Of the recovery of a horse.
A CERTAIN priest of Kent, when the gladness of the glorious festival was at hand, was on his way to the aforesaid church, and, riding on an excellent horse which was very precious to him, he was proceeding on his journey in company with others who were on their way to the same place. And, lo, as the sun was gradually setting, darkness came upon the earth and soon necessity compelled them to seek an inn. But when they looked in all directions and perceived no place of entertainment near whither they could turn, they determined to leave their horses to pasture and themselves to keep watch and guard them. When this had been done the priest's horse broke off and rushed away without any of them noticing it at all, and the priest also himself, blessed with sleep, knowing nothing of it. But what misfortune happening could have power to harm those who with pious longing were hastening to this particular sanctuary of inexhaustible pity? And straightway, as the priest slept, there appeared to him in his dreams a certain man having a shining countenance and, lightly shaking the garment which he wore, he said:
"Arise, why art thou so long overcome by slumber?"
He, aroused by the slight movement, arose and, looking on this side and on that, found that his horse was nowhere near. Then, while he was anxiously running about in all directions and seeking his horse with all care and eagerness, with straining ear he heard its neighing far away about two furlongs off from him, and, hastily pursuing it with his companions, found what he was looking for and mounted it, and on reaching the place he had longed for he prostrated himself before the image [one such image was at the cloister door] of the apostle and gave thanks for the finding of his horse. Moreover, he testified that the image was most like to him whom he had seen in his vision, and that he did not doubt but that it was the apostle of Christ who kindly guided his course and who by his might restored his horse of which he was so fond and which he had lost by his carelessness.
The Book of the Foundation of St. Bartholomew's, Smithfield Rendered into Modern English from the original Latin version preserved in the British Museum, numbered Vespasian B. IX, by Mr. Humphrey H. King and Mr. William Barnard for use in the Records of St. Bartholomew's Priory by E.A. Webb. |
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