The Holy life of Philip Nerius founder of the Congregation of the Oratory. To which is annexed a relation written by S. Augustine of the miracles in his dayes, wrought many of them in or near the city wherein he resided and well-known to him. And a relation of sundry miracles wrought at the monastery of Port-Royall in Paris, A.D. 1656. publikcly [sic] attested by many witnesses. / Translated out of a French copie published at Paris. 1656.

Ex R. P. Francisci Coventr. Paralipom. Philosoph. cap. 4. p. 68.

REferam ad huc unum miraculum, in patriâ nostrâ paucis abhinc annis, &c. I will relate one mi∣racle more done in my own Countrey, to the great wonder of the neighbouring inhabitants, but a few years ago, to wit about the year 1640. The pro∣cesse of the business was told the King when at Ox∣ford, which he commanded to be further examined: And it was this. A certain Boy of twelve years Old called John Trelille in the County of Cornwall, not far from the lands end, as they were playing at foot∣ball after the manner of that country, snatching up the ball ran away with it, whereupon a girle in anger strook him with a sticke on the back bone; and so bruised or brake it, that for 16. years after he was forced to go creeping on the ground. In this Condition arrived to the 28^th. year of his age, he dreamt, that if he did but wash in S. Maderns well, or in the stream running from it, he should recover his former strength and perfection. This is a place in Cornwall from the remains of antient devotion, frequented still by Protestants on the Thursdays in May, and especially on the Thursday of Corpus Christi; near to which well is a Chappell dedicated to S. Ma∣derne, where is yet an Altar, and right against it a grassy hillock (by the Country people every year made anew) which they call S. Maderns bed. The Chappell-roof is quite decayed, but a kind of thorne of it self shooting forth of the old walls, so extends its boughs, as that it (strangely) covers the whole Chappell, and supplies as it were a roof to it. So, one Thursday in May, assisted by one Periman his neighbour, nourishing great hopes from his dreame, thither he crept, and lying before the Altar and

praying very fervently, that (as it was related to him in his dream) he might regain his health and the strength of his limbs, he washed his whole body in the stream that flowed from the Well, and ran through the Chappell: after which, having slept about an hour and an halfe on S. Maderns Bed, through the extreamity of pain he felt in his Nerves and arteries he began to cry out; and his companion helping and lifting him up, he perceived his hamms and his joynts somewhat extended, and himself be∣come stronger, insomuch as, partly with his feet, partly with his hands, he went much more e∣rected than before. And before next Thursday he got two crutches, resting on which he could make a shift to walk (which before he could not): and coming then to the Chappel, as formerly, after having bathed himself, he slept again on the same bed; and at last awakened, found himself much stronger and more upright; and so leaving one crutch in the Chappell, he went home with the other. The third Thursday he returned to the Chappell, and bathed as before, slept; and, when awake, rose up quite cured, yea grew so strong, that he wrought day-la∣bour amongst other hired servants, and four years after, listed himself a Souldier in the Kings army, where he behaved himself with great stoutness both of mind and body. At length in 1644. he was slain at the siege of Lime in Dorset-shire.

What fiction can be here I see not: That he should have a dream to such a purpose: that the event, ac∣cording to things discovered in his dreame, should manifest the truth thereof: That on Thursdays, es∣pecially on Corpus-Christi-Thursday (Thursday with Catholicks being memorable for the Holy Eucharist, as Friday is for the Passion) upon the suppliants

prayers, his desired health should be conferred: That the water sacred to this Saint, or (more likely) blessed by him, when yet living, should have this healing vertue: We read indeed in the Gospell of the water moved by the Angel, which upon it, cured those that were brought and put therein: and from the same speciall blessing of God doubtless, at S. Ma∣derns intercession, for the singular reverence he had to the mystery of the Body of Christ, this holy well received that healing power. The whole procedure and order of the matter speaks it a miracle; inso∣much as that it is acknowledged for such by the Protestant-inhabitants themselves: from whom I received this generally famed Relation.

Out of a Treatise of Bishop Halls of the Invisible World 1. lib. 8. sect. concerning the same Miracle.

THe trade that we have with good Spirits is not now discerned by the eye but is like to them∣selves, spirituall: yet not so, but that even in bo∣dily occasions we have many times insensible helps from them, in such manner, as that by the effects we can boldly say: here hath been an Angel, though we see him not. Of this kind was that (no less than miraculous) cure which at S. Maderns in Cornwall was wrought upon a poor creeple, John Trelille; where∣of (besides the attestation of many hundreds of the neighbours) I took a strict and personall examination in that last visitation, which I either did, or ever shall hold. This man, that for 16. years together was faine to walk upon his hands, by reason of the close con∣traction of the sinews of his legs, (upon three moni∣tions in his dream to wash in that Well) was sudden∣ly so restored to his limbs, that I saw him able to walk & get his own maintenance. I found, here was neither art, not collusion; the thing done, the author invisible.