¹ There was a certain virgin in Ireland named Modwenna, beautiful of face, noble of kindred, but far nobler in character and holiness. For she was the daughter of King Maugtheus; her mother was named Choman. This virgin dedicated her virginity to God from her girlhood. For it happened that at that time St Patrick had come into Ireland to preach the faith of Christ to those peoples, who were partly wrapped in pagan errors and partly did not yet fully understand the faith. So Modwenna came to him with the rest of the faithful to hear the word of God. And when she had heard him discoursing excellently on keeping virginity, on the rewards of the just and the punishments of the wicked, kindled by a vehement desire of divine love, prostrate at the bishop’s feet she devoutly asked with tears for the habit of a nun, declaring that she wished to choose virginity, in which she might serve the Lord Christ until her death. But he, understanding the grace of God abiding in her, rejoiced, and veiling her consecrated her a spotless handmaid to the Lord; and commended to her a noble virgin named Athea, a kinswoman of his.

² So Modwenna began to attend to sacred letters, to despise the vanities of the world, to turn over St Patrick’s counsels in assiduous meditation, to guard her heart also and her deeds with all watchfulness, to devote herself frequently to prayer with tears and sighs, to thin her body with fastings, afflict it with vigils, to love God with her whole soul and whole strength, to prefer nothing to the love of Christ, to trample all earthly things as fleeting with a pure mind, to pant for the prize of the heavenly kingdom with all her efforts, to shudder at the pains of hell with exceeding horror, to sigh after the rewards of eternal life with unwearied desire. For heavenly grace so prevailed in her that her brother Ronan, imitating her example, renounced the whole world; and joining himself to her in the service of Christ, was afterwards made a religious bishop. Her father also restrained himself from crimes, and her mother, devoted to the highest religion for fifteen years, completed the end of her life in holy conversation.

³ After this the virgin of Christ, bereft of her parents, desiring to rise to higher things, hearing the fame of a certain holy bishop named Ibar who led a most strict life with his disciples in the islands of the ocean, hastened to him as quickly as possible with a few companions. And considering the labour of his hands, the rigour of his abstinence, the pleasantness of his affability, the merit of his life and the marvels of his virtues, being kindly instructed by him she returned, and dwelt with Athea and her brother Ronan; often sustained by raw roots alone, she gave herself to assiduous prayers; being burdensome to none, seeking no one’s alms, earning food for herself and hers by the works of her hands, she showed a manly spirit in a woman’s sex. She broke up the earth with a hoe, cast the seed with her own hand, covering it with rakes and weeding the field with a mattock. Noble matrons flocked to her, and queens and virgins, hearing the word of God from her. And eight virgins were joined to her, among whom were St Brigid and Orbila. With these was a widow having a little son named Luger: whom she, seeing his good disposition, adopted as her son, and rearing him with the greatest care, rendered him learned in faith and morals.

⁴ This Luger on a certain day guarded a cow with its calf, which a wolf, coming, suddenly seized and devoured before his eyes. And when he had reported this to his mistress, she said: “Take my staff, my son, and go to it, and bid it come to me.” He, finding the wolf still with the calf, touched it with the staff, saying: “My mistress commands you to come to her.” And it at once arising followed him in the manner of a domestic dog, and prostrate before the virgin’s feet, laying aside all fierceness, as though conscious of its fault and penitent, begged pardon. To whom she said: “Why have you devoured our calf? Look, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ, that you go to the cow whose calf you devoured and guard her from beasts, leading her to pasture and bringing her back; live on wild things, eat nothing domestic, and do harm to no man henceforth.” The wolf, obeying her commands, made domestic against his nature, guarded the cow diligently like a shepherd: and she licked him and loved him as though her calf. The wolves bred from him guard the church’s cattle for three miles even to the present day. For they are smaller than the rest and have white marks on their foreheads; harming no domestic animals, but seeking their food from wild ones.

⁵ Luger, strengthened by these and other miracles, and made a priest and at last raised to the episcopate, recalled many from unbelief and confirmed them in true faith and holy works. And when robbers, seizing two cows of the holy virgin, wished to cross a certain river, they found the waters so hot that their steps could by no means endure the river’s heat. The thieves, astounded, when after great labours they thought they were far from the monastery, at daybreak seeing themselves near the virgin’s church, prostrated at her feet, confessed their fault and obtained pardon. Now there were a hundred and fifty virgins gathered in the holy virgin’s monastery; all earning food and clothing for themselves by the work of their hands, they passed their life in great holiness.

