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

THE SECOND BOOKE, conteyning the miracles wrought at S. Wenefrides Well; as also vpon her Translation to Shrewsbury. (Book 2)

CHAP. I.

Of the great concourse of people to her Well, graced by mi∣racles, no lesse then before, after her departure from that place.

ALmighty God ceased not by wonderfull

miracles to grace the holy place of S. VVenefrids mar∣tyrdome, after he had in∣spired her (as hath ben said) before her death wholy to abandone it, to the end de∣uout people, perchance, in other parts of the Country might come to know the e∣minent sanctity of her life, and herselfe perfect the gra∣ces of her soule, by liuing humbly, and obediently a∣mongst strangers, as she did for many yeares, vntill by her singular merits & exem∣plar life, she was ordeyned

against her will, to be a holy Mistresse and gratefull Go∣uernesse 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 ho∣noured by multitudes of people, daily visitting her VVell, as the miraculous

Trophy of her martyrdome there susteyned; wondring first, to see such a source of pure water breaking out of the ground vpon which her head first fell; next, to be∣hould the stones therein, as with drops of her bloud strangly stayned, or died ra∣ther; and lastly to smell the greene mosse growing a∣bout the VVell, with a mus∣ky sweet odour more then naturally perfumed.

It was (I say) a pleasure no doubt, and much by the holy Virgin desired, to liue

out of the noise of her owne prayses there daily resoun∣ded; especially when to the wonders of the place it selfe, other miraculous Cures be∣gan to be wrought vpon lea∣prous, 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.

Of a blind maid restored to her sight, by washing her head in S. Wenefrids Well, and praying in her Chappell.

A POORE Carpenter dwelling not far from S. VVenefrides VVell, had a Daughter borne blind, who hauing hard of the wonder∣full cures wrought there, by the intercession and merits of that holy Virgin, ceased not to importune her Fa∣ther daily, that she might

be ledd to that miraculous VVell; and hauing finally obteyned the same, she first bathed her head in the wa∣ter thereof, and then be∣ing conducted to the Chap∣pell neere vnto it, she spent the whole night deuoutely in prayer, that God would be pleased through the me∣rits 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, to∣wards the morning in a cor∣ner

of the Chappell, she was no sooner awaked, but she found herselfe to see per∣fectly; which being percea∣ued by her Father, he cea∣sed not, togeather with his Daughter, ioyfully to pro∣clayme that miraculous fa∣uour by S. VVenefrids power∣full prayers, euidently ob∣teyned.

The fame of this mira∣cle generally diuulged, bred a fresh deuotion in others, to repayre in like manner to that place, for obteyning help, and comfort in their

corporall and spirituall di∣stresses; and they were not frustrated of their hopes, faythfully, and deuoutely so conceaued: whereby the former great Fame of the place, became more vniuer∣sally and gloriously diuul∣ged, to the honour of him, by whose omnipotency and gracious goodnes these mi∣raculous cures were multi∣plied, delightfully glori∣fied in the honours done to his Saintes, and in their glories eternally exalted.

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before the Aultar, vttered his cōplaintes to the Saint of the iniury, and losse ther∣by sustained, beseeching her to punish, as they deserued the wrongfull Authors of that and other mischiefes, to the great harme of ho∣nest people sinfully com∣mitted, and by some exem∣plar reuenge taken vpon them, to warne, and deterre others, from violating in like manner, the safety of her Chappel, and reuerence due vnto it; and so departed onwards in his iourney, not

frustrate afterward of what he had prayed for.

For Almighty God, in honour of S. VVenefrid and her Chappell, forthwith af∣flicted the Theefe that had vnloosed, and taken away the horse, with such a ra∣ging extremity of payne, throughout his whole body, that he often desired to be freed by death from so in∣tollerable a torment, daily increasing on him, till the humours which caused the same, fel into his right arme, making it first to swell, and

afterwards to rot in a most horrible, and loathesome manner, vntill at length humbled by affliction, and hopeles of all ease otherwise he came in a very penitent manner, to the Saints chap∣pell, confessing his fault, & demaunding her pardon, with many teares, for so great a wrong and insolen∣cy committed there by him.

Vpon this his humilia∣tion he became eased by de∣grees, and by little and little cured of his paineful vlcer, praysing God, and the holy

Martyr for their mercyes towards him, & remayning euer afterwards whilst he liued, a dreadfull exam∣ple, 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 her∣selfe so powerfull a Patro∣nesse

of her Chappell, and Defendresse of such, as for their safety, and prote∣ction from iniuries, repay∣red vnto it.

CHAP. IV.

How certaine Theeues who had stolne a Cow neere to S. We∣nefrids Chappell, and driuen her through Rocky wayes, were notwithstanding tra∣ced by her footesteps in the hard stones miraculously im∣printed, and so enforced to leaue her to the Owners pur∣suing them.

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

hauing stolne a Cow, out of a pasture neere to S. VVe∣nefrids 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.

