Walstan

Legend

Walstan became a serf and worked as a farm hand for a man at Taverham. He distributed his belongings amongst the needy and gave away his shoes to a poor man. This act of kindness was witnessed by his master's wife, who then cruelly ordered him to load prickly plants onto a cart. Walstan was miraculously saved from injuring his feet, whereby the woman begged his forgiveness. His master then declared he wished him to be his heir, an offer rejected by Walstan, who instead accepted a gift of a pregnant cow. The animal delivered two calves, which Walstan then cared for, not knowing that one day they would transport his body to where he was to be buried.