⁶ At length the holy virgin, appointing Orbila over them as abbess and mother, purposed to pass to another place. To whom she said: “How can I obey your commands, O lady, since I am a young girl and fear for my age, lest if perhaps I remain without you, young men on account of the beauty of my body and the fairness of my hair should try to steal me from God and draw me away from the purpose of holiness? Spare me, lady, spare me, and do not forsake me.” To whom she answered: “Be of good comfort, daughter, and act manfully, and have confidence: for God will help you. And that you may know that he himself has chosen you and that I have done all these things at his bidding, you shall now see his marvels in you.” Then taking her own girdle, she girded Orbila with it, and making the sign of the cross over her breathed upon her: and at once her head was made white with a comely hoarfrost, and her face changed into another aspect, as though she were of ripe age and venerable old age. And she said to her: “Look, your body being changed you shall be changed in name also, and you shall be called Servila instead of Orbila, that you may know that the Lord has not set you over to rule but to serve.” But Orbila, who is also Servila, seeing such great marvels worked upon her, not daring to hesitate or gainsay, devoutly receiving all that was commanded her; being affable to all, profiting and showing good examples, adorned with virtues, she devoutly fulfilled the office enjoined on her to her latest old age.

⁷ And taking forty-nine virgins, she built a monastery on a certain mountain, and from the cells which were built on the mountain’s slope called it Celliscliuium. In that place the holy virgins, eating raw herbs, tree-barks and roots of herbs, served God in great abstinence, with assiduous prayers and vigils, in a humble spirit. A certain swineherd of the king’s, seeking his herds everywhere through the wilderness and not finding them, affected with weariness and despairing, implored the virgin’s aid. To whom she said: “Go in safety, and you shall find all that you have lost kept by God untouched by wild beasts.” He went and found all as she had said, chose the best pig, and having cut it in pieces brought it to the virgin in thanks. She would not receive it, but said it was not lawful for the sisters to eat of such food, because for divine love they had forsaken worldly customs, and having other customs in food and drink and all other things, longed to hasten to higher things. And when he was sad over the killing of the pig and because the virgin had not accepted his gift, she had him called to her; set each member of the pig in order in its own place, and making a prayer and the sign of the cross, restored the dead animal alive to the desolate man by wondrous power, and said: “Take your pig, and be faithful to death, hoping in the Lord and doing good, and henceforth serve him more trustingly, who alone can do great marvels.”

⁸ Now St Patrick sent eight priests to visit and comfort St Modwenna, that returning they might report to him what she did and how she fared. But they, going through the wilderness, were slain with cruel death by fifty robbers who seized all they carried. Glunelach was their chief, who, wandering through places of the woods, practised robberies, perpetrated many crimes, had no pity on men, but whomever they could find, having plundered all their goods, slaughtered them without any mercy. And when Modwenna learned of this, she indeed rejoiced at their martyrdom, in that by the short cut of death they had passed to eternal joys; but she grieved for their unburied bodies which lay cast out to be devoured by beasts, having above all greater sorrow for the wicked men who neither believed nor feared the torments prepared for them. And she prayed with intent prayer to the Lord that she might obtain peace from the robbers and bury the martyrs’ bodies unharmed. And look, an angel of the Lord stood by her, saying: “Go with your sisters to seek the bodies of the saints, having confidence and doubting nothing, for the Lord will help you.”

⁹ And taking forty-nine virgins with her, she came to the place where the dead bodies lay. And look, Glunelach the robber with his forty-nine meeting them, seized with a mad passion, was hastening to seize them. Seeing which, Modwenna, nothing hesitating, comforted the trembling sisters, saying: “Be not afraid, but pray to the Lord with a pure heart: and now you shall see his marvels.” And as they drew near and nothing remained but that each should seize his own, look, the Lord’s sleep at once rushed upon them, and falling forward on the earth they slept; and from the first hour of Thursday until the ninth of Saturday they lay neither moving nor breathing, as though utterly dead. And an angel of the Lord appeared, resplendent with great brightness, and said to Modwenna: “Be steadfast and act with confidence: and come with me, you and Glunelach: for I will take you and show you the secrets of God, both terrible and desirable.” At this voice, both, rapt out of the body, followed the angel of God, who showed them the pains of hell and the horrible torments, then as it were pleasant and flowery seats in paradise, and diverse mansions, very beautiful and delightful, according to the quality of merits. And when Glunelach had seen among the rest one most beautiful, surpassing the others in grace and loveliness, and it pleased him beyond telling, he asked Modwenna to inquire whose that mansion was. And she said to the angel: “My lord, whose is this mansion?” The angel answered: “This mansion is prepared for a certain religious bishop named Kevin, who, living strictly enough, has now passed seven years in the desert, and has deserved to possess such a habitation eternally in heaven.” Having seen these things, each returned to the body, and Modwenna woke the others still sleeping, saying: “In the name of the holy Trinity, arise.” Then all, awaking, sat upon the face of the earth as though forgetful where they were or from where they had come — for not yet could they collect themselves in their amazement.

