Purgatory prov'd by miracles collected out of Roman-Catholick authors : with some remarkable histories relating to British, English, and Irish saints : with a preface concerning the miracles.

Miracles of the British, English and Irish SAINTS.

A Knight of Oxfordshire refusing to pay Tythes, One rais'd from the Dead convinces him of his Crime.

JOhn Brompton. Abbot of Ioreval, and one of the Decem Scriptores, Col. 736. tells us, That St. Austin, (who was sent hither from Rome) once upon a time being to preach in the Country of Ox∣ford, at a Town which is called Compton, there came to him the Priest of the said Town, saying; Father, may it please you to understand, that a Knight, the Lord of this Manno••, having been often admonished by me, will not pay the Tythes of those things which God has given him; and having threatned him with the Sentence of Excommunication, I have found him the more obstinate. Which St. Austin hearing, when he had first sent for the Knight, said thus to him. My Son, what is this which I hear of thee? Why pay you not your Tythes to God and the Church? Know you not that the Tythes are not yours, but God's? To whom the Knight answered in wrath; Who plowed or sowed the Land? Did not I? Know all men therefore, that to him belongs the tenth Sheaf, to whom belong the other nine. To whom St. Austin replyed, My Son, do not talk at this rate. For you may assure your self, that unless you pay your Tythes as other Christian People use to do, I will excommunicate you. And turning to the Altar to say Mass, he said aloud before all the People, I command that no Excommunicate Per∣son be present at Mass. At which Words a Dead Corpse which lay bu∣ried in the Entrance of the Church, rearing up it self, and going out into the Church-yard, stood there like a Statue all the while that St. Austin was saying Mass. Upon the sight of this, all the Faith∣ful that were there present, being almost frighted out of their Wits, came to Blessed Austin, and told him what had happened; To whom, saith he, fear not. But let a Cross with the Holy Water go before Us, and let Us s••e what is the matter. Whereupon Austin going along with the People, came with them to the Entrance of the Church yard, and when he saw the Dead Body, he said, I command ••hee in the name of the Lord, that tho•• tell me who thou art. To whom the Dead Man answered, When on God's behalf you commanded that no Excommunicate Person should be present at Mass, the Angels of God, who are your constant Companions w••ereever you go, cast me out of the Place where I lay bu••ied, saying, That

the Friend of God, Austin, has commanded the stinking Flesh to be cast forth out of the Church of God. For in the time of the Britains, before the fury of the Pagan Saxons had wast••d this ••and, I was the Patron of this Parish. And though I was often admonish••d by the Priest of this Church, I n••ver paid my T••••hes; and at length being excommunicated by him, I af••erwards dyed, an•• was t••rust down to H••ll. When they had heard this, b••th the Saint ••imself, and all the People that were with him, wept much. And Aus••••n said, Do you know the Place where the Priest was buri••d who excommu••••cated you? Who answered, he lies in this very Church-yard. Go before Us, saith Austin, and sh••w Us the Place. The Dead Man went before, and came to a certain Place near the Church, where there ap∣peared no sign at all of a Grave. And he said to Austin, and all the People that followed after him, Lo this is the Place, dig hore, and ye shall fi••d the Bones of the Priest. They digged therefore at St. Austin's bidding•• and deep in the Earth they found a few Bones, which by the length of time were tur••ed very dry. Austin asking whether these were the Bones of the Priest, the Dead Man answered, yes. Then Au∣stin praying a good while•• said, T••at all may kn••w that Lif•• and Death are in the hands of God, to whom n••thing is im••••ssible; In his name arise, for we have ••ccasion for thee. The words were no sooner out of his mouth, but all that were present s••w the dispersed D••st come together, and the Bones to be compacted with Nerves, and the Man himself to rise up•• The Priest thus standing before Austin, Austin saith to him, Brother, Do you know that Man? He answered, Father, I do know him: an•• I wish I had not known him. Quoth Austin, You excomm••nicated him. Quoth the Dead Priest, I did so, and I had reason. For he was always a wi••hholder of Tythes from t••e C••urch, and a Flagitious Man to his last day. Austin replied, Brother, You know that God is merciful, and there∣fore you ought lik••wise to have mercy upon the ••reature and Image of God, who was also redeemed with his Blo••d, and has so long endured the pains of Hell. Then he put a Whip into his hand, and the Other begging la∣mentably for Absolution upon his knees, the Dead Prie••t released the Sins of the Dead Patron. Whom being now absolved, Austin com∣manded to retern to his Grave, and wait for the Last Day. And as soon as he was returned to his Grave, he immediately sell all into Ashes. Then saith Austin to the Priest, How long have you lain here? He made answer, an h••ndred and fifty years and upwards. Quoth Austin, And h••w have you fared all this while? very well, quoth the Priest, and a∣m••ng the Delights of Eternal Life. Then said Austin, Would you be wil∣ling to have me pray to the Lord that you may return to l••ve amongst us, and to help ••s by preaching to bri••g back Souls to their Creator, which are n••w beg••••••et•• by the D••vil? G••d ••orbid, Father, saith the Priest, that I sh••uld be disturbed from my Rest, and that you should cause me to return

again to the Toilsome Life of this World: Then said Austin to the Priest, My Dear Friend, go and rest in peace, and withal, pray for me, and all the Holy Church of God. Who entring into his Grave, was presently turned into Ashes. Then Austin called the Knight to him, and said, H•••• ••••w Son, will you yet pay your Tythes to God? But the Knight trem∣bling, ••e•••• down at his feet, weeping and confessing his guilt, and beg∣ging pardon; and having left all that he had in the World, and shaved his Crown, he ••••llowed St. Austin all the days of his life, and closed his last day in all Holiness, and entred into the joy of Eternal Hap∣piness.

