Page "Ælfgifu, wife of Eadwig" Paragraph 10

It is probable that they are the two women who are portrayed as Eadwig's sexual partners in the Life of St Dunstan by author ' B ' and that of St. Oswald by Byrhtferth of Ramsey, both dating from around 1000.

Dunstan's Life alleges that on the banquet following the solemnity of his coronation at Kingston ( Surrey ), Eadwig left the table and retreated to his chamber to debauch himself with two women, an indecent noblewoman ( quaedam, licet natione præcelsa, inepta tamen mulier ), later identified as Æthelgifu, and her daughter of ripe age ( adulta filia ).

They are said to have attached themselves to him " obviously in order to join and ally herself or else her daughter to him in lawful marriage .".

Shocked by Eadwig's unseemly withdrawal, the nobles sent Dunstan and Bishop Cynesige, who forcefully dragged the king back to the feast.

For this act, Dunstan had incurred the enmity of the king, who sent him into exile at Æthelgifu ’ s instigation.

Called a modern Jezebel, she would have exploited Eadwig ’ s anger by ordering Dunstan's persecution and the spoliation of his property.

That the memory of Eadwig ’ s sexual affairs had become tainted and confused around the turn of the century is suggested by Byrhferth ’ s Life of St. Oswald, which has a more fantastic tale to tell about Eadwig ’ s two women.

It recounts that the king was married, but ran off with a lady who was below his wife ’ s rank.

Archbishop Oda personally seized the king ’ s new mistress at her home, forced her out of the country and managed to correct the king ’ s behaviour.