Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

BARTHOLOMEW OF EXETER. 175
legend, beautifully illustrates what was a favourite
English devotion at all times.
''In the year 1161," he says, "Bartholomew, a
religious man well versed in theological studies, was
consecrated Bishop of Exeter. Intent on gaining
souls, Bishop Bartholomew, accompanied by his
clerks, made a visitation of his diocese. It chanced
that in a certain country town his bedroom looked
t/
into the churchyard. About the middle of the night
lie awoke to recite the night , lb»A W office, V^ J ^--^ -*_* -W and X.V-L-1. x* finding .L.*.JL*L \^m,^. JLAbb the
light was extinguished that usually burnt before him,
he chid his chamberlain for his negligence, and bade
him go quickly and fetch a light. While waiting for
his return the bishop heard voices coming from the
churchyard as of a great multitude of children, lamenting
: ' Alas ! who will now pray for us and give us
alms, or will celebrate Masses for us' He was
greatly astonished and wondered what this could
Mgnify. Meanwhile his chamberlain, not finding a
light in the hall or kitchen, went out into the town,
but long sought v in vain. At last he saw a light in a
house quite at the extremity of the town. He
hastened hither and entering it found a corpse, the
parish priest, and many people of either sex who
were weeping and tearing their hair in their grief.
But the chamberlain tarried not ; he lighted his lantern,
and, hurrying back to the bishop, told him what
had detained him and how he had at last succeeded.
They sang matins together, and when day broke the
bishop sent for the priest and some of the towns-