Editing Dunstan (section)

===Life as a monk===
[[File:DunstanLarge.jpg|thumb|Possibly Dunstan praying before Christ]]
Dunstan worked as a [[silversmith]] and in the [[scriptorium]] while he was living at Glastonbury. It is thought likely that he was the artist who drew the well-known image of Christ with a small kneeling monk beside him in the ''Glastonbury Classbook'', "one of the first of a series of outline drawings which were to become a special feature of [[Anglo-Saxon art]] of this period."{{sfn|Alexander|1992|p=9}} Dunstan became famous as a musician, [[Illuminated manuscript|illuminator]], and metalworker.{{sfn|Cross|Livingstone|1997|p=514}} Lady Æthelflæd, King Æthelstan's niece, made Dunstan a trusted adviser and on her death, she left a considerable fortune to him. He used this money later in life to foster and encourage a monastic revival in England.<ref name=Brain>[https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/Saint-St-Dunstan/ Brain, Jessica. "Saint Dunstan", Historic UK, May 25, 2023]</ref> About the same time, his father Heorstan died and Dunstan inherited his fortune as well. He became a person of great influence, and on the death of King Æthelstan in 940, the new King, [[Edmund I of England|Edmund]], summoned him to his court at [[Cheddar, Somerset|Cheddar]] and made him a minister.{{sfn|Bunson|Bunson|Bunson|1998|p=}}

Again, royal favour fostered jealousy among other courtiers and again Dunstan's enemies succeeded in their plots. The King was prepared to send Dunstan away.<ref name=Brain/> There were then at Cheddar certain envoys from the "Eastern Kingdom", which probably meant [[East Anglia]]. Dunstan implored the envoys to take him with them when they returned to their homes. They agreed to do so, but it never happened. The story is recorded:

{{blockquote|...&nbsp;the king rode out to hunt the [[stag]] in [[Mendip Hills|Mendip Forest]]. He became separated from his attendants and followed a stag at great speed in the direction of the Cheddar cliffs. The stag rushed blindly over the precipice and was followed by the hounds. Eadmund endeavoured vainly to stop his horse; then, seeing death to be imminent, he remembered his harsh treatment of St Dunstan and promised to make amends if his life was spared. At that moment his horse was stopped on the very edge of the cliff. Giving thanks to God, he returned forthwith to his palace, called for St. Dunstan and bade him follow, then rode straight to Glastonbury. Entering the church, the king first knelt in prayer before the altar, then, taking St. Dunstan by the hand, he gave him the kiss of peace, led him to the [[abbot]]'s throne and, seating him thereon, promised him all assistance in restoring Divine worship and regular observance.|source={{harvnb|Toke|1909}}}}