p of Lindisfarne, dedicated in 995, and placed in it the
body of St. Cuthbert with great solemnity, transferring hither his
episcopal see.[4] Many princes enriched exceedingly the new monastery
and cathedral, in honor of St. Cuthbert. Succeeding kings, out of
devotion to this saint, declared the bishop a count palatine, with an
extensive civil jurisdiction.[5] The great king Alfred, who honored St.
Cuthbert as his particular patron, and ascribed to his intercession some
of his greatest victories, and other blessings which he received, was a
special benefactor to this church.[6] The present cathedral was built in
1080. When the shrine of the saint was plundered and demolished by the
order of king Henry VIII., the body of St. Cuthbert, which was found
still entire, as Harpsfield testifies, met with greater regard than many
others; for it was not burnt, as were those of St. Edmund, king and
martyr, St. Thomas, and others. After the king's officers had carried
away the plunder of his shrine, it was privately buried under the place
where the shrine before stood, though the spot is now unknown. His ring,
in which a sapphire is enchased, was given by lord viscount Montaigne to
the bishop of Chalcedon,[7] who had long been sheltered from the
persecution in the house of that nobleman,[8] and was by him left in the
monastery of English canonesses at Paris, which is also possessed of a
tooth of St. Cuthbert. A copy of St. John's gospel, which, after the
example of his master St. Poisil, he often read to nourish the fire of
divine love in his soul, was put into his coffin when he was buried, and
found in his tomb. It is now in the possession of Mr. Thomas Philips,
canon of, Tongres, on whom the present earl of Litchfield bestowed it.
The copy is judged undoubtedly genuine by our ablest Protestant
antiquaries, who carefully examined it.

* * * * *

The life of St. Cuthbert was almost a continual prayer. There was no
business, no company, no place, how public soever, which did not afford
him an opportunity, and even a fresh motive to pray. Not content to pass
the day in this exercise, he continued it constantly for several hours
of the night, which was to him a time of light and interior delights.
Whatever he saw seemed to speak to him of God, and to invite him to his
love. His conversation was on God or heavenly things, and he would have
regretted a single moment, which had not been employed with God o