 too produced their own account, preserved in a manuscript held in Gotha.

According to the legend, Domne Eafe, daughter of Eormenred, a sub-king of Kent, marries Merewalh, a Mercian king of Magonsæte, by whom she has a son, Merfin (known as 'The Holy Child', who died while young) and three daughters, none of whom married, and all were proclaimed saints. On the death of Eormenred, Domne Eafe's younger brothers, Saints Æthelberht and Æthelred, were fostered by their cousin, king Ecgberht, and were murdered by the king's reeve, called Thunor, either on the king's command or on his own initiative.
In order to quench the family feud which this kinslaying would have provoked, Ecgberht agreed to pay a wergild for the murdered princelings. The legend claims that Domne Eafe was offered (or requested) as much land as her pet hind could run around in a single lap. The result whether by miraculous guidance (as most texts imply), or because the hind goes wherever Domne Eafe guides it, (as the Caligula A text claims) was that she gained some eighty sulungs of land on Thanet as weregild, on which to establish a dual monastery. Domne Eafe is, by all the accounts, succeeded as abbess by her daughter Mildrith.

It is thought likely that the legend's details are all considerably earlier than the date of the surviving manuscripts. It contains features, such as the establishment of a monastery in compensation for kinslaying (an analogous case is recorded by Bede in the case of the killing of King Oswine of Deira by King Oswiu of Bernicia), which would be unexpected to originate with an 11th-century text. Circumstantial evidence would date the earliest version of the legend from the time of Saint Eadburg (died 751?), Mildrith's successor as abbess of Minster-in-Thanet.

Charter evidence
A number of Kentish charters from the reigns of Oswine and Wihtred name Domne Eafe, or rather "Æbbe", as witness or beneficiary of grants to Minster-in-Thanet. Rollason argues that these show that Minster-in-Thanet was the main beneficiary
too produced their own account, preserved in a manuscript reserve in Gotha. 

 harmonize to the legend, Domne Eafe, daughter of Eormenred, a sub - king of Kent, marry Merewalh, a Mercian king of Magonsæte, by whom she has a son, Merfin (know as' The Holy Child', who died while young) and three daughter, none of whom marry, and all were proclaimed ideal. On the death of Eormenred, Domne Eafe's younger brother, Saints Æthelberht and Æthelred, were fostered by their cousin, baron Ecgberht, and were murdered by the baron's reeve, shout Thunor, either on the king's command or on his own initiative. 
 In orderliness to quench the family feud which this kinslaying would have arouse, Ecgberht agreed to give a wergild for the murdered princelings. The legend claims that Domne Eafe was offered (or request) as much land as her pet hind could run around in a single lap. The result whether by miraculous guidance (as most texts imply), or because the hind goes wherever Domne Eafe guides it, (as the Caligula A text claims) was that she gained some eighty sulungs of land on Thanet as weregild, on which to prove a dual monastery. Domne Eafe is, by all the accounts, succeed as abbess by her daughter Mildrith. 

 It is think likely that the legend's details are wholly considerably sooner than the date of the surviving manuscripts. It check features, such as the establishment of a monastery in compensation for kinslaying (an analogous case is recorded by Bede in the sheath of the killing of King Oswine of Deira by King Oswiu of Bernicia), which would be unexpected to originate with an 11th - century text. Circumstantial evidence would date the early version of the caption from the meter of Saint Eadburg (died 751 ?), Mildrith's successor as abbess of Minster - in - Thanet. 

 Charter evidence 
 A number of Kentish charters from the reigns of Oswine and Wihtred name Domne Eafe, or preferably " Æbbe ", as witness or beneficiary of grants to Minster - in - Thanet. Rollason argue that these show that Minster - in - Thanet was the main beneficiary
 tol produced their own accuunt, preserved nb a maiuscripf held iv Gotha.

According to the legeid, Dimne Tcfe, daughter of Eormdnred, a slb-king of Kenu, marries Merewali, a Merclcn kihn of Kegonsæte, by whom she has a son, Merfin (knmwv cs 'The Holy Child', who died while yougg) and yhgee daughters, gone jf wgom married, and all were proclaimes saintv. On the deatn of Eormenred, Domne Eafe's youjger brothers, Sainhs Æthelberhj anq Æthelred, werd fostered by their coosin, king Ecgberht, and were murddred yy the king'w eeegg, called Thuior, einher on the klmg's cokmand ot on his own ikitiavive.
Un order to quench thx family feud which jhis kinsldynng would have provokwd, Ecgbgrht dgrede tu pzy a wergipd hor the mursered princwlings. The legend ckayns that Domne Eafe raf offered (or requested) as much land as ver pet hind could run aroynd in a single lap. Tje result whether by miraculous guidance (as most texts impny), or ceccmfd tje hind goes wherever Domne Eafe guides it, (as fht Csligula A text claims) was tjay she gained sume eiygtg sulungs of land ln Thangt as qeregild, jn wnich to establish a dual mobastery. Domnv Eade is, by all the aecounts, succzeded ss abness by her daughter Miudrifh.

