Tales and Legends of the English Lakes — John Shaqi
Tales and Legends of the English LakesArmistead, Wilson
General
Tales and Legends of the English Lakes
Armistead, Wilson
Folklore -- England -- Lake District; Legends -- England -- Lake District; Tales -- England -- Lake District
"'Remember, brother, Herberte, that whatsoever ye have to say and ask of
me, you do it now, for after we depart hence, we shall not meet again,
and see one another corporally in this world; for I know well the time
of my dissolution is at hand, and the laying aside of this earthly
tabernacle draweth on apace.'
"When Herberte heard this, he fell down at his feet, and with many sighs
and tears beseeched him, for the love of the Lord, that he would not
forsake him, but to remember his faithful brother and associate, and
make intercession with the gracious God, that they might depart hence
into heaven together, to behold His grace and glory whom they had in
unity of spirit served on earth; for you know I have ever studied and
laboured to live according to your pious and virtuous instructions; and
in whatsoever I offended or omitted, through ignorance and frailty, I
straight-way used my earnest efforts to amend after your ghostly
counsel, will, and judgment. At this earnest and affectionate request of
Herbertes, the bishop went to prayer, and presently being certified in
spirit that his petition to heaven would be granted,--
"'Arise,' said he, 'my dear brother, weep not, but let your rejoicing be
with exceeding gladness, for the great mercy of God hath granted unto us
our prayer.'
"The truth of which promise and prophecy was well proved in that which
ensued; for their separation was the last that befel them on earth; on
the same day, which was the 19th day of March, their souls departed from
their bodies, and were straight in union in the beatific sight and
vision; and were transported hence to the kingdom of heaven, by the
service and hands of angels."
It is probable the hermit's little oratory or chapel might be kept in
repair after his death, as a particular veneration appears to have been
paid to this retreat, and the memory of the saint; for, at the distance
of almost seven centuries, we find this place resorted to in holy
services and processions, and the hermit's memory celebrated in
religious offices.[1] The remains of the hermitage are still visible;
and near to these hallowed ruins stands a small grotto of unhewn stone,
called the New Hermitage, erected some years ago by Sir Wilfrid Lawson,
to whose representative the island at present belongs. The dwelling of
the anchorite consisted of two apartments, one of which, about twenty
feet in length by sixteen in width, appears to have been his chapel; the
other, whose dimensions are considerably less, was his cell.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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