A HISTORY OF DURHAM 



over-estimate their influence. They, with one 

 or two kindred institutions, were the chief homes 

 not only of religion but also of civilization in the 

 country.^" 



Benedict Biscop in effect set the standard of a new 

 type of religious house. The chief monasteries tended 

 now to become more and more self-centred. The 

 pursuit of literature became an end in itself ; " 



art and personal culture were developed. ^^ This 

 could hardly have been the case had Benedict 

 been unaided ; but he was singularly fortunate 

 in his assistants. 



Easterwin, abbot of Wearmouth, was of noble 

 birth. Although Benedict was his cousin, he 

 neither expected nor received any distinction in 

 the regimen of the monastic life, but underwent 

 with pleasure the usual course of discipline. In 

 673, when only twenty-four years of age, he had 

 passed from the king's court to the solitude of 

 the recluse's cell. He was an inmate of Wear- 

 mouth monastery almost if not quite from its 

 foundation, taking his share in all domestic work. 

 He was a young man of great strength, pleasant 

 voice, handsome appearance, and kindly disposi- 

 tion. After his promotion to the abbacy he still 

 took his part in the indoor and outdoor labours of 

 his brethren, eating and sleeping with them.'' 



In Ceolfrid, abbot of Jarrow, Benedict also 

 found a sympathetic and efficient coadjutor. 'He 

 was,' says Bede, ' a man of great perseverance and 

 acute intellect, bold in action, experienced in 

 judgement, and zealous in religion.' " 



When Benedict returned from Rome in 685 

 he found that a terrible blow had fallen upon the 

 twin monasteries. A pestilence had carried off 

 many of the monks of Wearmouth, and with 

 them their beloved abbot. The last five days 

 before his death Easterwin had spent in a private 

 chamber, from which on the last day of his life 

 he came out and sat in the open air. He sent 

 for all the monks and took tender leave of them, 

 giving to each weeping brother the kiss of peace. 

 He died on 7 March, 685.'* 



Jarrow had suffered even more severely. All 

 who could read or preach or say the antiphons 

 and responses had been swept away by the pesti- 

 lence, except Ceolfrid himself and one little boy 

 whom the abbot brought up and educated, and 

 who afterwards became a priest in the monastery.''^ 



i" Ralne, Hist. Ch. of York (Rolls Ser.), i, p. xxix. 



" Arch. Aeliana, xxi, 264. 



" Ibid. To York and Jarrow alone of English 

 monasteries were addressed requests from abroad for 

 books. 



" Bede, Vit. Abbatum (ed. Stevenson), § 8. 



"Ibid. §15. "Ibid. §§9, 10. 



'^ Ibid. pref. pp. xii, xiii. As Bede entered the 

 monastery at the age of seven in or about 681, and 

 was brought up there [Sim. Dun. Hiit. Reg. (Rolls 

 Ser.), 29] he may very probably have been the boy 

 who with Ceolfrid survived this visitation ; ArcA. Aeliana 

 xxii, 45. 



In addition to these disasters King Egfrid, the 

 monks' generous patron and benefactor, was killed 

 in battle". May, 685.1'' 



After Easterwin's death the brethren at Wear- 

 mouth consulted with Ceolfrid as to the choice 

 of a successor, and finally elected the deacon 

 Sigfrid, a man skilled in theology, of courteous 

 manners and temperate life ; he had an incurable 

 disease of the lungs, and his disposition was 

 chastened and sweetened by suffering. When 

 Benedict returned he found Sigfrid duly installed. 

 Benedict brought with him books and pictures ; 

 and also two palls of silk of incomparable work, 

 with which he purchased from King Aldfrid 

 three hides of land on the south bank of the 

 River Wear near its mouth. '* 



Soon after this Benedict was seized with 

 paralysis of the lower limbs. In the three years 

 during which he lingered in partial helplessness 

 he gave many directions as to the conduct of his 

 monasteries after his death, taking counsel with 

 Abbot Sigfrid, whose end was also approaching, 

 as to their government. He urged the brethren 

 frequently and earnestly in making choice of an 

 abbot to seek rather after probity of life and 

 doctrine than after exalted birth, and desired 

 that their selection should fall upon one of their 

 own number. His wishes were obeyed ; when 

 Sigfrid passed away, 22 August, 688, Ceolfrid 

 was made abbot of both monasteries. Benedict 

 died in the following January, and was buried in 

 St. Peter's, Wearmouth." 



For nearly twenty-seven years Ceolfrid ruled 

 over Wearmouth and Jarrow. During that 

 time he built several oratories, increased the 

 number of the vessels and ornaments of the 

 church, and doubled the number of books in the 

 monastic library. He received from King Aldfrid 

 eight hides of land near the River Fresca, in 

 exchange for a beautiful codex v/ork on cosmo- 

 graphy. Afterwards he paid more and received, 

 instead, twenty hides of land in a village called 

 Sambuce, nearer the monastery.^*' He obtained 

 from Pope Sergius a bull of protection for 

 Jarrow."' His work must have been arduous, for 

 at the time of his resignation there were nearly 

 six hundred brethren in the two monasteries,^'' 

 each of which seems to have had two churches.^' 

 In June, 715, finding age and infirmity creep- 

 ing upon him, Ceolfrid announced his intention 

 of going to Rome to die there. The brethren 

 begged him on their knees not to forsake them. 



" Arch. Aeliana (New Ser.), xi, 35. 



" Bede, Fit. Abbatum (ed. Stevenson), § 9. 



" Ibid. § 14. 



'" Ibid. §15; both sites are now unknown. 



" Printed in Wilkins' Concil. i, 63. 



" Bede, ut supra, § 18. 



" Arch. Aeliana, xxii, 43. While Ceolfrid was 

 abbot Witmer gave to Wearmouth monastery ten 

 hides of land in the vill of Daldon. [See Feod. Prior. 

 Dunelm. 121.] 



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