the service of the altar; but laws and canon-right make it a duty, that if so it must be, they must all of them be forced under perpetual rule of monks or canons, yet in such wise that for five or seven years they keep out of church. But when that time is passed, let them still be reminded of the rule, so that none of them ever read the lessons or ever stand forth singing, but let them stand low in humility with psalms and holy prayers, praying mercy for their crimes as long as they live. Consider, however, brother, in your judgments and shrivings, that most of these penalties are to be made more severe according to hour and place. Valete. Now it is shown, as was hinted at formerly, how through this peremptory command and reasoning of the lord pope the bishops laid themselves out, by all means in their power, to preach mercy and absolution to those in bondage, leading them back from the paths of error into the bosom of holy church, who had already sadly lost their virtue and morals through obedience to the enemy and their evil passions. Thereby that fog of sin of which we spoke before groweth thinner, so that God's mercy approacheth nearer to the people day by day, that they may partake of the blessed fruit which is to spring up from that corn of wheat which fell living into the earth, and still lieth concealed within the church of Canterbury. It is well fit, therefore, next to these things, to hear, as 1171. A truthful person of 1 2 inn, hver hans upprás verðr eðr hver hæð í heilagri Guðs kristni. KAP. LXXXVII. MERKILIGAR VITRANIR. Svo sýndist sannorðum manne, sem hann væri3 5 Canterbury kominn í kór Kantuariensis kirkju. par stóð mikill sees two up from the armpits. 6 wands grow mannfjöldi bæði lærðra 5 ok ólærðra ýmissa stètta.7 archbishop's Hèr með sýnist honum sem yfir háaltarið liggi frammliðenn 8 Thomas erkibyskup, skrýddr silkiklæðum 9 blóðrauðum. Virðuligur 10 maðr í munkabúningi sitr 10 undir höfði hans ok styor sinni hendi hvárn veg at 11 höfðinu. Enn erkibyskup hallaðist á þann silki-kodda rauðan, er liggr yfir hnè 12 bróðurins. Því næst 13 renna upp vendir tveir blómgaðir, sèrhvorr 14 af sínum handveg,15 með svo fljótum vexti, sem þeir vili upp í gegnum 15 þekjuræfrit.16 Allir í kórnum undra þetta mjök, áðr Interpreta- munkrinn talar svo til þeira: "Hví standi þèr, bræðr,1 "sem undrandi sýn þessa? fái þèr 18 eigi skilt, at vendir þessir merkja frægð 19 ok dýrð þessa hins heilaga píslar"votts? Svá sem vendir leita til himins, svá munu 20 vaxa ok margfaldast hans dýrðarlof 20 fyrir Drottni. "Vaxa muno þeir ok útbreiða tion of the vision. "ok þeira lengdar 21 mun eingi 17 sínar limar yfir alla jörð, vendir merkja 23 þat sama, sem forðum birtist frú Mailld. Hygg at, hversu líkzt 24 hefir þröngleiki 25 kirkj 25 the fruit becometh brighter, what be the manner of its growth or how high it reareth itself in God's church. CHAP. LXXXVII. REMARKABLE VISIONS. To a certain truthful person it seemed as if he was within the chancel of the church of Canterbury, where there was standing together a great multitude of people, learned as well as layfolk of sundry stations. At the same time it seemed to him as if archbishop Thomas lay dead on the high altar, decked in robes of silk of a bloodred hue. A certain reverend person in the garb of a monk sitteth under his head, and with both hands stayeth the head on either side. But the archbishop reclined on the red silk cushion which lay across the lap of the brother. Then, next, he seeth, how two wands spring up, each from either armpit, with such a quick growth as if they would shoot through the roof. All those in the choir marvel much at this until the monk speaketh to them thus: "Why stand ye, brethren, as in wonder at this sight? may ye not understand that these wands betoken the fame and glory of this holy martyr? for even as the wands aim heavenward, so, in a similar manner, shall the praise of his glory multiply before the Lord. Yea, they shall wax, and spread their limbs over all the earth, and of the length of their limbs there shall be no end. These blessed wands betoken even the same thing as the vision which aforetime appeared to lady Maild. Observe, how the church, being too small to compass their growth 1171. 13 5 4 6 unnar, at taka þeira vöxt ok uppruna, fordyri1 á and spread, resembleth the door of Christschurch in London through which the pregnant Maild might not enter. Again understand, on the other hand, how the length and the wide spread of the limbs signifieth, in the interpretation of the brother, one and the same thing as the fair pall which aforetime the voice said was wider even than all England. Concerning this matter the Master speaketh thus: A great martyr hath arisen among us, and in sooth he shall be raised up, and be much exalted, for the earth shall be filled with his praise, and the nations of the world shall be made to see, that the Lord magnified him before the face of kings. And right worthy it is, for the man will not be found who in a more rejoicing manner ever underwent the torment of death for the name of God, as was manifested on the very day [of his death] by his words and deeds. And full clearly the reason thereof is manifested: in the first place, in that fervid love, which he bore to his Creator in suffering passion for his righteousness in the flesh, to abide with him afterwards for ever. And secondly, it was natural that the man who so tortured himself as he did ceaselessly with haircloth and flagellations, should deem it as worth nothing, what he had to suffer for but a brief space in order that he might end his life of penance in such a desirable manner. Therefore this soul was right acceptable to the Divine being, and even therefore, too, the Lord himself made haste to lead his friend out of the wicked world, in order that his victory should give joy both to the angels of God in heaven, and the church, which now sat in sorrow and grief. |