By the help of two iron rings, fixed at the extremities, it
was easily removed, and disclosed the body apparently entire, lying
on its right side, on a pallet of silk. At the sight they gazed on
each other in silent astonishment, and then retiring a few paces,
fell prostrate on the floor, and repeated, in a low tone, the seven
penitential psalms. After this preparation, they approached the coffin,
and three of them, by order of the prior, placing their hands under the
head, the feet, and the middle of the body, raised it up, and laid it
on a carpet spread on the floor. It was found to have been wrapped in a
cerecloth of linen. Over this appeared the usual episcopal vestments,
the amice, alb, stole, fanon tunic and dalmatic;--the chasuble alone
was wanting, which had been removed at the former translation in 689.
On the forehead lay a thin plate of gold, or metal gilt, thickly
encrusted with small stones; and a mitre covered the head, round which
had been wound a napkin of purple colour. A cerecloth of the finest
linen adhered so closely to the face, that no part of it could be
loosened, but between the neck and the shoulders the skin was exposed
to the sight and touch. The arms could be moved with ease; the hands
were joined over the lower part of the chest, and the fingers, which
were still flexible, pointed upwards. With the body were found a
chalice, patine, a portable altar, a burse to hold the linen for the
altar, and an ivory comb, with scissors of silver." When the shrine of
St. Cuthbert was plundered and demolished by order of that sacrilegious
scoundrel King Harry the Eighth, the body was still found entire, as
Harpsfield testifies.
Audry, a daughter of Annas, King of the East Angles, and abbess of Ely
Monastery, died A.D. 679, and was buried in a wooden coffin. Sixteen
years afterwards her sister caused her body to be exhumed. It was found
"free from corruption, and all the linen cloths in which the body had
been wrapped appeared entire, and as fresh as if they had been that
very day wrapped about her limbs." Such are the words of the physician
who attended her in her last illness, and who saw the occurrence.
(Bede, B. 4. c. 19).
Wereburge, a daughter of Wulfere, king of Mercia, died about the close
of the seventh century. Her body, according to her own desire, was
interred at Hanbury. Nine years afterwards, in 708, it was taken up
in presence of King Cöelred, his Council, and many bishops, and being
found entire and incorrupt, was laid in a costly shrine. In 875 her
body was still entire; when, for fear of the Danish pirates, it was
removed to Chester, and soon after its translation, fell into decay.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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