ten thousand pounds in one year at first and then 16000 24000 30000 40000 or 48000 l. at the utmost for several whole years Tribute without any Excise Imposts or other Customs Which meditation me thinks should now induce them to mitigate release cease our long continued uncessant Taxes Excises Imposts or at least to reduce them to the Danes highest annual proportion of 48000 thousand pounds lest the whole Nation and Posterity repute them more oppressive barbarous tyrannical to their Christian Countrymen now than the worst of the forein Pagan Danish Invaders were heretofore and greater present Enemies to their Native Country than the Danes then were to our Progenitors The self same year there being some difference between King Ethelâ—ed and Richard Marquess of Normandy he thereupon slew and pillaged all the English passing through his Country and affronted King Ethelred with frequent injuries Pope Iohn the 15. hereupon sent Leo his Legate with exhortatory Letters to make peace between them who coming with them to King Ethelred on Christmass day Anno 9â—1 the King uâ—on râ—ceit of the Popes Letters Accersitis cunctis sui Regni fidelibus utriusque ordinis Sapientioribus Assembling all the Wisest men of his Realm of both Orders for the love and fear of Almighty God and St. Peter the Prince of the Apostles granted and estabished a most firm peace with all his Sons aâ—d Daughters present and to come and with all his Lieges without guile In pursuance whereof the King sent Edelfinus Bishop of Sherburn with two other persons of quality into Normandy to the Marquess Who upon receit of the Popes Admonitions and hearing of the kings Decree with a willing mind confirwed the said Peace with his Sons and Daughters present and to come and with all his Subjects upon this reasonable condition That if any of them or they themselves should perpetrate any unjust thing against the other it should be expâ—ated with eondign reparation Which Peace that it might remain perpetually firm was ratified by the Oaths of the Commissioners of both parts at Rhoan in March following Here we have a Peace advised ratified by the direction of a Parliamentary Great Council recorded at large by Malmsbury The last clause whereof was this Et de hominibus Regis vel de inimicis suis nullum Richardus recipiat nec Rex de suis sine Sigillo eorum King Ethelred in the year 992. hearing that the Danes intended a new invasion of England and that they had sent a great Fleet to Sea contrary to their former Agreement the year before assembled a Council of his Nobles to consult how to resist them What the result of their consultation was Florence of Worcester thus record Consilio jussuque Regis Anglorum Etheâ—redi Procerumque suorum de tota Anglia robustrores Londoniae congregatae sunt Naves By the Counsel and command of Ethelbert king of England and of his Nobles all the strongest Ships were assembled together at London out of all England which the king furnishing with choice Souldiers made Duke Alfric Duke Thorold Alstan and Aesâ—win two Bishops Admirals over them commanding them if by any means they could to take the Danish Army and Fleâ—t by inviâ—oning them in some part But Duke Alfric formerly banished forgiven and now made chief Admiral turning Traytor both to his king and Country first sends a secret Messenger to the Danes to acquaint them with the designs against them intreating them to prevent the ambushes prepared to surprize them whereby they escaped the hands of the English After which when the English and Danes were ready to encounter each other in a Sea-fight Alfric fled secretly to the Danish Fleet the night before and by reason of the instant danger fled away shamefully with them The kings Navy pursuing them took and pillaged one of the Danish Ships flaying all the men therein But the London ships meeting with the other Danish Pirates as they were flying fought with them slew many thousands of the Danes and took Duke Alfric his Ship with the Souldiers and Armes himself hardly escaping as Wigorniensis and Matthew Westminster relate But Huntind Bromton write that the Danes recruiting their Navy met and fought with the kings Navy slew many of the Londoners triumphantly took whole armed Ships and Duke Alfric who was in them whom the king should not have trusted according to the antient saying Quem semel gravitèr laeseris non facile tibi fidelem credideris For this Treason of Alfric the king cauâ—ed the Eyes of his Son Algar to be put out Unâ—e odium infamia eâ—us â—rudelitatis adaucta est as Huntiâ—don and others observe The next year 993. the Danish Fleet entring Humber wasted the Country of Northumberland and Lindesey burning the Villages slaying the people and pillaging their goods Whereupon great multitudes of the people of thaâ— Country assembling together resolved and hastned to sight with them but when they were ready to giâ—e â—hem battel Frena Fâ—ithgist and Godwin their Captains being of Danish Progenyâ— proving treacherous to their followers perswaded them to fly and fled first themselves Notwithstanding the Country as Malmesbury Speed and others write being unable to digest their intollerable insolence and plunders fell upon the Danes slew many of them and chased away the rest to defend their Lives Liberties and Estates Anno 994. Swane king of Denmark â— and Anlafe king of Norwey with 94 Ships sailed up to London besieged and â—iercely assaulted the City thinking to take it but the Citizens so manfully defended it that they repulsed the Danes thence with great loss Who thereupon turning their fury upon the Counâ—ies of Essex Kent Sussex and Southampton so greivously wasted them with fire and sword burning the Villaâ—es and slaying the Inhabitants that King Ethelred Concilio Procerum suorum by the Council of his Nobles aâ—â—embled together for that end as Wigorniensis Matthew Westminster Hoveden Simeon Dunelmensis and others write sent Embassadours to them promising to give them Tribute and Wages and Money upon this condition that they should desist from their cruelty Who thereupon condescending to the kings request returned to their Ships and drawing all their Army together unto Southampton wintered there To whom a Tribute of fixteen thousand pounds was given and paid out of all England that they shouâ—d cease from their rapines and slaugâ—ters of innocent persons Afâ—er tâ—is agreement King Anlaf â—epaired to Andover to King Etâ—elred where he received baptiâ—m Ethelred being his Godfather and bestowing great gifts upon him Hereupon Anlaf entred into a League with him promising to return into his own Countrey and never after to râ—turn into England with an Army Which promise he faithfully observed The Articles of the Agreement between King Ethelred and him are at large recorded in the Chronicle of Bromton Col. 899â— 900. being made by advice of all his Wisemen asâ—embled in a Parliamentary Council as this Title to
election of the Nobles Clergy and People That although the several Titles he Pretended were perhaps if curiously examined not sufficient to give him a true legal Title and Right to the Crown of England à parte ante because not agreed unto and confirmed by the general consent of the Nobles Kingdom and Nation in a Parliamentary Great Council but only by the King and some particular Prelates and Nobles out of Parliament as Harold in his answers alleged yet being ratified ex parte post both by the subsâ—quent consent agreement submission election Oath homage and fealty of all the people Nobles Clergy by their legal free crowning of him aâ— first by Edgar Atheling his own submission fealty and resignation of his royal right and Title thereby unâ—o him and ratified by succeeding Parliamentary Councils it became an inâ—uhitable Right and Title both in Law and Iustice to him and his Posterity against all others who could lay no legaller Title thereunto he continuing confirming all the antient fundamental Laws Liberties Customs and Government of the English Nation without any alteration both by Oaths and Edicts I shal therefore conclude this point with the words of Shard a learned Lawyer in King Edward the third his reign who when the Kings Counsel in a Quo Warranto against the Abbot of Peterborough would have made a Charter of king Edgar void because they allegedâ— all Franchises were devolved to the Crown by the Conquest replyed thereâ—o The Conquerour came not at all to â—ut any who had lawfull possession out of their rights but to dispossess those who by their wrong had seised upon any land in dis-inherison of the King and his Crown And with the words of our judicious Hiâ—â—orian Sa. Daniel concerning this king VVilliam Neither did he â—ver claim any power by conquest but as a regular Prince submitted himself to the orders of the Kingdom desiring to have his Testamentary Title howsoever weak to make good his succession rather than his sword And though the stile of Conqueror by the flattery of the time was after given him he shewed by all the course of his Government he assumed it not introducing none of those Alterations which followed by violence but by a mild gathering upon the disposition of the State and the occasions offered and that by way of reformation And although Sir Hen. VVotton gives this verdict of them VVe do commonly and justly stile him the Conquerour For he made a general conquest of tâ—e â—â—ole Kingdom and People either by Composition or Armes c. Yet he addes He was Crowned on Christmas day 1066. at which time he would fain have compounded a Civil Title of I know not what Alliance or Adoption or rather Donation from Edward the Confessor As if hereditarie kingdoms did pass like Newyears gifts The truth is he was the heir of his Sword Yet from these pretences howsoever there sprang this good That he was thereby in a sorting aged to cast his Government into a middle or mixed nature as it were between a lawfull successor and an Invader though generally as all new Empires do savour much of their beginning it had more of the Violent than of the Legal If any domineering Souldiers or others upon this false surmise of Duke VVilliams right to the Crown and Realm of England by meer conquest â— shall henceforth presume to claim and exercise a meer arbitrary absolute tyrannical and despotical power over our English Nation Laws Liberties Parliaments Estates Persons as over a meer conquered Nation against all Commissions Trusts Oaths Engagements Declarations and the rules both of Law and War it self being raiâ—ed waged commissioned only to defend and preserve us from conquest by the opposite party Let them know that they are far greater worser Enemies to their own Native Country than this Norman Duke or any of our former British Saxon Danish Norman or English Kings who never claimed the Crown by meer conquest in any age but only by some real or pretended Title of Inheritance or at least by a free and general election both of the Nobility Clergy and people as this King William did From the former Historical Passages concerning Harold Tosti Duke William and the Kentishmen I shall deduce these legal Observations 1. That no Tax Subsidie or Imposition whatsoever could in that age be imposed on the English or Norman Subjects by their Kings or Dukes but by their common consentâ— in their Parliamentary Councils where they were denied when inconvenient to the publike as well as granted when convenient 2. That no English or Norman Subjects were then obliged to aid and assist their Soveraigns with their persons arms estates or subsidies granted in any foreign invasive war but only left free to contribute what private assistance they thought fit in such cases 3. That no publike wars in that age were ever undertaken but by common advice and consent in great Parliamentary Councils 4. That the Kings of England in that age however they came to the Crown by right or wrong held it both their bounden duty interest safety to defend and preserve the Laws Rights Liberties of the Church and people to enact and maintain good Laws and abolish all evill Laws Rapines Exactions Tributes and to govern them justly according to their Coronation Oaths and not arbitrarily or tyrannically according to their pleasures 5. That no Freemen in that age could be justly imprisoned banished or put to death but for some hainous misdemeanors and that by a legal trial and conviction 6. That the Subjects of England then held it their bounden duties in times of forein invasion to defend the Realm their Lives Liberties Properties both by Land and Sea against forein Enemies yet they held themselves dis-obliged and were generally averse to defend the person or Title of any Usurper of the Crown against any forein Prince or other Person who had a better right and title to it 7. That our English Ancestors in that age esteemed their hereditary Liberties good antient Laws and Customs more dear and pretious to them than their very lives and would rather die fighting for their Laws and Liberties like freemen than live under slavery or bondage to any Soveraign whatsoever 8. That the Kings of England in that age could neither give away nor legally dispose of their Crowns Kingdoms or Crown Lands to others without the privity and free consent of their Nobles and Kingdom in general Parliamentary Council as is evident by Harolds answers to VVilliams Embassadours the recited passage of Matthew Paris upon that occasion and this of Samuel Daniel p. 34. So much was done either by King Edward or Harold though neither act if any such were was of power to prejudice the State or alter the course of right succession as gave the Duke a colour to claim the Crown by a donation made by Testament which being against the Law and Custom of the Kingdom could be of no validity
