and body before them ceased not with out-cryes to expresse their griefe and anger togeather towards him that committed so haynous an outrage Her Parents likewise called by their cryes to the place lamented the losse of their holy sweet child lying butchered so villainously and vnexpectedly before them with more then imaginable expressions of sorrow S. Beuno in like manner now ready to celebrate leauing the aultar and approachinge to the doore was wholy dissolued into teares of compassion and griefe to behold his deare Pupill and child lying so cruelly murdered before her consecration to Christ solemnly soone after by him intended and beholding in this his griefe her Murderer standing proudly by wiping his bloudy sword on the grasse so far from repenting him of the deed without feare of God or man as he gloried proudly therein with the holy virgins head in his hand he went towards him and looking him in the face said vnto him Thou wicked man for as much as without regard of innocency or beauty thou hast murdered a Princely Virgin no lesse noble then thy selfe and art not as thou oughtest to be sorry aswell for the horrible sacriledge as foule murder heere committed detestably by thee I do heere beseech my heauenly Lord for the example of others at least to execute presently his dredfull Iudgment against thee who hast murdered his spouse troubled his people violated his Saboath and besprinkled with bloud this holy House to his honour and seruice consecrated by me And the effect of his words to the terrour and wonder of all present was such as the Prince fell dead sudaynely before him and which increased the astonishment of the people his dead body was presently either swallowed vp by the earth or taken away by Diuels so as no signe thereof afterwards appeared This done S. Beuno often kissing the virgins dead face and bathing it with his teares put it to her body coueringe them with his cloake after he had breathed in her mouth prepared himselfe to goe to the Aultar warning the people and her Parents especially to cease their lamentations conuert thē into prayers to the Creatour of soules the sole rayser of bodies after death that he would be mercifully pleased as he called Lazarus to a new life rotten before and stincking in his graue so to rayse this Princely Spouse heere butchered for her loue towards him and this chiefly for the glory of himselfe edification of his people and comfort of her parents who so freely before had dedicated her in purity of life perpetually to serue him CHAP. VI. How S. Wenefride was raysed from death to life and her Head reunited to her body by S. Beuno's prayers with a small white circle remayning in the place of her Necke where it was cut other wonders gracing stil the place of her Martyrdome AFter the holy mā had ended his Masse and the people their prayers lifting vp his hands towards heauen he prayed in this manner O Lord Iesus-Christ for whose sake this holy Virgin contemned the world and coueted heauenly things vouchsafe by the tender bowels of thy mercy loue and bounty to graunt vs the effect of our vowes now made prayers offered heere humbly vnto thee and albeit we are fully persuaded that this Godly Virgin who liued holily dyed constantly for thee be now highly exalted in heauen also with thee wanting no more the society of vs mortall miserable Creatures yet to manifest thyne Omnipotency and that supreme dominiō which thou hast ouer soules and bodies neuer dead to thy power of raysing reuniting them for the greater merit also of her soule whose body heere lyeth before vs we craue a new life for her and that she may returne after a long plentifull haruest of new merits heere gayned more enriched diuinely beautified vnto thee the beloued of her Hart and Eternall spouse who with the Father and the holy Ghost doest rule in earth and raigne in heauen for euer and euer And when the people had cryed with great deuotion Amen vnto his prayer the Virgin as newly wakened from sleep wiped her eyes face besmeared with sweat and dust before as hauing tumbled on the ground filling all present and her Parents there amongst them with ioy and admiration obseruing also as they more fixedly beheld her a pure white circle no bigger then a small threed to remayne in her faire Necke shewing the place where it had ben cut off before and was miraculously then to her body conioyned which because it euer afterwards remayned cōspicuously seene after the same manner Brewa her name before is said to haue ben changed by the peoples great veneration and loue towards her into VVenefride by VVen which doth signify white in the old British tongue added vnto it 2. letters thereof for better sound quite altered And in many apparitions of her to men and women after her second corporall death authentically recounted this white Circle in her necke conspicuously appeared to giue worldly soules thereby to vnderstand the particular glory which she had receaued of her heauēly spouse for suffering that wound so constantly for him And whereas the valley where she was martyred had ben called euer before a dry or barren bottome it