St Swithin still lives in popular superstition; and is perhaps the
object of prayer or deprecation among the ignorant, according as they
may lack rain for their fields, or dread the pains of rheumatism. He
was Bishop of Winchester. He accompanied Alfred to Rome. His character
resembled that given of St Neot; he was a devout champion of the
church. Perhaps the reader is not acquainted with the origin of the
popular superstition with regard to this saint. We give it in Mrs
Jameson's words:--
"He had ordered that his body should be buried among the
poor, outside the church, 'under the feet of the passengers,
and exposed to the droppings of the eaves from above.' When
his clergy attempted to remove the body to a more honourable
tomb inside the church, there came on such a storm or rain
as effectually stopped the procession; and this continued
for forty days without intermission, till the project was
abandoned, and his remains were suffered to rest in the humble
grave he had chosen for himself."
Such is the story of this Jupiter Pluvius of our Saxon ancestors, and
of our Protestant calendar.
We cannot be allowed altogether to pass by St Dunstan. Mr Turner,
in his Anglo-Saxon history, represents him as having introduced the
Benedictine order into England: the fact being that there had been no
other order from the time of St Augustine of Canterbury. St Dunstan
is chiefly known in popular belief for his treatment of Elgiva. The
story of Edwin and Elgiva, is of too romantic a cast to be willingly
abandoned. He is quoted also as an object of ridicule, whenever
ridicule of ecclesiastical matters or personages is thought desirable.
He was, however, as Mrs Jameson justly considers him, "one of the most
striking and interesting characters of the times." He was himself an
artist, as well as the subject of art. He was born in 925. He gained
instruction at the great seminary, Glastonbury, of which he afterwards
became a professed monk. A painter, a musician, and a skilful artificer
in metal, he followed strictly the industrial rule of his order.
Learned in books, he was also an accomplished scribe. He constructed an
organ "with brass pipes, filled with air from the bellows, and which
uttered," says Bede, "a grand and most sweet melody." He was made
successively Bishop of Worcester, of London, and at length Archbishop
of Canterbury. If he did not introduce, he at least reformed the
Benedictine order in England: he founded monasteries and schools,
promoted learning, and a taste for science and the arts. Like other
saints, he has his fabulous history of miracles.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account