Of Eden, the wife of Edred.
AT another time the same Alfune was seeking what was needed for making ale from the matrons living around, going about to the houses of each. But when he was attending to this collection in the parish of St. Giles in London, he came to a devout matron, by name Eden, wife of Edred, who, loving Christ's apostle with marvellous affection, used either to bring or send her alms to his church. Coming to her, Alfune prayed that she should impart to him for God's sake somewhat of the blessing given her by the Lord. And she replied that she had but seven sieves full of malt, and if she took any from them she could not finish the beer which she was mixing. 'Forsooth,' says she, 'though I be sure to have damage, yet I will more willingly bear the loss of my ale than that ye should depart empty from me without fruit of my alms.' So saying, she measured one sieveful and gave it to the servants, and when they had departed she began to measure what was left and, wonderful to relate, found seven measures. And thinking that she had made an error in counting, she began to count again and then found eight. Counting the third time she found nine, and measuring a fourth time found ten. So that she, who had studied to fulfil the charity which is the fulfilling of the law, had ten as her reward from Him that is righteous to repay. And she immediately had carried to the aforesaid church both the excess and what was left, and told everywhere the tale of the marvellous increase, blessing God who by His saints works signs and wonders to whom power is at hand at His will.
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 |
|