was for the Christall fountayne of pure waters breaking miraculously out of the ground where her head first fell called afterwards in memory of this miracle Finhon which in old Welsh doth signify a fountayne or well indeed as this fountayne was wonderfull in the first origen therof so did the same by miraculous cures of men beasts either bathed in that water or drinking therof become famously afterwards renowned In memory likewise that store of the Virgins pure bloud had ben spilt in that place and to signify withall how sweet a Sacrifice was offered there by her the stones of the Well are either dyed or spotted all ouer with drops as it were of bloud and the mosse growing about it is as with muske yet to this day sweetly perfumed The miracle of her raysing frō death to life diuulged in those partes gayned to S. Beuno so great a fame of his singular sanctity and power with God to obteyne any thing that multitudes thereupon of Gentil people in those dayes for their instruction in the Christian fayth and Baptisme repayred vnto him whose famous acts and S. VVenefrids holy life after her being raysed shall in the rest of this booke be briefly declared CHAP. VII How S. Wenefride was solemnly veyled by S. Beuno and fully instructed in the true knowledge holy practise of a Religious life How likewise he tooke his leaue afterwards of her prophetically fortelling the sanctity of her life and her gayning to Christ of many soules S. VVenefride as another Lazarus restored to a new life with a fresh feruour of heauenly loue and deuotion applyed herselfe to learne from so great a maister as S. Beuno was how to rayse her already-illuminated soule to the
the holy Virgin in her Monastery discoursing of heauenly misteries and vertuous Practises with her and found her so cleerely illuminated in the one so solidly grounded in the other that hauing admired her himselfe and returning home to his brethren was wont to vtter wonderfull prayses of her vnto them And her fame at length by the mouths of many became so diuulged as from places far neere infinite numbers of all sortes of people flocked vnto her some to know and see so noble louely and holy a Virgin who had lost her head to saue her virginity and after death for her Spouses greater honour had ben by a holy Man miraculously raysed to life accounting the place and company she liued in most blessed by her presence Others by their great importunity and earnest prayers obteyned to see the white pure circle stil remayning in her necke denoting the wound which in her martyrdome she receaued the sight whereof caused them to shed many teares of loue and ioy that Christ had triumphed so gloriously in her first and sent her afterwards so happily vnto them S. VVenefrid herselfe would gladly out of her great and profoūd humility haue denyed them that fauour but a charitable desire of their good gayned many wayes thereby and the other Virgins intreaties made her willing to affoard that contentment vnto them as fearing not be made proude with their excessiue prayses or apt to assume vnto herselfe any merit of being so praysed the high knowledge indeed which she had of Gods attributes and perfections compared with her owne fraylties and nothing being two sure grounds of solid humility in her CHAP. XVIII How S. Wenefride prophetically foretold in order the death of Theonia first next her owne and lastly the holy end of Elerius How also after the death of Theonia she was made Abbesse by Elerius and gouerned that Monastery in all sanctimony till her dying day BLessed Elerius visiting on a tyme S. VVenefrid in her Monastery to conferre as his custome was of holy things tould her speaking occasionally of the happines to dye well that he had often reioyced to thinke that he should haue her neere him at his death and afterwards to pray for him No Father said she prophetically vnto him it will not fall out so Christ hauing ordayned the contrary For first you shall liue to bury holy Theonia our deare Mother and me also some few yeares after which done you shall in short at Blessed Elerius his hands for her viaticum towards heauen breathed out her pure and holy soule gloriously by Angels accompanied thither After whose exequies solemnly and deuoutly performed holy Elerius ordayned S. VVenefride Abbesse in her place to gouerne the Monastery which she in her humility for a tyme resisted till Obediēce to the Saint and Charity to the sisters instantly beseeching her to vndertake the charge preuayled with her No sooner was this Office thus imposed on her but she like a Candle set on a candlesticke higher then before began to cast out more brightly her cleere rayes of Vertues and to giue a new light life as it were to the whole Monastery by her heauenly speaches examples so as her humility by the dignity of her Office with her Patience Charity and other Vertues though admirable before seemed now to haue ben very much increased in her CHAP. XIX Of the high esteeme that S. E. lerius himselfe with other Religious and secular Per. sons made of S. Wenefride And of the miracles which she wrought in her Monastery by curing