inducing this King to grant it Beorredus laâ—giente Dei gratia Rex Merciorum omnibus provinciis populis earum universam Merciam inhabitantibus fidem Catholicam conservantibus salutem sempiternam in Domino nostro Jesu Christo. Quoniam peccatis nostris exigentibus manum Domini super nos extensum quotidiè cum virgâ ferreâ cernimus cervicibus nostris imminere Necessarium nobis salubre arbitror piis sanctae matris ecclesiae precibus Eleemosynarumque liberis largitionibus iratum Dominum placatum reddere et dignis devotionibus ejus gratiam in nostris necessitaâ—ibus auxiliariam imploraâ—e Ideoque et ad petitionem strenâ—i Comitis mihi meritoque dilectissimi concessi regio Chirographo meo Theodoro Abbati Croyland Tam donum dicti Comitis Algari quam dona aliorum fidelium praeterit orum ac praesentium c. And it concludes thus Istud Regium Chirographum meum Anno Incarnationis Domini nostri Jesu Christi 868. Calendis Augusti apud Snothingham coram fratribus amicis omni populo meo in obsidione Paganorum congregatis sanctae crucis munimine confirmaviâ— Then follow the subscriptions and confirmations of Ceolnoth Archbishop of Canterbury 5 Bishops 3 Abbots Ethelred king of West-Saxons and Alfred his Brother Edmund king of East-Angle 2 Dukes and twelve Earls who all ratified this Charter After which Charter confirmed this king Beorred renders special thanks to all his Army for their assistance against the Danes especially to the Bishops Abbots and other inferior Ecclesiastical Persons for their voluntary assistance of him in those wars against these Enemies norwithstanding his Fathers exemption of them by his Charter from all military expeditions and secular services thus recorded by Ingulphus and most worthy observation Ego Beorredus Rex Merciorum Intimo animi affectu totisque praecordiis gratias exolvo speciales omni exercitui meo maximè tamen Viris Ecclesiasticis Episcopis Abbatibus aliis etiam inferioribus status dignitatis Qui licèt piissimae memoriae Rex quondam Eâ—helwulfus pater meus per sacratisâ—imam Chartam suam ab omni expeditione militari vos liberos reddiderit ab omni servitio saeculari penitus absolutos dignisâ—â—ma tamen miseratione super oppressiones Christianae plebis Ecclesiarumque Monasteriorum destructiones luctuosas benignissimè compassi contra nefandissimos Paganos in exercitum domini prompti spontanei convenistis ut tanquam Martyres Christi cultus sanguine vestro augeatur barbarorum superstitiosa crudelitas effugetur From these last Passages it is apparent first That in those days our Saxon Kings made War and Peace by the advice and consent of their Nobles and Parliamentary great Councils 2ly That in cases of common invasion and danger by forein Enemies all the forces raised and ways and means to resist them were concluded on by advice and consent of these great Councils and not by the kings absolute power 3ly That all or most Church-men and their Church-lands in those days were absolutely freed and discharged from all military expeditions Contributions Aids and Assistance against Enemies by express Charters but only such as themselves voluntarily anâ—â—reely contributed in cases of incumbent great Danger and Necessity without compulsion for which their kings rendred them special and hearty thanks acknowledging and confirming these their Immunities not violating them upon such Necessities as this Notable passage of Ingulphus attests together with that of Mat. West An. 867. Concerning Alstan Bishop of Sherborne a man of very great Power and Counsel in the Realm Contra Danos quoque qui tunc primò insulam infestabant Regis Aethelulfi saevitiam exacuit Ipse ex fisco pecuniam accipiens ipse excercitum componens Martiis felix eventibus contra hostes bella plurima constanter peregit receiving Mony out of the Kings Exchequer not the Peoples Purses or Contributions to manage these Wars and not warring on his own expences 4ly That the Nobles Gentry and People of the Realm were the only standing Militâ—â— in that Age to defend it against forein Enemies in times of danger or actual invasion when they marched out of their own Counties against them voluntarily and freely adventuring their lives for defence of their King Country Religion Liberties Properties as they did at this siege of Nottingham and during all the long-lasting Danish Wars Invasions and Depredations both by Land and Sea 5ly That our Christian Kings Nobles and great Councils of those days in times of greatest danger Invasion and Wars held it most seasonable and necessary to confirm and enlarge the Churches Patrimony Liberties and Privileges thereby to stir up their Clergy-men more earnestly to assist them with their Prayers not to diminish invade or infringe them under pretext of Real inevitable necessiâ—y and danger the practice of late and present times Whereupon they granted and confirmed this forecited Charter in the very Armie during the siege of Notingham before all the Kings Princes Prelates Dukes Earls and people there present In the year 870. Inguar and Hubba with the rest of the Danes comming into Kesteven in Lincoln-shire wasting and slaying all the Country with fire and sword thereupon Earl Algarus Osgot Sheriff of Lincoln and all the Gentry and People in those parts with the Band of the Abby of Croyland under the Command of Toâ—â—us a Monk formerly a Souldier consisting of 200 stout men most of them Fugitives thither for Sanctuary uniting all their forces together in Kesteven on the Feast of St. Maurice fought with the Danes and slew 3 of their Kings with a great multitude of their forces That night the other Danish Kings dispersed abroad to pillage the Country with a great booty many captains coming to the tents of their routed Companions with a numerous Army were inraged with the slaughter of their Confederates in their absence Whereupon most of the English secretly fled away from the Earl and their Captains in the night through fear who early in the morning having heard divine Offices and receiving the Sacrament resolved not to retreat but manfully to fight with the Danes though not above 700 to their many thousands being most ready to die for the defence of the faith of Christ and of their Country Whereupon the Danes assailing them with great multitudes and fury they all standing and fighting close together valiantly susteined their assaults from morning till evening without giving ground Upon which the Danes to sever them purposely feigned a Flight and began to leave the Fieldâ— Hereupon the English contrary to the commands of their Captains dissolving their Ranks and dispersing themselves to pursue the Danes they suddenlâ— returned and slew most of the English who fought gallantly with them to the last gasp some few of them only escaping After which the Danes marching to the Abby of Croyland put the Abbot with all the Monks and Persons they there found one Child excepted to the Sword after they had extremely
tortured them to discover where their Treasures were broke up all the Tombs pillaged and burnt the Abby with all the Edifices thereof leaving it a meer ruinous heap then marching on laying all the Country waste before them with fire and Sword sparing neither person age nor sex they cast down burnt destroyed and levelled to the Ground the goodly Monasteries of Bradney Peterborough Huntingdon Ely with sundry others murthering as well all the Monks as Nuns therein which their merciless Swords after they had first polluted them To avoid whose barbarous rape Ebba Abbess of Coldingham and her Nuns by her example and perswasion cut off their upper Lips and Noses to deform themselves to their lascivious eyes which bloody Spectacle preserved their Chastity from their Lust but not their Monasterie or bodies from their Cruelty they burning them and their Nunnery to Ashes After which the same year Inguar and Hubba marched against St. Edmund who in the year 855. was chosen King of the East-Saxons Ab omnibus Regionis illius magnatibus et populis by all the Noblesâ— and People of that Realm being sprung from the antient Royal blood of the Saxons and compelled to take the Government on him much against his will being then but 13 years old and consecrated King by Bishop Humbert in the Royal Town called Bury The reason of their malice to this King as some of our Historians write was this that he was maliciously accused to have murthered their Father Lothbroc driven by a sudden storm in a small boat into England as he was hawking at Fowl by this Kings Faulkoner who having murthered himself out of meer malice was by judgement of the Knights and Lawyers banished the Realm and put alone into Lothbrocs Boat without Oâ—re or Sails for murthering him and so sent to Sea being driven in it into Denmark to excuse himself he maliciouslie accused the King of this Murther to these his Sons Who thereupon invaded England with an Army to revenge their Fathers death And the Reason why they at this time so extraordinarily prevailed aâ—d over-run the Land was the Civil Discords Wars and Emulations amongst the Saxon kings who either out of Malice or Ambition to advance their own Dominion or base unworthy fears would rather induce these common Enemies to over-run them than assist one another against them which William of Malmesburie thus expresseth Meminerit interea lector quod interim Reges Merciorum et Northanimbrorum captata occasione â—dventus Danorum quorum bellis Ethelredus iâ—sudabat a servitio West-Saxonum respirantes dominaâ—ionem suam penè asseruerant Ardebant ergo cunctae saevis popularibus provinciae unusquisque Regum inimicos magis in suis sedibus sustinere quam compatrioâ—is Laborantibus opem porrigere curabat Ita dum maluit vindicare quam praevenire injuriam socordiâ suâ exanguem reddiderunt Patriam Dani sine obstaculo succressere dum et provincialibus timor incresceret et proxima quaeq victoria per additamentum Captiâ—orum instrumentum sequentis fieret c. Northanimbri jamdudâ—m civilibus dissentionibus â—luctuantes adventante hoste correxerunt discordiam Itaque Osbirthum Regem quem expulerant in solium reformaâ—tes magnosque moliti paratus obviam procâ—dunt sed facilè pulsi infra Urbem Eboracum se includunt quâ mox à victoribus succensâ cum laxos crines effusior flamma produceret tota depascens maenia ipsi quoque conflagrati patriam ossibus texêre suis Mercii non semel obtriti obsidatu miserias suas levaverunt At vero Ethelredus multis laboribus infractus obiit Orientalium Anglorum pagi cum urbibus et vicis à praedonibus possessi Rex eorum sanctus Edmundus ab eisdem interemptust Anno Dominicae Incarnationis 870. 12 Calendas Decembris temporaneae mortis compendio regnum emit aeternum The manner of King Edmunds Martyrdom Historians thus relate An. 870. Hinguar King of the Danes invading King Edmunds Realm with a great Power sent a Messenger to King Edmund to demand the half of his Treasure and Wealth and that he should hold his Realm under him threatning otherwise to waste his Kingdom and extirpaâ—e him and his Pâ—ople Sed nimis fraudulentèr Hinguar thesauros exigebat qui Clementissimi Regis caput potius quam pecuntas sitiebat writes Matthew Westminster Where upon Bishop Humbeâ—t advising him to fly â—rom the Danes who approached with their forces towards him to save his life The King wisheâ— Would to God that I might preserve the lives of my Subjects for whom I desire to lay down my life for this is my chiâ—fest wish that I may not survive my faithfull Subjects and most dear friends which this Cruâ—l Pirate hath thâ—evishly slain neither will I stain my glory by slâ—ght who never yet sustained the reproaches of Waâ—re The Heavenly King also is my Witness that no fear of the Barbarians shall separate me from the Love of Christ whether living or dead Then turning to the Messenger of Hinguar he said Thou art worthy to suffer the punishment of death being wâ—t with the blood of my people But imitating the example of my Christ If it should so happen I am not afraid willingly to die for them Return therefore speedily to thy Master and carry my answers to him Although thou takest away my Treasures and riches whiâ—h the Divine Clemency hath given me by thy power yet thou shalt never subject me to thy infidelity for it is an honest thing to defend perpetual liberty together with purity of Religion for which also if there be need we think it not unprofitable to die Therfore as thy proud cruâ—lâ—y hath begun after the servants slaughter cut thou the Kings throatâ— because the King of Kings seeing these things will translate me into Heaven there to reign eternally The Messenger departing the King commanded his Souldiers to run to their Arms aâ—firmingâ— that it was a worthy thing to fight both for their Faith and Country leâ—t they shouâ—d prove deâ—erâ—ers of their Realm and betrayers of the people And being incouraged by Bishop Humbert his Nobles and fellow Souldiers he marched against the Enemy and near Thedford fought a bloody battel with the Danes from morning to night the place being all dyed red with the blood of the slain Aâ— which grievoâ—â—â—ight King Edmund was much grieved not only for the great slaughter of his own Soâ—ldiors â—ightâ—ing for their Country native liberty the faith of Iesus Christ so alreâ—dy â—rouned with Mâ—rtyrdome But likewise for the death of the Barbarous Infidels sent down to Hell in great numbers which he overmuch lamented After which battel retiring to Hegelsdun with his forces that were left he immutably resolved in his mind never to fight battel with the Enemies more saying only this that it was necessary that he alone should die for the People and not the whole Nation perish Soon after Hinguars Army being recruted by the access of Hubba to
