Eric
Acta Sanctorum, May 18
Source text: Public Domain. English translation/apparatus/encoding: CC BY-NC 4.0, Wroot Press.
https://actasanctorum.org/may/day-18/eric.html
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ON SAINT ERIC

KING OF SWEDEN, MARTYR.

A.D. MCLI.

HISTORICAL COMMENTARY.

On the Acts written by Israel Canon of Uppsala, & the manifold cult:
Eric, King of Sweden (St.)

[Col. 187B]

BY THE AUTHOR G. H.

[1] In the three Arctic kingdoms, which under the one name
of Scandia or Scandinavia for the greatest
part became known to the ancients, flourished three
Kings, in piety & sanctity illustrious, & the same
with shed blood empurpled, & therefore among
posterity as Martyrs in the highest veneration held. Of
these the King of the Danes was S. Canute, of the Norwegians S. Olaf,
& of the Swedes, of whom here we treat, S. Eric. Which first
about this Saint was written the history of his life & death, [The Acts of S. Eric are given from MSS.]
of the translation & of the miracles, below num. 6 indicated, hitherto
lies hidden. For it are given the Acts by Israel, an illustrious man &
colleague of the Chapter of the Cathedral Church of Uppsala,
with great judgment & sincerity written: where first from
the alleged history the Author proposes in succinct discourse the life
& happy consummation of S. Eric, then he describes the miracles,
which either he himself saw, or from others, to whom they had been
conferred as a benefit, relating he heard; likewise those which were
by the Bishop, Chapter, & the writer himself legitimately examined.
Acts of this kind we found in a notable MS. codex
of Christina Queen of Sweden in folio, & in the Latin tongue, &
in the vulgar idiom of the Swedes written, & these here we give in our manner
distinguished & illustrated.

[2] John Vastovius in the Northern Vine, or the Vine of the Saints
who illustrated great Scandinavia with deeds, [Compendia of the Acts from the Uppsala Breviary,]
published some Life of S. Eric, by himself from the Breviary
of Uppsala taken: where also very many miracles, which
through him God worked, are subjoined: which could of those,
which below are brought forward, be esteemed titles. Another compendium of the Life,
into three Lessons to be recited at Matins
divided, is contained in the Proper Offices of the Patron Saints
of the kingdom of Sweden, by Apostolic authority approved. Here
also are prescribed three proper Hymns, at Vespers, [Proper Offices,] Matins
& Lauds to be recited, with some Antiphons
& Responsories, whose material from the Acts themselves is taken,
& in them everywhere is called S. Eric, King & Patron
of Sweden, & precious Martyr of Christ; as everywhere
all, who by a violent death & shed blood to eternal
glory passed, as Martyrs by Ecclesiastical custom are reputed.
We have also an ancient Missal of the Northern kingdoms,
nearly two hundred years ago printed, in which the feast
of S. Eric with solemn cult is celebrated. The Introit is. [& an ancient Missal.] Let us all rejoice
in the Lord. The Epistle. Blessed is the man, who is found
without spot. The Gospel, If anyone wishes to come
after me, let him deny himself. Before this is read
& miracles. In the same Mass also are three proper Orations,
of which the first is of this kind: O God, who to blessed
Eric the King & Martyr the palm of victory, [with a proper oration,] & the crown of life,
& the glory of the heavenly kingdom hast conferred: make
us we beseech by his merits & intercession all things
adverse to us to conquer, & the crown of glory in the heavens
felicitously to obtain. And all these things are referred to his
birthday, this XVIII of May, on which day also is noted the memory
of S. Eric King of Sweden & Martyr in the Martyrology
today's Roman, & in another at Lübeck & Cologne in the year 1490
printed, likewise in Greven, Molanus, Canisius,
Gelenius, & Galesinius, who calls him Henry. [the translation 24 January.] But
the feast of the Translation is celebrated under a double rite on the day
XXIV of January, & is mentioned by the said Greven & Canisius,
& also in the MS. Florarium of the Saints. Besides there is prescribed
twice a Mass for the state of the kingdom, one XXI June of the Most Holy
Trinity, the other VI January of S. Eric.

[3] About the same one at length treats John Magnus book 19 of the History
of the Goths & Swedes chapter 1 & the five following ones,
Michael O. Wexionius in the Epitome of the description of Sweden
& Gothia, printed at Åbo in the year MDCL, [other signs of veneration from Michael O. Wexionius] in which book 1 chapter 4
among the more celebrated fountains is reckoned the fountain of S. Eric at Uppsala,
& book 3 chapter 4 on the Runic Staff, three Ears are said to indicate
the feast of S. Eric the King XVIII May, & book 5
chapter 9 is indicated in memory of King S. Eric on the day after
the feast, namely XIX May, a court to be celebrated. Likewise book 7
chapter 1 is delivered that at Stockholm distinguished is the head of S. Eric,
with a most precious golden crown distinguished, & chapter 2
at Uppsala the distinguished chapel of S. Eric. In the temple a tablet
of the altar most artificially gilded the history of S. Eric represents,
whose body here rests. Finally book 9
chapter 10 this elogium he brings forward: Eric surnamed the Holy,
not born of a King, but on account of virtue with the royal nuptials
of Christina daughter of the younger Inge & with a diadem adorned,
soon the Finns being conquered sparing, the name of Christ through
S. Henry caused to be preached: then his fatherland with laws
he adorns, of exactions most sparing, & of life most innocent,
by the Grand General, son of Henry King of Denmark,
secretly with an army to Uppsala creeping up, is slaughtered:
but the people forthwith avenges, & the Danes
not far from Uppsala are slain: hence the name to the temple
& church Danmarck. These things there, which the same things thence in the Geography
of Sweden of John Blaeu page 58 are read, below
in the Acts are explained.

[4] Finally John Loccenius in the History of Swedish affairs,
to Christina the Queen dedicated, [& John Loccenius.] & at Stockholm by the Royal
printer in the year MDCLIII printed, under the beginning of book 21
the deeds of S. Eric done in life, & his death describes: which
all below it will be enough thence hither to bring over, as afterwards to
his honor done thus are described. When the Princes of the faction
plundered the wealth of Eric, & now affected the way
to the royal throne, just vengeance excited the Helsings &
the rest of the faithful citizens to arms against the regicides. In the first
encounter Scateler & his son in that hill, where
now the temple of Danmarck, neighboring Uppsala, situated
is, slain are slaughtered, & the deserved penalties of the royal blood shed
they pay. From the spoils of the Danes the said temple
is believed to have been built, & indeed by the author the Duke of the Northlanders,
[His chapel.] whose name was Fale Bure. King Eric
first obtained a tomb in a chapel named from his name,
which overhung the royal gardens, & some
ruins of it still survive. Afterwards
his bones from here into the shrine of old Uppsala, where then
was the Archbishop's seat, [a double translation] were translated. But after
the Prelate's See had migrated back hither, after nearly
by Nicholas Prelate of Uppsala they were brought over.
There in a silver coffer, with a marble cippus by iron
gratings enclosed, [the mausoleum,] at the high altar, an immense crown
& a tablet skillfully sculptured & painted being hung up, with an adumbration
of the things done by Eric, they were laid up.
To the memory of the eximious King also this honor by posterity
was held, that into the order of the Saints he was referred: so that with his image bearing three crowns, [an image,] the old
insignia of the Swedish kingdom, the public coin & the royal
Seal from of old long in view it was, so that as the insignia of the city
of Stockholm Eric's face with comely hair was. But also
the anniversary fairs, & the Erician holidays from him
named, in the month of May, with an honorific commemoration of his life
in the Church, [fairs] to be celebrated the custom obtained.
Which even now by the people of Uppsala to the grateful
recollection of the King is given. For the honor of right deeds
with pious posterity does not grow old, nor with the author
dies away. These things Loccenius. But about the Translation below
under the end of the Appendix to the Miracles these things thus not otherwise
are reported: In the year one thousand two hundred seventy
third was translated B. Eric from old Uppsala
to the new metropolitan Church, in the presence
of the Lords Waldemar the King & Fulco the Archbishop.
Charles a Manderscheit, a Priest of the Society of Jesus,
was in Sweden with Lord Antonio Pimentel of the King
Catholic with the aforesaid Queen Legate, & thence to us
wrote in the year MDCLIII, that in the Church of Uppsala even now
is preserved the sacred body of S. Eric the King, & that he
his sacred head & other bones piously venerated & kissed
had; & this holy King, [an oath under his name] before the heresy was introduced,
always by the Swedes in great honor to have been
held. An argument that to be, that the Kings to be crowned,
when the solemn oath they rendered to the estates,
into these words were wont to swear. May God propitious
be to me in body & soul, & the Virgin Mary & S.
Eric, & all the Saints & Relics of the Saints,
which with my hands I touch. The subjects also were wont in turn
to the new King to render an oath, S. Mary
& S. Eric being invoked. It was lawful finally for the Kings I know not
what extraordinary subsidies from the subjects to ask, [& subsidies wont to be sought.] as often
as to the body of S. Eric to be venerated they set out.
Would that that Saint from heaven intercede for the subjects,
who together with the ancestral religion of this so great Saint the cult
rejected.