all sorts of distressed or sicke people repayring vnto her S. VVenefride had not liued long Abbesse of the Monastery before the fame of her sanctity wisedome came to be throughout that whole prouince so vniuersally diuulged as Principall persons both of the Clergy Laity repayred frequently vnto her neuer departing without singular edification by her behauiour and speaches Yea euen theeues robbers themselues with other notorious Malefactours by her gracious aspect and effectuall exhortations made charitably vnto them were from their euill wayes oftentimes reclaymed And now not only in priuate houses but in poore as not the least superfluity was admitted by her yea want of needfull things when at any tyme they hapned were most welcom vnto her She suggested also no lesson more often to her sisters then that they should haue alwais their Redeemers example before their eyes to imitate those Vertues which he exercised for thē and to be carefull to haue a pure intention in what they did only to please him Fortitude and Patience she euer praysed and commended vnto them as needfull and certaine remedies victoriously to ouercom all temptations wherein their merit more then in not feeling of them consisted for that by this and not by the other they should come to be crowned Prayer she was wont to tell them well made did dilate their soules to receaue plentifull graces and holy actions did fill them when they were humbly and feruently performed CHAP. XX. How S. Wenefride was forewarned of her death prepared herselfe for the same And how by acquainting S. Elerius and her sisters therewith she filled their harts full of heauines and affliction S. VVenefride as a full Pomegranut of heauenly merits ripened to fall on the ground that she might rise in a new spring more gloriously afterwards was in the feruour of her course speedy running towards the goale of religious Perfection warned by her deare Lord that he meant shortly to call her vnto him Which most welcome newes as of a happinesse long before and instantly desired raysed the thoughts and affections of her soule to a more feruent vnion with her Creatour in extaticall prayer for whole dayes and nights togeather in humble acts and painefull exercises of her Charity towards others in fasting likewise and other great austerities euen as those who to make a longe iourney in a short tyme do redouble widen their paces And that she might not leaue her beloued friends vnwarned of her departure on the suddaine from them she imparted first to S. Elerius himselfe the Call she had receaued from her Sauiour and afterwards to her sisters whose sorrow thereat was little inferiour to the excessiue ioy which herselfe by the comfortable thoughts of going to her Lord continually receaued and aswell by flowing teares as dolefull speaches they expressed the same vnto her But she as with a face then wholy turned frō the world towards heauen intreated them to conforme their will to their Creatours pleasure therein and not to doubt but that she should by her prayers in heauen be more profitable then by her presence heere on earth she could be vnto them For that said she is not a Country of ignorance but of knowledge cleerely reuealed whereby the Blessed vnderstand their friends necessities heere on earth and being vnited to the fountayne of Charity it selfe they will be no lesse powerfull then ready to procure speedy helps and remedies
of force presently to free them Mi she dwelt but far and neere against her will began to be so diuulged from very remoteplaces of the kingdom so as many flocked to see speake with her and were so edified by her Angelicall behauiour wise speaches vnto them that they were very loath to leaue her cōpany and accounted those people blessed who liued alwayes neere her But most of all the holy Virgins that were placed vnder her care domestical gouerment reputed themselues happy by hauing for their Guide no lesse tender a Mother in her deare loue towards them then a wise mistresse by instruction and example holily to direct them as her holy Father had formerly taught her towards whome during her life she euer retayned a most gratefull memory of her present life and a thousand blessings besides receaued from him In particular also she forgot not the yearely token she had promised to send him Wherefore partly with her owne hands and partly by the help of her sisters she had imbrodered a faire vestemēt to send vnto him and hauing in the beginning of the month of May almost a yeare after his departure finished the same wrapping it vp in a wollen cloath she went with her sisters many others to the welsside where casting it into the water she said O holy Father I send heere according to your command my promise this smal token of my loue vnto you The which to the great wōder of many viewing the same as it passed by the well streame downe into the Riuer and so into the sea remayned dry and no whit moistned by the water So that in a short tyme being diuinely directed it was cast on the shoare 50. miles off hard by the Monastery where the holy man liued and he casually going forth tooke it