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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A10829	The admirable life of Saint VVenefride virgin, martyr, abbesse. Written in Latin aboue 500. yeares ago, by Robert, monke and priour of Shrewsbury, of the ven. Order of S. Benedict. Deuided into two bookes. And now translated into English, out of a very ancient and authenticall manuscript, for the edification and comfort of Catholikes. By I.F. of the Society of Iesus	Robert, Prior of Shrewsbury, d. 1167.; Falconer, John, 1577-1656.; Baes, Martin, engraver.	1635 (1635)	STC 21102; ESTC S115985	37,470	252

for them which I do promise to do for you my beloued deare Children after Christ shall take me vnto him And whereas said she to other worldly soules vnwilling to dye and fearefull to behold the face of their high ludge whome they are guilty in their liues grieuously to haue offended Death commeth as a cruell iaylor to breake down their mortery houses and to drag them forcibly vnto him So to holy Soules he euer cōmeth as a welcom guest and therefore findeth the dore of their hart open to receaue him like vnto men expecting the returne of their Lord from his hea she with a glad patience to goe to her heauenly Spouse silently sustayned often and earnestly beseeching him not to let the infernall Enemy be frightfull vnto her in her last agony And finding by her much weaknes forces decayed that her dissolution approached she called for the Saint her Confessor to receaue the diuine Sacrament of him as a safe protection in so dreadfull a passage And behoulding her sisters kneeling round about her and grieuing aboue measure to loose her presence no lesse comfortable then profitable vnto them Deare Children said she grieue not so I beseech you at my happines thus approaching but reioyce rather with me that I shall fully now enioy him in heauen whome in earth heere I haue loued Treade also so neerely as you can my footesteps by seruing him as I haue done contemning for his sake such baites and base pleasures as the world can affoard you Let your promised fayth to him be inuiolably obserued who by his mercyes and merits is only able to bring you comfortably to this passage and eternally to crowne you Cōceaue your bodies though youthfull and faire to be as truly they are but loathsome prisons of your soule and mortery houses apt if you take not heed to pollute defile you and persuade your selues assuredly that so miserable a world as this is and full of temptations can yield no true happines or pleasures without daungers vnto you To others also that came to visit her she ceased not at times as her voyce would serue to giue profitable aduises aboue all that they should be ready for that passage which herselfe then was entring into and to spend their liues in such sort as they might receaue comfort when that moment should approach on which Eternall weale or woe dependeth sweet manner comforting herselfe and him also by a certaine hope they shey should meete againe ere longe and liue in heauen eternally togeather she afterwards humbly besought him that her body might be buried neere vnto Theonia her holy Mother which the Saint gladly promised And soone after in an act of feruent prayer vpon the 3. day of Nouember she breathed out her pure soule into her Redeemers hands ready to receaue it Which being perceaued by S. Elerius and the sisters praying about her they fall into such new complaints and sad expressions of their sorrow that the Saint was enforced to smother his owne griefe and to comfort them all he could by declaring that she was only gone to Heauen before them where gloriously vnited with God she would be no lesse powerful ready then when she liued in earth by her prayers to help them Her body nothing changed in the louelines thereof by death was neere vnto Theonia solemnly afterwards interred euen in the ashes as it were of many other great Saints buried in that place before amōgst whom Cheb and Sennan the one lying at her head and the other by her side were for sanctity miracles in their dayes famously renowned and had Churches therfore euen yet remayning in that Prouince to their memories erected wherein by wonderous signes their glory with God is now frequently testified And albeit these two other innumerable Saintes haue ben interred in that holy ground yet was the same for S. VVenefrides Sepulcher afterwards especially honoured graced with numberles and notorious miracles by her prayers there obteyned S. Elerius also soone after holily disceased was buried in a Church erected