1 66 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

chap. circumstance os dress and behaviour , that fatalII. beauty , which had seduced him from fidelity tohis friend , and had betrayed him into so manyfalsehoods. Elfrida promised compliance , thoughnothing was farther from herintentions. She deemedherself little beholden to Athelwold for a passion,which had deprived her of a crown; and knowingthe force of her own charms, she did not despaireven yet of reaching that dignity, of which herhusband's artifice had bereaved her. She appearedbefore the king with all the advantages, whichthe richest attire , and the most engaging airscould bestow upon her, and she excited at oncein his bosom the highest love toward herself, andthe most furious desire of revenge against herhusband He knew, however, to dissemble thesepassions; and seducing Athelwold into a wood,on pretence of hunting , he stabbed him withhis own hand, and soon after publickly espousedElfrida

Before we conclude our account of this reign,we must mention two circumstances ,• which areremarked by historians. The reputation of Edgarallured a great number of foreigners to visit hiscourt; and he gave them encouragement to residein England IS \ We are told, that they imported

751 W. Malmes lib. 2 . cap. 8. Hoveden , p. 426. Bromp-ton, p. 865 , 866. Flor. Wigorn. p. 606. Higden, p 268.

Ifl Chrcn. Sax. p. 116. H. Hunting, lib. 5. p. 356.Bronipton, p. 865.