Part 44

Manegum mannum is cudh seo halige st['o]w S[=ce] Michaheles, on thaere d['u]ne the is geh['a]ten Garganus. Seo d['u]n stent on Campania landes gemaeron, widh tha s['ae] Adriaticum, twelf mila on upstige fram anre byrig the is geh['a]ten Sepontina. Of dhaere stowe weardh araered thises daeges freols geond geleaffulle geladhunge. Thaer eardode sum thurhspedig mann Garganus geh['a]ten: of his gelimpe weardh seo d['u]n swa gec['i]ged. Hit gel['a]mp, thatha seo ormaete micelnyss his orfes on dhaere dune laeswede, thaet sum modig fearr weardh ['a]ngencga, and thaere heorde-drafe oferh['o]gode. Hwaet se hl['a]ford tha Garganus gegaderode micele menigu his in-cnihta, and dhone fearr gehwaer on dham westene sohte, and aet nextan hine gemette standan uppon dham cnolle thaere healican dune, aet ['a]nes scraefes inngange; and he dha mid graman weardh astyred, hw['i] se fearr ['a]ngenga his heorde fors['a]we, and gebende his bogan, and mid geaettrode flan hine ofsceotan wolde; ac seo geaettrode fl['a] wende ongean swilce mid windes blaede adhrawen, and thone dhe hi sceat thaerrihte ofsloh.

His magas dha and nehgeburas wurdon thearle thurh dha daede ablicgede, and heora n['a]n ne dorste dham fearre genealaecan. H['i] dha heora biscop r['ae]des befrunon, hwaet him be dham to donne waere. Se biscop dha funde him to r['ae]de, thaet h['i] mid threora daga faestene, swutelunge thaes wundres aet Gode baedon. Tha on dhaere dhriddan nihte thaes faestenes aeteowde se heah-engel Michahel hine sylfne tham biscope on gastlicere gesihdhe, thus cwedhende, "Wislice ge dydon, thaet ge to Gode sohton thaet thaet mannum digle waes. Wite dhu gewislice, thaet se mann dhe mid his agenre fl['a]n ofscoten waes, thaet hit is mid minum willan ged['o]n. Ic eom Michahel se heah-engel Godes Aelmihtiges, and ic symle on his gesihdhe wunige. Ic secge dhe, thaet ic dha stowe the se fearr geealgode synderlice lufige, {504} and ic wolde mid thaere geb['i]cnunge geswutelian thaet ic eom dhaere stowe hyrde; and ealra dhaera t['a]cna dhe dhaer gelimpadh, ic eom sceawere and gymend." And se heah-engel mid thisum wordum to heofonum gew['a]t.

Se biscop rehte his gesihdhe tham burhwarum, and hi dha sydhdhan gewunelice thider sohton, and thone lifigendan God and his heah-engel Michahel geornlice baedon. Tw['a] dura h['i] gesawon on dhaere cyrcan, and waes seo suth duru sume daele mare, fram dhaere lagon stapas to dham west-daele; ac h['i] ne dorston thaet halige h['u]s mid ingange geneosian, ac daeghwomlice geornlice aet dhaere dura h['i] gebaedon.

Tha on dhaere ylcan t['i]de Neapolite, the waeron dha-gyt on haedhenscipe wunigende, cwaedon gefeoht togeanes thaere burhware Sepontiniscre ceastre, the tha halgan stowe wurdhodon, and togeanes Beneuentanos. H['i] dha, mid heora biscopes mynegungum gelaerde, baedon threora daga faec, thaet hi binnon tham dhrim dagum mid faestene thaes heah-engles Michaheles fultum baedon. Tha haedhenan eac swilce mid lacum and offrungum heora leasra goda gecneordlice m['u]nde and gescyldnysse baedon.

