In the dim ages of antiquity, when the face of the country, now busy and fertile, was one dense forest, with here and there a settlement of dwellers in huts, tillers of the land, herdsmen, or hunters, there lived near the spot now occupied by the thriving town of Evesham a swineherd named Eoves.  One day, we are told, a favourite sow was missing, and her master hunted brake and briar, far and near, in search of her.  While on this errand he penetrated far into the depths of the forest, when suddenly he was startled by a radiant light, in which appeared three figures of women dazzling by their beauty.  The vision faded, and on the spot the joyful herdsman discovered his sow with a litter of young.

The news was soon noised abroad, and at length reached the ears of Egwin, the Bishop of the diocese, at Worcester.  Egwin inquired into the matter, visited the place, and was himself rewarded by the appearance of the three figures, whom he pronounced to be no other than the Virgin Mary with two attendant angels.  Moreover, he was commanded by the Holy Virgin to build a church in that very place.  The Bishop, we know, built a church here, founded a monastery, and himself became first abbot.  These events occurred early in the eighth century.

Egwin was a man of high connections and influence, and before long the new institution was handsomely and sufficiently endowed.  Ethelred, King of Mercia, his nephew Kenred, who succeeded him, and Offa, King of the East Saxons, being the chief donors.

There is another picturesque legend concerning Egwin, which is preserved in the coat-of-arms used by the monastery.  It appears that the prelate was falsely charged with certain offences, and to prove his innocence he made a journey to Rome; but before setting off, he fastened a chain and horselock to his ankle and threw the key into the river Avon.  On his arrival in the Holy City, a fish was caught by his companions in whose belly the very key was found which had been cast into the river before his departure!  Another account relates that the fish who had swallowed the key leapt on board before the travellers reached their destination!  The legend of the foundation of the Abbey is engraved on the conventual seal in a series of scenes; and we know it was also depicted in the glass of one of the large windows in the church.

[Illustration:  The Bell Tower Evesham]

How far the events of this early time are historical, how far traditionary, or even mythical, it is impossible to say, but for many years afterwards the record gives us merely the scanty information we should expect.  We hear of the depredations of the Danes, and the destruction by them of the monastery, and later of discords and dissensions between monks and canons; indeed, it is not until the reign of Canute that the Benedictines gained complete and final possession of the Abbey and its estates.  The first church and monastery were probably of wood.  Later, in the Saxon period, stone would have taken its place, but the form was no doubt primitive in the extreme.  The founder’s tomb would be the principal treasure, but, as time went on, other relics were acquired, and many shrines needed to contain the precious remains.