Bede's Ecclesiastical History of England

CHAP. XIV. How another in like manner, being at the point of death, saw the place of
punishment appointed for him in Hell.
I MYSELF knew a brother, would to God I had not known him, whose name I could mention
if it were of any avail, dwelling in a famous monastery, but himself living infamously. He was
oftentimes rebuked by the brethren and elders of the place, and admonished to be converted to a
more chastened life; and though he would not give ear to them, they bore with him long and patiently,
on account of their need of his outward service, for he was a cunning artificer. But he was much
given to drunkenness, and other pleasures of a careless life, and more used to stop in his workshop
day and night, than to go to church to sing and pray and hear the Word of life with the brethren.
For which reason it befell him according to the saying, that he who will not willingly humble himself
and enter the gate of the church must needs be led against his will into the gate of Hell, being
damned. For he falling sick, and being brought to extremity, called the brethren, and with much
lamentation, like one damned, began to tell them, that he saw Hell opened, and Satan sunk in the
depths thereof; and Caiaphas, with the others that slew our Lord, hard by him, delivered up to
avenging flames. "In whose neighbourhood," said he, "I see a place of eternal perdition prepared
for me, miserable wretch that I am." The brothers, hearing these words, began diligently to exhort
him, that he should repent even then, whilst he was still in the flesh. He answered in despair, "There
is no time for me now to change my course of life, when I have myself seen my judgement passed."
Whilst uttering these words, he died without having received the saving Viaticum, and his body
was buried in the farthest parts of the monastery, nor did any one dare either to say Masses or sing
psalms, or even to pray for him. Oh how far asunder hath God put light from darkness! The blessed
Stephen, the first martyr, being about to suffer death for the truth, saw the heavens opened, and the
glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God; and where he was to be after death,
there he fixed the eyes of his mind, that he might die the more joyfully. But this workman, of
darkened mind and life, when death was at hand, saw Hell opened, and witnessed the damnation
of the Devil and his followers; he saw also, unhappy wretch! his own prison among them, to the
end that, despairing of salvation, he might himself die the more miserably, but might by his perdition
afford cause of salvation to the living, who should hear of it. This befell of late in the province of
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The Venerable Bede
Bede's Ecclesiastical History of England

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the Bernicians, and being noised abroad far and near, inclined many to do penance for their sins
without delay. Would to God that this also might come to pass through the reading of our words!