vp wōdring at first what it should be till at length opening the bundle CHAP. XI Of the great Talents which Christ gaue vnto S. Wenefride for the good of others and how she yearely remembred to send her token to S. Beuno vntill to her great griefe she had his holy end reuealed vnto her soone after which she changed the place of her aboad as he had foretold her ALbeit many Graces were worthily admired in his holy Virgin by those who knew and conuersed with her as her high lasting vnion with God in extaticall prayer her great austerity her Angelicall purity and innocency of life her powerfull authority in commanding her subiects with admirable humility and sweetnes conioyned yet nothing was more wonderfull in her then the deep knowledge of heauenly verityes and ardentzeale of her Creatours glory still manifested in her exhortatiōs to her owne subiects speaches to strangers that came to visit her so as she did fill their harts more with enflamed desires to serue Almighty God then their eares with the sound of her wordes euer attributing the graces of her soule first to Christ next to S. Beuno his Great seruāt and her Teacher to whome she euery yeare sent her promised token or present after the manner aforesaid vntill his holy death and circumstances thereof were reuealed vnto her whose losse she frequently afterwards deplored albeit she had ben diuinely assured that according to his wonderfull merits heere on earth he was in heauenly ioyes highly exalted the particulars of whose holy life from his Childhood till his death and great miracles afterwards are authentically recorded in his yet extant and certaine monuments After whose glorious discease she began to feele most perfect desires in her that place in a deuout memory of her martyrdome there for him susteyned the which effect of her prayer was by his diuine Maiesty accordingly graūted as hath ben testified since by numberlesse miracles wrought at that Well or Fountaine in curing the bodily spirituall infirmities of all hūble Clients and suppliants in that place vnto her CHAP. XII How S. Wenefrid was directed by God in her iourney to a holy mā called Deifer whose Counsell she was willed to follow of whom many things are by the Author occasionally heere recounted and how worthy he was to be chosen by God for S. Wenefrides Directour in the place of S. Beuno S. VVenefride hauing in earnest prayer recommēded her iourney to God was inspired to goe with her companion to one Deifer a holy Man liuing at Botauar who should further direct her This man was indeed for his Sanctity in those dayes miraculous testimonies therof famously renowned for by his prayers he had raised out of the ground a goodly spring in a place that was dry before obteyned likewise of God that the water thereof should haue a supernaturall force to cure all soares diseases of such as did drinke therof or wash their soares therewith And amongst many miracles besides recounted of him whilst he liued this one performed after his death is especially renowned to wit of two Theeues who hauing stolne two horses out of his Churchyard posted with them most speedily out of the Coūtrey but the next day the owners finding thē gone humbly prostrated themselues before the Saintes Aultar and presented therat two Candels for the purposely heere recounted that my Reader may know the merits great sanctity of blessed Deifer to whom S. VVenefride for the knowledge of her iourney was diuinely directed CHAP. XIII How S. Wenefride came to the Holy man Deifer and after she had bin charitably welcommed and entertayned by him for one night she was the next morning sent for a further direction to another Saint called Saturnus dwelling at Henthlant THe holy Virgin after due inquiry made where the Village Botauar stood and of her way vnto it committing to God her Monastery at Finhon and friends there about began with her companion cherefully her iourney towards Blessed Deifers Cell eight miles distant where at her arriuall she was by the Saint charitably welcommed and hauing related the cause of her comming and how she had byn diuinely in her prayer directed vnto him he tould her that concerning either herselfe or her iourney God had not as then reuealed any thing vnto him But haue patience said he a little this night to stay heere at my cell and his diuine maiesty the whilst will vouchsafe perchance to reueale his holy pleasure vnto me Whereunto she humbly and thankefully agreed as being confidently assured that Almighty God had not vainely and to no purpose directed her vnto him The Saint as his manner was praying the whole night a heauenly voyce towards the morning saying thus vnto him Tell VVene CHAP. XIV How Saturnus entertayned S. Wenefride in his Cell and telling her how much God should be honoured by her he directed her to a holy place called Guitherin where she should find one Elerius a Blessed Abbot of religious men to direct her and a monastery of chast Virgins who would gladly submit themselues vnto her S. VVenefride much reioycing at the direction which Blessed Deifer had giuen her
