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diff --git a/old/16617-8.txt b/old/16617-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0a9d325 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/16617-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3346 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of +England (7 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 (7 of 8) + The Seventh Boke of the Historie of England + +Author: Raphael Holinshed + +Release Date: August 29, 2005 [EBook #16617] + +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 SEVENTH BOKE + +OF THE + +HISTORIE OF ENGLAND. + + + * * * * * + + + +_Egelred succeedeth Edward the martyr in the kingdoms of England, the +decaie of the realme in his reigne, Dunstane refusing to consecrate +him is therevnto inforced, Dunstans prophesies of the English people +and Egelred their king, his slouth and idlenes accompanied with other +vices, the Danes arriue on the coasts of Kent and make spoile of manie +places; warre betwixt the king and the bishop of Rochester, archbishop +Dunstans bitter denunciation against the king because he would not +be pacified with the bishop of Rochester without moneie; Dunstans +parentage, his strange trance, and what a woonderfull thing he did +during the time it lasted, his education and bringing vp, with what +good qualities he was indued, an incredible tale of his harpe, how +he was reuoked from louing and lusting after women whereto he was +addicted, his terrible dreame of a rough beare, what preferments he +obteined by his skill in the expounding of dreames_. + +THE FIRST CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: EGELRED.] +In the former booke was discoursed the troubled state of this land +by the manifold and mutinous inuasions of the Danes; who though they +sought to ingrosse the rule of euerie part and parcell therof into +their hands; yet being resisted by the valiantnesse of the gouernors +supported with the aid of their people, they were disappointed of +their expectation, and receiued manie a dishonorable or rather +reprochfull repulse at their aduersaries hands. Much mischiefe +doubtlesse they did, and more had doone, if they had not béene met +withall in like measure of extremitie as they offred, to the offense +and ouerthrow of great multitudes. Their first entrance into this land +is controuersed among writers, some saieng that it was in the daies of +king Britricus, other some affirming that it was in the time of king +Egbert, &c: about which point (sith it is a matter of no great moment) +we count it labour lost to vse manie woords: onelie this by the waie +is notewoorthie, that the Danes had an vnperfect or rather a lame and +limping rule in this land, so long as the gouernors were watchfull, +diligent, politike at home, and warlike abroad. But when these kind of +kings discontinued, and that the raines of the regiment fell into +the hands of a pezzant not a puissant prince, a man euill qualified, +dissolute, slacke and licentious, not regarding the dignitie of his +owne person, nor fauoring the good estate of the people; the Danes who +before were coursed from coast to coast, and pursued from place to +place, as more willing to leaue the land, than desirous to tarrie in +the same; tooke occasion of stomach and courage to reenter this Ile, & +waxing more bold and confident, more desperate and venturous, spared +no force, omitted no opportunitie, let slip no aduantage that they +might possiblie take, to put in practise and fullie to accomplish +their long conceiued purpose. + +Now bicause the Danes in the former kings daies were reencountred (and +that renowmedlie) so often as they did encounter, and séeking the +totall regiment, were dispossessed of their partile principalitie, +which by warlike violence they obteined; and for that the Saxons were +interessed in the land, and these but violent incrochers, vnable +to kéepe that which they came to by constreint; we haue thought it +conuenient to comprise the troubled estate of that time in the sixt +booke; the rather for the necessarie consequence of matters then in +motion: and héere déeme it not amisse, at so great and shamefull +loosenesse (speciallie in a prince) ministring hart and courage to the +enimie, to begin the seuenth booke. Wherin is expressed the chiefest +time of their flourishing estate in this land; if in tumults, vprores, +battels, and bloudshed, such a kind of estate may possiblie be +found. For héere the Danes lord it, heere they take vpon them like +souereignes, & héere (if at anie time they had absolute authoritie) +they did what they might in the highest degrée: as shall be declared +in the vnfortunate affaires of vngratious Egelred or Etheldred, the +sonne of king Edgar, and of his last wife queene Alfred, who was +ordeined king in place of his brother Edward, after the same Edward +was dispatched out of the waie, and began his reigne ouer this +[Sidenote: 979. _Simon Dun._] +realme of England, in the yéere of our Lord 979, which was in the +seuenth yéere of the emperor Otho the second, in the 24 of Lothaire K. +of France, and about the second or third yeere of Kenneth the third +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] +of that name king of Scotland. + +This Egelred or Etheldred was the 30 in number from Cerdicus the first +king of the Westsaxons: through his negligent gouernment, the state of +the commonwealth fell into such decaie (as writers doo report) that +vnder him it may be said, how the kingdome was come to the vttermost +point or period of old and féeble age, which is the next degrée to the +graue. For wheras, whilest the realme was diuided at the first by +the Saxons into sundrie dominions, it grew at length (as it were +increasing from youthfull yeeres) to one absolute monarchie, which +passed vnder the late remembred princes, Egbert, Adelstane, Edgar, and +others, so that in their daies it might be said, how it was growne to +mans state, but now vnder this Egelred, through famine, pestilence, +and warres, the state thereof was so shaken, turned vpside downe, and +weakened on ech part, that rightlie might the season be likened vnto +the old broken yéeres of mans life, which through féeblenesse is not +able to helpe it selfe. Dunstane archbishop of Canturburie was thought +to haue foreséene this thing, and therfore refused to annoint Egelred +king, which by the murther of his brother should atteine to the +gouernment: but at length he was compelled vnto it, and so he +consecrated him at Kingston vpon Thames, as the maner then was, on +the 24 day of Aprill, assisted by Oswald archbishop of Yorke, and ten +other bishops. + +[Sidenote: _Will. Malmes._] +But (as hath béene reported) Dunstane then said that the English +people should suffer condigne punishment generallie, with losse of +ancient liberties, which before that time they had inioied. Dunstane +also long before prophesied of the slouthfulnesse that should remaine +in this Egelred. For at what time he ministred the sacrament of +baptisme to him; shortlie after he came into this world, he defiled +the font with the ordure of his wombe (as hath beene said:) whervpon +Dunstane being troubled in mind, "By the Lord (saith he) and his +blessed mother, this child shall prooue to be a slouthfull person." It +hath beene written also, that when he was but ten yeeres of age, and +heard that his brother Edward was slaine, he so offended his mother +with wéeping, bicause she could not still him, that hauing no rod at +hand, she tooke tapers or sizes that stood before hir, and beat him so +sore with them, that she had almost killed him, whereby he could neuer +after abide to haue anie such candels lighted before him. + +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +This Egelred (as writers say) was nothing giuen to warlike +enterprises, but was slouthfull, a louer of idlenesse, and delighting +in riotous lusts, which being knowne to all men, caused him to be +euill spoken of amongst his owne people, and nothing feared amongst +strangers. Heerevpon the Danes that exercised rouing on the seas, +began to conceiue a boldnesse of courage to disquiet and molest the +sea-coasts of the realme, in so much that in the second yéere of +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._ 980.] +this Egelreds reigne, they came with seuen ships on the English coasts +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] +of Kent, and spoiled the Ile of Tenet, the towne of Southampton, +and in the yeere following they destroied S. Petroks abbeie in +Cornwall, Porthland in Deuonshire, and diuerse other places by the +sea side, speciallie in Deuonshire & Cornwall. Also a great part of +Cheshire was destroied by pirats of Norway. + +[Sidenote: 982.] +The same yéere by casualtie of fire, a great part of the citie +[Sidenote: 983. Alfer or Elfer duke of Mercia departed this life.] +of London was burnt. In the yeere of our Lord 983, Alfer duke of +Mercia departed this life, who was coosen to king Edgar, & his +[Sidenote: Alfrike or Elfrike duke of Mercia. _Fabian_. _Wil. Malm._ +_Matt. West._] +sonne Alfrike tooke vpon him the rule of that dukedome, and within +thrée yéeres after was banished the land. About the eight yéere of +his reigne, Egelred maried one Elgina or Ethelgina, daughter of earle +Egbert. In the ninth yeere of his reigne, vpon occasion of strife +betwéene him and the bishop of Rochester, he made warre against +the same bishop, wasted his lordships, and besieged the citie of +Rochester, till Dunstan procured the bishops peace with paiment of an +hundred pounds in gold. And bicause the K. would not agrée with the +bishop without moneie at the onelie request of Dunstane, the said +Dunstane did send him woord, that sithens he made more account of gold +than of God, more of monie than of S. Andrew, patrone of the church of +Rochester, and more of couetousnesse than of him being the archbishop, +the mischiefs which the Lord had threatned would shortlie fall and +come to passe, but the same should not chance whilest he was aliue, +who died in the yéere following, on the 25 of Maie, being saturdaie. + +[Sidenote: _Vita Dunstani._] +Of this Dunstane manie things are recorded by writers, that +he should be of such holinesse and vertue, that God wrought manie +miracles by him, both whilest he liued heere on earth, and also +[Sidenote: _Iohn Capgr._ _Osborne_. _Ran. Higd._] +after his deceasse. He was borne in Westsaxon, his father was named +Heorstan, and his mother Cinifride, who in his youth set him to +schoole, where he so profited, that he excelled all his equals in age. +Afterward he fell sicke of an ague, which vexed him so sore that it +draue him into a frensie: and therefore his parents appointed him to +the cure and charge of a certeine woman, where his disease grew so on +him, that he fell in a trance, as though he had béene dead, and after +that he suddenlie arose, & by chance caught a staffe in his hand, and +ran vp and downe through hils and dales, and laid about him as though +he had béene afraid of mad dogs. The next night (as it is said) he gat +him to the top of the church (by the helpe of certeine ladders that +stood there for woorkemen to mend the roofe) and there ran vp and +downe verie dangerouslie, but in the end came safelie downe, and laid +him to sléepe betwéene two men that watched the church that night, & +when he awaked, he maruelled how he came there. Finallie, recouering +his disease, his parents made him a priest, and placed him in the +abbeie of Glastenburie, where he gaue himselfe to the reading of +scriptures and knowledge of vertue. But as well his kinsmen as +certeine other did raise a report of him, that he gaue not himselfe +so much to the reading of scriptures, as to charming, coniuring and +sorcerie, which he vtterlie denied: howbeit learned he was in déed, & +could doo manie pretie things both in handie woorke and other deuises: +he had good skill in musicke and delighted much therein. At length he +grew in such fauour, that he was aduanced into the seruice of king +Adelstane. + +Vpon a time, as he came to a gentlewomans house with his harpe, and +hoong the same on the wall, while he shaped a priests stole, the harpe +suddenlie began to plaie a psalme, which draue the whole houshold in +such feare, that they ran out and said, he was too cunning, and knew +more than was expedient: wherevpon he was accused of necromancie, and +so banished out of the court. After this he began to haue a liking to +women, and when Elfeagus then bishop of Winchester and his coosen, +persuaded him to become a moonke, he refused it, for he rather wished +to haue maried a yoong damesell, whose pleasant companie he dailie +inioied. But being soone after striken with such a swelling disease in +his bellie, that all his bodie was brought into such state, as though +he had béene infected with a foule leprosie, he bethought him selfe, +and vpon his recouerie sent to the bishop, who immediatlie shore him a +moonke, in which life he liued in so great opinion of holinesse, as he +in time became abbat of Glastenburie: where on a time as he was in his +praiers before the altar of S. George, he fell asléepe: and imagining +in his dreame, that an vglie rough beare came towards him with open +mouth, and set his forefeet vpon his shoulders readie to deuoure him, +he suddenlie wakening for feare, caught his walking staffe which he +commonlie went with, and laid about him, that all the church rang +[Sidenote: _Polychron._] +thereof, to the great woonder of such as stood by. The common tale +of his plucking the diuell by the nose with a paire of pinsors, for +tempting him with women, while he was making a chalice: the great loue +that the ladie Elfleda néere kinswoman to king Adelstane bare him to +hir dieng day, with a great manie of other such like matters, I leaue +as friuolous, and wholie impertinent to our purpose: onelie this I +read, that through declaring of his dreames and visions, he obteined +in the time of king Edgar, first the bishoprike of Worcester, after of +London, & last of all the archbishoprike of Canturburie. But leauing +Dunstane and the fond deuises depending vpon the commemoration of his +life, we will now returne to the dooings of Egelred, and speake of +such things in the next chapter as chanced in his time. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The Danes inuade England on each side, they are vanquished by the +English, Goda earle of Deuonshire slaine; the Danes in a battell +fought at Maldon kill Brightnod earle of Essex and the most of his +armie, ten thousand pounds paid to them by composition that they +should not trouble the English subjects, they cease their crueltie +for a time, but within a while after fall to their bloudie bias, the +English people despaire to resist them, Egelred addresseth a nauie +against the Danes vnder the erles Alfrike and Turold, Alfrike +traitorouslie taketh part with the Danes, his ship and souldiers are +taken, his sonne Algar is punished for his fathers offense, the Danes +make great wast in many parts of this Iland, they besiege London and +are repelled with dishonor, they driue king Egelred to buy peace +of them for _16000 _pounds; Aulafe king of Norwey is honorablie +interteined of Egelred, to whome he promiseth at his baptisme neuer +to make warre against England, the great zeale of people in setting +forward the building of Durham towne and the minster_. + +THE SECOND CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ _Matt. Westm._ The Danes inuade this land.] +Shortlie after the decease of Dunstane, the Danes inuaded this +realme on each side, wasting and spoiling the countrie in most +miserable wise. They arriued in so manie places at once, that the +Englishmen could not well deuise whither to go to encounter first with +[Sidenote: _Alias_ Wecederport. _H. Hunt._ _Simon Dun._] +them. Some of them spoiled a place or towne called Wichport, and +from thence passing further into the countrie, were met with by the +Englishmen, who giuing them battell, lost their capteine Goda: but yet +they got the victorie, and beat the Danes out of the field, and so +[Sidenote: Danes vanquished. _Simon Dun._] +that part of the Danish armie was brought to confusion. Simon Dunel. +saith, that the Englishmen in déed wan the field here, but not without +[Sidenote: Goda earle of Deuonshire slain. _Matt. West._] +great losse. For besides Goda (who by report of the same author +was Earle of Deuonshire) there died an other valiant man of warre +named Strenwold. In the yeere 991, Brightnod earle of Essex, at Maldon +gaue battell to an armie of Danes (which vnder their leaders Iustine +and Guthmond had spoiled Gipswich) and was there ouercome and slaine +with the most part of his people, and so the Danes obteined in that +place the victorie. + +[Sidenote: _991_.] +In the same yéere, and in the 13 yeere of, king Egelreds reigne, +when the land was on each side sore afflicted, wasted and haried by +the Danes, which couered the same as they had béene grashoppers: by +the aduise of the archbishop of Canturburie Siricius (which was the +second of that sée after Dunstane) a composition was taken with the +[Sidenote: Ten thousand pounds paid to the Danes. Danegilt.] +Danes, so that for the sum of ten thousand pounds to be paied to +them by the king, they should couenant not to trouble his subjects +anie further. This monie was called Danegilt or Dane monie, and was +leuied of the people. Although other take that to be Danegilt, which +was giuen vnto such Danes as king Egelred afterwards reteined in his +seruice, to defend the land from other Danes and enimies that sought +to inuade his dominions. But by what name so euer this monie (which +the Danes now receiued) was called, true it is that herevpon they +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ 992.] +ceassed from their most cruell inuasions for a time. But shortlie +after they had refreshed themselues, and recouered new strength, they +began to play their old parts againe, dooing the like mischéefe by +their semblable inuasions, as they had vsed before. By reason hereof +such feare came vpon the English people, that they despaired to be +able to resist the enimies. + +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ A nauie set forth.] +The king yet caused a nauie to be set foorth at London, whereof +he appointed earle Alfrike (whome before he had banished) to be high +admerall, ioining with him earle Turold. This nauie did set forward +from London toward the enimies, who hauing warning giuen them from +Alfrike, escaped away without hurt. Shortly after a greater nauie of +the Danes came, and incountered with the kings fléet, so that a great +[Sidenote: Alfrike a traitour to his countrie. _Matth. West._] +number of the Londoners were slaine, and all the kings ships +taken: for Alfrike like a traitor turned to the Danes side. ¶ Matt. +West, maketh other report of this matter, declaring that Alfrike in +déed being one of the chiefe capteins of the fléet, aduertised them +by forewarning of the danger that was toward them, and that when they +should come to ioining, the same Alfrike like a traitor fled to the +Danes, and after vpon necessitie being put to flight escaped away with +them: but the other capteins of the kings fléet, as Theodred, Elstan, +and Escwen, pursued the Danes, tooke one of their ships, and slue all +those that were found therein. The Londoners also (as the same Matt. +West, saith) met with the nauie of the Danish rouers as they fled +away, and slue a great number, and also tooke the ship of the traitor +Alfrike with his souldiers & armor, but he himselfe escaped, though +with much paine, hauing plaied the like traitorous part once +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ The son punished for his fathers offense. 993.] +before, and yet was reconciled to the kings fauor againe. Vpon this +mischiefe wrought by the father, the king now tooke his sonne Algar, +and caused his eies to be put out. + +About the same time was Bambrough destroied by the Danes, which +arriued after in Humber, and wasted the countrie of Lindsey and +Yorkeshire, on either side that riuer. And when the Englishmen were +assembled to giue them battell, before they ioined, the capteines +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ _Polydor_. _Matth. West._] +of the English armie, Frena, Godwin, and Fredegist, that were Danes +by their fathers side began to flie away, and escaped, so giuing the +occasion of the ouerthrow that lighted on their people. But by some +writers it should appéere, that after the Danes had destroied all the +north parts, as they spred abroad without order and good arraie, the +[Sidenote: Aulafe king of Norway, & Swein king of Denmarke were +capteins of this fleet, as saith _Simon Dun._ 994] +people of the countrie fell vpon them, and slue some of them, +and chased the residue. Other of the Danes with a nauie of 94 ships +entered the Thames, and besieged London about our ladie daie in +September. They gaue a verie sore assault to the citie, and assaied to +set it on fire: but the citizens so valiantlie defended themselues, +that the Danes were beaten backe and repelled, greatlie to their +losse, so that they were constreined to depart thence with dishonor. +Then they fell to and wasted the countries of Essex, Kent, Sussex, and +Hamshire, and ceassed not till they had inforced the king to compound +[Sidenote: _Hen Hunt._ _Wil. Malm._ The king compounded with the Danes +for monie. _Matt. West. Simon Dun._ Aufale king of Norwey baptised. +His promise.] +with them for 16 thousand pounds, which he was glad to pay to haue +peace with them. + +Moreouer, whereas they wintered that yéere at Southampton, the king +procured Aulafe king of the Norwegians to come vnto Andeuer (where +at that time he lay) vpon pledges receiued of the king for his safe +returne. Elphegus bishop of Winchester, and duke Ethelwold were +appointed by king Egelred to bring Aulafe vnto him in most honorable +maner. The same time was Aulafe baptised, king Egelred receiuing him +at the fontstone, and so he promised neuer after to make anie war +within this land. And receiuing great gifts of the king, he returned +into his countrie, and kept his promise faithfullie: but the euils +tooke not so an end, for other of the Danes sprang vp, as they had +béene the heads of the serpent Hydra, some of them euer being readie +to trouble the quiet state of the English nation. +[Sidenote: _Iohn Leland_. _Simon Dun._ 995.] + +About this season, that is to say, in the yéere of our Lord 995, +bishop Aldaine which was fled from Chester in the stréet (otherwise +[Sidenote: The church of Durham builded.] +called Cunecester) with the bodie of saint Cuthbert for feare of +the inuasion of Danes, vnto Rippon, brought the same bodie now vnto +Durham, and there began the foundation of a church; so that the sée of +that bishoprike was from thencefoorth there established, and the woods +[Sidenote: Earle Vthred] +were there cut downe, which before that time couered and ouergrew +that place, wherevpon it began first to be inhabited. Earle Vthred, +who gouerned that countrie, greatlie furthered the bishop in this +[Sidenote: Durham town and minster builded.] +worke, so that all the people inhabiting betweene the riuers +of Coquid and Theis, came togither to rid the woods, and to helpe +forwards the building of the church and towne there. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The Danes inuading the west parts of this land make great hauocke by +fire and sword, they arriue at Rochester, and conquer the Kentishmen +in field, king Egelred ouercommeth the Danes that inhabited Cumberland +and wasteth the countrie, the Summersetshire men are foiled; the +miserable state of the realme in those daies; the English bloud mixed +with the Danes and Britaines, and what inconueniencies grew thervpon, +the disordered gouernement of king Egelred, sicknesses vexing +the people, treason in the nobles, the tribute paid to the Danes +vnmercifillie inhansed, the realme brought to beggerie; king Egelred +by politike persuasion and counsell marrieth Emma the duke of +Normandies daughter, vpon what occasion the Normans pretended a title +to the crowne of England, they conquer the whole land, what order king +Egelred tooke to kill all the Danes within his kingdoms, and what rule +they bare in this realme yer they were murdered, the thraldome of the +English people under them, whereof the word Lordane sprang_. + +THE THIRD CHAPTER. + + +In the ninteenth yere of king Egelreds reigne, the Danes sailed about +[Sidenote: 997. The Danes inuade the west parts of this land.] +Cornewall, and comming into the Seuerne sea, they robbed & tooke +preies in the coasts of Deuonshire & Southwales, and landing +at Wicheport, they burned vp the countrie, and came about vnto +Penwithstréet on the south coast, and so arriuing in the mouth of +Tamer water, came vnto Lidford, and there wasted all afore them with +force of fire. They burned, amongst other places, the monasterie of +[Sidenote: Tauestocke.] +saint Ordulfe at Essingstocke. After this they came into Dorcetshire, +and passed through the countrie with flame and fire, not finding anie +that offered to resist them. The same yéere also they soiourned in the +Ile of Wight, and liued vpon spoiles & preies which they tooke in +[Sidenote: 998.] +Hampshire and Sussex. At length they came into the Thames, and so +[Sidenote: 999. The Danes arriue in the Thames.] +by the riuer of Medwey arriued at Rochester. The Kentishmen assembled +togither and fought with the Danes, but they were ouercome, and so +left the field to the Danes. After this, the same Danes sailed into +Normandie, and king Egelred went into Cumberland, where the Danes +inhabited in great numbers, whome he ouercame with sore warre, and +[Sidenote: 1000.] +wasted almost all Cumberland, taking great spoiles in the same. +[Sidenote: 1001. Exmouth] +About the same time, or shortlie after, the Danes with their nauie, +returning out of Normandie, came vnto Exmouth, and there assaulted the +castell, but they were repelled by them that kept it. After this they +spread abroad ouer all the countrie, exercising their accustomed trade +of destroieng all before them with fire and sword. The men of +[Sidenote: Pentho.] +Summersetshire fought with them at Pentho, but the Danes got the vpper +hand. + +Thus the state of the realme in those daies was verie miserable, for +there wanted worthie chieftains to rule the people, and to chastise +them when they did amisse. There was no trust in the noble men, for +euerie one impugned others dooing, and yet would not deuise which +[Sidenote: Disagréement with councellors what fruit it bringeth.] +way to deale with better likelihood. When they assembled in councell, +and should haue occupied their heads in deuising remedies for the +mischiefe of the common wealth, they turned their purpose vnto +altercation, about such strifes, contentions and quarels as each one +against other, and suffered the generall case to lie still in the +dust. And if at anie time there was anie good conclusion agreed vpon, +for the withstanding of the enimie, & reléefe of the common wealth, +anon should the enimie be aduertised thereof by such as were of +aliance or consanguinitie to them. For (as Caxton, Polychr. and +others say) the English bloud was so mixed with that of the Danes and +Britains, who were like enimies to the Englishmen, that there was +almost few of the nobilitie and commons, which had not on the one side +a parent of some of them. + +Whereby it came to passe, that neither the secret purposes of the king +could be concealed till they might take due effect; neither their +assemblies proue quiet without quarelling and taking of parts. Manie +also being sent foorth with their powers one way (whilest the king +went to make resistance another) did reuolt to his enimies, and +turned their swords against him (as you haue heard of Elfrike and his +complices, and shall read of manie others) so that it was no maruell +that Egelred sped no better, and yet was he as valiant as anie of his +predecessors, although the moonks fauour him not in their writings, +because he demanded aid of them toward his warres, and was nothing +fauorable to their lewd hypocrisie. But what is a king if his subiects +be not loiall? What is a realme, if the common wealth be diuided? By +peace & concord, of small beginnings great and famous kingdomes haue +oft times procéeded; whereas by discord the greatest kingdoms haue +oftner bene brought to ruine. And so it proued here, for whilest +priuat quarels are pursued, the generall affaires are vtterlie +neglected: and whilest ech nation séeketh to preferre hir owne +aliance, the Iland it selfe is like to become a desert. + +But to procéed with our monasticall writers: certes they lay all the +fault in the king, saieng that he was a man giuen to no good exercise, +he delighted in fleshlie lustes and riotous bankettings and still +sought waies how to gather of his subiects what might be got, as well +[Sidenote: The misgouernement of the king.] +by vnlawfull meanes as otherwise. For he would for feined or for +verie small & light causes disherit his natiue subiects, and cause +[Sidenote: Sicknesse vexeth the people.] +them to redéeme their owne possessions for great summes of monie. +Besides these oppressions, diuers kinds of sicknesses vexed the people +also, as the bloodie flix, and hot burning agues which then raged +through the land, so that manie died thereof. By such manner of meanes +[Sidenote: Treason in the nobilitie.] +therefore, what through the misgouernance of the king, the treason +and disloialtie of the nobilitie, the lacke of good order and due +correction amongst the people, and by such other scourges and mishaps +as afflicted the English nation in that season, the land was brought +into great ruine, so that, where by strength the enimie could not be +kept off, there was now no hope but to appease them with monie. By +[Sidenote: The inhancing of the tribute paid to the Danes.] +reason hereof from time of the first agréement with the Danes for +10 thousand pounds tribute, it was inhanced to 16000 pounds, (as you +haue heard) & after that to 20000 pounds, then to 24000 pounds, & so +to 30000 pounds, & lastlie to 40000 pounds, till at length the relme +was emptied in maner of all that monie and coine that could be found +[Sidenote: The death of quéene Elgina.] +in it. In this meane time died Elgina or Ethelgina the quéene. +[Sidenote: Emma. _Hen. Hunt._] +Shortlie after it was deuised that the king should be a suter +vnto Richard duke of Normandie, for his sister Emma, a ladie of such +excellent beautie, that she was named the floure of Normandie. This +sute was begun and tooke such good successe, that the king +[Sidenote: 1002. Emma daughter of R. duke of Normandie maried to +K. Edgar.] +obteined his purpose. And so in the yeare of our Lord 1002, which was +about the 24 yeare of king Egelreds reigne, he maried the said Emma +with great solemnitie. + +This mariage was thought to be right necessarie, honorable, and +profitable for the realme of England, because of the great puissance +of the Norman princes in those daies: but as things afterward came to +passe, it turned to the subuersion of the whole English state: for by +such affinitie and dealing as happened hereby betwixt the Normans and +Englishmen, occasion in the end was ministred to the same Normans to +pretend a title to the crowne of England, in prosecuting of which +title, they obteined and made the whole conquest of the land, as after +shall appeare. Egelred being greatlie aduanced (as he thought) by +reason of his mariage, deuised vpon presumption thereof, to cause all +the Danes within the land to be murthered in one day. Herevpon he sent +priuie commissioners to all cities, burrowes and townes within his +dominions, commanding the rulers and officers in the same, to kill +all such Danes as remained within their liberties, at a certeine day +prefixed, being saint Brices day, in the yeare 1012, and in the 34 +[Sidenote: 1012. The 18 of Nouember. The murder of the Danes.] +yeare of king Egelreds reigne. Herevpon (as sundrie writers agree) +in one day & houre this murther began, and was according to the +commission and iniunction executed. But where it first began, the same +is vncerteine: some say at Wellowin in Herefordshire, some at a +[Sidenote: Hownhill, or Houndhill, a place within Merchington parish +beside the forest of Néedwood, somewhat more than two miles from +Vtoxcester.] +place in Staffordshire called Hownhill, & others in other places, but +whersoeuer it began, the dooers repented it after. + +[Sidenote: The miserable state of this realme vnder the thraldome of +the Danes.] +But now yer we procéed anie further, we will shew what rule the +Danes kept here in this realme before they were thus murthered, as +in some bookes we find recorded. Whereas it is shewed that the Danes +compelled the husbandmen to til the ground & doo all maner of labour +and toile to be doone about husbandrie: the Danes liued vpon the fruit +and gaines that came thereof, and kept the husbandmens wiues, their +daughters, maids and seruants, vsing and abusing them at their +pleasures. And when the husbandmen came home, then could they scarse +haue such sustenance of meats and drinkes as fell for seruants to +haue: so that the Danes had all their commandements, eating and +drinking of the best, where the sillie man that was the owner, could +hardlie come to his fill of the worst. Besides this, the common people +were so oppressed by the Danes, that for feare and dread they called +[Sidenote: _Hector Boet._] +them in euerie such house where anie of them soiourned, Lord Dane. +And if an Englishman and a Dane chanced to méet at anie bridge or +streight passage, the Englishman must staie till the Lord Dane were +passed. But in processe of time, after the Danes were voided the land, +this word Lord Dane was in derision and despight of the Danes turned +[Sidenote: Lordane whereof the word came.] +by Englishmen into a name of reproch, as Lordane, which till these +our daies is not forgotten. For when the people in manie parts of this +realme will note and signifie anie great idle lubber that will not +labour nor take paine for his liuing, they will call him Lordane. Thus +did the Danes vse the Englishmen in most vile manner, and kept them in +such seruile thraldome as cannot be sufficientlie vttered. + + * * * * * + + + + +_A fresh power of Danes inuade England to reuenge the slaughter of +their countrimen that inhabited this Ile, the west parts betraied into +their hands by the conspiracie of a Norman that was in gouernement, +earle Edrike feined himselfe sicke when king Egelred sent vnto him +to leuie a power against the Danes, and betraieth his people to the +enimies; Sweine king of Denmarke arriueth on the coast of Northfolke, +and maketh pitifull spoile by fire and sword; the truce taken betweene +him and Vikillus is violated, and what reuengement followeth; king +Sweine forced by famine returneth into his owne countrie, he arriueth +againe at Sandwich, why king Egelred was vnable to preuaile against +him, the Danes ouerrun all places where they come and make cruell +waste, king Egelred paieth him great summes of monie for peace; the +mischiefes that light vpon a land by placing a traitorous stranger in +gouernement, how manie acres a hide of land conteineth, Egelreds +order taken for ships and armour, why his great fleet did him little +pleasure; a fresh host of Danes vnder three capteines arriue at +Sandwich, the citizens of Canturburie for monie purchase safetie, the +faithlesse deeling of Edrike against king Egelred for the enimies +aduantage, what places the Danes ouerran and wasted_. + +THE FOURTH CHAPTER. + + +Vpon knowledge giuen into Denmarke of the cruell murder of the Danes +here in England, truth it is, that the people of the countrie were +greatlie kindled in malice, and set in such a furious rage against +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ _Simon Dun._ The Danes returne to inuade England.] +the Englishmen, that with all spéed they made foorth a nauie full +fraught with men of warre, the which in the yeare following came +[Sidenote: Excester taken. 1002.] +swarming about the coasts of England, and landing in the west +countrie, tooke the citie of Excester, and gat there a rich +[Sidenote: Hugh a Norman conspireth with the Danes.] +spoile. One Hugh a Norman borne, whome queene Emma had placed in those +parties as gouernour or shirife there, conspired with the Danes, so +that all the countrie was ouerrun and wasted. + +The king hearing that the Danes were thus landed, and spoiled the +west parts of the realme, he sent vnto Edricus to assemble a power to +withstand the enimies. Herevpon the people of Hampshire and Wiltshire +rose and got togither: but when the armies should ioine, earle +[Sidenote: The counterfait sicknesse of duke Edrike.] +Edricus surnamed de Streona feigned himselfe sicke, and so betraied +his people, of whome he had the conduct: for they perceiuing the want +[Sidenote: Wilton spoiled.] +in their leader, were discouraged, and so fled. The Danes followed +them vnto Wilton, which towne they rifled and ouercame. From thence +they went to Salisburie, and so taking their pleasure there, returned +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] +to their ships, because (as some write) they were aduertised that +[Sidenote: 1004.] +the king was comming towards them with an huge armie. In the yeare +next insuing, that is to saie 1004, which was about the 24 yeare +[Sidenote: Swein king of Denmarke.] +of K. Egelreds reigne, Sweine or Swanus, king of Denmarke, with a +mightie nauie of ships came on the coast of Northfolke, and there +[Sidenote: Norwich taken by the Danes.] +landing with his people, made toward Norwich, and comming thither +tooke that citie, and spoiled it. Then went he vnto Thetford, and +[Sidenote: Thetford burnt.] +when he had taken and rifled that towne, he burnt it, notwithstanding +[Sidenote: Vikillus or Wilfeketell gouernour of Norffolke.] +a truce taken by Vikillus or Wilfketell gouernor of those parties +with the same king Swaine after the taking of Norwich. In reuenge +therefore of such breach of truce, the same Vikillus, or Wilfeketell, +with such power as he could raise, assaulted the host of Danes as they +returned to their ships, and slue a great number of them, but was not +able to mainteine the fight, for his enimies ouermatched him in number +of men. And so he was constrained in the end to giue backe: and +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._] +the enimies kept on their waies to their ships. + +[Sidenote: 1005. Swaine returned into Denmarke. _Simon Dun._] +In the yeare following king Swaine returned into Denmarke with all +his fléet, partlie constrained so to doo (as some write) by reason of +the great famin & want of necessarie sustenance, which in that +[Sidenote: 1006. _Hen. Hunt._ Swaine returned into England.] +yeare sore oppressed this land. In the yeare of our Lord 1006, king +Swaine returned againe into England with a mightie & huge nauie, +arriuing at Sandwich, and spoiled all the countrie néere vnto the +sea side. King Egelred raised all his power against him, and all the +haruest time laie abroad in the field to resist the Danes, which +according to their woonted maner spared not to exercise their +vnmercifull crueltie, in wasting and spoiling the land with fire and +sword, pilfering and taking of preies in euerie part where they came. +Neither could king Egelred remedie the matter, because the enimies +still conueied themselues with their ships into some contrarie +quarter, from the place where they knew him to be, so that his trauell +was in vaine. + +[Sidenote: The Danes winter in the Ile of Wight. +They inuade Hampshire, Barkeshire, &c.] +About the beginning of winter they remained in the Ile of Wight, +& in the time of Christmasse they landed in Hampshire, and passing +through that countrie into Barkeshire, they came to Reading, and from +thence to Wallingford, and so to Coleseie, and then approching to +Essington, came to Achikelmeslawe, and in euerie place wheresoeuer +they came, they made cleane worke. For that which they could not carie +with them, they consumed with fire, burning vp their innes and sleaing +their hoasts. In returning backe, the people of the west countrie gaue +them battell, but preuailed not, so that they did but inrich their +[Sidenote: Winchester.] +enimies with the spoile of their bodies. They came by the gates of +Winchester as it were in maner of triumph, with vittels and spoiles +which they had fetched fiftie miles from the sea side. In the +[Sidenote: 1007.] +meane time king Egelred lay about Shrewsburie sore troubled with the +newes hereof, and in the yeare next insuing, by the aduise of his +councell he gaue to king Swaine for the redeeming of peace 30000 +[Sidenote: 36000 pound saith _Si. Dun._] +pounds. + +[Sidenote: Edrike de Streona made duke or earle of Mercia.] +In the same yeare K. Egelred created the traitor Edrike earle of +Mercia, who although he had maried Edgiua the kings daughter, was yet +noted to be one of those which disclosed the secrets of the realme, +and the determinations of the councell vnto the enimies. But he +was such a craftie dissembler, so greatlie prouided of sleight to +dissemble and cloake his falshood, that the king being too much abused +by him, had him in singular fauour, whereas he vpon a malicious +purpose studied dailie how to bring the realme into vtter destruction, +aduertising the enimies from time to time how the state of things +stood, whereby they came to knowlege when they should giue place, +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +and when they might safelie come forward. Moreouer, being sent vnto +them oftentimes as a commissioner to treat for peace, he persuaded +them to warre. But such was the pleasure of God, to haue him and such +other of like sort aduanced to honor in this season, when by his +diuine prouidence he meant to punish the people of this realme for +their wickednesse and sinnes, whereby they had iustlie prouoked his +wrath and high displeasure. + +[Sidenote: _Henr. Hunt._ _Simon Dun._ +An hundred acres is an hide of land.] +In the 30 yeare of king Egelreds reigne, which fell in the yeare +of our Lord 1008, he tooke order that of euerie thrée hundred and ten +hides of land within this realme, there should one ship be builded, +and of euerie eight hides a complet armor furnished. In the yeare +[Sidenote: 1008] +following, the kings whole fléet was brought togither at Sandwich, +and such souldiers came thither as were appointed to go to sea in the +same fleet. There had not béene seene the like number of ships +[Sidenote: Provision for ships and armour] +so trimlie rigged and furnished in all points, in anie kings daies +before. But no great profitable peece of seruice was wrought by them: +for the king had about that time banished a noble yoong man of +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._] +Sussex called Wilnot, who getting togither twentie sailes, laie vpon +the coasts taking prices where he could get them. Brithrike the +brother of earle Edrike, being desirous to win honor, tooke forth +foure score of the said ships, and promised to bring in the enimie +dead or aliue. But as he was sailing forward on the seas, a sore +tempest with an outragious wind rose with such violence, that his +ships were cast vpon the shore: and Wilnot comming vpon them, set them +on fire, and so burned them euerie one. The residue of the ships, when +newes came to them of this mishap, returned backe to London; and +then was the armie dispersed, and so all the cost and trauell of the +Englishmen proued in vaine. + +[Sidenote: Danes land at Sandwich. 