And reckoned for the best, which most that house did grace,
The last of which was long the Abbesse of that place.
So Werburg, Wulpheres child, (of Mercia that had been
A persecuting King) Ermineld his Queene,
At Ely honoured is, where her deare mother late,
A Recluse had remain’d, in her sole widdowed state:
Of which good Audry was King Ina’s daughter bright,
Reflecting on those times so cleare a Vestall light,
As many a Virgin-breast she fired with her zeale,
The fruits of whose strong faith, to ages still reueale
The glory of those times, by liberties she gaue,
By which those Easterne Shires their Priuiledges haue.
Of holy Audries too, a sister here we haue,
Saint Withburg, who her selfe to Contemplation gaue,
At Deerham in her Cell, where her due howres she kept,
Whose death with many a teare in Norfolke was bewept.
And in that Isle againe, which beareth Elies name,
At Ramsey, Merwin so a Vayled Mayd became
Amongst our Virgin-Saints, where is enrold,
The daughter that is nam’d of noble Ethelwold,
A great East-Anglian Earle, of Ramsey Abbas long,
So of our Mayden-Saints, the Female sex among.
With Milburg, Mildred comes, and Milwid, daughters deere,
To Meruald, who did then the Mercian Scepter beare.
At Wenlock, Milburg dy’d, (a most religious mayd)
Of which great Abbay shee the first foundation layd:
And Thanet as her Saint (euen to this age) doth herye
Her Mildred. Milwid was the like at Canterbury.
Nor in this vtmost Isle of Thanet may we passe,
Saint Eadburg Abbesse there, who the deare daughter was,
To Ethelbert her Lord, and Kents first Christened King,
Who in this place most first we with the former bring,
Translated (as some say) to Flanders: but that I,
As doubtfull of the truth, here dare not iustifie.
King Edgars sister so, Saint Edith, place may haue
With these our Maiden-Saints, who to her Powlsworth gaue
Immunities most large, and goodly liuings layd.
Which Modwen, long before, a holy Irish mayd,
Had founded in that place, with most deuout intent.
As Eanswine, Eadwalds child, one of the Kings of Kent,
At Foulkston found a place (giuen by her father there)
In which she gaue her selfe to abstinence and prayer.
Of the West-Saxon rule, borne to three seuerall Kings,
Foure holy Virgins more the Muse in order brings:
Saint Ethelgiue the child to Alfred, which we find,
Those more deuouter times at Shaftsbury enshrin’d.
Then Tetta in we take, at Winburne on our way,
Which Cuthreds sister was, who in those times did sway
On the West-Saxon Seat, two other sacred Mayds,
As from their Cradels vow’d to bidding of their beads.
Saint Cuthburg, and with her Saint Quinburg, which we here
Succeedingly doe set, both as they Sisters were,
And Abbesses againe of Wilton, which we gather,
Our Virgin-Band to grace, both hauing to their father
Religious Ina, red with those which ruld the West,
Whose mothers sacred wombe with other Saints was blest,
As after shall be shew’d: an other Virgin vow’d,
And likewise for a Saint amongst the rest allow’d;
To th’elder Edward borne, bright Eadburg, who for she,
(As fiue related Saints of that blest name there be)
Of Wilton Abbasse was, they her of Wilton styl’d:
Was euer any Mayd more mercifull, more mild,
Or sanctimonious knowne: But Muse, on in our Song,
With other princely Mayds, but first with those that sprung
From Penda, that great King of Mercia; holy Tweed,
And Kinisdred, with these their sisters, Kinisweed,
And Eadburg, last not least, at Godmanchester all
Incloystred; and to these Saint Tibba let vs call,
In solitude to Christ, that set her whole delight,
In Godmanchester made a constant Anchorite.
Amongst which of that house, for Saints that reckoned be,
Yet neuer any one more grac’d the then she.
