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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/16610-0.txt b/16610-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..62c1c59 --- /dev/null +++ b/16610-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5440 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of +England (6 of 8), by Raphael Holinshed + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you +will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before +using this eBook. + +Title: Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (6 of 8) + The Sixt Booke of the Historie of England + +Author: Raphael Holinshed + +Release Date: August 27, 2005 [eBook #16610] +[Most recently updated: November 19, 2022] + +Language: English + +Produced by: Jonathan Ingram, Lesley Halamek and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORIE OF ENGLAND *** + + + + +THE SIXT BOOKE + +OF THE + +HISTORIE OF ENGLAND. + + + * * * * * + + + + +_Inas king of the Westsaxons, the whole monarchie of the realme +falleth into their hands, Inas for a summe of monie granteth peace +to the Kentishmen, whom he was purposed to haue destroied, he & his +coosen Nun fight with Gerent king of the Britains, and Cheolred king +of Mercia, and Ealdbright king of Southsaxons, the end of their +kingdoms, Inas giueth ouer his roialtie, goeth in pilgrimage to +Rome, and there dieth; his lawes written in the Saxon toong; of what +buildings he was the founder, queene Ethelburgas deuise to persuade +Inas to forsake the world, he was the first procurer of Peter pence +to be paid to Rome; king Ethelred, king Kenred, and king Offa become +moonks; the setting vp of images in this land authorised by a vision; +king Ethelbalds exploits, he is slaine of his owne subiects by the +suggestion of Bernred the vsurper, Boniface his letter of commendation +to king Ethelbald, nuns kept for concubines, their pilgrimage._ + +THE FIRST CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: INAS. 689.] +After that Ceadwalla, late K. of the Westsaxons was gone to Rome, +where he departed this life (as afore is shewed) his coosen Inas or +Ine was made king of the Westsaxons, begining his reigne in the yéere +of our Lord 689, in the third yeere of the emperor Iustinianus the +third, the 11 yéere of the reigne of Theodoricus K. of France, and +[Sidenote: The Britains ceasse to reigne in this land] +about the second yéere of the reigne of Eugenius king of Scots. Now +because the rule of the Britains commonlie called Welshmen, ceassed in +this realme, as by confession of their owne writers it appéereth, and +that in the end the whole monarchie of the same realme came to the +hands of the kings of Westsaxons, we haue thought méet to refer things +generall vnto the reignes of the same kings, as before we did in the +Britaine kings, reseruing the particular dooings to the kings of the +other prouinces or kingdoms, as the same haue fallen out, and shall +come to hand. + +[Sidenote: _Fabian_. _H. Hunt._] +This Inas, whome some (mistaking N for V) doo wrongfullie name Iue +or Iewe, prooued a right excellent prince, he was descended of the +ancient linage of the kings of the Westsaxons, as sonne to one Kenred, +that was sonne to Ceolwald the son of Cutha or Cutwine, that was sonne +to Kenricke the sonne of Certicus, the first king of Westsaxons. But +he was admitted to the kingdome more for the valiant prowes knowne to +rest in his woorthie person, than for the successiue ofspring of which +he was descended. The first voiage that he made, was against the +Kentishmen, on whome he purposed to reuenge the death of his coosen +[Sidenote: _Matt. Westm._ _Wil. Malm._] +Mollo, the griefe whereof as yet he kept in fresh memorie. But when +the Kentishmen perceiued, that to resist him by force, they were +nothing able, they attempted by monie to buy their peace, and so +obteined their purpose, vpon paiment made to him of thirtie thousand +marks of siluer. + +[Sidenote: Anno 708 as is noted by _Matt. West._ _H. Hunt._] +After this, about the 21 yéere of his reigne, king Inas and his +coosen Nun fought with Gerent king of the Britains. In the beginning +of the battell, one Higelbald a noble man of the Westsaxons part was +slaine, but in the end Gerent with his Britains was chased. In the +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._ saith 718] +26 yéere of his reigne; the same Inas fought a mightie battell against +Cheolred king of Mercia, at Wodenessburie, with doubtfull victorie, +for it could not well be iudged whether part susteined greater losse. +In the 36 yéere of his reigne, king Inas inuaded the Southsaxons with +a mightie armie, and slue in battell Ealdbright or Aldinius king of +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ saith 722. The end of the kingdome of +the Southsaxons.] +the Southsaxons, and ioined that kingdome vnto the kingdome of +the Westsaxons: so that from thencefoorth the kingdome of those +Southsaxons ceassed, after they had reigned in that kingdome by the +space of five kings successiuelie, that is to say, Ella, Cissa, +Ethelwalke, Berutius, and this last Aldinius or Ealdbright. + +Finallie, when Inas had reigned 37 yéeres, and 10 or 11 od moneths, +[Sidenote: Inas went to Rome and there died.] +he renounced the rule of his kingdome, togither with all worldlie +pompe, and went vnto Rome as a poore pilgrime, and there ended his +life: but before this, during the time of his reigne, he shewed +himselfe verie deuout and zealous towards the aduancement of the +christian religion. He made and ordeined also good & wholesome lawes +for the amendment of maners in the people, which are yet extant and to +be read, written in the Saxon toong, and translated into the Latine in +times past, and now latelie againe by William Lambert gentleman, and +printed by Iohn Day, in the yéere 1568, togither with the lawes and +statutes of other kings before the conquest, as to the learned maie +appéere. + +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +Moreouer, king Ine builded the monasterie of Glastenburie, where +Ioseph of Arimathea in times past builded an oratorie or chappell (as +before is recited) when he with other christians came into this land +in the daies of Aruiragus, & taught the gospell heere to the Britains, +conuerting manie of them to the faith. Moreouer, king Ine or Inas +builded the church of Welles, dedicating it vnto saint Andrew, +where afterwards a bishops sée was placed, which at length was +[Sidenote: Ethelburga.] +translated vnto Salisburie. He had to wife one Ethelburga, a woman of +noble linage, who had béene earnest with him a long time to persuade +him to forsake the world: but she could by no meanes bring hir purpose +to passe, till vpon a time the king and she had lodged at a manor +[Sidenote: _Will. Malmes._] +place in the countrie, where all prouision had béene made for the +receiuing of them and their traine in most sumptuous maner that might +be, as well in rich furniture of houshold, as also in costlie viands, +and all other things needfull, or that might serue for pleasure, +[Sidenote: The deuise of quéene Ethelburga to persuade hir husband to +forsake the world.] +and when they were departed, the quéene the foresaid Ethelburga caused +the keeper of that house to remooue all the bedding, hangings, and +other such things as had béen brought thither and ordeined for the +beautifull setting foorth of the house, and in place thereof to bring +ordure, straw, & such like filth, as well into the chambers and hall, +as into all the houses of office, and that doone, to laie a sow with +pigs in the place where before the kings bed had stood. Héerevpon +when she had knowledge that euerie thing was ordered according to hir +appointment, she persuaded the king to returne thither againe, feining +occasions great and necessarie. + +Now when he was returned to that house, which before séemed to the eie +a palace of most pleasure, and now finding it in such a filthie state +as might loath the stomach of anie man to behold the same, she tooke +occasion therevpon to persuade him to the consideration of the vaine +pleasures of this world, which in a moment turne to naught, togither +with the corruption of the flesh, being a filthie lumpe of claie, +after it should once be disolued by death: and in fine, where before +she had spent much labour to mooue him to renounce the world, though +all in vaine, yet now the beholding of that change in his pleasant +palace, wherein so late he had taken great delight, wrought such an +alteration in his mind, that hir woords lastlie tooke effect: so that +he resigned the kingdome to his coosen Ethelard, and went himselfe to +Rome (as aboue is mentioned) and his wife became a nun in the abbeie +of Barking, where she was made abbesse, and finallie there ended hir +[Sidenote: Peter pence.] +life. This Inas was the first that caused the monie called Peter +pence, to be paid vnto the bishop of Rome, which was for euerie +houshold within his dominion a penie. + +[Sidenote: King Ethelred becommeth a moonk.] +In this meane time Edilred or Ethelred, hauing gouerned the +kingdome of Mercia by the tearme of 29 yéeres, became a moonke in the +abbeie of Bardenie, and after was made abbat of that house. He had +[Sidenote: Ostrida.] +to wife one Ostrida the sister of Egfride king of Northumberland, by +whome he had a sonne named Ceolred. But he appointed Kenred the sonne +of his brother Vulfher to succéed him in the kingdome. The said +[Sidenote: _Beda in Epit._ 697.] +Ostrida was cruellie slaine by the treason of hir husbands subiects, +[Sidenote: King Kenred.] +about the yéere of our Lord 697. And as for Kenred, he was a +prince of great vertue, deuout towards God, a furtherer of the +commonwealth of his countrie, and passed his life in great sinceritie +of maners. In the fift yéere of his reigne, he renounced the world, +and went to Rome, togither with Offa king of the Eastsaxons, where +[Sidenote: 711.] +he was made a moonke: and finallie died there, in the yéere of our +[Sidenote: _Nauclerus_. Egwin bishop of Worcester.] +Lord 711. By the aid and furtherance of this Kenred, a moonke of +saint Benets order (called Egwin) builded the abbeie of Eueshame, who +afterwards was made bishop of Worcester. + +[Sidenote: A fabulous and trifling deuise.] +¶ We find recorded by writers, that this Egwin had warning giuen +him by visions (as he constantlie affirmed before pope Constantine) +to set vp an image of our ladie in his church. Wherevpon the pope +approuing the testifications of this bishop by his buls, writ to +Brightwald archbishop of Canturburie, to assemble a synod, and by +authoritie thereof to establish the vse of images, charging the kings +of this land to be present at the same synod, vpon paine of +[Sidenote: _Bale_. 712.] +excommunication. This synod was holden about the yéere of our Lord +712, in the daies of Inas king of Westsaxons, and of Ceolred king of +Mercia successor to the foresaid Kenred. + +After Kenred succéeded Ceolred, the sonne of his vncle Edilred, & died +[Sidenote: _H. Hunt._] +in the 8 yeere of his reigne, and was buried at Lichfield. Then +succéeded Ethelbaldus that was descended of Eopa the brother of king +Penda, as the fourth from him by lineall succession. This man gouerned +a long time without anie notable trouble: some warres he had, and sped +[Sidenote: _Ran. Cestren._] +diuerslie. In the 18 yéere of his reigne, he besieged Sommerton +and wan it. He also inuaded Northumberland, and got there great riches +by spoile and pillage, which he brought from thence without anie +battell offered to him. + +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._] +He ouercame the Welshmen in battell, being then at quiet, and +[Sidenote: Bereford. 755.] +ioined as confederats with Cuthred K. of Westsaxons. But in the +37 yéere of his reigne, he was ouercome in battell at Bereford by the +same Cuthred, with whome he was fallen at variance, and within foure +yéeres after, that is to say, in the 41 yéere of his reigne he was +[Sidenote: Thrée miles from Tamworth. _Wil. Malm._ 758.] +slaine in battell at Secandon, or Sekenton, by his owne subiects, +which arreared warres against him, by the procurement and leading of +one Bernred, who after he had slaine his naturall prince, tooke vpon +him the kingdome: but he prospered not long, being slaine by Offa that +succéeded him in rule of the kingdome of Mercia, as after shall be +shewed. The bodie of Ethelbald was buried at Ripton. +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._] + +[Sidenote: The historie of Magd.] +Bonifacius the archbishop of Mentiz or Moguntz, hauing assembled a +councell with other bishops and doctors, deuised a letter, and sent it +vnto this Ethelbald, commending him for his good deuotion and charitie +in almes-giuing to the reliefe of the poore, and also for his vpright +dealing in administration of iustice, to the punishment of robbers +and such like misdooers: but in that he absteined from mariage, and +wallowed in filthie lecherie with diuerse women, and namelie with +nuns, they sore blamed him, and withall declared in what infamie the +whole English nation in those daies remained by common report in other +countries for their licentious liuing in sinfull fornication, and +namelie the most part of the noble men of Mercia by his euill example +did forsake their wiues, and defloured other women which they kept +[Sidenote: Nuns kept for concubines.] +in adulterie, as nuns and others. Moreouer, he shewed how that such +euill women, as well nuns as other, vsed to make awaie in secret wise +their children which they bare out of wedlocke, and so filled the +graues with dead bodies, and hell with damned soules. The same +Bonifacius in an other espistle wich he wrote vnto Cutbert the +[Sidenote: Pilgrimage of nuns.] +archbishop of Canturburie, counselled him not to permit the +English nuns to wander abroad so often on pilgrimage, bicause there +were few cities either in France or Lombardie, wherein might not be +found English women, that liued wantonlie in fornication and whordome. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Offa king of the Eastsaxons with other go to Rome, he is shauen and +becommeth a moonke, succession in the kingdome of the Eastsaxons and +Eastangles, Osred king of Northumberland hath carnall knowledge +with nuns, he is slaine in battell, Osrike renouncing his kingdome +becommeth a moonke, bishop Wilfrid twise restored to his see, +Westsaxonie diuided in two diocesses, bishop Aldhelme a founder of +religious houses; Ethelard succeedeth Inas in regiment, two blasing +starres seene at once, and what insued, the king dieth: the successiue +reigne of Wichtreds three sonnes ouer Kent, what prouinces were +gouerned by bishops; of what puissance Ethelbald king of Mercia was, +Egbert archbishop of Yorke aduanceth his see; a notable remembrance of +that excellent man Beda, his death._ + +THE SECOND CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: Kings of the Eastsaxons. _Beda lib. 5. cap. 20_. +Offa king of Eastsaxons.] +In this meane time Sighard and Seufred, kings of the Eastsaxons, +being departed this life, one Offa that was sonne to Sigerius +succéeded in gouernment of that kingdome, a man of great towardnesse, +and of right comelie countenance: but after he had ruled a certeine +time, being mooued with a religious deuotion, he went to Rome in +companie of Kenred king of Mercia, and of one Egwine bishop of +Worcester, and being there shauen into the order of moonks, so +[Sidenote: King Selred.] +continued till he died. After him one Selred the sonne of Sigbert the +good, ruled the Eastsaxons the tearme of 38 yéeres. After Aldulfe the +[Sidenote: 688.] +king of Eastangles departed this fraile life, which chanced about +the yéere of our Lord 688, his brother Elcwold or Akwold succéeded +him, and reigned about twelue yéeres. After whose decease one Beorne +was made king of Eastangles, and reigned about 26 yéeres. In this +[Sidenote: 705. _Wil. Malm._ Osred king of Northumberland.] +meane while, that is to say, in the yeere of our Lord 705, Alfride +king of Northumberland being dead, his sonne Osred, a child of 8 +yéeres of age succeeded him in the kingdome, and reigned 11 yéeres, +spending his time when he came to ripe yeeres in filthie abusing his +bodie with nuns, and other religious women. + +About the seuenth yéere of his reigne, that is to say, in the yéere of +[Sidenote: _Henr. Hunt._ Picts ouerthrowne by the Northumbers.] +our Lord 711, one of his capteins named earle Berthfride fought +with the Picts, betwixt two places called Heue and Cere, and obteining +the victorie, slue an huge number of the enimies. At length king Osred +by the traitorous means of his coosens that arreared warre against +[Sidenote: King Osred slaine in batell.] +him, was slaine in battell, and so ended his reigne, leauing to +those that procured his death the like fortune in time to come. For +Kenred reigning two yéeres, and Osricke ten yeeres, were famous onelie +in this, that being worthilie punished for shedding the bloud of their +naturall prince and souereigne lord, they finished their liues with +dishonourable deaths, as they had well deserued. Osricke before +[Sidenote: 729.] +his death, which chanced in the yéere of our Lord 729, appointed +Ceolwolfe the brother of his predecessor Kenred, to succeed him in the +kingdome, which he did, reigning as king of the Northumbers by the +space of 8 yéeres currant, and then renouncing his kingdom, became a +moonke in the Ile of Lindesferne. + +[Sidenote: _Beda_. Acca bishop of Hexham.] +In this meane while, bishop Wilfride being dead, one Acca that was +his chapline was made bishop of Hexham. The said Wilfride had béene +bishop by the space of 45 yéeres: but he liued a long time in exile. +For first being archbishop of Yorke, and exercising his iurisdiction +ouer all the north parts, he was after banished by king Egbert, and +againe restored to the sée of Hexham in the second yeere of king +Alfride, and within fiue yéeres after eftsoones banished by the same +Alfride, and the second time restored by his successor king Osred, +in the fourth yeere of whose reigne, being the yéere after the +incarnation of our Sauiour 709, he departed this life, and was buried +at Rippon. Moreouer, after Iohn the archbishop of Yorke had resigned, +one Wilfride surnamed the second was made archbishop of that sée: +which Wilfride was chapline to the said Iohn, and gouerned that sée by +[Sidenote: 710.] +the space of fiftéene yéeres, and then died. About the yéere of +our Lord 710, the abbat Adrian which came into this land with Theodore +the archbishop of Canturburie (as before ye haue heard) departed this +life, about 39 yéeres after his comming thither. + +[Sidenote: Two bishops sées _Matth. West._ Bishop Daniell.] +Also Inas the king of Westsaxons, about the 20 yeere of his +reigne, diuided the prouince of the Westsaxons into two bishops sées, +whereas before they had but one. Daniell was ordeined to gouerne the +one of those sees, being placed at Winchester, hauing vnder him +[Sidenote: Bishop Aldhelme.] +Sussex, Southerie and Hamshire. And Aldhelme was appointed to +Shireburne, hauing vnder him, Barkeshire, Wiltshire, Sommersetshire, +Dorsetshire, Deuonshire, and Cornwall. This Aldhelme was a learned +[Sidenote: The abbeie of Malmesburie.] +man, and was first made abbat of Malmesburie, in the yéere of our Lord +675 by Eleutherius then bishop of the Westsaxons, by whose diligence +that abbeie was greatlie aduanced, being afore that time founded by +one Medulfe a Scotish man, but of so small reuenues afore Aldhelms +time, that the moonks were scarse able to liue thereon. Also the same +Aldhelme was a great furtherer vnto king Inas in the building of +Glastenburie. + +[Sidenote: ETHELARD. 728. _Matth. West._ saith 727.] +Ethelard, the coosen of king Inas, to whome the same Inas resigned +his kingdome, began to gouerne the Westsaxons in the yéere of our +Lord 728, or rather 27, which was in the 11 yéere of the emperor Leo +Isaurus, in the second yeere of Theodorus king of France, and about +the 8 or 9 yéere of Mordacke king of the Scots. In the first yéere +of Ethelards reigne, he was disquieted with ciuill warre, which one +Oswald a noble man, descended of the roiall bloud of the Westsaxon +kings, procured against him: but in the end, when he perceiued that +the kings power was too strong for him, he fled out of the countrie, +leauing it thereby in rest. + +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ 729. Blasing stars.] +In the yéere 729, in the moneth of Ianuarie there appeered two +comets or blasing starres, verie terrible to behold, the one rising in +the morning before the rising of the sunne, and the other after the +setting thereof: so that the one came before the breake of the day, +and the other before the closing of the night, stretching foorth their +fierie brands toward the north; and they appeered thus euerie morning +and euening for the space of a fortnight togither, menacing as it +were some great destruction or common mishap to follow. The Saracens +shortlie after entred France, and were ouerthrowne. Finallie, when +king Ethelard had reigned the terme of fouretéene yeeres currant, he +departed this life. + +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm. _] +Now when Wichtred king of Kent had gouerned the Kentishmen by the +space of 33 yéeres, with great commendation for the good orders which +he caused to be obserued amongst them, as well concerning matters +ecclesiasticall as temporal, he departed this life, leauing behind him +thrée sonnes, who successiuelie reigned as heires to him one after +another (that is to say) Edbert 23 yéeres, Ethelbert 11 yeeres +currant, and Alrike 34 yeeres, the which three princes following +the steps of their father in the obseruance of politike orders & +commendable lawes, vsed for the more part their fathers good lucke and +[Sidenote: _Beda. lib. 5. cap. 24_.] +fortune, except that in Ethelberts time the citie of Canturburie +was burned by casuall fire, and Alrike lost a battell against them of +Mercia, whereby the glorie of their times was somewhat blemished: for +so it came to passe, that whatsoeuer chanced euill, was kept still in +memorie, and the good haps that came forward, were soone forgotten and +[Sidenote: 731.] +put out of remembrance. In the yéere of our Lord 731, Betrwald +archbishop of Canturburie departed this life in the fift ides of +Ianuarie, after he had gouerned that see by the space of 27 yéeres, 6 +moneths, and 14 daies: in whose place the same yéere one Tacwine was +ordeined archbishop, that before was a priest in the monasterie of +Bruidon within the prouince of Mercia. He was consecrated in the citie +of Canturburie, by the reuerend fathers Daniell bishop of Winchester, +Ingwald bishop of London, Aldwin bishop of Lichfield, and Aldwulfe +bishop of Rochester, the tenth day of Iune being sundaie. +[Sidenote: Bishops what parishes they governed.] +¶ As touching the state of the English church for ecclesiasticall +gouernours, certeine it is, that the same was as hereafter followeth. +The prouince of Canturburie was gouerned touching the ecclesiasticall +state by archbishop Tacwine, and bishop Aldwulfe. The prouince of the +Eastsaxons by bishop Ingwald. The prouince of Eastangles by bishop +Eadbertus and Hadulacus, the one kéeping his sée at Elsham, and the +other at Dunwich. The prouince of the Westsaxons was gouerned by the +foresaid Daniell and by Forthere, who succéeded next after Aldhelme in +the sée of Shereburne. This Forthere in the yéere of our Lord 738, +[Sidenote: _Matth, West._] +left his bishoprike, and went to Rome in companie of the quéene of the +Westsaxons. Many as well kings as bishops, noble and vnnoble, priests +and laiemen, togither with women, vsed to make such iournies thither +in those daies. The prouince of Mercia was ruled by the foresaid +Aldwine bishop of Lichfield, and one bishop Walstod holding his sée +at Herford gouerned those people that inhabited beyond the riuer of +Sauerne toward the west. The prouince of Wiccies, that is, Worcester, +one Wilfride gouerned. The Southsaxons and the Ile of Wight were vnder +the bishop of Winchester. In the prouince of the Northumbers were +foure bishops, that is to say, Wilfride archbishop of Yorke, Edilwald +bishop of Lindisferne, Acca bishop of Hexham, and Pecthelmus bishop +of Whiterne, otherwise called Candida Casa, he was the first that +gouerned that church after the same was made a bishops sée. And thus +stood the state of the English church for ecclesiasticall gouernors in +that season. + +[Sidenote: Ethelbald K. of Mercia, of what puissance he was.] +And as for temporall gouernement, king Ceolvulfe had the +souereigne dominion ouer all the Northumbers: but all the prouinces +on the southside of Humber, with their kings and rulers, were subiect +vnto Edilbald or Ethelbald king of Mercia. The nation of the Picts +were in league with the English men, and gladlie became partakers of +the catholike faith and veritie of the vniuersall church. Those Scots +which inhabited Britaine, contenting themselues with their owne +bounds, went not about to practise anie deceitfull traines nor +fraudulent deuises against the Englishmen. The Britains otherwise +called Welshmen, though for the more part of a peculiar hatred they +did impugne the English nation, & the obseruance of the feast of Ester +appointed by the whole catholike church, yet (both diuine and humane +force vtterlie resisting them) they were not able in neither behalfe +to atteine to their wished intentions, as they which though they were +partlie frée, yet in some point remained still as thrall and mancipate +to the subiection of the Englishmen: who (saith Beda) now in the +acceptable time of peace and quietnesse, manie amongst them of +Northumberland, laieng armour and weapon aside, applied themselues +to the reading of holie scriptures, more desirous to be professed in +religious houses, than to exercise feates of warre: but what will come +therof (saith he) the age that followeth shall sée and behold. With +these words dooth Beda end his historie, continued till the yéere of +our Lord 731, which was from the comming of the Englishmen into this +land, about 285 yéeres, according to his account. + +[Sidenote: 732. _Wil. Malm._] +In the yéere following, that is to say 732, in place of Wilfrid +the second, Egbert was ordeined bishop of Yorke. This Egbert was +brother vnto an other Egbert, who as then was king of Northumberland, +by whose helpe he greatlie aduanced the see of Yorke, and recouered +the pall: so that where all the other bishops that held the same sée +before him sith Paulins daies, wanted the pall, and so were counted +simplie but particular bishops: now was he intituled by the name of +archbishop. He also got togither a great number of good books, +[Sidenote: 733.] +which he bestowed in a librarie at Yorke. ¶ In the yéere 733, on the +18 kalends of September, the sunne suffered a great eclipse about +three of the clocke in the after noone, in somuch that the earth +seemed to be couered with a blacke and horrible penthouse. + +[Sidenote: 735 _Beda_ departed this life] +In the yéere 735, that reuerend and profound learned man Beda +departed this life, being 82 yéeres of age, vpon Ascension day, which +was the 7 kalends of Iune, and 26 of Maie, as Matt. Westm. hath +diligentlie obserued. W. Harison addeth hitherto, that it is to be +read in an old epistle of Cutbert moonke of the same house vnto +Cuthwine, that the said Beda lieng in his death-bed, translated the +gospell of saint Iohn into English, and commanded his brethren to +be diligent in reading and contemplation of good bookes, and not to +exercise themselues with fables and friuolous matters. Finallie he was +buried in the abbeie of Geruie, distant fiue miles from Wiremouth, an +abbeie also in the north parts, not far from Newcastell (as is before +remembred.) He was brought vp in those two abbeies, and was scholar +to John of Beuerley. How throughlie he was séene in all kinds of good +literature, the bookes which hée wrote doo manifestlie beare witnesse. +His judgement also was so much estéemed ouer all, that Sergius the +bishop of Rome wrote vnto Celfride the abbat of Wiremouth, requiring +him to send Beda vnto the court of Rome for the deciding of certein +questions mooued there, which without his opinion might séeme to rest +doubtful. But whether he went thither or not we can not affirme: but +as it is thought by men worthie of credit, he neuer went out of this +land, but continued for the most part of his life in the abbeies of +Geruie and Wiremouth, first vnder Benet the first abbat and founder of +the same abbeies, and after vnder the said Celfride, in whose time he +receiued orders of priesthood at the hands of bishop Iohn, surnamed +of Beuerley: so that it may be maruelled that a man, borne in the +vttermost corner of the world, should proue so excellent in all +knowledge and learning, that his fame should so spread ouer the whole +[Sidenote: _Crantzius_.] +earth, and went neuer out of his natiue countrie to séeke it. But +who that marketh in reading old histories the state of abbeies and +monasteries in those daies, shall well perceiue that they were ordered +after the maner of our schooles or colleges, hauing in them diuerse +learned men, that attended onelie to teach & bring vp youth in +knowledge of good learning, or else to go abroad and preach the word +of God in townes and villages adjoining. + +[Sidenote: 735.] +The same yéere died archbishop Tacuine, and in the yéere following, +that is to say 735, Nothelmus was ordeined archbishop of Canturburie +in his place, and Egbert the archbishop of Yorke the same yéere got +his pall from Rome, and so was confirmed archbishop, and ordeined two +bishops, Fruidberd, and Fruidwald. But some refer it to the yéere 744. + + + * * * * * + + + + +_Cuthred king of the Westsaxons, he is greatlie troubled by Ethelbald +king of Mercia, they are pacified; Kenric king Cuthreds sonne slaine, +earle Adelme rebelleth against him whom the king pardoneth; Cuthred +fighteth with Ethelbald at Hereford, he hath the victorie, he falleth +sicke and dieth; Sigebert succedeth him in the kingdome, he is cruell +to his people, he is expelled from his roiall estate, murther reuenged +with murther, succession in the kingdome of Eastangles, kings change +their crownes for moonks cowles; the Britaines subiect to the king of +Northumberland and the king of Picts, the moone eclipsed._ + +THE THIRD CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: CUTHRED.] +After the decease of Ethelard king of Westsaxons, his coosine +Cuthred was made king and gouernour of those people, reigning the +tearme of 16 yéeres. He began his reigne in the yeere of our Lord +[Sidenote: 740.] +740, in the twentie fourth yere of the emperour Leo Isaurus, in the +14 yéere of the reigne of the second Theodorus Cala K. of France, and +about the 6 yéere of Ethfine king of Scots. This Cuthred had much to +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._ _Hen. Hunt._] +doo against Edilbald king of Mercia, who one while with stirring +his owne subiects the Westsaxons to rebellion, an other while with +open warre, and sometime by secret craft and subtill practises sought +to disquiet him. Howbeit, in the fourth yeere of his reigne, a peace +was concluded betwixt them, and then ioining their powers togither, +they went against the Welshmen, & gaue them a great ouerthrow, as +[Sidenote: Kenric the kings sonne slaine.] +before is partlie touched. In the 9 yeere of this Cuthreds reigne, +his sonne Kenric was slaine in a seditious tumult amongst his men of +warre, a gentleman yoong in yeeres, but of a stout courage, and +[Sidenote: 749.] +verie forward, wherby (as was thought) he came the sooner to his +wofull end. + +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._] +[Sidenote: 751.] +In the 11 yeere of his reigne, Cuthred had wars against one of his +earls called Adelme, who raising a commotion against him, aduentured +to giue battell though he had the smaller number of men, and yet was +at point to haue gone away with victorie, if by a wound at that +instant receiued, his periurie had not béene punished, and the kings +[Sidenote: 752 _Matt. West._] +iust cause aduanced to triumph ouer his aduersarie, whom yet by +way of reconciliation he pardoned. In the 13 yeere of his reigne, +king Cuthred being not well able to susteine the proud exactions +and hard dooings of Edilbald king of Mercia, raised his power, and +encountered with the same Edilbald at Hereford, hauing before him the +said earle Adelme, in whose valiant prowesse he put great hope to +atteine victorie: neither was he deceiued, for by the stout conduct +and noble courage of the said Adelme, the loftie pride of king +[Sidenote: K. Edilbald put to flight.] +Edelbald was abated, so that he was there put to flight, and all +his armie discomfited, after sore and terrible fight continued and +mainteined euen to the vttermost point. In the 24 yeere of his reigne, +this Cuthred fought eftsoones with the Welshmen, and obteined the +vpper hand, without anie great losse of his people: for the enimies +were easilie put to flight and chased, to their owne destruction. In +the yeere after, king Cuthred fell sicke, and in the 16 yéere of his +reigne he departed this life, after so manie great victories got +against his enimies. + + +[Sidenote: SIGIBERT. 755.] +After him succéeded one Sigibert, a cruell and vnmercifull prince +at home, but yet a coward abroad. This Sigbert or Sigibert began his +reigne in the yeare of our Lord 755, verie néere ended. He intreated +his subjects verie euill, setting law and reason at naught. He could +not abide to heare his faults told him, and therefore he cruellie +put to death an earle named Cumbra, which was of his councell, and +faithfullie admonished him to reforme his euill dooings: wherevpon +the rest of his nobles assembled themselues togither with a great +multitude of people, and expelled him out of his estate in the +beginning of the second, or (as some say) the first yeare of his +reigne. Then Sigibert, as he was fearefull of nature; fearing to be +apprehended, got him into the wood called as then Andredeswald, and +there hid himselfe, but by chance a swineheard that belonged to the +late earle Cumbra at Priuets-floud found him out, and perceiuing what +he was, slue him in reuenge of his maisters death. + +¶ Lo here you may sée how the righteous iustice of God rewardeth +wicked dooings in this world with worthie recompense, as well as in +the world to come, appointing euill princes sometimes to reigne for +the punishment of the people, according as they deserue, permitting +some of them to haue gouernement a long time, that both the froward +nations may suffer long for their sins, and that such wicked princes +may in an other world tast the more bitter torments. Againe, other +he taketh out of the waie, that the people may be deliuered from +oppression, and also that the naughtie ruler for his misdemeanour may +spéedilie receiue due punishment. + + +[Sidenote: Ethelred. 738.] +After Beorne king of Eastangles one Ethelred succéeded in gouernment +of that kingdome a man noted to be of good and vertuous qualities, +in that he brought vp his sonne Ethelred (which succéeded him) so in +the feare of the Lord, that he prooued a right godlie prince. This +Ethelbert reigned (as writers say) the terme of 52 yeares. + +[Sidenote: Egbert king of Northumberland. 758.] +After that Ceolvulfe king of Northumberland was become a moonke in +the abbie of Lindesferne, his vncles sonne Egbert (by order taken by +the said Ceolvulfe) succeeded him in the kingdome, and gouerned the +same right woorthilie for the terme of 24 yeares, and then became a +moonke, by the example both of his predecessor the forsaid Ceolvulfe, +[Sidenote: Changing of crownes for moonkes cowles. 756.] +and also of diuers other kings in those daies, so that he was the +eight king who in this land had changed a kings crowne for a moonks +cowle (as Simon Dunel. writeth.) + +This Egbert (in the 18 yeare of his reigne) and Vngust king of Picts +came to the citie of Alcluid with their armies, and there receiued the +Britains into their subiection, the first-day of August: but the tenth +day of the same month, the armie which he led from Ouan vnto Newbourgh, +was for the more part lost and destroied. ¶ The same yeare on the 8 +kalends of December, the moone being as then in hir full, appeared to be +of a bloudie colour, but at length she came to hir accustomed shew, +after a maruellous meanes, for a starre which followed hir, passed by +hir, & went before hir, the like dist[=a]ce as it kept in following hir +before she lost hir vsuall light. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Offa king of Mercia, his manhood and victories against the Kentishmen +and Westsaxons, he killeth Egilbert king of Eastangles by a policie +or subtill deuise of profered curtesie, he inuadeth his kingdome, +and possesseth it, the archbishops see of Canturburie remoued to +Lichfield; archbishop Lambert laboring to defend his prerogatiue is +depriued by king Offa, he seizeth vpon churches and religious houses; +mistrusting his estate, he alieth himselfe with other princes; he +maketh amends for the wrongs that he had doone to churches and +religious houses, he goeth to Rome, maketh his realme tributarie to +the said see, Peter pence paid, he falleth sicke and dieth, places to +this day bearing his name in memorie of him, the short reigne of his +sonne._ + +THE FOURTH CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: OFFA. 758.] +After that Offa had slaine Bernred the vsurper of the kingdome +of Mercia (as before is mentioned) the same Offa tooke vppon him the +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ _Wil. Malm._] +gouernment of that kingdome 758, a man of such stoutnesse of +stomach, that he thought he should be able to bring to passe all +things whatsoeuer he conceiued in his mind. He reigned 39 yeares. His +dooings were great and maruellous, and such as some times his vertues +surpassed his vices, and sometime againe his vices seemed to +[Sidenote: The victories of king Offa. _Matth. West._ 779.] +ouermatch his vertues. He ouercame the Kentishmen in a great battell +at Otteford, and the Northumbers also were by him vanquished, and in +battell put to flight. With Kenvulfe king of Westsaxons he fought in +open battell, and obteined a noble victorie, with small losse of his +people, although the same Kenwulfe was a right valiant prince, and a +good capteine. + +[Sidenote: Falsehood in fellowship.] +Againe, perceiuing that to procéed with craft, should sooner +aduance his purpose, than to vse open force against Egilbert king of +Eastangles, vnder faire promises to giue vnto him his daughter in +mariage, he allured him to come into Mercia, and receiuing him into +his palace, caused his head to be striken off, and after by wrongfull +meanes inuaded his kingdome, and got it into his possession: yet he +caused the bones of the first martyr of this land saint Albane (by a +miraculous meanes brought to light) to be taken vp, and put in a rich +shrine adorned with gold and stone, building a goodlie church of +excellent woorkmanship, and founding a monasterie in that place in +honor of the same saint, which he indowed with great possessions. +[Sidenote: The archbishops sée remoued from Canturburie to Lichfield. +785.] +He remoued the archbishops see from Canturburie vnto Lichfield, +thereby to aduance his kingdome of Mercia, as well in dignitie & +preheminence of spirituall power as temporall. He made great suit to +bring his purpose to passe in the court of Rome, and at length by +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._] +great gifts and rewards obteined it at the hands of pope Adrian the +first, then gouerning the Romane sée. And so Eadulfus then bishop of +Lichfield was adorned with the pall, and taken for archbishop, +hauing all those bishops within the limits of king Offa his dominion +suffragans vnto him; namelie, Denebertus bishop of Worcester, +Werebertus bishop of Chester, Eadulfus bishop of Dorcester, Wilnardus +bishop of Hereford, Halard bishop of Elsham, and Cedferth bishop of +Donwich. There remained onelie to the archbishop of Canturburie, the +bishops of London, Winchester, Rochester, and Shireburne. + +[Sidenote: The archbishop Lambert defended his cause.] +This separation continued all the life time of the archbishop +Lambert, although he trauelled earnestlie to mainteine his +prerogatiue. Now, for that he still defended his cause, and would +not reuolt from his will, Offa depriued him of all his possessions & +reuenues that he held or inioied within anie part of his dominions. +Neither was Offa satisfied herewith, but he also tooke into his hands +the possessions of manie other churches, and fléeced the house of +[Sidenote: Offa alieth himselfe with other princes.] +Malmesburie of a part of hir reuenues. Because of these & other his +hard dooings, doubting the malice of his enimies, he procured the +friendship of forren princes. Vnto Brightricke king of the +[Sidenote: _Matt. Westm._] +Westsaxons he gaue his daughter Ethelburga in mariage. And sending +diuers ambassadours ouer vnto Charles the great, that was both emperor +& king of France, he purchased his friendship at length, although +[Sidenote: The intercourse of merchants staied.] +before there had depended a péece of displeasure betwixt them, +insomuch that the intercourse for trade of merchandize was staied for +a time. One of the ambassadours that was sent vnto the said Charles +[Sidenote: Alcwine an Englishman.] +(as is reported) was that famous clearke Albine or Alcwine, by +whose persuasion the same Charles erected two vniuersities, as in +place due and conuenient may more largelie appeare. + +Finallie king Offa (as it were for a meane to appease Gods wrath, +which he doubted to be iustlie conceiued towards him for his sinnes +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +and wickednesse) granted the tenth part of all his goods vnto +churchmen, and to poore people. He also indowed the church of Hereford +with great reuenues, and (as some write) he builded the abbeie of +Bath, placing moonkes in the same, of the order of saint Benet, as +[Sidenote: 775.] +before he had doone at saint Albons. Moreouer he went vnto Rome, +about the yeare of our Lord 775, and there following the example of +Inas king of the Westsaxons, made his realme subiect by way of tribute +[Sidenote: Peter pence, or Rome Scot. _Will. Malmes._ 797.] +vnto the church of Rome, appointing that euerie house within the +limits of his dominions, should yearelie pay vnto the apostolike see +one pennie, which paiment was after named, Rome Scot, and Peter pence. +After his returne from Rome, perceiuing himselfe to draw into yeares, +[Sidenote: Offa departed this life.] +he caused his sonne Egfrid to be ordeined king in his life time: +and shortlie after departing out of this world, left the kingdome vnto +him, after he had gouerned it by the space of 39 yeares. + +Amongst other the dooings of this Offa, which suerlie were great and +maruellous, this may not passe with silence, that he caused a mightie +great ditch to be cast betwixt the marshes of his countrie, and the +Welsh confines, to diuide thereby the bounds of their dominions. +[Sidenote: Offditch.] +This ditch was called Offditch euer after, and stretched from the +south side by Bristow, vnder the mountaines of Wales, running +northward ouer the riuers of Seuerne and Dée, vnto the verie mouth +of Dee, where that riuer falleth into the sea. He likewise builded a +church in Warwikeshire, whereof the towne there taketh name, and is +[Sidenote: Egfrid king of Mercia.] +called Offchurch euen to this day. Egfrid taking vpon him the +rule, began to follow the approoued good dooings of his father, and +first restored vnto the churches their ancient priuileges, which his +father sometimes had taken from them. Great hope was conceiued of his +further good procéeding, but death cut off the same, taking him out of +this life, after he had reigned the space of foure moneths, not for +his owne offenses (as was thought) but rather for that his father had +caused so much bloud to be spilt for the confirming of him in the +kingdome, which so small a time he now inioied. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Osulph king of Northumberland traitorouslie murthered, Edilwald +succeedeth him, the reward of rebellion, a great mortalitie of foules +fishes and fruits, moonkes licenced to drinke wine, great wast by +fire, Edelred king of Northumberland is driuen out of his countrie by +two dukes of the same, Ethelbert king of the Eastangles commended for +his vertues, Alfred the daughter of king Mercia is affianced to him, +tokens of missehaps towards him, his destruction intended by queene +Quendred, hir platforme of the practise to kill him, Offa inuadeth +Ethelberts kingdome, Alfred his betrothed wife taketh his death +greuouslie, and becommeth a nun, the decaie of the kingdome of +Eastangles, succession in the regiment of the Westsaxons, the end of +the gouernement of the Eastsaxons, prince Algar is smitten blind for +seeking to rauish virgine Friswide, and at hir praiers restored to his +sight._ + +THE FIFT CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: EADBERT king of Northumberland. 758.] +When Eadbert or Egbert K. of Northumberland was become a moonke, +his sonne Osulphus succéeded him: but after he had reigned onelie +one yeare, he was traitorouslie murthered by his owne seruants at +Mikilwongton, on the 9 kalends of August. Then succéeded one Moll, +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ _Hen. Hunt._ Edilwold king of Northumberland. +_Simon Dun._ _Henr. Hunt._] +otherwise called Edilwold or Edilwald, but not immediatlie, for he +began not his reigne till the nones of August in the yeare following, +which was after the birth of our sauiour 759. + +This man prooued right valiant in gouernement of his subiects. He +slue in battell an earle of his countrie named Oswin, who arrearing +warre against him, fought with him in a pitcht field at Eadwines +Cliue, and receiued the worthie reward of rebellion. + +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ 764.] +This chanced in the third yeare of his reigne, and shortlie after, +that is to say, in the yeare of our Lord 764, there fell such a +maruellous great snow, and therwith so extreame a frost, as the like +had not béene heard of, continuing from the beginning of the winter, +almost till the middest of the spring, with the rigour whereof, trees +and fruits withered awaie, and lost their liuelie shape and growth: +and not onelie feathered foules, but also beasts on the land, & fishes +in the sea died in great numbers. The same yeare died Ceolwulf then +king of Northumberland, vnto whome Beda did dedicate his booke of +[Sidenote: Moonks licenced to drinke wine.] +histories of the English nation. After that he was become a moonke +in the monasterie of Lindesferne, the moonks of that house had licence +to drinke wine, or ale, whereas before they might not drinke anie +other thing than milke, or water, by the ancient rule prescribed them +of the bishop Aidan first founder of the place. The same yeare sundrie +cities, townes, and monasteries were defaced and sore wasted with fier +chancing on the sudden, as Stretehu, Giwento, Anwicke, London, Yorke, +Doncaster, &c. + +After that Moll had reigned 6 yeares, he resigned his kingdome. But +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ Altred began his reigne in the yeare 765 as +_Sim. Dun._ saith.] +other write that he reigned 11 yeares, and was in the end slaine by +treason of his successor Altred. This Altred reigned ten years ouer +the Northumbers, and was then expelled out of his kingdome by his +[Sidenote: _Henr. Hunt._ _Matth. West._ Ethelbert.] +owne subiects. Then was Ethelbert, named also Edelred, the sonne of +the foresaid Moll, made king of Northumberland, and in the fift yeare +of his reigne, he was driuen out of his kingdome by two dukes of his +countrie named Edelbald and Herebert, who mouing warre against him, +had slaine first Aldulfe the sonne of Bosa the generall of his armie +at Kingescliffe; and after Kinewulfe and Egga, other two of his dukes, +at Helatherne in a sore foughten field: so that Ethelbert despairing +of all recouerie, was constrained to get him out of the countrie. +And thus was the kingdome of Northumberland brought into a miserable +state, by the ambitious working of the princes and nobles of the same. + +[Sidenote: _Henr. Hunt._ _Iohn Capgraue_. _Matth. West._ and others. +Ethelbert king of Eastangles.] +After that Ethelbert king of Eastangles was dead, his sonne +Ethelbert succéeded him, a prince of great towardnesse, and so +vertuouslie brought vp by his fathers circumspect care and diligence, +that he vtterlie abhorred vice, and delighted onelie in vertue and +commendable exercises, for the better atteining to knowledge and +vnderstanding of good sciences. There remaine manie sundrie saiengs & +dooings of him, manifestlie bearing witnesse that there could not +[Sidenote: The saieng of king Ethelbert.] +be a man more honorable, thankefull, courteous or gentle. Amongest +other he had this saieng oftentimes in his mouth, that the greater +that men were, the more humble they ought to beare themselues: for the +Lord putteth proud and mightie men from their seates, and exalteth the +humble and méeke. + +Moreouer he did not onelie shew himselfe wise in words, but desired +also to excell in staiednesse of maners, and continencie of life. +Whereby he wan to him the hearts of his people, who perceiuing that he +was nothing delighted in the companie of women, and therefore minded +not mariage, they of a singular loue and fauour towards him, required +that he should in anie wise yet take a wife, that he might haue issue +to succéed him. At length the matter being referred to his councell, +he was persuaded to follow their aduises. And so Alfreda the daughter +of Offa king of Mercia was affianced to him: so that he himselfe +appointed (as meanes to procure more fauour at his father in lawes +hands) to go fetch the bride from hir fathers house. + +Manie strange things that happened to him in taking vpon him this +[Sidenote: Tokens of mishap to follow.] +iournie, put him in great doubt of that which should follow. He was +no sooner mounted on his horsse, but that (as séemed to him) the earth +shooke vnder him: againe, as he was in his iournie, about the mid-time +of the day, such a darke mist compassed him on ech side, that he could +not sée nor discerne for a certeine time anie thing about him at all: +lastlie, as he laie one night asléepe, he thought he saw in a dreame +the roofe of his owne palace fall downe to the ground. But though +with these things he was brought into great feare, yet he kept on his +[Sidenote: The innocent mistrustfull of no euill.] +iournie, as he that mistrusted no deceit, measuring other mens +maners by his owne. King Offa right honourablie receiued him: but his +wife named Quendred, a wise woman, but therewith wicked, conceiued a +malicious deuise in hir hart, & streightwaies went about to persuade +hir husband to put it in execution, which was to murther king +Ethelbert, and after to take into his hands his kingdome. + +Offa at the first was offended with his wife for this motion, but +[Sidenote: _Iohn Capgr._ Winnebert.] +in the end, through the importunate request of the woman, he +consented to hir mind. The order of the murther was committed vnto one +Winnebert, that had serued both the said Ethelbert & his father +[Sidenote: _Sim. Dun._ saith 771.] +before time, the which feining as though he had béene sent from Offa +[Sidenote: Offa conquereth Eastangles.] +to will Ethelbert to come vnto him in the night season, slue +him that once mistrusted not anie such treason. Offa hauing thus +dispatched Ethelbert, inuaded his kingdome, and conquered it. + +But when the bride Alfreda vnderstood the death of hir liked make and +bridegrome, abhorring the fact, she curssed father and mother, and +as it were inspired with the spirit of prophesie, pronounced that +woorthie punishment would shortlie fall on hir wicked mother for +hir heinous crime committed in persuading so detestable a déed: and +[Sidenote: Alfreda a nun. _Beda_. _Matth. West._] +according to hir woords it came to passe, for hir mother died +miserablie within three moneths after. The maid Alfreda refusing the +world, professed hirselfe a nun at Crowland, the which place began +to wax famous about the yéere of our Lord 695, by the meanes of one +Gutlake, a man esteemed of great vertue and holinesse, which chose to +himselfe an habitation there, and departing this life about the yéere +of our Lord 714, was buried in that place, where afterwards an abbeie +of moonks was builded of saint Benets order. The bodie of K. Ethelbert +at length was buried at Hereford, though first it was committed to +buriall in a vile place, néere to the banke of a riuer called Lug. + +The kingdome of Eastangles from thencefoorth was brought so into +decaie, that it remained subiect one while vnto them of Mercia, an +other while vnto the Westsaxons, and somewhile vnto them of Kent, till +that Edmund surnamed the martyr got the gouernment thereof (as after +shall appéere.) After that Selred king of the Eastsaxons had gouerned +[Sidenote: _H. Hunt._] +the tearme of 38 yéeres, he was slaine, but in what maner, writers +haue not expressed. After him succéeded one Swithed or Swithred, the +11 and last in number that particularlie gouerned those people. He was +finallie expelled by Egbert K. of Westsaxons, the same yéere that the +said Egbert ouercame the Kentishmen (as after shall be shewed) and so +the kings of that kingdome of the Eastsaxons ceassed and tooke end. + +[Sidenote: Friswide a virgine.] +¶ About this time, there was a maid in Oxford named Friswide, +daughter to a certeine duke or noble man called Didanus, with whome +one Algar a prince in those parties fell in loue, and would haue +rauished hir, but God the reuenger of sinnes was at hand (as the +storie saith.) For when Algar followed the maid that fled before him, +she getting into the towne, the gate was shut against him, and his +sight also was suddenlie taken from him. But the maid by hir praiers +pacified Gods wrath towards him, so that his sight was againe restored +to him. But whether this be a fable or a true tale, héereof grew the +report, that the kings of this realme long times after were afraid to +enter into the citie of Oxford. So easilie is the mind of man turned +to superstition (as saith Polydor.) + + * * * * * + + + + +_Kinewulfe king of Westsaxons, his conquest ouer the Britains, his +securitie and negligence, he is slaine by conspirators, inquisition +for Kineard the principall procurer of that mischiefe, he is slaine in +fight; legats from the pope to the kings and archbishops of this land +about reformation in the church, a councell holden at Mercia; +iudge Bearne burnt to death for crueltie, Alfwold reigneth ouer +Northumberland, his owne subiects murther him; a booke of articles +sent by Charles king of France into Britaine quite contrarie to the +christian faith, Albinus writeth against it; great waste by tempests +of wind and rage of fire._ + +THE SIXT CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: KINEWULF. _Hen. Hunt._ 756.] +After that the Westsaxons had depriued their vnprofitable king +Sigibert, they aduanced Kinewulfe, or Cinevulfus, the which began his +reigne about the yéere of our Lord 756, which was in the 16 yéere of +the emperor Constantinus, surnamed Copronimos, in the 6 yéere of +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun. saith 755_.] +the reigne of Pipin king of France, and about the 22 yéere of Ethfine +king of Scots. This Kinewulfe prooued a right woorthie and valiant +prince, and was descended of the right line of Cerdicus. He obteined +[Sidenote: The Britains vanquished.] +great victories against the Britains or Welshmen, but at Bensington +or Benton he lost a battell against Offa king of Mercia, in the 24 +yéere of his reigne: and from that time forward tasting manie +displeasures, at length through his owne follie came vnto a shamefull +end. For whereas he had reigned a long time neither slouthfullie nor +presumptuouslie, yet now as it were aduanced with the glorie of things +passed, he either thought that nothing could go against him, or else +doubted the suertie of their state whom he should leaue behind him, +and therefore he confined one Kineard the brother of Sigibert, whose +fame he perceiued to increase more than he would haue wished. + +This Kineard dissembling the matter, as he that could giue place to +time, got him out of the countrie, and after by a secret conspiracie +assembled togither a knot of vngratious companie, and returning +priuilie into the countrie againe, watched his time, till he espied +that the king with a small number of his seruants was come vnto the +house of a noble woman, whome he kept a paramour at Merton, wherevpon +the said Kineard vpon the sudden beset the house round about. The king +perceiuing himselfe thus besieged of his enimies, at the first caused +the doores to be shut, supposing either by curteous woords to appease +his enimies, or with his princelie authoritie to put them in feare. + +But when he saw that by neither meane he could doo good, in a great +chafe he brake foorth of the house vpon Kineard, and went verie néere +to haue killed him: but being compassed about with multitude of +enimies, whilest he stood at defense, thinking it a dishonour for +[Sidenote: Kinewulfe slaine by conspirators.] +him to flée, he was beaten downe and slaine, togither with those few +of his seruants which he had there with him, who chose rather to die +in séeking reuenge of their maisters death than by cowardise to yéeld +themselues into the murtherers hands. There escaped none except one +Welshman or Britaine, an hostage, who was neuerthelesse sore wounded +and hurt. + +The brute of such an heinous act was streightwaies blowne ouer all, +and brought with speed to the eares of the noble men and peeres of the +realme, which were not farre off the place where this slaughter had +béene committed. Amongst other, one Osrike, for his age and wisedome +accounted of most authoritie, exhorted the residue that in no wise +they should suffer the death of their souereigne lord to passe +vnpunished vnto their perpetuall shame and reproofe. Wherevpon in all +hast they ran to the place where they knew to find Kineard, who at the +first began to please his cause, to make large promises, to pretend +coosenage, and so foorth: but when he perceiued all that he could +say or doo might not preuaile, he incouraged his companie to shew +themselues valiant, and to resist their enimies to the vttermost of +their powers. Heerevpon followed a doubtfull fight, the one part +striuing to saue their liues, and the other to atteine honour, and +punish the slaughter of their souereigne lord. At length the victorie +rested on the side where the right was, so that the wicked murtherer +after he had fought a while, at length was slaine, togither with +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ _H. Hunt_] +fourescore and eight of his mates. The kings bodie was buried at +Winchester, & the murtherers at Repingdon. Such was the end of king +Kinewulfe, after he had reigned the tearme of 31 yéeres. + +[Sidenote: _Eccle. hist. Magd._ 786] +In the yeere of our Lord 786, pope Adrian sent two legats into +England, Gregorie, or (as some copies haue) George bishop of Ostia, +and Theophylactus bishop of Tuderto, with letters commendatorie vnto +Offa king of Mercia, Alfwold king of Northumberland, Ieanbright or +Lambert archbishop of Canturburie, and Eaubald archbishop of Yorke. +[Sidenote: _H. Hunt._ Legats from the pope.] +These legats were gladlie receiued, not onlie by the foresaid +kings and archbishops, but also of all other the high estates, aswell +spirituall as temporall of the land, & namelie of Kinewulfe king of +the Westsaxons, which repaired vnto king Offa to take counsell with +him for reformation of such articles as were conteined in the popes +letters. + +[Sidenote: Twentie articles which the legats had to propone.] +There were twentie seuerall articles which they had to propone on +the popes behalfe, as touching the receiuing of the faith or articles +established by the Nicene councell, and obeieng of the other generall +councels, with instructions concerning baptisme and kéeping of synods +yéerelie, for the examination of priests and ministers, and reforming +of naughtie liuers. Moreouer touching discretion to be vsed in +admitting of gouernors in monasteries, and curats or priests to the +ministerie in churches: and further for the behauior of priests in +wearing their apparell, namelie that they should not presume to come +to the altar bare legged, lest their dishonestie might be discouered. +And that in no wise the chalice or paten were made of the horne of an +oxe, bicause the same is bloudie of nature: nor the host of a crust, +but of pure bread. Also whereas bishops vsed to sit in councels to +iudge in secular causes, they were now forbidden so to doo. + +Manie other things were as meanes of reformation articled, both for +spirituall causes, and also concerning ciuill ordinances, as disabling +children to be heirs to the parents, which by them were not begot +[Sidenote: Nuns concubines.] +in lawfull matrimonie but on concubines, whether they were nunnes +or secular women. Also of paiment of tithes, performing of vowes, +auoiding of vndecent apparell, and abolishing of all maner of +heathenish vsages and customes that sounded contrarie to the order +[Sidenote: Curtailing of horsses.] +of christanitie, as curtailing of horsses, and eating of horsses +flesh. These things with manie other expressed in 20 principall +articles (as we haue said) were first concluded to be receiued by the +church of the Northumbers in a councell holden there, and subscribed +by Alfwold king of the Northumbers, by Delberike bishop of Hexham, by +Eubald archbishop of Yorke, Higwald bishop of Lindisferne, Edelbert +bishop of Whiterne, Aldulfe bishop of Mieth, Ethelwine also another +bishop by his deputies, with a number of other of the clergie; and +lords also of the temporaltie, as duke Alrike, duke Segwulfe, abbat +Alebericke, and abbat Erhard. After this confirmation had of the +Northumbers, there was also a councell holden in Mercia at Cealtide, +in the which these persons subscribed, Iambert or Lambert archbishop +of Canturburie, Offa king of Mercia, Hughbright bishop of Lichfield, +Edeulfe bishop of Faron, with Vnwone bishop of Ligor, and nine other +bishops, besides abbats; and thrée dukes, as Brorda, Farwald, and +Bercoald, with earle Othbald. + +But now to returne backe to speake of other dooings, as in other parts +of this land they fell out. About the yéere of our Lord 764, the sée +of Canturburie being void, one Iambert or Lambert was elected +[Sidenote: 764.] +archbishop there, and in the yéere 766, the archbishop of Yorke Egbert +[Sidenote: _Sim. Dun._ saith 780] +departed this life, in whose place one Adelbert succéeded. About +the 25 yéere of Kenwulf king of Westsaxons, the Northumbers hauing to +their capteine two noble men, Osbald and Ethelherard, burned one +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] +of their iudges named Bearne, bicause he was more cruell in iudgement +(as they tooke the matter) than reason required. In which vengeance +executed vpon the cruell iudge (if he were so seuere as this attempt +of the two noble men dooth offer the readers to suspect) all such of +his liuerie & calling are taught lenitie & mildnes, wherwith they +should leuen the rigor of the lawe. For + + [Sidenote: _Ouid. lib. 2. de art. am._] + + ------capit indulgentia mentes, + Asperitas odium sæuáque bella mouet. + Odimus accipitrem, quia viuit semper in armis, + Er pauidum solitos in pecus ire lupos. + At caret insidijs hominum, quia mitis hirundo est, + Quásque colat turres Chaonîs ales habet. + +At the same time, one Aswald or Alfewald reigned ouer the Northumbers, +being admitted K. after that Ethelbert was expelled, and when the +[Sidenote: He began his reigne _ann._ 779, as saith _Simon Dun._ and +reigned but ten yéeres.] +same Alfwald had reigned 10, or (as some say) 11 yéeres, he was +traitorouslie and without all guilt made away; the chéefe conspirator +was named Siga. The same Alfwald was a iust prince, and woorthilie +gouerned the Northumbers to his high praise and commendation. He was +murthered by his owne people (as before ye haue heard) the 23 of +September, in the yéere of our Lord 788, and was buried at Hexham. + +[Sidenote: 788. _Matth. West._ _Simon Dun._ 792.] +In the yéere 792, Charles king of France sent a booke into +Britaine, which was sent vnto him from Constantinople, conteining +certeine articles agreed vpon in a synod (wherein were present aboue +the number of thrée hundred bishops) quite contrarie and disagréeing +from the true faith, namelie in this, that images ought to be +worshipped, which the church of God vtterlie abhorreth. Against this +booke Albinus that famous clearke wrote a treatise confirmed with +places taken out of holie scripture, which treatise, with the booke in +[Sidenote: _Sim. Dunel._ 800.] +name of all the bishops and princes of Britaine, he presented vnto +the king of France. ¶ In the yéere 800, on Christmasse éeuen chanced a +maruellous tempest of wind, which ouerthrew whole cities and townes in +diuerse places, and trees in great number, beside other harmes which +it did, as by death of cattell, &c. In the yeere following a great +part of London was consumed by fire. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Britricus K. of the Westsaxons, his inclination, Egbert being of the +bloud roiall is banished the land, & why; crosses of bloudie colour +and drops of bloud fell from heauen, what they did prognosticate; the +first Danes that arriued on the English coasts, and the cause of their +comming; firie dragons flieng in the aire foretokens of famine +and warre; Britricus is poisoned of his wife Ethelburga, hir ill +qualities; why the kings of the Westsaxons decreed that their wiues +should not be called queenes, the miserable end of Ethelburga; Kenulfe +king of Mercia, his vertues, he restoreth the archbishops see to +Canturburie which was translated to Lichfield, he inuadeth Kent, +taketh the king prisoner in the field, and bountifullie setteth him at +libertie, the great ioy of the people therevpon; his rare liberalitie +to churchmen, his death and buriall._ + +THE SEUENTH CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: BRITRICUS. _Hen. Hunt._ _Matt. West._ saith 787. +_Simon Dun._ saith 786.] +After Kenwulfe, one Britricus or Brightrike was ordeined king of +Westsaxons, and began his reigne in the yéere of our Lord 787, which +was about the 8 yéere of the gouernment of the empresse Eirene with +hir son Constantinus, and about the second yeere of the reigne of +Achaius K. of Scots. This Brightrike was descended of the line of +Cerdicus the first king of Westsaxons, the 16 in number from him. He +was a man of nature quiet & temperate, more desirous of peace than of +warre, and therefore he stood in doubt of the noble valiancie of one +Egbert, which after succéeded him in the kingdome. The linage of +Cerdicus was in that season so confounded and mingled, that euerie +one as he grew in greatest power, stroue to be king and supreame +gouernour. But speciallie Egbertus was knowne to be one that coueted +that place, as he that was of the bloud roiall, and a man of great +[Sidenote: Egbert banished.] +power and lustie courage. King Brightrike therefore to liue in more +safetie, banished him the land, and appointed him to go into France. +Egbert vnderstanding certeinlie that this his departure into a +forreine countrie should aduance him in time, obeied the kings +pleasure. + +[Sidenote: A strange woonder.] +About the third yéere of Brightrikes reigne, there fell vpon mens +garments, as they walked abroad, crosses of bloudie colour, and bloud +fell from heauen as drops of raine. Some tooke this woonder for +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._ _Wil. Malm._ _Hen. Hunt._ +Danes.] +a signification of the persecution that followed by the Danes: for +shortlie after, in the yeere insuing, there arriued thrée Danish ships +vpon the English coasts, against whome the lieutenant of the parties +adjoining made foorth, to apprehend those that were come on land, +howbeit aduenturing himselfe ouer rashlie amongst them, he was slaine: +but afterwards when the Danes perceiued that the people of the +countries about began to assemble, and were comming against them, they +fled to their ships, and left their prey and spoile behind them for +that time. These were the first Danes that arriued here in this land, +being onelie sent (as was perceiued after) to view the countrie and +coasts of the same, to vnderstand how with a greater power they might +be able to inuade it, as shortlie after they did, and warred so with +the Englishmen, that they got a great part of the land, and held it in +their owne possession. In the tenth yéere of king Brightrikes reigne, +there were séene in the aire firie dragons flieng, which betokened +(as was thought) two grieuous plagues that followed. First a great +[Sidenote: Famin & war signified.] +dearth and famine: and secondlie a cruell war of the Danes, which +shortlie followed, as ye shall heare. + +Finallie, after that Brightrike had reigned the space of 16 yéeres, he +[Sidenote: _Ran. Cest. lib. 5. cap. 25_. Brightrike departed this life.] +departed this life, and was buried at Warham. Some write that he +was poisoned by his wife Ethelburga daughter vnto Offa king of Mercia +(as before ye haue heard) and he maried hir in the fourth yere of +his reigne. She is noted by writers to haue bin a verie euill woman, +proud, and high-minded as Lucifer, and therewith disdainful. She bare +[Sidenote: Ethelburga hir conditions and wicked nature.] +hir the more statelie, by reason of hir fathers great fame and +magnificence: whome she hated she would accuse to hir husband, and so +put them in danger of their liues. And if she might not so wreake hir +rancour, she would not sticke to poison them. + +It happened one day, as she meant to haue poisoned a yoong gentleman, +against whome she had a quarell, the king chanced to tast of that cup, +and died thereof (as before ye haue heard.) Hir purpose indeed was not +to haue poisoned the king, but onelie the yoong gentleman, the which +drinking after the king, died also, the poison was so strong and +[Sidenote: A decrée of the kings of the Westsaxons against their +wiues.] +vehement. For hir heinous crime it is said that the kings of the +Westsaxons would not suffer their wiues to be called quéenes, nor +permit them to sit with them in open places (where their maiesties +should bée shewed) manie yéeres after. Ethelburga fearing punishment, +fled into France with great riches and treasure, & was well cherished +[Sidenote: The end of Ethelburga. _Simon Dun._] +in the court of king Charles at the first, but after she was thrust +into an abbeie, and demeaned hirselfe so lewdlie there, in keeping +companie with one of hir owne countriemen, that she was banished the +house, and after died in great miserie. + +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ Kenulfe.] +Egbert king of Mercia departing this life, after he had reigned +foure moneths, ordeined his coosine Kenulfe to succeed in his place, +which Kenulfe was come of the line of Penda king of Mercia, as +rightlie descended from his brother Kenwalke. This Kenulfe for his +noble courage, wisdome, and vpright dealing, was woorthie to be +compared with the best princes that haue reigned. His vertues passed +his fame: nothing he did that enuie could with iust cause reprooue. At +home he shewed himselfe godlie and religious, in warre he became +[Sidenote: The archbishops sée restored to Canturburie.] +victorious, he restored the archbishops sée againe to Canturburie, +wherein his humblenes was to be praised, that made no account of +worldlie honour in his prouince, so that the order of the ancient +canons might be obserued. He had wars left him as it were by +succession from his predecessour Offa against them of Kent, and +thervpon entring that countrie with a mightie armie, wasted and +[Sidenote: The king of Kent taken prisoner.] +spoiled the same, and encountering in battell with king Edbert or +Ethelbert, otherwise called Prenne, ouerthrew his armie, and tooke him +prisoner in the field, but afterwards he released him to his +great praise and commendation. For whereas he builded a church at +Winchcombe, vpon the day of the dedication thereof, he led the Kentish +king as then his prisoner, vp to the high altar, and there set him at +libertie, declaring thereby a great proofe of his good nature. + +There were present at that sight, Cuthred whom he had made king of +Kent in place of Ethelbert, or Edbert, with 13 bishops, and 10 dukes. +The noise that was made of the people in reioising at the kings +bountious liberalitie was maruellous. For not onelie he thus +[Sidenote: Kenulfs liberalitie towards churchmen which was not +forgotten by them in their histories.] +restored the Kentish king to libertie, but also bestowed great rewards +vpon all the prelates and noble men that were come to the feast, +euerie priest had a peece of gold, and euerie moonke a shilling. Also +he dealt and gaue away great gifts amongst the people, and founded +in that place an abbeie, indowing the same with great possessions. +Finallie, after he had reigned 24 yéeres, he departed this life, and +appointed his buriall to be in the same abbeie of Winchcombe, leauing +behind him a sonne named Kenelme, who succeeded his father in the +kingdome, but was soone murthered by his vnnaturall sister Quendred, +the 17 of Iulie, as hereafter shall be shewed. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Osrike king of Northumberland leaueth the kingdome to Edelbert +reuoked out of exile, king Alfwalds sons miserablie slaine, Osred is +put to death, Ethelbert putteth away his wife and marieth another, his +people rise against him therefore and kill him, Oswald succeeding him +is driuen out of the land; Ardulfe king of Northumberland, duke Wade +raiseth warre against him and is discomfited; duke Aldred is slaine; +a sore battell fought in Northumberland, the English men aflict one +another with ciuill warres; king Ardulfe deposed from his estate; +the regiment of the Northumbers refused as dangerous and deadlie by +destinie, what befell them in lieu of their disloialtie; the Danes +inuade their land and are vanquished; the roiall race of the Kentish +kings decaieth, the state of that kingdome; the primasie restored to +the see of Canturburie, Egbert (after the death of Britricus) is sent +for to vndertake the gouernement of the Westsaxons, his linage._ + +THE EIGHT CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: OSRED. 788.] +When Aswald king of Northumberland was made away, his brother +Osred the sonne of Alred tooke vpon him the rule of that kingdom anno +788, and within one yeere was expelled, and left the kingdome to +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ _Matth. West._ _Hen. Hunt._ +_Simon Dun._] +Ethelbert or Edelred as then reuoked out of exile, in which he had +remained for the space of 12 yéeres, and now being restored, he +continued in gouernement of the Northumbers 4 yéeres, or (as some say) +[Sidenote: Duke Ardulf taken and wounded.] +7 yéeres; in the second yéere whereof duke Eardulfe was taken and +led to Ripon, and there without the gate of the monasterie wounded +(as was thought) to death by the said king, but the moonks taking his +bodie, and laieng it in a tent without the church, after midnight he +was found aliue in the church. + +Moreouer, about the same time the sonnes of king Alfwald were by +force drawne out of the citie of Yorke, but first by a wile they were +trained out of the head church where they had taken sanctuarie, and so +at length miserablie slaine by king Ethelbert in Wonwaldremere, +one of them was named Alfus, & the other Alfwin. In the yéere of our +[Sidenote: 792] +Lord 792, Osred vpon trust of the others and promises of diuerse noble +men, secretly returned into Northumberland, but his owne souldiers +forsooke him, and so was he taken, and by king Ethelberts commandment +put to death at Cunbridge on the 14 day of September. + +The same yéere king Ethelbert maried the ladie Alfled the daughter of +Offa king of Mercia, forsaking his former wife which he had, & hauing +no iust cause of diuorce giuen on hir part, wherby his people tooke +such displeasure against him, that finallie after he had reigned now +this second time 4 yéeres, or (as other say) seuen yéeres, he could +not auoid the destinie of his predecessors, but was miserablie killed +by his owne subiects at Cobre, the 18 of Aprill. After whome, one +Oswald a noble man was ordeined king, and within 27 or 28 daies after +[Sidenote: Holie Iland.] +was expelled, and constreined to flie first into the Ile of +Lindesferne, and from thence vnto the king of the Picts. + +[Sidenote: Ardulfe.] +Then Ardulfe that was a duke and sonne to one Arnulfe was reuoked +out of exile, made king, & consecrated also at Yorke by the archbishop +Cumhald, and thrée other bishops, the 25 of June, in the yéere +[Sidenote: 796.] +796. About two yeeres after, to wit, in the yéere 798 one duke +Wade, and other conspirators which had beene also partakers in the +[Sidenote: Walalege.] +murthering of king Ethelbert, raised warre against king Ardulfe, +and fought a battell with him at Walleg, but king Ardulfe got the +vpper hand, and chased Wade and other his enimies out of the +[Sidenote: 799.] +field. In the yéere 799, duke Aldred that had murthered Ethelbert or +Athelred king of Northumberland, was slaine by another duke called +Chorthmond in reuenge of the death of his maister the said Ethelbert. +Shortlie after, about the same time that Brightrike king of +Westsaxons departed this life, there was a sore battell foughten +in Northumberland at Wellehare, in the which Alricke the sonne of +Herbert, and manie other with him were slaine: but to rehearse all the +battels with their successes and issues, it should be too tedious and +irkesome to the readers, for the English people being naturallie hard +[Sidenote: The English men afflicted each other with ciuill warre.] +and high-minded, continuallie scourged each other with intestine +warres. About six or seuen yéeres after this battell, king Ardulfe was +expelled out of the state. + +¶ Thus ye may consider in what plight things stood in Northumberland, +by the often seditions, tumults and changings of gouernors, so that +there be which haue written, how after the death of king Ethelbert, +otherwise called Edelred, diuers bishops and other of the chiefest +nobles of the countrie disdaining such traitorous prince-killings, +ciuill seditions, and iniurious dealings, as it were put in dailie +practise amongst the Northumbers, departed out of their natiue borders +into voluntarie exile, and that from thencefoorth there was not anie +of the nobilitie that durst take vpon him the kinglie gouernement +amongst them, fearing the fatall prerogatiue thereof, as if it had +béene Scians horsse, whose rider came euer to some euill end. But +yet by that which is héeretofore shewed out of Simon Dunelm, it is +euident, that there reigned kings ouer the Northumbers, but in what +authoritie and power to command, it may be doubted. + +Howbeit this is certeine, that the sundrie murtherings and banishments +of their kings and dukes giue vs greatlie to gesse, that there was but +sorie obedience vsed in the countrie, whereby for no small space of +time that kingdome remained without an head gouernor, being set open +to the prey and iniurie of them that were borderers vnto it, and +likewise vnto strangers. For the Danes, which in those daies were +great rouers, had landed before in the north parts, & spoiled the +[Sidenote: This chanced in the yéere of our Lord 700, +as _Simon Dun._ saith.] +abbeie of Lindesferne otherwise called holie Iland, and perceiuing +the fruitfulnesse of the countrie, and easinesse for their people to +inuade it (bicause that through their priuate quarelling there was +little publike resistance to be looked for) at their comming home, +[Sidenote: The Danes inuade Northumberland.] +entised their countriemen to make voiages into England, and so landing +in Northumberland did much hurt, and obtained a great part of the +countrie in manner without resistance, bicause there was no ruler +there able to raise anie power of men by publike authoritie to +incounter with the common enimies, whereby the countrie was brought +into great miserie, partlie with war of the Danes, and ciuill +dissention amongest the nobles and people themselues, no man being of +authoritie (I say) able to reforme such misorders. Yet we find +[Sidenote: The Danes vanquished. This was in anno 794 +as _Simon Dun._ saith.] +that the nobles and capteines of the countrie assembling togither +at one time against the Danes that were landed about Tinmouth, +constreined them by sharpe fight to flée backe to their ships, and +tooke certeine of them in the field, whose heads they stroke off there +vpon the shore. The other that got to their ships, suffered great +losse of men, and likewise of their vessels by tempest. + +¶ Here then we are taught that the safest way to mainteine a +monarchie, is when all degrées liue in loialtie. And that it is +necessarie there should be one supereminent, vnto whome all the +residue should stoope: this fraile bodie of ours may giue vs +sufficient instruction. For reason ruleth in the mind as souereigne, +and hath subiect vnto it all the affections and inward motions, yea +the naturall actions are directed by hir gouernement: whereto if the +will be obedient there cannot créepe in anie outrage or disorder. Such +should be the sole regiment of a king in his kingdome; otherwise he +may be called "Rex á regendo, as Mons a mouendo." For there is not a +greater enimie to that estate, than to admit participants in roialtie, +which as it is a readie way to cause a subuersion of a monarchie; so +it is the shortest cut ouer to a disordered anarchie. But to procéed +in the historie. + +After that Alrike (the last of king Witchreds sonnes, which reigned in +Kent successiuelie after their father) was dead, the noble ofspring of +the kings there so decaied, and began to vade awaie, that euerie one +which either by flattering had got rithes togither, or by seditious +partaking was had in estimation, sought to haue the gouernement, and +to vsurp the title of king, abusing by vnworthie means the honor and +dignitie of so high an office. Amongest others, one Edbert or +[Sidenote: Edelbert.] +Edelbert, surnamed also Prenne, gouerned the Kentishmen for the space +of two yeares, and was in the end vanquished by them of Mercia, and +taken prisoner, as before is said: so that for a time he liued in +captiuitie; and although afterwards he was set at libertie, yet was he +not receiued againe to the kingdome, so that it is vncerteine what end +he made. Cuthred that was appointed by Kinevulfe the king of Mercia, +to reigne in place of the same Edbert or Edelbert, continued in +the gouernement eight yéeres as king, rather by name than by act, +inheriting his predecessors euill hap and calamitie, through factions +and ciuill discord. + +[Sidenote: Lambert.] +After that Iambrith or Lambert the archbishop of Canturburie was +departed this life, one Edelred was ordeined in his place, vnto whome +the primasie was restored, which in his predecessors time was taken +awaie by Offa king of Mercia, as before is recited. Also after the +death of Eubald archbishop of Yorke, another of the same name called +Eubald the second was admitted to succeed in that sée. After that +Brightrike the king of Westsaxons was departed this life, messengers +were sent with all spéed into France, to giue knowledge thereof +vnto Egbert, which as before is shewed, was constreined by the said +Brightrike to depart the countrie. At the first, he withdrew vnto Offa +king of Mercia, with whome he remained for a time, till at length +(through suit made by Brightrike) he perceiued he might not longer +continue there without danger to be deliuered into his enimies hands; +and so, Offa winking at the matter, he departed out of his countrie, +and got him ouer into France. But being now aduertised of Brightriks +death, and required by earnest letters sent from his friends to come +and receiue the gouernement of the kingdome, he returned with all +[Sidenote: Egbert receiued a king of Westsaxons His linage.] +conuenient spéed into his countrie, and was receiued immediatlie +for king, by the generall consent of the Westsaxons, as well in +respect of the good hope which they had conceiued of his woorthie +qualities and aptnesse to haue gouernement, as of his roiall linage, +being lineallie descended from Inigils the brother of king Inas, as +sonne to Alkemound, that was the sonne of one Eaffa, which Eaffa was +sonne to Ope the sonne of the foresaid Inigils. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Egbert reigneth ouer the Westsaxons, his practise or exercise in the +time of his exile, his martiall exploits against the Cornishmen and +Welshmen, Bernulfe king of Mercia taketh indignation at Egbert for the +inlarging of his roiall authoritie, they fight a sore battell, Egbert +ouercommeth, great ods betweene their souldiers, bishop Alstan a +warriour; Kent, Essex, Southerie, Sussex, and Eastangles subiect to +Egbert; he killeth Bernulfe K. of Mercia, and conquereth the whole +kingdome, Whitlafe the king thereof becommeth his tributarie, the +Northumbers submit themselues to Egbert, he conquereth Northwales and +the citie of Chester, he is crowned supreme gouernour of the whole +land, when this Ile was called England, the Danes inuade the land, +they discomfit Egberts host, the Welshmen ioine with the Danes against +Egbert, they are both vanquished, Egbert dieth._ + +THE NINTH CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: EGBERT. 802 as _Simon Dunel._ +and _M.W._ hath noted but 801.] +This Egbert began his reigne in the yeare of our Lord 800, which +was the 4 yeare almost ended, after that the emperour Eirine began the +second time to rule the empire, and in the 24 yeare of the reigne of +Charles the great king of France, which also was in the same yeare +after he was made emperour of the west, and about the second yeare +of Conwall king of Scots. Whilest this Egbert remained in exile, he +turned his aduersaries into an occasion of his valiancie, as it had +béene a grindstone to grind awaie and remoue the rust of sluggish +slouthfulnes, in so much that hawnting the wars in France, in seruice +of Charles the great, he atteined to great knowledge and experience, +both in matters appertaining to the wars, and likewise to the well +ordering of the common wealth in time of peace. The first wars that he +tooke in hand, after he had atteined to the kingdome, was against the +Cornishmen, a remnant of the old Britains, whome he shortlie ouercame +and subdued. Then he thought good to tame the vnquiet Welshmen, the +which still were readie to moue rebellion against the Englishmen, +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ _Hen. Hunt._] +as they that being vanquished, would not yet seeme to be subdued, +wherefore about the 14 yeare of his reigne, he inuaded the countrie of +Wales, and went through the same from east to west, not finding anie +person that durst resist him. + +King Egbert hauing ouercome his enimies of Wales and Cornewall, began +to grow in authoritie aboue all the other rulers within this land, in +somuch that euerie of them began to feare their owne estate, but +[Sidenote: Bernulf king of Mercia.] +namelie Bernulfe king of Mercia sore stomached the matter, as he that +was wise, and of a loftie courage, and yet doubted to haue to doo with +Egbert, who was knowen also to be a man both skilfull and valiant. At +length yet considering with himselfe, that if his chance should be +to speed well, so much the more should his praise be increased, he +determined to attempt the fortune of warre, and therevpon intimated +the same vnto Egbert, who supposing it should be a dishonor vnto him +[Sidenote: A battell fought at Ellendon.] +to giue place, boldlie prepared to méete Bernulfe in the field. +Herevpon they incountred togither at Ellendon, & fought a sore +battell, in the which a huge number of men were slaine, what on the +one part, and on the other but in the end the victorie remained with +Egbert, although he had not the like host for number vnto Bernulfe, +[Sidenote: Egbert won the victorie.] +but he was a politike prince, and of great experience, hauing chosen +his souldiers of nimble, leane, and hartie men; where Bernulfs +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ 826.] +souldiers (through long ease) were cowardlie persons, and +ouercharged with flesh. The battell was fought in the yeare of our +Lord 826. + +King Egbert hauing got this victorie, was aduanced into such hope, +that he persuaded himselfe to be able without great adoo to ouercome +the residue of his neighbours, whose estates he saw plainlie sore +weakened and fallen into great decaie. Herevpon before all other, he +determined to assaile Edelvulfe king of Kent, whome he knew to be +a man in no estimation amongest his subiects. A competent armie +therefore being leuied, he appointed his sonne Ethelwulfe & Alstan +[Sidenote: Alstan bishop of Shireborn a warrior.] +bishop of Shireborne, with earle Walhard to haue the conduct therof, +and sent them with the same into Kent, where they wrought such +maisteries, that they chased both the king and all other that would +not submit themselues, out of the countrie, constreining them to +[Sidenote: The conquests of the Westsaxons.] +passe ouer the Thames. And herewith the Westsaxons following the +victorie, brought vnder subiection of king Egbert the countries of +Kent, Essex, Southerie, and Sussex. The Eastangles also about +[Sidenote: _Henr. Hunt._] +the same time receiued king Egbert for their souereigne Lord, and +comforted by his setting on against Bernulfe king of Mercia, inuaded +the confines of his kingdome, in reuenge of displeasures which he had +doone to them latelie before, by inuading their countrie, and as it +[Sidenote: Bernulf king of Mercia slaine.] +came to passe, incountring with the said Bernulfe which came against +them to defend his countrie, they slue him in the field. + +Thus their minds on both parts being kindled into further wrath, +the Eastangles eftsoones in the yeare following fought with them of +Mercia, and ouercame them againe, and slue their king Ludicenus, who +succéeded Bernulfe in that kingdome, with 5 of his earles. The state +of the kingdome of Mercia being weakened, Egbert conceiued an assured +hope of good successe, & in the 27 yeare of his reigne, made an open +inuasion into the countrie, and chasing Whitlafe king of Mercia (that +succéeded Ludicenus) out of his estate, conquered the whole kingdome +of the Mercies. But yet in the yéere next following, or in the third +yeare after, he restored it againe to Whitlafe, with condition, that +he should inioy the same as tributarie to him, and acknowledge him +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] +for his supreme gouernour. The same yeare that Bernulfe king of +[Sidenote: These were the Cornish men as is to be supposed.] +Mercia was slaine by the Eastangles, there was a sore battell foughten +at Gauelford, betwixt them of Deuonshire, and the Britains, in the +which manie thousands died on both parts. + +King Egbert hauing conquered all the English people inhabiting on +the south side of Humber, led foorth his armie against them of +Northumberland: but the Northumbers being not onelie vexed with ciuill +sedition, but also with the often inuasion of Danes, perceiued not +[Sidenote: King Egbert inuadeth Northumberland. +The Northumbers submit themselues to king Egbert.] +how they should be able to resist the power of king Egbert: and +therefore vpon good aduisement taken in the matter, they resolued to +submit themselues, and therevpon sent ambassadors to him to offer +their submission, committing themselues wholie vnto his protection. +King Egbert gladlie receiued them, and promised to defend them from +all forren enimies. Thus the kingdome of Northumberland was brought +vnder subiection to the kings of the Westsaxons, after the state +had béen sore weakened with contention and ciuill discord that had +continued amongst the nobles of the countrie, for the space of manie +yeeres, beside the inuasion made by outward enimies, to the gréeuous +damage of the people. + +After that king Egbert had finished his businesse in Northumberland, +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._ Northwales and the citie of Chester conquered +by Egbert.] +he turned his power towards the countrie of Northwales, and +subdued the same, with the citie of Chester, which till those daies, +the Britains or Welshmen had kept in their possession. When king +Egbert had obteined these victories, and made such conquests as before +is mentioned, of the people héere in this land, he caused a councell +to be assembled at Winchester, and there by aduise of the high +estates, he was crowned king, as souereigne gouernour and supreame +lord of the whole land. It is also recorded, that he caused a +commission to be directed foorth into all parts of the realme, to +giue commandement, that from thence forward all the people inhabiting +within this land, should be called English men, and not Saxons, and +[Sidenote: The name of this ile when it was changed.] +likewise the land should be called England by one generall name, +though it should appéere (as before is mentioned) that it was so +called shortlie after the first time that the Angles and Saxons got +possession thereof. + +Now was king Egbert setled in good quiet, and his dominions reduced +[Sidenote: The Danes.] +out of the troubles of warre, when suddenlie newes came, that the +Danes with a nauie of 35 ships, were arriued on the English coasts, +and began to make sore warre in the land. K. Egbert being thereof +aduertised, with all conuenient spéed got togither an armie, and went +foorth to giue battell to the enimies. Heerevpon incountring with +them, there was a sore foughten field betwixt them, which continued +with great slaughter on both sides, till the night came on, and then +by chance of warre the Englishmen, which before were at point to haue +[Sidenote: The Englishmen discomfited by Danes. _Simon Dun._ _H. Hunt._ +_Matth. West._] +gone awaie with victorie, were vanquished and put to flight, yet +king Egbert by couert of the night escaped his enimies hands: but two +of his chiefe capteins Dudda and Osmond, with two bishops, to wit, +Herferd of Winchester, and Vigferd of Shireborne, were slaine in that +battell, which was foughten at Carrum, about the 834 of Christ, and 34 +yéere of king Egberts reigne. + +[Sidenote: 834.] +In the yeere following, the Danes with their nauie came into +Westwales, and there the Welshmen ioining with them, rose against king +Egbert, but he with prosperous fortune vanquished and slue both +[Sidenote: Danes and Welshmen vanquished.] +the Danes and Welshmen, and that in great number, at a place called +Hengistenton. The next yéere after also, which was 836, he ouerthrew +[Sidenote: 836.] +another armie of Danes which came against him, as one autor +writeth. Finallie, when king Egbert had reigned the tearme of 36 +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._] +yéeres and seuen moneths with great glorie for the inlarging of his +[Sidenote: Egbert departeth this life. 837.] +kingdome with wide bounds, which when he receiued was but of +small compasse, he departed this life, leauing to his issue matter of +woorthie praise to mainteine that with order which he with painefull +diligence had ioined togither. His bodie was buried at Winchester, and +he left behind him two sonnes Ethelwulfe, otherwise named Athaulfe and +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._] +Adelstan. The first he appointed to succéed him in the kingdome of +Westsaxons, and Adelstan he ordeined to haue the gouernment of Kent, +Sussex, and Essex. + +¶ Héere we sée the paterne of a fortunate prince in all his affaires, +as well forren as domesticall, wherein is first to be obserued the +order of his education in his tender yéeres, which agreeing well with +a princes nature, could not but in the progresse of his age bring +great matters to passe, his manifold victories are an argument that as +he lacked no policie, so he had prowesse inough to incounter with his +enimies, to whome he gaue manie a fowle discomfiture. But among all +other notes of his skill and hope of happie successe in his martiall +affaires, was the good choise that he made of seruiceable souldiers, +being such as knew how to get the victorie, and hauing gotten it, +were not vntaught to vse it to their benefit, by their warinesse and +héedtaking; for + + Sæpiùs incautæ nocuit victoria turbæ. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The kingdome of Kent annexed to the kingdome of the Westsaxons, +the end of the kingdome of Kent and Essex; Kenelme king of Mercia +murthered by the meanes of his owne sister Quendred, the order of hir +wicked practise; his death prophesied or foreshewed by a signe, the +kings of Mercia put by their roialtie one after another, the kingdome +of Britaine beginneth to be a monarchie; Ethelwulfe king of the +Westsaxons, he marrieth his butlers daughter, his disposition; the +fourth destruction of this land by forren enimies, the Danes sought +the ruine of this Ile, how long they afflicted and troubled the same; +two notable bishops and verie seruiceable to king Ethelwulfe in +warre, the Danes discomfited, the Englishmen chased, Ethelwulfs great +victorie ouer the Danes, a great slaughter of them at Tenet, king +Ethelwulfs deuotion and liberalitie to churches, Peter pence paid +to Rome, he marieth the ladie Iudith, his two sonnes conspire (vpon +occasion of breaking a law) to depose him, king Ethelwulfe dieth, +his foure sonnes by his first wife Osburga, how he bequeathed his +kingdoms._ + +THE TENTH CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +When Cuthred K. of Kent had reigned 8 yeeres, as before is +mentioned, he was constreined to giue place vnto one Baldred, that +tooke vpon him the gouernment, & reigned the space of 18 yéeres, +without anie great authoritie, for his subiects regarded him but +sorilie, so that in the end, when his countrie was inuaded by the +Westsaxons, he was easilie constreined to depart into exile. And thus +was the kingdome of Kent annexed to the kingdome of the Westsaxons, +after the same kingdome had continued in gouernment of kings created +of the same nation for the space of 382 yéers, that is to say, from +the yéere of our Lord 464, vnto the yéere 827. Suithred or Suthred +[Sidenote: The end of the kingdome of Kent. 827.] +king of Essex was vanquished and expelled out of his kingdome by +Egbert king of Westsaxons (as before ye maie read) in the same yéere +that the Kentishmen were subdued by the said Egbert, or else verie +[Sidenote: The end of the kingdome of Essex.] +shortlie after. This kingdome continued 281 yeeres, from the yéere +614, vnto the yeere 795, as by the table of the Heptarchie set foorth +by Alexander Neuill appéereth. After the deceasse of Kenwulfe king +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ 821] +of Mercia, his sonne Kenelme a child of the age of seuen yéeres was +admitted king, about the yeere of our Lord 821. He had two sisters, +Quendred and Burgenild, of the which the one (that is to say) +[Sidenote: The wickedness of Quendred.] +Quendred, of a malicious mind, mooued through ambition, enuied hir +brothers aduancement, and sought to make him awaie, so that in the +end she corrupted the gouernour of his person one Ashbert, with great +rewards and high promises persuading him to dispatch hir innocent +brother out of life, that she might reigne in his place. Ashbert one +day vnder a colour to haue the yoong king foorth on hunting, led him +into a thicke wood, and there cut off the head from his bodie, an impe +by reason of his tender yéeres and innocent age, vnto the world +[Sidenote: King Kenelm murthered.] +void of gilt, and yet thus traitorouslie murthered without cause or +crime: he was afterwards reputed for a martyr. + +[Sidenote: _Sée legenda aurea. fol. 165_. in the life of S. Kenelme.] +There hath gone a tale that his death should be signified at Rome, +and the place where the murther was committed, by a strange manner: +for (as they say) a white doue came and lighted vpon the altar of +saint Peter, bearing a scroll in hir bill, which she let fall on the +same altar, in which scroll among other things this was conteined, "In +clenc kou bath, Kenelme kinbarne lieth vnder thorne, heaued bereaued:" +that is, at Clenc in a cow pasture, Kenelme the kings child lieth +beheaded vnder a thorne. This tale I rehearse, not for anie credit +I thinke it woorthie of, but onelie for that it séemeth to note the +place where the yoong prince innocentlie lost his life. + +[Sidenote: Ceolwulfe K. of Mercia 823.] +After that Kenelme was thus made awaie, his vncle Ceolwulfe the +brother of king Kenulfe was created king of Mercia, and in the second +yéere of his reigne was expelled by Bernwulfe. Bernwulfe in the third +yéere of his reigne, was vanquished and put to flight in battell +by Egbert king of Westsaxons, and shortlie after slaine of the +Eastangles, as before ye haue heard. Then one Ludicenus or Ludicanus +was created king of Mercia, and within two yeeres after came to the +like end that happened to his predecessor before him, as he went about +to reuenge his death, so that the kingdome of Britaine began now to +réele from their owne estate, and leane to an alteration, which +grew in the end to the erection of a perfect monarchie, and finall +subuersion of their particular estates and regiments. After Ludicenus, +[Sidenote: _Matt. Westm._ 728.] +succeeded Wightlafe, who first being vanquisht by Egbert king +of Westsaxons, was afterwards restored to the kingdome by the same +Egbert, and reigned 13 yeeres, whereof twelue at the least were vnder +tribute which he paied to the said Egbert and to his sonne, as to his +souereignes and supreame gouernours. The kingdome of Northumberland +[Sidenote: 828.] +was brought in subjection to the kings of Westsaxons, as before +is mentioned, in the yéere of our Lord 828, and in the yéere of the +reigne of king Egbert 28, but yet héere it tooke not end, as after +shall appéere. + +[Sidenote: ETHELWULFUS] +Ethelwulfus, otherwise called by some writers Athaulfus, began his +reigne ouer the Westsaxons in the yéere 837, which was in the 24 yéere +of the emperor Ludouicus Pius that was also K. of France, in the tenth +yéere of Theophilus the emperor of the East, & about the third yéere +of Kenneth, the second of that name king of Scots. This Ethelwulfe +minding in his youth to haue béene a priest, entered into the orders +[Sidenote: _Henrie Hunt._ _Matth. West._] +as subdeacon, and as some write, he was bishop of Winchester: but +howsoeuer the matter stood, or whether he was or not, sure it is, that +shortlie after he was absolued of his vowes by authoritie of pope Leo, +and then maried a proper gentlewoman named Osburga, which was his +butlers daughter. He was of nature courteous, and rather desirous to +liue in quiet rest, than to be troubled with the gouernment of +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +manie countries, so that contenting himselfe with the kingdome of +Westsaxons, he permitted his brother Adelstan to inioy the residue of +the countries which his father had subdued, as Kent and Essex, with +other. He aided Burthred the king of Mercia against the Welshmen, and +greatlie aduanced his estimation, by giuing vnto him his daughter in +mariage. + +[Sidenote: Foure especiall destructions of this land.] +But now the fourth destruction which chanced to this land by +forren enimies, was at hand: for the people of Denmarke, Norway, and +other of those northeast regions, which in that season were great +rouers by sea, had tasted the wealth of this land by such spoiles and +preies as they had taken in the same, so that perceiuing they could +not purchase more profit anie where else, they set their minds to +inuade the same on ech side, as they had partlie begun in the daies of +the late kings Brightrike and Egbert. The persecution vsed by these +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ _Hen. Hunt._] +Danes séemed more gréeuous, than anie of the other persecutions, +either before or sithens that time: for the Romans hauing quicklie +subdued the land, gouerned it noblie without seeking the subuersion +thereof. The Scots and Picts onelie inuaded the north parts. And the +Saxons seeking the conquest of the land, when they had once got it, +they kept it, and did what they could, to better and aduance it to a +flourishing estate. + +The Normans likewise hauing made a conquest, granted both life, +libertie, and ancient lawes to the former inhabitants: but the Danes +long time and often assailing the land on euerie side, now inuading it +in this place, and now in that, did not at the first so much couet to +conquer it, as to spoile it, nor to beare rule in it, as to waste and +destroie it: who if they were at anie time, ouercome, the victors were +nothing the more in quiet: for a new nauie, and a greater armie +[Sidenote: The Danes sought the destruction of this land.] +was readie to make some new inuasion, neither did they enter all at +one place, nor at once, but one companie on the east side, and an +other in the west, or in the north and south coasts, in such sort, +that the Englishmen knew not whether they should first go to make +[Sidenote: How long the persecution of the Danes lasted. _Will. Malmes._] +resistance against them. + +This mischiefe began chieflie in the daies of this king Ethelwulfe, +but it continued about the space of two hundred yeeres, as by the +sequele of this booke it shall appéere. King Ethelwulfe was not so +much giuen to ease, but that vpon occasion for defense of his countrie +and subiects, he was readie to take order for the beating backe of the +enimies, as occasion serued, and speciallie chose such to be of his +counsell, as were men of great experience and [Sidenote: Two notable +bishops in Ethelwulfs daies.] wisedome. Amongst other, there were two +notable prelats, Suithune bishop of Winchester, and Adelstan bishop of +Shireborne, who were readie euer to giue him good aduise. Suithune was +not so much expert in worldlie matters as Adelstan was, & therefore +chieflie counselled the king in things apperteining to his soules +health: but Adelstan tooke in hand to order matters apperteining to +the state of the commonwealth, as prouiding of monie, and furnishing +foorth of men to withstand the Danes, so that by him manie things were +both boldlie begun, and happilie atchiued, as by writers hath béene +recorded. He gouerned the sée of Shireborne the space of 50 yéeres, by +the good counsell and faithfull aduise of those two prelats. + +King Ethelwulfe gouerned his subiects verie politikelie, and by +himselfe and his capteins oftentimes put the Danes to flight, though +as chance of warre falleth out, he also receiued at their hands +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ _Hen. Hunt._] +great losses, and sundrie sore detriments. In the first yéere of his +reigne, the Danes arriued at Hampton, with 33 ships, against whome he +sent earle Wulhard with part of his armie, the which giuing battell to +the enimies, made great slaughter of them, and obteined a noble +[Sidenote: Danes discomfited. _Matth. West._] +victorie. He sent also earle Adelhelme with the Dorsetshire +men against an other number of the Danes, which were landed at +Portesmouth, but after long fight, the said Adelhelme was slaine, +[Sidenote: Englishmen put to flight. They are eftsoones vanquished.] +and the Danes obteined the victorie. In the yéere following, earle +Herbert fought against the Danes at Merseware, and was there slaine, +and his men chased. The same yeere, a great armie of Danes passing by +the east parts of the land, as through Lindsey, Eastangle, and Kent, +slue and murthered an huge number of people. The next yéere after +this, they entered further into the land, and about Canturburie, +Rochester, and London, did much mischiefe. + +King Ethelwulfe in the fift yéere of his reigne, with a part of his +[Sidenote: Carrum.] +armie incountred with the Danes at Carrum, the which were arriued +in those parties with 30 ships, hauing their full fraught of men, so +that for so small a number of vessels, there was a great power of +[Sidenote: The Danes wan the victorie in battell. Danes are vanquished. +_Simon Dun._ 851.] +men of warre, in so much that they obteined the victorie at that +time, and put the king to the woorse. About the tenth yéere of king +Ethelwulfs reigne, one of his capteins called Ernwulfe, and bishop +Adelstan, with the Summersetshire men, and an other capteine called +Osred, with the Dorsetshire men, fought against the Danes, at a place +called Pedredesmuth, and vanquished them with great triumph. In the +sixtéenth yeere of his reigne, king Ethelwulfe and his sonne Edelbald +hauing assembled all their powers togither, gaue battell at Ocley, +[Sidenote: Ocley. Two hundred and fiftie ships saith _Hen. Hunt._] +to an huge host of Danes, the which with foure hundred and fiftie +ships had arriued at Thames mouth, and destroied the famous cities of +London and Canturburie, and also had chased Brightwulfe king of Mercia +in battell, and being now entered into Southerie, were incountered by +king Ethelwulfe at Ocley aforesaid, & after sore fight and incredible +slaughter made on both sides, in the end, the victorie by the power of +God was giuen to those that beléeued on him, and the losse rested with +great confusion to the miscreants. + +[Sidenote: The Danes eftsoones vanquished. Danes ouercome by sea.] +Thus king Ethelwulfe obteined a glorious victorie in so mightie a +battell, as a greater had not beene lightlie heard of to chance within +the English dominions. The same yeere also Athelstan king of Kent and +duke Ealhere fought by sea with the Danes, and tooke 9 of their ships, +and chased the residue. Moreouer, one earle Ceorle hauing with him the +[Sidenote: The Deuonshire men vanquish the Danes.] +power of Deuonshire, fought with the Danes at Winleshore, and got +the victorie. This yéere was verie luckie to the English nation, but +yet the armie of the Danes lodged all the winter season in the Ile of +Tenet. And this was the first time that they remained héere all the +winter, vsing afore time but to come and make an inuasion in one place +or other, and immediatlie to returne home with the prey. + +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ 852.] +In the 18 yeere of king Ethelwulfes reigne, he aided Burthred king +of Mercia against the Welshmen (as before is mentioned) and gaue to +him his daughter in marriage, the solemnization whereof was kept at +Chipnham. The same yéere king Ethelwulfe sent his sonne Alured as then +but fiue yeeres of age to Rome, where he was consecrated K. by pope +Leo the fourth, and was receiued of him as if he had beene his owne +sonne. Duke Ealhere or Eachere with the Kentishmen, and one Huda or +[Sidenote: Great slaughter of Danes at Tenet.] +rather Wada, with the men of Southerie, fought against the armie +of Danes at Tenet, where great slaughter was made on both sides, the +Englishmen preuailing in the beginning, but in the end, both their +foresaid dukes or leaders died in that battell, beside manie other +that were slaine and drowned. + +In the 19 yéere of his reigne, king Ethelwulfe ordeined that the +tenths or tithes of all lands due to be paid to the church, should be +frée from all tribute, duties, or seruices regall. And afterwards, +with great deuotion he went to Rome, where he was receiued with great +honour, and taried there one whole yéere: he tooke with him his sonne +[Sidenote: The Saxons schoole.] +Alured, who had béene there before as ye haue heard. He repaired +the Saxons schoole, which Offa king of Mercia had sometime founded in +that citie, and latelie had béene sore decaied by fire. He confirmed +the grant of Peter pence, to the intent that no Englishmen from +[Sidenote: King Ethelwulfs liberalitie to churches. _Will. Malmes._ +_Simon Dun._ Mancusæ.] +thence-foorth should doo penance in bounds as he saw some there to +doo before his face. It is also written, that he should acquit all the +churches of his realme of paieng tribute to his coffers (as before ye +haue heard) & moreouer couenanted to send vnto Rome euerie yéere three +hundred marks, that is to say, one hundred marks to saint Peters +church, an other hundred marks to saint Paules light, and the third +hundred marks to the Pope. + +[Sidenote: The ladie Iudith.] +In his returne thorough France, he married the ladie Iudith, +daughter to Charles the bald, then K. of France, and bringing hir with +him into his countrie, placed hir by him in a chaire of estate, with +which déed he offended so the minds of his subiects, bicause it was +against the order taken before him, for the offense of Ethelburga, +that his sonne Ethelbald and Adelstan bishop of Shireborne, with +Enwulfe earle of Summerset, conspired to depose him from his +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +kinglie authoritie; but by mediation of friends, the matter was taken +vp, and so ordered, that the kingdome was diuided betwixt the father +and the sonne, with such parcialitie, that the sonne had the better +part lieng westward, and the father was constreined to content +himselfe with the east part being the woorst. + +[Sidenote: 857.] +Of this trouble of Ethelwulfe some write otherwise, after this +manner word for word. ¶ Ethelwulfe king of the Westsaxons being +returned from Rome & the parties beyond the seas, was prohibited +the entrance into his realme by Adelstane bishop of Shireborne, and +Ethelbald his eldest sonne; pretending outwardlie the coronation of +Alfride, the mariage of Iudith the French kings daughter, and open +eating with hir at the table, to be the onelie cause of this their +manifest rebellion. Whereby he séemeth to inferre, that this reuolting +of Adelstane and his son, should procéed of the ambitious desire +of Ethelbald to reigne, and likelie inough, or else this vnequall +partition should neuer haue béene made. + +But howsoeuer the matter stood, king Ethelwulfe liued not long after +his returne from Rome, but departed this life, after he had ruled the +kingdome of the Westsaxons the space of 20 yéeres and od moneths. +His bodie was buried at Winchester. He left behind him foure sonnes, +Ethelbald, Ethelbert or Ethelbright, Ethelred, and Alsred or Alured, +which was begotten of his first wife Osburga. A little before his +[Sidenote: Onelie Westsex saith _Matt. Westm._ and _Sim. Dunel._ +saith that Ethelbright had Sussex also, and so dooth _H. Hunt._ +_Matth. Paris_.] +death he made his testament and last will, appointing his sonne +Ethelbald to succéed him in the whole regiment of his kingdoms of +Westsex and Sussex, which he held by inheritance: but the kingdoms of +Kent and Essex he assigned to his son Ethelbright. About the same time +also the Danes soiourned all the winter season in the Ile of Shepie. + +¶ The old Saxons doo bring the genealogie of this Ethelwulfe to Adam, +after this maner following. + +Ethelwulfe the sonne of Egbert, +the son of Alcmund, +the son of Eaffa, +the son of Eoppa, +the son of Ingils, +the son of Kenred, +the son of Coelwald, +the son of Cudwine, +the son of Ceawlin, +the son of Kenric, +the son of Cerdic, +the son of Eslie, +the son of Gewise, +the son of Wingie, +the son of Freawin, +the son of Fridagare, +the son of Brendie, +the son of Beldegie, +the son of Woden, +the son of Frethelwold, +the son of Freolaffe, +the son of Frethewolfe, +the son of Finnie, +the son of Godulfe, +[Sidenote: _*De quo Sedulius in car. pasch_] +the son of *Geta, +the son of Teathwie, +the son of Beame, +the son of Sceldie, +the son of Seafe, +the son of Heremod, +the son of Itermod, +the son of Hordie, +the son of Wale, +the son of Bedwie, +the son of Sem, +the son of Noah, +and so foorth to Adam, as you +shall find it by retrogradation from the 32 verse vnto the first +of the fift chapter of Genesis. Which genealogicall recapitulation in +their nationall families and tribes, other people also haue obserued; +as the Spaniards, who reckon their descent from Hesperus, before the +Gothes and Moors ouerran their land; the Italians from Aeneas, before +they were mingled with the Vandals and Lumbards; the Saxons from +Woden, before they were mixed with the Danes and Normans; the +Frenchmen at this day from the Thracians; the Germans from +[Sidenote: _Iohn Castor._ _Simon Dun._ _Matt. Parker_. +A kings son and heire a bishop.] +the children of Gwiston; and other people from their farre fetcht +ancestrie. To conclude, of this Ethelwulfe it is written, that he was +so well learned & deuout, that the clerks of the church of Winchester +did chuse him in his youth to be bishop, which function he vndertooke, +and was bishop of the said see by the space of seuen yéeres before he +was king. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Bertwolfe king of Mercia tributarie to the Westsaxons, the fame of +Modwen an Irish virgine, she was a great builder of monasteries, she +had the gift of healing diseases, Ethelbald and Ethelbright diuide +their fathers kingdome betwixt them, Ethelbald marieth his mother, +he dieth, Winchester destroied by the Danes, they plaied the +trucebreakers and did much mischiefe in Kent, Ethelbright dieth; +Ethelred king of the Westsaxons, his commendable qualities, his +regiment was full of trouble, he fought against the Danes nine times +in one yere with happie successe, the kings of Mercia fall from their +fealtie and allegiance to Ethelred; Hungar & Vbba two Danish capteines +with their power lie in Eastangle, Osbright and Ella kings of +Northumberland slaine of the Danes in battell, they set Yorke on fire, +a commendation of bishop Adelstan, his departure out of this life._ + +THE ELEUENTH CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: Bertwolfe. of Mercia.] +After Wightlafe king of Mercia, one Bertwolfe reigned as tributarie +vnto the Westsaxons, the space of 13 yeeres, about the end of which +tearme he was chased out of his countrie by the Danes, and then one +Burthred was made king of that kingdome, which maried Ethelswida +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._ saith the daughter. _Ranulf. Cest._ +_Iohn Capgraue_.] +the sister of Ethelwolfe king of Westsaxons. In this season, one +Modwen a virgine in Ireland was greatlie renowmed in the world, vnto +whome the forenamed king Ethelwolfe sent his sonne Alfred to be +cured of a disease, that was thought incurable: but by hir meanes he +recouered health, and therefore when hir monasterie was destroied in +Ireland, Modwen came ouer into England, vnto whom king Ethelwolfe gaue +land to build two abbeies, and also deliuered vnto hir his sister +Edith to be professed a nun. Modwen herevpon built two monasteries, +one at Pouleswoorth, ioining to the bounds of Arderne, wherein she +placed the foresaid Edith, with Osith and Athea: the other, whether +it was a monasterie or cell, she founded in Strenshall or Trentsall, +where she hir selfe remained solitarie a certeine time in praier, and +other vertuous exercises. And (as it is reported) she went thrice to +Rome, and finallie died, being 130 yéeres of age. Hir bodie was first +buried in an Iland compassed about with the riuer of Trent called +Andresey, taking that name of a church or chappell of saint Andrew, +which she had built in the same Iland, and dwelled therein for the +space of seuen yéeres. Manie monasteries she builded, both in +England (as partlie aboue is mentioned) and also in Scotland, as at +Striueling, Edenbrough; and in Ireland, at Celestline, and elsewhere. + +[Sidenote: ETHELBALD AND ETHELBRIGHT. 857.] +Ethelbald and Ethelbright diuiding their fathers kingdom betwixt +them, began to reigne, Ethelbald ouer the Westsaxons and the +Southsaxons, and Ethelbright ouer them of Kent and Essex, in the yéere +of our Lord 857, which was in the second yéere of the emperor Lewes +the second, & the 17 of Charles surnamed Caluus or the bald king of +France, and about the first yéere of Donald the fift of that name king +[Sidenote: The vnlawful mariage of Ethelbald. _Wil. Malm._] +of Scots. The said Ethelbald greatlie to his reproch tooke to wife +his mother in law quéene Iudith, or rather (as some write) his owne +mother, whom his father had kept as concubine. He liued not past fiue +yéeres in gouernement of the kingdome, but was taken out of this life +to the great sorrow of his subiects whome he ruled right worthilie, +and so as they had him in great loue and estimation. Then his brother +Ethelbright tooke on him the rule of the whole gouernment, as well +ouer the Westsaxons & them of Sussex, as ouer the Kentishmen and them +of Essex. + +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ Winchester destroied by Danes.] +In his daies the Danes came on land, and destroid the citie of +Winchester: but duke Osrike with them of Hamshire, and duke Adelwolfe +[Sidenote: Danes vanquished.] +with the Barkeshire men gaue the enimies battell, & vanquishing +them, slue of them a great number. In the fift yeere of Ethelbrights +reigne, a nauie of Danes arriued in the Ile of Tenet, vnto whome when +the Kentishmen had promised a summe of monie to haue a truce granted +for a time, the Danes one night, before the tearme of that truce was +expired, brake foorth and wasted all the east part of Kent: wherevpon +the Kentishmen assembled togither, made towardes those trucebreakers, +and caused them to depart out of the countrie. The same yéere, after +that Ethelbright had ruled well and peaceably the Westsaxons fiue +yeeres, and the Kentishmen ten yéeres, he ended his life, and was +buried at Shireborne, as his brother Ethelbald was before him. + +[Sidenote: ETHELRED. 867.] +After Ethelbright succéeded his brother Ethelred, and began his +reigne ouer the Westsaxons and the more part of the English people, in +the yéere of our Lord 867, and in the 12 yéere of the emperour Lewes, +in the 27 yéere of the reigne of Charles Caluus king of France, and +about the 6 yéere of Constantine the second king of Scots. Touching +this Ethelred, he was in time of peace a most courteous prince, and +one that by all kind of meanes sought to win the hearts of the +people: but abroad in the warres he was sharpe and sterne, as he that +vnderstood what apperteined to good order, so that he would suffer no +offense to escape vnpunished. By which meanes he was famous both +in peace and warre: but he neither liued any long time in the +gouernement, nor yet was suffered to passe the short space that he +reigned in rest and quietnesse. + +[Sidenote: Foure yéeres six moneths saith _Harison_. _Wil. Malm._ +Ethelred fought with the Danes nine times in one yéere.] +For whereas he reigned not past six yeeres, he was continuallie +during that tearme vexed with the inuasion of the Danes, and +speciallie towards the latter end, insomuch that (as hath béene +reported of writers) he fought with them nine times in one yéere: and +although with diuers and variable fortune, yet for the more part he +went away with the victorie. Beside that, he oftentimes lay in wait +for their forragers, and such as straied abroad to rob and spoile the +countrie, whom he met withall and ouerthrew. There were slaine in his +time nine earles of those Danes, and one king, beside other of the +meaner sort without number. + +But here is to be vnderstood, that in this meane time, whilest +Ethelred was busied in warre to resist the inuasions of the Danes in +the south and west parts of this land, the kings and rulers of +[Sidenote: The kings of Mercia and Northumberland neglect their duties.] +Mercia and Northumberland taking occasion therof, began to withdraw +their couenanted subiection from the Westsaxons, and tooke vpon them +as it were the absolute gouernment and rule of their countries, +without respect to aid one another, but rather were contented to +susteine the enimies within their dominions, than to preuent the +iniurie with dutifull assistance to those, whom by allegiance they +were bound to serue and obeie. + +[Sidenote: The Danes grow in puisance.] +By reason hereof, the Danes without resistance grew into greater +power amongst them, whilest the inhabitants were still put in feare +each day more than other, and euerie late gotten victorie by the +enimies by the increase of prisoners, ministred occasion of some other +conquest to follow. Euen about the beginning of Ethelreds reigne, +[Sidenote: Hungar and Vbba.] +there arriued vpon the English coasts an huge armie of the Danes, +vnder the conduct of two renowmed capteins Hungar and Vbba, men of +maruellous strength and valiancie, but both of them passing cruell of +nature. They lay all the winter season in Estangle, compounding with +them of the countrie for truce vpon certeine conditions, sparing for a +time to shew their force for quietnesse sake. + +In the second yéere of king Ethelred, the said capteins came with +their armies into Yorkshire, finding the country vnprouided of +necessarie defense bicause of the ciuill discord that reigned +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ King Osbright deposed and Ella placed.] +among the Northumbers, the which had latelie expelled king Osbright, +that had the gouernement of those parts, and placed one Ella in his +roome: howbeit now they were constreined to reuoke him home againe, +and sought to accord him and Ella. But it was long yer that might +be brought to passe, notwithstanding yet at length they were made +friends, by reason of this inuasion attempted by forren enimies, and +then raising their powers they came to Yorke, where the Danes, hauing +wasted the countrie euen to the riuer of Tine, were lodged. + +The English host entring the citie, began to fight with the Danes, by +[Sidenote: Osbright and Ella kings of Northumberland slaine.] +reason whereof a sore battell insued betwixt them: but in the end +the two kings Osbright and Ella were slaine, and a great number of the +Northumbers, what within the citie, and what without lost their liues +at that time, the residue were constreined to take truce with the +[Sidenote: It must be vpon the 10 kalends of Aprill, or else it will +not concurre with Palmsunday. +Sée _Mat. West._] +Danes. This battell was fought the 21 day of March being in Lent, +on the Friday before Palmsunday, in the yere 657. + +¶ Some haue written otherwise of this battell, reporting that the +Northumbers calling home king Osbright (whome before they had +banished) incountred with the Danes in the field, without the walles +of Yorke, but they were easilie beaten backe, and chased into the +[Sidenote: Yorke burnt by Danes.] +citie, the which by the Danes pursuing the victorie, was set on +fier and burnt, togither with the king and people that were fled into +it for succour. How soeuer it came about, certeine it is, that the +Danes got the victorie, and now hauing subdued the Northumbers, +appointed one Egbert to reigne ouer them as king, vnder their +protection, which Egbert reigned in that sort six yeares ouer those +which inhabited beyond the riuer of Tine. In the same yeare, Adelstane +bishop of Shireborne departed this life, hauing gouerned that sée the +[Sidenote: The commendation of Adelstan bishop of Shirborne.] +terme of 50 yeares. This Adelstane was a man of high wisedome, and +one that had borne no small rule in the kingdome of the Westsaxons, as +hereby it may be coniectured, that when king Ethelwulfe returned from +Rome, he would not suffer him to be admitted king, because he had +doone in certeine points contrarie to the ordinances and lawes of the +same kingdome, wherevpon by this bishops means Ethelbald the sonne of +the same king Ethelwulfe was established king, and so continued till +by agréement the kingdome was diuided betwixt them, as before is +mentioned. Finallie, he greatlie inriched the sée of Shireborne, +[Sidenote: Bishop Adelstan couetous. _Hen. Hunt._] +and yet though he was feruentlie set on couetousnesse, he was +neuerthelesse verie free and liberall in gifts: which contrarie +extremities so ill matched, though in him (the time wherein he liued +being considered) they might seeme somewhat tollerable; yet simplie & +in truth they were vtterlie repugnant to the law of the spirit, which +biddeth that none should doo euill that good may come thereof. Against +which precept because Adelstane could not but offend in the heat of +his couetousnes, which is termed the root of all mischiefe, though he +was excéeding bountifull and large in distributing the wealth he had +gréedilie gotten togither, he must néeds incur reprehension. But this +is so much the lesse to be imputed vnto him as a fault, by how much +he was ignorant what (by the rule of equitie and conscience) was +requirable in a christian man, or one of his vocation. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Burthred king of Mercia with aid beseegeth the Danes in Notingham, +Basreeg and Halden two Danish kings with their powers inuade the +Westsaxons, they are incountred by Ethelwulfe earle of Barkeshire; +King Ethelred giueth them and their cheefe guides a sore discomfiture; +what Polydor Virgil recordeth touching one Iuarus king of the Danes, +and the warres that Ethelred had with them, his death; Edmund king of +Eastangles giueth battell to the Danes, he yeeldeth himselfe, and +for christian religion sake is by them most cruellie murthered, the +kingdome of the Eastangles endeth, Guthrun a Dane gouerneth the whole +countrie, K. Osbright rauisheth the wife of one Bearne a noble man, +a bloodie battell insueth therevpon, wherein Osbright and Ella are +slaine._ + +THE TWELFT CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: BURTHRED king of Mercia.] +In the yeare following, that is to say, in the third yéere of +Ethelreds reigne, he with his brother Alured went to aid Burthred king +of Mercia, against the two foresaid Danish capteines Hungar and Vbba, +the which were entred into Mercia, and had woon the towne for the +winter season. Wherevpon the foresaid Ethelred and Burthred with their +[Sidenote: Danes besieged in Notingham.] +powers came to Notingham, and besieged the Danes within it. The +Danes perceiuing themselues in danger, made suite for a truce & +abstinence from war, which they obteined, and then departed backe to +Yorke, where they soiourned the most part of all that yeare. + +In the sixt yeare of king Ethelreds reigne, a new armie of great force +[Sidenote: Basreeg and Halden.] +and power came into the countrie of the Westsaxons vnder two +leaders or kings of the Danes, Basréeg and Halden. They lodged at +Reding with their maine armie, and within thrée daies after the +[Sidenote: Edelwulfe, erle of Barkshire fought at Englefield with the +Danes.] +earle of Berrockshire Edelwulfe fought at Englefield with two earles +of those Danes, vanquished them, and slue the one of those earles, +whose name was Sidroc. After this king Ethelred and his brother Alured +came with a great host vnto Reding, and there gaue battell vnto the +armie of Danes, so that an huge number of people died on both parts, +but the Danes had the victorie. + +[Sidenote: The Danes wan the victory at Reading.] +After this also king Ethelred and his brother Alured fought againe +with those Danes at Aschdon, where the armies on both sides were +diuided into two parts, so that the two Danish kings lead the one +part of their armie, & certeine of their earles lead the other part. +Likewise on the English side king Ethelred was placed with one part of +the host against the Danish kings, and Alured with the other part was +appointed to incounter with the earles. Herevpon they being on both +parts readie to giue battell, the euening comming on caused them to +deferre it till the morow. And so earlie in the morning when the +armies should ioine, king Ethelred staied in his tent to heare +diuine seruice, whilest his brother vpon a forward courage hasted to +incounter his enimies, the which receiued him so sharplie, and with +so cruell fight, that at length, the Englishmen were at point to haue +turned their backs. But herewith came king Ethelred and manfullie +ended the battell, staied his people from running away, and so +encouraged them, and discouraged the enimies, that by the power of God +(whom as was thought in the morning he had serued) the Danes finallie +[Sidenote: The Danes discomfited.] +were chased and put to flight, losing one of their kings (that is +to say) Basreeg or Osreeg, and 5 earles, Sidroc the elder, and Sidroc +the yoonger, Osberne, Freine, and Harold. This battell was sore +foughten, and continued till night, with the slaughter of manie +thousands of Danes. About 14 daies after, king Ethelred and his +brother Alured fought eftsoones with the Danish armie at Basing, +[Sidenote: A battell at Merton.] +where the Danes had the victorie. Also two moneths after this they +likewise fought with the Danes at Merton. And there the Danes, after +they had béene put to the woorse, & pursued in chase a long time, yet +at length they also got the victorie, in which battell Edmund +[Sidenote: He was bishop of Shireborne as _Matt. West._ saith.] +bishop of Shireborne was slaine, and manie other that were men of +woorthie fame and good account. + +In the summer following, a mightie host of the Danes came to Reading, +[Sidenote: _Polyd. Virg._ Iuarus.] +and there soiourned for a time. ¶ These things agrée not with that +which Polydor Virgil hath written of these warres which king Ethelred +had with the Danes: for he maketh mention of one Iuarus a king of the +Danes, who landed (as he writeth) at the mouth of Humber, and like a +stout enimie inuaded the countrie adioining. Against whome Ethelred +with his brother Alured came with an armie, and incountring the Danes, +fought with them by the space of a whole day togither, and was in +danger to haue béene put to the woorse, but that the night seuered +them asunder. In the morning they ioined againe: but the death of +Iuarus, who chanced to be slaine in the beginning of the battell, +[Sidenote: Danes put to flight.] +discouraged the Danes, so that they were easilie put to flight, +of whome (before they could get out of danger) a great number were +slaine. But after that they had recouered themselues togither, and +[Sidenote: Agnerus and Hubba.] +found but a conuenient place where to pitch their campe, they +chose to their capteines Agnerus, and Hubba, two brethren, which +indeuored themselues by all meanes possible to repaire their armie: +so that within 15 daies after, the Danes eftsoones fought with the +Englishmen, and gaue them such an ouerthrow, that little wanted +of making an end of all incounters to be attempted after by the +Englishmen. + +But yet within a few daies after this, as the Danes attended their +market to spoile the countrie and range somewhat licentiouslie abroad, +they fell within the danger of such ambushes as were laid for them by +king Ethelred, that no small slaughter was made of them, but yet +not without some losse of the Englishmen. Amongest others, Ethelred +himselfe receiued a wound, whereof he shortlie after died. Thus saith +Polydor touching the warres which king Ethelred had with the Danes, +who yet confesseth (as the trueth is) that such authors as he herein +followed, varie much from that which the Danish writers doo record of +these matters, and namelie touching the dooings of Iuarus, as in the +Danish historie you may sée more at large. + +But now to our purpose touching the death of king Ethelred, whether by +reason of hurt receiued in fight against the Danes (as Polydor saith) +or otherwise, certeine it is, that Ethelred anon after Easter +[Sidenote: Winborne abbeie.] +departed this life, in the sixt yeare of his reigne, and was buried +at Winborne abbey. In the daies of this Ethelred, the foresaid Danish +[Sidenote: Agnerus. _Fabian_. 870.] +capteins, Hungar, otherwise called Agnerus, and Hubba returning +from the north parts into the countrie of the Eastangles, came +[Sidenote: Edmund K. of the Eastangles.] +vnto Thetford, whereof Edmund, who reigned as king in that season ouer +the Eastangles, being aduertised, raised an armie of men, and went +foorth to giue battell vnto this armie of the Danes. But he with his +people was chased out of the field, and fled to the castell of +[Sidenote: Framingham castell.] +Framingham, where being enuironed with a siege by his enimies, he +yéelded himselfe vnto them. And because he would not renounce the +[Sidenote: King Edmund shot to death.] +christian faith, they bound him to a trée, and shot arrowes at +him till he died: and afterwards cut off his head from his bodie, +and threw the same into a thicke groue of bushes. But afterwards his +[Sidenote: Eglesdon.] +friends tooke the bodie with the head, and buried the same at +Eglesdon: where afterward also a faire monasterie was builded by one +bishop Aswin, and changing the name of the place, it was after called +saint Edmundsburie. Thus was king Edmund put to death by the cruell +Danes for his constant confessing the name of Christ, in the 16 yeare +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ Eastangles without a gouernour.] +of his reigne, and so ceased the kingdome of Eastangles. For after +that the Danes had thus slaine that blessed man, they conquered all +the countrie, & wasted it, so that through their tyrannie it remained +without anie gouernor by the space of nine yeares, and then they +[Sidenote: Guthrun a Dane king of Eastangles.] +appointed a king to rule ouer it, whose name was Guthrun, one +of their owne nation, who gouerned both the Eastangles and the +Eastsaxons. + +Ye haue heard how the Danes slue Osrike and Ella kings of +Northumberland. After which victorie by them obteined, they did much +[Sidenote: _Polychron._] +hurt in the north parts of this land, and amongest other cruell +deeds, they destroied the citie of Acluid, which was a famous citie +in the time of the old Saxons, as by Beda and other writers dooth +[Sidenote: _Caxton._] +manifestlie appeare. Here is to be remembred, that some +writers rehearse the cause to be this. Osbright or Osrike king of +Northumberland rauished the wife of one Berne that was a noble man of +the countrie about Yorke, who tooke such great despight thereat, that +he fled out of the land, and went into Denmarke, and there complained +vnto the king of Denmarke his coosin of the iniurie doone to him by +king Osbright. Wherevpon the king of Denmarke, glad to haue so iust a +quarell against them of Northumberland, furnished foorth an armie, and +sent the same by sea (vnder the leading of his two brethren Hungar +and Hubba) into Northumberland, where they slue first the said king +Osbright, and after king Ella, at a place besides Yorke, which vnto +this day is called Ellas croft, taking that name of the said Ella, +being there slaine in defense of his countrie against the Danes. Which +Ella (as we find registred by writers) was elected king by such of +the Northumbers, as in fauour of Berne had refused to be subiect vnto +Osbright. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Alfred ruleth ouer the Westsaxons and the greatest part of England, +the Danes afflict him with sore warre, and cruellie make wast of his +kingdome, they lie at London a whole winter, they inuade Mercia, the +king whereof (Burthred by name) forsaketh his countrie and goeth +to Rome, his death and buriall; Halden king of the Danes diuideth +Northumberland among his people; Alfred incountreth with the Danes +vpon the sea, they sweare to him that they will depart out of his +kingdome, they breake the truce which was made betwixt him and them, +he giueth them battell, and (besides a great discomfiture) killeth +manie of their capteines, the Danes and English fight neere Abington, +the victorie vncerteine, seuen foughten fieldes betwixt them in one +yeare, the Danes soiourne at London._ + +THE XIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: ALURED OR ALFRED. 871. as _Mat. West._ & _Sim. Dunelmen._ + doo note it. _Henr. Hunt._] +After the decease of king Ethelred, his brother Alured or Alfred +succéeded him, and began his reigne ouer the Westsaxons, and other +the more part of the people of England, in the yeare of our Lord 872, +which was in the 19 yeare of the emperour Lewes the second, and 32 +yeare of the reigne of Charles the bald, king of France, and about the +eleuenth yeare of Constantine the second king of Scotland. Although +this Alured was consecrated king in his fathers life time by pope Leo +(as before ye haue heard) yet was he not admitted king at home, till +after the decease of his thrée elder brethren: for he being the +yoongest, was kept backe from the gouernement, though he were for his +wisdome and policie most highlie estéemed and had in all honour. + +[Sidenote: Alured persecuted by Danes. _Matt. Westm._] +In the beginning of his reigne he was wrapped in manie great +troubles and miseries, speciallie by the persecution of the Danes, +which made sore and greeuous wars in sundrie parts of this land, +destroieng the same in most cruell wise. About a moneth after he was +[Sidenote: The Danes obteine the victorie.] +made king, he gaue battell to the Danes of Wilton, hauing with him +no great number of people, so that although in the beginning the Danes +that day were put to the woorse, yet in the end they obteined the +victorie. Shortlie after, a truce was taken betwixt the Danes and the +[Sidenote: The Danes wintered at London. 874.] +Westsaxons. And the Danes that had lien at Reading, remoued from +thence vnto London, where they lay all the winter season. In the +second yeare of Alured his reigne, the Danish king Halden led the same +armie from London into Lindseie, and there lodged all that winter at +[Sidenote: Repton.] +Torkseie. In the yeare following, the same Halden inuaded Mercia, +and wintered at Ripindon. There were come to him thrée other leaders +of Danes which our writers name to be kings, Godrun, Esketell, & +[Sidenote: Burthred king of Mercia.] +Ammond, so that their power was greatlie increased. Burthred king of +Mercia which had gouerned that countrie by the space of 22 yéeres, was +not able to withstand the puissance of those enimies: wherevpon he was +constreined to auoid the countrie, and went to Rome, where he departed +this life, and was buried in the church of our ladie, néere to the +English schoole. + +[Sidenote: 875.] +In the fourth yeare of king Alured the armie of the Danes diuided +it selfe into two parts, so that king Halden with one part thereof +went into Northumberland, and lay in the winter, season néere to +[Sidenote: The Danes went into Northumberland.] +the riuer of Tine, where hee diuided the countrie amongest his men, +and remained there for the space of two yeares, and oftentimes fetched +thither booties and preis out of the countrie of the Picts. The other +part of the Danish armie with the thrée foresaid kings or leaders +[Sidenote: The Danes at Cambridge. 876.] +came vnto Cambridge, and remained there a whole yeare. In the same +yeare king Alured fought by sea with 7 ships of Danes, tooke one of +them, & chased the residue. In the yeare next insuing, the Danes came +into the countrie of the Westsaxons, and king Alured tooke truce with +them againe, and they sware to him (which they had not vsed to doo +[Sidenote: The Danes tooke an oth. _Hen. Hunt._] +to anie afore that time) that they would depart the countrie. Their +armie by sea sailing from Warham toward Excester, susteined great +losse by tempest, for there perished 120 ships at Swanewicke. + +[Sidenote: The Danes went to Excester.] +Moreouer the armie of the Danes by land went to Excester in breach +of the truce, and king Alured followed them, but could not ouertake +them till they came to Excester, and there he approched them in such +wise, that they were glad to deliuer pledges for performance of +[Sidenote: _Henr. Hunt._] +such couenants as were accorded betwixt him and them. And so then +they departed out of the countrie, and drew into Mercia. But shortlie +after, when they had the whole gouernment of the land, from Thames +northward, they thought it not good to suffer king Alured to continue +in rest with the residue of the countries beyond Thames. And therefore +the thrée foresaid rulers of Danes, Godrun, Esketell, and Ammond, +inuading the countrie of Westsaxons came to Chipnam, distant 17 miles +from Bristow, & there pitched their tents. +[Sidenote: 877.] + +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +King Alured aduertised hereof, hasted thither, and lodging with +his armie néere to the enimies, prouoked them to battell. The Danes +perceiuing that either they must fight for their liues, or die with +shame, boldlie came foorth, and gaue battell. The Englishmen rashlie +incountered with them, and though they were ouermatched in number, yet +with such violence they gaue the onset, that the enimies at the first +were abashed at their hardie assaults. But when as it was perceiued +that their slender ranks were not able to resist the thicke leghers of +the enimies, they began to shrinke & looke backe one vpon an other, +and so of force were constrained to retire: and therewithal did cast +themselues into a ring, which though it séemed to be the best way that +could be deuised for their safetie, yet by the great force and number +of their enimies on each side assailing them, they were so thronged +togither on heaps, that they had no roome to stir their weapons. Which +[Sidenote: Hubba slaine.] +disaduantage notwithstanding, they slue a great number of the +Danes, and amongest other, Hubba the brother of Agner, with manie +other of the Danish capteins. At length the Englishmen hauing +valiantlie foughten a long time with the enimies, which had compassed +[Sidenote: The victorie doubtful.] +them about, at last brake out and got them to their campe. To be +briefe, this battell was foughten with so equall fortune, that no man +knew to whether part the victorie ought to be ascribed. But after they +were once seuered, they tooke care to cure their hurt men, and to +burie the dead bodies, namelie the Danes interred the bodie of their +capteine Hubba with great funerall pompe and solemnitie: which +[Sidenote: Abington.] +doone, they held out their iournie till they came to Abington, whither +the English armie shortlie after came also, and incamped fast by the +enimies. + +In this meane while, the rumor was spread abroad that king Alured had +béene discomfited by the Danes, bicause that in the last battell he +withdrew to his campe. This turned greatlie to his aduantage: for +thereby a great number of Englishmen hasted to come to his succour. +[Sidenote: The Danes and Englishmen fight néer to Abington.] +On the morrow after his comming to Abington, he brought his armie +readie to fight into the field: neither were the enimies slacke, on +their parts to receiue the battell, and so the two armies ioined and +fought verie sore on both sides: so that it séemed the Englishmen +men had not to doo with those Danes, which had béene diuerse times +before discomfited and put to flight, but rather with some new people +fresh and lustie. But neither the one part nor the other was minded +to giue ouer: in so much that the horssemen alighting on foot, and +putting their horsses from them, entered the battell amongst the +footmen, and thus they continued with equall aduantage till night came +on, which parted the affraie, being one of the sorest foughten +[Sidenote: Vncerteine victorie Thus farre _Polydor_.] +fields that had beene heard of in those daies. To whether partie a man +might iustlie attribute the victorie, it was vtterlie vncerteine, with +so like losse & gaine the matter was tried & ended betwixt them. With +the semblable chance of danger and glorie seuen times that yéere +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._] +did the English and Danes incounter in battell, as writers haue +[Sidenote: A peace agreed vpon.] +recorded. At length, when their powers on both parts were sore +diminished, they agréed vpon a peace, with these conditions, that the +Danes should not attempt anie further warre against the Englishmen, +nor bring into this land anie new supplie of souldiers out of +Denmarke. But this peace by those peacemakers was violated and broken, +in so much as they ment nothing lesse than to fall from the conceiued +hope which they had of bearing rule in this land, and of inriching +themselues with the goods, possessions, rents and reuenues of the +[Sidenote: The Danes sojourned at London.] +inhabitants. The same yéere the Danes soiorned in the winter +season at London, according as they had doone often times before. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Rollo a noble man of Denmarke with a fresh power entreth England, and +beginneth to waste it, king Alured giueth him batell, Rollo saileth +ouer into France; who first inhabited Normandie, and whereof it tooke +that name; the Danes breake the peace which was made betwixt them +and Alured, he is driuen to his shifts by their inuasions into his +kingdome, a vision appeereth to him and his mother; king Alured +disguising himselfe like a minstrell entereth the Danish campe, +marketh their behauiour unsuspected, assalteth them on the sudden with +a fresh power, and killeth manie of them at aduantage; the Deuonshire +men giue the Danes battell vnder the conduct of Haldens brother, and +are discomfited; Alured fighteth with them at Edanton, they giue him +hostages, Gurthrun their king is baptised and named Adelstan, a league +concluded betwixt both the kings, the bounds of Alureds kingdome._ + +THE XIIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: Ann. 876. saith _Simon Dun._] +About the same time, or shortlie after, there came into England +one Rollo, a noble man of Denmarke or Norway, with a great armie, and +(notwithstanding the peace concluded betweene the Englishmen and the +Danes) began to waste and destroy the countrie. King Alured hearing +these newes, with all spéed thought best in the beginning to stop +such a common mischiefe, and immediatlie assembling his people, went +against the enimies, and gaue them battell, in the which there died a +great number of men on both sides, but the greater losse fell to Rollo +his armie. Yet Matthew Westmin. saith that the Englishmen were put to +flight. After this, it chanced that Rollo being warned in a dreame, +left England, & sailed ouer into France, where he found fortune so +fauourable to him, that he obteined in that region for him and his +[Sidenote: 30 yéeres after this he was baptised.] +people a countrie, the which was afterwards named Normandie, of those +northerne people which then began to inhabit the same, as in the +histories of France you maie sée more at large. + +The Danes which had concluded peace with king Alured (as before you +haue heard) shortlie after vpon the first occasion, brake the +same, and by often inuasions which they made into the countrie of +Westsaxons, brought the matter to that passe, that there remained to +[Sidenote: King Alured driuen to his shifts.] +king Alured but onlie the three countries of Hamshire, Wiltshire, & +Summersetshire, in so much that he was constreined for a time to +kéepe himselfe close within the fennes and maresh grounds of +Summersetshire, with such small companies as he had about him, +constreined to get their liuing with fishing, hunting, and other +such shifts. He remained for the most part within an Ile called +[Sidenote: Edlingsey.] +Edlingsey, that is to say, the Iland of noble men, enuironed about +with fennes and mareshes. + +[Sidenote: A vision if it be true.] +Whiles he was thus shut vp within this Iland, he was by dreame +aduertised of better hap shortlie to follow: for as it hath béene +said, saint Cuthbert appéered to him as he laie in sléepe, and +comforted him, declaring to him, that within a while fortune should so +turne, that he should recouer againe his kingdome to the confusion of +his enimies. And to assure him that this should prooue true, he told +him that his men which were gone abroad to catch fish, should bring +home great plentie, although the season was against them, by reason +that the waters were frosen, and that a cold rime fell that morning, +to the hinderance of their purpose. His mother also at that time being +in sleepe, saw the like vision. And as they had dreamed, so it came to +passe: for being awakened out of their sleepe, in came his men with so +great foison of fish, that the same might haue sufficed a great armie +of men, for the vittelling of them at that season. + +[Sidenote: King Alured disguiseth himselfe. _Polydor, Fabian_.] +Shortlie after, king Alured tooke vpon him the habit of a +minstrell, and going foorth of his closure, repaired to the campe of +the Danish king, onelie accompanied with one trustie seruant, and +tarrieng there certeine daies togither, was suffered to go into euerie +part, and plaie on his instrument, as well afore the king as others, +so that there was no secret, but that he vnderstood it. Now when he +had séene and learned the demeanour of his enimies, he returned againe +to his people at Edlingsey, and there declared to his nobles what he +had séene and heard, what negligence was amongst the enimies, and how +easie a matter it should be for him to indamage them. Wherevpon they +conceiuing a maruellous good hope, and imboldened with his words, a +power was assembled togither, and spies sent foorth to learne and +bring woord where the Danes lodged: which being doone, and certificat +[Sidenote: _Henr. Hunt._ 877.] +made accordinglie, king Alured comming vpon them on the sudden, +slue of them a great number, hauing them at great aduantage. + +[Sidenote: 878.] +About the same time the brother of king Halden came with thirtie +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._] +and three ships out of Wales into the countrie of Westsaxons, on +the coast of Deuonshire, where the Deuonshire men gaue him battell, +and slue him with 840 persons of his retinue. Other write, that Halden +himselfe was present at this conflict, with Inguare, otherwise called +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] +Hungar, and that they were both slaine there, with twelue hundred +of their companie (before a certeine castell called Kinwith) receiuing +as they had deserued for their cruell dealing latelie by them +practised in the parties of Southwales, where they had wasted all +afore them with fire and swoord, not sparing abbeies more than other +common buildings. + +King Alured being with that good lucke the more comforted, builded a +[Sidenote: Athelney.] +fortresse in the Ile of Edlingsey, afterwards called Athelney, and +breaking out oftentimes vpon the enimies, distressed them at sundrie +times with the aid of the Summersetshire men, which were at hand. +About the seuenth wéeke after Easter, in the seuenth yéere of his +reigne, king Alured went to Eglerighston, on the east part of Selwood, +where there came to him the people of Summersetshire, Wiltshire, & +Hamshire, reioising greatlie to sée him abroad. From thence he +[Sidenote: Edantdune. This battell should séeme the same that _Polydor_ +speaketh of fought at Abingdon. _Polychron._ _Iohn Pike_.] +went to Edanton, & there fought against the armie of the Danes, and +chased them vnto their strength, where he remained afore them the +space of fouretéene daies. Then the armie of the Danes deliuered him +hostages and couenants to depart out of his dominions, and that their +king should be baptised, which was accomplished: for Gurthrun, whome +[Sidenote: Gurthrun or Gurmund baptised, and named Adelstan is made +king of Eastangle.] +some name Gurmond, a prince or king amongst these Danes, came to +Alured and was baptised, king Alured receiuing him at the fontstone, +named him Adelstan, and gaue to him the countrie of Eastangle, which +he gouerned (or rather spoiled) by the space of twelue yéeres. + +Diuerse other of the Danish nobilitie to the number of thirtie (as +Simon Dunelmensis saith) came at the same time in companie of their +king Gurthrun, and were likewise baptised, on whòme king Alured +bestowed manie rich gifts. At the same time (as is to be thought) was +the league concluded betwixt king Alured and the said Gurthrun or +Gurmond, in which the bounds of king Alureds kingdome are set foorth +thus: "First therefore let the bounds or marshes of our dominion +stretch vnto the riuer of Thames, and from thence to the water of Lée, +euen vnto the head of the same water, and so foorth streight vnto +Bedford: and finallie going alongst by the riuer of Ouse, let them end +at Watlingstréet." + +This league being made with the aduise of the same sage personages +as well English as those that inhabited within east England, is set +foorth in maister Lamberts booke of the old English lawes, in the end +of those lawes or ordinances which were established by the same king +Alured, as in the same booke ye may sée more at large. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Th' English called diuers people Danes whom the French named Normans, +whervpon that generall name was giuen them; Gurmo Anglicus K. of +Denmark, whose father Frotto was baptised in England; the Danes +besiege Rochester, Alfred putteth them to flight, recouereth London +out of their hands, and committeth it to the custodie of duke Eldred +his sonne in law; he assaulteth Hasting a capteine of the Danes, +causeth him to take an oth, his two sonnes are baptised; he goeth +foorth to spoile Alfreds countrie, his wife, children, and goods, +&c: are taken, and fauourablie giuen him againe; the Danes besiege +Excester, they flie to their ships, gaine with great losse, they are +vanquished by the Londoners, the death of Alfred, his issue male and +female._ + +THE XV. CHAPTER. + + +Here is to be noted, that writers name diuerse of the Danish capteins, +kings (of which no mention is made in the Danish chronicles) to reigne +in those parties. But true it is, that in those daies, not onelie the +Danish people, but also other of those northeast countries or regions, +as Swedeners, Norwegians, the Wondens, and such other (which the +English people called by one generall name Danes, and the Frenchmen +Normans) vsed to roaue on the seas, and to inuade forren regions, as +England, France, Flanders, and others, as in conuenient places ye may +find, as well in our histories, as also in the writers of the French +histories, and likewise in the chronicles of those north regions. The +[Sidenote: Gurmo.] +writers verelie of the Danish chronicles make mention of one Gurmo, +whome they name Anglicus, bicause he was borne here in England, +which succeeded his father Frotto in gouernement of the kingdome of +Denmarke, which Frotto receiued baptisme in England, as their stories +tell. + +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ 878.] +In the eight yéere of king Alfred his reigne, the armie of the +Danes wintered at Cirencester, and the same yéere an other armie of +strangers called Wincigi laie at Fulham, and in the yéere following +departed foorth of England, and went into France, and the armie of +[Sidenote: 879.] +king Godrun or Gurmo departed from Cirencester, and came into +Eastangle, and there diuiding the countrie amongst them, began to +inhabit the same. In the 14 yéere of king Alfred his reigne, part +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ _Matth. West_] +of the Danish armie which was gone ouer into France, returned into +[Sidenote: Rochester beseiged. 885.] +England and besieged Rochester. But when Alfred approched to the +reskue, the enimies fled to their ships, and passed ouer the sea +againe. King Alfred sent a nauie of his ships well furnished with men +of warre into Eastangle, the which at the mouth of the riuer called +Sture, incountering with 16 ships of the Danes, set vpon them, and +ouercame them in fight: but as they returned with their prises, they +incountered with another mightie armie of the enimies, and fighting +with them were ouercome and vanquished. In the yeere following, +[Sidenote: 889.] +king Alfred besieged the citie of London, the Danes that were within +fled from thence, and the Englishmen that were inhabitants thereof +[Sidenote: London recouered out of the hands of the Danes.] +gladlie receiued him, reioising that there was such a prince bred +of their nation, that was of power able to reduce them into libertie. +This citie being at that season the chiefe of all Mercia, he deliuered +into the kéeping of duke Eldred, which had maried his daughter +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ Ethelfleda. Colwolphas.] +Ethelfleda, & held a great portion of Mercia, which Colwolphus before +time possesed by the grant of the Danes, after they had subdued K. +Burthred (as before is said.) About the 21 yere of K. Alfred, an +[Sidenote: Limer, now Rother. Andredeslegia. A castell built at +Appledore. 893] +armie of those Danes & Normans, which had béene in France, returned +into England, and arriued in the hauen or riuer of Limene in the east +part of Kent, néere to the great wood called Andredesley, which did +conteine in times past 120 miles in length, and thirtie in breadth. +These Danes landing with their people builded a castle at Appledore. + +In the meane time came Hasting with 80 ships into the Thames, and +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ At Milton. Hasting the capteine of the Danes +besieged. He receiueth an oth.] +builded a castle at Middleton, but he was constreined by siege +which king Alfred planted about him, to receiue an oth that he should +not in any wise annoie the dominion of king Alfred, who vpon his +promise to depart, gaue great gifts as well to him as to his wife and +children. One of his sonnes also king Alfred held at the fontstone, +and to the other duke Aldred was god father. For (as it were to win +credit, and to auoid present danger) Hasting sent vnto Alfred these +his two sonnes, signifieng that if it stood with his pleasure, he +could be content that they should be baptised. But neuerthelesse this +Hasting was euer most vntrue of word and déed, he builded a castle at +Beamfield. And as he was going foorth to spoile and wast the kings +[Sidenote: Beanfield saith _M. West._] +countries, Alfred tooke that castle, with his wife, children, ships +[Sidenote: This enterprise was atchiued by Etheldred duke of Mercia +in the absence of the king, as _Matth. West._ hath noted] +and goods, which he got togither of such spoiles as he had abroad: +but he restored vnto Hasting his wife and children, bicause he was +their godfather. + +Shortlie after, newes came that a great number of other ships of +[Sidenote: Excester besieged.] +Danes were come out of Northumberland, and had besieged Excester. +Whilest king Alfred went then against them, the other armie which lay +at Appledore inuaded Essex, and built a castell in that countrie, and +after went into the borders of Wales, and builded another castell +[Sidenote: Seuerne.] +neere vnto the riuer of Seuerne: but being driuen out of that +countrie, they returned againe into Essex. Those that had besieged +Excester, vpon knowledge had of king Alfreds comming, fled to their +ships, and so remaining on the sea, roaued abroad, séeking preies. +[Sidenote: Chester taken by Danes.] +Besides this, other armies there were sent foorth, which comming +out of Northumberland tooke the citie of Chester, but there they +[Sidenote: Great famine] +were so beset about with their enimies, that they were constreined to +eate their horsses. At length, in the 24 yéere of king Alfred, they +left that citie, and fetcht a compas about Northwales, and so +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._] +meaning to saile round about the coast to come into Northumberland, +they arriued in Essex, and in the winter following drew their ships by +[Sidenote: The water of Luie, now Lée.] +the Thames into the water of Luie. That armie of Danes which had +besieged Excester, tooke preies about Chichester, and was met with, so +that they lost manie of their men, and also diuerse of their ships. + +In the yéere following, the other armie which had brought the ships +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._] +into the riuer Luie, began to build a castell néere to the same +riuer, twentie miles distant from London: but the Londoners came +[Sidenote: The Londoners victors against the Danes.] +thither, and giuing battell to the Danes, slue foure of the chiefe +capteins. But by Simon Dunel. and Matt. Westm. it should seeme, that +the Londoners were at this time put to flight, and that foure of the +kings barons were slaine in fight, Howbeit Henrie Hunt. hath written +as before I haue recited; and further saith, that when the Danes fled +for their refuge to the castell, king Alfred caused the water of Luie +to be diuided into thrée chanels, so that the Danes should not bring +backe their ships out of the place where they laie at anchor. When the +Danes perceiued this, they left their ships behind them, and went +[Sidenote: Quathbridge or Wakebridge.] +into the borders of Wales, where at Cartbridge vpon Seuerne they built +another castell, and lay there all the winter following, hauing left +their wiues and children in the countrie of Eastangles. King Alfred +pursued them, but the Londoners tooke the enimies ships, and brought +some of them to the citie, and the rest they burnt. + +Thus for the space of thrée yéeres after the arriuing of the maine +armie of the Danes in the hauen of Luie, they sore indamaged the +English people, although the Danes themselues susteined more losse at +the Englishmens hands than they did to them with all pilfering and +[Sidenote: The Danish armie diuided into parts.] +spoiling. In the fourth yéere after their comming, the armie was +diuided, so that one part of them went into Northumberland, part of +them remained in the countrie of Eastangles, & another part went +into France. Also certeine of their ships came vpon the coast of the +Westsaxons, oftentimes setting their men on land to rob and spoile the +countrie. But king Alfred tooke order in the best wise he might for +defense of his countrie and people, and caused certeine mightie +vessels to be builded, which he appointed foorth to incounter with the +enimies ships. + +[Sidenote: The death of king Alfred.] +Thus like a worthie prince and politike gouernor, he preuented +each way to resist the force of his enimies, and to safegard his +subiects. Finallie after he had reigned 29 yéeres and an halfe, he +departed this life the 28 day of October. His bodie was buried at +[Sidenote: His issue.] +Winchester: he left behind him issue by his wife Ethelwitha the +daughter vnto earle Ethelred of Mercia, two sonnes, Edward surnamed +the elder, which succéeded him, and Adelwold: also thrée +[Sidenote: Elfleda.] +daughters, Elfleda or Ethelfleda, Ethelgeda or Edgiua, and Ethelwitha. + + * * * * * + + + + +_How Elfleda king Alfreds daughter (being maried) contemned fleshlie +pleasure; the praise of Alfred for his good qualities, his lawes for +the redresse of theeues, his diuiding of countries into hundreds and +tithings, of what monasteries he was founder, he began the foundation +of the vniuersitie of Oxford, which is not so ancient as Cambridge by +265 yeeres; king Alfred was learned, his zeale to traine his people +to lead an honest life, what learned men were about him, the pitifull +murthering of Iohn Scot by his owne scholers, how Alfred diuided the +24 houres of the day and the night for his necessarie purposes, his +last will and bequests; the end of the kingdome of Mercia, the Danes +haue it in their hands, and dispose it as they list, Eastangle and +Northumberland are subiect vnto them, the Northumbers expell Egbert +their king, his death; the Danes make Guthred king of Northumberland, +priuileges granted to S. Cuthberts shrine; the death of Guthred, and +who succeeded him in the seat roiall._ + +THE XVJ. CHAPTER. + + +In the end of the former chapter we shewed what children Alfred had, +their number & names, among whome we made report of Elfleda, who (as +you haue heard) was maried vnto duke Edelred. This gentlewoman left a +notable example behind hir of despising fleshlie plesure, for bearing +hir husband one child, and sore handled before she could be deliuered, +[Sidenote: The notable saieng of Elfleda.] +she euer after forbare to companie with hir husband, saieng that +it was great foolishnesse to vse such pleasure which therwith should +bring so great griefe. + +To speake sufficientlie of the woorthie praise due to so noble a +prince as Alfred was, might require eloquence, learning, and a large +volume. He was of person comelie and beautifull, and better beloued of +his father and mother than his other brethren. And although he was +[Sidenote: _Will. Malmes._] +(as before is touched) greatly disquieted with the inuasion of forren +enimies, yet did he both manfullie from time to time indeuour himselfe +to repell them, and also attempted to sée his subiects gouerned in +[Sidenote: King Alfred his lawes.] +good and vpright iustice. And albeit that good lawes amongst +the clinking noise of armor are oftentimes put to silence, yet he +perceiuing how his people were gréeued with theeues and robbers, +which in time of warre grew and increased, deuised good statutes and +wholsome ordinances for punishing of such offenders. + +Amongst other things he ordeined that the countries should be diuided +into hundreds and tithings, that is to say, quarters conteining a +certeine number of towneships adioining togither, so that euerie +Englishman liuing vnder prescript of lawes, should haue both his +hundred and tithing; that if anie man were accused of anie offense, he +should find suertie for his good demeanor: and if he could not find +such as would answer for him, then should he tast extremitie of the +lawes. And if anie man that was giltie fled before he found suertie, +or after: all the inhabitants of the hundred or tithing where he +dwelt, shuld be put to their fine. By this deuise he brought his +countrie into good tranquillitie, so that he caused bracelets of gold +to be hanged vp aloft on hils where anie common waies lay, to sée +if anie durst be so hardie to take them away by stealth. He was a +liberall prince namely in relieuing of the poore. To churches he +confirmed such priuileges as his father had granted before him, and he +also sent rewards by way of deuotion vnto Rome, and to the bodie of +saint Thomas in India. Sighelmus the bishop of Shireborne bare +the same, and brought from thence rich stones, and swéet oiles of +inestimable valure. From Rome also he brought a péece of the holy +crosse which pope Martinus did send for a present vnto king Alfred. + +[Sidenote: Foundation of monastaries.] +Moreouer king Alfred founded three goodlie monasteries, one at +Edlingsey, where he liued sometime when the Danes had bereaued him +almost of all his kingdome, which was after called Athelney, distant +from Taunton in Sumersetshire about fiue miles: the second he builded +at Winchester, called the new minster: and the third at Shaftesburie, +which was an house of nuns, where he made his daughter Ethelgeda or +Edgiua abbesse. But the foundation of the vniuersitie of Oxford +passed all the residue of his buildings, which he began by the good +exhortation and aduise of Neotus an abbat, in those daies highlie +estéemed for his vertue and lerning with Alfred. This worke he tooke +in hand about the 23 yéere of his reigne, which was in the yéere +[Sidenote: 895.] +of our Lord 895. So that the vniuersitie of Cambridge was founded +[Sidenote: _Polydor_. The vniuersitie of Oxford erected.] +before this other of Oxford about 265 yéeres, as Polydor gathereth. +For Sigebert king of the Eastangles began to erect that vniuersitie at +Cambridge about the yéere of our Lord 630. + +King Alfred was learned himselfe, and giuen much to studie, insomuch +that beside diuerse good lawes which he translated into the English +toong, gathered togither and published, he also translated diuerse +other bookes out of Latine into English, as _Orosius_, _Pastorale +Gregorij_, _Beda de gestis Anglorum_, _Boetius de consolatione +philosophiæ_, and the booke of Psalmes; but this he finished not, +being preuented by death. So this worthie prince minded well toward +the common wealth of his people, in that season when learning was +little estéemed amongst the west nations, did studie by all meanes +[Sidenote: The vertuous zeale of Alured to bring his people to an +honest trade of life.] +possible to instruct his subiects in the trade of leading an honest +life, and to incourage them generallie to imbrace learning. He would +not suffer anie to beare office in the court, except he were lerned: +and yet he himselfe was twelue yéeres of age before he could read +[Sidenote: He is persuaded by his mother, to applie himselfe to +learning.] +a word on the booke, and was then trained by his mothers persuasion to +studie, promising him a goodlie booke which she had in hir hands, if +he would learne to read it. + +Herevpon going to his booke in sport, he so earnestlie set his mind +thereto, that within a small time he profited maruellouslie, and +became such a fauorer of learned men, that he delighted most in their +companie, to haue conference with them, and allured diuerse to come +[Sidenote: Asserius Meuenensis. Werefridus. Iohn Scot.] +vnto him out of other countries, as Asserius Meneuensis bishop +of Shirborne, & Werefridus the bishop of Worcester, who by his +commandement translated the bookes of Gregories dialogs into English. +Also I. Scot, who whiles he was in France translated the book of +Dionysius Ariopagita, intituled _Hierarchia_, out of Gréeke into +Latine, and after was schoolemaister in the abbeie of Malmesburie, and +there murthered by his scholars with penkniues. He had diuerse +other about him, both Englishmen & strangers, as Pleimond afterward +[Sidenote: Grimbald.] +archbishop of Canturburie, Grimbald gouernor of the new monasterie +at Winchester, with others. + +[Sidenote: Alured diuides the time for his necessarie vses.] +But to conclude with this noble prince king Alured, he was so +carefull in his office, that he diuided the 24 houres which conteine +the day and night, in thrée parts, so that eight houres he spent in +writing, reading, and making his praiers, other eight he emploied in +relieuing his bodie with meat, drinke and sléepe, and the other eight +he bestowed in dispatching of businesse concerning the gouernement of +the realme. He had in his chapell a candle of 24 parts, whereof euerie +one lasted an houre: so that the sexton, to whome that charge was +committed, by burning of this candle warned the king euar how the time +[Sidenote: His last will and testament.] +passed away. A little before his death, he ordeined his last will +and testament, bequeathing halfe the portion of all his goods iustlie +gotten, vnto such monasteries as he had founded. All his rents and +reuenues he diuided into two equall parts, and the first part he +diuided into thrée, bestowing the first vpon his seruants in houshold, +the second to such labourers and workemen as he kept in his works of +sundrie new buildings, the third part he gaue to strangers. The second +whole part of his reuenues was so diuided, that the first portion +thereof was dispersed amongst the poore people of his countrie, the +second to monasteries, the third to the finding of poore scholers, +and the fourth part to churches beyond the sea. He was diligent in +inquirie how the iudges of his land behaued themselues in their +iudgements, and was a sharpe corrector of them which transgressed in +that behalfe. To be briefe, he liued so as he was had in great fauour +of his neighbours, & highlie honored among strangers. He maried +his daughter Ethelswida or rather Elstride vnto Baldwine earle of +Flanders, of whome he had two sonnes Arnulfe and Adulfe, the first +succéeding in the erledome of Flanders, and the yoonger was made earle +of Bullogne. + +The bodie of king Alured was first buried in the bishops church: but +afterwards, because the Canons raised a fond tale that the same +should walke a nights, his sonne king Edward remoued it into the new +monasterie which he in his life time had founded. Finallie, in memorie +of him a certeine learned clarke made an epitath in Latine, which for +the woorthinesse thereof is likewise (verse for verse, and in a maner +word for word) translated by Abraham Fleming into English, whose no +litle labor hath béene diligentlie imploied in supplieng sundrie +insufficiences found in this huge volume. + + NOBILITAS innata tibi probitatis honorem + _Nobilitie by birth to the (ó Alfred strong in armes)_ + (Armipotens Alfrede) dedit, probitásque laborem, + _Of goodnes hath the honor giuen, and honor toilesome harmes,_ + Perpetuúmque labor nomen, cui mixta dolori + _And toilesome harmes an endlesse name, whose ioies were alwaies mext_ + Gaudia semper erant, spes semper mixta timori. + _With sorow, and whose hope with feare was euermore perplext_. + Si modò victor eras, ad crastina bella pauebas, + _If this day thou wert conqueror, the next daies warre thou dredst,_ + Si modò victus eras, in crastina bella parabas, + _If this day thou wert conquered, to next daies war thou spedst,_ + Cui vestes sudore iugi, cui sica cruore, + _Whose clothing wet with dailie swet, whose blade with bloudie stainte,_ + Tincta iugi, quantum sit onus regnare probârunt, + _Do proue how great a burthen tis in roialtie to raine,_ + Non fuit immensi quisquam per climata mundi, + _There hath not beene in anie part of all the world so wide,_ + Cui tot in aduersis vel respirare liceret, + _One that was able breath to take, and troubles such abide,_ + Nec tamen aut ferro contritus ponere ferrum, + _And yet with weapons wearie would not weapons lay aside,_ + Aut gladio potuit vitæ finisse labores: + _Or with the sword the toilesomnesse of life by death diuide_. + Iam post transactos regni vitæque labores, + _Now after labours past of realme and life (which he did spend)_ + Christus ei fit vera quies sceptrúmque perenne. + _Christ is to him true quietnesse and scepter void of end_. + +In the daies of the foresaid king Alured, the kingdome of Mercia tooke +end. For after that the Danes had expelled king Burthred, when he had +reigned 22 yeares, he went to Rome, and there died, his wife also +Ethelswida, the daughter of king Athulfe that was sonne to king Egbert +followed him, and died in Pauia in Lumbardie. The Danes hauing got the +[Sidenote: Cewulfe.] +countrie into their possession, made one Cewulfe K. thereof, whome +they bound with an oth and deliuerie of pledges, that he should not +longer kéepe the state with their pleasure, and further should be +readie at all times to aid them with such power as he should be able +to make. This Cewulfe was the seruant of king Burthred. Within foure +yeares after the Danes returned, and tooke one part of that kingdome +into their owne hands, and left the residue vnto Cewulfe. But within +a few yeares after, king Alured obteined that part of Mercia which +Cewulfe ruled, as he did all the rest of this land, except those +parcels which the Danes held, as Northumberland, the countries of the +Eastangles, some part of Mercia, and other. + +The yeare, in the which king Alured thus obteined all the dominion of +[Sidenote: 886. _Matth. West._] +that part of Mercia, which Cewulfe had in gouernance, was after +the birth of our Sauiour 886, so that the foresaid kingdome continued +the space of 302 yeares vnder 22 kings, from Crida to this last +Cewulfe. But there be that account the continuance of this kingdome, +onelie from the beginning of Penda, vnto the last yeare of Burthred, +by which reckoning it stood not past 270 yeares vnder 18, or rather 17 +kings, counting the last Cewulfe for none, who began his reigne vnder +the subiection of the Danes, about the yeare of our Lord 874, where +Penda began his reigne 604. + +The Eastangles and the Northumbers in these dales were vnder +subiection of the Danes, as partlie may be perceiued by that which +[Sidenote: Guthrun K. of the eastangles died 890.] +before is rehearsed. After Guthrun that gouerned the Eastangles by +the terme of 12 yeares, one Edhirike or Edrike had the rule in those +parts, a Dane also, and reigned 14 yeares, and was at length bereued +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] +of his gouernement by king Edward the sonne of king Alured, as +after shall appeare. But now, although that the Northumbers were +brought greatlie vnder foot by the Danes, yet could they not forget +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] +their old accustomed maner to stirre tumults and rebellion against +[Sidenote: 872. Egbert king of Northumberland expelled from his +kingdome.] +their gouernours, insomuch that in the yeare 872, they expelled +not onelie Egbert, whome the Danes had appointed king ouer one part +of the countrie (as before you haue heard) but also their archbishop +[Sidenote: Egbert departed this life. Riesig.] +Wilfehere. In the yeare following, the same Egbert departed this +life, after whome one Rigsig or Ricsige succéeded as king, and the +archbishop Wolfehere was restored home. + +[Sidenote: The Danes winter in Lindsie.] +In the same yeare the armie of Danes which had wintered at London, +came from thence into Northumberland, and wintered in Lindseie, at a +place called Torkseie, and went the next yeare into Mercia. And +[Sidenote: 975.] +in the yeare 975, a part of them returned into Northumberland, as +[Sidenote: Riesig departed this life.] +before ye haue heard. In the yeare following, Riesig the king of +[Sidenote: 983.] +Northumberland departed this life: after whome an other Egbert +succéeded. And in the yeare 983, the armie of the Danes meaning to +inhabit in Northumberland, and to settle themselues there, chose +[Sidenote: Guthred ordeined king of Northumberland.] +Guthrid the sonne of one Hardicnute to their king, whome they had +sometime sold to a certeine widow at Witingham. But now by the aduise +of an abbat called Aldred, they redéemed his libertie, and ordeined +him king to rule both Danes and Englishmen in that countrie. It was +said, that the same Aldred being abbat of holie Iland, was warned in +a vision by S. Cuthberd, to giue counsell both to the Danes and +Englishmen, to make the same Guthrid king. This chanced about the 13 +yeare of the reigne of Alured king of Westsaxons. + +[Sidenote: The bishops sée remoued fr[=o] holie iland to Chester in +the stréet.] +When Guthrid was established king, he caused the bishops see to +be remoued from holie Iland vnto Chester in the stréet, and for an +augmentation of the reuenues and iurisdiction belonging thereto, he +assigned and gaue vnto saint Cuthbert all that countrie which lieth +betwixt the riuers of Teise and Tine. ¶ Which christian act of the +king, liuing in a time of palpable blindnesse and mistie superstition, +may notwithstanding be a light to the great men and péeres of this age +(who pretend religion with zeale, and professe (in shew) the truth +with feruencie) not to impouerish the patrimonie of the church to +inrich themselues and their posteritie, not to pull from bishoprikes +their ancient reuenues to make their owne greater, not to alienate +ecclesiasticall liuings into temporall commodities, not to seeke the +conuersion of college lands into their priuat possessions; not to +intend the subuersion of cathedrall churches to fill their owne +cofers, not to ferret out concealed lands for the supporte of their +owne priuat lordlines; not to destroy whole towneships for the +erection of one statelie manour; not to take and pale in the +commons to inlarge their seueralles; but like good and gratious +common-wealth-men, in all things to preferre the peoples publike +profit before their owne gaine and glorie, before their owne pompe and +pleasure, before the satisfieng of their owne inordinate desires. + +[Sidenote: Priuiledges granted to S. Cuthberts shrine.] +Moreouer, this priuiledge was granted vnto saint Cuthberts shrine: +that whosoeuer fled vnto the same for succour and safegard, should not +be touched or troubled in anie wise for the space of thirtie, & seuen +daies. And this freedome was confirmed not onelie by king Guthrid, but +also by king Alured. Finallie king Guthrid departed this life in the +[Sidenote: 894.] +yeare of our Lord 894, after he had ruled the Northumbers with +much crueltie (as some say) by the terme of 11 yeares, or somewhat +[Sidenote: _Polydor_. _Will. Malmes._] +more. He is named by some writers Gurmond, and also Gurmo, & thought +to be the same whome king Alured caused to be baptised. Whereas other +affirme, that Guthrid, who ruled the Eastangles, was he that Alured +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ Sithrike.] +receiued at the fontstone: William Malmesburie taketh them to be +but one man, which is not like to be true. After this Guthrid or Gurmo +his sonne Sithrike succeeded, and after him other of that line, till +king Adelstane depriued them of the dominion, and tooke it into his +owne hands. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Edward succeedeth his father Alured in regiment, he is disquieted by +his brother Adelwold a man of a defiled life, he flieth to the Danes +and is of them receiued, king Edwards prouision against the irruptions +and forraies of the Danes, Adelwold with a nauie of Danes entreth +Eastangles, the Essex men submit themselues, he inuadeth Mercia, +and maketh great wast, the Kentishmens disobedience preiudiciall to +themselues, they and the Danes haue a great conflict, king Edward +concludeth a truce with them, he maketh a great slaughter of them by +his Westsaxons and Mercians, what lands came to king Edward by the +death of Edred duke of Mercia, he recouereth diuers places out of the +Danes hands, and giueth them manie a foile, what castels he builded, +he inuadeth Eastangles, putteth Ericke a Danish king therof to flight, +his owne subiects murther him for his crueltie, his kingdome returneth +to the right of king Edward with other lands by him thereto annexed, +his sister Elfleda gouerned the countrie of Mercia during hir life._ + + +THE XVIJ. CHAPTER. + +[Sidenote: EDWARD THE ELDER. 