Α.». 714.] LIFE OF ST. GDTHLAC. that the emperor's name should not be used in deeds, nor his coin be received, nor bis name mentioned in the celebration of mass. Of St. Guthlao the hermit. In the year of grace Y14, St. Guthlac the hermit ended his days in the marsh of Croyland. He was of illustrious descent by both his parents ; at the time of his birth, in the reign of Athelred, king of the Mercians, a hand, of a ruddy splendor, was seen extended from heaven towards a cross, which stood before the door of his mother's house : the fame of so great a miracle speedily filled the region of the Middle-Mercians. The infant was baptized, and named Guthlac by the desire of his parents ; but when he grew in strength and years, he gathered a band of followers, and took to arms : yet such was his innate goodness, that he always gave back a third part of the spoil to those whose property it was. After spending eight years in this lawless life, he one night began to reflect within himself, and to call to mind the vanity of this world's glory, and the certainty and eternity of damnation. As soon as it was morning, he left his parents and his comrades in robbery, and went to the monastery of Rependune [Repton], which was then famous : there he received the tonsure and the clerical habit, and determined to do penance for his sins ; he was then instructed in sacred literature and in monastic discipline, and was singularly desirous of emulating the virtues of each sort. After reading the virtues of the monks, who had chosen a solitary life, he longed for solitude, and took a journey to find out a suitable spot. Arriving at length at a great marsh in the eastern coasts of the Mercians, he inquired diligently what sort of country it was ; and was told by a certain man that there was a great way off in the midst of that vast marsh an island, which many had sought to inhabit, but that nearly all had forsaken it on account of the fearful sights that they saw in that solitude. On hearing this, the man of God requested that the place might be shown him ; on which the other took a fishing-boat, and conducted the holy man of God to the spot. This island is called " Croyland," and no one had hitherto dared to live there on account of the terrible visions of demons by which it was frequented. There the holy K 2