Historic%20Yorkshire

14
ST. JOHN OF BEVERLEY.
discrete man to digest into his belief." Berthun, the
first prior ofhis monastery, wrote a detailed narrative of
his miracles, as did also Henschinus, contained in four
books, and compiled from the testimony of actual eyewitnesses.
The writings of Saint John of Beverley were:
"Pro Leuca Exponenda."
"Homilies in Evangelia."
" EpistolS ad Haldam Abbatissam."
" EpistolS ad Herebaldttm Discipnliiin."
" EpistolS ad Andvenum et Bertinum."
The remains of Saint John were first deposited in the
portico or porch of the monastery. There was then a law
which prevented the interment of the dead in the actual
body of the church, and the bodies of distinguished
persons were, as a sort of compromise,usuallyplaced in
the entrance. Upon the canonisation of the holySaint,
Archbishop Ælfric had his relics transferred, or as it is
called, translated to the interior, where they wereplaced
in agolden shrine, which, it is said, afterwardsbecame a
perfect incrustation ofprecious stones, the tokens ofpiety
from devoteesand pilgrims. In 1416, says Mr.Ross,the
Synod of London orderedthe festival of Saint John to be
held annually, and not only once, but three times during
each year, upon which occasions the sacred relics were
conveyedwith reverentialceremonial through the streets
of Beverley, followed by a procession composed of the
chief burghers, who went bare-footed and fasting. It is
doubtiul whether the relics here mentioned were the
veritable bones of the Saint,for, on opening a grave in
the bodyof the Church in 1644, a vault built of squared
freestone was discovered, and within this was a sheet of
lead, four feet in length, containing some ashes, beads,
etc. Across this lay a box oflead, inlength about seven
inches, six inches broad, and five in height,and in which
were several pieces of bone, mingled with a little dust
yielding a sweet smell; there were also a pair of silver
slippers, a knife, and several beads. The knife, or