page_title: Robert of Shrewsbury (died 1168)
section_title: Prior
hierarchical_section_title: Robert of Shrewsbury (died 1168) / Prior
caption_attribution_description: English: Part of the prologue of a life of St Winifred, allegedly written by Robert, a prior of Shrewsbury Abbey, in the mid-12th century. Bodleian Mss. Laud c.94
context_page_description: Robert of Shrewsbury (died 1168) or Robertus Salopiensis was a Benedictine monk, prior and later abbot of Shrewsbury Abbey, and a noted hagiographer.
context_section_description: As prior of Shrewsbury Abbey, Robert is generally credited with greatly promoting the cult of St Winifred by translating her relics from Gwytherin to Shrewsbury Abbey and writing the most influential life of the saint. Robert's own account of the translation is attached to the life. It relates that the monks of Shrewsbury Abbey, after its foundation by Roger of Montgomery, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury, lamented their house's lack of relics. They had heard that the bodies of many saints lay in Wales. During the reign of Henry I one of the brothers fell prey to a mental illness and the sub-prior Ralph had a dream in which a beautiful virgin told him the sick man would recover if they went to celebrate Mass at the fountain of St Winifred. Ralph kept quiet about the vision, fearing derision, until the monk had been ill for forty days. As soon as he revealed it, the brothers sent two of their number who were ordained priests to celebrate Mass at Holywell. The sick man immediately began to recover and achieved full health after he too had visited the shrine and bathed in the pool.
  According to Robert's account, he and Richard, another monk, were sent on a mission by Abbot Herebert (also rendered simply as Herbert) to negotiate the translation of St Winifred's relics, taking advantage of a temporary improvement in political conditions in 1137, during the Anarchy that followed the seizure of power by Stephen. After approaching the Bishop of Bangor, then David the Scot, and the local prince, either Gruffudd ap Cynan or Owain Gwynedd, they organised a party of seven, which included the prior of Chester, to collect the body of the saint. Initially the local people were strongly opposed to the removal, but a convenient vision persuaded the parish priest to assemble them.
  Prior Robert, seeing such a numerous assembly, spoke unto them by an interpreter, in this manner: "I, and my companions are come hither by divine appointment, to obtain of you St. Wenefride's body, that it may be honoured in our city and monastery, both which are much devoted unto her. The virgin herself, (as your pastor here present knows,) hath by visions manifested her will; and she cannot but be displeased with those who are so bold as to contradict what she desires to be done."
  This reduced opposition to one man, who was bribed, clearing the way for translation. Miraculously, claims Robert, he was able to identify the grave of Winifred without aid, although he had never been there before. The body was disinterred and carried to Shrewsbury, a journey of seven days. There it was laid in the church of St Giles to await the permission and presence of the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield. After further miracles, it was at last taken in procession into the town. The expectation of an episcopal blessing ensured it was witnessed by "an incredible concourse of devout people" as it was taken to be placed on the altar of the Abbey church, where further miracles were reported.
  Robert's life of St Winifred and account of her translation are thought to date from 1139, just over a year after his mission into Wales. There had been an earlier life, attributed incorrectly to St Elerius, but probably written about 1100 and the manuscript is held with one copy of Robert's among the Cotton manuscripts.  A manuscript copy of Robert's life is also among the Laud Manuscripts. Robert addressed his account to Warin, the prior of the Benedictine cathedral chapter, who is mentioned in that post from 1133 to 1140. Robert calls Warin his "master and father," suggesting that he had studied under Warin during his own education or monastic formation.
caption: Part of the prologue of a life of St Winifred by Robert of Shrewsbury, Bodleian Mss. Laud c.94. It is addressed by Robert to Domino et patri Guarino reverendo priori Wigornie: Master and father Warin, the reverend prior at Worcester.[3]
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