¹⁰ Then Glunelach, coming to himself, fell prostrate at the holy virgin’s feet and humbly begged pardon and mercy, saying: “My most holy lady, take thought for your servant, help the miserable, make me a partaker of your God, lest I incur the pains of hell which I saw; obtain for me with him that I may deserve to have such a mansion in heaven as was shown you to belong to a certain Bishop Kevin in paradise.” To whom she: “If you can believe, all things are possible to him that believes.” And he said with tears: “I will believe, lady, whatever you teach, and do whatever you command.” And Alphin, Glunelach’s sister’s son, seeing this and coming to himself, prostrate at the virgin’s feet said: “My lady, according as I shall see my uncle act by your counsel, so am I ready to obey you faithfully in all things without gainsaying.” But the rest, ascribing all to magic art, terrified with fear departed into far regions, nor presumed henceforth to harm anyone in those parts. And Modwenna buried the bodies of the saints in her monastery, and had Glunelach and Alphin instructed in the faith and baptised, and gave them to be imbued with letters. And they, profiting in the fear of God and made bishops, happily ended their days in holy conversation.

¹¹ These things thus done, the ancient enemy, envying all good things, ceased not to contrive deceits whereby he might deceive the Christians. He came to Bishop Kevin, assuming the likeness of a clerk; and as though pitying him and making complaint, feigning to have compassion on him, soothing his ears outwardly with feigned words, tempting his heart inwardly and corrupting it by infecting it with the poison of iniquity, said to him as though grieved for him: “What are you doing here, Bishop Kevin, mightiest of hermits? Why do you lose your youth in this most desolate solitude? What have the seven years profited you which you have now passed living strictly in this desert, in which you have macerated your body with fastings, afflicted your soul with vigils, crucified your heart with vain groans and sighs? What have nettles and mallows and herbs availed you which you took for food, raw herbs, fruits of the woods, tree-barks and roots? Where are your readings in which you frequently passed the nights, your intimate compunctions, your assiduous prayers? Where are the labours of your hands in which you long sweated in vain; where the floods of tears, where the desires of eternal things? Look, Modwenna has taken all from you, promising them to Glunelach the worst of robbers, making a firm pact with him that she would give him your place and the mansion which your merits had prepared for you in heaven. Or if you think I speak falsely, send with me whomever you please to her monastery: and there you can without doubt find Glunelach and Alphin learning letters and dwelling with the virgins. See therefore how you have laboured in vain, since these two worst of robbers go before you in the kingdom of God. Bethink yourself therefore, wretch, and at last look on yourself with pity: for it were much better at least to have had temporal joy than, always abiding in distress, to lose both at once, the transitory and the eternal.” Hearing these things, a grievous temptation invaded the bishop: and sending to the monastery and learning that all was true, moved with great wrath and unable to contain himself, driven by devilish fury and forgetting his past life and labours, from pious he became cruel, from a bishop a tyrant, from a defender a deserter: he took up arms, gathered companions of iniquity, desiring vengeance. For he purposed secretly to burn Modwenna with all her people and root out her monastery as quickly as he could.

