¹ There was a man of venerable life, named Fursey, born in Ireland, of noble birth but nobler faith; among his own people illustrious in worldly dignity, but everywhere pre-eminent in divine grace. For he was comely in form, chaste in body, devout in mind, affable in speech, loveable in aspect, and full of good works and grace; from infancy instructed in sacred letters and monastic disciplines. And while, being ill one day, he had begun the evening psalmody, intent on prayer, not far from the house he stood suddenly surrounded by darkness, and as though already dead was carried to a nearby house. Then he saw four hands stretched down to him from above, which holding him by the arms flew beneath on snowy wings and sustained him on either side. For the hands were beneath the wings, and as though through a mist he discerned the angelic bodies. He also saw a third angel, armed with a white shield and a sword of snowy brilliance, going before him. These three, shining with equal splendour, instilled into his soul a delight of wondrous sweetness by the sound of their wings. And they sang, one beginning: “The saints shall go from virtue to virtue; the God of gods shall be seen in Zion.” For in the song there was a rising at the beginning and a settling at the end. He heard also another as it were unknown chant of many thousands of angels, and could scarce understand a few words: “They went out to meet Christ.” Then one of the heavenly hosts declared that they should bring back the soul to the body, and that he should bear his own charge with them. And then they sang that half-verse: “The God of gods shall be seen in Zion.” The soul, gladdened by the sweetness of that song, could not understand how it entered the body.

² Now at midnight of the third feria, languishing at the point of death, he heard the horrible voices of a great multitude crying out, compelling him to go forth. And opening his eyes, he saw only the three foretold angels, two placed on either side, and the third, armed, standing at his head; and he heard their songs with all sweetness. As they lifted him, he heard the howlings and cries of demons, and passing through the midst of them, one of them said: “Let us go before, and wage war before his face.” Then he saw a black cloud on the left side, and a warlike array drawn up before his face; and the demons hurled fiery arrows against them, but the angels extinguished them with the shield. And the demons’ bodies were full of deformity and blackness, squalid with leanness in their outstretched necks, full of all horror, and with swollen heads. But when they flew or fought, he could see no bodily form, except a horrible and flying shadow. Their faces he could never see, for the horror of darkness. Then the angel going before said to the adversaries: “Do not delay our journey, for this man is not a sharer in your perdition.” The adversary contradicted, blaspheming that it was unjust of God that a man consenting to sin should have no damnation, since it is written: “Not only those who do them, but also those who consent to those doing them, are worthy of death.” And while the angel fought, the holy man thought the din of the battle and the shouts of the demons were heard over all the earth.

