I-N the west ende of grete Britayn, | whiche now is callyd Englond, is a prouynce whiche is named Walys. | This said prouynce was somtyme inhabyted of sayntes, of many & dyuerse merytes, | & em∣bellisshed & decorate vnto this day with Innumerable prerogatyuys in many wyses. | Emong whom ther was an holy & deuout man, named Beunow, | a man of hye merite, | & this holy man lad In Lamb. ist a von anderer hand zugesetzt. religious lyf | & was a monk in the said Von and. hand am rande nebengeschr.: provynce of walys & a parte now of. Englond; | he edyffyed chirches & ordeyned certayn bretheren & prestes, for to serue god, in many places. | & hit was so | þat by dyuyn prouydence he was warned & admonested to desyre & aske of a myȝty man, named Theuith, a certeyn place to byle on a chirch for his helthe. | Which he dylig∣ently demanded, | & the seid Theuith graunted to hym gladly & with good wil, | & also commysed In L verbessert v. a. hand commytted, das exemplar im Brit. Mus. liest cōmysed. to hym his douȝter, named We∣nefrede, whome he louyd tenderly, for to be instruct & tauȝt, | pray∣eng hym to biseche almyȝty god | that he wold dispose her conuersa∣cion to the wil & honour of hym. | Which thyng god knowyng what shold folowe therof, wold not suffre her to be lost ne perisshed. | For the maide Wenefrede desyred by an ardaunt desyre to be the temple of god in tyme comyng; | and suche thynges as she vnder∣stode by heryng of her eres, she held & enprynted fast in her mynde, & that she conceyued in her thouȝt | purposed verily taccomplysshe hastely in werkes. | So thenne by thynspyracion of the holy ghost this holy vyrgyn prouffytyng in vertues shewed vnto her mayster Beunow the very purpose of her mynde, sayeng: | 'I haue deter∣myned in my self to forsake al the lust & plaisir of the world, | & haue disposed to conserue & kepe my virgynyte vndefowled vnto Cryst: | whiche thyng, o holy fader, I byseche the deuoutely that thou wylt impetre & gete graunte of my fader & moder'. | Whiche thynge he shewed to hem, | & they gladly consentid | & therwyth were wel pleasid. | Thenne this holy vyrgyn recordyng & desyryng tenprynte in her mynde suche holy wordes & lessons as floweden oute of the mouth of her mayster, | suffred none erthely ne worldly vanytees to entre in to her, | but laye oft in the nyȝtes in the chirche, | and oftyme she solycyted the holy man to make a sermon | and to treate to her of her spouse Jhesu Crist | & to shewe his werkes digne & worthy of laude & praysynge. | ¶ It happed on a sonday that her fader & moder were gone to the chirche | & this blessid virgyne was lefte for certayn cause at home: | & one named Cradoke, sone of kyng Alane, entryd & sawe this holy virgyne syttyng by the fyre. | Whiche anone, | as she sawe the kynges sone, | aroos | & humbly demaunded hym what was his playsir. | And he sayd to her: | 'Thou knowest well that I am a kynges sone, | whiche haue plente of rychesses & honours: | & of them shalle de∣parte | largely to the, yf thou wylt consente to my peticion & de∣syre'. | She anon felyng hym to make his request for to haue a-do with her, | & a lytyll cast doun shamefastly her chere, | dyssy∣mylyd her to be ashamed that he had founden her not well arrayed ne apparaylled, | & sayd to hym: 'suffre a whyle, lest my fader come, | & I shal go in to my chambre | & shal come to the ageyne withoute taryeng'. | To whiche the yong man graunted. | & she wente in to the chambre, & by a bye-dore of the chambre she wente oute | & ran faste toward the chirche. | Whiche so fleyng was anone knowen to the yong man, | & thenne he beyng wood wroth, bycause she fledde fro hym, | bycause she wold kepe her virgynyte, | & with a suerd hastely folowed after, & ouertoke her, | & holdyng hir with a sterne chere said to her in this wyse: | 'Somtyme I louyd the | & desyred the | to be ioyned to myn embracementes; | & now thou despysest hym þat desyreth the? | Now know thow for certayn | þat either thou shalt this present tyme suffre me to haue my wyl of the, | or without taryeng I shal smyte of thyn hede with this swerd'. | The holy vyrgyn, hauyng her ful hope & truste in oure lord, answerd hym is this wyse: | 'I am coupled in matrimonye | to the sone of the euerlastyng kyng | & Juge of al men: | wherfor I may haue none other; | and bycause I wyll not long abuse the: | whyle I lyue, I shal neuer leue ne forsake hym. | & therfor be thou assured | that thy menaces | ne fair wordes, thretenynges | ne pro∣messes, maye departe me fro the swetenes of his loue, | to whos enbracementes | I am strayned & coupled by deuocion'. | This lecher∣ous yonge man | herynge hym self to be despysed | and put fro his voluptuous desyre, | toke oute his swerd | and smote of the hede | of this blessyd vyrgyne | .

