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MATTHEW OF WESTMINSTER
The flowers of history, especially such as relate to the affairs of Britain. Vol. I. B.C. 4004 to A.D. 1066.
page 293
terbury, in order that on his return to Britain he might bring back the decrees of the synod to the churches of the Angles, and cause them to be observed on the authority of the chief pontiff. The same year, John, archbishop of Alexandria, flourished, who, on account of his eminent liberality to thejpoor of Christ, deserved to obtain the surname of the Alms-giver. And it happened that a certain foreigner, beholding his excessive compassion for the poor, wishing to tempt him, came to him while he was visiting the sick according to his custom, and said to him, " Pity me, because I am poor and a prisoner." And the patriarch said to his steward, '* Give him six pieces of gold." And when the beggar had received them, he changed his dress, and coming again from another quarter, he fell at his feet, saying, " Have mercy upon me, because I am tormented with hunger." Again the patriarch said to bis steward, "Give him six pieces of gold." And when he had done so, his steward whispered in the ear of the patriarch, " Master, he has now received twice to-day." He came again a third time, and asked alms ; and the servant told his master that it was the same man. And that merciful bishop said, " Give him twelve pieces of gold, lest perchance he be Christ himself who is come to tempt me."
A.D.
612. Phocas the emperor, while he was raging with cruelty against those of his own household, was put to death, by command of Heraclius, the patrician of Africa, who, after the death of Phocas, made himself master of the empire.
A.D.
613. Herachus obtained the Roman empire, and reigned thirty-one years. The same year, at Maurienne, a city of Gaul, there was a certain woman too much devoted to the worship of Saint John the Baptist. She, persevering in constant prayers, in a prayer which she repeated for three years, entreated of God that one of the limbs of the Baptist might be given to her. And placing her hope in God, she made a vow not to eat till what she was asking for was given to her. And accordingly she fasted for seven days, and on the seventh day she saw on the altar a thumb of wonderful whiteness, and joyfully received the gift of God. And when three bishops who had come to worship it tried to pull off a piece of this thumb, they Were astonished at seeing three drops of blood drop from it on the cloth which was beneath it, and they were all delighted at having deserved to become possessors of one of the drops.
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