cross of light, more bright and resplendent than the body of the
pillar. Upon which so strange a spectacle, the people of the city
gathered apace together upon the sands, to wonder; and so after put
themselves into a number of small boats, to go nearer to this
marvellous sight. But when the boats were come within (about) sixty
yards of the pillar, they found themselves all bound, and could go no
further; yet so as they might move to go about, but might not approach
nearer: so as the boats stood all as in a theatre, beholding this
light as an heavenly sign. It so fell out, that there was in one of
the boats one of the wise men, of the society of Salomon's House;
which house, or college (my good brethren) is the very eye of this
kingdom; who having awhile attentively and devoutly viewed and
contemplated this pillar and cross, fell down upon his face; and then
raised himself upon his knees, and lifting up his hands to heaven,
made his prayers in this manner.

"`LORD God of heaven and earth, thou hast vouchsafed of thy grace to
those of our order, to know thy works of Creation, and the secrets of
them: and to discern (as far as appertaineth to the generations of
men) between divine miracles, works of nature, works of art, and
impostures and illusions of all sorts. I do here acknowledge and
testify before this people, that the thing which we now see before our
eyes is thy Finger and a true Miracle. And forasmuch as we learn in
our books that thou never workest miracles, but to divine and
excellent end, (for the laws of nature are thine own laws, and thou
exceedest them not but upon great cause,) we most humbly beseech thee
to prosper this great sign, and to give us the interpretation and use
of it in mercy; which thou dost in some part secretly promise by
sending it unto us.'