901.] +After the deceasse of Alured, his sonne Edward surnamed the elder +began his reigne ouer the more part of England, in the yeare of our +Lord 901, which was in the second yeare of the emperor Lewes, in the +eight yeare of the reigne of Charles surnamed Simplex king of +France, and about the eight yeare or Donald king of Scotland. He was +consecrated after the maner of other kings his ancestors by Athelred +the archbishop of Canturburie. This Edward was not so learned as his +father, but in princelie power more high and honorable, for he ioined +the kingdome of Eastangles and Mercia with other vnto his dominion, as +after shall be shewed, and vanquished the Danes, Scots, and Welshmen, +to his great glorie and high commendation. + +In the beginning of his reigne he was disquieted by his brother +[Sidenote: Winborne.] +Adelwold, which tooke the towne of Winborne besides Bath, and +maried a nun there, whome he had defloured, & attempted manie things +against his brother. Wherevpon the king came to Bath, and though +Adelwold shewed a countenance as if he would haue abidden the chance +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ Adelwold fleeth to the Danes. _Wil. Malm._] +of warre within Winborne, yet he stole awaie in the night, and fled +into Northumberland, where he was ioifullie receiued of the Danes. The +king tooke his wife being left behind, and restored hir to the house +from whence she was taken. ¶ Some haue written, that this Adelwold or +Ethelwold was not brother vnto king Edward, but his vncles sonne. + +After this, king Edward prouiding for the suertie of his subiects +against the forraies, which the Danes vsed to make, fortified diuers +cities and townes, and stuffed them with great garrisons of +[Sidenote: The English nation practised in wars go commonlie awaie +with the victorie.] +souldiers, to defend the inhabitants, and to expell the enimies. And +suerlie the Englishmen were so invred with warres in those daies, that +the people being aduertised of the inuasion of the enimies in anie +part of their countrie, would assemble oftentimes without knowledge of +king or capteine, and setting vpon the enimies, went commonlie awaie +with victorie, by reason that they ouermatched them both in number and +practise. So were the enimies despised of the English souldiers, +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._] +and laughed to scorne of the king for their foolish attempts. Yet in +the third yeare of king Edwards reigne, Adelwold his brother came with +a nauie of Danes into the parties of the Eastangles, and euen +[Sidenote: Essex yéelded to Adelwold. _Ran. Higd._] +at the first the Essex men yeelded themselues vnto him. In the yéere +following he inuaded the countrie of Mercia with a great armie, +wasting and spoiling the same vnto Crikelade, and there passing ouer +[Sidenote: Brittenden.] +the Thames, rode foorth till he came to Basingstoke, or (as some +bookes haue) Brittenden, harieng the countrie on each side, and so +returned backe vnto Eastangles with great ioy and triumph. + +[Sidenote: _Henr. Hunt._] +King Edward awakened héerewith assembled his people, and followed +the enimies, wasting all the countries betwixt the riuer of Ouse and +saint Edmunds ditch. And when he should returne, he gaue commandement +that no man should staie behind him, but come backe togither for +[Sidenote: The Kentishmen disobeing the kings commandement, are +surprised by the enimies. Adelwold king Edwards brother.] +doubt to be forelaid by the enimies. The Kentishmen notwithstanding +this ordinance and commandement, remained behind, although the king +sent seuen messengers for them. The Danes awaiting their aduantage, +came togither, and fiercelie fought with the Kentishmen, which a long +time valiantlie defended themselues. But in the end the Danes obtained +the victorie, although they lost more people there than the Kentishmen +did: and amongst other, there were slaine the foresaid Adelwold, and +diuerse of the chiefe capteins amongst the Danes. Likewise of the +English side, there died two dukes, Siwolfe & Singlem or Sigbelme, +with sundrie other men of name, both temporall and also spirituall +lords and abbats. In the fift yéere of his reigne, king Edward +concluded a truce with the Danes of Eastangle and Northumberland at +Itingford. But in the yéere following, he sent an armie against them +[Sidenote: Fortie daies saith _Simon Dun._] +of Northumberland, which slue manie of the Danes, and tooke great +booties both of people and cattell, remaining in the countrie the +space of fiue weekes. + +The yéere next insuing, the Danes with a great armie entered into +Mercia, to rob & spoile the countrie, against whome king Edward sent a +mightie host, assembled togither of the Westsaxons & them of Mercia, +which set vpon the Danes, as they were returning homeward, and slue +of them an huge multitude, togither with their chiefe capteins and +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._] +leaders, as king Halden, and king Eolwils, earle Vter, earle +Scurfa, and diuerse other. In the yéere 912, or (as Simon Dunel. +saith) 908, the duke of Mercia Edred or Etheldred departed this life, +and then king Edward seized into his hands the cities of London and +Oxford, and all that part of Mercia which he held. But afterwards he +suffered his sister Elfleda to inioy the most part thereof, except the +said cities of London and Oxford, which he still reteined in his owne +hand. This Elfleda was wife to the said duke Edred or Etheldred, as +before you haue heard: of whose woorthie acts more shall be said +heereafter. + +In the ninth yéere of his reigne, king Edward built a castell at +[Sidenote: Wightham.] +Hertford, and likewise he builded a towne in Essex at Wightham, +and lay himselfe in the meane time at Maldon, otherwise Meauldun, +bringing a great part of the countrie vnder his subiection, which +before was subiect to the Danes. In the yéere following, the armie of +[Sidenote: Chester, or rather Leicester, as I thinke. Digetune.] +the Danes departed from Northampton and Chester in breach of +the former truce, and slue a great number of men at Hochnerton in +Oxfordshire. And shortlie after their returne home, an other companie +of them went foorth, and came to Leighton, where the people of the +countrie being assembled togither, fought with them & put them to +flight, taking from them all the spoile which they had got, and also +their horsses. + +In the 11 yéere of king Edward, a fleet of Danes compassed about the +west parts, & came to the mouth of Seuerne, and so tooke preies in +Wales: they also tooke prisoner a Welsh bishop named Camelgaret, +[Sidenote: Irchenfield.] +at Irchenfield, whome they led to their ships: but king Edward +redéemed him out of their hands, paieng them fortie pounds for his +ransome. After that the armie of Danes went foorth to spoile the +countrie about Irchenfield, but the people of Chester, Hereford, and +other townes and countries thereabout assembled togither, and giuing +battell to the enimies, put them to flight, and slue one of their +[Sidenote: Danes discomfited.] +noble men called earle Rehald, and Geolcil the brother of earle +Vter, with a great part of their armie, & draue the residue into a +castell, which they besieged till the Danes within it gaue hostages, +and couenanted to depart out of the kings land. The king caused the +coasts about Seuerne to be watched, that they should not breake into +his countrie: but yet they stale twise into the borders: neuerthelesse +they were chased and slaine as manie as could not swim, and so get to +[Sidenote: The Ile of Stepen. Deomedun.] +their ships. Then they remained in the Ile of Stepen, in great +miserie for lacke of vittels, bicause they could not go abroad to +[Sidenote: Danes saile into Ireland.] +get anie. At length they departed into Northwales, and from thence +sailed into Ireland. + +The same yéere king Edward came to Buckingham with an armie, and there +taried a whole moneth, building two castels, the one vpon the one side +of the water of Ouse, and the other vpon the other side of the +[Sidenote: Turketillus an earle.] +same riuer. He also subdued Turketillus an earle of the Danes that +dwelt in that countrie, with all the residue of the noble men and +barons of the shires of Bedford and Northampton. In the 12 yéere of +king Edwards reigne, the Kentishmen and Danes fought togither at +Holme: but whether partie had the victorie, writers haue not declared. +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] +Simon Dunelm. speaketh of a battell which the citizens of +Canturburie fought against a number of Danish rouers at Holme, where +the Danes were put to flight, but that should be (as he noteth) 8 +yéeres before this supposed time, as in the yéere 904, which was about +the third yéere of king Edwards reigne. + +[Sidenote: _Anno_ 911. _Simon Dun._] +After this, other of the Danes assembled themselues togither, +and in Staffordshire at a place called Tottenhall fought with the +Englishmen, and after great slaughter made on both parties, the Danes +were ouercome: and so likewise were they shortlie after at Woodfield +or Wodenfield. And thus king Edward put the Danes to the woorse +in each place commonlie where he came, and hearing that those in +Northumberland ment to breake the peace: he inuaded the countrie, and +so afflicted the same, that the Danes which were inhabitants there, +[Sidenote: _Polydor_. Ericke king of Eastangles.] +gladlie continued in rest and peace. But in this meane time, +Ericke the king of those Danes which held the countrie of Eastangle, +was about to procure new warre, and to allure other of the Danes to +ioine with him against the Englishmen, that with common agréement they +might set vpon the English nation, and vtterlie subdue them. + +[Sidenote: King Edward inuadeth the countrie of the Eastangles.] +King Edward hauing intelligence héereof, purposed to preuent him, +and therevpon entering with an armie into his countrie, cruellie +wasted and spoiled the same. King Ericke hauing alreadie his people +in armor through displeasure conceiued heereof, and desire to be +reuenged, hasted foorth to incounter his enimies: and so they met in +[Sidenote: Ericke put to flight.] +the field, and fiercelie assailed ech other. But as the battell +was rashlie begun on king Ericks side, so was the end verie harmefull +to him: for with small adoo, after great losse on both sides, he was +vanquished and put to flight. + +After his comming home, bicause of his great ouerthrow and fowle +discomfiture, he began to gouerne his people with more rigor & sharper +dealing than before time he had vsed. Whereby he prouoked the malice +of the Eastangles so highlie against him, that they fell vpon him and +murthered him: yet did they not gaine so much hereby as they looked to +haue doone: for shortlie after, they being brought low, and not able +to defend their countrie, were compelled to submit themselues vnto +[Sidenote: The kingdom of the Eastangles subdued by K. Edward.] +king Edward. And so was that kingdome ioined vnto the other dominions +of the same king Edward, who shortlie after annexed the kingdome of +Mercia vnto other of his dominions, immediatlie vpon the death of his +sister Elfleda, whom he permitted to rule that land all hir life. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Elfleda the sister of king Edward highlie commended for government, +what a necessarie staie she was vnto him in hir life time, what townes +she builded and repared, hir warlike exploits against the Danes, +hir death and buriall; the greatest part of Britaine in K. Edwards +dominion, he is a great builder and reparer of townes, his death, the +dreame of his wife Egina, and the issue of the same, what children +king Edward had by his wiues, and how they were emploied, the decay of +the church by the meanes of troubles procured by the Danes, England +first curssed and why; a prouinciall councell summoned for the reliefe +of the churches ruine, Pleimond archbishop of Canturburie sent to +Rome, bishops ordeined in sundrie prouinces; dissention among writers +what pope should denounce the foresaid cursse; a succession of +archbishops in the see of Canturburie, one brother killeth another._ + +THE XVIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +Not without good reason did king Edward permit vnto his sister Elfleda +the gouernment of Mercia, during hir life time: for by hir wise and +politike order vsed in all hir dooings, he was greatlie furthered & +assisted; but speciallie in reparing and building of townes & castels, +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ _Matth. West._ _Simon Dun._] +wherein she shewed hir noble magnificence, in so much that during +hir government, which continued about eight yéeres, it is recorded by +writers, that she did build and repare these towns, whose +[Sidenote: Tamwoorth was by hir repared, anno 914. Eadsburie and +Warwike. 915.] +names here insue: Tamwoorth beside Lichfield, Stafford, Warwike, +Shrewsburie, Watersburie or Weddesburie, Elilsburie or rather +Eadsburie, in the forrest of De la mere besides Chester, Brimsburie +bridge vpon Seuerne, Rouncorne at the mouth of the riuer Mercia with +other. Moreouer, by hir helpe the citie of Chester, which by Danes had +[Sidenote: Chester repared, 905. _Sim. Dun._] +beene greatlie defaced, was newlie repared, fortified with walls +and turrets, and greatlie inlarged. So that the castell which stood +without the walls before that time, was now brought within compasse of +the new wall. + +Moreouer she boldlie assalted hir enimies which went about to trouble +the state of the countrie, as the Welshmen and Danes. She sent an +armie into Wales, and tooke the towne of Brecknocke with the queene +[Sidenote: Quéene of the Welshmen taken. Brecenamere. _Ran. Higd._ +_Hen. Hunt._ 918. Darbie won from the Danes.] +of the Welshmen at Bricenamere. Also she wan from the Danes the towne +of Darbie, and the countrie adioining. In this enterprise she put hir +owne person in great aduenture: for a great multitude of Danes that +were withdrawen into Darbie, valiantlie defended the gates and entries, +in so much that they slue foure of hir chiefe men of warre, which were +named wardens of hir person, euen fast by hir at the verie entrie of +the gates. But this notwithstanding, with valiant fight hir people +entered, and so the towne was woon: she got diuerse other places out +of their hands, & constreined them of Yorkeshire to agree with hir, so +that some of them promised to become hir subiects: some vowed to aid +hir, and some sware to be at hir commandement. + +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt. Anno Christie_ 919.] +Finallie, this martiall ladie and manlie Elfleda, the supporter +of hir countriemen, and terrour of the enimies, departed this life at +Tamwoorth about the 12 of Iune, in the 18 or rather 19 yéere of +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._ _Simon Dun._] +hir brother king Edwards reigne, as by Matth. West it should appeere. +But Simon Dunelm. writeth, that she deceassed in the yeere of Christ +915, which should be about the 14 yéere of king Edwards reigne. +Hir bodie was conueied to Glocester, and there buried within the +monasterie of S. Peter, which hir husband and she in their life time +had builded, and translated thither the bones of saint Oswill from +Bardona. The same monasterie was after destroied by Danes. But +[Sidenote: _Ranul._] +Aldredus the archbishop of Yorke, who was also bishop of Worcester, +repared an other in the same citie, that was after the chiefe abbeie +there. Finallie, in memorie of the said Elfleds magnanimitie and +valorous mind, this epitaph was fixed on hir toome. + + _O Elfleda potens, ô terror virgo virorum, + O Elfleda potens, nomine digna viri. + Te quóque splendidior fecit natura puellam, + Te probitas fecit nomen habere viri. + Te mutare decet sed solum nomina sexus, + Tu regina potens rexque trophea parans. + Iam nec Cæsareos tantum mirere triumphos, + Cæsare splendidior virgo virago, vale._ + + [Sidenote: Translated by _Abraham Fleming_.] + O puissant Elfled, ô thou maid + of men the dread and feare, + O puissant Elfled woorthie maid + the name of man to beare. + A noble nature hath thee made + a maiden mild to bee, + Thy vertue also hath procurde + a manlie name to thee. + It dooth but onelie thee become, + of sex to change the name, + A puissant queene, a king art thou + preparing trophes of fame. + Now maruell not so much at Cæsars + triumphs [trim to vieu;] + O manlike maiden more renowmd + than Cæsar was, adieu. + +[Sidenote: This Alfwen was sister to Edelfled, as _H. Hunt._ saith.] +After the deceasse of Elfleda, king Edward tooke the dominion of +Mercia (as before we haue said) into his owne hands, and so disherited +his néece Alfwen or Elswen, the daughter of Elfleda, taking hir +awaie with him into the countrie of Westsaxons. By this meanes he so +amplified the bounds of his kingdome, that he had the most part of all +[Sidenote: Stratcluid or Stretcled, a kingdome in Wales.] +this Iland of Britaine at his commandement: for the kings of the +Welshmen; namelie the king of Stretcled, and of the Scots, +acknowledging him to be their chiefe souereigne lord, and the Danes +in Northumberland were kept so short, that they durst attempt nothing +[Sidenote: K. Edward a great builder and reparer of townes.] +against him in his latter daies: so that he had time to applie the +building and reparing of cities, townes, and castels, wherein he so +much delighted. He builded a new towne at Notingham on the southside +[Sidenote: Notingham bridge built. _Matt. West._] +of Trent, and made a bridge ouer that riuer betwixt the old towne +[Sidenote: Manchester repared. Anno 816. _Simon Dun._] +and the new. He also repared Manchester beyond the riuer of Mercia +in Lancashire, accounted as then in the south end of Northumberland, +and he built a towne of ancient writers called Thilwall, neere to the +same riuer of Mercia, and placed therein a garrison of souldiers: +[Sidenote: _Henr. Hunt._] +diuerse other townes and castels he built, as two at Buckingham on +either side of the water of Ouse (as before is shewed) and also one at +the mouth of the riuer of Auon. He likewise built or new repared +the townes of Tocetor and Wigmore, with diuerse other, as one at +Glademuth, about the last yéere of his reigne. Some also he destroied +which séemed to serue the enimies turne for harborough, as a castell +at Temnesford, which the Danes builded and fortified. + +At length, after that this noble prince king Edward had reigned +somewhat aboue the tearme of 23 yéeres, he was taken out of this life +at Faringdon: his bodie was conueied from thence vnto Winchester, and +there buried in the new abbeie. He had thrée wiues, or (as some haue +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +written) but two, affirming that Edgiua was not his wife, but his +concubine, of whome he begat his eldest sonne Adelstan, who succéeded +him in the kingdome. This Edgiua (as hath béene reported) dreamed +[Sidenote: A dreame.] +on a time that there rose a moone out of hir bellie, which with the +bright shine thereof gaue light ouer all England: and telling hir +dreame to an ancient gentlewoman, who coniecturing by the dreame that +which followed, tooke care of hir, and caused hir to be brought vp in +good manners and like a gentlewoman, though she were borne but of base +parentage. + +Heerevpon when she came to ripe yéeres, king Edward by chance comming +to the place where she was remaining, vpon the first sight was +streight rauished with hir beautie (which in déed excelled) that she +could not rest till he had his pleasure of hir, and so begot of hir +the foresaid Adelstan: by hir he had also a daughter that was maried +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._ _Polydor_.] +vnto Sithrike a Dane and K. of Northumberland. The Scotish writers +name hir Beatrice, but our writers name hir Editha. His second or +rather his first wife (if he were not maried to Eguina mother to +Adelstan) was called Elfleda or Elfrida, daughter to one earle +Ethelme, by whom he had issue; to wit, two sonnes Ethelward and +[Sidenote: The issue of K. Edward.] +Edwin, which immediatlie departed this life after their father; and +six daughters, Elfleda, Edgiua, Ethelhilda, Ethilda, Edgitha, and +Elfgiua. Elfleda became a nun, and Ethelhilda also liued in perpetuall +virginitie, but yet in a laie habit. + +[Sidenote: Alias Edgiua. _Wil. Malm._] +Edgitha was maried to Charles king of France, surnamed Simplex. +And Ethilda by helpe of hir brother Adelstan was bestowed vpon Hugh +sonne to Robert earle of Paris, for hir singular beautie most highlie +estéemed: sith nature in hir had shewed as it were hir whole cunning, +in perfecting hir with all gifts and properties of a comelie +personage. Edgiua and Elgiua were sent by their brother Adelstan into +Germanie, vnto the emperor Henrie, who bestowed one of them vpon his +sonne Otho, that was after emperor, the first of that name; and the +other vpon a duke inhabiting about the Alpes: by his last wife named +Edgiua, he had also two sonnes, Edmund & Eldred, the which both +reigned after their brother Adestan successiuelie. Also he had by hir +two daughters, Edburge that was made a nun, and Edgiue a ladie of +excellent beautie, whom hir brother Adelstan gaue in mariage vnto +Lewes king of Aquitaine. + +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._ _Wil. Malm._ _Matth. West._] +Whilest this land was in continuall trouble of warres against the +Danes, as before is touched, small regard was had to the state of the +church, in somuch that the whole countrie of the Westsaxons by the +space of seuen yéeres togither (in the daies of this king Edward) +remained without anie bishop, to take order in matters apperteining to +[Sidenote: England first accurssed.] +the church. Wherevpon the pope had accurssed the English people, +bicause they suffred the bishops sees to be vacant so long a time. +[Sidenote: Anno 903.] +King Edward to auoid the cursse, assembled a prouinciall councell, +905, in the which the archbishop of Canturburie Pleimond was +president. Wherein it was ordeined, that whereas the prouince of +Westsaxons in times past had but two bishops, now it should be diuided +into fiue diocesses, euerie of them to haue a peculiar bishop. + +When all things were ordered and concluded in this synod (as was +thought requisite) the archbishop was sent to Rome with rich presents, +to appease the popes displeasure. When the pope had heard what order +the king had taken, he was contented therewith. And so the archbishop +returned into his countrie, and in one day at Canturburie ordeined +[Sidenote: Winchester. Cornewall. Shireborne. Welles. Kirton. Mercia.] +seuen bishops, as fiue to the prouince of Westsaxons, that is to +say, Fridestane to the sée of Winchester, Adelstan to S. German in +Cornwall, Werstan to Shireborne, Adelme to Welles, and Edulfe to +Kirton. Also to the prouince of Sussex he ordeined one Bernegus, and +to Dorchester for the prouince of Mercia one Cenulfus. + +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ saith that pope Formosus pronounced this cursse. +904.] +¶ Heere ye must note, that where William Malme. Polychro. and +other doo affirme, that pope Formosus did accursse king Edward and the +English nation, for suffering the bishops sees to be vacant, it can +not stand with the agreement or the time, vnlesse that the cursse +pronounced by Formosus for this matter long afore was not regarded, +vntill Edward had respect thereto. For the same Formosus began to +gouerne the Romane see about the yéere of our Lord 892, and liued +in the papasie not past six yéeres, so that he was dead before king +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +Edward came to the crowne. But how so euer this matter maie fall +out, this ye haue to consider: although that Pleimond was sent vnto +Rome to aduertise the pope what the king had decréed & doone, in the +ordeining of bishops to their seuerall sées, as before ye haue heard, +yet (as maister Fox hath noted) the gouernance and direction of the +church depended chieflie vpon the kings of this land in those daies, +as it manifestlie appeereth, as well by the decrees of king Alfred, as +of this king Edward, whose authoritie in the election of bishops (as +before ye haue heard) seemed then alone to be sufficient. + +Moreouer, I thinke it good to aduertise you in this place, that this +Pleimond archbishop of Canturburie (of whome ye haue heard before) was +the 19 in number from Augustine the first archbishop there: for after +Brightwold that was the 8 in number, and first of the English nation +that gouerned the sée, succeeded Taduin, that sat three yeeres, +Notelin fiue yéeres, Cuthbert 18 yéeres, Brethwin thrée yéeres, +Lambert 27 yéeres, Adelard 13 yéeres, Wilfred 28 yéeres, Theologildus +or Pleogildus 3 yéeres, Celuotus or Chelutus 10 yéeres. Then succéeded +Aldred, of whome king Edward receiued the crowne, and he was +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._] +predecessor to Pleimond. A litle before the death of king Edward, +Sithrike the king of Northumberland killed his brother Nigellus, and +then king Reinold conquered the citie of Yorke. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Adelstane succeedeth his father Edward in the kingdome, Alfred +practising by treason to keepe him from the gouernement, sanke downe +suddenlie as he was taking his oth for his purgation; the cause why +Alfred opposed himselfe against Adelstane, whose praise is notable, +what he did to satisfie the expectation of his people, ladie Beatrice +king Edwards daughter maried to Sithrike a Danish gouernor of the +Northumbers, by whose meanes Edwin king Edwards brother was drowned, +practises of treason, the ladie Beatrice strangelie put to death by +hir stepsons for being of counsell to poison hir husband Sithrike, hir +death reuenged vpon the tormentors by hir father king Edward, and how +chronographers varie in the report of this historie._ + +THE XIX. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: ADELSTAN. _Matt. West._ _Will. Malmes._ 924.] +Adelstane the eldest sonne of king Edward began his reigne ouer the +more part of all England, the yéere of our Lord 924, which was in the +6 yere of the emperour Henrie the first, in the 31 yéere of the reigne +of Charles surnamed Simplex king of France, thrée moneths after the +burning of Pauie, & about the 22 or 23 yéere of Constantine the third, +king of Scotland. This Adelstane was crowned and consecrated king at +Kingstone vpon Thames, of Aldelme the archbishop of Canturburie, who +succéeded Pleimond. He was the 24 king in number from Cerdicus or +Cerdike the first king of the Westsaxons. There were in the +[Sidenote: Alfred striueth in vaine to kéepe Adelstane from the +gouernment. _Wil. Malm._ +See more hereof in the acts and monuments set foorth by _M. Fox,_ +vol. 1. leafe 195.] +beginning some that set themselues against him, as one Alfred a noble +man, which practised by treason to haue kept him from the gouernement: +but he was apprehended yer he could bring his purpose to passe, and +sent to Rome there to trie himselfe giltie or not giltie. And as he +tooke his oth for his purgation before the altar of saint Peter, he +suddenlie fell downe to the earth, so that his seruants tooke him vp, +and bare him into the English schoole or hospitall, where the third +night after he died. + +Pope Iohn the tenth sent vnto king Adelstane, to know if he would that +his bodie should be laid in Christian buriall or not. The king at the +contemplation of Alfreds friends and kinsfolks, signified to the pope +that he was contented that his bodie should be interred amongst other +christians. His lands being forfeited were giuen by the king vnto God +and saint Peter. The cause that mooued Alfred and other his complices +against the king, was (as some haue alledged) his bastardie. But +whether that allegation were true or but a slander, this is certeine, +that except that steine of his honor, there was nothing in this +Adelstane worthie of blame: so that he darkened all the glorious +fame of his predecessors, both in vertuous conditions and victorious +triumphs. Such difference is there to haue that in thy selfe wherein +to excell, rather than to stand vpon the woorthinesse of thine +ancestors, sith that can not rightlie be called a mans owne. + +After that king Adelstane was established in the estate, he indeuored +himselfe to answer the expectation of his people; which hoped for +great wealth to insue by his noble and prudent gouernance. First +[Sidenote: _Anno 925_. _Simon Dun._ _Polydor_.] +therfore meaning to prouide for the suertie of his countrie, he +concluded a peace with Sithrike king of the Northumbers, vnto whome +(as ye haue heard) he gaue one of his sisters named Editha in mariage. +Sithrike liued not past one yéere after he had so maried hir. And then +Adelstane brought the prouince of the Northumbers vnto his subiection, +expelling one Aldulph out of the same that rebelled against him. +There be that write, that Godfrie and Aulafe the sonnes of Sithrike +succéeding their father in the gouernement of Northumberland, by +practising to mooue warre against king Adelstane, occasioned him to +inuade their countrie, and to chase them out of the same, so that +Aulafe fled into Ireland, & Godfrie into Scotland: but other write, +that Godfrie was the father of Reignold which wan Yorke, after that +[Sidenote: _H. Hunt._] +Sithrike had slaine his brother Nigellus, as before is mentioned. + +[Sidenote: _Hect. Boetius_. The Scotish writers varie from our +English authors. +Beatrice daughter to K. Edward as the Scotish writers say. Edwin was +not brother to K. Edward but son to him.] +¶ The Scotish chronicles varie in report of these matters from the +English writers: whose chronicles affirme, that in the life time of +king Edward, his daughter Beatrice was giuen in mariage to Sithrike, +the gouernor of the Danes in Northumberland, with condition that if +anie male were procreated in that mariage, the same should inherit the +dominions of king Edward after his decease. King Edward had a brother +(as they say) named Edwin, a iolie gentleman, and of great estimation +amongst the Englishmen. He by Sithrikes procurement was sent into +Flanders in a ship that leaked, and so was drowned, to the great +reioising of all the Danes, least if he had suruiued his brother, he +would haue made some businesse for the crowne. + +[Sidenote: Adelstane flieth the realme.] +About the same time Adelstane a base sonne of K. Edward fled the +realme, for doubt to be made away by some like traitorous practise of +the Danes. Shortlie after, king Edward vnderstanding that Sithrike +went about some mischiefe toward him, persuaded his daughter to poison +hir husband the said Sithrike. Then Aulafe or Aualassus, and Godfrie +the sonnes of Sithrike, finding out by diligent examination, that +Beatrice was of counsell in poisoning hir husband, they caused hir to +be apprehended and put to death on this wise. She was set naked +[Sidenote: Beatrice put to death by hir stepsons.] +vpon a smithes cold anuill or stithie, and therewith hard rosted egs +being taken out of the hot imbers were put vnder hir armepits, and hir +armes fast bound to hir bodie with a cord, and so in that state she +remained till hir life passed from hir. King Edward in reuenge of his +daughters death mooued warre against the two brethren, Aulafe and +Godfrie, and in battell finallie vanquished them, but was slaine in +the same battell himselfe. + +Thus haue the Scotish chronicles recorded of these matters, as an +induction to the warres which followed betwixt the Scots and Danes as +confederates against king Adelstane: but the truth thereof we leaue to +the readers owne iudgement. For in our English writers we find no such +matter, but that a daughter of king Edward named Edgitha or Editha, +after hir fathers deceasse was by hir brother king Adelstane, about +the first yéere of his reigne, giuen in mariage (as before ye haue +heard) vnto the foresaid Sithrike king of Northumberland, that was +descended of the Danish bloud, who for the loue of the yoong ladie, +renounced his heathenish religion and became a christian; but shortlie +after, forsaking both his wife and the christian faith, he set vp +againe the worshipping of idols, and within a while after, as an +apostata miserablie ended his life. Whervpon the yoong ladie, hir +[Sidenote: Editha a virgine.] +virginitie being preserued, and hir bodie vndefiled (as they write) +passed the residue of hir daies at Polleswoorth in Warwikeshire, +spending hir time (as the same writers affirme) in fasting, watching, +praieng, and dooing of almesdéedes, and so at length departed out of +this world. Thus our writers differ from the Scotish historie, both in +name and maner of end as concerning the daughter of king Edward that +was coupled in mariage with Sithrike. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Adelstane subdueth Constantine king of Scots, Howell king of Wales, +and Wulferth king of Northwales, the Scots possesse a great part of +the north countries, Adelstane conquereth the Scots for aiding Godfrie +his enimie; a miracle declaring that the Scots ought to obey the king +of England; king Adelstane banisheth his brother Edwin, he is for a +conspiracie drowned in the sea, Adelstane repenteth him of his rigour +(in respect of that misfortune) against his brother; Aulafe sometimes +king of Northumberland inuadeth England, he disguiseth himselfe like +a minstrell and surueieth the English campe unsuspected, he is +discouered after his departure, be assaileth the English campe, +Adelstane being comforted with a miracle discomfiteth his enimies, he +maketh them of Northwales his tributaries, be subdueth the Cornishmen, +his death; the description of his person, his vertues, of what abbeis +& monasteries he was founder, his estimation in forren realmes, +what pretious presents were sent him from other princes, and how he +bestowed them; a remembrance of Guy the erle of Warwike._ + +THE XX. CHAPTER. + + +After that king Adelstane had subdued them of Northumberland, he +was aduertised, that not onelie Constantine king of Scots, but also +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +Huduale or Howell K. of Wales went about a priuie conspiracie +against him. Herevpon with all conuenient spéed assembling his power, +he went against them, and with like good fortune subdued them both, +and also Vimer or Wulferth K. of Northwales, so that they were +constreined to submit themselues vnto him, who shortlie after moued +with pitie in considering their sudden fall, restored them all three +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ The noble saieng of king Adelstane. 926.] +to their former estates, but so as they should acknowledge +themselues to gouerne vnder him, pronouncing withall this notable +saieng, that More honorable it was to make a king, than to be a king. + +Ye must vnderstand, that (as it appeareth in the Scotish chronicles) +the Scotishmen in time of wars that the Danes gaue the English nation, +got a part of Cumberland and other the north countries into their +possession, and so by reason of their néere adioining vnto the +confines of the English kings, there chanced occasions of warre +betwixt them, as well in the daies of king Edward, as of this +Adelstane his sonne, although in déed the Danes held the more part of +the north countries, till that this Adelstane conquered the same +out of their hands, and ioined it vnto other of his dominions, +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +constreining as well the Danes (of whome the more part of the +inhabitants then consisted) as also the Englishmen, to obey him as +their king and gouernour. Godfrie (as is said) being fled to the +Scots, did so much preuaile there by earnest sute made to king +Constantine, that he got a power of men, and entring with the same +into Northumberland, besiged the citie of Duresme, soliciting the +citizens to receiue him, which they would gladlie haue doone, if they +had not perceiued how he was not of power able to resist the puissance +of king Adelstane: and therefore doubting to be punished for their +offenses if they reuolted, they kept the enimies out. King +[Sidenote: 934.] +Adelstane being sore moued against the king of Scots, that thus aided +his enimies, raised an armie, and went northward, purposing to reuenge +that iniurie. + +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._] +At his comming into Yorkshire, he turned out of the way, to visit +the place where saint Iohn of Beuerlie was buried, and there offered +his knife, promising that if he returned with victorie, he would +redéeme the same with a woorthie price: and so proceeded and went +[Sidenote: _Sim. Dun._] +forwards on his iournie, and entring Scotland, wasted the countrie by +land vnto Dunfoader and Wertermore, and his nauie by sea destroied the +coasts alongst the shore, euen to Catnesse, and so he brought the +[Sidenote: The Scots subdued.] +king of Scots and other his enimies to subiection at his pleasure, +constreining the same K. of Scots to deliuer him his son in hostage. + +[Sidenote: A token shewed miraculouslie that the Scots ought to be +subiect to the kings of England.] +It is said, that being in his iournie néere vnto the towne of +Dunbar, he praied vnto God, that at the instance of saint Iohn of +Beuerlie, it would please him to grant, that he might shew some open +token, whereby it should appeare to all them that then liued, and +should hereafter succéed, that the Scots ought to be subiect vnto the +kings of England. Herewith, the king with his sword smote vpon a great +stone standing néere to the castle of Dunbar, and with the stroke, +there appeared a clift in the same stone to the length of an elme, +which remained to be shewed as a witnesse of that thing manie yeares +after. At his comming backe to Beuerlie, he redéemed his knife with a +large price, as before he had promised. + +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ _Matt. Westm._ 934.] +After this was Edwin the kings brother accused of some conspiracie +by him begun against the king, wherevpon he was banished the land, and +sent out in an old rotten vessell without rower or mariner, onelie +accompanied with one esquier, so that being lanched foorth from +the shore, through despaire Edwin leapt into the sea, and drowned +himselfe, but the esquier that was with him recouered his bodie, and +brought it to land at Withsand besides Canturburie. But Iames Maier in +the annales of Flanders saieth, that he was drowned by fortune of the +seas in a small vessell, and being cast vp into a créeke on the coast +of Picardie, was found by Adolfe earle of Bullongne that was his +coosin germane, and honorablie buried by the same Adolfe in the church +of Bertine. In consideration of which déed of pietie and dutie of +mindfull consanguinitie, the king of England both hartilie thanked +[Sidenote: Repentance too late.] +earle Adolfe, and bestowed great gifts vpon the church where +his brother was thus buried. For verelie king Adelstane after his +displeasure was asswaged, and hearing of this miserable end of his +brother, sore repented himselfe of his rigour so extended towards +him, in so much that he could neuer abide the man that had giuen the +information against him, which was his cupbearer, so that on a time as +the said cupbearer serued him at the table, and came towards him with +a cup of wine, one of his féet chanced to slide, but he recouered +himselfe with the helpe of the other foot, saieng, "One brother yet +hath holpen & succored the other:" which words cost him his life. For +the king remembring that by his accusation he had lost his brother +that might haue béene an aid to him, caused this said cupbearer to be +straight put to death. + +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +In this meane while, Aulafe the sonne of Sitherike, late king +of Northumberland (who is also named by writers to be king of the +Irishmen, and of manie Ilands) assembled a great power of Danes, +Irishmen, Scots, and other people of the out Iles, and imbarked them +in 615 ships and craiers, with the which he arriued in the mouth of +[Sidenote: 937.] +Humber, and there comming on land, began to inuade the countrie. +This Aulafe had maried the daughter of Constantine king of Scots, by +whose procurement, notwithstanding his late submission, Aulafe +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] +tooke in hand this iournie. King Adelstane aduertised of his enimies +arriuall, gathered his people, and with all conuenient spéed hasted +towards them, and approching néerer vnto them, pitcht downe his +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ _Wil. Malm._] +field at a place called by some Brimesburie, by others Brimesford, and +also Brunaubright, and by the Scotish writers Browmingfield. + +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ _Hector Boet._ _Ran. Higd._ +Aulafe disguised, cometh to view the English camp.] +When knowledge hereof was had in the enimies campe, Aulafe +enterprised a maruelous exploit, for taking with him an harpe, he came +into the English campe, offring himselfe disguised as a minstrell, to +shew some part of his cunning in musicke vpon his instrument: and so +being suffered to passe from tent to tent, and admitted also to plaie +afore the king, surueied the whole state and order of the armie. This +doone, he returned, meaning by a cammisado to set vpon the kings tent. +But one that had serued as a souldier sometime vnder Aulafe, chanced +by marking his demeanour to know him, and after he was gone, vttered +to the king what he knew. The king séemed to be displeased, in that +he had not told him so much before Aulafs departure: but in excusing +himselfe, the souldier said: "Ye must remember (if it like your grace) +that the same faith which I haue giuen vnto you, I sometime owght vnto +Aulafe, therfore if I should haue betraied him now, you might well +stand in doubt least I should hereafter doo the like to you: but if +you will follow mine aduise, remoue your tent, least happilie he +assaile you vnwares." The king did so, and as it chanced in the +[Sidenote: Aulafe assaileth the English camp.] +night following, Aulafe came to assaile the English campe, and by +fortune comming to the place where the kings tent stood before, he +found a bishop lodged, which with his companie was come the same day +to the armie, and had pitcht vp his tent in that place from whence the +king was remoued: and so was the same bishop, and most part of his men +there slaine, which slaughter executed, Aulafe passed forward, and +came to the kings tent, who in this meane time, by reason of the +alarum raised, was got vp, and taking to him his sword in that sudden +fright, by chance it fell out of the scabbard, so that he could +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._] +not find it, but calling to God and S. Aldelme (as saith Polychron.) +his sword was restored to the scabbard againe. The king comforted +with that miracle, boldlie preased foorth vpon his enimies, and so +valiantlie resisted them, that in the end he put them to flight, and +chased them all that morning and day following, so that he slue of +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ The enimies discomfited.] +them an huge number. Some haue written, that Constantine king of +Scots was slaine at this ouerthrow, and fiue other small kings or +rulers, with 12 dukes, and welnéere all the armie of those strange +nations which Aulafe had gathered togither. But the Scotish chronicles +affirme, that Constantine was not there himselfe, but sent his sonne +Malcolme, which yet escaped sore hurt and wounded from the battell, as +in the same chronicles ye may sée more at large. + +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._] +When K. Adelstane had thus vanquished his enimies in the north +parties of England, he went against them of Northwales, whose rulers +and princes he caused to come before him at Hereford, and there +handled them in such sort, that they couenanted to pay him yeerlie +[Sidenote: Tribute. The Cornish men subdued.] +in lieu of a tribute 20 pounds of gold, 300 pounds of siluer, and 25 +head of neate, with hawks and hownds a certeine number. After this, he +subdued the Cornishmen: and whereas till those daies they inhabited +the citie of Excester, mingled amongest the Englishmen, so that the +one nation was as strong within that citie as the other, he rid them +[Sidenote: Excester repaired. 940.] +quite out of the same, and repared the walles, and fortified them +with ditches and turrets as the maner then was, and so remoued the +Cornish men further into the west parts of the countrie, that he made +Tamer water to be the confines betwéene the Englishmen and them. +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ The decease of king Adelstane.] +Finallie the noble prince king Adelstane departed out of this +world, the 26 day of October, after he had reigned the tearme of 16 +yeares. His bodie was buried at Malmesburie. + +[Sidenote: The description of king Adelstane.] +He was of such a stature, as exceeded not the common sort of men, +stooping somewhat, and yellowe haired, for his valiancie ioined with +courtesie beloued of all men, yet sharpe against rebels, and of +inuincible constancie: his great deuotion toward the church appeared +in the building, adorning & indowing of monasteries and abbeis. He +built one at Wilton within the diocesse of Salisburie, and an other at +Michelnie in Summersetshire. But besides these foundations, there were +few famous monasteries within this land, but that he adorned the same +either with some new péece of building, iewels, bookes, or portion of +[Sidenote: Wolstan archbishop of Yorke. His estimation in forain realmes.] +lands. He had in excéeding fauour Wolstan archbishop of Yorke +that liued in his daies, for whose sake he greatlie inriched that +bishoprike. His fame spread ouer all the parties of Europe, so that +sundrie princes thought themselues happie if they might haue his +friendship, either by affinitie or otherwise: by meanes whereof, he +bestowed his sisters so highlie in mariage as before ye haue heard. He +receiued manie noble and rich presents from diuers princes, as from +Hugh king of France, horsses and sundrie rich iewels, with certeine +relikes: as Constantines sword, in the hilt whereof was set one of +the nailes wherewith Christ was fastened to the crosse, the speare of +Charles the great, which was thought to be the same wherewith the side +of our sauiour was pearced, the banner of saint Maurice, with a part +of the holie crosse, and likewise a part of the thorned crowne: yet +Mandeuile saw the one halfe of this crowne in France, and the other at +Constantinople, almost 400 yeares after this time, as he writeth. Of +these iewels king Adelstane gaue part to the abbie of saint Swithon at +Winchester, and part to the abbie of Malmesburie. Moreouer, the king +of Norwaie sent vnto him a goodlie ship of fine woorkmanship, with +gilt sterne and purple sailes, furnished round about the decke within +with a rowe of gilt pauises. ¶ In the daies of this Adelstane +[Sidenote: _Harding_.] +reigned that right worthie Guy earle of Warwike, who (as some writers +haue recorded) fought with a mightie giant of the Danes in a singular +combat, and vanquished him. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Edmund succeedeth Adelstane in the kingdome, the Danes of +Northumberland rebell against him, a peace concluded betwene Aulafe +their king and king Edmund vpon conditions, Aulafe dieth, another +of that name succeedeth him; king Edmund subdueth the Danes, and +compelleth them to receiue the christian faith, Reinold and Aulafe are +baptised, they violate their fealtie vowed to king Edmund, they are +put to perpetuall exile; why king Edmund wasted all Northumberland, +caused the eies of king Dunmails sonnes to be put out, and assigned +the said countrie to Malcolme king of Scots; the Scotish chroniclers +error in peruerting the time & order of the English kings, king +Edmunds lawes, by what misfortune he came to his end, how his death +was foreshewed to Dunstane in a vision, a tale of the vertue of the +crosse, Dunstane reproueth duke Elstane, his dreame, and how the +interpretation thereof came to passe._ + +THE XXJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: EDMUND.] +After that Adelstane was departed this life, without leauing issue +behind to succéed him in the kingdome, his brother Edmund, sonne of +Edward the elder, borne of his last wife Edgiue, tooke vpon him the +gouernement of this land, and began his reigne in the yeare of our +Lord 940, which was in the fift yeare of the emperor Otho the 1, in +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ 940.] +the 13 of Lewes surnamed Transmarinus king of France, and about +the 38 yeare of Constantine the third king of Scotland. The Danes of +Northumberland rebelled against this Edmund, and ordeined Aulafe to +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] +be their king, whom they had called out of Ireland. Some write that +this Aulafe, which now in the beginning of Edmunds reigne came into +Northumberland, was king of Norwaie, & hauing a great power of men +with him, marched foorth towards the south parts of this land, in +purpose to subdue the whole: but king Edmund raised a mightie armie, +and incountred with his enimies at Leicester. Howbeit, yer the matter +came to the vttermost triall of battell, through the earnest sute of +the archbishop of Canturburie and Yorke Odo and Wolstan, a peace was +concluded; so as Edmund should inioy all that part of the land +[Sidenote: A peace concluded. 941.] +which lieth from Watlingstréet southward, & Aulafe should inioy the +other part as it lieth from the same street northward. Then Aulafe +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ Aulafe deceaseth. Another Aulafe taketh upon +him to rule.] +tooke to wife the ladie Alditha, daughter to earle Ormus, by whose +counsell and assistance he had thus obtained the vpper hand. But this +Aulafe in the yeare following, after he had destroied the church of +saint Balter, and burned Tinningham, departed this life. Then the +other Aulafe that was sonne to king Sithrike, tooke vpon him to +gouerne the Northumbers. + +[Sidenote: 942.] +After this, in the yeare 942, king Edmund assembling an armie, +first subdued those Danes which had got into their possession the +cities and towns of Lincolne, Leicester, Darbie, Stafford, and +Notingham, constreining them to receiue the christian faith, and +reduced all the countries euen vnto Humber vnder his subiection. This +doone, Aulafe and Reinold the sonne of Gurmo, who (as you haue heard) +[Sidenote: Gurmo or Godfrey. _Wil. Malm._] +subdued Yorke, as a meane the sooner to obteine peace, offered +to become christians, & to submit themselues vnto him: wherevpon he +receiued them to his peace. There be that write, that this Aulafe is +not that Aulafe which was sonne to king Sithrike, but rather that the +other was he with whom king Edmund made partition of the realme: but +they agree, that this second Aulafe was a Dane also, & being conuerted +to the faith as well through constraint of the kings puissance, as +through the preaching of the gospell, was baptised, king Edmund being +godfather both vnto him, and vnto the foresaid Reinold, to Aulafe at +the verie fontstone, and to Reinold at his confirmation at the bishops +hands. Neuerthelesse, their wicked natures could not rest in quiet, +[Sidenote: 944.] +so that they brake both promise to God, and to their prince, and +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] +were therefore in the yeare next following driuen both out of +the countrie, and punished by perpetuall exile. And so king Edmund +adioined Northumberland, without admitting anie other immediat +gouernor, vnto his owne estate. + +[Sidenote: Leolin king of Southwales aided king Edmund in this enterprise. +946.] +Moreouer, he wasted and spoiled whole Cumberland, because he +could not reduce the people of that countrie vnto due obeisance, +and conformable subiection. The two sonnes of Dunmaile king of that +prouince he apprehended, and caused their eies to be put out. Herewith +vpon consideration either of such aid as he had receiued of the Scots +at that time, or some other friendlie respect, he assigned the said +countrie of Cumberland vnto Malcolme king of Scots, to hold the +same by fealtie of him and his successors. The Scotish chronicles, +peruerting the time and order of the acts and doings of the English +kings which reigned about this season, affirme, that by couenants of +peace concluded betwixt Malcolme king of Scotland, and Adelstan king +of England, it was agréed, that Cumberland should remaine to the +Scots: as in their chronicles you may find at full expressed. And +againe, that Indulfe, who succéeded Malcolme in the kingdome of +Scotland, aided king Edmund against Aulafe, whom the same chronicles +name Aualassus, but the time which they attribute vnto the reignes of +their kings, will not alow the same to stand. For by account of their +writers, king Malcolme began not his reigne till after the deceasse of +king Adelstan, who departed this life in the yeare 940. And Malcolme +succéeded Constantine the third in the yeare 944, which was about the +third yeare of king Edmunds reigne, and after Malcolme (that reigned +15 yeares) succeeded Indulfe in the yeare 959. The like discordance +precedeth and followeth in their writers, as to the diligent reader, +in conferring their chronicles with ours, manifestlie appeareth. +We therefore (to satisfie the desirous to vnderstand and sée the +diuersitie of writers) haue for the more part in their chronicles left +the same as we found it. + +[Sidenote: _Polydor_. The lawes of king Edmund.] +But now to the other dooings of king Edmund: it is recorded, that +he ordeined diuers good and wholsome lawes, verie profitable and +necessarie for the commonwealth, which lawes with diuers other of like +antiquitie are forgot and blotted out by rust of time, the consumer of +things woorthie of long remembrance (as saith Polydor:) but sithens +his time they haue béene recouered for the more part, & by maister +[Sidenote: Five yeares and 7 months hath _Si. Dun._] +William Lambert turned into Latine, & were imprinted by Iohn Day, +in the yeare 1568, as before I haue said. Finallie, this prince king +Edmund, after he had reigned sixe yeares and a halfe, he came to his +end by great misfortune. For (as some say) it chanced, that espieng +where one of his seruants was in danger to be slaine amongest his +enimies that were about him with drawen swords, as he stepped in to +haue holpen his seruant, he was slaine at a place called Pulcher +church, or (as other haue) Michelsbourgh. + +[Sidenote: Pridecire. saith _Si. Dun._ _Will. Malm._ _Matth. West._ +946.] +Other say, that kéeping a great feast at the aforesaid place on +the day of saint Augustine the English apostle (which is the 26 of +Maie, and as that yeare came about, it fell on the tuesday) as he was +set at the table, he espied where a common robber was placed neere +vnto him, whome sometime he had banished the land, and now being +returned without licence, he presumed to come into the kings presence, +wherewith the king was so moued with high disdaine, that he suddenlie +arose from the table, and flew vpon the théefe, and catching him by +the heare of the head, threw him vnder his féet, wherewith the théefe, +hauing fast hold on the king, brought him downe vpon him also, and +with his knife stroke him into the bellie, in such wise, that the +kings bowels fell out of his chest, and there presentlie died. The +theefe was hewen in péeces by the kings seruants, but yet he slue +and hurt diuers before they could dispatch him. This chance was +lamentable, namelie to the English people, which by the ouertimelie +death of their king, in whome appeared manie euident tokens of great +excellencie, lost the hope which they had conceiued of great wealth to +increase by his prudent and most princelie gouernement. His bodie was +buried at Glastenburie where Dunstane was then abbat. + +There be that write, that the death of king Edmund was signified +[Sidenote: _Capgraue_. A vaine tale.] +aforehand to Dunstane, who about the same time attending vpon +the same king, as he remooued from one place to an other, chanced to +accompanie himselfe with a noble man, one duke Elstane, and as they +rode togither, behold suddenlie Dunstane saw in the waie before him, +where the kings musicians rode, the diuell running and leaping amongst +the same musicians after a reioising maner, whome after he had beheld +a good while, he said to the duke; Is it possible that you may see +that which I sée? The duke answered that he saw nothing otherwise than +[Sidenote: Crossing bringeth sight of the diuels, and crossing driueth +them away.] +he ought to sée. Then said Dunstane, Blesse your eies with the +signe of the crosse, and trie whether you can see that I sée. And +when he had doone as Dunstane appointed him, he saw also the féend +in likenesse of a little short euill fauoured Aethiopian dansing and +leaping, whereby they gathered that some euill hap was towards some of +the companie: but when they had crossed and blessed them, the foule +spirit vanished out of their sight. + +[Sidenote: Dunstane an interpreter of dreames.] +Now after they had talked of this vision, and made an end of their +talke touching the same, the duke required of Dunstane to interpret a +dreame which he had of late in sléepe, and that was this: He thought +that he saw in a vision the king with all his nobles sit in his dining +chamber at meate, and as they were there making merrie togither, the +king chanced to fall into a dead sléepe, and all the noble men, and +those of his councell that were about him were changed into robucks +and goats. Dunstane quicklie declared that this dreame signified +[Sidenote: Dunstan séeth the diuell often, but now he was become a +waiter at the table when Dunstane sat with the king.] +the kings death, and the changing of the nobles into dum and +insensible beasts betokened that the princes & gouernors of the realme +should decline from the waie of truth, and wander as foolish beasts +without a guide to rule them. Also the night after this talke when the +king was set at supper, Dunstane saw the same spirit, or some other, +walke vp and downe amongst them that waited at the table, and within +thrée daies after, the king was slaine, as before ye haue heard. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Edred succedeth his brother Edmund in the realme of England, the +Northumbers rebell against him, they and the Scots sweare to be his +true subiects, they breake their oth and ioine with Aulafe the Dane, +who returneth into Northumberland, and is made king thereof, the +people expell him and erect Hericius in his roome, king Edred taketh +reuenge on the Northumbers for their disloialtie, the rereward of his +armie is assalted by an host of his enimies issuing out of Yorke, the +Northumbers submit themselues, and put awaie Hericius their king, +Wolstane archbishop of Yorke punished for his disloialtie, whereto +Edred applied himselfe after the appeasing of ciuill tumults, his +death and buriall, a speciall signe of Edreds loue to Dunstane abbat +of Glastenburie, his practise of cousenage touching king Edreds +treasure._ + +THE XXIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: EDRED. 946.] +Edred the brother of Edmund, and sonne to Edward the elder and to +Edgiue his last wife, began his reigne ouer the realme of England in +the yéere of our Lord 946, or (as other say) 997, which was in the +twelfe yéere of the emperor Otho the first, and in the 21 yéere of the +reigne of Lewes K. of France, & about the third or fourth yéere of +Malcolme the first of that name, king of Scotland. He was crowned +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._] +and annointed the 16 day of August by Odo the archbishop of +Canturburie at Kingstone vpon Thames. In the first yéere of his +[Sidenote: The Northumbers rebell and are subdued.] +reigne, the Northumbers rebelled against him, wherevpon he raised an +armie, inuaded their countrie, and subdued them by force. This doone, +he went forward into Scotland: but the Scots without shewing anie +resistance submitted themselues vnto him, and so both Scots and +Northumbers receiued an oth to be true vnto him, which they obserued +but a small while, for he was no sooner returned into the south parts, +[Sidenote: Aulafe returned into Northumberland.] +but that Aulafe which had beene chased out of the countrie by king +Edmund, as before ye haue heard, returned into Northumberland with a +great nauie of ships, and was ioifullie receiued of the inhabitants, +and restored againe to the kingdome, which he held by the space +of foure yéeres, and then by the accustomed disloialtie of the +Northumbers he was by them expelled, and then they set vp one +[Sidenote: Hirke or Hericius. _Wil. Malm._ The disloialtie of the +Northumbers punished.] +Hirke or Hericius the sonne of one Harrold to reigne ouer them, who +held not the estate anie long time. For in the third yeere of his +reigne, Edred in the reuenge of such disloiall dealings in the +Northumbers, destroied the countrie with fire & swoord, sleaing the +most part of the inhabitants. He burnt the abbeie of Rippon, which was +kept against him. + +As he was returning homeward, an host of enimies brake out of Yorke, +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._ _Simon Dun._ Easterford.] +and setting vpon the rereward of the kings armie at a place called +Easterford, made great slaughter of the same. Wherefore the king in +his rage ment to haue begun a new spoile and destruction, but the +Northumbers humbled themselues so vnto him, that putting awaie their +forsaid king Hirke or Hericius, and offering great rewards and gifts +to buy their peace, they obteined pardon. But bicause that Wolstane +the archbishop of Yorke was of counsell with his countriemen in +reuolting from king Edred, and aduancing of Hericius, king Edred tooke +him and kept him in prison a long time after, but at length in respect +of the reuerence which he bare to his calling, he set him at libertie, +and pardoned him his offense. Matth. Westm. reciteth an other +[Sidenote: The archbishop of Yorke imprisoned. _Matth. West._ 951.] +cause of Wolstans imprisonment, as thus. In the yéere of Grace, saith +he, 951, king Edred put the archbishop of Yorke in close prison, +bicause of often complaints exhibited against him, as he which had +commanded manie townesmen of Theadford to be put to death, in reuenge +of the abbat Aldelme by them vniustlie slaine and murthered. + +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +After this, when Edred had appeased all ciuill tumults and +dissentions within his land, he applied him selfe to the aduancing of +religion, wholie following the mind of Dunstane, by whose exhortation +he suffered patientlie manie torments of the bodie, and exercised +himselfe in praier and other deuout studies. This Edred in his latter +daies being greatlie addicted to deuotion & religious priests, at the +request of his mother Edgiua, restored the abbeie of Abington which +was built first by king Inas, but in these daies sore decaied and +[Sidenote: Edredus departeth this life.] +fallen into ruine. Finallie, after he had reigned nine yéeres and +a halfe, he departed this life to the great gréeuance of men, and +reioising of angels (as it is written) and was buried at Winchester in +the cathedrall church there. ¶ Heere is to be noted, that the foresaid +Edred, when he came first to the crowne, vpon a singular and most +[Sidenote: Dunstane in fauour.] +especiall fauour which he bare towards Dunstane the abbat of +Glastenburie, committed vnto him the chiefest part of all his +treasure, as charters of lands with other monuments, and such ancient +princelie iewels as belonged to the former kings, with other such as +he got of his owne, willing him to lay the same in safe kéeping within +his monasterie of Glastenburie. + +Afterward, when king Edred perceiued himselfe to be in danger of death +by force of that sickenesse, which in déed made an end of his life, he +sent into all parties to such as had anie of his treasure in kéeping, +to bring the same vnto him with all spéed, that he might dispose +[Sidenote: But was not this a deuise thereby to deteine the treasure? +for I doo not read that he deliuered it out of his hands.] +thereof before his departure out of this life, as he should sée cause. +Dunstane tooke such things as he had vnder his hands, & hasted forward +to deliuer the same vnto the king, and to visit him in that time of +his sickenesse according to his dutie: but as he was vpon the waie, +a voice spake to him from heauen, saieng; Behold king Edred is now +departed in peace. At the hearing of this voice, the horsse whereon +Dunstane rode fell downe and died, being not able to abide the +presence of the angell that thus spake to Dunstane. And when he came +to the court, he vnderstood that the king died the same houre in which +[Sidenote: An angell, or as some think a woorse creature.] +it was told him by the angell, as before ye haue heard. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Edwin succeedeth Edred in the kingdome of England, his beastlie and +incestuous carnalite with a kinswoman of his on the verie day of +his coronation, he is reproued of Dunstane and giueth ouer the +gentlewomans companie, Dunstane is banished for rebuking king Edwin +for his unlawfull lust and lewd life, the diuell reioised at his +exile, what reuenging mischiefs the king did for displeasure sake +against the said Dunstane in exile, the middle part of England +rebelleth against king Edwin, and erecteth his brother Edgar in roiall +roome ouer them, he taketh thought and dieth; Edgar succeedeth him, he +is a fauourer of moonks, his prouision for defense of his realme, his +policie and discretion in gouernment, what kings he bound by oth to be +true vnto him, eight princes row his barge in signe of submission, +the vicious inconueniences that grew among the Englishmen vpon his +fauouring of the Danes, a restraint of excessiue quaffing; Dunstane is +made bishop of Worcester and Ethelwold bishop of Wincester; iustice in +Edgars time seuerelie executed, theft punished with death, a tribute +of woolfs skins paid him out of Wales, and the benefit of that +tribute._ + +THE XXIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: EDWIN. 955.] +After the deceasse of Edred, his nephue Edwin the eldest sonne of +king Edmund was made king of England, and began his reigne ouer the +same in the yeere of our Lord 955, & in the 20 yéere of the emperor +Otho the first, in the 28 and last yéere of the reigne of Lewes king +of France, and about the twelfe yeere of Malcolme the first of that +name, king of Scotland. He was consecrated at Kingston vpon Thames by +Odo the archbishop of Canturburie. On the verie day of his coronation, +as the lords were set in councell about weightie matters touching +[Sidenote: _Will. Malmes._ _Polydor_.] +the gouernment of the realme, he rose from the place, gat him into a +chamber with one of his néere kinswomen, and there had to doo with +hir, without anie respect or regard had to his roiall estate +and princelie dignitie. Dunstane latelie before named abbat of +Glastenburie, did not onlie without feare of displeasure reprooue +the K. for such shamefull abusing of his bodie, but also caused the +archbishop of Canturburie to constreine him to forsake that woman whom +vnlawfullie he kept. + +[Sidenote: _Iohn Capgrave_.] +There be that write, that there were two women, both mother and +daughter, whome king Edward kept as concubines: for the mother being +of noble parentage, sought to satisfie the kings lust, in hope that +either he would take hir or hir daughter vnto wife. And therefore +perceiuing that Dunstane was sore against such wanton pastime as the +[Sidenote: Dunstane banished the realme.] +king vsed in their companie, she so wrought, that Dunstane was +through hir earnest trauell banished the land. This is also reported, +that when he should depart the realme, the diuell was heard in the +west end of the church, taking vp a great laughter after his roring +[Sidenote: Dunstane séeth not the diuell.] +maner, as though he should shew himselfe glad and ioifull at +Dunstanes going into exile. But Dunstane perceiuing his behauiour, +spake to him, and said: Well thou aduersarie, doo not so greatly +reioise at the matter, for thou dooest not now so much reioise at +my departure, but by Gods grace thou shalt be as sorrowfull for my +returne. + +[Sidenote: Dunstane departed into exile.] +Thus was Dunstane banished by king Edwine, so that he was compelled +to passe ouer into Flanders, where he remained for a time within +a monasterie at Gant, finding much friendship at the hands of the +gouernor of that countrie. Also the more to wreake his wrath, the +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ Edwine displaceth monks and putteth secular +preists in their roomes.] +king spoiled manie religious houses of their goods, and droue out +the monks, placing secular priests in their roomes, as namelie at +Malmesburie, where yet the house was not empaired, but rather inriched +in lands and ornaments by the kings liberalitie, and the industrious +meanes of the same priests, which tooke vp the bones of saint Aldelme, +[Sidenote: Rebellion raised against king Edwine. _Simon Dun._] +and put the same into a shrine. At length the inhabitants of the +middle part of England, euen from Humber to Thames rebelled against +him, and elected his brother Edgar, to haue the gouernement ouer them, +wherwith king Edwine tooke such griefe, for that he saw no meane at +hand how to remedie the matter, that shortlie after, when he had +[Sidenote: Edwin departeth this life.] +reigned somewhat more than foure yéeres, he died, and his bodie was +buried at Winchester in the new abbeie. + +[Sidenote: EDGAR. 959.] +Edgar the second sonne of Edmund late king of England, after the +decease of his elder brother the foresaid Edwine, began his reigne +ouer this realme of England in the yeere of our Lord God 959, in the +22 yéere of the emperour Otho the first, in the fourth yéere of the +reigne of Lotharius king of France, 510 almost ended after the comming +of the Saxons, 124 after the arriuall of the Danes, and in the last +yéere of Malcolme king of Scotland. He was crowned & consecrated +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +at Bath, or (as some say) at Kingstone vpon Thames by Odo the +archbishop of Canturburie, being as then not past 16 yéeres of +age, when he was thus admitted king. He was no lesse indued with +commendable gifts of mind, than with strength and force of bodie. +[Sidenote: Edgar a fauorer of moonks.] +He was a great fauorer of moonks, and speciallie had Dunstane in high +estimation. Aboue all things in this world he regarded peace, and +studied dailie how to preserue the same, to the commoditie and +aduancement of his subiects. + +[Sidenote: The diligent prouision of K. Edgar for defense of the realme.] +When he had established things in good quiet, and set an order in +matters as seemed to him best for the peaceable gouernement of his +people, he prepared a great nauie of ships, diuiding them in thrée +parts, he appointed euerie part to a quarter of the realme, to waft +about the coast, that no forren enimie should approch the land, but +that they might be incountered and put backe, before they could take +land. And euerie yéere after Easter, he vsed to giue order, that his +ships should assemble togither in their due places: and then would he +with the east nauie saile to the west parts of his realme, and sending +those ships backe, he would with the west nauie saile into the north +parts; and with the north nauie come backe againe into the east. +This custome he vsed, that he might scowre the seas of all pirats & +theeues. In the winter season and spring time, he would ride through +the prouinces of his realme, searching out how the iudges and great +lords demeaned themselues in the administration of iustice, sharpelie +punishing those that were found guiltie of extortion, or had done +otherwise in anie point than dutie required. In all things he vsed +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +such politike discretion, that neither was he put in danger by +treason of his subiects, nor molested by forren enimies. + +He caused diuerse kings to bind themselues by oth to be true and +[Sidenote: Mascutius.] +faithfull vnto him, as Kinadius or rather Induf king of Scotland, +Malcolme king of Cumberland, Mascutius an archpirat, or (as we may +[Sidenote: Kings of Welshmen.] +call him) a maister rouer, and also all the kings of the Welshmen, as +Duffnall, Girffith, Duvall, Iacob, and Iudithill, all which came to +his court, and by their solemne othes receiued, sware to be at his +commandement. And for the more manifest testimonie therof, he +[Sidenote: King Edgar roweth on the water of Dée.] +hauing them with him at Chester, caused them to enter into a barge +vpon the water of Dée, and placing himselfe in the forepart of the +barge, at the helme, he caused those eight high princes to row +the barge vp and downe the water, shewing thereby his princelie +prerogatiue and roial magnificence, in that he might vse the seruice +of so manie kings that were his subiects. And therevpon he said (as +hath bin reported) that then might his successours account themselues +kings of England, when they inioied such prerogatiue of high and +supreme honor. + +The fame of this noble prince was spred ouer all, as well on this side +the sea as beyond, insomuch that great resort of strangers chanced in +his daies, which came euer into this land to serue him, and to sée the +state of his court, as Saxons and other, yea and also Danes, which +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._ King Edgar fauoureth Danes.] +became verie familiar with him. He fauored in déed the Danes (as hath +béene said) more than stood with the commoditie of his subiects, for +scarse was anie stréet in England, but Danes had their dwelling in the +same among the Englishmen, whereby came great harme: for whereas +[Sidenote: English learned to quaffe of the Danes. _Will Malm._] +the Danes by nature were great drinkers, the Englishmen by continuall +conuersation with them learned the same vice. King Edgar to reforme in +part such excessiue quaffing as then began to grow in vse, caused by +the procurement of Dunstane, nailes to be set in cups of a certeine +measure, marked for the purpose, that none should drinke more than was +assigned by such measured cups. Englishmen also learned of the Saxons, +[Sidenote: Englishmen learne other vices of strangers.] +Flemings, and other strangers, their peculiar kind of vices, as of +the Saxons a disordered fiercenesse of mind, or the Flemings a féeble +tendernesse of bodie: where before they reioised in their owne +simplicitie, and estéemed not the lewd and vnprofitable manners of +strangers. + +Dunstane was made bishop of Worcester, and had also the administration +of the sée of London committed vnto him. He was in such fauor with the +[Sidenote: Ethelwold made bishop of Winchester.] +king, that he ruled most things at his pleasure. Ethelwold, which +being first a moonke of Glastenburie, and after abbat of Abington, was +likewise made bishop of Winchester, and might doo verie much with +[Sidenote: Oswald. Floriacum.] +the king. Also Oswald, which had beene a moonke in the abbeie of +Florie in France, and after was made bishop of Worcester, and from +thence remooued to the sée of Yorke, was highlie in fauor with this +king, so that by these thrée prelates he was most counselled. Iustice +[Sidenote: Moonks must néeds write much in praise of Edgar who had men +of their cote in such estimati[=o].] +in his daies was strictlie obserued, for although he were +courteous and gentle towards his friends, yet was he sharpe and hard +to offenders, so that no person of what estate or degree soeuer he +was escaped worthie punishment, if he did transgresse the lawes and +ordinances of the realme. There was no priuie theefe nor common robber +that durst lay hands vpon other mens goods, but he might looke to make +amends with losse of his life, if he were knowne to be giltie. For how +might men that did offend, thinke to escape his hands, which deuised +waies how to rid the countrie of all wild rauening beasts, that liued +vpon sucking the bloud of others? For as it is said, he appointed +Iudweall or Ludweall king of Wales to present him thrée hundred +[Sidenote: A tribute instituted of woolf-skins.] +woolues yéerelie in name of a tribute, but after thrée yéeres space, +there was not a woolfe to be found, and so that tribute ceased in the +fourth yéere after it began to be paid. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The death of Alfred king Edgars wife (or concubine) causeth him to +fall into a fowle offense, an example teaching men to take heed how +they put others in trust to woo for them; earle Ethelwold cooseneth +the king of his wife, the danger of beholding a womans beautie with +lustfull eies; king Edgar killeth earle Ethelwold to marrie faire +Alfred his wife; the bloudie and unnaturall speach of Ethelwolds base +sonne: examples of king Edgars great incontinencie and lewd life; +Dunstane putteth the king to penance for his vnchastitie, the Welshmen +rebell against him and are corrected, king Edgars vision before his +death, of what religious buildings he was founder, his example a spur +to others to doo the like, moonks esteemed and secular priests little +regarded, king Edgars deformed reformation, his vices, stature, and +bodilie qualities, he offereth to fight hand to hand with Kinadius +king of Scots vpon occasion of words euill taken, Kinadius submitteth +himselfe and is pardoned; his wiues and children, the good state of +the realme in king Edgars time, the amplenesse of his dominions._ + +THE XXIIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: _Osborne_ and _Capgraue_ hold that she was not his wife but +a nun.] +In this meane time, Alfred the wife of king Edgar (as some say) or +rather (as others write) his concubine died, of whome he had begot a +sonne named Edward. The death of this woman caused the king to commit +an heinous offense. For albeit at the same time the fame went, +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ Horger.] +that Horgerius duke of Cornewall, or rather Deuonshire, had a daughter +named Alfred, a damosell of excellent beautie, whome Edgar minding +to haue in mariage, appointed one of his noble men called earle +Ethelwold, to go with all speed into Cornewall or Deuonshire, to sée +if the yoong ladies beautie answered the report that went of hir, and +so to breake the matter to hir father in his behalfe: yet Ethelwold +being a yong iollie gentleman, tooke his iournie into Cornewall, +and comming to the duke, was well receiued, and had a sight of his +daughter, with whose beautie he was streight rauished so far in loue, +[Sidenote: Erle Ethelwold deceiueth the king of his wife.] +that not regarding the kings pleasure, who had sent him thither, +he began to purchase the good will of both father and daughter for +himselfe, and did so much that he obteined the same in déed. Herevpon +returning to the king, he informed him that the damosell was not of +such beautie and comelie personage, as might be thought woorthie to +match in mariage with his maiestie. + +Shortlie after perceiuing the kings mind by his wrongfull misreport to +be turned, and nothing bent that way, he began to sue to him that he +might with his fauour marie the same damosell: which the king granted, +as one that cared not for hir, bicause of the credit which he gaue to +Ethelwolds words. And so by this meanes Ethelwold obteined Alfred in +mariage, which was to his owne destruction, as the case fell out. For +when the fame of hir passing beautie did spread ouer all the realme, +now that she was maried and came more abroad in sight of the people, +the king chanced to heare thereof, and desirous to sée hir, deuised +vnder colour of hunting to come vnto the house of Ethelwold, and so +did: where he had no sooner set his eie vpon hir, but he was so farre +[Sidenote: King Edgar séeketh the destruction of earle Ethelwold.] +wrapped in the chaine of burning concupiscence, that to obteine +his purpose, he shortlie after contriued Ethelwolds death, and maried +his wife. + +Some say, that the woman kindled the brand of purpose: for when it was +knowne, that the king would sée hir, Ethelwold willed hir in no wise +to trim vp hir selfe, but rather to disfigure hir in fowle garments, +and some euil fauored attire, that hir natiue beautie should not +appeare: but she perceiuing how the matter went, of spite set out hir +selfe to the vttermost, so that the king vpon the first sight of hir, +became so farre inamored of hir beautie, that taking hir husband +[Sidenote: King Edgar a murtherer.] +foorth with him on hunting into a forrest or wood then called +Warlewood, & after Horewood, not shewing that he meant him anie hurt, +till at length he had got him within the thicke of the wood, where he +suddenlie stroke him through with his dart. Now as his bastard son +came to the place, the king asked him how he liked the maner of +hunting, wherto he answered; "Verie well if it like your grace, for +that that liketh you, ought not to displease me." With which answer +the king was so pacified, that he indeuored by pretending his fauor +towards the sonne, to extenuat the tyrannicall murther of the father. +Then did the king marie the countesse Alfred, and of hir begat two +sonnes, Edmund which died yoong, and Etheldred or Egelred. + +Besides this cruell act wrought by king Edgar, for the satisfieng of +his fleshlie lust, he also plaied another part greatlie to the staine +of his honor, mooued also by wanton loue, with a yoong damosell named +Wilfrid, for after that she had (to auoid the danger of him) either +professed hir selfe a nun, or else for colour (as the most part of +writers agrée) got hirselfe into a nunrie, and clad hir in a nuns +wéed, he tooke hir foorth of hir cloister, and lay by hir sundrie +times, and begat on hir a daughter named Edith, who comming to +[Sidenote: His licentious life & incontinencie.] +conuenient age, was made a nun. A third example of his incontinencie +is written by authors, and that is this. It chanced on a time that he +lodged one night at Andeuer, and hauing a mind to a lords daughter +there, he commanded that she should bee brought to his bed. But the +mother of the gentlewoman would not that hir daughter should be +defloured: and therefore in the darke of the night brought one of hir +maidseruants, and laid hir in the kings bed, she being both faire, +proper, and pleasant. + +In the morning when the day began to appeare, she made hast to arise: +and being asked of the king why she so hasted; That I may go to my +daies worke if it please your grace (quoth she.) Herewith she being +staied by the king, as it were against hir will, she fell downe on hir +knées, and required of him that she might be made frée, in guerdon of +hir nights worke. For (saith she) it is not for your honor, that the +woman which hath tasted the pleasure of the kings bodie should anie +more suffer seruitude vnder the rule and appointment of a sharpe and +rough mistresse. + +The king then being mooued in his spirits, laughed at the matter, +though not from the heart, as he that tooke great indignation at the +dooings of the dutchesse, and pitied the case of the poore wench. But +yet in fine (turning earnest to a iest) he pardoned all the parties, +and aduanced the wench to high honor, farre aboue those that had rule +of hir afore, so that she ruled them (willed they nilled they:) for he +vsed hir as his paramour, till he maried the foresaid Alfred. + +For these youthfull parts, & namelie for the rauishing of Wilfride +(which though she were no nun, yet the offense seemed heinous, for +[Sidenote: Note the déep hypocrisie of Dunstane.] +that he should not once touch anie woman shadowed vnder that +habit) he greatlie displeased Dunstane, so that by him he was put to +his seuen yéeres penance, and kept from the crowne till the 12 yeere +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._ _Fabian_ out of _Guido de Cobeman_. _Wil. Malm._] +of his reigne or more. For some write that he was not crowned nor +annointed king, till the 30 yéere of his age, which should be about +the 13 or 14 yeere of his reigne by that account, sith he entred into +the rule of the kingdome about the 16 yeere of his age. In déed one +author witnesseth, that he was consecrated at Bath on a Whitsunday, +the 13 yéere of his reigne, and that by Dunstane archbishop of +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ _Ranul. Hig._] +Canturburie, and Oswold archbishop of Yorke. But some which suppose +that he was consecrated king immediatlie vpon the death of Edridus, +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +affirme that he was crowned and annointed king by the archbishop +Odo, Dunstane as then remaining in exile, from whence he was +immediatlie reuoked by Edgar, and first made bishop of Worcester (as +hath beene said) and after the decease of Odo was aduanced to be +archbishop of Canturburie. But by some writers it appeareth, that +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._ _Simon Dun._] +Dunstane was reuoked out of exile immediatlie vpon partition of the +realme betwixt Edwin and Edgar, which chanced in the yéere 957, by the +rebellion of the people of Mercia, & others (as before ye haue heard:) +and that in the yéere following the archbishop Odo died, after whome +succéeded Alfin bishop of Winchester, who also died the same yéere +that king Edward deceassed, as he went to fetch his pall from Rome, +and then Brighthelme bishop of Dorchester was elected archbishop. But +bicause he was not able to discharge so great an office, by K. Edgars +commandement he was forced to giue place to Dunstane. + +[Sidenote: _Fabian_. _Ran. Higd._ The Welshmen rebel and are chastised.] +Toward the latter end of king Edgars daies, the Welshmen mooued +some rebellion against him. Wherevpon he assembled an armie, and +entering the countrie of Glamorgan, did much hurt in the same, +chastising the inhabitants verie sharpelie for their rebellious +attempts. Amongst other spoiles taken in those parties at that time by +the men of war, the bell of saint Ellutus was taken away, and hanged +about a horsses necke, and (as hath béene reported) in the after +noone, it chanced that king Edgar laid him downe to rest, wherevpon in +sleepe there appeared one vnto him, and smote him on the breast with a +speare. By reason of which vision he caused all things that had beene +taken away to be restored againe. But within nine daies after the +[Sidenote: _Will Malmes._ King Edgar departeth this life.] +king died. Whether anie such thing chanced, or that he had anie such +vision it forceth not. But truth it is, that in the 37 yeere of his +age, after he had reigned 16 yéeres and two moneths he departed this +life, the 8 day of Iulie, and was buried at Glastenburie. + +[Sidenote: Wherefore Edgar is praised of some writers.] +This Edgar is highlie renowmed of writers for such princelie +qualities as appeared in him, but chieflie for that he was so +beneficiall to the church, namelie to moonks, the aduancement of whome +he greatlie sought, both in building abbeies new from the ground, in +reparing those that were decaied: also by inriching them with great +reuenues, and in conuerting collegiat churches into monasteries, +remoouing secular priests, and bringing in moonks in their places. +There passed no one yéere of his reigne, wherin he founded not one +abbeie or other. The abbeie of Glastenburie which his father had begun +he finished. The abbeie of Abington also he accomplished and set in +good order. The abbeies of Peterborough & Thornie he established. The +nunrie of Wilton he founded and richlie endowed, where his daughter +Editha was professed, and at length became abbesse there. To be +briefe, he builded (as the chronicles record) to the number of 40 +[Sidenote: _Fabian_. _Ran. Higd._ _Hen. Hunt._] +abbeies and monasteries, in some of which he placed moonks, and in +some nuns. By his example in those daies, other nobles, as also +prelates, & some of the laitie, did begin the foundation of sundrie +abbeies and monasteries: as Adelwold bishop of Winchester builded +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +the abbeie of Elie, and (as some say) Peterborough & Thornie, though +they were established by the king (as before is mentioned.) Also earle +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._] +Ailewin, at the exhortation of the same bishop Adelwold, builded +the abbeie of Ramsey, though some attribute the dooing thereof vnto +Oswald the archbishop of Yorke, and some to king Edward the elder. + +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._ Moonks esteemed & secular priests little +regarded.] +To conclude, the religious orders of moonks and nuns in these +daies florished, and the state of secular priests was smallie +regarded, insomuch that they were constreined to auoid out of diuerse +colleges, and to leaue the same vnto moonks, as at Worcester and +Winchester, wherein the new monasterie, bicause the kings liued not in +such sort as was then thought requisite, the prebends were taken +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._ _lib. 6 cap. 9_] +from them and giuen to vicars. But when the vicars were thought to vse +themselues no better, but rather worse than the other before them, +they were likewise put out, and moonks placed in their roomes +by authoritie of pope John the 13. This reformation, or rather +deformation was vsed by king Edgar in many other places of the realme. + +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ _Ran. Higd._ _Tho. Eliot_.] +He was (as appeareth by diuers writers) namelie in his beginning, +cruell against his owne people, and wanton in lusting after yoong +women (as you haue heard before.) Of stature & proportion of bodie +[Sidenote: Edgar small of stature but strong and hardie.] +he was but small and low, but yet nature had inclosed within so little +a personage such strength, that he durst incounter and combat with him +that was thought most strong, onelie doubting this, least he which +should haue to doo with him should stand in feare of him. And as it +chanced at a great feast (where oftentimes men vse their toongs more +[Sidenote: Kenneth king of Scots.] +liberallie than néedeth) Kenneth the king of Scots cast out +certeine words in this maner: "It may (saith hée) séeme a maruell that +so manie countries and prouinces should be subiect to such a little +sillie bodie as Edgar is." These words being borne awaie by a iester +or minstrell, and afterwards vttered to Edgar with great reproch, +he wiselie dissembled the matter for a time, although he kept the +remembrance thereof inclosed within his breast: and vpon occasion, at +length feigned to go on hunting, taking the king of Scots forth with +him: and hauing caused one of his seruants to conuey two swords into a +place within the forrest by him appointed in secret wise, of purpose +he withdrew from the residue of his companie, and there accompanied +onelie with the Scotish king, came to the place where the swords were +[Sidenote: The noble courage of king Edgar.] +laid; and there taking the one of them, deliuered the other to the +Scotish king, willing him now to assaie his strength, that they might +shew by proofe whether of them ought to be subiect to the other; +"Start not, but trie it with me (saith he:) for it is a shame for a +king to be full of brags at bankets, and not to be readie to fight +when triall should be made abroad." The Scotish king herewith being +astonied and maruellouslie abashed, fell downe at his féet, and with +much humilitie confessed his fault, & desired pardon for the same, +which vpon such his humble submission king Edward easilie granted. + +This noble prince had two wiues, Egelfrida or Elfrida, surnamed the +white, the daughter of a mightie duke named Ordiner, by whome he had +issue a sonne named Edward that succéeded him. His second wife was +called Alfreda the daughter of Orgar duke of Deuon or Cornewall (as +some saie) by whome he had issue Edmund that died before his father, +and Egelred which afterwards was king. Also he had issue a base +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +daughter named Editha, begotten of his concubine Wilfrid (as +before ye haue heard.) The state of the realme in king Edgars daies +was in good point, for both the earth gaue hir increase verie +plentiouslie, the elements shewed themselues verie fauorable, +according to the course of times: peace was mainteined, and no +inuasion by forraine enimies attempted. For Edgar had not onelie +all the whole Ile of Britaine in subiection, but also was ruler & +souereigne lord ouer all the kings of the out Iles that lie within +the seas about all the coasts of the same Britaine euen vnto the +[Sidenote: Ireland subiect to king Edgar.] +realme of Norwaie. He brought also a great part of Ireland vnder his +subiection, with the citie of Dublin, as by authentike recordes it +dooth and may appeare. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Contention amongest the peeres and states about succession to the +crowne, the moonkes remoued and the canons and secular priests +restored by Alfer duke of Mercia and his adherents, a blasing starre +with the euents insuing the same, the rood of Winchester speaketh, a +prettie shift of moonks to defeat the priests of their possessions, +the controuersie betwene the moonks and the priests ended by a +miracle of archbishop Dunstane, great hope that Edward would tread his +fathers steps, the reuerent loue he bare his stepmother queene Alfred +and hir sonne Egelred, hir diuelish purpose to murther Edward hir +step-sonne accomplished, his obscure funerall in respect of pompe, +but famous by meanes of miracles wrought by and about his sepulture, +queene Alfred repenting hir of the said prepensed murther, dooth +penance, and imploieth hir substance in good woorkes as satisfactorie +for hir sinnes, king Edwards bodie remoued, and solemnlie buried by +Alfer duke of Mercia, who was eaten up with lice for being against the +said Edwards aduancement to the crowne, queene Alfreds offense by no +meanes excusable._ + +THE XXV. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: EDWARD.] +After the deceasse of king Edgar, there was some strife and +[Sidenote: Some write that the father king Edgar appointed Edward to +succeed him. _Simon Dun._ _Iohn Capg._] +contention amongst the lords & péeres of the realme about the +succession of the crowne: for Alfred the mother of Egelredus or +Ethelredus, and diuers other of hir opinion, would gladlie haue +aduanced the same Egelredus to the rule: but the archbishop Dunstan +taking in his hands the baner of the crucifix, presented his elder +brother Edward vnto the lords as they were assembled togither, and +there pronounced him king, notwithstanding that both queene Alfred and +hir friends, namelie Alfer the duke of Mercia were sore against him, +especiallie for that he was begot in vnlawfull bed of Elfleda the nun, +for which offense he did seuen yeares penance, and not for lieng with +Wilfrid (as maister Fox thinketh.) But Dunstane iudging (as is to be +[Sidenote: Alfer duke of Mercia and other immediately upon Edgars +death before the crowne was established, renounced the moonks and +restored the canons. _Simon Dun._] +thought) that Edward was more fit for their behoofe to continue +the world in the former course as Edgar had left it, than his brother +Egelred (whose mother and such as tooke part with hir vnder hir sonnes +authoritie were likelie inough to turne all vpside downe) vsed the +matter so, that with helpe of Oswald the archbishop of Yorke, and +other bishops, abbats, and certeine of the nobilitie, as the earle of +Essex and such like, he preuailed in his purpose, so that (as before +is said) the said Edward, being the second of that name which gouerned +this land before the conquest, was admitted king, and began his reigne +ouer England in the yeare of our Lord 975, in the third yeare of +[Sidenote: 975.] +the emperour Otho the second, in the 20 yeare of the reigne of Lothar +king of France, and about the fourth yeare of Cumelerne king of +Scotland. He was consecrated by archb. Dunstane at Kingston vpon +Thames, to the great griefe of his mother in law Alfred and hir +friends. ¶ About the beginning of his reigne a blasing starre was +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +seene, signifieng (as was thought) the miserable haps that +followed. And first there insued barrennesse of ground, and thereby +famine amongest the people, and morraine of cattell. + +[Sidenote: Alfer or Elfer, duke of Mercia.] +Also duke Alfer or Elfer of Mercia, and other noble men destroyed +the abbies which king Edgar and bishop Adelwold had builded within the +limits of Mercia. The priests or canons, which had béene expelled in +Edgars time out of the prebends and benefices, began to complaine of +the wrongs that were doone to them, in that they had beene put out of +possession from their liuings, alleging it to be a great offense +and miserable case, that a stranger should come and remoue an old +inhabitant, for such maner of dooing could not please God, not yet be +allowed of anie good man, which ought of reason to doubt least the +same should hap to him which he might sée to haue béene another mans +vndooing. About this matter was hard hold, for manie of the temporall +lords, and namelie the same Alfer, iudged that the priests had +[Sidenote: _Iohn Capg._ _Wil. Malm._ _Ran. Higd._ _Matt. West._ +_Simon Dun._] +wrong. In so much that they remoued the moonks out of their places, +and brought into the monasteries secular priests with their wiues. But +Edelwin duke of the Eastangles, & Alfred his brother, with Brightnoth +or Brightnode earle of Essex, withstood this dooing, & gathering an +armie, with great valiancie mainteined the moonks in their houses, +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] +within the countrie of Eastangles. Herevpon were councels holden, +as at Winchester, at Kirthling in Eastangle, and at Calne. + +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +At Winchester, when the matter was brought to that passe that the +priests were like to haue had their purpose, an image of the rood that +stood there in the refectorie where they sat in councell, vttered +[Sidenote: A pretie shift of the moonks to disappoint the priests. +_Polydor_.] +certeine woords in this wise; God forbid it should be so, God forbid +it should be so: ye iudged well once, but ye may not change well +againe. As though (saith Polydor Virgil) the moonks had more right, +which had bereft other men of their possessions, than the priests +which required restitution of their owne. But (saith he) bicause the +image of Christ hanging on the crosse was thought to speake these +words, such credit was giuen thereto, as it had béene an oracle, that +the priests had their sute dashed, and all the trouble was ceassed. So +the moonks held those possessions, howsoeuer they came to them, by the +helpe of God, or rather (as saith the same Polydor) by the helpe of +man. For there were euen then diuers that thought this to be rather an +oracle of Phebus than of God, that is to say, not published by Gods +power, but by the fraud and craftie deceit of men. + +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +The matter therefore was not so quieted, but that vpon new trouble +an other councell was had at a manour house belonging to the king, +called Calne, where they that were appointed to haue the hearing of +the matter, sat in an vpper loft. The king by reason of his yoong +yéeres was spared, so that he came not there. Héere as they were +busied in arguing the matter, either part laieng for himselfe what +could be said, Dunstane was sore reuiled, and had sundrie reproches +laid against him: but suddenlie euen in the verie heat of their +communication, the ioists of the loft failed, and downe came all the +companie, so that manie were slaine and hurt, but Dunstane alone +[Sidenote: Dunstane by woorking miracles had his will, when +arguments failed.] +standing vpon one of the ioists that fell not, escaped safe and sound. +And so this miracle with the other made an end of the controuersie +betwéene the priests and moonks, all the English people following the +mind of the archbishop Dunstane, who by meanes thereof had his will. + +In this meane while, king Edward ruling himselfe by good counsell of +such as were thought discréet and sage persons, gaue great hope to the +world that he would walke in his fathers vertuous steps, as alreadie +he well began, and bearing alwaie a reuerence to his mother in law, +[Sidenote: _Polydor_. _Will. Malms._] +and a brotherlie loue to hir sonne Egelred, vsed himselfe as +became him towards them both. Afterward by chance as he was hunting in +a foruest néere the castell of Corfe, where his mother in law and his +brother the said Egelred then soiourned, when all his companie were +spred abroad in following the game, so that he was left alone, he +[Sidenote: The wicked purpose of quéene Alfred.] +tooke the waie streight vnto his mother in lawes house, to visit +hir and his brother. The quéene hearing that he was come, was verie +glad thereof, for that she had occasion offered to woorke that which +she had of long time before imagined, that was, to slea the king hir +sonne in law, that hir owne sonne might inioy the garland. Wherefore +she required him to alight, which he in no wise would yéeld vnto, but +said that he had stolne from his companie, and was onelie come to see +hir and his brother, and to drinke with them, and therefore would +returne to the forrest againe to sée some more sport. + +[Sidenote: The shameful murther of K. Edward.] +The queene perceiuing that he would not alight, caused drinke to +be fetched, and as he had the cup at his mouth, by hir appointment, +one of hir seruants stroke him into the bodie with a knife, wherevpon +féeling himselfe wounded, he set spurres to the horsse thinking to +gallop awaie, and so to get to his companie. But being hurt to the +death, he fell from his horsse, so as one of his féet was fastened in +the stirrup, by reason whereof his horsse drew him foorth through +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ _Fabian_. _Sim. Dun._ _Wil. Malm._] +woods and launds, & the bloud which gushed out of the wound shewed +token of his death to such as followed him, and the waie to the place +where the horsse had left him. That place was called Corphes gate or +Corfes gate. His bodie being found was buried without anie solemne +funeralls at Warham. For they which enuied that he should inioy the +crowne, enuied also the buriall of his bodie within the church: but +the memorie of his fame could not so secretlie be buried with the +bodie, as they imagined. For sundrie miracles shewed at the place +where his bodie was interred, made the same famous (as diuerse haue +[Sidenote: Miracles.] +reported) for there was sight restored to the blind, health to the +sicke, and hearing to the deafe, which are easilier to be told than +beleeued. + +Queene Alfred also would haue ridden to the place where he laie, +mooued with repentance (as hath beene said) but the horsse wherevpon +she rode would not come neere the graue, for anie thing that could be +doone to him. Neither by changing the said horsse could the matter +be holpen: for euen the same thing happened to the other horsses. +Heerevpon the woman perceiued hir great offense towards God for +murthering the innocent, and did so repent hir afterward for the same, +that besides the chastising of hir bodie in fasting, and other +[Sidenote: Building of abbeies in those daies was thought to be a full +satisfaction for all manner of sinnes.] +kind of penance, she imploied all hir substance and patrimonie on the +poore, and in building and reparing of churches and monasteries. She +founded two houses of nuns (as is said) the one at Warwell, the other +at Ambresburie, and finallie professed hirselfe a nun in one of them, +that is to say, at Warwell, which house she builded (as some affirme) +in remembrance of hir first husband that was slaine there by king +Edgar for hir sake (as before is mentioned.) + +The bodie of this Edward the second, and surnamed the martyr, after +that it had remained thrée yéeres at Warham where it was first buried, +was remooued vnto Shaftesburie, and with great reuerence buried +[Sidenote: Elferus.] +there by the forenamed Alfer or Elfer, duke of Mercia, who also did +sore repent himselfe, in that he had beene against the aduancement of +the said king Edward (as ye haue heard.) But yet did not he escape +woorthie punishment: for within one yéere after, he was eaten to +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +death with lice (if the historie be true.) King Edward came to his +[Sidenote: _Will. Malmes._] +death after he had reigned thrée yéeres, or (as other write) thrée +yéeres and eight moneths. ¶ Whatsoeuer hath béene reported by writers +of the murther committed on the person of this king Edward, sure it +is that if he were base begotten (as by writers of no meane credit it +should appéere he was in déed) great occasion vndoubtedlie was giuen +vnto quéene Alfred to seeke reuenge for the wrongfull keeping backe +of hir son Egelred from his rightfull succession to the crowne: but +whether that Edward was legitimate or not, she might yet haue deuised +some other lawfull meane to haue come by hir purpose, and not so to +haue procured the murther of the young prince in such vnlawfull +maner. For hir dooing therein can neither be woorthilie allowed, nor +throughlie excused, although those that occasioned the mischiefe by +aduancing hir stepsonne to an other mans right, deserued most blame in +this matter. + + +_Thus farre the sixt booke comprising the first arriuall of the Danes +in this land, which was in king Britricus his reigne, pag. 652, at +which time the most miserable state of England tooke beginning._ + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORIE OF ENGLAND *** + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will +be renamed. + +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the +United States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online +at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you +are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the +country where you are located before using this eBook. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of +England (6 of 8)</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Raphael Holinshed</div> +<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: August 27, 2005 [eBook #16610]<br /> +[Most recently updated: November 19, 2022]</p> +<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</p> + <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; text-align:left'>Produced by: Jonathan Ingram, Lesley Halamek and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net</p> +<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORIE OF ENGLAND ***</div> + + <a name="page638" id="page638"></a><span class="page">[Page 638]</span> +<br /><br /> + +<h3>THE SIXT BOOKE</h3> + +<h5>OF THE</h5> + +<h2>HISTORIE OF ENGLAND.</h2> + +<br /><br /><br /> + + <hr class="full" /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> +<table width="80%" align="center" border="0" summary="contents"> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%"> <br /></td> + <td class="right" valign="top">Page</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#first6">THE FIRST CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page638">638</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#second6">THE SECOND CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page641">641</a></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#third6">THE THIRD CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page644">644</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#fourth6">THE FOURTH CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page646">646</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#fift6">THE FIFT CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page647">647</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#sixt6">THE SIXT CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page650">650</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#seuenth6">THE SEUENTH CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page652">652</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#eight6">THE EIGHT CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page654">654</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#ninth6">THE NINTH CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page656">656</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#tenth6">THE TENTH CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page659">659</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#eleuenth6">THE ELEUENTH CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page663">663</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#twelft6">THE TWELFT CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page666">666</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xiij6">THE XIIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page668">668</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xiiij6">THE XIIIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page670">670</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xv6">THE XV CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page672">672</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xvj6">THE XVJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page674">674</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xvij6">THE XVIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page678">678</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xviij6">THE XVIIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page681">681</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xix6">THE XIX CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page684">684</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xx6">THE XX CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page686">686</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxj6">THE XXJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page689">689</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxij6">THE XXIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page691">691</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxiij6">THE XXIIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page693">693</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxiiij6">THE XXIIIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page695">695</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxv6">THE XXV CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page699">699</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + + <br /><br /><hr class="full" /><br /><br /><br /> + + + <hr /><br /><br /> + <a name="first6" id="first6"></a> +<p> +<i>Inas king of the Westsaxons, the whole monarchie of the realme falleth into their hands, Inas +for a summe of monie granteth peace to the Kentishmen, whom he was purposed to haue +destroied, he & his coosen Nun fight with Gerent king of the Britains, and Cheolred king +of Mercia, and Ealdbright king of Southsaxons, the end of their kingdoms, Inas giueth +ouer his roialtie, goeth in pilgrimage to Rome, and there dieth; his lawes written in the +Saxon toong; of what buildings he was the founder, queene Ethelburgas deuise to persuade +Inas to forsake the world, he was the first procurer of Peter pence to be paid to Rome; king +Ethelred, king Kenred, and king Offa become moonks; the setting vp of images in this +land authorised by a vision; king Ethelbalds exploits, he is slaine of his owne subiects by +the suggestion of Bernred the vsurper, Boniface his letter of commendation to king Ethelbald, +nuns kept for concubines, their pilgrimage.</i></p> + +<h3>THE FIRST CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">INAS. 689.</span> +After that Ceadwalla, late K. of the Westsaxons was gone to Rome, where he departed +this life (as afore is shewed) his coosen Inas or Ine was made king of the Westsaxons, +begining his reigne in the yéere of our Lord 689, in the third yeere of the emperor Iustinianus +the third, the 11 yéere of the reigne of Theodoricus K. of France, and about the second +<span class="rightnote">The Britains ceasse to reigne in this land</span> +yéere of the reigne of Eugenius king of Scots. Now because the rule of the Britains +commonlie called Welshmen, ceassed in this realme, as by confession of their owne writers it +appéereth, and that in the end the whole monarchie of the same realme came to the hands of the +kings of Westsaxons, we haue thought méet to refer things generall vnto the reignes of the +same kings, as before we did in the Britaine kings, reseruing the particular dooings to the +kings of the other prouinces or kingdoms, as the same haue fallen out, and shall come to +hand.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Fabian. <br />H. Hunt.</i></span> +This Inas, whome some (mistaking N for V) doo wrongfullie name Iue or Iewe, prooued +a right excellent prince, he was descended of the ancient linage of the kings of the Westsaxons, +as sonne to one Kenred, that was sonne to Ceolwald the son of Cutha or Cutwine, that +was sonne to Kenricke the sonne of Certicus, the first king of Westsaxons. But he was +admitted to the kingdome more for the valiant prowes knowne to rest in his woorthie person, +than for the successiue ofspring of which he was descended. The first voiage that he made, +was against the Kentishmen, on whome he purposed to reuenge the death of his coosen +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matt. Westm. <br />Wil. Malm.</i></span> +Mollo, the griefe whereof as yet he kept in fresh memorie. But when the Kentishmen perceiued, +that to resist him by force, they were nothing able, they attempted by monie to +buy their peace, and so obteined their purpose, vpon paiment made to him of thirtie thousand +marks of siluer.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Anno 708 as is noted by <br /><i>Matt. West. <br />H. Hunt.</i></span> +After this, about the 21 yéere of his reigne, king Inas and his coosen Nun fought with<a name="page639" id="page639"></a><span class="page">[Page 639]</span> +Gerent king of the Britains. In the beginning of the battell, one Higelbald a noble man of +the Westsaxons part was slaine, but in the end Gerent with his Britains was chased. In the +<span class="leftnote"><i>Matt. West.</i> saith 718</span> +26 yéere of his reigne; the same Inas fought a mightie battell against Cheolred king of +Mercia, at Wodenessburie, with doubtfull victorie, for it could not well be iudged whether +part susteined greater losse. In the 36 yéere of his reigne, king Inas inuaded the Southsaxons +with a mightie armie, and slue in battell Ealdbright or Aldinius king of the Southsaxons, +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matth. West.</i> saith 722. The end of the kingdome of the Southsaxons.</span> +and ioined that kingdome vnto the kingdome of the Westsaxons: so that from +thencefoorth the kingdome of those Southsaxons ceassed, after they had reigned in that +kingdome by the space of five kings successiuelie, that is to say, Ella, Cissa, Ethelwalke, +Berutius, and this last Aldinius or Ealdbright.</p> +<p> +Finallie, when Inas had reigned 37 yéeres, and 10 or 11 od moneths, he renounced the +<span class="rightnote">Inas went to Rome and there died.</span> +rule of his kingdome, togither with all worldlie pompe, and went vnto Rome as a poore pilgrime, +and there ended his life: but before this, during the time of his reigne, he shewed +himselfe verie deuout and zealous towards the aduancement of the christian religion. He +made and ordeined also good & wholesome lawes for the amendment of maners in the people, +which are yet extant and to be read, written in the Saxon toong, and translated into +the Latine in times past, and now latelie againe by William Lambert gentleman, and printed +by Iohn Day, in the yéere 1568, togither with the lawes and statutes of other kings before +the conquest, as to the learned maie appéere.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Polydor.</i></span> +Moreouer, king Ine builded the monasterie of Glastenburie, where Ioseph of Arimathea +in times past builded an oratorie or chappell (as before is recited) when he with other christians +came into this land in the daies of Aruiragus, & taught the gospell heere to the Britains, +conuerting manie of them to the faith. Moreouer, king Ine or Inas builded the church of +Welles, dedicating it vnto saint Andrew, where afterwards a bishops sée was placed, which +<span class="leftnote"><i>Ethelburga.</i></span> +at length was translated vnto Salisburie. He had to wife one Ethelburga, a woman of noble +linage, who had béene earnest with him a long time to persuade him to forsake the world: +but she could by no meanes bring hir purpose to passe, till vpon a time the king and she +<span class="rightnote"><i>Will. Malmes.</i></span> +had lodged at a manor place in the countrie, where all prouision had béene made for the +receiuing of them and their traine in most sumptuous maner that might be, as well in rich +furniture of houshold, as also in costlie viands, and all other things needfull, or that might +<span class="leftnote">The deuise of quéene Ethelburga to persuade hir husband to forsake the world.</span> +serue for pleasure, and when they were departed, the quéene the foresaid Ethelburga caused +the keeper of that house to remooue all the bedding, hangings, and other such things as +had béen brought thither and ordeined for the beautifull setting foorth of the house, and in +place thereof to bring ordure, straw, & such like filth, as well into the chambers and hall, as +into all the houses of office, and that doone, to laie a sow with pigs in the place where before +the kings bed had stood. Héerevpon when she had knowledge that euerie thing was +ordered according to hir appointment, she persuaded the king to returne thither againe, +feining occasions great and necessarie.</p> +<p> +Now when he was returned to that house, which before séemed to the eie a palace of most +pleasure, and now finding it in such a filthie state as might loath the stomach of anie man +to behold the same, she tooke occasion therevpon to persuade him to the consideration of +the vaine pleasures of this world, which in a moment turne to naught, togither with the corruption +of the flesh, being a filthie lumpe of claie, after it should once be disolued by death: +and in fine, where before she had spent much labour to mooue him to renounce the world, +though all in vaine, yet now the beholding of that change in his pleasant palace, wherein so +late he had taken great delight, wrought such an alteration in his mind, that hir woords +lastlie tooke effect: so that he resigned the kingdome to his coosen Ethelard, and went himselfe +to Rome (as aboue is mentioned) and his wife became a nun in the abbeie of Barking, +where she was made abbesse, and finallie there ended hir life. This Inas was the first that +<span class="rightnote">Peter pence.</span> +caused the monie called Peter pence, to be paid vnto the bishop of Rome, which was for +euerie houshold within his dominion a penie.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">King Ethelred becommeth a moonk.</span> +In this meane time Edilred or Ethelred, hauing gouerned the kingdome of Mercia by the<a name="page640" id="page640"></a><span class="page">[Page 640]</span> +tearme of 29 yéeres, became a moonke in the abbeie of Bardenie, and after was made abbat +of that house. +<span class="leftnote">Ostrida.</span> +He had to wife one Ostrida the sister of Egfride king of Northumberland, +by whome he had a sonne named Ceolred. But he appointed Kenred the sonne of his brother +Vulfher to succéed him in the kingdome. +<span class="rightnote"><br /><i>Beda in Epit</i>. 697.</span> +The said Ostrida was cruellie slaine by the +treason of hir husbands subiects, about the yéere of our Lord 697. +<span class="leftnote">King Kenred.</span> +And as for Kenred, he +was a prince of great vertue, deuout towards God, a furtherer of the commonwealth of his +countrie, and passed his life in great sinceritie of maners. In the fift yéere of his reigne, +he renounced the world, and went to Rome, togither with Offa king of the Eastsaxons, +<span class="rightnote">711.</span> +where he was made a moonke: and finallie died there, in the yéere of our Lord 711. By +<span class="leftnote"><i>Nauclerus</i>. Egwin bishop of Worcester.</span> +the aid and furtherance of this Kenred, a moonke of saint Benets order (called Egwin) +builded the abbeie of Eueshame, who afterwards was made bishop of Worcester.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">A fabulous and trifling deuise.</span> +¶ We find recorded by writers, that this Egwin had warning giuen him by visions (as he +constantlie affirmed before pope Constantine) to set vp an image of our ladie in his church. +Wherevpon the pope approuing the testifications of this bishop by his buls, writ to Brightwald +archbishop of Canturburie, to assemble a synod, and by authoritie thereof to establish +the vse of images, charging the kings of this land to be present at the same synod, vpon +<span class="rightnote"><i>Bale</i>. <br />712.</span> +paine of excommunication. This synod was holden about the yéere of our Lord 712, in +the daies of Inas king of Westsaxons, and of Ceolred king of Mercia successor to the foresaid +Kenred.</p> +<p> +After Kenred succéeded Ceolred, the sonne of his vncle Edilred, & died in the 8 yeere of +<span class="rightnote"><i>H. Hunt</i>.</span> +his reigne, and was buried at Lichfield. Then succéeded Ethelbaldus that was descended +of Eopa the brother of king Penda, as the fourth from him by lineall succession. This man +gouerned a long time without anie notable trouble: some warres he had, and sped diuerslie. +<span class="leftnote"><i>Ran. Cestren</i>.</span> +In the 18 yéere of his reigne, he besieged Sommerton and wan it. He also inuaded Northumberland, +and got there great riches by spoile and pillage, which he brought from thence +without anie battell offered to him.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hen. Hunt</i>.</span> +He ouercame the Welshmen in battell, being then at quiet, and ioined as confederats with +<span class="leftnote">Bereford. 755.</span> +Cuthred K. of Westsaxons. But in the 37 yéere of his reigne, he was ouercome in battell +at Bereford by the same Cuthred, with whome he was fallen at variance, and within foure +yéeres after, that is to say, in the 41 yéere of his reigne he was slaine in battell at Secandon, +<span class="rightnote">Thrée miles from Tamworth. <br /><i>Wil. Malm</i>. 758.</span> +or Sekenton, by his owne subiects, which arreared warres against him, by the procurement +and leading of one Bernred, who after he had slaine his naturall prince, tooke vpon him the +kingdome: but he prospered not long, being slaine by Offa that succéeded him in rule of +the kingdome of Mercia, as after shall be shewed. The bodie of Ethelbald was buried at +Ripton.</p> +<span class="leftnote"><i>Matth. West.</i></span> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The historie of Magd.</span> +Bonifacius the archbishop of Mentiz or Moguntz, hauing assembled a councell with other +bishops and doctors, deuised a letter, and sent it vnto this Ethelbald, commending him for +his good deuotion and charitie in almes-giuing to the reliefe of the poore, and also for his +vpright dealing in administration of iustice, to the punishment of robbers and such like misdooers: +but in that he absteined from mariage, and wallowed in filthie lecherie with diuerse +women, and namelie with nuns, they sore blamed him, and withall declared in what infamie +the whole English nation in those daies remained by common report in other countries for +their licentious liuing in sinfull fornication, and namelie the most part of the noble men of +Mercia by his euill example did forsake their wiues, and defloured other women which they +<span class="rightnote">Nuns kept for concubines.</span> +kept in adulterie, as nuns and others. Moreouer, he shewed how that such euill women, as +well nuns as other, vsed to make awaie in secret wise their children which they bare out of +wedlocke, and so filled the graues with dead bodies, and hell with damned soules. The +same Bonifacius in an other espistle wich he wrote vnto Cutbert the archbishop of Canturburie, +<span class="rightnote">Pilgrimage of nuns.</span> +counselled him not to permit the English nuns to wander abroad so often on pilgrimage, +bicause there were few cities either in France or Lombardie, wherein might not be +found English women, that liued wantonlie in fornication and whordome.</p> + +<hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="page641" id="page641"></a><span class="page">[Page 641]</span> +<p><a name="second6" id="second6"></a> +<i>Offa king of the Eastsaxons with other go to Rome, he is shauen and becommeth a moonke, +succession in the kingdome of the Eastsaxons and Eastangles, Osred king of Northumberland +hath carnall knowledge with nuns, he is slaine in battell, Osrike renouncing his +kingdome becommeth a moonke, bishop Wilfrid twise restored to his see, Westsaxonie +diuided in two diocesses, bishop Aldhelme a founder of religious houses; Ethelard succeedeth +Inas in regiment, two blasing starres seene at once, and what insued, the king +dieth: the successiue reigne of Wichtreds three sonnes ouer Kent, what prouinces were +gouerned by bishops; of what puissance Ethelbald king of Mercia was, Egbert archbishop +of Yorke aduanceth his see; a notable remembrance of that excellent man Beda, +his death.</i></p> + +<h3>THE SECOND CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Kings of the Eastsaxons. <br /><i>Beda lib. 5. cap. 20.</i> <br />Offa king of Eastsaxons.</span> +In this meane time Sighard and Seufred, kings of the Eastsaxons, being departed this +life, one Offa that was sonne to Sigerius succéeded in gouernment of that kingdome, a man +of great towardnesse, and of right comelie countenance: but after he had ruled a certeine +time, being mooued with a religious deuotion, he went to Rome in companie of Kenred +king of Mercia, and of one Egwine bishop of Worcester, and being there shauen into the order +<span class="leftnote">King Selred.</span> +of moonks, so continued till he died. After him one Selred the sonne of Sigbert the good, +ruled the Eastsaxons the tearme of 38 yéeres. After Aldulfe the king of Eastangles departed +<span class="leftnote">688.</span> +this fraile life, which chanced about the yéere of our Lord 688, his brother Elcwold or +Akwold succéeded him, and reigned about twelue yéeres. After whose decease one Beorne +was made king of Eastangles, and reigned about 26 yéeres. In this meane while, that is +<span class="rightnote">705. <br /><i>Wil. Malm.</i> Osred king of Northumberland.</span> +to say, in the yeere of our Lord 705, Alfride king of Northumberland being dead, his sonne +Osred, a child of 8 yéeres of age succeeded him in the kingdome, and reigned 11 yéeres, +spending his time when he came to ripe yeeres in filthie abusing his bodie with nuns, and +other religious women.</p> +<p> +About the seuenth yéere of his reigne, that is to say, in the yéere of our Lord 711, one +<span class="leftnote"><i>Henr. Hunt.</i> Picts ouerthrowne by the Northumbers.</span> +of his capteins named earle Berthfride fought with the Picts, betwixt two places called Heue +and Cere, and obteining the victorie, slue an huge number of the enimies. At length king +Osred by the traitorous means of his coosens that arreared warre against him, was slaine in +<span class="rightnote">King Osred slaine in batell.</span> +battell, and so ended his reigne, leauing to those that procured his death the like fortune in +time to come. For Kenred reigning two yéeres, and Osricke ten yeeres, were famous onelie +in this, that being worthilie punished for shedding the bloud of their naturall prince and +souereigne lord, they finished their liues with dishonourable deaths, as they had well deserued. +<span class="rightnote">729.</span> +Osricke before his death, which chanced in the yéere of our Lord 729, appointed +Ceolwolfe the brother of his predecessor Kenred, to succeed him in the kingdome, which +he did, reigning as king of the Northumbers by the space of 8 yéeres currant, and then renouncing +his kingdom, became a moonke in the Ile of Lindesferne.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda.</i> <br />Acca bishop of Hexham.</span> +In this meane while, bishop Wilfride being dead, one Acca that was his chapline was made +bishop of Hexham. The said Wilfride had béene bishop by the space of 45 yéeres: but +he liued a long time in exile. For first being archbishop of Yorke, and exercising his iurisdiction +ouer all the north parts, he was after banished by king Egbert, and againe restored +to the sée of Hexham in the second yeere of king Alfride, and within fiue yéeres after +eftsoones banished by the same Alfride, and the second time restored by his successor king +Osred, in the fourth yeere of whose reigne, being the yéere after the incarnation of our +Sauiour 709, he departed this life, and was buried at Rippon. Moreouer, after Iohn the +archbishop of Yorke had resigned, one Wilfride surnamed the second was made archbishop +of that sée: which Wilfride was chapline to the said Iohn, and gouerned that sée by the +<span class="rightnote">710.</span> +space of fiftéene yéeres, and then died. About the yéere of our Lord 710, the abbat +Adrian which came into this land with Theodore the archbishop of Canturburie (as before<a name="page642" id="page642"></a><span class="page">[Page 642]</span> +ye haue heard) departed this life, about 39 yéeres after his comming thither.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Two bishops sées <br /><i>Matth. West.</i> <br />Bishop Daniell.</span> +Also Inas the king of Westsaxons, about the 20 yeere of his reigne, diuided the prouince +of the Westsaxons into two bishops sées, whereas before they had but one. Daniell was +ordeined to gouerne the one of those sees, being placed at Winchester, hauing vnder him +<span class="leftnote">Bishop Aldhelme.</span> +Sussex, Southerie and Hamshire. And Aldhelme was appointed to Shireburne, hauing +vnder him, Barkeshire, Wiltshire, Sommersetshire, Dorsetshire, Deuonshire, and Cornwall. +<span class="rightnote"><br />The abbeie of Malmesburie.</span> +This Aldhelme was a learned man, and was first made abbat of Malmesburie, in the yéere of +our Lord 675 by Eleutherius then bishop of the Westsaxons, by whose diligence that +abbeie was greatlie aduanced, being afore that time founded by one Medulfe a Scotish +man, but of so small reuenues afore Aldhelms time, that the moonks were scarse able to +liue thereon. Also the same Aldhelme was a great furtherer vnto king Inas in the building +of Glastenburie.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">ETHELARD. 728. <br /><i>Matth. West.</i> saith 727.</span> +Ethelard, the coosen of king Inas, to whome the same Inas resigned his kingdome, +began to gouerne the Westsaxons in the yéere of our Lord 728, or rather 27, which was +in the 11 yéere of the emperor Leo Isaurus, in the second yeere of Theodorus king of +France, and about the 8 or 9 yéere of Mordacke king of the Scots. In the first yéere of +Ethelards reigne, he was disquieted with ciuill warre, which one Oswald a noble man, descended +of the roiall bloud of the Westsaxon kings, procured against him: but in the end, +when he perceiued that the kings power was too strong for him, he fled out of the countrie, +leauing it thereby in rest.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matth. West. 729. <br />Blasing stars.</i></span> +In the yéere 729, in the moneth of Ianuarie there appeered two comets or blasing +starres, verie terrible to behold, the one rising in the morning before the rising of the sunne, +and the other after the setting thereof: so that the one came before the breake of the day, +and the other before the closing of the night, stretching foorth their fierie brands toward the +north; and they appeered thus euerie morning and euening for the space of a fortnight togither, +menacing as it were some great destruction or common mishap to follow. The +Saracens shortlie after entred France, and were ouerthrowne. Finallie, when king Ethelard +had reigned the terme of fouretéene yeeres currant, he departed this life.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm. </i></span> +Now when Wichtred king of Kent had gouerned the Kentishmen by the space of 33 +yéeres, with great commendation for the good orders which he caused to be obserued amongst +them, as well concerning matters ecclesiasticall as temporal, he departed this life, leauing +behind him thrée sonnes, who successiuelie reigned as heires to him one after another (that +is to say) Edbert 23 yéeres, Ethelbert 11 yeeres currant, and Alrike 34 yeeres, the which +three princes following the steps of their father in the obseruance of politike orders & commendable +lawes, vsed for the more part their fathers good lucke and fortune, except that +<span class="rightnote"> <br /><i>Beda. lib. 5. cap. 24.</i> </span> +in Ethelberts time the citie of Canturburie was burned by casuall fire, and Alrike lost a +battell against them of Mercia, whereby the glorie of their times was somewhat blemished: +for so it came to passe, that whatsoeuer chanced euill, was kept still in memorie, and the +good haps that came forward, were soone forgotten and put out of remembrance.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">731.</span> +In the yéere of our Lord 731, Betrwald archbishop of Canturburie departed this life in +the fift ides of Ianuarie, after he had gouerned that see by the space of 27 yéeres, 6 +moneths, and 14 daies: in whose place the same yéere one Tacwine was ordeined archbishop, +that before was a priest in the monasterie of Bruidon within the prouince of Mercia. He +was consecrated in the citie of Canturburie, by the reuerend fathers Daniell bishop of Winchester, +Ingwald bishop of London, Aldwin bishop of Lichfield, and Aldwulfe bishop of +Rochester, the tenth day of Iune being sundaie.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Bishops what parishes they governed.</span> +¶ As touching the state of the English church for ecclesiasticall gouernours, certeine it +is, that the same was as hereafter followeth. The prouince of Canturburie was gouerned +touching the ecclesiasticall state by archbishop Tacwine, and bishop Aldwulfe. The prouince +of the Eastsaxons by bishop Ingwald. The prouince of Eastangles by bishop Eadbertus<a name="page643" id="page643"></a><span class="page">[Page 643]</span> +and Hadulacus, the one keéeping his sée at Elsham, and the other at Dunwich. The +prouince of the Westsaxons was gouerned by the foresaid Daniell and by Forthere, who +succéeded next after Aldhelme in the sée of Shereburne. This Forthere in the yéere of our +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matth, West.</i></span> +Lord 738, left his bishoprike, and went to Rome in companie of the quéene of the Westsaxons. +Many as well kings as bishops, noble and vnnoble, priests and laiemen, togither +with women, vsed to make such iournies thither in those daies. The prouince of Mercia +was ruled by the foresaid Aldwine bishop of Lichfield, and one bishop Walstod holding his +sée at Herford gouerned those people that inhabited beyond the riuer of Sauerne toward the +west. The prouince of Wiccies, that is, Worcester, one Wilfride gouerned. The Southsaxons +and the Ile of Wight were vnder the bishop of Winchester. In the prouince of the +Northumbers were foure bishops, that is to say, Wilfride archbishop of Yorke, Edilwald +bishop of Lindisferne, Acca bishop of Hexham, and Pecthelmus bishop of Whiterne, otherwise +called Candida Casa, he was the first that gouerned that church after the same was +made a bishops sée. And thus stood the state of the English church for ecclesiasticall gouernors +in that season.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Ethelbald K. of Mercia, of what puissance he was.</span> +And as for temporall gouernement, king Ceolvulfe had the souereigne dominion ouer all +the Northumbers: but all the prouinces on the southside of Humber, with their kings and +rulers, were subiect vnto Edilbald or Ethelbald king of Mercia. The nation of the Picts +were in league with the English men, and gladlie became partakers of the catholike faith +and veritie of the vniuersall church. Those Scots which inhabited Britaine, contenting themselues +with their owne bounds, went not about to practise anie deceitfull traines nor fraudulent +deuises against the Englishmen. The Britains otherwise called Welshmen, though for the +more part of a peculiar hatred they did impugne the English nation, & the obseruance of the +feast of Ester appointed by the whole catholike church, yet (both diuine and humane force +vtterlie resisting them) they were not able in neither behalfe to atteine to their wished intentions, +as they which though they were partlie frée, yet in some point remained still as thrall +and mancipate to the subiection of the Englishmen: who (saith Beda) now in the acceptable +time of peace and quietnesse, manie amongst them of Northumberland, laieng armour and +weapon aside, applied themselues to the reading of holie scriptures, more desirous to be professed +in religious houses, than to exercise feates of warre: but what will come therof (saith +he) the age that followeth shall sée and behold. With these words dooth Beda end his +historie, continued till the yéere of our Lord 731, which was from the comming of the +Englishmen into this land, about 285 yéeres, according to his account.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">732. <br /><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +In the yéere following, that is to say 732, in place of Wilfrid the second, Egbert was ordeined +bishop of Yorke. This Egbert was brother vnto an other Egbert, who as then was +king of Northumberland, by whose helpe he greatlie aduanced the see of Yorke, and recouered +the pall: so that where all the other bishops that held the same sée before him sith +Paulins daies, wanted the pall, and so were counted simplie but particular bishops: now was +he intituled by the name of archbishop. He also got togither a great number of good +<span class="rightnote">733.</span> +books, which he bestowed in a librarie at Yorke. ¶ In the yéere 733, on the 18 kalends +of September, the sunne suffered a great eclipse about three of the clocke in the after noone, +in somuch that the earth seemed to be couered with a blacke and horrible penthouse.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">735 <br /><i>Beda</i> departed this life</span> +In the yéere 735, that reuerend and profound learned man Beda departed this life, being +82 yéeres of age, vpon Ascension day, which was the 7 kalends of Iune, and 26 of Maie, +as Matt. Westm. hath diligentlie obserued. W. Harison addeth hitherto, that it is to be +read in an old epistle of Cutbert moonke of the same house vnto Cuthwine, that the said +Beda lieng in his death-bed, translated the gospell of saint Iohn into English, and commanded +his brethren to be diligent in reading and contemplation of good bookes, and not +to exercise themselues with fables and friuolous matters. Finallie he was buried in the +abbeie of Geruie, distant fiue miles from Wiremouth, an abbeie also in the north parts, not +far from Newcastell (as is before remembred.) He was brought vp in those two abbeies, +and was scholar to John of Beuerley. How throughlie he was séene in all kinds of good<a name="page644" id="page644"></a><span class="page">[Page 644]</span> +literature, the bookes which hée wrote doo manifestlie beare witnesse. His judgement also +was so much estéemed ouer all, that Sergius the bishop of Rome wrote vnto Celfride the +abbat of Wiremouth, requiring him to send Beda vnto the court of Rome for the deciding +of certein questions mooued there, which without his opinion might séeme to rest doubtful. +But whether he went thither or not we can not affirme: but as it is thought by men worthie +of credit, he neuer went out of this land, but continued for the most part of his life in the +abbeies of Geruie and Wiremouth, first vnder Benet the first abbat and founder of the same +abbeies, and after vnder the said Celfride, in whose time he receiued orders of priesthood at +the hands of bishop Iohn, surnamed of Beuerley: so that it may be maruelled that a man, +borne in the vttermost corner of the world, should proue so excellent in all knowledge and +learning, that his fame should so spread ouer the whole earth, and went neuer out of his +<span class="rightnote"><i>Crantzius</i>.</span> +natiue countrie to séeke it. But who that marketh in reading old histories the state of abbeies +and monasteries in those daies, shall well perceiue that they were ordered after the +maner of our schooles or colleges, hauing in them diuerse learned men, that attended onelie +to teach & bring vp youth in knowledge of good learning, or else to go abroad and preach +the word of God in townes and villages adjoining.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">735.</span> +The same yéere died archbishop Tacuine, and in the yéere following, that is to say 735, +Nothelmus was ordeined archbishop of Canturburie in his place, and Egbert the archbishop +of Yorke the same yéere got his pall from Rome, and so was confirmed archbishop, and +ordeined two bishops, Fruidberd, and Fruidwald. But some refer it to the yéere 744.</p> + + + <hr /><br /><br /> + +<p><a name="third6" id="third6"></a> +<i>Cuthred king of the Westsaxons, he is greatlie troubled by Ethelbald king of Mercia, they +are pacified; Kenric king Cuthreds sonne slaine, earle Adelme rebelleth against him +whom the king pardoneth; Cuthred fighteth with Ethelbald at Hereford, he hath the +victorie, he falleth sicke and dieth; Sigebert succedeth him in the kingdome, he is cruell +to his people, he is expelled from his roiall estate, murther reuenged with murther, succession +in the kingdome of Eastangles, kings change their crownes for moonks cowles; +the Britaines subiect to the king of Northumberland and the king of Picts, the moone +eclipsed.</i></p> + +<h3>THE THIRD CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">CUTHRED.</span> +After the decease of Ethelard king of Westsaxons, his coosine Cuthred was made king +and gouernour of those people, reigning the tearme of 16 yéeres. He began his reigne in +<span class="leftnote">740.</span> +the yeere of our Lord 740, in the twentie fourth yere of the emperour Leo Isaurus, in the +14 yéere of the reigne of the second Theodorus Cala K. of France, and about the 6 yéere +of Ethfine king of Scots. This Cuthred had much to doo against Edilbald king of Mercia, +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matt. West. Hen. Hunt.</i></span> +who one while with stirring his owne subiects the Westsaxons to rebellion, an other while +with open warre, and sometime by secret craft and subtill practises sought to disquiet him. +Howbeit, in the fourth yeere of his reigne, a peace was concluded betwixt them, and then +ioining their powers togither, they went against the Welshmen, & gaue them a great ouerthrow, +<span class="leftnote">Kenric the kings sonne slaine.</span> +as before is partlie touched. In the 9 yeere of this Cuthreds reigne, his sonne Kenric +was slaine in a seditious tumult amongst his men of warre, a gentleman yoong in yeeres, but +<span class="rightnote">749.</span> +of a stout courage, and verie forward, wherby (as was thought) he came the sooner to his +wofull end.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">[Sidenote:<br /> <i>Matth. West.</i></span> +<span class="rightnote">751.</span> +In the 11 yeere of his reigne, Cuthred had wars against one of his earls called Adelme, +who raising a commotion against him, aduentured to giue battell though he had the smaller +number of men, and yet was at point to haue gone away with victorie, if by a wound at that +instant receiued, his periurie had not béene punished, and the kings iust cause aduanced to +<span class="rightnote">752 <br /><i>Matt. West.</i></span> +triumph ouer his aduersarie, whom yet by way of reconciliation he pardoned. In the 13<a name="page645" id="page645"></a><span class="page">[Page 645]</span> +yeere of his reigne, king Cuthred being not well able to susteine the proud exactions and +hard dooings of Edilbald king of Mercia, raised his power, and encountered with the same +Edilbald at Hereford, hauing before him the said earle Adelme, in whose valiant prowesse +he put great hope to atteine victorie: neither was he deceiued, for by the stout conduct and +noble courage of the said Adelme, the loftie pride of king Edelbald was abated, so that he +<span class="rightnote">K. Edilbald put to flight.</span> +was there put to flight, and all his armie discomfited, after sore and terrible fight continued +and mainteined euen to the vttermost point. In the 24 yeere of his reigne, this Cuthred +fought eftsoones with the Welshmen, and obteined the vpper hand, without anie great losse +of his people: for the enimies were easilie put to flight and chased, to their owne destruction. +In the yeere after, king Cuthred fell sicke, and in the 16 yéere of his reigne he departed this +life, after so manie great victories got against his enimies.</p> + +<p> +<span class="rightnote">SIGIBERT. <br />755.</span> +After him succéeded one Sigibert, a cruell and vnmercifull prince at home, but yet a +coward abroad. This Sigbert or Sigibert began his reigne in the yeare of our Lord 755, +verie néere ended. He intreated his subjects verie euill, setting law and reason at naught. +He could not abide to heare his faults told him, and therefore he cruellie put to death an +earle named Cumbra, which was of his councell, and faithfullie admonished him to reforme +his euill dooings: wherevpon the rest of his nobles assembled themselues togither with a +great multitude of people, and expelled him out of his estate in the beginning of the second, +or (as some say) the first yeare of his reigne. Then Sigibert, as he was fearefull of nature; +fearing to be apprehended, got him into the wood called as then Andredeswald, and there +hid himselfe, but by chance a swineheard that belonged to the late earle Cumbra at Priuets-floud +found him out, and perceiuing what he was, slue him in reuenge of his maisters death.</p> +<p> +¶ Lo here you may sée how the righteous iustice of God rewardeth wicked dooings in +this world with worthie recompense, as well as in the world to come, appointing euill princes +sometimes to reigne for the punishment of the people, according as they deserue, permitting +some of them to haue gouernement a long time, that both the froward nations may suffer +long for their sins, and that such wicked princes may in an other world tast the more bitter +torments. Againe, other he taketh out of the waie, that the people may be deliuered from +oppression, and also that the naughtie ruler for his misdemeanour may spéedilie receiue due +punishment.</p> + +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Ethelred. 738.</span> +After Beorne king of Eastangles one Ethelred succéeded in gouernment of that kingdome +a man noted to be of good and vertuous qualities, in that he brought vp his sonne +Ethelred (which succéeded him) so in the feare of the Lord, that he prooued a right godlie +prince. This Ethelbert reigned (as writers say) the terme of 52 yeares.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"> Egbert king of Northumberland. 758.</span> +After that Ceolvulfe king of Northumberland was become a moonke in the abbie of Lindesferne, +his vncles sonne Egbert (by order taken by the said Ceolvulfe) succeeded him in +the kingdome, and gouerned the same right woorthilie for the terme of 24 yeares, and then +became a moonke, by the example both of his predecessor the forsaid Ceolvulfe, and also of +<span class="rightnote">Changing of crownes for moonkes cowles. 756.</span> +diuers other kings in those daies, so that he was the eight king who in this land had changed +a kings crowne tor a moonks cowle (as Simon Dunel. writeth.)</p> + +<p>This Egbert (in the 18 yeare of his reigne) and Vngust king of Picts came to the citie of +Alcluid with their armies, and there receiued the Britains into their subiection, the first-day +of August: but the tenth day of the same month, the armie which he led from Ouan vnto +Newbourgh, was for the more part lost and destroied. ¶ The same yeare on the 8 kalends +of December, the moone being as then in hir full, appeared to be of a bloudie colour, but +at length she came to hir accustomed shew, after a maruellous meanes, for a starre which +followed hir, passed by hir, & went before hir, the like distāce as it kept in following hir before +she lost hir vsuall light.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + +<a name="page646" id="page646"></a><span class="page">[Page 646]</span> +<p><a name="fourth6" id="fourth6"></a> +<i>Offa king of Mercia, his manhood and victories against the Kentishmen and Westsaxons, +he killeth Egilbert king of Eastangles by a policie or subtill deuise of profered curtesie, +he inuadeth his kingdome, and possesseth it, the archbishops see of Canturburie remoued +to Lichfield; archbishop Lambert laboring to defend his prerogatiue is depriued by king +Offa, he seizeth vpon churches and religious houses; mistrusting his estate, he alieth +himselfe with other princes; he maketh amends for the wrongs that he had doone to +churches and religious houses, he goeth to Rome, maketh his realme tributarie to the +said see, Peter pence paid, he falleth sicke and dieth, places to this day bearing his name +in memorie of him, the short reigne of his sonne.</i></p> + +<h3>THE FOURTH CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">OFFA. <br />758.</span> +After that Offa had slaine Bernred the vsurper of the kingdome of Mercia (as before is +mentioned) the same Offa tooke vppon him the gouernment of that kingdome 758, a man of +<span class="leftnote"><i>Matth. West. <br />Wil. Malm.</i></span> +such stoutnesse of stomach, that he thought he should be able to bring to passe all things +whatsoeuer he conceiued in his mind. He reigned 39 yeares. His dooings were great and +maruellous, and such as some times his vertues surpassed his vices, and sometime againe his +<span class="rightnote">The victories of king Offa. <br /><i>Matth. West.</i> <br />779.</span> +vices seemed to ouermatch his vertues. He ouercame the Kentishmen in a great battell at +Otteford, and the Northumbers also were by him vanquished, and in battell put to flight. +With Kenvulfe king of Westsaxons he fought in open battell, and obteined a noble victorie, +with small losse of his people, although the same Kenwulfe was a right valiant prince, and a +good capteine.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Falsehood in fellowship.</span> +Againe, perceiuing that to procéed with craft, should sooner aduance his purpose, than +to vse open force against Egilbert king of Eastangles, vnder faire promises to giue vnto him +his daughter in mariage, he allured him to come into Mercia, and receiuing him into his +palace, caused his head to be striken off, and after by wrongfull meanes inuaded his kingdome, +and got it into his possession: yet he caused the bones of the first martyr of this land +saint Albane (by a miraculous meanes brought to light) to be taken vp, and put in a rich +shrine adorned with gold and stone, building a goodlie church of excellent woorkmanship, +and founding a monasterie in that place in honor of the same saint, which he indowed with +<span class="rightnote">The archbishops sée remoued from Canturburie to Lichfield. 785.</span> +great possessions. He remoued the archbishops see from Canturburie vnto Lichfield, thereby +to aduance his kingdome of Mercia, as well in dignitie & preheminence of spirituall power +as temporall. He made great suit to bring his purpose to passe in the court of Rome, and +<span class="leftnote"><i>Matt. West.</i></span> +at length by great gifts and rewards obteined it at the hands of pope Adrian the first, then +gouerning the Romane sée. And so Eadulfus then bishop of Lichfield was adorned with +the pall, and taken for archbishop, hauing all those bishops within the limits of king Offa +his dominion suffragans vnto him; namelie, Denebertus bishop of Worcester, Werebertus +bishop of Chester, Eadulfus bishop of Dorcester, Wilnardus bishop of Hereford, Halard +bishop of Elsham, and Cedferth bishop of Donwich. There remained onelie to the archbishop +of Canturburie, the bishops of London, Winchester, Rochester, and Shireburne.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The archbishop Lambert defended his cause.</span> +This separation continued all the life time of the archbishop Lambert, although he trauelled +earnestlie to mainteine his prerogatiue. Now, for that he still defended his cause, and +would not reuolt from his will, Offa depriued him of all his possessions & reuenues that he +held or inioied within anie part of his dominions. Neither was Offa satisfied herewith, +but he also tooke into his hands the possessions of manie other churches, and fléeced the +<span class="leftnote">Offa alieth himselfe with other princes.</span> +house of Malmesburie of a part of hir reuenues. Because of these & other his hard dooings, +doubting the malice of his enimies, he procured the friendship of forren princes. Vnto +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matt. Westm.</i></span> +Brightricke king of the Westsaxons he gaue his daughter Ethelburga in mariage. And +sending diuers ambassadours ouer vnto Charles the great, that was both emperor & king of +France, he purchased his friendship at length, although before there had depended a péece +<span class="rightnote">The intercourse of merchants staied.</span> +of displeasure betwixt them, insomuch that the intercourse for trade of merchandize was<a name="page647" id="page647"></a><span class="page">[Page 647]</span> +staied for a time. One of the ambassadours that was sent vnto the said Charles (as is reported) +<span class="leftnote">Alcwine an Englishman.</span> +was that famous clearke Albine or Alcwine, by whose persuasion the same Charles +erected two vniuersities, as in place due and conuenient may more largelie appeare.</p> +<p> +Finallie king Offa (as it were for a meane to appease Gods wrath, which he doubted to +be iustlie conceiued towards him for his sinnes and wickednesse) granted the tenth part of all +<span class="rightnote"><i>Polydor.</i></span> +his goods vnto churchmen, and to poore people. He also indowed the church of Hereford +with great reuenues, and (as some write) he builded the abbeie of Bath, placing moonkes in +the same, of the order of saint Benet, as before he had doone at saint Albons. Moreouer +<span class="leftnote"> <br />775.</span> +he went vnto Rome, about the yeare of our Lord 775, and there following the example of +Inas king of the Westsaxons, made his realme subiect by way of tribute vnto the church of +<span class="rightnote">Peter pence, or Rome Scot. <br /><i>Will. Malmes.</i> 797.</span> +Rome, appointing that euerie house within the limits of his dominions, should yearelie pay +vnto the apostolike see one pennie, which paiment was after named, Rome Scot, and Peter +pence. After his returne from Rome, perceiuing himselfe to draw into yeares, he caused his +<span class="leftnote">Offa departed this life.</span> +sonne Egfrid to be ordeined king in his life time: and shortlie after departing out of this +world, left the kingdome vnto him, after he had gouerned it by the space of 39 yeares.</p> +<p> +Amongst other the dooings of this Offa, which suerlie were great and maruellous, this +may not passe with silence, that he caused a mightie great ditch to be cast betwixt the marshes +of his countrie, and the Welsh confines, to diuide thereby the bounds of their dominions. +<span class="rightnote">Offditch.</span> +This ditch was called Offditch euer after, and stretched from the south side by Bristow, +vnder the mountaines of Wales, running northward ouer the riuers of Seuerne and Dée, +vnto the verie mouth of Dee, where that riuer falleth into the sea. He likewise builded a +church in Warwikeshire, whereof the towne there taketh name, and is called Offchurch +<span class="rightnote">Egfrid king of Mercia.</span> +euen to this day. Egfrid taking vpon him the rule, began to follow the approoued good +dooings of his father, and first restored vnto the churches their ancient priuileges, which +his father sometimes had taken from them. Great hope was conceiued of his further good +procéeding, but death cut off the same, taking him out of this life, after he had reigned the +space of foure moneths, not for his owne offenses (as was thought) but rather for that his +father had caused so much bloud to be spilt for the confirming of him in the kingdome, +which so small a time he now inioied.</p> + +<hr /><br /><br /> + +<p><a name="fift6" id="fift6"></a> +<i>Osulph king of Northumberland traitorouslie murthered, Edilwald succeedeth him, the reward +of rebellion, a great mortalitie of foules fishes and fruits, moonkes licenced to +drinke wine, great wast by fire, Edelred king of Northumberland is driuen out of his +countrie by two dukes of the same, Ethelbert king of the Eastangles commended for his +vertues, Alfred the daughter of king Mercia is affianced to him, tokens of missehaps +towards him, his destruction intended by queene Quendred, hir platforme of the practise +to kill him, Offa inuadeth Ethelberts kingdome, Alfred his betrothed wife taketh his death +greuouslie, and becommeth a nun, the decaie of the kingdome of Eastangles, succession +in the regiment of the Westsaxons, the end of the gouernement of the Eastsaxons, prince +Algar is smitten blind for seeking to rauish virgine Friswide, and at hir praiers restored +to his sight.</i></p> + +<h3>THE FIFT CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">EADBERT <br />king of Northumberland. 758.</span> +When Eadbert or Egbert K. of Northumberland was become a moonke, his sonne +Osulphus succéeded him: but after he had reigned onelie one yeare, he was traitorouslie +<span class="rightnote"><i>Simon Dun.</i> <br /><i>Hen. Hunt.</i> Edilwold king of Northumberland. <i>Simon Dun.</i> <br /><i>Henr. Hunt.</i></span> +murthered by his owne seruants at Mikilwongton, on the 9 kalends of August. Then succéeded +one Moll, otherwise called Edilwold or Edilwald, but not immediatlie, for he began +not his reigne till the nones of August in the yeare following, which was after the birth +of our sauiour 759.</p> +<p> +This man prooued right valiant in gouernement of his subiects. He slue in battell an<a name="page648" id="page648"></a><span class="page">[Page 648]</span> +earle of his countrie named Oswin, who arrearing warre against him, fought with him in a +pitcht field at Eadwines Cliue, and receiued the worthie reward of rebellion.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Simon Dun.<br /></i> 764.</span> +This chanced in the third yeare of his reigne, and shortlie after, that is to say, in the +yeare of our Lord 764, there fell such a maruellous great snow, and therwith so extreame a +frost, as the like had not béene heard of, continuing from the beginning of the winter, almost +till the middest of the spring, with the rigour whereof, trees and fruits withered awaie, and +lost their liuelie shape and growth: and not onelie feathered foules, but also beasts on the +land, & fishes in the sea died in great numbers. The same yeare died Ceolwulf then king of +Northumberland, vnto whome Beda did dedicate his booke of histories of the English nation. +<span class="rightnote">Moonks licenced to drinke wine.</span> +After that he was become a moonke in the monasterie of Lindesferne, the moonks of +that house had licence to drinke wine, or ale, whereas before they might not drinke anie +other thing than milke, or water, by the ancient rule prescribed them of the bishop Aidan +first founder of the place. The same yeare sundrie cities, townes, and monasteries were +defaced and sore wasted with fier chancing on the sudden, as Stretehu, Giwento, Anwicke, +London, Yorke, Doncaster, &c.</p> +<p> +After that Moll had reigned 6 yeares, he resigned his kingdome. But other write that he +<span class="leftnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i> <br />Altred began his reigne in the yeare 765 <br />as <i>Sim. Dun.</i> saith.</span> +reigned 11 yeares, and was in the end slaine by treason of his successor Altred. This Altred +reigned ten years ouer the Northumbers, and was then expelled out of his kingdome by his +<span class="rightnote"><i>Henr. Hunt.</i> <br /><i>Matth. West.</i> Ethelbert.</span> +owne subiects. Then was Ethelbert, named also Edelred, the sonne of the foresaid Moll, +made king of Northumberland, and in the fift yeare of his reigne, he was driuen out of his +kingdome by two dukes of his countrie named Edelbald and Herebert, who mouing warre +against him, had slaine first Aldulfe the sonne of Bosa the generall of his armie at Kingescliffe; +and after Kinewulfe and Egga, other two of his dukes, at Helatherne in a sore +foughten field: so that Ethelbert despairing of all recouerie, was constrained to get him out +of the countrie. And thus was the kingdome of Northumberland brought into a miserable +state, by the ambitious working of the princes and nobles of the same.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Henr. Hunt.</i> <br /><i>Iohn Capgraue</i>. <br /><i>Matth. West.</i> <br />and others. +Ethelbert king of Eastangles.</span> +After that Ethelbert king of Eastangles was dead, his sonne Ethelbert succéeded him, a +prince of great towardnesse, and so vertuouslie brought vp by his fathers circumspect care +and diligence, that he vtterlie abhorred vice, and delighted onelie in vertue and commendable +exercises, for the better atteining to knowledge and vnderstanding of good sciences. There +remaine manie sundrie saiengs & dooings of him, manifestlie bearing witnesse that there +<span class="leftnote">The saieng of king Ethelbert.</span> +could not be a man more honorable, thankefull, courteous or gentle. Amongest other he +had this saieng oftentimes in his mouth, that the greater that men were, the more humble +they ought to beare themselues: for the Lord putteth proud and mightie men from their +seates, and exalteth the humble and méeke.</p> +<p> +Moreouer he did not onelie shew himselfe wise in words, but desired also to excell in staiednesse +of maners, and continencie of life. Whereby he wan to him the hearts of his people, +who perceiuing that he was nothing delighted in the companie of women, and therefore +minded not mariage, they of a singular loue and fauour towards him, required that he should +in anie wise yet take a wife, that he might haue issue to succéed him. At length the matter +being referred to his councell, he was persuaded to follow their aduises. And so Alfreda +the daughter of Offa king of Mercia was affianced to him: so that he himselfe appointed +(as meanes to procure more fauour at his father in lawes hands) to go fetch the bride from +hir fathers house.</p> +<p> +Manie strange things that happened to him in taking vpon him this iournie, put him in +<span class="rightnote">Tokens of mishap to follow.</span> +great doubt of that which should follow. He was no sooner mounted on his horsse, but that +(as séemed to him) the earth shooke vnder him: againe, as he was in his iournie, about the +mid-time of the day, such a darke mist compassed him on ech side, that he could not sée +nor discerne for a certeine time anie thing about him at all: lastlie, as he laie one night +asléepe, he thought he saw in a dreame the roofe of his owne palace fall downe to the ground. +But though with these things he was brought into great feare, yet he kept on his iournie, as +<span class="rightnote">The innocent mistrustfull of no euill.</span> +he that mistrusted no deceit, measuring other mens maners by his owne. King Offa right<a name="page649" id="page649"></a><span class="page">[Page 649]</span> +honourablie receiued him: but his wife named Quendred, a wise woman, but therewith wicked, +conceiued a malicious deuise in hir hart, & streightwaies went about to persuade hir husband +to put it in execution, which was to murther king Ethelbert, and after to take into his hands +his kingdome.</p> +<p> +Offa at the first was offended with his wife for this motion, but in the end, through the +<span class="rightnote"><i>Iohn Capgr.</i> Winnebert.</span> +importunate request of the woman, he consented to hir mind. The order of the murther +was committed vnto one Winnebert, that had serued both the said Ethelbert & his father +<span class="leftnote"><i>Sim. Dun.</i> saith 771.</span> +before time, the which feining as though he had béene sent from Offa to will Ethelbert to +<span class="rightnote">Offa conquereth Eastangles.</span> +come vnto him in the night season, slue him that once mistrusted not anie such treason. Offa +hauing thus dispatched Ethelbert, inuaded his kingdome, and conquered it.</p> +<p> +But when the bride Alfreda vnderstood the death of hir liked make and bridegrome, abhorring +the fact, she curssed father and mother, and as it were inspired with the spirit of +prophesie, pronounced that woorthie punishment would shortlie fall on hir wicked mother for +hir heinous crime committed in persuading so detestable a déed: and according to hir woords +<span class="rightnote">Alfreda a nun. <br /><i>Beda.</i> <br /><i>Matth. West.</i></span> +it came to passe, for hir mother died miserablie within three moneths after. The maid +Alfreda refusing the world, professed hirselfe a nun at Crowland, the which place began to +wax famous about the yéere of our Lord 695, by the meanes of one Gutlake, a man esteemed +of great vertue and holinesse, which chose to himselfe an habitation there, and departing this +life about the yéere of our Lord 714, was buried in that place, where afterwards an abbeie +of moonks was builded of saint Benets order. The bodie of K. Ethelbert at length was +buried at Hereford, though first it was committed to buriall in a vile place, néere to the +banke of a riuer called Lug.</p> +<p> +The kingdome of Eastangles from thencefoorth was brought so into decaie, that it remained +subiect one while vnto them of Mercia, an other while vnto the Westsaxons, and +somewhile vnto them of Kent, till that Edmund surnamed the martyr got the gouernment +thereof (as after shall appéere.) After that Selred king of the Eastsaxons had gouerned the +<span class="rightnote"><i>H. Hunt.</i></span> +tearme of 38 yéeres, he was slaine, but in what maner, writers haue not expressed. After +him succéeded one Swithed or Swithred, the 11 and last in number that particularlie +gouerned those people. He was finallie expelled by Egbert K. of Westsaxons, the same +yéere that the said Egbert ouercame the Kentishmen (as after shall be shewed) and so the +kings of that kingdome of the Eastsaxons ceassed and tooke end.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Friswide a virgine.</span> +¶ About this time, there was a maid in Oxford named Friswide, daughter to a certeine +duke or noble man called Didanus, with whome one Algar a prince in those parties fell in +loue, and would haue rauished hir, but God the reuenger of sinnes was at hand (as the +storie saith.) For when Algar followed the maid that fled before him, she getting into the +towne, the gate was shut against him, and his sight also was suddenlie taken from him. +But the maid by hir praiers pacified Gods wrath towards him, so that his sight was againe +restored to him. But whether this be a fable or a true tale, héereof grew the report, that +the kings of this realme long times after were afraid to enter into the citie of Oxford. So +easilie is the mind of man turned to superstition (as saith Polydor.)</p> + +<hr /><br /><br /> + + +<a name="page650" id="page650"></a><span class="page">[Page 650]</span> +<p><a name="sixt6" id="sixt6"></a> +<i>Kinewulfe king of Westsaxons, his conquest ouer the Britains, his securitie and negligence, +he is slaine by conspirators, inquisition for Kineard the principall procurer of that +mischiefe, he is slaine in fight; legats from the pope to the kings and archbishops of +this land about reformation in the church, a councell holden at Mercia; iudge Bearne +burnt to death for crueltie, Alfwold reigneth ouer Northumberland, his owne subiects +murther him; a booke of articles sent by Charles king of France into Britaine quite +contrarie to the christian faith, Albinus writeth against it; great waste by tempests of +wind and rage of fire.</i></p> + +<h3>THE SIXT CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">KINEWULF. <br /><i>Hen. Hunt.</i> <br />756.</span> +After that the Westsaxons had depriued their vnprofitable king Sigibert, they aduanced +Kinewulfe, or Cinevulfus, the which began his reigne about the yéere of our Lord 756, which +was in the 16 yéere of the emperor Constantinus, surnamed Copronimos, in the 6 yéere of +<span class="leftnote"><i>Simon Dun. saith 755.</i></span> +the reigne of Pipin king of France, and about the 22 yéere of Ethfine king of Scots. This +Kinewulfe prooued a right woorthie and valiant prince, and was descended of the right line +<span class="rightnote">The Britains vanquished.</span> +of Cerdicus. He obteined great victories against the Britains or Welshmen, but at Bensington +or Benton he lost a battell against Offa king of Mercia, in the 24 yéere of his reigne: +and from that time forward tasting manie displeasures, at length through his owne follie +came vnto a shamefull end. For whereas he had reigned a long time neither slouthfullie +nor presumptuouslie, yet now as it were aduanced with the glorie of things passed, he either +thought that nothing could go against him, or else doubted the suertie of their state +whom he should leaue behind him, and therefore he confined one Kineard the brother of +Sigibert, whose fame he perceiued to increase more than he would haue wished.</p> +<p> +This Kineard dissembling the matter, as he that could giue place to time, got him out of +the countrie, and after by a secret conspiracie assembled togither a knot of vngratious companie, +and returning priuilie into the countrie againe, watched his time, till he espied that +the king with a small number of his seruants was come vnto the house of a noble woman, +whome he kept a paramour at Merton, wherevpon the said Kineard vpon the sudden beset +the house round about. The king perceiuing himselfe thus besieged of his enimies, at the +first caused the doores to be shut, supposing either by curteous woords to appease his enimies, +or with his princelie authoritie to put them in feare.</p> +<p> +But when he saw that by neither meane he could doo good, in a great chafe he brake +foorth of the house vpon Kineard, and went verie néere to haue killed him: but being compassed +about with multitude of enimies, whilest he stood at defense, thinking it a dishonour +<span class="rightnote">Kinewulfe slaine by conspirators.</span> +for him to flée, he was beaten downe and slaine, togither with those few of his seruants +which he had there with him, who chose rather to die in séeking reuenge of their maisters +death than by cowardise to yéeld themselues into the murtherers hands. There escaped +none except one Welshman or Britaine, an hostage, who was neuerthelesse sore wounded +and hurt.</p> +<p> +The brute of such an heinous act was streightwaies blowne ouer all, and brought with +speed to the eares of the noble men and peeres of the realme, which were not farre off the +place where this slaughter had béene committed. Amongst other, one Osrike, for his age +and wisedome accounted of most authoritie, exhorted the residue that in no wise they should +suffer the death of their souereigne lord to passe vnpunished vnto their perpetuall shame and +reproofe. Wherevpon in all hast they ran to the place where they knew to find Kineard, +who at the first began to please his cause, to make large promises, to pretend coosenage, +and so foorth: but when he perceiued all that he could say or doo might not preuaile, he +incouraged his companie to shew themselues valiant, and to resist their enimies to the vttermost +of their powers. Heerevpon followed a doubtfull fight, the one part striuing to saue +their liues, and the other to atteine honour, and punish the slaughter of their souereigne<a name="page651" id="page651"></a><span class="page">[Page 651]</span> +lord. At length the victorie rested on the side where the right was, so that the wicked murtherer +after he had fought a while, at length was slaine, togither with fourescore and eight +<span class="rightnote"><i>Simon Dun.</i> <br /><i>H. Hunt</i></span> +of his mates. The kings bodie was buried at Winchester, & the murtherers at Repingdon. +Such was the end of king Kinewulfe, after he had reigned the tearme of 31 yéeres.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote"><i>Eccle. hist. Magd</i>. <br />786</span> +In the yeere of our Lord 786, pope Adrian sent two legats into England, Gregorie, or +(as some copies haue) George bishop of Ostia, and Theophylactus bishop of Tuderto, with +letters commendatorie vnto Offa king of Mercia, Alfwold king of Northumberland, Ieanbright +or Lambert archbishop of Canturburie, and Eaubald archbishop of Yorke. These +<span class="rightnote"><i>H. Hunt.</i> <br />Legats from the pope.</span> +legats were gladlie receiued, not onlie by the foresaid kings and archbishops, but also of all +other the high estates, aswell spirituall as temporall of the land, & namelie of Kinewulfe +king of the Westsaxons, which repaired vnto king Offa to take counsell with him for reformation +of such articles as were conteined in the popes letters.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Twentie articles which the legats had to propone.</span> +There were twentie seuerall articles which they had to propone on the popes behalfe, as +touching the receiuing of the faith or articles established by the Nicene councell, and obeieng +of the other generall councels, with instructions concerning baptisme and kéeping of synods +yéerelie, for the examination of priests and ministers, and reforming of naughtie liuers. +Moreouer touching discretion to be vsed in admitting of gouernors in monasteries, and curats +or priests to the ministerie in churches: and further for the behauior of priests in wearing +their apparell, namelie that they should not presume to come to the altar bare legged, lest +their dishonestie might be discouered. And that in no wise the chalice or paten were made +of the horne of an oxe, bicause the same is bloudie of nature: nor the host of a crust, but +of pure bread. Also whereas bishops vsed to sit in councels to iudge in secular causes, they +were now forbidden so to doo.</p> +<p> +Manie other things were as meanes of reformation articled, both for spirituall causes, and +also concerning ciuill ordinances, as disabling children to be heirs to the parents, which by +<span class="rightnote">Nuns concubines.</span> +them were not begot in lawfull matrimonie but on concubines, whether they were nunnes +or secular women. Also of paiment of tithes, performing of vowes, auoiding of vndecent +apparell, and abolishing of all maner of heathenish vsages and customes that sounded contrarie +<span class="leftnote">Curtailing of horsses.</span> +to the order of christanitie, as curtailing of horsses, and eating of horsses flesh. These +things with manie other expressed in 20 principall articles (as we haue said) were first concluded +to be receiued by the church of the Northumbers in a councell holden there, and +subscribed by Alfwold king of the Northumbers, by Delberike bishop of Hexham, by +Eubald archbishop of Yorke, Higwald bishop of Lindisferne, Edelbert bishop of Whiterne, +Aldulfe bishop of Mieth, Ethelwine also another bishop by his deputies, with a number of +other of the clergie; and lords also of the temporaltie, as duke Alrike, duke Segwulfe, abbat +Alebericke, and abbat Erhard. After this confirmation had of the Northumbers, there was +also a councell holden in Mercia at Cealtide, in the which these persons subscribed, Iambert +or Lambert archbishop of Canturburie, Offa king of Mercia, Hughbright bishop of Lichfield, +Edeulfe bishop of Faron, with Vnwone bishop of Ligor, and nine other bishops, besides +abbats; and thrée dukes, as Brorda, Farwald, and Bercoald, with earle Othbald.</p> +<p> +But now to returne backe to speake of other dooings, as in other parts of this land they +fell out. About the yéere of our Lord 764, the sée of Canturburie being void, one Iambert +<span class="leftnote">764.</span> +or Lambert was elected archbishop there, and in the yéere 766, the archbishop of Yorke Egbert +<span class="rightnote"><i>Sim. Dun.</i> saith 780</span> +departed this life, in whose place one Adelbert succéeded. About the 25 yéere of Kenwulf +king of Westsaxons, the Northumbers hauing to their capteine two noble men, Osbald +<span class="leftnote"><i>Simon Dun</i>.</span> +and Ethelherard, burned one of their iudges named Bearne, bicause he was more cruell in +iudgement (as they tooke the matter) than reason required. In which vengeance executed +vpon the cruell iudge (if he were so seuere as this attempt of the two noble men dooth +offer the readers to suspect) all such of his liuerie & calling are taught lenitie & mildnes, +wherwith they should leuen the rigor of the lawe. For</p> +<a name="page652" id="page652"></a><span class="page">[Page 652]</span> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Ouid. lib. 2. de art. am.</i></span> +<p class="indent"> + <span class="indent1">———capit indulgentia mentes,</span><br /> + <span class="indent1">Asperitas odium sæuáque bella mouet.</span><br /> +Odimus accipitrem, quia viuit semper in armis,<br /> + <span class="indent1">Er pauidum solitos in pecus ire lupos.</span><br /> +At caret insidijs hominum, quia mitis hirundo est,<br /> + <span class="indent1">Quásque colat turres Chaonîs ales habet.</span> +</p> +<p> +At the same time, one Aswald or Alfewald reigned ouer the Northumbers, being admitted +<span class="rightnote">He began his reigne <br /><i>ann.</i> 779, <br />as saith <br /><i>Simon Dun.</i> and reigned but ten yéeres.</span> +K. after that Ethelbert was expelled, and when the same Alfwald had reigned 10, or (as +some say) 11 yéeres, he was traitorouslie and without all guilt made away; the chéefe conspirator +was named Siga. The same Alfwald was a iust prince, and woorthilie gouerned the +Northumbers to his high praise and commendation. He was murthered by his owne people +(as before ye haue heard) the 23 of September, in the yéere of our Lord 788, and was +buried at Hexham.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">788. <br /><i>Matth. West.</i> <br /><i>Simon Dun.</i> <br />792.</span> +In the yéere 792, Charles king of France sent a booke into Britaine, which was sent vnto +him from Constantinople, conteining certeine articles agreed vpon in a synod (wherein were +present aboue the number of thrée hundred bishops) quite contrarie and disagréeing from +the true faith, namelie in this, that images ought to be worshipped, which the church of +God vtterlie abhorreth. Against this booke Albinus that famous clearke wrote a treatise +confirmed with places taken out of holie scripture, which treatise, with the booke in name +<span class="leftnote"><i>Sim. Dunel.</i> <br />800.</span> +of all the bishops and princes of Britaine, he presented vnto the king of France. ¶ In the +yéere 800, on Christmasse éeuen chanced a maruellous tempest of wind, which ouerthrew +whole cities and townes in diuerse places, and trees in great number, beside other harmes +which it did, as by death of cattell, &c. In the yeere following a great part of London +was consumed by fire.</p> + +<hr /><br /><br /> + +<p><a name="seuenth6" id="seuenth6"></a> +<i>Britricus K. of the Westsaxons, his inclination, Egbert being of the bloud roiall is banished +the land, & why; crosses of bloudie colour and drops of bloud fell from heauen, what +they did prognosticate; the first Danes that arriued on the English coasts, and the +cause of their comming; firie dragons flieng in the aire foretokens of famine and warre; +Britricus is poisoned of his wife Ethelburga, hir ill qualities; why the kings of the +Westsaxons decreed that their wiues should not be called queenes, the miserable end of +Ethelburga; Kenulfe king of Mercia, his vertues, he restoreth the archbishops see to +Canturburie which was translated to Lichfield, he inuadeth Kent, taketh the king prisoner +in the field, and bountifullie setteth him at libertie, the great ioy of the people therevpon; +his rare liberalitie to churchmen, his death and buriall.</i></p> + +<h3>THE SEUENTH CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">BRITRICUS. <br /><i>Hen. Hunt.</i> <br /><i>Matt. West.</i> <br />saith 787. <br /><i>Simon Dun.</i> <br />saith 786.</span> +After Kenwulfe, one Britricus or Brightrike was ordeined king of Westsaxons, and +began his reigne in the yéere of our Lord 787, which was about the 8 yéere of the gouernment +of the empresse Eirene with hir son Constantinus, and about the second yeere of the +reigne of Achaius K. of Scots. This Brightrike was descended of the line of Cerdicus the +first king of Westsaxons, the 16 in number from him. He was a man of nature quiet & +temperate, more desirous of peace than of warre, and therefore he stood in doubt of the +noble valiancie of one Egbert, which after succéeded him in the kingdome. The linage of +Cerdicus was in that season so confounded and mingled, that euerie one as he grew in greatest +power, stroue to be king and supreame gouernour. But speciallie Egbertus was knowne to +be one that coueted that place, as he that was of the bloud roiall, and a man of great power +<span class="rightnote">Egbert banished.</span> +and lustie courage. King Brightrike therefore to liue in more safetie, banished him the land,<a name="page653" id="page653"></a><span class="page">[Page 653]</span> +and appointed him to go into France. Egbert vnderstanding certeinlie that this his departure +into a forreine countrie should aduance him in time, obeied the kings pleasure.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">A strange woonder.</span> +About the third yéere of Brightrikes reigne, there fell vpon mens garments, as they +walked abroad, crosses of bloudie colour, and bloud fell from heauen as drops of raine. +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matt. West.</i> <br /><i>Wil. Malm.</i> <br /><i>Hen. Hunt.</i> <br />Danes.</span> +Some tooke this woonder for a signification of the persecution that followed by the Danes: +for shortlie after, in the yeere insuing, there arriued thrée Danish ships vpon the English +coasts, against whome the lieutenant of the parties adjoining made foorth, to apprehend +those that were come on land, howbeit aduenturing himselfe ouer rashlie amongst them, he +was slaine: but afterwards when the Danes perceiued that the people of the countries about +began to assemble, and were comming against them, they fled to their ships, and left their +prey and spoile behind them for that time. These were the first Danes that arriued here in +this land, being onelie sent (as was perceiued after) to view the countrie and coasts of the +same, to vnderstand how with a greater power they might be able to inuade it, as shortlie +after they did, and warred so with the Englishmen, that they got a great part of the land, and +held it in their owne possession. In the tenth yéere of king Brightrikes reigne, there were +séene in the aire firie dragons flieng, which betokened (as was thought) two grieuous plagues +<span class="rightnote">Famin & war signified.</span> +that followed. First a great dearth and famine: and secondlie a cruell war of the Danes, +which shortlie followed, as ye shall heare.</p> +<p> +Finallie, after that Brightrike had reigned the space of 16 yéeres, he departed this life, +<span class="rightnote"><i>Ran. Cest. lib. 5. cap. 25.</i> Brightrike departed this life.</span> +and was buried at Warham. Some write that he was poisoned by his wife Ethelburga +daughter vnto Offa king of Mercia (as before ye haue heard) and he maried hir in the +fourth yere of his reigne. She is noted by writers to haue bin a verie euill woman, proud, +and high-minded as Lucifer, and therewith disdainful. She bare hir the more statelie, by +<span class="leftnote">Ethelburga hir conditions and wicked nature.</span> +reason of hir fathers great fame and magnificence: whome she hated she would accuse to +hir husband, and so put them in danger of their liues. And if she might not so wreake +hir rancour, she would not sticke to poison them. </p> +<p> +It happened one day, as she meant to haue poisoned a yoong gentleman, against whome +she had a quarell, the king chanced to tast of that cup, and died thereof (as before ye +haue heard.) Hir purpose indeed was not to haue poisoned the king, but onelie the yoong +gentleman, the which drinking after the king, died also, the poison was so strong and vehement. +<span class="rightnote">A decrée of the kings of the Westsaxons against their wiues.</span> +For hir heinous crime it is said that the kings of the Westsaxons would not suffer +their wiues to be called quéenes, nor permit them to sit with them in open places +(where their maiesties should bée shewed) manie yéeres after. Ethelburga fearing punishment, +fled into France with great riches and treasure, & was well cherished in the court of +<span class="leftnote">The end of Ethelburga. <i>Simon Dun.</i></span> +king Charles at the first, but after she was thrust into an abbeie, and demeaned hirselfe so +lewdlie there, in keeping companie with one of hir owne countriemen, that she was banished +the house, and after died in great miserie.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i> Kenulfe.</span> +Egbert king of Mercia departing this life, after he had reigned foure moneths, ordeined +his coosine Kenulfe to succeed in his place, which Kenulfe was come of the line of Penda +king of Mercia, as rightlie descended from his brother Kenwalke. This Kenulfe for his +noble courage, wisdome, and vpright dealing, was woorthie to be compared with the best +princes that haue reigned. His vertues passed his fame: nothing he did that enuie could +with iust cause reprooue. At home he shewed himselfe godlie and religious, in warre he +<span class="leftnote">The archbishops sée restored to Canturburie.</span> +became victorious, he restored the archbishops sée againe to Canturburie, wherein his humblenes +was to be praised, that made no account of worldlie honour in his prouince, so that +the order of the ancient canons might be obserued. He had wars left him as it were by succession +from his predecessour Offa against them of Kent, and thervpon entring that countrie +with a mightie armie, wasted and spoiled the same, and encountering in battell with king +<span class="rightnote">The king of Kent taken prisoner.</span> +Edbert or Ethelbert, otherwise called Prenne, ouerthrew his armie, and tooke him prisoner +in the field, but afterwards he released him to his great praise and commendation. For +whereas he builded a church at Winchcombe, vpon the day of the dedication thereof, he +led the Kentish king as then his prisoner, vp to the high altar, and there set him at libertie,<a name="page654" id="page654"></a><span class="page">[Page 654]</span> +declaring thereby a great proofe of his good nature.</p> +<p> +There were present at that sight, Cuthred whom he had made king of Kent in place of +Ethelbert, or Edbert, with 13 bishops, and 10 dukes. The noise that was made of the +people in reioising at the kings bountious liberalitie was maruellous. For not onelie he thus +<span class="rightnote">Kenulfs liberalitie towards churchmen which was not forgotten by them in their histories.</span> +restored the Kentish king to libertie, but also bestowed great rewards vpon all the prelates +and noble men that were come to the feast, euerie priest had a peece of gold, and euerie +moonke a shilling. Also he dealt and gaue away great gifts amongst the people, and +founded in that place an abbeie, indowing the same with great possessions. Finallie, after +he had reigned 24 yéeres, he departed this life, and appointed his buriall to be in the same +abbeie of Winchcombe, leauing behind him a sonne named Kenelme, who succeeded his +father in the kingdome, but was soone murthered by his vnnaturall sister Quendred, the 17 +of Iulie, as hereafter shall be shewed.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<p><a name="eight6" id="eight6"></a> +<i>Osrike king of Northumberland leaueth the kingdome to Edelbert reuoked out of exile, king +Alfwalds sons miserablie slaine, Osred is put to death, Ethelbert putteth away his wife and +marieth another, his people rise against him therefore and kill him, Oswald succeeding +him is driuen out of the land; Ardulfe king of Northumberland, duke Wade raiseth warre +against him and is discomfited; duke Aldred is slaine; a sore battell fought in Northumberland, +the English men aflict one another with ciuill warres; king Ardulfe deposed from +his estate; the regiment of the Northumbers refused as dangerous and deadlie by destinie, +what befell them in lieu of their disloialtie; the Danes inuade their land and are vanquished; +the roiall race of the Kentish kings decaieth, the state of that kingdome; the +primasie restored to the see of Canturburie, Egbert (after the death of Britricus) is sent +for to vndertake the gouernement of the Westsaxons, his linage.</i></p> + + +<h3>THE EIGHT CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">OSRED. 788.</span> +When Aswald king of Northumberland was made away, his brother Osred the sonne of +Alred tooke vpon him the rule of that kingdom anno 788, and within one yeere was expelled, +<span class="leftnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i> <br /><i>Matth. West.</i> <br /><i>Hen. Hunt.</i> <br /><i>Simon Dun.</i></span> +and left the kingdome to Ethelbert or Edelred as then reuoked out of exile, in which +he had remained for the space of 12 yéeres, and now being restored, he continued in gouernement +of the Northumbers 4 yéeres, or (as some say) 7 yéeres; in the second yéere +<span class="rightnote">Duke Ardulf taken and wounded.</span> +whereof duke Eardulfe was taken and led to Ripon, and there without the gate of the monasterie +wounded (as was thought) to death by the said king, but the moonks taking his bodie, +and laieng it in a tent without the church, after midnight he was found aliue in the church.