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Life of St Wilfrid
Eddius Stephanus, tr. Colgrave, 1927
2. End of the First Miracle: How He Chose God in His Boyhood
During his boyhood he was obedient to his parents and beloved of all men, fair in appearance, of good parts, gentle, modest and firm, with none of the vain desires that are customary in boyhood; but “swift to hear, slow to speak,” as the Apostle James says: he always ministered skilfully and humbly to all who came to his father’s house, whether they were the king’s companions or their slaves, even as the prophet says, “all shall be taught by the Lord.” At last, however, when fourteen years of age, he meditated in his heart leaving his father’s fields to seek the Kingdom of Heaven. For his step-mother (his own mother being dead) was harsh and cruel; but he obtained arms and horses and garments for himself and his servants in which he could fitly stand before the royal presence. So, when his father had blessed him as Isaac did Jacob, and Jacob his sons, in order that their seed might grow into many thousands of peoples, he made his way to Oswiu’s queen, Eanfled by name, and, being recommended by nobles whom he had once ministered to in his father’s house, he was presented to her. At once, by the help of God, he found grace in her sight. For he was comely in appearance and exceedingly sharp of wit; so that his request, that he might be allowed to serve God under her counsel and protection, was granted.
At that time there was a certain nobleman among the king’s companions named Cudda, one of his truest friends, who resolved, owing to a paralytic infirmity, to despise worldly ambitions, preferring to take to the monastic life with its regular discipline, on the island of Lindisfarne. So this same queen earnestly commended the boy who had just come to her, to Cudda, to minister to him and to serve God. The boy fulfilled the task appointed by the queen with such earnest solicitude that his master and all the older monks loved him like a son and his equals like a brother, because with a loving heart he sought to live the full monastic life in all humility and obedience. He learned the whole Psalter by heart as well as several books. So, although his head was still untonsured, yet he served God in purity and circumcision of heart. He therefore deserved to receive a share of the blessing which Samuel received when he ministered to Eli the priest.