And soon afterwards the King led all his fleet to Chester; and six Kings met him there, and promised faithfully that they would aid him by sea and by land.
975.
This year Edgar, King of the English, ended his earthly joys; he chose for himself another light, beautiful and pleasant, and gave up this worthless life, which the children of the people, the men of dust, confess to be so vain. It was in that month which every where in this country is called July by those who have been rightly instructed in the art of numbers, and on the 18th day of the month, that the young Edgar, the giver of bracelets to the valiant, departed this life. And then his son, a child not full-grown, succeeded to the kingdom: he was the ruler of Earls, and his name was Edward—a prince most excellent. Ten days before this Britain lost Cyneweard, that good and kindly Bishop. At that time, to my mind, the glory of the Supreme governor was trampled on throughout Mercia, many of God’s wise servants were driven away, and this was a great sorrow to those who bore in their hearts and minds an ardent love of their Creator. Then indeed was the author of miracles set at nought, he who is the disposer of victory, and the law-giver of heaven, when men violated his right. And then also that beloved chieftain Oslac was driven from the land, and that long-haired warrior, wise and discreet in words, was borne, bereaved of an home, on the rolling waves, on the sea bird’s bath, on the roaring waters, over the country of the whales. And then a star appeared in the sky, above in the firmament, which strong-minded men, of deep learning, skilful men, and wise soothsayers, universally call a comet. The vengeance of the Almighty was upon the nation, and a dire famine in the country. But this again, the ruler of Heaven, the Lord of the angels, removed, and gave bliss to every inhabitant through the fruitfulness of the earth.
This year the Alderman Ælfere caused the monks to be turned out of very many monasteries which the holy Bishop Athelwold had established by the command of King Edgar. This year the great Earl Oslac was driven from England.
976.
This year there was a great famine in England.
977.
This year a great meeting was held after Easter at Kyntlingtun (Kirtlington?), and there Bishop Sideman died suddenly on the 2d of the calends of May. He was Bishop of Devonshire, and he willed that his body’s resting place should be at his metropolitan see of Cridiantun (Crediton). Then King Edward and Archbishop Dunstan commanded that he should be carried to St. Mary’s monastery of Abbandun (Abingdon); this was done, and he was honourably buried in the north side of St. Peter’s aisle.
978.
This year all the chief of the Witan of the English nation fell from an upper floor at Calne, excepting the holy Archbishop Dunstan alone, who stood upon a beam, and some had their bones broken, and others escaped not with their lives. This year King Edward was slain at Corfes-geat (Corfe Castle), in the evening of the 15th of the calends of April, and he was buried at Wareham without any royal honours. No worse deed than this had been committed amongst the people of the Angles since they first came to the land of Britain. Men murdered him, but God gave him glory. In his life he was an earthly King, but now after his death he is a Saint in heaven. His mortal kinsmen would not avenge him, but his heavenly Father hath avenged him greatly. His earthly murderers would have blotted out his memory from the world, but the avenger who is above hath widely extended his fame in heaven and earth: and whereas they formerly would not bow down before his living body, now they piteously bend their knees to his dead bones. We may gather hence, that the wisdom of men, their devices and counsels, avail nothing against the purposes of God. And the same year his brother Prince Æthelred took to himself the kingdom, and was consecrated very soon afterwards at Cyninges-tun (Kingston), with great rejoicing of the Witan of the English nation.