to his Name and memory in which at this very day Almighty God through his merits and prayers worketh miraculous cures vpon persons either diseased or distressed The End of the first Booke AN APPENDIX Of the Translatour concerning diuers particulars of S. Wenefrids History omitted by the Author MY Author Courteous Reader more carefull to write plainely and truly his History then to obserue the conditions of an exact Historian speaketh not of the ty me wherein S. Wenefride liued as he should haue done nor when her body was to Shrewsbury translated nor whether S. Elerius or other Saints reliques mentioned in her life were with it transferred Wherefore I will heere adde what I haue read for your further satisfaction First therefore I find in a learned collection which a friend of myne hath made of British and English Antiquities either wholy omitted or obscurely expressed by other writers that S. Wenefride liued about the yeare of Christ 660. And wheras S. Bede flourishing also at that tyme hath made no mention of her at all in his History amongst the other Saints of our Countrey it might well happen because the continuall iarrs and bloudy quarrels between the Britans and Saxons did so hinder all commerce betweene these two Nations as that it seemes the Acts of one Church became almost wholy vnknowne vnto the other especially in Yorkeshyre where S. Bede most commonly liued far distant from any part of Wales so as his silence of her and of S. Elerius in the Roman martyrologe acknowledged as of many other British Saintes gloriously flourishing in those dayes and before insinuated also by my Author disproueth nothing that is by him or any other learned Anti quary affirmed Her body was in the yeare of our Lord 1138. translated to Shrewsbury togeather with the reliques of many other Saintes neere ruder parts of the world then the others did the histories of their holy liues haue not been by learned mens pens equally diuulged In so much as M. Camden no fauourable reporter of such Catholique Acts and Monuments rarely now extant speaking of the old british Monkes of Glastenbury Monastery from the first A postolicall tymes of that Church hath these wordes in his Britannia Primis his temporibus viri san ctissimi c. In these first tymes to wit of the British Church before the Saxons inuasion of England more then 1100. yeares since many most holy men night and day attending to the seruice of God liued in this place maintayned by the Kings liberality and trayning vp youth in piety liberal sciences imbraced a solitary life that so with greater quiet repose they might attend to the studies of Diuinity and exercise themselues in all seuerity to beare the Christ of Christ c. Of which sort of Monkes so by him described were very many Religious men dispersed in like manner though all parts of that Church liuing either in holy

S. Cyprian S. Iustine the Martyr S. Hierome S. Ambrose and other innumerable Fathers had either expresly affirmed or supposed of these Martyrs torments that in bookes either written to the Martyrs themselues or to Heathen magistrates their Condemners yet preuayled I nothing till calling for Tacitus a Gentill Author and most hatefull enemy to Christ himselfe with all such as faithfully professed him I shewed this Gentleman what he had left written of Nero's cruelty vsed against Christians by causing them to be put vpon stakes in eminēt places of Rome cloathed in pitcht shirts with their armes extended and so to be fired in darke nights as torches to the Citty with other like in humane torments exercised vpon them Whereupon he began to credit what his Picture represented and being asked againe by me why he belieued not before so many testimonies which I had cited vnto him out of the holy Fathers he plainely tould me and it is the common persuasion of Prote The End of the second Booke THE TABLE OF CHAPTERS conteyned in this Booke THe Authours Prologue to the life of S. Wenefride pag. 1. THE FIRST BOOKE OF S. Beuno his great sanctity and how he was inspired by God to go to S. Wenefrids Father and had his Daughter commended to his charge Chap. 1. pag. 9. How S. Wenefrids Father did help S. Beuno to build a Church and Monastery in his owne Territory And how S. Wenefrid resolued to conserue her Virginity Chap. 2. pag. 19. How S. Wenefrids Father approued the Resolution his Daughter and gaue away her dowry in Almes to the poore Chap 3. pag. 27 How S. Wenefride was be he aded by Cradoeus the Kings sonne in defence of her Virginity Chap. 4. pag. 35. How Cradocus for his wicked fact was swallowed