THE ACTS

By the Author Israel Canon of Uppsala.

From a very old MS. Codex of the Queen.

Eric, King of Sweden (St.)

BHL Number: 2594, 2595

BY ISRAEL FROM A MS.

CHAPTER I.

The deeds of S. Eric in life, & miracles in the very bloody death.

[1] Of the glorious Martyr of Christ, & most illustrious
once King of the Swedes Blessed Eric the origin,
life, & happy consummation let the present
succinct discourse run through: for he was as much of royal
lineage, as of the noble of the Nobles of Sweden sprung.
He, the kingdom being vacant, [Elevated to the King of Sweden,] on account of the clemency innate to him
& the goodness of life conspicuous beloved, by
the Princes of the land & all the people into King unanimously
is elected, & on the throne of the kingdom at Uppsala honorifically
elevated. In the Royal summit therefore set,
conferred power, as of the assumed solicitude into three
orders he distinguished, adorning & filling his days
until the consummation of life through an illustrious martyrdom.
For having imitated the holy Kings of the old testament's
examples, first to the building of churches,
& the reparation & amplification of divine worship,
then to the rule of the people & the promulgation of the laws of justice,
last to the conquering of the enemies of the faith & of the kingdom
turning himself wholly, [The Cathedral Church of Uppsala he completes:] he put his hand
to strong things. For the Uppsala church by the ancient
Kings, namely his progenitors, founded, & somewhat
built, first & before the rest undertaking,
& ministers of divine worship therein placing; with a work
very great & laborious solicitously he strove to consummate:
then his kingdom going around & the people visiting
the whole, on the Royal way walking; nor to the right declining
his right to each one assigning by favor or price,
nor to the left turning by fear or hatred; by the straight path,
which leads to the fatherland, inflexibly he walked. And thus peace among
the discordant making, the oppressed by the more powerful freeing,
those walking rightly in the way of God directing, the impious
from the land exterminating, with an equal balance in the scale of justice
to each one his right he distributed & divided. But when
by all his people on account of these & things like these gracious
he was held, & unanimously all the third
part of the satisfaction of delinquents, which according to the custom
of the land to the Fisc of the Republic legally pertains,
to him they wished to assign, to those offering it is said to have given
this response: To me let my own things suffice; to you let yours
be safe: because perhaps these your posterity in future times
will need. O just Prince, & in eminence
rarely found, who content with his own, the faculties
of inferiors did not greedily covet!

[2] But because it is just, that he who others by office
rules & judges, himself first should judge, the flesh to the spirit
subjecting, [addicted to mortification & prayer,] & the spirit to the Lord directing,
according to that, I chastise my body, & into servitude
reduce; therefore our holy King assiduous in prayers,
frequent in vigils, frequent in fastings, in
the calamity of the afflicted compassionate, in alms
to the poor liberal, his flesh with a continual haircloth wore,
with which also as with the breastplate of justice in the time of his passion
he was clothed: which also until today with his precious
blood dipped in the Uppsala church is reserved. [1 Cor. 9, 27]
But how toward the familiar enemy, & toward
her who sleeps in the bosom of man, he conducted himself, from this
clearly appears; that since on account of fastings & other
sacred times from the bed of the Queen he often had abstained;
he himself that in himself the incentives of the flesh sprouting he might repress,
frequently & even in winter time in a tub of cold
water secretly bathing, the hot with the cold curing, his animal
motions himself stronger in mind repressed. But last
of all, as above we said, the church being built, the kingdom ordered,
to the enemies of the faith & the foes of his people
turning his hand, an army being gathered & taken
with him from the Uppsala church d Blessed Henry the Bishop,
toward the Finns an expedition he directs, [The Finns by arms subduing,] & them, the faith
of Christ first being offered & peace exhibited, resisting &
rebellious, in vengeance of Christian blood, with a strong hand
he attacks, & the conquered in war the victor laid low.
And when so great a victory obtained in prayer he had prostrated himself,
& with tears, as always of a most pious heart
he was, prayed to the Lord; questioned by one
of his familiars why he wept, since about the victory
over the enemies of Christ rather it should be rejoiced, thus he is said
to have answered: I rejoice indeed & glorify the Lord
for the victory given us: [he grieves that many perished without baptism.] but vehemently I grieve,
that so many of their souls today perished, who if the Sacraments
of the faith they had received, to salvation would have been perpetual
reserved. Having imitated in this the friend of God & of men
most meek Moses, who with zeal kindled,
the idolaters being prostrated avenged the injuries of the Lord; &
with compassion affected, for the sin of the same people
the Lord besought. The people of the land therefore who remained
being convoked, peace being given, the faith of Christ being preached,
very many being baptized, churches being founded, & there being placed
the one, whom above we said, B. Henry the Bishop
(who afterwards there with martyrdom was crowned) & there Priests being instituted,
& the rest which to the religion
of Christian worship pertain ordered, to Sweden
with a glorious victory he returned.

[3] In the running therefore of the tenth year of the reign of our illustrious King,
[Surrounded by enemies,] that the just man tribulation might prove, &
the grain pressed might fructify more abundantly; the ancient
enemy a certain one, e Magnus by name, of the King of the Danes
son, to him an adversary stirred up: who from the inheritance
of the land, which forbids foreigners to reign, to himself
wrongly claimed. Whence also a certain Prince
of the kingdom, & other satellites of iniquity to himself associating (who
corrupted by gifts, & by promises allured into the death
of the most illustrious King unanimously conspired) &
an army secretly gathered, the King himself, ignorant
& nothing adverse suspecting, at Eastern g Aros
with a strong hand they attack. There was at hand on that day the feast
of the Lord's Ascension, in which the same after the Lord
through the palm of martyrdom was felicitously to ascend.
And when on that day in the church of the holy Trinity h on
the mount, which is called the Lord's, where now the Metropolitan
is founded church, at the solemnities of Masses he was present,
by a certain one of his men to him is announced, [after Mass,] the enemies near
the city to be present, & that it would be advisable to them with an armed hand
forthwith to meet: to whom he is said thus to have answered:
Allow me, he said, in peace to the completion of so great a solemnity
to hear the mysteries: for I hope in the Lord, that
what of His service remains, elsewhere solemnly we shall hear.
And these things said to God commending himself, & the impressed
on himself first the sign of the Cross from the church going out, he armed
himself & his men; with the same, although few, manfully
meeting the enemies. Whom they with war receive, & against
the King himself before the rest a battle-line directing, Christ
the Lord's one to the ground being prostrated wounds to wounds
they redouble: [he is slain.] & upon him now half-dead more raging,
& mockeries exercising, his reverend head
irreverently they cut off. And thus he from war to
peace a victor passing, his earthly kingdom into the heavenly
felicitously exchanged.

