Radulfus quidam, de villa Sumeshelde, Auglicus genere, presbyteratus sublimatus dignitate, dum maledictum legis declinat, quae steriles damnat, suscepit ex consorte thori filium Augustinum.Qui cum dimidium annum egisset abortu, tanta membrorum exilitate et tenuitate demolitus est, ut miserabilem speciem praeferret, minus habens carnositatis in toto corpore quam validus aliquis in uno digitorum suorum. Corpoream namque substantiam gravis passio consumpserat, ex ulcere pulmonis proveniens, aut ex clamore vagientis vel aliis causis quas physicus assignat; nemo enim sanae mentis vulgi fabulosa deliramenta credit, quod pueros supponi putat aut transformari. Prominebat itaque spina, radiolos suos et spondilias patenter ostendens. Brachia vero dependebant hinc inde, tanquam virgulae duae de medio stipite; eratque miserabilis facies, non facies sed superficies, tanquam vita sine vivente, materia sine forma, corpus sine compositione. Consumptio substantialis humiditatis et ossea congeries ariditasque deformis hominem negabant. E contrario vagitus et erecta facies aliquod hominis innuebant. Hinc confusi parentes nemini videndum portentuosum animal exhibuerunt, peccato suo et pudori tenebras quserentes, qui contempt jure matrimonii genium colebant. Veruntamen non iniquitates nostras observante Domino, gravi morbo levi medicina subventum est. Nam simul ac martyri voto obstrictus est, colori suo redditus est; ipsaque nocte qua factum est votum, membris assiccatis vigor succrevit, mutuaque societate ossa et viscera coaluerunt, ut novum transformatus in hominem sementivam natalemque reciperet speciem. Talem ergo eum fuisse a parentibus audivimus, penitus vero restitutum oculis perspeximus.

A certain Ralph, from the village of Somershall, from the race of the English, having been raised to the office of priest, while he avoided the reproach of the law, which condemns them to be sterile, he procreated a son, Augustine, from the consort of his bed. He, when half a year from his birth had passed, was diminished with so much weakness and gauntness of his limbs, that he displayed a wretched sight, having less flesh in his whole body than someone strong in one of their fingers. For in fact, a serious disease, produced by an ulcer in his lungs, or else by the noise of his wailing or from other causes which a physician specifies, had consumed his bodily substance; for no-one of sound mind credits the fabulous nonsense of the people, who believe children to be substituted or transformed. Thus, his spine was jutting out, revealing openly his ribs and vertebrae.