dies sustinuerunt, 
 donee allato abbate innominabili in sepulcro sublati 
 Dunstani coUocaretur ? Mira patientia et vere mira- 
 bilior pro adventu venturi abbatis Wlsini ^ fortasse vo- 
 cati exspectatio 1 
 
 Propter Deum ^ obsecro, est ^ aliquis qui ad tantam The story is 
 vanitatem se a risu contineat ? Et certe adhuc satis disgraceful, 
 plura non minus idonea ad designandam ipsius vanita- 
 tis ineptiam dicere possemus, si pudori sacri coenobii 
 vestri non parceremus. Quod enim tales qui ita se 
 infamant, fovet, nutrit, amplectitur, pudor est illi et 
 opprobrium magnum. Nec enim Glastonienses ea tem- 
 pestate qua fingunt Cantuariam venerunt nec ibi con- 
 versati sunt. Non igitur illis surripientibus corpus such things 
 beati Dunstani nobis ablatum et vobis ullatenus fuit have hap- 
 allatum. Sed ab aliis aut alio tempore allatum negatis, time asser- 
 Fatemini ergo necesse est vates vestros falsa locutos, et confess that 
 de corpore beati Dunstani vos quicquam habere omni- ^hets^^e 
 modis falsos esse. Quapropter consulite famse vestrse, 
 et ab ista vanitate os vestrum cohibete. Attamen 
 Veritas vobis, si obliti estis, in memoriam revocetur. 
 
 ^ scatebaf] patebat, L. * Wlsini'] Delsini vel Wlsini, L. 
 
 2 qvaque] usquequaque, L. * Deuni] quod, Domini mei, L. 
 
 3 Oshernus] Vita S. Elfegi, Ang. ^ esi] estne, L. 
 Sac. ii. 136. 
 
 D D 2 
 
420 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 ^f^^t^- Absque dubio scitote ^gelnotbum abbatem, immo 
 ^^A®*A^,^^" exabbatem/ Glastoniensem, cum uno vel duobus mo- 
 
 nothofGlas- i . t i . 
 
 a^fterhfs ^^^his olim per plurimum temporis conversatum Can- 
 deposition, tuarise. Exabbatem dico, quia per beatse memorise 
 
 lived some ' t. r 
 
 time at Can- Lanfrancum, sanctse Cantuariensis ecclesise summum 
 
 terbury, 
 
 ^*^someof sacerdotem, in generali totius Anglise synodo a sua 
 Suhe abbatia^ depositus, et Cantuarise, digna quidem tanto 
 body? viro, in quadam tamen quasi captione positus. Et tunc 
 numerus monachorum inibi Domino Christo et beato 
 Dunstano famulantium sexagenariam quantitatem ascen- 
 derat. Si igitur unquam monachi Glastonienses corpus 
 beati Dunstani furati sunt, sestimo quod isti fuerunt. 
 had then ^^^^ Cantuarise essent, a primo sepulturse suae 
 
 moved^to its prsBdiximus, jam fuerat translatum in locum 
 
 shrine *to accessus nullus patebat. Non ergo ab eis fuit 
 
 had^no*^^^^ ablatum : nec ergo ab uUo vestrorum. Ossa itaque 
 access. quibus onerastis imaginem nostri Kedemptoris, ne Ipse 
 vobis indignetur, nostro consilio auferetis. Satis enim 
 habet in Se unde honoretur, nec opus est ut sanctitas 
 Ei aut ex ossibus mortuorum aut aliunde cumuletur. 
 Fratres mei, cogitet quseso et recogitet prudentia vestra, 
 quod honestum sit vobis cogitare, quod conveniat loqui, 
 A century^ quod dcceat agere. Centum anni et ultra transierunt 
 jince^Ei-^^^ a martyxio beati ^Ifegi, et nullus hominum qui inter- 
 and one ' fuerit vitse prsesenti superest, vel certe qui se memi- 
 pejed^his^ ucrit intcrfuisse ; nec ad nostram notitiam hucusque 
 now. perlatum fuit quemquam illorum, qui illis diebus vere 
 fuerunt, inde de quo agitis aliquid dixisse vel scrip- 
 sisse, quod cuivis sanum sapienti pro dicto vel scripto 
 suscipiendum videatur. Quapropter omissis puerilibus 
 naeniis, ut decet viros sapientes atque perfectos, dili- 
 gite beatum Dunstanum sicut patrem vestrum atque 
 patronum, et veritatem de eo loquimini ; et tunc revera 
 diligi ab eo merebimini. Membrum et amicus est 
 
 1 exabbatem] et abbatem, L. 
 ' abbatia'] fuerat, ins. L. The 
 deposition of Agelnoth is placed in 
 
 the eighth year of Lan&anc. See 
 Chr. Sax. I070. 
 
RELIQUI^ BUNSTANIANJE. 
 
 421 
 
 Summse Veritatis, nec ab Ipsa discordantes potest ad- A.D.cir. 
 mittere in sinum suse caritatis. Novit Deus et ipse pray give 
 pater et advoeatus noster dulcissimus, quia quae dieo story, and 
 pro vestro honore et utilitate dico ; nec in aliud tendit favour of 
 hsec intentio mea, nisi ut Deus Qui Veritas est, et in 
 beato Dunstano/ sicut aequum est, magnificetur, laude- 
 tur et praedicetur, tarn a vobis quam a nobis, et si 
 efficere possem, ab universis fidelibus totius conditi 
 orbis. Scio quia modum epistolarem in loquendo pau- 
 lisper excessi. Sed talis fuit materia, ut quam vis me 
 proposuerim paucis locuturum, tamen se extenderit in 
 id quod videtis extensum eloquium meum. Ne ergo 
 miremini. Non est enim hominis via Ejus. 
 
 Vos itaque domini et fratres mei, quibus Deus ape- 
 ruit sensum intelligendi quae rationis sunt, compescite 
 insipientium juvenum procacem insolentiam, qui eo so- 
 lum ut videantur scire loqui aperiunt ora sua, in quae- 
 cumque volubilitas cordis sui eos distenderit, autuman- 
 tes se aliquid esse cum aliorum simplicitas suis verbis 
 accommodat aures. Novi quosdam olim tales et me Eadmer 
 fortasse fuisse, et ea re non penitus diffido talium et been young 
 
 , , a T • • and foolish. 
 
 mei similes aliquos hoc tempore esse, bed lam senui These fooi- 
 
 . . . , T , . . . , , ish story- 
 
 et incanui, et multa quae luvems magni pende bam tellers wiii 
 duco pro nihilo. Hoc erit Deo donante et juvenibus dom. 
 temporis hujus.^ 
 
 Quia vero prolixitas epistolae finem postulat, hoc Ask the 
 
 T,. T . . I- • . ' X • monks who 
 
 ultimum dico, quoniam, si omnes antiqui patres vestri, were at 
 
 .. t ' r>n • •• Glastonbury 
 
 qui m coenobio Glastoniensi mm ante centum annos before the 
 
 ^ *' . Norman 
 
 fuerunt, defuncti sunt, abquos tamen puto superesse qui ^^J^^^j^* 
 ante ista Normannorum tempora inibi nutriti in mo- survive, 
 nachica religione fuerunt. Quaerite ab eis, si qui sunt, 
 utrum recordentur abbatem loci vestri singulis annis 
 ad festivitatem patris Dunstan i, cum quatuor aut plu- 
 ribus monachis, Cantuariam solitum venire, et ibi per 
 
 1 beato Dunstano"] beatum Dun- 
 stanum, L. 
 
 ' hujus'] hujusir.odi, L. 
 
422 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 A.D.cir. sex aut plures dies inter fratres ob reverentiam tanti 
 
 They^must P^tris Isetitise et exsultationi vacare, annon ? iEstimo, 
 the^annuai ^i aliquis talium hucusque remansit, ita rem tunc tem- 
 Som^i^- poris factam non negabit. Nam si aliter faceret, pro- 
 CarSe^iJry. culdubio veritati contrarius esset. Si igitur corpus 
 beati Dunstani se sciebant habere Glastonise, cur illud 
 venerandum in sua festivitate requirebant Cantuarise ? 
 Hsec ita dicta ^ sint ad imprudentium confutandum 
 errorem, et ad prudentium confirmandum in nos, quem 
 multum optamus habere, sanctum amorem. Valeat 
 igitur sanctitas vestra in Christo Jesu, et oret pro 
 nobis. 
 
 Explicit epistola Edmeri monachi ecclesice Christi 
 
 Cantuarice.^ 
 
 XXXVI. Epistola Nicolai monachi Wigoeniensis de 
 
 MATKE SaNCTI EADWARDI MARTYRIS. 
 (MS. C.C.C. 37l.)3 
 
 A.D.cir. Domino Eadmero suus Nicolaus. Ea quse qusesisti 
 
 1120. 
 
 Nicolas to demum, quod vetustatis auctoritate plurimorum 
 
 Eadmer. testimonio verum accepi de matre Sancti Eadwardi 
 
 regis et martyris, tibi mitto. 
 Edgar Gloriosissimus itaque rex Anglorum Edgarus xix. 
 
 reigued two . • i i i • • i 
 
 years with auTiis reguavit ; duo bus siquidem annis super omnes 
 
 Edwy,and ti,, at ^ n j. ' - 
 
 ^xteen after boreaics tautum Anglise partes quse a fratris imperio 
 discesserant regnavit, ipso videlicet Eadwio fratre ejus 
 adhuc in Australibus imperium agente. Fluvius autem 
 Tamisia utriusque regni confinia disterminabat. Post 
 mortem vero fratris xvi. annis super omnem Angliam 
 et Scottiam et universas insulas circumquaque positas, 
 
 ^ dicta"] om. L. 
 
 2 From MS. L. 
 
 3 rrom the same MS, as the last 
 article. It will be seen by reference 
 to pages 163, 213, above, thatEad- 
 mer was indebted to Nicolas for the 
 
 means of correcting the erroneous 
 statements of Osbem. Another 
 letter of Nicolas on the primacy of 
 York in Scotland is printed in the 
 Anglia Sacra, ii. 234. 
 
KELlQUIiE BUNSTANIAN^. 
 
 423 
 
 et usque ad Dublinam Hibemise civitatem, cujus etiam ^-J-gJ^^- 
 regem sibi subjugaverat/ imperium potentissime pro- Hecon- 
 tendit ; in tantum ut dum monarchiam in Anglia solus ^n^^of*^^ 
 possideret, octo subregulos in exteris regionibus sub- 
 ditos et sibi servientes haberet. 
 
 Hie in principio remi sui filiam Ordmari ducis His first 
 
 x-v . . . . . . wire was 
 
 Orientalium Anglorum conjugem legitimam aceepit, |*^g^|^' 
 nomine JEthelfledam, comomine Candidam, ex qua fOium, of Ordmer, 
 
 ' o } -J. J was 
 
 sanctum videlicet Edwardum, procreavit. Quse post Edward 
 editum fiKum paucis tantum annis, regni sicuti et thori 
 consors, supervivens, dum morte subtracta esset, rex 
 aliam accepit conjugem, ^Iftritham nomine, filiam Ord- 
 e^ari ducis Occidentalium- Saxonum ; ex qua filium His second 
 
 111* ? wasElf- 
 
 ^tnelredum nabuit. Hsec denique novercali fraude, ut ^}^^^^' 
 
 ^ ... daughter of 
 
 ad suum filium regnum transferret, ex priori conjuge ^q^^^'o?^ 
 natum regem Edwardum interfecit. Sed haec intimare Etheired. 
 tibi necessarium duxi ; quia cum idem antefatus rex 
 Eadgarus suprascriptum numerum annorum regnando 
 compleret, nonnisi ultimo regni sui tempore, id est 
 duobus annis et duobus mensibus ante mortem, a Sanctis 
 archiprsesulibus, Dunstano videlicet atque Oswaldo, 
 unctus in regem est. Quam consecrationem rex ipse Edgar de- 
 suscipere pro magna humilitate in tantum distulit, quia consecration 
 cum esset undecunque providus et de suae animae sa- feit himself 
 lute pia religiositate soUicitus, dicere solebat se nullo until he Sad 
 
 T . . T , outgrown 
 
 modo sacrosanctam unctionem suscipere audere, ante- the passions 
 
 • T T . . . . p j« 1 r» of youth. 
 
 quam juvenilis lasciviae impetus periectius posset reirse- His first 
 
 T . T J . 1 WS'S not 
 
 nando superare. Hoc enim apud antiquos reges solenne crowned, 
 erat. Hinc factum est ut prior conjunx, licet legaliter was. 
 sibi desponsata, et sibi copulata, regni consors et domina 
 Angliae esset, non tamen uncta in reginam exstitit. 
 Secunda vero uxor cum rege ultimo, ut dixi, ejus regni 
 tempore, sacram unctionem cum corona suscepit. Haec 
 omnia antiquitatis auctoritate tam cronicarum quam 
 
 1 The same statement is made in 
 a forged charter of Edgar in the 
 
 Worcester Cartulary ; see Kemble, 
 C. Dipl. ii. 404, 
 
424 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 ^n2o!^* cafminum, quae ea tempestate a doctis patria lingua 
 so^ay the composita de his noscuntur, caeterarumque scripturarum 
 chronicles, testimonio vera esse percepimus, tibique veraei assertione 
 transmittimus. 
 
 XXXVII. Versus Eadmeri de Sancto Dunstano. 
 
 Hymn for 
 Dunstan's 
 day. 
 
 His birth. 
 
 His recovery 
 from sick- 
 ness; 
 
 his climbing 
 the church ; 
 
 his hearing 
 heavenly 
 songs ; 
 
 at the death 
 of Edred. 
 
 His tempta- 
 tions by the 
 devil. 
 
 His harp 
 playing of 
 itself. 
 
 (MS. C.C.C. 371, fo. l.y 
 
 Salve sancta dies eelebri dignissima laude, 
 Qua, Dunstane pater, coelica scandis ovans ! 
 
 Salve sanete dies I 
 
 Quern transitivse nactum primordia vitse 
 Gratia coelestis imbuit, excoluit, 
 
 Salve sancta dies !* 
 
 iEger divino medicamine eonsolidatus 
 Cum tenui virga castra maligna fiigas. 
 
 Qua Dunstane, &c. 
 Angelico ductu templi super ardua scandens 
 Undique firmatam tendis in ecelesiam. 
 
 Salve sancta dies. 
 
 Coelorum cives audis sibi conjubilantes 
 Et pacem patriae discis adesse tuae. 
 
 Qua Dunstane, &c. 
 Vox sonat e superis quae te de de pace quietis 
 Edredi regis edocet, exhilarat. 
 
 Salve sancta dies. 
 Daemon in effigie vulpis contritus et ursi 
 Subdolus insidias tendit ubique tibi. 
 
 Qua Dunstane, &c. 
 Per citharae cantum praenoscis quid sit agendum, 
 Unde repente locum deseris atque habitum. 
 
 Salve sancta dies ! 
 
 * From the same MS. as the last two articles. 
 
RELIQUIAE DUNSTANIAN^. 
 
 425 
 
 Spiritibus Sanctis sociatus acTimine mentis 
 Kyrie eleyson eos conjubilare probas. 
 
 Qua Dunstane, &c. 
 
 Ad templum noctu Domini genitricis euntem 
 Obvia cum sociis excipit ipsa parens. 
 
 Salve sancta dies. 
 
 Prsecedunt binse versus modulando puellse 
 Dulcis amor Christi personet ore pio. 
 
 Qua Dunstane, &c. 
 
 Primus ad ima ruit magna de luce superbus, 
 Sic homo cum tumuit primus ad ima ruit. 
 
 Salve sancta dies. 
 
 Mox te spirituum sanctorum visitat ordo, 
 Teque suum vocitans suadet adire Deum. 
 
 Qua Dunstane, &c. 
 
 Jam vitse metas inducit corporis setas, 
 Laetus et angelicis insereris cuneis. 
 
 Salve sancta dies ! 
 Conduntur terris artus et spiritus astris, 
 Quo tibi pro meritis gloria perpes erit. 
 
 Qua Dunstane, &c. 
 Jam sacer antistes Christo reverende cohseres, 
 Conjimctus superis auxiliare tuis. 
 
 Salve sancta dies ! 
 Quod parit in nobis terreni fervor amoris 
 Per te detergat castus amor Domini. 
 
 Qua Dunstane, &ic. 
 Sic quoque unanimis ut Christo complaceamus, 
 Qui nos aeterna muneret in patria. 
 
 Salve sancta dies. 
 Et faciat secum felices omne per sevum 
 Vivere, quo luctus non erit aut gemitus. 
 
 Qua Dxmstane, &c. 
 Quod Pater et Natus quod nobis Spiritus almus, 
 Conferat ipse quod est semper ubique manens, 
 
 Salve sancta dies. 
 
 A.D. cir. 
 1120. 
 
 The kyrie. 
 
 The song of 
 the virgins. 
 
 Singing the 
 hymn of 
 Sedulius. 
 
 Visit of the 
 
 blessed 
 
 spirits. 
 
 He went to 
 the angels. 
 
 His body to 
 the earth. 
 
 Prayer for 
 his nelp. 
 
426 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 XXXVIII. SCEUTINIUM FACTUM CIRCA FERETRUM BEA- 
 TISSIMI PATRIS DUNSTANI ARCHIEPISCOPI, EX MAN- 
 DATO REVERENDISSIMI PATRIS AC DOMINI, DOMINI 
 WiLLELMI WARHAM CANTUARIENSIS ARCHIEPISCOPI, 
 ET DOMINI ThOMJE GoLDSTON ^ SACR^ PAGING PRO- 
 FESSORIS, EJUSDEM ECCLESI^ PRIORIS DIGNISSIMI, 
 
 ANNO Domini mdviii. die xxiio. Aprilis. 
 
 (MS. Lambeth, 1.59, fo. 36vo.)2 
 
 A.D.1508. Quoniam dilecti fratres monachi Glastonienses iam 
 
 The monks , , , 
 
 ofGiaston- meis temporibus non mode solent lactitare, uti quidam 
 
 bury not i .i n. \ 
 
 oni^ assert de patriDus eorum facere consueverunt, se habere apud 
 have Dun- suuHi monasterium corpus illius beatissimi patroni ec- 
 
 stan's bones, , z-m • 
 
 but have clesisB iiostrse Cantuariensis, Sancti Dunstani ; verum 
 
 recently set , , . / ' 
 
 up a new etiam iam dudum fabrieari fecerunt novum serxnium, 
 
 shnne ma ... 
 
 ^onspicuous quod ut fertuT in facie ecclesia9 suse non obscure statui 
 cerei^ny* feccrunt ; in quo non verentur fabulare reponi corpus 
 Sancti Dunstani. In ejus namque scrinii erectione ipsi 
 non modica nec obscura celebritate usi fuerunt, quippe 
 qui ad illud festum non solum vicinos sed ipsius fere 
 totius diocesis magnates, nobiles, populumque innume- 
 rum promiscui sexus, ad tantum spectaculum confluere 
 procuraverunt. Quibus illic consistentibus, et solemni 
 processione quam tunc fecerunt interessentibus, cunctis 
 spectantibus scrinium antedictum erigi fecerunt, non 
 quidem in eorum vestiario, ubi solebant patres eorum, 
 tanquam in loco quasi obscuro, reponere aliud scrinium 
 magis vetustum, quod uti eis libebat scrinium Sancti 
 Dunstani etiam appellabant ; sed istud nonnulli scri- 
 nium, ut fertur, in loco clarissimo cunctis illic conflu- 
 entibus patente constituerunt. Quae cum ita sint, ne 
 ipsi Glastonienses populum in errorem abducant, pu- 
 tantes sic ibidem prsesens corpus Sancti Dunstani colere. 
 
 ^ Thomas Goldston was prior of 
 Christ Church from 1495-1517. 
 
 2 Printed in the Anglia Sacra, 
 vol. ii. pp. 227, 228. 
 
BELIQUIJE DUNSTANIAN^. 
 
 427 
 
 placuit reverendissimo in Christo patri Willelmo War- A.D.1508. 
 ham archiepiscopo Cantuariensi diligentissime fieri sera- bi^h^'toc- 
 tinium in sua ecclesia circa feretrum Sancti Dunstani, sew-ch^for 
 
 J 1 I 1 ± n J. the relics 
 
 ut ex oculorum aspectu coniunderet confingentes ac should be 
 mentientes alibi corpus illud se habere. Canterbury. 
 
 Vicesimo igitur die Aprilis anno Domini MDVIII., ^^^^^g^^^^^ 
 die tunc accidebat Coena Domini, ex mandato ipsius April 20, 
 domini archiepiscopi et domini Thomae Goldston prio- 
 ns, deputati sunt tres vel quatuor de confratribus ad 
 ejusmodi opus aptiores et ferventiores, ut in vespere, 
 postquam fores ecclesise essent clausse, ne laici hujus- 
 modi negotio adessent, ad scrutinium faciendum circa 
 feretrum Sancti Dunstani, ut ipsi explorarent qua via 
 faciliori possent ejus sacrae reliquiae videri, ea ratione 
 ut omni ambiguitate et scrupulo semotis oculata fide 
 rei Veritas probaretur. 
 
