time would not bend gave Hostages admitted Garrisons and came in voluntarily The Winter he spent all in worthie actions teaching and promoting like a public Father the institutes and customes of civil life The Inhabitants rude and scatter'd and by that the proner to Warr he so perswaded as to build Houses Temples and Seats of Justice and by praysing the forward quick'ning the slow assisting all turn'd the name of necessitie into an emulation He caus'd moreover the Noblemens Sons to be bred up in liberal Arts and by preferring the Witts of Britain before the Studies of Gallia brought them to affect the Latine Eloquence who before hated the Language Then were the Roman fashions imitated and the Gown after a while the incitements also and materials of Vice and voluptuous life proud Buildings Baths and the elegance of Banqueting which the foolisher sort call'd civilitie but was indeed a secret Art to prepare them for bondage An. Dom. 81 Spring appearing he took the Field and with a prosperous expedition wasted as farr Northward as the Frith of Taus all that obey'd not with such a terror as he went that the Roman Army though much hinderd by tempestuous weather had the leasure to build Forts and Castles where they pleas'd none dareing to oppose them Besides Agricola had this excellence in him so providently to choose his places where to fortifie as not another General then alive No sconce or fortress of his raising was ever known either to have bin forc'd or yeilded up or quitted Out of these impregnable by seige or in that case duely releev'd with continual irruptions he so prevail'd that the Enemie whose manner was in Winter to regain what in Summer he had lost was now alike in both seasons kept short and streit'n'd For these exploits then ex'steem'd so great and honourable Titus in whose Reign they were atcheev'd was the fifteenth time saluted Imperator and of him Agricola receav'd triumphal honours An. Dom. 82 The fourth Summer Domitian then ruleing the Empire he spent in settling and confirming what the year before he had travail'd over with a running Conquest And had the valour of his Souldiers bin answerable he had reach'd that year as was thought the utmost bounds of Britain For Glota and Bodotria now Dunbritton and the Frith of Edinburrow two opposite Armes of the Sea divided only by a neck of Land and all the Creeks and Inlets on this side were held by the Romans and the Enemie driv'n as it were into another Iland An. Dom. 83 In his fift year he pass'd over into the Orcades as we may probably guess and other Scotch Iles discovering and subdueing Nations till then unknown He gain'd also with his Forces that part of Britain which faces Ireland as aiming also to conquer that Iland where one of the Irish Kings driv'n out by civil Warrs comming to him he both gladly receav'd and retain'd him as against a fitt time An. Dom. 84 The Summer ensueing on mistrust that the Nations beyond Bodotria would generally rise and forelay the passages by land he caus'd his Fleet makeing a great shew to bear along the Coast and up the Friths and Harbours joyning most commonly at night on the same shoar both Land and Sea Forces with mutual shouts and loud greetings At sight whereof the Britans not wont to see thir Sea so ridd'n were much daunted Howbeit the Caledonians with great preparation and by rumor as of things unknown much greater taking Armes and of thir own accord begining Warr by the assault of sundry Castles sent back some of thir fear to the Romans themselves and there were of the Commanders who cloaking thir fear under shew of sage advice counsel'd the General to retreat back on this side Bodotria He in the mean while having intelligence that the Enemie would fall on in many Bodies devided also his Armie into three parts Which advantage the Britans quickly spying and on a sudden uniting what before they had disjoyn'd assaile by night with all thir Forces that part of the Roman Armie which they knew to be the weakest and breaking in upon the Camp surpris'd between sleep and fear had begun some Execution When Agricola who had learnt what way the Enemies took and follow'd them with all speed sending before him the lightest of his Horse and Foot to charge them behind the rest as they came on to affright them with clamour so ply'd them without respite that by approach of day the Roman Ensigns glittering all about had encompass'd the Britans who now after a sharp fight in the very Ports of the Camp betook them to thir wonted refuge the Woods and Fens poursu'd a while by the Romans that day else in all appearance had ended the Warr. The Legions reincourag'd by this event they also now boasting who but lately trembl'd cry all to be led on as farr as there was British ground The Britans also not acknowledging the loss of that day to Roman valour but to the policy of their Captaine abated nothing of their stoutness but arming thir youth conveying thir Wives and Children to places of safty in frequent assemblies and by solemn covnants bound themselves to mutual assistance against the common Enemy About the same time a Cohort of