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Updated: June 9, 2025
At Wisbech, for instance, there was a "light" of S. Etheldreda, to which we find persons bequeathing small sums. Of the monastery of S. Etheldreda and that of Bishop Ethelwold, Professor Freeman writes that there is "no continuity between the two."
But the more probable explanation is that they refer to the disease that afflicted S. Etheldreda, a swelling in the neck, which she held to be a fit punishment for the vanity of her youthful days, when she was fond of wearing necklaces and jewels. "Saint Audrey's laces" became corrupted into "Tawdry laces"; and so the adjective has been applied to all cheap and showy pieces of female ornament.
It was left standing, and grew into a flourishing tree; and the place, from the circumstance, was named Etheldrede's-Stow. A church was afterwards built and dedicated to S. Etheldreda. In course of time the three pilgrims arrived safely at their destination. Wilfrid, the archbishop, soon joined them.
Maybe it was as well that we had few with us, because the field was left in the hands of the Danes. Up and down among those few went Etheldreda and Alswythe and Thora, tending them and comforting them, where we had sent them to the highest point of the hilltop, inside the upper rampart; and I could see the flutter of their dresses now and then from where I watched beside Odda on the lower works.
Etheldreda, and at this fair a famous "fairing" was "St. Audrey's laces." St. Audrey, or Etheldreda, in the days of her youthful vanity was very fond of wearing necklaces and jewels. "St. Audrey's laces" became corrupted into "Tawdry laces"; hence the adjective has come to be applied to all cheap and showy pieces of female ornament. Trade now finds its way by means of other channels than fairs.
So all the women of Ely walked out barefoot to St. Etheldreda's well, with Torfrida at their head clothed in sackcloth, and with fetters on her wrists and waist and ankles; which she vowed, after the strange, sudden, earnest fashion of those times, never to take off again till she saw the French host flee from Aldreth before the face of St. Etheldreda.
Bishop Norwold died at Downham in 1254, and was buried at the feet of S. Etheldreda, where a splendid monument was erected over his body, now removed to the north side of the presbytery, beneath the third arch from the east. After his consecration, which took place ten months after his election, he only lived thirteen months.
Only the Lady Alswythe and a few of her servants were there now, for the Lady Etheldreda had taken Thora with her to Taunton when she left the hills. It had not been so safe here, though there was little plunder to bring the Danes to the place now.
"Now that is well said," answered Etheldreda. "But you must ask it for yourself." Thereat I thought for a moment, and at last I said that I would not do so. "If I might, I would ask you to gain this favour for me," I said; "for I think that a parting would be very hard, as things have come about."
Etheldreda and all the powers of Heaven, and chanting doom and defiance to the invaders. And the English looked on her, and cried: "She is a prophetess! We will surely do some great deed this day, or die around her feet like heroes!"
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