Deriu’d of royall Blood, as th’other Elfled than
Neece to that mighty King, our English Athelstan,
At Glastenbury shrin’d; and one as great as shee,
Being Edward Out-lawes child, a Mayd that liu’d to see
The Conquerour enter here, Saint Christian (to vs knowne)
Whose life by her cleere name diuinely was foreshowne.
For holinesse of life, that as renowned were,
And not lesse nobly borne, nor bred, produce we here;
Saint Hilda, and Saint Hien, the first of noble name,
At Strenshalt, tooke her vow, the other sister came
To Colchester, and grac’d the rich Effexian shore:
Whose Reliques many a day the world did there adore.
And of our sainted Mayds, the number to supply,
Of Eadburg we allow, sometime at Alsbury,
To Redwald then a King of the East-Angles borne,
A Votresse as sincere as shee thereto was sworne.
Then Pandwine we produce, whom this our natiue Isle,
As forraine parts much priz’d, and higher did instyle,
The holyest English Mayd, whose Vigils long were held
In Lincolneshire; yet not Saint Frideswid exceld,
The Abbesse of an house in Oxford, of her kind
The wonder; nor that place, could hope the like to find.
Two sisters so we haue, both to deuotion plite,
And worthily made Saints; the elder Margarite,
Of Katsby Abbesse was, and Alice, as we read,
Her sister on that seat, did happily succeed,
At Abington, which first receiu’d their liuing breath.
Then those Northumbrian Nymphs, all vayld, as full of Faith,
That Country sent vs in, t’increase our Virgin-Band,
Faire Elfled, Oswalds child, King of Northumberland,
At Strenshalt that was vaild. As mongst those many there,
O Ebba, whose cleere fame, time neuer shall out-weare,
At Coldingham, farre hence within that Country plac’d;
The Abbesse, who to keepe thy vayled Virgins chast,
Which else thou fearst the Danes would rauish, which possest
This Isle; first of thy selfe and then of all the rest,
The Nose and vpper Lip from your fayre faces keru’d,
And from pollution so your hallowed house preseru’d.
Which when the Danes perceiu’d, their hopes so farre deluded,
Setting the house on fire, their Martyrdome concluded.
As Leofron, whose faith with others rightly wayd,
Shall shew her not out-match’d by any English Mayd:
Who likewise when the Dane with persecution storm’d,
She here a Martyrs part most gloriously perform’d.
Two holy Mayds againe at Whitby were renown’d,
Both Abbesses thereof, and Confessors are crown’d;
Saint Ethelfrid, with her Saint Congill, as a payre
Of Abbesses therein, the one of which by prayer
The Wild-geese thence expeld, that Island which annoy’d,
By which their grasse and graine was many times destroy’d,
Which fall from off their wings, nor to the ayre can get
From the forbidden place, till they be fully set.
As these within this Isle in Cloysters were inclosd:
So we our Virgins had to forraine parts exposd;
Were Abbesses of Bridge, whose zeale to France was knowne:
And Ercongate againe we likewise thither sent,
(Which Ercombert begot, sometime a of Kent)
A Prioresse of that place; Burgundosora bare,
At Eureux the chaste rule, all which renowned are
In France, which as this Isle of them may freely boast,
So Germany some grac’d, from this their natiue coast.
Saint Walburg heere extract from th’royall English Line,
Was in that Country made Abbesse of Heydentine.
Saint Tecla to that place at Ochenford they chose:
From Wynburne with the rest (in Dorsetshire) arose
Chast Agatha, with her went Lioba along.
From thence, two not the least these sacred Mayds among,
At Biscopsen, by time encloystred and became.
Saint Lewen so attayn’d an euerliuing name
For Martyrdome, which shee at wan,
Mayds seeming in their Sex t’exceed the holyest man.
Nor had our Virgins here for sanctitie the prize,
But widdowed Queenes as well, that being godly wise,
Forsaking second beds, the world with them forsooke,
To strict retyred liues, and gladly them betooke
To Abstinence and Prayer, and as sincerely liu’d,
As when the Fates of life King Ethelwold depriu’d,
That o’r the East-Angles raign’d, bright Heriswid his wife,
Betaking her to lead a strait Monasticke life,
Departing hence to France, receau’d the holy Vayle,
And liued many a day incloystred there at Kale.
