the body of John Scottus a miraculous fiery light was shed: "divinus favor multis noctibus super eum lucem indulsit igneam."26 In the life of the religious Jew Petachia, lately published by Dr. Seligmann, is related a similar occurrence.

XV.

Beccelmus fert mandata Guthlaci Pege.

IN accordance with the last instructions of his master, the clerk Beccelin conveys the news of the Saint's death to Pega,27 his sister, who was an inmate, if not the governess, of the monastery of Peykirk, i.e. Pega's church, in the county of Northampton, about four miles from Guthlac's oratory. This results in Pega's journey to Crowland to perform the obsequies of her brother. The subject of the fifteenth plaque is derived from this incident. On the pale green waters of the fen we observe a boat, not unlike that which conveyed Guthlac to his desert island fifteen years before, with the exception that the mast and sail are wanting, and the poop and prow are not carried up so high as in that example; in it stands Beccelm, draped in his tunic and hooded cloak; and in the stern sits a figure, with similar attire, having his head covered with the peculiarly shaped cap which identifies him with the builder on the roof of the chapel in the fifth vignette, and dipping into the water a paddle resembling that already described among the details of the fourth illustration.28 Pega, in sorrowful mood, vested in loosely flowing garb, and with a wimple on her head, which is bowed in dejection, is on the

26 Will. Malm. Gesta Pont., p. 394.

27 Florence of Worcester, p. 48, calls the sister of Guthlac, Pegia :"Anachorita probatissimus deique sacerdos fidelissimus, dilectæ Christi virginis Pegiæ germanus, innumerabilium virtutum patrator Guthiacus," from which it would seem that Pegia was more famous, to him at least, than Guthlac.

Some one who had access to this roll of pictures before it passed into the Harley Collection, has irreverently added a long feather to the head gear of the navigator, and a pair of spectacles to his nose.

right, just in the act of stepping from the flower-strewn bank into the forepart of the boat, while Beccelm takes her hand to assist her movements. Over her head is the explanatory inscription, "Pega soror Guthlaci." Behind Pega is a monk

pointed end, and hold

or attendant leaning on a crutch with ing in his right hand a closed book, the cover of which, from its peculiar shape and ornamentation, has been already the subject of remark among the descriptions of accessories which have occurred before. It is worthy of notice that the waving line of clouds which was introduced into the series at the previous picture is here repeated.

XVI.

Hic sepelitur Guthlacus.

THE religious obsequies of the departed Saint last for the space of three days, and culminate in the burial of Guthlac. The scene shifts back again to the chapel or oratory, the architecture of which, in this picture, resembles in the main the examples which have gone before. In the foreground is the dead body," Corpus Guthlaci," wrapped in cerecloth, and yet preserving human outlines, reverently held by Pega at the head, and an assistant-perhaps Beccelm, (habited in cowl and surplice,) at the foot, and about to be deposited in a marble cist or sarcophagus, while a tonsured priest or monk, perhaps intended for Cissa-who succeeded Guthlac as governor of the establishment (not yet an abbey) at Crowland, -vested in an embroidered and bordered garment, reads the office of the dead from an open book in his left hand, and with a swinging censer in his right censes the mortal remains of his master.

Here, too, as in the fourteenth vignette, the pillar of light, similarly drawn, rains down celestial effulgence from the opening clouds of heaven upon the body of the departed Saint-a token of divine satisfaction of Guthlac's victory over the world, which has ensured him the meed due to a hero in the world of the hereafter.

VOL. XII.

2 x

XVII.

Guthlacus regi Ethelbaldo apparet ad sepulcrum ejus

vigilanti.

PASSING Over the translation of Guthlac's remains to another sepulchre, after the lapse of twelve months, when the body was found uncorrupted as of one sleeping, in this cartoon we have a scene of Ethelbald, still a prince, although called "Rex Ethelbaldus," and draped by the artist in regal crown and vesture, watching by the richly ornamented tomb of his departed friend. The same, or nearly the same, architectural edifice is introduced, with a curtain looped up over the heads of three sleeping attendants of the prince. St. Guthlac is drawn at full length, and with nimbus and book, in conversation with the kneeling suppliant, to whom he promises a speedy elevation to the kingdom, and comfirms it with a sign.** The chalice, it will be observed, has been removed from the altar, as the time here represented is midnight.