Germans having slain thir Centurion with other Roman Officers in a mutiny and for fear of punishment fled a Shipboard launch'd forth in three light Gallies without Pilot and by tide or weather carried round about the Coast using Piracy where they landed while their Ships held out and as thir skill serv'd them with various fortune were the first discoverers to the Romans that Britain was an Iland An. Dom. 85 The following Summer Agricola having before sent his Navie to hover on the Coast and with sundrie and uncertaine landings to divert and disunite the Britans himself with a power best appointed for expedition wherein also were many Britans whom he had long try'd both valiant and faithful marches onward to the Mountaine Grampius where the British above 30 thousand were now lodg'd and still encreasing for neither would thir old men so many as were yet vigorous and lusty be left at home long practis'd in Warr and every one adorn'd with some badge or cognisance of his warlike deeds long agoe Of whom Galgacus both by birth and merit the prime Leader to thir courage though of it self hot and violent is by his rough Oratory in detestation of servitude and the Roman yoke said to have added much more eagerness of fight testifi'd by thir shouts and barbarous applauses As much did on the others side Agricola exhort his Souldiers to Victorie and Glorie as much the Souldiers by his firm and well grounded Exhortations were all on a fire to the onset But first he orders them in this sort Of 8000 Auxiliar Foot he makes his middle ward on the wings 3000 Horse the Legions as a reserve stood in array before the Camp either to seise the Victorie won without their own
who were in station at the Camp Gates sent speedy word to Caesar that from that part of the Country to which the Legion went a greater dust then usual was seen to rise Caesar guessing the matter commands the Cohorts of Guard to follow him thether two others to succeed in thir stead the rest all to arm and follow They had not march'd long when Caesar discerns his Legion sore overcharg'd for the Britans not doubting but that thir Enemies on the morrow would be in that place which only they had left unreap'd of all thir Harvest had plac'd an Ambush and while they were disperst and busiest at thir labour set upon them kill'd som and routed the rest The manner of thir fight was from a kind of Chariots wherin riding about and throwing Darts with the clutter of thir Horse and of thir Wheels they oft-times broke the rank of thir Enemies then retreating among the Horse and quitting thir Chariots they fought on Foot The Charioters in the mean while somwhat aside from the Battell set themselvs in such order that thir Maisters at any time oppress'd with odds might retire safely thether having perform'd with one person both the nimble service of a Horse-man and the stedfast duty of a Foot Souldier So much they could with thir Chariots by use and exercise as riding on the speed down a steep Hill to stop suddenly and with a short rein turn swiftly now runing on the beam now on the Yoke then in the Seat With this sort of new skirmishing the Romans now overmatch'd and terrify'd Caesar with opportune aid appears for then the Britans make a stand but he considering that now was not fitt time to offer Battell while his men were scarce recover'd of so late a fear only keeps his ground and soon after leads back his Legions to the Camp Furder action for many days following was hinder'd on both sides by foul weather in which time the Britans dispatching Messengers round about to how few the Romans were reduc'd what hope of prise and booty and now if ever of freeing themselvs from the fear of like invasions heerafter by making these an example if they could but now uncamp thir Enemies at this intimation multitudes of Horse and Foot coming down from all parts make towards the Romans Caesar foreseeing that the Britans though beat'n and put to flight would easily evade his Foot yet with no more than 30 Horse which Comius had brought over draws out his men to Battell puts again the Britans to flight poursues with slaughter and returning burns and laies waste all about Whereupon Embassadors the same day being sent from the Britans to desire peace Caesar as his affairs at present stood for so great a breach of Faith only imposes on them double the former hostages to be sent after him into Gallia And because September was nigh half spent a season not fit to tempt the Sea with his weather-beat'n Fleet the same night with a fair wind he departs towards Belgia whether two only of the Britan Citties sent Hostages as they promis'd the rest neglected But at Rome when the news came of Caesars acts here whether it were esteem'd a Conquest or a fair Escape supplication of 20 days is decreed by the Senate as either for an exploit done or a discovery made wherin both Caesar and the Romans gloried not a little though it brought no benefit either to him or the Common-wealth The Winter following Caesar as his custom was going into Italy when as he saw that most of the Britans regarded not to send thir Hostages