</p> +<p> +Moreouer, about the same time the sonnes of king Alfwald were by force drawne out of +the citie of Yorke, but first by a wile they were trained out of the head church where +they had taken sanctuarie, and so at length miserablie slaine by king Ethelbert in Wonwaldremere, +<span class="rightnote">792</span> +one of them was named Alfus, & the other Alfwin. In the yéere of our Lord 792, +Osred vpon trust of the others and promises of diuerse noble men, secretly returned into Northumberland, +but his owne souldiers forsooke him, and so was he taken, and by king Ethelberts +commandment put to death at Cunbridge on the 14 day of September.</p> +<p> +The same yéere king Ethelbert maried the ladie Alfled the daughter of Offa king of Mercia, +forsaking his former wife which he had, & hauing no iust cause of diuorce giuen on hir part, +wherby his people tooke such displeasure against him, that finallie after he had reigned now +this second time 4 yéeres, or (as other say) seuen yéeres, he could not auoid the destinie of +his predecessors, but was miserablie killed by his owne subiects at Cobre, the 18 of Aprill. +After whome, one Oswald a noble man was ordeined king, and within 27 or 28 daies after +<span class="rightnote">Holie Iland.</span> +was expelled, and constreined to flie first into the Ile of Lindesferne, and from thence vnto<a name="page655" id="page655"></a><span class="page">[Page 655]</span> +the king of the Picts.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">Ardulfe.</span> +Then Ardulfe that was a duke and sonne to one Arnulfe was reuoked out of exile, made +king, & consecrated also at Yorke by the archbishop Cumhald, and thrée other bishops, the +<span class="rightnote">796.</span> +25 of June, in the yéere 796. About two yeeres after, to wit, in the yéere 798 one duke +Wade, and other conspirators which had beene also partakers in the murthering of king +<span class="leftnote">Walalege.</span> +Ethelbert, raised warre against king Ardulfe, and fought a battell with him at Walleg, +but king Ardulfe got the vpper hand, and chased Wade and other his enimies out of the +<span class="rightnote">799.</span> +field. In the yéere 799, duke Aldred that had murthered Ethelbert or Athelred king of +Northumberland, was slaine by another duke called Chorthmond in reuenge of the death +of his maister the said Ethelbert. Shortlie after, about the same time that Brightrike king of +Westsaxons departed this life, there was a sore battell foughten in Northumberland at Wellehare, +in the which Alricke the sonne of Herbert, and manie other with him were slaine: +but to rehearse all the battels with their successes and issues, it should be too tedious and +irkesome to the readers, for the English people being naturallie hard and high-minded, +<span class="leftnote">The English men afflicted each other with ciuill warre.</span> +continuallie scourged each other with intestine warres. About six or seuen yéeres after this +battell, king Ardulfe was expelled out of the state.</p> +<p> +¶ Thus ye may consider in what plight things stood in Northumberland, by the often seditions, +tumults and changings of gouernors, so that there be which haue written, how after the +death of king Ethelbert, otherwise called Edelred, diuers bishops and other of the chiefest nobles +of the countrie disdaining such traitorous prince-killings, ciuill seditions, and iniurious +dealings, as it were put in dailie practise amongst the Northumbers, departed out of their natiue +borders into voluntarie exile, and that from thencefoorth there was not anie of the nobilitie +that durst take vpon him the kinglie gouernement amongst them, fearing the fatall prerogatiue +thereof, as if it had béene Scians horsse, whose rider came euer to some euill end. +But yet by that which is héeretofore shewed out of Simon Dunelm, it is euident, that there +reigned kings ouer the Northumbers, but in what authoritie and power to command, it may +be doubted.</p> +<p> +Howbeit this is certeine, that the sundrie murtherings and banishments of their kings and +dukes giue vs greatlie to gesse, that there was but sorie obedience vsed in the countrie, +whereby for no small space of time that kingdome remained without an head gouernor, +being set open to the prey and iniurie of them that were borderers vnto it, and likewise vnto +strangers. For the Danes, which in those daies were great rouers, had landed before in the +<span class="rightnote">This chanced in the yéere of our Lord 700, as <i>Simon Dun.</i> saith.</span> +north parts, & spoiled the abbeie of Lindesferne otherwise called holie Iland, and perceiuing +the fruitfulnesse of the countrie, and easinesse for their people to inuade it (bicause that +through their priuate quarelling there was little publike resistance to be looked for) at their +<span class="leftnote">The Danes inuade Northumberland.</span> +comming home, entised their countriemen to make voiages into England, and so landing in +Northumberland did much hurt, and obtained a great part of the countrie in manner without +resistance, bicause there was no ruler there able to raise anie power of men by publike authoritie +to incounter with the common enimies, whereby the countrie was brought into great +miserie, partlie with war of the Danes, and ciuill dissention amongest the nobles and people +themselues, no man being of authoritie (I say) able to reforme such misorders. Yet we find +<span class="rightnote">The Danes vanquished. This was in anno 794 as <i>Simon Dun.</i> saith.</span> +that the nobles and capteines of the countrie assembling togither at one time against the +Danes that were landed about Tinmouth, constreined them by sharpe fight to flée backe to +their ships, and tooke certeine of them in the field, whose heads they stroke off there vpon +the shore. The other that got to their ships, suffered great losse of men, and likewise of +their vessels by tempest.</p> +<p> +¶ Here then we are taught that the safest way to mainteine a monarchie, is when all degrées +liue in loialtie. And that it is necessarie there should be one supereminent, vnto whome +all the residue should stoope: this fraile bodie of ours may giue vs sufficient instruction. For +reason ruleth in the mind as souereigne, and hath subiect vnto it all the affections and inward +motions, yea the naturall actions are directed by hir gouernement: whereto if the will be +obedient there cannot créepe in anie outrage or disorder. Such should be the sole regiment +of a king in his kingdome; otherwise he may be called "Rex á regendo, as Mons a mouendo."<a name="page656" id="page656"></a><span class="page">[Page 656]</span> +For there is not a greater enimie to that estate, than to admit participants in roialtie, which as +it is a readie way to cause a subuersion of a monarchie; so it is the shortest cut ouer to a disordered +anarchie. But to procéed in the historie.</p> +<p> +After that Alrike (the last of king Witchreds sonnes, which reigned in Kent successiuelie +after their father) was dead, the noble ofspring of the kings there so decaied, and began to +vade awaie, that euerie one which either by flattering had got rithes togither, or by seditious +partaking was had in estimation, sought to haue the gouernement, and to vsurp the title of +king, abusing by vnworthie means the honor and dignitie of so high an office. Amongest +<span class="rightnote">Edelbert.</span> +others, one Edbert or Edelbert, surnamed also Prenne, gouerned the Kentishmen for the space +of two yeares, and was in the end vanquished by them of Mercia, and taken prisoner, as before +is said: so that for a time he liued in captiuitie; and although afterwards he was set at +libertie, yet was he not receiued againe to the kingdome, so that it is vncerteine what end he +made. Cuthred that was appointed by Kinevulfe the king of Mercia, to reigne in place of +the same Edbert or Edelbert, continued in the gouernement eight yéeres as king, rather by +name than by act, inheriting his predecessors euill hap and calamitie, through factions and +ciuill discord.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Lambert.</span> +After that Iambrith or Lambert the archbishop of Canturburie was departed this life, one +Edelred was ordeined in his place, vnto whome the primasie was restored, which in his predecessors +time was taken awaie by Offa king of Mercia, as before is recited. Also after the +death of Eubald archbishop of Yorke, another of the same name called Eubald the second +was admitted to succeed in that sée. After that Brightrike the king of Westsaxons was +departed this life, messengers were sent with all spéed into France, to giue knowledge +thereof vnto Egbert, which as before is shewed, was constreined by the said Brightrike to depart +the countrie. At the first, he withdrew vnto Offa king of Mercia, with whome he remained +for a time, till at length (through suit made by Brightrike) he perceiued he might not +longer continue there without danger to be deliuered into his enimies hands; and so, Offa +winking at the matter, he departed out of his countrie, and got him ouer into France. But +being now aduertised of Brightriks death, and required by earnest letters sent from his friends +to come and receiue the gouernement of the kingdome, he returned with all conuenient spéed +<span class="leftnote">Egbert receiued a king of Westsaxons His linage.</span> +into his countrie, and was receiued immediatlie for king, by the generall consent of the Westsaxons, +as well in respect of the good hope which they had conceiued of his woorthie qualities +and aptnesse to haue gouernement, as of his roiall linage, being lineallie descended from +Inigils the brother of king Inas, as sonne to Alkemound, that was the sonne of one Eaffa, +which Eaffa was sonne to Ope the sonne of the foresaid Inigils.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + +<p><a name="ninth6" id="ninth6"></a> +<i>Egbert reigneth ouer the Westsaxons, his practise or exercise in the time of his exile, his +martiall exploits against the Cornishmen and Welshmen, Bernulfe king of Mercia taketh +indignation at Egbert for the inlarging of his roiall authoritie, they fight a sore battell, +Egbert ouercommeth, great ods betweene their souldiers, bishop Alstan a warriour; Kent, +Essex, Southerie, Sussex, and Eastangles subiect to Egbert; he killeth Bernulfe K. of +Mercia, and conquereth the whole kingdome, Whitlafe the king thereof becommeth his tributarie, +the Northumbers submit themselues to Egbert, he conquereth Northwales and +the citie of Chester, he is crowned supreme gouernour of the whole land, when this Ile +was called England, the Danes inuade the land, they discomfit Egberts host, the Welshmen +ioine with the Danes against Egbert, they are both vanquished, Egbert dieth.</i></p> + +<h3>THE NINTH CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">EGBERT. 802 <br />as <i>Simon Dunel.</i> and <i>M.W.</i> hath noted but 801.</span> +This Egbert began his reigne in the yeare of our Lord 800, which was the 4 yeare almost +ended, after that the emperour Eirine began the second time to rule the empire, and +in the 24 yeare of the reigne of Charles the great king of France, which also was in the same<a name="page657" id="page657"></a><span class="page">[Page 657]</span> +yeare after he was made emperour of the west, and about the second yeare of Conwall king of Scots. +Whilest this Egbert remained in exile, he turned his aduersaries into an occasion of his +valiancie, as it had béene a grindstone to grind awaie and remoue the rust of sluggish slouthfulnes, +in so much that hawnting the wars in France, in seruice of Charles the great, he atteined +to great knowledge and experience, both in matters appertaining to the wars, and +likewise to the well ordering of the common wealth in time of peace. The first wars that +he tooke in hand, after he had atteined to the kingdome, was against the Cornishmen, a remnant +of the old Britains, whome he shortlie ouercame and subdued. Then he thought good +to tame the vnquiet Welshmen, the which still were readie to moue rebellion against the Englishmen, +<span class="leftnote"><i>Simon Dun.</i> <i>Hen. Hunt.</i></span> +as they that being vanquished, would not yet seeme to be subdued, wherefore about +the 14 yeare of his reigne, he inuaded the countrie of Wales, and went through the same from +east to west, not finding anie person that durst resist him.</p> +<p> +King Egbert hauing ouercome his enimies of Wales and Cornewall, began to grow in authoritie +aboue all the other rulers within this land, in somuch that euerie of them began to feare +<span class="rightnote">Bernulf king of Mercia.</span> +their owne estate, but namelie Bernulfe king of Mercia sore stomached the matter, as he that +was wise, and of a loftie courage, and yet doubted to haue to doo with Egbert, who was +knowen also to be a man both skilfull and valiant. At length yet considering with himselfe, +that if his chance should be to speed well, so much the more should his praise be increased, +he determined to attempt the fortune of warre, and therevpon intimated the same +vnto Egbert, who supposing it should be a dishonor vnto him to giue place, boldlie prepared to +<span class="leftnote">A battell fought at Ellendon.</span> +méete Bernulfe in the field. Herevpon they incountred togither at Ellendon, & fought a sore +battell, in the which a huge number of men were slaine, what on the one part, and on the +other but in the end the victorie remained with Egbert, although he had not the like host for +<span class="rightnote">Egbert won the victorie.</span> +number vnto Bernulfe, but he was a politike prince, and of great experience, hauing chosen +his souldiers of nimble, leane, and hartie men; where Bernulfs souldiers (through long ease) +<span class="leftnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i> <br />826.</span> +were cowardlie persons, and ouercharged with flesh. The battell was fought in the yeare of +our Lord 826. </p> +<p> +King Egbert hauing got this victorie, was aduanced into such hope, that he persuaded himselfe +to be able without great adoo to ouercome the residue of his neighbours, whose estates +he saw plainlie sore weakened and fallen into great decaie. Herevpon before all other, he +determined to assaile Edelvulfe king of Kent, whome he knew to be a man in no estimation +amongest his subiects. A competent armie therefore being leuied, he appointed his sonne +<span class="rightnote">Alstan bishop of Shireborn a warrior.</span> +Ethelwulfe & Alstan bishop of Shireborne, with earle Walhard to haue the conduct therof, +and sent them with the same into Kent, where they wrought such maisteries, that they chased +both the king and all other that would not submit themselues, out of the countrie, constreining +<span class="leftnote">The conquests of the Westsaxons.</span> +them to passe ouer the Thames. And herewith the Westsaxons following the victorie, +brought vnder subiection of king Egbert the countries of Kent, Essex, Southerie, and Sussex. +<span class="rightnote"><i>Henr. Hunt.</i></span> +The Eastangles also about the same time receiued king Egbert for their souereigne Lord, and +comforted by his setting on against Bernulfe king of Mercia, inuaded the confines of his kingdome, +in reuenge of displeasures which he had doone to them latelie before, by inuading +<span class="leftnote">Bernulf king of Mercia slaine.</span> +their countrie, and as it came to passe, incountring with the said Bernulfe which came against +them to defend his countrie, they slue him in the field.</p> +<p> +Thus their minds on both parts being kindled into further wrath, the Eastangles eftsoones +in the yeare following fought with them of Mercia, and ouercame them againe, and slue their +king Ludicenus, who succéeded Bernulfe in that kingdome, with 5 of his earles. The state +of the kingdome of Mercia being weakened, Egbert conceiued an assured hope of good successe, +& in the 27 yeare of his reigne, made an open inuasion into the countrie, and chasing +Whitlafe king of Mercia (that succéeded Ludicenus) out of his estate, conquered the whole +kingdome of the Mercies. But yet in the yéere next following, or in the third yeare after, he +restored it againe to Whitlafe, with condition, that he should inioy the same as tributarie to +<span class="leftnote"><i>Simon Dun.</i></span> +him, and acknowledge him for his supreme gouernour. The same yeare that Bernulfe king +<span class="rightnote">These were the Cornish men as is to be supposed.</span> +of Mercia was slaine by the Eastangles, there was a sore battell foughten at Gauelford,<a name="page658" id="page658"></a><span class="page">[Page 658]</span> +betwixt them of Deuonshire, and the Britains, in the which manie thousands died on +both parts.</p> +<p> +King Egbert hauing conquered all the English people inhabiting on the south side of Humber, +led foorth his armie against them of Northumberland: but the Northumbers being +not onelie vexed with ciuill sedition, but also with the often inuasion of Danes, perceiued not +<span class="leftnote">King Egbert inuadeth Northumberland. The Northumbers submit themselues to king Egbert.</span> +how they should be able to resist the power of king Egbert: and therefore vpon good aduisement +taken in the matter, they resolued to submit themselues, and therevpon sent ambassadors +to him to offer their submission, committing themselues wholie vnto his protection. +King Egbert gladlie receiued them, and promised to defend them from all forren enimies. +Thus the kingdome of Northumberland was brought vnder subiection to the kings of the +Westsaxons, after the state had béen sore weakened with contention and ciuill discord that +had continued amongst the nobles of the countrie, for the space of manie yeeres, beside the inuasion +made by outward enimies, to the gréeuous damage of the people.</p> +<p> +After that king Egbert had finished his businesse in Northumberland, he turned his power +<span class="rightnote"><i>Ran. Higd.</i> Northwales and the citie of Chester conquered by Egbert.</span> +towards the countrie of Northwales, and subdued the same, with the citie of Chester, which +till those daies, the Britains or Welshmen had kept in their possession. When king Egbert had +obteined these victories, and made such conquests as before is mentioned, of the people héere +in this land, he caused a councell to be assembled at Winchester, and there by aduise of the +high estates, he was crowned king, as souereigne gouernour and supreame lord of the whole +land. It is also recorded, that he caused a commission to be directed foorth into all parts of +the realme, to giue commandement, that from thence forward all the people inhabiting within +this land, should be called English men, and not Saxons, and likewise the land should be +<span class="leftnote">The name of this ile when it was changed.</span> +called England by one generall name, though it should appéere (as before is mentioned) +that it was so called shortlie after the first time that the Angles and Saxons got possession +thereof.</p> +<p> +Now was king Egbert setled in good quiet, and his dominions reduced out of the troubles +<span class="rightnote">The Danes.</span> +of warre, when suddenlie newes came, that the Danes with a nauie of 35 ships, were +arriued on the English coasts, and began to make sore warre in the land. K. Egbert being +thereof aduertised, with all conuenient spéed got togither an armie, and went foorth to giue battell +to the enimies. Heerevpon incountring with them, there was a sore foughten field betwixt +them, which continued with great slaughter on both sides, till the night came on, and then by +chance of warre the Englishmen, which before were at point to haue gone awaie with victorie, +<span class="rightnote">The Englishmen discomfited by Danes. <br /><i>Simon Dun.</i> <br /><i>H. Hunt.</i> <br /><i>Matth. West.</i> <br />834.</span> +were vanquished and put to flight, yet king Egbert by couert of the night escaped his enimies +hands: but two of his chiefe capteins Dudda and Osmond, with two bishops, to wit, +Herferd of Winchester, and Vigferd of Shireborne, were slaine in that battell, which was +foughten at Carrum, about the 834 of Christ, and 34 yéere of king Egberts reigne.</p> +<p> +In the yeere following, the Danes with their nauie came into Westwales, and there the +Welshmen ioining with them, rose against king Egbert, but he with prosperous fortune vanquished +<span class="rightnote">Danes and Welshmen vanquished. <br />836.</span> +and slue both the Danes and Welshmen, and that in great number, at a place called +Hengistenton. The next yéere after also, which was 836, he ouerthrew another armie of +Danes which came against him, as one autor writeth. Finallie, when king Egbert had reigned +<span class="leftnote"><i>Matth. West.</i> Egbert departeth this life. <br />837.</span> +the tearme of 36 yéeres and seuen moneths with great glorie for the inlarging of his kingdome +with wide bounds, which when he receiued was but of small compasse, he departed this +life, leauing to his issue matter of woorthie praise to mainteine that with order which he +with painefull diligence had ioined togither. His bodie was buried at Winchester, and he +left behind him two sonnes Ethelwulfe, otherwise named Athaulfe and Adelstan. The first +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matth. West.</i></span> +he appointed to succéed him in the kingdome of Westsaxons, and Adelstan he ordeined to +haue the gouernment of Kent, Sussex, and Essex.</p> +<p> +¶ Héere we sée the paterne of a fortunate prince in all his affaires, as well forren as domesticall, +wherein is first to be obserued the order of his education in his tender yéeres, which +agreeing well with a princes nature, could not but in the progresse of his age bring great +matters to passe, his manifold victories are an argument that as he lacked no policie, so he had<a name="page659" id="page659"></a><span class="page">[Page 659]</span> +prowesse inough to incounter with his enimies, to whome he gaue manie a fowle discomfiture. +But among all other notes of his skill and hope of happie successe in his martiall affaires, +was the good choise that he made of seruiceable souldiers, being such as knew how +to get the victorie, and hauing gotten it, were not vntaught to vse it to their benefit, by their +warinesse and héedtaking; for</p> + +<p class="center"> +Sæpiùs incautæ nocuit victoria turbæ. +</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<p><a name="tenth6" id="tenth6"></a> +<i>The kingdome of Kent annexed to the kingdome of the Westsaxons, the end of the kingdome +of Kent and Essex; Kenelme king of Mercia murthered by the meanes of his owne sister +Quendred, the order of hir wicked practise; his death prophesied or foreshewed by a signe, +the kings of Mercia put by their roialtie one after another, the kingdome of Britaine beginneth +to be a monarchie; Ethelwulfe king of the Westsaxons, he marrieth his butlers +daughter, his disposition; the fourth destruction of this land by forren enimies, the Danes +sought the ruine of this Ile, how long they afflicted and troubled the same; two notable +bishops and verie seruiceable to king Ethelwulfe in warre, the Danes discomfited, the +Englishmen chased, Ethelwulfs great victorie ouer the Danes, a great slaughter of them +at Tenet, king Ethelwulfs deuotion and liberalitie to churches, Peter pence paid to Rome, +he marieth the ladie Iudith, his two sonnes conspire (vpon occasion of breaking a law) to +depose him, king Ethelwulfe dieth, his foure sonnes by his first wife Osburga, how he bequeathed +his kingdoms.</i></p> + +<h3>THE TENTH CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +When Cuthred K. of Kent had reigned 8 yeeres, as before is mentioned, he was constreined +to giue place vnto one Baldred, that tooke vpon him the gouernment, & reigned the +space of 18 yéeres, without anie great authoritie, for his subiects regarded him but sorilie, so +that in the end, when his countrie was inuaded by the Westsaxons, he was easilie constreined +to depart into exile. And thus was the kingdome of Kent annexed to the kingdome of the +Westsaxons, after the same kingdome had continued in gouernment of kings created of the +same nation for the space of 382 yéers, that is to say, from the yéere of our Lord 464, vnto the +<span class="leftnote">The end of the kingdome of Kent. <br />827.</span> +yéere 827. Suithred or Suthred king of Essex was vanquished and expelled out of his kingdome +by Egbert king of Westsaxons (as before ye maie read) in the same yéere that the +Kentishmen were subdued by the said Egbert, or else verie shortlie after. This kingdome +<span class="rightnote">The end of the kingdome of Essex.</span> +continued 281 yeeres, from the yéere 614, vnto the yeere 795, as by the table of the +Heptarchie set foorth by Alexander Neuill appéereth. After the deceasse of Kenwulfe king +<span class="leftnote"><i>Matth. West.</i> <br />821</span> +of Mercia, his sonne Kenelme a child of the age of seuen yéeres was admitted king, about the +yeere of our Lord 821. He had two sisters, Quendred and Burgenild, of the which the one +<span class="rightnote">The wickedness of Quendred.</span> +(that is to say) Quendred, of a malicious mind, mooued through ambition, enuied hir brothers +aduancement, and sought to make him awaie, so that in the end she corrupted the gouernour +of his person one Ashbert, with great rewards and high promises persuading him to +dispatch hir innocent brother out of life, that she might reigne in his place. Ashbert one day +vnder a colour to haue the yoong king foorth on hunting, led him into a thicke wood, +and there cut off the head from his bodie, an impe by reason of his tender yéeres and innocent +<span class="rightnote">King Kenelm murthered.</span> +age, vnto the world void of gilt, and yet thus traitorouslie murthered without cause or +crime: he was afterwards reputed for a martyr.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Sée legenda aurea. fol. 165.</i> in the life of <br />S. Kenelme.</span> +There hath gone a tale that his death should be signified at Rome, and the place where +the murther was committed, by a strange manner: for (as they say) a white doue came and +lighted vpon the altar of saint Peter, bearing a scroll in hir bill, which she let fall on the +same altar, in which scroll among other things this was conteined, "In clenc kou bath, Kenelme +kinbarne lieth vnder thorne, heaued bereaued:" that is, at Clenc in a cow pasture, Kenelme +the kings child lieth beheaded vnder a thorne. This tale I rehearse, not for anie credit<a name="page660" id="page660"></a><span class="page">[Page 660]</span> +I thinke it woorthie of, but onelie for that it séemeth to note the place where the yoong +prince innocentlie lost his life.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Ceolwulfe K. of Mercia <br />823.</span> +After that Kenelme was thus made awaie, his vncle Ceolwulfe the brother of king Kenulfe +was created king of Mercia, and in the second yéere of his reigne was expelled by Bernwulfe. +Bernwulfe in the third yéere of his reigne, was vanquished and put to flight in battell by Egbert +king of Westsaxons, and shortlie after slaine of the Eastangles, as before ye haue heard. +Then one Ludicenus or Ludicanus was created king of Mercia, and within two yeeres after +came to the like end that happened to his predecessor before him, as he went about to reuenge +his death, so that the kingdome of Britaine began now to réele from their owne estate, and +leane to an alteration, which grew in the end to the erection of a perfect monarchie, and +finall subuersion of their particular estates and regiments. After Ludicenus, succeeded Wightlafe, +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matt. Westm.</i> 728.</span> +who first being vanquisht by Egbert king of Westsaxons, was afterwards restored to the +kingdome by the same Egbert, and reigned 13 yeeres, whereof twelue at the least were vnder +tribute which he paied to the said Egbert and to his sonne, as to his souereignes and supreame +gouernours. The kingdome of Northumberland was brought in subjection to the +<span class="leftnote">828.</span> +kings of Westsaxons, as before is mentioned, in the yéere of our Lord 828, and in the yéere +of the reigne of king Egbert 28, but yet héere it tooke not end, as after shall appéere.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">ETHELWULFUS</span> +Ethelwulfus, otherwise called by some writers Athaulfus, began his reigne ouer the +Westsaxons in the yéere 837, which was in the 24 yéere of the emperor Ludouicus Pius +that was also K. of France, in the tenth yéere of Theophilus the emperor of the East, & about +the third yéere of Kenneth, the second of that name king of Scots. This Ethelwulfe minding +in his youth to haue béene a priest, entered into the orders as subdeacon, and as some write, +<span class="leftnote"><i>Henrie Hunt.</i> <br /><i>Matth. West.</i></span> +he was bishop of Winchester: but howsoeuer the matter stood, or whether he was or not, +sure it is, that shortlie after he was absolued of his vowes by authoritie of pope Leo, and then +maried a proper gentlewoman named Osburga, which was his butlers daughter. He was of +nature courteous, and rather desirous to liue in quiet rest, than to be troubled with the gouernment +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +of manie countries, so that contenting himselfe with the kingdome of Westsaxons, +he permitted his brother Adelstan to inioy the residue of the countries which his father had +subdued, as Kent and Essex, with other. He aided Burthred the king of Mercia against the +Welshmen, and greatlie aduanced his estimation, by giuing vnto him his daughter in mariage.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Foure especiall destructions of this land.</span> +But now the fourth destruction which chanced to this land by forren enimies, was at hand: +for the people of Denmarke, Norway, and other of those northeast regions, which in that season +were great rouers by sea, had tasted the wealth of this land by such spoiles and preies as +they had taken in the same, so that perceiuing they could not purchase more profit anie +where else, they set their minds to inuade the same on ech side, as they had partlie begun in +the daies of the late kings Brightrike and Egbert. The persecution vsed by these Danes +<span class="rightnote"><i>Simon Dun.</i> <br /><i>Hen. Hunt.</i></span> +séemed more gréeuous, than anie of the other persecutions, either before or sithens that time: +for the Romans hauing quicklie subdued the land, gouerned it noblie without seeking the +subuersion thereof. The Scots and Picts onelie inuaded the north parts. And the Saxons +seeking the conquest of the land, when they had once got it, they kept it, and did what +they could, to better and aduance it to a flourishing estate.</p> +<p> +The Normans likewise hauing made a conquest, granted both life, libertie, and ancient lawes +to the former inhabitants: but the Danes long time and often assailing the land on euerie side, +now inuading it in this place, and now in that, did not at the first so much couet to conquer +<span class="rightnote">The Danes sought the destruction of this land.</span> +it, as to spoile it, nor to beare rule in it, as to waste and destroie it: who if they were at anie +time, ouercome, the victors were nothing the more in quiet: for a new nauie, and a greater +armie was readie to make some new inuasion, neither did they enter all at one place, nor at +once, but one companie on the east side, and an other in the west, or in the north and south +coasts, in such sort, that the Englishmen knew not whether they should first go to make +resistance against them.</p> +<p><a name="page661" id="page661"></a><span class="page">[Page 661]</span><span class="rightnote">How long the persecution of the Danes lasted. <br /><i>Will. Malmes.</i></span> +This mischiefe began chieflie in the daies of this king Ethelwulfe, but it continued about the +space of two hundred yeeres, as by the sequele of this booke it shall appéere. King Ethelwulfe +was not so much giuen to ease, but that vpon occasion for defense of his countrie and +subiects, he was readie to take order for the beating backe of the enimies, as occasion serued, +and speciallie chose such to be of his counsell, as were men of great experience and wisedome. +<span class="leftnote">Two notable bishops in Ethelwulfs daies.</span> +Amongst other, there were two notable prelats, Suithune bishop of Winchester, and Adelstan +bishop of Shireborne, who were readie euer to giue him good aduise. Suithune was not so +much expert in worldlie matters as Adelstan was, & therefore chieflie counselled the king in +things apperteining to his soules health: but Adelstan tooke in hand to order matters apperteining +to the state of the commonwealth, as prouiding of monie, and furnishing foorth +of men to withstand the Danes, so that by him manie things were both boldlie begun, +and happilie atchiued, as by writers hath béene recorded. He gouerned the sée of Shireborne +the space of 50 yéeres, by the good counsell and faithfull aduise of those two +prelats.</p> +<p> +King Ethelwulfe gouerned his subiects verie politikelie, and by himselfe and his capteins oftentimes +put the Danes to flight, though as chance of warre falleth out, he also receiued at +<span class="rightnote"><i>Simon Dun.</i> <br /><i>Hen. Hunt.</i></span> +their hands great losses, and sundrie sore detriments. In the first yéere of his reigne, the +Danes arriued at Hampton, with 33 ships, against whome he sent earle Wulhard with part of +his armie, the which giuing battell to the enimies, made great slaughter of them, and obteined +<span class="leftnote">Danes discomfited. <br /><i>Matth. West.</i></span> +a noble victorie. He sent also earle Adelhelme with the Dorsetshire men against an other +number of the Danes, which were landed at Portesmouth, but after long fight, the said Adelhelme +<span class="rightnote">Englishmen put to flight. They are eftsoones vanquished.</span> +was slaine, and the Danes obteined the victorie. In the yéere following, earle Herbert +fought against the Danes at Merseware, and was there slaine, and his men chased. The same +yeere, a great armie of Danes passing by the east parts of the land, as through Lindsey, Eastangle, +and Kent, slue and murthered an huge number of people. The next yéere after this, +they entered further into the land, and about Canturburie, Rochester, and London, did +much mischiefe.</p> +<p> +King Ethelwulfe in the fift yéere of his reigne, with a part of his armie incountred with +<span class="rightnote">Carrum.</span> +the Danes at Carrum, the which were arriued in those parties with 30 ships, hauing their +full fraught of men, so that for so small a number of vessels, there was a great power of +<span class="leftnote">The Danes wan the victorie in battell. Danes are vanquished. <i>Simon Dun.</i> 851.</span> +men of warre, in so much that they obteined the victorie at that time, and put the king to +the woorse. About the tenth yéere of king Ethelwulfs reigne, one of his capteins called +Ernwulfe, and bishop Adelstan, with the Summersetshire men, and an other capteine called +Osred, with the Dorsetshire men, fought against the Danes, at a place called Pedredesmuth, +and vanquished them with great triumph. In the sixtéenth yeere of his reigne, king Ethelwulfe +and his sonne Edelbald hauing assembled all their powers togither, gaue battell at +<span class="rightnote">Ocley. Two hundred and fiftie ships saith <i>Hen. Hunt.</i></span> +Ocley, to an huge host of Danes, the which with foure hundred and fiftie ships had arriued +at Thames mouth, and destroied the famous cities of London and Canturburie, and also had +chased Brightwulfe king of Mercia in battell, and being now entered into Southerie, were +incountered by king Ethelwulfe at Ocley aforesaid, & after sore fight and incredible slaughter +made on both sides, in the end, the victorie by the power of God was giuen to those that +beléeued on him, and the losse rested with great confusion to the miscreants.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The Danes eftsoones vanquished. <br />Danes ouercome by sea.</span> +Thus king Ethelwulfe obteined a glorious victorie in so mightie a battell, as a greater had +not beene lightlie heard of to chance within the English dominions. The same yeere also +Athelstan king of Kent and duke Ealhere fought by sea with the Danes, and tooke 9 of +their ships, and chased the residue. Moreouer, one earle Ceorle hauing with him the power +<span class="leftnote">The Deuonshire men vanquish the Danes.</span> +of Deuonshire, fought with the Danes at Winleshore, and got the victorie. This yéere was +verie luckie to the English nation, but yet the armie of the Danes lodged all the winter season +in the Ile of Tenet. And this was the first time that they remained héere all the winter, +vsing afore time but to come and make an inuasion in one place or other, and immediatlie to +returne home with the prey.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Simon Dun.</i> <br />852.</span> +In the 18 yeere of king Ethelwulfes reigne, he aided Burthred king of Mercia against<a name="page662" id="page662"></a><span class="page">[Page 662]</span> +the Welshmen (as before is mentioned) and gaue to him his daughter in marriage, the +solemnization whereof was kept at Chipnham. The same yéere king Ethelwulfe sent his +sonne Alured as then but fiue yeeres of age to Rome, where he was consecrated K. by +pope Leo the fourth, and was receiued of him as if he had beene his owne sonne. +Duke Ealhere or Eachere with the Kentishmen, and one Huda or rather Wada, with +<span class="rightnote">Great slaughter of Danes at Tenet.</span> +the men of Southerie, fought against the armie of Danes at Tenet, where great slaughter +was made on both sides, the Englishmen preuailing in the beginning, but in the end, both +their foresaid dukes or leaders died in that battell, beside manie other that were slaine and +drowned.</p> +<p> +In the 19 yéere of his reigne, king Ethelwulfe ordeined that the tenths or tithes of all +lands due to be paid to the church, should be frée from all tribute, duties, or seruices regall. +And afterwards, with great deuotion he went to Rome, where he was receiued with great +honour, and taried there one whole yéere: he tooke with him his sonne Alured, who had +<span class="rightnote">The Saxons schoole.</span> +béene there before as ye haue heard. He repaired the Saxons schoole, which Offa king of +Mercia had sometime founded in that citie, and latelie had béene sore decaied by fire. He +confirmed the grant of Peter pence, to the intent that no Englishmen from thence-foorth +<span class="leftnote">King Ethelwulfs liberalitie to churches. <br /><i>Will. Malmes.</i> <br /><i>Simon Dun.</i> <br />Mancusæ.</span> +should doo penance in bounds as he saw some there to doo before his face. It is also written, +that he should acquit all the churches of his realme of paieng tribute to his coffers (as before +ye haue heard) & moreouer couenanted to send vnto Rome euerie yéere three hundred +marks, that is to say, one hundred marks to saint Peters church, an other hundred marks +to saint Paules light, and the third hundred marks to the Pope.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The ladie Iudith.</span> +In his returne thorough France, he married the ladie Iudith, daughter to Charles the bald, +then K. of France, and bringing hir with him into his countrie, placed hir by him in a chaire +of estate, with which déed he offended so the minds of his subiects, bicause it was against +the order taken before him, for the offense of Ethelburga, that his sonne Ethelbald and +Adelstan bishop of Shireborne, with Enwulfe earle of Summerset, conspired to depose him +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +from his kinglie authoritie; but by mediation of friends, the matter was taken vp, and so +ordered, that the kingdome was diuided betwixt the father and the sonne, with such parcialitie, +that the sonne had the better part lieng westward, and the father was constreined +to content himselfe with the east part being the woorst.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">857.</span> +Of this trouble of Ethelwulfe some write otherwise, after this manner word for word. +¶ Ethelwulfe king of the Westsaxons being returned from Rome & the parties beyond +the seas, was prohibited the entrance into his realme by Adelstane bishop of Shireborne, +and Ethelbald his eldest sonne; pretending outwardlie the coronation of Alfride, +the mariage of Iudith the French kings daughter, and open eating with hir at the table, +to be the onelie cause of this their manifest rebellion. Whereby he séemeth to inferre, +that this reuolting of Adelstane and his son, should procéed of the ambitious desire of +Ethelbald to reigne, and likelie inough, or else this vnequall partition should neuer haue +béene made.</p> +<p> +But howsoeuer the matter stood, king Ethelwulfe liued not long after his returne from +Rome, but departed this life, after he had ruled the kingdome of the Westsaxons the space +of 20 yéeres and od moneths. His bodie was buried at Winchester. He left behind him +foure sonnes, Ethelbald, Ethelbert or Ethelbright, Ethelred, and Alsred or Alured, which +was begotten of his first wife Osburga. A little before his death he made his testament and +<span class="rightnote">Onelie Westsex saith <br /><i>Matt. Westm.</i> and <i>Sim. Dunel.</i> +saith that Ethelbright had Sussex also, and so dooth <br /><i>H. Hunt.</i> <br /><i>Matth. Paris.</i></span> +last will, appointing his sonne Ethelbald to succéed him in the whole regiment of his kingdoms +of Westsex and Sussex, which he held by inheritance: but the kingdoms of Kent and +Essex he assigned to his son Ethelbright. About the same time also the Danes soiourned all +the winter season in the Ile of Shepie.</p> +<p> +¶ The old Saxons doo bring the genealogie of this Ethelwulfe to Adam, after this maner +following.</p> +<a name="page663" id="page663"></a><span class="page">[Page 663]</span> +<table summary="Saxon genealogy of Ethelwulfe"> +<tr> + <td class="list"> +Ethelwulfe the sonne of Egbert, +<table summary="Saxon genealogy of Ethelwulfe"> +<tr> + <td class="list" width="30%" valign="top"> + +the son of Alcmund,<br /> +the son of Eaffa,<br /> +the son of Eoppa,<br /> +the son of Ingils,<br /> +the son of Kenred,<br /> +the son of Coelwald,<br /> +the son of Cudwine,<br /> +the son of Ceawlin,<br /> +the son of Kenric,<br /> +the son of Cerdic,<br /> +the son of Eslie,<br /> +the son of Gewise,<br /> +</td> + <td class="list" width="30%" valign="top"> +the son of Wingie,<br /> +the son of Freawin,<br /> +the son of Fridagare,<br /> +the son of Brendie,<br /> +the son of Beldegie,<br /> +the son of Woden,<br /> +the son of Frethelwold,<br /> +the son of Freolaffe,<br /> +the son of Frethewolfe,<br /> +the son of Finnie,<br /> +the son of Godulfe,<br /> +the son of *Geta,<br /> +</td> + <td class="list" width="30%" valign="top"> +the son of Teathwie,<br /> +the son of Beame,<br /> +the son of Sceldie,<br /> +the son of Seafe,<br /> +the son of Heremod,<br /> +the son of Itermod,<br /> +the son of Hordie,<br /> +the son of Wale,<br /> +the son of Bedwie,<br /> +the son of Sem,<br /> +the son of Noah,<br /> + +and so foorth to Adam, as you +</td> +</tr> +</table> +<span class="rightnote"><i>*De quo Sedulius in car. pasch</i></span> + + +shall find it by retrogradation from the 32 verse vnto the first of the fift chapter of Genesis. +Which genealogicall recapitulation in their nationall families and tribes, other people also +haue obserued; as the Spaniards, who reckon their descent from Hesperus, before the +Gothes and Moors ouerran their land; the Italians from Aeneas, before they were mingled +with the Vandals and Lumbards; the Saxons from Woden, before they were mixed with +the Danes and Normans; the Frenchmen at this day from the Thracians; the Germans +<span class="rightnote"><i>Iohn Castor.</i> <br /><i>Simon Dun.</i> <br /><i>Matt. Parker.</i> <br /> +A kings son and heire a bishop.</span> +from the children of Gwiston; and other people from their farre fetcht ancestrie. To conclude, +of this Ethelwulfe it is written, that he was so well learned & deuout, that the clerks +of the church of Winchester did chuse him in his youth to be bishop, which function he +vndertooke, and was bishop of the said see by the space of seuen yéeres before he was +king. +</td> +</tr> +</table> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + <p><a name="eleuenth6" id="eleuenth6"></a> + <i>Bertwolfe king of Mercia tributarie to the Westsaxons, the fame of Modwen an Irish virgine, +she was a great builder of monasteries, she had the gift of healing diseases, Ethelbald +and Ethelbright diuide their fathers kingdome betwixt them, Ethelbald marieth his +mother, he dieth, Winchester destroied by the Danes, they plaied the trucebreakers and +did much mischiefe in Kent, Ethelbright dieth; Ethelred king of the Westsaxons, his +commendable qualities, his regiment was full of trouble, he fought against the Danes +nine times in one yere with happie successe, the kings of Mercia fall from their fealtie +and allegiance to Ethelred; Hungar & Vbba two Danish capteines with their power lie +in Eastangle, Osbright and Ella kings of Northumberland slaine of the Danes in battell, +they set Yorke on fire, a commendation of bishop Adelstan, his departure out of this life.</i></p> + +<h3>THE ELEUENTH CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Bertwolfe. of Mercia.</span> +After Wightlafe king of Mercia, one Bertwolfe reigned as tributarie vnto the Westsaxons, +the space of 13 yeeres, about the end of which tearme he was chased out of his +countrie by the Danes, and then one Burthred was made king of that kingdome, which +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matt. West.</i> saith the daughter. <br /><i>Ranulf. Cest.</i> <br /><i>Iohn Capgraue.</i></span> +maried Ethelswida the sister of Ethelwolfe king of Westsaxons. In this season, one Modwen +a virgine in Ireland was greatlie renowmed in the world, vnto whome the forenamed +king Ethelwolfe sent his sonne Alfred to be cured of a disease, that was thought incurable: +but by hir meanes he recouered health, and therefore when hir monasterie was destroied in +Ireland, Modwen came ouer into England, vnto whom king Ethelwolfe gaue land to build +two abbeies, and also deliuered vnto hir his sister Edith to be professed a nun. Modwen +herevpon built two monasteries, one at Pouleswoorth, ioining to the bounds of Arderne, +wherein she placed the foresaid Edith, with Osith and Athea: the other, whether it was a +monasterie or cell, she founded in Strenshall or Trentsall, where she hir selfe remained solitarie<a name="page664" id="page664"></a><span class="page">[Page 664]</span> +a certeine time in praier, and other vertuous exercises. And (as it is reported) she +went thrice to Rome, and finallie died, being 130 yéeres of age. Hir bodie was first buried +in an Iland compassed about with the riuer of Trent called Andresey, taking that name of +a church or chappell of saint Andrew, which she had built in the same Iland, and dwelled +therein for the space of seuen yéeres. Manie monasteries she builded, both in England (as +partlie aboue is mentioned) and also in Scotland, as at Striueling, Edenbrough; and in Ireland, +at Celestline, and elsewhere.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">ETHELBALD AND ETHELBRIGHT. 857.</span> +Ethelbald and Ethelbright diuiding their fathers kingdom betwixt them, began to +reigne, Ethelbald ouer the Westsaxons and the Southsaxons, and Ethelbright ouer them of +Kent and Essex, in the yéere of our Lord 857, which was in the second yéere of the emperor +Lewes the second, & the 17 of Charles surnamed Caluus or the bald king of France, +and about the first yéere of Donald the fift of that name king of Scots. The said Ethelbald +<span class="rightnote">The vnlawful mariage of Ethelbald. <br /><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +greatlie to his reproch tooke to wife his mother in law quéene Iudith, or rather (as some +write) his owne mother, whom his father had kept as concubine. He liued not past fiue +yéeres in gouernement of the kingdome, but was taken out of this life to the great sorrow +of his subiects whome he ruled right worthilie, and so as they had him in great loue and +estimation. Then his brother Ethelbright tooke on him the rule of the whole gouernment, +as well ouer the Westsaxons & them of Sussex, as ouer the Kentishmen and them of +Essex.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hen. Hunt.</i> Winchester destroied by Danes.</span> +In his daies the Danes came on land, and destroid the citie of Winchester: but duke +Osrike with them of Hamshire, and duke Adelwolfe with the Barkeshire men gaue the +<span class="leftnote">Danes vanquished.</span> +enimies battell, & vanquishing them, slue of them a great number. In the fift yeere of +Ethelbrights reigne, a nauie of Danes arriued in the Ile of Tenet, vnto whome when the +Kentishmen had promised a summe of monie to haue a truce granted for a time, the Danes +one night, before the tearme of that truce was expired, brake foorth and wasted all the east +part of Kent: wherevpon the Kentishmen assembled togither, made towardes those trucebreakers, +and caused them to depart out of the countrie. The same yéere, after that Ethelbright +had ruled well and peaceably the Westsaxons fiue yeeres, and the Kentishmen ten +yéeres, he ended his life, and was buried at Shireborne, as his brother Ethelbald was before +him.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">ETHELRED. <br />867.</span> +After Ethelbright succéeded his brother Ethelred, and began his reigne ouer the +Westsaxons and the more part of the English people, in the yéere of our Lord 867, and +in the 12 yéere of the emperour Lewes, in the 27 yéere of the reigne of Charles Caluus +king of France, and about the 6 yéere of Constantine the second king of Scots. Touching +this Ethelred, he was in time of peace a most courteous prince, and one that by all kind of +meanes sought to win the hearts of the people: but abroad in the warres he was sharpe and +sterne, as he that vnderstood what apperteined to good order, so that he would suffer no +offense to escape vnpunished. By which meanes he was famous both in peace and warre: +but he neither liued any long time in the gouernement, nor yet was suffered to passe the short +space that he reigned in rest and quietnesse.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Foure yéeres six moneths saith <br /><i>Harison.</i> <br /><i>Wil. Malm.</i> +Ethelred fought with the Danes nine times in one yéere.</span> +For whereas he reigned not past six yeeres, he was continuallie during that tearme vexed +with the inuasion of the Danes, and speciallie towards the latter end, insomuch that (as hath +béene reported of writers) he fought with them nine times in one yéere: and although with +diuers and variable fortune, yet for the more part he went away with the victorie. Beside +that, he oftentimes lay in wait for their forragers, and such as straied abroad to rob and spoile +the countrie, whom he met withall and ouerthrew. There were slaine in his time nine +earles of those Danes, and one king, beside other of the meaner sort without number.</p> +<p> +But here is to be vnderstood, that in this meane time, whilest Ethelred was busied in +warre to resist the inuasions of the Danes in the south and west parts of this land, the kings +<span class="rightnote">The kings of Mercia and Northumberland neglect their duties.</span> +and rulers of Mercia and Northumberland taking occasion therof, began to withdraw their<a name="page665" id="page665"></a><span class="page">[Page 665]</span> +couenanted subiection from the Westsaxons, and tooke vpon them as it were the absolute +gouernment and rule of their countries, without respect to aid one another, but rather were +contented to susteine the enimies within their dominions, than to preuent the iniurie with +dutifull assistance to those, whom by allegiance they were bound to serue and obeie.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The Danes grow in puisance.</span> +By reason hereof, the Danes without resistance grew into greater power amongst them, +whilest the inhabitants were still put in feare each day more than other, and euerie late gotten +victorie by the enimies by the increase of prisoners, ministred occasion of some other conquest +to follow. Euen about the beginning of Ethelreds reigne, there arriued vpon the English +<span class="rightnote">Hungar and Vbba.</span> +coasts an huge armie of the Danes, vnder the conduct of two renowmed capteins Hungar +and Vbba, men of maruellous strength and valiancie, but both of them passing cruell of +nature. They lay all the winter season in Estangle, compounding with them of the countrie +for truce vpon certeine conditions, sparing for a time to shew their force for quietnesse sake.</p> +<p> +In the second yéere of king Ethelred, the said capteins came with their armies into Yorkshire, +finding the country vnprouided of necessarie defense bicause of the ciuill discord that +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hen. Hunt.</i> <br />King Osbright deposed and Ella placed.</span> +reigned among the Northumbers, the which had latelie expelled king Osbright, that had the +gouernement of those parts, and placed one Ella in his roome: howbeit now they were +constreined to reuoke him home againe, and sought to accord him and Ella. But it was +long yer that might be brought to passe, notwithstanding yet at length they were made +friends, by reason of this inuasion attempted by forren enimies, and then raising their powers +they came to Yorke, where the Danes, hauing wasted the countrie euen to the riuer of +Tine, were lodged.</p> +<p> +The English host entring the citie, began to fight with the Danes, by reason whereof a +<span class="rightnote">Osbright and Ella kings of Northumberland slaine.</span> +sore battell insued betwixt them: but in the end the two kings Osbright and Ella were +slaine, and a great number of the Northumbers, what within the citie, and what without lost +their liues at that time, the residue were constreined to take truce with the Danes. This +<span class="leftnote">It must be vpon the 10 kalends of Aprill, or else it will not concurre with Palmsunday. +<br />Sée <i>Mat. West.</i></span> +battell was fought the 21 day of March being in Lent, on the Friday before Palmsunday, in +the yere 657.</p> +<p> +¶ Some haue written otherwise of this battell, reporting that the Northumbers calling +home king Osbright (whome before they had banished) incountred with the Danes in the +field, without the walles of Yorke, but they were easilie beaten backe, and chased into the citie, +<span class="rightnote">Yorke burnt by Danes.</span> +the which by the Danes pursuing the victorie, was set on fier and burnt, togither with the +king and people that were fled into it for succour. How soeuer it came about, certeine it +is, that the Danes got the victorie, and now hauing subdued the Northumbers, appointed +one Egbert to reigne ouer them as king, vnder their protection, which Egbert reigned in +that sort six yeares ouer those which inhabited beyond the riuer of Tine. In the same yeare, +Adelstane bishop of Shireborne departed this life, hauing gouerned that sée the terme of 50 +<span class="rightnote">The commendation of Adelstan bishop of Shirborne.</span> +yeares. This Adelstane was a man of high wisedome, and one that had borne no small rule +in the kingdome of the Westsaxons, as hereby it may be coniectured, that when king Ethelwulfe +returned from Rome, he would not suffer him to be admitted king, because he had +doone in certeine points contrarie to the ordinances and lawes of the same kingdome, wherevpon +by this bishops means Ethelbald the sonne of the same king Ethelwulfe was established +king, and so continued till by agréement the kingdome was diuided betwixt them, as before +is mentioned. Finallie, he greatlie inriched the sée of Shireborne, and yet though he was +<span class="rightnote">Bishop Adelstan couetous. <br /><i>Hen. Hunt.</i></span> +feruentlie set on couetousnesse, he was neuerthelesse verie free and liberall in gifts: which +contrarie extremities so ill matched, though in him (the time wherein he liued being considered) +they might seeme somewhat tollerable; yet simplie & in truth they were vtterlie repugnant +to the law of the spirit, which biddeth that none should doo euill that good may +come thereof. Against which precept because Adelstane could not but offend in the heat +of his couetousnes, which is termed the root of all mischiefe, though he was excéeding +bountifull and large in distributing the wealth he had gréedilie gotten togither, he must néeds +incur reprehension. But this is so much the lesse to be imputed vnto him as a fault, by<a name="page666" id="page666"></a><span class="page">[Page 666]</span> +how much he was ignorant what (by the rule of equitie and conscience) was requirable in a +christian man, or one of his vocation.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + + +<p><a name="twelft6" id="twelft6"></a> +<i>Burthred king of Mercia with aid beseegeth the Danes in Notingham, Basreeg and Halden +two Danish kings with their powers inuade the Westsaxons, they are incountred by Ethelwulfe +earle of Barkeshire; King Ethelred giueth them and their cheefe guides a sore +discomfiture; what Polydor Virgil recordeth touching one Iuarus king of the Danes, and +the warres that Ethelred had with them, his death; Edmund king of Eastangles giueth +battell to the Danes, he yeeldeth himselfe, and for christian religion sake is by them most +cruellie murthered, the kingdome of the Eastangles endeth, Guthrun a Dane gouerneth +the whole countrie, K. Osbright rauisheth the wife of one Bearne a noble man, a bloodie +battell insueth therevpon, wherein Osbright and Ella are slaine.</i></p> + +<h3>THE TWELFT CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">BURTHRED king of Mercia.</span> +In the yeare following, that is to say, in the third yéere of Ethelreds reigne, he with his +brother Alured went to aid Burthred king of Mercia, against the two foresaid Danish capteines +Hungar and Vbba, the which were entred into Mercia, and had woon the towne for +the winter season. Wherevpon the foresaid Ethelred and Burthred with their powers came +<span class="leftnote">Danes besieged in Notingham.</span> +to Notingham, and besieged the Danes within it. The Danes perceiuing themselues in danger, +made suite for a truce & abstinence from war, which they obteined, and then departed +backe to Yorke, where they soiourned the most part of all that yeare.</p> +<p> +In the sixt yeare of king Ethelreds reigne, a new armie of great force and power came +<span class="rightnote">Basreeg and Halden.</span> +into the countrie of the Westsaxons vnder two leaders or kings of the Danes, Basréeg and +Halden. They lodged at Reding with their maine armie, and within thrée daies after the +<span class="leftnote">Edelwulfe, erle of Barkshire fought at Englefield with the Danes.</span> +earle of Berrockshire Edelwulfe fought at Englefield with two earles of those Danes, vanquished +them, and slue the one of those earles, whose name was Sidroc. After this king +Ethelred and his brother Alured came with a great host vnto Reding, and there gaue battell +vnto the armie of Danes, so that an huge number of people died on both parts, but the +Danes had the victorie.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The Danes wan the victory at Reading.</span> +After this also king Ethelred and his brother Alured fought againe with those Danes at +Aschdon, where the armies on both sides were diuided into two parts, so that the two Danish +kings lead the one part of their armie, & certeine of their earles lead the other part. +Likewise on the English side king Ethelred was placed with one part of the host against +the Danish kings, and Alured with the other part was appointed to incounter with the earles. +Herevpon they being on both parts readie to giue battell, the euening comming on caused +them to deferre it till the morow. And so earlie in the morning when the armies should +ioine, king Ethelred staied in his tent to heare diuine seruice, whilest his brother vpon a +forward courage hasted to incounter his enimies, the which receiued him so sharplie, and +with so cruell fight, that at length, the Englishmen were at point to haue turned their backs. +But herewith came king Ethelred and manfullie ended the battell, staied his people from +running away, and so encouraged them, and discouraged the enimies, that by the power of +God (whom as was thought in the morning he had serued) the Danes finallie were chased +<span class="rightnote">The Danes discomfited.</span> +and put to flight, losing one of their kings (that is to say) Basreeg or Osreeg, and 5 earles, +Sidroc the elder, and Sidroc the yoonger, Osberne, Freine, and Harold. This battell was +sore foughten, and continued till night, with the slaughter of manie thousands of Danes. +About 14 daies after, king Ethelred and his brother Alured fought eftsoones with the +<span class="rightnote">A battell at Merton.</span> +Danish armie at Basing, where the Danes had the victorie. Also two moneths after this<a name="page667" id="page667"></a><span class="page">[Page 667]</span> +they likewise fought with the Danes at Merton. And there the Danes, after they had béene +put to the woorse, & pursued in chase a long time, yet at length they also got the victorie, +<span class="leftnote">He was bishop of Shireborne as <i>Matt. West.</i> saith.</span> +in which battell Edmund bishop of Shireborne was slaine, and manie other that were men +of woorthie fame and good account.</p> +<p> +In the summer following, a mightie host of the Danes came to Reading, and there soiourned +<span class="rightnote"><i>Polyd. Virg.</i> Iuarus.</span> +for a time. ¶ These things agrée not with that which Polydor Virgil hath written +of these warres which king Ethelred had with the Danes: for he maketh mention of one +Iuarus a king of the Danes, who landed (as he writeth) at the mouth of Humber, and like +a stout enimie inuaded the countrie adioining. Against whome Ethelred with his brother +Alured came with an armie, and incountring the Danes, fought with them by the space of a +whole day togither, and was in danger to haue béene put to the woorse, but that the night +seuered them asunder. In the morning they ioined againe: but the death of Iuarus, who +chanced to be slaine in the beginning of the battell, discouraged the Danes, so that they +<span class="leftnote">Danes put to flight.</span> +were easilie put to flight, of whome (before they could get out of danger) a great number +were slaine. But after that they had recouered themselues togither, and found but a conuenient +<span class="rightnote">Agnerus and Hubba.</span> +place where to pitch their campe, they chose to their capteines Agnerus, and Hubba, +two brethren, which indeuored themselues by all meanes possible to repaire their armie: so +that within 15 daies after, the Danes eftsoones fought with the Englishmen, and gaue them +such an ouerthrow, that little wanted of making an end of all incounters to be attempted +after by the Englishmen.</p> +<p> +But yet within a few daies after this, as the Danes attended their market to spoile the +countrie and range somewhat licentiouslie abroad, they fell within the danger of such ambushes +as were laid for them by king Ethelred, that no small slaughter was made of them, +but yet not without some losse of the Englishmen. Amongest others, Ethelred himselfe +receiued a wound, whereof he shortlie after died. Thus saith Polydor touching the warres +which king Ethelred had with the Danes, who yet confesseth (as the trueth is) that such +authors as he herein followed, varie much from that which the Danish writers doo record +of these matters, and namelie touching the dooings of Iuarus, as in the Danish historie you +may sée more at large.</p> +<p> +But now to our purpose touching the death of king Ethelred, whether by reason of hurt +receiued in fight against the Danes (as Polydor saith) or otherwise, certeine it is, that Ethelred +<span class="rightnote">Winborne abbeie.</span> +anon after Easter departed this life, in the sixt yeare of his reigne, and was buried at Winborne +<span class="leftnote">Agnerus. <br /><i>Fabian.</i> <br />870. <br />Edmund K. of the Eastangles.</span> +abbey. In the daies of this Ethelred, the foresaid Danish capteins, Hungar, otherwise +called Agnerus, and Hubba returning from the north parts into the countrie of the Eastangles, +came vnto Thetford, whereof Edmund, who reigned as king in that season ouer the +Eastangles, being aduertised, raised an armie of men, and went foorth to giue battell vnto +this armie of the Danes. But he with his people was chased out of the field, and fled to +<span class="rightnote">Framingham castell. <br />King Edmund shot to death.</span> +the castell of Framingham, where being enuironed with a siege by his enimies, he yéelded +himselfe vnto them. And because he would not renounce the christian faith, they bound +him to a trée, and shot arrowes at him till he died: and afterwards cut off his head from his +bodie, and threw the same into a thicke groue of bushes. But afterwards his friends tooke +<span class="rightnote">Eglesdon.</span> +the bodie with the head, and buried the same at Eglesdon: where afterward also a faire +monasterie was builded by one bishop Aswin, and changing the name of the place, it was +after called saint Edmundsburie. Thus was king Edmund put to death by the cruell Danes +for his constant confessing the name of Christ, in the 16 yeare of his reigne, and so ceased +<span class="leftnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i> Eastangles without a gouernour.</span> +the kingdome of Eastangles. For after that the Danes had thus slaine that blessed man, +they conquered all the countrie, & wasted it, so that through their tyrannie it remained without +anie gouernor by the space of nine yeares, and then they appointed a king to rule ouer +<span class="rightnote">Guthrun a Dane king of Eastangles.</span> +it, whose name was Guthrun, one of their owne nation, who gouerned both the Eastangles +and the Eastsaxons.</p> +<p> +Ye haue heard how the Danes slue Osrike and Ella kings of Northumberland. After +which victorie by them obteined, they did much hurt in the north parts of this land, and<a name="page668" id="page668"></a><span class="page">[Page 668]</span> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Polychron.</i></span> +amongest other cruell deeds, they destroied the citie of Acluid, which was a famous citie in +the time of the old Saxons, as by Beda and other writers dooth manifestlie appeare. Here +<span class="rightnote"><i>Caxton.</i></span> +is to be remembred, that some writers rehearse the cause to be this. Osbright or Osrike +king of Northumberland rauished the wife of one Berne that was a noble man of the countrie +about Yorke, who tooke such great despight thereat, that he fled out of the land, and went +into Denmarke, and there complained vnto the king of Denmarke his coosin of the iniurie +doone to him by king Osbright. Wherevpon the king of Denmarke, glad to haue so iust +a quarell against them of Northumberland, furnished foorth an armie, and sent the same by +sea (vnder the leading of his two brethren Hungar and Hubba) into Northumberland, +where they slue first the said king Osbright, and after king Ella, at a place besides Yorke, +which vnto this day is called Ellas croft, taking that name of the said Ella, being there +slaine in defense of his countrie against the Danes. Which Ella (as we find registred by +writers) was elected king by such of the Northumbers, as in fauour of Berne had refused +to be subiect vnto Osbright.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<p><a name="xiij6" id="xiij6"></a> +<i>Alfred ruleth ouer the Westsaxons and the greatest part of England, the Danes afflict him +with sore warre, and cruellie make wast of his kingdome, they lie at London a whole +winter, they inuade Mercia, the king whereof (Burthred by name) forsaketh his countrie +and goeth to Rome, his death and buriall; Halden king of the Danes diuideth Northumberland +among his people; Alfred incountreth with the Danes vpon the sea, they +sweare to him that they will depart out of his kingdome, they breake the truce which was +made betwixt him and them, he giueth them battell, and (besides a great discomfiture) +killeth manie of their capteines, the Danes and English fight neere Abington, the victorie +vncerteine, seuen foughten fieldes betwixt them in one yeare, the Danes soiourne at +London.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XIIJ. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">ALURED OR ALFRED. <br />871. as <br /><i>Mat. West.</i> & <br /><i>Sim. Dunelmen.</i> doo note it. <br /><i>Henr. Hunt.</i></span> +After the decease of king Ethelred, his brother Alured or Alfred succéeded him, and +began his reigne ouer the Westsaxons, and other the more part of the people of England, +in the yeare of our Lord 872, which was in the 19 yeare of the emperour Lewes the second, +and 32 yeare of the reigne of Charles the bald, king of France, and about the eleuenth +yeare of Constantine the second king of Scotland. Although this Alured was consecrated +king in his fathers life time by pope Leo (as before ye haue heard) yet was he not admitted +king at home, till after the decease of his thrée elder brethren: for he being the yoongest, +was kept backe from the gouernement, though he were for his wisdome and policie most +highlie estéemed and had in all honour.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Alured persecuted by Danes. <br /><i>Matt. Westm.</i></span> +In the beginning of his reigne he was wrapped in manie great troubles and miseries, speciallie +by the persecution of the Danes, which made sore and greeuous wars in sundrie parts +of this land, destroieng the same in most cruell wise. About a moneth after he was made +<span class="leftnote">The Danes obteine the victorie.</span> +king, he gaue battell to the Danes of Wilton, hauing with him no great number of people, +so that although in the beginning the Danes that day were put to the woorse, yet in the end +they obteined the victorie. Shortlie after, a truce was taken betwixt the Danes and the Westsaxons. +<span class="rightnote">The Danes wintered at London. <br />874.</span> +And the Danes that had lien at Reading, remoued from thence vnto London, where +they lay all the winter season. In the second yeare of Alured his reigne, the Danish king +Halden led the same armie from London into Lindseie, and there lodged all that winter at +<span class="leftnote">Repton.</span> +Torkseie. In the yeare following, the same Halden inuaded Mercia, and wintered at Ripindon. +There were come to him thrée other leaders of Danes which our writers name to be +<span class="rightnote">Burthred king of Mercia.</span> +kings, Godrun, Esketell, & Ammond, so that their power was greatlie increased. Burthred +king of Mercia which had gouerned that countrie by the space of 22 yéeres, was not able<a name="page669" id="page669"></a><span class="page">[Page 669]</span> +to withstand the puissance of those enimies: wherevpon he was constreined to auoid the +countrie, and went to Rome, where he departed this life, and was buried in the church of +our ladie, néere to the English schoole.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">875.</span> +In the fourth yeare of king Alured the armie of the Danes diuided it selfe into two parts, +so that king Halden with one part thereof went into Northumberland, and lay in the winter, +<span class="leftnote">The Danes <br />went into Northumberland.</span> +season néere to the riuer of Tine, where hee diuided the countrie amongest his men, and +remained there for the space of two yeares, and oftentimes fetched thither booties and preis +out of the countrie of the Picts. The other part of the Danish armie with the thrée foresaid +<span class="rightnote">The Danes at Cambridge. <br />876.</span> +kings or leaders came vnto Cambridge, and remained there a whole yeare. In the same +yeare king Alured fought by sea with 7 ships of Danes, tooke one of them, & chased the +residue. In the yeare next insuing, the Danes came into the countrie of the Westsaxons, +and king Alured tooke truce with them againe, and they sware to him (which they had not +<span class="rightnote">The Danes tooke an oth. <br /><i>Hen. Hunt.</i></span> +vsed to doo to anie afore that time) that they would depart the countrie. Their armie by sea +sailing from Warham toward Excester, susteined great losse by tempest, for there perished +120 ships at Swanewicke.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The Danes went to Excester.</span> +Moreouer the armie of the Danes by land went to Excester in breach of the truce, and +king Alured followed them, but could not ouertake them till they came to Excester, and +there he approched them in such wise, that they were glad to deliuer pledges for performance +<span class="rightnote"><i>Henr. Hunt.</i></span> +of such couenants as were accorded betwixt him and them. And so then they departed +out of the countrie, and drew into Mercia. But shortlie after, when they had the +whole gouernment of the land, from Thames northward, they thought it not good to suffer +king Alured to continue in rest with the residue of the countries beyond Thames. And +therefore the thrée foresaid rulers of Danes, Godrun, Esketell, and Ammond, inuading the +countrie of Westsaxons came to Chipnam, distant 17 miles from Bristow, & there pitched their +<span class="rightnote">877.</span> +tents.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Polydor.</i></span> +King Alured aduertised hereof, hasted thither, and lodging with his armie néere to the +enimies, prouoked them to battell. The Danes perceiuing that either they must fight for +their liues, or die with shame, boldlie came foorth, and gaue battell. The Englishmen rashlie +incountered with them, and though they were ouermatched in number, yet with such violence +they gaue the onset, that the enimies at the first were abashed at their hardie assaults. But +when as it was perceiued that their slender ranks were not able to resist the thicke leghers +of the enimies, they began to shrinke & looke backe one vpon an other, and so of force +were constrained to retire: and therewithal did cast themselues into a ring, which though it +séemed to be the best way that could be deuised for their safetie, yet by the great force and +number of their enimies on each side assailing them, they were so thronged togither on heaps, +that they had no roome to stir their weapons. Which disaduantage notwithstanding, they +<span class="rightnote">Hubba slaine.</span> +slue a great number of the Danes, and amongest other, Hubba the brother of Agner, with +manie other of the Danish capteins. At length the Englishmen hauing valiantlie foughten a +long time with the enimies, which had compassed them about, at last brake out and got +<span class="rightnote">The victorie doubtful.</span> +them to their campe. To be briefe, this battell was foughten with so equall fortune, that no +man knew to whether part the victorie ought to be ascribed. But after they were once +seuered, they tooke care to cure their hurt men, and to burie the dead bodies, namelie the +Danes interred the bodie of their capteine Hubba with great funerall pompe and solemnitie: +<span class="rightnote">Abington.</span> +which doone, they held out their iournie till they came to Abington, whither the English +armie shortlie after came also, and incamped fast by the enimies.</p> +<p> +In this meane while, the rumor was spread abroad that king Alured had béene discomfited +by the Danes, bicause that in the last battell he withdrew to his campe. This turned +greatlie to his aduantage: for thereby a great number of Englishmen hasted to come to his +<span class="rightnote">The Danes and Englishmen fight néer to Abington.</span> +succour. On the morrow after his comming to Abington, he brought his armie readie to +fight into the field: neither were the enimies slacke, on their parts to receiue the battell, and +so the two armies ioined and fought verie sore on both sides: so that it séemed the Englishmen +men had not to doo with those Danes, which had béene diuerse times before discomfited and<a name="page670" id="page670"></a><span class="page">[Page 670]</span> +put to flight, but rather with some new people fresh and lustie. But neither the one part nor +the other was minded to giue ouer: in so much that the horssemen alighting on foot, and +putting their horsses from them, entered the battell amongst the footmen, and thus they continued +with equall aduantage till night came on, which parted the affraie, being one of the +<span class="rightnote">Vncerteine victorie Thus farre <i>Polydor.</i></span> +sorest foughten fields that had beene heard of in those daies. To whether partie a man might +iustlie attribute the victorie, it was vtterlie vncerteine, with so like losse & gaine the matter +was tried & ended betwixt them. With the semblable chance of danger and glorie seuen +<span class="rightnote"><i>Ran. Higd.</i></span> +times that yéere did the English and Danes incounter in battell, as writers haue recorded. +<span class="leftnote"><br />A peace agreed vpon.</span> +At length, when their powers on both parts were sore diminished, they agréed vpon a peace, +with these conditions, that the Danes should not attempt anie further warre against the Englishmen, +nor bring into this land anie new supplie of souldiers out of Denmarke. But this +peace by those peacemakers was violated and broken, in so much as they ment nothing lesse +than to fall from the conceiued hope which they had of bearing rule in this land, and of +inriching themselues with the goods, possessions, rents and reuenues of the inhabitants. +<span class="rightnote">The Danes sojourned at London.</span> +The same yéere the Danes soiorned in the winter season at London, according as they had +doone often times before.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<p><a name="xiiij6" id="xiiij6"></a> +<i>Rollo a noble man of Denmarke with a fresh power entreth England, and beginneth to +waste it, king Alured giueth him batell, Rollo saileth ouer into France; who first inhabited +Normandie, and whereof it tooke that name; the Danes breake the peace which +was made betwixt them and Alured, he is driuen to his shifts by their inuasions into his +kingdome, a vision appeereth to him and his mother; king Alured disguising himselfe +like a minstrell entereth the Danish campe, marketh their behauiour unsuspected, assalteth +them on the sudden with a fresh power, and killeth manie of them at aduantage; the +Deuonshire men giue the Danes battell vnder the conduct of Haldens brother, and are +discomfited; Alured fighteth with them at Edanton, they giue him hostages, Gurthrun +their king is baptised and named Adelstan, a league concluded betwixt both the kings, +the bounds of Alureds kingdome.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XIIIJ. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Ann. 876. saith <br /><i>Simon Dun.</i></span> +About the same time, or shortlie after, there came into England one Rollo, a noble +man of Denmarke or Norway, with a great armie, and (notwithstanding the peace concluded +betweene the Englishmen and the Danes) began to waste and destroy the countrie. King +Alured hearing these newes, with all spéed thought best in the beginning to stop such a common +mischiefe, and immediatlie assembling his people, went against the enimies, and gaue +them battell, in the which there died a great number of men on both sides, but the greater +losse fell to Rollo his armie. Yet Matthew Westmin. saith that the Englishmen were put to +flight. After this, it chanced that Rollo being warned in a dreame, left England, & sailed +ouer into France, where he found fortune so fauourable to him, that he obteined in that +<span class="rightnote">30 yéeres after this he was baptised.</span> +region for him and his people a countrie, the which was afterwards named Normandie, of +those northerne people which then began to inhabit the same, as in the histories of France +you maie sée more at large.</p> +<p> +The Danes which had concluded peace with king Alured (as before you haue heard) shortlie +after vpon the first occasion, brake the same, and by often inuasions which they made into +the countrie of Westsaxons, brought the matter to that passe, that there remained to king Alured +<span class="rightnote">King Alured driuen to his shifts.</span> +but onlie the three countries of Hamshire, Wiltshire, & Summersetshire, in so much that +he was constreined for a time to kéepe himselfe close within the fennes and maresh grounds +of Summersetshire, with such small companies as he had about him, constreined to get their<a name="page671" id="page671"></a><span class="page">[Page 671]</span> +liuing with fishing, hunting, and other such shifts. He remained for the most part within +<span class="leftnote">Edlingsey.</span> +an Ile called Edlingsey, that is to say, the Iland of noble men, enuironed about with fennes +and mareshes.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">A vision if it be true.</span> +Whiles he was thus shut vp within this Iland, he was by dreame aduertised of better hap +shortlie to follow: for as it hath béene said, saint Cuthbert appéered to him as he laie in +sléepe, and comforted him, declaring to him, that within a while fortune should so turne, +that he should recouer againe his kingdome to the confusion of his enimies. And to assure +him that this should prooue true, he told him that his men which were gone abroad to catch +fish, should bring home great plentie, although the season was against them, by reason that the +waters were frosen, and that a cold rime fell that morning, to the hinderance of their purpose. +His mother also at that time being in sleepe, saw the like vision. And as they had +dreamed, so it came to passe: for being awakened out of their sleepe, in came his men with +so great foison of fish, that the same might haue sufficed a great armie of men, for the vittelling +of them at that season.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">King Alured disguiseth himselfe. <i>Polydor, Fabian.</i></span> +Shortlie after, king Alured tooke vpon him the habit of a minstrell, and going foorth of +his closure, repaired to the campe of the Danish king, onelie accompanied with one trustie +seruant, and tarrieng there certeine daies togither, was suffered to go into euerie part, and +plaie on his instrument, as well afore the king as others, so that there was no secret, but +that he vnderstood it. Now when he had séene and learned the demeanour of his enimies, +he returned againe to his people at Edlingsey, and there declared to his nobles what he had +séene and heard, what negligence was amongst the enimies, and how easie a matter it should +be for him to indamage them. Wherevpon they conceiuing a maruellous good hope, and +imboldened with his words, a power was assembled togither, and spies sent foorth to learne +and bring woord where the Danes lodged: which being doone, and certificat made accordinglie, +<span class="rightnote"><i>Henr. Hunt.</i> 877.</span> +king Alured comming vpon them on the sudden, slue of them a great number, +hauing them at great aduantage.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">878.</span> +About the same time the brother of king Halden came with thirtie and three ships out of +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matth. West.</i></span> +Wales into the countrie of Westsaxons, on the coast of Deuonshire, where the Deuonshire +men gaue him battell, and slue him with 840 persons of his retinue. Other write, that +Halden himselfe was present at this conflict, with Inguare, otherwise called Hungar, and +<span class="rightnote"><i>Simon Dun.</i></span> +that they were both slaine there, with twelue hundred of their companie (before a certeine +castell called Kinwith) receiuing as they had deserued for their cruell dealing latelie by them +practised in the parties of Southwales, where they had wasted all afore them with fire and +swoord, not sparing abbeies more than other common buildings.</p> +<p> +King Alured being with that good lucke the more comforted, builded a fortresse in the Ile +<span class="rightnote">Athelney.</span> +of Edlingsey, afterwards called Athelney, and breaking out oftentimes vpon the enimies, +distressed them at sundrie times with the aid of the Summersetshire men, which were at +hand. About the seuenth wéeke after Easter, in the seuenth yéere of his reigne, king +Alured went to Eglerighston, on the east part of Selwood, where there came to him the people +of Summersetshire, Wiltshire, & Hamshire, reioising greatlie to sée him abroad. From +<span class="rightnote">Edantdune. <br />This battell should séeme the same that <i>Polydor</i> speaketh of +fought at Abingdon. <i>Polychron. <br />Iohn Pike.</i></span> +thence he went to Edanton, & there fought against the armie of the Danes, and chased them +vnto their strength, where he remained afore them the space of fouretéene daies. Then the +armie of the Danes deliuered him hostages and couenants to depart out of his dominions, +and that their king should be baptised, which was accomplished: for Gurthrun, whome +<span class="leftnote">Gurthrun or Gurmund baptised, and named Adelstan is made king of Eastangle.</span> +some name Gurmond, a prince or king amongst these Danes, came to Alured and was +baptised, king Alured receiuing him at the fontstone, named him Adelstan, and gaue to +him the countrie of Eastangle, which he gouerned (or rather spoiled) by the space of twelue +yéeres.</p> +<p> +Diuerse other of the Danish nobilitie to the number of thirtie (as Simon Dunelmensis saith) +came at the same time in companie of their king Gurthrun, and were likewise baptised, on +whòme king Alured bestowed manie rich gifts. At the same time (as is to be thought) was +the league concluded betwixt king Alured and the said Gurthrun or Gurmond, in which the<a name="page672" id="page672"></a><span class="page">[Page 672]</span> +bounds of king Alureds kingdome are set foorth thus: "First therefore let the bounds or +marshes of our dominion stretch vnto the riuer of Thames, and from thence to the water +of Lée, euen vnto the head of the same water, and so foorth streight vnto Bedford: and +finallie going alongst by the riuer of Ouse, let them end at Watlingstréet."</p> +<p> +This league being made with the aduise of the same sage personages as well English as +those that inhabited within east England, is set foorth in maister Lamberts booke of the old +English lawes, in the end of those lawes or ordinances which were established by the same +king Alured, as in the same booke ye may sée more at large.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<p><a name="xv6" id="xv6"></a> +<i>Th' English called diuers people Danes whom the French named Normans, whervpon that +generall name was giuen them; Gurmo Anglicus K. of Denmark, whose father Frotto was +baptised in England; the Danes besiege Rochester, Alfred putteth them to flight, recouereth +London out of their hands, and committeth it to the custodie of duke Eldred his sonne in +law; he assaulteth Hasting a capteine of the Danes, causeth him to take an oth, his two +sonnes are baptised; he goeth foorth to spoile Alfreds countrie, his wife, children, and +goods, &c: are taken, and fauourablie giuen him againe; the Danes besiege Excester, they +flie to their ships, gaine with great losse, they are vanquished by the Londoners, the death of +Alfred, his issue male and female.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XV. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +Here is to be noted, that writers name diuerse of the Danish capteins, kings (of which +no mention is made in the Danish chronicles) to reigne in those parties. But true it is, that +in those daies, not onelie the Danish people, but also other of those northeast countries or +regions, as Swedeners, Norwegians, the Wondens, and such other (which the English people +called by one generall name Danes, and the Frenchmen Normans) vsed to roaue on the seas, +and to inuade forren regions, as England, France, Flanders, and others, as in conuenient +places ye may find, as well in our histories, as also in the writers of the French histories, and +likewise in the chronicles of those north regions. The writers verelie of the Danish chronicles +<span class="rightnote">Gurmo.</span> +make mention of one Gurmo, whome they name Anglicus, bicause he was borne +here in England, which succeeded his father Frotto in gouernement of the kingdome of +Denmarke, which Frotto receiued baptisme in England, as their stories tell.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hen. Hunt.</i> 878.</span> +In the eight yéere of king Alfred his reigne, the armie of the Danes wintered at Cirencester, +and the same yéere an other armie of strangers called Wincigi laie at Fulham, and in +the yéere following departed foorth of England, and went into France, and the armie of +<span class="rightnote">879.</span> +king Godrun or Gurmo departed from Cirencester, and came into Eastangle, and there +diuiding the countrie amongst them, began to inhabit the same. In the 14 yéere of king +<span class="leftnote"><i>Simon Dun. <br />Matth. West</i></span> +Alfred his reigne, part of the Danish armie which was gone ouer into France, returned into +<span class="rightnote">Rochester beseiged.<br />885.</span> +England and besieged Rochester. But when Alfred approched to the reskue, the enimies +fled to their ships, and passed ouer the sea againe. King Alfred sent a nauie of his ships +well furnished with men of warre into Eastangle, the which at the mouth of the riuer called +Sture, incountering with 16 ships of the Danes, set vpon them, and ouercame them in fight: +but as they returned with their prises, they incountered with another mightie armie of the +enimies, and fighting with them were ouercome and vanquished.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">889.</span> +In the yeere following, king Alfred besieged the citie of London, the Danes that were +within fled from thence, and the Englishmen that were inhabitants thereof gladlie receiued +<span class="rightnote">London recouered out of the hands of the Danes.</span> +him, reioising that there was such a prince bred of their nation, that was of power able to +reduce them into libertie. This citie being at that season the chiefe of all Mercia, he deliuered +<span class="leftnote"><br /><i>Wil. Malm.</i> Ethelfleda. Colwolphas.</span> +into the kéeping of duke Eldred, which had maried his daughter Ethelfleda, & held a<a name="page673" id="page673"></a><span class="page">[Page 673]</span> +great portion of Mercia, which Colwolphus before time possesed by the grant of the Danes, +after they had subdued K. Burthred (as before is said.) About the 21 yere of K. Alfred, an +<span class="rightnote">Limer, now Rother. Andredeslegia. A castell built at Appledore. <br />893</span> +armie of those Danes & Normans, which had béene in France, returned into England, and +arriued in the hauen or riuer of Limene in the east part of Kent, néere to the great wood +called Andredesley, which did conteine in times past 120 miles in length, and thirtie in +breadth. These Danes landing with their people builded a castle at Appledore.</p> +<span class="rightnote"><i> Simon Dun.</i> <br />At Milton. Hasting the capteine of the Danes besieged. <br />He receiueth an oth.</span> +<p> +In the meane time came Hasting with 80 ships into the Thames, and builded a castle at +Middleton, but he was constreined by siege which king Alfred planted about him, to receiue +an oth that he should not in any wise annoie the dominion of king Alfred, who vpon his +promise to depart, gaue great gifts as well to him as to his wife and children. One of his +sonnes also king Alfred held at the fontstone, and to the other duke Aldred was god father. +For (as it were to win credit, and to auoid present danger) Hasting sent vnto Alfred these his +two sonnes, signifieng that if it stood with his pleasure, he could be content that they should +be baptised. But neuerthelesse this Hasting was euer most vntrue of word and déed, he +<span class="rightnote">Beanfield saith <br /><i>M. West.</i></span> +builded a castle at Beamfield. And as he was going foorth to spoile and wast the kings +countries, Alfred tooke that castle, with his wife, children, ships and goods, which he got +<span class="leftnote">This enterprise was atchiued by Etheldred duke of Mercia in the absence of the king, as <br /><i>Matth. West.</i> hath noted</span> +togither of such spoiles as he had abroad: but he restored vnto Hasting his wife and children, +bicause he was their godfather.</p> +<p> +Shortlie after, newes came that a great number of other ships of Danes were come out of +<span class="rightnote">Excester besieged.</span> +Northumberland, and had besieged Excester. Whilest king Alfred went then against them, +the other armie which lay at Appledore inuaded Essex, and built a castell in that countrie, +and after went into the borders of Wales, and builded another castell neere vnto the riuer of +<span class="rightnote">Seuerne.</span> +Seuerne: but being driuen out of that countrie, they returned againe into Essex. Those +that had besieged Excester, vpon knowledge had of king Alfreds comming, fled to their +ships, and so remaining on the sea, roaued abroad, séeking preies. Besides this, other armies +<span class="rightnote">Chester taken by Danes.</span> +there were sent foorth, which comming out of Northumberland tooke the citie of Chester, +<span class="leftnote">Great famine</span> +but there they were so beset about with their enimies, that they were constreined to eate their +horsses. At length, in the 24 yéere of king Alfred, they left that citie, and fetcht a compas +<span class="rightnote"><br /><i>Hen. Hunt.</i></span> +about Northwales, and so meaning to saile round about the coast to come into Northumberland, +they arriued in Essex, and in the winter following drew their ships by the Thames +<span class="leftnote">The water of Luie, now Lée.</span> +into the water of Luie. That armie of Danes which had besieged Excester, tooke preies +about Chichester, and was met with, so that they lost manie of their men, and also diuerse +of their ships.</p> +<p> +In the yéere following, the other armie which had brought the ships into the riuer Luie, +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hen. Hunt.</i></span> +began to build a castell néere to the same riuer, twentie miles distant from London: but the +<span class="leftnote">The Londoners victors against the Danes.</span> +Londoners came thither, and giuing battell to the Danes, slue foure of the chiefe capteins. +But by Simon Dunel. and Matt. Westm. it should seeme, that the Londoners were at this +time put to flight, and that foure of the kings barons were slaine in fight. Howbeit Henrie +Hunt. hath written as before I haue recited; and further saith, that when the Danes fled +for their refuge to the castell, king Alfred caused the water of Luie to be diuided into thrée +chanels, so that the Danes should not bring backe their ships out of the place where they +laie at anchor. When the Danes perceiued this, they left their ships behind them, and went +<span class="rightnote">Quathbridge or Wakebridge.</span> +into the borders of Wales, where at Cartbridge vpon Seuerne they built another castell, and +lay there all the winter following, hauing left their wiues and children in the countrie of +Eastangles. King Alfred pursued them, but the Londoners tooke the enimies ships, and +brought some of them to the citie, and the rest they burnt.</p> +<p> +Thus for the space of thrée yéeres after the arriuing of the maine armie of the Danes in +the hauen of Luie, they sore indamaged the English people, although the Danes themselues +susteined more losse at the Englishmens hands than they did to them with all pilfering and +<span class="rightnote">The Danish armie diuided into parts.</span> +spoiling. In the fourth yéere after their comming, the armie was diuided, so that one part +of them went into Northumberland, part of them remained in the countrie of Eastangles, & +another part went into France. Also certeine of their ships came vpon the coast of the<a name="page674" id="page674"></a><span class="page">[Page 674]</span> +Westsaxons, oftentimes setting their men on land to rob and spoile the countrie. But king +Alfred tooke order in the best wise he might for defense of his countrie and people, and +caused certeine mightie vessels to be builded, which he appointed foorth to incounter with +the enimies ships.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The death of king Alfred.</span> +Thus like a worthie prince and politike gouernor, he preuented each way to resist the +force of his enimies, and to safegard his subiects. Finallie after he had reigned 29 yéeres +and an halfe, he departed this life the 28 day of October. His bodie was buried at Winchester: +<span class="rightnote">His issue.</span> +he left behind him issue by his wife Ethelwitha the daughter vnto earle Ethelred of Mercia, +two sonnes, Edward surnamed the elder, which succéeded him, and Adelwold: also thrée +<span class="leftnote">Elfleda.</span> +daughters, Elfleda or Ethelfleda, Ethelgeda or Edgiua, and Ethelwitha.</p> + +<hr /><br /><br /> +<p><a name="xvj6" id="xvj6"></a> +<i>How Elfleda king Alfreds daughter (being maried) contemned fleshlie pleasure; the praise +of Alfred for his good qualities, his lawes for the redresse of théeues, his diuiding of +countries into hundreds and tithings, of what monasteries he was founder, he began the +foundation of the vniuersitie of Oxford, which is not so ancient as Cambridge by 265 +yéeres; king Alfred was learned, his zeale to traine his people to lead an honest life, +what learned men were about him, the pitifull murthering of Iohn Scot by his owne +scholers, how Alfred diuided the 24 houres of the day and the night for his necessarie +purposes, his last will and bequests; the end of the kingdome of Mercia, the Danes haue +it in their hands, and dispose it as they list, Eastangle and Northumberland are subiect +vnto them, the Northumbers expell Egbert their king, his death; the Danes make Guthred +king of Northumberland, priuileges granted to S. Cuthberts shrine; the death of Guthred, +and who succéeded him in the seat roiall.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XVJ. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +In the end of the former chapter we shewed what children Alfred had, their number & +names, among whome we made report of Elfleda, who (as you haue heard) was maried +vnto duke Edelred. This gentlewoman left a notable example behind hir of despising fleshlie +plesure, for bearing hir husband one child, and sore handled before she could be deliuered, +<span class="rightnote">The notable saieng of Elfleda.</span> +she euer after forbare to companie with hir husband, saieng that it was great foolishnesse +to vse such pleasure which therwith should bring so great griefe.</p> +<p> +To speake sufficientlie of the woorthie praise due to so noble a prince as Alfred was, +might require eloquence, learning, and a large volume. He was of person comelie and +beautifull, and better beloued of his father and mother than his other brethren. And although +<span class="leftnote"><i>Will. Malmes.</i></span> +he was (as before is touched) greatly disquieted with the inuasion of forren enimies, +yet did he both manfullie from time to time indeuour himselfe to repell them, and also attempted +to sée his subiects gouerned in good and vpright iustice. And albeit that good +<span class="rightnote">King Alfred his lawes.</span> +lawes amongst the clinking noise of armor are oftentimes put to silence, yet he perceiuing +how his people were gréeued with theeues and robbers, which in time of warre grew and increased, +deuised good statutes and wholsome ordinances for punishing of such offenders.</p> +<p> +Amongst other things he ordeined that the countries should be diuided into hundreds and +tithings, that is to say, quarters conteining a certeine number of towneships adioining togither, +so that euerie Englishman liuing vnder prescript of lawes, should haue both his +hundred and tithing; that if anie man were accused of anie offense, he should find suertie +for his good demeanor: and if he could not find such as would answer for him, then should +he tast extremitie of the lawes. And if anie man that was giltie fled before he found suertie, +or after: all the inhabitants of the hundred or tithing where he dwelt, shuld be put to their +fine. By this deuise he brought his countrie into good tranquillitie, so that he caused bracelets<a name="page675" id="page675"></a><span class="page">[Page 675]</span> +of gold to be hanged vp aloft on hils where anie common waies lay, to sée if anie durst +be so hardie to take them away by stealth. He was a liberall prince namely in relieuing of the +poore. To churches he confirmed such priuileges as his father had granted before him, and +he also sent rewards by way of deuotion vnto Rome, and to the bodie of saint Thomas in India. +Sighelmus the bishop of Shireborne bare the same, and brought from thence rich stones, and +swéet oiles of inestimable valure. From Rome also he brought a péece of the holy crosse +which pope Martinus did send for a present vnto king Alfred.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Foundation of monastaries.</span> +Moreouer king Alfred founded three goodlie monasteries, one at Edlingsey, where he +liued sometime when the Danes had bereaued him almost of all his kingdome, which was +after called Athelney, distant from Taunton in Sumersetshire about fiue miles: the second he +builded at Winchester, called the new minster: and the third at Shaftesburie, which was an +house of nuns, where he made his daughter Ethelgeda or Edgiua abbesse. But the foundation +of the vniuersitie of Oxford passed all the residue of his buildings, which he began by +the good exhortation and aduise of Neotus an abbat, in those daies highlie estéemed for his vertue +and lerning with Alfred. This worke he tooke in hand about the 23 yéere of his reigne, +<span class="rightnote">895.</span> +which was in the yéere of our Lord 895. So that the vniuersitie of Cambridge was founded +<span class="leftnote"><i>Polydor</i>. <br />The vniuersitie of Oxford erected.</span> +before this other of Oxford about 265 yéeres, as Polydor gathereth. For Sigebert king of +the Eastangles began to erect that vniuersitie at Cambridge about the yéere of our Lord 630.</p> +<p> +King Alfred was learned himselfe, and giuen much to studie, insomuch that beside diuerse +good lawes which he translated into the English toong, gathered togither and published, he +also translated diuerse other bookes out of Latine into English, as <i>Orosius, Pastorale Gregorij, +Beda de gestis Anglorum, Boetius de consolatione philosophiæ,</i> and the booke of Psalmes; +but this he finished not, being preuented by death. So this worthie prince minded well toward +the common wealth of his people, in that season when learning was little estéemed amongst the +<span class="rightnote">The vertuous zeale of Alured to bring his people to an honest trade of life.</span> +west nations, did studie by all meanes possible to instruct his subiects in the trade of leading +an honest life, and to incourage them generallie to imbrace learning. He would not suffer +anie to beare office in the court, except he were lerned: and yet he himselfe was twelue +<span class="leftnote">He is persuaded by his mother, to applie himselfe to learning.</span> +yéeres of age before he could read a word on the booke, and was then trained by his mothers +persuasion to studie, promising him a goodlie booke which she had in hir hands, if he +would learne to read it.</p> +<p> +Herevpon going to his booke in sport, he so earnestlie set his mind thereto, that within a +small time he profited maruellouslie, and became such a fauorer of learned men, that he delighted +most in their companie, to haue conference with them, and allured diuerse to come +<span class="rightnote">Asserius Meuenensis. Werefridus. Iohn Scot.</span> +vnto him out of other countries, as Asserius Meneuensis bishop of Shirborne, & Werefridus +the bishop of Worcester, who by his commandement translated the bookes of Gregories dialogs +into English. Also I. Scot, who whiles he was in France translated the book of Dionysius +Ariopagita, intituled <i>Hierarchia</i>, out of Gréeke into Latine, and after was schoolemaister +in the abbeie of Malmesburie, and there murthered by his scholars with penkniues. He had +diuerse other about him, both Englishmen & strangers, as Pleimond afterward archbishop of +<span class="leftnote">Grimbald.</span> +Canturburie, Grimbald gouernor of the new monasterie at Winchester, with others.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Alured diuides the time for his necessarie vses.</span> +But to conclude with this noble prince king Alured, he was so carefull in his office, that he +diuided the 24 houres which conteine the day and night, in thrée parts, so that eight houres he +spent in writing, reading, and making his praiers, other eight he emploied in relieuing his +bodie with meat, drinke and sléepe, and the other eight he bestowed in dispatching of businesse +concerning the gouernement of the realme. He had in his chapell a candle of 24 parts, +whereof euerie one lasted an houre: so that the sexton, to whome that charge was committed, +by burning of this candle warned the king euar how the time passed away. A little before his +<span class="rightnote">His last will and testament.</span> +death, he ordeined his last will and testament, bequeathing halfe the portion of all his goods +iustlie gotten, vnto such monasteries as he had founded. All his rents and reuenues he diuided +into two equall parts, and the first part he diuided into thrée, bestowing the first vpon his +seruants in houshold, the second to such labourers and workemen as he kept in his works of +sundrie new buildings, the third part he gaue to strangers. The second whole part of his<a name="page676" id="page676"></a><span class="page">[Page 676]</span> +reuenues was so diuided, that the first portion thereof was dispersed amongst the poore people +of his countrie, the second to monasteries, the third to the finding of poore scholers, and +the fourth part to churches beyond the sea. He was diligent in inquirie how the iudges of +his land behaued themselues in their iudgements, and was a sharpe corrector of them which +transgressed in that behalfe. To be briefe, he liued so as he was had in great fauour of his +neighbours, & highlie honored among strangers. He maried his daughter Ethelswida or rather +Elstride vnto Baldwine earle of Flanders, of whome he had two sonnes Arnulfe and +Adulfe, the first succéeding in the erledome of Flanders, and the yoonger was made earle of +Bullogne.</p> +<p> +The bodie of king Alured was first buried in the bishops church: but afterwards, because the +Canons raised a fond tale that the same should walke a nights, his sonne king Edward remoued +it into the new monasterie which he in his life time had founded. Finallie, in memorie +of him a certeine learned clarke made an epitath in Latine, which for the woorthinesse +thereof is likewise (verse for verse, and in a maner word for word) translated by Abraham +Fleming into English, whose no litle labor hath béene diligentlie imploied in supplieng sundrie +insufficiences found in this huge volume.</p> + +<p class="indent1a"> +NOBILITAS innata tibi probitatis honorem<br /> +<i>Nobilitie by birth to the (ó Alfred strong in armes}</i><br /> +(Armipotens Alfrede) dedit, probitásque laborem,<br /> +<i>Of goodnes hath the honor giuen, and honor toilesome harmes,</i><br /> +Perpetuúmque labor nomen, cui mixta dolori<br /> +<i>And toilesome harmes an endlesse name, whose ioies were alwaies mext</i><br /> +Gaudia semper erant, spes semper mixta timori.<br /> +<i>With sorow, and whose hope with feare was euermore perplext.</i><br /> +Si modò victor eras, ad crastina bella pauebas,<br /> +<i>If this day thou wert conqueror, the next daies warre thou dredst,</i><br /> +Si modò victus eras, in crastina bella parabas,<br /> +<i>If this day thou wert conquered, to next daies war thou spedst,</i><br /> +Cui vestes sudore iugi, cui sica cruore,<br /> +<i>Whose clothing wet with dailie swet, whose blade with bloudie stainte,</i><br /> +Tincta iugi, quantum sit onus regnare probârunt,<br /> +<i>Do proue how great a burthen tis in roialtie to raine,</i><br /> +Non fuit immensi quisquam per climata mundi,<br /> +<i>There hath not beene in anie part of all the world so wide,</i><br /> +Cui tot in aduersis vel respirare liceret,<br /> +<i>One that was able breath to take, and troubles such abide,</i><br /> +Nec tamen aut ferro contritus ponere ferrum,<br /> +<i>And yet with weapons wearie would not weapons lay aside,</i><br /> +Aut gladio potuit vitæ finisse labores:<br /> +<i>Or with the sword the toilesomnesse of life by death diuide.</i><br /> +Iam post transactos regni vitæque labores,<br /> +<i>Now after labours past of realme and life (which he did spend)</i><br /> +Christus ei fit vera quies sceptrúmque perenne.<br /> +<i>Christ is to him true quietnesse and scepter void of end.</i><br /> +</p> +<p> +In the daies of the foresaid king Alured, the kingdome of Mercia tooke end. For after +that the Danes had expelled king Burthred, when he had reigned 22 yeares, he went to +Rome, and there died, his wife also Ethelswida, the daughter of king Athulfe that was sonne +to king Egbert followed him, and died in Pauia in Lumbardie. The Danes hauing got the +<span class="rightnote">Cewulfe.</span> +countrie into their possession, made one Cewulfe K. thereof, whome they bound with an oth +and deliuerie of pledges, that he should not longer kéepe the state with their pleasure, and +further should be readie at all times to aid them with such power as he should be able to<a name="page677" id="page677"></a><span class="page">[Page 677]</span> +make. This Cewulfe was the seruant of king Burthred. Within foure yeares after the +Danes returned, and tooke one part of that kingdome into their owne hands, and left the residue +vnto Cewulfe. But within a few yeares after, king Alured obteined that part of Mercia +which Cewulfe ruled, as he did all the rest of this land, except those parcels which the +Danes held, as Northumberland, the countries of the Eastangles, some part of Mercia, +and other.</p> +<p> +The yeare, in the which king Alured thus obteined all the dominion of that part of Mercia, +<span class="rightnote">886. <br /><i>Matth. West.</i></span> +which Cewulfe had in gouernance, was after the birth of our Sauiour 886, so that the +foresaid kingdome continued the space of 302 yeares vnder 22 kings, from Crida to this last +Cewulfe. But there be that account the continuance of this kingdome, onelie from the beginning +of Penda, vnto the last yeare of Burthred, by which reckoning it stood not past 270 +yeares vnder 18, or rather 17 kings, counting the last Cewulfe for none, who began his reigne +vnder the subiection of the Danes, about the yeare of our Lord 874, where Penda began his +reigne 604.</p> +<p> +The Eastangles and the Northumbers in these dales were vnder subiection of the Danes, as +<span class="rightnote">Guthrun K. of the eastangles died 890.</span> +partlie may be perceiued by that which before is rehearsed. After Guthrun that gouerned the +Eastangles by the terme of 12 yeares, one Edhirike or Edrike had the rule in those parts, a +Dane also, and reigned 14 yeares, and was at length bereued of his gouernement by king +<span class="leftnote"><i>Simon Dun.</i></span> +Edward the sonne of king Alured, as after shall appeare. But now, although that the Northumbers +were brought greatlie vnder foot by the Danes, yet could they not forget their old +<span class="rightnote"><i>Simon Dun.</i></span> +accustomed maner to stirre tumults and rebellion against their gouernours, insomuch that in +<span class="leftnote">872. Egbert king of Northumberland expelled from his kingdome.</span> +the yeare 872, they expelled not onelie Egbert, whome the Danes had appointed king ouer +one part of the countrie (as before you haue heard) but also their archbishop Wilfehere. In +<span class="rightnote">Egbert departed this life. <br />Riesig.</span> +the yeare following, the same Egbert departed this life, after whome one Rigsig or Ricsige +succéeded as king, and the archbishop Wolfehere was restored home.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">The Danes winter in Lindsie.</span> +<span class="rightnote">975.</span> +In the same yeare the armie of Danes which had wintered at London, came from thence +into Northumberland, and wintered in Lindseie, at a place called Torkseie, and went the next +yeare into Mercia. And in the yeare 975, a part of them returned into Northumberland, as +<span class="rightnote">Riesig departed this life.</span> +before ye haue heard. In the yeare following, Riesig the king of Northumberland departed +<span class="leftnote">983.</span> +this life: after whome an other Egbert succéeded. And in the yeare 983, the armie of the +Danes meaning to inhabit in Northumberland, and to settle themselues there, chose Guthrid +<span class="leftnote"><br /><br />Guthred ordeined king of Northumberland.</span> +the sonne of one Hardicnute to their king, whome they had sometime sold to a certeine widow +at Witingham. But now by the aduise of an abbat called Aldred, they redéemed his libertie, +and ordeined him king to rule both Danes and Englishmen in that countrie. It was said, +that the same Aldred being abbat of holie Iland, was warned in a vision by S. Cuthberd, to +giue counsell both to the Danes and Englishmen, to make the same Guthrid king. This +chanced about the 13 yeare of the reigne of Alured king of Westsaxons.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The bishops see remoued frō holie iland to Chester in the stréet.</span> +When Guthrid was established king, he caused the bishops sée to be remoued from holie +Iland vnto Chester in the stréet, and for an augmentation of the reuenues and iurisdiction +belonging thereto, he assigned and gaue vnto saint Cuthbert all that countrie which lieth betwixt +the riuers of Teise and Tine. ¶ Which christian act of the king, liuing in a time of +palpable blindnesse and mistie superstition, may notwithstanding be a light to the great men +and péeres of this age (who pretend religion with zeale, and professe (in shew) the truth with +feruencie) not to impouerish the patrimonie of the church to inrich themselues and their posteritie, +not to pull from bishoprikes their ancient reuenues to make their owne greater, not to +alienate ecclesiasticall liuings into temporall commodities, not to seeke the conuersion of college +lands into their priuat possessions; not to intend the subuersion of cathedrall churches to +fill their owne cofers, not to ferret out concealed lands for the supporte of their owne priuat +lordlines; not to destroy whole towneships for the erection of one statelie manour; not +to take and pale in the commons to inlarge their seueralles; but like good and gratious common-wealth-men, +in all things to preferre the peoples publike profit before their owne gaine +and glorie, before their owne pompe and pleasure, before the satisfieng of their owne inordinate<a name="page678" id="page678"></a><span class="page">[Page 678]</span> +desires.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Priuiledges granted to S. Cuthberts shrine.</span> +Moreouer, this priuiledge was granted vnto saint Cuthberts shrine: that whosoeuer fled +vnto the same for succour and safegard, should not be touched or troubled in anie wise for the +space of thirtie, & seuen daies. And this freedome was confirmed not onelie by king Guthrid, +but also by king Alured. Finallie king Guthrid departed this life in the yeare of our Lord +<span class="leftnote">894.</span> +894, after he had ruled the Northumbers with much crueltie (as some say) by the terme of +<span class="rightnote"><br /><i>Polydor. <br />Will. Malmes.</i></span> +11 yeares, or somewhat more. He is named by some writers Gurmond, and also Gurmo, & +thought to be the same whome king Alured caused to be baptised. Whereas other affirme, +that Guthrid, who ruled the Eastangles, was he that Alured receiued at the fontstone: +<span class="leftnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i> Sithrike.</span> +William Malmesburie taketh them to be but one man, which is not like to be true. After +this Guthrid or Gurmo his sonne Sithrike succeeded, and after him other of that line, till +king Adelstane depriued them of the dominion, and tooke it into his owne hands.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<p><a name="xvij6" id="xvij6"></a> +<i>Edward succeedeth his father Alured in regiment, he is disquieted by his brother Adelwold +a man of a defiled life, he flieth to the Danes and is of them receiued, king Edwards prouision +against the irruptions and forraies of the Danes, Adelwold with a nauie of Danes +entreth Eastangles, the Essex men submit themselues, he inuadeth Mercia, and maketh +great wast, the Kentishmens disobedience preiudiciall to themselues, they and the Danes +haue a great conflict, king Edward concludeth a truce with them, he maketh a great +slaughter of them by his Westsaxons and Mercians, what lands came to king Edward by +the death of Edred duke of Mercia, he recouereth diuers places out of the Danes hands, +and giueth them manie a foile, what castels he builded, he inuadeth Eastangles, putteth +Ericke a Danish king therof to flight, his owne subiects murther him for his crueltie, +his kingdome returneth to the right of king Edward with other lands by him thereto annexed, +his sister Elfleda gouerned the countrie of Mercia during hir life.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XVIJ. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">EDWARD THE ELDER. <br />901.</span> +After the deceasse of Alured, his sonne Edward surnamed the elder began his reigne +ouer the more part of England, in the yeare of our Lord 901, which was in the second yeare +of the emperor Lewes, in the eight yeare of the reigne of Charles surnamed Simplex king of +France, and about the eight yeare or Donald king of Scotland. He was consecrated after the +maner of other kings his ancestors by Athelred the archbishop of Canturburie. This Edward +was not so learned as his father, but in princelie power more high and honorable, for he +ioined the kingdome of Eastangles and Mercia with other vnto his dominion, as after shall +be shewed, and vanquished the Danes, Scots, and Welshmen, to his great glorie and high +commendation.</p> +<p> +In the beginning of his reigne he was disquieted by his brother Adelwold, which tooke the +<span class="rightnote">Winborne.</span> +towne of Winborne besides Bath, and maried a nun there, whome he had defloured, & attempted +manie things against his brother. Wherevpon the king came to Bath, and though +Adelwold shewed a countenance as if he would haue abidden the chance of warre within +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hen. Hunt.</i> Adelwold fleeth to the Danes. <br /><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +Winborne, yet he stole awaie in the night, and fled into Northumberland, where he was ioifullie +receiued of the Danes. The king tooke his wife being left behind, and restored hir to +the house from whence she was taken. ¶ Some haue written, that this Adelwold or Ethelwold +was not brother vnto king Edward, but his vncles sonne.</p> +<p> +After this, king Edward prouiding for the suertie of his subiects against the forraies, which +the Danes vsed to make, fortified diuers cities and townes, and stuffed them with great garrisons +<span class="rightnote">The English nation practised in wars go commonlie awaie with the victorie.</span> +of souldiers, to defend the inhabitants, and to expell the enimies. And suerlie the Englishmen +were so invred with warres in those daies, that the people being aduertised of the inuasion +of the enimies in anie part of their countrie, would assemble oftentimes without knowledge<a name="page679" id="page679"></a><span class="page">[Page 679]</span> +of king or capteine, and setting vpon the enimies, went commonlie awaie with victorie, +by reason that they ouermatched them both in number and practise. So were the enimies despised +<span class="leftnote"><i>Hen. Hunt.</i></span> +of the English souldiers, and laughed to scorne of the king for their foolish attempts. +Yet in the third yeare of king Edwards reigne, Adelwold his brother came with a nauie of +<span class="rightnote">Essex yéelded to Adelwold. <br /><br /><i>Ran. Higd.</i></span> +Danes into the parties of the Eastangles, and euen at the first the Essex men yeelded themselues +vnto him. In the yéere following he inuaded the countrie of Mercia with a great armie, +wasting and spoiling the same vnto Crikelade, and there passing ouer the Thames, rode foorth +<span class="leftnote">Brittenden.</span> +till he came to Basingstoke, or (as some bookes haue) Brittenden, harieng the countrie on each +side, and so returned backe vnto Eastangles with great ioy and triumph.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Henr. Hunt.</i></span> +King Edward awakened héerewith assembled his people, and followed the enimies, wasting +all the countries betwixt the riuer of Ouse and saint Edmunds ditch. And when he should +returne, he gaue commandement that no man should staie behind him, but come backe togither +<span class="rightnote">The Kentishmen disobeing the kings commandement, are surprised by the enimies. +Adelwold king Edwards brother.</span> +for doubt to be forelaid by the enimies. The Kentishmen notwithstanding this ordinance +and commandement, remained behind, although the king sent seuen messengers for them. +The Danes awaiting their aduantage, came togither, and fiercelie fought with the Kentishmen, +which a long time valiantlie defended themselues. But in the end the Danes obtained the victorie, +although they lost more people there than the Kentishmen did: and amongst other, +there were slaine the foresaid Adelwold, and diuerse of the chiefe capteins amongst the Danes. +Likewise of the English side, there died two dukes, Siwolfe & Singlem or Sigbelme, with +sundrie other men of name, both temporall and also spirituall lords and abbats. In the fift +yéere of his reigne, king Edward concluded a truce with the Danes of Eastangle and Northumberland +at Itingford. But in the yéere following, he sent an armie against them of +<span class="leftnote">Fortie daies saith <br /><i>Simon Dun.</i></span> +Northumberland, which slue manie of the Danes, and tooke great booties both of people and +cattell, remaining in the countrie the space of fiue weekes.</p> +<p> +The yéere next insuing, the Danes with a great armie entered into Mercia, to rob & spoile +the countrie, against whome king Edward sent a mightie host, assembled togither of the +Westsaxons & them of Mercia, which set vpon the Danes, as they were returning homeward, +and slue of them an huge multitude, togither with their chiefe capteins and leaders, as king +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hen. Hunt.</i></span> +Halden, and king Eolwils, earle Vter, earle Scurfa, and diuerse other. In the yéere 912, or (as +Simon Dunel. saith) 908, the duke of Mercia Edred or Etheldred departed this life, and then +king Edward seized into his hands the cities of London and Oxford, and all that part of +Mercia which he held. But afterwards he suffered his sister Elfleda to inioy the most part +thereof, except the said cities of London and Oxford, which he still reteined in his owne hand. +This Elfleda was wife to the said duke Edred or Etheldred, as before you haue heard: of whose +woorthie acts more shall be said heereafter.</p> +<p> +In the ninth yéere of his reigne, king Edward built a castell at Hertford, and likewise he +<span class="rightnote">Wightham.</span> +builded a towne in Essex at Wightham, and lay himselfe in the meane time at Maldon, otherwise +Meauldun, bringing a great part of the countrie vnder his subiection, which before was +subiect to the Danes. In the yéere following, the armie of the Danes departed from +<span class="leftnote">Chester, or rather Leicester, as I thinke. Digetune.</span> +Northampton and Chester in breach of the former truce, and slue a great number of men at +Hochnerton in Oxfordshire. And shortlie after their returne home, an other companie of +them went foorth, and came to Leighton, where the people of the countrie being assembled togither, +fought with them & put them to flight, taking from them all the spoile which they +had got, and also their horsses.</p> +<p> +In the 11 yéere of king Edward, a fleet of Danes compassed about the west parts, & came +to the mouth of Seuerne, and so tooke preies in Wales: they also tooke prisoner a Welsh +<span class="rightnote">Irchenfield.</span> +bishop named Camelgaret, at Irchenfield, whome they led to their ships: but king Edward +redéemed him out of their hands, paieng them fortie pounds for his ransome. After that +the armie of Danes went foorth to spoile the countrie about Irchenfield, but the people of +Chester, Hereford, and other townes and countries thereabout assembled togither, and giuing +battell to the enimies, put them to flight, and slue one of their noble men called earle +<span class="rightnote">Danes discomfited.</span> +Rehald, and Geolcil the brother of earle Vter, with a great part of their armie, & draue the residue<a name="page680" id="page680"></a><span class="page">[Page 680]</span> +into a castell, which they besieged till the Danes within it gaue hostages, and couenanted to +depart out of the kings land. The king caused the coasts about Seuerne to be watched, that +they should not breake into his countrie: but yet they stale twise into the borders: neuerthelesse +they were chased and slaine as manie as could not swim, and so get to their ships. +<span class="leftnote">The Ile of Stepen. Deomedun.</span> +Then they remained in the Ile of Stepen, in great miserie for lacke of vittels, bicause they +<span class="rightnote">Danes saile into Ireland.</span> +could not go abroad to get anie. At length they departed into Northwales, and from thence +sailed into Ireland.</p> +<p> +The same yéere king Edward came to Buckingham with an armie, and there taried a whole +moneth, building two castels, the one vpon the one side of the water of Ouse, and the other +<span class="rightnote">Turketillus an earle.</span> +vpon the other side of the same riuer. He also subdued Turketillus an earle of the Danes that +dwelt in that countrie, with all the residue of the noble men and barons of the shires of Bedford +and Northampton. In the 12 yéere of king Edwards reigne, the Kentishmen and Danes +fought togither at Holme: but whether partie had the victorie, writers haue not declared. +<span class="rightnote"><i>Simon Dun.</i></span> +Simon Dunelm. speaketh of a battell which the citizens of Canturburie fought against a +number of Danish rouers at Holme, where the Danes were put to flight, but that should +be (as he noteth) 8 yéeres before this supposed time, as in the yéere 904, which was about +the third yéere of king Edwards reigne.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Anno</i> 911. <i>Simon Dun.</i></span> +After this, other of the Danes assembled themselues togither, and in Staffordshire at a +place called Tottenhall fought with the Englishmen, and after great slaughter made on both +parties, the Danes were ouercome: and so likewise were they shortlie after at Woodfield or +Wodenfield. And thus king Edward put the Danes to the woorse in each place commonlie +where he came, and hearing that those in Northumberland ment to breake the peace: he inuaded +the countrie, and so afflicted the same, that the Danes which were inhabitants there, +<span class="rightnote"><i>Polydor.</i> <br />Ericke king of Eastangles.</span> +gladlie continued in rest and peace. But in this meane time, Ericke the king of those Danes +which held the countrie of Eastangle, was about to procure new warre, and to allure other of +the Danes to ioine with him against the Englishmen, that with common agréement they might +set vpon the English nation, and vtterlie subdue them.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">King Edward inuadeth the countrie of the Eastangles.</span> +King Edward hauing intelligence héereof, purposed to preuent him, and therevpon entering +with an armie into his countrie, cruellie wasted and spoiled the same. King Ericke hauing alreadie +his people in armor through displeasure conceiued heereof, and desire to be reuenged, +hasted foorth to incounter his enimies: and so they met in the field, and fiercelie assailed +<span class="rightnote">Ericke put to flight.</span> +ech other. But as the battell was rashlie begun on king Ericks side, so was the end verie +harmefull to him: for with small adoo, after great losse on both sides, he was vanquished +and put to flight.</p> +<p> +After his comming home, bicause of his great ouerthrow and fowle discomfiture, he began +to gouerne his people with more rigor & sharper dealing than before time he had vsed. Whereby +he prouoked the malice of the Eastangles so highlie against him, that they fell vpon him +and murthered him: yet did they not gaine so much hereby as they looked to haue doone: for +shortlie after, they being brought low, and not able to defend their countrie, were compelled to +<span class="rightnote">The kingdom of the Eastangles subdued by K. Edward.</span> +submit themselues vnto king Edward. And so was that kingdome ioined vnto the other dominions +of the same king Edward, who shortlie after annexed the kingdome of Mercia vnto +other of his dominions, immediatlie vpon the death of his sister Elfleda, whom he permitted +to rule that land all hir life.</p> + +<hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="page681" id="page681"></a><span class="page">[Page 681]</span> +<p><a name="xviij6" id="xviij6"></a> +<i>Elfleda the sister of king Edward highlie commended for government, what a necessarie +staie she was vnto him in hir life time, what townes she builded and repared, hir warlike +exploits against the Danes, hir death and buriall; the greatest part of Britaine in +K. Edwards dominion, he is a great builder and reparer of townes, his death, the dreame +of his wife Egina, and the issue of the same, what children king Edward had by his wiues, +and how they were emploied, the decay of the church by the meanes of troubles procured by +the Danes, England first curssed and why; a prouinciall councell summoned for the reliefe +of the churches ruine, Pleimond archbishop of Canturburie sent to Rome, bishops ordeined +in sundrie prouinces; dissention among writers what pope should denounce the foresaid +cursse; a succession of archbishops in the see of Canturburie, one brother killeth another.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XVIIJ. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +Not without good reason did king Edward permit vnto his sister Elfleda the gouernment +of Mercia, during hir life time: for by hir wise and politike order vsed in all hir dooings, he +was greatlie furthered & assisted; but speciallie in reparing and building of townes & castels, +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hen. Hunt.</i> <i>Matth. West.</i> <i>Simon Dun.</i></span> +wherein she shewed hir noble magnificence, in so much that during hir government, which +continued about eight yéeres, it is recorded by writers, that she did build and repare these +<span class="leftnote">Tamwoorth was by hir repared, anno 914. Eadsburie and Warwike. <br />915.</span> +towns, whose names here insue: Tamwoorth beside Lichfield, Stafford, Warwike, Shrewsburie, +Watersburie or Weddesburie, Elilsburie or rather Eadsburie, in the forrest of De la +mere besides Chester, Brimsburie bridge vpon Seuerne, Rouncorne at the mouth of the riuer +Mercia with other. Moreouer, by hir helpe the citie of Chester, which by Danes had +<span class="rightnote">Chester repared, 905. <br /><i>Sim. Dun.</i></span> +beene greatlie defaced, was newlie repared, fortified with walls and turrets, and greatlie inlarged. +So that the castell which stood without the walls before that time, was now brought +within compasse of the new wall.</p> +<p> +Moreouer she boldlie assalted hir enimies which went about to trouble the state of the countrie, +as the Welshmen and Danes. She sent an armie into Wales, and tooke the towne of +<span class="rightnote">Quéene of the Welshmen taken. Brecenamere. <br /><i>Ran. Higd.</i> <br /><i>Hen. Hunt.</i> <br />918. +<br />Darbie won from the Danes.</span> +Brecknocke with the queene of the Welshmen at Bricenamere. Also she wan from the Danes +the towne of Darbie, and the countrie adioining. In this enterprise she put hir owne person in +great aduenture: for a great multitude of Danes that were withdrawen into Darbie, valiantlie +defended the gates and entries, in so much that they slue foure of hir chiefe men of warre, +which were named wardens of hir person, euen fast by hir at the verie entrie of the gates. +But this notwithstanding, with valiant fight hir people entered, and so the towne was woon: she +got diuerse other places out of their hands, & constreined them of Yorkeshire to agree with +hir, so that some of them promised to become hir subiects: some vowed to aid hir, and some +sware to be at hir commandement.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hen. Hunt. Anno Christie</i> <br />919.</span> +Finallie, this martiall ladie and manlie Elfleda, the supporter of hir countriemen, and terrour +of the enimies, departed this life at Tamwoorth about the 12 of Iune, in the 18 or rather 19 +<span class="leftnote"><i>Matt. West.</i> <br /><i>Simon Dun.</i></span> +yéere of hir brother king Edwards reigne, as by Matth. West it should appeere. But Simon +Dunelm. writeth, that she deceassed in the yeere of Christ 915, which should be about the +14 yéere of king Edwards reigne. Hir bodie was conueied to Glocester, and there buried +within the monasterie of S. Peter, which hir husband and she in their life time had builded, and +translated thither the bones of saint Oswill from Bardona. The same monasterie was after +<span class="rightnote"><i>Ranul.</i></span> +destroied by Danes. But Aldredus the archbishop of Yorke, who was also bishop of Worcester, +repared an other in the same citie, that was after the chiefe abbeie there. Finallie, +in memorie of the said Elfleds magnanimitie and valorous mind, this epitaph was fixed on +hir toome.</p> + +<p class="indent"> +<i>O Elfleda potens, ô terror virgo virorum,<br /> + <span class="indent1">O Elfleda potens, nomine digna viri.</span><br /> +Te quóque splendidior fecit natura puellam,<br /> + <span class="indent1">Te probitas fecit nomen habere viri.</span><br /> +Te mutare decet sed solum nomina sexus,</i><br /><a name="page682" id="page682"></a><span class="page">Page 682]</span> + <i><span class="indent1">Tu regina potens rexque trophea parans.</span><br /> + Iam nec Cæsareos tantum mirere triumphos,<br /> + <span class="indent1">Cæsare splendidior virgo virago, vale.</span></i><br /><br /> +</p> +<span class="rightnote">Translated by <i>Abraham Fleming.</i></span> +<p class="indentq"> +O puissant Elfled, ô thou maid<br /> + <span class="indent1">of men the dread and feare,</span><br /> +O puissant Elfled woorthie maid<br /> + <span class="indent1">the name of man to beare.</span><br /> +A noble nature hath thee made<br /> + <span class="indent1">a maiden mild to bee,</span><br /> +Thy vertue also hath procurde<br /> + <span class="indent1">a manlie name to thee.</span><br /> +It dooth but onelie thee become,<br /> + <span class="indent1">of sex to change the name,</span><br /> +A puissant queene, a king art thou<br /> + <span class="indent1">preparing trophes of fame.</span><br /> +Now maruell not so much at Cæsars<br /> + <span class="indent1">triumphs [trim to vieu;]</span><br /> +O manlike maiden more renowmd<br /> + <span class="indent1">than Cæsar was, adieu.</span><br /><br /> +</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">This Alfwen <br />was sister to Edelfled, as <br /><i>H. Hunt.</i> saith.</span> +After the deceasse of Elfleda, king Edward tooke the dominion of Mercia (as before we +haue said) into his owne hands, and so disherited his néece Alfwen or Elswen, the daughter +of Elfleda, taking hir awaie with him into the countrie of Westsaxons. By this meanes +he so amplified the bounds of his kingdome, that he had the most part of all this Iland of +<span class="leftnote">Stratcluid or Stretcled, a kingdome in Wales.</span> +Britaine at his commandement: for the kings of the Welshmen; namelie the king of Stretcled, +and of the Scots, acknowledging him to be their chiefe souereigne lord, and the Danes +in Northumberland were kept so short, that they durst attempt nothing against him in his +<span class="rightnote">K. Edward a great builder and reparer of townes. Notingham bridge built. <i>Matt. West.</i></span> +latter daies: so that he had time to applie the building and reparing of cities, townes, and castels, +wherein he so much delighted. He builded a new towne at Notingham on the southside + +of Trent, and made a bridge ouer that riuer betwixt the old towne and the new. He also +<span class="leftnote">Manchester repared. Anno 816. <br /><i>Simon Dun.</i></span> +repared Manchester beyond the riuer of Mercia in Lancashire, accounted as then in the south +end of Northumberland, and he built a towne of ancient writers called Thilwall, neere to the +same riuer of Mercia, and placed therein a garrison of souldiers: diuerse other townes and +<span class="rightnote"><br /><i>Henr. Hunt.</i></span> +castels he built, as two at Buckingham on either side of the water of Ouse (as before is shewed) +and also one at the mouth of the riuer of Auon. He likewise built or new repared the townes +of Tocetor and Wigmore, with diuerse other, as one at Glademuth, about the last yéere of +his reigne. Some also he destroied which séemed to serue the enimies turne for harborough, +as a castell at Temnesford, which the Danes builded and fortified.</p> +<p> +At length, after that this noble prince king Edward had reigned somewhat aboue the tearme +of 23 yéeres, he was taken out of this life at Faringdon: his bodie was conueied from thence +vnto Winchester, and there buried in the new abbeie. He had thrée wiues, or (as some haue +<span class="rightnote"><i>Polydor.</i></span> +written) but two, affirming that Edgiua was not his wife, but his concubine, of whome he begat +his eldest sonne Adelstan, who succéeded him in the kingdome. This Edgiua (as hath béene +<span class="leftnote">A dreame.</span> +reported) dreamed on a time that there rose a moone out of hir bellie, which with the bright +shine thereof gaue light ouer all England: and telling hir dreame to an ancient gentlewoman, +who coniecturing by the dreame that which followed, tooke care of hir, and caused hir to be +brought vp in good manners and like a gentlewoman, though she were borne but of base +parentage.</p> +<p> +Heerevpon when she came to ripe yéeres, king Edward by chance comming to the place +where she was remaining, vpon the first sight was streight rauished with hir beautie (which in +déed excelled) that she could not rest till he had his pleasure of hir, and so begot of hir the +foresaid Adelstan: by hir he had also a daughter that was maried vnto Sithrike a Dane and<a name="page683" id="page683"></a><span class="page">[Page 683]</span> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matt. West.</i> <br /><i>Polydor.</i></span> +K. of Northumberland. The Scotish writers name hir Beatrice, but our writers name hir +Editha. His second or rather his first wife (if he were not maried to Eguina mother to Adelstan) +was called Elfleda or Elfrida, daughter to one earle Ethelme, by whom he had issue; to wit, +<span class="leftnote">The issue of K. Edward.</span> +two sonnes Ethelward and Edwin, which immediatlie departed this life after their father; and +six daughters, Elfleda, Edgiua, Ethelhilda, Ethilda, Edgitha, and Elfgiua. Elfleda became +a nun, and Ethelhilda also liued in perpetuall virginitie, but yet in a laie habit.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Alias Edgiua. <br /><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +Edgitha was maried to Charles king of France, surnamed Simplex. And Ethilda by helpe +of hir brother Adelstan was bestowed vpon Hugh sonne to Robert earle of Paris, for hir singular +beautie most highlie estéemed: sith nature in hir had shewed as it were hir whole cunning, +in perfecting hir with all gifts and properties of a comelie personage. Edgiua and Elgiua +were sent by their brother Adelstan into Germanie, vnto the emperor Henrie, who bestowed +one of them vpon his sonne Otho, that was after emperor, the first of that name; and the other +vpon a duke inhabiting about the Alpes: by his last wife named Edgiua, he had also two +sonnes, Edmund & Eldred, the which both reigned after their brother Adestan successiuelie. +Also he had by hir two daughters, Edburge that was made a nun, and Edgiue a +ladie of excellent beautie, whom hir brother Adelstan gaue in mariage vnto Lewes king of +Aquitaine.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Ran. Higd.</i> <br /><i>Wil. Malm.</i> <br /><i>Matth. West.</i></span> +Whilest this land was in continuall trouble of warres against the Danes, as before is touched, +small regard was had to the state of the church, in somuch that the whole countrie of the +Westsaxons by the space of seuen yéeres togither (in the daies of this king Edward) remained +without anie bishop, to take order in matters apperteining to the church. Wherevpon the pope +<span class="rightnote">England first accurssed.</span> +had accurssed the English people, bicause they suffred the bishops sees to be vacant so long a +<span class="leftnote">Anno 903.</span> +time. King Edward to auoid the cursse, assembled a prouinciall councell, 905, in the which +the archbishop of Canturburie Pleimond was president. Wherein it was ordeined, that +whereas the prouince of Westsaxons in times past had but two bishops, now it should be diuided +into fiue diocesses, euerie of them to haue a peculiar bishop.</p> +<p> +When all things were ordered and concluded in this synod (as was thought requisite) the +archbishop was sent to Rome with rich presents, to appease the popes displeasure. When the +pope had heard what order the king had taken, he was contented therewith. And so the archbishop +returned into his countrie, and in one day at Canturburie ordeined seuen bishops, as fiue to +<span class="rightnote"> Winchester. Cornewall. Shireborne. Welles. Kirton. Mercia.</span> +the prouince of Westsaxons, that is to say, Fridestane to the sée of Winchester, Adelstan to +S. German in Cornwall, Werstan to Shireborne, Adelme to Welles, and Edulfe to Kirton. +Also to the prouince of Sussex he ordeined one Bernegus, and to Dorchester for the prouince +of Mercia one Cenulfus.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i> <br />saith that pope Formosus pronounced <br />this cursse. <br />904.</span> +¶ Heere ye must note, that where William Malme. Polychro. and other doo affirme, that +pope Formosus did accursse king Edward and the English nation, for suffering the bishops sees +to be vacant, it can not stand with the agreement or the time, vnlesse that the cursse pronounced +by Formosus for this matter long afore was not regarded, vntill Edward had respect +thereto. For the same Formosus began to gouerne the Romane see about the yéere of our +Lord 892, and liued in the papasie not past six yéeres, so that he was dead before king Edward +<span class="leftnote"><i>Polydor.</i></span> +came to the crowne. But how so euer this matter maie fall out, this ye haue to consider: +although that Pleimond was sent vnto Rome to aduertise the pope what the king had decréed +& doone, in the ordeining of bishops to their seuerall sées, as before ye haue heard, yet +(as maister Fox hath noted) the gouernance and direction of the church depended chieflie vpon +the kings of this land in those daies, as it manifestlie appeereth, as well by the decrees of +king Alfred, as of this king Edward, whose authoritie in the election of bishops (as before ye +haue heard) seemed then alone to be sufficient.</p> +<p> +Moreouer, I thinke it good to aduertise you in this place, that this Pleimond archbishop of +Canturburie (of whome ye haue heard before) was the 19 in number from Augustine the first +archbishop there: for after Brightwold that was the 8 in number, and first of the English nation +that gouerned the sée, succeeded Taduin, that sat three yeeres, Notelin fiue yéeres, Cuthbert +18 yéeres, Brethwin thrée yéeres, Lambert 27 yéeres, Adelard 13 yéeres, Wilfred 28 yéeres,<a name="page684" id="page684"></a><span class="page">[Page 684]</span> +Theologildus or Pleogildus 3 yéeres, Celuotus or Chelutus 10 yéeres. Then succéeded Aldred, +of whome king Edward receiued the crowne, and he was predecessor to Pleimond. A +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hen. Hunt.</i></span> +litle before the death of king Edward, Sithrike the king of Northumberland killed his brother +Nigellus, and then king Reinold conquered the citie of Yorke.</p> + +<hr /><br /><br /> + +<p><a name="xix6" id="xix6"></a> +<i>Adelstane succeedeth his father Edward in the kingdome, Alfred practising by treason to +keepe him from the gouernement, sanke downe suddenlie as he was taking his oth for +his purgation; the cause why Alfred opposed himselfe against Adelstane, whose praise +is notable, what he did to satisfie the expectation of his people, ladie Beatrice king +Edwards daughter maried to Sithrike a Danish gouernor of the Northumbers, by whose +meanes Edwin king Edwards brother was drowned, practises of treason, the ladie Beatrice +strangelie put to death by hir stepsons for being of counsell to poison hir husband Sithrike, +hir death reuenged vpon the tormentors by hir father king Edward, and how chronographers +varie in the report of this historie.</i></p> + + +<h3>THE XIX. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">ADELSTAN. <br /><i>Matt. West.</i> <br /><i>Will. Malmes.</i> <br />924.</span> +Adelstane the eldest sonne of king Edward began his reigne ouer the more part of +all England, the yeere of our Lord 924, which was in the 6 yere of the emperour Henrie +the first, in the 31 yéere of the reigne of Charles surnamed Simplex king of France, three +moneths after the burning of Pauie, & about the 22 or 23 yéere of Constantine the third, +king of Scotland. This Adelstane was crowned and consecrated king at Kingstone vpon +Thames, of Aldelme the archbishop of Canturburie, who succéeded Pleimond. He was the +24 king in number from Cerdicus or Cerdike the first king of the Westsaxons. There were +<span class="rightnote">Alfred striueth in vaine to kéepe Adelstane from the gouernment. <br /><i>Wil. Malm.</i> +<br />See more hereof in the acts and monuments set foorth by <br /><i>M. Fox,</i> vol. 1. leafe 195.</span> +in the beginning some that set themselues against him, as one Alfred a noble man, which +practised by treason to haue kept him from the gouernement: but he was apprehended yer +he could bring his purpose to passe, and sent to Rome there to trie himselfe giltie or not +giltie. And as he tooke his oth for his purgation before the altar of saint Peter, he suddenlie +fell downe to the earth, so that his seruants tooke him vp, and bare him into the +English schoole or hospitall, where the third night after he died.</p> +<p> +Pope Iohn the tenth sent vnto king Adelstane, to know if he would that his bodie should +be laid in Christian buriall or not. The king at the contemplation of Alfreds friends and +kinsfolks, signified to the pope that he was contented that his bodie should be interred +amongst other christians. His lands being forfeited were giuen by the king vnto God and +saint Peter. The cause that mooued Alfred and other his complices against the king, was +(as some haue alledged) his bastardie. But whether that allegation were true or but a +slander, this is certeine, that except that steine of his honor, there was nothing in this Adelstane +worthie of blame: so that he darkened all the glorious fame of his predecessors, both +in vertuous conditions and victorious triumphs. Such difference is there to haue that in thy +selfe wherein to excell, rather than to stand vpon the woorthinesse of thine ancestors, sith +that can not rightlie be called a mans owne.</p> +<p> +After that king Adelstane was established in the estate, he indeuored himselfe to answer +the expectation of his people; which hoped for great wealth to insue by his noble and prudent +<span class="rightnote"><i>Anno 925</i>. <br /><i>Simon Dun.</i> <br /><i>Polydor</i>.</span> +gouernance. First therfore meaning to prouide for the suertie of his countrie, he concluded +a peace with Sithrike king of the Northumbers, vnto whome (as ye haue heard) he gaue +one of his sisters named Editha in mariage. Sithrike liued not past one yéere after he had +so maried hir. And then Adelstane brought the prouince of the Northumbers vnto his subiection, +expelling one Aldulph out of the same that rebelled against him. There be that +write, that Godfrie and Aulafe the sonnes of Sithrike succéeding their father in the gouernement<a name="page685" id="page685"></a><span class="page">[Page 685]</span> +of Northumberland, by practising to mooue warre against king Adelstane, occasioned +him to inuade their countrie, and to chase them out of the same, so that Aulafe fled into +Ireland, & Godfrie into Scotland: but other write, that Godfrie was the father of Reignold +<span class="rightnote"><i>H. Hunt.</i></span> +which wan Yorke, after that Sithrike had slaine his brother Nigellus, as before is +mentioned.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hect. Boetius.</i> <br />The Scotish writers varie from our English authors. +Beatrice daughter to K. Edward as the Scotish writers say. Edwin was not brother to +K. Edward but son to him.</span> +¶ The Scotish chronicles varie in report of these matters from the English writers: whose +chronicles affirme, that in the life time of king Edward, his daughter Beatrice was giuen in +mariage to Sithrike, the gouernor of the Danes in Northumberland, with condition that if +anie male were procreated in that mariage, the same should inherit the dominions of king +Edward after his decease. King Edward had a brother (as they say) named Edwin, a iolie +gentleman, and of great estimation amongst the Englishmen. He by Sithrikes procurement +was sent into Flanders in a ship that leaked, and so was drowned, to the great reioising of +all the Danes, least if he had suruiued his brother, he would haue made some businesse for +the crowne.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">Adelstane flieth the realme.</span> +About the same time Adelstane a base sonne of K. Edward fled the realme, for doubt to +be made away by some like traitorous practise of the Danes. Shortlie after, king Edward +vnderstanding that Sithrike went about some mischiefe toward him, persuaded his daughter +to poison hir husband the said Sithrike. Then Aulafe or Aualassus, and Godfrie the sonnes +of Sithrike, finding out by diligent examination, that Beatrice was of counsell in poisoning +hir husband, they caused hir to be apprehended and put to death on this wise. She was set +<span class="rightnote">Beatrice put to death by hir stepsons.</span> +naked vpon a smithes cold anuill or stithie, and therewith hard rosted egs being taken out +of the hot imbers were put vnder hir armepits, and hir armes fast bound to hir bodie with +a cord, and so in that state she remained till hir life passed from hir. King Edward in reuenge +of his daughters death mooued warre against the two brethren, Aulafe and Godfrie, +and in battell finallie vanquished them, but was slaine in the same battell himselfe.</p> +<p> +Thus haue the Scotish chronicles recorded of these matters, as an induction to the warres +which followed betwixt the Scots and Danes as confederates against king Adelstane: but +the truth thereof we leaue to the readers owne iudgement. For in our English writers we +find no such matter, but that a daughter of king Edward named Edgitha or Editha, after hir +fathers deceasse was by hir brother king Adelstane, about the first yéere of his reigne, giuen +in mariage (as before ye haue heard) vnto the foresaid Sithrike king of Northumberland, +that was descended of the Danish bloud, who for the loue of the yoong ladie, renounced +his heathenish religion and became a christian; but shortlie after, forsaking both his wife +and the christian faith, he set vp againe the worshipping of idols, and within a while after, +as an apostata miserablie ended his life. Whervpon the yoong ladie, hir virginitie being +<span class="rightnote">Editha a virgine.</span> +preserued, and hir bodie vndefiled (as they write) passed the residue of hir daies at Polleswoorth +in Warwikeshire, spending hir time (as the same writers affirme) in fasting, watching, +praieng, and dooing of almesdéedes, and so at length departed out of this world. Thus +our writers differ from the Scotish historie, both in name and maner of end as concerning the +daughter of king Edward that was coupled in mariage with Sithrike.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="page686" id="page686"></a><span class="page">[Page 686]</span> +<p><a name="xx6" id="xx6"></a> +<i>Adelstane subdueth Constantine king of Scots, Howell king of Wales, and Wulferth king of</i> +<i>Northwales, the Scots possesse a great part of the north countries, Adelstane conquereth +the Scots for aiding Godfrie his enimie; a miracle declaring that the Scots ought to obey +the king of England; king Adelstane banisheth his brother Edwin, he is for a conspiracie +drowned in the sea, Adelstane repenteth him of his rigour (in respect of that misfortune) +against his brother; Aulafe sometimes king of Northumberland inuadeth England, he disguiseth +himselfe like a minstrell and surueieth the English campe unsuspected, he is discouered +after his departure, be assaileth the English campe, Adelstane being comforted with a +miracle discomfiteth his enimies, he maketh them of Northwales his tributaries, be subdueth +the Cornishmen, his death; the description of his person, his vertues, of what abbeis & +monasteries he was founder, his estimation in forren realmes, what pretious presents were +sent him from other princes, and how he bestowed them; a remembrance of Guy the erle +of Warwike.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XX. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +After that king Adelstane had subdued them of Northumberland, he was aduertised, +that not onelie Constantine king of Scots, but also Huduale or Howell K. of Wales went +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +about a priuie conspiracie against him. Herevpon with all conuenient spéed assembling his +power, he went against them, and with like good fortune subdued them both, and also Vimer +or Wulferth K. of Northwales, so that they were constreined to submit themselues vnto him, +who shortlie after moued with pitie in considering their sudden fall, restored them all three +<span class="leftnote"><i>Matth. West.</i> <br />The noble saieng of king Adelstane. <br />926.</span> +to their former estates, but so as they should acknowledge themselues to gouerne vnder +him, pronouncing withall this notable saieng, that More honorable it was to make a king, +than to be a king.</p> +<p> +Ye must vnderstand, that (as it appeareth in the Scotish chronicles) the Scotishmen in +time of wars that the Danes gaue the English nation, got a part of Cumberland and other +the north countries into their possession, and so by reason of their néere adioining vnto +the confines of the English kings, there chanced occasions of warre betwixt them, as well +in the daies of king Edward, as of this Adelstane his sonne, although in déed the Danes +held the more part of the north countries, till that this Adelstane conquered the same out +of their hands, and ioined it vnto other of his dominions, constreining as well the Danes +<span class="rightnote"><i>Polydor.</i></span> +(of whome the more part of the inhabitants then consisted) as also the Englishmen, to obey +him as their king and gouernour. Godfrie (as is said) being fled to the Scots, did so much +preuaile there by earnest sute made to king Constantine, that he got a power of men, and +entring with the same into Northumberland, besiged the citie of Duresme, soliciting the +citizens to receiue him, which they would gladlie haue doone, if they had not perceiued +how he was not of power able to resist the puissance of king Adelstane: and therefore +doubting to be punished for their offenses if they reuolted, they kept the enimies out. King +<span class="leftnote">934.</span> +Adelstane being sore moued against the king of Scots, that thus aided his enimies, raised +an armie, and went northward, purposing to reuenge that iniurie.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Ran. Higd.</i></span> +At his comming into Yorkshire, he turned out of the way, to visit the place where saint +Iohn of Beuerlie was buried, and there offered his knife, promising that if he returned with +victorie, he would redéeme the same with a woorthie price: and so proceeded and went +<span class="leftnote"><i>Sim. Dun.</i></span> +forwards on his iournie, and entring Scotland, wasted the countrie by land vnto Dunfoader +and Wertermore, and his nauie by sea destroied the coasts alongst the shore, euen to Catnesse, +<span class="rightnote">The Scots subdued.</span> +and so he brought the king of Scots and other his enimies to subiection at his pleasure, +constreining the same K. of Scots to deliuer him his son in hostage.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">A token shewed miraculouslie that the Scots ought to be subiect to the kings of England.</span> +It is said, that being in his iournie néere vnto the towne of Dunbar, he praied vnto God, +that at the instance of saint Iohn of Beuerlie, it would please him to grant, that he might +shew some open token, whereby it should appeare to all them that then liued, and should +hereafter succeéd, that the Scots ought to be subiect vnto the kings of England. Herewith, +the king with his sword smote vpon a great stone standing néere to the castle of Dunbar,<a name="page687" id="page687"></a><span class="page">[Page 687]</span> +and with the stroke, there appeared a clift in the same stone to the length of an elme, which +remained to be shewed as a witnesse of that thing manie yeares after. At his comming backe +to Beuerlie, he redéemed his knife with a large price, as before he had promised.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i> <br /><i>Matt. Westm.</i> <br />934.</span> +After this was Edwin the kings brother accused of some conspiracie by him begun against +the king, wherevpon he was banished the land, and sent out in an old rotten vessell without +rower or mariner, onelie accompanied with one esquier, so that being lanched foorth from +the shore, through despaire Edwin leapt into the sea, and drowned himselfe, but the esquier +that was with him recouered his bodie, and brought it to land at Withsand besides Canturburie. +But Iames Maier in the annales of Flanders saieth, that he was drowned by fortune +of the seas in a small vessell, and being cast vp into a créeke on the coast of Picardie, was +found by Adolfe earle of Bullongne that was his coosin germane, and honorablie buried by +the same Adolfe in the church of Bertine. In consideration of which déed of pietie and +dutie of mindfull consanguinitie, the king of England both hartilie thanked earle Adolfe, +<span class="rightnote">Repentance too late.</span> +and bestowed great gifts vpon the church where his brother was thus buried. For verelie +king Adelstane after his displeasure was asswaged, and hearing of this miserable end of his +brother, sore repented himselfe of his rigour so extended towards him, in so much that he +could neuer abide the man that had giuen the information against him, which was his cupbearer, +so that on a time as the said cupbearer serued him at the table, and came towards +him with a cup of wine, one of his féet chanced to slide, but he recouered himselfe with the +helpe of the other foot, saieng, "One brother yet hath holpen & succored the other:" +which words cost him his life. For the king remembring that by his accusation he had lost +his brother that might haue béene an aid to him, caused this said cupbearer to be straight +put to death.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +In this meane while, Aulafe the sonne of Sitherike, late king of Northumberland (who is +also named by writers to be king of the Irishmen, and of manie Ilands) assembled a great +power of Danes, Irishmen, Scots, and other people of the out Iles, and imbarked them in +615 ships and craiers, with the which he arriued in the mouth of Humber, and there comming +<span class="rightnote">937.</span> +on land, began to inuade the countrie. This Aulafe had maried the daughter of Constantine +king of Scots, by whose procurement, notwithstanding his late submission, Aulafe +<span class="leftnote"><i>Simon Dun.</i></span> +tooke in hand this iournie. King Adelstane aduertised of his enimies arriuall, gathered his +people, and with all conuenient spéed hasted towards them, and approching néerer vnto +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hen. Hunt.</i> <br /><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +them, pitcht downe his field at a place called by some Brimesburie, by others Brimesford, +and also Brunaubright, and by the Scotish writers Browmingfield.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote"><i>Matth. West.</i> <br /><i>Hector Boet.</i> <br /><i>Ran. Higd.</i> +Aulafe disguised, cometh to view the English camp.</span> +When knowledge hereof was had in the enimies campe, Aulafe enterprised a maruelous +exploit, for taking with him an harpe, he came into the English campe, offring himselfe +disguised as a minstrell, to shew some part of his cunning in musicke vpon his instrument: +and so being suffered to passe from tent to tent, and admitted also to plaie afore the king, +surueied the whole state and order of the armie. This doone, he returned, meaning by a +cammisado to set vpon the kings tent. But one that had serued as a souldier sometime +vnder Aulafe, chanced by marking his demeanour to know him, and after he was gone, +vttered to the king what he knew. The king séemed to be displeased, in that he had not +told him so much before Aulafs departure: but in excusing himselfe, the souldier said: +"Ye must remember (if it like your grace) that the same faith which I haue giuen vnto +you, I sometime owght vnto Aulafe, therfore if I should haue betraied him now, you might +well stand in doubt least I should hereafter doo the like to you: but if you will follow +mine aduise, remoue your tent, least happilie he assaile you vnwares." The king did so, +<span class="rightnote">Aulafe assaileth the English camp.</span> +and as it chanced in the night following, Aulafe came to assaile the English campe, and by +fortune comming to the place where the kings tent stood before, he found a bishop lodged, +which with his companie was come the same day to the armie, and had pitcht vp his tent in +that place from whence the king was remoued: and so was the same bishop, and most part +of his men there slaine, which slaughter executed, Aulafe passed forward, and came to +the kings tent, who in this meane time, by reason of the alarum raised, was got vp, and<a name="page688" id="page688"></a><span class="page">[Page 688]</span> +taking to him his sword in that sudden fright, by chance it fell out of the scabbard, so +<span class="rightnote"><i>Ran. Higd.</i></span> +that he could not find it, but calling to God and S. Aldelme (as saith Polychron.) his sword +was restored to the scabbard againe. The king comforted with that miracle, boldlie preased +foorth vpon his enimies, and so valiantlie resisted them, that in the end he put them to +flight, and chased them all that morning and day following, so that he slue of them an +<span class="leftnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i> <br />The enimies discomfited.</span> +huge number. Some haue written, that Constantine king of Scots was slaine at this ouerthrow, +and fiue other small kings or rulers, with 12 dukes, and welnéere all the armie of +those strange nations which Aulafe had gathered togither. But the Scotish chronicles +affirme, that Constantine was not there himselfe, but sent his sonne Malcolme, which yet +escaped sore hurt and wounded from the battell, as in the same chronicles ye may sée more +at large.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Ran. Higd.</i></span> +When K. Adelstane had thus vanquished his enimies in the north parties of England, he +went against them of Northwales, whose rulers and princes he caused to come before him +at Hereford, and there handled them in such sort, that they couenanted to pay him yeerlie +<span class="leftnote">Tribute. <br />The Cornish men subdued.</span> +in lieu of a tribute 20 pounds of gold, 300 pounds of siluer, and 25 head of neate, with +hawks and hownds a certeine number. After this, he subdued the Cornishmen: and whereas +till those daies they inhabited the citie of Excester, mingled amongest the Englishmen, so +that the one nation was as strong within that citie as the other, he rid them quite out of the +<span class="rightnote">Excester repaired. <br />940.</span> +same, and repared the walles, and fortified them with ditches and turrets as the maner +then was, and so remoued the Cornish men further into the west parts of the countrie, that +he made Tamer water to be the confines betwéene the Englishmen and them. Finallie the +<span class="leftnote"><i>Simon Dun.</i> <br />The decease of king Adelstane.</span> +noble prince king Adelstane departed out of this world, the 26 day of October, after he +had reigned the tearme of 16 yeares. His bodie was buried at Malmesburie.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The description of king Adelstane.</span> +He was of such a stature, as exceeded not the common sort of men, stooping somewhat, +and yellowe haired, for his valiancie ioined with courtesie beloued of all men, yet sharpe +against rebels, and of inuincible constancie: his great deuotion toward the church appeared +in the building, adorning & indowing of monasteries and abbeis. He built one at Wilton +within the diocesse of Salisburie, and an other at Michelnie in Summersetshire. But besides +these foundations, there were few famous monasteries within this land, but that he adorned +the same either with some new péece of building, iewels, bookes, or portion of lands. He +<span class="rightnote">Wolstan archbishop of Yorke. <br />His estimation in forain realmes.</span> +had in excéeding fauour Wolstan archbishop of Yorke that liued in his daies, for whose +sake he greatlie inriched that bishoprike. His fame spread ouer all the parties of Europe, +so that sundrie princes thought themselues happie if they might haue his friendship, either +by affinitie or otherwise: by meanes whereof, he bestowed his sisters so highlie in mariage +as before ye haue heard. He receiued manie noble and rich presents from diuers princes, +as from Hugh king of France, horsses and sundrie rich iewels, with certeine relikes: as +Constantines sword, in the hilt whereof was set one of the nailes wherewith Christ was +fastened to the crosse, the speare of Charles the great, which was thought to be the same +wherewith the side of our sauiour was pearced, the banner of saint Maurice, with a part of +the holie crosse, and likewise a part of the thorned crowne: yet Mandeuile saw the one +halfe of this crowne in France, and the other at Constantinople, almost 400 yeares after +this time, as he writeth. Of these iewels king Adelstane gaue part to the abbie of saint +Swithon at Winchester, and part to the abbie of Malmesburie. Moreouer, the king of +Norwaie sent vnto him a goodlie ship of fine woorkmanship, with gilt sterne and purple +sailes, furnished round about the decke within with a rowe of gilt pauises. ¶ In the daies +<span class="rightnote"><i>Harding</i>.</span> +of this Adelstane reigned that right worthie Guy earle of Warwike, who (as some writers +haue recorded) fought with a mightie giant of the Danes in a singular combat, and vanquished +him.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + +<a name="page689" id="page689"></a><span class="page">[Page 689]</span> + +<p><a name="xxj6" id="xxj6"></a> +<i>Edmund succeedeth Adelstane in the kingdome, the Danes of Northumberland rebell against +him, a peace concluded betwene Aulafe their king and king Edmund vpon conditions, +Aulafe dieth, another of that name succeedeth him; king Edmund subdueth the Danes, +and compelleth them to receiue the christian faith, Reinold and Aulafe are baptised, they +violate their fealtie vowed to king Edmund, they are put to perpetuall exile; why king +Edmund wasted all Northumberland, caused the eies of king Dunmails sonnes to be put +out, and assigned the said countrie to Malcolme king of Scots; the Scotish chroniclers +error in peruerting the time & order of the English kings, king Edmunds lawes, by what +misfortune he came to his end, how his death was foreshewed to Dunstane in a vision, a +tale of the vertue of the crosse, Dunstane reproueth duke Elstane, his dreame, and how +the interpretation thereof came to passe.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXJ. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">EDMUND.</span> +After that Adelstane was departed this life, without leauing issue behind to succéed +him in the kingdome, his brother Edmund, sonne of Edward the elder, borne of his last +wife Edgiue, tooke vpon him the gouernement of this land, and began his reigne in the +yeare of our Lord 940, which was in the fift yeare of the emperor Otho the 1, in the 13 +<span class="leftnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i> <br />940.</span> +of Lewes surnamed Transmarinus king of France, and about the 38 yeare of Constantine +the third king of Scotland. The Danes of Northumberland rebelled against this Edmund, +<span class="rightnote"><i>Simon Dun.</i></span> +and ordeined Aulafe to be their king, whom they had called out of Ireland. Some write +that this Aulafe, which now in the beginning of Edmunds reigne came into Northumberland, +was king of Norwaie, & hauing a great power of men with him, marched foorth towards the +south parts of this land, in purpose to subdue the whole: but king Edmund raised a mightie +armie, and incountred with his enimies at Leicester. Howbeit, yer the matter came to the +vttermost triall of battell, through the earnest sute of the archbishop of Canturburie and +Yorke Odo and Wolstan, a peace was concluded; so as Edmund should inioy all that part +<span class="rightnote">A peace concluded. <br />941.</span> +of the land which lieth from Watlingstréet southward, & Aulafe should inioy the other part +as it lieth from the same street northward. Then Aulafe tooke to wife the ladie Alditha, +<span class="leftnote"><i>Matth. West.</i> Aulafe deceaseth. Another Aulafe taketh upon him to rule.</span> +daughter to earle Ormus, by whose counsell and assistance he had thus obtained the vpper +hand. But this Aulafe in the yeare following, after he had destroied the church of saint +Balter, and burned Tinningham, departed this life. Then the other Aulafe that was sonne +to king Sithrike, tooke vpon him to gouerne the Northumbers.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">942.</span> +After this, in the yeare 942, king Edmund assembling an armie, first subdued those +Danes which had got into their possession the cities and towns of Lincolne, Leicester, +Darbie, Stafford, and Notingham, constreining them to receiue the christian faith, and reduced +all the countries euen vnto Humber vnder his subiection. This doone, Aulafe and +Reinold the sonne of Gurmo, who (as you haue heard) subdued Yorke, as a meane the +<span class="rightnote">Gurmo or Godfrey. <br /><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +sooner to obteine peace, offered to become christians, & to submit themselues vnto him: +wherevpon he receiued them to his peace. There be that write, that this Aulafe is not that +Aulafe which was sonne to king Sithrike, but rather that the other was he with whom king +Edmund made partition of the realme: but they agree, that this second Aulafe was a Dane +also, & being conuerted to the faith as well through constraint of the kings puissance, as +through the preaching of the gospell, was baptised, king Edmund being godfather both +vnto him, and vnto the foresaid Reinold, to Aulafe at the verie fontstone, and to Reinold at +his confirmation at the bishops hands. Neuerthelesse, their wicked natures could not rest +<span class="rightnote">944.</span> +in quiet, so that they brake both promise to God, and to their prince, and were therefore in +<span class="leftnote"><i>Simon Dun.</i></span> +the yeare next following driuen both out of the countrie, and punished by perpetuall exile. +And so king Edmund adioined Northumberland, without admitting anie other immediat +gouernor, vnto his owne estate.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Leolin king of Southwales aided king Edmund in this enterprise. <br />946.</span> +Moreouer, he wasted and spoiled whole Cumberland, because he could not reduce the<a name="page690" id="page690"></a><span class="page">[Page 690]</span> +people of that countrie vnto due obeisance, and conformable subiection. The two sonnes +of Dunmaile king of that prouince he apprehended, and caused their eies to be put out. +Herewith vpon consideration either of such aid as he had receiued of the Scots at that time, +or some other friendlie respect, he assigned the said countrie of Cumberland vnto Malcolme +king of Scots, to hold the same by fealtie of him and his successors. The Scotish +chronicles, peruerting the time and order of the acts and doings of the English kings which +reigned about this season, affirme, that by couenants of peace concluded betwixt Malcolme +king of Scotland, and Adelstan king of England, it was agréed, that Cumberland should +remaine to the Scots: as in their chronicles you may find at full expressed. And againe, +that Indulfe, who succéeded Malcolme in the kingdome of Scotland, aided king Edmund +against Aulafe, whom the same chronicles name Aualassus, but the time which they attribute +vnto the reignes of their kings, will not alow the same to stand. For by account of +their writers, king Malcolme began not his reigne till after the deceasse of king Adelstan, +who departed this life in the yeare 940. And Malcolme succéeded Constantine the third +in the yeare 944, which was about the third yeare of king Edmunds reigne, and after Malcolme +(that reigned 15 yeares) succeeded Indulfe in the yeare 959. The like discordance +precedeth and followeth in their writers, as to the diligent reader, in conferring their +chronicles with ours, manifestlie appeareth. We therefore (to satisfie the desirous to vnderstand +and sée the diuersitie of writers) haue for the more part in their chronicles left the +same as we found it.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Polydor.</i> <br />The lawes of king Edmund.</span> +But now to the other dooings of king Edmund: it is recorded, that he ordeined diuers +good and wholsome lawes, verie profitable and necessarie for the commonwealth, which +lawes with diuers other of like antiquitie are forgot and blotted out by rust of time, the +consumer of things woorthie of long remembrance (as saith Polydor:) but sithens his time +they haue béene recouered for the more part, & by maister William Lambert turned into +<span class="rightnote">Five yeares and 7 months hath <i>Si. Dun.</i></span> +Latine, & were imprinted by Iohn Day, in the yeare 1568, as before I haue said. Finallie, +this prince king Edmund, after he had reigned sixe yeares and a halfe, he came to his end +by great misfortune. For (as some say) it chanced, that espieng where one of his seruants +was in danger to be slaine amongest his enimies that were about him with drawen swords, +as he stepped in to haue holpen his seruant, he was slaine at a place called Pulcher church, +or (as other haue) Michelsbourgh.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Pridecire. <br />saith <i>Si. Dun.</i> <br /><i>Will. Malm.</i> <br /><i>Matth. West.</i> <br />946.</span> +Other say, that kéeping a great feast at the aforesaid place on the day of saint Augustine +the English apostle (which is the 26 of Maie, and as that yeare came about, it fell on the +tuesday) as he was set at the table, he espied where a common robber was placed neere vnto +him, whome sometime he had banished the land, and now being returned without licence, +he presumed to come into the kings presence, wherewith the king was so moued with high +disdaine, that he suddenlie arose from the table, and flew vpon the théefe, and catching him +by the heare of the head, threw him vnder his féet, wherewith the théefe, hauing fast hold +on the king, brought him downe vpon him also, and with his knife stroke him into the +bellie, in such wise, that the kings bowels fell out of his chest, and there presentlie died. +The theefe was hewen in péeces by the kings seruants, but yet he slue and hurt diuers before +they could dispatch him. This chance was lamentable, namelie to the English people, +which by the ouertimelie death of their king, in whome appeared manie euident tokens of +great excellencie, lost the hope which they had conceiued of great wealth to increase by his +prudent and most princelie gouernement. His bodie was buried at Glastenburie where +Dunstane was then abbat.</p> +<p> +There be that write, that the death of king Edmund was signified aforehand to Dunstane, +<span class="rightnote"><i>Capgraue.</i> <br />A vaine tale.</span> +who about the same time attending vpon the same king, as he remooued from one place to +an other, chanced to accompanie himselfe with a noble man, one duke Elstane, and as they +rode togither, behold suddenlie Dunstane saw in the waie before him, where the kings +musicians rode, the diuell running and leaping amongst the same musicians after a reioising<a name="page691" id="page691"></a><span class="page">[Page 691</span> +maner, whome after he had beheld a good while, he said to the duke; Is it possible that +you may see that which I sée? The duke answered that he saw nothing otherwise than he +<span class="rightnote">Crossing bringeth sight of the diuels, and crossing driueth them away.</span> +ought to sée. Then said Dunstane, Blesse your eies with the signe of the crosse, and trie +whether you can see that I sée. And when he had doone as Dunstane appointed him, he +saw also the féend in likenesse of a little short euill fauoured Aethiopian dansing and leaping, +whereby they gathered that some euill hap was towards some of the companie: but when +they had crossed and blessed them, the foule spirit vanished out of their sight.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Dunstane an interpreter of dreames.</span> +Now after they had talked of this vision, and made an end of their talke touching the +same, the duke required of Dunstane to interpret a dreame which he had of late in sléepe, +and that was this: He thought that he saw in a vision the king with all his nobles sit in +his dining chamber at meate, and as they were there making merrie togither, the king +chanced to fall into a dead sléepe, and all the noble men, and those of his councell that +were about him were changed into robucks and goats. Dunstane quicklie declared that this +<span class="rightnote">Dunstan séeth the diuell often, but now he was become a waiter at the table when Dunstane sat with the king.</span> +dreame signified the kings death, and the changing of the nobles into dum and insensible +beasts betokened that the princes & gouernors of the realme should decline from the waie +of truth, and wander as foolish beasts without a guide to rule them. Also the night after +this talke when the king was set at supper, Dunstane saw the same spirit, or some other, +walke vp and downe amongst them that waited at the table, and within thrée daies after, the +king was slaine, as before ye haue heard.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<p><a name="xxij6" id="xxij6"></a> +<i>Edred succedeth his brother Edmund in the realme of England, the Northumbers rebell +against him, they and the Scots sweare to be his true subiects, they breake their oth and +ioine with Aulafe the Dane, who returneth into Northumberland, and is made king +thereof, the people expell him and erect Hericius in his roome, king Edred taketh reuenge +on the Northumbers for their disloialtie, the rereward of his armie is assalted by an host +of his enimies issuing out of Yorke, the Northumbers submit themselues, and put awaie +Hericius their king, Wolstane archbishop of Yorke punished for his disloialtie, whereto +Edred applied himselfe after the appeasing of ciuill tumults, his death and buriall, a +speciall signe of Edreds loue to Dunstane abbat of Glastenburie, his practise of cousenage +touching king Edreds treasure.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXIJ. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">EDRED. <br />946.</span> +Edred the brother of Edmund, and sonne to Edward the elder and to Edgiue his last +wife, began his reigne ouer the realme of England in the yéere of our Lord 946, or (as +other say) 997, which was in the twelfe yéere of the emperor Otho the first, and in the 21 +yéere of the reigne of Lewes K. of France, & about the third or fourth yéere of Malcolme +the first of that name, king of Scotland. He was crowned and annointed the 16 day of +<span class="leftnote"><i>Hen. Hunt.</i></span> +August by Odo the archbishop of Canturburie at Kingstone vpon Thames. In the first yéere +<span class="rightnote">The Northumbers rebell and are subdued.</span> +of his reigne, the Northumbers rebelled against him, wherevpon he raised an armie, inuaded +their countrie, and subdued them by force. This doone, he went forward into Scotland: but +the Scots without shewing anie resistance submitted themselues vnto him, and so both Scots +and Northumbers receiued an oth to be true vnto him, which they obserued but a small +while, for he was no sooner returned into the south parts, but that Aulafe which had beene +<span class="leftnote">Aulafe returned into Northumberland.</span> +chased out of the countrie by king Edmund, as before ye haue heard, returned into Northumberland +with a great nauie of ships, and was ioifullie receiued of the inhabitants, and restored +againe to the kingdome, which he held by the space of foure yéeres, and then by the +accustomed disloialtie of the Northumbers he was by them expelled, and then they set vp<a name="page692" id="page692"></a><span class="page">[Page 692]</span> +<span class="rightnote">Hirke or Hericius. <br /><i>Wil. Malm.</i> <br />The disloialtie of the Northumbers punished.</span> +one Hirke or Hericius the sonne of one Harrold to reigne ouer them, who held not the +estate anie long time. For in the third yeere of his reigne, Edred in the reuenge of such +disloiall dealings in the Northumbers, destroied the countrie with fire & swoord, sleaing +the most part of the inhabitants. He burnt the abbeie of Rippon, which was kept against +him.</p> +<p> +As he was returning homeward, an host of enimies brake out of Yorke, and setting vpon +<span class="leftnote"><i>Ran. Higd.</i> <br /><i>Simon Dun.</i> <br />Easterford.</span> +the rereward of the kings armie at a place called Easterford, made great slaughter of the +same. Wherefore the king in his rage ment to haue begun a new spoile and destruction, +but the Northumbers humbled themselues so vnto him, that putting awaie their forsaid king +Hirke or Hericius, and offering great rewards and gifts to buy their peace, they obteined +pardon. But bicause that Wolstane the archbishop of Yorke was of counsell with his countriemen +in reuolting from king Edred, and aduancing of Hericius, king Edred tooke him +and kept him in prison a long time after, but at length in respect of the reuerence which he +bare to his calling, he set him at libertie, and pardoned him his offense. Matth. Westm. +<span class="rightnote">The archbishop of Yorke imprisoned. <br /><i>Matth. West.</i> <br />951.</span> +reciteth an other cause of Wolstans imprisonment, as thus. In the yéere of Grace, saith he, +951, king Edred put the archbishop of Yorke in close prison, bicause of often complaints +exhibited against him, as he which had commanded manie townesmen of Theadford to be +put to death, in reuenge of the abbat Aldelme by them vniustlie slaine and murthered.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +After this, when Edred had appeased all ciuill tumults and dissentions within his land, he +applied him selfe to the aduancing of religion, wholie following the mind of Dunstane, by +whose exhortation he suffered patientlie manie torments of the bodie, and exercised himselfe +in praier and other deuout studies. This Edred in his latter daies being greatlie addicted to +deuotion & religious priests, at the request of his mother Edgiua, restored the abbeie of +Abington which was built first by king Inas, but in these daies sore decaied and fallen into +<span class="rightnote">Edredus departeth this life.</span> +ruine. Finallie, after he had reigned nine yéeres and a halfe, he departed this life to the +great gréeuance of men, and reioising of angels (as it is written) and was buried at Winchester +in the cathedrall church there. ¶ Heere is to be noted, that the foresaid Edred, +when he came first to the crowne, vpon a singular and most especiall fauour which he bare +<span class="rightnote">Dunstane in fauour.</span> +towards Dunstane the abbat of Glastenburie, committed vnto him the chiefest part of all his +treasure, as charters of lands with other monuments, and such ancient princelie iewels as +belonged to the former kings, with other such as he got of his owne, willing him to lay the +same in safe kéeping within his monasterie of Glastenburie.</p> +<p> +Afterward, when king Edred perceiued himselfe to be in danger of death by force of that +sickenesse, which in déed made an end of his life, he sent into all parties to such as had +anie of his treasure in kéeping, to bring the same vnto him with all spéed, that he might +<span class="rightnote">But was not this a deuise thereby to deteine the treasure? for I doo not read that +he deliuered it out of his hands.</span> +dispose thereof before his departure out of this life, as he should sée cause. Dunstane tooke +such things as he had vnder his hands, & hasted forward to deliuer the same vnto the king, +and to visit him in that time of his sickenesse according to his dutie: but as he was vpon +the waie, a voice spake to him from heauen, saieng; Behold king Edred is now departed in +peace. At the hearing of this voice, the horsse whereon Dunstane rode fell downe and died, +being not able to abide the presence of the angell that thus spake to Dunstane. And when +he came to the court, he vnderstood that the king died the same houre in which it was told +<span class="leftnote">An angell, or as some think a woorse creature.</span> +him by the angell, as before ye haue heard.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + +<a name="page693" id="page693"></a><span class="page">[Page 693]</span> + +<p><a name="xxiij6" id="xxiij6"></a> +<i>Edwin succeedeth Edred in the kingdome of England, his beastlie and incestuous carnalite +with a kinswoman of his on the verie day of his coronation, he is reproued of Dunstane +and giueth ouer the gentlewomans companie, Dunstane is banished for rebuking king +Edwin for his unlawfull lust and lewd life, the diuell reioised at his exile, what reuenging +mischiefs the king did for displeasure sake against the said Dunstane in exile, the middle +part of England rebelleth against king Edwin, and erecteth his brother Edgar in roiall +roome ouer them, he taketh thought and dieth; Edgar succeedeth him, he is a fauourer +of moonks, his prouision for defense of his realme, his policie and discretion in gouernment, +what kings he bound by oth to be true vnto him, eight princes row his barge in signe of +submission, the vicious inconueniences that grew among the Englishmen vpon his fauouring +of the Danes, a restraint of excessiue quaffing; Dunstane is made bishop of Worcester +and Ethelwold bishop of Wincester; iustice in Edgars time seuerelie executed, theft +punished with death, a tribute of woolfs skins paid him out of Wales, and the benefit of +that tribute.