¹² And look, an angel of the Lord appeared to Modwenna praying, saying: “Rise quickly and make haste and stand to meet Kevin: for the devil tempts him, and he comes to destroy you for Glunelach and Alphin’s sake and to wipe out your church. But go: for the Lord is with you, who will teach you how you may guard yourself from him and snatch him from the enemy who has deceived him.” And taking certain virgins with her, she went to a certain place: and seeing from afar the bishop coming with clerics and armed followers, prostrate on the ground she begged God with tears. And as she rose from the ground, the devil appeared — the bishop having now come nearer — and she saw as it were a black Ethiopian boy clinging to his left foot, whispering evils into his left ear and sowing wicked counsels in his heart. Then she, steadfastly making the sign of the cross on her forehead, went to meet him and with great confidence said: “In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, stand there, Kevin, and wait a little: be quiet and do not move against me until I speak with you and you hear the word of the Lord from my mouth.” At this voice all were astounded and vehemently terrified, and stood astonished at the manifest power of God. And Modwenna spoke to the bishop, saying: “Ah, brother, why have you so suddenly permitted Satan without obstacle to enter your heart and bring in evil thoughts, that he made you leave the sacred solitude of the desert and your holy dwelling? Why so improvidently did you envy Glunelach and Alphin with a devilish envy, and think God to be either impotent or unjust, as though he either would not or could not recompense the merits of each and repay to everyone according to his works? Why were you so easily shaken from the face of the earth by a puffing wind like the lightest dust, and the hostile persuasion of the deceiving tempter could find no solidity of constancy in you at all? Should you not rather have rejoiced together because your brethren had been dead and lived again, had perished and were found? Did not Christ die for the ungodly, that by his death he might justify and save the ungodly? Why then did you grieve so foolishly that the ungodly were converted to the faith from the error of the heathen, who made members of Christ were freed by God’s grace from the bond of eternal damnation? Is not charity such that it seeks not its own, but rather the things of another; and for this reason even, if it had been needful for you to yield your own place for a brother’s sake, you ought not to have doubted of losing your merits, as though Christ could not, if he willed, prepare far better things for you? Sign your heart therefore, brother, and doing penance repent; and may the God of all, who has kept you until then lest you perpetrate the evil in deed, even now in his pity open your eyes, that you may see and beware of the enemy who deceived you, drew you here by his deceit, and strives with utmost zeal to pluck you from your holy purpose, that afterwards he may rejoice in your fellowship in his damnation.”

¹³ When she had said these things, the Lord unveiled the eyes and understanding of Bishop Kevin, and he plainly saw the devil in the likeness of an Ethiopian and as a black boy clinging to his left foot. Looking upon him, he shuddered vehemently, and humbly asked Modwenna with tears to drive him from him by her prayers. And when she had done this, they at once cast away their arms and prostrated themselves on the ground before the virgin, beating their breasts, all begging pardon with suppliant prayer. Then she, rejoicing and giving thanks, led them to her monastery. And wishing to confirm the bishop, lest he yield any more to the enemy’s temptation but persevere more confidently; taking her staff she led him to the root of the mountain near the monastery, where was a cold spring, in which she in winter had been accustomed nightly, immersed to the shoulders, to chant the whole psalter frequently. She touched it with her staff, impressing the sign of the cross before the bishop, and said: “In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, follow me, that the praise of God may be declared in heaven and on earth.” And she drew her staff after her, showing the way for the waters, as far as the top of the mountain. And the waters, against nature striving upwards, followed the staff. Now on the hill’s summit was a hollowed rock, as though prepared by angels: into which the waters, the staff going before, poured themselves. And being led in, they at once became moderately warm, as though prepared by human care for a bath. In this bath Modwenna, taught by the Spirit, made the bishop enter, saying to him: “As in this bath you are washed outwardly from the filth of the body, so may almighty God cleanse you inwardly from the stains of the heart.” Which done, Bishop Kevin with his companions, taking leave of the virgin, returned into the wilderness chastened, amended, confirmed by the great marvels they had seen; and contemplating the holy virgin’s example and merits all the days of his life, he ever sweated in the anchorite life and holy works. And the bishop himself, often recalling Modwenna, despising himself before his own eyes, disdaining his past life as though he had as yet profited little, and bewailing the evil he had done, longed with the utmost desire to profit to better things and ascend the height of the virtues. And leading a most perfect life to his death, he strove incessantly to please Christ the true God, and having triumphed over the devil, completed his days in a good end and the utmost devotion. And that bath and the warm waters in the hardest rock remain even today, and those who bathe, the name of the Lord being invoked, carry away health of body and soul by the holy virgin’s merits.

¹⁴ For the holy virgin of Christ built very many monasteries in Ireland: from where certain malignants, wasting with envy, derided her works. And seizing a certain poor little woman and setting a great stone on her back, they compelled her to swear that she would carry it on her behalf to the virgin Modwenna instead of a gift. When this was done, the hardest stone was at once changed into a mass of salt in the sight of all: that what the impious had done in derision, almighty God turned to the praise of his name and into a miracle for the virgin’s glory.

