Book Two - Chapter 8

Again a miracle done at sea.

AT another time also another miracle therelike happened. Merchants of Flanders had loaded their vessel with the wares they had collected and, obtaining the breeze they desired, had entrusted themselves to the uncertain sea, and, fearing no adversity, were making for London with favourable weather. When they had traversed already the mid part of the channel, behold, their joy is turned into grief, their happiness to wailing, life to death. For unexpectedly a most violent storm arose and the swelling waves of the sea, with unhappy omen, herald the instant approach of their final doom. Why prolong the story further? The winds raging and the waves increasing, both ship and crew are sinking to the bottom of the sea, and the ship is losing her cargo and the men their lives. One alone of them, clinging to a spar, bravely kept himself up with it for two days, and meanwhile, making use of his voice, he was praying that the unfailing mercy of Christ, through the merits of the most blessed apostle Bartholomew, might be with him in his last extremity. And when the utterance of his voice was being choked by the failing of his heart, behold, the glorious apostle of God, Bartholomew, stood before his eyes as he groaned and, gently cheering him, with outstretched hand took him from the waves and with dry steps set him at the Flemish port of Dykesmouth, and so disappeared. And so he, free from all peril, was in no way ungrateful to the apostle's power, but published what evil he had suffered and what mercy he had obtained by the apostle with true story, thanking God, in whom if a man hopes he is not confounded, upon whom if a man calls he is not despised.

 

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