Pity now fair Constance left alone among her foes!  She has no help nor succour save the Lord God in Whom she trusts, and Who will never fail those that put their faith in Him.  The queen-mother had devised a fate worse than death for her hated daughter-in-law.  Alone, without company, she was placed on a ship which was cut loose to sail the sea.  Yet in men’s hearts there is some pity, and not without food or raiment did Constance set forth.  Truly the arm of the Lord is mighty to save.  He that guarded Daniel among the lions guarded Constance in her open boat.  Far and wide, for three years and more, she drifted; but amid storm and calm, cold and heat, she was kept safe; neither did her food nor drink fail her.  The arms of God were around her.  He, Who fed five thousand in the wilderness, preserved this lone woman for His own honour.

At last, guided by His hand, the bark drifted northwards through the vast ocean till it came to the shores of Northumbria.  There the governor of the district found her with her ship and hearkened to her prayer for help, though she was a stranger, and he could scarce understand the Latin she spoke.  In his home she had rest, and bore herself so gently that the governor and his wife, Hermengild, loved her as their own daughter.  Never did she cease to preach Christ’s gospel, and such was her holy life that many believed through her.

Yet even here a cruel fate pursued her.  There was a young knight who hated Constance because she would not love him.  One night he crept through the window of the room where she slept with Hermengild, and, approaching the bed, killed Hermengild, and left the blood-stained knife lying by Constance’s side.  What grief was there when day came!  Constance, whom all loved, stood accused of murder and must be tried before Alla, the king of the land.  Foremost among her accusers was this false knight, but when all spoke in her favour save he alone, Alla bethought him to test his witness.  The Bible was brought and the knight asked to swear that what he said was true.  He took the book and with his hand on it swore in the name of God that Constance had done this thing.  She, all pale, as one who sees death before his eyes, prayed that at her need help might be granted to her from on high.

Then indeed the hand of God smote down the perjurer.  With a cry he fell on his face, and a voice from heaven rang out, “Thou hast slandered the guiltless and yet I hold my peace.”  Thereat wonder fell on all men, and Alla, moved to wrath, condemned the traitor knight, but Constance appeared so fair and holy in his eyes that after no long time he wedded her.  Lo, now!  Constance is become a queen, and seems to all men’s sight at last favoured of Heaven.

But even so Providence had yet more trials in store for her.  She who had been so constant and so true must bear more sorrow for the glory of God.

No long time after the wedding Alla went forth to fight the Scots and left his queen in charge of the governor who had found her at first.  Once more a queen-mother plotted her doom, Donegild, King Alla’s mother.  Constance bore the king a son, a lovely boy, whom they named Mauricius.  This seemed the very crown of bliss, yet through this joy Heaven meant to try Constance still further.