CHAPTER I.

IN the Westerne part of great Britanny, called [Page 10] VVales, cōioyned Eastwards in the same continent, with England, and rounded on all other sides with Seuerne, and the Ocean, flourished in ti­mes past innumerable Sain­tes men and women of sin­gular sanctity and merit, as their seuerall Shrines, and stately Monuments yet re­mayning do testify; amongst who me, in King Eluith the second his tyme, one S. Beu­no was for his wonderfull graces especially renowned; who hauing, out of a holy desire to imitate the pouer­ty [Page 11] of his heauenly Lord, and to become a true Pil­grime heere on earth, for­saken his owne Countrey, and trodden vnder foote such glorious pompes, and pleasures of the world as he might at home haue en­ioyed, made himselfe first a Moncke, and soone after arriued to such perfection and sanctity of life, that he became a common Father of Religious persons.

For no sooner had he built a Church and Mona­stery in one place, and setled [Page 12] there in regular discipline and great purity of life, a certaine number of Reli­giōs persons, but he trauel­led to another part of the Countrey, to do there the like also, as Gods holy spi­rit for the benefit of many, peculiarly directed him; so that at length he entred in­to the territory of a rich, & potent Lord called Theuith sonne to a chiefe Counsel­lour of the King, & a princi­pal gouerner of the Coūtry, who equalled his Illustrious birth, by his Noble, Reli­gious, [Page 13] & exemplar demea­nours.

When Venerable Beuno came to this Lords house, he was most respectfully by him entertayned, and after charitable salutatiōs passed betweene them, the Saint tould him, that he was sent by God to erect a Church in his Territory, as he had done in other places: and I doubt not (said he) but that God hath by a very feruent and peculiar inspiration, drawne me hither from his other seruants, with whome [Page 14] I liued els where with great content, to performe some great good particularly for you, and yours. Wherefore for his diuine Maiesties ser­uice, I humbly intreate a small part of your ample inheritance, to rayse there­in a Church, where others with my selfe will daily pray for your safety.

The Noble man moued with the Saintes Venerable aspect and speaches, resol­ued forthwith, to graunt what he asked, and yielded this wise answere vnto him: [Page 15] With good reason, holy Fa­ther, am I bound to giue you a part of what Lands I possesse, for the seruice of him, who gaue all vnto me: and I conceaue indeed that you haue pleasured me much, in asking this Cha­rity of me, more profitable to my selfe, then to you. Wherefore this very Man­nour which now I liue in, I do from this tyme forward wholy alienate frō my selfe and all myne, yielding the possession, & all right ther­of most gladly vnto you: [Page 16] and hauing no more then one child, a tender Virgin, the greatest delight indeed, and worldly ioy of my hart, I will besides bequeath her to your holy instructions, and prayers, that her life may be holy, and her con­uersation such, as may be pleasing to God, and con­tentfull to me also.

And hauing put the Saint in possession of the place, and promised moreo­uer to help him in the buil­ding by him intended, for a conuenient aboad of Gods [Page 17] Religious children and ser­uants, he chose afterwards a place for himselfe to dwell in, vpon a high hill ouer a­gainst it, that when he could not inioy the holy mans presence, he might a far of looke at least towards him, and recreate himselfe often in the day, by being with him holily and continually imployed in the seruice of God, spiritually conioyned.

CHAP. II.

VVHen the Saint began to build [Page 19] his Church and monastery the Lord Theuith did not faile with meanes liberally to further it; vouchsafing also many times to put his owne hands to this holy worke for the example of others, and the sooner to fi­nish it, as a thing by him for the glory of God, and good of his owne scule, ex­ceedingly desired. So as the Church was no sooner ray­sed, and made fit for the ho­ly man to preach, and offer the diuine Sacrifice in, but himselfe with his Wife and [Page 20] VVenefride his Daughter, were daily and deuoutely present, at such holy exer­cises, he obseruing still this Custome to place his Child at the Saintes feete whilst he preached, willing her to be attentiue to his speaches. VVhich became not fruit­les in her soule, holily euen then in her tender yeares, and graciously prepared fer­uently to practise in her life, such heauenly documents as from the Saints mouth she continually learned. And her delight in hearing [Page 21] him was such, as with leaue of her Parents she often vi­sited him alone by her selfe, to be enriched the more, with a profitable, and pra­cticall knowledge of diuine verities from him.