 Hi quidem fratres in ipsa noctis tempestate non tam The breth- 
 
 TT 7^ . T'l -1 1 .ren began at 
 
 diligenter quam prudenter ad id quidem perduxerunt night and 
 opus, ut ante lucanum oculis perspicere potuerunt ar- ^tie i^efore 
 cam quandam plumbeam ubi sacrae reliquiae reconde- They came 
 
 ^ T , f, . . . on the coffin. 
 
 bantur. Quae quidem area deposita luit et immersa m 
 opere lapideo feretri. Ea siquidem area intus erat lig- 
 nea, exterius interiusque plumbo undique cooperta, et 
 clavis omni in loco affixa; adeo ut inter clavum et 
 clavum non erat spatium relictum latitudinis humanae 
 palmae. Erat quoque haec area longitudinis luxta Ion- Measure- 
 gitudmem opens Japidei ipsius leretri, videlicet vii. description, 
 pedum, latitudinis circiter pedis cum dimidio. Eratque 
 in omni sua parte ferreis ligamentis circumducta tutis- 
 sime, adeo ut vix possit discerni via possibilis illam 
 aperiendi. Confisi tamen in divino auxilio et sancti it was not 
 
 rv. ..... 1 . . . , opened until 
 
 patroni sunragio, mstituit arcniepiscopus cum priore, ut the^ext 
 quidam confratres in consequenti nocte laicis semotis 
 iterum opus aggrederentur, quod et factum est. Sex 
 enim de confratribus per priorem ad hoc deputiiti, una 
 cum ope aliorum quos convocarunt, ingenti sudore hanc 
 arcam, quae est magni ponderis, fecerunt supra opus 
 
428 
 
 VITA SANCTl DUNSTANI. 
 
 A.D.1508. lapideum siiblevari. Id cum fecissent, tandem cum 
 
 Opening of ^ 
 
 the coffins, magna dimcultate satagentes, anteriorem partem arcae 
 aperiunt. Quod profecto facere nequissent, nisi partem 
 asseris, quo in superiore parte area claudebatur, effirin- 
 gerent. Eo sane confracto, licuit videre interius ab uno 
 fine arcse usque in alterum finem. Ibi vero patebat 
 
 ^oollead ^P^^^^i cista qusedam plumbea; qus9 quidem cista facta 
 est non ex piano plumbo sed arte quadam pulcherrime 
 est plicata. Ea vero aperta, reperta est etiam et alia 
 cista plumbea quasi tabefacta, quae putatur esse ilia, in 
 qua ossa Sancti Dunstani, cum primum sepeliebatm*, 
 recondebantur. Infra has duas cistas plumbeas, cum 
 
 le^onthe ^^P^i^i^'^iitur, primo reperta est quaedam parva lamina 
 of plumbi jacens supra pectus corporis. In qua quidem 
 lamina continebatur haec scriptura, "Hie requiescit 
 " Sanctus Dunstanus archiepiscopus." Et scribitur hie 
 titulus Komanis litteris. Deinde repertus est pannus 
 quidam tinctus, nitidus valde atque integer, superpositus 
 corpori Sancti Dunstani. Quo sublevato, apparuit illud 
 sanctissimum organum Spiritus Sancti, indutum ponti- 
 
 Description ficalibus, tum pro magna parte consumptis. Porro ap- 
 
 of the bones i i 'i' > i ± ± 
 
 discovered, paruit ibidem testa capitis, quae et tangebatur et oscu- 
 labatur tam a domino archiepiscopo, qui valde mane in 
 crastino sequenti, videlicet in vigilia Paschae, aderat, 
 quam a priore caeterisque quamplurimis de conventu 
 monachorum. Cujus quidem testae partem a reliquo 
 divisam dominus archiepiscopus tradidit priori, ea ratione 
 ut decenter adornaretur, et inter reliquias ecclesiae ve- 
 nerandum reponeretur. Denique videbantur et alia ossa 
 diversa, tam de brachiis quam de costis, et nonnuUa 
 massa de carne ejusdem patroni nostri. Quae re vera 
 
 Sweet odour omnia odore redolebant suavissimo. Ad istud non tam 
 
 proceeding 
 
 from them, jocundum quam desideratissimum spectaculum affuere 
 prope omnes de conventu. Ad hoc etiam invitati sunt 
 per dominum archiepiscopum sex novicii nondum pro- 
 fessi, qui simul cum aliis ista cernebanfc. Ad hoc quoque 
 sacrum spectaculum affuere hii capellani de familia do- 
 
RELIQUIAE DUNSTANIANiE. 429 
 
 mini archiepiscopi per eum invitati, videlicet prior a,d. i508. 
 DovorisB, episcopus suffi-aganeus ^ ejus, nomine Johannes ^^t-*^^ 
 Thornton doctor sacrae theologise, magister Cuthbertus "®sses. 
 TunstalP doctor in legibus, cancellarius ejusdem domini 
 archiepiscopi, magister Thomas Wellis ^ doctor theologise, 
 magister Robertus Weks, magister Andreas, in artibus 
 magistri ; magister Johannes Pers, bachalarius legum. 
 Hii vero vocati sunt ad videndum et testimonium per- 
 hibendum eorum quae superius scripta sunt. Erant 
 interea ad ipsum advocati per dominum archiepiscopum 
 tres notarii publici, utpote magister Johannes Barrett Names of 
 
 • 1 . ,. 1 • , • . the notaries 
 
 scriba actorum prserogativae ecclesise Cantuariensis, ma- who drew 
 gister Joliannes Colman scriba consistorii Cantuariensis, iic instm-^ 
 magister Willelmus Pottkyn scriba jurisdictionis imme- search, 
 diatse. Eos notarios dominus archiepiscopus requisivit 
 ut, singulis quae superius scripta sunt, de scrutinio facto 
 circa reliquias Sancti Dunstani, diligenter per eos in- 
 spectis et consideratis, instrumentum publicum de eis- 
 dem conficerent. Idque complere super depositionem 
 testium praedictorum poUiciti sunt. Hsec cum peracta 
 fuissent, tunc, ad mandatum domini archiepiscopi, area 
 superius dicta iterum clausa est firmissime tam opere 
 ligneo quam plumbeo, clavisque quamplurimis tutissime 
 affixa. Idque factum est in prsedicta vigilia Paschae. 
 Nec fores ecclesiae antea aperiebantur, quam confratres 
 id operis explevissent. Ejusmodi experimento facto Thus is the 
 
 T. ci i'x\ L • T1 !• error of the 
 
 circa reliquias bancti JJunstam, modo luce clarius con- monks of 
 stat quanto errore atque dementia laborant dilecti fra- Sf^tedl^^'^ 
 tres Glastonienses, qui somniant apud se habere corpus 
 beati Dunstani, idque publice praedicare non erubescant. 
 Si enim eorum reatus conscientiae falsa de sancto Dei 
 praedicare compescere non valeret, saltem mundi hones- 
 
 ^ John Thornden, " episcopus Sur- 
 " ronensis, in partibus infidelium," 
 Warham's suffragan and prior of 
 Dover : died in 1516. 
 
 ^ Cuthbcrt Tunstall, afterwards 
 
 bishop of London, 1522-1530 ; and 
 of Durham, 1530-1559. 
 
 3 Thomas Wells, bishop of Sidon 
 and suffragan of Canterbury, d. 
 1526. 
 
430 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 A.D.1508. tas mendacia pertmaciter defendere cohibeat. Itaque 
 
 It is to be . . 1 . • 1 . . 
 
 hoped that post tam clarissimum nujus negotii experimentum jam 
 
 now be factum, amodo jam sileant carissimi fratres Glastonien- 
 
 silent. 
 
 ses corpus beati Dunstani vendicare ; ponantque modo 
 ostium circumstantise labiis eorum; et confingere desi- 
 nant per patres eorum corpus illud ab ecclesia sua, ubi 
 sepultum est, quovis pacto surreptum fuisse. 
 
 Letter of 
 Archbishop 
 Warham to 
 the Abbot 
 of Glaston- 
 bury. 
 
 Search has 
 been made 
 for the cof- 
 fin of Dun- 
 stan. 
 
 XXXIX. Exemplar litterarum reverendissimi do- 
 mini, DOMINI Willelmi Warham Cantuahiensis 
 
 ARCHIEPISCOPI, AD ABBATEM GlASTONIENSEM, ANNO 
 
 Domini modqviip. 
 
 (MS. Lambeth, 159, fo. 38 YO.y 
 
 Honorande frater,^ post condignam commendationem. 
 Pervenit nuper ad aures nostras feretrum quoddam divi 
 Dunstani in vestri monasterii ecclesia palam a vobis 
 erectum, ex quo quidem sacrum ejusdem corpus apud 
 vos tumulatum habere prsetenditis. Nos igitur super 
 hac re non parum moti, sedula mente nobiscum con- 
 siderantes prsefatum sanctum in dignitate archiepisco- 
 pali Cantuariensi nos praecessisse, ibidemque mortem 
 obiisse ; quo fit ut in eadem ecclesia et non alibi sepul- 
 turam sibi delegisse verisimiliter optimo jure credatur. 
 Cupientes rei certitudinem investigare, an corpus vide- 
 licet suum in dicta ecclesia nostra Cantuariensi huma- 
 tum remaneret, quum proximis his diebus illic adesse- 
 mus, de illo sumus diligenter perscrutati. Matura 
 itaque inquisitione facta, invenimus in eadem ecclesia 
 nostra quandam capsulam ligneam in modum tumbse 
 erectam, ferro circumligatam, in parte Australi summi 
 altaris servatam, ubi verissime cernitur praefati Sancti 
 Dunstani corpus honorifice sepultum jacere. Quam qui- 
 dem capsulam dilecto fratri nostro, ejusdem ecclesiae 
 
 ^ Printed in the Anglia Sacra, 
 ii. 229. 
 
 2 Richard Beere, abbot of Glas- 
 tonbury, 1493-1524. 
 
KELIQUI^ DUNSTANIANiE. 
 
 431 
 
 nostrsD priori moderno, ac nonnuUis commonachis suis, a.d.i508. 
 nec non quibusdam notariis publicis, viris recte pro bis sence of 
 atque discretis, multisque aliis personis fide dignis, quad- nessesTL 
 raginta numero, tunc et ibidem ex mandato nostro astan- coffin were 
 tibus ac hsec cuncta, ut turn fiebant, baud obscure in- 
 tuentibus, cum ea qua decuit reverentia aperiri fecimus. 
 Qua aperta invenimus intra eandem quandam cirstam 
 plumbeam, et sub intus unam parvam peciam plumbi 
 de longitudine unius humani pedis, hujusmodi litteris 
 insculptam, ^^Hic requiescit Sanctus Dunstanus archi- 
 episcopus." Deinde intra eandem cistam qusedam lin- 
 thea candidissima, velut balsamis suavissime redolentia, 
 reperta fuere : quibus revolutis calvam capitis memorati The bones 
 
 .... , . . and other 
 
 sancti mtegram, atque diversa sui corporis ossa., cum J^^^^^®^® 
 multis aliis ejusdem reliquiis, inibi etiam reperimus. within. 
 Caeterisque probabilibus testimoniis manifeste apparet 
 prsefatum Sancti Dunstani corpus venerabile non alio 
 loco quam in ecclesia nostra prselibata requiescere de- 
 bere. Quare vehementer admiramur tanta vos c^ecitate 
 tantave temeritate aut audacia duci, ut non vereamini 
 asserere praefatum corpus apud vos habere sepultum : 
 ex quo maximum ecclesise Dei scandalum exoritur, po- The Gias- 
 pulusque hujus regni in non modicum errorem, super- SmSs 
 stitionem atque confusionem inducitur. Neque revera scandaif^* 
 errore carere potest, quod unius sancti corpus in diver- 
 sis credatur esse locis, aut quod unum corpus pro altero 
 reputari aut coli deberet. Unde valde est timendum 
 ne Deus Ipse ex illo gravissime offendatur, vosipsique 
 baud mediocriter fallamini. Ne igitur tanta labes tan- 
 taque abusio in eminentius malum paulatim, si diutius The abbot 
 
 ... , . • •! 1 • I summoned 
 
 permitteretur, irrepserit, utque rei Veritas clarius pate- to produce 
 fiat, fratemitatem vestram instanter hortamur, rogamus dences. 
 et requirimus, ut ad nos erga festum translationis divi 
 Thomse martyris proximum futurum sese conferre, scripta 
 monumentave prsetensum suum titulum in hac parte 
 foventia, si quse talia habuerit, secum deferens. Nec 
 erit inconsultum fratemitati vestrse, quoniam prsefata 
 
432 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 A.D.15<>8. 
 He will do 
 well to at- 
 tend in i)er- 
 son, and 
 bring the 
 pretended 
 relics. 
 
 D&ted, 
 June 4^ 
 Lambeth. 
 
 res ipsa non parvi fuerit ponderis aut momenti, ut, si 
 commode fieri poterit, in persona sua propria ad nos 
 accedat. Sin autem, quosdam consiliariorum suorum pru- 
 dentiores, plene ac perfecte de mente sua instructos in 
 hac causa, erga antedictum tempus ad nos transmittere 
 diligenter curet. Nec imprudenter faciet, si hujusmodi 
 reliquias prsefati Sancti Dunstani, quas in mpnasterio 
 suo habere prsetendit, ne iterum aperiri aut a populo 
 coli aliquo pacto sinat ; ne, si aliter fieret, major tumul- 
 tus, scandalum atque error ex illo sequeretur. 
 
 Ex Lambetha, iv. Junii, anno pontificatus nostri 
 quinto. 
 
 A.D. 1508. 
 
 Answer of 
 the Abbot 
 of Glaston- 
 bury. 
 
 It is true 
 that the 
 shrine of 
 Dunstan has 
 been moved 
 to a more 
 conspicuous 
 place. 
 
 XL. Exemplar litterarum abbatis Glastoni^.. 
 
 (MS. Lambeth, 159, fo. 39 vo.)i 
 
 Reverendissime in Christo pater, post humillimam 
 commendationem. Litteras patemitatis vestrae ea qua 
 decuit reverentia accepi. In quibus scriptum erat ean- 
 dem jamdudum audire nos feretrum quoddam divi 
 Dunstani in ecclesia nostra publice erexisse, ex eaque 
 prsetendere corpus ejus apud nos habere sepultum. 
 Humillime respondeo nos feretrum quoddam memorati 
 sancti patroni nostri et amphficatoris eximii plus ab- 
 hinc ducentis annis in ecclesia nostra per religiosos 
 patres nostros antecessores erectum, auroque et argento 
 pulcherrime fabricatum, cum potestate et auctoritate 
 episcopi diocesis a loco in locum transmovisse, non 
 aliam ob causam nisi ob Dei gloriam, sancti Ejus ad 
 honorem, et majorem monasterii nostri decorem, quodque 
 addi potest, quod inter multos ad locum ubi prius sta- 
 bat confluentes propter divi Pantaleonis et aliorum 
 sanctorum devotionem, ob quorum venerationem ille 
 locus frequenter invisitur, aliquando etiam inventi sunt. 
 
 ' Printed in the Anglia Sacra, ii. 230. 
 
RELIQUIAE DUNSTANIAN^. 
 
 433 
 
 qui de scrinio ejus, quod manu tangi poterat, particulas a.d.i508. 
 quasdam argenteas atque deauratas surripiebant. TJt a new 
 igitur ab istiusmodi compilatoribus tutius esse posset, beeifmade 
 
 " jj* ^ j* t/ 
 
 in loco aliquanto editiori collocavimus nos non prae- ^ ^' 
 tendentes ejus corpus apud nos sepultum fuisse, sed 
 sacra ejus ossa post destructionem ecclesise vestra^ Can- The relics 
 tuariensis per Danos factam ad nos allata fuisse et brought 
 
 r\ 1 • , T« i»j from Can- 
 
 comportata. C^uod itaque reverendissima paternitas terbury. 
 vestra se diligentissime nuper perscrutatum esse, an 
 ejusdem sancti corpus in ecclesia sua Cantuariensi 
 sepultum adhuc remaneret, et sic invenisse in una 
 cista plumbea quandam minutam peciam plumbi hu- 
 jusmodi litteris insculptam, videlicet, " Hie requiescit The bones 
 " Sanctus Dunstanus archiepiscopus ; " atque inibi lin- Canterbury 
 thea qusedam Candida ; quibu3 revolutis calva capitis been taken 
 Sancti Dunstani apparuit integra cum pluribus sui Giaston- 
 corporis ossibus ; et propter hsec argumenta eandem 
 reverendissimam paternitatem vestram admiraii nos 
 prsedictos viros tanta caecitate aut audacia duci, ut non 
 vereamur illud corpus apud nos tumulatum esse affir- 
 mare. Reverendissime pater, fieri poterat ut, maxima 
 parte reliquiarum ejus ad nos comportata, aliqua ibi 
 relicta, vel ad petitionem confratrum Cantuariensium 
 post curriculum temporis in monasterium suum resti- 
 tutorum, sive illuc ad contemplationem alicujus archi- 
 episcopi transmissa sit : quoniam etiam quinque post 
 divum Dimstanum a monasterio nostro Glastoniensi 
 istinc ad archiepiscopatum promoti sunt. Cujus rei eo The larger 
 
 n 'T • 1 I? • 1 • • bones are at 
 
 lacilius conjecturam lacio, quod nos ossa ejus majora Giaston- 
 firmioraque habemus, dilecti vero fratres Cantuarienses, sSierS; 
 
 . T • J. 'J. J.' ± T>i ' Canterbury. 
 
 quatenus ex reverendissimse patermtatis vestrae Iitteris 
 vel ex eorum publicis scriptis colligi potest, tantum 
 quasdam minutias, nos occipitium et coelum capitis, illi 
 calvam seu cranei priorem partem possident. Quod si 
 verum sit, intima caritate gaudeo Deum immortalem 
 dilectum sanctum suum diversis in locis velle honorari, 
 sicuti nonnulli honorantur, sine scandalo aut aliquo 
 
 E E 
 
434 
 
 VITA SANCTI BUNSTANI. 
 
 A.B.1503. tumultu populari. CsBterum quod hortatur nos reve- 
 Theajbbot rendissima paternitas vestra in calce litterarum suarum, 
 bid the nt prohiberemus sancti Dei reliquias aut aperiri aut a 
 
 relics to be , t . . i ,* n j 
 
 honoured, populo coli, SI 111 eam sententiam vellemus conceaere, 
 quod reverendissimse patemitatis vestrse venia, dilectis- 
 simorum quoque fratrum pace, dicatur, non tarn cseei et 
 audaces quam prorsus nefarii atque impii dicendi esse- 
 mus. Quis enim vel temerarius non timeret ne gra- 
 vissime inde Deus offenderetur si mortalis immortalem 
 suspenderet, aut in hac militia labilis peccator trium- 
 phantis insignia desecraret ? Quod porro si fieret, maxi- 
 mum quoque scandalum, tumultus et perieulum seque- 
 retur, quae nobis in reverendissimse patemitatis vestrae 
 litteris humanissime proponuntur ad terrorem. Qui- 
 cunque enim prsesens cerneret assiduum concursum 
 populi, vestibus exuti, nudis pedibus quotidie supplican- 
 tis, diceret nobis proculdubio, id quod Actuum quinto 
 a Gamaliele dictum legitur ; " Sinite illos, etc., ne forte Acts, V. S8. 
 " et Deo repugnare videamini." Certe ego tum populi 
 devotionem, tum Omnipotentis Dei promissionem, Qui 
 in Sanctis Suis perpetuo gloriosus est, accurate pensans, 
 nuUo modo audeo tentare, quod contra sancti Ejus 
 
 There is a sestimationem esse possit ; sed totus intremisco vel tale 
 
 tradition as i«>-iii>i ,» -i i ^ 
 
 to the route aliquid deiibcrare, prsesertim quando non solum cnro- 
 
 by which . .. n <• i • ^ i j. i • 
 
 they were nicsB autiquse sed etiam vulgaris lama decantat, ejus 
 
 brought to A. ' J -u-j. J. j r\ ni. 
 