³ And the demons said: “He has often uttered idle words, and therefore he must not enjoy the blessed life.” The angel said: “Unless you charge him with capital vices, he will not perish for trivial ones.” And the demon: “If you do not forgive men their sins, neither will your heavenly Father forgive you your sins.” The angel said: “Where did he take vengeance, or whom did he injure?” And the demon: “It is not written ‘if you do not forgive,’ but ‘if you do not forgive from your hearts.’” And the angel said: “Let us be judged before the Lord.” The enemy being overcome renewed his words, saying: “If God is just, this man will not enter the kingdom of heaven. For it is written: ‘Unless you be converted and become like little children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.’ This word he did not fulfil.” The angel excusing said: “He had indulgence in that, but continued in human custom.” And the demon: “As he received evil from custom, so let him receive vengeance from the supreme judge.” “Let us be judged,” said the angel, “before the Lord.” The angel prevailing and the adversaries downcast, the angel said: “Look upon the world.” And he saw a dark valley placed beneath him in the depths, and four fires kindled in the air, some distance away from him. And the angel said: “These are the four fires which set the world alight: the first is of loosened falsehood, when men in no way fulfil this which in baptism all promised — to renounce the devil and all his pomps. The second is of cupidity, when they set the riches of the world before the love of heavenly things. The third is of dissension, when they do not fear to offend the souls of their neighbours in needless things and without cause. The fourth is of impiety, when the powerful count deceit and oppression as doing no harm. Each fire kindles another, because through the increase of the greater ones, sins grow from faults.” And when these fires seemed to gather as it were into one, Fursey was terrified and cried: “Look — the fire is coming near me!” To whom the angel: “That which you did not kindle will not burn in you. For though it is terrible and great, yet it examines each one according to the merit of his works. As the body burns through illicit pleasure, so the soul will burn through its due penalty.” Then the angel going before divided the fire of the flame into two walls on either side, and in two places defended him from the fire. Then one of the demons who was flying in the fire said: “The servant who knows his lord’s will, and does not do it, shall be beaten with many stripes.” The angel said: “In what did this man fail to fulfil his Lord’s will?” And the demon: “It is written: ‘The Most High rejects the gifts of the wicked.’” To whom the angel replied: “For he believed that each of them would do penance.” And he: “He ought first to have proved the perseverance of their repentance, and not received their gifts. For gifts blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the just.” The angel said: “Let us be judged before the Lord.” The devil, succumbing, broke out into blasphemies against the Author, saying: “Until now we thought God was truthful, since every offence not purged on earth, He promised would be avenged from heaven, Isaiah the prophet crying: ‘If you be willing and hear me, you shall eat the good things of the earth. But if you will not, and provoke me to anger, my sword shall devour you.’ This man did not purge his offences on earth, nor does he receive vengeance here: where then is the justice of God?” The angel said: “Do not blaspheme, since you do not know the hidden judgments of God.” And he: “What is hidden here?” The angel said: “As long as repentance is hoped for, divine mercy accompanies man.” And he: “But there is no place for repentance here.” The angel said: “You do not know the depth of God’s mysteries: perhaps indeed there is.” And the demon: “Let us depart then, since there is no reckoning to be made.” And another demon coming up said: “There still remains for him the narrow gate through which only a few enter: there we can overcome him: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’” And the angel: “This man has worked good toward his neighbours.” And he: “It is not enough to work good, unless he has also loved his neighbour as himself.” The angel said: “The fruit of love is to work good: for God renders to each according to his works.” And the demon: “But because he did not fulfil God’s word concerning love, he shall be condemned. For if God is not unjust, and if falsehood and the transgression of His word displeases Him, this man shall not be free of punishment. For he promised to renounce the world, and contrary to the apostle’s precept loved the world: ‘Love not the world, nor the things that are in the world.’” And the angel: “Not for himself alone did he love the things of the world, but to dispense them to all the needy.” The demon said: “In whatever manner it is loved, it is against the divine precept, and against the pledge of Christianity in baptism.” The adversary being overcome turned to crafty accusations, saying: “It is written: ‘If you do not declare to the wicked man his wickedness, I will require his blood at your hand.’ This man did not duly declare repentance to sinners.” And the angel: “When hearers despise the word, the teacher’s tongue is hindered from speaking, seeing that the heard preaching is despised.” And he: “Yet he ought to have proclaimed it even to suffering, and neither consented nor kept silent.” At last the adversaries being defeated, the holy man, surrounded by immense brightness, looking upward saw immense hosts of angels and saints, shining with splendour, who flying to him and surrounding him as though with wings of excellent flashing brightness, drove far away all dread of the fire and the terrors of the demons. And he heard as it were four choirs of angels singing and saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth.” And the angel said to him: “Where the heavenly assembly is, there we also are.” Then Fursey’s mind, forgetting all labour and tribulation, filled with immense joy, said: “It is a great joy to hear these sweet-sounding songs.” And the angel: “Of this hearing we are often deprived for the ministry of man’s dispensation; and that for which we labour by proclaiming, the demons scatter by corrupting human hearts. In this heavenly kingdom there is never any sadness, except over the perdition of men. In this kingdom is vengeance.”

⁴ And when Fursey asked about the end of the world, they answered that the end of creation was not then, though it was near; but that the human race must be afflicted with plagues of famine and mortality. “And although men contend with divine admonitions, the wrath of the heavenly judgment is already at hand, and its fury blazes most of all over the doctors of the church and the princes: because through four things the souls of the faithful perish most of all: through the unlawful things of this world, through the suggestion of the devil, through the negligence of prelates, through the wicked examples of iniquitous princes or teachers. For the doctors of the church and rulers are men of half work: for some, through the mercy of almighty God, have obtained the grace of generosity, but are slippery in the incontinence of the flesh; others indeed excel in bodily chastity, but pant with the fires of avarice. Others have the grace of gentleness, but are faint-hearted with rancour of mind; others, not rebutting their own injuries, forgive quickly, but, guarding their heart less warily, provoke quarrels by anger at each one. Therefore what God has bestowed on each by His largess, they glory in as though acquired by their own labour; but the vices which assail and conquer them, they neglect to overcome by watchfulness of heart and by the diligence of laborious works. Some, setting aside the spiritual vices by which they are assailed, afflict the body with abstinence, and bewail nightly illusions or mere trifles as though grave things; but pride, which cast the angels out of heaven, they count as nothing; envy, by which the first man was driven from paradise and by which Abel was killed, and false witness, by which the Saviour was condemned, they do not consider. Those whom God created to receive abstinence with thanksgiving — what great avarice, envy and other vices they take up as though lawful; and what are trivial in God’s judgment, they judge more gravely, reckoning grave things as trivial. It is not enough to afflict the body, if the soul is not cured of malice and wickedness. The doctors of the church and rulers — let them not plant the vineyard for the vine and the alder for the olive — that is, let them not love earthly and unfruitful labour more than charity, which is known to be the root and crown of all good works. Against the doctors the Lord is angry, who, neglecting the divine books, pursue the cares of this world with all affection. For king and priest and each one does not what is written, but what seems right. But you,” they said, “be a faithful steward, claiming for yourself nothing beyond food and clothing. For he who has willingly received loss as a gift will be able to open the mouths of the mute. Be one begging nothing, denying to none. It is hateful to God to desire another’s goods, and to retain one’s own. For it befits the poor and the bound to ask; but those who have, to dispense to the needy. Alms, indeed, are to be bestowed on the poor, no one asking; and good is to be worked upon all men. You shall take up no care of this world; with a pure indulgence of mind you shall always repay good for evils. No sacrifice of good work is so proved acceptable to God as meekness of heart against all injuries, by which one gladly receives adverse things and losses as though gains and prosperity, in hope of the future reward in the Lord.”