vp aliue by the ground And what lamentations were made for S. Wenefrides death Chap. 5. pag. 46. How S. Wenefride was rayse againe to life and a white Circle appearing in her Necke in the place where it was cut off Chap. 6. pa. 53. How S Wenefride was sollemnely veyled by S. Beuno and instructed in the practice of a Religious life Chap. 7 pag. 52. Of S. Wenefrids great griefe for her maister S. Beuno his departure from her Chap. 8. page 72. How S. Wenefride gatherea to geathen many Noblemens Daughters and instructed them in the practice of Religious piety as Gouernesse of the rest Chap. 9. pag. 80. Of the great fame of S. Wenefrides holynes of life and of the gift she sent vnto her maister S. Beuno Chap. 10. pag. 87. How S. Wenefride had the death of her maister S. Beuno reuealed vn to her and soone after changed the place of her aboad Chap. 11. pa. 94. How S. Wenefride was diuinely directed in her iourney to a holy man called Deifer who was chosen of Of the earnest desire which the Abbot and Monkes of Shrewsbury had to get the body of S. VVenefride vnto them and how finally they obtayned the same Chap. 8. pag. 227. Of a vision happened to Prior Robert in his iourney which gaue him hope to obteyne the body of S. VVenefride Chap. 9. pag. 226. How the Parish Priest of Guitherin where S VVenefrides body lay gaue his consent for the remouing the same to Shrewsbury Chap. 10. pag. 231. Of Priour Roberts speach vnto the people of Guitherin to obtaine their consent for getting away the body of S. VVenefride thence Chap. 11. pag. 136. Of a certaine labouring man punished for offering to cut downe a branch of an Oake neere S. VVenefrides 〈…〉 Cha. 12. pag. 243. How Priour Robert tooke vp S. VVenefrides body and carried it to Shrewsbury seauen dayes iourney And of a miracle wrought in the way Chap. 13. pag. 248. How S. VVenefrides body being brought to Shrewsbury was for a tyme placed in S. Giles Church necre the gate of the Citty Ch. 14. p. 254. Of the solemnity pōpe wherewith S. VVenefrides body was finally carried to the Abbey Church at Shrewsbury And of a strang Miracle happened thereat Chap. 15. pag. 259. The Conclusion of the Translatour vnto the second booke of S. VVenefrides life and Miracles Ch. 16. p. 266. FINIS

of the Booke conteyning in it sundry strange and miraculous passages shall seeme ridiculous to Protestants chancing to read them it is not much to be wondred at sithence they will be their owne choosers euen in the very beliefe of sacred Verities themselues diuinely reuealed and sleight as fabulous Legends the Liues of Saintes written by S. Athanasius S. Ambrose S. Hierome S. Climachus S. Gregory and other holy Fathers It sufficed my Author and so it shall me that deuout Catholiques for whose instruction and comfort he penned first his Historie will piously and probably assent to that which heere is credibly proposed vnto them auoyding two extremes therein the one is of belieuing things ouerlightly the other of belieuing nothing at all but as fancies and selfe-opinions do guide them The which in Sectaries following commonly this latter extreme in their iudg-ment of Catholique writings is a kind of Infidelity and Impiety mixed togeather for if God be wonderfull in his Saintes as the Royall Prophet telleth vs Psal 67. and Christ in his Ascension towards heauen did so expresly promise that these signes should follow such as did belieue in him In my name said he they shall cast out Diuells they shall speake with new tongues c. why should we vpon probable testimonies refuse to belieue such wonders to haue ben done by Saintes as diuine testifications of their true Fayth and great graces heere obtayned The sacred body of this Virginall Blessed Saint was solemnly translated to Shrewsbury in this Authors tyme in the yeare of our Lord 1138. and raigne of K. Stephen and there in his owne Abbey magnificently interred that greater honour and veneration in so populous and Religious a Citty as that was then might be yielded vnto it where it continued for aboue 400. yeares till Heresie preuayled vtterly to ouerthrow in our Country the publique profession of Catholique Religion and deface the Venerable monuments thereof euery where almost then extant In which cōmon ruine calamity hapning the shrine of this great Saint with numbers of others became sacrilegiously defaced and her sacred Reliques lye since dispersed God knoweth where or how vntill by his omnipotency they shall come to be vnited againe most gloriously raysed For God sayth the same holy Prophet Psal 33. doth conserue all the bones