Page:Historical Works of Venerable Bede vol. 2.djvu/275

 Rh the incorruptible body of the saint, and avoid the fury of the pirates who were at hand. He took it, therefore, with him, in the hundred and thirteenth year after it had been placed in Cuncacester, and carried it to Ripon, with all the people belonging to it. It is recorded as a singular fact in this flight, that out of so many, not a single one, great or small, was afflicted with any illness, but they accomplished their journey on foot, without any labour or inconvenience. And not only the men, but even tender animals just born, walked safe and sound the whole journey, without any difficulty. Three or four months after peace was restored, and they purposed to carry back the saint's body to its former place; but when they came to Werdelan, on the eastern side of Durham, they found it impossible to make the vehicle proceed any further. The bishop, upon this, commanded the people to fast three days, and by watching and prayer to ask from Heaven an explanation of the prodigy. In consequence of which, it was revealed to them, that they should carry the body to Durham, and prepare there a place for it to repose in. Thus they brought it into Durham, and having speedily erected a little church of boughs, placed it there for a season.

§ 21. Now the aforesaid bishop, arriving at Durham with the saint's body, found there a place strong by nature, but not easy to be inhabited, for a thick wood covered nearly the whole of it, save that in the middle there was a small plain, which they used to plough and sow. This wood was, with the aid of all the people, and Ucthred, Count of Northumberland, entirely grubbed up, and the place in a short time rendered habitable. The bishop then began to build a large church of stone. Meanwhile the saint's body was removed from the little wooden church into another called "the White Church," and remained there three years, until the larger church was built; and now the venerable Prelate Aldun solemnly consecrated that church on the third of September,