The Evening and the Morning

Aldred and Edgar learn that Wynstan coerces Cuthbert into minting counterfeit coins. Wynstan then uses those coins for gambling. If he loses, he loses counterfeit money, but the money he wins is real. When accused of the forgery in court, Wynstan blames Cuthbert, who receives the punishment. The coins symbolize Wynstan’s moral decay, his disdain for King Ethelred’s rule, and the unreliability of the court in a system that allows Wynstan to intimidate and pay off those who would find against him. The people in power—people like Wynstan—find themselves in winning positions even when they have small losses, like the loss of the counterfeit scheme. Aldred produces the coins as evidence of Wynstan’s guilt, but only succeeds in bringing about Cuthbert’s castration and blinding.

Edgar revolutionizes the ferry system at Dreng’s Ferry by improving the boat they use. The canal he constructs, which requires the expansion and diversion of an entire river, makes trade easier. But the bridge—eventually known as King’s Bridge—is Edgar’s masterpiece. Edgar’s bridge connects two sides of the same river in a way that encourages trade, travel, and more. Edgar represents technical progress, and his inventions are the clearest manifestation of the benefit he can bring to the region.

Aldred receives the bones of Saint Adolphus to bring attention to his monastery and to raise funds. Peasants would often pay to see such relics, and Aldred exploits this by staging an elaborate miracle in which an effigy of the saint stands and appears to look at the crowd. Holy relics symbolize the monks’ devotion to their religion and their willingness to skirt the edge of truth while seeking donations. Aldred’s performance when the effigy of Saint Adolphus stands up in the cart would be vaudevillian in the early 20th century, showing that salesmanship is not a modern invention and is not exclusive to religious evangelism.