MATTHEW 0 7 WESTMJNSTEB. A.D. 749. known to the monks of Floriacnm, they kept a three days' fast, and prayed before his tomb with tears, saying, " 0 yon, our only hope after God, 0 father Benedict, receive, we beseech you, our tears, and remain with us in this place, which you have long since condescended.to select ; but if you are so indignant at the weight of our sins as to be unwilling to remain with us, you shall at all events have us for most devout fellow travellers." And when they had spent the whole three days in these sobbings and weepings, lo ! the before-mentioned bishops arrive, and endeavour to fulfil the commands of the king. And when the abbot Medo, who at that time ruled that monastery, had learned the arrival of the bishops, and the reason of it, he summoned the brethren of the congregation to the neighbouring church of the blessed Peter, and shut himself up with them then, and there they all fell on the ground, and pouring forth plentiful tears, betook themselves to prayer. But the bishops having entered the temple of the Holy Mother of God, before they came to the tomb of the blessed Benedict, were struck with such great fear and blindness, that they could not recognise one another. When then they found themselves blinded by the divine vengeance, they began tremblingly to go through the church, until in their wanderings they came to the ropes of the bells. And pulling them with au their might, they sought to bring themselves aid in this manner. The abbot and the brethren, who were lying prostrate in prayer, hearing these sounds, entered the church, and found the bishops, who could still see nothing. And when they said to them, " What are you doing, 0 Pontiffs ?" they answered and said, " We have come hither rashly, in order to arouse the blessed father Benedict to vengeance. Woe unto us, because we have sinned ! But ye, servants of God, pray for us to God Almighty, that he may open our eyes, and we promise you that we will never venture to do such deeds in future." On this, the brethren shed abundance of tears in their behalf, and some fell on the ground, and prayed more earnestly for them, that the divine mercy would consent to restore them their sight. And while they were praying, their eyes were opened, and the bishops returned with trembling to their own homes. The same year, Cuthbert, archbishop of Canterbury, and Ethelbald, king of Mercia, held a council. A.D. 749. Eadbert, king of Kent, after he had held the helm of the kingdom for six years, ended his days, and was