Edwy the Fair or the First Chronicle of Aescendune: A Tale of the Days of Saint Dunstan

In Short

A historical tale of tenth-century England, this chronicle traces the bitter rift between two brothers—the impetuous Elfric and the steadfast Alfred—against the backdrop of King Edwy’s tragic conflict with Saint Dunstan and the Church. As Elfric falls under the spell of the court's hedonism and bad counsel, his family and country split into opposing camps. Blending medieval piety, forest ambushes, battlefield betrayals, and dynamic monastic history, the novel endures as an engaging exploration of how personal loyalties are tested when royal arrogance collides with religious authority and ancient family feuds.

The Story

The saga opens in the quiet Mercian estate of Æscendune, where the noble Thane Ella and his wife Edith raise their two sons, Elfric and Alfred, in the ways of piety and service. When the eldest, Elfric, leaves home for the royal court in London, his innocence quickly erodes. Surrounded by vain companions and encouraged by bad advice, Elfric falls into worldly temptations and deep indulgence. A deceptive scheme substitutes a forged letter to his father, hiding his moral descent and severing his ties with home. Soon after, King Edred dies, placing the young, impressionable Edwy on the throne.

Elfric fast attaches himself to Edwy, embracing the fast life of the court. Meanwhile, the towering ecclesiastic Dunstan—Abbot of Glastonbury—stands firmly against the young king’s uncanonical marriage to Elgiva and the court’s growing lawlessness. The conflict escalates when Edwy’s faction drives Dunstan into exile, forcing the holy man and his loyal young follower, Alfred, to flee through the dark into the night.

While Alfred remains true to his faith and his father’s values, Elfric slips further into treason and personal ruin. He falls under the dangerous influence of Redwald, a shadowy captain who harbors a long-buried grudge against the line of Æscendune. Redwald’s grandfather had been cast out by Ella's family generations prior; now, Redwald uses the realm's growing chaos to exact a calculated vengeance. When civil war erupts between King Edwy and his rival Edgar, Elfric rides out to fight for the king, only to be struck down on the battlefield.

Left for dead, the wounded Elfric is carried back to his ancestral home, which Redwald and his mercenaries have seized. Delirious with fever, Elfric is subjected to Redwald's cold revelation of his vengeful lineage. Risking his own life, Alfred sneaks into the hall through an unguarded postern door, rescuing his dying brother from the midst of the enemy's wild revelry.

In the end, King Edwy's cause falters completely. Faced with widespread rebellion and the firm authority of Archbishop Odo, Edwy is forced into submission, losing both his beloved Elgiva and his hold on the kingdom before his early death. King Edgar ascends to unite England under Dunstan's wise administration. Elfric dies reconciled to God and his family, leaving behind a humbled, sacred memory, while Alfred succeeds his father as Thane of Æscendune, ruling wisely alongside his wife Alftrude and guiding a new generation in peace.

How It Unfolds

Leaving the homestead — Elfric and Alfred grow up in the pious household of Æscendune, but Elfric soon departs for the distant temptations of courtly London.

The court's snare — In London, Elfric succumbs to heavy drinking and bad counsel, eventually relying on the secretive Redwald to forge a letter hiding his moral fall from his father.

The saint's flight — As King Edwy assumes the crown and defies the Church, Abbot Dunstan is forced to escape Glastonbury under cover of darkness, accompanied by the faithful Alfred.

Brother against brother — Civil war erupts between the supporters of Edwy and Edgar, placing the brothers on opposing sides of a brutal national conflict.

The trap at Æscendune — After falling in battle, Elfric is held in his own family's castle by Redwald, who reveals his long-concealed plot to destroy the house of Æscendune.

A night rescue — Guided by love and duty, Alfred slips into the castle through a hidden postern door to rescue his feverish, dying brother from Redwald's clutches.

The fall of the king — Deprived of his allies and forced to submit to Archbishop Odo, King Edwy loses his crown, leaving Edgar to rule over a peaceful, united realm while Alfred inherits his father's estate.

The People

• Elfric of Æscendune — The impetuous eldest son of Thane Ella, who seeks independence and royal favour at court. His desire for excitement leads him into indulgence, deceit, and open rebellion against his family, though he ultimately finds redemption through suffering.
• Alfred of Æscendune — Elfric's younger brother, who wants only to serve his family, his faith, and the holy Dunstan. Constant, brave, and deeply pious, he repeatedly risks his life to save his brother from moral and physical ruin, eventually becoming the wise thane of his ancestral home.
• King Edwy — The young, handsome monarch of England, whose headstrong devotion to his uncanonical bride Elgiva pits him directly against the Church. Stubborn and foolishly proud, his refusal to heed wise counsel leads to civil war, the loss of his throne, and an early grave.
• Dunstan — The powerful, highly capable Abbot of Glastonbury, who seeks to preserve ecclesiastical authority and national order against royal overreach. Unyielding in his principles, he endures exile and mockery before returning to guide the kingdom to lasting peace.
• Redwald — A scheming captain in Edwy's service who secretly nurtures an inherited hatred for the house of Æscendune. Driven by a thirst for vengeance, he manipulates Elfric to bring destruction upon the family before his plots are undone.

In Its Own Voice

“Excited by the wine he had drunk, Elfric became as wild in his talk as the other young men, and as the intoxicating drink mounted to his brain, seemed to think that he had just learnt how to enjoy life.”

Elfric succumbs to the heady, unwholesome atmosphere of the London court.

“Oswy! if it costs me my life I will enter the castle!”

Alfred resolves to breach his occupied ancestral home to save his wounded brother.

“Not an Englishman will acknowledge that your connection is lawful; from Exeter to Canterbury the cry is the same—‘Let him renounce Elgiva, and we will obey him; but we will not serve a king who does not obey the voice of the Church or the laws of the land.’”

A veteran counsellor confronts King Edwy with the stern demands of his subjects and the Church.

What It's Really About

At its heart, the book examines the tension between personal desire and spiritual obedience. Through the contrasting paths of Elfric and Alfred, the narrative argues that wild self-indulgence and the rejection of godly counsel lead inevitably to ruin, whereas humility and loyalty yield lasting peace. On a broader canvas, the story explores the clash between temporal monarchy and ecclesiastical authority in Anglo-Saxon England. It portrays King Edwy's tragic reign not merely as a romantic misfortune, but as a cautionary tale about the perils of placing personal passions above the law, the crown, and the spiritual well-being of an entire nation.

Why Read It Today

Readers who appreciate classic Victorian historical fiction, detailed medieval lore, and clear moral arcs will find much to admire in this chronicle. The narrative breathes life into tenth-century England, contrasting the quiet rhythms of monastic life and rural manors with the raucous atmosphere of royal halls and violent battlefields. Its primary appeal lies in its vivid depiction of Anglo-Saxon customs, ancient holy sites, and the complex political dynamics between early English kings and the Church.

The book does present specific period difficulties for modern readers. The prose reflects the didactic Victorian style of its era, characterized by explicit moralizing and archaisms. Additionally, the narrative assumes a high degree of interest in early Church history and includes frequent references to saintly legends and ancient geography. For those willing to engage with its deliberate pace and traditional tone, the story offers an immersive, emotionally grounded journey through a pivotal epoch of English history.