XVIII.

IN the concluding vignette-which seems more than any to have been designed for a glass-window-there is no descriptive sentence, but its subject is quite clear. On the right is an altar, contiguous to a shrine, which is intended to represent that in which Guthlac's remains are deposited. It stands on slender shafting, and has a pent roof, ridged with a fleury ornamentation and a cross at the extremity. Beneath lies the body of a young man, probably a demoniac, with hands crossed, and held in a fetterlock.30 From his mouth issues an evil spirit at the invocation of the Saint.

Before the altar is a group of thirteen principal benefactors

29 Æthelred's accession took place in 719.

30 See a similar treatment of Judas and Arrius, a twelfth century MS. Brit. Mus. Titus D. xxvi, f. 75b. This has been published by the Palæographical Society, plate 60; Roy. Soc. Lit., vol. xi, New Series, Birch on Anglo Saxon MSS.

of Crowland abbey, founded by Æthelbald, and dedicated to the patronage of the Saint whose life had hallowed the spot on which the abbey was erected. Each of these figures is appropriately draped, and carries a long scroll inscribed31 as follows:

1. Ego Rex Ethelbaldus do tibi sedem abbatie cum pertinentiis suis solutam et liberam ab omni seculari exactione. 2. Ego Abbas Turketellus do tibi sextam partem hereditatis mee. Wenliburch32. Bebi33. Coteham34. Hokintune35 Elmintune. Wuthorp.87

3. Ego Frogistus do tibi, pater Guthlace, Langetoft38 cum pertinentiis.

39

4. Ego Alfwinus comes do tibi Moreburne cum pertinentiis.

5. Ego Wulfus do tibi terram de Adintuñ1o cum pertinentiis.

6. Ego Normannus vicecomes do tibi terram de Suttune" et de Sstapeltune12.

7. Ego Geolfus do tibi terram de Halintune13.

8. Ego Algarus filius Norlang do tibi Bastune44. et Teford45 cum pertinentiis

31 These inscriptions are short notices of grants of lands, and benefactions to the Saint, i.e. the abbey. The texts of their respective charters may be found in Ingulph's History of Crowland, Dugdale's Monasticon, and other works.

22 Wendlinburgh, co. Northampton.

33 Beby, co. Leicester.

Cotenham, co. Cambridge.

35 Hockington, co. Cambridge.
36 Elmington, co. Northampton.
37 Wothorpe, co. Northampton.
38 Langtoft, co. Lincoln.

39 Morborn, co. Huntingdon.

49 Adington, in Soudnavesland hundred, co. Lincoln.

"Sutton-Cheynell, co. Leicester.

42 Stapleton, co. Leicester.

9. Ego Toroldus vicecomes do tibi terram de Buggehale". 10. Ego Algarus comes do tibi terram de Spalding". et de Pinceb48. et Quappel" et Holeh 50.

11. Ego Algarus diaconus do tibi terram de Duvedic et Ecclesiam cum pertinentiis .

12. Ego Oswius do tibi terram de Draitunes cum pertinentiis.

13. Ego Alanus de Croun do tibi, pater Guthlace, Prioratum de Frest'53 cum pertinentiis.

46 Buchehale, co. Lincoln; according to some, Bukenhale, co Northampton, or Bucknall, co. Lincoln.

* Spalding, co. Lincoln.

48 Pinceb.

40

Quaplode, co. Lincoln.

50 Interpreted to be Holbeach.

51 South Dovedike, co. Lincoln.

"Drayton, co. Cambridge, or co. Lincoln.

58 Freston, co. Lincoln, founded for a Prior and Black Monks, i.e. Benedictines, in A.D. 1114, and given to Crowland as a cell or dependant religious house.