The Wonderful Consecration of Westminster-Abby by St. Peter himself.

* 1.1ELdred, Abbot of Rievall, gives this following Account; That in the time when King Ethelred, by the Preaching of St. Austin, em∣braced the Christian Faith: his Nephew Sigebert, who governed East Angles (rather East Saxon,) by the same holy Bishop's Ministry received the Faith. This Prince built one Church within the Walls of London, the principal City of the Kingdom; where he honourably placed Mi∣litus Bishop of the same City without the Walls: Likewise towards the West he founded a Famous Monastery to the honour of St. Peter, and endowed it with many Possessions. Now on the Night before the Day design'd for the Dedication of this Church, the blessed Apostle St. Peter appear'd to a certain Fisher-man in the habit of a Stranger, on the other side of the River of Thames, which flowed by this Monastery, de∣manded to be waft over, which was done: Being out of the Boat, he entered into the Church in the sight of the Fisher-men; and presently a heavenly Light shone so clear, that it turned the Night into Day. There was with the Apostle a multitude of Heavenly Citizens, coming out, and going into the Church: A Divine Melody sounded, and an Odour of an unexpressible fragrancy was shed abroad. As soon as all things pertaining to the Dedication of the Church was performed, the glorious Fisher of Men returned to the poor Fisher-man, who was so a••frighted with his Divine Splendour, that he almost lost his Senses: But St. Peter kindly comforted him, brought him to himself; then both of them entered into the Boat: St. Peter asked him if he had any Provi∣sion; Who answered, that partly being stupified with seeing so great a Light, and partly detained by his return, he had taken nothing; being withal assured of a good Reward from him: hereto the Apostle replyed, Let down thy Net: The Fisher man obeyed, and immediately the Net was filled w••••h a multitude of Fishes: They were all of the same kind, except one Salmon, of a wonderful largeness. Having then drawn them

to shoar, St. Peter said; Carry from me this great Fish to Militus the Bishop, and all the rest take for thy hire. And moreover be assured, That both Thou, all thy life-time, and thy Children after thee, for many years, shall be plen∣tifully furnished with those kind of Fishes; only be careful that you fish not on the Lord's Day. I who speak now with thee, am Peter. And I my self have Dedicated this Church built to my Fellow-Citizens, and to my Honour, so preventing by my own Authority 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Episcopal Benediction. Acquaint the Bishop therefore with the things that thou hast seen and heard, and the Signs yet marked in the Wall will confirm thy Speeches. Let him therefore ••urcease from his Design of Consecrating the Church, and only supply what I have omitted; The Celebration of the Mystery of Our Lord's Body and Blood, and the Instru∣ction of the People; Let him likewise give notice to all, That I my self will oftentimes visit this Place, and be present at the Prayers of the Faithful, and will open the Gates of Heaven to all that live S••berly, Iustly and Piously in this World. And as soon as he had said this, he presently vanished from his sight.

The next Morning, as the Bishop Militus was going in procession to the Church with an intention to Dedicate it, the Fisher-man met him with the F••sh, and related to him whatsoever St. Peter had injoin'd him; at which the Bishop was astonished, and having unlocked the Church∣door, he saw the Pavement marked with Letters and Inscriptions both in Greek and Latin, and the Walls anointed in twelve several places with holy Oyl. He saw likewise the remainder of twelve Torches, sticking on as many Crosses, and the Church every-where yet moist with Asper∣sions. All which being observed by the Bishop, and People present, they rendered praise and thanks to Almighty God.

The same Author relates, That the Children of this Fisher-man, ha∣ving received a command from their Father, of paying the Tythes of all their Gain by fishing, and offer'd them to St. Peter and the Priests at∣tending Divine Service in this Church: But one amongst them having presumed to defraud the Church of this, presently was deprived of the wonted benefit of his Trade; till having con••est his Fault, and restored what he had reserved, he promised amendment for the future.

William of Malmsbury adds to this Story;* 1.2 That the Fisher-man, who was very simple, and as yet not a Christian, discovered to the Bishop very exactly the Shapes and Lineaments of St. Peter, well known to the Bishop by his Picture publickly extant at Rome.

In the Year 635. says Father Cressy, S. B••rinus,* 1.3 being advised by Pope H••norius to repair into Britany for the Conversion of the West-Saxons, does assert this Apostolick Mission of S. Birinus, our Lord, to have been approved by a Divine Miracle•• and for the truth of his Assertion, quotes Baronius, who cites for it, as he says, William of Malmsbury, Hunting∣don, Florentius, Mathew of Westminster, &c.

