A.D. 577.] A FAMINE. Cycle. In the year of grace 571, was completed one cycle of the holy period of Easter, consisting of five hundred and twentyfour years, from the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the seventh indiction, in the five thousand and seventy-fifth year from the creation of the world, according to the Greeks. Uffa reigns in East-Anglia. In the year of grace 572, Gregory, ordained bishop of Tours, flourished, a man eminent tor his sanctity. A miracle. In the year of grace 573, the Spaniards and the Gauls disagreed about the observance of Easter, the Spaniards keeping it on the 21st of March, and the Franks on the 18th of April. But it was miraculously proved that the Franks celebrated it on the right day, inasmuch as the baptismal fonts in Spain, which are wont to be miraculously filled on Easter Sunday, were filled on the day agreeing with the computation, not of the Spaniards, but of the Franks. A cup formed of a skull. In the year of grace 574, Alboin, king of the Lombards, having formerly slain in war Cunimund, king of the Gepida;, and father of his wife, had made a drinking cup of his skull. This he one day offered to his wife, saying, " Drink with thy father." Kindling with a woman's rage, she caused one of his officers to cut his throat as he lay in bed. Pope Benediet. In the year of grace 575, Benedict filled the Roman chair four years, six months, and fourteen days. He gave permission to pope Gregory to go and preach to the Angles, but the people tumultuously detained him, and he was ordained the seventh Levite. A famine. In the year of Rome 576, Rome was visited with a famine, insomuch that many of the citizens fled to the Lombards. But Tiberius, who was afterwards emperor, sent a supply of corn from Egypt, and thereby delivered the city from want. In the year of grace 577, Tiberius succeeded to the Roman empire, and reigned seven years. As he had been liberal to VOL. 1. E