appoints his Legats whom he left in Belgia to provide what possible Shipping they could either build or repair Low built they were to bee as therby easier both to fraught and to hale ashoar nor needed to be higher because the Tyde so often changing was observ'd to make the Billows less in our Sea then those in the Mediterranean broader likewise they were made for the better transporting of Horses and all other fraughtage being intended cheifly to that end These all about 600. in a readiness with 28 Ships of burden and what with adventurers and other hulks above 200 Cotta one of the Legates wrote them as Athaeneus affirms in all 1000 Caesar from Port Iccius a passage of som 30 mile over leaving behind him Labienus to guard the hav'n and for other supply at need with five Legions though but 2000 Horse about sun sett hoysing saile with a slack South-West at midnight was becalm'd And finding when it was light that the whole Navy lying on the current had fal'n of from the I le which now they could descry on thir left hand by the unwearied labour of his Souldiers who refus'd not to tugg the Oare and kept course with Ships under sayl he bore up as neer as might bee to the same place where he had landed the yeer before where about noon arriving Before the Birth of Christ 52 no Enemy could be seen For the Britans which in great number as was after know'n had bin there at sight of so huge a Fleet durst not abide Caesar forthwith landing his Army and encamping to his best advantage som notice being giv'n him by those he took where to find the Enemy with his whole power save only ten cohorts and 300 Horse left to Quintus Atrius for the guard of his Ships about the third watch of the same night marches up twelv mile into the Country And at length by a River commonly thought the Stowre in Kent espies embattail'd the British Forces They with thir Horses and Chariots advancing to the higher Banks oppose the Romans in thir March and begin the fight but repuls't by the Roman Cavalrie give back into the Woods to a place notably made strong both by Art and Nature which it seems had bin a Fort or Hold of strength rays'd heertofore in time of Warrs among themselvs For entrance and access on all sides by the felling of huge Trees overthwart one another was quite barr'd up and within these the Britans did thir utmost to keep out the Enemy But the Souldiers of the seventh Legion locking all thir Sheilds together like a rooff close over head and others raysing a Mount without much loss of blood took the place and drove them all to forsake the Woods Pursuit they made not long as beeing through ways unknow'n and now ev'ning came on which they more wisely spent in choosing out where to pitch and fortify thir Camp that night The next Morning Caesar had but newly sent out his men in three bodies to poursue and the last no furder gon then yet in sight when Horsemen all in Poste from Quintus Artrius bring word to Caesar that almost all his Ships in a Tempest that night had suffer'd wrack and lay brok'n upon the shoar Caesar at this news recalls his Legions himself in all hast riding back to the Sea-side beheld with his own Eyes the ruinous prospect About forty Vessels were
a sickness ended his Reign And to Kenulf next in right of the same Progeny bequeath'd his Kingdome Mean while the Danish Pirats who still wasted Northumberland ventring on shoar to spoil another Monastery at the mouth of the River Don were assail'd by the English thir Cheif Captain slain on the place then returning to Sea were most of them Ship-wrack'd others driv'n again on shoar were put all to the Sword Simeon attributes this thir punishment to the power of St. Cudbert offended with them for the rifling of his Covent An. Dom. 796 Two years after this dy'd Ethelred twice King but not exempted at last from the fate of many his predecessors miserably slain by his people some say deservedly as not inconscious with them who train'd Osred to his ruin Osbald a Nobleman exalted to the Throne and in less then a month deserted and expell'd was forc'd to fly at last from Lindisfarne by Sea to the Pictish King and dy'd an Abbot Eardulf whom Ethelred six years before had commanded to be put to Death at Ripun before the Abbey-Gate dead as was suppos'd and with solemn Dirge carried into the Church after midnight found there alive I read not how then banish'd now recall'd was in Yorke created King In Kent Ethelbert or Pren whom the Annals call Eadbright so different they often are one from another both in timeing and in nameing by some means having usurp'd regal power after two years Reign contending with Kenulf the Mercian was by him tak'n Pris'ner and soon after out of pious commiseration let go but not receav'd of his own what became of him Malmsbury leaves in doubt Simeon writes that Kenulf commanded to put out his Eyes and lop off his hands but whether the sentence were executed or not is left as much in doubt by his want of expression An. Dom. 798 The second year after this they in Northumberland who had conspir'd against Ethelred now also raising War against Eardulf under Wada