Efne dha on dhaere nihte the thaet gefeoht on merigen toweard waes, aeteowde se heah-engel Michahel hine sylfne dham biscope, and cwaedh, thaet he heora bena gehyrde, and his fultum him beh['e]t, and het thaet h['i] ane t['i]d ofer undern h['i] getrymedon ongean heora fynd. H['i] dha on merigen blidhe and orsorge, thurh dhaes engles beh['a]t, and mid truwan his fultumes, ferdon togeanes dham haedhenum. Tha sona on anginne thaes gefeohtes waes se m['u]nt Garganus bifigende mid ormaetre cwacunge, and micel liget fleah of dhaere d['u]ne swilce fl['a]n widh thaes haedhenan folces, and thaes m['u]ntes cnoll mid theosterlicum genipum eal oferhangen waes. Hwaet dha haedhenan dha forhtmode fleames cepton, and gelice h['i] wurdon mid tham fyrenum {506} flanum ofscotene, gelice mid thaera cristenra waepnum hindan ofsette, odhthaet hi heora burh Neapolim s['a]mcuce gesohton. Sodhlice dha dhe dha frecednyssa aetflugon, oncneowon thaet Godes engel dham cristenum to fultume becom, and h['i] dhaerrihte heora swuran Criste undertheoddon, and mid his geleafan gewaepnode wurdon. Witodlice thaes waeles waes geteald six hund manna mid tham fyrenum flanum ofsceotene. Tha cristenan dha sigefaeste mid micelre bylde and blisse h['a]m gecyrdon, and dham Aelmihtigan Gode and his heah-engle Michahele heora beh['a]t to dham temple gebrohton. Tha gesawon h['i] aetforan dhaere cyrcan nordh-dura, on tham marmanstane, swilce mannes f['o]tlaesta faestlice on dham stane gedhyde, and h['i] dha undergeaton thaet se heah-engel Michahel thaet t['a]cen his andwerdnysse geswutelian wolde. Hi dha sona dhaer-ofer cyrcan ar['ae]rdon and weofod, tham heah-engle to lofe, dhe him on tham stede fylstende st['o]d.

Tha weardh micel twynung betwux dhaere burhware be dhaere cyrcan, hwaedher h['i] inn-eodon, odhdhe h['i] halgian sceoldon. Hwaet h['i] dha on tham east-daele dhaere stowe cyrcan araerdon, and tham apostole Petre to wurdhmynte gehalgodon, and thaer-binnan S[=ce] Marian, and Iohanne dham Fulluhtere weofod asetton. Tha aet nextan sende se biscop to dham papan, and hine befr['a]n, h['u] him embe thaes heah-engles getimbrunge to d['o]nne waere. Se papa thisum aerende dhus geandwyrde, "Gif mannum alyfed is thaet hi dha cyrcan dhe se heah-engel sylf getimbrode halgian moton, thonne gebyradh seo halgung on dham daege the h['e] eow sige forgeaf, thurh unnan dhaes Aelmihtigan. Gif dhonne hwaet elles tham heah-engle gelicige, axiadh his willan on tham ylcan daege." Thadha dheos andswaru tham biscope gecydd waes, tha bead h['e] his ceastergewarum threora daga faesten, and b['ae]don tha Halgan Thrynnysse thaet him wurde geswutelod sum gewiss be['a]cn embe heora twynunge. Se heah-engel dha Michahel, on dhaere dhriddan nihte thaes faestenes, cwaedh to dham biscope on swefne, "Nis eow nan neod thaet ge dha cyrcan halgion the ic getimbrode. Ic sylf hi getimbrode {508} and gehalgode. Ac gadh eow into dhaere cyrcan unforhtlice, and me aetstandendum geneosiadh tha stowe aefter gewunan mid gebedum; and thu thaer to-merigen maessan gesing, and thaet folc aefter godcundum dheawe to husle gange; and ic thonne geswutelige h['u] ic dha stowe dhurh me sylfne gehalgode."

Hi dha sona thaes on merigen dhider mid heora offrungum blidhe comon, and mid micelre ['a]nraednysse heora bena on dham suth-daele inn-eodon. Efne dha h['i] gesawon an l['a]ng portic on dham nordh-daele astreht for nean to dham marmanstane the se engel onstandende his f['o]tlaeste aeteowde. On dham east-daele waes gesewen micel cyrce to dhaere h['i] staepmaelum astigon. Seo cyrce mid hire portice mihte fif hund manna eadhelice bef['o]n on hire rymette: and thaer st['o]d, gesett widh middan thaes sudh-wages, arwurdhe weofod, mid readum paelle gescrydd. Naes thaet h['u]s aefter manna gewunan getimbrod, ac mid mislicum torrum gehwemmed, to gelicnysse sumes scraefes. Se hr['o]f eac swylce haefde mislice heahnysse: on sumere stowe hine man mihte mid heafde ger['ae]can, on sumere mid handa earfodhlice. Ic gelyfe thaet se heah-engel mid tham geswutelode thaet he micele swidhor sohte and lufode thaere heortan claennysse thonne dhaera st['a]na fraetwunge. Thaes muntes cnoll widhutan is sticmaelum mid wuda oferwexen, and eft sticmaelum mid grenum felda oferbraeded.

