A.D. 1066. STORY OF KING EDWARD. 131 land, and was" on the same day, with due honor, consecrated king by Aldred, the archbishop of York. Respecting the miracles which God, who is ever wonderful and glorious in his Saints, deigned to work for Saint Edward, the king and confessor, during his life, a few words are here annexed. On a certain day, while the said king lay prostrate in prayer before the altar at Westminster, during the celebration of the mass, he saw in a vision, as though the king of the Danes had prepared a great ship, for the purpose of a hostile invasion of England ; but, when he was about to enter from a boat into the larger ship, he slipped down between them and sank, immediately on which his ship went to pieces. On seeing this miracle, the blessed king Edward smiled, and gave exceeding thanks to God. On this, the bishop, who was celebrating the mass, was afraid that the king had seen something about him in the celebration thereof to cause his laughter. Consequently, after the mass was finished, the bishop, having called together earl Harold and others of the king's nobles who were then present, anxiously asked the king why he had smiled during the celebration of the mass ; on which, the king related to him the vision he had seen ; and the day and hour being marked, they sent messengers to Denmark, and found that it had happened to the king of the Danes just as king Edward had predicted. Another story relative to the same king. One day, when the before-named Edward, king of the English, was on a journey, there met him John, the blessed Apostle and Evangelist, under the form of a poor man, and begged alms of him. As the king had no money at hand to give Mm, he took his ring from off his finger and gave it to him. Now, on the same day, the same blessed Evangelist appeared to a certain stranger, as he was • going forth from the holy city of Jerusalem, and said to him, " Whence comest thou, and whither art thou going?" To which the stranger made answer," I am from England, and I am desirous of returning thither." The Apostle then said to him, "' Dost thou know Edward, the king of England ?" On which he made answer, " My lord, I do know him." The Apostle then said to him, " Take this ring, and carry it to king Edward, and tell him that the Apostle John sends him back this ring, which he himself gave to him this day on the road as he was walking ; and may the good angel of the Lord accompany κ 2