Osmund, 1078—1099. 171 
of saints. Of course a number of miracles, wrought, as was affirmed, 
by St. Aldhelm, were brought forward in attestation of his sanctity. 
But no history at that time was without alleged miracles—they 
were part of the unquestioned belief and tacit assumption of all, and 
undoubtedly Osmund believed in them.’ 
Two anecdotes gleaned from the chroniclers bearing on this belief, 
or, if you will, this credulity, may amuse you. Having solicited from 
Warin, Abbot of Malmesbury, some small portion of the remains 
of St. Aldhelm, and having obtained thankfully the bone of the 
left arm, Osmund deposited the same with all reverence in a silver 
reliquary at Salisbury. Two of his dignified clergy—both archdeacons 
of Sarum—had cause to thank their bishop for his fatherly thought 
for the faithful in his diocese. Everard, prostrate with a disease 
that paralyzed his whole frame, insomuch that as Malmesbury says, 
he could not move hand or foot, or any member save his tongue, 
was carried on a couch on All Saints’ Day, when the precious relic 
was solemnly deposited in its shrine, and was restored to perfect 
health, and some years afterwards was consecrated as Bishop of 
Norwich. MHubald was afflicted with stammering, and sundry 
excrucriating pains in the neck and shoulders. Formerly, when 
staying at Malmesbury, he had received relief from similar maladies 
by touching the saint’s bier. His sickness returning at Salisbury, 
the Archdeacon begs that at a grand “ function ” to be carried out 
on the approaching Ascension Day, “quo die per totam Christianitatem 
paratur processio accurate solemnis,” he may have the high privilege 
of carrying the arm-bone of St. Aldhelm in processsion. The bishop 
solemnly hands the precious relic to his archdeacon. His tongue is 
loosed, and all his pains vanish immediately on his touching the 
saint’s arm-bone.” We smile at the credulity of those early days, 
and yet I almost think that the superstition, which so readily believes 
everything, is preferable to that cold scepticism which seems resolved 
on believing nothing. 
One or two stray notes throwing light on Osmund’s character are, 
I hope, worth placing before you. 
1 See Church’s Life of S. Anselm, p. 239. 
2 Gest. Pontif., 429—431. 