of his seruants and it hath increased I doubt not their ioyes accidentall in heauen to haue had heere on earth for his sake their Reliques by the Churches enemies and haters of true Religion contemptuously abused after due Reuerence yeilded by deuout people vnto them and singular blessings receaued from Almighty God by their powerfull intercession Neither haue moderne Sectaries shewed in any one act more the little Communion which they haue in this world or are likely to haue in the other with the Saintes of Christs Church then in contemning scattering and destroying their Reliques of which in generall S. Ambrose writeth thus Serm. 93. de Sanctis Nazario Celso If thou aske me what I honour in their flesh and bones now dissolued and consumed I honour in the Martyrs flesh the scarres of those woundes which for Christ he susteyned I honour the memory of his vertue still liuing I honour in his ashes the seedes of Eternity I honour the body that taught me to loue Christ and not to feare the cruellest death for him Why should not faithfull soules honour that body which Diuells tremble at c. quod Christum honorauit in gladio quod cum Christo regnabit in caelo that body I say which honored Christ in the sword and which shall reigne with him in Heauen These sayth S. Basill speaking of the 40. Martyrs Reliques are those who protect our Countrey and like strong Towers guard vs from our enemies Wherefore I may vse of such as scattered and destroyed the holy reliques of S. Wenefride and many other Saintes in our Country S. Gregory Nazianzens words in his first Oration against Iulian the Apostata Thou hast not reuerenced the Hoastes slaine for Christ whose bodies yea very drops of their bloud or other small signes of their passions can worke the same effects which their soules themselues can doe to wit such sudaine cures of infirmities and diseases as S. Austin lib. 22. de Ciuitate Dei cap. 8. affirmeth by S. Stephens Reliques as they passed through Afrique towards Rome to haue byn done in his presence which Protestants will as little belieue as they do the miraculous passages of S. Wenefride recounted in this Historie amongst whome there is no one so straunge but the like may be found in other Saintes liues by holy ancient Fathers authentically written and in some of them far more straunge which piously read probably belieued by faithful soules for 1400. yeares since cannot but temerariously be reiected now and contemned by Protestants whose corrupt Iudgment as I regard not in this my translation so I hope good Catholiques will read it with edification and comfort For it may well delight them as it doth me to thinke that we haue anciently had such store of renowned Saintes liuing in our Country as besides this life D. Harpsfeld the English Martyrologe Prudentiall Ballance M. Broughton and other ancienter historians do witnesse though the Names and liues of the greatest part of them are only in the booke of life registred and will in the generall Iudgmēt be gloriously reuealed That S. Wenefride likewise should liue againe after her head cut off and do the things which heere are written of her in her Historie the chiefe blocke which incredulous Readers perhaps will stumble at is no more hard to be belieued then that Lazarus after he had ben dead and stinking in his graue should liue agayne sit at table with Christ and be Bishop of Marsills in France many yeares after And if it be obiected that Christ himselfe did worke that miracle able to do all things I may well answere that he promised his owne power and far greater wonders then himselfe had wrought to be done by his seruants extant now in authenticall Histories as certainely since performed Lastly I intreat my courteous Reader for a Conclusion of this my Preface to note mend with his penne these ensuing errours of my Translation committed in the printing by strangers wholy ignorant of our English tongue Faults escaped in the Printing PAg. 24. lin 7. dele that Pag. 45. lin 9. where read which Pag. 75. lin 1. as read or Pag. 82. lin 9. their read his Pag. 88. lin 5. dele so Pag. 94. lin vlt. his read this Pag. 103. lin 11. dele most Pag. 109. lin 16. saying read said Pag. 119. lin vlt. noble Virginity read Martyrdome for your Virginity Pag. 120. lin 1. dele of your Martyrdome Pag. 121. lin 14. dele he Pag. 128. lin 5. Charity read Clarity Pag. 146. lin 16. in read in a suddaine Pag. 148. lin 14. and to be dele to Pag. 165. lin 3. fall read fell Pag. 173. lin 10. Wales read that Countrey