¹⁵ For it happened that while the monastery’s animals were pastured in a field, wolves coming out of the woods seized a calf from the herd with a rush and carried it off to the woods. Learning of which, the holy virgin answered with a placid and serene face: “Our God is able even now to snatch our calf from the teeth of wolves, who of old delivered Daniel from the mouth of lions in the den. Only wait,” she said, “until tomorrow: and the Lord will perhaps restore it to us unharmed, that seeing his power in the least things we may be taught to have greater confidence in him in great things.” And look, the next day the wolves which had seized the calf, returning from the woods, brought it back to the field in the sight of all and restored it to pasture as though well guarded and unharmed.

¹⁶ When a certain sister of the holy virgin, bringing victuals to a handmaid of God, returned despoiled by robbers, Modwenna said: “Fear not: the robbers shall not eat the food of the poor, but they will restore all things to us whole and unspoiled after the third day, God being favourable.” And look, the thieves, struck by God’s judgement for three days, wandered through pathless places, knowing not at all where they were. At length acknowledging their guilt, they cried out with knees bowed to the ground: “Modwenna, handmaid of Christ, if the things we have heard of you are true, help us set in peril, and give us back our eyes, that coming to you we may obtain pardon from the Lord through your prayers.” And at once the veil being taken from their eyes, they knew the region: and going to the holy virgin with the provisions, and confessing their guilt, they tearfully implored pardon prostrate. And she, kindly hearing and comforting them, refreshed them with bodily and spiritual food and dismissed them to their own with a blessing.

¹⁷ Alfred, the son of Athelwulf king of the West Saxons, who had contracted a very great sickness for many days from which no physician could heal him; hearing this virgin’s fame, crossed the sea with a great retinue, laid before the holy virgin the trouble of his sickness, and humbly begged her to pour out prayers to God for him. But she, considering his faith, begged God for his safety and restored him to health; and not long after she restored speech to a mute.

¹⁸ When the holy virgin’s herds had been carried off by a certain tyrant, she chose with her the virgins Luger, Brigid and Athea. And when they had come to the seashore and found no ships ready there, the handmaid of Christ, trusting in the Lord, said to the sisters: “Let us pray the Lord,” she said, “to open to us his handmaids an aid for crossing.” And when, prostrate on bended knees, they had poured out prayers to God, an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and marked out and signed a part of the land round about them, and making it as it were a little island and washing it on every side with the waters of the sea, separated it by wondrous power from the other lands; and lifting the same island with stupendous might, he transported the virgins beloved of God across in it as in a ship through immense waves in safety from Ireland to Britain. And the angel fixed the same island, drawn up from the waves, at a castle named Dagannus by the seashore: which remains there to this present day, and is always surrounded by waters, either river or sea. On that island the holy virgin built a church, and had her companions Brigid and Luger remain there until her return.

¹⁹ And taking the virgin Athea and going to Alfred’s father, whom she had healed, she was honourably received. And King Athelwulf commended to her his sister the virgin named Edith, to be consecrated to Christ, that under her discipline she might serve God in the monastic habit with pious devotion. The king gave her as much land as she wished and where she chose. Then the holy virgin built two monasteries: one at Pollesworth in Arden, where she had Athea remain with the king’s sister; the other at Streneshalen, in which she herself dwelt solitary for some days, devoted to prayer.

²⁰ In those days Edith, the king’s sister, called the virgin Ositha and said to her: “Go to our lady and bring her this roll, in which she may read and perhaps find something of holy contemplation.” She, taking the book and going to a certain wooden bridge, and seeing the commotion of the waters sideways and suddenly, terrified with fear suddenly fell down, and remained three days and nights in the depth of the river with the book, all being ignorant. But an angel of the Lord appeared to Modwenna praying in her cell, saying: “Go in haste to the river, about to perform something needful there.” And when she had come to the river, she found the virgin Edith there seeking the girl Ositha. And Modwenna, seeing her as it were dismayed, said to her: “What is it, sister? Are all things well?” She answered: “Look, " she said, “it is three days, lady, since I sent Ositha to you; and I have come to ask why she did not return to me. Is she not indeed with you?” And she: “Truly,” she said, “I have not seen her, nor has she come to me.” And the shepherds who were near, being asked whether they had seen any girl, answered: “The day before yesterday we saw a girl mount the bridge, but where she went or what became of her we are utterly ignorant, caring doubtless for the sheep and intent on other things.” Hearing this, St Modwenna said to Edith: “Let us beg, dearest sister, the Lord to restore to us the lost girl in this hour by the merits of all his saints: that we may see and know his wondrous power and praise his mercy together for ever.” So when they had both prayed long with tears bowed to the earth, Modwenna, rising from prayer, cried with a clear voice three times: “Ositha, Ositha, Ositha, in the name of the holy and undivided Trinity, come forth, and out of this river in which you are drowned, restored to life by the might of his power, come forth whole and unharmed.” And she had not yet fully ended the words, and look, the girl came out of the river with the book unharmed, and the saying ended, answered thrice: “See me, see me, see me, my lady.” Whom the abbess receiving with the utmost exultation and giving immense thanks to God, restored alive to the virgin Edith, and keeping the book with her returned to her own cell.