[4] But this there was the beginning of signs made, [soon a fountain bursts forth,]
that in the place where his blood first was shed,
of his martyrdom remains. The enemies therefore withdrawing,
& the holy body in the place of the slaying
left: a few of the royal ministers who had remained,
it into a certain house nearby of a poor little
widow carried. There was dwelling in the same place
when the body of the Martyr she had touched, & her fingers in the holy
blood dipped to her eyes had brought back; at once the gloom being wiped away
her pristine light she received, praising God in
His Saint. The rest of his life, & the translation of the holy
body, & the miracles which the Lord worked
through His Saint, & until the present does not cease
mercifully to work, which here are omitted for brevity's
sake, elsewhere are written. But B. Eric suffered
in the year of the Lord's Incarnation k one thousand one hundred
sixtieth, the fifteenth Kalends of June,
Pope Alexander the third presiding over the Roman church,
our Lord Jesus Christ reigning, to whom is
all honor & glory forever and ever. Amen.

NOTES.











CHAPTER II.

Illustrious Miracles wrought. Eight either dead or held for dead, resuscitated. The mute, blind, women in childbirth, & other sick aided.

[5] A certain rustic in a Attundaland, Olaf
by name, in the parish of Husaby; in the village which
is called Maby, [A madman who had himself wounded himself to death,] a man through all of good testimony &
honest conversation, by the hidden judgment of God into so great
alienation of mind fell, that, lest to himself or to others
he should harm, diligently by his own people he was guarded. Who on a certain
day from the hands of those guarding incautiously having slipped, while
to the wood alone he fled, & by his people was pursued, by an excessive
instinct of fury himself with his own little knife attacked, & around
his vitals everywhere himself with five lethal wounds most cruelly
wounded. Coming up however his son
with others, & seeing this horrible & miserable in
his father spectacle, what he should do he asked of his friends,
And when in counsel he had received, a vow for his father he made,
& B. Eric's suffrages suppliantly implored. [the son making a vow,] Nor
delay, & behold the eye of the Lord's mercy upon
the wretch: for to him lifeless & as if dead lying,
clothed, having a crown on his head, & a scepter in
his hand bearing; who the wounds of his wounds with the thumb of his right
hand touching, with the impressed sign of the Cross signed,
& said: Son, confide in the Lord, & be mindful
of the vow which those present for you send forth: [& the Saint appearing he is healed.] & when sound
you have been made, you shall visit me. At these words that wounded
& despaired one his lost sense soon recovered. His own
Priest being called the sacrament of Confession
he sought & received, & in a short time of all
wounds being cured of either man perfect & entire
he obtained health. This same miracle the said
Olaf on the feast of B. Laurence in the solemn station, before
the shrine of B. Eric, publicly testified.

[6] A certain Brother of the Order of Friars Minor,
Rodger by name, b a Goth by nation, a Priest
in order, [A Friar Minor contracted,] a most grievous infirmity incurred, so that
his legs & feet being altogether enfeebled almost contracted,
himself from the bed in which he lay by no means to move able, by
the Brothers within & without on a pallet he was carried. And when
not only by the molestation of his infirmity he was burdened,
but also a tedium & burden to his Brothers having compassion
on him he esteemed himself to be, for the hope of his soundness
frequent to the Lord & to His Saints prayers
he poured forth. It happened however in the days of the Rogations, that
the body of B. Eric, as is the custom, from the Uppsala church
to Aros with a public procession solemnly was carried.
But hearing the said infirm Brother
the voices of the singing Clerics, he asked of the Brothers
what this was: & having understood that the shrine
of B. Eric through the house of the Brothers was passing, with the whole devotion
of mind to the glorious Martyr's patronage he turned himself, [while the Saint in Procession is carried,]
supplicating for his soundness & a vow to himself
making, that if him the Lord through the merits of His
Saint should free from infirmity, in special devotion he would have
his Martyr. And behold suddenly the hands of divine
mercy upon him: & feeling himself from the pain alleviated,
as still distrusting himself: but recognizing himself
altogether freed, [making a vow he is raised up.] the staff being utterly cast away erect &
sound he stood, & walked, going in & going out
with his Brothers, magnifying & praising God, &
giving thanks to the glorious King & Martyr. This miracle
diligently was examined & proven, in the presence
of Fr. Nicholas, Minister of the Friars Minor c
of Dacia; Fr. Thomas, Custodian of the Friars Minor
of Sweden & Guardian of the house of Aros, & several others.
The often-said also Brother at Aros in
the solemn station, on the Nativity of the blessed Virgin, this
same miracle divulged.

[7] A certain Priest Vicar of Lord Raguwastus
of Nerthatunum, d Nigimundus by name, on the day
holy of Pasch the use of voice losing, [A mute Priest,] tongueless was made:
& when thus for some time he persevered, he feared
vehemently, that altogether perpetually mute he would become.
And behold there was at hand the solemn birthday of B. Eric.
But the said Raguwastus the Priest, having heard again anew
the fame of his miracles, devoutly & constantly
persuaded his Vicar, that the mercy of the Lord through
the merits of B. Eric he should invoke; adding that, because it was the birthday
of the Martyr, the Mass, if at least to read he could, to the honor
of him he should celebrate. And when this he distrusted himself to perform,
inasmuch as of him neither voice nor speech was heard,
confiding however in the help of the Martyr, at the instance
of his Lord with the sacred garments he clothed himself: [he receives the speech he had vowed to use.] & while
before the altar, as is the custom, the confession he was saying, suddenly
was rendered to him the voice, so that by those standing around it could be heard.
And when he that grace from the Lord to himself made
felt, who before neither Mass to read nor to speak could,
into the praise of God bursting forth, the Mass with a clear voice
in the glory of the Martyr he chanted. Thus God, who always
is admirable in His Saints & glorious, the ancient
signs renews, who once opened the mouth of Zachary the Prophet
of the Lord. A certain rustic, Andrew by name,
of the parish of Waxal, of the village Aristo, while many
being present they were collecting stones for the need of the ecclesiastical
ground, [A demoniac is freed.] by the hidden judgment of God suddenly into fury
is turned, & horrible clamors emitting by his people is seized,
& as a demoniac is bound: & a vow for him being made
to B. Eric he is carried to the church; & at once from
the demon freed by the merits of the glorious Martyr, to his pristine
soundness he was restored. This very miracle,
on the day of B. Eric, all who were present, & the virtue of the miracle
had seen, the same thing attesting publicly testified.

[8] A certain adolescent, Andrew by name, of the household
of Lord Ingewald of Soland, by divine judgment
into so great alienation of mind fell, [& another from a well half-alive extracted.] that when to
the kitchen water he ought to draw, himself into
the precipice of the well giving by diabolical instinct he strove
marvelously to suffocate. But the servants running up
him lifeless extracting, into the house carried:
who for the space of two days & one night, without
all motion & sense, as dead thus lay. Coming
however to him his aforesaid Lord, &
seeing this in the youth a miserable spectacle; a vow
for him to B. Eric making, the divine mercy
& the glorious Martyr's help for the wretch mercifully
implored. And behold suddenly he motion & sense recovered,
& revived: [his Lord making a vow for him,] his eyes he opened, the Sacrament of Confession
he sought & received; from the demon at the same time & sickness
perfectly forthwith freed. And when by us,
who this miracle, as we could, more diligently
examined, he was questioned, what in that two days,
in which as dead he lay, was done about him; he said,
himself surrounded by a multitude of black birds,
which as in the species of crows strove the same
horribly to suffocate. This miracle the often-said
adolescent, with those who present were, & what
was done had seen, in the presence of a multitude of Clerics,
religious, & laymen publicly testified.

