294 WHO WAS ST. ENOCH ? 



But it is only with Modred's sister that we are here 

 concerned. Born in a land where paganism was 

 falling back, fiercely resisting, before the soldiers of the 

 Cross, Thenew, though not yet baptized, became an 

 ardent proselyte of the new religion, ' exercising herself 

 in the discipline of the true faith, so far as she might 

 without incurring her father's anger.' The outcome of 

 these exercises was scarcely calculated to diminish the 

 king's objections. Thenew, we are told, became so 

 deeply absorbed in contemplation of the Virgin Mary 

 as to become possessed by the ambition of emulating 

 her by an immaculate conception. Fervently and 

 incessantly she prayed that she might become the 

 mother of a fatherless child. Profane persons may 

 recognise one of Boccaccio's favourite themes in what 

 happened to the young woman who indulged in such 

 hazardous fancies. She became enceinte. 



Now if King Llew was a pagan, he was also a person, 

 it seems, of very austere morality. When he became 

 aware of his daughter's condition, he declared that the 

 law of his realm should take its course — a law which 

 condemned any maiden convicted of impurity to be 

 flung from a precipice and her paramour to be beheaded. 

 Accordingly Thenew, declaring solemnly that she had 

 sinned with no man, was taken to the top of Dunpender 

 (now called Traprain Law) in Haddingtonshire and ' the 

 servants of the king hurled her from the top of the 

 mountain. A marvellous thing happened, unheard of 

 from ancient times. When she fell she was not 

 bruised . . . like a feather-clad bird she glided to the 

 ground in an easy descent.' Thus Joceline succinctly : 