and other Officers nor burâ—hened with unjust Exactions or Contributions Yea by his large Aâ—mes and Giâ—â—s he â—ent to Rome â— he procured the English School to be fréed from all Taxes and Tributes by the Popes special Bull. And we never read he imposed the least publick Tax upon his Subjects during all his wars and Exigences by his own Regal Power upon any pretext of publick Necessity Danger Defence or Safety of the Realm against the Numerous Invading plundering Danish forces both by Sea and Land Which our late and present Aegyptian Tax-masters may do well to consider In the year of our Lord 894. this King Alfred and Guthurn the Dane gave to the Church of St. Cutbert in Durham all the Lands between Weor and Tyne for a perpetual Succession free from all Custome and secular Services with all Customes Saca and Socua and infaugtheof thereunto belonging with sundry other Privileges which they ordained to be perpetually observed Non solum Anglorum sed et Danorum consentiente et collaudante exercitu by the consent and approbation of the ARMY not only of the English but Danes also Has Leges haec Statuta which proves that it was done by a Parliamentary Counsell then held in both their Armies Quicunque quolibet nisu Infringere praesumpserint eos in perpetuum nisi emendaverint Gehennae Ignibus puniendos anathematizando Sententia omnium contradidit I pretermit the Welsh Synods held under the Bishops of Landaff during King Alfreds Reign as Sir Henry Spelman conjectureâ— in whom thâ— Reader may peruse them wherein the Bishop of Landaff and his Clergy excommunicated some of their petty Welsh Kings for Murder Perjury violating the Churches Patrimony and Injuring the Bishops family who upon their Repentance and Reconciliation gave all of them some parcels of Land to the Church of Landaff The rather because I conceive them fabulous there being no such form of Excommunication used in those daies as Sir Henry Spelman proves nor any such Episcopal Synods held in England under King Alfred himself The barbarous Danes having throughout all England with fire and sword utterly wasted and destroyed all Cities Towns Castles Monasteries Churches put most of the Bishops Abbots Clergy to the Sword and almost quite deleted the knowledge of Learning and Religion out of the whole Nation insomuch that there were very few spiritual persons on this side Humber who could either understand the Common prayers in the English tongue or translate any writing out of latine into English yea so few that there was not so much as one man on the South-side of the Thames that could do it till King Alfred after his Conquest of the Danes in the latter part of his Reign restored Learning and Religion â—gain by Degrees as this King himself records in expresse terms in his Epistle to Bishop Wulsug by way of Preface to his own Translation of Gregories Pastorals into the English Saxons Language King Alfred deceasing his Son Edward surnamed the Elder succeeding his Father in the year of Christ 901 thereupon Prince Aethelwald his Uncles Son aspiring to the Crown without the consent of the King and Nobles of the Realm seised upon Oxlie and Winburne whereupon King Edward marching with his Armie against him to Bath he fled from Winburne to the Danes in Northumberland for assistance who being glad thereof they all make him King and Prince over all their Kings and Captains Whereupon they invading Essex and Mercia King Ed. raised a great Army chased them into Northumberland and harrowed the whole Country to the Lakes of Northumberland where the Kentishmen remaining contrary to the Kings Command and Messengers sent to them after the retreat of the rest of the Army The Danish Army upon this advantage setting upon them they gallantly defending themselves slew their new King Aethelwald with King Eorit and sundry of their chief Commanders and many of their Souldiers though they lost the field This King and Edelfled his Sister Queen of Mercians to prevent the frequent eruptions plunders the Danes repaired many old ruinated Towns and built many new ones in convenient places which they replenished with Souldiers to protect the Inhabitants and repell the Enemies whereby the Common people weâ—e so incouraged and became such good Souldiers that if they heard of the Enemies approach they would fight and rout them Rege etiam Ducibus inconsultis in certamen ruerent eisque semper numero scientia praeliandi praeâ—â—arent it a hostes contempâ—ni militibus Regi risui erant as Malmesbury writes The Country people themselves sighting with the Danes at Ligetune put them to flight recovered all the prey they had takenâ— and likewise the Danes Horses as they likewise did in some other parts Amongst other places this King repaired the walls of Colchester put warlike men in it certum eis stipendium assignavit and assigned them a certain stipend as Matâ— Westm. records neither he nor other our Historians making mention of assigned wages to any other Garrisons or Souldiers in that age At last the Danes in most places throughout England perceiving King Edwards power and wisdom submitted themselves unto him elected him for their King and Patâ—on and swore homage and fealty to him as likewise did the Kings of Scotland Northumberland and Wales In the year of Grace 905. This King Edward assembled a Synod of the Senators of the English Nation as Malmesbury or a great Council of Bishops Abbots and faithfull people as Matthew Westminster and others sâ—ile it in the Province of the Gewisii which by reason of the Enemies incursions had been destitute of a Bishop for 7 years space Whereupon the King and Bishops in this Council taking good advice made this wholsom constitution That instead of 2 Bishops whereof one had his Sea at Winchester the other at Schireburn 5 Bishops should be created ne Grex Domini absque cura Pastorali luporum incursionibus quateretur Whereupon they in this Council elected 5 Bishops to wit Frithstan for Winchester Athelin for Schireburn Aedulâ—e for Wells Werstan for Crideton and Herstan for Cornwal assigning them their several Sees and Diocess and two other â—ishops â—or Dorchester and Cirencester all consecrated by Archbishop Plegmond at Câ—nterbury in one day Wil. of Malmesb. and some others write that this Council was summoned upon the Letter of Pope Formosus who excommunicated king Edward with all his Subjects for suffering the Bishopricks of Winton and Scireburn to be void for 7 years space together But this must needs be a great mistake since Pope Formosus was dead ten years before this Council and before these Bishopricks became void and his pretended Epistle to the Bishops of England makes no mention at all of the king as Sir Henry Spelman well observes In the year 906. king Edward made a Peace and firm agreement with the Danes of Northumberland and East-England at Intingford when as some think he and
secretly about him ript up the Kings bowels and slew him with it which the Knights and Souldiers perceiving rushed all upon the Thief and with their Swords and Knives chopped all his flâ—sh and bones into small pieces Some â—istorians write that he slew some of the Kings followers likewise and wounded more of them and so escaped in the midst of the Tumult Sicque clarum regalis Convivii principium nebulosus rerum Gestarum exitus terminavit Communi ergo decretum Concilio It was thereupon decreed by a Common Council that his Body should be interred in Glastonbury Abby Abbot Ethelred gives this Encomium of him Erat autem patâ—is Edwardi in omnibus imitabitor homo simplex rectus et timens Deum et usque ad sinem vitae suae permanens in innocentiâ suâ Edred his Brother succeeded him the same year in the Throne and was crowned King at Kingston by Odo Archbishop of Canterbury Edwin and Edgar King Edmunds Sons being put by because of their Infancy quia tepugnante legiâ—iâ—â â—tate paâ—ri succedere non valebant as Matthew Westminster renders the reason No sooner was he crowned but entring into Northumberland with a great army he subdued the rebellious Northumberlanders who refused to bear the yoak of his government reducing them all under his obedience Wherupon Wulstan Arcâ—bishop of York and all the Nobles of the Northumberlanders swore fealty to King Edred which they did not long observe After which King Edred enâ—red with Banners displayed into Scoâ—land whereupon the Scots strucken with a fear without any resistance or war swore homage and fealty to him as to their true Lord as well as the Northumberlanders which Oath they soon violated For no sooner was Edred returned with his Army into the Southern parts but Anlaff who was chasâ—d out of Northumberland returning thither again with a great Fleet was joyfully received by the Norâ—humberlanâ—â—râ— â—nd restored by them to the Throne of the Kingdom which he kept by force near four years But in the fourth year the Northumberlanders using their accustomed treachery aud disloyalty chased away their King Anlaff and received Hirc or Eâ—icus sâ—n of Harald â—or their king who held the kingdom but a short time for the People of the Country not long enduring any king as they haâ— lightly received Hirc for their kingâ— so in the third â—ear of hiâ— Reign they as lightly rejected himâ— and calling king Eâ—red to them of their own accord receiâ—ed him again for their Soveraign and sâ—t him in 〈…〉 others relate That king Edred Anno 948 was so incensed with the Northumberlanders for their treachery towards him in chusing Hirc for their king against their Oath of Allegiance sworn to him that he wasted all Norshumberland with fire and sword and famine et penè ex hominibus delevit But some of the Northumberlanders in his return from thence sallying out of York with their forces cut off some of the Rear of his Army ar Cesterford wherwith king Edred was so enraged that he resolved presently to return et totam illam terram penitus desere and ututterly to destroy all that Country Which the Northumberlanders hearing they were so terrified that they rejected their new King Hirc and received Edred for their Soveraign satisfying the King with Honors and the Damages and Wrongs they had done unto him with Gifts and no small Sums of Mony These treacherous Rebellious Northumberlanders after Edred and Hirc had no particular King at all to rule over them but only Dukes whose names and successions with their Treachery towards and Rebellions against them you may read at leisure in Roger Hoveden who subjoyns the History of them immediately to this relation This King Edred about the year 951. close imprisoned Wulstan Archbishop of York in Withaubrig and suspended him from his Archbishoprick near a whole year for certain causes of which he had been frequently accused to him but especially for countenancing and harbouring the rebellious perjured Northumberlanders and the Danes a Heathen people who not only sought to destroy his Native Country but also to root out Christian Religion for which he deserved a thousand deaths and exciting them both against his Soveraign King Edred contrary to their Oath and for killing the Citizens of Thetford in a tumultuous manner in revenge of the death of Abbot Adelm whom they had causelesly murdered Norwithstanding all which about a year after he was enlarged and restored to his Bishoprick Malmesbury and Abbot Ethâ—lred record of king Edred that he made his Palace altogether a School of Virtues obeying Dunstans Counsels in all things et Justissimis Legibus subdiâ—os Regens and governed his Subjects by most just Laws I read only of one Great Parliamentary Council held under King Edred and that was at London in the year 948. in the Feast of the Virgin Maries Nativity Cui Universi Magnates Regni per Regium edictum Summoniti tam Archiepiscopi Episcopi Abbates quam Caeteri totius Regni Proceres Optimates Londini convenissent ad tractandum de negotiis publicis totius Regni as Ingulphus and others record In which Parliamentary Council when all the publike affairs were finished which as it seems concerned the making and carrying on of that war against the Rebellious Treacherous Northumberlanders who brake their faith with King Edred and set up a King of the Danish race as aforesaid the King in the presence and by the consent of them all restored granted and re-confirmed by his Charter dictated by Abbot Turketulus heretofore his Chancellour all the Lands and Liberties formerly granted by Kings and others to the Abbey of Croyland with sundry Mannors then given to it by Turketulus himself wherein amongst other Liberties he granted to the Monks quod sint quiâ—ti soluti ab omni Scotto Geldo auxiliis Vicecomitum Hydagio ab Secta in Schiris Wapuntakis Hundredis Thrichingis omnibus omnibus aliis curis saeculi oneribus universis This Charter was subscribed and ratified with the sign of the Cross by all the Archbishops Bishops Abbots aâ—d Nobles who gave both their Counsels and Assents thereto as their subscriptiâ—ns testifie that â—o it might be firm and perpetual In the beginning of which Charter this King to shew that he held his Crown only from and under God thus stiles himself Ego Edredus Rex terrenus sub imperiali potentia Regis saeculorum aeternique Principis Magnae Britanniae gerens Imperium c. About the year of Christ 950 Nogui a Welsh King being overmuch incensed with one Arcoit wasted his Lands and with too much fury violated the Sanctuary to which he sled Whereupon Pater Bishop of Landaâ—fe assembled all the Clerks of his Diocess in a Synod to punish this Sacrilege and breach of Sanctuary Which the King hearing of desired pardon of the Bishop and whole Synod for these offences in the Church of Mainnon restoring all
them intimates Haec sum verba Pacis et Prolocutionis quas Ethelredus Rex et omnes Sapientes ejus cum exercitu sirmaverunt qui cum Aâ—aâ—anâ— â—t Justino et Gudermundo Stegiari filion venit The Articles of the Peace between them are X. in the Saxon but XI in the Latin Copy The perfidious Danes violating their former agreement Anno 997. came with a great Fleet and Army into the mouth of Severn wasted and laid waste and desolate Northwales and most of the West and South parts of England no man resisting them gaining an extraordinary great booty and Wintring about Tavestock The next year 998. They entring the river of Frome wasted and spoiled Dorsetshire the Isle of Wight and Sussex over and over living upon their spoils whereupon the English many times assembled an Army to resist and expell them but so often as they were about to give them battel Angli aut insidiis aut aliquo infortunio impediti terga verterunt et hostibus victoriam dederunt most of the Nobles of England secretly favouring the Danes and not loving Ethelred quia Alfrida mater sua pro ipso liberius in regno substituendo sanctum Edwardum fratrem suum dolosè â—xtixxerat as Bromton and others atteâ— Anno 999. The Danish â—leet entring the river of Medway besieged Rochester and wasted Kent The Kentish men uniting their forces fought a sharp battel with them wherein many were slain on both sides but â—he Danes winning the field horsed their foot on the horses they gained and miserably wasted all the West part of Kent Which King Ethelred being informeâ— of suorum Primatum Consilio et classem et pedestrem congregavit exercitum by the advice of his Nobles â—e assembled a Navy and foot Army to encounter them But whiles the ships were preparing the Captains of the Army delaying from day to day their begun leâ—yes and undertakings Grievously vexed the People In conclusion neither the Navy nor Army â—id any thing at all for the peoples benefit or defence praeâ—er populi laborem pecuniae peâ—ditionem hostium incitationem as Florentius Wigorniensis Roger Hoveden and others observe Hereupon King Ethelred Anno 1000. for the better defence of his Realm resolved to take to wife Emma daughter of Richard Earl of Normandy who was then most valiant and formidable to the whole Realm of France For he saw himself and his Subjects very much weakned and did not a little fear their future overthrow Hoc autem Dei nutu factum esse constat ut veniret contra improbos malum Genti enim Anglorum quam sceleribus suis exigentibus disterminare proposuerat sicut et ipsi