⁵ When they had been received into heaven, and Fursey remained alone with the three angels, the greatest fire drew near to him: but the angel, as before, splitting and dividing the fire in the middle, the demons cast upon Fursey’s shoulder and his jaw a man leaping out from the fire — for he recognised the man, who dying had bestowed upon him his own garment. And Fursey’s shoulder and jaw being burned by the garment, the man was cast by the angel into the fire from which he had come out. Then the demon said to the holy man: “Do not repel what you received before; for as you received his goods, so you ought to be a sharer in his pains.” To whom the angel: “He received it not out of avarice, but for the freeing of his soul.” And when the fire had ceased, the angel said: “What you kindled, this burned in you. For if you had not received the garment of this man, dead in his sins, his pains could not have burned in your body.” And being instructed with many exhortations, considering his body as it were an unknown corpse and shrinking from it, he answered that he did not wish to approach it. Yet by the angel’s command he entered it — how, he could not know. And rising and looking at those standing round, he lamented the greatness of human folly, wondering at the hard and difficult passage and at the greatness of divine reward. Then indeed the mark of the burning, which he had suffered in soul alone, he carried visibly on his shoulder and jaw ever after. The circuit of one year having passed, remembering that a journey of one day had been enjoined on him, seized by bodily affliction he saw the angel of the Lord expounding to him the journey of one day, and declaring that he would complete twelve years in the work of preaching. At length, coming into England with a few brothers, he was honourably received by Sigebert, king of the East Saxons. And twelve years being completed, falling ill, he was admonished by the angel appearing to him to continue in preaching. He heard no end of his life from the angel: but he said: “Watch and pray, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” Which the man of God understanding, in the place called Cnobheresburg, granted him by king Sigebert, he built a monastery; which afterwards Anna, king of the same province, enlarged not a little with buildings and possessions. And when he sat in thin clothing and it happened that he recounted the mighty works of God to the young men, even in mid-winter he always sweated for fear. The care of the monastery he committed to his brother Foillan, and with his other brother, Ultan, most strictly he lived in daily labours, and passed his days in the desert. Then, seeing the province ravaged by the incursion of the heathens, he sailed to Gaul, and with the help of Erkenwald the patrician built the monastery of Lagny; and on the seventeenth kalends of February he rested in peace, and was buried in the town called Péronne. And after four years had passed, his body, uncorrupted and without any decay, was translated with honour by the holy bishops Eligius and Autbert. He flourished about the year of the Lord 636.

An account. #

¹ At that time the same Sigebert, fleeing into Gaul to escape the enmity of king Redwald, received the faith of Christ. Returning to his country and gaining the kingdom, he established a school in which boys could be instructed, through Saint Felix the bishop, whom he had received from Kent. At last made a lover of the heavenly kingdom, commending the affairs of the kingdom to his kinsman Egric, he took the monastic habit in the monastery built for him by Saint Fursey. It happened afterwards that Penda, king of the Mercians, went forth with his army to war against the East Angles. When they saw themselves inferior to the enemy for battle, they begged Sigebert to come with them to the war to encourage the soldiers. When he refused, dragging him unwilling from the monastery they led him with them into the struggle, hoping that the soldiers’ spirits would tremble less and be less able to think of flight with so great a leader present. He, however, not unmindful of his profession, holding only a staff in his hand, was killed with king Egric, and their whole army was cut down or scattered by the pagans, in the year of the Lord 652. Anna also flourished, father of the virgin Saint Etheldreda. Now in those days Saint Eligius frequently rebuked a certain priest who was too negligent, and provoked him in every way to confession; and when he always concealed his offence, Saint Eligius forbade him and, until he should repent, in no way permitted the priest to celebrate. But the priest, negligent and despising the bishop’s sentence, when after some days he stood at the altar to celebrate, fell to the ground and expired. In those days also Saint Eligius reproved a certain false witness in a dream, and, taking hold of his nose, called upon the Saviour. And when, awakened, he recounted the vision to his wife, stretching out his hand he touched his nose, and it at once fell into a vessel from his hands. Out of the pomp of pride, however, he tried to make himself a golden nose and fit it with little golden chains. The same saint, wondering at it, admonished him through a vision, saying: “Did I not take away your natural nose, so that I might show all men that you had given false witness, and now out of pride have you dared to put on a golden one? Go and cast it off as quickly as possible, and strive to make known to all that you gave false witness.” And so it was done.