I have thought expedient, saith he, to describe here out of the Acts of St. Bi∣rinus a wonderful Miracle beseeming an Apostolick Man, which is omitted by St. Beda. It was thus: The Holy Man being arrived to the Shore of the Bri∣tish Sea, and ready to take Ship, celebrated the Divine Mysteries, offering to God the Sacrifice of the Saving Host as a Viaticum for himself and Followers, After which, the Season being proper, he was hastily urged to enter the Ship: and the Wind serving them, they sailed speedily, when on the sudden Birinus called to mind that he had lost a thing infinitely precious to him, which by the urging hast of the Seamen, having his mind other ways busied, he had left be∣hind him at Land. For Pope Honorius had bestowed on him a Pall, or Corpo∣ral, upon which he consecrated the Body of our Lord, and afterward used to wear it in a Particle of the said Sacred Body, which he hung about his Neck, and always carried with him: but when he celebrated Mass, he was wont to lay it by him upon the Altar. Armed therefore with Faith, he by Divine Inspi∣ration went down from the Ship into the Sea, and walk'd securely upon it to the Shore. Where finding what he had left behind, he took it, and in like manner returned to the Ship, which he found standing still immoveable, whereas a little before he had left it sailing extreme swiftly. When he was entred into the Ship, not one drop of water appeared on his Cloaths; which the Mariners seeing, kneel'd before him, and worshipped him as a God: and many of them by his Preaching were converted to the Faith of Christ.

How St. Edmund's Head was miraculously found, and interred with his Body.

St. Edmund, King of the East-Angles, having had his Army under the Command of the valiant Count Walketule routed by the Danes, in the time of their Invasion of this Island, that Pious King was likewise, after some farther Opposition, taken by them; and being tied to a Tree by order of their General, was first most cruelly whipped, and then those Barbarians did, as it were in sport, so pierce with their Darts his whole Body in all places, that in a short time there was not left place for a new Wound; yet he willingly sustaining all these Torments for the Faith of Christ, and Defence of his Countrey, they cut off his Head.

But the Rage and Malicious Fury of those Pagans not ceasing after they had thus slain King Edmund; but casting out his Body despightful∣ly, they kept the Head to revenge themselves yet further on the Tongue which had so constantly sounded forth the Name of Christ: and after they had used all manner of Contemptuous Scorns upon it, they cast it into a secret place in a thicket of a Wood adjoining, lest the Christians should venerate it, and decently bury it with the Body.

There it remained a whole years space: after which the Pagans reti∣ring out of the Countrey, the first care of the Christians was to honour their Holy King and Martyr. Assembling themselves therefore together

out of their lurking Places, they reverently took his Body out of the un∣clean Place where it had been cast, and then with all diligence sought for the Head. And whilst every one of them with equal Affection search∣ed each corner of the Wood, there hapned a Wonder not heard of in any Age before. For whilst they dispers'd themselves in all parts, and each one demanded of his Companions, where it was that the Danes had cast the Head, the same Head answered them aloud in their own Tongue, Here, here, here: neither did it cease to cry out in the same Words till it had brought them to the Place. And to add to the Wonder, there they found a mighty and fierce Wolf, which with its Fore-feet held the Head, as if appointed to watch and defend it from other Beasts. When they were come, the Wolf quietly resigned it to them: so with joyful Hymns to God they carried and joyn'd it to the Body, the Wolf in the mean time following it to the Place where they buried it; after which, the Beast returned into the Wood: In all which time, neither did the Wolf hurt any one, neither did any one shew the least Intention to hurt the Wolf. F. Cressey's Church History, P. 734, 735, 736.

A Monk Divinely punished for his neglect to venerate the Holy Cross.

A Monk of Glastenbury named Ailsi, refusing to bow, as others did,* 1.4 to a Crucifix; at last, either out of Compunction, or by Command of his Superior, he bowed himself: but a Voice proceeding from the I∣mage, said these words distinctly; Now too late Ailsi, now too late Ailsi: Which Voice so affrighted him, that falling down, he presently expired.

St. Dunstan's Miracles.

ONce upon a time, a mighty Beam, from the top of the Church,* 1.5 threatning the Destruction of many by its fall, St. Dunstan with his Right hand making the sign of the Cross, lift it up again.

Further, As this Saint was praying one Night, the Devil assails him in the shape of a Bear, and endeavoured with his Teeth to snatch the Staff out of his Hands, upon which the Man of God leaned; he unaffrighted lifts up his Staff, and followed the horrid Monster, beating him, and singing these words: Let God arise, and let his Enemies be scattered. And the Ugly Phantasm vanished.

A Miracle to assert the Real Presence.

