EDWY,

153

the former soon found reason to repent his pro-voking such dangerous enemies. On the day ofhis coronation , his nobility were assembled in agreat, ball, and were indulging themselves inthat riot and disorder, which, from the exampleos their German ancestors, had become habitualto the English when Edwy, attracted by softerpleasures, retired into the Queen's apartment,and in that privacy, gave reins to his fondnesstowards his wife, which was only moderatelychecked by the presence of her mother. Dunstanconjectured the reason of the k’ing’s retreat; andcarrying along with him, Odo, archbishop ofCanterbury , over whom he had gained anabsolute ascendant, he burst into the apartment,upbraided Edwy with his lascivioufness, probablybestowed on the queen the most opprobriousepithet that can be applied to her sex , andtearing him from her arms , pushed him back , ina disgraceful manner, into the banquet of thenobles 110 . Edwy, though young and opposed bythe prejudices of the people, found an opportunityof taking revenge for this public insult. Hequestioned Dunstan concerning the administrationof the treasury during the reign of his predeces-sor 1 "; and when that minister refused to give anyaccount of money, expended, as he affirmed, by

T *’ Wallingford, p. 542.

” W. Malmes. lib. 2. cap. 7. Osbeme, p. 8Z. 105 -M. West p. 195, 196.

in Wallingford, p. 542. Alur. lleverl. p. H2-

HAP

II,