only the subjects of Ethelfleda rendered homage to Edward, but the three Kings of North Wales sought him for their lord; and on his proceeding to Nottingham, which he secured and fortified, all the Mercians there, whether Danish or English, espoused his cause. Thus the influence of the royal Lady of Mercia, even after her death, procured for her brother the universal homage of those tribes whom she had compelled to acknowledge her power.

A share of power for a time was permitted by Edward to rest in the hands of Elfwina, only child of Ethelfleda, who had been formerly placed by her mother under the King's guardianship,' but of this she was afterwards deprived by Edward, on the plea that she had promised marriage to Reynold, the Danish King, "without his knowledge." Whether or not this was a true charge, the Princess was "deprived of all authority," and conveyed as an honourable captive into Wessex. Her imprisonment took place "about three weeks before mid-winter," so that the duration of her power was short. From this time the name of Ethelfleda's daughter disappears from English history, Mercia being annexed by Edward to his own dominions. Caradoc of Llancarvan considers that Edward's unjust conduct to his niece brought upon him the troubles which followed in his kingdom. Turner, however, remarks that, in the latter part of Edward's reign, a peculiar spirit seemed to have excited the Anglo-Danes; an argument in favour of Edward having been obliged to act as he did from motives of personal security, and to defend himself from the danger of Elfwina's directing her power against the security of the State.

1 Caradoc of Llancarvan.

2 Saxon Chronicle, Palgrave,

The remains of Ethelfleda were deposited in St. Peter's, Gloucester, in the southern porch, where they were discovered in the time of Archbishop Thurstan, on the occasion of the foundations of the church being enlarged.' The following lines are translated from Henry of Huntingdon, on the fact of the contemporaries of this princess honouring her with the title of King:

66

Mighty Elfleda! maiden, thou should'st bear

The name of Man:-though Nature cast thy frame
In Woman's softer mould-yet he could fear
Thy matchless might! Let him resign his claim,
And, maiden, do thou change thy sex's name.
In grace, a queen-be hence a king in might,
And ages shall renounce proud Cæsar's fame,
To gaze on thine, as on a fairer light!

So, maiden, fare thee well! surpassing queen, good night !

"2

1 Malmsbury.

2 O Elfleda potens, &c.

VOL. II.

N

EGWINA, ELFLEDA, EDGIFA, AND ELFGIVA,

QUEENS OF EDWARD THE ELDER AND EDMOND

THE PIOUS.

CONTENTS.

Romantic tale of Athelstan's mother-The loves of Egwina and Edward-Dream of the Shepherd's daughter-The nurse of the King's children-Adoption of Egwina-The bright light-Edward's second wife Elfleda; her seven children-His third wife Edgifa— Edgifa's lawsuit and will-Athelstan and Beatrice-Goda's dishonesty-Education of the family of Edward the Elder-Eadburga the nun; her choice-Edward's death, and his son Ethelwerd's-Athelstan named as successor-He provides for his family -Beatrice marries Sihtric, King of Northumberland-Edgifa marries Charles the Simple-Her trials and story-Edgifa and Elfgifa sent to Germany-Their marriage-List of the sisters-Hugh the Great and Edilda-The marriage presents-Revived fortunes of Edgifa and her son, Louis d'Outremer-Restoration and imprudence-Harshness of Louis to his mother-The widow of Edward the Elder still goes on with her lawsuit-Edmund the Pious -St. Dunstan―The precipice-Elfgiva-Legend-Explanation of the dream-Edmond assassinated-Reay Cross on Stanmore-Monasteries-Edred and St. Dunstan Edwy the Tyrant; his illusage of his grandmother-Edgar re-establishes her in her rights -She bestows her property on the Church-Her death.

THE marriage of Edward the Elder with the beautiful maiden Egwina is not an ascertained fact; but she was

the mother of one of the greatest and most worthy of the Kings of England, and the preference of Alfred for him above his other grandchildren, as well as of Edward above all his sons, might lead to the conclusion that he was considered legitimate, although his birth was brought forward as a reproach to the good and learned Athelstan by the disaffected amongst his subjects. The legend of the loves of Egwina and Edward is told by several chroniclers: by William of Malmesbury, who at the same time calls her "illustris fœmina ;" and Florence, who does the same, naming her "mulier nobilissima." It is, therefore, by no means improbable that she really was the wife of Prince Edward. The story is thus told:

In the time of King Alfred there was a shepherd's daughter, a young maiden of extraordinary beauty, who had so singular a vision in her sleep that it became the theme of the whole neighbourhood, and reached the King's ears. She dreamt that as she lay on her bed, a bright light, as of a full moon, shone forth from her body and illumined all England. The nurse of King Alfred's children was told of this dream, which by her was repeated to the Queen, who told it to her husband. Alfred was so much struck with the fact, that he had the maiden sent for, and received her into his house, adopting her from that time and treating her as his own child. She remained, therefore, under the nurse's care. Prince Edward, who was not at the time at home, returned in due course, and visiting his nurse, was astonished and delighted with the addition to the family. The extreme beauty of Egwina, which seemed to make an impression on all, did not fail to fascinate the young prince. Whether Egwina's birth was known to King

Alfred to be noble, and that, aware of her having been concealed as the shepherd's daughter, he did not oppose the passion of his son, or whether they were united before he knew of it, is not ascertained. Athelstan, and a sister called Beatrice, were born to Edward; and from the first his subjects then, and the world since, might agree that he was the bright light of his mother's dream, for he filled all England with a glory never known before.1

Egwina appears to have died immediately after the birth of her daughter, and Edward was free to make what alliance he pleased. Very soon after her death he married Elfleda, daughter of the Saxon Earl, Etheline. He had not then succeeded to the crown, but in 901 he was crowned, with his queen, in great pomp at Kingstonupon-Thames.

Elfleda bore seven children to her husband, and Edward found himself a widower for the second time, for her life seems to have ended prematurely. He, however, in a short time appears again as a husband, having married a lady of high birth, named Edgifa, the daughter of Earl Sighelm.

This Queen, almost immediately after her marriage, became involved in the intricacies of a lawsuit. Her father Sighelm had engaged part of his land in a mortgage, and after his death it was redeemed by the oath of Edgifa, which by the Saxon laws was considered as equivalent in value to the worth of the money which Sighelm had paid to the mortgagee, but for which he had neglected to obtain a charter of release.2 The Queen's will, which may be seen in the Appendix to

1

Lappenberg, Fl. Wigorn, William of Malmesbury.