The low marshy fens of Lincolnshire are particularly rich in monastic remains; but none prove so attractive to the antiquary as the ruins of the splendid abbey of Croyland. The pen of Ingulphus has made the affairs of that old monastery familiar to us; he has told us of its prospering and its misfortunes, and we may learn moreover from the pages of the monk how many wise and virtuous men, of Saxon and Norman days, were connected with this ancient fabric, receiving education there, or devoting their lives to piety within its walls. It was here that Guthlac, a Saxon warrior, disgusted with the world, sought solitude and repose; and for ten long years he led a hermit's life in that damp and marshy fen; in prayer and fasting, working miracles, and leading hearts to God, he spent his lonely days, all which was rewarded by a happy and peaceful death, and a sanctifying of his corporeal remains—for many wondrous miracles were wrought by those holy relics.

Croyland abbey was founded on the site of Guthlac's hermitage, by Ethelred, king of Mercia. Many years before, when he was striving for the crown of that kingdom, his cousin, Crobrid, who then enjoyed it, pursued him with unremitting enmity; and worn out, spiritless and exhausted, the royal wanderer sought refuge in the hermit's cell. The holy man comforted him with every assurance of success; and prophesied that he would soon obtain his rights without battle or without bloodshed; in return for these brighter prospects, and these kind wishes, Ethelred promised to found a monastery on that very spot in honor of God and St. Guthlac, which promise he faithfully fulfilled in the year 716, and "thus the wooden oratory was followed by a church of stone". Succeeding benefactors endowed, and succeeding abbots enriched it with their learning; and as years rolled by so it grew and flourished till it became great in wealth and powerful in its influence. But a gloomy day approached—the Danes destroyed that noble structure, devastating it by fire, and besmearing its holy altars with the blood of its hapless inmates. But zealous piety and monkish perseverance again restored it, with new and additional lustre; and besides adding to the splendor of the edifice, augmented its internal comforts by forming a library of considerable importance and value. We may judge how dearly they valued a Bibliotheca in those old days by the contribution of one benevolent book-lover—Egebric, the second abbot of that name, a man whom Ingulphus says was "far more devoted to sacred learning and to the perusal of books than skilled in secular matters," gladdened the hearts of the monks with a handsome library, consisting of forty original volumes in various branches of learning, and more than one hundred volumes of different tracts and histories, besides eighteen books for the use of the divine offices of the church. Honor to the monk who, in the land of dearth, could amass so bountiful a provision for the intellect to feed upon; and who encouraged our early literature—when feeble and trembling by the renewed attacks of rapacious invaders—by such fostering care.

In the eleventh century Croyland monastery was doomed to fresh misfortunes; a calamitous fire, accidental in its origin, laid the fine monastery in a heap of ruins, and scattered its library in blackened ashes to the winds (the fire occurred in 1091. Ingulphus relates with painful minuteness the progress of the work of destruction, and enumerates all the rich treasures which those angry flames consumed. I should have given a longer account of this event had not the Rev. Mr. Maitland already done so in his interesting work on the "Dark Ages"). A sad and irreparable loss was that to the Norman monks and to the students of Saxon history in modern times; for besides four hundred Saxon charters, deeds, etc., many of the highest historical interest and value beautifully illuminated in gold (aureis pictures) and written in Saxon characters, the whole of the choice and ample library was burnt, containing seven hundred volumes, besides the books of divine offices—the Antiphons and Grailes. I will not agonize the bibliophile by expatiating further on the sad work of destruction; but is he not somewhat surprised that in those bookless days seven hundred volumes should have been amassed together, besides a lot of church books and Saxon times?

Destroyed by the Danes. Peterborough

Ingulphus, who has so graphically described the destruction of Croyland monastery by the Danes in 870, has also given the particulars of their proceedings at the monastery of Peterborough, anciently called Medeshanstede, to which they immediately afterwards bent their steps. The monks, on hearing of their approach, took the precaution to guard the monastery by all the means in their power; but the quiet habits of monastic life were ill suited to inspire them with a warlike spirit, and after a feeble resistance, their cruel enemies (whom the monks speak of in no gentle terms, as the reader may imagine), soon effected an entrance; in the contest however Tulla, the brother of Hulda, the Danish leader, was slain by a stone thrown by one of the monks from the walls; this tended to kindle the fury of the besiegers, and so exasperated Hulda that it is said he killed with his own hand the whole of the poor defenseless monks, including their venerable abbot. The sacred edifice, completely in their hands, was soon laid waste; they broke down the altars, destroyed the monuments, and—much will the bibliophile deplore it—set fire to their immense library "ingens bibliotheca," maliciously tearing into pieces all their valuable and numerous charters, evidences, and writings.

The monastery, says the historian, continued burning for fifteen days. This seat of Saxon learning was left buried in its ruins for near one hundred years, when Athelwold, bishop of Winchester, in the year 966, restored it; but in the course of time, after a century of peaceful repose, fresh troubles sprang up. When Turoldus, a Norman, who had been appointed by William the Conqueror, was abbot, the Danes again paid them a visit of destruction. Hareward de Wake having joined a Danish force, proceeded to the town of Peterborough; fortunately the monks obtained some intelligence of their coming, which gave Turoldus time to repair to Stamford with his retinue. Taurus, the Sacrist, also managed to get away, carrying with him some of their treasures, and among them a text of the Gospels, which he conveyed to his superior at Stamford, and by that means preserved them. On the arrival of the Danes, the remaining monks were prepared to offer a somewhat stern resistance, but without effect; for setting fire to the buildings, the Danes entered through the flames and smoke, and pillaged the monastery of all its valuable contents; and that which they could not carry away, they destroyed: not even sparing the shrines of holy saints, or the miracle-working dust contained therein. The monks possessed a great cross of a most costly nature, which the invaders endeavored to take away, but could not on account of its weight and size; however, they broke off the gold crown from the head of the crucifix, and the footstool under its feet, which was made of pure gold and gems; they also carried away two golden biers, on which the monks carried the relics of their saints; with nine silver ones. There was certainly no monachal poverty here, for their wealth must have been profuse; besides the above treasures, they took twelve crosses, made of gold and silver; they also went up to the tower and took away a table of large size and value, which the monks had hid there, trusting it might escape their search; it was a splendid affair, made of gold and silver and precious stones, and was usually placed before the altar.

But besides all this, they robbed them of that which those poor monkish bibliophiles loved more than all. Their library, which they had collected with much care, and which contained many volumes, was carried away, "with many other precious things, the like of which were not to be found in all England." The abbot and those monks who fortunately escaped, afterwards returned, sad and sorrowful no doubt; but trusting in their Divine Master and patron Saint, they ultimately succeeded in making their old house habitable again, and well-fortified it with a strong wall, so that formerly it used to be remarked that this building looked more like a military establishment than a house of God.

Eminently productive was the monastery of Peterborough in Saxon bibliomaniacs. Its ancient annals prove how enthusiastically they collected and transcribed books. There were few indeed of its abbots who did not help in some way or other to increase their library. Kenulfus, who was abbot in the year 992, was a learned and eloquent student in divine and secular learning. He much improved his monastery, and greatly added to its literary treasures. But the benefactors of this place are too numerous to be minutely specified here. Hugo Candidus tells us, that Kinfernus, Archbishop of York, in 1056, gave them many valuable ornaments; and among them a fine copy of the Gospels, beautifully adorned with gold. This puts us in mind of Leofricus, a monk of the abbey, who was made abbot in the year 1057. He is said to have been related to the royal family, a circumstance which may account for his great riches. He was a sad pluralist, and held at one time no less than five monasteries, viz. Burton, Coventy, Croyland, Thorney, and Peterborough. He gave to the church of Peterborough many and valuable utensils of gold, silver, and precious stones, and a copy of the Gospels bound in gold.

