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102 ST. DUN STAN AND
sessed the king's ear and governed his counsels,
and practically worked out the Biblical precept :
"Fear God and honour the king". Edred wished
very much to see his favourite Dunstan a bishop,
but th p ter was inflexible even t t
prayers of the king's mother, who had been charged
by him to use her powers of persuasion e
assured," said Dunstan, " that I shall never become
a bishop during your son's lifetime." i
In spite of the familiarity apparent between the
king and his chief counsellor, Dunstan was absent
at the time of Edred's death. The sickly king was
carried off suddenly at last, and Dunstan had his
wish not to be burdened with fresh cares whilst his
ailing master required all his energy. On his way
to the royal deathbed p Dunstan received a super-
natural intimation that the king " slept in God," -
and enjoined on his companions to pray for Edred's
soul. He and his monks watched by the royal
remains till they were buried with becoming honours
at Winchester. The abbot retired to Glastonbury
for a short breathing-time. "Yet, although," says
his biographer, " he had chosen Mary's part, he did
not disdain Martha's solicitude."
AVith Edred's decease in 956 a new phase begins
in the life of Dunstan. Hitherto he had served
S
if St. Dunstan, ed
'-'" Modo," iiujiiit, " Ed red as rex obdormivit in Domino."
Ibid.