WHen St Odo was celebrating the Mass in the presence of certain of the Clergy of Canterbury (who maintained that the Bread and Wine,* 1.6 after Consecration, do remain in their former substance, and are not Christ's true Body and Blood, but a Figure of it:) When he was come to Confraction, presently the Fragments of the Body of Christ which he

held in his hands, began to pour forth blood into the Chalice. Where∣upon he shed tears of joy; and beckning to them that wavered in their Faith, to come near and see the wonderful Work of God; as soon as they beheld it, they cryed out, O holy Prelate, to whom the Son of God has been pleased to reveal himself visibly in the Flesh, pray for us, that the Blood we see here present to our Eyes, may again be cha••ged, but for our Unbel••ef the Divine Vengeance fall upon us; he prayed accor∣dingly; after which, looking into the Chalice, he saw the Species of Bread and Wine, where he had left Blood.

How our Saviour let St. Wittekundus know the Worthy and Vn∣worthy Receivers.

* 1.7St. Wittekundus in the Administration of the Eucharist, saw a Child en∣ter into every ones Mouth, playing and smiling when some received him, and with an abhorring Countenance when he went into the Mouths of others; Christ thus shewing this Saint in his Countenance, who were Worthy, and who Unworthy Receivers.

St. Wereburga's Wild-Goose Miracle.

* 1.8THE Memory of W••lfere, King of the Mercians, received a great lu∣stre from the wonderful Sanctity of his Daughter St. Wereburga, Who after her Father's Death undertook a Religious Profession, and by her Brother was persuaded to accept the Government of three Monaste∣ries of Religious Virgins, Frickingham, since called Trent, in Staffordshire, Wedum and Hamburgh in Northamtonshire. In this Station she not only found due Obedience from her Devout Daughters•• but even Irrational and Wild Creatures became subject to her Command•• as if by her San∣ctity she had recovered that Empire which Man enjoy'd in his Primitive Innocence. This will be made appear by her banishing from her Terri∣tory great flocks of Wild Geese for their Importunity and wastful De∣vouring her Corn and other Fruits. The manner of it was as followeth.

There was near the Walls of the Town a Farm belonging to the Monastery, the Corn whereof was much wasted by Flocks of wild Geese, which the Steward of the place endeavoured•• but in vain, to chase away; of which incommodity he made complaint to the Holy Virgin: Whereupon she commanded him, saying, Go your ways, and shut them all up in a House. He wondering at so strange a Command, thought the Saint spoke those words in jest: But when she renew'd the same Injunction constantly, and in a serious manner, he returned a∣mongst the Corn, where seeing great numbers of such Fowl devour∣ing the Grain, he, with a loud voice, commanded them, in his Mistrisses name, to follow him: Hereupon, immediately, they all, in one Drove, follow'd him, and were shut up together in a House. Now it hapned,

that a certain Servant, privately, stole one of the same Birds, which he hid, with intention to eat it. The next morning, early, the Holy Virgin went to the House, where, after she had, in a Chiding manner, repre∣hended the Birds for usurping that which belonged not to them, she commanded them to fl••e away, and not return. Immediately the whole Army of them took wing; but being sensible of the injury done them, they flew not away, but hovering over the Holy Virgins head, with wonderful noise, made complaint of their loss. She hearing their importunate Clamours, understood, by Inspiration, the cause thereof; and, after search made, the Offender confessed his Theft; whereupon she commanded the Bird to be restored to her Companions. After which they all, with one consent, flew away, so as that not any Bird of that kind was afterwards seen in that Territory. And William of Malmsbury affirms, That the stolen Bird was kill'd, and again restored to life by the Saint. F. Cressi's Church History, p. 427.

Of St. Justinian's being beheaded, and of his crossing the Seas on foot afterwards, with his Head in his hand.

St. Iustinian was born of a Noble Family in Lesser Britany,* 1.9 where, after having spent his Youth in Study and Learning, he received the Order of Priesthood. Then he travelled, and at length came to an Island, then called Lemency, now Ramsy. Afterwards he became St. David's Confessor, and a mighty Promoter of Christianity. This set the Devil to work against him; and by that Enemy of Mankind's In∣stigation, three of this holy Mans Servants, who had been reprov'd by him for their Idleness, and mispending their time, rusht upon him, threw him to the ground, and most cruelly cut off his Head. But in the place where the sacred Head fell to the ground, a Fountain of pure Water presently flow'd, by drinking of which, in following times, many were, miraculously, restored to health.

But Miracles, greater than these, immediately succeeded his death: For the Body of the blessed Martyr presently rose, and taking the Head between the two Arms, went down to the Sea shore, and walk∣ing thence on the Sea, passed over to the Port called by his Name; and being arriv'd in the place where a Church is new built to his me∣mory, it fell down, and was there buried by St. David, with spiritual Hymns and Canticles: In which Church our Lord vouchsafes fre∣quently to attest the Sanctity of his Servant by many Miracles. F. Cres∣si's Church-History, p. 234.

How S. Ositha walk'd, when dead, with her Head in her hands, and knock'd at a Church-door.

