A .I) . 1-2.1!).] KING HENRY'S COURT HELD AT YORK. 5.33 arrived safely with a small retinue in Sicily, and tliore heard that his enemies had already subdued many of his casth-s and towns, and were even now making free inroads in the imperial territory, there being no one to oppose them ; but when his arrival was made known, the lawful subjects of the empire, who were bound by allegiance to him, Hocked to him, and surrounded by these, and being reinforced by others who came to him, he boldly hurst forth amongst his enemies, and began by degrees to recover the lands and castles he had lost. Hoir the king of Kngland spent Christmas at York. A. n. \ T.V. At Christmas king Henry held his court at York, in company with the king of Scots whom he had invited to the festival ; the archbishop of the city too was present there with the earls, barons, knights, and a large retinue, and there the two kings distributed many festive dresses amongst their knignts. The English king was profuse in his liberality to the king of Scots, presenting him with valuable horses, rings, and jewels ; and for i.hroedays they continued the festival, banqueting splendidly every day, aud observing this great anniversary with all joy and exultation. On the fourth day the party broke up and the king of Scots returned home, whilst Henry hastened to London. In the same year, on the day of the Conversion of St. Paul, the bishop of the city of London was standing before the great altar of the cathedral church of that city wearing his mitre, and about to perforin divine service in the présence of the citizens who were assembled in honour of St. Paul, when on a sudden the sky became covered with such dense clouds and the sun became so obscured that one person could scarcely see his neighbour in the church. Whilst all were in a state of astonishment and suspected that the day of judgment was come, such a dreadful clap of thunder hurst suddenly over the church, that the building itself, together with the lofty tower, seemed to be falling on their heads, and from the mass of clouds there darted forth such a Hash of lightning that tiewhole church seemed on tire. In the midst of this too there arose such an intolerable stench, that all present were afraid they would be suffocated, and on this about a thousand persons of both sexes who were in the church, fearing certain death, made a hasty escape fnuii the church, and in their alarm fell to the earth, remaining there for some time without sense or motion, (lut of all the multitude assembled, only the bishop and one of the deacons, who stood beli ire the great altar clad in their sacred robes, remained undis mayed awaiting the Lord's pleasure. At length when the sky again lu-came clear, and all the multitude, having recovered confidence in their safety, had again entered the church, the bishop devoutly completed the remaining part of the service. Great astonishment was caused throughout ihe wind" cil ν by this oc -urrence, ami all feared that it prognosticated some great ana woiid.rful ι vein about to happen