St. Walstan was of East Anglian royal blood and, notes an ancient
document, "derived his parentage of distinguished royal stock, his
father being called Benedict, his mother Blida".
He was born in 975 and when he was thirteen renounced his wealth and travelled north where he got a job on a farm near Bawburgh in Norfolk. There he worked hard for only his keep; anything more he gave to the poor and needy he met as he went about his work as a farm labourer. His employers, the farmer Nalga and his wife, worried about his taking no wages and pressed him to accept their gift of two white calves.
In his last years Walstan had many visions and finally one that foretold his death. He should instruct Nalga to place his body on a cart, pulled by his two white oxen, which were to be left to go free. Walstan died in 1016 and according to his wishes the oxen were left free to draw the cart unguided. The animals set off and stopped only three times, each time a spring appearing.
Finally they came to a stop in the centre of Bawburgh where Walstan was buried, and soon afterwards he was declared a saint and patron of farm workers and agriculture.
Farming and tribulation
The word 'tribulation' connects in New Testament Greek with farming. To thresh the corn after harvesting, they would drive a sort of sledge over it many times, usually in a windy place. This sledge would be fitted with spikes or sharp stones, called 'triboloi', and pulled by a donkey or an ox. The wind would blow away the chaff leaving the grain. This implement was also used to break up the soil before sowing seeds, i.e. a harrow.
So tribulation means pressure, like having a sledge with spikes, a harrow, pulled over you. We must remember John 16 v33, the words of Jesus, "In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good courage, I have overcome the world."
We can still speak of a 'harrowing' experience, and a problem of modern cricket is 'sledging' i.e. players being unpleasantly abusive to an opponent to put him under pressure.
Norman Davis