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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
saint_n	lesson_n	morning_n	prayer_n	1,783	5	10.4094	5	true

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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

and confirmed in her comfortable persuasion that Christ the Author of her iourney would not in his care and protection be wanting vnto her humbly and thanckfully tooke her leaue of him and went on forwards with her companiō towards Henthlant where Saturnus remayned Comming thither she was most charitably receaued by him as hauing bin concerning herselfe and her iourney before hand diuinely instructed and causing her to remayne that night in prayer and holy conferences with him he gaue vnto her to her great comfort many heauenly holy lessons and towards the morning he tould her that their was a place not far off called Guitherin stored with the pretious reliques of many Saints who had formerly liued there in great holines of life and deerenes vnto God blessing the place for them and for that cause greatly reuerenced by deuout people repayring vnto it This place said he is destined by God for your earthly habitation and to be sanctified more by you where also you shall find a holy Abbot called Elerius of so great mortification prayer vnion with God as the world and all contentments therof are wholy dead vnto him To this Man then am I willed to send you and to tell you with all that you shall find there a heauenly tranquillity of mind and a Monastery of chast Virgins trayned vp from their Infancy in vertue liuing also now holily togeather yet ordeyned by God to be raysed by your holy Example and Instructions to higher and perfecter wayes of gayning sanctity and religious perfection and they will in time for that end humbly and gladly be ready to submit themselues vnto you as to a Mother and Abbesse sent by their Heauenly spouse purposly vnto them CHAP. XV. How S. Wenefride going to Elerius was in the way saluted most charitably by him how also after they had spent a whole night in prayer togeather she was led by him to the monastery of Virgins and there after high prayses vttered of her she was commended as a companion diuinely sent vnto them S. VVenefride replenished with incredible ioy at Saturnus speaches vnto her especially in hearing how holy a place she was going vnto and that she should find there a Monastery of chast virgins to liue withal desired to know of him the way thitherward crauing withall his holy blessing for the better speed of her iourney The Holy man guiding her himselfe some part of the way for the great reuerence he bare towards her after he had giuen her his blessing caused his Deacon to accompany her throughout the whole iourney to Elerius who being diuinely forewarned of her comming and all other particulars of her life met her for honours sake vpon the way and after he had led her into the Church and prayed a while with her he imbraced her in a fatherly louing manner bidding her be of good comfort for said he taking her a part from the Deacon and her Companion I haue already diuinely vnderstood of your noble Virginity with other gracefull signes of your martyrdome in the place thereof yet remayning and will be gladly ready to help you in the cause of your iourney vnto me Whereunto S. VVenefride replyed that she had nothing more concerning herselfe to tell him but that as she had ben by Gods holy spirit guided vnto him so would she be hūbly ready to receaue his further directions and be in the future course of her life an obedient Child and Scholler vnto him The Saint by this her humble and modest answere being exceedingly edified tould her that they would if she pleased spend that night in holy prayer togeather for their surer direction in so important an occasion and he hauing receaued towards the morning new illuminatiōs from heauen about her replenished with excessiue ioy he rose from his prayer and hartily imbracing her willed her to be confident that God would not be wanting in the wonted effects and gracious increasing of his Fatherly loue towards her so leading her out of the Church to the Monastery of Virgins gouerned by him he made this speach vnto them Deare Children of God reioyce for that your heauenly spouse hath sent a new star of wonderful brightnes to shine heere among you prouided such a companiō for you as wil with new treasures of merited graces enrich her owne soule and yours also by the many rare examples and high practises of religious Perfection which from tyme to tyme she will exhibit profitably and holily vnto you For this is VVenefride that renowned Virgin whome you haue heard to haue suffered a glorious death for her virginity defēded This is she whose Triumphs are sung in Churches and her Trophies do yet illustrate the whole Prouince which she dwelled in This is she CHAP. XVI Of the commendation which the Saint made of S. Wenefride to the old Abbesse of the Monastery and how she quickly there deserued his prayses by her eminent and heroicall Vertues S. Elerius hauing spoken so much of her sanctity generally to all the sisters of the Monastery togeather conuerted his speach vnto the Venerable old Abbesse called Theonia a very holy woman saying thus vnto her To you most deare Mother I recommend especially the respectfull entertaynement of this sacred and deare spouse of Christ sent as I say once againe diuinely vnto you wherby you may gather how highly she is to be honored by you ioy withall that the Author of all graces hath in sending her hither so louingly regarded you with this he departed leauing S. VVenefrid amongst them who suitably to his high prayses began to shine in her wonderfull perfections and by heroicall acts of vertue to infuse a new Charity amongst thē easily by all discerned by the Abbesse especially who was no raw beginner in regular and holy courses Her abstinence they noted was admirable her prayer cōtinuall when charitable occasions interrupted not the same very often extaticall a profound Humility in all her gestures and speaches plainely appeared neuer praysing herselfe and sensibly troubled when others for any thing did extoll her Patience the first fruite of Charity as S Paul reckoneth it seemed to haue possessed so fully her hart and so firmely setled the affections thereof as all Anger Enuy and other disordinate Passions of that kind were wholy dead vnto her Her Commands had euer such sweetnes and discretion conioyned as it delighted all the other to do whatsoe ioyed in her deuout scholler and the other was no lesse pleased in hauing such a Mistresse so diuinely prepared by Christ for her CHAP. XVII How S. Elerius experiencing S. Wenefrids great wisedome and Vertue in many conferences with her preached her sanctity to his Brethren And of the many people who moued with the fame of her Martyrdome and holy life came from places farre and neere to see and speake with her S. Elerius liuing with his Monks not far off in a most retired austere and deuout manner delighted many tymes to visit

