CHAP. IV. How he healed a thegn’s wife that was sick, with holy water.
THE same abbot related another miracle, not unlike the former, of the aforesaid bishop. "Not
very far from our monastery," he said, "to wit, about two miles off, was the township of one Puch,
a thegn, whose wife had lain sick of a very grievous disease for nearly forty days, insomuch that
for three weeks she could not be carried out of the chamber where she lay. It happened that the
man of God was, at that time, called thither by the thegn to consecrate a church; and when that was
done, the thegn desired him to come into his house and dine. The bishop declined, saying that he
must return to the monastery, which was very near. The thegn, entreating him more earnestly,
vowed he would also give alms to the poor, if so be that the bishop would vouchsafe to enter his
house that day and break his fast. I joined my entreaties to his, promising in like manner to give
alms for the relief of the poor, if he would but go and dine at the thegn’s house, and give his blessing.
Having at length, with much difficulty, prevailed, we went in to refresh ourselves. The bishop had
sent to the woman that lay sick some of the holy water, which he had blessed for the consecration
of the church, by one of the brothers who had come with me, ordering him to give her some to
drink, and wash that part of her where he found that her pain was greatest, with some of the same
water. This being done, the woman immediately got up whole and sound, and perceiving that she
had not only been delivered from her long sickness, but at the same time had recovered the strength
which she had lost for so great a time, she presented the cup to the bishop and to us, and continued
serving us with meat and drink as she had begun, till dinner was over; following the example of
the blessed Peter’s wife’s mother, who, having been sick of a fever, arose at the touch of our Lord’s
hand, and having forthwith received health and strength, ministered to them."
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