vertues who ouer-ioyed at first with their leaue so obtayned and freed from former feares of worldly entanglements daily extended herselfe to courses of sanctity and perfection by frequent and feruent practises of humility and punctuall obedience to her holy Father permitted by her Parents freely vnto her So as now a corner neere his Cell where she might frequently visit him and delightfully drawe through her eares to her soule the vitall breath of his heauenly discourses was in the day tyme her delightfullest māsion and watching whole nights in the Church kneeling or prostrate before the Aultar when extreme wearines and deadly sleep did not possesse her was to be as in her spouses bed-chāber raised by amourous thoghts of his wonderfull Perfections and rapt with pure delights freshly euery day communicated vnto her So as to heare him only named caused a iubily in her soule by blushing and teares to such as beheld her sweetely discouered And as internall guifts did wōderfully adorne her so were not externall graces wanting vnto her for her face was matchles in bewty and by a rare modesty exceedingly graced Her speach was sweet neuer but leasurely and wisely vttered The comly stature likewise and proportion of her body in all parts thereof though poorely clad serued to grace her in the eyes of others so as the Diuell emulating those high beginnings of sanctity in her and fearing withall what her example might worke in tyme for the drawing of others to like courses of Perfection he ceased not to lay many snares to intrappe her and with new temptations raysed by others for her greater merit glory at last incessantly to try her the beginning of which shall in my next Chapter be declared CHAP. IV. How S. Wenefride was found alone by the Kings sonne in her Fathers house and in daunger to haue byn violated by him escaped towards the Church and was in the way cruelly beheaded for constantly refusing to yield her pure body vnto him S. Beuno hauing fully ended the fabrique of his Church and consecrated the same to Christ was daily visited by great multitudes of such as dwelled in places neere him amongst them S. VVinefreds holy Parents neuer fayled in his sacrifices and sermons to heare him so as on a sunday whilst they were in the Church their daughter by some needfull or charitable occasion contrary to her custome detained at home Prince Cradocus king Alan his sonne with a lustful wicked purpose entred the house pretending that he came to speake with the Lord Theuith her Father The Holy Maid suspecting no worse of him at first after courteous salutatiōs passed betweene them and excuses by her humbly made of being alone vnattired and vnable in her Parents absence fitly to intertayne him as his Princely dignity required intreated him with all to repose himselfe in a more conuenient roome of the house till after diuine seruice ended her Father should returne and be free to speake with him To which simple candor and plainenes of her speaches gracefully vttered the Prince infuriated with loue of her faire person and lustfull desires presently to inioy her replyed that he would willingly expect the returne of her Parents if herselfe in meane time wold be pleased to consent vnto his will so deuoted vnto her that for the fauour then expected from her he would according to his Birth and Power euer afterwardes be ready to honour and serue her threatning withall presently to rauish her if she yielded not willingly to his motion The holy Virgin though trembling for feare blushing at the immodesty of his speaches yet lost not her wits in so needfull an occasion but present with herselfe diuinely also at that instant assisted she humbly and patiētly answered him that she doubted not of enioying honour wealth and worldly contentment by being espowsed to so Princely a person but because said she the present poore attire wherein you haue so on the sodaine taken me suiteth not to so high a motion or indeed beseemeth your presēce giue me leaue I beseech you to enter my chamber heere by presently to alter it To which her request albeit with some loathnes to be delayed in his purpose he yielded his consent so that she now finding herself in her chamber freed out of his hands and hopeles of any rescue or succour to be otherwise affoarded her ran out by a backe way as fast as she could towards the Church where her Father and his people would she doubted not be able to saue her But he impatient in his desires and suspecting indeed that which happened brake into the roome and finding her not there pursued her so hastely in her flight as on a hill side neere the Church he furiously apprehended her vowing with his sword drawne in his hand a countenance full of wrathful indignation that if forthwith she consented not to his will so full of honourable loue towards her he would strike of that head from her body deforme that face therein which formerly he had loued Whereunto the holy Virgin as another S. Agnes to her carnall Louer vndauntedly replyed that she had holily espowsed herselfe that also with her Parents consent to the king of Heauens sonne in power beauty and goodnes incomparably exceeding