¶ And anone as the hede of the virgyne fylle to the erthe, | in the same place a bryght and fayre welle beganne to sprynge vp, | largely gyuynge oute water and plentyuously; whiche contynueth to flowe vnto this day, | gyuynge helthe by the merytes of this blessyd vyrgyn to many seke peple & malades. | Now was it so that the place where her hede was smyton the überschr. von anderer hand in L. of was (the) Br. Mus. deutlich smyton. hangyng of an hylle: | & the hede rollyd doun to the chirche dore. | & whan the peple in the chirche sawe the hede, | there was a grete noyse & rumour. | In so moche that her fader & moder cam, | & sawe how her doughter was biheded. | Wherof they were sore basshed | & made a lamentable noyse & sorow, sayeng that they had hoped | that she shold haue ben a seruaunt of god & to haue lyued an holy lyf. | & whan Beunowe herd this noyse and rumour, he cam & sawe this hede of the holy vyrgyn; | & anone he took it vp, | & sawe where the kynges sone stode & wyped his swerd on the grasse. | To whom he said, lokyng in his visage, these wordes: | 'O thou wycked man, | whiche hast defouled thy fair yougth | & arte sone of the lygnage of a kyng | & hast slayn by cryme as an homycyde this noble vyrgyn, | why repentest the not | that hast commysed so grete a synne? | thou hast troubled the pees | & hast defowled the chirche | by thy sacrylege & hast gretely trespaced & wratthed our lorde, | & repentest the not? | Now for as moch as thou hast not spared the chirch | ne hast gyuen reuerence to the sonday, | I byseche my lorde god, | to whom thou hast commysed synne vnworthely, | that he rewarde the by digne recompensacion'. | & these wordes said & expressid, | the yong man forthwith fyll doun to therthe & exspyred & deyde. | & incontynent wonderfully the body of hym, so dede, in the syght & presence of many was molten & vanisshed awey & son∣ken (!) in to therthe, | & his soule drowned in helle. | Thenne the fader & moder hauyng no comfort, | but wayllyng the deth of their douhter, | desyred to make bewaillynges. | & the holy man Beunow went to thaulter to say the masse. | Whiche beyng fynysshed | & al the peple awaityng on hym, | & hauyng hope vnto god, | he went to the body lyeng dede, | & vnto the peple made a sermon, | & emong al other wordes he said how this blessid virgyn had made a vowe to almyȝty god, | but for taccomplisshe the same bycause of her deth she had not tyme congrue to fulfylle it: | '7 therfor I ex∣horte & desyre you to knele doun to þe ground & to pray deuoutely vnto almyghty god that of his grace it wold plese hym to reyse her fro deth to lyf, | to thende that many be the better | and more con∣staunt in the faythe | and that moche good shold therof enfolowe'. | ¶ After thenne this longe prayer | the holy man Beunowe aroose vp, holdyng his hondes vp in to heuen sayde: | 'O lord Jhesu Crist, for whos loue this holy virgyn hath forsaken all worldly thynges | & hath desyred heuenly thynges, we humbly byseche the with al oure myght & deuocion that þou at this tyme graunte to vs theffect of our peticion & prayer. | & for what cause this vyrgyne hath suf∣fred deth, we knowe not, but, that she is in euerlastyng ioyes, | hauyng no nede of oure company; | thou neuertheles, most debonayr fader, graunte to vs, thy sonnes, | mekely besechyng the, benyngne & exaudyble, | that it may please the to gyue thyn assente to oure peticions & prayers: | & commaunde thou that the sowle of this holy vyrgyne may be brought ageyn to her body | & that she may be restored to her fyrst lyf | and that by the grace of thy mercy may magnefye thy name, | and after longe space of lyf | she may retorne to the, her spouse, | that is the only sone of god the fader, with whome | & with the holy ghost lyuest world without ende'. | & whan al had answerd amen, | he sette the hede to the body: | & the holy vyrgyne aroos, | as she had arysen fro slepe, | wypyng her visage | & clensynge it fro the duste & swette, | & replenysshed alle the assistentes stondynge with wonderfull admyracion & ioye. | Neuer∣theles, in the place of her necke, where as her heede was smyten of | and after by dyuyne operacion was sett on ageyn & resoly∣date, | a lytil redenes in maner of a threde wente aboute the necke | and shewed the place where as hit had be cutte of; | and that euer after abode, for to shewe the absicycion and thostencion of the myracle, | as longe as the vyrgyn lyuyd, | and alwey abode in one maner. | And the place where as her blood was shedde, was callyd fyrst | the 'drye valeye'; | and after that the hede of the holy vyrgyne was cut of and touchyd the ground, | as we afore haue said, sprang vp a welle of spryngyng water largely, | enduryng vnto this day, | which heleth al languours and sekenesses, as well in men as in bestes: | whiche welle is named after the name of þe vyrgyn & is called saint Wenefredes welle. & bycause ther was moch blood of her shed in þe welle & þe descente of þe hylle, þe stones yet in to this day appiere as wel in the welle as in the ryuer rennyng doune al besparklyd with blood: | whiche thynge is merueyllous, | ffor yet at this day is sene the droppes of blood, | lyke as hit was the fyrst day; | and the mosse that groweth vpon the sayd stones | smellyth lyke encence. | Whiche welle is famous and of grete renomme | and well knowen | to al them that goo thyder, | and endureth as it dyd the fyst tyme, | and the stones, as we sayd tofore, ben yet dayly blody | or bespryncte with dropes of blood; | shewynge openly | that by the merytes of the sayd vyr∣gyne | alle they that calle on her for ony nede or dysease, | oure lord shalle ease and delyuer them.

¶ Thenne forto knowe how this holy vyrgyne Wenefryde lyuyd after that she was reysed fro dethe to lyf, | or what maner of lyf she hadde vnto the ende she departed oute of this world, | ye shalle here al alonge herafter folowynge. |

¶ Thenne after she was thus reysed, as afore is sayd, | alle that daye after she was abydynge at the feet of the holy fader Beunowe | and entended wyth dylygente cure and feruent deuocion vnto his sermons | and to alle thynges that apperteynen to god, | desyrynge with a ardaunt wylle for to be enformed fully to serue & please al∣myghty god. | Whiche done | & she sufficiently Instructe and enfor∣med, after the lernynge of the disciplyne of the holy Chirche, | fyll doun on her knees & desyred humbly of her mayster to be professyd and to receyue the holy veyle, | sayenge: | 'I may in no wyse departe fro thy feet, vnto the tyme | that thow hast accomplysshed in me theffect of this holy profession: | & so thou to clothe me outward in thabyte of relygyous disciplyn | & that I may be blessyd by thyn hondes, in suche wyse that I may in the inward thouȝt of my soule perseuere in the seruyse of our blessid lord. Wherfor, holy fader, I humbly byseche the | that thou wil not lenger differre my peticion ne desyre, | but to fulfylle my requeste, | & incontynent late me make myn auowe, as it apperteyneth'. | ¶ Thenne this holy man shewed the desyre & wil of this blessid vyrgyn to her fader & moder | 7 said to them | that they shold satisfye the desyre of her, | for she was chosen of god, | & had gyuen to her hys dyuyn grace. | They thenne benyngnly consentid to þe same, & the holy man thenne to-fore moche peple gaf to her the holy vayll | & professyd her | & halowed in the presence | of them alle. | Whiche blessyd vyrgyne after thaccomplysshement and vowe made of her holy desyre | anone she flouryd in alle vertue | and deuoutely studyed | how she myght best obserue the rewlys of the disciplyne of Relygyon, | and in short space she acquyred and was ful Instructe in the perfection of alle the obseruaunce that therto bylongeth. | After this this holy man Beunow was admonesshed by a vysyon | that he shold departe thens | and goo dwelle in another place, | to thende that he myght auaylle and do moche prouffyte to moche peple. | And ther-vpon he called the fader and moder of the blessyd vyrgyne | & sayd to them: | 'Ye shall vnderstande that I must departe from hens | and may no lenger be here with yow, | ffor god hath callyd me to another place. | Wherfore | I exhorte yow | that ye besyly entende vnto the admonycions and ensamples of youre doughter, | knowynge for certayne that she is not ordeyned an only ensample to yow, | but also a very ensample of helthe vnto alle peple herafter for to come'. | Thenne he torned hym to the holy vyrgyne | and sayd to her: | 'Our lord, almyghty god, hath commaunded the forto succede and folowe my labours and exercysitees and to honoure this habyt∣acle, | to folowe the weye of lyf | by me to the shewed, | and the same to shewe to other. | Thy charge shall be from hens forth for the loue of god to haunte and dwelle in this place | and to gadre and assemble vyrgyns to lyue here in the seruyse of god with the. | But one thynge knowe thow for certayne, | that thow shalte not fynysshe thy lyf in this place: | for, whan thow hast seruyd god here in besy abstynence of the body and afflyction of spyryte | by the space of seuen yere, | hit behoueth the to goo to another place, | whiche shall be shewed to the by oure lord, | and he shal adresse the thyder | where thow shalt enlumyne the derkenesse of many hertes. | And reteyne well | that thy memorye and remembraunce shall be clerly spred in this world, | & as moche thow shalt be more of meryte | so moche more shall many be remedyed by the of their myseryes and hurtes'. |

