A Life of Saint Mildrith

This material was originally composed by Alaric while teaching in the Department of English, University of Helsinki, in 2006. The ‘Life of Saint Mildrith’ is a very interesting and useful Anglo-Saxon text: it’s nice and simple for beginners to work with; unusually, it provides an introduction to the textual genre of hagiography based on English rather than Continental sources; and it’s particularly interesting as evidence for the importance of women in the early Anglo-Saxon Church. Alaric was sad that these texts aren’t very easily accessible, so he’s put them on the web, along with some glosses and related resources. And he thanks his excellent friends at Helsinki for prompting him to get this stuff together!

Feel free to use this stuff for your own purposes.

Contents

• Introduction (with stemma here)
• Þá hálgan (with running glossary here)
• Text and translation of the Caligula 'Life of St Mildrith'
• Text of the Lambeth Palace version

Introduction

Hagiography--biographical writing about saints--is one of our main kinds of evidence for the Middle Ages, and especially for women. Saints' lives (or vitae sanctarum [when speaking of women]/sanctorum [when speaking of men]) can be complex texts: sometimes authors had detailed first-hand information about a saint; sometimes they had almost nothing to go on and essentially had to make it up. In either case, they tended to model their accounts on Biblical narratives and the lives of famous saints. There were usually motives for having a vita written besides a desire to encourage pious Christian faith. Writers routinely wrote about the past to support their claims in the present—for example about their monastery's land-rights, the miraculous power of the relics of their monastery’s saints, or about debated issues in theology. Vitae were often rewritten several times to suit different people's needs. Sometimes we have surviving copies of all the versions, and can see what changes were made; regardless of the historical value of a vita for the life and times of its subject, these changes can provide valuable evidence about later times. But sometimes we do not have all the surviving versions, or cannot be sure which versions are earlier and which are later.

The Anglo-Saxon texts about St Mildrith show most of these themes in action. Mildrith was a nun in the minster of Minster-in-Thanet in Kent (south-east England), one of the richest nunneries in Anglo-Saxon England. (Minster, deriving from Latin monasterium, was the Old English term for pretty much any ecclesiastical establishment, and does not clearly distinguish between nunneries and monasteries or monasteries and churches.) We have a number of texts which are vitae of Mildrith or otherwise draw on related material. Detailed analyses by David Rollason, The Mildrith Legend: A Study in Early Medieval Hagiography in England (Leicester: Leicester University Press 1982) and Stephanie Hollis, 'The Minster-in-Thanet Foundation Story', Anglo-Saxon England, 27 (1998), 41-64 suggests this family tree (or stemma) of texts. Sometimes the links and details here are basically guesswork; at other times they are based on historical details which suggest when or where a version must have been composed.

The sequence of Mildrith texts is particularly important because its oldest version, now lost, seems to have been composed in the earlier eighth century, which is unusually early. Moreover, Hollis has argued that the original text represents women's traditions circulating at Minster-in-Thanet, rather than the male monastic traditions which normally appear in our material. The early Anglo-Saxon Church seems generally to have featured women more prominently than later (though the details of this kind of claim are up for debate), and the Mildrith texts provide a useful insight into how these establishments may have operated.

The first, and main, text given here is a relatively simple and complete version. It is an Old English abbreviation of the lost original Mildrith legend (or maybe an independent version drawing on the same traditions), known as Þá hálgan ('The Saints', from its opening line), or the Kentish Royal Legend. It was perhaps composed in Kent (as you'll see, the text uses the distinctively Kentish word sulung), between 725 and 974. Place-names are hyperlinked to www.streetmap.co.uk, and glosses are provided here. Below is Oswald Cockayne’s text and translation of a more involved and fragmentary version, which may be closer to the lost original text, from MS London, British Library, Cotton Caligula A.xiv, known as the 'Caligula version'. Note that the translation is old--its language is archaic, and it does have a couple of mistakes. And also the text of the Lambeth Palace version.

Þá hálgan (aka The Kentish Royal Legend)

Manuscript: MS London, British Library, Stowe 944.

Click here for a running glossary.