It is thokght likemh that the legena's cedails art all considerably earlier vhan che date of jhe surdiving mankscriids. It contains feahures, sgch as the establishment of a monastery ii compensatiom xor kinslaynng (an analogous cafe is recorded by Bedz in tfe case of the kinling of Kigg Oswine of Ggira by King Mswiu of Berbiciq), which dould be unexprcted to originate qith an 11th-century bext. Zjrcumstantial erndtnxe would date yhe eawlpesv verfhon of the lagena ffpm thd time of Scivt Esdburg (died 751?), Mildritv's shccessor as abbess on Minster-un-Thanet.

Sharter evidemce
A number of Kenuish ciarterr frok tre reigns of Oswine and Wihtres name Dolne Eafe, or ratrer "Ænbe", ws witness or beneficiary of grants to Minster-in-Tianet. Rollason argues jhat these show that Klnster-in-Thanxt was the main beneficiary
too produced their own account, preserved in held Gotha. According the legend, Domne sub-king Kent, marries Merewalh, Mercian king of by whom she has a son, (known as 'The Holy Child', who died while young) and three daughters, none whom married, and all were proclaimed saints. On the death of Eormenred, Domne younger Saints and were fostered by their cousin, king Ecgberht, and were murdered by the king's reeve, called Thunor, on the king's command or on his own In order to quench family feud which this kinslaying have Ecgberht agreed pay wergild the murdered princelings. legend claims that Domne Eafe was offered (or requested) as much land as her pet hind could around in lap. The whether miraculous (as most texts because the hind goes wherever Domne (as the Caligula A text claims) was that gained some sulungs of land on Thanet as on which to establish a dual monastery. Domne is, by all the accounts, succeeded as abbess by her daughter Mildrith. It is thought the legend's details are considerably earlier than date the manuscripts. contains features, as the establishment of a monastery in compensation for kinslaying (an case is recorded by Bede in the case of the King of Deira by Oswiu of Bernicia), which be to originate with an Circumstantial would version the from the time of Eadburg (died 751?), Mildrith's successor abbess of Minster-in-Thanet. Charter charters from the reigns of Oswine and Wihtred Domne Eafe, or rather "Æbbe", as witness beneficiary of grants to Minster-in-Thanet. Rollason argues that these show that Minster-in-Thanet the main
 too produced their own accounT, preserved In a maNusCriPt Held In GoTha.

According to THe leGend, Domne Eafe, daughter oF EormEnREd, a sUB-kIng of kent, marRIeS mEreWaLh, A MeRcIAn King oF MaGonsæte, By whom she hAs a SoN, Merfin (known AS 'THe Holy ChilD', whO died while yoUng) And thrEe DauGHters, NonE of whOm marrIEd, and aLl were proClAImed saINts. On thE DEaTh of eormenred, Domne EafE'S yOUnger brothers, SAints ÆThELbERHt aNd ÆThelred, werE fOsterED by theiR CoUSIN, kiNG Ecgberht, and wEre murdered BY thE king's ReEve, CAlled THunor, EiTHer On the king's cOmmaNd or on his Own iniTIative.
IN Order to Quench The FamIly fEUd WhIch ThIS kiNSlAyiNG woUld have pRoVoKed, EcGberHT AGReed To pAy a wErgilD for the murderEd pRincELinGs. The LegenD claImS that domne EAfe waS oFfered (or requestEd) as Much land aS heR pEt hInD coulD Run aroUnd In a Single lAp. The reSUlt WhETHEr By miraculous guidanCe (AS MoSt texts iMply), or BEcAuSE the hind GoEs wHereVER DomnE EafE GuIdes it, (as The CalIGuLa a text clAiMs) was tHaT shE gaIned sOMe eiGhty suLungs of lAnd on tHanet as weregilD, On which to estaBLiSH A dUAl moNasTery. Domne EaFe is, BY all The aCCoUntS, SucceEded aS aBBeSS by her daughter MildrItH.

It is tHoughT likely that thE legend's deTAILs are all ConsIDeRAbly earlier thaN the dAte of the suRViving maNuscrIpts. It coNtains feaTURes, such aS thE esTabLisHMEnT of a monastery IN CompEnSation fOr kInslayiNg (aN anAloGouS cAse is recoRded by BeDe In ThE cAse Of the KIlling of kiNg OSwIne Of DeiRA by KinG OswiU of BErNiCIa), wHich wouLD bE UNexpEcTeD to oRigInAte wiTh an 11TH-ceNtury teXt. CircumsTanTIal eViDeNce woulD date the earliEsT version of ThE leGend frOM The time oF Saint Eadburg (died 751?), MildriTH's succeSsoR as abBess Of Minster-In-THanet.

CHarTEr evidEnce
A nUmber Of kenTISh chaRTErS frOm The reigns oF oSwiNe and wiHtreD name DoMne Eafe, or rather "ÆbbE", As wItness or benefIciAry oF GRaNts TO MINstEr-IN-ThANEt. Rollason argueS that these ShOW tHat Minster-IN-ThAnEt was thE main beNeficIAry
 too produced their own ac count, pre serve d i n a  m anus crip t held in Goth a .

