and travelling all night through the woods, reached his former residence early in the morning. His arrival was just preceded by that of the younger monks, who had ventured to leave their concealment, and were beginning to extinguish the flames. The sight of Turgar revived their hopes; his faithful narrative realized their fears. The fate of Theodore and their brethren was heard with the deepest anguish they forgot the object of their labours; and seated amid the smoking ruins, abandoned themselves to the lamentations of sorrow and despair. From this inactivity they were at length awakened by the necessity of their situation, To supply the place of Theodore, Godric was chosen, a monk distinguished among his brethren for his superior wisdom and piety. By his direction they made it their first care to drag from the ruins the half burnt bodies of their brethren, and to commit them with decent solemnity to the grave. Scarcely had they completed this pious ceremony, when they were requested by the hermits of Ancarig to perform the same office for the monks of Medeshamstede. With painful research they collected their bodies; dug before the entrance of the church a deep and spacious grave; deposited in the centre the mangled corpse of the abbot; and placed around him the remains of his eighty-three companions. To perpetuate their memory, Godric built over the tomb a pyramid of stone, on which was rudely engraved the history of this bloody catastrophe ; and opposite to the pyramid he raised an image of Christ nailed to the cross. The public road lay between them; and the pious abbot hoped, that the presence of the crucifix would prevent travellers from profaning so sacred a spot, and the figures on the monument induce them to

offer up a prayer for those, whose ashes reposed beneath it. As for himself, these victims of Danish barbarity were never absent from his recollection. Annually, as long as he lived, on the anniversary of their massacre, he visited the cemetery, pitched his tent over the grave, and spent two days in celebrating masses, and performing the other devotions, to which catholic charity has attributed the power of benefiting the souls of the departed (29).

From Medeshamstede, the Danes directed their march. to the isle of Ely, in which was situated a great and opulent monastery, originally founded by Edilthryda, the pious queen of Northumbria. The elevated rank, and edifying sanctity of the abbesses, by whom it was first governed, had raised it to a high pre-eminence among the southern convents; and its cloisters were still crowded with the most noble and most virtuous of the Saxon ladies. It might have been expected, that to these female recluses, the fate of Croyland and Medeshamstede would have furnished a useful lesson. Some, indeed, listened to the suggestions of prudence, and shunned by flight the approach of the barbarians. But the greater part refused to abandon their convent: and their determination was confirmed by the afflux of the neighbouring inhabitants, who conveyed their families and effects to Ely, as to a secure asylum. The extensive lake by which the monastery was surrounded, presented a formidable obstacle to the approach of an enemy: and those who were not encouraged by the sanctity, trusted

(29) . . . omni anno quamdiu vixit semel visitans, supra petram suum tentorium figens pro animabus ibidem sepultorum missas per biduum devotione continua celebravit. Ing. p. 24.

at least to the natural strength of the place. Perhaps if their efforts had been directed by an intelligent leader, or if their foe had been less determined, they would have had no reason to condemn their confidence and their example might at a later period have stimulated the band of patriots, who in the same place bade defiance, during several years, to all the power of the Norman conqueror (30). But the Danes, with the prospect of accumulated plunder before their eyes, were not to be retarded by the appearance of difficulties: in spite of every opposition they transported their army across the water, and effected a landing on the island. From this instant, submission or resistance was equally fruitless! the massacres of Croyland and Medeshamstede were re, newed; the abbey was burnt; and the nuns, after suffering indignities worse than death, ultimately perished by the sword or in the flames (31).

From these instances we may learn to estimate the sufferings of the monastic and clerical orders during the long period of Danish devastation. Each kingdom in succession became the theatre of their fury. The subjection of East Anglia was secured by the captivity of its monarch; and his unprovoked murder shewed, that to the barbarians the blood of kings was as grateful a spectacle as that of monks. Burrhed of Mercia exhibited at first a vigour worthy of his exalted station: but his spirit sunk with repeated defeats; he abandoned the crown which he was unable to retain; and the victors placed it on the head of the traitor Ceolwolph (32). This shadow

(30) Ang. Sac. vol. i. p. 609.

(31) Ing. p. 24.

(32) Ann. p. 874,

of a king was only the sport and victim of their caprice. Within twelve months he was conducted from the throne to the prison, restored to the regal power, and then deprived of the sceptre and life. The Thames alone separated the barbarians from the more opulent provinces on the southern coast: they passed that river, subdued the feeble kingdoms of Kent and Sussex, and compelled the west Saxons, after an obstinate struggle, to shrink from the contest. Free from apprehension, they abandoned themselves during several months to the licentiousness of victory: and indulged without remorse their passion for bloodshed and plunder. But security relaxed their vigilance; and Alfred, who had secreted himself among the morasses of Somersetshire, started, at a favourable moment, from his concealment, and surprised his enemies in their camp (33). This success was the prelude to more important victories: the king improved every advantage; and the invaders were compelled either to retire from the island, or to acknowledge themselves the vassals of the conqueror. Many years, however, elapsed before tranquillity was restored. Hordes of barbarians successively landed on the coast, and solicited by promises and threats the wavering fidelity of their countrymen. But their insolence was severely chastised by Alfred and his successors, and at last all the tribes of the Danes, as well as of the Saxons, submitted to the crown of Wessex.

At this period the English church offered to the friends of religion a melancholy and alarming spectacle. 1, The laity had resumed the ferocity of their heathen forefathers: 2, the clergy were dissolute and illiterate :

3, and the monastic order was in a manner annihilated.

1. The numerous massacres of the war had considerably thinned the population of the country; and to supply the deficiency, Alfred had adopted an obvious but inadequate expedient, in the naturalization of several thousand Danes. In every country the strangers were intermixed with the natives: in East-Anglia and Northumbria, their numbers greatly exceeded the descendants of the ancient inhabitants. If the sacred rite of baptism had intitled the barbarians to the appellation and privileges of christians, their manners and notions still reduced them to a level with their pagan brethren. The superstition of Scandinavia was in many places restored. The charms and incantations of magic amused the credulity of the people; the worship of Odin was publicly countenanced, or clandestinely preserved: and oaths and punishments were often employed in vain to extort from these nominal converts an external respect for the institutions of christianity. The morals of many among the Anglo-Saxons were scarcely superior to those of the naturalized Danes. During the long and eventful contest, the administration of justice had been frequently suspended habits of predatory warfare had introduced a spirit of insubordination: and impunity had strengthened the impulse of the passions. To the slow and tranquil profits of industry, were preferred the violent but sudden acquisitions of rapine: the roads were infested with robbers; and the numbers and audacity of the banditti compelled the more peaceful inhabitants to associate for the protection of their lives, families, and property. The dictates of natural equity, the laws of the gospel, and the regulat ons of ecclesiastical discipline