Hér cýð ymbe þá hálgan þe on Angelcynne restað. On úres drihtnes naman hǽlendes Crístes, Sanctus Augustinus gefullode Æþelbyrht Cantwara cyningc & ealle his þéode. Þonne wæs Éadbald Æðelbyrhtes sunu cyninges, & Byrhtan hátte his cwén, & Æðelburh hátte heora dohtor, óþrum naman Tate. Héo wæs forgyfen Éadwine Norðhymbra cyninge tó cwene, & Sanctus Paulinus sé bisceop fór mid hyre & gefullode þone cyningc, & ealle his þéode. And héo þá eft æfter Éadwines dæge gesóhte Cantwara byrig. And hyre bróðor Éadbald, wæs þá Cantwara cyningc. And hé hyre þá forgeaf þæt land on Limmingce & héo þá þæt mynster getimbrade & þǽr nú resteð, & Sancta Éadburh mid hyre.

Þonne wæs Imme Éadbaldes cwén Francena cyningces dohtor, & hí begéaton Sancte Éanswíðe þe æt Folcanstáne resteð, & Éarcanbyrht Cantwara cyningc, & Eormenrǽd æþelingc, & Eormenbeorgan, & Sancte Eormenburge, & Sancte Eormengyde, & Sancte Æþelréd, & Sancte Æþelbyrht. Þis wǽron Eormenrǽdes bearn & Ósláue.

Þonne wæs Ecgbyrht cyningc, & Lóðhere cyningc, & Sancta Eormenhild, & Sancta Ercengota wǽron Eorcenbyrhtes bearn, & Sexburge his cwéne.

Þonne wæs Sancte Eormenbeorge óðer naman Domne Éue, héo wæs forgyfen Merwale Penda[n] sunu cyningces, & þǽr hí begéaton Sancte Mildburge, & Sancte Mildryðe, & Sancte Mildgyðe, & Sancte Merefin. Hí þá for Godes lufon hí gedǽldon be him lybbendan, & héo þá Domne Éue fór eft tó Centlande. And hyre bróðra wergildes onfengc binnan Tenetlande æt Ecgbyrhte þám cyningce þe hí ǽr ácwellan hét. Þunor hátte his geréua þe hí ácwellan hét, & hé hí bebyrigde under þæs cyningces héahsetle on Éastregé innan his healle. And hí þá wurdon þurh Godes naman gecýdde swá þæt þurh Godes mihte sé léoma stód ymbe midde niht up þurh þǽre healle hróf swylce þǽr sunne scíne, & þæt sé cyningc him sylf geséah. And hé wæs swíðe áfyrht, & hé þá be þám wiste þæt hé hæfde Gode ábolgen, & hé þá hét heora swustor Domne Éuan him tó gefeccean þæt héo heora wergyld onfón mihte. And héo þá swá dyde, þæt is þonne LXXX sulunga landes, þæt hí þæt mynster on árǽrdon þám sáwlum tó gebedrǽdenne þe hit heora wergyld wæs. And sé Ecgbyrht hyre þǽrtó wel gefylste.

And héo þá Sancte Mildryðe hire dohtor ofer sǽ sende, þæt héo þonne wísdóm þǽr geleornode þe man on þám mynstre healdan sceolde. And héo þá swá dyde, & þǽr micelne háligdom beget þe mon nú gyt tó dæg scéawian mæg. And héo þá Sancte Mildryð eft tó hyre méder hám cóm & héo hyre þá þæt mynster forgeaf þá hit gestaðolad wæs. And héo þá Sancta Mildryð háligryfte onfengc æt Théodóre arcebisceope, & LXX mǽdena mid hyre þe sé cyningc & hyre módor begyten hæfdon & gelǽred þæt hí æt þǽre stówe nytte béon mihton. And héo þá þǽr Gode tó willan geþeah, & þæt éce líf geearnode. And swá oft syððan heora mihta cúðe syndon, & Sancte Ermengyð hyre móddrie mid hyre wunode oð hyre lífes ende. And héo sylf þǽr hyre líc reste gecéas be hyre lybbendre, þæt is þonne án míl be éastan Sancte Mildryðe mynstre, & hyre mihta þǽr oft wǽron & gyt á cúðe synd.