* 1.10St. Ositha was Daughter of a Mercian Prince, named Frithwald, and of Wilterburga, Daughter of Pende, King of the Mercians. She was bred up in great Piety, and, through her Parents Authority, be∣came Wife to Sighere, Companion of S. Seb. in the Kingdom of the East Angles. But preferring the Love of a heavenly Bridegroom, be∣fore the Embraccs of a King,* 1.11 her Husband complied with her Devo∣tion; and, moreover, not only permitted her to consecrate her self to our Lord, but bestowed on her a Village, situated near the Sea, called Chic, where building a Monastery, she enclosed her self. And after she had spent some time in the service of God, it hapned that a Troop of Danish Pirats landed there; who, going out of their Ships, wasted and burnt the Countrey thereabout, using all manner of Cruelty against the Christian Inhabitants. Then he who was the Captain of that impious Band, having learnt the Condition and Religious Life of the blessed Virgin St. Ositha, began, by Entreaties, and Presents, to tempt her to Idolatry; adding withal, Threats of Scourging, and other Tor∣ments, if she refused to adore the gods which he worshipped. But the Holy Virgin despising his Flatteries, and not fearing his Threats, made small account of the Torments attending her. Whereupon the said Captain, enraged at her Constancy, and scorn of his Idols, pro∣nounced Sentence of Death against her, commmanding her to lay down her Head to be cut off. And in the same place where the Holy Virgin suffered Martyrdom, a clear Fountain broke forth, which cured several kinds of Diseases.* 1.12 As soon as her Head was off, the Body pre∣sently rose up, and taking up the Head in the hands, by the conduct of Angels, walked firmly the straight way to the Church of the Apostles St. Peter, and St. Paul, about a quarter of a Mile distant from the place of her suffering: And when it was come there, it knocked at the Door with the bloody hands, as desiring it might be opened, and thereon left marks of Blood. Having done this, it fell there down to the ground; now her Parents having heard of her death, earnestly desi∣red, as some recompence for their loss, to enjoy the comfort of bury∣ing with them her headless Body: which being brought to them, they Interred it in a Coffin of Lead in the Church of Aylesbury, where ma∣ny Miracles were wrought by her Intercession. At length, her sacred Reliques, by a Divine Vision, were translated thence, back again to the Church of Chic, which Maurice, Bishop of London, reposed in a pre∣cious Coffer; at which time the Bishop of Rochester, then present, was cured of a grievous Infirmity. F. Cr••ss••'s Church-History, p. 424.

The History of St. Claire, a Martyr to Chastity.

St. Claire, by Birth an English-man, of a ve••y Noble Descent,* 1.13 and Il∣lustrious for his outward Comeliness, inward natural Endowments, singular Piety, rare Chastity. Being at years of maturity, his Parents would have matcht him to a Noble and Beautiful Virgin: But, to pre∣serve his Virginal Purity, on his very Marriage-day he stole away into France, where he espous'd an Hermit's life, and spent his days in strict Exercises of Piety. But the Enemy of Man's salvation could not long support the brightness of Divine Graces shining in this Saint; to obscure which, he inflamed, with Lust, the Mind of a certain Noble-woman dwelling near, who immediately attempted to expugn the Chastity of the Servant of God: But St. Claire resolutely resisted the shameless Lady; notwithstanding which resistance, when her Sollicitations more increased, he was forced, for his own quietness and liberty, to forsake his Monastery.

The lascivious Woman, desperately enraged with his departure, sent two Murderers in search of him, who, at last, found him in a poor Cottage, where he had fixed his Habitation with one onely Compa∣nion, named Cyrinus. There they first set upon him with many oppro∣brious Speeches, and, at last, drawing out their Swords, they most cruelly cut off his Head, whil'st he, devoutly kneeling, offered his Sa∣crifice of Chastity to our Lord, the Lover of pure Minds, and Patron of Innocence.

This glorious Champion of Chastity being thus victorious by Pa∣tience, presently after arose, and with his hands taking up his Head, by the assistance of Angels, carried it to a Fountain, not far distant, into which he cast it; and then carried the same back to the Oratory of his Cell; and going on a little further, towards a Village seated near the River Epta, which since took a new Name from this glorious Mar∣tyr, he there consummated his Course, and transmitted his blessed Soul to Heaven. As for his Companion Cyrinus,* 1.14 he being first dangerously wounded, was, by the Prayers of St. Clarus, wonderfully restored to health. The distinct place where this holy Martyr suffered, is said to be in the Territory near Rouen in Normandy, near the River Seyne.

S. Decumanus does himself wash his own Head, after it was cut off.

St. Decumanus,* 1.15 born of Noble Parents in the South-western parts of Wales, forsaking his Countrey, the more freely to give himself to Mortification, and Devotion, passed the River Severne upon a Hurdle of Rods, and retired himself into a mountainous vast Solitude covered with Shrubs and Bryars, where he spent his Life in the repose of Con∣templation, till in the end he was slain by a Murderer.

But it so hapned, that when his Head was cut from his Body, the Trunk raising it self up, took the Head, which it carried from the place where he was slain,* 1.16 to a Spring not far off, which flowed with a most chrystal Water, in which, with the Hands, it washed the Blood away; which Spring, in memory of the Saint, is, to this day, called St. Decumansis's Spring, near to which place the Body, together with the Head, was Honourably buried by the neighbouring Inhabitants. F. Cressi's Church-History, p. 526.

