Book Two - Chapter 7

The miracle of a fragment of bread.

SOME sailors at Sandwich were joyfully ploughing the uncertain seas with a prosperous course. And as they were making for the open sea, lo, the fury of the winds -- which had before been calmed -- was aroused and various clouds, heralds of the coming storm, raced different ways in the sky. The swelling sea, boiling as the crest of the waves arose, lifted itself on high and drove the ship now this way and now that. The steersman knew not where he had come to, or whither to turn, in that the greatness of the danger induced stupor of mind and loss of skill. The waves leapt up and drove, rather than carried, the unfortunate mariners out of their course, and at length overwhelmed and engulfed them. Then one of them clung to the floating mast and, striving with all his strength, climbed a spar and sat thereon; and sitting there, being somewhat come to himself, he ceased not to ply the ears of divine pity, and prayed Bartholomew, the apostle of the most blessed Christ, to stand by him that by some means he might escape so great a danger, and after he had persisted for some long time and saw no help for himself at hand --

"Oh, glorious apostle of Christ, Bartholomew," (said he) "how often have I called upon thee in a moment of such dire need, and have not deserved to be heard. Now, therefore, when nothing remains for me but death, intercede in thy clemency for my sins that, though I deserve not to be delivered from these perils, yet I may not be appointed to everlasting flames; so that, whatever is denied me in my present wretched state, may in future by the intervention of thy merits be made good to me."

As he so spoke, lo, there stood beside him the glorious apostle of God, with glad face and calm countenance, and at his will the wrath of the wind was restrained, the fury of the swelling sea was stilled, clearness was restored to the sky and calmess to the sea. And coming nearer to the man he cried --

"The tearful sighs of thy heart' (said he) 'sounded in my ears; I did not refuse to bring thee help, but delayed. So now, as a bearer of good tidings and to give thee the gift of the safety thou desirest am I come, in that the merciful and pitying Lord hath granted thee life, and behold, there shall come a ship from Dover which shall pick thee up and restore thee joyful and safe to thy friends."

So saying, he offered him a piece of bread, and at that instant vanished from his sight. Straightway a ship with men from Dover was at hand in which he was taken up by the sailors according to the apostle's word, and came whole and glad to his home. He faithfully related and published everywhere the pity which the glorious apostle had magnificently shown towards him, and in confirmation of the heavenly benefit showed the portion of bread given him by the apostle, magnifying God who set a bound to the sea and who did all things whatsoever He willed.

 

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.

Rahere's Garden Home tbird's home page Photographs and text copyright Tina Bird, 2003-2008 Last modified 12 December 2008