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MATTHEW OF WESTMINSTER
The flowers of history, especially such as relate to the affairs of Britain. Vol. I. B.C. 4004 to A.D. 1066.
page 478
nant : and when the time of her delivery came, she brought hi m forth a son, whom, because of the faith that she placed i n her dream, she called Athelstan. Therefore, when king Edward died, as has been said before, his son Edward, who bad been born to him by his legitimate wife, followed his
Then Athelstan, although he was born of a concubine, was elected king by the favour of all men (Edwin being passed over, who, because of his tender years, was yet incapable of reigning), and, as had been foretold, was consecrated king in the royal town of Kingston. But Athelstan, after he was consecrated, hated, with the blackest hatred, his brother Edwin, whom he knew to have been born in lawful wedlock, fearing lest, through his means, he might some day or other be deprived of the throne. Accordingly, the king, being tempted by the opportunity, having put his brother Edwin by himself, with only his armour-bearer, in a little boat, which was worn out by age, exposed him in the open sea, without any rowers or oars, and so committed him miserably to the mercy of Neptune, when the youth, becoming weary of his life amid the waves of the sea, threw himself into the sea of his own accord, and so was drowned. But the armour-bearer, rowing not only with his feet but also with hie hands, brought the body of his master to land, and then conveyed it from Canterbury to OTl^ttlanK, and buried it honourably.
King Athelstan, after his anger had cooled, shuddered at the lawless deed that he had done, and, undertaking a seven years' penance, bewailed his fratricide, and condemned his cup-bearer, who had given him the advice, to a cruel death.
The same year, the holy Birstan, bishop of winchester, departed to the kingdom of heaven, and was succeeded by iElfog, a man of eminent piety. And the same year, Wolfhelm, archbishopof Canterbury, died, and was succeeded by Odo, bishop of Wells ; and Odo was succeeded in the church of Wells by Osulf.
A.D. 935. Leo became Pope, and ruled the Roman See three years, six months, and ten days. The same year, Robert, the first duke of Normandy, departed this life, in a good old age, and appointed bis son William, a most elegant young man, his successor.
A.D . 936. Count Hugo sent messengers into England, to summon Louis, the son of Charles, king of France, to the
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