1009.] +After this, in the haruest time a new armie of Danes, vnder the +conduct of thrée capteines, Turkill, Henning, and Aulafe landed at +Sandwich, and from thence passed forth to Canturburie, and had taken +the citie but that the citizens gaue them a 1000 pounds to depart from +[Sidenote: 3000 pound saith _Sim. Dun._] +thence, and to leaue the countrie in peace. Then went the Danes to +[Sidenote: Sussex and Hampshire spoiled.] +the Ile of Wight, and afterwards landed and spoiled the countrie +of Sussex and Hampshire. King Egelred assembled the whole power of all +his subiects, and comming to giue them battell, had made an end of +their cruell harieng the countrie with the slaughter of them all, if +earle Edrike with forged tales (deuised onelie to put him in feare) +had not dissuaded him from giuing battell. The Danes by that +[Sidenote: The Danes returne into Kent.] +meanes returning in safetie, immediatlie after the feast of saint +Martine, returned into Kent, and lodged with their nauie in the winter +following in the Thames, and oftentimes assaulting the citie of +London, were still beaten backe to their losse. + +[Sidenote: 1010. Oxford burnt.] +After the feast of Christmasse they passed through the countrie +and woods of Chilterne vnto Oxford, which towne they burned, and then +returning backe they fell to wasting of the countrie on both sides the +Thames. But hearing that an armie was assembled at London to giue them +battell; that part of their host which kept on the northside of the +[Sidenote: Stanes.] +riuer, passed the same riuer at Stanes, and so ioining with their +fellowes marched foorth through Southerie, and comming backe to their +ships in Kent, fell in hand to repare & amend their ships that were +in anie wise decaied. Then after Easter, the Danes sailing about the +[Sidenote: Gipswich in Suffolke. _Simon Dun._] +coast, arriued at Gipswich in Suffolke, on the Ascension day of +our Lord: and inuading the countrie, gaue battell at a place called +Wigmere or Rigmere, vnto Vikill or Wilfeketell leader of the English +host in those parties, on the fift of Maie. The men of Northfolke and +Suffolke fled at the first onset giuen: but the Cambridgeshire +men sticked to it valiantlie, winning thereby perpetuall fame and +commendation. There was no mindfulnesse amongest them of running +awaie, so that a great number of the nobilitie and other were beaten +[Sidenote: Capat formicæ.] +downe and slaine, till at length one Turketell Mireneheued, that +had a Dane to his father, first began to take his flight, and deserued +thereby an euerlasting reproch. + +The Danes obteining the vpper hand, for the space of thrée moneths +togither went vp and downe the countries, & wasted those parties of +the realme, that is to say, Northfolke, and Suffolke, with the borders +of Lincolnshire, Huntingtonshire, and Cambridgeshire where the fens +are, gaining excéeding riches by the spoile of great and wealthie +[Sidenote: Thetford. Cambridge. _Hen. Hunt._] +abbies and churches which had their situation within the compasse +of the same fens. They also destroied Thetford, and burnt Cambridge, +and from thence passed through the pleasant mountaine-countrie of +Belsham, cruellie murdering the people without respect of age, degrée +[Sidenote: The Danes arrive in the Thames. 1011.] +or sex. After this also they entred into Essex. and so came backe +to their ships, which were then arriued in the Thames. But they rested +not anie long time in quiet, as people that minded nothing but the +destruction of this realme. So as soone after, when they had somwhat +refreshed them, they set forward againe into the countrie, passing +through Buckinghamshire, & so into Bedfordshire. And about saint +[Sidenote: Northampton burnt by Danes.] +Andrewes tide they turned towards Northampton, & comming thither set +fire on that towne. Then turning through the west countrie, with fire +& sword they wasted and destroied a great part thereof, & namelie +Wiltshire, with other parties. And finallie about the feast of +Christmas they came againe to their ships. Thus had the Danes +[Sidenote: How manie shires the Danes wasted.] +wasted the most part of 16 or 17 shires within this realme, as +Northfolke, Suffolke, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Middlesex, Hartfordshire, +Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Bedfordshire, with a part of +Huntingtonshire, and also a great portion of Northamptonshire. This +was doone in the countries that lie on the northside of the riuer of +Thames. On the southside of the same riuer, they spoiled and wasted +Kent, Southerie, Sussex, Barkeshire, Hampshire, and (as is before +said) a great part of Wiltshire. + + * * * * * + + + + +_King Egelred offereth the Danes great summes of moneie to desist +from destroieng his countrie, their unspeakable crueltie, +bloudthirstinesse, and insatiable spoiling of Canturburie betraied +by a churchman; their merciles murthering of Elphegus archbishop of +Canturburie, Turkillus the Dane chiefe lord of Norfolke and Suffolke, +a peace concluded betweene the Danes and the English vpon hard +conditions; Gunthildis a beautifull Danish ladie and hir husband +slaine, hir courage to the death._ + +THE FIFT CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: The king sendeth to the Danes. _Simon Dun._] +The king and the peeres of the realme, vnderstanding of the Danes +dealing in such merciles maner (as is aboue mentioned) but not knowing +how to redresse the matter, sent ambassadors vnto the Danes, offering +them great summes of moneie to leaue off such cruell wasting and +spoiling of the land. The Danes were contented to reteine the moneie, +but yet could not absteine from their cruell dooings, neither was +their greedie thirst of bloud and spoile satisfied with the wasting +and destroieng of so manie countries and places as they had passed +[Sidenote: 1011.] +through. Wherevpon, in the yeere of our Lord 1011, about the feast of +S. Matthew in September, they laid siege to the citie of Canturburie, +which of the citizens was valiantlie defended by the space of twentie +daies. In the end of which terme it was taken by the enimies, +[Sidenote: Canturburie wonne by Danes.] +through the treason of a deacon named Almaricus, whome the archbishop +Elphegus had before that time preserued from death. The Danes +exercised passing great crueltie in the winning of that citie (as by +sundrie authors it dooth and maie appéere.) For they slue of men, +[Sidenote: _Fabian ex Antonino_.] +women, and children, aboue the number of eight thousand. They tooke +[Sidenote: The archbishop Elphegus taken. _Hen. Hunt._] +the archbishop Elphegus with an other bishop named Godwine; also +abbat Lefwin and Alseword the kings bailife there. They spared no +degrée, in somuch that they slue and tooke 900 priests, and other men +of religion. And when they had taken their pleasure of the citie, they +[Sidenote: _Antoninus. Vincentius_. _Wil. Lamb. ex Asserio Meneuensi, +& alijs_.] +set it on fire, and so returned to their ships. There be some which +write that they tithed the people after an inuerted order, slaieng all +by nines through the whole multitude, and reserued the tenth: so that +of all the moonks there were but foure saued, and of the laie people +4800, whereby it followeth that there died 43200 persons. Whereby is +gathered that the citie of Canturburie, and the countrie thereabouts +(the people whereof belike fled thither for succor) was at that time +verie well inhabited, so as there haue not wanted (saith maister +Lambert) which affirme that it had then more people than London it +selfe. + +[Sidenote: 1112. _Henr. Hunt._] +But now to our purpose. In the yéere next insuing, vpon the +Saturday in Easter wéeke, after that the bishop Elphegus had béene +kept prisoner with them the space of six or seuen moneths, they +cruellie in a rage led him foorth into the fields, and dashed out his +[Sidenote: The archbishop Elphegus murthered.] +braines with stones, bicause he would not redéeme his libertie with +thrée thousand pounds, which they demanded to haue beene leuied of his +farmers and tenants. This cruell murther was commited at Gréenewich +foure miles distant from London, the 19 of Aprill, where he lay a +[Sidenote: Miracles.] +certeine time vnburied, but at length through miracles shewed (as +[Sidenote: Elphegus buried in London.] +they say, for miracles are all wrought now by dead men, and not +by the liuing) the Danes permitted that his bodie might be caried to +London, and there was it buried in the church of S. Paule, where it +rested for the space of ten yeeres, till king Cnute or Knought had the +[Sidenote: Translated to Canturburie.] +gouernment of this land, by whose appointment it was remooued to +Canturburie. + +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malms._ Turkillus held Norffolk and Suffolke.] +Turkillus the leader of those Danes by whome the archbishop +Elphegus was thus murthered, held Northfolke and Suffolke vnder +his subiection, & so continued in those parties as chiefe lord and +gouernor. But the residue of the Danes at length, compounding with +[Sidenote: 48 thousand pound as saith _Sim. Dun._ and _M. West._ +_Henr. Hunt._] +the Englishmen for a tribute to be paid to them of eight thousand +pounds, spred abroad in the countrie, soiorning in cities, townes and +villages, where they might find most conuenient harbour. Moreouer, +fortie of their ships, or rather (as some write) 45 were reteined to +serue the king, promising to defend the realme; with condition, that +the souldiers and mariners should haue prouision of meate and drinke, +with apparell found them at the kings charges. As one autor hath +gathered, Swaine king of Denmarke was in England at the concluding of +this peace, which being confirmed with solemne othes and sufficient +hostages, he departed into Denmarke. + +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._] +The same author bringeth the generall slaughter of Danes vpon S. +Brices day, to haue chanced in the yéere after the conclusion of +this agreement, that is to say, in the yeere 1012, at what time +[Sidenote: Gunthildis the sister of K. Swaine murthered.] +Gunthildis the sister of king Swaine was slaine, with hir husband +& hir sonne, by the commandement of the false traitor Edrike. But +bicause all other authors agree that the murther of Danes was executed +about ten yeeres before this supposed time: we haue made rehearsall +thereof in that place. Howbeit, for the death of Gunthildis, it maie +be, that she became hostage either in the yéere 1007, at what time +king Egelred paied thirtie thousand pounds vnto king Swaine to haue +peace (as before you haue heard) or else might she be deliuered in +hostage, in the yéere 1011, when the last agréement was made with the +Danes (as aboue is mentioned.) But when or at what time soeuer she +became hostage, this we find of hir, that she came hither into England +with hir husband Palingus, a mightie earle, and receiued baptisme +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +héere. Wherevpon she earnestlie trauelled in treatie of a peace +betwixt hir brother and king Egelred: which being brought to passe +chieflie by hir sute, she was contented to become an hostage for +performance thereof (as before is recited.) And after by the +commandement of earle Edrike she was put to death, pronouncing that +the shedding of hir bloud would cause all England one day sore to rue. +She was a verie beautifull ladie, and tooke hir death without all +feare, not once changing countenance, though she saw hir husband +and hir onelie sonne (a yoong gentleman of much towardnesse) first +murthered before hir face. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Turkillus the Danish capteine telleth king Swaine the faults of the +king, nobles, & commons of this realme, he inuadeth England, the +Northumbers and others submit themselues to him, Danes receiued into +seruice vnder Egelred, London assalted by Swaine, the citizens behaue +themselues stoutlie, and giue the Danish host a shamefull repulse, +Ethelmere earle of Deuonshire and his people submit themselues to +Swaine, he returneth into Denmarke, commeth back againe into England +with a fresh power, is incountred withhall of the Englishmen, whose +king Egelred is discomfited, his oration to his souldiers touching the +present reliefe of their distressed land, their resolution and full +purpose in this their perplexitie, king Egelred is minded to giue +place to Swaine, he sendeth his wife and children ouer into Normandie, +the Londoners yeeld vp their state to Swaine, Egelred saileth oner +into Normandie, leauing his land to the enimie._ + +THE SIXT CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: Turkillus discloseth the secrets of the Realme to K. +Swaine.] +Now had Turkillus in the meanetime aduertised king Swaine in +what state things stood here within the realme: how king Egelred was +negligent, onlie attending to the lusts & pleasures of the flesh: how +the noble men were vnfaithfull, and the commons weake and feeble +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] +through want of good and trustie leaders. Howbeit, some write, that +Turkillus as well as other of the Danes which remained héere in +England, was in league with king Egelred, in somuch that he was with +him in London, to helpe and defend the citie against Swaine when he +came to assalt it (as after shall appéere.) Which if it be true, +a doubt may rise whether Swaine receiued anie aduertisement from +Turkillus to mooue him the rather to inuade the realme: but such +aduertisements might come from him before that he was accorded with +Egelred. + +[Sidenote: Swaine prepareth an armie to inuade England.] +Swaine therefore as a valiant prince, desirous both to reuenge +his sisters death, and win honor, prepared an huge armie, and a great +number of ships, with the which he made towards England, and first +[Sidenote: He landeth at Sandwich. 1013.] +comming to Sandwich, taried there a small while, and taking eftsoones +the sea, compassed about the coasts of Eastangles, and arriuing in the +[Sidenote: Gainsbourgh.] +mouth of Humber, sailed vp the water, and entering into the +riuer of Trent, he landed at Gainesbourgh, purposing to inuade the +Northumbers. But as men brought into great feare, for that they had +béene subiect to the Danes in times past, and thinking therefore not +to reuolt to the enimie, but rather to their old acquaintance, if +[Sidenote: The Northumbers yéeld to Swaine.] +they should submit themselues to the Danes, streightwaies offered to +become subiect vnto Swaine, togither with their duke named Wighthred. +[Sidenote: The people of Lindsey yéeld themselues to him.] +Also the people of Lindsey and all those of the northside of +Watlingstréet yéelded themselues vnto him, and delivered pledges. Then +he appointed his sonne Cnutus to haue the kéeping of those pledges, +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] +and to remaine vpon the safegard of his ships, whiles he himselfe +[Sidenote: South Mercia.] +passed forward into the countrie. Then marched he forward to +subdue them of south Mercia: and so came to Oxford & to Winchester, +making the countries subiect to him throughout wheresoeuer he came. + +With this prosperous successe Swaine being greatlie incouraged, +prepared to go vnto London, where king Egelred as then remained, +hauing with him Turkillus the Dane, which was reteined in wages +[Sidenote: _Sim. Dunel._] +with other of the Danes (as by report of some authors it maie appeare) +and were now readie to defend the citie against their countriemen in +support of king Egelred, togither with the citizens. Swaine, bicause +he would not step so farre out of the way as to go to the next bridge, +lost a great number of his men as he passed through the Thames. At +[Sidenote: Swaine assaulteth London.] +his comming to London, he began to assault the citie verie fiercelie, +in hope either to put his enimie in such feare that he should despaire +of all reliefe and comfort, or at the least trie what he was able to +doo. The Londoners on the other part, although they were brought in +some feare by this sudden attempt of the enimies, yet considering with +themselues, that the hazard of all the whole state of the realme +was annexed to theirs, sith their citie was the chiefe and +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +metropolitane of all the kingdome, they valiantlie stood in defense +of themselues, and of their king that was present there with them, +beating backe the enimies, chasing them from the walles, and otherwise +dooing their best to kéepe them off. At length, although the Danes did +most valiantlie assault the citie, yet the Englishmen to defend their +prince from all iniurie of enimies, did not shrinke, but boldlie +sallied foorth at the gates in heapes togither, and incountered with +their aduersaries, and began to fight with them verie fiercelie. + +Swaine whilest he went about to kéepe his men in order, as one most +desirous to reteine the victorie now almost gotten, was compassed so +about with the Londoners on each side, that after he had lost a great +number of his men, he was constreined for his safegard to breake out +through the midst of his enimies weapons, and was glad that he might +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +so escape: and so with the residue of his armie ceassed not to +iournie day and night till he came to Bath, where Ethelmere an +[Sidenote: Erle of Deuonshire as saith _Matt. West._] +earle of great power in those west parts of the realme submitted +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +himselfe with all his people vnto him, who shortlie after +neuerthelesse (as some write) was compelled through want of vittels to +release the tribute latelie couenanted to be paied vnto him for a +[Sidenote: Swaine returneth into Denmarke.] +certeine summe of monie, which when hée had receiued, he returned into +Denmarke, meaning shortlie to returne againe with a greater power. + +King Egelred supposed that by the paiment of that monie he should haue +béene rid out of all troubles, of warre with the Danes. But the nobles +of the realme thought otherwise, and therefore willed him to +[Sidenote: Swaine returneth into England to make warre.] +prepare an armie with all speéd that might be made. Swaine taried +not long (to proue the doubt of the noble men to be grounded of +foreknowledge) but that with swift spéed he returned againe into +England, and immediatlie vpon his arriuall was an armie of Englishmen +assembled and led against him into the field. Herevpon they ioined +[Sidenote: King Egelred discomfited in battell.] +in battell, which was sore foughten for a time, till at length by +reason of diuerse Englishmen that turned to the enimies side, the +discomfiture fell with such slaughter vpon the English host, that king +Egelred well perceiued the state of his regall gouernement to bée +brought into vtter danger. Wherevpon after the losse of this field, +he assembled the rest of his people that were escaped, and spake vnto +them after this manner. + +_The oration of king Egelred to the remanent of his souldiers_. + +"I shuld for euer be put to silence, if there wanted in vs the vertue +of a fatherlie mind, in giuing good aduise & counsel for the well +ordering and due administration of things in the common wealth, or if +there lacked courage or might in our souldiers and men of warre to +defend our countrie. Trulie to die in defense of the countrie where we +are borne, I confesse it a woorthie thing, and I for my part am readie +to take vpon me to enter into the midst of the enimies in defense of +my kingdome. But here I see our countrie and the whole English nation +to be at a point to fall into vtter ruine. We are ouercome of the +Danes, not with weapon or force of armes; but with treason wrought +by our owne people: we did at the first prepare a nauie against the +enimies, the which that false traitour Elfrike betraid into their +hands. Againe, oftentimes haue we giuen battell with euill successe, +and onelie through the fault of our owne people that haue beene false +and disloiall: whereby we haue bin constreined to agree with the +enimies vpon dishonorable conditions, euen as necessitie required, +which to ouercome, resteth onelie in God. Such kind of agreement hath +beene made in deed to our destruction, sith the enimies haue not +sticked to breake it (they being such a wicked kind of people as +neither regard God nor man) contrarie to right and reason, and beside +all our hope & expectation. So that the matter is come now to this +passe, that we haue not cause onlie to feare the losse of our +gouernement, but least the name of the whole English nation be +destroied for euer. Therefore sithens the enimies are at hand, and as +it were ouer our heads, you to whom my commandement hath euer bene had +in good regard, prouide, take counsell, and see to succor the state +of your countrie now readie to decay and to fall into irrecouerable +ruine." + +Herevpon they fell in consultation, euerie one alledging and bringing +foorth his opinion as seemed to him best: but it appeared they had the +woolfe by the eare, for they wist not which way to turne them. If they +should giue battell, it was to be doubted least through treason among +themselues, the armie should be betraied into the enimies hands, the +which would not faile to execute all kind of crueltie in the slaughter +of the whole nation. And if they stood not valiantlie to shew +themselues readie to defend their countrie, there was no shift but +yeeld themselues. Which though it were a thing reprochfull and +dishonorable, yet should it be lesse euill, as they tooke the matter, +for thereby might manie be preserued from death, and in time to come, +be able to recouer the libertie of their countrie, when occasion +should be offered. This point was allowed of them all, and so in the +end they rested vpon that resolution. + +[Sidenote: King Egelred determineth to give place vnto Swaine.] +King Egelred therefore determined to commit himselfe into the +hands of his brother in law Richard duke of Normandie, whose sister +(as ye haue heard) he had maried. But bicause he would not doo +[Sidenote: He sendeth his wife and sonnes ouer into Normandie.] +this vnaduisedlie, first he sent ouer his wife quéene Emma, with his +sonnes which he had begotten of hir, Alfred and Edward, that by their +[Sidenote: Richard duke of Normandie.] +interteinment he might vnderstand how he should be welcome. Duke +Richard receiued his sister and his nephues verie ioifullie, and +promised to aid his brother king Egelred in defense of his kingdome. +But in this meane while had Swaine conquered the more part of all +England, and brought (by little and little) that which remained vnder +his subiection. The people through feare submitting themselues +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ _Hen. Hunt._ Turkill. 1014.] +on each hand, king Egelred in this meane time (for the Londoners had +submitted themselues to Swaine) was first withdrawne vnto Gréenwich, +and there remained for a time with the nauie of the Danes, which was +vnder the gouernement of earle Turkill, and from thence sailed into +the Ile of Wight, and there remained a great part of the winter, +[Sidenote: King Egelred passeth into Normandie.] +and finallie after Christmas himselfe sailed into Normandie, and was +of his brother in law ioifullie receiued & greatlie comforted in that +his time of necessitie. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Swaine king of Denmarke is reputed king of this land, he oppresseth +the English people cruellie, and spoileth religious houses, the +strange and miraculous slaughter of Swaine vaunting of his victories; +the Danish chronicles write parciallie of him and his end, Cnute +succeedeth his father Swaine in regiment, the Englishmen send king +Egelred woord of Swaines death, Edward king Egelreds eldest sonne +commeth ouer into England to know the state of the countrie and people +of certeintie; Egelred with his power returneth into England; what +meanes Cnute made to establish himselfe king of this land, and to +be well thought of among the English people, Egelred burneth +vp Gainesbrough, and killeth the inhabitants therof for their +disloialtie; Cnutes flight to Sandwich, his cruel decree against the +English pledges, he returneth into Denmarke, why Turkillus the Danish +capteine with his power compounded with the Englishmen to tarrie in +this land, his faithlesse seruice to Egelred, his drift to make the +whole realme subiect to the Danish thraldome._ + +THE SEUENTH CHAPTER. + + +Swaine hauing now got the whole rule of the land, was reputed full +king, and so commanded that his armie should be prouided of wages and +vittels to be taken vp & leuied through the realme. In like maner +Turkill commanded that to his armie lodged at Gréenewich, wages and +vittels sufficient should be deliuered, for the finding, releeuing, +[Sidenote: Swaine handleth the Englishmen hardlie.] +succouring, and susteining thereof. Swaine vsed the victorie verie +cruellie against the Englishmen, oppressing them on each hand; to the +intent that them being brought low he might gouerne in more suertie. +The yéere in which he obteined the rule thus of this realme, and that +king Egelred was constreined to flie into Normandie, was in the 35 +yeere of the same Egelred his reigne, and after the birth of our Lord +1014. Swaine being once established in the gouernment, did not onelie +vse much crueltie in oppressing the laitie, but also stretched foorth +his hand to the church, and to the ministers in the same, fléecing +them and spoiling both churches and ministers, without anie remorse +of conscience, insomuch that hauing a quarell against the inhabitants +within the precinct of S. Edmunds land in Suffolke, he did not onelie +harrie the countrie, but also rifled and spoiled the abbeie of Burie, +where the bodie of saint Edmund rested. + +[Sidenote: _Fabian_. S. Edmund fighteth for the wealth, but not for +the slaughter of his people. _Simon Dun._ 1015.] +Wherevpon shortlie after, as he was at Gainesbrough or Thetford (as +some say) and there in his iollitie talked with his Nobles of his good +successe in conquering of this land, he was suddenlie striken with a +knife, as it is reported, miraculouslie, for no man wist how or by +whome: and within three daies after, to wit, on the third of Februarie +he ended his life with grieuous paine and torment in yelling and +roring, by reason of his extreame anguish beyond all measure. There +hath sproong a pleasant tale among the posteritie of that age, how he +should be wounded with the same knife which king Edmund in his life +[Sidenote: _Albertus Crantz_. _Saxo Grammaticus_.] +time vsed to weare. Thus haue some of our writers reported, but the +Danish chronicles report a farre more happie end which should chance +to this Swaine, than is before mentioned out of our writers: for the +said chronicles report, that after he had subdued England, he tooke +order with king Egelred, whome they name amisse Adelstane, that he +should not ordeine any other successor, but onlie the said Swaine. +Then after this, he returned into Denmarke, where vsing himselfe like +a right godlie prince, at length he there ended his life, being a +verie old man. + +Notwithstanding all this, when or howsoeuer he died, immediatlie +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malmes_. _H. Hunt._ Canute or Cnute.] +after his deceasse the Danes elected his sonne Cnute or Knought to +succeed in his dominions. But the Englishmen of nothing more desirous +than to shake off the yoke of Danish thraldome besides their necks & +shoulders, streightwaies vpon knowledge had of Swaines death, with all +[Sidenote: Eglered sent for home.] +spéed aduertised king Egelred thereof, and that they were readie to +receiue and assist him if he would make hast to come ouer to deliuer +his countrie out of the hands of strangers. These newes were right +ioiful vnto Egelred, who burning in desire to be reuenged on them that +had expelled him out of his kingdome, made no longer tariance to set +[Sidenote: Edmund K. Egelreds eldest sonne.] +that enterprise forward. But yet doubting the inconstancie of the +people, he sent his elder son (named Edmund) to trie the minds of +them, and to vnderstand whether they were constant or wauering in that +which they had promised. + +The yoong gentleman hasting ouer into England, and with diligent +inquirie perceiuing how they were bent, returned with like spéed as he +came into Normandie againe, declaring to his father, that all things +were in safetie if he would make hast. King Egelred then conceiued +[Sidenote: King Egelred returneth into England.] +an assured hope to recouer his kingdom, aided with his brother in laws +power, and trusting vpon the assistance of the Englishmen, returned +into England in the time of Lent. His returne was ioifull and most +acceptable to the English people, as to those that abhorred the +[Sidenote: Canutes endeuor to establish himselfe in the kingdome.] +rule of the Danes, which was most sharpe and bitter to them, although +Cnute did what he could by bountifulnesse and courteous dealings to +haue reteined them vnder his obeisance. + +And of an intent to procure Gods fauour in the well ordering of things +for the administration in the common wealth, he sought first to +appease his wrath, and also to make amends to saint Edmund for his +fathers offense committed (as was thought) against him: insomuch +[Sidenote: S. Edmunds ditch.] +that after he had obteined the kingdome, he caused a great ditch to be +cast round about the land of saint Edmund, and granted manie fréedoms +to the inhabitants, acquiting them of certeine taskes and paiments, +vnto the which other of their neighbours were contributarie. He also +builded a church on the place where saint Edmund was buried, and +ordeined an house of moonks there, or rather remooued the canons or +secular priests that were there afore, and put moonks in their roomes. +He offered vp also his crowne vnto the same S. Edmund, and +[Sidenote: _Polydor_. _Fabian_.] +redéemed it againe with a great summe of monie, which maner of dooing +grew into an vse vnto other kings that followed him. He adorned the +church there with manie rich iewels, and indowed the monasterie with +great possessions. + +But these things were not done now at the first, but after that he was +established in the kingdome. For in the meane time, after that king +Egelred was returned out of Normandie, Cnute as then soiourning at +Gainesbrough, remained there till the feast of Easter, and made +agréement with them of Lindsey, so that finding him horsses, they +should altogither go foorth to spoile their neighbors. King Egelred +aduertised thereof, sped him thither with a mightie host, and with +great crueltie burned vp the countrie, and slue the more part of the +[Sidenote: Canute driven to forsake the land.] +inhabitants, bicause they had taken part with his enimies. Cnute +as then was not of power able to resist Egelred, and therefore taking +his ships which lay in Humber, fled from thence, & sailed about +[Sidenote: He was driuen thither by force of contrarie winds as +should appeare by _Matth. West._] +the coast, till he came to Sandwich, and there sore gréeued in his +mind to remember what mischéefe was fallen and chanced to his friends +and subiects of Lindsey, onelie for his cause; he commanded that such +pledges as had béene deliuered to his father by certeine noble men +of this realme, for assurance of their fidelities, should haue their +noses slit, and their eares stuffed, or (as some write) their hands +and noses cut off. +[Sidenote: The cruell decrée of Cnute against the English pledges. +_Will. Malmes._] + +When this cruell act according to his commandement was doone, taking +the sea, he sailed into Denmarke: but yet tooke not all the Danes with +him which his father brought thither. For earle Turkill perceiuing +the wealthinesse of the land, compounded with the Englishmen, and +[Sidenote: This Turkill was reteined in seruice with Egelred, as I +thinke.] +chose rather to remaine in a region replenished with all riches, than +to returne home into his owne countrie that wanted such commodities as +were here to be had. And yet (as some thought) he did not forsake his +souereigne lord Cnute for anie euill meaning towards him, but rather +to aid him (when time serued) to recouer the possession of England +againe, as it afterwards well appeared. For notwithstanding that he +was now reteined by K. Egelred with fortie ships, and the flower of +all the Danes that were men of warre, so that Cnute returned but with +60 ships into his countrie: yet shortlie after, erle Turkill with 9 +of those ships sailed into Denmarke, submitted himselfe vnto Cnute, +counselled him to returne into England, and promised him the +assistance of the residue of those Danish ships which yet remained +[Sidenote: _Encomium Emmæ_.] +in England, being to the number of thirtie, with all the souldiers and +mariners that to them belonged. To conclude, he did so much by his +earnest persuasions, that Cnute (through aid of his brother Harrold +king of Denmarke) got togither a nauie of two hundred ships, so +roially decked, furnished, and appointed, both for braue shew and +necessarie furniture of all maner of weapons, armor & munition, as it +is strange to consider that which is written by them that liued in +those daies, and tooke in hand to register the dooings of that time. +Howbeit to let this pompe of Cnutes fléete passe, which (no doubt) was +right roiall, consider a little and looke backe to Turkill, though a +sworne seruant to king Egelred, how he did direct all his drift to the +aduancement of Cnute, and his owne commoditie, cloking his purposed +treacherie with pretended amitie, as shall appeare hereafter by his +deadlie hostilitie. + + * * * * * + + + + +_A great waste by an inundation or inbreaking of the sea, a tribute of +30000 pounds to the Danes, king Egelred holdeth a councell at Oxford, +where he causeth two noble men of the Danes to be murdered by treason, +Edmund the kings eldest sonne marieth one of their wiues, and seizeth +vpon his predecessors lands; Cnute the Danish king returneth into +England, the Danish and English armies encounter, both susteine losse; +Cnute maketh waste of certeine shires, Edmund preuenteth Edriks +purposed treason, Edrike de Streona flieth to the Danes, the +Westernemen yeeld to Cnute; Mercia refuseth to be subiect vnto him, +Warwikeshire wasted by the Danes; Egelred assembleth an armie against +them in vaine; Edmund & Vtred with ioined forces lay waste such +countries and people as became subiect to Cnute; his policie to +preuent their purpose, through what countries he passed, Vtred +submitteth himselfe to Cnute, and deliuereth pledges, he is put to +death and his lands álienated, Cnute pursueth Edmund to London, and +prepareth to besiege the citie, the death and buriall of Egelred, his +wiues, what issue he had by them, his unfortunatnesse, and to what +affections and vices he was inclined, his too late and bootlesse +seeking to releeue his decaied kingdome._ + +THE EIGHT CHAPTER. + + +But now to returne to our purpose, and to shew what chanced in England +[Sidenote: 1015. _Matt. West._ _Simon Dun._ _Wil. Malm._] +after the departure of Cnute. In the same yeare to the forsaid +accustomed mischiefes an vnwoonted misaduenture happened: for the sea +rose with such high spring-tides, that ouerflowing the countries next +adioining, diuers villages with the inhabitants were drowned and +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._] +destroied. Also to increase the peoples miserie, king Egelred +commanded, that 30000 pounds should be leuied to paie the tribute due +to the Danes which lay at Greenewich. This yeare also king Egelred +[Sidenote: A councell at Oxford. Sigeferd and Morcad murdered.] +held a councell at Oxford, at the which a great number of noble men +were present, both Danes and Englishmen, and there did the king cause +Sigeferd and Morcad two noble personages of the Danes to be murdered +within his owne chamber, by the traitorous practise of Edrike de +Streona, which accused them of some conspiracie. But the quarell was +onelie as men supposed, for that the king had a desire to their goods +and possessions. + +Their seruants tooke in hand to haue reuenged the death of their +maisters, but were beaten backe, wherevpon they fled into the steeple of +saint Friswids church, and kept the same, till fire was set vpon the +place, and so they were burned to death. The wife of Sigeferd was taken, +& sent to Malmsburie, being a woman of high fame and great worthinesse, +wherevpon the kings eldest sonne named Edmund, tooke occasion vpon +pretense of other businesse to go thither, and there to sée hir, with +whome he fell so far in loue, +[Sidenote: Edmund the kings eldest sonne marrieth the widow of +Sigeferd.] +that he tooke and maried hir. That doone, he required to haue hir +husbands lands and possessions, which were an earles liuing, and lay +in Northumberland. And when the king refused to graunt his request, +he went thither, and seized the same possessions and lands into his +hands, without hauing anie commission so to doo, finding the farmers +and tenants there readie to receiue him for their lord. + +[Sidenote: Cnute returneth into England.] +Whilest these things were a dooing, Cnute hauing made his +prouision of ships and men, with all necessarie furniture (as before +ye haue heard) for his returne into England, set forward with full +purpose, either to recouer the realme out of Egelreds hands, or to die +[Sidenote: _Encomium Emmæ_.] +in the quarrell. Herevpon he landed at Sandwich, and first earle +Turkill obteined licence to go against the Englishmen that were +assembled to resist the Danes, and finding them at a place called +Scorastan, he gaue them the ouerthrow, got a great bootie, and +returned therewith to the ships. After this, Edrike gouernor of +Norwaie made a rode likewise into an other part of the countrie, & +with a rich spoile, and manie prisoners, returned vnto the nauie. +After this iournie atchiued thus by Edrike, Cnute commanded that they +should not waste the countrie anie more, but gaue order to prepare +all things readie to besiege London: but before he attempted that +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm_. _Hen. Hunt_. _Matth. West_. _Sim. Dun_.] +enterprise, as others write, he marched foorth into Kent, or rather +sailing round about that countrie, tooke his iournie westward, & came +to Fromundham, and after departing from thence, wasted Dorsetshire, +Summersetshire, & Wiltshire. + +[Sidenote: King Egelred sicke. _Matth. West._] +King Egelred in this meane time lay sicke at Cossam; and his sonne +Edmund had got togither a mightie hoast, howbeit yer he came to ioine +battell with his enimies, he was aduertised, that earle Edrike went +about to betraie him, and therefore he withdrew with the armie +[Sidenote: Edrike de Streona fléeth to the Danes. _Simon Dun._] +into a place of suertie. But Edrike to make his tratorous purpose +manifest to the whole world, fled to the enimies with fortie of the +kings ships, fraught with Danish souldiers. Herevpon, all the west +[Sidenote: The west countrie] +countrie submitted it selfe vnto Cnute, who receiued pledges of the +chiefe lords and nobles, and then set forward to subdue them of +[Sidenote: The people of Mercia would not yéeld. _Matth. West_. +_Hen. Hunt._] +Mercia. The people of that countrie would not yéeld, but +determined to defend the quarrell and title of king Egelred, so long +as they might haue anie capteine that would stand with them, and helpe +[Sidenote: 1016] +to order them. In the yeare 1016, in Christmas, Cnute and earle +Edrike passed the Thames at Kirkelade, & entring into Mercia, cruellie +began with fire and sword to waste and destroie the countrie, and +[Sidenote: Warwikeshire wasted by the Danes.] +namelie Warwikeshire. + +[Sidenote: King Egelred recovered of his sicknesse. He assembleth an +armie in vaine.] +In the meane time was king Egelred recouered of his sicknesse, and +sent summons foorth to raise all his power, appointing euerie man to +resort vnto him, that he might incounter the enimies and giue them +battell. But yet when his people were assembled, he was warned to take +héed vnto himselfe, and in anie wise to beware how he gaue battell, +for his owne subiects were purposed to betraie him. Herevpon the +armie brake vp, & king Egelred withdrew to London, there to abide his +enimies within the walles, with whom in the field he doubted to +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ Edmund king Egelreds sonne.] +trie the battell. His sonne Edmund got him to Vtred, an earle of great +power, inhabiting beyond Humber, and persuading him to ioine his +forces with his, forth they went to waste those countries that were +become subiect to Cnute, as Staffordshire, Leicestershire, and +Shropshire, not sparing to exercise great crueltie vpon the +inhabitants, as a punishment for their reuolting, that others might +take example thereby. + +[Sidenote: Cnute, what countries he passed through.] +But Cnute perceiuing whereabout they went, politikelie deuised to +frustrate their purpose, and with dooing of like hurt in all places +where he came, passed through Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, +Huntingtonshire, and so through the fens came to Stamford, and then +entred into Lincolnshire, and from thence into Notinghamshire, & so +into Yorkeshire, not sparing to doo what mischiefe might be deuised in +all places where he came. Vtred aduertised hereof, was constreined to +depart home to saue his owne countrie from present destruction, and +therefore comming backe into Northumberland, & perceiuing himselfe not +[Sidenote: Earle Vtred deliuered pledges to Cnute. _Aliùs_ Egricus.] +able to resist the puissant force of his enimies, was constreined +to deliuer pledges, and submit himselfe vnto Cnute. But yet was he not +hereby warranted from danger, for shortlie after he was taken, and put +to death, and then were his lands giuen vnto one Iricke or Iricius, +whome afterward Cnute did banish out of the realme, because that he +did attempt to chalenge like authoritie to him in all points as Cnute +himselfe had. After that Cnute had subdued the Northumbers, he pursued +Edmund, till he heard that he had taken London for his refuge, and +[Sidenote: Cnute prepareth to besiege London.] +staied there with his father. Then did Cnute take his ships, and came +about to the coasts of Kent, preparing to besiege the citie of London. + +[Sidenote: King Egelred departed this life. _Simon Dun._ +_Matth. West._] +In the meane time, king Egelred sore worne with long sicknesse, +departed this life on the 23 of Aprill, being saint Georges day, or +(as others say) on saint Gregories day, being the 12 of March, but I +take this to be an error growen, by mistaking the feast-day of saint +[Sidenote: He is buried in the church of S. Paul at London.] +Gregorie for saint George. He reigned the tearme of 37 yeares, or +little lesse. His bodie was buried in the church of saint Pauls, in +the north Ile besids the quéere, as by a memoriall there on the wall +it maie appeare. He had two wiues (as before is mentioned.) By +Elgina his first wife he had issue thrée sonnes, Edmund, Edwine, and +Adelstane; besides one daughter named Egiua. By his second wife Emma, +daughter to Richard the first of that name, duke of Normandie, and +sister to Richard the second, he had two sonnes, Alfrid and Edward. + +This Egelred (as you haue heard) had euill successe in his warres +against the Danes, and besides the calamitie that fell thereby to his +people, manie other miseries oppressed this land in his daies, not so +much through his lacke of courage and slouthfull negligence, as by +reason of his presumptuous pride, whereby he alienated the hearts of +[Sidenote: The pride of king Egelred alienated the harts of his +people.] +his people from him. His affections he could not rule, but was led +by them without order of reason, for he did not onlie disherit diuerse +of his owne English subiects without apparant cause of offense by +plaine forged cauillations; and also caused all the Danes to be +murdered through his realme in one day, by some light suspicion of +their euill meanings: but also gaue himselfe to lecherous lusts, in +abusing his bodie with naughtie strumpets, forsaking the bed of his +owne lawfull wife, to the great infamie & shame of that high degrée +of maiestie, which by his kinglie office he bare and susteined. To +conclude, he was from his tender youth more apt to idle rest, than to +the exercise of warres; more giuen to pleasures of the bodie, than to +anie vertues of the mind: although that toward his latter end, being +growen into age, and taught by long experience of worldlie affaires, +and proofe of passed miseries, he sought (though in vaine) to haue +recouered the decaied state of his common wealth and countrie. + +¶ In this Egelreds time, and (as it is recorded by a British +chronographer) in the yéere of our Lord 984, one Cadwalhon, the second +sonne of Ieuaf tooke in hand the gouernance of Northwales, and first +made warre with Ionauall his coosen, the sonne of Meyric, and right +heire to the land, and slue him, but Edwall the yoongest brother +escaped awaie priuilie. The yéere following, Meredith the sonne of +Owen king or prince of Southwales, with all his power entered into +Northwales, and in fight slue Cadwalhon the sonne of Ieuaf, and Meyric +his brother, and conquered the land to himselfe. Wherein a man maie +[Sidenote: Sée the historie of Cambria pag. 62, 63.] +sée how God punished the wrong, which Iago and Ieuaf the sonnes +of Edwall Voell did to their eldest brother Meyric, who was first +disherited, and afterward his eies put out, and one of his sonnes +slaine. For first Ieuaf was imprisoned by Iago; then Iago with his +sonne Constantine, by Howell the son of Ieuaf: and afterward the +said Howell, with his brethren Cadwalhon and Meyric, were slaine and +spoiled of all their lands. