How a monk was healed of a fever quartan.

In the abbey of Westminster there was a virtuous monk and conning named Gilbert, which was sore vexed with a fever quartan from the month of July to Christmas, and consumed like a dry image, whereof he prayed God to release his pain or take him out of this world. And on Christmas night he took heart to him and went to matins with his brethren. And when he heard the gospel, how a little child was born and given to us from the father of heaven, whose mother was a pure virgin, he had so great devotion that his mind was ravished with so great joy that he felt no disease two days after. After those two days the fever came again, and vexed him continually unto the feast of Saint Edward which is always in the vigil of the Epiphany. And that day in the high mass time he came to the tomb of Saint Edward and fell down plat in great devotion, and weeping, and said thus: O thou, my lord and king, how long wilt thou forget me? How long shall I suffer this pain? How long shalt thou turn thy face from me? Where be all the great miracles that our fathers have told to us, done in their days? Thou hast holpen many strangers, but me that am in thine own church thou forgettest and closest to me the gate of thy pity. Would God that I might die, I am nourished in pain and may not die, my life is sorrow to me, but it can have none end, and I desire death and dare not have it. What shall I strive with thee? But I beseech thee, good king, laudable prince, and sweet patron, move thy bowels of mercy on me, if it please thee give me health, or else let me die anon. And among these words the tears brake out of his eyes, and sobbings from his heart, that he could not speak with his mouth but with his affection. And when mass was done, he arose up from prayer all whole, and felt all his members marvellously refreshed with a new strength and entered in and asked after meat and drink, and anon he felt himself that he had received again his strength. And ever after he was moved with great devotion unto the glorious Saint Edward, by whose merits he was delivered from his sickness and disease.

And in like wise a knight named Gerin was healed that same day, a year after, of the fever quartan, which came that day unto the shrine and heard the same monk that had so been healed, which then was prior, make a sermon in which he told of the miracle, how he was whole. And after the sermon this knight thought he would not cease. but devoutly prayed this holy saint till he were whole, and abode there praying all that day and night following till the monks came to matins, whom he prayed to pray for him. And when they had prayed a good while he felt himself made perfectly whole, and then he with all the people gave thankings to our Lord, Almighty God, and Saint Edward, for his deliverance.

Also a nun of Barking, that had been sick twelve months, and nigh consumed away, had a vision on a night by which she understood that she should go to Saint Edward and be whole; and she making her prayers to Saint Edward. And at such time as her sickness came, she entered into her oratory and said the seven Psalms and Litany, and when she did so twice all her pain was gone, and she was made perfectly whole, and thanked Almighty God, which by the merits of Saint Edward had healed her, and soon after came to Westminster in pilgrimage, and there did show this miracle, and told how she was made whole.

Also there was a monk of Westminster which was accustomed to say every day five Psalms in the worship of God and Saint Edward, which monk was grieved with three manner sicknesses. For he had on his arm a congelation of blood in manner of a posthume, he had also in his breast a straitness that unnethe he might draw his breath, also he had in his foot a marvellous swelling and a great, that he might not go but with great pain. And when the yearly feast was hallowed, he saw his brethren go to the church at midnight for to ring the bells, and he was right sorry that he might not do the same. Notwithstanding he pained himself and went thither, and said the seven psalms. And when he had done, and saw his brethren ring merrily, he said in his prayer to

Saint Edward: O thou my good king, I beseech thee to pray for me that I may have strength to do as I see my brethren do, for I commit me fully to thy might, and I believe verily that thou wilt suffer me no longer in this great disease. And when he had made an end of his prayers he arose up, and went to the bells for to ring them, and anon the posthume of his arm brake, and when the foul matter was out, he felt himself whole of that disease. Then his most pain was in his breast, and he went again to pray and to give thankings to God and to Saint Edward of the deliverance of his posthume. And there he prayed full devoutly that he might be delivered of the disease of his breast, and when he arose from prayer he felt his heart all whole from the sickness that he had in his breast. Then he felt no disease but on his foot, and when he came among his brethren in the fraitour, he told them how he was delivered from twain of his sicknesses, and when they saw him they marvelled greatly, and besought Almighty God and Saint Edward that he might be delivered of that disease in his foot. And at night, when he went to his bed, he put himself wholly in the merits of Saint Edward, and when he arose he felt no pain, but put down his hand to his foot to feel how it was, and he felt that the swelling was gone. He leapt out of his bed and told to his brethren, with full great joy, how he was made perfectly whole as ever he was. Then they were all full glad, and went with him to the church to give thankings and praisings to Almighty God, and to his holy confessor Saint Edward for these miracles, and for his deliverance from the three sicknesses, wherefore God be praised in his servant without end. Amen.

Date: 2016-04-22; view: 512