The history of imbanking and drayning of divers fenns and marshes, both in forein parts and in this kingdom, and of the improvements thereby extracted from records, manuscripts, and other authentick testimonies / by William Dugdale.

CAP. XXXIX.

FRom Crouland I come to Ely, an Island situate in the main body of this Fen; concerning which I have met with sundry memorable passages, that do notably set forth the vastnesse and depth of the waters, which did environ it many years since; whereof I shall give instance as they hapned in order of time.

That this Island was made choice of for a place of voluntary retirement, by those who out of great piety, forsaking the vanities of this transi••ory world, be∣••ook themselves wholly to the service of God, in devout prayers, frequent watch∣ings, and strict abstinence, I need not go about to manifest in particulars; it being so clear a truth, evidenced unto us from all antiquity, that such persons did sever themselves in the like kind from the world, to the end that they might with the lesse disturbance apply themselves to those religious and holy duties; S. Hie∣rom, in his Epistle to Rusticus, telling us, Praecipui inventores & cultores Monacha∣tus, fuerunt filii Prophetarum in veteri te∣••••amento, qui aedificabant casulas propè fluen∣ta Jordanis, & turbis & urbibus derelictis, polenta & herbis agrestibus victitabant. That the principal beginners and lovers of a Mo∣nastique life, were the Sons of the Prophets in the old Testament, who left the towns and conversation with people, to the end that they might feed upon coarse bread and herbs of the field; and built themselves Cotages neer the stream of the River of Jordan.

And though this was a special reason why these pious Votaries first se••led in this Island, as a place of so great retirment and solitude; yet was there another, viz. the conveniency of Fish, that being the chief part of their food: for after the Rule of S. Benedict became to be taken notice of in the Christian world, which forbad the eating of flesh to any of those Monks, it had so high an esteem, that not only all the Monaste∣ries then in being in this Realm, did with great reverence entertain it; but such as were erected for divers ages afterwards, were of no other order.

As to the erection of this, I shall on∣ly give a brief touch, with the occasion; in regard it was in so great veneration whilst it stood, by reason of the sanctity of S. Audrey the first foundresse thereof; to whose shrine not a few resorted, for the many miracles there wrought, as was then; not only with much con∣fidence affirmed, but undoubtedly be∣lieved.

w 1.1 Etheldreda (vulgarly called Audrey) daughter to Anna King of the East-An∣gles, being through the perswasion of her Father, marryed to Tombert a Prince of the Southern Gyrvii (or Fen-men) had this Isle of Ely given her in dower by her said husband: unto which•• after his death, she retired a pure Virgin, not∣withstanding she was his wife almost three years: And affecting the place, both in respect of the difficulty of accesse to it; as also, that it was in the nature of a Wildernesse, severed from the plea∣sures of the world, she there setled her self, taking to her company certain per∣sons, with whom she had contracted friendship for Religions sake: But so it hapned, that about five years from the beginning of such her retirement, Egfrid K. of Northumberland, being highly enflamed with her beauty, through the power of her friends•• obtained her for his wife. Howbeit, after she had been wedded about xij years, she resolved no longer to de••er the doing of that which she had set her heart upon; and without any free leave of her said husband, as a

Queen and a Virgin, she repaired to the Monastery in Coldingham in Scot∣land, where Ebba her husbands Aunt was then Abbesse, and there was veiled a Nunn by Bishop Wilfrid, where for the space of one whole year, she learnd, that the yoke of Christ was pleasant, and his bur∣den easie. But then K. Egfrid, desiring to have her again as his wife, endeavou∣red to take her out of the said Religious house; and to that end forthwith went thither: whereof the Abbesse having notice, presently advised her to hasten thence, and to make no stay till she came to her own habitation at Ely. Where∣upon she departed, much lamenting and sorrowing; and accompanied with two holy Virgins, viz•• Selbe••na and Selbera, ascended a great Hill neer Colburthe∣sheved; at which time it pleased God to send such a rain, that King Egfrid, who pursued her, could not have accesse thereto in any place for the wat••rs: where they continued, without either meat or drink, in prayer, for the sp••ce of seven days; till the King, without hope of getting to her, returned with much amazement, and went to Yorke: After which he could never endure S. Wilfride, but long harbouring re••enge towards him, did at length deprive him of his Bishoprick.

But these Nuns still continued on the top of that Rock; where, almost faint∣ing for lack of water, Ebba the venera∣ble Abbesse above-mentioned, advised Audrey, that she should pray devoutly unto God, that he who supplyed his people in the Wildernesse, from the Rock, would vouchsafe water unto them in this their great necessity. VVhereupon she pouring out her pray∣ers unto God with much fervency, there immediately gushed out a clear Spring, which not only satisfied their thirst at that time, but ever since hath been of such virtue, that infirm people drinking of it, have thereby received health. To which Miracles my Author addeth one more; viz. that the footsteps of this holy Virgin are still to be seen on the side of this Hill, both as she ascended and de∣scended from it, in as perfect a man∣ner as if she had trodden upon soft wax.