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Edmund Ironside succedeth his father in the kingdome, the +spiritualtie favouring Cnute would haue him to be king, the Londoners +are his backe friends, they receiue Edmund their king honorablie and +ioifullie, Cnute is proclaimed king at Southampton, manie of the +states cleaue vnto him, he besiegeth London by water and land, the +citizens giue him the foile, he incountreth with king Edmund and is +discomfited, two battels fought betweene the Danes and English with +equall fortune and like successe, the traitorous stratagem of Edrike +the Dane, king Edmund aduisedlie defeateth Edriks trecherie, 20000 +of both armies slaine, Cnute marching towards London is pursued of +Edmund, the Danes are repelled, incountred, and vanquished; queene +Emma prouideth for the safetie of hir sonnes; the Danes seeke a +pacification with Edmund, thereby more easilie to betraie him; Cnute +with his armie lieth neere Rochester, king Edmund pursueth them, both +armies haue a long and a sore conflict, the Danes discomfited, and +manie of them slaine; Cnute with his power assemble at Essex and there +make waste, king Edmund pursuith them, Edrike traitorouslie reuolteth +from the English to succour the Danes, king Edmund is forced to get +him out of the field, the Englishmen put to their hard shifts and +slaine by heapes; what noble personages were killed in this battell, +of two dead bodies latelie found in the place where this hot and +heauie skirmish was fought._ + +THE NINTH CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: EDMUND IRONSIDE.] +After that king Egelred was dead, his eldest sonne Edmund surnamed +Ironside was proclaimed king by the Londoners and others, hauing the +assistance of some lords of the realme, although the more part, and +[Sidenote: The kingdom goeth where the spiritualtie fauoreth.] +speciallie those of the spiritualtie fauoured Cnute, bicause they +had aforetime sworne fealtie to his father. Some write, that Cnute had +planted his siege both by water and land verie stronglie about the +citie of London, before Egelred departed this life, and immediatlie +vpon his deceasse was receiued into the citie; but the armie that +was within the citie, not consenting vnto the surrender made by the +citizens, departed the night before the day on the which Cnute by +appointment should enter, and in companie of Edmund Ironside (whome +they had chosen to be their king and gouernour) they prepared to +increase their numbers with new supplies, meaning eftsoones to trie +[Sidenote: The author of the booke intitled _Encomium Emmæ_ saith +that it was reported that Edmund offered the combate unto Cnute at +this his going from the citie but Cnute refused it.] +the fortune of battell against the Danish power. Cnute perceiuing +the most part of all the realme to be thus against him, and hauing +no great confidence in the loialtie of the Londoners, tooke order to +leauie monie for the paiment of his men of warre and mariners that +belonged to his nauie, left the citie, and imbarking himselfe, sailed +to the Ile of Shepie, and there remained all the winter. In which +meane while, Edmund Ironside came to London, where he was ioifullie +receiued of the citizens, and continuing there till the spring of the +yéere, made himselfe strong against the enimies. + +[Sidenote: 1016.] +This Edmund for his noble courage, strength of bodie, and notable +patience to indure and suffer all such hardnesse and paines as is +requisite in a man of warre, was surnamed Ironside, & began his reigne +in the yéere of our Lord 1016, in the sixtéenth yéere of the emperor +Henrie the second surnamed Claudius, in the twentieth yéere of the +reigne of Robert king of France, & about the sixt yéere of Malcolme +the second king of the Scots. After that king Edmund had receiued the +crowne in the citie of London by the hands of the archbishop of Yorke, +he assembled togither such a power as he could make, and with the same +marched foorth towards the west parts, and made the countrie subiect +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._] +to him. In the meane time was Cnute proclaimed and ordeined king at +Southampton by the bishops and abbats, and diuerse lords also of the +temporaltie there tógither assembled, vnto whome he sware to be their +good and faithfull souereigne, and that he would sée iustice trulie +and vprightlie ministred. + +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ _Simon Dun._] +After he had ended his businesse at Southampton, he drew with his +people towards London, and comming thither, besieged the citie both by +water and land, causing a great trench to be cast about it, so that +[Sidenote: London besieged.] +no man might either get in or come foorth. Manie great assalts he +caused to be giuen vnto the citie, but the Londoners and others within +so valiantlie defended the wals and gates, that the enimies got small +aduantage, and at length were constreined to depart with losse. +[Sidenote: Cnute at Gillingham in Dorsetshire put to flight. _Polydor_.] +Cnute then perceiuing that he might not haue his purpose there, +withdrew westward, and besides Gillingham in Dorsetshire, incountred +with K. Edmund in the Rogation weeke, and after sore & sharpe battell +was put to the woorse, and constreined to forsake the field by the +high prowesse & manhood of the said Edmund. King Cnute the same night, +after the armies were seuered, departed towards Winchester, so to get +[Sidenote: Salisburie besieged.] +himselfe out of danger. Shortlie after, king Edmund hearing that an +other armie of the Danes had besieged Salisburie, marched thither to +succour them within, and immediatlie Cnute followed him, so that at +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ _Matth. West._ _Wil. Malm._ A battel with +equall fortune.] +a place in Worcestershire called Scorastan, on the foure and +twentith of June, they incountred togither, and fought a verie cruell +battell, which at length the night parted with equall fortune. And +[Sidenote: An other batttel with like successes.] +likewise on the next day they buckled togither againe, and fought with +like successe as they had doone the day before, for towards euening +they gaue ouer well wearied, and not knowing to whome the victorie +ought to be ascribed. + +[Sidenote: Edrike de Streona his treason. _Simon Dun._] +Writers haue reported, that this second day, when duke Edrike +perceiued the Englishmen to be at point to haue got the vpper hand, he +withdrew aside, and hauing by chance slaine a common souldier called +Osmear, which in visage much resembled king Edmund, whose head he cut +off, held it vp, & shaking his swoord bloudie with the slaughter, +cried to the Englishmen; "Flée ye wretches, flee and get awaie, for +your king is dead, behold heere his head which I hold in my hands." +Héerewith had the Englishmen fled immediatlie, if king Edmund aduised +of this stratagem, had not quicklie got him to an high ground where +his men might sée him aliue and lustie. Héerewith also the traitor +Edrike escaped hardlie the danger of death, the Englishmen shot so +egerlie at him. At length, as is said, the night parting them in +sunder, they withdrew the one armie from the other, as it had béene by +consent. The third day they remained in armor, but yet absteining +from battell, sate still, in taking meate and drinke to relieue their +wearied bodies, and after gathered in heapes the dead carcases +[Sidenote: Twentie thousand dead bodies.] +that had béene slaine in the former fight, the number of which on +either partie reckoned, rose to the point of twentie thousand and +aboue. + +[Sidenote: The armies dislodged.] +In the night following, Cnute remooued his campe in secret wise, +and marched towards London, which citie in a maner remained besieged +by the nauie of the Danes. King Edmund in the morning when the light +had discouered the departure of his enimies, followed them by the +tract, and comming to London with small adoo remooued the siege, and +[Sidenote: The Danes ouercome at Brentford. _Wil. Malm._ _Hen. Hunt._ +_Fabian_. _Caxton_. _Polydor_.] +entered the citie like a conqueror. Shortlie after he fought with +the Danes at Brentford, and gaue them a great ouerthrow. In this meane +while queene Emma the widow of king Egelred, doubting the fortune of +the warre, sent hir two sonnes Alfred and Edward ouer into Normandie +vnto hir brother duke Richard, or rather fled thither hirselfe with +them (as some write.) + +Moreouer, earle Edrike, perceiuing the great manhood of king Edmund, +began to feare, least in the end he should subdue and vanquish the +Danes, wherefore he sought meanes to conclude a peace, and take such +order with him as might stand with both their contentations, which +yer long he brought about. This was doone (as you shall heare) by the +[Sidenote: _Henr. Hunt._] +consent of Cnute (as some write) to the intent that Edrike being +put in trust with king Edmund, might the more easilie deuise waies how +to betraie him. But Cnute disappointed of his purpose at London, and +fetching a great bootie and preie out of the countries next adjoining, +repared to his ships, to sée what order was amongst them, which a +little before were withdrawen into the riuer that passeth by +[Sidenote: The river of Medwaie.] +Rochester called Medwaie. Héere Cnute remained certeine daies, both +to assemble a greater power, and also to hearken and learne what his +enimies ment to doo, the which he easilie vnderstood. + +[Sidenote: King Edmund's diligence] +King Edmund, who hated nothing woorse than to linger his +businesse, assembled his people, and marching forward toward his +enimies, approched néere vnto them, & pitcht downe his tents not farre +from his enimies campe, exhorting his people to remember their passed +victories, and to doo their good willes, at length by one battell +so to ouerthrow them, that they might make an end of the warre, and +dispatch them cleerelie out of the realme. With these and the like +woords he did so incourage his souldiers, that they disdaining thus to +haue the enimies dailie prouoke them, and to put them to trouble, with +eger minds and fierce courages offered battell to the Danes, which +Cnute had prepared to receiue whensoeuer the Englishmen approched: and +heerewith bringing his men into araie, he came foorth to méet his +[Sidenote: The battell is begun.] +enimies. Then was the battell begun with great earnestnesse on both +sides, & continued foure houres, till at length the Danes began +somewhat to shrinke, which when Cnute perceiued, he commanded his +horssemen to come forward into the forepart of his dawnted host. + +[Sidenote: The Danes put to flight.] +But whilest one part of the Danes gaue backe with feare, and the +other came slowlie forward, the arraie of the whole armie was broken, +& then without respect of shame they fled amaine, so that there +[Sidenote: The number of Danes slaine. _Polydor_. _Fabian_. +_Ran. Higd._ _Matt. West._ _Hen. Hunt._ _Will. Malmes._] +died that day of Cnutes side foure thousand and fiue hundred men; and +of king Edmunds side, not past six hundred, and those were footmen. +This battell was fought as should appéere by diuerse writers, at +Okefort or Oteford. It was thought, that if king Edmund had pursued +the victorie and followed in chase of his enimies in such wise as he +safelie might haue doone, he had made that day an end of the warres: +[Sidenote: Edriks counsell.] +but he was counselled by Edrike (as some write) in no condition to +follow them, but to staie and giue time to his people to refresh their +wearie bodies. Then Cnute with his armie passed ouer the Thames into +Essex, and there assembled all his power togither, and began to spoile +and waste the countrie on each hand. King Edmund aduertised thereof, +hasted foorth to succour his people, and at Ashdone in Essex three +miles from Saffron Walden, gaue battell to Cnute, where after sore and +cruell fight continued with great slaughter on both sides a long time, +duke Edrike fled to the comfort of the Danes, and to the discomfort of +the Englishmen. + +Héerevpon king Edmund was constreined in the end to depart out of +the field, hauing first doone all that could be wished in a woorthie +chieftaine, both by woords to incourage his men, & by deeds to shew +them good example; so that at one time the Danes were at point to haue +giuen backe, but that Cnute aduised thereof, rushed into the left wing +where most danger was, and so relieued his people there, that finallie +the Englishmen, both wearied with long fight, and also discouraged +with the running awaie of some of their companie, were constreined to +giue ouer, and by flight to séeke their safegard, so that king Edmund +might not by anie meanes bring them againe into order. Héerevpon all +the waies and passages being forelaid and stopped by the enimies, +[Sidenote: [*_Sic_.]] +the Englishmen wanting both carriage* to make longer resistance, and +perceiuing no hope to rest in fléeing, were beaten downe and slaine in +heapes, so that few escaped from that dreadfull and bloudie battell. + +[Sidenote: Noble men slaine at the battell of Ashdone. _Simon Dun._ +_Wil. Malm._] +There died on king Edmunds side, duke Edmund, duke Alfrike, and +duke Goodwine, with earle Vlfekettell or Vrchell of Eastangle, and +duke Aileward, that was sonne to Ardelwine late duke of Eastangle; and +to be briefe, all the floure of the English nobilitie. There were also +slaine at this battell manie renowmed persons of the spiritualtie, as +[Sidenote: King Edmund withdraweth into Glocestershire.] +the bishop of Lincolne, and the abbat of Ramsey, with others: king +Edmund escaping awaie, got him into Glocestershire, and there began to +raise a new armie. In the place where this field was fought, are yet +seuen or eight hils, wherein the carcases of them that were slaine at +the same field were buried: and one being digged downe of late, there +were found two bodies in a coffin of stone, of which the one laie with +his head towards the others féet, and manie chaines of iron, (like to +the water-chains of the bits of horsses) were found in the same hill. +But now to the matter. + + * * * * * + + + + +_London & other great cities & townes submit themselues to Cnute, he +hasteth after Edmund with his power, both their armies being readie +to incounter by occasion are staied, the oration of a capteine in the +hearing of both hosts; the title and right of the realme of England +is put to the triall of combat betweene Cnute and Edmund, Cnute is +ouermatched, his woords to king Edmund, both kings are pacified and +their armies accorded, the realme diuided betwixt Cnute and Edmund, +king Edmund traitorouslie slaine, the dissonant report of writers +touching the maners of his death, and both the kings dealing about +the partition of the realme, Cnute causeth Edrike to be slaine for +procuring king Edmunds death, wherein the reward of treason is noted; +how long king Edmund reigned, and where he was buried, the eclipsed +state of England after his death, and in whose time it recouered some +part of its brightnesse._ + +THE TENTH CHAPTER. + + +In the meane while that Edmund was busie to leauie a new armie in +Glocester, and other parties of Mercia, Cnute hauing got so great a +victorie (as before is mentioned) receiued into his obeisance, not +onelie the citie of London, but also manie other cities and townes of +great name, and shortlie after hasted forward to pursue his enimie +king Edmund, who was readie with a mightie host to trie the vttermost +chance of battell if they should eftsoones ioine. Héerevpon, both +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +the armies being readie to giue the onset, the one in sight of the +other at a place called Dearehurst, neere to the riuer of Seuerne, by +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ _Simon Dun._] +the drift of duke Edrike, who then at length began to shew some +token of good meaning, the two kings came to a communication, and in +the end concluded an agreement, as some haue written, without anie +more adoo. Others write, that when both the armies were at point to +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ saith this was Edrike.] +haue ioined, one of the capteins (but whether he were a Dane or an +Englishman, it is not certeinlie told) stood vp in such a place, as +he might be heard of both the princes, & boldlie vttered his mind in +forme following. + +_The oration of a capteine in the audience of the English and Danish +armie_. + +"We haue, most woorthie capteins, fought long inough one against +another, there hath beene but too much bloud shed betweene both +the nations, and the valiancie of the souldiers on both sides is +sufficientlie seene by triall, & either of your manhoods likewise, and +yet can you beare neither good nor euill fortune. If one of you win +the battell, he pursueth him that is ouercome; and if he chance to +be vanquished, he resteth not till he haue recouered new strength to +fight eftsoones with him that is victor. What should you meane by this +your inuincible courage? At what marke shooteth your greedie desire to +beare rule, and your excessive thirst to atteine honour? If you +fight for a kingdome, diuide it betweene you two, which sometime +was sufficient for seuen kings: but if you couet to winne fame and +glorious renowme, and for the same are driuen to try the hazard +whether ye shall command or obeie, deuise the waie whereby ye may +without so great slaughter, and without such pitifull bloudshed of +both your guiltlesse peoples, trie whether of you is most woorthie to +be preferred." + +[Sidenote: The two kings appoint to try the matter by a combat.] +Thus made he an end, and the two princes allowed well of his last +motion, and so order was taken, that they should fight togither in a +singular combat within a litle Iland inclosed with the riuer of +[Sidenote: Oldney.] +Seuerne called Oldney, with condition, that whether of them chanced to +be victor, should be king, and the other to resigne his title for euer +into his hands. The two princes entering into the place appointed, in +faire armour, began the battell in sight of both their armies ranged +in goodlie order on either side the riuer, with doubtfull minds, and +nothing ioifull, as they that wauered betwixt hope and feare. The two +[Sidenote: _Matt. Westm._] +champions manfullie assailed either other, without sparing. First, +they went to it on horssebacke, and after on foot. Cnute was a man +[Sidenote: Cnute of what stature he was.] +of a meane stature, but yet strong and hardie, so that receiuing a +great blow by the hand of his aduersarie, which caused him somewhat +to stagger; yet recouered himselfe, and boldly stept forward to be +reuenged. But perceiuing he could not find aduantage, and that +[Sidenote: Cnute ouermatched.] +he was rather too weake, and shrewdlie ouermatched, he spake to +[Sidenote: Cnutes woords to Edmund.] +Edmund with a lowd voice on this wise: "What necessitie (saith he) +ought thus to mooue vs, most valiant prince, that for the obteining +of a kingdome, we should thus put our liues in danger? Better were +it that laieng armour and malice aside, we should condescend to some +reasonable agreement. Let vs become sworne brethren, and part the +[Sidenote: _H. Hunt._] +kingdome betwixt vs: and let vs deale so friendlie, that thou +maist vse my things as thine owne, and I thine as though they were +mine." King Edmund with those woords of his aduersarie was so +pacified, that immediatlie he cast awaie his swoord, and comming to +[Sidenote: They make vp the matter betwixt themselves.] +Cnute, ioined hands with him. Both the armies by their example +did the like, which looked for the same fortune to fall on their +countries, which should happen to their princes by the successe of +that one battell. After this, there was an agréement deuised betwixt +them, so that a partition of the realme was made, and that part that +lieth fore against France, was assigned to Edmund, and the other +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +fell to Cnute. There be that write, how the offer was made by king +Edmund for the auoiding of more bloudshed, that the two princes should +trie the matter thus togither in a singular combat. But Cnute refused +the combat, bicause (as he alledged) the match was not equall. For +although he was able to match Edmund in boldnesse of stomach, yet was +he farre too weake to deale with a man of such strength as Edmund was +knowne to be. But sith they did pretend title to the realme by due and +good direct meanes, he thought it most conuenient that the kingdome +should be diuided betwixt them. This motion was allowed of both the +armies, so that king Edmund was of force constreined to be contented +therewith. + +¶ Thus our common writers haue recorded of this agréement, but if I +should not be thought presumptuous, in taking vpon me to reprooue, +or rather but to mistrust that which hath béene receiued for a true +narration in this matter, I would rather giue credit vnto that +[Sidenote: _Encomium Emmæ_.] +which the author of the booke intituled "Encomium Emmæ," dooth report +in this behalfe. Which is that through persuasion of Edrike de +Streona, king Edmund immediatelie after the battell fought at Ashdone, +sent ambassadors vnto Cnute to offer vnto him peace, with halfe the +realme of England, that is to say, the north parts, with condition +that king Edmund might quietlie inioy the south parts, and therevpon +haue pledges deliuered interchangeablie on either side. + +Cnute hauing heard the effect of this message, staied to make answer +till he heard what his councell would aduise him to doo in this +behalfe: and vpon good deliberation taken in the matter, considering +that he had lost no small number of people in the former battell, and +that being farre out of his countrie, he could not well haue anie new +supplie, where the Englishmen although they had likewise lost verie +manie of their men of warre, yet being in their owne countrie, it +should be an easie matter for them to restore their decaid number, it +was thought expedient by the whole consent of all the Danish capteins, +that the offer of king Edmund should be accepted. + +Herevpon Cnute calling the ambassadors before him againe, declared +vnto them, that he was contented to conclude a peace vpon such +conditions as they had offered: but yet with this addition, that their +king whatsoeuer he should be, should paie Cnutes souldiers their +wages, with monie to be leuied of that part of the kingdome which the +English king should possesse. "For (this saith he) I haue vndertaken +to sée them paid, and otherwise I will not grant to anie peace." The +league and agréement therefore being concluded in this sort, +pledges were deliuered and receiued on both parties, and the armies +[Sidenote: This is alleged touching the partiti[=o] of the kingdome.] +discharged. But God (saith mine author) being mindfull of his old +doctrine, that Euerie kingdome diuided in it selfe cannot long stand, +shortlie after tooke Edmund out of this life: and by such meanes +séemed to take pitie of the English kingdome, lest if both the kings +should haue continued in life togither, they should haue liued in +danger. And incontinentlie herevpon was Cnute chosen and receiued for +absolute king of all the whole realme of England. Thus hath he written +that liued in those daies, whose credit thereby is much aduanced. + +Howbeit the common report of writers touching the death of Edmund +varieth from this, who doo affirme, that after Cnute and Edmund were +made friends, the serpent of enuie and false conspiracie burnt so in +the hearts of some traitorous persons, that within a while after +[Sidenote: K. Edmund traitorouslie slaine at Oxford. _Fabian._ +_Simon Dun._] +king Edmund was slaine at Oxford, as he sat on a priuie to doo the +necessaries of nature. The common report hath gone, that earle Edrike +was the procurer of this villanous act, and that (as some write) his +sonne did it. But the author that wrote "Encomium Emmæ," writing of +the death of Edmund, hath these words (immediatlie after he had first +declared in what sort the two princes were agréed, and had made +[Sidenote: This is alleged againe for the proofe of Edmunds natural +death.] +partition of the realme betwixt them:) But God (saith he) being +mindfull of his old doctrine, that Euerie kingdome diuided in it selfe +can not long stand, shortlie after tooke Edmund out of this life: and +by such meanes séemed to take pitie vpon the English kingdome, least +if both the kings should haue continued in life togither, they should +both haue liued in great danger, and the realme in trouble. With this +agreeth also Simon Dunel. who saith, that king Edmund died of naturall +[Sidenote: _Fabian_.] +sicknesse, by course of kind at London, about the feast of saint +Andrew next insuing the late mentioned agreement. + +[Sidenote: _Ranul. Hig._ _Hen. Hunt._] +And this should séeme true: for whereas these authors which +report, that earle Edrike was the procurer of his death, doo also +write, that when he knew the act to be done, he hasted vnto Cnute, and +declared vnto him what he had brought to passe for his aduancement to +the gouernment of the whole realme. Wherevpon Cnute, abhorring such a +detestable fact, said vnto him: "Bicause thou hast for my sake, made +away the worthiest bodie of the world, I shall raise thy head aboue +all the lords of England," and so caused him to be put to death. +[Sidenote: Some thinke that he was duke of Mercia before, and now +had Essex adioined thereto.] +Thus haue some bookes. Howbeit this report agreeth not with other +writers, which declare how Cnute aduanced Edrike in the beginning of +his reigne vnto high honor, and made him gouernor of Mercia, and vsed +his counsell in manie things after the death of king Edmund, as in +banishing Edwin, the brother of king Edmund, with his sonnes also, +Edmund and Edward. + +[Sidenote: Diuerse and discordant reports of Edmunds death. +_Ran. Higd._ _Wil. Malm._] +But for that there is such discordance and variable report amongst +writers touching the death of king Edmund, and some fables inuented +thereof (as the manner is) we will let the residue of their reports +passe; sith certeine it is, that to his end he came, after he had +reigned about the space of one yéere, and so much more as is betwéene +the moneth of Iune and the latter end of Nouember. His bodie was +buried at Glastenburie, neere his vncle Edgar. With this Edmund, +surnamed Ironside, fell the glorious maiestie of the English kingdome, +the which afterward as it had beene an aged bodie being sore decaied +and weakened by the Danes, that now got possession of the whole, yet +somewhat recouered after the space of 26 yéers vnder king Edward, +surnamed the Confessor: and shortlie therevpon as it had béene falne +into a resiluation, came to extreame ruine by the inuasion and +conquest of the Normans: as after by Gods good helpe and fauorable +assistance it shall appeare. So that it would make a diligent and +marking reader both muse and moorne, to see how variable the state of +this kingdome hath béene, & thereby to fall into a consideration of +the frailtie and vncerteintie of this mortall life, which is no more +frée from securitie, than a ship on the sea in tempestuous weather. +For as the casualties wherewith our life is inclosed and beset with +round about, are manifold; so also are they miserable, so also are +they sudden, so also are they vnauoidable. And true it is, that the +life of man is in the hands of God, and the state of kingdoms dooth +also belong vnto him, either to continue or discontinue. But to the +processe of the matter. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Cnute vndertaketh the totall regiment of this land, he assembleth a +councell at London, the nobles doo him homage, be diuideth the realme +into foure parts to be gouerned by his assignes; Edwin and Edward +the sonnes of Edmund are banished, their good fortune by honorable +mariages, King Cnute marieth queene Emma the widow of Egelred, the +wise and politike conditions wherevpon this mariage was concluded, the +English bloud restored to the crowne and the Danes excluded, queene +Emma praised for hir high wisedome in choosing an enimie to hir +husband; Cnute dismisseth the Danish armie into Denmarke; Edrike de +Streona bewraieth his former trecherie, and procureth his owne death +through rashnesse and follie, the discordant report of writers +touching the maner & cause of his death, what noble men were executed +with him, and banished out of England, Cnute a monarch._ + +THE XJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: CANUTE, KNOUGHT OR CNUTE.] +Canute, or Cnute, whome the English chronicles doo name Knought, +after the death of king Edmund, tooke vpon him the whole rule ouer +all the realme of England, in the yéere of our Lord 1017, in the +[Sidenote: 1017.] +seuentéenth yeere of the emperour Henrie the second, surnamed Claudus, +in the twentith yéere of the reigne of Robert king of France, and +about the 7 yeere of Malcolme king of Scotland. Cnute shortlie after +the death of king Edmund, assembled a councell at London, in the which +he caused all the nobles of the realme to doo him homage, in receiuing +an oth of loiall obeisance. He diuided the realme into foure parts, +assigning Northumberland vnto the rule of Irke or Iricius, Mercia vnto +Edrike, and Eastangle vnto Turkill, and reseruing the west part to his +owne gouernance. He banished (as before is said) Edwin, the brother +of king Edmund; but such as were suspected to be culpable of Edmunds +death, he caused to be put to execution: whereby it should appeere, +that Edrike was not then in anie wise detected or once thought to be +giltie. + +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ _Ran. Higd._ King of churles. _Wil. Malm._] +The said Edwin afterwards returned, and was then reconciled to the +kings fauor (as some write) but shortlie after traitorouslie slaine by +his owne seruants. He was called the king of churles. Others write, +that he came secretlie into the realme after he had béene banished, +and kéeping himselfe closelie out of sight, at length ended his life, +and was buried at Tauestocke. Moreouer, Edwin and Edward the sonnes of +king Edmund were banished the land, and sent first vnto Sweno king +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._] +of Norweie to haue bin made away: but Sweno vpon remorse of conscience +sent them into Hungarie, where they found great fauor at the hands +of king Salomon, insomuch that Edwin maried the daughter of the same +Salomon, but had no issue by hir. Edward was aduanced to marie with +Agatha, daughter of the emperour Henrie, and by hir had issue two +sonnes, Edmund and Edgar surnamed Edeling, and as many daughters, +Margaret and Christine, of the which in place conuenient more shall be +said. + +[Sidenote: _Polydor_. King Cnute maried to quéene Emma the widow of +Egelred, in Iulie, anno. 1017.] +When king Cnute had established things, as he thought stood most +for his suertie, he called to his remembrance, that he had no issue +but two bastard sonnes Harold and Sweno, begotten of his concubine +Alwine. Wherefore he sent ouer to Richard duke of Normandie, requiring +to haue quéene Emma, the widow of king Egelred in mariage, and so +obteined hir, not a little to the woonder of manie, which thought a +great ouersight both in the woman and in hir brother, that would +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +satisfie the request of Cnute herein, considering he had béene such a +mortall enimie to hir former husband. But duke Richard did not onelie +consent, that his said sister should be maried vnto Cnute, but also he +himselfe tooke to wife the ladie Hestritha, sister to the said Cnute. + +¶ Here ye haue to vnderstand, that this mariage was not made without +[Sidenote: The couenants made at the mariage betwixt Cnute and Emma.] +great consideration & large couenants granted on the part of king +Cnute: for before he could obteine queene Emma to his wife, it was +fullie condescended & agréed, that after Cnuts decease, the crowne of +England should remaine to the issue borne of this mariage betwixt hir +& Cnute, which couenant although it was not performed immediatlie +after the deceasse of king Cnute, yet in the end it tooke place, so +as the right séemed to be deferred, and not to be taken away nor +abolished: for immediatlie vpon Harolds death that had vsurped, +Hardicnute succéeded as right heire to the crowne, by force of the +agréement made at the time of the mariage solemnized betwixt his +father and mother, and being once established in the kingdome, he +ordeined his brother Edward to succéed him, whereby the Danes were +vtterlie excluded from all right that they had to pretend vnto the +crowne of this land, and the English bloud restored thereto, chieflie +by that gratious conclusion of this mariage betwixt king Cnute and +[Sidenote: The English bloud restored. The praise of quéene Emma for +hir wisdome.] +quéene Emma. For the which no small praise was thought to be due vnto +the said quéene, sith by hir politike gouernement, in making hir +match so beneficiall to hir selfe and hir line, the crowne was thus +recouered out of the hands of the Danes, and restored againe in time +[Sidenote: _Encomium Emmæ_.] +to the right heire, as by an auncient treatise which some haue +intituled "Encomium Emmæ," and was written in those daies, it dooth +and may appeare. Which booke although there be but few copies thereof +abroad, giueth vndoubtedlie great light to the historie of that time. + +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._] +But now to our purpose. Cnute the same yeare in which he was thus +maried, through persuasion of his wife quéene Emma, sent awaie the +Danish nauie and armie home into Denmarke, giuing to them fourescore +and two thousand pounds of siluer, which was leuied throughout +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ 1018.] +this land for their wages. In the yeare 1018, Edrike de Streona earle +of Mercia was ouerthrowen in his owne turne: for being called before +the king into his priuie chamber, and there in reasoning the +matter about some quarrell that was picked to him, he began verie +presumptuouslie to vpbraid the king of such pleasures as he had before +time doone vnto him; "I did (said he) for the loue which I bare +towards you, forsake my souereigne lord king Edmund, and at length for +your sake slue him." At which words Cnute began to change countenance, +as one maruellouslie abashed, and straightwaies gaue sentence against +Edrike in this wise; "Thou art woorthie (saith he) of death, and die +thou shalt, which art guiltie of treason both towards God and me, sith +that thou hast slaine thine own souereigne lord, and my déere alied +brother. Thy bloud therefore be vpon thine owne head, sith thy toong +hath vttered thy treason." And immediatlie he caused his throat to be +cut, and his bodie to be throwen out at the chamber window into the +[Sidenote: Edrike put to death.] +riuer of Thames. ¶ But others say, that hands were laid vpon him +in the verie same chamber or closet where he murdered the king, & +straightwaies to preuent all causes of tumults & hurlieburlies, he +was put to death with terrible torments of fierbrands & links; which +execution hauing passed vpon him, a second succeeded; for both his +féet were bound together, and his bodie drawne through the streets of +the citie, & in fine cast into a common ditch called Houndsditch; for +that the citizens threw their dead dogs and stinking carrion with +other filth into it, accounting him worthie of a worse rather than of +a better buriall. In such hatred was treason had, being a vice which +the verie infidels and grosse pagans abhorred, else would they not +haue said, _Proditionem amo, proditorem odi_; Treason I loue, but a +traitor I hate. This was the end of Edrike, surnamed de Stratten +or Streona, a man of great infamie for his craftie dissimulation, +falshood and treason, vsed by him to the ouerthrow of the English +estate, as partlie before is touched. + +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ _Encomium Emmæ_.] +But there be that concerning the cause of this Edriks death, séeme +partlie to disagrée from that which before is recited, declaring that +Cnute standing in some doubt to be betraied through the treason +of Edrike, sought occasion how to rid him and others (whome he +mistrusted) out of the way. And therefore on a day when Edrike craued +some preferment at Cnuts hands, & said that he had deserued to be +well thought of, sith by his flight from the battell at Ashendon, the +victorie therby inclined to Cnutes part: Cnute hearing him speake +these words, made this answere: "And canst thou (quoth he) be true to +me, that through fraudulent meanes diddest deceiue thy soùereigne lord +and maister? But I will reward thée according to thy deserts, so as +from henceforth thou shalt not deceiue anie other," and so forthwith +commanded Erike one of his chiefe capteines to dispatch him, who +incontinentlie cut off his head with his axe or halbert. Verelie Simon +Dunelmensis saith, that K. Cnute vnderstanding in what sort both king +Egelred, and his sonne king Edmund Ironside had béene betraied by the +said Edrike, stood in great doubt to be likewise deceiued by him, and +therefore was glad to haue some pretended quarell, to dispatch both +him and others, whome he likewise mistrusted, as it well appeared. For +at the same time there were put to death with Edrike earle Norman the +sonne of earle Leofwin, and brother to earle Leofrike: also Adelward +the sonne of earle Agelmare and Brightrike the sonne of Alfegus +gouernor of Deuonshire, without all guilt or cause (as some write.) +And in place of Norman, his brother Leofrike was made earle of Mercia +by the king, and had in great fauour. This Leofrike is commonlie also +by writers named earle of Chester. After this, Cnute likewise banished +Iric and Turkill, two Danes, the one (as before is recited) gouernor +of Northumberland, and the other of Northfolke and Suffolke or +Eastangle. + +Then rested the whole rule of the realme in the kings hands, wherevpon +he studied to preserue the people in peace, and ordeined lawes, +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ Lords put to death.] +according to the which both Danes and Englishmen should be +gouerned in equall state and degrée. Diuers great lords whome he found +vnfaithfull or rather suspected, he put to death (as before ye haue +heard) beside such as he banished out of the realme. He raised a tax +[Sidenote: A taxe raised.] +or tribute of the people, amounting to the summe of fourescore & +two thousand pounds, besides 11000 pounds, which the Londoners paid +towards the maintenance of the Danish armie. But whereas these things +chaunced not all at one time, but in sundrie seasons, we will returne +somewhat backe to declare what other exploits were atchiued in the +meane time by Cnute, not onelie in England, but also in Denmarke, and +elsewhere: admonishing the reader in the processe of the discourse +following, that much excellent matter is comprehended, whereout (if +the same be studiouslie read and diligentlie considered) no small +profit is to be reaped, both for the augmentation of his owne +knowledge and others that be studious. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Cnute saileth into Denmarke to subdue the Vandals, earle Goodwins +good seruice with the English against the said Vandals, and what +benefit accrewed vnto the Englishmen by the said good seruice, he +returneth into England after the discomfiture of the enimie, he +saileth ouer againe into Denmarke and incountreth with the Sweideners, +the occasion of this warre or incounter taken by Olauus, his hard hap, +vnluckie fortune, and wofull death wrought by the hands of his owne +vnnaturall subiects; Cnuts confidence in the Englishmen, his deuout +voiage to Rome, his returne into England, his subduing of the Scots, +his death and interrement._ + +THE TWELFTH CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: 1019. King Cnute passeth into Denmarke.] +In the third yeare of his reigne Cnute sailed with an armie of +Englishmen and Danes into Denmarke, to subdue the Vandals there, which +[Sidenote: Earle Goodwin his seruice in Denmarke.] +then sore annoied and warred against his subiects of Denmarke. +Earle Goodwine, which had the souereigne conduct of the Englishmen, +the night before the day appointed for the battell got him forth of +the campe with his people, and suddenlie assailing the Vandals in +their lodgings, easilie distressed them, sleaing a great number of +them, and chasing the residue. In the morning earlie, when as Cnute +heard that the Englishmen were gone foorth of their lodgings, he +supposed that they were either fled awaie, or else turned to take +part with the enimies. But as he approched to the enimies campe, he +vnderstood how the mater went; for he found nothing there but +[Sidenote: Cnute had the Englishmen in estimation for their good +service.] +bloud, dead bodies, and the spoile. For which good seruice, Cnute had +the Englishmen in more estimation euer after, and highlie rewarded +their leader the same earle Goodwine. When Cnute had ordered all +things in Denmarke, as was thought behoofefull, he returned againe +into England: and within a few daies after, he was aduertised that +the Swedeners made warre against his subiects of Denmarke, vnder the +[Sidenote: 1028. Cnute passeth againe into Denmarke.] +leding of two great princes, Vlfe and Vlafe. Wherefore to defend +his dominions in those parts, he passed againe with an armie into +Denmarke, incountred with his enimies, and receiued a sore ouerthrow, +[Sidenote: _Will. Malm._] +loosing a great number both of Danes and Englishmen. But gathering +togither a new force of men, he set againe vpon his enimies, and +ouercame them, constreining the two foresaid princes to agrée vpon +[Sidenote: _Matt. Westm._] +reasonable conditions of peace. Matth. West. recounteth, that at this +time earle Goodwine and the Englishmen wrought the enterprise aboue +mentioned, of assaulting the enimies campe in the night season, after +Cnute had first lost in the day before no small number of his people: +and that then the foresaid princes or kings, as he nameth them Vlfus +[Sidenote: _Albertus Crantz_.] +and Aulafus, which latter he calleth Eiglafe, were constrained to +agrée vpon a peace. The Danish chronicles alledge, that the occasion +of this warre rose hereof. This Olauus aided Cnute (as the same +writers report) against king Edmund and the Englishmen. But when +the peace should be made betwéene Cnute and Edmund, there was no +consideration had of Olauus: whereas through him the Danes chieflie +obteined the victorie. Herevpon Olauus was sore offended in his mind +against Cnute, and now vpon occasion sought to be reuenged. But what +soeuer the cause was of this warre betwixt these two princes, the +end was thus: that Olauus was expelled out of his kingdome, and +constreined to flée to Gerithaslaus a duke in the parties of Eastland, +and afterward returning into Norwaie, was slaine by such of his +subiects as tooke part with Cnute, in manner as in the historie of +Norwaie, appeareth more at large, with the contrarietie found in the +writings of them which haue recorded the histories of those north +[Sidenote: Magnus Olauus.] +regions. + +[Sidenote: _Fabian_. _Polydor_. _Hen. Hunt._] +But here is to be remembred, that the fame and glorie of the +English nation was greatlie aduanced in these warres, as well against +the Swedeners as the Norwegians, so that Cnute began to loue and trust +the Englishmen much better than it was to be thought he would euer +[Sidenote: Other say, that he went forth of Denmarke to Rome. +_Simon Dun._ Anno 1031. 1032. _Wil. Malm._ _Matth. West._ 1033.] +haue doone. Shortlie after that Cnute was returned into England, that +is to say (as some haue) in the 15 yeare of his reigne, he went to +Rome to performe his vow which he had made to visit the places +where the apostles Peter and Paule had their buriall, where he was +honorablie receiued of pope Iohn the 20 that then held the sée. When +he had doone his deuotion there, he returned into England. In the +yeare following, he made a iournie against the Scots, which as +[Sidenote: Scots subdued. _Hen. Hunt._ Anno 1035. _Wil. Malm._] +then had rebelled; but by the princelie power of Cnute they were +subdued and brought againe to obedience: so that not onelie king +Malcolme, but also two other kings Melbeath and Ieohmare became his +subiects. Finallie after that this noble prince king Cnute had +[Sidenote: The death of king Cnute. _Hen. Hunt._ _Alb. Crantz_.] +reigned the tearme of 20 yeares currant, after the death of Ethelred, +he died at Shaftsburie, as the English writers affirme, on the 12 of +Nouember, and was buried at Winchester. But the Danish chronicles +record that he died in Normandie, and was buried at Rome (as in the +same chronicles ye may reade more at large.) + + * * * * * + + + + +_The trespuissance of Cnute, the amplenesse of his dominions, the good +and charitable fruits of his voiage to Rome redounding to the common +benefit of all trauellers from England thither, with what great +personages he had conference, and the honour that was doone him there, +his intollerable pride in commanding the waters of the flouds not to +rise, he humbleth himselfe and confesseth Christ Iesus to be king of +kings, he refuseth to weare the crowne during his life, he reproueth +a gentleman flatterer, his issue legitimate and illegitimate, his +inclination in his latter yeares, what religious places he erected, +repaired, and inriched; what notable men he fauoured and reuerenced, +his lawes; and that in causes as well ecclesiasticall as temporall +he had cheefe and sole gouernement in this land, whereby the popes +vsurped title of vniuersall supremasie is impeached._ + +THE XIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: The large dominion of K. Cnute. _Hen. Hunt._ _Alb. Crantz_.] +This Cnute was the mightiest prince that euer reigned ouer the +English people: for he had the souereigne rule ouer all Denmark, +England, Norwaie, Scotland, and part of Sweiden. Amongest other of his +roiall acts, he caused such tolles and tallages as were demanded of +way-goers at bridges and stréets in the high way betwixt England and +Rome to be diminished to the halfes, and againe got also a moderation +to be had in the paiment of the archbishops fees of his realme, which +was leuied of them in the court of Rome when they should receiue their +palles, as may appeare by a letter which he himselfe being at Rome, +directed to the bishops and other of the nobles of England. In the +which it also appeareth, that besides the roiall interteinment, which +he had at Rome of pope Iohn, he had conference there with the emperour +Conrad, with Rafe the king of Burgongne, and manie other great princes +and noble men, which were present there at that time: all which at his +[Sidenote: Grants made to the benefit of Englishmen, at the instance +of king Cnute. _Fabian_. _Polydor_. _Matt. West._] +request, in fauour of those Englishmen that should trauell vnto +Rome, granted (as we haue said) to diminish such duties as were +gathered of passingers. + +He receiued there manie great gifts of the emperour, and was highlie +honored of him, and likewise of the pope, and of all other the high +princes at that time present at Rome: so that when he came home (as +some write) he did grow greatlie into pride, insomuch that being +[Sidenote: He caused his chaire to be set there, as _Matth. West._ +saith. _Hen. Hunt._] +néere to the Thames, or rather (as other write) vpon the sea strand, +néere to Southhampton, and perceiuing the water to rise by reason of +the tide, he cast off his gowne, and wrapping it round togither, threw +it on the sands verie neere the increasing water, and sat him downe +vpon it, speaking these or the like words to the sea: "Thou art (saith +he) within the compasse of my dominion, and the ground whereon I +sit is mine, and thou knowest that no wight dare disobeie my +commandements; I therefore doo now command thée not to rise vpon my +ground, nor to presume to wet anie part of thy souereigne lord and +gouernour." But the sea kéeping hir course, rose still higher and +higher, and ouerflowed not onelie the kings féet, but also flashed vp +vnto his legs and knees. Wherewith the king started suddenlie vp, and +[Sidenote: The saieng of king Cnute.] +withdrew from it, saieng withall to his nobles that were about him: +"Behold you noble men, you call me king, which can not so much as +staie by my commandement this small portion of water. But know ye for +certeine, that there is no king but the father onelie of our Lord +Iesus Christ, with whome he reigneth, & at whose becke all things are +[Sidenote: Zealouslie inough, if it had bin according to true knowledge.] +gouerned. Let vs therefore honor him, let vs confesse and professe +him to be the ruler of heauen, earth, and sea, and besides him none +other." + +From thence he went to Winchester, and there with his owne hands set +his crowne vpon the head of the image of the crucifix, which stood +there in the church of the apostles Peter and Paule, and from +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd_. _Polydor_. _Matth. West._] +thenceforth he would neuer weare that crowne nor anie other. Some +write that he spake not the former words to the sea vpon anie +presumptuousnesse of mind, but onelie vpon occasion of the vaine +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +title, which in his commendation one of his gentlemen gaue him by way +of flatterie (as he rightlie tooke it) for he called him the most +[Sidenote: Flatterie reproued.] +mightiest king of all kings, which ruled most at large both men, +sea, and land. Therefore to reprooue the fond flatterie of such vaine +persons, he deuised and practised the déed before mentioned, thereby +both to reprooue such flatterers, and also that men might be +admonished to consider the omnipotencie of almightie God. He had issue +by his wife quéene Emma, a sonne named by the English chronicles +Hardiknought, but by the Danish writers Canute or Knute: also a +daughter named Gonilda, that was after maried to Henrie the sonne of +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +Conrad, which also was afterwards emperour, and named Henrie the +third. By his concubine Alwine that was daughter to Alselme, whome +[Sidenote: _Alb. Cranz_.] +some name earle of Hampton, he had two bastard sonnes, Harold and +Sweno. He was much giuen in his latter daies to vertue, as he that +[Sidenote: _Polydor_. _Fabian_.] +considered how perfect felicitie rested onelie in godlines and +true deuotion to serue the heauenlie king and gouernour of all things. + +He repared in his time manie churches, abbeies and houses of religion, +which by occasion of warres had béene sore defaced by him and his +father, but speciallie he did great cost vpon the abbeie of saint +Edmund, in the towne of Burie, as partlie before is mentioned. He also +built two abbeies from the foundation, as saint Benets in Norffolke, +[Sidenote: Which is supposed to be Barclow: for Ashdone it selfe +is halfe a mile from thence.] +seuen miles distant from Norwich, and an other in Norwaie. He +did also build a church at Ashdone in Essex, where he obteined +the victorie of king Edmund, and was present at the hallowing or +consecration therof with a great multitude of the lords and nobles of +the realme, both English and Danes. He also holpe with his owne hands +to remooue the bodie of the holie archbishop Elphegus, when the +[Sidenote: 1020. _Simon Dun._] +same was translated from London to Canturburie. The roiall and most +rich iewels which he & his wife quéene Emma gaue vnto the church +of Winchester, might make the beholders to woonder at such their +exceeding and bountifull munificence. + +Thus did Cnute striue to reforme all such things as he and his +ancestors had doone amisse, and to wipe awaie the spot of euill +dooing, as suerlie to the outward sight of the world he did in +deed; he had the archbishop of Canturburie Achelnotus in singular +[Sidenote: Leofrike earle of Chester.] +reputation, and vsed his counsell in matters of importance. He +also highlie fauoured Leofrike earle of Chester, so that the same +Leofrike bare great rule in ordering of things touching the state of +[Sidenote: King Cnutes lawes.] +the common wealth vnder him as one of his chiefe councellors. +Diuerse lawes and statutes he made for the gouernment of the common +wealth, partlie agréeable with the lawes of king Edgar, and other the +kings that were his predecessors, and partlie tempered according to +his owne liking, and as was thought to him most expedient: among the +which there be diuerse that concerne causes as well ecclesiasticall as +temporall. Whereby (as maister Fox hath noted) it maie be gathered, +that the gouernment of spirituall matters did depend then not vpon the +bishop of Rome, but rather apperteined vnto the lawfull authoritie of +the temporall prince, no lesse than matters and causes temporall. But +of these lawes & statutes enacted by king Cnute, ye may read more +as ye find them set foorth in the before remembred booke of maister +William Lambert, which for briefenesse we héere omit. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Variance amongest the peeres of the realme about the roiall +succession, the kingdome is diuided betwixt Harold the bastard +sonne and Hardicnute the lawfullie begotten son of king Cnute late +deceassed, Harold hath the totall regiment, the authoritie of earle +Goodwine gardian to the queenes sonnes, Harold is proclaimed king, +why Elnothus did stoutlie refuse to consecrate him, why Harold was +surnamed Harefoot, he is supposed to be a shoomakers sonne, and how +it came to passe that he was counted king Cnutes bastard; Alfred +challengeth the crowne from Harold, Goodwine (vnder colour of +friendlie interteinment) procureth his retinues vtter vndooing, a +tithing of the Normans by the poll, whether Alfred was interessed in +the crowne, the trecherous letter of Harold written in the name of +queéne Emma to hir two sons in Normandie, wherevpon Alfred commeth +ouer into England, the vnfaithfull dealing of Goodwine with Alfred and +his people, teaching that in trust is treason, a reseruation of euerie +tenth Norman, the remanent slaine, the lamentable end of Alfred, and +with what torments he was put to death; Harold banisheth queene Emma +out of England he degenerateth from his father, the short time of his +reigne, his death and buriall._ + + +THE XIIIJ. CHAPTER. + +[Sidenote: HAROLD. _Matth. West._ _Wil. Malm._] +After that Cnute was departed this life, there arose much variance +amongst the peeres and great lords of the realme about the succession. +The Danes and Londoners (which through continuall familiaritie with +the Danes, were become like vnto them) elected Harold the base +[Sidenote: Controuersie for the crowne.] +sonne of king Cnute, to succéed in his fathers roome, hauing earle +Leofrike, and diuerse other of the noble men of the north parts on +their side. But other of the Englishmen, and namelie earle Goodwine +earle of Kent, with the chiefest lords of the west parts, coueted +rather to haue one of king Egelreds sonnes, which were in Normandie, +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] +or else Hardicnute the sonne of king Cnute by his wife quéene +Emma, which remained in Denmarke, aduanced to the place. This +[Sidenote: The realme diuided betwixt Harold and Hardicnute.] +controuersie held in such wise, that the realme was diuided (as some +write) by lot betwixt the two brethren Harold and Hardicnute. The +north part, as Mercia and Northumberland fell to Harold, and the south +part vnto Hardicnute: but at length the whole remained vnto Harold, +bicause his brother Hardicnute refused to come out of Denmarke to take +the gouernment vpon him. + +[Sidenote: The authoritie of earle Goodwine. _H. Hunt._] +But yet the authoritie of earle Goodwine, who had the queene +and the treasure of the realme in his kéeping, staied the matter a +certeine time, (professing himselfe as it were gardian to the yoong +men, the sonnes of the quéene, till at length he was constreined to +giue ouer his hold, and conforme himselfe to the stronger part and +greater number.) And so at Oxford, where the assemblie was holden +about the election, Harold was proclaimed king, and consecrated +[Sidenote: The refusall of the archbishop Elnothus to consecrate king +Harold.] +according to the maner (as some write.) But it should appeere by +other, that Elnothus the archbishop of Canturburie, a man indued with +all vertue and wisedome, refused to crowne him: for when king Harold +being elected of the nobles and péeres, required the said archbishop +that he might be of him consecrated, and receiue at his hands the +regall scepter with the crowne, which the archbishop had in his +custodie, and to whome it onelie did apperteine to inuest him +therewith, the archbishop flatlie refused, and with an oth protested, +that he would not consecrate anie other for king, so long as the +quéenes children liued: "for (saith he) Cnute committed them to my +trust and assurance, and to them will I kéepe my faith and loiall +obedience. The scepter and crowne I héere lay downe vpon the altar, +and neither doo I denie nor deliuer them vnto you: but I forbid by the +apostolike authoritie all the bishops, that none of them presume to +take the same awaie, and deliuer them to you, or consecrate you for +king. As for your selfe, if you dare, you maie vsurpe that which I +haue committed vnto God and his table." + +But whether afterwards the king by one meane or other, caused the +archbishop to crowne him king, or that he was consecrated of some +other, he was admitted king of all the English people, beginning +[Sidenote: 1036.] +his reigne in the yéere of our Lord a thousand thirtie and six, in the +fouretenth yéere of the emperor Conrad the second, in the sixt yéere +of Henrie the first, king of France, and about the seuen and twentith +yéere of Malcolme the second, king of Scots. This Harold for his +[Sidenote: Harold why he is surnamed Harefoot.] +great swiftnesse, was surnamed Harefoot, of whome little is written +touching his dooings, sauing that he is noted to haue béene an +oppressor of his people, and spotted with manie notable vices. It +[Sidenote: Harold euill spoken of. _Ran. Higd._ _ex Mariano_.] +was spoken of diuerse in those daies, that this Harold was not the +sonne of Cnute, but of a shoomaker, and that his supposed mother +Elgina, king Cnutes concubine, to bring the king further in loue with +hir, feined that she was with child: and about the time that she +should be brought to bed (as she made hir account) caused the said +shoemakers son to be secretlie brought into hir chamber, and then +vntrulie caused it to be reported that she was deliuered, and the +child so reputed to be the kings sonne. + +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._] +Immediatlie vpon aduertisement had of Cnutes death, Alfred the +sonne of king Egelred, with fiftie saile landed at Sandwich, meaning +to challenge the crowne, and to obteine it by lawfull claime with +quietnesse, if he might; if not, then to vse force by aid of his +friends, and to assaie that waie foorth to win it, if he might not +otherwise obteine it. From Sandwich he came to Canturburie: and +shortlie after, earle Goodwine feining to receiue him as a friend, +came to meet him, and at Gilford in the night season appointed a +number of armed men to fall vpon the Normans as they were asléepe, and +so tooke them togither with Alfred, & slue the Normans by the poll, +in such wise that nine were shine, & the tenth reserued. But yet when +those that were reserued, seemed to him a greater number than he +wished to escape, he fell to and againe tithed them as before. Alfred +had his eies put out, and was conueied to the Ile of Elie, where +shortlie after he died. + +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._] +¶ How Alfred should claime the crowne to himselfe I sée not: for +verelie I can not be persuaded that he was the elder brother, though +diuers authors haue so written, sith Gemeticensis, & the author of the +booke called "Encomium Emmæ," plainlie affirme, that Edward was the +elder: but it might be, that Alfred being a man of a stouter stomach +[Sidenote: Sée maister _Fox_ acts and monuments, pag. 112. _Simon Dun._] +than his brother Edward, made this attempt, either for himselfe, +or in the behalfe of his brother Edward, being as then absent, and +gone into Hungarie, as some write: but other say, that as well Edward +as Alfred came ouer at this time with a number of Norman knights, and +men of warre imbarked in a few ships, onelie to speake with their +mother, who as then lay at Winchester, whether to take aduise with hir +how to recouer their right heere in this land, or to aduance their +brother Hardicnute, or for some other purpose, our authors doo not +declare. + +But the lords of the realme that bare their good wils vnto Harold, +and (though contrarie to right) ment to mainteine him in the estate, +seemed to be much offended with the comming of these two brethren +in such order: for earle Goodwine persuaded them, that it was great +danger to suffer so manie strangers to enter the realme, as they had +brought with them. Wherevpon earle Goodwine with the assent of the +other lords, or rather by commandement of Harold, went foorth, and at +Gilford met with Alfred that was comming towards king Harold to speake +with him, accordinglie as he was of Harold required to doo. But now +being taken, and his companie miserablie murthered (as before ye haue +heard) to the number of six hundred Normans, Alfred himselfe was sent +into the Ile of Elie, there to remaine in the abbeie in custodie of +the moonks, hauing his eies put out as soone as he entered first into +the same Ile. William Malmesburie saith, that Alfred came ouer, and +was thus handeled betwixt the time of Harolds death, & the comming +in of Hardicnute. Others write, that this chanced in his brother +Hardicnuts daies, which séemeth not to be true: for Hardicnute was +knowne to loue his brethren by his mothers side too dearelie to haue +suffered anie such iniurie to be wrought against either of them in his +time. + +¶ Thus ye sée how writers dissent in this matter, but for the better +clearing of the truth touching the time, I haue thought good to shew +also what the author of the said booke intituled "Encomium Emmæ" +writeth hereof, which is as followeth. When Harold was once +established king, he sought meanes how to rid quéene Emma out of the +way, and that secretlie, for that openlie as yet he durst not attempt +anie thing against hir. She in silence kept hir selfe quiet, looking +for the end of these things. But Harold remembring himselfe, of a +malicious purpose, by wicked aduise tooke counsell how he might get +into his hands and make away the sons of quéene Emma, & so to be out +of danger of all annoiance that by them might be procured against him. +Wherefore he caused a letter to be written in the name of their +[Sidenote: A counterfet letter.] +mother Emma, which he sent by certeine messengers suborned for the +same purpose into Normandie, where Edward and Alfred as then remained. +The tenour of which letter here insueth. + +_The tenour of a letter forged and sent in queene Emmas name to hir +two sonnes_. + +"Emma tantùm nomine regina filijs Edwardo & Alfredo materna impertit +salutamina. D[=u] domini nostri regis obitum separatim plangimus +(filij charissimi) dúmq; dietim magis magisque regno hæreditatis +vestræ priuamini, miror quid captetis consilij, dum sciatis +intermissionis vestræ dilatione inuasoris vestri imperij fieri +quotidiè soliditat[=e]. Is enim incessanter vicos & vrbes circuit, & +sibi amicos principes muneribus, minis, & precibus facit: sed vnum +è vobis super se mallent regnare quàm istius (qui nunc ijs imperat) +teneri ditione. Vnde rogo vnus vestrum ad me velociter & priuatè +veniat, vt salubre à me consilium accipiat, & sciat quo pacto hoc +negotium quod volo fieri debeat, per præsentem quóque internuncium +quid super his facturi estis remandate. Valete cordis mei viscera." + +_The same in English_. + +"Emma in name onelie queene to hir sons Edward and Alfred sendeth +motherlie greeting. Whilest we separatelie bewaile the death of our +souereigne lord the king (most deare sonnes) and whilest you +are euerie day more and more depriued from the kingdome of your +inheritance, I maruell what you doo determine, sith you know by the +delay of your ceassing to make some enterprise, the grounded force +of the vsurper of your kingdom is dailie made the stronger. For +incessantlie he goeth from towne to towne, from citie to citie, and +maketh the lords his friends by rewards, threats, and praiers, but +they had rather haue one of you to reigne ouer them, than to be kept +vnder the rule of this man that now gouerneth them. Wherefore my +request is, that one of you doo come with speed, and that priuilie +ouer to me, that he may vnderstand my wholesome aduise, and know in +what sort this matter ought to be handled, which I would haue to go +forward, and see that ye send mee word by this present messenger what +you meane to doo herein. Fare ye well euen the bowels of my heart." + +These letters were deliuered vnto such as were made priuie to the +purposed treason, who being fullie instructed how to deale, went ouer +into Normandie, and presenting the letters vnto the yoong gentlemen, +vsed the matter so, that they thought verelie that this message had +béene sent from their mother, and wrote againe by them that brought +the letters, that one of them would not faile but come ouer vnto hir +according to that she had requested, and withall appointed the day and +time. The messengers returning to king Harold, informed him how they +had sped. The yoonger brother Alfred, with his brothers consent, tooke +with him a certeine number of gentlemen and men of warre, and first +came into Flanders, where after he had remained a while with earle +Baldwine, he increased his retinue with a few Bullogners, and passed +ouer into England, but approching to the shore, he was streightwaies +descried by his enimies, who hasted foorth to set vpon him; but +perceiuing their drift, he bad the ships cast about, and make againe +to the sea; then landing at an other place, he ment to go the next way +to his mother. + +[Sidenote: Godwin was suspected to do this vnder a colour to betray +him as by writers it séemeth.] +But earle Goodwine hearing of his arriuall, met him, receiued +him into his assurance, and binding his credit with a corporall oth, +became his man, and therwith leading him out of the high way that +leadeth to London, he brought him to Gilford, where he lodged all the +strangers, by a score, a doozen, and halfe a score togither in innes, +so as but a few remained about the yoong gentleman Alfred to attend +vpon him. There was plentie of meat and drinke prepared in euerie +lodging, for the refreshing of all the companie. And Goodwine taking +his leaue for that night, departed to his lodging, promising the next +morning to come againe to giue his dutifull attendance on Alfred. + +But behold, after they had filled themselues with meats and drinks, +[Sidenote: Not onelie Goodwine but other such as king Harold appointed, +took Alfred with his Normans.] +and were gone to bed, in the dead of the night came such as king +Harold had appointed, and entring into euerie inne, first seized vpon +the armor and weapons that belonged to the strangers: which done, +they tooke them, and chained them fast with fetters and manacles, so +kéeping them sure till the next morning. Which being come, they +were brought foorth with their hands bound behind their backs, and +deliuered to most cruell tormentors, who were commanded to spare none +but euerie tenth man, as he came to hand by lot, and so they slue nine +and left the tenth aliue. Of those that were left aliue, some they +kept to serue as bondmen, other for couetousnesse of gaine they sold, +and some they put in prison, of whome yet diuerse afterwards escaped. +This with more hath the foresaid author written of this matter, +declaring further, that Alfred being conueied into the Ile of Elie, +had not onelie his eies put out in most cruell wise, but was also +presentlie there murthered. But he speaketh not further of the maner +how he was made away, sauing that he saith he forbeareth to make long +recitall of this matter, bicause he will not renew the mothers gréefe +in hearing it, sith there can be no greater sorrow to the mother than +to heare of hir sonnes death. + +¶ I remember in Caxton we read, that his cruell tormentors should +cause his bellie to be opened, & taking out one end of his bowels or +guts, tied the same to a stake which they had set fast in the ground; +then with néedels of iron pricking his bodie, they caused him to run +about the stake, till he had woond out all his intrailes, & so ended +he his innocent life, to the great shame & obloquie of his cruel +aduersaries. But whether he was thus tormented or not, or rather died +(as I thinke) of the anguish by putting out his eies, no doubt but his +death was reuenged by Gods hand in those that procured it. But whether +erle Goodwine was chéefe causer thereof, in betraieng him vnder a +cloked colour of pretended fréendship, I cannot say: but that he tooke +him and slue his companie, as some haue written, I cannot thinke it to +be true, both as well for that which ye haue heard recited out of the +author that wrote "Encomium Emmæ," as also for that it should séeme he +might neuer be so directlie charged with it, but that he had matter to +alledge in his owne excuse. But now to other affaires of Harold. + +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ Quéene Emma banished.] +After he had made away his halfe brother Alfred, he spoiled +his mother in law quéene Emma of the most part of hir riches, and +therewith banished hir quite out of the realme: so that she sailed +ouer to Flanders, where she was honourablie receiued of earle +Baldwine, and hauing of him honourable prouision assigned hir, she +continued there for the space of thrée yeeres, till that after +[Sidenote: _Polydor_. Harold degenerateth from his father. _Hen. Hunt._] +the death of Harold, she was sent for by hir sonne Hardiknought, that +succéeded Harold in the kingdome. Moreouer, Harold made small account +of his subiects, degenerating from the noble vertues of his father, +following him in few things (except in exacting of tributes and +paiments.) He caused indeed eight markes of siluer to be leuied of +[Sidenote: A nauie in a readinesse. Euill men, the longer they liue, +the more they grow into miserie. _Wil. Malm._ _Hen. Hunt._] +euerie port or hauen in England, to the reteining of 16 ships +furnished with men of warre, which continued euer in readinesse to +defend the coasts from pirats. To conclude with this Harold, his +spéedie death prouided well for his fame, bicause (as it was thought) +if his life had béene of long continuance, his infamie had béene the +greater. But after he had reigned foure yéeres, or (as other gathered) +three yéeres and thrée moneths, he departed out of this world at +Oxford, & was buried at Winchester (as some say.) Other say he died at +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +Meneford in the moneth of Aprill, and was buried at Westminster, +which should appeare to be true by that which after is reported of his +brother Hardiknoughts cruell dealing, and great spite shewed toward +his dead bodie, as after shall be specified. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Hardicnute is sent for into England to be made king; alteration +in the state of Norwaie and Denmarke by the death of king Cnute, +Hardicnute is crowned, he sendeth for his mother queene Emma, +Normandie ruled by the French king, Hardicnute reuengeth his mothers +exile upon the dead bodie of his stepbrother Harold, queene Emma and +erle Goodwine haue the gouernment of things in their hands, Hardicnute +leuieth a sore tribute upon his subiects; contempt of officers & +deniall of a prince his tribute sharpelie punished; prince Edward +commeth into England; the bishop of Worcester accused and put from his +see for being accessarie to the murthering of Alfred, his restitution +procured by contribution; Earle Goodwine being accused for the same +trespasse excuseth himselfe, and iustifieth his cause by swearing, but +speciallie by presenting the king with an inestimable gift; the cause +why Goodwine purposed Alfreds death; the English peoples care about +the succession to the crowne, moonke Brightwalds dreame and vision +touching that matter; Hardicnute poisoned at a bridall, his +conditions, speciallie his hospitalitie, of him the Englishmen learned +to eate and drinke immoderatlie, the necessitie of sobrietie, the end +of the Danish regiment in this land, and when they began first to +inuade the English coasts._ + +THE XV. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: HARDICNUTE, or HARDIKNOUGHT.] +After that Harold was dead, all the nobles of the realme, both +Danes and Englishmen agréed to send for Hardiknought, the sonne of +Canute by his wife quéene Emma, and to make him king. Héere is to be +noted, that by the death of king Canute, the state of things was much +altered in those countries of beyond the seas wherein he had the rule +[Sidenote: Alteration in the state of things. _Simon Dun._, & +_Matt. West._ say, that he was at Bruges in Flanders with his +mother when he was thus sent for, having come thither to visit hir. +1041.] +and dominion. For the Norwegians elected one Magnus, the sonne of +Olauus to be their king, and the Danes chose this Hardiknought, whome +their writers name Canute the third, to be their gouernor. This +Hardiknought or Canute being aduertised of the death of his halfe +brother Harold, and that the lords of England had chosen him to their +king, with all conuenient speed prepared a nauie, and imbarking a +certeine number of men of warre, tooke the sea, and had the wind so +fauorable for his purpose, that he arriued upon the coast of Kent the +sixt day after he set out of Denmarke, and so comming to London, was +ioifullie receiued, and proclaimed king, and crowned of Athelnotus +archbishop of Canturburie, in the yere of our Lord 1041, in the first +yéere of the emperour Henrie the third, in the 9 yeere of Henrie +the first of that name king of France, and in the first yéere of +Magfinloch, aliàs Machabeda king of Scotland. Incontinentlie after +[Sidenote: Quéene Emma sent for.] +his establishment in the rule of this realme, he sent into Flanders +for his mother quéene Emma, who during the time of hir banishment, +had remained there. For Normandie in that season was gouerned by the +French king, by reason of the minoritie of duke William, surnamed the +bastard. + +Moreouer, in reuenge of the wrong offered to quéene Emma by hir sonne +[Sidenote: The bodie of king Harold taken vp, and throwen into Thames.] +in law Harold, king Hardicnute did cause Alfrike archbishop of +Yorke and earle Goodwine, with other noble men to go to Westminster, +and there to take vp the bodie of the same Harold, and withall +appointed, that the head thereof should be striken off, and the trunke +of it cast into the riuer of Thames. Which afterwards being found by +fishers, was taken vp and buried in the churchyard of S. Clement +[Sidenote: S. Clement Danes.] +Danes without Temple barre at London. He committed the order and +gouernement of things to the hands of his mother Emma, and of Goodwine +[Sidenote: A tribute raised. _Hen. Hunt._] +that was erle of Kent. He leuied a sore tribute of his subiects +here in England to pay the souldiers and mariners of his nauie, as +first 21 thousand pounds, & 99 pounds, and afterward vnto 32 ships +[Sidenote:_ Simon Dun._ _Wil. Malm._ _Matth. West._ +_Sim. Dun._] +there was a paiment made of a 11 thousand and 48 pounds. To euerie +mariner of his nauie he caused a paiment of 8 marks to be made, and to +euerie master 12 marks. About the paiment of this monie great grudge +grew amongst the people, insomuch that two of his seruants, which were +appointed collectors in the citie of Worcester, the one named Feader, +and the other Turstane, were there slaine. In reuenge of which +contempt a great part of the countrie with the citie was burnt, and +the goods of the citizens put to the spoile by such power of lords and +men of warre as the king had sent against them. + +Shortlie after, Edward king Hardicnutes brother came foorth of +Normandie to visit him and his mother quéene Emma, of whome he was +most ioifullie and honorablie welcomed and interteined, and +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._ _Ran. Higd._ _Marianus_.] +shortlie after made returne backe againe. It should appeare by some +writers, that after his comming ouer out of Normandie he remained +still in the realme, so that he was not in Normandie when his halfe +brother Hardicnute died, but here in England: although other make +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +other report, as after shall bée shewed. Also (as before ye haue +heard) some writers seeme to meane, that the elder brother Alfred came +ouer at the same time. But suerlie they are therein deceiued: for +it was knowne well inough how tenderlie king Hardicnute loued his +brethren by the mothers side, so that there was not anie of the lords +[Sidenote: The bishop of Worcester accused for making away of Alfred.] +in his daies, that durst attempt anie such iniurie against them. +True it is, that as well earle Goodwine, as the bishop of Worcester +(that was also put in blame and suspected for the apprehending and +making away of Alfred, as before ye haue heard) were charged by +Hardicnute as culpable in that matter, insomuch that the said bishop +was expelled out of his sée by Hardicnute: and after twelue moneths +space was restored, by meanes of such summes of monie as he gaue by +waie of amends. + +[Sidenote: Earle Goodwin excuseth himselfe.] +Earle Goodwine was also put to his purgation, by taking an oth +that he was not guiltie. Which oth was the better allowed, by reason +of such a present as he gaue to the king for the redéeming of his +[Sidenote: The gift which earle Goodwin gaue to the king.] +fauour and good will, that is to say, a ship with a sterne of gold, +conteining therein 80 souldiers, wearing on each of their armes two +bracelets of gold of 16 ounces weight, a triple habergion guilt on +their bodies, with guilt burgenets on their heads, a swoord with guilt +hilts girded to their wastes, a battell-axe after the maner of the +Danes on their left shoulder, a target with bosses and mails guilt in +their left hand, a dart in their right hand: and thus to conclude, +they were furnished at all points with armor and weapon accordinglie. +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +It hath béene said, that earle Goodwine minded to marie his +daughter to one of these brethren, and perceiuing that the elder +brother Alfred would disdaine to haue hir, thought good to dispatch +him, that the other taking hir to wife, hée might be next heire to the +crowne, and so at length inioy it, as afterwards came to passe. + +Also about that time, when the linage of the kings of England was in +maner extinct, the English people were much carefull (as hath béene +said) about the succession of those that should inioie the crowne. +Wherevpon as one Brightwold a moonke of Glastenburie, that was +afterward bishop of Wincester, or (as some haue written) of Worcester, +studied oftentimes thereon: it chanced that he dreamed one night as he +slept in his bed, that he saw saint Peter consecrate & annoint Edward +the sonne of Egelred (as then remaining in exile in Normandie) king of +England. And as he thought, he did demand of saint Peter, who should +succéed the said Edward? Wherevnto answer was made by the apostle; +Haue thou no care for such matters, for the kingdome of England is +Gods kingdome. Which suerlie in good earnest may appeare by manie +great arguments to be full true vnto such as shall well consider the +state of this realme from time to time, how there hath béene euer +gouernours raised vp to mainteine the maiestie of the kingdome, and +to reduce the same to the former dignitie, when by anie infortunate +mishap it hath beene brought in danger. + +[Sidenote: The death of K. Hardicnute. _Sim. Dunel._ +_Matth. West._ 1042.] +But to returne now to king Hardicnute, after he had reigned two +yéers lacking 10 daies, as he sat at the table in a great feast holden +at Lambeth, he fell downe suddenlie with the pot in his hand, and so +died not without some suspicion of poison. This chanced on the 8 +of Iune at Lambeth aforesaid, where, on the same day a mariage was +solemnized betwéene the ladie Githa, the daughter of a noble man +called Osgot Clappa, and a Danish lord also called Canute Prudan. His +bodie was buried at Winchester besides his father. He was of nature +[Sidenote: K. Hardicnute his conditions and liberalitie in +housekeeping. _Hen. Hunt._] +verie curteous, gentle and liberall, speciallie in keeping good +chéere in his house, so that he would haue his table couered foure +times a day, & furnished with great plentie of meates and drinks, +wishing that his seruants and all strangers that came to his palace, +[Sidenote: Of whom the Englishmen learned excessiue féeding.] +might rather leaue than want. It hath béene commonlie told, that +Englishmen learned of him their excessiue gourmandizing & vnmeasurable +filling of their panches with meates and drinkes, whereby they forgat +the vertuous vse of sobrietie, so much necessarie to all estates and +degrées, so profitable for all common-wealthes, and so commendable +both in the sight of God, and all good men. + +[Sidenote: The end of the Danish rulers.] +In this Hardicnute ceased the rule of the Danes within this land, +with the persecution which they had executed against the English +nation, for the space of 250 yeres & more, that is to say, euer since +the tenth yeere of Brithrike the king of Westsaxons, at what time they +first began to inuade the English coasts. Howbeit (after others) they +should séeme to haue ruled here but 207, reckoning from their bringing +in by the Welshmen in despite of the Saxons, at which time they first +began to inhabit here, which was 835 of Christ, 387 after the comming +of the Saxons, and 35 néere complet of the reigne of Egbert. + +¶ But to let this péece of curiositie passe, this land felt that they +had a time of arriuall, a time of inuading, a time of ouerrunning, and +a time of ouerruling the inhabitants of this maine continent. Wherof +manifest proofes are at this day remaining in sundrie places, sundrie +ruines I meane and wastes committed by them; vpon the which whensoeuer +a man of a relenting spirit casteth his eie, he can not but enter +into a dolefull consideration of former miseries, and lamenting the +defacements of this Ile by the crueltie of the bloudthirstie enimie, +cannot but wish (if he haue but "Minimam misericordiæ guttam quæ maior +est spatioso oceano," as one saith) and earnestlie desire in his heart +that the like may neuer light vpon this land, but may be auerted and +turned away from all christian kingdomes, through his mercie, whose +wrath by sinne being set on fire, is like a consuming flame; and the +swoord of whose vengeance being sharpened with the whetstone of mens +wickednesse, shall hew them in péeces as wood for the fornace. + +_Thus farre the tumultuous and tyrannicall regiment of the Danes, +inferring fulnesse of afflictions to the English people, wherewith +likewise the seuenth booke is shut vp._ + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of +England (7 of 8), by Raphael Holinshed + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORIE OF ENGLAND *** + +***** This file should be named 16617-8.txt or 16617-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1/16617/ + +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. diff --git a/old/16617-8.zip b/old/16617-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f73d0bd --- /dev/null +++ b/old/16617-8.zip diff --git a/old/16617.txt b/old/16617.