And Sancte Éadburh þá tó þám mynstre feng æfter sancte Mildryðe, & héo þá cyricean gesette þe hyre líchama nú on resteð. Þonne wæs Sexburh Cantwara cwén. Héo gestaðolade Sancta Márian mynster on Scéapíge, & þá Godes þéowas þǽr tó gesette. And þá Lóðhere cyningc hyre sunu him þǽre land áre geuðe þe hí gyt big lybbað & heora gebedrǽdenne þǽr árǽdon. Þonne wæs Sancta Sexburh, & Sancte Æðeldryþ, & Sancta [W]ihtburh, Annan dohtra éast Engla cingces. Þonne wæs Sancta Æþeldryð forgyfen Ecgfriðe Norðhymbra cyningce tó cwéne. And héo hræðere hyre mægðhád gehéold oð hyre lífes ende. And héo þá hyre líc reste gecéas on Élíga byrig on þám mǽran mynstre, & þǽr hyra mihta oft cúðe syndon. And Sancta Wihtburh hyre sweostor mid hyre nu þǽr resteð.

Þonne wæs Sancta Eormenhild Ercenbyrhtes dohtor & Sexburge forgyfen Wulfhere cyningce tó cwéne. Hé wæs Pendan sunu Myrcna cyningces. And on heora dagum Myrcna þéod onfengc fulluhte, & þǽr hí begéaton Sancte Þærburge þá hálgan fǽmnan. And héo wæs bebyriged on þám mynstre þe is genemned Héan burh, & nú resteð on Legceastre þǽre byrig. Þonne resteð Sancte Eormenhyld on Élíga byrig mid hyre méder & mid hyre móddrian Sancte Æðeldryþe, & hyre mihta þǽr oft cúðe syndon. Þonne wæs Sancta Ercengota heora sweostor gesend ofer sǽ tó láre tó hyre móddrian Sancte Æþelburge þǽr héo wæs abbodysse. And héo þǽr Gode tó willan geþeah, & þǽr hyre líf geendode. And hyre mihta þǽr cúðe sóna wǽron. Þonne wæs Wihtréd cyningc Ecgbyrhtes sunu cyningces, & hé árǽrde þæt mynster on Doferum & hit gehálgode Sancte Martine tó wurðunge. And Sanctus Martinus him sylf ǽr þá stówe getácnode þæt hé his mynster þǽr habban wolde, & hé þá swá dyde. And þá Godes þéowas þǽr tó gesette mid þǽre landáre þe hé him þǽr tó geuðe þe hí gyt big lybbað oð þysne dæg. And hé resteð hine æt Sancte Augustine innan þám portice on súð healfe Sancta Marian cyricean, þe his þridda fæder Éadbold cyningc hét ásettan Gode tó lófe & Sancta Marian.

Text and translation of the Caligula 'Life of St Mildrith'

Edited and translated by Oswald Cockayne, Leechdoms, Wortcunning and Starcraft of Early England, 3 vols, The Rolls Series, 35 (London: Longmans, Green, Reader and Dyer, 1864–68), iii pp. 422–29.

Manuscript: London, British Library, Cotton Caligula A. xiv, folios 121v-124v, from the mid eleventh century.

NB that the translation has a couple of inaccuracies--check against the Old English before quoting!

