EANFLED,
Daughter of Edwin, King of Northumbria, and Ethelburga, was the first individual who received the sacrament of baptism in that kingdom. She afterwards married Osmy, King of Mercia.
EASTLAKE, LADY ELIZABETH,
Is the accomplished wife of the celebrated painter. Sir Charles Eastlake, now president of the Royal Academy. Under her maiden name of Rigby, she gained a considerable literary reputation by publishing, in 1841, "Letters from the shores of the Baltic," being the record of a visit to a married sister who had there settled. Five years after this date were published her "Livonian Tales," which appeared first separately, and then in a collected form, having been favourably received by the public. Lady Eastlake is now known as an occasional contributor to the "Quarterly Review," two of her articles in which, on "Dress" and "Conversation," have been re-printed as one part of "Murray's Home and Colonial Library."
EBBA, SAINT,
This lady, whose piety earned for her the honour of canonization, was the wife of Cwichelme, King of Wessex, on whose death she remained some time at the court of her brother Oswald, King of Northumberland, who, we are told, was much guided by her pious counsels. She afterwards founded the celebrated monastery of Coldingham in the Marshes, below Berwick-on-Tweed, in Scotland, which establishment she governed as abbess until her death, which took place at an advanced age, and, as some say, under peculiarly distressing circumstances. The Danes having ravaged the country with fire and sword, were approaching Coldingham, when Ebba persuaded her nuns to disfigure themselves by cutting off their noses and upper lips, that they might be preserved from the brutality of the soldiery. Her example was followed by all the sisterhood. The barbarians, enraged at finding them in this state, set fire to the monastery, and consumed the inmates in the flames.
The history of Ebba is much connected with the public events of her time, proving the influence she maintained by her own excellent conduct. At one period she presided over Camwode Abbey, or as it was sometimes called "The Convent of Ebba." Here St. Etheldreda, then queen, having received her husband's permission, professed herself a nun, receiving the veil from the hands of the Abbess. A. D. 683, is the year in which this exalted woman is said to have died.
EDESIA,
Of Alexandria, wife of the philosopher Hermias. She lived in the beginning of the fifth century. Although at an early period of her life a convert to Christianity, she escaped persecution on account of her faith, in consequence of the high respect she commanded for her virtuous and exemplary life. After the death of of her husband, she joined her relatives at Athens.
The Fathers of the church mention her in their writings as having been instrumental, by her exemplary conduct, in dispelling