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f50804e --- /dev/null +++ b/old/16617.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3346 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of +England (7 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 (7 of 8) + The Seventh Boke of the Historie of England + +Author: Raphael Holinshed + +Release Date: August 29, 2005 [EBook #16617] + +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 SEVENTH BOKE + +OF THE + +HISTORIE OF ENGLAND. + + + * * * * * + + + +_Egelred succeedeth Edward the martyr in the kingdoms of England, the +decaie of the realme in his reigne, Dunstane refusing to consecrate +him is therevnto inforced, Dunstans prophesies of the English people +and Egelred their king, his slouth and idlenes accompanied with other +vices, the Danes arriue on the coasts of Kent and make spoile of manie +places; warre betwixt the king and the bishop of Rochester, archbishop +Dunstans bitter denunciation against the king because he would not +be pacified with the bishop of Rochester without moneie; Dunstans +parentage, his strange trance, and what a woonderfull thing he did +during the time it lasted, his education and bringing vp, with what +good qualities he was indued, an incredible tale of his harpe, how +he was reuoked from louing and lusting after women whereto he was +addicted, his terrible dreame of a rough beare, what preferments he +obteined by his skill in the expounding of dreames_. + +THE FIRST CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: EGELRED.] +In the former booke was discoursed the troubled state of this land +by the manifold and mutinous inuasions of the Danes; who though they +sought to ingrosse the rule of euerie part and parcell therof into +their hands; yet being resisted by the valiantnesse of the gouernors +supported with the aid of their people, they were disappointed of +their expectation, and receiued manie a dishonorable or rather +reprochfull repulse at their aduersaries hands. Much mischiefe +doubtlesse they did, and more had doone, if they had not beene met +withall in like measure of extremitie as they offred, to the offense +and ouerthrow of great multitudes. Their first entrance into this land +is controuersed among writers, some saieng that it was in the daies of +king Britricus, other some affirming that it was in the time of king +Egbert, &c: about which point (sith it is a matter of no great moment) +we count it labour lost to vse manie woords: onelie this by the waie +is notewoorthie, that the Danes had an vnperfect or rather a lame and +limping rule in this land, so long as the gouernors were watchfull, +diligent, politike at home, and warlike abroad. But when these kind of +kings discontinued, and that the raines of the regiment fell into +the hands of a pezzant not a puissant prince, a man euill qualified, +dissolute, slacke and licentious, not regarding the dignitie of his +owne person, nor fauoring the good estate of the people; the Danes who +before were coursed from coast to coast, and pursued from place to +place, as more willing to leaue the land, than desirous to tarrie in +the same; tooke occasion of stomach and courage to reenter this Ile, & +waxing more bold and confident, more desperate and venturous, spared +no force, omitted no opportunitie, let slip no aduantage that they +might possiblie take, to put in practise and fullie to accomplish +their long conceiued purpose. + +Now bicause the Danes in the former kings daies were reencountred (and +that renowmedlie) so often as they did encounter, and seeking the +totall regiment, were dispossessed of their partile principalitie, +which by warlike violence they obteined; and for that the Saxons were +interessed in the land, and these but violent incrochers, vnable +to keepe that which they came to by constreint; we haue thought it +conuenient to comprise the troubled estate of that time in the sixt +booke; the rather for the necessarie consequence of matters then in +motion: and heere deeme it not amisse, at so great and shamefull +loosenesse (speciallie in a prince) ministring hart and courage to the +enimie, to begin the seuenth booke. Wherin is expressed the chiefest +time of their flourishing estate in this land; if in tumults, vprores, +battels, and bloudshed, such a kind of estate may possiblie be +found. For heere the Danes lord it, heere they take vpon them like +souereignes, & heere (if at anie time they had absolute authoritie) +they did what they might in the highest degree: as shall be declared +in the vnfortunate affaires of vngratious Egelred or Etheldred, the +sonne of king Edgar, and of his last wife queene Alfred, who was +ordeined king in place of his brother Edward, after the same Edward +was dispatched out of the waie, and began his reigne ouer this +[Sidenote: 979. _Simon Dun._] +realme of England, in the yeere of our Lord 979, which was in the +seuenth yeere of the emperor Otho the second, in the 24 of Lothaire K. +of France, and about the second or third yeere of Kenneth the third +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] +of that name king of Scotland. + +This Egelred or Etheldred was the 30 in number from Cerdicus the first +king of the Westsaxons: through his negligent gouernment, the state of +the commonwealth fell into such decaie (as writers doo report) that +vnder him it may be said, how the kingdome was come to the vttermost +point or period of old and feeble age, which is the next degree to the +graue. For wheras, whilest the realme was diuided at the first by +the Saxons into sundrie dominions, it grew at length (as it were +increasing from youthfull yeeres) to one absolute monarchie, which +passed vnder the late remembred princes, Egbert, Adelstane, Edgar, and +others, so that in their daies it might be said, how it was growne to +mans state, but now vnder this Egelred, through famine, pestilence, +and warres, the state thereof was so shaken, turned vpside downe, and +weakened on ech part, that rightlie might the season be likened vnto +the old broken yeeres of mans life, which through feeblenesse is not +able to helpe it selfe. Dunstane archbishop of Canturburie was thought +to haue foreseene this thing, and therfore refused to annoint Egelred +king, which by the murther of his brother should atteine to the +gouernment: but at length he was compelled vnto it, and so he +consecrated him at Kingston vpon Thames, as the maner then was, on +the 24 day of Aprill, assisted by Oswald archbishop of Yorke, and ten +other bishops. + +[Sidenote: _Will. Malmes._] +But (as hath beene reported) Dunstane then said that the English +people should suffer condigne punishment generallie, with losse of +ancient liberties, which before that time they had inioied. Dunstane +also long before prophesied of the slouthfulnesse that should remaine +in this Egelred. For at what time he ministred the sacrament of +baptisme to him; shortlie after he came into this world, he defiled +the font with the ordure of his wombe (as hath beene said:) whervpon +Dunstane being troubled in mind, "By the Lord (saith he) and his +blessed mother, this child shall prooue to be a slouthfull person." It +hath beene written also, that when he was but ten yeeres of age, and +heard that his brother Edward was slaine, he so offended his mother +with weeping, bicause she could not still him, that hauing no rod at +hand, she tooke tapers or sizes that stood before hir, and beat him so +sore with them, that she had almost killed him, whereby he could neuer +after abide to haue anie such candels lighted before him. + +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +This Egelred (as writers say) was nothing giuen to warlike +enterprises, but was slouthfull, a louer of idlenesse, and delighting +in riotous lusts, which being knowne to all men, caused him to be +euill spoken of amongst his owne people, and nothing feared amongst +strangers. Heerevpon the Danes that exercised rouing on the seas, +began to conceiue a boldnesse of courage to disquiet and molest the +sea-coasts of the realme, in so much that in the second yeere of +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._ 980.] +this Egelreds reigne, they came with seuen ships on the English coasts +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] +of Kent, and spoiled the Ile of Tenet, the towne of Southampton, +and in the yeere following they destroied S. Petroks abbeie in +Cornwall, Porthland in Deuonshire, and diuerse other places by the +sea side, speciallie in Deuonshire & Cornwall. Also a great part of +Cheshire was destroied by pirats of Norway. + +[Sidenote: 982.] +The same yeere by casualtie of fire, a great part of the citie +[Sidenote: 983. Alfer or Elfer duke of Mercia departed this life.] +of London was burnt. In the yeere of our Lord 983, Alfer duke of +Mercia departed this life, who was coosen to king Edgar, & his +[Sidenote: Alfrike or Elfrike duke of Mercia. _Fabian_. _Wil. Malm._ +_Matt. West._] +sonne Alfrike tooke vpon him the rule of that dukedome, and within +three yeeres after was banished the land. About the eight yeere of +his reigne, Egelred maried one Elgina or Ethelgina, daughter of earle +Egbert. In the ninth yeere of his reigne, vpon occasion of strife +betweene him and the bishop of Rochester, he made warre against +the same bishop, wasted his lordships, and besieged the citie of +Rochester, till Dunstan procured the bishops peace with paiment of an +hundred pounds in gold. And bicause the K. would not agree with the +bishop without moneie at the onelie request of Dunstane, the said +Dunstane did send him woord, that sithens he made more account of gold +than of God, more of monie than of S. Andrew, patrone of the church of +Rochester, and more of couetousnesse than of him being the archbishop, +the mischiefs which the Lord had threatned would shortlie fall and +come to passe, but the same should not chance whilest he was aliue, +who died in the yeere following, on the 25 of Maie, being saturdaie. + +[Sidenote: _Vita Dunstani._] +Of this Dunstane manie things are recorded by writers, that +he should be of such holinesse and vertue, that God wrought manie +miracles by him, both whilest he liued heere on earth, and also +[Sidenote: _Iohn Capgr._ _Osborne_. _Ran. Higd._] +after his deceasse. He was borne in Westsaxon, his father was named +Heorstan, and his mother Cinifride, who in his youth set him to +schoole, where he so profited, that he excelled all his equals in age. +Afterward he fell sicke of an ague, which vexed him so sore that it +draue him into a frensie: and therefore his parents appointed him to +the cure and charge of a certeine woman, where his disease grew so on +him, that he fell in a trance, as though he had beene dead, and after +that he suddenlie arose, & by chance caught a staffe in his hand, and +ran vp and downe through hils and dales, and laid about him as though +he had beene afraid of mad dogs. The next night (as it is said) he gat +him to the top of the church (by the helpe of certeine ladders that +stood there for woorkemen to mend the roofe) and there ran vp and +downe verie dangerouslie, but in the end came safelie downe, and laid +him to sleepe betweene two men that watched the church that night, & +when he awaked, he maruelled how he came there. Finallie, recouering +his disease, his parents made him a priest, and placed him in the +abbeie of Glastenburie, where he gaue himselfe to the reading of +scriptures and knowledge of vertue. But as well his kinsmen as +certeine other did raise a report of him, that he gaue not himselfe +so much to the reading of scriptures, as to charming, coniuring and +sorcerie, which he vtterlie denied: howbeit learned he was in deed, & +could doo manie pretie things both in handie woorke and other deuises: +he had good skill in musicke and delighted much therein. At length he +grew in such fauour, that he was aduanced into the seruice of king +Adelstane. + +Vpon a time, as he came to a gentlewomans house with his harpe, and +hoong the same on the wall, while he shaped a priests stole, the harpe +suddenlie began to plaie a psalme, which draue the whole houshold in +such feare, that they ran out and said, he was too cunning, and knew +more than was expedient: wherevpon he was accused of necromancie, and +so banished out of the court. After this he began to haue a liking to +women, and when Elfeagus then bishop of Winchester and his coosen, +persuaded him to become a moonke, he refused it, for he rather wished +to haue maried a yoong damesell, whose pleasant companie he dailie +inioied. But being soone after striken with such a swelling disease in +his bellie, that all his bodie was brought into such state, as though +he had beene infected with a foule leprosie, he bethought him selfe, +and vpon his recouerie sent to the bishop, who immediatlie shore him a +moonke, in which life he liued in so great opinion of holinesse, as he +in time became abbat of Glastenburie: where on a time as he was in his +praiers before the altar of S. George, he fell asleepe: and imagining +in his dreame, that an vglie rough beare came towards him with open +mouth, and set his forefeet vpon his shoulders readie to deuoure him, +he suddenlie wakening for feare, caught his walking staffe which he +commonlie went with, and laid about him, that all the church rang +[Sidenote: _Polychron._] +thereof, to the great woonder of such as stood by. The common tale +of his plucking the diuell by the nose with a paire of pinsors, for +tempting him with women, while he was making a chalice: the great loue +that the ladie Elfleda neere kinswoman to king Adelstane bare him to +hir dieng day, with a great manie of other such like matters, I leaue +as friuolous, and wholie impertinent to our purpose: onelie this I +read, that through declaring of his dreames and visions, he obteined +in the time of king Edgar, first the bishoprike of Worcester, after of +London, & last of all the archbishoprike of Canturburie. But leauing +Dunstane and the fond deuises depending vpon the commemoration of his +life, we will now returne to the dooings of Egelred, and speake of +such things in the next chapter as chanced in his time. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The Danes inuade England on each side, they are vanquished by the +English, Goda earle of Deuonshire slaine; the Danes in a battell +fought at Maldon kill Brightnod earle of Essex and the most of his +armie, ten thousand pounds paid to them by composition that they +should not trouble the English subjects, they cease their crueltie +for a time, but within a while after fall to their bloudie bias, the +English people despaire to resist them, Egelred addresseth a nauie +against the Danes vnder the erles Alfrike and Turold, Alfrike +traitorouslie taketh part with the Danes, his ship and souldiers are +taken, his sonne Algar is punished for his fathers offense, the Danes +make great wast in many parts of this Iland, they besiege London and +are repelled with dishonor, they driue king Egelred to buy peace +of them for _16000 _pounds; Aulafe king of Norwey is honorablie +interteined of Egelred, to whome he promiseth at his baptisme neuer +to make warre against England, the great zeale of people in setting +forward the building of Durham towne and the minster_. + +THE SECOND CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ _Matt. Westm._ The Danes inuade this land.] +Shortlie after the decease of Dunstane, the Danes inuaded this +realme on each side, wasting and spoiling the countrie in most +miserable wise. They arriued in so manie places at once, that the +Englishmen could not well deuise whither to go to encounter first with +[Sidenote: _Alias_ Wecederport. _H. Hunt._ _Simon Dun._] +them. Some of them spoiled a place or towne called Wichport, and +from thence passing further into the countrie, were met with by the +Englishmen, who giuing them battell, lost their capteine Goda: but yet +they got the victorie, and beat the Danes out of the field, and so +[Sidenote: Danes vanquished. _Simon Dun._] +that part of the Danish armie was brought to confusion. Simon Dunel. +saith, that the Englishmen in deed wan the field here, but not without +[Sidenote: Goda earle of Deuonshire slain. _Matt. West._] +great losse. For besides Goda (who by report of the same author +was Earle of Deuonshire) there died an other valiant man of warre +named Strenwold. In the yeere 991, Brightnod earle of Essex, at Maldon +gaue battell to an armie of Danes (which vnder their leaders Iustine +and Guthmond had spoiled Gipswich) and was there ouercome and slaine +with the most part of his people, and so the Danes obteined in that +place the victorie. + +[Sidenote: _991_.] +In the same yeere, and in the 13 yeere of, king Egelreds reigne, +when the land was on each side sore afflicted, wasted and haried by +the Danes, which couered the same as they had beene grashoppers: by +the aduise of the archbishop of Canturburie Siricius (which was the +second of that see after Dunstane) a composition was taken with the +[Sidenote: Ten thousand pounds paid to the Danes. Danegilt.] +Danes, so that for the sum of ten thousand pounds to be paied to +them by the king, they should couenant not to trouble his subjects +anie further. This monie was called Danegilt or Dane monie, and was +leuied of the people. Although other take that to be Danegilt, which +was giuen vnto such Danes as king Egelred afterwards reteined in his +seruice, to defend the land from other Danes and enimies that sought +to inuade his dominions. But by what name so euer this monie (which +the Danes now receiued) was called, true it is that herevpon they +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ 992.] +ceassed from their most cruell inuasions for a time. But shortlie +after they had refreshed themselues, and recouered new strength, they +began to play their old parts againe, dooing the like mischeefe by +their semblable inuasions, as they had vsed before. By reason hereof +such feare came vpon the English people, that they despaired to be +able to resist the enimies. + +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ A nauie set forth.] +The king yet caused a nauie to be set foorth at London, whereof +he appointed earle Alfrike (whome before he had banished) to be high +admerall, ioining with him earle Turold. This nauie did set forward +from London toward the enimies, who hauing warning giuen them from +Alfrike, escaped away without hurt. Shortly after a greater nauie of +the Danes came, and incountered with the kings fleet, so that a great +[Sidenote: Alfrike a traitour to his countrie. _Matth. West._] +number of the Londoners were slaine, and all the kings ships +taken: for Alfrike like a traitor turned to the Danes side. ¶ Matt. +West, maketh other report of this matter, declaring that Alfrike in +deed being one of the chiefe capteins of the fleet, aduertised them +by forewarning of the danger that was toward them, and that when they +should come to ioining, the same Alfrike like a traitor fled to the +Danes, and after vpon necessitie being put to flight escaped away with +them: but the other capteins of the kings fleet, as Theodred, Elstan, +and Escwen, pursued the Danes, tooke one of their ships, and slue all +those that were found therein. The Londoners also (as the same Matt. +West, saith) met with the nauie of the Danish rouers as they fled +away, and slue a great number, and also tooke the ship of the traitor +Alfrike with his souldiers & armor, but he himselfe escaped, though +with much paine, hauing plaied the like traitorous part once +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ The son punished for his fathers offense. 993.] +before, and yet was reconciled to the kings fauor againe. Vpon this +mischiefe wrought by the father, the king now tooke his sonne Algar, +and caused his eies to be put out. + +About the same time was Bambrough destroied by the Danes, which +arriued after in Humber, and wasted the countrie of Lindsey and +Yorkeshire, on either side that riuer. And when the Englishmen were +assembled to giue them battell, before they ioined, the capteines +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ _Polydor_. _Matth. West._] +of the English armie, Frena, Godwin, and Fredegist, that were Danes +by their fathers side began to flie away, and escaped, so giuing the +occasion of the ouerthrow that lighted on their people. But by some +writers it should appeere, that after the Danes had destroied all the +north parts, as they spred abroad without order and good arraie, the +[Sidenote: Aulafe king of Norway, & Swein king of Denmarke were +capteins of this fleet, as saith _Simon Dun._ 994] +people of the countrie fell vpon them, and slue some of them, +and chased the residue. Other of the Danes with a nauie of 94 ships +entered the Thames, and besieged London about our ladie daie in +September. They gaue a verie sore assault to the citie, and assaied to +set it on fire: but the citizens so valiantlie defended themselues, +that the Danes were beaten backe and repelled, greatlie to their +losse, so that they were constreined to depart thence with dishonor. +Then they fell to and wasted the countries of Essex, Kent, Sussex, and +Hamshire, and ceassed not till they had inforced the king to compound +[Sidenote: _Hen Hunt._ _Wil. Malm._ The king compounded with the Danes +for monie. _Matt. West. Simon Dun._ Aufale king of Norwey baptised. +His promise.] +with them for 16 thousand pounds, which he was glad to pay to haue +peace with them. + +Moreouer, whereas they wintered that yeere at Southampton, the king +procured Aulafe king of the Norwegians to come vnto Andeuer (where +at that time he lay) vpon pledges receiued of the king for his safe +returne. Elphegus bishop of Winchester, and duke Ethelwold were +appointed by king Egelred to bring Aulafe vnto him in most honorable +maner. The same time was Aulafe baptised, king Egelred receiuing him +at the fontstone, and so he promised neuer after to make anie war +within this land. And receiuing great gifts of the king, he returned +into his countrie, and kept his promise faithfullie: but the euils +tooke not so an end, for other of the Danes sprang vp, as they had +beene the heads of the serpent Hydra, some of them euer being readie +to trouble the quiet state of the English nation. +[Sidenote: _Iohn Leland_. _Simon Dun._ 995.] + +About this season, that is to say, in the yeere of our Lord 995, +bishop Aldaine which was fled from Chester in the street (otherwise +[Sidenote: The church of Durham builded.] +called Cunecester) with the bodie of saint Cuthbert for feare of +the inuasion of Danes, vnto Rippon, brought the same bodie now vnto +Durham, and there began the foundation of a church; so that the see of +that bishoprike was from thencefoorth there established, and the woods +[Sidenote: Earle Vthred] +were there cut downe, which before that time couered and ouergrew +that place, wherevpon it began first to be inhabited. Earle Vthred, +who gouerned that countrie, greatlie furthered the bishop in this +[Sidenote: Durham town and minster builded.] +worke, so that all the people inhabiting betweene the riuers +of Coquid and Theis, came togither to rid the woods, and to helpe +forwards the building of the church and towne there. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The Danes inuading the west parts of this land make great hauocke by +fire and sword, they arriue at Rochester, and conquer the Kentishmen +in field, king Egelred ouercommeth the Danes that inhabited Cumberland +and wasteth the countrie, the Summersetshire men are foiled; the +miserable state of the realme in those daies; the English bloud mixed +with the Danes and Britaines, and what inconueniencies grew thervpon, +the disordered gouernement of king Egelred, sicknesses vexing +the people, treason in the nobles, the tribute paid to the Danes +vnmercifillie inhansed, the realme brought to beggerie; king Egelred +by politike persuasion and counsell marrieth Emma the duke of +Normandies daughter, vpon what occasion the Normans pretended a title +to the crowne of England, they conquer the whole land, what order king +Egelred tooke to kill all the Danes within his kingdoms, and what rule +they bare in this realme yer they were murdered, the thraldome of the +English people under them, whereof the word Lordane sprang_. + +THE THIRD CHAPTER. + + +In the ninteenth yere of king Egelreds reigne, the Danes sailed about +[Sidenote: 997. The Danes inuade the west parts of this land.] +Cornewall, and comming into the Seuerne sea, they robbed & tooke +preies in the coasts of Deuonshire & Southwales, and landing +at Wicheport, they burned vp the countrie, and came about vnto +Penwithstreet on the south coast, and so arriuing in the mouth of +Tamer water, came vnto Lidford, and there wasted all afore them with +force of fire. They burned, amongst other places, the monasterie of +[Sidenote: Tauestocke.] +saint Ordulfe at Essingstocke. After this they came into Dorcetshire, +and passed through the countrie with flame and fire, not finding anie +that offered to resist them. The same yeere also they soiourned in the +Ile of Wight, and liued vpon spoiles & preies which they tooke in +[Sidenote: 998.] +Hampshire and Sussex. At length they came into the Thames, and so +[Sidenote: 999. The Danes arriue in the Thames.] +by the riuer of Medwey arriued at Rochester. The Kentishmen assembled +togither and fought with the Danes, but they were ouercome, and so +left the field to the Danes. After this, the same Danes sailed into +Normandie, and king Egelred went into Cumberland, where the Danes +inhabited in great numbers, whome he ouercame with sore warre, and +[Sidenote: 1000.] +wasted almost all Cumberland, taking great spoiles in the same. +[Sidenote: 1001. Exmouth] +About the same time, or shortlie after, the Danes with their nauie, +returning out of Normandie, came vnto Exmouth, and there assaulted the +castell, but they were repelled by them that kept it. After this they +spread abroad ouer all the countrie, exercising their accustomed trade +of destroieng all before them with fire and sword. The men of +[Sidenote: Pentho.] +Summersetshire fought with them at Pentho, but the Danes got the vpper +hand. + +Thus the state of the realme in those daies was verie miserable, for +there wanted worthie chieftains to rule the people, and to chastise +them when they did amisse. There was no trust in the noble men, for +euerie one impugned others dooing, and yet would not deuise which +[Sidenote: Disagreement with councellors what fruit it bringeth.] +way to deale with better likelihood. When they assembled in councell, +and should haue occupied their heads in deuising remedies for the +mischiefe of the common wealth, they turned their purpose vnto +altercation, about such strifes, contentions and quarels as each one +against other, and suffered the generall case to lie still in the +dust. And if at anie time there was anie good conclusion agreed vpon, +for the withstanding of the enimie, & releefe of the common wealth, +anon should the enimie be aduertised thereof by such as were of +aliance or consanguinitie to them. For (as Caxton, Polychr. and +others say) the English bloud was so mixed with that of the Danes and +Britains, who were like enimies to the Englishmen, that there was +almost few of the nobilitie and commons, which had not on the one side +a parent of some of them. + +Whereby it came to passe, that neither the secret purposes of the king +could be concealed till they might take due effect; neither their +assemblies proue quiet without quarelling and taking of parts. Manie +also being sent foorth with their powers one way (whilest the king +went to make resistance another) did reuolt to his enimies, and +turned their swords against him (as you haue heard of Elfrike and his +complices, and shall read of manie others) so that it was no maruell +that Egelred sped no better, and yet was he as valiant as anie of his +predecessors, although the moonks fauour him not in their writings, +because he demanded aid of them toward his warres, and was nothing +fauorable to their lewd hypocrisie. But what is a king if his subiects +be not loiall? What is a realme, if the common wealth be diuided? By +peace & concord, of small beginnings great and famous kingdomes haue +oft times proceeded; whereas by discord the greatest kingdoms haue +oftner bene brought to ruine. And so it proued here, for whilest +priuat quarels are pursued, the generall affaires are vtterlie +neglected: and whilest ech nation seeketh to preferre hir owne +aliance, the Iland it selfe is like to become a desert. + +But to proceed with our monasticall writers: certes they lay all the +fault in the king, saieng that he was a man giuen to no good exercise, +he delighted in fleshlie lustes and riotous bankettings and still +sought waies how to gather of his subiects what might be got, as well +[Sidenote: The misgouernement of the king.] +by vnlawfull meanes as otherwise. For he would for feined or for +verie small & light causes disherit his natiue subiects, and cause +[Sidenote: Sicknesse vexeth the people.] +them to redeeme their owne possessions for great summes of monie. +Besides these oppressions, diuers kinds of sicknesses vexed the people +also, as the bloodie flix, and hot burning agues which then raged +through the land, so that manie died thereof. By such manner of meanes +[Sidenote: Treason in the nobilitie.] +therefore, what through the misgouernance of the king, the treason +and disloialtie of the nobilitie, the lacke of good order and due +correction amongst the people, and by such other scourges and mishaps +as afflicted the English nation in that season, the land was brought +into great ruine, so that, where by strength the enimie could not be +kept off, there was now no hope but to appease them with monie. By +[Sidenote: The inhancing of the tribute paid to the Danes.] +reason hereof from time of the first agreement with the Danes for +10 thousand pounds tribute, it was inhanced to 16000 pounds, (as you +haue heard) & after that to 20000 pounds, then to 24000 pounds, & so +to 30000 pounds, & lastlie to 40000 pounds, till at length the relme +was emptied in maner of all that monie and coine that could be found +[Sidenote: The death of queene Elgina.] +in it. In this meane time died Elgina or Ethelgina the queene. +[Sidenote: Emma. _Hen. Hunt._] +Shortlie after it was deuised that the king should be a suter +vnto Richard duke of Normandie, for his sister Emma, a ladie of such +excellent beautie, that she was named the floure of Normandie. This +sute was begun and tooke such good successe, that the king +[Sidenote: 1002. Emma daughter of R. duke of Normandie maried to +K. Edgar.] +obteined his purpose. And so in the yeare of our Lord 1002, which was +about the 24 yeare of king Egelreds reigne, he maried the said Emma +with great solemnitie. + +This mariage was thought to be right necessarie, honorable, and +profitable for the realme of England, because of the great puissance +of the Norman princes in those daies: but as things afterward came to +passe, it turned to the subuersion of the whole English state: for by +such affinitie and dealing as happened hereby betwixt the Normans and +Englishmen, occasion in the end was ministred to the same Normans to +pretend a title to the crowne of England, in prosecuting of which +title, they obteined and made the whole conquest of the land, as after +shall appeare. Egelred being greatlie aduanced (as he thought) by +reason of his mariage, deuised vpon presumption thereof, to cause all +the Danes within the land to be murthered in one day. Herevpon he sent +priuie commissioners to all cities, burrowes and townes within his +dominions, commanding the rulers and officers in the same, to kill +all such Danes as remained within their liberties, at a certeine day +prefixed, being saint Brices day, in the yeare 1012, and in the 34 +[Sidenote: 1012. The 18 of Nouember. The murder of the Danes.] +yeare of king Egelreds reigne. Herevpon (as sundrie writers agree) +in one day & houre this murther began, and was according to the +commission and iniunction executed. But where it first began, the same +is vncerteine: some say at Wellowin in Herefordshire, some at a +[Sidenote: Hownhill, or Houndhill, a place within Merchington parish +beside the forest of Needwood, somewhat more than two miles from +Vtoxcester.] +place in Staffordshire called Hownhill, & others in other places, but +whersoeuer it began, the dooers repented it after. + +[Sidenote: The miserable state of this realme vnder the thraldome of +the Danes.] +But now yer we proceed anie further, we will shew what rule the +Danes kept here in this realme before they were thus murthered, as +in some bookes we find recorded. Whereas it is shewed that the Danes +compelled the husbandmen to til the ground & doo all maner of labour +and toile to be doone about husbandrie: the Danes liued vpon the fruit +and gaines that came thereof, and kept the husbandmens wiues, their +daughters, maids and seruants, vsing and abusing them at their +pleasures. And when the husbandmen came home, then could they scarse +haue such sustenance of meats and drinkes as fell for seruants to +haue: so that the Danes had all their commandements, eating and +drinking of the best, where the sillie man that was the owner, could +hardlie come to his fill of the worst. Besides this, the common people +were so oppressed by the Danes, that for feare and dread they called +[Sidenote: _Hector Boet._] +them in euerie such house where anie of them soiourned, Lord Dane. +And if an Englishman and a Dane chanced to meet at anie bridge or +streight passage, the Englishman must staie till the Lord Dane were +passed. But in processe of time, after the Danes were voided the land, +this word Lord Dane was in derision and despight of the Danes turned +[Sidenote: Lordane whereof the word came.] +by Englishmen into a name of reproch, as Lordane, which till these +our daies is not forgotten. For when the people in manie parts of this +realme will note and signifie anie great idle lubber that will not +labour nor take paine for his liuing, they will call him Lordane. Thus +did the Danes vse the Englishmen in most vile manner, and kept them in +such seruile thraldome as cannot be sufficientlie vttered. + + * * * * * + + + + +_A fresh power of Danes inuade England to reuenge the slaughter of +their countrimen that inhabited this Ile, the west parts betraied into +their hands by the conspiracie of a Norman that was in gouernement, +earle Edrike feined himselfe sicke when king Egelred sent vnto him +to leuie a power against the Danes, and betraieth his people to the +enimies; Sweine king of Denmarke arriueth on the coast of Northfolke, +and maketh pitifull spoile by fire and sword; the truce taken betweene +him and Vikillus is violated, and what reuengement followeth; king +Sweine forced by famine returneth into his owne countrie, he arriueth +againe at Sandwich, why king Egelred was vnable to preuaile against +him, the Danes ouerrun all places where they come and make cruell +waste, king Egelred paieth him great summes of monie for peace; the +mischiefes that light vpon a land by placing a traitorous stranger in +gouernement, how manie acres a hide of land conteineth, Egelreds +order taken for ships and armour, why his great fleet did him little +pleasure; a fresh host of Danes vnder three capteines arriue at +Sandwich, the citizens of Canturburie for monie purchase safetie, the +faithlesse deeling of Edrike against king Egelred for the enimies +aduantage, what places the Danes ouerran and wasted_. + +THE FOURTH CHAPTER. + + +Vpon knowledge giuen into Denmarke of the cruell murder of the Danes +here in England, truth it is, that the people of the countrie were +greatlie kindled in malice, and set in such a furious rage against +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ _Simon Dun._ The Danes returne to inuade England.] +the Englishmen, that with all speed they made foorth a nauie full +fraught with men of warre, the which in the yeare following came +[Sidenote: Excester taken. 1002.] +swarming about the coasts of England, and landing in the west +countrie, tooke the citie of Excester, and gat there a rich +[Sidenote: Hugh a Norman conspireth with the Danes.] +spoile. One Hugh a Norman borne, whome queene Emma had placed in those +parties as gouernour or shirife there, conspired with the Danes, so +that all the countrie was ouerrun and wasted. + +The king hearing that the Danes were thus landed, and spoiled the +west parts of the realme, he sent vnto Edricus to assemble a power to +withstand the enimies. Herevpon the people of Hampshire and Wiltshire +rose and got togither: but when the armies should ioine, earle +[Sidenote: The counterfait sicknesse of duke Edrike.] +Edricus surnamed de Streona feigned himselfe sicke, and so betraied +his people, of whome he had the conduct: for they perceiuing the want +[Sidenote: Wilton spoiled.] +in their leader, were discouraged, and so fled. The Danes followed +them vnto Wilton, which towne they rifled and ouercame. From thence +they went to Salisburie, and so taking their pleasure there, returned +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] +to their ships, because (as some write) they were aduertised that +[Sidenote: 1004.] +the king was comming towards them with an huge armie. In the yeare +next insuing, that is to saie 1004, which was about the 24 yeare +[Sidenote: Swein king of Denmarke.] +of K. Egelreds reigne, Sweine or Swanus, king of Denmarke, with a +mightie nauie of ships came on the coast of Northfolke, and there +[Sidenote: Norwich taken by the Danes.] +landing with his people, made toward Norwich, and comming thither +tooke that citie, and spoiled it. Then went he vnto Thetford, and +[Sidenote: Thetford burnt.] +when he had taken and rifled that towne, he burnt it, notwithstanding +[Sidenote: Vikillus or Wilfeketell gouernour of Norffolke.] +a truce taken by Vikillus or Wilfketell gouernor of those parties +with the same king Swaine after the taking of Norwich. In reuenge +therefore of such breach of truce, the same Vikillus, or Wilfeketell, +with such power as he could raise, assaulted the host of Danes as they +returned to their ships, and slue a great number of them, but was not +able to mainteine the fight, for his enimies ouermatched him in number +of men. And so he was constrained in the end to giue backe: and +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._] +the enimies kept on their waies to their ships. + +[Sidenote: 1005. Swaine returned into Denmarke. _Simon Dun._] +In the yeare following king Swaine returned into Denmarke with all +his fleet, partlie constrained so to doo (as some write) by reason of +the great famin & want of necessarie sustenance, which in that +[Sidenote: 1006. _Hen. Hunt._ Swaine returned into England.] +yeare sore oppressed this land. In the yeare of our Lord 1006, king +Swaine returned againe into England with a mightie & huge nauie, +arriuing at Sandwich, and spoiled all the countrie neere vnto the +sea side. King Egelred raised all his power against him, and all the +haruest time laie abroad in the field to resist the Danes, which +according to their woonted maner spared not to exercise their +vnmercifull crueltie, in wasting and spoiling the land with fire and +sword, pilfering and taking of preies in euerie part where they came. +Neither could king Egelred remedie the matter, because the enimies +still conueied themselues with their ships into some contrarie +quarter, from the place where they knew him to be, so that his trauell +was in vaine. + +[Sidenote: The Danes winter in the Ile of Wight. +They inuade Hampshire, Barkeshire, &c.] +About the beginning of winter they remained in the Ile of Wight, +& in the time of Christmasse they landed in Hampshire, and passing +through that countrie into Barkeshire, they came to Reading, and from +thence to Wallingford, and so to Coleseie, and then approching to +Essington, came to Achikelmeslawe, and in euerie place wheresoeuer +they came, they made cleane worke. For that which they could not carie +with them, they consumed with fire, burning vp their innes and sleaing +their hoasts. In returning backe, the people of the west countrie gaue +them battell, but preuailed not, so that they did but inrich their +[Sidenote: Winchester.] +enimies with the spoile of their bodies. They came by the gates of +Winchester as it were in maner of triumph, with vittels and spoiles +which they had fetched fiftie miles from the sea side. In the +[Sidenote: 1007.] +meane time king Egelred lay about Shrewsburie sore troubled with the +newes hereof, and in the yeare next insuing, by the aduise of his +councell he gaue to king Swaine for the redeeming of peace 30000 +[Sidenote: 36000 pound saith _Si. Dun._] +pounds. + +[Sidenote: Edrike de Streona made duke or earle of Mercia.] +In the same yeare K. Egelred created the traitor Edrike earle of +Mercia, who although he had maried Edgiua the kings daughter, was yet +noted to be one of those which disclosed the secrets of the realme, +and the determinations of the councell vnto the enimies. But he +was such a craftie dissembler, so greatlie prouided of sleight to +dissemble and cloake his falshood, that the king being too much abused +by him, had him in singular fauour, whereas he vpon a malicious +purpose studied dailie how to bring the realme into vtter destruction, +aduertising the enimies from time to time how the state of things +stood, whereby they came to knowlege when they should giue place, +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +and when they might safelie come forward. Moreouer, being sent vnto +them oftentimes as a commissioner to treat for peace, he persuaded +them to warre. But such was the pleasure of God, to haue him and such +other of like sort aduanced to honor in this season, when by his +diuine prouidence he meant to punish the people of this realme for +their wickednesse and sinnes, whereby they had iustlie prouoked his +wrath and high displeasure. + +[Sidenote: _Henr. Hunt._ _Simon Dun._ +An hundred acres is an hide of land.] +In the 30 yeare of king Egelreds reigne, which fell in the yeare +of our Lord 1008, he tooke order that of euerie three hundred and ten +hides of land within this realme, there should one ship be builded, +and of euerie eight hides a complet armor furnished. In the yeare +[Sidenote: 1008] +following, the kings whole fleet was brought togither at Sandwich, +and such souldiers came thither as were appointed to go to sea in the +same fleet. There had not beene seene the like number of ships +[Sidenote: Provision for ships and armour] +so trimlie rigged and furnished in all points, in anie kings daies +before. But no great profitable peece of seruice was wrought by them: +for the king had about that time banished a noble yoong man of +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._] +Sussex called Wilnot, who getting togither twentie sailes, laie vpon +the coasts taking prices where he could get them. Brithrike the +brother of earle Edrike, being desirous to win honor, tooke forth +foure score of the said ships, and promised to bring in the enimie +dead or aliue. But as he was sailing forward on the seas, a sore +tempest with an outragious wind rose with such violence, that his +ships were cast vpon the shore: and Wilnot comming vpon them, set them +on fire, and so burned them euerie one. The residue of the ships, when +newes came to them of this mishap, returned backe to London; and +then was the armie dispersed, and so all the cost and trauell of the +Englishmen proued in vaine. + +[Sidenote: Danes land at Sandwich. 