to the earl of Devonshire; but unwilling to credit common fame in this particular, he sent Ethelwald, his favourite friend, to fee, and inform him, if Elfrida was indeed that incomparable woman report had defcribed her. Ethelwald arriving at the earl's, had no fooner caft his eyes upon that nobleman's daughter, than he became defperately enamoured of her himself. Such was the violence of his paffion, that, forgetting his mafter's intentions, he folicited only his own interefts, and demanded for himself the beautiful Elfrida from her father in marriage. The favourite of a king was not likely to find a refufal; the earl gave his confent, and their nuptials were performed in private. Upon his return to court, which was fhortly after, he affured the king, that her riches alone, and her high quality, had been the cause of her admiration, and he appeared amazed how the world could talk fo much, and so unjustly of her charms. The king was fatisfied, and no longer felt any curiofity, while Ethelwald fecretly triumphed in his address. When he had, by this deceit, weaned the king from his purpose, he took an opportunity, after fome time, of turning the converfation on Elfrida, representing, that though the fortune of the earl of Devonshire's daughter would be a trifle VOL. I. H

to

4

to a king, yet it would be an immenfe acquifition to a needy fubject. He, therefore, humbly entreated permiffion to pay his addreffes to her, as fhe was the richest heiress in the kingdom. A request fo feemingly reasonable, was readily complied with; Ethelwald returned to his wife, and their nuptials were folemnized in public. His greatest care, however, was employed in keeping her from court; and he took every precaution, to prevent her appearing before a king fo fufceptible of love, while fhe was fo capable of infpiring that paffion, But it was impoffible to keep his treachery long concealed. Favourites are never without private enemies, who watch every opportunity of rifing upon their ruin. Edgar was foon informed of the whole transaction; but diffembling his refentment, he took occafion to vifit that part of the country, where this miracle of beauty was detained, accompanied by Ethelwald, who relunetantly attended him thither. Upon coming near the lady's habitation, he told him, that he had a curiofity to fee his wife, of whom he had formerly heard fo much, and defired to be introduced as his acquaintance. Ethelwald, thunder-struck at the propofal did all in his power, but in vain, to diffuade him. All he could obtain, was permiffion to go be

fore, on pretence of preparing for the king's reception. On his arrival, he fell at his wife's feet, confeffing what he had done to be poffeffed of her charms, and conjuring her to conceal, as much as poffible, her beauty from the king, who was but too fufceptible of its power. Elfrida, little obliged to him for a paffion that had deprived her of a crown, promised compliance; but, prompted either by vanity, or revenge, adorned her perfon with the most exquifite art, and called up all her beauty on the occafion. The event anfwered her expectations; the king, no fooner faw, than he loved her, and was inftantly refolved to obtain her. The better to effect his intentions, he concealed his paffion from the husband, and took leave with a feeming indifference; but his revenge was not the less certain and fatal. Ethelwald was fome time after fent into Northumberland, upon pretence of urgent affairs, and was found murdered in a wood by the way. Some say, he was stabbed by the king's own hand; fome, that he only commanded the affaffination; however this be, Elfrida was invited foon after to court, by the king's own order, and their nuptials were performed with the ufual folemnity.

A.D. 957.

Such was the criminal paffion of a mo narch, whom the monks have thought proper to represent as the most perfect of mankind. His reign was successful, because it was founded upon a compliance with the prejudices of the people; but it produced very fenfible evils, and these fell upon his fucceffor. He died, after a reign of fixteen years, in the thirty-third year of his age, being fucceeded by his fon, Edward, whom he had by his first marriage, with the daughter of the earl of Ordmer. EDWARD, furnamed the MARTYR, was made king by the intereft of the monks, and lived but four years after his acceffion. In his reign, there is nothing remarkable, if we except his tragical and memorable end. Though this young monarch had been, from the beginning, opposed by Elfrida, his ftepmother, who seems to have united the greatest deformity of mind with the highest graces of person; yet he ever fhewed her marks of the strongest regard, and even expreffed, on all occafions, the moft tender affection for her fon, his brother. However, hunting one day near Corfe-castle, where Elfrida refided, he thought it his duty to pay her a vifit, although he was not attended by any of his retinue. There defiring fome liquor to be

brought

brought him, as he was thirsty, while he was yet holding the cup to his head, one of Elfrida's domeftics, inftructed for that purpose, stabbed him in the back. The king, finding himself wounded, put fpurs to his horse; but, fainting with the lofs of blood, he fell from the faddle, and his foot sticking in the stirrup, he was dragged along by his horse, till he was killed. Being tracked by the blood, his body was found, and privately interred at Wareham by his fervants.

ETHELRED the Second, the fon of Edgar and A. D. 978, Elfrida, fucceeded; a weak and irrefolute monarch, incapable of governing the kingdom, or providing for its fafety. After a train of diffentions, follies, and vices, which feem to have marked fome of the former reigns, it is not furprifing, that the country was weakened; and the people, taught to rely entirely on preternatural affistance, were rendered incapable of defending themselves. During this period, there fore, their old and terrible enemies, the Danes, who seem not to be loaded with the fame accumulation of vice and folly, were daily gaining ground. The weakness and the inexperience of Ethelred appeared to give a favourable opportunity for renewing their depredations; and, accordingly, they landed on feveral parts of the coast,

H 3