Benedict and his books

But in all lights, whether regarded as an author or a bibliophile, great indeed was Benedict, formerly prior of Canterbury, and secretary to Thomas à Becket, of whom it is supposed he wrote a life. He was made abbot of Peterborough in the year 1177; he compiled a history of Henry II and king Richard I; he is spoken of in the highest terms of praise by Robert Swapham for his profound wisdom and great erudition in secular matters. There can be no doubt of his book-loving passion; for during the time he was abbot he transcribed himself, and ordered others to transcribe, a great number of books. Swapham has preserved a catalogue of them, which is so interesting that I have transcribed it entire. The list is entitled: de libris ejus.

 

· Plurimos quoque libros 3 scribere fecit, quorum nomina subnotantur.

· Vetus et Novum Testamentum in uno volumine.

· Vetus et Novum Testamentum in 4 volumina.

· Quinque libri Moysi glosati in uno volumine.

· Sexdecim Prophetæ glosati in uno volumine.

· Duodecim minores glosati Prophetæ in uno volumine.

· Liber Regum glosatus, paralipomenon glosatus. Job, Parabolæ Solomonis et Ecclesiastes, Cantica Canticorum glosati in uno volumine.

· Liber Ecclesiasticus et Liber Sapientiæ glosatus in uno volumine.

· Tobyas, Judith, Ester et Esdras, glosati in uno volumine.

· Liber Judicum glosatus.

· Scholastica hystoria.

· Psalterium glosatum.

· Item non glosatum.

· Item Psalterium.

· Quatuor Evangelia glosata in uno volumine.

· Item Mathæus et Marcus in uno volumine.

· Johannes et Lucas in uno volumine.

· Epistolæ Pauli glosatæ Apocalypsis et Epistolæ Canonicæ glosata in uno volumine.

· Sententiæ Petri Lombardi.

· Item Sententiæ ejusdem.

· Sermones Bernardi Abbatis Clarevallensis.

· Decreta Gratiani.

· Item Decreta Gratiani.

· Summa Ruffini de Decretis.

· Summa Johannes Fuguntini de Decretis.

· Decretales Epistolæ.

· Item Decretales Epistolæ.

· Item Decretales Epistolæ cum summa sic incipiente; Olim. Institutiones Justiniani cum autenticis et Infortiatio Digestum vetus.

· Tres partes cum digesto novo.

· Summa Placentini.

· Totum Corpus Juris in duobus voluminibus.

· Arismetica.

· Epistolæ Senecæ cum aliis Senecis in uno volumine.

· Martialis totus et Terentius in uno volumine.

· Morale dogma philosophorum.

· Gesta Alexandri et Liber Claudii et Claudiani.

· Summa Petri Heylæ de Grammatica, cum multis allis rebus in uno volumine.

· Gesta Regis Henrica secunda et Genealogiæ ejus.

· Interpretatione Hebraicorum nominum.

· Libellus de incarnatione verbi. Liber Bernardi Abbatis ad Eugenium papam.

· Missale.

· Vitæ Sancti Thomæ Martyris.

· Miracula ejusdem in quinque voluminibus.

· Liber Richardi Plutonis, qui dicitur, unde Malum Meditationes Anselmi.

· Practica Bartholomæi cum multis allis rebus in uno volumine.

· Ars Physicæ Pantegni, et practica ipsius in uno volumine.

· Almazor et Diascoridis de virtutibus herbarum.

· Liber Dinamidiorum et aliorum multorum in uno volumine.

· Libellus de Compoto.

 

Sixty volumes! perhaps containing near 100 separate works, and all added to the library in the time of one abbot; surely this is enough to controvert the opinion that the monks cared nothing for books or learning, and let not the Justin, Seneca, Martial, Terence, and Claudian escape the eye of the reader, those monkish bookworms did care a little, it would appear, for classical literature. But what will he say to the fine Bibles that crown and adorn the list? The two complete copies of the Vetus et Novum Testamentum, and the many glossed portions of the sacred writ, reflect honor upon the Christian monk, and placed him conspicuously among the bible students of the middle ages; proving too, that while he could esteem the wisdom of Seneca, and the vivacity of Terence, and feel a deep interest in the secular history of his own times, he did not lose sight of the fountain of all knowledge, but gave to the Bible his first care, and the most prominent place on his library shelf. Besides the books which the abbots collected for the monastery, they often possessed a private selection for their own use; there are instances in which these collections were of great extent; some of which we shall notice, but generally speaking they seldom numbered many volumes. Thus Robert of Lyndeshye, who was abbot of Peterborough in 1214, only possessed six volumes, which were such as he constantly required for reference or devotion; they consisted of a Numerale Majestri W. de Montibus cum alliis rebus; Tropi Majestri Petri cum diversis summis; Sententiæ Petri Pretanensis; Psalterium Glossatum; Aurora; Psalterium; Historiale. These were books continually in requisition, and which he possessed to save the trouble of constantly referring to the library. His successor, abbot Holdernesse, possessed also twelve volumes, and Walter of St. Edmundsbury Abbot, in 1233, had eighteen books, and among them a fine copy of the Bible for his private study. Robert of Sutton in 1262, also abbot of Peterborough, possessed a similar number, containing a copy of the Liber Naturalium Anstotelis; and his successor, Richard of London, among ten books which formed his private library, had the Consolation of Philosophy, a great favorite in the monasteries. In the year 1295 William of Wodeforde, collected twenty volumes, but less than that number constituted the library of Adam de Botheby, who was abbot of Peterborough many years afterwards, but among them I notice a Seneca, with thirty-six others contained in the same volume.

Abbot Godfrey, elected in the year 1299, was a great benefactor to the church, as we learn from Walter de Whytlesse, who gives a long list of donations made by him; among a vast quantity of valuables, "he gave to the church two Bibles, one of which was written in France," with about twenty other volumes. In the war which occurred during his abbacy, between John Baliol of Scotland and Edward I. of England, the Scots applied to the pope for his aid and council; his holiness deemed it his province to interfere, and directed letters to the king of England, asserting that the kingdom of Scotland appertained to the Church of Rome; in these letters he attempt to prove that it was opposed to justice, and, what he deemed of still greater importance, to the interests of the holy see, that the king of England should not have dominion over the kingdom of Scotland. The pope's messengers on this occasion were received by abbot Godfrey; Walter says that "He honorably received two cardinals at Peterborough with their retinues, who were sent by the pope to make peace between the English and the Scotch, and besides cheerfully entertaining them with food and drink, gave them divers presents; to one of the cardinals, named Gaucelin, he gave a certain psalter, beautifully written in letters of gold and purple, and marvellously illuminated, literis aureis et assuris scriptum et mirabiliter luminatum. I give this anecdote to show how splendidly the monks inscribed those volumes designed for the service of the holy church. I ought to have mentioned before that Wulstan, archbishop of York, gave many rare and precious ornaments to Peterborough, nor should I omit a curious little book anecdote related of him. He was born at Jceritune in Warwickshire, and was sent by his parents to Evesham, and afterwards to Peterborough, where he gave great indications of learning. His schoolmaster, who was an Anglo-Saxon named Erventus, was a clever calligraphist, and is said to have been highly proficient in the art of illuminating; he instructed Wulstan in these accomplishments, who wrote under his direction a sacramentary and a psalter, and illuminated the capitals with many pictures painted in gold and colors; they were executed with so much taste that his master presented the sacramentary to Canute, and the psalter to his queen".

