Introduction
St Edith of Wilton was a daughter of King Edgar (r. 959-975). The nuns of the convent, which was ruled by her mother Wulfthryth, wore rather nice habits and the Bishop of Winchester did not did not think them suitable. Edith, however, was not one to judge a book by its cover.
I HAVE heard one circumstance of her, from persons of elder days,* which greatly staggered the opinions of men: for she led them into false conclusions from the splendour of her costly dress, being always habited in richer garb than the sanctity of her profession seemed to require.
On this account, being openly rebuked by St Ethelwold,* she is reported to have answered with equal point and wit, that the judgment of God was true and irrefragable,* while that of man, alone, was fallible, for pride might exist even under the garb of wretchedness. Wherefore, “I think,” said she, “that a mind may be as pure beneath these vestments, as under your tattered furs.”*
The bishop was deeply struck by this speech; admitting its truth by his silence, and blushing with pleasure that he had been chastised by the sparkling repartee of the lady, he held his peace.
By William of Malmesbury 1080-1143
Translated by J. A. Giles
Chiefly Goscelin (fl. 1050-1090), a monk from Saint-Omer in France who served as secretary to Herman, Bishop of Sherborne in Wiltshire, and a chaplain to the nuns of Wilton Abbey. His ‘Life of St Edith’ can be read (in Latin ) in J. P. Migne’s ‘Patrologia Latina’ MPL 155 cols 0109-0116B.
That is, not to be disputed or opposed.
Æthelwold, Bishop of Winchester from 963 to 984, was a dedicated reformer of England’s monasteries, which he believed had fallen from the ideals of St Benedict of Nursia. A severe disciplinarian, Æthelwold also took it on himself to follow a recent innovation on the Continent and ban married priests from serving, as unworthy of the altar.
Goscelin tells us that Edith actually wore a rough horsehair shirt under her elegant habit, but of course Æthelwold did not know (or ask).
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Tags: Lives of the Saints (186) Bible and Saints (211) St Edith of Wilton (5) History (956) Anglo-Saxon Era (94) British History (493) Mediaeval History (168) William of Malmesbury (2)
Word Games
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 His. Silence. Than.
2 Equal. God. Speech.
3 Answer. Pride. Pure.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Homonyms Find in Think and Speak
Each of the words below has more than one possible meaning. Compose your own sentences to show what those different meanings are.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1. Lead. 2. May. 3. Point. 4. Even. 5. Man. 6. Rich. 7. Hold.
Show Suggestions
For each word above, choose one or more suitable meanings from this list.
1. Guide. 2. Of food, indulgently high in fats, spices or sugars. 3. Sharp. 4. Not odd. 5. Chief cargo space of a ship. 6. A soft metal. 7. Possessing or bringing plenty of money. 8. Have in the hands; one’s grip. 9. A male person. 10. A unit of score in e.g. tennis. 11. Leash. 12. An electrical cable. 13. The hawthorn tree and its blossom. 14. The primary issue. 15. Verb indicating possibility. 16. Flat and smooth. 17. A month of the year. 18. A particular spot. 19. An island in the Irish Sea. 20. In the extreme case. 21. Indicate a direction. 22. Provide the crew for.
Statements, Questions and Commands Find in Think and Speak
Use each word below in a sentence. Try to include at least one statement, one question and one command among your sentences. Note that some verbs make awkward or meaningless words of command, e.g. need, happen.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Hold. 2 Point. 3 Exist. 4 Lead. 5 Seem. 6 Report. 7 Pride. 8 Require. 9 Admit.
Variations: 1. use a minimum of seven words for each sentence 2. include negatives, e.g. isn’t, don’t, never 3. use the words ‘must’ to make commands 4. compose a short dialogue containing all three kinds of sentence: one statement, one question and one command
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
Your Words ()
Show All Words (15)
Inner. (5) Rein. (4) Nori. (4) None. (4) Nine. (4) Neon. (4) Iron. (4) Roe. (3) Ore. (3) One. (3) Nor. (3) Ire. (3) Ion. (3) Inn. (3) Eon. (3)
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