building may still be seen. King Edgar
provided the richly jewelled shrine into which the relics of the saint
were translated by St. Ethelwold, on July 15, 980, when the relics of
Birinus were enshrined at the same time, although these had already been
translated from Dorchester to Winchester by Bishop Hedda as early as the
seventh century. The shrine attracted an immense number of pilgrims
until that of Becket at Canterbury rose into prominence. The skull of
St. Swithun is said to have been taken to Canterbury by St. Elphege in
the eleventh century, and an arm of this patron saint of Winchester was
one of the most treasured possessions of Peterborough. What remained of
these much-disturbed relics were re-translated by Bishop Walkelin from
the old to the new cathedral, but in 1241 the shrine was broken by the
vane of the tower falling through the roof.

At the Reformation the shrine was destroyed, as is recorded in the
commissioners' letter, dated September 21, 1538:--

"About three o'clock this Saturday morning, we made an end of the
shrine here at Winchester. There was no gold, nor ring, nor true
stone about it, but all great counterfeits; but the silver alone
will amount to 2000 marks."

The popular tradition regarding St. Swithun's Day, July 15, is to the
effect that, as it rains or is fair on this day, the ensuing forty days
will be either wet or dry.

"St. Swithun's Day, if thou dost rain,
For forty days it will remain:
St. Swithun's Day, if thou be fair,
For forty days 't will rain nae mair."

The tradition is said to be due to the saintly request being
disregarded, with the result that, when his remains were about to be
translated, a heavy rain burst forth, and continued without ceasing for
the forty succeeding days. This was interpreted as a divine warning, so
that, instead of disturbing the saintly bones, a chapel was erected over
them. As a matter of fact, Professor Earle and other authorities assure
us that the legend is fictitious, and that the translation was attended
by the utmost eclat and success, and blessed with fine weather.

[Illustration: WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL FROM THE DEANERY GARDENS]

Foreign pilgrims coming from Normandy and Brittany, on their way to the
shrine of St. Swithun, or to that of St. Thomas of Canterbury, would
land, many of them, at Southampton, and journey to Winchester, there
to await other bands of pilgrims bound for the great Kentish