The Fate of a Disobedient Bernician Carpenter, A. D. 704
--from the venerable Saint Bede, Ecclesiastical History of England, Book 5, chap. 14
This account is as edited by J. A. Giles, D.C.L. and published in London by George Bell & Sons,
1903 [FHL 942 H2b; 845138 item 3] cf. also another website
Of another, who being at the point of death, saw the place of punishment appointed for him in
hell. [A.D. 704]
I knew a brother myself, would to God I had not known him, whose name I could mention if it
were necessary, and who resided in a noble monastery, but lived himself ignobly. He was
frequently reproved by the brethren and elders of the place, and admonished to adopt a more
regular life; and though he would not give ear to them, he was long patiently borne with by them,
on account of his usefulness in temporal works, for he was an excellent carpenter; he was much
addicted to drunkenness, and other pleasures of a lawless life, and more used to stop in his
workhouse day and night, than to go to church to sing and pray, and hear the word of life with the
brethren. For which reason it happened to him according to the saying, that he who will not
willingly and humbly enter the gate of the church, will certainly be damned, and enter the gate of
hell whether he will or no. For he falling sick, and being reduced to extremity, called the brethren,
and with much lamentation, and like one damned, began to tell them, that he saw hell open, and
Satan at the bottom thereof; as also Caiaphas, with the others that slew our Lord, by him
delivered up to avenging flames. “In whose neighbourhood,” said he, “I see a place of eternal
perdition provided for me, miserable wretch.” The brothers, hearing these words, began seriously
to exhort him, that he should repent even then whilst he was in the flesh. He answered in despair,
“I have no time now to change my course of life, when I have myself seen my judgment passed.”
Whilst uttering these words, he died without having re-p. 262ceived the saving viaticum, and his
body was buried in the remotest parts of the monastery, nor did any one dare either to say masses
or sing psalms, or even to pray for him. How far has our Lord divided the light from darkness!
The blessed martyr, Stephen, being about to suffer death for the truth, saw the heavens open, the
glory of God revealed, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. And where he was to be
after death, there he fixed the eyes of his mind, that he might die with the more satisfaction. On
the contrary, this carpenter, of a dark mind and actions, when death was at hand, saw hell open
and witnessed the damnation of the Devil and his followers; the unhappy wretch also saw his own
prison among them, to the end that, despairing of his salvation, he might die the more miserably;
but might by his perdition afford cause of salvation to the living who should hear of it. This
happened lately in the province of the Bernicians, and being reported abroad far and near, inclined
many to do penance for their sins without delay, which we hope may also be the result of this our
narrative.