Whereupon they fol∣lowing the tracke with all speed, came so neere to o∣uertake 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 mi∣racle, and for such, to the honour of S. VVenefride, by 〈2 pages missing〉〈2 pages missing〉

king-trade, to abstayne like∣wise 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 cu∣red 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 Mar∣tyrdome, became so famous∣ly renowned, for miracu∣lous cures done by the wa∣ters

thereof, that Mothers were vsually wont to throw their young children sic∣ke 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, ei∣ther to drincke a draught of that pure fountaine-wa∣ter, 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 pre∣sently cured. In like māner such as had any swelling or soare about them, were accu∣stomed to bath the part af∣fected, 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 ho∣ly Virgin-Martyr herselfe, who visibly after her death 〈2 pages missing〉〈2 pages missing〉

CHAP. VI.

How diuers thefts from places neere vnto the Well, were by S. Wenefride miracu∣lously punished; and how the Authors became warned and penitent for the same.

THE streames of wa∣ter breaketh out of Saint VVenefrides VVell, in such abundance together, as within one furlongs space it driueth a mill, neuer stan∣ding still for want of water euen in the greatest drought

of summer, nor is euer hin∣dred from grinding, by any freezing of the streame, by which it is driuen in win∣ter.

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 con∣fessed 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 diuul∣ged, many people also were moued the more to glorify God, in those wonderous

things which he did, to te∣stifie, the great merits of this holy Virgin S. VVene∣fride, ioyfully relating to one another, how S Beuno's prediction of the innume∣rable Cures which should be done by those miracu∣lous waters, and by the Vir∣gins 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, corpo∣rally to blesse, and spiritual∣ly to sanctifie those who in 〈2 pages missing〉〈2 pages missing〉

of his Court, called Roger, through his great piety and zeale to mantayne Gods ser∣uants, built in Shrewsbury a sumptuous faire Monaste∣ry, and endowed the same with sufficient reuenewes, to his owne great prayse, and the benefit of that Citty; which Monastery being en∣ded, & Religious men with their Superiour placed ther∣in, they began, piously to complayne that they wāted reliques in their Church, whereas that Country of VValts in innumerable pla∣ces

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 te∣stifications therof, through∣out 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 spe∣ciall Saint, whose Reliques might happily be gotten for

that purpose by them; du∣ring which deliberation of theirs, a Monke of this their Monastery, fell very sicke, in body, and so di∣stracted in mind withall, that not only his Brethren there, but in Chester and o∣ther places also, hearing of his pittifull case, ceased not to pray most hartily for him.

And as in Chester-Abbey, the Subprior of that Mona∣stery, a godly man, called Radulphus, had one day en∣ded his prayer for that end,

he fell into an vnusuall kind of sleepe, to whome a wo∣man, the meane while, in a very glorious habit appea∣red, 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 vn∣to any, as fearing little cre∣dit would be giuen vnto it, vntill at length, the 〈2 pages missing〉〈2 pages missing〉

wise began to be singularly deuoted vnto her, and la∣bouted by all meanes possi∣ble to get some particle of her Virginall sacred Body vnto them.

CHAP. VIII.

Of the earnest desire which the Abbot & Monkes of Shrews∣bury had to get the body of S. VVenefride vnto them: And how finally after many yeares, & very great diffi∣culties, they obteyned the same.

THe Abbot & Monks of Shrewsbury, for ma∣ny 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 vn∣till the secōd yeare of King Stephens reigne, when as the holy Abbot Herbert in a con∣sultation of his Monkes, or∣deyned Robert his Prior, to∣geather 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. Wher∣fore 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 re∣ceaued.

As soone as the Noble Man, had vnderstood the 〈2 pages missing〉〈2 pages missing〉

that tould them, how the Inhabitants therabout, ha∣uing heard of their com∣minge, were exceedingly troubled thereat, and abso∣lutely 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 plai∣nely

and sincerely vttered, very much troubled Prior Robert and his companions all that night; but yet pray∣ing all togeather, and hum∣bly 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, pri∣uatly lodged that night, and to send the Prior of Chester and the other Priest to Gui∣therine

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 prospe∣rously, effect the busines which he came for, by the

help of her, whose honour he hath so particularly sought; and hauing accep∣ted of his holy intention, will ioyne also with him, in the performance therof.

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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,

for them, that they should not returne without obtey∣ning what they desired.

This ioyfull message re∣ceaued, 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 Pa∣rish came in, and courteous∣ly saluted them, as they did him likewise in a very hum∣ble manner, earnestly in∣treating

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 ho∣noured, by multitudes of people, desirous to haue so sacred a Treasure reposed a∣mongst them.

CHAP. X.

How the Parish Priest cour∣teously condescended to their desire, as hauing byn before hand diuinely prepared, to deliuer the body of S. Wene∣fride vnto them.

