Gathering for the consecration at Lincoln. May 9, 1092.
Death of Remigius. May 6, 1092. the bishops of England were bidden by royal order to come together at the appointed day for the dedication of the church of Lincoln.[1] A vast crowd of men of all ranks came to Lincoln; the course of the story suggests that the King himself was there; all the bishops came, save one only. Robert of Hereford, the friend of Wulfstan, the Lotharingian skilled in the lore of the stars, knew by his science that the rite would not take place in the lifetime of Remigius. He therefore deemed it needless to travel to Lincoln for nothing.[2] His skill was not deceived; three days before the appointed time Remigius died.[3] The dedication of the church was delayed; it was done in the days of his successor, some years later.[4] Meanwhile Remigius himself won the honours of a saint in local esteem, and wonders of healing were wrought at his tomb for the benefit of not a few of divers tongues and even of divers creeds.[5]multis ditaverat possessionibus, procuravit ut ea magnifice consummaretur."]*
- ↑ So says Florence. Remigius is eager to dedicate his church, "quia sibi diem mortis imminere sentiebat." Thomas objects, "affirmans eam in sua parochia esse constructam." "At rex Willelmus junior, pro pecunia quam ei Remigius dederat, totius fere Angliæ episcopis mandavit ut, in unum convenientes, septennis idibus Maii ecclesiam dedicarent." Of course there is nothing about the bribe in Giraldus, nor yet in William of Malmesbury, Gest. Pont. 313, where the King's order to the bishops is issued "magnanimi viri"—Remigius has got the King's own epithet—"hortatu." Matthew Paris, in the Historia Anglorum, i. 42, credits the Red King with an unlooked-for degree of zeal; "Postea rex Willelmus, cujus consilio et auxilio ecclesia illa fuit a primo loco suo remota, et quam pro anima patris sui [this at least is characteristic
- ↑ Will. Malms. Gest. Pont. 313. "Solus Rotbertus Herefordensis venire abnuerat, et certa inspectione siderum dedicationem tempore Remigii non processuram viderat, nec tacuerat."
- ↑ On the exact date, see Mr. Dimock's note to Giraldus, vii. 20. Ascension Day came on the feast of Saint John ante Portam Latinam.
- ↑ "Ecclesiæ per hoc remansit dedicatio." William of Malmesbury (u. s.) says, "Rem dilatam successor ejus non graviter explevit, utpote qui in labores alterius delicatus intrasset." There seems to be no mention of this in the Lincoln writers.
- ↑ Giraldus (vii. 22-31) has fifteen chapters, very short ones certainly, of the miracles of Remigius. One takes most to the healings of the crippled
