There on a fudden they were met by an hoftile Power of Demons, envying fuch 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 fuftain'd by Prayer, not by Strength, and as it hapned, the Commander and Bifhop being spent, and overcome with Wearinefs, 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 blefled Lupus and all the reft awak'd their Elder, to oppofe him to the raging Elements. He the more refolute for the Excefs of Danger, call'd upon CHRIST, and having, in the Name of the Holy Trinity, fprinkled a little Water, quell'd the raging Waves, admonish'd his Companion, encourag'd all, and all unanimoufly fell to Prayer. The Deity was at hand, the Enemies put to flight, a ferene 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 wifh'd for Shore. A Multitude flocking thi ther from all Parts, receiv'd the Priests, whofe coming had been foretold by the Predictions of Adverfaries. For the wicked Spirits declar'd what they fear'd, which being by Priests expell'd Bodies they had taken Poffeffion of, made known the Nature of the Tempest, and the Dangers they had occafion'd, not denying that they had been overcome by their Merits and Command. In the mean Time the ApoftoliE 2

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cal Priests fuddenly fill'd the Ifland 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, fo that the Catholicks were every where confirm'd, and the Deluded corrected. They, like the Apoftles, 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 embraced their Opini ons: The Authors of the perverfe Notions lay hid, and, like the Evil Spirits, griev'd for the lofs of the People that was refcu'd from them, at length, after mature Deliberation they had the boldness to enter the b Lifts, and appear'd, being confpicuous for Riches, glittering in Apparel, and fupported 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 feem by faying nothing to condemn themselves. An immenfe Multitude was there aflembled. with their Wives and Children. The People ftood about as Spectators and Judges; the Parties prefent very different in Condition; on the one fide was divine Faith, on the other fide humane Prefumption; on the one fide Piety, on the other Pride; on the one fide Pelagius chief, on the other CHRIST. The

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

most bleffed Priests, German and Lupus, permitted their Adverfaries to speak first, who long took up the Time, and fir'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 Difcourfe was interfpers'd with Divine Sentences, and their most weighty Af-, fertions were fupported by written Teftimonies. Vanity was convinc'd, and Perfidioufnefs confuted; fo, 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 fcarce refrain from ufing Violence, but gave their Judgment in Acclamations,

CHA P. XVIII.

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

HEN, on a fudden, one, who had the Quality of a Tribune came forward with his Wife, prefenting his blind Daughter, ten Years of Age, to the Priests to be cur'd, whom they order'd to be fet before their Adverfaries; but they being convinc'd by Guilt of Confcience, join'd their Intreaties to thofe

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the Child's Parents, befeeching the Priefts. that the Child might be cur'd. They perceiving their Adverfaries to yield, made a fhort Prayer, and then German, full of the Holy Ghoft, 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 aftonifh'd at the Miracle; after which Day, the wicked Perfwafion was fo fully obliterated in the Minds of all Men, that they ardently embrac'd the Doctrine of the Priefts. The damnable Perversenefs being thus fupprefs'd, and the Authors thereof confuted, and all the People's Hearts fettled in the Pu rity of Faith, the Priefts 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 Apoftles, and of feveral Martyrs, after offering up his Prayers, commanded the Tomb to be open'd, to lay up therein fome precious Gifts; judging it convenient, that the Limbs of Saints brought together from feveral Countries, being receiv'd into Heaven upon equal Merits, fhould be preferv'd in one Tomb. Thofe being honourably depofited, and laid together, he took up a Parcel of Duft from the very Place, where the

In this Bede follows Conftantius, who afferts the fame, In the Year 1257. was dug up this old Infcription in St. Albans Church, in this Maufolæum was found the venerable Corps of St. Alban, the Protomartyr of Bricain, it was in Lead, and fuppos'd to have been laid in King Offa's Time.

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 Rednefs to it, whilft the Perfecutor was ftruck pale. Thefe Things being so transacted, an innumerable Multitude of People was that Day converted to the Lord.

CHA P. XIX.

How the fame Holy Man being detain'd there by an Indifpofition, by his Prayers quench'd a Fire that had broke out among the Houfes, and was himself cur'd of his Diftemper by a Vifion.

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 fome time. in the fame Place, by reafon 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 Marfh, 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

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