Part 10 (1/2)
For a moment they were both silent.
”And Edwy, the great grandson of Alfred, is king of England.”
At first the young prince was deeply shocked at the sudden news of the death of his uncle, to whom, in spite of appearances, he was somewhat attached. He turned pale, and was again silent for some minutes; at last, he gulped down a cup of water, and asked--”But how did Dunstan know?”
”Why, it is a strange tale. Three days ago, at the very hour the king must have died, he says that he saw a bright light, and beheld a vision of angels, who said, 'Edred hath died in the Lord,' but he treated it as a dream, and last night a messenger came with the news of the sudden illness of the king, bidding Dunstan hasten to his side. He left everything, and started immediately, but in a few miles met another messenger, bearing the news of the death. He has gone on, but sent the messenger forward to the Bishop of London, who caused the great bell to be tolled.
”We must all die some day,” said Edwy, musingly; ”but it is very very sudden.”
”And I trust he has obtained a better kingdom,” added Redwald; ”he must, you know, if the monks tell the truth, so why should we weep for him?”
”At least,” said Edwy, looking up, ”Elfric need not go home now.”
”No, certainly not, but he had better disappear from court for a time.
The lady Ethelgiva might afford him hospitality, or he might stay at the royal palace at Kingston. I will tell the messenger to keep out of the way, and Dunstan may suppose that his orders have been obeyed to the letter.”
”Why should we trouble what he may think or say?”
”Because the Witan has not yet met, and until it has gone through the form, the mere form, of recognising your t.i.tle, you are not actually king. Dunstan has some influence. Suppose he should use it for Edgar?”
”Edgar, the pale-faced little priestling!”
”All the better for that in Dunstan's eyes. Nay, be advised, my king; keep all things quiet until the coronation is over, then let Dunstan know who you are and who he is.”
”Indeed I will. He shall have cause to rue his insolent behaviour the other night.”
”Bide your time, my liege; and now the great officers of state require your presence below.”
A few days later a sorrowful procession entered the old city of Winchester, the capital of Wess.e.x, and once a favourite residence of Edred, now to be his last earthly resting place. Much had the citizens loved him; and as the long train defiled into the open s.p.a.ce around the old minster--old, even then--the vast a.s.semblage, grouped beneath the trees around the sacred precincts, lifted up their voices and joined in the funeral hymn, while many wept tears of genuine sorrow. It was awe inspiring, that burst of tuneful wailing, as the monks entered the sacred pile, and it made men's hearts thrill with the sense of the unseen world into which their king had entered, and where, as they believed, their supplications might yet follow him.
There were the chief mourners--Edwy and Edgar--and they followed the royal corpse, the latter greatly afflicted, and shedding genuine tears of sorrow--and the royal household. All the n.o.bility of Wess.e.x, and many of the n.o.bles from Mercia and other provinces, were gathered together, and amidst the solemn silence of the vast crowd, Dunstan performed the last sad and solemn rites with a broken voice; while the archbishop--Odo the Good, as he was frequently called--a.s.sisted in the dread solemnity.
It was over; the coffin was lowered to the royal vaults to repose in peace, the incenses had ceased to float dreamily beneath the lofty roof,[xi] the various lights which had borne part in the ceremony were extinguished, the choral anthem had ceased, for Edred slept with his fathers.
And outside, the future king was welcomed with loud cries of ”G.o.d save King Edwy, and make him just as Alfred, pious as Edred, and warlike as Athelstane!”
”Long live the heir of Cerdic's ancient line!”
Thus their cries antic.i.p.ated the decision of the Witan, and without all was noise and clamour; while within the sacred fane the ashes of him who had so lately ruled England rested in peace by the side of his royal father Edward, the son of Alfred, three of whose sons--Athelstane, Edmund, Edred--had now reigned in succession.
It must not be supposed that Edwy was as yet king by the law of the land. The early English writers all speak of their kings as elected; it was not until the Witan had recognised them, that they were crowned and a.s.sumed the royal prerogatives.
Edwy had followed Redwald's advice: he had kept Elfric out of the way, and meant to do so until his coronation day. And meanwhile he condescended to disguise his real feelings, and to affect sorrow for his past failings when in the presence of Dunstan.
Yet he took advantage of the greater liberty he now enjoyed to renew his visits to the mansion up the Thames, and to spend whole days in the society of Elgiva. In their simplicity and deep love they thought all the obstacles to their happy union now removed. Alas! ill-fated pair!
CHAPTER VIII. THE CORONATION.
Nothing could exceed in solemnity the ”hallowing of the king,” as the coronation ceremony was termed in Anglo-Saxon times. It was looked upon as an event of both civil and ecclesiastical importance, and therefore nothing was omitted which could lend dignity to the occasion.