the stock when the realm is divided and translated from one seed or lineage to another. The space of three furlongs is the time of three kings, that is to say Harold, William Conqueror, and William his son. The coming again of the tree to the stock without man's help was when king Henry the first came into the realm, not by man's strength but by the very true love of his commons. He took his sap and his very strength when he wedded Maud the daughter of the niece of S. Edward, joining together the seed of England and of Normandy, and the tree flourished when Maud the empress sprang of their seed, and it brought forth fruit when of her came Henry the Second, and thus these two people were joined together. If this exposition displease any man, let him expound it better, or else let him abide a time till it be fulfilled, so that the prophecy of king Edward accord to the prophecy of S. Dunstan.
This holy king S. Edward, knowing that his hour drew nigh, spake to them that stood weeping about him, and in comforting them said: 'Forsooth if ye loved me ye would pray that I should pass from this world to the father of heaven, there to receive the joy which is promised to all true christian men. Put ye away your weeping and speed forth my journey with prayers, with holy psalms and with almsdeeds. For though mine enemy the fiend may not overcome me in my faith, yet there is none found so perfect but he will assay and tempt to let or to fear him.' And then he commended the queen to her brother in commending her virtues unto his lords, and declared to them their pure chastity. And he commanded
