[Sidenote: _Osborne_ and _Capgraue_ hold that she was not his wife but
a nun.]
In this meane time, Alfred the wife of king Edgar (as some say) or
rather (as others write) his concubine died, of whome he had begot a
sonne named Edward. The death of this woman caused the king to commit
an heinous offense. For albeit at the same time the fame went,
[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ Horger.]
that Horgerius duke of Cornewall, or rather Deuonshire, had a daughter
named Alfred, a damosell of excellent beautie, whome Edgar minding
to haue in mariage, appointed one of his noble men called earle
Ethelwold, to go with all speed into Cornewall or Deuonshire, to sée
if the yoong ladies beautie answered the report that went of hir, and
so to breake the matter to hir father in his behalfe: yet Ethelwold
being a yong iollie gentleman, tooke his iournie into Cornewall,
and comming to the duke, was well receiued, and had a sight of his
daughter, with whose beautie he was streight rauished so far in loue,
[Sidenote: Erle Ethelwold deceiueth the king of his wife.]
that not regarding the kings pleasure, who had sent him thither,
he began to purchase the good will of both father and daughter for
himselfe, and did so much that he obteined the same in déed. Herevpon
returning to the king, he informed him that the damosell was not of
such beautie and comelie personage, as might be thought woorthie to
match in mariage with his maiestie.
Shortlie after perceiuing the kings mind by his wrongfull misreport to
be turned, and nothing bent that way, he began to sue to him that he
might with his fauour marie the same damosell: which the king granted,
as one that cared not for hir, bicause of the credit which he gaue to
Ethelwolds words. And so by this meanes Ethelwold obteined Alfred in
mariage, which was to his owne destruction, as the case fell out. For
when the fame of hir passing beautie did spread ouer all the realme,
now that she was maried and came more abroad in sight of the people,
the king chanced to heare thereof, and desirous to sée hir, deuised
vnder colour of hunting to come vnto the house of Ethelwold, and so
did: where he had no sooner set his eie vpon hir, but he was so farre
[Sidenote: King Edgar séeketh the destruction of earle Ethelwold.]
wrapped in the chaine of burning concupiscence, that to obteine
his purpose, he shortlie after contriued Ethelwolds death, and maried
his wife.
Some say, that the woman kindled the brand of purpose: for when it was
knowne, that the king would sée hir, Ethelwold willed hir in no wise
to trim vp hir selfe, but rather to disfigure hir in fowle garments,
and some euil fauored attire, that hir natiue beautie should not
appeare: but she perceiuing how the matter went, of spite set out hir
selfe to the vttermost, so that the king vpon the first sight of hir,
became so farre inamored of hir beautie, that taking hir husband
[Sidenote: King Edgar a murtherer.]
foorth with him on hunting into a forrest or wood then called
Warlewood, & after Horewood, not shewing that he meant him anie hurt,
till at length he had got him within the thicke of the wood, where he
suddenlie stroke him through with his dart. Now as his bastard son
came to the place, the king asked him how he liked the maner of
hunting, wherto he answered; "Verie well if it like your grace, for
that that liketh you, ought not to displease me." With which answer
the king was so pacified, that he indeuored by pretending his fauor
towards the sonne, to extenuat the tyrannicall murther of the father.
Then did the king marie the countesse Alfred, and of hir begat two
sonnes, Edmund which died yoong, and Etheldred or Egelred.
Besides this cruell act wrought by king Edgar, for the satisfieng of
his fleshlie lust, he also plaied another part greatlie to the staine
of his honor, mooued also by wanton loue, with a yoong damosell named
Wilfrid, for after that she had (to auoid the danger of him) either
professed hir selfe a nun, or else for colour (as the most part of
writers agrée) got hirselfe into a nunrie, and clad hir in a nuns
wéed, he tooke hir foorth of hir cloister, and lay by hir sundrie
times, and begat on hir a daughter named Edith, who comming to
[Sidenote: His licentious life & incontinencie.]
conuenient age, was made a nun. A third example of his incontinencie
is written by authors, and that is this. It chanced on a time that he
lodged one night at Andeuer, and hauing a mind to a lords daughter
there, he commanded that she should bee brought to his bed. But the
mother of the gentlewoman would not that hir daughter should be
defloured: and therefore in the darke of the night brought one of hir
maidseruants, and laid hir in the kings bed, she being both faire,
proper, and pleasant.
In the morning when the day began to appeare, she made hast to arise:
and being asked of the king why she so hasted; That I may go to my
daies worke if it please your grace (quoth she.) Herewith she being
staied by the king, as it were against hir will, she fell downe on hir
knées, and required of him that she might be made frée, in guerdon of
hir nights worke. For (saith she) it is not for your honor, that the
woman which hath tasted the pleasure of the kings bodie should anie
more suffer seruitude vnder the rule and appointment of a sharpe and
rough mistresse.