him and vpon his experienced loue towards her she would euer remaine to him so faythfully constantly and vnalteredly deuoted in the affections of her hart as she wold gladly loose her head and life for refusing to admit any corriuall togeather with him Neither shall your terrours said she or threats draw me from the sweetnes of his Loue or make me not go as I haue promised purely vnto him Whereupon he in a furious scorne to be slighted so by her knowing withall that whilst she liued the vehemēcy of his loue could not be asswaged gaue her with his sword so deadly a stroake on the neck as her head thereby and body became instantly parted the body falling without the Church dore and the head within it so as the floore therof being somewhat declining as built in the hanging of a hill it tumbled towards the people kneeling togeather before the Aultar astonishing them with the sight thereof no lesse the afterwards it made them worthily to wonder in seeing a cleere and plentifull spring newly then beginning to run out of the ground in the same place where her head had first fallen vpon visited since that time by holy pilgrimes from places farre neere and by miraculous graces and cures frequently affoarded to sickely and grieued persons famously renowned CHAP. V. The lamentations made at S. Wenefrids death aswell by the people as by her Parents how likewise S. Beuno procured by his prayers a dreadfull reuenge of her death vpon the Author thereof glorying in his cruelty and then putting the head body togeather sought to obteyne of God her returne to life againe THE people moued with so dolefull a spectacle as was the virgins head bloud
height of Religious Perfection choosing for that purpose to sit at the Saints feet as S. Mary Magdalen did at the feet of our Sauiour neuer satiated with the delicacies which fell from that heauenly Table vnto her by his most pious speaches and deuout instructioÌ„s within a smal tyme out a restles and most amorous desire fully to be what an height of sanctity perfection the spirit of God for the glory of himselfe good of others intended to raise her sought more and more to illuminate her soule by heauenly documents practicall lessons for the direction of herselfe others in a spirituall and Religious life which she as a very apt scholler did not only learne but practise also in such a manner that the Saint was ouerioyed to behould her And finally finding her fully enabled not only to guide herselfe but others also in courses of Perfection he called her Parents one day vnto him and tould them that as they had liberally graunted vnto him a Church and house for the seruice of God and help of his seruants so had his diuine Maiesty liberally requited their Charity towards him by singular graces affoarded to them and especially to their Childe whom now they might well choose and propose vnto themselues as a Mistresse able to guide them in their Redeemers seruice and as a bright shining patterne of religious Perfection Wherfore being diuinely called to another place I must heere said he leaue you to the helpes of Heauenly Graces which will not be wanting vnto you persisting as now you do holily in Gods seruice and to the carefull direction of your Daughter And then conuerting himselfe to S. VVenefride Our Lord said he deare Child hath appointed you to succeed me heere in my holy labours and abiding in these parts to go onwards happily your self to guide others fruitfully in the way to eternall life as hitherto I haue taught you And doubt not but by the mouing example of your death for him already susteyned and the holy conuersation of your life you wil be able to performe what I haue said and in this very place gather togeather for your heauenly spouse many pure and deuout Virgins guided vnto him holily by you But know withall that you shal not heere end your dayes but that after seauen yeares in prayer and pennance spent in this place to your owne great Merit singular edification of others our gracious Lord will call you to another that strangers also may in the knowledge and true seruice of him be illuminated by you and know also that heerby your memory shall become glorious in future ages and your merits published to the whole world by miraculous cures helpes affoarded vnto sickly and distressed persons praying vnto you CHAP. VIII VVherein is declared S. Wenefrides griefe for her Holy Fathers departure and his comfortable speaches vnto her concerning particular Graces intended by God towards herselfe and others by her THe Godly Virgin being excessiuely grieued at her holy Fathers departure he to coÌ„fort her in so deep an affliction tooke her by the right hand and lead her to the fountayne which miraculously had risen in the tyme place of her martyrdome sitting togeather vpoÌ„ a stone neere to the side of the well called therefore to this day S. Beuno's stone You see said he heere the monumeÌ„t of your sufferings and behold also the stones therein steyned as with your bloud shed for your Heauenly Spouses sake be you therfore now attentiue and mindfull of what I shall fore-tell you concerning three