He was a monk at St. Bertin’s, and with his abbot entertained king
Alfred in that abbey when that prince was going to Rome. This king,
afterward by the advice of Eldred archbishop of Canterbury, sent
messengers to St. Bertin’s to invite Grimbald over into England,
where he arrived, Hugh being twelfth abbot of that monastery, in
the year 885. Asserius, a monk of Menevia or St. David’s, whom king
Alfred honored with his particular esteem, and who was afterward
bishop of Shireburn, was one of these messengers.
The Oxonian writers tell us that Grimbald was appointed first
professor of divinity at Oxford, when he is said to have founded
that university; and that Asserius, John Erigena, and St. Neot
taught there at the same time. The learned Mr. Hearne says not only
that Grimbald built St. Peter’s church in the East, but also that
the eastern vault of his ancient structure is standing to this day,
of which he gives a plan. Upon the death of Eldred archbishop of
Canterbury, king Alfred pressed Grimbald to accept that dignity; but
was not able to extort his consent, and was obliged to allow him to
retire to the church of Winchester. King Alfred’s son and successor
Edward, in compliance with his father’s will, built the New Minstre
close to the old, in which he placed secular canons, says Tanner,
and appointed St. Grimbald abbot over them; this title being then
given to a superior of secular or regular priests. About sixty years
after, bishop Ethelwolph brought in monks in place of those secular
canons. King Henry I. removed this monastery of New Minstre out of
the walls of the city to the place called Hide, which still continued
sometimes to be called St. Grimbald’s monastery. The body of the
great king Alfred was removed by his son from the Old Minstre, and
that of his queen Alswithe from the nunnery of Nunnaminstre, and
deposited together in the New Minstre, afterward in Hide-Monastery.
Nunnaminstre was founded by king Alfred, or rather by his queen
Alswithe. St. Edburge, a daughter of king Edward, was a nun, and,
according to Leland, abbess there. St. Grimbald in his last sickness,
though extremely feeble, gathered strength when the sacred viaticum
was brought, rose out of bed, and received it prostrate on the
ground. After this he desired to be left alone for three days, which
he spent in close union of his heart with God. On the fourth day the
community was called into his chamber, and amidst their prayers the
saint calmly breathed forth his happy soul on the 8th of July in
the year 903, of his age eighty-three. His body was reposed in this
church, and honored amongst its most precious relics. It was taken up
by St. Elphegus, and exposed in a silver shrine. See his life written
by Goscelin, monk of St. Bertin’s; Capgrave; Leland, Collect. t. 1,
p. 18. John Yperius in Chron. S. Bertini; Molan. in Natal. Sanct.
Belgii; Hearne, Præf. in Lelandi Collect. t. 1, p. 28, t. 2, p. 217,
and Præf. in Thomæ Caii Vindicias Oxon. contra Joan. Caium Cantabrig.
p. 27. Woode Ant. Oxon. t. 1, p. 9.