Sodhlice aefter dhaere maessan and dham halgan husel-gange gecyrde gehw['a] mid micclum gefean to his agenum. Se biscop dha dhaer Godes dheowas gelogode, sangeras, and raederas, and sacerdas, thaet hi daeghwomlice dhaer Godes thenunge mid thaeslicere endebyrdnysse gefyldon; and him dhaer mynsterlic botl timbrian h['e]t. Nis theah-hwaedhere nan mann to dham dyrstig thaet h['e] on nihtlicere tide binnan dhaere cyrcan cuman durre, ac on d['ae]grede, tha Godes theowas thaer-binnan Godes lof singadh. Of dham hr['o]f-stane on north-daele thaes halgan weofodes yrndh dropmaelum swidhe hluttor waeter, and wered, thaet gecigdon dha dhe on thaere stowe wunodon, stillam, thaet is, {510} dropa. Thaer is ahangen sum glaesen f['ae]t mid sylfrenne racenteage, and thaes wynsuman waetan onfehdh. Thaes folces gewuna is, thaet h['i] aefter tham halgan husel-gange staepmaelum to dham faete astigadh, and thaes heofonlican waetan onbyriadh. Se waeta is swidhe wynsum on swaecce, and swidhe h['a]lwende on hrepunge. Witodlice forwel menige aefter langsumum fefere and mislicum mettrumnyssum, thurh dhises waetan thigene hraedlice heora haele brucadh. Eac swilce on odhrum gemete, ungerime untruman thaer beodh oft and gelome gehaelede, and menigfealde wundra thurh dhaes heah-engles mihte dhaer beodh gefremode; and dheah swidhost on thysum daege, dhonne thaet folc of gehwilcum leodscipe tha stowe geneosiadh, and thaes engles andwerdnyss mid sumum gemete dhaer swidhost bidh, thaet dhaes apostoles cwyde beo lichamlice gefylled, thaet thaet h['e] gastlice gecwaedh: he cwaedh, thaet "englas beodh to dhening-gastum fram Gode hider on worulde asende, thaet hi beon on fultume his gecorenum, thaet hi dhone ecan edhel onf['o]n mid him."

EUANGELIUM.

Accesserunt ad Iesum discipuli dicentes, Quis putas maior in regno coelorum: et reliqua.

This daegtherlice godspell cwydh, thaet "Drihtnes leorning-cnihtas to him genealaehton, thus cwedhende, La leof, hw['a] is fyrmest manna on heofenan rice? Se Haelend him dha to clypode sum gehw['ae]de cild:" et reliqua.

Haegmon trahtnadh this godspell, and segdh, h['u] dhaes caseres tolleras axodon Petrus dhone apostol, dhadha hi geond ealne middangeard dham casere toll gegaderodon; hi cwaedon, "Wyle eower l['a]reow Crist aenig toll syllan? Tha cwaedh Petrus, thaet he wolde. Tha mid tham dhe Petrus wolde befr['i]nan thone Haelend, tha forsceat se Haelend hine, dhe ealle dhing w['a]t, thus cwedhende, Hwaet dhincdh the, Petrus, aet hwam nimadh eordhlice cynegas gafol odhdhe toll, aet heora gesiblingum, oththe aet aelfremedum? Petrus cwaedh, Aet aelfremedum. {512} Se Haelend cwaedh, Hwaet la synd heora siblingas frige? The l['ae]s dhe we h['i] aeswicion, ga to dhaere s['ae], and wurpe ['u]t dhinne angel, and thone fisc dhe hine hradhost forswelhdh, geopena his mudh, thonne fintst thu dhaer-on aenne gyldenne wecg: nim dhone, and syle to tolle for me and for dhe."

Tha for dham intingan the h['e] cwaedh, "Syle for me and for dhe," wendon tha apostolas thaet Petrus waere fyrmest, and axodon dha dhone Haelend, "Hw['a] waere fyrmest manna on heofonan rice?" Tha wolde se Haelend heora dwollican gethohtas mid sodhre eadmodnysse gehaelan, and cwaedh, thaet h['i] ne mihton becuman to heofonan rice, buton h['i] waeron swa eadmode, and swa unscaedhdhige swa thaet cild waes dhe he him to clypode. Bilewite cild ne gewilnadh odhra manna aehta, ne wlitiges wifes; theah dhe hit beo gegremod, hit ne hylt langsume ungethwaernysse to dham dhe him derode, ne hit ne h['i]wadh mid wordum, thaet hit odher dhence, and odher sprece. Swa eac sceolon Godes folgeras, thaet synd tha cristenan, habban tha unscaedhdhignysse on heora mode the cild haefdh on ylde.