especiall ter my departure now from you into a remote part of this â—land God will giue me a Cell neere the sea shore when you would send any letters or tokens vnto me as his diuine Maiesty wold haue you to do and I also do intreate the same of you once at least euery year cast them only in the streame of this fountayne and they will passing into the Ocean by many creekes and turning-shores be diuinely safely directed vnto me which graces likewise to the worlds end shall be diuulged gloriously of you And hauing ended this his speach he led her backe againe vnto the Church and said then vnto her Behould heere this Church lodgings about it which hauing byn built by the charitable magnificence of your parents and my labours I leaue vnto you to be conuerted into a copious monastery of Chast Deuout Virgins who moued by your instruction holy example of life shall togeather with your selfe meritoriously practise those heauenly documeÌ„ts which by a perfit contempt of the world and a full abnegation of theÌ„selues the two maine grounds of Religious perfection I haue often deliuered by my speaches vnto you Stupendious miracles also done for the temporall eternall good of many repayring to this very place shall heerafter be effected to the prayse of their heauenly Maker and euen bruit beasts shall not want their share in such blessings striue therfore deare Child to exhibit your selfe in all things as a liuely patterne and example to others of all Vertue As for my poore selfe I shall goe whither Gods spirit will guide me euer retayne in my hart and soule a Fatherly and louing memory of you presence alwayes edified by your example instructed by your speaches Which words of hers together with her flowing teares so moued the Saint himselfe as also her louing Parents and others that were present as not to haue their owne sorrow by staying longer with her increased after he had blessed her with his hand as hauing no touÌ„g through griefe to speake a word more vnto her hastned his pace faster then modesty would permit her to follow him vntill at length he was gon quite out of her sight neuer more in this world to behold him so that returning with her companioÌ„s homeward for many dayes after she remayned in her sorrow till tyme at length discret thoughts hauing eased her hart she wisely and maturely began to reflect vpon his heauenly discourses and lessons formerly giuen vnto her both how she might practise them herselfe and draw others also to the exercise therof Which in a short tyme Gods grace and the force of her holy Example did so happily effect that a great number of Noble and deuout Virgins trampling worldly wealth Honours pleasures vnder their feet for the glory and seruice of Christ betooke themselues to her gouernment liued in religious discipline holily vnder her commanding or teaching them nothing but what herselfe practised first amongst them as a shining cleere Light in safe paths of sanctity to guide them yea with such a sweet mildenes motherly loue towards them that with equall merit and contentment they obeyed her commands and obserued such rules as she had established amongst them Her wholsome aduises also they receaued as heaueÌ„ly oracles such remedies as in their difficulties temptations she wisely compassionably gaue them had a heauenly kind
Communities as Monkes or els alone as Hermites in solitary places of which number were S. Beuno S. Saturnus S. Deifer S. Elerius S. Cheb and S. Sennan mentioned in this life of S. VVenefrid And as Godly men so Holy Virgins also did liue in houses religiously togeather like vnto those mentioned by S. Hierome who liued at Bethleem vnder S. Paula and Eustochium her Daughter such was the house wherin S. Wenefride liued first at Finhon the place of her martyrdome and afterwards at Guitherin called in Latin Witheriacum by my Author where she dyed happily and was honoured 600. yeares together for a Saint vntill her sollemne translation as is aforesaid to Shrewsbury where also she hath byn by God glorified with many miracles euen vntill our dayes as she had byn before both at Finhon and Guitherin the places aboue mentioned THE SECOND BOOKE conteyning the miracles wrought at S. Wenefrides Well as also vpon her Translation to Shrewsbury CHAP. I. Of the great concourse of people to her Well graced by miracles no lesse then before after her departure from that place ALmighty God ceased not by wonderfull miracles to grace the holy place of S. VVenefrids martyrdome after he had inspired her as hath ben said before her death wholy to abandone it to the end deuout people perchance in other parts of the Country might come to know the eminent sanctity of her life and herselfe perfect the graces of her soule by liuing humbly and obediently amongst strangers as she did for many yeares vntill by her singular merits exemplar life she was ordeyned against her will to be a holy Mistresse and gratefull Gouernesse of many Virgins We may also conceaue that this humble Virgin who was wont to blush yea and shed teares when she heard herselfe praysed desired obteyned of her heaueuly Spouse to goe out of the way