Anecdotes of Collectors. Catalogue of the Library of the Abbey of Peterborough. Leicester Library, etc.

From these few facts relative to Peterborough Monastery, the reader will readily perceive how earnestly books were collected by the monks there, and will be somewhat prepared to learn that a catalogue of 1,680 volumes is preserved, which formerly constituted the library of that fraternity of bibliophiles. This fine old catalogue, printed by Gunton in his history of the abbey, covers fifty folio pages; it presents a faithful mirror of the literature of its day, and speaks well for the bibliomanical spirit of the monks of Peterborough. Volumes of patristic eloquence and pious erudition crowd the list; chronicles, poetry, and philosophical treatises are mingled with the titles of an abundant collection of classic works, full of the lore of the ancient world. Although the names may be similar to those which I have extracted from other catalogues, I must not omit to give a few of them; I find works of—

 

· Augustine.

· Ambrose.

· Albinus.

· Cassiodorus.

· Gregory.

· Cyprian.

· Seneca.

· Prosper.

· Tully.

· Bede.

· Basil.

· Lanfranc.

· Chrysostom.

· Jerome.

· Eusebius.

· Bœthius.

· Isidore.

· Origin.

· Dionysius.

· Cassian.

· Bernard.

· Anselm.

· Alcuinus.

· Honorius.

· Donatus.

· Macer.

· Persius.

· Virgil.

· Isagoge of Porphry.

· Aristotle.

· Entyci Grammatica.

· Socrates.

· Ovid.

· Priscian.

· Hippocrates.

· Horace.

· Sedulus.

· Theodulus.

· Sallust.

· Macrobius.

· Cato.

· Prudentius.

 

But although they possessed these fine authors and many others equally choice, I am not able to say much for the biblical department of their library, I should have anticipated a goodly store of the Holy Scriptures, but in these necessary volumes they were unusually poor. But I suspect the catalogue to have been compiled during the fifteenth century, and I fear too, that in that age the monks were growing careless of Scripture reading, or at least relaxing somewhat in the diligence of their studies; perhaps they devoured the attractive pages of Ovid, and loved to read his amorous tales more than became the holiness of their priestly calling. At any rate we may observe a marked change as regards the prevalence of the Bible in monastic libraries between the twelfth and the fifteenth century. It is true we often find them in those of the later age; but sometimes they are entirely without, and frequently only in detached portions. I may illustrate this by a reference to the library of the Abbey of St. Mary de la Pré at Leicester, which gloried in a collection of 600 volumes, of the choicest and almost venerable writers. It was written in the year 1477, by William Chartye, prior of the abbey, and an old defective and worn out Bible, Biblie defect et usit, with some detached portions, was all that fine library contained of the Sacred Writ. The bible defect et usit speaks volumes to the praise of the ancient monks of that house, for it was by their constant reading and study, that it had become so thumbed and worn; but it stamps with disgrace the affluent monks of the fifteenth century, who, while they could afford to buy, in the year 1470, some thirty volumes with a Seneca, Ovid, Claudian, Macrobius, Æsop, etc., among them, and who found time to transcribe twice as many more, thought not of restoring their bible tomes, or adding one book of the Holy Scripture to their crowded shelves. But alas! monachal piety was waxing cool and indifferent then, and it is rare to find the honorable title of an Amator Scripturarum affixed to a monkish name in the latter part of the fifteenth century.

 

Ingulph's chronicle of the abbey of Croyland

with the continuations by Peter of Blois and anonymous writers

 

Inasmuch as I, Ingulph, by the long-suffering of the Divine jtoodness, abbat of the monastery of Croyland, am bound, by virtue of the duties imposed upon me, to devote my attention o ecclesiastical matter ; it appears to me especially desirable to know who were the founders and benefactors of our monastery, at what period it was founded, and by whose alms food ind the other necessaries of life are here provided for us; and it the same time to learn what estates or possessions our respective benefactors have bestowed as alms upon us. These particulars I have endeavoured to learn, to the end that they may be set forth, as well for your information, as for that of our successors, in behalf of whom we are in duty bound to implore and entreat the mercy of God.

But, as it would be a tedious task to dwell at length upon each of these particulars, to the extent to which we hud matter afforded us in various quarters ; I shall make it my especial object to treat, though in a compendious form, of such things only as are likely to be deemed most necessary to be known by us who live at the present day, and to be brought to the notice of our successors. These particulars I shall therefore set forth, just as I have learned them, either from the trustworthy information of my brethren now residing here, (who, in their turn, have received the same from their predecessors), or from an attentive examination of ancient records and other documents which have been perused by me. In accordance with the prophetical language of the Psalmist, "I will utter sayings of old ; which we have heard and seen, and our fathers have told us"; and I will remind you of the words, "Let your children tell their children, and their children another generation"; thereby making good those other words of Scripture, "Whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning."

I have therefore determined, in the first place, to speak of the succession of certain kings of Mercia, wbo, in very remote times, were converted to the catholic faith. Although Penda, who was a heathen, and notorious for his impiety, usurped the kingly name and the sovereignty of the Mercians, and in his tyrannical frenzy martyred Oswald, the king and saint, he was the father of several sons who proved most devoted supporters of tlie Christian religion. The names of these were Peada, Wulpher, Ethelred, Merwald, and Mercelm; while Kynenburga and Kyneswitha, women celebrated for their sanctity and the purity of their lives, were his daughters. The unbridled desires, however, of this same Penda, after he had been long possessed by this heathenish frenzy, brought him to an end suitable to his deserts. For, by the grace of God, Oswy, the brother and successor of Saint Oswald, (of both of whom I here make mention, that the remembrance of them may be perpetuated, to the praise of Him who alone shall recompense each according to his works) cut him off, and thereby increased the number of souls in hell.

His eldest son, Peada, succeeded him as king. This Peada had the intention of founding the monastery at Medeshamsted, but being prevented by an untimely death, he bequeathed hisreligious zeal to his brother Wulpher, who succeeded him on the throne, and to Saxulph, a man of very considerable intiuence ; for it is a matter beyond doubt that this monastery was afterwards founded by them, in the year from the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 664. After reigning sixteen years, the said Wulpher departed this life, in the seventeenth year of his reign.

On his decease, his brother Ethelred succeeded him on the throne, and after a reign of thirty years became a monk in the monastery of Bardeney. He was succeeded on the throne by Kenred, the son of Wulpher, who, after a reign of four years, left his kingdom, and set out for Rome, where he departed this life at the threshold of the Apostles.

Kenred was succeeded by Celred, who was the son of Ethelred, the former king, and reigned eight years.

In these days lived the Clito Ethelbald, who was then in exile. He was the great nephew of Penda, through Alwy, his brother; and was a man remarkable for the gracelulness of his figure, his strength of body, and his indomitable courage. On the other hand, a thing greatly to be lamented, he was extremely proud in spirit, and immoderately fond of rashly courting danger. For this, as no doubt we may be allowed to believe, he had to submit to many hardships, and to endure a very long estrangement from the helm of state.

While the before-named king Celred was unrelentingly pursuing him from place to place, the strength of himself and his adherents being now quite exhausted amid the doubtful perils of warfare, he repaired, according to his usual wont, to Guthlac, the man of God, his confessor; to the end that, finding all human counsel fail, he might obtain that of God ; and with great humility disclosed to him those complaints which tribulation extorted from him. When the holy man of God had heard his words, in soothing language he consoled him, and, as though an interpreter of a Divine oracle, revealed to him in its proper order each event as the same should befall him ; promising him the rule over his own people, the conquest of his enemies, and the sovereignty over other nations. Nor were these things to come to pass through fighting, blows, or effusion of blood ; but he bade him have full confidence that through the Divine power and goodness he should obtain the same.

