68 THE MYSTERY OF CORFE. 



generally speaking the facts that are contained in the chronicles 

 would support the contention that an attendant was the 

 culprit. If Gaimar's story be accepted, the dwarf Wolstanet 

 certainly appears to have been the guilty party. Again, 

 with regard to Elfrida's guilt, there can be no doubt that the 

 deed was attributed to her, but while she had much to gain 

 for her son by the murder, the facts as stated in no way 

 implicate her in the deed, but rather tend to show that her 

 connection with the tragedy was the result of pure accident. 



Lastly, in all the events which occurred after the death of 

 Edward, I seem to see the powerful hand of Dunstan, 

 guiding, directing, conspiring, attaining by any means in his 

 power, the end in view, aided and abetted by Elfhere of 

 Mercia, who, with a convert's zeal, brooked no resistance or 

 opposition to the end which he desired to achieve. 



NOTE BY THE EDITOR. 



The preceding Paper appeared in the Christmas Number of the 

 Dorset County Chronicle, and gave rise to a number of comments, 

 some of which will probably interest our readers. 



The evidence upon which the story rests, as received by all our 

 standard historians, may be briefly summarised as follows : 



Accounts of the murder are furnished by William of Malmesbury,. 

 Henry of Huntingdon, Roger Hovenden, John Brompton, Roger of 

 Wendover, and the Saxon Chronicle. Of the last-named work five or 

 six copies are extant of an earlier date than the other authorities 

 mentioned ; and in three of these copies Corfe Gate is specified as the 

 scene of the crime. The " Canterbury " MS. " A " of the Chronicle 

 (completed within 80 years of the event) includes a Latin as well as 

 as an English text ; and it tells us that " Edward the King was slain 

 at Corf geate " the Latin version having in loco qui dicitur, Porta 

 Corf. 



The Castle at Corfe was built by King William upon land acquired 

 from the Abbess of Shaf tesbury ; but it is not at all unlikely that the 

 Queen should have occupied a house on the Conventual Manor. The 

 title given to the Castle, Castellum de Warham, would describe it 

 as it seemed to Norman eyes, the fortress commanding the one "gate '* 



