(J)CSnut of Cortfoortfj. 65 



persecuted, refused not, on his behalf, the prayers of one 

 who ceased not to supplicate that he might become a 

 sharer in the hopes and blessings of which she knew the 

 value. This was Eva, who has been already mentioned 

 as the wife of his son, Wolfere, the governor of Mercia. 

 Men of the present generation, those even who live where 

 she once lived, have heard little concerning her. Historians 

 speak rather of crimes and sorrows ; they chronicle what 

 the great adversary of mankind has achieved to make 

 nations miserable ; the life spent in quiet duty, the lift- 

 ing up of the heart in secret prayer, are no themes for 

 them. But the memorial of Eva is in heaven, her record 

 is on high, and there is reason to believe that she was 

 allowed to witness the softening of that rugged temper, 

 which had occasioned such a variety of wretchedness to 

 hear, also, that Penda allowed the preaching of Chris- 

 tianity in his dominions nearly two years before his death. 

 It was even said that he was baptized by Bishop Aiden, 

 with Sigebert, King of the East- Angles. 



Eva died in good old age, after presiding for more than 

 thirty years over the nunnery of St Peter's, at Gloucester. 

 She retired thither on the death of her husband, and 

 greatly benefited the abbey to which it was attached, by 

 causing the revenues to be increased, and by obtaining 

 the confirmation of former donations. With her terminated 

 the office of lady Abbess, during the cruel war which suc- 

 ceeded, between Egbert and the King of Mercia, when the 

 nuns were forced to depart, and the abbey became deso- 