To this he added, by way of admonition, "Acknowledge the Lord thy God, and above all things fear Him : make it thy study also to venerate the Holy Church. Oftentimes lament the wickedness of thy misdeeds, and with constancy observe thy purpose of leading a good life ; and hope for the sure assistance of the Lord, if thou shalt first in His presence have offered up the merits of good works."

With these words and this doctrine Ethelbald was so much refreshed in spirit, that, without delay, in presence of his father Guthlac and the other persons then standing by, that which he conceived in his heart to do, he pronounced with his lips ; and declared that as soon as it should be his lot peacefully to arrive at the helm of state, he would found in that same spot a monastery of religious, to the praise of God, and in memory of his said father Guthlac. This promise in after-times he efficiently and devoutly fulfilled.

In the meanwhile, however, after some time had elapsed, the before-named Ethelbald, being still an exile, and lying concealed in secluded spots, heard tidings of the death of the holy man ; upon which, full of grief and sorrow, he hastened to the spot. After shedding many tears and praying at great length, while he was watching in an adjoining cottage, the holy man appeared to him, and consoled him in these words : "Have confidence, my son, and be not sorrowful ; for, through my intercession, the Lord hath heard thy prayers, and, before the present year shall have run its course, thou shalt gain the sceptre of the kingdom, and shalt in happiness enjoy a lengthened course of days". To this, he made answer, "My lord, what shall be a sign to me, that these things shall thus come to pass?". " Tomorrow, before the third hour of the day," the holy man replied, "to those who are dwelling in this isle of Croyland, food shall unexpectedly be given".

Thenceforth, bearing in mind everything that had thus been said to him, with undoubting hope he believed that the same should come to pass. Nor did his faith deceive him ; for he found that all things were carried into effect in accordance with the prophecy of the man of God.

Guthlac, the servant of God, being thus dead and buried, upon his intercession being invoked, signs, displayed in miracles and wondrous healings, began oftentimes to gleam forth ; which (as from your archives I have been enabled to collect) are set forth clearly and in a most perspicuous style in the book which treats of his Life and Miracles. When king Ethelbald found that his blessed consoler was conspicuous for his miraculous powers, full of gladness and devotion, he sought the place of liis burial, and, having now gained the sovereignty, with the greatest care fulfilled the promises which he had formcrly made to the man of God, while he was still alive.

 

CHARTER OF KING ETHELBALD

Immediately sending for a certain monk of Evesham, Kenulph by name, a person famed for his religious life, he gave, granted, and for ever confirmed to him and those there serving God, the isle of Croyland, to the end that he might found a convent there. He also fully absolved the whole of the island from all rents and secular dues, and secured the same in presence of the bishops and nobles of his kingdom by his charter; which was to the following efgect :

"Ethelbald, by Divine Providence, king of the Mercians, to all followers of the catholic faith, health everlasting. To the King of all kings and the Creator of all mankind, I do with exceeding joy return thanks, for that He hath patiently borne with me, though polluted with all sins, even unto the present time, and hath in His mercy drawn me away therefrom, and hath in some measure elevated me to the acknowledgment of His name. Wherefore it is good for me to adhere unto God, and in Him to place my hope. But how shall I repay God for all that He hath bestowed upon me, in order that I may do that which is pleasing unto Him in the sight of living men ? Inasmuch as without Him we possess nothing, are nothing, and are able to do notliing. For He, the author of our salvation, and the bestower of all things, with great readiness receiveth the very least of our gifts, that so He may have a cause for repaying us with joys mighty and infinite. Those who follow His doctrines with the works of mercy, He thus consoles, saying, 'Inasmucli as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Hence it is, that, having been in- structed by the counsels, and prevailed upon by the prayers, of the devout anchorite Guthlac, my dearly beloved confessor, I have joyfully formed the following determination. As a perpetual testimony to be preserved thereof, I do by this public deed give, grant, and deliver unto Almighty God, the blessed Virgin, and Saint Bartholomew, out of my demesnes, for the purpose of founding a monastery of Black Monks, serving God in conformity with the rules of Saint Benedict, the whole island of Croyland, the same to be set apart for the site of an abbey, and severally to be held ; being surrounded by four rivers, that is to say, by the river called Shepishee, on the east ; by the river called Nene, on the west ; by the river called Southee, on the south ; and by the river called Asendyk, on the uurth, where runs the Common Drain between Spalding and the said island ; the same being also four leagues in length and three leagues in breadth : together with the marsh lands adjoining thereto, which lie towards the west, and opposite to the said island, on either side of the river Welland ; one part of which, called Goggislound, on the north side of the river Welland, is two leagues in length, extending from the bridge of Croyland, by which the island is entered, as far as Aspath, and is one league in breadth, extending from the river Welhand, which lies to the south thereof, as far as Apenholt on the north, near the banks of the said river, the same being throughout the whole length thereof of equal breadth ; and the other part of the said marsh, on the south side of the river Welland, is two leagues in length, from the bridge of Croyland as far as Southlake, near the banks and opposite to Aspath, and two leagues in breadth from the river Welland as far as Pynset, near the river Nene, on the south side of the said marsh : together with several piscary in the rivers Welland and Nene, as far as the before mentioned limits of either of the said marshes, and in all the waters that encompass the said island. And, for the said purpose, I have appointed a certain monk of Evesham, Kenulph by name, a man of approved piety, to be abbat thereof, to the end that he may there collect monks of the said order, of approved life, in subjection to himself; and have granted to them from my treasury, for the purpose of building tlie said monastery, in the first year, three hundred pounds of lawful money, and, during the ten years next ensuing, one hundred pounds in each year ; and have given them permission to build a vill there, as also to enclose as much of the said two marshes l}ing on the west, for the use of themselves and their people, as to the said monks shall seem fit. I do therefore will, that the aforesaid monks shall have these my gifts, with all their appurtenances, free of and acquitted from all secular burdens, as a perpetual alms from me, together with all the profits and advantages that may arise or be derived within the aforesaid limits, as well above ground as beneath, together with common of pasture for all kinds of animals, at all seasons, for themselves as well as their men or tenants with them there dwelling, on either side of the river Welland, that is to say, on the one side, as far as the lands of Medeshamsted, and on the other, as far as the buildings of Spalding ; together with all liberties and free customs, as fully as in times past the royal power has bestowed the same upon any church in my kingdom. And I do further strictly command, that if any person shall presume to devise any impediment in contravention of this exercise of my authority, that so they may not peacefully possess whatever has been given and granted by me, the same person shall pay one hundred pounds of lawful money into my treasury, and shall, in addition thereto, make due satisfaction to the said monks for their losses and expenses thereby incurred. I do also entreat all my posterity, who shall succeed me on the throne, so to keep inviolate this my censure and condemnation, as they shall wish to receive the due reward of justice, and to escape the punishment of avarice. And may he who shall uphold and defend these alms-deeds of mine be eternally rewarded, by being chosen as one of the elect of God. This my charter was confirmed in the year from the Incarnation of Christ, 716, as is attested beneath by the following trustworthy witnesses, with the sign of the Holy Cross. + I, Ethelbald, king of the Mercians, have, of my gratuitous will and consent, coufirmed the same. + I, Brithwald, arclibishop of Canterbury, have ratified the same. + I, Wynfrid, bishop of the Mercians, have approved of the same. + I, Ingwald, bishop of London, have fully consented hereto. + I, Aldwin, bishop of Lichfield, have sanctioned the same. + I, Tobias, bishop of Rochester, have applauded the same. +I, Ethelred, abbat of Bardeney, have greatly desired the same. + I, Egwald, abbat of Medeshamsted, have earnestly requested the same. + I, Egga, earl of Lincoln, have advised the same. + I, Leuric, earl of Leicester, have given my assent hereto. + I, Saxulph, son of earl Suxulph, have supported the same. + Ingulph, priest and an humble servant, being summoned, have heard the same. + I, Ethelbald, who unworthy as I am, still, by the Divine forbearance, guide the helm of the kingdom of the Mercians, do, with the greatest faithfulness, in all humility return unto Christ my Creator ; of whom in the Psalm it is written by the prophet, "His tender mercies are over all His works" ; to His goodness I do wholly submit myself, and to the prayers and spiritual services of holy mother Church do commend myself."

