Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 13.djvu/366

 Cuthbert's Cave, in the southern slope of the hills near Howburn (, Life, 21). After a while he resolved to enter on a life of severer seclusion, and fixed on Farne Island, about two miles distant from Bamborough Castle. This island, the nearest to the coast of the group of islands and rocks known by the common name of Farne Islands, is now generally called House Island; it consists of a few acres of ground partially covered with coarse grass, and hemmed round with an abrupt border of basaltic rocks, which on the side towards the mainland rise to the height of eighty feet, while on the other side they slope down to the water. On this slope Cuthbert made his cell. With the help of his brethren he built an enclosure wall of stones and turf so high that he could not see over it, and within this he made his abode, the walls being of unhewn stones, and the roof of timber thatched with grass. Outside it was about the height of a man, while inside it was much higher; for it was dug out so that the occupant could see nothing but the sky from its single window. The cell was divided into two chambers, one to be used as an oratory, the other as a dwelling. A larger hut was built at the landing-place for the accommodation of the brethren who came to visit the anchorite. Here Cuthbert gave himself up to austerities. At first he would come out of his cell and receive his brethren when they came to visit him, and would wash their feet. After a while, however, he kept within his cell, and would only talk to them through the window, and then at last he kept that closed, and never opened it except to give his blessing, or when he needed something (BæDæ Vita, 18). Cuthbert passed nine years in this seclusion. Once in 684, at the earnest request of Ælflæd, abbess of Whitby, he met her on Coquet Island. She prayed him to tell her how long her brother Ecgfrith had yet to reign, and he foretold the king's death, which took place the next year, and the succession of Aldfrith [q. v.] When, in the same year, Tunberct was deposed from the see of Hexham, Cuthbert was unanimously elected to succeed him by a council held at Twyford, on the Alne, in Northumberland, in the presence of Ecgfrith, and under the presidency of Archbishop Theodore. Many letters and messengers were sent to him to beg him to accept the bishopric; and as he continued to refuse to do so, the king and Bishop Trumwine, accompanied by a large number of churchmen and powerful laymen, went to his island, and after some difficulty persuaded him to agree to their request. His old abbot, Eata, then bishop of Lindisfarne, was transferred to Hexham, and Cuthbert was given the diocese where his home was. He was consecrated at York, in the presence of Ecgfrith, by Theodore and seven bishops at the Easter festival, on 26 March 685 ( H. E. iv. 28; Councils and Eccl. Docs. iii. 166). Although the charter which declares that Ecgfrith gave Cuthbert Crake and a considerable district, together with Carlisle, is certainly a forgery, it is possible that such a grant was made. It is mentioned by Symeon of Durham (Historia Dunelm. Eccl. i. c. 9), and Bæda connects Cuthbert with Carlisle (, pp. 27, 28). As bishop, Cuthbert was diligent in preaching, he delivered the poor from him that oppressed him, he spent little on himself, for he still lived a strictly monastic life, and he gave food and raiment to the needy.

Two years after his election, feeling that his death was near, he gave up his bishopric and returned to his cell on Farne Island. As he was leaving the mainland, a monk of Lindisfarne asked him when he would return. ‘When you bring my body hither,’ he answered, as simply as though he were stating an ordinary fact. This was just after Christmas 686 (, p. 37). Two months later, on 27 Feb. 687, he suddenly fell sick. Bæda describes his last days from information he received from Henfrith, abbot of Lindisfarne, who was with him when the sickness came on him. His complaint arose from the tumour from which he had suffered ever since he recovered from the plague. Cuthbert told the abbot of the preparations he had made for his burial: in the north side of the oratory, hidden by the turf, Henfrith would find a stone coffin that had been given him long before by the abbot Cudda; in this his body was to be laid after it had been wrapped in a shroud that Verca, the abbess of Tiningham, had sent him, and he desired that he might be buried on the south side of his dwelling-place, with his face to the east, looking towards a cross he had set up in his cell. He would not allow the abbot to leave any one with him, but desired that he would return before long. For five days Henfrith was unable to go back to him on account of the stormy weather. When at last he came to the island again, he found him sitting in the hut built at the landing-place; he had been there during the whole time waiting for some one to come and minister to him, for he seems to have been too weak to move, nor had he eaten anything save that he had moistened his mouth with part of an onion. Then the abbot washed one of his feet that was ulcerated by his disease and gave him some warm wine, and when he returned to the monastery left certain brethren to take