Page:A Dictionary of Saintly Women Volume 1.djvu/468

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454 ST. KYNEBURGA Osric, king of Northumbria, 718-729; in which case he and Eyneburga (2) were perhaps the children of Eyneburga (1). Eyneburga ^2) is said to have been succeeded by her sister Edburqa (3). She has been supposed to be identical with Eyneburga (1) or Eyneburga (3). Com- pare Bishop Stubbs in Smith and Wace ; Miss Arnold Forster, Dedications ; and Stanton^ Menology, St. Kyneburga (3), June 25, 7th or 8th century. Stanton says all we know of Eyneburga of Gloucester is deriyed from the lessons of her office, compiled after her translation late in the 14th century. According to these, she was of a royal race among the ancient Saxons, and a royal marriage was ar- ranged for her. To escape from this earthly tie, she fled to Gloucester, where she was unknown. She there engaged herself as servant to a baker, who soon adopted her as his own daughter. His wife, however, was jealous of her in- fluence. One day, in his absence, she murdered the holy virgin and threw her into a well, afterwards called by her name. When the master came home, he called Eyneburga, who answered from the well. The body was taken up and reverently buried ; after a time a church was built over her grave, and miracles attested her holiness. The Gloucester annals, Camden, and Leland all represent her as the first abbess of St. Peter's at Gloucester, founded by Osric, king of Northumberland, where Eyneburga, Edburqa, and Eva or Weede, all Mercian queens, successively presided ; but Stanton thinks this seems to be a con- fusion between Eyneburga (1) and the baker's maid. Stanton, Menology, pp. G54, 632. Compare Wkeda. St. Kynedride (l), March 6, May 31 (Chinesdre, Cinethrith, Cynedridis, Einisdred), 4- c. 705. Sister of Eyne- burga (1). A daughter of Penda, the heathen king of Mercia. She and her sister Eyneswitha were very young when their father died in 055. They were brought up in the monastery of Dormundcoster and early consecrated themselves to God. Eynedride is often left out of the number of the sainted children of Penda, but is placed amongst them by Britannia Saneia and appears in Watson's English Mart, and in Lives of Women Sainis in England, She is perhaps the Abbess Eynedride to whom, in 709, was sent the miracle- working silken robe in which the body of St. Wnfnd had lain. Smith and Waoe tell of the robe but they do not identiff the abbess with the daughter of Penda. She is perhaps the same as Chidestre, + 701, V. daughter of Penda, in Ndwman'B list. It does not seem certain that Eynedride is not merely another name for Eyneburo or EYNESwroE. B. Kjrnedride (2), Chik£i>ritha, or Cynedridis, May 8. 10th century. Wife of Herstan and mother of St. Dunstan. In 924, shortly before the birth of her illustrious son, in the solemn office of Candlemas Day, in the Church of the Blessed Virgin in Glastonbury, all the lights were suddenly extinguished, but the taper which Eynedride held in her hand was re-lighted from heaven ; and all the rest borrowed their light from her. After his birth, his parents were favoured with a vision in which the future sanctity of their son was revealed to them. He was Archbishop of Canterbury for twenty-seven years. After the death of Eynedride, her son saw her soul in a vision among the blessed in heaven. Brit. Saneia. AA,S8.y Prseter. St. Kynegild, Guntild. St. Kyneswide, March G (Cynbsuith, Eyneswitha), nun at Dormundcaster. Daughter of Penda, king of Mercia. Wife of 0£fa, king of the East Saxons. Sister of Eyneburga (1) and of five kings, some of whom are accounted saints. Eyneswide incited her brothers to found the great abbey of Medeham- stede, afterwards Petorborongh, and attended its dedication in 056, sanc- tioning Wulfere's grants, and signing the charter with her mark. Offik had reigned seven years when, with Eyne- switha's approval, perhaps at her insti- gation, he resolved to leave her and his country. In conjunction with her nephew, Eenred, king of Mercia, son of Wulfere and Ekmbnilda, he endowed the new monastery of Evesham founded by St Wilfrid, freed it from all temporal jurisdiction and witnessed its dedication