These are the crimes which the people complain of in private, and the soldiers in public; which are sung in the streets, and acted undisguisedly, and yet they are forgiven, they are overlooked, they are connived at by you! Where is now the sword of Levi, and the zeal of Simeon? Where is the wrath of Moses against the worshippers of the golden calf? Where is the indignation of St. Peter against Simon the magician? Imitate, reverend fathers, imitate the zeal of these holy persons, and follow the way of righteousness, shown you by the Lord. It is high time for you to draw the sword of St. Peter, whilst I make use of the great Constantine's. Let us join our forces to expel the lepers out of the temple, to cleanse the sanctuary, and to cause the Lord to be served by the true sons of Levi, who said to his father and to his mother, 'I know you not; and to his brethren, 'I know not who you are.' Let the disrespect to the relics of the saints, and the daily profaning of holy altars, rouse you up. Be moved at the great abuse of the piety of our forefathers. One of my ancestors, you all know, dedicated to the Church the tithe of the kingdom. The glorious Alfred, my great grandfather, laid out his revenues in religious uses. You are not ignorant of the great benefactions of my father and uncle, which it would be highly dishonourable so soon to forget, seeing that the altars are still adorned with them. You, O Dunstan, father of fathers, raise your imagination a little, I pray you, and fancy you behold my father looking down from heaven, and expostulating with you in this manner: 'It was you that advised me to the building of so many churches and monasteries; it was you I made choice of for my spiritual guide, and the inspector of my behaviour. Did I not always obey your voice? Did I not always prefer your advice before wealth? How frankly did I lay out my treasures when you commanded! My charities were always ready when you called for them. Whatever was desired for the churches was immediately granted. If you complained that the monks were straitened in their circumstances, their wants were I forthwith supplied. You used to tell me that such liberalities brought forth immortal fruit, and were highly meritorious, since they were expended in supporting the servants of God, and maintaining the poor. And is it not an intolerable shame they should be laid out in adorning, and decking a pack of prostitutes? Are these the fruits of my benefactions? Are these the effects of your glorious promises?' These, O Dunstan, are the complaints of the king, my father. What can you answer to this charge? I am convinced that you have hitherto been unblameable. When you saw a thief you consented not to him; neither have you been partaker with the adulterer. No, you have endeavoured to correct these abases; you have exhorted, argued, and threatened. But since these means have proved in vain, it is time to apply more effectual remedies. You have here ready to assist you the reverend father Ethelwald, Bishop of Winchester, and the reverend Oswald, Bishop of Worcester. To you three I refer the management of this important affair. Exert the episcopal in conjunction with the legal authority to expel from the Church of God the disorderly clergy, and put in such as live regularly in their stead."
This harangue, which was most probably written by Dunstan himself, had the desired effect. The three bishops expelled the secular priests, and gave their benefices to the monks, the objects of the king's and archbishop's favour.
Though it is but too true the priests at that time led very disorderly lives, yet that was not the thing that drew this storm upon them; their marriage was the great cause of offence; it was that which their enemies were desirous should be thought a more heinous crime than fornication, or any other actual sin which they could lay to their charge. Their wives were always called concubines, or by a more opprobrious name; and notwithstanding all the endeavours of the court of Rome, this real or pretended abuse could not be reformed till the end of the twelfth century, when the celibacy of the clergy was established after a struggle of three hundred years.
The monks were bound in gratitude to make a suitable return for the service Edgar had done them; and, accordingly, their historians have endeavoured, by their excessive commendations, to make him pass for a real saint. But whether from want of attention, or some other reason, they have related some particulars of his life -which certainly do not tend to sustain that idea of him. If, indeed, his political actions are only considered, it must be confessed he was a great prince; but a great king and a great saint are two very different characters. For instance, it would be very difficult to justify by the Gospel a massacre perpetrated by his order in the Isle of Thanet, upon a very slight occasion, as historians allow; and what might not these said historians have said of his vicious inclination to women, who published to the world that the soul of his brother Edwy was about to be dragged into hell for having had a single mistress?
Edgar died in 975, in the thirty-second year of his age.He was afterwards canonised, and miracles are said to have been worked at his shrine.
CHAPTER XIV.
Edward the Martyr—His Election to the Throne through the influence of Durstan—Doubts as to his Legitimacy—His Reign and Death.
Edgar left two sons and a daughter. The eldest son, Edward, son of Elfleda, surnamed "The Fair," was by many deemed illegitimate; and a numerous party of the nobility were for raising his brother, the son of the queen Elftida, to the throne; and in all probability would have succeeded, but for the promptitude and courage of Dunstan, who, in the assembly held on the death of the late king, took Edward by the hand, led him towards the church, attended by the other bishops and a great crowd of people, and anointed the young prince king without regarding the opposition of the patty against him. The nobles deplored their falling once more under the government of that imperious prelate; but, seeing the people ready to support him, they were compelled to submit.
Edward was but fourteen years old when he began to reign under the guardianship of Dunstan, who immediately took all the power into his hands; and, as soon as he was fixed in the regency, exerted every possible means to maintain the monks in possession of the benefices they had acquired in the last reign, and made use of the king's authority to that end. But he met with greater opposition than he contemplated, for as the king was but a minor, the orders given in his name were not so readily complied with. Dunstan assembled several councils about this affair; but most probably all his endeavours would have proved ineffectual, if by means of several miracles, which were never wanting when requisite, he had not brought the people to believe that Heaven interposed in the affair.
