SAINT MODWEN. 43 
Abbot of Burton 1050-1085, ‘‘ He spoiled the rich shrine 
of S. Modwen to feed the poor because there was a great 
famine, for which the Lord took vengeance as is fully 
recorded in the miracles of the said Virgin.” I here give 
you a translation of this from the book referred to, namely 
Vita S. Modwenna Geoffry’s MSS., folio 86b. 
Translation of Extract from Royal MS. BIV f.86b 2nd. col. 
“In a few words is told who it was that founded the 
Abbey near Andresia and what vengeance the man incurred 
who violated the sacred shrine. 
Well after the Abbey had been founded where it now is 
by a wealthy man named Wulfric Spott, the remains of the 
most venerable Virgin were piously transferred thither and 
several miracles took place, many of which are now forgotten 
for want of careful record, but many on the other hand I 
have been able to discover and hear about which have 
taken place in recent times, and I will append a few of 
them. But those which I am going to tell have been 
related to me by those who heard them from their prede- 
cessors or actually witnessed themselves in the presence of 
many witnesses in whose veracity I can trust. 
Long before England was conquered by the Normans, 
and when the people of England abounded in wealth, 
renown, and beautiful objects, a magnificent shrine was 
constructed to contain the bones of the Virgin who had 
been re-buried there, decorated beautifully with gold and 
silver and the highest art of the jeweller. After a con- 
siderable time there fell a dire famine upon ‘the land, to 
such an extent that many could not buy victuals and were 
reduced to great straits and many became in want of the 
barest necessaries and being unable to find anything to eat 
died. 
Well in this calamity there came to the Abbot Leofric, 
who at that time ruled the monastery, a certain goldsmith’s 
servant named Godmore who at first presented to him and 