thir Cheif Captain after much havock on either side at Langho by Whaley in Lancashire the Conspirators at last flying Eardulf return'd with Victory The same year London with a great multitude of her Inhabitants by a sudden fire was consum'd An. Dom. 800 The year 800. made way for great alteration in England uniting her seaven Kingdoms into one by Echert the famous West-Saxon him Birthric dying Childless left next to reign the only surviver of that linage descended from Inegild the Brother of King Ina. And according to his Birth liberally bred he began early from his youth to give signal hopes of more then ordinary worth growing up in him which Birthric fearing and with all his juster title to the Crown secretly sought his life and Ecbert perceaving fled to Offa the Mercian but he having married Eadburg his Daughter to Birthric easily gave ear to his Embassadors coming to require Ecbert he again put to his shifts escap'd thence into France but after three years banishment there which perhaps contributed much to his education Charles the Great then reigning he was call'd over by the publick voice for Birthric was newly dead and with general applause created King of West-Saxons The same day Ethelmund at Kinneresford passing over with the Worcestershire men was met by Weolstan another Nobleman with those of Wiltshire between whom happ'nd a great fray wherin the Wiltshire men overcame but both Dukes were slain no reason of thir quarrel writ'n such bickerings to recount met oft'n in these our Writers what more worth is it then to Chronicle the Wars of Kites or Crows flocking and fighting in the Air An. Dom. 801 The year following Eardulf the Northumbrian leading forth an Army against Kenulf the Mercian for harboring certain of his Enemies by the diligent mediation of other Princes and Prelats Armes were laid aside and amity soon sworn between them But Eadburga the Wife of Birthric a woeman every way wicked in malice especially cruel An. Dom. 802 could not or car'd not to appease the general hatred justly conceiv'd against her accustom'd in her Husbands days to accuse any whom she spighted and not prevailing to his ruin her practice was by poison secretly to contrive his Death It fortun'd that the King her Husband lighting on a Cup which she had temperd not for him but for one of his great Favourites whom she could not harm by accuseing sip'd therof only and in a while after still pineing away ended his days the favourite drinking deeper found speedier the operation She fearing to be questiond for these facts with what treasure she had pass'd over-sea to Charles the Great whom with rich guifts coming to his presence the Emperour courtly receav'd with this pleasant proposal Choose Eadburga which of us two thou wilt me or my Son for his Son stood by him to be thy Husband She no dissembler of what she lik'd best made easie answer Were it in my choise I should choose of the two your Son rather as the younger man To whom the Emperour between jest and earnest hadst thou chosen me I had bestow'd on thee my Son but since thou hast chos'n him thou shalt have neither him nor me Nevertheless he assign'd her a rich Monastery to dwell in as Abbess for that life it may seem she chose next to profess but being a while after detected of unchastity with one of her followers she was commanded to depart thence from that time wandring poorly up and down with one Servant in Pavia a City of Italy she finish'd at last in beggery her shamefull life An. Dom. 805 In the year 805. Cuthred whom Kenuls the Mercian had instead of Pren made King in Kent having obscurely reign'd 8 years deceas'd An. Dom. 806 In Northumberland Eardulf the year following was driv'n out of his Realm by Alfwold who Reign'd two years in his room after whom Eandred Son of Eardulf 33 years An. Dom. 808 but I see not how this can stand with the sequel of story out of better Authors An. Dom. 809 Much less that which Buchanan relates the year following of Acaius King of Scots who having reign'd 32 years and dying in 809 had formerly aided but in what year of his Reign tells not Hungus King of Picts with 10000 Scots against Athelstan a Saxon or English-man then wasting the Pictish Borders that Hungus by the aid of those Scots and the help of St. Andrew thir Patron in a Vision by night and the appearance of his cross by day routed the astonisht English and slew Athelstan in fight Who this Athelstan was I believe no man knows Buchanan supposes him to have been some Danish Commander on whom King Alured or Alfred had bestow'd Northumberland but of this I find no footsteps in our antient Writers and if any such thing were done in the time of Alfred it must be little less then 100. years after this Athelstan therefore and this great overthrow seems rather to have bin the fancy of
