2i6 RECORDS OF OLD TIMES 



about half a mile away, when she stopped at the 

 church door, which was closed. She struck it with 

 her blood stained hands, when it immediately fell 

 prostrate. On the spot where she was beheaded a 

 fountain of water gushed forth, which was said to 

 cure all diseases. Much of this story is, of course, 

 incredible; but, according to Essex tradition, where 

 St. Osyth's martyrdom took place, was in ' Nun's 

 Wood,' and the fountain still takes its name from the 

 murdered abbess. The body of St. Osyth was 

 first buried in the church at Chich, and was soon 

 removed by her father and mother to Aylesbury, 

 where many miracles were performed at her shrine 

 there. About forty-six years afterwards the body 

 was, by miraculous interposition, translated back 

 again to Chich. In an old Saxon manuscript it is 

 stated ' next resteth St. Osith at Cice, near the see 

 in St. Peter's minster,' where many miracles took 

 place. This saint was held in great veneration. 

 Matthew Paris tells a story of a husbandman named 

 ' Thurcillus,' living at Tistude, in Essex, in the reign 

 of King John, a.d. i 206, who was taken into hell and 

 paradise, where he saw Saints Catherine, Margaret, 

 and Osyth. Amongst the many curious legends of 

 this saint I find that Aubrey states that ' in those 

 days, when people went to bed, they did rake up their 

 fire, make a cross in the ashes, and pray to God and 

 St. Sythe (Osyth) to deliver them from fire andtrom 

 water, also from all misadventure.' According to 

 local tradition, on one night in every year St. Osyth 

 revisits the scene of her martyrdom, walking with 