S. Ruadanus, and S. Finnian, Counter•• Miracle one another.

* 1.17St. Ruadanus obtained this special favour of God, that from a certain Tree in his Cell (Tilia it's call'd) from the hour of Sun-setting till Nine a Clock the next Day, dropt a Liquor of a peculiar taste, pleasing to every Palate; which then fill'd a Vessel, which sufficed for a Dinner for him and all his Brotherhood: and from Nine a Clock to Sun-setting it dropt half a Vessel full•• with which Strangers were entertained. Upon the fame of this Miracle many of the Saints came to St. Finnian, desiring him to go along with them to that place, and persuade Ruadanus to live a Life common with others. St. Finnian went with them, and when they came to the Tree that gave the admirable Liquor, he sign'd it with the sign of the Cross, and after Nine a Clock the Liquor ceas'd to flow. St. Ruadanus hearing that his Master S. Finnian, and several others were come to him, he called his Servant, and bid him prepare a Dinner for his Guests; who going to the Tree, he found the Vessel that stood un∣der it wholly empty, and told his Master how it was; who bid him carry his Vessel to the Fountain, and fill it to the top with Water, which when he had done, presently the Water was changed into the taste of that Liquor which dropt from the Tree. Moreover, he found a Fish of great bigness in the Fountain, and carried all to the Man of God; who commanded him to set these Gifts before St. Finnian. He seeing what was done, Crossed the Liquor, and it was changed again into common Water, and said, Why is this Liquor of a false Name given unto me? The Disciples of St. Finnian seeing all this, desired their Ma∣ster to go to the Fountain, and Cross it, as he had done the Tree: But St. Finnian answered them, My Brethren, do not grieve this holy Man, for i•• he go before us to the next Bog; he will he able to do the same that he did in the Tree, and the Water, namely, make such Liquor flow thence. Wherefore St. Finnian, and the rest, all entreated St. Ruadanus, that he would live as others did; which he yielded to, and he held the com∣mon course of living.

St. Augustin's Miracle.

St. Augustin disputing with the British Bishops about the Observation of Easter,* 1.18 and arguing, That they did not keep it in its due time: When the Britains, after a long Disputation, would not be moved to give their Assent, but would follow their own Traditions, St. Augustin brought the Dispute to this Conclusion, saying,* 1.19 Let us beseech our Lord, who makes Brethren of one mind in the House of his Father, that he would vouchsafe, by Celestial Signs, to make known unto us, which of the Tradi∣tions is to be followed, and which is the right Path leading to his Kingdom. Let some Person be here produced among us; and he by whose Cares he shalt be cured, let that Man's Faith and Practice be believed acceptable to God, and to be followed by Men. This Proposition being accepted, with much ado, a blind Man was brought before them, and was first of∣fered to the British Bishops, but by their Endeavors and Ministry found no Cure and Help. At length Austin, compelled thereto by just Ne∣cessity, kneeled down, and prayed to God to restore the blind Man his sight; whereupon, immediately, the blind Man (upon his Prayer) re∣ceived sight, and Austin was proclaimed by all a true Preacher of Ce∣lestial Light.

St. Keyna turns Serpents into Stones.

THE Holy British Virgin St. Keyna was Illustrious for her Birth, being the Daughter of Braganus,* 1.20 Prince of that Province of Wales, which, from him, was called Brecknockshire; but more Illustri∣ous for her Zeal to preserve her Chastity, for which she was call'd, in the British Tongue Keynvayre, that is, Keyna the Virgin. When she came to ripe years, many Noble Persons sought her in Marriage, but she utterly forsook that state, having consecrated her Virginity to our Lord by a perpetual Vow. At length she determined to forsake her Countrey, and find out some desart place where she might attend to Contemplation; wherefore directing her Journey beyond Severn, and coming to certain woody places, she requested the Prince of that Countrey, that she might be permitted to serve God in that Solitude. The Prince was willing to grant her Request, only he told her, The place did so swarm with Serpents, that neither Man nor Beasts could in∣habit in it. To which she replied, That her Trust was fixed in the Name and Assistance of Almighty God, and therefore she doubted not to drive all that poysonous brood out of that Region. Hereupon the place was readily granted to the Holy Virgin, who prostrating her self to God in servent Prayer, obtain'd of him to change all the Serpents and Vipers there into Stones; so as to this day the Stones, in that Region, resemble the windings of Serpents through all the Fields and Villages, as if they had been so fram'd by the hand of the Engraver.

The History of St. David, and his Miracles.

