A first-century Roman ivory pyxis, meaning any small box with a lid, typically used for cosmetics or medicines. The word used by Reginald for the ivory box in this story is theca, meaning a case. The box taken by the thief was evidently small, because he attempted to secrete it in his breeches (femoralia) or boots (caligae). His practised eye had selected it as the most costly item on display, despite its modest size, and worth the effort even of climbing onto the bishop’s throne; but stealing from holy places is fraught with unseen dangers: see A Shocking Theft.
Part 1 of 2
SHORTLY before one Easter (so Reginald tells us) in bishop Hugh’s day,* Benedict the sacristan* decorated the church at Durham Priory with a selection of the public’s offerings to St Cuthbert. All around the shrine and altar many beautiful pieces were displayed.
For one poor man, the temptation was irresistible. As the shadows fell after Evensong, he slipped into a corner and waited; and when all was quiet, he crept out through the dappled shades of dusk towards the altar. High on one side was a little ivory box, and the thief clambered onto the bishop’s throne,* took down the box, and stuffed it beneath his shirt.
But as he began to climb down, an ever-thickening fog settled upon his sight. Soon he was quite blind. He had eyes, but Cuthbert had veiled them; he had feet, but they went whither Cuthbert directed them. Groping about, he reached what he thought was his former hiding place, where he tried to tuck the ivory box discreetly into his breeches or boots; but the incriminating trophy seemed to adhere to his shirt. In rising panic he tried to shake it out, and was still fumbling stupidly when he heard footsteps.
* Hugo de Puiset, who was bishop from 1153 to 1195, and served Richard I as Chief Justiciar of England in 1189-1190. He is sometimes known as Hugh Pudsey.
* A sacristan is the person charged with caring for the contents of a church, such as vestments, candles and chalices.
* Not the throne we see today: that was built on the orders of Bishop Thomas Hatfield (1345-1381), and his tomb is beneath it.
Précis
Just before one Easter in the twelfth century, Benedict, the sacristan at Durham Cathedral, displayed precious items honouring the patron saint, Cuthbert of Lindisfarne. From this, a thief stole an ivory box and tucked it under his shirt; but immediately he found himself unable to see or find his way, or even move the box to a better hiding place. (60 / 60 words)
Part Two
A view towards the high altar in Durham Cathedral as it is today. Much has changed since Reginald’s day. The current High Altar was dedicated to the Virgin Mary, St Oswald and St Cuthbert in 1380, after remodelling that saw the erection of the imposing Neville Screen behind it, separating the altar from St Cuthbert’s shrine. The bishop’s throne on the right, much grander than the throne over which our thief went mountaineering, is fourteenth-century too; the floor is the work of Sir George Gilbert Scott (1811-1878). Nonetheless, these are the pillars and vaults dear to Reginald, and which witnessed a miracle on that Spring night nearly nine centuries ago.
THE footsteps came nearer and nearer, until the thief felt a heavy body stumble into him. It was Reginald, carrying bundles of candles. Reginald demanded with some asperity to know who was there, and why he was crouching in the middle of the altar steps — the most public spot in the church. Impatient of the thief’s excuses, Reginald hustled him through a door on the north side and left him beside the altar of St Oswald.*
At first glance, Reginald thought nothing had been taken, but then he missed the little ivory box. “I have been trying to get it out of my shirt” the wretched fellow complained, when accused of the theft, “but I can’t”. Reginald and the other monks lent willing hands, but the box eluded their grasp in the most uncanny way. Only when Benedict reached beneath the shirt did the little box meekly allow itself to be drawn out.
All this (Reginald ended) shows the compassion of St Cuthbert, who made sure that Benedict did not lose any of the precious things he had so lovingly displayed in the saint’s honour, and also arranged it so that when one almost went missing, Benedict was the man to recover it.
* Little remains of the design of the church’s east end as it was in Reginald’s time. Originally, there were three roughly semi-circular apses, the central and largest apse containing the Holy Table and the shrine of St Cuthbert tucked in behind it. Leading from the chancel to the northern apse there was a door, and beyond the door an altar dedicated to St Oswald. However, in 1242 work began on demolishing the apses for a new east end, the Chapel of the Nine Altars, which was completed in 1290 and stands to this day.
* St Oswald was King of Northumbria from 634 to 641/2 (Cuthbert was probably born in 635), and died in the Battle of Maserfield defending his kingdom against the ambitious King Penda of Mercia, a pagan. Oswald had a reputation for great Christian charity, and his appointment of the gifted preacher St Aidan as first Bishop of Lindisfarne (634-651) began the ‘Northumbrian Renaissance’ that transformed much of northern Europe for the better. Penda had Oswald’s head cut off and paraded, but it was recovered and at length buried with St Cuthbert’s body, hence the Priory’s keen interest in St Oswald. See also On Holy Ground.
Précis
The thief was discovered sitting in the middle of the church by monk Reginald, who raised the alarm. The ivory box was spotted beneath the thief’s shirt, but for some reason neither he nor the monks could get it out. Benedict was only person who could, which Reginald regarded as a token of the saint’s appreciation for Benedict’s care. (59 / 60 words)
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