finding him in that most pittifull plight stood amazed at the miracle as not able any way to help him Wherfore by their aduise he began to repent him of his fault and humbly besought amōgst the other Saints S. VVenefrid to help him The rest also ioyning in like prayer with him after they had cryed aloud and all togeather Holy VVenefride take pitty on him his hand was presently loosed from the hatchet and his arme to all freedome restored Which euident miracle seene by the people they renewed their wonted veneration to the Saint They shewed also vnto Priour Robert and his companions the Cut which the man had made in the branch of the tree remayning still for a testimony thereof so as with very good reason they all much reuerenced that holy place by innumerable miraclesso diuinely graced CHAP. XIII How Priour Robert the Author of this historie did himselfe take vp the holy body of S. VVenefride and carry it towards Shrewsbury How also in the way he wrought a miracle by some of the earth found in the Holy head of that Blessed Martyr PRior Robert hauing had a generall leaue from the Pastour of the Church and his parishioners to take vp the Saintes body went downe without a guide into her Tōbe or Sepulcher and by an interiour light communicated then diuinely vnto him knowing where it lay caused the Tombestone to be remoued and labourers to digge towards the body which when they had found the Prior causing them to goe forth out of the Vault he only with some Priests and Religious persons stayed behind singing psalmes of ioy deuoutely togeather into the sicke mans stomack but he fell soundly asleepe and when he awaked found himselfe of his daungerous and painefull infirmity perfectly recouered By which most euident Miracle the credit of those sacred reliques to the great ioy of the Priour himselfe and his companions was diuinely confirmed and the deuotion of all present towards them increased Others also there present did learne from thence what due veneration reuerence was to be yielded afterwards vnto them CHAP. XIV How Priour Robert after seauen dayes iourney arriuing with the sacred Reliques at Shrewsbury was by his Abbot commanded to place them in S. Giles his Church neere the gate of that Citty vntill all was ready for their sollemne receauing into the Monastery VVith anotable miracle which happened in that place PRior Robert his company in seauen dayes ended their iourney backe againe with the sacred treasure to Shrewsbury and hauing before giuen notice to the Abbot of their approach they were willed by him to stay and repose the same decently in S. Giles his Church neere the gate of the Citty that the Lord Bishop and his Clergy with the rest of the people might be warned therof and in sollēne procession bring them to the Monastery And for the greater honor of them in the meane time prayed all the night that God through the merits prayers of great S. VVenefrid would be pleased to cure him he fell towardes the morning into a slumber and before the Priest came to say the first masse he was to the wonder of all present of the whole Citty likewise perfectly cured and made whole so as after he had soūded forth thankeful prayses to God the holy Martyr he returned without help of others ioyfully homewards on his feet CHAP. XV. VVith what solemnity pompe S. Wenefrides body was brought vnto the Abbey-Church of Shrewsbury And of a strange Miracle which happened thereat THE former miracle increased much the fame of these holy Reliques brought into the Citty and the opinion also of S. VVenefrids sanctity so that the cōcourse of people was very great daily honoring the holy Virgin in them Priour Robert in the meane tyme hauing by order of his Abbot treated with the Bishop about the solemnity of bringing her body frō S. Giles his Church to the Monastery it was agreed betweene them that the people of the Citty and Country likewise should be warned of the certaine day whē this solēnity should be kept and the Bishops blessing indulgences for such a feast promulgated to all that should be present in the procession Whereupon the throng of people kneeling on ech side of the streetes shedding teares of ioy for such a blessing brought amongst them was so great that it was a wōder to see how gratefull their deuotion was to God and to the Saint thus honored by them At which tyme also hapned an euident miracle in the sight of all worthy heere to be related The morning wherein this solemne procession was miraculously in the ayre ouer their heads and yet be kept from falling downe vpon them till the solemnity was ended and therfore they redoubled their praises to God