_The simplicitie of an olde woman, that offered a burning candle to
S. Iohn of Lions._
In the Church of S. Iohn at Lions, there was a very darke
Chappell, and within the same a Tombe made of stone, erected for
great personages, with pictures liuely wroughte, and about the
same Tombe there doe lie manye worthie knightes of great fame
and valiaunce. Vpon a hote Sommer's daye, a souldiour walking vp
and downe the Church had great delight to sleape, and beholding
that darcke chappell which was colde and fresh of ayre, thoughte
to reste vpon the Tombe as other did, besides whom he layde him
downe to sleepe. It chaunced that a good old woman very deuoute,
came thether when the souldior was in the depth of his sleepe.
And after shee had sayd her deuocions, wyth a wax candle in her
hande, she would haue fastened the same vpon the Tombe, and
repayring nere the place where the souldiour lay, desirous to
sticke it vppon his forehead, thinking it had been the stone,
the waxe would take no hold. The old woman, which thought the
cause that her candle would not cleaue was the coldnesse of the
Image, she warmed the souldior's forehead with the flame of the
candle, to sticke it faste. But the Image which was not
insensible, beganne to cry oute, whereat the poore woman was so
afraide, as like one straught of her wittes, she brake into
exclamacion crying: "A miracle! A miracle!" They within the
Church hearing an outcry of a miracle, ranne in heapes as though
they had been madde, some to ring the belles, and some to see
the miracle: whom the good woman broughte to see the Image,
which then was remoued: whereat many began to laughe. But diuers
priestes not willing so to give ouer so great a Miracle,
determined afterwards to vse that tombe in reuerence, therby to
get money.