Then Keneburg in this our Sainted front shall stand,
To Alfred the lou’d wife, King of Northumberland,
Daughter to Penda King of Mercia, who though he
Himselfe most Heathenish were, yet liu’d that age to see
Foure Virgins and this Queene, his children, consecrated
Of Godmanchester all, and after Saints related.
As likewise of this Sex, with Saints that doth vs store,
Of the Northumbrian Line so haue we many more;
Saint Eanfled widdowed left, by Osway raigning there,
At Strenshalt tooke her Vaile, as Ethelburg the pheere
To Edwin, (rightly nam’d) the holy, which possest
Northumbers sacred seat, her selfe that did inuest
At Lymming farre in Kent, which Country gaue her breath.
So Edeth as the rest after King Sethricks death,
Which had the selfe same rule of Wilton Abbesse was,
Where two West-Saxon Queenes for Saints shall likewise passe,
Which in that selfe same house, Saint Edeth did succeed,
Saint Ethelwid, which here put on her hallowed weed,
King Alreds, worthy wife, of Westsex; so againe
Did Wilfrid, Edgars Queene, (so famous in his raigne)
Then Eadburg, Ana’s wife, receiued as the other,
Who as a Saint her selfe, so likewise was she mother
To two most holy Mayds, as we before haue show’d
At Wilton, (which we say) their happy time bestow’d,
Though she of Barking was, a holy Nunne profest,
Who in her husbands time, had raigned in the West:
Th’East-Saxon Line againe, so others to vs lent,
As Sexburg sometime Queene to Ercombert of Kent,
Though Ina’s loued child, and Audryes sister knowne,
Which Ely in those dayes did for her Abbesse owne.
Nor to Saint O sith we lesse honour ought to giue,
King Sethreds widdowed Queene, who (when death did depriue
Th’Essexian King of life) became enrould at Chich,
Whose Shrine to her there built, the world did long enrich.
Two holy Mercian Queenes so widdowed, Saints became,
For sanctity much like, not much vnlike in name.
King Wulpheres widdowed Pheere, Queene Ermineld, whose life
At Ely is renown’d, and Ermenburg, the wife
To Meruald raigning there, a Saint may safely passe,
Who to three Virgin-Saints the vertuous mother was,
The remnant of her dayes, religiously that bare,
Immonastred in Kent, where first she breath’d the ayre.
King Edgars mother so, is for a Saint preferd,
Queene Algyue, who (they say) at Shipston was interd.
So Edward Outlawes wife, Saint Agatha, we bring,
By Salomon begot, that great Hungarian King;
Who when she saw the wrong to Edgar her deare sonne,
By cruell Harold first, then by the Conquerour done,
Depriu’d his rightfull crowne, no hope it to recouer,
A Vestall habite tooke, and gaue the false world ouer.
Saint Maud here not the least, though shee be set the last,
And scarcely ouer-matcht by any that is past,
Our Beauclearks Queene, and borne to Malcolme King of Scots,
Whose sanctity was seene to wipe out all the spots
Were laid vpon her life, when shee her Cloyster fled,
And chastly gaue her selfe to her lou’d husbands bed,
Whom likewise for a Saint those reuerend ages chose,
With whom we at this time our Catalogue will close.
Now Rutland all this time, who held her highly wron’g,
That shee should for the Saints thus strangely be prolong’d,
As that the Muse such time vpon their praise should spend,
Sent in her ambling Wash, faire Welland to attend
At Stamford, which her Streame doth eas’ly ouertake,
Of whom her Mistresse Flood seemes wondrous much to make;
For that she was alone the darling and delight
Of Rutland, rauisht so with her beloued sight,
As in her onely childs, a mothers heart may be:
Wherefore that she the least, yet fruitfulst Shire should see,
The honourable ranke shee had amongst the rest,
The euer-labouring Muse her Beauties thus exprest.