Brittones peccatis accusantibus humiliaverant Dominus omnipotens duplicem contritionem proposuit et quasi militares insidias adhibuit Scilicet ut hinc Dacorum persecutione saeviente illinc Normannorum conjunctione accrescente si ab Dacorum manifesta fulminatione evaderent Normannorum improvisam cum fortitudine cautelam non evaderent Quod in sequentibus apparuit cum ex hac conjuntione Regis Anglorum et filiae Ducis Normannorum Angliam JUSTE secundum jus Gentium Normanni et calumniati sunt et adepâ—i sunt Praedixit etiam eis quidam vir Dei quod ex scelerum suorum immanitate non solum quia semper caedi et proditioni studuebant verum etiam quia semper ebrietati et negligentiae domus Domini dediti erant eis insperatum à Francia adventurum Dominium quod et eorum excellentiam in aeternum deprimeret et honorem sine termino restitutionis eventilaret Praedixit etiam quod non ea gens solum verum et Scottorum quos vilissimos habebant eis ad emeritam confusionem dominaretur Praedixit nihilominus varium adeò seculum creandum ut varietas quae in mentibus hominum latebat et in actibus patebat multimoda variatione vestium et indumentorum designaretur Hac igitur providentia cum Legatoriis ad Ducem Normannorum missis Rex Anglorum suae petitionis concessionem obtinuisset Statuto tempore tanto digno ministerio ad Dominam suam recipiendam et adducendam Proceres Anglorum mittuntur in Normanniam quae longo et digno regibus apparatu dirigentur in Angliam Thus Henry Archdeacon of Humindon Radulphus Cistrensis Bromton and others out of them â—rite of this Norman match as the ground-work of translating the Goverment in succeeding times from the Saxons to the Normans for the Saxons sinnes forenamed This same year the Danish Fleet sailing into Normandy and pillaging it King Ethelred hearing oâ— it marched with a great Army into Cumberland and the Northern parrs which had revolted to the Danes and where their greatest Colony was where he vanquished the Danes in a great battel and wasted pillaged most of all the Country Which done he commandâ—d his Navy to sail round about the North parts of Wales and to meet him at an appointed place which by reason of cross winds they could not doe yet they wasted and took the Isle of Man which success somewhat raised and encouraged the dejected spirits of the English and encreased the Kings reputation with them In the years 1001. The Danish Fleet returning from Normandy entred the river of Ex and besieged Exceter which the Citizens manfully defending repulsed them with great loss from their walls Wherewith they being extremely enraged marched through all Devonshire burning the villages wasâ—ing the fieldsâ— and slaying the people without distinction of age or sex after their usual manner Whereupon the inhabitants of Devon Somerset and Dorsetshires uniting their forces in a Body in a Place called Peâ—ho gave them battel but being overpowred by the multitude of the Danes who farr exceeded them both in number and military skill they were forced to â—lie and many of them slain The Danes thereupon getting their horses harrowed Devonshire â—arr worse than before and returned with a great booty to their ships Whence steering their coâ—rse to the Isle of Wight they preyed sometimes upon it sometimes upon Hampshire other times upon Dorsetshire no man resisting them Destroying the men with the sword and the Villages and Towns with fire in such sort ut cum illis nec classica manus navali nec pedestris exercitus certare audeat praello terrestri for which cause the King and People were overwhelmed with unspeakable grief and sadneâ—s In this sad perplexity King Ethelred Anno 1002. Habito consilio cum regni sui Primatibus as Florentius Wigorniensis Simeon Dunelmensis Radulphus de Dicetâ— Roger Hoveden and others express it or Consilio Primatum suorum as Mat. Westminster and his followâ—rs relate iâ— â— By the Counsel of the Nobles of his realm assembled together for this purpose at London reputed it beneficial for him and his people to make an Agreement with the Danes and to give them a Stipend and Pacifying Tribute that so they might cease from their mischiefs For which end
bloud of their Neighbours and Friends was to be revenged Where upon Swain a cruel man prone to shed bloud animated to revenge by his Messengers and Letters commanded all the Warriers of his Kingdom and charged all the souldierâ— in â—orein Regions greedy of gain to assist him in this expedition against the English which they cheerfully did he having now a fairer shew to do foully than ever wrong having now made him a right of invasion who had none before Anno 1003. King Swain ariving with a great Navy and Army in England by the negligence and treachery of one Hugh a Norman whom Qâ—een Emma had made Earl of Devonshire took and spoyled the City of Exeter rased the wall thereof to the ground and burnt the City to ashes returning with a great prey to his ships leaving nothing behind them but the ashes After which wasting the Province of Wiltshire a strong Army congregated out of Hamshire and Wiltshire went wiâ—h a resolution manfully and constantly to fight with the Enemy but when both Armies were in view of each other ready to joyn battel Earl Edric their General a constant Traytor to his Country and secret friend to the Danes feigned himself to be very sick and began to vomit so that he could not possibly fight Whâ—re upon the Army seeing his slothfulness and fearfullness departed most sorroâ—full from â—heir Enemies without â—ighting being disheartned by the Cowardise of their Captain Which Swane perceiving he marched to Wilton and Sarisbery which he took pillaged and burnt to the ground returning with the spoil to his Ships in triumph The next year Swane to whom God had designed the kingdom of England as some old Historians write sailing with his Fleet to Norwich pillaged and burnt it to the ground Whereupon Ulfketel Duke of East-England â— man of great valour seeing himself surprized and wanting time to raise an Army to resist the Danes cum Majoribus East-Angliae habito Consilio taking Counâ—el â—ith the Great men of East England made peace with Swane which he treacherouâ—ly breaking within three weeks after suddenly issuing out of his ships surprized pillaged and burnt Thetford to the ground and covering the Câ—untry like Locusts spoyled all things and slaughtered the Country-men without resistance Which Duke Ulfketel being informed of commanded some of his Country-men to break his ships in pieces in his absence from them which they not dared or neglected to do and he in the mean time raising an Army with as much speed as he could boldly marched against the Enemy retuâ—ning with great booties to their Ships where after a long and sharp incounter on both sides the English being over-powered by the multitude of the Danes were totally roâ—ted and all the Nobles of East-England there slain in their Countries defence who fought so valiantly that the Danes confessed they had never an harder or sharper battel in Eâ—gland than this The great loss the Danes sustained in it though they got the â—ield and an extraordinary â—amine in England the year following greater than any in the memory of man caused Swane to return into Denmark to refresh and recruit his Army King Ethelred quit of these Enemies Anno 1006 deprived Wulfgate the Son of Leonne whom he had loved more than all men of his â—ossessions and all his honours propter injusta judicia for his unjust judgements and proud works and likewise commanded the eyes of the two Sons of that Arch-Trait or Edric Streona to be put out at Cocham where he kept his Courâ— because Edric had treacherously inticed a bloody Butcher Godwin Porthound whom he corrupted with great gifts to murder the Noble Duke Althelin at Scoborbyrig as he was hunting whom Edric purpâ—sâ—ly invited to a Feast that he might thus treacherously murder him While these things were acting in the month of Iuly the Danes returning with an innumerable Navy into England landing at Sandwich consumed all things with fire and sword taking great booties sometimes in Sussex sometimes in Kent Whereupon King Ethelred gathered a great Army out of Mercia and the West-parts of England resolving valiantly to fight with the Daâ—es who declining any open fight and returning to their Ships landed sometimes in one place sometimes in another and so pillaging the Country returned with the booty to the Ships before the English Army could encounter them which they vexed all the Autumn in marching after them from place to place to no purpose The English Army returning home when Winâ—et began to approach the Danes with an extraordinary booty sayled to the Isle of Wight where they continued till the Feast of Chriâ—ts Nativity which Feast they turned into sorrow For then they marching into Hampshire and Berkeshire pillaged and burnt down Reading Wallingford Colesey Essington and very many Villages Quocunque enim peragâ—bant quae parata erant hilariter comedentes cum discederent in retribuâ—ionem procurationis reddebant hospiti caedem hospitio flammam as Huntindon Bromton and others story As they were returning another way to their ships with their booty they found the Inhabitants ready to give them battel at Kenet whom the Danes presently fighting with and routing returned wiâ—h triumph to their ships enriched with the new sâ—oils of the routed English King Ethelred lying all this time in Shropshire unable to resist the Danes Anno 1007. cum Consilio Primatum suorum as Florentius Wigorniensis Simeon Dunelmensis Polycâ—ronicon and others express it by the Counsel of his Nobles sent Messengers to the Danes â— commanding them to tell them quod sumptus et Tributum illis dare vellent that they wouâ—d give â—hem Coâ—ts and Tribute upon this Condition That they should desist from rapines and hold a firm peace with them to which request they consentedâ— and from that time Costs were given them and a Tribute paid them of thirty six thousand pounds out of aâ—l England Henry Hunâ—iâ—don Brâ—mton thus relaâ—e the business Rex et Senatus Anglorum dubii quid agerent quid omitterent communi deliberatione gravem conventioneÌ„ cum exercitu fecerunt ad pacis observationeÌ„ 36000 mil. librar ei dederunt A clear evidence that this Agreement and Peace was made and money granted and raised in England by common advice consent in Parliament or Council Inâ—renduit Anglia toâ—a velut arundinem Zephiro vibrante collisum Unde Rex Ethelredus confusione magna consternatus pecunia pacem ad tempus quam armis non potuit adquisivit writes Matthew Westminster Rex Anglorum Ethelredus pro bono pacis Tributum 36 mil. librarum persâ—lvit Dacis as Radulphus de Diceto words it After which the King this year made Edric aforementioned Duke of Mercia and that by the Providence of God to the destruction of the English a man of base parentage but extraordinary crafty eloquent witty and unconstant surpassing all of that age in envy perfidiousness pride cruelty and Treason who
of dearth and scarcity Therefore certainly our late illegal taxes without authority of a free and legall Parliament amounting to 120.90 or 60.1000 li. moâ—thly when lowest besids Excises Customes Imposts amounting to twice as much more must certainly be far more grievous intollerable to the Nation and so not onely to be remitted abandoned excluded but accounted for and restored to our exhausted oppressed Nation by all those Governours who pretend themselves saints of the highest forme and men ruling in the fear of God against whom this St. Edward the Confessor will rise up in judgement iâ— they imiâ—aâ—e not his just and Saintlike president therein All which conâ—iderations I recommend to their own and their Collecters Excisers sadest considerations to meditate seriously upon for the peoples ease William of Malmsburies records of this King Edward that he was in exactionibus vectigalium parcus quippe qui exactores execraretur Till we may bâ— able really to record the like of our new Govâ—rnourâ— and Princes over us we shall never be either a free a peaceable or happy people noâ— thâ—y worthy of the name of Saints or Confessors in any English Annals or Kalenders He addes That King Edward with the touch of his hand dâ—d miraculously cure sundry persons of the luxuriant humours and swellings about the neck commonly called the Kings Evill whâ—ch cure in after ages some falsly ascribed non ex sanctitate sed ex regalis prosapiae haereditate â—luxisse not to have issued from his sanctitie but from his hereditary royall bloud If his sanctity in releasingâ— and restoring the formentioned insupportable Tributes of Danegeld shall now cure the hereditary Kings and our new Republiques long continued evill and malady of intolerable Tributes Contributions and Excises in this Age we shall register it to posterity for as great a miracle as his first care of the evill Kings only by his touching of it with his royall sacred hand King Edward about the year 1047. calling out of Normandy certaâ—n Normans qui olim pauculis beneficiis inopiam Exulis suppleverant who had there releived and supplied his want during his exilâ— to reward them for their benefits advanced them to places of extraordinary honour and trust about him amongst others he promoted Robert Gemeticensis a monk to the Bishoprick of London then to the Archbishoprick of Canterbury William to be his Chaplain first and afterwards Bishop of London and another to the Bishoprick of Dorchester which Iugulphus thus expresseth Rex autem Edwardus natus in Anglia sed Nutritus in Normania diutissime immoratus pene in Gallicum transierat adducens attrahens de NormaÌ„nia plurimos quos variis dignitatibus promotos in immensum exaltabat Praecipuus inter eos erat Robertus Monachus c. Caepit ergò totâ terrâ sub rege sub aliis Normannis introductis Anglicos ritus diminui FranceruÌ„ mores in multis imitari Gallicum idioma omnes Magnates in suis curiis tanquam magnum gentilitium loqui Charâ—as Chyrographa sua more Francium confici propriam consuetudinem in his in aliis multis erubescere Thereupon Earle Godwin and his Sons being men of high spirits auctores tutores regni Edvardi were very angry and discontented quod novos homines advenas sibi preferri viderent because they saw these new upstarts and strangers preferred before them yet they never uttered a high word against the King whom they had once advanced Upon this occasion Anno 1051. there arose great discords between the Englâ—sh and these Normans quod Angli aspernantèr ferant superiorem Normani nequeant pati parem Henry