therefore, is a fact, though a forgotten one; no less obscure
than undeniable,--like so many other facts.

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*Lyttelton's _History of Henry II._ (2nd Edition), v. 169, &c.
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Like the St. Edmund's Monastery itself! Who can doubt, after
what we have said, that there was a Monastery here at one time?
No doubt at all there was a Monastery here; no doubt, some three
centuries prior to this Fornham Battle, there dwelt a man in
these parts, of the name of Edmund, King, Landlord, Duke or
whatever his title was, of the Eastern Counties;--and a very
singular man and landlord he must have been.

For his tenants, it would appear, did not complain of him in the
least; his labourers did not think of burning his wheatstacks,
breaking into his game-preserves; very far the reverse of all
that. Clear evidence, satisfactory even to my friend Dryasdust,
exists that, on the contrary, they honoured, loved, admired this
ancient Landlord to a quite astonishing degree,--and indeed at
last to an immeasurable and inexpressible degree; for, finding
no limits or utterable words for their sense of his worth, they
took to beatifying and adoring him! 'Infinite admiration,' we
are taught, 'means worship.'

Very singular,--could we discover it! What Edmund's specific
duties were; above all, what his method of discharging them with
such results was, would surely be interesting to know; but are
_not_ very discoverable now. His Life has become a poetic, nay a