Dunstane was made bishop of Worcester, and had also the administration of the see of London committed vnto him.  He was in such fauor with the [Sidenote:  Ethelwold made bishop of Winchester.] king, that he ruled most things at his pleasure.  Ethelwold, which being first a moonke of Glastenburie, and after abbat of Abington, was likewise made bishop of Winchester, and might doo verie much with [Sidenote:  Oswald.  Floriacum.] the king.  Also Oswald, which had beene a moonke in the abbeie of Florie in France, and after was made bishop of Worcester, and from thence remooued to the see of Yorke, was highlie in fauor with this king, so that by these three prelates he was most counselled.  Iustice [Sidenote:  Moonks must needs write much in praise of Edgar who had men of their cote in such estimati[=o].] in his daies was strictlie obserued, for although he were courteous and gentle towards his friends, yet was he sharpe and hard to offenders, so that no person of what estate or degree soeuer he was escaped worthie punishment, if he did transgresse the lawes and ordinances of the realme.  There was no priuie theefe nor common robber that durst lay hands vpon other mens goods, but he might looke to make amends with losse of his life, if he were knowne to be giltie.  For how might men that did offend, thinke to escape his hands, which deuised waies how to rid the countrie of all wild rauening beasts, that liued vpon sucking the bloud of others?  For as it is said, he appointed Iudweall or Ludweall king of Wales to present him three hundred [Sidenote:  A tribute instituted of woolf-skins.] woolues yeerelie in name of a tribute, but after three yeeres space, there was not a woolfe to be found, and so that tribute ceased in the fourth yeere after it began to be paid.

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The death of Alfred king Edgars wife (or concubine) causeth him to fall into a fowle offense, an example teaching men to take heed how they put others in trust to woo for them; earle Ethelwold cooseneth the king of his wife, the danger of beholding a womans beautie with lustfull eies; king Edgar killeth earle Ethelwold to marrie faire Alfred his wife; the bloudie and unnaturall speach of Ethelwolds base sonne:  examples of king Edgars great incontinencie and lewd life; Dunstane putteth the king to penance for his vnchastitie, the Welshmen rebell against him and are corrected, king Edgars vision before his death, of what religious buildings he was founder, his example a spur to others to doo the like, moonks esteemed and secular priests little regarded, king Edgars deformed reformation, his vices, stature, and bodilie qualities, he offereth to fight hand to hand with Kinadius king of Scots vpon occasion of words euill taken, Kinadius submitteth himselfe and is pardoned; his wiues and children, the good state of the realme in king Edgars time, the amplenesse of his dominions.

THE XXIIIJ.  CHAPTER.