1< 



searching into in order to discover if possible what may have given 

 rise to them, and whether they contain any latent truth or not. 

 How is it then with St. Swithin 1 



The explanation ordinarily given of the notion about a forty days' 

 rain in connection with this Saint is grounded upon a legend, which, 

 though also well known to many, I repeat here to give completeness 

 to our inquiry. I state it in the exact words in which I find it 

 stated by Luke Howard in his " Climate of London." * He says 

 — " The tradition, it seems, took origin from the following cir- 

 cumstances. Swithin or Swithum, Bishop of Winchester, who 

 died in 868, desired that he might be buried in the open church- 

 yard, and not in the chancel of the minster, as was usual with 

 other Bishops ; and his reqiiest was complied with ; but the 

 monks, on his being canonized, considering it disgraceful for the 

 Saint to lie in a public cemetery, resolved to remove his body 

 into the choir, which was to have been done with solemn pro- 

 cession, on the 15th July ; it rained, however, so violently for 

 fort,y-days together at this season, that the design was abandoned." 



This legend is quite undeserving of credit. It is not true that 

 the translation was hindered by any cause, though Howard states 

 it to be "a fact sufficiently authenticated by tradition." The 

 ceremony took place at the appointed time, and there is nothing 

 on record to indicate that the weather on that day was otherwise 

 than fair and prosperous. Those who desire to look further into 

 this question are referred to Mr. Earle's book, in which will be 

 found collected every known particular relating to the subject. 

 Mr. Earle tells me, indeed, that he believes the prevalent belief 

 about a forty-days' rain to date back to a far eai'lier period than 

 the age of St. Swithin ; and this is rendered highly probable by 

 the circumstance of there being so many other raining Saints, as 

 they have been called, beside St. Swithin. Mr. Earle mentions 

 some in his life. Others have occurred to myself while collecting 

 materials for this paper. Altogether the number of them is so 

 considerable, including those in foreign countries as well as in our 

 own, as to destroy all faith in the idea of this behef being rightly 

 connected with any particular Saint at all. 

 * Vol. 1, p. 112. 