The king then being mooued in his spirits, laughed at the matter,
though not from the heart, as he that tooke great indignation at the
dooings of the dutchesse, and pitied the case of the poore wench. But
yet in fine (turning earnest to a iest) he pardoned all the parties,
and aduanced the wench to high honor, farre aboue those that had rule
of hir afore, so that she ruled them (willed they nilled they:) for he
vsed hir as his paramour, till he maried the foresaid Alfred.
For these youthfull parts, & namelie for the rauishing of Wilfride
(which though she were no nun, yet the offense seemed heinous, for
[Sidenote: Note the déep hypocrisie of Dunstane.]
that he should not once touch anie woman shadowed vnder that
habit) he greatlie displeased Dunstane, so that by him he was put to
his seuen yéeres penance, and kept from the crowne till the 12 yeere
[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._ _Fabian_ out of _Guido de Cobeman_. _Wil. Malm._]
of his reigne or more. For some write that he was not crowned nor
annointed king, till the 30 yéere of his age, which should be about
the 13 or 14 yeere of his reigne by that account, sith he entred into
the rule of the kingdome about the 16 yeere of his age. In déed one
author witnesseth, that he was consecrated at Bath on a Whitsunday,
the 13 yéere of his reigne, and that by Dunstane archbishop of
[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ _Ranul. Hig._]
Canturburie, and Oswold archbishop of Yorke. But some which suppose
that he was consecrated king immediatlie vpon the death of Edridus,
[Sidenote: _Polydor_.]
affirme that he was crowned and annointed king by the archbishop
Odo, Dunstane as then remaining in exile, from whence he was
immediatlie reuoked by Edgar, and first made bishop of Worcester (as
hath beene said) and after the decease of Odo was aduanced to be
archbishop of Canturburie. But by some writers it appeareth, that
[Sidenote: _Matt. West._ _Simon Dun._]
Dunstane was reuoked out of exile immediatlie vpon partition of the
realme betwixt Edwin and Edgar, which chanced in the yéere 957, by the
rebellion of the people of Mercia, & others (as before ye haue heard:)
and that in the yéere following the archbishop Odo died, after whome
succéeded Alfin bishop of Winchester, who also died the same yéere
that king Edward deceassed, as he went to fetch his pall from Rome,
and then Brighthelme bishop of Dorchester was elected archbishop. But
bicause he was not able to discharge so great an office, by K. Edgars
commandement he was forced to giue place to Dunstane.
[Sidenote: _Fabian_. _Ran. Higd._ The Welshmen rebel and are chastised.]
Toward the latter end of king Edgars daies, the Welshmen mooued
some rebellion against him. Wherevpon he assembled an armie, and
entering the countrie of Glamorgan, did much hurt in the same,
chastising the inhabitants verie sharpelie for their rebellious
attempts. Amongst other spoiles taken in those parties at that time by
the men of war, the bell of saint Ellutus was taken away, and hanged
about a horsses necke, and (as hath béene reported) in the after
noone, it chanced that king Edgar laid him downe to rest, wherevpon in
sleepe there appeared one vnto him, and smote him on the breast with a
speare. By reason of which vision he caused all things that had beene
taken away to be restored againe. But within nine daies after the
[Sidenote: _Will Malmes._ King Edgar departeth this life.]
king died. Whether anie such thing chanced, or that he had anie such
vision it forceth not. But truth it is, that in the 37 yeere of his
age, after he had reigned 16 yéeres and two moneths he departed this
life, the 8 day of Iulie, and was buried at Glastenburie.
[Sidenote: Wherefore Edgar is praised of some writers.]
This Edgar is highlie renowmed of writers for such princelie
qualities as appeared in him, but chieflie for that he was so
beneficiall to the church, namelie to moonks, the aduancement of whome
he greatlie sought, both in building abbeies new from the ground, in
reparing those that were decaied: also by inriching them with great
reuenues, and in conuerting collegiat churches into monasteries,
remoouing secular priests, and bringing in moonks in their places.
There passed no one yéere of his reigne, wherin he founded not one
abbeie or other. The abbeie of Glastenburie which his father had begun
he finished. The abbeie of Abington also he accomplished and set in
good order. The abbeies of Peterborough & Thornie he established. The
nunrie of Wilton he founded and richlie endowed, where his daughter
Editha was professed, and at length became abbesse there. To be
briefe, he builded (as the chronicles record) to the number of 40
[Sidenote: _Fabian_. _Ran. Higd._ _Hen. Hunt._]
abbeies and monasteries, in some of which he placed moonks, and in
some nuns. By his example in those daies, other nobles, as also
prelates, & some of the laitie, did begin the foundation of sundrie
abbeies and monasteries: as Adelwold bishop of Winchester builded
[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._]
the abbeie of Elie, and (as some say) Peterborough & Thornie, though
they were established by the king (as before is mentioned.) Also earle
[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._]
Ailewin, at the exhortation of the same bishop Adelwold, builded
the abbeie of Ramsey, though some attribute the dooing thereof vnto
Oswald the archbishop of Yorke, and some to king Edward the elder.