[9] A certain boy of seven years, Laurence by name, of
Logor, while in the field he was playing with other boys, by a sudden
infirmity seized, lifeless into the house of his father
is carried: [the boy lifeless for three days is restored to himself,] where for three days without motion & sense lying,
of the same (who on account of business then was not
present, home returning) by natural affection moved
over his son, to the Friars Minor of Stockholm runs,
& from them received in counsel, that himself with all devotion
to the merits & suffrages of B. Eric he should turn, which
also he did. And behold suddenly the vow being sent forth the son to those present
sound & unharmed was rendered, of the glorious Martyr
by the merits & his power, who the only son rendered
to his mother. A certain girl of Helsingia, who quite
enormously contracted, [enormously contracted,] not to walk, but to crawl
scarcely could miserably, on account of the devotion of her parents
& the merits of B. Eric, was raised up & healed: whom all
the multitude sound & unharmed on the feast of B. Laurence
saw proceeding. A girl, whom her mother dead
bore, [a stillborn fetus,] life he rendered: & the mother at the same time from death's
peril freed; which girl many afterwards we saw
sound & unharmed. A certain Brother of the Order
of Minors, Custodian in Sweden, a man of proven religion
& known to many, [grievously sick,] of all members so great
incurred sickness & so grievous, that himself from the bed,
in which he lay, by no means could move: at the invocation
of S. Eric the glorious Martyr from that most grievous suffering he was freed suddenly, just as he himself before all
on the day of B. Eric, while he was preaching, publicly testified.

[10] To a certain young girl, who as if already
dead to be wrapped after the manner of the faithful had been laid
on the pavement, at the invocation of her parents B.
Eric crying out, [two dead women,] life pristine rendered the clemency
of the Savior. And this miracle by her parents
was publicly divulged. A certain matron
of proven life, for whose soul according to the custom of the Church
the bells had been rung, & the parish Priest
to bless the funeral had been called (just as he himself
& others, who present had been, to us related)
to pristine life rendered Jesus Christ, by the merits of B.
Eric King & Martyr glorious. A certain man
grievously by demons vexed, [a paralytic,] & in all the half
of his body with so grievous paralysis so struck, that
with no offices of members in that part he could use, on account of
the merits of B. Eric & the vows of those standing by, the Lord from the aforesaid
suffering mercifully freed: just as he himself, & those,
who at this miracle stood by, before us firmly
testified. A certain one also drowned recently, &
into the house of a certain one dead carried, [& a drowned one,] by the merits
of the Martyr glorious to pristine life rendered the clemency
of the Creator.

[11] Villages also & houses from grievous perils of fires,
just as the possessors of them to us testified,
the Lord freed by the merits of His Saint. As about the village
of Ekaby evidently appears. [a fire is calmed,] In the year of the Lord one thousand
three hundred third, when Brother Peter of the Order of Preachers
Prior of the province of Dacia, just as he himself to several
Brothers related, from Skeninge, the Provincial Chapter being celebrated
there, intending the lake e Wariter
to cross, & to Skara to set out, when he was at f Alvastra
the monastery of the Order of Cistercians, [& a tempest,] near
the bank of the said lake on account of the too great tempest the aforesaid there
to make a stay was compelled. But the patronage being invoked
of B. Eric, against the hope of all suddenly ceased
the tempest by the suffrage of B. Eric, by the virtue of Him who commands
the winds & the sea: & soon with the greatest tranquility
he crossed that water, which already then to the monks &
the rest others impossible seemed.

[12] In the year of the Lord one thousand three hundred fifth,
the lady Ragaborgh, wife of Lord Fulko in
Fanorium, g in childbirth of her life imperiled, vowed that from
Floritasundh she would go on foot to Uppsala; [to two women in childbirth life is preserved,] & in honor
of S. Eric a talent of wax she would offer, if from the peril of childbirth
& the crisis of death she should be freed. Who soon offspring
brought forth. But the offspring dead seemed to those present,
nor any sign of life in the little body brought forth for hours
many appeared. About which the mother vehemently grieving,
from the virtue & help of the Martyr, which in herself she had felt,
for the lifeless fetus B. Eric's help suppliantly invoked,
that to her abortive one by his intervention vital God might infuse
spirit, that the grace of baptism at least
it might obtain, a special vow making for this grace
to be impetrated. And behold suddenly in the little body, which
seemed lifeless, began the vital spirit to appear: &
the offspring baptism obtained, & Birgitta called for many
years unharmed lived: & the mother for herself & the offspring
the vows made fulfilled. These things to me Brother Israel related
the lady Ragaborgh aforesaid.

[13] A certain matron, while in childbirth she was imperiled,
& of her life despaired; the matrons assisting
her, a vow made to S. Eric, [& the same one is rendered the dead fetuses,] that the Lord
through his merits to the dying one might preserve life, & the laboring one
free from childbirth. Which done the woman bore
altogether dead thus lay, seeing those who were present women
the mother revive, from the virtue of the miracle a greater
in the Lord confidence assuming, by the affection of piety
moved, again a vow vowed to the Lord, that
He who the mother from the peril of death freed, to the daughter for so much
life might give, that the grace of baptism it might obtain.
Which done forthwith is present the virtue of the Lord: & He who into
the face of the First-formed breathed the breath of life; into the little body
of the girl dead & recently born a spirit vivifying
mercifully breathed. [vows to the Saint being made for their baptism.] But seeing already
the said matrons who were present, the vital spirit gradually
through the members of the girl growing up, & her who truly
dead was truly now living; the peril
of death fearing, according to the form of the Church they baptized
the same, the name of Helena imposing on her:
whom after three months sound & unharmed we saw
all, who were witnesses of the miracle. But this miracle
was proven & examined at Aros,
in the church of the Friars Minor, in the presence of the Minister
& Custodian & Abbess of Schogh, the Archdeacon &
Provost, & Lord Jacobus, & several others
Clerics & laymen attesting. These things [I received from] two
matrons worthy of faith & honest, who this miracle
saw, & to this through all were present.

[14] A certain woman in the parish of Hakastum, in
the village which is called Helgister, [An energumen biting off her own tongue,] by the hidden judgment of God into
so great alienation of mind fell, that even her tongue
with her own teeth biting she tore apart,
& herself with her own hands attacking often wished
to kill. Whom her people binding by hands & feet,
also to her mouth, lest to herself or to others she should harm, a piece interposed
in her jaws of wood they put, lest (as has been said)
to herself or to others she should harm, & her tongue with a horrible bite
she should cut off. The Parish Priest therefore from devotion being called,
counsel about this calamity humbly
they ask & require. He indeed, like a discreet man,
to memory recalling, that that glorious
Martyr of the Lord over this suffering to be cured a special
from the Lord grace obtains, just as of many
demoniacs the healings more clearly attest, that B. Eric's
specially in these the help should be required said.
Nor delay the Saint is invoked, [the vow being made she falls asleep,] vows are made to him: & suddenly
the hands of the Lord's mercy upon her. For
the woman who from the vehemence of pain & the vexation of the unclean spirit
before sleep to take could not,
for a little the eyelids being closed fell asleep: &
again the eyes being opened those standing around with a certain lighter
look she beheld, so that it could be weighed from that her
suddenly from the demon to be freed; for those coming before
with so horrible look she terrified, that no doubt
it was that a demon dwelt in her. But those standing around,
astonished on account of so sudden a novelty of the miracle,
nor yet dared to loose her hands, which
before while she suffered scarcely eight men could hold:
but coming to her the aforesaid Priest, says
to her: Daughter, if freed you are from your infirmity, give thanks
to God the most high, [she proves herself freed,] who you through the merits of B. Eric freed; &
this of your liberation to us will be a sign, if now
your eyes to the heavens you will lift: for not yet did they dare
to loose her hands nor her feet, nor the wood interposed
between her jaws to extract, lest to herself or to others
cruelly she should harm. Forthwith she at the command of the Priest
her eyes to heaven directs, the sign of her liberation
by the indications by which she could tearfully manifested.
Her people then loosed her hands. That Priest again,
that more evidently he might experience the certitude of the miracle, again
said to her: Joined hands with eyes to
the heavens lift, again giving thanks: which also she suddenly
the command fulfilled, & through the window of the house looking,
to her Liberator her eyes directed.
A third time then loosing her feet, the wood from her jaws
they extracted. A wondrous thing, stupendous, worthy of a miracle,
& to the memory of posterity to be commended!
For looking into her mouth, [she exhibits a sound tongue,] her tongue, which
before by the bites of teeth torn & consumed
& with blood flowing they had seen, drawing out; so sound
& unharmed & clean they find, that not of any
wound or injury in it a sign or trace utterly
remained. And thus that woman, the use of reason
fully recovered, to pristine was rendered through all
health, [& finally she recovers speech.] except that mute she remained for nearly half
that in her more the Lord wished to glorify
His Saint. For at hand & dawning the day of the passion
of the Martyr glorious, that woman with all her family
to God & His Saint with the whole heart
converted, begged, that just as the use of reason & her tongue
to her healed He had furnished, also the faculty of speaking
mercifully to render He would deign. And behold suddenly,
the bond of her tongue being loosed, she spoke rightly, blessing
God, giving thanks to Him, who her from so many & so great
pains freed, through the merits & invocation
of the Martyr glorious. That miracle publicly was divulged
in the Synod of the Uppsala church.