After this, Saint Audrey (for so mine Author now calls her) taking with her the two maids before-mentioned, went thence; and passing the River Humbre, landed at Wintringham in Lincoln∣shire: about ten furlongs from which Town, they came to a little village, call'd Alfham, almost compas••ed about with the Fen; where continuing a few dayes, she erected a Church unto the Lord. Thence taking her journey, being much wearied with travel, she lay down in a shady place to sleep; and when she a∣waked, found her staff, which was, when she stuck it down at her head, old and long withered, not only clothed with a new green bark, but budded with ver∣dant branches and leaves: which being by her l••ft there, grew to be the largest Ash tree in all those parts; and the place ever afterwards called Etheldredes stowe, id est, the resting of S. Etheldrede, wh••re a Church afterwards was also built in honour of our blessed Lady, and Jesus Christ.

But at length S. Audrey came to her own estate at Ely, with her two maids; and was there received with great ho∣nour, Huna a Priest shortly following her: where desiring to erect a Monaste∣ry, many persons strove to have their Children instructed by her: amongst which Werburge (the daugher of Wolphe∣rus then King of Merica, and of Queen Ermenilde his wife) was one: and in that place, by the help of King Athulf her brother, she built a religious House of Nuns, in the year of Christ DCLxxiij. and giving the whole Island unto it, sent her dear friend S. Wilfride, to Rome, for confirmation thereof; who obtained the same from Pope Benedict, with great immunities and privileges.

And having accomplisht this founda∣tion, being also made Abbes••e there, it is observed, that she never after did wear any linnen, but contented her self with woollen Garments; and very seldome, except on the great Festivals, did eat oft∣ner than once in one day. And moreover, if by some infirmity she was not hin∣dred, from the, time of Mattens untill break of the day, she alwayes continued at her Prayers in the Church. But about seven years after that she had taken up∣on her the degree of Abbesse, she depar∣ted this life, on the ix ^th Kalends of Iuly, in the year of Christ DCLxxix. and was buryed in a wooden Coffin in the midst

of her fellow Nuns, as she her self had appointed; that Holy man Huna the Priest before-mentioned, celebrating her Funeral; who soon after her death, re∣tiring to a little Island, not far from this of Ely, founded a Church there, and lived in great solitude, the same being thereupon called Huneye.

To this holy woman, in the place of Abbesse succeeded that devout Virgin Sexburge, her sister; who sixteen years after, took up her body; which, with the linnen, wherein it was wrapt, being found incorrupt, and cu••ing many dis∣eased people with the touch thereof, having washed the body again, and put new vestments upon it, she brought it in∣to the Church of our Lady (so built by her as hath been said) and there placed it in a new Coffin of white Marble, found at Grantcester, and brought thi∣ther: it being not a little observable, that in the place where her body was first buried, there streamed out a foun∣tain of pure water, upon that transla∣tion thereof; which still remaineth, saith my Author.

To these famous Virgins succeeded others, under whose strict Rule and holy discipline this Monastery flourished with great honour, till the year DCCCLxx. (id est CXCvij. years) that the Danes (then Pagans) led by Inguar and Ubba, made an invasion into this Realm, and destroyed it: for such was the depth of the waters, which, compassing this Isle, extended to the Sea, that they had an easie accesse unto it by shipping, as the M••. History thereof,x 1.2 speaking of that their incursion, in these words, impor∣teth — Hujus siquidem communis tri∣bulationis & miseriae nullatenus expers fuit Eliensis Insula; praesertim cum palu∣des & aquae, quibus circumcingitur in mare porrigantur, sit ab ipsis aestuantis aequoris fluctibus quorumlibet navium ad eandem In∣sulam non difficilis accessus. In hanc vecta est aliquando gens eadem, cum multis navibus &c. At which time, such was the sa∣vagenesse of that barbarous people, that having turn'd out the Nunns, and ran∣sackt the Church of all the Ornaments and wealth then in it, they burnt it to the ground: and one of them, more in∣human than the rest, supposing some trea∣sure to have been hidden in the Tomb of S. Audrey, made an hole into it with a Pick-Ax; whereupon, through the divine vengeance, his eyes presently fell out of his head, so that he dyed. VVith which judgement the rest were so terri∣fied, that they durst not presume to med∣dle there any more: But such was their cruelty, that they also fell upon the Cler∣gy, killing some, and imprisoning many others; insomuch as this place lay whol∣ly desolate, untill that after some years, eight of them coming thither a∣gain, repaired the Porches of that ruin∣ed Church, and celebrated divine ser∣vice therein.