²¹ At length, leaving Athea and the virgin Luger in England to preside over the monasteries, taking Brigid with her she crossed to Ireland: and the monastery of Celliscliuium, as is said before, being laid waste, she restored it to its former state from the goods granted her by King Athelwulf.

²² And when she was visiting a certain monastery and the virgins had nothing to give her to drink but water, and desired to add something better for her in blessing; taking counsel, they brought vessels full of liquids before the holy virgin and asked her to bless them. Which done, she changed the waters into the pleasantest wine. When a great drought occurred in Ireland and the sisters suffered want of water, she filled a certain cistern with water by her prayer, which sufficed abundantly for all the needy during the whole time of the drought.

²³ When she wished to cross to a certain monastery with her sisters, she found a river, which used not to hinder even boys crossing, swollen beyond measure beyond its wont, so that not even horsemen could cross. When the sisters were astounded at so great a wonder, the holy virgin said: “What is this, daughters, that the Lord has willed to show us in this sign? Truly I say to you, there is some fault in us on account of which God hinders our way. Let us search and examine our consciences, whether we acknowledge any sin hidden in our heart.” When she had said this, one prostrated herself at her feet, saying: “My lady, I confess my sin to you before the Lord. As we were going out of the monastery, I saw onions and garlic which I coveted, and taking some from them, carried them out against obedience. Command what shall please you, and enjoin what penance you will: for I am ready to endure whatever affliction is laid upon me.” To whom she kindly answered: “Go and put them back where you took them, and return to us after this.” And when she had done this, the little river subsiding returned to its channel; and the power of confession restored a free way to those crossing with wondrous swiftness.

²⁴ In the monastery of Brigid, Modwenna’s disciple, who when her monastery was built had been made mother of many virgins, there were twelve sisters who, while the rest slept, kept vigil in devout prayers, worn out by the excessive cold of the north wind. Modwenna, considering their affliction and want of clothing, poured out prayers to God with tears; and in the morning twelve garments were sent by the Lord upon the virgins’ beds, fitting each as though they had been measured by human care. And when they, wondering, refused to receive them, not knowing from where they had been brought, they were compelled at the holy virgin’s command to put them on.

²⁵ For Modwenna came to the house of a certain man named Deneth, who used with the greatest care to receive the poor and pilgrims into hospitality and minister necessaries: who killed his only calf and prepared a feast for the holy virgin. But since he had little ale in a certain vessel, and at his entreaties Modwenna had stretched out a blessing over the little vessel, for all who wished to drink it did not fail, but abounded to all sufficiency without lack. The calf also, slain and eaten, was found by the holy virgin’s merits the next day with its mother, a wondrous prodigy. For it happened on the third day after this that King Bar with his army made a passage near Deneth’s house; who, trusting in the holy virgin’s blessing and merits, boldly approached the king and invited him with all his men to dinner. And the same little vessel and the foods which remained from the virgin’s table still availed, and sufficed for all. A marvellous and exceedingly stupendous thing: the little food was eaten but increased; the drink taken from the vessel was drunk but not consumed, and the more it was drawn, the more it overflowed continually, as if it were ever being born in the little vessel. And so the king and his army, refreshed for two days, glorifying God in his holy virgin and giving thanks, entered upon their way joyful and glad.

²⁶ The virgins of a certain monastery were at a certain time straitened by so great a want of victuals that they were compelled almost to fail to death. Hearing of which, Modwenna, going there, had all the vessels of the monastery, small and great, gathered together, and entering the oratory continued her supplications to God through day and night. And the next day of the following day all the vessels were found filled with choice wheat.