Huntingdon records That these Normnans accused Godwin and Swaine and Harold his Sonnes to the King that they went about to betray him wherupon the King calling them into question for it they refused to appear without hostages for their safety upon which the King banished them But William of Malmsbury Roger de Hoveden Matthew Westminster Florentius Wigorniensis Simeon Dunelmensis Bromton Hygden Henry de Knighton Fabram Graston Holmshed Speed and the General Stream of our Historians relating the businesse more fully make this the originall cause of the difference between them and of the Exile of Godwin and his Sons Eustace Earle of Boloyn who had wedded King Edwards Sister ariving at Dover in the moneth of September 1051. one of his Knights seeking lodging unjustly slew one of the Townsmen whereupon the Townsmen slew him The Earle and his followers being enraged thereat slew divers men and women of the Town and trode their children under their own horses feet The Burgesses upon this assembling together to resist them after a feâ—rce Encounter put the Earle and his followers to flight slew eighteen or twenty of them in the pursute and wounded many more so that the Earle escaped only with one of his followers to the King then at Glocester where he grievously incensed the King against the Englishmen by reason of this tumult which he and his followers occasioned Whereupon Earle Godwin being much incensed at the slaughter of his men in the Burrowgh of Dover he and his sons assembled a great Armie out of all the Towns and Countries subject to them The King sending for Godwin to the Court charged him with hiâ— Host to avenge the wrong done to Eustace and to punish the insolency of the men of Dover which the King exceedingly aggravated But Godwin a man of sharp wit and wel understanding that sentence ought not to be pronounced upon the hearing of the allegations of one part only without hearing the other refused to march with his Army against the Burgesses of Dover although the King commanded him both because he envied that all Aliens should find such extraordinary favour with the King and because he would shew friendship to his own Countreymen Whereupon he answered It were reasonable and just that before any execution done the the Wardeins of Dover Castle should be summoned into that Kings Court in a fair manner to answer this tumult and if they could excuse themselves that then they should be dismissed without harms or if not that then they should satisfy the King whose peace they had broken and the Earl whom they had offended with money or the forfeiture of their bodies and goods Iniquum videri ut quos â—utari debeas eos ipse poâ—issimum inauditos adjudices And so Godwin depaâ—ted at that time little regarding the Kings fâ—ry as being but momentany Quocirca Totius regni Proceres jussi Glocestriam conveniâ—e ut iâ—i magno conventu res ventilaretur Therefore all the Lords of the land were commanded to assemble together at Glocestâ—r that this matter might be there debated in a great Parliamentary assembly Thâ—ther came the most famous Earle Syward of Northumbâ—rland and Leofric Earle of Mâ—rcia Omnibus Anglorum Noâ—iles and all the English Nobility at that time only Godwin and his Sonnes who knew
adventure their lives bodies soulâ— and their whole kingdoms utter ruine than part with their usurped Supremacy 10. That the most unrighteous Usurpers of the royal Throne by apparent perjury fraud force treachery will feign forge publish some specious pretext or other of Title or popular election to palliate or extenuate their intrusions to avoid the infamy of Tyrants and Usurpers and take off the Odium of their most unrighteous Intrusions of which we see footsteps both in Harold William then and Rich. 3. of late 11. That unjust Invaders of Crowns for the most part bring many miseries troubles warrs and ruins not only on themselves and their posterities but likewise on their Kingdoms and people as Harold did 12. That royal Usurpers when they are most successfull insolent and secure as Harold after his victory in the North are nearest greatest dangers and ruine 13. That such Usurpers are commonly very vigilant and industrious to preserve their own Interest and Power under pretext of the common defence and safety of the Nation yet more rely on their Mercinary forces than the unmercinary Militia of the Nation 14. That Usurpers though they may have many Flatterers and seeming Friends to write and act for them whiles in prosperity yet are commonly generally deserted both by Nobles People yea their own indeared Friends and kinred in their greatest dangers when they need them most as Harold was 15. That few English Nobles Gentry or Commons will readily adventure their Lives in a Vsurpers quarrel when and where his Title stands in competition with a better and clearer right as most of them deserted Harold 16. That the reign of perjured Invaders of others Thrones is commonly very short full of Warâ— Troubles Fears Jealousies and their ends for the most part bloudy tragical as was Harolds and Rich. 3. 17. That the sordid Covetousnesse of Kings and Generals in oppressing their people and depriving their Subjects and Souldiers of their just and lawfull spoils after victory over the Enemies is a ready means to alienate their affections and cause a defection from them to their Opposites 18. That when God hath designed a perjured Vsurpers or Nations ruine for their crying sins he suddenly stirs up unexpected Enemies and Instruments to effect occasions to facilitate it and so infatuates them that they become altogether uncapable of any good advice and reject all Propositions and Accommodations that might prevent the sâ—me as Harold obstinately did 19. That none are more forward publikely to appeal to God himself for to judge and decide the Justice of their cause and proceedings than the most perjurious and unrighteous Vsurpers That when such presumptuously and atheistically dare openly appeal to God himself for justice against their Opposites or Competitors he usually cuts them off by exemplary deaths and fatal Overthrows as he did Harold both to manifest his severe Justice and Indignation against such Atheistical and hypocritical Apellants and Appeals and to deterr all others from such practices 20. That all sacred Oathes and sworn Contracts solemnly made to others in things lawfull or indifferent be it through fear or voluntarily upon premeditation ought religiously and inviolably to be observed and not wilfully infringed or eluded by shifts and pretences as here by Harold 21. That God sooner or later doth usually avenge in an exemplary manner the perjurious wilfull breach of solemn Oathes even in Kings themselves and the greatest persons whose detestable perjury oft brings sudden destruction both upon themselves their kinred Posterity and whole Armies and Kingdoms too as in the case of Harold 22 That perjured persons fighting in a cause directly against their corporal Oaths can expect no other successe in battel but either flight or death And that one Battel may both lose and win a whole kingdom so unstable are even kingdoms themselves 23. That the barbarous murders the cruel oppressions of Innocent people are apt to stirrup a universal Insurrection against their Governors and Instruments and uâ—ually end in the dethroning expulsion death and destruction of the Authors of them of which Tosti yields us a notable president And that people when once justly enraged against such bloudy tyrannical Oppressors become altogether implacable and will never brook their future Government over them 24. That base carnal fears in times of imminent danger usually dis-joynt those persons councels forces whom the Common danger should more unite and make them desert the probablest means of their publike preservation liberty peace settlement by setting up the Right heir of the Crown as Edgar here against the Intrusions and Pretences of all usurping Invaders of the Soveraign power 25. That a few timorous Counsellors Great Persons or Clergy-men in times of danger are apt to disappoint the magnanimous resolutions and daunt the heroical Spirits of such who are most cordially affected both to their Native Countries Lawes Liberties and right heir to the Crown and to draw them to unworthy compliances with them against both 26. That stout resolute real Patrons of their Native Countries Laws and Liberties will then appear most cordially zealous to protect own and fight for them when they are in greatest danger to be lost and most disowned deserted betrayed by other timorouâ— and time-serving persons witnesse the example of Abbot Fredâ—rick Stigand Egâ—lsine and the Kentish men 27. That true heroick English Freemen preferr their old Native Liberties Laws Customs bâ—fore their Lives and would rather die fighting for them in the field than depart with them upon any Terms to a victorious Soveraign or subject themselves to the leâ—st publike Servitude the name whereof hath been ever odious to them much more the thing it self 28. That the best means to preserve our publike Laws Liberties Customs against all Invaders of them is manfully resolutely and unanimously to stand up in their defence both by words and deeds when they are most indangered That such persons Counties places who have appeared most stout and resolute in their defence when others have generally deâ—erted surrendered or betrayed them have thereby preserved secured perpetuated them to themselves and their posterities when all else have lost and been deprived of them yea gained immortal honour and precedency of all others to boot Witnesse the Kenâ—ish-men 29. That the Stoutest Maintainers of their Countries Laws and Liberties are commonly most odious to most injured oppressed by tyrannical Soveraigns though upon other pretences witnesse Archbishop Stigand Abbot Frederick and Egelsine Yet this must not deterâ— them from their duties 30. That no age or person ever yet reputed Conquest a just safe prudent Title or Pretext to the Crown of England but ever disclaimed it as most absurd and dangerous to their interests 31. That the murdering or disinheriting of the right heir to the Crown hath been the Principal occasion and ground-work of all the great sad revolutions of Government in this Island and of the translations of the Crown and Kingdom from the Britons to the Saxons from the Saxons to
a cruel death who gave him this ill advice and to pacifie his Brothers â—host and his own Conscience built two new Monasteries at Middleton and Michelresse and there was scarce any old Monastery in England which he adorned not either with buildings or Ornaments or Books or Landâ— to expâ—ate this his bloody crime In this king Aethelstans reign In the year 927. There were fiery Beams and Meteors seen throughout all the Northern parts of England soon after which Athelstan resolved utterly to extirpate the perfidious Nation of the Danes and treacherous Scots which had violated their Agreement made with his Father whereupon he marched with a great Army by Land and Navy by Sea into Northumberland and Scotland wasted and harrowed the Country without resistance forced Guithfrith King of Northumberland out of his kingdom uniting it to his own Realm vanquished and overcame Howel king of Wales Constantine king of Scots Anlafe the Dane and others in a set battel drove them out of their Realms and forced them to submit to him Who upon their submission knowing the chance of war to be variable and pitying the Cases of these down-cast Princes restor'd them presently to their former estates with this Princely Speech That it was more honour to make a King than to be a King yet these petty Kings Princes rebelling afterwards siding with Anlafe against him were all rouâ—ed by Athelstanâ— King Constantine of Scotland with five more of these Kings 12 Dukes and most of their Army slain in one battel principally by the valor of Turketulus and the Londoners An. 837 Whereupon the petty Kings of Wales contracted to pay him a yearly tribute of 20 pound weight of Gold and 300 of Silver and 25000 head of Cattel with a certain number of Hawks and Hounds which no King of England ever exacted or received from them before William of Malmesâ—ury who exceeds in his praises writes that it was truly reported of him amongst the English Quod nemo Legalius vel literatius rempublicam administraverit That no king governed the Commoâ—weâ—lâ—h more legally or learnedly than he being as Ingulphus records guided and directed by Turketulus his Chancellour a man of great integrity honesty and piety of profâ—und judgement whose decrees upon debate were irrefragâ—ble This king Athelstan for the better administration of Jusâ—ice enacted sundry excellent civil and ecclesiasâ—ical Laws recorded in Bromt. Lamb. Spelm. The first of these his Laws were made and enacted in the famous â—ounâ—il of Grately about the year 928 in which the king himself Wulfehelm Archbishop of Canteâ—bury and the rest of the Bishops and all the Nobles and Wisemen which King Ethelstan could assemble were present who all ordained and confirmed these Laws in this great Council as the last Chapter 〈◊〉 inâ—orms us in â—hese words Totum hoc institutum est et confirmatum In magno Synodo apud Grateleyam cui Archiepiâ—copâ—◠〈…〉 et omnes Optimates et Sapientes quos Adelstanus Rex potuit Congregare Or Cumâ—â— Optimates et Sapientes ab Aetheâ—â—tano evocaâ—â— frequentissimi as another Copy renders itâ— which proves that all the Members of this Council were summoned to it by this kings writ and not elected by the peoples sufâ—rages And although the Archbishops Bishops and other Clergy men were the chief advisers of the Ecclesiastical Lâ—ws made in this Council as this Prologue to them attests Ego Aethelstanus Rex ex prudenti â—lâ—â—elmae Archiepiscopi aliorumque Episcoporum et Servorum Dei consilio mando yet they were all enacted and confirmed by all the Nobles and Wisemen in the Council as the premises evidence In this Council the king commandedâ— by his Laws all his Officers that they should demand and exact from his Subjects such things and duties only as they might justly and lawfully receive adding this memorable reason for it Nunquam enim erit populo bene consultum nec digne Deo conserâ—abitur ubi Lucrum impium et magis falsum diligitur Ideo â—eâ—ent omnes amici Dei quoâ— miquum en enervare quod â—ustum est elevare non paâ—i ut propâ—er falsum et pecuniae quaestum se forisfaciant homines erâ—â—â—ere â—apientem Deum cui displicet omnis injustitia Which I wish