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late. The roof which had sheltered the remains of for- 

 mer Abbesses, of Eilburg, who governed the nunnery, both 

 religiously and prudently, for more than half a century, 

 and of Kyneburg, the widow of Elred, King of Northum- 

 berland, was thrown open to the winds of heaven, and 

 nothing remained of its former splendour but walls black 

 with smoke, and a few broken effigies. 



Neither Wolfere, nor his wife Eva, anticipated that 

 such would be the fate of the noble abbey which the piety 

 of former kings had founded, and which the governor of 

 Mercia sought to enlarge and beautify, because Eva 

 loved to worship there. The future is in mercy veiled 

 from the eyes of men ; they could not bear to contem- 

 plate events that are often close at hand, for though 

 strength is promised for the day of sorrow, it is not given 

 before that sorrow comes. Eva went, as she was wont, 

 on every holy day, to offer prayers, and to present her 

 gifts within the hallowed walls of St Peter's Abbey, and 

 Wolfere continued to embellish the noble city that was 

 confided to his care, by causing many spacious buildings 

 to be erected both for ornament and use. The city had 

 suffered greatly in former wars, and he not only rebuilt 

 such portions of the walls as had been broken down, but 

 so enlarged and adorned it, that it was soon spoken of as 

 one of the finest cities in the Heptarchy. Great hospi- 

 tality was also exercised at his court, and many found a 

 shelter there, whose homes had been destroyed in the 

 rage of civil discord. 