²⁷ So, having shown many signs in Ireland, she set out to the king of Scotland named Conagal, her kinsman, and built many churches and monasteries: among which she built a church at Stirling, and another at Edinburgh on the mountain’s summit in honour of St Michael; and in Galloway she founded three famous churches. For in those places, using a hair-shirt, she was tortured in her naked body against the hardest stones by cold, thirst, hunger, vigils and afflictions. In a certain spring near the monastery which she had built, called Lonfrotin, while the sisters were sleeping at night, she sang the whole psalter immersed in the waters up to her breast; she had frequent consolations of angels, who appeared to her and conversed with her and instructed her as a friend with a friend.

²⁸ For when on a certain night, contrary to her wont, she felt that the sweet presence of the blessed spirits had not been with her as usual, she was saddened and began to think of some existing cause why on that night she had not seen the accustomed visitation. And the next day she said to her sisters: “My fellow-handmaids and dearest daughters, this past night we had not the holy guests our helpers, who before were wont freely to bear our prayers to the Lord and present them with exultation before the sight of the throne of the Most High. For I saw this night as in an ecstasy that our prayers at the time of vigils could scarcely reach to the height of our roofs. From this indeed I have learned that there is some offence in us on account of which the holy angels, to whom all sin is displeasing, willed to absent themselves from us not without our fault. Let us therefore examine our consciences: and if anything lies hidden, let us purge it by penance and confession, that we may bring back to us the blessed spirits of God.” When she had said this, a certain sister arose and prostrate with tears at St Modwenna’s feet said: “Before God and his saints I confess my fault to you, my lady. For when yesterday I, a wretched sinner, fled here promising penance for my old life, I neither restored nor confessed the shoes which a man unlawfully joined to me in the world had given me, but kept them for my own; which also this night, while I suffered cold, I did not fear to put on my feet. It is I who have sinned; it is I who by my fault sequestered the holy angels from your company.” To whom the abbess answered: “May the Son of God, God almighty, who deigned to die for sinners, absolve you and have mercy on you, daughter.” This said, she ordered the shoes to be cast into the river: and on the following day she said: “We ought to give thanks to almighty God, who this night also has regarded us, pitying us, and having cast away the matter of offence, has sent back to us the blessed spirits as before, who present our works and prayers above to the throne of almighty God and assist our infirmity and obtain pardon for our excesses and all our offences.”

²⁹ For three times the holy woman of God went to Rome with bare feet in a hair-shirt with the virgin Lazara. For she made this journey as it were in penance for sins, and as though she wished to leave none of her excesses unpunished, and as one who desired to chastise her body everywhere with diverse kinds of torments.

³⁰ Now returning from Rome into England, she came to the place called Scaleclif, where near a hill she saw in the river Trent a little island: on which, when an oratory had been built in honour of St Andrew, she lived seven years as an anchorite. which is why it is also called to this day Andresey, that is, “Andrew’s isle”. In the place now called Bredon there dwelt at that time a certain religious hermit, who, hearing of this virgin’s fame, frequently came to her and brought her the lives of saints, in which they refreshed themselves. But on a certain day when he had forgotten to bring the book with him, she began to be sad and complain, saying to him: “Why did you not bring the book as usual, father?” And he: “It so happened just now, lady, for I forgot to bring it with me.” So she sent two virgins with a little boat who could swiftly bring back the book. And when they had sailed to the place called Legh, a tempest arising, the keel forthwith tilted and covered both virgins shut beneath it in the bottom of the water. And when they had long awaited the virgins’ coming, both together gave themselves to prayer, begging the divine clemency to deign to show them what had happened to the girls. At last, rising from prayer, they see in wondrous wise a path open and dry in the midst of the river: and at once they enter through the dry bottom a wondrous and arid way: and the waters were divided in stupendous wise into two parts, like walls on the right hand and on the left. And when they had come to the place where the little boat had been sunk, the hermit applied his hands: but the ship remained immovable as though fastened by stakes. And when the holy virgin applied her hands, she raised the little boat as lightly as though it had utterly lacked all weight. And the virgins being found alive and well, they enter the little boat together, and the waters running back on every side bore it up and brought it to the virgin’s cell.

³¹ Now there was a certain pagan girl who, hearing of the holy virgin’s fame, desired to see her and be enlightened by her in the faith of Christ. And coming to her, when she had been taught in the faith, being held by a grievous sickness she fell upon her bed, and before she had received baptism ended her life. For which reason Modwenna, saddened and pouring out a prayer to God, restored her to life. And she, being baptised, assumed the religious habit and ended her life in holy conversation.

