ED¥T.

i55

Rnd expired a few days after at Glocester in the cmost acute torments

The English, blinded with superstition, insteadof being shocked with this inhumanity, exclaimedthat the misfortunes of Edwy and his consort werea just judgment for their dissolute contempt ofthe ecclesiastical statutes. They even proceededto rebellion against their sovereign; and havingplaced Edgar at their head, the younger brotherof Edwy, a boy of thirteen years of age, theysoon put him in possession of Mercia, Northum-berland, East-Anglia; and chaced Edwy into thesouthern counties. That it might not be doubtful•at whose instigation this revolt was undertaken;Dunstan returned into England, and took uponhim the government of Edgar and his party. Hewas first installed in the fee of Worcester, thenin that of London ,ss , and, on Odo’s death, andthe violent expulsion of Brithelm, his successor,in that of Canterbury IiS ; of all which he longkept possession. Odo is transmitted to us bythe monks under the character of a man of piety :Dunstan was even canonized; and is one of thosenumerous saints of the same stamp who disgracethe Romish calendar. JYleanwhile the unhappyEdwy was excommunicated I!7 , and pursued

Osberne. p. 84. Gervase, p. 1645, 1646.

Chron Sax. p. 117. Flor. Wigorn. p. 605. Walling!ford, p. 544.

I! Hoveden, p. 425. Osberne, p. 109,

117 Brompton, p. 863.

HAP.

IX-