On drihtnes naman Sanctus Augustinus gefulwihte Æþelbryht cantwara cyning & ealle his ðeode. Þonne wæs Eadbald cyning Æþelbryhtes sunu & Byrhtan his cwene & Æþelburh heora dohtor, oðre namanTate, forgifan Eadwine norðhymbra cyninge to cwene & Sanctus Paulinus mid hire for & gefullode ðone cyning Eadwine & ealle his ðeode. & æfter his life hio eft cantwara byrig gesohte & <hire> broðor eadbald þæne cyning & paulinus se bisceop eft mid hire com. & hio hyre þa betstan madmas to cantwaran cyricean brohte hire to gebedrædene & þæs cyninges sawle þe hi begæt, ða man gyt þær inne sceawian mæg. & he ða paulinus onfeng þa bisceoprice æt hrofeceastre on godes willan & ðær his lif geendode & godes rice begeat. Ðonne wæs eormenred cyning & eorcenbyrht cyning & Sancte eanswyð, hi wæron ealle eadbaldes bearn & imman his cwene, hio wæs francna cynges dohtor. & Sancte eanswið resteð on folcanstana þæm mynstre þæt hio sylf gestaðelode. Þonne wæs eormenburh & oðre naman domne eafe & eormengyð & æðelred & æðelbriht wæron eormenredes bearn & oslafe his cwene. Ðonne wæs domne eafe forgyfon to myrcna landa merwalde pendan sunu cynges to cwene & hi þær begeatan Sancte mildburge & Sancte mildryðe & Sancte mildgyðe & Sancte merefin þæt halige cild. & hi þa æfter ðan for godes lufan & for þisse worolde him todældon & hiora bearn & hiora woruld æhta gode forgeafan. & hiora yldeste dohtor & Sancte mildburh resteð æt wynlucan þæm mynstre on mercna lande þær wæron hire mihta oft gecyðede & gyt synd. Sancte mildryð resteð binnan teneð on ðæm iglande & ðær wæron oft hyre mihta gecyþede & get synd. Sancte mildgyð resteð on norðhembran þær wæron hire mihta oft gecyðede & get syndon. Þonne wæs Sancte merefin þæt halige cild on iogoðhade to gode gelæd. Þonne wæron Æðelred & Æðelbryht þa halgan æþelingas befæste Egcbrihte cynge to fostre & to lare for þan hi wæron æt hiora yldran befeallenne & wæs he se cyning heora fæderan sunu Eorcenbrihtes & Sexburh his cwene. Þa wæron hi sona on geogoðe swyðe gesceadwise & rihtwise swa hit godes willa wæs. Ða ofðuhte þæt anum þæs cyninges geferan se wæs þunor haten & wæs him se leofestan ðegen to his bearnum. Ða ondrædde he him gif hi leng lifedon þæt hi wurdon þam cynge leofran ðonne he. Ongan hi þa hatian dearnunga & wregean to þam cyninge & cwæð þæt gif hi libban moston þæt hi ægðer ge hine ge his bearn þæs cynerices benæmde. Ongan hine ða biddan þæt he moste þa æþelingas dearnunga acwellan ac se cyning him lyfan nolde for ðam þe hi him leofa wæron & gesibbe. & þa git se ðunor hine oft & gelome bæd þæt he him leafe sealde þæt he moste don embe ða æþelingas swa he wolde. & he ða sona swa dyde swa he ær gyrnende wæs & he hi on niht sona gemartirode innan ðæs cyninges heahsetle swa he dyrnlicost mihte. & he geðoht hæfde þæt hi þær næfre uppe ne wurdan ac ðurh godes mihte hi þanon gecydde wurdon emne swa ðæs leohtes leoma stod up þurh þære healle hrof up to heofonum. & he ða se cyning sylf embe forman hancred ut gangende wæs & he þa him sylf geseonde wæs þæt wundor. Þa wearð he afyrht & afæred & het hi hrædlice þæne Þunor to feccean & hine ahsode hwær he his mægcildum cumen hæfde ðe he him forstolen hæfde. He him andsworode & cwæð þæt he sylf wiste & he him secgan nolde buton he nyde sceolde. He ða se cyning cwæð þæt he be his freondscipe hit secgan sceolde. He him andsworode & cwæð þæt he hi innan his healle under his heahsetle bebyrged hæfde. & he þa se cyning swyðe unrot geworden wæs for þæs godes wundre & for þære gesihþe ðe he ðær gesewen hæfde & he þa be ðam gearo wiste þæt he gode abolgen hæfde swyþor þonne his ðearf wære. & þa on morgen swyðe hrædlice him to gefeccean het his witan & his þegnas þæt hi him geræddon hwæt him be ðam selost ðuhte oððe to done wære. & he þa & hi geræddon mid ðæs ærcebisceopes fultume Deusdedit þæt man heora swustor on mercna lande þe hio to forgifen wæs gefeccean het to ðam þæt hio hyre broðra wergild gecure on swylcum þingum swylce hyre & hire nyhstan freondum selost licode. & hio ða swa dyde þæt hio þæt wergeld geceas þurh godes fultum on ðam iglande þe teneð is nemned, þæt is þonne hund eahtatig hida landes þe hio ðær æt þæm cyninge onfeong. & hit ða swa gelamp þa se cyning & hio domne eafe ærest þæt land geceas & hi ofer þa ea comon þa cwæð se cyning to hire hwylcne dæl þæs landes hio onfon wolde hyre broðrum to wergilde. Hio him ða andsworode & cwæð þæt hio his na maran ne gyrnde þonne hire hind utan ymbe yrnan wolde, þe hire ealne weg beforan arn ðonne hio on rade wæs. Cwæð þæt hire þæt getyðed wære þæt hio swa myceles his onfon sceolde swa seo hind hire gewisede. Cwæð þæt hire þæt getyðed wære þæt hio swa myceles his onfon sceolde swa seo hind hire gewisede. He ða se cyning hire geandsworode & cwæð þæt he þæt lustlice fægnian wolde. & hio ða hind swa dyde þæt hio him beforan hleapende wæs & hi hyre æfterfiligende wæron oð þæt hi comon to ðære stowe þe is nu gecwedon þunores hlæwe. & he ða se þunor to ðam cyninge aleat & he him to cwæð, leof, hu lange wylt ðu hlystan þyssum dumban nytene þe hit eal wyle þis land utan beyrnan? Wylt ðu hit eal ðære cwenon syllan? & ða sona æfter þyssum wordum se eorðe tohlad.

