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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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relying on Faith, would not fuffer himself to be remoy'd. The Multitude befide themselves with Defpair, ran to oppofe the Conflagration; however, for the greater Manifestation of the Divine Power, whatfoever the Croud endeavour'd to fave, was deftroy'd; but the dreadful Flame flew over that which the difabled motionlefs Perfon had defended, fparing the Houfe that gave Entertainment to the Holy Man, raging about on every fide of it, and the Manfion in which the Inhabitant was fhut up appear'd untouch'd, amidst the fcattering Conflagration. The Multitude rejoic'd at the Miracle, and congratulated their being overcome by the Divine Powers. An infinite Number of the poorer fort watch'd Day and Night before the Cottage; fome to heal their Souls, and fome their Bodies. It is impoffible to relate what CHRIST wrought in his Servant, what Wonders the fick Man perform'd, And he fuffering no Medecines to be apply'd to his Diftemper, one Night faw a Perfon in Garments as white as Snow, ftanding by him, who, reaching out his Hand, feem'd to raise him up as he lay, and order'd him to ftand boldly upon his Feet; from which Time, his Pain ceafing, he was fo perfectly restor❜d, that when the Day came on, he, without any Hefitation, undertook the Toil of a Journey.

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CHAP

CHAP. XX.

How the fame Bishops procur'd the Britons Affiftance from Heaven in a Battel, and then return'd home.

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N the mean time the Saxons and Picts, with their united Forces, made War upon the Britons, whom Neceffity had drawn together into the Camp, and they full of Dread, thinking themselves an unequal Match to their Enemies, implor'd the Affiftance of the holy Bifhops; who hastning to them as they had promis'd, added fo much Courage to those fearful People, that one would have thought they had been join'd by a mighty Army. The Leaders being Apoftolical Men, CHRIST forwarded the Service in the Camp. The venerable Days of Lent were alfo at hand, render'd more religious by the Prefence of the Priests, infomuch, that the People being inftructed by daily Sermons, reforted in Crowds to receive the Grace of Baptifm; for moft of the Army defir'd to be admitted to the faving Water; the Church was adorn'd with Boughs against the Feast of the Refurrection of our Lord, and fo fitted up in that Martial Camp, as if it were in a City. The Army ftill wet with the Baptifmal Water, advanc'd, the Faith of the People grew ftrong, and the arm'd Power be+ ing in a Confternation, the Divine Affiftance was rely'd upon. The Enemy receiv'd Advice

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of the Pofture of the Army, and not queftioning their Succefs against an unarm'd Multitude, hafted forward, but their Approach was made known by the Scouts. The greater Part of the Forces juft come from the Font, after the Festival of Eafter, preparing to arm and carry on the War, German declar'd he would be their Leader in Battel. He pick'd out the most active, view'd the Country about, and obferv'd in the Way the Enemy was expe&ed, a Valley encompass'd with Hills. In that Place he drew up the raw Army himself, playing the General. A Multitude of fierce Enemies appear'd, whom thofe that lay in Ambufh faw approaching. Then German, the Standard-Bearer, warn'd and inftructed them all in a loud Voice to repeat his Words, and the Enemy advancing fecurely, as believing they were come unexpected, the Priests three times cry'd, 2 Hallelujah. An univerfal Cry of the fame Word follow'd, and the encom→ paffing Hills refounding the Echo, the Enemy was ftruck with Terror, fearing that not only the neighbouring Rocks, but even the very Skies were falling upon them; and fuch was the Dread conceiv'd, that their Feet were not fwift enough to deliver them from it. They fled in Disorder, cafting away their Arms, well fatisfy'd if they could efcape the Danger naked;

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a This Villory, which Archbishop Ufher calls Victoria Alleluiatica, was, he fays, in Flintshire, at a Place call'd in English, and by the Welch, Guideruc-Mold; where, Mr. Cambden fays, are many Antiquities. It is call'd, fays Ufher, to this Day, Maes Garmon, or St. Germain's Field.