Summary

Chapter 13 takes place in Late October 997. Aldred had written a report about the dismal situation at Dreng's Ferry. His superior, Abbot Osmund, signed the report which was sent to Elfric, the archbishop of Canterbury, who has a history of “expelling indolent priests and bringing in disciplined monks” (292). A monk named Brother Wigferth arrives with a message from Canterbury agreeing that Degbert and his clergymen are to be expelled and the monks of Shiring will take over control of the Dreng's Ferry church. Osmund knows Wynstan will be angry. Aldred goes to visit Ragna who is to be married the next day. Some stop him on the way, including a woman asking for Aldred's prayers for her sick daughter, knowing “the prayers of celibate monks were more efficacious than those of regular priests” (295). Ragna confides that the house – though better than her original house...