Cester, the king thought himselfe in more suertie than before, in s

. As hath beene thought he was inspired with the gift
of prophesie, and also to haue had the gift of healing infirmities and
diseases. He vsed to helpe those
that were vexed with the disease, commonlie called the kings euill,
and left that vertue as it were a portion of inheritance vnto his
successors the kings of this realme.
[Sidenote: A tale of a ring.] He was warned (as
hath beene reported) of his death certeine daies before he died, by a
ring that was brought him by certeine pilgrims comming from Hierusalem,
which ring he had secretlie giuen to
a poore man that asked his charitie in the name of God and saint Iohn
the [Sidenote: King Edward canonized for a saint. _Wil. Malms._ _Matt.
Westm._] Euangelist. But to conclude, such was the opinion conceiued of
his holinesse
of life, that shortlie after his decease, he was canonized
amongst the number of saints, and named Edward the Confessor.
Whilest he lay sicke of that sicknesse, whereof at length

he died, after he had remained for two daies
speechlesse, the third day after when he had laine for a time in a
slumber or soft sleepe, at
the time of his waking, he fetched a deepe sigh, and thus said; "Oh Lord
God almightie, if this be not a vaine fantasticall illusion, but a true
vision which