Lansdowne MS 778/11

11. The homily of Saint Winifred in the MS. copies of the Liber Festivalis, but, not in the printed. -The Bishop of Ely when writing on S. Winifred, not acquainted with this homily.-He was assisted by Hearne in that work; but failed in his purpose to prevent superstitious persons from making fruitless pilgrimages to the Holy Well, his book having had a contrary effect.-Many persons, of good judgment, of opinion that the Bishop's evidence against the existence of this saint was very weak, and that he had been highly injurious to the memory of Robertus Salopiensis, whom he makes a great villain, but who, on the contrary, was a religious good man.-Hearne defends the writers or martyrs against the Bishop [Fleetwood], his own friend Mr. Dodwell, and the Bishop of Worcester. June 4, 1725. fo. 15. The reader may consult, on the subject of this letter, Hearne's preface to his Langtoft, from which it may be collected that Hearne himself was not a little credulous about the legendary tales of the Welsh Saint.