Whanne this hooly vyrgyne vnderstode the departynge of her mayster and doctour, | she was moche sorowful and heuy | and wepte sorowfully for his departynge and absence. | Thenne the holy man Beunowe ladde her by the ryght honde to the welle whiche sprange at the place where her hede fylle | whanne hit was smyten of, | wherof we haue tofore remembryd, | and made her to stande vpon a stone | which lyeth there on the brynk of the sayd welle vnto this daye | and is callyd the stone of saynt Beunowe of them that dwelle there, | and he sayd to her these wordes folowynge: | 'Beholde, sayd he, and see here the steppes of thy passion! | loo, these stones here besprynct with thy blood shewe that thow hast for goddes loue suffryd here martirdome, | & to the perpetuel honoure of the | & to the monumente of many other they kepe the shedynge of thy blood, of whiche they ben besprynct, | fresshe and rody. | Now, therfore, with a dylygent and good mynde reteyne and kepe my wordes, | that they maye come reuerently to the knowlege of many other: | knowe thow for certayne | that thre yeftes ben gyuen and graunted to the of almyghty god, | whiche shall be solempnly shewed to the tytle of thy lawde and praysynge | and shalle be arettyd to the loue of thy deuocion in the myndes of them that shalle come herafter. | The fyrste is this: | that the stones besprynct and wette by sprynclyng of thy bloode | shalle neuer in this world be wasshen awey and putte oute | ne by the swyfte cours of this water be taken awey, | but for euydence and shewyng of thy passion shullen alwey appiere rede and blody, | doynge myracle vnto the glorye of god and of his mageste | and also to the tryumphe of thy chastyte. | The second yefte or graunt is this: | that, who someuer he be | that is hurte by ony Infortune | and requyreth the the ist in L. ausgestr. and desyreth to be delyuerd by the | fro his dystresse or oppressyon, | the fyrst, | the second | or the thyrd, | certaynly the thyrdde certaynly the thyrdde ist in L. ausgestr. tyme, | yf it be done effectuelly with a good wyll, | he shall enioye that thynge that he demaunded and asked; | and yf hit so happe | that he gete ne haue not that thynge that he desyred | ne that it folowe not after his peticion, | knowe he for certayne | that, yf ther be ony thynge more godly for the helthe of his sowle | than hit that he demaunded, | þat it shal folowe & come to hym for his good: | for oftymes we of our frelnes aske and desyre thynges | whiche parauentur shold torne more to our hurte | than to our wele; | god knoweth what is best for vs. | The thyrd yefte is thys: | that, whan now I shal departe & go fro Caxt. for statt fro. the forto dwelle in a conuenyent place stondynge on the see-syde, | whiche god of his benygne grace hath graunted to me; | and though hit be soo | that I shalle be ferre fro the, | yet almyghty god hath commaunded the to remembre me euery yere with thy yeftes: | wherfor, when thow wylt adresse to me suche a thynge | as thow shalt make redy for me, | thow shalt hastely come with thy yeft to this present welle; | and, what someuer it be, | commytte hit fyrste vnto god | and after put it in to this welle confidently: | and thou shalt see anone that thynge, soo putte in, be taken vp fro the welle | and be ledde forth by the myght of god by the cours of the water in to the grete floode, vnhurte; | and by the wylle of almyghty god thorugh the flodes of the see | it shall come vnto the yate of my lytel lodge or dwellynge by the tornynge of the wawes, vndefowled; | and this behoueth the to doo euery yere, | as longe as god wylle that I shall lyue, | for god commaunded the so to do. | These thre thynges ben graunted to the of oure lord god, | assigned specially | and gyuen to the by dyuyne prerogatyf; | and as longe as the world shalle endure, | this shalle be magnyfyed to the halowyng of thy memorye and glorye of thy lawde | by the tellynge and vtterynge of moche peple'. | These thynges thus expressyd and sayd, | the holy man fynally departed fro her. | For whiche cause euery yere the fyrst day of maye she sente to her mayster a yefte, whyle he lyued, in the maner as is afore sayd. | And though soo be that the space bytwene them | and the distaunce was more than fyfty myle, | yet neuertheles in space and tyme of one nyght | by the rollynge of the wawes and stremes of the see it was brought to the yate of his monasterye | and was founden on the grauell of the Ryuage. | And the fyrste yefte that she sente to hym was a chesyble of her owne makynge, whiche was founden vnhurte | as afore is reherced. |

¶ Hit happed that after this holy man Beunowe beynge aged de∣parted oute of this world and deyde. | Whoos dethe whanne it was told vnto saynt Wenefryde, | she left forto sende more ony yefte to hym. | And she remembrynge his wordes: that she shold after seuen yere goo in to another place forto dwelle in, | and after seuen yere complete, she departed fro that oracle and place, | lyke as she was warned by the holy man: | and wente vnto seynt Deyfere. | This man was an holy man and grete toward oure lord, kepynge his commaundementes | and not departynge from his Justyfycacions. | And after whan she was come, as he was in the nyght besy in his prayers and perseuerynge in deuocion, | a voys from heuen souned in his eres, sayeng: | 'Saye thou to my most dere doughter Wenefryde | that she go in to the place whiche is callyd Henthlacus, | ffor there she shalle obteyne the desyre of her vowe'. | & whan he had told to her this, | anone she toke leue of this holy man | and bad hym fare well, | and gladly wente vnto that place. | And there she fyndynge saynt Saturne, | whiche knewe by dyuyne reuelacion the purpose of hyr iourneye and sayd to her theffecte of her com∣ynge | and gaf to her this answere: | 'There is a certeyne place, called Wytheryacus, | where as is Abbot Elerius, a man of grete vertues; | he shalle telle to the what the behoueth to doo'. | whiche thynge anone as she had vnderstanden, forthwith she tooke her way and wente to that holy man. | Whoos comynge the holy man hauyng knowlege tofore by the holy ghoost, wente to mete her, | and broughte her in to the Chirche | there forto praye and saye her deuocions. | And that fynysshed, he tooke her by the honde | and ladde her in to the Couente of vyrgyns | whiche was there, | to whome he sayd these wordes: | 'Loo, almyghty god hath ordeyned this deuoute vyrgyne forto dwelle with yow: | this is that mayde Wenefrede | whoos clere fame | now late hath (be) brought be fehlt. to youre eres, whiche hath despysed, for to kepe her chastyte, the blandys∣shyng wordes and the concupyscence of hym that persecuted her, | and chase leuer the smytynge of | of her hede | than to lose her vyrgynyte, | and rather to deye than to consente forto do synne. Therfore now she is comen to yow for to dwelle with you and to abyde here the day of her departyng out of this world: wherfore be ye ioyefull for her comynge | and receyue ye enbracynge her de∣uoutely | as celestyall