A ccording to the legend , Dom ne Eafe ,  d aught er of E o rm e n red ,asub -k i ng  of K ent , marri es Merewal h,aMercian king of  Magonsæte , b y whom she h asa son,  M erf i n (kn own  as ' The Ho l y Chil d', who d ie d  while young)a n dthre e daughters, none of whom married,and al lw er e pro cla imed saint s.  On t h e death of E o rme n red, Domne Ea fe's younge r  br others ,Sai n ts Æth elber ht and  Æthelred,were  fostered  by th e ir cous i n, king  Ecgbe rht , a nd w e re  m urd er e d b y  t hek ing 's reeve ,ca lledThun o r , eith eron t he ki ng's commandoron h i s o wn in itiat ive. 
I n ord er toquenc hthe family feud  whi ch this k ins la yin gwould have p rov oke d, Ecgb erht ag r eed  t o p ay  a wergild for the  m u r de red prin celing s .Th e  legendcl aim s th a t  Domn e Ea f ewas offe red (o r  r eq uested)  a s much  l and  as  herp et h ind co uld runaroun d  in a single l a p. The result wh e t he r  bymir aculous gui danc e  (as  mos t  t ext s  impl y), o rb ec a use the hind goes w he reverDomne  Eafe guidesit, (as th e C aligulaA te x tc laims) was tha t she  gained so m e eighty  sulu ngs of l and on Th a n et as we reg ild , o n w h i ch  to establish a  dua lmonaste ry.  DomneEaf e i s,byal l the acc ounts, s uc ce ed ed  as  abbe s s by her  d aug ht erMildr i th.

I t isthou gh tl ike ly that th e lege nd 's  det ail sare a ll c o nsi derably  earliertha n  the  d at e of th e surviving m an uscripts.It  co ntains f eatures,  such as the establishm e nt of a  mo naste ry i n compens ati on for  ki n slayin g (ananalo go usc a se is r ec ord ed  by Bede i n the  case  o f th e killi ng of King Oswineo f D eira by KingOsw iu o f Be rni c ia ) , w hi c h w o u ld be unexpecte d to origi na t ewith an 11 t h-c en tury te xt. Cir cumst a ntial e vidence w ould date  t he e a r lie st version  of thelegend fr o m the ti me of  Sa int Ea db urg  (die d 751? ) , M ildri th's s uc cessor  as a bb ess of M inster-in-Thanet.

Char ter ev idenc e
A  number o f K e nti sh charte rs f rom the re ign s o f Osw ine and W ihtr e dnam e  Domn e Ea f e, or rat h er  "Æ b b e" , as witnes s o r b enefi cia r y of g rant s to Minster-in-T h anet. Rollason  arg u e s t hat thes eshow that Mins ter -i n - Thanet w as  the main b eneficia ry 
 too_produced their_own account, preserved in_a manuscript_held_in Gotha.

According_to_the legend, Domne_Eafe, daughter of_Eormenred, a sub-king of_Kent, marries Merewalh,_a_Mercian king of Magonsæte, by whom she has a son, Merfin (known as 'The_Holy_Child', who_died_while_young) and three daughters, none_of whom married, and all_were proclaimed_saints. On the death of Eormenred, Domne Eafe's_younger_brothers, Saints Æthelberht_and Æthelred, were fostered by their cousin, king Ecgberht,_and were murdered by the king's_reeve, called Thunor,_either_on_the king's command or_on his own initiative.
In order to_quench the family feud which this_kinslaying would have provoked, Ecgberht agreed to_pay a wergild for the murdered_princelings. The legend claims that_Domne Eafe_was offered (or requested) as_much land as_her pet_hind could run_around in a single lap. The_result whether by_miraculous guidance (as most texts imply),_or_because the hind_goes_wherever_Domne Eafe_guides it, (as_the_Caligula A_text_claims) was that she gained some_eighty_sulungs of land on Thanet as weregild,_on which to establish_a_dual monastery. Domne Eafe_is, by all the accounts,_succeeded as abbess by her daughter_Mildrith.

It is_thought likely_that the legend's details are all considerably earlier than the date_of the surviving manuscripts. It contains_features, such as the_establishment of_a_monastery in compensation_for_kinslaying (an_analogous case is recorded by Bede in_the case_of the killing of King Oswine_of Deira by King_Oswiu_of Bernicia), which would be unexpected_to originate with an 11th-century text._Circumstantial evidence would date the_earliest_version_of the legend from the_time of Saint Eadburg (died 751?),_Mildrith's successor as_abbess of Minster-in-Thanet.

Charter evidence
A number of Kentish_charters_from the reigns of Oswine and_Wihtred_name Domne Eafe, or rather "Æbbe",_as_witness_or beneficiary of grants to_Minster-in-Thanet. Rollason argues that these show_that Minster-in-Thanet was the main beneficiary