* 1.21 THE King of the Region, call'd Ceretica, travelling to Dunetia, met, by the way, a Religious Virgin, call'd Non••ita, of great Beauty; which he lusting after, by Violence deflowr'd: She, hereby, conceiv'd a Son, but neither before nor after had ever knowledge of any Man. The King thus Father of St. David, is call'd Xanthus; and his Mother, by some, nam'd Melaria; others, Nonnita. His Eminency was predicted by St. Patrick long before: For that Saint being in the Valley of Rosina, in the Province of Dimetae (North-West Wales) me∣ditating on his Mission into Ireland, had a Revelation by an Angel, That after Thirty Years a Child should be born in that Province, which should give a great Lustre to that Countrey. And his Nativity was usher'd in by another Miracle: For when Gildas Albanius was, from the Pulpit, teaching a great Congregation, on the sudden he became dumb, and unable to speak, but afterwards broke forth into these words: A Holy Woman, call'd Nonnita, now present in this Church, is great with Child, and shall shortly be brought to Bed of a Son, full replenisht with Grace. It was in regard to him that I was hindred from speaking, by a Divine Power restraining my Tongue. This Child shall be of so eminent Sanctity, that none in these our Parts are comparable to him; I will surrender this Region to him, who will from his Infancy, by degrees, increase in Grace and Sanctity: An Angel, God's Messenger, hath revealed this unto me. This Holy Child, not long after born, being baptiz'd, and growing up in Grace, became the first Bishop of Menevia, to which place he tran∣slated the Bishoprick of Caerleon, and which, from him, was called St. Davids.

* 1.22Now in the Year of Grace 519, a British Synod being assembled, on the occasion of the detestable Heresie of the Pelagians, Paulin, a Bishop with whom St. David in his Youth had been educated, earnestly per∣suaded the Fathers to send for St. David in the Name of the Synod, who was lately consecrated Bishop by the Patriarch, to afford his assist∣ance to God's Church now in great danger; but could not prevail with him to forsake his Contemplations, until, at last, two Holy Men, Daniel, and Dubritius, by their Authority brought him to the Synod: And then all the Fathers there assembled, enjoin'd St. David to preach. He commanded a Child, which had lately been restor'd to Life by him, to spread a Napkin under his Feet, and standing upon it, he began to expound the Gospel and the Law to the Auditory. All the while he con∣tinued, a snow white Dove descending from Heaven, sate upon his shoul∣der, and the Earth, on which he stood, rais'd it self under him, till it became a Hill, from whence his Voice, like a Trumpet, was clearly heard and understood by all both far and near: On the top of which

Hill a Church was afterwards built, which remains to this day. When the Sermon was finisht, so powerfully did Divine Grace co-operate, that the Heresie soon vanish'd, and was extinguish'd; and the Holy Bishop St. David, by the general Election and Approbation both of Clergy and People, was exalted to be Archbishop of all Cambria. Now concerning the same Paulin or Paulins that sent for David to the Sy∣nod, we find that St. David,* 1.23 as soon as he was promoted to the Priest∣hood, went to Paulins, a Disciple of St. German, and that in a certain Island he led a Holy Life acceptable to God, and that St. David liv'd with him many years, and follow'd his Instructions. Paulinus, at last, by extreme pains in his Eyes, lost the use of them; whereupon calling his Disciples together, he desired that one after another they would look upon his Eyes, and say a Prayer or Benediction on them: But receiving no Benefit thereby, David said to him, Father, Command me not to look you in the Face; for Ten Years are past since I studied the Scri∣ptures with you, and in all that time I never had the boldness to look you in the Face•• Paulins, admiring his Humility, said, Since it is so, it will suffice, if by touching mine Eyes, thou pronounce a Benediction on them. Presently therefore, as soon as he had toucht them, Sight was restored to them. When St. David came to dye, our Lord Jesus vouchsafed him his Presence, as he had promis'd by his Angel, to the infinite Con∣solation of the Holy Father: And St. Kentigern saw a multitude of Angels conducting him into the Joy of our Lord;* 1.24 and our Lord himself, at the Entrance of Paradise, crowning him with Glory and Honour.

St. Winwaloe's Sisters Eye being pluckt out by a Goose, he opens the Goose, restores his Sister to her Eye, and the Goose to her Life.

St. Winwaloe's Sisters Eye being pluckt out as she was playing by a Goose,* 1.25 he was taught by an Angel a sign whereby to know that Goose from the rest about the House, and having cut it open, found the Eye in its Entrails, preserved by the power of God unhurt, and shining like a Gem; which he took, and put it in again in its proper place, and recovered his Sister: And was so kind also to the Goose, as to send it away alive, after it had been cut up, to the rest of the Flock.

An Obedient Fox punisht for stealing a Saint's Hen.

* 1.26A Fox having stol one of S. Genulph's Hens, he chid the Fox, and commanded him to lay it down just in the place whence he took it; all which the Fox performed; but could not so escape, but was mi∣raculously punisht for his Theft; for as he was running away by the Door of the Church, he fell down dead.

The Miracle of the Red Sea repeated.

* 1.27WHile St. Patrick labour'd with great success in the Gospel, Bri∣tain was illustrated with the Memory of another great Saint Win∣waloe, the Son of a Noble Person called Fracon, Cousin-german of a British Prince nam'd Coton. This S. Winwaloe was from his Childhood inflam'd with an earne••t desire to live to God only; and having got leave of his Parents to be commended to the care of a certain Religious Man, he made great Progresses in Vertue and Holiness; and in process of time undertook a Monastical Profession. Many Miracles God wrought by him, in performance whereof, having a firm Faith, he made use only of the Sign of the Cross, and Oyl which had been blessed: Amongst which Miracles the most stupendious was, his raising a Young Man to Life.