[15] A certain little boy, Siguattus by name, in
the parish of Willaberghum, of the village Gryllaby, having sickened,
at last to extremities was brought. [two dead are resuscitated] And when by
his kinsman the Priest of the said parish & by his people between
hands he was lifted; & nothing in him of vital heat, motion,
or sense a sign utterly remained; a vow for him being made,
by the merits of B. Eric revived his spirit, & to pristine
was rendered health. A certain man in Aros, in the house
of Lord Windichinus the Merchant, by a grievous infirmity
seized, to death even so far was brought, that
now tongueless made, the eyes closed without sense & motion
for a day he lay lifeless. And when by those standing around
dead he was thought, & sent it had been for his heirs,
that of his funeral the exequies & inheritance
be ordered; the host aforesaid a vow for him sent forth
to the Martyr glorious. And when morning now made
they entered to him, they see living, whom as
dead they had left, erect in the bed sitting, &
addressing them, & giving thanks to God, who him
from death's gates clemently snatched through the merits of the Martyr
glorious. This miracle the said merchant, &
those who were present, in the Uppsala church before the Clergy & people
publicly testified. A certain man dwelling
in the parish of Waxald, [a mute & insane one is cured,] at the same time & suddenly mute & insane
made, so that from fury his own wife grievously
wounding he wished to kill; by his people is seized & bound,
& thus to the church of the Martyr is carried: & when
there for some time he had lain, by the merits of the Saint his sense entire
he received; but he remained mute. And when he persevered
praying, & groans & confused voices frequently
emitted; at last on the night of B. John the Baptist,
while the Te Deum at the matutinal office was being sung, us
standing by & hearing, by the prayers of the Martyr being rendered
to him the office of the tongue, he spoke expeditely & rightly. This
miracle on the following day the aforesaid man in the public station
divulged: & of this all which was present, witness
is the church.

[16] A certain woman in Dalum born, Liva by name,
while of servile work [something] on the Lord's day,
the solemnity being contemned, often she did; [blind until the 20th year] in penalty
of sin suddenly the light of her eyes she lost. Who when several places of the Saints by pilgrimage she had visited that her sight
she might recover; the miracles of B. Eric being heard, she came at last
to the Uppsala church: & there for some time staying
& nothing profiting, when she had withdrawn, admonished in
dreams again she returned. There was at hand then the feast of B. Laurence,
who of the aforesaid is patron of the church, & the year
of the bereavement of that poor little one the twentieth was rolling.
And when amid the sacred vigils before the holy body afflicted
greatly weeping in prayer she passed the night,
& on the following day while in the solemn procession, as
is the custom, [in the carrying of the chest she is illuminated:] the chest of the Martyr around the church reverently
was carried; at the doors of the church before that shrine
with tearful voices the mercy of God & the Martyr's
help prostrate she begged. And behold suddenly opened
were her eyes, breaking forth from the same first a little
blood: & she cried out that she saw all things clearly in
the circuit, & first & chiefly the bier of the Saint. Hence
all the multitude, which then was present, & blind before
had seen, & now illuminated, over so great & so openly
done a miracle glorified the Lord & His Martyr.
But we together with our Chapter, &
other religious men & discreet Clerics, with all the discretion
& solicitude going before we could diligently
examined this miracle, & of the deed done a testimony of the truth
we bear.

[17] In the year of the Lord one thousand two hundred seventy
seventh, this miracle wrought the divine Omnipotence,
by the merits of B. Eric & His Martyr to His
glory, [are healed, one incurably languishing,] this year on the day of Pasch about the first hour in
the Uppsala church, namely that a certain scholar of Helsingia,
who from the feast of B. Martin until Pasch
as if incurable had languished; when the said infirm one,
by the counsel of his domestic, within the door of the Uppsala church
had been carried, to pristine he restored health. To a woman
of the parish of Giristom, who mute had been
for two years, through the merits of His Martyr speech rendered
the grace of the Savior. Henning of Ekby five
days of his life, without words & speech, lay despaired:
he saw in a vision B. Laurence clothed in a h tabard
of gray color, coming to him, & saying: You shall be healed.
And at once the infirm one, all hearing,
burst forth into words, [likewise S. Laurence being invoked one dying,] & afterwards in a short time recovered, &
for the recovered health offered one horse. Catherine
of the parish of Iristum had a foot & part
of the leg i shriveled, so that only the skin without the flesh
of the leg was on it: & by this molestation for three years laboring, unable
she was to work: [& a weak leg.] who for health to be recovered
recovered. And the foot with the leg of wax made
on the feast of B. Laurence personally offered.

NOTES.










CHAPTER III.

Very many sick of madness, fever, pains of heads, eyes, &
other members freed, even a King wasting away. Likewise fires
removed.

[18] The noble man Lord Magnus, of John Angel
the son, when to Uppsala on the feast of the Nativity
of S. Mary to come he was disposing, [A man of the first rank] from Stockholm having set out,
by an excessive infirmity of body suddenly seized, in his court
of Nelleco is prostrated. For three days alienation
of mind suffering, he could speak what he wished:
but for three other days immediately following,
the use of reason full he had, but anything at all to speak
he could not: [after madness mute & refusing food] but for the whole of the aforesaid six days'
time, no food at all or drink he took.
And when as if no hope of his escape seemed,
& about the necessaries for the funeral & exequies it was treated,
Brother Israel the son of his sister, & Lord Haquinus
the Priest of the same, [by the vow of the domestics] & Kanutus his chamberlain,
vowed, that to Uppsala from Flortasundh they would go with bare
feet, if the Lord to the infirm one (of whose life it was despaired)
health to confer would deign, that some words
he could speak, & order for the salvation of his soul
what to himself it pleased. After a little the infirm one somewhat
slumbered; & sooner awakening on the sixth day of so great
sickness, about the vesper hour a little
of some liquor infused into his mouth he swallowed, & speech
at once thus he recovered, that by those standing by it could be understood.
On the morrow however, that is on the day of the Sabbath, to
the Mass of the blessed Virgin into his chapel to be led himself
he caused: & then more words to bring forth he could; [he convalesces,] but what
he wished to say, totally to express he could not. On the following
Lord's day he crossed even to Ullatunir: &
thence on the day of the moon namely on the exaltation of the holy Cross
to Uppsala on pilgrimage he set out; the aforesaid Brother
Israel, Lord Haquinus, & Kanutus fulfilling
the vow which they had made. But Lord Magnus himself, [& barefoot to S. Eric he comes.]
near the brick house of the Friars Minor
from the ship disembarked, at a great space from the Cathedral church
distant: & he who scarcely for a little space
by others' hands to be able to be led was thought, by himself with bare
feet, accompanied by twenty servants & more, similarly
walking, to the relics of B. Eric came: &
there more fully the use of speaking he recovered, & a precious
offered a baldachin to the Martyr glorious. The aforesaid
miracle in the year of the Lord one thousand two hundred
ninety third happened.

