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ROESKILDE.
Chap. VIII.
lf2
him. So you now see why St. Luce became the patron
of the cathedral church of Roeskilde.
Within the walls of this stone church was interred
the body of King Svend, and Bishop William
himself slept near his friend and master. In process
of time the church was enlarged by a succeeding
bishop; and when the new building was wellnigh
finished, the tomb of Bishop William waS removed
to make room for the columns of the choir. Now
the prelate waxed wroth in his cerecloth at this
indignity put upon him, the founder of the sacred
edifice; but he remained quiet until night, when
he appeared arrayed in his robes before the sacristan,
who slept within the building. “The Bishop might
well have contented himself with the honour of
building the choir,” exclaimed he, “without disturbing my
bones, and removing me from the neighbourhood of
my beloved friend and companion King Svend. On
account of his piety I refrain to avenge myself on
him, but the church shall feel the effect of my wrath.”
So saying, he struck the walls with his crozier, and
down they fell about the ears of the alarmed sacristan,
who escaped, by a miracle no doubt, scatheless from
among the ruins. Sceptical people pretended the walls
were badly constructed, while others laid the blame on
the impiety of the architect, who had neglected to bury
a living lamb beneath the altar-stone, without which, as
all men in Zealand well knew, the building was sure to
sink.*
* The ghost of the animal is known as the “ Church Lamband
when a little child in the parish dies, the church lamb comes and dances
before the threshold of its mother’s house. This custom was peculiar
to Zealand. In Funen there exists only one church under the
protection of a “ Lambeach of the others has its “ Church Sow.”
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