And albeit her Parents, as their most gracious and only child, dearely affected her, and had placed (after a worldly manner) the only hope of their posterity in her, by resoluing with an ample dowry to marry her in due tyme, to some No­ble and chiefe person of the [...] [Page 24] in this doubtfull conflict, betweene humane & diuine loue passing in her thoghts, the powerfull illuminator, and best Directour of holy soules interiourly suggested this counsel vnto her, that by Saint Beuno, whose holy speaches had occasioned this pious resolution first in her hart firmely then roo­ted, to propose it vnto her Parents, whose power and authority she wisely knew to be very great with them, by reason they honoured him much, and in all things [Page 25] he said, gladly obeyed him. VVherfore one day finding him alone, after his manner holily retired, she humbly and boldly manifested her purpose thus vnto him.

Holy Father, I come here to make knowne vnto you the holy fruites of your speaches, and Gods graces togeather in my Soule, whereby I haue byn effe­ctually, and (I hope) hap­pily moued to estrange my selfe wholy from Worldly contentments, and to con­secrate my Virginity purely [Page 26] to him, who liberally gaue me the beeing I haue, and hath hitherto cōserued this enriching Treasure graci­ously in me; Humbly be­seeching you, to obteyne for me, my Parents good leaue and permission so to conti­nue. The Saint forthwith as beyond all expression de­lighted to know that the seedes of diuine grace sowne by his speaches, were be­ginning to grow so happily in her, willingly vnder­tooke to obteyne of her Parents what she desired [Page 27] throgh the cōfidence which he had in their singular pie­ty towards God, & readines to do what his diuine Maie­sty would haue them.

CHAP. III.

THe holy mā, a power­full Oratour with thē [Page 28] who as Children reuerent­ly respected, and desired to obey him, in a heauenly language imparted vnto them S. VVenefrids desires, and made them withall ca­pable to know, that it would be no ordinary act of their due loue to God, gladly and freely to dedicate to his ser­uice what in this world was dearest vnto them. Their answere vnto him, with teares of ioy and praysing of Christ for his graces af­foarded, so singularly, to their child, was no other [Page 29] then a full, and free leaue giuen to S. VVenefride of forsaking the world to serue her heauenly Spouse, who by so high and holy a voca­tion, had called her vnto him.

And so wishing her a hap­py progresse therein, they resolued also to draw out of the same this benefitt to thēselues, that giuing away to the poore, her ample dowry for a secular maria­ge by them prepared, and distributing in holy vses besides, a very great part of [Page 30] their owne princely wealth and possessions as trouble­some vnto them, and (with pouerty delighted) due to the king of heauen, who by espousing their Child was growne to be heyre as it were vnto them; they might run more lightly the way of his commandements, & in a holy freedome frō world­ly solicitudes spend, & end the remainder of their life in gayning to themselues heauenly treasures eternal­ly to enrich them: wherein they became animated af­terwards [Page 31] by the rare exam­ple of their daughters 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 [Page 32] drawe, through her eares to her soule, the vitall breath of his heauen­ly discourses, was in the day tyme her delightfullest mā ­sion: 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 [Page 33] 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 [Page 34] 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.

S. Beuno hauing fully en­ded the fabrique of his Church, and consecrated the same to Christ, was daily [Page 36] 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.

[Page 37] 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 [Page 38] 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 [Page 39] 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 [Page 40] 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 [Page 41] 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 [Page 42] 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 [Page 43] 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 [Page 44] 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 [Page 45] 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 people moued with so dolefull a spe­ctacle, [Page 47] as was the virgins head, bloud, 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 [Page 48] 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, [Page 49] 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, [Page 50] 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 [Page 51] 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, & [Page 52] 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.