tresoure dwellynge amonge yow, entendyng besyly to her werkes | and with all your entente folowynge her. | For this place, as longe as the worlde shalle endure, | for her sake shalle be renommed by grete fame'. | ¶ After thise wordes he torned hym vnto a lady whiche was his owne moder | and was prelate and chyef aboue the other relygyouse nonnes, | and sayd to her: | 'O thow, my mooste dere moder, | I commytte to the specially the cure and charge of this vyrgyne, | whiche is wel byloued to god. | Thow, therfore, folowe her stappes and werkes | and take thou the charge of all thynges that long to her, | and, what thow mayst knowe that shall please her, | that do and execute dylygently and incontynent. | These wordes fynysshed and sayd, | the holy con∣fessour departed and wente his wey. | And saynt Wenefrede re∣mayned and abode from than forthon with the maydens seruauntes of god. | Thenne was in her | grete abstynence, | kepyng her good and hooly lyf, | prayer perseueryng | and humble conuersacion. | Other vyrgyns took of her ensample of pacyence & obedyence, they made her in alle thynges that apperteyne to theyr helthe | a forgoar and ensample to them. | And in her were founden alle thynges plentyuously that were of honeste and vertue. | Wherof for to recyte or reherce, of what abstynence that she was in her lyf, | what anguysshes or what payne that she suffryd in her body, | what scarcenes or penaunce she excercysed, it were ouer-longe to telle; | but shortely I shalle saye yow | that she lefte no thyng vndone that she knewe myght be to the helthe of her sowle | or to the good ensample of other. | Dyuerse and many of deuoute peple cam to her by companyes, desyryng to see this blessyd vyrgyne | and to beholde the place where as the token was in her necke, | that her hede was smyten of for the loue of Jhesu Cryst | and by the prayer of the hooly confessour was reysed fro dethe and reuyued ageyne, | and they helde the place worthy of hyhe reuerence in which she duellyd. | To somme it suffysed only to see her | and to speke wyth her; | and somme were so inportune | that they wold not be content | but they myght see the place in her neck of the cuttynge of | of her hede, | and humbly prayd her to shewe it to them: | to whoos deuocions and requestes she dredde to warne or gayn-saye, | lest their deuocion myght therby be lassed | or that they myght depute it to the pryde of her. | And whanne they sawe in her necke the skynne and the place of the cuttynge, by a moche differente colour vnlyke to the remenaunt, | they couthe | ne myght not absteyne them fro wepyng, | blessyng & gyuyng laude to almyghty god in his grete and merueylous werkes, and retorned home with grete wondre and admyracion. | ¶ On a certayne daye the blessid Elerius thabbot, entryd in to the cloystre of the nonnes for to vysyte saynt Wenefrede. | Thenne the holy Abbot for occasion to shewe to her | that he ofte had remembryd in his mynde, sayd to the holy vyrgyne saynt Wenefrede: | 'I joye gretely, sayd he, | that god hath prouyded the to come to this place, | ffor to helpe to brynge my body to sepulture, | and after my deth that thou remembre and haue me in thy mynde and prayers'. | To whome the holy vyrgyne answerd: | 'Not so, fader, | shall it not be, | neyther it is not so predestynate ne ordeyned of god; | but it behoueth the to lyue after me, | and fyrste thou brynge to the erthe my lady, thy moder, after that she shall be departed, | & after certayn yeres passed after that for to burye my body: | ffor thus god hath ordeyned'. | ¶ And whanne this holy man had herd these wordes, he took his leue and de∣parted fro her. | And soone after | he fonde her prophecye true: | ffor after a lytell tyme Theonia, his moder Cax. doughter; in L. durchstr. und mother überschr. v. a. h. Anglia, III. band., deyde and departed oute of this world. | And after that the holy saynt Wenefrede was made prelate and vpperist of alle the couent of the nonnes | and had the rewle & gouernaunce of them many yeres. | And at the laste our blessyd lord Jhesu Cryst desyrynge and wyllynge to take hys handmayde and seruaunt fro the laborouse seruytude of thys lyf | and to brynge her to the rest of perpetuel blysse: | ¶ On a nyght, as she was in her oratorye, | our lord lete her haue knoulege of the daye of her obyte and departyng oute of this lyf, | whiche shold hastely ensiewe and folowe. | And anone as she vnderstode and felte herself called and vysyted by the grace of god, | she with an holy deuocion beganne to make her redy vnto the ioyes that she was called to: | thenne contynuelly in the nyghtes she was prayenge in the chirche | and in the day tyme she vertuously occupyed her self in all thynges longynge to her cure and charge. | And whanne this rumour cam to the knowlege of saynt Elerius, | he anone was in grete anguysshe and wayllynge for the departyng of this holy virgyne, | whome he entierly loued, | knowyng certaynly | that she was endowed with specialle grace; | and desyred for his synguler wele | that, as longe as he(!) shold in the pylgremage of this lyf en∣dure, | that he myght dwelle and abyde with her, and this he desyred with grete deuocion. ¶ Thenne after this the blessyd vyrgyne be∣ganne to suffre grete sekenes in all her body. | ¶ And as the languour and maladye was vehement and encreaced dayly, | she knewe veryly that she approched toward hir last ende. | Thenne she lyfte vp her mynde toward almyghty god | and humbly prayd hym to haue mercy on her | and that he wold be the kepar and wardeyn of her sowle, | and that the deuyll shold haue no praye of her. | Thenne she dyd do calle to her the hooly confessour saynt Elerye, thabbot, whiche houseled her with the blessid body of oure lord. | Thenne the day of the kalendes of Nouembre | she beganne to wexe feble by the dissolucion of her body; | but for all that she rested not, for al her payne and sekenesse, to preche and en∣fourme them that were assistent, with holy and blessid exhortacions. ¶ Thenne whanne she was enfeblyd with ouermoche payne | of greuous sekenesses | and felte well that on the morne she shold departe and fynysshe her bodyly lyf, she lete doo calle to her saynt Elerye | and prayd hym that her body myght be buryed | and put in the sepulture by the body of saynt Theonye, | his moder: | whiche request the holy man graunted benyngly. | And thenne the holy vyrgyne entendyng with all hir hole herte in prayer vnto almyghty god, the day of the thyrdde Nonas in Nouembre | she commended her spyryte in to the handes of her maker, to be associate vnto the celestyalle companye of sayntes. | Thenne the holy man commendyng her sowle vnto god, | beganne to procure besyly | and make al thyng redy that he sawe apperteyne to the exequyes of the blessyd virgyne. | And whanne alle was done that apperteyned to her funerall seruyse, | he buryed her in the place that she desyred, | and with grete wayllynges and lamentacions her body was leyd in the sepulture. | And in the same place the sayd | body lay vnto the tyme of kyng Steuen, kynge of Englond: | in whos tyme by dyuyne reuelacions and myracles before goynge the bones of the blessyd vyrgyne were translated vnto thabbeye of Shrewsburye, | where moche peple comyng by the suffrages and merytes of many askyng remedye of theyr Infyrmytees and seken∣esses haue ben heled and maade all hole. In L. sind fol. 194 und 195 verkehrt gebunden. ¶ Thus endeth the martirdome of this blessyd saynt | saynt Wenefrede, | whiche passion and decollacion was the one and twentyest day of Juyn. | ¶ And also, as is afore sayd, the lyf whiche she after hyr decollacion lyued by the space of XV yere, | and the departyng of hyr oute of thys lyf was the thyrdde day of Nouembre. |

¶ And herafter by the grace of god shalle folowe the translacion of this blessyd vyrgyne saynt Wenefrede, | how by grete myracle her bones were brought to thabbay of Shrewsbury, | whiche trans∣lacion is halowed the XIX day of Septembre. Whiche thre festes ben solempnly halowed in the sayd Abbaye of Shrewesbury to the laude and praysynge of almyghty god | and of this blessyd and holy vyrgyne seynte Wenefryde, | to whome late vs praye to be a specialle aduocatryce for vs in alle thynges to vs necessarye and behoeffulle.

