Dear Bernard I have just finished reading Sword Song and thought it was very good. However as a christian it was glaringly obvious to me that you do not know much about my faith. The ceremony that is performed to see if AEthelflaed is unfaithfull to her husband is Jewish, involves sacrifices in a synagogue, and is there for null and void in light of the resurrection of Jesus Christ because He is the sacrificial lamb who takes away the sin of the world. The teachings of Jesus count jealousy as a sin, so the Bishop would have merely questioned the pair under oath on the Bible and told AEthelred to pray for forgiveness for such unclean thoughts. So next time you write a book about King Alfred, try reading the New Testament as well. Becky