Book Two - Chapter 13

Of a certain man sick of a fever and deprived of the sight of his eyes.

A CERTAIN man of the Castle of Chilleham [Chilham, near Canterbury], being seized with serious illness, was living a miserable life in pain and bitterness of heart. At length pain was added to pain because, as his fever increased, he lost the sight of both his eyes. So he had to feel his way treading in other men's tracks, and trying his steps with a stick, and sat for some time in darkness. Already the ninth month had passed whilst the poor fellow in his continual sickness ceased not knocking and asking, asking and knocking, until the divine clemency hearkened to him. So, coming to the church of the blessed apostle Bartholomew, he recovered the sight of his eyes, and giving thanks for this boon conferred upon him, he stood forth a most faithful witness of the power of the apostle to the clergy and people standing by.

 

The Book of the Foundation of St. Bartholomew's, Smithfield Rendered into Modern English from the original Latin version preserved in the British Museum, numbered Vespasian B. IX, by Mr. Humphrey H. King and Mr. William Barnard for use in the Records of St. Bartholomew's Priory by E.A. Webb.

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