959

This year died King Edwy, on the calends of October; and Edgar his brother took to the government of the West-Saxons, Mercians, and Northumbrians. He was then sixteen years old. It was in this year he sent after St. Dunstan, and gave him the bishopric of Worcester; and afterwards the bishopric of London. <poem>

In his days

it prosper'd well;

and God him gave,

that he dwelt in peace

the while that he lived.

Whate'er he did,

whate'er he plan'd,

he earn'd his thrift.

He also rear'd

God's glory wide,

and God's law lov'd,

with peace to man,

above the kings

that went before

in man's remembrance.

God so him sped,

that kings and earls

to all his claims

submissive bow'd;

and to his will

without a blow

he wielded all

as pleased himself.

Esteem'd he was

both far and wide

in distant lands;

because he prized

the name of God,

and God's law traced,

God's glory rear'd,

both far and wise,

on every side.

Wisely he sought

in council oft

his people's good,

before his God,

before the world.

One misdeed he did,

too much however,

that foreign tastes

he loved too much;

and heathen modes

into this land

he brought too fast;

outlandish men

hither enticed;

and to this earth

attracted crowds

of vicious men.

But God him grant,

that his good deeds

be weightier far

than his misdeeds,

to his soul's redemption

on the judgment-day.</poem>

(Ingram, p.90-91)