(A)ffter that the blessyd vyrgyne saynt Wenefryde, shynynge by innumerable vertues, was departyd oute of thys lyf vnto the celesty∣all regne and blysse, | many yeres after kynge William regnynge, | whiche fyrste of the Normannes regned in Englond, | one Rogere Erle, a noble man and shynynge in alle honeste of maner and Relygyon, beganne to edyfye a monasterye in the towne of Shrewes∣bury: to whiche entendynge for to performe hit, endowed it wyth his propre cost and expencys | and ordeyned therin an Abbot | and constytued certayne bretheren monkes, for to serue god. | By processe of tyme | that place encreacyng by the mercy of god, prouffyted moche to many the way of helthe and was renommed of good fame and full of vertues vnto all them that dwellyd in that countreye. | Whan thenne the bretheren of that Abbeye shone by vertues | and all that was vertuous they beganne folowe dylygently: | oftymes they complayned among them self that they had nede to haue relykes, and for to gete and purchace somme they dyd alle their deuoyr and dylygence. | And for as moche as in Wales, whiche was fast by them, | they herde saye that there were reteyned the bodyes of many sayntes, | whoos merytes were prechyd in dyuerse places, | and for to haue somme of them, they studyed & sought alle the meanes they couthe, | knowyng veryly | that by the suffrages of suche one they myght the better serue our lord and be kepte the better from alle aduersytees | whoos dayly seruyse they shold kepe with deuocion here in this world, | to thende that he shold to them be a patrone in heuen— | ffor whiche to gete, | they dylygently en∣deuouryd them. | And trouth it is | that, sythe many holy and ex∣cellente confessours were in the sayd countrey, | they beganne to doubte whome they myght specially desyre and haue. | ¶ Hit happed afterward that one of the bretheren of that Abbaye was oppressyd by grete infyrmyte. | And the other bretheren hauyng grete compas∣syon on hym, were sore troublyd for his disease, | and for his helth they prayd deuoutely with the Inward deuocion of their hert vnto god, | and sente vnto other howses of Relygyon, prayeng them that they the same wyse wold haue theyr seek brother recommended in their speial prayers. | And specially they lete haue knowleg of the greuous Infyrmyte of hym vnto the monkes of the chirche of Chestre. | And thenne they in the same, astonyed in theyr mynydes(!), wente in to the chirche forto praye deuoutely for his helthe; | whiche fylle doune flatte tofore the holy Aulter | and sayd with humble deuocion the seuen psalmes. | And one of them, named Randolf, whiche was suppryour of the hows, a man of good lyf and symple courage, fylle a slepe: | and he sawe by a vysyon an excellent & fayr virgyne stondynge tofore hym, | whiche with a moche plesaunt chere sayd to hym these wordes: | 'What is this, said (s)he L. he st. she., and for whome is it that ye thus prostrate praye?' | The monke an∣swerd: | 'It is for a broder of our ordre whiche is payned by grete Infyrmyte, | and for his helthe here we lye prostrate, for to offre our prayers to god for his helthe'. | To whome she sayd: | 'I knowe wel, sayd she, that that same monke suffreth alienacion of his mynde. But & yf ye desyre veryly his helthe, | late one of yow go to the welle of saynt Wenefrede | and in the chirche that is ther by | late hym saye masse in the remembraunce of hir: | and anone the seke broder shall be delyuerd of his sekenes'. | And this sayeng she vanysshed awey. | The monk awoke 7, comyn ageyn to hymself, | remembryng what he had sene and herd in his mynde, | wold not shewe his vysion to his bretheren, | dredynge to be had in scorne | of them | & that they wold depute for a fantasye that he had sene & herd. | So after this nyghe vpon a fourty dayes | the seke man was alwey gretely vexyd | & lay in his bedde. | And it was shewed ageyne to the monkes of Chestre of the grete and greuous payne that the sayd monke suffred. | And forto speke of hym it gaf occacion to the monkes of Chestre, | and after many wordes, when they bewaylled the seke man, | he that had sene the vysyon toke hardynes to hym | and told to them al by ordre what the holy vyrgyn had said to hym. | Thenne they, whiche afore tyme had herd the fame of hir, | & knowyng also that many myracles had be done by her merytes, | anone made them lyghtely to bileue to that whiche was sayd, | and also gaf faythe to the vysyon: | ffor sithe they were warned to go to her welle | and in thonoure of her to saye masse in the chirche, | they were callyd therto by saynte Wenefrede | and sayd certaynly that she had appiered to the sayd broder. | Thus thenne they takynge their counceylle togyder, | two monkes were sente to the welle of saynte Wenefrede | and forto saye masse in the chirche that was fast by | and there to pray for the seke man. | And it was so that the same houre that the masse was ther songen, | the seke monke at Shrewesbury was made al hole, and thanked the said monkes for his helthe. | And a lytel whyle after | the same broder that had ben seke was ladde to the same place for to gyue laude and praysynge to god and to the holy vyrgyne for his helthe. | And whanne he had fyrst made his prayers in the chirche | and after had dronken of the welle | and with the water therof wasshen, | he was parfyghtely made hole | & retorned to his monastery in good helth. And fro thenne forthon the memorye and remembraunce of this holy vyrgyn | beganne tencreace more deuoutely in the hertes of the bretheren, | in suche wyse that they estemed them blessyd and happy | yf they myght haue and gete a lytel parte or relyque of her most blessyd body. | And though this semed to them hard and dyffycyle | and supposed shold passe theyre power, | yet they ordeyned to tempte and proue it, | knowynge that ther is nothyng may resiste the wylle of god | ; prayenge hym that he wold be debonayr and helper to bryng their purpos to effecte, | by whoos wylle alle thynges hard, diffycile & impossyble withoute doubte may lyghtely be broughte by his myght to honde, | and therof they doubted not. | ¶ That tyme that kynge Harry the fyrst, an hyhe and excellent prynce | and frende of pees, gouerned the Royamme of Englond, | by whos auctory te alle þe yle obteyned surete and pees, | in soo moche that euery man myght go and ryde peasybly whyder-someuer he wold. | By occasion wherof the sayd bretheren sente messagers in to Wales for to knowe where the most and excellente relyques rested, | and in especiall to seche where the tombe of the forsayd vyrgyne was. | And whan they had founde that place in whiche the bones of the blessyd vyrgyn Wenefrede rested, | they were gladde and fulfylled with ouer-grete ioye. | And by the consente of the bisshop of Banguour, | in whos dyocise the place was, | they made the prynces and noble men