3] The authenticity of these has been called in question by
some critics, but apparently upon insufficient data.

At that time there was, nigh unto the Monastery,[4] a little
wood, encircled by shady hills, those same hills by the
which we ourselves are surrounded. And there was, moreover,
in the wood a small farm where the swineherds of Liudolf
were wont to dwell, and within the enclosure of which the
men, during the hours of night, composed to rest their weary
bodies until the time when they must needs drive forth to
pasture the pigs committed to their care. Here, on a time,
two days before the Feast of All Saints, these same
herdsmen, in the darkness of the night, saw full many bright
lights glowing in the wood. And they were astonished at the
sight, and marvelled what could be the purport of this
strange vision of blazing light cleaving the darkness of the
night with its wondrous brilliance. And all trembling with
fear, they related unto their Master that which they had
seen, showing unto him the place which had been illumined by
the light. And he, desiring by very sight thereof to put to
proof that which he had heard tell, joined them without the
building, and began the following night, without sleeping,
to keep watch, closing not his eyes though they were weighed
down by the desire of slumber. And after a while he saw the
kindling lights, more in number than afore, once again burn
with a red glow, in the same place forsooth, but at an hour
somewhat earlier. And this glad sign of happy omen he made
known so soon as Phoebus shed his first rays from the sky,
and the joyous news spread everywhere. And this could not be
kept back from the worthy Duke Liudolf, but swifter than
speech did it come to his ears. And he, carefully observing
on the hallowed eve of the approaching festival whether
perchance some further like heavenly vision would clearly
show it to be an omen, with much company kept watch on the
wood all the night long. And straightway when black night
had covered the land with darkness, everywhere throughout
the wooded valley in the which the very noble temple was
destined to be built, many lights were perceived, the which,
with the shining splendour of their exceeding brightness,
cleft asunder the shades of the wood and