Traditional life Swithun
swithun, benedictional of st. Æthelwold, winchester, 10th century, british library
the revival of swithun s fame gave rise mass of legendary literature. so-called vita s. swithuni of lantfred , wulfstan, written 1000, hardly contain biographical fact; has in later years passed authentic detail of swithun s life extracted biography ascribed goscelin of st bertin s, monk came on england hermann, bishop of salisbury 1058 1078. writer learn saint swithun born in reign of egbert of wessex, , ordained priest helmstan, bishop of winchester (838-c. 852). fame reached king s ears, , appointed him tutor of son, Æthelwulf (alias adulphus), , considered him 1 of chief friends.
under Æthelwulf, swithun appointed bishop of winchester, see consecrated archbishop ceolnoth. in new office known piety , zeal in building new churches or restoring old ones. @ request Æthelwulf gave tenth of royal lands church. swithun made diocesan journeys on foot; when gave banquet invited poor , not rich. william of malmesbury adds that, if bishop ealhstan of sherborne Æthelwulf s minister temporal matters, swithun minister spiritual matters.
swithun s best known miracle restoration on bridge of basket of eggs workmen had maliciously broken. of stories connected swithun 2 famous of winchester egg-woman , queen emma s ordeal. former found in goscelin s life (c. 1100), latter in thomas rudborne s historia major (15th century), work responsible not improbable legend swithun accompanied alfred on visit rome in 856. died on 2 july 862. on deathbed swithin begged should buried outside north wall of cathedral passers-by should pass on grave , raindrops eaves drop upon it.
Comments
Post a Comment