At this time the Glory of the most Holy Prelate St. Patrick was fa∣mous in God's Church, who like a Bright Star illustrated all Ireland; and the report of his admirable Vertues kindled in St. Winwaloe so great an Affection towards him, that he endeavoured to pass over to him, and be subject to his Direction in Piety. Behold, while the Holy Man's thoughts were busied about this Design, St. Patrick in a Vision presented himself to him with an Angelical Brightness, and a golden Diadem on his head, telling him he was the same Patrick, whom he so earnestly de∣sired to visit: But to prevent a dangerous Journey by Sea and Land, our Lord hath sent me to thee to fulfil thy desire, so as thou mayst enjoy both my sight and Conversation: he further told St. Winwaloe, that he should be a Guide and Director of many in Spirituals.

The Baron of Honsden's Vision.

IN the Year 1596. the Baron of Honsden, who had been formerly of Elizabeth, the Queen of England's Council, falling dangerously ill, ••aw entring into his Chamber six of the Principal Officers of this King∣dom, who dyed a little before, and had as well as he been cruel Per••e∣cutors of the Catholick Religion. They appeared almost all surrounded with flames; and in that dismal estate, drawing near his Bed, they bid him acquaint William Cecil, one of the Accomplices of their Impieties and their Violences, that in a little time he should descend into Hell,

there with them to suffer the Punishment that was due to so many Crimes. After they were vanish'd, the Sick Man related the Vision he had had, and affirmed with Oaths that it was no Reverie, but a certain Truth. Nevertheless he did not avail himself of it: For instead of employing the remainder of his Life in doing fruits worthy of Penitence, he dy'd some few days after in his Error, and in his Sin. Cecil quickly followed him, God having snatcht him out of the World by a Death as fatal as it was sudden and unforeseen. Le Pedag. Christ. P. 265.

The Miracles by Christ's Blood.

HAles in Gloucestershire, where the Blood of Jesus Christ,* 1.28 brought from Ierusalem, being kept (as was affirmed) for divers Ages, had drawn a great many great Offerings to it from remote Places: And it was said to have this Property, That if a Man were in Mortal Sin•• and not absolved, he could not see it; otherwise very well: Therefore every Man that came to behold this Miracle, confess'd himself first to a Priest there, and then offering something to the Altar, was directed to a Chappel where the Relique was shewed; The Priest who confess'd him (in the mean while) retiing himself to the back part of the said Chap∣pel, and putting forth upon the Altar a Cabinet or Tabernacle of Chrystal, which being thick on the one side, that nothing could be seen thorough it; but on the other side thin and transparent, they used di∣versly: For if a rich and devout Man entred, they would shew the thick side, till he had paid for as many Masses, and given as large Alms as they thought fit; after which (to his great joy) they permitted him to see the thin side, and the Blood. Whether yet (as my Author, a Clerk of the Council to Edward the Sixth, and living in these times, affirms) was proved to be the Blood of a Duck, every week renewed by two Priests, who kept the Secret between them.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Eldred In vit. Ed. Confess. Cressey's Ch. Hist. p. 30••.
• * 1.2

  Malms. de Gest. Pon∣tific. L. 2.
• * 1.3

  P. 350.
• * 1.4

  F. Cressy's Church History, p. 876.
• * 1.5

  Sarisbury Breviary, Lesson. ••••
• * 1.6

  F. Cressy's Church History, p. 842.
• * 1.7

  Bolland•• in vita e∣jus, ad Jan 7. p. ••84.
• * 1.8

  Malmsbur. de Pontif. L. 4.

  Ap. Cap∣grav. S. Were∣burga.
• * 1.9

  Ap. Cap∣grav. In Iustinia∣no.
• * 1.10

  Baron ad A. D. 653.
• * 1.11

  Harcus in Martyro∣log. 7. Octob.
• * 1.12

  Capgrav. in S. Osi∣tha.
• * 1.13

  Martyro∣log. Gall 4. Novemb.
• * 1.14

  Ap. Cap∣grav. in S. Claro.
• * 1.15

  A. D. 706. Martyr. Angl. 27. August. Capgrav. in vit. S. Decuma∣ni.
• * 1.16

  Ap. Cap∣grav.
• * 1.17

  Colganus vita Fin∣niani 23 Febr. p. 395.
• * 1.18

  Father Cressy's Church-History. l. 13. c. 18.
• * 1.19

  B. l. ••. c. 2.
• * 1.20

  The state of Church Affairs in this Island under Bri∣tish Kings.
• * 1.21

  The state of Church Affairs in this Island under the British Kings. P. 115 Lon∣don•• Prin∣ted by N. Thomps. 1687,
• * 1.22

  The state of Church Affairs under the British Kings, p. 138.
• * 1.23

  Ib. p. 141.
• * 1.24

  Ib. p. 146.
• * 1.25

  Act. San∣ctor. Mart. 3. p. 25.
• * 1.26

  Bull. Act. Sanct. in vit. Ge∣nulph. ad Jan. 17.
• * 1.27

  The State of Church Affairs in this Island under British Kings, p. 89.
• * 1.28

  L. Her∣bert's Hi∣story of Henry the Eighth, p. 494.