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXIIJ. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">EDWIN. <br />955.</span> +After the deceasse of Edred, his nephue Edwin the eldest sonne of king Edmund was +made king of England, and began his reigne ouer the same in the yéere of our Lord 955, +& in the 20 yéere of the emperor Otho the first, in the 28 and last yéere of the reigne of +Lewes king of France, and about the twelfe yeere of Malcolme the first of that name, king +of Scotland. He was consecrated at Kingston vpon Thames by Odo the archbishop of Canturburie. +On the verie day of his coronation, as the lords were set in councell about weightie +<span class="rightnote"><i>Will. Malmes.</i> <br /><i>Polydor.</i></span> +matters touching the gouernment of the realme, he rose from the place, gat him into a +chamber with one of his néere kinswomen, and there had to doo with hir, without anie respect +or regard had to his roiall estate and princelie dignitie. Dunstane latelie before named +abbat of Glastenburie, did not onlie without feare of displeasure reprooue the K. for such +shamefull abusing of his bodie, but also caused the archbishop of Canturburie to constreine +him to forsake that woman whom vnlawfullie he kept.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Iohn Capgrave.</i></span> +There be that write, that there were two women, both mother and daughter, whome king +Edward kept as concubines: for the mother being of noble parentage, sought to satisfie the +kings lust, in hope that either he would take hir or hir daughter vnto wife. And therefore +perceiuing that Dunstane was sore against such wanton pastime as the king vsed in their +<span class="leftnote">Dunstane banished the realme.</span> +companie, she so wrought, that Dunstane was through hir earnest trauell banished the land. +This is also reported, that when he should depart the realme, the diuell was heard in the west +end of the church, taking vp a great laughter after his roring maner, as though he should +<span class="rightnote">Dunstane séeth not the diuell.</span> +shew himselfe glad and ioifull at Dunstanes going into exile. But Dunstane perceiuing his +behauiour, spake to him, and said: Well thou aduersarie, doo not so greatly reioise at the +matter, for thou dooest not now so much reioise at my departure, but by Gods grace thou +shalt be as sorrowfull for my returne.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">Dunstane departed into exile.</span> +Thus was Dunstane banished by king Edwine, so that he was compelled to passe ouer +into Flanders, where he remained for a time within a monasterie at Gant, finding much +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i> <br />Edwine displaceth monks and putteth secular preists in their roomes.</span> +friendship at the hands of the gouernor of that countrie. Also the more to wreake his +wrath, the king spoiled manie religious houses of their goods, and droue out the monks, +placing secular priests in their roomes, as namelie at Malmesburie, where yet the house was +not empaired, but rather inriched in lands and ornaments by the kings liberalitie, and the industrious +meanes of the same priests, which tooke vp the bones of saint Aldelme, and put the +<span class="leftnote">Rebellion raised against king Edwine. <br /><i>Simon Dun.</i></span> +same into a shrine. At length the inhabitants of the middle part of England, euen from +Humber to Thames rebelled against him, and elected his brother Edgar, to haue the gouernement +ouer them, wherwith king Edwine tooke such griefe, for that he saw no meane at hand +how to remedie the matter, that shortlie after, when he had reigned somewhat more than +<span class="rightnote">Edwin departeth this life.</span> +foure yéeres, he died, and his bodie was buried at Winchester in the new abbeie.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">EDGAR. <br />959.</span> +Edgar the second sonne of Edmund late king of England, after the decease of his elder<a name="page694" id="page694"></a><span class="page">[Page 694]</span> +brother the foresaid Edwine, began his reigne ouer this realme of England in the yeere of +our Lord God 959, in the 22 yéere of the emperour Otho the first, in the fourth yéere of +the reigne of Lotharius king of France, 510 almost ended after the comming of the Saxons, +124 after the arriuall of the Danes, and in the last yéere of Malcolme king of Scotland. He +<span class="leftnote"><i>Polydor.</i></span> +was crowned & consecrated at Bath, or (as some say) at Kingstone vpon Thames by Odo +the archbishop of Canturburie, being as then not past 16 yéeres of age, when he was thus +admitted king. He was no lesse indued with commendable gifts of mind, than with strength +<span class="rightnote">Edgar a fauorer of moonks.</span> +and force of bodie. He was a great fauorer of moonks, and speciallie had Dunstane in high +estimation. Aboue all things in this world he regarded peace, and studied dailie how to +preserue the same, to the commoditie and aduancement of his subiects.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The diligent prouision of K. Edgar for defense of the realme.</span> +When he had established things in good quiet, and set an order in matters as seemed to +him best for the peaceable gouernement of his people, he prepared a great nauie of ships, +diuiding them in thrée parts, he appointed euerie part to a quarter of the realme, to +waft about the coast, that no forren enimie should approch the land, but that they might be +incountered and put backe, before they could take land. And euerie yéere after Easter, he +vsed to giue order, that his ships should assemble togither in their due places: and then +would he with the east nauie saile to the west parts of his realme, and sending those ships +backe, he would with the west nauie saile into the north parts; and with the north nauie +come backe againe into the east. This custome he vsed, that he might scowre the seas of +all pirats & theeues. In the winter season and spring time, he would ride through the +prouinces of his realme, searching out how the iudges and great lords demeaned themselues +in the administration of iustice, sharpelie punishing those that were found guiltie of extortion, +or had done otherwise in anie point than dutie required. In all things he vsed such politike +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +discretion, that neither was he put in danger by treason of his subiects, nor molested by +forren enimies.</p> +<p> +He caused diuerse kings to bind themselues by oth to be true and faithfull vnto him, as +<span class="rightnote">Mascutius.</span> +Kinadius or rather Induf king of Scotland, Malcolme king of Cumberland, Mascutius an +<span class="leftnote">Kings of Welshmen.</span> +archpirat, or (as we may call him) a maister rouer, and also all the kings of the Welshmen, +as Duffnall, Girffith, Duvall, Iacob, and Iudithill, all which came to his court, and by their +solemne othes receiued, sware to be at his commandement. And for the more manifest testimonie +<span class="rightnote">King Edgar roweth on the water of Dée.</span> +therof, he hauing them with him at Chester, caused them to enter into a barge vpon +the water of Dée, and placing himselfe in the forepart of the barge, at the helme, he caused +those eight high princes to row the barge vp and downe the water, shewing thereby his +princelie prerogatiue and roial magnificence, in that he might vse the seruice of so manie +kings that were his subiects. And therevpon he said (as hath bin reported) that then might +his successours account themselues kings of England, when they inioied such prerogatiue of +high and supreme honor.</p> +<p> +The fame of this noble prince was spred ouer all, as well on this side the sea as beyond, +insomuch that great resort of strangers chanced in his daies, which came euer into this land +to serue him, and to sée the state of his court, as Saxons and other, yea and also Danes, +<span class="rightnote"><i>Ran. Higd.</i> <br /> King Edgar fauoureth Danes.</span> +which became verie familiar with him. He fauored in déed the Danes (as hath béene said) +more than stood with the commoditie of his subiects, for scarse was anie stréet in England, +but Danes had their dwelling in the same among the Englishmen, whereby came great harme: +<span class="leftnote">English learned to quaffe of the Danes. <br /><i>Will Malm.</i></span> +for whereas the Danes by nature were great drinkers, the Englishmen by continuall conuersation +with them learned the same vice. King Edgar to reforme in part such excessiue +quaffing as then began to grow in vse, caused by the procurement of Dunstane, nailes to be +set in cups of a certeine measure, marked for the purpose, that none should drinke more than +was assigned by such measured cups. Englishmen also learned of the Saxons, Flemings, +<span class="rightnote">Englishmen learne other vices of strangers.</span> +and other strangers, their peculiar kind of vices, as of the Saxons a disordered fiercenesse of +mind, or the Flemings a féeble tendernesse of bodie: where before they reioised in their +owne simplicitie, and estéemed not the lewd and vnprofitable manners of strangers.</p> +<p> +Dunstane was made bishop of Worcester, and had also the administration of the sée of<a name="page695" id="page695"></a><span class="page">[Page 695]</span> +London committed vnto him. He was in such fauor with the king, that he ruled most +<span class="rightnote">Ethelwold made bishop of Winchester.</span> +things at his pleasure. Ethelwold, which being first a moonke of Glastenburie, and after +abbat of Abington, was likewise made bishop of Winchester, and might doo verie much with +<span class="leftnote">Oswald. Floriacum.</span> +the king. Also Oswald, which had beene a moonke in the abbeie of Florie in France, and +after was made bishop of Worcester, and from thence remooued to the sée of Yorke, was +highlie in fauor with this king, so that by these thrée prelates he was most counselled. Iustice +<span class="rightnote">Moonks must néeds write much in praise of Edgar who had men of their cote in such estimatiō.</span> +in his daies was strictlie obserued, for although he were courteous and gentle towards his +friends, yet was he sharpe and hard to offenders, so that no person of what estate or degree +soeuer he was escaped worthie punishment, if he did transgresse the lawes and ordinances of +the realme. There was no priuie theefe nor common robber that durst lay hands vpon other +mens goods, but he might looke to make amends with losse of his life, if he were knowne to +be giltie. For how might men that did offend, thinke to escape his hands, which deuised +waies how to rid the countrie of all wild rauening beasts, that liued vpon sucking the bloud +of others? For as it is said, he appointed Iudweall or Ludweall king of Wales to present him +<span class="rightnote">A tribute instituted of woolf-skins.</span> +thrée hundred woolues yéerelie in name of a tribute, but after thrée yéeres space, there +was not a woolfe to be found, and so that tribute ceased in the fourth yéere after it began to +be paid.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + +<p><a name="xxiiij6" id="xxiiij6"></a> +<i>The death of Alfred king Edgars wife (or concubine) causeth him to fall into a fowle +offense, an example teaching men to take heed how they put others in trust to woo for them; +earle Ethelwold cooseneth the king of his wife, the danger of beholding a womans beautie +with lustfull eies; king Edgar killeth earle Ethelwold to marrie faire Alfred his wife; +the bloudie and unnaturall speach of Ethelwolds base sonne: examples of king Edgars +great incontinencie and lewd life; Dunstane putteth the king to penance for his vnchastitie, +the Welshmen rebell against him and are corrected, king Edgars vision before his death, of +what religious buildings he was founder, his example a spur to others to doo the like, +moonks esteemed and secular priests little regarded, king Edgars deformed reformation, +his vices, stature, and bodilie qualities, he offereth to fight hand to hand with Kinadius +king of Scots vpon occasion of words euill taken, Kinadius submitteth himselfe and is pardoned; +his wiues and children, the good state of the realme in king Edgars time, the +amplenesse of his dominions.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXIIIJ. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Osborne</i> and <i>Capgraue</i> hold that she was not his wife but a nun.</span> +In this meane time, Alfred the wife of king Edgar (as some say) or rather (as others write) +his concubine died, of whome he had begot a sonne named Edward. The death of this +woman caused the king to commit an heinous offense. For albeit at the same time the fame +<span class="leftnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i> <br />Horger.</span> +went, that Horgerius duke of Cornewall, or rather Deuonshire, had a daughter named Alfred, +a damosell of excellent beautie, whome Edgar minding to haue in mariage, appointed +one of his noble men called earle Ethelwold, to go with all speed into Cornewall or Deuonshire, +to sée if the yoong ladies beautie answered the report that went of hir, and so to breake +the matter to hir father in his behalfe: yet Ethelwold being a yong iollie gentleman, tooke his +iournie into Cornewall, and comming to the duke, was well receiued, and had a sight of his +daughter, with whose beautie he was streight rauished so far in loue, that not regarding the +<span class="rightnote">Erle Ethelwold deceiueth the king of his wife.</span> +kings pleasure, who had sent him thither, he began to purchase the good will of both father +and daughter for himselfe, and did so much that he obteined the same in déed. Herevpon +returning to the king, he informed him that the damosell was not of such beautie and comelie +personage, as might be thought woorthie to match in mariage with his maiestie.</p> +<p> +Shortlie after perceiuing the kings mind by his wrongfull misreport to be turned, and nothing<a name="page696" id="page696"></a><span class="page">[Page 696]</span> +bent that way, he began to sue to him that he might with his fauour marie the same +damosell: which the king granted, as one that cared not for hir, bicause of the credit which +he gaue to Ethelwolds words. And so by this meanes Ethelwold obteined Alfred in mariage, +which was to his owne destruction, as the case fell out. For when the fame of hir +passing beautie did spread ouer all the realme, now that she was maried and came more +abroad in sight of the people, the king chanced to heare thereof, and desirous to sée hir, +deuised vnder colour of hunting to come vnto the house of Ethelwold, and so did: where he +had no sooner set his eie vpon hir, but he was so farre wrapped in the chaine of burning +<span class="rightnote">King Edgar séeketh the destruction of earle Ethelwold.</span> +concupiscence, that to obteine his purpose, he shortlie after contriued Ethelwolds death, and +maried his wife.</p> +<p> +Some say, that the woman kindled the brand of purpose: for when it was knowne, that +the king would sée hir, Ethelwold willed hir in no wise to trim vp hir selfe, but rather to +disfigure hir in fowle garments, and some euil fauored attire, that hir natiue beautie should +not appeare: but she perceiuing how the matter went, of spite set out hir selfe to the vttermost, +so that the king vpon the first sight of hir, became so farre inamored of hir beautie, +<span class="rightnote">King Edgar a murtherer.</span> +that taking hir husband foorth with him on hunting into a forrest or wood then called Warlewood, +& after Horewood, not shewing that he meant him anie hurt, till at length he had +got him within the thicke of the wood, where he suddenlie stroke him through with his dart. +Now as his bastard son came to the place, the king asked him how he liked the maner of +hunting, wherto he answered; "Verie well if it like your grace, for that that liketh you, +ought not to displease me." With which answer the king was so pacified, that he indeuored +by pretending his fauor towards the sonne, to extenuat the tyrannicall murther of the father. +Then did the king marie the countesse Alfred, and of hir begat two sonnes, Edmund which +died yoong, and Etheldred or Egelred.</p> +<p> +Besides this cruell act wrought by king Edgar, for the satisfieng of his fleshlie lust, he +also plaied another part greatlie to the staine of his honor, mooued also by wanton loue, with +a yoong damosell named Wilfrid, for after that she had (to auoid the danger of him) either +professed hir selfe a nun, or else for colour (as the most part of writers agrée) got hirselfe into +a nunrie, and clad hir in a nuns wéed, he tooke hir foorth of hir cloister, and lay by hir sundrie +times, and begat on hir a daughter named Edith, who comming to conuenient age, was made +<span class="rightnote">His licentious life & incontinencie.</span> +a nun. A third example of his incontinencie is written by authors, and that is this. It +chanced on a time that he lodged one night at Andeuer, and hauing a mind to a lords +daughter there, he commanded that she should bee brought to his bed. But the mother of +the gentlewoman would not that hir daughter should be defloured: and therefore in the +darke of the night brought one of hir maidseruants, and laid hir in the kings bed, she being +both faire, proper, and pleasant.</p> +<p> +In the morning when the day began to appeare, she made hast to arise: and being asked +of the king why she so hasted; That I may go to my daies worke if it please your grace +(quoth she.) Herewith she being staied by the king, as it were against hir will, she fell +downe on hir knées, and required of him that she might be made frée, in guerdon of hir +nights worke. For (saith she) it is not for your honor, that the woman which hath tasted the +pleasure of the kings bodie should anie more suffer seruitude vnder the rule and appointment +of a sharpe and rough mistresse.</p> +<p> +The king then being mooued in his spirits, laughed at the matter, though not from the +heart, as he that tooke great indignation at the dooings of the dutchesse, and pitied the case +of the poore wench. But yet in fine (turning earnest to a iest) he pardoned all the parties, +and aduanced the wench to high honor, farre aboue those that had rule of hir afore, so that +she ruled them (willed they nilled they:) for he vsed hir as his paramour, till he maried the +foresaid Alfred.</p> +<p> +For these youthfull parts, & namelie for the rauishing of Wilfride (which though she were +no nun, yet the offense seemed heinous, for that he should not once touch anie woman shadowed +<span class="rightnote">Note the déep hypocrisie of Dunstane.</span> +vnder that habit) he greatlie displeased Dunstane, so that by him he was put to his<a name="page697" id="page697"></a><span class="page">[Page 697]</span> +seuen yéeres penance, and kept from the crowne till the 12 yeere of his reigne or more. For +<span class="leftnote"><i>Ran. Higd.</i> <br /><i>Fabian</i> out of <br /><i>Guido de Cobeman.</i> <br /><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +some write that he was not crowned nor annointed king, till the 30 yéere of his age, which +should be about the 13 or 14 yeere of his reigne by that account, sith he entred into the rule +of the kingdome about the 16 yeere of his age. In déed one author witnesseth, that he was +consecrated at Bath on a Whitsunday, the 13 yéere of his reigne, and that by Dunstane archbishop +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hen. Hunt.</i> <br /><i>Ranul. Hig.</i></span> +of Canturburie, and Oswold archbishop of Yorke. But some which suppose that he +was consecrated king immediatlie vpon the death of Edridus, affirme that he was crowned and +<span class="leftnote"><i>Polydor.</i></span> +annointed king by the archbishop Odo, Dunstane as then remaining in exile, from whence he +was immediatlie reuoked by Edgar, and first made bishop of Worcester (as hath beene said) +and after the decease of Odo was aduanced to be archbishop of Canturburie. But by some writers +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matt. West.</i> <br /><i>Simon Dun.</i></span> +it appeareth, that Dunstane was reuoked out of exile immediatlie vpon partition of the realme +betwixt Edwin and Edgar, which chanced in the yéere 957, by the rebellion of the people of +Mercia, & others (as before ye haue heard:) and that in the yéere following the archbishop +Odo died, after whome succéeded Alfin bishop of Winchester, who also died the same yéere +that king Edward deceassed, as he went to fetch his pall from Rome, and then Brighthelme +bishop of Dorchester was elected archbishop. But bicause he was not able to discharge so +great an office, by K. Edgars commandement he was forced to giue place to Dunstane.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Fabian.</i> <br /><i>Ran. Higd.</i> <br />The Welshmen rebel and are chastised.</span> +Toward the latter end of king Edgars daies, the Welshmen mooued some rebellion against +him. Wherevpon he assembled an armie, and entering the countrie of Glamorgan, did much +hurt in the same, chastising the inhabitants verie sharpelie for their rebellious attempts. +Amongst other spoiles taken in those parties at that time by the men of war, the bell of saint +Ellutus was taken away, and hanged about a horsses necke, and (as hath béene reported) in +the after noone, it chanced that king Edgar laid him downe to rest, wherevpon in sleepe there +appeared one vnto him, and smote him on the breast with a speare. By reason of which vision +he caused all things that had beene taken away to be restored againe. But within nine daies +<span class="rightnote"><i>Will Malmes.</i> <br />King Edgar departeth this life.</span> +after the king died. Whether anie such thing chanced, or that he had anie such vision it +forceth not. But truth it is, that in the 37 yeere of his age, after he had reigned 16 yéeres +and two moneths he departed this life, the 8 day of Iulie, and was buried at Glastenburie. </p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">Wherefore Edgar is praised of some writers.</span> +This Edgar is highlie renowmed of writers for such princelie qualities as appeared in him, +but chieflie for that he was so beneficiall to the church, namelie to moonks, the aduancement +of whome he greatlie sought, both in building abbeies new from the ground, in reparing those +that were decaied: also by inriching them with great reuenues, and in conuerting collegiat +churches into monasteries, remoouing secular priests, and bringing in moonks in their places. +There passed no one yéere of his reigne, wherin he founded not one abbeie or other. The +abbeie of Glastenburie which his father had begun he finished. The abbeie of Abington also +he accomplished and set in good order. The abbeies of Peterborough & Thornie he established. +The nunrie of Wilton he founded and richlie endowed, where his daughter Editha was professed, +and at length became abbesse there. To be briefe, he builded (as the chronicles record) +<span class="rightnote"><i>Fabian. <br />Ran. Higd.</i> <br /><i>Hen. Hunt.</i></span> +to the number of 4O abbeies and monasteries, in some of which he placed moonks, and +in some nuns. By his example in those daies, other nobles, as also prelates, & some of the +laitie, did begin the foundation of sundrie abbeies and monasteries: as Adelwold bishop of +<span class="leftnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +Winchester builded the abbeie of Elie, and (as some say) Peterborough & Thornie, though they +were established by the king (as before is mentioned.) Also earle Ailewin, at the exhortation +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hen. Hunt.</i></span> +of the same bishop Adelwold, builded the abbeie of Ramsey, though some attribute the dooing +thereof vnto Oswald the archbishop of Yorke, and some to king Edward the elder. +<span class="leftnote"><br /><br /><i>Matt. West.</i> Moonks estéemed & secular priests little regarded.</span></p> +<p> +To conclude, the religious orders of moonks and nuns in these daies florished, and the state +of secular priests was smallie regarded, insomuch that they were constreined to auoid out of diuerse +colleges, and to leaue the same vnto moonks, as at Worcester and Winchester, wherein +the new monasterie, bicause the kings liued not in such sort as was then thought requisite, the +<span class="rightnote"><i>Ran. Higd.</i> <br /><i>lib. 6 cap. 9</i></span> +prebends were taken from them and giuen to vicars. But when the vicars were thought to<a name="page698" id="page698"></a><span class="page">[Page 698]</span> +vse themselues no better, but rather worse than the other before them, they were likewise put +out, and moonks placed in their roomes by authoritie of pope John the 13. This reformation, +or rather deformation was vsed by king Edgar in many other places of the realme.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote"><i>Wil. Malm. <br />Ran. Higd. <br />Tho. Eliot.</i></span> +He was (as appeareth by diuers writers) namelie in his beginning, cruell against his owne +people, and wanton in lusting after yoong women (as you haue heard before.) Of stature & +<span class="rightnote">Edgar small of stature but strong and hardie.</span> +proportion of bodie he was but small and low, but yet nature had inclosed within so little a +personage such strength, that he durst incounter and combat with him that was thought most +strong, onelie doubting this, least he which should haue to doo with him should stand in feare +of him. And as it chanced at a great feast (where oftentimes men vse their toongs more +<span class="leftnote">Kenneth king <br />of Scots.</span> +liberallie than néedeth) Kenneth the king of Scots cast out certeine words in this maner: "It +may (saith hée) séeme a maruell that so manie countries and prouinces should be subiect to +such a little sillie bodie as Edgar is." These words being borne awaie by a iester or minstrell, +and afterwards vttered to Edgar with great reproch, he wiselie dissembled the matter for +a time, although he kept the remembrance thereof inclosed within his breast: and vpon occasion, +at length feigned to go on hunting, taking the king of Scots forth with him: and hauing +caused one of his seruants to conuey two swords into a place within the forrest by him appointed +in secret wise, of purpose he withdrew from the residue of his companie, and there accompanied +onelie with the Scotish king, came to the place where the swords were laid; and +<span class="rightnote">The noble courage of <br />king Edgar.</span> +there taking the one of them, deliuered the other to the Scotish king, willing him now to assaie +his strength, that they might shew by proofe whether of them ought to be subiect to the +other; "Start not, but trie it with me (saith he:) for it is a shame for a king to be full of +brags at bankets, and not to be readie to fight when triall should be made abroad." The +Scotish king herewith being astonied and maruellouslie abashed, fell downe at his féet, and +with much humilitie confessed his fault, & desired pardon for the same, which vpon such his +humble submission king Edward easilie granted.</p> + +<p> +This noble prince had two wiues, Egelfrida or Elfrida, surnamed the white, the daughter +of a mightie duke named Ordiner, by whome he had issue a sonne named Edward that succéeded +him. His second wife was called Alfreda the daughter of Orgar duke of Deuon or +Cornewall (as some saie) by whome he had issue Edmund that died before his father, and +Egelred which afterwards was king. Also he had issue a base daughter named Editha, +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +begotten of his concubine Wilfrid (as before ye haue heard.) The state of the realme in king +Edgars daies was in good point, for both the earth gaue hir increase verie plentiouslie, the +elements shewed themselues verie fauorable, according to the course of times: peace was +mainteined, and no inuasion by forraine enimies attempted. For Edgar had not onelie all the +whole Ile of Britaine in subiection, but also was ruler & souereigne lord ouer all the kings of +the out Iles that lie within the seas about all the coasts of the same Britaine euen vnto the +<span class="rightnote">Ireland subiect to king Edgar.</span> +realme of Norwaie. He brought also a great part of Ireland vnder his subiection, with the +citie of Dublin, as by authentike recordes it dooth and may appeare.</p> + +<hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="page699" id="page699"></a><span class="page">[Page 699]</span> +<p><a name="xxv6" id="xxv6"></a> +<i>Contention amongest the peeres and states about succession to the crowne, the moonkes</i> +<i>remoued and the canons and secular priests restored by Alfer duke of Mercia and his +adherents, a blasing starre with the euents insuing the same, the rood of Winchester +speaketh, a prettie shift of moonks to defeat the priests of their possessions, the controuersie +betweene the moonks and the priests ended by a miracle of archbishop Dunstane, great +hope that Edward would tread his fathers steps, the reuerent loue he bare his stepmother +queene Alfred and hir sonne Egelred, hir diuelish purpose to murther Edward hir step-sonne +accomplished, his obscure funerall in respect of pompe, but famous by meanes of miracles +wrought by and about his sepulture, queene Alfred repenting hir of the said prepensed +murther, dooth penance, and imploieth hir substance in good woorkes as satisfactorie +for hir sinnes, king Edwards bodie remoued, and solemnlie buried by Alfer duke of Mercia, +who was eaten up with lice for being against the said Edwards aduancement to the +crowne, queene Alfreds offense by no meanes excusable.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXV. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">EDWARD.</span> +After the deceasse of king Edgar, there was some strife and contention amongst the +<span class="leftnote">Some write that the father king Edgar appointed Edward to succeed him. +<br /><i> Simon Dun.</i> <br /><i>Iohn Capg.</i></span> +lords & péeres of the realme about the succession of the crowne: for Alfred the mother of +Egelredus or Ethelredus, and diuers other of hir opinion, would gladlie haue aduanced the +same Egelredus to the rule: but the archbishop Dunstan taking in his hands the baner of the +crucifix, presented his elder brother Edward vnto the lords as they were assembled togither, +and there pronounced him king, notwithstanding that both queene Alfred and hir friends, +namelie Alfer the duke of Mercia were sore against him, especiallie for that he was begot in +vnlawfull bed of Elfleda the nun, for which offense he did seuen yeares penance, and not for +lieng with Wilfrid (as maister Fox thinketh.) But Dunstane iudging (as is to be thought) +<span class="rightnote"> <br />Alfer duke of Mercia and other immediately upon Edgars death before the crowne was established, +renounced the moonks and restored the canons. <br /><i>Simon Dun.</i></span> +that Edward was more fit for their behoofe to continue the world in the former course as Edgar +had left it, than his brother Egelred (whose mother and such as tooke part with hir vnder hir +sonnes authoritie were likelie inough to turne all vpside downe) vsed the matter so, that +with helpe of Oswald the archbishop of Yorke, and other bishops, abbats, and certeine of the +nobilitie, as the earle of Essex and such like, he preuailed in his purpose, so that (as before +is said) the said Edward, being the second of that name which gouerned this land before the +conquest, was admitted king, and began his reigne ouer England in the yeare of our Lord +<span class="leftnote">975.</span> +975, in the third yeare of the emperour Otho the second, in the 20 yeare of the reigne of +Lothar king of France, and about the fourth yeare of Cumelerne king of Scotland. He was +consecrated by archb. Dunstane at Kingston vpon Thames, to the great griefe of his mother +in law Alfred and hir friends. ¶ About the beginning of his reigne a blasing starre was seene, +<span class="leftnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +signifieng (as was thought) the miserable haps that followed. And first there insued barrennesse +of ground, and thereby famine amongest the people, and morraine of cattell.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"> <br />Alfer or Elfer, duke of Mercia.</span> +Also duke Alfer or Elfer of Mercia, and other noble men destroyed the abbies which king +Edgar and bishop Adelwold had builded within the limits of Mercia. The priests or canons, +which had béene expelled in Edgars time out of the prebends and benefices, began to complaine +of the wrongs that were doone to them, in that they had beene put out of possession +from their liuings, alleging it to be a great offense and miserable case, that a stranger should +come and remoue an old inhabitant, for such maner of dooing could not please God, not yet +be allowed of anie good man, which ought of reason to doubt least the same should hap to +him which he might sée to haue béene another mans vndooing. About this matter was hard +hold, for manie of the temporall lords, and namelie the same Alfer, iudged that the priests +<span class="rightnote"><i>Iohn Capg.</i> <br /><i>Wil. Malm.</i> <br /><i> Ran. Higd.</i> <br /><i> Matt. West.</i> <br /><i> Simon Dun.</i></span> +had wrong. In so much that they remoued the moonks out of their places, and brought +into the monasteries secular priests with their wiues. But Edelwin duke of the Eastangles, & +Alfred his brother, with Brightnoth or Brightnode earle of Essex, withstood this dooing, & +gathering an armie, with great valiancie mainteined the moonks in their houses, within the<a name="page700" id="page700"></a><span class="page">[Page 700]</span> +<span class="leftnote"><br /><i>Simon Dun.</i></span> +countrie of Eastangles. Herevpon were councels holden, as at Winchester, at Kirthling in +Eastangle, and at Calne.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Polydor.</i></span> +At Winchester, when the matter was brought to that passe that the priests were like to haue +had their purpose, an image of the rood that stood there in the refectorie where they sat in councell, +<span class="leftnote">A pretie shift of the moonks to disappoint the priests. <i>Polydor.</i></span> +vttered certeine woords in this wise; God forbid it should be so, God forbid it should +be so: ye iudged well once, but ye may not change well againe. As though (saith Polydor +Virgil) the moonks had more right, which had bereft other men of their possessions, than the +priests which required restitution of their owne. But (saith he) bicause the image of Christ +hanging on the crosse was thought to speake these words, such credit was giuen thereto, as it +had béene an oracle, that the priests had their sute dashed, and all the trouble was ceassed. +So the moonks held those possessions, howsoeuer they came to them, by the helpe of God, +or rather (as saith the same Polydor) by the helpe of man. For there were euen then diuers +that thought this to be rather an oracle of Phebus than of God, that is to say, not published +by Gods power, but by the fraud and craftie deceit of men.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +The matter therefore was not so quieted, but that vpon new trouble an other councell was +had at a manour house belonging to the king, called Calne, where they that were appointed to +haue the hearing of the matter, sat in an vpper loft. The king by reason of his yoong yéeres +was spared, so that he came not there. Héere as they were busied in arguing the matter, either +part laieng for himselfe what could be said, Dunstane was sore reuiled, and had sundrie reproches +laid against him: but suddenlie euen in the verie heat of their communication, the +ioists of the loft failed, and downe came all the companie, so that manie were slaine and hurt, +<span class="rightnote">Dunstane by woorking miracles had his will, when arguments failed.</span> +but Dunstane alone standing vpon one of the ioists that fell not, escaped safe and sound. And +so this miracle with the other made an end of the controuersie betwéene the priests and moonks, +all the English people following the mind of the archbishop Dunstane, who by meanes thereof +had his will.</p> +<p> +In this meane while, king Edward ruling himselfe by good counsell of such as were thought +discréet and sage persons, gaue great hope to the world that he would walke in his fathers +vertuous steps, as alreadie he well began, and bearing alwaie a reuerence to his mother in law, +<span class="rightnote"><i>Polydor.</i> <br /><i>Will. Malms.</i></span> +and a brotherlie loue to hir sonne Egelred, vsed himselfe as became him towards them both. +Afterward by chance as he was hunting in a foruest néere the castell of Corfe, where his mother +in law and his brother the said Egelred then soiourned, when all his companie were +spred abroad in following the game, so that he was left alone, he tooke the waie streight +<span class="rightnote">The wicked purpose of quéene Alfred.</span> +vnto his mother in lawes house, to visit hir and his brother. The quéene hearing that he +was come, was verie glad thereof, for that she had occasion offered to woorke that which +she had of long time before imagined, that was, to slea the king hir sonne in law, that hir +owne sonne might inioy the garland. Wherefore she required him to alight, which he in no +wise would yéeld vnto, but said that he had stolne from his companie, and was onelie come +to see hir and his brother, and to drinke with them, and therefore would returne to the forrest +againe to sée some more sport.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The shameful murther of K. Edward.</span> +The queene perceiuing that he would not alight, caused drinke to be fetched, and as he had +the cup at his mouth, by hir appointment, one of hir seruants stroke him into the bodie with a +knife, wherevpon féeling himselfe wounded, he set spurres to the horsse thinking to gallop +awaie, and so to get to his companie. But being hurt to the death, he fell from his horsse, +so as one of his féet was fastened in the stirrup, by reason whereof his horsse drew him foorth +<span class="leftnote"><i>Matth. West.</i> <br /><i>Fabian.</i> <br /><i>Sim. Dun.</i> <br /><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +through woods and launds, & the bloud which gushed out of the wound shewed token of his +death to such as followed him, and the waie to the place where the horsse had left him. That +place was called Corphes gate or Corfes gate. His bodie being found was buried without +anie solemne funeralls at Warham. For they which enuied that he should inioy the crowne, +enuied also the buriall of his bodie within the church: but the memorie of his fame could +not so secretlie be buried with the bodie, as they imagined. For sundrie miracles shewed at the +place where his bodie was interred, made the same famous (as diuerse haue reported) for there +<span class="rightnote">Miracles.</span> +was sight restored to the blind, health to the sicke, and hearing to the deafe, which are<a name="page701" id="page701"></a><span class="page">[Page 701]</span> +easilier to be told than beleeued.</p> +<p> +Queene Alfred also would haue ridden to the place where he laie, mooued with repentance +(as hath beene said) but the horsse wherevpon she rode would not come neere the graue, +for anie thing that could be doone to him. Neither by changing the said horsse could the +matter be holpen: for euen the same thing happened to the other horsses. Heerevpon the +woman perceiued hir great offense towards God for murthering the innocent, and did so repent +hir afterward for the same, that besides the chastising of hir bodie in fasting, and other +<span class="rightnote">Building of abbeies in those daies was thought to be a full satisfaction for all manner of sinnes.</span> +kind of penance, she imploied all hir substance and patrimonie on the poore, and in building +and reparing of churches and monasteries. She founded two houses of nuns (as is said) the +one at Warwell, the other at Ambresburie, and finallie professed hirselfe a nun in one of +them, that is to say, at Warwell, which house she builded (as some affirme) in remembrance +of hir first husband that was slaine there by king Edgar for hir sake (as before is +mentioned.)</p> +<p> +The bodie of this Edward the second, and surnamed the martyr, after that it had remained +thrée yéeres at Warham where it was first buried, was remooued vnto Shaftesburie, and with +<span class="rightnote">Elferus.</span> +great reuerence buried there by the forenamed Alfer or Elfer, duke of Mercia, who also did +sore repent himselfe, in that he had beene against the aduancement of the said king Edward +(as ye haue heard.) But yet did not he escape woorthie punishment: for within one yéere +<span class="leftnote"><i>Polydor.</i></span> +after, he was eaten to death with lice (if the historie be true.) King Edward came to his death +<span class="rightnote"><i>Will. Malmes.</i></span> +after he had reigned thrée yéeres, or (as other write) thrée yéeres and eight moneths. ¶ Whatsoeuer +hath béene reported by writers of the murther committed on the person of this king +Edward, sure it is that if he were base begotten (as by writers of no meane credit it should appéere +he was in déed) great occasion vndoubtedlie was giuen vnto quéene Alfred to seeke reuenge +for the wrongfull keeping backe of hir son Egelred from his rightfull succession to the +crowne: but whether that Edward was legitimate or not, she might yet haue deuised some +other lawfull meane to haue come by hir purpose, and not so to haue procured the murther of +the young prince in such vnlawfull maner. For hir dooing therein can neither be woorthilie +allowed, nor throughlie excused, although those that occasioned the mischiefe by aduancing +hir stepsonne to an other mans right, deserued most blame in this matter.</p> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Thus farre the sixt booke comprising the first arriuall of the Danes in this land,<br /> +which was in king Britricus his reigne, pag. 652, at which time the<br /> +most miserable state of England tooke beginning.</i></p> + +<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORIE OF ENGLAND ***</div> +<div style='text-align:left'> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will +be renamed. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United +States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. 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Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5828e23 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #16610 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/16610) diff --git a/old/2020-12-12-16610-8.txt b/old/2020-12-12-16610-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..376b468 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/2020-12-12-16610-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5471 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of +England (6 of 8), by Raphael Holinshed + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (6 of 8) + The Sixt Booke of the Historie of England + +Author: Raphael Holinshed + +Release Date: August 27, 2005 [EBook #16610] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORIE OF ENGLAND *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Lesley Halamek and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + +THE SIXT BOOKE + +OF THE + +HISTORIE OF ENGLAND. + + + * * * * * + + + + +_Inas king of the Westsaxons, the whole monarchie of the realme +falleth into their hands, Inas for a summe of monie granteth peace +to the Kentishmen, whom he was purposed to haue destroied, he & his +coosen Nun fight with Gerent king of the Britains, and Cheolred king +of Mercia, and Ealdbright king of Southsaxons, the end of their +kingdoms, Inas giueth ouer his roialtie, goeth in pilgrimage to +Rome, and there dieth; his lawes written in the Saxon toong; of what +buildings he was the founder, queene Ethelburgas deuise to persuade +Inas to forsake the world, he was the first procurer of Peter pence +to be paid to Rome; king Ethelred, king Kenred, and king Offa become +moonks; the setting vp of images in this land authorised by a vision; +king Ethelbalds exploits, he is slaine of his owne subiects by the +suggestion of Bernred the vsurper, Boniface his letter of commendation +to king Ethelbald, nuns kept for concubines, their pilgrimage._ + +THE FIRST CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: INAS. 689.] +After that Ceadwalla, late K. of the Westsaxons was gone to Rome, +where he departed this life (as afore is shewed) his coosen Inas or +Ine was made king of the Westsaxons, begining his reigne in the yéere +of our Lord 689, in the third yeere of the emperor Iustinianus the +third, the 11 yéere of the reigne of Theodoricus K. of France, and +[Sidenote: The Britains ceasse to reigne in this land] +about the second yéere of the reigne of Eugenius king of Scots. Now +because the rule of the Britains commonlie called Welshmen, ceassed in +this realme, as by confession of their owne writers it appéereth, and +that in the end the whole monarchie of the same realme came to the +hands of the kings of Westsaxons, we haue thought méet to refer things +generall vnto the reignes of the same kings, as before we did in the +Britaine kings, reseruing the particular dooings to the kings of the +other prouinces or kingdoms, as the same haue fallen out, and shall +come to hand. + +[Sidenote: _Fabian_. _H. Hunt._] +This Inas, whome some (mistaking N for V) doo wrongfullie name Iue +or Iewe, prooued a right excellent prince, he was descended of the +ancient linage of the kings of the Westsaxons, as sonne to one Kenred, +that was sonne to Ceolwald the son of Cutha or Cutwine, that was sonne +to Kenricke the sonne of Certicus, the first king of Westsaxons. But +he was admitted to the kingdome more for the valiant prowes knowne to +rest in his woorthie person, than for the successiue ofspring of which +he was descended. The first voiage that he made, was against the +Kentishmen, on whome he purposed to reuenge the death of his coosen +[Sidenote: _Matt. Westm._ _Wil. Malm._] +Mollo, the griefe whereof as yet he kept in fresh memorie. But when +the Kentishmen perceiued, that to resist him by force, they were +nothing able, they attempted by monie to buy their peace, and so +obteined their purpose, vpon paiment made to him of thirtie thousand +marks of siluer. + +[Sidenote: Anno 708 as is noted by _Matt. West._ _H. Hunt._] +After this, about the 21 yéere of his reigne, king Inas and his +coosen Nun fought with Gerent king of the Britains. In the beginning +of the battell, one Higelbald a noble man of the Westsaxons part was +slaine, but in the end Gerent with his Britains was chased. In the +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._ saith 718] +26 yéere of his reigne; the same Inas fought a mightie battell against +Cheolred king of Mercia, at Wodenessburie, with doubtfull victorie, +for it could not well be iudged whether part susteined greater losse. +In the 36 yéere of his reigne, king Inas inuaded the Southsaxons with +a mightie armie, and slue in battell Ealdbright or Aldinius king of +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ saith 722. The end of the kingdome of +the Southsaxons.] +the Southsaxons, and ioined that kingdome vnto the kingdome of +the Westsaxons: so that from thencefoorth the kingdome of those +Southsaxons ceassed, after they had reigned in that kingdome by the +space of five kings successiuelie, that is to say, Ella, Cissa, +Ethelwalke, Berutius, and this last Aldinius or Ealdbright. + +Finallie, when Inas had reigned 37 yéeres, and 10 or 11 od moneths, +[Sidenote: Inas went to Rome and there died.] +he renounced the rule of his kingdome, togither with all worldlie +pompe, and went vnto Rome as a poore pilgrime, and there ended his +life: but before this, during the time of his reigne, he shewed +himselfe verie deuout and zealous towards the aduancement of the +christian religion. He made and ordeined also good & wholesome lawes +for the amendment of maners in the people, which are yet extant and to +be read, written in the Saxon toong, and translated into the Latine in +times past, and now latelie againe by William Lambert gentleman, and +printed by Iohn Day, in the yéere 1568, togither with the lawes and +statutes of other kings before the conquest, as to the learned maie +appéere. + +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +Moreouer, king Ine builded the monasterie of Glastenburie, where +Ioseph of Arimathea in times past builded an oratorie or chappell (as +before is recited) when he with other christians came into this land +in the daies of Aruiragus, & taught the gospell heere to the Britains, +conuerting manie of them to the faith. Moreouer, king Ine or Inas +builded the church of Welles, dedicating it vnto saint Andrew, +where afterwards a bishops sée was placed, which at length was +[Sidenote: Ethelburga.] +translated vnto Salisburie. He had to wife one Ethelburga, a woman of +noble linage, who had béene earnest with him a long time to persuade +him to forsake the world: but she could by no meanes bring hir purpose +to passe, till vpon a time the king and she had lodged at a manor +[Sidenote: _Will. Malmes._] +place in the countrie, where all prouision had béene made for the +receiuing of them and their traine in most sumptuous maner that might +be, as well in rich furniture of houshold, as also in costlie viands, +and all other things needfull, or that might serue for pleasure, +[Sidenote: The deuise of quéene Ethelburga to persuade hir husband to +forsake the world.] +and when they were departed, the quéene the foresaid Ethelburga caused +the keeper of that house to remooue all the bedding, hangings, and +other such things as had béen brought thither and ordeined for the +beautifull setting foorth of the house, and in place thereof to bring +ordure, straw, & such like filth, as well into the chambers and hall, +as into all the houses of office, and that doone, to laie a sow with +pigs in the place where before the kings bed had stood. Héerevpon +when she had knowledge that euerie thing was ordered according to hir +appointment, she persuaded the king to returne thither againe, feining +occasions great and necessarie. + +Now when he was returned to that house, which before séemed to the eie +a palace of most pleasure, and now finding it in such a filthie state +as might loath the stomach of anie man to behold the same, she tooke +occasion therevpon to persuade him to the consideration of the vaine +pleasures of this world, which in a moment turne to naught, togither +with the corruption of the flesh, being a filthie lumpe of claie, +after it should once be disolued by death: and in fine, where before +she had spent much labour to mooue him to renounce the world, though +all in vaine, yet now the beholding of that change in his pleasant +palace, wherein so late he had taken great delight, wrought such an +alteration in his mind, that hir woords lastlie tooke effect: so that +he resigned the kingdome to his coosen Ethelard, and went himselfe to +Rome (as aboue is mentioned) and his wife became a nun in the abbeie +of Barking, where she was made abbesse, and finallie there ended hir +[Sidenote: Peter pence.] +life. This Inas was the first that caused the monie called Peter +pence, to be paid vnto the bishop of Rome, which was for euerie +houshold within his dominion a penie. + +[Sidenote: King Ethelred becommeth a moonk.] +In this meane time Edilred or Ethelred, hauing gouerned the +kingdome of Mercia by the tearme of 29 yéeres, became a moonke in the +abbeie of Bardenie, and after was made abbat of that house. He had +[Sidenote: Ostrida.] +to wife one Ostrida the sister of Egfride king of Northumberland, by +whome he had a sonne named Ceolred. But he appointed Kenred the sonne +of his brother Vulfher to succéed him in the kingdome. The said +[Sidenote: _Beda in Epit._ 697.] +Ostrida was cruellie slaine by the treason of hir husbands subiects, +[Sidenote: King Kenred.] +about the yéere of our Lord 697. And as for Kenred, he was a +prince of great vertue, deuout towards God, a furtherer of the +commonwealth of his countrie, and passed his life in great sinceritie +of maners. In the fift yéere of his reigne, he renounced the world, +and went to Rome, togither with Offa king of the Eastsaxons, where +[Sidenote: 711.] +he was made a moonke: and finallie died there, in the yéere of our +[Sidenote: _Nauclerus_. Egwin bishop of Worcester.] +Lord 711. By the aid and furtherance of this Kenred, a moonke of +saint Benets order (called Egwin) builded the abbeie of Eueshame, who +afterwards was made bishop of Worcester. + +[Sidenote: A fabulous and trifling deuise.] +¶ We find recorded by writers, that this Egwin had warning giuen +him by visions (as he constantlie affirmed before pope Constantine) +to set vp an image of our ladie in his church. Wherevpon the pope +approuing the testifications of this bishop by his buls, writ to +Brightwald archbishop of Canturburie, to assemble a synod, and by +authoritie thereof to establish the vse of images, charging the kings +of this land to be present at the same synod, vpon paine of +[Sidenote: _Bale_. 712.] +excommunication. This synod was holden about the yéere of our Lord +712, in the daies of Inas king of Westsaxons, and of Ceolred king of +Mercia successor to the foresaid Kenred. + +After Kenred succéeded Ceolred, the sonne of his vncle Edilred, & died +[Sidenote: _H. Hunt._] +in the 8 yeere of his reigne, and was buried at Lichfield. Then +succéeded Ethelbaldus that was descended of Eopa the brother of king +Penda, as the fourth from him by lineall succession. This man gouerned +a long time without anie notable trouble: some warres he had, and sped +[Sidenote: _Ran. Cestren._] +diuerslie. In the 18 yéere of his reigne, he besieged Sommerton +and wan it. He also inuaded Northumberland, and got there great riches +by spoile and pillage, which he brought from thence without anie +battell offered to him. + +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._] +He ouercame the Welshmen in battell, being then at quiet, and +[Sidenote: Bereford. 755.] +ioined as confederats with Cuthred K. of Westsaxons. But in the +37 yéere of his reigne, he was ouercome in battell at Bereford by the +same Cuthred, with whome he was fallen at variance, and within foure +yéeres after, that is to say, in the 41 yéere of his reigne he was +[Sidenote: Thrée miles from Tamworth. _Wil. Malm._ 758.] +slaine in battell at Secandon, or Sekenton, by his owne subiects, +which arreared warres against him, by the procurement and leading of +one Bernred, who after he had slaine his naturall prince, tooke vpon +him the kingdome: but he prospered not long, being slaine by Offa that +succéeded him in rule of the kingdome of Mercia, as after shall be +shewed. The bodie of Ethelbald was buried at Ripton. +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._] + +[Sidenote: The historie of Magd.] +Bonifacius the archbishop of Mentiz or Moguntz, hauing assembled a +councell with other bishops and doctors, deuised a letter, and sent it +vnto this Ethelbald, commending him for his good deuotion and charitie +in almes-giuing to the reliefe of the poore, and also for his vpright +dealing in administration of iustice, to the punishment of robbers +and such like misdooers: but in that he absteined from mariage, and +wallowed in filthie lecherie with diuerse women, and namelie with +nuns, they sore blamed him, and withall declared in what infamie the +whole English nation in those daies remained by common report in other +countries for their licentious liuing in sinfull fornication, and +namelie the most part of the noble men of Mercia by his euill example +did forsake their wiues, and defloured other women which they kept +[Sidenote: Nuns kept for concubines.] +in adulterie, as nuns and others. Moreouer, he shewed how that such +euill women, as well nuns as other, vsed to make awaie in secret wise +their children which they bare out of wedlocke, and so filled the +graues with dead bodies, and hell with damned soules. The same +Bonifacius in an other espistle wich he wrote vnto Cutbert the +[Sidenote: Pilgrimage of nuns.] +archbishop of Canturburie, counselled him not to permit the +English nuns to wander abroad so often on pilgrimage, bicause there +were few cities either in France or Lombardie, wherein might not be +found English women, that liued wantonlie in fornication and whordome. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Offa king of the Eastsaxons with other go to Rome, he is shauen and +becommeth a moonke, succession in the kingdome of the Eastsaxons and +Eastangles, Osred king of Northumberland hath carnall knowledge +with nuns, he is slaine in battell, Osrike renouncing his kingdome +becommeth a moonke, bishop Wilfrid twise restored to his see, +Westsaxonie diuided in two diocesses, bishop Aldhelme a founder of +religious houses; Ethelard succeedeth Inas in regiment, two blasing +starres seene at once, and what insued, the king dieth: the successiue +reigne of Wichtreds three sonnes ouer Kent, what prouinces were +gouerned by bishops; of what puissance Ethelbald king of Mercia was, +Egbert archbishop of Yorke aduanceth his see; a notable remembrance of +that excellent man Beda, his death._ + +THE SECOND CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: Kings of the Eastsaxons. _Beda lib. 5. cap. 20_. +Offa king of Eastsaxons.] +In this meane time Sighard and Seufred, kings of the Eastsaxons, +being departed this life, one Offa that was sonne to Sigerius +succéeded in gouernment of that kingdome, a man of great towardnesse, +and of right comelie countenance: but after he had ruled a certeine +time, being mooued with a religious deuotion, he went to Rome in +companie of Kenred king of Mercia, and of one Egwine bishop of +Worcester, and being there shauen into the order of moonks, so +[Sidenote: King Selred.] +continued till he died. After him one Selred the sonne of Sigbert the +good, ruled the Eastsaxons the tearme of 38 yéeres. After Aldulfe the +[Sidenote: 688.] +king of Eastangles departed this fraile life, which chanced about +the yéere of our Lord 688, his brother Elcwold or Akwold succéeded +him, and reigned about twelue yéeres. After whose decease one Beorne +was made king of Eastangles, and reigned about 26 yéeres. In this +[Sidenote: 705. _Wil. Malm._ Osred king of Northumberland.] +meane while, that is to say, in the yeere of our Lord 705, Alfride +king of Northumberland being dead, his sonne Osred, a child of 8 +yéeres of age succeeded him in the kingdome, and reigned 11 yéeres, +spending his time when he came to ripe yeeres in filthie abusing his +bodie with nuns, and other religious women. + +About the seuenth yéere of his reigne, that is to say, in the yéere of +[Sidenote: _Henr. Hunt._ Picts ouerthrowne by the Northumbers.] +our Lord 711, one of his capteins named earle Berthfride fought +with the Picts, betwixt two places called Heue and Cere, and obteining +the victorie, slue an huge number of the enimies. At length king Osred +by the traitorous means of his coosens that arreared warre against +[Sidenote: King Osred slaine in batell.] +him, was slaine in battell, and so ended his reigne, leauing to +those that procured his death the like fortune in time to come. For +Kenred reigning two yéeres, and Osricke ten yeeres, were famous onelie +in this, that being worthilie punished for shedding the bloud of their +naturall prince and souereigne lord, they finished their liues with +dishonourable deaths, as they had well deserued. Osricke before +[Sidenote: 729.] +his death, which chanced in the yéere of our Lord 729, appointed +Ceolwolfe the brother of his predecessor Kenred, to succeed him in the +kingdome, which he did, reigning as king of the Northumbers by the +space of 8 yéeres currant, and then renouncing his kingdom, became a +moonke in the Ile of Lindesferne. + +[Sidenote: _Beda_. Acca bishop of Hexham.] +In this meane while, bishop Wilfride being dead, one Acca that was +his chapline was made bishop of Hexham. The said Wilfride had béene +bishop by the space of 45 yéeres: but he liued a long time in exile. +For first being archbishop of Yorke, and exercising his iurisdiction +ouer all the north parts, he was after banished by king Egbert, and +againe restored to the sée of Hexham in the second yeere of king +Alfride, and within fiue yéeres after eftsoones banished by the same +Alfride, and the second time restored by his successor king Osred, +in the fourth yeere of whose reigne, being the yéere after the +incarnation of our Sauiour 709, he departed this life, and was buried +at Rippon. Moreouer, after Iohn the archbishop of Yorke had resigned, +one Wilfride surnamed the second was made archbishop of that sée: +which Wilfride was chapline to the said Iohn, and gouerned that sée by +[Sidenote: 710.] +the space of fiftéene yéeres, and then died. About the yéere of +our Lord 710, the abbat Adrian which came into this land with Theodore +the archbishop of Canturburie (as before ye haue heard) departed this +life, about 39 yéeres after his comming thither. + +[Sidenote: Two bishops sées _Matth. West._ Bishop Daniell.] +Also Inas the king of Westsaxons, about the 20 yeere of his +reigne, diuided the prouince of the Westsaxons into two bishops sées, +whereas before they had but one. Daniell was ordeined to gouerne the +one of those sees, being placed at Winchester, hauing vnder him +[Sidenote: Bishop Aldhelme.] +Sussex, Southerie and Hamshire. And Aldhelme was appointed to +Shireburne, hauing vnder him, Barkeshire, Wiltshire, Sommersetshire, +Dorsetshire, Deuonshire, and Cornwall. This Aldhelme was a learned +[Sidenote: The abbeie of Malmesburie.] +man, and was first made abbat of Malmesburie, in the yéere of our Lord +675 by Eleutherius then bishop of the Westsaxons, by whose diligence +that abbeie was greatlie aduanced, being afore that time founded by +one Medulfe a Scotish man, but of so small reuenues afore Aldhelms +time, that the moonks were scarse able to liue thereon. Also the same +Aldhelme was a great furtherer vnto king Inas in the building of +Glastenburie. + +[Sidenote: ETHELARD. 728. _Matth. West._ saith 727.] +Ethelard, the coosen of king Inas, to whome the same Inas resigned +his kingdome, began to gouerne the Westsaxons in the yéere of our +Lord 728, or rather 27, which was in the 11 yéere of the emperor Leo +Isaurus, in the second yeere of Theodorus king of France, and about +the 8 or 9 yéere of Mordacke king of the Scots. In the first yéere +of Ethelards reigne, he was disquieted with ciuill warre, which one +Oswald a noble man, descended of the roiall bloud of the Westsaxon +kings, procured against him: but in the end, when he perceiued that +the kings power was too strong for him, he fled out of the countrie, +leauing it thereby in rest. + +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ 729. Blasing stars.] +In the yéere 729, in the moneth of Ianuarie there appeered two +comets or blasing starres, verie terrible to behold, the one rising in +the morning before the rising of the sunne, and the other after the +setting thereof: so that the one came before the breake of the day, +and the other before the closing of the night, stretching foorth their +fierie brands toward the north; and they appeered thus euerie morning +and euening for the space of a fortnight togither, menacing as it +were some great destruction or common mishap to follow. The Saracens +shortlie after entred France, and were ouerthrowne. Finallie, when +king Ethelard had reigned the terme of fouretéene yeeres currant, he +departed this life. + +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm. _] +Now when Wichtred king of Kent had gouerned the Kentishmen by the +space of 33 yéeres, with great commendation for the good orders which +he caused to be obserued amongst them, as well concerning matters +ecclesiasticall as temporal, he departed this life, leauing behind him +thrée sonnes, who successiuelie reigned as heires to him one after +another (that is to say) Edbert 23 yéeres, Ethelbert 11 yeeres +currant, and Alrike 34 yeeres, the which three princes following +the steps of their father in the obseruance of politike orders & +commendable lawes, vsed for the more part their fathers good lucke and +[Sidenote: _Beda. lib. 5. cap. 24_.] +fortune, except that in Ethelberts time the citie of Canturburie +was burned by casuall fire, and Alrike lost a battell against them of +Mercia, whereby the glorie of their times was somewhat blemished: for +so it came to passe, that whatsoeuer chanced euill, was kept still in +memorie, and the good haps that came forward, were soone forgotten and +[Sidenote: 731.] +put out of remembrance. In the yéere of our Lord 731, Betrwald +archbishop of Canturburie departed this life in the fift ides of +Ianuarie, after he had gouerned that see by the space of 27 yéeres, 6 +moneths, and 14 daies: in whose place the same yéere one Tacwine was +ordeined archbishop, that before was a priest in the monasterie of +Bruidon within the prouince of Mercia. He was consecrated in the citie +of Canturburie, by the reuerend fathers Daniell bishop of Winchester, +Ingwald bishop of London, Aldwin bishop of Lichfield, and Aldwulfe +bishop of Rochester, the tenth day of Iune being sundaie. +[Sidenote: Bishops what parishes they governed.] +¶ As touching the state of the English church for ecclesiasticall +gouernours, certeine it is, that the same was as hereafter followeth. +The prouince of Canturburie was gouerned touching the ecclesiasticall +state by archbishop Tacwine, and bishop Aldwulfe. The prouince of the +Eastsaxons by bishop Ingwald. The prouince of Eastangles by bishop +Eadbertus and Hadulacus, the one kéeping his sée at Elsham, and the +other at Dunwich. The prouince of the Westsaxons was gouerned by the +foresaid Daniell and by Forthere, who succéeded next after Aldhelme in +the sée of Shereburne. This Forthere in the yéere of our Lord 738, +[Sidenote: _Matth, West._] +left his bishoprike, and went to Rome in companie of the quéene of the +Westsaxons. Many as well kings as bishops, noble and vnnoble, priests +and laiemen, togither with women, vsed to make such iournies thither +in those daies. The prouince of Mercia was ruled by the foresaid +Aldwine bishop of Lichfield, and one bishop Walstod holding his sée +at Herford gouerned those people that inhabited beyond the riuer of +Sauerne toward the west. The prouince of Wiccies, that is, Worcester, +one Wilfride gouerned. The Southsaxons and the Ile of Wight were vnder +the bishop of Winchester. In the prouince of the Northumbers were +foure bishops, that is to say, Wilfride archbishop of Yorke, Edilwald +bishop of Lindisferne, Acca bishop of Hexham, and Pecthelmus bishop +of Whiterne, otherwise called Candida Casa, he was the first that +gouerned that church after the same was made a bishops sée. And thus +stood the state of the English church for ecclesiasticall gouernors in +that season. + +[Sidenote: Ethelbald K. of Mercia, of what puissance he was.] +And as for temporall gouernement, king Ceolvulfe had the +souereigne dominion ouer all the Northumbers: but all the prouinces +on the southside of Humber, with their kings and rulers, were subiect +vnto Edilbald or Ethelbald king of Mercia. The nation of the Picts +were in league with the English men, and gladlie became partakers of +the catholike faith and veritie of the vniuersall church. Those Scots +which inhabited Britaine, contenting themselues with their owne +bounds, went not about to practise anie deceitfull traines nor +fraudulent deuises against the Englishmen. The Britains otherwise +called Welshmen, though for the more part of a peculiar hatred they +did impugne the English nation, & the obseruance of the feast of Ester +appointed by the whole catholike church, yet (both diuine and humane +force vtterlie resisting them) they were not able in neither behalfe +to atteine to their wished intentions, as they which though they were +partlie frée, yet in some point remained still as thrall and mancipate +to the subiection of the Englishmen: who (saith Beda) now in the +acceptable time of peace and quietnesse, manie amongst them of +Northumberland, laieng armour and weapon aside, applied themselues +to the reading of holie scriptures, more desirous to be professed in +religious houses, than to exercise feates of warre: but what will come +therof (saith he) the age that followeth shall sée and behold. With +these words dooth Beda end his historie, continued till the yéere of +our Lord 731, which was from the comming of the Englishmen into this +land, about 285 yéeres, according to his account. + +[Sidenote: 732. _Wil. Malm._] +In the yéere following, that is to say 732, in place of Wilfrid +the second, Egbert was ordeined bishop of Yorke. This Egbert was +brother vnto an other Egbert, who as then was king of Northumberland, +by whose helpe he greatlie aduanced the see of Yorke, and recouered +the pall: so that where all the other bishops that held the same sée +before him sith Paulins daies, wanted the pall, and so were counted +simplie but particular bishops: now was he intituled by the name of +archbishop. He also got togither a great number of good books, +[Sidenote: 733.] +which he bestowed in a librarie at Yorke. ¶ In the yéere 733, on the +18 kalends of September, the sunne suffered a great eclipse about +three of the clocke in the after noone, in somuch that the earth +seemed to be couered with a blacke and horrible penthouse. + +[Sidenote: 735 _Beda_ departed this life] +In the yéere 735, that reuerend and profound learned man Beda +departed this life, being 82 yéeres of age, vpon Ascension day, which +was the 7 kalends of Iune, and 26 of Maie, as Matt. Westm. hath +diligentlie obserued. W. Harison addeth hitherto, that it is to be +read in an old epistle of Cutbert moonke of the same house vnto +Cuthwine, that the said Beda lieng in his death-bed, translated the +gospell of saint Iohn into English, and commanded his brethren to +be diligent in reading and contemplation of good bookes, and not to +exercise themselues with fables and friuolous matters. Finallie he was +buried in the abbeie of Geruie, distant fiue miles from Wiremouth, an +abbeie also in the north parts, not far from Newcastell (as is before +remembred.) He was brought vp in those two abbeies, and was scholar +to John of Beuerley. How throughlie he was séene in all kinds of good +literature, the bookes which hée wrote doo manifestlie beare witnesse. +His judgement also was so much estéemed ouer all, that Sergius the +bishop of Rome wrote vnto Celfride the abbat of Wiremouth, requiring +him to send Beda vnto the court of Rome for the deciding of certein +questions mooued there, which without his opinion might séeme to rest +doubtful. But whether he went thither or not we can not affirme: but +as it is thought by men worthie of credit, he neuer went out of this +land, but continued for the most part of his life in the abbeies of +Geruie and Wiremouth, first vnder Benet the first abbat and founder of +the same abbeies, and after vnder the said Celfride, in whose time he +receiued orders of priesthood at the hands of bishop Iohn, surnamed +of Beuerley: so that it may be maruelled that a man, borne in the +vttermost corner of the world, should proue so excellent in all +knowledge and learning, that his fame should so spread ouer the whole +[Sidenote: _Crantzius_.] +earth, and went neuer out of his natiue countrie to séeke it. But +who that marketh in reading old histories the state of abbeies and +monasteries in those daies, shall well perceiue that they were ordered +after the maner of our schooles or colleges, hauing in them diuerse +learned men, that attended onelie to teach & bring vp youth in +knowledge of good learning, or else to go abroad and preach the word +of God in townes and villages adjoining. + +[Sidenote: 735.] +The same yéere died archbishop Tacuine, and in the yéere following, +that is to say 735, Nothelmus was ordeined archbishop of Canturburie +in his place, and Egbert the archbishop of Yorke the same yéere got +his pall from Rome, and so was confirmed archbishop, and ordeined two +bishops, Fruidberd, and Fruidwald. But some refer it to the yéere 744. + + + * * * * * + + + + +_Cuthred king of the Westsaxons, he is greatlie troubled by Ethelbald +king of Mercia, they are pacified; Kenric king Cuthreds sonne slaine, +earle Adelme rebelleth against him whom the king pardoneth; Cuthred +fighteth with Ethelbald at Hereford, he hath the victorie, he falleth +sicke and dieth; Sigebert succedeth him in the kingdome, he is cruell +to his people, he is expelled from his roiall estate, murther reuenged +with murther, succession in the kingdome of Eastangles, kings change +their crownes for moonks cowles; the Britaines subiect to the king of +Northumberland and the king of Picts, the moone eclipsed._ + +THE THIRD CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: CUTHRED.] +After the decease of Ethelard king of Westsaxons, his coosine +Cuthred was made king and gouernour of those people, reigning the +tearme of 16 yéeres. He began his reigne in the yeere of our Lord +[Sidenote: 740.] +740, in the twentie fourth yere of the emperour Leo Isaurus, in the +14 yéere of the reigne of the second Theodorus Cala K. of France, and +about the 6 yéere of Ethfine king of Scots. This Cuthred had much to +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._ _Hen. Hunt._] +doo against Edilbald king of Mercia, who one while with stirring +his owne subiects the Westsaxons to rebellion, an other while with +open warre, and sometime by secret craft and subtill practises sought +to disquiet him. Howbeit, in the fourth yeere of his reigne, a peace +was concluded betwixt them, and then ioining their powers togither, +they went against the Welshmen, & gaue them a great ouerthrow, as +[Sidenote: Kenric the kings sonne slaine.] +before is partlie touched. In the 9 yeere of this Cuthreds reigne, +his sonne Kenric was slaine in a seditious tumult amongst his men of +warre, a gentleman yoong in yeeres, but of a stout courage, and +[Sidenote: 749.] +verie forward, wherby (as was thought) he came the sooner to his +wofull end. + +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._] +[Sidenote: 751.] +In the 11 yeere of his reigne, Cuthred had wars against one of his +earls called Adelme, who raising a commotion against him, aduentured +to giue battell though he had the smaller number of men, and yet was +at point to haue gone away with victorie, if by a wound at that +instant receiued, his periurie had not béene punished, and the kings +[Sidenote: 752 _Matt. West._] +iust cause aduanced to triumph ouer his aduersarie, whom yet by +way of reconciliation he pardoned. In the 13 yeere of his reigne, +king Cuthred being not well able to susteine the proud exactions +and hard dooings of Edilbald king of Mercia, raised his power, and +encountered with the same Edilbald at Hereford, hauing before him the +said earle Adelme, in whose valiant prowesse he put great hope to +atteine victorie: neither was he deceiued, for by the stout conduct +and noble courage of the said Adelme, the loftie pride of king +[Sidenote: K. Edilbald put to flight.] +Edelbald was abated, so that he was there put to flight, and all +his armie discomfited, after sore and terrible fight continued and +mainteined euen to the vttermost point. In the 24 yeere of his reigne, +this Cuthred fought eftsoones with the Welshmen, and obteined the +vpper hand, without anie great losse of his people: for the enimies +were easilie put to flight and chased, to their owne destruction. In +the yeere after, king Cuthred fell sicke, and in the 16 yéere of his +reigne he departed this life, after so manie great victories got +against his enimies. + + +[Sidenote: SIGIBERT. 755.] +After him succéeded one Sigibert, a cruell and vnmercifull prince +at home, but yet a coward abroad. This Sigbert or Sigibert began his +reigne in the yeare of our Lord 755, verie néere ended. He intreated +his subjects verie euill, setting law and reason at naught. He could +not abide to heare his faults told him, and therefore he cruellie +put to death an earle named Cumbra, which was of his councell, and +faithfullie admonished him to reforme his euill dooings: wherevpon +the rest of his nobles assembled themselues togither with a great +multitude of people, and expelled him out of his estate in the +beginning of the second, or (as some say) the first yeare of his +reigne. Then Sigibert, as he was fearefull of nature; fearing to be +apprehended, got him into the wood called as then Andredeswald, and +there hid himselfe, but by chance a swineheard that belonged to the +late earle Cumbra at Priuets-floud found him out, and perceiuing what +he was, slue him in reuenge of his maisters death. + +¶ Lo here you may sée how the righteous iustice of God rewardeth +wicked dooings in this world with worthie recompense, as well as in +the world to come, appointing euill princes sometimes to reigne for +the punishment of the people, according as they deserue, permitting +some of them to haue gouernement a long time, that both the froward +nations may suffer long for their sins, and that such wicked princes +may in an other world tast the more bitter torments. Againe, other +he taketh out of the waie, that the people may be deliuered from +oppression, and also that the naughtie ruler for his misdemeanour may +spéedilie receiue due punishment. + + +[Sidenote: Ethelred. 738.] +After Beorne king of Eastangles one Ethelred succéeded in gouernment +of that kingdome a man noted to be of good and vertuous qualities, +in that he brought vp his sonne Ethelred (which succéeded him) so in +the feare of the Lord, that he prooued a right godlie prince. This +Ethelbert reigned (as writers say) the terme of 52 yeares. + +[Sidenote: Egbert king of Northumberland. 758.] +After that Ceolvulfe king of Northumberland was become a moonke in +the abbie of Lindesferne, his vncles sonne Egbert (by order taken by +the said Ceolvulfe) succeeded him in the kingdome, and gouerned the +same right woorthilie for the terme of 24 yeares, and then became a +moonke, by the example both of his predecessor the forsaid Ceolvulfe, +[Sidenote: Changing of crownes for moonkes cowles. 756.] +and also of diuers other kings in those daies, so that he was the +eight king who in this land had changed a kings crowne for a moonks +cowle (as Simon Dunel. writeth.) + +This Egbert (in the 18 yeare of his reigne) and Vngust king of Picts +came to the citie of Alcluid with their armies, and there receiued the +Britains into their subiection, the first-day of August: but the tenth +day of the same month, the armie which he led from Ouan vnto Newbourgh, +was for the more part lost and destroied. ¶ The same yeare on the 8 +kalends of December, the moone being as then in hir full, appeared to be +of a bloudie colour, but at length she came to hir accustomed shew, +after a maruellous meanes, for a starre which followed hir, passed by +hir, & went before hir, the like dist[=a]ce as it kept in following hir +before she lost hir vsuall light. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Offa king of Mercia, his manhood and victories against the Kentishmen +and Westsaxons, he killeth Egilbert king of Eastangles by a policie +or subtill deuise of profered curtesie, he inuadeth his kingdome, +and possesseth it, the archbishops see of Canturburie remoued to +Lichfield; archbishop Lambert laboring to defend his prerogatiue is +depriued by king Offa, he seizeth vpon churches and religious houses; +mistrusting his estate, he alieth himselfe with other princes; he +maketh amends for the wrongs that he had doone to churches and +religious houses, he goeth to Rome, maketh his realme tributarie to +the said see, Peter pence paid, he falleth sicke and dieth, places to +this day bearing his name in memorie of him, the short reigne of his +sonne._ + +THE FOURTH CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: OFFA. 758.] +After that Offa had slaine Bernred the vsurper of the kingdome +of Mercia (as before is mentioned) the same Offa tooke vppon him the +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ _Wil. Malm._] +gouernment of that kingdome 758, a man of such stoutnesse of +stomach, that he thought he should be able to bring to passe all +things whatsoeuer he conceiued in his mind. He reigned 39 yeares. His +dooings were great and maruellous, and such as some times his vertues +surpassed his vices, and sometime againe his vices seemed to +[Sidenote: The victories of king Offa. _Matth. West._ 779.] +ouermatch his vertues. He ouercame the Kentishmen in a great battell +at Otteford, and the Northumbers also were by him vanquished, and in +battell put to flight. With Kenvulfe king of Westsaxons he fought in +open battell, and obteined a noble victorie, with small losse of his +people, although the same Kenwulfe was a right valiant prince, and a +good capteine. + +[Sidenote: Falsehood in fellowship.] +Againe, perceiuing that to procéed with craft, should sooner +aduance his purpose, than to vse open force against Egilbert king of +Eastangles, vnder faire promises to giue vnto him his daughter in +mariage, he allured him to come into Mercia, and receiuing him into +his palace, caused his head to be striken off, and after by wrongfull +meanes inuaded his kingdome, and got it into his possession: yet he +caused the bones of the first martyr of this land saint Albane (by a +miraculous meanes brought to light) to be taken vp, and put in a rich +shrine adorned with gold and stone, building a goodlie church of +excellent woorkmanship, and founding a monasterie in that place in +honor of the same saint, which he indowed with great possessions. +[Sidenote: The archbishops sée remoued from Canturburie to Lichfield. +785.] +He remoued the archbishops see from Canturburie vnto Lichfield, +thereby to aduance his kingdome of Mercia, as well in dignitie & +preheminence of spirituall power as temporall. He made great suit to +bring his purpose to passe in the court of Rome, and at length by +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._] +great gifts and rewards obteined it at the hands of pope Adrian the +first, then gouerning the Romane sée. And so Eadulfus then bishop of +Lichfield was adorned with the pall, and taken for archbishop, +hauing all those bishops within the limits of king Offa his dominion +suffragans vnto him; namelie, Denebertus bishop of Worcester, +Werebertus bishop of Chester, Eadulfus bishop of Dorcester, Wilnardus +bishop of Hereford, Halard bishop of Elsham, and Cedferth bishop of +Donwich. There remained onelie to the archbishop of Canturburie, the +bishops of London, Winchester, Rochester, and Shireburne. + +[Sidenote: The archbishop Lambert defended his cause.] +This separation continued all the life time of the archbishop +Lambert, although he trauelled earnestlie to mainteine his +prerogatiue. Now, for that he still defended his cause, and would +not reuolt from his will, Offa depriued him of all his possessions & +reuenues that he held or inioied within anie part of his dominions. +Neither was Offa satisfied herewith, but he also tooke into his hands +the possessions of manie other churches, and fléeced the house of +[Sidenote: Offa alieth himselfe with other princes.] +Malmesburie of a part of hir reuenues. Because of these & other his +hard dooings, doubting the malice of his enimies, he procured the +friendship of forren princes. Vnto Brightricke king of the +[Sidenote: _Matt. Westm._] +Westsaxons he gaue his daughter Ethelburga in mariage. And sending +diuers ambassadours ouer vnto Charles the great, that was both emperor +& king of France, he purchased his friendship at length, although +[Sidenote: The intercourse of merchants staied.] +before there had depended a péece of displeasure betwixt them, +insomuch that the intercourse for trade of merchandize was staied for +a time. One of the ambassadours that was sent vnto the said Charles +[Sidenote: Alcwine an Englishman.] +(as is reported) was that famous clearke Albine or Alcwine, by +whose persuasion the same Charles erected two vniuersities, as in +place due and conuenient may more largelie appeare. + +Finallie king Offa (as it were for a meane to appease Gods wrath, +which he doubted to be iustlie conceiued towards him for his sinnes +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +and wickednesse) granted the tenth part of all his goods vnto +churchmen, and to poore people. He also indowed the church of Hereford +with great reuenues, and (as some write) he builded the abbeie of +Bath, placing moonkes in the same, of the order of saint Benet, as +[Sidenote: 775.] +before he had doone at saint Albons. Moreouer he went vnto Rome, +about the yeare of our Lord 775, and there following the example of +Inas king of the Westsaxons, made his realme subiect by way of tribute +[Sidenote: Peter pence, or Rome Scot. _Will. Malmes._ 797.] +vnto the church of Rome, appointing that euerie house within the +limits of his dominions, should yearelie pay vnto the apostolike see +one pennie, which paiment was after named, Rome Scot, and Peter pence. +After his returne from Rome, perceiuing himselfe to draw into yeares, +[Sidenote: Offa departed this life.] +he caused his sonne Egfrid to be ordeined king in his life time: +and shortlie after departing out of this world, left the kingdome vnto +him, after he had gouerned it by the space of 39 yeares. + +Amongst other the dooings of this Offa, which suerlie were great and +maruellous, this may not passe with silence, that he caused a mightie +great ditch to be cast betwixt the marshes of his countrie, and the +Welsh confines, to diuide thereby the bounds of their dominions. +[Sidenote: Offditch.] +This ditch was called Offditch euer after, and stretched from the +south side by Bristow, vnder the mountaines of Wales, running +northward ouer the riuers of Seuerne and Dée, vnto the verie mouth +of Dee, where that riuer falleth into the sea. He likewise builded a +church in Warwikeshire, whereof the towne there taketh name, and is +[Sidenote: Egfrid king of Mercia.] +called Offchurch euen to this day. Egfrid taking vpon him the +rule, began to follow the approoued good dooings of his father, and +first restored vnto the churches their ancient priuileges, which his +father sometimes had taken from them. Great hope was conceiued of his +further good procéeding, but death cut off the same, taking him out of +this life, after he had reigned the space of foure moneths, not for +his owne offenses (as was thought) but rather for that his father had +caused so much bloud to be spilt for the confirming of him in the +kingdome, which so small a time he now inioied. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Osulph king of Northumberland traitorouslie murthered, Edilwald +succeedeth him, the reward of rebellion, a great mortalitie of foules +fishes and fruits, moonkes licenced to drinke wine, great wast by +fire, Edelred king of Northumberland is driuen out of his countrie by +two dukes of the same, Ethelbert king of the Eastangles commended for +his vertues, Alfred the daughter of king Mercia is affianced to him, +tokens of missehaps towards him, his destruction intended by queene +Quendred, hir platforme of the practise to kill him, Offa inuadeth +Ethelberts kingdome, Alfred his betrothed wife taketh his death +greuouslie, and becommeth a nun, the decaie of the kingdome of +Eastangles, succession in the regiment of the Westsaxons, the end of +the gouernement of the Eastsaxons, prince Algar is smitten blind for +seeking to rauish virgine Friswide, and at hir praiers restored to his +sight._ + +THE FIFT CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: EADBERT king of Northumberland. 758.] +When Eadbert or Egbert K. of Northumberland was become a moonke, +his sonne Osulphus succéeded him: but after he had reigned onelie +one yeare, he was traitorouslie murthered by his owne seruants at +Mikilwongton, on the 9 kalends of August. Then succéeded one Moll, +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ _Hen. Hunt._ Edilwold king of Northumberland. +_Simon Dun._ _Henr. Hunt._] +otherwise called Edilwold or Edilwald, but not immediatlie, for he +began not his reigne till the nones of August in the yeare following, +which was after the birth of our sauiour 759. + +This man prooued right valiant in gouernement of his subiects. He +slue in battell an earle of his countrie named Oswin, who arrearing +warre against him, fought with him in a pitcht field at Eadwines +Cliue, and receiued the worthie reward of rebellion. + +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ 764.] +This chanced in the third yeare of his reigne, and shortlie after, +that is to say, in the yeare of our Lord 764, there fell such a +maruellous great snow, and therwith so extreame a frost, as the like +had not béene heard of, continuing from the beginning of the winter, +almost till the middest of the spring, with the rigour whereof, trees +and fruits withered awaie, and lost their liuelie shape and growth: +and not onelie feathered foules, but also beasts on the land, & fishes +in the sea died in great numbers. The same yeare died Ceolwulf then +king of Northumberland, vnto whome Beda did dedicate his booke of +[Sidenote: Moonks licenced to drinke wine.] +histories of the English nation. After that he was become a moonke +in the monasterie of Lindesferne, the moonks of that house had licence +to drinke wine, or ale, whereas before they might not drinke anie +other thing than milke, or water, by the ancient rule prescribed them +of the bishop Aidan first founder of the place. The same yeare sundrie +cities, townes, and monasteries were defaced and sore wasted with fier +chancing on the sudden, as Stretehu, Giwento, Anwicke, London, Yorke, +Doncaster, &c. + +After that Moll had reigned 6 yeares, he resigned his kingdome. But +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ Altred began his reigne in the yeare 765 as +_Sim. Dun._ saith.] +other write that he reigned 11 yeares, and was in the end slaine by +treason of his successor Altred. This Altred reigned ten years ouer +the Northumbers, and was then expelled out of his kingdome by his +[Sidenote: _Henr. Hunt._ _Matth. West._ Ethelbert.] +owne subiects. Then was Ethelbert, named also Edelred, the sonne of +the foresaid Moll, made king of Northumberland, and in the fift yeare +of his reigne, he was driuen out of his kingdome by two dukes of his +countrie named Edelbald and Herebert, who mouing warre against him, +had slaine first Aldulfe the sonne of Bosa the generall of his armie +at Kingescliffe; and after Kinewulfe and Egga, other two of his dukes, +at Helatherne in a sore foughten field: so that Ethelbert despairing +of all recouerie, was constrained to get him out of the countrie. +And thus was the kingdome of Northumberland brought into a miserable +state, by the ambitious working of the princes and nobles of the same. + +[Sidenote: _Henr. Hunt._ _Iohn Capgraue_. _Matth. West._ and others. +Ethelbert king of Eastangles.] +After that Ethelbert king of Eastangles was dead, his sonne +Ethelbert succéeded him, a prince of great towardnesse, and so +vertuouslie brought vp by his fathers circumspect care and diligence, +that he vtterlie abhorred vice, and delighted onelie in vertue and +commendable exercises, for the better atteining to knowledge and +vnderstanding of good sciences. There remaine manie sundrie saiengs & +dooings of him, manifestlie bearing witnesse that there could not +[Sidenote: The saieng of king Ethelbert.] +be a man more honorable, thankefull, courteous or gentle. Amongest +other he had this saieng oftentimes in his mouth, that the greater +that men were, the more humble they ought to beare themselues: for the +Lord putteth proud and mightie men from their seates, and exalteth the +humble and méeke. + +Moreouer he did not onelie shew himselfe wise in words, but desired +also to excell in staiednesse of maners, and continencie of life. +Whereby he wan to him the hearts of his people, who perceiuing that he +was nothing delighted in the companie of women, and therefore minded +not mariage, they of a singular loue and fauour towards him, required +that he should in anie wise yet take a wife, that he might haue issue +to succéed him. At length the matter being referred to his councell, +he was persuaded to follow their aduises. And so Alfreda the daughter +of Offa king of Mercia was affianced to him: so that he himselfe +appointed (as meanes to procure more fauour at his father in lawes +hands) to go fetch the bride from hir fathers house. + +Manie strange things that happened to him in taking vpon him this +[Sidenote: Tokens of mishap to follow.] +iournie, put him in great doubt of that which should follow. He was +no sooner mounted on his horsse, but that (as séemed to him) the earth +shooke vnder him: againe, as he was in his iournie, about the mid-time +of the day, such a darke mist compassed him on ech side, that he could +not sée nor discerne for a certeine time anie thing about him at all: +lastlie, as he laie one night asléepe, he thought he saw in a dreame +the roofe of his owne palace fall downe to the ground. But though +with these things he was brought into great feare, yet he kept on his +[Sidenote: The innocent mistrustfull of no euill.] +iournie, as he that mistrusted no deceit, measuring other mens +maners by his owne. King Offa right honourablie receiued him: but his +wife named Quendred, a wise woman, but therewith wicked, conceiued a +malicious deuise in hir hart, & streightwaies went about to persuade +hir husband to put it in execution, which was to murther king +Ethelbert, and after to take into his hands his kingdome. + +Offa at the first was offended with his wife for this motion, but +[Sidenote: _Iohn Capgr._ Winnebert.] +in the end, through the importunate request of the woman, he +consented to hir mind. The order of the murther was committed vnto one +Winnebert, that had serued both the said Ethelbert & his father +[Sidenote: _Sim. Dun._ saith 771.] +before time, the which feining as though he had béene sent from Offa +[Sidenote: Offa conquereth Eastangles.] +to will Ethelbert to come vnto him in the night season, slue +him that once mistrusted not anie such treason. Offa hauing thus +dispatched Ethelbert, inuaded his kingdome, and conquered it. + +But when the bride Alfreda vnderstood the death of hir liked make and +bridegrome, abhorring the fact, she curssed father and mother, and +as it were inspired with the spirit of prophesie, pronounced that +woorthie punishment would shortlie fall on hir wicked mother for +hir heinous crime committed in persuading so detestable a déed: and +[Sidenote: Alfreda a nun. _Beda_. _Matth. West._] +according to hir woords it came to passe, for hir mother died +miserablie within three moneths after. The maid Alfreda refusing the +world, professed hirselfe a nun at Crowland, the which place began +to wax famous about the yéere of our Lord 695, by the meanes of one +Gutlake, a man esteemed of great vertue and holinesse, which chose to +himselfe an habitation there, and departing this life about the yéere +of our Lord 714, was buried in that place, where afterwards an abbeie +of moonks was builded of saint Benets order. The bodie of K. Ethelbert +at length was buried at Hereford, though first it was committed to +buriall in a vile place, néere to the banke of a riuer called Lug. + +The kingdome of Eastangles from thencefoorth was brought so into +decaie, that it remained subiect one while vnto them of Mercia, an +other while vnto the Westsaxons, and somewhile vnto them of Kent, till +that Edmund surnamed the martyr got the gouernment thereof (as after +shall appéere.) After that Selred king of the Eastsaxons had gouerned +[Sidenote: _H. Hunt._] +the tearme of 38 yéeres, he was slaine, but in what maner, writers +haue not expressed. After him succéeded one Swithed or Swithred, the +11 and last in number that particularlie gouerned those people. He was +finallie expelled by Egbert K. of Westsaxons, the same yéere that the +said Egbert ouercame the Kentishmen (as after shall be shewed) and so +the kings of that kingdome of the Eastsaxons ceassed and tooke end. + +[Sidenote: Friswide a virgine.] +¶ About this time, there was a maid in Oxford named Friswide, +daughter to a certeine duke or noble man called Didanus, with whome +one Algar a prince in those parties fell in loue, and would haue +rauished hir, but God the reuenger of sinnes was at hand (as the +storie saith.) For when Algar followed the maid that fled before him, +she getting into the towne, the gate was shut against him, and his +sight also was suddenlie taken from him. But the maid by hir praiers +pacified Gods wrath towards him, so that his sight was againe restored +to him. But whether this be a fable or a true tale, héereof grew the +report, that the kings of this realme long times after were afraid to +enter into the citie of Oxford. So easilie is the mind of man turned +to superstition (as saith Polydor.) + + * * * * * + + + + +_Kinewulfe king of Westsaxons, his conquest ouer the Britains, his +securitie and negligence, he is slaine by conspirators, inquisition +for Kineard the principall procurer of that mischiefe, he is slaine in +fight; legats from the pope to the kings and archbishops of this land +about reformation in the church, a councell holden at Mercia; +iudge Bearne burnt to death for crueltie, Alfwold reigneth ouer +Northumberland, his owne subiects murther him; a booke of articles +sent by Charles king of France into Britaine quite contrarie to the +christian faith, Albinus writeth against it; great waste by tempests +of wind and rage of fire._ + +THE SIXT CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: KINEWULF. _Hen. Hunt._ 756.] +After that the Westsaxons had depriued their vnprofitable king +Sigibert, they aduanced Kinewulfe, or Cinevulfus, the which began his +reigne about the yéere of our Lord 756, which was in the 16 yéere of +the emperor Constantinus, surnamed Copronimos, in the 6 yéere of +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun. saith 755_.] +the reigne of Pipin king of France, and about the 22 yéere of Ethfine +king of Scots. This Kinewulfe prooued a right woorthie and valiant +prince, and was descended of the right line of Cerdicus. He obteined +[Sidenote: The Britains vanquished.] +great victories against the Britains or Welshmen, but at Bensington +or Benton he lost a battell against Offa king of Mercia, in the 24 +yéere of his reigne: and from that time forward tasting manie +displeasures, at length through his owne follie came vnto a shamefull +end. For whereas he had reigned a long time neither slouthfullie nor +presumptuouslie, yet now as it were aduanced with the glorie of things +passed, he either thought that nothing could go against him, or else +doubted the suertie of their state whom he should leaue behind him, +and therefore he confined one Kineard the brother of Sigibert, whose +fame he perceiued to increase more than he would haue wished. + +This Kineard dissembling the matter, as he that could giue place to +time, got him out of the countrie, and after by a secret conspiracie +assembled togither a knot of vngratious companie, and returning +priuilie into the countrie againe, watched his time, till he espied +that the king with a small number of his seruants was come vnto the +house of a noble woman, whome he kept a paramour at Merton, wherevpon +the said Kineard vpon the sudden beset the house round about. The king +perceiuing himselfe thus besieged of his enimies, at the first caused +the doores to be shut, supposing either by curteous woords to appease +his enimies, or with his princelie authoritie to put them in feare. + +But when he saw that by neither meane he could doo good, in a great +chafe he brake foorth of the house vpon Kineard, and went verie néere +to haue killed him: but being compassed about with multitude of +enimies, whilest he stood at defense, thinking it a dishonour for +[Sidenote: Kinewulfe slaine by conspirators.] +him to flée, he was beaten downe and slaine, togither with those few +of his seruants which he had there with him, who chose rather to die +in séeking reuenge of their maisters death than by cowardise to yéeld +themselues into the murtherers hands. There escaped none except one +Welshman or Britaine, an hostage, who was neuerthelesse sore wounded +and hurt. + +The brute of such an heinous act was streightwaies blowne ouer all, +and brought with speed to the eares of the noble men and peeres of the +realme, which were not farre off the place where this slaughter had +béene committed. Amongst other, one Osrike, for his age and wisedome +accounted of most authoritie, exhorted the residue that in no wise +they should suffer the death of their souereigne lord to passe +vnpunished vnto their perpetuall shame and reproofe. Wherevpon in all +hast they ran to the place where they knew to find Kineard, who at the +first began to please his cause, to make large promises, to pretend +coosenage, and so foorth: but when he perceiued all that he could +say or doo might not preuaile, he incouraged his companie to shew +themselues valiant, and to resist their enimies to the vttermost of +their powers. Heerevpon followed a doubtfull fight, the one part +striuing to saue their liues, and the other to atteine honour, and +punish the slaughter of their souereigne lord. At length the victorie +rested on the side where the right was, so that the wicked murtherer +after he had fought a while, at length was slaine, togither with +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ _H. Hunt_] +fourescore and eight of his mates. The kings bodie was buried at +Winchester, & the murtherers at Repingdon. Such was the end of king +Kinewulfe, after he had reigned the tearme of 31 yéeres. + +[Sidenote: _Eccle. hist. Magd._ 786] +In the yeere of our Lord 786, pope Adrian sent two legats into +England, Gregorie, or (as some copies haue) George bishop of Ostia, +and Theophylactus bishop of Tuderto, with letters commendatorie vnto +Offa king of Mercia, Alfwold king of Northumberland, Ieanbright or +Lambert archbishop of Canturburie, and Eaubald archbishop of Yorke. +[Sidenote: _H. Hunt._ Legats from the pope.] +These legats were gladlie receiued, not onlie by the foresaid +kings and archbishops, but also of all other the high estates, aswell +spirituall as temporall of the land, & namelie of Kinewulfe king of +the Westsaxons, which repaired vnto king Offa to take counsell with +him for reformation of such articles as were conteined in the popes +letters. + +[Sidenote: Twentie articles which the legats had to propone.] +There were twentie seuerall articles which they had to propone on +the popes behalfe, as touching the receiuing of the faith or articles +established by the Nicene councell, and obeieng of the other generall +councels, with instructions concerning baptisme and kéeping of synods +yéerelie, for the examination of priests and ministers, and reforming +of naughtie liuers. Moreouer touching discretion to be vsed in +admitting of gouernors in monasteries, and curats or priests to the +ministerie in churches: and further for the behauior of priests in +wearing their apparell, namelie that they should not presume to come +to the altar bare legged, lest their dishonestie might be discouered. +And that in no wise the chalice or paten were made of the horne of an +oxe, bicause the same is bloudie of nature: nor the host of a crust, +but of pure bread. Also whereas bishops vsed to sit in councels to +iudge in secular causes, they were now forbidden so to doo. + +Manie other things were as meanes of reformation articled, both for +spirituall causes, and also concerning ciuill ordinances, as disabling +children to be heirs to the parents, which by them were not begot +[Sidenote: Nuns concubines.] +in lawfull matrimonie but on concubines, whether they were nunnes +or secular women. Also of paiment of tithes, performing of vowes, +auoiding of vndecent apparell, and abolishing of all maner of +heathenish vsages and customes that sounded contrarie to the order +[Sidenote: Curtailing of horsses.] +of christanitie, as curtailing of horsses, and eating of horsses +flesh. These things with manie other expressed in 20 principall +articles (as we haue said) were first concluded to be receiued by the +church of the Northumbers in a councell holden there, and subscribed +by Alfwold king of the Northumbers, by Delberike bishop of Hexham, by +Eubald archbishop of Yorke, Higwald bishop of Lindisferne, Edelbert +bishop of Whiterne, Aldulfe bishop of Mieth, Ethelwine also another +bishop by his deputies, with a number of other of the clergie; and +lords also of the temporaltie, as duke Alrike, duke Segwulfe, abbat +Alebericke, and abbat Erhard. After this confirmation had of the +Northumbers, there was also a councell holden in Mercia at Cealtide, +in the which these persons subscribed, Iambert or Lambert archbishop +of Canturburie, Offa king of Mercia, Hughbright bishop of Lichfield, +Edeulfe bishop of Faron, with Vnwone bishop of Ligor, and nine other +bishops, besides abbats; and thrée dukes, as Brorda, Farwald, and +Bercoald, with earle Othbald. + +But now to returne backe to speake of other dooings, as in other parts +of this land they fell out. About the yéere of our Lord 764, the sée +of Canturburie being void, one Iambert or Lambert was elected +[Sidenote: 764.] +archbishop there, and in the yéere 766, the archbishop of Yorke Egbert +[Sidenote: _Sim. Dun._ saith 780] +departed this life, in whose place one Adelbert succéeded. About +the 25 yéere of Kenwulf king of Westsaxons, the Northumbers hauing to +their capteine two noble men, Osbald and Ethelherard, burned one +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] +of their iudges named Bearne, bicause he was more cruell in iudgement +(as they tooke the matter) than reason required. In which vengeance +executed vpon the cruell iudge (if he were so seuere as this attempt +of the two noble men dooth offer the readers to suspect) all such of +his liuerie & calling are taught lenitie & mildnes, wherwith they +should leuen the rigor of the lawe. For + + [Sidenote: _Ouid. lib. 2. de art. am._] + + ------capit indulgentia mentes, + Asperitas odium sæuáque bella mouet. + Odimus accipitrem, quia viuit semper in armis, + Er pauidum solitos in pecus ire lupos. + At caret insidijs hominum, quia mitis hirundo est, + Quásque colat turres Chaonîs ales habet. + +At the same time, one Aswald or Alfewald reigned ouer the Northumbers, +being admitted K. after that Ethelbert was expelled, and when the +[Sidenote: He began his reigne _ann._ 779, as saith _Simon Dun._ and +reigned but ten yéeres.] +same Alfwald had reigned 10, or (as some say) 11 yéeres, he was +traitorouslie and without all guilt made away; the chéefe conspirator +was named Siga. The same Alfwald was a iust prince, and woorthilie +gouerned the Northumbers to his high praise and commendation. He was +murthered by his owne people (as before ye haue heard) the 23 of +September, in the yéere of our Lord 788, and was buried at Hexham. + +[Sidenote: 788. _Matth. West._ _Simon Dun._ 792.] +In the yéere 792, Charles king of France sent a booke into +Britaine, which was sent vnto him from Constantinople, conteining +certeine articles agreed vpon in a synod (wherein were present aboue +the number of thrée hundred bishops) quite contrarie and disagréeing +from the true faith, namelie in this, that images ought to be +worshipped, which the church of God vtterlie abhorreth. Against this +booke Albinus that famous clearke wrote a treatise confirmed with +places taken out of holie scripture, which treatise, with the booke in +[Sidenote: _Sim. Dunel._ 800.] +name of all the bishops and princes of Britaine, he presented vnto +the king of France. ¶ In the yéere 800, on Christmasse éeuen chanced a +maruellous tempest of wind, which ouerthrew whole cities and townes in +diuerse places, and trees in great number, beside other harmes which +it did, as by death of cattell, &c. In the yeere following a great +part of London was consumed by fire. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Britricus K. of the Westsaxons, his inclination, Egbert being of the +bloud roiall is banished the land, & why; crosses of bloudie colour +and drops of bloud fell from heauen, what they did prognosticate; the +first Danes that arriued on the English coasts, and the cause of their +comming; firie dragons flieng in the aire foretokens of famine +and warre; Britricus is poisoned of his wife Ethelburga, hir ill +qualities; why the kings of the Westsaxons decreed that their wiues +should not be called queenes, the miserable end of Ethelburga; Kenulfe +king of Mercia, his vertues, he restoreth the archbishops see to +Canturburie which was translated to Lichfield, he inuadeth Kent, +taketh the king prisoner in the field, and bountifullie setteth him at +libertie, the great ioy of the people therevpon; his rare liberalitie +to churchmen, his death and buriall._ + +THE SEUENTH CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: BRITRICUS. _Hen. Hunt._ _Matt. West._ saith 787. +_Simon Dun._ saith 786.] +After Kenwulfe, one Britricus or Brightrike was ordeined king of +Westsaxons, and began his reigne in the yéere of our Lord 787, which +was about the 8 yéere of the gouernment of the empresse Eirene with +hir son Constantinus, and about the second yeere of the reigne of +Achaius K. of Scots. This Brightrike was descended of the line of +Cerdicus the first king of Westsaxons, the 16 in number from him. He +was a man of nature quiet & temperate, more desirous of peace than of +warre, and therefore he stood in doubt of the noble valiancie of one +Egbert, which after succéeded him in the kingdome. The linage of +Cerdicus was in that season so confounded and mingled, that euerie +one as he grew in greatest power, stroue to be king and supreame +gouernour. But speciallie Egbertus was knowne to be one that coueted +that place, as he that was of the bloud roiall, and a man of great +[Sidenote: Egbert banished.] +power and lustie courage. King Brightrike therefore to liue in more +safetie, banished him the land, and appointed him to go into France. +Egbert vnderstanding certeinlie that this his departure into a +forreine countrie should aduance him in time, obeied the kings +pleasure. + +[Sidenote: A strange woonder.] +About the third yéere of Brightrikes reigne, there fell vpon mens +garments, as they walked abroad, crosses of bloudie colour, and bloud +fell from heauen as drops of raine. Some tooke this woonder for +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._ _Wil. Malm._ _Hen. Hunt._ +Danes.] +a signification of the persecution that followed by the Danes: for +shortlie after, in the yeere insuing, there arriued thrée Danish ships +vpon the English coasts, against whome the lieutenant of the parties +adjoining made foorth, to apprehend those that were come on land, +howbeit aduenturing himselfe ouer rashlie amongst them, he was slaine: +but afterwards when the Danes perceiued that the people of the +countries about began to assemble, and were comming against them, they +fled to their ships, and left their prey and spoile behind them for +that time. These were the first Danes that arriued here in this land, +being onelie sent (as was perceiued after) to view the countrie and +coasts of the same, to vnderstand how with a greater power they might +be able to inuade it, as shortlie after they did, and warred so with +the Englishmen, that they got a great part of the land, and held it in +their owne possession. In the tenth yéere of king Brightrikes reigne, +there were séene in the aire firie dragons flieng, which betokened +(as was thought) two grieuous plagues that followed. First a great +[Sidenote: Famin & war signified.] +dearth and famine: and secondlie a cruell war of the Danes, which +shortlie followed, as ye shall heare. + +Finallie, after that Brightrike had reigned the space of 16 yéeres, he +[Sidenote: _Ran. Cest. lib. 5. cap. 25_. Brightrike departed this life.] +departed this life, and was buried at Warham. Some write that he +was poisoned by his wife Ethelburga daughter vnto Offa king of Mercia +(as before ye haue heard) and he maried hir in the fourth yere of +his reigne. She is noted by writers to haue bin a verie euill woman, +proud, and high-minded as Lucifer, and therewith disdainful. She bare +[Sidenote: Ethelburga hir conditions and wicked nature.] +hir the more statelie, by reason of hir fathers great fame and +magnificence: whome she hated she would accuse to hir husband, and so +put them in danger of their liues. And if she might not so wreake hir +rancour, she would not sticke to poison them. + +It happened one day, as she meant to haue poisoned a yoong gentleman, +against whome she had a quarell, the king chanced to tast of that cup, +and died thereof (as before ye haue heard.) Hir purpose indeed was not +to haue poisoned the king, but onelie the yoong gentleman, the which +drinking after the king, died also, the poison was so strong and +[Sidenote: A decrée of the kings of the Westsaxons against their +wiues.] +vehement. For hir heinous crime it is said that the kings of the +Westsaxons would not suffer their wiues to be called quéenes, nor +permit them to sit with them in open places (where their maiesties +should bée shewed) manie yéeres after. Ethelburga fearing punishment, +fled into France with great riches and treasure, & was well cherished +[Sidenote: The end of Ethelburga. _Simon Dun._] +in the court of king Charles at the first, but after she was thrust +into an abbeie, and demeaned hirselfe so lewdlie there, in keeping +companie with one of hir owne countriemen, that she was banished the +house, and after died in great miserie. + +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ Kenulfe.] +Egbert king of Mercia departing this life, after he had reigned +foure moneths, ordeined his coosine Kenulfe to succeed in his place, +which Kenulfe was come of the line of Penda king of Mercia, as +rightlie descended from his brother Kenwalke. This Kenulfe for his +noble courage, wisdome, and vpright dealing, was woorthie to be +compared with the best princes that haue reigned. His vertues passed +his fame: nothing he did that enuie could with iust cause reprooue. At +home he shewed himselfe godlie and religious, in warre he became +[Sidenote: The archbishops sée restored to Canturburie.] +victorious, he restored the archbishops sée againe to Canturburie, +wherein his humblenes was to be praised, that made no account of +worldlie honour in his prouince, so that the order of the ancient +canons might be obserued. He had wars left him as it were by +succession from his predecessour Offa against them of Kent, and +thervpon entring that countrie with a mightie armie, wasted and +[Sidenote: The king of Kent taken prisoner.] +spoiled the same, and encountering in battell with king Edbert or +Ethelbert, otherwise called Prenne, ouerthrew his armie, and tooke him +prisoner in the field, but afterwards he released him to his +great praise and commendation. For whereas he builded a church at +Winchcombe, vpon the day of the dedication thereof, he led the Kentish +king as then his prisoner, vp to the high altar, and there set him at +libertie, declaring thereby a great proofe of his good nature. + +There were present at that sight, Cuthred whom he had made king of +Kent in place of Ethelbert, or Edbert, with 13 bishops, and 10 dukes. +The noise that was made of the people in reioising at the kings +bountious liberalitie was maruellous. For not onelie he thus +[Sidenote: Kenulfs liberalitie towards churchmen which was not +forgotten by them in their histories.] +restored the Kentish king to libertie, but also bestowed great rewards +vpon all the prelates and noble men that were come to the feast, +euerie priest had a peece of gold, and euerie moonke a shilling. Also +he dealt and gaue away great gifts amongst the people, and founded +in that place an abbeie, indowing the same with great possessions. +Finallie, after he had reigned 24 yéeres, he departed this life, and +appointed his buriall to be in the same abbeie of Winchcombe, leauing +behind him a sonne named Kenelme, who succeeded his father in the +kingdome, but was soone murthered by his vnnaturall sister Quendred, +the 17 of Iulie, as hereafter shall be shewed. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Osrike king of Northumberland leaueth the kingdome to Edelbert +reuoked out of exile, king Alfwalds sons miserablie slaine, Osred is +put to death, Ethelbert putteth away his wife and marieth another, his +people rise against him therefore and kill him, Oswald succeeding him +is driuen out of the land; Ardulfe king of Northumberland, duke Wade +raiseth warre against him and is discomfited; duke Aldred is slaine; +a sore battell fought in Northumberland, the English men aflict one +another with ciuill warres; king Ardulfe deposed from his estate; +the regiment of the Northumbers refused as dangerous and deadlie by +destinie, what befell them in lieu of their disloialtie; the Danes +inuade their land and are vanquished; the roiall race of the Kentish +kings decaieth, the state of that kingdome; the primasie restored to +the see of Canturburie, Egbert (after the death of Britricus) is sent +for to vndertake the gouernement of the Westsaxons, his linage._ + +THE EIGHT CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: OSRED. 788.] +When Aswald king of Northumberland was made away, his brother +Osred the sonne of Alred tooke vpon him the rule of that kingdom anno +788, and within one yeere was expelled, and left the kingdome to +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ _Matth. West._ _Hen. Hunt._ +_Simon Dun._] +Ethelbert or Edelred as then reuoked out of exile, in which he had +remained for the space of 12 yéeres, and now being restored, he +continued in gouernement of the Northumbers 4 yéeres, or (as some say) +[Sidenote: Duke Ardulf taken and wounded.] +7 yéeres; in the second yéere whereof duke Eardulfe was taken and +led to Ripon, and there without the gate of the monasterie wounded +(as was thought) to death by the said king, but the moonks taking his +bodie, and laieng it in a tent without the church, after midnight he +was found aliue in the church. + +Moreouer, about the same time the sonnes of king Alfwald were by +force drawne out of the citie of Yorke, but first by a wile they were +trained out of the head church where they had taken sanctuarie, and so +at length miserablie slaine by king Ethelbert in Wonwaldremere, +one of them was named Alfus, & the other Alfwin. In the yéere of our +[Sidenote: 792] +Lord 792, Osred vpon trust of the others and promises of diuerse noble +men, secretly returned into Northumberland, but his owne souldiers +forsooke him, and so was he taken, and by king Ethelberts commandment +put to death at Cunbridge on the 14 day of September. + +The same yéere king Ethelbert maried the ladie Alfled the daughter of +Offa king of Mercia, forsaking his former wife which he had, & hauing +no iust cause of diuorce giuen on hir part, wherby his people tooke +such displeasure against him, that finallie after he had reigned now +this second time 4 yéeres, or (as other say) seuen yéeres, he could +not auoid the destinie of his predecessors, but was miserablie killed +by his owne subiects at Cobre, the 18 of Aprill. After whome, one +Oswald a noble man was ordeined king, and within 27 or 28 daies after +[Sidenote: Holie Iland.] +was expelled, and constreined to flie first into the Ile of +Lindesferne, and from thence vnto the king of the Picts. + +[Sidenote: Ardulfe.] +Then Ardulfe that was a duke and sonne to one Arnulfe was reuoked +out of exile, made king, & consecrated also at Yorke by the archbishop +Cumhald, and thrée other bishops, the 25 of June, in the yéere +[Sidenote: 796.] +796. About two yeeres after, to wit, in the yéere 798 one duke +Wade, and other conspirators which had beene also partakers in the +[Sidenote: Walalege.] +murthering of king Ethelbert, raised warre against king Ardulfe, +and fought a battell with him at Walleg, but king Ardulfe got the +vpper hand, and chased Wade and other his enimies out of the +[Sidenote: 799.] +field. In the yéere 799, duke Aldred that had murthered Ethelbert or +Athelred king of Northumberland, was slaine by another duke called +Chorthmond in reuenge of the death of his maister the said Ethelbert. +Shortlie after, about the same time that Brightrike king of +Westsaxons departed this life, there was a sore battell foughten +in Northumberland at Wellehare, in the which Alricke the sonne of +Herbert, and manie other with him were slaine: but to rehearse all the +battels with their successes and issues, it should be too tedious and +irkesome to the readers, for the English people being naturallie hard +[Sidenote: The English men afflicted each other with ciuill warre.] +and high-minded, continuallie scourged each other with intestine +warres. About six or seuen yéeres after this battell, king Ardulfe was +expelled out of the state. + +¶ Thus ye may consider in what plight things stood in Northumberland, +by the often seditions, tumults and changings of gouernors, so that +there be which haue written, how after the death of king Ethelbert, +otherwise called Edelred, diuers bishops and other of the chiefest +nobles of the countrie disdaining such traitorous prince-killings, +ciuill seditions, and iniurious dealings, as it were put in dailie +practise amongst the Northumbers, departed out of their natiue borders +into voluntarie exile, and that from thencefoorth there was not anie +of the nobilitie that durst take vpon him the kinglie gouernement +amongst them, fearing the fatall prerogatiue thereof, as if it had +béene Scians horsse, whose rider came euer to some euill end. But +yet by that which is héeretofore shewed out of Simon Dunelm, it is +euident, that there reigned kings ouer the Northumbers, but in what +authoritie and power to command, it may be doubted. + +Howbeit this is certeine, that the sundrie murtherings and banishments +of their kings and dukes giue vs greatlie to gesse, that there was but +sorie obedience vsed in the countrie, whereby for no small space of +time that kingdome remained without an head gouernor, being set open +to the prey and iniurie of them that were borderers vnto it, and +likewise vnto strangers. For the Danes, which in those daies were +great rouers, had landed before in the north parts, & spoiled the +[Sidenote: This chanced in the yéere of our Lord 700, +as _Simon Dun._ saith.] +abbeie of Lindesferne otherwise called holie Iland, and perceiuing +the fruitfulnesse of the countrie, and easinesse for their people to +inuade it (bicause that through their priuate quarelling there was +little publike resistance to be looked for) at their comming home, +[Sidenote: The Danes inuade Northumberland.] +entised their countriemen to make voiages into England, and so landing +in Northumberland did much hurt, and obtained a great part of the +countrie in manner without resistance, bicause there was no ruler +there able to raise anie power of men by publike authoritie to +incounter with the common enimies, whereby the countrie was brought +into great miserie, partlie with war of the Danes, and ciuill +dissention amongest the nobles and people themselues, no man being of +authoritie (I say) able to reforme such misorders. Yet we find +[Sidenote: The Danes vanquished. This was in anno 794 +as _Simon Dun._ saith.] +that the nobles and capteines of the countrie assembling togither +at one time against the Danes that were landed about Tinmouth, +constreined them by sharpe fight to flée backe to their ships, and +tooke certeine of them in the field, whose heads they stroke off there +vpon the shore. The other that got to their ships, suffered great +losse of men, and likewise of their vessels by tempest. + +¶ Here then we are taught that the safest way to mainteine a +monarchie, is when all degrées liue in loialtie. And that it is +necessarie there should be one supereminent, vnto whome all the +residue should stoope: this fraile bodie of ours may giue vs +sufficient instruction. For reason ruleth in the mind as souereigne, +and hath subiect vnto it all the affections and inward motions, yea +the naturall actions are directed by hir gouernement: whereto if the +will be obedient there cannot créepe in anie outrage or disorder. Such +should be the sole regiment of a king in his kingdome; otherwise he +may be called "Rex á regendo, as Mons a mouendo." For there is not a +greater enimie to that estate, than to admit participants in roialtie, +which as it is a readie way to cause a subuersion of a monarchie; so +it is the shortest cut ouer to a disordered anarchie. But to procéed +in the historie. + +After that Alrike (the last of king Witchreds sonnes, which reigned in +Kent successiuelie after their father) was dead, the noble ofspring of +the kings there so decaied, and began to vade awaie, that euerie one +which either by flattering had got rithes togither, or by seditious +partaking was had in estimation, sought to haue the gouernement, and +to vsurp the title of king, abusing by vnworthie means the honor and +dignitie of so high an office. Amongest others, one Edbert or +[Sidenote: Edelbert.] +Edelbert, surnamed also Prenne, gouerned the Kentishmen for the space +of two yeares, and was in the end vanquished by them of Mercia, and +taken prisoner, as before is said: so that for a time he liued in +captiuitie; and although afterwards he was set at libertie, yet was he +not receiued againe to the kingdome, so that it is vncerteine what end +he made. Cuthred that was appointed by Kinevulfe the king of Mercia, +to reigne in place of the same Edbert or Edelbert, continued in +the gouernement eight yéeres as king, rather by name than by act, +inheriting his predecessors euill hap and calamitie, through factions +and ciuill discord. + +[Sidenote: Lambert.] +After that Iambrith or Lambert the archbishop of Canturburie was +departed this life, one Edelred was ordeined in his place, vnto whome +the primasie was restored, which in his predecessors time was taken +awaie by Offa king of Mercia, as before is recited. Also after the +death of Eubald archbishop of Yorke, another of the same name called +Eubald the second was admitted to succeed in that sée. After that +Brightrike the king of Westsaxons was departed this life, messengers +were sent with all spéed into France, to giue knowledge thereof +vnto Egbert, which as before is shewed, was constreined by the said +Brightrike to depart the countrie. At the first, he withdrew vnto Offa +king of Mercia, with whome he remained for a time, till at length +(through suit made by Brightrike) he perceiued he might not longer +continue there without danger to be deliuered into his enimies hands; +and so, Offa winking at the matter, he departed out of his countrie, +and got him ouer into France. But being now aduertised of Brightriks +death, and required by earnest letters sent from his friends to come +and receiue the gouernement of the kingdome, he returned with all +[Sidenote: Egbert receiued a king of Westsaxons His linage.] +conuenient spéed into his countrie, and was receiued immediatlie +for king, by the generall consent of the Westsaxons, as well in +respect of the good hope which they had conceiued of his woorthie +qualities and aptnesse to haue gouernement, as of his roiall linage, +being lineallie descended from Inigils the brother of king Inas, as +sonne to Alkemound, that was the sonne of one Eaffa, which Eaffa was +sonne to Ope the sonne of the foresaid Inigils. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Egbert reigneth ouer the Westsaxons, his practise or exercise in the +time of his exile, his martiall exploits against the Cornishmen and +Welshmen, Bernulfe king of Mercia taketh indignation at Egbert for the +inlarging of his roiall authoritie, they fight a sore battell, Egbert +ouercommeth, great ods betweene their souldiers, bishop Alstan a +warriour; Kent, Essex, Southerie, Sussex, and Eastangles subiect to +Egbert; he killeth Bernulfe K. of Mercia, and conquereth the whole +kingdome, Whitlafe the king thereof becommeth his tributarie, the +Northumbers submit themselues to Egbert, he conquereth Northwales and +the citie of Chester, he is crowned supreme gouernour of the whole +land, when this Ile was called England, the Danes inuade the land, +they discomfit Egberts host, the Welshmen ioine with the Danes against +Egbert, they are both vanquished, Egbert dieth._ + +THE NINTH CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: EGBERT. 802 as _Simon Dunel._ +and _M.W._ hath noted but 801.] +This Egbert began his reigne in the yeare of our Lord 800, which +was the 4 yeare almost ended, after that the emperour Eirine began the +second time to rule the empire, and in the 24 yeare of the reigne of +Charles the great king of France, which also was in the same yeare +after he was made emperour of the west, and about the second yeare +of Conwall king of Scots. Whilest this Egbert remained in exile, he +turned his aduersaries into an occasion of his valiancie, as it had +béene a grindstone to grind awaie and remoue the rust of sluggish +slouthfulnes, in so much that hawnting the wars in France, in seruice +of Charles the great, he atteined to great knowledge and experience, +both in matters appertaining to the wars, and likewise to the well +ordering of the common wealth in time of peace. The first wars that he +tooke in hand, after he had atteined to the kingdome, was against the +Cornishmen, a remnant of the old Britains, whome he shortlie ouercame +and subdued. Then he thought good to tame the vnquiet Welshmen, the +which still were readie to moue rebellion against the Englishmen, +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ _Hen. Hunt._] +as they that being vanquished, would not yet seeme to be subdued, +wherefore about the 14 yeare of his reigne, he inuaded the countrie of +Wales, and went through the same from east to west, not finding anie +person that durst resist him. + +King Egbert hauing ouercome his enimies of Wales and Cornewall, began +to grow in authoritie aboue all the other rulers within this land, in +somuch that euerie of them began to feare their owne estate, but +[Sidenote: Bernulf king of Mercia.] +namelie Bernulfe king of Mercia sore stomached the matter, as he that +was wise, and of a loftie courage, and yet doubted to haue to doo with +Egbert, who was knowen also to be a man both skilfull and valiant. At +length yet considering with himselfe, that if his chance should be +to speed well, so much the more should his praise be increased, he +determined to attempt the fortune of warre, and therevpon intimated +the same vnto Egbert, who supposing it should be a dishonor vnto him +[Sidenote: A battell fought at Ellendon.] +to giue place, boldlie prepared to méete Bernulfe in the field. +Herevpon they incountred togither at Ellendon, & fought a sore +battell, in the which a huge number of men were slaine, what on the +one part, and on the other but in the end the victorie remained with +Egbert, although he had not the like host for number vnto Bernulfe, +[Sidenote: Egbert won the victorie.] +but he was a politike prince, and of great experience, hauing chosen +his souldiers of nimble, leane, and hartie men; where Bernulfs +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ 826.] +souldiers (through long ease) were cowardlie persons, and +ouercharged with flesh. The battell was fought in the yeare of our +Lord 826. + +King Egbert hauing got this victorie, was aduanced into such hope, +that he persuaded himselfe to be able without great adoo to ouercome +the residue of his neighbours, whose estates he saw plainlie sore +weakened and fallen into great decaie. Herevpon before all other, he +determined to assaile Edelvulfe king of Kent, whome he knew to be +a man in no estimation amongest his subiects. A competent armie +therefore being leuied, he appointed his sonne Ethelwulfe & Alstan +[Sidenote: Alstan bishop of Shireborn a warrior.] +bishop of Shireborne, with earle Walhard to haue the conduct therof, +and sent them with the same into Kent, where they wrought such +maisteries, that they chased both the king and all other that would +not submit themselues, out of the countrie, constreining them to +[Sidenote: The conquests of the Westsaxons.] +passe ouer the Thames. And herewith the Westsaxons following the +victorie, brought vnder subiection of king Egbert the countries of +Kent, Essex, Southerie, and Sussex. The Eastangles also about +[Sidenote: _Henr. Hunt._] +the same time receiued king Egbert for their souereigne Lord, and +comforted by his setting on against Bernulfe king of Mercia, inuaded +the confines of his kingdome, in reuenge of displeasures which he had +doone to them latelie before, by inuading their countrie, and as it +[Sidenote: Bernulf king of Mercia slaine.] +came to passe, incountring with the said Bernulfe which came against +them to defend his countrie, they slue him in the field. + +Thus their minds on both parts being kindled into further wrath, +the Eastangles eftsoones in the yeare following fought with them of +Mercia, and ouercame them againe, and slue their king Ludicenus, who +succéeded Bernulfe in that kingdome, with 5 of his earles. The state +of the kingdome of Mercia being weakened, Egbert conceiued an assured +hope of good successe, & in the 27 yeare of his reigne, made an open +inuasion into the countrie, and chasing Whitlafe king of Mercia (that +succéeded Ludicenus) out of his estate, conquered the whole kingdome +of the Mercies. But yet in the yéere next following, or in the third +yeare after, he restored it againe to Whitlafe, with condition, that +he should inioy the same as tributarie to him, and acknowledge him +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] +for his supreme gouernour. The same yeare that Bernulfe king of +[Sidenote: These were the Cornish men as is to be supposed.] +Mercia was slaine by the Eastangles, there was a sore battell foughten +at Gauelford, betwixt them of Deuonshire, and the Britains, in the +which manie thousands died on both parts. + +King Egbert hauing conquered all the English people inhabiting on +the south side of Humber, led foorth his armie against them of +Northumberland: but the Northumbers being not onelie vexed with ciuill +sedition, but also with the often inuasion of Danes, perceiued not +[Sidenote: King Egbert inuadeth Northumberland. +The Northumbers submit themselues to king Egbert.] +how they should be able to resist the power of king Egbert: and +therefore vpon good aduisement taken in the matter, they resolued to +submit themselues, and therevpon sent ambassadors to him to offer +their submission, committing themselues wholie vnto his protection. +King Egbert gladlie receiued them, and promised to defend them from +all forren enimies. Thus the kingdome of Northumberland was brought +vnder subiection to the kings of the Westsaxons, after the state +had béen sore weakened with contention and ciuill discord that had +continued amongst the nobles of the countrie, for the space of manie +yeeres, beside the inuasion made by outward enimies, to the gréeuous +damage of the people. + +After that king Egbert had finished his businesse in Northumberland, +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._ Northwales and the citie of Chester conquered +by Egbert.] +he turned his power towards the countrie of Northwales, and +subdued the same, with the citie of Chester, which till those daies, +the Britains or Welshmen had kept in their possession. When king +Egbert had obteined these victories, and made such conquests as before +is mentioned, of the people héere in this land, he caused a councell +to be assembled at Winchester, and there by aduise of the high +estates, he was crowned king, as souereigne gouernour and supreame +lord of the whole land. It is also recorded, that he caused a +commission to be directed foorth into all parts of the realme, to +giue commandement, that from thence forward all the people inhabiting +within this land, should be called English men, and not Saxons, and +[Sidenote: The name of this ile when it was changed.] +likewise the land should be called England by one generall name, +though it should appéere (as before is mentioned) that it was so +called shortlie after the first time that the Angles and Saxons got +possession thereof. + +Now was king Egbert setled in good quiet, and his dominions reduced +[Sidenote: The Danes.] +out of the troubles of warre, when suddenlie newes came, that the +Danes with a nauie of 35 ships, were arriued on the English coasts, +and began to make sore warre in the land. K. Egbert being thereof +aduertised, with all conuenient spéed got togither an armie, and went +foorth to giue battell to the enimies. Heerevpon incountring with +them, there was a sore foughten field betwixt them, which continued +with great slaughter on both sides, till the night came on, and then +by chance of warre the Englishmen, which before were at point to haue +[Sidenote: The Englishmen discomfited by Danes. _Simon Dun._ _H. Hunt._ +_Matth. West._] +gone awaie with victorie, were vanquished and put to flight, yet +king Egbert by couert of the night escaped his enimies hands: but two +of his chiefe capteins Dudda and Osmond, with two bishops, to wit, +Herferd of Winchester, and Vigferd of Shireborne, were slaine in that +battell, which was foughten at Carrum, about the 834 of Christ, and 34 +yéere of king Egberts reigne. + +[Sidenote: 834.] +In the yeere following, the Danes with their nauie came into +Westwales, and there the Welshmen ioining with them, rose against king +Egbert, but he with prosperous fortune vanquished and slue both +[Sidenote: Danes and Welshmen vanquished.] +the Danes and Welshmen, and that in great number, at a place called +Hengistenton. The next yéere after also, which was 836, he ouerthrew +[Sidenote: 836.] +another armie of Danes which came against him, as one autor +writeth. Finallie, when king Egbert had reigned the tearme of 36 +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._] +yéeres and seuen moneths with great glorie for the inlarging of his +[Sidenote: Egbert departeth this life. 837.] +kingdome with wide bounds, which when he receiued was but of +small compasse, he departed this life, leauing to his issue matter of +woorthie praise to mainteine that with order which he with painefull +diligence had ioined togither. His bodie was buried at Winchester, and +he left behind him two sonnes Ethelwulfe, otherwise named Athaulfe and +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._] +Adelstan. The first he appointed to succéed him in the kingdome of +Westsaxons, and Adelstan he ordeined to haue the gouernment of Kent, +Sussex, and Essex. + +¶ Héere we sée the paterne of a fortunate prince in all his affaires, +as well forren as domesticall, wherein is first to be obserued the +order of his education in his tender yéeres, which agreeing well with +a princes nature, could not but in the progresse of his age bring +great matters to passe, his manifold victories are an argument that as +he lacked no policie, so he had prowesse inough to incounter with his +enimies, to whome he gaue manie a fowle discomfiture. But among all +other notes of his skill and hope of happie successe in his martiall +affaires, was the good choise that he made of seruiceable souldiers, +being such as knew how to get the victorie, and hauing gotten it, +were not vntaught to vse it to their benefit, by their warinesse and +héedtaking; for + + Sæpiùs incautæ nocuit victoria turbæ. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The kingdome of Kent annexed to the kingdome of the Westsaxons, +the end of the kingdome of Kent and Essex; Kenelme king of Mercia +murthered by the meanes of his owne sister Quendred, the order of hir +wicked practise; his death prophesied or foreshewed by a signe, the +kings of Mercia put by their roialtie one after another, the kingdome +of Britaine beginneth to be a monarchie; Ethelwulfe king of the +Westsaxons, he marrieth his butlers daughter, his disposition; the +fourth destruction of this land by forren enimies, the Danes sought +the ruine of this Ile, how long they afflicted and troubled the same; +two notable bishops and verie seruiceable to king Ethelwulfe in +warre, the Danes discomfited, the Englishmen chased, Ethelwulfs great +victorie ouer the Danes, a great slaughter of them at Tenet, king +Ethelwulfs deuotion and liberalitie to churches, Peter pence paid +to Rome, he marieth the ladie Iudith, his two sonnes conspire (vpon +occasion of breaking a law) to depose him, king Ethelwulfe dieth, +his foure sonnes by his first wife Osburga, how he bequeathed his +kingdoms._ + +THE TENTH CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +When Cuthred K. of Kent had reigned 8 yeeres, as before is +mentioned, he was constreined to giue place vnto one Baldred, that +tooke vpon him the gouernment, & reigned the space of 18 yéeres, +without anie great authoritie, for his subiects regarded him but +sorilie, so that in the end, when his countrie was inuaded by the +Westsaxons, he was easilie constreined to depart into exile. And thus +was the kingdome of Kent annexed to the kingdome of the Westsaxons, +after the same kingdome had continued in gouernment of kings created +of the same nation for the space of 382 yéers, that is to say, from +the yéere of our Lord 464, vnto the yéere 827. Suithred or Suthred +[Sidenote: The end of the kingdome of Kent. 827.] +king of Essex was vanquished and expelled out of his kingdome by +Egbert king of Westsaxons (as before ye maie read) in the same yéere +that the Kentishmen were subdued by the said Egbert, or else verie +[Sidenote: The end of the kingdome of Essex.] +shortlie after. This kingdome continued 281 yeeres, from the yéere +614, vnto the yeere 795, as by the table of the Heptarchie set foorth +by Alexander Neuill appéereth. After the deceasse of Kenwulfe king +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ 821] +of Mercia, his sonne Kenelme a child of the age of seuen yéeres was +admitted king, about the yeere of our Lord 821. He had two sisters, +Quendred and Burgenild, of the which the one (that is to say) +[Sidenote: The wickedness of Quendred.] +Quendred, of a malicious mind, mooued through ambition, enuied hir +brothers aduancement, and sought to make him awaie, so that in the +end she corrupted the gouernour of his person one Ashbert, with great +rewards and high promises persuading him to dispatch hir innocent +brother out of life, that she might reigne in his place. Ashbert one +day vnder a colour to haue the yoong king foorth on hunting, led him +into a thicke wood, and there cut off the head from his bodie, an impe +by reason of his tender yéeres and innocent age, vnto the world +[Sidenote: King Kenelm murthered.] +void of gilt, and yet thus traitorouslie murthered without cause or +crime: he was afterwards reputed for a martyr. + +[Sidenote: _Sée legenda aurea. fol. 165_. in the life of S. Kenelme.] +There hath gone a tale that his death should be signified at Rome, +and the place where the murther was committed, by a strange manner: +for (as they say) a white doue came and lighted vpon the altar of +saint Peter, bearing a scroll in hir bill, which she let fall on the +same altar, in which scroll among other things this was conteined, "In +clenc kou bath, Kenelme kinbarne lieth vnder thorne, heaued bereaued:" +that is, at Clenc in a cow pasture, Kenelme the kings child lieth +beheaded vnder a thorne. This tale I rehearse, not for anie credit +I thinke it woorthie of, but onelie for that it séemeth to note the +place where the yoong prince innocentlie lost his life. + +[Sidenote: Ceolwulfe K. of Mercia 823.] +After that Kenelme was thus made awaie, his vncle Ceolwulfe the +brother of king Kenulfe was created king of Mercia, and in the second +yéere of his reigne was expelled by Bernwulfe. Bernwulfe in the third +yéere of his reigne, was vanquished and put to flight in battell +by Egbert king of Westsaxons, and shortlie after slaine of the +Eastangles, as before ye haue heard. Then one Ludicenus or Ludicanus +was created king of Mercia, and within two yeeres after came to the +like end that happened to his predecessor before him, as he went about +to reuenge his death, so that the kingdome of Britaine began now to +réele from their owne estate, and leane to an alteration, which +grew in the end to the erection of a perfect monarchie, and finall +subuersion of their particular estates and regiments. After Ludicenus, +[Sidenote: _Matt. Westm._ 728.] +succeeded Wightlafe, who first being vanquisht by Egbert king +of Westsaxons, was afterwards restored to the kingdome by the same +Egbert, and reigned 13 yeeres, whereof twelue at the least were vnder +tribute which he paied to the said Egbert and to his sonne, as to his +souereignes and supreame gouernours. The kingdome of Northumberland +[Sidenote: 828.] +was brought in subjection to the kings of Westsaxons, as before +is mentioned, in the yéere of our Lord 828, and in the yéere of the +reigne of king Egbert 28, but yet héere it tooke not end, as after +shall appéere. + +[Sidenote: ETHELWULFUS] +Ethelwulfus, otherwise called by some writers Athaulfus, began his +reigne ouer the Westsaxons in the yéere 837, which was in the 24 yéere +of the emperor Ludouicus Pius that was also K. of France, in the tenth +yéere of Theophilus the emperor of the East, & about the third yéere +of Kenneth, the second of that name king of Scots. This Ethelwulfe +minding in his youth to haue béene a priest, entered into the orders +[Sidenote: _Henrie Hunt._ _Matth. West._] +as subdeacon, and as some write, he was bishop of Winchester: but +howsoeuer the matter stood, or whether he was or not, sure it is, that +shortlie after he was absolued of his vowes by authoritie of pope Leo, +and then maried a proper gentlewoman named Osburga, which was his +butlers daughter. He was of nature courteous, and rather desirous to +liue in quiet rest, than to be troubled with the gouernment of +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +manie countries, so that contenting himselfe with the kingdome of +Westsaxons, he permitted his brother Adelstan to inioy the residue of +the countries which his father had subdued, as Kent and Essex, with +other. He aided Burthred the king of Mercia against the Welshmen, and +greatlie aduanced his estimation, by giuing vnto him his daughter in +mariage. + +[Sidenote: Foure especiall destructions of this land.] +But now the fourth destruction which chanced to this land by +forren enimies, was at hand: for the people of Denmarke, Norway, and +other of those northeast regions, which in that season were great +rouers by sea, had tasted the wealth of this land by such spoiles and +preies as they had taken in the same, so that perceiuing they could +not purchase more profit anie where else, they set their minds to +inuade the same on ech side, as they had partlie begun in the daies of +the late kings Brightrike and Egbert. The persecution vsed by these +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ _Hen. Hunt._] +Danes séemed more gréeuous, than anie of the other persecutions, +either before or sithens that time: for the Romans hauing quicklie +subdued the land, gouerned it noblie without seeking the subuersion +thereof. The Scots and Picts onelie inuaded the north parts. And the +Saxons seeking the conquest of the land, when they had once got it, +they kept it, and did what they could, to better and aduance it to a +flourishing estate. + +The Normans likewise hauing made a conquest, granted both life, +libertie, and ancient lawes to the former inhabitants: but the Danes +long time and often assailing the land on euerie side, now inuading it +in this place, and now in that, did not at the first so much couet to +conquer it, as to spoile it, nor to beare rule in it, as to waste and +destroie it: who if they were at anie time, ouercome, the victors were +nothing the more in quiet: for a new nauie, and a greater armie +[Sidenote: The Danes sought the destruction of this land.] +was readie to make some new inuasion, neither did they enter all at +one place, nor at once, but one companie on the east side, and an +other in the west, or in the north and south coasts, in such sort, +that the Englishmen knew not whether they should first go to make +[Sidenote: How long the persecution of the Danes lasted. _Will. Malmes._] +resistance against them. + +This mischiefe began chieflie in the daies of this king Ethelwulfe, +but it continued about the space of two hundred yeeres, as by the +sequele of this booke it shall appéere. King Ethelwulfe was not so +much giuen to ease, but that vpon occasion for defense of his countrie +and subiects, he was readie to take order for the beating backe of the +enimies, as occasion serued, and speciallie chose such to be of his +counsell, as were men of great experience and [Sidenote: Two notable +bishops in Ethelwulfs daies.] wisedome. Amongst other, there were two +notable prelats, Suithune bishop of Winchester, and Adelstan bishop of +Shireborne, who were readie euer to giue him good aduise. Suithune was +not so much expert in worldlie matters as Adelstan was, & therefore +chieflie counselled the king in things apperteining to his soules +health: but Adelstan tooke in hand to order matters apperteining to +the state of the commonwealth, as prouiding of monie, and furnishing +foorth of men to withstand the Danes, so that by him manie things were +both boldlie begun, and happilie atchiued, as by writers hath béene +recorded. He gouerned the sée of Shireborne the space of 50 yéeres, by +the good counsell and faithfull aduise of those two prelats. + +King Ethelwulfe gouerned his subiects verie politikelie, and by +himselfe and his capteins oftentimes put the Danes to flight, though +as chance of warre falleth out, he also receiued at their hands +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ _Hen. Hunt._] +great losses, and sundrie sore detriments. In the first yéere of his +reigne, the Danes arriued at Hampton, with 33 ships, against whome he +sent earle Wulhard with part of his armie, the which giuing battell to +the enimies, made great slaughter of them, and obteined a noble +[Sidenote: Danes discomfited. _Matth. West._] +victorie. He sent also earle Adelhelme with the Dorsetshire +men against an other number of the Danes, which were landed at +Portesmouth, but after long fight, the said Adelhelme was slaine, +[Sidenote: Englishmen put to flight. They are eftsoones vanquished.] +and the Danes obteined the victorie. In the yéere following, earle +Herbert fought against the Danes at Merseware, and was there slaine, +and his men chased. The same yeere, a great armie of Danes passing by +the east parts of the land, as through Lindsey, Eastangle, and Kent, +slue and murthered an huge number of people. The next yéere after +this, they entered further into the land, and about Canturburie, +Rochester, and London, did much mischiefe. + +King Ethelwulfe in the fift yéere of his reigne, with a part of his +[Sidenote: Carrum.] +armie incountred with the Danes at Carrum, the which were arriued +in those parties with 30 ships, hauing their full fraught of men, so +that for so small a number of vessels, there was a great power of +[Sidenote: The Danes wan the victorie in battell. Danes are vanquished. +_Simon Dun._ 851.] +men of warre, in so much that they obteined the victorie at that +time, and put the king to the woorse. About the tenth yéere of king +Ethelwulfs reigne, one of his capteins called Ernwulfe, and bishop +Adelstan, with the Summersetshire men, and an other capteine called +Osred, with the Dorsetshire men, fought against the Danes, at a place +called Pedredesmuth, and vanquished them with great triumph. In the +sixtéenth yeere of his reigne, king Ethelwulfe and his sonne Edelbald +hauing assembled all their powers togither, gaue battell at Ocley, +[Sidenote: Ocley. Two hundred and fiftie ships saith _Hen. Hunt._] +to an huge host of Danes, the which with foure hundred and fiftie +ships had arriued at Thames mouth, and destroied the famous cities of +London and Canturburie, and also had chased Brightwulfe king of Mercia +in battell, and being now entered into Southerie, were incountered by +king Ethelwulfe at Ocley aforesaid, & after sore fight and incredible +slaughter made on both sides, in the end, the victorie by the power of +God was giuen to those that beléeued on him, and the losse rested with +great confusion to the miscreants. + +[Sidenote: The Danes eftsoones vanquished. Danes ouercome by sea.] +Thus king Ethelwulfe obteined a glorious victorie in so mightie a +battell, as a greater had not beene lightlie heard of to chance within +the English dominions. The same yeere also Athelstan king of Kent and +duke Ealhere fought by sea with the Danes, and tooke 9 of their ships, +and chased the residue. Moreouer, one earle Ceorle hauing with him the +[Sidenote: The Deuonshire men vanquish the Danes.] +power of Deuonshire, fought with the Danes at Winleshore, and got +the victorie. This yéere was verie luckie to the English nation, but +yet the armie of the Danes lodged all the winter season in the Ile of +Tenet. And this was the first time that they remained héere all the +winter, vsing afore time but to come and make an inuasion in one place +or other, and immediatlie to returne home with the prey. + +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ 852.] +In the 18 yeere of king Ethelwulfes reigne, he aided Burthred king +of Mercia against the Welshmen (as before is mentioned) and gaue to +him his daughter in marriage, the solemnization whereof was kept at +Chipnham. The same yéere king Ethelwulfe sent his sonne Alured as then +but fiue yeeres of age to Rome, where he was consecrated K. by pope +Leo the fourth, and was receiued of him as if he had beene his owne +sonne. Duke Ealhere or Eachere with the Kentishmen, and one Huda or +[Sidenote: Great slaughter of Danes at Tenet.] +rather Wada, with the men of Southerie, fought against the armie +of Danes at Tenet, where great slaughter was made on both sides, the +Englishmen preuailing in the beginning, but in the end, both their +foresaid dukes or leaders died in that battell, beside manie other +that were slaine and drowned. + +In the 19 yéere of his reigne, king Ethelwulfe ordeined that the +tenths or tithes of all lands due to be paid to the church, should be +frée from all tribute, duties, or seruices regall. And afterwards, +with great deuotion he went to Rome, where he was receiued with great +honour, and taried there one whole yéere: he tooke with him his sonne +[Sidenote: The Saxons schoole.] +Alured, who had béene there before as ye haue heard. He repaired +the Saxons schoole, which Offa king of Mercia had sometime founded in +that citie, and latelie had béene sore decaied by fire. He confirmed +the grant of Peter pence, to the intent that no Englishmen from +[Sidenote: King Ethelwulfs liberalitie to churches. _Will. Malmes._ +_Simon Dun._ Mancusæ.] +thence-foorth should doo penance in bounds as he saw some there to +doo before his face. It is also written, that he should acquit all the +churches of his realme of paieng tribute to his coffers (as before ye +haue heard) & moreouer couenanted to send vnto Rome euerie yéere three +hundred marks, that is to say, one hundred marks to saint Peters +church, an other hundred marks to saint Paules light, and the third +hundred marks to the Pope. + +[Sidenote: The ladie Iudith.] +In his returne thorough France, he married the ladie Iudith, +daughter to Charles the bald, then K. of France, and bringing hir with +him into his countrie, placed hir by him in a chaire of estate, with +which déed he offended so the minds of his subiects, bicause it was +against the order taken before him, for the offense of Ethelburga, +that his sonne Ethelbald and Adelstan bishop of Shireborne, with +Enwulfe earle of Summerset, conspired to depose him from his +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +kinglie authoritie; but by mediation of friends, the matter was taken +vp, and so ordered, that the kingdome was diuided betwixt the father +and the sonne, with such parcialitie, that the sonne had the better +part lieng westward, and the father was constreined to content +himselfe with the east part being the woorst. + +[Sidenote: 857.] +Of this trouble of Ethelwulfe some write otherwise, after this +manner word for word. ¶ Ethelwulfe king of the Westsaxons being +returned from Rome & the parties beyond the seas, was prohibited +the entrance into his realme by Adelstane bishop of Shireborne, and +Ethelbald his eldest sonne; pretending outwardlie the coronation of +Alfride, the mariage of Iudith the French kings daughter, and open +eating with hir at the table, to be the onelie cause of this their +manifest rebellion. Whereby he séemeth to inferre, that this reuolting +of Adelstane and his son, should procéed of the ambitious desire +of Ethelbald to reigne, and likelie inough, or else this vnequall +partition should neuer haue béene made. + +But howsoeuer the matter stood, king Ethelwulfe liued not long after +his returne from Rome, but departed this life, after he had ruled the +kingdome of the Westsaxons the space of 20 yéeres and od moneths. +His bodie was buried at Winchester. He left behind him foure sonnes, +Ethelbald, Ethelbert or Ethelbright, Ethelred, and Alsred or Alured, +which was begotten of his first wife Osburga. A little before his +[Sidenote: Onelie Westsex saith _Matt. Westm._ and _Sim. Dunel._ +saith that Ethelbright had Sussex also, and so dooth _H. Hunt._ +_Matth. Paris_.] +death he made his testament and last will, appointing his sonne +Ethelbald to succéed him in the whole regiment of his kingdoms of +Westsex and Sussex, which he held by inheritance: but the kingdoms of +Kent and Essex he assigned to his son Ethelbright. About the same time +also the Danes soiourned all the winter season in the Ile of Shepie. + +¶ The old Saxons doo bring the genealogie of this Ethelwulfe to Adam, +after this maner following. + +Ethelwulfe the sonne of Egbert, +the son of Alcmund, +the son of Eaffa, +the son of Eoppa, +the son of Ingils, +the son of Kenred, +the son of Coelwald, +the son of Cudwine, +the son of Ceawlin, +the son of Kenric, +the son of Cerdic, +the son of Eslie, +the son of Gewise, +the son of Wingie, +the son of Freawin, +the son of Fridagare, +the son of Brendie, +the son of Beldegie, +the son of Woden, +the son of Frethelwold, +the son of Freolaffe, +the son of Frethewolfe, +the son of Finnie, +the son of Godulfe, +[Sidenote: _*De quo Sedulius in car. pasch_] +the son of *Geta, +the son of Teathwie, +the son of Beame, +the son of Sceldie, +the son of Seafe, +the son of Heremod, +the son of Itermod, +the son of Hordie, +the son of Wale, +the son of Bedwie, +the son of Sem, +the son of Noah, +and so foorth to Adam, as you +shall find it by retrogradation from the 32 verse vnto the first +of the fift chapter of Genesis. Which genealogicall recapitulation in +their nationall families and tribes, other people also haue obserued; +as the Spaniards, who reckon their descent from Hesperus, before the +Gothes and Moors ouerran their land; the Italians from Aeneas, before +they were mingled with the Vandals and Lumbards; the Saxons from +Woden, before they were mixed with the Danes and Normans; the +Frenchmen at this day from the Thracians; the Germans from +[Sidenote: _Iohn Castor._ _Simon Dun._ _Matt. Parker_. +A kings son and heire a bishop.] +the children of Gwiston; and other people from their farre fetcht +ancestrie. To conclude, of this Ethelwulfe it is written, that he was +so well learned & deuout, that the clerks of the church of Winchester +did chuse him in his youth to be bishop, which function he vndertooke, +and was bishop of the said see by the space of seuen yéeres before he +was king. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Bertwolfe king of Mercia tributarie to the Westsaxons, the fame of +Modwen an Irish virgine, she was a great builder of monasteries, she +had the gift of healing diseases, Ethelbald and Ethelbright diuide +their fathers kingdome betwixt them, Ethelbald marieth his mother, +he dieth, Winchester destroied by the Danes, they plaied the +trucebreakers and did much mischiefe in Kent, Ethelbright dieth; +Ethelred king of the Westsaxons, his commendable qualities, his +regiment was full of trouble, he fought against the Danes nine times +in one yere with happie successe, the kings of Mercia fall from their +fealtie and allegiance to Ethelred; Hungar & Vbba two Danish capteines +with their power lie in Eastangle, Osbright and Ella kings of +Northumberland slaine of the Danes in battell, they set Yorke on fire, +a commendation of bishop Adelstan, his departure out of this life._ + +THE ELEUENTH CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: Bertwolfe. of Mercia.] +After Wightlafe king of Mercia, one Bertwolfe reigned as tributarie +vnto the Westsaxons, the space of 13 yeeres, about the end of which +tearme he was chased out of his countrie by the Danes, and then one +Burthred was made king of that kingdome, which maried Ethelswida +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._ saith the daughter. _Ranulf. Cest._ +_Iohn Capgraue_.] +the sister of Ethelwolfe king of Westsaxons. In this season, one +Modwen a virgine in Ireland was greatlie renowmed in the world, vnto +whome the forenamed king Ethelwolfe sent his sonne Alfred to be +cured of a disease, that was thought incurable: but by hir meanes he +recouered health, and therefore when hir monasterie was destroied in +Ireland, Modwen came ouer into England, vnto whom king Ethelwolfe gaue +land to build two abbeies, and also deliuered vnto hir his sister +Edith to be professed a nun. Modwen herevpon built two monasteries, +one at Pouleswoorth, ioining to the bounds of Arderne, wherein she +placed the foresaid Edith, with Osith and Athea: the other, whether +it was a monasterie or cell, she founded in Strenshall or Trentsall, +where she hir selfe remained solitarie a certeine time in praier, and +other vertuous exercises. And (as it is reported) she went thrice to +Rome, and finallie died, being 130 yéeres of age. Hir bodie was first +buried in an Iland compassed about with the riuer of Trent called +Andresey, taking that name of a church or chappell of saint Andrew, +which she had built in the same Iland, and dwelled therein for the +space of seuen yéeres. Manie monasteries she builded, both in +England (as partlie aboue is mentioned) and also in Scotland, as at +Striueling, Edenbrough; and in Ireland, at Celestline, and elsewhere. + +[Sidenote: ETHELBALD AND ETHELBRIGHT. 857.] +Ethelbald and Ethelbright diuiding their fathers kingdom betwixt +them, began to reigne, Ethelbald ouer the Westsaxons and the +Southsaxons, and Ethelbright ouer them of Kent and Essex, in the yéere +of our Lord 857, which was in the second yéere of the emperor Lewes +the second, & the 17 of Charles surnamed Caluus or the bald king of +France, and about the first yéere of Donald the fift of that name king +[Sidenote: The vnlawful mariage of Ethelbald. _Wil. Malm._] +of Scots. The said Ethelbald greatlie to his reproch tooke to wife +his mother in law quéene Iudith, or rather (as some write) his owne +mother, whom his father had kept as concubine. He liued not past fiue +yéeres in gouernement of the kingdome, but was taken out of this life +to the great sorrow of his subiects whome he ruled right worthilie, +and so as they had him in great loue and estimation. Then his brother +Ethelbright tooke on him the rule of the whole gouernment, as well +ouer the Westsaxons & them of Sussex, as ouer the Kentishmen and them +of Essex. + +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ Winchester destroied by Danes.] +In his daies the Danes came on land, and destroid the citie of +Winchester: but duke Osrike with them of Hamshire, and duke Adelwolfe +[Sidenote: Danes vanquished.] +with the Barkeshire men gaue the enimies battell, & vanquishing +them, slue of them a great number. In the fift yeere of Ethelbrights +reigne, a nauie of Danes arriued in the Ile of Tenet, vnto whome when +the Kentishmen had promised a summe of monie to haue a truce granted +for a time, the Danes one night, before the tearme of that truce was +expired, brake foorth and wasted all the east part of Kent: wherevpon +the Kentishmen assembled togither, made towardes those trucebreakers, +and caused them to depart out of the countrie. The same yéere, after +that Ethelbright had ruled well and peaceably the Westsaxons fiue +yeeres, and the Kentishmen ten yéeres, he ended his life, and was +buried at Shireborne, as his brother Ethelbald was before him. + +[Sidenote: ETHELRED. 867.] +After Ethelbright succéeded his brother Ethelred, and began his +reigne ouer the Westsaxons and the more part of the English people, in +the yéere of our Lord 867, and in the 12 yéere of the emperour Lewes, +in the 27 yéere of the reigne of Charles Caluus king of France, and +about the 6 yéere of Constantine the second king of Scots. Touching +this Ethelred, he was in time of peace a most courteous prince, and +one that by all kind of meanes sought to win the hearts of the +people: but abroad in the warres he was sharpe and sterne, as he that +vnderstood what apperteined to good order, so that he would suffer no +offense to escape vnpunished. By which meanes he was famous both +in peace and warre: but he neither liued any long time in the +gouernement, nor yet was suffered to passe the short space that he +reigned in rest and quietnesse. + +[Sidenote: Foure yéeres six moneths saith _Harison_. _Wil. Malm._ +Ethelred fought with the Danes nine times in one yéere.] +For whereas he reigned not past six yeeres, he was continuallie +during that tearme vexed with the inuasion of the Danes, and +speciallie towards the latter end, insomuch that (as hath béene +reported of writers) he fought with them nine times in one yéere: and +although with diuers and variable fortune, yet for the more part he +went away with the victorie. Beside that, he oftentimes lay in wait +for their forragers, and such as straied abroad to rob and spoile the +countrie, whom he met withall and ouerthrew. There were slaine in his +time nine earles of those Danes, and one king, beside other of the +meaner sort without number. + +But here is to be vnderstood, that in this meane time, whilest +Ethelred was busied in warre to resist the inuasions of the Danes in +the south and west parts of this land, the kings and rulers of +[Sidenote: The kings of Mercia and Northumberland neglect their duties.] +Mercia and Northumberland taking occasion therof, began to withdraw +their couenanted subiection from the Westsaxons, and tooke vpon them +as it were the absolute gouernment and rule of their countries, +without respect to aid one another, but rather were contented to +susteine the enimies within their dominions, than to preuent the +iniurie with dutifull assistance to those, whom by allegiance they +were bound to serue and obeie. + +[Sidenote: The Danes grow in puisance.] +By reason hereof, the Danes without resistance grew into greater +power amongst them, whilest the inhabitants were still put in feare +each day more than other, and euerie late gotten victorie by the +enimies by the increase of prisoners, ministred occasion of some other +conquest to follow. Euen about the beginning of Ethelreds reigne, +[Sidenote: Hungar and Vbba.] +there arriued vpon the English coasts an huge armie of the Danes, +vnder the conduct of two renowmed capteins Hungar and Vbba, men of +maruellous strength and valiancie, but both of them passing cruell of +nature. They lay all the winter season in Estangle, compounding with +them of the countrie for truce vpon certeine conditions, sparing for a +time to shew their force for quietnesse sake. + +In the second yéere of king Ethelred, the said capteins came with +their armies into Yorkshire, finding the country vnprouided of +necessarie defense bicause of the ciuill discord that reigned +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ King Osbright deposed and Ella placed.] +among the Northumbers, the which had latelie expelled king Osbright, +that had the gouernement of those parts, and placed one Ella in his +roome: howbeit now they were constreined to reuoke him home againe, +and sought to accord him and Ella. But it was long yer that might +be brought to passe, notwithstanding yet at length they were made +friends, by reason of this inuasion attempted by forren enimies, and +then raising their powers they came to Yorke, where the Danes, hauing +wasted the countrie euen to the riuer of Tine, were lodged. + +The English host entring the citie, began to fight with the Danes, by +[Sidenote: Osbright and Ella kings of Northumberland slaine.] +reason whereof a sore battell insued betwixt them: but in the end +the two kings Osbright and Ella were slaine, and a great number of the +Northumbers, what within the citie, and what without lost their liues +at that time, the residue were constreined to take truce with the +[Sidenote: It must be vpon the 10 kalends of Aprill, or else it will +not concurre with Palmsunday. +Sée _Mat. West._] +Danes. This battell was fought the 21 day of March being in Lent, +on the Friday before Palmsunday, in the yere 657. + +¶ Some haue written otherwise of this battell, reporting that the +Northumbers calling home king Osbright (whome before they had +banished) incountred with the Danes in the field, without the walles +of Yorke, but they were easilie beaten backe, and chased into the +[Sidenote: Yorke burnt by Danes.] +citie, the which by the Danes pursuing the victorie, was set on +fier and burnt, togither with the king and people that were fled into +it for succour. How soeuer it came about, certeine it is, that the +Danes got the victorie, and now hauing subdued the Northumbers, +appointed one Egbert to reigne ouer them as king, vnder their +protection, which Egbert reigned in that sort six yeares ouer those +which inhabited beyond the riuer of Tine. In the same yeare, Adelstane +bishop of Shireborne departed this life, hauing gouerned that sée the +[Sidenote: The commendation of Adelstan bishop of Shirborne.] +terme of 50 yeares. This Adelstane was a man of high wisedome, and +one that had borne no small rule in the kingdome of the Westsaxons, as +hereby it may be coniectured, that when king Ethelwulfe returned from +Rome, he would not suffer him to be admitted king, because he had +doone in certeine points contrarie to the ordinances and lawes of the +same kingdome, wherevpon by this bishops means Ethelbald the sonne of +the same king Ethelwulfe was established king, and so continued till +by agréement the kingdome was diuided betwixt them, as before is +mentioned. Finallie, he greatlie inriched the sée of Shireborne, +[Sidenote: Bishop Adelstan couetous. _Hen. Hunt._] +and yet though he was feruentlie set on couetousnesse, he was +neuerthelesse verie free and liberall in gifts: which contrarie +extremities so ill matched, though in him (the time wherein he liued +being considered) they might seeme somewhat tollerable; yet simplie & +in truth they were vtterlie repugnant to the law of the spirit, which +biddeth that none should doo euill that good may come thereof. Against +which precept because Adelstane could not but offend in the heat of +his couetousnes, which is termed the root of all mischiefe, though he +was excéeding bountifull and large in distributing the wealth he had +gréedilie gotten togither, he must néeds incur reprehension. But this +is so much the lesse to be imputed vnto him as a fault, by how much +he was ignorant what (by the rule of equitie and conscience) was +requirable in a christian man, or one of his vocation. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Burthred king of Mercia with aid beseegeth the Danes in Notingham, +Basreeg and Halden two Danish kings with their powers inuade the +Westsaxons, they are incountred by Ethelwulfe earle of Barkeshire; +King Ethelred giueth them and their cheefe guides a sore discomfiture; +what Polydor Virgil recordeth touching one Iuarus king of the Danes, +and the warres that Ethelred had with them, his death; Edmund king of +Eastangles giueth battell to the Danes, he yeeldeth himselfe, and +for christian religion sake is by them most cruellie murthered, the +kingdome of the Eastangles endeth, Guthrun a Dane gouerneth the whole +countrie, K. Osbright rauisheth the wife of one Bearne a noble man, +a bloodie battell insueth therevpon, wherein Osbright and Ella are +slaine._ + +THE TWELFT CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: BURTHRED king of Mercia.] +In the yeare following, that is to say, in the third yéere of +Ethelreds reigne, he with his brother Alured went to aid Burthred king +of Mercia, against the two foresaid Danish capteines Hungar and Vbba, +the which were entred into Mercia, and had woon the towne for the +winter season. Wherevpon the foresaid Ethelred and Burthred with their +[Sidenote: Danes besieged in Notingham.] +powers came to Notingham, and besieged the Danes within it. The +Danes perceiuing themselues in danger, made suite for a truce & +abstinence from war, which they obteined, and then departed backe to +Yorke, where they soiourned the most part of all that yeare. + +In the sixt yeare of king Ethelreds reigne, a new armie of great force +[Sidenote: Basreeg and Halden.] +and power came into the countrie of the Westsaxons vnder two +leaders or kings of the Danes, Basréeg and Halden. They lodged at +Reding with their maine armie, and within thrée daies after the +[Sidenote: Edelwulfe, erle of Barkshire fought at Englefield with the +Danes.] +earle of Berrockshire Edelwulfe fought at Englefield with two earles +of those Danes, vanquished them, and slue the one of those earles, +whose name was Sidroc. After this king Ethelred and his brother Alured +came with a great host vnto Reding, and there gaue battell vnto the +armie of Danes, so that an huge number of people died on both parts, +but the Danes had the victorie. + +[Sidenote: The Danes wan the victory at Reading.] +After this also king Ethelred and his brother Alured fought againe +with those Danes at Aschdon, where the armies on both sides were +diuided into two parts, so that the two Danish kings lead the one +part of their armie, & certeine of their earles lead the other part. +Likewise on the English side king Ethelred was placed with one part of +the host against the Danish kings, and Alured with the other part was +appointed to incounter with the earles. Herevpon they being on both +parts readie to giue battell, the euening comming on caused them to +deferre it till the morow. And so earlie in the morning when the +armies should ioine, king Ethelred staied in his tent to heare +diuine seruice, whilest his brother vpon a forward courage hasted to +incounter his enimies, the which receiued him so sharplie, and with +so cruell fight, that at length, the Englishmen were at point to haue +turned their backs. But herewith came king Ethelred and manfullie +ended the battell, staied his people from running away, and so +encouraged them, and discouraged the enimies, that by the power of God +(whom as was thought in the morning he had serued) the Danes finallie +[Sidenote: The Danes discomfited.] +were chased and put to flight, losing one of their kings (that is +to say) Basreeg or Osreeg, and 5 earles, Sidroc the elder, and Sidroc +the yoonger, Osberne, Freine, and Harold. This battell was sore +foughten, and continued till night, with the slaughter of manie +thousands of Danes. About 14 daies after, king Ethelred and his +brother Alured fought eftsoones with the Danish armie at Basing, +[Sidenote: A battell at Merton.] +where the Danes had the victorie. Also two moneths after this they +likewise fought with the Danes at Merton. And there the Danes, after +they had béene put to the woorse, & pursued in chase a long time, yet +at length they also got the victorie, in which battell Edmund +[Sidenote: He was bishop of Shireborne as _Matt. West._ saith.] +bishop of Shireborne was slaine, and manie other that were men of +woorthie fame and good account. + +In the summer following, a mightie host of the Danes came to Reading, +[Sidenote: _Polyd. Virg._ Iuarus.] +and there soiourned for a time. ¶ These things agrée not with that +which Polydor Virgil hath written of these warres which king Ethelred +had with the Danes: for he maketh mention of one Iuarus a king of the +Danes, who landed (as he writeth) at the mouth of Humber, and like a +stout enimie inuaded the countrie adioining. Against whome Ethelred +with his brother Alured came with an armie, and incountring the Danes, +fought with them by the space of a whole day togither, and was in +danger to haue béene put to the woorse, but that the night seuered +them asunder. In the morning they ioined againe: but the death of +Iuarus, who chanced to be slaine in the beginning of the battell, +[Sidenote: Danes put to flight.] +discouraged the Danes, so that they were easilie put to flight, +of whome (before they could get out of danger) a great number were +slaine. But after that they had recouered themselues togither, and +[Sidenote: Agnerus and Hubba.] +found but a conuenient place where to pitch their campe, they +chose to their capteines Agnerus, and Hubba, two brethren, which +indeuored themselues by all meanes possible to repaire their armie: +so that within 15 daies after, the Danes eftsoones fought with the +Englishmen, and gaue them such an ouerthrow, that little wanted +of making an end of all incounters to be attempted after by the +Englishmen. + +But yet within a few daies after this, as the Danes attended their +market to spoile the countrie and range somewhat licentiouslie abroad, +they fell within the danger of such ambushes as were laid for them by +king Ethelred, that no small slaughter was made of them, but yet +not without some losse of the Englishmen. Amongest others, Ethelred +himselfe receiued a wound, whereof he shortlie after died. Thus saith +Polydor touching the warres which king Ethelred had with the Danes, +who yet confesseth (as the trueth is) that such authors as he herein +followed, varie much from that which the Danish writers doo record of +these matters, and namelie touching the dooings of Iuarus, as in the +Danish historie you may sée more at large. + +But now to our purpose touching the death of king Ethelred, whether by +reason of hurt receiued in fight against the Danes (as Polydor saith) +or otherwise, certeine it is, that Ethelred anon after Easter +[Sidenote: Winborne abbeie.] +departed this life, in the sixt yeare of his reigne, and was buried +at Winborne abbey. In the daies of this Ethelred, the foresaid Danish +[Sidenote: Agnerus. _Fabian_. 870.] +capteins, Hungar, otherwise called Agnerus, and Hubba returning +from the north parts into the countrie of the Eastangles, came +[Sidenote: Edmund K. of the Eastangles.] +vnto Thetford, whereof Edmund, who reigned as king in that season ouer +the Eastangles, being aduertised, raised an armie of men, and went +foorth to giue battell vnto this armie of the Danes. But he with his +people was chased out of the field, and fled to the castell of +[Sidenote: Framingham castell.] +Framingham, where being enuironed with a siege by his enimies, he +yéelded himselfe vnto them. And because he would not renounce the +[Sidenote: King Edmund shot to death.] +christian faith, they bound him to a trée, and shot arrowes at +him till he died: and afterwards cut off his head from his bodie, +and threw the same into a thicke groue of bushes. But afterwards his +[Sidenote: Eglesdon.] +friends tooke the bodie with the head, and buried the same at +Eglesdon: where afterward also a faire monasterie was builded by one +bishop Aswin, and changing the name of the place, it was after called +saint Edmundsburie. Thus was king Edmund put to death by the cruell +Danes for his constant confessing the name of Christ, in the 16 yeare +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ Eastangles without a gouernour.] +of his reigne, and so ceased the kingdome of Eastangles. For after +that the Danes had thus slaine that blessed man, they conquered all +the countrie, & wasted it, so that through their tyrannie it remained +without anie gouernor by the space of nine yeares, and then they +[Sidenote: Guthrun a Dane king of Eastangles.] +appointed a king to rule ouer it, whose name was Guthrun, one +of their owne nation, who gouerned both the Eastangles and the +Eastsaxons. + +Ye haue heard how the Danes slue Osrike and Ella kings of +Northumberland. After which victorie by them obteined, they did much +[Sidenote: _Polychron._] +hurt in the north parts of this land, and amongest other cruell +deeds, they destroied the citie of Acluid, which was a famous citie +in the time of the old Saxons, as by Beda and other writers dooth +[Sidenote: _Caxton._] +manifestlie appeare. Here is to be remembred, that some +writers rehearse the cause to be this. Osbright or Osrike king of +Northumberland rauished the wife of one Berne that was a noble man of +the countrie about Yorke, who tooke such great despight thereat, that +he fled out of the land, and went into Denmarke, and there complained +vnto the king of Denmarke his coosin of the iniurie doone to him by +king Osbright. Wherevpon the king of Denmarke, glad to haue so iust a +quarell against them of Northumberland, furnished foorth an armie, and +sent the same by sea (vnder the leading of his two brethren Hungar +and Hubba) into Northumberland, where they slue first the said king +Osbright, and after king Ella, at a place besides Yorke, which vnto +this day is called Ellas croft, taking that name of the said Ella, +being there slaine in defense of his countrie against the Danes. Which +Ella (as we find registred by writers) was elected king by such of +the Northumbers, as in fauour of Berne had refused to be subiect vnto +Osbright. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Alfred ruleth ouer the Westsaxons and the greatest part of England, +the Danes afflict him with sore warre, and cruellie make wast of his +kingdome, they lie at London a whole winter, they inuade Mercia, the +king whereof (Burthred by name) forsaketh his countrie and goeth +to Rome, his death and buriall; Halden king of the Danes diuideth +Northumberland among his people; Alfred incountreth with the Danes +vpon the sea, they sweare to him that they will depart out of his +kingdome, they breake the truce which was made betwixt him and them, +he giueth them battell, and (besides a great discomfiture) killeth +manie of their capteines, the Danes and English fight neere Abington, +the victorie vncerteine, seuen foughten fieldes betwixt them in one +yeare, the Danes soiourne at London._ + +THE XIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: ALURED OR ALFRED. 871. as _Mat. West._ & _Sim. Dunelmen._ + doo note it. _Henr. Hunt._] +After the decease of king Ethelred, his brother Alured or Alfred +succéeded him, and began his reigne ouer the Westsaxons, and other +the more part of the people of England, in the yeare of our Lord 872, +which was in the 19 yeare of the emperour Lewes the second, and 32 +yeare of the reigne of Charles the bald, king of France, and about the +eleuenth yeare of Constantine the second king of Scotland. Although +this Alured was consecrated king in his fathers life time by pope Leo +(as before ye haue heard) yet was he not admitted king at home, till +after the decease of his thrée elder brethren: for he being the +yoongest, was kept backe from the gouernement, though he were for his +wisdome and policie most highlie estéemed and had in all honour. + +[Sidenote: Alured persecuted by Danes. _Matt. Westm._] +In the beginning of his reigne he was wrapped in manie great +troubles and miseries, speciallie by the persecution of the Danes, +which made sore and greeuous wars in sundrie parts of this land, +destroieng the same in most cruell wise. About a moneth after he was +[Sidenote: The Danes obteine the victorie.] +made king, he gaue battell to the Danes of Wilton, hauing with him +no great number of people, so that although in the beginning the Danes +that day were put to the woorse, yet in the end they obteined the +victorie. Shortlie after, a truce was taken betwixt the Danes and the +[Sidenote: The Danes wintered at London. 874.] +Westsaxons. And the Danes that had lien at Reading, remoued from +thence vnto London, where they lay all the winter season. In the +second yeare of Alured his reigne, the Danish king Halden led the same +armie from London into Lindseie, and there lodged all that winter at +[Sidenote: Repton.] +Torkseie. In the yeare following, the same Halden inuaded Mercia, +and wintered at Ripindon. There were come to him thrée other leaders +of Danes which our writers name to be kings, Godrun, Esketell, & +[Sidenote: Burthred king of Mercia.] +Ammond, so that their power was greatlie increased. Burthred king of +Mercia which had gouerned that countrie by the space of 22 yéeres, was +not able to withstand the puissance of those enimies: wherevpon he was +constreined to auoid the countrie, and went to Rome, where he departed +this life, and was buried in the church of our ladie, néere to the +English schoole. + +[Sidenote: 875.] +In the fourth yeare of king Alured the armie of the Danes diuided +it selfe into two parts, so that king Halden with one part thereof +went into Northumberland, and lay in the winter, season néere to +[Sidenote: The Danes went into Northumberland.] +the riuer of Tine, where hee diuided the countrie amongest his men, +and remained there for the space of two yeares, and oftentimes fetched +thither booties and preis out of the countrie of the Picts. The other +part of the Danish armie with the thrée foresaid kings or leaders +[Sidenote: The Danes at Cambridge. 876.] +came vnto Cambridge, and remained there a whole yeare. In the same +yeare king Alured fought by sea with 7 ships of Danes, tooke one of +them, & chased the residue. In the yeare next insuing, the Danes came +into the countrie of the Westsaxons, and king Alured tooke truce with +them againe, and they sware to him (which they had not vsed to doo +[Sidenote: The Danes tooke an oth. _Hen. Hunt._] +to anie afore that time) that they would depart the countrie. Their +armie by sea sailing from Warham toward Excester, susteined great +losse by tempest, for there perished 120 ships at Swanewicke. + +[Sidenote: The Danes went to Excester.] +Moreouer the armie of the Danes by land went to Excester in breach +of the truce, and king Alured followed them, but could not ouertake +them till they came to Excester, and there he approched them in such +wise, that they were glad to deliuer pledges for performance of +[Sidenote: _Henr. Hunt._] +such couenants as were accorded betwixt him and them. And so then +they departed out of the countrie, and drew into Mercia. But shortlie +after, when they had the whole gouernment of the land, from Thames +northward, they thought it not good to suffer king Alured to continue +in rest with the residue of the countries beyond Thames. And therefore +the thrée foresaid rulers of Danes, Godrun, Esketell, and Ammond, +inuading the countrie of Westsaxons came to Chipnam, distant 17 miles +from Bristow, & there pitched their tents. +[Sidenote: 877.] + +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +King Alured aduertised hereof, hasted thither, and lodging with +his armie néere to the enimies, prouoked them to battell. The Danes +perceiuing that either they must fight for their liues, or die with +shame, boldlie came foorth, and gaue battell. The Englishmen rashlie +incountered with them, and though they were ouermatched in number, yet +with such violence they gaue the onset, that the enimies at the first +were abashed at their hardie assaults. But when as it was perceiued +that their slender ranks were not able to resist the thicke leghers of +the enimies, they began to shrinke & looke backe one vpon an other, +and so of force were constrained to retire: and therewithal did cast +themselues into a ring, which though it séemed to be the best way that +could be deuised for their safetie, yet by the great force and number +of their enimies on each side assailing them, they were so thronged +togither on heaps, that they had no roome to stir their weapons. Which +[Sidenote: Hubba slaine.] +disaduantage notwithstanding, they slue a great number of the +Danes, and amongest other, Hubba the brother of Agner, with manie +other of the Danish capteins. At length the Englishmen hauing +valiantlie foughten a long time with the enimies, which had compassed +[Sidenote: The victorie doubtful.] +them about, at last brake out and got them to their campe. To be +briefe, this battell was foughten with so equall fortune, that no man +knew to whether part the victorie ought to be ascribed. But after they +were once seuered, they tooke care to cure their hurt men, and to +burie the dead bodies, namelie the Danes interred the bodie of their +capteine Hubba with great funerall pompe and solemnitie: which +[Sidenote: Abington.] +doone, they held out their iournie till they came to Abington, whither +the English armie shortlie after came also, and incamped fast by the +enimies. + +In this meane while, the rumor was spread abroad that king Alured had +béene discomfited by the Danes, bicause that in the last battell he +withdrew to his campe. This turned greatlie to his aduantage: for +thereby a great number of Englishmen hasted to come to his succour. +[Sidenote: The Danes and Englishmen fight néer to Abington.] +On the morrow after his comming to Abington, he brought his armie +readie to fight into the field: neither were the enimies slacke, on +their parts to receiue the battell, and so the two armies ioined and +fought verie sore on both sides: so that it séemed the Englishmen +men had not to doo with those Danes, which had béene diuerse times +before discomfited and put to flight, but rather with some new people +fresh and lustie. But neither the one part nor the other was minded +to giue ouer: in so much that the horssemen alighting on foot, and +putting their horsses from them, entered the battell amongst the +footmen, and thus they continued with equall aduantage till night came +on, which parted the affraie, being one of the sorest foughten +[Sidenote: Vncerteine victorie Thus farre _Polydor_.] +fields that had beene heard of in those daies. To whether partie a man +might iustlie attribute the victorie, it was vtterlie vncerteine, with +so like losse & gaine the matter was tried & ended betwixt them. With +the semblable chance of danger and glorie seuen times that yéere +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._] +did the English and Danes incounter in battell, as writers haue +[Sidenote: A peace agreed vpon.] +recorded. At length, when their powers on both parts were sore +diminished, they agréed vpon a peace, with these conditions, that the +Danes should not attempt anie further warre against the Englishmen, +nor bring into this land anie new supplie of souldiers out of +Denmarke. But this peace by those peacemakers was violated and broken, +in so much as they ment nothing lesse than to fall from the conceiued +hope which they had of bearing rule in this land, and of inriching +themselues with the goods, possessions, rents and reuenues of the +[Sidenote: The Danes sojourned at London.] +inhabitants. The same yéere the Danes soiorned in the winter +season at London, according as they had doone often times before. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Rollo a noble man of Denmarke with a fresh power entreth England, and +beginneth to waste it, king Alured giueth him batell, Rollo saileth +ouer into France; who first inhabited Normandie, and whereof it tooke +that name; the Danes breake the peace which was made betwixt them +and Alured, he is driuen to his shifts by their inuasions into his +kingdome, a vision appeereth to him and his mother; king Alured +disguising himselfe like a minstrell entereth the Danish campe, +marketh their behauiour unsuspected, assalteth them on the sudden with +a fresh power, and killeth manie of them at aduantage; the Deuonshire +men giue the Danes battell vnder the conduct of Haldens brother, and +are discomfited; Alured fighteth with them at Edanton, they giue him +hostages, Gurthrun their king is baptised and named Adelstan, a league +concluded betwixt both the kings, the bounds of Alureds kingdome._ + +THE XIIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: Ann. 876. saith _Simon Dun._] +About the same time, or shortlie after, there came into England +one Rollo, a noble man of Denmarke or Norway, with a great armie, and +(notwithstanding the peace concluded betweene the Englishmen and the +Danes) began to waste and destroy the countrie. King Alured hearing +these newes, with all spéed thought best in the beginning to stop +such a common mischiefe, and immediatlie assembling his people, went +against the enimies, and gaue them battell, in the which there died a +great number of men on both sides, but the greater losse fell to Rollo +his armie. Yet Matthew Westmin. saith that the Englishmen were put to +flight. After this, it chanced that Rollo being warned in a dreame, +left England, & sailed ouer into France, where he found fortune so +fauourable to him, that he obteined in that region for him and his +[Sidenote: 30 yéeres after this he was baptised.] +people a countrie, the which was afterwards named Normandie, of those +northerne people which then began to inhabit the same, as in the +histories of France you maie sée more at large. + +The Danes which had concluded peace with king Alured (as before you +haue heard) shortlie after vpon the first occasion, brake the +same, and by often inuasions which they made into the countrie of +Westsaxons, brought the matter to that passe, that there remained to +[Sidenote: King Alured driuen to his shifts.] +king Alured but onlie the three countries of Hamshire, Wiltshire, & +Summersetshire, in so much that he was constreined for a time to +kéepe himselfe close within the fennes and maresh grounds of +Summersetshire, with such small companies as he had about him, +constreined to get their liuing with fishing, hunting, and other +such shifts. He remained for the most part within an Ile called +[Sidenote: Edlingsey.] +Edlingsey, that is to say, the Iland of noble men, enuironed about +with fennes and mareshes. + +[Sidenote: A vision if it be true.] +Whiles he was thus shut vp within this Iland, he was by dreame +aduertised of better hap shortlie to follow: for as it hath béene +said, saint Cuthbert appéered to him as he laie in sléepe, and +comforted him, declaring to him, that within a while fortune should so +turne, that he should recouer againe his kingdome to the confusion of +his enimies. And to assure him that this should prooue true, he told +him that his men which were gone abroad to catch fish, should bring +home great plentie, although the season was against them, by reason +that the waters were frosen, and that a cold rime fell that morning, +to the hinderance of their purpose. His mother also at that time being +in sleepe, saw the like vision. And as they had dreamed, so it came to +passe: for being awakened out of their sleepe, in came his men with so +great foison of fish, that the same might haue sufficed a great armie +of men, for the vittelling of them at that season. + +[Sidenote: King Alured disguiseth himselfe. _Polydor, Fabian_.] +Shortlie after, king Alured tooke vpon him the habit of a +minstrell, and going foorth of his closure, repaired to the campe of +the Danish king, onelie accompanied with one trustie seruant, and +tarrieng there certeine daies togither, was suffered to go into euerie +part, and plaie on his instrument, as well afore the king as others, +so that there was no secret, but that he vnderstood it. Now when he +had séene and learned the demeanour of his enimies, he returned againe +to his people at Edlingsey, and there declared to his nobles what he +had séene and heard, what negligence was amongst the enimies, and how +easie a matter it should be for him to indamage them. Wherevpon they +conceiuing a maruellous good hope, and imboldened with his words, a +power was assembled togither, and spies sent foorth to learne and +bring woord where the Danes lodged: which being doone, and certificat +[Sidenote: _Henr. Hunt._ 877.] +made accordinglie, king Alured comming vpon them on the sudden, +slue of them a great number, hauing them at great aduantage. + +[Sidenote: 878.] +About the same time the brother of king Halden came with thirtie +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._] +and three ships out of Wales into the countrie of Westsaxons, on +the coast of Deuonshire, where the Deuonshire men gaue him battell, +and slue him with 840 persons of his retinue. Other write, that Halden +himselfe was present at this conflict, with Inguare, otherwise called +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] +Hungar, and that they were both slaine there, with twelue hundred +of their companie (before a certeine castell called Kinwith) receiuing +as they had deserued for their cruell dealing latelie by them +practised in the parties of Southwales, where they had wasted all +afore them with fire and swoord, not sparing abbeies more than other +common buildings. + +King Alured being with that good lucke the more comforted, builded a +[Sidenote: Athelney.] +fortresse in the Ile of Edlingsey, afterwards called Athelney, and +breaking out oftentimes vpon the enimies, distressed them at sundrie +times with the aid of the Summersetshire men, which were at hand. +About the seuenth wéeke after Easter, in the seuenth yéere of his +reigne, king Alured went to Eglerighston, on the east part of Selwood, +where there came to him the people of Summersetshire, Wiltshire, & +Hamshire, reioising greatlie to sée him abroad. From thence he +[Sidenote: Edantdune. This battell should séeme the same that _Polydor_ +speaketh of fought at Abingdon. _Polychron._ _Iohn Pike_.] +went to Edanton, & there fought against the armie of the Danes, and +chased them vnto their strength, where he remained afore them the +space of fouretéene daies. Then the armie of the Danes deliuered him +hostages and couenants to depart out of his dominions, and that their +king should be baptised, which was accomplished: for Gurthrun, whome +[Sidenote: Gurthrun or Gurmund baptised, and named Adelstan is made +king of Eastangle.] +some name Gurmond, a prince or king amongst these Danes, came to +Alured and was baptised, king Alured receiuing him at the fontstone, +named him Adelstan, and gaue to him the countrie of Eastangle, which +he gouerned (or rather spoiled) by the space of twelue yéeres. + +Diuerse other of the Danish nobilitie to the number of thirtie (as +Simon Dunelmensis saith) came at the same time in companie of their +king Gurthrun, and were likewise baptised, on whòme king Alured +bestowed manie rich gifts. At the same time (as is to be thought) was +the league concluded betwixt king Alured and the said Gurthrun or +Gurmond, in which the bounds of king Alureds kingdome are set foorth +thus: "First therefore let the bounds or marshes of our dominion +stretch vnto the riuer of Thames, and from thence to the water of Lée, +euen vnto the head of the same water, and so foorth streight vnto +Bedford: and finallie going alongst by the riuer of Ouse, let them end +at Watlingstréet." + +This league being made with the aduise of the same sage personages +as well English as those that inhabited within east England, is set +foorth in maister Lamberts booke of the old English lawes, in the end +of those lawes or ordinances which were established by the same king +Alured, as in the same booke ye may sée more at large. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Th' English called diuers people Danes whom the French named Normans, +whervpon that generall name was giuen them; Gurmo Anglicus K. of +Denmark, whose father Frotto was baptised in England; the Danes +besiege Rochester, Alfred putteth them to flight, recouereth London +out of their hands, and committeth it to the custodie of duke Eldred +his sonne in law; he assaulteth Hasting a capteine of the Danes, +causeth him to take an oth, his two sonnes are baptised; he goeth +foorth to spoile Alfreds countrie, his wife, children, and goods, +&c: are taken, and fauourablie giuen him againe; the Danes besiege +Excester, they flie to their ships, gaine with great losse, they are +vanquished by the Londoners, the death of Alfred, his issue male and +female._ + +THE XV. CHAPTER. + + +Here is to be noted, that writers name diuerse of the Danish capteins, +kings (of which no mention is made in the Danish chronicles) to reigne +in those parties. But true it is, that in those daies, not onelie the +Danish people, but also other of those northeast countries or regions, +as Swedeners, Norwegians, the Wondens, and such other (which the +English people called by one generall name Danes, and the Frenchmen +Normans) vsed to roaue on the seas, and to inuade forren regions, as +England, France, Flanders, and others, as in conuenient places ye may +find, as well in our histories, as also in the writers of the French +histories, and likewise in the chronicles of those north regions. The +[Sidenote: Gurmo.] +writers verelie of the Danish chronicles make mention of one Gurmo, +whome they name Anglicus, bicause he was borne here in England, +which succeeded his father Frotto in gouernement of the kingdome of +Denmarke, which Frotto receiued baptisme in England, as their stories +tell. + +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ 878.] +In the eight yéere of king Alfred his reigne, the armie of the +Danes wintered at Cirencester, and the same yéere an other armie of +strangers called Wincigi laie at Fulham, and in the yéere following +departed foorth of England, and went into France, and the armie of +[Sidenote: 879.] +king Godrun or Gurmo departed from Cirencester, and came into +Eastangle, and there diuiding the countrie amongst them, began to +inhabit the same. In the 14 yéere of king Alfred his reigne, part +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ _Matth. West_] +of the Danish armie which was gone ouer into France, returned into +[Sidenote: Rochester beseiged. 885.] +England and besieged Rochester. But when Alfred approched to the +reskue, the enimies fled to their ships, and passed ouer the sea +againe. King Alfred sent a nauie of his ships well furnished with men +of warre into Eastangle, the which at the mouth of the riuer called +Sture, incountering with 16 ships of the Danes, set vpon them, and +ouercame them in fight: but as they returned with their prises, they +incountered with another mightie armie of the enimies, and fighting +with them were ouercome and vanquished. In the yeere following, +[Sidenote: 889.] +king Alfred besieged the citie of London, the Danes that were within +fled from thence, and the Englishmen that were inhabitants thereof +[Sidenote: London recouered out of the hands of the Danes.] +gladlie receiued him, reioising that there was such a prince bred +of their nation, that was of power able to reduce them into libertie. +This citie being at that season the chiefe of all Mercia, he deliuered +into the kéeping of duke Eldred, which had maried his daughter +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ Ethelfleda. Colwolphas.] +Ethelfleda, & held a great portion of Mercia, which Colwolphus before +time possesed by the grant of the Danes, after they had subdued K. +Burthred (as before is said.) About the 21 yere of K. Alfred, an +[Sidenote: Limer, now Rother. Andredeslegia. A castell built at +Appledore. 893] +armie of those Danes & Normans, which had béene in France, returned +into England, and arriued in the hauen or riuer of Limene in the east +part of Kent, néere to the great wood called Andredesley, which did +conteine in times past 120 miles in length, and thirtie in breadth. +These Danes landing with their people builded a castle at Appledore. + +In the meane time came Hasting with 80 ships into the Thames, and +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ At Milton. Hasting the capteine of the Danes +besieged. He receiueth an oth.] +builded a castle at Middleton, but he was constreined by siege +which king Alfred planted about him, to receiue an oth that he should +not in any wise annoie the dominion of king Alfred, who vpon his +promise to depart, gaue great gifts as well to him as to his wife and +children. One of his sonnes also king Alfred held at the fontstone, +and to the other duke Aldred was god father. For (as it were to win +credit, and to auoid present danger) Hasting sent vnto Alfred these +his two sonnes, signifieng that if it stood with his pleasure, he +could be content that they should be baptised. But neuerthelesse this +Hasting was euer most vntrue of word and déed, he builded a castle at +Beamfield. And as he was going foorth to spoile and wast the kings +[Sidenote: Beanfield saith _M. West._] +countries, Alfred tooke that castle, with his wife, children, ships +[Sidenote: This enterprise was atchiued by Etheldred duke of Mercia +in the absence of the king, as _Matth. West._ hath noted] +and goods, which he got togither of such spoiles as he had abroad: +but he restored vnto Hasting his wife and children, bicause he was +their godfather. + +Shortlie after, newes came that a great number of other ships of +[Sidenote: Excester besieged.] +Danes were come out of Northumberland, and had besieged Excester. +Whilest king Alfred went then against them, the other armie which lay +at Appledore inuaded Essex, and built a castell in that countrie, and +after went into the borders of Wales, and builded another castell +[Sidenote: Seuerne.] +neere vnto the riuer of Seuerne: but being driuen out of that +countrie, they returned againe into Essex. Those that had besieged +Excester, vpon knowledge had of king Alfreds comming, fled to their +ships, and so remaining on the sea, roaued abroad, séeking preies. +[Sidenote: Chester taken by Danes.] +Besides this, other armies there were sent foorth, which comming +out of Northumberland tooke the citie of Chester, but there they +[Sidenote: Great famine] +were so beset about with their enimies, that they were constreined to +eate their horsses. At length, in the 24 yéere of king Alfred, they +left that citie, and fetcht a compas about Northwales, and so +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._] +meaning to saile round about the coast to come into Northumberland, +they arriued in Essex, and in the winter following drew their ships by +[Sidenote: The water of Luie, now Lée.] +the Thames into the water of Luie. That armie of Danes which had +besieged Excester, tooke preies about Chichester, and was met with, so +that they lost manie of their men, and also diuerse of their ships. + +In the yéere following, the other armie which had brought the ships +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._] +into the riuer Luie, began to build a castell néere to the same +riuer, twentie miles distant from London: but the Londoners came +[Sidenote: The Londoners victors against the Danes.] +thither, and giuing battell to the Danes, slue foure of the chiefe +capteins. But by Simon Dunel. and Matt. Westm. it should seeme, that +the Londoners were at this time put to flight, and that foure of the +kings barons were slaine in fight, Howbeit Henrie Hunt. hath written +as before I haue recited; and further saith, that when the Danes fled +for their refuge to the castell, king Alfred caused the water of Luie +to be diuided into thrée chanels, so that the Danes should not bring +backe their ships out of the place where they laie at anchor. When the +Danes perceiued this, they left their ships behind them, and went +[Sidenote: Quathbridge or Wakebridge.] +into the borders of Wales, where at Cartbridge vpon Seuerne they built +another castell, and lay there all the winter following, hauing left +their wiues and children in the countrie of Eastangles. King Alfred +pursued them, but the Londoners tooke the enimies ships, and brought +some of them to the citie, and the rest they burnt. + +Thus for the space of thrée yéeres after the arriuing of the maine +armie of the Danes in the hauen of Luie, they sore indamaged the +English people, although the Danes themselues susteined more losse at +the Englishmens hands than they did to them with all pilfering and +[Sidenote: The Danish armie diuided into parts.] +spoiling. In the fourth yéere after their comming, the armie was +diuided, so that one part of them went into Northumberland, part of +them remained in the countrie of Eastangles, & another part went +into France. Also certeine of their ships came vpon the coast of the +Westsaxons, oftentimes setting their men on land to rob and spoile the +countrie. But king Alfred tooke order in the best wise he might for +defense of his countrie and people, and caused certeine mightie +vessels to be builded, which he appointed foorth to incounter with the +enimies ships. + +[Sidenote: The death of king Alfred.] +Thus like a worthie prince and politike gouernor, he preuented +each way to resist the force of his enimies, and to safegard his +subiects. Finallie after he had reigned 29 yéeres and an halfe, he +departed this life the 28 day of October. His bodie was buried at +[Sidenote: His issue.] +Winchester: he left behind him issue by his wife Ethelwitha the +daughter vnto earle Ethelred of Mercia, two sonnes, Edward surnamed +the elder, which succéeded him, and Adelwold: also thrée +[Sidenote: Elfleda.] +daughters, Elfleda or Ethelfleda, Ethelgeda or Edgiua, and Ethelwitha. + + * * * * * + + + + +_How Elfleda king Alfreds daughter (being maried) contemned fleshlie +pleasure; the praise of Alfred for his good qualities, his lawes for +the redresse of theeues, his diuiding of countries into hundreds and +tithings, of what monasteries he was founder, he began the foundation +of the vniuersitie of Oxford, which is not so ancient as Cambridge by +265 yeeres; king Alfred was learned, his zeale to traine his people +to lead an honest life, what learned men were about him, the pitifull +murthering of Iohn Scot by his owne scholers, how Alfred diuided the +24 houres of the day and the night for his necessarie purposes, his +last will and bequests; the end of the kingdome of Mercia, the Danes +haue it in their hands, and dispose it as they list, Eastangle and +Northumberland are subiect vnto them, the Northumbers expell Egbert +their king, his death; the Danes make Guthred king of Northumberland, +priuileges granted to S. Cuthberts shrine; the death of Guthred, and +who succeeded him in the seat roiall._ + +THE XVJ. CHAPTER. + + +In the end of the former chapter we shewed what children Alfred had, +their number & names, among whome we made report of Elfleda, who (as +you haue heard) was maried vnto duke Edelred. This gentlewoman left a +notable example behind hir of despising fleshlie plesure, for bearing +hir husband one child, and sore handled before she could be deliuered, +[Sidenote: The notable saieng of Elfleda.] +she euer after forbare to companie with hir husband, saieng that +it was great foolishnesse to vse such pleasure which therwith should +bring so great griefe. + +To speake sufficientlie of the woorthie praise due to so noble a +prince as Alfred was, might require eloquence, learning, and a large +volume. He was of person comelie and beautifull, and better beloued of +his father and mother than his other brethren. And although he was +[Sidenote: _Will. Malmes._] +(as before is touched) greatly disquieted with the inuasion of forren +enimies, yet did he both manfullie from time to time indeuour himselfe +to repell them, and also attempted to sée his subiects gouerned in +[Sidenote: King Alfred his lawes.] +good and vpright iustice. And albeit that good lawes amongst +the clinking noise of armor are oftentimes put to silence, yet he +perceiuing how his people were gréeued with theeues and robbers, +which in time of warre grew and increased, deuised good statutes and +wholsome ordinances for punishing of such offenders. + +Amongst other things he ordeined that the countries should be diuided +into hundreds and tithings, that is to say, quarters conteining a +certeine number of towneships adioining togither, so that euerie +Englishman liuing vnder prescript of lawes, should haue both his +hundred and tithing; that if anie man were accused of anie offense, he +should find suertie for his good demeanor: and if he could not find +such as would answer for him, then should he tast extremitie of the +lawes. And if anie man that was giltie fled before he found suertie, +or after: all the inhabitants of the hundred or tithing where he +dwelt, shuld be put to their fine. By this deuise he brought his +countrie into good tranquillitie, so that he caused bracelets of gold +to be hanged vp aloft on hils where anie common waies lay, to sée +if anie durst be so hardie to take them away by stealth. He was a +liberall prince namely in relieuing of the poore. To churches he +confirmed such priuileges as his father had granted before him, and he +also sent rewards by way of deuotion vnto Rome, and to the bodie of +saint Thomas in India. Sighelmus the bishop of Shireborne bare +the same, and brought from thence rich stones, and swéet oiles of +inestimable valure. From Rome also he brought a péece of the holy +crosse which pope Martinus did send for a present vnto king Alfred. + +[Sidenote: Foundation of monastaries.] +Moreouer king Alfred founded three goodlie monasteries, one at +Edlingsey, where he liued sometime when the Danes had bereaued him +almost of all his kingdome, which was after called Athelney, distant +from Taunton in Sumersetshire about fiue miles: the second he builded +at Winchester, called the new minster: and the third at Shaftesburie, +which was an house of nuns, where he made his daughter Ethelgeda or +Edgiua abbesse. But the foundation of the vniuersitie of Oxford +passed all the residue of his buildings, which he began by the good +exhortation and aduise of Neotus an abbat, in those daies highlie +estéemed for his vertue and lerning with Alfred. This worke he tooke +in hand about the 23 yéere of his reigne, which was in the yéere +[Sidenote: 895.] +of our Lord 895. So that the vniuersitie of Cambridge was founded +[Sidenote: _Polydor_. The vniuersitie of Oxford erected.] +before this other of Oxford about 265 yéeres, as Polydor gathereth. +For Sigebert king of the Eastangles began to erect that vniuersitie at +Cambridge about the yéere of our Lord 630. + +King Alfred was learned himselfe, and giuen much to studie, insomuch +that beside diuerse good lawes which he translated into the English +toong, gathered togither and published, he also translated diuerse +other bookes out of Latine into English, as _Orosius_, _Pastorale +Gregorij_, _Beda de gestis Anglorum_, _Boetius de consolatione +philosophiæ_, and the booke of Psalmes; but this he finished not, +being preuented by death. So this worthie prince minded well toward +the common wealth of his people, in that season when learning was +little estéemed amongst the west nations, did studie by all meanes +[Sidenote: The vertuous zeale of Alured to bring his people to an +honest trade of life.] +possible to instruct his subiects in the trade of leading an honest +life, and to incourage them generallie to imbrace learning. He would +not suffer anie to beare office in the court, except he were lerned: +and yet he himselfe was twelue yéeres of age before he could read +[Sidenote: He is persuaded by his mother, to applie himselfe to +learning.] +a word on the booke, and was then trained by his mothers persuasion to +studie, promising him a goodlie booke which she had in hir hands, if +he would learne to read it. + +Herevpon going to his booke in sport, he so earnestlie set his mind +thereto, that within a small time he profited maruellouslie, and +became such a fauorer of learned men, that he delighted most in their +companie, to haue conference with them, and allured diuerse to come +[Sidenote: Asserius Meuenensis. Werefridus. Iohn Scot.] +vnto him out of other countries, as Asserius Meneuensis bishop +of Shirborne, & Werefridus the bishop of Worcester, who by his +commandement translated the bookes of Gregories dialogs into English. +Also I. Scot, who whiles he was in France translated the book of +Dionysius Ariopagita, intituled _Hierarchia_, out of Gréeke into +Latine, and after was schoolemaister in the abbeie of Malmesburie, and +there murthered by his scholars with penkniues. He had diuerse +other about him, both Englishmen & strangers, as Pleimond afterward +[Sidenote: Grimbald.] +archbishop of Canturburie, Grimbald gouernor of the new monasterie +at Winchester, with others. + +[Sidenote: Alured diuides the time for his necessarie vses.] +But to conclude with this noble prince king Alured, he was so +carefull in his office, that he diuided the 24 houres which conteine +the day and night, in thrée parts, so that eight houres he spent in +writing, reading, and making his praiers, other eight he emploied in +relieuing his bodie with meat, drinke and sléepe, and the other eight +he bestowed in dispatching of businesse concerning the gouernement of +the realme. He had in his chapell a candle of 24 parts, whereof euerie +one lasted an houre: so that the sexton, to whome that charge was +committed, by burning of this candle warned the king euar how the time +[Sidenote: His last will and testament.] +passed away. A little before his death, he ordeined his last will +and testament, bequeathing halfe the portion of all his goods iustlie +gotten, vnto such monasteries as he had founded. All his rents and +reuenues he diuided into two equall parts, and the first part he +diuided into thrée, bestowing the first vpon his seruants in houshold, +the second to such labourers and workemen as he kept in his works of +sundrie new buildings, the third part he gaue to strangers. The second +whole part of his reuenues was so diuided, that the first portion +thereof was dispersed amongst the poore people of his countrie, the +second to monasteries, the third to the finding of poore scholers, +and the fourth part to churches beyond the sea. He was diligent in +inquirie how the iudges of his land behaued themselues in their +iudgements, and was a sharpe corrector of them which transgressed in +that behalfe. To be briefe, he liued so as he was had in great fauour +of his neighbours, & highlie honored among strangers. He maried +his daughter Ethelswida or rather Elstride vnto Baldwine earle of +Flanders, of whome he had two sonnes Arnulfe and Adulfe, the first +succéeding in the erledome of Flanders, and the yoonger was made earle +of Bullogne. + +The bodie of king Alured was first buried in the bishops church: but +afterwards, because the Canons raised a fond tale that the same +should walke a nights, his sonne king Edward remoued it into the new +monasterie which he in his life time had founded. Finallie, in memorie +of him a certeine learned clarke made an epitath in Latine, which for +the woorthinesse thereof is likewise (verse for verse, and in a maner +word for word) translated by Abraham Fleming into English, whose no +litle labor hath béene diligentlie imploied in supplieng sundrie +insufficiences found in this huge volume. + + NOBILITAS innata tibi probitatis honorem + _Nobilitie by birth to the (ó Alfred strong in armes)_ + (Armipotens Alfrede) dedit, probitásque laborem, + _Of goodnes hath the honor giuen, and honor toilesome harmes,_ + Perpetuúmque labor nomen, cui mixta dolori + _And toilesome harmes an endlesse name, whose ioies were alwaies mext_ + Gaudia semper erant, spes semper mixta timori. + _With sorow, and whose hope with feare was euermore perplext_. + Si modò victor eras, ad crastina bella pauebas, + _If this day thou wert conqueror, the next daies warre thou dredst,_ + Si modò victus eras, in crastina bella parabas, + _If this day thou wert conquered, to next daies war thou spedst,_ + Cui vestes sudore iugi, cui sica cruore, + _Whose clothing wet with dailie swet, whose blade with bloudie stainte,_ + Tincta iugi, quantum sit onus regnare probârunt, + _Do proue how great a burthen tis in roialtie to raine,_ + Non fuit immensi quisquam per climata mundi, + _There hath not beene in anie part of all the world so wide,_ + Cui tot in aduersis vel respirare liceret, + _One that was able breath to take, and troubles such abide,_ + Nec tamen aut ferro contritus ponere ferrum, + _And yet with weapons wearie would not weapons lay aside,_ + Aut gladio potuit vitæ finisse labores: + _Or with the sword the toilesomnesse of life by death diuide_. + Iam post transactos regni vitæque labores, + _Now after labours past of realme and life (which he did spend)_ + Christus ei fit vera quies sceptrúmque perenne. + _Christ is to him true quietnesse and scepter void of end_. + +In the daies of the foresaid king Alured, the kingdome of Mercia tooke +end. For after that the Danes had expelled king Burthred, when he had +reigned 22 yeares, he went to Rome, and there died, his wife also +Ethelswida, the daughter of king Athulfe that was sonne to king Egbert +followed him, and died in Pauia in Lumbardie. The Danes hauing got the +[Sidenote: Cewulfe.] +countrie into their possession, made one Cewulfe K. thereof, whome +they bound with an oth and deliuerie of pledges, that he should not +longer kéepe the state with their pleasure, and further should be +readie at all times to aid them with such power as he should be able +to make. This Cewulfe was the seruant of king Burthred. Within foure +yeares after the Danes returned, and tooke one part of that kingdome +into their owne hands, and left the residue vnto Cewulfe. But within +a few yeares after, king Alured obteined that part of Mercia which +Cewulfe ruled, as he did all the rest of this land, except those +parcels which the Danes held, as Northumberland, the countries of the +Eastangles, some part of Mercia, and other. + +The yeare, in the which king Alured thus obteined all the dominion of +[Sidenote: 886. _Matth. West._] +that part of Mercia, which Cewulfe had in gouernance, was after +the birth of our Sauiour 886, so that the foresaid kingdome continued +the space of 302 yeares vnder 22 kings, from Crida to this last +Cewulfe. But there be that account the continuance of this kingdome, +onelie from the beginning of Penda, vnto the last yeare of Burthred, +by which reckoning it stood not past 270 yeares vnder 18, or rather 17 +kings, counting the last Cewulfe for none, who began his reigne vnder +the subiection of the Danes, about the yeare of our Lord 874, where +Penda began his reigne 604. + +The Eastangles and the Northumbers in these dales were vnder +subiection of the Danes, as partlie may be perceiued by that which +[Sidenote: Guthrun K. of the eastangles died 890.] +before is rehearsed. After Guthrun that gouerned the Eastangles by +the terme of 12 yeares, one Edhirike or Edrike had the rule in those +parts, a Dane also, and reigned 14 yeares, and was at length bereued +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] +of his gouernement by king Edward the sonne of king Alured, as +after shall appeare. But now, although that the Northumbers were +brought greatlie vnder foot by the Danes, yet could they not forget +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] +their old accustomed maner to stirre tumults and rebellion against +[Sidenote: 872. Egbert king of Northumberland expelled from his +kingdome.] +their gouernours, insomuch that in the yeare 872, they expelled +not onelie Egbert, whome the Danes had appointed king ouer one part +of the countrie (as before you haue heard) but also their archbishop +[Sidenote: Egbert departed this life. Riesig.] +Wilfehere. In the yeare following, the same Egbert departed this +life, after whome one Rigsig or Ricsige succéeded as king, and the +archbishop Wolfehere was restored home. + +[Sidenote: The Danes winter in Lindsie.] +In the same yeare the armie of Danes which had wintered at London, +came from thence into Northumberland, and wintered in Lindseie, at a +place called Torkseie, and went the next yeare into Mercia. And +[Sidenote: 975.] +in the yeare 975, a part of them returned into Northumberland, as +[Sidenote: Riesig departed this life.] +before ye haue heard. In the yeare following, Riesig the king of +[Sidenote: 983.] +Northumberland departed this life: after whome an other Egbert +succéeded. And in the yeare 983, the armie of the Danes meaning to +inhabit in Northumberland, and to settle themselues there, chose +[Sidenote: Guthred ordeined king of Northumberland.] +Guthrid the sonne of one Hardicnute to their king, whome they had +sometime sold to a certeine widow at Witingham. But now by the aduise +of an abbat called Aldred, they redéemed his libertie, and ordeined +him king to rule both Danes and Englishmen in that countrie. It was +said, that the same Aldred being abbat of holie Iland, was warned in +a vision by S. Cuthberd, to giue counsell both to the Danes and +Englishmen, to make the same Guthrid king. This chanced about the 13 +yeare of the reigne of Alured king of Westsaxons. + +[Sidenote: The bishops sée remoued fr[=o] holie iland to Chester in +the stréet.] +When Guthrid was established king, he caused the bishops see to +be remoued from holie Iland vnto Chester in the stréet, and for an +augmentation of the reuenues and iurisdiction belonging thereto, he +assigned and gaue vnto saint Cuthbert all that countrie which lieth +betwixt the riuers of Teise and Tine. ¶ Which christian act of the +king, liuing in a time of palpable blindnesse and mistie superstition, +may notwithstanding be a light to the great men and péeres of this age +(who pretend religion with zeale, and professe (in shew) the truth +with feruencie) not to impouerish the patrimonie of the church to +inrich themselues and their posteritie, not to pull from bishoprikes +their ancient reuenues to make their owne greater, not to alienate +ecclesiasticall liuings into temporall commodities, not to seeke the +conuersion of college lands into their priuat possessions; not to +intend the subuersion of cathedrall churches to fill their owne +cofers, not to ferret out concealed lands for the supporte of their +owne priuat lordlines; not to destroy whole towneships for the +erection of one statelie manour; not to take and pale in the +commons to inlarge their seueralles; but like good and gratious +common-wealth-men, in all things to preferre the peoples publike +profit before their owne gaine and glorie, before their owne pompe and +pleasure, before the satisfieng of their owne inordinate desires. + +[Sidenote: Priuiledges granted to S. Cuthberts shrine.] +Moreouer, this priuiledge was granted vnto saint Cuthberts shrine: +that whosoeuer fled vnto the same for succour and safegard, should not +be touched or troubled in anie wise for the space of thirtie, & seuen +daies. And this freedome was confirmed not onelie by king Guthrid, but +also by king Alured. Finallie king Guthrid departed this life in the +[Sidenote: 894.] +yeare of our Lord 894, after he had ruled the Northumbers with +much crueltie (as some say) by the terme of 11 yeares, or somewhat +[Sidenote: _Polydor_. _Will. Malmes._] +more. He is named by some writers Gurmond, and also Gurmo, & thought +to be the same whome king Alured caused to be baptised. Whereas other +affirme, that Guthrid, who ruled the Eastangles, was he that Alured +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ Sithrike.] +receiued at the fontstone: William Malmesburie taketh them to be +but one man, which is not like to be true. After this Guthrid or Gurmo +his sonne Sithrike succeeded, and after him other of that line, till +king Adelstane depriued them of the dominion, and tooke it into his +owne hands. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Edward succeedeth his father Alured in regiment, he is disquieted by +his brother Adelwold a man of a defiled life, he flieth to the Danes +and is of them receiued, king Edwards prouision against the irruptions +and forraies of the Danes, Adelwold with a nauie of Danes entreth +Eastangles, the Essex men submit themselues, he inuadeth Mercia, +and maketh great wast, the Kentishmens disobedience preiudiciall to +themselues, they and the Danes haue a great conflict, king Edward +concludeth a truce with them, he maketh a great slaughter of them by +his Westsaxons and Mercians, what lands came to king Edward by the +death of Edred duke of Mercia, he recouereth diuers places out of the +Danes hands, and giueth them manie a foile, what castels he builded, +he inuadeth Eastangles, putteth Ericke a Danish king therof to flight, +his owne subiects murther him for his crueltie, his kingdome returneth +to the right of king Edward with other lands by him thereto annexed, +his sister Elfleda gouerned the countrie of Mercia during hir life._ + + +THE XVIJ. CHAPTER. + +[Sidenote: EDWARD THE ELDER. 901.] +After the deceasse of Alured, his sonne Edward surnamed the elder +began his reigne ouer the more part of England, in the yeare of our +Lord 901, which was in the second yeare of the emperor Lewes, in the +eight yeare of the reigne of Charles surnamed Simplex king of +France, and about the eight yeare or Donald king of Scotland. He was +consecrated after the maner of other kings his ancestors by Athelred +the archbishop of Canturburie. This Edward was not so learned as his +father, but in princelie power more high and honorable, for he ioined +the kingdome of Eastangles and Mercia with other vnto his dominion, as +after shall be shewed, and vanquished the Danes, Scots, and Welshmen, +to his great glorie and high commendation. + +In the beginning of his reigne he was disquieted by his brother +[Sidenote: Winborne.] +Adelwold, which tooke the towne of Winborne besides Bath, and +maried a nun there, whome he had defloured, & attempted manie things +against his brother. Wherevpon the king came to Bath, and though +Adelwold shewed a countenance as if he would haue abidden the chance +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ Adelwold fleeth to the Danes. _Wil. Malm._] +of warre within Winborne, yet he stole awaie in the night, and fled +into Northumberland, where he was ioifullie receiued of the Danes. The +king tooke his wife being left behind, and restored hir to the house +from whence she was taken. ¶ Some haue written, that this Adelwold or +Ethelwold was not brother vnto king Edward, but his vncles sonne. + +After this, king Edward prouiding for the suertie of his subiects +against the forraies, which the Danes vsed to make, fortified diuers +cities and townes, and stuffed them with great garrisons of +[Sidenote: The English nation practised in wars go commonlie awaie +with the victorie.] +souldiers, to defend the inhabitants, and to expell the enimies. And +suerlie the Englishmen were so invred with warres in those daies, that +the people being aduertised of the inuasion of the enimies in anie +part of their countrie, would assemble oftentimes without knowledge of +king or capteine, and setting vpon the enimies, went commonlie awaie +with victorie, by reason that they ouermatched them both in number and +practise. So were the enimies despised of the English souldiers, +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._] +and laughed to scorne of the king for their foolish attempts. Yet in +the third yeare of king Edwards reigne, Adelwold his brother came with +a nauie of Danes into the parties of the Eastangles, and euen +[Sidenote: Essex yéelded to Adelwold. _Ran. Higd._] +at the first the Essex men yeelded themselues vnto him. In the yéere +following he inuaded the countrie of Mercia with a great armie, +wasting and spoiling the same vnto Crikelade, and there passing ouer +[Sidenote: Brittenden.] +the Thames, rode foorth till he came to Basingstoke, or (as some +bookes haue) Brittenden, harieng the countrie on each side, and so +returned backe vnto Eastangles with great ioy and triumph. + +[Sidenote: _Henr. Hunt._] +King Edward awakened héerewith assembled his people, and followed +the enimies, wasting all the countries betwixt the riuer of Ouse and +saint Edmunds ditch. And when he should returne, he gaue commandement +that no man should staie behind him, but come backe togither for +[Sidenote: The Kentishmen disobeing the kings commandement, are +surprised by the enimies. Adelwold king Edwards brother.] +doubt to be forelaid by the enimies. The Kentishmen notwithstanding +this ordinance and commandement, remained behind, although the king +sent seuen messengers for them. The Danes awaiting their aduantage, +came togither, and fiercelie fought with the Kentishmen, which a long +time valiantlie defended themselues. But in the end the Danes obtained +the victorie, although they lost more people there than the Kentishmen +did: and amongst other, there were slaine the foresaid Adelwold, and +diuerse of the chiefe capteins amongst the Danes. Likewise of the +English side, there died two dukes, Siwolfe & Singlem or Sigbelme, +with sundrie other men of name, both temporall and also spirituall +lords and abbats. In the fift yéere of his reigne, king Edward +concluded a truce with the Danes of Eastangle and Northumberland at +Itingford. But in the yéere following, he sent an armie against them +[Sidenote: Fortie daies saith _Simon Dun._] +of Northumberland, which slue manie of the Danes, and tooke great +booties both of people and cattell, remaining in the countrie the +space of fiue weekes. + +The yéere next insuing, the Danes with a great armie entered into +Mercia, to rob & spoile the countrie, against whome king Edward sent a +mightie host, assembled togither of the Westsaxons & them of Mercia, +which set vpon the Danes, as they were returning homeward, and slue +of them an huge multitude, togither with their chiefe capteins and +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._] +leaders, as king Halden, and king Eolwils, earle Vter, earle +Scurfa, and diuerse other. In the yéere 912, or (as Simon Dunel. +saith) 908, the duke of Mercia Edred or Etheldred departed this life, +and then king Edward seized into his hands the cities of London and +Oxford, and all that part of Mercia which he held. But afterwards he +suffered his sister Elfleda to inioy the most part thereof, except the +said cities of London and Oxford, which he still reteined in his owne +hand. This Elfleda was wife to the said duke Edred or Etheldred, as +before you haue heard: of whose woorthie acts more shall be said +heereafter. + +In the ninth yéere of his reigne, king Edward built a castell at +[Sidenote: Wightham.] +Hertford, and likewise he builded a towne in Essex at Wightham, +and lay himselfe in the meane time at Maldon, otherwise Meauldun, +bringing a great part of the countrie vnder his subiection, which +before was subiect to the Danes. In the yéere following, the armie of +[Sidenote: Chester, or rather Leicester, as I thinke. Digetune.] +the Danes departed from Northampton and Chester in breach of +the former truce, and slue a great number of men at Hochnerton in +Oxfordshire. And shortlie after their returne home, an other companie +of them went foorth, and came to Leighton, where the people of the +countrie being assembled togither, fought with them & put them to +flight, taking from them all the spoile which they had got, and also +their horsses. + +In the 11 yéere of king Edward, a fleet of Danes compassed about the +west parts, & came to the mouth of Seuerne, and so tooke preies in +Wales: they also tooke prisoner a Welsh bishop named Camelgaret, +[Sidenote: Irchenfield.] +at Irchenfield, whome they led to their ships: but king Edward +redéemed him out of their hands, paieng them fortie pounds for his +ransome. After that the armie of Danes went foorth to spoile the +countrie about Irchenfield, but the people of Chester, Hereford, and +other townes and countries thereabout assembled togither, and giuing +battell to the enimies, put them to flight, and slue one of their +[Sidenote: Danes discomfited.] +noble men called earle Rehald, and Geolcil the brother of earle +Vter, with a great part of their armie, & draue the residue into a +castell, which they besieged till the Danes within it gaue hostages, +and couenanted to depart out of the kings land. The king caused the +coasts about Seuerne to be watched, that they should not breake into +his countrie: but yet they stale twise into the borders: neuerthelesse +they were chased and slaine as manie as could not swim, and so get to +[Sidenote: The Ile of Stepen. Deomedun.] +their ships. Then they remained in the Ile of Stepen, in great +miserie for lacke of vittels, bicause they could not go abroad to +[Sidenote: Danes saile into Ireland.] +get anie. At length they departed into Northwales, and from thence +sailed into Ireland. + +The same yéere king Edward came to Buckingham with an armie, and there +taried a whole moneth, building two castels, the one vpon the one side +of the water of Ouse, and the other vpon the other side of the +[Sidenote: Turketillus an earle.] +same riuer. He also subdued Turketillus an earle of the Danes that +dwelt in that countrie, with all the residue of the noble men and +barons of the shires of Bedford and Northampton. In the 12 yéere of +king Edwards reigne, the Kentishmen and Danes fought togither at +Holme: but whether partie had the victorie, writers haue not declared. +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] +Simon Dunelm. speaketh of a battell which the citizens of +Canturburie fought against a number of Danish rouers at Holme, where +the Danes were put to flight, but that should be (as he noteth) 8 +yéeres before this supposed time, as in the yéere 904, which was about +the third yéere of king Edwards reigne. + +[Sidenote: _Anno_ 911. _Simon Dun._] +After this, other of the Danes assembled themselues togither, +and in Staffordshire at a place called Tottenhall fought with the +Englishmen, and after great slaughter made on both parties, the Danes +were ouercome: and so likewise were they shortlie after at Woodfield +or Wodenfield. And thus king Edward put the Danes to the woorse +in each place commonlie where he came, and hearing that those in +Northumberland ment to breake the peace: he inuaded the countrie, and +so afflicted the same, that the Danes which were inhabitants there, +[Sidenote: _Polydor_. Ericke king of Eastangles.] +gladlie continued in rest and peace. But in this meane time, +Ericke the king of those Danes which held the countrie of Eastangle, +was about to procure new warre, and to allure other of the Danes to +ioine with him against the Englishmen, that with common agréement they +might set vpon the English nation, and vtterlie subdue them. + +[Sidenote: King Edward inuadeth the countrie of the Eastangles.] +King Edward hauing intelligence héereof, purposed to preuent him, +and therevpon entering with an armie into his countrie, cruellie +wasted and spoiled the same. King Ericke hauing alreadie his people +in armor through displeasure conceiued heereof, and desire to be +reuenged, hasted foorth to incounter his enimies: and so they met in +[Sidenote: Ericke put to flight.] +the field, and fiercelie assailed ech other. But as the battell +was rashlie begun on king Ericks side, so was the end verie harmefull +to him: for with small adoo, after great losse on both sides, he was +vanquished and put to flight. + +After his comming home, bicause of his great ouerthrow and fowle +discomfiture, he began to gouerne his people with more rigor & sharper +dealing than before time he had vsed. Whereby he prouoked the malice +of the Eastangles so highlie against him, that they fell vpon him and +murthered him: yet did they not gaine so much hereby as they looked to +haue doone: for shortlie after, they being brought low, and not able +to defend their countrie, were compelled to submit themselues vnto +[Sidenote: The kingdom of the Eastangles subdued by K. Edward.] +king Edward. And so was that kingdome ioined vnto the other dominions +of the same king Edward, who shortlie after annexed the kingdome of +Mercia vnto other of his dominions, immediatlie vpon the death of his +sister Elfleda, whom he permitted to rule that land all hir life. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Elfleda the sister of king Edward highlie commended for government, +what a necessarie staie she was vnto him in hir life time, what townes +she builded and repared, hir warlike exploits against the Danes, +hir death and buriall; the greatest part of Britaine in K. Edwards +dominion, he is a great builder and reparer of townes, his death, the +dreame of his wife Egina, and the issue of the same, what children +king Edward had by his wiues, and how they were emploied, the decay of +the church by the meanes of troubles procured by the Danes, England +first curssed and why; a prouinciall councell summoned for the reliefe +of the churches ruine, Pleimond archbishop of Canturburie sent to +Rome, bishops ordeined in sundrie prouinces; dissention among writers +what pope should denounce the foresaid cursse; a succession of +archbishops in the see of Canturburie, one brother killeth another._ + +THE XVIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +Not without good reason did king Edward permit vnto his sister Elfleda +the gouernment of Mercia, during hir life time: for by hir wise and +politike order vsed in all hir dooings, he was greatlie furthered & +assisted; but speciallie in reparing and building of townes & castels, +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ _Matth. West._ _Simon Dun._] +wherein she shewed hir noble magnificence, in so much that during +hir government, which continued about eight yéeres, it is recorded by +writers, that she did build and repare these towns, whose +[Sidenote: Tamwoorth was by hir repared, anno 914. Eadsburie and +Warwike. 915.] +names here insue: Tamwoorth beside Lichfield, Stafford, Warwike, +Shrewsburie, Watersburie or Weddesburie, Elilsburie or rather +Eadsburie, in the forrest of De la mere besides Chester, Brimsburie +bridge vpon Seuerne, Rouncorne at the mouth of the riuer Mercia with +other. Moreouer, by hir helpe the citie of Chester, which by Danes had +[Sidenote: Chester repared, 905. _Sim. Dun._] +beene greatlie defaced, was newlie repared, fortified with walls +and turrets, and greatlie inlarged. So that the castell which stood +without the walls before that time, was now brought within compasse of +the new wall. + +Moreouer she boldlie assalted hir enimies which went about to trouble +the state of the countrie, as the Welshmen and Danes. She sent an +armie into Wales, and tooke the towne of Brecknocke with the queene +[Sidenote: Quéene of the Welshmen taken. Brecenamere. _Ran. Higd._ +_Hen. Hunt._ 918. Darbie won from the Danes.] +of the Welshmen at Bricenamere. Also she wan from the Danes the towne +of Darbie, and the countrie adioining. In this enterprise she put hir +owne person in great aduenture: for a great multitude of Danes that +were withdrawen into Darbie, valiantlie defended the gates and entries, +in so much that they slue foure of hir chiefe men of warre, which were +named wardens of hir person, euen fast by hir at the verie entrie of +the gates. But this notwithstanding, with valiant fight hir people +entered, and so the towne was woon: she got diuerse other places out +of their hands, & constreined them of Yorkeshire to agree with hir, so +that some of them promised to become hir subiects: some vowed to aid +hir, and some sware to be at hir commandement. + +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt. Anno Christie_ 919.] +Finallie, this martiall ladie and manlie Elfleda, the supporter +of hir countriemen, and terrour of the enimies, departed this life at +Tamwoorth about the 12 of Iune, in the 18 or rather 19 yéere of +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._ _Simon Dun._] +hir brother king Edwards reigne, as by Matth. West it should appeere. +But Simon Dunelm. writeth, that she deceassed in the yeere of Christ +915, which should be about the 14 yéere of king Edwards reigne. +Hir bodie was conueied to Glocester, and there buried within the +monasterie of S. Peter, which hir husband and she in their life time +had builded, and translated thither the bones of saint Oswill from +Bardona. The same monasterie was after destroied by Danes. But +[Sidenote: _Ranul._] +Aldredus the archbishop of Yorke, who was also bishop of Worcester, +repared an other in the same citie, that was after the chiefe abbeie +there. Finallie, in memorie of the said Elfleds magnanimitie and +valorous mind, this epitaph was fixed on hir toome. + + _O Elfleda potens, ô terror virgo virorum, + O Elfleda potens, nomine digna viri. + Te quóque splendidior fecit natura puellam, + Te probitas fecit nomen habere viri. + Te mutare decet sed solum nomina sexus, + Tu regina potens rexque trophea parans. + Iam nec Cæsareos tantum mirere triumphos, + Cæsare splendidior virgo virago, vale._ + + [Sidenote: Translated by _Abraham Fleming_.] + O puissant Elfled, ô thou maid + of men the dread and feare, + O puissant Elfled woorthie maid + the name of man to beare. + A noble nature hath thee made + a maiden mild to bee, + Thy vertue also hath procurde + a manlie name to thee. + It dooth but onelie thee become, + of sex to change the name, + A puissant queene, a king art thou + preparing trophes of fame. + Now maruell not so much at Cæsars + triumphs [trim to vieu;] + O manlike maiden more renowmd + than Cæsar was, adieu. + +[Sidenote: This Alfwen was sister to Edelfled, as _H. Hunt._ saith.] +After the deceasse of Elfleda, king Edward tooke the dominion of +Mercia (as before we haue said) into his owne hands, and so disherited +his néece Alfwen or Elswen, the daughter of Elfleda, taking hir +awaie with him into the countrie of Westsaxons. By this meanes he so +amplified the bounds of his kingdome, that he had the most part of all +[Sidenote: Stratcluid or Stretcled, a kingdome in Wales.] +this Iland of Britaine at his commandement: for the kings of the +Welshmen; namelie the king of Stretcled, and of the Scots, +acknowledging him to be their chiefe souereigne lord, and the Danes +in Northumberland were kept so short, that they durst attempt nothing +[Sidenote: K. Edward a great builder and reparer of townes.] +against him in his latter daies: so that he had time to applie the +building and reparing of cities, townes, and castels, wherein he so +much delighted. He builded a new towne at Notingham on the southside +[Sidenote: Notingham bridge built. _Matt. West._] +of Trent, and made a bridge ouer that riuer betwixt the old towne +[Sidenote: Manchester repared. Anno 816. _Simon Dun._] +and the new. He also repared Manchester beyond the riuer of Mercia +in Lancashire, accounted as then in the south end of Northumberland, +and he built a towne of ancient writers called Thilwall, neere to the +same riuer of Mercia, and placed therein a garrison of souldiers: +[Sidenote: _Henr. Hunt._] +diuerse other townes and castels he built, as two at Buckingham on +either side of the water of Ouse (as before is shewed) and also one at +the mouth of the riuer of Auon. He likewise built or new repared +the townes of Tocetor and Wigmore, with diuerse other, as one at +Glademuth, about the last yéere of his reigne. Some also he destroied +which séemed to serue the enimies turne for harborough, as a castell +at Temnesford, which the Danes builded and fortified. + +At length, after that this noble prince king Edward had reigned +somewhat aboue the tearme of 23 yéeres, he was taken out of this life +at Faringdon: his bodie was conueied from thence vnto Winchester, and +there buried in the new abbeie. He had thrée wiues, or (as some haue +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +written) but two, affirming that Edgiua was not his wife, but his +concubine, of whome he begat his eldest sonne Adelstan, who succéeded +him in the kingdome. This Edgiua (as hath béene reported) dreamed +[Sidenote: A dreame.] +on a time that there rose a moone out of hir bellie, which with the +bright shine thereof gaue light ouer all England: and telling hir +dreame to an ancient gentlewoman, who coniecturing by the dreame that +which followed, tooke care of hir, and caused hir to be brought vp in +good manners and like a gentlewoman, though she were borne but of base +parentage. + +Heerevpon when she came to ripe yéeres, king Edward by chance comming +to the place where she was remaining, vpon the first sight was +streight rauished with hir beautie (which in déed excelled) that she +could not rest till he had his pleasure of hir, and so begot of hir +the foresaid Adelstan: by hir he had also a daughter that was maried +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._ _Polydor_.] +vnto Sithrike a Dane and K. of Northumberland. The Scotish writers +name hir Beatrice, but our writers name hir Editha. His second or +rather his first wife (if he were not maried to Eguina mother to +Adelstan) was called Elfleda or Elfrida, daughter to one earle +Ethelme, by whom he had issue; to wit, two sonnes Ethelward and +[Sidenote: The issue of K. Edward.] +Edwin, which immediatlie departed this life after their father; and +six daughters, Elfleda, Edgiua, Ethelhilda, Ethilda, Edgitha, and +Elfgiua. Elfleda became a nun, and Ethelhilda also liued in perpetuall +virginitie, but yet in a laie habit. + +[Sidenote: Alias Edgiua. _Wil. Malm._] +Edgitha was maried to Charles king of France, surnamed Simplex. +And Ethilda by helpe of hir brother Adelstan was bestowed vpon Hugh +sonne to Robert earle of Paris, for hir singular beautie most highlie +estéemed: sith nature in hir had shewed as it were hir whole cunning, +in perfecting hir with all gifts and properties of a comelie +personage. Edgiua and Elgiua were sent by their brother Adelstan into +Germanie, vnto the emperor Henrie, who bestowed one of them vpon his +sonne Otho, that was after emperor, the first of that name; and the +other vpon a duke inhabiting about the Alpes: by his last wife named +Edgiua, he had also two sonnes, Edmund & Eldred, the which both +reigned after their brother Adestan successiuelie. Also he had by hir +two daughters, Edburge that was made a nun, and Edgiue a ladie of +excellent beautie, whom hir brother Adelstan gaue in mariage vnto +Lewes king of Aquitaine. + +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._ _Wil. Malm._ _Matth. West._] +Whilest this land was in continuall trouble of warres against the +Danes, as before is touched, small regard was had to the state of the +church, in somuch that the whole countrie of the Westsaxons by the +space of seuen yéeres togither (in the daies of this king Edward) +remained without anie bishop, to take order in matters apperteining to +[Sidenote: England first accurssed.] +the church. Wherevpon the pope had accurssed the English people, +bicause they suffred the bishops sees to be vacant so long a time. +[Sidenote: Anno 903.] +King Edward to auoid the cursse, assembled a prouinciall councell, +905, in the which the archbishop of Canturburie Pleimond was +president. Wherein it was ordeined, that whereas the prouince of +Westsaxons in times past had but two bishops, now it should be diuided +into fiue diocesses, euerie of them to haue a peculiar bishop. + +When all things were ordered and concluded in this synod (as was +thought requisite) the archbishop was sent to Rome with rich presents, +to appease the popes displeasure. When the pope had heard what order +the king had taken, he was contented therewith. And so the archbishop +returned into his countrie, and in one day at Canturburie ordeined +[Sidenote: Winchester. Cornewall. Shireborne. Welles. Kirton. Mercia.] +seuen bishops, as fiue to the prouince of Westsaxons, that is to +say, Fridestane to the sée of Winchester, Adelstan to S. German in +Cornwall, Werstan to Shireborne, Adelme to Welles, and Edulfe to +Kirton. Also to the prouince of Sussex he ordeined one Bernegus, and +to Dorchester for the prouince of Mercia one Cenulfus. + +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ saith that pope Formosus pronounced this cursse. +904.] +¶ Heere ye must note, that where William Malme. Polychro. and +other doo affirme, that pope Formosus did accursse king Edward and the +English nation, for suffering the bishops sees to be vacant, it can +not stand with the agreement or the time, vnlesse that the cursse +pronounced by Formosus for this matter long afore was not regarded, +vntill Edward had respect thereto. For the same Formosus began to +gouerne the Romane see about the yéere of our Lord 892, and liued +in the papasie not past six yéeres, so that he was dead before king +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +Edward came to the crowne. But how so euer this matter maie fall +out, this ye haue to consider: although that Pleimond was sent vnto +Rome to aduertise the pope what the king had decréed & doone, in the +ordeining of bishops to their seuerall sées, as before ye haue heard, +yet (as maister Fox hath noted) the gouernance and direction of the +church depended chieflie vpon the kings of this land in those daies, +as it manifestlie appeereth, as well by the decrees of king Alfred, as +of this king Edward, whose authoritie in the election of bishops (as +before ye haue heard) seemed then alone to be sufficient. + +Moreouer, I thinke it good to aduertise you in this place, that this +Pleimond archbishop of Canturburie (of whome ye haue heard before) was +the 19 in number from Augustine the first archbishop there: for after +Brightwold that was the 8 in number, and first of the English nation +that gouerned the sée, succeeded Taduin, that sat three yeeres, +Notelin fiue yéeres, Cuthbert 18 yéeres, Brethwin thrée yéeres, +Lambert 27 yéeres, Adelard 13 yéeres, Wilfred 28 yéeres, Theologildus +or Pleogildus 3 yéeres, Celuotus or Chelutus 10 yéeres. Then succéeded +Aldred, of whome king Edward receiued the crowne, and he was +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._] +predecessor to Pleimond. A litle before the death of king Edward, +Sithrike the king of Northumberland killed his brother Nigellus, and +then king Reinold conquered the citie of Yorke. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Adelstane succeedeth his father Edward in the kingdome, Alfred +practising by treason to keepe him from the gouernement, sanke downe +suddenlie as he was taking his oth for his purgation; the cause why +Alfred opposed himselfe against Adelstane, whose praise is notable, +what he did to satisfie the expectation of his people, ladie Beatrice +king Edwards daughter maried to Sithrike a Danish gouernor of the +Northumbers, by whose meanes Edwin king Edwards brother was drowned, +practises of treason, the ladie Beatrice strangelie put to death by +hir stepsons for being of counsell to poison hir husband Sithrike, hir +death reuenged vpon the tormentors by hir father king Edward, and how +chronographers varie in the report of this historie._ + +THE XIX. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: ADELSTAN. _Matt. West._ _Will. Malmes._ 924.] +Adelstane the eldest sonne of king Edward began his reigne ouer the +more part of all England, the yéere of our Lord 924, which was in the +6 yere of the emperour Henrie the first, in the 31 yéere of the reigne +of Charles surnamed Simplex king of France, thrée moneths after the +burning of Pauie, & about the 22 or 23 yéere of Constantine the third, +king of Scotland. This Adelstane was crowned and consecrated king at +Kingstone vpon Thames, of Aldelme the archbishop of Canturburie, who +succéeded Pleimond. He was the 24 king in number from Cerdicus or +Cerdike the first king of the Westsaxons. There were in the +[Sidenote: Alfred striueth in vaine to kéepe Adelstane from the +gouernment. _Wil. Malm._ +See more hereof in the acts and monuments set foorth by _M. Fox,_ +vol. 1. leafe 195.] +beginning some that set themselues against him, as one Alfred a noble +man, which practised by treason to haue kept him from the gouernement: +but he was apprehended yer he could bring his purpose to passe, and +sent to Rome there to trie himselfe giltie or not giltie. And as he +tooke his oth for his purgation before the altar of saint Peter, he +suddenlie fell downe to the earth, so that his seruants tooke him vp, +and bare him into the English schoole or hospitall, where the third +night after he died. + +Pope Iohn the tenth sent vnto king Adelstane, to know if he would that +his bodie should be laid in Christian buriall or not. The king at the +contemplation of Alfreds friends and kinsfolks, signified to the pope +that he was contented that his bodie should be interred amongst other +christians. His lands being forfeited were giuen by the king vnto God +and saint Peter. The cause that mooued Alfred and other his complices +against the king, was (as some haue alledged) his bastardie. But +whether that allegation were true or but a slander, this is certeine, +that except that steine of his honor, there was nothing in this +Adelstane worthie of blame: so that he darkened all the glorious +fame of his predecessors, both in vertuous conditions and victorious +triumphs. Such difference is there to haue that in thy selfe wherein +to excell, rather than to stand vpon the woorthinesse of thine +ancestors, sith that can not rightlie be called a mans owne. + +After that king Adelstane was established in the estate, he indeuored +himselfe to answer the expectation of his people; which hoped for +great wealth to insue by his noble and prudent gouernance. First +[Sidenote: _Anno 925_. _Simon Dun._ _Polydor_.] +therfore meaning to prouide for the suertie of his countrie, he +concluded a peace with Sithrike king of the Northumbers, vnto whome +(as ye haue heard) he gaue one of his sisters named Editha in mariage. +Sithrike liued not past one yéere after he had so maried hir. And then +Adelstane brought the prouince of the Northumbers vnto his subiection, +expelling one Aldulph out of the same that rebelled against him. +There be that write, that Godfrie and Aulafe the sonnes of Sithrike +succéeding their father in the gouernement of Northumberland, by +practising to mooue warre against king Adelstane, occasioned him to +inuade their countrie, and to chase them out of the same, so that +Aulafe fled into Ireland, & Godfrie into Scotland: but other write, +that Godfrie was the father of Reignold which wan Yorke, after that +[Sidenote: _H. Hunt._] +Sithrike had slaine his brother Nigellus, as before is mentioned. + +[Sidenote: _Hect. Boetius_. The Scotish writers varie from our +English authors. +Beatrice daughter to K. Edward as the Scotish writers say. Edwin was +not brother to K. Edward but son to him.] +¶ The Scotish chronicles varie in report of these matters from the +English writers: whose chronicles affirme, that in the life time of +king Edward, his daughter Beatrice was giuen in mariage to Sithrike, +the gouernor of the Danes in Northumberland, with condition that if +anie male were procreated in that mariage, the same should inherit the +dominions of king Edward after his decease. King Edward had a brother +(as they say) named Edwin, a iolie gentleman, and of great estimation +amongst the Englishmen. He by Sithrikes procurement was sent into +Flanders in a ship that leaked, and so was drowned, to the great +reioising of all the Danes, least if he had suruiued his brother, he +would haue made some businesse for the crowne. + +[Sidenote: Adelstane flieth the realme.] +About the same time Adelstane a base sonne of K. Edward fled the +realme, for doubt to be made away by some like traitorous practise of +the Danes. Shortlie after, king Edward vnderstanding that Sithrike +went about some mischiefe toward him, persuaded his daughter to poison +hir husband the said Sithrike. Then Aulafe or Aualassus, and Godfrie +the sonnes of Sithrike, finding out by diligent examination, that +Beatrice was of counsell in poisoning hir husband, they caused hir to +be apprehended and put to death on this wise. She was set naked +[Sidenote: Beatrice put to death by hir stepsons.] +vpon a smithes cold anuill or stithie, and therewith hard rosted egs +being taken out of the hot imbers were put vnder hir armepits, and hir +armes fast bound to hir bodie with a cord, and so in that state she +remained till hir life passed from hir. King Edward in reuenge of his +daughters death mooued warre against the two brethren, Aulafe and +Godfrie, and in battell finallie vanquished them, but was slaine in +the same battell himselfe. + +Thus haue the Scotish chronicles recorded of these matters, as an +induction to the warres which followed betwixt the Scots and Danes as +confederates against king Adelstane: but the truth thereof we leaue to +the readers owne iudgement. For in our English writers we find no such +matter, but that a daughter of king Edward named Edgitha or Editha, +after hir fathers deceasse was by hir brother king Adelstane, about +the first yéere of his reigne, giuen in mariage (as before ye haue +heard) vnto the foresaid Sithrike king of Northumberland, that was +descended of the Danish bloud, who for the loue of the yoong ladie, +renounced his heathenish religion and became a christian; but shortlie +after, forsaking both his wife and the christian faith, he set vp +againe the worshipping of idols, and within a while after, as an +apostata miserablie ended his life. Whervpon the yoong ladie, hir +[Sidenote: Editha a virgine.] +virginitie being preserued, and hir bodie vndefiled (as they write) +passed the residue of hir daies at Polleswoorth in Warwikeshire, +spending hir time (as the same writers affirme) in fasting, watching, +praieng, and dooing of almesdéedes, and so at length departed out of +this world. Thus our writers differ from the Scotish historie, both in +name and maner of end as concerning the daughter of king Edward that +was coupled in mariage with Sithrike. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Adelstane subdueth Constantine king of Scots, Howell king of Wales, +and Wulferth king of Northwales, the Scots possesse a great part of +the north countries, Adelstane conquereth the Scots for aiding Godfrie +his enimie; a miracle declaring that the Scots ought to obey the king +of England; king Adelstane banisheth his brother Edwin, he is for a +conspiracie drowned in the sea, Adelstane repenteth him of his rigour +(in respect of that misfortune) against his brother; Aulafe sometimes +king of Northumberland inuadeth England, he disguiseth himselfe like +a minstrell and surueieth the English campe unsuspected, he is +discouered after his departure, be assaileth the English campe, +Adelstane being comforted with a miracle discomfiteth his enimies, he +maketh them of Northwales his tributaries, be subdueth the Cornishmen, +his death; the description of his person, his vertues, of what abbeis +& monasteries he was founder, his estimation in forren realmes, +what pretious presents were sent him from other princes, and how he +bestowed them; a remembrance of Guy the erle of Warwike._ + +THE XX. CHAPTER. + + +After that king Adelstane had subdued them of Northumberland, he +was aduertised, that not onelie Constantine king of Scots, but also +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +Huduale or Howell K. of Wales went about a priuie conspiracie +against him. Herevpon with all conuenient spéed assembling his power, +he went against them, and with like good fortune subdued them both, +and also Vimer or Wulferth K. of Northwales, so that they were +constreined to submit themselues vnto him, who shortlie after moued +with pitie in considering their sudden fall, restored them all three +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ The noble saieng of king Adelstane. 926.] +to their former estates, but so as they should acknowledge +themselues to gouerne vnder him, pronouncing withall this notable +saieng, that More honorable it was to make a king, than to be a king. + +Ye must vnderstand, that (as it appeareth in the Scotish chronicles) +the Scotishmen in time of wars that the Danes gaue the English nation, +got a part of Cumberland and other the north countries into their +possession, and so by reason of their néere adioining vnto the +confines of the English kings, there chanced occasions of warre +betwixt them, as well in the daies of king Edward, as of this +Adelstane his sonne, although in déed the Danes held the more part of +the north countries, till that this Adelstane conquered the same +out of their hands, and ioined it vnto other of his dominions, +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +constreining as well the Danes (of whome the more part of the +inhabitants then consisted) as also the Englishmen, to obey him as +their king and gouernour. Godfrie (as is said) being fled to the +Scots, did so much preuaile there by earnest sute made to king +Constantine, that he got a power of men, and entring with the same +into Northumberland, besiged the citie of Duresme, soliciting the +citizens to receiue him, which they would gladlie haue doone, if they +had not perceiued how he was not of power able to resist the puissance +of king Adelstane: and therefore doubting to be punished for their +offenses if they reuolted, they kept the enimies out. King +[Sidenote: 934.] +Adelstane being sore moued against the king of Scots, that thus aided +his enimies, raised an armie, and went northward, purposing to reuenge +that iniurie. + +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._] +At his comming into Yorkshire, he turned out of the way, to visit +the place where saint Iohn of Beuerlie was buried, and there offered +his knife, promising that if he returned with victorie, he would +redéeme the same with a woorthie price: and so proceeded and went +[Sidenote: _Sim. Dun._] +forwards on his iournie, and entring Scotland, wasted the countrie by +land vnto Dunfoader and Wertermore, and his nauie by sea destroied the +coasts alongst the shore, euen to Catnesse, and so he brought the +[Sidenote: The Scots subdued.] +king of Scots and other his enimies to subiection at his pleasure, +constreining the same K. of Scots to deliuer him his son in hostage. + +[Sidenote: A token shewed miraculouslie that the Scots ought to be +subiect to the kings of England.] +It is said, that being in his iournie néere vnto the towne of +Dunbar, he praied vnto God, that at the instance of saint Iohn of +Beuerlie, it would please him to grant, that he might shew some open +token, whereby it should appeare to all them that then liued, and +should hereafter succéed, that the Scots ought to be subiect vnto the +kings of England. Herewith, the king with his sword smote vpon a great +stone standing néere to the castle of Dunbar, and with the stroke, +there appeared a clift in the same stone to the length of an elme, +which remained to be shewed as a witnesse of that thing manie yeares +after. At his comming backe to Beuerlie, he redéemed his knife with a +large price, as before he had promised. + +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ _Matt. Westm._ 934.] +After this was Edwin the kings brother accused of some conspiracie +by him begun against the king, wherevpon he was banished the land, and +sent out in an old rotten vessell without rower or mariner, onelie +accompanied with one esquier, so that being lanched foorth from +the shore, through despaire Edwin leapt into the sea, and drowned +himselfe, but the esquier that was with him recouered his bodie, and +brought it to land at Withsand besides Canturburie. But Iames Maier in +the annales of Flanders saieth, that he was drowned by fortune of the +seas in a small vessell, and being cast vp into a créeke on the coast +of Picardie, was found by Adolfe earle of Bullongne that was his +coosin germane, and honorablie buried by the same Adolfe in the church +of Bertine. In consideration of which déed of pietie and dutie of +mindfull consanguinitie, the king of England both hartilie thanked +[Sidenote: Repentance too late.] +earle Adolfe, and bestowed great gifts vpon the church where +his brother was thus buried. For verelie king Adelstane after his +displeasure was asswaged, and hearing of this miserable end of his +brother, sore repented himselfe of his rigour so extended towards +him, in so much that he could neuer abide the man that had giuen the +information against him, which was his cupbearer, so that on a time as +the said cupbearer serued him at the table, and came towards him with +a cup of wine, one of his féet chanced to slide, but he recouered +himselfe with the helpe of the other foot, saieng, "One brother yet +hath holpen & succored the other:" which words cost him his life. For +the king remembring that by his accusation he had lost his brother +that might haue béene an aid to him, caused this said cupbearer to be +straight put to death. + +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +In this meane while, Aulafe the sonne of Sitherike, late king +of Northumberland (who is also named by writers to be king of the +Irishmen, and of manie Ilands) assembled a great power of Danes, +Irishmen, Scots, and other people of the out Iles, and imbarked them +in 615 ships and craiers, with the which he arriued in the mouth of +[Sidenote: 937.] +Humber, and there comming on land, began to inuade the countrie. +This Aulafe had maried the daughter of Constantine king of Scots, by +whose procurement, notwithstanding his late submission, Aulafe +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] +tooke in hand this iournie. King Adelstane aduertised of his enimies +arriuall, gathered his people, and with all conuenient spéed hasted +towards them, and approching néerer vnto them, pitcht downe his +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ _Wil. Malm._] +field at a place called by some Brimesburie, by others Brimesford, and +also Brunaubright, and by the Scotish writers Browmingfield. + +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ _Hector Boet._ _Ran. Higd._ +Aulafe disguised, cometh to view the English camp.] +When knowledge hereof was had in the enimies campe, Aulafe +enterprised a maruelous exploit, for taking with him an harpe, he came +into the English campe, offring himselfe disguised as a minstrell, to +shew some part of his cunning in musicke vpon his instrument: and so +being suffered to passe from tent to tent, and admitted also to plaie +afore the king, surueied the whole state and order of the armie. This +doone, he returned, meaning by a cammisado to set vpon the kings tent. +But one that had serued as a souldier sometime vnder Aulafe, chanced +by marking his demeanour to know him, and after he was gone, vttered +to the king what he knew. The king séemed to be displeased, in that +he had not told him so much before Aulafs departure: but in excusing +himselfe, the souldier said: "Ye must remember (if it like your grace) +that the same faith which I haue giuen vnto you, I sometime owght vnto +Aulafe, therfore if I should haue betraied him now, you might well +stand in doubt least I should hereafter doo the like to you: but if +you will follow mine aduise, remoue your tent, least happilie he +assaile you vnwares." The king did so, and as it chanced in the +[Sidenote: Aulafe assaileth the English camp.] +night following, Aulafe came to assaile the English campe, and by +fortune comming to the place where the kings tent stood before, he +found a bishop lodged, which with his companie was come the same day +to the armie, and had pitcht vp his tent in that place from whence the +king was remoued: and so was the same bishop, and most part of his men +there slaine, which slaughter executed, Aulafe passed forward, and +came to the kings tent, who in this meane time, by reason of the +alarum raised, was got vp, and taking to him his sword in that sudden +fright, by chance it fell out of the scabbard, so that he could +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._] +not find it, but calling to God and S. Aldelme (as saith Polychron.) +his sword was restored to the scabbard againe. The king comforted +with that miracle, boldlie preased foorth vpon his enimies, and so +valiantlie resisted them, that in the end he put them to flight, and +chased them all that morning and day following, so that he slue of +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ The enimies discomfited.] +them an huge number. Some haue written, that Constantine king of +Scots was slaine at this ouerthrow, and fiue other small kings or +rulers, with 12 dukes, and welnéere all the armie of those strange +nations which Aulafe had gathered togither. But the Scotish chronicles +affirme, that Constantine was not there himselfe, but sent his sonne +Malcolme, which yet escaped sore hurt and wounded from the battell, as +in the same chronicles ye may sée more at large. + +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._] +When K. Adelstane had thus vanquished his enimies in the north +parties of England, he went against them of Northwales, whose rulers +and princes he caused to come before him at Hereford, and there +handled them in such sort, that they couenanted to pay him yeerlie +[Sidenote: Tribute. The Cornish men subdued.] +in lieu of a tribute 20 pounds of gold, 300 pounds of siluer, and 25 +head of neate, with hawks and hownds a certeine number. After this, he +subdued the Cornishmen: and whereas till those daies they inhabited +the citie of Excester, mingled amongest the Englishmen, so that the +one nation was as strong within that citie as the other, he rid them +[Sidenote: Excester repaired. 940.] +quite out of the same, and repared the walles, and fortified them +with ditches and turrets as the maner then was, and so remoued the +Cornish men further into the west parts of the countrie, that he made +Tamer water to be the confines betwéene the Englishmen and them. +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ The decease of king Adelstane.] +Finallie the noble prince king Adelstane departed out of this +world, the 26 day of October, after he had reigned the tearme of 16 +yeares. His bodie was buried at Malmesburie. + +[Sidenote: The description of king Adelstane.] +He was of such a stature, as exceeded not the common sort of men, +stooping somewhat, and yellowe haired, for his valiancie ioined with +courtesie beloued of all men, yet sharpe against rebels, and of +inuincible constancie: his great deuotion toward the church appeared +in the building, adorning & indowing of monasteries and abbeis. He +built one at Wilton within the diocesse of Salisburie, and an other at +Michelnie in Summersetshire. But besides these foundations, there were +few famous monasteries within this land, but that he adorned the same +either with some new péece of building, iewels, bookes, or portion of +[Sidenote: Wolstan archbishop of Yorke. His estimation in forain realmes.] +lands. He had in excéeding fauour Wolstan archbishop of Yorke +that liued in his daies, for whose sake he greatlie inriched that +bishoprike. His fame spread ouer all the parties of Europe, so that +sundrie princes thought themselues happie if they might haue his +friendship, either by affinitie or otherwise: by meanes whereof, he +bestowed his sisters so highlie in mariage as before ye haue heard. He +receiued manie noble and rich presents from diuers princes, as from +Hugh king of France, horsses and sundrie rich iewels, with certeine +relikes: as Constantines sword, in the hilt whereof was set one of +the nailes wherewith Christ was fastened to the crosse, the speare of +Charles the great, which was thought to be the same wherewith the side +of our sauiour was pearced, the banner of saint Maurice, with a part +of the holie crosse, and likewise a part of the thorned crowne: yet +Mandeuile saw the one halfe of this crowne in France, and the other at +Constantinople, almost 400 yeares after this time, as he writeth. Of +these iewels king Adelstane gaue part to the abbie of saint Swithon at +Winchester, and part to the abbie of Malmesburie. Moreouer, the king +of Norwaie sent vnto him a goodlie ship of fine woorkmanship, with +gilt sterne and purple sailes, furnished round about the decke within +with a rowe of gilt pauises. ¶ In the daies of this Adelstane +[Sidenote: _Harding_.] +reigned that right worthie Guy earle of Warwike, who (as some writers +haue recorded) fought with a mightie giant of the Danes in a singular +combat, and vanquished him. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Edmund succeedeth Adelstane in the kingdome, the Danes of +Northumberland rebell against him, a peace concluded betwene Aulafe +their king and king Edmund vpon conditions, Aulafe dieth, another +of that name succeedeth him; king Edmund subdueth the Danes, and +compelleth them to receiue the christian faith, Reinold and Aulafe are +baptised, they violate their fealtie vowed to king Edmund, they are +put to perpetuall exile; why king Edmund wasted all Northumberland, +caused the eies of king Dunmails sonnes to be put out, and assigned +the said countrie to Malcolme king of Scots; the Scotish chroniclers +error in peruerting the time & order of the English kings, king +Edmunds lawes, by what misfortune he came to his end, how his death +was foreshewed to Dunstane in a vision, a tale of the vertue of the +crosse, Dunstane reproueth duke Elstane, his dreame, and how the +interpretation thereof came to passe._ + +THE XXJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: EDMUND.] +After that Adelstane was departed this life, without leauing issue +behind to succéed him in the kingdome, his brother Edmund, sonne of +Edward the elder, borne of his last wife Edgiue, tooke vpon him the +gouernement of this land, and began his reigne in the yeare of our +Lord 940, which was in the fift yeare of the emperor Otho the 1, in +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ 940.] +the 13 of Lewes surnamed Transmarinus king of France, and about +the 38 yeare of Constantine the third king of Scotland. The Danes of +Northumberland rebelled against this Edmund, and ordeined Aulafe to +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] +be their king, whom they had called out of Ireland. Some write that +this Aulafe, which now in the beginning of Edmunds reigne came into +Northumberland, was king of Norwaie, & hauing a great power of men +with him, marched foorth towards the south parts of this land, in +purpose to subdue the whole: but king Edmund raised a mightie armie, +and incountred with his enimies at Leicester. Howbeit, yer the matter +came to the vttermost triall of battell, through the earnest sute of +the archbishop of Canturburie and Yorke Odo and Wolstan, a peace was +concluded; so as Edmund should inioy all that part of the land +[Sidenote: A peace concluded. 941.] +which lieth from Watlingstréet southward, & Aulafe should inioy the +other part as it lieth from the same street northward. Then Aulafe +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ Aulafe deceaseth. Another Aulafe taketh upon +him to rule.] +tooke to wife the ladie Alditha, daughter to earle Ormus, by whose +counsell and assistance he had thus obtained the vpper hand. But this +Aulafe in the yeare following, after he had destroied the church of +saint Balter, and burned Tinningham, departed this life. Then the +other Aulafe that was sonne to king Sithrike, tooke vpon him to +gouerne the Northumbers. + +[Sidenote: 942.] +After this, in the yeare 942, king Edmund assembling an armie, +first subdued those Danes which had got into their possession the +cities and towns of Lincolne, Leicester, Darbie, Stafford, and +Notingham, constreining them to receiue the christian faith, and +reduced all the countries euen vnto Humber vnder his subiection. This +doone, Aulafe and Reinold the sonne of Gurmo, who (as you haue heard) +[Sidenote: Gurmo or Godfrey. _Wil. Malm._] +subdued Yorke, as a meane the sooner to obteine peace, offered +to become christians, & to submit themselues vnto him: wherevpon he +receiued them to his peace. There be that write, that this Aulafe is +not that Aulafe which was sonne to king Sithrike, but rather that the +other was he with whom king Edmund made partition of the realme: but +they agree, that this second Aulafe was a Dane also, & being conuerted +to the faith as well through constraint of the kings puissance, as +through the preaching of the gospell, was baptised, king Edmund being +godfather both vnto him, and vnto the foresaid Reinold, to Aulafe at +the verie fontstone, and to Reinold at his confirmation at the bishops +hands. Neuerthelesse, their wicked natures could not rest in quiet, +[Sidenote: 944.] +so that they brake both promise to God, and to their prince, and +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] +were therefore in the yeare next following driuen both out of +the countrie, and punished by perpetuall exile. And so king Edmund +adioined Northumberland, without admitting anie other immediat +gouernor, vnto his owne estate. + +[Sidenote: Leolin king of Southwales aided king Edmund in this enterprise. +946.] +Moreouer, he wasted and spoiled whole Cumberland, because he +could not reduce the people of that countrie vnto due obeisance, +and conformable subiection. The two sonnes of Dunmaile king of that +prouince he apprehended, and caused their eies to be put out. Herewith +vpon consideration either of such aid as he had receiued of the Scots +at that time, or some other friendlie respect, he assigned the said +countrie of Cumberland vnto Malcolme king of Scots, to hold the +same by fealtie of him and his successors. The Scotish chronicles, +peruerting the time and order of the acts and doings of the English +kings which reigned about this season, affirme, that by couenants of +peace concluded betwixt Malcolme king of Scotland, and Adelstan king +of England, it was agréed, that Cumberland should remaine to the +Scots: as in their chronicles you may find at full expressed. And +againe, that Indulfe, who succéeded Malcolme in the kingdome of +Scotland, aided king Edmund against Aulafe, whom the same chronicles +name Aualassus, but the time which they attribute vnto the reignes of +their kings, will not alow the same to stand. For by account of their +writers, king Malcolme began not his reigne till after the deceasse of +king Adelstan, who departed this life in the yeare 940. And Malcolme +succéeded Constantine the third in the yeare 944, which was about the +third yeare of king Edmunds reigne, and after Malcolme (that reigned +15 yeares) succeeded Indulfe in the yeare 959. The like discordance +precedeth and followeth in their writers, as to the diligent reader, +in conferring their chronicles with ours, manifestlie appeareth. +We therefore (to satisfie the desirous to vnderstand and sée the +diuersitie of writers) haue for the more part in their chronicles left +the same as we found it. + +[Sidenote: _Polydor_. The lawes of king Edmund.] +But now to the other dooings of king Edmund: it is recorded, that +he ordeined diuers good and wholsome lawes, verie profitable and +necessarie for the commonwealth, which lawes with diuers other of like +antiquitie are forgot and blotted out by rust of time, the consumer of +things woorthie of long remembrance (as saith Polydor:) but sithens +his time they haue béene recouered for the more part, & by maister +[Sidenote: Five yeares and 7 months hath _Si. Dun._] +William Lambert turned into Latine, & were imprinted by Iohn Day, +in the yeare 1568, as before I haue said. Finallie, this prince king +Edmund, after he had reigned sixe yeares and a halfe, he came to his +end by great misfortune. For (as some say) it chanced, that espieng +where one of his seruants was in danger to be slaine amongest his +enimies that were about him with drawen swords, as he stepped in to +haue holpen his seruant, he was slaine at a place called Pulcher +church, or (as other haue) Michelsbourgh. + +[Sidenote: Pridecire. saith _Si. Dun._ _Will. Malm._ _Matth. West._ +946.] +Other say, that kéeping a great feast at the aforesaid place on +the day of saint Augustine the English apostle (which is the 26 of +Maie, and as that yeare came about, it fell on the tuesday) as he was +set at the table, he espied where a common robber was placed neere +vnto him, whome sometime he had banished the land, and now being +returned without licence, he presumed to come into the kings presence, +wherewith the king was so moued with high disdaine, that he suddenlie +arose from the table, and flew vpon the théefe, and catching him by +the heare of the head, threw him vnder his féet, wherewith the théefe, +hauing fast hold on the king, brought him downe vpon him also, and +with his knife stroke him into the bellie, in such wise, that the +kings bowels fell out of his chest, and there presentlie died. The +theefe was hewen in péeces by the kings seruants, but yet he slue +and hurt diuers before they could dispatch him. This chance was +lamentable, namelie to the English people, which by the ouertimelie +death of their king, in whome appeared manie euident tokens of great +excellencie, lost the hope which they had conceiued of great wealth to +increase by his prudent and most princelie gouernement. His bodie was +buried at Glastenburie where Dunstane was then abbat. + +There be that write, that the death of king Edmund was signified +[Sidenote: _Capgraue_. A vaine tale.] +aforehand to Dunstane, who about the same time attending vpon +the same king, as he remooued from one place to an other, chanced to +accompanie himselfe with a noble man, one duke Elstane, and as they +rode togither, behold suddenlie Dunstane saw in the waie before him, +where the kings musicians rode, the diuell running and leaping amongst +the same musicians after a reioising maner, whome after he had beheld +a good while, he said to the duke; Is it possible that you may see +that which I sée? The duke answered that he saw nothing otherwise than +[Sidenote: Crossing bringeth sight of the diuels, and crossing driueth +them away.] +he ought to sée. Then said Dunstane, Blesse your eies with the +signe of the crosse, and trie whether you can see that I sée. And +when he had doone as Dunstane appointed him, he saw also the féend +in likenesse of a little short euill fauoured Aethiopian dansing and +leaping, whereby they gathered that some euill hap was towards some of +the companie: but when they had crossed and blessed them, the foule +spirit vanished out of their sight. + +[Sidenote: Dunstane an interpreter of dreames.] +Now after they had talked of this vision, and made an end of their +talke touching the same, the duke required of Dunstane to interpret a +dreame which he had of late in sléepe, and that was this: He thought +that he saw in a vision the king with all his nobles sit in his dining +chamber at meate, and as they were there making merrie togither, the +king chanced to fall into a dead sléepe, and all the noble men, and +those of his councell that were about him were changed into robucks +and goats. Dunstane quicklie declared that this dreame signified +[Sidenote: Dunstan séeth the diuell often, but now he was become a +waiter at the table when Dunstane sat with the king.] +the kings death, and the changing of the nobles into dum and +insensible beasts betokened that the princes & gouernors of the realme +should decline from the waie of truth, and wander as foolish beasts +without a guide to rule them. Also the night after this talke when the +king was set at supper, Dunstane saw the same spirit, or some other, +walke vp and downe amongst them that waited at the table, and within +thrée daies after, the king was slaine, as before ye haue heard. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Edred succedeth his brother Edmund in the realme of England, the +Northumbers rebell against him, they and the Scots sweare to be his +true subiects, they breake their oth and ioine with Aulafe the Dane, +who returneth into Northumberland, and is made king thereof, the +people expell him and erect Hericius in his roome, king Edred taketh +reuenge on the Northumbers for their disloialtie, the rereward of his +armie is assalted by an host of his enimies issuing out of Yorke, the +Northumbers submit themselues, and put awaie Hericius their king, +Wolstane archbishop of Yorke punished for his disloialtie, whereto +Edred applied himselfe after the appeasing of ciuill tumults, his +death and buriall, a speciall signe of Edreds loue to Dunstane abbat +of Glastenburie, his practise of cousenage touching king Edreds +treasure._ + +THE XXIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: EDRED. 946.] +Edred the brother of Edmund, and sonne to Edward the elder and to +Edgiue his last wife, began his reigne ouer the realme of England in +the yéere of our Lord 946, or (as other say) 997, which was in the +twelfe yéere of the emperor Otho the first, and in the 21 yéere of the +reigne of Lewes K. of France, & about the third or fourth yéere of +Malcolme the first of that name, king of Scotland. He was crowned +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._] +and annointed the 16 day of August by Odo the archbishop of +Canturburie at Kingstone vpon Thames. In the first yéere of his +[Sidenote: The Northumbers rebell and are subdued.] +reigne, the Northumbers rebelled against him, wherevpon he raised an +armie, inuaded their countrie, and subdued them by force. This doone, +he went forward into Scotland: but the Scots without shewing anie +resistance submitted themselues vnto him, and so both Scots and +Northumbers receiued an oth to be true vnto him, which they obserued +but a small while, for he was no sooner returned into the south parts, +[Sidenote: Aulafe returned into Northumberland.] +but that Aulafe which had beene chased out of the countrie by king +Edmund, as before ye haue heard, returned into Northumberland with a +great nauie of ships, and was ioifullie receiued of the inhabitants, +and restored againe to the kingdome, which he held by the space +of foure yéeres, and then by the accustomed disloialtie of the +Northumbers he was by them expelled, and then they set vp one +[Sidenote: Hirke or Hericius. _Wil. Malm._ The disloialtie of the +Northumbers punished.] +Hirke or Hericius the sonne of one Harrold to reigne ouer them, who +held not the estate anie long time. For in the third yeere of his +reigne, Edred in the reuenge of such disloiall dealings in the +Northumbers, destroied the countrie with fire & swoord, sleaing the +most part of the inhabitants. He burnt the abbeie of Rippon, which was +kept against him. + +As he was returning homeward, an host of enimies brake out of Yorke, +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._ _Simon Dun._ Easterford.] +and setting vpon the rereward of the kings armie at a place called +Easterford, made great slaughter of the same. Wherefore the king in +his rage ment to haue begun a new spoile and destruction, but the +Northumbers humbled themselues so vnto him, that putting awaie their +forsaid king Hirke or Hericius, and offering great rewards and gifts +to buy their peace, they obteined pardon. But bicause that Wolstane +the archbishop of Yorke was of counsell with his countriemen in +reuolting from king Edred, and aduancing of Hericius, king Edred tooke +him and kept him in prison a long time after, but at length in respect +of the reuerence which he bare to his calling, he set him at libertie, +and pardoned him his offense. Matth. Westm. reciteth an other +[Sidenote: The archbishop of Yorke imprisoned. _Matth. West._ 951.] +cause of Wolstans imprisonment, as thus. In the yéere of Grace, saith +he, 951, king Edred put the archbishop of Yorke in close prison, +bicause of often complaints exhibited against him, as he which had +commanded manie townesmen of Theadford to be put to death, in reuenge +of the abbat Aldelme by them vniustlie slaine and murthered. + +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +After this, when Edred had appeased all ciuill tumults and +dissentions within his land, he applied him selfe to the aduancing of +religion, wholie following the mind of Dunstane, by whose exhortation +he suffered patientlie manie torments of the bodie, and exercised +himselfe in praier and other deuout studies. This Edred in his latter +daies being greatlie addicted to deuotion & religious priests, at the +request of his mother Edgiua, restored the abbeie of Abington which +was built first by king Inas, but in these daies sore decaied and +[Sidenote: Edredus departeth this life.] +fallen into ruine. Finallie, after he had reigned nine yéeres and +a halfe, he departed this life to the great gréeuance of men, and +reioising of angels (as it is written) and was buried at Winchester in +the cathedrall church there. ¶ Heere is to be noted, that the foresaid +Edred, when he came first to the crowne, vpon a singular and most +[Sidenote: Dunstane in fauour.] +especiall fauour which he bare towards Dunstane the abbat of +Glastenburie, committed vnto him the chiefest part of all his +treasure, as charters of lands with other monuments, and such ancient +princelie iewels as belonged to the former kings, with other such as +he got of his owne, willing him to lay the same in safe kéeping within +his monasterie of Glastenburie. + +Afterward, when king Edred perceiued himselfe to be in danger of death +by force of that sickenesse, which in déed made an end of his life, he +sent into all parties to such as had anie of his treasure in kéeping, +to bring the same vnto him with all spéed, that he might dispose +[Sidenote: But was not this a deuise thereby to deteine the treasure? +for I doo not read that he deliuered it out of his hands.] +thereof before his departure out of this life, as he should sée cause. +Dunstane tooke such things as he had vnder his hands, & hasted forward +to deliuer the same vnto the king, and to visit him in that time of +his sickenesse according to his dutie: but as he was vpon the waie, +a voice spake to him from heauen, saieng; Behold king Edred is now +departed in peace. At the hearing of this voice, the horsse whereon +Dunstane rode fell downe and died, being not able to abide the +presence of the angell that thus spake to Dunstane. And when he came +to the court, he vnderstood that the king died the same houre in which +[Sidenote: An angell, or as some think a woorse creature.] +it was told him by the angell, as before ye haue heard. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Edwin succeedeth Edred in the kingdome of England, his beastlie and +incestuous carnalite with a kinswoman of his on the verie day of +his coronation, he is reproued of Dunstane and giueth ouer the +gentlewomans companie, Dunstane is banished for rebuking king Edwin +for his unlawfull lust and lewd life, the diuell reioised at his +exile, what reuenging mischiefs the king did for displeasure sake +against the said Dunstane in exile, the middle part of England +rebelleth against king Edwin, and erecteth his brother Edgar in roiall +roome ouer them, he taketh thought and dieth; Edgar succeedeth him, he +is a fauourer of moonks, his prouision for defense of his realme, his +policie and discretion in gouernment, what kings he bound by oth to be +true vnto him, eight princes row his barge in signe of submission, +the vicious inconueniences that grew among the Englishmen vpon his +fauouring of the Danes, a restraint of excessiue quaffing; Dunstane is +made bishop of Worcester and Ethelwold bishop of Wincester; iustice in +Edgars time seuerelie executed, theft punished with death, a tribute +of woolfs skins paid him out of Wales, and the benefit of that +tribute._ + +THE XXIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: EDWIN. 955.] +After the deceasse of Edred, his nephue Edwin the eldest sonne of +king Edmund was made king of England, and began his reigne ouer the +same in the yeere of our Lord 955, & in the 20 yéere of the emperor +Otho the first, in the 28 and last yéere of the reigne of Lewes king +of France, and about the twelfe yeere of Malcolme the first of that +name, king of Scotland. He was consecrated at Kingston vpon Thames by +Odo the archbishop of Canturburie. On the verie day of his coronation, +as the lords were set in councell about weightie matters touching +[Sidenote: _Will. Malmes._ _Polydor_.] +the gouernment of the realme, he rose from the place, gat him into a +chamber with one of his néere kinswomen, and there had to doo with +hir, without anie respect or regard had to his roiall estate +and princelie dignitie. Dunstane latelie before named abbat of +Glastenburie, did not onlie without feare of displeasure reprooue +the K. for such shamefull abusing of his bodie, but also caused the +archbishop of Canturburie to constreine him to forsake that woman whom +vnlawfullie he kept. + +[Sidenote: _Iohn Capgrave_.] +There be that write, that there were two women, both mother and +daughter, whome king Edward kept as concubines: for the mother being +of noble parentage, sought to satisfie the kings lust, in hope that +either he would take hir or hir daughter vnto wife. And therefore +perceiuing that Dunstane was sore against such wanton pastime as the +[Sidenote: Dunstane banished the realme.] +king vsed in their companie, she so wrought, that Dunstane was +through hir earnest trauell banished the land. This is also reported, +that when he should depart the realme, the diuell was heard in the +west end of the church, taking vp a great laughter after his roring +[Sidenote: Dunstane séeth not the diuell.] +maner, as though he should shew himselfe glad and ioifull at +Dunstanes going into exile. But Dunstane perceiuing his behauiour, +spake to him, and said: Well thou aduersarie, doo not so greatly +reioise at the matter, for thou dooest not now so much reioise at +my departure, but by Gods grace thou shalt be as sorrowfull for my +returne. + +[Sidenote: Dunstane departed into exile.] +Thus was Dunstane banished by king Edwine, so that he was compelled +to passe ouer into Flanders, where he remained for a time within +a monasterie at Gant, finding much friendship at the hands of the +gouernor of that countrie. Also the more to wreake his wrath, the +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ Edwine displaceth monks and putteth secular +preists in their roomes.] +king spoiled manie religious houses of their goods, and droue out +the monks, placing secular priests in their roomes, as namelie at +Malmesburie, where yet the house was not empaired, but rather inriched +in lands and ornaments by the kings liberalitie, and the industrious +meanes of the same priests, which tooke vp the bones of saint Aldelme, +[Sidenote: Rebellion raised against king Edwine. _Simon Dun._] +and put the same into a shrine. At length the inhabitants of the +middle part of England, euen from Humber to Thames rebelled against +him, and elected his brother Edgar, to haue the gouernement ouer them, +wherwith king Edwine tooke such griefe, for that he saw no meane at +hand how to remedie the matter, that shortlie after, when he had +[Sidenote: Edwin departeth this life.] +reigned somewhat more than foure yéeres, he died, and his bodie was +buried at Winchester in the new abbeie. + +[Sidenote: EDGAR. 959.] +Edgar the second sonne of Edmund late king of England, after the +decease of his elder brother the foresaid Edwine, began his reigne +ouer this realme of England in the yeere of our Lord God 959, in the +22 yéere of the emperour Otho the first, in the fourth yéere of the +reigne of Lotharius king of France, 510 almost ended after the comming +of the Saxons, 124 after the arriuall of the Danes, and in the last +yéere of Malcolme king of Scotland. He was crowned & consecrated +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +at Bath, or (as some say) at Kingstone vpon Thames by Odo the +archbishop of Canturburie, being as then not past 16 yéeres of +age, when he was thus admitted king. He was no lesse indued with +commendable gifts of mind, than with strength and force of bodie. +[Sidenote: Edgar a fauorer of moonks.] +He was a great fauorer of moonks, and speciallie had Dunstane in high +estimation. Aboue all things in this world he regarded peace, and +studied dailie how to preserue the same, to the commoditie and +aduancement of his subiects. + +[Sidenote: The diligent prouision of K. Edgar for defense of the realme.] +When he had established things in good quiet, and set an order in +matters as seemed to him best for the peaceable gouernement of his +people, he prepared a great nauie of ships, diuiding them in thrée +parts, he appointed euerie part to a quarter of the realme, to waft +about the coast, that no forren enimie should approch the land, but +that they might be incountered and put backe, before they could take +land. And euerie yéere after Easter, he vsed to giue order, that his +ships should assemble togither in their due places: and then would he +with the east nauie saile to the west parts of his realme, and sending +those ships backe, he would with the west nauie saile into the north +parts; and with the north nauie come backe againe into the east. +This custome he vsed, that he might scowre the seas of all pirats & +theeues. In the winter season and spring time, he would ride through +the prouinces of his realme, searching out how the iudges and great +lords demeaned themselues in the administration of iustice, sharpelie +punishing those that were found guiltie of extortion, or had done +otherwise in anie point than dutie required. In all things he vsed +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +such politike discretion, that neither was he put in danger by +treason of his subiects, nor molested by forren enimies. + +He caused diuerse kings to bind themselues by oth to be true and +[Sidenote: Mascutius.] +faithfull vnto him, as Kinadius or rather Induf king of Scotland, +Malcolme king of Cumberland, Mascutius an archpirat, or (as we may +[Sidenote: Kings of Welshmen.] +call him) a maister rouer, and also all the kings of the Welshmen, as +Duffnall, Girffith, Duvall, Iacob, and Iudithill, all which came to +his court, and by their solemne othes receiued, sware to be at his +commandement. And for the more manifest testimonie therof, he +[Sidenote: King Edgar roweth on the water of Dée.] +hauing them with him at Chester, caused them to enter into a barge +vpon the water of Dée, and placing himselfe in the forepart of the +barge, at the helme, he caused those eight high princes to row +the barge vp and downe the water, shewing thereby his princelie +prerogatiue and roial magnificence, in that he might vse the seruice +of so manie kings that were his subiects. And therevpon he said (as +hath bin reported) that then might his successours account themselues +kings of England, when they inioied such prerogatiue of high and +supreme honor. + +The fame of this noble prince was spred ouer all, as well on this side +the sea as beyond, insomuch that great resort of strangers chanced in +his daies, which came euer into this land to serue him, and to sée the +state of his court, as Saxons and other, yea and also Danes, which +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._ King Edgar fauoureth Danes.] +became verie familiar with him. He fauored in déed the Danes (as hath +béene said) more than stood with the commoditie of his subiects, for +scarse was anie stréet in England, but Danes had their dwelling in the +same among the Englishmen, whereby came great harme: for whereas +[Sidenote: English learned to quaffe of the Danes. _Will Malm._] +the Danes by nature were great drinkers, the Englishmen by continuall +conuersation with them learned the same vice. King Edgar to reforme in +part such excessiue quaffing as then began to grow in vse, caused by +the procurement of Dunstane, nailes to be set in cups of a certeine +measure, marked for the purpose, that none should drinke more than was +assigned by such measured cups. Englishmen also learned of the Saxons, +[Sidenote: Englishmen learne other vices of strangers.] +Flemings, and other strangers, their peculiar kind of vices, as of +the Saxons a disordered fiercenesse of mind, or the Flemings a féeble +tendernesse of bodie: where before they reioised in their owne +simplicitie, and estéemed not the lewd and vnprofitable manners of +strangers. + +Dunstane was made bishop of Worcester, and had also the administration +of the sée of London committed vnto him. He was in such fauor with the +[Sidenote: Ethelwold made bishop of Winchester.] +king, that he ruled most things at his pleasure. Ethelwold, which +being first a moonke of Glastenburie, and after abbat of Abington, was +likewise made bishop of Winchester, and might doo verie much with +[Sidenote: Oswald. Floriacum.] +the king. Also Oswald, which had beene a moonke in the abbeie of +Florie in France, and after was made bishop of Worcester, and from +thence remooued to the sée of Yorke, was highlie in fauor with this +king, so that by these thrée prelates he was most counselled. Iustice +[Sidenote: Moonks must néeds write much in praise of Edgar who had men +of their cote in such estimati[=o].] +in his daies was strictlie obserued, for although he were +courteous and gentle towards his friends, yet was he sharpe and hard +to offenders, so that no person of what estate or degree soeuer he +was escaped worthie punishment, if he did transgresse the lawes and +ordinances of the realme. There was no priuie theefe nor common robber +that durst lay hands vpon other mens goods, but he might looke to make +amends with losse of his life, if he were knowne to be giltie. For how +might men that did offend, thinke to escape his hands, which deuised +waies how to rid the countrie of all wild rauening beasts, that liued +vpon sucking the bloud of others? For as it is said, he appointed +Iudweall or Ludweall king of Wales to present him thrée hundred +[Sidenote: A tribute instituted of woolf-skins.] +woolues yéerelie in name of a tribute, but after thrée yéeres space, +there was not a woolfe to be found, and so that tribute ceased in the +fourth yéere after it began to be paid. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The death of Alfred king Edgars wife (or concubine) causeth him to +fall into a fowle offense, an example teaching men to take heed how +they put others in trust to woo for them; earle Ethelwold cooseneth +the king of his wife, the danger of beholding a womans beautie with +lustfull eies; king Edgar killeth earle Ethelwold to marrie faire +Alfred his wife; the bloudie and unnaturall speach of Ethelwolds base +sonne: examples of king Edgars great incontinencie and lewd life; +Dunstane putteth the king to penance for his vnchastitie, the Welshmen +rebell against him and are corrected, king Edgars vision before his +death, of what religious buildings he was founder, his example a spur +to others to doo the like, moonks esteemed and secular priests little +regarded, king Edgars deformed reformation, his vices, stature, and +bodilie qualities, he offereth to fight hand to hand with Kinadius +king of Scots vpon occasion of words euill taken, Kinadius submitteth +himselfe and is pardoned; his wiues and children, the good state of +the realme in king Edgars time, the amplenesse of his dominions._ + +THE XXIIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: _Osborne_ and _Capgraue_ hold that she was not his wife but +a nun.] +In this meane time, Alfred the wife of king Edgar (as some say) or +rather (as others write) his concubine died, of whome he had begot a +sonne named Edward. The death of this woman caused the king to commit +an heinous offense. For albeit at the same time the fame went, +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ Horger.] +that Horgerius duke of Cornewall, or rather Deuonshire, had a daughter +named Alfred, a damosell of excellent beautie, whome Edgar minding +to haue in mariage, appointed one of his noble men called earle +Ethelwold, to go with all speed into Cornewall or Deuonshire, to sée +if the yoong ladies beautie answered the report that went of hir, and +so to breake the matter to hir father in his behalfe: yet Ethelwold +being a yong iollie gentleman, tooke his iournie into Cornewall, +and comming to the duke, was well receiued, and had a sight of his +daughter, with whose beautie he was streight rauished so far in loue, +[Sidenote: Erle Ethelwold deceiueth the king of his wife.] +that not regarding the kings pleasure, who had sent him thither, +he began to purchase the good will of both father and daughter for +himselfe, and did so much that he obteined the same in déed. Herevpon +returning to the king, he informed him that the damosell was not of +such beautie and comelie personage, as might be thought woorthie to +match in mariage with his maiestie. + +Shortlie after perceiuing the kings mind by his wrongfull misreport to +be turned, and nothing bent that way, he began to sue to him that he +might with his fauour marie the same damosell: which the king granted, +as one that cared not for hir, bicause of the credit which he gaue to +Ethelwolds words. And so by this meanes Ethelwold obteined Alfred in +mariage, which was to his owne destruction, as the case fell out. For +when the fame of hir passing beautie did spread ouer all the realme, +now that she was maried and came more abroad in sight of the people, +the king chanced to heare thereof, and desirous to sée hir, deuised +vnder colour of hunting to come vnto the house of Ethelwold, and so +did: where he had no sooner set his eie vpon hir, but he was so farre +[Sidenote: King Edgar séeketh the destruction of earle Ethelwold.] +wrapped in the chaine of burning concupiscence, that to obteine +his purpose, he shortlie after contriued Ethelwolds death, and maried +his wife. + +Some say, that the woman kindled the brand of purpose: for when it was +knowne, that the king would sée hir, Ethelwold willed hir in no wise +to trim vp hir selfe, but rather to disfigure hir in fowle garments, +and some euil fauored attire, that hir natiue beautie should not +appeare: but she perceiuing how the matter went, of spite set out hir +selfe to the vttermost, so that the king vpon the first sight of hir, +became so farre inamored of hir beautie, that taking hir husband +[Sidenote: King Edgar a murtherer.] +foorth with him on hunting into a forrest or wood then called +Warlewood, & after Horewood, not shewing that he meant him anie hurt, +till at length he had got him within the thicke of the wood, where he +suddenlie stroke him through with his dart. Now as his bastard son +came to the place, the king asked him how he liked the maner of +hunting, wherto he answered; "Verie well if it like your grace, for +that that liketh you, ought not to displease me." With which answer +the king was so pacified, that he indeuored by pretending his fauor +towards the sonne, to extenuat the tyrannicall murther of the father. +Then did the king marie the countesse Alfred, and of hir begat two +sonnes, Edmund which died yoong, and Etheldred or Egelred. + +Besides this cruell act wrought by king Edgar, for the satisfieng of +his fleshlie lust, he also plaied another part greatlie to the staine +of his honor, mooued also by wanton loue, with a yoong damosell named +Wilfrid, for after that she had (to auoid the danger of him) either +professed hir selfe a nun, or else for colour (as the most part of +writers agrée) got hirselfe into a nunrie, and clad hir in a nuns +wéed, he tooke hir foorth of hir cloister, and lay by hir sundrie +times, and begat on hir a daughter named Edith, who comming to +[Sidenote: His licentious life & incontinencie.] +conuenient age, was made a nun. A third example of his incontinencie +is written by authors, and that is this. It chanced on a time that he +lodged one night at Andeuer, and hauing a mind to a lords daughter +there, he commanded that she should bee brought to his bed. But the +mother of the gentlewoman would not that hir daughter should be +defloured: and therefore in the darke of the night brought one of hir +maidseruants, and laid hir in the kings bed, she being both faire, +proper, and pleasant. + +In the morning when the day began to appeare, she made hast to arise: +and being asked of the king why she so hasted; That I may go to my +daies worke if it please your grace (quoth she.) Herewith she being +staied by the king, as it were against hir will, she fell downe on hir +knées, and required of him that she might be made frée, in guerdon of +hir nights worke. For (saith she) it is not for your honor, that the +woman which hath tasted the pleasure of the kings bodie should anie +more suffer seruitude vnder the rule and appointment of a sharpe and +rough mistresse. + +The king then being mooued in his spirits, laughed at the matter, +though not from the heart, as he that tooke great indignation at the +dooings of the dutchesse, and pitied the case of the poore wench. But +yet in fine (turning earnest to a iest) he pardoned all the parties, +and aduanced the wench to high honor, farre aboue those that had rule +of hir afore, so that she ruled them (willed they nilled they:) for he +vsed hir as his paramour, till he maried the foresaid Alfred. + +For these youthfull parts, & namelie for the rauishing of Wilfride +(which though she were no nun, yet the offense seemed heinous, for +[Sidenote: Note the déep hypocrisie of Dunstane.] +that he should not once touch anie woman shadowed vnder that +habit) he greatlie displeased Dunstane, so that by him he was put to +his seuen yéeres penance, and kept from the crowne till the 12 yeere +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._ _Fabian_ out of _Guido de Cobeman_. _Wil. Malm._] +of his reigne or more. For some write that he was not crowned nor +annointed king, till the 30 yéere of his age, which should be about +the 13 or 14 yeere of his reigne by that account, sith he entred into +the rule of the kingdome about the 16 yeere of his age. In déed one +author witnesseth, that he was consecrated at Bath on a Whitsunday, +the 13 yéere of his reigne, and that by Dunstane archbishop of +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ _Ranul. Hig._] +Canturburie, and Oswold archbishop of Yorke. But some which suppose +that he was consecrated king immediatlie vpon the death of Edridus, +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +affirme that he was crowned and annointed king by the archbishop +Odo, Dunstane as then remaining in exile, from whence he was +immediatlie reuoked by Edgar, and first made bishop of Worcester (as +hath beene said) and after the decease of Odo was aduanced to be +archbishop of Canturburie. But by some writers it appeareth, that +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._ _Simon Dun._] +Dunstane was reuoked out of exile immediatlie vpon partition of the +realme betwixt Edwin and Edgar, which chanced in the yéere 957, by the +rebellion of the people of Mercia, & others (as before ye haue heard:) +and that in the yéere following the archbishop Odo died, after whome +succéeded Alfin bishop of Winchester, who also died the same yéere +that king Edward deceassed, as he went to fetch his pall from Rome, +and then Brighthelme bishop of Dorchester was elected archbishop. But +bicause he was not able to discharge so great an office, by K. Edgars +commandement he was forced to giue place to Dunstane. + +[Sidenote: _Fabian_. _Ran. Higd._ The Welshmen rebel and are chastised.] +Toward the latter end of king Edgars daies, the Welshmen mooued +some rebellion against him. Wherevpon he assembled an armie, and +entering the countrie of Glamorgan, did much hurt in the same, +chastising the inhabitants verie sharpelie for their rebellious +attempts. Amongst other spoiles taken in those parties at that time by +the men of war, the bell of saint Ellutus was taken away, and hanged +about a horsses necke, and (as hath béene reported) in the after +noone, it chanced that king Edgar laid him downe to rest, wherevpon in +sleepe there appeared one vnto him, and smote him on the breast with a +speare. By reason of which vision he caused all things that had beene +taken away to be restored againe. But within nine daies after the +[Sidenote: _Will Malmes._ King Edgar departeth this life.] +king died. Whether anie such thing chanced, or that he had anie such +vision it forceth not. But truth it is, that in the 37 yeere of his +age, after he had reigned 16 yéeres and two moneths he departed this +life, the 8 day of Iulie, and was buried at Glastenburie. + +[Sidenote: Wherefore Edgar is praised of some writers.] +This Edgar is highlie renowmed of writers for such princelie +qualities as appeared in him, but chieflie for that he was so +beneficiall to the church, namelie to moonks, the aduancement of whome +he greatlie sought, both in building abbeies new from the ground, in +reparing those that were decaied: also by inriching them with great +reuenues, and in conuerting collegiat churches into monasteries, +remoouing secular priests, and bringing in moonks in their places. +There passed no one yéere of his reigne, wherin he founded not one +abbeie or other. The abbeie of Glastenburie which his father had begun +he finished. The abbeie of Abington also he accomplished and set in +good order. The abbeies of Peterborough & Thornie he established. The +nunrie of Wilton he founded and richlie endowed, where his daughter +Editha was professed, and at length became abbesse there. To be +briefe, he builded (as the chronicles record) to the number of 40 +[Sidenote: _Fabian_. _Ran. Higd._ _Hen. Hunt._] +abbeies and monasteries, in some of which he placed moonks, and in +some nuns. By his example in those daies, other nobles, as also +prelates, & some of the laitie, did begin the foundation of sundrie +abbeies and monasteries: as Adelwold bishop of Winchester builded +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +the abbeie of Elie, and (as some say) Peterborough & Thornie, though +they were established by the king (as before is mentioned.) Also earle +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._] +Ailewin, at the exhortation of the same bishop Adelwold, builded +the abbeie of Ramsey, though some attribute the dooing thereof vnto +Oswald the archbishop of Yorke, and some to king Edward the elder. + +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._ Moonks esteemed & secular priests little +regarded.] +To conclude, the religious orders of moonks and nuns in these +daies florished, and the state of secular priests was smallie +regarded, insomuch that they were constreined to auoid out of diuerse +colleges, and to leaue the same vnto moonks, as at Worcester and +Winchester, wherein the new monasterie, bicause the kings liued not in +such sort as was then thought requisite, the prebends were taken +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._ _lib. 6 cap. 9_] +from them and giuen to vicars. But when the vicars were thought to vse +themselues no better, but rather worse than the other before them, +they were likewise put out, and moonks placed in their roomes +by authoritie of pope John the 13. This reformation, or rather +deformation was vsed by king Edgar in many other places of the realme. + +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ _Ran. Higd._ _Tho. Eliot_.] +He was (as appeareth by diuers writers) namelie in his beginning, +cruell against his owne people, and wanton in lusting after yoong +women (as you haue heard before.) Of stature & proportion of bodie +[Sidenote: Edgar small of stature but strong and hardie.] +he was but small and low, but yet nature had inclosed within so little +a personage such strength, that he durst incounter and combat with him +that was thought most strong, onelie doubting this, least he which +should haue to doo with him should stand in feare of him. And as it +chanced at a great feast (where oftentimes men vse their toongs more +[Sidenote: Kenneth king of Scots.] +liberallie than néedeth) Kenneth the king of Scots cast out +certeine words in this maner: "It may (saith hée) séeme a maruell that +so manie countries and prouinces should be subiect to such a little +sillie bodie as Edgar is." These words being borne awaie by a iester +or minstrell, and afterwards vttered to Edgar with great reproch, +he wiselie dissembled the matter for a time, although he kept the +remembrance thereof inclosed within his breast: and vpon occasion, at +length feigned to go on hunting, taking the king of Scots forth with +him: and hauing caused one of his seruants to conuey two swords into a +place within the forrest by him appointed in secret wise, of purpose +he withdrew from the residue of his companie, and there accompanied +onelie with the Scotish king, came to the place where the swords were +[Sidenote: The noble courage of king Edgar.] +laid; and there taking the one of them, deliuered the other to the +Scotish king, willing him now to assaie his strength, that they might +shew by proofe whether of them ought to be subiect to the other; +"Start not, but trie it with me (saith he:) for it is a shame for a +king to be full of brags at bankets, and not to be readie to fight +when triall should be made abroad." The Scotish king herewith being +astonied and maruellouslie abashed, fell downe at his féet, and with +much humilitie confessed his fault, & desired pardon for the same, +which vpon such his humble submission king Edward easilie granted. + +This noble prince had two wiues, Egelfrida or Elfrida, surnamed the +white, the daughter of a mightie duke named Ordiner, by whome he had +issue a sonne named Edward that succéeded him. His second wife was +called Alfreda the daughter of Orgar duke of Deuon or Cornewall (as +some saie) by whome he had issue Edmund that died before his father, +and Egelred which afterwards was king. Also he had issue a base +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +daughter named Editha, begotten of his concubine Wilfrid (as +before ye haue heard.) The state of the realme in king Edgars daies +was in good point, for both the earth gaue hir increase verie +plentiouslie, the elements shewed themselues verie fauorable, +according to the course of times: peace was mainteined, and no +inuasion by forraine enimies attempted. For Edgar had not onelie +all the whole Ile of Britaine in subiection, but also was ruler & +souereigne lord ouer all the kings of the out Iles that lie within +the seas about all the coasts of the same Britaine euen vnto the +[Sidenote: Ireland subiect to king Edgar.] +realme of Norwaie. He brought also a great part of Ireland vnder his +subiection, with the citie of Dublin, as by authentike recordes it +dooth and may appeare. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Contention amongest the peeres and states about succession to the +crowne, the moonkes remoued and the canons and secular priests +restored by Alfer duke of Mercia and his adherents, a blasing starre +with the euents insuing the same, the rood of Winchester speaketh, a +prettie shift of moonks to defeat the priests of their possessions, +the controuersie betwene the moonks and the priests ended by a +miracle of archbishop Dunstane, great hope that Edward would tread his +fathers steps, the reuerent loue he bare his stepmother queene Alfred +and hir sonne Egelred, hir diuelish purpose to murther Edward hir +step-sonne accomplished, his obscure funerall in respect of pompe, +but famous by meanes of miracles wrought by and about his sepulture, +queene Alfred repenting hir of the said prepensed murther, dooth +penance, and imploieth hir substance in good woorkes as satisfactorie +for hir sinnes, king Edwards bodie remoued, and solemnlie buried by +Alfer duke of Mercia, who was eaten up with lice for being against the +said Edwards aduancement to the crowne, queene Alfreds offense by no +meanes excusable._ + +THE XXV. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: EDWARD.] +After the deceasse of king Edgar, there was some strife and +[Sidenote: Some write that the father king Edgar appointed Edward to +succeed him. _Simon Dun._ _Iohn Capg._] +contention amongst the lords & péeres of the realme about the +succession of the crowne: for Alfred the mother of Egelredus or +Ethelredus, and diuers other of hir opinion, would gladlie haue +aduanced the same Egelredus to the rule: but the archbishop Dunstan +taking in his hands the baner of the crucifix, presented his elder +brother Edward vnto the lords as they were assembled togither, and +there pronounced him king, notwithstanding that both queene Alfred and +hir friends, namelie Alfer the duke of Mercia were sore against him, +especiallie for that he was begot in vnlawfull bed of Elfleda the nun, +for which offense he did seuen yeares penance, and not for lieng with +Wilfrid (as maister Fox thinketh.) But Dunstane iudging (as is to be +[Sidenote: Alfer duke of Mercia and other immediately upon Edgars +death before the crowne was established, renounced the moonks and +restored the canons. _Simon Dun._] +thought) that Edward was more fit for their behoofe to continue +the world in the former course as Edgar had left it, than his brother +Egelred (whose mother and such as tooke part with hir vnder hir sonnes +authoritie were likelie inough to turne all vpside downe) vsed the +matter so, that with helpe of Oswald the archbishop of Yorke, and +other bishops, abbats, and certeine of the nobilitie, as the earle of +Essex and such like, he preuailed in his purpose, so that (as before +is said) the said Edward, being the second of that name which gouerned +this land before the conquest, was admitted king, and began his reigne +ouer England in the yeare of our Lord 975, in the third yeare of +[Sidenote: 975.] +the emperour Otho the second, in the 20 yeare of the reigne of Lothar +king of France, and about the fourth yeare of Cumelerne king of +Scotland. He was consecrated by archb. Dunstane at Kingston vpon +Thames, to the great griefe of his mother in law Alfred and hir +friends. ¶ About the beginning of his reigne a blasing starre was +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +seene, signifieng (as was thought) the miserable haps that +followed. And first there insued barrennesse of ground, and thereby +famine amongest the people, and morraine of cattell. + +[Sidenote: Alfer or Elfer, duke of Mercia.] +Also duke Alfer or Elfer of Mercia, and other noble men destroyed +the abbies which king Edgar and bishop Adelwold had builded within the +limits of Mercia. The priests or canons, which had béene expelled in +Edgars time out of the prebends and benefices, began to complaine of +the wrongs that were doone to them, in that they had beene put out of +possession from their liuings, alleging it to be a great offense +and miserable case, that a stranger should come and remoue an old +inhabitant, for such maner of dooing could not please God, not yet be +allowed of anie good man, which ought of reason to doubt least the +same should hap to him which he might sée to haue béene another mans +vndooing. About this matter was hard hold, for manie of the temporall +lords, and namelie the same Alfer, iudged that the priests had +[Sidenote: _Iohn Capg._ _Wil. Malm._ _Ran. Higd._ _Matt. West._ +_Simon Dun._] +wrong. In so much that they remoued the moonks out of their places, +and brought into the monasteries secular priests with their wiues. But +Edelwin duke of the Eastangles, & Alfred his brother, with Brightnoth +or Brightnode earle of Essex, withstood this dooing, & gathering an +armie, with great valiancie mainteined the moonks in their houses, +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] +within the countrie of Eastangles. Herevpon were councels holden, +as at Winchester, at Kirthling in Eastangle, and at Calne. + +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +At Winchester, when the matter was brought to that passe that the +priests were like to haue had their purpose, an image of the rood that +stood there in the refectorie where they sat in councell, vttered +[Sidenote: A pretie shift of the moonks to disappoint the priests. +_Polydor_.] +certeine woords in this wise; God forbid it should be so, God forbid +it should be so: ye iudged well once, but ye may not change well +againe. As though (saith Polydor Virgil) the moonks had more right, +which had bereft other men of their possessions, than the priests +which required restitution of their owne. But (saith he) bicause the +image of Christ hanging on the crosse was thought to speake these +words, such credit was giuen thereto, as it had béene an oracle, that +the priests had their sute dashed, and all the trouble was ceassed. So +the moonks held those possessions, howsoeuer they came to them, by the +helpe of God, or rather (as saith the same Polydor) by the helpe of +man. For there were euen then diuers that thought this to be rather an +oracle of Phebus than of God, that is to say, not published by Gods +power, but by the fraud and craftie deceit of men. + +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +The matter therefore was not so quieted, but that vpon new trouble +an other councell was had at a manour house belonging to the king, +called Calne, where they that were appointed to haue the hearing of +the matter, sat in an vpper loft. The king by reason of his yoong +yéeres was spared, so that he came not there. Héere as they were +busied in arguing the matter, either part laieng for himselfe what +could be said, Dunstane was sore reuiled, and had sundrie reproches +laid against him: but suddenlie euen in the verie heat of their +communication, the ioists of the loft failed, and downe came all the +companie, so that manie were slaine and hurt, but Dunstane alone +[Sidenote: Dunstane by woorking miracles had his will, when +arguments failed.] +standing vpon one of the ioists that fell not, escaped safe and sound. +And so this miracle with the other made an end of the controuersie +betwéene the priests and moonks, all the English people following the +mind of the archbishop Dunstane, who by meanes thereof had his will. + +In this meane while, king Edward ruling himselfe by good counsell of +such as were thought discréet and sage persons, gaue great hope to the +world that he would walke in his fathers vertuous steps, as alreadie +he well began, and bearing alwaie a reuerence to his mother in law, +[Sidenote: _Polydor_. _Will. Malms._] +and a brotherlie loue to hir sonne Egelred, vsed himselfe as +became him towards them both. Afterward by chance as he was hunting in +a foruest néere the castell of Corfe, where his mother in law and his +brother the said Egelred then soiourned, when all his companie were +spred abroad in following the game, so that he was left alone, he +[Sidenote: The wicked purpose of quéene Alfred.] +tooke the waie streight vnto his mother in lawes house, to visit +hir and his brother. The quéene hearing that he was come, was verie +glad thereof, for that she had occasion offered to woorke that which +she had of long time before imagined, that was, to slea the king hir +sonne in law, that hir owne sonne might inioy the garland. Wherefore +she required him to alight, which he in no wise would yéeld vnto, but +said that he had stolne from his companie, and was onelie come to see +hir and his brother, and to drinke with them, and therefore would +returne to the forrest againe to sée some more sport. + +[Sidenote: The shameful murther of K. Edward.] +The queene perceiuing that he would not alight, caused drinke to +be fetched, and as he had the cup at his mouth, by hir appointment, +one of hir seruants stroke him into the bodie with a knife, wherevpon +féeling himselfe wounded, he set spurres to the horsse thinking to +gallop awaie, and so to get to his companie. But being hurt to the +death, he fell from his horsse, so as one of his féet was fastened in +the stirrup, by reason whereof his horsse drew him foorth through +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ _Fabian_. _Sim. Dun._ _Wil. Malm._] +woods and launds, & the bloud which gushed out of the wound shewed +token of his death to such as followed him, and the waie to the place +where the horsse had left him. That place was called Corphes gate or +Corfes gate. His bodie being found was buried without anie solemne +funeralls at Warham. For they which enuied that he should inioy the +crowne, enuied also the buriall of his bodie within the church: but +the memorie of his fame could not so secretlie be buried with the +bodie, as they imagined. For sundrie miracles shewed at the place +where his bodie was interred, made the same famous (as diuerse haue +[Sidenote: Miracles.] +reported) for there was sight restored to the blind, health to the +sicke, and hearing to the deafe, which are easilier to be told than +beleeued. + +Queene Alfred also would haue ridden to the place where he laie, +mooued with repentance (as hath beene said) but the horsse wherevpon +she rode would not come neere the graue, for anie thing that could be +doone to him. Neither by changing the said horsse could the matter +be holpen: for euen the same thing happened to the other horsses. +Heerevpon the woman perceiued hir great offense towards God for +murthering the innocent, and did so repent hir afterward for the same, +that besides the chastising of hir bodie in fasting, and other +[Sidenote: Building of abbeies in those daies was thought to be a full +satisfaction for all manner of sinnes.] +kind of penance, she imploied all hir substance and patrimonie on the +poore, and in building and reparing of churches and monasteries. She +founded two houses of nuns (as is said) the one at Warwell, the other +at Ambresburie, and finallie professed hirselfe a nun in one of them, +that is to say, at Warwell, which house she builded (as some affirme) +in remembrance of hir first husband that was slaine there by king +Edgar for hir sake (as before is mentioned.) + +The bodie of this Edward the second, and surnamed the martyr, after +that it had remained thrée yéeres at Warham where it was first buried, +was remooued vnto Shaftesburie, and with great reuerence buried +[Sidenote: Elferus.] +there by the forenamed Alfer or Elfer, duke of Mercia, who also did +sore repent himselfe, in that he had beene against the aduancement of +the said king Edward (as ye haue heard.) But yet did not he escape +woorthie punishment: for within one yéere after, he was eaten to +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +death with lice (if the historie be true.) King Edward came to his +[Sidenote: _Will. Malmes._] +death after he had reigned thrée yéeres, or (as other write) thrée +yéeres and eight moneths. ¶ Whatsoeuer hath béene reported by writers +of the murther committed on the person of this king Edward, sure it +is that if he were base begotten (as by writers of no meane credit it +should appéere he was in déed) great occasion vndoubtedlie was giuen +vnto quéene Alfred to seeke reuenge for the wrongfull keeping backe +of hir son Egelred from his rightfull succession to the crowne: but +whether that Edward was legitimate or not, she might yet haue deuised +some other lawfull meane to haue come by hir purpose, and not so to +haue procured the murther of the young prince in such vnlawfull +maner. For hir dooing therein can neither be woorthilie allowed, nor +throughlie excused, although those that occasioned the mischiefe by +aduancing hir stepsonne to an other mans right, deserued most blame in +this matter. + + +_Thus farre the sixt booke comprising the first arriuall of the Danes +in this land, which was in king Britricus his reigne, pag. 652, at +which time the most miserable state of England tooke beginning._ + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of +England (6 of 8), by Raphael Holinshed + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORIE OF ENGLAND *** + +***** This file should be named 16610-8.txt or 16610-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1/16610/ + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Lesley Halamek and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (6 of 8) + The Sixt Booke of the Historie of England + +Author: Raphael Holinshed + +Release Date: August 27, 2005 [EBook #16610] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORIE OF ENGLAND *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Lesley Halamek and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + <a name="page638" id="page638"></a><span class="page">[Page 638]</span> +<br /><br /> + +<h3>THE SIXT BOOKE</h3> + +<h5>OF THE</h5> + +<h2>HISTORIE OF ENGLAND.</h2> + +<br /><br /><br /> + + <hr class="full" /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> +<table width="80%" align="center" border="0" summary="contents"> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%"> <br /></td> + <td class="right" valign="top">Page</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#first6">THE FIRST CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page638">638</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#second6">THE SECOND CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page641">641</a></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#third6">THE THIRD CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page644">644</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#fourth6">THE FOURTH CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page646">646</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#fift6">THE FIFT CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page647">647</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#sixt6">THE SIXT CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page650">650</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#seuenth6">THE SEUENTH CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page652">652</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#eight6">THE EIGHT CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page654">654</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#ninth6">THE NINTH CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page656">656</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#tenth6">THE TENTH CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page659">659</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#eleuenth6">THE ELEUENTH CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page663">663</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#twelft6">THE TWELFT CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page666">666</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xiij6">THE XIIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page668">668</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xiiij6">THE XIIIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page670">670</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xv6">THE XV CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page672">672</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xvj6">THE XVJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page674">674</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xvij6">THE XVIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page678">678</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xviij6">THE XVIIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page681">681</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xix6">THE XIX CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page684">684</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xx6">THE XX CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page686">686</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxj6">THE XXJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page689">689</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxij6">THE XXIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page691">691</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxiij6">THE XXIIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page693">693</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxiiij6">THE XXIIIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page695">695</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxv6">THE XXV CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page699">699</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + + <br /><br /><hr class="full" /><br /><br /><br /> + + + <hr /><br /><br /> + <a name="first6" id="first6"></a> +<p> +<i>Inas king of the Westsaxons, the whole monarchie of the realme falleth into their hands, Inas +for a summe of monie granteth peace to the Kentishmen, whom he was purposed to haue +destroied, he & his coosen Nun fight with Gerent king of the Britains, and Cheolred king +of Mercia, and Ealdbright king of Southsaxons, the end of their kingdoms, Inas giueth +ouer his roialtie, goeth in pilgrimage to Rome, and there dieth; his lawes written in the +Saxon toong; of what buildings he was the founder, queene Ethelburgas deuise to persuade +Inas to forsake the world, he was the first procurer of Peter pence to be paid to Rome; king +Ethelred, king Kenred, and king Offa become moonks; the setting vp of images in this +land authorised by a vision; king Ethelbalds exploits, he is slaine of his owne subiects by +the suggestion of Bernred the vsurper, Boniface his letter of commendation to king Ethelbald, +nuns kept for concubines, their pilgrimage.</i></p> + +<h3>THE FIRST CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">INAS. 689.</span> +After that Ceadwalla, late K. of the Westsaxons was gone to Rome, where he departed +this life (as afore is shewed) his coosen Inas or Ine was made king of the Westsaxons, +begining his reigne in the yéere of our Lord 689, in the third yeere of the emperor Iustinianus +the third, the 11 yéere of the reigne of Theodoricus K. of France, and about the second +<span class="rightnote">The Britains ceasse to reigne in this land</span> +yéere of the reigne of Eugenius king of Scots. Now because the rule of the Britains +commonlie called Welshmen, ceassed in this realme, as by confession of their owne writers it +appéereth, and that in the end the whole monarchie of the same realme came to the hands of the +kings of Westsaxons, we haue thought méet to refer things generall vnto the reignes of the +same kings, as before we did in the Britaine kings, reseruing the particular dooings to the +kings of the other prouinces or kingdoms, as the same haue fallen out, and shall come to +hand.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Fabian. <br />H. Hunt.</i></span> +This Inas, whome some (mistaking N for V) doo wrongfullie name Iue or Iewe, prooued +a right excellent prince, he was descended of the ancient linage of the kings of the Westsaxons, +as sonne to one Kenred, that was sonne to Ceolwald the son of Cutha or Cutwine, that +was sonne to Kenricke the sonne of Certicus, the first king of Westsaxons. But he was +admitted to the kingdome more for the valiant prowes knowne to rest in his woorthie person, +than for the successiue ofspring of which he was descended. The first voiage that he made, +was against the Kentishmen, on whome he purposed to reuenge the death of his coosen +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matt. Westm. <br />Wil. Malm.</i></span> +Mollo, the griefe whereof as yet he kept in fresh memorie. But when the Kentishmen perceiued, +that to resist him by force, they were nothing able, they attempted by monie to +buy their peace, and so obteined their purpose, vpon paiment made to him of thirtie thousand +marks of siluer.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Anno 708 as is noted by <br /><i>Matt. West. <br />H. Hunt.</i></span> +After this, about the 21 yéere of his reigne, king Inas and his coosen Nun fought with<a name="page639" id="page639"></a><span class="page">[Page 639]</span> +Gerent king of the Britains. In the beginning of the battell, one Higelbald a noble man of +the Westsaxons part was slaine, but in the end Gerent with his Britains was chased. In the +<span class="leftnote"><i>Matt. West.</i> saith 718</span> +26 yéere of his reigne; the same Inas fought a mightie battell against Cheolred king of +Mercia, at Wodenessburie, with doubtfull victorie, for it could not well be iudged whether +part susteined greater losse. In the 36 yéere of his reigne, king Inas inuaded the Southsaxons +with a mightie armie, and slue in battell Ealdbright or Aldinius king of the Southsaxons, +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matth. West.</i> saith 722. The end of the kingdome of the Southsaxons.</span> +and ioined that kingdome vnto the kingdome of the Westsaxons: so that from +thencefoorth the kingdome of those Southsaxons ceassed, after they had reigned in that +kingdome by the space of five kings successiuelie, that is to say, Ella, Cissa, Ethelwalke, +Berutius, and this last Aldinius or Ealdbright.</p> +<p> +Finallie, when Inas had reigned 37 yéeres, and 10 or 11 od moneths, he renounced the +<span class="rightnote">Inas went to Rome and there died.</span> +rule of his kingdome, togither with all worldlie pompe, and went vnto Rome as a poore pilgrime, +and there ended his life: but before this, during the time of his reigne, he shewed +himselfe verie deuout and zealous towards the aduancement of the christian religion. He +made and ordeined also good & wholesome lawes for the amendment of maners in the people, +which are yet extant and to be read, written in the Saxon toong, and translated into +the Latine in times past, and now latelie againe by William Lambert gentleman, and printed +by Iohn Day, in the yéere 1568, togither with the lawes and statutes of other kings before +the conquest, as to the learned maie appéere.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Polydor.</i></span> +Moreouer, king Ine builded the monasterie of Glastenburie, where Ioseph of Arimathea +in times past builded an oratorie or chappell (as before is recited) when he with other christians +came into this land in the daies of Aruiragus, & taught the gospell heere to the Britains, +conuerting manie of them to the faith. Moreouer, king Ine or Inas builded the church of +Welles, dedicating it vnto saint Andrew, where afterwards a bishops sée was placed, which +<span class="leftnote"><i>Ethelburga.</i></span> +at length was translated vnto Salisburie. He had to wife one Ethelburga, a woman of noble +linage, who had béene earnest with him a long time to persuade him to forsake the world: +but she could by no meanes bring hir purpose to passe, till vpon a time the king and she +<span class="rightnote"><i>Will. Malmes.</i></span> +had lodged at a manor place in the countrie, where all prouision had béene made for the +receiuing of them and their traine in most sumptuous maner that might be, as well in rich +furniture of houshold, as also in costlie viands, and all other things needfull, or that might +<span class="leftnote">The deuise of quéene Ethelburga to persuade hir husband to forsake the world.</span> +serue for pleasure, and when they were departed, the quéene the foresaid Ethelburga caused +the keeper of that house to remooue all the bedding, hangings, and other such things as +had béen brought thither and ordeined for the beautifull setting foorth of the house, and in +place thereof to bring ordure, straw, & such like filth, as well into the chambers and hall, as +into all the houses of office, and that doone, to laie a sow with pigs in the place where before +the kings bed had stood. Héerevpon when she had knowledge that euerie thing was +ordered according to hir appointment, she persuaded the king to returne thither againe, +feining occasions great and necessarie.</p> +<p> +Now when he was returned to that house, which before séemed to the eie a palace of most +pleasure, and now finding it in such a filthie state as might loath the stomach of anie man +to behold the same, she tooke occasion therevpon to persuade him to the consideration of +the vaine pleasures of this world, which in a moment turne to naught, togither with the corruption +of the flesh, being a filthie lumpe of claie, after it should once be disolued by death: +and in fine, where before she had spent much labour to mooue him to renounce the world, +though all in vaine, yet now the beholding of that change in his pleasant palace, wherein so +late he had taken great delight, wrought such an alteration in his mind, that hir woords +lastlie tooke effect: so that he resigned the kingdome to his coosen Ethelard, and went himselfe +to Rome (as aboue is mentioned) and his wife became a nun in the abbeie of Barking, +where she was made abbesse, and finallie there ended hir life. This Inas was the first that +<span class="rightnote">Peter pence.</span> +caused the monie called Peter pence, to be paid vnto the bishop of Rome, which was for +euerie houshold within his dominion a penie.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">King Ethelred becommeth a moonk.</span> +In this meane time Edilred or Ethelred, hauing gouerned the kingdome of Mercia by the<a name="page640" id="page640"></a><span class="page">[Page 640]</span> +tearme of 29 yéeres, became a moonke in the abbeie of Bardenie, and after was made abbat +of that house. +<span class="leftnote">Ostrida.</span> +He had to wife one Ostrida the sister of Egfride king of Northumberland, +by whome he had a sonne named Ceolred. But he appointed Kenred the sonne of his brother +Vulfher to succéed him in the kingdome. +<span class="rightnote"><br /><i>Beda in Epit</i>. 697.</span> +The said Ostrida was cruellie slaine by the +treason of hir husbands subiects, about the yéere of our Lord 697. +<span class="leftnote">King Kenred.</span> +And as for Kenred, he +was a prince of great vertue, deuout towards God, a furtherer of the commonwealth of his +countrie, and passed his life in great sinceritie of maners. In the fift yéere of his reigne, +he renounced the world, and went to Rome, togither with Offa king of the Eastsaxons, +<span class="rightnote">711.</span> +where he was made a moonke: and finallie died there, in the yéere of our Lord 711. By +<span class="leftnote"><i>Nauclerus</i>. Egwin bishop of Worcester.</span> +the aid and furtherance of this Kenred, a moonke of saint Benets order (called Egwin) +builded the abbeie of Eueshame, who afterwards was made bishop of Worcester.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">A fabulous and trifling deuise.</span> +¶ We find recorded by writers, that this Egwin had warning giuen him by visions (as he +constantlie affirmed before pope Constantine) to set vp an image of our ladie in his church. +Wherevpon the pope approuing the testifications of this bishop by his buls, writ to Brightwald +archbishop of Canturburie, to assemble a synod, and by authoritie thereof to establish +the vse of images, charging the kings of this land to be present at the same synod, vpon +<span class="rightnote"><i>Bale</i>. <br />712.</span> +paine of excommunication. This synod was holden about the yéere of our Lord 712, in +the daies of Inas king of Westsaxons, and of Ceolred king of Mercia successor to the foresaid +Kenred.</p> +<p> +After Kenred succéeded Ceolred, the sonne of his vncle Edilred, & died in the 8 yeere of +<span class="rightnote"><i>H. Hunt</i>.</span> +his reigne, and was buried at Lichfield. Then succéeded Ethelbaldus that was descended +of Eopa the brother of king Penda, as the fourth from him by lineall succession. This man +gouerned a long time without anie notable trouble: some warres he had, and sped diuerslie. +<span class="leftnote"><i>Ran. Cestren</i>.</span> +In the 18 yéere of his reigne, he besieged Sommerton and wan it. He also inuaded Northumberland, +and got there great riches by spoile and pillage, which he brought from thence +without anie battell offered to him.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hen. Hunt</i>.</span> +He ouercame the Welshmen in battell, being then at quiet, and ioined as confederats with +<span class="leftnote">Bereford. 755.</span> +Cuthred K. of Westsaxons. But in the 37 yéere of his reigne, he was ouercome in battell +at Bereford by the same Cuthred, with whome he was fallen at variance, and within foure +yéeres after, that is to say, in the 41 yéere of his reigne he was slaine in battell at Secandon, +<span class="rightnote">Thrée miles from Tamworth. <br /><i>Wil. Malm</i>. 758.</span> +or Sekenton, by his owne subiects, which arreared warres against him, by the procurement +and leading of one Bernred, who after he had slaine his naturall prince, tooke vpon him the +kingdome: but he prospered not long, being slaine by Offa that succéeded him in rule of +the kingdome of Mercia, as after shall be shewed. The bodie of Ethelbald was buried at +Ripton.</p> +<span class="leftnote"><i>Matth. West.</i></span> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The historie of Magd.</span> +Bonifacius the archbishop of Mentiz or Moguntz, hauing assembled a councell with other +bishops and doctors, deuised a letter, and sent it vnto this Ethelbald, commending him for +his good deuotion and charitie in almes-giuing to the reliefe of the poore, and also for his +vpright dealing in administration of iustice, to the punishment of robbers and such like misdooers: +but in that he absteined from mariage, and wallowed in filthie lecherie with diuerse +women, and namelie with nuns, they sore blamed him, and withall declared in what infamie +the whole English nation in those daies remained by common report in other countries for +their licentious liuing in sinfull fornication, and namelie the most part of the noble men of +Mercia by his euill example did forsake their wiues, and defloured other women which they +<span class="rightnote">Nuns kept for concubines.</span> +kept in adulterie, as nuns and others. Moreouer, he shewed how that such euill women, as +well nuns as other, vsed to make awaie in secret wise their children which they bare out of +wedlocke, and so filled the graues with dead bodies, and hell with damned soules. The +same Bonifacius in an other espistle wich he wrote vnto Cutbert the archbishop of Canturburie, +<span class="rightnote">Pilgrimage of nuns.</span> +counselled him not to permit the English nuns to wander abroad so often on pilgrimage, +bicause there were few cities either in France or Lombardie, wherein might not be +found English women, that liued wantonlie in fornication and whordome.</p> + +<hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="page641" id="page641"></a><span class="page">[Page 641]</span> +<p><a name="second6" id="second6"></a> +<i>Offa king of the Eastsaxons with other go to Rome, he is shauen and becommeth a moonke, +succession in the kingdome of the Eastsaxons and Eastangles, Osred king of Northumberland +hath carnall knowledge with nuns, he is slaine in battell, Osrike renouncing his +kingdome becommeth a moonke, bishop Wilfrid twise restored to his see, Westsaxonie +diuided in two diocesses, bishop Aldhelme a founder of religious houses; Ethelard succeedeth +Inas in regiment, two blasing starres seene at once, and what insued, the king +dieth: the successiue reigne of Wichtreds three sonnes ouer Kent, what prouinces were +gouerned by bishops; of what puissance Ethelbald king of Mercia was, Egbert archbishop +of Yorke aduanceth his see; a notable remembrance of that excellent man Beda, +his death.</i></p> + +<h3>THE SECOND CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Kings of the Eastsaxons. <br /><i>Beda lib. 5. cap. 20.</i> <br />Offa king of Eastsaxons.</span> +In this meane time Sighard and Seufred, kings of the Eastsaxons, being departed this +life, one Offa that was sonne to Sigerius succéeded in gouernment of that kingdome, a man +of great towardnesse, and of right comelie countenance: but after he had ruled a certeine +time, being mooued with a religious deuotion, he went to Rome in companie of Kenred +king of Mercia, and of one Egwine bishop of Worcester, and being there shauen into the order +<span class="leftnote">King Selred.</span> +of moonks, so continued till he died. After him one Selred the sonne of Sigbert the good, +ruled the Eastsaxons the tearme of 38 yéeres. After Aldulfe the king of Eastangles departed +<span class="leftnote">688.</span> +this fraile life, which chanced about the yéere of our Lord 688, his brother Elcwold or +Akwold succéeded him, and reigned about twelue yéeres. After whose decease one Beorne +was made king of Eastangles, and reigned about 26 yéeres. In this meane while, that is +<span class="rightnote">705. <br /><i>Wil. Malm.</i> Osred king of Northumberland.</span> +to say, in the yeere of our Lord 705, Alfride king of Northumberland being dead, his sonne +Osred, a child of 8 yéeres of age succeeded him in the kingdome, and reigned 11 yéeres, +spending his time when he came to ripe yeeres in filthie abusing his bodie with nuns, and +other religious women.</p> +<p> +About the seuenth yéere of his reigne, that is to say, in the yéere of our Lord 711, one +<span class="leftnote"><i>Henr. Hunt.</i> Picts ouerthrowne by the Northumbers.</span> +of his capteins named earle Berthfride fought with the Picts, betwixt two places called Heue +and Cere, and obteining the victorie, slue an huge number of the enimies. At length king +Osred by the traitorous means of his coosens that arreared warre against him, was slaine in +<span class="rightnote">King Osred slaine in batell.</span> +battell, and so ended his reigne, leauing to those that procured his death the like fortune in +time to come. For Kenred reigning two yéeres, and Osricke ten yeeres, were famous onelie +in this, that being worthilie punished for shedding the bloud of their naturall prince and +souereigne lord, they finished their liues with dishonourable deaths, as they had well deserued. +<span class="rightnote">729.</span> +Osricke before his death, which chanced in the yéere of our Lord 729, appointed +Ceolwolfe the brother of his predecessor Kenred, to succeed him in the kingdome, which +he did, reigning as king of the Northumbers by the space of 8 yéeres currant, and then renouncing +his kingdom, became a moonke in the Ile of Lindesferne.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda.</i> <br />Acca bishop of Hexham.</span> +In this meane while, bishop Wilfride being dead, one Acca that was his chapline was made +bishop of Hexham. The said Wilfride had béene bishop by the space of 45 yéeres: but +he liued a long time in exile. For first being archbishop of Yorke, and exercising his iurisdiction +ouer all the north parts, he was after banished by king Egbert, and againe restored +to the sée of Hexham in the second yeere of king Alfride, and within fiue yéeres after +eftsoones banished by the same Alfride, and the second time restored by his successor king +Osred, in the fourth yeere of whose reigne, being the yéere after the incarnation of our +Sauiour 709, he departed this life, and was buried at Rippon. Moreouer, after Iohn the +archbishop of Yorke had resigned, one Wilfride surnamed the second was made archbishop +of that sée: which Wilfride was chapline to the said Iohn, and gouerned that sée by the +<span class="rightnote">710.</span> +space of fiftéene yéeres, and then died. About the yéere of our Lord 710, the abbat +Adrian which came into this land with Theodore the archbishop of Canturburie (as before<a name="page642" id="page642"></a><span class="page">[Page 642]</span> +ye haue heard) departed this life, about 39 yéeres after his comming thither.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Two bishops sées <br /><i>Matth. West.</i> <br />Bishop Daniell.</span> +Also Inas the king of Westsaxons, about the 20 yeere of his reigne, diuided the prouince +of the Westsaxons into two bishops sées, whereas before they had but one. Daniell was +ordeined to gouerne the one of those sees, being placed at Winchester, hauing vnder him +<span class="leftnote">Bishop Aldhelme.</span> +Sussex, Southerie and Hamshire. And Aldhelme was appointed to Shireburne, hauing +vnder him, Barkeshire, Wiltshire, Sommersetshire, Dorsetshire, Deuonshire, and Cornwall. +<span class="rightnote"><br />The abbeie of Malmesburie.</span> +This Aldhelme was a learned man, and was first made abbat of Malmesburie, in the yéere of +our Lord 675 by Eleutherius then bishop of the Westsaxons, by whose diligence that +abbeie was greatlie aduanced, being afore that time founded by one Medulfe a Scotish +man, but of so small reuenues afore Aldhelms time, that the moonks were scarse able to +liue thereon. Also the same Aldhelme was a great furtherer vnto king Inas in the building +of Glastenburie.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">ETHELARD. 728. <br /><i>Matth. West.</i> saith 727.</span> +Ethelard, the coosen of king Inas, to whome the same Inas resigned his kingdome, +began to gouerne the Westsaxons in the yéere of our Lord 728, or rather 27, which was +in the 11 yéere of the emperor Leo Isaurus, in the second yeere of Theodorus king of +France, and about the 8 or 9 yéere of Mordacke king of the Scots. In the first yéere of +Ethelards reigne, he was disquieted with ciuill warre, which one Oswald a noble man, descended +of the roiall bloud of the Westsaxon kings, procured against him: but in the end, +when he perceiued that the kings power was too strong for him, he fled out of the countrie, +leauing it thereby in rest.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matth. West. 729. <br />Blasing stars.</i></span> +In the yéere 729, in the moneth of Ianuarie there appeered two comets or blasing +starres, verie terrible to behold, the one rising in the morning before the rising of the sunne, +and the other after the setting thereof: so that the one came before the breake of the day, +and the other before the closing of the night, stretching foorth their fierie brands toward the +north; and they appeered thus euerie morning and euening for the space of a fortnight togither, +menacing as it were some great destruction or common mishap to follow. The +Saracens shortlie after entred France, and were ouerthrowne. Finallie, when king Ethelard +had reigned the terme of fouretéene yeeres currant, he departed this life.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm. </i></span> +Now when Wichtred king of Kent had gouerned the Kentishmen by the space of 33 +yéeres, with great commendation for the good orders which he caused to be obserued amongst +them, as well concerning matters ecclesiasticall as temporal, he departed this life, leauing +behind him thrée sonnes, who successiuelie reigned as heires to him one after another (that +is to say) Edbert 23 yéeres, Ethelbert 11 yeeres currant, and Alrike 34 yeeres, the which +three princes following the steps of their father in the obseruance of politike orders & commendable +lawes, vsed for the more part their fathers good lucke and fortune, except that +<span class="rightnote"> <br /><i>Beda. lib. 5. cap. 24.</i> </span> +in Ethelberts time the citie of Canturburie was burned by casuall fire, and Alrike lost a +battell against them of Mercia, whereby the glorie of their times was somewhat blemished: +for so it came to passe, that whatsoeuer chanced euill, was kept still in memorie, and the +good haps that came forward, were soone forgotten and put out of remembrance.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">731.</span> +In the yéere of our Lord 731, Betrwald archbishop of Canturburie departed this life in +the fift ides of Ianuarie, after he had gouerned that see by the space of 27 yéeres, 6 +moneths, and 14 daies: in whose place the same yéere one Tacwine was ordeined archbishop, +that before was a priest in the monasterie of Bruidon within the prouince of Mercia. He +was consecrated in the citie of Canturburie, by the reuerend fathers Daniell bishop of Winchester, +Ingwald bishop of London, Aldwin bishop of Lichfield, and Aldwulfe bishop of +Rochester, the tenth day of Iune being sundaie.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Bishops what parishes they governed.</span> +¶ As touching the state of the English church for ecclesiasticall gouernours, certeine it +is, that the same was as hereafter followeth. The prouince of Canturburie was gouerned +touching the ecclesiasticall state by archbishop Tacwine, and bishop Aldwulfe. The prouince +of the Eastsaxons by bishop Ingwald. The prouince of Eastangles by bishop Eadbertus<a name="page643" id="page643"></a><span class="page">[Page 643]</span> +and Hadulacus, the one keéeping his sée at Elsham, and the other at Dunwich. The +prouince of the Westsaxons was gouerned by the foresaid Daniell and by Forthere, who +succéeded next after Aldhelme in the sée of Shereburne. This Forthere in the yéere of our +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matth, West.</i></span> +Lord 738, left his bishoprike, and went to Rome in companie of the quéene of the Westsaxons. +Many as well kings as bishops, noble and vnnoble, priests and laiemen, togither +with women, vsed to make such iournies thither in those daies. The prouince of Mercia +was ruled by the foresaid Aldwine bishop of Lichfield, and one bishop Walstod holding his +sée at Herford gouerned those people that inhabited beyond the riuer of Sauerne toward the +west. The prouince of Wiccies, that is, Worcester, one Wilfride gouerned. The Southsaxons +and the Ile of Wight were vnder the bishop of Winchester. In the prouince of the +Northumbers were foure bishops, that is to say, Wilfride archbishop of Yorke, Edilwald +bishop of Lindisferne, Acca bishop of Hexham, and Pecthelmus bishop of Whiterne, otherwise +called Candida Casa, he was the first that gouerned that church after the same was +made a bishops sée. And thus stood the state of the English church for ecclesiasticall gouernors +in that season.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Ethelbald K. of Mercia, of what puissance he was.</span> +And as for temporall gouernement, king Ceolvulfe had the souereigne dominion ouer all +the Northumbers: but all the prouinces on the southside of Humber, with their kings and +rulers, were subiect vnto Edilbald or Ethelbald king of Mercia. The nation of the Picts +were in league with the English men, and gladlie became partakers of the catholike faith +and veritie of the vniuersall church. Those Scots which inhabited Britaine, contenting themselues +with their owne bounds, went not about to practise anie deceitfull traines nor fraudulent +deuises against the Englishmen. The Britains otherwise called Welshmen, though for the +more part of a peculiar hatred they did impugne the English nation, & the obseruance of the +feast of Ester appointed by the whole catholike church, yet (both diuine and humane force +vtterlie resisting them) they were not able in neither behalfe to atteine to their wished intentions, +as they which though they were partlie frée, yet in some point remained still as thrall +and mancipate to the subiection of the Englishmen: who (saith Beda) now in the acceptable +time of peace and quietnesse, manie amongst them of Northumberland, laieng armour and +weapon aside, applied themselues to the reading of holie scriptures, more desirous to be professed +in religious houses, than to exercise feates of warre: but what will come therof (saith +he) the age that followeth shall sée and behold. With these words dooth Beda end his +historie, continued till the yéere of our Lord 731, which was from the comming of the +Englishmen into this land, about 285 yéeres, according to his account.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">732. <br /><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +In the yéere following, that is to say 732, in place of Wilfrid the second, Egbert was ordeined +bishop of Yorke. This Egbert was brother vnto an other Egbert, who as then was +king of Northumberland, by whose helpe he greatlie aduanced the see of Yorke, and recouered +the pall: so that where all the other bishops that held the same sée before him sith +Paulins daies, wanted the pall, and so were counted simplie but particular bishops: now was +he intituled by the name of archbishop. He also got togither a great number of good +<span class="rightnote">733.</span> +books, which he bestowed in a librarie at Yorke. ¶ In the yéere 733, on the 18 kalends +of September, the sunne suffered a great eclipse about three of the clocke in the after noone, +in somuch that the earth seemed to be couered with a blacke and horrible penthouse.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">735 <br /><i>Beda</i> departed this life</span> +In the yéere 735, that reuerend and profound learned man Beda departed this life, being +82 yéeres of age, vpon Ascension day, which was the 7 kalends of Iune, and 26 of Maie, +as Matt. Westm. hath diligentlie obserued. W. Harison addeth hitherto, that it is to be +read in an old epistle of Cutbert moonke of the same house vnto Cuthwine, that the said +Beda lieng in his death-bed, translated the gospell of saint Iohn into English, and commanded +his brethren to be diligent in reading and contemplation of good bookes, and not +to exercise themselues with fables and friuolous matters. Finallie he was buried in the +abbeie of Geruie, distant fiue miles from Wiremouth, an abbeie also in the north parts, not +far from Newcastell (as is before remembred.) He was brought vp in those two abbeies, +and was scholar to John of Beuerley. How throughlie he was séene in all kinds of good<a name="page644" id="page644"></a><span class="page">[Page 644]</span> +literature, the bookes which hée wrote doo manifestlie beare witnesse. His judgement also +was so much estéemed ouer all, that Sergius the bishop of Rome wrote vnto Celfride the +abbat of Wiremouth, requiring him to send Beda vnto the court of Rome for the deciding +of certein questions mooued there, which without his opinion might séeme to rest doubtful. +But whether he went thither or not we can not affirme: but as it is thought by men worthie +of credit, he neuer went out of this land, but continued for the most part of his life in the +abbeies of Geruie and Wiremouth, first vnder Benet the first abbat and founder of the same +abbeies, and after vnder the said Celfride, in whose time he receiued orders of priesthood at +the hands of bishop Iohn, surnamed of Beuerley: so that it may be maruelled that a man, +borne in the vttermost corner of the world, should proue so excellent in all knowledge and +learning, that his fame should so spread ouer the whole earth, and went neuer out of his +<span class="rightnote"><i>Crantzius</i>.</span> +natiue countrie to séeke it. But who that marketh in reading old histories the state of abbeies +and monasteries in those daies, shall well perceiue that they were ordered after the +maner of our schooles or colleges, hauing in them diuerse learned men, that attended onelie +to teach & bring vp youth in knowledge of good learning, or else to go abroad and preach +the word of God in townes and villages adjoining.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">735.</span> +The same yéere died archbishop Tacuine, and in the yéere following, that is to say 735, +Nothelmus was ordeined archbishop of Canturburie in his place, and Egbert the archbishop +of Yorke the same yéere got his pall from Rome, and so was confirmed archbishop, and +ordeined two bishops, Fruidberd, and Fruidwald. But some refer it to the yéere 744.</p> + + + <hr /><br /><br /> + +<p><a name="third6" id="third6"></a> +<i>Cuthred king of the Westsaxons, he is greatlie troubled by Ethelbald king of Mercia, they +are pacified; Kenric king Cuthreds sonne slaine, earle Adelme rebelleth against him +whom the king pardoneth; Cuthred fighteth with Ethelbald at Hereford, he hath the +victorie, he falleth sicke and dieth; Sigebert succedeth him in the kingdome, he is cruell +to his people, he is expelled from his roiall estate, murther reuenged with murther, succession +in the kingdome of Eastangles, kings change their crownes for moonks cowles; +the Britaines subiect to the king of Northumberland and the king of Picts, the moone +eclipsed.</i></p> + +<h3>THE THIRD CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">CUTHRED.</span> +After the decease of Ethelard king of Westsaxons, his coosine Cuthred was made king +and gouernour of those people, reigning the tearme of 16 yéeres. He began his reigne in +<span class="leftnote">740.</span> +the yeere of our Lord 740, in the twentie fourth yere of the emperour Leo Isaurus, in the +14 yéere of the reigne of the second Theodorus Cala K. of France, and about the 6 yéere +of Ethfine king of Scots. This Cuthred had much to doo against Edilbald king of Mercia, +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matt. West. Hen. Hunt.</i></span> +who one while with stirring his owne subiects the Westsaxons to rebellion, an other while +with open warre, and sometime by secret craft and subtill practises sought to disquiet him. +Howbeit, in the fourth yeere of his reigne, a peace was concluded betwixt them, and then +ioining their powers togither, they went against the Welshmen, & gaue them a great ouerthrow, +<span class="leftnote">Kenric the kings sonne slaine.</span> +as before is partlie touched. In the 9 yeere of this Cuthreds reigne, his sonne Kenric +was slaine in a seditious tumult amongst his men of warre, a gentleman yoong in yeeres, but +<span class="rightnote">749.</span> +of a stout courage, and verie forward, wherby (as was thought) he came the sooner to his +wofull end.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">[Sidenote:<br /> <i>Matth. West.</i></span> +<span class="rightnote">751.</span> +In the 11 yeere of his reigne, Cuthred had wars against one of his earls called Adelme, +who raising a commotion against him, aduentured to giue battell though he had the smaller +number of men, and yet was at point to haue gone away with victorie, if by a wound at that +instant receiued, his periurie had not béene punished, and the kings iust cause aduanced to +<span class="rightnote">752 <br /><i>Matt. West.</i></span> +triumph ouer his aduersarie, whom yet by way of reconciliation he pardoned. In the 13<a name="page645" id="page645"></a><span class="page">[Page 645]</span> +yeere of his reigne, king Cuthred being not well able to susteine the proud exactions and +hard dooings of Edilbald king of Mercia, raised his power, and encountered with the same +Edilbald at Hereford, hauing before him the said earle Adelme, in whose valiant prowesse +he put great hope to atteine victorie: neither was he deceiued, for by the stout conduct and +noble courage of the said Adelme, the loftie pride of king Edelbald was abated, so that he +<span class="rightnote">K. Edilbald put to flight.</span> +was there put to flight, and all his armie discomfited, after sore and terrible fight continued +and mainteined euen to the vttermost point. In the 24 yeere of his reigne, this Cuthred +fought eftsoones with the Welshmen, and obteined the vpper hand, without anie great losse +of his people: for the enimies were easilie put to flight and chased, to their owne destruction. +In the yeere after, king Cuthred fell sicke, and in the 16 yéere of his reigne he departed this +life, after so manie great victories got against his enimies.</p> + +<p> +<span class="rightnote">SIGIBERT. <br />755.</span> +After him succéeded one Sigibert, a cruell and vnmercifull prince at home, but yet a +coward abroad. This Sigbert or Sigibert began his reigne in the yeare of our Lord 755, +verie néere ended. He intreated his subjects verie euill, setting law and reason at naught. +He could not abide to heare his faults told him, and therefore he cruellie put to death an +earle named Cumbra, which was of his councell, and faithfullie admonished him to reforme +his euill dooings: wherevpon the rest of his nobles assembled themselues togither with a +great multitude of people, and expelled him out of his estate in the beginning of the second, +or (as some say) the first yeare of his reigne. Then Sigibert, as he was fearefull of nature; +fearing to be apprehended, got him into the wood called as then Andredeswald, and there +hid himselfe, but by chance a swineheard that belonged to the late earle Cumbra at Priuets-floud +found him out, and perceiuing what he was, slue him in reuenge of his maisters death.</p> +<p> +¶ Lo here you may sée how the righteous iustice of God rewardeth wicked dooings in +this world with worthie recompense, as well as in the world to come, appointing euill princes +sometimes to reigne for the punishment of the people, according as they deserue, permitting +some of them to haue gouernement a long time, that both the froward nations may suffer +long for their sins, and that such wicked princes may in an other world tast the more bitter +torments. Againe, other he taketh out of the waie, that the people may be deliuered from +oppression, and also that the naughtie ruler for his misdemeanour may spéedilie receiue due +punishment.</p> + +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Ethelred. 738.</span> +After Beorne king of Eastangles one Ethelred succéeded in gouernment of that kingdome +a man noted to be of good and vertuous qualities, in that he brought vp his sonne +Ethelred (which succéeded him) so in the feare of the Lord, that he prooued a right godlie +prince. This Ethelbert reigned (as writers say) the terme of 52 yeares.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"> Egbert king of Northumberland. 758.</span> +After that Ceolvulfe king of Northumberland was become a moonke in the abbie of Lindesferne, +his vncles sonne Egbert (by order taken by the said Ceolvulfe) succeeded him in +the kingdome, and gouerned the same right woorthilie for the terme of 24 yeares, and then +became a moonke, by the example both of his predecessor the forsaid Ceolvulfe, and also of +<span class="rightnote">Changing of crownes for moonkes cowles. 756.</span> +diuers other kings in those daies, so that he was the eight king who in this land had changed +a kings crowne tor a moonks cowle (as Simon Dunel. writeth.)</p> + +<p>This Egbert (in the 18 yeare of his reigne) and Vngust king of Picts came to the citie of +Alcluid with their armies, and there receiued the Britains into their subiection, the first-day +of August: but the tenth day of the same month, the armie which he led from Ouan vnto +Newbourgh, was for the more part lost and destroied. ¶ The same yeare on the 8 kalends +of December, the moone being as then in hir full, appeared to be of a bloudie colour, but +at length she came to hir accustomed shew, after a maruellous meanes, for a starre which +followed hir, passed by hir, & went before hir, the like distāce as it kept in following hir before +she lost hir vsuall light.