EDMUND.

* 4 *

by all the world. But a soldier in Athelstan’s chap.camp, who had formerly served under Anlaf, n.had been struck with some suspicion on the firstappearance of the minstrel ; and was engaged bycuriosity to observe all his motions. He regardedthis last action as a full proof of Anlaf’s disguise;and he immediately carried the intelligence toAthelstan, who blamed him for not sooner givinghim information , that he might have seized hisenemy. But the soldier told him, that, as he hadformerly sworn fealty to Anlaf, he could neverhave pardoned himself the treachery of betrayingand ruining his ancient master; and that Athelstanhimself, after such an instance of his criminalconduct , would have had equal reason to distrusthis allegiance. Athelstan , having praised thegenerosity of the soldier’s principles , reflected onthe incident, which he foresaw might be attendedwith important consequences. He removed hisstation in the camp ; and as a bishop arrived thatevening with a reinforcement of troops, (for theecclesiastics were then no less warlike than thecivil magistrates) he occupied with his train thatvery place which had been left vacant by theking’s removal. The precaution of Athelstan wasfound prudent: For no sooner had darkness fallen,than Anlaf broke into the camp, and hasteningdirectly to the place where he had left the king’stent, put the bishop to death , before he hadtime to prepare for his defence I15 .

1,3 W. N alines. lib. 2. cap. 6. Ifigden, p. 263.