Upon this occasion it was, that a certain poet wrote the following lines :

" This abbey, Christ, I, Ethelbald, the king

Of Anglia, by God's grace, have for Thee built.

The isle of Croyland, of the king's demesne,

That same, Oh Jesus ! do I grant to Thee—

The whole, great God, with its encircling streams

On every side, I do to Thee present.

Three hundred pounds the building to promote

This year, I hereby pledge myself to give—

And, in the following ten, one hundred pounds

Each year, I will unto the builders pay.

Kenulph, the monk of Evesham profess'd,

Shall be first abbat ; him I do appoint.

The gifts, too, of my nobles I confirm,

Should they grant lands or tenements to God.

Should any native Kenulph e'er molest,

His chattels all I hereby confiscate,

And, till he shall due reparation make

Unto the monks, he shall in prison lie.

The English nobles and ray prelates all

Before the Lord are witnesses hereof.

Guthlac, confessor, saint, and anchorite

Here lies ; before him I these words do speak—

May that most holy priest for ever pray

For us, before whose tomb this grant I make."—

 

Croyland consisting of fenny lands, (as, in fact, its name indicates, for it means "crude" and " muddy" land), it was not able to support a foundation of stone ; wherefore, the king ordered huge piles of oak and beech in countless numbers to be driven into the ground, and solid earth to be brought by water in boats a distance of nine miles, from a place called Upland, (which means the " higlier ground,") and to be thrown into the marsh. And thus, whereas the holy Guthlac had been previously content with an oratory made of wood, he both began and finished a church, founded a convent, enriched the place with decorations and lands, and other valuable possessions, and loved the spot with the greatest tenderness all the days of his life. And never, at any time, since its first foundation by the hands of the said king, has the monastery of Croyland been in want of religious to dwell therein, even unto the present day.

There were also in those times, some persons in the said island who led there the lives of recluses, and who, maintaining a holy friendship with the man of God, had resorted to him as long as he Lived, just as sick men do to a physician ; and thus, by his teaching and example, obtaining healing supplies for their souls.

Of these, one had been recently converted to the catholic faith, Cissa by name, a man sprung from a noble family, and, in former times, of great influence in worldly matters ; but now, having left all things behind, he had become a follower of his Lord Jesus Christ. Another was Bettelm, a most attached servant of the father before named. A third was Egbert, who was admitted by him to a more strict confidence than any of the rest. A fourth was Tatwin, who had formerly been his guide and steersman to the said island. All these had separate dwellings to the end of their lives, with the sanction of the before-named abbat, Kenulph, in different cottages, situate not far from the oratoiy of the holy father, Guthlac.

Saint Pega, however, the sister of our holy father Guthlac before named, shortly after the close of the first year from his death, leaving there, in the hands of abbat Kenulph, the scourge of Saint Bartholomew and the Psalter of her brother, together with some other relics, returned by boat to her cell, which lay to the west, at a distance of four leagues from the oratory of her said brother. Having lived here two years and three months in tearful lamentations, she travelled, suffering greatly from cold and hunger, to the threshold of the Apostles Peter and Paul. On entering the city of Rome, after suddenly causing all the bells to ring for the space of one hour, she proclaimed to the citizens the merits of her Sanctity : and there, devoting herself entirely to the service of God, at last fulfilled the number of her days in the fear of the Lord. Her holy body being there committed to the earth among many other holy relics belonging to the Roman city, her spirit, quitting the toils of this present existence, ascended to eternal rest.

King Ethelbald, before-named, his monastery of Croyland being now erected and completely finished, gave his utmost attention both to promoting the good of the holy church everywhere throughout his kingdom, and to bestowing dignities and privileges upon other convents of religious men and women as well. Accordingly, for the purpose of strengthening the liberties of the church throughout his kingdom, in the third year of his reign, we read that he promulgated the following statute :—

"Whereas it frequently happens, in accordance with the uncertain vicissitudes of temporal affairs, that those institutions which have been founded upon the testimony and by the counsel of many and faithful persons, are, through the contumacy of still more, and by means of machinations and fraudulent pretences, without any consideration of what is reasonable, and to the peril of their own souls, brought to nothing; unless the establishment thereof has, on the authority of letters and by the testimony of hand-writing, been consigned to memory in all time to come. Wherefore, I, Ethelbald, king of the Mer-cians, in consideration of my love of the heavenly land, and for the redemption of my own soul, am sensible that I ought to form a determination, by good works, to make it free from all the bonds of sin. And moreover, inasmuch as the Almighty, in the merciful exercise of His clemency, without any preceding merits of mine, hath bestowed upon me the sceptre of this kingdom, I do willingly make repayment to Him out of that which He hath so given me. Tor the better carrying out this purpose, I do, while I am still alive, grant the following privilege ; that all monasteries and churches in my kingdom shall be free and exempt from all public taxes, works, and burdens, except only the building of castles and bridges, from which no person can ever be made exempt. And further, the servants of God are to have full liberty in the enjoyment of the produce of their woods, the fruit of their fields, and the taking of fish; nor are they to make ofterings of any presents whatever to the king, or to the nobles, unless the same be voluntary : but they are to be at liberty to serve the Lord in peaceful contemplation throughout the whole of my realm to the end of time."

The before-named king Ethelbald, after a reign of forty-one years, having rashly engaged in battle at Seggeswold with the tyrant Bernred, was there slain, in accordance with a prophecy of the holy father, Guthlac. The tyrant Bernred, however, had not long to glory in his excessive tyranny, for he perished in the same year. King Ethelbald was buried at Ripadium, or Ripedune, which was at that time a very celebrated monastery, and, with the consent of the nobles of the whole of Mercia, left the kingdom of the Mercians to Offa, grandson to his uncle by the father's side. Offa was the son of Dignfert, the son of Enulph, the son of Osmod, the son of Eoppa, the son of Wibba, father of king Penda.

CHARTER OF KING OFFA.