Se Haelend cwaedh, "Sodh ic eow secge, Ne becume ge to heofonan rice, buton ge beon awende, and gewordene swa swa lyttlingas." Ne bebead he his gingrum thaet h['i] on lichaman cild waeron, ac thaet h['i] heoldon bilewitra cildra unscaedhdhignysse on heora theawum. On sumere stowe he cwaedh, thadha him man to baer cild to bletsigenne, and his gingran thaet bemaendon, "Gedhafiadh thaet dhas cild to me cumon; swilcera is sodhlice heofonan rice." Be dhisum manode se apostol Paulus his underdheoddan, and cwaedh, "Ne beo ge cild on andgite, ac on yfelnyssum: beodh on andgite fulfremede." Se Haelend cwaedh, "Swa hw['a] swa hine sylfne geeadmet, swa swa dhis cild, he bidh fyrmest on heofonan rice." Uton habban dha sodhan eadmodnysse on urum life, gif we willadh habban dha healican gedhincdhe on Godes rice; swa swa se Haelend cwaedh, "Aelc dhaera dhe hine onhefdh bidh geeadmet, and se dhe hine geeadmet, he bidh ah['a]fen." Se haefdh bilewites cildes unscaedhdhignysse, the him sylfum mislicadh to dhi thaet he Gode gelicige; {514} and he bidh swa micele wlitegra aetforan Godes gesihdhe, swa he swidhor aetforan him sylfum eadmodra bidh. "Se dhe underfehdh aenne swilcne lyttling on minum naman, h['e] underfehdh me sylfne." Eallum Godes dhearfum man sceall wel-d['ae]da thenian, ac dheah swidhost tham eadmodum and lidhum, the mid heora l['i]fes dheawum Cristes bebodum gethwaeriadh; fordham him bidh gedhenod mid his dhearfena thenunge, and h['e] sylf bidh underfangen on heora anfenge.

He cwaedh eac on odhre stowe, "Se dhe w['i]tegan underfehdh, he haefdh w['i]tegan mede; se dhe rihtwisne underfehdh, he haefdh rihtwises mannes edlean." Thaet is, Se dhe witegan, odhdhe sumne rihtwisne Godes dheow underfehdh, and him for Godes lufon bigwiste foresceawadh, thonne haefdh he swa micele mede his cystignysse aet Gode, swilce h['e] him sylf w['i]tega waere, oththe rihtwis Godes theow. "Se dhe ge['ae]swicadh anum dhyssera lyttlinga, dhe on me gelyfadh, selre him waere thaet him waere getiged ['a]n ormaete cwyrnst['a]n to his swuran, and he swa wurde on deoppre s['ae] besenced." Se ['ae]swicadh odhrum the hine on Godes daele beswicdh, thaet his sawul forloren beo. Se cwyrnst['a]n the tyrndh singallice, and naenne faereld ne dhurhtihdh, get['a]cnadh woruld-lufe, dhe on gedwyldum hwyrftladh, and naenne staepe on Godes wege ne gefaestnadh. Be swylcum cwaedh se witega, "Tha arleasan turniadh on ymbhwyrfte." Se dhe genealaehdh halgum h['a]de on Godes geladhunge, and sidhdhan mid yfelre tihtinge oththe mid leahterfullre drohtnunge odhrum yfele bysnadh, and heora ingehyd towyrpdh, thonne waere him selre thaet he on woruldlicere drohtnunge ana losode, thonne h['e] on halgum h['i]we odhre mid him thurh his dhwyrlican theawas to forwyrde getuge.