 Giaston- sacra ossa vere et mdubitanter apud nos esse. Quo fit 
 
 bury. • ••*'« • 
 
 ut quidam contermini nobis parochiani singulis annis 
 in die felicissimi ac beatissimi patroni nostri Sancti 
 Dunstani, qui alioquin professus est, ab operibus do- 
 mesticis feriati, ad ecclesiam nostram Glastoniensem, 
 tam viri quam foeminse, tarn patres familiarum quam 
 mercenarii eorundem seu villici, summa cum veneratione 
 ex vetusto quodam ritu conveniimt. Inter quos qui- 
 dam e majoribus natu coram certis auctoritate aposto- 
 lica a publicis notariis interrogati qua religione id 
 facerent, responderunt se a veteribus didicisse patres 
 parentum eorum ossa Sancti Dunstani^ dum per eorum 
 
KELTQUI^ DUNSTANIANiE. 
 
 435 
 
 confmia a Cantuaria Glastoniam deportabantur, eo modo a.d.isos. 
 ad ecclesiam nostram Glastoniensem cum devotione Holy day 
 fuisse insecutos, et propterea eos parochianos in rei memoration' 
 memoriam solere, usque in hodiernum diem, Hon solum 
 in eo die feriari, sed etiam ad ecclesiam nostram Glas- 
 toniensem devotionis causa venire. Quod si aliquis 
 eorum ita facere recusaverit, aut rei suae attentior a 
 laboribus eo die non supersederit, eo anno nihil pros- 
 pere ei succedere, sed vel armenti vel rei famiHaris 
 grave dampnum et jacturam facere. Quod contigit in 
 diebus adhuc viventium persaepe. Itaque minori cum 
 scandalo, salvo judicio reverendissimse patemitatis ves- 
 tvse, dilecti fratres Cantuarienses reliquias suas nuper it would be 
 
 .... 1 , -. 1 better if the 
 
 mventas tantisper celare possent, dum vel cum reliquus Canterbury 
 
 . . „ , T . . relics were 
 
 nostris comparatione lacta, unde, si vere ejus sacrse concealed 
 
 111- II T until proved 
 
 reliquiae smt, procuidubio commanarunt, vel per aliqua to be true, 
 scripta vetusta certiores facti, omni ambiguitate et scru- 
 pulo remotis, homines intelligant eas, quas Cantuarien- 
 ses se habere dicunt, veras esse reliquias ejusdem sancti, 
 qui tot annis apud nos in veneratione maxima ab uni- 
 verso populo est habitus. Haec autem eo diflusius 
 scripsi, quod aliquantulum laborans adversa valetudine, 
 sicut vellem et debeo, ipse venire ad reverendissimam 
 paternitatem vestram hoc tempore non possum. Quo- The abbot 
 
 1 . 1 J J 11 1 excuses him- 
 
 circa eandem impense rogo obtestorque, ut hanc vale- self by iii- 
 
 . 1 . 1 1 • • ness for not 
 
 tudmem meam excusatam nabeat, qui ejus causa sum groing to 
 
 Ti , /» i 1 . , Canterbury. 
 
 omnia libenter lacturus, citra ecclesise mese aut monas- 
 terii juris prsejudicium, aut Dei Optimi Maximi sanc- 
 torumque Ejus offensam. Quorum prsesidio perpetuo 
 fulta sit eadem reverendissima paternitas vestra. 
 Scripta Glastoniae quarto kalendas Julii. 
 
 E E 2 
 
436 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 XXXIX. Exemplar litterarum Keverendissimi do- 
 mini WiLLELMI WaRHAM, CaNTUARIENSIS ARCHI- 
 
 episcopi, ad abbatem Glastoni^ missarum. 
 
 (MS. Lambeth, 159, fo. 41 vo,)^ 
 
 A.D.1508. Honorande frater, post condignam commendationem. 
 Theareh- Vestras litteras a quodam vestri ordinis monacho ac- 
 notyet^^ cepimus, quibus feretrum quoddam divi Dunstani in 
 ^h&t&Z ecclesia vestra ad multos hinc annos fuisse erectum, 
 sh?S*/at^^ vosque grandiora ejus ossa possidere scribitis, neque 
 iTCTectSh^ audere reliquias praetensas a populo coli prohibere, etc. 
 
 Quantum vero ad primum attinet, nondum nobis quo- 
 quam pacto innotescit quanam auctoritate aut quo jure 
 jurisve colore tale feretrum erectum exstiterit. Quod 
 si forte a vestris, uti scribitis, antecessoribus minus pru- 
 denter attemptatum factumque fu6rit, id negligenter 
 ulterius baud permittendum erit, sed recte ac juste 
 reformandum. Quod autem scribitis pra^fati sancti ossa 
 post destructam ecclesiam nostram per Danos ad monas- 
 terium vestrum fuisse apportata, nibilque prseter quas- 
 or if the dam sui corporis minutias in ecclesia nostra relictum ; — 
 taken from ^ Hsec si Vera cssent, quod certe a nobis credi non potest, 
 by what^^^* qua tamen auctoritate quove titulo hujusmodi ossa fue- 
 
 authority it \ ^ __ , ... 
 
 was done: rmt ad vos allata non edicitis. Absentia vero mona- 
 chorum ecclesise nostrae tunc temporis fratribus vestris 
 aliquas illinc auferendi reliquias nequibat aiictoritatem 
 tribuere. Cum ergo nec summi pontificis nec arcbi- 
 episcopi nec fratrum illius ecclesisa pro tempore exis- 
 tentium, sine quorum consensu prsefatse reliquiae ad 
 or proof that alia loca de jure transferri non poterant, consensus et 
 traLSed. auctoritatcs vobis et monasterio vestro factos . minime 
 exhibere valeatis ; non videmus qua ratione hujusmodi 
 reliquias habere prsetendatis. Quod si forte vestri mo- 
 nachi eas sua audacia ac violenter abstulerint, in eo se 
 
 1 Printed in the Anglia Sacra, ii. 230. 
 
RELIQUIAE DUNSTANIAN^. 
 
 437 
 
 furtum et sacrilegium commisisse facile convincuntur. a^d.^508. 
 Neque hujusmodi reliquiarum detentores aut eis con- Lapse^of 
 sentientes tractu vel diutumitate temporis sacrilerii not lessen 
 
 ... , , . •11'^ the offence. 
 
 poterint prsetendere sese immunes, neque sine debita 
 restitutione absolvi. Longe praeterea a veritate videtur 
 aliennm, maximam, ut asseritis, illius sancti reliquiarum 
 partem apud vos esse, cum manifestum ac clarissimum 
 sit tam brachiorum ejus quam tibiaram ossa grossiora, 
 costas etiam ac spondilia totumque capitis tegumentum 
 integrum, cseteraque omnia tot et tanta corporis ipsius 
 particularia ossa, quot et quanta ex aliquo corpore de- 
 functo tot annis in visceribus terrse jacente remanere 
 sit possibile, in capsa ilia in qua venerandum corpus 
 suum coUocatum atque reconditum fait, adhuc conti- 
 neri ; quge non modo oculis inspeximus verum etiam et ^f^^^^ ^^e 
 manibus palpavimus. Haec enim res ipsa, muJiorum- Q^terbSSy! 
 que fide dimorum, qui prsemissa etiam viderunt, testi- s-^^^ 
 
 ^ , ® , ... . were com- 
 
 monium nobis tacentibus verissima comprobabit. No- piete. 
 lite igitur cogitare, haec aut ficte. aut minus vere a 
 nobis praedicari. Quicunque enim praemissa, quemad- 
 modum nos vidimus, inspexisset, fateretur proculdubio 
 verum prselibati sancti corpus absque diminutione qua- 
 piam in ecclesia tunc sua, nunc, licet sine merito, nostra 
 requiescere. Quare desinite frustra deinceps conjicere 
 inaniterve jactitare maximam reliquiarum ejus partem 
 penes vos remanere aut aliquas minutias vel ad fratrum 
 Cantuariensium petitionem vel alicujus archiepiscopi 
 contemplationem ad ecclesiam nostram a loco vestro They cannot 
 fuisse transmissas, quoniam impossibile est unius et places at 
 ejusdem corporis ossium majorem partem et apud vos 
 et apud nos in ecclesia nostra posse simul haberi. 
 Quod postremo scribitis vos subvereri ne gravissime 
 Deum offenderetis, sanctumque Suum afficeretis injuria, 
 si ejus quas asseritis apud vos reliquias aperiri colique 
 prohibere videremini ; — Qui enim veras adoraverit reli- 
 quias, Deo placet, non qui falsas, fictas vel incertas ; — 
 In hoc Deum potius oflFendere quam placere, sanctoque 
 
 once. 
 
438 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 AD. 1508. Suo summam inferre inmriam, eundemque mas^is mho- 
 Juiyio. ^ ; , -.1. 
 
 It is impious norare quam nonorare censemini ; quod alienum corpus 
 
 to promote ^ . . . . 
 
 the honour suuHi Gsse iingitis, ac pro SUO corporo usurpantes, vene- 
 relics. rationem sibi sacrisque ejusdem veris reliquiis debitam 
 aufertis, alieno simulatoque cadaveri irreligiosi attribu- 
 entes ; et quod deterrimum est, populum in vanam ac 
 superstitiosam culturam inducentes, qui in grave turn 
 vestrarum turn suarum periculum animarum, quod ve- 
 hementer est dolendum, vestris sinistris assertionibus 
 maxime seducitur atque illuditur. Quis enim non for- 
 midaret se Deum valde offensurum, si non sanctum pro 
 sancto, aut corpus fictum pro vero, et incertas relicjuias 
 pro certis colere auderet ? Hsec autem a vobis fieri 
 nemo est qui nesciat. Quod enim dignum judicatis 
 The abbot's fratres nostros Cantuarienses dictas reliquias divi Dun- 
 tionis ' stani celare debere, ineptum certe ac minus prudens 
 
 wanton and . i . « , , . . . ^ . 
 
 impertmeut. consilium est, quomam hi iratres nostri m jure priores 
 ac potiores existunt. Pro quarum etiam possessione 
 jura prsesumunt, propterea quod sanctus ille, dum in 
 humanis agebat, sedi archiepiscopali Cantuariensi prse- 
 fuit, sepulturamque sibi in ecclesia sua prseelegit; ibi- 
 que realiter sanctum corpus suum humatum fuisse a 
 vobis non negatur. Quare sequum ac justum est vos, 
 qui sine aliquo justo titulo hucusque exhibito hujus- 
 modi reliquias possidere prsetenditis, usque ad realem 
 tituli exhibitionem prsetensas apud vos reliquias ab aliis 
 coli minime permittere. Si enim haec Dei et ecclesise 
 causa non esset, haud tantopere contenderemus. Nam 
 ob pristinam inter nos amicitiam vos monasteriumque 
 vestrum singulari quadam benevolentia et amore pro- 
 sequimur. Hac itaque unica duntaxat causa excepta, 
 aliis cunctis in rebus vobis pro virili nostra cupimus 
 libenter gratificari. Jura equidem et ecclesise nostrse 
 dignitatem in omnibus quoad possumus fortiter tueri 
 et conservare astringimur. Ut hoc igitur negotium 
 aequa lance trutinetur, justo exitu potiatur, omnimodae 
 ambiguitates, scrupulus, occasioque scandali prorsus tol- 
 
KELIQUIiE DUNSTANIAN^. 
 
 439 
 
 latur, vos emxe hortamur ardenterque requirimus, ut a.d. isos. 
 
 ' .-IX- • X J. • July 10. 
 
 scnpta, evidentias, munimenta, cseteraque omnia quse He is bidden 
 titulo in hac parte vestro suffragari videbuntur, citra 
 
 so call(;§. 
 
 r\ ' e-i , 1 • • i_ • relics to the 
 
 Umnium Sanctorum solemnia proximo ventura sine archbishop 
 ulteriori dilatione in medium aiferre diligenter curetis. saints' doj. 
 Quod si non effeeeritis, hoc unum pro certissimo habe- 
 tote, nos'ubique per nostram Cantuariensem provinciam 
 litteris nostris declaraturos, acriterque injuncturos, ne 
 quis hujusmodi assertas apud vos reliquias sub excom- 
 municationis aliarumque ecclesiasticarum censurarum 
 poenis deinceps venerari aut pro veris reliquiis reputare 
 prsesumat. 
 
 Ex Lambetha, decima Julii, anno regni Henrici Vlli. 
 xx^iii^., et pontificatus nostri v^^^. 
 
YIII. 
 
 FRAGMENTA EITUALIA, DE DUN8TAN0. 
 
 I. Oratio ad Dunstanum^ 
 
 (MS. Cotton, Nero A. 2.) 
 
 AD^cir. O inclite confessor Christi, 0 candelabra doctorque 
 Prayer to Angligena gente, O bone pastor Dunstane, altorque to- 
 forthe tins Albionis, qui es sanator diversorum debilium tuo 
 country. ^^jjt^^q visitantiuHi, te nunc flagitamus per ilia sancta 
 merita quse te ab Altithrono concesse sunt, ut tuis pre- 
 cibus Deo flagitas, ut banc patriam ab hostibus eruat, 
 nosque a nexu criminis solvat, atque ad seternam vitam 
 perducat. 
 
 II. Ad Dunstanum.2 
 
 (MS. Ashmole, 328.) 
 
 ^'^oa^^' Alleluia; veni, alme Dunstane ad Christi solium 
 Dunstan^ sanctum, humilibus et tuis deposce famulis regnum 
 coeleste. 
 
 ^ From a MS. written very early ^ In a hand of the eleventh cen- 
 
 in the eleventh century, which con- tury, on a fly-leaf of Byrhtferth's 
 
 tains also Athelstan's prayer for book " de Compotu Latinorum," 
 
 victory and a hymn to S. Ethelbert. &c. 
 
FRIGMENTA RITUALIA. 
 
 441 
 
 III. Hymnus de Sancto Dunstano episcopo. 
 
 (MS. Cotton, Vespasian D. 12.)^ 
 
 Lux vera gentis Anglicae, 
 
 Et ad Deum dux praevie. 
 
 Tu spes tuorum maxima, 
 Dulcedo necnon intima, 
 Spirans odorum balsama 
 Vitalium melliflua. 
 
 Tibi, pater, nos credimus, 
 Quibus *te nil jocundius, 
 Ad te manus expandimus, 
 Tibi preces effundimus. 
 
 Mucrone gentis barbarso 
 Necamur en Christieolae. 
 
 « 
 
 Offer sacerdos hostias 
 Christo precum gratissimas, 
 Quibus placatus criminum 
 Solvat catenas ferreas, 
 
 Per quas Anglorum terminis 
 Ecclesiaeque filiis 
 Et nationes perfidse 
 Pestesque cedant noxiae. 
 
 Per Te Pater spes unica, 
 Per Te Proles pax unica, 
 Et Spiritus Lux unica, 
 Adsit nobis in saecula. Amen. 
 
 1 This hymn is printed by Dr. half a century older than the Dur- 
 
 Henderson from f I^urham MS., ham MS. See the Latin hymns of 
 
 B. iii. 32 of the eleventh century, the Anglo-Saxon church, Surtees 
 
 with an interlinear Anglo-Saxon Soc. 1851, pp. vii. ix. 98, 99. 
 gloss. The Vespasian MS. is ahout 
 
 Ave, Dunstane, prsesulum 
 Sidus decusque splendidum, 
 
 A.D. cir. 
 1020. 
 
 Hymn to 
 Dunstan. 
 
 Oves tuas, pastor pie, 
 Passim premunt angustise, 
 
 Prayer for 
 help against 
 the Danes. 
 
442 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 IV. MissA DE Sancto Dunstano.^ 
 
 (MS. C.C.C. 328, p. 75.) 
 
 A.D. cir. Deus p^rennis glorise rex et dator piissime, dignare 
 a mass on praesentis die! gaudia tuo munere illustrare, in qua 
 
 S.Dunstan's - ... i'r»-r\j i i» t 
 
 .day. beatissimus pontiiex Uunstanus aeternae lucis gaudia 
 meruit introire, per Dominum. 
 
 Dedit Dominus confessionem Sancto Suo.^ 
 EvG. Homo quidam peregre.^ 
 
 Secr'. Hostiam Tibi, Domine Deus, nostrse devotionis 
 offerimus, quam tanto benignius qusesumus accipias, 
 quanto earn ecclesia Tua in veneratione pontifieis Tui 
 Dunstani diligentius commendat. Per. 
 
 Pr^fatio. 
 
 O Mteme Deus, Qui beatum Dunstanum multiplici 
 virtutum gratia ditasti, et hodiema die gratiam pro 
 gratia tribuisti, ut sicut indefessus Tui extitit semper 
 amator, ita sit beatissimae visionis Tuae assiduus con- 
 templator ; et quem in ecclesia Tua fidelem fecisti pa- 
 riter et prudentem, nunc super omnia bona Tua con- 
 stitutum, beata facis jocunditate laetantem. Precamur 
 itaque omnipotentem clementiam , Tuam, ut nos ejus 
 meritis a peccatorum nexibus absolutos, in sancta pro- 
 fessione confirmatos, ad illam coelestis regni gloriam 
 facias pervenire, ad quam ipse perveniens audivit Euge 
 serve bone, per Christum Dominum. 
 
 POSTCOMMUNIO. 
 
 Assit nobis, omnipotens Deus, beatissimi pontifieis Tui 
 Dunstani jugis oratio, quae nos illius misterii partici- 
 patione dignos efSciat, in quo totius humanae salutis 
 summa consistit. Per, 
 
 » From the C.C.C. MS. of Osbem. 
 This service ^as probably composed^" 
 by Osbem himself, as precentor of 
 Canterbury. It does not seem to 
 
 have made its way into any service 
 book. 
 
 ^ Ecclesiasticus, xlvii. 9. 
 3 S. Matt. XXV. 14. 
 
FRAGMENTA RITUALIA. 
 
 443 
 
 Prosa de Sancto Dunstano. 
 
 Hodierna Aevia resonent gaudia virtutum prasclara ^-^J^^- 
 Opera beato Dunstano coUata ! ^ Mass for 
 
 A matns utero Deitatis prsBventus gratia day. 
 Extra mundum, extra mundi mente transivit omnia. 
 Salvatoris monita audiens salubria ejus ad vestigia 
 
 cum beata sedebat Maria. 
 Unde ardentissimo flagrans desiderio, patriam con- 
 
 tinua suspirabat amoris lacrima. 
 Sacerdotis honore praeditus angelicam 
 
 Efifit vitam, simis a puero consecratam : Eecapituia- 
 
 ^ [ ^ i- ' tionofhis 
 
 Lumen extinctum non natus reparat, miracles and 
 
 visions. 
 
 Virga dsemonum efFugat eatervas, 
 Sic templi suprema 
 Transcendit operta 
 
 Et angelico ducatu clausam intrat ecclesiam. 
 Apostolica fultus praesentia 
 Suscepit arma futuri prsesaga; 
 Vergentem machinam 
 Prece levat sola; 
 
 Hostis et invidos conatus verbere dato vacuat; 
 Cithara non arte percussa consonam 
 Reddit symphoniam, in viri gloriam. 
 Novi regis prima, 
 Alius extrema, 
 Voce diva agnovit tempora ! 
 Supemos psallentes spiritus et vota 
 Factori solventes audivit talia. 
 
 Kyriuieyson ! Christeleyson ! Cum quis sua jam 
 miscet cantica, Dunstane vivens in saecula pro servis 
 exora, Qui te collaudantes devota persolvunt jubila, 
 Ac pro universa per orbem diffusa Christi aecclesia. 
 
444 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 Y. MissA Sancti Dunstani episcopi et confessobis. 
 
 1. (Missale Sarisburiense.O 
 
 The Mass on 8i Dominica fiierit, ad proeessionem, in tempore Paschali, 
 day,^cOTd-^ I^ilias Jerusalem; alio tempore anni, R. Miles ChffB^ In 
 
 to the introifu chori de Sancta Maria et dicitur absque versihus, 
 use of Saus- T,m.T-w..-i ... 
 
 bury. Ufpicium. Bacerdotes Tui, Domme, mduant jiistitiam et sancti 
 
 Tui exult ent ; propter David servum Tuum non avertas faciem 
 Christi Tui. Alleluia. 
 
 Ps. Memento, Domine, David et omnis mansuetudinis ejus. 
 
 Cantus de Kyrie rex splendens, sine versihus. 
 
 Oeatio. Deus Qui beatum Dunstanum pontificem Tuum ad 
 regna transtulit coelestia, da -nobis per gloriosa ejus merita 
 ad gaudia transire perennia. Per. 
 
 Epistola. Ecce sacerdos. 
 
 Gr. Juravit, Alleluia. 
 
 V. Posui adjutorium. Sequentia de communi, 
 EvANG. Homo quidam peregre. 
 
 In tempore Paschali, Evang. Ego sum vitis vera. Off. In- 
 veni David. 
 
 Secr. Suscipe quaesumus, Domine, munera supplicantis fa- 
 milias Tuae, quse Tibi in beati Dunstani confessoris Tui atque 
 pontificis solemnitate deferimus, precantes ut, ejus patrocinio 
 vendrando adjuti, defendi mereamur ab omnium inimicorum 
 insidiis. Per Dominum, 
 
 OoMMUNio. Domine, quinque. 
 
