APPENDIX I

INSTANCES FROM THE LIVES OF SAINTS AND WORTHIES

FROM THE SEVENTH CENTURY TO THE PRESENT DAY

I HAVE selected these instances as typical, interesting, and well authenticated, and as occurring in the lives of well-known men and women. For this reason all kinds of cures are included, both small and great. The medical reader can form his own judgment as to their relative importance. The details are interesting and often of great value.

BEDE (673-735) ON ST. JOHN OF BEVERLEY, † 721

We will give several instances from Bede's account of this saint, because they are exceedingly full, candid, and well-attested, ranging from the simplest co-operation with the surgeon (4) to a cure at the point of death (3), though of course in all these old accounts we have not the advantage of scientific diagnosis. We give these instances, also, because they throw light upon an obscure period - a period, indeed, which is sometimes called the "Dark Ages," though it witnessed the spreading of the light from Ireland to Russia, and the planting of civilization among the barbarian races which now rule the world. There was no more honest and conscientious historian than Bede, the founder of English history, who, it will be noticed, refers carefully to eye-witnesses and gives only a selection of the miracles which he had heard of.

(1) St. John of Beverley

(A.D. 685: He co-operates with the physician)

"In the beginning of the aforesaid reign, Bishop Eata died, and was succeeded in the prelacy of the church of Hagulstad by John, a holy man of whom those who familiarly knew him are wont to tell many miracles; and more particularly, the reverend Berthun, a man of undoubted veracity, and once his deacon, now abbot of the Monastery called Inderawood, that is, in the wood of the Deiri; some of which miracles we have thought fit to transmit to posterity. There is a certain building in a retired situation, and enclosed by a narrow wood and a trench, about a mile and a half from the church of Hagulstad, and separated from it by the river Tyne, having a burying place dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel, where the man of God used frequently, as occasion offered, and particularly in Lent, to reside with a few companions. Being come thither once at the beginning of Lent to stay, he commanded his followers to find out some poor person labouring under any grievous infirmity, or want, whom he might keep with him during those days, by way of alms, for so he was always used to do.

"There was in a village not far off, a certain dumb youth, known to the Bishop, for he often used to come into his presence to receive alms, and had never been able to speak one word. Besides, he had so much scurf and scabs on his head that no hair ever grew on the top of it, only some scattered hairs in a circle round about. The bishop caused this young man to be brought, and a little cottage to be made for him within the enclosure of the dwelling, in which he might reside, and receive a daily allowance from him. When one week of Lent was over, the next Sunday he caused the poor man to come in to him, and ordered him to put his tongue out of his mouth and show it to him; then laying hold of his chin, he made the sign of the cross on his tongue, directing him to draw it back into his mouth and to speak. 'Pronounce some word,' said he; say "yea,' which, in the language of the Angels, is the word of affirming and consenting, that is, yes.' The youth's tongue was immediately loosed, and he said what he was ordered. The bishop,

6

6

then pronouncing the names of the letters, directed him to say, 'A'; he did so, and afterwards 'B,' which he also did. When he had named all the letters after the bishop, the latter proceeded to put syllables and words to him, which being also repeated by him, he commanded him to utter whole sentences, and he did it. Nor did he cease all that day and the next night, as long as he could keep awake, as those who were present relate, to talk something, and to express his private thoughts and will to others which he could never do before; after the manner of the cripple, who being healed by the Apostles Peter and John, stood up leaping, and walked, and went with them into the temple, walking and skipping, and praising the Lord, rejoicing to have the use of his feet which he had so long wanted. The bishop, rejoicing at his recovery of speech, ordered the physician to take in hand the cure of his scurfed head. He did so, and with the help of the bishop's blessing and prayers, a good head of hair grew as the flesh was healed. Thus the youth obtained a good aspect, ready utterance, and a beautiful head of hair, whereas before he had been deformed, poor and dumb. Thus rejoicing at his recovery, the bishop offered to keep him in his family, but he rather chose to return home." 1

(2) St. John of Beverley

(686: He uses holy water)

"The same abbot related another miracle, similar to the former, of the aforesaid bishop. 'Not very far from our monastery, that is, about two miles off, was the country house of one Puch, an earl, whose wife had languished near forty days under a very acute disease, insomuch that for three weeks she could not be carried out of the room where she lay. It happened that the man of God was at that time invited thither by the earl to consecrate a church; and when that was done, the earl invited him to dine at his house. The bishop declined, saying, "He must return to the monastery which was very near." The earl, pressing him more earnestly, vowed he would also give alms to the poor, if the bishop would

1 Bede, Ecclesiastical History, ed. J. A. Giles, 1894. Bk. V, c. ii.

break his fast that day in his house. I joined my entreaties to his promising in like manner to give alms for the relief of the poor, if he would go and dine at the earl's house and give his blessing. Having at length, with much difficulty, prevailed, we went in to dine. The bishop had sent to the woman that lay sick some of the holy water, which he had blessed for the consecration of the church, by one of the brothers that went along with me, ordering him to give her some to drink, and wash the place where her greatest pain was, with some of the same. This being done, the woman immediately got up in health, and perceiving that she had not only been delivered from her tedious distemper, but at the same time recovered the strength which she had lost, she presented the cup to the bishop and to us, and continued serving us with drink as she had begun till dinner was over; following the example of Peter's mother-in-law, who, having been sick of a fever, arose at the touch of our Lord, and having at once received health and strength, ministered to them." 2

66

(3) St. John of Beverley

(686: He blesses and heals)

'At another time, also, being called to consecrate Earl Addi's Church, when he had performed that duty, he was entreated by the Earl to go in to one of his servants, who lay dangerously ill, and having lost the use of all his limbs, seemed to be just at death's door; and indeed the coffin had been provided to bury him in. The earl urged his entreaties with tears, earnestly praying that he would go in and pray for him, because his life was of great consequence to him; and he believed that if the bishop would lay his hand upon him and give him his blessing, he would soon mend. The bishop went in and saw him in a dying condition, and the coffin by his side, whilst all present were in tears. He said a prayer, blessed him, and on going out, as is the usual expression of comforters, said, 'May you soon recover.' Afterwards when they were sitting at table, the lad sent to his lord, to desire he would let him have a cup of wine,

2 Bede, Ecclesiastical History, Bk. V, c. iv. I have omitted the curing of the nun Coenberg in c. iii.