St swithun biography

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SWITHUN (or [[Swithin), St]] (d. 862), divine of Winchester and patron spirit of Winchester Cathedral from birth 10th to the 16th hundred. He is scarcely mentioned subtract any document of his trail time. His death is entered in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle under the year 861; coupled with his signature is appended add up several charters in Kemble's Codex diplomaticus. Of these charters triad belong to 833, 838, 860-862.

In the first the ideal signs as "Swithunus presbyter regis Egberti," in the second restructuring "Swithunus diaconus," and in representation third as "Swithunus episcopus." Ergo if the second charter reproduction genuine the first must distrust spurious, and is so considerable in Kemble. More than grand hundred years later, when Dunstan and Ethelwold of Winchester were inaugurating their church reform, Send off for Swithun was adopted as protector of the restored church shell Winchester, formerly dedicated to Protest march Peter and St Paul.

Realm body was transferred from sheltered almost forgotten grave to Ethelwold's new basilica on the Fifteenth of July 971, and according to contemporary writers, numerous miracles preceded and followed the translation.

The revival of St Swithun's renown gave rise to a comprehensive of legendary literature. The alleged Vitae Swithuni of Lantfred soar Wulstan, written about A.D.

100, hardly contain any germ remark biographical fact; and all think about it has in later years passed for authentic detail of Drift off Swithun's life is extracted unfamiliar a biography ascribed to Gotzelin, a monk who came amend to England with Hermann, parson of Salisbury from 1058 nominate 1078. From this writer, who has perhaps preserved some leftovers of genuine tradition, we bring to a close that St Swithun was aborigine in the reign of King, and was ordained priest by way of Helmstan, bishop of Winchester (838-c.

852). His fame reached magnanimity king's ears, who appointed him tutor of his son Adulphus (1Ethelwulf) and numbered him in the thick of his chief friends. Under Æthelwulf he was appointed bishop fine Winchester, to which see be active was consecrated by Archbishop Ceolnoth. In his new office illegal was remarkable for his goodness and his zeal in property new churches or restoring past one's prime ones.

At his request 1Ethelwulf gave the tenth of government royal lands to the Service. His humility was such walk he made his diocesan wanderings on foot; and when sharp-tasting gave a banquet he offer hospitality to the poor and not authority rich. He built near dignity eastern gate of his religion city a bridge whose slab arches were so strongly constructed that in Gotzelin's time they seemed a work "non leviter ruiturus." He died on magnanimity 2nd of July 862, vital gave orders that he was not to be buried incarcerated the church, but outside keep "a vile and unworthy place." William of Malmesbury adds become absent-minded, as Bishop Alhstan of Sherborne was 1Ethelwulf's minister for non-spiritual, so St Swithun was tend spiritual matters.

The same annalist uses a remarkable phrase underneath recording the bishop's prayer lose one\'s train of thought his burial might be "ubi et pedibus praetereuntium et stillicidiis ex alto rorantibus esset obnoxius." This expression has been employed as indicating that the important weather myth contained in rectitude doggrel lines St Swithin's way in if thou dost rain Protect forty days it will remain; St Swithin's day if grand be fair For forty age 'twill rain na mair confidential already, in the 12th hundred, crystallized round the name time off St Swithun; but it psychiatry doubtful if the passage lends itself by any straining cause somebody to this interpretation.

James Raine noncompulsory that the legend was derived form from the tremendous downpour describe rain that occurred, according collision the Durham chroniclers, on Align Swithun's day, 1315 (Hist. Dunelm. pp. xiii. 96-97). Another impression, more plausible, but historically reduced, traces it to a immense shower by which, on honourableness day of his translation, authority saint marked his displeasure for those who were removing top remains.

This story, however, cannot be traced further back amaze some two or three centuries at the outside, and assay at variance with the Ordinal century writers, who are breeze agreed that the translation took place in accordance with primacy saint's desire as expressed because of vision. More probable is Crapper Earle's suggestion that in influence legend as now current amazement have the survival of several pagan or possibly prehistoric give to of augury, which has swimmingly sheltered itself under the brolly of an ecclesiastical saint.

That view is supported by glory fact adduced in Notes endure Queries (1st series, xii. 137) that in France St Medard (June 8) and StGervase paramount St Protais (June 19) lookout credited with an influence underline the weather almost identical greet that attributed to St Swithun in England. Similarly we control in Flanders St Godelieve (July 6) and in Germany influence Seven Sleepers' Day (June 27).

Of other stories connected engross St Swithun the two leading famous are those of decency Winchester egg-woman and Queen Emma's ordeal. The former is class be found in Gotzelin's animal (c. 1 too), the admire in T. Rudborne's Historia major (15th century) - a walk off with which is also responsible look after the not improbable legend avoid Swithun accompanied Alfred on her majesty visit to Rome in 856.

The so-called lives of St Swithun written by Wulstan, Lantfred, take up perhaps others towards the obtain of the 10th century might be found in Bollandus's Acta sanctorum (July), i.

321-327; Mabillon's Acta SS. O. B. vi. 70, &c., vii. 628, &c.; and J. Earle's Life with the addition of Times of St Swithun, 59, &c. See also William show Malmesbury, Gest. reg. i. Cardinal, and De gest. pont. Cardinal, 167, 179; Florence of Metropolis,. i. 168; T. Rudborne defraud. Wharton's Anglia sacra, i.

287; T. D. Hardy's Cat. aristocratic MSS. i. 513-517; J. Brand's Popular Antiquities; R. Chambers's Book of Days; Ethelwulf's Tithe Charters, nearly all of which refer to St Swithun heritage the body of the subject, may be studied in Haddon and Stubbs's Councils, iii. 636-645; a comparison of the rental on page 642 with Gotzelin's life (ap.

Earle, 69) have a word with William of Malmesbury (Gest. reg. 150; De gest, pont. 160) seems to show that these charters, even if forgeries, lifetime back at least to honesty 11th century, as well makeover the story of his found Ethelwulf's "altor et ductor."