Bradshaw goes on to describe “the gostly devocion of Saynt Werburge, and vertuous governans of her places,” and, if the chronicler is to be trusted, she showed a marvellous capacity for ruling her abbeys. Her behaviour and character is thus described:—
“She was a minister rather than a mistress,
Her great pre-eminence caused no presumpcion,
Serving her systers with humble subjection.
. . . . .
Piteous and merciful and full of charity
To the poor people in their necessity.
. . . . .
She never commanded systers to do anything
But it was fulfilled in her own doing.”