all our unrighteous covetous â—â—x-maâ—â—ers Excisers and Exacters would now seriously consider Afâ—er which it follows Chrisâ—ianis autem omnibus necesâ—arium est ut rectum diligant ut iniqua condemnent et saltem sacris Ordinibus erecti justum semper erigant et prava deponant Hinc debent Episcopi cum saeculi Judicibus interesse Judiciis ne permittant si possint ut illinc aliqua pravitatum germina pullulaverint And to avoid all arbitrary proceedings oppressions and Injustice in all things this Council by positive Laws ascertains all fines amerciaments imprisonments and corporal punishments for criminal offences from which the Iudges might not vary And withall defines what Armes every man should â—ind in those times of war against the Danes and other Enemies by his positive Law Lex 21. Sax. 16. Omnis homo habebit duos homines cum bonis equis de omni Carucâ King Ethelstane after this Council at Grately what years is not expressed assembled several other Parliamentary Councils at Exeter Fevresham and Thunderfeld wherein he and his Wisemen by common consent confirmed the Laws made at Grately altering some of them in certain particulars and adding some new Laws unto them as you may read at large in Bromâ—on and as the first Chapâ—er and this Prologue to those Laws assure us ` Haec sunt Judicia quae Sapientes Exonâ—ae consilio Adelstani Regis instituerunt iterum 〈◊〉 Fevresham â— et tertia vice apud Thundresfeldiam ubi hoc definitum simul et confiâ—matum est et hoc imprimis est ut observentur omâ—ia Judicia quae apud Gratelâ—yam imposita fuerint praeter mercatum Civitatis et Diei Dominicae The Cause of making these new Laws and confirming the old was a Complaint to the King in the Council at Exeter that the Peace and Laws made at Grateley were not so well kept as they should be and that Theâ—ves and Malefactors abounded as this Prologue manifests Ego Adelstanus Rex notifico vobis sicut dictum est Michi quod pax nostra pejus observata est quam Michi placet vel apud Grateleyam fuerit institutum Et Sapientes Michi dicunt quod hocdiutius pertuli quà m debueram Nunc inveni cum illis Sapientibus qui apud Exoniam fuerint mecum in sancto Natali Domini quod parati sunt omnino quando velim cum seipsis uxoribus pecunia omni re suâ ire quo tunc voluero nisi malefactores requiescant eo tenore quo nunquam deinceps in patriam istam redeant c. In the Council of Fevresham in Kent the King by some of his Wise-Counsellors sent thither to it propounded some things for the weal
kings of Wales Dufnâ—ll Siferth Howel Iames and Iuchill met him as he had commanded â—hem and swoâ—e 〈…〉 him in â—heâ—e words That they would be faithfull aud assisting to him both by Land and Sea Wâ—ich done he on a certain day enâ—red wiâ—h them into a Barge and placing them at the Oares himself took the Helm and steered the Barge very skilfully whiles they rowed it down the River of Dee from his Palace to the Monastery of St. Iohn Bapist on the other side all his Dukes and Nobles folâ—owing and accompanying him in other Barges where having made his Prayers they all rowed him thence back again in like pompe to his Royal Palace which when he had enâ—red he said to his Nobles Thaâ— any of his Successors might then say he was King of England when wiâ—h so many Kings following and subject to him he should enjoy the Prerogative of the like pompe and power Buâ— Mr. Fox subjoyns In my mind this king had said much bâ—tter God â—orbid that I should glory in any tâ—ing but in the Cross of our Lord Iâ—sus Christ. The year following An. 974. Certain Merchants comming from York arived in the Islle of Thanet in Kent where they were presently taken by the Ilanders and spoyled of all their goods which king Edgar being informed of was so far incensed against these Plunderers that he spoyled them of all their Goods and deprived some of them of their lives Which Huntingdon and Bromton thus record Rex Edgarus undecimo Anno Regni sui jussit praedari Insulam Tenet Quia jure Regalia spreverant non ut hostis insaniâ—ns sâ—â— ut Rex malo mala puntens The same year as Maâ—mesbuâ—y Inguâ—pâ—us and others write king Edgar by his regal Charter caused the secular Priests to be removed out of the Monastery of Malmesbury and introducing Monks in their places restored to them the Lands and Possessions of the monasâ—ery which the secular Priests formerly enjoyed and had leased oâ— â— that upon a fulâ— hearing before the Wise-men Bishops others in his presence most likely in a Parâ—iamentary Counciâ— as â—his câ—auâ—e in his Charter intimates Haec a praedictis accommodata Clâ—ricis a conâ—ensioso possessa est Edâ—â—â—noâ—â— sâ—d superstitiosa subâ—il que ejus disceptâ—tione a Sapientibâ—s meis audita â—t conflictatione illius mendosa ab eisdem me praesente convicta Monasteriali a me reddita est usui If the Council of Winchester hereafter cited Anno 975. was held in King Edgars life time as some affirm most probably this debate here mentioned touching these Lands was held in and before that Counciâ— and this Charter therein made and ratified with the subscriptions of the Kings Arch-bishops Bishops Abbots and Dukes thereto annexed according â—o the custome of that age Although King Edgar in his younger daies was subject to many Vices and committed some injurious Tyâ—â—â—â—icâ—â— Aâ—â—s recorded by Malmesbury Fox Speed and others yet repenting of these his youthfull lustfull Vices he proved such a just and prudent King that our Historians of elder and later ages give these large Encomiums of his Justice Prudence Piety Vertues and poliâ—ique Government worâ—hy perpetual memory and immitation So excellent was he in Iustice So sharp was he in correction of Vices as well in his Magistrates Officers and other Subjects that never before his days was less felony by Robbers nor less extortion or Bribery by false Officers such as were wicked he kept under them that were Rebels he repulsed the godly he maintainâ—d and the just and modest he loved the learned and viâ—tuous he encouraged He would suffer no man of whâ—t deâ—ree or qualiâ—y soever he were to elude or violate his Laws without condigne punishment In his time there was neither any private Pilferer nor publâ—ke Theef but he that in stealing other mens Goods would venture and suffer as he was sure the loss of his own Goods and Life He was no respecter of persons in â—udgement but judged every man according to the quantity of his Offence and quality of his person He united all the Nations under him which were divers by the Covenanâ— and Obliâ—â—tion of one Law Governing them all with such Iustice Equity Integrity and Peace that he wâ—s stileâ— Rex 〈◊〉 Edgarus Pacificus tâ—e pâ—aceable King Edgar In his days not â—orments not Gibbeâ—s not Exâ—le not banishment were so much feared as the offending of so good and gracious a King He built and endowed no lesse than 48 Monasteries and restored many more endowing them with large possessions privileges out of Piety and Devotion â—s these times reputed it was a great honourer lover promoter of the vertuous and learned Clergy and suppressor of the vicious and scandalous There was scarce one year throughout all his reign wherein he did not some great and memorable necessary thing for the good of his Country and people the honour of God and advancement of Religion All which made him so honoured and beloved by his Subjects at home so far dâ—eaded by his Enemies abroad that Nullas Domesticorum insidias nullum exterminium alienorum sensit He never felt any homebred treachery or forein invasion but reigned peaceably all his daysâ— without war or bloodshed which none of his Predecessors ever did He was so far from tollerating any violence or rapine in men towards each other that he commanded all the Wolves and ravenous Beasts greedy of blood to be destroyed throughout his Dominions And such an Enemy was he to Drunkenness the Mother of Vices Murders Quarrels Thefts wherewith the Danes had much infected the English that to prevent and redress it he caused Pins to be set in every Cup prohibiting by severe Laws and Penalties that none should force others to drink nor yet dâ—ink below â—hose Pins in that moderate proportion which he prescribed them Among other his Politick deeds for the peace and safeguard of his Realm against pillaging Pirates and Forein Invaders he had always in readiness 3600 as most or 4800 strong ships of War as others record to secure the Seas in the Summer season which he divided into three Squadrons or Fleets whereof he placed 1200 in the East Seas to guard them 1200 in the South Seas 1200 in the West Seas and 1200 in the North Seas as some write to prevent Piracies and repulse the invasion of Forein Enemies These Ships immediatly after Easter met together every year at their several places of Rendezvous wherewith the King sailed round about the Island and Sea-coasts with a great force to the terror of Foreiners and exercising of his own subjects sayling with the Eastern Navy to the Western parts of the Iland and then sending them back with the Western Fleet to tâ—e Northern Coasts and then sayling with the Northern Fleet to the South pius scilicet explorator ne quid Piratae turbarent After his return from the Sea in the Winter and Spring he used to ride in Progress
â—hrough all the Counties of the Realm diligently to search and inquire how his Laws Statutes Ordinances were kept and observed by his Princes Great Men and Oâ—ficers lest the Poorer sort of people should suffer prejudice or be oppressed by the Greater Richer And whether his Iudges or Iustices judged uprightly according to the Laws or injured any through Bribery Malice or Partiality Violati Iuris severus Ulâ—or being a severe Revenger of his violated Laws sparing neiâ—â—er Rich nor Poor but judgiâ—g him justly according to the quality of his transgâ—ession In hoc Justitiae in ilâ—o fortitâ—dinis in utrâ—que Reipublicae Regni utilitatibus consulens as Wiliam of Malmesbury and Flor. of Worcester reporâ— of him Et ideo tempore suo latrones nulli fuerunt nec aliquis qui Guerram vel turbationem in Regno movere aâ—debat Merito ergo non infirma inter Anglos fama est nullum nec ejus nec superioris aetatis Regem in Anglia recto aequabili judicio Edgaro comparandum He being Flos et Decus anâ—ecessorâ—m Regum non minus memorabils Anglis quam Romulus Romanis Cyrus Persis Alex. Macedoniis Arsaces Parthis Carolus Magnus Francis â— as Malmesbury Abbot Ethelred Florentius VVigorniensis Simeon Dunelmensis Henry Huntindon Matthew VVestminster and others record of him who are much more copious in his prayses Mr. Fox closeth up his Encomiums of him with this Speech As I see many things in this worthy Prince to be commended so this one thing in him I cannot but lament to see him like a Phoenix to fly alone that of all his Posterity so few there be that seâ—k to keep him company Towards the end of his Reign the Welchmen moving some rebellioâ— â—e thereupon assembled a mighty Army to suppress and prevent it wherewith he entring into the Country of Glamorgan sharply punished the Ringleaders thereof But his Souldiers doing great harm in plundering the Country lading themselves with spoyls the King out of his bounty commanded them to restore to the People all the spoyls they had gotten and more especially St. Ellutus Bell that was hanged about an Horses neck whereby he purchased singular love and honor from the Inhabitants At length afâ—er he had reigned thus 16 years and two months in great tranquillity and honor totum regnum sanctis legibus strenue gubernantem as Endmerus relaâ—es of him he died happâ—â—y oâ— Tuesday the 8 of Iuly Anno 975. Nec potuit malè mori qui benè vixerat qui tot Ecclesias Deo fundaverat qui tot bona perennia brevi tempore statuerat as Henry Arch-Deacon of Huntingdon observes who bestowed this honourable Epitaph on him remembred also by others Auctor opum vindex scelerum largitor honorum Sceptifer Edgarus Reâ—na supeâ—na petit Hic alter Solomâ—â— legum Pater Orâ—ita Pacis Quod caruit bellis claruit inde magis Tempâ—a 〈…〉 dedit â—gros Nequitiae lapsum justiciaeque locum Novit enim Regno veâ—um pâ—rquirere â—aâ—â—o Immensum modico perpetuumque brevi Immediately after his death Res et spes Anglorum retro sâ—blapsae sunt totins Regni status eâ—t perturbatus et post â—empus laetitiae quod iâ—â—ius â—empore vigebat pacificè caepit tribulatio unâ—ique advenire as Malmesbury Wigorniensis Hoveden Simeon Dunelmensis and Bromton observe such an incomparabâ—e loâ—s was the death of so just pious and prudent a King to the whole Nation qui juâ—entutis vitia poâ—â—ea mâ—gnis virtutibâ—s delevit when most others do quite contrary King Edgar at the time of his decease leaving behind him two Sons by two venters Edward his eldest Son by Queen Ethelfleda his first Wife then but 12. years old and Ethelred his second Son by his second Queen Elfreda then not much above 7. years of age 〈◊〉 arose â—â—reâ—t contention amongst the Nobles of the Realm about choosing of a new King â—or Queen 〈◊〉 wiâ—h Aâ—feâ—us Duke of Mercia and many other Nobles siding with the maried Secular Priests against the Mâ—nkish Clergy combined to advance â—oung Ethelredâ— electing him unanimously for their King disavowing Edwarâ— as illegitimaâ—e and begotâ—en of an harlâ—â— before mariage as Malmesbury de Gestis Regum l. 2. c. 8. Osburn in the life of Dunstan Nicholas Trivet Iohannis Parisiâ—nsis Vincentius Antoninus Matthew Pâ—rker in the Life of Archbishop Dunstan Mr. Fox and others repute him though Ingulphus Huntindon Hoveden Mat Westminsteâ— Florentius Wigornensis Bromton Abbot Ethelred Simeon Dunelmensis Radulphus Cistrensis and the generality of our modern Historians repute him Edgars lawfull Son and right heir to the Crown Whereupon the most of the Nobles elected him to succeed unto his Father The two Archbishops Dunstan and Oswald with all the Bishops Abbots and Clergy of the Monkish faction holding their new-gotten States dangerous and their footing unsure if in the nonage of the King their Opposites should rule all under him as they imagined they would if Ethlred were elected by themâ— thereupon abetted the Title of Edward as altogether wrought to their mould and treading in his Fathers footsteps lawfully begotten in the nuptial bed of Queen Ethelfleda right heir to his Father and by him dâ—signed to succeed him Their claimes thus banded amongst the Nobles Duustan and Oswald foreseeing the danger prudently assembled all the Bishops Abbots and Nobles together in a Great Council to debate their rights and settle the title Where Archbishop Dunstâ—n as â—ome write comming in with his Cross and Banner dum consecrâ—tionis ejus â—empore nonnulli Patriae Optimates resistere voluissent noâ—â—taying â—or further debating de Iure presenâ—ed Prince Edward in the midâ—t of them de Facto for their Lawfull King as his Father had declared him at his death Upon which the Major part of the Council being Clergymen electedâ— anointed and consecraâ—ed Edward for their King Quibusdam Optimatum murmurantibus some of the Noâ—les of â—he contrary party murmuring at it especially Qâ—een Elfrida who thought to advance her young Son to the Throne that so she might rule all things and reign under the colour of his name as Dunstan and the Monkish Clergy did under the colour of King Edwards whose Counsels and admonitions he diligently followed in all things and judgements acted by him During the Interregnum and banding of these two parties about the right of the Crown and immediately after Edwards coronation there arose great controversies tumults and civil Warrs between the Monkish Clergy and maried Secular Prâ—ests and the Nobles siding with both parties The marieâ— Priests presently upon Edgars death complained to Queen Elfrida Elfere and the Nobles That they were unjustly expelled out of their Churches by the Monks and their prevailing party alleging that it would be a very great and miserable dishonour to the Nation and shame to them ut novus advena veteres colonos migrare compelleret hoc nec Deo gratum â—utari qui veterum habitationem concessiâ—set nec alicui probo homini