AFter the holy mā had ended his Masse, and the people their prayers, lif­ting vp his hands towards heauen, he prayed in this [Page 54] 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 [Page 55] 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 [Page 56] 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 [Page 57] 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. [Page 58] 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 [Page 59] 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.

[Page 60] 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 [Page 61] 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.

S. VVenefride, as another Lazarus restored to a new life, with a fresh fer­uour of heauenly loue and [Page 63] deuotion, applyed herselfe to learne from so great a maister as S. Beuno was, how to rayse her already-illumi­nated soule to the 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 [...] [Page 66] 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 [Page 67] 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 [Page 68] 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 [Page 69] 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 wilbe able to performe what I haue said; and in this very place, gather togeather for your heauenly spouse, many pure [Page 70] 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 [Page 71] ages, and your merits publi­shed to the whole world, by miraculous cures, & helpes affoarded vnto sickly, and distressed persons praying vnto you.

CHAP. VIII.

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 [Page 73] 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 [...] [Page 76] 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 [Page 77] 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 [Page 78] 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 [Page 79] 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.

[...] [Page 82] 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, [Page 83] 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.

[Page 84] 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 [Page 85] 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- [...] [Page 88] 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 cō ­pany, 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 [Page 89] 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.

[Page 90] 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 [Page 91] 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.

ALbeit many Graces were worthily admi­red in his holy Virgin, by [Page 95] 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, & [Page 96] 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 [Page 97] 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- [...] [Page 100] 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 hū ­ble Clients and suppliants in that place vnto her.

CHAP. XII.

S. VVenefride hauing in earnest prayer recom­mēded her iourney to God, [Page 102] 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 [Page 103] 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 [...] [Page 106] 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.

THe holy Virgin after due inquiry made, where the Village Botauar stood, and of her way vnto it, committing to God her [Page 108] 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 [Page 109] (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.

S. VVenefride much reioy­cing at the direction [Page 113] which Blessed Deifer had giuen her, 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 [Page 114] 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 [Page 115] 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 [Page 116] 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.

S. VVenefride replenished with incredible ioy at Saturnus speaches vnto her, [Page 118] 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 [Page 119] 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 [Page 120] 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 [Page 121] 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 [Page 122] 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 [Page 123] 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.

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 [Page 127] 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 [Page 128] 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, [Page 129] 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- [...] [Page 132] 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.

S. Elerius liuing with his Monks, not far off, in a most retired, austere and de­uout [Page 134] manner, delighted ma­ny tymes to visit 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 [Page 135] 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 [Page 136] 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 [Page 137] 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.

BLessed Elerius visiting on a tyme S. VVenefrid in her Monastery, to con­ferre, as his custome was, of [Page 139] 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 [...] [Page 142] 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.

[Page 143] 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.

S. VVenefride had not li­ued long Abbesse of the Monastery, before the fame of her sanctity & wisedome came to be, throughout that [Page 145] 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 [...] [Page 148] 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 [Page 149] 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.

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 [Page 151] 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 [Page 152] 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, [Page 153] 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.

[Page 154] 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 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) [Page 155] 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- [...] [Page 158] 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, [Page 159] 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 [Page 160] 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. Cō ­ceaue 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, [Page 161] 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.

[...] [Page 164] 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.

[Page 165] 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 [Page 166] 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 [Page 167] 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 [Page 168] God, through his merits and prayers worketh miraculous cures vpon per­sons either diseased, or di­stressed.

CHAP. I.

ALmighty God ceased not by wonderfull [Page 178] 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 [Page 179] 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 [Page 180] 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 [Page 181] 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 shalbe by me declared.

CHAP. II.

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 [Page 183] 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 [Page 184] 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 [Page 185] 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.

