Alan’s TTIM Stories #12

Pray for the soul of the departed King. Pray to solve the conflict between flesh and spirit. The pool of blood at Corfe Castle stained the pages of English history and elevated a saint.

King Edgar the Peaceful and first wife, Ethelfled, brought son Edward into the world – an heir to the English throne. A new wife for the King, Elfthryth, produced another son – Ethelred the Unready.

Who shall inherit the kingdom? Controversies of succession raged throughout the era, claimed by conquering adversaries, a line of brothers, heirs victims of short life spans, overly ambitious nobles, and illegitimate sons – interspersed with the obvious succession of the eldest son.  

A precarious uniting of the kingdoms of the island protected against foreign invaders. Wessex, Mercia, and East Anglia joined as one England. Differences between the church and wealthy landowners replaced the harmony of the union. The eternal struggle between religion and civil authority had yet to be resolved. One represented the desires of the flesh, the other the strength of the spirit. The spirit of the Lord was strong within King Edgar causing him to favor the church.

The passing of Edgar left the thirteen-year-old prince in line for the crown. Following the legacy of his father, Edward championed the church. Archbishop Dunston hurried the young man’s coronation, marked by a comet streaking across the sky. The people marveled but wondered if the sign in the sky brought prosperity or misery. The following famine affected feeble minds to declare a bad omen.

Already worried by the heavenly message, Edward’s character and legitimacy was questioned by opponents. The evil of lies for political gain became a precursor of historic events to come. King Edward favored the power of the church, not wealthy landowners. A young and weak ruler was powerless against attacks on monasteries and church property.

Would compromise or appeasement avert civil war? Stepmother, Elfthryth, championed her son as heir to the throne. The naive 16-year-old king was compelled to avoid a crisis and bring the opposing sides together. He believed a visit with his half-brother at Corfe Castle would lead to an understanding. Instead of a welcome suited for a king, he was greeted outside the gates by Elfthryth who offered a cup of mead. The cup was inches away from his lips when a piecing pain entered his back – a knife plunged deep and deadly. No look of shock or disgust at the scene of the assassination – only approval. The act of an evil stepmother haunts the story, establishing a favored literary stereotype. 

Terror of the moment caused Edward’s horse to dash into the countryside. What would lead to the fallen King? Abandoned by humankind, the Lord interceded on behalf of the loyal subject. The Holy Spirit surrounded the body appearing as a pillar of light.  

The quick burial attempted to shroud the shame of the murder. Morality so short, gained immortality after death. Disinterred a year later for a royal ceremony found the body incorrupt, a blessed first miracle. As the funeral procession passed two disabled people, they felt the need to reach out and gained the ability to walk – a second miracle. Other miraculous healings followed. “Men murdered him, but God exalted him.”

The spirit of Edward found an adversary. As part of his battle against the church, King Henry VIII proceeded with the dissolution of the monasteries in 1539. The disruption of a sacred resting place awakened a spirit to perform more miracles. Edward the Martyr walks the ruins of Shaftesbury Abbey. During the walk he reaches to his back and brings to his eyes a bloody hand, forever asking the question of one too young and naive to rule – “Why?” 

We wish to answer his question with a world ruled by kindness and love. We cannot. On dark and misty nights, he walks. His troubled soul will be released when humankind acts for the benefit of all. He walks still today.

Sources:
Historic UK
Wikipedia
Peterborough Chronicle

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Follow Alan’s TTIM Stories at Facebook.com/alan.vandervoort or Instagram & Treads vandervoort_author or www.alanvandervoort.com. Novels: Sandhills – A Novel and Key Largo Summer are found at Booklocker.com and other online booksellers.