[MR] Wikipedia & Others: Martyrdom of St. Edmund of East Anglia

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends, Especially Vikings and Fellow Archers,

November 20 is the traditional date for the death of Edmund of East Anglia
(aka Edmund the Martyr). Edmund's origin is pretty shady, and the
circumstances of his death equally dodgy. He was alleged to have been King
of East Anglia, and was killed by Vikings in 869. Supposedly he was
captured by Ivar the Boneless (great name!). Edmund was offered his life if
he renounced Christ, but refused. According to his vitae, he was then used
by the Vikings for archery target practice. Still barely alive, he was
beheaded.

The manner of Edmund's death is similar to that of St. Sebastian, and other
elements of his story may have been lifted from other saints' vitae. This
was not uncommon during the middle ages.

Edmund was eventually enshrined at the Abbey in Bury St. Edmunds (the town
takes its name from him). His tomb became a major pilgrimage destination,
but was destroyed in during the dissolution of the monasteries in 1539.

Wikipedia offers an extensive article on St. Edmund at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_the_Martyr . More can be found at
http://catholicsaints.info/saint-edmund-of-east-anglia/ .

It is thought that his remains might still exist under a rose garden or a
tennis court near the monastery ruins:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-suffolk-21351719 and
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-suffolk-43332794 .

Yours Aye,

Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