This Offa reigned forty years, and founded a monastery of Black Monks at the city of Verulam, in honour of God and of Saint Alban, the protomartyr of the English. Showing himself everywhere most duteous to the saints of God, and ever ready to listen to the prayers of religious men, at the entreaty of Patrick, the lord abbat of Croyland, who had succeeded Kenulph, the first abbat thereof, he by his charter confirmed the grant of his monastery of Croyland in the followingwords :—

"Offa, king of the Mercians, to all lovers of Christ throughout the whole kingdom of Mercia, health everlasting. Always keeping in remembrance that the days of man are short, and that, in this fewness of our days, whatsoever a man shall sow that same he shall reap, it is my desire, by the holy acts of my present life, to purchase for myself and to reap an everhisting reward in that to come. I do therefore take into my hands Patrick, abbat of Croyland, and the monks there serving God, and all their servants, as also the place itself, and I do command, that, in like manner as my brethren the monks of Saint Alban's, they shall be free and discharged from all secular burdens, and shall everywhere throughout my kingdom be held acquitted from the payment of all taxes : and I do confirm to them their aforesaid monastery, together with all their possessions and all other things whatsoover, which my kinsman, the late renowned king Ethelbald, the founder of the said monastery, bestowed upon the same, and whatsoever his nobles or mine have since bestowed or shall bestow hereafter, as also whatsoever the faithful in Christ shall in all times hereafter bestow upon the said monastery of Croyland. This present deed, in the year from the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 793, I, Offa, king of the Mercians, have granted and confirmed. + I, Aethelard, archbishop of Canterbury, have consented hereto. + I, Aegbald, bishop of Winchester, have subscribed hereto. + I, Aldred, bishop of Dorchester, have set my sign hereto. + I, Aldulph, bishop of Lichfield, have approved hereof. + I, Benna, abbat of Medeshamsted, have confirmed the same. + I, Ceolburga, abbess of Berdea, have sanctioned the same. + I, earl Heabricht, at the command of my lord the king, have signed the same. + I, Tilhere, the priest of my lord the king, Offa, have, at his mandate, written this deed with my own hand."

In the year following, the said Offa, king of the Mercians, departed this life on the fourth day before the calends of August, and his son Egbert succeeded to the glories of his rule ; but, after having reigned one hundred and forty-one days, he was seized with a malady, and departed this life. He was succeeded by Kenulph, a mighty man, and happy in his holy offspring ; in peace, piety, and justice, for a period of twenty-six years, he most gloriously guided the helm of state.

After Kenulph, the first abbat thereof, the before-named Patrick succeeded to the pastoral office of the abbey of Croyland. He was succeeded, in the time of king Kenulph, by Siward, the third abbat of the said monastery. He was related by blood to king Kenulph, and, being a man of great piety,and his confessor, and admitted by him to the strictest intimacy, by the royal munificence, in the twelfth year of his reign, he obtained a charter to the following effect : "

CHARTER OF KING KENULPH.

Kenulph, by the mercy of God, king of the Mercians, to all the Mid-Angles throughout the whole of Mercia, who confess the Christian faith, perfect peace and health everlasting. Know, all and each of you, that the Lord hath, by most signal signs and by remarkable prodigies, wrought wondrous new and innumerable miracles, by his Saint, the most blessed confessor of Christ, Guthlac, whose body rests in the monastery of Croyland ; as I and my queen have on our late pilgrimage with our own eyes beheld ; and hath thereby rendered him more refulgent and conspicuous in the eyes of the whole world. Wherefore, at the entreaty of that most religious man, our spiritual father and counsellor, Siward, lord abbat of the said monastery, the venerable father Wulfred, the lord arch-bishop of Canterbury, who accompanied us on our pilgrimage, counselling and advising us thereto, I have taken under my protection the said monastery of Croyland, together with the whole of the island adjoining thereto, according as the same is by boundaries set forth in the charter of the late king Ethelbald its founder, as also the monks of the said monastery, and the lay brethren and all the servants there-of. Moreover, all pilgrims going thither for the purposes of devotion, and returning with the mark of Saint Guthlac upon their cowls or hoods, I do will to be free and absolved for all future time from all tribute and tolls, wheresoever tliroughout the whole kingdom of Mercia they shall come. And further, as to the alms-gift which Thorold, the sheriff of Lincoln, has given to the said monks in Bokenhale ; as also the alms-gift which Geolph, the son of Malte, has given to them in Halington ; as also the alms-gift which Fregest, the most valiant knight, my former tutor, has given to them in Langtoft : as also the alms-gift which Algar, who is still my knight, has given to them in Baston and Eepingale; I do give, grant, and confirm the same as a perpetual possession unto God and Saint Guthlac, and to the aforesaid monastery and the monks serving God therein. In the year from the Incarnation of Christ, 806, I, Kenulph, king of the Mercians, have signed this charter with the sign of the holy cross. + I, Wulfred, archbishop of Canterbury, have advised the same to be done. + I, Kinebert, bishop of Winchester, have set my sign hereto. + I, Wonwona, bishop of Leicester, have consented hereto. + I, Celred, abbat of Medeshamsted, own brother of Siward, the lord abbat, have zealously promoted the same. + I, Cuthred, king of Kent, at the command of my lord the king Kenulph, have given my consent hereto. + I, Ceolwulph, brother of my lord the king Kenulph, have approved of the same. + I, Algar, the thane, have been present hereat. + I, Sigga, the priest, by the command of my lord the king Kenulph, have presented this charter, written with my own hand, in presence of my venerable fathers and lords aforesaid, to the venerable Siward, lord abbat of Croyland, before-named."

In the year of our Lord Christ, 819, Kenulph, the renowned king of the Mercians, after having reigned for a period of twenty-six years, to the great grief of all, ended his worldly career, after many good works, which in his lifetime he had done with equal sanctity and zeal. His body was consigned to the tomb at Wynchelcombe, a monastery of Black Monks, which he had built from the foundation ; while his blessed soul sought the realms of heaven.

He left his son Saint Kenelm, a boy then seven years old, heir to the throne. Through the treachery of his sister Quendreda (with so great ambition did this most wicked woman aspire to the sceptre of the kingdom), within a few months after the death of his father, he was slain in a certain wood, whither he had, toward the close of the day, been taken to walk. Here this most innocent boy was most cruelly martyred by Ascebert, his tutor, and only through a divine miracle his body was at last discovered ; a ray, containing an immense body of light, having shone throughout a whole night upon the body of the martyr. Upon this it was taken to Wynchelcombe, and there solemnly buried in the tomb at the side of his father.

After his martyrdom, his uncle Ceolwulph, the brother of king Kenulph, succeeded to the kingdom of the Mercians, and reigned one year ; being in the second year of his reign expelled by one Bernulph, a foolish man, but remarkable for his wealth and influence, though in no way connected with the royal line.

In the third year of his reign Bernulph was conquered in battle and put to flight by Egbert, king of Wessex : after which, striving to make amends for his slothfulness, he led an army against the East-Angles, who by entreaties and money had aroused the West-Saxons against him ; but he was shortly after defeated by them in a pitched battle, and slain.

He was succeeded on the throne by Ludecan, his kinsman, who, after a reign of two years, while making preparations to avenge the death of Bernulph, having led an army against the East-Angles, was surprised by them, and slain.

