ELGIVA,
A beautiful English Princess, who married Edwy, King of England, soon after he ascended the throne, in 955. She was within the degree of kindred prohibited by the canon law; and the savage Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury, excited a disaffection against the king in consequence. The rebellious party seized the queen, and branded her in the face with a red-hot iron, hoping to destroy her beauty, then carried her into Ireland to remain there in exile; while Edwy consented to a divorce. Elgiva, having completely recovered from her wounds, was hastening to the arms of her husband, when she fell into the hands of her enemies, and was barbarously murdered.