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + +<a name="page646" id="page646"></a><span class="page">[Page 646]</span> +<p><a name="fourth6" id="fourth6"></a> +<i>Offa king of Mercia, his manhood and victories against the Kentishmen and Westsaxons, +he killeth Egilbert king of Eastangles by a policie or subtill deuise of profered curtesie, +he inuadeth his kingdome, and possesseth it, the archbishops see of Canturburie remoued +to Lichfield; archbishop Lambert laboring to defend his prerogatiue is depriued by king +Offa, he seizeth vpon churches and religious houses; mistrusting his estate, he alieth +himselfe with other princes; he maketh amends for the wrongs that he had doone to +churches and religious houses, he goeth to Rome, maketh his realme tributarie to the +said see, Peter pence paid, he falleth sicke and dieth, places to this day bearing his name +in memorie of him, the short reigne of his sonne.</i></p> + +<h3>THE FOURTH CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">OFFA. <br />758.</span> +After that Offa had slaine Bernred the vsurper of the kingdome of Mercia (as before is +mentioned) the same Offa tooke vppon him the gouernment of that kingdome 758, a man of +<span class="leftnote"><i>Matth. West. <br />Wil. Malm.</i></span> +such stoutnesse of stomach, that he thought he should be able to bring to passe all things +whatsoeuer he conceiued in his mind. He reigned 39 yeares. His dooings were great and +maruellous, and such as some times his vertues surpassed his vices, and sometime againe his +<span class="rightnote">The victories of king Offa. <br /><i>Matth. West.</i> <br />779.</span> +vices seemed to ouermatch his vertues. He ouercame the Kentishmen in a great battell at +Otteford, and the Northumbers also were by him vanquished, and in battell put to flight. +With Kenvulfe king of Westsaxons he fought in open battell, and obteined a noble victorie, +with small losse of his people, although the same Kenwulfe was a right valiant prince, and a +good capteine.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Falsehood in fellowship.</span> +Againe, perceiuing that to procéed with craft, should sooner aduance his purpose, than +to vse open force against Egilbert king of Eastangles, vnder faire promises to giue vnto him +his daughter in mariage, he allured him to come into Mercia, and receiuing him into his +palace, caused his head to be striken off, and after by wrongfull meanes inuaded his kingdome, +and got it into his possession: yet he caused the bones of the first martyr of this land +saint Albane (by a miraculous meanes brought to light) to be taken vp, and put in a rich +shrine adorned with gold and stone, building a goodlie church of excellent woorkmanship, +and founding a monasterie in that place in honor of the same saint, which he indowed with +<span class="rightnote">The archbishops sée remoued from Canturburie to Lichfield. 785.</span> +great possessions. He remoued the archbishops see from Canturburie vnto Lichfield, thereby +to aduance his kingdome of Mercia, as well in dignitie & preheminence of spirituall power +as temporall. He made great suit to bring his purpose to passe in the court of Rome, and +<span class="leftnote"><i>Matt. West.</i></span> +at length by great gifts and rewards obteined it at the hands of pope Adrian the first, then +gouerning the Romane sée. And so Eadulfus then bishop of Lichfield was adorned with +the pall, and taken for archbishop, hauing all those bishops within the limits of king Offa +his dominion suffragans vnto him; namelie, Denebertus bishop of Worcester, Werebertus +bishop of Chester, Eadulfus bishop of Dorcester, Wilnardus bishop of Hereford, Halard +bishop of Elsham, and Cedferth bishop of Donwich. There remained onelie to the archbishop +of Canturburie, the bishops of London, Winchester, Rochester, and Shireburne.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The archbishop Lambert defended his cause.</span> +This separation continued all the life time of the archbishop Lambert, although he trauelled +earnestlie to mainteine his prerogatiue. Now, for that he still defended his cause, and +would not reuolt from his will, Offa depriued him of all his possessions & reuenues that he +held or inioied within anie part of his dominions. Neither was Offa satisfied herewith, +but he also tooke into his hands the possessions of manie other churches, and fléeced the +<span class="leftnote">Offa alieth himselfe with other princes.</span> +house of Malmesburie of a part of hir reuenues. Because of these & other his hard dooings, +doubting the malice of his enimies, he procured the friendship of forren princes. Vnto +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matt. Westm.</i></span> +Brightricke king of the Westsaxons he gaue his daughter Ethelburga in mariage. And +sending diuers ambassadours ouer vnto Charles the great, that was both emperor & king of +France, he purchased his friendship at length, although before there had depended a péece +<span class="rightnote">The intercourse of merchants staied.</span> +of displeasure betwixt them, insomuch that the intercourse for trade of merchandize was<a name="page647" id="page647"></a><span class="page">[Page 647]</span> +staied for a time. One of the ambassadours that was sent vnto the said Charles (as is reported) +<span class="leftnote">Alcwine an Englishman.</span> +was that famous clearke Albine or Alcwine, by whose persuasion the same Charles +erected two vniuersities, as in place due and conuenient may more largelie appeare.</p> +<p> +Finallie king Offa (as it were for a meane to appease Gods wrath, which he doubted to +be iustlie conceiued towards him for his sinnes and wickednesse) granted the tenth part of all +<span class="rightnote"><i>Polydor.</i></span> +his goods vnto churchmen, and to poore people. He also indowed the church of Hereford +with great reuenues, and (as some write) he builded the abbeie of Bath, placing moonkes in +the same, of the order of saint Benet, as before he had doone at saint Albons. Moreouer +<span class="leftnote"> <br />775.</span> +he went vnto Rome, about the yeare of our Lord 775, and there following the example of +Inas king of the Westsaxons, made his realme subiect by way of tribute vnto the church of +<span class="rightnote">Peter pence, or Rome Scot. <br /><i>Will. Malmes.</i> 797.</span> +Rome, appointing that euerie house within the limits of his dominions, should yearelie pay +vnto the apostolike see one pennie, which paiment was after named, Rome Scot, and Peter +pence. After his returne from Rome, perceiuing himselfe to draw into yeares, he caused his +<span class="leftnote">Offa departed this life.</span> +sonne Egfrid to be ordeined king in his life time: and shortlie after departing out of this +world, left the kingdome vnto him, after he had gouerned it by the space of 39 yeares.</p> +<p> +Amongst other the dooings of this Offa, which suerlie were great and maruellous, this +may not passe with silence, that he caused a mightie great ditch to be cast betwixt the marshes +of his countrie, and the Welsh confines, to diuide thereby the bounds of their dominions. +<span class="rightnote">Offditch.</span> +This ditch was called Offditch euer after, and stretched from the south side by Bristow, +vnder the mountaines of Wales, running northward ouer the riuers of Seuerne and Dée, +vnto the verie mouth of Dee, where that riuer falleth into the sea. He likewise builded a +church in Warwikeshire, whereof the towne there taketh name, and is called Offchurch +<span class="rightnote">Egfrid king of Mercia.</span> +euen to this day. Egfrid taking vpon him the rule, began to follow the approoued good +dooings of his father, and first restored vnto the churches their ancient priuileges, which +his father sometimes had taken from them. Great hope was conceiued of his further good +procéeding, but death cut off the same, taking him out of this life, after he had reigned the +space of foure moneths, not for his owne offenses (as was thought) but rather for that his +father had caused so much bloud to be spilt for the confirming of him in the kingdome, +which so small a time he now inioied.</p> + +<hr /><br /><br /> + +<p><a name="fift6" id="fift6"></a> +<i>Osulph king of Northumberland traitorouslie murthered, Edilwald succeedeth him, the reward +of rebellion, a great mortalitie of foules fishes and fruits, moonkes licenced to +drinke wine, great wast by fire, Edelred king of Northumberland is driuen out of his +countrie by two dukes of the same, Ethelbert king of the Eastangles commended for his +vertues, Alfred the daughter of king Mercia is affianced to him, tokens of missehaps +towards him, his destruction intended by queene Quendred, hir platforme of the practise +to kill him, Offa inuadeth Ethelberts kingdome, Alfred his betrothed wife taketh his death +greuouslie, and becommeth a nun, the decaie of the kingdome of Eastangles, succession +in the regiment of the Westsaxons, the end of the gouernement of the Eastsaxons, prince +Algar is smitten blind for seeking to rauish virgine Friswide, and at hir praiers restored +to his sight.</i></p> + +<h3>THE FIFT CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">EADBERT <br />king of Northumberland. 758.</span> +When Eadbert or Egbert K. of Northumberland was become a moonke, his sonne +Osulphus succéeded him: but after he had reigned onelie one yeare, he was traitorouslie +<span class="rightnote"><i>Simon Dun.</i> <br /><i>Hen. Hunt.</i> Edilwold king of Northumberland. <i>Simon Dun.</i> <br /><i>Henr. Hunt.</i></span> +murthered by his owne seruants at Mikilwongton, on the 9 kalends of August. Then succéeded +one Moll, otherwise called Edilwold or Edilwald, but not immediatlie, for he began +not his reigne till the nones of August in the yeare following, which was after the birth +of our sauiour 759.</p> +<p> +This man prooued right valiant in gouernement of his subiects. He slue in battell an<a name="page648" id="page648"></a><span class="page">[Page 648]</span> +earle of his countrie named Oswin, who arrearing warre against him, fought with him in a +pitcht field at Eadwines Cliue, and receiued the worthie reward of rebellion.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Simon Dun.<br /></i> 764.</span> +This chanced in the third yeare of his reigne, and shortlie after, that is to say, in the +yeare of our Lord 764, there fell such a maruellous great snow, and therwith so extreame a +frost, as the like had not béene heard of, continuing from the beginning of the winter, almost +till the middest of the spring, with the rigour whereof, trees and fruits withered awaie, and +lost their liuelie shape and growth: and not onelie feathered foules, but also beasts on the +land, & fishes in the sea died in great numbers. The same yeare died Ceolwulf then king of +Northumberland, vnto whome Beda did dedicate his booke of histories of the English nation. +<span class="rightnote">Moonks licenced to drinke wine.</span> +After that he was become a moonke in the monasterie of Lindesferne, the moonks of +that house had licence to drinke wine, or ale, whereas before they might not drinke anie +other thing than milke, or water, by the ancient rule prescribed them of the bishop Aidan +first founder of the place. The same yeare sundrie cities, townes, and monasteries were +defaced and sore wasted with fier chancing on the sudden, as Stretehu, Giwento, Anwicke, +London, Yorke, Doncaster, &c.</p> +<p> +After that Moll had reigned 6 yeares, he resigned his kingdome. But other write that he +<span class="leftnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i> <br />Altred began his reigne in the yeare 765 <br />as <i>Sim. Dun.</i> saith.</span> +reigned 11 yeares, and was in the end slaine by treason of his successor Altred. This Altred +reigned ten years ouer the Northumbers, and was then expelled out of his kingdome by his +<span class="rightnote"><i>Henr. Hunt.</i> <br /><i>Matth. West.</i> Ethelbert.</span> +owne subiects. Then was Ethelbert, named also Edelred, the sonne of the foresaid Moll, +made king of Northumberland, and in the fift yeare of his reigne, he was driuen out of his +kingdome by two dukes of his countrie named Edelbald and Herebert, who mouing warre +against him, had slaine first Aldulfe the sonne of Bosa the generall of his armie at Kingescliffe; +and after Kinewulfe and Egga, other two of his dukes, at Helatherne in a sore +foughten field: so that Ethelbert despairing of all recouerie, was constrained to get him out +of the countrie. And thus was the kingdome of Northumberland brought into a miserable +state, by the ambitious working of the princes and nobles of the same.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Henr. Hunt.</i> <br /><i>Iohn Capgraue</i>. <br /><i>Matth. West.</i> <br />and others. +Ethelbert king of Eastangles.</span> +After that Ethelbert king of Eastangles was dead, his sonne Ethelbert succéeded him, a +prince of great towardnesse, and so vertuouslie brought vp by his fathers circumspect care +and diligence, that he vtterlie abhorred vice, and delighted onelie in vertue and commendable +exercises, for the better atteining to knowledge and vnderstanding of good sciences. There +remaine manie sundrie saiengs & dooings of him, manifestlie bearing witnesse that there +<span class="leftnote">The saieng of king Ethelbert.</span> +could not be a man more honorable, thankefull, courteous or gentle. Amongest other he +had this saieng oftentimes in his mouth, that the greater that men were, the more humble +they ought to beare themselues: for the Lord putteth proud and mightie men from their +seates, and exalteth the humble and méeke.</p> +<p> +Moreouer he did not onelie shew himselfe wise in words, but desired also to excell in staiednesse +of maners, and continencie of life. Whereby he wan to him the hearts of his people, +who perceiuing that he was nothing delighted in the companie of women, and therefore +minded not mariage, they of a singular loue and fauour towards him, required that he should +in anie wise yet take a wife, that he might haue issue to succéed him. At length the matter +being referred to his councell, he was persuaded to follow their aduises. And so Alfreda +the daughter of Offa king of Mercia was affianced to him: so that he himselfe appointed +(as meanes to procure more fauour at his father in lawes hands) to go fetch the bride from +hir fathers house.</p> +<p> +Manie strange things that happened to him in taking vpon him this iournie, put him in +<span class="rightnote">Tokens of mishap to follow.</span> +great doubt of that which should follow. He was no sooner mounted on his horsse, but that +(as séemed to him) the earth shooke vnder him: againe, as he was in his iournie, about the +mid-time of the day, such a darke mist compassed him on ech side, that he could not sée +nor discerne for a certeine time anie thing about him at all: lastlie, as he laie one night +asléepe, he thought he saw in a dreame the roofe of his owne palace fall downe to the ground. +But though with these things he was brought into great feare, yet he kept on his iournie, as +<span class="rightnote">The innocent mistrustfull of no euill.</span> +he that mistrusted no deceit, measuring other mens maners by his owne. King Offa right<a name="page649" id="page649"></a><span class="page">[Page 649]</span> +honourablie receiued him: but his wife named Quendred, a wise woman, but therewith wicked, +conceiued a malicious deuise in hir hart, & streightwaies went about to persuade hir husband +to put it in execution, which was to murther king Ethelbert, and after to take into his hands +his kingdome.</p> +<p> +Offa at the first was offended with his wife for this motion, but in the end, through the +<span class="rightnote"><i>Iohn Capgr.</i> Winnebert.</span> +importunate request of the woman, he consented to hir mind. The order of the murther +was committed vnto one Winnebert, that had serued both the said Ethelbert & his father +<span class="leftnote"><i>Sim. Dun.</i> saith 771.</span> +before time, the which feining as though he had béene sent from Offa to will Ethelbert to +<span class="rightnote">Offa conquereth Eastangles.</span> +come vnto him in the night season, slue him that once mistrusted not anie such treason. Offa +hauing thus dispatched Ethelbert, inuaded his kingdome, and conquered it.</p> +<p> +But when the bride Alfreda vnderstood the death of hir liked make and bridegrome, abhorring +the fact, she curssed father and mother, and as it were inspired with the spirit of +prophesie, pronounced that woorthie punishment would shortlie fall on hir wicked mother for +hir heinous crime committed in persuading so detestable a déed: and according to hir woords +<span class="rightnote">Alfreda a nun. <br /><i>Beda.</i> <br /><i>Matth. West.</i></span> +it came to passe, for hir mother died miserablie within three moneths after. The maid +Alfreda refusing the world, professed hirselfe a nun at Crowland, the which place began to +wax famous about the yéere of our Lord 695, by the meanes of one Gutlake, a man esteemed +of great vertue and holinesse, which chose to himselfe an habitation there, and departing this +life about the yéere of our Lord 714, was buried in that place, where afterwards an abbeie +of moonks was builded of saint Benets order. The bodie of K. Ethelbert at length was +buried at Hereford, though first it was committed to buriall in a vile place, néere to the +banke of a riuer called Lug.</p> +<p> +The kingdome of Eastangles from thencefoorth was brought so into decaie, that it remained +subiect one while vnto them of Mercia, an other while vnto the Westsaxons, and +somewhile vnto them of Kent, till that Edmund surnamed the martyr got the gouernment +thereof (as after shall appéere.) After that Selred king of the Eastsaxons had gouerned the +<span class="rightnote"><i>H. Hunt.</i></span> +tearme of 38 yéeres, he was slaine, but in what maner, writers haue not expressed. After +him succéeded one Swithed or Swithred, the 11 and last in number that particularlie +gouerned those people. He was finallie expelled by Egbert K. of Westsaxons, the same +yéere that the said Egbert ouercame the Kentishmen (as after shall be shewed) and so the +kings of that kingdome of the Eastsaxons ceassed and tooke end.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Friswide a virgine.</span> +¶ About this time, there was a maid in Oxford named Friswide, daughter to a certeine +duke or noble man called Didanus, with whome one Algar a prince in those parties fell in +loue, and would haue rauished hir, but God the reuenger of sinnes was at hand (as the +storie saith.) For when Algar followed the maid that fled before him, she getting into the +towne, the gate was shut against him, and his sight also was suddenlie taken from him. +But the maid by hir praiers pacified Gods wrath towards him, so that his sight was againe +restored to him. But whether this be a fable or a true tale, héereof grew the report, that +the kings of this realme long times after were afraid to enter into the citie of Oxford. So +easilie is the mind of man turned to superstition (as saith Polydor.)</p> + +<hr /><br /><br /> + + +<a name="page650" id="page650"></a><span class="page">[Page 650]</span> +<p><a name="sixt6" id="sixt6"></a> +<i>Kinewulfe king of Westsaxons, his conquest ouer the Britains, his securitie and negligence, +he is slaine by conspirators, inquisition for Kineard the principall procurer of that +mischiefe, he is slaine in fight; legats from the pope to the kings and archbishops of +this land about reformation in the church, a councell holden at Mercia; iudge Bearne +burnt to death for crueltie, Alfwold reigneth ouer Northumberland, his owne subiects +murther him; a booke of articles sent by Charles king of France into Britaine quite +contrarie to the christian faith, Albinus writeth against it; great waste by tempests of +wind and rage of fire.</i></p> + +<h3>THE SIXT CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">KINEWULF. <br /><i>Hen. Hunt.</i> <br />756.</span> +After that the Westsaxons had depriued their vnprofitable king Sigibert, they aduanced +Kinewulfe, or Cinevulfus, the which began his reigne about the yéere of our Lord 756, which +was in the 16 yéere of the emperor Constantinus, surnamed Copronimos, in the 6 yéere of +<span class="leftnote"><i>Simon Dun. saith 755.</i></span> +the reigne of Pipin king of France, and about the 22 yéere of Ethfine king of Scots. This +Kinewulfe prooued a right woorthie and valiant prince, and was descended of the right line +<span class="rightnote">The Britains vanquished.</span> +of Cerdicus. He obteined great victories against the Britains or Welshmen, but at Bensington +or Benton he lost a battell against Offa king of Mercia, in the 24 yéere of his reigne: +and from that time forward tasting manie displeasures, at length through his owne follie +came vnto a shamefull end. For whereas he had reigned a long time neither slouthfullie +nor presumptuouslie, yet now as it were aduanced with the glorie of things passed, he either +thought that nothing could go against him, or else doubted the suertie of their state +whom he should leaue behind him, and therefore he confined one Kineard the brother of +Sigibert, whose fame he perceiued to increase more than he would haue wished.</p> +<p> +This Kineard dissembling the matter, as he that could giue place to time, got him out of +the countrie, and after by a secret conspiracie assembled togither a knot of vngratious companie, +and returning priuilie into the countrie againe, watched his time, till he espied that +the king with a small number of his seruants was come vnto the house of a noble woman, +whome he kept a paramour at Merton, wherevpon the said Kineard vpon the sudden beset +the house round about. The king perceiuing himselfe thus besieged of his enimies, at the +first caused the doores to be shut, supposing either by curteous woords to appease his enimies, +or with his princelie authoritie to put them in feare.</p> +<p> +But when he saw that by neither meane he could doo good, in a great chafe he brake +foorth of the house vpon Kineard, and went verie néere to haue killed him: but being compassed +about with multitude of enimies, whilest he stood at defense, thinking it a dishonour +<span class="rightnote">Kinewulfe slaine by conspirators.</span> +for him to flée, he was beaten downe and slaine, togither with those few of his seruants +which he had there with him, who chose rather to die in séeking reuenge of their maisters +death than by cowardise to yéeld themselues into the murtherers hands. There escaped +none except one Welshman or Britaine, an hostage, who was neuerthelesse sore wounded +and hurt.</p> +<p> +The brute of such an heinous act was streightwaies blowne ouer all, and brought with +speed to the eares of the noble men and peeres of the realme, which were not farre off the +place where this slaughter had béene committed. Amongst other, one Osrike, for his age +and wisedome accounted of most authoritie, exhorted the residue that in no wise they should +suffer the death of their souereigne lord to passe vnpunished vnto their perpetuall shame and +reproofe. Wherevpon in all hast they ran to the place where they knew to find Kineard, +who at the first began to please his cause, to make large promises, to pretend coosenage, +and so foorth: but when he perceiued all that he could say or doo might not preuaile, he +incouraged his companie to shew themselues valiant, and to resist their enimies to the vttermost +of their powers. Heerevpon followed a doubtfull fight, the one part striuing to saue +their liues, and the other to atteine honour, and punish the slaughter of their souereigne<a name="page651" id="page651"></a><span class="page">[Page 651]</span> +lord. At length the victorie rested on the side where the right was, so that the wicked murtherer +after he had fought a while, at length was slaine, togither with fourescore and eight +<span class="rightnote"><i>Simon Dun.</i> <br /><i>H. Hunt</i></span> +of his mates. The kings bodie was buried at Winchester, & the murtherers at Repingdon. +Such was the end of king Kinewulfe, after he had reigned the tearme of 31 yéeres.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote"><i>Eccle. hist. Magd</i>. <br />786</span> +In the yeere of our Lord 786, pope Adrian sent two legats into England, Gregorie, or +(as some copies haue) George bishop of Ostia, and Theophylactus bishop of Tuderto, with +letters commendatorie vnto Offa king of Mercia, Alfwold king of Northumberland, Ieanbright +or Lambert archbishop of Canturburie, and Eaubald archbishop of Yorke. These +<span class="rightnote"><i>H. Hunt.</i> <br />Legats from the pope.</span> +legats were gladlie receiued, not onlie by the foresaid kings and archbishops, but also of all +other the high estates, aswell spirituall as temporall of the land, & namelie of Kinewulfe +king of the Westsaxons, which repaired vnto king Offa to take counsell with him for reformation +of such articles as were conteined in the popes letters.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Twentie articles which the legats had to propone.</span> +There were twentie seuerall articles which they had to propone on the popes behalfe, as +touching the receiuing of the faith or articles established by the Nicene councell, and obeieng +of the other generall councels, with instructions concerning baptisme and kéeping of synods +yéerelie, for the examination of priests and ministers, and reforming of naughtie liuers. +Moreouer touching discretion to be vsed in admitting of gouernors in monasteries, and curats +or priests to the ministerie in churches: and further for the behauior of priests in wearing +their apparell, namelie that they should not presume to come to the altar bare legged, lest +their dishonestie might be discouered. And that in no wise the chalice or paten were made +of the horne of an oxe, bicause the same is bloudie of nature: nor the host of a crust, but +of pure bread. Also whereas bishops vsed to sit in councels to iudge in secular causes, they +were now forbidden so to doo.</p> +<p> +Manie other things were as meanes of reformation articled, both for spirituall causes, and +also concerning ciuill ordinances, as disabling children to be heirs to the parents, which by +<span class="rightnote">Nuns concubines.</span> +them were not begot in lawfull matrimonie but on concubines, whether they were nunnes +or secular women. Also of paiment of tithes, performing of vowes, auoiding of vndecent +apparell, and abolishing of all maner of heathenish vsages and customes that sounded contrarie +<span class="leftnote">Curtailing of horsses.</span> +to the order of christanitie, as curtailing of horsses, and eating of horsses flesh. These +things with manie other expressed in 20 principall articles (as we haue said) were first concluded +to be receiued by the church of the Northumbers in a councell holden there, and +subscribed by Alfwold king of the Northumbers, by Delberike bishop of Hexham, by +Eubald archbishop of Yorke, Higwald bishop of Lindisferne, Edelbert bishop of Whiterne, +Aldulfe bishop of Mieth, Ethelwine also another bishop by his deputies, with a number of +other of the clergie; and lords also of the temporaltie, as duke Alrike, duke Segwulfe, abbat +Alebericke, and abbat Erhard. After this confirmation had of the Northumbers, there was +also a councell holden in Mercia at Cealtide, in the which these persons subscribed, Iambert +or Lambert archbishop of Canturburie, Offa king of Mercia, Hughbright bishop of Lichfield, +Edeulfe bishop of Faron, with Vnwone bishop of Ligor, and nine other bishops, besides +abbats; and thrée dukes, as Brorda, Farwald, and Bercoald, with earle Othbald.</p> +<p> +But now to returne backe to speake of other dooings, as in other parts of this land they +fell out. About the yéere of our Lord 764, the sée of Canturburie being void, one Iambert +<span class="leftnote">764.</span> +or Lambert was elected archbishop there, and in the yéere 766, the archbishop of Yorke Egbert +<span class="rightnote"><i>Sim. Dun.</i> saith 780</span> +departed this life, in whose place one Adelbert succéeded. About the 25 yéere of Kenwulf +king of Westsaxons, the Northumbers hauing to their capteine two noble men, Osbald +<span class="leftnote"><i>Simon Dun</i>.</span> +and Ethelherard, burned one of their iudges named Bearne, bicause he was more cruell in +iudgement (as they tooke the matter) than reason required. In which vengeance executed +vpon the cruell iudge (if he were so seuere as this attempt of the two noble men dooth +offer the readers to suspect) all such of his liuerie & calling are taught lenitie & mildnes, +wherwith they should leuen the rigor of the lawe. For</p> +<a name="page652" id="page652"></a><span class="page">[Page 652]</span> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Ouid. lib. 2. de art. am.</i></span> +<p class="indent"> + <span class="indent1">———capit indulgentia mentes,</span><br /> + <span class="indent1">Asperitas odium sæuáque bella mouet.</span><br /> +Odimus accipitrem, quia viuit semper in armis,<br /> + <span class="indent1">Er pauidum solitos in pecus ire lupos.</span><br /> +At caret insidijs hominum, quia mitis hirundo est,<br /> + <span class="indent1">Quásque colat turres Chaonîs ales habet.</span> +</p> +<p> +At the same time, one Aswald or Alfewald reigned ouer the Northumbers, being admitted +<span class="rightnote">He began his reigne <br /><i>ann.</i> 779, <br />as saith <br /><i>Simon Dun.</i> and reigned but ten yéeres.</span> +K. after that Ethelbert was expelled, and when the same Alfwald had reigned 10, or (as +some say) 11 yéeres, he was traitorouslie and without all guilt made away; the chéefe conspirator +was named Siga. The same Alfwald was a iust prince, and woorthilie gouerned the +Northumbers to his high praise and commendation. He was murthered by his owne people +(as before ye haue heard) the 23 of September, in the yéere of our Lord 788, and was +buried at Hexham.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">788. <br /><i>Matth. West.</i> <br /><i>Simon Dun.</i> <br />792.</span> +In the yéere 792, Charles king of France sent a booke into Britaine, which was sent vnto +him from Constantinople, conteining certeine articles agreed vpon in a synod (wherein were +present aboue the number of thrée hundred bishops) quite contrarie and disagréeing from +the true faith, namelie in this, that images ought to be worshipped, which the church of +God vtterlie abhorreth. Against this booke Albinus that famous clearke wrote a treatise +confirmed with places taken out of holie scripture, which treatise, with the booke in name +<span class="leftnote"><i>Sim. Dunel.</i> <br />800.</span> +of all the bishops and princes of Britaine, he presented vnto the king of France. ¶ In the +yéere 800, on Christmasse éeuen chanced a maruellous tempest of wind, which ouerthrew +whole cities and townes in diuerse places, and trees in great number, beside other harmes +which it did, as by death of cattell, &c. In the yeere following a great part of London +was consumed by fire.</p> + +<hr /><br /><br /> + +<p><a name="seuenth6" id="seuenth6"></a> +<i>Britricus K. of the Westsaxons, his inclination, Egbert being of the bloud roiall is banished +the land, & why; crosses of bloudie colour and drops of bloud fell from heauen, what +they did prognosticate; the first Danes that arriued on the English coasts, and the +cause of their comming; firie dragons flieng in the aire foretokens of famine and warre; +Britricus is poisoned of his wife Ethelburga, hir ill qualities; why the kings of the +Westsaxons decreed that their wiues should not be called queenes, the miserable end of +Ethelburga; Kenulfe king of Mercia, his vertues, he restoreth the archbishops see to +Canturburie which was translated to Lichfield, he inuadeth Kent, taketh the king prisoner +in the field, and bountifullie setteth him at libertie, the great ioy of the people therevpon; +his rare liberalitie to churchmen, his death and buriall.</i></p> + +<h3>THE SEUENTH CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">BRITRICUS. <br /><i>Hen. Hunt.</i> <br /><i>Matt. West.</i> <br />saith 787. <br /><i>Simon Dun.</i> <br />saith 786.</span> +After Kenwulfe, one Britricus or Brightrike was ordeined king of Westsaxons, and +began his reigne in the yéere of our Lord 787, which was about the 8 yéere of the gouernment +of the empresse Eirene with hir son Constantinus, and about the second yeere of the +reigne of Achaius K. of Scots. This Brightrike was descended of the line of Cerdicus the +first king of Westsaxons, the 16 in number from him. He was a man of nature quiet & +temperate, more desirous of peace than of warre, and therefore he stood in doubt of the +noble valiancie of one Egbert, which after succéeded him in the kingdome. The linage of +Cerdicus was in that season so confounded and mingled, that euerie one as he grew in greatest +power, stroue to be king and supreame gouernour. But speciallie Egbertus was knowne to +be one that coueted that place, as he that was of the bloud roiall, and a man of great power +<span class="rightnote">Egbert banished.</span> +and lustie courage. King Brightrike therefore to liue in more safetie, banished him the land,<a name="page653" id="page653"></a><span class="page">[Page 653]</span> +and appointed him to go into France. Egbert vnderstanding certeinlie that this his departure +into a forreine countrie should aduance him in time, obeied the kings pleasure.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">A strange woonder.</span> +About the third yéere of Brightrikes reigne, there fell vpon mens garments, as they +walked abroad, crosses of bloudie colour, and bloud fell from heauen as drops of raine. +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matt. West.</i> <br /><i>Wil. Malm.</i> <br /><i>Hen. Hunt.</i> <br />Danes.</span> +Some tooke this woonder for a signification of the persecution that followed by the Danes: +for shortlie after, in the yeere insuing, there arriued thrée Danish ships vpon the English +coasts, against whome the lieutenant of the parties adjoining made foorth, to apprehend +those that were come on land, howbeit aduenturing himselfe ouer rashlie amongst them, he +was slaine: but afterwards when the Danes perceiued that the people of the countries about +began to assemble, and were comming against them, they fled to their ships, and left their +prey and spoile behind them for that time. These were the first Danes that arriued here in +this land, being onelie sent (as was perceiued after) to view the countrie and coasts of the +same, to vnderstand how with a greater power they might be able to inuade it, as shortlie +after they did, and warred so with the Englishmen, that they got a great part of the land, and +held it in their owne possession. In the tenth yéere of king Brightrikes reigne, there were +séene in the aire firie dragons flieng, which betokened (as was thought) two grieuous plagues +<span class="rightnote">Famin & war signified.</span> +that followed. First a great dearth and famine: and secondlie a cruell war of the Danes, +which shortlie followed, as ye shall heare.</p> +<p> +Finallie, after that Brightrike had reigned the space of 16 yéeres, he departed this life, +<span class="rightnote"><i>Ran. Cest. lib. 5. cap. 25.</i> Brightrike departed this life.</span> +and was buried at Warham. Some write that he was poisoned by his wife Ethelburga +daughter vnto Offa king of Mercia (as before ye haue heard) and he maried hir in the +fourth yere of his reigne. She is noted by writers to haue bin a verie euill woman, proud, +and high-minded as Lucifer, and therewith disdainful. She bare hir the more statelie, by +<span class="leftnote">Ethelburga hir conditions and wicked nature.</span> +reason of hir fathers great fame and magnificence: whome she hated she would accuse to +hir husband, and so put them in danger of their liues. And if she might not so wreake +hir rancour, she would not sticke to poison them. </p> +<p> +It happened one day, as she meant to haue poisoned a yoong gentleman, against whome +she had a quarell, the king chanced to tast of that cup, and died thereof (as before ye +haue heard.) Hir purpose indeed was not to haue poisoned the king, but onelie the yoong +gentleman, the which drinking after the king, died also, the poison was so strong and vehement. +<span class="rightnote">A decrée of the kings of the Westsaxons against their wiues.</span> +For hir heinous crime it is said that the kings of the Westsaxons would not suffer +their wiues to be called quéenes, nor permit them to sit with them in open places +(where their maiesties should bée shewed) manie yéeres after. Ethelburga fearing punishment, +fled into France with great riches and treasure, & was well cherished in the court of +<span class="leftnote">The end of Ethelburga. <i>Simon Dun.</i></span> +king Charles at the first, but after she was thrust into an abbeie, and demeaned hirselfe so +lewdlie there, in keeping companie with one of hir owne countriemen, that she was banished +the house, and after died in great miserie.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i> Kenulfe.</span> +Egbert king of Mercia departing this life, after he had reigned foure moneths, ordeined +his coosine Kenulfe to succeed in his place, which Kenulfe was come of the line of Penda +king of Mercia, as rightlie descended from his brother Kenwalke. This Kenulfe for his +noble courage, wisdome, and vpright dealing, was woorthie to be compared with the best +princes that haue reigned. His vertues passed his fame: nothing he did that enuie could +with iust cause reprooue. At home he shewed himselfe godlie and religious, in warre he +<span class="leftnote">The archbishops sée restored to Canturburie.</span> +became victorious, he restored the archbishops sée againe to Canturburie, wherein his humblenes +was to be praised, that made no account of worldlie honour in his prouince, so that +the order of the ancient canons might be obserued. He had wars left him as it were by succession +from his predecessour Offa against them of Kent, and thervpon entring that countrie +with a mightie armie, wasted and spoiled the same, and encountering in battell with king +<span class="rightnote">The king of Kent taken prisoner.</span> +Edbert or Ethelbert, otherwise called Prenne, ouerthrew his armie, and tooke him prisoner +in the field, but afterwards he released him to his great praise and commendation. For +whereas he builded a church at Winchcombe, vpon the day of the dedication thereof, he +led the Kentish king as then his prisoner, vp to the high altar, and there set him at libertie,<a name="page654" id="page654"></a><span class="page">[Page 654]</span> +declaring thereby a great proofe of his good nature.</p> +<p> +There were present at that sight, Cuthred whom he had made king of Kent in place of +Ethelbert, or Edbert, with 13 bishops, and 10 dukes. The noise that was made of the +people in reioising at the kings bountious liberalitie was maruellous. For not onelie he thus +<span class="rightnote">Kenulfs liberalitie towards churchmen which was not forgotten by them in their histories.</span> +restored the Kentish king to libertie, but also bestowed great rewards vpon all the prelates +and noble men that were come to the feast, euerie priest had a peece of gold, and euerie +moonke a shilling. Also he dealt and gaue away great gifts amongst the people, and +founded in that place an abbeie, indowing the same with great possessions. Finallie, after +he had reigned 24 yéeres, he departed this life, and appointed his buriall to be in the same +abbeie of Winchcombe, leauing behind him a sonne named Kenelme, who succeeded his +father in the kingdome, but was soone murthered by his vnnaturall sister Quendred, the 17 +of Iulie, as hereafter shall be shewed.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<p><a name="eight6" id="eight6"></a> +<i>Osrike king of Northumberland leaueth the kingdome to Edelbert reuoked out of exile, king +Alfwalds sons miserablie slaine, Osred is put to death, Ethelbert putteth away his wife and +marieth another, his people rise against him therefore and kill him, Oswald succeeding +him is driuen out of the land; Ardulfe king of Northumberland, duke Wade raiseth warre +against him and is discomfited; duke Aldred is slaine; a sore battell fought in Northumberland, +the English men aflict one another with ciuill warres; king Ardulfe deposed from +his estate; the regiment of the Northumbers refused as dangerous and deadlie by destinie, +what befell them in lieu of their disloialtie; the Danes inuade their land and are vanquished; +the roiall race of the Kentish kings decaieth, the state of that kingdome; the +primasie restored to the see of Canturburie, Egbert (after the death of Britricus) is sent +for to vndertake the gouernement of the Westsaxons, his linage.</i></p> + + +<h3>THE EIGHT CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">OSRED. 788.</span> +When Aswald king of Northumberland was made away, his brother Osred the sonne of +Alred tooke vpon him the rule of that kingdom anno 788, and within one yeere was expelled, +<span class="leftnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i> <br /><i>Matth. West.</i> <br /><i>Hen. Hunt.</i> <br /><i>Simon Dun.</i></span> +and left the kingdome to Ethelbert or Edelred as then reuoked out of exile, in which +he had remained for the space of 12 yéeres, and now being restored, he continued in gouernement +of the Northumbers 4 yéeres, or (as some say) 7 yéeres; in the second yéere +<span class="rightnote">Duke Ardulf taken and wounded.</span> +whereof duke Eardulfe was taken and led to Ripon, and there without the gate of the monasterie +wounded (as was thought) to death by the said king, but the moonks taking his bodie, +and laieng it in a tent without the church, after midnight he was found aliue in the church.</p> +<p> +Moreouer, about the same time the sonnes of king Alfwald were by force drawne out of +the citie of Yorke, but first by a wile they were trained out of the head church where +they had taken sanctuarie, and so at length miserablie slaine by king Ethelbert in Wonwaldremere, +<span class="rightnote">792</span> +one of them was named Alfus, & the other Alfwin. In the yéere of our Lord 792, +Osred vpon trust of the others and promises of diuerse noble men, secretly returned into Northumberland, +but his owne souldiers forsooke him, and so was he taken, and by king Ethelberts +commandment put to death at Cunbridge on the 14 day of September.</p> +<p> +The same yéere king Ethelbert maried the ladie Alfled the daughter of Offa king of Mercia, +forsaking his former wife which he had, & hauing no iust cause of diuorce giuen on hir part, +wherby his people tooke such displeasure against him, that finallie after he had reigned now +this second time 4 yéeres, or (as other say) seuen yéeres, he could not auoid the destinie of +his predecessors, but was miserablie killed by his owne subiects at Cobre, the 18 of Aprill. +After whome, one Oswald a noble man was ordeined king, and within 27 or 28 daies after +<span class="rightnote">Holie Iland.</span> +was expelled, and constreined to flie first into the Ile of Lindesferne, and from thence vnto<a name="page655" id="page655"></a><span class="page">[Page 655]</span> +the king of the Picts.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">Ardulfe.</span> +Then Ardulfe that was a duke and sonne to one Arnulfe was reuoked out of exile, made +king, & consecrated also at Yorke by the archbishop Cumhald, and thrée other bishops, the +<span class="rightnote">796.</span> +25 of June, in the yéere 796. About two yeeres after, to wit, in the yéere 798 one duke +Wade, and other conspirators which had beene also partakers in the murthering of king +<span class="leftnote">Walalege.</span> +Ethelbert, raised warre against king Ardulfe, and fought a battell with him at Walleg, +but king Ardulfe got the vpper hand, and chased Wade and other his enimies out of the +<span class="rightnote">799.</span> +field. In the yéere 799, duke Aldred that had murthered Ethelbert or Athelred king of +Northumberland, was slaine by another duke called Chorthmond in reuenge of the death +of his maister the said Ethelbert. Shortlie after, about the same time that Brightrike king of +Westsaxons departed this life, there was a sore battell foughten in Northumberland at Wellehare, +in the which Alricke the sonne of Herbert, and manie other with him were slaine: +but to rehearse all the battels with their successes and issues, it should be too tedious and +irkesome to the readers, for the English people being naturallie hard and high-minded, +<span class="leftnote">The English men afflicted each other with ciuill warre.</span> +continuallie scourged each other with intestine warres. About six or seuen yéeres after this +battell, king Ardulfe was expelled out of the state.</p> +<p> +¶ Thus ye may consider in what plight things stood in Northumberland, by the often seditions, +tumults and changings of gouernors, so that there be which haue written, how after the +death of king Ethelbert, otherwise called Edelred, diuers bishops and other of the chiefest nobles +of the countrie disdaining such traitorous prince-killings, ciuill seditions, and iniurious +dealings, as it were put in dailie practise amongst the Northumbers, departed out of their natiue +borders into voluntarie exile, and that from thencefoorth there was not anie of the nobilitie +that durst take vpon him the kinglie gouernement amongst them, fearing the fatall prerogatiue +thereof, as if it had béene Scians horsse, whose rider came euer to some euill end. +But yet by that which is héeretofore shewed out of Simon Dunelm, it is euident, that there +reigned kings ouer the Northumbers, but in what authoritie and power to command, it may +be doubted.</p> +<p> +Howbeit this is certeine, that the sundrie murtherings and banishments of their kings and +dukes giue vs greatlie to gesse, that there was but sorie obedience vsed in the countrie, +whereby for no small space of time that kingdome remained without an head gouernor, +being set open to the prey and iniurie of them that were borderers vnto it, and likewise vnto +strangers. For the Danes, which in those daies were great rouers, had landed before in the +<span class="rightnote">This chanced in the yéere of our Lord 700, as <i>Simon Dun.</i> saith.</span> +north parts, & spoiled the abbeie of Lindesferne otherwise called holie Iland, and perceiuing +the fruitfulnesse of the countrie, and easinesse for their people to inuade it (bicause that +through their priuate quarelling there was little publike resistance to be looked for) at their +<span class="leftnote">The Danes inuade Northumberland.</span> +comming home, entised their countriemen to make voiages into England, and so landing in +Northumberland did much hurt, and obtained a great part of the countrie in manner without +resistance, bicause there was no ruler there able to raise anie power of men by publike authoritie +to incounter with the common enimies, whereby the countrie was brought into great +miserie, partlie with war of the Danes, and ciuill dissention amongest the nobles and people +themselues, no man being of authoritie (I say) able to reforme such misorders. Yet we find +<span class="rightnote">The Danes vanquished. This was in anno 794 as <i>Simon Dun.</i> saith.</span> +that the nobles and capteines of the countrie assembling togither at one time against the +Danes that were landed about Tinmouth, constreined them by sharpe fight to flée backe to +their ships, and tooke certeine of them in the field, whose heads they stroke off there vpon +the shore. The other that got to their ships, suffered great losse of men, and likewise of +their vessels by tempest.</p> +<p> +¶ Here then we are taught that the safest way to mainteine a monarchie, is when all degrées +liue in loialtie. And that it is necessarie there should be one supereminent, vnto whome +all the residue should stoope: this fraile bodie of ours may giue vs sufficient instruction. For +reason ruleth in the mind as souereigne, and hath subiect vnto it all the affections and inward +motions, yea the naturall actions are directed by hir gouernement: whereto if the will be +obedient there cannot créepe in anie outrage or disorder. Such should be the sole regiment +of a king in his kingdome; otherwise he may be called "Rex á regendo, as Mons a mouendo."<a name="page656" id="page656"></a><span class="page">[Page 656]</span> +For there is not a greater enimie to that estate, than to admit participants in roialtie, which as +it is a readie way to cause a subuersion of a monarchie; so it is the shortest cut ouer to a disordered +anarchie. But to procéed in the historie.</p> +<p> +After that Alrike (the last of king Witchreds sonnes, which reigned in Kent successiuelie +after their father) was dead, the noble ofspring of the kings there so decaied, and began to +vade awaie, that euerie one which either by flattering had got rithes togither, or by seditious +partaking was had in estimation, sought to haue the gouernement, and to vsurp the title of +king, abusing by vnworthie means the honor and dignitie of so high an office. Amongest +<span class="rightnote">Edelbert.</span> +others, one Edbert or Edelbert, surnamed also Prenne, gouerned the Kentishmen for the space +of two yeares, and was in the end vanquished by them of Mercia, and taken prisoner, as before +is said: so that for a time he liued in captiuitie; and although afterwards he was set at +libertie, yet was he not receiued againe to the kingdome, so that it is vncerteine what end he +made. Cuthred that was appointed by Kinevulfe the king of Mercia, to reigne in place of +the same Edbert or Edelbert, continued in the gouernement eight yéeres as king, rather by +name than by act, inheriting his predecessors euill hap and calamitie, through factions and +ciuill discord.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Lambert.</span> +After that Iambrith or Lambert the archbishop of Canturburie was departed this life, one +Edelred was ordeined in his place, vnto whome the primasie was restored, which in his predecessors +time was taken awaie by Offa king of Mercia, as before is recited. Also after the +death of Eubald archbishop of Yorke, another of the same name called Eubald the second +was admitted to succeed in that sée. After that Brightrike the king of Westsaxons was +departed this life, messengers were sent with all spéed into France, to giue knowledge +thereof vnto Egbert, which as before is shewed, was constreined by the said Brightrike to depart +the countrie. At the first, he withdrew vnto Offa king of Mercia, with whome he remained +for a time, till at length (through suit made by Brightrike) he perceiued he might not +longer continue there without danger to be deliuered into his enimies hands; and so, Offa +winking at the matter, he departed out of his countrie, and got him ouer into France. But +being now aduertised of Brightriks death, and required by earnest letters sent from his friends +to come and receiue the gouernement of the kingdome, he returned with all conuenient spéed +<span class="leftnote">Egbert receiued a king of Westsaxons His linage.</span> +into his countrie, and was receiued immediatlie for king, by the generall consent of the Westsaxons, +as well in respect of the good hope which they had conceiued of his woorthie qualities +and aptnesse to haue gouernement, as of his roiall linage, being lineallie descended from +Inigils the brother of king Inas, as sonne to Alkemound, that was the sonne of one Eaffa, +which Eaffa was sonne to Ope the sonne of the foresaid Inigils.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + +<p><a name="ninth6" id="ninth6"></a> +<i>Egbert reigneth ouer the Westsaxons, his practise or exercise in the time of his exile, his +martiall exploits against the Cornishmen and Welshmen, Bernulfe king of Mercia taketh +indignation at Egbert for the inlarging of his roiall authoritie, they fight a sore battell, +Egbert ouercommeth, great ods betweene their souldiers, bishop Alstan a warriour; Kent, +Essex, Southerie, Sussex, and Eastangles subiect to Egbert; he killeth Bernulfe K. of +Mercia, and conquereth the whole kingdome, Whitlafe the king thereof becommeth his tributarie, +the Northumbers submit themselues to Egbert, he conquereth Northwales and +the citie of Chester, he is crowned supreme gouernour of the whole land, when this Ile +was called England, the Danes inuade the land, they discomfit Egberts host, the Welshmen +ioine with the Danes against Egbert, they are both vanquished, Egbert dieth.</i></p> + +<h3>THE NINTH CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">EGBERT. 802 <br />as <i>Simon Dunel.</i> and <i>M.W.</i> hath noted but 801.</span> +This Egbert began his reigne in the yeare of our Lord 800, which was the 4 yeare almost +ended, after that the emperour Eirine began the second time to rule the empire, and +in the 24 yeare of the reigne of Charles the great king of France, which also was in the same<a name="page657" id="page657"></a><span class="page">[Page 657]</span> +yeare after he was made emperour of the west, and about the second yeare of Conwall king of Scots. +Whilest this Egbert remained in exile, he turned his aduersaries into an occasion of his +valiancie, as it had béene a grindstone to grind awaie and remoue the rust of sluggish slouthfulnes, +in so much that hawnting the wars in France, in seruice of Charles the great, he atteined +to great knowledge and experience, both in matters appertaining to the wars, and +likewise to the well ordering of the common wealth in time of peace. The first wars that +he tooke in hand, after he had atteined to the kingdome, was against the Cornishmen, a remnant +of the old Britains, whome he shortlie ouercame and subdued. Then he thought good +to tame the vnquiet Welshmen, the which still were readie to moue rebellion against the Englishmen, +<span class="leftnote"><i>Simon Dun.</i> <i>Hen. Hunt.</i></span> +as they that being vanquished, would not yet seeme to be subdued, wherefore about +the 14 yeare of his reigne, he inuaded the countrie of Wales, and went through the same from +east to west, not finding anie person that durst resist him.</p> +<p> +King Egbert hauing ouercome his enimies of Wales and Cornewall, began to grow in authoritie +aboue all the other rulers within this land, in somuch that euerie of them began to feare +<span class="rightnote">Bernulf king of Mercia.</span> +their owne estate, but namelie Bernulfe king of Mercia sore stomached the matter, as he that +was wise, and of a loftie courage, and yet doubted to haue to doo with Egbert, who was +knowen also to be a man both skilfull and valiant. At length yet considering with himselfe, +that if his chance should be to speed well, so much the more should his praise be increased, +he determined to attempt the fortune of warre, and therevpon intimated the same +vnto Egbert, who supposing it should be a dishonor vnto him to giue place, boldlie prepared to +<span class="leftnote">A battell fought at Ellendon.</span> +méete Bernulfe in the field. Herevpon they incountred togither at Ellendon, & fought a sore +battell, in the which a huge number of men were slaine, what on the one part, and on the +other but in the end the victorie remained with Egbert, although he had not the like host for +<span class="rightnote">Egbert won the victorie.</span> +number vnto Bernulfe, but he was a politike prince, and of great experience, hauing chosen +his souldiers of nimble, leane, and hartie men; where Bernulfs souldiers (through long ease) +<span class="leftnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i> <br />826.</span> +were cowardlie persons, and ouercharged with flesh. The battell was fought in the yeare of +our Lord 826. </p> +<p> +King Egbert hauing got this victorie, was aduanced into such hope, that he persuaded himselfe +to be able without great adoo to ouercome the residue of his neighbours, whose estates +he saw plainlie sore weakened and fallen into great decaie. Herevpon before all other, he +determined to assaile Edelvulfe king of Kent, whome he knew to be a man in no estimation +amongest his subiects. A competent armie therefore being leuied, he appointed his sonne +<span class="rightnote">Alstan bishop of Shireborn a warrior.</span> +Ethelwulfe & Alstan bishop of Shireborne, with earle Walhard to haue the conduct therof, +and sent them with the same into Kent, where they wrought such maisteries, that they chased +both the king and all other that would not submit themselues, out of the countrie, constreining +<span class="leftnote">The conquests of the Westsaxons.</span> +them to passe ouer the Thames. And herewith the Westsaxons following the victorie, +brought vnder subiection of king Egbert the countries of Kent, Essex, Southerie, and Sussex. +<span class="rightnote"><i>Henr. Hunt.</i></span> +The Eastangles also about the same time receiued king Egbert for their souereigne Lord, and +comforted by his setting on against Bernulfe king of Mercia, inuaded the confines of his kingdome, +in reuenge of displeasures which he had doone to them latelie before, by inuading +<span class="leftnote">Bernulf king of Mercia slaine.</span> +their countrie, and as it came to passe, incountring with the said Bernulfe which came against +them to defend his countrie, they slue him in the field.</p> +<p> +Thus their minds on both parts being kindled into further wrath, the Eastangles eftsoones +in the yeare following fought with them of Mercia, and ouercame them againe, and slue their +king Ludicenus, who succéeded Bernulfe in that kingdome, with 5 of his earles. The state +of the kingdome of Mercia being weakened, Egbert conceiued an assured hope of good successe, +& in the 27 yeare of his reigne, made an open inuasion into the countrie, and chasing +Whitlafe king of Mercia (that succéeded Ludicenus) out of his estate, conquered the whole +kingdome of the Mercies. But yet in the yéere next following, or in the third yeare after, he +restored it againe to Whitlafe, with condition, that he should inioy the same as tributarie to +<span class="leftnote"><i>Simon Dun.</i></span> +him, and acknowledge him for his supreme gouernour. The same yeare that Bernulfe king +<span class="rightnote">These were the Cornish men as is to be supposed.</span> +of Mercia was slaine by the Eastangles, there was a sore battell foughten at Gauelford,<a name="page658" id="page658"></a><span class="page">[Page 658]</span> +betwixt them of Deuonshire, and the Britains, in the which manie thousands died on +both parts.</p> +<p> +King Egbert hauing conquered all the English people inhabiting on the south side of Humber, +led foorth his armie against them of Northumberland: but the Northumbers being +not onelie vexed with ciuill sedition, but also with the often inuasion of Danes, perceiued not +<span class="leftnote">King Egbert inuadeth Northumberland. The Northumbers submit themselues to king Egbert.</span> +how they should be able to resist the power of king Egbert: and therefore vpon good aduisement +taken in the matter, they resolued to submit themselues, and therevpon sent ambassadors +to him to offer their submission, committing themselues wholie vnto his protection. +King Egbert gladlie receiued them, and promised to defend them from all forren enimies. +Thus the kingdome of Northumberland was brought vnder subiection to the kings of the +Westsaxons, after the state had béen sore weakened with contention and ciuill discord that +had continued amongst the nobles of the countrie, for the space of manie yeeres, beside the inuasion +made by outward enimies, to the gréeuous damage of the people.</p> +<p> +After that king Egbert had finished his businesse in Northumberland, he turned his power +<span class="rightnote"><i>Ran. Higd.</i> Northwales and the citie of Chester conquered by Egbert.</span> +towards the countrie of Northwales, and subdued the same, with the citie of Chester, which +till those daies, the Britains or Welshmen had kept in their possession. When king Egbert had +obteined these victories, and made such conquests as before is mentioned, of the people héere +in this land, he caused a councell to be assembled at Winchester, and there by aduise of the +high estates, he was crowned king, as souereigne gouernour and supreame lord of the whole +land. It is also recorded, that he caused a commission to be directed foorth into all parts of +the realme, to giue commandement, that from thence forward all the people inhabiting within +this land, should be called English men, and not Saxons, and likewise the land should be +<span class="leftnote">The name of this ile when it was changed.</span> +called England by one generall name, though it should appéere (as before is mentioned) +that it was so called shortlie after the first time that the Angles and Saxons got possession +thereof.</p> +<p> +Now was king Egbert setled in good quiet, and his dominions reduced out of the troubles +<span class="rightnote">The Danes.</span> +of warre, when suddenlie newes came, that the Danes with a nauie of 35 ships, were +arriued on the English coasts, and began to make sore warre in the land. K. Egbert being +thereof aduertised, with all conuenient spéed got togither an armie, and went foorth to giue battell +to the enimies. Heerevpon incountring with them, there was a sore foughten field betwixt +them, which continued with great slaughter on both sides, till the night came on, and then by +chance of warre the Englishmen, which before were at point to haue gone awaie with victorie, +<span class="rightnote">The Englishmen discomfited by Danes. <br /><i>Simon Dun.</i> <br /><i>H. Hunt.</i> <br /><i>Matth. West.</i> <br />834.</span> +were vanquished and put to flight, yet king Egbert by couert of the night escaped his enimies +hands: but two of his chiefe capteins Dudda and Osmond, with two bishops, to wit, +Herferd of Winchester, and Vigferd of Shireborne, were slaine in that battell, which was +foughten at Carrum, about the 834 of Christ, and 34 yéere of king Egberts reigne.</p> +<p> +In the yeere following, the Danes with their nauie came into Westwales, and there the +Welshmen ioining with them, rose against king Egbert, but he with prosperous fortune vanquished +<span class="rightnote">Danes and Welshmen vanquished. <br />836.</span> +and slue both the Danes and Welshmen, and that in great number, at a place called +Hengistenton. The next yéere after also, which was 836, he ouerthrew another armie of +Danes which came against him, as one autor writeth. Finallie, when king Egbert had reigned +<span class="leftnote"><i>Matth. West.</i> Egbert departeth this life. <br />837.</span> +the tearme of 36 yéeres and seuen moneths with great glorie for the inlarging of his kingdome +with wide bounds, which when he receiued was but of small compasse, he departed this +life, leauing to his issue matter of woorthie praise to mainteine that with order which he +with painefull diligence had ioined togither. His bodie was buried at Winchester, and he +left behind him two sonnes Ethelwulfe, otherwise named Athaulfe and Adelstan. The first +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matth. West.</i></span> +he appointed to succéed him in the kingdome of Westsaxons, and Adelstan he ordeined to +haue the gouernment of Kent, Sussex, and Essex.</p> +<p> +¶ Héere we sée the paterne of a fortunate prince in all his affaires, as well forren as domesticall, +wherein is first to be obserued the order of his education in his tender yéeres, which +agreeing well with a princes nature, could not but in the progresse of his age bring great +matters to passe, his manifold victories are an argument that as he lacked no policie, so he had<a name="page659" id="page659"></a><span class="page">[Page 659]</span> +prowesse inough to incounter with his enimies, to whome he gaue manie a fowle discomfiture. +But among all other notes of his skill and hope of happie successe in his martiall affaires, +was the good choise that he made of seruiceable souldiers, being such as knew how +to get the victorie, and hauing gotten it, were not vntaught to vse it to their benefit, by their +warinesse and héedtaking; for</p> + +<p class="center"> +Sæpiùs incautæ nocuit victoria turbæ. +</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<p><a name="tenth6" id="tenth6"></a> +<i>The kingdome of Kent annexed to the kingdome of the Westsaxons, the end of the kingdome +of Kent and Essex; Kenelme king of Mercia murthered by the meanes of his owne sister +Quendred, the order of hir wicked practise; his death prophesied or foreshewed by a signe, +the kings of Mercia put by their roialtie one after another, the kingdome of Britaine beginneth +to be a monarchie; Ethelwulfe king of the Westsaxons, he marrieth his butlers +daughter, his disposition; the fourth destruction of this land by forren enimies, the Danes +sought the ruine of this Ile, how long they afflicted and troubled the same; two notable +bishops and verie seruiceable to king Ethelwulfe in warre, the Danes discomfited, the +Englishmen chased, Ethelwulfs great victorie ouer the Danes, a great slaughter of them +at Tenet, king Ethelwulfs deuotion and liberalitie to churches, Peter pence paid to Rome, +he marieth the ladie Iudith, his two sonnes conspire (vpon occasion of breaking a law) to +depose him, king Ethelwulfe dieth, his foure sonnes by his first wife Osburga, how he bequeathed +his kingdoms.</i></p> + +<h3>THE TENTH CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +When Cuthred K. of Kent had reigned 8 yeeres, as before is mentioned, he was constreined +to giue place vnto one Baldred, that tooke vpon him the gouernment, & reigned the +space of 18 yéeres, without anie great authoritie, for his subiects regarded him but sorilie, so +that in the end, when his countrie was inuaded by the Westsaxons, he was easilie constreined +to depart into exile. And thus was the kingdome of Kent annexed to the kingdome of the +Westsaxons, after the same kingdome had continued in gouernment of kings created of the +same nation for the space of 382 yéers, that is to say, from the yéere of our Lord 464, vnto the +<span class="leftnote">The end of the kingdome of Kent. <br />827.</span> +yéere 827. Suithred or Suthred king of Essex was vanquished and expelled out of his kingdome +by Egbert king of Westsaxons (as before ye maie read) in the same yéere that the +Kentishmen were subdued by the said Egbert, or else verie shortlie after. This kingdome +<span class="rightnote">The end of the kingdome of Essex.</span> +continued 281 yeeres, from the yéere 614, vnto the yeere 795, as by the table of the +Heptarchie set foorth by Alexander Neuill appéereth. After the deceasse of Kenwulfe king +<span class="leftnote"><i>Matth. West.</i> <br />821</span> +of Mercia, his sonne Kenelme a child of the age of seuen yéeres was admitted king, about the +yeere of our Lord 821. He had two sisters, Quendred and Burgenild, of the which the one +<span class="rightnote">The wickedness of Quendred.</span> +(that is to say) Quendred, of a malicious mind, mooued through ambition, enuied hir brothers +aduancement, and sought to make him awaie, so that in the end she corrupted the gouernour +of his person one Ashbert, with great rewards and high promises persuading him to +dispatch hir innocent brother out of life, that she might reigne in his place. Ashbert one day +vnder a colour to haue the yoong king foorth on hunting, led him into a thicke wood, +and there cut off the head from his bodie, an impe by reason of his tender yéeres and innocent +<span class="rightnote">King Kenelm murthered.</span> +age, vnto the world void of gilt, and yet thus traitorouslie murthered without cause or +crime: he was afterwards reputed for a martyr.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Sée legenda aurea. fol. 165.</i> in the life of <br />S. Kenelme.</span> +There hath gone a tale that his death should be signified at Rome, and the place where +the murther was committed, by a strange manner: for (as they say) a white doue came and +lighted vpon the altar of saint Peter, bearing a scroll in hir bill, which she let fall on the +same altar, in which scroll among other things this was conteined, "In clenc kou bath, Kenelme +kinbarne lieth vnder thorne, heaued bereaued:" that is, at Clenc in a cow pasture, Kenelme +the kings child lieth beheaded vnder a thorne. This tale I rehearse, not for anie credit<a name="page660" id="page660"></a><span class="page">[Page 660]</span> +I thinke it woorthie of, but onelie for that it séemeth to note the place where the yoong +prince innocentlie lost his life.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Ceolwulfe K. of Mercia <br />823.</span> +After that Kenelme was thus made awaie, his vncle Ceolwulfe the brother of king Kenulfe +was created king of Mercia, and in the second yéere of his reigne was expelled by Bernwulfe. +Bernwulfe in the third yéere of his reigne, was vanquished and put to flight in battell by Egbert +king of Westsaxons, and shortlie after slaine of the Eastangles, as before ye haue heard. +Then one Ludicenus or Ludicanus was created king of Mercia, and within two yeeres after +came to the like end that happened to his predecessor before him, as he went about to reuenge +his death, so that the kingdome of Britaine began now to réele from their owne estate, and +leane to an alteration, which grew in the end to the erection of a perfect monarchie, and +finall subuersion of their particular estates and regiments. After Ludicenus, succeeded Wightlafe, +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matt. Westm.</i> 728.</span> +who first being vanquisht by Egbert king of Westsaxons, was afterwards restored to the +kingdome by the same Egbert, and reigned 13 yeeres, whereof twelue at the least were vnder +tribute which he paied to the said Egbert and to his sonne, as to his souereignes and supreame +gouernours. The kingdome of Northumberland was brought in subjection to the +<span class="leftnote">828.</span> +kings of Westsaxons, as before is mentioned, in the yéere of our Lord 828, and in the yéere +of the reigne of king Egbert 28, but yet héere it tooke not end, as after shall appéere.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">ETHELWULFUS</span> +Ethelwulfus, otherwise called by some writers Athaulfus, began his reigne ouer the +Westsaxons in the yéere 837, which was in the 24 yéere of the emperor Ludouicus Pius +that was also K. of France, in the tenth yéere of Theophilus the emperor of the East, & about +the third yéere of Kenneth, the second of that name king of Scots. This Ethelwulfe minding +in his youth to haue béene a priest, entered into the orders as subdeacon, and as some write, +<span class="leftnote"><i>Henrie Hunt.</i> <br /><i>Matth. West.</i></span> +he was bishop of Winchester: but howsoeuer the matter stood, or whether he was or not, +sure it is, that shortlie after he was absolued of his vowes by authoritie of pope Leo, and then +maried a proper gentlewoman named Osburga, which was his butlers daughter. He was of +nature courteous, and rather desirous to liue in quiet rest, than to be troubled with the gouernment +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +of manie countries, so that contenting himselfe with the kingdome of Westsaxons, +he permitted his brother Adelstan to inioy the residue of the countries which his father had +subdued, as Kent and Essex, with other. He aided Burthred the king of Mercia against the +Welshmen, and greatlie aduanced his estimation, by giuing vnto him his daughter in mariage.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Foure especiall destructions of this land.</span> +But now the fourth destruction which chanced to this land by forren enimies, was at hand: +for the people of Denmarke, Norway, and other of those northeast regions, which in that season +were great rouers by sea, had tasted the wealth of this land by such spoiles and preies as +they had taken in the same, so that perceiuing they could not purchase more profit anie +where else, they set their minds to inuade the same on ech side, as they had partlie begun in +the daies of the late kings Brightrike and Egbert. The persecution vsed by these Danes +<span class="rightnote"><i>Simon Dun.</i> <br /><i>Hen. Hunt.</i></span> +séemed more gréeuous, than anie of the other persecutions, either before or sithens that time: +for the Romans hauing quicklie subdued the land, gouerned it noblie without seeking the +subuersion thereof. The Scots and Picts onelie inuaded the north parts. And the Saxons +seeking the conquest of the land, when they had once got it, they kept it, and did what +they could, to better and aduance it to a flourishing estate.</p> +<p> +The Normans likewise hauing made a conquest, granted both life, libertie, and ancient lawes +to the former inhabitants: but the Danes long time and often assailing the land on euerie side, +now inuading it in this place, and now in that, did not at the first so much couet to conquer +<span class="rightnote">The Danes sought the destruction of this land.</span> +it, as to spoile it, nor to beare rule in it, as to waste and destroie it: who if they were at anie +time, ouercome, the victors were nothing the more in quiet: for a new nauie, and a greater +armie was readie to make some new inuasion, neither did they enter all at one place, nor at +once, but one companie on the east side, and an other in the west, or in the north and south +coasts, in such sort, that the Englishmen knew not whether they should first go to make +resistance against them.</p> +<p><a name="page661" id="page661"></a><span class="page">[Page 661]</span><span class="rightnote">How long the persecution of the Danes lasted. <br /><i>Will. Malmes.</i></span> +This mischiefe began chieflie in the daies of this king Ethelwulfe, but it continued about the +space of two hundred yeeres, as by the sequele of this booke it shall appéere. King Ethelwulfe +was not so much giuen to ease, but that vpon occasion for defense of his countrie and +subiects, he was readie to take order for the beating backe of the enimies, as occasion serued, +and speciallie chose such to be of his counsell, as were men of great experience and wisedome. +<span class="leftnote">Two notable bishops in Ethelwulfs daies.</span> +Amongst other, there were two notable prelats, Suithune bishop of Winchester, and Adelstan +bishop of Shireborne, who were readie euer to giue him good aduise. Suithune was not so +much expert in worldlie matters as Adelstan was, & therefore chieflie counselled the king in +things apperteining to his soules health: but Adelstan tooke in hand to order matters apperteining +to the state of the commonwealth, as prouiding of monie, and furnishing foorth +of men to withstand the Danes, so that by him manie things were both boldlie begun, +and happilie atchiued, as by writers hath béene recorded. He gouerned the sée of Shireborne +the space of 50 yéeres, by the good counsell and faithfull aduise of those two +prelats.</p> +<p> +King Ethelwulfe gouerned his subiects verie politikelie, and by himselfe and his capteins oftentimes +put the Danes to flight, though as chance of warre falleth out, he also receiued at +<span class="rightnote"><i>Simon Dun.</i> <br /><i>Hen. Hunt.</i></span> +their hands great losses, and sundrie sore detriments. In the first yéere of his reigne, the +Danes arriued at Hampton, with 33 ships, against whome he sent earle Wulhard with part of +his armie, the which giuing battell to the enimies, made great slaughter of them, and obteined +<span class="leftnote">Danes discomfited. <br /><i>Matth. West.</i></span> +a noble victorie. He sent also earle Adelhelme with the Dorsetshire men against an other +number of the Danes, which were landed at Portesmouth, but after long fight, the said Adelhelme +<span class="rightnote">Englishmen put to flight. They are eftsoones vanquished.</span> +was slaine, and the Danes obteined the victorie. In the yéere following, earle Herbert +fought against the Danes at Merseware, and was there slaine, and his men chased. The same +yeere, a great armie of Danes passing by the east parts of the land, as through Lindsey, Eastangle, +and Kent, slue and murthered an huge number of people. The next yéere after this, +they entered further into the land, and about Canturburie, Rochester, and London, did +much mischiefe.</p> +<p> +King Ethelwulfe in the fift yéere of his reigne, with a part of his armie incountred with +<span class="rightnote">Carrum.</span> +the Danes at Carrum, the which were arriued in those parties with 30 ships, hauing their +full fraught of men, so that for so small a number of vessels, there was a great power of +<span class="leftnote">The Danes wan the victorie in battell. Danes are vanquished. <i>Simon Dun.</i> 851.</span> +men of warre, in so much that they obteined the victorie at that time, and put the king to +the woorse. About the tenth yéere of king Ethelwulfs reigne, one of his capteins called +Ernwulfe, and bishop Adelstan, with the Summersetshire men, and an other capteine called +Osred, with the Dorsetshire men, fought against the Danes, at a place called Pedredesmuth, +and vanquished them with great triumph. In the sixtéenth yeere of his reigne, king Ethelwulfe +and his sonne Edelbald hauing assembled all their powers togither, gaue battell at +<span class="rightnote">Ocley. Two hundred and fiftie ships saith <i>Hen. Hunt.</i></span> +Ocley, to an huge host of Danes, the which with foure hundred and fiftie ships had arriued +at Thames mouth, and destroied the famous cities of London and Canturburie, and also had +chased Brightwulfe king of Mercia in battell, and being now entered into Southerie, were +incountered by king Ethelwulfe at Ocley aforesaid, & after sore fight and incredible slaughter +made on both sides, in the end, the victorie by the power of God was giuen to those that +beléeued on him, and the losse rested with great confusion to the miscreants.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The Danes eftsoones vanquished. <br />Danes ouercome by sea.</span> +Thus king Ethelwulfe obteined a glorious victorie in so mightie a battell, as a greater had +not beene lightlie heard of to chance within the English dominions. The same yeere also +Athelstan king of Kent and duke Ealhere fought by sea with the Danes, and tooke 9 of +their ships, and chased the residue. Moreouer, one earle Ceorle hauing with him the power +<span class="leftnote">The Deuonshire men vanquish the Danes.</span> +of Deuonshire, fought with the Danes at Winleshore, and got the victorie. This yéere was +verie luckie to the English nation, but yet the armie of the Danes lodged all the winter season +in the Ile of Tenet. And this was the first time that they remained héere all the winter, +vsing afore time but to come and make an inuasion in one place or other, and immediatlie to +returne home with the prey.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Simon Dun.</i> <br />852.</span> +In the 18 yeere of king Ethelwulfes reigne, he aided Burthred king of Mercia against<a name="page662" id="page662"></a><span class="page">[Page 662]</span> +the Welshmen (as before is mentioned) and gaue to him his daughter in marriage, the +solemnization whereof was kept at Chipnham. The same yéere king Ethelwulfe sent his +sonne Alured as then but fiue yeeres of age to Rome, where he was consecrated K. by +pope Leo the fourth, and was receiued of him as if he had beene his owne sonne. +Duke Ealhere or Eachere with the Kentishmen, and one Huda or rather Wada, with +<span class="rightnote">Great slaughter of Danes at Tenet.</span> +the men of Southerie, fought against the armie of Danes at Tenet, where great slaughter +was made on both sides, the Englishmen preuailing in the beginning, but in the end, both +their foresaid dukes or leaders died in that battell, beside manie other that were slaine and +drowned.</p> +<p> +In the 19 yéere of his reigne, king Ethelwulfe ordeined that the tenths or tithes of all +lands due to be paid to the church, should be frée from all tribute, duties, or seruices regall. +And afterwards, with great deuotion he went to Rome, where he was receiued with great +honour, and taried there one whole yéere: he tooke with him his sonne Alured, who had +<span class="rightnote">The Saxons schoole.</span> +béene there before as ye haue heard. He repaired the Saxons schoole, which Offa king of +Mercia had sometime founded in that citie, and latelie had béene sore decaied by fire. He +confirmed the grant of Peter pence, to the intent that no Englishmen from thence-foorth +<span class="leftnote">King Ethelwulfs liberalitie to churches. <br /><i>Will. Malmes.</i> <br /><i>Simon Dun.</i> <br />Mancusæ.</span> +should doo penance in bounds as he saw some there to doo before his face. It is also written, +that he should acquit all the churches of his realme of paieng tribute to his coffers (as before +ye haue heard) & moreouer couenanted to send vnto Rome euerie yéere three hundred +marks, that is to say, one hundred marks to saint Peters church, an other hundred marks +to saint Paules light, and the third hundred marks to the Pope.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The ladie Iudith.</span> +In his returne thorough France, he married the ladie Iudith, daughter to Charles the bald, +then K. of France, and bringing hir with him into his countrie, placed hir by him in a chaire +of estate, with which déed he offended so the minds of his subiects, bicause it was against +the order taken before him, for the offense of Ethelburga, that his sonne Ethelbald and +Adelstan bishop of Shireborne, with Enwulfe earle of Summerset, conspired to depose him +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +from his kinglie authoritie; but by mediation of friends, the matter was taken vp, and so +ordered, that the kingdome was diuided betwixt the father and the sonne, with such parcialitie, +that the sonne had the better part lieng westward, and the father was constreined +to content himselfe with the east part being the woorst.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">857.</span> +Of this trouble of Ethelwulfe some write otherwise, after this manner word for word. +¶ Ethelwulfe king of the Westsaxons being returned from Rome & the parties beyond +the seas, was prohibited the entrance into his realme by Adelstane bishop of Shireborne, +and Ethelbald his eldest sonne; pretending outwardlie the coronation of Alfride, +the mariage of Iudith the French kings daughter, and open eating with hir at the table, +to be the onelie cause of this their manifest rebellion. Whereby he séemeth to inferre, +that this reuolting of Adelstane and his son, should procéed of the ambitious desire of +Ethelbald to reigne, and likelie inough, or else this vnequall partition should neuer haue +béene made.</p> +<p> +But howsoeuer the matter stood, king Ethelwulfe liued not long after his returne from +Rome, but departed this life, after he had ruled the kingdome of the Westsaxons the space +of 20 yéeres and od moneths. His bodie was buried at Winchester. He left behind him +foure sonnes, Ethelbald, Ethelbert or Ethelbright, Ethelred, and Alsred or Alured, which +was begotten of his first wife Osburga. A little before his death he made his testament and +<span class="rightnote">Onelie Westsex saith <br /><i>Matt. Westm.</i> and <i>Sim. Dunel.</i> +saith that Ethelbright had Sussex also, and so dooth <br /><i>H. Hunt.</i> <br /><i>Matth. Paris.</i></span> +last will, appointing his sonne Ethelbald to succéed him in the whole regiment of his kingdoms +of Westsex and Sussex, which he held by inheritance: but the kingdoms of Kent and +Essex he assigned to his son Ethelbright. About the same time also the Danes soiourned all +the winter season in the Ile of Shepie.</p> +<p> +¶ The old Saxons doo bring the genealogie of this Ethelwulfe to Adam, after this maner +following.</p> +<a name="page663" id="page663"></a><span class="page">[Page 663]</span> +<table summary="Saxon genealogy of Ethelwulfe"> +<tr> + <td class="list"> +Ethelwulfe the sonne of Egbert, +<table summary="Saxon genealogy of Ethelwulfe"> +<tr> + <td class="list" width="30%" valign="top"> + +the son of Alcmund,<br /> +the son of Eaffa,<br /> +the son of Eoppa,<br /> +the son of Ingils,<br /> +the son of Kenred,<br /> +the son of Coelwald,<br /> +the son of Cudwine,<br /> +the son of Ceawlin,<br /> +the son of Kenric,<br /> +the son of Cerdic,<br /> +the son of Eslie,<br /> +the son of Gewise,<br /> +</td> + <td class="list" width="30%" valign="top"> +the son of Wingie,<br /> +the son of Freawin,<br /> +the son of Fridagare,<br /> +the son of Brendie,<br /> +the son of Beldegie,<br /> +the son of Woden,<br /> +the son of Frethelwold,<br /> +the son of Freolaffe,<br /> +the son of Frethewolfe,<br /> +the son of Finnie,<br /> +the son of Godulfe,<br /> +the son of *Geta,<br /> +</td> + <td class="list" width="30%" valign="top"> +the son of Teathwie,<br /> +the son of Beame,<br /> +the son of Sceldie,<br /> +the son of Seafe,<br /> +the son of Heremod,<br /> +the son of Itermod,<br /> +the son of Hordie,<br /> +the son of Wale,<br /> +the son of Bedwie,<br /> +the son of Sem,<br /> +the son of Noah,<br /> + +and so foorth to Adam, as you +</td> +</tr> +</table> +<span class="rightnote"><i>*De quo Sedulius in car. pasch</i></span> + + +shall find it by retrogradation from the 32 verse vnto the first of the fift chapter of Genesis. +Which genealogicall recapitulation in their nationall families and tribes, other people also +haue obserued; as the Spaniards, who reckon their descent from Hesperus, before the +Gothes and Moors ouerran their land; the Italians from Aeneas, before they were mingled +with the Vandals and Lumbards; the Saxons from Woden, before they were mixed with +the Danes and Normans; the Frenchmen at this day from the Thracians; the Germans +<span class="rightnote"><i>Iohn Castor.</i> <br /><i>Simon Dun.</i> <br /><i>Matt. Parker.</i> <br /> +A kings son and heire a bishop.</span> +from the children of Gwiston; and other people from their farre fetcht ancestrie. To conclude, +of this Ethelwulfe it is written, that he was so well learned & deuout, that the clerks +of the church of Winchester did chuse him in his youth to be bishop, which function he +vndertooke, and was bishop of the said see by the space of seuen yéeres before he was +king. +</td> +</tr> +</table> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + <p><a name="eleuenth6" id="eleuenth6"></a> + <i>Bertwolfe king of Mercia tributarie to the Westsaxons, the fame of Modwen an Irish virgine, +she was a great builder of monasteries, she had the gift of healing diseases, Ethelbald +and Ethelbright diuide their fathers kingdome betwixt them, Ethelbald marieth his +mother, he dieth, Winchester destroied by the Danes, they plaied the trucebreakers and +did much mischiefe in Kent, Ethelbright dieth; Ethelred king of the Westsaxons, his +commendable qualities, his regiment was full of trouble, he fought against the Danes +nine times in one yere with happie successe, the kings of Mercia fall from their fealtie +and allegiance to Ethelred; Hungar & Vbba two Danish capteines with their power lie +in Eastangle, Osbright and Ella kings of Northumberland slaine of the Danes in battell, +they set Yorke on fire, a commendation of bishop Adelstan, his departure out of this life.</i></p> + +<h3>THE ELEUENTH CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Bertwolfe. of Mercia.</span> +After Wightlafe king of Mercia, one Bertwolfe reigned as tributarie vnto the Westsaxons, +the space of 13 yeeres, about the end of which tearme he was chased out of his +countrie by the Danes, and then one Burthred was made king of that kingdome, which +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matt. West.</i> saith the daughter. <br /><i>Ranulf. Cest.</i> <br /><i>Iohn Capgraue.</i></span> +maried Ethelswida the sister of Ethelwolfe king of Westsaxons. In this season, one Modwen +a virgine in Ireland was greatlie renowmed in the world, vnto whome the forenamed +king Ethelwolfe sent his sonne Alfred to be cured of a disease, that was thought incurable: +but by hir meanes he recouered health, and therefore when hir monasterie was destroied in +Ireland, Modwen came ouer into England, vnto whom king Ethelwolfe gaue land to build +two abbeies, and also deliuered vnto hir his sister Edith to be professed a nun. Modwen +herevpon built two monasteries, one at Pouleswoorth, ioining to the bounds of Arderne, +wherein she placed the foresaid Edith, with Osith and Athea: the other, whether it was a +monasterie or cell, she founded in Strenshall or Trentsall, where she hir selfe remained solitarie<a name="page664" id="page664"></a><span class="page">[Page 664]</span> +a certeine time in praier, and other vertuous exercises. And (as it is reported) she +went thrice to Rome, and finallie died, being 130 yéeres of age. Hir bodie was first buried +in an Iland compassed about with the riuer of Trent called Andresey, taking that name of +a church or chappell of saint Andrew, which she had built in the same Iland, and dwelled +therein for the space of seuen yéeres. Manie monasteries she builded, both in England (as +partlie aboue is mentioned) and also in Scotland, as at Striueling, Edenbrough; and in Ireland, +at Celestline, and elsewhere.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">ETHELBALD AND ETHELBRIGHT. 857.</span> +Ethelbald and Ethelbright diuiding their fathers kingdom betwixt them, began to +reigne, Ethelbald ouer the Westsaxons and the Southsaxons, and Ethelbright ouer them of +Kent and Essex, in the yéere of our Lord 857, which was in the second yéere of the emperor +Lewes the second, & the 17 of Charles surnamed Caluus or the bald king of France, +and about the first yéere of Donald the fift of that name king of Scots. The said Ethelbald +<span class="rightnote">The vnlawful mariage of Ethelbald. <br /><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +greatlie to his reproch tooke to wife his mother in law quéene Iudith, or rather (as some +write) his owne mother, whom his father had kept as concubine. He liued not past fiue +yéeres in gouernement of the kingdome, but was taken out of this life to the great sorrow +of his subiects whome he ruled right worthilie, and so as they had him in great loue and +estimation. Then his brother Ethelbright tooke on him the rule of the whole gouernment, +as well ouer the Westsaxons & them of Sussex, as ouer the Kentishmen and them of +Essex.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hen. Hunt.</i> Winchester destroied by Danes.</span> +In his daies the Danes came on land, and destroid the citie of Winchester: but duke +Osrike with them of Hamshire, and duke Adelwolfe with the Barkeshire men gaue the +<span class="leftnote">Danes vanquished.</span> +enimies battell, & vanquishing them, slue of them a great number. In the fift yeere of +Ethelbrights reigne, a nauie of Danes arriued in the Ile of Tenet, vnto whome when the +Kentishmen had promised a summe of monie to haue a truce granted for a time, the Danes +one night, before the tearme of that truce was expired, brake foorth and wasted all the east +part of Kent: wherevpon the Kentishmen assembled togither, made towardes those trucebreakers, +and caused them to depart out of the countrie. The same yéere, after that Ethelbright +had ruled well and peaceably the Westsaxons fiue yeeres, and the Kentishmen ten +yéeres, he ended his life, and was buried at Shireborne, as his brother Ethelbald was before +him.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">ETHELRED. <br />867.</span> +After Ethelbright succéeded his brother Ethelred, and began his reigne ouer the +Westsaxons and the more part of the English people, in the yéere of our Lord 867, and +in the 12 yéere of the emperour Lewes, in the 27 yéere of the reigne of Charles Caluus +king of France, and about the 6 yéere of Constantine the second king of Scots. Touching +this Ethelred, he was in time of peace a most courteous prince, and one that by all kind of +meanes sought to win the hearts of the people: but abroad in the warres he was sharpe and +sterne, as he that vnderstood what apperteined to good order, so that he would suffer no +offense to escape vnpunished. By which meanes he was famous both in peace and warre: +but he neither liued any long time in the gouernement, nor yet was suffered to passe the short +space that he reigned in rest and quietnesse.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Foure yéeres six moneths saith <br /><i>Harison.</i> <br /><i>Wil. Malm.</i> +Ethelred fought with the Danes nine times in one yéere.</span> +For whereas he reigned not past six yeeres, he was continuallie during that tearme vexed +with the inuasion of the Danes, and speciallie towards the latter end, insomuch that (as hath +béene reported of writers) he fought with them nine times in one yéere: and although with +diuers and variable fortune, yet for the more part he went away with the victorie. Beside +that, he oftentimes lay in wait for their forragers, and such as straied abroad to rob and spoile +the countrie, whom he met withall and ouerthrew. There were slaine in his time nine +earles of those Danes, and one king, beside other of the meaner sort without number.</p> +<p> +But here is to be vnderstood, that in this meane time, whilest Ethelred was busied in +warre to resist the inuasions of the Danes in the south and west parts of this land, the kings +<span class="rightnote">The kings of Mercia and Northumberland neglect their duties.</span> +and rulers of Mercia and Northumberland taking occasion therof, began to withdraw their<a name="page665" id="page665"></a><span class="page">[Page 665]</span> +couenanted subiection from the Westsaxons, and tooke vpon them as it were the absolute +gouernment and rule of their countries, without respect to aid one another, but rather were +contented to susteine the enimies within their dominions, than to preuent the iniurie with +dutifull assistance to those, whom by allegiance they were bound to serue and obeie.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The Danes grow in puisance.</span> +By reason hereof, the Danes without resistance grew into greater power amongst them, +whilest the inhabitants were still put in feare each day more than other, and euerie late gotten +victorie by the enimies by the increase of prisoners, ministred occasion of some other conquest +to follow. Euen about the beginning of Ethelreds reigne, there arriued vpon the English +<span class="rightnote">Hungar and Vbba.</span> +coasts an huge armie of the Danes, vnder the conduct of two renowmed capteins Hungar +and Vbba, men of maruellous strength and valiancie, but both of them passing cruell of +nature. They lay all the winter season in Estangle, compounding with them of the countrie +for truce vpon certeine conditions, sparing for a time to shew their force for quietnesse sake.</p> +<p> +In the second yéere of king Ethelred, the said capteins came with their armies into Yorkshire, +finding the country vnprouided of necessarie defense bicause of the ciuill discord that +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hen. Hunt.</i> <br />King Osbright deposed and Ella placed.</span> +reigned among the Northumbers, the which had latelie expelled king Osbright, that had the +gouernement of those parts, and placed one Ella in his roome: howbeit now they were +constreined to reuoke him home againe, and sought to accord him and Ella. But it was +long yer that might be brought to passe, notwithstanding yet at length they were made +friends, by reason of this inuasion attempted by forren enimies, and then raising their powers +they came to Yorke, where the Danes, hauing wasted the countrie euen to the riuer of +Tine, were lodged.</p> +<p> +The English host entring the citie, began to fight with the Danes, by reason whereof a +<span class="rightnote">Osbright and Ella kings of Northumberland slaine.</span> +sore battell insued betwixt them: but in the end the two kings Osbright and Ella were +slaine, and a great number of the Northumbers, what within the citie, and what without lost +their liues at that time, the residue were constreined to take truce with the Danes. This +<span class="leftnote">It must be vpon the 10 kalends of Aprill, or else it will not concurre with Palmsunday. +<br />Sée <i>Mat. West.</i></span> +battell was fought the 21 day of March being in Lent, on the Friday before Palmsunday, in +the yere 657.</p> +<p> +¶ Some haue written otherwise of this battell, reporting that the Northumbers calling +home king Osbright (whome before they had banished) incountred with the Danes in the +field, without the walles of Yorke, but they were easilie beaten backe, and chased into the citie, +<span class="rightnote">Yorke burnt by Danes.</span> +the which by the Danes pursuing the victorie, was set on fier and burnt, togither with the +king and people that were fled into it for succour. How soeuer it came about, certeine it +is, that the Danes got the victorie, and now hauing subdued the Northumbers, appointed +one Egbert to reigne ouer them as king, vnder their protection, which Egbert reigned in +that sort six yeares ouer those which inhabited beyond the riuer of Tine. In the same yeare, +Adelstane bishop of Shireborne departed this life, hauing gouerned that sée the terme of 50 +<span class="rightnote">The commendation of Adelstan bishop of Shirborne.</span> +yeares. This Adelstane was a man of high wisedome, and one that had borne no small rule +in the kingdome of the Westsaxons, as hereby it may be coniectured, that when king Ethelwulfe +returned from Rome, he would not suffer him to be admitted king, because he had +doone in certeine points contrarie to the ordinances and lawes of the same kingdome, wherevpon +by this bishops means Ethelbald the sonne of the same king Ethelwulfe was established +king, and so continued till by agréement the kingdome was diuided betwixt them, as before +is mentioned. Finallie, he greatlie inriched the sée of Shireborne, and yet though he was +<span class="rightnote">Bishop Adelstan couetous. <br /><i>Hen. Hunt.</i></span> +feruentlie set on couetousnesse, he was neuerthelesse verie free and liberall in gifts: which +contrarie extremities so ill matched, though in him (the time wherein he liued being considered) +they might seeme somewhat tollerable; yet simplie & in truth they were vtterlie repugnant +to the law of the spirit, which biddeth that none should doo euill that good may +come thereof. Against which precept because Adelstane could not but offend in the heat +of his couetousnes, which is termed the root of all mischiefe, though he was excéeding +bountifull and large in distributing the wealth he had gréedilie gotten togither, he must néeds +incur reprehension. But this is so much the lesse to be imputed vnto him as a fault, by<a name="page666" id="page666"></a><span class="page">[Page 666]</span> +how much he was ignorant what (by the rule of equitie and conscience) was requirable in a +christian man, or one of his vocation.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + + +<p><a name="twelft6" id="twelft6"></a> +<i>Burthred king of Mercia with aid beseegeth the Danes in Notingham, Basreeg and Halden +two Danish kings with their powers inuade the Westsaxons, they are incountred by Ethelwulfe +earle of Barkeshire; King Ethelred giueth them and their cheefe guides a sore +discomfiture; what Polydor Virgil recordeth touching one Iuarus king of the Danes, and +the warres that Ethelred had with them, his death; Edmund king of Eastangles giueth +battell to the Danes, he yeeldeth himselfe, and for christian religion sake is by them most +cruellie murthered, the kingdome of the Eastangles endeth, Guthrun a Dane gouerneth +the whole countrie, K. Osbright rauisheth the wife of one Bearne a noble man, a bloodie +battell insueth therevpon, wherein Osbright and Ella are slaine.</i></p> + +<h3>THE TWELFT CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">BURTHRED king of Mercia.</span> +In the yeare following, that is to say, in the third yéere of Ethelreds reigne, he with his +brother Alured went to aid Burthred king of Mercia, against the two foresaid Danish capteines +Hungar and Vbba, the which were entred into Mercia, and had woon the towne for +the winter season. Wherevpon the foresaid Ethelred and Burthred with their powers came +<span class="leftnote">Danes besieged in Notingham.</span> +to Notingham, and besieged the Danes within it. The Danes perceiuing themselues in danger, +made suite for a truce & abstinence from war, which they obteined, and then departed +backe to Yorke, where they soiourned the most part of all that yeare.</p> +<p> +In the sixt yeare of king Ethelreds reigne, a new armie of great force and power came +<span class="rightnote">Basreeg and Halden.</span> +into the countrie of the Westsaxons vnder two leaders or kings of the Danes, Basréeg and +Halden. They lodged at Reding with their maine armie, and within thrée daies after the +<span class="leftnote">Edelwulfe, erle of Barkshire fought at Englefield with the Danes.</span> +earle of Berrockshire Edelwulfe fought at Englefield with two earles of those Danes, vanquished +them, and slue the one of those earles, whose name was Sidroc. After this king +Ethelred and his brother Alured came with a great host vnto Reding, and there gaue battell +vnto the armie of Danes, so that an huge number of people died on both parts, but the +Danes had the victorie.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The Danes wan the victory at Reading.</span> +After this also king Ethelred and his brother Alured fought againe with those Danes at +Aschdon, where the armies on both sides were diuided into two parts, so that the two Danish +kings lead the one part of their armie, & certeine of their earles lead the other part. +Likewise on the English side king Ethelred was placed with one part of the host against +the Danish kings, and Alured with the other part was appointed to incounter with the earles. +Herevpon they being on both parts readie to giue battell, the euening comming on caused +them to deferre it till the morow. And so earlie in the morning when the armies should +ioine, king Ethelred staied in his tent to heare diuine seruice, whilest his brother vpon a +forward courage hasted to incounter his enimies, the which receiued him so sharplie, and +with so cruell fight, that at length, the Englishmen were at point to haue turned their backs. +But herewith came king Ethelred and manfullie ended the battell, staied his people from +running away, and so encouraged them, and discouraged the enimies, that by the power of +God (whom as was thought in the morning he had serued) the Danes finallie were chased +<span class="rightnote">The Danes discomfited.</span> +and put to flight, losing one of their kings (that is to say) Basreeg or Osreeg, and 5 earles, +Sidroc the elder, and Sidroc the yoonger, Osberne, Freine, and Harold. This battell was +sore foughten, and continued till night, with the slaughter of manie thousands of Danes. +About 14 daies after, king Ethelred and his brother Alured fought eftsoones with the +<span class="rightnote">A battell at Merton.</span> +Danish armie at Basing, where the Danes had the victorie. Also two moneths after this<a name="page667" id="page667"></a><span class="page">[Page 667]</span> +they likewise fought with the Danes at Merton. And there the Danes, after they had béene +put to the woorse, & pursued in chase a long time, yet at length they also got the victorie, +<span class="leftnote">He was bishop of Shireborne as <i>Matt. West.</i> saith.</span> +in which battell Edmund bishop of Shireborne was slaine, and manie other that were men +of woorthie fame and good account.</p> +<p> +In the summer following, a mightie host of the Danes came to Reading, and there soiourned +<span class="rightnote"><i>Polyd. Virg.</i> Iuarus.</span> +for a time. ¶ These things agrée not with that which Polydor Virgil hath written +of these warres which king Ethelred had with the Danes: for he maketh mention of one +Iuarus a king of the Danes, who landed (as he writeth) at the mouth of Humber, and like +a stout enimie inuaded the countrie adioining. Against whome Ethelred with his brother +Alured came with an armie, and incountring the Danes, fought with them by the space of a +whole day togither, and was in danger to haue béene put to the woorse, but that the night +seuered them asunder. In the morning they ioined againe: but the death of Iuarus, who +chanced to be slaine in the beginning of the battell, discouraged the Danes, so that they +<span class="leftnote">Danes put to flight.</span> +were easilie put to flight, of whome (before they could get out of danger) a great number +were slaine. But after that they had recouered themselues togither, and found but a conuenient +<span class="rightnote">Agnerus and Hubba.</span> +place where to pitch their campe, they chose to their capteines Agnerus, and Hubba, +two brethren, which indeuored themselues by all meanes possible to repaire their armie: so +that within 15 daies after, the Danes eftsoones fought with the Englishmen, and gaue them +such an ouerthrow, that little wanted of making an end of all incounters to be attempted +after by the Englishmen.</p> +<p> +But yet within a few daies after this, as the Danes attended their market to spoile the +countrie and range somewhat licentiouslie abroad, they fell within the danger of such ambushes +as were laid for them by king Ethelred, that no small slaughter was made of them, +but yet not without some losse of the Englishmen. Amongest others, Ethelred himselfe +receiued a wound, whereof he shortlie after died. Thus saith Polydor touching the warres +which king Ethelred had with the Danes, who yet confesseth (as the trueth is) that such +authors as he herein followed, varie much from that which the Danish writers doo record +of these matters, and namelie touching the dooings of Iuarus, as in the Danish historie you +may sée more at large.</p> +<p> +But now to our purpose touching the death of king Ethelred, whether by reason of hurt +receiued in fight against the Danes (as Polydor saith) or otherwise, certeine it is, that Ethelred +<span class="rightnote">Winborne abbeie.</span> +anon after Easter departed this life, in the sixt yeare of his reigne, and was buried at Winborne +<span class="leftnote">Agnerus. <br /><i>Fabian.</i> <br />870. <br />Edmund K. of the Eastangles.</span> +abbey. In the daies of this Ethelred, the foresaid Danish capteins, Hungar, otherwise +called Agnerus, and Hubba returning from the north parts into the countrie of the Eastangles, +came vnto Thetford, whereof Edmund, who reigned as king in that season ouer the +Eastangles, being aduertised, raised an armie of men, and went foorth to giue battell vnto +this armie of the Danes. But he with his people was chased out of the field, and fled to +<span class="rightnote">Framingham castell. <br />King Edmund shot to death.</span> +the castell of Framingham, where being enuironed with a siege by his enimies, he yéelded +himselfe vnto them. And because he would not renounce the christian faith, they bound +him to a trée, and shot arrowes at him till he died: and afterwards cut off his head from his +bodie, and threw the same into a thicke groue of bushes. But afterwards his friends tooke +<span class="rightnote">Eglesdon.</span> +the bodie with the head, and buried the same at Eglesdon: where afterward also a faire +monasterie was builded by one bishop Aswin, and changing the name of the place, it was +after called saint Edmundsburie. Thus was king Edmund put to death by the cruell Danes +for his constant confessing the name of Christ, in the 16 yeare of his reigne, and so ceased +<span class="leftnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i> Eastangles without a gouernour.</span> +the kingdome of Eastangles. For after that the Danes had thus slaine that blessed man, +they conquered all the countrie, & wasted it, so that through their tyrannie it remained without +anie gouernor by the space of nine yeares, and then they appointed a king to rule ouer +<span class="rightnote">Guthrun a Dane king of Eastangles.</span> +it, whose name was Guthrun, one of their owne nation, who gouerned both the Eastangles +and the Eastsaxons.</p> +<p> +Ye haue heard how the Danes slue Osrike and Ella kings of Northumberland. After +which victorie by them obteined, they did much hurt in the north parts of this land, and<a name="page668" id="page668"></a><span class="page">[Page 668]</span> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Polychron.</i></span> +amongest other cruell deeds, they destroied the citie of Acluid, which was a famous citie in +the time of the old Saxons, as by Beda and other writers dooth manifestlie appeare. Here +<span class="rightnote"><i>Caxton.</i></span> +is to be remembred, that some writers rehearse the cause to be this. Osbright or Osrike +king of Northumberland rauished the wife of one Berne that was a noble man of the countrie +about Yorke, who tooke such great despight thereat, that he fled out of the land, and went +into Denmarke, and there complained vnto the king of Denmarke his coosin of the iniurie +doone to him by king Osbright. Wherevpon the king of Denmarke, glad to haue so iust +a quarell against them of Northumberland, furnished foorth an armie, and sent the same by +sea (vnder the leading of his two brethren Hungar and Hubba) into Northumberland, +where they slue first the said king Osbright, and after king Ella, at a place besides Yorke, +which vnto this day is called Ellas croft, taking that name of the said Ella, being there +slaine in defense of his countrie against the Danes. Which Ella (as we find registred by +writers) was elected king by such of the Northumbers, as in fauour of Berne had refused +to be subiect vnto Osbright.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<p><a name="xiij6" id="xiij6"></a> +<i>Alfred ruleth ouer the Westsaxons and the greatest part of England, the Danes afflict him +with sore warre, and cruellie make wast of his kingdome, they lie at London a whole +winter, they inuade Mercia, the king whereof (Burthred by name) forsaketh his countrie +and goeth to Rome, his death and buriall; Halden king of the Danes diuideth Northumberland +among his people; Alfred incountreth with the Danes vpon the sea, they +sweare to him that they will depart out of his kingdome, they breake the truce which was +made betwixt him and them, he giueth them battell, and (besides a great discomfiture) +killeth manie of their capteines, the Danes and English fight neere Abington, the victorie +vncerteine, seuen foughten fieldes betwixt them in one yeare, the Danes soiourne at +London.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XIIJ. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">ALURED OR ALFRED. <br />871. as <br /><i>Mat. West.</i> & <br /><i>Sim. Dunelmen.</i> doo note it. <br /><i>Henr. Hunt.</i></span> +After the decease of king Ethelred, his brother Alured or Alfred succéeded him, and +began his reigne ouer the Westsaxons, and other the more part of the people of England, +in the yeare of our Lord 872, which was in the 19 yeare of the emperour Lewes the second, +and 32 yeare of the reigne of Charles the bald, king of France, and about the eleuenth +yeare of Constantine the second king of Scotland. Although this Alured was consecrated +king in his fathers life time by pope Leo (as before ye haue heard) yet was he not admitted +king at home, till after the decease of his thrée elder brethren: for he being the yoongest, +was kept backe from the gouernement, though he were for his wisdome and policie most +highlie estéemed and had in all honour.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Alured persecuted by Danes. <br /><i>Matt. Westm.</i></span> +In the beginning of his reigne he was wrapped in manie great troubles and miseries, speciallie +by the persecution of the Danes, which made sore and greeuous wars in sundrie parts +of this land, destroieng the same in most cruell wise. About a moneth after he was made +<span class="leftnote">The Danes obteine the victorie.</span> +king, he gaue battell to the Danes of Wilton, hauing with him no great number of people, +so that although in the beginning the Danes that day were put to the woorse, yet in the end +they obteined the victorie. Shortlie after, a truce was taken betwixt the Danes and the Westsaxons. +<span class="rightnote">The Danes wintered at London. <br />874.</span> +And the Danes that had lien at Reading, remoued from thence vnto London, where +they lay all the winter season. In the second yeare of Alured his reigne, the Danish king +Halden led the same armie from London into Lindseie, and there lodged all that winter at +<span class="leftnote">Repton.</span> +Torkseie. In the yeare following, the same Halden inuaded Mercia, and wintered at Ripindon. +There were come to him thrée other leaders of Danes which our writers name to be +<span class="rightnote">Burthred king of Mercia.</span> +kings, Godrun, Esketell, & Ammond, so that their power was greatlie increased. Burthred +king of Mercia which had gouerned that countrie by the space of 22 yéeres, was not able<a name="page669" id="page669"></a><span class="page">[Page 669]</span> +to withstand the puissance of those enimies: wherevpon he was constreined to auoid the +countrie, and went to Rome, where he departed this life, and was buried in the church of +our ladie, néere to the English schoole.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">875.</span> +In the fourth yeare of king Alured the armie of the Danes diuided it selfe into two parts, +so that king Halden with one part thereof went into Northumberland, and lay in the winter, +<span class="leftnote">The Danes <br />went into Northumberland.</span> +season néere to the riuer of Tine, where hee diuided the countrie amongest his men, and +remained there for the space of two yeares, and oftentimes fetched thither booties and preis +out of the countrie of the Picts. The other part of the Danish armie with the thrée foresaid +<span class="rightnote">The Danes at Cambridge. <br />876.</span> +kings or leaders came vnto Cambridge, and remained there a whole yeare. In the same +yeare king Alured fought by sea with 7 ships of Danes, tooke one of them, & chased the +residue. In the yeare next insuing, the Danes came into the countrie of the Westsaxons, +and king Alured tooke truce with them againe, and they sware to him (which they had not +<span class="rightnote">The Danes tooke an oth. <br /><i>Hen. Hunt.</i></span> +vsed to doo to anie afore that time) that they would depart the countrie. Their armie by sea +sailing from Warham toward Excester, susteined great losse by tempest, for there perished +120 ships at Swanewicke.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The Danes went to Excester.</span> +Moreouer the armie of the Danes by land went to Excester in breach of the truce, and +king Alured followed them, but could not ouertake them till they came to Excester, and +there he approched them in such wise, that they were glad to deliuer pledges for performance +<span class="rightnote"><i>Henr. Hunt.</i></span> +of such couenants as were accorded betwixt him and them. And so then they departed +out of the countrie, and drew into Mercia. But shortlie after, when they had the +whole gouernment of the land, from Thames northward, they thought it not good to suffer +king Alured to continue in rest with the residue of the countries beyond Thames. And +therefore the thrée foresaid rulers of Danes, Godrun, Esketell, and Ammond, inuading the +countrie of Westsaxons came to Chipnam, distant 17 miles from Bristow, & there pitched their +<span class="rightnote">877.</span> +tents.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Polydor.</i></span> +King Alured aduertised hereof, hasted thither, and lodging with his armie néere to the +enimies, prouoked them to battell. The Danes perceiuing that either they must fight for +their liues, or die with shame, boldlie came foorth, and gaue battell. The Englishmen rashlie +incountered with them, and though they were ouermatched in number, yet with such violence +they gaue the onset, that the enimies at the first were abashed at their hardie assaults. But +when as it was perceiued that their slender ranks were not able to resist the thicke leghers +of the enimies, they began to shrinke & looke backe one vpon an other, and so of force +were constrained to retire: and therewithal did cast themselues into a ring, which though it +séemed to be the best way that could be deuised for their safetie, yet by the great force and +number of their enimies on each side assailing them, they were so thronged togither on heaps, +that they had no roome to stir their weapons. Which disaduantage notwithstanding, they +<span class="rightnote">Hubba slaine.</span> +slue a great number of the Danes, and amongest other, Hubba the brother of Agner, with +manie other of the Danish capteins. At length the Englishmen hauing valiantlie foughten a +long time with the enimies, which had compassed them about, at last brake out and got +<span class="rightnote">The victorie doubtful.</span> +them to their campe. To be briefe, this battell was foughten with so equall fortune, that no +man knew to whether part the victorie ought to be ascribed. But after they were once +seuered, they tooke care to cure their hurt men, and to burie the dead bodies, namelie the +Danes interred the bodie of their capteine Hubba with great funerall pompe and solemnitie: +<span class="rightnote">Abington.</span> +which doone, they held out their iournie till they came to Abington, whither the English +armie shortlie after came also, and incamped fast by the enimies.</p> +<p> +In this meane while, the rumor was spread abroad that king Alured had béene discomfited +by the Danes, bicause that in the last battell he withdrew to his campe. This turned +greatlie to his aduantage: for thereby a great number of Englishmen hasted to come to his +<span class="rightnote">The Danes and Englishmen fight néer to Abington.</span> +succour. On the morrow after his comming to Abington, he brought his armie readie to +fight into the field: neither were the enimies slacke, on their parts to receiue the battell, and +so the two armies ioined and fought verie sore on both sides: so that it séemed the Englishmen +men had not to doo with those Danes, which had béene diuerse times before discomfited and<a name="page670" id="page670"></a><span class="page">[Page 670]</span> +put to flight, but rather with some new people fresh and lustie. But neither the one part nor +the other was minded to giue ouer: in so much that the horssemen alighting on foot, and +putting their horsses from them, entered the battell amongst the footmen, and thus they continued +with equall aduantage till night came on, which parted the affraie, being one of the +<span class="rightnote">Vncerteine victorie Thus farre <i>Polydor.</i></span> +sorest foughten fields that had beene heard of in those daies. To whether partie a man might +iustlie attribute the victorie, it was vtterlie vncerteine, with so like losse & gaine the matter +was tried & ended betwixt them. With the semblable chance of danger and glorie seuen +<span class="rightnote"><i>Ran. Higd.</i></span> +times that yéere did the English and Danes incounter in battell, as writers haue recorded. +<span class="leftnote"><br />A peace agreed vpon.</span> +At length, when their powers on both parts were sore diminished, they agréed vpon a peace, +with these conditions, that the Danes should not attempt anie further warre against the Englishmen, +nor bring into this land anie new supplie of souldiers out of Denmarke. But this +peace by those peacemakers was violated and broken, in so much as they ment nothing lesse +than to fall from the conceiued hope which they had of bearing rule in this land, and of +inriching themselues with the goods, possessions, rents and reuenues of the inhabitants. +<span class="rightnote">The Danes sojourned at London.</span> +The same yéere the Danes soiorned in the winter season at London, according as they had +doone often times before.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<p><a name="xiiij6" id="xiiij6"></a> +<i>Rollo a noble man of Denmarke with a fresh power entreth England, and beginneth to +waste it, king Alured giueth him batell, Rollo saileth ouer into France; who first inhabited +Normandie, and whereof it tooke that name; the Danes breake the peace which +was made betwixt them and Alured, he is driuen to his shifts by their inuasions into his +kingdome, a vision appeereth to him and his mother; king Alured disguising himselfe +like a minstrell entereth the Danish campe, marketh their behauiour unsuspected, assalteth +them on the sudden with a fresh power, and killeth manie of them at aduantage; the +Deuonshire men giue the Danes battell vnder the conduct of Haldens brother, and are +discomfited; Alured fighteth with them at Edanton, they giue him hostages, Gurthrun +their king is baptised and named Adelstan, a league concluded betwixt both the kings, +the bounds of Alureds kingdome.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XIIIJ. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Ann. 876. saith <br /><i>Simon Dun.</i></span> +About the same time, or shortlie after, there came into England one Rollo, a noble +man of Denmarke or Norway, with a great armie, and (notwithstanding the peace concluded +betweene the Englishmen and the Danes) began to waste and destroy the countrie. King +Alured hearing these newes, with all spéed thought best in the beginning to stop such a common +mischiefe, and immediatlie assembling his people, went against the enimies, and gaue +them battell, in the which there died a great number of men on both sides, but the greater +losse fell to Rollo his armie. Yet Matthew Westmin. saith that the Englishmen were put to +flight. After this, it chanced that Rollo being warned in a dreame, left England, & sailed +ouer into France, where he found fortune so fauourable to him, that he obteined in that +<span class="rightnote">30 yéeres after this he was baptised.</span> +region for him and his people a countrie, the which was afterwards named Normandie, of +those northerne people which then began to inhabit the same, as in the histories of France +you maie sée more at large.</p> +<p> +The Danes which had concluded peace with king Alured (as before you haue heard) shortlie +after vpon the first occasion, brake the same, and by often inuasions which they made into +the countrie of Westsaxons, brought the matter to that passe, that there remained to king Alured +<span class="rightnote">King Alured driuen to his shifts.</span> +but onlie the three countries of Hamshire, Wiltshire, & Summersetshire, in so much that +he was constreined for a time to kéepe himselfe close within the fennes and maresh grounds +of Summersetshire, with such small companies as he had about him, constreined to get their<a name="page671" id="page671"></a><span class="page">[Page 671]</span> +liuing with fishing, hunting, and other such shifts. He remained for the most part within +<span class="leftnote">Edlingsey.</span> +an Ile called Edlingsey, that is to say, the Iland of noble men, enuironed about with fennes +and mareshes.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">A vision if it be true.</span> +Whiles he was thus shut vp within this Iland, he was by dreame aduertised of better hap +shortlie to follow: for as it hath béene said, saint Cuthbert appéered to him as he laie in +sléepe, and comforted him, declaring to him, that within a while fortune should so turne, +that he should recouer againe his kingdome to the confusion of his enimies. And to assure +him that this should prooue true, he told him that his men which were gone abroad to catch +fish, should bring home great plentie, although the season was against them, by reason that the +waters were frosen, and that a cold rime fell that morning, to the hinderance of their purpose. +His mother also at that time being in sleepe, saw the like vision. And as they had +dreamed, so it came to passe: for being awakened out of their sleepe, in came his men with +so great foison of fish, that the same might haue sufficed a great armie of men, for the vittelling +of them at that season.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">King Alured disguiseth himselfe. <i>Polydor, Fabian.</i></span> +Shortlie after, king Alured tooke vpon him the habit of a minstrell, and going foorth of +his closure, repaired to the campe of the Danish king, onelie accompanied with one trustie +seruant, and tarrieng there certeine daies togither, was suffered to go into euerie part, and +plaie on his instrument, as well afore the king as others, so that there was no secret, but +that he vnderstood it. Now when he had séene and learned the demeanour of his enimies, +he returned againe to his people at Edlingsey, and there declared to his nobles what he had +séene and heard, what negligence was amongst the enimies, and how easie a matter it should +be for him to indamage them. Wherevpon they conceiuing a maruellous good hope, and +imboldened with his words, a power was assembled togither, and spies sent foorth to learne +and bring woord where the Danes lodged: which being doone, and certificat made accordinglie, +<span class="rightnote"><i>Henr. Hunt.</i> 877.</span> +king Alured comming vpon them on the sudden, slue of them a great number, +hauing them at great aduantage.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">878.</span> +About the same time the brother of king Halden came with thirtie and three ships out of +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matth. West.</i></span> +Wales into the countrie of Westsaxons, on the coast of Deuonshire, where the Deuonshire +men gaue him battell, and slue him with 840 persons of his retinue. Other write, that +Halden himselfe was present at this conflict, with Inguare, otherwise called Hungar, and +<span class="rightnote"><i>Simon Dun.</i></span> +that they were both slaine there, with twelue hundred of their companie (before a certeine +castell called Kinwith) receiuing as they had deserued for their cruell dealing latelie by them +practised in the parties of Southwales, where they had wasted all afore them with fire and +swoord, not sparing abbeies more than other common buildings.</p> +<p> +King Alured being with that good lucke the more comforted, builded a fortresse in the Ile +<span class="rightnote">Athelney.</span> +of Edlingsey, afterwards called Athelney, and breaking out oftentimes vpon the enimies, +distressed them at sundrie times with the aid of the Summersetshire men, which were at +hand. About the seuenth wéeke after Easter, in the seuenth yéere of his reigne, king +Alured went to Eglerighston, on the east part of Selwood, where there came to him the people +of Summersetshire, Wiltshire, & Hamshire, reioising greatlie to sée him abroad. From +<span class="rightnote">Edantdune. <br />This battell should séeme the same that <i>Polydor</i> speaketh of +fought at Abingdon. <i>Polychron. <br />Iohn Pike.</i></span> +thence he went to Edanton, & there fought against the armie of the Danes, and chased them +vnto their strength, where he remained afore them the space of fouretéene daies. Then the +armie of the Danes deliuered him hostages and couenants to depart out of his dominions, +and that their king should be baptised, which was accomplished: for Gurthrun, whome +<span class="leftnote">Gurthrun or Gurmund baptised, and named Adelstan is made king of Eastangle.</span> +some name Gurmond, a prince or king amongst these Danes, came to Alured and was +baptised, king Alured receiuing him at the fontstone, named him Adelstan, and gaue to +him the countrie of Eastangle, which he gouerned (or rather spoiled) by the space of twelue +yéeres.</p> +<p> +Diuerse other of the Danish nobilitie to the number of thirtie (as Simon Dunelmensis saith) +came at the same time in companie of their king Gurthrun, and were likewise baptised, on +whòme king Alured bestowed manie rich gifts. At the same time (as is to be thought) was +the league concluded betwixt king Alured and the said Gurthrun or Gurmond, in which the<a name="page672" id="page672"></a><span class="page">[Page 672]</span> +bounds of king Alureds kingdome are set foorth thus: "First therefore let the bounds or +marshes of our dominion stretch vnto the riuer of Thames, and from thence to the water +of Lée, euen vnto the head of the same water, and so foorth streight vnto Bedford: and +finallie going alongst by the riuer of Ouse, let them end at Watlingstréet."</p> +<p> +This league being made with the aduise of the same sage personages as well English as +those that inhabited within east England, is set foorth in maister Lamberts booke of the old +English lawes, in the end of those lawes or ordinances which were established by the same +king Alured, as in the same booke ye may sée more at large.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<p><a name="xv6" id="xv6"></a> +<i>Th' English called diuers people Danes whom the French named Normans, whervpon that +generall name was giuen them; Gurmo Anglicus K. of Denmark, whose father Frotto was +baptised in England; the Danes besiege Rochester, Alfred putteth them to flight, recouereth +London out of their hands, and committeth it to the custodie of duke Eldred his sonne in +law; he assaulteth Hasting a capteine of the Danes, causeth him to take an oth, his two +sonnes are baptised; he goeth foorth to spoile Alfreds countrie, his wife, children, and +goods, &c: are taken, and fauourablie giuen him againe; the Danes besiege Excester, they +flie to their ships, gaine with great losse, they are vanquished by the Londoners, the death of +Alfred, his issue male and female.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XV. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +Here is to be noted, that writers name diuerse of the Danish capteins, kings (of which +no mention is made in the Danish chronicles) to reigne in those parties. But true it is, that +in those daies, not onelie the Danish people, but also other of those northeast countries or +regions, as Swedeners, Norwegians, the Wondens, and such other (which the English people +called by one generall name Danes, and the Frenchmen Normans) vsed to roaue on the seas, +and to inuade forren regions, as England, France, Flanders, and others, as in conuenient +places ye may find, as well in our histories, as also in the writers of the French histories, and +likewise in the chronicles of those north regions. The writers verelie of the Danish chronicles +<span class="rightnote">Gurmo.</span> +make mention of one Gurmo, whome they name Anglicus, bicause he was borne +here in England, which succeeded his father Frotto in gouernement of the kingdome of +Denmarke, which Frotto receiued baptisme in England, as their stories tell.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hen. Hunt.</i> 878.</span> +In the eight yéere of king Alfred his reigne, the armie of the Danes wintered at Cirencester, +and the same yéere an other armie of strangers called Wincigi laie at Fulham, and in +the yéere following departed foorth of England, and went into France, and the armie of +<span class="rightnote">879.</span> +king Godrun or Gurmo departed from Cirencester, and came into Eastangle, and there +diuiding the countrie amongst them, began to inhabit the same. In the 14 yéere of king +<span class="leftnote"><i>Simon Dun. <br />Matth. West</i></span> +Alfred his reigne, part of the Danish armie which was gone ouer into France, returned into +<span class="rightnote">Rochester beseiged.<br />885.</span> +England and besieged Rochester. But when Alfred approched to the reskue, the enimies +fled to their ships, and passed ouer the sea againe. King Alfred sent a nauie of his ships +well furnished with men of warre into Eastangle, the which at the mouth of the riuer called +Sture, incountering with 16 ships of the Danes, set vpon them, and ouercame them in fight: +but as they returned with their prises, they incountered with another mightie armie of the +enimies, and fighting with them were ouercome and vanquished.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">889.</span> +In the yeere following, king Alfred besieged the citie of London, the Danes that were +within fled from thence, and the Englishmen that were inhabitants thereof gladlie receiued +<span class="rightnote">London recouered out of the hands of the Danes.</span> +him, reioising that there was such a prince bred of their nation, that was of power able to +reduce them into libertie. This citie being at that season the chiefe of all Mercia, he deliuered +<span class="leftnote"><br /><i>Wil. Malm.</i> Ethelfleda. Colwolphas.</span> +into the kéeping of duke Eldred, which had maried his daughter Ethelfleda, & held a<a name="page673" id="page673"></a><span class="page">[Page 673]</span> +great portion of Mercia, which Colwolphus before time possesed by the grant of the Danes, +after they had subdued K. Burthred (as before is said.) About the 21 yere of K. Alfred, an +<span class="rightnote">Limer, now Rother. Andredeslegia. A castell built at Appledore. <br />893</span> +armie of those Danes & Normans, which had béene in France, returned into England, and +arriued in the hauen or riuer of Limene in the east part of Kent, néere to the great wood +called Andredesley, which did conteine in times past 120 miles in length, and thirtie in +breadth. These Danes landing with their people builded a castle at Appledore.</p> +<span class="rightnote"><i> Simon Dun.</i> <br />At Milton. Hasting the capteine of the Danes besieged. <br />He receiueth an oth.</span> +<p> +In the meane time came Hasting with 80 ships into the Thames, and builded a castle at +Middleton, but he was constreined by siege which king Alfred planted about him, to receiue +an oth that he should not in any wise annoie the dominion of king Alfred, who vpon his +promise to depart, gaue great gifts as well to him as to his wife and children. One of his +sonnes also king Alfred held at the fontstone, and to the other duke Aldred was god father. +For (as it were to win credit, and to auoid present danger) Hasting sent vnto Alfred these his +two sonnes, signifieng that if it stood with his pleasure, he could be content that they should +be baptised. But neuerthelesse this Hasting was euer most vntrue of word and déed, he +<span class="rightnote">Beanfield saith <br /><i>M. West.</i></span> +builded a castle at Beamfield. And as he was going foorth to spoile and wast the kings +countries, Alfred tooke that castle, with his wife, children, ships and goods, which he got +<span class="leftnote">This enterprise was atchiued by Etheldred duke of Mercia in the absence of the king, as <br /><i>Matth. West.</i> hath noted</span> +togither of such spoiles as he had abroad: but he restored vnto Hasting his wife and children, +bicause he was their godfather.</p> +<p> +Shortlie after, newes came that a great number of other ships of Danes were come out of +<span class="rightnote">Excester besieged.</span> +Northumberland, and had besieged Excester. Whilest king Alfred went then against them, +the other armie which lay at Appledore inuaded Essex, and built a castell in that countrie, +and after went into the borders of Wales, and builded another castell neere vnto the riuer of +<span class="rightnote">Seuerne.</span> +Seuerne: but being driuen out of that countrie, they returned againe into Essex. Those +that had besieged Excester, vpon knowledge had of king Alfreds comming, fled to their +ships, and so remaining on the sea, roaued abroad, séeking preies. Besides this, other armies +<span class="rightnote">Chester taken by Danes.</span> +there were sent foorth, which comming out of Northumberland tooke the citie of Chester, +<span class="leftnote">Great famine</span> +but there they were so beset about with their enimies, that they were constreined to eate their +horsses. At length, in the 24 yéere of king Alfred, they left that citie, and fetcht a compas +<span class="rightnote"><br /><i>Hen. Hunt.</i></span> +about Northwales, and so meaning to saile round about the coast to come into Northumberland, +they arriued in Essex, and in the winter following drew their ships by the Thames +<span class="leftnote">The water of Luie, now Lée.</span> +into the water of Luie. That armie of Danes which had besieged Excester, tooke preies +about Chichester, and was met with, so that they lost manie of their men, and also diuerse +of their ships.</p> +<p> +In the yéere following, the other armie which had brought the ships into the riuer Luie, +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hen. Hunt.</i></span> +began to build a castell néere to the same riuer, twentie miles distant from London: but the +<span class="leftnote">The Londoners victors against the Danes.</span> +Londoners came thither, and giuing battell to the Danes, slue foure of the chiefe capteins. +But by Simon Dunel. and Matt. Westm. it should seeme, that the Londoners were at this +time put to flight, and that foure of the kings barons were slaine in fight. Howbeit Henrie +Hunt. hath written as before I haue recited; and further saith, that when the Danes fled +for their refuge to the castell, king Alfred caused the water of Luie to be diuided into thrée +chanels, so that the Danes should not bring backe their ships out of the place where they +laie at anchor. When the Danes perceiued this, they left their ships behind them, and went +<span class="rightnote">Quathbridge or Wakebridge.</span> +into the borders of Wales, where at Cartbridge vpon Seuerne they built another castell, and +lay there all the winter following, hauing left their wiues and children in the countrie of +Eastangles. King Alfred pursued them, but the Londoners tooke the enimies ships, and +brought some of them to the citie, and the rest they burnt.</p> +<p> +Thus for the space of thrée yéeres after the arriuing of the maine armie of the Danes in +the hauen of Luie, they sore indamaged the English people, although the Danes themselues +susteined more losse at the Englishmens hands than they did to them with all pilfering and +<span class="rightnote">The Danish armie diuided into parts.</span> +spoiling. In the fourth yéere after their comming, the armie was diuided, so that one part +of them went into Northumberland, part of them remained in the countrie of Eastangles, & +another part went into France. Also certeine of their ships came vpon the coast of the<a name="page674" id="page674"></a><span class="page">[Page 674]</span> +Westsaxons, oftentimes setting their men on land to rob and spoile the countrie. But king +Alfred tooke order in the best wise he might for defense of his countrie and people, and +caused certeine mightie vessels to be builded, which he appointed foorth to incounter with +the enimies ships.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The death of king Alfred.</span> +Thus like a worthie prince and politike gouernor, he preuented each way to resist the +force of his enimies, and to safegard his subiects. Finallie after he had reigned 29 yéeres +and an halfe, he departed this life the 28 day of October. His bodie was buried at Winchester: +<span class="rightnote">His issue.</span> +he left behind him issue by his wife Ethelwitha the daughter vnto earle Ethelred of Mercia, +two sonnes, Edward surnamed the elder, which succéeded him, and Adelwold: also thrée +<span class="leftnote">Elfleda.</span> +daughters, Elfleda or Ethelfleda, Ethelgeda or Edgiua, and Ethelwitha.</p> + +<hr /><br /><br /> +<p><a name="xvj6" id="xvj6"></a> +<i>How Elfleda king Alfreds daughter (being maried) contemned fleshlie pleasure; the praise +of Alfred for his good qualities, his lawes for the redresse of théeues, his diuiding of +countries into hundreds and tithings, of what monasteries he was founder, he began the +foundation of the vniuersitie of Oxford, which is not so ancient as Cambridge by 265 +yéeres; king Alfred was learned, his zeale to traine his people to lead an honest life, +what learned men were about him, the pitifull murthering of Iohn Scot by his owne +scholers, how Alfred diuided the 24 houres of the day and the night for his necessarie +purposes, his last will and bequests; the end of the kingdome of Mercia, the Danes haue +it in their hands, and dispose it as they list, Eastangle and Northumberland are subiect +vnto them, the Northumbers expell Egbert their king, his death; the Danes make Guthred +king of Northumberland, priuileges granted to S. Cuthberts shrine; the death of Guthred, +and who succéeded him in the seat roiall.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XVJ. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +In the end of the former chapter we shewed what children Alfred had, their number & +names, among whome we made report of Elfleda, who (as you haue heard) was maried +vnto duke Edelred. This gentlewoman left a notable example behind hir of despising fleshlie +plesure, for bearing hir husband one child, and sore handled before she could be deliuered, +<span class="rightnote">The notable saieng of Elfleda.</span> +she euer after forbare to companie with hir husband, saieng that it was great foolishnesse +to vse such pleasure which therwith should bring so great griefe.</p> +<p> +To speake sufficientlie of the woorthie praise due to so noble a prince as Alfred was, +might require eloquence, learning, and a large volume. He was of person comelie and +beautifull, and better beloued of his father and mother than his other brethren. And although +<span class="leftnote"><i>Will. Malmes.</i></span> +he was (as before is touched) greatly disquieted with the inuasion of forren enimies, +yet did he both manfullie from time to time indeuour himselfe to repell them, and also attempted +to sée his subiects gouerned in good and vpright iustice. And albeit that good +<span class="rightnote">King Alfred his lawes.</span> +lawes amongst the clinking noise of armor are oftentimes put to silence, yet he perceiuing +how his people were gréeued with theeues and robbers, which in time of warre grew and increased, +deuised good statutes and wholsome ordinances for punishing of such offenders.</p> +<p> +Amongst other things he ordeined that the countries should be diuided into hundreds and +tithings, that is to say, quarters conteining a certeine number of towneships adioining togither, +so that euerie Englishman liuing vnder prescript of lawes, should haue both his +hundred and tithing; that if anie man were accused of anie offense, he should find suertie +for his good demeanor: and if he could not find such as would answer for him, then should +he tast extremitie of the lawes. And if anie man that was giltie fled before he found suertie, +or after: all the inhabitants of the hundred or tithing where he dwelt, shuld be put to their +fine. By this deuise he brought his countrie into good tranquillitie, so that he caused bracelets<a name="page675" id="page675"></a><span class="page">[Page 675]</span> +of gold to be hanged vp aloft on hils where anie common waies lay, to sée if anie durst +be so hardie to take them away by stealth. He was a liberall prince namely in relieuing of the +poore. To churches he confirmed such priuileges as his father had granted before him, and +he also sent rewards by way of deuotion vnto Rome, and to the bodie of saint Thomas in India. +Sighelmus the bishop of Shireborne bare the same, and brought from thence rich stones, and +swéet oiles of inestimable valure. From Rome also he brought a péece of the holy crosse +which pope Martinus did send for a present vnto king Alfred.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Foundation of monastaries.</span> +Moreouer king Alfred founded three goodlie monasteries, one at Edlingsey, where he +liued sometime when the Danes had bereaued him almost of all his kingdome, which was +after called Athelney, distant from Taunton in Sumersetshire about fiue miles: the second he +builded at Winchester, called the new minster: and the third at Shaftesburie, which was an +house of nuns, where he made his daughter Ethelgeda or Edgiua abbesse. But the foundation +of the vniuersitie of Oxford passed all the residue of his buildings, which he began by +the good exhortation and aduise of Neotus an abbat, in those daies highlie estéemed for his vertue +and lerning with Alfred. This worke he tooke in hand about the 23 yéere of his reigne, +<span class="rightnote">895.</span> +which was in the yéere of our Lord 895. So that the vniuersitie of Cambridge was founded +<span class="leftnote"><i>Polydor</i>. <br />The vniuersitie of Oxford erected.</span> +before this other of Oxford about 265 yéeres, as Polydor gathereth. For Sigebert king of +the Eastangles began to erect that vniuersitie at Cambridge about the yéere of our Lord 630.</p> +<p> +King Alfred was learned himselfe, and giuen much to studie, insomuch that beside diuerse +good lawes which he translated into the English toong, gathered togither and published, he +also translated diuerse other bookes out of Latine into English, as <i>Orosius, Pastorale Gregorij, +Beda de gestis Anglorum, Boetius de consolatione philosophiæ,</i> and the booke of Psalmes; +but this he finished not, being preuented by death. So this worthie prince minded well toward +the common wealth of his people, in that season when learning was little estéemed amongst the +<span class="rightnote">The vertuous zeale of Alured to bring his people to an honest trade of life.</span> +west nations, did studie by all meanes possible to instruct his subiects in the trade of leading +an honest life, and to incourage them generallie to imbrace learning. He would not suffer +anie to beare office in the court, except he were lerned: and yet he himselfe was twelue +<span class="leftnote">He is persuaded by his mother, to applie himselfe to learning.</span> +yéeres of age before he could read a word on the booke, and was then trained by his mothers +persuasion to studie, promising him a goodlie booke which she had in hir hands, if he +would learne to read it.</p> +<p> +Herevpon going to his booke in sport, he so earnestlie set his mind thereto, that within a +small time he profited maruellouslie, and became such a fauorer of learned men, that he delighted +most in their companie, to haue conference with them, and allured diuerse to come +<span class="rightnote">Asserius Meuenensis. Werefridus. Iohn Scot.</span> +vnto him out of other countries, as Asserius Meneuensis bishop of Shirborne, & Werefridus +the bishop of Worcester, who by his commandement translated the bookes of Gregories dialogs +into English. Also I. Scot, who whiles he was in France translated the book of Dionysius +Ariopagita, intituled <i>Hierarchia</i>, out of Gréeke into Latine, and after was schoolemaister +in the abbeie of Malmesburie, and there murthered by his scholars with penkniues. He had +diuerse other about him, both Englishmen & strangers, as Pleimond afterward archbishop of +<span class="leftnote">Grimbald.</span> +Canturburie, Grimbald gouernor of the new monasterie at Winchester, with others.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Alured diuides the time for his necessarie vses.</span> +But to conclude with this noble prince king Alured, he was so carefull in his office, that he +diuided the 24 houres which conteine the day and night, in thrée parts, so that eight houres he +spent in writing, reading, and making his praiers, other eight he emploied in relieuing his +bodie with meat, drinke and sléepe, and the other eight he bestowed in dispatching of businesse +concerning the gouernement of the realme. He had in his chapell a candle of 24 parts, +whereof euerie one lasted an houre: so that the sexton, to whome that charge was committed, +by burning of this candle warned the king euar how the time passed away. A little before his +<span class="rightnote">His last will and testament.</span> +death, he ordeined his last will and testament, bequeathing halfe the portion of all his goods +iustlie gotten, vnto such monasteries as he had founded. All his rents and reuenues he diuided +into two equall parts, and the first part he diuided into thrée, bestowing the first vpon his +seruants in houshold, the second to such labourers and workemen as he kept in his works of +sundrie new buildings, the third part he gaue to strangers. The second whole part of his<a name="page676" id="page676"></a><span class="page">[Page 676]</span> +reuenues was so diuided, that the first portion thereof was dispersed amongst the poore people +of his countrie, the second to monasteries, the third to the finding of poore scholers, and +the fourth part to churches beyond the sea. He was diligent in inquirie how the iudges of +his land behaued themselues in their iudgements, and was a sharpe corrector of them which +transgressed in that behalfe. To be briefe, he liued so as he was had in great fauour of his +neighbours, & highlie honored among strangers. He maried his daughter Ethelswida or rather +Elstride vnto Baldwine earle of Flanders, of whome he had two sonnes Arnulfe and +Adulfe, the first succéeding in the erledome of Flanders, and the yoonger was made earle of +Bullogne.</p> +<p> +The bodie of king Alured was first buried in the bishops church: but afterwards, because the +Canons raised a fond tale that the same should walke a nights, his sonne king Edward remoued +it into the new monasterie which he in his life time had founded. Finallie, in memorie +of him a certeine learned clarke made an epitath in Latine, which for the woorthinesse +thereof is likewise (verse for verse, and in a maner word for word) translated by Abraham +Fleming into English, whose no litle labor hath béene diligentlie imploied in supplieng sundrie +insufficiences found in this huge volume.</p> + +<p class="indent1a"> +NOBILITAS innata tibi probitatis honorem<br /> +<i>Nobilitie by birth to the (ó Alfred strong in armes}</i><br /> +(Armipotens Alfrede) dedit, probitásque laborem,<br /> +<i>Of goodnes hath the honor giuen, and honor toilesome harmes,</i><br /> +Perpetuúmque labor nomen, cui mixta dolori<br /> +<i>And toilesome harmes an endlesse name, whose ioies were alwaies mext</i><br /> +Gaudia semper erant, spes semper mixta timori.<br /> +<i>With sorow, and whose hope with feare was euermore perplext.</i><br /> +Si modò victor eras, ad crastina bella pauebas,<br /> +<i>If this day thou wert conqueror, the next daies warre thou dredst,</i><br /> +Si modò victus eras, in crastina bella parabas,<br /> +<i>If this day thou wert conquered, to next daies war thou spedst,</i><br /> +Cui vestes sudore iugi, cui sica cruore,<br /> +<i>Whose clothing wet with dailie swet, whose blade with bloudie stainte,</i><br /> +Tincta iugi, quantum sit onus regnare probârunt,<br /> +<i>Do proue how great a burthen tis in roialtie to raine,</i><br /> +Non fuit immensi quisquam per climata mundi,<br /> +<i>There hath not beene in anie part of all the world so wide,</i><br /> +Cui tot in aduersis vel respirare liceret,<br /> +<i>One that was able breath to take, and troubles such abide,</i><br /> +Nec tamen aut ferro contritus ponere ferrum,<br /> +<i>And yet with weapons wearie would not weapons lay aside,</i><br /> +Aut gladio potuit vitæ finisse labores:<br /> +<i>Or with the sword the toilesomnesse of life by death diuide.</i><br /> +Iam post transactos regni vitæque labores,<br /> +<i>Now after labours past of realme and life (which he did spend)</i><br /> +Christus ei fit vera quies sceptrúmque perenne.<br /> +<i>Christ is to him true quietnesse and scepter void of end.</i><br /> +</p> +<p> +In the daies of the foresaid king Alured, the kingdome of Mercia tooke end. For after +that the Danes had expelled king Burthred, when he had reigned 22 yeares, he went to +Rome, and there died, his wife also Ethelswida, the daughter of king Athulfe that was sonne +to king Egbert followed him, and died in Pauia in Lumbardie. The Danes hauing got the +<span class="rightnote">Cewulfe.</span> +countrie into their possession, made one Cewulfe K. thereof, whome they bound with an oth +and deliuerie of pledges, that he should not longer kéepe the state with their pleasure, and +further should be readie at all times to aid them with such power as he should be able to<a name="page677" id="page677"></a><span class="page">[Page 677]</span> +make. This Cewulfe was the seruant of king Burthred. Within foure yeares after the +Danes returned, and tooke one part of that kingdome into their owne hands, and left the residue +vnto Cewulfe. But within a few yeares after, king Alured obteined that part of Mercia +which Cewulfe ruled, as he did all the rest of this land, except those parcels which the +Danes held, as Northumberland, the countries of the Eastangles, some part of Mercia, +and other.</p> +<p> +The yeare, in the which king Alured thus obteined all the dominion of that part of Mercia, +<span class="rightnote">886. <br /><i>Matth. West.</i></span> +which Cewulfe had in gouernance, was after the birth of our Sauiour 886, so that the +foresaid kingdome continued the space of 302 yeares vnder 22 kings, from Crida to this last +Cewulfe. But there be that account the continuance of this kingdome, onelie from the beginning +of Penda, vnto the last yeare of Burthred, by which reckoning it stood not past 270 +yeares vnder 18, or rather 17 kings, counting the last Cewulfe for none, who began his reigne +vnder the subiection of the Danes, about the yeare of our Lord 874, where Penda began his +reigne 604.</p> +<p> +The Eastangles and the Northumbers in these dales were vnder subiection of the Danes, as +<span class="rightnote">Guthrun K. of the eastangles died 890.</span> +partlie may be perceiued by that which before is rehearsed. After Guthrun that gouerned the +Eastangles by the terme of 12 yeares, one Edhirike or Edrike had the rule in those parts, a +Dane also, and reigned 14 yeares, and was at length bereued of his gouernement by king +<span class="leftnote"><i>Simon Dun.</i></span> +Edward the sonne of king Alured, as after shall appeare. But now, although that the Northumbers +were brought greatlie vnder foot by the Danes, yet could they not forget their old +<span class="rightnote"><i>Simon Dun.</i></span> +accustomed maner to stirre tumults and rebellion against their gouernours, insomuch that in +<span class="leftnote">872. Egbert king of Northumberland expelled from his kingdome.</span> +the yeare 872, they expelled not onelie Egbert, whome the Danes had appointed king ouer +one part of the countrie (as before you haue heard) but also their archbishop Wilfehere. In +<span class="rightnote">Egbert departed this life. <br />Riesig.</span> +the yeare following, the same Egbert departed this life, after whome one Rigsig or Ricsige +succéeded as king, and the archbishop Wolfehere was restored home.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">The Danes winter in Lindsie.</span> +<span class="rightnote">975.</span> +In the same yeare the armie of Danes which had wintered at London, came from thence +into Northumberland, and wintered in Lindseie, at a place called Torkseie, and went the next +yeare into Mercia. And in the yeare 975, a part of them returned into Northumberland, as +<span class="rightnote">Riesig departed this life.</span> +before ye haue heard. In the yeare following, Riesig the king of Northumberland departed +<span class="leftnote">983.</span> +this life: after whome an other Egbert succéeded. And in the yeare 983, the armie of the +Danes meaning to inhabit in Northumberland, and to settle themselues there, chose Guthrid +<span class="leftnote"><br /><br />Guthred ordeined king of Northumberland.</span> +the sonne of one Hardicnute to their king, whome they had sometime sold to a certeine widow +at Witingham. But now by the aduise of an abbat called Aldred, they redéemed his libertie, +and ordeined him king to rule both Danes and Englishmen in that countrie. It was said, +that the same Aldred being abbat of holie Iland, was warned in a vision by S. Cuthberd, to +giue counsell both to the Danes and Englishmen, to make the same Guthrid king. This +chanced about the 13 yeare of the reigne of Alured king of Westsaxons.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The bishops see remoued frō holie iland to Chester in the stréet.</span> +When Guthrid was established king, he caused the bishops sée to be remoued from holie +Iland vnto Chester in the stréet, and for an augmentation of the reuenues and iurisdiction +belonging thereto, he assigned and gaue vnto saint Cuthbert all that countrie which lieth betwixt +the riuers of Teise and Tine. ¶ Which christian act of the king, liuing in a time of +palpable blindnesse and mistie superstition, may notwithstanding be a light to the great men +and péeres of this age (who pretend religion with zeale, and professe (in shew) the truth with +feruencie) not to impouerish the patrimonie of the church to inrich themselues and their posteritie, +not to pull from bishoprikes their ancient reuenues to make their owne greater, not to +alienate ecclesiasticall liuings into temporall commodities, not to seeke the conuersion of college +lands into their priuat possessions; not to intend the subuersion of cathedrall churches to +fill their owne cofers, not to ferret out concealed lands for the supporte of their owne priuat +lordlines; not to destroy whole towneships for the erection of one statelie manour; not +to take and pale in the commons to inlarge their seueralles; but like good and gratious common-wealth-men, +in all things to preferre the peoples publike profit before their owne gaine +and glorie, before their owne pompe and pleasure, before the satisfieng of their owne inordinate<a name="page678" id="page678"></a><span class="page">[Page 678]</span> +desires.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Priuiledges granted to S. Cuthberts shrine.</span> +Moreouer, this priuiledge was granted vnto saint Cuthberts shrine: that whosoeuer fled +vnto the same for succour and safegard, should not be touched or troubled in anie wise for the +space of thirtie, & seuen daies. And this freedome was confirmed not onelie by king Guthrid, +but also by king Alured. Finallie king Guthrid departed this life in the yeare of our Lord +<span class="leftnote">894.</span> +894, after he had ruled the Northumbers with much crueltie (as some say) by the terme of +<span class="rightnote"><br /><i>Polydor. <br />Will. Malmes.</i></span> +11 yeares, or somewhat more. He is named by some writers Gurmond, and also Gurmo, & +thought to be the same whome king Alured caused to be baptised. Whereas other affirme, +that Guthrid, who ruled the Eastangles, was he that Alured receiued at the fontstone: +<span class="leftnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i> Sithrike.</span> +William Malmesburie taketh them to be but one man, which is not like to be true. After +this Guthrid or Gurmo his sonne Sithrike succeeded, and after him other of that line, till +king Adelstane depriued them of the dominion, and tooke it into his owne hands.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<p><a name="xvij6" id="xvij6"></a> +<i>Edward succeedeth his father Alured in regiment, he is disquieted by his brother Adelwold +a man of a defiled life, he flieth to the Danes and is of them receiued, king Edwards prouision +against the irruptions and forraies of the Danes, Adelwold with a nauie of Danes +entreth Eastangles, the Essex men submit themselues, he inuadeth Mercia, and maketh +great wast, the Kentishmens disobedience preiudiciall to themselues, they and the Danes +haue a great conflict, king Edward concludeth a truce with them, he maketh a great +slaughter of them by his Westsaxons and Mercians, what lands came to king Edward by +the death of Edred duke of Mercia, he recouereth diuers places out of the Danes hands, +and giueth them manie a foile, what castels he builded, he inuadeth Eastangles, putteth +Ericke a Danish king therof to flight, his owne subiects murther him for his crueltie, +his kingdome returneth to the right of king Edward with other lands by him thereto annexed, +his sister Elfleda gouerned the countrie of Mercia during hir life.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XVIJ. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">EDWARD THE ELDER. <br />901.</span> +After the deceasse of Alured, his sonne Edward surnamed the elder began his reigne +ouer the more part of England, in the yeare of our Lord 901, which was in the second yeare +of the emperor Lewes, in the eight yeare of the reigne of Charles surnamed Simplex king of +France, and about the eight yeare or Donald king of Scotland. He was consecrated after the +maner of other kings his ancestors by Athelred the archbishop of Canturburie. This Edward +was not so learned as his father, but in princelie power more high and honorable, for he +ioined the kingdome of Eastangles and Mercia with other vnto his dominion, as after shall +be shewed, and vanquished the Danes, Scots, and Welshmen, to his great glorie and high +commendation.</p> +<p> +In the beginning of his reigne he was disquieted by his brother Adelwold, which tooke the +<span class="rightnote">Winborne.</span> +towne of Winborne besides Bath, and maried a nun there, whome he had defloured, & attempted +manie things against his brother. Wherevpon the king came to Bath, and though +Adelwold shewed a countenance as if he would haue abidden the chance of warre within +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hen. Hunt.</i> Adelwold fleeth to the Danes. <br /><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +Winborne, yet he stole awaie in the night, and fled into Northumberland, where he was ioifullie +receiued of the Danes. The king tooke his wife being left behind, and restored hir to +the house from whence she was taken. ¶ Some haue written, that this Adelwold or Ethelwold +was not brother vnto king Edward, but his vncles sonne.</p> +<p> +After this, king Edward prouiding for the suertie of his subiects against the forraies, which +the Danes vsed to make, fortified diuers cities and townes, and stuffed them with great garrisons +<span class="rightnote">The English nation practised in wars go commonlie awaie with the victorie.</span> +of souldiers, to defend the inhabitants, and to expell the enimies. And suerlie the Englishmen +were so invred with warres in those daies, that the people being aduertised of the inuasion +of the enimies in anie part of their countrie, would assemble oftentimes without knowledge<a name="page679" id="page679"></a><span class="page">[Page 679]</span> +of king or capteine, and setting vpon the enimies, went commonlie awaie with victorie, +by reason that they ouermatched them both in number and practise. So were the enimies despised +<span class="leftnote"><i>Hen. Hunt.</i></span> +of the English souldiers, and laughed to scorne of the king for their foolish attempts. +Yet in the third yeare of king Edwards reigne, Adelwold his brother came with a nauie of +<span class="rightnote">Essex yéelded to Adelwold. <br /><br /><i>Ran. Higd.</i></span> +Danes into the parties of the Eastangles, and euen at the first the Essex men yeelded themselues +vnto him. In the yéere following he inuaded the countrie of Mercia with a great armie, +wasting and spoiling the same vnto Crikelade, and there passing ouer the Thames, rode foorth +<span class="leftnote">Brittenden.</span> +till he came to Basingstoke, or (as some bookes haue) Brittenden, harieng the countrie on each +side, and so returned backe vnto Eastangles with great ioy and triumph.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Henr. Hunt.</i></span> +King Edward awakened héerewith assembled his people, and followed the enimies, wasting +all the countries betwixt the riuer of Ouse and saint Edmunds ditch. And when he should +returne, he gaue commandement that no man should staie behind him, but come backe togither +<span class="rightnote">The Kentishmen disobeing the kings commandement, are surprised by the enimies. +Adelwold king Edwards brother.</span> +for doubt to be forelaid by the enimies. The Kentishmen notwithstanding this ordinance +and commandement, remained behind, although the king sent seuen messengers for them. +The Danes awaiting their aduantage, came togither, and fiercelie fought with the Kentishmen, +which a long time valiantlie defended themselues. But in the end the Danes obtained the victorie, +although they lost more people there than the Kentishmen did: and amongst other, +there were slaine the foresaid Adelwold, and diuerse of the chiefe capteins amongst the Danes. +Likewise of the English side, there died two dukes, Siwolfe & Singlem or Sigbelme, with +sundrie other men of name, both temporall and also spirituall lords and abbats. In the fift +yéere of his reigne, king Edward concluded a truce with the Danes of Eastangle and Northumberland +at Itingford. But in the yéere following, he sent an armie against them of +<span class="leftnote">Fortie daies saith <br /><i>Simon Dun.</i></span> +Northumberland, which slue manie of the Danes, and tooke great booties both of people and +cattell, remaining in the countrie the space of fiue weekes.</p> +<p> +The yéere next insuing, the Danes with a great armie entered into Mercia, to rob & spoile +the countrie, against whome king Edward sent a mightie host, assembled togither of the +Westsaxons & them of Mercia, which set vpon the Danes, as they were returning homeward, +and slue of them an huge multitude, togither with their chiefe capteins and leaders, as king +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hen. Hunt.</i></span> +Halden, and king Eolwils, earle Vter, earle Scurfa, and diuerse other. In the yéere 912, or (as +Simon Dunel. saith) 908, the duke of Mercia Edred or Etheldred departed this life, and then +king Edward seized into his hands the cities of London and Oxford, and all that part of +Mercia which he held. But afterwards he suffered his sister Elfleda to inioy the most part +thereof, except the said cities of London and Oxford, which he still reteined in his owne hand. +This Elfleda was wife to the said duke Edred or Etheldred, as before you haue heard: of whose +woorthie acts more shall be said heereafter.</p> +<p> +In the ninth yéere of his reigne, king Edward built a castell at Hertford, and likewise he +<span class="rightnote">Wightham.</span> +builded a towne in Essex at Wightham, and lay himselfe in the meane time at Maldon, otherwise +Meauldun, bringing a great part of the countrie vnder his subiection, which before was +subiect to the Danes. In the yéere following, the armie of the Danes departed from +<span class="leftnote">Chester, or rather Leicester, as I thinke. Digetune.</span> +Northampton and Chester in breach of the former truce, and slue a great number of men at +Hochnerton in Oxfordshire. And shortlie after their returne home, an other companie of +them went foorth, and came to Leighton, where the people of the countrie being assembled togither, +fought with them & put them to flight, taking from them all the spoile which they +had got, and also their horsses.</p> +<p> +In the 11 yéere of king Edward, a fleet of Danes compassed about the west parts, & came +to the mouth of Seuerne, and so tooke preies in Wales: they also tooke prisoner a Welsh +<span class="rightnote">Irchenfield.</span> +bishop named Camelgaret, at Irchenfield, whome they led to their ships: but king Edward +redéemed him out of their hands, paieng them fortie pounds for his ransome. After that +the armie of Danes went foorth to spoile the countrie about Irchenfield, but the people of +Chester, Hereford, and other townes and countries thereabout assembled togither, and giuing +battell to the enimies, put them to flight, and slue one of their noble men called earle +<span class="rightnote">Danes discomfited.</span> +Rehald, and Geolcil the brother of earle Vter, with a great part of their armie, & draue the residue<a name="page680" id="page680"></a><span class="page">[Page 680]</span> +into a castell, which they besieged till the Danes within it gaue hostages, and couenanted to +depart out of the kings land. The king caused the coasts about Seuerne to be watched, that +they should not breake into his countrie: but yet they stale twise into the borders: neuerthelesse +they were chased and slaine as manie as could not swim, and so get to their ships. +<span class="leftnote">The Ile of Stepen. Deomedun.</span> +Then they remained in the Ile of Stepen, in great miserie for lacke of vittels, bicause they +<span class="rightnote">Danes saile into Ireland.</span> +could not go abroad to get anie. At length they departed into Northwales, and from thence +sailed into Ireland.</p> +<p> +The same yéere king Edward came to Buckingham with an armie, and there taried a whole +moneth, building two castels, the one vpon the one side of the water of Ouse, and the other +<span class="rightnote">Turketillus an earle.</span> +vpon the other side of the same riuer. He also subdued Turketillus an earle of the Danes that +dwelt in that countrie, with all the residue of the noble men and barons of the shires of Bedford +and Northampton. In the 12 yéere of king Edwards reigne, the Kentishmen and Danes +fought togither at Holme: but whether partie had the victorie, writers haue not declared. +<span class="rightnote"><i>Simon Dun.</i></span> +Simon Dunelm. speaketh of a battell which the citizens of Canturburie fought against a +number of Danish rouers at Holme, where the Danes were put to flight, but that should +be (as he noteth) 8 yéeres before this supposed time, as in the yéere 904, which was about +the third yéere of king Edwards reigne.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Anno</i> 911. <i>Simon Dun.</i></span> +After this, other of the Danes assembled themselues togither, and in Staffordshire at a +place called Tottenhall fought with the Englishmen, and after great slaughter made on both +parties, the Danes were ouercome: and so likewise were they shortlie after at Woodfield or +Wodenfield. And thus king Edward put the Danes to the woorse in each place commonlie +where he came, and hearing that those in Northumberland ment to breake the peace: he inuaded +the countrie, and so afflicted the same, that the Danes which were inhabitants there, +<span class="rightnote"><i>Polydor.</i> <br />Ericke king of Eastangles.</span> +gladlie continued in rest and peace. But in this meane time, Ericke the king of those Danes +which held the countrie of Eastangle, was about to procure new warre, and to allure other of +the Danes to ioine with him against the Englishmen, that with common agréement they might +set vpon the English nation, and vtterlie subdue them.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">King Edward inuadeth the countrie of the Eastangles.</span> +King Edward hauing intelligence héereof, purposed to preuent him, and therevpon entering +with an armie into his countrie, cruellie wasted and spoiled the same. King Ericke hauing alreadie +his people in armor through displeasure conceiued heereof, and desire to be reuenged, +hasted foorth to incounter his enimies: and so they met in the field, and fiercelie assailed +<span class="rightnote">Ericke put to flight.</span> +ech other. But as the battell was rashlie begun on king Ericks side, so was the end verie +harmefull to him: for with small adoo, after great losse on both sides, he was vanquished +and put to flight.</p> +<p> +After his comming home, bicause of his great ouerthrow and fowle discomfiture, he began +to gouerne his people with more rigor & sharper dealing than before time he had vsed. Whereby +he prouoked the malice of the Eastangles so highlie against him, that they fell vpon him +and murthered him: yet did they not gaine so much hereby as they looked to haue doone: for +shortlie after, they being brought low, and not able to defend their countrie, were compelled to +<span class="rightnote">The kingdom of the Eastangles subdued by K. Edward.</span> +submit themselues vnto king Edward. And so was that kingdome ioined vnto the other dominions +of the same king Edward, who shortlie after annexed the kingdome of Mercia vnto +other of his dominions, immediatlie vpon the death of his sister Elfleda, whom he permitted +to rule that land all hir life.</p> + +<hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="page681" id="page681"></a><span class="page">[Page 681]</span> +<p><a name="xviij6" id="xviij6"></a> +<i>Elfleda the sister of king Edward highlie commended for government, what a necessarie +staie she was vnto him in hir life time, what townes she builded and repared, hir warlike +exploits against the Danes, hir death and buriall; the greatest part of Britaine in +K. Edwards dominion, he is a great builder and reparer of townes, his death, the dreame +of his wife Egina, and the issue of the same, what children king Edward had by his wiues, +and how they were emploied, the decay of the church by the meanes of troubles procured by +the Danes, England first curssed and why; a prouinciall councell summoned for the reliefe +of the churches ruine, Pleimond archbishop of Canturburie sent to Rome, bishops ordeined +in sundrie prouinces; dissention among writers what pope should denounce the foresaid +cursse; a succession of archbishops in the see of Canturburie, one brother killeth another.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XVIIJ. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +Not without good reason did king Edward permit vnto his sister Elfleda the gouernment +of Mercia, during hir life time: for by hir wise and politike order vsed in all hir dooings, he +was greatlie furthered & assisted; but speciallie in reparing and building of townes & castels, +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hen. Hunt.</i> <i>Matth. West.</i> <i>Simon Dun.</i></span> +wherein she shewed hir noble magnificence, in so much that during hir government, which +continued about eight yéeres, it is recorded by writers, that she did build and repare these +<span class="leftnote">Tamwoorth was by hir repared, anno 914. Eadsburie and Warwike. <br />915.</span> +towns, whose names here insue: Tamwoorth beside Lichfield, Stafford, Warwike, Shrewsburie, +Watersburie or Weddesburie, Elilsburie or rather Eadsburie, in the forrest of De la +mere besides Chester, Brimsburie bridge vpon Seuerne, Rouncorne at the mouth of the riuer +Mercia with other. Moreouer, by hir helpe the citie of Chester, which by Danes had +<span class="rightnote">Chester repared, 905. <br /><i>Sim. Dun.</i></span> +beene greatlie defaced, was newlie repared, fortified with walls and turrets, and greatlie inlarged. +So that the castell which stood without the walls before that time, was now brought +within compasse of the new wall.</p> +<p> +Moreouer she boldlie assalted hir enimies which went about to trouble the state of the countrie, +as the Welshmen and Danes. She sent an armie into Wales, and tooke the towne of +<span class="rightnote">Quéene of the Welshmen taken. Brecenamere. <br /><i>Ran. Higd.</i> <br /><i>Hen. Hunt.</i> <br />918. +<br />Darbie won from the Danes.</span> +Brecknocke with the queene of the Welshmen at Bricenamere. Also she wan from the Danes +the towne of Darbie, and the countrie adioining. In this enterprise she put hir owne person in +great aduenture: for a great multitude of Danes that were withdrawen into Darbie, valiantlie +defended the gates and entries, in so much that they slue foure of hir chiefe men of warre, +which were named wardens of hir person, euen fast by hir at the verie entrie of the gates. +But this notwithstanding, with valiant fight hir people entered, and so the towne was woon: she +got diuerse other places out of their hands, & constreined them of Yorkeshire to agree with +hir, so that some of them promised to become hir subiects: some vowed to aid hir, and some +sware to be at hir commandement.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hen. Hunt. Anno Christie</i> <br />919.</span> +Finallie, this martiall ladie and manlie Elfleda, the supporter of hir countriemen, and terrour +of the enimies, departed this life at Tamwoorth about the 12 of Iune, in the 18 or rather 19 +<span class="leftnote"><i>Matt. West.</i> <br /><i>Simon Dun.</i></span> +yéere of hir brother king Edwards reigne, as by Matth. West it should appeere. But Simon +Dunelm. writeth, that she deceassed in the yeere of Christ 915, which should be about the +14 yéere of king Edwards reigne. Hir bodie was conueied to Glocester, and there buried +within the monasterie of S. Peter, which hir husband and she in their life time had builded, and +translated thither the bones of saint Oswill from Bardona. The same monasterie was after +<span class="rightnote"><i>Ranul.</i></span> +destroied by Danes. But Aldredus the archbishop of Yorke, who was also bishop of Worcester, +repared an other in the same citie, that was after the chiefe abbeie there. Finallie, +in memorie of the said Elfleds magnanimitie and valorous mind, this epitaph was fixed on +hir toome.</p> + +<p class="indent"> +<i>O Elfleda potens, ô terror virgo virorum,<br /> + <span class="indent1">O Elfleda potens, nomine digna viri.</span><br /> +Te quóque splendidior fecit natura puellam,<br /> + <span class="indent1">Te probitas fecit nomen habere viri.</span><br /> +Te mutare decet sed solum nomina sexus,</i><br /><a name="page682" id="page682"></a><span class="page">Page 682]</span> + <i><span class="indent1">Tu regina potens rexque trophea parans.</span><br /> + Iam nec Cæsareos tantum mirere triumphos,<br /> + <span class="indent1">Cæsare splendidior virgo virago, vale.</span></i><br /><br /> +</p> +<span class="rightnote">Translated by <i>Abraham Fleming.</i></span> +<p class="indentq"> +O puissant Elfled, ô thou maid<br /> + <span class="indent1">of men the dread and feare,</span><br /> +O puissant Elfled woorthie maid<br /> + <span class="indent1">the name of man to beare.</span><br /> +A noble nature hath thee made<br /> + <span class="indent1">a maiden mild to bee,</span><br /> +Thy vertue also hath procurde<br /> + <span class="indent1">a manlie name to thee.</span><br /> +It dooth but onelie thee become,<br /> + <span class="indent1">of sex to change the name,</span><br /> +A puissant queene, a king art thou<br /> + <span class="indent1">preparing trophes of fame.</span><br /> +Now maruell not so much at Cæsars<br /> + <span class="indent1">triumphs [trim to vieu;]</span><br /> +O manlike maiden more renowmd<br /> + <span class="indent1">than Cæsar was, adieu.</span><br /><br /> +</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">This Alfwen <br />was sister to Edelfled, as <br /><i>H. Hunt.</i> saith.</span> +After the deceasse of Elfleda, king Edward tooke the dominion of Mercia (as before we +haue said) into his owne hands, and so disherited his néece Alfwen or Elswen, the daughter +of Elfleda, taking hir awaie with him into the countrie of Westsaxons. By this meanes +he so amplified the bounds of his kingdome, that he had the most part of all this Iland of +<span class="leftnote">Stratcluid or Stretcled, a kingdome in Wales.</span> +Britaine at his commandement: for the kings of the Welshmen; namelie the king of Stretcled, +and of the Scots, acknowledging him to be their chiefe souereigne lord, and the Danes +in Northumberland were kept so short, that they durst attempt nothing against him in his +<span class="rightnote">K. Edward a great builder and reparer of townes. Notingham bridge built. <i>Matt. West.</i></span> +latter daies: so that he had time to applie the building and reparing of cities, townes, and castels, +wherein he so much delighted. He builded a new towne at Notingham on the southside + +of Trent, and made a bridge ouer that riuer betwixt the old towne and the new. He also +<span class="leftnote">Manchester repared. Anno 816. <br /><i>Simon Dun.</i></span> +repared Manchester beyond the riuer of Mercia in Lancashire, accounted as then in the south +end of Northumberland, and he built a towne of ancient writers called Thilwall, neere to the +same riuer of Mercia, and placed therein a garrison of souldiers: diuerse other townes and +<span class="rightnote"><br /><i>Henr. Hunt.</i></span> +castels he built, as two at Buckingham on either side of the water of Ouse (as before is shewed) +and also one at the mouth of the riuer of Auon. He likewise built or new repared the townes +of Tocetor and Wigmore, with diuerse other, as one at Glademuth, about the last yéere of +his reigne. Some also he destroied which séemed to serue the enimies turne for harborough, +as a castell at Temnesford, which the Danes builded and fortified.</p> +<p> +At length, after that this noble prince king Edward had reigned somewhat aboue the tearme +of 23 yéeres, he was taken out of this life at Faringdon: his bodie was conueied from thence +vnto Winchester, and there buried in the new abbeie. He had thrée wiues, or (as some haue +<span class="rightnote"><i>Polydor.</i></span> +written) but two, affirming that Edgiua was not his wife, but his concubine, of whome he begat +his eldest sonne Adelstan, who succéeded him in the kingdome. This Edgiua (as hath béene +<span class="leftnote">A dreame.</span> +reported) dreamed on a time that there rose a moone out of hir bellie, which with the bright +shine thereof gaue light ouer all England: and telling hir dreame to an ancient gentlewoman, +who coniecturing by the dreame that which followed, tooke care of hir, and caused hir to be +brought vp in good manners and like a gentlewoman, though she were borne but of base +parentage.</p> +<p> +Heerevpon when she came to ripe yéeres, king Edward by chance comming to the place +where she was remaining, vpon the first sight was streight rauished with hir beautie (which in +déed excelled) that she could not rest till he had his pleasure of hir, and so begot of hir the +foresaid Adelstan: by hir he had also a daughter that was maried vnto Sithrike a Dane and<a name="page683" id="page683"></a><span class="page">[Page 683]</span> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matt. West.</i> <br /><i>Polydor.</i></span> +K. of Northumberland. The Scotish writers name hir Beatrice, but our writers name hir +Editha. His second or rather his first wife (if he were not maried to Eguina mother to Adelstan) +was called Elfleda or Elfrida, daughter to one earle Ethelme, by whom he had issue; to wit, +<span class="leftnote">The issue of K. Edward.</span> +two sonnes Ethelward and Edwin, which immediatlie departed this life after their father; and +six daughters, Elfleda, Edgiua, Ethelhilda, Ethilda, Edgitha, and Elfgiua. Elfleda became +a nun, and Ethelhilda also liued in perpetuall virginitie, but yet in a laie habit.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Alias Edgiua. <br /><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +Edgitha was maried to Charles king of France, surnamed Simplex. And Ethilda by helpe +of hir brother Adelstan was bestowed vpon Hugh sonne to Robert earle of Paris, for hir singular +beautie most highlie estéemed: sith nature in hir had shewed as it were hir whole cunning, +in perfecting hir with all gifts and properties of a comelie personage. Edgiua and Elgiua +were sent by their brother Adelstan into Germanie, vnto the emperor Henrie, who bestowed +one of them vpon his sonne Otho, that was after emperor, the first of that name; and the other +vpon a duke inhabiting about the Alpes: by his last wife named Edgiua, he had also two +sonnes, Edmund & Eldred, the which both reigned after their brother Adestan successiuelie. +Also he had by hir two daughters, Edburge that was made a nun, and Edgiue a +ladie of excellent beautie, whom hir brother Adelstan gaue in mariage vnto Lewes king of +Aquitaine.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Ran. Higd.</i> <br /><i>Wil. Malm.</i> <br /><i>Matth. West.</i></span> +Whilest this land was in continuall trouble of warres against the Danes, as before is touched, +small regard was had to the state of the church, in somuch that the whole countrie of the +Westsaxons by the space of seuen yéeres togither (in the daies of this king Edward) remained +without anie bishop, to take order in matters apperteining to the church. Wherevpon the pope +<span class="rightnote">England first accurssed.</span> +had accurssed the English people, bicause they suffred the bishops sees to be vacant so long a +<span class="leftnote">Anno 903.</span> +time. King Edward to auoid the cursse, assembled a prouinciall councell, 905, in the which +the archbishop of Canturburie Pleimond was president. Wherein it was ordeined, that +whereas the prouince of Westsaxons in times past had but two bishops, now it should be diuided +into fiue diocesses, euerie of them to haue a peculiar bishop.</p> +<p> +When all things were ordered and concluded in this synod (as was thought requisite) the +archbishop was sent to Rome with rich presents, to appease the popes displeasure. When the +pope had heard what order the king had taken, he was contented therewith. And so the archbishop +returned into his countrie, and in one day at Canturburie ordeined seuen bishops, as fiue to +<span class="rightnote"> Winchester. Cornewall. Shireborne. Welles. Kirton. Mercia.</span> +the prouince of Westsaxons, that is to say, Fridestane to the sée of Winchester, Adelstan to +S. German in Cornwall, Werstan to Shireborne, Adelme to Welles, and Edulfe to Kirton. +Also to the prouince of Sussex he ordeined one Bernegus, and to Dorchester for the prouince +of Mercia one Cenulfus.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i> <br />saith that pope Formosus pronounced <br />this cursse. <br />904.</span> +¶ Heere ye must note, that where William Malme. Polychro. and other doo affirme, that +pope Formosus did accursse king Edward and the English nation, for suffering the bishops sees +to be vacant, it can not stand with the agreement or the time, vnlesse that the cursse pronounced +by Formosus for this matter long afore was not regarded, vntill Edward had respect +thereto. For the same Formosus began to gouerne the Romane see about the yéere of our +Lord 892, and liued in the papasie not past six yéeres, so that he was dead before king Edward +<span class="leftnote"><i>Polydor.</i></span> +came to the crowne. But how so euer this matter maie fall out, this ye haue to consider: +although that Pleimond was sent vnto Rome to aduertise the pope what the king had decréed +& doone, in the ordeining of bishops to their seuerall sées, as before ye haue heard, yet +(as maister Fox hath noted) the gouernance and direction of the church depended chieflie vpon +the kings of this land in those daies, as it manifestlie appeereth, as well by the decrees of +king Alfred, as of this king Edward, whose authoritie in the election of bishops (as before ye +haue heard) seemed then alone to be sufficient.</p> +<p> +Moreouer, I thinke it good to aduertise you in this place, that this Pleimond archbishop of +Canturburie (of whome ye haue heard before) was the 19 in number from Augustine the first +archbishop there: for after Brightwold that was the 8 in number, and first of the English nation +that gouerned the sée, succeeded Taduin, that sat three yeeres, Notelin fiue yéeres, Cuthbert +18 yéeres, Brethwin thrée yéeres, Lambert 27 yéeres, Adelard 13 yéeres, Wilfred 28 yéeres,<a name="page684" id="page684"></a><span class="page">[Page 684]</span> +Theologildus or Pleogildus 3 yéeres, Celuotus or Chelutus 10 yéeres. Then succéeded Aldred, +of whome king Edward receiued the crowne, and he was predecessor to Pleimond. A +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hen. Hunt.</i></span> +litle before the death of king Edward, Sithrike the king of Northumberland killed his brother +Nigellus, and then king Reinold conquered the citie of Yorke.</p> + +<hr /><br /><br /> + +<p><a name="xix6" id="xix6"></a> +<i>Adelstane succeedeth his father Edward in the kingdome, Alfred practising by treason to +keepe him from the gouernement, sanke downe suddenlie as he was taking his oth for +his purgation; the cause why Alfred opposed himselfe against Adelstane, whose praise +is notable, what he did to satisfie the expectation of his people, ladie Beatrice king +Edwards daughter maried to Sithrike a Danish gouernor of the Northumbers, by whose +meanes Edwin king Edwards brother was drowned, practises of treason, the ladie Beatrice +strangelie put to death by hir stepsons for being of counsell to poison hir husband Sithrike, +hir death reuenged vpon the tormentors by hir father king Edward, and how chronographers +varie in the report of this historie.</i></p> + + +<h3>THE XIX. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">ADELSTAN. <br /><i>Matt. West.</i> <br /><i>Will. Malmes.</i> <br />924.