1009.] +After this, in the haruest time a new armie of Danes, vnder the +conduct of three capteines, Turkill, Henning, and Aulafe landed at +Sandwich, and from thence passed forth to Canturburie, and had taken +the citie but that the citizens gaue them a 1000 pounds to depart from +[Sidenote: 3000 pound saith _Sim. Dun._] +thence, and to leaue the countrie in peace. Then went the Danes to +[Sidenote: Sussex and Hampshire spoiled.] +the Ile of Wight, and afterwards landed and spoiled the countrie +of Sussex and Hampshire. King Egelred assembled the whole power of all +his subiects, and comming to giue them battell, had made an end of +their cruell harieng the countrie with the slaughter of them all, if +earle Edrike with forged tales (deuised onelie to put him in feare) +had not dissuaded him from giuing battell. The Danes by that +[Sidenote: The Danes returne into Kent.] +meanes returning in safetie, immediatlie after the feast of saint +Martine, returned into Kent, and lodged with their nauie in the winter +following in the Thames, and oftentimes assaulting the citie of +London, were still beaten backe to their losse. + +[Sidenote: 1010. Oxford burnt.] +After the feast of Christmasse they passed through the countrie +and woods of Chilterne vnto Oxford, which towne they burned, and then +returning backe they fell to wasting of the countrie on both sides the +Thames. But hearing that an armie was assembled at London to giue them +battell; that part of their host which kept on the northside of the +[Sidenote: Stanes.] +riuer, passed the same riuer at Stanes, and so ioining with their +fellowes marched foorth through Southerie, and comming backe to their +ships in Kent, fell in hand to repare & amend their ships that were +in anie wise decaied. Then after Easter, the Danes sailing about the +[Sidenote: Gipswich in Suffolke. _Simon Dun._] +coast, arriued at Gipswich in Suffolke, on the Ascension day of +our Lord: and inuading the countrie, gaue battell at a place called +Wigmere or Rigmere, vnto Vikill or Wilfeketell leader of the English +host in those parties, on the fift of Maie. The men of Northfolke and +Suffolke fled at the first onset giuen: but the Cambridgeshire +men sticked to it valiantlie, winning thereby perpetuall fame and +commendation. There was no mindfulnesse amongest them of running +awaie, so that a great number of the nobilitie and other were beaten +[Sidenote: Capat formicae.] +downe and slaine, till at length one Turketell Mireneheued, that +had a Dane to his father, first began to take his flight, and deserued +thereby an euerlasting reproch. + +The Danes obteining the vpper hand, for the space of three moneths +togither went vp and downe the countries, & wasted those parties of +the realme, that is to say, Northfolke, and Suffolke, with the borders +of Lincolnshire, Huntingtonshire, and Cambridgeshire where the fens +are, gaining exceeding riches by the spoile of great and wealthie +[Sidenote: Thetford. Cambridge. _Hen. Hunt._] +abbies and churches which had their situation within the compasse +of the same fens. They also destroied Thetford, and burnt Cambridge, +and from thence passed through the pleasant mountaine-countrie of +Belsham, cruellie murdering the people without respect of age, degree +[Sidenote: The Danes arrive in the Thames. 1011.] +or sex. After this also they entred into Essex. and so came backe +to their ships, which were then arriued in the Thames. But they rested +not anie long time in quiet, as people that minded nothing but the +destruction of this realme. So as soone after, when they had somwhat +refreshed them, they set forward againe into the countrie, passing +through Buckinghamshire, & so into Bedfordshire. And about saint +[Sidenote: Northampton burnt by Danes.] +Andrewes tide they turned towards Northampton, & comming thither set +fire on that towne. Then turning through the west countrie, with fire +& sword they wasted and destroied a great part thereof, & namelie +Wiltshire, with other parties. And finallie about the feast of +Christmas they came againe to their ships. Thus had the Danes +[Sidenote: How manie shires the Danes wasted.] +wasted the most part of 16 or 17 shires within this realme, as +Northfolke, Suffolke, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Middlesex, Hartfordshire, +Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Bedfordshire, with a part of +Huntingtonshire, and also a great portion of Northamptonshire. This +was doone in the countries that lie on the northside of the riuer of +Thames. On the southside of the same riuer, they spoiled and wasted +Kent, Southerie, Sussex, Barkeshire, Hampshire, and (as is before +said) a great part of Wiltshire. + + * * * * * + + + + +_King Egelred offereth the Danes great summes of moneie to desist +from destroieng his countrie, their unspeakable crueltie, +bloudthirstinesse, and insatiable spoiling of Canturburie betraied +by a churchman; their merciles murthering of Elphegus archbishop of +Canturburie, Turkillus the Dane chiefe lord of Norfolke and Suffolke, +a peace concluded betweene the Danes and the English vpon hard +conditions; Gunthildis a beautifull Danish ladie and hir husband +slaine, hir courage to the death._ + +THE FIFT CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: The king sendeth to the Danes. _Simon Dun._] +The king and the peeres of the realme, vnderstanding of the Danes +dealing in such merciles maner (as is aboue mentioned) but not knowing +how to redresse the matter, sent ambassadors vnto the Danes, offering +them great summes of moneie to leaue off such cruell wasting and +spoiling of the land. The Danes were contented to reteine the moneie, +but yet could not absteine from their cruell dooings, neither was +their greedie thirst of bloud and spoile satisfied with the wasting +and destroieng of so manie countries and places as they had passed +[Sidenote: 1011.] +through. Wherevpon, in the yeere of our Lord 1011, about the feast of +S. Matthew in September, they laid siege to the citie of Canturburie, +which of the citizens was valiantlie defended by the space of twentie +daies. In the end of which terme it was taken by the enimies, +[Sidenote: Canturburie wonne by Danes.] +through the treason of a deacon named Almaricus, whome the archbishop +Elphegus had before that time preserued from death. The Danes +exercised passing great crueltie in the winning of that citie (as by +sundrie authors it dooth and maie appeere.) For they slue of men, +[Sidenote: _Fabian ex Antonino_.] +women, and children, aboue the number of eight thousand. They tooke +[Sidenote: The archbishop Elphegus taken. _Hen. Hunt._] +the archbishop Elphegus with an other bishop named Godwine; also +abbat Lefwin and Alseword the kings bailife there. They spared no +degree, in somuch that they slue and tooke 900 priests, and other men +of religion. And when they had taken their pleasure of the citie, they +[Sidenote: _Antoninus. Vincentius_. _Wil. Lamb. ex Asserio Meneuensi, +& alijs_.] +set it on fire, and so returned to their ships. There be some which +write that they tithed the people after an inuerted order, slaieng all +by nines through the whole multitude, and reserued the tenth: so that +of all the moonks there were but foure saued, and of the laie people +4800, whereby it followeth that there died 43200 persons. Whereby is +gathered that the citie of Canturburie, and the countrie thereabouts +(the people whereof belike fled thither for succor) was at that time +verie well inhabited, so as there haue not wanted (saith maister +Lambert) which affirme that it had then more people than London it +selfe. + +[Sidenote: 1112. _Henr. Hunt._] +But now to our purpose. In the yeere next insuing, vpon the +Saturday in Easter weeke, after that the bishop Elphegus had beene +kept prisoner with them the space of six or seuen moneths, they +cruellie in a rage led him foorth into the fields, and dashed out his +[Sidenote: The archbishop Elphegus murthered.] +braines with stones, bicause he would not redeeme his libertie with +three thousand pounds, which they demanded to haue beene leuied of his +farmers and tenants. This cruell murther was commited at Greenewich +foure miles distant from London, the 19 of Aprill, where he lay a +[Sidenote: Miracles.] +certeine time vnburied, but at length through miracles shewed (as +[Sidenote: Elphegus buried in London.] +they say, for miracles are all wrought now by dead men, and not +by the liuing) the Danes permitted that his bodie might be caried to +London, and there was it buried in the church of S. Paule, where it +rested for the space of ten yeeres, till king Cnute or Knought had the +[Sidenote: Translated to Canturburie.] +gouernment of this land, by whose appointment it was remooued to +Canturburie. + +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malms._ Turkillus held Norffolk and Suffolke.] +Turkillus the leader of those Danes by whome the archbishop +Elphegus was thus murthered, held Northfolke and Suffolke vnder +his subiection, & so continued in those parties as chiefe lord and +gouernor. But the residue of the Danes at length, compounding with +[Sidenote: 48 thousand pound as saith _Sim. Dun._ and _M. West._ +_Henr. Hunt._] +the Englishmen for a tribute to be paid to them of eight thousand +pounds, spred abroad in the countrie, soiorning in cities, townes and +villages, where they might find most conuenient harbour. Moreouer, +fortie of their ships, or rather (as some write) 45 were reteined to +serue the king, promising to defend the realme; with condition, that +the souldiers and mariners should haue prouision of meate and drinke, +with apparell found them at the kings charges. As one autor hath +gathered, Swaine king of Denmarke was in England at the concluding of +this peace, which being confirmed with solemne othes and sufficient +hostages, he departed into Denmarke. + +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._] +The same author bringeth the generall slaughter of Danes vpon S. +Brices day, to haue chanced in the yeere after the conclusion of +this agreement, that is to say, in the yeere 1012, at what time +[Sidenote: Gunthildis the sister of K. Swaine murthered.] +Gunthildis the sister of king Swaine was slaine, with hir husband +& hir sonne, by the commandement of the false traitor Edrike. But +bicause all other authors agree that the murther of Danes was executed +about ten yeeres before this supposed time: we haue made rehearsall +thereof in that place. Howbeit, for the death of Gunthildis, it maie +be, that she became hostage either in the yeere 1007, at what time +king Egelred paied thirtie thousand pounds vnto king Swaine to haue +peace (as before you haue heard) or else might she be deliuered in +hostage, in the yeere 1011, when the last agreement was made with the +Danes (as aboue is mentioned.) But when or at what time soeuer she +became hostage, this we find of hir, that she came hither into England +with hir husband Palingus, a mightie earle, and receiued baptisme +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +heere. Wherevpon she earnestlie trauelled in treatie of a peace +betwixt hir brother and king Egelred: which being brought to passe +chieflie by hir sute, she was contented to become an hostage for +performance thereof (as before is recited.) And after by the +commandement of earle Edrike she was put to death, pronouncing that +the shedding of hir bloud would cause all England one day sore to rue. +She was a verie beautifull ladie, and tooke hir death without all +feare, not once changing countenance, though she saw hir husband +and hir onelie sonne (a yoong gentleman of much towardnesse) first +murthered before hir face. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Turkillus the Danish capteine telleth king Swaine the faults of the +king, nobles, & commons of this realme, he inuadeth England, the +Northumbers and others submit themselues to him, Danes receiued into +seruice vnder Egelred, London assalted by Swaine, the citizens behaue +themselues stoutlie, and giue the Danish host a shamefull repulse, +Ethelmere earle of Deuonshire and his people submit themselues to +Swaine, he returneth into Denmarke, commeth back againe into England +with a fresh power, is incountred withhall of the Englishmen, whose +king Egelred is discomfited, his oration to his souldiers touching the +present reliefe of their distressed land, their resolution and full +purpose in this their perplexitie, king Egelred is minded to giue +place to Swaine, he sendeth his wife and children ouer into Normandie, +the Londoners yeeld vp their state to Swaine, Egelred saileth oner +into Normandie, leauing his land to the enimie._ + +THE SIXT CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: Turkillus discloseth the secrets of the Realme to K. +Swaine.] +Now had Turkillus in the meanetime aduertised king Swaine in +what state things stood here within the realme: how king Egelred was +negligent, onlie attending to the lusts & pleasures of the flesh: how +the noble men were vnfaithfull, and the commons weake and feeble +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] +through want of good and trustie leaders. Howbeit, some write, that +Turkillus as well as other of the Danes which remained heere in +England, was in league with king Egelred, in somuch that he was with +him in London, to helpe and defend the citie against Swaine when he +came to assalt it (as after shall appeere.) Which if it be true, +a doubt may rise whether Swaine receiued anie aduertisement from +Turkillus to mooue him the rather to inuade the realme: but such +aduertisements might come from him before that he was accorded with +Egelred. + +[Sidenote: Swaine prepareth an armie to inuade England.] +Swaine therefore as a valiant prince, desirous both to reuenge +his sisters death, and win honor, prepared an huge armie, and a great +number of ships, with the which he made towards England, and first +[Sidenote: He landeth at Sandwich. 1013.] +comming to Sandwich, taried there a small while, and taking eftsoones +the sea, compassed about the coasts of Eastangles, and arriuing in the +[Sidenote: Gainsbourgh.] +mouth of Humber, sailed vp the water, and entering into the +riuer of Trent, he landed at Gainesbourgh, purposing to inuade the +Northumbers. But as men brought into great feare, for that they had +beene subiect to the Danes in times past, and thinking therefore not +to reuolt to the enimie, but rather to their old acquaintance, if +[Sidenote: The Northumbers yeeld to Swaine.] +they should submit themselues to the Danes, streightwaies offered to +become subiect vnto Swaine, togither with their duke named Wighthred. +[Sidenote: The people of Lindsey yeeld themselues to him.] +Also the people of Lindsey and all those of the northside of +Watlingstreet yeelded themselues vnto him, and delivered pledges. Then +he appointed his sonne Cnutus to haue the keeping of those pledges, +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] +and to remaine vpon the safegard of his ships, whiles he himselfe +[Sidenote: South Mercia.] +passed forward into the countrie. Then marched he forward to +subdue them of south Mercia: and so came to Oxford & to Winchester, +making the countries subiect to him throughout wheresoeuer he came. + +With this prosperous successe Swaine being greatlie incouraged, +prepared to go vnto London, where king Egelred as then remained, +hauing with him Turkillus the Dane, which was reteined in wages +[Sidenote: _Sim. Dunel._] +with other of the Danes (as by report of some authors it maie appeare) +and were now readie to defend the citie against their countriemen in +support of king Egelred, togither with the citizens. Swaine, bicause +he would not step so farre out of the way as to go to the next bridge, +lost a great number of his men as he passed through the Thames. At +[Sidenote: Swaine assaulteth London.] +his comming to London, he began to assault the citie verie fiercelie, +in hope either to put his enimie in such feare that he should despaire +of all reliefe and comfort, or at the least trie what he was able to +doo. The Londoners on the other part, although they were brought in +some feare by this sudden attempt of the enimies, yet considering with +themselues, that the hazard of all the whole state of the realme +was annexed to theirs, sith their citie was the chiefe and +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +metropolitane of all the kingdome, they valiantlie stood in defense +of themselues, and of their king that was present there with them, +beating backe the enimies, chasing them from the walles, and otherwise +dooing their best to keepe them off. At length, although the Danes did +most valiantlie assault the citie, yet the Englishmen to defend their +prince from all iniurie of enimies, did not shrinke, but boldlie +sallied foorth at the gates in heapes togither, and incountered with +their aduersaries, and began to fight with them verie fiercelie. + +Swaine whilest he went about to keepe his men in order, as one most +desirous to reteine the victorie now almost gotten, was compassed so +about with the Londoners on each side, that after he had lost a great +number of his men, he was constreined for his safegard to breake out +through the midst of his enimies weapons, and was glad that he might +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +so escape: and so with the residue of his armie ceassed not to +iournie day and night till he came to Bath, where Ethelmere an +[Sidenote: Erle of Deuonshire as saith _Matt. West._] +earle of great power in those west parts of the realme submitted +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +himselfe with all his people vnto him, who shortlie after +neuerthelesse (as some write) was compelled through want of vittels to +release the tribute latelie couenanted to be paied vnto him for a +[Sidenote: Swaine returneth into Denmarke.] +certeine summe of monie, which when hee had receiued, he returned into +Denmarke, meaning shortlie to returne againe with a greater power. + +King Egelred supposed that by the paiment of that monie he should haue +beene rid out of all troubles, of warre with the Danes. But the nobles +of the realme thought otherwise, and therefore willed him to +[Sidenote: Swaine returneth into England to make warre.] +prepare an armie with all speed that might be made. Swaine taried +not long (to proue the doubt of the noble men to be grounded of +foreknowledge) but that with swift speed he returned againe into +England, and immediatlie vpon his arriuall was an armie of Englishmen +assembled and led against him into the field. Herevpon they ioined +[Sidenote: King Egelred discomfited in battell.] +in battell, which was sore foughten for a time, till at length by +reason of diuerse Englishmen that turned to the enimies side, the +discomfiture fell with such slaughter vpon the English host, that king +Egelred well perceiued the state of his regall gouernement to bee +brought into vtter danger. Wherevpon after the losse of this field, +he assembled the rest of his people that were escaped, and spake vnto +them after this manner. + +_The oration of king Egelred to the remanent of his souldiers_. + +"I shuld for euer be put to silence, if there wanted in vs the vertue +of a fatherlie mind, in giuing good aduise & counsel for the well +ordering and due administration of things in the common wealth, or if +there lacked courage or might in our souldiers and men of warre to +defend our countrie. Trulie to die in defense of the countrie where we +are borne, I confesse it a woorthie thing, and I for my part am readie +to take vpon me to enter into the midst of the enimies in defense of +my kingdome. But here I see our countrie and the whole English nation +to be at a point to fall into vtter ruine. We are ouercome of the +Danes, not with weapon or force of armes; but with treason wrought +by our owne people: we did at the first prepare a nauie against the +enimies, the which that false traitour Elfrike betraid into their +hands. Againe, oftentimes haue we giuen battell with euill successe, +and onelie through the fault of our owne people that haue beene false +and disloiall: whereby we haue bin constreined to agree with the +enimies vpon dishonorable conditions, euen as necessitie required, +which to ouercome, resteth onelie in God. Such kind of agreement hath +beene made in deed to our destruction, sith the enimies haue not +sticked to breake it (they being such a wicked kind of people as +neither regard God nor man) contrarie to right and reason, and beside +all our hope & expectation. So that the matter is come now to this +passe, that we haue not cause onlie to feare the losse of our +gouernement, but least the name of the whole English nation be +destroied for euer. Therefore sithens the enimies are at hand, and as +it were ouer our heads, you to whom my commandement hath euer bene had +in good regard, prouide, take counsell, and see to succor the state +of your countrie now readie to decay and to fall into irrecouerable +ruine." + +Herevpon they fell in consultation, euerie one alledging and bringing +foorth his opinion as seemed to him best: but it appeared they had the +woolfe by the eare, for they wist not which way to turne them. If they +should giue battell, it was to be doubted least through treason among +themselues, the armie should be betraied into the enimies hands, the +which would not faile to execute all kind of crueltie in the slaughter +of the whole nation. And if they stood not valiantlie to shew +themselues readie to defend their countrie, there was no shift but +yeeld themselues. Which though it were a thing reprochfull and +dishonorable, yet should it be lesse euill, as they tooke the matter, +for thereby might manie be preserued from death, and in time to come, +be able to recouer the libertie of their countrie, when occasion +should be offered. This point was allowed of them all, and so in the +end they rested vpon that resolution. + +[Sidenote: King Egelred determineth to give place vnto Swaine.] +King Egelred therefore determined to commit himselfe into the +hands of his brother in law Richard duke of Normandie, whose sister +(as ye haue heard) he had maried. But bicause he would not doo +[Sidenote: He sendeth his wife and sonnes ouer into Normandie.] +this vnaduisedlie, first he sent ouer his wife queene Emma, with his +sonnes which he had begotten of hir, Alfred and Edward, that by their +[Sidenote: Richard duke of Normandie.] +interteinment he might vnderstand how he should be welcome. Duke +Richard receiued his sister and his nephues verie ioifullie, and +promised to aid his brother king Egelred in defense of his kingdome. +But in this meane while had Swaine conquered the more part of all +England, and brought (by little and little) that which remained vnder +his subiection. The people through feare submitting themselues +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ _Hen. Hunt._ Turkill. 1014.] +on each hand, king Egelred in this meane time (for the Londoners had +submitted themselues to Swaine) was first withdrawne vnto Greenwich, +and there remained for a time with the nauie of the Danes, which was +vnder the gouernement of earle Turkill, and from thence sailed into +the Ile of Wight, and there remained a great part of the winter, +[Sidenote: King Egelred passeth into Normandie.] +and finallie after Christmas himselfe sailed into Normandie, and was +of his brother in law ioifullie receiued & greatlie comforted in that +his time of necessitie. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Swaine king of Denmarke is reputed king of this land, he oppresseth +the English people cruellie, and spoileth religious houses, the +strange and miraculous slaughter of Swaine vaunting of his victories; +the Danish chronicles write parciallie of him and his end, Cnute +succeedeth his father Swaine in regiment, the Englishmen send king +Egelred woord of Swaines death, Edward king Egelreds eldest sonne +commeth ouer into England to know the state of the countrie and people +of certeintie; Egelred with his power returneth into England; what +meanes Cnute made to establish himselfe king of this land, and to +be well thought of among the English people, Egelred burneth +vp Gainesbrough, and killeth the inhabitants therof for their +disloialtie; Cnutes flight to Sandwich, his cruel decree against the +English pledges, he returneth into Denmarke, why Turkillus the Danish +capteine with his power compounded with the Englishmen to tarrie in +this land, his faithlesse seruice to Egelred, his drift to make the +whole realme subiect to the Danish thraldome._ + +THE SEUENTH CHAPTER. + + +Swaine hauing now got the whole rule of the land, was reputed full +king, and so commanded that his armie should be prouided of wages and +vittels to be taken vp & leuied through the realme. In like maner +Turkill commanded that to his armie lodged at Greenewich, wages and +vittels sufficient should be deliuered, for the finding, releeuing, +[Sidenote: Swaine handleth the Englishmen hardlie.] +succouring, and susteining thereof. Swaine vsed the victorie verie +cruellie against the Englishmen, oppressing them on each hand; to the +intent that them being brought low he might gouerne in more suertie. +The yeere in which he obteined the rule thus of this realme, and that +king Egelred was constreined to flie into Normandie, was in the 35 +yeere of the same Egelred his reigne, and after the birth of our Lord +1014. Swaine being once established in the gouernment, did not onelie +vse much crueltie in oppressing the laitie, but also stretched foorth +his hand to the church, and to the ministers in the same, fleecing +them and spoiling both churches and ministers, without anie remorse +of conscience, insomuch that hauing a quarell against the inhabitants +within the precinct of S. Edmunds land in Suffolke, he did not onelie +harrie the countrie, but also rifled and spoiled the abbeie of Burie, +where the bodie of saint Edmund rested. + +[Sidenote: _Fabian_. S. Edmund fighteth for the wealth, but not for +the slaughter of his people. _Simon Dun._ 1015.] +Wherevpon shortlie after, as he was at Gainesbrough or Thetford (as +some say) and there in his iollitie talked with his Nobles of his good +successe in conquering of this land, he was suddenlie striken with a +knife, as it is reported, miraculouslie, for no man wist how or by +whome: and within three daies after, to wit, on the third of Februarie +he ended his life with grieuous paine and torment in yelling and +roring, by reason of his extreame anguish beyond all measure. There +hath sproong a pleasant tale among the posteritie of that age, how he +should be wounded with the same knife which king Edmund in his life +[Sidenote: _Albertus Crantz_. _Saxo Grammaticus_.] +time vsed to weare. Thus haue some of our writers reported, but the +Danish chronicles report a farre more happie end which should chance +to this Swaine, than is before mentioned out of our writers: for the +said chronicles report, that after he had subdued England, he tooke +order with king Egelred, whome they name amisse Adelstane, that he +should not ordeine any other successor, but onlie the said Swaine. +Then after this, he returned into Denmarke, where vsing himselfe like +a right godlie prince, at length he there ended his life, being a +verie old man. + +Notwithstanding all this, when or howsoeuer he died, immediatlie +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malmes_. _H. Hunt._ Canute or Cnute.] +after his deceasse the Danes elected his sonne Cnute or Knought to +succeed in his dominions. But the Englishmen of nothing more desirous +than to shake off the yoke of Danish thraldome besides their necks & +shoulders, streightwaies vpon knowledge had of Swaines death, with all +[Sidenote: Eglered sent for home.] +speed aduertised king Egelred thereof, and that they were readie to +receiue and assist him if he would make hast to come ouer to deliuer +his countrie out of the hands of strangers. These newes were right +ioiful vnto Egelred, who burning in desire to be reuenged on them that +had expelled him out of his kingdome, made no longer tariance to set +[Sidenote: Edmund K. Egelreds eldest sonne.] +that enterprise forward. But yet doubting the inconstancie of the +people, he sent his elder son (named Edmund) to trie the minds of +them, and to vnderstand whether they were constant or wauering in that +which they had promised. + +The yoong gentleman hasting ouer into England, and with diligent +inquirie perceiuing how they were bent, returned with like speed as he +came into Normandie againe, declaring to his father, that all things +were in safetie if he would make hast. King Egelred then conceiued +[Sidenote: King Egelred returneth into England.] +an assured hope to recouer his kingdom, aided with his brother in laws +power, and trusting vpon the assistance of the Englishmen, returned +into England in the time of Lent. His returne was ioifull and most +acceptable to the English people, as to those that abhorred the +[Sidenote: Canutes endeuor to establish himselfe in the kingdome.] +rule of the Danes, which was most sharpe and bitter to them, although +Cnute did what he could by bountifulnesse and courteous dealings to +haue reteined them vnder his obeisance. + +And of an intent to procure Gods fauour in the well ordering of things +for the administration in the common wealth, he sought first to +appease his wrath, and also to make amends to saint Edmund for his +fathers offense committed (as was thought) against him: insomuch +[Sidenote: S. Edmunds ditch.] +that after he had obteined the kingdome, he caused a great ditch to be +cast round about the land of saint Edmund, and granted manie freedoms +to the inhabitants, acquiting them of certeine taskes and paiments, +vnto the which other of their neighbours were contributarie. He also +builded a church on the place where saint Edmund was buried, and +ordeined an house of moonks there, or rather remooued the canons or +secular priests that were there afore, and put moonks in their roomes. +He offered vp also his crowne vnto the same S. Edmund, and +[Sidenote: _Polydor_. _Fabian_.] +redeemed it againe with a great summe of monie, which maner of dooing +grew into an vse vnto other kings that followed him. He adorned the +church there with manie rich iewels, and indowed the monasterie with +great possessions. + +But these things were not done now at the first, but after that he was +established in the kingdome. For in the meane time, after that king +Egelred was returned out of Normandie, Cnute as then soiourning at +Gainesbrough, remained there till the feast of Easter, and made +agreement with them of Lindsey, so that finding him horsses, they +should altogither go foorth to spoile their neighbors. King Egelred +aduertised thereof, sped him thither with a mightie host, and with +great crueltie burned vp the countrie, and slue the more part of the +[Sidenote: Canute driven to forsake the land.] +inhabitants, bicause they had taken part with his enimies. Cnute +as then was not of power able to resist Egelred, and therefore taking +his ships which lay in Humber, fled from thence, & sailed about +[Sidenote: He was driuen thither by force of contrarie winds as +should appeare by _Matth. West._] +the coast, till he came to Sandwich, and there sore greeued in his +mind to remember what mischeefe was fallen and chanced to his friends +and subiects of Lindsey, onelie for his cause; he commanded that such +pledges as had beene deliuered to his father by certeine noble men +of this realme, for assurance of their fidelities, should haue their +noses slit, and their eares stuffed, or (as some write) their hands +and noses cut off. +[Sidenote: The cruell decree of Cnute against the English pledges. +_Will. Malmes._] + +When this cruell act according to his commandement was doone, taking +the sea, he sailed into Denmarke: but yet tooke not all the Danes with +him which his father brought thither. For earle Turkill perceiuing +the wealthinesse of the land, compounded with the Englishmen, and +[Sidenote: This Turkill was reteined in seruice with Egelred, as I +thinke.] +chose rather to remaine in a region replenished with all riches, than +to returne home into his owne countrie that wanted such commodities as +were here to be had. And yet (as some thought) he did not forsake his +souereigne lord Cnute for anie euill meaning towards him, but rather +to aid him (when time serued) to recouer the possession of England +againe, as it afterwards well appeared. For notwithstanding that he +was now reteined by K. Egelred with fortie ships, and the flower of +all the Danes that were men of warre, so that Cnute returned but with +60 ships into his countrie: yet shortlie after, erle Turkill with 9 +of those ships sailed into Denmarke, submitted himselfe vnto Cnute, +counselled him to returne into England, and promised him the +assistance of the residue of those Danish ships which yet remained +[Sidenote: _Encomium Emmae_.] +in England, being to the number of thirtie, with all the souldiers and +mariners that to them belonged. To conclude, he did so much by his +earnest persuasions, that Cnute (through aid of his brother Harrold +king of Denmarke) got togither a nauie of two hundred ships, so +roially decked, furnished, and appointed, both for braue shew and +necessarie furniture of all maner of weapons, armor & munition, as it +is strange to consider that which is written by them that liued in +those daies, and tooke in hand to register the dooings of that time. +Howbeit to let this pompe of Cnutes fleete passe, which (no doubt) was +right roiall, consider a little and looke backe to Turkill, though a +sworne seruant to king Egelred, how he did direct all his drift to the +aduancement of Cnute, and his owne commoditie, cloking his purposed +treacherie with pretended amitie, as shall appeare hereafter by his +deadlie hostilitie. + + * * * * * + + + + +_A great waste by an inundation or inbreaking of the sea, a tribute of +30000 pounds to the Danes, king Egelred holdeth a councell at Oxford, +where he causeth two noble men of the Danes to be murdered by treason, +Edmund the kings eldest sonne marieth one of their wiues, and seizeth +vpon his predecessors lands; Cnute the Danish king returneth into +England, the Danish and English armies encounter, both susteine losse; +Cnute maketh waste of certeine shires, Edmund preuenteth Edriks +purposed treason, Edrike de Streona flieth to the Danes, the +Westernemen yeeld to Cnute; Mercia refuseth to be subiect vnto him, +Warwikeshire wasted by the Danes; Egelred assembleth an armie against +them in vaine; Edmund & Vtred with ioined forces lay waste such +countries and people as became subiect to Cnute; his policie to +preuent their purpose, through what countries he passed, Vtred +submitteth himselfe to Cnute, and deliuereth pledges, he is put to +death and his lands alienated, Cnute pursueth Edmund to London, and +prepareth to besiege the citie, the death and buriall of Egelred, his +wiues, what issue he had by them, his unfortunatnesse, and to what +affections and vices he was inclined, his too late and bootlesse +seeking to releeue his decaied kingdome._ + +THE EIGHT CHAPTER. + + +But now to returne to our purpose, and to shew what chanced in England +[Sidenote: 1015. _Matt. West._ _Simon Dun._ _Wil. Malm._] +after the departure of Cnute. In the same yeare to the forsaid +accustomed mischiefes an vnwoonted misaduenture happened: for the sea +rose with such high spring-tides, that ouerflowing the countries next +adioining, diuers villages with the inhabitants were drowned and +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._] +destroied. Also to increase the peoples miserie, king Egelred +commanded, that 30000 pounds should be leuied to paie the tribute due +to the Danes which lay at Greenewich. This yeare also king Egelred +[Sidenote: A councell at Oxford. Sigeferd and Morcad murdered.] +held a councell at Oxford, at the which a great number of noble men +were present, both Danes and Englishmen, and there did the king cause +Sigeferd and Morcad two noble personages of the Danes to be murdered +within his owne chamber, by the traitorous practise of Edrike de +Streona, which accused them of some conspiracie. But the quarell was +onelie as men supposed, for that the king had a desire to their goods +and possessions. + +Their seruants tooke in hand to haue reuenged the death of their +maisters, but were beaten backe, wherevpon they fled into the steeple of +saint Friswids church, and kept the same, till fire was set vpon the +place, and so they were burned to death. The wife of Sigeferd was taken, +& sent to Malmsburie, being a woman of high fame and great worthinesse, +wherevpon the kings eldest sonne named Edmund, tooke occasion vpon +pretense of other businesse to go thither, and there to see hir, with +whome he fell so far in loue, +[Sidenote: Edmund the kings eldest sonne marrieth the widow of +Sigeferd.] +that he tooke and maried hir. That doone, he required to haue hir +husbands lands and possessions, which were an earles liuing, and lay +in Northumberland. And when the king refused to graunt his request, +he went thither, and seized the same possessions and lands into his +hands, without hauing anie commission so to doo, finding the farmers +and tenants there readie to receiue him for their lord. + +[Sidenote: Cnute returneth into England.] +Whilest these things were a dooing, Cnute hauing made his +prouision of ships and men, with all necessarie furniture (as before +ye haue heard) for his returne into England, set forward with full +purpose, either to recouer the realme out of Egelreds hands, or to die +[Sidenote: _Encomium Emmae_.] +in the quarrell. Herevpon he landed at Sandwich, and first earle +Turkill obteined licence to go against the Englishmen that were +assembled to resist the Danes, and finding them at a place called +Scorastan, he gaue them the ouerthrow, got a great bootie, and +returned therewith to the ships. After this, Edrike gouernor of +Norwaie made a rode likewise into an other part of the countrie, & +with a rich spoile, and manie prisoners, returned vnto the nauie. +After this iournie atchiued thus by Edrike, Cnute commanded that they +should not waste the countrie anie more, but gaue order to prepare +all things readie to besiege London: but before he attempted that +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm_. _Hen. Hunt_. _Matth. West_. _Sim. Dun_.] +enterprise, as others write, he marched foorth into Kent, or rather +sailing round about that countrie, tooke his iournie westward, & came +to Fromundham, and after departing from thence, wasted Dorsetshire, +Summersetshire, & Wiltshire. + +[Sidenote: King Egelred sicke. _Matth. West._] +King Egelred in this meane time lay sicke at Cossam; and his sonne +Edmund had got togither a mightie hoast, howbeit yer he came to ioine +battell with his enimies, he was aduertised, that earle Edrike went +about to betraie him, and therefore he withdrew with the armie +[Sidenote: Edrike de Streona fleeth to the Danes. _Simon Dun._] +into a place of suertie. But Edrike to make his tratorous purpose +manifest to the whole world, fled to the enimies with fortie of the +kings ships, fraught with Danish souldiers. Herevpon, all the west +[Sidenote: The west countrie] +countrie submitted it selfe vnto Cnute, who receiued pledges of the +chiefe lords and nobles, and then set forward to subdue them of +[Sidenote: The people of Mercia would not yeeld. _Matth. West_. +_Hen. Hunt._] +Mercia. The people of that countrie would not yeeld, but +determined to defend the quarrell and title of king Egelred, so long +as they might haue anie capteine that would stand with them, and helpe +[Sidenote: 1016] +to order them. In the yeare 1016, in Christmas, Cnute and earle +Edrike passed the Thames at Kirkelade, & entring into Mercia, cruellie +began with fire and sword to waste and destroie the countrie, and +[Sidenote: Warwikeshire wasted by the Danes.] +namelie Warwikeshire. + +[Sidenote: King Egelred recovered of his sicknesse. He assembleth an +armie in vaine.] +In the meane time was king Egelred recouered of his sicknesse, and +sent summons foorth to raise all his power, appointing euerie man to +resort vnto him, that he might incounter the enimies and giue them +battell. But yet when his people were assembled, he was warned to take +heed vnto himselfe, and in anie wise to beware how he gaue battell, +for his owne subiects were purposed to betraie him. Herevpon the +armie brake vp, & king Egelred withdrew to London, there to abide his +enimies within the walles, with whom in the field he doubted to +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ Edmund king Egelreds sonne.] +trie the battell. His sonne Edmund got him to Vtred, an earle of great +power, inhabiting beyond Humber, and persuading him to ioine his +forces with his, forth they went to waste those countries that were +become subiect to Cnute, as Staffordshire, Leicestershire, and +Shropshire, not sparing to exercise great crueltie vpon the +inhabitants, as a punishment for their reuolting, that others might +take example thereby. + +[Sidenote: Cnute, what countries he passed through.] +But Cnute perceiuing whereabout they went, politikelie deuised to +frustrate their purpose, and with dooing of like hurt in all places +where he came, passed through Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, +Huntingtonshire, and so through the fens came to Stamford, and then +entred into Lincolnshire, and from thence into Notinghamshire, & so +into Yorkeshire, not sparing to doo what mischiefe might be deuised in +all places where he came. Vtred aduertised hereof, was constreined to +depart home to saue his owne countrie from present destruction, and +therefore comming backe into Northumberland, & perceiuing himselfe not +[Sidenote: Earle Vtred deliuered pledges to Cnute. _Alius_ Egricus.] +able to resist the puissant force of his enimies, was constreined +to deliuer pledges, and submit himselfe vnto Cnute. But yet was he not +hereby warranted from danger, for shortlie after he was taken, and put +to death, and then were his lands giuen vnto one Iricke or Iricius, +whome afterward Cnute did banish out of the realme, because that he +did attempt to chalenge like authoritie to him in all points as Cnute +himselfe had. After that Cnute had subdued the Northumbers, he pursued +Edmund, till he heard that he had taken London for his refuge, and +[Sidenote: Cnute prepareth to besiege London.] +staied there with his father. Then did Cnute take his ships, and came +about to the coasts of Kent, preparing to besiege the citie of London. + +[Sidenote: King Egelred departed this life. _Simon Dun._ +_Matth. West._] +In the meane time, king Egelred sore worne with long sicknesse, +departed this life on the 23 of Aprill, being saint Georges day, or +(as others say) on saint Gregories day, being the 12 of March, but I +take this to be an error growen, by mistaking the feast-day of saint +[Sidenote: He is buried in the church of S. Paul at London.] +Gregorie for saint George. He reigned the tearme of 37 yeares, or +little lesse. His bodie was buried in the church of saint Pauls, in +the north Ile besids the queere, as by a memoriall there on the wall +it maie appeare. He had two wiues (as before is mentioned.) By +Elgina his first wife he had issue three sonnes, Edmund, Edwine, and +Adelstane; besides one daughter named Egiua. By his second wife Emma, +daughter to Richard the first of that name, duke of Normandie, and +sister to Richard the second, he had two sonnes, Alfrid and Edward. + +This Egelred (as you haue heard) had euill successe in his warres +against the Danes, and besides the calamitie that fell thereby to his +people, manie other miseries oppressed this land in his daies, not so +much through his lacke of courage and slouthfull negligence, as by +reason of his presumptuous pride, whereby he alienated the hearts of +[Sidenote: The pride of king Egelred alienated the harts of his +people.] +his people from him. His affections he could not rule, but was led +by them without order of reason, for he did not onlie disherit diuerse +of his owne English subiects without apparant cause of offense by +plaine forged cauillations; and also caused all the Danes to be +murdered through his realme in one day, by some light suspicion of +their euill meanings: but also gaue himselfe to lecherous lusts, in +abusing his bodie with naughtie strumpets, forsaking the bed of his +owne lawfull wife, to the great infamie & shame of that high degree +of maiestie, which by his kinglie office he bare and susteined. To +conclude, he was from his tender youth more apt to idle rest, than to +the exercise of warres; more giuen to pleasures of the bodie, than to +anie vertues of the mind: although that toward his latter end, being +growen into age, and taught by long experience of worldlie affaires, +and proofe of passed miseries, he sought (though in vaine) to haue +recouered the decaied state of his common wealth and countrie. + +¶ In this Egelreds time, and (as it is recorded by a British +chronographer) in the yeere of our Lord 984, one Cadwalhon, the second +sonne of Ieuaf tooke in hand the gouernance of Northwales, and first +made warre with Ionauall his coosen, the sonne of Meyric, and right +heire to the land, and slue him, but Edwall the yoongest brother +escaped awaie priuilie. The yeere following, Meredith the sonne of +Owen king or prince of Southwales, with all his power entered into +Northwales, and in fight slue Cadwalhon the sonne of Ieuaf, and Meyric +his brother, and conquered the land to himselfe. Wherein a man maie +[Sidenote: See the historie of Cambria pag. 62, 63.] +see how God punished the wrong, which Iago and Ieuaf the sonnes +of Edwall Voell did to their eldest brother Meyric, who was first +disherited, and afterward his eies put out, and one of his sonnes +slaine. For first Ieuaf was imprisoned by Iago; then Iago with his +sonne Constantine, by Howell the son of Ieuaf: and afterward the +said Howell, with his brethren Cadwalhon and Meyric, were slaine and +spoiled of all their lands. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Edmund Ironside succedeth his father in the kingdome, the +spiritualtie favouring Cnute would haue him to be king, the Londoners +are his backe friends, they receiue Edmund their king honorablie and +ioifullie, Cnute is proclaimed king at Southampton, manie of the +states cleaue vnto him, he besiegeth London by water and land, the +citizens giue him the foile, he incountreth with king Edmund and is +discomfited, two battels fought betweene the Danes and English with +equall fortune and like successe, the traitorous stratagem of Edrike +the Dane, king Edmund aduisedlie defeateth Edriks trecherie, 20000 +of both armies slaine, Cnute marching towards London is pursued of +Edmund, the Danes are repelled, incountred, and vanquished; queene +Emma prouideth for the safetie of hir sonnes; the Danes seeke a +pacification with Edmund, thereby more easilie to betraie him; Cnute +with his armie lieth neere Rochester, king Edmund pursueth them, both +armies haue a long and a sore conflict, the Danes discomfited, and +manie of them slaine; Cnute with his power assemble at Essex and there +make waste, king Edmund pursuith them, Edrike traitorouslie reuolteth +from the English to succour the Danes, king Edmund is forced to get +him out of the field, the Englishmen put to their hard shifts and +slaine by heapes; what noble personages were killed in this battell, +of two dead bodies latelie found in the place where this hot and +heauie skirmish was fought._ + +THE NINTH CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: EDMUND IRONSIDE.] +After that king Egelred was dead, his eldest sonne Edmund surnamed +Ironside was proclaimed king by the Londoners and others, hauing the +assistance of some lords of the realme, although the more part, and +[Sidenote: The kingdom goeth where the spiritualtie fauoreth.] +speciallie those of the spiritualtie fauoured Cnute, bicause they +had aforetime sworne fealtie to his father. Some write, that Cnute had +planted his siege both by water and land verie stronglie about the +citie of London, before Egelred departed this life, and immediatlie +vpon his deceasse was receiued into the citie; but the armie that +was within the citie, not consenting vnto the surrender made by the +citizens, departed the night before the day on the which Cnute by +appointment should enter, and in companie of Edmund Ironside (whome +they had chosen to be their king and gouernour) they prepared to +increase their numbers with new supplies, meaning eftsoones to trie +[Sidenote: The author of the booke intitled _Encomium Emmae_ saith +that it was reported that Edmund offered the combate unto Cnute at +this his going from the citie but Cnute refused it.] +the fortune of battell against the Danish power. Cnute perceiuing +the most part of all the realme to be thus against him, and hauing +no great confidence in the loialtie of the Londoners, tooke order to +leauie monie for the paiment of his men of warre and mariners that +belonged to his nauie, left the citie, and imbarking himselfe, sailed +to the Ile of Shepie, and there remained all the winter. In which +meane while, Edmund Ironside came to London, where he was ioifullie +receiued of the citizens, and continuing there till the spring of the +yeere, made himselfe strong against the enimies. + +[Sidenote: 1016.] +This Edmund for his noble courage, strength of bodie, and notable +patience to indure and suffer all such hardnesse and paines as is +requisite in a man of warre, was surnamed Ironside, & began his reigne +in the yeere of our Lord 1016, in the sixteenth yeere of the emperor +Henrie the second surnamed Claudius, in the twentieth yeere of the +reigne of Robert king of France, & about the sixt yeere of Malcolme +the second king of the Scots. After that king Edmund had receiued the +crowne in the citie of London by the hands of the archbishop of Yorke, +he assembled togither such a power as he could make, and with the same +marched foorth towards the west parts, and made the countrie subiect +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._] +to him. In the meane time was Cnute proclaimed and ordeined king at +Southampton by the bishops and abbats, and diuerse lords also of the +temporaltie there togither assembled, vnto whome he sware to be their +good and faithfull souereigne, and that he would see iustice trulie +and vprightlie ministred. + +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ _Simon Dun._] +After he had ended his businesse at Southampton, he drew with his +people towards London, and comming thither, besieged the citie both by +water and land, causing a great trench to be cast about it, so that +[Sidenote: London besieged.] +no man might either get in or come foorth. Manie great assalts he +caused to be giuen vnto the citie, but the Londoners and others within +so valiantlie defended the wals and gates, that the enimies got small +aduantage, and at length were constreined to depart with losse. +[Sidenote: Cnute at Gillingham in Dorsetshire put to flight. _Polydor_.] +Cnute then perceiuing that he might not haue his purpose there, +withdrew westward, and besides Gillingham in Dorsetshire, incountred +with K. Edmund in the Rogation weeke, and after sore & sharpe battell +was put to the woorse, and constreined to forsake the field by the +high prowesse & manhood of the said Edmund. King Cnute the same night, +after the armies were seuered, departed towards Winchester, so to get +[Sidenote: Salisburie besieged.] +himselfe out of danger. Shortlie after, king Edmund hearing that an +other armie of the Danes had besieged Salisburie, marched thither to +succour them within, and immediatlie Cnute followed him, so that at +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ _Matth. West._ _Wil. Malm._ A battel with +equall fortune.] +a place in Worcestershire called Scorastan, on the foure and +twentith of June, they incountred togither, and fought a verie cruell +battell, which at length the night parted with equall fortune. And +[Sidenote: An other batttel with like successes.] +likewise on the next day they buckled togither againe, and fought with +like successe as they had doone the day before, for towards euening +they gaue ouer well wearied, and not knowing to whome the victorie +ought to be ascribed. + +[Sidenote: Edrike de Streona his treason. _Simon Dun._] +Writers haue reported, that this second day, when duke Edrike +perceiued the Englishmen to be at point to haue got the vpper hand, he +withdrew aside, and hauing by chance slaine a common souldier called +Osmear, which in visage much resembled king Edmund, whose head he cut +off, held it vp, & shaking his swoord bloudie with the slaughter, +cried to the Englishmen; "Flee ye wretches, flee and get awaie, for +your king is dead, behold heere his head which I hold in my hands." +Heerewith had the Englishmen fled immediatlie, if king Edmund aduised +of this stratagem, had not quicklie got him to an high ground where +his men might see him aliue and lustie. Heerewith also the traitor +Edrike escaped hardlie the danger of death, the Englishmen shot so +egerlie at him. At length, as is said, the night parting them in +sunder, they withdrew the one armie from the other, as it had beene by +consent. The third day they remained in armor, but yet absteining +from battell, sate still, in taking meate and drinke to relieue their +wearied bodies, and after gathered in heapes the dead carcases +[Sidenote: Twentie thousand dead bodies.] +that had beene slaine in the former fight, the number of which on +either partie reckoned, rose to the point of twentie thousand and +aboue. + +[Sidenote: The armies dislodged.] +In the night following, Cnute remooued his campe in secret wise, +and marched towards London, which citie in a maner remained besieged +by the nauie of the Danes. King Edmund in the morning when the light +had discouered the departure of his enimies, followed them by the +tract, and comming to London with small adoo remooued the siege, and +[Sidenote: The Danes ouercome at Brentford. _Wil. Malm._ _Hen. Hunt._ +_Fabian_. _Caxton_. _Polydor_.] +entered the citie like a conqueror. Shortlie after he fought with +the Danes at Brentford, and gaue them a great ouerthrow. In this meane +while queene Emma the widow of king Egelred, doubting the fortune of +the warre, sent hir two sonnes Alfred and Edward ouer into Normandie +vnto hir brother duke Richard, or rather fled thither hirselfe with +them (as some write.) + +Moreouer, earle Edrike, perceiuing the great manhood of king Edmund, +began to feare, least in the end he should subdue and vanquish the +Danes, wherefore he sought meanes to conclude a peace, and take such +order with him as might stand with both their contentations, which +yer long he brought about. This was doone (as you shall heare) by the +[Sidenote: _Henr. Hunt._] +consent of Cnute (as some write) to the intent that Edrike being +put in trust with king Edmund, might the more easilie deuise waies how +to betraie him. But Cnute disappointed of his purpose at London, and +fetching a great bootie and preie out of the countries next adjoining, +repared to his ships, to see what order was amongst them, which a +little before were withdrawen into the riuer that passeth by +[Sidenote: The river of Medwaie.] +Rochester called Medwaie. Heere Cnute remained certeine daies, both +to assemble a greater power, and also to hearken and learne what his +enimies ment to doo, the which he easilie vnderstood. + +[Sidenote: King Edmund's diligence] +King Edmund, who hated nothing woorse than to linger his +businesse, assembled his people, and marching forward toward his +enimies, approched neere vnto them, & pitcht downe his tents not farre +from his enimies campe, exhorting his people to remember their passed +victories, and to doo their good willes, at length by one battell +so to ouerthrow them, that they might make an end of the warre, and +dispatch them cleerelie out of the realme. With these and the like +woords he did so incourage his souldiers, that they disdaining thus to +haue the enimies dailie prouoke them, and to put them to trouble, with +eger minds and fierce courages offered battell to the Danes, which +Cnute had prepared to receiue whensoeuer the Englishmen approched: and +heerewith bringing his men into araie, he came foorth to meet his +[Sidenote: The battell is begun.] +enimies. Then was the battell begun with great earnestnesse on both +sides, & continued foure houres, till at length the Danes began +somewhat to shrinke, which when Cnute perceiued, he commanded his +horssemen to come forward into the forepart of his dawnted host. + +[Sidenote: The Danes put to flight.] +But whilest one part of the Danes gaue backe with feare, and the +other came slowlie forward, the arraie of the whole armie was broken, +& then without respect of shame they fled amaine, so that there +[Sidenote: The number of Danes slaine. _Polydor_. _Fabian_. +_Ran. Higd._ _Matt. West._ _Hen. Hunt._ _Will. Malmes._] +died that day of Cnutes side foure thousand and fiue hundred men; and +of king Edmunds side, not past six hundred, and those were footmen. +This battell was fought as should appeere by diuerse writers, at +Okefort or Oteford. It was thought, that if king Edmund had pursued +the victorie and followed in chase of his enimies in such wise as he +safelie might haue doone, he had made that day an end of the warres: +[Sidenote: Edriks counsell.] +but he was counselled by Edrike (as some write) in no condition to +follow them, but to staie and giue time to his people to refresh their +wearie bodies. Then Cnute with his armie passed ouer the Thames into +Essex, and there assembled all his power togither, and began to spoile +and waste the countrie on each hand. King Edmund aduertised thereof, +hasted foorth to succour his people, and at Ashdone in Essex three +miles from Saffron Walden, gaue battell to Cnute, where after sore and +cruell fight continued with great slaughter on both sides a long time, +duke Edrike fled to the comfort of the Danes, and to the discomfort of +the Englishmen. + +Heerevpon king Edmund was constreined in the end to depart out of +the field, hauing first doone all that could be wished in a woorthie +chieftaine, both by woords to incourage his men, & by deeds to shew +them good example; so that at one time the Danes were at point to haue +giuen backe, but that Cnute aduised thereof, rushed into the left wing +where most danger was, and so relieued his people there, that finallie +the Englishmen, both wearied with long fight, and also discouraged +with the running awaie of some of their companie, were constreined to +giue ouer, and by flight to seeke their safegard, so that king Edmund +might not by anie meanes bring them againe into order. Heerevpon all +the waies and passages being forelaid and stopped by the enimies, +[Sidenote: [*_Sic_.]] +the Englishmen wanting both carriage* to make longer resistance, and +perceiuing no hope to rest in fleeing, were beaten downe and slaine in +heapes, so that few escaped from that dreadfull and bloudie battell. + +[Sidenote: Noble men slaine at the battell of Ashdone. _Simon Dun._ +_Wil. Malm._] +There died on king Edmunds side, duke Edmund, duke Alfrike, and +duke Goodwine, with earle Vlfekettell or Vrchell of Eastangle, and +duke Aileward, that was sonne to Ardelwine late duke of Eastangle; and +to be briefe, all the floure of the English nobilitie. There were also +slaine at this battell manie renowmed persons of the spiritualtie, as +[Sidenote: King Edmund withdraweth into Glocestershire.] +the bishop of Lincolne, and the abbat of Ramsey, with others: king +Edmund escaping awaie, got him into Glocestershire, and there began to +raise a new armie. In the place where this field was fought, are yet +seuen or eight hils, wherein the carcases of them that were slaine at +the same field were buried: and one being digged downe of late, there +were found two bodies in a coffin of stone, of which the one laie with +his head towards the others feet, and manie chaines of iron, (like to +the water-chains of the bits of horsses) were found in the same hill. +But now to the matter. + + * * * * * + + + + +_London & other great cities & townes submit themselues to Cnute, he +hasteth after Edmund with his power, both their armies being readie +to incounter by occasion are staied, the oration of a capteine in the +hearing of both hosts; the title and right of the realme of England +is put to the triall of combat betweene Cnute and Edmund, Cnute is +ouermatched, his woords to king Edmund, both kings are pacified and +their armies accorded, the realme diuided betwixt Cnute and Edmund, +king Edmund traitorouslie slaine, the dissonant report of writers +touching the maners of his death, and both the kings dealing about +the partition of the realme, Cnute causeth Edrike to be slaine for +procuring king Edmunds death, wherein the reward of treason is noted; +how long king Edmund reigned, and where he was buried, the eclipsed +state of England after his death, and in whose time it recouered some +part of its brightnesse._ + +THE TENTH CHAPTER. + + +In the meane while that Edmund was busie to leauie a new armie in +Glocester, and other parties of Mercia, Cnute hauing got so great a +victorie (as before is mentioned) receiued into his obeisance, not +onelie the citie of London, but also manie other cities and townes of +great name, and shortlie after hasted forward to pursue his enimie +king Edmund, who was readie with a mightie host to trie the vttermost +chance of battell if they should eftsoones ioine. Heerevpon, both +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +the armies being readie to giue the onset, the one in sight of the +other at a place called Dearehurst, neere to the riuer of Seuerne, by +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ _Simon Dun._] +the drift of duke Edrike, who then at length began to shew some +token of good meaning, the two kings came to a communication, and in +the end concluded an agreement, as some haue written, without anie +more adoo. Others write, that when both the armies were at point to +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ saith this was Edrike.] +haue ioined, one of the capteins (but whether he were a Dane or an +Englishman, it is not certeinlie told) stood vp in such a place, as +he might be heard of both the princes, & boldlie vttered his mind in +forme following. + +_The oration of a capteine in the audience of the English and Danish +armie_. + +"We haue, most woorthie capteins, fought long inough one against +another, there hath beene but too much bloud shed betweene both +the nations, and the valiancie of the souldiers on both sides is +sufficientlie seene by triall, & either of your manhoods likewise, and +yet can you beare neither good nor euill fortune. If one of you win +the battell, he pursueth him that is ouercome; and if he chance to +be vanquished, he resteth not till he haue recouered new strength to +fight eftsoones with him that is victor. What should you meane by this +your inuincible courage? At what marke shooteth your greedie desire to +beare rule, and your excessive thirst to atteine honour? If you +fight for a kingdome, diuide it betweene you two, which sometime +was sufficient for seuen kings: but if you couet to winne fame and +glorious renowme, and for the same are driuen to try the hazard +whether ye shall command or obeie, deuise the waie whereby ye may +without so great slaughter, and without such pitifull bloudshed of +both your guiltlesse peoples, trie whether of you is most woorthie to +be preferred." + +[Sidenote: The two kings appoint to try the matter by a combat.] +Thus made he an end, and the two princes allowed well of his last +motion, and so order was taken, that they should fight togither in a +singular combat within a litle Iland inclosed with the riuer of +[Sidenote: Oldney.] +Seuerne called Oldney, with condition, that whether of them chanced to +be victor, should be king, and the other to resigne his title for euer +into his hands. The two princes entering into the place appointed, in +faire armour, began the battell in sight of both their armies ranged +in goodlie order on either side the riuer, with doubtfull minds, and +nothing ioifull, as they that wauered betwixt hope and feare. The two +[Sidenote: _Matt. Westm._] +champions manfullie assailed either other, without sparing. First, +they went to it on horssebacke, and after on foot. Cnute was a man +[Sidenote: Cnute of what stature he was.] +of a meane stature, but yet strong and hardie, so that receiuing a +great blow by the hand of his aduersarie, which caused him somewhat +to stagger; yet recouered himselfe, and boldly stept forward to be +reuenged. But perceiuing he could not find aduantage, and that +[Sidenote: Cnute ouermatched.] +he was rather too weake, and shrewdlie ouermatched, he spake to +[Sidenote: Cnutes woords to Edmund.] +Edmund with a lowd voice on this wise: "What necessitie (saith he) +ought thus to mooue vs, most valiant prince, that for the obteining +of a kingdome, we should thus put our liues in danger? Better were +it that laieng armour and malice aside, we should condescend to some +reasonable agreement. Let vs become sworne brethren, and part the +[Sidenote: _H. Hunt._] +kingdome betwixt vs: and let vs deale so friendlie, that thou +maist vse my things as thine owne, and I thine as though they were +mine." King Edmund with those woords of his aduersarie was so +pacified, that immediatlie he cast awaie his swoord, and comming to +[Sidenote: They make vp the matter betwixt themselves.] +Cnute, ioined hands with him. Both the armies by their example +did the like, which looked for the same fortune to fall on their +countries, which should happen to their princes by the successe of +that one battell. After this, there was an agreement deuised betwixt +them, so that a partition of the realme was made, and that part that +lieth fore against France, was assigned to Edmund, and the other +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +fell to Cnute. There be that write, how the offer was made by king +Edmund for the auoiding of more bloudshed, that the two princes should +trie the matter thus togither in a singular combat. But Cnute refused +the combat, bicause (as he alledged) the match was not equall. For +although he was able to match Edmund in boldnesse of stomach, yet was +he farre too weake to deale with a man of such strength as Edmund was +knowne to be. But sith they did pretend title to the realme by due and +good direct meanes, he thought it most conuenient that the kingdome +should be diuided betwixt them. This motion was allowed of both the +armies, so that king Edmund was of force constreined to be contented +therewith. + +¶ Thus our common writers haue recorded of this agreement, but if I +should not be thought presumptuous, in taking vpon me to reprooue, +or rather but to mistrust that which hath beene receiued for a true +narration in this matter, I would rather giue credit vnto that +[Sidenote: _Encomium Emmae_.] +which the author of the booke intituled "Encomium Emmae," dooth report +in this behalfe. Which is that through persuasion of Edrike de +Streona, king Edmund immediatelie after the battell fought at Ashdone, +sent ambassadors vnto Cnute to offer vnto him peace, with halfe the +realme of England, that is to say, the north parts, with condition +that king Edmund might quietlie inioy the south parts, and therevpon +haue pledges deliuered interchangeablie on either side. + +Cnute hauing heard the effect of this message, staied to make answer +till he heard what his councell would aduise him to doo in this +behalfe: and vpon good deliberation taken in the matter, considering +that he had lost no small number of people in the former battell, and +that being farre out of his countrie, he could not well haue anie new +supplie, where the Englishmen although they had likewise lost verie +manie of their men of warre, yet being in their owne countrie, it +should be an easie matter for them to restore their decaid number, it +was thought expedient by the whole consent of all the Danish capteins, +that the offer of king Edmund should be accepted. + +Herevpon Cnute calling the ambassadors before him againe, declared +vnto them, that he was contented to conclude a peace vpon such +conditions as they had offered: but yet with this addition, that their +king whatsoeuer he should be, should paie Cnutes souldiers their +wages, with monie to be leuied of that part of the kingdome which the +English king should possesse. "For (this saith he) I haue vndertaken +to see them paid, and otherwise I will not grant to anie peace." The +league and agreement therefore being concluded in this sort, +pledges were deliuered and receiued on both parties, and the armies +[Sidenote: This is alleged touching the partiti[=o] of the kingdome.] +discharged. But God (saith mine author) being mindfull of his old +doctrine, that Euerie kingdome diuided in it selfe cannot long stand, +shortlie after tooke Edmund out of this life: and by such meanes +seemed to take pitie of the English kingdome, lest if both the kings +should haue continued in life togither, they should haue liued in +danger. And incontinentlie herevpon was Cnute chosen and receiued for +absolute king of all the whole realme of England. Thus hath he written +that liued in those daies, whose credit thereby is much aduanced. + +Howbeit the common report of writers touching the death of Edmund +varieth from this, who doo affirme, that after Cnute and Edmund were +made friends, the serpent of enuie and false conspiracie burnt so in +the hearts of some traitorous persons, that within a while after +[Sidenote: K. Edmund traitorouslie slaine at Oxford. _Fabian._ +_Simon Dun._] +king Edmund was slaine at Oxford, as he sat on a priuie to doo the +necessaries of nature. The common report hath gone, that earle Edrike +was the procurer of this villanous act, and that (as some write) his +sonne did it. But the author that wrote "Encomium Emmae," writing of +the death of Edmund, hath these words (immediatlie after he had first +declared in what sort the two princes were agreed, and had made +[Sidenote: This is alleged againe for the proofe of Edmunds natural +death.] +partition of the realme betwixt them:) But God (saith he) being +mindfull of his old doctrine, that Euerie kingdome diuided in it selfe +can not long stand, shortlie after tooke Edmund out of this life: and +by such meanes seemed to take pitie vpon the English kingdome, least +if both the kings should haue continued in life togither, they should +both haue liued in great danger, and the realme in trouble. With this +agreeth also Simon Dunel. who saith, that king Edmund died of naturall +[Sidenote: _Fabian_.] +sicknesse, by course of kind at London, about the feast of saint +Andrew next insuing the late mentioned agreement. + +[Sidenote: _Ranul. Hig._ _Hen. Hunt._] +And this should seeme true: for whereas these authors which +report, that earle Edrike was the procurer of his death, doo also +write, that when he knew the act to be done, he hasted vnto Cnute, and +declared vnto him what he had brought to passe for his aduancement to +the gouernment of the whole realme. Wherevpon Cnute, abhorring such a +detestable fact, said vnto him: "Bicause thou hast for my sake, made +away the worthiest bodie of the world, I shall raise thy head aboue +all the lords of England," and so caused him to be put to death. +[Sidenote: Some thinke that he was duke of Mercia before, and now +had Essex adioined thereto.] +Thus haue some bookes. Howbeit this report agreeth not with other +writers, which declare how Cnute aduanced Edrike in the beginning of +his reigne vnto high honor, and made him gouernor of Mercia, and vsed +his counsell in manie things after the death of king Edmund, as in +banishing Edwin, the brother of king Edmund, with his sonnes also, +Edmund and Edward. + +[Sidenote: Diuerse and discordant reports of Edmunds death. +_Ran. Higd._ _Wil. Malm._] +But for that there is such discordance and variable report amongst +writers touching the death of king Edmund, and some fables inuented +thereof (as the manner is) we will let the residue of their reports +passe; sith certeine it is, that to his end he came, after he had +reigned about the space of one yeere, and so much more as is betweene +the moneth of Iune and the latter end of Nouember. His bodie was +buried at Glastenburie, neere his vncle Edgar. With this Edmund, +surnamed Ironside, fell the glorious maiestie of the English kingdome, +the which afterward as it had beene an aged bodie being sore decaied +and weakened by the Danes, that now got possession of the whole, yet +somewhat recouered after the space of 26 yeers vnder king Edward, +surnamed the Confessor: and shortlie therevpon as it had beene falne +into a resiluation, came to extreame ruine by the inuasion and +conquest of the Normans: as after by Gods good helpe and fauorable +assistance it shall appeare. So that it would make a diligent and +marking reader both muse and moorne, to see how variable the state of +this kingdome hath beene, & thereby to fall into a consideration of +the frailtie and vncerteintie of this mortall life, which is no more +free from securitie, than a ship on the sea in tempestuous weather. +For as the casualties wherewith our life is inclosed and beset with +round about, are manifold; so also are they miserable, so also are +they sudden, so also are they vnauoidable. And true it is, that the +life of man is in the hands of God, and the state of kingdoms dooth +also belong vnto him, either to continue or discontinue. But to the +processe of the matter. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Cnute vndertaketh the totall regiment of this land, he assembleth a +councell at London, the nobles doo him homage, be diuideth the realme +into foure parts to be gouerned by his assignes; Edwin and Edward +the sonnes of Edmund are banished, their good fortune by honorable +mariages, King Cnute marieth queene Emma the widow of Egelred, the +wise and politike conditions wherevpon this mariage was concluded, the +English bloud restored to the crowne and the Danes excluded, queene +Emma praised for hir high wisedome in choosing an enimie to hir +husband; Cnute dismisseth the Danish armie into Denmarke; Edrike de +Streona bewraieth his former trecherie, and procureth his owne death +through rashnesse and follie, the discordant report of writers +touching the maner & cause of his death, what noble men were executed +with him, and banished out of England, Cnute a monarch._ + +THE XJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: CANUTE, KNOUGHT OR CNUTE.] +Canute, or Cnute, whome the English chronicles doo name Knought, +after the death of king Edmund, tooke vpon him the whole rule ouer +all the realme of England, in the yeere of our Lord 1017, in the +[Sidenote: 1017.] +seuenteenth yeere of the emperour Henrie the second, surnamed Claudus, +in the twentith yeere of the reigne of Robert king of France, and +about the 7 yeere of Malcolme king of Scotland. Cnute shortlie after +the death of king Edmund, assembled a councell at London, in the which +he caused all the nobles of the realme to doo him homage, in receiuing +an oth of loiall obeisance. He diuided the realme into foure parts, +assigning Northumberland vnto the rule of Irke or Iricius, Mercia vnto +Edrike, and Eastangle vnto Turkill, and reseruing the west part to his +owne gouernance. He banished (as before is said) Edwin, the brother +of king Edmund; but such as were suspected to be culpable of Edmunds +death, he caused to be put to execution: whereby it should appeere, +that Edrike was not then in anie wise detected or once thought to be +giltie. + +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ _Ran. Higd._ King of churles. _Wil. Malm._] +The said Edwin afterwards returned, and was then reconciled to the +kings fauor (as some write) but shortlie after traitorouslie slaine by +his owne seruants. He was called the king of churles. Others write, +that he came secretlie into the realme after he had beene banished, +and keeping himselfe closelie out of sight, at length ended his life, +and was buried at Tauestocke. Moreouer, Edwin and Edward the sonnes of +king Edmund were banished the land, and sent first vnto Sweno king +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._] +of Norweie to haue bin made away: but Sweno vpon remorse of conscience +sent them into Hungarie, where they found great fauor at the hands +of king Salomon, insomuch that Edwin maried the daughter of the same +Salomon, but had no issue by hir. Edward was aduanced to marie with +Agatha, daughter of the emperour Henrie, and by hir had issue two +sonnes, Edmund and Edgar surnamed Edeling, and as many daughters, +Margaret and Christine, of the which in place conuenient more shall be +said. + +[Sidenote: _Polydor_. King Cnute maried to queene Emma the widow of +Egelred, in Iulie, anno. 1017.] +When king Cnute had established things, as he thought stood most +for his suertie, he called to his remembrance, that he had no issue +but two bastard sonnes Harold and Sweno, begotten of his concubine +Alwine. Wherefore he sent ouer to Richard duke of Normandie, requiring +to haue queene Emma, the widow of king Egelred in mariage, and so +obteined hir, not a little to the woonder of manie, which thought a +great ouersight both in the woman and in hir brother, that would +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +satisfie the request of Cnute herein, considering he had beene such a +mortall enimie to hir former husband. But duke Richard did not onelie +consent, that his said sister should be maried vnto Cnute, but also he +himselfe tooke to wife the ladie Hestritha, sister to the said Cnute. + +¶ Here ye haue to vnderstand, that this mariage was not made without +[Sidenote: The couenants made at the mariage betwixt Cnute and Emma.] +great consideration & large couenants granted on the part of king +Cnute: for before he could obteine queene Emma to his wife, it was +fullie condescended & agreed, that after Cnuts decease, the crowne of +England should remaine to the issue borne of this mariage betwixt hir +& Cnute, which couenant although it was not performed immediatlie +after the deceasse of king Cnute, yet in the end it tooke place, so +as the right seemed to be deferred, and not to be taken away nor +abolished: for immediatlie vpon Harolds death that had vsurped, +Hardicnute succeeded as right heire to the crowne, by force of the +agreement made at the time of the mariage solemnized betwixt his +father and mother, and being once established in the kingdome, he +ordeined his brother Edward to succeed him, whereby the Danes were +vtterlie excluded from all right that they had to pretend vnto the +crowne of this land, and the English bloud restored thereto, chieflie +by that gratious conclusion of this mariage betwixt king Cnute and +[Sidenote: The English bloud restored. The praise of queene Emma for +hir wisdome.] +queene Emma. For the which no small praise was thought to be due vnto +the said queene, sith by hir politike gouernement, in making hir +match so beneficiall to hir selfe and hir line, the crowne was thus +recouered out of the hands of the Danes, and restored againe in time +[Sidenote: _Encomium Emmae_.] +to the right heire, as by an auncient treatise which some haue +intituled "Encomium Emmae," and was written in those daies, it dooth +and may appeare. Which booke although there be but few copies thereof +abroad, giueth vndoubtedlie great light to the historie of that time. + +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._] +But now to our purpose. Cnute the same yeare in which he was thus +maried, through persuasion of his wife queene Emma, sent awaie the +Danish nauie and armie home into Denmarke, giuing to them fourescore +and two thousand pounds of siluer, which was leuied throughout +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ 1018.] +this land for their wages. In the yeare 1018, Edrike de Streona earle +of Mercia was ouerthrowen in his owne turne: for being called before +the king into his priuie chamber, and there in reasoning the +matter about some quarrell that was picked to him, he began verie +presumptuouslie to vpbraid the king of such pleasures as he had before +time doone vnto him; "I did (said he) for the loue which I bare +towards you, forsake my souereigne lord king Edmund, and at length for +your sake slue him." At which words Cnute began to change countenance, +as one maruellouslie abashed, and straightwaies gaue sentence against +Edrike in this wise; "Thou art woorthie (saith he) of death, and die +thou shalt, which art guiltie of treason both towards God and me, sith +that thou hast slaine thine own souereigne lord, and my deere alied +brother. Thy bloud therefore be vpon thine owne head, sith thy toong +hath vttered thy treason." And immediatlie he caused his throat to be +cut, and his bodie to be throwen out at the chamber window into the +[Sidenote: Edrike put to death.] +riuer of Thames. ¶ But others say, that hands were laid vpon him +in the verie same chamber or closet where he murdered the king, & +straightwaies to preuent all causes of tumults & hurlieburlies, he +was put to death with terrible torments of fierbrands & links; which +execution hauing passed vpon him, a second succeeded; for both his +feet were bound together, and his bodie drawne through the streets of +the citie, & in fine cast into a common ditch called Houndsditch; for +that the citizens threw their dead dogs and stinking carrion with +other filth into it, accounting him worthie of a worse rather than of +a better buriall. In such hatred was treason had, being a vice which +the verie infidels and grosse pagans abhorred, else would they not +haue said, _Proditionem amo, proditorem odi_; Treason I loue, but a +traitor I hate. This was the end of Edrike, surnamed de Stratten +or Streona, a man of great infamie for his craftie dissimulation, +falshood and treason, vsed by him to the ouerthrow of the English +estate, as partlie before is touched. + +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ _Encomium Emmae_.] +But there be that concerning the cause of this Edriks death, seeme +partlie to disagree from that which before is recited, declaring that +Cnute standing in some doubt to be betraied through the treason +of Edrike, sought occasion how to rid him and others (whome he +mistrusted) out of the way. And therefore on a day when Edrike craued +some preferment at Cnuts hands, & said that he had deserued to be +well thought of, sith by his flight from the battell at Ashendon, the +victorie therby inclined to Cnutes part: Cnute hearing him speake +these words, made this answere: "And canst thou (quoth he) be true to +me, that through fraudulent meanes diddest deceiue thy souereigne lord +and maister? But I will reward thee according to thy deserts, so as +from henceforth thou shalt not deceiue anie other," and so forthwith +commanded Erike one of his chiefe capteines to dispatch him, who +incontinentlie cut off his head with his axe or halbert. Verelie Simon +Dunelmensis saith, that K. Cnute vnderstanding in what sort both king +Egelred, and his sonne king Edmund Ironside had beene betraied by the +said Edrike, stood in great doubt to be likewise deceiued by him, and +therefore was glad to haue some pretended quarell, to dispatch both +him and others, whome he likewise mistrusted, as it well appeared. For +at the same time there were put to death with Edrike earle Norman the +sonne of earle Leofwin, and brother to earle Leofrike: also Adelward +the sonne of earle Agelmare and Brightrike the sonne of Alfegus +gouernor of Deuonshire, without all guilt or cause (as some write.) +And in place of Norman, his brother Leofrike was made earle of Mercia +by the king, and had in great fauour. This Leofrike is commonlie also +by writers named earle of Chester. After this, Cnute likewise banished +Iric and Turkill, two Danes, the one (as before is recited) gouernor +of Northumberland, and the other of Northfolke and Suffolke or +Eastangle. + +Then rested the whole rule of the realme in the kings hands, wherevpon +he studied to preserue the people in peace, and ordeined lawes, +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ Lords put to death.] +according to the which both Danes and Englishmen should be +gouerned in equall state and degree. Diuers great lords whome he found +vnfaithfull or rather suspected, he put to death (as before ye haue +heard) beside such as he banished out of the realme. He raised a tax +[Sidenote: A taxe raised.] +or tribute of the people, amounting to the summe of fourescore & +two thousand pounds, besides 11000 pounds, which the Londoners paid +towards the maintenance of the Danish armie. But whereas these things +chaunced not all at one time, but in sundrie seasons, we will returne +somewhat backe to declare what other exploits were atchiued in the +meane time by Cnute, not onelie in England, but also in Denmarke, and +elsewhere: admonishing the reader in the processe of the discourse +following, that much excellent matter is comprehended, whereout (if +the same be studiouslie read and diligentlie considered) no small +profit is to be reaped, both for the augmentation of his owne +knowledge and others that be studious. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Cnute saileth into Denmarke to subdue the Vandals, earle Goodwins +good seruice with the English against the said Vandals, and what +benefit accrewed vnto the Englishmen by the said good seruice, he +returneth into England after the discomfiture of the enimie, he +saileth ouer againe into Denmarke and incountreth with the Sweideners, +the occasion of this warre or incounter taken by Olauus, his hard hap, +vnluckie fortune, and wofull death wrought by the hands of his owne +vnnaturall subiects; Cnuts confidence in the Englishmen, his deuout +voiage to Rome, his returne into England, his subduing of the Scots, +his death and interrement._ + +THE TWELFTH CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: 1019. King Cnute passeth into Denmarke.] +In the third yeare of his reigne Cnute sailed with an armie of +Englishmen and Danes into Denmarke, to subdue the Vandals there, which +[Sidenote: Earle Goodwin his seruice in Denmarke.] +then sore annoied and warred against his subiects of Denmarke. +Earle Goodwine, which had the souereigne conduct of the Englishmen, +the night before the day appointed for the battell got him forth of +the campe with his people, and suddenlie assailing the Vandals in +their lodgings, easilie distressed them, sleaing a great number of +them, and chasing the residue. In the morning earlie, when as Cnute +heard that the Englishmen were gone foorth of their lodgings, he +supposed that they were either fled awaie, or else turned to take +part with the enimies. But as he approched to the enimies campe, he +vnderstood how the mater went; for he found nothing there but +[Sidenote: Cnute had the Englishmen in estimation for their good +service.] +bloud, dead bodies, and the spoile. For which good seruice, Cnute had +the Englishmen in more estimation euer after, and highlie rewarded +their leader the same earle Goodwine. When Cnute had ordered all +things in Denmarke, as was thought behoofefull, he returned againe +into England: and within a few daies after, he was aduertised that +the Swedeners made warre against his subiects of Denmarke, vnder the +[Sidenote: 1028. Cnute passeth againe into Denmarke.] +leding of two great princes, Vlfe and Vlafe. Wherefore to defend +his dominions in those parts, he passed againe with an armie into +Denmarke, incountred with his enimies, and receiued a sore ouerthrow, +[Sidenote: _Will. Malm._] +loosing a great number both of Danes and Englishmen. But gathering +togither a new force of men, he set againe vpon his enimies, and +ouercame them, constreining the two foresaid princes to agree vpon +[Sidenote: _Matt. Westm._] +reasonable conditions of peace. Matth. West. recounteth, that at this +time earle Goodwine and the Englishmen wrought the enterprise aboue +mentioned, of assaulting the enimies campe in the night season, after +Cnute had first lost in the day before no small number of his people: +and that then the foresaid princes or kings, as he nameth them Vlfus +[Sidenote: _Albertus Crantz_.] +and Aulafus, which latter he calleth Eiglafe, were constrained to +agree vpon a peace. The Danish chronicles alledge, that the occasion +of this warre rose hereof. This Olauus aided Cnute (as the same +writers report) against king Edmund and the Englishmen. But when +the peace should be made betweene Cnute and Edmund, there was no +consideration had of Olauus: whereas through him the Danes chieflie +obteined the victorie. Herevpon Olauus was sore offended in his mind +against Cnute, and now vpon occasion sought to be reuenged. But what +soeuer the cause was of this warre betwixt these two princes, the +end was thus: that Olauus was expelled out of his kingdome, and +constreined to flee to Gerithaslaus a duke in the parties of Eastland, +and afterward returning into Norwaie, was slaine by such of his +subiects as tooke part with Cnute, in manner as in the historie of +Norwaie, appeareth more at large, with the contrarietie found in the +writings of them which haue recorded the histories of those north +[Sidenote: Magnus Olauus.] +regions. + +[Sidenote: _Fabian_. _Polydor_. _Hen. Hunt._] +But here is to be remembred, that the fame and glorie of the +English nation was greatlie aduanced in these warres, as well against +the Swedeners as the Norwegians, so that Cnute began to loue and trust +the Englishmen much better than it was to be thought he would euer +[Sidenote: Other say, that he went forth of Denmarke to Rome. +_Simon Dun._ Anno 1031. 1032. _Wil. Malm._ _Matth. West._ 1033.] +haue doone. Shortlie after that Cnute was returned into England, that +is to say (as some haue) in the 15 yeare of his reigne, he went to +Rome to performe his vow which he had made to visit the places +where the apostles Peter and Paule had their buriall, where he was +honorablie receiued of pope Iohn the 20 that then held the see. When +he had doone his deuotion there, he returned into England. In the +yeare following, he made a iournie against the Scots, which as +[Sidenote: Scots subdued. _Hen. Hunt._ Anno 1035. _Wil. Malm._] +then had rebelled; but by the princelie power of Cnute they were +subdued and brought againe to obedience: so that not onelie king +Malcolme, but also two other kings Melbeath and Ieohmare became his +subiects. Finallie after that this noble prince king Cnute had +[Sidenote: The death of king Cnute. _Hen. Hunt._ _Alb. Crantz_.] +reigned the tearme of 20 yeares currant, after the death of Ethelred, +he died at Shaftsburie, as the English writers affirme, on the 12 of +Nouember, and was buried at Winchester. But the Danish chronicles +record that he died in Normandie, and was buried at Rome (as in the +same chronicles ye may reade more at large.) + + * * * * * + + + + +_The trespuissance of Cnute, the amplenesse of his dominions, the good +and charitable fruits of his voiage to Rome redounding to the common +benefit of all trauellers from England thither, with what great +personages he had conference, and the honour that was doone him there, +his intollerable pride in commanding the waters of the flouds not to +rise, he humbleth himselfe and confesseth Christ Iesus to be king of +kings, he refuseth to weare the crowne during his life, he reproueth +a gentleman flatterer, his issue legitimate and illegitimate, his +inclination in his latter yeares, what religious places he erected, +repaired, and inriched; what notable men he fauoured and reuerenced, +his lawes; and that in causes as well ecclesiasticall as temporall +he had cheefe and sole gouernement in this land, whereby the popes +vsurped title of vniuersall supremasie is impeached._ + +THE XIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: The large dominion of K. Cnute. _Hen. Hunt._ _Alb. Crantz_.] +This Cnute was the mightiest prince that euer reigned ouer the +English people: for he had the souereigne rule ouer all Denmark, +England, Norwaie, Scotland, and part of Sweiden. Amongest other of his +roiall acts, he caused such tolles and tallages as were demanded of +way-goers at bridges and streets in the high way betwixt England and +Rome to be diminished to the halfes, and againe got also a moderation +to be had in the paiment of the archbishops fees of his realme, which +was leuied of them in the court of Rome when they should receiue their +palles, as may appeare by a letter which he himselfe being at Rome, +directed to the bishops and other of the nobles of England. In the +which it also appeareth, that besides the roiall interteinment, which +he had at Rome of pope Iohn, he had conference there with the emperour +Conrad, with Rafe the king of Burgongne, and manie other great princes +and noble men, which were present there at that time: all which at his +[Sidenote: Grants made to the benefit of Englishmen, at the instance +of king Cnute. _Fabian_. _Polydor_. _Matt. West._] +request, in fauour of those Englishmen that should trauell vnto +Rome, granted (as we haue said) to diminish such duties as were +gathered of passingers. + +He receiued there manie great gifts of the emperour, and was highlie +honored of him, and likewise of the pope, and of all other the high +princes at that time present at Rome: so that when he came home (as +some write) he did grow greatlie into pride, insomuch that being +[Sidenote: He caused his chaire to be set there, as _Matth. West._ +saith. _Hen. Hunt._] +neere to the Thames, or rather (as other write) vpon the sea strand, +neere to Southhampton, and perceiuing the water to rise by reason of +the tide, he cast off his gowne, and wrapping it round togither, threw +it on the sands verie neere the increasing water, and sat him downe +vpon it, speaking these or the like words to the sea: "Thou art (saith +he) within the compasse of my dominion, and the ground whereon I +sit is mine, and thou knowest that no wight dare disobeie my +commandements; I therefore doo now command thee not to rise vpon my +ground, nor to presume to wet anie part of thy souereigne lord and +gouernour." But the sea keeping hir course, rose still higher and +higher, and ouerflowed not onelie the kings feet, but also flashed vp +vnto his legs and knees. Wherewith the king started suddenlie vp, and +[Sidenote: The saieng of king Cnute.] +withdrew from it, saieng withall to his nobles that were about him: +"Behold you noble men, you call me king, which can not so much as +staie by my commandement this small portion of water. But know ye for +certeine, that there is no king but the father onelie of our Lord +Iesus Christ, with whome he reigneth, & at whose becke all things are +[Sidenote: Zealouslie inough, if it had bin according to true knowledge.] +gouerned. Let vs therefore honor him, let vs confesse and professe +him to be the ruler of heauen, earth, and sea, and besides him none +other." + +From thence he went to Winchester, and there with his owne hands set +his crowne vpon the head of the image of the crucifix, which stood +there in the church of the apostles Peter and Paule, and from +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd_. _Polydor_. _Matth. West._] +thenceforth he would neuer weare that crowne nor anie other. Some +write that he spake not the former words to the sea vpon anie +presumptuousnesse of mind, but onelie vpon occasion of the vaine +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +title, which in his commendation one of his gentlemen gaue him by way +of flatterie (as he rightlie tooke it) for he called him the most +[Sidenote: Flatterie reproued.] +mightiest king of all kings, which ruled most at large both men, +sea, and land. Therefore to reprooue the fond flatterie of such vaine +persons, he deuised and practised the deed before mentioned, thereby +both to reprooue such flatterers, and also that men might be +admonished to consider the omnipotencie of almightie God. He had issue +by his wife queene Emma, a sonne named by the English chronicles +Hardiknought, but by the Danish writers Canute or Knute: also a +daughter named Gonilda, that was after maried to Henrie the sonne of +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +Conrad, which also was afterwards emperour, and named Henrie the +third. By his concubine Alwine that was daughter to Alselme, whome +[Sidenote: _Alb. Cranz_.] +some name earle of Hampton, he had two bastard sonnes, Harold and +Sweno. He was much giuen in his latter daies to vertue, as he that +[Sidenote: _Polydor_. _Fabian_.] +considered how perfect felicitie rested onelie in godlines and +true deuotion to serue the heauenlie king and gouernour of all things. + +He repared in his time manie churches, abbeies and houses of religion, +which by occasion of warres had beene sore defaced by him and his +father, but speciallie he did great cost vpon the abbeie of saint +Edmund, in the towne of Burie, as partlie before is mentioned. He also +built two abbeies from the foundation, as saint Benets in Norffolke, +[Sidenote: Which is supposed to be Barclow: for Ashdone it selfe +is halfe a mile from thence.] +seuen miles distant from Norwich, and an other in Norwaie. He +did also build a church at Ashdone in Essex, where he obteined +the victorie of king Edmund, and was present at the hallowing or +consecration therof with a great multitude of the lords and nobles of +the realme, both English and Danes. He also holpe with his owne hands +to remooue the bodie of the holie archbishop Elphegus, when the +[Sidenote: 1020. _Simon Dun._] +same was translated from London to Canturburie. The roiall and most +rich iewels which he & his wife queene Emma gaue vnto the church +of Winchester, might make the beholders to woonder at such their +exceeding and bountifull munificence. + +Thus did Cnute striue to reforme all such things as he and his +ancestors had doone amisse, and to wipe awaie the spot of euill +dooing, as suerlie to the outward sight of the world he did in +deed; he had the archbishop of Canturburie Achelnotus in singular +[Sidenote: Leofrike earle of Chester.] +reputation, and vsed his counsell in matters of importance. He +also highlie fauoured Leofrike earle of Chester, so that the same +Leofrike bare great rule in ordering of things touching the state of +[Sidenote: King Cnutes lawes.] +the common wealth vnder him as one of his chiefe councellors. +Diuerse lawes and statutes he made for the gouernment of the common +wealth, partlie agreeable with the lawes of king Edgar, and other the +kings that were his predecessors, and partlie tempered according to +his owne liking, and as was thought to him most expedient: among the +which there be diuerse that concerne causes as well ecclesiasticall as +temporall. Whereby (as maister Fox hath noted) it maie be gathered, +that the gouernment of spirituall matters did depend then not vpon the +bishop of Rome, but rather apperteined vnto the lawfull authoritie of +the temporall prince, no lesse than matters and causes temporall. But +of these lawes & statutes enacted by king Cnute, ye may read more +as ye find them set foorth in the before remembred booke of maister +William Lambert, which for briefenesse we heere omit. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Variance amongest the peeres of the realme about the roiall +succession, the kingdome is diuided betwixt Harold the bastard +sonne and Hardicnute the lawfullie begotten son of king Cnute late +deceassed, Harold hath the totall regiment, the authoritie of earle +Goodwine gardian to the queenes sonnes, Harold is proclaimed king, +why Elnothus did stoutlie refuse to consecrate him, why Harold was +surnamed Harefoot, he is supposed to be a shoomakers sonne, and how +it came to passe that he was counted king Cnutes bastard; Alfred +challengeth the crowne from Harold, Goodwine (vnder colour of +friendlie interteinment) procureth his retinues vtter vndooing, a +tithing of the Normans by the poll, whether Alfred was interessed in +the crowne, the trecherous letter of Harold written in the name of +queene Emma to hir two sons in Normandie, wherevpon Alfred commeth +ouer into England, the vnfaithfull dealing of Goodwine with Alfred and +his people, teaching that in trust is treason, a reseruation of euerie +tenth Norman, the remanent slaine, the lamentable end of Alfred, and +with what torments he was put to death; Harold banisheth queene Emma +out of England he degenerateth from his father, the short time of his +reigne, his death and buriall._ + + +THE XIIIJ. CHAPTER. + +[Sidenote: HAROLD. _Matth. West._ _Wil. Malm._] +After that Cnute was departed this life, there arose much variance +amongst the peeres and great lords of the realme about the succession. +The Danes and Londoners (which through continuall familiaritie with +the Danes, were become like vnto them) elected Harold the base +[Sidenote: Controuersie for the crowne.] +sonne of king Cnute, to succeed in his fathers roome, hauing earle +Leofrike, and diuerse other of the noble men of the north parts on +their side. But other of the Englishmen, and namelie earle Goodwine +earle of Kent, with the chiefest lords of the west parts, coueted +rather to haue one of king Egelreds sonnes, which were in Normandie, +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] +or else Hardicnute the sonne of king Cnute by his wife queene +Emma, which remained in Denmarke, aduanced to the place. This +[Sidenote: The realme diuided betwixt Harold and Hardicnute.] +controuersie held in such wise, that the realme was diuided (as some +write) by lot betwixt the two brethren Harold and Hardicnute. The +north part, as Mercia and Northumberland fell to Harold, and the south +part vnto Hardicnute: but at length the whole remained vnto Harold, +bicause his brother Hardicnute refused to come out of Denmarke to take +the gouernment vpon him. + +[Sidenote: The authoritie of earle Goodwine. _H. Hunt._] +But yet the authoritie of earle Goodwine, who had the queene +and the treasure of the realme in his keeping, staied the matter a +certeine time, (professing himselfe as it were gardian to the yoong +men, the sonnes of the queene, till at length he was constreined to +giue ouer his hold, and conforme himselfe to the stronger part and +greater number.) And so at Oxford, where the assemblie was holden +about the election, Harold was proclaimed king, and consecrated +[Sidenote: The refusall of the archbishop Elnothus to consecrate king +Harold.] +according to the maner (as some write.) But it should appeere by +other, that Elnothus the archbishop of Canturburie, a man indued with +all vertue and wisedome, refused to crowne him: for when king Harold +being elected of the nobles and peeres, required the said archbishop +that he might be of him consecrated, and receiue at his hands the +regall scepter with the crowne, which the archbishop had in his +custodie, and to whome it onelie did apperteine to inuest him +therewith, the archbishop flatlie refused, and with an oth protested, +that he would not consecrate anie other for king, so long as the +queenes children liued: "for (saith he) Cnute committed them to my +trust and assurance, and to them will I keepe my faith and loiall +obedience. The scepter and crowne I heere lay downe vpon the altar, +and neither doo I denie nor deliuer them vnto you: but I forbid by the +apostolike authoritie all the bishops, that none of them presume to +take the same awaie, and deliuer them to you, or consecrate you for +king. As for your selfe, if you dare, you maie vsurpe that which I +haue committed vnto God and his table." + +But whether afterwards the king by one meane or other, caused the +archbishop to crowne him king, or that he was consecrated of some +other, he was admitted king of all the English people, beginning +[Sidenote: 1036.] +his reigne in the yeere of our Lord a thousand thirtie and six, in the +fouretenth yeere of the emperor Conrad the second, in the sixt yeere +of Henrie the first, king of France, and about the seuen and twentith +yeere of Malcolme the second, king of Scots. This Harold for his +[Sidenote: Harold why he is surnamed Harefoot.] +great swiftnesse, was surnamed Harefoot, of whome little is written +touching his dooings, sauing that he is noted to haue beene an +oppressor of his people, and spotted with manie notable vices. It +[Sidenote: Harold euill spoken of. _Ran. Higd._ _ex Mariano_.] +was spoken of diuerse in those daies, that this Harold was not the +sonne of Cnute, but of a shoomaker, and that his supposed mother +Elgina, king Cnutes concubine, to bring the king further in loue with +hir, feined that she was with child: and about the time that she +should be brought to bed (as she made hir account) caused the said +shoemakers son to be secretlie brought into hir chamber, and then +vntrulie caused it to be reported that she was deliuered, and the +child so reputed to be the kings sonne. + +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._] +Immediatlie vpon aduertisement had of Cnutes death, Alfred the +sonne of king Egelred, with fiftie saile landed at Sandwich, meaning +to challenge the crowne, and to obteine it by lawfull claime with +quietnesse, if he might; if not, then to vse force by aid of his +friends, and to assaie that waie foorth to win it, if he might not +otherwise obteine it. From Sandwich he came to Canturburie: and +shortlie after, earle Goodwine feining to receiue him as a friend, +came to meet him, and at Gilford in the night season appointed a +number of armed men to fall vpon the Normans as they were asleepe, and +so tooke them togither with Alfred, & slue the Normans by the poll, +in such wise that nine were shine, & the tenth reserued. But yet when +those that were reserued, seemed to him a greater number than he +wished to escape, he fell to and againe tithed them as before. Alfred +had his eies put out, and was conueied to the Ile of Elie, where +shortlie after he died. + +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._] +¶ How Alfred should claime the crowne to himselfe I see not: for +verelie I can not be persuaded that he was the elder brother, though +diuers authors haue so written, sith Gemeticensis, & the author of the +booke called "Encomium Emmae," plainlie affirme, that Edward was the +elder: but it might be, that Alfred being a man of a stouter stomach +[Sidenote: See maister _Fox_ acts and monuments, pag. 112. _Simon Dun._] +than his brother Edward, made this attempt, either for himselfe, +or in the behalfe of his brother Edward, being as then absent, and +gone into Hungarie, as some write: but other say, that as well Edward +as Alfred came ouer at this time with a number of Norman knights, and +men of warre imbarked in a few ships, onelie to speake with their +mother, who as then lay at Winchester, whether to take aduise with hir +how to recouer their right heere in this land, or to aduance their +brother Hardicnute, or for some other purpose, our authors doo not +declare. + +But the lords of the realme that bare their good wils vnto Harold, +and (though contrarie to right) ment to mainteine him in the estate, +seemed to be much offended with the comming of these two brethren +in such order: for earle Goodwine persuaded them, that it was great +danger to suffer so manie strangers to enter the realme, as they had +brought with them. Wherevpon earle Goodwine with the assent of the +other lords, or rather by commandement of Harold, went foorth, and at +Gilford met with Alfred that was comming towards king Harold to speake +with him, accordinglie as he was of Harold required to doo. But now +being taken, and his companie miserablie murthered (as before ye haue +heard) to the number of six hundred Normans, Alfred himselfe was sent +into the Ile of Elie, there to remaine in the abbeie in custodie of +the moonks, hauing his eies put out as soone as he entered first into +the same Ile. William Malmesburie saith, that Alfred came ouer, and +was thus handeled betwixt the time of Harolds death, & the comming +in of Hardicnute. Others write, that this chanced in his brother +Hardicnuts daies, which seemeth not to be true: for Hardicnute was +knowne to loue his brethren by his mothers side too dearelie to haue +suffered anie such iniurie to be wrought against either of them in his +time. + +¶ Thus ye see how writers dissent in this matter, but for the better +clearing of the truth touching the time, I haue thought good to shew +also what the author of the said booke intituled "Encomium Emmae" +writeth hereof, which is as followeth. When Harold was once +established king, he sought meanes how to rid queene Emma out of the +way, and that secretlie, for that openlie as yet he durst not attempt +anie thing against hir. She in silence kept hir selfe quiet, looking +for the end of these things. But Harold remembring himselfe, of a +malicious purpose, by wicked aduise tooke counsell how he might get +into his hands and make away the sons of queene Emma, & so to be out +of danger of all annoiance that by them might be procured against him. +Wherefore he caused a letter to be written in the name of their +[Sidenote: A counterfet letter.] +mother Emma, which he sent by certeine messengers suborned for the +same purpose into Normandie, where Edward and Alfred as then remained. +The tenour of which letter here insueth. + +_The tenour of a letter forged and sent in queene Emmas name to hir +two sonnes_. + +"Emma tantum nomine regina filijs Edwardo & Alfredo materna impertit +salutamina. D[=u] domini nostri regis obitum separatim plangimus +(filij charissimi) dumq; dietim magis magisque regno haereditatis +vestrae priuamini, miror quid captetis consilij, dum sciatis +intermissionis vestrae dilatione inuasoris vestri imperij fieri +quotidie soliditat[=e]. Is enim incessanter vicos & vrbes circuit, & +sibi amicos principes muneribus, minis, & precibus facit: sed vnum +e vobis super se mallent regnare quam istius (qui nunc ijs imperat) +teneri ditione. Vnde rogo vnus vestrum ad me velociter & priuate +veniat, vt salubre a me consilium accipiat, & sciat quo pacto hoc +negotium quod volo fieri debeat, per praesentem quoque internuncium +quid super his facturi estis remandate. Valete cordis mei viscera." + +_The same in English_. + +"Emma in name onelie queene to hir sons Edward and Alfred sendeth +motherlie greeting. Whilest we separatelie bewaile the death of our +souereigne lord the king (most deare sonnes) and whilest you +are euerie day more and more depriued from the kingdome of your +inheritance, I maruell what you doo determine, sith you know by the +delay of your ceassing to make some enterprise, the grounded force +of the vsurper of your kingdom is dailie made the stronger. For +incessantlie he goeth from towne to towne, from citie to citie, and +maketh the lords his friends by rewards, threats, and praiers, but +they had rather haue one of you to reigne ouer them, than to be kept +vnder the rule of this man that now gouerneth them. Wherefore my +request is, that one of you doo come with speed, and that priuilie +ouer to me, that he may vnderstand my wholesome aduise, and know in +what sort this matter ought to be handled, which I would haue to go +forward, and see that ye send mee word by this present messenger what +you meane to doo herein. Fare ye well euen the bowels of my heart." + +These letters were deliuered vnto such as were made priuie to the +purposed treason, who being fullie instructed how to deale, went ouer +into Normandie, and presenting the letters vnto the yoong gentlemen, +vsed the matter so, that they thought verelie that this message had +beene sent from their mother, and wrote againe by them that brought +the letters, that one of them would not faile but come ouer vnto hir +according to that she had requested, and withall appointed the day and +time. The messengers returning to king Harold, informed him how they +had sped. The yoonger brother Alfred, with his brothers consent, tooke +with him a certeine number of gentlemen and men of warre, and first +came into Flanders, where after he had remained a while with earle +Baldwine, he increased his retinue with a few Bullogners, and passed +ouer into England, but approching to the shore, he was streightwaies +descried by his enimies, who hasted foorth to set vpon him; but +perceiuing their drift, he bad the ships cast about, and make againe +to the sea; then landing at an other place, he ment to go the next way +to his mother. + +[Sidenote: Godwin was suspected to do this vnder a colour to betray +him as by writers it seemeth.] +But earle Goodwine hearing of his arriuall, met him, receiued +him into his assurance, and binding his credit with a corporall oth, +became his man, and therwith leading him out of the high way that +leadeth to London, he brought him to Gilford, where he lodged all the +strangers, by a score, a doozen, and halfe a score togither in innes, +so as but a few remained about the yoong gentleman Alfred to attend +vpon him. There was plentie of meat and drinke prepared in euerie +lodging, for the refreshing of all the companie. And Goodwine taking +his leaue for that night, departed to his lodging, promising the next +morning to come againe to giue his dutifull attendance on Alfred. + +But behold, after they had filled themselues with meats and drinks, +[Sidenote: Not onelie Goodwine but other such as king Harold appointed, +took Alfred with his Normans.] +and were gone to bed, in the dead of the night came such as king +Harold had appointed, and entring into euerie inne, first seized vpon +the armor and weapons that belonged to the strangers: which done, +they tooke them, and chained them fast with fetters and manacles, so +keeping them sure till the next morning. Which being come, they +were brought foorth with their hands bound behind their backs, and +deliuered to most cruell tormentors, who were commanded to spare none +but euerie tenth man, as he came to hand by lot, and so they slue nine +and left the tenth aliue. Of those that were left aliue, some they +kept to serue as bondmen, other for couetousnesse of gaine they sold, +and some they put in prison, of whome yet diuerse afterwards escaped. +This with more hath the foresaid author written of this matter, +declaring further, that Alfred being conueied into the Ile of Elie, +had not onelie his eies put out in most cruell wise, but was also +presentlie there murthered. But he speaketh not further of the maner +how he was made away, sauing that he saith he forbeareth to make long +recitall of this matter, bicause he will not renew the mothers greefe +in hearing it, sith there can be no greater sorrow to the mother than +to heare of hir sonnes death. + +¶ I remember in Caxton we read, that his cruell tormentors should +cause his bellie to be opened, & taking out one end of his bowels or +guts, tied the same to a stake which they had set fast in the ground; +then with needels of iron pricking his bodie, they caused him to run +about the stake, till he had woond out all his intrailes, & so ended +he his innocent life, to the great shame & obloquie of his cruel +aduersaries. But whether he was thus tormented or not, or rather died +(as I thinke) of the anguish by putting out his eies, no doubt but his +death was reuenged by Gods hand in those that procured it. But whether +erle Goodwine was cheefe causer thereof, in betraieng him vnder a +cloked colour of pretended freendship, I cannot say: but that he tooke +him and slue his companie, as some haue written, I cannot thinke it to +be true, both as well for that which ye haue heard recited out of the +author that wrote "Encomium Emmae," as also for that it should seeme he +might neuer be so directlie charged with it, but that he had matter to +alledge in his owne excuse. But now to other affaires of Harold. + +[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ Queene Emma banished.] +After he had made away his halfe brother Alfred, he spoiled +his mother in law queene Emma of the most part of hir riches, and +therewith banished hir quite out of the realme: so that she sailed +ouer to Flanders, where she was honourablie receiued of earle +Baldwine, and hauing of him honourable prouision assigned hir, she +continued there for the space of three yeeres, till that after +[Sidenote: _Polydor_. Harold degenerateth from his father. _Hen. Hunt._] +the death of Harold, she was sent for by hir sonne Hardiknought, that +succeeded Harold in the kingdome. Moreouer, Harold made small account +of his subiects, degenerating from the noble vertues of his father, +following him in few things (except in exacting of tributes and +paiments.) He caused indeed eight markes of siluer to be leuied of +[Sidenote: A nauie in a readinesse. Euill men, the longer they liue, +the more they grow into miserie. _Wil. Malm._ _Hen. Hunt._] +euerie port or hauen in England, to the reteining of 16 ships +furnished with men of warre, which continued euer in readinesse to +defend the coasts from pirats. To conclude with this Harold, his +speedie death prouided well for his fame, bicause (as it was thought) +if his life had beene of long continuance, his infamie had beene the +greater. But after he had reigned foure yeeres, or (as other gathered) +three yeeres and three moneths, he departed out of this world at +Oxford, & was buried at Winchester (as some say.) Other say he died at +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +Meneford in the moneth of Aprill, and was buried at Westminster, +which should appeare to be true by that which after is reported of his +brother Hardiknoughts cruell dealing, and great spite shewed toward +his dead bodie, as after shall be specified. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Hardicnute is sent for into England to be made king; alteration +in the state of Norwaie and Denmarke by the death of king Cnute, +Hardicnute is crowned, he sendeth for his mother queene Emma, +Normandie ruled by the French king, Hardicnute reuengeth his mothers +exile upon the dead bodie of his stepbrother Harold, queene Emma and +erle Goodwine haue the gouernment of things in their hands, Hardicnute +leuieth a sore tribute upon his subiects; contempt of officers & +deniall of a prince his tribute sharpelie punished; prince Edward +commeth into England; the bishop of Worcester accused and put from his +see for being accessarie to the murthering of Alfred, his restitution +procured by contribution; Earle Goodwine being accused for the same +trespasse excuseth himselfe, and iustifieth his cause by swearing, but +speciallie by presenting the king with an inestimable gift; the cause +why Goodwine purposed Alfreds death; the English peoples care about +the succession to the crowne, moonke Brightwalds dreame and vision +touching that matter; Hardicnute poisoned at a bridall, his +conditions, speciallie his hospitalitie, of him the Englishmen learned +to eate and drinke immoderatlie, the necessitie of sobrietie, the end +of the Danish regiment in this land, and when they began first to +inuade the English coasts._ + +THE XV. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: HARDICNUTE, or HARDIKNOUGHT.] +After that Harold was dead, all the nobles of the realme, both +Danes and Englishmen agreed to send for Hardiknought, the sonne of +Canute by his wife queene Emma, and to make him king. Heere is to be +noted, that by the death of king Canute, the state of things was much +altered in those countries of beyond the seas wherein he had the rule +[Sidenote: Alteration in the state of things. _Simon Dun._, & +_Matt. West._ say, that he was at Bruges in Flanders with his +mother when he was thus sent for, having come thither to visit hir. +1041.] +and dominion. For the Norwegians elected one Magnus, the sonne of +Olauus to be their king, and the Danes chose this Hardiknought, whome +their writers name Canute the third, to be their gouernor. This +Hardiknought or Canute being aduertised of the death of his halfe +brother Harold, and that the lords of England had chosen him to their +king, with all conuenient speed prepared a nauie, and imbarking a +certeine number of men of warre, tooke the sea, and had the wind so +fauorable for his purpose, that he arriued upon the coast of Kent the +sixt day after he set out of Denmarke, and so comming to London, was +ioifullie receiued, and proclaimed king, and crowned of Athelnotus +archbishop of Canturburie, in the yere of our Lord 1041, in the first +yeere of the emperour Henrie the third, in the 9 yeere of Henrie +the first of that name king of France, and in the first yeere of +Magfinloch, alias Machabeda king of Scotland. Incontinentlie after +[Sidenote: Queene Emma sent for.] +his establishment in the rule of this realme, he sent into Flanders +for his mother queene Emma, who during the time of hir banishment, +had remained there. For Normandie in that season was gouerned by the +French king, by reason of the minoritie of duke William, surnamed the +bastard. + +Moreouer, in reuenge of the wrong offered to queene Emma by hir sonne +[Sidenote: The bodie of king Harold taken vp, and throwen into Thames.] +in law Harold, king Hardicnute did cause Alfrike archbishop of +Yorke and earle Goodwine, with other noble men to go to Westminster, +and there to take vp the bodie of the same Harold, and withall +appointed, that the head thereof should be striken off, and the trunke +of it cast into the riuer of Thames. Which afterwards being found by +fishers, was taken vp and buried in the churchyard of S. Clement +[Sidenote: S. Clement Danes.] +Danes without Temple barre at London. He committed the order and +gouernement of things to the hands of his mother Emma, and of Goodwine +[Sidenote: A tribute raised. _Hen. Hunt._] +that was erle of Kent. He leuied a sore tribute of his subiects +here in England to pay the souldiers and mariners of his nauie, as +first 21 thousand pounds, & 99 pounds, and afterward vnto 32 ships +[Sidenote:_ Simon Dun._ _Wil. Malm._ _Matth. West._ +_Sim. Dun._] +there was a paiment made of a 11 thousand and 48 pounds. To euerie +mariner of his nauie he caused a paiment of 8 marks to be made, and to +euerie master 12 marks. About the paiment of this monie great grudge +grew amongst the people, insomuch that two of his seruants, which were +appointed collectors in the citie of Worcester, the one named Feader, +and the other Turstane, were there slaine. In reuenge of which +contempt a great part of the countrie with the citie was burnt, and +the goods of the citizens put to the spoile by such power of lords and +men of warre as the king had sent against them. + +Shortlie after, Edward king Hardicnutes brother came foorth of +Normandie to visit him and his mother queene Emma, of whome he was +most ioifullie and honorablie welcomed and interteined, and +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._ _Ran. Higd._ _Marianus_.] +shortlie after made returne backe againe. It should appeare by some +writers, that after his comming ouer out of Normandie he remained +still in the realme, so that he was not in Normandie when his halfe +brother Hardicnute died, but here in England: although other make +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +other report, as after shall bee shewed. Also (as before ye haue +heard) some writers seeme to meane, that the elder brother Alfred came +ouer at the same time. But suerlie they are therein deceiued: for +it was knowne well inough how tenderlie king Hardicnute loued his +brethren by the mothers side, so that there was not anie of the lords +[Sidenote: The bishop of Worcester accused for making away of Alfred.] +in his daies, that durst attempt anie such iniurie against them. +True it is, that as well earle Goodwine, as the bishop of Worcester +(that was also put in blame and suspected for the apprehending and +making away of Alfred, as before ye haue heard) were charged by +Hardicnute as culpable in that matter, insomuch that the said bishop +was expelled out of his see by Hardicnute: and after twelue moneths +space was restored, by meanes of such summes of monie as he gaue by +waie of amends. + +[Sidenote: Earle Goodwin excuseth himselfe.] +Earle Goodwine was also put to his purgation, by taking an oth +that he was not guiltie. Which oth was the better allowed, by reason +of such a present as he gaue to the king for the redeeming of his +[Sidenote: The gift which earle Goodwin gaue to the king.] +fauour and good will, that is to say, a ship with a sterne of gold, +conteining therein 80 souldiers, wearing on each of their armes two +bracelets of gold of 16 ounces weight, a triple habergion guilt on +their bodies, with guilt burgenets on their heads, a swoord with guilt +hilts girded to their wastes, a battell-axe after the maner of the +Danes on their left shoulder, a target with bosses and mails guilt in +their left hand, a dart in their right hand: and thus to conclude, +they were furnished at all points with armor and weapon accordinglie. +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +It hath beene said, that earle Goodwine minded to marie his +daughter to one of these brethren, and perceiuing that the elder +brother Alfred would disdaine to haue hir, thought good to dispatch +him, that the other taking hir to wife, hee might be next heire to the +crowne, and so at length inioy it, as afterwards came to passe. + +Also about that time, when the linage of the kings of England was in +maner extinct, the English people were much carefull (as hath beene +said) about the succession of those that should inioie the crowne. +Wherevpon as one Brightwold a moonke of Glastenburie, that was +afterward bishop of Wincester, or (as some haue written) of Worcester, +studied oftentimes thereon: it chanced that he dreamed one night as he +slept in his bed, that he saw saint Peter consecrate & annoint Edward +the sonne of Egelred (as then remaining in exile in Normandie) king of +England. And as he thought, he did demand of saint Peter, who should +succeed the said Edward? Wherevnto answer was made by the apostle; +Haue thou no care for such matters, for the kingdome of England is +Gods kingdome. Which suerlie in good earnest may appeare by manie +great arguments to be full true vnto such as shall well consider the +state of this realme from time to time, how there hath beene euer +gouernours raised vp to mainteine the maiestie of the kingdome, and +to reduce the same to the former dignitie, when by anie infortunate +mishap it hath beene brought in danger. + +[Sidenote: The death of K. Hardicnute. _Sim. Dunel._ +_Matth. West._ 1042.] +But to returne now to king Hardicnute, after he had reigned two +yeers lacking 10 daies, as he sat at the table in a great feast holden +at Lambeth, he fell downe suddenlie with the pot in his hand, and so +died not without some suspicion of poison. This chanced on the 8 +of Iune at Lambeth aforesaid, where, on the same day a mariage was +solemnized betweene the ladie Githa, the daughter of a noble man +called Osgot Clappa, and a Danish lord also called Canute Prudan. His +bodie was buried at Winchester besides his father. He was of nature +[Sidenote: K. Hardicnute his conditions and liberalitie in +housekeeping. _Hen. Hunt._] +verie curteous, gentle and liberall, speciallie in keeping good +cheere in his house, so that he would haue his table couered foure +times a day, & furnished with great plentie of meates and drinks, +wishing that his seruants and all strangers that came to his palace, +[Sidenote: Of whom the Englishmen learned excessiue feeding.] +might rather leaue than want. It hath beene commonlie told, that +Englishmen learned of him their excessiue gourmandizing & vnmeasurable +filling of their panches with meates and drinkes, whereby they forgat +the vertuous vse of sobrietie, so much necessarie to all estates and +degrees, so profitable for all common-wealthes, and so commendable +both in the sight of God, and all good men. + +[Sidenote: The end of the Danish rulers.] +In this Hardicnute ceased the rule of the Danes within this land, +with the persecution which they had executed against the English +nation, for the space of 250 yeres & more, that is to say, euer since +the tenth yeere of Brithrike the king of Westsaxons, at what time they +first began to inuade the English coasts. Howbeit (after others) they +should seeme to haue ruled here but 207, reckoning from their bringing +in by the Welshmen in despite of the Saxons, at which time they first +began to inhabit here, which was 835 of Christ, 387 after the comming +of the Saxons, and 35 neere complet of the reigne of Egbert. + +¶ But to let this peece of curiositie passe, this land felt that they +had a time of arriuall, a time of inuading, a time of ouerrunning, and +a time of ouerruling the inhabitants of this maine continent. Wherof +manifest proofes are at this day remaining in sundrie places, sundrie +ruines I meane and wastes committed by them; vpon the which whensoeuer +a man of a relenting spirit casteth his eie, he can not but enter +into a dolefull consideration of former miseries, and lamenting the +defacements of this Ile by the crueltie of the bloudthirstie enimie, +cannot but wish (if he haue but "Minimam misericordiae guttam quae maior +est spatioso oceano," as one saith) and earnestlie desire in his heart +that the like may neuer light vpon this land, but may be auerted and +turned away from all christian kingdomes, through his mercie, whose +wrath by sinne being set on fire, is like a consuming flame; and the +swoord of whose vengeance being sharpened with the whetstone of mens +wickednesse, shall hew them in peeces as wood for the fornace. + +_Thus farre the tumultuous and tyrannicall regiment of the Danes, +inferring fulnesse of afflictions to the English people, wherewith +likewise the seuenth booke is shut vp._ + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of +England (7 of 8), by Raphael Holinshed + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORIE OF ENGLAND *** + +***** This file should be named 16617.txt or 16617.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1/16617/ + +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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