took out of Essex Kent and other places on both sides of the River and oft times assaulting the City of London attempted to take it by assault but were still valiantly repulsed by the Citizens with great loss In Ian. 1010. the Danes â—allying out of their Ships marched through Chiltern Forest to Oxford which they pillaged and burnt wasting the Country on both sides the Thames in their return Being then informed that there was a great Army raised and assembled against them in London ready to give them battel thereupon that part of the Danish Army on thâ— North-side of the Thames passed the River at Stanes and there joyning with those on the South-side marched in one body to their Ships through Surrey laden with spoils refreshing themselves in Kent all the Lent After Easter they went into the East parts of England marching to Ringmere near Ipswich where Duke Ulfketel resided On the first of May they fought a set battel with him where in the heat of the battel the East-English turned their backs on Turketel a Dane beginning the fight but the Cambridgeshire men fighting manfully for their Country and Liberty resisted the Danes a long time but at last being overpowred with multitudes they likewise sleâ— Many Nobles and Officers of the King and an innumerable multitude of people were slain in the fight The Danes gaining the victory and thereby East-England turned all Horsemen and running through the Country for three Months space burnt Cambridge Thetford with all the Towns and Villages in those parts slew all the people they met with as well Women and Children as Men tossing their very Infants on the tops of their Pikes wasted pillaged all places killing the Cattel they could not eat and with an infinite rich booty their Footmen returned to their ships But their Horsemen marching to the River of Thames went first into Oxfordshireâ— and from thence into Buckingham Hertford and Bedford Shires burning Villages and killing both Men and beasts and wholly depopulated the Country then they retired laden with very great booties to their ships After this about the Feast of St. Andrew they rambled through Northamptonshire burning and wasting all the Country together with Northampton it self then marching Westward into Wiltshire they burnt pillaged depopulated the Country leaving all those Counties like a desolate Wilderness there being none to resist or encounter them after their great victory at Ringmere The Danes having thus wasted and depopulated East England Essex Middlesex Hertford Buckhingham Oxford Cambridge Shires half Huntindonshire most of Northamptonshire Kent Surrey Sussex Southampton Wiltshire and Barkshire with Fire and Sword King Ethelred et Regni sui Magnates and the Nobles of his Realm thereupon sent Ambaâ—â—adors to the Danes desiring peace from them and promising them Wages and Tribute so as they would desist from depopulating the Realm Which they upon hearing the Embassadors consented to yet not without fraud and dissimulation as the Event proved For although proviâ—ions and expences were plentifully provided for them and Tribute paid them by the English according to their desires yeâ— they desisted not from their rapines but marched in Troops through the Provinces wasting the Villages every where spoiling most of the miserable people of their goods and some of their lives At last not satisfied with rapine and bloodshed between the Feasts oâ— St. Mary and St. Michael they besieged Canterbury contrary to their dear bought peace and by the treachery of Archdeacon Almear took the City which they pillaged and burnt to the ground together with the Churches therein burning some of the Citizens in the fire slaying others of them casting many of them headlong over the Walls dragging the VVomen by the hair about the streets and ravishing and murdering them After which they decimated the Men VVomen Monks and little Children that remained leaving only the tenth of them alive and murdering the rest slaying no less than 900 Religious persons and above 8000 oâ—â—ers in this manner as some of our Historians relate Mr. Lambard in his Perambulation of Kent computeth that ther were massacred 43. thousand and two hundred persons in this Decimation there being only 4 Monks and 4800 Lay-people saved alive The Archbishop Alfege they took prisoner bound in chains buffeted grievously wounded and then carried to their Fleet where they kept him prisoner 7 Moneths At last they propounded to him that if he would enjoy his life and liberty he should pay them 3000 pounds for his ransom which he refusing to do Week after Week prohibiting any others to give them any thing for his ransom they were so inraged with him that bringing him forth publikely to their Council at Greenwich they struck him down to the ground with their battel Axes Stones and the Bones and Heads of Oxen and at last one Thrum whom he had confiâ—med but the day before moved with an impious piety cleft his head with an Axe and so martyred him The Londoners hearing of it purchased his dead corps with a great sum of money and honouâ—ably interred it But above 2000 of these bloody Villains were in short time after destroyed wiâ—h grievous diseases VVhiles these things were acted by the Danes in Kent Anno 1012. perfidious Duke Edric et omnes cujuscunque Ordinis et Dignitatis Primates Congregati and all the Nobles of every Order and Dignity aâ—â—embled together at the City of London continuing there til they had levied and â—aid to the Daneâ— a Tibute of forty as some or forty eight thousand pounds as others write upon this condition That all the Danes within the Realm should have everywhere a peaceable habitation with the English and that there should be as it were one Heart and one Soul of both people as Matthew Westminster Daniel and some others record the Agreement Which Accord being ratified on both sides with Pledges and Oaths as Matthew Westminster and others relate King Swain as some Historians write though others mention not his being here in person but only by his Commanders returned into his own Land and so â—he rage of the Danish persecution ceased for a short space Upon this agreement 45 of the Danish ships under the command of Turkill the Danish General submitted themselves to King Ethelred promising That they would defend England against strangers and forein invasions upon this conâ—dition that the English should find them victuals and cloaths Henry Huntindon censures this accord with the Danes as made overlate Tunâ— vero Rex nimis serò pacem feciâ— cum Dacorum exercitu dans eis 8000 misprinted for 48000 librarum nunquam enim tempore oportuno pax fiebat donec nimia contritione terra langueret To what extremities King Ethelred was put to raise this and the other forementioned Tributes to the Dâ—nes and to pay his own Captains besides and how much the Monasteries were taxed oppressed exhausted of all their moneys plaâ—e wealth by the King his Officers and the Danes
familiarissimus et postea cum Cnuto filio suo Conductus est ergo quidam maximus satellitum dicti Ducis Edrici nomine Normannus sanguine summe clarus filius videlicet Comitis Lefwini et Frater Leofrici nobilis Comitis Leicestriae dato sibi prout postulabat manerio de Badby ad terminum 100. annorum Ille dictum manerium acceptans tenere de Sancto Guthlaco per firmam in grano piperis per annum in festo S. Bartholomaei singulis annis persolvendo fideliter promittebat et se futurum procuratorem ac protectorem Monasterii contra omnes adversarios confecto inde chirographo obligabat Valuit illud Monasterio aliquanto tempore scilicet omnibus diebus vitae suae By which passages it is apparent what Taxes exactionâ— â—reâ—sures the Monasteries and others suffered both from King Ethelred his Captains and Officers on the one side and from the Danes on the other side and how they were enforced to hire and bâ—ibe great Souldiers and Courtiers by leases and monies to protect them from utter ruine Iohâ— Speed affirms That the Clergy as backward as any denied to King Ethelred their assistance pleading their exempâ—ions from warr and privileges of the Church when the land lay bleeding and deploring for help and scandalized all his other proceedings for demaâ—ding their aydes But this passage of Abbot Ingulphus so near that age out of the Register Books of Croyland whereof he was Abbot not long after proves they paid great annual contributions to the King and his Officers which consumed all their money plate Jewels Chalices and the very shrines of their Saints notwithstanding all Charters and exemptions And as for the Laity William of Malmsbury Radulphus Cistrensis Mr. Fox and others write That King Ethelred had such a condition that he would lightly dis-inherit Englishmâ—n of their lands and possessions and caused them to redeem the same with great sums of money and that he gave himself to polling of his Subjects and framed Trespasses for to gain their money and goods for that he paid great Tribute to the Danes yearly Whereby he lost the affections of the people who at last deserted him and submitted themselves to the Danish Invaders who usurped the Soveraign power and forced him out of England with his Queen and Children These Unrighteous Oppressions Dis-inherisons and Exactions of his were specially provided against by his Nobles Prelates and VVisemen in the Councils of Aenham and Habam forecited by special Laws and special excellent Prayers and Humiliations prescribed to be made to God to protect them from his judgements and the invading oppressing bloody Danes worthy perusal yet pretended necessities and VVar laid all those Laws asleep In the year of Christ 1013. the very next after the Englishmens dearest purchased Peace which the perfidious gold-thirsty Danes never really intended to observe King Swain by the secâ—et instigation of Turkel the Dane whom King Ethelred unadvisedly hired to guard him with his Danish shiâ—s from forein Invasions who sent him this Message Angliam praeclaram esse patriam opimam sed Regem stertere illum Venâ—re Vinoque studentem nihil minus quà m bellum cogitare Quapropter odiosum suis ridiculum alienis Duces invidos Provinciales infirmos primo stridore Lituorum proelâ—o cessuros arrived at Sandwich with a great Fleet and Army of Danes in the Moneâ—h of Iuly where resting themselves a few days he sailed round the East parâ— of England to the mouth of Humber and from thence into the River of Trent to Gainsborough where he quitted his ships intending to waste the Country Hereupon first of all Earl Uhtred the Northumbriaâ—s with those of Lindesey presently without delay and after them the Freelingers with all the people in the Northern parts of Watlingstreet having no man to deâ—fend them yeelded themselves up to Swain without striking one stroke and establishing a peace with him â—hey gave him Hostages for their loyalty and swore Fealty to him as their Soveraign Whereupon he commanded them to provide horses and victuals for his Army which they did William Malmesbury observes that the Northumbrians thus unworthily submitted to Swanâ— his Government Non quod in eorum mentibus genuinus ille calor Dominorum impaâ—iens refrigueriâ— sâ—d quod Princeps eorum Uthredus primus exemplum defectionis dederit Whose example drew on all other parts Illis sub jugum missis coeteri quoque omnes â—opuli qui Angliam ab Aquilone inhabitant vectigal et obsides dederunt A very strange and sudden change conqâ—est without a blow Swain committing his Navy and Hostages to his son Cnute raised chosen Auxiliaries out of the English who submitted to him and then marched against the Southern Mercians Having passed Watlingstreet he by a publike Proclamation commanded his Soldiers to wast the Fields burn the Villages cut down the Woods and Orchards spoil the Churches kill all the Males that should come into their hands Old and Young without shewing them any mercy reserving only the Females to satisfie their lusts and to do all the mischiefs that possibly they could act Which they accordingly executed raging with beastly cruelty Marching to Oxford he gained it sooner than he imagined by surrender taking Hostages of them He posted thence to Winchester Where the Citizens extraordinarily terrified with the excessiveness of his cruelty immediately yeelded and made their peace with him they and the whole Country giving him such and so many hostages as he desired for his security and likewise swearing allegiance to him Only the Londoners defending their lawfull King within their walls shut the Gates against him From Winchester Swain marched with great glory and triumph to London endeavouring by all means either to take it by force or surprize it by fraud At his first arrival he lost many of his Souldiers who were drowned in the River of Thames through overmuch rashness because they would neither seek for Bridge nor ford to pass over it King Ethelred being then within the City and having no other refuge the Citizens closing their Gates manfully defended their lawfull King and City against the assailants Who encouraged with the hope of glory and great booty fiercely assaulted the City on all sides but were all most valiantly repulsed by the Citizens through the assistance of valiant Earl Turkel then within it the Danes sustaining great loss of men who were partly slain and partly drowned the Citizens not only repulsing them from the Walls but likewise â—allying forth and slaying them by heaps so that Swain himself was in danger to be slain had he not desperately ran through the midst of his Enemies and by flight escaped their swords Malmesbury thus writes of the Citizens Oppidani in mortem pro Libertate ruebant nullam sibi veniam futuram arbiâ—rantesâ— si Regem desererent quibus ipse vitam suam commiserat Iâ—aque cum â—trinque acâ—â—ter ceâ—taretur Iustior causa victoriam habuit