Thus were the tyrants in a short time removed who had assumed the purple, against all right, and, while they oppressed the kingdom with their violent measures, had wasted the whole of its military resources, once very great, and ever attended with victory ; upon which, with the consent of all, Wichtlaf, duke of the Wiccii, (whose son, Wymund, had married Alfleda, the daughter of Ceolwulph, the former king, and brother of the most noble king Kenulph), was made king, and reigned thirteen years, subject, however, to the authority of Egbert, king of Wessex, to whom he was a tributary. For immediately after he was made king, and before he was able to collect an army, he was pursued by the generals of Egbert throughout the whole of Mercia ; on which, by the care of Siward, the lord abbat, he was, without the privity of any other person, concealed for the space of four months in the cell of the most holy virgin, Etheldritha. (She was the daughter of Offa, the former king of the Mercians, and wife of the holy martyr Ethelbert, the former king of East Anglia, in whose name the present episcopal see of Hereford is dedicated ; but at this period, in her love for Christ her spouse, was living as a recluse in one part of the cell situate on the south side of the church of Croyland, over against the great altar there.) Here he lay concealed in safety until such time as, through the mediation of the before-named venerable abbat Siward, he had made peace with the said king of the West Saxons, and, alter promising to pay an annual tribute, was permitted to return unmolested to his kingdom. In return for this service, at a later period, he granted a charter to the said monastery of Croyland, which contained very valuable privileges, and was to the following effect :

CHAKTER OF KING WICHTLAF

Wichtlaf, by the Divine dispensation, king of the Mercians, to all the worshippers of Christ who inhabit the whole of Mercia, health everlasting. For me to preach and publish the mighty works of God would be a thing far from becoming; but of a truth it seemeth honourable and glorious to declare the same; wherefore I will openly confess unto the Lord, who dwelleth on high, and who looketh down upon the lowly in heaven and upon the earth ; forasmuch as, though for a time He was angered against me, His wrath hath been turned aside, and He hath consoled me, and though in His anger He humbled me, a sinner, to the earth, and dragged me down even to the dust. He hath again in His mercy raised the poor out of the dust, and hath lilted up the needy from the dung-hill, that so I may sit among princes, and inherit a throne of glory. Wherefore, on the day of good things, that I may not be unmindful of the evil ones, I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me; not, indeed, of Rahab, the haidot, but of Etheldritha, the most holy virgin, my kinswoman, who, in her love for her spouse, the Lamb without blemish, is a recluse at Croyland, and who, in the times of my tribulation, most carefully concealed me in her cell from before the face of the enemy and persecutor for the space of four months. I will also make mention of Babylon ; not of the tower of confusion, but of the most holy church of Croyland, which spot is a tower which reacheth unto heaven, and which with watchings and prayers, with psalms and meditations, with discipline and afflictions, with tears and sobs, with alms-deeds and innumerable other acts of devoutness and piety, in behalf of a sinful generation, doth extreme violence to the kingdom of heaven day and night. Wherefore, forasmuch as the venerable father Siward, the lord abbat of Croyland, has protected me in his tabernacle on the evil day, and has concealed and saved me from the face of him that afflicted me ; in addition to the privileges granted thereto by the kings of Mercia, my predecessors, who have nobly graced the aforesaid monastery with various liberties and gifts, I do also of my poverty make offering unto the great altar of the aforesaid monastery, of a chalice of gold, a cross of gold, and the [holy] table of my own chapel, covered with plates of gold ; and do make profession that I will always, to the best of my ability, prove myself a defender of the said church. I do also command my servants tliroughout the whole of Mercia appointed, that they shall in all things obey and serve the abbat of Croyland, the monks, and all the brethren of the said most holy monastery,whenever they shall come unto the cities and the royal castles upon any business whatever, in such manner as they would obey my son Wymund or myself ; and that they shall receive nothing from them for the expenses which they or their people may there incur; but that my treasurer shall take upon himself all the said expenses, and pay the same in full out of the public treasury, when an account thereof shall have been received under the signature or mark of the said monks, and my said servants shall have reckoned up the same.

"I do also will and command, that whoever in my kingdom shall be found guilty of any offence, and shall be amenable to the laws for the same, if the said person shall flee to the said monastery, and shall, in presence of the abbat of the said monastery for the time being, invoke the favour of the most holy confessor, Guthlac, who in the body resteth there, and shall swear everlasting fealty and service to him ; he shall be safe and secure under the protection of the abbat and his monks, in whatever service they shall employ him, throughout the whole island of Croyland ; and shall enjoy my protection and full impunity, as though he were in an asylum or in my own chamber; and no one of my servants shall presume to pursue him any further, nor yet in any way to molest him, under pain of losing his right foot, which penalty shall be inflicted upon all persons in my kingdom who shall in any way attempt to violate this my privilege. And further, it shall be lawful for all such fugitives to sail upon and to fish in the five rivers which surround the said island, and to labour in any other way in which they may be directed by their masters, without challenge or molestation on the part of my servants or of any other person whatsoever. But if any such person shall be captured beyond the said rivers, or beyond the limits of the said monastery, he shall, without any favour, suffer the penalty which he had previously incurred, whether the same be death or loss of limb, if my servants, or any other adversaries of such person shall be able, on the oaths of six trustworthy men, to prove that such person has been found beyond the said limits. The said boundaries of the monastery of Croyland by its five rivers aforesaid, I have caused to be described and marked out for the guidance of my own servants, as also of its abbat and monks, in relation to their fugitives aforesaid. Now the said rivers are called by the following names : Schepishee, which lies on the east, and on the western bank of which stands an ancient cross of wood, which is ten feet distant from the river, and is situate at equal distances between two corners, of the s aid island, of which Aswyktoft is one, being the corner and boundary of the said island on the north-east, and Tedwarthar is the other, being the corner and boundary of the said island on the east. The second river bounds the said island on the south, and is called Southce. On its bank there stands a stone cross, which is distant from Namanlandhime five perches, and six perches from Southee, where the river Southee enters the river Nene, which runs to the bridge of Croyland. In this direction the limits for the fugitives run into the marshes on the west, and take a south-westerly direction through Fynset, and then, as far as Folwardstakyng, a north-westerly direction. Thence they take a turn to the north, to the spot where the river Southlake enters the river Welland, just opposite a stone cross, which stands on the northern bank of the said river Welland, being distant five feet from the said river, which runs thence to the bridge of Croyland aforesaid. The limits for the fugitives, however, take a direction from the said cross through the northern marshes straight to Oggot, which is the corner of the boundaries to the west; they then run in an easterly direction through Wodelade, as far as Apynholt, where they take the course of the river Welland, (which is the fourth river, and bounds the island on that side, in the same manner as the third river, the Nene, bounds it on the other side of the bridge of Croyland,) as far as the Drain of Asendyk, which falls into the Welland, where a broken cross of stone stands on the southern bank of the river Asendyk, from the waters of which it is five perches distant. The said river Asendyk is the fifth river, and separates the said island from the place of that name, running in a northerly direction as far as Aswyktoft. If any fugitive shall be found beyond the said five rivers and the boundaries beforenamed, then, even as Shimei, when he went forth from Jerusalem, he shall be amenable to the public laws, and shall suffer the punishment which he had deserved. And if, within the boundaries afore-said, and the outer banks of the aforesaid rivers, any fugitive shall commit any homicide, theft, or other offence, he shall be arrested by the officers of the said monastery for his misdeeds in the said island, the protection of which he has so forfeited, and shall be there judged and condemned to the abbat's prison. And, to the end that this my privilege may endure more firmly and more surely to the times of our descendants, I have obtained confirmation thereof by my lord Egbert, the king of Wessex, and Ethelwulph, his son.

"I do also present to the vestry of the said monastery, for the service of the most holy altar, the purple robe which I wore on the occasion of my coronation, for the purpose of making a cope or chasuble of the same, and likewise, as an ornament for the most holy church, my veil of gold embroidery, upon which is worked the destruction of Troy, to be hung upon my anniversary, if it shall so please them, on the walls thereof.

"I do also present to the refectory of the said monastery, for the use of him who shall daily preside in the said refectory, my gilded cup, which is chased all over the outside with savage vinedressers fighting with dragons, and which I have been in the habit of calling my crucibolum, because the sign of the cross is stamped in the inside of the cup, across the same, the four corners thereof projecting and being impressed with a similar design ; as also the horn used at my table, that the elders of the monastery may drink therefrom on the festivals of the Saints, and may, in their benedictions, sometimes remember the soul of Wichtlaf the giver thereof.