St. Augustinus baptised Æþelbriht, king of the Kentish men, and all his people, in the Name of the Lord. Next, Eadbald, king, was son of Æþelbriht and of his queen Berhta; and Æþelburh their daughter, otherwise named Tate, was given to Eadwine, king of the Norðhymbrians, for his queen; and St. Paulinus went with her, and baptized the king Eadwine and all his people. After Eadwines death she returned to Canterbury and to her brother Eadbald, the king, and bishop Paulinus returned with her. She brought her best treasures to the church at Canterbury for prayers for herself and for the soul of the king her father. They may still be seen therein. Paulinus accepts the bishopric at Rochester by the will of God, and there ended his life, and was received into the kingdom of God. After that Eormenred and Eorcenbriht were kings. These and Eanswið were all children of Eadbald and of Imme his queen, daughter of the king of the Franks. St. Eanswið lies at rest at Folkestone, the minster, which she founded. Further, Eormenburh, by another name Dame Eafe, and Eormengið, and Æþelred, and Æðelbriht, were children of Eormenred and his queen Oslaf. Dame Eafe was given into the land of the Mercians to Merewald, son of king Penda, for his queen, and there they begot St. Mildburh and St. Mildrið and St. Mildgið and the holy child St. Merefin. And after that Merwald and his wife, for the love of God and of mankind, separated from their conjugal estate, and gave their children and their worldly possessions to God. Their eldest daughter, St. Mildburh, lies at Wenlock, the monastery in Mercia, where her miraculous powers were often exhibited, and are still. St. Mildrið lies within the island of Tanet; her miraculous powers were often exhibted, and are still. St. Mildgið lies in Norðymbria, where her miraculous poweres were often exhibited, and are still. The holy child St. Merefin was led away to heaven in his youth. The saintly princes Æþelred and Æþelbriht were committed to King Ecgbriht for nurture and instruction, since they were orphans, and the king was their fathers brothers, Eorcenbrihts, son, be Sexburh his queen. In early youth they were very discreet and right wise, as was the will of God. This offended one of the kings counts, who was called Þunor, and was the kings most valued attendant upon his children. Þunor dreaded lest, if the young princes lived long, they would become dearer to the king than he would be. So he began secretly to hate them, and to accuse them before the king, and said, that if they should live they would deprive either him or his children of the kingdom. He began to pray that he might secretly slay the young princes, but the king would not give him leave, since they were dear to him and relatives. Yet Þunor often and from time to time prayed him to give him leave to do with the young princes as he would: and before long he did as he desired, and Þunor at night soon made martyrs of them within the kings royal residence, as secretly as he could. He supposed that they never would reappear, but by the power of God they were made known, for a beam of light stood up through the roof of the hall up to heaven, and the king himself about the first cockcrowing, was going out, and himself saw that wonder. Then was he terrified and afraid, and ordered Þunor quickly to be fetched, and demanded of him what he had done with his cousins, whom he had stolen from him. He answered him and said that he knew himself, and would not tell him, unless he needs must. Then the king said, by his friendship he must say it. He answered him and said that he had buried them within the kings hall, under his high seat. Then the king became much disturbed at the divine miracle and the light which he had seen; and thereby he quickly knew that he had angered God more than he had need. And so next day he bid instantly fetch him with his councillors and thanes, that they should advise him what to them seemed best, or what was to be done. He and they then, with support of Deusdedit the archbishop, arranged that an order should be issued to fetch their sister in Mercia, into which she had been given in marriage, that she should choose her brothers wergild, or compensation to the relatives, of such things as seemed good to herself and to her nearest friends. And she so arranged as to choose by Gods help the compensation in the island which is called Tanet, that is to say, eighty hides of land, which she there received of the king. And it so happened, when the king and she, Dame Eafe, first chose the land, and they came over the river Wantsume, then te king asked her what part of the land she would take for her brothers wergild. Then she answered him and said that she desired no more than her hind would run round. This hind always ran before her when she was travelling. She said that it had been granted her that she should take so much as the hind directed her. Then the king answered her and said that he would gladly consent to that. She then so managed that the hind kept running before them, and they followed after her, till they came to the place which is now called Þunors Low; and so Þunor made his obeisance to the king, and said to him, Sir, how long wilt thou listen to this dumb animal, which will run about all this land? Wilt thou give it all to the queen? And soon after these words the earth opened

