U7 



I never thought myself worthy of it, but, though unworthy in 

 obedience to authority, I yielded so as to undertake it." Theodore 

 was greatly touched by his humility, and exclaimed that he 

 should not resign the bishopric. But Chad insisted on doing so, 

 and retired again to the monastery of Lastingham. There we 

 will leave him for the present. 



January, 1898. St. Chad. — When Chad was recommended 

 for the Bishopric of York he was described as -"a holy man, 

 grave in character, well read in the Scriptures, and diligently 

 practising what he learnt therein." For the three years during 

 which beheld the Bishopric ''he toiled humbly and quietly in 

 true Apostolic fashion, travelling about, generally on foot, and 

 preaching the Gospel in the towns and open country and the 

 villages, wherever an opening was found, whether it was in the 

 peasant's cottage, or the great man's castle." Last month we 

 left Chad in retirement at Lastingham after he had resigned the 

 see of York. But he did not stay there long, for Archbishop 

 Theodore persuaded him to accept the Bishopric of Mercia. 

 Theodore found fault with him for walking so much, and com- 

 manded him to ride whenever he had a long journey to make, 

 " and finding him very unwilling to omit, out of love to it, his 

 former pious labour, he himself, with his own hands, lifted him 

 on the horse ; for he thought him a holy man, and therefore 

 obliged him to ride wherever he had to go." 



And so Chad went into Mercia, and fixed the seat of his rule 

 at Lichfield, where he died and was buried. Bede tells us that 

 for two years and a half he gloriously governed the church there. 

 He often used to retire to a monastery near the Church, where 

 he was wont to pray and read with seven or eight of the brethren, 

 as often as he had any spare time from the labour and ministry 

 of the Word — The legend of his death is very beautiful. One of 

 his pupils, we are told, was at work outside the little Church 

 where Chad was praying, when he suddenly heard the sound of 

 persons singing most sweetly and rejoicing, and appearing to 

 descend from heaven to earth. — The voices gradually drew near 

 to him, till they came to the Church where the bishop was, and 

 entering, filled the same, and all round about it — The good man 

 listened awhile, and after some thirty minutes heard the same 

 song of joy ascending, and returning to heaven by the way it 

 came, with inexpressible sweetness. Suddenly the bishop signed 

 to him, and bade him come with the seven brethren of the house 

 to the Church. fi When they were come, he first admonished 

 them to preserve the virtue of love and peace among themselves, 