"I do also confirm unto the said monastery all their lands, tenements, and possessions, and their cattle, and all other the gifts which my predecessors, the kings of the Mercians, and their nobles, or other faithful Christians, as well as Jews, have given, sold, or pledged to the said monks, or have in any way delivered to them for a lasting possession; and, in especial, the gift of Thorold, formerly sheriff of Lincoln, at Eukenhale, that is to say, two carucates and a half of land, as also twenty-six acres of meadow land, and fifty acres of woodland, [and seventy acres], at Brusche. Also, the gift of Geolph, the son of Malte, at Halington, that is to say, four bovates of land at Juland, and ten bovates of land rented to tenants, and thirty-three acres of meadow land at Geruthorp. Also, the gift of Fregist, the knight, that is to say, the whole of the vill of Langtoft, and in the fields of the said vill six carucates of arable land, the same being in length fifteen quarentenes, and nine quarentenes in breadth ; as also one hundred acres of meadow land, and a wood and marsh two leagues in length, and two leagues in breadth ; besides the church of the said vill, and forty acres of the same fee in the fields of Depyng. Also, the gift of Algar, the knight, [the son of Northlang], that is to say, Northland in Baston, consisting of four caru-cates of arable land, containing eight quarentenes in length, and eight quarentenes in breadth, as also forty-five acres of meadow land, and a marsh containing sixteen quarentenes in length, and eight quarentenes in breadth ; likewise the church of the said vill, and one mill, and one half of another mill, with several piscary in the river from the mill situate towards the west, as far as the end of the said marsh, towards the east. Likewise, the gift of the same Algar, the knight, at Repyngale, that is to say, three carucates of arable land and forty acres of meadow land. Likewise, the gift of Norman, the former sheriff, at Sutton, near Bosworth, that is to say, two carucates of land, and one windmill. Likewise, the gift of the same Norman, at Stapilton ; that is to say, the manor, and two carucates of land. Likewise, the gift of the same person at Badby, that is to say, four hides of land, together with the appurtenances. Likewise, the gift of the lord, earl Algar, at Holbecke, and at Cappelade, that is to say, four carucates, and six bovates and eighteen acres of meadow land, and a marsh. [Likewise, the gift of the same person in his vill of Spaldelyng, that is to say, three carucates of land.] Likewise, the gift of the same person, in his vill of Pyncebek, that is to say, one carucate of land. Likewise, the gift of the same person, in his vill of Algarkirk, that is to say, eleven bovates of land ; and in the parish of Sutterton, three carucates of land, and one bovate and twenty-six acres of meadow land, and four salt-pits, together with the church of the said vill. Likewise, the gift of the knight Oswy, at Drayton, tliat is to say, eight hides of land, and four virgates, and the church of the said vill. Likewise, the gift of Asketel, my cook, at Glapthorn, that is to say, three virgates of land. Likewise, the gift of Wulget, my [former] butler, at Peiekyrke, that is to say, three virgates of land. Likewise, the gift of [Edulph] my courier, one bovate of land at Laythorp. Likewise, the gift of Siward, the sheriff, three bovates of land, one dwelling house, and three cottages at Kirkeby. Likewise, at Staunden, the gift of the countess Sigburga, being live hides of land. Likewise, the gift at Adyngton, of Wulnoth, my sewer, that is to say, two hides of land, and several piscary, together with the advowson of the church of the said vill ; as also, in the other Adyngton, one virgate of land, the gift of the same person. The said lands and tenements I do give, grant, and confirm unto the aforesaid monasteiy of Croyland, and the monks there serving God, as a peaceable and permanent possession, to hold of me and each of my heirs, kings of the Mercians, my successors, as a pure and perpetual alms-gift, freely, quietly, and exempted from all secular burdens, exactions, and taxes whatever, under what name soever the same may be imposed. And if any enemy, at the instigation of the devil, shall at any time hereafter at- tempt to lay claim to any of the lands or tenements aforesaid, which have been so long and under so many kings held in peace, and confirmed by their authority, I do by this present deed, profess and promise that I and my successors, kings ot the Mercians, will be defenders of the said monastery henceforth in all time to come.

"This my charter I have confirmed with the sign of the holy cross, in favour of the lord abbat Siward, my father, and the most holy virgin, Etheldritha, a recluse there for the love of Christ, my kinswoman in the fiesh, but (what is still more) my most dearly beloved sister in Christ ; and which I had formerly promised in presence of my lords, Egbert, king of Wessex, and Ethelwulph, his son, before the bishops and nobles of highest rank throughout all England, in the city of London, on the occasion when we had all met together for the purpose of devising measures against the Danish pirates, who were then repeatedly harassing the coasts of England. + I, Ceolnoth, archbishop of Canterbury, have advised the same. + I, Embald, archbishop of York, have signed the same. + I, Osmond, bishop of London, have approved of the same. + I, Helmstan, bishop of Winchester, have given my assent hereto. + I, Herewin, bishop of Lichfield, have consented hereto. + I, Cedda, bishop of Hereford, have sanctioned the same. + I, Adelstan, bishop of Sherbum, have promoted the same. + I, Humbricht, bishop of Elmham, have given my approbation hereto, + I, Wilred, bishop of Dimwich, have assented hereto. + I, Herfred, bishop of Worcester, have countenanced the same. + I, Godwin, bishop of Rochester, have favoured the same. + I, Hedda, abbat of Medeshamsted, have ratified the same.+ I, Ambert, abbat of Repton, have assisted hereat. + I, Kynewin, abbat of Bardeney, have been present hereat. + I, Egbert, king of Wessex, have granted the same. + I, Ethelwulph, son of the king of Wessex, have allowed of the same. + I, duke Wulhard, have taken part herein. + I, duke Athelm, have heard the same. + I, duke Herenbricht, have agreed hereto. + I, Swithun, priest of king Egbert, have attended hereat. + I, Bosa, the secretary of king Wichtlaf, have with ray hand written this deed. + I, Wichtlaf, by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, king of the Mercians, do, for the honour of holy Mother Church, and for the promotion of Divine worship, in the year from the Incarnation of the same our Saviour, 833, upon the festival of Saint Augustin, the confessor, teacher, and Apostle of our nation, make this slight ofiering, and I would offer still more, and would even promise my body after my death to so holy a monastery, were it not that before my burial I had promised the same to [the monastery of] Repton. But still, my spirit shall remain with you always."

The said king Wichtlaf persevered with the greatest constancy, even unto his death, in the affection lie had conceived for the monastery of Croyland, so much so, that at least once in each year of his life, he visited the shrine of Saint Guthlac with great contrition, and offered there some jewel of great value and costliness. When he first heard of the death of the most holy virgin Etheldritha, he was struck with such violent grief, that for a long time he took to his bed, and all his attendants were fearful that he was in danger of his life. At length, however, by the favour of the grace of God, he recovered in some degree, and going to her tomb, (she had been buried at the head of the holy man Tatwin, the former guide and steersman of the holy father Guthlac to the said island), there suffered a kind of trance ; on recovering from which he shed as many tears over the tomb, as if by a sudden misfortune he had just lost his wife and his son, or his whole family: until Siward, the lord [abbat], whom he always most affectionately revered as his father, rebuking him somewhat severely, led him away, with reluctance, and offering considerable resistance, from the tomb to his chamber. Not long after this, his son Wymund dying, after a continued attack of dysentery, he buried him on the right hand side of that virgin. His wife Celficeda, also, dying soon after, within the space of one year, he had her buried with royal obsequies, and amid inextinguishable tears, on the left hand side of the same virgin. He himself departed this life in the thirteenth year of his reign, and, in conformity with his former vow, was buried in the monastery of Repton.

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Ingulph's chronicle of the abbey of Croyland (PDF)