Edward the Younger.

EDward the eldest Son of Edgar by Egel∣fieda his first Wife, the Daughter of Duke Ordmer, was according to right and his Fathers Will, plac'd in the Throne; Elfrida his second Wife, and her faction only repineing, who labour'd to have had her Son Ethelred a Child of 7 years, preferr'd before him; that she under that pretence might have rul'd all. Mean while Comets were seen in Heav'n, por∣tending Page  242 not Famin only, which follow'd the next year, but the troubl'd State of the whole Realm not long after to ensue. The troubles begun in Edwi's daies, between Monks and secular Priests, now re∣viv'd and drew on either side many of the Nobles into parties. For Elfere Duke of the Mercians, with many other Pecrs, corrupted as is said with guifts, drove the Monks out of those Monasteries where * Edgar had plac'd them, and in thir stead put secular Priests with thir Wives. But Ethelwin Duke of East-Angles, with his Brother Elfwold, and Earl Brit∣noth oppos'd them, and gathering an Army defen∣ded the Abbies of East-Angles from such intruders. To appease these tumults, a Synod was call'd at Win∣chester, and nothing there concluded, a general Councel both of Nobles and Prelates, was held at Caln in Wiltshire, where while the dispute was hot, but chiefly against Dunstan, the room wherin they sat fell upon thir heads, killing some, maiming others, Dunstan only escaping upon a beam that fell not, and the King absent by reason of his tender Age. This accident quieted the controversie, and brought both parts to hold with Dunstan and the Monks. Mean while the King addicted to a Religious life, and of a mild Spirit, simply permitted all things to the ambitious will of his Step-mother and her Son Ethelred: to whom she displeas'd that the name on∣ly of King was wanting, practis'd thenceforth to re∣move King Edward out of the way; which in this manner she brought about. Edward on a day wea∣ried with hunting, thirsty and alone, while his at∣tendance follow'd the Dogs, hearing that Ethelred and his mother lodg'd at Corvesgate (Corse Castle, saith Camden, in the Ile of Purbeck) innocently went the∣ther. Page  243 She with all shew of kindness welcoming him, commanded drink to be brought forth, for it seems he lighted not from his Horse; and while he was drinking, caus'd one of her Servants, privately be∣fore instructed, to stab him with a poignard. The poor youth who little expected such unkindness there, turning speedily the Reins, fled bleeding; till through loss of blood falling from his Horse, and expiring, yet held with one foot in the Stir∣rop, he was dragg'd along the way, trac'd by his blood, and buried without honour at Werham, ha∣ving reign'd about 3 years: but the place of his bu∣rial [An. Dom. 978] * not long after grew famous for miracles. After which by Duke Elfer (who, as Malmsbury saith, had a hand in his Death) he was Royally enterr'd at Skepton or Shaftsbury. The murdress Elfrida at length repenting spent the residue of her daies in sor∣row and great penance.