Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

ST. EDWARD THE CONFESSOR.
115
ness. No king was ever a tenderer father to his
subjects, especially to the poor and the sick. The
very Danes respected him. He lived on his patrimony,
and never had recourse to taxation, yet he
was royal in his alms. Purity of heart and mannei
is an abiding source of wealth. Far from attempt
ing to found a dynasty, he gave up the delights of
married life, and lived with his queen in perfect
"chastity. The virtue, which'has become part of his
name, did not, however, come easily to him. In his
youth, feeling his weakness, he met " it by making a
vow of continence to God. The custom of touching
lepers for king's evil dates from St. Edward. No
practice was too lowly for his kingliness. Indeed,
it seemed as if he could never do enough for those
who were in sorrow. The only person who received
scant consideration was himself. The laws of St.
Edward were solemnly ratified by the Conqueror,
and are still maintained in the common law of
England.
The swrord, of which St. Dunstan prophesied, was
hanging over St. Edward's kingdom. Bad seasons,
famine, and plague followed in the wake of the
Danes. Before coming to the throne, Edward had
vowed a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Peter, if God
would mercifully put an end to the misfortunes of his
family. He was preparing to carry out this pilgrimage,
when he listened to the remonstrances of his
chief subjects not to leave his people at so critical a
time. Pope Leo IX. commuted his vow. The king
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