[19] Lord Martin, Presbyter of the church of Loristum,
narrated, that a certain parishioner of his, Olaf
by name, a most grievous from the feast of Pasch until the feast
of the blessed Olaf & Eric to visit, [the Presbyter is healed of pain of head] if through their
intervention the Lord to him the desired might grant
health. On the night therefore of B. Olaf, when a little
he slumbered, appeared to him a venerable certain person,
saying to him: Behold sound you have been made, therefore to S. Eric
to come, & one solidus of white money which
you have, to offer you ought. Awaking he, well cured
himself at once felt, & his vow in the year of the Lord one thousand
two hundred ninety fourth on the feast of B.
Laurence devout fulfilled. Of the aforesaid also Lord
Martin the ox falling to the ground, suddenly dead was thought, [& his dying ox is preserved:]
& no in it appeared sign of life, except
that one of its eyes a little palpitated.
But when the servants with knives the feet of the lying one seized,
as a body lifeless about to flay, that for the uses
of men more as if slain, & not as if of itself
dead it might be had apt; the possessor it to B. Eric,
if death it escaped, promised. Cease a little the servants
from the flaying, & the ox to move itself strongly began,
& after a little fully convalescing to B. Eric on
the feast of B. Laurence was offered.

[20] A certain man in the parish of Walom into so great
alienation of mind fell, that with his own hand his throat
to himself horribly he cut across. [likewise the throat being cut one dying,] His neighbors
& kinsmen, at a case so wonderful & miserable
stupefied, the Venerable memory Lord c Fulko
Archbishop of Uppsala, who in the neighborhood
was, approached, consulting & inquiring what about
the body of the wretch they ought to do, whom already dead
they reputed. But he, who of a pious always heart was, & over
the afflicted pious bearing bowels, asked if in him still
that so, although feebly, namely who breathed through
the place of the wound; he admonished them, that a vow for him they should make
to B. Eric, that by his merits to him, who in
the last was set in spirit, [the Archbishop vowing a Mass of S. Eric] the divine compassion's abundance might succor. He also his oratory
soon entering, for the wretch humbly prayers poured
to God, a vow vowing, that if the aforesaid man the peril
of perdition escaped, he himself to the honor of God &
of the said Martyr a Mass solemnly would chant. Which
done the said man his sense recovered the integrity, &
perfect of his body health having obtained in a short time,
on the following feast of B. Eric sound appeared; a sign
of the evident miracle in himself bearing, since on his throat
to the praise & glory of our Lord, & to the extolling
of the proclamation of the Martyr glorious.

[21] In the same year in Jarimtaland a certain boy of four
or five about years, while bare with feet in the summer
time he was walking, [are healed an ulceration of the leg,] a certain thorn his leg
about the ankle of the foot entered. And when
from this the leg miserably swelled, & more miserably
putrefied, so much that the flesh falling away the nerves
& nearly bare bones remained, & to the boy already of death
hung the destruction, nor of medicine to him remedies
succored; his mother sending forth a vow that the thresholds
of B. Eric at Uppsala she would visit, the boy from the peril of death
was freed, & restored to most entire health: who
the vow fulfilling, to Uppsala came on the following Supper
of the Lord, bearing with her one leg of silver, to
the perpetual memory of the miracle perpetrated. These two
miracles were published on the feast of the same Martyr
glorious B. Eric in the Uppsala church, in the presence of the illustrious
King of the Swedes d Magnus, & the lady Queen his wife,
& a great of nobles & people multitude of sex
both, in the year of the Lord one thousand two hundred seventy
seventh. On the same also day came a certain man
worthy of faith, [a swelling of feet,] to Uppsala bearing with him two signs
of feet of wax made, who himself from a swelling of feet miserable, at the invocation of B. Eric, asserted himself freed.
Israel the son of Erlendus, while the schools of Linköping he frequented,
of quartan fevers for three years & a half labored. [a quartan fever.]
But when for the sake of visiting his parents from Ostgotia
he had returned into Sweden, Fulko his uncle of good
memory, then Archdeacon, & afterwards
Archbishop of Uppsala, of the veneration & honor
of B. Eric a zealot chief, commanded him, that for
health to be recovered the body of B. Eric, which then in old
Uppsala rested, he should visit, & there in honor
of the holy Martyr one candle he should offer.
He delivered also to him an Antiphon with a Versicle &
Collect, which of the glorious Martyr frequently to recite
he ought. He therefore, who by a long & grave sickness
nearly had failed, the commands fulfilled, & full a few
afterward elapsed days obtained health.

[22] Of the most glorious King of the Swedes & Goths
Magnus the son e Berger, [Berger the King a boy in peril of life,] an illustrious King, by a grave & long
languor had failed so much, that the flesh consumed
his skin withered, & his tender members scarcely among themselves
cohered together, & no in him vigor of strength
remained. And when thus for a year by moments nearly
single to the setting he seemed to tend, it happened that him
on a certain night suddenly a most grievous gout vehemently
invaded, & so much vexed, that his guards,
of his life utterly despaired, thought him
again dead. But his tutor Lord
Charles Thidhische, then first among the guards of the Royal
body, the human remedies to so great a peril to succor
able distrusting, [by the tutor's vow he convalesces,] to the divine he turned himself help;
& instantly invoking SS. Olaf & Eric Kings
& Martyrs & B. Nicholas the Confessor the patronages,
for the liberation & safety of the King a vow he vowed
whether the offering of the vow to S. Olaf, or to S. Eric, or to B. Nicholas
should be rendered, at once the lot of B. Eric three times
fell. His therefore help he began specially more instantly
to invoke: & behold forthwith was made the hand
of the Lord upon the infirm one, & soon sensibly ceased
the molestation of the gout, & in a short time the whole languor from the royal withdrew
body, & he beyond hope quickly full obtained
health. The aforesaid therefore Lord Charles,
& two other Knights, [as also that one from pain of eyes.] the made for the Lord King vow
fulfilling, in the year of the Lord one thousand two hundred
ninety second on the feast of B. Eric, with the solemn
offering of the Lord King, from Stockholm went on foot
to Uppsala, & in the public station over the aforesaid
benefit of the glorious Martyr of Christ they bore
testimony to the truth. The often-said therefore Lord Charles
from a grave sickness, & a long pain of eyes,
which to him nearly altogether blindness had induced, through B.
Eric was cured, & freed fully: just as he himself
in the aforesaid station before all testified.

[23] A certain noble & devout Lady Helgha,
wife of Lord Roric Birgersson, when twice, just as to a certain
religious she related, the conceived fetus she had aborted, [help is given to one fearing abortion,]
& pregnant again a third time the same to befall her too much
feared; B. Eric heartily she invoked,
promising that if through his merits the Lord her conception
alive to be born would grant, she to B. Eric
one gold piece would offer. In the time therefore opportune
giving, her vow joyfully she fulfilled. When
of an immense fire the voracious flame the wood next to the church
of Gutturum, in the year of the Lord one thousand two hundred
ninety fourth about Pentecost was wasting;
& a strong wind the fire to the houses of the Priest, [a fire is extinguished.]
which scarcely at a stone's throw from the said wood were distant, to approach
made; Lord Nicholas, who then
of that church was Rector, invoked the help of B. Eric,
that the houses of the church from the fire's peril he would free. And
behold soon a contrary wind came, & the flames from the houses
of the Priest repelled; & the court, just as the aforesaid
Lord Nicholas at Uppsala in the Synod narrated, from
that fire unharmed remained. When also the greatest
part of the court of Lord Lidhinnardus of Noroby near Uppsala
had been burned, B. Eric being invoked a great part
of the said court, just as relates the lady Margaret wife
of Lord Lidhinnardus, miraculously was from the fire's peril
freed.

