And it was till at length the pigeon paid the debt of nature. no wonder that it died; for how could any creature live that scarcely ever ate or slept? People came thither night and day from all parts, and one after another disturbed it; and every night vigils were kept there, the clergy and the people with loud voices singing praises to the Lord, and many lights were continually burning there: how, therefore, could it live, when it was never allowed to be at rest? The clergy and people grieving at its death, as indeed it was a thing to be lamented, took counsel, and hung up the skin and feathers to be seen there by all comers. "In such and so great a matter what could be more gratifying, what more convenient than this wonderful sign which the Almighty was pleased to give us? There is no need to relate anything more concerning the aforesaid pigeon; it was seen there openly and publicly by all comers, so that not only the laity and clergy of that city, but many religious people from other parts, abbots, friars, clergy, and laity, are able to attest the truth. And I also add this my testimony as a true and faithful witness, for I saw the pigeon myself for a whole week, and actually touched it with my own hands.' There is a postscript to this story, as melancholy as the tale itself. The sick, and the crippled, and the lame, had been brought to this church, in expectation of obtaining a miraculous cure by virtue of the new relics which had arrived. Among these was a poor woman in the last stage of disease, who had been brought upon her pallet into the church, and was laid in a corner, and left there; nor was it observed that this poor creature was in articulo mortis, till the pigeon flew to the place, and alighted upon her, and so drew the attention of the people in the church to the dying woman, quam quidem, prout credimus, nisi columba monstrasset, nemo morientem vidisset. They removed her out of the church just before she breathed her last,.. and in consequence of this miracle, as it was deemed, they gave her an honourable funeral. Acta Sanctorum, Jul. t. vi. p. 64. What became of the halter I know not, "Antiguedad sagrada, el que se arriedra So Christoval de Mesa observes when he proceeds to relate how the rude stone, upon which the disciples of Santiago laid his body when they landed with it in Spain, formed itself into a sepulchre of white marble.- El Patron de España, ff. 68. END OF THE SEVENTH VOLUME. LONDON: |