> "One story is told that Oswald [the king of North Umbria, 7th c. A.D.] was preparing to sit down to feast and he was informed that there were a large number of people outside looking for alms. Moved by pity, Oswald has the food taken to the people outside and orders even the dinnerware to be given away as well. So moved by this, as Bede tells us [in his "Ecclesiastical History of England"], Aidan [a bishop who was with Oswald at the time] raised the hand of the king and proclaimed, 'May this arm never wither!' As you might expect, the uncorrupted arm of the king would be a favorite relic in North Umbria. It would move around until, like so many relics, they were destroyed during the Reformation."
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