Eadmær, ninth abbot

The appointment of Eadmær as abbot, his birth, character and death

Abbot Eadmar. He was a holy, gentle man, quite learned in sacred letters, and known for integrity in the cloister and the world. But, just like Solomon, Eadmar was not so pleasing to God and the martyr that it was actually he himself who built and completed the house of the martyr, which his predecessor had vigorously first begun. However Eadmar did not squander or use up the money and materials acquired and assembled by Ealdred for the building of a church.

In the time of this abbot, some excavators were examining the ruined walls and things they found hidden in the earth there, when in the middle of the ancient city they dug up the foundations of a huge palace. While they were admiring the remains of these massive buildings, they found in a hole in a wall, along with some less important books and rolls, the manuscript of a work unknown to them which had suffered little damage from its long stay in the hole, where it had been placed as if in a book cupboard. It was so old that neither its letters its language could be deciphered by anybody who could then be found to examine it. But it was lovely to look at, and the writing was clear. The headings and titles shone out from its pages, being clothed in letters of gold. Its oaken boards and silk bindings still retained to a large extent their original strength and beauty.

The book containing the passion and history of St Alban in the time of the aforesaid abbot found in a wall

The monks searched far and wide with great thoroughness for someone who could read this book, and at last they found one old man, a decrepit priest called Unwona, who had a deep knowledge of the letters and languages of different cultures, and who read out distinctly so that all could hear what was written in the book. In similar fashion he read without hesitation and translated accurately the other codices found in the same cupboard and the same building. The script was that customarily used at the time when the city of Verulamium had inhabitants, and the language was the one used at that time by the ancient Britons.