Monasticon anglicanum, or, The history of the ancient abbies, and other monasteries, hospitals, cathedral and collegiate churches, in England and Wales with divers French, Irish, and Scotch monasteries formerly relating to England / collected, and published in Latin, by Sir William Dugdale, Knight ..., in three volums; and now epitomized in English, page by page; with sculptures of the several religious habits.

ELY Abby, in Cambridgeshire.

ANno Dom. 627. The blessed Augustine, built a Church at Ely in a place called Cradindene, a mile distant from the present City, it was consecrated to the honour of the blessed Virgin, and stored with Ministers for God's service, but these were all expell'd by Penda King of Mercia, and the place turn'd into a Desert.

Afterwards in the year 673. Ethelreda the Virgin, built a Monastery in a more eminent place in Ely, for both Sexes, of which she her self be∣came [ 87] the first Abbess. In the year 870. the Church of Ely was again [ 90] destroy'd and burnt by the Pagans.

In the year 970. Ethelwaldus Bishop of Winchester bought this Isle of [ 87] King Edgar, rebuilt the Church and placed Monks in it, under the Rule of [ 92] an Abbot; and in this state it remained till the year 1108. (9 H. 1.) [ 95] at which time Pope Paschal at the request of that King, changed the Abby [ 88] into a Bishoprick.

The foresaid Ethelred was Daughter of Anna King of the East-Angels, and was buried in Ely together with several other holy Women of her Relations and Blood.

[ 90] The History of this Church says, that an Apparition appear'd to one of the Monks, and foretold to him the destruction of the Monastery, be∣cause not one of both Sexes in this House, but himself, did use to pass the night in religious Exercises, but in Vanity and Sin. After which the [ 91] Danes destroyed it to the Ground, An. Dom. 870.

[ 92] Benefactors to this House were the abovesaid Ethelwald Bishop of Win∣chester, who bought the whole Isle of Ely, and gave it and other Lands and [ 93] rich Moveables to this Church, King Edgar and King Edward the Elder, granted and confirmed to it many Lands and Priviledges, approved and ratified by Pope Victor.

[Valued at 1084 l. 6 s. 9 d. ob. per Annum.]