[Sidenote: _Matt. West._ Moonks esteemed & secular priests little
regarded.]
To conclude, the religious orders of moonks and nuns in these
daies florished, and the state of secular priests was smallie
regarded, insomuch that they were constreined to auoid out of diuerse
colleges, and to leaue the same vnto moonks, as at Worcester and
Winchester, wherein the new monasterie, bicause the kings liued not in
such sort as was then thought requisite, the prebends were taken
[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._ _lib. 6 cap. 9_]
from them and giuen to vicars. But when the vicars were thought to vse
themselues no better, but rather worse than the other before them,
they were likewise put out, and moonks placed in their roomes
by authoritie of pope John the 13. This reformation, or rather
deformation was vsed by king Edgar in many other places of the realme.
[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ _Ran. Higd._ _Tho. Eliot_.]
He was (as appeareth by diuers writers) namelie in his beginning,
cruell against his owne people, and wanton in lusting after yoong
women (as you haue heard before.) Of stature & proportion of bodie
[Sidenote: Edgar small of stature but strong and hardie.]
he was but small and low, but yet nature had inclosed within so little
a personage such strength, that he durst incounter and combat with him
that was thought most strong, onelie doubting this, least he which
should haue to doo with him should stand in feare of him. And as it
chanced at a great feast (where oftentimes men vse their toongs more
[Sidenote: Kenneth king of Scots.]
liberallie than néedeth) Kenneth the king of Scots cast out
certeine words in this maner: "It may (saith hée) séeme a maruell that
so manie countries and prouinces should be subiect to such a little
sillie bodie as Edgar is." These words being borne awaie by a iester
or minstrell, and afterwards vttered to Edgar with great reproch,
he wiselie dissembled the matter for a time, although he kept the
remembrance thereof inclosed within his breast: and vpon occasion, at
length feigned to go on hunting, taking the king of Scots forth with
him: and hauing caused one of his seruants to conuey two swords into a
place within the forrest by him appointed in secret wise, of purpose
he withdrew from the residue of his companie, and there accompanied
onelie with the Scotish king, came to the place where the swords were
[Sidenote: The noble courage of king Edgar.]
laid; and there taking the one of them, deliuered the other to the
Scotish king, willing him now to assaie his strength, that they might
shew by proofe whether of them ought to be subiect to the other;
"Start not, but trie it with me (saith he:) for it is a shame for a
king to be full of brags at bankets, and not to be readie to fight
when triall should be made abroad." The Scotish king herewith being
astonied and maruellouslie abashed, fell downe at his féet, and with
much humilitie confessed his fault, & desired pardon for the same,
which vpon such his humble submission king Edward easilie granted.
This noble prince had two wiues, Egelfrida or Elfrida, surnamed the
white, the daughter of a mightie duke named Ordiner, by whome he had
issue a sonne named Edward that succéeded him. His second wife was
called Alfreda the daughter of Orgar duke of Deuon or Cornewall (as
some saie) by whome he had issue Edmund that died before his father,
and Egelred which afterwards was king. Also he had issue a base
[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._]
daughter named Editha, begotten of his concubine Wilfrid (as
before ye haue heard.) The state of the realme in king Edgars daies
was in good point, for both the earth gaue hir increase verie
plentiouslie, the elements shewed themselues verie fauorable,
according to the course of times: peace was mainteined, and no
inuasion by forraine enimies attempted. For Edgar had not onelie
all the whole Ile of Britaine in subiection, but also was ruler &
souereigne lord ouer all the kings of the out Iles that lie within
the seas about all the coasts of the same Britaine euen vnto the
[Sidenote: Ireland subiect to king Edgar.]
realme of Norwaie. He brought also a great part of Ireland vnder his
subiection, with the citie of Dublin, as by authentike recordes it
dooth and may appeare.
* * * * *
_Contention amongest the peeres and states about succession to the
crowne, the moonkes remoued and the canons and secular priests
restored by Alfer duke of Mercia and his adherents, a blasing starre
with the euents insuing the same, the rood of Winchester speaketh, a
prettie shift of moonks to defeat the priests of their possessions,
the controuersie betwene the moonks and the priests ended by a
miracle of archbishop Dunstane, great hope that Edward would tread his
fathers steps, the reuerent loue he bare his stepmother queene Alfred
and hir sonne Egelred, hir diuelish purpose to murther Edward hir
step-sonne accomplished, his obscure funerall in respect of pompe,
but famous by meanes of miracles wrought by and about his sepulture,
queene Alfred repenting hir of the said prepensed murther, dooth
penance, and imploieth hir substance in good woorkes as satisfactorie
for hir sinnes, king Edwards bodie remoued, and solemnlie buried by
Alfer duke of Mercia, who was eaten up with lice for being against the
said Edwards aduancement to the crowne, queene Alfreds offense by no
meanes excusable._