er Roman camp. Here the fraternity remained for a hundred and
thirteen years; and here was the seat of the Bishopric of Bernicia until
A.D. 995. Many are the legends clustering round these journeyings. How,
when leaving Lindisfarne, the sea opened a passage for them, and how in
more than one difficulty the dead saint himself gave them assistance.
Notably, on one occasion when the bearers were worn out and weary he
appeared and showed them where they would find a horse and car in which
to carry their burden. This horse and car were afterwards used on their
journeys.
In the year 995, again for safety, they removed once more under Bishop
Aldhun, first for a short time to Ripon, and then finally to Durham. It
is of this last journey the following story is told:--
"Coming with him" (_v._ Sanderson), "on the _East_ Side of _Durham_,
to a Place call'd _Wardenlawe,_ they could not with all their Force
remove his body further, for it seemed fastened to the Ground; which
strange and unforeseen Accident produced great Astonishment in the
Hearts of the Bishop, the Monks, and their Associates; whereupon
they fasted and prayed three Days with great Devotion, to know by
Revelation from God, what to do with the holy Body, which was soon
granted to them, it being revealed to _Eadmer_, a virtuous Man, that
he should be carried to _Dunholme_, where he was to be received to a
Place of Rest. They were again in great Distress, in not knowing
where _Dunholme_ lay; but as they proceeded, a Woman wanting her
Cow, called aloud to her Companion, to know if she had seen her? Who
answered, She was in _Dunholme_. This was an happy and heavenly
Sound to the distressed Monks, who thereby had Intelligence that
their Journey's End was at Hand, and the Saint's Body near its
Resting-place; thereupon with great Joy they arrived with his
Body at _Dunholme_, in the Year 997."
[Illustration: The Dun Cow.]
Arrived at Dunholm they raised a "little Church of Wands and Branches"
to protect the sacred relics until a building more worthy of such a
charge could be erected. This was the beginning of the Cathedral and
City of Durham.
The condition of the place at this time must have been very wild, and it
certainly was a natural stronghold. The only open spot seems to have
been the plateau where the cathedral now stands. The site is curiously
described in a Saxon poem, from which the followi
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