But lyued on his owne, as it was assised,
Vpon his rentes and landes morallye.
His officers hym ruled full no tably,
In euery shire he went in priuetee,
To spie and knowe who hurte[s] the commontee.
¶ He [This.] was a kyng full worthy and condigne,
That let not, for his ease nor his laboure,
To searche and see defautes that were maligne,
And theim correcte, he was a gouernoure.
God set neuer kyng to be a ryotoure, [Thoffice of a king.]
To trippe on tapettes, and lyue in ydelnesse,
But for to rule [with all kyndes of] [in all maner.] busynesse.
¶ He died the yere. ix. hundreth sixty and eleuen,
When he had reygned full eyghtene yere:
Buried he [that.] was at Glastenbury to neuen
His corps to the earth, his soule to heauen clere. [Fol. C.xvii.]
When he had been dead foure and twenty yere,
Byshop Oswald, of that same diocise,
By counsell of thabbot that was wyse,
¶ Abbot Edwarde, of that place that [than.] hight,
Who layde hym in a toumbe made of newe;
For it was shorte, he brake his legges wight,
Of whiche the bloodde, as rede and freshe of hewe
As euer it was, sprent out, all hote and newe
Into his eyen, by whiche he lost his sight,
Men sayd it was for he had so hym dight.
¶ Edwarde his sonne, that eldest was and heire, [Edwarde marter kynge of Englande.]
Saynt Dunstan then, as made is mencion,
(Tharchbyshop of Cauntorbury fayre,)
So crowned hym kyng of this region,
Whom dame Alfrith [Elfrid. edit. alt.] , of false presumpcion,
His stepmother, to crowne syr [hir son.] Ethelrede
At Cornisgate [[Corf gate?].] , so cut his throte in dede,
As be with her did drynke of good entent,
And buryed was at Warham then anone;