DE S.

WENEFREDA

309

had noe saynt to be her patrone and bearer of her prayers to God, as other Abba*
ces had of the countrey. Werefore the Abbott of that honse, for that he heard farr of of S* Wenefreid, made his prayer, goinge to Wales and suche where that she was buried. So went his prayer forthe, and by the grace of God and revelation of God and this mayden, he came to the place where she layd,and with strengh of Lordschippe and others helpe that he had, he broughte her bones into

Saint Giles churchyard at Shrosburie townes ende. And there abode a certayne day in the church, and with honor and worshipp was broughte into the Abbay of Shrosburie. When this day came, great multitude of people cani e thilher, partlie fora greate miracle that was done in that churche by a child that was hold of a great sicknes, and for to doe worshipp to this holie mayden. And so with the Abbott of the place and manie other men of the churche, they*broughte her into the Abbay and sett her whereas she is nowe: where God in shorte tyme after for
her sake shewed manie mirades that be written, with one more others that be

unwritten, both of that she did in her life and that she wroughte at her deathe.
8* Then for to stirr our devotion more to this saint, I will teli of a miracle that was done to a man of Erkal towne that was called Adam. This man was greatlie payned with the fallinge e vili; and both his hands were a wrie warde and laye flat to his armes, so that the armes were stompes and not armes; he had alsoe snch [grieveousness] * in his legges that he mighte not goe but with much payne. So this Adam with his three wounds with great payne came to the shrine of S" Wenefreide, and was there in his prayer ali nighte. But on the morrowe he for wearines feli on sleepe; and when he awaked, he felt himself whole in ali parts, and sawe his handes straighte and stirred his fingcrs at his pleasure, and asayde whether he mighte goe, and wente farther without anie greife, and felte well that he was whole of his falinge evill. Wherefore he thanked God with his voyce and this holie mayden; and he was so glad of his recoverie that be made a vowe

grenuas?

that he would never goe from her, but be a servant in that churche ali his lyfe alter; and soe he was: thus, good men and weemen, ye * havinge example for to worshippe this holie mayden and martyr. And thoughe he be whole in bodie manie people be sicke in soule: wherefore they have the more neede to serve
her for to have health in sowle then in bodie. For often times God sendeth sicknes in bodie to heale the sowle: but sicknes of sowle is a hard death if she be not

* m.he

helpte the sooner. Wherefore pray to her to gett now healthe both in bodie and soule, so that ye may come to him that is whole to ali soules, Jesns Christe Gods
sonne at heaven.

9.In the towne of Shrosburie sittinge three * men together: and as they sate

na. there

talkinge, an atturcope, that some calleth a vryn (1), came of the wall and bitt them ali three in the necke. And thoughe it greeved them at that tyme but little, soone
after it rankled and so swelled at their throates that two of them died and the

third was so neere deade that he made his will and made him readie in all wise,

(1) Quoddam aranee genus?

Digitized by ^ooQie