Howbeit to these Priests there succee∣ded those, who lived not only irregular∣ly, but irreligiously: Nay the superior himself, out of a wicked curiosity, desi∣ring to be satisfied, whether the body of that Holy Virgin S. Audrey was corrup∣ted or not; said, that if it were not, God would have wrought many miracles thereby. VVhereupon one of his fellows told him that divers miracles had been there done, by virtue thereof; making instance of these several cures; viz. of a woman that was troubled with a Palsie for six years; a young man dumb for se∣ven years; a Maid blind from her birth, after ten years restored to sight; a young∣man that had a withered had; a Maid∣servant, unto whose hand, a tool where∣of she made use to get up Roots out of a Garden on the Lords day, stuck so fast, for the space of five years, that it could not be pulled out. But notwithstanding these instances, the said superior, calling to him four young men of his society, thrust into that hole of the Coffin (which the Danes had formerly made) divers branches of Fennell, that lay upon the floor: and desiring to see whether her Vestments were perished, took a Candle, and fastning it to a stick, put it into the said hole; which falling from the stick, continued flaming till it was totally consumed yet burnt not any part of them.

Neither did they yet cease, but sharp∣ning the stick at the one end, thrust it into the said Vestments, and drew them to the hole: and being imboldned because they had no hurt, one of them took a knife, and cut off a piece; others laying hold on the remainder, endea∣voured withall their streng••h to pull it out, but could not; it being dravvn back

again with so much force as if two strong men had tugg'd at it. But see the event of this sacrilegious practice; a great plague seizeth by and by, upon the family of that Priest, whereof his wife and Children, with all his Off-spring dy∣ed, and carryed him likewise, within a few dayes, to Hell (as saith my Author) because he had not by great penance purged himself from this wicked deed. And of his associates therein, two of them hapned to be slain; the third, af∣ter he was made Priest, lost his senses at every Wane of the Moon; and the fourth, being stricken with a Palsie, con∣tinned so, untill his parents, with great sorrow, brought him to the Tomb of S. Audrey; and there watching one night, and promising upon the Sacrament to make satisfaction, he became restored by the intercession of that blessed Vir∣gin.

Neither was this Church possest by any other than these wicked Priests, un∣till the tenth year of the reign of King Edgar. For it hapning in that King's time, that one Sigewold a Bishop (a Greek by nation) and Thurslane a Dane, taking notice of the eminency of this place; and becomming both of them suters for it, more out of covetuousness than devotion; one Wlstan de Delham, Secretary to the King, informed him of the fame and sanctity thereof; and told him, that such persons were not worthy of it: and moreover declared unto him the life and miracles of the glorious Vir∣gin S. Audrey, in the presence and hear∣ing of Ethelwold Bishop of Winchester, then the Kings Confessor; who taking notice thereof with great delight, forth∣with purchased it of the said King, with such immunities and privileges, as that it should for ever be free from any Re∣gal tribute or exaction. And having so done, did put out those secular Priests; and repairing the Church, which had been destroyed by the Danes, and con∣tinued desolate for an hundred years, in∣troduced Monks thereinto, constituting Brythnod (Provost of the Church of Winchester the first Abbot. All which was performed in the year after the In∣carnation of our Saviour DCCCCLx. and from the time that S. Audrey first built it CCXCvii. receiving into it those Priests which were content to undergo a Monastique life; and augmenting it's possessions with divers other lands pur∣chased by himself; as also divers rich ornaments. And obtained some of the said Kings grant. And moreover bought of the said King, not only the whole Isle; scil. xx. hides of land which he had therein; but the dignity and soke of seaven Hundreds and an half; viz. two within the Isle, and five and a half in the territory of the East-Angles; ••ive at Meldeburne; three and an half at Hernyngforde; and twelve at North wolde: for which he gave in exchange Lx. hides in Hertyngham, given unto him by K. Athelstan: bestowing other things for which he paid an hundred pounds; as also a Cross of gold, beau∣tified with merveilous work, and filled with Reliques; which the said King, in confirmation of his said grants and privileges to this place, had offered here, upon the Altar of S. Audrey, with an admirable book. So that the whole, that this devout Bishop gave to God and S. Audrey within this Isle, Marshes, and Fen••s, was no less than Lx. hides.

And to these concessions did the same K. Edgar adde the grant of xl. hides of land, lying in the town of Hat∣feilde: and moreover gave to the said Bishop the mannour of Sudburne; up∣on condition, that he would translate the Rule of S. Benedict out of Latine in∣to English: which he did, and offered it to S. Audrey. And lastly bestowed on the said Church his garment of fine pur∣ple, made a••ter the fashion of a coat of mail, and wrought throughout with pure gold, whereof a Miter was made. And out of his own Chapel several little Chests and Scroules, with the Reliques of divers Saints.

Notes

• w 1.1

  ••x hist. MS. Elien. Eccl. in bib 1. Cotton. sub ••f••••gie Neronis A. 15. Et Monast. Anglic. p. 89. col. ••.
• x 1.2

  In bibl. Cot∣••on. sub es••igie Dom••iam A. 15. f. 7. b.