THE MYSTERY OF CORFE. 59 



in an important particular the account which he gives, it 

 is desirable to sift his story of the tragedy thoroughly. 



According to Gaimar he obtained most of the facts which 

 he relates from certain books which were placed at his dis- 

 posal, and it is to be presumed that one or other of these 

 books contained in some form the details relating to Edward's 

 death which he weaves into his own account. The date of 

 the History of the English may be placed between the years 

 1135 and 1147, and the account of the manner in which 

 Edward met his end begins with the assertion that the king 

 had dined in Wiltshire, and that he had with him a certain 

 dwarf named Wolstanet, who seems to have been an accom- 

 plished personage. After dinner (at least this is the presump- 

 tion) the King, desiring to be amused, called the dwarf to him 

 and ordered him to perform. The dwarf apparently declined, 

 and upon a repetition of the order in milder tones, he seems 

 to have flown into a rage, and used language of an insulting 

 nature towards the king. Edward lost control of his temper, 

 and Wolstanet, mounting his horse, which was standing ready, 

 fled towards Elfrida's house, which is described as being very 

 near Somerset, and either one league distant therefrom, or a 

 similar distance from the spot where the quarrel occurred. 

 In the vicinity there was an extensive wood, and thither the 

 dwarf rode. The king mounted and followed in the same 

 direction, and, without drawing rein, galloped to Elfrida's 

 house. Wolstanet had apparently turned aside to seek 

 shelter in the wood, for when Edward made enquiries no one 

 knew anything of him, but Elfrida offered to send and seek 

 him, maintaining at the same time that he had never come 

 to the house, but asserting the opinion that the search of 

 her servants would be successful. 



She then appears to have offered the king refreshment, 

 and after she had complied with his request that she should 

 drink first, Edward drained the horn and returned it to her. 

 Then, says Gaimar, there came some foe, I know not w r ho, 

 and with a great knife smote the king to the heart. Edward 

 fell from the saddle, uttered one cry, and the horse, dragging 



