(though he hardly might, for their great love,
let him go from him) to the distant land.
He found also four other monks as companions for him,
and some laymen, to go with them to that land,
and took the holy rule, which he had written with his own hand,
and delivered it to Maurus, to have with him,
together with the weight for their bread, and the measure for their wine,
and sent them with his blessing to the aforesaid bishop.
Afterwards in early morning the venerable Benedict sent forth
twain of his monks to Maurus with gifts,
that is, with holy relics, of the Saviour's Hood,
and of Mary's garments, and of a hanging from S. Michael's Altar
and of Stephen's body, and of Martin's relics,
and a written message in these words ;
' Receive, my beloved, these last gifts
of thy master, for a long remembrance,
and for a shield to you against the devil's snares.
I say to thee, in sooth, that thou shalt depart,
in the sixteenth year since thou becamest a monk,
out of this world to glory with God,
even as Christ yesterday showed me concerning thee,
after thou wentest from us on thy journey.
I tell thee also now that your way
shall not at all be such as we imagined,
but shall be ordered otherwise, and in another place;
but Almighty God will never forsake you
until ye [all] shall be established.
Fare ye now well, and be ye blessed.'
Then Maurus fared with great joy,
and his companions together, to the kingdom of the Franks ;
but twain of his companions fell by the way,
one from off a tower, the other on a stone,
so that they were crushed, and lay dying,
but Maurus healed them in the name of Jesus.