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 instructiōs 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 cōfort 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 vpō a stone neere to the side of the well called therefore to this day S. Beuno's stone You see said he heere the monumēt 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 ●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 documēts which by a perfit contempt of the world and a full abnegation of thēselues 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 toūg 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 companiōs 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 heauēly oracles such remedies as in their difficulties temptations she wisely compassionably gaue them had a heauenly kind

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

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

theues also themselues so plainely appeared that the owner his Neighbours the next morning missing the beast did very easily see which way she was driuen Whereupon they following the tracke with all speed came so neere to ouertake the Theeues that they were constreyned in great feare to fly away and leaue the Cow behind them to their pursuers VVho at better leasure afterwardes considering how the Cowes feet had miraculously made prints in the hard stones as she was driuen away but not as she returned percea ued it to be an euident miracle and for such to the honour of S. VVenefride by king-trade to abstayne likewise from theft especially out of any place neere to the Saintes Chappels CHAP. V. Of daily Cures done vpon sicke children throwne into the streame of S. VVenefrids VVell and of others also cured miraculously of agues hoat feauers by drinking of the same water IN processe of tyme this sacred Fountayne the Trophy and triumphant signe of S. VVenefrids Martyrdome became so famously renowned for miraculous cures done by the waters thereof that Mothers were vsually wont to throw their young children sicke of any disease into the streame running from the same who became presently cured by the touch of those waters Such also as had Agues or hoat burning Feauers in any part of the Country were wont for a certaine and present remedie therof either to drincke a draught of that pure fountaine-water or if they had it not at hand to put in some one of the blouddy stones taken out of the VVell into a draught of any other water and became thereby presently cured In like māner such as had any swelling or soare about them were accustomed to bath the part affected with the said water and found present remedy thereby The first vse of which remedies for all sorts of sores and diseases is said to haue ben taught by the holy Virgin-Martyr herselfe who visibly after her death CHAP. VI. How diuers thefts from places neere vnto the Well were by S. Wenefride miraculously punished and how the Authors became warned and penitent for the same THE streames of water breaketh out of Saint VVenefrides VVell in such abundance together as within one furlongs space it driueth a mill neuer standing still for want of water euen in the greatest drought of summer nor is euer hindred from grinding by any freezing of the streame by which it is driuen in winter This Mill● by certaine theeues was vpon a tyme robbed in the night and the Irons thereof were carried away to be put into another mill built not far frō thence by those that stole them but through the merits of S. VVenefride a strange euent hapned heer about for the Mill into which these Irons were put could neuer be made to turne or grind any thing therewith so as the stealers thereof mooued at length by the miracle more thē once experiēced broght them back againe and confessed their fault penitently in the Saintes Chappell warning others thereby not to commit the like theft in placesneere vnto it for feare of