[24] In the year of the Lord one thousand two hundred ninety
ninth, Andrew of Sel for twelve weeks
lying had languished: who a vow being made to B. Eric, [Are cured grievous languors,]
at once when he convalesced, to the thresholds of the blessed Martyr with
an offering without delay came. In the same year Saxo Castellan
of Stockholm, vowed a candle of a talent of wax, &
from a grave infirmity freed, the vow fulfilled. In the same
year Sederius, of the parish of Vaxal, [pain of eyes,] from a grave of eyes
pain asserted himself by the blessed Martyr's merits freed.
Olaf of the parish of Hugddungi about himself
relates assertively, that when he was a boy of seven years, a year
& a half alienation of mind he suffered. [madness of 18 months.] And when
his father & kinsmen thereupon greatly were burdened &
grieved; the father for his infirm son B. Eric's help
attentively implored, promising, that the aforesaid
Olaf his son, if from so miserable a suffering he were freed,
in single years would offer to B. Eric in the time of his life
one solidus. Who soon health full
obtained, & in single years single solidi
putting aside, until the price of one cow he had collected;
one thousand three hundredth on the feast of B. Laurence to B. Eric
offered, & similarly himself to do for the remaining time
of his life thereafter affirmed.

[25] When a strong famine for several years Sweden
had devastated, the rustics the parishes Barling, Spiccaby, &
Akirby inhabiting, in this unanimously most excellently agreed; [a famine of several years,]
that for temperateness of air from the Lord to be impetrated
on three sixth ferias to their single churches devoutly
they would come, & that to B. Eric they would offer one
ear of corn of silver gilded, if through his intervention
the Lord, according to the need of the fields, serenity
& rain might grant opportune. The desired
effect soon they obtained of their vow: & what they had promised,
alacritously they rendered. Related Lord
Ragualdus Puke, that when his wife Lady Catherine,
for twelve weeks grievously had languished, &
by so long a languor thus to extremities had been brought,
that to her now the thumbs were bound, & no seemed hope
of her escape, he himself for the life & safety of her to B. Eric
vowed a pilgrimage, & one baldachin. Soon
she unexpectedly convalesced fully: & he to B. Eric the promised
offered baldachin. A certain Priest by name
Martin, Orningus by nation, Rector of the church
of Egboharade of the Synod of Uppsala, in the year of the Lord
one thousand two hundred ninety third to his church
wishing to return, while he was making the journey, the horse falling
he fell down; & so grievously his head to the root
of a certain tree dashed, [a wound of the head,] that the cap, which he had
on his head, was broken: at last from the ground he rose,
& by a certain Priest into hospitality was received,
where from the preceding fall his sense he lost; &
in mind alienated lying for eight days, no at all
food he took. [& madness thence contracted,] But his host, of the painful
fall of him greatly condoling & compassionating, & of
death fearing, a vow made for him, that if through B. Eric
him the Lord mercifully should heal, he, who
so grievously suffered, of one talent of wax a likeness
of his head would make to be made; & from the place, where then
he lay, to Uppsala on foot going, his offering
personally would present. This done forthwith the suffering one
sound rose, & with his host the same evening
at the common table ate, & the vow for himself
made willingly fulfilled. He & his host, who
for him the vow had made, equally this miracle divulged,
& with an oath of the deed done testimony
rendered.

[26] In the year of the Lord one thousand three hundred sixth,
about the feast of B. Olaf, Benedict, a six-year-old little boy,
son of Olaf Dansca & Ingegerd, [a pestilent swelling;] in the parish
of Wendilwilla Ekeby, after many sicknesses &
diverse convalescences, suddenly about the genitals &
even to the navel was swollen, & the swollen skin was blackened
like a coal: & nothing to the infirm one to remain,
except now the exhalation of spirit, seemed. Under this
calamity went the mother to the church on the Lord's day,
on which was the eve of B. Olaf, not able at home
on account of the vehemence of pain to stay, nor her son then
only one wishing to behold dying; whom from the house
withdrawing, never alive she thought herself again to see again.
Her in the church Lord John the Presbyter
of old Uppsala coming, mournful & with tears
suffused & uncombed in garments noticing, of so great
sadness the cause he asked, & learned from the same: of which
woman the misery was heaped up, that under one whole
year's revolution before four sons & two daughters
she had lost. Consoling therefore the weeping woman the aforesaid
Presbyter, counseled, that in B. Eric confidence
she should put, [the boy dying at the mother's vow,] & him for the safety of her son she should invoke, & to him
She therefore according to the Presbyter's counsel vowed for
her son, that the thresholds of B. Eric, where is the sepulcher of the Martyr
at old Uppsala, in single years she would visit,
& cause to be said one Mass in honor of him, &
the office having been fully heard to her own she returned. To whom the little boy,
whom she as if dying had left, outside
met in the court. But she at the sudden change as one inspired
similar vehemently was astounded, & him in sense
alienated thought; into the lodging she brought him back, & of so
sudden a convalescence the manner more diligently inquired.
But lifting familiarly the garments of the infirm one, & the places
before swollen now without swelling she beheld, & the skin
contracted & wrinkled lying over the injured places.
And when said the mother to her son, What with you has been
done, son? answered he: Just now under your absence supervened
to me a sweet slumber, & in it a certain man in white
to me appeared, & me palpated; & at once with the swelling
the pain me left. [the Saint appearing to him through sleep:] But although the boy, namely
of six years, of the man to him in white appearing more to relate
knew not; yet piously it is believed it was B. Eric, who
under the moment of the little one's convalescence by the mother had been
invoked more devoutly, that to her son he might be for safety.
But the mother with inestimable filled joy, fearing for the infirm one
of a relapse, for a few days him she kept, & the skin
contracted & black, within three days, without of any
medicament & unguent the application, into the natural
color & smoothness beyond hope returned.
On the feast therefore of B. Laurence then next, the woman
with bare feet with her son unharmed came to the sepulcher
of B. Eric, & a Mass for the safety of her son to her rendered
solemnly to be said caused. All the aforesaid premised the aforesaid Ingegerd
to us, Nicholas Archbishop of Uppsala
& many being present, faithfully set forth in the year of the Lord one thousand three hundred tenth, on the day of the Consecration
of the church of Vendil, in whose church's parish this
miracle was perpetrated.

[27] Relates Lord John the Presbyter of old
Uppsala, that the wife of a certain miller in his parish
from a grave languor through the invocation of B. Eric
was cured, [a grave languor,] about the year of the Lord one thousand three hundred
sixth or seventh. When Torstanus the smith
at Farryngor a wagon laden with hay from the meadow to
his own would lead; his son a little boy, namely
his third year of age passing, to meet his father running, [a boy crushed by a cart]
incautiously slipped down beside the cart. When the father
the cart was driving, utterly ignorant about the boy, he heard
of the cart passed, & him miserably crushed.
The father at the single sound of the little one, while the first
wheel over him passed, was stupefied: & what
it was, which he had heard ignorant, suddenly the horses drawing
the cart to stand he made. Looking back, behind the wagon
of hay, the crushed little body he saw, in which
no sign of life appeared, in his bosom he put,
& into his own house nearby carried.
O good Jesus! what then could be the paternal heart
in the miserable case of his little son thus extinguished? There comes
meanwhile to his mind, & among these straits he began to invoke
B. Eric King & Martyr's help, whom he had heard
in succoring the wretched prompt equally &
prepared. And when against hope a vow he had made for
the boy to the holy Martyr, who extinguished seemed &
crushed in members, behold suddenly he revived, & unharmed
in his whole body afterward for a long time lived. Done
was this miracle in the year of the Lord one thousand
three hundred eighth. This to me Brother Israel
& several worthy of faith others the father of the boy faithfully narrated.

