him in S. Winwaloc, that he us'd all endeavours to goe to him, and be subject to his direction in piety.
But whilst he busied his thoughts with this design, S. Patrick in a vision presented himself to him with an Angelicall brightnes, and having a golden Diadem on his head: he thus spoke to him: Behold I am the same Patrick, whom thou so earnestly desirest to visit: But to prevent so te∣dious a iourney by sea and land, our Lord hath sent mee to thee to fullfill thy desire, and that thou maist enjoy both my sight and conversation.
Besides this he foretold him that he should be a Guide and Directour of many in spirituall warfare: for which end he gave him many wholesom in∣structions: Exhorting him withall to desire from his Master some companions: and that with them he should remove to another place. Assoon as this Vision vanish'd, S. Winwaloc went to the Cell in which the Father of the Monastery was atten∣ding to Divine Meditation and contemplation.
To whom assoon as he had declar'd his Vision, he with a joyfull countenance said to him, My son, thou hast been honour'd with a Divine visitation and revelation. And without delay, as if he had receiv'd a precept from heaven, he assign'd to him eleaven Disciples, such as were most fervent in Gods service &c.
4. The same Authour adds that with these companions he pass'd over into a certain Island, where for the space of three years they lead an Heremiticall life. But the place being both expos'd to violent tempests, and also incommodious by reason of its barrennes, S. Win∣waloc humbly begg'd of God that he would direct them to a more convenient habitation. Our Lord heard his servants prayers, and shewd him a place further remov'd in the Sea.
But wanting a ship he renewd his Prayers to God: and having done this he said to his Brethren▪ Be courageous and firm in a strong Faith, and as you see mee leade this Brother by the hand, so doe every one of you take his next fellows hand, and follow one another.
Then invoking the name of our Lord, with his Pastorall Staff he strook the Sea, upon which God renewd once more the ancient Miracle of the Red sea, for it opened a passage for them: so that ta∣king one another by the hand, and himself marching in the front, they walk'd securely over the dry sands, the waters on both sides standing like walls, and as they went they sang to our Lord a Hymne of praise and joyful∣nes.
5. Concerning his austerities, wee read thus in Capgrave, From the twentieth year of his age to his death S. winwaloc was never seen to sitt in the Church. He never exceeded moderation in any thing: Never was he deiected with sadnes, nor dissolute in mirth; never angry or turbulent, but kind and affable to all, Every day he repea∣ted the hundred and fifty Psalms, sometimes standing with his armes stretch'd forth in the figure of a Crosse, sometimes ••alln on his knees. From the day that he began to build his habita∣tion, he never used any garment of wooll or lin∣nen, but made use only of goat-skins. Neither on his bed had he either feathers or cloaths: but instead of feathers he strowd under him Nutt∣shells, and instead of blankets sand mingled with pebles: and two great stones he putt under his head. He us'd the same garments day and night. He never eat wheaten bread, and but a small proportion of bread made of barley, with which was mingled an equall measure of ashes. He took his refection once only in two, and some∣times three dayes. His other dyet was a mixture of meale and cabbage, without any fatt at all Vpon saturdays and sundays he would add a little cheese sodd in water, and at Easter a few small fishes.
3. It was his usuall custom dayly to visit a Church about a mile distant from his Monastery, atten∣ded by a Deacon named Egbin: and there to offer Sacrifices to God both for the living and dead. And such was his diligence and devo∣tion at the Holy Altar, that he me∣rited there to receive his reward of eternall happines:
For as it follows in the same Au∣thour, One day an Angel appeard to him and said, Reverend Father, the heavenly Cittizens desire thee for their companion: and soon shalt thou be deliver'd from thy painfull exercises.
After this he presently call'd his Brethren toge∣ther and said to them, Prepare your selves to day, for assoon as I have sung Masse, and communica∣ted the Body and Blood of our Lord, at the sixth hower of the day our Lord will receive mee out of this mortall body. Having therefore cele∣brated Masse as he stood at the Altar between two Monks which sustain'd him on each side, and was singing with his Brethren, he ren∣dred his soule to God, as untouch'd by cor∣porall sicknes, as it was free from any carnall staines.
4. The same happy manner of his death is likewise recorded in the Gallican Martyro∣loge: and the day signd by it is the third of March. Where is further declar'd, that in the times when the Normans wasted France, his sa∣cred Body was translated (from his Monas••ery at Tauriacum) to the Provinces further remov'd from sea, and thence carried into Flanders, and laid in the Blandin Monastery at Gaunt, where the Feast of his Memory is celebrated on the first of August, the day of his Translation. Notwithstanding Malbranc earnestly con∣tends that his sacred Relicks repose at Mon∣strueil, where they shew likewise his Chasu∣ble, Albe and stole: and there is a Church dedicated to his memory, in French call'd S. Wal••y.
5. Now though S. Winwaloc dyed out of Brittany, yet there were not wanting the monuments of his memory and Sanctity. A town in Shropshire, call'd even in the Saxons time Wenlock, as Malmsburiensis te∣stifies, (which seems a contraction of Winwaloc) from him took its denomi∣nation. There it was that the Holy Vir∣gin Milburga founded a Monastery of Reli¦gious Virgins, as shall in due place be decla∣red.
6. And whereas in the Gests of S. Winwalo••