[In the Latin texts, the story concludes with Þunor being swallowed by the earth, the mound being named after him, and the land being granted to Domne Eafe.]

The Lambeth Palace text of Þá hálgan

Text derived from the Corpus of Old English: KSB 8.1 (Liebermann) B18.8.1.

Manuscript: London, Lambeth Palace 427, fol. 211.

Her cyð ymbe þa halgan þe on Angelcynne restað, on ures Drihtenes naman, hælendes Cristes. Sanctus Agustinus gefullode Æþelbriht Cantwarena cyningc and ealle his þeode. Ðonne wæs Eadbald Æþelbrihtes sunu cynges, and Birihtan hatte his cwen. And Æþelburh hatte heora dohtor and oðre naman Tate, heo wæs forgifen Eadwine Norðhymbra cyninge to cwene, and sanctus Paulinus, se mæra biscop, for mid hire and gefullode þone cyning and ealle his þeode. And heo þa æfter Eadwines dæge gesohte Cantwarabirig, and hire broðor Eadbald wæs Cantwara cyningc, and he hire þa forgeaf þæt land on Limene, and heo þa þæt mynster getymbrode, and þar nu resteð, and sancta Eadburh mid hyre. Ðonne wæs Ymme, Eadbaldes cwen, Franca cynges dohtor, and hig begeaton sancte Eanswiðe, þe æt Folcanstane restað, and Earcanbriht Cantwara cyningc and Eormenred æþelingc. And Eormenburh and sancte Eormengið and sancte Æþelred and sancte Æþelbriht þis wæron Eormenrædes bearn and Oslafe, his cwene. Ðonne wæs Ecgbriht cyningc and Loðhere cyningc and sancta Eormenhild and sancta Ercengota wæron Ercenbrihtes bearn and Sexburge, his cwene. Þonne wæs sancte Eormenburge oðer nama Domne Eue, heo wæs forgifen Merwale, Pendan sunu cynges, and þar hi begeaton sancte Mildburge and sancte Mildryþe and sancte Mildgiðe and sancte Merefynn. Hi þa for Godes lufan todældon be heom libbendum hi gedældon be him lybbendan eal þæt hi ahton; and heo þa Domne Eue for eft to Cæntlande and hyre broðra wergildes onfengc innon Tænetlande æt Ecgbrihte þam cyninge, þe hig ær acwellan het. Ðunor hatte his gerefa, þe hig acwellan het, and he hig bebirigde under þæs cynges heahsetle on Eastrege innon his healle, and hi þa wurdon þurh Godes naman wundorlice gecydde, swa þæt þurh Godes mihte se leoma astod ymbe midderniht up þurh þare healle hrof, swilce þar sunne scine; and þæt se cyningc him silf geseah, and he wæs swiðe afyrht and he þa be þam wiste, þæt he hæfde þam hælende abolgen. And he þa het heora swustor Domne Eue him to gefeccan, þæt heo heora wergilde onfon mihte and heo þa swa dyde, þæt is þonne hundeahtati sulunga landes, þæt hig þæt mynster on arærdon, þam sawlum to gebedrædenne, þe hit heora wergild wæs, and se cyningc hire þarto wel filste. And heo þa sancte Mildriðe, hire dohtor, ofer sæ sænde, þæt heo þone wisdom þar geleornode, þe man on þam mynstre healdan scolde, and heo þa swa dide and þar micelne haligdom