made meat to beasts.' And the emperor demanded: 'What art thou that art entered by night into my palace and durst say to me such words?' And he said to him: 'I am Nicholas bishop of Mirea.' And in like wise he appeared to the provost, and feared him, saying with a fearful voice: ' Thou that hast lost mind and wit, wherefore hast thou consented to the death of innocents? Go forth anon and do thy part to deliver them, or else thy body shall rot and be eaten with worms, and thy meiny shall be destroyed.' And he asked him: 'Who art thou that so menacest me?' And he answered: 'Know thou that I am Nicholas, the bishop of the city of Mirea.' Then that one awoke that other, and each told to other their dreams, and anon sent for them that were in prison, to whom the emperor said: 'What art magic or sorcery can ye, that ye have this night by illusion caused us to have such dreams?' And they said that they were none enchanters ne knew no witchcraft, and also that they had not deserved the sentence of death. Then the emperor said to them: 'Know ye well a man named Nicholas? 'And when they heard speak of the name of the holy saint, they held up their hands towards heaven, and prayed our Lord that by the merits of S. Nicholas they might be delivered of this present peril. And when the emperor had heard of them the life and miracles of S. Nicholas, he said to them: 'Go ye forth, and yield ye thankings to God, which hath delivered you by the prayer of this holy man, and worship ye him; and bear ye to him of your jewels, and pray ye him that he threaten me no more, but