and to the Saint as Authors of this great miracle wrought euidently before their face The Procession ended and the Bishop and Priests arriued with the Reliques at the Monastery they were by the Abbot and his Religious as lewells aboue all valew most reuerently receaued vpon the high Aultar dedicated to S. Peter and S. Paul magnificently placed where many apparent miracles for the help of soules and bodies are to Gods great honour glorified in his Saintes daily performed whose Name be praysed for euer and euer Amen CHAP. XVI The Conclusion of the Translatour vnto this second Booke of S. Wenefrids Life and Miracles I May say heere of S. VVenefrids miracles of those later especially wrought in Shrewsbury vpon such as honoured the Saint and were cured by the vertue of her reliques what S. Augustine in his 22. Booke of the Citty of God and 8. Chapter hath left written of a blind man miraculously restored to sight and other like miracles done at Millan whilst he liued there at the holy bodies of S. Geruasius and Protasius diuinely reuealed and translated by S. Ambrose to another place as S. VVenefrids Reliques were from Guitherine vnto Shrewsbury that the Citty to wit wherein they were done grandis era● immenso populo teste res gesta est was great and an immense cōcourse of people able to testifie the verity of them So as he must want dit in such Historicall verities as they will belieue any Gentill or Heathen Author before them the which my selfe haue proued by many experiences and for an example I will heere mention one It was my chance some yeares since to be the guest of a Protestant Gentleman in England of especial note and ranke in the Countrey wher he liued who seing me one day fixedly to look vpō a faire picture hāging in his Hall wherein the diuers torments of some Primitiue Martyrs were liuely represented Syr said he who can belieue as for my part I cannot that men to men and for Religion only euer vsed such barbarous cruelties more then butcherly inhumanities To whome for clearing of so certaine and testified a truth I alleaged what Tertullian in sundry places of his workes

THE ADMIRABLE LIFE OF S. WENEFRIDE VIRGIN MARTYR Abbesse Patronesse of Wales Permissu Superiorum Anno 1635. 〈…〉 THE ADMIRABLE LIFE OF SAINT VVENEFRIDE Virgin Martyr Abbesse Written in Latin aboue ●00 yeares ago by ROBERT Monke and Priour of Shrewsbury of the Ven. Order of S. BENEDICT Deuided into two Bookes And now translated into English out of a very ancient and authenticall Manuscript for the edification and comfort of Catholikes By I. F. of the Society of IESVS Her memory is worthily honoured amonge Men whose Soule is passed to the ioyes of Angells S. Max. hom in S. Euseb Permissu Superiorū M.DC. XXXV Noble and Princely Ladies haue made You a Stranger to Wales for the greatest part of your life yet your Marriage since vvith a chiefe Gentleman of that Country and many Children borne there liuing partes of your selfe as that great Prince of Philosophers calleth them may vvorthily make me repute you S. Wenefrides Countrey-vvoman Your singular Deuotion besides to that renovvned Saint and great Patronesse of WALES vvhich lately caused you as I haue heard to measure vvith no fevv Attendants of friends and seruants about you the vvhole length of that Countrey to visit the deuout memorable Plac● of her Martyrdome added to that former Respect and a constant desire vvithall in my selfe to honour in vvhat I may serue you haue povverfully preuayled moued 〈◊〉 to present this transla●ed Life of that glorious VIRGIN ABBESSE and MARTYR especially vnto you VVho as a bright morning-star ceaseth not euen novv to shyne in her ovvne knovvne Graces and daily Honours done by deuout people vnto her vvhen as other Stars in this late darkenes ouervvhelming our Countrey are quite vanished out of liuing mēs sights I meane innumerable Men and VVomen of Wales very conspicuous in tymes past for their admired Sanctity and honoured in Churches dedicated particularly vnto them are novv vtterly forgotten and neuer againe as knovvne Saints to be honoured by vs vntil in glory vve shall ly Light hath scarsly euer beene obscured in your ovvne or your Husbands ancient Families A rare Happines in these tymes and to fevv Houses of Noble note so graciously affoarded by the Authour of all Graces vvhereby their earthly Worth hath vvith heauenly Graces ben happily matched and are so eminently novv graced by Your ovvne particular Vertues as S. Wen fride vvill gladly accepe such a Patronesse of hert Life printed vvho so holily imitateth the same as it