cient annalists and general historians ascribe the invasion of the Danes, who about this period began to make descents on the coasts of this island, and who at length deprived Edmund of his kingdom and his life, to the following circumstances.

Lodbrog, king of Denmark, was very fond of hawking; and one day, while enjoying that sport, his favourite bird happened to fall into the sea. The monarch, anxious to save the hawk, leaped into the first boat that presented itself, and put off to his assistance. A sudden storm arose, and carried him, after encountering imminent dangers, up the mouth of the Yare, as far as Reedham in Norfolk. The inhabitants of the country, having discovered the stranger, conducted him to Edmund, who then kept his court at Caistor, only ten miles distant. The king received him with great kindness and respect, entertained him in a manner suitable to his rank, and directed Bern, his own falconer, to accompany his guest, whenever he chose to take his favourite diversion. The skill and success of the royal visitor in hawking, excited Edmund's admiration, and inflamed Bern with such jealousy, that one day, when they were sporting together in the woods, he seized the opportunity, murdered him and buried the body. Lodbrog's absence for three days occasioned considerable alarm. His favorite greyhound was observed to come home for food, fawning upon the king and his courtiers whenever he was compelled to visit them, and to retire as soon as he had satisfied his wants. On the fourth day he was followed by some of them, whom he conducted to the murdered body of his master, Edmund instituted an inquiry into the affair, when, from the ferocity of the dog to Bern, and other circumstances, the murderer was discovered, and condemned by the king to be turned adrift alone, without oars or sails, in the same boat which brought Lodbrog to East Anglia. This boat was wafted in safety to the Danish coast, where it was known to be the same in which Lodbrog left the country. Bern was seized, carried to Inguar and Hubba, the sons of the king, and questioned by them concerning their father. The villain replied, that Lodbrog had been cast upon the shore of England,

E 3

England, and there put to death by Edmund's command. Inflamed with rage, the sons resolved on revenge, and speedily raised an army of 20,000 men to invade his dominions.*

This armament, which is said to have sailed from Denmark in 865, is reported by some historians to have been driven by contrary winds to Berwick-upon-Tweed. After committing the greatest cruelties in this part of the country, the Danes again embarked, but seem each succeeding spring to have renewed their descents. In 869 these ruthless barbarians proceeded southward from Yorkshire, in a torrent which destroyed every vestige of civilization. In 870 they appear to have reached East Anglia, where Inguar gained possession of Thetford, king Edmund's capital. The latter collected his forces and marched to oppose the invaders. The hos tile armies met near Thetford, and after an engagement maintained for a whole day, with the most determined courage and great slaughter on both sides, victory remained undecided. The pious king, to use the language of the monkish writers, was so extremely affected by the death of so many martyrs, who had shed their blood in defence of the Christian faith, and the miserable end of so many unconverted infidels, that he retired in the night to Eglesdene. Hither he was soon followed by an embassy from Inguar, who was soon after the battle joined by his brother Hubba, with ten thousand fresh troops. The Danish chieftain proposed, that he should become his vassal, and divide with him his treasures and dominions. Bishop Humbert earnestly recommended his compliance with this imperious command; but Edmund returned for answer, that he would never submit to a pagan. At the same time, out of tenderness for his subjects he resolved to make no farther resistance, and accordingly surrendered without a struggle to the superior force sent against him by Inguar and

Turner, in his History of the Anglo-Saxons, (Vol. II. p. 107.) enters into an examination of this story respecting Lodbrog, and the result of his researches establishes the fictitious character of this narrative of the cause of the Danish invasion.

Hubba.

Hubba. Still refusing to 'accede to the terms of the conquerors, he was bound to a tree, his body was pierced with arrows, and his head cut off, and thrown contemptuously into the thickest part of a neighbouring wood. His faithful friend, bishop Humbert, suffered at the same time with his royal master.

The Danes, having entirely laid waste this part of the country, soon proceeded in quest of scenes better calculated to gratify their love of plunder. Released from the terror their presence inspired, the East Angles, prompted by affection to their late sovereign, assembled to pay the last duties to his remains. The body was soon discovered and conveyed to Hoxne, but the head could no where be found. His faithful subjects then divided themselves into small parties, to explore the adjacent wood. Here some of them, being separated from their companions, cried out, "Where are you?” The head immediately replied "Here! here! here!" and as we are told by Lydgate,

Never ceased of al that longe day,

So for to crye tyl they kam where he laye.