[28] In the year of the Lord one thousand three hundred tenth,
on the eve of B. Eric, when Lord f Nicholas
the Archbishop after Compline from the church had returned
into his chamber, suddenly by a fever is seized, [the Archbishop pressed by a fever once] on the bed
is prostrated, all that night by the force of fevers most vehemently
is vexed even near sunrise, & he thought
himself never from Uppsala to withdraw. But when
he distrusted himself on the day of B. Eric from the bed to rise to be able,
he invoked the help of B. Eric, vowing, that if by his merits
he were relieved only so much that he could on that day the solemnities of Masses
to perform, for the rest the Martyr's memory in
his Matin & Vesper hours always he would have. And
behold soon by slumber seized, to sweat much he began, &
within the third hour thus health & strength beyond hope
forthwith he recovered, that on that day Mass solemnly
he celebrated, & other things which his office required he could
perform competently: & for that time altogether
left him the fever. This he himself before many personally
on the day of B. Eric in the solemn station, to God's &
the Martyr's glory, narrated. When also in the year of the Lord
one thousand three hundred eleventh set
at his manor Akir, [& again:] from Uppsala on the feast of the said
Martyr himself to absent he was disposing, by a vehement infirmity
suddenly seized, with all celerity to the said
feast he hastened, & soon the infirmity escaped. Relates
Lord John the Presbyter of old Uppsala,
that a certain one of Philin passing to Uppsala
suddenly swelled too much, & by gout grievously vexed, [a podagra cured,]
so much that of his life it was despaired. But
carried to Olaf in Fulredhum, a vow for him being made to B.
Eric, soon he convalesced.

[29] When a great fire a granary, which was a house
large & to other lodgings neighboring, in the court of Lady
Margaret in Wixstadum, the relict of Lord
Roridh, [fires repressed] was burning, & the flame was spreading vehemently;
Lady Margaret, fearing that the whole court
would be devastated by the fire, invoked the patronage of B.
Eric, vowing herself to the Martyr one mark of pure [gold]
about to offer, if by his merits the Lord to so great a peril
as if by a certain hidden force, to the other part was turned;
nor the houses contiguous injured in anything the fire,
nor devastated. Happened this benefit of the Saint in the year
of the Lord one thousand three hundred tenth, on the fifth feria
before the feast of B. Eric, which the said Lady Margaret
to God's & the Martyr's glory on the feast of B. Eric before
several worthy of faith faithfully narrated. In the same year
on the night of B. Eric the court of Oridgerus in the village Ladhum,
of the parish of Knyffta, which was situated in the middle of the village,
when the courts of others on each part were burning,
at the invocation of the Martyr the fire altogether did not touch,
nor in anything injured. This before Lord
the Archbishop & several to us related Lord
Edmund, Rector of the church of Odimshargha.

[30] In the same year on the fifth feria next before the feast
of B. Eric, a certain noble girl by name Christina,
daughter of Lord Harald Arilgh, by a grave infirmity
in Halkqui labored, so that for ten days no
at all she had taken food. When therefore of death
the crisis greatly she feared, she caused to be called to her Fr. Israel
Prior of Sigtuna her cousin, who then
with Lord Nicholas the Archbishop in Fundhboharradhe
was: [A sick Woman] whom to her coming she asked, that
on the morrow he would return, & her Confession would hear, &
to her the Sacraments ecclesiastical would minister, & her
would make a testament. Who returning to the lying one
on the morrow morning, when to her he wished to approach:
behold he saw the handmaid ministers of the girl groaning, &
weeping, & saying: After from her you withdrew yesterday
at the ninth hour, she nothing has spoken except a few words as if
out of her senses in the night. He approached therefore to the place,
exploring if some words to bring forth she could. There approached
also the maidservants, touching & moving her,
& requiring if anything to speak she was able, at least any
word. But she strongly moved, neither her eyes opened,
nor a word any brought forth. All therefore who were present,
not only of the life of the sick one despaired; but
also that neither the Sacraments to receive, nor could
make a testament. Withdrawing therefore into the court
Brother Israel, vehemently grieving that she without the Sacraments
& testament seemed about to migrate from the body, [about to die without the Sacraments]
was afflicted in mind, that her he had not confessed,
& that to her the Sacraments he had not ministered, &
the testament made on the preceding day. He wished
therefore soon the said of the blessed Virgin Mass to withdraw, &
convoking to himself Lady Raguildis, wife of Lord
Benedict Boson, the aunt of the sick one, & Lord
Styrgerus the parish there Presbyter, &
Lord Jacobus the Priest, he informed them
how the funeral should be wrapped, & how & where it should be entombed,
& how the funerals should be done, & the rest of this kind
to the business opportune. There was present someone, who
suggested: Let a vow be made for her to B. Eric, that
if better she has, [by the vow of her people,] she on foot would make a pilgrimage to
the thresholds of the Saint, & offer a baldachin. Consent
Lady Raguildis & Brother Israel: & when he wished to go
to celebrate Mass, came a hasty servant calling
the often-said Brother to the one despaired of life
before. And then he amazed at the unhoped-for benefit,
with joy approached to her. Says she with a clear voice: Now
better I have, & food I desire, & I hope in a short time
fully to convalesce. But he said: First Confession
make, & the Lord's Body receive, [she suddenly convalesces:] & thus
take food. For the said Brother feared, lest
suddenly growing strong again the disease should extinguish her;
because sometimes are wont food to ask or receive
forthwith those dying. He said also: Now a Mass
of S. Eric I will celebrate, & thus your Confession
I will hear, & other things, which to the salvation of your soul
pertain, we will do. The Mass therefore being celebrated, & heard
her Confession, & ministered to her the sacred Communion,
& the testament made, she took food, &
under a wonderful celerity fully convalesced & perfectly. [formerly also from a quartan freed.]
She also said herself by a vow to B. Eric made from a quartan,
by which for a year & a half she had labored, the glorious
Martyr's patronage before to have been freed.

NOTES.







APPENDIX

Two miracles afterward wrought & by a more recent hand inscribed.

Eric, King of Sweden (St.)

BHL Number: 2597, 2598

[31] In the year of the Lord one thousand four hundred
third, on the translation of S. Eric, a certain Rowan
Andrissem of the parish of Wikungaker, of the village
Barkasartir, [Speech given to the mute.] before the Dean & certain Canons
of Uppsala, his son of ten years presented;
which son he said to have been altogether mute until
the sixth year of his age: for whom a vow he made to S.
Eric, that with his son & an offering he would visit S. Eric:
& soon was broken the bond of long silence, &
the boy within a quarter of the year perfect use of speaking
according to his age's possibility received. In the year of the Lord
one thousand four hundred eleventh, on the eve
of S. Eric, a certain Hanes Walterssem of the parish of Fasta,
who for a year & a half speech & hearing
after a most grievous infirmity had lost, speech
& hearing recovered in the meadow of Moraaring,
making a pilgrimage to the thresholds of B. Eric; & it was then the seventh
day after the vow of pilgrimage sent forth.

THE SEQUENCE

From a very old Missal.

Eric, King of Sweden (St.)

Let us give thanks with sweet prose,
The glorious praise of Eric
      Let it come forth into the midst.

From a generous root
Is transplanted a verdant rose
      To the royal throne.

The affairs of the kingdom being ordered,

The Saint goes with armed men
      To the lands of the infidels.

Of those dead in their sins
With a wondrous motion of piety
      He weeps the slaughter of the enemies.

Just in judgment,
Frequent in fasting,
      His limbs he wore down
With a rough haircloth:
A fervid devotion
      His mind inflamed.

Depraved men conspiring,
And into the death machinating
      Of the King unanimously,
Stir up an unforeseen war:
The King slain Paradise
      Enters felicitously.

From the dead recalled
To the mother alive he renders the daughter,
      And heals the woman in childbirth:
To one with five wounds wounded,
Now of life despaired,
      He gives prosperous health.

Happy he by whose grace
The demons are put to flight,
      The blinded see,
The contracted is raised up,
And the drowned is rendered
      To full health.

A vow's promise being made
He renders voice to the Priest,
      And to the infant a leg:
At once between the Brothers' hands
The Friar Minor rises sound,
      After a long misery.

Sense he renders to the woman,
Who scarcely to be seized or held
      Could be for fury.
O how they prove the Saint of God,
And confirm the faith of the matter
      So great marvels!

Therefore to the marvelous King
Praise with a joyful song
      Let it be frequented:
Whose enjoying Uppsala
By the salutary presence
      Let it be gladdened.

Thou, King of the Swedes, Eric,
Great Martyr & friend
      Of God, by sedulous prayer
Amend us venerating thee,
And recommend us to Him,
      Who reigns forever.