THe good Priest pa∣tiently hard their re∣quest, and courteously tould them, that he for his part, would easily graunt what they desired of him, as ha∣uing had for sometyme be∣fore, the will of God, and of 〈2 pages missing〉〈2 pages missing〉

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 de∣signe, but assist them in all thou maist, least by dooing contrary to what I heere di∣uinely foretell thee, some painefull & vnremediable sicknes, to punish thy diso∣bedience, do happen vnto thee. And hauing vtte∣red these words, this Angel,

as I thinke he was, vanished away. So as I wil not faile for my part, to help you in your purpose, by persuading o∣thers also, who are owners of this village, to yield wil∣lingly the Saints body: and for this purpose I haue or∣deined them to come them∣selues hither vnto you.

CHAP. XI.

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.

CHAP. XIII.

How Priour Robert, the Au∣thor of this historie, did him∣selfe take vp the holy body of S. VVenefride, and car∣ry 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 in∣to her Tōbe or Sepulcher, and by an interiour light, communicated then diui¦nely vnto him, knowing where it lay, caused the Tombestone to be remo∣ued, 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, & 〈2 pages missing〉〈2 pages missing〉

into the sicke mans sto∣mack, but he fell soundly a∣sleepe, and when he awa∣ked, found himselfe of his daungerous and painefull infirmity perfectly reco∣uered.

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 & re∣uerence was to be yielded afterwards vnto them.

CHAP. XIV.

How Priour Robert, after seauen dayes iourney, arri∣uing with the sacred Reli∣ques 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 hap∣pened in that place.

PRior Robert & his com∣pany in seauen dayes

ended their iourney backe againe with the sacred trea∣sure to Shrewsbury; and ha∣uing before giuen notice to the Abbot of their ap∣proach, 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 Bi∣shop and his Clergy, with the rest of the people might be warned therof, and in sol∣lēne procession bring them to the Monastery.

And for the greater honor of them in the meane time, 〈2 pages missing〉〈2 pages missing〉

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 like∣wise, perfectly cured, and made whole; so as after he had soūded forth thankeful prayses to God & the holy Martyr, he returned with∣out 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 Reli∣ques brought into the Cit∣ty, and the opinion also of S. VVenefrids sanctity, so that the cōcourse of people was very great, daily hono∣ring

the holy Virgin in them. Priour Robert in the meane tyme hauing by or∣der of his Abbot, treated with the Bishop about the solemnity of bringing her body frō S. Giles his Church to the Monastery; it was a∣greed 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 bles∣sing & 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 & shed∣ding teares of ioy for such a blessing, brought amongst them, was so great, that it was a wōder to see how gra∣tefull their deuotion was to God, and to the Saint thus honored by them. At which tyme also hapned an eui∣dent miracle in the sight of all, worthy heere to be re∣lated.

The morning wherein this solemne procession was 〈2 pages missing〉〈2 pages missing〉

miraculously in the ayre, ouer their heads, and yet be kept from falling downe vpon them, till the solemni∣ty was ended: and therfore they redoubled their praises to God, and to the Saint, as Authors of this great mi∣racle wrought euidently be∣fore 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 a∣boue all valew, most re∣uerently

receaued, & vpon the high Aultar, dedica∣ted to S. Peter and S. Paul, magnificently placed, where many apparent miracles for the help of soules and bo∣dies, are, to Gods great ho∣nour glorified in his Sain∣tes, daily performed: whose Name be praysed for euer and euer. Amen.

CHAP. XVI.

The Conclusion, of the Transla∣tour, vnto this second Booke of S. Wenefrids Life, and Miracles.

I May say heere of S. VVe∣nefrids miracles (of those later especially wrought in Shrewsbury vpon such as ho∣noured 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 mira∣cles 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. VVe∣nefrids Reliques were from Guitherine vnto Shrewsbury; that the Citty, to wit where∣in 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 〈2 pages missing〉〈2 pages missing〉

dit in such Historicall veri∣ties, as they will belieue any Gentill, or Heathen Au∣thor 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 Primi∣tiue Martyrs were liuely re∣presented; Syr, said he, who can belieue (as for my part I cannot) that men, to men, and for Religion only, euer vsed such barbarous cruel∣ties, & more then butcherly inhumanities? To whome for clearing of so certaine and testified a truth, I al∣leaged what Tertullian in sundry places of his workes S. Cyprian, S. Iustine the Mar∣tyr, S. Hierome, S. Ambrose, and other innumerable Fa∣thers, had either expresly

affirmed, or supposed of these Martyrs torments, & that in bookes either writ∣ten to the Martyrs themsel∣ues, or to Heathen magistra∣tes 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 v∣pon stakes in eminēt places

of Rome, cloathed in pitcht shirts, with their armes ex∣tended, and so to be fired in darke nights, as torches to the Citty; with other like in humane torments, exer∣cised vpon them.

Whereupon he began to credit what his Picture re∣presented: and being asked againe by me, why he be∣lieued not before so many testimonies which I had ci∣ted vnto him, out of the holy Fathers; he plainely tould me (and it is the com∣mon persuasion of Prote- 〈1 page missing〉〈1 page missing〉

The End of the second Booke.