³² A certain little boy who had received the faith of Christ from his infancy blasphemed the Lord’s name with contempt and wondrous derision. When his parents had rebuked him harshly and brought him hardened to the holy virgin, she strove to recall him from error, and at length devoutly begged God for him. But the Lord would not hear her: because afterwards he decreed to honour her more greatly over the same. For after the wretched boy, despising the virgin and scorning his parents, escaped furious, he was strangled by the devil and carried off by sudden death. And when his parents brought him lifeless to the saint, praying for him she restored him alive and freed him henceforth wholly from the spirit of blasphemy.

³³ When the people flocked to the holy virgin from diverse regions for the benefits of healing and the glory of her miracles, wearied by the throng of people, leaving Athea and Lazara in the same place she foretold that she would cross into Ireland and shortly end her life. And she added: “Wherever the end of my life shall befall, the Lord has shown me that my little body is to be buried here.” So crossing into Ireland; when she was a hundred and thirty years old, weighed down by sickness, calling her sisters she said among other things: “My comb, my wooden hoe and mattock and the rest of the tools in which I have laboured I grant to the monastery of Celliscliuium. But my relics with my staff shall be carried, God disposing, into another land.” These things said, the blessed apostles Peter and Paul appearing to her, on the fifth of July, the seventh day after the feast of the same apostles, she happily departed to the heavens.

³⁴ Now on the third day after she had died, a certain virgin after compline saw St Modwenna in the place where she used to pray, as though living and stretching out her hands in prayer to heaven. And when she saw her trembling, she fell prostrate at her feet and said: “Lady mother, what do you bid me do?” To whom she: “Go tomorrow and tell my sisters: ‘Your mother bids you this: Do not think, daughters, that I am dead: for I truly live with the Lord Jesus Christ, and I have heard some of you speaking to one another at unfitting hours and not keeping holy silence as was fitting. Has it escaped you what the prophet says: “The worship of justice is silence”? My body still lies unburied among you, and do you so soon forget the doctrine of God and of the regular observance, whose bounds it does not behove you to pass by transgressing? Do not despise little things, little daughters, lest perhaps, offending little by little through negligence of the least things, you fall — which God forbid — even into greater things.” But go you and prepare your way: for after seven days you shall come to me.’” And so it came to pass.

³⁵ And when the holy body was being carried to the tomb, there arose a great contention for having her body between the Irish, Scots and English gathered there: but at length they went to Bishop Columkill and sought his right judgement. Who after many altercations of the parties said: “Choose from all of you eight strong men, who may bear the bier with the staff on their shoulders, and let them carry the bier wherever the Lord shall will.” Which done, driven in wondrous wise by the divine will, turned towards England they began to carry the holy body by the direct way. Then the holy bishop, the power of God being recognised, granted the holy body to the English; from where also, brought to England, it was honourably buried at Andresey. And after the monastery of Burton upon Trent had been founded, the holy virgin’s relics were translated there.

³⁶ A certain one of the English nobles, a tyrant and cruel, violently invaded the goods and lands of the said monastery, broke the monastery gates, and having plundered everything burnt the houses and went away. And without delay the raiders were seized by demons with their leader and by God’s just judgement strangled. For when the devouring flame invaded the town, the monks carried the holy virgin’s bier out of the church: and at once the fire, ceasing and leaping back, was utterly extinguished. A certain sheriff, placed in captivity and shut in a chest with a huge stone set upon it and fettered, invoking St Modwenna the virgin, the stone being at once cast down and his bonds burst and the prison broken, was set free.

A Further Story #

¹ [Added in the Tiberius manuscript.] A certain noble Briton, devout in the service of blessed Mary Magdalene, invoked her by daily prayers for her protection, devoutly fasted her vigil, and on her feast prepared a great refreshment for the poor and pilgrims and gave pardon for offences; praying constantly that she would not suffer him to depart this life without true penance and confession of his sins. It happened therefore that, going into England, he suffered shipwreck. And while the waves enveloped all his companions and he too was tossed in the sea-waves, he invoked Mary Magdalene with such devotion as he could: and look, a certain beautiful woman held his right hand and led him through eleven furlongs to the shore from which he had set out. And living only ten days, as had been foretold to him by her, he received true penance as he had asked, and after this departed to the Lord.