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Brethren,

For generations, Masonic "historians" have attempted to deny the very existence of King Athelstan’s brother, Prince Edwin of York.

This calumny has now been thoroughly exposed and he cannot any longer be denied his rightful place in Anglo-Saxon, and English Masonic history.

Records of the Abbey of St Bertin in Flandres, a few miles from Ushant, make note of King Athelstan’s expressions of gratitude for their burial of Edwin, who had drowned in a storm escaping from England during a period of turmoil (AD933).

In the contemporary Cartulaire de l’abbaye de S. Bertin it records the favour Athelstan heaped on the monastery "because the king’s brother, King [sic] Edwin, had been buried in the monastery of St. Bertin."

The cartulary version dates the incident to 932 and describes how, "the same King [sic] Edwin, when, because of some perturbation in his kingdom, got into a ship and tried to reach this part by sea, but the ship foundered in the storms and he was lost in the waves.

When his body was brought to the shore Count Adalolf received it with honour because he was a close kinsman and brought it to St. Bertin for burial."

The William of Malmesbury version in his Gesta regum suggests ingenuity and perseverance in an armour-bearer who found and fished out his master’s body and "swam a ship to land".

We can now say that this incident is confirmed by the entry in the Anglo-Saxon chronicles for the year 933: "This year died Bishop Frithestan; and Edwin the atheling was drowned in the sea".

Let us hear no more falsehood on this issue Brethren: Prince Edwin of York, the first Grand Master of The Grand Lodge of All England at York lived his life, died tragically at sea in AD933, and his mortal remains are buried in the Benedictine Monastery of l’Abbeye Saint Bertin in Flandres.

A delegation from The Grand Lodge at York will make a pilgrimage to l’Abbeye Saint Bertin as soon as it can be arranged.

YORK

January 2008

Peter J. Clatworthy

Grand Secretary

Grand Lodge of All England at York

www.grandlodgeofallengland.org