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The Priours speach vnto the people assēbled in the Church, about obteyning their leaue to carry away S. Wene∣frids Body; and how their consent was finally obteyned.
THe Priour seeing the people in great num∣bers assembled, by an Inter∣preter tould them, that he and his Companions were come, diuinely warranted, to procure of them S. VVe∣nefrids body, that in their
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 Pa∣stour heere partly knoweth) hath by many visions ma∣nifested her willingnes here∣unto, and will not be plea∣sed with such as shall dare heerein to resist her. To which speach of his, they gently harkened, and be∣came inclined thereby to graunt what he requested: one only amongst them op∣posed
himselfe, and clamo∣rously tould them in pre∣sence 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 reli∣ques 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, appro∣ued the pious deuotion of people towards them.
This passionate boldnes of the man much troubled the Prior, so as to stop his mouth, and gayne his con∣sent, 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,
then before, and finally af∣ter many consultations pas∣sed among themselues, at last they all fully agreed, & consented that the Saintes body should be presently taken vp, and deliuered de∣cently vnto them.
For which resolution the Prior and his companions very hartily & courteously gaue them thankes, & with∣out any delay desired to en∣ter the holy Ile, wherin the Saintes Shrine had ben for many ages deuoutely visit∣ted by holy Pilgrims, and
many wonderfull cures v∣pon diseased persons fre∣quently 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 mi∣racle, that if any beast came to feed of the grasse neere vnto it, it presently dyed; & 〈2 pages missing〉〈2 pages missing〉
racles wrought at Guitherin Church, by S. VVenefride, and other Saintes there in∣terred, this one as freshly happened, was vnto the Prior and his companions thus certainely recounted.
A certaine labouring man two yeares before, pre∣sumed, 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
the Church for the Con∣course of people, but were forced to stay without, and pray vnder it: Who had no sooner strooke his Hat∣chet into the bough, but it became therein immo∣ueably fixed, and his whole hand and arme did like∣wise 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
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 ad∣uise 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 VVe∣nefride take pitty on him, his hand was presently loosed
from the hatchet, and his arme to all freedome resto∣red.
Which euident miracle seene by the people, they re∣newed their wonted vene∣ration 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.