XXVII. How Egbert, a holy man of the English nation,
led a monastic life in Ireland. [664 A.D.]
CHAP. XXVII. How Egbert, a holy man of the English nation, led a monastic life
in Ireland. [664 A.D.]
IN the same year of our Lord 664, there happened an eclipse of the sun, on the
third day of May,about the tenth hour of the day. In the same year, a sudden
pestilence depopulated first the southern parts of Britain, and afterwards
attacking the province of the Northumbrians, ravaged the country far and near,
and destroyed a great multitude of men. By this plague the aforesaid priest of
the Lord, Tuda,was carried off, and was honourably buried in the monastery
called Paegnalaech.2 Moreover, this plague prevailed no less disastrously in the
island of Ireland. Many of the nobility, and of the lower ranks of the English
nation, were there at that time, who, in the days of the Bishops Finan and
Colman, forsaking their native island, retired thither, either for the sake of
sacred studies, or of a more ascetic life; and some of them presently devoted
themselves faithfully to a monastic life, others chose rather to apply
themselves to study, going about from one master’s cell to another. The Scots
willingly received them all, and took care to supply them with daily food
without cost, as also to furnish them with books for their studies, and teaching
free of charge.
Among these were Ethelhun and Egbert,two youths of great capacity, of the
English nobility. The former of whom was brother to Ethelwin,a man no less
beloved by God, who also at a later time went over into Ireland to study, and
having been well instructed, returned into his own country, and being made
bishop in the province of Lindsey, long and nobly governed the Church. These two
being in the monastery which in the language of the Scots is called
Rathmelsigi,and having lost all their companions, who were either cut off by the
plague, or dispersed into other places, were both seized by the same sickness,
and grievously afflicted. Of these, Egbert, (as I was informed by a priest
venerable for his age, and of great veracity, who declared he had heard the
story from his own lips,) concluding that he was at the point of death, went out
of the chamber, where the sick lay, in the morning, and sitting alone in a
fitting place, began seriously to reflect upon his past actions, and, being full
of compunction at the remembrance of his sins, bedewed his face with tears, and
prayed fervently to God that he might not die yet, before he could forthwith
more fully make amends for the careless offences which he had committed in his
boyhood and infancy, or might further exercise himself in good works. He also
made a vow that he would spend all his life abroad and never return into the
island of Britain, where he was born; that besides singing the psalms at the
canonical hours, he would, unless prevented by bodily infirmity, repeat the
whole Psalter daily to the praise of God; and that he would every week fast one
whole day and night. Returning home, after his tears and prayers and vows, he
found his companion asleep; and going to bed himself, he began to compose
himself to rest. When he had lain quiet awhile, his comrade awaking, looked on
him, and said, "Alas! Brother Egbert, what have you done? I was in hopes that we
should have entered together into life everlasting; but know that your prayer is
granted." For he had learned in a vision what the other had requested, and that
he had obtained his request.
In brief, Ethelhun died the next night; but Egbert, throwing off his sickness,
recovered and lived a long time after to grace the episcopal office, which he
received, by deeds worthy of it; and blessed with many virtues, according to his
desire, lately, in the year of our Lord 729, being ninety years of age, he
departed to the heavenly kingdom. He passed his life in great perfection of
humility, gentleness, continence, simplicity, and justice. Thus he was a great
benefactor, both to his own people, and to those nations of the Scots and Picts
among whom he lived in exile, by the example of his life, his earnestness in
teaching, his authority in reproving, and his piety in giving away of those
things which he received from the rich. He also added this to the vows which we
have mentioned: during Lent, he would eat but one meal a day, allowing himself
nothing but bread and thin milk, and even that by measure. The milk, new the day
before, he kept in a vessel, and skimming off the cream in the morning, drank
the rest, as has been said, with a little bread. Which sort of abstinence he
likewise always observed forty days before the Nativity of our Lord, and as many
after the solemnity of Pentecost, that is, of the fifty days’ festival.
