Editing Dunstan (section)

==Final years (978–88)==
In March 978, King Edward was assassinated at [[Corfe Castle]], possibly at the instigation of his stepmother, and Æthelred the Unready became king. The coronation took place on [[Low Sunday]] 31 March 978. According to [[William of Malmesbury|William of Malmsesbury]], writing over a century later, when the young king took the usual oath to govern well, Dunstan addressed him in solemn warning. He criticised the violent act whereby he became king and prophesied the misfortunes that were shortly to fall on the kingdom,{{sfn|Churchill|1966|p=139}} but Dunstan's influence at court was ended.{{sfn|Cross|Livingstone|1997|p=514}} Dunstan retired to Canterbury, to teach at the [[cathedral school]].{{sfn|Bunson|Bunson|Bunson|1998|p=}}

Only three more public acts are known. In 980, Dunstan joined [[Ælfhere, Ealdorman of Mercia|Ælfhere of Mercia]] in the solemn [[translation (relic)|translation of the relic]]s of King Edward, soon to be regarded as a saint, from their grave at [[Wareham, Dorset|Wareham]] to a shrine at [[Shaftesbury Abbey]]. In 984, he persuaded King Æthelred to appoint [[Alphege|Ælfheah]] as Bishop of Winchester in succession to Æthelwold.<ref>{{cite book |author1=Fryde, E. B. |author2=Greenway, D. E. |author3=Porter, S. |author4=Roy, I. |title=Handbook of British Chronology|edition=Third revised |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge, UK |date=1996|page=223 |isbn=0-521-56350-X }}</ref> In 986, Dunstan induced the king, by a donation of 100 pounds of silver, to stop his persecution of the See of [[Diocese of Rochester|Rochester]].

Dunstan's retirement at Canterbury consisted of long hours, both day and night, spent in private prayer, as well as his regular attendance at Mass and the [[Canonical hours|daily office]]. He visited the shrines of [[Augustine of Canterbury|St Augustine]] and [[Æthelberht of Kent|St Æthelberht]]. He worked to improve the spiritual and temporal well-being of his people, to build and restore churches, to establish schools, to judge suits, to defend widows and orphans, to promote peace, and to enforce respect for purity.<ref name="co"/> He practised his crafts, made bells and organs and corrected the books in the cathedral library. He encouraged and protected European scholars who came to England, and was active as a teacher of boys in the cathedral school. On [[Ascension of Jesus Christ|Ascension]] Day 988, Dunstan said Mass and preached three times to the people: at the [[Mass (liturgy)#Liturgy of the Word|Gospel]], at the [[benediction#Christianity|benediction]], and after the [[Agnus Dei]]. In this last address, he announced his impending death and wished his congregation well.<ref name="msc" /><ref name=Kiefer/> That afternoon he chose the spot for his tomb, then went to his bed. His strength failed rapidly, and on Saturday morning, 19 May, he caused the clergy to assemble. Mass was celebrated in his presence, then he received [[Extreme Unction]] and the [[Viaticum]], and died. Dunstan's final words are reported to have been, "He hath made a remembrance of his wonderful works, being a merciful and gracious Lord: He hath given food to them that fear Him."{{sfn|Toke|1909}}

The English people accepted him as a [[saint]] shortly thereafter. He was formally [[canonised]] in 1029. That year at the Synod of Winchester, St Dunstan's feast was ordered to be kept solemnly throughout England.{{sfn|Toke|1909}}