 PosTCOMMUNio. Beati Dunstani confessoris Tui atque pon- 
 tificis quaesumus Domine deprecatione nos adjuva, in cujus 
 veneratione Tua contingimus sacramenta. 
 
 2. (Missale Eboracense'-.) 
 
 According to OpfiCIUM. Statuit. 
 York.^^^^ Oeatio. Da quaesumus. 
 
 Epistola. Ecce sacerdos, Alleluia. 
 
 Yerstjs. Surrexit Christus Qui creavit omnia et misertus est 
 humano generi ; vel de Ascensione, 
 EvANGELiTJM. Homo quidam peregre. 
 Offr. Inveni David. 
 Yeesus. Beatus servus. 
 
 8i extra tempus PascJiale evenerit tunc dicatur, GrR. Juravit 
 Dominus. 
 
 . < 
 
 1 MSS. Laud, 302, Hattoii, 1, Barlow, 5; edd. Venice, 1494 ; Paris, 
 1515 ; Rouen, 1521 ; 1567. 
 
 2 Ed. Paris, 1533. 
 
FRAGMENTA RITUALIA. 
 
 445 
 
 3. (Missale Herford.1) 
 Ofpicidm. Sancti Tai Domine. 
 
 Oratio. Deus Qai beatum Danstanum pontifioem ad regna The Mass on 
 transtulisti coelestia, da nobis per gloriosa ejus merita ad |ay,^cord-^ 
 
 gaudia transire perennia. Per. ingtothe 
 
 -n 1 use of Here- 
 
 JbjPiSTOLA. Ecce sacerdos. ford. 
 
 Gk. Alleluia. 
 
 Y. Posui adjutorium. 
 
 II. Alleluia. De Fasca. 
 
 EvANGE. Homo quidam peregre. 
 
 Oim. Inveni David. 
 
 Sece. Intercessio qusesumus Domine beafci Dunstani baec Tibi 
 commendet munera, pro cujus Tibi sunt commemorations 
 oblata. Per Dominum. 
 
 CoMMUNio. Domine quinque talenta. 
 
 PosTCOMMiJNio. Sumpta sacramenta quaasumus Domine nos 
 a peccafcis absolvant, et per beati antistitis Dunstani suflfragia 
 ad ccelos perducant. Per Dominum. 
 
 VI. HoRiE Sancti Dunstani episcopi et confessoris. 
 
 1. (Brev. Sarisb. Rouen, 1492.) 
 
 Sancti Dunstani episcopi et confessoris ix. lectiones fiant. Breviary 
 _ .-^ . ^ — ._ T services on 
 
 Oeatio. Deus qui beatum Dunstanum pontincem Tuum ad S.Dunstan's 
 
 regna transtulisti coelestia, da nobis per gloriosa ejus merita the u?e o^ 
 ad gaudia transire perennia. Per Do Salisbury.; 
 
 Si hoc festum, Sancti Aldelmi vel Sancti Augustini vel Sancti 
 Edmundi vel Sancti Barnahce apostoli, ante Penthecosten evenerit, 
 fiant tres lectiones cum regimine cliori, cum omnia fiant de com- 
 muni sanctorum Paschalis tem])oris. Si vero jpost Penthecosten 
 evenerit, fiant novem lectiones. Pit ccetera omnia fiant de com' 
 muni reliqui temporis. 
 
 Lectio I. Beatus ^ Dunstanus talibus parentibus ortus claruit, 
 quales sseculo exemptos inter cboros conspicere mereretur 
 angelorum. Natus vero puer Dunstanus in Sanctse Trinitatis 
 nomine baptizatur et postmodum litterarum studiis traditus 
 est. 
 
 Lectio II.^ Cumque jam in Dei servitio adolevisset, Dorober- 
 nensi arcbiepiscopo Aldelino patruo scilicet suo accessit, in 
 
 1 Ed. Rouen, 1502. 
 
 2 Beatus . . . angelorum] See 
 Adelard, above, p. 64. 
 
 3 Abridged from Adelard, pp. 55, 
 66. 
 
446 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUJSrSTANr. 
 
 Hours of cujus moribus curu eidem archiepiscopo complacuisset, regi 
 acSrdingto Ethelstano cum omni affectu ab eodem archiepiscopo commen- 
 
 Salisbury ^^^^^ 
 
 Lectio IIT.^ Beatus vero Dunstanus tempore Edmundi regis 
 
 filii Ethelstani monachus et abbas Glastoniae effectus, monacho- 
 
 rum ibi scholara primus instituit, efc ita verbo et opere colla- 
 
 boravit. Et sicut de cereo praBgnantis ejus genetricis caetero- 
 
 rumque per totam ecclesiam cerei fuerant accensi, ita per eum 
 
 ex hoc loco norma religionis monasticae to to Anglorum diffusa 
 
 est orbe. 
 
 Lectio IIII.^ Cumque praafato regi natus esset filius qui in 
 baptismate dictus est Edgarus, beatus Dunstanus divinis in- 
 tendens audivit psallentium vocem, **Pax Anglorum ecclesias 
 ** nati nunc pueri, et nostri Dunstani tempore/' Quod postea 
 rerum probavit eventus. Tu. 
 
 L. Y.2 Quodara tempore praesente Sancto Dunstano trabs 
 maxima in culmen ecclesiee erecta ruere coepit multis minans 
 interitum. Quam Dunstanus dextera manu signum crucis 
 faciens relevat. Hunc etiam quadam nocte orantem dyabolus 
 in ursi effigie aggreditur ; et cambucam cui vir Dei inniteba- 
 batur, de manibus ejus dentibus suis auferre conabatur; sed 
 vir Dei imperterritus cambucam levat, et borrendum monstrum 
 caedendo insequitur. Et dum psallebat *'Exurgat Deus et 
 " dissipentur inimici Ejus," informe fantasma evanuit. Tu 
 autem. 
 
 L. Yl.^ Edgarus, in regni solio sublimatus, regnum in pace 
 gubernavit, et Dunstanum abbatem fecit epyscopum Wygor- 
 nensem. Adauctoque ei Londoniensis ecclesise praesulatu, ge- 
 mino claruit insignitus pontificio. Post ba3C vero arcbiepisco- 
 pus Dorobernensis omni consensu effectus est. Hie* etiam 
 beatus Dunstanus Spiritum Sanctum in specie columbse bis 
 videre meruit; et angelos Dei raodulantes et dicentes, **Kyrie 
 ** eleyson, Christe eleyson, Kyrie eleyson," in laude Trini- 
 tatis audivit, at que cytharam suam parieti adhaerentem an- 
 gelicis manibus resonare antipbonam, ** Gaudent in coelis animae 
 ''sanctorum," solus veraciter intellexit. Vixit itaque beatus 
 Dunstanus septem regum temporibus, ^ dieque vocationis suae 
 imminente ecclesiam sibi commissam Deo commendavit. 
 Et sumtpo Sacramento corporis Domini, inter verba orationis 
 
 1 Abridged from Adelard, p. 56. * Hie etiam , ^c] Adelard, pp. 62, 
 
 2 Adelard, p. 59. 63. 
 
 3 Adelard, p. 60. ^ dieque'] Adelard, pp. 65, 66. 
 
FRAGMENTA RITUALIA. 
 
 447 
 
 spiritum in manus Creatoris reddidit, et in pace requiescit. Hours of 
 Tu autem. 
 
 Tres ultimcB lectiones de expositiom Evangelii, Homo quidam 
 peregre. Coetera omnia de communi uniiis confessoris et ponti- 
 ficis. 
 
 2. (Brev. Eborac. MS Laud, 84.) 
 
 Ad Yesperas, Antiphona Alleluia pertinens ad feriara cum afcording to 
 
 - . T the use of 
 prosis ferialibus. York. 
 
 Cap. Ecce sacerdos. 
 
 Y. Iste confessor. 
 
 Yersic. Amavit. 
 
 In ehdomade Ascensionis, Confessor Domini. 
 
 Oratio. Da quaesumus ut in communi. 
 
 Ad matutin. Invitatobium. Exultent. 
 
 P. Yenite. 
 
 Y. Iste confessor. 
 
 In ISTocturnis antiphona Alleluia III. Ps. Beatus vir. P. 
 Quare fre. P. Domine quid vult. Yersic. Amavit. 
 Lectio I*.^ 
 
 Sanctus antistes Dunstanus tarn Sanctis parentibus ortus 
 claruit, ut eos sieculo exemptos inter chores conspicere merere- 
 tur angelicos. Natus ergo puer Dei sacro e lavacro intinc- 
 tus et Grlastoniae divino servitio mancipatur. Cumque jam flos 
 adolescentise in annis adolesceret, de Glastonia egressus archi- 
 episcopo Dorobernensi Aldelmo patruo scilicet suo se junxit. 
 In quo idem pontifex gratiam Dei admirans, in palatio eum 
 praesentavit, et regi Adelstano in magno affectu coramendavit. 
 A quo diversis bonoribus sublimatus locum quoque in quo 
 educatus est Dei informandum servitio suscepit, ubi monachus 
 et abbas effectus monachorum ibi scolam primus instruere 
 coepit. Cujus studio sic sancta inibi excrevit religio, ut per 
 eum ex boc loco culmen religion is monasticse toto Anglorum 
 orbe diffusum sit. 
 
 Eesp. Euge serve. 
 Lectio II**.^ 
 
 Bex autem Eadgarus regno confirmatus beatum Dunstanum 
 in episcopatu Wigorniensis ecclesi^ promovit. In cujus ordi- 
 natione cum Odo archiepiscopus officium rite perageret, eum 
 ecclesise metropolis Dorobernensis cunctis admirantibus titula- 
 vit. Super quo a cir cum stantibus modeste redargutus, " Scio," 
 inquit, " karissimi, quid loquatur in me Deus." Adaucto ei de- 
 
 1 Adelard, pp. 54, 55, 66. 
 
 I 2 Adelard, pp. 60, 61, 62. 
 
448 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 Hours of inde ecclesias Londoniensis prsesulatu, gemini pontificatus cla- 
 
 S. Dunstan 1-% , i • • x m 
 
 according to ^^^i^ insigni. Praedicto vero arcmepiscopo patribus sms appo- 
 
 York^^^^ sito, cum electione totius ecclesias in 'cathedra archiepisoopatus 
 successit, cui eum olim Spiritus Sanctus titulavit. Beato vero 
 Adelwaldo Wyntoni93 episcopo, a se olim educate, et ante se 
 ad coelestia regna prasmisso, ei per visum beatus astitit An- 
 dreas apostolus, hoc oraculo usus, "Abbatem nomine Elphe- 
 " gum Wyntonias consecrabis episcopum." Hujusmodi visio- 
 nibus beatus pater dignissimus Spiritum quoque Sanctum 
 velud alter Johannes in specie columbse bis videre promeruit. 
 Besp. Ecce sacerdos. . 
 Lectio III.^ 
 
 Die itaque vocationis ejus imminente commissam sibi eccle- 
 siam Deo assignavit, verbo instruxit, atque auctoritate apo- 
 stolica a peccatis omnibus absolvit. Deinde commissa omnibus 
 pace et caritate sua vale ultimum dixib. Ipsa vero die Do- 
 minicae Ascensionis coepit lente viribus destitui, languoreque 
 pra3valescente, lectulo suscipitur, in quo tota sexta feria cum 
 nocte sequenti decumbens mane Sabbati ympnis jam matuti- 
 nalibus peractis, sanctam adesse jubet fratrum congregationem. 
 Quibus iterum spiritum commendans, viaticum sacramentorum 
 Christi suscepit : undo gratias agens Deo psallere coepit, 
 " Memoriam fecit mirabilium suorum misericors et miserator 
 ** Dominus ; escam dedit timentibus Se." Inter quae verba 
 spiritum in manibus Creatoris reddens in pace quievit. 
 
 Resp. Agmina sa. 
 
 Yersic. Ora pro no. 
 
 In laudihus et ad alias horas antiphoncB AlleluiaticaB ; coetera 
 de communi unius Confessoris Pontificis, Isto modo dic'atur de 
 60 si ante Ascenslonem evenerit. Si vero ^ost festum Sanctce Tri- 
 nitatis evenerit, dicatur de eo cum trihus lectionihus, sicut de uno 
 confessore ^ontifice extra tempus PascJiale, 
 
 3. (Breviarium Herford. Rouen, 1505.) 
 According to Festo Sancti Dumtani arcMejpiseopi. 
 
 Hereford Oratio. Deus qui beatum Dunstanum pontificem ad regna 
 coelestia transtulisti, da nobis per gloriosa ejus merita ad 
 gaudia transire perennia. Per Dominum. 
 
 Tres Lectiones fiant sine regimine chori. 
 
 Lectio Prima.^ Sanctus antistes Dunstanus tam Sanctis pa- 
 rentibus ortus claruit, ut eos saeculo exemptos inter chores 
 conspicere mereretur angelicos; ipso autem matemis retento 
 
 1 Adelard, pp. 65, 66. 
 
 I 2 Adelard, p. 54. 
 
FRAGMENTA RITUALIA, 
 
 449 
 
 visceribus, de praesentato puero Jesu m templo dies lUuxit Hours of 
 
 1 . m . S. Dunstan, 
 
 Celebris. Tu autem. according to 
 
 Lectio Secunda.^ IsTatus ergo puer Dei sacro est lavacro in- Hereford 
 
 tinctus, et Glastonise divino servitio maiicipatus. Cumque jam 
 
 flos adoleseentias in annis adolesceret, de Glastonia egressus 
 
 archyepiscopo Dorobernensi patruo suo Aldelmo sejunxit. Tu 
 
 autem. 
 
 Lectio 111.^ Hunc nocte quadam orantem dyabolus in ursi 
 eflSgie aggreditur, et cambucam bracbiis complexans frendens 
 dentibus et ore de manibus sancti auferre conatus est. In 
 quern vir Dei imperterritus insurgens horrendum monstrum 
 cum cambuca csedendo persequitur. Et -ee psallente ** Exurgat 
 ** Deus et dissipentur inimici Ejus," per subdola bestiarum 
 transformata evanuit. 
 
 Et cwtera de communi unius pontificis istius ternjporis, 
 
 4. (MS. BodL e Mus. 2.) 
 
 Ora-TIO. Deus qui beatum Dunstanum pontificem tuum ad Another 
 regna transtulisti coelestia, da nobis per gloriosa ejus merita mCTit ac" 
 ad regna transire perhennia. Per .... theusfof 
 
 Si hoc festum vel Sancti Aldelmi vel Sa cti Augustini vel Salisbury. 
 Sancti Barnahce a^postoli ante Pentecoszen evenerit, fiat de com- 
 muni sanctorum Paschalis temporis. Si vero post Pentecosten 
 contigeritj fiant ix. lectiones, et omnia fiant de communi reliqui 
 temporis. 
 
 Lectio I.' Beatus Dunstanus talibus parentibus ortus claruit, 
 quales saeculo exemptos inter cboros conspicere merer etur an- 
 gelorum. Natus vero puer Dunstanus in Sanctae Trinitatis 
 nomine baptizatur, et litterarum postmodum studiis traditur. 
 
 Lectio II.'* Cumque jam in Dei servitio adolevisset, Doro- 
 bernensi archiepiscopo Aldelmo patruo suo accessit. In cujus 
 moribus cum eidera pontifici complacuisset, regi Athelstano 
 ab eodem est prassentatus, et cum omni afFectu est commen- 
 datus. 
 
 Lectio III.^ Beatus vero Duijstanus monacbus et abbas Glas- 
 toniae effectus, monacborum ibi scolam instituit, et verbo et 
 opere informavit, ita ut per eum norma religionis monasticaa 
 toto Anglorum diffusa est orbe. 
 
 Lectio IY**.^ Cumque praefato regi natus esset filius qui in 
 baptismate dictus est Edgarus, Sanctus Dunstanus divinis 
 
 * Adelard, pp. 54, 55. 
 2 Adelard, p. 59. 
 
 * Adelard, p. 54. 
 
 Adelard, p. 55. 
 5 Adelard, p. 56. 
 
 F F 
 
450 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 Hours of intendens andivit vocem psallentium in sublimi, '* Pax Anglo- 
 S.Dunstau. ecclesiae nati nunc pueri et nostri Dunstani tempore;" 
 
 quod postea rei probayit eventus. 
 
 Lectio Y**.* Postea vero regni solio Edgarus sublimatus, 
 regni negotia^in pace, sicut coelitus promissum est, disponente, 
 sapientum consilio beatum Dunstanum de abbate episcopum 
 fecit in Wygornensi ecclesia, quod et divinitus coUatum sibi 
 fuisse creditur. 
 
 Lectio VI*.^ Hunc quadam nocte orantem in ursi eflSgiem 
 diabolus aggreditur. Cui vir Dei inperterritus resistens, hor- 
 rendum monstrum vi ceedendo insequitur. Et dum psallebat, 
 ** Exsurgat Deus et dissipentur inimici Ejus," et formae fan- 
 tasma evanuit. 
 
 Tres Lectionea uUimce de expositione Evangeliif Homo quidam 
 peregre. Goetera de communi unius confessoris et pontificis. 
 
 VII. Oratio Anselmi ad Sanctum Dunstanum, cum 
 
 RECOBDATIONE MIRACULORUM EJUS. 
 (Opera, ed. Gerberon, pp. 297-299.) 
 
 s.Anseim's Sancte Dunstane, dulcis ad invocandum et benignus 
 EJmsTan. ad exaudieiidum, plus ad subveniendum ; tu ad te 
 fugientibus nunquam incertum refugium, tu ad te ela- 
 mantibus nunquam imparatum auxilium ; sancte, be- 
 nigne ac pie Dunstane, respiee miseriam animse meae : 
 si enim respexeris, si calamitatem meam et miseriam 
 attenderis, profecto misericordise tuae viscera non con- 
 tinebis. Timore, tremore, horrore, excruciatur anima 
 mea; timet, tremit, et exhorret immania quae meretur 
 supplicia, et non est quo effugiat constituta ante judi- 
 cem. Sola assistit, nullus qui pro ea agat existit. 
 Vita discutitur, damnabilis invenitur, bona etenim acta 
 requiruntur, vix aut nulla reperiuntur. Deferuntur 
 admissa ; negari non possunt tam multa et tam grandia 
 quae omnem venise spem excludunt. Longanimem sui 
 patientiam judex exigendo praetendit ; nihil nisi perti- 
 nacem sui impoenitentiam ista obtendit. Circum sis- 
 
 ' Adelard, p. 60. 
 
 I 2 Adelard, p. 59. 
 
FBAGMENTA RITUALIA. 
 
 tunt accusantes, iterant et reiterant, replicant et expli- s^seim's 
 cant delatas accusationes. Undique accusatur, a nuUo Sunstan. 
 excusatur. Astant et expectant crndeles ac horrendi 
 tortores ut probata damnationis sententia mox earn ad 
 cruciandum abripiant. Tanta miseriarum mole obruta 
 miserabilis anima quserit et circnmspicit ; et ecce qui 
 consurgat et pro ea respondeat nullum aspicit. 
 
 Tu ergo pie, misericors et clemens Dunstane, surge, 
 surge, exhibe solitam opem miserationis, adhibe viscera 
 pietatis, impende suffragium interventionis ; ad te cla- 
 mandum invitabant et exhortabantur opera pietatis 
 quae de te preedicantur ; sed repellunt ac obtundunt opera 
 impietatis, quae a me commissa a te horrore intolera- 
 bili abominantur atque exsecrantur. Ecce miseria, ecce 
 angustia, ubi reus condemnatur, et omnis Dei miseri- 
 cordise ac pietatis sinus obseratur ; sic arguitui*, con- 
 funditur, obtunditur, accusatrice conscientia, ut nec 
 judicem deprecari audeat, nec qui deprecetur pro ea: 
 sed tu, 0 misericors et pie, ubi pietas, ubi miseratio, 
 ubi misericordia, nisi ubi miseria ? Cui pius, cui mise- 
 ricors fies nisi misero ? Agnosco, agnosco, agTiosco, 
 agnoscens obmutesco, intentans enormitatem criminum 
 meorum ; attamen quanto major miseria, tanto fit prae- 
 dicabilior misericordia; nec miseria mea tanta erit, ut 
 deficiens fiat potentia tuse virtutis. An eo usque am- 
 plificatur miseria mea ut angustetur misericordia tua? 
 An inralitudo mea prseponderabit potentissima merita 
 tua ? Immo meritorum tuorum praeponderans gratia 
 sustollat, leviget ac evacuet impietatum mearum pon- 
 dera. Libentissime tibi Judex Ipse donabit quidquid 
 tua tam dilecta et cara Eum familiaritas postulabit : 
 non negabit tibi unius salutem miseri, Salus Ipsa Cui 
 tam familiaris existis: facile reddet tibi unius mortui 
 vitam Vita Ipsa apud Quam tantam babes gratiam. 
 
