Egbert

Also known as: Egbert (bishop) · Family: English · Role: holy man · First appears: Book III · Chap. XXVII

Life events

664 · Egbert vowed to remain abroad, pray daily, and fast weekly if spared from death.(Book III · Chap. XXVII)
- “He also made a vow that he would spend all his life abroad and never return into the island of Britain, where he was born; that besides singing the psalms at the canonical hours, he would, unless prevented by bodily infirmity, repeat the whole Psalter daily to the praise of God; and that he would every week fast one whole day and night.”
664 · Egbert recovered from his sickness after Ethelhun died.(Book III · Chap. XXVII · 📍 Rathmelsigi)
- “but Egbert, throwing off his sickness, recovered and lived a long time after to grace the episcopal office”
c. 692 · Boisil’s vision instructed Egbert to teach Columba’s monasteries instead of pursuing his planned journey.(Book V · Chap. IX)
- With: Boisil
- “Boisil, that was sometime my master and brought me up in all love, appeared to me, and asked, whether I knew him? I said, ‘Yes, you are Boisil.’ He answered, ‘I am come to bring Egbert a message from our Lord and Saviour, which must nevertheless be delivered to him by you. Tell him, therefore, that he cannot perform the journey he has undertaken; for it is the will of God that he should rather go to teach the monasteries of Columba.’”
c. 692 · A violent storm wrecked part of Egbert’s voyage preparations, causing him to abandon the undertaking.(Book V · Chap. IX)
- “Then he, saying, in the words of the prophet, ‘For my sake this great tempest is upon you,’ withdrew himself from that undertaking and was content to remain at home.”
c. 692 · Egbert sent Wilbrord and other missionaries to preach among foreign nations.(Book V · Chap. X)
- With: Wilbrord
- “he nevertheless still attempted to send holy and industrious men to the work of the Word, among whom the most notable was Wilbrord”
716 · Egbert converted the monks of Hii to canonical Easter observance and the correct tonsure.(Book V · Chap. XXII · 📍 isle of Hii)
- “by his pious and diligent exhortations, he converted them from that deep-rooted tradition of their fathers”
729 · Egbert died at ninety after a life of religious perfection and service.(Book III · Chap. XXVII)
- “lately, in the year of our Lord 729, being ninety years of age, he departed to the heavenly kingdom.”
729 · Egbert died after celebrating Mass on Easter Day.(Book V · Chap. XXII · 📍 isle of Hii)
- “in the year of our Lord 729, in which Easter was celebrated on the 24th of April, when he had celebrated the solemnity of the Mass, in memory of the Resurrection of our Lord, that same day he departed to the Lord”

Book III · Chap. XXVII

with Ethelhun (They were companions in the monastery and during their illness.) “Returning home, after his tears and prayers and vows, he found his companion asleep; and going to bed himself, he began to compose himself to rest.”

Book IV · Chap. III

with Ceadda (Ceadda and Egbert lived together as young monks.) “who long and zealously led a monastic life with the same Ceadda, when both were youths, in Ireland, in prayer and self-denial and meditation on the Holy Scriptures”
with Hygbald (Hygbald visits Egbert.) “Hygbald, a man of great holiness and continence, who was an abbot in the province of Lindsey, came from Britain to visit him”
friends with Ceadda (Ceadda and Egbert lived together in monastic practice as youths.) “the most reverend Father Egbert, above spoken of, who long and zealously led a monastic life with the same Ceadda, when both were youths, in Ireland, in prayer and self-denial and meditation on the Holy Scriptures”

Book IV · Chap. XXVI

with Egfrid (Egbert advised Egfrid not to attack the Scots.) “he had the year before refused to listen to the most reverend father, Egbert, advising him not to attack the Scots, who were doing him no harm”

Book V · Chap. IX

with Boisil (Boisil's vision conveys a message to Egbert.) “I am come to bring Egbert a message from our Lord and Saviour, which must nevertheless be delivered to him by you. Tell him, therefore, that he cannot perform the journey he has undertaken; for it is the will of God that he should rather go to teach the monasteries of Columba.”
with Wictbert (Wictbert is described as one of Egbert's companions.) “But one of his companions, called Wictbert, notable for his contempt of the world and for his learning and knowledge”

Book V · Chap. X

with Wilbrord (Egbert sent Wilbrord as a missionary.) “he nevertheless still attempted to send holy and industrious men to the work of the Word, among whom the most notable was Wilbrord, a man eminent for his merit and rank as priest.”

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Extracted from the original text of Bede's Ecclesiastical History of England. Made with Rho MD.