in the most amazing manner! Let the
modern eye look earnestly on that old midnight hour in St.
Edmundsbury Church, shining yet on us, ruddy-bright, through the
depths of seven hundred years; and consider mournfully what our
Hero-worship once was, and what it now is! We translate with all
the fidelity we can:

'The Festival of St. Edmund now approaching, the marble blocks
are polished, and all things are in readiness for lifting of the
Shrine to its new place. A fast of three days was held by all
the people, the cause and meaning thereof being publicly set
forth to them. The Abbot announces to the Convent that all must
prepare themselves for transferring of the Shrine, and appoints
time and way for the work. Coming therefore that night to
matins, we found the great Shrine (_feretrum magnum_) raised upon
the Altar, but empty; covered all over with white doeskin
leather, fixed to the wood with silver nails; but one panel of
the Shrine was left down below, and resting thereon, beside its
old column of the Church, the Loculus with the Sacred Body yet
lay where it was wont. Praises being sung, we all proceeded to
commence our disciplines (_ad disciplinas suscipiendas_). These
finished, the Abbot and certain with him are clothed in their
albs; and, approaching reverently, set about uncovering the
Loculus. There was an outer cloth of linen, enwrapping the
Loculus and all; this we found tied on the upper side with
strings of its own: within this was a cloth of silk, and then
another linen cloth, and then a third; and so at last the
Loculus was uncovered, and seen resting on a little tray of wood,
that the bottom of it might not be injured by the stone. Over
the breast of the Martyr, there lay, fixed to the surface of the
Loculus, a Golden Angel about the length of a human foot;
holding in one hand a golden sword, and in the other a banner:
under this there was a hole in the lid of the Loculus, on which
the ancient servants of the Martyr had been wont to lay their
hands for touching the Sacred Body. And over the figure of the
Angel was this verse inscribed:

_Martiris ecce zoma servat Michaelis agalma_ *

At the head and foot of the Loculus were iron rings whereby it
could be lifted.

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* This is the Martyr's Garment, which Michael's Image guards.
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'Lifting the Loculus and Body, therefore, they carried it to the
Altar; and I put-to my sinful hand to help in carrying, th