</span> +Adelstane the eldest sonne of king Edward began his reigne ouer the more part of +all England, the yeere of our Lord 924, which was in the 6 yere of the emperour Henrie +the first, in the 31 yéere of the reigne of Charles surnamed Simplex king of France, three +moneths after the burning of Pauie, & about the 22 or 23 yéere of Constantine the third, +king of Scotland. This Adelstane was crowned and consecrated king at Kingstone vpon +Thames, of Aldelme the archbishop of Canturburie, who succéeded Pleimond. He was the +24 king in number from Cerdicus or Cerdike the first king of the Westsaxons. There were +<span class="rightnote">Alfred striueth in vaine to kéepe Adelstane from the gouernment. <br /><i>Wil. Malm.</i> +<br />See more hereof in the acts and monuments set foorth by <br /><i>M. Fox,</i> vol. 1. leafe 195.</span> +in the beginning some that set themselues against him, as one Alfred a noble man, which +practised by treason to haue kept him from the gouernement: but he was apprehended yer +he could bring his purpose to passe, and sent to Rome there to trie himselfe giltie or not +giltie. And as he tooke his oth for his purgation before the altar of saint Peter, he suddenlie +fell downe to the earth, so that his seruants tooke him vp, and bare him into the +English schoole or hospitall, where the third night after he died.</p> +<p> +Pope Iohn the tenth sent vnto king Adelstane, to know if he would that his bodie should +be laid in Christian buriall or not. The king at the contemplation of Alfreds friends and +kinsfolks, signified to the pope that he was contented that his bodie should be interred +amongst other christians. His lands being forfeited were giuen by the king vnto God and +saint Peter. The cause that mooued Alfred and other his complices against the king, was +(as some haue alledged) his bastardie. But whether that allegation were true or but a +slander, this is certeine, that except that steine of his honor, there was nothing in this Adelstane +worthie of blame: so that he darkened all the glorious fame of his predecessors, both +in vertuous conditions and victorious triumphs. Such difference is there to haue that in thy +selfe wherein to excell, rather than to stand vpon the woorthinesse of thine ancestors, sith +that can not rightlie be called a mans owne.</p> +<p> +After that king Adelstane was established in the estate, he indeuored himselfe to answer +the expectation of his people; which hoped for great wealth to insue by his noble and prudent +<span class="rightnote"><i>Anno 925</i>. <br /><i>Simon Dun.</i> <br /><i>Polydor</i>.</span> +gouernance. First therfore meaning to prouide for the suertie of his countrie, he concluded +a peace with Sithrike king of the Northumbers, vnto whome (as ye haue heard) he gaue +one of his sisters named Editha in mariage. Sithrike liued not past one yéere after he had +so maried hir. And then Adelstane brought the prouince of the Northumbers vnto his subiection, +expelling one Aldulph out of the same that rebelled against him. There be that +write, that Godfrie and Aulafe the sonnes of Sithrike succéeding their father in the gouernement<a name="page685" id="page685"></a><span class="page">[Page 685]</span> +of Northumberland, by practising to mooue warre against king Adelstane, occasioned +him to inuade their countrie, and to chase them out of the same, so that Aulafe fled into +Ireland, & Godfrie into Scotland: but other write, that Godfrie was the father of Reignold +<span class="rightnote"><i>H. Hunt.</i></span> +which wan Yorke, after that Sithrike had slaine his brother Nigellus, as before is +mentioned.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hect. Boetius.</i> <br />The Scotish writers varie from our English authors. +Beatrice daughter to K. Edward as the Scotish writers say. Edwin was not brother to +K. Edward but son to him.</span> +¶ The Scotish chronicles varie in report of these matters from the English writers: whose +chronicles affirme, that in the life time of king Edward, his daughter Beatrice was giuen in +mariage to Sithrike, the gouernor of the Danes in Northumberland, with condition that if +anie male were procreated in that mariage, the same should inherit the dominions of king +Edward after his decease. King Edward had a brother (as they say) named Edwin, a iolie +gentleman, and of great estimation amongst the Englishmen. He by Sithrikes procurement +was sent into Flanders in a ship that leaked, and so was drowned, to the great reioising of +all the Danes, least if he had suruiued his brother, he would haue made some businesse for +the crowne.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">Adelstane flieth the realme.</span> +About the same time Adelstane a base sonne of K. Edward fled the realme, for doubt to +be made away by some like traitorous practise of the Danes. Shortlie after, king Edward +vnderstanding that Sithrike went about some mischiefe toward him, persuaded his daughter +to poison hir husband the said Sithrike. Then Aulafe or Aualassus, and Godfrie the sonnes +of Sithrike, finding out by diligent examination, that Beatrice was of counsell in poisoning +hir husband, they caused hir to be apprehended and put to death on this wise. She was set +<span class="rightnote">Beatrice put to death by hir stepsons.</span> +naked vpon a smithes cold anuill or stithie, and therewith hard rosted egs being taken out +of the hot imbers were put vnder hir armepits, and hir armes fast bound to hir bodie with +a cord, and so in that state she remained till hir life passed from hir. King Edward in reuenge +of his daughters death mooued warre against the two brethren, Aulafe and Godfrie, +and in battell finallie vanquished them, but was slaine in the same battell himselfe.</p> +<p> +Thus haue the Scotish chronicles recorded of these matters, as an induction to the warres +which followed betwixt the Scots and Danes as confederates against king Adelstane: but +the truth thereof we leaue to the readers owne iudgement. For in our English writers we +find no such matter, but that a daughter of king Edward named Edgitha or Editha, after hir +fathers deceasse was by hir brother king Adelstane, about the first yéere of his reigne, giuen +in mariage (as before ye haue heard) vnto the foresaid Sithrike king of Northumberland, +that was descended of the Danish bloud, who for the loue of the yoong ladie, renounced +his heathenish religion and became a christian; but shortlie after, forsaking both his wife +and the christian faith, he set vp againe the worshipping of idols, and within a while after, +as an apostata miserablie ended his life. Whervpon the yoong ladie, hir virginitie being +<span class="rightnote">Editha a virgine.</span> +preserued, and hir bodie vndefiled (as they write) passed the residue of hir daies at Polleswoorth +in Warwikeshire, spending hir time (as the same writers affirme) in fasting, watching, +praieng, and dooing of almesdéedes, and so at length departed out of this world. Thus +our writers differ from the Scotish historie, both in name and maner of end as concerning the +daughter of king Edward that was coupled in mariage with Sithrike.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="page686" id="page686"></a><span class="page">[Page 686]</span> +<p><a name="xx6" id="xx6"></a> +<i>Adelstane subdueth Constantine king of Scots, Howell king of Wales, and Wulferth king of</i> +<i>Northwales, the Scots possesse a great part of the north countries, Adelstane conquereth +the Scots for aiding Godfrie his enimie; a miracle declaring that the Scots ought to obey +the king of England; king Adelstane banisheth his brother Edwin, he is for a conspiracie +drowned in the sea, Adelstane repenteth him of his rigour (in respect of that misfortune) +against his brother; Aulafe sometimes king of Northumberland inuadeth England, he disguiseth +himselfe like a minstrell and surueieth the English campe unsuspected, he is discouered +after his departure, be assaileth the English campe, Adelstane being comforted with a +miracle discomfiteth his enimies, he maketh them of Northwales his tributaries, be subdueth +the Cornishmen, his death; the description of his person, his vertues, of what abbeis & +monasteries he was founder, his estimation in forren realmes, what pretious presents were +sent him from other princes, and how he bestowed them; a remembrance of Guy the erle +of Warwike.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XX. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +After that king Adelstane had subdued them of Northumberland, he was aduertised, +that not onelie Constantine king of Scots, but also Huduale or Howell K. of Wales went +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +about a priuie conspiracie against him. Herevpon with all conuenient spéed assembling his +power, he went against them, and with like good fortune subdued them both, and also Vimer +or Wulferth K. of Northwales, so that they were constreined to submit themselues vnto him, +who shortlie after moued with pitie in considering their sudden fall, restored them all three +<span class="leftnote"><i>Matth. West.</i> <br />The noble saieng of king Adelstane. <br />926.</span> +to their former estates, but so as they should acknowledge themselues to gouerne vnder +him, pronouncing withall this notable saieng, that More honorable it was to make a king, +than to be a king.</p> +<p> +Ye must vnderstand, that (as it appeareth in the Scotish chronicles) the Scotishmen in +time of wars that the Danes gaue the English nation, got a part of Cumberland and other +the north countries into their possession, and so by reason of their néere adioining vnto +the confines of the English kings, there chanced occasions of warre betwixt them, as well +in the daies of king Edward, as of this Adelstane his sonne, although in déed the Danes +held the more part of the north countries, till that this Adelstane conquered the same out +of their hands, and ioined it vnto other of his dominions, constreining as well the Danes +<span class="rightnote"><i>Polydor.</i></span> +(of whome the more part of the inhabitants then consisted) as also the Englishmen, to obey +him as their king and gouernour. Godfrie (as is said) being fled to the Scots, did so much +preuaile there by earnest sute made to king Constantine, that he got a power of men, and +entring with the same into Northumberland, besiged the citie of Duresme, soliciting the +citizens to receiue him, which they would gladlie haue doone, if they had not perceiued +how he was not of power able to resist the puissance of king Adelstane: and therefore +doubting to be punished for their offenses if they reuolted, they kept the enimies out. King +<span class="leftnote">934.</span> +Adelstane being sore moued against the king of Scots, that thus aided his enimies, raised +an armie, and went northward, purposing to reuenge that iniurie.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Ran. Higd.</i></span> +At his comming into Yorkshire, he turned out of the way, to visit the place where saint +Iohn of Beuerlie was buried, and there offered his knife, promising that if he returned with +victorie, he would redéeme the same with a woorthie price: and so proceeded and went +<span class="leftnote"><i>Sim. Dun.</i></span> +forwards on his iournie, and entring Scotland, wasted the countrie by land vnto Dunfoader +and Wertermore, and his nauie by sea destroied the coasts alongst the shore, euen to Catnesse, +<span class="rightnote">The Scots subdued.</span> +and so he brought the king of Scots and other his enimies to subiection at his pleasure, +constreining the same K. of Scots to deliuer him his son in hostage.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">A token shewed miraculouslie that the Scots ought to be subiect to the kings of England.</span> +It is said, that being in his iournie néere vnto the towne of Dunbar, he praied vnto God, +that at the instance of saint Iohn of Beuerlie, it would please him to grant, that he might +shew some open token, whereby it should appeare to all them that then liued, and should +hereafter succeéd, that the Scots ought to be subiect vnto the kings of England. Herewith, +the king with his sword smote vpon a great stone standing néere to the castle of Dunbar,<a name="page687" id="page687"></a><span class="page">[Page 687]</span> +and with the stroke, there appeared a clift in the same stone to the length of an elme, which +remained to be shewed as a witnesse of that thing manie yeares after. At his comming backe +to Beuerlie, he redéemed his knife with a large price, as before he had promised.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i> <br /><i>Matt. Westm.</i> <br />934.</span> +After this was Edwin the kings brother accused of some conspiracie by him begun against +the king, wherevpon he was banished the land, and sent out in an old rotten vessell without +rower or mariner, onelie accompanied with one esquier, so that being lanched foorth from +the shore, through despaire Edwin leapt into the sea, and drowned himselfe, but the esquier +that was with him recouered his bodie, and brought it to land at Withsand besides Canturburie. +But Iames Maier in the annales of Flanders saieth, that he was drowned by fortune +of the seas in a small vessell, and being cast vp into a créeke on the coast of Picardie, was +found by Adolfe earle of Bullongne that was his coosin germane, and honorablie buried by +the same Adolfe in the church of Bertine. In consideration of which déed of pietie and +dutie of mindfull consanguinitie, the king of England both hartilie thanked earle Adolfe, +<span class="rightnote">Repentance too late.</span> +and bestowed great gifts vpon the church where his brother was thus buried. For verelie +king Adelstane after his displeasure was asswaged, and hearing of this miserable end of his +brother, sore repented himselfe of his rigour so extended towards him, in so much that he +could neuer abide the man that had giuen the information against him, which was his cupbearer, +so that on a time as the said cupbearer serued him at the table, and came towards +him with a cup of wine, one of his féet chanced to slide, but he recouered himselfe with the +helpe of the other foot, saieng, "One brother yet hath holpen & succored the other:" +which words cost him his life. For the king remembring that by his accusation he had lost +his brother that might haue béene an aid to him, caused this said cupbearer to be straight +put to death.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +In this meane while, Aulafe the sonne of Sitherike, late king of Northumberland (who is +also named by writers to be king of the Irishmen, and of manie Ilands) assembled a great +power of Danes, Irishmen, Scots, and other people of the out Iles, and imbarked them in +615 ships and craiers, with the which he arriued in the mouth of Humber, and there comming +<span class="rightnote">937.</span> +on land, began to inuade the countrie. This Aulafe had maried the daughter of Constantine +king of Scots, by whose procurement, notwithstanding his late submission, Aulafe +<span class="leftnote"><i>Simon Dun.</i></span> +tooke in hand this iournie. King Adelstane aduertised of his enimies arriuall, gathered his +people, and with all conuenient spéed hasted towards them, and approching néerer vnto +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hen. Hunt.</i> <br /><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +them, pitcht downe his field at a place called by some Brimesburie, by others Brimesford, +and also Brunaubright, and by the Scotish writers Browmingfield.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote"><i>Matth. West.</i> <br /><i>Hector Boet.</i> <br /><i>Ran. Higd.</i> +Aulafe disguised, cometh to view the English camp.</span> +When knowledge hereof was had in the enimies campe, Aulafe enterprised a maruelous +exploit, for taking with him an harpe, he came into the English campe, offring himselfe +disguised as a minstrell, to shew some part of his cunning in musicke vpon his instrument: +and so being suffered to passe from tent to tent, and admitted also to plaie afore the king, +surueied the whole state and order of the armie. This doone, he returned, meaning by a +cammisado to set vpon the kings tent. But one that had serued as a souldier sometime +vnder Aulafe, chanced by marking his demeanour to know him, and after he was gone, +vttered to the king what he knew. The king séemed to be displeased, in that he had not +told him so much before Aulafs departure: but in excusing himselfe, the souldier said: +"Ye must remember (if it like your grace) that the same faith which I haue giuen vnto +you, I sometime owght vnto Aulafe, therfore if I should haue betraied him now, you might +well stand in doubt least I should hereafter doo the like to you: but if you will follow +mine aduise, remoue your tent, least happilie he assaile you vnwares." The king did so, +<span class="rightnote">Aulafe assaileth the English camp.</span> +and as it chanced in the night following, Aulafe came to assaile the English campe, and by +fortune comming to the place where the kings tent stood before, he found a bishop lodged, +which with his companie was come the same day to the armie, and had pitcht vp his tent in +that place from whence the king was remoued: and so was the same bishop, and most part +of his men there slaine, which slaughter executed, Aulafe passed forward, and came to +the kings tent, who in this meane time, by reason of the alarum raised, was got vp, and<a name="page688" id="page688"></a><span class="page">[Page 688]</span> +taking to him his sword in that sudden fright, by chance it fell out of the scabbard, so +<span class="rightnote"><i>Ran. Higd.</i></span> +that he could not find it, but calling to God and S. Aldelme (as saith Polychron.) his sword +was restored to the scabbard againe. The king comforted with that miracle, boldlie preased +foorth vpon his enimies, and so valiantlie resisted them, that in the end he put them to +flight, and chased them all that morning and day following, so that he slue of them an +<span class="leftnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i> <br />The enimies discomfited.</span> +huge number. Some haue written, that Constantine king of Scots was slaine at this ouerthrow, +and fiue other small kings or rulers, with 12 dukes, and welnéere all the armie of +those strange nations which Aulafe had gathered togither. But the Scotish chronicles +affirme, that Constantine was not there himselfe, but sent his sonne Malcolme, which yet +escaped sore hurt and wounded from the battell, as in the same chronicles ye may sée more +at large.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Ran. Higd.</i></span> +When K. Adelstane had thus vanquished his enimies in the north parties of England, he +went against them of Northwales, whose rulers and princes he caused to come before him +at Hereford, and there handled them in such sort, that they couenanted to pay him yeerlie +<span class="leftnote">Tribute. <br />The Cornish men subdued.</span> +in lieu of a tribute 20 pounds of gold, 300 pounds of siluer, and 25 head of neate, with +hawks and hownds a certeine number. After this, he subdued the Cornishmen: and whereas +till those daies they inhabited the citie of Excester, mingled amongest the Englishmen, so +that the one nation was as strong within that citie as the other, he rid them quite out of the +<span class="rightnote">Excester repaired. <br />940.</span> +same, and repared the walles, and fortified them with ditches and turrets as the maner +then was, and so remoued the Cornish men further into the west parts of the countrie, that +he made Tamer water to be the confines betwéene the Englishmen and them. Finallie the +<span class="leftnote"><i>Simon Dun.</i> <br />The decease of king Adelstane.</span> +noble prince king Adelstane departed out of this world, the 26 day of October, after he +had reigned the tearme of 16 yeares. His bodie was buried at Malmesburie.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The description of king Adelstane.</span> +He was of such a stature, as exceeded not the common sort of men, stooping somewhat, +and yellowe haired, for his valiancie ioined with courtesie beloued of all men, yet sharpe +against rebels, and of inuincible constancie: his great deuotion toward the church appeared +in the building, adorning & indowing of monasteries and abbeis. He built one at Wilton +within the diocesse of Salisburie, and an other at Michelnie in Summersetshire. But besides +these foundations, there were few famous monasteries within this land, but that he adorned +the same either with some new péece of building, iewels, bookes, or portion of lands. He +<span class="rightnote">Wolstan archbishop of Yorke. <br />His estimation in forain realmes.</span> +had in excéeding fauour Wolstan archbishop of Yorke that liued in his daies, for whose +sake he greatlie inriched that bishoprike. His fame spread ouer all the parties of Europe, +so that sundrie princes thought themselues happie if they might haue his friendship, either +by affinitie or otherwise: by meanes whereof, he bestowed his sisters so highlie in mariage +as before ye haue heard. He receiued manie noble and rich presents from diuers princes, +as from Hugh king of France, horsses and sundrie rich iewels, with certeine relikes: as +Constantines sword, in the hilt whereof was set one of the nailes wherewith Christ was +fastened to the crosse, the speare of Charles the great, which was thought to be the same +wherewith the side of our sauiour was pearced, the banner of saint Maurice, with a part of +the holie crosse, and likewise a part of the thorned crowne: yet Mandeuile saw the one +halfe of this crowne in France, and the other at Constantinople, almost 400 yeares after +this time, as he writeth. Of these iewels king Adelstane gaue part to the abbie of saint +Swithon at Winchester, and part to the abbie of Malmesburie. Moreouer, the king of +Norwaie sent vnto him a goodlie ship of fine woorkmanship, with gilt sterne and purple +sailes, furnished round about the decke within with a rowe of gilt pauises. ¶ In the daies +<span class="rightnote"><i>Harding</i>.</span> +of this Adelstane reigned that right worthie Guy earle of Warwike, who (as some writers +haue recorded) fought with a mightie giant of the Danes in a singular combat, and vanquished +him.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + +<a name="page689" id="page689"></a><span class="page">[Page 689]</span> + +<p><a name="xxj6" id="xxj6"></a> +<i>Edmund succeedeth Adelstane in the kingdome, the Danes of Northumberland rebell against +him, a peace concluded betwene Aulafe their king and king Edmund vpon conditions, +Aulafe dieth, another of that name succeedeth him; king Edmund subdueth the Danes, +and compelleth them to receiue the christian faith, Reinold and Aulafe are baptised, they +violate their fealtie vowed to king Edmund, they are put to perpetuall exile; why king +Edmund wasted all Northumberland, caused the eies of king Dunmails sonnes to be put +out, and assigned the said countrie to Malcolme king of Scots; the Scotish chroniclers +error in peruerting the time & order of the English kings, king Edmunds lawes, by what +misfortune he came to his end, how his death was foreshewed to Dunstane in a vision, a +tale of the vertue of the crosse, Dunstane reproueth duke Elstane, his dreame, and how +the interpretation thereof came to passe.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXJ. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">EDMUND.</span> +After that Adelstane was departed this life, without leauing issue behind to succéed +him in the kingdome, his brother Edmund, sonne of Edward the elder, borne of his last +wife Edgiue, tooke vpon him the gouernement of this land, and began his reigne in the +yeare of our Lord 940, which was in the fift yeare of the emperor Otho the 1, in the 13 +<span class="leftnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i> <br />940.</span> +of Lewes surnamed Transmarinus king of France, and about the 38 yeare of Constantine +the third king of Scotland. The Danes of Northumberland rebelled against this Edmund, +<span class="rightnote"><i>Simon Dun.</i></span> +and ordeined Aulafe to be their king, whom they had called out of Ireland. Some write +that this Aulafe, which now in the beginning of Edmunds reigne came into Northumberland, +was king of Norwaie, & hauing a great power of men with him, marched foorth towards the +south parts of this land, in purpose to subdue the whole: but king Edmund raised a mightie +armie, and incountred with his enimies at Leicester. Howbeit, yer the matter came to the +vttermost triall of battell, through the earnest sute of the archbishop of Canturburie and +Yorke Odo and Wolstan, a peace was concluded; so as Edmund should inioy all that part +<span class="rightnote">A peace concluded. <br />941.</span> +of the land which lieth from Watlingstréet southward, & Aulafe should inioy the other part +as it lieth from the same street northward. Then Aulafe tooke to wife the ladie Alditha, +<span class="leftnote"><i>Matth. West.</i> Aulafe deceaseth. Another Aulafe taketh upon him to rule.</span> +daughter to earle Ormus, by whose counsell and assistance he had thus obtained the vpper +hand. But this Aulafe in the yeare following, after he had destroied the church of saint +Balter, and burned Tinningham, departed this life. Then the other Aulafe that was sonne +to king Sithrike, tooke vpon him to gouerne the Northumbers.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">942.</span> +After this, in the yeare 942, king Edmund assembling an armie, first subdued those +Danes which had got into their possession the cities and towns of Lincolne, Leicester, +Darbie, Stafford, and Notingham, constreining them to receiue the christian faith, and reduced +all the countries euen vnto Humber vnder his subiection. This doone, Aulafe and +Reinold the sonne of Gurmo, who (as you haue heard) subdued Yorke, as a meane the +<span class="rightnote">Gurmo or Godfrey. <br /><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +sooner to obteine peace, offered to become christians, & to submit themselues vnto him: +wherevpon he receiued them to his peace. There be that write, that this Aulafe is not that +Aulafe which was sonne to king Sithrike, but rather that the other was he with whom king +Edmund made partition of the realme: but they agree, that this second Aulafe was a Dane +also, & being conuerted to the faith as well through constraint of the kings puissance, as +through the preaching of the gospell, was baptised, king Edmund being godfather both +vnto him, and vnto the foresaid Reinold, to Aulafe at the verie fontstone, and to Reinold at +his confirmation at the bishops hands. Neuerthelesse, their wicked natures could not rest +<span class="rightnote">944.</span> +in quiet, so that they brake both promise to God, and to their prince, and were therefore in +<span class="leftnote"><i>Simon Dun.</i></span> +the yeare next following driuen both out of the countrie, and punished by perpetuall exile. +And so king Edmund adioined Northumberland, without admitting anie other immediat +gouernor, vnto his owne estate.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Leolin king of Southwales aided king Edmund in this enterprise. <br />946.</span> +Moreouer, he wasted and spoiled whole Cumberland, because he could not reduce the<a name="page690" id="page690"></a><span class="page">[Page 690]</span> +people of that countrie vnto due obeisance, and conformable subiection. The two sonnes +of Dunmaile king of that prouince he apprehended, and caused their eies to be put out. +Herewith vpon consideration either of such aid as he had receiued of the Scots at that time, +or some other friendlie respect, he assigned the said countrie of Cumberland vnto Malcolme +king of Scots, to hold the same by fealtie of him and his successors. The Scotish +chronicles, peruerting the time and order of the acts and doings of the English kings which +reigned about this season, affirme, that by couenants of peace concluded betwixt Malcolme +king of Scotland, and Adelstan king of England, it was agréed, that Cumberland should +remaine to the Scots: as in their chronicles you may find at full expressed. And againe, +that Indulfe, who succéeded Malcolme in the kingdome of Scotland, aided king Edmund +against Aulafe, whom the same chronicles name Aualassus, but the time which they attribute +vnto the reignes of their kings, will not alow the same to stand. For by account of +their writers, king Malcolme began not his reigne till after the deceasse of king Adelstan, +who departed this life in the yeare 940. And Malcolme succéeded Constantine the third +in the yeare 944, which was about the third yeare of king Edmunds reigne, and after Malcolme +(that reigned 15 yeares) succeeded Indulfe in the yeare 959. The like discordance +precedeth and followeth in their writers, as to the diligent reader, in conferring their +chronicles with ours, manifestlie appeareth. We therefore (to satisfie the desirous to vnderstand +and sée the diuersitie of writers) haue for the more part in their chronicles left the +same as we found it.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Polydor.</i> <br />The lawes of king Edmund.</span> +But now to the other dooings of king Edmund: it is recorded, that he ordeined diuers +good and wholsome lawes, verie profitable and necessarie for the commonwealth, which +lawes with diuers other of like antiquitie are forgot and blotted out by rust of time, the +consumer of things woorthie of long remembrance (as saith Polydor:) but sithens his time +they haue béene recouered for the more part, & by maister William Lambert turned into +<span class="rightnote">Five yeares and 7 months hath <i>Si. Dun.</i></span> +Latine, & were imprinted by Iohn Day, in the yeare 1568, as before I haue said. Finallie, +this prince king Edmund, after he had reigned sixe yeares and a halfe, he came to his end +by great misfortune. For (as some say) it chanced, that espieng where one of his seruants +was in danger to be slaine amongest his enimies that were about him with drawen swords, +as he stepped in to haue holpen his seruant, he was slaine at a place called Pulcher church, +or (as other haue) Michelsbourgh.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Pridecire. <br />saith <i>Si. Dun.</i> <br /><i>Will. Malm.</i> <br /><i>Matth. West.</i> <br />946.</span> +Other say, that kéeping a great feast at the aforesaid place on the day of saint Augustine +the English apostle (which is the 26 of Maie, and as that yeare came about, it fell on the +tuesday) as he was set at the table, he espied where a common robber was placed neere vnto +him, whome sometime he had banished the land, and now being returned without licence, +he presumed to come into the kings presence, wherewith the king was so moued with high +disdaine, that he suddenlie arose from the table, and flew vpon the théefe, and catching him +by the heare of the head, threw him vnder his féet, wherewith the théefe, hauing fast hold +on the king, brought him downe vpon him also, and with his knife stroke him into the +bellie, in such wise, that the kings bowels fell out of his chest, and there presentlie died. +The theefe was hewen in péeces by the kings seruants, but yet he slue and hurt diuers before +they could dispatch him. This chance was lamentable, namelie to the English people, +which by the ouertimelie death of their king, in whome appeared manie euident tokens of +great excellencie, lost the hope which they had conceiued of great wealth to increase by his +prudent and most princelie gouernement. His bodie was buried at Glastenburie where +Dunstane was then abbat.</p> +<p> +There be that write, that the death of king Edmund was signified aforehand to Dunstane, +<span class="rightnote"><i>Capgraue.</i> <br />A vaine tale.</span> +who about the same time attending vpon the same king, as he remooued from one place to +an other, chanced to accompanie himselfe with a noble man, one duke Elstane, and as they +rode togither, behold suddenlie Dunstane saw in the waie before him, where the kings +musicians rode, the diuell running and leaping amongst the same musicians after a reioising<a name="page691" id="page691"></a><span class="page">[Page 691</span> +maner, whome after he had beheld a good while, he said to the duke; Is it possible that +you may see that which I sée? The duke answered that he saw nothing otherwise than he +<span class="rightnote">Crossing bringeth sight of the diuels, and crossing driueth them away.</span> +ought to sée. Then said Dunstane, Blesse your eies with the signe of the crosse, and trie +whether you can see that I sée. And when he had doone as Dunstane appointed him, he +saw also the féend in likenesse of a little short euill fauoured Aethiopian dansing and leaping, +whereby they gathered that some euill hap was towards some of the companie: but when +they had crossed and blessed them, the foule spirit vanished out of their sight.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Dunstane an interpreter of dreames.</span> +Now after they had talked of this vision, and made an end of their talke touching the +same, the duke required of Dunstane to interpret a dreame which he had of late in sléepe, +and that was this: He thought that he saw in a vision the king with all his nobles sit in +his dining chamber at meate, and as they were there making merrie togither, the king +chanced to fall into a dead sléepe, and all the noble men, and those of his councell that +were about him were changed into robucks and goats. Dunstane quicklie declared that this +<span class="rightnote">Dunstan séeth the diuell often, but now he was become a waiter at the table when Dunstane sat with the king.</span> +dreame signified the kings death, and the changing of the nobles into dum and insensible +beasts betokened that the princes & gouernors of the realme should decline from the waie +of truth, and wander as foolish beasts without a guide to rule them. Also the night after +this talke when the king was set at supper, Dunstane saw the same spirit, or some other, +walke vp and downe amongst them that waited at the table, and within thrée daies after, the +king was slaine, as before ye haue heard.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<p><a name="xxij6" id="xxij6"></a> +<i>Edred succedeth his brother Edmund in the realme of England, the Northumbers rebell +against him, they and the Scots sweare to be his true subiects, they breake their oth and +ioine with Aulafe the Dane, who returneth into Northumberland, and is made king +thereof, the people expell him and erect Hericius in his roome, king Edred taketh reuenge +on the Northumbers for their disloialtie, the rereward of his armie is assalted by an host +of his enimies issuing out of Yorke, the Northumbers submit themselues, and put awaie +Hericius their king, Wolstane archbishop of Yorke punished for his disloialtie, whereto +Edred applied himselfe after the appeasing of ciuill tumults, his death and buriall, a +speciall signe of Edreds loue to Dunstane abbat of Glastenburie, his practise of cousenage +touching king Edreds treasure.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXIJ. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">EDRED. <br />946.</span> +Edred the brother of Edmund, and sonne to Edward the elder and to Edgiue his last +wife, began his reigne ouer the realme of England in the yéere of our Lord 946, or (as +other say) 997, which was in the twelfe yéere of the emperor Otho the first, and in the 21 +yéere of the reigne of Lewes K. of France, & about the third or fourth yéere of Malcolme +the first of that name, king of Scotland. He was crowned and annointed the 16 day of +<span class="leftnote"><i>Hen. Hunt.</i></span> +August by Odo the archbishop of Canturburie at Kingstone vpon Thames. In the first yéere +<span class="rightnote">The Northumbers rebell and are subdued.</span> +of his reigne, the Northumbers rebelled against him, wherevpon he raised an armie, inuaded +their countrie, and subdued them by force. This doone, he went forward into Scotland: but +the Scots without shewing anie resistance submitted themselues vnto him, and so both Scots +and Northumbers receiued an oth to be true vnto him, which they obserued but a small +while, for he was no sooner returned into the south parts, but that Aulafe which had beene +<span class="leftnote">Aulafe returned into Northumberland.</span> +chased out of the countrie by king Edmund, as before ye haue heard, returned into Northumberland +with a great nauie of ships, and was ioifullie receiued of the inhabitants, and restored +againe to the kingdome, which he held by the space of foure yéeres, and then by the +accustomed disloialtie of the Northumbers he was by them expelled, and then they set vp<a name="page692" id="page692"></a><span class="page">[Page 692]</span> +<span class="rightnote">Hirke or Hericius. <br /><i>Wil. Malm.</i> <br />The disloialtie of the Northumbers punished.</span> +one Hirke or Hericius the sonne of one Harrold to reigne ouer them, who held not the +estate anie long time. For in the third yeere of his reigne, Edred in the reuenge of such +disloiall dealings in the Northumbers, destroied the countrie with fire & swoord, sleaing +the most part of the inhabitants. He burnt the abbeie of Rippon, which was kept against +him.</p> +<p> +As he was returning homeward, an host of enimies brake out of Yorke, and setting vpon +<span class="leftnote"><i>Ran. Higd.</i> <br /><i>Simon Dun.</i> <br />Easterford.</span> +the rereward of the kings armie at a place called Easterford, made great slaughter of the +same. Wherefore the king in his rage ment to haue begun a new spoile and destruction, +but the Northumbers humbled themselues so vnto him, that putting awaie their forsaid king +Hirke or Hericius, and offering great rewards and gifts to buy their peace, they obteined +pardon. But bicause that Wolstane the archbishop of Yorke was of counsell with his countriemen +in reuolting from king Edred, and aduancing of Hericius, king Edred tooke him +and kept him in prison a long time after, but at length in respect of the reuerence which he +bare to his calling, he set him at libertie, and pardoned him his offense. Matth. Westm. +<span class="rightnote">The archbishop of Yorke imprisoned. <br /><i>Matth. West.</i> <br />951.</span> +reciteth an other cause of Wolstans imprisonment, as thus. In the yéere of Grace, saith he, +951, king Edred put the archbishop of Yorke in close prison, bicause of often complaints +exhibited against him, as he which had commanded manie townesmen of Theadford to be +put to death, in reuenge of the abbat Aldelme by them vniustlie slaine and murthered.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +After this, when Edred had appeased all ciuill tumults and dissentions within his land, he +applied him selfe to the aduancing of religion, wholie following the mind of Dunstane, by +whose exhortation he suffered patientlie manie torments of the bodie, and exercised himselfe +in praier and other deuout studies. This Edred in his latter daies being greatlie addicted to +deuotion & religious priests, at the request of his mother Edgiua, restored the abbeie of +Abington which was built first by king Inas, but in these daies sore decaied and fallen into +<span class="rightnote">Edredus departeth this life.</span> +ruine. Finallie, after he had reigned nine yéeres and a halfe, he departed this life to the +great gréeuance of men, and reioising of angels (as it is written) and was buried at Winchester +in the cathedrall church there. ¶ Heere is to be noted, that the foresaid Edred, +when he came first to the crowne, vpon a singular and most especiall fauour which he bare +<span class="rightnote">Dunstane in fauour.</span> +towards Dunstane the abbat of Glastenburie, committed vnto him the chiefest part of all his +treasure, as charters of lands with other monuments, and such ancient princelie iewels as +belonged to the former kings, with other such as he got of his owne, willing him to lay the +same in safe kéeping within his monasterie of Glastenburie.</p> +<p> +Afterward, when king Edred perceiued himselfe to be in danger of death by force of that +sickenesse, which in déed made an end of his life, he sent into all parties to such as had +anie of his treasure in kéeping, to bring the same vnto him with all spéed, that he might +<span class="rightnote">But was not this a deuise thereby to deteine the treasure? for I doo not read that +he deliuered it out of his hands.</span> +dispose thereof before his departure out of this life, as he should sée cause. Dunstane tooke +such things as he had vnder his hands, & hasted forward to deliuer the same vnto the king, +and to visit him in that time of his sickenesse according to his dutie: but as he was vpon +the waie, a voice spake to him from heauen, saieng; Behold king Edred is now departed in +peace. At the hearing of this voice, the horsse whereon Dunstane rode fell downe and died, +being not able to abide the presence of the angell that thus spake to Dunstane. And when +he came to the court, he vnderstood that the king died the same houre in which it was told +<span class="leftnote">An angell, or as some think a woorse creature.</span> +him by the angell, as before ye haue heard.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + +<a name="page693" id="page693"></a><span class="page">[Page 693]</span> + +<p><a name="xxiij6" id="xxiij6"></a> +<i>Edwin succeedeth Edred in the kingdome of England, his beastlie and incestuous carnalite +with a kinswoman of his on the verie day of his coronation, he is reproued of Dunstane +and giueth ouer the gentlewomans companie, Dunstane is banished for rebuking king +Edwin for his unlawfull lust and lewd life, the diuell reioised at his exile, what reuenging +mischiefs the king did for displeasure sake against the said Dunstane in exile, the middle +part of England rebelleth against king Edwin, and erecteth his brother Edgar in roiall +roome ouer them, he taketh thought and dieth; Edgar succeedeth him, he is a fauourer +of moonks, his prouision for defense of his realme, his policie and discretion in gouernment, +what kings he bound by oth to be true vnto him, eight princes row his barge in signe of +submission, the vicious inconueniences that grew among the Englishmen vpon his fauouring +of the Danes, a restraint of excessiue quaffing; Dunstane is made bishop of Worcester +and Ethelwold bishop of Wincester; iustice in Edgars time seuerelie executed, theft +punished with death, a tribute of woolfs skins paid him out of Wales, and the benefit of +that tribute.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXIIJ. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">EDWIN. <br />955.</span> +After the deceasse of Edred, his nephue Edwin the eldest sonne of king Edmund was +made king of England, and began his reigne ouer the same in the yéere of our Lord 955, +& in the 20 yéere of the emperor Otho the first, in the 28 and last yéere of the reigne of +Lewes king of France, and about the twelfe yeere of Malcolme the first of that name, king +of Scotland. He was consecrated at Kingston vpon Thames by Odo the archbishop of Canturburie. +On the verie day of his coronation, as the lords were set in councell about weightie +<span class="rightnote"><i>Will. Malmes.</i> <br /><i>Polydor.</i></span> +matters touching the gouernment of the realme, he rose from the place, gat him into a +chamber with one of his néere kinswomen, and there had to doo with hir, without anie respect +or regard had to his roiall estate and princelie dignitie. Dunstane latelie before named +abbat of Glastenburie, did not onlie without feare of displeasure reprooue the K. for such +shamefull abusing of his bodie, but also caused the archbishop of Canturburie to constreine +him to forsake that woman whom vnlawfullie he kept.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Iohn Capgrave.</i></span> +There be that write, that there were two women, both mother and daughter, whome king +Edward kept as concubines: for the mother being of noble parentage, sought to satisfie the +kings lust, in hope that either he would take hir or hir daughter vnto wife. And therefore +perceiuing that Dunstane was sore against such wanton pastime as the king vsed in their +<span class="leftnote">Dunstane banished the realme.</span> +companie, she so wrought, that Dunstane was through hir earnest trauell banished the land. +This is also reported, that when he should depart the realme, the diuell was heard in the west +end of the church, taking vp a great laughter after his roring maner, as though he should +<span class="rightnote">Dunstane séeth not the diuell.</span> +shew himselfe glad and ioifull at Dunstanes going into exile. But Dunstane perceiuing his +behauiour, spake to him, and said: Well thou aduersarie, doo not so greatly reioise at the +matter, for thou dooest not now so much reioise at my departure, but by Gods grace thou +shalt be as sorrowfull for my returne.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">Dunstane departed into exile.</span> +Thus was Dunstane banished by king Edwine, so that he was compelled to passe ouer +into Flanders, where he remained for a time within a monasterie at Gant, finding much +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i> <br />Edwine displaceth monks and putteth secular preists in their roomes.</span> +friendship at the hands of the gouernor of that countrie. Also the more to wreake his +wrath, the king spoiled manie religious houses of their goods, and droue out the monks, +placing secular priests in their roomes, as namelie at Malmesburie, where yet the house was +not empaired, but rather inriched in lands and ornaments by the kings liberalitie, and the industrious +meanes of the same priests, which tooke vp the bones of saint Aldelme, and put the +<span class="leftnote">Rebellion raised against king Edwine. <br /><i>Simon Dun.</i></span> +same into a shrine. At length the inhabitants of the middle part of England, euen from +Humber to Thames rebelled against him, and elected his brother Edgar, to haue the gouernement +ouer them, wherwith king Edwine tooke such griefe, for that he saw no meane at hand +how to remedie the matter, that shortlie after, when he had reigned somewhat more than +<span class="rightnote">Edwin departeth this life.</span> +foure yéeres, he died, and his bodie was buried at Winchester in the new abbeie.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">EDGAR. <br />959.</span> +Edgar the second sonne of Edmund late king of England, after the decease of his elder<a name="page694" id="page694"></a><span class="page">[Page 694]</span> +brother the foresaid Edwine, began his reigne ouer this realme of England in the yeere of +our Lord God 959, in the 22 yéere of the emperour Otho the first, in the fourth yéere of +the reigne of Lotharius king of France, 510 almost ended after the comming of the Saxons, +124 after the arriuall of the Danes, and in the last yéere of Malcolme king of Scotland. He +<span class="leftnote"><i>Polydor.</i></span> +was crowned & consecrated at Bath, or (as some say) at Kingstone vpon Thames by Odo +the archbishop of Canturburie, being as then not past 16 yéeres of age, when he was thus +admitted king. He was no lesse indued with commendable gifts of mind, than with strength +<span class="rightnote">Edgar a fauorer of moonks.</span> +and force of bodie. He was a great fauorer of moonks, and speciallie had Dunstane in high +estimation. Aboue all things in this world he regarded peace, and studied dailie how to +preserue the same, to the commoditie and aduancement of his subiects.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The diligent prouision of K. Edgar for defense of the realme.</span> +When he had established things in good quiet, and set an order in matters as seemed to +him best for the peaceable gouernement of his people, he prepared a great nauie of ships, +diuiding them in thrée parts, he appointed euerie part to a quarter of the realme, to +waft about the coast, that no forren enimie should approch the land, but that they might be +incountered and put backe, before they could take land. And euerie yéere after Easter, he +vsed to giue order, that his ships should assemble togither in their due places: and then +would he with the east nauie saile to the west parts of his realme, and sending those ships +backe, he would with the west nauie saile into the north parts; and with the north nauie +come backe againe into the east. This custome he vsed, that he might scowre the seas of +all pirats & theeues. In the winter season and spring time, he would ride through the +prouinces of his realme, searching out how the iudges and great lords demeaned themselues +in the administration of iustice, sharpelie punishing those that were found guiltie of extortion, +or had done otherwise in anie point than dutie required. In all things he vsed such politike +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +discretion, that neither was he put in danger by treason of his subiects, nor molested by +forren enimies.</p> +<p> +He caused diuerse kings to bind themselues by oth to be true and faithfull vnto him, as +<span class="rightnote">Mascutius.</span> +Kinadius or rather Induf king of Scotland, Malcolme king of Cumberland, Mascutius an +<span class="leftnote">Kings of Welshmen.</span> +archpirat, or (as we may call him) a maister rouer, and also all the kings of the Welshmen, +as Duffnall, Girffith, Duvall, Iacob, and Iudithill, all which came to his court, and by their +solemne othes receiued, sware to be at his commandement. And for the more manifest testimonie +<span class="rightnote">King Edgar roweth on the water of Dée.</span> +therof, he hauing them with him at Chester, caused them to enter into a barge vpon +the water of Dée, and placing himselfe in the forepart of the barge, at the helme, he caused +those eight high princes to row the barge vp and downe the water, shewing thereby his +princelie prerogatiue and roial magnificence, in that he might vse the seruice of so manie +kings that were his subiects. And therevpon he said (as hath bin reported) that then might +his successours account themselues kings of England, when they inioied such prerogatiue of +high and supreme honor.</p> +<p> +The fame of this noble prince was spred ouer all, as well on this side the sea as beyond, +insomuch that great resort of strangers chanced in his daies, which came euer into this land +to serue him, and to sée the state of his court, as Saxons and other, yea and also Danes, +<span class="rightnote"><i>Ran. Higd.</i> <br /> King Edgar fauoureth Danes.</span> +which became verie familiar with him. He fauored in déed the Danes (as hath béene said) +more than stood with the commoditie of his subiects, for scarse was anie stréet in England, +but Danes had their dwelling in the same among the Englishmen, whereby came great harme: +<span class="leftnote">English learned to quaffe of the Danes. <br /><i>Will Malm.</i></span> +for whereas the Danes by nature were great drinkers, the Englishmen by continuall conuersation +with them learned the same vice. King Edgar to reforme in part such excessiue +quaffing as then began to grow in vse, caused by the procurement of Dunstane, nailes to be +set in cups of a certeine measure, marked for the purpose, that none should drinke more than +was assigned by such measured cups. Englishmen also learned of the Saxons, Flemings, +<span class="rightnote">Englishmen learne other vices of strangers.</span> +and other strangers, their peculiar kind of vices, as of the Saxons a disordered fiercenesse of +mind, or the Flemings a féeble tendernesse of bodie: where before they reioised in their +owne simplicitie, and estéemed not the lewd and vnprofitable manners of strangers.</p> +<p> +Dunstane was made bishop of Worcester, and had also the administration of the sée of<a name="page695" id="page695"></a><span class="page">[Page 695]</span> +London committed vnto him. He was in such fauor with the king, that he ruled most +<span class="rightnote">Ethelwold made bishop of Winchester.</span> +things at his pleasure. Ethelwold, which being first a moonke of Glastenburie, and after +abbat of Abington, was likewise made bishop of Winchester, and might doo verie much with +<span class="leftnote">Oswald. Floriacum.</span> +the king. Also Oswald, which had beene a moonke in the abbeie of Florie in France, and +after was made bishop of Worcester, and from thence remooued to the sée of Yorke, was +highlie in fauor with this king, so that by these thrée prelates he was most counselled. Iustice +<span class="rightnote">Moonks must néeds write much in praise of Edgar who had men of their cote in such estimatiō.</span> +in his daies was strictlie obserued, for although he were courteous and gentle towards his +friends, yet was he sharpe and hard to offenders, so that no person of what estate or degree +soeuer he was escaped worthie punishment, if he did transgresse the lawes and ordinances of +the realme. There was no priuie theefe nor common robber that durst lay hands vpon other +mens goods, but he might looke to make amends with losse of his life, if he were knowne to +be giltie. For how might men that did offend, thinke to escape his hands, which deuised +waies how to rid the countrie of all wild rauening beasts, that liued vpon sucking the bloud +of others? For as it is said, he appointed Iudweall or Ludweall king of Wales to present him +<span class="rightnote">A tribute instituted of woolf-skins.</span> +thrée hundred woolues yéerelie in name of a tribute, but after thrée yéeres space, there +was not a woolfe to be found, and so that tribute ceased in the fourth yéere after it began to +be paid.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + +<p><a name="xxiiij6" id="xxiiij6"></a> +<i>The death of Alfred king Edgars wife (or concubine) causeth him to fall into a fowle +offense, an example teaching men to take heed how they put others in trust to woo for them; +earle Ethelwold cooseneth the king of his wife, the danger of beholding a womans beautie +with lustfull eies; king Edgar killeth earle Ethelwold to marrie faire Alfred his wife; +the bloudie and unnaturall speach of Ethelwolds base sonne: examples of king Edgars +great incontinencie and lewd life; Dunstane putteth the king to penance for his vnchastitie, +the Welshmen rebell against him and are corrected, king Edgars vision before his death, of +what religious buildings he was founder, his example a spur to others to doo the like, +moonks esteemed and secular priests little regarded, king Edgars deformed reformation, +his vices, stature, and bodilie qualities, he offereth to fight hand to hand with Kinadius +king of Scots vpon occasion of words euill taken, Kinadius submitteth himselfe and is pardoned; +his wiues and children, the good state of the realme in king Edgars time, the +amplenesse of his dominions.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXIIIJ. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Osborne</i> and <i>Capgraue</i> hold that she was not his wife but a nun.</span> +In this meane time, Alfred the wife of king Edgar (as some say) or rather (as others write) +his concubine died, of whome he had begot a sonne named Edward. The death of this +woman caused the king to commit an heinous offense. For albeit at the same time the fame +<span class="leftnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i> <br />Horger.</span> +went, that Horgerius duke of Cornewall, or rather Deuonshire, had a daughter named Alfred, +a damosell of excellent beautie, whome Edgar minding to haue in mariage, appointed +one of his noble men called earle Ethelwold, to go with all speed into Cornewall or Deuonshire, +to sée if the yoong ladies beautie answered the report that went of hir, and so to breake +the matter to hir father in his behalfe: yet Ethelwold being a yong iollie gentleman, tooke his +iournie into Cornewall, and comming to the duke, was well receiued, and had a sight of his +daughter, with whose beautie he was streight rauished so far in loue, that not regarding the +<span class="rightnote">Erle Ethelwold deceiueth the king of his wife.</span> +kings pleasure, who had sent him thither, he began to purchase the good will of both father +and daughter for himselfe, and did so much that he obteined the same in déed. Herevpon +returning to the king, he informed him that the damosell was not of such beautie and comelie +personage, as might be thought woorthie to match in mariage with his maiestie.</p> +<p> +Shortlie after perceiuing the kings mind by his wrongfull misreport to be turned, and nothing<a name="page696" id="page696"></a><span class="page">[Page 696]</span> +bent that way, he began to sue to him that he might with his fauour marie the same +damosell: which the king granted, as one that cared not for hir, bicause of the credit which +he gaue to Ethelwolds words. And so by this meanes Ethelwold obteined Alfred in mariage, +which was to his owne destruction, as the case fell out. For when the fame of hir +passing beautie did spread ouer all the realme, now that she was maried and came more +abroad in sight of the people, the king chanced to heare thereof, and desirous to sée hir, +deuised vnder colour of hunting to come vnto the house of Ethelwold, and so did: where he +had no sooner set his eie vpon hir, but he was so farre wrapped in the chaine of burning +<span class="rightnote">King Edgar séeketh the destruction of earle Ethelwold.</span> +concupiscence, that to obteine his purpose, he shortlie after contriued Ethelwolds death, and +maried his wife.</p> +<p> +Some say, that the woman kindled the brand of purpose: for when it was knowne, that +the king would sée hir, Ethelwold willed hir in no wise to trim vp hir selfe, but rather to +disfigure hir in fowle garments, and some euil fauored attire, that hir natiue beautie should +not appeare: but she perceiuing how the matter went, of spite set out hir selfe to the vttermost, +so that the king vpon the first sight of hir, became so farre inamored of hir beautie, +<span class="rightnote">King Edgar a murtherer.</span> +that taking hir husband foorth with him on hunting into a forrest or wood then called Warlewood, +& after Horewood, not shewing that he meant him anie hurt, till at length he had +got him within the thicke of the wood, where he suddenlie stroke him through with his dart. +Now as his bastard son came to the place, the king asked him how he liked the maner of +hunting, wherto he answered; "Verie well if it like your grace, for that that liketh you, +ought not to displease me." With which answer the king was so pacified, that he indeuored +by pretending his fauor towards the sonne, to extenuat the tyrannicall murther of the father. +Then did the king marie the countesse Alfred, and of hir begat two sonnes, Edmund which +died yoong, and Etheldred or Egelred.</p> +<p> +Besides this cruell act wrought by king Edgar, for the satisfieng of his fleshlie lust, he +also plaied another part greatlie to the staine of his honor, mooued also by wanton loue, with +a yoong damosell named Wilfrid, for after that she had (to auoid the danger of him) either +professed hir selfe a nun, or else for colour (as the most part of writers agrée) got hirselfe into +a nunrie, and clad hir in a nuns wéed, he tooke hir foorth of hir cloister, and lay by hir sundrie +times, and begat on hir a daughter named Edith, who comming to conuenient age, was made +<span class="rightnote">His licentious life & incontinencie.</span> +a nun. A third example of his incontinencie is written by authors, and that is this. It +chanced on a time that he lodged one night at Andeuer, and hauing a mind to a lords +daughter there, he commanded that she should bee brought to his bed. But the mother of +the gentlewoman would not that hir daughter should be defloured: and therefore in the +darke of the night brought one of hir maidseruants, and laid hir in the kings bed, she being +both faire, proper, and pleasant.</p> +<p> +In the morning when the day began to appeare, she made hast to arise: and being asked +of the king why she so hasted; That I may go to my daies worke if it please your grace +(quoth she.) Herewith she being staied by the king, as it were against hir will, she fell +downe on hir knées, and required of him that she might be made frée, in guerdon of hir +nights worke. For (saith she) it is not for your honor, that the woman which hath tasted the +pleasure of the kings bodie should anie more suffer seruitude vnder the rule and appointment +of a sharpe and rough mistresse.</p> +<p> +The king then being mooued in his spirits, laughed at the matter, though not from the +heart, as he that tooke great indignation at the dooings of the dutchesse, and pitied the case +of the poore wench. But yet in fine (turning earnest to a iest) he pardoned all the parties, +and aduanced the wench to high honor, farre aboue those that had rule of hir afore, so that +she ruled them (willed they nilled they:) for he vsed hir as his paramour, till he maried the +foresaid Alfred.</p> +<p> +For these youthfull parts, & namelie for the rauishing of Wilfride (which though she were +no nun, yet the offense seemed heinous, for that he should not once touch anie woman shadowed +<span class="rightnote">Note the déep hypocrisie of Dunstane.</span> +vnder that habit) he greatlie displeased Dunstane, so that by him he was put to his<a name="page697" id="page697"></a><span class="page">[Page 697]</span> +seuen yéeres penance, and kept from the crowne till the 12 yeere of his reigne or more. For +<span class="leftnote"><i>Ran. Higd.</i> <br /><i>Fabian</i> out of <br /><i>Guido de Cobeman.</i> <br /><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +some write that he was not crowned nor annointed king, till the 30 yéere of his age, which +should be about the 13 or 14 yeere of his reigne by that account, sith he entred into the rule +of the kingdome about the 16 yeere of his age. In déed one author witnesseth, that he was +consecrated at Bath on a Whitsunday, the 13 yéere of his reigne, and that by Dunstane archbishop +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hen. Hunt.</i> <br /><i>Ranul. Hig.</i></span> +of Canturburie, and Oswold archbishop of Yorke. But some which suppose that he +was consecrated king immediatlie vpon the death of Edridus, affirme that he was crowned and +<span class="leftnote"><i>Polydor.</i></span> +annointed king by the archbishop Odo, Dunstane as then remaining in exile, from whence he +was immediatlie reuoked by Edgar, and first made bishop of Worcester (as hath beene said) +and after the decease of Odo was aduanced to be archbishop of Canturburie. But by some writers +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matt. West.</i> <br /><i>Simon Dun.</i></span> +it appeareth, that Dunstane was reuoked out of exile immediatlie vpon partition of the realme +betwixt Edwin and Edgar, which chanced in the yéere 957, by the rebellion of the people of +Mercia, & others (as before ye haue heard:) and that in the yéere following the archbishop +Odo died, after whome succéeded Alfin bishop of Winchester, who also died the same yéere +that king Edward deceassed, as he went to fetch his pall from Rome, and then Brighthelme +bishop of Dorchester was elected archbishop. But bicause he was not able to discharge so +great an office, by K. Edgars commandement he was forced to giue place to Dunstane.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Fabian.</i> <br /><i>Ran. Higd.</i> <br />The Welshmen rebel and are chastised.</span> +Toward the latter end of king Edgars daies, the Welshmen mooued some rebellion against +him. Wherevpon he assembled an armie, and entering the countrie of Glamorgan, did much +hurt in the same, chastising the inhabitants verie sharpelie for their rebellious attempts. +Amongst other spoiles taken in those parties at that time by the men of war, the bell of saint +Ellutus was taken away, and hanged about a horsses necke, and (as hath béene reported) in +the after noone, it chanced that king Edgar laid him downe to rest, wherevpon in sleepe there +appeared one vnto him, and smote him on the breast with a speare. By reason of which vision +he caused all things that had beene taken away to be restored againe. But within nine daies +<span class="rightnote"><i>Will Malmes.</i> <br />King Edgar departeth this life.</span> +after the king died. Whether anie such thing chanced, or that he had anie such vision it +forceth not. But truth it is, that in the 37 yeere of his age, after he had reigned 16 yéeres +and two moneths he departed this life, the 8 day of Iulie, and was buried at Glastenburie. </p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">Wherefore Edgar is praised of some writers.</span> +This Edgar is highlie renowmed of writers for such princelie qualities as appeared in him, +but chieflie for that he was so beneficiall to the church, namelie to moonks, the aduancement +of whome he greatlie sought, both in building abbeies new from the ground, in reparing those +that were decaied: also by inriching them with great reuenues, and in conuerting collegiat +churches into monasteries, remoouing secular priests, and bringing in moonks in their places. +There passed no one yéere of his reigne, wherin he founded not one abbeie or other. The +abbeie of Glastenburie which his father had begun he finished. The abbeie of Abington also +he accomplished and set in good order. The abbeies of Peterborough & Thornie he established. +The nunrie of Wilton he founded and richlie endowed, where his daughter Editha was professed, +and at length became abbesse there. To be briefe, he builded (as the chronicles record) +<span class="rightnote"><i>Fabian. <br />Ran. Higd.</i> <br /><i>Hen. Hunt.</i></span> +to the number of 4O abbeies and monasteries, in some of which he placed moonks, and +in some nuns. By his example in those daies, other nobles, as also prelates, & some of the +laitie, did begin the foundation of sundrie abbeies and monasteries: as Adelwold bishop of +<span class="leftnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +Winchester builded the abbeie of Elie, and (as some say) Peterborough & Thornie, though they +were established by the king (as before is mentioned.) Also earle Ailewin, at the exhortation +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hen. Hunt.</i></span> +of the same bishop Adelwold, builded the abbeie of Ramsey, though some attribute the dooing +thereof vnto Oswald the archbishop of Yorke, and some to king Edward the elder. +<span class="leftnote"><br /><br /><i>Matt. West.</i> Moonks estéemed & secular priests little regarded.</span></p> +<p> +To conclude, the religious orders of moonks and nuns in these daies florished, and the state +of secular priests was smallie regarded, insomuch that they were constreined to auoid out of diuerse +colleges, and to leaue the same vnto moonks, as at Worcester and Winchester, wherein +the new monasterie, bicause the kings liued not in such sort as was then thought requisite, the +<span class="rightnote"><i>Ran. Higd.</i> <br /><i>lib. 6 cap. 9</i></span> +prebends were taken from them and giuen to vicars. But when the vicars were thought to<a name="page698" id="page698"></a><span class="page">[Page 698]</span> +vse themselues no better, but rather worse than the other before them, they were likewise put +out, and moonks placed in their roomes by authoritie of pope John the 13. This reformation, +or rather deformation was vsed by king Edgar in many other places of the realme.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote"><i>Wil. Malm. <br />Ran. Higd. <br />Tho. Eliot.</i></span> +He was (as appeareth by diuers writers) namelie in his beginning, cruell against his owne +people, and wanton in lusting after yoong women (as you haue heard before.) Of stature & +<span class="rightnote">Edgar small of stature but strong and hardie.</span> +proportion of bodie he was but small and low, but yet nature had inclosed within so little a +personage such strength, that he durst incounter and combat with him that was thought most +strong, onelie doubting this, least he which should haue to doo with him should stand in feare +of him. And as it chanced at a great feast (where oftentimes men vse their toongs more +<span class="leftnote">Kenneth king <br />of Scots.</span> +liberallie than néedeth) Kenneth the king of Scots cast out certeine words in this maner: "It +may (saith hée) séeme a maruell that so manie countries and prouinces should be subiect to +such a little sillie bodie as Edgar is." These words being borne awaie by a iester or minstrell, +and afterwards vttered to Edgar with great reproch, he wiselie dissembled the matter for +a time, although he kept the remembrance thereof inclosed within his breast: and vpon occasion, +at length feigned to go on hunting, taking the king of Scots forth with him: and hauing +caused one of his seruants to conuey two swords into a place within the forrest by him appointed +in secret wise, of purpose he withdrew from the residue of his companie, and there accompanied +onelie with the Scotish king, came to the place where the swords were laid; and +<span class="rightnote">The noble courage of <br />king Edgar.</span> +there taking the one of them, deliuered the other to the Scotish king, willing him now to assaie +his strength, that they might shew by proofe whether of them ought to be subiect to the +other; "Start not, but trie it with me (saith he:) for it is a shame for a king to be full of +brags at bankets, and not to be readie to fight when triall should be made abroad." The +Scotish king herewith being astonied and maruellouslie abashed, fell downe at his féet, and +with much humilitie confessed his fault, & desired pardon for the same, which vpon such his +humble submission king Edward easilie granted.</p> + +<p> +This noble prince had two wiues, Egelfrida or Elfrida, surnamed the white, the daughter +of a mightie duke named Ordiner, by whome he had issue a sonne named Edward that succéeded +him. His second wife was called Alfreda the daughter of Orgar duke of Deuon or +Cornewall (as some saie) by whome he had issue Edmund that died before his father, and +Egelred which afterwards was king. Also he had issue a base daughter named Editha, +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +begotten of his concubine Wilfrid (as before ye haue heard.) The state of the realme in king +Edgars daies was in good point, for both the earth gaue hir increase verie plentiouslie, the +elements shewed themselues verie fauorable, according to the course of times: peace was +mainteined, and no inuasion by forraine enimies attempted. For Edgar had not onelie all the +whole Ile of Britaine in subiection, but also was ruler & souereigne lord ouer all the kings of +the out Iles that lie within the seas about all the coasts of the same Britaine euen vnto the +<span class="rightnote">Ireland subiect to king Edgar.</span> +realme of Norwaie. He brought also a great part of Ireland vnder his subiection, with the +citie of Dublin, as by authentike recordes it dooth and may appeare.</p> + +<hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="page699" id="page699"></a><span class="page">[Page 699]</span> +<p><a name="xxv6" id="xxv6"></a> +<i>Contention amongest the peeres and states about succession to the crowne, the moonkes</i> +<i>remoued and the canons and secular priests restored by Alfer duke of Mercia and his +adherents, a blasing starre with the euents insuing the same, the rood of Winchester +speaketh, a prettie shift of moonks to defeat the priests of their possessions, the controuersie +betweene the moonks and the priests ended by a miracle of archbishop Dunstane, great +hope that Edward would tread his fathers steps, the reuerent loue he bare his stepmother +queene Alfred and hir sonne Egelred, hir diuelish purpose to murther Edward hir step-sonne +accomplished, his obscure funerall in respect of pompe, but famous by meanes of miracles +wrought by and about his sepulture, queene Alfred repenting hir of the said prepensed +murther, dooth penance, and imploieth hir substance in good woorkes as satisfactorie +for hir sinnes, king Edwards bodie remoued, and solemnlie buried by Alfer duke of Mercia, +who was eaten up with lice for being against the said Edwards aduancement to the +crowne, queene Alfreds offense by no meanes excusable.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXV. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">EDWARD.</span> +After the deceasse of king Edgar, there was some strife and contention amongst the +<span class="leftnote">Some write that the father king Edgar appointed Edward to succeed him. +<br /><i> Simon Dun.</i> <br /><i>Iohn Capg.</i></span> +lords & péeres of the realme about the succession of the crowne: for Alfred the mother of +Egelredus or Ethelredus, and diuers other of hir opinion, would gladlie haue aduanced the +same Egelredus to the rule: but the archbishop Dunstan taking in his hands the baner of the +crucifix, presented his elder brother Edward vnto the lords as they were assembled togither, +and there pronounced him king, notwithstanding that both queene Alfred and hir friends, +namelie Alfer the duke of Mercia were sore against him, especiallie for that he was begot in +vnlawfull bed of Elfleda the nun, for which offense he did seuen yeares penance, and not for +lieng with Wilfrid (as maister Fox thinketh.) But Dunstane iudging (as is to be thought) +<span class="rightnote"> <br />Alfer duke of Mercia and other immediately upon Edgars death before the crowne was established, +renounced the moonks and restored the canons. <br /><i>Simon Dun.</i></span> +that Edward was more fit for their behoofe to continue the world in the former course as Edgar +had left it, than his brother Egelred (whose mother and such as tooke part with hir vnder hir +sonnes authoritie were likelie inough to turne all vpside downe) vsed the matter so, that +with helpe of Oswald the archbishop of Yorke, and other bishops, abbats, and certeine of the +nobilitie, as the earle of Essex and such like, he preuailed in his purpose, so that (as before +is said) the said Edward, being the second of that name which gouerned this land before the +conquest, was admitted king, and began his reigne ouer England in the yeare of our Lord +<span class="leftnote">975.</span> +975, in the third yeare of the emperour Otho the second, in the 20 yeare of the reigne of +Lothar king of France, and about the fourth yeare of Cumelerne king of Scotland. He was +consecrated by archb. Dunstane at Kingston vpon Thames, to the great griefe of his mother +in law Alfred and hir friends. ¶ About the beginning of his reigne a blasing starre was seene, +<span class="leftnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +signifieng (as was thought) the miserable haps that followed. And first there insued barrennesse +of ground, and thereby famine amongest the people, and morraine of cattell.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"> <br />Alfer or Elfer, duke of Mercia.</span> +Also duke Alfer or Elfer of Mercia, and other noble men destroyed the abbies which king +Edgar and bishop Adelwold had builded within the limits of Mercia. The priests or canons, +which had béene expelled in Edgars time out of the prebends and benefices, began to complaine +of the wrongs that were doone to them, in that they had beene put out of possession +from their liuings, alleging it to be a great offense and miserable case, that a stranger should +come and remoue an old inhabitant, for such maner of dooing could not please God, not yet +be allowed of anie good man, which ought of reason to doubt least the same should hap to +him which he might sée to haue béene another mans vndooing. About this matter was hard +hold, for manie of the temporall lords, and namelie the same Alfer, iudged that the priests +<span class="rightnote"><i>Iohn Capg.</i> <br /><i>Wil. Malm.</i> <br /><i> Ran. Higd.</i> <br /><i> Matt. West.</i> <br /><i> Simon Dun.</i></span> +had wrong. In so much that they remoued the moonks out of their places, and brought +into the monasteries secular priests with their wiues. But Edelwin duke of the Eastangles, & +Alfred his brother, with Brightnoth or Brightnode earle of Essex, withstood this dooing, & +gathering an armie, with great valiancie mainteined the moonks in their houses, within the<a name="page700" id="page700"></a><span class="page">[Page 700]</span> +<span class="leftnote"><br /><i>Simon Dun.</i></span> +countrie of Eastangles. Herevpon were councels holden, as at Winchester, at Kirthling in +Eastangle, and at Calne.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Polydor.</i></span> +At Winchester, when the matter was brought to that passe that the priests were like to haue +had their purpose, an image of the rood that stood there in the refectorie where they sat in councell, +<span class="leftnote">A pretie shift of the moonks to disappoint the priests. <i>Polydor.</i></span> +vttered certeine woords in this wise; God forbid it should be so, God forbid it should +be so: ye iudged well once, but ye may not change well againe. As though (saith Polydor +Virgil) the moonks had more right, which had bereft other men of their possessions, than the +priests which required restitution of their owne. But (saith he) bicause the image of Christ +hanging on the crosse was thought to speake these words, such credit was giuen thereto, as it +had béene an oracle, that the priests had their sute dashed, and all the trouble was ceassed. +So the moonks held those possessions, howsoeuer they came to them, by the helpe of God, +or rather (as saith the same Polydor) by the helpe of man. For there were euen then diuers +that thought this to be rather an oracle of Phebus than of God, that is to say, not published +by Gods power, but by the fraud and craftie deceit of men.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +The matter therefore was not so quieted, but that vpon new trouble an other councell was +had at a manour house belonging to the king, called Calne, where they that were appointed to +haue the hearing of the matter, sat in an vpper loft. The king by reason of his yoong yéeres +was spared, so that he came not there. Héere as they were busied in arguing the matter, either +part laieng for himselfe what could be said, Dunstane was sore reuiled, and had sundrie reproches +laid against him: but suddenlie euen in the verie heat of their communication, the +ioists of the loft failed, and downe came all the companie, so that manie were slaine and hurt, +<span class="rightnote">Dunstane by woorking miracles had his will, when arguments failed.</span> +but Dunstane alone standing vpon one of the ioists that fell not, escaped safe and sound. And +so this miracle with the other made an end of the controuersie betwéene the priests and moonks, +all the English people following the mind of the archbishop Dunstane, who by meanes thereof +had his will.</p> +<p> +In this meane while, king Edward ruling himselfe by good counsell of such as were thought +discréet and sage persons, gaue great hope to the world that he would walke in his fathers +vertuous steps, as alreadie he well began, and bearing alwaie a reuerence to his mother in law, +<span class="rightnote"><i>Polydor.</i> <br /><i>Will. Malms.</i></span> +and a brotherlie loue to hir sonne Egelred, vsed himselfe as became him towards them both. +Afterward by chance as he was hunting in a foruest néere the castell of Corfe, where his mother +in law and his brother the said Egelred then soiourned, when all his companie were +spred abroad in following the game, so that he was left alone, he tooke the waie streight +<span class="rightnote">The wicked purpose of quéene Alfred.</span> +vnto his mother in lawes house, to visit hir and his brother. The quéene hearing that he +was come, was verie glad thereof, for that she had occasion offered to woorke that which +she had of long time before imagined, that was, to slea the king hir sonne in law, that hir +owne sonne might inioy the garland. Wherefore she required him to alight, which he in no +wise would yéeld vnto, but said that he had stolne from his companie, and was onelie come +to see hir and his brother, and to drinke with them, and therefore would returne to the forrest +againe to sée some more sport.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The shameful murther of K. Edward.</span> +The queene perceiuing that he would not alight, caused drinke to be fetched, and as he had +the cup at his mouth, by hir appointment, one of hir seruants stroke him into the bodie with a +knife, wherevpon féeling himselfe wounded, he set spurres to the horsse thinking to gallop +awaie, and so to get to his companie. But being hurt to the death, he fell from his horsse, +so as one of his féet was fastened in the stirrup, by reason whereof his horsse drew him foorth +<span class="leftnote"><i>Matth. West.</i> <br /><i>Fabian.</i> <br /><i>Sim. Dun.</i> <br /><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +through woods and launds, & the bloud which gushed out of the wound shewed token of his +death to such as followed him, and the waie to the place where the horsse had left him. That +place was called Corphes gate or Corfes gate. His bodie being found was buried without +anie solemne funeralls at Warham. For they which enuied that he should inioy the crowne, +enuied also the buriall of his bodie within the church: but the memorie of his fame could +not so secretlie be buried with the bodie, as they imagined. For sundrie miracles shewed at the +place where his bodie was interred, made the same famous (as diuerse haue reported) for there +<span class="rightnote">Miracles.</span> +was sight restored to the blind, health to the sicke, and hearing to the deafe, which are<a name="page701" id="page701"></a><span class="page">[Page 701]</span> +easilier to be told than beleeued.</p> +<p> +Queene Alfred also would haue ridden to the place where he laie, mooued with repentance +(as hath beene said) but the horsse wherevpon she rode would not come neere the graue, +for anie thing that could be doone to him. Neither by changing the said horsse could the +matter be holpen: for euen the same thing happened to the other horsses. Heerevpon the +woman perceiued hir great offense towards God for murthering the innocent, and did so repent +hir afterward for the same, that besides the chastising of hir bodie in fasting, and other +<span class="rightnote">Building of abbeies in those daies was thought to be a full satisfaction for all manner of sinnes.</span> +kind of penance, she imploied all hir substance and patrimonie on the poore, and in building +and reparing of churches and monasteries. She founded two houses of nuns (as is said) the +one at Warwell, the other at Ambresburie, and finallie professed hirselfe a nun in one of +them, that is to say, at Warwell, which house she builded (as some affirme) in remembrance +of hir first husband that was slaine there by king Edgar for hir sake (as before is +mentioned.)</p> +<p> +The bodie of this Edward the second, and surnamed the martyr, after that it had remained +thrée yéeres at Warham where it was first buried, was remooued vnto Shaftesburie, and with +<span class="rightnote">Elferus.</span> +great reuerence buried there by the forenamed Alfer or Elfer, duke of Mercia, who also did +sore repent himselfe, in that he had beene against the aduancement of the said king Edward +(as ye haue heard.) But yet did not he escape woorthie punishment: for within one yéere +<span class="leftnote"><i>Polydor.</i></span> +after, he was eaten to death with lice (if the historie be true.) King Edward came to his death +<span class="rightnote"><i>Will. Malmes.</i></span> +after he had reigned thrée yéeres, or (as other write) thrée yéeres and eight moneths. ¶ Whatsoeuer +hath béene reported by writers of the murther committed on the person of this king +Edward, sure it is that if he were base begotten (as by writers of no meane credit it should appéere +he was in déed) great occasion vndoubtedlie was giuen vnto quéene Alfred to seeke reuenge +for the wrongfull keeping backe of hir son Egelred from his rightfull succession to the +crowne: but whether that Edward was legitimate or not, she might yet haue deuised some +other lawfull meane to haue come by hir purpose, and not so to haue procured the murther of +the young prince in such vnlawfull maner. For hir dooing therein can neither be woorthilie +allowed, nor throughlie excused, although those that occasioned the mischiefe by aduancing +hir stepsonne to an other mans right, deserued most blame in this matter.</p> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Thus farre the sixt booke comprising the first arriuall of the Danes in this land,<br /> +which was in king Britricus his reigne, pag. 652, at which time the<br /> +most miserable state of England tooke beginning.</i></p> + + + + +<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of +England (6 of 8), by Raphael Holinshed + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORIE OF ENGLAND *** + +***** This file should be named 16610-h.htm or 16610-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1/16610/ + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Lesley Halamek and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/old/2020-12-12-16610.txt b/old/2020-12-12-16610.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..74df29e --- /dev/null +++ b/old/2020-12-12-16610.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5471 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of +England (6 of 8), by Raphael Holinshed + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (6 of 8) + The Sixt Booke of the Historie of England + +Author: Raphael Holinshed + +Release Date: August 27, 2005 [EBook #16610] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORIE OF ENGLAND *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Lesley Halamek and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + +THE SIXT BOOKE + +OF THE + +HISTORIE OF ENGLAND. + + + * * * * * + + + + +_Inas king of the Westsaxons, the whole monarchie of the realme +falleth into their hands, Inas for a summe of monie granteth peace +to the Kentishmen, whom he was purposed to haue destroied, he & his +coosen Nun fight with Gerent king of the Britains, and Cheolred king +of Mercia, and Ealdbright king of Southsaxons, the end of their +kingdoms, Inas giueth ouer his roialtie, goeth in pilgrimage to +Rome, and there dieth; his lawes written in the Saxon toong; of what +buildings he was the founder, queene Ethelburgas deuise to persuade +Inas to forsake the world, he was the first procurer of Peter pence +to be paid to Rome; king Ethelred, king Kenred, and king Offa become +moonks; the setting vp of images in this land authorised by a vision; +king Ethelbalds exploits, he is slaine of his owne subiects by the +suggestion of Bernred the vsurper, Boniface his letter of commendation +to king Ethelbald, nuns kept for concubines, their pilgrimage._ + +THE FIRST CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: INAS. 689.] +After that Ceadwalla, late K. of the Westsaxons was gone to Rome, +where he departed this life (as afore is shewed) his coosen Inas or +Ine was made king of the Westsaxons, begining his reigne in the yeere +of our Lord 689, in the third yeere of the emperor Iustinianus the +third, the 11 yeere of the reigne of Theodoricus K. of France, and +[Sidenote: The Britains ceasse to reigne in this land] +about the second yeere of the reigne of Eugenius king of Scots. Now +because the rule of the Britains commonlie called Welshmen, ceassed in +this realme, as by confession of their owne writers it appeereth, and +that in the end the whole monarchie of the same realme came to the +hands of the kings of Westsaxons, we haue thought meet to refer things +generall vnto the reignes of the same kings, as before we did in the +Britaine kings, reseruing the particular dooings to the kings of the +other prouinces or kingdoms, as the same haue fallen out, and shall +come to hand. + +[Sidenote: _Fabian_. _H. Hunt._] +This Inas, whome some (mistaking N for V) doo wrongfullie name Iue +or Iewe, prooued a right excellent prince, he was descended of the +ancient linage of the kings of the Westsaxons, as sonne to one Kenred, +that was sonne to Ceolwald the son of Cutha or Cutwine, that was sonne +to Kenricke the sonne of Certicus, the first king of Westsaxons. But +he was admitted to the kingdome more for the valiant prowes knowne to +rest in his woorthie person, than for the successiue ofspring of which +he was descended. The first voiage that he made, was against the +Kentishmen, on whome he purposed to reuenge the death of his coosen +[Sidenote: _Matt. Westm._ _Wil. Malm._] +Mollo, the griefe whereof as yet he kept in fresh memorie. But when +the Kentishmen perceiued, that to resist him by force, they were +nothing able, they attempted by monie to buy their peace, and so +obteined their purpose, vpon paiment made to him of thirtie thousand +marks of siluer. + +[Sidenote: Anno 708 as is noted by _Matt. West._ _H. Hunt._] +After this, about the 21 yeere of his reigne, king Inas and his +coosen Nun fought with Gerent king of the Britains. In the beginning +of the battell, one Higelbald a noble man of the Westsaxons part was +slaine, but in the end Gerent with his Britains was chased. In the +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._ saith 718] +26 yeere of his reigne; the same Inas fought a mightie battell against +Cheolred king of Mercia, at Wodenessburie, with doubtfull victorie, +for it could not well be iudged whether part susteined greater losse. +In the 36 yeere of his reigne, king Inas inuaded the Southsaxons with +a mightie armie, and slue in battell Ealdbright or Aldinius king of +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ saith 722. The end of the kingdome of +the Southsaxons.] +the Southsaxons, and ioined that kingdome vnto the kingdome of +the Westsaxons: so that from thencefoorth the kingdome of those +Southsaxons ceassed, after they had reigned in that kingdome by the +space of five kings successiuelie, that is to say, Ella, Cissa, +Ethelwalke, Berutius, and this last Aldinius or Ealdbright. + +Finallie, when Inas had reigned 37 yeeres, and 10 or 11 od moneths, +[Sidenote: Inas went to Rome and there died.] +he renounced the rule of his kingdome, togither with all worldlie +pompe, and went vnto Rome as a poore pilgrime, and there ended his +life: but before this, during the time of his reigne, he shewed +himselfe verie deuout and zealous towards the aduancement of the +christian religion. He made and ordeined also good & wholesome lawes +for the amendment of maners in the people, which are yet extant and to +be read, written in the Saxon toong, and translated into the Latine in +times past, and now latelie againe by William Lambert gentleman, and +printed by Iohn Day, in the yeere 1568, togither with the lawes and +statutes of other kings before the conquest, as to the learned maie +appeere. + +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +Moreouer, king Ine builded the monasterie of Glastenburie, where +Ioseph of Arimathea in times past builded an oratorie or chappell (as +before is recited) when he with other christians came into this land +in the daies of Aruiragus, & taught the gospell heere to the Britains, +conuerting manie of them to the faith. Moreouer, king Ine or Inas +builded the church of Welles, dedicating it vnto saint Andrew, +where afterwards a bishops see was placed, which at length was +[Sidenote: Ethelburga.] +translated vnto Salisburie. He had to wife one Ethelburga, a woman of +noble linage, who had beene earnest with him a long time to persuade +him to forsake the world: but she could by no meanes bring hir purpose +to passe, till vpon a time the king and she had lodged at a manor +[Sidenote: _Will. Malmes._] +place in the countrie, where all prouision had beene made for the +receiuing of them and their traine in most sumptuous maner that might +be, as well in rich furniture of houshold, as also in costlie viands, +and all other things needfull, or that might serue for pleasure, +[Sidenote: The deuise of queene Ethelburga to persuade hir husband to +forsake the world.] +and when they were departed, the queene the foresaid Ethelburga caused +the keeper of that house to remooue all the bedding, hangings, and +other such things as had been brought thither and ordeined for the +beautifull setting foorth of the house, and in place thereof to bring +ordure, straw, & such like filth, as well into the chambers and hall, +as into all the houses of office, and that doone, to laie a sow with +pigs in the place where before the kings bed had stood. Heerevpon +when she had knowledge that euerie thing was ordered according to hir +appointment, she persuaded the king to returne thither againe, feining +occasions great and necessarie. + +Now when he was returned to that house, which before seemed to the eie +a palace of most pleasure, and now finding it in such a filthie state +as might loath the stomach of anie man to behold the same, she tooke +occasion therevpon to persuade him to the consideration of the vaine +pleasures of this world, which in a moment turne to naught, togither +with the corruption of the flesh, being a filthie lumpe of claie, +after it should once be disolued by death: and in fine, where before +she had spent much labour to mooue him to renounce the world, though +all in vaine, yet now the beholding of that change in his pleasant +palace, wherein so late he had taken great delight, wrought such an +alteration in his mind, that hir woords lastlie tooke effect: so that +he resigned the kingdome to his coosen Ethelard, and went himselfe to +Rome (as aboue is mentioned) and his wife became a nun in the abbeie +of Barking, where she was made abbesse, and finallie there ended hir +[Sidenote: Peter pence.] +life. This Inas was the first that caused the monie called Peter +pence, to be paid vnto the bishop of Rome, which was for euerie +houshold within his dominion a penie. + +[Sidenote: King Ethelred becommeth a moonk.] +In this meane time Edilred or Ethelred, hauing gouerned the +kingdome of Mercia by the tearme of 29 yeeres, became a moonke in the +abbeie of Bardenie, and after was made abbat of that house. He had +[Sidenote: Ostrida.] +to wife one Ostrida the sister of Egfride king of Northumberland, by +whome he had a sonne named Ceolred. But he appointed Kenred the sonne +of his brother Vulfher to succeed him in the kingdome. The said +[Sidenote: _Beda in Epit._ 697.] +Ostrida was cruellie slaine by the treason of hir husbands subiects, +[Sidenote: King Kenred.] +about the yeere of our Lord 697. And as for Kenred, he was a +prince of great vertue, deuout towards God, a furtherer of the +commonwealth of his countrie, and passed his life in great sinceritie +of maners. In the fift yeere of his reigne, he renounced the world, +and went to Rome, togither with Offa king of the Eastsaxons, where +[Sidenote: 711.] +he was made a moonke: and finallie died there, in the yeere of our +[Sidenote: _Nauclerus_. Egwin bishop of Worcester.] +Lord 711. By the aid and furtherance of this Kenred, a moonke of +saint Benets order (called Egwin) builded the abbeie of Eueshame, who +afterwards was made bishop of Worcester. + +[Sidenote: A fabulous and trifling deuise.] +¶ We find recorded by writers, that this Egwin had warning giuen +him by visions (as he constantlie affirmed before pope Constantine) +to set vp an image of our ladie in his church. Wherevpon the pope +approuing the testifications of this bishop by his buls, writ to +Brightwald archbishop of Canturburie, to assemble a synod, and by +authoritie thereof to establish the vse of images, charging the kings +of this land to be present at the same synod, vpon paine of +[Sidenote: _Bale_. 712.] +excommunication. This synod was holden about the yeere of our Lord +712, in the daies of Inas king of Westsaxons, and of Ceolred king of +Mercia successor to the foresaid Kenred. + +After Kenred succeeded Ceolred, the sonne of his vncle Edilred, & died +[Sidenote: _H. Hunt._] +in the 8 yeere of his reigne, and was buried at Lichfield. Then +succeeded Ethelbaldus that was descended of Eopa the brother of king +Penda, as the fourth from him by lineall succession. This man gouerned +a long time without anie notable trouble: some warres he had, and sped +[Sidenote: _Ran. Cestren._] +diuerslie. In the 18 yeere of his reigne, he besieged Sommerton +and wan it. He also inuaded Northumberland, and got there great riches +by spoile and pillage, which he brought from thence without anie +battell offered to him. + +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._] +He ouercame the Welshmen in battell, being then at quiet, and +[Sidenote: Bereford. 755.] +ioined as confederats with Cuthred K. of Westsaxons. But in the +37 yeere of his reigne, he was ouercome in battell at Bereford by the +same Cuthred, with whome he was fallen at variance, and within foure +yeeres after, that is to say, in the 41 yeere of his reigne he was +[Sidenote: Three miles from Tamworth. _Wil. Malm._ 758.] +slaine in battell at Secandon, or Sekenton, by his owne subiects, +which arreared warres against him, by the procurement and leading of +one Bernred, who after he had slaine his naturall prince, tooke vpon +him the kingdome: but he prospered not long, being slaine by Offa that +succeeded him in rule of the kingdome of Mercia, as after shall be +shewed. The bodie of Ethelbald was buried at Ripton. +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._] + +[Sidenote: The historie of Magd.] +Bonifacius the archbishop of Mentiz or Moguntz, hauing assembled a +councell with other bishops and doctors, deuised a letter, and sent it +vnto this Ethelbald, commending him for his good deuotion and charitie +in almes-giuing to the reliefe of the poore, and also for his vpright +dealing in administration of iustice, to the punishment of robbers +and such like misdooers: but in that he absteined from mariage, and +wallowed in filthie lecherie with diuerse women, and namelie with +nuns, they sore blamed him, and withall declared in what infamie the +whole English nation in those daies remained by common report in other +countries for their licentious liuing in sinfull fornication, and +namelie the most part of the noble men of Mercia by his euill example +did forsake their wiues, and defloured other women which they kept +[Sidenote: Nuns kept for concubines.] +in adulterie, as nuns and others. Moreouer, he shewed how that such +euill women, as well nuns as other, vsed to make awaie in secret wise +their children which they bare out of wedlocke, and so filled the +graues with dead bodies, and hell with damned soules. The same +Bonifacius in an other espistle wich he wrote vnto Cutbert the +[Sidenote: Pilgrimage of nuns.] +archbishop of Canturburie, counselled him not to permit the +English nuns to wander abroad so often on pilgrimage, bicause there +were few cities either in France or Lombardie, wherein might not be +found English women, that liued wantonlie in fornication and whordome. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Offa king of the Eastsaxons with other go to Rome, he is shauen and +becommeth a moonke, succession in the kingdome of the Eastsaxons and +Eastangles, Osred king of Northumberland hath carnall knowledge +with nuns, he is slaine in battell, Osrike renouncing his kingdome +becommeth a moonke, bishop Wilfrid twise restored to his see, +Westsaxonie diuided in two diocesses, bishop Aldhelme a founder of +religious houses; Ethelard succeedeth Inas in regiment, two blasing +starres seene at once, and what insued, the king dieth: the successiue +reigne of Wichtreds three sonnes ouer Kent, what prouinces were +gouerned by bishops; of what puissance Ethelbald king of Mercia was, +Egbert archbishop of Yorke aduanceth his see; a notable remembrance of +that excellent man Beda, his death._ + +THE SECOND CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: Kings of the Eastsaxons. _Beda lib. 5. cap. 20_. +Offa king of Eastsaxons.] +In this meane time Sighard and Seufred, kings of the Eastsaxons, +being departed this life, one Offa that was sonne to Sigerius +succeeded in gouernment of that kingdome, a man of great towardnesse, +and of right comelie countenance: but after he had ruled a certeine +time, being mooued with a religious deuotion, he went to Rome in +companie of Kenred king of Mercia, and of one Egwine bishop of +Worcester, and being there shauen into the order of moonks, so +[Sidenote: King Selred.] +continued till he died. After him one Selred the sonne of Sigbert the +good, ruled the Eastsaxons the tearme of 38 yeeres. After Aldulfe the +[Sidenote: 688.] +king of Eastangles departed this fraile life, which chanced about +the yeere of our Lord 688, his brother Elcwold or Akwold succeeded +him, and reigned about twelue yeeres. After whose decease one Beorne +was made king of Eastangles, and reigned about 26 yeeres. In this +[Sidenote: 705. _Wil. Malm._ Osred king of Northumberland.] +meane while, that is to say, in the yeere of our Lord 705, Alfride +king of Northumberland being dead, his sonne Osred, a child of 8 +yeeres of age succeeded him in the kingdome, and reigned 11 yeeres, +spending his time when he came to ripe yeeres in filthie abusing his +bodie with nuns, and other religious women. + +About the seuenth yeere of his reigne, that is to say, in the yeere of +[Sidenote: _Henr. Hunt._ Picts ouerthrowne by the Northumbers.] +our Lord 711, one of his capteins named earle Berthfride fought +with the Picts, betwixt two places called Heue and Cere, and obteining +the victorie, slue an huge number of the enimies. At length king Osred +by the traitorous means of his coosens that arreared warre against +[Sidenote: King Osred slaine in batell.] +him, was slaine in battell, and so ended his reigne, leauing to +those that procured his death the like fortune in time to come. For +Kenred reigning two yeeres, and Osricke ten yeeres, were famous onelie +in this, that being worthilie punished for shedding the bloud of their +naturall prince and souereigne lord, they finished their liues with +dishonourable deaths, as they had well deserued. Osricke before +[Sidenote: 729.] +his death, which chanced in the yeere of our Lord 729, appointed +Ceolwolfe the brother of his predecessor Kenred, to succeed him in the +kingdome, which he did, reigning as king of the Northumbers by the +space of 8 yeeres currant, and then renouncing his kingdom, became a +moonke in the Ile of Lindesferne. + +[Sidenote: _Beda_. Acca bishop of Hexham.] +In this meane while, bishop Wilfride being dead, one Acca that was +his chapline was made bishop of Hexham. The said Wilfride had beene +bishop by the space of 45 yeeres: but he liued a long time in exile. +For first being archbishop of Yorke, and exercising his iurisdiction +ouer all the north parts, he was after banished by king Egbert, and +againe restored to the see of Hexham in the second yeere of king +Alfride, and within fiue yeeres after eftsoones banished by the same +Alfride, and the second time restored by his successor king Osred, +in the fourth yeere of whose reigne, being the yeere after the +incarnation of our Sauiour 709, he departed this life, and was buried +at Rippon. Moreouer, after Iohn the archbishop of Yorke had resigned, +one Wilfride surnamed the second was made archbishop of that see: +which Wilfride was chapline to the said Iohn, and gouerned that see by +[Sidenote: 710.] +the space of fifteene yeeres, and then died. About the yeere of +our Lord 710, the abbat Adrian which came into this land with Theodore +the archbishop of Canturburie (as before ye haue heard) departed this +life, about 39 yeeres after his comming thither. + +[Sidenote: Two bishops sees _Matth. West._ Bishop Daniell.] +Also Inas the king of Westsaxons, about the 20 yeere of his +reigne, diuided the prouince of the Westsaxons into two bishops sees, +whereas before they had but one. Daniell was ordeined to gouerne the +one of those sees, being placed at Winchester, hauing vnder him +[Sidenote: Bishop Aldhelme.] +Sussex, Southerie and Hamshire. And Aldhelme was appointed to +Shireburne, hauing vnder him, Barkeshire, Wiltshire, Sommersetshire, +Dorsetshire, Deuonshire, and Cornwall. This Aldhelme was a learned +[Sidenote: The abbeie of Malmesburie.] +man, and was first made abbat of Malmesburie, in the yeere of our Lord +675 by Eleutherius then bishop of the Westsaxons, by whose diligence +that abbeie was greatlie aduanced, being afore that time founded by +one Medulfe a Scotish man, but of so small reuenues afore Aldhelms +time, that the moonks were scarse able to liue thereon. Also the same +Aldhelme was a great furtherer vnto king Inas in the building of +Glastenburie. + +[Sidenote: ETHELARD. 728. _Matth. West._ saith 727.] +Ethelard, the coosen of king Inas, to whome the same Inas resigned +his kingdome, began to gouerne the Westsaxons in the yeere of our +Lord 728, or rather 27, which was in the 11 yeere of the emperor Leo +Isaurus, in the second yeere of Theodorus king of France, and about +the 8 or 9 yeere of Mordacke king of the Scots. In the first yeere +of Ethelards reigne, he was disquieted with ciuill warre, which one +Oswald a noble man, descended of the roiall bloud of the Westsaxon +kings, procured against him: but in the end, when he perceiued that +the kings power was too strong for him, he fled out of the countrie, +leauing it thereby in rest. + +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ 729. Blasing stars.] +In the yeere 729, in the moneth of Ianuarie there appeered two +comets or blasing starres, verie terrible to behold, the one rising in +the morning before the rising of the sunne, and the other after the +setting thereof: so that the one came before the breake of the day, +and the other before the closing of the night, stretching foorth their +fierie brands toward the north; and they appeered thus euerie morning +and euening for the space of a fortnight togither, menacing as it +were some great destruction or common mishap to follow. The Saracens +shortlie after entred France, and were ouerthrowne. Finallie, when +king Ethelard had reigned the terme of foureteene yeeres currant, he +departed this life. + +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm. _] +Now when Wichtred king of Kent had gouerned the Kentishmen by the +space of 33 yeeres, with great commendation for the good orders which +he caused to be obserued amongst them, as well concerning matters +ecclesiasticall as temporal, he departed this life, leauing behind him +three sonnes, who successiuelie reigned as heires to him one after +another (that is to say) Edbert 23 yeeres, Ethelbert 11 yeeres +currant, and Alrike 34 yeeres, the which three princes following +the steps of their father in the obseruance of politike orders & +commendable lawes, vsed for the more part their fathers good lucke and +[Sidenote: _Beda. lib. 5. cap. 24_.] +fortune, except that in Ethelberts time the citie of Canturburie +was burned by casuall fire, and Alrike lost a battell against them of +Mercia, whereby the glorie of their times was somewhat blemished: for +so it came to passe, that whatsoeuer chanced euill, was kept still in +memorie, and the good haps that came forward, were soone forgotten and +[Sidenote: 731.] +put out of remembrance. In the yeere of our Lord 731, Betrwald +archbishop of Canturburie departed this life in the fift ides of +Ianuarie, after he had gouerned that see by the space of 27 yeeres, 6 +moneths, and 14 daies: in whose place the same yeere one Tacwine was +ordeined archbishop, that before was a priest in the monasterie of +Bruidon within the prouince of Mercia. He was consecrated in the citie +of Canturburie, by the reuerend fathers Daniell bishop of Winchester, +Ingwald bishop of London, Aldwin bishop of Lichfield, and Aldwulfe +bishop of Rochester, the tenth day of Iune being sundaie. +[Sidenote: Bishops what parishes they governed.] +¶ As touching the state of the English church for ecclesiasticall +gouernours, certeine it is, that the same was as hereafter followeth. +The prouince of Canturburie was gouerned touching the ecclesiasticall +state by archbishop Tacwine, and bishop Aldwulfe. The prouince of the +Eastsaxons by bishop Ingwald. The prouince of Eastangles by bishop +Eadbertus and Hadulacus, the one keeping his see at Elsham, and the +other at Dunwich. The prouince of the Westsaxons was gouerned by the +foresaid Daniell and by Forthere, who succeeded next after Aldhelme in +the see of Shereburne. This Forthere in the yeere of our Lord 738, +[Sidenote: _Matth, West._] +left his bishoprike, and went to Rome in companie of the queene of the +Westsaxons. Many as well kings as bishops, noble and vnnoble, priests +and laiemen, togither with women, vsed to make such iournies thither +in those daies. The prouince of Mercia was ruled by the foresaid +Aldwine bishop of Lichfield, and one bishop Walstod holding his see +at Herford gouerned those people that inhabited beyond the riuer of +Sauerne toward the west. The prouince of Wiccies, that is, Worcester, +one Wilfride gouerned. The Southsaxons and the Ile of Wight were vnder +the bishop of Winchester. In the prouince of the Northumbers were +foure bishops, that is to say, Wilfride archbishop of Yorke, Edilwald +bishop of Lindisferne, Acca bishop of Hexham, and Pecthelmus bishop +of Whiterne, otherwise called Candida Casa, he was the first that +gouerned that church after the same was made a bishops see. And thus +stood the state of the English church for ecclesiasticall gouernors in +that season. + +[Sidenote: Ethelbald K. of Mercia, of what puissance he was.] +And as for temporall gouernement, king Ceolvulfe had the +souereigne dominion ouer all the Northumbers: but all the prouinces +on the southside of Humber, with their kings and rulers, were subiect +vnto Edilbald or Ethelbald king of Mercia. The nation of the Picts +were in league with the English men, and gladlie became partakers of +the catholike faith and veritie of the vniuersall church. Those Scots +which inhabited Britaine, contenting themselues with their owne +bounds, went not about to practise anie deceitfull traines nor +fraudulent deuises against the Englishmen. The Britains otherwise +called Welshmen, though for the more part of a peculiar hatred they +did impugne the English nation, & the obseruance of the feast of Ester +appointed by the whole catholike church, yet (both diuine and humane +force vtterlie resisting them) they were not able in neither behalfe +to atteine to their wished intentions, as they which though they were +partlie free, yet in some point remained still as thrall and mancipate +to the subiection of the Englishmen: who (saith Beda) now in the +acceptable time of peace and quietnesse, manie amongst them of +Northumberland, laieng armour and weapon aside, applied themselues +to the reading of holie scriptures, more desirous to be professed in +religious houses, than to exercise feates of warre: but what will come +therof (saith he) the age that followeth shall see and behold. With +these words dooth Beda end his historie, continued till the yeere of +our Lord 731, which was from the comming of the Englishmen into this +land, about 285 yeeres, according to his account. + +[Sidenote: 732. _Wil. Malm._] +In the yeere following, that is to say 732, in place of Wilfrid +the second, Egbert was ordeined bishop of Yorke. This Egbert was +brother vnto an other Egbert, who as then was king of Northumberland, +by whose helpe he greatlie aduanced the see of Yorke, and recouered +the pall: so that where all the other bishops that held the same see +before him sith Paulins daies, wanted the pall, and so were counted +simplie but particular bishops: now was he intituled by the name of +archbishop. He also got togither a great number of good books, +[Sidenote: 733.] +which he bestowed in a librarie at Yorke. ¶ In the yeere 733, on the +18 kalends of September, the sunne suffered a great eclipse about +three of the clocke in the after noone, in somuch that the earth +seemed to be couered with a blacke and horrible penthouse. + +[Sidenote: 735 _Beda_ departed this life] +In the yeere 735, that reuerend and profound learned man Beda +departed this life, being 82 yeeres of age, vpon Ascension day, which +was the 7 kalends of Iune, and 26 of Maie, as Matt. Westm. hath +diligentlie obserued. W. Harison addeth hitherto, that it is to be +read in an old epistle of Cutbert moonke of the same house vnto +Cuthwine, that the said Beda lieng in his death-bed, translated the +gospell of saint Iohn into English, and commanded his brethren to +be diligent in reading and contemplation of good bookes, and not to +exercise themselues with fables and friuolous matters. Finallie he was +buried in the abbeie of Geruie, distant fiue miles from Wiremouth, an +abbeie also in the north parts, not far from Newcastell (as is before +remembred.) He was brought vp in those two abbeies, and was scholar +to John of Beuerley. How throughlie he was seene in all kinds of good +literature, the bookes which hee wrote doo manifestlie beare witnesse. +His judgement also was so much esteemed ouer all, that Sergius the +bishop of Rome wrote vnto Celfride the abbat of Wiremouth, requiring +him to send Beda vnto the court of Rome for the deciding of certein +questions mooued there, which without his opinion might seeme to rest +doubtful. But whether he went thither or not we can not affirme: but +as it is thought by men worthie of credit, he neuer went out of this +land, but continued for the most part of his life in the abbeies of +Geruie and Wiremouth, first vnder Benet the first abbat and founder of +the same abbeies, and after vnder the said Celfride, in whose time he +receiued orders of priesthood at the hands of bishop Iohn, surnamed +of Beuerley: so that it may be maruelled that a man, borne in the +vttermost corner of the world, should proue so excellent in all +knowledge and learning, that his fame should so spread ouer the whole +[Sidenote: _Crantzius_.] +earth, and went neuer out of his natiue countrie to seeke it. But +who that marketh in reading old histories the state of abbeies and +monasteries in those daies, shall well perceiue that they were ordered +after the maner of our schooles or colleges, hauing in them diuerse +learned men, that attended onelie to teach & bring vp youth in +knowledge of good learning, or else to go abroad and preach the word +of God in townes and villages adjoining. + +[Sidenote: 735.] +The same yeere died archbishop Tacuine, and in the yeere following, +that is to say 735, Nothelmus was ordeined archbishop of Canturburie +in his place, and Egbert the archbishop of Yorke the same yeere got +his pall from Rome, and so was confirmed archbishop, and ordeined two +bishops, Fruidberd, and Fruidwald. But some refer it to the yeere 744. + + + * * * * * + + + + +_Cuthred king of the Westsaxons, he is greatlie troubled by Ethelbald +king of Mercia, they are pacified; Kenric king Cuthreds sonne slaine, +earle Adelme rebelleth against him whom the king pardoneth; Cuthred +fighteth with Ethelbald at Hereford, he hath the victorie, he falleth +sicke and dieth; Sigebert succedeth him in the kingdome, he is cruell +to his people, he is expelled from his roiall estate, murther reuenged +with murther, succession in the kingdome of Eastangles, kings change +their crownes for moonks cowles; the Britaines subiect to the king of +Northumberland and the king of Picts, the moone eclipsed._ + +THE THIRD CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: CUTHRED.] +After the decease of Ethelard king of Westsaxons, his coosine +Cuthred was made king and gouernour of those people, reigning the +tearme of 16 yeeres. He began his reigne in the yeere of our Lord +[Sidenote: 740.] +740, in the twentie fourth yere of the emperour Leo Isaurus, in the +14 yeere of the reigne of the second Theodorus Cala K. of France, and +about the 6 yeere of Ethfine king of Scots. This Cuthred had much to +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._ _Hen. Hunt._] +doo against Edilbald king of Mercia, who one while with stirring +his owne subiects the Westsaxons to rebellion, an other while with +open warre, and sometime by secret craft and subtill practises sought +to disquiet him. Howbeit, in the fourth yeere of his reigne, a peace +was concluded betwixt them, and then ioining their powers togither, +they went against the Welshmen, & gaue them a great ouerthrow, as +[Sidenote: Kenric the kings sonne slaine.] +before is partlie touched. In the 9 yeere of this Cuthreds reigne, +his sonne Kenric was slaine in a seditious tumult amongst his men of +warre, a gentleman yoong in yeeres, but of a stout courage, and +[Sidenote: 749.] +verie forward, wherby (as was thought) he came the sooner to his +wofull end. + +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._] +[Sidenote: 751.] +In the 11 yeere of his reigne, Cuthred had wars against one of his +earls called Adelme, who raising a commotion against him, aduentured +to giue battell though he had the smaller number of men, and yet was +at point to haue gone away with victorie, if by a wound at that +instant receiued, his periurie had not beene punished, and the kings +[Sidenote: 752 _Matt. West._] +iust cause aduanced to triumph ouer his aduersarie, whom yet by +way of reconciliation he pardoned. In the 13 yeere of his reigne, +king Cuthred being not well able to susteine the proud exactions +and hard dooings of Edilbald king of Mercia, raised his power, and +encountered with the same Edilbald at Hereford, hauing before him the +said earle Adelme, in whose valiant prowesse he put great hope to +atteine victorie: neither was he deceiued, for by the stout conduct +and noble courage of the said Adelme, the loftie pride of king +[Sidenote: K. Edilbald put to flight.] +Edelbald was abated, so that he was there put to flight, and all +his armie discomfited, after sore and terrible fight continued and +mainteined euen to the vttermost point. In the 24 yeere of his reigne, +this Cuthred fought eftsoones with the Welshmen, and obteined the +vpper hand, without anie great losse of his people: for the enimies +were easilie put to flight and chased, to their owne destruction. In +the yeere after, king Cuthred fell sicke, and in the 16 yeere of his +reigne he departed this life, after so manie great victories got +against his enimies. + + +[Sidenote: SIGIBERT. 755.] +After him succeeded one Sigibert, a cruell and vnmercifull prince +at home, but yet a coward abroad. This Sigbert or Sigibert began his +reigne in the yeare of our Lord 755, verie neere ended. He intreated +his subjects verie euill, setting law and reason at naught. He could +not abide to heare his faults told him, and therefore he cruellie +put to death an earle named Cumbra, which was of his councell, and +faithfullie admonished him to reforme his euill dooings: wherevpon +the rest of his nobles assembled themselues togither with a great +multitude of people, and expelled him out of his estate in the +beginning of the second, or (as some say) the first yeare of his +reigne. Then Sigibert, as he was fearefull of nature; fearing to be +apprehended, got him into the wood called as then Andredeswald, and +there hid himselfe, but by chance a swineheard that belonged to the +late earle Cumbra at Priuets-floud found him out, and perceiuing what +he was, slue him in reuenge of his maisters death. + +¶ Lo here you may see how the righteous iustice of God rewardeth +wicked dooings in this world with worthie recompense, as well as in +the world to come, appointing euill princes sometimes to reigne for +the punishment of the people, according as they deserue, permitting +some of them to haue gouernement a long time, that both the froward +nations may suffer long for their sins, and that such wicked princes +may in an other world tast the more bitter torments. Againe, other +he taketh out of the waie, that the people may be deliuered from +oppression, and also that the naughtie ruler for his misdemeanour may +speedilie receiue due punishment. + + +[Sidenote: Ethelred. 738.] +After Beorne king of Eastangles one Ethelred succeeded in gouernment +of that kingdome a man noted to be of good and vertuous qualities, +in that he brought vp his sonne Ethelred (which succeeded him) so in +the feare of the Lord, that he prooued a right godlie prince. This +Ethelbert reigned (as writers say) the terme of 52 yeares. + +[Sidenote: Egbert king of Northumberland. 758.] +After that Ceolvulfe king of Northumberland was become a moonke in +the abbie of Lindesferne, his vncles sonne Egbert (by order taken by +the said Ceolvulfe) succeeded him in the kingdome, and gouerned the +same right woorthilie for the terme of 24 yeares, and then became a +moonke, by the example both of his predecessor the forsaid Ceolvulfe, +[Sidenote: Changing of crownes for moonkes cowles. 756.] +and also of diuers other kings in those daies, so that he was the +eight king who in this land had changed a kings crowne for a moonks +cowle (as Simon Dunel. writeth.) + +This Egbert (in the 18 yeare of his reigne) and Vngust king of Picts +came to the citie of Alcluid with their armies, and there receiued the +Britains into their subiection, the first-day of August: but the tenth +day of the same month, the armie which he led from Ouan vnto Newbourgh, +was for the more part lost and destroied. ¶ The same yeare on the 8 +kalends of December, the moone being as then in hir full, appeared to be +of a bloudie colour, but at length she came to hir accustomed shew, +after a maruellous meanes, for a starre which followed hir, passed by +hir, & went before hir, the like dist[=a]ce as it kept in following hir +before she lost hir vsuall light. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Offa king of Mercia, his manhood and victories against the Kentishmen +and Westsaxons, he killeth Egilbert king of Eastangles by a policie +or subtill deuise of profered curtesie, he inuadeth his kingdome, +and possesseth it, the archbishops see of Canturburie remoued to +Lichfield; archbishop Lambert laboring to defend his prerogatiue is +depriued by king Offa, he seizeth vpon churches and religious houses; +mistrusting his estate, he alieth himselfe with other princes; he +maketh amends for the wrongs that he had doone to churches and +religious houses, he goeth to Rome, maketh his realme tributarie to +the said see, Peter pence paid, he falleth sicke and dieth, places to +this day bearing his name in memorie of him, the short reigne of his +sonne._ + +THE FOURTH CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: OFFA. 758.] +After that Offa had slaine Bernred the vsurper of the kingdome +of Mercia (as before is mentioned) the same Offa tooke vppon him the +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ _Wil. Malm._] +gouernment of that kingdome 758, a man of such stoutnesse of +stomach, that he thought he should be able to bring to passe all +things whatsoeuer he conceiued in his mind. He reigned 39 yeares. His +dooings were great and maruellous, and such as some times his vertues +surpassed his vices, and sometime againe his vices seemed to +[Sidenote: The victories of king Offa. _Matth. West._ 779.] +ouermatch his vertues. He ouercame the Kentishmen in a great battell +at Otteford, and the Northumbers also were by him vanquished, and in +battell put to flight. With Kenvulfe king of Westsaxons he fought in +open battell, and obteined a noble victorie, with small losse of his +people, although the same Kenwulfe was a right valiant prince, and a +good capteine. + +[Sidenote: Falsehood in fellowship.] +Againe, perceiuing that to proceed with craft, should sooner +aduance his purpose, than to vse open force against Egilbert king of +Eastangles, vnder faire promises to giue vnto him his daughter in +mariage, he allured him to come into Mercia, and receiuing him into +his palace, caused his head to be striken off, and after by wrongfull +meanes inuaded his kingdome, and got it into his possession: yet he +caused the bones of the first martyr of this land saint Albane (by a +miraculous meanes brought to light) to be taken vp, and put in a rich +shrine adorned with gold and stone, building a goodlie church of +excellent woorkmanship, and founding a monasterie in that place in +honor of the same saint, which he indowed with great possessions. +[Sidenote: The archbishops see remoued from Canturburie to Lichfield. +785.] +He remoued the archbishops see from Canturburie vnto Lichfield, +thereby to aduance his kingdome of Mercia, as well in dignitie & +preheminence of spirituall power as temporall. He made great suit to +bring his purpose to passe in the court of Rome, and at length by +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._] +great gifts and rewards obteined it at the hands of pope Adrian the +first, then gouerning the Romane see. And so Eadulfus then bishop of +Lichfield was adorned with the pall, and taken for archbishop, +hauing all those bishops within the limits of king Offa his dominion +suffragans vnto him; namelie, Denebertus bishop of Worcester, +Werebertus bishop of Chester, Eadulfus bishop of Dorcester, Wilnardus +bishop of Hereford, Halard bishop of Elsham, and Cedferth bishop of +Donwich. There remained onelie to the archbishop of Canturburie, the +bishops of London, Winchester, Rochester, and Shireburne. + +[Sidenote: The archbishop Lambert defended his cause.] +This separation continued all the life time of the archbishop +Lambert, although he trauelled earnestlie to mainteine his +prerogatiue. Now, for that he still defended his cause, and would +not reuolt from his will, Offa depriued him of all his possessions & +reuenues that he held or inioied within anie part of his dominions. +Neither was Offa satisfied herewith, but he also tooke into his hands +the possessions of manie other churches, and fleeced the house of +[Sidenote: Offa alieth himselfe with other princes.] +Malmesburie of a part of hir reuenues. Because of these & other his +hard dooings, doubting the malice of his enimies, he procured the +friendship of forren princes. Vnto Brightricke king of the +[Sidenote: _Matt. Westm._] +Westsaxons he gaue his daughter Ethelburga in mariage. And sending +diuers ambassadours ouer vnto Charles the great, that was both emperor +& king of France, he purchased his friendship at length, although +[Sidenote: The intercourse of merchants staied.] +before there had depended a peece of displeasure betwixt them, +insomuch that the intercourse for trade of merchandize was staied for +a time. One of the ambassadours that was sent vnto the said Charles +[Sidenote: Alcwine an Englishman.] +(as is reported) was that famous clearke Albine or Alcwine, by +whose persuasion the same Charles erected two vniuersities, as in +place due and conuenient may more largelie appeare. + +Finallie king Offa (as it were for a meane to appease Gods wrath, +which he doubted to be iustlie conceiued towards him for his sinnes +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +and wickednesse) granted the tenth part of all his goods vnto +churchmen, and to poore people. He also indowed the church of Hereford +with great reuenues, and (as some write) he builded the abbeie of +Bath, placing moonkes in the same, of the order of saint Benet, as +[Sidenote: 775.] +before he had doone at saint Albons. Moreouer he went vnto Rome, +about the yeare of our Lord 775, and there following the example of +Inas king of the Westsaxons, made his realme subiect by way of tribute +[Sidenote: Peter pence, or Rome Scot. _Will. Malmes._ 797.] +vnto the church of Rome, appointing that euerie house within the +limits of his dominions, should yearelie pay vnto the apostolike see +one pennie, which paiment was after named, Rome Scot, and Peter pence. +After his returne from Rome, perceiuing himselfe to draw into yeares, +[Sidenote: Offa departed this life.] +he caused his sonne Egfrid to be ordeined king in his life time: +and shortlie after departing out of this world, left the kingdome vnto +him, after he had gouerned it by the space of 39 yeares. + +Amongst other the dooings of this Offa, which suerlie were great and +maruellous, this may not passe with silence, that he caused a mightie +great ditch to be cast betwixt the marshes of his countrie, and the +Welsh confines, to diuide thereby the bounds of their dominions. +[Sidenote: Offditch.] +This ditch was called Offditch euer after, and stretched from the +south side by Bristow, vnder the mountaines of Wales, running +northward ouer the riuers of Seuerne and Dee, vnto the verie mouth +of Dee, where that riuer falleth into the sea. He likewise builded a +church in Warwikeshire, whereof the towne there taketh name, and is +[Sidenote: Egfrid king of Mercia.] +called Offchurch euen to this day. Egfrid taking vpon him the +rule, began to follow the approoued good dooings of his father, and +first restored vnto the churches their ancient priuileges, which his +father sometimes had taken from them. Great hope was conceiued of his +further good proceeding, but death cut off the same, taking him out of +this life, after he had reigned the space of foure moneths, not for +his owne offenses (as was thought) but rather for that his father had +caused so much bloud to be spilt for the confirming of him in the +kingdome, which so small a time he now inioied. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Osulph king of Northumberland traitorouslie murthered, Edilwald +succeedeth him, the reward of rebellion, a great mortalitie of foules +fishes and fruits, moonkes licenced to drinke wine, great wast by +fire, Edelred king of Northumberland is driuen out of his countrie by +two dukes of the same, Ethelbert king of the Eastangles commended for +his vertues, Alfred the daughter of king Mercia is affianced to him, +tokens of missehaps towards him, his destruction intended by queene +Quendred, hir platforme of the practise to kill him, Offa inuadeth +Ethelberts kingdome, Alfred his betrothed wife taketh his death +greuouslie, and becommeth a nun, the decaie of the kingdome of +Eastangles, succession in the regiment of the Westsaxons, the end of +the gouernement of the Eastsaxons, prince Algar is smitten blind for +seeking to rauish virgine Friswide, and at hir praiers restored to his +sight._ + +THE FIFT CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: EADBERT king of Northumberland. 758.] +When Eadbert or Egbert K. of Northumberland was become a moonke, +his sonne Osulphus succeeded him: but after he had reigned onelie +one yeare, he was traitorouslie murthered by his owne seruants at +Mikilwongton, on the 9 kalends of August. Then succeeded one Moll, +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ _Hen. Hunt._ Edilwold king of Northumberland. +_Simon Dun._ _Henr. Hunt._] +otherwise called Edilwold or Edilwald, but not immediatlie, for he +began not his reigne till the nones of August in the yeare following, +which was after the birth of our sauiour 759. + +This man prooued right valiant in gouernement of his subiects. He +slue in battell an earle of his countrie named Oswin, who arrearing +warre against him, fought with him in a pitcht field at Eadwines +Cliue, and receiued the worthie reward of rebellion. + +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ 764.] +This chanced in the third yeare of his reigne, and shortlie after, +that is to say, in the yeare of our Lord 764, there fell such a +maruellous great snow, and therwith so extreame a frost, as the like +had not beene heard of, continuing from the beginning of the winter, +almost till the middest of the spring, with the rigour whereof, trees +and fruits withered awaie, and lost their liuelie shape and growth: +and not onelie feathered foules, but also beasts on the land, & fishes +in the sea died in great numbers. The same yeare died Ceolwulf then +king of Northumberland, vnto whome Beda did dedicate his booke of +[Sidenote: Moonks licenced to drinke wine.] +histories of the English nation. After that he was become a moonke +in the monasterie of Lindesferne, the moonks of that house had licence +to drinke wine, or ale, whereas before they might not drinke anie +other thing than milke, or water, by the ancient rule prescribed them +of the bishop Aidan first founder of the place. The same yeare sundrie +cities, townes, and monasteries were defaced and sore wasted with fier +chancing on the sudden, as Stretehu, Giwento, Anwicke, London, Yorke, +Doncaster, &c. + +After that Moll had reigned 6 yeares, he resigned his kingdome. But +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ Altred began his reigne in the yeare 765 as +_Sim. Dun._ saith.] +other write that he reigned 11 yeares, and was in the end slaine by +treason of his successor Altred. This Altred reigned ten years ouer +the Northumbers, and was then expelled out of his kingdome by his +[Sidenote: _Henr. Hunt._ _Matth. West._ Ethelbert.] +owne subiects. Then was Ethelbert, named also Edelred, the sonne of +the foresaid Moll, made king of Northumberland, and in the fift yeare +of his reigne, he was driuen out of his kingdome by two dukes of his +countrie named Edelbald and Herebert, who mouing warre against him, +had slaine first Aldulfe the sonne of Bosa the generall of his armie +at Kingescliffe; and after Kinewulfe and Egga, other two of his dukes, +at Helatherne in a sore foughten field: so that Ethelbert despairing +of all recouerie, was constrained to get him out of the countrie. +And thus was the kingdome of Northumberland brought into a miserable +state, by the ambitious working of the princes and nobles of the same. + +[Sidenote: _Henr. Hunt._ _Iohn Capgraue_. _Matth. West._ and others. +Ethelbert king of Eastangles.] +After that Ethelbert king of Eastangles was dead, his sonne +Ethelbert succeeded him, a prince of great towardnesse, and so +vertuouslie brought vp by his fathers circumspect care and diligence, +that he vtterlie abhorred vice, and delighted onelie in vertue and +commendable exercises, for the better atteining to knowledge and +vnderstanding of good sciences. There remaine manie sundrie saiengs & +dooings of him, manifestlie bearing witnesse that there could not +[Sidenote: The saieng of king Ethelbert.] +be a man more honorable, thankefull, courteous or gentle. Amongest +other he had this saieng oftentimes in his mouth, that the greater +that men were, the more humble they ought to beare themselues: for the +Lord putteth proud and mightie men from their seates, and exalteth the +humble and meeke. + +Moreouer he did not onelie shew himselfe wise in words, but desired +also to excell in staiednesse of maners, and continencie of life. +Whereby he wan to him the hearts of his people, who perceiuing that he +was nothing delighted in the companie of women, and therefore minded +not mariage, they of a singular loue and fauour towards him, required +that he should in anie wise yet take a wife, that he might haue issue +to succeed him. At length the matter being referred to his councell, +he was persuaded to follow their aduises. And so Alfreda the daughter +of Offa king of Mercia was affianced to him: so that he himselfe +appointed (as meanes to procure more fauour at his father in lawes +hands) to go fetch the bride from hir fathers house. + +Manie strange things that happened to him in taking vpon him this +[Sidenote: Tokens of mishap to follow.] +iournie, put him in great doubt of that which should follow. He was +no sooner mounted on his horsse, but that (as seemed to him) the earth +shooke vnder him: againe, as he was in his iournie, about the mid-time +of the day, such a darke mist compassed him on ech side, that he could +not see nor discerne for a certeine time anie thing about him at all: +lastlie, as he laie one night asleepe, he thought he saw in a dreame +the roofe of his owne palace fall downe to the ground. But though +with these things he was brought into great feare, yet he kept on his +[Sidenote: The innocent mistrustfull of no euill.] +iournie, as he that mistrusted no deceit, measuring other mens +maners by his owne. King Offa right honourablie receiued him: but his +wife named Quendred, a wise woman, but therewith wicked, conceiued a +malicious deuise in hir hart, & streightwaies went about to persuade +hir husband to put it in execution, which was to murther king +Ethelbert, and after to take into his hands his kingdome. + +Offa at the first was offended with his wife for this motion, but +[Sidenote: _Iohn Capgr._ Winnebert.] +in the end, through the importunate request of the woman, he +consented to hir mind. The order of the murther was committed vnto one +Winnebert, that had serued both the said Ethelbert & his father +[Sidenote: _Sim. Dun._ saith 771.] +before time, the which feining as though he had beene sent from Offa +[Sidenote: Offa conquereth Eastangles.] +to will Ethelbert to come vnto him in the night season, slue +him that once mistrusted not anie such treason. Offa hauing thus +dispatched Ethelbert, inuaded his kingdome, and conquered it. + +But when the bride Alfreda vnderstood the death of hir liked make and +bridegrome, abhorring the fact, she curssed father and mother, and +as it were inspired with the spirit of prophesie, pronounced that +woorthie punishment would shortlie fall on hir wicked mother for +hir heinous crime committed in persuading so detestable a deed: and +[Sidenote: Alfreda a nun. _Beda_. _Matth. West._] +according to hir woords it came to passe, for hir mother died +miserablie within three moneths after. The maid Alfreda refusing the +world, professed hirselfe a nun at Crowland, the which place began +to wax famous about the yeere of our Lord 695, by the meanes of one +Gutlake, a man esteemed of great vertue and holinesse, which chose to +himselfe an habitation there, and departing this life about the yeere +of our Lord 714, was buried in that place, where afterwards an abbeie +of moonks was builded of saint Benets order. The bodie of K. Ethelbert +at length was buried at Hereford, though first it was committed to +buriall in a vile place, neere to the banke of a riuer called Lug. + +The kingdome of Eastangles from thencefoorth was brought so into +decaie, that it remained subiect one while vnto them of Mercia, an +other while vnto the Westsaxons, and somewhile vnto them of Kent, till +that Edmund surnamed the martyr got the gouernment thereof (as after +shall appeere.) After that Selred king of the Eastsaxons had gouerned +[Sidenote: _H. Hunt._] +the tearme of 38 yeeres, he was slaine, but in what maner, writers +haue not expressed. After him succeeded one Swithed or Swithred, the +11 and last in number that particularlie gouerned those people. He was +finallie expelled by Egbert K. of Westsaxons, the same yeere that the +said Egbert ouercame the Kentishmen (as after shall be shewed) and so +the kings of that kingdome of the Eastsaxons ceassed and tooke end. + +[Sidenote: Friswide a virgine.] +¶ About this time, there was a maid in Oxford named Friswide, +daughter to a certeine duke or noble man called Didanus, with whome +one Algar a prince in those parties fell in loue, and would haue +rauished hir, but God the reuenger of sinnes was at hand (as the +storie saith.) For when Algar followed the maid that fled before him, +she getting into the towne, the gate was shut against him, and his +sight also was suddenlie taken from him. But the maid by hir praiers +pacified Gods wrath towards him, so that his sight was againe restored +to him. But whether this be a fable or a true tale, heereof grew the +report, that the kings of this realme long times after were afraid to +enter into the citie of Oxford. So easilie is the mind of man turned +to superstition (as saith Polydor.) + + * * * * * + + + + +_Kinewulfe king of Westsaxons, his conquest ouer the Britains, his +securitie and negligence, he is slaine by conspirators, inquisition +for Kineard the principall procurer of that mischiefe, he is slaine in +fight; legats from the pope to the kings and archbishops of this land +about reformation in the church, a councell holden at Mercia; +iudge Bearne burnt to death for crueltie, Alfwold reigneth ouer +Northumberland, his owne subiects murther him; a booke of articles +sent by Charles king of France into Britaine quite contrarie to the +christian faith, Albinus writeth against it; great waste by tempests +of wind and rage of fire._ + +THE SIXT CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: KINEWULF. _Hen. Hunt._ 756.] +After that the Westsaxons had depriued their vnprofitable king +Sigibert, they aduanced Kinewulfe, or Cinevulfus, the which began his +reigne about the yeere of our Lord 756, which was in the 16 yeere of +the emperor Constantinus, surnamed Copronimos, in the 6 yeere of +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun. saith 755_.] +the reigne of Pipin king of France, and about the 22 yeere of Ethfine +king of Scots. This Kinewulfe prooued a right woorthie and valiant +prince, and was descended of the right line of Cerdicus. He obteined +[Sidenote: The Britains vanquished.] +great victories against the Britains or Welshmen, but at Bensington +or Benton he lost a battell against Offa king of Mercia, in the 24 +yeere of his reigne: and from that time forward tasting manie +displeasures, at length through his owne follie came vnto a shamefull +end. For whereas he had reigned a long time neither slouthfullie nor +presumptuouslie, yet now as it were aduanced with the glorie of things +passed, he either thought that nothing could go against him, or else +doubted the suertie of their state whom he should leaue behind him, +and therefore he confined one Kineard the brother of Sigibert, whose +fame he perceiued to increase more than he would haue wished. + +This Kineard dissembling the matter, as he that could giue place to +time, got him out of the countrie, and after by a secret conspiracie +assembled togither a knot of vngratious companie, and returning +priuilie into the countrie againe, watched his time, till he espied +that the king with a small number of his seruants was come vnto the +house of a noble woman, whome he kept a paramour at Merton, wherevpon +the said Kineard vpon the sudden beset the house round about. The king +perceiuing himselfe thus besieged of his enimies, at the first caused +the doores to be shut, supposing either by curteous woords to appease +his enimies, or with his princelie authoritie to put them in feare. + +But when he saw that by neither meane he could doo good, in a great +chafe he brake foorth of the house vpon Kineard, and went verie neere +to haue killed him: but being compassed about with multitude of +enimies, whilest he stood at defense, thinking it a dishonour for +[Sidenote: Kinewulfe slaine by conspirators.] +him to flee, he was beaten downe and slaine, togither with those few +of his seruants which he had there with him, who chose rather to die +in seeking reuenge of their maisters death than by cowardise to yeeld +themselues into the murtherers hands. There escaped none except one +Welshman or Britaine, an hostage, who was neuerthelesse sore wounded +and hurt. + +The brute of such an heinous act was streightwaies blowne ouer all, +and brought with speed to the eares of the noble men and peeres of the +realme, which were not farre off the place where this slaughter had +beene committed. Amongst other, one Osrike, for his age and wisedome +accounted of most authoritie, exhorted the residue that in no wise +they should suffer the death of their souereigne lord to passe +vnpunished vnto their perpetuall shame and reproofe. Wherevpon in all +hast they ran to the place where they knew to find Kineard, who at the +first began to please his cause, to make large promises, to pretend +coosenage, and so foorth: but when he perceiued all that he could +say or doo might not preuaile, he incouraged his companie to shew +themselues valiant, and to resist their enimies to the vttermost of +their powers. Heerevpon followed a doubtfull fight, the one part +striuing to saue their liues, and the other to atteine honour, and +punish the slaughter of their souereigne lord. At length the victorie +rested on the side where the right was, so that the wicked murtherer +after he had fought a while, at length was slaine, togither with +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ _H. Hunt_] +fourescore and eight of his mates. The kings bodie was buried at +Winchester, & the murtherers at Repingdon. Such was the end of king +Kinewulfe, after he had reigned the tearme of 31 yeeres. + +[Sidenote: _Eccle. hist. Magd._ 786] +In the yeere of our Lord 786, pope Adrian sent two legats into +England, Gregorie, or (as some copies haue) George bishop of Ostia, +and Theophylactus bishop of Tuderto, with letters commendatorie vnto +Offa king of Mercia, Alfwold king of Northumberland, Ieanbright or +Lambert archbishop of Canturburie, and Eaubald archbishop of Yorke. +[Sidenote: _H. Hunt._ Legats from the pope.] +These legats were gladlie receiued, not onlie by the foresaid +kings and archbishops, but also of all other the high estates, aswell +spirituall as temporall of the land, & namelie of Kinewulfe king of +the Westsaxons, which repaired vnto king Offa to take counsell with +him for reformation of such articles as were conteined in the popes +letters. + +[Sidenote: Twentie articles which the legats had to propone.] +There were twentie seuerall articles which they had to propone on +the popes behalfe, as touching the receiuing of the faith or articles +established by the Nicene councell, and obeieng of the other generall +councels, with instructions concerning baptisme and keeping of synods +yeerelie, for the examination of priests and ministers, and reforming +of naughtie liuers. Moreouer touching discretion to be vsed in +admitting of gouernors in monasteries, and curats or priests to the +ministerie in churches: and further for the behauior of priests in +wearing their apparell, namelie that they should not presume to come +to the altar bare legged, lest their dishonestie might be discouered. +And that in no wise the chalice or paten were made of the horne of an +oxe, bicause the same is bloudie of nature: nor the host of a crust, +but of pure bread. Also whereas bishops vsed to sit in councels to +iudge in secular causes, they were now forbidden so to doo. + +Manie other things were as meanes of reformation articled, both for +spirituall causes, and also concerning ciuill ordinances, as disabling +children to be heirs to the parents, which by them were not begot +[Sidenote: Nuns concubines.] +in lawfull matrimonie but on concubines, whether they were nunnes +or secular women. Also of paiment of tithes, performing of vowes, +auoiding of vndecent apparell, and abolishing of all maner of +heathenish vsages and customes that sounded contrarie to the order +[Sidenote: Curtailing of horsses.] +of christanitie, as curtailing of horsses, and eating of horsses +flesh. These things with manie other expressed in 20 principall +articles (as we haue said) were first concluded to be receiued by the +church of the Northumbers in a councell holden there, and subscribed +by Alfwold king of the Northumbers, by Delberike bishop of Hexham, by +Eubald archbishop of Yorke, Higwald bishop of Lindisferne, Edelbert +bishop of Whiterne, Aldulfe bishop of Mieth, Ethelwine also another +bishop by his deputies, with a number of other of the clergie; and +lords also of the temporaltie, as duke Alrike, duke Segwulfe, abbat +Alebericke, and abbat Erhard. After this confirmation had of the +Northumbers, there was also a councell holden in Mercia at Cealtide, +in the which these persons subscribed, Iambert or Lambert archbishop +of Canturburie, Offa king of Mercia, Hughbright bishop of Lichfield, +Edeulfe bishop of Faron, with Vnwone bishop of Ligor, and nine other +bishops, besides abbats; and three dukes, as Brorda, Farwald, and +Bercoald, with earle Othbald. + +But now to returne backe to speake of other dooings, as in other parts +of this land they fell out. About the yeere of our Lord 764, the see +of Canturburie being void, one Iambert or Lambert was elected +[Sidenote: 764.] +archbishop there, and in the yeere 766, the archbishop of Yorke Egbert +[Sidenote: _Sim. Dun._ saith 780] +departed this life, in whose place one Adelbert succeeded. About +the 25 yeere of Kenwulf king of Westsaxons, the Northumbers hauing to +their capteine two noble men, Osbald and Ethelherard, burned one +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] +of their iudges named Bearne, bicause he was more cruell in iudgement +(as they tooke the matter) than reason required. In which vengeance +executed vpon the cruell iudge (if he were so seuere as this attempt +of the two noble men dooth offer the readers to suspect) all such of +his liuerie & calling are taught lenitie & mildnes, wherwith they +should leuen the rigor of the lawe. For + + [Sidenote: _Ouid. lib. 2. de art. am._] + + ------capit indulgentia mentes, + Asperitas odium saeuaque bella mouet. + Odimus accipitrem, quia viuit semper in armis, + Er pauidum solitos in pecus ire lupos. + At caret insidijs hominum, quia mitis hirundo est, + Quasque colat turres Chaonis ales habet. + +At the same time, one Aswald or Alfewald reigned ouer the Northumbers, +being admitted K. after that Ethelbert was expelled, and when the +[Sidenote: He began his reigne _ann._ 779, as saith _Simon Dun._ and +reigned but ten yeeres.] +same Alfwald had reigned 10, or (as some say) 11 yeeres, he was +traitorouslie and without all guilt made away; the cheefe conspirator +was named Siga. The same Alfwald was a iust prince, and woorthilie +gouerned the Northumbers to his high praise and commendation. He was +murthered by his owne people (as before ye haue heard) the 23 of +September, in the yeere of our Lord 788, and was buried at Hexham. + +[Sidenote: 788. _Matth. West._ _Simon Dun._ 792.] +In the yeere 792, Charles king of France sent a booke into +Britaine, which was sent vnto him from Constantinople, conteining +certeine articles agreed vpon in a synod (wherein were present aboue +the number of three hundred bishops) quite contrarie and disagreeing +from the true faith, namelie in this, that images ought to be +worshipped, which the church of God vtterlie abhorreth. Against this +booke Albinus that famous clearke wrote a treatise confirmed with +places taken out of holie scripture, which treatise, with the booke in +[Sidenote: _Sim. Dunel._ 800.] +name of all the bishops and princes of Britaine, he presented vnto +the king of France. ¶ In the yeere 800, on Christmasse eeuen chanced a +maruellous tempest of wind, which ouerthrew whole cities and townes in +diuerse places, and trees in great number, beside other harmes which +it did, as by death of cattell, &c. In the yeere following a great +part of London was consumed by fire. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Britricus K. of the Westsaxons, his inclination, Egbert being of the +bloud roiall is banished the land, & why; crosses of bloudie colour +and drops of bloud fell from heauen, what they did prognosticate; the +first Danes that arriued on the English coasts, and the cause of their +comming; firie dragons flieng in the aire foretokens of famine +and warre; Britricus is poisoned of his wife Ethelburga, hir ill +qualities; why the kings of the Westsaxons decreed that their wiues +should not be called queenes, the miserable end of Ethelburga; Kenulfe +king of Mercia, his vertues, he restoreth the archbishops see to +Canturburie which was translated to Lichfield, he inuadeth Kent, +taketh the king prisoner in the field, and bountifullie setteth him at +libertie, the great ioy of the people therevpon; his rare liberalitie +to churchmen, his death and buriall._ + +THE SEUENTH CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: BRITRICUS. _Hen. Hunt._ _Matt. West._ saith 787. +_Simon Dun._ saith 786.] +After Kenwulfe, one Britricus or Brightrike was ordeined king of +Westsaxons, and began his reigne in the yeere of our Lord 787, which +was about the 8 yeere of the gouernment of the empresse Eirene with +hir son Constantinus, and about the second yeere of the reigne of +Achaius K. of Scots. This Brightrike was descended of the line of +Cerdicus the first king of Westsaxons, the 16 in number from him. He +was a man of nature quiet & temperate, more desirous of peace than of +warre, and therefore he stood in doubt of the noble valiancie of one +Egbert, which after succeeded him in the kingdome. The linage of +Cerdicus was in that season so confounded and mingled, that euerie +one as he grew in greatest power, stroue to be king and supreame +gouernour. But speciallie Egbertus was knowne to be one that coueted +that place, as he that was of the bloud roiall, and a man of great +[Sidenote: Egbert banished.] +power and lustie courage. King Brightrike therefore to liue in more +safetie, banished him the land, and appointed him to go into France. +Egbert vnderstanding certeinlie that this his departure into a +forreine countrie should aduance him in time, obeied the kings +pleasure. + +[Sidenote: A strange woonder.] +About the third yeere of Brightrikes reigne, there fell vpon mens +garments, as they walked abroad, crosses of bloudie colour, and bloud +fell from heauen as drops of raine. Some tooke this woonder for +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._ _Wil. Malm._ _Hen. Hunt._ +Danes.] +a signification of the persecution that followed by the Danes: for +shortlie after, in the yeere insuing, there arriued three Danish ships +vpon the English coasts, against whome the lieutenant of the parties +adjoining made foorth, to apprehend those that were come on land, +howbeit aduenturing himselfe ouer rashlie amongst them, he was slaine: +but afterwards when the Danes perceiued that the people of the +countries about began to assemble, and were comming against them, they +fled to their ships, and left their prey and spoile behind them for +that time. These were the first Danes that arriued here in this land, +being onelie sent (as was perceiued after) to view the countrie and +coasts of the same, to vnderstand how with a greater power they might +be able to inuade it, as shortlie after they did, and warred so with +the Englishmen, that they got a great part of the land, and held it in +their owne possession. In the tenth yeere of king Brightrikes reigne, +there were seene in the aire firie dragons flieng, which betokened +(as was thought) two grieuous plagues that followed. First a great +[Sidenote: Famin & war signified.] +dearth and famine: and secondlie a cruell war of the Danes, which +shortlie followed, as ye shall heare. + +Finallie, after that Brightrike had reigned the space of 16 yeeres, he +[Sidenote: _Ran. Cest. lib. 5. cap. 25_. Brightrike departed this life.] +departed this life, and was buried at Warham. Some write that he +was poisoned by his wife Ethelburga daughter vnto Offa king of Mercia +(as before ye haue heard) and he maried hir in the fourth yere of +his reigne. She is noted by writers to haue bin a verie euill woman, +proud, and high-minded as Lucifer, and therewith disdainful. She bare +[Sidenote: Ethelburga hir conditions and wicked nature.] +hir the more statelie, by reason of hir fathers great fame and +magnificence: whome she hated she would accuse to hir husband, and so +put them in danger of their liues. And if she might not so wreake hir +rancour, she would not sticke to poison them. + +It happened one day, as she meant to haue poisoned a yoong gentleman, +against whome she had a quarell, the king chanced to tast of that cup, +and died thereof (as before ye haue heard.) Hir purpose indeed was not +to haue poisoned the king, but onelie the yoong gentleman, the which +drinking after the king, died also, the poison was so strong and +[Sidenote: A decree of the kings of the Westsaxons against their +wiues.] +vehement. For hir heinous crime it is said that the kings of the +Westsaxons would not suffer their wiues to be called queenes, nor +permit them to sit with them in open places (where their maiesties +should bee shewed) manie yeeres after. Ethelburga fearing punishment, +fled into France with great riches and treasure, & was well cherished +[Sidenote: The end of Ethelburga. _Simon Dun._] +in the court of king Charles at the first, but after she was thrust +into an abbeie, and demeaned hirselfe so lewdlie there, in keeping +companie with one of hir owne countriemen, that she was banished the +house, and after died in great miserie. + +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ Kenulfe.] +Egbert king of Mercia departing this life, after he had reigned +foure moneths, ordeined his coosine Kenulfe to succeed in his place, +which Kenulfe was come of the line of Penda king of Mercia, as +rightlie descended from his brother Kenwalke. This Kenulfe for his +noble courage, wisdome, and vpright dealing, was woorthie to be +compared with the best princes that haue reigned. His vertues passed +his fame: nothing he did that enuie could with iust cause reprooue. At +home he shewed himselfe godlie and religious, in warre he became +[Sidenote: The archbishops see restored to Canturburie.] +victorious, he restored the archbishops see againe to Canturburie, +wherein his humblenes was to be praised, that made no account of +worldlie honour in his prouince, so that the order of the ancient +canons might be obserued. He had wars left him as it were by +succession from his predecessour Offa against them of Kent, and +thervpon entring that countrie with a mightie armie, wasted and +[Sidenote: The king of Kent taken prisoner.] +spoiled the same, and encountering in battell with king Edbert or +Ethelbert, otherwise called Prenne, ouerthrew his armie, and tooke him +prisoner in the field, but afterwards he released him to his +great praise and commendation. For whereas he builded a church at +Winchcombe, vpon the day of the dedication thereof, he led the Kentish +king as then his prisoner, vp to the high altar, and there set him at +libertie, declaring thereby a great proofe of his good nature. + +There were present at that sight, Cuthred whom he had made king of +Kent in place of Ethelbert, or Edbert, with 13 bishops, and 10 dukes. +The noise that was made of the people in reioising at the kings +bountious liberalitie was maruellous. For not onelie he thus +[Sidenote: Kenulfs liberalitie towards churchmen which was not +forgotten by them in their histories.] +restored the Kentish king to libertie, but also bestowed great rewards +vpon all the prelates and noble men that were come to the feast, +euerie priest had a peece of gold, and euerie moonke a shilling. Also +he dealt and gaue away great gifts amongst the people, and founded +in that place an abbeie, indowing the same with great possessions. +Finallie, after he had reigned 24 yeeres, he departed this life, and +appointed his buriall to be in the same abbeie of Winchcombe, leauing +behind him a sonne named Kenelme, who succeeded his father in the +kingdome, but was soone murthered by his vnnaturall sister Quendred, +the 17 of Iulie, as hereafter shall be shewed. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Osrike king of Northumberland leaueth the kingdome to Edelbert +reuoked out of exile, king Alfwalds sons miserablie slaine, Osred is +put to death, Ethelbert putteth away his wife and marieth another, his +people rise against him therefore and kill him, Oswald succeeding him +is driuen out of the land; Ardulfe king of Northumberland, duke Wade +raiseth warre against him and is discomfited; duke Aldred is slaine; +a sore battell fought in Northumberland, the English men aflict one +another with ciuill warres; king Ardulfe deposed from his estate; +the regiment of the Northumbers refused as dangerous and deadlie by +destinie, what befell them in lieu of their disloialtie; the Danes +inuade their land and are vanquished; the roiall race of the Kentish +kings decaieth, the state of that kingdome; the primasie restored to +the see of Canturburie, Egbert (after the death of Britricus) is sent +for to vndertake the gouernement of the Westsaxons, his linage._ + +THE EIGHT CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: OSRED. 788.] +When Aswald king of Northumberland was made away, his brother +Osred the sonne of Alred tooke vpon him the rule of that kingdom anno +788, and within one yeere was expelled, and left the kingdome to +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ _Matth. West._ _Hen. Hunt._ +_Simon Dun._] +Ethelbert or Edelred as then reuoked out of exile, in which he had +remained for the space of 12 yeeres, and now being restored, he +continued in gouernement of the Northumbers 4 yeeres, or (as some say) +[Sidenote: Duke Ardulf taken and wounded.] +7 yeeres; in the second yeere whereof duke Eardulfe was taken and +led to Ripon, and there without the gate of the monasterie wounded +(as was thought) to death by the said king, but the moonks taking his +bodie, and laieng it in a tent without the church, after midnight he +was found aliue in the church. + +Moreouer, about the same time the sonnes of king Alfwald were by +force drawne out of the citie of Yorke, but first by a wile they were +trained out of the head church where they had taken sanctuarie, and so +at length miserablie slaine by king Ethelbert in Wonwaldremere, +one of them was named Alfus, & the other Alfwin. In the yeere of our +[Sidenote: 792] +Lord 792, Osred vpon trust of the others and promises of diuerse noble +men, secretly returned into Northumberland, but his owne souldiers +forsooke him, and so was he taken, and by king Ethelberts commandment +put to death at Cunbridge on the 14 day of September. + +The same yeere king Ethelbert maried the ladie Alfled the daughter of +Offa king of Mercia, forsaking his former wife which he had, & hauing +no iust cause of diuorce giuen on hir part, wherby his people tooke +such displeasure against him, that finallie after he had reigned now +this second time 4 yeeres, or (as other say) seuen yeeres, he could +not auoid the destinie of his predecessors, but was miserablie killed +by his owne subiects at Cobre, the 18 of Aprill. After whome, one +Oswald a noble man was ordeined king, and within 27 or 28 daies after +[Sidenote: Holie Iland.] +was expelled, and constreined to flie first into the Ile of +Lindesferne, and from thence vnto the king of the Picts. + +[Sidenote: Ardulfe.] +Then Ardulfe that was a duke and sonne to one Arnulfe was reuoked +out of exile, made king, & consecrated also at Yorke by the archbishop +Cumhald, and three other bishops, the 25 of June, in the yeere +[Sidenote: 796.] +796. About two yeeres after, to wit, in the yeere 798 one duke +Wade, and other conspirators which had beene also partakers in the +[Sidenote: Walalege.] +murthering of king Ethelbert, raised warre against king Ardulfe, +and fought a battell with him at Walleg, but king Ardulfe got the +vpper hand, and chased Wade and other his enimies out of the +[Sidenote: 799.] +field. In the yeere 799, duke Aldred that had murthered Ethelbert or +Athelred king of Northumberland, was slaine by another duke called +Chorthmond in reuenge of the death of his maister the said Ethelbert. +Shortlie after, about the same time that Brightrike king of +Westsaxons departed this life, there was a sore battell foughten +in Northumberland at Wellehare, in the which Alricke the sonne of +Herbert, and manie other with him were slaine: but to rehearse all the +battels with their successes and issues, it should be too tedious and +irkesome to the readers, for the English people being naturallie hard +[Sidenote: The English men afflicted each other with ciuill warre.] +and high-minded, continuallie scourged each other with intestine +warres. About six or seuen yeeres after this battell, king Ardulfe was +expelled out of the state. + +¶ Thus ye may consider in what plight things stood in Northumberland, +by the often seditions, tumults and changings of gouernors, so that +there be which haue written, how after the death of king Ethelbert, +otherwise called Edelred, diuers bishops and other of the chiefest +nobles of the countrie disdaining such traitorous prince-killings, +ciuill seditions, and iniurious dealings, as it were put in dailie +practise amongst the Northumbers, departed out of their natiue borders +into voluntarie exile, and that from thencefoorth there was not anie +of the nobilitie that durst take vpon him the kinglie gouernement +amongst them, fearing the fatall prerogatiue thereof, as if it had +beene Scians horsse, whose rider came euer to some euill end. But +yet by that which is heeretofore shewed out of Simon Dunelm, it is +euident, that there reigned kings ouer the Northumbers, but in what +authoritie and power to command, it may be doubted. + +Howbeit this is certeine, that the sundrie murtherings and banishments +of their kings and dukes giue vs greatlie to gesse, that there was but +sorie obedience vsed in the countrie, whereby for no small space of +time that kingdome remained without an head gouernor, being set open +to the prey and iniurie of them that were borderers vnto it, and +likewise vnto strangers. For the Danes, which in those daies were +great rouers, had landed before in the north parts, & spoiled the +[Sidenote: This chanced in the yeere of our Lord 700, +as _Simon Dun._ saith.] +abbeie of Lindesferne otherwise called holie Iland, and perceiuing +the fruitfulnesse of the countrie, and easinesse for their people to +inuade it (bicause that through their priuate quarelling there was +little publike resistance to be looked for) at their comming home, +[Sidenote: The Danes inuade Northumberland.] +entised their countriemen to make voiages into England, and so landing +in Northumberland did much hurt, and obtained a great part of the +countrie in manner without resistance, bicause there was no ruler +there able to raise anie power of men by publike authoritie to +incounter with the common enimies, whereby the countrie was brought +into great miserie, partlie with war of the Danes, and ciuill +dissention amongest the nobles and people themselues, no man being of +authoritie (I say) able to reforme such misorders. Yet we find +[Sidenote: The Danes vanquished. This was in anno 794 +as _Simon Dun._ saith.] +that the nobles and capteines of the countrie assembling togither +at one time against the Danes that were landed about Tinmouth, +constreined them by sharpe fight to flee backe to their ships, and +tooke certeine of them in the field, whose heads they stroke off there +vpon the shore. The other that got to their ships, suffered great +losse of men, and likewise of their vessels by tempest. + +¶ Here then we are taught that the safest way to mainteine a +monarchie, is when all degrees liue in loialtie. And that it is +necessarie there should be one supereminent, vnto whome all the +residue should stoope: this fraile bodie of ours may giue vs +sufficient instruction. For reason ruleth in the mind as souereigne, +and hath subiect vnto it all the affections and inward motions, yea +the naturall actions are directed by hir gouernement: whereto if the +will be obedient there cannot creepe in anie outrage or disorder. Such +should be the sole regiment of a king in his kingdome; otherwise he +may be called "Rex a regendo, as Mons a mouendo." For there is not a +greater enimie to that estate, than to admit participants in roialtie, +which as it is a readie way to cause a subuersion of a monarchie; so +it is the shortest cut ouer to a disordered anarchie. But to proceed +in the historie. + +After that Alrike (the last of king Witchreds sonnes, which reigned in +Kent successiuelie after their father) was dead, the noble ofspring of +the kings there so decaied, and began to vade awaie, that euerie one +which either by flattering had got rithes togither, or by seditious +partaking was had in estimation, sought to haue the gouernement, and +to vsurp the title of king, abusing by vnworthie means the honor and +dignitie of so high an office. Amongest others, one Edbert or +[Sidenote: Edelbert.] +Edelbert, surnamed also Prenne, gouerned the Kentishmen for the space +of two yeares, and was in the end vanquished by them of Mercia, and +taken prisoner, as before is said: so that for a time he liued in +captiuitie; and although afterwards he was set at libertie, yet was he +not receiued againe to the kingdome, so that it is vncerteine what end +he made. Cuthred that was appointed by Kinevulfe the king of Mercia, +to reigne in place of the same Edbert or Edelbert, continued in +the gouernement eight yeeres as king, rather by name than by act, +inheriting his predecessors euill hap and calamitie, through factions +and ciuill discord. + +[Sidenote: Lambert.] +After that Iambrith or Lambert the archbishop of Canturburie was +departed this life, one Edelred was ordeined in his place, vnto whome +the primasie was restored, which in his predecessors time was taken +awaie by Offa king of Mercia, as before is recited. Also after the +death of Eubald archbishop of Yorke, another of the same name called +Eubald the second was admitted to succeed in that see. After that +Brightrike the king of Westsaxons was departed this life, messengers +were sent with all speed into France, to giue knowledge thereof +vnto Egbert, which as before is shewed, was constreined by the said +Brightrike to depart the countrie. At the first, he withdrew vnto Offa +king of Mercia, with whome he remained for a time, till at length +(through suit made by Brightrike) he perceiued he might not longer +continue there without danger to be deliuered into his enimies hands; +and so, Offa winking at the matter, he departed out of his countrie, +and got him ouer into France. But being now aduertised of Brightriks +death, and required by earnest letters sent from his friends to come +and receiue the gouernement of the kingdome, he returned with all +[Sidenote: Egbert receiued a king of Westsaxons His linage.] +conuenient speed into his countrie, and was receiued immediatlie +for king, by the generall consent of the Westsaxons, as well in +respect of the good hope which they had conceiued of his woorthie +qualities and aptnesse to haue gouernement, as of his roiall linage, +being lineallie descended from Inigils the brother of king Inas, as +sonne to Alkemound, that was the sonne of one Eaffa, which Eaffa was +sonne to Ope the sonne of the foresaid Inigils. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Egbert reigneth ouer the Westsaxons, his practise or exercise in the +time of his exile, his martiall exploits against the Cornishmen and +Welshmen, Bernulfe king of Mercia taketh indignation at Egbert for the +inlarging of his roiall authoritie, they fight a sore battell, Egbert +ouercommeth, great ods betweene their souldiers, bishop Alstan a +warriour; Kent, Essex, Southerie, Sussex, and Eastangles subiect to +Egbert; he killeth Bernulfe K. of Mercia, and conquereth the whole +kingdome, Whitlafe the king thereof becommeth his tributarie, the +Northumbers submit themselues to Egbert, he conquereth Northwales and +the citie of Chester, he is crowned supreme gouernour of the whole +land, when this Ile was called England, the Danes inuade the land, +they discomfit Egberts host, the Welshmen ioine with the Danes against +Egbert, they are both vanquished, Egbert dieth._ + +THE NINTH CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: EGBERT. 802 as _Simon Dunel._ +and _M.W._ hath noted but 801.] +This Egbert began his reigne in the yeare of our Lord 800, which +was the 4 yeare almost ended, after that the emperour Eirine began the +second time to rule the empire, and in the 24 yeare of the reigne of +Charles the great king of France, which also was in the same yeare +after he was made emperour of the west, and about the second yeare +of Conwall king of Scots. Whilest this Egbert remained in exile, he +turned his aduersaries into an occasion of his valiancie, as it had +beene a grindstone to grind awaie and remoue the rust of sluggish +slouthfulnes, in so much that hawnting the wars in France, in seruice +of Charles the great, he atteined to great knowledge and experience, +both in matters appertaining to the wars, and likewise to the well +ordering of the common wealth in time of peace. The first wars that he +tooke in hand, after he had atteined to the kingdome, was against the +Cornishmen, a remnant of the old Britains, whome he shortlie ouercame +and subdued. Then he thought good to tame the vnquiet Welshmen, the +which still were readie to moue rebellion against the Englishmen, +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ _Hen. Hunt._] +as they that being vanquished, would not yet seeme to be subdued, +wherefore about the 14 yeare of his reigne, he inuaded the countrie of +Wales, and went through the same from east to west, not finding anie +person that durst resist him. + +King Egbert hauing ouercome his enimies of Wales and Cornewall, began +to grow in authoritie aboue all the other rulers within this land, in +somuch that euerie of them began to feare their owne estate, but +[Sidenote: Bernulf king of Mercia.] +namelie Bernulfe king of Mercia sore stomached the matter, as he that +was wise, and of a loftie courage, and yet doubted to haue to doo with +Egbert, who was knowen also to be a man both skilfull and valiant. At +length yet considering with himselfe, that if his chance should be +to speed well, so much the more should his praise be increased, he +determined to attempt the fortune of warre, and therevpon intimated +the same vnto Egbert, who supposing it should be a dishonor vnto him +[Sidenote: A battell fought at Ellendon.] +to giue place, boldlie prepared to meete Bernulfe in the field. +Herevpon they incountred togither at Ellendon, & fought a sore +battell, in the which a huge number of men were slaine, what on the +one part, and on the other but in the end the victorie remained with +Egbert, although he had not the like host for number vnto Bernulfe, +[Sidenote: Egbert won the victorie.] +but he was a politike prince, and of great experience, hauing chosen +his souldiers of nimble, leane, and hartie men; where Bernulfs +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ 826.] +souldiers (through long ease) were cowardlie persons, and +ouercharged with flesh. The battell was fought in the yeare of our +Lord 826. + +King Egbert hauing got this victorie, was aduanced into such hope, +that he persuaded himselfe to be able without great adoo to ouercome +the residue of his neighbours, whose estates he saw plainlie sore +weakened and fallen into great decaie. Herevpon before all other, he +determined to assaile Edelvulfe king of Kent, whome he knew to be +a man in no estimation amongest his subiects. A competent armie +therefore being leuied, he appointed his sonne Ethelwulfe & Alstan +[Sidenote: Alstan bishop of Shireborn a warrior.] +bishop of Shireborne, with earle Walhard to haue the conduct therof, +and sent them with the same into Kent, where they wrought such +maisteries, that they chased both the king and all other that would +not submit themselues, out of the countrie, constreining them to +[Sidenote: The conquests of the Westsaxons.] +passe ouer the Thames. And herewith the Westsaxons following the +victorie, brought vnder subiection of king Egbert the countries of +Kent, Essex, Southerie, and Sussex. The Eastangles also about +[Sidenote: _Henr. Hunt._] +the same time receiued king Egbert for their souereigne Lord, and +comforted by his setting on against Bernulfe king of Mercia, inuaded +the confines of his kingdome, in reuenge of displeasures which he had +doone to them latelie before, by inuading their countrie, and as it +[Sidenote: Bernulf king of Mercia slaine.] +came to passe, incountring with the said Bernulfe which came against +them to defend his countrie, they slue him in the field. + +Thus their minds on both parts being kindled into further wrath, +the Eastangles eftsoones in the yeare following fought with them of +Mercia, and ouercame them againe, and slue their king Ludicenus, who +succeeded Bernulfe in that kingdome, with 5 of his earles. The state +of the kingdome of Mercia being weakened, Egbert conceiued an assured +hope of good successe, & in the 27 yeare of his reigne, made an open +inuasion into the countrie, and chasing Whitlafe king of Mercia (that +succeeded Ludicenus) out of his estate, conquered the whole kingdome +of the Mercies. But yet in the yeere next following, or in the third +yeare after, he restored it againe to Whitlafe, with condition, that +he should inioy the same as tributarie to him, and acknowledge him +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] +for his supreme gouernour. The same yeare that Bernulfe king of +[Sidenote: These were the Cornish men as is to be supposed.] +Mercia was slaine by the Eastangles, there was a sore battell foughten +at Gauelford, betwixt them of Deuonshire, and the Britains, in the +which manie thousands died on both parts. + +King Egbert hauing conquered all the English people inhabiting on +the south side of Humber, led foorth his armie against them of +Northumberland: but the Northumbers being not onelie vexed with ciuill +sedition, but also with the often inuasion of Danes, perceiued not +[Sidenote: King Egbert inuadeth Northumberland. +The Northumbers submit themselues to king Egbert.] +how they should be able to resist the power of king Egbert: and +therefore vpon good aduisement taken in the matter, they resolued to +submit themselues, and therevpon sent ambassadors to him to offer +their submission, committing themselues wholie vnto his protection. +King Egbert gladlie receiued them, and promised to defend them from +all forren enimies. Thus the kingdome of Northumberland was brought +vnder subiection to the kings of the Westsaxons, after the state +had been sore weakened with contention and ciuill discord that had +continued amongst the nobles of the countrie, for the space of manie +yeeres, beside the inuasion made by outward enimies, to the greeuous +damage of the people. + +After that king Egbert had finished his businesse in Northumberland, +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._ Northwales and the citie of Chester conquered +by Egbert.] +he turned his power towards the countrie of Northwales, and +subdued the same, with the citie of Chester, which till those daies, +the Britains or Welshmen had kept in their possession. When king +Egbert had obteined these victories, and made such conquests as before +is mentioned, of the people heere in this land, he caused a councell +to be assembled at Winchester, and there by aduise of the high +estates, he was crowned king, as souereigne gouernour and supreame +lord of the whole land. It is also recorded, that he caused a +commission to be directed foorth into all parts of the realme, to +giue commandement, that from thence forward all the people inhabiting +within this land, should be called English men, and not Saxons, and +[Sidenote: The name of this ile when it was changed.] +likewise the land should be called England by one generall name, +though it should appeere (as before is mentioned) that it was so +called shortlie after the first time that the Angles and Saxons got +possession thereof. + +Now was king Egbert setled in good quiet, and his dominions reduced +[Sidenote: The Danes.] +out of the troubles of warre, when suddenlie newes came, that the +Danes with a nauie of 35 ships, were arriued on the English coasts, +and began to make sore warre in the land. K. Egbert being thereof +aduertised, with all conuenient speed got togither an armie, and went +foorth to giue battell to the enimies. Heerevpon incountring with +them, there was a sore foughten field betwixt them, which continued +with great slaughter on both sides, till the night came on, and then +by chance of warre the Englishmen, which before were at point to haue +[Sidenote: The Englishmen discomfited by Danes. _Simon Dun._ _H. Hunt._ +_Matth. West._] +gone awaie with victorie, were vanquished and put to flight, yet +king Egbert by couert of the night escaped his enimies hands: but two +of his chiefe capteins Dudda and Osmond, with two bishops, to wit, +Herferd of Winchester, and Vigferd of Shireborne, were slaine in that +battell, which was foughten at Carrum, about the 834 of Christ, and 34 +yeere of king Egberts reigne. + +[Sidenote: 834.] +In the yeere following, the Danes with their nauie came into +Westwales, and there the Welshmen ioining with them, rose against king +Egbert, but he with prosperous fortune vanquished and slue both +[Sidenote: Danes and Welshmen vanquished.] +the Danes and Welshmen, and that in great number, at a place called +Hengistenton. The next yeere after also, which was 836, he ouerthrew +[Sidenote: 836.] +another armie of Danes which came against him, as one autor +writeth. Finallie, when king Egbert had reigned the tearme of 36 +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._] +yeeres and seuen moneths with great glorie for the inlarging of his +[Sidenote: Egbert departeth this life. 837.] +kingdome with wide bounds, which when he receiued was but of +small compasse, he departed this life, leauing to his issue matter of +woorthie praise to mainteine that with order which he with painefull +diligence had ioined togither. His bodie was buried at Winchester, and +he left behind him two sonnes Ethelwulfe, otherwise named Athaulfe and +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._] +Adelstan. The first he appointed to succeed him in the kingdome of +Westsaxons, and Adelstan he ordeined to haue the gouernment of Kent, +Sussex, and Essex. + +¶ Heere we see the paterne of a fortunate prince in all his affaires, +as well forren as domesticall, wherein is first to be obserued the +order of his education in his tender yeeres, which agreeing well with +a princes nature, could not but in the progresse of his age bring +great matters to passe, his manifold victories are an argument that as +he lacked no policie, so he had prowesse inough to incounter with his +enimies, to whome he gaue manie a fowle discomfiture. But among all +other notes of his skill and hope of happie successe in his martiall +affaires, was the good choise that he made of seruiceable souldiers, +being such as knew how to get the victorie, and hauing gotten it, +were not vntaught to vse it to their benefit, by their warinesse and +heedtaking; for + + Saepius incautae nocuit victoria turbae. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The kingdome of Kent annexed to the kingdome of the Westsaxons, +the end of the kingdome of Kent and Essex; Kenelme king of Mercia +murthered by the meanes of his owne sister Quendred, the order of hir +wicked practise; his death prophesied or foreshewed by a signe, the +kings of Mercia put by their roialtie one after another, the kingdome +of Britaine beginneth to be a monarchie; Ethelwulfe king of the +Westsaxons, he marrieth his butlers daughter, his disposition; the +fourth destruction of this land by forren enimies, the Danes sought +the ruine of this Ile, how long they afflicted and troubled the same; +two notable bishops and verie seruiceable to king Ethelwulfe in +warre, the Danes discomfited, the Englishmen chased, Ethelwulfs great +victorie ouer the Danes, a great slaughter of them at Tenet, king +Ethelwulfs deuotion and liberalitie to churches, Peter pence paid +to Rome, he marieth the ladie Iudith, his two sonnes conspire (vpon +occasion of breaking a law) to depose him, king Ethelwulfe dieth, +his foure sonnes by his first wife Osburga, how he bequeathed his +kingdoms._ + +THE TENTH CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +When Cuthred K. of Kent had reigned 8 yeeres, as before is +mentioned, he was constreined to giue place vnto one Baldred, that +tooke vpon him the gouernment, & reigned the space of 18 yeeres, +without anie great authoritie, for his subiects regarded him but +sorilie, so that in the end, when his countrie was inuaded by the +Westsaxons, he was easilie constreined to depart into exile. And thus +was the kingdome of Kent annexed to the kingdome of the Westsaxons, +after the same kingdome had continued in gouernment of kings created +of the same nation for the space of 382 yeers, that is to say, from +the yeere of our Lord 464, vnto the yeere 827. Suithred or Suthred +[Sidenote: The end of the kingdome of Kent. 827.] +king of Essex was vanquished and expelled out of his kingdome by +Egbert king of Westsaxons (as before ye maie read) in the same yeere +that the Kentishmen were subdued by the said Egbert, or else verie +[Sidenote: The end of the kingdome of Essex.] +shortlie after. This kingdome continued 281 yeeres, from the yeere +614, vnto the yeere 795, as by the table of the Heptarchie set foorth +by Alexander Neuill appeereth. After the deceasse of Kenwulfe king +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ 821] +of Mercia, his sonne Kenelme a child of the age of seuen yeeres was +admitted king, about the yeere of our Lord 821. He had two sisters, +Quendred and Burgenild, of the which the one (that is to say) +[Sidenote: The wickedness of Quendred.] +Quendred, of a malicious mind, mooued through ambition, enuied hir +brothers aduancement, and sought to make him awaie, so that in the +end she corrupted the gouernour of his person one Ashbert, with great +rewards and high promises persuading him to dispatch hir innocent +brother out of life, that she might reigne in his place. Ashbert one +day vnder a colour to haue the yoong king foorth on hunting, led him +into a thicke wood, and there cut off the head from his bodie, an impe +by reason of his tender yeeres and innocent age, vnto the world +[Sidenote: King Kenelm murthered.] +void of gilt, and yet thus traitorouslie murthered without cause or +crime: he was afterwards reputed for a martyr. + +[Sidenote: _See legenda aurea. fol. 165_. in the life of S. Kenelme.] +There hath gone a tale that his death should be signified at Rome, +and the place where the murther was committed, by a strange manner: +for (as they say) a white doue came and lighted vpon the altar of +saint Peter, bearing a scroll in hir bill, which she let fall on the +same altar, in which scroll among other things this was conteined, "In +clenc kou bath, Kenelme kinbarne lieth vnder thorne, heaued bereaued:" +that is, at Clenc in a cow pasture, Kenelme the kings child lieth +beheaded vnder a thorne. This tale I rehearse, not for anie credit +I thinke it woorthie of, but onelie for that it seemeth to note the +place where the yoong prince innocentlie lost his life. + +[Sidenote: Ceolwulfe K. of Mercia 823.] +After that Kenelme was thus made awaie, his vncle Ceolwulfe the +brother of king Kenulfe was created king of Mercia, and in the second +yeere of his reigne was expelled by Bernwulfe. Bernwulfe in the third +yeere of his reigne, was vanquished and put to flight in battell +by Egbert king of Westsaxons, and shortlie after slaine of the +Eastangles, as before ye haue heard. Then one Ludicenus or Ludicanus +was created king of Mercia, and within two yeeres after came to the +like end that happened to his predecessor before him, as he went about +to reuenge his death, so that the kingdome of Britaine began now to +reele from their owne estate, and leane to an alteration, which +grew in the end to the erection of a perfect monarchie, and finall +subuersion of their particular estates and regiments. After Ludicenus, +[Sidenote: _Matt. Westm._ 728.] +succeeded Wightlafe, who first being vanquisht by Egbert king +of Westsaxons, was afterwards restored to the kingdome by the same +Egbert, and reigned 13 yeeres, whereof twelue at the least were vnder +tribute which he paied to the said Egbert and to his sonne, as to his +souereignes and supreame gouernours. The kingdome of Northumberland +[Sidenote: 828.] +was brought in subjection to the kings of Westsaxons, as before +is mentioned, in the yeere of our Lord 828, and in the yeere of the +reigne of king Egbert 28, but yet heere it tooke not end, as after +shall appeere. + +[Sidenote: ETHELWULFUS] +Ethelwulfus, otherwise called by some writers Athaulfus, began his +reigne ouer the Westsaxons in the yeere 837, which was in the 24 yeere +of the emperor Ludouicus Pius that was also K. of France, in the tenth +yeere of Theophilus the emperor of the East, & about the third yeere +of Kenneth, the second of that name king of Scots. This Ethelwulfe +minding in his youth to haue beene a priest, entered into the orders +[Sidenote: _Henrie Hunt._ _Matth. West._] +as subdeacon, and as some write, he was bishop of Winchester: but +howsoeuer the matter stood, or whether he was or not, sure it is, that +shortlie after he was absolued of his vowes by authoritie of pope Leo, +and then maried a proper gentlewoman named Osburga, which was his +butlers daughter. He was of nature courteous, and rather desirous to +liue in quiet rest, than to be troubled with the gouernment of +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +manie countries, so that contenting himselfe with the kingdome of +Westsaxons, he permitted his brother Adelstan to inioy the residue of +the countries which his father had subdued, as Kent and Essex, with +other. He aided Burthred the king of Mercia against the Welshmen, and +greatlie aduanced his estimation, by giuing vnto him his daughter in +mariage. + +[Sidenote: Foure especiall destructions of this land.] +But now the fourth destruction which chanced to this land by +forren enimies, was at hand: for the people of Denmarke, Norway, and +other of those northeast regions, which in that season were great +rouers by sea, had tasted the wealth of this land by such spoiles and +preies as they had taken in the same, so that perceiuing they could +not purchase more profit anie where else, they set their minds to +inuade the same on ech side, as they had partlie begun in the daies of +the late kings Brightrike and Egbert. The persecution vsed by these +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ _Hen. Hunt._] +Danes seemed more greeuous, than anie of the other persecutions, +either before or sithens that time: for the Romans hauing quicklie +subdued the land, gouerned it noblie without seeking the subuersion +thereof. The Scots and Picts onelie inuaded the north parts. And the +Saxons seeking the conquest of the land, when they had once got it, +they kept it, and did what they could, to better and aduance it to a +flourishing estate. + +The Normans likewise hauing made a conquest, granted both life, +libertie, and ancient lawes to the former inhabitants: but the Danes +long time and often assailing the land on euerie side, now inuading it +in this place, and now in that, did not at the first so much couet to +conquer it, as to spoile it, nor to beare rule in it, as to waste and +destroie it: who if they were at anie time, ouercome, the victors were +nothing the more in quiet: for a new nauie, and a greater armie +[Sidenote: The Danes sought the destruction of this land.] +was readie to make some new inuasion, neither did they enter all at +one place, nor at once, but one companie on the east side, and an +other in the west, or in the north and south coasts, in such sort, +that the Englishmen knew not whether they should first go to make +[Sidenote: How long the persecution of the Danes lasted. _Will. Malmes._] +resistance against them. + +This mischiefe began chieflie in the daies of this king Ethelwulfe, +but it continued about the space of two hundred yeeres, as by the +sequele of this booke it shall appeere. King Ethelwulfe was not so +much giuen to ease, but that vpon occasion for defense of his countrie +and subiects, he was readie to take order for the beating backe of the +enimies, as occasion serued, and speciallie chose such to be of his +counsell, as were men of great experience and [Sidenote: Two notable +bishops in Ethelwulfs daies.] wisedome. Amongst other, there were two +notable prelats, Suithune bishop of Winchester, and Adelstan bishop of +Shireborne, who were readie euer to giue him good aduise. Suithune was +not so much expert in worldlie matters as Adelstan was, & therefore +chieflie counselled the king in things apperteining to his soules +health: but Adelstan tooke in hand to order matters apperteining to +the state of the commonwealth, as prouiding of monie, and furnishing +foorth of men to withstand the Danes, so that by him manie things were +both boldlie begun, and happilie atchiued, as by writers hath beene +recorded. He gouerned the see of Shireborne the space of 50 yeeres, by +the good counsell and faithfull aduise of those two prelats. + +King Ethelwulfe gouerned his subiects verie politikelie, and by +himselfe and his capteins oftentimes put the Danes to flight, though +as chance of warre falleth out, he also receiued at their hands +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ _Hen. Hunt._] +great losses, and sundrie sore detriments. In the first yeere of his +reigne, the Danes arriued at Hampton, with 33 ships, against whome he +sent earle Wulhard with part of his armie, the which giuing battell to +the enimies, made great slaughter of them, and obteined a noble +[Sidenote: Danes discomfited. _Matth. West._] +victorie. He sent also earle Adelhelme with the Dorsetshire +men against an other number of the Danes, which were landed at +Portesmouth, but after long fight, the said Adelhelme was slaine, +[Sidenote: Englishmen put to flight. They are eftsoones vanquished.] +and the Danes obteined the victorie. In the yeere following, earle +Herbert fought against the Danes at Merseware, and was there slaine, +and his men chased. The same yeere, a great armie of Danes passing by +the east parts of the land, as through Lindsey, Eastangle, and Kent, +slue and murthered an huge number of people. The next yeere after +this, they entered further into the land, and about Canturburie, +Rochester, and London, did much mischiefe. + +King Ethelwulfe in the fift yeere of his reigne, with a part of his +[Sidenote: Carrum.] +armie incountred with the Danes at Carrum, the which were arriued +in those parties with 30 ships, hauing their full fraught of men, so +that for so small a number of vessels, there was a great power of +[Sidenote: The Danes wan the victorie in battell. Danes are vanquished. +_Simon Dun._ 851.] +men of warre, in so much that they obteined the victorie at that +time, and put the king to the woorse. About the tenth yeere of king +Ethelwulfs reigne, one of his capteins called Ernwulfe, and bishop +Adelstan, with the Summersetshire men, and an other capteine called +Osred, with the Dorsetshire men, fought against the Danes, at a place +called Pedredesmuth, and vanquished them with great triumph. In the +sixteenth yeere of his reigne, king Ethelwulfe and his sonne Edelbald +hauing assembled all their powers togither, gaue battell at Ocley, +[Sidenote: Ocley. Two hundred and fiftie ships saith _Hen. Hunt._] +to an huge host of Danes, the which with foure hundred and fiftie +ships had arriued at Thames mouth, and destroied the famous cities of +London and Canturburie, and also had chased Brightwulfe king of Mercia +in battell, and being now entered into Southerie, were incountered by +king Ethelwulfe at Ocley aforesaid, & after sore fight and incredible +slaughter made on both sides, in the end, the victorie by the power of +God was giuen to those that beleeued on him, and the losse rested with +great confusion to the miscreants. + +[Sidenote: The Danes eftsoones vanquished. Danes ouercome by sea.] +Thus king Ethelwulfe obteined a glorious victorie in so mightie a +battell, as a greater had not beene lightlie heard of to chance within +the English dominions. The same yeere also Athelstan king of Kent and +duke Ealhere fought by sea with the Danes, and tooke 9 of their ships, +and chased the residue. Moreouer, one earle Ceorle hauing with him the +[Sidenote: The Deuonshire men vanquish the Danes.] +power of Deuonshire, fought with the Danes at Winleshore, and got +the victorie. This yeere was verie luckie to the English nation, but +yet the armie of the Danes lodged all the winter season in the Ile of +Tenet. And this was the first time that they remained heere all the +winter, vsing afore time but to come and make an inuasion in one place +or other, and immediatlie to returne home with the prey. + +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ 852.] +In the 18 yeere of king Ethelwulfes reigne, he aided Burthred king +of Mercia against the Welshmen (as before is mentioned) and gaue to +him his daughter in marriage, the solemnization whereof was kept at +Chipnham. The same yeere king Ethelwulfe sent his sonne Alured as then +but fiue yeeres of age to Rome, where he was consecrated K. by pope +Leo the fourth, and was receiued of him as if he had beene his owne +sonne. Duke Ealhere or Eachere with the Kentishmen, and one Huda or +[Sidenote: Great slaughter of Danes at Tenet.] +rather Wada, with the men of Southerie, fought against the armie +of Danes at Tenet, where great slaughter was made on both sides, the +Englishmen preuailing in the beginning, but in the end, both their +foresaid dukes or leaders died in that battell, beside manie other +that were slaine and drowned. + +In the 19 yeere of his reigne, king Ethelwulfe ordeined that the +tenths or tithes of all lands due to be paid to the church, should be +free from all tribute, duties, or seruices regall. And afterwards, +with great deuotion he went to Rome, where he was receiued with great +honour, and taried there one whole yeere: he tooke with him his sonne +[Sidenote: The Saxons schoole.] +Alured, who had beene there before as ye haue heard. He repaired +the Saxons schoole, which Offa king of Mercia had sometime founded in +that citie, and latelie had beene sore decaied by fire. He confirmed +the grant of Peter pence, to the intent that no Englishmen from +[Sidenote: King Ethelwulfs liberalitie to churches. _Will. Malmes._ +_Simon Dun._ Mancusae.] +thence-foorth should doo penance in bounds as he saw some there to +doo before his face. It is also written, that he should acquit all the +churches of his realme of paieng tribute to his coffers (as before ye +haue heard) & moreouer couenanted to send vnto Rome euerie yeere three +hundred marks, that is to say, one hundred marks to saint Peters +church, an other hundred marks to saint Paules light, and the third +hundred marks to the Pope. + +[Sidenote: The ladie Iudith.] +In his returne thorough France, he married the ladie Iudith, +daughter to Charles the bald, then K. of France, and bringing hir with +him into his countrie, placed hir by him in a chaire of estate, with +which deed he offended so the minds of his subiects, bicause it was +against the order taken before him, for the offense of Ethelburga, +that his sonne Ethelbald and Adelstan bishop of Shireborne, with +Enwulfe earle of Summerset, conspired to depose him from his +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +kinglie authoritie; but by mediation of friends, the matter was taken +vp, and so ordered, that the kingdome was diuided betwixt the father +and the sonne, with such parcialitie, that the sonne had the better +part lieng westward, and the father was constreined to content +himselfe with the east part being the woorst. + +[Sidenote: 857.] +Of this trouble of Ethelwulfe some write otherwise, after this +manner word for word. ¶ Ethelwulfe king of the Westsaxons being +returned from Rome & the parties beyond the seas, was prohibited +the entrance into his realme by Adelstane bishop of Shireborne, and +Ethelbald his eldest sonne; pretending outwardlie the coronation of +Alfride, the mariage of Iudith the French kings daughter, and open +eating with hir at the table, to be the onelie cause of this their +manifest rebellion. Whereby he seemeth to inferre, that this reuolting +of Adelstane and his son, should proceed of the ambitious desire +of Ethelbald to reigne, and likelie inough, or else this vnequall +partition should neuer haue beene made. + +But howsoeuer the matter stood, king Ethelwulfe liued not long after +his returne from Rome, but departed this life, after he had ruled the +kingdome of the Westsaxons the space of 20 yeeres and od moneths. +His bodie was buried at Winchester. He left behind him foure sonnes, +Ethelbald, Ethelbert or Ethelbright, Ethelred, and Alsred or Alured, +which was begotten of his first wife Osburga. A little before his +[Sidenote: Onelie Westsex saith _Matt. Westm._ and _Sim. Dunel._ +saith that Ethelbright had Sussex also, and so dooth _H. Hunt._ +_Matth. Paris_.] +death he made his testament and last will, appointing his sonne +Ethelbald to succeed him in the whole regiment of his kingdoms of +Westsex and Sussex, which he held by inheritance: but the kingdoms of +Kent and Essex he assigned to his son Ethelbright. About the same time +also the Danes soiourned all the winter season in the Ile of Shepie. + +¶ The old Saxons doo bring the genealogie of this Ethelwulfe to Adam, +after this maner following. + +Ethelwulfe the sonne of Egbert, +the son of Alcmund, +the son of Eaffa, +the son of Eoppa, +the son of Ingils, +the son of Kenred, +the son of Coelwald, +the son of Cudwine, +the son of Ceawlin, +the son of Kenric, +the son of Cerdic, +the son of Eslie, +the son of Gewise, +the son of Wingie, +the son of Freawin, +the son of Fridagare, +the son of Brendie, +the son of Beldegie, +the son of Woden, +the son of Frethelwold, +the son of Freolaffe, +the son of Frethewolfe, +the son of Finnie, +the son of Godulfe, +[Sidenote: _*De quo Sedulius in car. pasch_] +the son of *Geta, +the son of Teathwie, +the son of Beame, +the son of Sceldie, +the son of Seafe, +the son of Heremod, +the son of Itermod, +the son of Hordie, +the son of Wale, +the son of Bedwie, +the son of Sem, +the son of Noah, +and so foorth to Adam, as you +shall find it by retrogradation from the 32 verse vnto the first +of the fift chapter of Genesis. Which genealogicall recapitulation in +their nationall families and tribes, other people also haue obserued; +as the Spaniards, who reckon their descent from Hesperus, before the +Gothes and Moors ouerran their land; the Italians from Aeneas, before +they were mingled with the Vandals and Lumbards; the Saxons from +Woden, before they were mixed with the Danes and Normans; the +Frenchmen at this day from the Thracians; the Germans from +[Sidenote: _Iohn Castor._ _Simon Dun._ _Matt. Parker_. +A kings son and heire a bishop.] +the children of Gwiston; and other people from their farre fetcht +ancestrie. To conclude, of this Ethelwulfe it is written, that he was +so well learned & deuout, that the clerks of the church of Winchester +did chuse him in his youth to be bishop, which function he vndertooke, +and was bishop of the said see by the space of seuen yeeres before he +was king. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Bertwolfe king of Mercia tributarie to the Westsaxons, the fame of +Modwen an Irish virgine, she was a great builder of monasteries, she +had the gift of healing diseases, Ethelbald and Ethelbright diuide +their fathers kingdome betwixt them, Ethelbald marieth his mother, +he dieth, Winchester destroied by the Danes, they plaied the +trucebreakers and did much mischiefe in Kent, Ethelbright dieth; +Ethelred king of the Westsaxons, his commendable qualities, his +regiment was full of trouble, he fought against the Danes nine times +in one yere with happie successe, the kings of Mercia fall from their +fealtie and allegiance to Ethelred; Hungar & Vbba two Danish capteines +with their power lie in Eastangle, Osbright and Ella kings of +Northumberland slaine of the Danes in battell, they set Yorke on fire, +a commendation of bishop Adelstan, his departure out of this life._ + +THE ELEUENTH CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: Bertwolfe. of Mercia.] +After Wightlafe king of Mercia, one Bertwolfe reigned as tributarie +vnto the Westsaxons, the space of 13 yeeres, about the end of which +tearme he was chased out of his countrie by the Danes, and then one +Burthred was made king of that kingdome, which maried Ethelswida +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._ saith the daughter. _Ranulf. Cest._ +_Iohn Capgraue_.] +the sister of Ethelwolfe king of Westsaxons. In this season, one +Modwen a virgine in Ireland was greatlie renowmed in the world, vnto +whome the forenamed king Ethelwolfe sent his sonne Alfred to be +cured of a disease, that was thought incurable: but by hir meanes he +recouered health, and therefore when hir monasterie was destroied in +Ireland, Modwen came ouer into England, vnto whom king Ethelwolfe gaue +land to build two abbeies, and also deliuered vnto hir his sister +Edith to be professed a nun. Modwen herevpon built two monasteries, +one at Pouleswoorth, ioining to the bounds of Arderne, wherein she +placed the foresaid Edith, with Osith and Athea: the other, whether +it was a monasterie or cell, she founded in Strenshall or Trentsall, +where she hir selfe remained solitarie a certeine time in praier, and +other vertuous exercises. And (as it is reported) she went thrice to +Rome, and finallie died, being 130 yeeres of age. Hir bodie was first +buried in an Iland compassed about with the riuer of Trent called +Andresey, taking that name of a church or chappell of saint Andrew, +which she had built in the same Iland, and dwelled therein for the +space of seuen yeeres. Manie monasteries she builded, both in +England (as partlie aboue is mentioned) and also in Scotland, as at +Striueling, Edenbrough; and in Ireland, at Celestline, and elsewhere. + +[Sidenote: ETHELBALD AND ETHELBRIGHT. 857.] +Ethelbald and Ethelbright diuiding their fathers kingdom betwixt +them, began to reigne, Ethelbald ouer the Westsaxons and the +Southsaxons, and Ethelbright ouer them of Kent and Essex, in the yeere +of our Lord 857, which was in the second yeere of the emperor Lewes +the second, & the 17 of Charles surnamed Caluus or the bald king of +France, and about the first yeere of Donald the fift of that name king +[Sidenote: The vnlawful mariage of Ethelbald. _Wil. Malm._] +of Scots. The said Ethelbald greatlie to his reproch tooke to wife +his mother in law queene Iudith, or rather (as some write) his owne +mother, whom his father had kept as concubine. He liued not past fiue +yeeres in gouernement of the kingdome, but was taken out of this life +to the great sorrow of his subiects whome he ruled right worthilie, +and so as they had him in great loue and estimation. Then his brother +Ethelbright tooke on him the rule of the whole gouernment, as well +ouer the Westsaxons & them of Sussex, as ouer the Kentishmen and them +of Essex. + +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ Winchester destroied by Danes.] +In his daies the Danes came on land, and destroid the citie of +Winchester: but duke Osrike with them of Hamshire, and duke Adelwolfe +[Sidenote: Danes vanquished.] +with the Barkeshire men gaue the enimies battell, & vanquishing +them, slue of them a great number. In the fift yeere of Ethelbrights +reigne, a nauie of Danes arriued in the Ile of Tenet, vnto whome when +the Kentishmen had promised a summe of monie to haue a truce granted +for a time, the Danes one night, before the tearme of that truce was +expired, brake foorth and wasted all the east part of Kent: wherevpon +the Kentishmen assembled togither, made towardes those trucebreakers, +and caused them to depart out of the countrie. The same yeere, after +that Ethelbright had ruled well and peaceably the Westsaxons fiue +yeeres, and the Kentishmen ten yeeres, he ended his life, and was +buried at Shireborne, as his brother Ethelbald was before him. + +[Sidenote: ETHELRED. 867.] +After Ethelbright succeeded his brother Ethelred, and began his +reigne ouer the Westsaxons and the more part of the English people, in +the yeere of our Lord 867, and in the 12 yeere of the emperour Lewes, +in the 27 yeere of the reigne of Charles Caluus king of France, and +about the 6 yeere of Constantine the second king of Scots. Touching +this Ethelred, he was in time of peace a most courteous prince, and +one that by all kind of meanes sought to win the hearts of the +people: but abroad in the warres he was sharpe and sterne, as he that +vnderstood what apperteined to good order, so that he would suffer no +offense to escape vnpunished. By which meanes he was famous both +in peace and warre: but he neither liued any long time in the +gouernement, nor yet was suffered to passe the short space that he +reigned in rest and quietnesse. + +[Sidenote: Foure yeeres six moneths saith _Harison_. _Wil. Malm._ +Ethelred fought with the Danes nine times in one yeere.] +For whereas he reigned not past six yeeres, he was continuallie +during that tearme vexed with the inuasion of the Danes, and +speciallie towards the latter end, insomuch that (as hath beene +reported of writers) he fought with them nine times in one yeere: and +although with diuers and variable fortune, yet for the more part he +went away with the victorie. Beside that, he oftentimes lay in wait +for their forragers, and such as straied abroad to rob and spoile the +countrie, whom he met withall and ouerthrew. There were slaine in his +time nine earles of those Danes, and one king, beside other of the +meaner sort without number. + +But here is to be vnderstood, that in this meane time, whilest +Ethelred was busied in warre to resist the inuasions of the Danes in +the south and west parts of this land, the kings and rulers of +[Sidenote: The kings of Mercia and Northumberland neglect their duties.] +Mercia and Northumberland taking occasion therof, began to withdraw +their couenanted subiection from the Westsaxons, and tooke vpon them +as it were the absolute gouernment and rule of their countries, +without respect to aid one another, but rather were contented to +susteine the enimies within their dominions, than to preuent the +iniurie with dutifull assistance to those, whom by allegiance they +were bound to serue and obeie. + +[Sidenote: The Danes grow in puisance.] +By reason hereof, the Danes without resistance grew into greater +power amongst them, whilest the inhabitants were still put in feare +each day more than other, and euerie late gotten victorie by the +enimies by the increase of prisoners, ministred occasion of some other +conquest to follow. Euen about the beginning of Ethelreds reigne, +[Sidenote: Hungar and Vbba.] +there arriued vpon the English coasts an huge armie of the Danes, +vnder the conduct of two renowmed capteins Hungar and Vbba, men of +maruellous strength and valiancie, but both of them passing cruell of +nature. They lay all the winter season in Estangle, compounding with +them of the countrie for truce vpon certeine conditions, sparing for a +time to shew their force for quietnesse sake. + +In the second yeere of king Ethelred, the said capteins came with +their armies into Yorkshire, finding the country vnprouided of +necessarie defense bicause of the ciuill discord that reigned +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ King Osbright deposed and Ella placed.] +among the Northumbers, the which had latelie expelled king Osbright, +that had the gouernement of those parts, and placed one Ella in his +roome: howbeit now they were constreined to reuoke him home againe, +and sought to accord him and Ella. But it was long yer that might +be brought to passe, notwithstanding yet at length they were made +friends, by reason of this inuasion attempted by forren enimies, and +then raising their powers they came to Yorke, where the Danes, hauing +wasted the countrie euen to the riuer of Tine, were lodged. + +The English host entring the citie, began to fight with the Danes, by +[Sidenote: Osbright and Ella kings of Northumberland slaine.] +reason whereof a sore battell insued betwixt them: but in the end +the two kings Osbright and Ella were slaine, and a great number of the +Northumbers, what within the citie, and what without lost their liues +at that time, the residue were constreined to take truce with the +[Sidenote: It must be vpon the 10 kalends of Aprill, or else it will +not concurre with Palmsunday. +See _Mat. West._] +Danes. This battell was fought the 21 day of March being in Lent, +on the Friday before Palmsunday, in the yere 657. + +¶ Some haue written otherwise of this battell, reporting that the +Northumbers calling home king Osbright (whome before they had +banished) incountred with the Danes in the field, without the walles +of Yorke, but they were easilie beaten backe, and chased into the +[Sidenote: Yorke burnt by Danes.] +citie, the which by the Danes pursuing the victorie, was set on +fier and burnt, togither with the king and people that were fled into +it for succour. How soeuer it came about, certeine it is, that the +Danes got the victorie, and now hauing subdued the Northumbers, +appointed one Egbert to reigne ouer them as king, vnder their +protection, which Egbert reigned in that sort six yeares ouer those +which inhabited beyond the riuer of Tine. In the same yeare, Adelstane +bishop of Shireborne departed this life, hauing gouerned that see the +[Sidenote: The commendation of Adelstan bishop of Shirborne.] +terme of 50 yeares. This Adelstane was a man of high wisedome, and +one that had borne no small rule in the kingdome of the Westsaxons, as +hereby it may be coniectured, that when king Ethelwulfe returned from +Rome, he would not suffer him to be admitted king, because he had +doone in certeine points contrarie to the ordinances and lawes of the +same kingdome, wherevpon by this bishops means Ethelbald the sonne of +the same king Ethelwulfe was established king, and so continued till +by agreement the kingdome was diuided betwixt them, as before is +mentioned. Finallie, he greatlie inriched the see of Shireborne, +[Sidenote: Bishop Adelstan couetous. _Hen. Hunt._] +and yet though he was feruentlie set on couetousnesse, he was +neuerthelesse verie free and liberall in gifts: which contrarie +extremities so ill matched, though in him (the time wherein he liued +being considered) they might seeme somewhat tollerable; yet simplie & +in truth they were vtterlie repugnant to the law of the spirit, which +biddeth that none should doo euill that good may come thereof. Against +which precept because Adelstane could not but offend in the heat of +his couetousnes, which is termed the root of all mischiefe, though he +was exceeding bountifull and large in distributing the wealth he had +greedilie gotten togither, he must needs incur reprehension. But this +is so much the lesse to be imputed vnto him as a fault, by how much +he was ignorant what (by the rule of equitie and conscience) was +requirable in a christian man, or one of his vocation. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Burthred king of Mercia with aid beseegeth the Danes in Notingham, +Basreeg and Halden two Danish kings with their powers inuade the +Westsaxons, they are incountred by Ethelwulfe earle of Barkeshire; +King Ethelred giueth them and their cheefe guides a sore discomfiture; +what Polydor Virgil recordeth touching one Iuarus king of the Danes, +and the warres that Ethelred had with them, his death; Edmund king of +Eastangles giueth battell to the Danes, he yeeldeth himselfe, and +for christian religion sake is by them most cruellie murthered, the +kingdome of the Eastangles endeth, Guthrun a Dane gouerneth the whole +countrie, K. Osbright rauisheth the wife of one Bearne a noble man, +a bloodie battell insueth therevpon, wherein Osbright and Ella are +slaine._ + +THE TWELFT CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: BURTHRED king of Mercia.] +In the yeare following, that is to say, in the third yeere of +Ethelreds reigne, he with his brother Alured went to aid Burthred king +of Mercia, against the two foresaid Danish capteines Hungar and Vbba, +the which were entred into Mercia, and had woon the towne for the +winter season. Wherevpon the foresaid Ethelred and Burthred with their +[Sidenote: Danes besieged in Notingham.] +powers came to Notingham, and besieged the Danes within it. The +Danes perceiuing themselues in danger, made suite for a truce & +abstinence from war, which they obteined, and then departed backe to +Yorke, where they soiourned the most part of all that yeare. + +In the sixt yeare of king Ethelreds reigne, a new armie of great force +[Sidenote: Basreeg and Halden.] +and power came into the countrie of the Westsaxons vnder two +leaders or kings of the Danes, Basreeg and Halden. They lodged at +Reding with their maine armie, and within three daies after the +[Sidenote: Edelwulfe, erle of Barkshire fought at Englefield with the +Danes.] +earle of Berrockshire Edelwulfe fought at Englefield with two earles +of those Danes, vanquished them, and slue the one of those earles, +whose name was Sidroc. After this king Ethelred and his brother Alured +came with a great host vnto Reding, and there gaue battell vnto the +armie of Danes, so that an huge number of people died on both parts, +but the Danes had the victorie. + +[Sidenote: The Danes wan the victory at Reading.] +After this also king Ethelred and his brother Alured fought againe +with those Danes at Aschdon, where the armies on both sides were +diuided into two parts, so that the two Danish kings lead the one +part of their armie, & certeine of their earles lead the other part. +Likewise on the English side king Ethelred was placed with one part of +the host against the Danish kings, and Alured with the other part was +appointed to incounter with the earles. Herevpon they being on both +parts readie to giue battell, the euening comming on caused them to +deferre it till the morow. And so earlie in the morning when the +armies should ioine, king Ethelred staied in his tent to heare +diuine seruice, whilest his brother vpon a forward courage hasted to +incounter his enimies, the which receiued him so sharplie, and with +so cruell fight, that at length, the Englishmen were at point to haue +turned their backs. But herewith came king Ethelred and manfullie +ended the battell, staied his people from running away, and so +encouraged them, and discouraged the enimies, that by the power of God +(whom as was thought in the morning he had serued) the Danes finallie +[Sidenote: The Danes discomfited.] +were chased and put to flight, losing one of their kings (that is +to say) Basreeg or Osreeg, and 5 earles, Sidroc the elder, and Sidroc +the yoonger, Osberne, Freine, and Harold. This battell was sore +foughten, and continued till night, with the slaughter of manie +thousands of Danes. About 14 daies after, king Ethelred and his +brother Alured fought eftsoones with the Danish armie at Basing, +[Sidenote: A battell at Merton.] +where the Danes had the victorie. Also two moneths after this they +likewise fought with the Danes at Merton. And there the Danes, after +they had beene put to the woorse, & pursued in chase a long time, yet +at length they also got the victorie, in which battell Edmund +[Sidenote: He was bishop of Shireborne as _Matt. West._ saith.] +bishop of Shireborne was slaine, and manie other that were men of +woorthie fame and good account. + +In the summer following, a mightie host of the Danes came to Reading, +[Sidenote: _Polyd. Virg._ Iuarus.] +and there soiourned for a time. ¶ These things agree not with that +which Polydor Virgil hath written of these warres which king Ethelred +had with the Danes: for he maketh mention of one Iuarus a king of the +Danes, who landed (as he writeth) at the mouth of Humber, and like a +stout enimie inuaded the countrie adioining. Against whome Ethelred +with his brother Alured came with an armie, and incountring the Danes, +fought with them by the space of a whole day togither, and was in +danger to haue beene put to the woorse, but that the night seuered +them asunder. In the morning they ioined againe: but the death of +Iuarus, who chanced to be slaine in the beginning of the battell, +[Sidenote: Danes put to flight.] +discouraged the Danes, so that they were easilie put to flight, +of whome (before they could get out of danger) a great number were +slaine. But after that they had recouered themselues togither, and +[Sidenote: Agnerus and Hubba.] +found but a conuenient place where to pitch their campe, they +chose to their capteines Agnerus, and Hubba, two brethren, which +indeuored themselues by all meanes possible to repaire their armie: +so that within 15 daies after, the Danes eftsoones fought with the +Englishmen, and gaue them such an ouerthrow, that little wanted +of making an end of all incounters to be attempted after by the +Englishmen. + +But yet within a few daies after this, as the Danes attended their +market to spoile the countrie and range somewhat licentiouslie abroad, +they fell within the danger of such ambushes as were laid for them by +king Ethelred, that no small slaughter was made of them, but yet +not without some losse of the Englishmen. Amongest others, Ethelred +himselfe receiued a wound, whereof he shortlie after died. Thus saith +Polydor touching the warres which king Ethelred had with the Danes, +who yet confesseth (as the trueth is) that such authors as he herein +followed, varie much from that which the Danish writers doo record of +these matters, and namelie touching the dooings of Iuarus, as in the +Danish historie you may see more at large. + +But now to our purpose touching the death of king Ethelred, whether by +reason of hurt receiued in fight against the Danes (as Polydor saith) +or otherwise, certeine it is, that Ethelred anon after Easter +[Sidenote: Winborne abbeie.] +departed this life, in the sixt yeare of his reigne, and was buried +at Winborne abbey. In the daies of this Ethelred, the foresaid Danish +[Sidenote: Agnerus. _Fabian_. 870.] +capteins, Hungar, otherwise called Agnerus, and Hubba returning +from the north parts into the countrie of the Eastangles, came +[Sidenote: Edmund K. of the Eastangles.] +vnto Thetford, whereof Edmund, who reigned as king in that season ouer +the Eastangles, being aduertised, raised an armie of men, and went +foorth to giue battell vnto this armie of the Danes. But he with his +people was chased out of the field, and fled to the castell of +[Sidenote: Framingham castell.] +Framingham, where being enuironed with a siege by his enimies, he +yeelded himselfe vnto them. And because he would not renounce the +[Sidenote: King Edmund shot to death.] +christian faith, they bound him to a tree, and shot arrowes at +him till he died: and afterwards cut off his head from his bodie, +and threw the same into a thicke groue of bushes. But afterwards his +[Sidenote: Eglesdon.] +friends tooke the bodie with the head, and buried the same at +Eglesdon: where afterward also a faire monasterie was builded by one +bishop Aswin, and changing the name of the place, it was after called +saint Edmundsburie. Thus was king Edmund put to death by the cruell +Danes for his constant confessing the name of Christ, in the 16 yeare +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ Eastangles without a gouernour.] +of his reigne, and so ceased the kingdome of Eastangles. For after +that the Danes had thus slaine that blessed man, they conquered all +the countrie, & wasted it, so that through their tyrannie it remained +without anie gouernor by the space of nine yeares, and then they +[Sidenote: Guthrun a Dane king of Eastangles.] +appointed a king to rule ouer it, whose name was Guthrun, one +of their owne nation, who gouerned both the Eastangles and the +Eastsaxons. + +Ye haue heard how the Danes slue Osrike and Ella kings of +Northumberland. After which victorie by them obteined, they did much +[Sidenote: _Polychron._] +hurt in the north parts of this land, and amongest other cruell +deeds, they destroied the citie of Acluid, which was a famous citie +in the time of the old Saxons, as by Beda and other writers dooth +[Sidenote: _Caxton._] +manifestlie appeare. Here is to be remembred, that some +writers rehearse the cause to be this. Osbright or Osrike king of +Northumberland rauished the wife of one Berne that was a noble man of +the countrie about Yorke, who tooke such great despight thereat, that +he fled out of the land, and went into Denmarke, and there complained +vnto the king of Denmarke his coosin of the iniurie doone to him by +king Osbright. Wherevpon the king of Denmarke, glad to haue so iust a +quarell against them of Northumberland, furnished foorth an armie, and +sent the same by sea (vnder the leading of his two brethren Hungar +and Hubba) into Northumberland, where they slue first the said king +Osbright, and after king Ella, at a place besides Yorke, which vnto +this day is called Ellas croft, taking that name of the said Ella, +being there slaine in defense of his countrie against the Danes. Which +Ella (as we find registred by writers) was elected king by such of +the Northumbers, as in fauour of Berne had refused to be subiect vnto +Osbright. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Alfred ruleth ouer the Westsaxons and the greatest part of England, +the Danes afflict him with sore warre, and cruellie make wast of his +kingdome, they lie at London a whole winter, they inuade Mercia, the +king whereof (Burthred by name) forsaketh his countrie and goeth +to Rome, his death and buriall; Halden king of the Danes diuideth +Northumberland among his people; Alfred incountreth with the Danes +vpon the sea, they sweare to him that they will depart out of his +kingdome, they breake the truce which was made betwixt him and them, +he giueth them battell, and (besides a great discomfiture) killeth +manie of their capteines, the Danes and English fight neere Abington, +the victorie vncerteine, seuen foughten fieldes betwixt them in one +yeare, the Danes soiourne at London._ + +THE XIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: ALURED OR ALFRED. 871. as _Mat. West._ & _Sim. Dunelmen._ + doo note it. _Henr. Hunt._] +After the decease of king Ethelred, his brother Alured or Alfred +succeeded him, and began his reigne ouer the Westsaxons, and other +the more part of the people of England, in the yeare of our Lord 872, +which was in the 19 yeare of the emperour Lewes the second, and 32 +yeare of the reigne of Charles the bald, king of France, and about the +eleuenth yeare of Constantine the second king of Scotland. Although +this Alured was consecrated king in his fathers life time by pope Leo +(as before ye haue heard) yet was he not admitted king at home, till +after the decease of his three elder brethren: for he being the +yoongest, was kept backe from the gouernement, though he were for his +wisdome and policie most highlie esteemed and had in all honour. + +[Sidenote: Alured persecuted by Danes. _Matt. Westm._] +In the beginning of his reigne he was wrapped in manie great +troubles and miseries, speciallie by the persecution of the Danes, +which made sore and greeuous wars in sundrie parts of this land, +destroieng the same in most cruell wise. About a moneth after he was +[Sidenote: The Danes obteine the victorie.] +made king, he gaue battell to the Danes of Wilton, hauing with him +no great number of people, so that although in the beginning the Danes +that day were put to the woorse, yet in the end they obteined the +victorie. Shortlie after, a truce was taken betwixt the Danes and the +[Sidenote: The Danes wintered at London. 874.] +Westsaxons. And the Danes that had lien at Reading, remoued from +thence vnto London, where they lay all the winter season. In the +second yeare of Alured his reigne, the Danish king Halden led the same +armie from London into Lindseie, and there lodged all that winter at +[Sidenote: Repton.] +Torkseie. In the yeare following, the same Halden inuaded Mercia, +and wintered at Ripindon. There were come to him three other leaders +of Danes which our writers name to be kings, Godrun, Esketell, & +[Sidenote: Burthred king of Mercia.] +Ammond, so that their power was greatlie increased. Burthred king of +Mercia which had gouerned that countrie by the space of 22 yeeres, was +not able to withstand the puissance of those enimies: wherevpon he was +constreined to auoid the countrie, and went to Rome, where he departed +this life, and was buried in the church of our ladie, neere to the +English schoole. + +[Sidenote: 875.] +In the fourth yeare of king Alured the armie of the Danes diuided +it selfe into two parts, so that king Halden with one part thereof +went into Northumberland, and lay in the winter, season neere to +[Sidenote: The Danes went into Northumberland.] +the riuer of Tine, where hee diuided the countrie amongest his men, +and remained there for the space of two yeares, and oftentimes fetched +thither booties and preis out of the countrie of the Picts. The other +part of the Danish armie with the three foresaid kings or leaders +[Sidenote: The Danes at Cambridge. 876.] +came vnto Cambridge, and remained there a whole yeare. In the same +yeare king Alured fought by sea with 7 ships of Danes, tooke one of +them, & chased the residue. In the yeare next insuing, the Danes came +into the countrie of the Westsaxons, and king Alured tooke truce with +them againe, and they sware to him (which they had not vsed to doo +[Sidenote: The Danes tooke an oth. _Hen. Hunt._] +to anie afore that time) that they would depart the countrie. Their +armie by sea sailing from Warham toward Excester, susteined great +losse by tempest, for there perished 120 ships at Swanewicke. + +[Sidenote: The Danes went to Excester.] +Moreouer the armie of the Danes by land went to Excester in breach +of the truce, and king Alured followed them, but could not ouertake +them till they came to Excester, and there he approched them in such +wise, that they were glad to deliuer pledges for performance of +[Sidenote: _Henr. Hunt._] +such couenants as were accorded betwixt him and them. And so then +they departed out of the countrie, and drew into Mercia. But shortlie +after, when they had the whole gouernment of the land, from Thames +northward, they thought it not good to suffer king Alured to continue +in rest with the residue of the countries beyond Thames. And therefore +the three foresaid rulers of Danes, Godrun, Esketell, and Ammond, +inuading the countrie of Westsaxons came to Chipnam, distant 17 miles +from Bristow, & there pitched their tents. +[Sidenote: 877.] + +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +King Alured aduertised hereof, hasted thither, and lodging with +his armie neere to the enimies, prouoked them to battell. The Danes +perceiuing that either they must fight for their liues, or die with +shame, boldlie came foorth, and gaue battell. The Englishmen rashlie +incountered with them, and though they were ouermatched in number, yet +with such violence they gaue the onset, that the enimies at the first +were abashed at their hardie assaults. But when as it was perceiued +that their slender ranks were not able to resist the thicke leghers of +the enimies, they began to shrinke & looke backe one vpon an other, +and so of force were constrained to retire: and therewithal did cast +themselues into a ring, which though it seemed to be the best way that +could be deuised for their safetie, yet by the great force and number +of their enimies on each side assailing them, they were so thronged +togither on heaps, that they had no roome to stir their weapons. Which +[Sidenote: Hubba slaine.] +disaduantage notwithstanding, they slue a great number of the +Danes, and amongest other, Hubba the brother of Agner, with manie +other of the Danish capteins. At length the Englishmen hauing +valiantlie foughten a long time with the enimies, which had compassed +[Sidenote: The victorie doubtful.] +them about, at last brake out and got them to their campe. To be +briefe, this battell was foughten with so equall fortune, that no man +knew to whether part the victorie ought to be ascribed. But after they +were once seuered, they tooke care to cure their hurt men, and to +burie the dead bodies, namelie the Danes interred the bodie of their +capteine Hubba with great funerall pompe and solemnitie: which +[Sidenote: Abington.] +doone, they held out their iournie till they came to Abington, whither +the English armie shortlie after came also, and incamped fast by the +enimies. + +In this meane while, the rumor was spread abroad that king Alured had +beene discomfited by the Danes, bicause that in the last battell he +withdrew to his campe. This turned greatlie to his aduantage: for +thereby a great number of Englishmen hasted to come to his succour. +[Sidenote: The Danes and Englishmen fight neer to Abington.] +On the morrow after his comming to Abington, he brought his armie +readie to fight into the field: neither were the enimies slacke, on +their parts to receiue the battell, and so the two armies ioined and +fought verie sore on both sides: so that it seemed the Englishmen +men had not to doo with those Danes, which had beene diuerse times +before discomfited and put to flight, but rather with some new people +fresh and lustie. But neither the one part nor the other was minded +to giue ouer: in so much that the horssemen alighting on foot, and +putting their horsses from them, entered the battell amongst the +footmen, and thus they continued with equall aduantage till night came +on, which parted the affraie, being one of the sorest foughten +[Sidenote: Vncerteine victorie Thus farre _Polydor_.] +fields that had beene heard of in those daies. To whether partie a man +might iustlie attribute the victorie, it was vtterlie vncerteine, with +so like losse & gaine the matter was tried & ended betwixt them. With +the semblable chance of danger and glorie seuen times that yeere +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._] +did the English and Danes incounter in battell, as writers haue +[Sidenote: A peace agreed vpon.] +recorded. At length, when their powers on both parts were sore +diminished, they agreed vpon a peace, with these conditions, that the +Danes should not attempt anie further warre against the Englishmen, +nor bring into this land anie new supplie of souldiers out of +Denmarke. But this peace by those peacemakers was violated and broken, +in so much as they ment nothing lesse than to fall from the conceiued +hope which they had of bearing rule in this land, and of inriching +themselues with the goods, possessions, rents and reuenues of the +[Sidenote: The Danes sojourned at London.] +inhabitants. The same yeere the Danes soiorned in the winter +season at London, according as they had doone often times before. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Rollo a noble man of Denmarke with a fresh power entreth England, and +beginneth to waste it, king Alured giueth him batell, Rollo saileth +ouer into France; who first inhabited Normandie, and whereof it tooke +that name; the Danes breake the peace which was made betwixt them +and Alured, he is driuen to his shifts by their inuasions into his +kingdome, a vision appeereth to him and his mother; king Alured +disguising himselfe like a minstrell entereth the Danish campe, +marketh their behauiour unsuspected, assalteth them on the sudden with +a fresh power, and killeth manie of them at aduantage; the Deuonshire +men giue the Danes battell vnder the conduct of Haldens brother, and +are discomfited; Alured fighteth with them at Edanton, they giue him +hostages, Gurthrun their king is baptised and named Adelstan, a league +concluded betwixt both the kings, the bounds of Alureds kingdome._ + +THE XIIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: Ann. 876. saith _Simon Dun._] +About the same time, or shortlie after, there came into England +one Rollo, a noble man of Denmarke or Norway, with a great armie, and +(notwithstanding the peace concluded betweene the Englishmen and the +Danes) began to waste and destroy the countrie. King Alured hearing +these newes, with all speed thought best in the beginning to stop +such a common mischiefe, and immediatlie assembling his people, went +against the enimies, and gaue them battell, in the which there died a +great number of men on both sides, but the greater losse fell to Rollo +his armie. Yet Matthew Westmin. saith that the Englishmen were put to +flight. After this, it chanced that Rollo being warned in a dreame, +left England, & sailed ouer into France, where he found fortune so +fauourable to him, that he obteined in that region for him and his +[Sidenote: 30 yeeres after this he was baptised.] +people a countrie, the which was afterwards named Normandie, of those +northerne people which then began to inhabit the same, as in the +histories of France you maie see more at large. + +The Danes which had concluded peace with king Alured (as before you +haue heard) shortlie after vpon the first occasion, brake the +same, and by often inuasions which they made into the countrie of +Westsaxons, brought the matter to that passe, that there remained to +[Sidenote: King Alured driuen to his shifts.] +king Alured but onlie the three countries of Hamshire, Wiltshire, & +Summersetshire, in so much that he was constreined for a time to +keepe himselfe close within the fennes and maresh grounds of +Summersetshire, with such small companies as he had about him, +constreined to get their liuing with fishing, hunting, and other +such shifts. He remained for the most part within an Ile called +[Sidenote: Edlingsey.] +Edlingsey, that is to say, the Iland of noble men, enuironed about +with fennes and mareshes. + +[Sidenote: A vision if it be true.] +Whiles he was thus shut vp within this Iland, he was by dreame +aduertised of better hap shortlie to follow: for as it hath beene +said, saint Cuthbert appeered to him as he laie in sleepe, and +comforted him, declaring to him, that within a while fortune should so +turne, that he should recouer againe his kingdome to the confusion of +his enimies. And to assure him that this should prooue true, he told +him that his men which were gone abroad to catch fish, should bring +home great plentie, although the season was against them, by reason +that the waters were frosen, and that a cold rime fell that morning, +to the hinderance of their purpose. His mother also at that time being +in sleepe, saw the like vision. And as they had dreamed, so it came to +passe: for being awakened out of their sleepe, in came his men with so +great foison of fish, that the same might haue sufficed a great armie +of men, for the vittelling of them at that season. + +[Sidenote: King Alured disguiseth himselfe. _Polydor, Fabian_.] +Shortlie after, king Alured tooke vpon him the habit of a +minstrell, and going foorth of his closure, repaired to the campe of +the Danish king, onelie accompanied with one trustie seruant, and +tarrieng there certeine daies togither, was suffered to go into euerie +part, and plaie on his instrument, as well afore the king as others, +so that there was no secret, but that he vnderstood it. Now when he +had seene and learned the demeanour of his enimies, he returned againe +to his people at Edlingsey, and there declared to his nobles what he +had seene and heard, what negligence was amongst the enimies, and how +easie a matter it should be for him to indamage them. Wherevpon they +conceiuing a maruellous good hope, and imboldened with his words, a +power was assembled togither, and spies sent foorth to learne and +bring woord where the Danes lodged: which being doone, and certificat +[Sidenote: _Henr. Hunt._ 877.] +made accordinglie, king Alured comming vpon them on the sudden, +slue of them a great number, hauing them at great aduantage. + +[Sidenote: 878.] +About the same time the brother of king Halden came with thirtie +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._] +and three ships out of Wales into the countrie of Westsaxons, on +the coast of Deuonshire, where the Deuonshire men gaue him battell, +and slue him with 840 persons of his retinue. Other write, that Halden +himselfe was present at this conflict, with Inguare, otherwise called +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] +Hungar, and that they were both slaine there, with twelue hundred +of their companie (before a certeine castell called Kinwith) receiuing +as they had deserued for their cruell dealing latelie by them +practised in the parties of Southwales, where they had wasted all +afore them with fire and swoord, not sparing abbeies more than other +common buildings. + +King Alured being with that good lucke the more comforted, builded a +[Sidenote: Athelney.] +fortresse in the Ile of Edlingsey, afterwards called Athelney, and +breaking out oftentimes vpon the enimies, distressed them at sundrie +times with the aid of the Summersetshire men, which were at hand. +About the seuenth weeke after Easter, in the seuenth yeere of his +reigne, king Alured went to Eglerighston, on the east part of Selwood, +where there came to him the people of Summersetshire, Wiltshire, & +Hamshire, reioising greatlie to see him abroad. From thence he +[Sidenote: Edantdune. This battell should seeme the same that _Polydor_ +speaketh of fought at Abingdon. _Polychron._ _Iohn Pike_.] +went to Edanton, & there fought against the armie of the Danes, and +chased them vnto their strength, where he remained afore them the +space of foureteene daies. Then the armie of the Danes deliuered him +hostages and couenants to depart out of his dominions, and that their +king should be baptised, which was accomplished: for Gurthrun, whome +[Sidenote: Gurthrun or Gurmund baptised, and named Adelstan is made +king of Eastangle.] +some name Gurmond, a prince or king amongst these Danes, came to +Alured and was baptised, king Alured receiuing him at the fontstone, +named him Adelstan, and gaue to him the countrie of Eastangle, which +he gouerned (or rather spoiled) by the space of twelue yeeres. + +Diuerse other of the Danish nobilitie to the number of thirtie (as +Simon Dunelmensis saith) came at the same time in companie of their +king Gurthrun, and were likewise baptised, on whome king Alured +bestowed manie rich gifts. At the same time (as is to be thought) was +the league concluded betwixt king Alured and the said Gurthrun or +Gurmond, in which the bounds of king Alureds kingdome are set foorth +thus: "First therefore let the bounds or marshes of our dominion +stretch vnto the riuer of Thames, and from thence to the water of Lee, +euen vnto the head of the same water, and so foorth streight vnto +Bedford: and finallie going alongst by the riuer of Ouse, let them end +at Watlingstreet." + +This league being made with the aduise of the same sage personages +as well English as those that inhabited within east England, is set +foorth in maister Lamberts booke of the old English lawes, in the end +of those lawes or ordinances which were established by the same king +Alured, as in the same booke ye may see more at large. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Th' English called diuers people Danes whom the French named Normans, +whervpon that generall name was giuen them; Gurmo Anglicus K. of +Denmark, whose father Frotto was baptised in England; the Danes +besiege Rochester, Alfred putteth them to flight, recouereth London +out of their hands, and committeth it to the custodie of duke Eldred +his sonne in law; he assaulteth Hasting a capteine of the Danes, +causeth him to take an oth, his two sonnes are baptised; he goeth +foorth to spoile Alfreds countrie, his wife, children, and goods, +&c: are taken, and fauourablie giuen him againe; the Danes besiege +Excester, they flie to their ships, gaine with great losse, they are +vanquished by the Londoners, the death of Alfred, his issue male and +female._ + +THE XV. CHAPTER. + + +Here is to be noted, that writers name diuerse of the Danish capteins, +kings (of which no mention is made in the Danish chronicles) to reigne +in those parties. But true it is, that in those daies, not onelie the +Danish people, but also other of those northeast countries or regions, +as Swedeners, Norwegians, the Wondens, and such other (which the +English people called by one generall name Danes, and the Frenchmen +Normans) vsed to roaue on the seas, and to inuade forren regions, as +England, France, Flanders, and others, as in conuenient places ye may +find, as well in our histories, as also in the writers of the French +histories, and likewise in the chronicles of those north regions. The +[Sidenote: Gurmo.] +writers verelie of the Danish chronicles make mention of one Gurmo, +whome they name Anglicus, bicause he was borne here in England, +which succeeded his father Frotto in gouernement of the kingdome of +Denmarke, which Frotto receiued baptisme in England, as their stories +tell. + +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ 878.] +In the eight yeere of king Alfred his reigne, the armie of the +Danes wintered at Cirencester, and the same yeere an other armie of +strangers called Wincigi laie at Fulham, and in the yeere following +departed foorth of England, and went into France, and the armie of +[Sidenote: 879.] +king Godrun or Gurmo departed from Cirencester, and came into +Eastangle, and there diuiding the countrie amongst them, began to +inhabit the same. In the 14 yeere of king Alfred his reigne, part +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ _Matth. West_] +of the Danish armie which was gone ouer into France, returned into +[Sidenote: Rochester beseiged. 885.] +England and besieged Rochester. But when Alfred approched to the +reskue, the enimies fled to their ships, and passed ouer the sea +againe. King Alfred sent a nauie of his ships well furnished with men +of warre into Eastangle, the which at the mouth of the riuer called +Sture, incountering with 16 ships of the Danes, set vpon them, and +ouercame them in fight: but as they returned with their prises, they +incountered with another mightie armie of the enimies, and fighting +with them were ouercome and vanquished. In the yeere following, +[Sidenote: 889.] +king Alfred besieged the citie of London, the Danes that were within +fled from thence, and the Englishmen that were inhabitants thereof +[Sidenote: London recouered out of the hands of the Danes.] +gladlie receiued him, reioising that there was such a prince bred +of their nation, that was of power able to reduce them into libertie. +This citie being at that season the chiefe of all Mercia, he deliuered +into the keeping of duke Eldred, which had maried his daughter +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ Ethelfleda. Colwolphas.] +Ethelfleda, & held a great portion of Mercia, which Colwolphus before +time possesed by the grant of the Danes, after they had subdued K. +Burthred (as before is said.) About the 21 yere of K. Alfred, an +[Sidenote: Limer, now Rother. Andredeslegia. A castell built at +Appledore. 893] +armie of those Danes & Normans, which had beene in France, returned +into England, and arriued in the hauen or riuer of Limene in the east +part of Kent, neere to the great wood called Andredesley, which did +conteine in times past 120 miles in length, and thirtie in breadth. +These Danes landing with their people builded a castle at Appledore. + +In the meane time came Hasting with 80 ships into the Thames, and +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ At Milton. Hasting the capteine of the Danes +besieged. He receiueth an oth.] +builded a castle at Middleton, but he was constreined by siege +which king Alfred planted about him, to receiue an oth that he should +not in any wise annoie the dominion of king Alfred, who vpon his +promise to depart, gaue great gifts as well to him as to his wife and +children. One of his sonnes also king Alfred held at the fontstone, +and to the other duke Aldred was god father. For (as it were to win +credit, and to auoid present danger) Hasting sent vnto Alfred these +his two sonnes, signifieng that if it stood with his pleasure, he +could be content that they should be baptised. But neuerthelesse this +Hasting was euer most vntrue of word and deed, he builded a castle at +Beamfield. And as he was going foorth to spoile and wast the kings +[Sidenote: Beanfield saith _M. West._] +countries, Alfred tooke that castle, with his wife, children, ships +[Sidenote: This enterprise was atchiued by Etheldred duke of Mercia +in the absence of the king, as _Matth. West._ hath noted] +and goods, which he got togither of such spoiles as he had abroad: +but he restored vnto Hasting his wife and children, bicause he was +their godfather. + +Shortlie after, newes came that a great number of other ships of +[Sidenote: Excester besieged.] +Danes were come out of Northumberland, and had besieged Excester. +Whilest king Alfred went then against them, the other armie which lay +at Appledore inuaded Essex, and built a castell in that countrie, and +after went into the borders of Wales, and builded another castell +[Sidenote: Seuerne.] +neere vnto the riuer of Seuerne: but being driuen out of that +countrie, they returned againe into Essex. Those that had besieged +Excester, vpon knowledge had of king Alfreds comming, fled to their +ships, and so remaining on the sea, roaued abroad, seeking preies. +[Sidenote: Chester taken by Danes.] +Besides this, other armies there were sent foorth, which comming +out of Northumberland tooke the citie of Chester, but there they +[Sidenote: Great famine] +were so beset about with their enimies, that they were constreined to +eate their horsses. At length, in the 24 yeere of king Alfred, they +left that citie, and fetcht a compas about Northwales, and so +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._] +meaning to saile round about the coast to come into Northumberland, +they arriued in Essex, and in the winter following drew their ships by +[Sidenote: The water of Luie, now Lee.] +the Thames into the water of Luie. That armie of Danes which had +besieged Excester, tooke preies about Chichester, and was met with, so +that they lost manie of their men, and also diuerse of their ships. + +In the yeere following, the other armie which had brought the ships +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._] +into the riuer Luie, began to build a castell neere to the same +riuer, twentie miles distant from London: but the Londoners came +[Sidenote: The Londoners victors against the Danes.] +thither, and giuing battell to the Danes, slue foure of the chiefe +capteins. But by Simon Dunel. and Matt. Westm. it should seeme, that +the Londoners were at this time put to flight, and that foure of the +kings barons were slaine in fight, Howbeit Henrie Hunt. hath written +as before I haue recited; and further saith, that when the Danes fled +for their refuge to the castell, king Alfred caused the water of Luie +to be diuided into three chanels, so that the Danes should not bring +backe their ships out of the place where they laie at anchor. When the +Danes perceiued this, they left their ships behind them, and went +[Sidenote: Quathbridge or Wakebridge.] +into the borders of Wales, where at Cartbridge vpon Seuerne they built +another castell, and lay there all the winter following, hauing left +their wiues and children in the countrie of Eastangles. King Alfred +pursued them, but the Londoners tooke the enimies ships, and brought +some of them to the citie, and the rest they burnt. + +Thus for the space of three yeeres after the arriuing of the maine +armie of the Danes in the hauen of Luie, they sore indamaged the +English people, although the Danes themselues susteined more losse at +the Englishmens hands than they did to them with all pilfering and +[Sidenote: The Danish armie diuided into parts.] +spoiling. In the fourth yeere after their comming, the armie was +diuided, so that one part of them went into Northumberland, part of +them remained in the countrie of Eastangles, & another part went +into France. Also certeine of their ships came vpon the coast of the +Westsaxons, oftentimes setting their men on land to rob and spoile the +countrie. But king Alfred tooke order in the best wise he might for +defense of his countrie and people, and caused certeine mightie +vessels to be builded, which he appointed foorth to incounter with the +enimies ships. + +[Sidenote: The death of king Alfred.] +Thus like a worthie prince and politike gouernor, he preuented +each way to resist the force of his enimies, and to safegard his +subiects. Finallie after he had reigned 29 yeeres and an halfe, he +departed this life the 28 day of October. His bodie was buried at +[Sidenote: His issue.] +Winchester: he left behind him issue by his wife Ethelwitha the +daughter vnto earle Ethelred of Mercia, two sonnes, Edward surnamed +the elder, which succeeded him, and Adelwold: also three +[Sidenote: Elfleda.] +daughters, Elfleda or Ethelfleda, Ethelgeda or Edgiua, and Ethelwitha. + + * * * * * + + + + +_How Elfleda king Alfreds daughter (being maried) contemned fleshlie +pleasure; the praise of Alfred for his good qualities, his lawes for +the redresse of theeues, his diuiding of countries into hundreds and +tithings, of what monasteries he was founder, he began the foundation +of the vniuersitie of Oxford, which is not so ancient as Cambridge by +265 yeeres; king Alfred was learned, his zeale to traine his people +to lead an honest life, what learned men were about him, the pitifull +murthering of Iohn Scot by his owne scholers, how Alfred diuided the +24 houres of the day and the night for his necessarie purposes, his +last will and bequests; the end of the kingdome of Mercia, the Danes +haue it in their hands, and dispose it as they list, Eastangle and +Northumberland are subiect vnto them, the Northumbers expell Egbert +their king, his death; the Danes make Guthred king of Northumberland, +priuileges granted to S. Cuthberts shrine; the death of Guthred, and +who succeeded him in the seat roiall._ + +THE XVJ. CHAPTER. + + +In the end of the former chapter we shewed what children Alfred had, +their number & names, among whome we made report of Elfleda, who (as +you haue heard) was maried vnto duke Edelred. This gentlewoman left a +notable example behind hir of despising fleshlie plesure, for bearing +hir husband one child, and sore handled before she could be deliuered, +[Sidenote: The notable saieng of Elfleda.] +she euer after forbare to companie with hir husband, saieng that +it was great foolishnesse to vse such pleasure which therwith should +bring so great griefe. + +To speake sufficientlie of the woorthie praise due to so noble a +prince as Alfred was, might require eloquence, learning, and a large +volume. He was of person comelie and beautifull, and better beloued of +his father and mother than his other brethren. And although he was +[Sidenote: _Will. Malmes._] +(as before is touched) greatly disquieted with the inuasion of forren +enimies, yet did he both manfullie from time to time indeuour himselfe +to repell them, and also attempted to see his subiects gouerned in +[Sidenote: King Alfred his lawes.] +good and vpright iustice. And albeit that good lawes amongst +the clinking noise of armor are oftentimes put to silence, yet he +perceiuing how his people were greeued with theeues and robbers, +which in time of warre grew and increased, deuised good statutes and +wholsome ordinances for punishing of such offenders. + +Amongst other things he ordeined that the countries should be diuided +into hundreds and tithings, that is to say, quarters conteining a +certeine number of towneships adioining togither, so that euerie +Englishman liuing vnder prescript of lawes, should haue both his +hundred and tithing; that if anie man were accused of anie offense, he +should find suertie for his good demeanor: and if he could not find +such as would answer for him, then should he tast extremitie of the +lawes. And if anie man that was giltie fled before he found suertie, +or after: all the inhabitants of the hundred or tithing where he +dwelt, shuld be put to their fine. By this deuise he brought his +countrie into good tranquillitie, so that he caused bracelets of gold +to be hanged vp aloft on hils where anie common waies lay, to see +if anie durst be so hardie to take them away by stealth. He was a +liberall prince namely in relieuing of the poore. To churches he +confirmed such priuileges as his father had granted before him, and he +also sent rewards by way of deuotion vnto Rome, and to the bodie of +saint Thomas in India. Sighelmus the bishop of Shireborne bare +the same, and brought from thence rich stones, and sweet oiles of +inestimable valure. From Rome also he brought a peece of the holy +crosse which pope Martinus did send for a present vnto king Alfred. + +[Sidenote: Foundation of monastaries.] +Moreouer king Alfred founded three goodlie monasteries, one at +Edlingsey, where he liued sometime when the Danes had bereaued him +almost of all his kingdome, which was after called Athelney, distant +from Taunton in Sumersetshire about fiue miles: the second he builded +at Winchester, called the new minster: and the third at Shaftesburie, +which was an house of nuns, where he made his daughter Ethelgeda or +Edgiua abbesse. But the foundation of the vniuersitie of Oxford +passed all the residue of his buildings, which he began by the good +exhortation and aduise of Neotus an abbat, in those daies highlie +esteemed for his vertue and lerning with Alfred. This worke he tooke +in hand about the 23 yeere of his reigne, which was in the yeere +[Sidenote: 895.] +of our Lord 895. So that the vniuersitie of Cambridge was founded +[Sidenote: _Polydor_. The vniuersitie of Oxford erected.] +before this other of Oxford about 265 yeeres, as Polydor gathereth. +For Sigebert king of the Eastangles began to erect that vniuersitie at +Cambridge about the yeere of our Lord 630. + +King Alfred was learned himselfe, and giuen much to studie, insomuch +that beside diuerse good lawes which he translated into the English +toong, gathered togither and published, he also translated diuerse +other bookes out of Latine into English, as _Orosius_, _Pastorale +Gregorij_, _Beda de gestis Anglorum_, _Boetius de consolatione +philosophiae_, and the booke of Psalmes; but this he finished not, +being preuented by death. So this worthie prince minded well toward +the common wealth of his people, in that season when learning was +little esteemed amongst the west nations, did studie by all meanes +[Sidenote: The vertuous zeale of Alured to bring his people to an +honest trade of life.] +possible to instruct his subiects in the trade of leading an honest +life, and to incourage them generallie to imbrace learning. He would +not suffer anie to beare office in the court, except he were lerned: +and yet he himselfe was twelue yeeres of age before he could read +[Sidenote: He is persuaded by his mother, to applie himselfe to +learning.] +a word on the booke, and was then trained by his mothers persuasion to +studie, promising him a goodlie booke which she had in hir hands, if +he would learne to read it. + +Herevpon going to his booke in sport, he so earnestlie set his mind +thereto, that within a small time he profited maruellouslie, and +became such a fauorer of learned men, that he delighted most in their +companie, to haue conference with them, and allured diuerse to come +[Sidenote: Asserius Meuenensis. Werefridus. Iohn Scot.] +vnto him out of other countries, as Asserius Meneuensis bishop +of Shirborne, & Werefridus the bishop of Worcester, who by his +commandement translated the bookes of Gregories dialogs into English. +Also I. Scot, who whiles he was in France translated the book of +Dionysius Ariopagita, intituled _Hierarchia_, out of Greeke into +Latine, and after was schoolemaister in the abbeie of Malmesburie, and +there murthered by his scholars with penkniues. He had diuerse +other about him, both Englishmen & strangers, as Pleimond afterward +[Sidenote: Grimbald.] +archbishop of Canturburie, Grimbald gouernor of the new monasterie +at Winchester, with others. + +[Sidenote: Alured diuides the time for his necessarie vses.] +But to conclude with this noble prince king Alured, he was so +carefull in his office, that he diuided the 24 houres which conteine +the day and night, in three parts, so that eight houres he spent in +writing, reading, and making his praiers, other eight he emploied in +relieuing his bodie with meat, drinke and sleepe, and the other eight +he bestowed in dispatching of businesse concerning the gouernement of +the realme. He had in his chapell a candle of 24 parts, whereof euerie +one lasted an houre: so that the sexton, to whome that charge was +committed, by burning of this candle warned the king euar how the time +[Sidenote: His last will and testament.] +passed away. A little before his death, he ordeined his last will +and testament, bequeathing halfe the portion of all his goods iustlie +gotten, vnto such monasteries as he had founded. All his rents and +reuenues he diuided into two equall parts, and the first part he +diuided into three, bestowing the first vpon his seruants in houshold, +the second to such labourers and workemen as he kept in his works of +sundrie new buildings, the third part he gaue to strangers. The second +whole part of his reuenues was so diuided, that the first portion +thereof was dispersed amongst the poore people of his countrie, the +second to monasteries, the third to the finding of poore scholers, +and the fourth part to churches beyond the sea. He was diligent in +inquirie how the iudges of his land behaued themselues in their +iudgements, and was a sharpe corrector of them which transgressed in +that behalfe. To be briefe, he liued so as he was had in great fauour +of his neighbours, & highlie honored among strangers. He maried +his daughter Ethelswida or rather Elstride vnto Baldwine earle of +Flanders, of whome he had two sonnes Arnulfe and Adulfe, the first +succeeding in the erledome of Flanders, and the yoonger was made earle +of Bullogne. + +The bodie of king Alured was first buried in the bishops church: but +afterwards, because the Canons raised a fond tale that the same +should walke a nights, his sonne king Edward remoued it into the new +monasterie which he in his life time had founded. Finallie, in memorie +of him a certeine learned clarke made an epitath in Latine, which for +the woorthinesse thereof is likewise (verse for verse, and in a maner +word for word) translated by Abraham Fleming into English, whose no +litle labor hath beene diligentlie imploied in supplieng sundrie +insufficiences found in this huge volume. + + NOBILITAS innata tibi probitatis honorem + _Nobilitie by birth to the (o Alfred strong in armes)_ + (Armipotens Alfrede) dedit, probitasque laborem, + _Of goodnes hath the honor giuen, and honor toilesome harmes,_ + Perpetuumque labor nomen, cui mixta dolori + _And toilesome harmes an endlesse name, whose ioies were alwaies mext_ + Gaudia semper erant, spes semper mixta timori. + _With sorow, and whose hope with feare was euermore perplext_. + Si modo victor eras, ad crastina bella pauebas, + _If this day thou wert conqueror, the next daies warre thou dredst,_ + Si modo victus eras, in crastina bella parabas, + _If this day thou wert conquered, to next daies war thou spedst,_ + Cui vestes sudore iugi, cui sica cruore, + _Whose clothing wet with dailie swet, whose blade with bloudie stainte,_ + Tincta iugi, quantum sit onus regnare probarunt, + _Do proue how great a burthen tis in roialtie to raine,_ + Non fuit immensi quisquam per climata mundi, + _There hath not beene in anie part of all the world so wide,_ + Cui tot in aduersis vel respirare liceret, + _One that was able breath to take, and troubles such abide,_ + Nec tamen aut ferro contritus ponere ferrum, + _And yet with weapons wearie would not weapons lay aside,_ + Aut gladio potuit vitae finisse labores: + _Or with the sword the toilesomnesse of life by death diuide_. + Iam post transactos regni vitaeque labores, + _Now after labours past of realme and life (which he did spend)_ + Christus ei fit vera quies sceptrumque perenne. + _Christ is to him true quietnesse and scepter void of end_. + +In the daies of the foresaid king Alured, the kingdome of Mercia tooke +end. For after that the Danes had expelled king Burthred, when he had +reigned 22 yeares, he went to Rome, and there died, his wife also +Ethelswida, the daughter of king Athulfe that was sonne to king Egbert +followed him, and died in Pauia in Lumbardie. The Danes hauing got the +[Sidenote: Cewulfe.] +countrie into their possession, made one Cewulfe K. thereof, whome +they bound with an oth and deliuerie of pledges, that he should not +longer keepe the state with their pleasure, and further should be +readie at all times to aid them with such power as he should be able +to make. This Cewulfe was the seruant of king Burthred. Within foure +yeares after the Danes returned, and tooke one part of that kingdome +into their owne hands, and left the residue vnto Cewulfe. But within +a few yeares after, king Alured obteined that part of Mercia which +Cewulfe ruled, as he did all the rest of this land, except those +parcels which the Danes held, as Northumberland, the countries of the +Eastangles, some part of Mercia, and other. + +The yeare, in the which king Alured thus obteined all the dominion of +[Sidenote: 886. _Matth. West._] +that part of Mercia, which Cewulfe had in gouernance, was after +the birth of our Sauiour 886, so that the foresaid kingdome continued +the space of 302 yeares vnder 22 kings, from Crida to this last +Cewulfe. But there be that account the continuance of this kingdome, +onelie from the beginning of Penda, vnto the last yeare of Burthred, +by which reckoning it stood not past 270 yeares vnder 18, or rather 17 +kings, counting the last Cewulfe for none, who began his reigne vnder +the subiection of the Danes, about the yeare of our Lord 874, where +Penda began his reigne 604. + +The Eastangles and the Northumbers in these dales were vnder +subiection of the Danes, as partlie may be perceiued by that which +[Sidenote: Guthrun K. of the eastangles died 890.] +before is rehearsed. After Guthrun that gouerned the Eastangles by +the terme of 12 yeares, one Edhirike or Edrike had the rule in those +parts, a Dane also, and reigned 14 yeares, and was at length bereued +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] +of his gouernement by king Edward the sonne of king Alured, as +after shall appeare. But now, although that the Northumbers were +brought greatlie vnder foot by the Danes, yet could they not forget +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] +their old accustomed maner to stirre tumults and rebellion against +[Sidenote: 872. Egbert king of Northumberland expelled from his +kingdome.] +their gouernours, insomuch that in the yeare 872, they expelled +not onelie Egbert, whome the Danes had appointed king ouer one part +of the countrie (as before you haue heard) but also their archbishop +[Sidenote: Egbert departed this life. Riesig.] +Wilfehere. In the yeare following, the same Egbert departed this +life, after whome one Rigsig or Ricsige succeeded as king, and the +archbishop Wolfehere was restored home. + +[Sidenote: The Danes winter in Lindsie.] +In the same yeare the armie of Danes which had wintered at London, +came from thence into Northumberland, and wintered in Lindseie, at a +place called Torkseie, and went the next yeare into Mercia. And +[Sidenote: 975.] +in the yeare 975, a part of them returned into Northumberland, as +[Sidenote: Riesig departed this life.] +before ye haue heard. In the yeare following, Riesig the king of +[Sidenote: 983.] +Northumberland departed this life: after whome an other Egbert +succeeded. And in the yeare 983, the armie of the Danes meaning to +inhabit in Northumberland, and to settle themselues there, chose +[Sidenote: Guthred ordeined king of Northumberland.] +Guthrid the sonne of one Hardicnute to their king, whome they had +sometime sold to a certeine widow at Witingham. But now by the aduise +of an abbat called Aldred, they redeemed his libertie, and ordeined +him king to rule both Danes and Englishmen in that countrie. It was +said, that the same Aldred being abbat of holie Iland, was warned in +a vision by S. Cuthberd, to giue counsell both to the Danes and +Englishmen, to make the same Guthrid king. This chanced about the 13 +yeare of the reigne of Alured king of Westsaxons. + +[Sidenote: The bishops see remoued fr[=o] holie iland to Chester in +the street.] +When Guthrid was established king, he caused the bishops see to +be remoued from holie Iland vnto Chester in the street, and for an +augmentation of the reuenues and iurisdiction belonging thereto, he +assigned and gaue vnto saint Cuthbert all that countrie which lieth +betwixt the riuers of Teise and Tine. ¶ Which christian act of the +king, liuing in a time of palpable blindnesse and mistie superstition, +may notwithstanding be a light to the great men and peeres of this age +(who pretend religion with zeale, and professe (in shew) the truth +with feruencie) not to impouerish the patrimonie of the church to +inrich themselues and their posteritie, not to pull from bishoprikes +their ancient reuenues to make their owne greater, not to alienate +ecclesiasticall liuings into temporall commodities, not to seeke the +conuersion of college lands into their priuat possessions; not to +intend the subuersion of cathedrall churches to fill their owne +cofers, not to ferret out concealed lands for the supporte of their +owne priuat lordlines; not to destroy whole towneships for the +erection of one statelie manour; not to take and pale in the +commons to inlarge their seueralles; but like good and gratious +common-wealth-men, in all things to preferre the peoples publike +profit before their owne gaine and glorie, before their owne pompe and +pleasure, before the satisfieng of their owne inordinate desires. + +[Sidenote: Priuiledges granted to S. Cuthberts shrine.] +Moreouer, this priuiledge was granted vnto saint Cuthberts shrine: +that whosoeuer fled vnto the same for succour and safegard, should not +be touched or troubled in anie wise for the space of thirtie, & seuen +daies. And this freedome was confirmed not onelie by king Guthrid, but +also by king Alured. Finallie king Guthrid departed this life in the +[Sidenote: 894.] +yeare of our Lord 894, after he had ruled the Northumbers with +much crueltie (as some say) by the terme of 11 yeares, or somewhat +[Sidenote: _Polydor_. _Will. Malmes._] +more. He is named by some writers Gurmond, and also Gurmo, & thought +to be the same whome king Alured caused to be baptised. Whereas other +affirme, that Guthrid, who ruled the Eastangles, was he that Alured +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ Sithrike.] +receiued at the fontstone: William Malmesburie taketh them to be +but one man, which is not like to be true. After this Guthrid or Gurmo +his sonne Sithrike succeeded, and after him other of that line, till +king Adelstane depriued them of the dominion, and tooke it into his +owne hands. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Edward succeedeth his father Alured in regiment, he is disquieted by +his brother Adelwold a man of a defiled life, he flieth to the Danes +and is of them receiued, king Edwards prouision against the irruptions +and forraies of the Danes, Adelwold with a nauie of Danes entreth +Eastangles, the Essex men submit themselues, he inuadeth Mercia, +and maketh great wast, the Kentishmens disobedience preiudiciall to +themselues, they and the Danes haue a great conflict, king Edward +concludeth a truce with them, he maketh a great slaughter of them by +his Westsaxons and Mercians, what lands came to king Edward by the +death of Edred duke of Mercia, he recouereth diuers places out of the +Danes hands, and giueth them manie a foile, what castels he builded, +he inuadeth Eastangles, putteth Ericke a Danish king therof to flight, +his owne subiects murther him for his crueltie, his kingdome returneth +to the right of king Edward with other lands by him thereto annexed, +his sister Elfleda gouerned the countrie of Mercia during hir life._ + + +THE XVIJ. CHAPTER. + +[Sidenote: EDWARD THE ELDER. 901.] +After the deceasse of Alured, his sonne Edward surnamed the elder +began his reigne ouer the more part of England, in the yeare of our +Lord 901, which was in the second yeare of the emperor Lewes, in the +eight yeare of the reigne of Charles surnamed Simplex king of +France, and about the eight yeare or Donald king of Scotland. He was +consecrated after the maner of other kings his ancestors by Athelred +the archbishop of Canturburie. This Edward was not so learned as his +father, but in princelie power more high and honorable, for he ioined +the kingdome of Eastangles and Mercia with other vnto his dominion, as +after shall be shewed, and vanquished the Danes, Scots, and Welshmen, +to his great glorie and high commendation. + +In the beginning of his reigne he was disquieted by his brother +[Sidenote: Winborne.] +Adelwold, which tooke the towne of Winborne besides Bath, and +maried a nun there, whome he had defloured, & attempted manie things +against his brother. Wherevpon the king came to Bath, and though +Adelwold shewed a countenance as if he would haue abidden the chance +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ Adelwold fleeth to the Danes. _Wil. Malm._] +of warre within Winborne, yet he stole awaie in the night, and fled +into Northumberland, where he was ioifullie receiued of the Danes. The +king tooke his wife being left behind, and restored hir to the house +from whence she was taken. ¶ Some haue written, that this Adelwold or +Ethelwold was not brother vnto king Edward, but his vncles sonne. + +After this, king Edward prouiding for the suertie of his subiects +against the forraies, which the Danes vsed to make, fortified diuers +cities and townes, and stuffed them with great garrisons of +[Sidenote: The English nation practised in wars go commonlie awaie +with the victorie.] +souldiers, to defend the inhabitants, and to expell the enimies. And +suerlie the Englishmen were so invred with warres in those daies, that +the people being aduertised of the inuasion of the enimies in anie +part of their countrie, would assemble oftentimes without knowledge of +king or capteine, and setting vpon the enimies, went commonlie awaie +with victorie, by reason that they ouermatched them both in number and +practise. So were the enimies despised of the English souldiers, +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._] +and laughed to scorne of the king for their foolish attempts. Yet in +the third yeare of king Edwards reigne, Adelwold his brother came with +a nauie of Danes into the parties of the Eastangles, and euen +[Sidenote: Essex yeelded to Adelwold. _Ran. Higd._] +at the first the Essex men yeelded themselues vnto him. In the yeere +following he inuaded the countrie of Mercia with a great armie, +wasting and spoiling the same vnto Crikelade, and there passing ouer +[Sidenote: Brittenden.] +the Thames, rode foorth till he came to Basingstoke, or (as some +bookes haue) Brittenden, harieng the countrie on each side, and so +returned backe vnto Eastangles with great ioy and triumph. + +[Sidenote: _Henr. Hunt._] +King Edward awakened heerewith assembled his people, and followed +the enimies, wasting all the countries betwixt the riuer of Ouse and +saint Edmunds ditch. And when he should returne, he gaue commandement +that no man should staie behind him, but come backe togither for +[Sidenote: The Kentishmen disobeing the kings commandement, are +surprised by the enimies. Adelwold king Edwards brother.] +doubt to be forelaid by the enimies. The Kentishmen notwithstanding +this ordinance and commandement, remained behind, although the king +sent seuen messengers for them. The Danes awaiting their aduantage, +came togither, and fiercelie fought with the Kentishmen, which a long +time valiantlie defended themselues. But in the end the Danes obtained +the victorie, although they lost more people there than the Kentishmen +did: and amongst other, there were slaine the foresaid Adelwold, and +diuerse of the chiefe capteins amongst the Danes. Likewise of the +English side, there died two dukes, Siwolfe & Singlem or Sigbelme, +with sundrie other men of name, both temporall and also spirituall +lords and abbats. In the fift yeere of his reigne, king Edward +concluded a truce with the Danes of Eastangle and Northumberland at +Itingford. But in the yeere following, he sent an armie against them +[Sidenote: Fortie daies saith _Simon Dun._] +of Northumberland, which slue manie of the Danes, and tooke great +booties both of people and cattell, remaining in the countrie the +space of fiue weekes. + +The yeere next insuing, the Danes with a great armie entered into +Mercia, to rob & spoile the countrie, against whome king Edward sent a +mightie host, assembled togither of the Westsaxons & them of Mercia, +which set vpon the Danes, as they were returning homeward, and slue +of them an huge multitude, togither with their chiefe capteins and +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._] +leaders, as king Halden, and king Eolwils, earle Vter, earle +Scurfa, and diuerse other. In the yeere 912, or (as Simon Dunel. +saith) 908, the duke of Mercia Edred or Etheldred departed this life, +and then king Edward seized into his hands the cities of London and +Oxford, and all that part of Mercia which he held. But afterwards he +suffered his sister Elfleda to inioy the most part thereof, except the +said cities of London and Oxford, which he still reteined in his owne +hand. This Elfleda was wife to the said duke Edred or Etheldred, as +before you haue heard: of whose woorthie acts more shall be said +heereafter. + +In the ninth yeere of his reigne, king Edward built a castell at +[Sidenote: Wightham.] +Hertford, and likewise he builded a towne in Essex at Wightham, +and lay himselfe in the meane time at Maldon, otherwise Meauldun, +bringing a great part of the countrie vnder his subiection, which +before was subiect to the Danes. In the yeere following, the armie of +[Sidenote: Chester, or rather Leicester, as I thinke. Digetune.] +the Danes departed from Northampton and Chester in breach of +the former truce, and slue a great number of men at Hochnerton in +Oxfordshire. And shortlie after their returne home, an other companie +of them went foorth, and came to Leighton, where the people of the +countrie being assembled togither, fought with them & put them to +flight, taking from them all the spoile which they had got, and also +their horsses. + +In the 11 yeere of king Edward, a fleet of Danes compassed about the +west parts, & came to the mouth of Seuerne, and so tooke preies in +Wales: they also tooke prisoner a Welsh bishop named Camelgaret, +[Sidenote: Irchenfield.] +at Irchenfield, whome they led to their ships: but king Edward +redeemed him out of their hands, paieng them fortie pounds for his +ransome. After that the armie of Danes went foorth to spoile the +countrie about Irchenfield, but the people of Chester, Hereford, and +other townes and countries thereabout assembled togither, and giuing +battell to the enimies, put them to flight, and slue one of their +[Sidenote: Danes discomfited.] +noble men called earle Rehald, and Geolcil the brother of earle +Vter, with a great part of their armie, & draue the residue into a +castell, which they besieged till the Danes within it gaue hostages, +and couenanted to depart out of the kings land. The king caused the +coasts about Seuerne to be watched, that they should not breake into +his countrie: but yet they stale twise into the borders: neuerthelesse +they were chased and slaine as manie as could not swim, and so get to +[Sidenote: The Ile of Stepen. Deomedun.] +their ships. Then they remained in the Ile of Stepen, in great +miserie for lacke of vittels, bicause they could not go abroad to +[Sidenote: Danes saile into Ireland.] +get anie. At length they departed into Northwales, and from thence +sailed into Ireland. + +The same yeere king Edward came to Buckingham with an armie, and there +taried a whole moneth, building two castels, the one vpon the one side +of the water of Ouse, and the other vpon the other side of the +[Sidenote: Turketillus an earle.] +same riuer. He also subdued Turketillus an earle of the Danes that +dwelt in that countrie, with all the residue of the noble men and +barons of the shires of Bedford and Northampton. In the 12 yeere of +king Edwards reigne, the Kentishmen and Danes fought togither at +Holme: but whether partie had the victorie, writers haue not declared. +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] +Simon Dunelm. speaketh of a battell which the citizens of +Canturburie fought against a number of Danish rouers at Holme, where +the Danes were put to flight, but that should be (as he noteth) 8 +yeeres before this supposed time, as in the yeere 904, which was about +the third yeere of king Edwards reigne. + +[Sidenote: _Anno_ 911. _Simon Dun._] +After this, other of the Danes assembled themselues togither, +and in Staffordshire at a place called Tottenhall fought with the +Englishmen, and after great slaughter made on both parties, the Danes +were ouercome: and so likewise were they shortlie after at Woodfield +or Wodenfield. And thus king Edward put the Danes to the woorse +in each place commonlie where he came, and hearing that those in +Northumberland ment to breake the peace: he inuaded the countrie, and +so afflicted the same, that the Danes which were inhabitants there, +[Sidenote: _Polydor_. Ericke king of Eastangles.] +gladlie continued in rest and peace. But in this meane time, +Ericke the king of those Danes which held the countrie of Eastangle, +was about to procure new warre, and to allure other of the Danes to +ioine with him against the Englishmen, that with common agreement they +might set vpon the English nation, and vtterlie subdue them. + +[Sidenote: King Edward inuadeth the countrie of the Eastangles.] +King Edward hauing intelligence heereof, purposed to preuent him, +and therevpon entering with an armie into his countrie, cruellie +wasted and spoiled the same. King Ericke hauing alreadie his people +in armor through displeasure conceiued heereof, and desire to be +reuenged, hasted foorth to incounter his enimies: and so they met in +[Sidenote: Ericke put to flight.] +the field, and fiercelie assailed ech other. But as the battell +was rashlie begun on king Ericks side, so was the end verie harmefull +to him: for with small adoo, after great losse on both sides, he was +vanquished and put to flight. + +After his comming home, bicause of his great ouerthrow and fowle +discomfiture, he began to gouerne his people with more rigor & sharper +dealing than before time he had vsed. Whereby he prouoked the malice +of the Eastangles so highlie against him, that they fell vpon him and +murthered him: yet did they not gaine so much hereby as they looked to +haue doone: for shortlie after, they being brought low, and not able +to defend their countrie, were compelled to submit themselues vnto +[Sidenote: The kingdom of the Eastangles subdued by K. Edward.] +king Edward. And so was that kingdome ioined vnto the other dominions +of the same king Edward, who shortlie after annexed the kingdome of +Mercia vnto other of his dominions, immediatlie vpon the death of his +sister Elfleda, whom he permitted to rule that land all hir life. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Elfleda the sister of king Edward highlie commended for government, +what a necessarie staie she was vnto him in hir life time, what townes +she builded and repared, hir warlike exploits against the Danes, +hir death and buriall; the greatest part of Britaine in K. Edwards +dominion, he is a great builder and reparer of townes, his death, the +dreame of his wife Egina, and the issue of the same, what children +king Edward had by his wiues, and how they were emploied, the decay of +the church by the meanes of troubles procured by the Danes, England +first curssed and why; a prouinciall councell summoned for the reliefe +of the churches ruine, Pleimond archbishop of Canturburie sent to +Rome, bishops ordeined in sundrie prouinces; dissention among writers +what pope should denounce the foresaid cursse; a succession of +archbishops in the see of Canturburie, one brother killeth another._ + +THE XVIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +Not without good reason did king Edward permit vnto his sister Elfleda +the gouernment of Mercia, during hir life time: for by hir wise and +politike order vsed in all hir dooings, he was greatlie furthered & +assisted; but speciallie in reparing and building of townes & castels, +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ _Matth. West._ _Simon Dun._] +wherein she shewed hir noble magnificence, in so much that during +hir government, which continued about eight yeeres, it is recorded by +writers, that she did build and repare these towns, whose +[Sidenote: Tamwoorth was by hir repared, anno 914. Eadsburie and +Warwike. 915.] +names here insue: Tamwoorth beside Lichfield, Stafford, Warwike, +Shrewsburie, Watersburie or Weddesburie, Elilsburie or rather +Eadsburie, in the forrest of De la mere besides Chester, Brimsburie +bridge vpon Seuerne, Rouncorne at the mouth of the riuer Mercia with +other. Moreouer, by hir helpe the citie of Chester, which by Danes had +[Sidenote: Chester repared, 905. _Sim. Dun._] +beene greatlie defaced, was newlie repared, fortified with walls +and turrets, and greatlie inlarged. So that the castell which stood +without the walls before that time, was now brought within compasse of +the new wall. + +Moreouer she boldlie assalted hir enimies which went about to trouble +the state of the countrie, as the Welshmen and Danes. She sent an +armie into Wales, and tooke the towne of Brecknocke with the queene +[Sidenote: Queene of the Welshmen taken. Brecenamere. _Ran. Higd._ +_Hen. Hunt._ 918. Darbie won from the Danes.] +of the Welshmen at Bricenamere. Also she wan from the Danes the towne +of Darbie, and the countrie adioining. In this enterprise she put hir +owne person in great aduenture: for a great multitude of Danes that +were withdrawen into Darbie, valiantlie defended the gates and entries, +in so much that they slue foure of hir chiefe men of warre, which were +named wardens of hir person, euen fast by hir at the verie entrie of +the gates. But this notwithstanding, with valiant fight hir people +entered, and so the towne was woon: she got diuerse other places out +of their hands, & constreined them of Yorkeshire to agree with hir, so +that some of them promised to become hir subiects: some vowed to aid +hir, and some sware to be at hir commandement. + +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt. Anno Christie_ 919.] +Finallie, this martiall ladie and manlie Elfleda, the supporter +of hir countriemen, and terrour of the enimies, departed this life at +Tamwoorth about the 12 of Iune, in the 18 or rather 19 yeere of +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._ _Simon Dun._] +hir brother king Edwards reigne, as by Matth. West it should appeere. +But Simon Dunelm. writeth, that she deceassed in the yeere of Christ +915, which should be about the 14 yeere of king Edwards reigne. +Hir bodie was conueied to Glocester, and there buried within the +monasterie of S. Peter, which hir husband and she in their life time +had builded, and translated thither the bones of saint Oswill from +Bardona. The same monasterie was after destroied by Danes. But +[Sidenote: _Ranul._] +Aldredus the archbishop of Yorke, who was also bishop of Worcester, +repared an other in the same citie, that was after the chiefe abbeie +there. Finallie, in memorie of the said Elfleds magnanimitie and +valorous mind, this epitaph was fixed on hir toome. + + _O Elfleda potens, o terror virgo virorum, + O Elfleda potens, nomine digna viri. + Te quoque splendidior fecit natura puellam, + Te probitas fecit nomen habere viri. + Te mutare decet sed solum nomina sexus, + Tu regina potens rexque trophea parans. + Iam nec Caesareos tantum mirere triumphos, + Caesare splendidior virgo virago, vale._ + + [Sidenote: Translated by _Abraham Fleming_.] + O puissant Elfled, o thou maid + of men the dread and feare, + O puissant Elfled woorthie maid + the name of man to beare. + A noble nature hath thee made + a maiden mild to bee, + Thy vertue also hath procurde + a manlie name to thee. + It dooth but onelie thee become, + of sex to change the name, + A puissant queene, a king art thou + preparing trophes of fame. + Now maruell not so much at Caesars + triumphs [trim to vieu;] + O manlike maiden more renowmd + than Caesar was, adieu. + +[Sidenote: This Alfwen was sister to Edelfled, as _H. Hunt._ saith.] +After the deceasse of Elfleda, king Edward tooke the dominion of +Mercia (as before we haue said) into his owne hands, and so disherited +his neece Alfwen or Elswen, the daughter of Elfleda, taking hir +awaie with him into the countrie of Westsaxons. By this meanes he so +amplified the bounds of his kingdome, that he had the most part of all +[Sidenote: Stratcluid or Stretcled, a kingdome in Wales.] +this Iland of Britaine at his commandement: for the kings of the +Welshmen; namelie the king of Stretcled, and of the Scots, +acknowledging him to be their chiefe souereigne lord, and the Danes +in Northumberland were kept so short, that they durst attempt nothing +[Sidenote: K. Edward a great builder and reparer of townes.] +against him in his latter daies: so that he had time to applie the +building and reparing of cities, townes, and castels, wherein he so +much delighted. He builded a new towne at Notingham on the southside +[Sidenote: Notingham bridge built. _Matt. West._] +of Trent, and made a bridge ouer that riuer betwixt the old towne +[Sidenote: Manchester repared. Anno 816. _Simon Dun._] +and the new. He also repared Manchester beyond the riuer of Mercia +in Lancashire, accounted as then in the south end of Northumberland, +and he built a towne of ancient writers called Thilwall, neere to the +same riuer of Mercia, and placed therein a garrison of souldiers: +[Sidenote: _Henr. Hunt._] +diuerse other townes and castels he built, as two at Buckingham on +either side of the water of Ouse (as before is shewed) and also one at +the mouth of the riuer of Auon. He likewise built or new repared +the townes of Tocetor and Wigmore, with diuerse other, as one at +Glademuth, about the last yeere of his reigne. Some also he destroied +which seemed to serue the enimies turne for harborough, as a castell +at Temnesford, which the Danes builded and fortified. + +At length, after that this noble prince king Edward had reigned +somewhat aboue the tearme of 23 yeeres, he was taken out of this life +at Faringdon: his bodie was conueied from thence vnto Winchester, and +there buried in the new abbeie. He had three wiues, or (as some haue +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +written) but two, affirming that Edgiua was not his wife, but his +concubine, of whome he begat his eldest sonne Adelstan, who succeeded +him in the kingdome. This Edgiua (as hath beene reported) dreamed +[Sidenote: A dreame.] +on a time that there rose a moone out of hir bellie, which with the +bright shine thereof gaue light ouer all England: and telling hir +dreame to an ancient gentlewoman, who coniecturing by the dreame that +which followed, tooke care of hir, and caused hir to be brought vp in +good manners and like a gentlewoman, though she were borne but of base +parentage. + +Heerevpon when she came to ripe yeeres, king Edward by chance comming +to the place where she was remaining, vpon the first sight was +streight rauished with hir beautie (which in deed excelled) that she +could not rest till he had his pleasure of hir, and so begot of hir +the foresaid Adelstan: by hir he had also a daughter that was maried +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._ _Polydor_.] +vnto Sithrike a Dane and K. of Northumberland. The Scotish writers +name hir Beatrice, but our writers name hir Editha. His second or +rather his first wife (if he were not maried to Eguina mother to +Adelstan) was called Elfleda or Elfrida, daughter to one earle +Ethelme, by whom he had issue; to wit, two sonnes Ethelward and +[Sidenote: The issue of K. Edward.] +Edwin, which immediatlie departed this life after their father; and +six daughters, Elfleda, Edgiua, Ethelhilda, Ethilda, Edgitha, and +Elfgiua. Elfleda became a nun, and Ethelhilda also liued in perpetuall +virginitie, but yet in a laie habit. + +[Sidenote: Alias Edgiua. _Wil. Malm._] +Edgitha was maried to Charles king of France, surnamed Simplex. +And Ethilda by helpe of hir brother Adelstan was bestowed vpon Hugh +sonne to Robert earle of Paris, for hir singular beautie most highlie +esteemed: sith nature in hir had shewed as it were hir whole cunning, +in perfecting hir with all gifts and properties of a comelie +personage. Edgiua and Elgiua were sent by their brother Adelstan into +Germanie, vnto the emperor Henrie, who bestowed one of them vpon his +sonne Otho, that was after emperor, the first of that name; and the +other vpon a duke inhabiting about the Alpes: by his last wife named +Edgiua, he had also two sonnes, Edmund & Eldred, the which both +reigned after their brother Adestan successiuelie. Also he had by hir +two daughters, Edburge that was made a nun, and Edgiue a ladie of +excellent beautie, whom hir brother Adelstan gaue in mariage vnto +Lewes king of Aquitaine. + +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._ _Wil. Malm._ _Matth. West._] +Whilest this land was in continuall trouble of warres against the +Danes, as before is touched, small regard was had to the state of the +church, in somuch that the whole countrie of the Westsaxons by the +space of seuen yeeres togither (in the daies of this king Edward) +remained without anie bishop, to take order in matters apperteining to +[Sidenote: England first accurssed.] +the church. Wherevpon the pope had accurssed the English people, +bicause they suffred the bishops sees to be vacant so long a time. +[Sidenote: Anno 903.] +King Edward to auoid the cursse, assembled a prouinciall councell, +905, in the which the archbishop of Canturburie Pleimond was +president. Wherein it was ordeined, that whereas the prouince of +Westsaxons in times past had but two bishops, now it should be diuided +into fiue diocesses, euerie of them to haue a peculiar bishop. + +When all things were ordered and concluded in this synod (as was +thought requisite) the archbishop was sent to Rome with rich presents, +to appease the popes displeasure. When the pope had heard what order +the king had taken, he was contented therewith. And so the archbishop +returned into his countrie, and in one day at Canturburie ordeined +[Sidenote: Winchester. Cornewall. Shireborne. Welles. Kirton. Mercia.] +seuen bishops, as fiue to the prouince of Westsaxons, that is to +say, Fridestane to the see of Winchester, Adelstan to S. German in +Cornwall, Werstan to Shireborne, Adelme to Welles, and Edulfe to +Kirton. Also to the prouince of Sussex he ordeined one Bernegus, and +to Dorchester for the prouince of Mercia one Cenulfus. + +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ saith that pope Formosus pronounced this cursse. +904.] +¶ Heere ye must note, that where William Malme. Polychro. and +other doo affirme, that pope Formosus did accursse king Edward and the +English nation, for suffering the bishops sees to be vacant, it can +not stand with the agreement or the time, vnlesse that the cursse +pronounced by Formosus for this matter long afore was not regarded, +vntill Edward had respect thereto. For the same Formosus began to +gouerne the Romane see about the yeere of our Lord 892, and liued +in the papasie not past six yeeres, so that he was dead before king +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +Edward came to the crowne. But how so euer this matter maie fall +out, this ye haue to consider: although that Pleimond was sent vnto +Rome to aduertise the pope what the king had decreed & doone, in the +ordeining of bishops to their seuerall sees, as before ye haue heard, +yet (as maister Fox hath noted) the gouernance and direction of the +church depended chieflie vpon the kings of this land in those daies, +as it manifestlie appeereth, as well by the decrees of king Alfred, as +of this king Edward, whose authoritie in the election of bishops (as +before ye haue heard) seemed then alone to be sufficient. + +Moreouer, I thinke it good to aduertise you in this place, that this +Pleimond archbishop of Canturburie (of whome ye haue heard before) was +the 19 in number from Augustine the first archbishop there: for after +Brightwold that was the 8 in number, and first of the English nation +that gouerned the see, succeeded Taduin, that sat three yeeres, +Notelin fiue yeeres, Cuthbert 18 yeeres, Brethwin three yeeres, +Lambert 27 yeeres, Adelard 13 yeeres, Wilfred 28 yeeres, Theologildus +or Pleogildus 3 yeeres, Celuotus or Chelutus 10 yeeres. Then succeeded +Aldred, of whome king Edward receiued the crowne, and he was +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._] +predecessor to Pleimond. A litle before the death of king Edward, +Sithrike the king of Northumberland killed his brother Nigellus, and +then king Reinold conquered the citie of Yorke. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Adelstane succeedeth his father Edward in the kingdome, Alfred +practising by treason to keepe him from the gouernement, sanke downe +suddenlie as he was taking his oth for his purgation; the cause why +Alfred opposed himselfe against Adelstane, whose praise is notable, +what he did to satisfie the expectation of his people, ladie Beatrice +king Edwards daughter maried to Sithrike a Danish gouernor of the +Northumbers, by whose meanes Edwin king Edwards brother was drowned, +practises of treason, the ladie Beatrice strangelie put to death by +hir stepsons for being of counsell to poison hir husband Sithrike, hir +death reuenged vpon the tormentors by hir father king Edward, and how +chronographers varie in the report of this historie._ + +THE XIX. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: ADELSTAN. _Matt. West._ _Will. Malmes._ 924.] +Adelstane the eldest sonne of king Edward began his reigne ouer the +more part of all England, the yeere of our Lord 924, which was in the +6 yere of the emperour Henrie the first, in the 31 yeere of the reigne +of Charles surnamed Simplex king of France, three moneths after the +burning of Pauie, & about the 22 or 23 yeere of Constantine the third, +king of Scotland. This Adelstane was crowned and consecrated king at +Kingstone vpon Thames, of Aldelme the archbishop of Canturburie, who +succeeded Pleimond. He was the 24 king in number from Cerdicus or +Cerdike the first king of the Westsaxons. There were in the +[Sidenote: Alfred striueth in vaine to keepe Adelstane from the +gouernment. _Wil. Malm._ +See more hereof in the acts and monuments set foorth by _M. Fox,_ +vol. 1. leafe 195.] +beginning some that set themselues against him, as one Alfred a noble +man, which practised by treason to haue kept him from the gouernement: +but he was apprehended yer he could bring his purpose to passe, and +sent to Rome there to trie himselfe giltie or not giltie. And as he +tooke his oth for his purgation before the altar of saint Peter, he +suddenlie fell downe to the earth, so that his seruants tooke him vp, +and bare him into the English schoole or hospitall, where the third +night after he died. + +Pope Iohn the tenth sent vnto king Adelstane, to know if he would that +his bodie should be laid in Christian buriall or not. The king at the +contemplation of Alfreds friends and kinsfolks, signified to the pope +that he was contented that his bodie should be interred amongst other +christians. His lands being forfeited were giuen by the king vnto God +and saint Peter. The cause that mooued Alfred and other his complices +against the king, was (as some haue alledged) his bastardie. But +whether that allegation were true or but a slander, this is certeine, +that except that steine of his honor, there was nothing in this +Adelstane worthie of blame: so that he darkened all the glorious +fame of his predecessors, both in vertuous conditions and victorious +triumphs. Such difference is there to haue that in thy selfe wherein +to excell, rather than to stand vpon the woorthinesse of thine +ancestors, sith that can not rightlie be called a mans owne. + +After that king Adelstane was established in the estate, he indeuored +himselfe to answer the expectation of his people; which hoped for +great wealth to insue by his noble and prudent gouernance. First +[Sidenote: _Anno 925_. _Simon Dun._ _Polydor_.] +therfore meaning to prouide for the suertie of his countrie, he +concluded a peace with Sithrike king of the Northumbers, vnto whome +(as ye haue heard) he gaue one of his sisters named Editha in mariage. +Sithrike liued not past one yeere after he had so maried hir. And then +Adelstane brought the prouince of the Northumbers vnto his subiection, +expelling one Aldulph out of the same that rebelled against him. +There be that write, that Godfrie and Aulafe the sonnes of Sithrike +succeeding their father in the gouernement of Northumberland, by +practising to mooue warre against king Adelstane, occasioned him to +inuade their countrie, and to chase them out of the same, so that +Aulafe fled into Ireland, & Godfrie into Scotland: but other write, +that Godfrie was the father of Reignold which wan Yorke, after that +[Sidenote: _H. Hunt._] +Sithrike had slaine his brother Nigellus, as before is mentioned. + +[Sidenote: _Hect. Boetius_. The Scotish writers varie from our +English authors. +Beatrice daughter to K. Edward as the Scotish writers say. Edwin was +not brother to K. Edward but son to him.] +¶ The Scotish chronicles varie in report of these matters from the +English writers: whose chronicles affirme, that in the life time of +king Edward, his daughter Beatrice was giuen in mariage to Sithrike, +the gouernor of the Danes in Northumberland, with condition that if +anie male were procreated in that mariage, the same should inherit the +dominions of king Edward after his decease. King Edward had a brother +(as they say) named Edwin, a iolie gentleman, and of great estimation +amongst the Englishmen. He by Sithrikes procurement was sent into +Flanders in a ship that leaked, and so was drowned, to the great +reioising of all the Danes, least if he had suruiued his brother, he +would haue made some businesse for the crowne. + +[Sidenote: Adelstane flieth the realme.] +About the same time Adelstane a base sonne of K. Edward fled the +realme, for doubt to be made away by some like traitorous practise of +the Danes. Shortlie after, king Edward vnderstanding that Sithrike +went about some mischiefe toward him, persuaded his daughter to poison +hir husband the said Sithrike. Then Aulafe or Aualassus, and Godfrie +the sonnes of Sithrike, finding out by diligent examination, that +Beatrice was of counsell in poisoning hir husband, they caused hir to +be apprehended and put to death on this wise. She was set naked +[Sidenote: Beatrice put to death by hir stepsons.] +vpon a smithes cold anuill or stithie, and therewith hard rosted egs +being taken out of the hot imbers were put vnder hir armepits, and hir +armes fast bound to hir bodie with a cord, and so in that state she +remained till hir life passed from hir. King Edward in reuenge of his +daughters death mooued warre against the two brethren, Aulafe and +Godfrie, and in battell finallie vanquished them, but was slaine in +the same battell himselfe. + +Thus haue the Scotish chronicles recorded of these matters, as an +induction to the warres which followed betwixt the Scots and Danes as +confederates against king Adelstane: but the truth thereof we leaue to +the readers owne iudgement. For in our English writers we find no such +matter, but that a daughter of king Edward named Edgitha or Editha, +after hir fathers deceasse was by hir brother king Adelstane, about +the first yeere of his reigne, giuen in mariage (as before ye haue +heard) vnto the foresaid Sithrike king of Northumberland, that was +descended of the Danish bloud, who for the loue of the yoong ladie, +renounced his heathenish religion and became a christian; but shortlie +after, forsaking both his wife and the christian faith, he set vp +againe the worshipping of idols, and within a while after, as an +apostata miserablie ended his life. Whervpon the yoong ladie, hir +[Sidenote: Editha a virgine.] +virginitie being preserued, and hir bodie vndefiled (as they write) +passed the residue of hir daies at Polleswoorth in Warwikeshire, +spending hir time (as the same writers affirme) in fasting, watching, +praieng, and dooing of almesdeedes, and so at length departed out of +this world. Thus our writers differ from the Scotish historie, both in +name and maner of end as concerning the daughter of king Edward that +was coupled in mariage with Sithrike. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Adelstane subdueth Constantine king of Scots, Howell king of Wales, +and Wulferth king of Northwales, the Scots possesse a great part of +the north countries, Adelstane conquereth the Scots for aiding Godfrie +his enimie; a miracle declaring that the Scots ought to obey the king +of England; king Adelstane banisheth his brother Edwin, he is for a +conspiracie drowned in the sea, Adelstane repenteth him of his rigour +(in respect of that misfortune) against his brother; Aulafe sometimes +king of Northumberland inuadeth England, he disguiseth himselfe like +a minstrell and surueieth the English campe unsuspected, he is +discouered after his departure, be assaileth the English campe, +Adelstane being comforted with a miracle discomfiteth his enimies, he +maketh them of Northwales his tributaries, be subdueth the Cornishmen, +his death; the description of his person, his vertues, of what abbeis +& monasteries he was founder, his estimation in forren realmes, +what pretious presents were sent him from other princes, and how he +bestowed them; a remembrance of Guy the erle of Warwike._ + +THE XX. CHAPTER. + + +After that king Adelstane had subdued them of Northumberland, he +was aduertised, that not onelie Constantine king of Scots, but also +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +Huduale or Howell K. of Wales went about a priuie conspiracie +against him. Herevpon with all conuenient speed assembling his power, +he went against them, and with like good fortune subdued them both, +and also Vimer or Wulferth K. of Northwales, so that they were +constreined to submit themselues vnto him, who shortlie after moued +with pitie in considering their sudden fall, restored them all three +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ The noble saieng of king Adelstane. 926.] +to their former estates, but so as they should acknowledge +themselues to gouerne vnder him, pronouncing withall this notable +saieng, that More honorable it was to make a king, than to be a king. + +Ye must vnderstand, that (as it appeareth in the Scotish chronicles) +the Scotishmen in time of wars that the Danes gaue the English nation, +got a part of Cumberland and other the north countries into their +possession, and so by reason of their neere adioining vnto the +confines of the English kings, there chanced occasions of warre +betwixt them, as well in the daies of king Edward, as of this +Adelstane his sonne, although in deed the Danes held the more part of +the north countries, till that this Adelstane conquered the same +out of their hands, and ioined it vnto other of his dominions, +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +constreining as well the Danes (of whome the more part of the +inhabitants then consisted) as also the Englishmen, to obey him as +their king and gouernour. Godfrie (as is said) being fled to the +Scots, did so much preuaile there by earnest sute made to king +Constantine, that he got a power of men, and entring with the same +into Northumberland, besiged the citie of Duresme, soliciting the +citizens to receiue him, which they would gladlie haue doone, if they +had not perceiued how he was not of power able to resist the puissance +of king Adelstane: and therefore doubting to be punished for their +offenses if they reuolted, they kept the enimies out. King +[Sidenote: 934.] +Adelstane being sore moued against the king of Scots, that thus aided +his enimies, raised an armie, and went northward, purposing to reuenge +that iniurie. + +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._] +At his comming into Yorkshire, he turned out of the way, to visit +the place where saint Iohn of Beuerlie was buried, and there offered +his knife, promising that if he returned with victorie, he would +redeeme the same with a woorthie price: and so proceeded and went +[Sidenote: _Sim. Dun._] +forwards on his iournie, and entring Scotland, wasted the countrie by +land vnto Dunfoader and Wertermore, and his nauie by sea destroied the +coasts alongst the shore, euen to Catnesse, and so he brought the +[Sidenote: The Scots subdued.] +king of Scots and other his enimies to subiection at his pleasure, +constreining the same K. of Scots to deliuer him his son in hostage. + +[Sidenote: A token shewed miraculouslie that the Scots ought to be +subiect to the kings of England.] +It is said, that being in his iournie neere vnto the towne of +Dunbar, he praied vnto God, that at the instance of saint Iohn of +Beuerlie, it would please him to grant, that he might shew some open +token, whereby it should appeare to all them that then liued, and +should hereafter succeed, that the Scots ought to be subiect vnto the +kings of England. Herewith, the king with his sword smote vpon a great +stone standing neere to the castle of Dunbar, and with the stroke, +there appeared a clift in the same stone to the length of an elme, +which remained to be shewed as a witnesse of that thing manie yeares +after. At his comming backe to Beuerlie, he redeemed his knife with a +large price, as before he had promised. + +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ _Matt. Westm._ 934.] +After this was Edwin the kings brother accused of some conspiracie +by him begun against the king, wherevpon he was banished the land, and +sent out in an old rotten vessell without rower or mariner, onelie +accompanied with one esquier, so that being lanched foorth from +the shore, through despaire Edwin leapt into the sea, and drowned +himselfe, but the esquier that was with him recouered his bodie, and +brought it to land at Withsand besides Canturburie. But Iames Maier in +the annales of Flanders saieth, that he was drowned by fortune of the +seas in a small vessell, and being cast vp into a creeke on the coast +of Picardie, was found by Adolfe earle of Bullongne that was his +coosin germane, and honorablie buried by the same Adolfe in the church +of Bertine. In consideration of which deed of pietie and dutie of +mindfull consanguinitie, the king of England both hartilie thanked +[Sidenote: Repentance too late.] +earle Adolfe, and bestowed great gifts vpon the church where +his brother was thus buried. For verelie king Adelstane after his +displeasure was asswaged, and hearing of this miserable end of his +brother, sore repented himselfe of his rigour so extended towards +him, in so much that he could neuer abide the man that had giuen the +information against him, which was his cupbearer, so that on a time as +the said cupbearer serued him at the table, and came towards him with +a cup of wine, one of his feet chanced to slide, but he recouered +himselfe with the helpe of the other foot, saieng, "One brother yet +hath holpen & succored the other:" which words cost him his life. For +the king remembring that by his accusation he had lost his brother +that might haue beene an aid to him, caused this said cupbearer to be +straight put to death. + +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +In this meane while, Aulafe the sonne of Sitherike, late king +of Northumberland (who is also named by writers to be king of the +Irishmen, and of manie Ilands) assembled a great power of Danes, +Irishmen, Scots, and other people of the out Iles, and imbarked them +in 615 ships and craiers, with the which he arriued in the mouth of +[Sidenote: 937.] +Humber, and there comming on land, began to inuade the countrie. +This Aulafe had maried the daughter of Constantine king of Scots, by +whose procurement, notwithstanding his late submission, Aulafe +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] +tooke in hand this iournie. King Adelstane aduertised of his enimies +arriuall, gathered his people, and with all conuenient speed hasted +towards them, and approching neerer vnto them, pitcht downe his +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ _Wil. Malm._] +field at a place called by some Brimesburie, by others Brimesford, and +also Brunaubright, and by the Scotish writers Browmingfield. + +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ _Hector Boet._ _Ran. Higd._ +Aulafe disguised, cometh to view the English camp.] +When knowledge hereof was had in the enimies campe, Aulafe +enterprised a maruelous exploit, for taking with him an harpe, he came +into the English campe, offring himselfe disguised as a minstrell, to +shew some part of his cunning in musicke vpon his instrument: and so +being suffered to passe from tent to tent, and admitted also to plaie +afore the king, surueied the whole state and order of the armie. This +doone, he returned, meaning by a cammisado to set vpon the kings tent. +But one that had serued as a souldier sometime vnder Aulafe, chanced +by marking his demeanour to know him, and after he was gone, vttered +to the king what he knew. The king seemed to be displeased, in that +he had not told him so much before Aulafs departure: but in excusing +himselfe, the souldier said: "Ye must remember (if it like your grace) +that the same faith which I haue giuen vnto you, I sometime owght vnto +Aulafe, therfore if I should haue betraied him now, you might well +stand in doubt least I should hereafter doo the like to you: but if +you will follow mine aduise, remoue your tent, least happilie he +assaile you vnwares." The king did so, and as it chanced in the +[Sidenote: Aulafe assaileth the English camp.] +night following, Aulafe came to assaile the English campe, and by +fortune comming to the place where the kings tent stood before, he +found a bishop lodged, which with his companie was come the same day +to the armie, and had pitcht vp his tent in that place from whence the +king was remoued: and so was the same bishop, and most part of his men +there slaine, which slaughter executed, Aulafe passed forward, and +came to the kings tent, who in this meane time, by reason of the +alarum raised, was got vp, and taking to him his sword in that sudden +fright, by chance it fell out of the scabbard, so that he could +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._] +not find it, but calling to God and S. Aldelme (as saith Polychron.) +his sword was restored to the scabbard againe. The king comforted +with that miracle, boldlie preased foorth vpon his enimies, and so +valiantlie resisted them, that in the end he put them to flight, and +chased them all that morning and day following, so that he slue of +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ The enimies discomfited.] +them an huge number. Some haue written, that Constantine king of +Scots was slaine at this ouerthrow, and fiue other small kings or +rulers, with 12 dukes, and welneere all the armie of those strange +nations which Aulafe had gathered togither. But the Scotish chronicles +affirme, that Constantine was not there himselfe, but sent his sonne +Malcolme, which yet escaped sore hurt and wounded from the battell, as +in the same chronicles ye may see more at large. + +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._] +When K. Adelstane had thus vanquished his enimies in the north +parties of England, he went against them of Northwales, whose rulers +and princes he caused to come before him at Hereford, and there +handled them in such sort, that they couenanted to pay him yeerlie +[Sidenote: Tribute. The Cornish men subdued.] +in lieu of a tribute 20 pounds of gold, 300 pounds of siluer, and 25 +head of neate, with hawks and hownds a certeine number. After this, he +subdued the Cornishmen: and whereas till those daies they inhabited +the citie of Excester, mingled amongest the Englishmen, so that the +one nation was as strong within that citie as the other, he rid them +[Sidenote: Excester repaired. 940.] +quite out of the same, and repared the walles, and fortified them +with ditches and turrets as the maner then was, and so remoued the +Cornish men further into the west parts of the countrie, that he made +Tamer water to be the confines betweene the Englishmen and them. +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ The decease of king Adelstane.] +Finallie the noble prince king Adelstane departed out of this +world, the 26 day of October, after he had reigned the tearme of 16 +yeares. His bodie was buried at Malmesburie. + +[Sidenote: The description of king Adelstane.] +He was of such a stature, as exceeded not the common sort of men, +stooping somewhat, and yellowe haired, for his valiancie ioined with +courtesie beloued of all men, yet sharpe against rebels, and of +inuincible constancie: his great deuotion toward the church appeared +in the building, adorning & indowing of monasteries and abbeis. He +built one at Wilton within the diocesse of Salisburie, and an other at +Michelnie in Summersetshire. But besides these foundations, there were +few famous monasteries within this land, but that he adorned the same +either with some new peece of building, iewels, bookes, or portion of +[Sidenote: Wolstan archbishop of Yorke. His estimation in forain realmes.] +lands. He had in exceeding fauour Wolstan archbishop of Yorke +that liued in his daies, for whose sake he greatlie inriched that +bishoprike. His fame spread ouer all the parties of Europe, so that +sundrie princes thought themselues happie if they might haue his +friendship, either by affinitie or otherwise: by meanes whereof, he +bestowed his sisters so highlie in mariage as before ye haue heard. He +receiued manie noble and rich presents from diuers princes, as from +Hugh king of France, horsses and sundrie rich iewels, with certeine +relikes: as Constantines sword, in the hilt whereof was set one of +the nailes wherewith Christ was fastened to the crosse, the speare of +Charles the great, which was thought to be the same wherewith the side +of our sauiour was pearced, the banner of saint Maurice, with a part +of the holie crosse, and likewise a part of the thorned crowne: yet +Mandeuile saw the one halfe of this crowne in France, and the other at +Constantinople, almost 400 yeares after this time, as he writeth. Of +these iewels king Adelstane gaue part to the abbie of saint Swithon at +Winchester, and part to the abbie of Malmesburie. Moreouer, the king +of Norwaie sent vnto him a goodlie ship of fine woorkmanship, with +gilt sterne and purple sailes, furnished round about the decke within +with a rowe of gilt pauises. ¶ In the daies of this Adelstane +[Sidenote: _Harding_.] +reigned that right worthie Guy earle of Warwike, who (as some writers +haue recorded) fought with a mightie giant of the Danes in a singular +combat, and vanquished him. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Edmund succeedeth Adelstane in the kingdome, the Danes of +Northumberland rebell against him, a peace concluded betwene Aulafe +their king and king Edmund vpon conditions, Aulafe dieth, another +of that name succeedeth him; king Edmund subdueth the Danes, and +compelleth them to receiue the christian faith, Reinold and Aulafe are +baptised, they violate their fealtie vowed to king Edmund, they are +put to perpetuall exile; why king Edmund wasted all Northumberland, +caused the eies of king Dunmails sonnes to be put out, and assigned +the said countrie to Malcolme king of Scots; the Scotish chroniclers +error in peruerting the time & order of the English kings, king +Edmunds lawes, by what misfortune he came to his end, how his death +was foreshewed to Dunstane in a vision, a tale of the vertue of the +crosse, Dunstane reproueth duke Elstane, his dreame, and how the +interpretation thereof came to passe._ + +THE XXJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: EDMUND.] +After that Adelstane was departed this life, without leauing issue +behind to succeed him in the kingdome, his brother Edmund, sonne of +Edward the elder, borne of his last wife Edgiue, tooke vpon him the +gouernement of this land, and began his reigne in the yeare of our +Lord 940, which was in the fift yeare of the emperor Otho the 1, in +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ 940.] +the 13 of Lewes surnamed Transmarinus king of France, and about +the 38 yeare of Constantine the third king of Scotland. The Danes of +Northumberland rebelled against this Edmund, and ordeined Aulafe to +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] +be their king, whom they had called out of Ireland. Some write that +this Aulafe, which now in the beginning of Edmunds reigne came into +Northumberland, was king of Norwaie, & hauing a great power of men +with him, marched foorth towards the south parts of this land, in +purpose to subdue the whole: but king Edmund raised a mightie armie, +and incountred with his enimies at Leicester. Howbeit, yer the matter +came to the vttermost triall of battell, through the earnest sute of +the archbishop of Canturburie and Yorke Odo and Wolstan, a peace was +concluded; so as Edmund should inioy all that part of the land +[Sidenote: A peace concluded. 941.] +which lieth from Watlingstreet southward, & Aulafe should inioy the +other part as it lieth from the same street northward. Then Aulafe +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ Aulafe deceaseth. Another Aulafe taketh upon +him to rule.] +tooke to wife the ladie Alditha, daughter to earle Ormus, by whose +counsell and assistance he had thus obtained the vpper hand. But this +Aulafe in the yeare following, after he had destroied the church of +saint Balter, and burned Tinningham, departed this life. Then the +other Aulafe that was sonne to king Sithrike, tooke vpon him to +gouerne the Northumbers. + +[Sidenote: 942.] +After this, in the yeare 942, king Edmund assembling an armie, +first subdued those Danes which had got into their possession the +cities and towns of Lincolne, Leicester, Darbie, Stafford, and +Notingham, constreining them to receiue the christian faith, and +reduced all the countries euen vnto Humber vnder his subiection. This +doone, Aulafe and Reinold the sonne of Gurmo, who (as you haue heard) +[Sidenote: Gurmo or Godfrey. _Wil. Malm._] +subdued Yorke, as a meane the sooner to obteine peace, offered +to become christians, & to submit themselues vnto him: wherevpon he +receiued them to his peace. There be that write, that this Aulafe is +not that Aulafe which was sonne to king Sithrike, but rather that the +other was he with whom king Edmund made partition of the realme: but +they agree, that this second Aulafe was a Dane also, & being conuerted +to the faith as well through constraint of the kings puissance, as +through the preaching of the gospell, was baptised, king Edmund being +godfather both vnto him, and vnto the foresaid Reinold, to Aulafe at +the verie fontstone, and to Reinold at his confirmation at the bishops +hands. Neuerthelesse, their wicked natures could not rest in quiet, +[Sidenote: 944.] +so that they brake both promise to God, and to their prince, and +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] +were therefore in the yeare next following driuen both out of +the countrie, and punished by perpetuall exile. And so king Edmund +adioined Northumberland, without admitting anie other immediat +gouernor, vnto his owne estate. + +[Sidenote: Leolin king of Southwales aided king Edmund in this enterprise. +946.] +Moreouer, he wasted and spoiled whole Cumberland, because he +could not reduce the people of that countrie vnto due obeisance, +and conformable subiection. The two sonnes of Dunmaile king of that +prouince he apprehended, and caused their eies to be put out. Herewith +vpon consideration either of such aid as he had receiued of the Scots +at that time, or some other friendlie respect, he assigned the said +countrie of Cumberland vnto Malcolme king of Scots, to hold the +same by fealtie of him and his successors. The Scotish chronicles, +peruerting the time and order of the acts and doings of the English +kings which reigned about this season, affirme, that by couenants of +peace concluded betwixt Malcolme king of Scotland, and Adelstan king +of England, it was agreed, that Cumberland should remaine to the +Scots: as in their chronicles you may find at full expressed. And +againe, that Indulfe, who succeeded Malcolme in the kingdome of +Scotland, aided king Edmund against Aulafe, whom the same chronicles +name Aualassus, but the time which they attribute vnto the reignes of +their kings, will not alow the same to stand. For by account of their +writers, king Malcolme began not his reigne till after the deceasse of +king Adelstan, who departed this life in the yeare 940. And Malcolme +succeeded Constantine the third in the yeare 944, which was about the +third yeare of king Edmunds reigne, and after Malcolme (that reigned +15 yeares) succeeded Indulfe in the yeare 959. The like discordance +precedeth and followeth in their writers, as to the diligent reader, +in conferring their chronicles with ours, manifestlie appeareth. +We therefore (to satisfie the desirous to vnderstand and see the +diuersitie of writers) haue for the more part in their chronicles left +the same as we found it. + +[Sidenote: _Polydor_. The lawes of king Edmund.] +But now to the other dooings of king Edmund: it is recorded, that +he ordeined diuers good and wholsome lawes, verie profitable and +necessarie for the commonwealth, which lawes with diuers other of like +antiquitie are forgot and blotted out by rust of time, the consumer of +things woorthie of long remembrance (as saith Polydor:) but sithens +his time they haue beene recouered for the more part, & by maister +[Sidenote: Five yeares and 7 months hath _Si. Dun._] +William Lambert turned into Latine, & were imprinted by Iohn Day, +in the yeare 1568, as before I haue said. Finallie, this prince king +Edmund, after he had reigned sixe yeares and a halfe, he came to his +end by great misfortune. For (as some say) it chanced, that espieng +where one of his seruants was in danger to be slaine amongest his +enimies that were about him with drawen swords, as he stepped in to +haue holpen his seruant, he was slaine at a place called Pulcher +church, or (as other haue) Michelsbourgh. + +[Sidenote: Pridecire. saith _Si. Dun._ _Will. Malm._ _Matth. West._ +946.] +Other say, that keeping a great feast at the aforesaid place on +the day of saint Augustine the English apostle (which is the 26 of +Maie, and as that yeare came about, it fell on the tuesday) as he was +set at the table, he espied where a common robber was placed neere +vnto him, whome sometime he had banished the land, and now being +returned without licence, he presumed to come into the kings presence, +wherewith the king was so moued with high disdaine, that he suddenlie +arose from the table, and flew vpon the theefe, and catching him by +the heare of the head, threw him vnder his feet, wherewith the theefe, +hauing fast hold on the king, brought him downe vpon him also, and +with his knife stroke him into the bellie, in such wise, that the +kings bowels fell out of his chest, and there presentlie died. The +theefe was hewen in peeces by the kings seruants, but yet he slue +and hurt diuers before they could dispatch him. This chance was +lamentable, namelie to the English people, which by the ouertimelie +death of their king, in whome appeared manie euident tokens of great +excellencie, lost the hope which they had conceiued of great wealth to +increase by his prudent and most princelie gouernement. His bodie was +buried at Glastenburie where Dunstane was then abbat. + +There be that write, that the death of king Edmund was signified +[Sidenote: _Capgraue_. A vaine tale.] +aforehand to Dunstane, who about the same time attending vpon +the same king, as he remooued from one place to an other, chanced to +accompanie himselfe with a noble man, one duke Elstane, and as they +rode togither, behold suddenlie Dunstane saw in the waie before him, +where the kings musicians rode, the diuell running and leaping amongst +the same musicians after a reioising maner, whome after he had beheld +a good while, he said to the duke; Is it possible that you may see +that which I see? The duke answered that he saw nothing otherwise than +[Sidenote: Crossing bringeth sight of the diuels, and crossing driueth +them away.] +he ought to see. Then said Dunstane, Blesse your eies with the +signe of the crosse, and trie whether you can see that I see. And +when he had doone as Dunstane appointed him, he saw also the feend +in likenesse of a little short euill fauoured Aethiopian dansing and +leaping, whereby they gathered that some euill hap was towards some of +the companie: but when they had crossed and blessed them, the foule +spirit vanished out of their sight. + +[Sidenote: Dunstane an interpreter of dreames.] +Now after they had talked of this vision, and made an end of their +talke touching the same, the duke required of Dunstane to interpret a +dreame which he had of late in sleepe, and that was this: He thought +that he saw in a vision the king with all his nobles sit in his dining +chamber at meate, and as they were there making merrie togither, the +king chanced to fall into a dead sleepe, and all the noble men, and +those of his councell that were about him were changed into robucks +and goats. Dunstane quicklie declared that this dreame signified +[Sidenote: Dunstan seeth the diuell often, but now he was become a +waiter at the table when Dunstane sat with the king.] +the kings death, and the changing of the nobles into dum and +insensible beasts betokened that the princes & gouernors of the realme +should decline from the waie of truth, and wander as foolish beasts +without a guide to rule them. Also the night after this talke when the +king was set at supper, Dunstane saw the same spirit, or some other, +walke vp and downe amongst them that waited at the table, and within +three daies after, the king was slaine, as before ye haue heard. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Edred succedeth his brother Edmund in the realme of England, the +Northumbers rebell against him, they and the Scots sweare to be his +true subiects, they breake their oth and ioine with Aulafe the Dane, +who returneth into Northumberland, and is made king thereof, the +people expell him and erect Hericius in his roome, king Edred taketh +reuenge on the Northumbers for their disloialtie, the rereward of his +armie is assalted by an host of his enimies issuing out of Yorke, the +Northumbers submit themselues, and put awaie Hericius their king, +Wolstane archbishop of Yorke punished for his disloialtie, whereto +Edred applied himselfe after the appeasing of ciuill tumults, his +death and buriall, a speciall signe of Edreds loue to Dunstane abbat +of Glastenburie, his practise of cousenage touching king Edreds +treasure._ + +THE XXIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: EDRED. 946.] +Edred the brother of Edmund, and sonne to Edward the elder and to +Edgiue his last wife, began his reigne ouer the realme of England in +the yeere of our Lord 946, or (as other say) 997, which was in the +twelfe yeere of the emperor Otho the first, and in the 21 yeere of the +reigne of Lewes K. of France, & about the third or fourth yeere of +Malcolme the first of that name, king of Scotland. He was crowned +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._] +and annointed the 16 day of August by Odo the archbishop of +Canturburie at Kingstone vpon Thames. In the first yeere of his +[Sidenote: The Northumbers rebell and are subdued.] +reigne, the Northumbers rebelled against him, wherevpon he raised an +armie, inuaded their countrie, and subdued them by force. This doone, +he went forward into Scotland: but the Scots without shewing anie +resistance submitted themselues vnto him, and so both Scots and +Northumbers receiued an oth to be true vnto him, which they obserued +but a small while, for he was no sooner returned into the south parts, +[Sidenote: Aulafe returned into Northumberland.] +but that Aulafe which had beene chased out of the countrie by king +Edmund, as before ye haue heard, returned into Northumberland with a +great nauie of ships, and was ioifullie receiued of the inhabitants, +and restored againe to the kingdome, which he held by the space +of foure yeeres, and then by the accustomed disloialtie of the +Northumbers he was by them expelled, and then they set vp one +[Sidenote: Hirke or Hericius. _Wil. Malm._ The disloialtie of the +Northumbers punished.] +Hirke or Hericius the sonne of one Harrold to reigne ouer them, who +held not the estate anie long time. For in the third yeere of his +reigne, Edred in the reuenge of such disloiall dealings in the +Northumbers, destroied the countrie with fire & swoord, sleaing the +most part of the inhabitants. He burnt the abbeie of Rippon, which was +kept against him. + +As he was returning homeward, an host of enimies brake out of Yorke, +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._ _Simon Dun._ Easterford.] +and setting vpon the rereward of the kings armie at a place called +Easterford, made great slaughter of the same. Wherefore the king in +his rage ment to haue begun a new spoile and destruction, but the +Northumbers humbled themselues so vnto him, that putting awaie their +forsaid king Hirke or Hericius, and offering great rewards and gifts +to buy their peace, they obteined pardon. But bicause that Wolstane +the archbishop of Yorke was of counsell with his countriemen in +reuolting from king Edred, and aduancing of Hericius, king Edred tooke +him and kept him in prison a long time after, but at length in respect +of the reuerence which he bare to his calling, he set him at libertie, +and pardoned him his offense. Matth. Westm. reciteth an other +[Sidenote: The archbishop of Yorke imprisoned. _Matth. West._ 951.] +cause of Wolstans imprisonment, as thus. In the yeere of Grace, saith +he, 951, king Edred put the archbishop of Yorke in close prison, +bicause of often complaints exhibited against him, as he which had +commanded manie townesmen of Theadford to be put to death, in reuenge +of the abbat Aldelme by them vniustlie slaine and murthered. + +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +After this, when Edred had appeased all ciuill tumults and +dissentions within his land, he applied him selfe to the aduancing of +religion, wholie following the mind of Dunstane, by whose exhortation +he suffered patientlie manie torments of the bodie, and exercised +himselfe in praier and other deuout studies. This Edred in his latter +daies being greatlie addicted to deuotion & religious priests, at the +request of his mother Edgiua, restored the abbeie of Abington which +was built first by king Inas, but in these daies sore decaied and +[Sidenote: Edredus departeth this life.] +fallen into ruine. Finallie, after he had reigned nine yeeres and +a halfe, he departed this life to the great greeuance of men, and +reioising of angels (as it is written) and was buried at Winchester in +the cathedrall church there. ¶ Heere is to be noted, that the foresaid +Edred, when he came first to the crowne, vpon a singular and most +[Sidenote: Dunstane in fauour.] +especiall fauour which he bare towards Dunstane the abbat of +Glastenburie, committed vnto him the chiefest part of all his +treasure, as charters of lands with other monuments, and such ancient +princelie iewels as belonged to the former kings, with other such as +he got of his owne, willing him to lay the same in safe keeping within +his monasterie of Glastenburie. + +Afterward, when king Edred perceiued himselfe to be in danger of death +by force of that sickenesse, which in deed made an end of his life, he +sent into all parties to such as had anie of his treasure in keeping, +to bring the same vnto him with all speed, that he might dispose +[Sidenote: But was not this a deuise thereby to deteine the treasure? +for I doo not read that he deliuered it out of his hands.] +thereof before his departure out of this life, as he should see cause. +Dunstane tooke such things as he had vnder his hands, & hasted forward +to deliuer the same vnto the king, and to visit him in that time of +his sickenesse according to his dutie: but as he was vpon the waie, +a voice spake to him from heauen, saieng; Behold king Edred is now +departed in peace. At the hearing of this voice, the horsse whereon +Dunstane rode fell downe and died, being not able to abide the +presence of the angell that thus spake to Dunstane. And when he came +to the court, he vnderstood that the king died the same houre in which +[Sidenote: An angell, or as some think a woorse creature.] +it was told him by the angell, as before ye haue heard. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Edwin succeedeth Edred in the kingdome of England, his beastlie and +incestuous carnalite with a kinswoman of his on the verie day of +his coronation, he is reproued of Dunstane and giueth ouer the +gentlewomans companie, Dunstane is banished for rebuking king Edwin +for his unlawfull lust and lewd life, the diuell reioised at his +exile, what reuenging mischiefs the king did for displeasure sake +against the said Dunstane in exile, the middle part of England +rebelleth against king Edwin, and erecteth his brother Edgar in roiall +roome ouer them, he taketh thought and dieth; Edgar succeedeth him, he +is a fauourer of moonks, his prouision for defense of his realme, his +policie and discretion in gouernment, what kings he bound by oth to be +true vnto him, eight princes row his barge in signe of submission, +the vicious inconueniences that grew among the Englishmen vpon his +fauouring of the Danes, a restraint of excessiue quaffing; Dunstane is +made bishop of Worcester and Ethelwold bishop of Wincester; iustice in +Edgars time seuerelie executed, theft punished with death, a tribute +of woolfs skins paid him out of Wales, and the benefit of that +tribute._ + +THE XXIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: EDWIN. 955.] +After the deceasse of Edred, his nephue Edwin the eldest sonne of +king Edmund was made king of England, and began his reigne ouer the +same in the yeere of our Lord 955, & in the 20 yeere of the emperor +Otho the first, in the 28 and last yeere of the reigne of Lewes king +of France, and about the twelfe yeere of Malcolme the first of that +name, king of Scotland. He was consecrated at Kingston vpon Thames by +Odo the archbishop of Canturburie. On the verie day of his coronation, +as the lords were set in councell about weightie matters touching +[Sidenote: _Will. Malmes._ _Polydor_.] +the gouernment of the realme, he rose from the place, gat him into a +chamber with one of his neere kinswomen, and there had to doo with +hir, without anie respect or regard had to his roiall estate +and princelie dignitie. Dunstane latelie before named abbat of +Glastenburie, did not onlie without feare of displeasure reprooue +the K. for such shamefull abusing of his bodie, but also caused the +archbishop of Canturburie to constreine him to forsake that woman whom +vnlawfullie he kept. + +[Sidenote: _Iohn Capgrave_.] +There be that write, that there were two women, both mother and +daughter, whome king Edward kept as concubines: for the mother being +of noble parentage, sought to satisfie the kings lust, in hope that +either he would take hir or hir daughter vnto wife. And therefore +perceiuing that Dunstane was sore against such wanton pastime as the +[Sidenote: Dunstane banished the realme.] +king vsed in their companie, she so wrought, that Dunstane was +through hir earnest trauell banished the land. This is also reported, +that when he should depart the realme, the diuell was heard in the +west end of the church, taking vp a great laughter after his roring +[Sidenote: Dunstane seeth not the diuell.] +maner, as though he should shew himselfe glad and ioifull at +Dunstanes going into exile. But Dunstane perceiuing his behauiour, +spake to him, and said: Well thou aduersarie, doo not so greatly +reioise at the matter, for thou dooest not now so much reioise at +my departure, but by Gods grace thou shalt be as sorrowfull for my +returne. + +[Sidenote: Dunstane departed into exile.] +Thus was Dunstane banished by king Edwine, so that he was compelled +to passe ouer into Flanders, where he remained for a time within +a monasterie at Gant, finding much friendship at the hands of the +gouernor of that countrie. Also the more to wreake his wrath, the +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ Edwine displaceth monks and putteth secular +preists in their roomes.] +king spoiled manie religious houses of their goods, and droue out +the monks, placing secular priests in their roomes, as namelie at +Malmesburie, where yet the house was not empaired, but rather inriched +in lands and ornaments by the kings liberalitie, and the industrious +meanes of the same priests, which tooke vp the bones of saint Aldelme, +[Sidenote: Rebellion raised against king Edwine. _Simon Dun._] +and put the same into a shrine. At length the inhabitants of the +middle part of England, euen from Humber to Thames rebelled against +him, and elected his brother Edgar, to haue the gouernement ouer them, +wherwith king Edwine tooke such griefe, for that he saw no meane at +hand how to remedie the matter, that shortlie after, when he had +[Sidenote: Edwin departeth this life.] +reigned somewhat more than foure yeeres, he died, and his bodie was +buried at Winchester in the new abbeie. + +[Sidenote: EDGAR. 959.] +Edgar the second sonne of Edmund late king of England, after the +decease of his elder brother the foresaid Edwine, began his reigne +ouer this realme of England in the yeere of our Lord God 959, in the +22 yeere of the emperour Otho the first, in the fourth yeere of the +reigne of Lotharius king of France, 510 almost ended after the comming +of the Saxons, 124 after the arriuall of the Danes, and in the last +yeere of Malcolme king of Scotland. He was crowned & consecrated +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +at Bath, or (as some say) at Kingstone vpon Thames by Odo the +archbishop of Canturburie, being as then not past 16 yeeres of +age, when he was thus admitted king. He was no lesse indued with +commendable gifts of mind, than with strength and force of bodie. +[Sidenote: Edgar a fauorer of moonks.] +He was a great fauorer of moonks, and speciallie had Dunstane in high +estimation. Aboue all things in this world he regarded peace, and +studied dailie how to preserue the same, to the commoditie and +aduancement of his subiects. + +[Sidenote: The diligent prouision of K. Edgar for defense of the realme.] +When he had established things in good quiet, and set an order in +matters as seemed to him best for the peaceable gouernement of his +people, he prepared a great nauie of ships, diuiding them in three +parts, he appointed euerie part to a quarter of the realme, to waft +about the coast, that no forren enimie should approch the land, but +that they might be incountered and put backe, before they could take +land. And euerie yeere after Easter, he vsed to giue order, that his +ships should assemble togither in their due places: and then would he +with the east nauie saile to the west parts of his realme, and sending +those ships backe, he would with the west nauie saile into the north +parts; and with the north nauie come backe againe into the east. +This custome he vsed, that he might scowre the seas of all pirats & +theeues. In the winter season and spring time, he would ride through +the prouinces of his realme, searching out how the iudges and great +lords demeaned themselues in the administration of iustice, sharpelie +punishing those that were found guiltie of extortion, or had done +otherwise in anie point than dutie required. In all things he vsed +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +such politike discretion, that neither was he put in danger by +treason of his subiects, nor molested by forren enimies. + +He caused diuerse kings to bind themselues by oth to be true and +[Sidenote: Mascutius.] +faithfull vnto him, as Kinadius or rather Induf king of Scotland, +Malcolme king of Cumberland, Mascutius an archpirat, or (as we may +[Sidenote: Kings of Welshmen.] +call him) a maister rouer, and also all the kings of the Welshmen, as +Duffnall, Girffith, Duvall, Iacob, and Iudithill, all which came to +his court, and by their solemne othes receiued, sware to be at his +commandement. And for the more manifest testimonie therof, he +[Sidenote: King Edgar roweth on the water of Dee.] +hauing them with him at Chester, caused them to enter into a barge +vpon the water of Dee, and placing himselfe in the forepart of the +barge, at the helme, he caused those eight high princes to row +the barge vp and downe the water, shewing thereby his princelie +prerogatiue and roial magnificence, in that he might vse the seruice +of so manie kings that were his subiects. And therevpon he said (as +hath bin reported) that then might his successours account themselues +kings of England, when they inioied such prerogatiue of high and +supreme honor. + +The fame of this noble prince was spred ouer all, as well on this side +the sea as beyond, insomuch that great resort of strangers chanced in +his daies, which came euer into this land to serue him, and to see the +state of his court, as Saxons and other, yea and also Danes, which +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._ King Edgar fauoureth Danes.] +became verie familiar with him. He fauored in deed the Danes (as hath +beene said) more than stood with the commoditie of his subiects, for +scarse was anie street in England, but Danes had their dwelling in the +same among the Englishmen, whereby came great harme: for whereas +[Sidenote: English learned to quaffe of the Danes. _Will Malm._] +the Danes by nature were great drinkers, the Englishmen by continuall +conuersation with them learned the same vice. King Edgar to reforme in +part such excessiue quaffing as then began to grow in vse, caused by +the procurement of Dunstane, nailes to be set in cups of a certeine +measure, marked for the purpose, that none should drinke more than was +assigned by such measured cups. Englishmen also learned of the Saxons, +[Sidenote: Englishmen learne other vices of strangers.] +Flemings, and other strangers, their peculiar kind of vices, as of +the Saxons a disordered fiercenesse of mind, or the Flemings a feeble +tendernesse of bodie: where before they reioised in their owne +simplicitie, and esteemed not the lewd and vnprofitable manners of +strangers. + +Dunstane was made bishop of Worcester, and had also the administration +of the see of London committed vnto him. He was in such fauor with the +[Sidenote: Ethelwold made bishop of Winchester.] +king, that he ruled most things at his pleasure. Ethelwold, which +being first a moonke of Glastenburie, and after abbat of Abington, was +likewise made bishop of Winchester, and might doo verie much with +[Sidenote: Oswald. Floriacum.] +the king. Also Oswald, which had beene a moonke in the abbeie of +Florie in France, and after was made bishop of Worcester, and from +thence remooued to the see of Yorke, was highlie in fauor with this +king, so that by these three prelates he was most counselled. Iustice +[Sidenote: Moonks must needs write much in praise of Edgar who had men +of their cote in such estimati[=o].] +in his daies was strictlie obserued, for although he were +courteous and gentle towards his friends, yet was he sharpe and hard +to offenders, so that no person of what estate or degree soeuer he +was escaped worthie punishment, if he did transgresse the lawes and +ordinances of the realme. There was no priuie theefe nor common robber +that durst lay hands vpon other mens goods, but he might looke to make +amends with losse of his life, if he were knowne to be giltie. For how +might men that did offend, thinke to escape his hands, which deuised +waies how to rid the countrie of all wild rauening beasts, that liued +vpon sucking the bloud of others? For as it is said, he appointed +Iudweall or Ludweall king of Wales to present him three hundred +[Sidenote: A tribute instituted of woolf-skins.] +woolues yeerelie in name of a tribute, but after three yeeres space, +there was not a woolfe to be found, and so that tribute ceased in the +fourth yeere after it began to be paid. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The death of Alfred king Edgars wife (or concubine) causeth him to +fall into a fowle offense, an example teaching men to take heed how +they put others in trust to woo for them; earle Ethelwold cooseneth +the king of his wife, the danger of beholding a womans beautie with +lustfull eies; king Edgar killeth earle Ethelwold to marrie faire +Alfred his wife; the bloudie and unnaturall speach of Ethelwolds base +sonne: examples of king Edgars great incontinencie and lewd life; +Dunstane putteth the king to penance for his vnchastitie, the Welshmen +rebell against him and are corrected, king Edgars vision before his +death, of what religious buildings he was founder, his example a spur +to others to doo the like, moonks esteemed and secular priests little +regarded, king Edgars deformed reformation, his vices, stature, and +bodilie qualities, he offereth to fight hand to hand with Kinadius +king of Scots vpon occasion of words euill taken, Kinadius submitteth +himselfe and is pardoned; his wiues and children, the good state of +the realme in king Edgars time, the amplenesse of his dominions._ + +THE XXIIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: _Osborne_ and _Capgraue_ hold that she was not his wife but +a nun.] +In this meane time, Alfred the wife of king Edgar (as some say) or +rather (as others write) his concubine died, of whome he had begot a +sonne named Edward. The death of this woman caused the king to commit +an heinous offense. For albeit at the same time the fame went, +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ Horger.] +that Horgerius duke of Cornewall, or rather Deuonshire, had a daughter +named Alfred, a damosell of excellent beautie, whome Edgar minding +to haue in mariage, appointed one of his noble men called earle +Ethelwold, to go with all speed into Cornewall or Deuonshire, to see +if the yoong ladies beautie answered the report that went of hir, and +so to breake the matter to hir father in his behalfe: yet Ethelwold +being a yong iollie gentleman, tooke his iournie into Cornewall, +and comming to the duke, was well receiued, and had a sight of his +daughter, with whose beautie he was streight rauished so far in loue, +[Sidenote: Erle Ethelwold deceiueth the king of his wife.] +that not regarding the kings pleasure, who had sent him thither, +he began to purchase the good will of both father and daughter for +himselfe, and did so much that he obteined the same in deed. Herevpon +returning to the king, he informed him that the damosell was not of +such beautie and comelie personage, as might be thought woorthie to +match in mariage with his maiestie. + +Shortlie after perceiuing the kings mind by his wrongfull misreport to +be turned, and nothing bent that way, he began to sue to him that he +might with his fauour marie the same damosell: which the king granted, +as one that cared not for hir, bicause of the credit which he gaue to +Ethelwolds words. And so by this meanes Ethelwold obteined Alfred in +mariage, which was to his owne destruction, as the case fell out. For +when the fame of hir passing beautie did spread ouer all the realme, +now that she was maried and came more abroad in sight of the people, +the king chanced to heare thereof, and desirous to see hir, deuised +vnder colour of hunting to come vnto the house of Ethelwold, and so +did: where he had no sooner set his eie vpon hir, but he was so farre +[Sidenote: King Edgar seeketh the destruction of earle Ethelwold.] +wrapped in the chaine of burning concupiscence, that to obteine +his purpose, he shortlie after contriued Ethelwolds death, and maried +his wife. + +Some say, that the woman kindled the brand of purpose: for when it was +knowne, that the king would see hir, Ethelwold willed hir in no wise +to trim vp hir selfe, but rather to disfigure hir in fowle garments, +and some euil fauored attire, that hir natiue beautie should not +appeare: but she perceiuing how the matter went, of spite set out hir +selfe to the vttermost, so that the king vpon the first sight of hir, +became so farre inamored of hir beautie, that taking hir husband +[Sidenote: King Edgar a murtherer.] +foorth with him on hunting into a forrest or wood then called +Warlewood, & after Horewood, not shewing that he meant him anie hurt, +till at length he had got him within the thicke of the wood, where he +suddenlie stroke him through with his dart. Now as his bastard son +came to the place, the king asked him how he liked the maner of +hunting, wherto he answered; "Verie well if it like your grace, for +that that liketh you, ought not to displease me." With which answer +the king was so pacified, that he indeuored by pretending his fauor +towards the sonne, to extenuat the tyrannicall murther of the father. +Then did the king marie the countesse Alfred, and of hir begat two +sonnes, Edmund which died yoong, and Etheldred or Egelred. + +Besides this cruell act wrought by king Edgar, for the satisfieng of +his fleshlie lust, he also plaied another part greatlie to the staine +of his honor, mooued also by wanton loue, with a yoong damosell named +Wilfrid, for after that she had (to auoid the danger of him) either +professed hir selfe a nun, or else for colour (as the most part of +writers agree) got hirselfe into a nunrie, and clad hir in a nuns +weed, he tooke hir foorth of hir cloister, and lay by hir sundrie +times, and begat on hir a daughter named Edith, who comming to +[Sidenote: His licentious life & incontinencie.] +conuenient age, was made a nun. A third example of his incontinencie +is written by authors, and that is this. It chanced on a time that he +lodged one night at Andeuer, and hauing a mind to a lords daughter +there, he commanded that she should bee brought to his bed. But the +mother of the gentlewoman would not that hir daughter should be +defloured: and therefore in the darke of the night brought one of hir +maidseruants, and laid hir in the kings bed, she being both faire, +proper, and pleasant. + +In the morning when the day began to appeare, she made hast to arise: +and being asked of the king why she so hasted; That I may go to my +daies worke if it please your grace (quoth she.) Herewith she being +staied by the king, as it were against hir will, she fell downe on hir +knees, and required of him that she might be made free, in guerdon of +hir nights worke. For (saith she) it is not for your honor, that the +woman which hath tasted the pleasure of the kings bodie should anie +more suffer seruitude vnder the rule and appointment of a sharpe and +rough mistresse. + +The king then being mooued in his spirits, laughed at the matter, +though not from the heart, as he that tooke great indignation at the +dooings of the dutchesse, and pitied the case of the poore wench. But +yet in fine (turning earnest to a iest) he pardoned all the parties, +and aduanced the wench to high honor, farre aboue those that had rule +of hir afore, so that she ruled them (willed they nilled they:) for he +vsed hir as his paramour, till he maried the foresaid Alfred. + +For these youthfull parts, & namelie for the rauishing of Wilfride +(which though she were no nun, yet the offense seemed heinous, for +[Sidenote: Note the deep hypocrisie of Dunstane.] +that he should not once touch anie woman shadowed vnder that +habit) he greatlie displeased Dunstane, so that by him he was put to +his seuen yeeres penance, and kept from the crowne till the 12 yeere +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._ _Fabian_ out of _Guido de Cobeman_. _Wil. Malm._] +of his reigne or more. For some write that he was not crowned nor +annointed king, till the 30 yeere of his age, which should be about +the 13 or 14 yeere of his reigne by that account, sith he entred into +the rule of the kingdome about the 16 yeere of his age. In deed one +author witnesseth, that he was consecrated at Bath on a Whitsunday, +the 13 yeere of his reigne, and that by Dunstane archbishop of +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ _Ranul. Hig._] +Canturburie, and Oswold archbishop of Yorke. But some which suppose +that he was consecrated king immediatlie vpon the death of Edridus, +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +affirme that he was crowned and annointed king by the archbishop +Odo, Dunstane as then remaining in exile, from whence he was +immediatlie reuoked by Edgar, and first made bishop of Worcester (as +hath beene said) and after the decease of Odo was aduanced to be +archbishop of Canturburie. But by some writers it appeareth, that +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._ _Simon Dun._] +Dunstane was reuoked out of exile immediatlie vpon partition of the +realme betwixt Edwin and Edgar, which chanced in the yeere 957, by the +rebellion of the people of Mercia, & others (as before ye haue heard:) +and that in the yeere following the archbishop Odo died, after whome +succeeded Alfin bishop of Winchester, who also died the same yeere +that king Edward deceassed, as he went to fetch his pall from Rome, +and then Brighthelme bishop of Dorchester was elected archbishop. But +bicause he was not able to discharge so great an office, by K. Edgars +commandement he was forced to giue place to Dunstane. + +[Sidenote: _Fabian_. _Ran. Higd._ The Welshmen rebel and are chastised.] +Toward the latter end of king Edgars daies, the Welshmen mooued +some rebellion against him. Wherevpon he assembled an armie, and +entering the countrie of Glamorgan, did much hurt in the same, +chastising the inhabitants verie sharpelie for their rebellious +attempts. Amongst other spoiles taken in those parties at that time by +the men of war, the bell of saint Ellutus was taken away, and hanged +about a horsses necke, and (as hath beene reported) in the after +noone, it chanced that king Edgar laid him downe to rest, wherevpon in +sleepe there appeared one vnto him, and smote him on the breast with a +speare. By reason of which vision he caused all things that had beene +taken away to be restored againe. But within nine daies after the +[Sidenote: _Will Malmes._ King Edgar departeth this life.] +king died. Whether anie such thing chanced, or that he had anie such +vision it forceth not. But truth it is, that in the 37 yeere of his +age, after he had reigned 16 yeeres and two moneths he departed this +life, the 8 day of Iulie, and was buried at Glastenburie. + +[Sidenote: Wherefore Edgar is praised of some writers.] +This Edgar is highlie renowmed of writers for such princelie +qualities as appeared in him, but chieflie for that he was so +beneficiall to the church, namelie to moonks, the aduancement of whome +he greatlie sought, both in building abbeies new from the ground, in +reparing those that were decaied: also by inriching them with great +reuenues, and in conuerting collegiat churches into monasteries, +remoouing secular priests, and bringing in moonks in their places. +There passed no one yeere of his reigne, wherin he founded not one +abbeie or other. The abbeie of Glastenburie which his father had begun +he finished. The abbeie of Abington also he accomplished and set in +good order. The abbeies of Peterborough & Thornie he established. The +nunrie of Wilton he founded and richlie endowed, where his daughter +Editha was professed, and at length became abbesse there. To be +briefe, he builded (as the chronicles record) to the number of 40 +[Sidenote: _Fabian_. _Ran. Higd._ _Hen. Hunt._] +abbeies and monasteries, in some of which he placed moonks, and in +some nuns. By his example in those daies, other nobles, as also +prelates, & some of the laitie, did begin the foundation of sundrie +abbeies and monasteries: as Adelwold bishop of Winchester builded +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +the abbeie of Elie, and (as some say) Peterborough & Thornie, though +they were established by the king (as before is mentioned.) Also earle +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._] +Ailewin, at the exhortation of the same bishop Adelwold, builded +the abbeie of Ramsey, though some attribute the dooing thereof vnto +Oswald the archbishop of Yorke, and some to king Edward the elder. + +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._ Moonks esteemed & secular priests little +regarded.] +To conclude, the religious orders of moonks and nuns in these +daies florished, and the state of secular priests was smallie +regarded, insomuch that they were constreined to auoid out of diuerse +colleges, and to leaue the same vnto moonks, as at Worcester and +Winchester, wherein the new monasterie, bicause the kings liued not in +such sort as was then thought requisite, the prebends were taken +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._ _lib. 6 cap. 9_] +from them and giuen to vicars. But when the vicars were thought to vse +themselues no better, but rather worse than the other before them, +they were likewise put out, and moonks placed in their roomes +by authoritie of pope John the 13. This reformation, or rather +deformation was vsed by king Edgar in many other places of the realme. + +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ _Ran. Higd._ _Tho. Eliot_.] +He was (as appeareth by diuers writers) namelie in his beginning, +cruell against his owne people, and wanton in lusting after yoong +women (as you haue heard before.) Of stature & proportion of bodie +[Sidenote: Edgar small of stature but strong and hardie.] +he was but small and low, but yet nature had inclosed within so little +a personage such strength, that he durst incounter and combat with him +that was thought most strong, onelie doubting this, least he which +should haue to doo with him should stand in feare of him. And as it +chanced at a great feast (where oftentimes men vse their toongs more +[Sidenote: Kenneth king of Scots.] +liberallie than needeth) Kenneth the king of Scots cast out +certeine words in this maner: "It may (saith hee) seeme a maruell that +so manie countries and prouinces should be subiect to such a little +sillie bodie as Edgar is." These words being borne awaie by a iester +or minstrell, and afterwards vttered to Edgar with great reproch, +he wiselie dissembled the matter for a time, although he kept the +remembrance thereof inclosed within his breast: and vpon occasion, at +length feigned to go on hunting, taking the king of Scots forth with +him: and hauing caused one of his seruants to conuey two swords into a +place within the forrest by him appointed in secret wise, of purpose +he withdrew from the residue of his companie, and there accompanied +onelie with the Scotish king, came to the place where the swords were +[Sidenote: The noble courage of king Edgar.] +laid; and there taking the one of them, deliuered the other to the +Scotish king, willing him now to assaie his strength, that they might +shew by proofe whether of them ought to be subiect to the other; +"Start not, but trie it with me (saith he:) for it is a shame for a +king to be full of brags at bankets, and not to be readie to fight +when triall should be made abroad." The Scotish king herewith being +astonied and maruellouslie abashed, fell downe at his feet, and with +much humilitie confessed his fault, & desired pardon for the same, +which vpon such his humble submission king Edward easilie granted. + +This noble prince had two wiues, Egelfrida or Elfrida, surnamed the +white, the daughter of a mightie duke named Ordiner, by whome he had +issue a sonne named Edward that succeeded him. His second wife was +called Alfreda the daughter of Orgar duke of Deuon or Cornewall (as +some saie) by whome he had issue Edmund that died before his father, +and Egelred which afterwards was king. Also he had issue a base +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +daughter named Editha, begotten of his concubine Wilfrid (as +before ye haue heard.) The state of the realme in king Edgars daies +was in good point, for both the earth gaue hir increase verie +plentiouslie, the elements shewed themselues verie fauorable, +according to the course of times: peace was mainteined, and no +inuasion by forraine enimies attempted. For Edgar had not onelie +all the whole Ile of Britaine in subiection, but also was ruler & +souereigne lord ouer all the kings of the out Iles that lie within +the seas about all the coasts of the same Britaine euen vnto the +[Sidenote: Ireland subiect to king Edgar.] +realme of Norwaie. He brought also a great part of Ireland vnder his +subiection, with the citie of Dublin, as by authentike recordes it +dooth and may appeare. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Contention amongest the peeres and states about succession to the +crowne, the moonkes remoued and the canons and secular priests +restored by Alfer duke of Mercia and his adherents, a blasing starre +with the euents insuing the same, the rood of Winchester speaketh, a +prettie shift of moonks to defeat the priests of their possessions, +the controuersie betwene the moonks and the priests ended by a +miracle of archbishop Dunstane, great hope that Edward would tread his +fathers steps, the reuerent loue he bare his stepmother queene Alfred +and hir sonne Egelred, hir diuelish purpose to murther Edward hir +step-sonne accomplished, his obscure funerall in respect of pompe, +but famous by meanes of miracles wrought by and about his sepulture, +queene Alfred repenting hir of the said prepensed murther, dooth +penance, and imploieth hir substance in good woorkes as satisfactorie +for hir sinnes, king Edwards bodie remoued, and solemnlie buried by +Alfer duke of Mercia, who was eaten up with lice for being against the +said Edwards aduancement to the crowne, queene Alfreds offense by no +meanes excusable._ + +THE XXV. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: EDWARD.] +After the deceasse of king Edgar, there was some strife and +[Sidenote: Some write that the father king Edgar appointed Edward to +succeed him. _Simon Dun._ _Iohn Capg._] +contention amongst the lords & peeres of the realme about the +succession of the crowne: for Alfred the mother of Egelredus or +Ethelredus, and diuers other of hir opinion, would gladlie haue +aduanced the same Egelredus to the rule: but the archbishop Dunstan +taking in his hands the baner of the crucifix, presented his elder +brother Edward vnto the lords as they were assembled togither, and +there pronounced him king, notwithstanding that both queene Alfred and +hir friends, namelie Alfer the duke of Mercia were sore against him, +especiallie for that he was begot in vnlawfull bed of Elfleda the nun, +for which offense he did seuen yeares penance, and not for lieng with +Wilfrid (as maister Fox thinketh.) But Dunstane iudging (as is to be +[Sidenote: Alfer duke of Mercia and other immediately upon Edgars +death before the crowne was established, renounced the moonks and +restored the canons. _Simon Dun._] +thought) that Edward was more fit for their behoofe to continue +the world in the former course as Edgar had left it, than his brother +Egelred (whose mother and such as tooke part with hir vnder hir sonnes +authoritie were likelie inough to turne all vpside downe) vsed the +matter so, that with helpe of Oswald the archbishop of Yorke, and +other bishops, abbats, and certeine of the nobilitie, as the earle of +Essex and such like, he preuailed in his purpose, so that (as before +is said) the said Edward, being the second of that name which gouerned +this land before the conquest, was admitted king, and began his reigne +ouer England in the yeare of our Lord 975, in the third yeare of +[Sidenote: 975.] +the emperour Otho the second, in the 20 yeare of the reigne of Lothar +king of France, and about the fourth yeare of Cumelerne king of +Scotland. He was consecrated by archb. Dunstane at Kingston vpon +Thames, to the great griefe of his mother in law Alfred and hir +friends. ¶ About the beginning of his reigne a blasing starre was +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +seene, signifieng (as was thought) the miserable haps that +followed. And first there insued barrennesse of ground, and thereby +famine amongest the people, and morraine of cattell. + +[Sidenote: Alfer or Elfer, duke of Mercia.] +Also duke Alfer or Elfer of Mercia, and other noble men destroyed +the abbies which king Edgar and bishop Adelwold had builded within the +limits of Mercia. The priests or canons, which had beene expelled in +Edgars time out of the prebends and benefices, began to complaine of +the wrongs that were doone to them, in that they had beene put out of +possession from their liuings, alleging it to be a great offense +and miserable case, that a stranger should come and remoue an old +inhabitant, for such maner of dooing could not please God, not yet be +allowed of anie good man, which ought of reason to doubt least the +same should hap to him which he might see to haue beene another mans +vndooing. About this matter was hard hold, for manie of the temporall +lords, and namelie the same Alfer, iudged that the priests had +[Sidenote: _Iohn Capg._ _Wil. Malm._ _Ran. Higd._ _Matt. West._ +_Simon Dun._] +wrong. In so much that they remoued the moonks out of their places, +and brought into the monasteries secular priests with their wiues. But +Edelwin duke of the Eastangles, & Alfred his brother, with Brightnoth +or Brightnode earle of Essex, withstood this dooing, & gathering an +armie, with great valiancie mainteined the moonks in their houses, +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] +within the countrie of Eastangles. Herevpon were councels holden, +as at Winchester, at Kirthling in Eastangle, and at Calne. + +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +At Winchester, when the matter was brought to that passe that the +priests were like to haue had their purpose, an image of the rood that +stood there in the refectorie where they sat in councell, vttered +[Sidenote: A pretie shift of the moonks to disappoint the priests. +_Polydor_.] +certeine woords in this wise; God forbid it should be so, God forbid +it should be so: ye iudged well once, but ye may not change well +againe. As though (saith Polydor Virgil) the moonks had more right, +which had bereft other men of their possessions, than the priests +which required restitution of their owne. But (saith he) bicause the +image of Christ hanging on the crosse was thought to speake these +words, such credit was giuen thereto, as it had beene an oracle, that +the priests had their sute dashed, and all the trouble was ceassed. So +the moonks held those possessions, howsoeuer they came to them, by the +helpe of God, or rather (as saith the same Polydor) by the helpe of +man. For there were euen then diuers that thought this to be rather an +oracle of Phebus than of God, that is to say, not published by Gods +power, but by the fraud and craftie deceit of men. + +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +The matter therefore was not so quieted, but that vpon new trouble +an other councell was had at a manour house belonging to the king, +called Calne, where they that were appointed to haue the hearing of +the matter, sat in an vpper loft. The king by reason of his yoong +yeeres was spared, so that he came not there. Heere as they were +busied in arguing the matter, either part laieng for himselfe what +could be said, Dunstane was sore reuiled, and had sundrie reproches +laid against him: but suddenlie euen in the verie heat of their +communication, the ioists of the loft failed, and downe came all the +companie, so that manie were slaine and hurt, but Dunstane alone +[Sidenote: Dunstane by woorking miracles had his will, when +arguments failed.] +standing vpon one of the ioists that fell not, escaped safe and sound. +And so this miracle with the other made an end of the controuersie +betweene the priests and moonks, all the English people following the +mind of the archbishop Dunstane, who by meanes thereof had his will. + +In this meane while, king Edward ruling himselfe by good counsell of +such as were thought discreet and sage persons, gaue great hope to the +world that he would walke in his fathers vertuous steps, as alreadie +he well began, and bearing alwaie a reuerence to his mother in law, +[Sidenote: _Polydor_. _Will. Malms._] +and a brotherlie loue to hir sonne Egelred, vsed himselfe as +became him towards them both. Afterward by chance as he was hunting in +a foruest neere the castell of Corfe, where his mother in law and his +brother the said Egelred then soiourned, when all his companie were +spred abroad in following the game, so that he was left alone, he +[Sidenote: The wicked purpose of queene Alfred.] +tooke the waie streight vnto his mother in lawes house, to visit +hir and his brother. The queene hearing that he was come, was verie +glad thereof, for that she had occasion offered to woorke that which +she had of long time before imagined, that was, to slea the king hir +sonne in law, that hir owne sonne might inioy the garland. Wherefore +she required him to alight, which he in no wise would yeeld vnto, but +said that he had stolne from his companie, and was onelie come to see +hir and his brother, and to drinke with them, and therefore would +returne to the forrest againe to see some more sport. + +[Sidenote: The shameful murther of K. Edward.] +The queene perceiuing that he would not alight, caused drinke to +be fetched, and as he had the cup at his mouth, by hir appointment, +one of hir seruants stroke him into the bodie with a knife, wherevpon +feeling himselfe wounded, he set spurres to the horsse thinking to +gallop awaie, and so to get to his companie. But being hurt to the +death, he fell from his horsse, so as one of his feet was fastened in +the stirrup, by reason whereof his horsse drew him foorth through +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ _Fabian_. _Sim. Dun._ _Wil. Malm._] +woods and launds, & the bloud which gushed out of the wound shewed +token of his death to such as followed him, and the waie to the place +where the horsse had left him. That place was called Corphes gate or +Corfes gate. His bodie being found was buried without anie solemne +funeralls at Warham. For they which enuied that he should inioy the +crowne, enuied also the buriall of his bodie within the church: but +the memorie of his fame could not so secretlie be buried with the +bodie, as they imagined. For sundrie miracles shewed at the place +where his bodie was interred, made the same famous (as diuerse haue +[Sidenote: Miracles.] +reported) for there was sight restored to the blind, health to the +sicke, and hearing to the deafe, which are easilier to be told than +beleeued. + +Queene Alfred also would haue ridden to the place where he laie, +mooued with repentance (as hath beene said) but the horsse wherevpon +she rode would not come neere the graue, for anie thing that could be +doone to him. Neither by changing the said horsse could the matter +be holpen: for euen the same thing happened to the other horsses. +Heerevpon the woman perceiued hir great offense towards God for +murthering the innocent, and did so repent hir afterward for the same, +that besides the chastising of hir bodie in fasting, and other +[Sidenote: Building of abbeies in those daies was thought to be a full +satisfaction for all manner of sinnes.] +kind of penance, she imploied all hir substance and patrimonie on the +poore, and in building and reparing of churches and monasteries. She +founded two houses of nuns (as is said) the one at Warwell, the other +at Ambresburie, and finallie professed hirselfe a nun in one of them, +that is to say, at Warwell, which house she builded (as some affirme) +in remembrance of hir first husband that was slaine there by king +Edgar for hir sake (as before is mentioned.) + +The bodie of this Edward the second, and surnamed the martyr, after +that it had remained three yeeres at Warham where it was first buried, +was remooued vnto Shaftesburie, and with great reuerence buried +[Sidenote: Elferus.] +there by the forenamed Alfer or Elfer, duke of Mercia, who also did +sore repent himselfe, in that he had beene against the aduancement of +the said king Edward (as ye haue heard.) But yet did not he escape +woorthie punishment: for within one yeere after, he was eaten to +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +death with lice (if the historie be true.) King Edward came to his +[Sidenote: _Will. Malmes._] +death after he had reigned three yeeres, or (as other write) three +yeeres and eight moneths. ¶ Whatsoeuer hath beene reported by writers +of the murther committed on the person of this king Edward, sure it +is that if he were base begotten (as by writers of no meane credit it +should appeere he was in deed) great occasion vndoubtedlie was giuen +vnto queene Alfred to seeke reuenge for the wrongfull keeping backe +of hir son Egelred from his rightfull succession to the crowne: but +whether that Edward was legitimate or not, she might yet haue deuised +some other lawfull meane to haue come by hir purpose, and not so to +haue procured the murther of the young prince in such vnlawfull +maner. For hir dooing therein can neither be woorthilie allowed, nor +throughlie excused, although those that occasioned the mischiefe by +aduancing hir stepsonne to an other mans right, deserued most blame in +this matter. + + +_Thus farre the sixt booke comprising the first arriuall of the Danes +in this land, which was in king Britricus his reigne, pag. 652, at +which time the most miserable state of England tooke beginning._ + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of +England (6 of 8), by Raphael Holinshed + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORIE OF ENGLAND *** + +***** This file should be named 16610.txt or 16610.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1/16610/ + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Lesley Halamek and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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