| [44] | The most effectual drainage belongs to a very recent period. At the present day a stranger could not realize, while passing through the Fen district, that it once was what is described in the text. |
| [45] | The abandoned cell was given by Ivo to the abbey of St. Nicholas of Angiers in Normandy. “The charter of licence for this purpose will be found in the Appendix of instruments, together with the substance of a charter from Ivo Taille-Bois, dated in 1085.” This last date was really the time of the deposition of Ulfcytel of Crowland. A second charter of Ivo’s, granted to the Abbot of Angiers the tithes of toll, salt, sea-fish and the fishery of Westlode for the monks’ support. |
| [46] | The writer seems to have held the sentiment—that human attachment, even among devout men, has a vein of selfishness in it. Love devoid of selfishness is pure indeed! |
| [47] | Names ending in ea as Manea, and some modified into ey as Thorney. |
| [48] | This appears to be a reference to “Gesta Regis Henrici Secundi”—the chronicle of the reigns of Henry II. and Richard I. (1169-92), by Benedict of Peterborough. The student will find this in the series of chronicles published under the authority of the Master of the Rolls. (Longmans.) |
| [49] | The only piece of real old Fen, at the present day, is found near Burwell, south of Ely and east of the Cam. A stranger riding through the Fen district would merely consider himself a traveller in a fertile plain—he would not realize that it was once Fen. |
| [50] | This etymology is not correct. Ely means eel-island; æl, Saxon for eel; ig, Saxon for island; and Elig became modified into Ely. See “The book of Ely” (Liber Eliensis), also “The Fenland.” |
| [51] | This refers to Akeman Street, which ran from Cambridge to Ely, Littleport, across the Little Ouse near Brandon and on to Lynn—most likely a British road originally. (See [map].) |
| [52] | Etheldreda was first married to Tonbert, a prince of the South Gyrwians, in 652, and it was through him she gained her title to the Isle of Ely, which retained the privilege of a principality after a bishopric was erected there. |
| [53] | Ecgfrith was son of Oswin (Oswy) king of Northumbria; at his death the supremacy of Northumbria declined. |