of the countrey to be consentynge and fauourable to them. | This thynge procedyng dayly forward gaf grete courage to the bretheren that they shold come to thentent of theyr desyre. But the dethe of the forsayd kyng Harry, sodenly comynge on, oppressyd al Brytayne by ouer grete stryf and trouble | and constrayned them a certayne tyme to leue theyre erande and desyre. | & the second yere of kynge Stephen the troubles ceased and the lond restored to tranquyllyte and pees, | ¶ Thabbot of the forsayd monasterye by the counceylle of his bretheren ordeyned for to sende in to Wales the pryour, named Roberte, with another monke his felawe, named Rychard. | This pryour was moche (more) dylygent in the procuracion of this thynge | than the other messagers had ben, and sente his lettres and messages in the countrey. | and had answer ageyne that, yf he cam hymself, | that he shold retorne ioyefully | and haue his entente of that he desyred. | Thenne he wente | and cam fyrste to the bisshop of Banguour, | and fro hym he was sente to the prynce of that countrey, | and of hym was benyngly receyued.

And whanne he had shewed to hym by ordre the cause of his iourney, | he sayd to hym | and ansuerd in this wyse: | 'I suppose that thy-self | ne thy felawes haue not taken on yow so grete a laboure with-oute the wylle of god | and of the blessyd vyrgyne, | peraduenture seynge not due reuerence done to her of them dwell∣yng in this contrey, | wherfor she desyred to be born in to somme other place, | to thende that she be honoured of straungyers | whome they that duelle here forgete | and haue in none reuerence. | Wher∣fore I graunte it gladly | and to her plaisyr I knowlege me to assente, | lest in resystyng and gaynsayenge of hit | I be compellyd to suffre her indignacion | ne auengyng it on me. | And though I be defowled in al vnclennesse | and am werst of all other men, | yet neuertheles I shal helpe to breke vp hir tombe; | and touchyng her holy bones I shal delyuer them to yow, | but yf so be for the comyn prouffyte of the countreye I muste nedes otherwyse entende. | ffor your labours and vysyons manyfeste and shewe that hit is her wylle | that her bones be transported from hens. | Therfore go ye, confermed by the lycence of myn auctorite, vnto the place where the blessyd vyrgyne resteth. | And as I suppose, ye shal fynde somme rebelles ageynst your disposicion; | but truste ye veryly that the virgyne shall appease them | whos affection hath incyted yow to so moche laboure. | Neuertheles I shal sende a messager to tho men | in whos patrymonye the body of the blessyd vyrgyne resteth, | whiche shal enforme to them my wyll | and shall make them som∣what the more peasyble to yow'— | this sayd, gaf them leue to goo forthe in pees. | Thanne they wente strayte vnto the place where the body of the venerable Wenefred was leyd. | And they were of them seuen persones, | that is to wyte the pryour, | and with hym the pryour of Chestre, named Wulmare; | & a preest, a man of grete vertue, named Idon, born of the same countrey; | a monke also whome the pryour toke with hym; | and thre other men. | And as they wente walkynge and spekynge of the mater that they wente fore, | they met a man of the same countrey, | demaundynge of them whiche of them was priour of Shrewesbury. | To whome whanne he was shewed, sayd these wordes: | 'I haue an erand to the from tho men that duelle in the place | in whiche reste the bones of saynte Wenefrede, | whiche is called Wytheryake, | and lete the haue knowlege | that they be moeued ageynst the by grete indyg∣nacion, | bycause that thou labourest to haue awey the bodyes of sayntes buryed by them, | to whome they haue commytted them self | and alle their goodes. | And knowe thou for certayn | that neyther the drede of the prynce, | ne the thretenyng of his lordes, | ne þe couetyse of ony money shal not make them to consente to yow in this thynge.' | And this sayd, | he went his way. | The pryour thenne and his felawes for these wordes were heuy and soroufull, | & what to doo | ne whyther to torne, they wyste neuer. | Thenne they torned them to almyghty god and prayd to hym with alle the deuocion of theyr myndes that it myght please hym to sende to them his spyryte of counceyl, | and that he, whiche only by the commaundement of his word appeaseth the tempestes of the wyndes and the see, | that it plese hym to appease these inimytees | & to confedere the myndes and courages of these men vnto them— | they humbly praid. Thenne they hauynge very confidence in the holy ghoost, held forth their iourney as they had begonne. | Whan they cam nygh vnto the place where as were conteyned the bones of the holy virgyne, | the pryour by counceylle sente two of his felawes, that is to saye the pryour of Chestre | and the forsayd preeste, te-fore, te st. to. whiche were wel knowen in al the countreye, for to prouyde and solycyte all thynges that shold be necessary to them. He reteynynge his felawe with hym, abode that nyght in a thorpe bycause of the message that he had herd, | & was therfor sore troubled. | & whanne he had said the laudes of his matyns, a sadde & an honest persone in lykenes of a woman appiered to one his seruaunt, sayeng these wordes: | 'Aryse anone | and saye to thy lord that he put awey his heuynes | and sorowes that he is oppressyd with, | and that he lyft vp his hope in god, | knowyng for certayne that he shall from hens with grete ioye: | she for whos loue he is comen to this prouynce, | shal accomplysshe and fulfylle theffect of his desyre: | ffor in haste he shall haue that for whiche he shalle Joyously retorne home | & shal glade alle his felawes in his comynge'. | Another vysyon that same nyght happed to the same pryour; | ther was an Abbot, a man of grete deuocion, | whiche had ben afore tyme fader of that same Abbaye of Shrewesbury | and hauyng old age & ful of vertues departid oute of this lyf, named Godfrey: | whiche appiered to hym that same nyght, | & of the drede that he had | blamed hym, sayeng: | 'Be thou not of faynt herte, | but haue good faythe & truste, | ffor we shal well ouercome oure enemyes | & with them that shalle assiste vs by the helpe of god we shalle vaynquysshe them; | & knowe thow verily that we shal shortely opteyne that thyng which we with hyhe deuocion so moche desyre'. | After these wordes he vanysshed aweye from his eyen. | Of these vysyons grewe somme surete in their myndes | & was gyuen to them an hope to opteyne that they sought. And on the morne erly they told what they had sene in their slepe, | & gaf grete comfort to the herers. | & sodenly one of the messagers, that had ben with them the daye before, cam & sayde that they myȝt surely come, | warnyng them to folowe hym, | for that they desyred they shold fynde. | Whiche anone toke their horses and cam thyder. | & fyrst