It puts forth the false claim that a young boy named William, who had been found dead in a forest, was in fact ritually murdered by Jews, and was therefore eligible for sainthood.
The Benedictine order was particularly motivated to found new shrines, for reasons of monetary and spiritual power, but especially important for Norwich's monks, as they lacked a patron saint.
[4] The miracles that are recounted include a rose flower growing on the grave in winter through the snow and cold, and then healings taking place.
[7] Writing in 1938, Jacob R. Marcus commented on the legacy of William of Norwich and other alleged cases like his: "Generations have believed that no Christian child was safe in Jewish hands.
The Papacy has frequently denounced this charge, yet it is equally true that in numerous instances the accusation of ritual murder was not made except with the vigorous support of local Church authorities.
In the specific case of William of Norwich, the evidence, critically sifted, leads one to believe that he actually existed and that his body was found after he had died a violent death.