Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

EJ)\VV THE FAIR. 10"
deserving sovereigns, and had been generally treated
by them with grateful appreciation ; but now an
unworthy successor ascended the throne of Alfred.
Edwy or Edwin the Fair, whose short reign began
by profligacy and ended in grief (959), brought discord
into the kingdom through bad and ambitious
women. The scene of his coronation has been often
described. The spiritual lords of England, its bishops
and abbots, wrere gathered together for the
ceremony, but, as they sat afterwards for the banquet,
the king suddenly retired. A certain woman,
Elgiva, who was nearly related to him, and her
daughter had inspired the lust of the king, and for
their company he forsook the great ones of his land.
AVho would go and call him back to his duty To
do so implied the hatred and revenge of a bad woman
in power, which revenge would last as long as the
king's passion for her. Dunstan and his kinsman,
Bishop Kinsige, offered themselves for the courageous
task, but it was Dunstan who used a gentle
violence with the king. The crown of England was
on the floor - strange emblem of its wretched pos-
ses>r. lieplaciiig it 011 the king's head, Dunstan
drew him by the arm back to the banqueting-hall ;
but Elgiva, turning to him with a dreadful look,
exclaimed: " Because, you are impertinent enough
to draw the king away from the couch whether he
will or no, 1 will take care that you never forget
this day nor me as long as I can help it ".
Tlu1 queen's words - for she attained the object of