their prayers sayd, | they called the preest of the sayd place secretely | & prayd hym hertely that he wold be helpyng to them. | The preest paciently heryng their wordes, gaf to them an answer in this wyse: | 'I shal lyghtly accorde me to your entente with good wyll. | & bycause I shal the straitlyer be con∣federed to yow, | & that I knowe the wyll of god & of the blessid virgyn touchyng your desyre, I shal here in your presence shewe to yow. | On the satirday, the vigyle of ester, in the chirche whiche ye here see & beholde, I was al the nyght for to syng & say matyns & ympnes, whan tyme was; | & whan I had said the psaulter tofore the aulter, | I leyd me doun vpon the steppes, a lytel to take my rest; | and I sawe a vysyon, whiche moche fered me | and bycause I shold not resiste ne be rebell to yow, | by thretenynge he warned me; | and, as me thought, no grete slepe oppressyd me, | but as I had be half wakyng. | A fayr yong man, hauyng an angels chere, stode before me and callyd me, sayeng: Aryse! | I wenyng that he wold haue awaked me, | that I shold haue begonne my nocturnal offyce, | & ansuerd to hym: | It is not yet tyme to begynne thoffyce, | I wyl not aryse. | And he thenne, as me semed, wente his way. | And the second tyme he cam, | & callyd me ludder | & sayd: | Aryse, | aryse! | & I wolde not take no hede to his wordes | & ansuerd hym as I dyd before; | and with my mantell that I ware I couerd my hede and fylle in to a sadde slepe. | And after a lytel whyle the same yong man cam & with his hand drewe awey by grete strength the mantel fro my hede | & leyd it vnder my sholders, sayenge to me the thyrd tyme: | Aryse, | aryse, | aryse, | & folowe me! | ¶ Thenne me thought I aroos | & folowed hym. | And we cam to the sepulcre of the blessyd vyrgyne saynt Wenefrede, | whiche shewynge to me with his fyngre seyd: | "Marke dylygently thys place, | and the wordes that I shalle saye reteyne faste in thy mynde! | yf ony come hyder this yere or the nexte whiche wil remeue this stone | & remeue the erthe, | in no wyse gaynsaye it not; | & yf he wyll bere away with hym the bones of this blessyd vyrgyn, | repugne not ther-ageynst, | but put hond to | & in all thynges that thou mayst helpe hym! | & yf thou therin be neclygent | & be founde a despysar of my wordes | whiche ben shewed to the by goddes commaundement, | thou shalt be payned by myserable & long languour and sekenes | & sone after lese thy self". | This said, the angelyk visyon vanysshed away. | Therfore be ye assured that I shal helpe to spede your purpos and dylygently mynystre to yow after my myght. | Therfore of me be ye sure | & calle the other to you | whiche ye may applye to your desyre, | for I Caxt. I wyll; wyll ist zu tilgen., with all the studye & industrye that I may & can, shall execute your playsyre, | & the good wyll of them of of st. to. whom the ryght of this toune apper∣teyneth | I shal do my best to brynge them to your wyll. | & by∣cause they now be here present, | say ye to them what ye will, | for they be redy for to here you.' | Thenne the pryour by the moyen of the preest or by his interpretacion spacke vnto alle the com∣panye of men that were there, | and exposed to them the cause of his iourney | and desyred them by fayre wordes | that they wold gyue theyr assente, shewynge no thynge to them of theyr vysyons, ne recytynge what hadde happed to them, | but only for deuocion that they hadde to the vyrgyne they had taken the labour on them. | After many wordes and causes leyd | and after innumer∣abre incidentes | and reasons alledged, | atte last they were al acorded, | and that they desyred | they benyngnlye consentyd. | The pryour and his felawes gyuynge thankynges to god, | desyred | that they shold shewe to them the place. | And sothly the place where so moche tresour was reteyned is a chirche-yerde of a good distaunce fro the chircheyerd where now the bodyes of dede men ben buryed, | and in that chirche-yerd resten the bodyes of many other sayntes, | and is had in soo grete reuerence of them that dwelle in the countrey | that none of them dare presume to entre in to it, | but yf it be | bycause for to praye. | And whan the sayd monkes with theire felaushyp were brought to that place, | the sayd pryoure, goyng before his felaushyp, by thynstynct, | as I suppose, of the hooly ghoost anone withoute ony man ledynge or shewynge cam strayte to the sepulture of saynt Wenefrede, | and he, whiche neuer was there before ne knewe by techynge of ony man that place, by the ledynge of god withoute goyng oute of the wey cam to the tombe of the blessyd virgyne. | And standynge at the hede of the blessyd vyrgyne, abydynge his felawes, | he was admonysshed by a dyuyne reuelacion within forth | that that was the sepulture of the blessyd vyrgyne | and there he sholde haue that he desyred. | Thenne they comyng that shold haue shewed the place, | assigned to hym that same place that he tofore had chosen | and stode-by. | Thenne the peple beyng remeued, two of the monkes | with pykoys and spades beganne to digge in the ground, | tyll they cam to the tresour desyred, | and the other sayde and redde theyr psalmes. | ¶ And whanne the body was founden, | they gaf and rendryd thankynges vnto god, | and tooke oute the bones fro the erthe and, as they thought that tyme best for them, | bonde them fair in theyr mantels | & honestly leid them therin. | And they there hon∣estly toke their leue, | commendynge them that there were to god, beganne to retorne homeward with grete ioye. | And soo they wente forth with grete ioye, | sayenge oftymes emonge other wordes that they had goten a grete tresour | whiche was better than many and grete rychesses, | and knewe not of what meryte hit was, | besech∣ynge almyghty god that they myghte haue somme token therof. | And it was not long to | but that god wold satisfye their wylle and desyre: | ffor anone the daye beganne to faylle and to wexe derke, | and were lodgyd in a good mannes hows; | and there they beynge sette to souper, they herd in the inner parte of the hows | a seke man grone and gyuynge oute a terryble voys. | Thenne the pryour demaunded the cause of his dysease, | and it was answerd | that ther was a man vexid with grete sekenesses; | and yf he myght be heled, | he shold gyue a grete reward therfore. | Thenne the pryour toke a lytell water | and blessyd hit, | and he took a lytell of the pouldre or dust that was in her hede, | and put therin, | and badde to gyue it to the seke man. | Whiche anon after he hadde receyued hit, slepte, | and anone after he awoke | & aroos all hoole, gyuynge thankynges to god and to the blessyd vyrgyne. | And by this myracle | they were confermed in the faythe | and were gladder than they were tofore, | & more deuoute in worshippynge of the vyrgyne. And many other signes and myracles