[...] [Page 188] 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 [Page 189] 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 [Page 190] 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 [Page 191] 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 [Page 192] of her Chappell, and Defendresse of such, as for their safety, and prote­ction from iniuries, repay­red vnto it.

CHAP. IV.

ANother Miracle, no lesse wonderfull then the former hapned in this manner. Certaine Theeues [Page 194] 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 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.

[Page 195] 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 [...] [Page 198] king-trade, to abstayne like­wise from theft, especially out of any place, neere to the Saintes Chappels.

CHAP. V.

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 [Page 200] 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 [Page 201] 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.

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 [Page 205] 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 [Page 206] 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 [Page 207] 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 [...] [Page 210] 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 [Page 211] 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 [Page 212] 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, [Page 213] 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 [...] [Page 216] 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.

THe Abbot & Monks of Shrewsbury, for ma­ny yeares persisting in their holy desires, of getting S. VVenefrides body, obteyned at length in the peacefull [Page 218] 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 [Page 219] 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 [...] [Page 222] 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 their Countrey, by strangers to be carried away from them. And (said he) from this their resolution generally taken, no fauour or power of any man liuing, will be able to draw them.

These words being plai­nely [Page 223] and sincerely vttered, very much troubled Prior Robert and his companions all that night; but yet pray­ing all togeather, and hum­bly crauing Gods direction & assistāce in their intēded busines, they neuerthelesse aduentured, to prosecute their iourney, & comming the next day neere to the place, Prior Robert thought good to remaine himselfe in a Farmers house, pri­uatly lodged that night, and to send the Prior of Chester and the other Priest to Gui­therine [Page 224] before him, as men well borne, and knowne in that Country.

After they were gone, Prior Robert, rising as his custome was by night to say his mattins, was certified by one of his company, a good deuout man, that a glorious Virgin had appeared that night to him, bidding him goe to his Prior, & tell him from her, that he should be of good comfort, because he should ioyfully and prospe­rously, effect the busines which he came for, by the [Page 225] help of her, whose honour he hath so particularly sought; and hauing accep­ted of his holy intention, will ioyne also with him, in the performance therof.

[Page 228] Prior full of good hope, to obteyne that, which his speach imported; so as in the morning, he comfortably declared to those who were with him the vision he had also receaued, and willed them therefore to prepare presently for their iourney. But before they were ready, a messenger came from the other Prior purposely sent, to hasten them forwards & to certifie them withall, that Almighty God, and the Saint herselfe had disposed all things, so prosperously, [Page 229] for them, that they should not returne without obtey­ning what they desired.

This ioyfull message re­ceaued, they went on, and making what speede they could, they came early in the morning to the Church where S. VVenefrides body was certainely interred, and hauing for a while at her shrine deuoutely prayed, the chiefe Priest of the Pa­rish came in, and courteous­ly saluted them, as they did him likewise in a very hum­ble manner, earnestly in­treating [Page 230] him withall, to be their charitable helper, in carrying away the Saintes body with them, to a place where it should be more magnificently interred then there it was, and daily ho­noured, by multitudes of people, desirous to haue so sacred a Treasure reposed a­mongst them.

CHAP. X.

THe good Priest pa­tiently hard their re­quest, and courteously tould them, that he for his part, would easily graunt what they desired of him, as ha­uing had for sometyme be­fore, the will of God, and of [...] [Page 234] Note this place well, & my words also, whereby I do command thee, that if some moneths hence any persons come to opē this Sepulcher, & to carry away she Saintes body with them, hinder them not in their holy de­signe, but assist them in all thou maist, least by dooing contrary to what I heere di­uinely foretell thee, some painefull & vnremediable sicknes, to punish thy diso­bedience, do happen vnto thee. And hauing vtte­red these words, this Angel, [Page 235] as I thinke he was, vanished away. So as I wil not faile for my part, to help you in your purpose, by persuading o­thers also, who are owners of this village, to yield wil­lingly the Saints body: and for this purpose I haue or­deined them to come them­selues hither vnto you.