 Ne deficiat, quaeso, in me uno tuae benignitatis 
 munificentia, cujus in multis et tam innumeris redun- 
 dant beneficia. Obtineam per te indulgentiam ut tam 
 
 F F 2 
 
452 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 s^sBim's dilecti et diligentis Dei ac Domini tui in omnes prae- 
 Smnstan. dicent ac magnificent misericordiam. O quam prsedi- 
 candis monstrabat Deus indiciis quantum Ei tu gratus 
 esses ac familiaris ! O insestimabilis cordis tui puritas, 
 cum qua tam crebro sermocinabantur angeli Dei ! O 
 inaestimabilis apud Deum familiaritas, cui sic familiaris 
 erat angelorum dignitas ! O decus ^ ac praemium virgi- 
 nitatis, cui sic adgaudet natura angelicae dignitatis ! In 
 coelum deducebaris, intereras beatis agminibus illorum, 
 oblectabaris modulationibus angelicis/ cantans cum ilKs 
 canticum quod solus cantat chorus virginalis. Rursus tibi 
 in terris hymnum celebranti vicissim aderat et consona- 
 bat melodia coelestis : concinebant agmina virginitatis, 
 summa dignitas supernee civitatis. Potens ac praepotens 
 gratia, cui sic obsequens erat dignitatis angelicas poten- 
 tia ! Excellens ac praecellens meriti eminentia, quam gibi 
 acceptam, sic pretiosam divina monstrabat superexcel- 
 lentia. Nunquam ergo quam dilecti, tam familiaris sui 
 precem avertet, ut reo uni veniam non donet. Deni- 
 que Ipse testatur quoniam non vult ut peccator mo- 
 riatur : libenter itaque animae peccatrici salutem dabit 
 cujus testatur Se nolle mortem. 
 
 Rursus occurrunt spes et confidentia ereptionis meae 
 apud Ipsum Judicem, insignia familiaritatis tuae. Quos 
 enim praenuntios, quos apparitores ad te praemisit, cum 
 directam tuam beatam animam jam carne abituram. 
 Ilium adituram, ac Secum permansuram adjudicavit ? 
 ne uUo metu terreretur, stupore turbaretur, incertitu- 
 dine sollicitaretur, dies prsedicitur, aetemae beatitudinis 
 mansio promittitur, ducatus curiae coelestis adducitur, 
 a quo hilari securitate ac secura hilaritate perducitur. 
 
 Quanta et 0 quanta, quali et O quali suscipitur ex- 
 sultatione, qui cum tali ac tanta deducitur apparitione 1 
 quantum jocundatur et glorificatur susceptus cujus sic 
 honorificatur adventus ? quanta denique veneratione, 
 
 1 See Osbern, p. 119, whence the 
 words seem to be taken. 
 
 ^ This is word for word from 
 Osbern, above, p. 117. 
 
FKAGMENTA RITUALIA. 
 
 453 
 
 quanta fiflorificationis exhibitione fit ipsa annuntiatio s. Anseim's 
 
 ^ ° , , prayer to 
 
 migrationis tu88 ? Per visum tibi sedenti in cathedra Dunstan. 
 tua pontificali ^ astans et cireumstans angelorum fre- 
 quentia, supernorum civium curia; quserit a te quoad 
 tibi placeat commorari in came ista ; refert nuntium, 
 indicat votum totius supemae concionis optantis, oran- 
 tis ac deprecahtis, ut jam cum eis ante summum ponti- 
 ficem perpetuum Sanctus decantes in coelis. Respondisti 
 te nunc non posse abire ; quia Dominicae Ascensionis 
 aderat festum, in quo allocuturus et communicaturus 
 eras commissum tibi populum. Fit concessio justse et 
 caritativse excusationis ; indicitur dies in qua nulla 
 occurreret causa dilationis. 
 
 O insignis et admirabilis gratia familiaritatis, cujus 
 solius voluntati, totius supernse dignitatis votum ac 
 voluntas cedit ! Concedit dilationem Sui ne hujus 
 non habeat adimpletionem ; quod non vult, ilia fieri 
 mavult quam ne non fiat quod ista vult. Quo ergo 
 amore prsesentia ejus amatur et amplectitur cujus ab- 
 sentia sic desideratur et exspectatur ! Quod a Deo gratise 
 donum accepit in coelis tantum glorise munus in terris 
 concessit ! Splendidus in stola virginitatis quam vene- 
 ranter suscipitur ad nuptias ! Inter primes dis- 
 cumbit, quia cum decore integritatis induitur virtute 
 humilitalis ; praeditusque gratia caritatis ac totius vir- 
 tutis, sequitur Agnum quocunque vadit. Quomodo 
 ergo tam amatus, tam familiaris apud Ipsum Aucto- 
 rem salutis, misericordise ac pietatis, non obtinebis 
 salutem unius peccatoris, si voluntas adest, constat quia 
 possibilitas non deest; nec voluntatem fas est abesse, 
 quia te voluntati Ejus fas non est contrarium esse, Qui 
 omnes homines vult salvos facere. Obtine itaque quod 
 vis, et quod potes obtine : liberetur et vivat tua inter- 
 cessione anima mea, pro qua ut viveret, mori voluit 
 beata Vita, Deus Ipse, misericordia mea. Qui est 
 benedictus in saecula. Amen. 
 
 * See Osbern, p. 120. The word cathedra looks as if Anselm had 
 read Eadmer's account, p. 217. 
 
454 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 VIII. Sermo de maxima laude Sancti Dunstani 
 
 ARCHIEPISCOPI ET CONFESSORIS. 
 (MS. C.C.C.C. 161.) 
 
 Sermon in Beatissimus Dei prsesul Dunstanus, cujus laudes paria 
 
 praise of .-. i i 'it • j u.* 
 
 Dunstan. paribus copulando succmcte digerere juvat, vere multis 
 et egregiis virtutibus et gratiis atque magnalibus, mag- 
 nis felix snccessibus, omnium justorum spiritu plenus, 
 omnimoda coelestium ordinum dignitate prsefulgebat. 
 Quae ut omnia sigillatim elucescant, in moribus nimi- 
 rum quadrifida principalium virtutum quadriga, id est, 
 prudentia, justitia, fortitudine, temperantia, cum appen- 
 dicibus earum, supra sidera efferebatur, adeo ut totius 
 humani generis prsefulgidum sidus non immerito vide- 
 retur. Quarum omnium mira profectio, si in ejus vita 
 
 His graces, quseritur, profecto invenitur. Speciosis plane renitebat 
 gratiis, qui adeo erat et forma decorus et lingua facun- 
 dus, ingenio acutus, memoria tenax, studio pertinax, 
 manu efiicax, scientiis peritus, cautela discretus, pro- 
 phetia praevidus, prodigiis mirifieus. Multiplici quoque 
 
 His sue- successu prsster coelestes ejus clarificationes felicissimus, 
 
 cesses. jj • 
 
 utpote a puero m regum palatiis educatus, pnncipibus 
 et populis unice gratus, per ipsas etiam perseeutiones 
 prosperatus, singulari exemplo gemini simul episcopatus 
 episcopus unus, deinde etiam omnium Anglise ecclesia- 
 rum principalis pastor et patriae rector et regum im- 
 perator, pontificali simulque regali officio strenuissime 
 functus. In signum autem signorum mirificentia prae- 
 His signs ditus, a Dco quidem Patre coelestium et terrenarum 
 
 and won- ' , , 
 
 ders. rerum revelationibus, aliisque prodigiis multifarie glo- 
 rificatus, Filii Dei in coelis et Spiritus Sancti in terris 
 iterato visu donatus, a divina matre praesentia ejus et 
 cantu, visu et auditu, processione et obsequio, ab an- 
 gelis quoque caeterisque Sanctis in ccelo et in terra sin- 
 gulari gloria dilectus, frequentatus, adjutus, veneratus; 
 ab hominibus reveritus, daemonibus formidatus, in caete- 
 ras etiam creaturas imperiosus. Carmiuum coelestium 
 
FEAGMENTA KITUALIA. 
 
 455 
 
 in ccelis et in terris auditor et cantor, discipulus et His signs 
 doctor, qui quod coelicolse eum docebant, homines do- ders7°^" 
 cebat ; qui angelis canebat, et cui angeli canebant, et 
 ipsius cithara citharizabant ; sancti applaudebant, et ipsa 
 virgo virgiiium cum suis virginibus dulcissime canta- 
 bat. Vates futurorum, invisibilium spectator, poli de- His high 
 ambulator, ipse quoque corpore in alta sublatus. Suf- and powers, 
 fragator hominum, tortor dsemonum, dampnandarum 
 liberator animarum, jussor creaturarum, mutator natu- 
 rarum. Ad cujus obsequium subvolabant pondera, aer His power 
 tulit pondera, cedebant inmobilia, inundabant arida, elements, 
 molliebantur dura, loquebantur muta et insensibilia. 
 Jam vero quod omnium justorum spiritu plenus daruit 
 ex subjectis liquebit. Ab utero sanctificatus est ut 
 Jeremias, et miraculo prsesignatus ut Johannes; cum His likeness 
 Petro a Petra, et monte qui Christus est, divinitus thf Baptfst, 
 nomen trahens : et ut Christi imitator in templum prse- is^jjfiiana 
 sentatus, sicut ille Symeonis prophetico, sic iste ange- Sm,Snd^*^' 
 lici senis praedicatus oraculo. Ut virgo Juliana atque ^' 
 Christiana dsemones domabat, eosque ut Martinus visi- 
 bus suis et prseterea verbis atque verberibus subjectos 
 habebat. Sanctee armoniae musicus Daviticus, et sicut 
 Salomon artificiosus. Sicut Davit ab invidis, et ut To David, 
 Helyas a tirannis et altera Jezabel pro justitia perse- S^s^johns, 
 cutionem passus. Sicut Helyas a corvis in vita sus- and s! B^ne- 
 tentatus, sic iste a canibus de morte liberatus. Sicut 
 Johannes Evangelista salubri segritudine ad coelibatum 
 conversus, sicut Johannes Baptista Spiritum Sanctum 
 manifeste vidit, sicut Antonius et Benedictus sacram 
 relligionem multiplicabat. Sicut Moyses et Gregorius to Moses, 
 prselationes humiliter renuebat, et sicut Aaron idem- laSmf 
 que Gregorius divino indicio obedienter suscipiebat. ikmuS!' 
 Magnus ecclesise pastor, ut Petrus; patriae rector ut iusha! 
 Samuel, regum imperator ut Ysaias. Sicut Helyas et 
 Heliseus tirannos indomabiles increpabat, et prophetali 
 sententia plectebat ; et sicut Helyseus dociles corrige- 
 bat, correctosque regebat. Item sicut Helyseus a pro- 
 
456 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 Dunstan's fundo aqusB ferrum enatare, seque fecit manibrio aptare, 
 preserva- sic Dunstanus trabem in aerem sursum evolare et loco 
 
 tion, and 
 
 visions. debito se coUocare. Sieut prophetse multa et mira 
 prsedixit, et sieut martyres plurima pro justitia per- 
 tulit. Sieut Davit a persecutoribus suis divinitus vin- 
 dicatus. Quorum uni, sieut Gregorius animam pagani 
 imperatoris a tartareis tormentis, sic et ipse animam 
 impii regis a tortoribus eripuit demoniis. 
 He wrought Fontem ut Moyses de rupe produxit, ecclesiam ut 
 Moses, Gre- montcm Grcgorius dimovit, casulam ut Brigida in aere 
 Bridget. suspendit. Sieut Danieli et Ezechieli, Zacharise atque 
 Johanni per angelos, et sieut Machabaeo per sanctos, 
 sic et isti per utrosque multa occulta Deus revelavit. 
 He^wM like Sicut Paulus in coelum deduci meruit, ibique et in ter- 
 isMah,knd ris.archana verba et angelica carmina audiit, eaque sibi 
 et in coelo et in terra loqui et canere et homines docere 
 licuit. Item sicut Ysaias et Ezechiel Dei maje^tatem 
 in coelis et Johannes Spiritum Sanctum et Dei Geni- 
 tricem in terris, utrobique autem frequenti miraculo et 
 raro exemplo, angelos et sanctos, et familiarius Andream 
 apostolum videre et alloqui, multisque ac miris modis, 
 His friend- ut praefatum est, ab eis oblectari consuevit. Et haBC 
 
 ship with . . . ... 
 
 s. Andrew, quidcm Omnia m se uno congessit maximorum maxima 
 Sanctorum magnalia. Sed ilia certe sibi soli apperti- 
 nent propria et incomparabilia, quod tantis honoribus a 
 matre Domini Creatoris et omnium creaturarum Do- 
 He is served mina diligi et deduci, et ab Ipso Domino transmissis 
 
 by angels. _ ^ . . , . , 
 
 ad eum universis angelorum agmimbus ad regnum 
 coeleste invitari dignus fuit. Sicut igitur omnium jus- 
 torum spiritu repletus, et omnibus eccl^siasticse hierar- 
 chise gradibus promotus, sic et omnimoda sanctorum 
 Hisproino- atque angelicorum ordinum dignitate praeditus. Erat 
 
 tionthrough . . i i i i • t 
 
 all degrees euim, ut gradatim ad summa conscendamus, corde simul 
 
 of sanctity. , . « t i . • . 
 
 et corpore virgo, coniessor praedicando, martyr vero vita 
 et voto, multaque patiendo. Claruit apostolus, ut Christi 
 legatus, vaticinio propheta, primatu patriarcha. Erat 
 et angelus, quia Dei et hominum officio et actu fre- 
 
FBAGMENTA BITUALIA. 
 
 457 
 
 quens intemuntius; erat et archangelus, quia aliorum He is com- 
 similium angelorum director et dux. Sicut virtutes tSrseverai 
 
 ... , . , , , , 1 , • -I • ranks of the 
 
 virtutum operator ; sicut potestates muita m homines angeiic host, 
 et dsemones, in animas et corpora, potestate pra3ditus. 
 Sicut principatus ipsis quoque principans regibus atque 
 principibus. Sicut dominationes omnibus dominans spi- 
 ritualibus et animalibus corporeisque illecebris atque 
 passionibus. Sicut throni Dei sedes extabat per quern 
 mortalibus sua judicia decemebat. Sicut cherubin multa 
 Deum scientia et intellectu cognoscebat atque cemebat. 
 Sicut seraphin miro caritatis ardore Deitati proximus 
 adheerebat. Alta quidem et longe super hominem sunt 
 hsec, sed multo excellentius, salva fide, hie homo divi- 
 nus pr^dicatur etiam Deus atque Dei fiKus et hseres 
 setemus. Deus existebat quia gratia et meritis deifi- 
 catus, Dei quoque haBres et filius adoptione assumptus. 
 Hseres quidem Dei, cohseres autem Christi, et inter 
 cseteros summi Dei filios insignis et excelsus. Vere 
 igitur multis et egregiis prsecelsus privilegiis, vere mag- 
 nus ab hominibus obsequiis adorandus, qui tantis in 
 coelis et in terra adeo sublimatur honoribus. 
 
IL'Sl.% 
 
 A COLLATION OF THE TEXT OF THE 
 ST. GALL MS. 337, WITH THE 
 PRESENT EDITION. 
 
 Pages of 
 this Volume. 
 
 p. 3. Rubric in red capitals, "Incipit Prolugus 
 
 " de vita vel conversatione almi confes- 
 " soris Dunstani."| 
 1. 1. archonti Albrico] archonti videlicet Albrico. 
 2. B.] in margin, "Beda." 
 
 5. placidam] placidi. 
 
 6. tutionem] tutorem. 
 
 7. eoocipiendam] excipiendo. 
 18. exoTierans] exhonerans. 
 
 p. 4, 1. 14. fuTidotenns] fundetenus. 
 15. preearia] a, ins. MS. 
 29. schemate\ scemate. 
 
 34. antistitis] antestitis. 
 
 35. sumTne] sum me. 
 
 p. 5, 1. 13. educando] edocando. 
 
 20. agrestem] egrestem; as MS. A. 
 
 28. Rubric in red capitals, " Incipit gloriosi 
 
 Dunstani arcHiprsesulis conversatio vel 
 "vita.'' 
 
 29. Cvm multorum] Cum^ ergo multorum (in 
 
 violet uncials).] 
 tempomm a vero cvltu Cristi'l in black 
 capitals. 
 
 30. qnihns] ut. 
 
 32. deceTnebafl decrevisset, tandem. 
 
COLLATION. 
 
 Pages of 
 this Volume. 
 
 p. 6, 1. 2. ejusdem ccecitati] genti prsefatse. 
 3. hujvs] has. 
 5, 6, sociaret . . fidelium] efBceret populum. An- 
 glorum in . . . 
 
 7. inter inscioe nationis vepres] in populum 
 
 jam dictum. 
 
 8. triticeum] triticium ; (triticum, A.). 
 
 9. insemit, sic\ inserebat, sic omne • . • 
 
 10. hac exstirpavit, ufl eo exstirpavit, nee . . . 
 
 11. ea pullulare prohiheret] ea pullulare per- 
 
 misit. 
 
 13, 14. dehere . " spTeveratl offerre demonstravit. 
 Quid multa ? 
 
 16. Hic\ Dominus. 
 17-19. optimce . . reges] tamen hominibus adhi- 
 ben^ meliorem, elegit sibi pastores de 
 populo Sue, reges videlicet. 
 
 20. Ecclesice 8uce] ecclesiarum. 
 
 22. cvm justitia] ac servarent. 
 
 24. hos prcecipiios] quos etiam. 
 24-28. quern . . admmieratus] gloriosus iEthelsta- 
 nus quamvis eum multi reges, quorum 
 nunc nomina difficultas non sinit rimare 
 per singula, regnando prsecederent, post 
 tamen annis succedentibus rex Anglorum 
 adnumeratus est. 
 
 28. igitur] quoque. 
 
 29. oritur] ortus est. 
 
 30. Heorstanus] Heorstan. 
 Cynethrydis] Cynethryth. 
 
 31. vocitaturl vocabatur. 
 
 sacri baptismatis} sacris baptismatum. 
 
 32. itaque] igitur. 
 34. autem] itaque. 
 
 p, 7, 1. 1. vichwrvm] Anglorum. 
 
 nuncupata] vocitata. 
 6. muneribus] beneficiis. 
 
400 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 Pages of 
 this Volume. 
 
 p. 7, 1. 5. In ea siquidem ipsius loco] In qua quidem 
 
 insula. 
 
 7-8. nulla . . paratam] nullis hominum arte 
 recordationibus fabricatam vel dicatam. 
 12-14. Huic . . dedicaverunti Ad banc etiam aliam 
 addiderimt opere lapideo sedificantes aec- 
 clesiam, quam Christo pontifices sanctoque 
 , . . Petro apostolo dedicarunt. 
 15-16. et jam dictce . . frequentahat] adorabat, 
 frequentabat locum jam dictse insulse 
 pretiosum. 
 16. ergo] enim. . . 
 
 18. transire Glestoniam] transisse GlsDstoniam. 
 21, excessvy] aspectu. 
 
 24. eo . . fnisse] eo videlicet ordine quo nunc 
 statuta vel facta referuntur. 
 
 26. religiosi] jam dicti, add. MS. 
 
 27. otiis] curiose, add. MS. 
 studentem] om. MS. 
 
 30. transilirei] transilisset. 
 p. 8, 1. 6. vacua'] vacuo. . . 
 
 12. morituTUs] morituris. 
 
 14. abiit] saliit; tbis is probably the true read- 
 
 ing. 
 
 33. Ostia] Hostia ; so also A. 
 p. 9, 1. 2. ut] om. MS; . 
 
 5. Exmrgat] Ut surgat. 
 
 6. iVam . . tanto] Nam quantum fuerat cre- 
 
 scendo sublimior, tanto erat. 
 p. 10, 1. 1. quantoque] quantumque. , 
 2. quanto vero] et quantum. 
 9. tempore continuo] om. MS. 
 12. cedrus] cedris. 
 
 15. tarn] namque. The following variations are 
 
 of more especial importance, owing to the 
 lacuna in the Arras MS. 
 
 16. ut] adeo nempe ut. 
 
COLLATION. 
 
 461 
 
 Pages of 
 this Volume. 
 
 p. 10, 1.117. ctutem] tamen ut. 
 
 18. captabat . . sed] captaret favores sed ut. 
 illam\ omnem, add. MS. 
 
 19. gestabat] gestaret. 
 
 22. dictavit] et nevit, add. MS. 
 
 23. et divinoTumI cm. MS. ; so also MS. B. 
 sic\ om. MS. ; so also B. 
 
 24. nf] eo videlicet tenore ut. 
 
 25. et] et ut. 
 
 27. sensum] om. MS. 
 Hibernensium] Hibemiensium. 
 Glestonice] om. MS. 
 