they had by the waye, | whiche affermed that hit was a godly yefte that they bare. | And whanne they cam to a place vpon a ten myle fro Shrewesbury, | they restyd & taryed there. | And whanne they sholde haue departyd, | they coude not remeue the bones: | wherfor they counceyled to gyder | and concluded that the bones shold be wesshen at that place. | And thenne there was no water: but anone sprang vp there a fayr welle, | whiche yet renneth a grete cours contynuelly in to this day lyke to the rather welle. | In which welle they wesshe the bones of the blessyd saynt Wenefrede. | And euer after the stones that lye and reste in that water, ben besprynet as it were with dropes of blood, in so moche that for certayne ther hath ben certayne deuoute persones | whiche haue done to be leyd certayne whyte asshen cuppes in this sayd welle, | and whanne they haue ben in the water a seuen dayes or ther-aboutes, | they haue appieryd al besprynct as it were with blood—and this is dayly shewed: | whiche is a grete myracle. |

¶ Thenne they sente messagers vnto the toune of Shrewesbury, | from whens they were departed, | and sente word to the monastery | that they had that | for whiche they were sente fore. | Thenne the congregacion herynge these tydynges, were ryghte joyeful and thankyng our lord | concluded | that the bones sholde be sette in the chirche of saynt Gyles, | whiche is in issuynge oute of the towne, | sayeng | that so holy a tresour oughte not to be receyued in to the monasterye withoute auctoryte and benediction of the bisshop | and with the grete concourse of the peple of that prouynce. | This counceylle pleased them alle. | And thenne they sente ageyne the pryour to the bisshop, | forto conferme by his auctoryte what they shold doo with suche a relyque, | to them graunted from heuen. | ¶ And in the mene whyle the monkes were departed for to synge thoffyce of the daye and nyght before the body of the blessyd vyrgyne wyth deuoute courage. | To whome they songe besyly on the day tyme, | moche peple cam | that were dwellyng there in that countrey, commyttynge themself to the prayers and merytes of the holy vyrgyne saynte Wenefrede | . ¶ There was in the same town a certayne yonge man whiche was gretely vexyd with merueyll∣ous sekenes | and was benomen in alle his membres, | in so moche | that his hede bowed doune almost to the erthe | and in no wyse he myght lyfte vp his hede. | And whanne he herd of the noyse of the comyng of this holy vyrgyne, | he dyde do be made redy an hors | and by helpe of his ffrendes was sette theron | and holden on bothe sydes by the handes of two men, and soo broughte to the chirche | where the relyques of saynte Wenefrede were conteyned and kepte. | And there abode all nyght in prayer | and there was vexyd with moche greuous payne. | And on the morne | whanne the day beganne to wexe clere, | and as the preest beganne thoffyce of the masse, | he beganne to amende | and anone was restored to his fyrst helth. And whanne the gospell was redde, | he lefte his bedde | that he laye on, | and wente hastely to the aulter for to make his offryng to god | and to the blessyd vyrgyne saynt Wenefrede, yeuyng grete thankes to god | and hyr deuoutely | for the helthe that he had receyued, | and retorned all hole and stronge on his feet to the hows of his fader and moder, | whiche the day before was brought thyder on an hors by the handes of other. | This grete myracle gladded the hertes of alle them that there were gadred, | and anone in short space after was shewed & told this myracle thorugh alle the prouynce: whiche excyted moche the myndes of them that herd hit vnto the deuocion & reuerence of the blessyd saynt.

¶ The name of hir grewe euery day more and more, | and the me∣morye of her. | Thenne the pryour retorned fro the bisshop, hauynge his auctoryte: | that alle they that in the worship of the holy virgyne | and in her honour were deuoute, shold haue goddes blyssyng and his. | And thenne a certayne day was named | and shewed vnto the paroches there-aboute, | that alle they shold be warned that wold come to the venerable translacion of thys holy vyrgyne. | ¶ Thenne on the day assigned the monkes wente in procession with crosses and candellys, & innumerable multitude of peple, for to fetche the holy body of the blessyd vyrgyne saynt Wenefrede, | euery man knelynge with his knees | and many for ioye myght not absteyne them from wepyng. | The couente of the bretheren that wente out for to receyue this holy jewel, | receyued celestyall bienfaittes by the merytes of the blessyd vyrgyne saynt Wenefrede. | For hit rayned by grete shoures al aboute in the feldes therby; | and the couent that were gone oute cladde them with precious ornamentes of the chirche to mete with the blessyd body, | and dredde not a lytell | that the ornamentes & munymentis shold be sore hurte by the fallyng of the rayne; | but that they hadde begonne, in no wyse wold leue, | mekely prayd to oure lord | that by the prayer of saynt Wenefrede they myghte be kepte drye | and that they myghte be preseruyd fro the fallynge of the rayne. | Thenne in al that procession of them that went out of the monasterye | and in the receyuynge of the holy relykes ye shold haue sene the water of the shoures, nyghe to the erthe hangynge ouer them, | and the dropes, redy for to haue fallen, | by the myght of god reteyned, | so that none fylle on them; | and where alle the peple that were there | beyng gretely aferd leste the grete rayne that was lyke to falle shold haue trou∣bled and haue fallen, | yet by the myght and power of god | & by the merytes of the holy vyrgyn they were withdrawen: | whiche caused them to gyue the more worship and lawde to the merytes of hir. And at the laste it pleasid to alle the peple that the pryour whiche had brought thyder the venerable relyques of the sayd hooly vyrgyne, shold preche and enforme the grete multytude of the peple, of what vertue | and of what meryte this hooly vyrgyne was of | of whome that tyme was made the translacion. | And whanne he had told to them al this | a longe, | ye shold haue sene the shoures falle aboute nyghe to them | and fleyng in the ayer | and wetyng alle the countreye by the infusion of the water, | excepte only the procession. | Thenne was the holy body taken vp of the couent and bretheren | and And zu tilgen. with couenable reuerence, syngyng on hye preysynges and lawde to almyghty god, | and brought to the monasterye, | and sette vpon the aulter | whiche was made in thon∣our of the holy appostles Peter and Pawle honourably. | Where, for to shewe the prerogatyf of the same holy vyrgyne, is gyuen there to sekemen helthe, | and haue ben shewed innumerable vertues there to the glorye and lawde of almyghty god, | to whome be gyuen honour, glorye and Imperye world without ende. AMEN.