their own Tongue Here here here neither did it cease to cry out in the same Words till it had brought them to the Place And to add to the Wonder there they found a mighty and fierce Wolf which with its Fore-feet held the Head as if appointed to watch and defend it from other Beasts When they were come the Wolf quietly resigned it to them so with joyful Hymns to God they carried and joyn'd it to the Body the Wolf in the mean time following it to the Place where they buried it after which the Beast returned into the Wood In all which time neither did the Wolf hurt any one neither did any one shew the least Intention to hurt the Wolf. F. Cressey's Church History P. 734 735 736. A Monk Divinely punished for his neglect to venerate the Holy Cross. A Monk of Glastenbury named Ailsi refusing to bow as others did to a Crucifix at last either out of Compunction or by Command of his Superior he bowed himself but a Voice proceeding from the Image said these words distinctly Now too late Ailsi now too late Ailsi Which Voice so affrighted him that falling down he presently expired St. Dunstan's Miracles ONce upon a time a mighty Beam from the top of the Church threatning the Destruction of many by its fall St. Dunstan with his Right hand making the sign of the Cross lift it up again Further As this Saint was praying one Night the Devil assails him in the shape of a Bear and endeavoured with his Teeth to snatch the Staff out of his Hands upon which the Man of God leaned he unaffrighted lifts up his Staff and followed the horrid Monster beating him and singing these words Let God arise and let his Enemies be scattered And the Ugly Phantasm vanished A Miracle to assert the Real Presence WHen St Odo was celebrating the Mass in the presence of certain of the Clergy of Canterbury who maintained that the Bread and Wine after Consecration do remain in their former substance and are not Christ's true Body and Blood but a Figure of it When he was come to Confraction presently the Fragments of the Body of Christ which he held in his hands began to pour forth blood into the Chalice Whereupon he shed tears of joy and beckning to them that wavered in their Faith to come near and see the wonderful Work of God as soon as they beheld it they cryed out O holy Prelate to whom the Son of God has been pleased to reveal himself visibly in the Flesh pray for us that the Blood we see here present to our Eyes may again be chaâ—ged but for our Unbelâ—ef the Divine Vengeance fall upon us he prayed accordingly after which looking into the Chalice he saw the Species of Bread and Wine where he had left Blood. How our Saviour let St. Wittekundus know the Worthy and Vnworthy Receivers St. Wittekundus in the Administration of the Eucharist saw a Child enter into every ones Mouth playing and smiling when some received him and with an abhorring Countenance when he went into the Mouths of others Christ thus shewing this Saint in his Countenance who were Worthy and who Unworthy Receivers St. Wereburga's Wild-Goose Miracle THE Memory of Wâ—lfere King of the Mercians received a great lustre from the wonderful Sanctity of his Daughter St. Wereburga Who after her Father's Death undertook a Religious Profession and by her Brother was persuaded to accept the Government of three Monasteries of Religious Virgins Frickingham since called Trent in Staffordshire Wedum and Hamburgh in Northamtonshire In this Station she not only found due Obedience from her Devout Daughtersâ— but even Irrational and Wild Creatures became subject to her Commandâ— as if by her Sanctity she had recovered that Empire which Man enjoy'd in his Primitive Innocence This will be made appear by her banishing from her Territory great flocks of Wild Geese for their Importunity and wastful Devouring her Corn and other Fruits The manner of it was as followeth There was near the Walls of the Town a Farm belonging to the Monastery the Corn whereof was much wasted by Flocks of wild Geese which the Steward of the place endeavouredâ— but in vain to chase away of which incommodity he made complaint to the Holy Virgin Whereupon she commanded him saying Go your ways and shut them all up in a House He wondering at so strange a Command thought the Saint spoke those words in jest But when she renew'd the same Injunction constantly and in a serious manner he returned amongst the Corn where seeing great numbers of such Fowl devouring the Grain he with a loud voice commanded them in his Mistrisses name to follow him Hereupon immediately they all in one Drove follow'd him and were shut up together in a House Now it hapned that a certain Servant privately stole one of the same Birds which he hid with intention to eat it The next morning early the Holy Virgin went to the House where after she had in a Chiding manner reprehended the Birds for usurping that which belonged not to them she commanded them to flâ—e away and not return Immediately the whole Army of them took wing but being sensible of the injury done them they flew not away but hovering over the Holy