 28. fidelium turbce] nationes. 
 et] om. MS. 
 
 29. maxime] tamen, add. MS. 
 
 junioris] senioris ; so also B. Mabillon, how- 
 ever, as well as the Bollandists, preserves 
 the former as the reading of A. 
 p. 11, 1. 2. phylosophantes] philosophantes. 
 
 5. persensit] persenserat. 
 Itct] Et ita. 
 
 6. verd] om. MS. 
 cohercebatl cohercens. 
 
 7. divince Scripturce libros scrutaretur'] hujus- 
 
 modi libros enucleaverat. 
 9. mulcebaturl insudaverat. 
 12, 13. et . . svA)Tum\ immo sseeularium, maxime 
 videlicet ipsi consanguinei sui. 
 18. ut hirci] uti hyrci. 
 
 20. inopinatam in eum scabiem menddcH] in- 
 
 opinata mendacia. 
 
 21. salutaribus] salubribus. 
 
 23, 24. historiarum . . ncemas] histriarum Mvolas 
 
 coluisse incantationes. 
 24. autem] quippe. 
 25, 26. beatus tyro semper Christum opposuit] ipse 
 
 necessario adhibendus est Christus. 
 
462 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANL 
 
 Pages of 
 this Volume. 
 
 p.ll, 27t29. in cujus . . auctOTes\ cum teste Suo David 
 
 scilicet fideli qui in persona Ipsius Sancti 
 Spiritus praeventus oraculo de falsis tes- 
 tibus tempore . . . Compare the reading 
 of B., note 10. 
 30. vanitates] vanitatem. 
 p. 12, 1. 3. auditoribus 8uis] iterum Ipse auditoribus 
 
 Suis inquit. 
 6. Iterrtque] Dominus, ins. MS. 
 
 vos] vobis. 
 9. illo] ilia, 
 
 10. ergo] namque. 
 
 11. Jirmissima sjponsione confoTtatus\ fidelis- 
 
 sima sponsione Christi sui eonfortatus, 
 libens. 
 
 12. curans] haberet. 
 
 13. vix . . aperuerit] numquam contra se latran- 
 
 tes canes aut raro aperiret. 
 
 16. quadarn] qua prsefatus sum. 
 coram rege] apud ipsum regem. 
 
 17. vmpetravemntque} impetrantes. 
 
 18, 19. Deinde . . rabie] At illi, impetrata expul- 
 sionis licentia. 
 21. ac] videlicet ac. 
 
 23. efficerent, pedibus superimprimebant] affice- 
 
 rent pedibus super calcantes imprimebant. 
 
 24. eorurri] illorum ; so also MS. B. 
 
 25. dehoTwstarent] sordidando, add. MS. 
 
 26. e palude] a fece. 
 
 27. distantem] distante. 
 
 28. venire disposuit} pervenit. 
 
 29. vero illi] itaque illi Dei amici propinquaret 
 
 domui. 
 Into] ita. 
 
 30. deturpatumi attaminatum. 
 putaverunt] putabant. 
 
 p. 13, 1. 1. crudelil crudeliori. 
 
COLLATION. 
 
 463 
 
 Pages of 
 this Volume. 
 
 p. 13, 1. 1. tamen] sed. 
 
 1, 2. ut blandientis vocem audierunty mox esse 
 illiais ex eo] blandientem vocem remul- 
 centis audissent, mox ilium e voce. 
 
 5. in] ad tarn. 
 
 6. mutata] mutatam, 
 natura] creatura. 
 
 8. htf/nianitatis] humanitate. 
 
 10. After this section the S. Gall MS. has the 
 following verses : — 
 
 " Talibus obprobriis ceterisque bachantibus actis 
 " Saepe virum proprio pepulere ab honore beatum. 
 " Sed Domini famulus, postquam sermone fideli 
 
 Se quoque reddiderat purgatum crimine cuncto, 
 " Securus rediit digno functurus honore, 
 " Cunctorum invitus sociorum vana latrantum. 
 " Quid voluit sibi stulta choors nec praemeditata, 
 " Quae studuit dampnare pium sub fraude nociva? 
 " Forte putabat eum pressisse dolis machinarum 
 " Quem Domini pietas maluit praecellere cunctis. 
 " Est labor inmodicus durum coriare cotillum, 
 " Aut natare diu contra refluentia stagna." 
 
 p. 13, 1. 14. cessisse, quibus] cesisse quibus ipse. 
 15. sed] et. 
 
 17. Primum enim mulierem] Primum enim, ut 
 
 ita dicam, muliebrem. 
 19. jElfheagus] iElfheah, videlicet. 
 
 21. rogavit] rogaverat. 
 
 22. instinctu] ab instinctu. 
 
 25, 26. verba abnuentis audivit] abnuentis verba 
 audisset. 
 27. inferret] talia intulisset. 
 29. agnosceret] agnovisset. 
 
 Deo misericorditer favente] quidem Deo die- 
 tante. 
 
464 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 Pages of 
 this Volume, 
 
 p. 14, 1. 1. Eo namque Tnodo] Eo itaque ut. 
 
 3. ohtexit, itf] obtexisset, in tantum inquam. 
 
 4. et] ut. 
 
 5. TuTw] ergo, add. MS. 
 
 6. pontijicem . . spretum] prsescriptum ponti- 
 
 ficem jam antea spretum. 
 11. taliter] hoc prsediciTo modo. 
 
 14. revocavit] The S. Gall MS. proceeds, "con- 
 
 " suluit post hsec famulus Dei Dunstanus, 
 " et vir virilis ingenii efFectus est coram 
 " Deo et hominibus. Et dum ex hac 
 " prsedicta Dei correctione," etc. 
 
 15. antistitis ^Ifheagi] antestitis -^Ifheahi. 
 
 16. post] postea. 
 
 18. Interea] enim, add. MS. 
 WintonieTisium] Wintonensium. 
 
 19. invitaverunf] rogaverunt. 
 
 20. in Sim civitate Wintonia] ipsi quoque in 
 
 prsedicta civitate. 
 
 21. Numinis] Nominis. 
 
 condiderant, in parte\ condiderunt, in parte 
 videlicet. 
 
 23. omnibus . . esse] omnium secclesiarum esse 
 
 proxima perhibetur. 
 
 24. pontijice] pariter, add. MS. 
 
 26. coegerunt] invitarunt. 
 
 27. caritatis] caritatum. 
 p. 15, 1. 4. quam] quam etiam. 
 
 7. dixit} dicebat. 
 
 8, 9. Compleamns . . nostram] Perpleamus hie, 
 apud sanctum apostolicum nostrum Gre- 
 gorium ultimam nostri. 
 
 11. in unum] episcopus scilicet et Dunstanus. 
 
 12. proderent] prodidissent. . 
 
 Qua . . daTetur} Et post peractam confes- 
 sionem, dum dabatur. 
 
COLLATION. 
 
 465 
 
 Pages of 
 this Volume. 
 
 p. 15jl. 13-16, lapis . . Icesit] ecce lapis permagnus ab alto 
 
 aere descendit, nisus ictii minaci ambo- 
 riim capita conterei^e ; sed parcente Do- 
 mino inter utraque capita, tangens tamen 
 capillos amboriim vehementi lapsu in ter- 
 ram corruerat. 
 
 20. quendam] ejusdem, add. MS. 
 cecclesice] templi. 
 Wulfredv/ni] XJulfredum. 
 
 21. mortem subiisse] necem subire. 
 25,. mitlta] quveque. 
 
 26. siiceque . . cetatis et] omniumque suorum. 
 p. 16; 1. 1-3. Aiiditis . . positus] Audito itaque beato 
 
 Dnnstano tanta mysteriorum miracula, 
 tantosque inevitabiles vitae suse casus, ait 
 per hanc revelationem ad eum. 
 
 3. 8i qtue] Si omnia hsec quse. 
 
 7. digitoqiie demonstravit] digito demonstrans. 
 8-19. Quia hcec . . Jmmari] " Si hsec 6mnia quae 
 " tibi referebam vera sunt, et non falsa, 
 " hoc in loco ante triduum presbyter qui- 
 " dam sepelietur, setl nondum est infir- 
 " matus ; corpusculum vero sacerdotis 
 " ejusdem ab occidental! parte templi pra3- 
 " sentis veniet deportatum." Ad hanc 
 visionis vocem expergefactus est. Mane 
 vero facto et meante diliculo, ecce beatus 
 Dunstanus memor mirae revelationis post 
 horam primam diei ipsius suis cum sodali- 
 bus deambulando venit ^ locum spiritali- 
 ter sibi praenotatum, arripiensque lapidem 
 manuabilem, et in praetitulatum projecerat 
 locum, dicens, ^' Hie vero, si is qui mecum 
 " loquebatur est verax, ante triduum pres- 
 biter unus est humaturus." 
 21. magister] minister. 
 
 G G 
 
466 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 Pages of 
 this Volume. 
 
 p. 16, 1. 22. obtinuit] elegit. 
 
 aliqua] alia. 
 
 23. sepuUuram] pausationem perpetuam. 
 
 24. siquidem] enim. 
 
 25. post pancum] paulatim. 
 
 26. DeiTide] ita inquam ut. 
 extremum] emissurum. 
 
 27. commendavit] commendaret. 
 
 28. assignatus] assignatum. 
 32. Wulfred] Uulfred. 
 
 p. 17, 1. 4. NuTic] Nunc enim. 
 
 5. intermitto] intermittam. 
 
 6. pToferam\ perferam. 
 namque] itaque. 
 
 9. nuper] superius nuper, 
 Hcec] Hsec igitur. 
 
 14. vero] namque. 
 
 15. qui hanc] quia hunc; as in MS. B. 
 
 18. autem] enim. 
 
 19. se] famula Dei jam dicta, ins. MS. 
 
 20. prcepararet] prseparasset. 
 
 23. igitur] quidem. 
 
 24. intimo] nimio ; as in MS. B. 
 
 26. ergo] namque. 
 
 27. obvia] obviam ; as in MS. B. 
 
 28. quia] quoniam ; as in MS. B. . 
 p. 18, 1. 3. promissam] permissam. 
 
 prcecedenti] statute, antecedentes regem. 
 4. habilict] abilia. 
 
 7. " NoTt patiatur "] Nolit," inquit. 
 
 12. sibi adesse] om. MS. 
 
 13. supplementum] sublementum. 
 regis] terreni regis. 
 
 14. ad tenfipus prcefinitum] jam tempus prse- 
 
 notatum. 
 
 16. introivit] introibat. 
 
COLLATION. 
 
 467 
 
 Pages of 
 this Volume. 
 
 p. 18, 1. 19. pincernis] tamen nihilominus. 
 
 20. sciphis] scifis. 
 
 21. indiscretce quantitafis vasibiis] vasibus mag- 
 
 nis et modicis. 
 
 23. ministrantiiim] ammiratus, ins. MS. 
 
 24. nimis] namque nimis. 
 mperjliiitate] mole. 
 
 25. nepti] nepte. 
 
 26. subit] ibat. 
 
 27. famida Dei\ praenominata Dei famula. 
 
 28. cursib\ et, ins. MS. 
 
 88. ipso\ sed tamen in ipso. 
 finiti] finite. 
 
 84. cum . . scolasticis] cum imbuendis scolas- 
 
 ticis suis. 
 
 85. obseratam] seratanl. 
 compleret] repleret. 
 
 p. 19, 1. 3. mira] siquidem, ins. MS. ; so also MS.. B. 
 4. vero] enim, ut ita dicam. 
 7. quce] et. 
 
 atria] non desi (sic for deside) descensiono 
 sed. 
 
 9. continuo] sed continuo. 
 12. accessit] accedit. 
 
 18. ohservatricesl videlicet, ins. MS. ; so also 
 
 MS. B. 
 14. loquereturl loquatur. 
 21. ea etiam] earn otiam, 
 quievisset] agnovisset. 
 p. 20, 1. 9. prcejussionis] praevisionis. 
 
 12. futurum] futura ; the words ''erat osten- 
 
 " sum " are not in the MS. 
 14. post] postque ; as in MS. B. 
 
 19. volebat] vovebat. 
 21. Domini] Dominse. 
 
 27. JSthelwynn] ^l?elpynn. 
 
 G u 2 
 
468 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 Pages of 
 this Volume. 
 
 p. 20, 1. 27. vocavit] evocavit*; as in MS, B. 
 p. 21, 1. 1. ille] illi; as in MS. B. 
 
 7. se] om, MS. 
 
 11. cubilis] cubrculi. 
 
 14. concinendo] concinnendo. 
 26. qui] quoniam ; as in MS. B. 
 28. proceres] proceratus. 
 
 p. 22, 1. 1. Domini] Dominici. 
 
 8. infra] jussa. 
 
 21. abscondit] abscondidit. 
 in] ut. 
 
 24. ambnlaret, disposuit] ambulare disposuit, 
 
 misericorditer ministrarent. 
 
 25. cordatius] cordetenus ; as in MS. B. - 
 p. 23, 1. 4. et] om. MS. 
 
 15. nexuri] nexuros. 
 
 21. Ceodrum] Ceoddrum. 
 p. 24, 1. 3. venatui'us] venaturum ; as in MS. B. 
 
 4. insectatione] insectione. 
 7. devexnm] divexum. 
 
 11. demersit] se dimersit: cf. MS. B. 
 
 p. 25, 1. 2. cum illuc ducatu] dum illuc ducatu regis. 
 
 12. ego] ergo. 
 
 20. inmunitionibus] munitionibus. 
 p. 26, 1. 2. morigena] morigera. 
 
 16. coepimus] incoepimus. 
 ac] vel. 
 
 21. perterrere] perterere ; as in MS. A. 
 p. 27, 1. 3. ckyra dextra] chira dextrali. 
 
 5. laudem] laude ; as in MS. B. 
 12. everteret] averteret. 
 
 19. in] eodem, ins. MS. ; as in MS. B. 
 23. levis] levi. 
 
 26. hyspidus] hispidis. 
 
 p. 28, 1. 4. congressus] congressum. 
 
 11. eidem] idem; as in MS. A. 
 
COLLATION. 
 
 469 
 
 Pages of 
 his Volume. 
 
 p. 28, 1. 15. inepta] in inepta. 
 
 p. 29, 1. 9. Siimersetensiiiin] Sumersaetensium. 
 
 15. Eaclrcedits] Eadrediis. 
 
 17. svMimitate] regia, ins. MS. 
 p. 30, 1. 6. sermonmii] responsa. 
 
 25. deberet] et, ins. MS. 
 p. 31, 1. 1. recitssmKlo] recnsando. 
 
 10. sorioto siiceo] sorto snco. 
 8, 26. Eadrcedits] Eadredus. 
 
 34. 'coowiTiendaverimt] commendarunt. 
 p. 32, 1. 16. palpamentiim'] pulpamentum ; as in MS. A. 
 24. TeGiissare\ recnsare. 
 
 30. jussa] prsecepta. 
 
 p. 33, 1. 4. dixeribnt'\ ei, ins. MS. 
 
 8. wvanw suaJ] extendit manum suam. 
 
 11. jEthelgyvw] iE]?elgifu. 
 20. venenifero] venifero. 
 
 22. inimicabilibus] inimicalibus. 
 
 27. iirgente] urguente. 
 
 28. ipsa] ire ; as in MS. B. 
 
 29. fiirentis] furientis. 
 
 31. inbiiendos] inbuendo. 
 
 p. 34, 1. 4. occidentali] occidentalis ; as in MS. A. 
 
 13. compatientim ] compatientis ; so also in 
 MS. A. 
 
 17. velificata] velificatu ; unquestionably the true 
 reading. 
 
 19. populatricel pepulatrice; as in MS. A. 
 22. dictu] dictse. 
 p. 35, 1. 1. ingemiscemlo] ingemescendo. 
 
 4. cogitaret] cogitarat ; as in MS. A. 
 13. verumpftamen] veruntamen. 
 - 21. explete] implete. 
 p. 36, 1. 1. adsciscens] adscissens. 
 3. iriipericdi] imperali. 
 
 12. secum] semper, ins. MS. 
 
470 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 Pages of 
 this Volume. 
 
 p. 36, 1. 27. Brandanford] Bradanford, as the BoUandists 
 
 read the Arras MS., and as I myself read 
 it : in the text, however, I have followed 
 Mabillon s reading, which is that of MS. B. 
 31. moribus] moribus(][ue. 
 p. 37, 1. 2. quoque] quosque. 
 
 5. JVuTTiinis] Nominis. 
 8. Cynewaldus] Cyneuualdus. 
 13. triticeum] triticium : MS. A. reads triticum. 
 15. metam'] cum fructu, ins. MS. 
 
 22. pontem] pontum, with both the other MSS. 
 
 30. Adamica] Adimitica. 
 
 p. 38, 1. 9. Byrhtelmum] Byrhthelmum. 
 
 13. correctionis] correptionis. 
 
 31. graclieris] gredieris. 
 
 p. 39, 1. 4. administratioriis] ministrationis. 
 11. Dominus] Deus; as in MS. B. 
 
 23. pvcestolantes\ prsBstulantes. 
 ille^ ipse. 
 
 32. procacis] procaci ; so in MS. A. 
 
 p. 40, 1. %, charismate affectus] carismate effectus. 
 
 14. ditare] indoctos erudire, pravos corrigere. 
 ad] veritatis, ins. MS., as also MS. B. 
 
 29. sopifaUm] sopitantem. 
 p. 41, 1. 9. eidem] eodem ; as in MS. A. 
 
 14. glorijicatur] glorificat. 
 
 25. Alleluia] om. MS. 
 p. 42, 1. 4. modulationem] om. MS,, as also MS. A. 
 
 10. mihi] om. MS., as also MS. 
 coaptare] cooptare. 
 
 20. ha3c] unde haec ; as in MS. B. 
 
 21. Cantica] Cantico. 
 
 24. recti] recte. 
 
 25. rex] om. MS. 
 
 p. 43, 1. 7. canticum] cantica. 
 
 8. quandoque] quondam^ 
 
COLLATION. 
 
 471 
 
 Pages ot 
 this Volume. 
 
 p. 43, 1. 15. regnavit] regnabit. 
 
 19. decantans] decantabat. 
 p. 44, 1. 9. divinis] divis. 
 
 ^0. ^Ifstani] -^j^elstani : a most valuable cor- 
 rection. 
 
 28. oculos . . joroba] proprios oculos, et probe, 
 p. 45, 1. 2. et mox ex inimicabili] sed mox ex inimicali : 
 
 inimicabili is the reading of MS. B. only. 
 21. hisensibilici] insensabilia. 
 p. 46, 1. 6. Saxo7iica] sub Saxonica. 
 8. nuptialis] nuntialis. 
 
 21. inbvMone] imbuitione. 
 p. 47, 1. 8. captare] captitare. 
 
 17. hesterna] externa. 
 
 31. beatus vir] beati. 
 
 32. meritil pater, 
 
 p. 48, 1. 1. fortiteT'] fortunissime. 
 
 apparare'] prseparare. 
 
 7. facuneidil farunculi: no doubt the true 
 
 reading. 
 
 8. ho7iorem\ honore. 
 19. CBdiculam'l aedicula. 
 
 24. sonoritarnml sonoritatum. 
 
 32. circuitionis] circumitionis ; so also MS. A. 
 p. 49, 1. 27. orphanis] orfanis. 
 
 28. amminiculo] adminiculo. 
 
 29. paratum] partitum : no doubt the true read* 
 
 ing. 
 
 31, vel citra] cis vel citra. 
 p. 50, 1. 13. intentis] invictum, ins. MS* 
 
 14. Quotiesqiie] Quotiensque. 
 
 15. dignce] digne. 
 Ictibde] laute. 
 
 22. alta] alto. 
 
 23. fastigia] fastigio ; as in the other MSSs 
 
 25. finem] fieri, ins. MS; 
 
47-2 
 
 VITA SANCTI DUNSTANI. 
 
 Pages of 
 this Volume. 
 
 p. 50, 1. 28. 8nda7'at] sudabat. 
 
 32. aliqua] qua. 
 
 p. 51, 1. 18. faculiatem] facultate. 
 
 14. quorurmunqne] credentium, ins. MS. 
 
 18. lectionis] lectum.^ 
 
 ^ The Life ends witiiout a colophon, at p. 91 of the MS. It is followed, 
 pp. 92-94, by a charter of the restoration of the monastery of S. Peter at 
 Squirs in Aquitaine, which begins thus, " Anno Dominicse Incarnationis 
 ** DCCCCLxxvii., indicione v. In nomine Sanctas et Individuse Trinitatis, 
 ** ego Gumboldus episcopus et frater meus Guillelmus Sanccio dux Was- 
 " conum, etc." It is followed by the names of the witnesses. 
 
 Pp. 94, 95. A letter on the foundation of the same monastery by Charles 
 the Great, and on its destruction by the Normans. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
GLOS 
 
 SARY. 
 