beeing by her prayers punished for it By this Miracle so diuulged many people also were moued the more to glorify God in those wonderous things which he did to testifie the great merits of this holy Virgin S. VVenefride ioyfully relating to one another how S Beuno's prediction of the innumerable Cures which should be done by those miraculous waters and by the Virgins owne prayers began to be now fulfilled when as humbly prostrate on her knees before her departure frō that place she besought her heauenly spouse corporally to blesse and spiritually to sanctifie those who in of his Court called Roger through his great piety and zeale to mantayne Gods seruants built in Shrewsbury a sumptuous faire Monastery and endowed the same with sufficient reuenewes to his owne great prayse and the benefit of that Citty which Monastery being ended Religious men with their Superiour placed therin they began piously to complayne that they wāted reliques in their Church whereas that Country of VValts in innumerable places was stored aboundantly with them by reason of so many great Saintes men women who formerly had flourished in great sanctity of life and miraculous testifications therof throughout that whole Kingdome Whereupon to haue their Church hallowed their new Monastery guarded with such sacred pledges munificētly placed duly honoured by thē they begā to inquire after some speciall Saint whose Reliques might happily be gotten for that purpose by them during which deliberation of theirs a Monke of this their Monastery fell very sicke in body and so distracted in mind withall that not only his Brethren there but in Chester and other places also hearing of his pittifull case ceased not to pray most hartily for him And as in Chester-Abbey the Subprior of that Monastery a godly man called Radulphus had one day ended his prayer for that end he fell into an vnusuall kind of sleepe to whome a woman the meane while in a very glorious habit appeared and said If you desire the sicke Monks health let some one of you goe say a Masse in the Chappell neere S. VVenefrids VVell for him and he shall presently recouer so she vanished The Moncke heerewith awaked durst not for some tyme impart this vision vnto any as fearing little credit would be giuen vnto it vntill at length the wise began to be singularly deuoted vnto her and labouted by all meanes possible to get some particle of her Virginall sacred Body vnto them CHAP. VIII Of the earnest desire which the Abbot Monkes of Shrewsbury had to get the body of S. VVenefride vnto them And how finally after many yeares very great difficulties they obteyned the same THe Abbot Monks of Shrewsbury for many yeares persisting in their holy desires of getting S. VVenefrides body obteyned at length in the peacefull reigne of King Henry the first a Grant therof but by reason of wars and many tumults happening in that Countrey after this Kings death it was not effected vntill the secōd yeare of King Stephens reigne when as the holy Abbot Herbert in a consultation of his Monkes ordeyned Robert his Prior togeather with one Richard a chiefe Monke of the same Monastery to go into VVales about it Before whose going the said Robert more solicitous then others in the businesse directed diuers letters vnto friends in VVales best likely therein to assist him who promised gladly their help wished him to hasten his cōming amōgst thē Wherfore beginning his iourney he first visitted the Bishop of Bangor in his way and was by him directed to a Principall Lord who ruled in that Country by him him very courteously receaued As soone as the Noble Man had vnderstood the that tould them how the Inhabitants therabout hauing heard of their comminge were exceedingly troubled thereat and absolutely resolued to hinder them in their pretence and not to suffer the chiefe Saint Patronesse of

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