begeat, þe man nu git to dæg þær sceawian mæg. And heo þa, sancte Mildryð, eft to hyre medder ham com, and heo hire þa þæt mynster forgeaf, þa hit gestaðelod wæs, and heo þa, sancte Mildryð, haligrifte onfengc æt Theodore arcebiscope, and hundseofontig mædena mid hyre, þe se cyningc and hire modor begiten hæfdon and gelæred, þæt hig æt þare stowe nytte beon mihton. And heo þa þar Gode to willan geþeah and þæt ece lif geearnode, and swa oft siððan heora mihta cuðe syndon. And sancte Eormengið, hyre moddrige, mid hire wunode oð hire lifes ende and heo silf þar hyre licreste geceas be hire libbendre, þæt is þonne an mil be easton sancte Myldryðe mynstre, and hyre mihta þar oft wæron cuðe and git syndon. And sancte Eadburh þa to þam mynstre fengc æfter sancte Myldriðe and heo þa circan gesette, þe heora lichama nu on resteð. Ðonne wæs Sexburh Cantwarena cwen, heo gestaðelode sancta Marian mynster on Sceapege and þa Godes þeowas þarto gesette, hwæt, þa Loðhere cyningc, hyre sunu, heom þare landare geuþe, þe hig git big libbað, and heo þa gebedrædene þar arærdon. Ðonne wæs sancte Sexburh and sancta Æþeldryð and sancta Wihtburh Annan dohtra Eastengla cyninges. Ðonne wæs sancte Æþeldryð forgifen Ecgfryðe Norðhymbra cynge to cwene, and heo hwæðre hyre mægðhad geheold oð hyre lifes ende, and heo þa hire licreste geceas on Eligabirig, on þam mæran my nstre, and þar hyre mihta oft cuðe syndon. And sancta Wihtburh, hire swustor, mid hire nu restað. Ðonne wæs sancta Eormenhild, Ercenbrihtes dohtor and Sexburge, forgifen Wulfhere cyninge to cwene; he wæs Pendan sunu Myrcna cynges. And on heora dagum Myrcna þeod onfeng fulwihte. And ðar hi begeaton sancta Wærburge, þa halgan fæmnan, and heo wearð bebirged on þam mynstre þe is genemnod Heanburh, heo wearð eft upadon and nu resteð on Legeceastre þare birig. Ðonne resteð sancte Eormenhild on Eligabirig mid hyre medder and mid hyre moddrian sancte Æþeldryðe, and hyre mihta þar oft cuðe syndon. Ðonne wæs sancte Ercengota heora swustor gesænd ofer sæ to lare to hire moddrian sancte Æþelburge, ðar heo wæs abbodesse, and heo þar Gode to willan geþeah and þar hire lif geendode, and hire mihta þar sona cuðe wæron. Ðonne wæs Wihtred cyningc Ecgbrihtes sunu cyninges, and he arærde þæt mynster on Doferan and hit gehalgode sancte Martine to wurðunge, and sanctus Martinus him silf ær þa stowe getacnode, þæt he his mynster þar habban wolde, and he þa swa dyde and þa Godes þeowas þarto gesette mid þare landare, þe he heom þarto geuðe, þe hig git big libbað oð þisne andweardan dæg. And he resteð hine æt Sancte Agustine innon þam portice on suðhealfe sancta Marian circan, þe his þridda fæder Eadbold cyningc het asettan Gode to lofe and sancta Marian.