 A. 
 
 JEdituus, 3, 386. A bishop ; used 
 at p. 256 ill its ordinary sense 
 as a keeper or servant of the 
 Church. 
 
 AFORISMUS, 367 {a<popl<r[AO<;). A brief 
 
 statement. 
 APiCELLus, o. A letter. 
 Apoeia, 368 (aitopicc). Helpless 
 
 poverty. 
 
 ArCHISTEUM, 367 (aa-KYjTTjpioy), A 
 
 monastery. 
 AREGiDiA, 367. An unknown word, 
 
 possibly the name of a musical 
 
 instrument ; or=harmonia, or 
 
 =argutia (?) 
 AXIS, 308. Used for assis, a plank. 
 
 B. 
 
 Basilitius, 386. Royal. 
 
 BoiA, 154. A chain or collar ; used 
 
 by Plautus. 
 BRATTHEA, 366 {^pa^oi), Short 
 
 labours. 
 
 c. 
 
 CAMBUTTA, 59, 446. A staff. 
 CARDTAN, 387 (/capS/a). The heart. 
 
 CASULA, 17. A cottage ; 204, 258, 
 
 a chasuble. 
 CAUMA, 367 (/caf/^a). Burning. 
 CHiRA, 27 The hand. 
 
 ciRiCEUM, 399 {KY)pvK€iov). A herald's 
 
 wand ; a pastoral staff. 
 CLEPTOR, 29 {KXeirTYiq), A robber. 
 CONDA, 377. Property (?). 
 CONViARE, 368. To accompany. 
 COPIARE, 360 (KOTtidu). To labour. 
 CORCULUM, 4. The heart. 
 COSMUS, 5,363 (KocTfAoi). The world, 
 
 this life. 
 
 cosMiCALis, 52. Belonging to this 
 life. 
 
 CRISIDINEUS, 4 (xpvT0^9 hviu). Daz- 
 zling as with gold. 
 
 CRUSMA, 367 (KpovarfAoc). A* musical 
 note. 
 
 CURAGULUS, 372. A defender. 
 
 D. 
 
 DAG MA, 386, 390 (Sayz-ta). A bite. 
 
 13ECIBILIS, 32, 44. Decens, becom- 
 ing ; or = Dicibilis, worthy of 
 record. 
 
 Deificus, 10. Making one like God. 
 Deivibus, 104. Enabling one to 
 see God. 
 
 DEPicATUs, 12 (pix). Cleansed as 
 from pitch. 
 
476 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 DEPRETA, 367 (=:depr8edata ?). 
 
 DESTINA, 83. A cell. 
 
 DiARCHA, 103 (pvdpxv) qlike, r€rpdp%y)i;). 
 
 The ruler of half a kingdom. 
 DOGMATizATOR, 25. A teacher or 
 judge of doctrine. 
 
 E. 
 
 EOLIPTICOS, 384 (iKXeiTtriKaq) Eclip- 
 
 ticaUy. 
 
 ENPiRius, 366 (eiATtvpio;). Fierj. 
 
 EPISCOPIUM, 57 {iitia-KOTTEiov). A 
 
 bishopric. 
 ESURiES (gen. esurietis), 387. Hun- 
 ger. 
 
 F. 
 
 FAVOREUS, 5. Favourable. 
 
 G. 
 
 GLEVA, 370,=gleba, a clod, or greva, 
 gravel. 
 
 H. 
 
 HEARPA, 21. A harp. 
 
 I. 
 
 IDRIOLA, 302,=hydriola, a water- 
 pot. 
 
 INCAUSTUM, 4 {eyKavarov). Ink. 
 
 L. 
 
 LECTOREUS, 386. Connected with 
 reading. 
 
 LEPiDO, gen. lepidinis, 386. Neat- 
 ness. 
 
 M. 
 
 Martyrium, 141. The martyrdom 
 at Canterbury, probably the place 
 where the relics of S. Elfege were 
 deposited, as at a later period the 
 name was given to the place where 
 S. Thomas's shrine was kept. 
 
 MAUKUs, 196 {fAavpo<;), A black man, 
 a devil. 
 
 MEDO, 18, 176. Mead, hydromel. 
 MORULA, 104. A short delay. 
 MUNDiBURDiuM, 375. Protection of 
 a patron or surety. 
 
 N. 
 
 NEGiTARE, 96. To go on denying. 
 
 0. 
 
 OCCULsus, 390. Disabled or killed, 
 apparently formed like perculsus 
 from a verb occello, 
 
 ONOMA, 383. A name. 
 
 ORARiUM, 170. A stole. 
 
 OROMA, 366 (o/)ajtAa). Vision. 
 
 P. 
 
 PALATiNUS, 11, 21. A courtier. 
 
 PARTHENALis, 388. Belonging to 
 virginity. 
 
 PERiBULUM, 8, 366. A wall. 
 
 PERiERGiA, 367. Laborious care. 
 
 piNNicuLA, 4. A pen. 
 
 piTACiOLUM, 409. A writing tab- 
 let ; a letter. 
 
 PLANETA, 247. A chasuble. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 PNEUMA, 366 (TTJ/eujWa). Spirit. 
 POMP ARE, 21. To adorn. 
 pR^^BENDARius, 223. A pensioner. 
 
 PROFESSTO,3 ( — PROFECTIO). ABtart- 
 ing. 
 
 R. 
 
 RABULATUS, 366. A voice. 
 RECELLA, 262, 1 An article of furni- 
 RECOLA, 374. J ture. 
 
 S. 
 
 SEDEO, 389. To please. 
 SENiORATUS, 23. Pat ronage, ^mun- 
 diburdium. 
 
 477 
 
 siBiERE, 363. See note. 
 
 SPiNDULATus, 416. Fumished with 
 I the pins, spindulse, with which 
 j the pall was fastened. 
 I STOMA, 387 (cTTo'/Aa). The mouth. 
 ! SYRMA, 367 (a-vpfAo,), A Strain of 
 music. 
 
 TiTULATio, 5, 388. Literary com- 
 position. 
 
 THYMTAMA, 6S.{BvfAiafxoc). Incensc. 
 TR0SS0Lu§, 390. A wallet. 
 
INDEX. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Abbo, of Eleury, his letter to Dunstan on 
 the life of S. Edmund, 376 ; three 
 poems of, 410 ; the first Life of Dun- 
 stan sent to, 409. 
 
 Abingdon, Ethelwold made abbot of, 278, 
 303 ; he brings monks from, to 
 Winchester, 212. 
 
 Abricula, near Rome, 392. 
 
 Adelard dedicates his Life of Dunstan to 
 Elfege, 53. 
 
 Adelword, a monk of Glastonbury, said to 
 have stolen Dunstan' s bones, 353. 
 
 Adrian, a monk of Canterbuiy, contempo- 
 rary with Osbern, 156. 
 
 Adrian, abbot of Augustine's, Canterbury, 
 316. 
 
 iEgelred, precentor of Canterbury, after- 
 wards of Worcester, 163, 164. 
 
 JEgelric, bishop of Selsey, 1 64. 
 
 iEgelward, possessed of a devil ; his cure, 
 144-151, 234-238, 351. 
 
 -^gelwin, a monk of Canterbury, his pil- 
 grimage to Jerusalem, 245, 246. 
 
 JElfgar, afterwards bishop of Elmham, his 
 vision of angels, 64, 120, 123, 218, 
 317-319. 
 
 ^Ifgifu, the patroness of Dunstan at Glas- 
 tonbury, 85, 175, 330; has a visit 
 from Athelstan, 86, 176 ; miracle 
 'wrought for, 86, 176 ; her illness 
 and death, 87,88, 177, 178, 330,331. 
 See ^thelfleda. 
 mother of Edwy and Edgar, 56, 289. 
 
 ^^flieah, Elfege, the Bald, bishop of Win- 
 chester, entertains Dunstan, 13, 56, 
 172, 260, 328; has a miraculous 
 
 JElfheah--c#nf. 
 
 escape, 14, 15, 261 ; persuades 
 Dunstan to become a monk, L^, 82, 
 261, 328 ; ordained him priest, 56, 
 83, 173, 261, 329 ; his death, 56, 95, 
 185, 278, 289, 334; had been a 
 monk at Glastonbury, 260 ; his 
 prophecy about Dunstan and his 
 companions, 261. 262. 
 II., abbot of Bath, made bishop of 
 Winchester, 61, 62, 116, 217,312, 
 344 ; archbishop of Canterbury, 62, 
 127, 313 ; Adelard dedicates his 
 book to him, 53 ; his martyrdom, 
 127, 313, 352 ; translation of, 236 ; 
 his bones with those of Dunstan,236, 
 352. 
 
 -^Ifleda, the Fair, wife of Edgar, 210; 
 daughter of the ealdorman Ordmer, 
 210, 423. 
 
 Alfred, king of the West Saxons, founded 
 Shaftesbury, 252 ; grandfather of 
 
 • Arnulf, count of Flanders, 285. 
 ^Ifric, archbishop of Canterbury, the first 
 Life of Dunstan dedicated to, 3, 252. 
 
 bishop of Crediton, 302. 
 
 Bata, Dunstan after his death coun- 
 teracts the designs of, 136, 227. 
 
 the ealdorman, letter of the pope to, 
 396. 
 
 ^Ifsige, a pupil of Dunstan, warning of 
 his death, 47, 189, 306. 
 bishop of Winchester, 37, 185 ; be- 
 comes archbishop of Canterbury, 
 37, 107, 198, 294, 338 ; insults the 
 memory of Odo, 294,338 ; is frozen 
 to death on the Alps, 38, 107, 198, 
 294, 338. 
 
 H H 
 
482 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 jaSlfstan, jSkhelstan, ealdorman, has a 
 vision before king Edmund's death, 
 44, 45,275, 276, 471. 
 
 JElfwold, made bishop of Cred^ton, 30, 278. 
 Leofstan, son of, 398. 
 
 MlsQ in Italy, 393. 
 
 JEthelbriht, a monk of Glastonbury, said 
 to have stolen Dunstan's bones, 353. 
 
 -/Ethelfleda, JEthelfreda, Dunstan's pa- 
 troness at Glastonbury, 17, 275 ; 
 death of her priest, 16, 264 ; miracle 
 of the mead, 18, 266 ; was Athel- 
 stan's niece, 18, 265 ; wonders at 
 her death, 19, 20, 267, 268. See 
 also iElfgifu, JElfleda. 
 
 JEthelgar, bishop of Crediton, dies, 29, 
 278. 
 
 archbishop of Canterbury, letters to, 
 383, 384, 385 ; mentioned in a letter 
 to Sigeric, 388, 389 ; he went to 
 Rome, 388. 
 
 JEthelgifu, JElfgifu, her influence over 
 Edwy, 32, 33, 100, 190, 283 ; perse- 
 cutes Dunstan and his friends, 33, 
 34, 101, 192, 284, 285 ; is punished 
 at Gloucester, 102, 194. 
 
 JEthelnoth negotiates peace between Ethel- 
 red and the Normans, 398. 
 
 JEthelred, king of the English, succeeds 
 his brother Edward, 61, 115, 215, 
 309, 343. 
 
 Dunstan's prophecies concerning, 115, 
 117, 215, 309, 310, 321, 343. 
 
 allows the promotion of Elfege, 61, 
 116, 216, 313. 
 
 is bribed away from Rochester, 117, 
 310. 
 
 his unfortunate marriage, 322. 
 
 his peace with Normandy, 397, 398. 
 uEthelsige, bishop of Sherborne, 398. 
 JEthelstan, king of the West Saxons, 6, 71, 
 253, 325 ; favours Dunstan, 56, 79, 
 169, 258, 327 ; visits Glastonbury, 
 17, 18, 86, 176, 265; dies, 21, 90, 
 180, 268, 331 ; an anchorite makes 
 a pilgrimage by his advice, 382. 
 
 ealdorman of East Anglia. See Mlf- 
 stan. 
 
 JEthelstan — cont. 
 
 a renegade priest, whose life was fore- 
 told by Elfege, 261. 
 -ffithelswitha, daughter of Alfred, mother 
 
 of Arnulf, 285. 
 JEthelwold, abbot of Abingdon, 303; 
 educated at Glastonbury, 211. 
 made bishop of Winchester, 303. 
 his treatment of the secular clerks, 
 
 211, 303. 
 monasteries founded by him, 303. 
 miraculous warning of his death, 115, 
 245, 311. 
 
 letter of the pope concerning, 364, 365. 
 
 death of, 61, 116, 216,312. 
 
 his biography quoted, 279, 299. 
 iEthelwynn, Alwinna, asks Dunstan for the 
 pattern of a stole, 20, 80, 170, 258. 
 Agatha, S., in Piedmont, 394. 
 Aguilla in Italy, 393. 
 Albert, the physician, afterwards cardinal, 
 
 148. 
 Albion, 6, 440. 
 
 Aldhelm, his relics translated by Dunstan, 
 302 ; Dunstan's gifts to his monas- 
 tery, ib, 
 
 Aldhun, abbot of Glastonbury, 251, 260, 270. 
 Aldington, illness of Lanfranc at, 151, 239. 
 Alps, the, 38, 107, 198, 294, 338, 371. 
 Alwold, a renegade monk, eaten by foxes, 
 313, 314. 
 
 Amandus, S., founded Blandinium, 59, 285. 
 Andrew, S., Dunstan's patron, 60, 102, 193, 
 333. 
 
 appears to him, 30,57,60, 61,96, 116, 
 
 185, 186, 280, 281, 334. 
 tooth of, placed by Dunstan in his 
 
 staff, 190, 248. 
 his church at Rochester, 61, 108, 117, 
 200, 293, 310. 
 Andrew, S., in Lombardy, 394. 
 Andrew, Master, a witness of the opening 
 
 of Dunstan's grave, 429. 
 Angbert, abbot of Fontanelle, and arch- 
 bishop of Rorlen, 285. 
 Anselm, S., his devotion to Dunstan, 450. 
 miracle that happened to a clerk of 
 his, 246. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 483 
 
 Antifern, 394. 
 Aosta, 394. 
 Apulia, 245. 
 Aquanigra, 393. 
 Aquapendente, 392. 
 Arbia, 393. 
 
 Arnulf, count of Manders, entertains Dun- 
 stanat Ghent,34, 59, 101, 193, 285. 
 his monastic reformations, 59, 285,362. 
 was grandson of Alfred, 285. 
 letter of, to Dunstan, 359. 
 letter to, 361, 362. 
 Arras (Atherats), 395. 
 
 Falradus, abbot of, 383. 
 Athelm, archbishop of Canterbury, Dun- 
 stan's uncle and patron, 55 ; re- 
 commends him to Athelstan, 56, 79, 
 169, 258, 327 ; had been a monk at 
 Glastonbury, 258. 
 Audoenus, S. See Ouen, S. 
 Augustine, S., of Canterbury, 6, 297. 
 his church, 48, 119, 208, 316, 346. 
 WulMc, abbot of, 409. 
 Scotland, abbot of, 143,232, 233, 234, 
 351, 413. 
 
 Augustine, S., of Hippo, argument from, 
 
 322, 323. 
 Ausonia, 372. 
 
 B. 
 
 B., a Saxon priest, dedicates his Life of 
 Dunstan to Elfric, 3 ; letter to 
 Ethelgar, 385. 
 
 Bacane, near Kome, 392. 
 
 Bar, 395. 
 
 Barabas, story of the pirate, 154, 155. 
 
 Barret, John, attests the opening of Dun- 
 stan' s grave, 429, 
 
 Bath, visit of Dunstan to, 46, 94, 183, 306, 
 333. 
 
 Elfege, abbot of, 61, 62, 116, 217,312, 
 329. 
 
 Ceohvy, praspositus of, 47, 306. 
 Bayeux, Odo, bishop of. See Odo. 
 Benedict, S., rule of, 25. 
 
 Beornhelm, a Scottish bishop, supports the 
 
 secular clerks, 113, 213. 
 Bertin, S., monastery of, 384, 388. 
 Besan9on, 394. 
 Blaecuile, 395. 
 
 Blandinium, monastery of S. Peter at, 53, 
 59, 101, 193, 285. 
 Adelard of, 53. 
 Wido df, 380. 
 Bradanford, Brandauford, council at, 36, 
 
 291, 470. 
 Breone, 395. 
 
 Brihthelm, Byrhthelm, bishop of Dorset, 
 promoted to Canterbury and sent 
 back to his see, 88, 107, 198, 294, 
 295, 339. 
 
 Brihtred, abbot of Glastonbury, 353. 
 
 Bruwaei, 395. 
 
 Burbulei, 394. 
 
 Burgenove, 393. 
 
 Burhc. See Peterborough. 
 
 Bursius, a monk of Glastonbury, said to 
 
 have translated Dunstan' s bones, 
 
 353. 
 
 c. 
 
 Caen, Lanfranc, abbot of, 232. 
 Calne, synod of, 113, 213, 308, 343. 
 Campmajor, 393. 
 
 Canterbury, archbishops of. See Augus- 
 tine, Athelm, Wulfhelm, Odo, Mli- 
 sige, Brihthelm, Dunstan, -Ethelgar, 
 Sigeric, -^fric, ^Ifheah, Lanfranc, 
 Anselm. 
 
 secular clerks of ; their sins, 142. 
 
 monastic reforms at, 237, 238. 
 
 cathedral of, burnt, 70, 142, 231, 232. 
 
 monastery of S. Augustine at. See 
 Augustine. 
 Cen, life of an anchorite at, 382. 
 Ceolwy, provost of Bath, 47, 306. 
 Ceolwulf, provost of Folkstone, 131, 224, 
 
 349. 
 ChMons, 395. 
 
 Cheddar, 23, 24, 91, 181, 269. 
 
484 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Chichester, Egebic, bishop of, 164. 
 
 Christina, S. in Italy, 394, 
 
 Clement, the German, miraculous cure of, 
 135, 226, 349. 
 
 Clovis, founder of the Church of S. Gene- 
 vieve, 367. 
 
 Cobnan, John, attests the opening of 
 Dunstan's grave, 429. 
 
 Constantinople, emperor of 160, 245. 
 
 Corbunei, 395. 
 
 Crediton, Ethelgar, bishop of, 29, 278. 
 
 Elfwold, bishop of, 30, 278. 
 
 Elfric, bishop of, 302. 
 Cuscei, 394. 
 
 Cuthbert, S.,incorruptness of his body, 379. 
 
 Cynesius, Kinesige, bishop, Dunstan's kins- 
 man, sent with him to bring Edwy 
 to the coronation feast, 32, 191, 283. 
 
 Cynethritha, Dunstan's mother, 6, 71, 165, 
 253, 325. 
 
 miracle at her visit to Glastonbury, 
 64, 72, 165, 254, 325. 
 Cynewald, bishop of Worcester, dies, 37, 
 292. 
 
 D. 
 
 Danes, the, 362 ; invasions of, 67, 127, 
 
 222, 321 ; at Paris, 367. 
 Denys, S., church of, in Hampshire; S. 
 
 Edith goes to the consecration of, 
 
 311. 
 
 Domaniant, 395, 
 Domnino, S., 393. 
 
 Dorobernia, Canterbury, 38, 53, 103, &c. 
 
 explanation of the word, 107. 
 Dorset, Brihthelm, bishop of, 38, 107, 198, 
 294,331. 
 
 Dover, John Thornton, prior of, 429. 
 Dublin, subject to Edgar, 423. 
 Duin, 395. 
 
 Dunstan, S., his parentage and birth, 6, 
 54, 71, 165, 253, 325. 
 his education, 10, 11, 74, 77, 78, 256, 
 326. 
 
 his sleep-walk, 7, 8, 55, 75, 167, 256, 
 326. 
 
 Dunstan, S.-^cont 
 
 he is at Athelstan's court, 10, 77, 168, 
 258, 327. 
 
 his expulsion from Athelstan's court, 
 12, 81, 17J, 172, 259, 328. 
 
 becomes a monk, 14, 82, 83, 172, 173, 
 260, 329. 
 
 his cell at Glastonbury, 83, 173, 262, 
 329. 
 
 expelled from Edmund's court, 23, 90, 
 
 180, 269,332. 
 becomes abbot of Glastonbury, 25, 56, 
 
 92, 182^ 270, 332. 
 drags Edwy to the coronation feast, 
 
 3*2, 33, 100, 190, 283, 336. 
 flies to Flanders, and is entertained at 
 
 Ghent, 34, 59, 101, 192, 193, 285, 
 
 336. 
 
 returns and is made bishop of Worces- 
 ter, 36, 37, 60, 103, 104, 195, 292, 
 337. 
 
 consecrated, 60,103, 104, 195,292,337. 
 made bishop of London, 37, 61, 105, 
 ^ 196,-293, 338. 
 
 and archbishop of Canterbury, 38, 61, 
 
 107, 198, 295,339. 
 crowns Edgar, Edward andEthelred, 
 
 61, 115, 215,309, 343. 
 drew up the promissio regis, 355. 
 prophesies about Ethelred, 115, 117, 
 
 215, 309, 310, 321, 343. 
 foresees the death of his friends, 47, 
 
 115, 245, 306, 311. 
 prepares for death, 50, 51, 64, 65, 66 
 
 120, 121, 217, 218, 317, 318, 347, 
 
 348. 
 
 dies, 52, 66, 126, 221, 321, 348. 
 miracles after death,129-161, 223-249. 
 mentioned in letters, 365, 379, 383, 
 389. 
 
 letters to, 359, 370, 372, 373, 374, 
 
 376, 378, 380, 410-412. 
 his buildings at Glastonbury, 7, 25; 
 
 92, 182, 271, 332. 
 his refusal to obey a papal mandate 
 
 67, 106, 200. 
 pretended translation of his bones, 
 
 352, 353,412-422, 426-439. ^ 
 
INDEX. 
 