"W['a] middangearde for ['ae]swicungum." Middangeard is her gecweden tha dhe thisne ateorigendlican middangeard lufiadh swidhor thonne thaet ece l['i]f, and mid mislicum swicdomum h['i] sylfe and odhre forpaeradh. "Neod is thaet aeswicunga cumon, dheah-hwaedhere w['a] dham menn dhe hi ofcumadh." Theos woruld is swa mid gedwyldum afylled, thaet heo ne maeg beon butan {516} ['ae]swicungum, and theah w['a] dham menn dhe odherne aet his aehtum, odhdhe aet his feore beswicdh, and dham bidh wyrs, the mid yfelum tihtingum othres mannes sawle to ecum forwyrdum beswicdh. "Gif dhin hand odhdhe dhin f['o]t the ['ae]swicige, ceorf of thaet lim, and awurp fram dhe." This is gecweden aefter gastlicere get['a]cnunge, na aefter lichamlicere gesetnysse. Ne bebead God nanum menn thaet he his lima awyrde. Seo h['a]nd get['a]cnadh urne nydbehefan freond, the us daeghwomlice mid weorce and fultume ure neode dedh; ac dheah, gif swilc freond us fram Godes wege gew['e]mdh, thonne bidh us selre thaet we his flaesclican lufe fram ['u]s aceorfon, and mid tw['ae]minge awurpon, thonne we, thurh his yfelan tihtinge, samod mid him on ece forwyrd befeallon. Ealswa is be dham f['e]t and be dham eagan. Gif hwilc sibling the bidh swa deorwurdhe swa dhin eage, and odher swa behefe swa dhin hand, and sum swa gedhensum swilce dhin agen f['o]t, gif hi dhonne the thwyrlice tihtadh to dhinre sawle forwyrde, thonne bidh the selre thaet thu heora gedheodraedene forb['u]ge, thonne hi dhe fordh mid him to dham ecan forwyrde gelaedon. "Behealdadh thaet ge ne forseon aenne of thysum lytlingum." Se dhe bepaehdh aenne Godes theowena, he ge['ae]biligdh dhone Hlaford, swa swa he sylf thurh his witegan cwaedh, "Se dhe eow hrepadh, hit bidh me swa egle swilce h['e] hreppe mines eagan s['e]o."

"Ic secge eow thaet heora englas symle geseodh mines Faeder ansyne sedhe on heofonum is." Mid thisum wordum is geswutelod thaet aelcum geleaffullum men is engel to hyrde geset, the hine widh deofles syrwunge gescylt, and on halgum maegnum gefultumadh, swa swa se sealm-sc['o]p be gehwilcum rihtwisum cwaedh, "God bebead his englum be dhe, thaet hi dhe healdon, and on heora handum hebban, thel['ae]s dhe dhu aet stane thinne f['o]t aetspurne." Micel wurdhscipe is cristenra manna, thaet gehwilc haebbe fram his acennednysse him betaehtne engel to hyrdraedene, swa swa be dham apostole Petre awriten is, thadha se engel hine of dham cwearterne gelaedde, and he to his geferum becom, and cnucigende inganges baed. Tha cwaedon tha {518} geleaffullan, "Nis hit na Petrus thaet dhaer cnucadh, ac is his engel." Tha englas sodhlice dhe God gesette to hyrdum his gecorenum, h['i] ne gewitadh naefre fram his andweardnysse; fordhan dhe God is aeghwaer, and swa hwider swa dha englas fleodh, aefre h['i] beodh binnan his andwerdnysse, and his wuldres brucadh. Hi bodiadh ure weorc and gebedu tham Aelmihtigan, theah dhe him n['a]n dhing digle ne sy, swa swa se heah-engel Raphahel cwaedh to dham Godes menn, Tob['i]an, "Thadha ge eow gebaedon, ic offrode eower gebedu aetforan Gode."

Seo Ealde Ae ['u]s saegdh, thaet heah-englas sind gesette ofer gehwilce leodscipas, thaet hi dhaes folces gymon, ofer dha odhre englas, swa swa Moyses, on dhaere fiftan b['e]c dhaere Ealdan Ae, thysum wordum geswutelode, "Thadha se healica God todaelde and tostencte Adames ofspring, tha sette he dheoda gemaeru aefter getele his engla." Thisum andgite gethwaerlaecdh se witega Danihel on his witegunge. Sum Godes engel spraec to Danihele embe dhone heah-engel the Perscisce dheode bewiste, and cwaedh, "Me com to se heah-engel, Greciscre theode ealdor, and nis heora n['a]n m['i]n gefylsta, buton Michahel, Ebreisces folces ealdor. Efne n['u] Michahel, ['a]n dhaera fyrmestra ealdra, com me to fultume, and ic wunode dhaer widh thone cyning Persciscre dheode." Mid thisum wordum is geswutelod h['u] micele care dha heah-englas habbadh heora ealdordomes ofer mancynn, dhadha he cwaedh, thaet Michahel him come to fultume.