If their astonishment was excited by this obliging information so miraculously conveyed, it was not likely to be abated by what followed. On coming to the spot whence the voice proceeded, they found a wolf, holding the head between his fore-feet. The animal politely delivered up his charge, which, the moment it came in contact with the body, returned so exactly to its former place, that the juncture was not visible except when closely examined. The wolf remained a harmless spectator of the scene, and as we are informed by all the ancient historians, after gravely attending the funeral at Hoxne, peaceably retired to his native woods. This happened about forty days after the death of the saint.

These legendary tales might perhaps be deemed too frivolous for notice; but, being intimately connected with the prosperity of Bury, and indeed inseparably interwoven with the history of that

place, they could not with propriety be omitted in this account. The arms of the town still commemorate the brute protector of the royal martyr's head, which also furnished ancient artists with a favorite subject for the exercise of their talents.*

For thirty-three years the body of the king, buried in the earth, lay neglected in the obscure chapel of Hoxne. At length the interference of ecclesiastics, who in those days were capable of guiding the public feeling as they pleased, and perhaps also that reverence which unfortunate royalty seldom fails to inspire, occasioned the circulation of reports, that various miracles had been performed at Edmund's grave. All ranks now concurred to testify their respect for his memory; a large church was constructed of wood at Beodricsworth, and thither the body, found perfect and uncorrupted, and with the head re-united to it, was removed in 903.† Some ecclesiastics immediately devoted themselves to the

monastic

*Several examples of this kind are given in the engravings to Yates' History. Two fine specimens of painted glass, commemorating this monarch, are in possession of Sir Thomas Gery Cullum, Bart. of Bury. "One exhibits a a bust of him crowned, and inscribed in black letter, Sct. Ed. The other represents the wolf holding the head between his paws. Underneath are also in black letter the words, Heer, heer, heer, and above is this inscription, In salutem fidelium. These evidently ancient performances are in fine preservation; the colors are uncommonly brilliant, and the designs remarkable for clearness and precision.

+ The incorruption of the body was attested by a female devotee named Oswina, who declared, that she had long lived in seclusion near the town ; that for several preceding years she had annually cut the hair and pared the nails of the saint, and had preserved these sacred relics with religious veneration. A list of six other witnesses of this fact is given in Leland's Collectanea, (Vol. I. p. 222.) Among these, was Leoftanus, a nobleman, who arrogantly ordering the tomb to be opened, that he might have ocular demonstra tion, his request was complied with; and we are told, that " he saw the body of the saint uncorrupted, but being immediately seized by a demon, he miserably expired." That curiosity which was so severely punished in a layman, appears however to have been no crime in an ecclesiastic; for we are informed that Theodred, bishop of the diocese, "having performed a devo

monastic life under the protection of the royal saint and martyr; their number increased, and about 925, they were incorporated into a college of priests, either by king Athelstan, or by Beoderic, chief lord of the town. The inhabitants, perceiving the advantages likely to accrue to themselves from the increasing celebrity of St. Edmund's relics, chose him for their titular saint, and began to call the place after his name. The monks neglected no opportunity of blazoning the extraordinary miracles performed by the agency of the sacred body, the fame of which procured the convent numerous oblations and benefactions.

King Athelstan appears to have been the first royal benefactor. Besides other donations, he presented to the church of St. Edmund, a copy of the Evangelists, a gift of such value in those days, that the donor offered it upon the altar pro remedio animæ suæ, for the benefit of his soul. But more substantial favors were bestowed upon this establishment by Edmund, son of Edward the Elder, who may indeed be considered as having laid the foundation of its future wealth and splendor. He gave the monks a jurisdiction over the whole town, and one mile round it, confirming this and other privileges by a royal grant or charter in 945. This example was imitated by succeeding sovereigns, and other persons of distinction, through whose liberality many considerable manors in the neighborhood of Bury were soon added to the possessions of the monastery.

About this time commenced the disputes between the seculars or established clergy of the country, and the monks or regulars. The latter, by the appearance of superior sanctity, contrived to render themselves highly popular; and by their artifices at length

dis

tional fast for three days, opened the coffin, found the body perfect, washed it, arrayed it with new vestments. and replaced it in its receptacle." It was by the command of this prelate that some thieves, taken in the attempt to plunder the church of St. Edmund, were executed. The villains, it was given out, were apprehended by the assistance of the saint, who miraculously deprived them of the power of moving from the ladders, and the parts of the building where they happened to be, till they were discovered and secured.