Virgins head with wonderful noise made complaint of their loss She hearing their importunate Clamours understood by Inspiration the cause thereof and after search made the Offender confessed his Theft whereupon she commanded the Bird to be restored to her Companions After which they all with one consent flew away so as that not any Bird of that kind was afterwards seen in that Territory And William of Malmsbury affirms That the stolen Bird was kill'd and again restored to life by the Saint F. Cressi's Church History p. 427. Of St. Justinian's being beheaded and of his crossing the Seas on foot afterwards with his Head in his hand St. Iustinian was born of a Noble Family in Lesser Britany where after having spent his Youth in Study and Learning he received the Order of Priesthood Then he travelled and at length came to an Island then called Lemency now Ramsy Afterwards he became St. David's Confessor and a mighty Promoter of Christianity This set the Devil to work against him and by that Enemy of Mankind's Instigation three of this holy Mans Servants who had been reprov'd by him for their Idleness and mispending their time rusht upon him threw him to the ground and most cruelly cut off his Head. But in the place where the sacred Head fell to the ground a Fountain of pure Water presently flow'd by drinking of which in following times many were miraculously restored to health But Miracles greater than these immediately succeeded his death For the Body of the blessed Martyr presently rose and taking the Head between the two Arms went down to the Sea shore and walking thence on the Sea passed over to the Port called by his Name and
Peter asked him if he had any Provision Who answered that partly being stupified with seeing so great a Light and partly detained by his return he had taken nothing being withal assured of a good Reward from him hereto the Apostle replyed Let down thy Net The Fisher man obeyed and immediately the Net was filled wâ—â—h a multitude of Fishes They were all of the same kind except one Salmon of a wonderful largeness Having then drawn them to shoar St. Peter said Carry from me this great Fish to Militus the Bishop and all the rest take for thy hire And moreover be assured That both Thou all thy life-time and thy Children after thee for many years shall be plentifully furnished with those kind of Fishes only be careful that you fish not on the Lord's Day I who speak now with thee am Peter And I my self have Dedicated this Church built to my Fellow-Citizens and to my Honour so preventing by my own Authority 〈◊〉 Episcopal Benediction Acquaint the Bishop therefore with the things that thou hast seen and heard and the Signs yet marked in the Wall will confirm thy Speeches Let him therefore â—urcease from his Design of Consecrating the Church and only supply what I have omitted The Celebration of the Mystery of Our Lord's Body and Blood and the Instruction of the People Let him likewise give notice to all That I my self will oftentimes visit this Place and be present at the Prayers of the Faithful and will open the Gates of Heaven to all that live Sâ—berly Iustly and Piously in this World. And as soon as he had said this he presently vanished from his sight The next Morning as the Bishop Militus was going in procession to the Church with an intention to Dedicate it the Fisher-man met him with the Fâ—sh and related to him whatsoever St. Peter had injoin'd him at which the Bishop was astonished and having unlocked the Church-door he saw the Pavement marked with Letters and Inscriptions both in Greek and Latin and the Walls anointed in twelve several places with holy Oyl He saw likewise the remainder of twelve Torches sticking on as many Crosses and the Church every-where yet moist with Aspersions All which being observed by the Bishop and People present they rendered praise and thanks to Almighty God. The same Author relates That the Children of this Fisher-man having received a command from their Father of paying the Tythes of all their Gain by fishing and offer'd them to St. Peter and the Priests attending Divine Service in this Church But one amongst them having presumed to defraud the Church of this presently was deprived of the wonted benefit of his Trade till having conâ—est his Fault and restored what he had reserved he promised amendment for the future William of Malmsbury adds to this Story That the Fisher-man who was very simple and as yet not a Christian discovered to the Bishop very exactly the Shapes and Lineaments of St. Peter well known to the Bishop by his Picture publickly extant at Rome In the Year 635. says Father Cressy S. Bâ—rinus being advised by Pope Hâ—norius to repair into Britany for the Conversion of the West-Saxons does assert this Apostolick Mission of S. Birinus our Lord to have been approved by a Divine Miracleâ— and for the truth of his Assertion quotes Baronius who cites for it as he says William of Malmsbury Huntingdon Florentius Mathew of Westminster c. I have thought expedient saith he to describe here out