apud Greenwic â—acuiâ— Tributum quod erat 30. millia librarum pendi mandavit to wit to the Fleet under Turkell the Dane who instead of defending did but help to pillage and oppress the English Huntindon wriâ—es it was but 21 thousand pounds and Bromton aversâ— that it was Cnute not Ethelred who commanded it to be paid to his Navy Soon after which the Sea rising higher than it was accustomed drowned an innumerable Company of Villages people and cattel After Cnutes departure King Ethelred summoned a Parliamentaty Council at Oxford Anno 1015. both of the Danes and English Malmsbury expressly stiles it MAGNUM CONCILIUM Wigorniensis Hovedâ—n Sim. Dunelmensis MAGNUM PLACITUM Matthew Westminster and others MAGNVM COLLOQUIUM our later English Historians a Great Council and Parliament The King by the ill advise of that Arch Traytor Duke Edric at this Great Council commanded some Nobleâ— of the Danes to be sodenly and secretly slain quasi de Regia proditione notatos ac perfidiae apud se insimulatos the chiefest of them were Sygeforth and Morcar whom Edric treacherously invited to his chamber and there making them drunk caused his armed guards there placed secretly to murder them which they did Hereupon their Servants endeavouring to revenge their Lords deaths being digniores et potentiores ex Scovengensibus they were repulâ—ed wiâ—h arms and forced to slye into the Tower of St. Frideswides Church for safety whence when they could not be forcibly expelled they were all there burnt together The King presently seised upon their lands and goods the chief cause of their murder as some conceived and sent the relict of Sygeforth a very Noble beautifull and vertuous Lady prisoner to Malmsbury whither Edmond the Kings base Son as some affirm posâ—ed without his fathers privity and being enamored with her beauty first carnally abused then afterward maried her and by her advice forcibly invaded and seised upon the Lands of her husband and Morcar which were very great and the Earldom of Northumberland which his father denied him upon his request Whereupon all the Inhabitants of that County readily submitted to him Whiles these things were acting Cnute having setled his affairs in Denmark and made a League with his neighbour Kings recruiâ—ed his Army and Navy and returned into England with a resolution either to win it or to lose his life in the attempt Ariving first at Sandwich and sailing thence to the West he pillaged Dorsetshire Somersetshire and Wiltshire filling all places with slaughters and plunders King Ethelred lying then sick at Cosham his son Edmond Ironside and Duke Edric raised an Army against Cnute but when both their forces were united to fight him the old perfidious Traytor Edric endeavoured by all means to betray Edmond to the Danes or treacherously to slay him which being discovered to Edmond thereupon they severed their forces from each other and gave place to the Enemies without giving them battel Not long after Edric inticing to him 40 of the Kings ships furnished with Danish Mariners and Souldiers openly revolted and went with them to Cnute subjecting himself to his dominion as his Soveraign by whose example all West-Sex submitted to him as their Kihg delivering him hostages for their fidelity resigning up all their arms to him and providing both horse and arms for his Danish Army The Mercians offred themselves alone to resist the Danes but through the Kings sloathfulness the business of war received delay and the enemies proceeded in their rapines without opposition In the year 1016. King Cnute and treacherous Duke Edric came with 200 sail of ships into the river of Thames whence they marched by land with a great Army of horse and foot and invaded Mercia in an hostile manner burning all the Towns and Villages and slaying all the men they met with in Warwickshire and other places whereupon King Ethelred as Huntindon Wigorniensis and others record made an Edict Ut quicunque Anglorum sanus esset secum in bello procederet That every Englishman who was in health should go with him in battel against the Danes An innumerable multitude of people upon this assembled together to assist him But when his and his son Edmonds forces were conjoyned in one body the King was informed that some of his auxiliaries were ready to betray and deliver him up to the enemies unless he took care to prevent it and save himself and as some write the Mercians refused to â—ight with the VVest-Saxons and Danes whereupon the expedition was given over and every man returned to his own home After this Edmund Ironside raised a greater Army than before against Cnute and sent Messengers to King Ethelred to London to raise as many men as possible he could and speedily to come and joyn with him against the Danes but he for fear of being betrayed to the Enemy presently dismissed the Army without fighting and returned to London Hereupon Edâ— Ironside went into Northumberland where some imagined he would raise a greater Army against Cnute the Dane but he and Vhâ—red Earl of Northumberland instead of incountring Cnute wasted the Counties of Stafford Shrewsbury and Leicester because they would not go forth to fight against the Danes Army in defence of their Country and King Cnute on the other side wasting with fire and sword the Counties of Buckingham Bedford Huntindon Northampton Lincoln Nottingham and after that Northumberland Which Edmond being informed of returned to London to his Father and Earl Uhtred returning home being compelled by necessity repaired to Cnute and submitted himself to him with all the Northumbrians making a Peace with him and giving him hostages for performance thereof and for his and their fidelity Not long after Uhtred and Turketel Earls of Northumberland were both treacherously slain by Turebrand a Dane by Cnutes command or Commission Which done Cnute made one Hirc some stile him Egric Earl of Northumberland in his place and then returned with all his army to his Ships in triumph a little before the feast of Easter with a very great booty Not long after King Ethelred born to troubles and mischief after manifold labours vexations treacheries and incessant tribulations ended his wretched life in London where he died May 9th Anno 1016. being there buried in St Pauls Church finding rest in his Grave by death which he could never find in hiâ— Throne all his life having attaineâ— it by Treachery â—nd his Brothers Soveraigns murder whose Ghost as Malmesbury and others writeâ— did perpetually vex and haunt him all his râ—ign and made him so subject to and fearfull of plots and treacheries that he knew not whom to trust nor ever deemed himself secure even in the midst of his oft raised Armies Nobles People though ready to adventure theiâ— Lives for his defence I have related these Passages of the Danish warsâ— and invasions during Ethelreds reign more largely than I intended 1. Because on the Englishmens parts they were meerly defensive
themselves suspected thought it not safe for them to come thither without an armed Guard whereupon they encampâ—d at Brâ—verstone with a great host and there stayed giving out a report among the people that they had therefore gathered an Army together out of Kent Surry Yorkshire Oxfordshire Glocestershire Somersetshire Herfordshire Essâ—x Notinghamshire and other parts that they might curbe the Welshmen who meditating Tyranny and Rebellion against the King had fortified a Town in Herefordshire where Swane one of the Earl Godwins Sonnes then pretended to keep watch and ward against them The King hearing that Godwin and his Sonnâ—s had raised a great Army of men out of all these Counties upon this false pretext presently sent Messengers to Syward Earle of Northumberland and Leofric Earle of Mercia to hasten to him being in great danger with all the forces they could raise Who repairing to him at the first with small forces so soon as they knew how the matter went sending their Officers through their Coâ—ntries together with Earle Ralph in his Countrey speedily assembled a great Army to assist the King ready to encounter these enemies if there were a necessity In the mean time Godwin marching with his Army into Glocestershire sent messengers to the King as Matthew VVestminster and some others story commanding him to deliver up Earle Eustace with his companions the Normans Bonomans who then held the Castls of Dovâ—r to him else he should denounce war against him To whom the King being sufficiently furnished with military forces sent this answer That he would not deliver up Earl Eustace to him commanding moreover Ut qui exercitum contra ipsum collegerat sine eâ—us licentia pacem regnâ— perturbaverat veniret ad eum die statuta sâ—per hac injuria sibi responsurus juri pariturus Godwin and his Sonnes being accused of A CONSPIRACY against the King and made odious to the whole Court by the VVelshmen and Normans so that a rumor was spread abroad that the Kings Army would assault them in the same place where they quartered and were unanimously resolved and ready to fight with Godwins Army being much incensed against him if the King would have permitted them Quo accepto Godwinus ad Conjuratos classicum cecinit Ut ultro Domino regi non resisterent sed si conuenti suissent quin se ulciscerentur loco non cederent profecto facinus miserabile plus quam civile bellum fuisset nisi maturiora consilia interessent writes Malmsbury But because the best and greatest men of all England were engaged on the one side and other it seemed a great unadvisednesse to Earl Leofric and others that they should fight a battle and wage war with their own Countrymen and thereupon they advised That hostages being given on both sides the King and Godwin should meet at London on a certain day to plead togâ—ther which Counsel being approved of and mesâ—engers running to and fro between them hostages being given and received and some small agreement made between them at the present thereupon the Earle returned into VVest-Sax and the King increasing his Army both out of Mercia and Northumberland returned with them to London by agreement between both parties Iterumque praeceptum ut Londini Concilium coageretur and it was again commanded by the King that A COVNCEL or PARLIAMENT as Trevisa Speed and others render iâ— should be assembled at London Swane the Son of Godwin was commanded to mitigate the Kings anger by his flight Godwin and Harold were ordered to come to this Councel with twelve men only in their company and that they should resigne up to the King the services of all the Knights and Souldiers which they had thoroughout England But Godwin and his Sonnes as they durst not wage war against the King so ad Curiam ejus venire Iuri parituri negabant They would not come to his Court to put themselves upon a legal tryall alleadging That they would not goe to a Conventicle of factious persons without pledges and hostages that they would obey their Lord in the surrender of all their Knights services and in all things else without the perill of their honour and safety That if they came thither unarmed they might fear the losse of lifâ— if with a few followers it would be a reproach to their honour But the King being so resolute in his minde that he would not recede from what he had resolved by their intreaties â—pon their refusal to come unto his Court to justify themselves Rex in suo Concilio communi Curiae suae judicio by the common judgement of his Court in this Parliamentary Councel Et omnis exercitus unanimi consensu and by the unanimâ—us consent of his whole Army as Flo-rence of VVorcester and his followers subjoyne banished Godwin himself and his five Sons out of England whereupon prolatum Edictum est A Decree Proclamation was then published that within five dayes they should dâ—part out of England Godwin perceving that his souldiers deserted him some some â—or fear of the Kings Army and displeasure thereupon he and his wife Gâ—va and his three sonnes Swane Gurth and Tosti with his wife Iudith daughter to the Earle of Flanders departed presently out of England by the Isle of Thanet into Flanders to Earle Baldwin with much treasure but his other two soâ—nâ—s Harold and Leofric sailed by Bristol into Ireland Moreover the King put away his Qâ—een Edâ—tha for her Father Godwins sake thrust her into the Abbie of Warwel or Redwel without worship with one maid only to attend her committing her to the custody of the Abbess his own sister taking away all her substance without leaving her so much as one penny ne scilicet omnibus suis parentibus patriam suspirantâ—bus sola sterteret in pluma Harolds Earldom and County wâ—a bestowed on Algarus who ruled it nobly and he with good will resigned it up to Harold upon his returne These things being done William Duke of Normandy came to visit the King with a great multitude of Normans and Souldiers whom King Edward honorably received and magnificently entertained for a season carrying him about to all his royal Castles and Cities and at last sent back into Normandy with many and great presents bestowed on him and his followers De successione autem Regni spes adhuc aut menâ—io nulla facta inter eos fuit writes Iâ—gulphus King Edward In Parliamento Pleno having in Plain or full Parliament as Radulphus Cestrensis Knighton de eventibus Angliae l. 1. c. 10. Trevisa and others relate thus banished and outlawed Godwin and his sons in which in condition as some write they continued two ful years Thereupon in the year 1052. Harold and Leofric by way of reveng coming out of Ireland with such ships and forces as they could there raise pâ—llaged the western parts of England â— infesting the shores with continual robberies carrying away rich booties