Meet the Middle Ages

Back

The girl who was seriously ill

"Ragnhild, the six-year-old daughter of Olov, a goldsmith and citizen of Skara, fell ill and was extremely unwell from Ascension Day till All Saint ´s day in November. They said that her intestines were riddled with wounds. She lost all her strength, kept her eyes closed. She could not speak, and ceased to breathe. Those who were near to her, thought that she was dead. But the girl ´s mother had faith in St. Brynolf of Skara. She prayed for her daughters life, and made a promise. Then the girl opened one of her eyes and asked for something to drink. Later that day, she was perfectly well. Ingrid, the girls mother, as well as Herr Arvid of Skara and Nils Håkansson, citizen of Skara, all swear that this is the truth."

This glimpse from Skara in the autumn of 1414 is taken from "Kvinnor, barn och fester i medeltida mirakelberättelser" by Myrdal/Börnhielm.