Historic%20Yorkshire

10
ST. JOHN OF BEVERLEY.
up the excellent education he had received, he was
universallyadmitted to be one of the first, if not the first,
of the scholars of his day. Devoidof the slightest trace
of arrogance or pride, amiable and pious, he was as
revered for his humanity and gentleness as he was
respected for his eminence inlearning. A rigid Churchman,
he adhered strictly to all the rules of his order; he
set apart many hours each day for solitary devotion, and
fastednot seldom. It is said ofhim that he was a great
admirer of field sports, and had an intense passion for
the witnessingand exercising of horsemanship,and, like
many a bishop since, was more than fond ofhorse-racing.
Of the many remarkable occurrences in which the
history of Saint John is closely allied to that of his
favourite town, the account of the manner in which the
possession ofhis shrine was the means of the church and
town receiving its second impetus towards great prosperity
is most interesting,besidesfurnishing a noticeable
example of the benefits that may arise from superstition
inbarbarous times. In the year of our Lord934, or, as
some historianshave it,937, the sons of Sithric, the King
of Northumbria, who had been exiled for his nonacquiescence
in the consolidationof the Heptarchy, had
raised the standard of revolt in the north. They were
largely reinforced by bodies of Scottish troops, Constantine,
King of Scotland, being ever anxious to engage in
any dispute or dissension between the rival factions of
the south. Athelstane, while marchingnorthwards, was
informed of the great power and virtue given out from
the shrine of the departed Saint John, and so turned
thither out of his way to pay his devotions,leavinghis
army to proceed to York, and there await his coming.
Arrived at Beverley, he proceeded at midnight to the
sacred tomb, under the guidance of the resident Abbot
and his monks, and there spent many hours, prostrating
himselfbefore the shrine,beseeching the protection of the
Saint, and imploringhis aid in the forthcoming struggle.
He then made a sort of arrangement, whichpartook of