1

There on a sudden they were met by an hoftile Power of Demons, envying such great Mens Proceeding to retrieve the Safety of the Peoples Souls. They rais'd Storms, and darkned the Sky with Clouds. The Sails could not bear the Fury of the Winds, the Sailors Skill was forc'd to give way, the Ship was sustain'd by Prayer, not by Strength, and as it hapned, the Commander and Bishop being spent, and overcome with Weariness, was fallen afleep. Then the Tempeft, as if the Person that oppos'd it had given over, gather'd Strength, and the Ship overpower'd by the Waves was ready to fink. Then the blesled Lupus and all the reft awak'd their Elder, to oppose him to the raging Elements. He the more refolute for the Excess of Danger, call'd upon CHRIST, and having, in the Name of the Holy Trinity, sprinkled a little Water, quell'd the raging Waves, admonish'd his Companion, encourag'd all, and all unanimously fell to Prayer. The Deity was at hand, the Enemies put to flight, a serene Calm enfu'd, the Winds on the contrary apply'd themselves to forward the Voyage, and having foon cut through the Distance on the Ocean, they enjoy'd the Quiet of the wish'd for Shore. A Multitude flocking thi ther from all Parts, receiv'd the Priests, whose coming had been foretold by the Predictions of Adversaries. For the wicked Spirits declar'd what they fear'd, which being by Priefts expell'd Bodies they had taken Poffeffion of, made known the Nature of the Tempeft, and the Dangers they had occafion'd, not denying that they had been overcome by their Merits and Command. In the mean Time the Apoftolical

4

cal Priests suddenly fill'd the Island of Britain with their Fame, Preaching and Virtues; and the Word of God was by them daily imparted, not only in the Churches, but even in the Streets and Fields, so that the Catholicks were every where confirm'd, and the Deluded corrected. They, like the Apostles, had Honour and Authority through a good Confcience, found Doctrine through Learning, and Virtue from their Merits. Thus the generality of the Country had readily embrac'd their Opinions: The Authors of the perverse Notions lay hid, and, like the Evil Spirits, griev'd for the lofs of the People that was rescu'd from them; at length, after mature Deliberation they had the boldness to enter the Lifts, and appear'd, being confpicuous for Riches, glittering in Apparel, and supported by the Flatteries of many; choofing rather to hazard the Combat, than to undergo the Dishonour, among the People, of having been filenc'd, left they should seem by saying nothing to condemn themselves. An immenfe Multitude was there aflembled with their Wives and Children. The People stood about as Spectators and Judges; the Parties present very different in Condition; on the one fide was divine Faith, on the other fide humane Presumption; on the one fide Piety, on the other Pride; on the one fide Pelagius chief, on the other CHRIST. The moft

:

The Place of this famous Conference was at St. Albans, where, Mr. Cambden says, near the Ruins of the old City, Stands a Chapel dedicated to St. German, built upon the veTy Ground where he stood at this Dispute, now ill employ'd, as appears by an ancient Record of that Monastery.

most blessed Priests, German and Lupus, permitted their Adversaries to speak first, who long took up the Time, and fill'd the Ears with empty Words. Then the venerable Prelates pour'd forth the Torrent of their Eloquence in Apoftolical and Evangelical Showers. Their own Discourse was interspers'd with Divine Sentences, and their most weighty Afsertions were supported by written Testimonies. Vanity was convinc'd, and Perfidioufnefs confuted; so, as that at every Objection made against them, not being able to reply, they confefs'd they had err'd. The People, who were Judges, could scarce refrain from using Violence, but gave their Judgment in Acclamations,

A

1

The fame Holy Man gave Sight to the blind Daughter of a Tribune, and then coming to St. Albans, there receiv'd Some Relicks of bis, and left others of the Blessed Apostles, and other Martyrs.

THEN, on a

Quality of

a

:

fudden, one, who had the Tribune came forward

with his Wife, presenting his blind Daughter, ten Years of Age, to the Priests to be cur'd, whom they order'd to be set before their Adversaries; but they being convine'd by Guilt of Confcience, join'd their Intreaties to those the Child's Parents, beseeching the Priests that the Child might be cur'd. They perceiving their Adversaries to yield, made a short Prayer, and then German, full of the Holy Ghost, invok'd the Trinity, and taking into his Hands a Casket with Relicks of Saints, which hung about his Neck, apply'd it to the Girls Eyes; the which being immediately deliver'd from Darkness, were fill'd with the Light of Truth. The Parents rejoice, the People are aftonish'd at the Miracle; after which Day, the wicked Perswasion was so fully obliterated in the Minds of all Men, that they ardently embrac'd the Doctrine of the Priests. The damnable Perverseness being thus suppress'd, and the Authors thereof confuted, and all the People's Hearts settled in the Pu rity of Faith, the Priests repair'd to the Martyr St. Alban, to return Thanks to God through him. There German having along with him a Relicks of all the Apostles, and of several Martyrs, after offering up his Prayers, commanded the Tomb to be open'd, to lay up therein some precious Gifts; judging it convenient, that the Limbs of Saints brought together from several Countries, being receiv'd into Heaven upon equal Merits, should be preserv'd in one Tomb. Those being honourably deposited, and laid together, he took up a Parcel of Dust from the very Place, where the the Martyr's Blood had been shed, to carry away with him; the which Dust having retain'd the Blood, it appear'd that the Slaughter of the Martyrs had communicated a Redness to it, whilst the Perfecutor was struck pale. These Things being so transacted, an innumerable Multitude of People was that Day converted to the Lord.

How the same Holy Man being detain'd there by an Indisposition, by bis Prayers quench'd a Fire that had broke out among the Houses, and was himself cur'd of bis Distemper by a Vision.

A

S they were returning from thence, the Enemy of Mankind having laid accidental Snares, much hurt German's Foot by a Slip, not knowing that, like Job, his Merits would be enhanc'd by the Affliction of his Body. Whilft he was thus detain'd for some time in the fame Place, by reason of his Infirmity, a Fire broke out in a Cottage neighbouring upon that where he was entertain'd; the which having burnt down the Houses that were there, thatch'd with the Reed of the Marsh, was carried on by the Wind, to the Dwelling in which he lay. The People all flock'd to the Prelate, intreating him with Hands lifted up, that he would avoid the impending Danger. He having rebuk'd them, relying

E 4