as it were and absent herselfe from that place where she could not choose but be seene and honoured by multitudes of people daily visitting her VVell as the miraculous Trophy of her martyrdome there susteyned wondring first to see such a source of pure water breaking out of the ground vpon which her head first fell next to behould the stones therein as with drops of her bloud strangly stayned or died rather and lastly to smell the greene mosse growing about the VVell with a musky sweet odour more then naturally perfumed It was I say a pleasure no doubt and much by the holy Virgin desired to liue out of the noise of her owne prayses there daily resounded especially when to the wonders of the place it selfe other miraculous Cures began to be wrought vpon leaprous blind and all kind of diseased persons either by drinking of the water or bathing themselues in it of which some few in the Chapters following shal be by me declared CHAP. II. Of a blind maid restored to her sight by washing her head in S. Wenefrids Well and praying in her Chappell A POORE Carpenter dwelling not far from S. VVenefrides VVell had a Daughter borne blind who hauing hard of the wonderfull cures wrought there by the intercession and merits of that holy Virgin ceased not to importune her Father daily that she might be ledd to that miraculous VVell and hauing finally obteyned the same she first bathed her head in the water thereof and then being conducted to the Chappell neere vnto it she spent the whole night deuoutely in prayer that God would be pleased through the merits and intercession of the Saint there martyred for his sake to bestow vpon her corporall sight the better to serue him afterwards falling into a slumber towards the morning in a corner of the Chappell she was no sooner awaked but she found herselfe to see perfectly which being perceaued by her Father he ceased not togeather with his Daughter ioyfully to proclayme that miraculous fauour by S. VVenefrids powerfull prayers euidently obteyned The fame of this miracle generally diuulged bred a fresh deuotion in others to repayre in like manner to that place for obteyning help and comfort in their corporall and spirituall distresses and they were not frustrated of their hopes faythfully and deuoutely so conceaued whereby the former great Fame of the place became more vniuersally and gloriously diuulged to the honour of him by whose omnipotency and gracious goodnes these miraculous cures were multiplied delightfully glorified in the honours done to his Saintes and in their glories eternally exalted before the Aultar vttered his cōplaintes to the Saint of the iniury and losse therby sustained beseeching her to punish as they deserued the wrongfull Authors of that and other mischiefes to the great harme of honest people sinfully committed and by some exemplar reuenge taken vpon them to warne and deterre others from violating in like manner the safety of her Chappel and reuerence due vnto it and so departed onwards in his iourney not frustrate afterward of what he had prayed for For Almighty God in honour of S. VVenefrid and her Chappell forthwith afflicted the Theefe that had vnloosed and taken away the horse with such a raging extremity of payne throughout his whole body that he often desired to be freed by death from so intollerable a torment daily increasing on him till the humours which caused the same fel into his right arme making it first to swell and afterwards to rot in a most horrible and loathesome manner vntill at length humbled by affliction and hopeles of all ease otherwise he came in a very penitent manner to the Saints chappell confessing his fault demaunding her pardon with many teares for so great a wrong and insolency committed there by him Vpon this his humiliation he became eased by degrees and by little and little cured of his paineful vlcer praysing God and the holy Martyr for their mercyes towards him remayning euer afterwards whilst he liued a dreadfull example to warne others from violating as he had done the sanctity of that place or wronging S. VVenefrids clients running for succour in their distresses vnto her The Fame also of this miracle diuulged abroad increased much the peoples opinion of the place and their deuotion towards the Saint who had shewed herselfe so powerfull a Patronesse of her Chappell and Defendresse of such as for their safety and protection from iniuries repayred vnto it CHAP. IV. How certaine Theeues who had stolne a Cow neere to S. Wenefrids Chappell and driuen her through Rocky wayes were notwithstanding traced by her footesteps in the hard stones miraculously imprinted and so enforced to leaue her to the Owners pursuing them ANother Miracle no lesse wonderfull then the former hapned in this manner Certaine Theeues hauing stolne a Cow out of a pasture neere to S. VVenefrids Chappell driuen her through Rocky high wayes that they might not by her footing be traced it fell out far otherwise for the Cow trod not one steppe but as if she had gone in durty deepe wayes wherby her footing and the
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