of the Acts of St. Birinus a wonderful Miracle beseeming an Apostolick Man which is omitted by St. Beda It was thus The Holy Man being arrived to the Shore of the British Sea and ready to take Ship celebrated the Divine Mysteries offering to God the Sacrifice of the Saving Host as a Viaticum for himself and Followers After which the Season being proper he was hastily urged to enter the Ship and the Wind serving them they sailed speedily when on the sudden Birinus called to mind that he had lost a thing infinitely precious to him which by the urging hast of the Seamen having his mind other ways busied he had left behind him at Land. For Pope Honorius had bestowed on him a Pall or Corporal upon which he consecrated the Body of our Lord and afterward used to wear it in a Particle of the said Sacred Body which he hung about his Neck and always carried with him but when he celebrated Mass he was wont to lay it by him upon the Altar Armed therefore with Faith he by Divine Inspiration went down from the Ship into the Sea and walk'd securely upon it to the Shore Where finding what he had left behind he took it and in like manner returned to the Ship which he found standing still immoveable whereas a little before he had left it sailing extreme swiftly When he was entred into the Ship not one drop of water appeared on his Cloaths which the Mariners seeing kneel'd before him and worshipped him as a God and many of them by his Preaching were converted to the Faith of Christ. How St. Edmund's Head was miraculously found and interred with his Body St. Edmund King of the East-Angles having had his Army under the Command of the valiant Count Walketule routed by the Danes in the time of their Invasion of this Island that Pious King was likewise after some farther Opposition taken by them and being tied to a Tree by order of their General was first most cruelly whipped and then those Barbarians did as it were in sport so pierce with their Darts his whole Body in all places that in a short time there was not left place for a new Wound yet he willingly sustaining all these Torments for the Faith of Christ and Defence of his Countrey they cut off his Head. But the Rage and Malicious Fury of those Pagans not ceasing after they had thus slain King Edmund but casting out his Body despightfully they kept the Head to revenge themselves yet further on the Tongue which had so constantly sounded forth the Name of Christ and after they had used all manner of Contemptuous Scorns upon it they cast it into a secret place in a thicket of a Wood adjoining lest the Christians should venerate it and decently bury it with the Body There it remained a whole years space after which the Pagans retiring out of the Countrey the first care of the Christians was to honour their Holy King and Martyr Assembling themselves therefore together out of their lurking Places they reverently took his Body out of the unclean Place where it had been cast and then with all diligence sought for the Head. And whilst every one of them with equal Affection searched each corner of the Wood there hapned a Wonder not heard of in any Age before For whilst they dispers'd themselves in all parts and each one demanded of his Companions where it was that the Danes had cast the Head the same Head answered them aloud in
being arriv'd in the place where a Church is new built to his memory it fell down and was there buried by St. David with spiritual Hymns and Canticles In which Church our Lord vouchsafes frequently to attest the Sanctity of his Servant by many Miracles F. Cressi's Church-History p. 234. How S. Ositha walk'd when dead with her Head in her hands and knock'd at a Church-door St. Ositha was Daughter of a Mercian Prince named Frithwald and of Wilterburga Daughter of Pende King of the Mercians She was bred up in great Piety and through her Parents Authority became Wife to Sighere Companion of S. Seb. in the Kingdom of the East Angles But preferring the Love of a heavenly Bridegroom before the Embraccs of a King her Husband complied with her Devotion and moreover not only permitted her to consecrate her self to our Lord but bestowed on her a Village situated near the Sea called Chic where building a Monastery she enclosed her self And after she had spent some time in the service of God it hapned that a Troop of Danish Pirats landed there who going out of their Ships wasted and burnt the Countrey thereabout using all manner of Cruelty against the Christian Inhabitants Then he who was the Captain of that impious Band having learnt the Condition and Religious Life of the blessed Virgin St. Ositha began by Entreaties and Presents to tempt her to Idolatry adding withal Threats of Scourging and other Torments if she refused to adore the gods which he worshipped But the Holy Virgin despising his Flatteries and not fearing his Threats made small account of the Torments attending her Whereupon the said Captain enraged at her Constancy and scorn of his Idols pronounced Sentence of Death against her commmanding her to lay