 485 
 
 E. 
 
 Eadgar, birth of, 56, 93, 183, 289, 333. 
 chosen king by the north people, 36, 
 
 103, 194, 291,336. 
 makes Dunstan a bishop, 37, 60, 103, 
 
 195, 293. 
 
 crowned by Dunstan, 61, 112, 214. 
 his sin and penance, 111, 163, 209- 
 211. 
 
 his good government, 103, 195, 304, 
 305. 
 
 account of his wives, 422-424. 
 his monastic reforms, 112, 211,300, 
 301. 
 
 his hunting on Sunday, 207, 345. 
 
 his death and burial, 114, 214, 306. 
 
 letters to, 363, 364, 366. 
 Eadgifu, Eadgitha, wife of Edward the 
 Elder, tries to persuade Dunstan to 
 be a bishop, 30, 57, 96, 185, 279, 
 334 ; ill-treated by Edwy, 36, 99, 
 188, 290. 
 
 Eadgitha, daughter of Edgar, her sanctity, 
 310, 341. 
 
 seen by Dunstan at the consecration 
 of S. Deny s, 311. 
 
 her body incorrupt after death, 311. 
 Eadmer, his Life of Dunstan, 162. 
 
 his letter to the monks of Glaston- 
 bury, 412. 
 
 his verses on Dunstan, 424. 
 
 letter of Nicholas to, 422. 
 Eadmund, king of the East Angles, his life 
 related by Dunstan and written by 
 Abbo, 378-380. 
 
 king of the EngHsh, favours Dunstan, 
 21, 56, 90, 180, 268, 331. 
 
 banishes him from court, 23, 90, 1 80, 
 269, 332. 
 
 makes him abbot of Glastonbury, 25, 
 
 56, 92, 182,270,332. 
 dies, 29, 56, 84, 194. 
 circumstances of his death, 45, 46, 94, 
 
 J84, 275,276, 333, 334. 
 
 Eadmund— -con^. 
 
 buried at Glastonbury, 58, 94, 184, 
 277. 
 
 his victories, 271. 
 Eadred, succeeds Edmund, 29, 56, 94, 184, 
 277, 333. 
 
 his love for Dunstan,, 29, 56, 94, 184, 
 277, 334. 
 
 tries to persuade him to be a bishop, 
 30, 57, 96, 185, 279, 334. 
 
 illness and death, 31, 58, 98, 187, 
 281, 335. 
 
 buried at Winchester, 31, 58, 99, 187, 
 282. 
 
 his benefactions to Winchester, 279. 
 Eadward II., son of Edgar, succeeds, 61, 
 114, 214, 307; question about his 
 mother, 422-424. 
 
 is murdered, 115, 215, 309. 
 
 translation of his body, 309. 
 
 archdeacon of London, monk of Christ- 
 church, prevented by Dunstan from 
 quitting the monastery, 155, 156, 
 241-245. 
 
 Eadwig, Edwy, son of Edmund, succeeds 
 Edred, 32, 59, 99, 187, 283, 335. 
 his misgovernment, 32, 35, 46, 99, 187, 
 283, 335. 
 
 his misbehaviour at the coronation, 
 
 32, 100, 190, 283, 336. 
 persecutes Dunstan, 33, 34, 59, 101, 
 
 192, 284, 336. 
 persecutes his grandmother, 36, 98, 
 
 99, 188, 290. 
 is renounced by the north people, 35, 
 
 36, 102, 194, 291, 336. 
 dies, 36, 103, 196, 291, 337. 
 Dunstan rescues his soul from the 
 
 devils, 104, 105, 196, 286, 287, 
 
 337. 
 
 Elfthritha, wife of Edgar, 308, 423. 
 
 joins in the murder of Edward, 115, 
 215, 309, 343. 
 Elfwerd, abbot of Glastonbury, his letter to 
 
 Sigeric, 400. 
 Elmham, Mlfgar, bishop of, 64, 120, 121, 
 217, 218, 317. 
 see of, removed to Norwich, 31 7 » 
 
486 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Elward, miraculous cure of, 135, 226. 
 Ely, monastery restored by Ethelwold at, 
 303. 
 
 Essex, London the bishop's see of, 37. 
 
 Everi, Yvrea, 394. • 
 
 Exeter, see of Crediton removed to, 302. 
 
 F. 
 
 Falrad, abbot of S. Vedast, his letter to 
 Ethelgar, 383. 
 
 Flanders, Dunstan's exile in, 34, 59, 101, 
 193, 285, 336 ; he provides for the 
 monasteries of, 315. 
 Arnulf, count of. See Arnulf. 
 
 Elaviane, S., near Eome, 392. 
 
 Fleury, Abbo of. See Abbo. 
 monastery of, 377. 
 
 Floricum, in Italy, 393. 
 
 Folkstone, Ceolwulf provost of, his mira- 
 culous cure and death, 131, 224, 349. 
 
 Fontanelle, Wlmar abbot of, 285. 
 
 Forcri, in Italy, 393. 
 
 Fresia, 373. 
 
 Funtaine, in France, 395. 
 Furcasi, near Rome, 392. 
 
 G. 
 
 Gaul, 34, 102, 336. 
 
 Geminiano, S., in Italy^ 393. 
 
 Genovefa, S., history of her church, 367. 
 
 appeal of her society to Edgar,366-368. 
 George, S., Dunstan falls asleep before the 
 
 altar of, 27, 274. 
 Ghent, stay of Dunstan at, 34, 59, 101, 193, 
 
 285. See Blandinium. 
 Glastonbury, Dunstan's birth-place, 7, 54, 
 71, 165, 253, 325. 
 Irish scholars at, 10, 74, 256, 326. 
 Ethelfleda lives at, 16, 17, 85, 175, 
 
 265, 330. 
 antiquity of, 7, 10, 251, 260. 
 WiHiam of Malmesbury writes to the 
 monks of, 250. 
 
 Glastonbury — cont. 
 abbots of ; 
 
 Ealdhun, 251, 260, 270. 
 Elfric, 270. 
 
 Dunstan, 25, 56, 92, 182, 270, 332. 
 
 Elfiverd, 400. 
 
 Brihtred, 353. 
 
 Elfsin or Wulfsin, 419. 
 
 letters of archbishop Warham to the 
 
 abbot of, 430, 436. 
 letter of the abbot to Warham, 432. 
 church of S. Mary at. See Mary. 
 Dunstan's building at. See Dunstan. 
 Edmund buried at, 58, 94, 184, 277. 
 Edgar buried at, 307. 
 Edmund Ironside at, 352. 
 letter of the Pope to Elfric concerning, 
 
 396. 
 
 William of Malmesbury wrote on the 
 
 antiquity of, 271, 288. 
 fate of Alwold's body at, 314. 
 Gloucester, punishment of Ethelgifu at, 
 
 102, 194, 
 
 Godric, the dean of Christ Church, 135. 
 Goldston, T., prior of Canterbury, 426, 427. 
 Gregory, S., 6, 455, 456. 
 
 S., his church at Winchester, 15, 261, 
 Grenant, in France, 395. 
 Grimwald, a monk of S. Bertin, 389. 
 Guisnes, in France, 395. 
 Gundulf, bishop of Rochester, 414. 
 
 H. 
 
 Harold, burial of his child at Canterbury, 
 141, 142, 230. 
 
 Henry, the prior of Christ Church, Canter- 
 bury, 335. 
 
 Heorstan, Dunstan's father, 6, 7, 71, 165, 
 
 253, 325. 
 Herodias, 67. 
 Hugh, 398. 
 
 Humber, river, 102, 194, 291. 
 
 I. 
 
 Irish scholars at Glastonbury, 10, 11, 74, 
 256, 326, 
 
INDEX. 
 
 487 
 
 J. 
 
 Jeremiah, comparison of Dunstan with, 
 73, 323. 
 
 John XII., pope, gives the pall to Dunstan, 
 296, 339. 
 
 XIII., pope, letter of, to Edgar on the 
 removal of the canons from the new 
 minster at Winchester, 364 ; orders 
 the suhstitution of monks, 211. 
 
 XV., pope, letter to Elfric, touching 
 Glastonbury, 396 ; visited by Sigeric, 
 392 ; letter of, on the peace between 
 Richard and Ethelred, 397. 
 John S., the Evangelist, 14, 68. 
 
 S., the Baptist, his church at Glaston- 
 bury, 48, 189 ; compared with Dun- 
 stan, 73, 323. 
 
 K. 
 
 Kent, Edwy driven into, 33 7 ; ravaged by 
 
 the Danes, 321, 352. 
 Kingston, coronation place of the kings, 355. 
 Kyrie eleyson, 63, 207, 315, 345. 
 Kyrie rex splendens, 346, 357, 358, 444. 
 
 L. 
 
 L., letter of, to Dunstan, 376. 
 
 Lambert, a servant of Anselm, 246. 
 
 Lambeth, letters dated at, 432, 439. 
 
 Lanfranc, abbot of Caen, becomes arch- 
 bishop of Canterbury, 142, 232. 
 begins to rebuild the Cathedral, 142, 
 232, 350. 
 
 witnesses the madness of Egelward, 
 144-149, 234-237, 351, 352. 
 
 is miraculously cured by Dunstan, 
 151, 152, 240, 241. 
 
 cure of his clerk, 153, 241. 
 
 Lanfranc — cont. 
 
 his law suit with Odo of Bayeux, 144, 
 238, 239. 
 
 he orders the story of Barabas to be 
 
 recorded, 154, 155. 
 translates the Canterbury saints, 414. 
 
 Lantfrith, letter of, to the brethren at Win- 
 chester, 369. 
 
 Laon, Mundlothuin, 395. 
 
 Lenham, miracle that befell a man of, 130. 
 
 Leo, the pope's legate to Normandy, 397. 
 
 Leofsin, Liefsin, a messenger from Blan- 
 dinium to Dunstan, 380, 381. 
 
 Leofstan, son of Alfwold, 398. 
 
 Liege, the bishop of, a patron of learning, 
 386, 387. 
 
 Lombardy, miraculous deliverance of Egel- 
 
 wan in, 160, 245. 
 London, Dunstan bishop of, 37, 60, 105, 
 196, 293, 338. 
 Edward, archdeacon of, 155, 241. 
 attacked by the Danes, 352. 
 Lucca, 393. 
 Luna, 393. 
 
 M. 
 
 Malmesbury, William of, his Life of Dun- 
 stan, 250-324 ; quoted, 341. 
 abbey of, Dunstan's ^^fts to, 301, 302. 
 abbot of, hears Dunstan tell the life of 
 S. Edmund, 378. 
 Martin, S., Dunstan's likeness to, 50. 
 
 festival of, 244. 
 Martin waeth, 395. 
 
 Mary S„ her church at Glastonbury, 7, 10, 
 
 72, 83, 165, 173,175. 
 devotion of Dunstan's patroness to, 
 
 17, 18, 86, 175, 265. 
 Maurice, S., in Savoy, 394., 
 Mayfield, Dunstan orientates a church at, 
 
 204, 342. 
 Metane, in Italy, 393. 
 Moderannus, S., 393. 
 
 Mons Gaudii, near Rome, 57, 96, 185, 280. 
 Mundlothuin, Laon, 395. 
 
488 
 
 N. 
 
 Nero, Edwy compared to, 99. 
 
 Nicolas, of Worcester, his letter to Eadmer 
 
 on the mother of S. Edward, 422. 
 Nos, Nodz, in Burgundy, 394. 
 Norman, a clerk to Anselm, 246. 
 Normans, intercourse of iEthelred with, 322. 
 
 Richard, duke of, 322, 363, 397, 398. 
 Northumbrians, choose Edgar for king, 35, 
 
 36, 103, 194, 291, 336. 
 Norwich, see of Elmham removed to, 317. 
 
 o. 
 
 Odbert, abbot of S. Bertin, his letter to 
 Ethelgar, 384 ; to Sigeric, 388. 
 
 Odo, archbishop of Canterbury, at Edwy's 
 coronation feast, 32, 101, 191, 283, 
 336. 
 
 consecrates Dunstan, 60, 103, 19 5* 
 
 292, 337. 
 was a patron of Abbo, 410. 
 dies, 37, 107, 197, 198, 293, 338. 
 insulted by MlMge, 294, 338. 
 he was uncle of S. Oswald, 303. 
 Odo, bishop of Bayeux, earl of Kent, claims 
 
 the property of Canterbury, 144, 
 
 238. 
 
 is defeated, 144, 238. 
 sentences a prisoner to wear chains, 
 153. 
 
 Oisma, in France, 395. 
 
 Ordgar, ealdorman of Wessex, 423. 
 
 Ordmer, ealdorman of the East Angles, 
 
 father of Elfleda the Fair, 210. 
 Oriens regnum, 23, 46. 
 Osbern writes a life of Dunstan, 69. - 
 
 remarks by Eadmer on, 162, 16 3,, 199, 
 419. 
 
 by William of Malmesbury on, 250- 
 252, 260, 271, 288, 289, 322-324. 
 Oswald, bishop of Worcester and arch- 
 bishop of York, 303, 304. 
 
 builds the cathedral of S. Mary at 
 Worcester, 197. 
 
 his monastic reforms, 214, 303. 
 
 Ouen, S., his day observed at Canterbury, 
 137, 227. 
 his church at Rouen, 363. 
 
 P. 
 
 Pattiphica, Pavia, 394. 
 Pantaleon, S., 432. 
 , Patrick, S., pilgrims go to Glastonbury in 
 
 honour of, 10, 11, 75, 257 ; his date, 
 
 251. 
 
 Paul, S., appears to Dunstan, 30, 57, 96, 
 97, 185, 186, 280. 
 his church at London, 61, 105, 196, 
 293. 
 
 Pers, John, witnesses the opening of Dun- 
 stan' s grave, 429. 
 Peter, S., appears to Dui;istan, 30, 57, 96, 
 97, 185, 186, 280. 
 chapel dedicated to, at Glastonbury, 7. 
 church at Winchester, 365. 
 church at Ghent, 101. See Blan- 
 dinium. . 
 .Peterborough, Burhc, 303. 
 Petir-in-Pail, 393. 
 Petrescastel, 394. 
 Philip, 373. 
 Placentia, 393, 
 
 Potkin, William, witnesses the opening of 
 
 Dunstan's grave, 429. 
 Publei, 394. 
 
 Punterlin, Pontarlier, 394. 
 Puntremel, Pontremoli, 393. 
 
 Q. 
 
 Quiric, S., 392. 
 
 R 
 
 Ramsey, monastery at, 303. 
 Rems, Rheims, 395. 
 
 Richard, duke of the Normans, 322, 363, 
 397, 398. 
 
 Richarius, messenger from S. Bertin, 385. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 489 
 
 Rochester, church of S. Andrew at, go- 
 verned by Dunstan, 61, 108, 200, 
 293. 
 
 besieged by Ethelred, 1J7, 310, 344. 
 
 bishop of, 115, 215, 311, 344, 378. 
 
 Gundulf, bishop of, 414. 
 Bodulf, son of Hugh, 398. 
 Rome, 30, 57. 
 
 ^Ifsige goes to, 38, 107, 198, 294, 338. 
 
 Dunstan goes to, 38, 40, 108, 198, 295, 
 339. 
 
 Ethelgar goes to, 388. 
 Sigeric visits the churches of, 391, 392. 
 Rouen, archbishops of, 285. 
 church of S. Ouen at, 363. 
 
 s. 
 
 Saprington, in Gloucestershire, miracle at, 
 
 144, 247. 
 Saxons, 3, 46. 
 
 ScoUand, Scotland, abbot of S. Augustine's 
 143, 232, 233, 234, 351, 414. 
 
 Scots, Bernhelm, bishop of, 113, 213. 
 
 Sebricht, a monk of Glastonbury concerned 
 in the translation of S. Dunstan, 353. 
 
 Sedulius, the hymn of, 48, 49, 118, 119, 
 208, 317, 346. 
 
 Sefui,394. 
 
 Sens, archbishop of, 285. 
 Seocine (Sienna), 393. 
 Shaftesbury founded by king Alfred, 252 ; 
 mentioned in connexion with Edgar's 
 penance 111, 112, 252; Edward 
 buried at, 309. 
 Sithiu. See S. Bertin. 
 Sherborne, monks introduced at, 304. 
 bishops of, . ^ 
 Aldhelm, 302. 
 Ethelsige, 398. 
 Wulfsige, 304, 406, 408. 
 Sigeric, archbishop of Canterbury, his 
 journey from Rome, 391. 
 letters to, 388, 399, 400. 
 Somersetshire, 29, 275. 
 Stour, the river, in Kent, 134. 
 Suteria, Sutri, 392. 
 
 Swithun, S. miracles of, 369. 
 
 church of, at Winchester, 343. 
 
 T. 
 
 Teranburh, Terouanne, 395. 
 Thames, river, 36, 103, 194, 291, 336. 
 Thanet,isle of, 156. 
 
 Thorney, monastery of, restored by Ethel- 
 wold, 303. 
 
 Tremel, in Italy, 393. 
 
 Treves, Leo, bishop of, 397. 
 
 Tunstall, Cuthbert, witnessed the opening 
 of Dunstan's grave, 429. 
 
 Torgis, father of Turstenc, 398. 
 
 Turstenc, a witness to the treaty of Rouen, 
 398. 
 
 u. 
 
 Urba, Orbe, 894. 
 Ursiores, Orsieres, 394. 
 Uzza, example of, 53. 
 
 V. 
 
 Valentine, S., 392. 
 Vercel, Vercelli, 394. 
 Vivaec, Yevey, 394. 
 
 w. 
 
 Wandregisilus, S., 60, 285. 
 Wareham, burial of S. Edward at, 309. 
 Warham, William, archbishop of Canter- 
 bury, 4^6-439. 
 Weks, Robert, witnesses the opening of 
 
 Dunstan's grave, 429. 
 Wells, Thomas, witnesses the opening of 
 Dunstan's grave, 429. 
 Athelm, bishop of, 258. 
 Wessex, 6, 71, 291. 
 Westbury, monastery of, 376. 
 Westminster, abbey of, 246. 
 Wulfsige, abbot of, 304. 
 
 I I 
 
490 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Wido, of Blandinmm, !his letter to Dunstan, 
 380. 
 
 Wilfrid, archbishop of York, translation of 
 
 his remains, 271. 
 Wilfritha, the mother of S. Edith, 341. 
 William of Malmesbury, 341. SeeMsdmes^ 
 
 bury. 
 
 William the Conqueror, 143, 144, 238. 
 Wilton, story of the nun of, 111, 209, 341. 
 
 S. Edith was abbess of, 310. 
 Winchester, ^bishops of. See JEIfheah, 
 ^thelwold, jElfsige. 
 
 dedication of a church at, 14, 261. 
 
 Qhurch of S. Gregory at, 15, 261. 
 
 monastic reforms at, 211, 303, 364. 
 
 Edred buried at, 282. 
 
 council at, 113, 212, 343. 
 
 mentioned in letters, 377, 388. 
 
 Wistan, father of Ethelnoth 398. 
 Wlmar, abbot of Fontanelle, 285. 
 Worcester, Dunstan made bishop of, 37, 
 60, 103, 104, 195, 292. 
 bishops of. See Cynewald, Oswald, 
 dedication of the cathedral of. See 
 Peter. 
 
 Wulfhelm, archbishop of sjOanterbury, 354. 
 Wulfred appears after death to Dunstan, 
 
 15, 16, 89, 179, 263. 
 Wulfric, Dunstan' s brother, dies, 28, 274. 
 
 abbot of S. Augustine's, 409. 
 Wulfsige, abbot of Westminster, 304 ; 
 made bishop of Sherborn, 304 ; 
 letter to, 406 ; letter of, 408. 
 Wulfstan, bishop of London, letter ad- 
 dressed to, 404. 
 bishop of Worcester, 164. 
 
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