by earle Goodwine and other of his complices.  But how this may stand, considering the circumstances of the time, with such things as are written by diuers authors hereof, it may well be doubted.  Neuerthelesse, whether earle Goodwine was guiltie to the death of Alfred, either at this time, or before, certeine it is, that he so cleared himselfe of that crime vnto king Edward the brother of Alfred, that there was none so highlie in fauour with him as earle Goodwine was, insomuch that king Edward maried the ladie [Sidenote:  K. Edward marieth the daughter of earle Goodwine.] Editha, the daughter of earle Goodwine, begotten of his wife Thira that was sister to king Hardiknought, and not of his second wife, as some haue written.  Howbeit, king Edward neuer had to doo with hir in fleshlie wise.  But whether he absteined because he had happilie [Sidenote:  Polydor.] vowed chastitie, either of impotencie of nature, or for a priuie hate [Sidenote:  K. Edward absteineth from the companie of his wife.] that he bare to hir kin, men doubted.  For it was thought, that he esteemed not earle Goodwine so greatlie in his heart, as he outwardlie made shew to doo, but rather for feare of his puissance dissembled with him, least he should otherwise put him selfe in danger both of losse of life and kingdome.

Howsoeuer it was, he vsed his counsell in ordering of things [Sidenote:  K. Edward dealeth strictlie with his mother queene Emma.] concerning the state of the common wealth, and namelie in the hard handling of his mother queene Emma, against whome diuers accusations were brought and alledged:  as first, for that she consented to marie with K. Cnute, the publike enimie of the realme:  againe, for that she did nothing aid or succour hir sons while they liued in exile, but that woorse was, contriued to make them away; for which cause she [Sidenote:  Queene Emma despoiled of hir goods.] was despoiled of all hir goods.  And because she was defamed to be [Sidenote:  She is accused of dissolute liuing.] naught of hir bodie with Alwine or Adwine bishop of Winchester, both she and the same bishop were committed to prison within the citie of Winchester (as some write.) Howbeit others affirme, that she was [Sidenote:  Ran.  Higd. She purgeth hir selfe by the law Ordalium.] strictlie kept in the abbie of Warwell, till by way of purging hir selfe, after a maruellous manner, in passing barefooted ouer certeine hot shares or plough-irons, according to the law Ordalium, she cleared hir selfe (as the world tooke it) and was restored to hir first estate and dignitie.

[Sidenote:  Wil.  Malm.] Hir excessiue couetousnesse, without regard had to the poore, caused hir also to be euill reported of.  Againe, for that she euer shewed hir selfe to be more naturall to the issue which she had by hir second husband Cnute, than to hir children which she had by hir first husband king Egelred (as it were declaring how she was affected toward the fathers, by the loue borne to the children)