vvas acted by her VVherin her Blessed Intercession hath already and vvill I doubt not perseuerantly assiste you by obteyning of her Diuine Spouse Temporall Blessings and Eternall Graces for you and yours vvhich I daily vvish and hartily pray for as your euer deuoted friend and seruant In Christ IESVS I. F. THE TRANSLATOVRS PREFACE TO HIS READER AMongst many people Apostolically conuerted to the Fayth of Christ the Britans or ancient Inhabitants of England are vndoubtedly to be numbred as Origen 4. in Ezechielem Tertullian contra Iudaeos Dorotheus in his Synopsis Theodoret and others haue expresly affirmed besides many home proofes and pregnant testimonies of that their so timely conuersion Which primitiue Fayth of theirs hauing byn by a continuall mixture of Romans and other Infidells liuing amongst them and persecuting them for the same exceedingly decayed was againe cultiuated by Fugatius and Damianus Apostolicall Preachers sent for that purpose by Pope Elutherius vnto them the very next age after the Apostles Since which tyme albeit they lost to the Saxons the greatest fruitefullest part of their Country and were enforced to betake themselues to the mountanous places of Wales as now it is called and Cornewall yet haue they still vntill this last age vnalteredly maintayned their primitiue Fayth and Religion as in the first two Chapters of the Protestants Apology for the Roman Church written by that learned man M. Brerely is most cleerly proued demonstrated And to recompence perhaps their Constancy therein and sufferings for it they were blessed from tyme to tyme with great numbers of Saintes flourishing amongst them so as many Parishes in Wales and Cornewall retayne no other names at this day then such as anciently they receaued from holy Men and Women liuing in them Amongst all which no one was for sanctity miraculous testimonies thereof more then S. Wenefride famously renowned and her Monuments now after a generall vastation of Monasteries and Saintes memories in our Countrey remayne vndefaced and no lesse glorious in Wales and England then S. Catherines Tombe on Mount Sinai amongst fierce Mahometans and Paynims is straungely yet conserued And as the Sepulcher of that renowned Saint is by faithfull people in those Easterne parts of the world Religiously visited so in like manner do multitudes of holy Pilgrims frequently now resort vnto the place of S. Wenefrids martyrdome wonder to see such a floud of Cristall pure Watēr gushing there at once out of the Earth and a most sumptuous Chappell standing yet ouer it So that the three Fountaynes neere Rome which issued miraculously out of the ground where S. Paul was martyred are not by much so curiously with building couered Moreouer the waters of this holy Well seeme to haue in thē more then naturall vertues by giuing a musky and most delightfull sweetnes to the greene mosse growing on the wals of this stately inclosure and colouring all the stones which lye in the bottome thereof with spots as it were of pure bloud in them strangly appearing Many miracles also haue ben done heeretofore to manifest the sanctity of this place which because they haue not ben by depositions of persons sworne and publique Instruments authentically approued I forbeare heere further to mention then as my Authour doth afterwards recount them and will only say that this Venerable and Costly monument is the more to be admired for that it standeth in so hilly poore and barten a Countrey which hath scarsly any thing but this fayre building remarkable in it exactly therefore drawne out by M. Speed in his Table of Flint-shyre and in his Comment historically declared yet with this tale ridiculously added that Catholiques visiting the Well do really belieue the rednes of the stones to be the Martyrs very bloud and the Mosse growing therein her hayre like to one of Ouids Metamorphosing Fables The Life of this Noble Virgin and Martyr was diligently and authentically gathered as himselfe in his Prologue professeth by Robertus Salopiensis a learned Monke and Priour of Shrewsbury of the holy order of S. Benedict liuing in King Stephens tyme for his great sincerity by Cardinall Baronius Surius Capgraue Pits Posseuinus and others worthily commended Whose booke coppied truly out of an old authenticall Manuscript I haue heere in sense faithfully translated and done no otherwise in altering the Authors old phrases scarsely expressible in good English then as if I had stripped some body out of Welsh course frize and put him into a suite of English playne Karesay And if the matter