Is nu geleaflic thaet se heah-engel Michahel haebbe gymene cristenra manna, sedhe waes dhaes Ebreiscan folces ealdor, tha hwile dhe h['i] on God belyfdon; and thaet he geswutelode, thadha he him sylfum cyrcan getimbrode betwux geleaffulre dheode, on dham munte Gargano, swa swa we hwene ['ae]r raeddon. Thaet is ged['o]n be Godes fadunge, thaet se m['ae]ra heofonlica engel beo singallice cristenra manna gefylsta on eordhan, and thingere on heofonum to dham Aelmihtigan Gode, sedhe leofadh and rixadh ['a] on ecnysse. Amen.

{503} SEPTEMBER XXIX.

DEDICATION OF THE CHURCH OF ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL.

To many men is known the holy place of St. Michael, on the mountain which is called Garganus. The mountain stands on the borders of the land of Campania, towards the Adriatic sea, twelve miles in ascent from a town which is called Sepontina. From that place originated this day's festival throughout the faithful church. There dwelt a very rich man called Garganus: from his adventure the mountain was so named. It happened when the immense multitude of his cattle was grazing on the mountain, that an unruly bull wandered alone and despised the drove. Hereupon the master Garganus gathered a great many of his household servants, and sought the bull everywhere in the waste, and at last found him standing on the knoll of the high mountain, at the entrance of a cavern; and he was then moved with anger, because the solitary bull had despised his herd, and bent his bow, and would shoot him with a poisoned arrow; but the poisoned arrow turned back as if thrown by the wind's blast, and instantly slew him who had shot it.

His kinsmen then and neighbours were greatly astonished by that deed, and not one of them durst approach the bull. They then asked counsel of their bishop, what they should do in the matter. The bishop then found it advisable, that they should ask from God an explanation of the miracle with a fast of three days. On the third night of the fast the archangel Michael appeared to the bishop in a ghostly vision, thus saying, "Wisely ye did to seek at God that which was hidden to men. Know thou for certain, that the man who was shot with his own arrow, that it was done with my will. I am Michael, the archangel of God Almighty, and I continue ever in his sight. I say to thee that I especially love {505} the place which the bull defended, and I would by that sign manifest that I am the guardian of the place; and of all the miracles which there happen, I am the spectator and observer." And with these words the archangel departed to heaven.

The bishop recounted his vision to the townsfolk, and they afterwards usually resorted thither, and fervently prayed the living God and his archangel Michael. Two doors they saw in the church, and the south door was somewhat larger, from which there lay steps to the west part: but they durst not visit the holy house with entrance, but daily prayed fervently at the door.

Then at the same time the Neapolitans, who yet continued in heathenism, declared war against the inhabitants of the city of Sepontina, who worshiped the holy place, and against those of Benevento. They then, instructed by the admonitions of their bishop, prayed for a space of three days, that they might, in those three days, implore with fasting the succour of the archangel Michael. The heathen also in like manner, with gifts and offerings, diligently implored the guardianship and protection of their false gods.

Lo, on the night then on the morrow of which the fight was to take place, the archangel Michael appeared to the bishop, and said that he had heard their prayers, and promised them his succour, and commanded them to array themselves against their foes one hour after morning-tide. They then on the morrow blithe and free from care, through the angel's promise, and with confidence in his succour, marched against the heathen. Then immediately at the beginning of the fight the mount Garganus was trembling with immense quaking, and great lightning flew from the mountain as it were arrows against the heathen folk, and the knoll of the mount was all overhung with dark clouds. Whereupon the heathen with affrighted mind took to flight, and at the same time that they were shot with fiery arrows, they {507} were overwhelmed from behind by the weapons of the christians, until half-dead they sought their city Naples. But those who escaped from those perils, acknowledged that God's angel came to the succour of the christians, and they straightways subjected their necks to Christ, and became armed with his faith. Verily in that slaughter there were counted six hundred men shot with the fiery arrows. The christians then victorious returned home with great confidence and joy, and brought their promise to the temple to Almighty God and his archangel Michael. Then saw they before the north door of the church, on the marble stone, as it were a man's footsteps, firmly impressed on the stone, and they then understood that the archangel Michael would manifest that token of his presence. They then forthwith raised a church and an altar thereover, to the praise of the archangel, who had stood in that place succouring them.