ct of holy prayer. Cuthman, after the death of his
father, employed his whole fortune and all that he gained by the labor
of his hands, in supporting his decrepit mother: and afterwards was not
ashamed to beg for her subsistence. To furnish her necessaries by the
sweat of his brow, and by the charitable succors of others, he removed
to several places; nor is it to be expressed what hardships and
austerities he voluntarily and cheerfully suffered, which he embraced as
part of his penance, increasing their severity in order more perfectly
to die to himself and to his senses, and sanctifying them by the most
perfect dispositions in which he bore them. Finding, at a place called
Steninges, a situation according to his desire, he built there a little
cottage to be a shelter from the injuries of the air, in which, with his
mother, he might devote himself to the divine service, without
distraction. His hut was no sooner finished but he measured out the
ground near it for the foundation of a church, which he dug with his own
hands. The inhabitants, animated by his piety and zeal, contributed
liberally to assist him in completing this work. The holy man worked
himself all day, conversing at the same time in his heart with God, and
employed a considerable part of the night in prayer. Here he said in his
heart: "Whither shall I go from thy spirit, O Lord! this is the place of
my rest for ever and ever, in which I will every day render to thee my
vows." His name was rendered famous by many miracles, of which God was
pleased to make him the instrument, both living and after his death. He
flourished about the eighth century, and his relics were honored at
Steninges. This place Saint Edward {386} the Confessor bestowed on the
great abbey of Fecam in Normandy, which was enriched with a portion of
his relics. This donation of Steninges, together with Rye, Berimunster,
and other neighboring places, made to the abbey of Fecam, was confirmed
to the same by William the Conqueror, and the two first Henries, whose
charters are still kept among the archives of that house, and were shown
me there. This parish, and that of Rye, were of the exemption of Fecam,
that is, were not subject to the jurisdiction of the diocesan, but to
this abbey, as twenty-four parishes in Normandy are to this day. For in
the enumeration of the parishes which belong to this exemption in the
bulls of several popes, in which it is confirmed, Steninges and Rye are
always me