CHAP. XI.

THe Priour seeing the people in great num­bers assembled, by an Inter­preter tould them, that he and his Companions were come, diuinely warranted, to procure of them S. VVe­nefrids body, that in their [Page 237] Citty, and Monastery much deuoted vnto her, it might more thē it could be there, honoured and respected; & the Blessed Virgin Martyr herselfe (said he) as your Pa­stour heere partly knoweth) hath by many visions ma­nifested her willingnes here­unto, and will not be plea­sed with such as shall dare heerein to resist her. To which speach of his, they gently harkened, and be­came inclined thereby to graunt what he requested: one only amongst them op­posed [Page 238] himselfe, and clamo­rously tould them in pre­sence of the rest, that they should neuer be depriued, by his will, of so sacred a Treasure, as was the body of that Saint, who had liued holily, and dyed happily in that place, leauing her reli­ques to be honoured by them, no lesse then they had ben by their Ancestors before them, Allmighty God hauing from tyme to tyme, by miracles, appro­ued the pious deuotion of people towards them.

[Page 239] This passionate boldnes of the man much troubled the Prior, so as to stop his mouth, and gayne his con­sent, he caused one of his cōpany to giue him money very largely, by which he was so altered, as that others not knowing the reason of his change (carefully from them concealed) wondered thereat; and imputing the same to some miraculous operation wrought by God and the Saint, began to yield their owne consents somewhat more willingly, [Page 240] then before, and finally af­ter many consultations pas­sed among themselues, at last they all fully agreed, & consented that the Saintes body should be presently taken vp, and deliuered de­cently vnto them.

For which resolution the Prior and his companions very hartily & courteously gaue them thankes, & with­out any delay desired to en­ter the holy Ile, wherin the Saintes Shrine had ben for many ages deuoutely visit­ted by holy Pilgrims, and [Page 241] many wonderfull cures v­pon diseased persons fre­quently performed.

Neither did they find her body there alone, but many holy bodies both of men and women also were found lying by it; hauing without the place of their buriall, a woodden lardge porch, wherein the people vsed to kneele and pray; esteemed also sacred of it selfe for this continuall mi­racle, that if any beast came to feed of the grasse neere vnto it, it presently dyed; & [...] [Page 244] racles wrought at Guitherin Church, by S. VVenefride, and other Saintes there in­terred, this one as freshly happened, was vnto the Prior and his companions thus certainely recounted.

A certaine labouring man two yeares before, pre­sumed, for some vse, to cut downe a bough of an old Oake, growing neere the Church dore in holy groūd yielding also a conuenient shade, and shelter to such deuout pilgrimes as could not sometimes enter into [Page 245] the Church for the Con­course of people, but were forced to stay without, and pray vnder it: Who had no sooner strooke his Hat­chet into the bough, but it became therein immo­ueably fixed, and his whole hand and arme did like­wise cleaue so fast vnto the handle of the hatchet, that they seemed to haue grown vnto it, & by no force were able to be remoued.

The poore man finding himselfe in this distresse, cried out for help, which his [Page 246] neighbours hearing, they came running to the place, but 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 [Page 247] 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.

PRior Robert hauing had a generall leaue from the Pastour of the Church and his parishioners to take [Page 249] 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, & [...] [Page 252] 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, [Page 253] what due veneration & re­uerence was to be yielded afterwards vnto them.

CHAP. XIV.

PRior Robert & his com­pany in seauen dayes [Page 255] 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, [...] [Page 258] 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.

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 [Page 260] 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 [Page 261] 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 [...] [Page 264] 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 [Page 265] 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.

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 [Page 267] 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 [...] [Page 270] 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 [Page 271] 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 S. Cyprian, S. Iustine the Mar­tyr, S. Hierome, S. Ambrose, and other innumerable Fa­thers, had either expresly [Page 272] 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 [Page 273] 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- [...]