Loue not thy selfe the lesse, although the least thou art,
What thou in greatnesse wantst, wise Nature doth impart
In goodnesse of thy soyle; and more delicious mould,
Suruaying all this Isle, the Sunne did nere behold.
Bring forth that British Vale, and be it ne’r so rare,
But Catmus with that Vale, for richnesse shall compare:
What Forrest-Nymph is found, how braue so ere she be,
But Lyfield shewes her selfe as braue a Nymph as shee?
What Riuer euer rose from Banke, or swelling Hill,
Then Rutlands wandring Wash, a delicater Rill?
Small Shire that can produce to thy proportion good,
One Vale of speciall name, one Forrest, and one Flood.
O Catmus, thou faire Vale, come on in Grasse and Come;
That Beuer ne’r be sayd thy sister-hood to scorne,
And let thy Ocham boast, to haue no litle grace,
That her they pleased Fates, did in thy bosome place,
And Lyfield, as thou art a Forrest, liue so free,
That euery Forrest-Nymph may praise the sports in thee.
And downe to Wellands course, O Wash, runne euer cleere,
To honour, and to be much honoured by this Shire.
And here my Canto ends, which kept the Muse so long,
That it may rather seeme a Volume, then a Song.
POLY-OLBION: THE FIVE AND TWENTIETH SONG
The Argument
TOW’RDS Lincolnshire our progresse layd,
Wee through deepe Hollands ditches wade,
Fowling, and fishing in the fen;
Then come we next to Kestiven,
And bringing Wytham to her fall, 5
On Lindsey light wee last
of all,
Her scite and pleasures to attend,
And with the Isle of Axholme end.
Now in upon thy earth, rich Lincolnshire I straine,
At Deeping, from whose street, the plentious ditches draine,
Hemp-bearing Hollands Fen, at Spalding that doe fall
Together in their course, themselves as emptying all
Into one generall sewer, which seemeth to divide, 5
Low Holland from the high, which on their easterne side
Th’in-bending ocean holds, from the Norfolcean lands,
To their more northern poynt, where Wainfleet drifted stands,
Doe shoulder out those seas, and Lindsey bids her stay,
Because to that faire part, a challenge she doth lay. 10
From fast and firmer earth, whereon the Muse of late,
Trod with a steady foot, now with a slower gate,
Through quicksands, beach, and ouze, the washes she must wade,
Where Neptune every day doth powerfully invade
The vast and queachy soyle, with hosts of wallowing waves, 15
From whose impetuous force, that who himselfe not saves,
By swift and sudden flight, is swallowed by the deepe,
When from the wrathfull tydes the foming surges sweepe,
The sands which lay all nak’d, to the wide heaven before,
And turneth all to sea, which was but lately shore, 20
From this our southerne part of Holland, cal’d the low,
Where Crowlands ruines yet, (though almost buried) show
Her mighty founders power, yet his more Christian zeale,
Shee by the Muses ayd, shall happily reveale
Her sundry sorts of fowle, from whose abundance she 25
Above all other tracts, may boast her selfe to be
The mistris, (and indeed) to sit without compare,
And for no worthlesse soyle, should in her glory share,
From her moyst seat of flags, of bulrushes and reed,
With her just proper praise, thus Holland doth proceed. 30
Yee Acherusian fens, to mine resigne your glory,
Both that which lies within the goodly territory
Of Naples, as that fen Thesposia’s earth upon,
Whence that infernall flood, the smutted Acheron
Shoves forth her sullen head, as thou most fatall fen,
Of which Hetruria tells, the watry Thrasimen, 36
In history although thou highly seemst to boast,
That Haniball by thee o’rthrew the Roman host.
I scorne th’Egyptian fen, which Alexandria showes,
Proud Mareotis, should my mightinesse oppose, 40
Or Scythia, on whose face the sunne doth hardly shine,
Should her Meotis thinke to match with this of mine,
Michael Drayton- Collected Poetical Works Page 121