S. Edwold, H., A.D. 871. Brother to S. Edmund the king and martyr, who, after his brother's death, refusing the crown of East Anglia, retired to a cell in the neighbourhood of Shaftesbury and passed a solitary life in deep sanctity and holiness; his body was afterwards translated to a shrine in the Abbey Church of Cerne. The Church of Stokewood, Dorsetshire, probably near the scene of his retirement, is named in his honour. He was commemorated on Nov. 28th.

S. Egwin, B., A.D. 717. Was third Bishop of Worcester, and founder of the celebrated abbey of our Lady, at Evesham; who, after a life of strict piety and austerity, through many trials, labours, and tribulations, made his way to the kingdom of God, and was buried in his abbey. He is commemorated in the old English calendar on Jan. 11th. The Churches of Church-Honeybourne and Norton, in his ancient diocese, and in the county of Worcester, are named in his honour.

S. Einswith, or Eanswide, V. Ab., A.D. 673. Daughter of Eadbald, king of Kent, who feeling a desire for a life of holiness, built herself an oratory in a solitary place near Folkestone, where her father afterwards founded a nunnery for her near the sea shore, she becoming its first abbess: being buried in her own monastery, her body remained

William of Malmesbury, De Pontiff. Ang., 1. 4.

there till the encroachments of the sea obliged its being removed to the parish Church, which previously being dedicated to S. Mary, was in consequence of this named in the joint honour of SS. Mary and Einswith. The Church of Brenzett, in the same county, is named in her sole honour. She was commemorated on Sept. 14th. She is represented on the Corporation seal of the town of Folkestone, carrying two fishes on a half hoop 8.

S. Elgin. The Church of Fordingham, Yorkshire, is dedicated in this name, which is said to be a corruption of Elgiva, or Algiva, "who taught S. Frideswide to be a saint," and was commemorated on Oct. 19th.

S. Eligius, or S. Eloy, or Loye, B., 659. Was of humble parentage, and educated at Limoges, and brought up as an artificer in metals; he early distinguished himself by his artistic excellence; and attracted the notice of King Clothaire by his honesty and skilful workmanship, and had the principal management of his coinage, several coins being still extant bearing his name. He was so highly esteemed for his sanctity, that he was elected Bishop of Noyon, in which position he was renowned for his eloquence and his zeal in preaching the Gospel to the heathens of the neighbouring countries. Like our S. Dunstan, he amused his leisure hours in making sacred

8 Husenbeth's Emblems of Saints.

h Memorial of Ancient British Piety, p. 146.

ornaments and vessels in metal, and in enriching with his skill the tombs of the saints. A similar tale too is told of his seizing the devil by the nose with a pair of tongs, when he tempted him while at work. He is considered the patron of blacksmiths, farriers, &c., and a legend is related of him that being unable to shoe a refractory horse, he cut off its leg, shoed it, and then fastened it on to the horse again! He is generally drawn as a Bishop with a hammer in his hand, and sometimes with a horse's leg; an anvil is frequently near him and other accompaniments of a blacksmith's craft. He is commemorated on Dec. 1st, and the Church of Durraston, Dorsetshire, is named in his honour, and his legend is sculptured over the doorway. There is also a hospital at Cambridge, dedicated in the joint names of SS. Anthony and Eligius.

S. Elle is commemorated in the dedication of the Church of East Witton, Yorkshire.

S. Enoder. The Churches and villages of S. Enoder and S. Enodoc, Cornwall, are named after this saint.

S. Erasmus, B. M., A.D. 303. A Bishop who suffered a cruel death in the persecution of the Emperor Diocletian; very little is authentically known of him, but the legend is that he was killed by having his bowels drawn out of his body on a windlass. He is commemorated on June 2nd, and is depicted in pontifical robes, holding his cro

sier and a windlass, the emblem of his martyrdom. This was a favourite subject of representation in our parish Churches in the middle ages, examples having existed at Buckenham, S. Nicholas, Norfolk; Lullingstone, Kent; Trinity Chapel, in the Church of Cirencester, &c. i

S. Erme, or Ermette, is commemorated in the Church and village of S. Erme, Cornwall.

S. Erney in the Church and village of S. Erney.

S. Erth, or S. Ertha, and S. Ervan, have also a Church and village in Cornwall.

S.Esprit. The Church of Mardon, Warwickshire, is thus dedicated; probably intended for the Holy Spirit.

S. Ethelbert, K. C., A.D. 616. Was king of Kent, and the first Christian king in England, being converted by S. Augustine, whom, through the influence of his wife Bertha, herself a Christian, he received favourably upon his first landing in the isle of Thanet. He is said to have founded the original Cathedrals of Canterbury, London, and Rochester, and was commemorated on February 24th, 'He was the first of

66

i See Gents.' Mag., vol. xxix. p. 248, and vol. liv. t. 2. p. 965; Archæologia, vol. xv. p. 405; and vol. i. of Norfolk Archæological Society's Tracts, p. 243.

all his race to renounce the errors of paganism, that he might obscure, by the glory of his faith, those whom he surpassed in power. This indeed is spotless nobility, this exalted virtue, to excel in worth those whom you exceed in rankk." There is also another

S. Ethelbert, K. M., A.D. 793, who was king of the East Angles, "a most religious and godly prince'." Going to the court of Offa, king of Mercia, to treat of a marriage with his daughter, he was treacherously slain at Sutton Wallis, about four miles from Hereford, through the malice of Offa's queen, Quendreda. His body was first privately buried at Marden, where it is said to have been miraculously revealed by a pillar of light which stood over his sepulchre; it was afterwards translated to Hereford, where it is reported to have worked many miracles, so that the Cathedral, as well as the Church of Marden, were dedicated in his name, as was also the Church of Little Dean in the neighbouring county of Gloucester. He was commemorated on May 20th. There are also six Churches in Norfolk and three in Suffolk dedicated in this name, Belchamp Otton, Essex, in the names of S. Ethelbert and All Saints, and Tannington, Suffolk, in the names of SS. Mary and Ethelbert. From the connexion of both these sovereigns with the eastern part of our island, it is difficult to say which of them may be intended in these latter dedications.

William of Malmesbury, bk. i. c. 1.

1 Memorials of Ancient British Piety, p. 8.