G12 
a holy man named Gutlilac, searching for a habitation wherein 
to pass a life of penance, “ by Divine guidance ” came, on 
St. Bartholomew’s day, to a “ solitary desert island ” in the midst 
of a dismal Ben of vast extent, and inhabited by devils of 
monstrous shape. Here the holy man found a congenial locality to 
exhibit his asceticism ; “ and in a hollow, on the side of a heap of 
turf, built himself a hut.” 
Guthlac seems to have had a lively existence at first, the devils 
casting him over head and cars into the foul Fen, or dragging him 
through Brambles and Briers “ for the tearing of his limbs ; ” but, 
eventually, St. Bartholomew, in consideration of Guthlac having 
come into his residence on the saint’s own particular day, came to 
his assistance with a scourge, which proved too much for the devils, 
and Guthlac was left in peace. After fifteen years passed in this 
lonely retreat, and probably in not altogether fruitless efforts to 
influenoe, by his example, the rough men of Mercia, Guthlac died 
in the odour of sanctity, and to his memory rose the stately Abbey 
of Crowland. The holy man had pitched upon an excellent site 
for his cell ; for, although surrounded by Fen, Crowland itself 
stands upon a firm foundation of gravel ; and the famous Barnack 
quarries, Avithin easy distance by Avater-carriage, supplied materials 
for the construction of the Abbey. 
Lands Avere lavished, and privileges speedily conferred Avithout 
stint on the Abbey of CroAvland, Avhich soon became one of the 
richest of the many religious houses in Fendand ; and there can be 
no doubt that the monks of CroAvland did all in their poAver to 
increa,se the value and productiveness of their estates, an example 
Avhich Avas doubtless folloAved by the other religious houses, much 
to their advantage, and greatly to the improvement of the country 
around. Eastern England abounds Avith inestimable architectural 
gems, left us by the religious communities, Avhich in too many cases 
have simply served as quarries to furnish raAV material for hideous 
structures of more modern date, or to supply metal for road-making ; 
and Ave are only just beginning to estimate these models of perfect 
taste at their true value, and to take means for their preservation. 
We hear much of the pride, love of poAver, and inordinate greed 
for temporalities displayed by the ecclesiastics in the height of their 
prosperity ; but the benefits they conferred in return arc too often 
forgotten ; nevertheless, they played a very important part in the 