down her Head to be cut off And in the same place where the Holy Virgin suffered Martyrdom a clear Fountain broke forth which cured several kinds of Diseases As soon as her Head was off the Body presently rose up and taking up the Head in the hands by the conduct of Angels walked firmly the straight way to the Church of the Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul about a quarter of a Mile distant from the place of her suffering And when it was come there it knocked at the Door with the bloody hands as desiring it might be opened and thereon left marks of Blood. Having done this it fell there down to the ground now her Parents having heard of her death earnestly desired as some recompence for their loss to enjoy the comfort of burying with them her headless Body which being brought to them they Interred it in a Coffin of Lead in the Church of Aylesbury where many Miracles were wrought by her Intercession At length her sacred Reliques by a Divine Vision were translated thence back again to the Church of Chic which Maurice Bishop of London reposed in a precious Coffer at which time the Bishop of Rochester then present was cured of a grievous Infirmity F. Crâ—ssâ—'s Church-History p. 424. The History of St. Claire a Martyr to Chastity St. Claire by Birth an English-man of a veâ—y Noble Descent and Illustrious for his outward Comeliness inward natural Endowments singular Piety rare Chastity Being at years of maturity his Parents would have matcht him to a Noble and Beautiful Virgin But to preserve his Virginal Purity on his very Marriage-day he stole away into France where he espous'd an Hermit's life and spent his days in strict Exercises of Piety But the Enemy of Man's salvation could not long support the brightness of Divine Graces shining in this Saint to obscure which he inflamed with Lust the Mind of a certain Noble-woman dwelling near who immediately attempted to expugn the Chastity of the Servant of God But St. Claire resolutely resisted the shameless Lady notwithstanding which resistance when her Sollicitations more increased he was forced for his own quietness and liberty to forsake his Monastery The lascivious Woman desperately enraged with his departure sent two Murderers in search of him who at last found him in a poor Cottage where he had fixed his Habitation with one onely Companion named Cyrinus There they first set upon him with many opprobrious Speeches and at last drawing out their Swords they most cruelly cut off his Head whil'st he devoutly kneeling offered his Sacrifice of Chastity to our Lord the Lover of pure Minds and Patron of Innocence This glorious Champion of Chastity being thus victorious by Patience presently after arose and with his hands taking up his Head by the assistance of Angels carried it to a Fountain not far distant into which he cast it and then carried the same back to the Oratory of his Cell and going on a little further towards a Village seated near the River Epta which since took a new Name from this glorious Martyr he there consummated his Course and transmitted his blessed Soul to Heaven As for his Companion Cyrinus he being first dangerously wounded was by the Prayers of St. Clarus wonderfully restored to health The distinct place where this holy Martyr suffered is said to be in the Territory near Rouen in Normandy near the River Seyne S. Decumanus does himself wash his own Head after it was cut off St. Decumanus born of Noble Parents in the South-western parts of Wales forsaking his Countrey the more freely to give himself to Mortification and Devotion passed the River Severne upon a Hurdle of Rods and retired himself into a mountainous vast Solitude covered with Shrubs and Bryars where he spent his Life in the repose of Contemplation till in the end he was slain by a Murderer But it so hapned that when his Head was cut from his Body the Trunk raising it self up took the Head which it carried from the place where he was slain to a Spring not far off which flowed with a most chrystal Water in which with the Hands it washed the Blood away which Spring in memory of the Saint is to this day called St. Decumansis's Spring near to which place the Body together with the Head was Honourably buried by the neighbouring Inhabitants F. Cressi's Church-History p. 526. S. Ruadanus and S. Finnian Counterâ— Miracle one another St. Ruadanus obtained this special favour of God that from a certain Tree in his Cell Tilia it's call'd from the hour of Sun-setting till Nine a Clock the next Day dropt a Liquor of a peculiar taste pleasing to every Palate which then fill'd a Vessel which sufficed for a Dinner for him and all his Brotherhood and from Nine a Clock to Sun-setting it dropt half a Vessel fullâ— with which Strangers were entertained Upon the fame of this Miracle many of the Saints came to St. Finnian desiring him to go along with them to that place and persuade Ruadanus to live a Life common with others St. Finnian went with them and when they came to the Tree that gave the admirable Liquor he sign'd it with