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O'er thy unshelter'd form
The ocean-tempests fly,
Exposed to every wintry storm
That rends the sky.

Yet He who form'd the world,
And rules the foaming sea,
Whose billows to the skies are hurl'd,
Created thee!

And o'er thy slender stem

His hand the dew-drops shed,
Which glitter like a diadem
Around thy head.

Then let me learn of thee,
Thou lone and lovely flower,
Whate'er my future lot may be,
To trust His power.

And to His sov'reign will,

Myself, my all, resign;
Who guards my life from ev'ry ill,
And gives thee thine!

INSCRIPTION FOR A SEA-BATHING INFIRMARY.
BY ARCHDEACON WRANGHAM.

(From "The Gem.")

IN old Bethesda's holy wave
Judæa's halt were wont to lave:
With eye upturning, weak and wan,
Lay on its brink the' expectant man!
And ever, as the' Eternal King
Sent healing on an angel's wing,
Raptured he caught the rustling sound,
And health and gladness gush'd around.
But till that angel stirr'd the tide,
The wondrous virtue was denied ;
Like vulgar streams, its flow, unbless'd,
No salutary power possess'd.

Ye, who upon the ocean strand

In youthful grace and joyance stand,

Ye compass'd in an angel's frame,

Whom Love's fond votaries "angels" name,--
Be yours to prove your heavenly birth:

O bless, while ye adorn the earth!
Your bounty still can bid the wave
Resume its potency to save.

James Nichols, Printer, 2, Warwick Square, London.

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THE first mention of a religious foundation at Ely occurs shortly after the introduction of Christianity into Britain, and especially into that part of the island called East Anglia, where Ethelbert, the principal Saxon King, founded a church. This was effected by the persuasions of Augustine, who was then Archbishop of Canterbury: but Penda, King of Mercia, drove away the Ministers that were left to perform the services; and the place was soon reduced to a desert.

A church was afterwards established by Etheldreda, daughter of Annas, King of East Anglia, and Hereswitha his Queen. This princess was born at Exning, in Suffolk, about the year 630, and was married to Tonbert, one of the principal noblemen among the East Angles, being one of those Eoldermen, or princes, afterwards called Eorles, or Eomites. These noblemen, in the Saxon times, held one or more districts hereditarily, in fee or by royal grace, and, with the Bishops, composed the supreme council of the nation. On her marriage with Tonbert, Etheldreda had the isle of Ely settled upon her in dower; and on the death of her husband, which occurred in about three years after, she came into full possession of it. She was soon after married to Egfrid, son of Oswy, King of Northumber

VOL. XIV.

land, who, upon the death of his father, succeeded to the kingdom, in the year 670; but Etheldreda, who had from a very early period resolved to devote herself to the service of God, and, through mistaken views of piety, preferred a cloister to a court, at length obtained permission of her husband to retire to some monastery. She accordingly took the veil at Coldingham, where her aunt was Abbess. From this convent she removed to Ely, in consequence of the determination of her husband to oblige her to return. On her arrival at Ely, she intended to repair the old church, built by King Ethelbert. This was situated about a mile from the present city, and was called Cratendune, now Cratendon field. She however resolved to build a new church and a monastery, and commenced the buildings near the site of the present cathedral, about the year 673. On the erection of the new foundation, she became the first Abbess, and endowed it with the whole of the isle of Èly. Her establishment was of no particular order; but the strictness of their mode of life may be estimated from the conduct of Etheldreda when she became Abbess, which is thus described by the venerable Bede :-" From her first entrance on her office, she never wore any linen, but only woollen garments. She usually ate only twice a day, except on the greater festivals, or in times of sickness; and if her health permitted, she never returned to bed after matins, which were held at midnight, but continued her prayers in the church till break of day." Etheldreda died of an epidemic distemper, in the year 678; and, at her express desire, her body was placed in a wooden coffin, and buried in the common cemetery of the nuns. About sixteen years afterwards, it was removed into the church, and deposited in a marble coffin, which was brought by the monks from the ruins of the Roman station at Granta, or Grantaceaster.

The monastery, together with the church and other buildings, was burnt by the Danes in the year 868 or 870; and all the religious orders were put to the sword. Beorhed, king of Mercia, who had levied an army to pursue the Danes, took the revenues and jurisdiction into his own

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