A.D . 460.] DEATH OP VORTIMEE. 11 A remarkable miracle. In the year of grace 457, while St. Mamertus, bishop of Vienne, was keeping the vigil of our Lord's resurrection, a terrible conflagration was seen raging in the midst of the city. The people in consternation fled out of the church, each fearing the like calamity to his own house. The undaunted bishop kept his post at the festive altar, and kindling with the warmth of faith, with a flood of tears restrained the violence of the fire. Joy takes the place of despair ; the people return to the church, all ascribing the miracle to the holy man. Discovery of the head of St. John. In the year of grace 458, two eastern monks having gone up to Jerusalem to worship, John the Baptist revealed to them the place of his head, near the house where Herod formerly lived. It was straightway brought to Edessa, a city of Phoenicia, and was there buried with due honour. Spread of the heresy of Dioscorus, In the year of grace 459, the emperor Marcian being dead,* Leo the elder and Leo the younger reigned sixteen years. Alexandria and Egypt, infected with the heresy of Dioscorus, are filled with spiritual uncleanness and raging madness. Hilderic, king of the Franks, reigned twenty-six years.f Death of Vortimer, king of Britain. In the year of grace 460, died Vortimer, king of Britain, and the flower of its youth, and with him were ended the triumphs and hopes of the Britons. For Satan having entered into the heart of his stepmother Rowena, she caused poison to be given him by one of his servants, of which he died suddenly, and was buried at London.^ Whereupon Vortigern, at the instigation of his wife, sent into Germany for Hengist to come over secretly with a few attendants, lest if he came in any other manner he might excite the Britons to rebel. * The emperor Marcian died January 31, 457. t Hilderic died in 481. % Vortimer was buried at Lincoln, contrary to his wishes expressed be fore his death. See Nennius, § 46, and Geoffrey of Monmouth, Hist, vi. 14.