subjection These things flowing to his wish he betook him to his Navy from that time still'd and accounted King of England if a Tyrant saith Simeon may be call'd a King The Londoners also sent him hostages and made thir peace for they fear'd his fury Ethelred thus reduc't to narrow compass sent Emma his Queen with his two Sons had by her and all his treasure to Richard the 2d her Brother Duke of Normandy himself with his Danish Fleet abode some while at Greenwich then sailing to the I le of Wight pass'd after Christmas into Normandy where he was honourably receav'd at Roan by the Duke though known to have born himself churlishly and proudly towards Emma his Sister besides his dissolute Company with other women Mean while Swane ceas'd not to exact almost insupportable tribute of the people spoiling them when he listed besides the like did Turkill at Greenwich The next An. Dom. 1014 year beginning Swane sickens and dyes some say terrifi'd and smitt'n by an appearing shape of St. Edmund arm'd whose Church at Bury he had threat'nd to demolish but the authority hereof relies only upon the Legend of St. Edmund After his Death the Danish Army and Fleet made his Son Canute thir King but the Nobility and States of England sent Messengers to Ethelred declareing that they preferr'd none before thir Native Sovran if he would promise to govern them better then he had done and with more Clemency Wherat the King rejoicing sends over his Son Edward with Embassadors to Court both high and low and win thir love promising largly to be thir mild and devoted Lord to consent in all things to thir will follow thir counsel and whatever had been done or spok'n by any man against him freely to pardon if they would loyally restore him to be thir King To this the people cheerfully answer'd and amity was both promisd and confirm'd on both sides An Embassey of Lords is sent to bring back the King honourably he returns in Lent and is joyfully receav'd of the people marches with a strong Army against Canute who having got Horses and joyn'd with the men of Lindsey was preparing to make spoil in the Countries adjoining but by Ethelred unexpectedly coming upon him was soon driv'n to his Ships and his Confederats of Lindsey left to the anger of thir Country-men executed without mercy both by fire and Sword Canute in all hast sailing back to Sandwich took the hostages giv'n to his Father from all parts of England and with slit Noses Ears cropt and hands chop 't off setting them ashore departed into Denmarke Yet the people were not disburd'nd for the King rais'd out of them 30 thousand pound to pay his Fleet of Danes at Greenwich To these evills the Sea in October pass'd his bounds overwhelming many Towns in England and of thir inhabitants many thousands The year following an An. Dom. 1015 Assembly being at Oxford Edric of Streon having invited two Noblemen Sigeferth and Morcar the Sons of Earngrun of Seav'nburg to his Lodging secretly murderd them the King for what cause is unknown seis'd thir Estates and caus'd Algith the Wife of Sigeferth to be kept at Maidulfsburg now Malmsbury whom Edmund the Prince there married against his Fathers minde then went and possesd thir lands making the people there subject to him Mat. West saith that these two were of the Danes who had seated themselves in Northumberland slain by Edric under colour of Treason laid to thir charge They who attended them without tumulting at the Death of thir Maisters were beat'n back and driv'n into a Church and defending themselves were burnt there in the Steeple Mean while Canute returning from Denmarke with a great Navy 200 Ships richly gilded and adorn'd well fraught with Arms and all provision and which Encomium Emmae mentions not two other Kings Lachman of Sweden Olav of Norway arriv'd at Sandwich And as the same Authour then living writes sent out spies to discover what resistance on land was to be expected who return'd with certain report that a great Army of English was in readiness to oppose them Turkill who upon the arrival of these Danish Powers kept faith no longer with the English but joining now with Canute as it were to reingratiate himself after his revolt whether real or complotted councell'd him being yet young not to land but leave to him the management of this first Battel the King assented and he with the Forces which he had brought and part of those which arriv'd with Canute landing to thir wish encounterd the English though double in number at a place call'd Scorastan and was at first beaten back with much loss But at length animating his men with rage only and despair obtain'd a clear Victory which won him great reward and possessions from Canute But of this action no other writer makes mention from Sandwich therefore sailing about to the River Frome and there landing over all Dorset Sommerset and Wiltshire spread wastfull hostility The King lay then sick at Cosham in this County though it may seem strange how he could lie sick there in the midst of his Enemies Howbeit Edmund in one part and Edric of Streon in another rais'd Forces by themselves but so soon as both Armies were united the Traytor Edric being found to practice against the life of Edmund he remov'd with his Army from him whereof the Enemy took great advantage Edric easily enticeing the 40 Ships of Danes to side with him revolted to Canute the West-Saxons also gave pledges and furnished him with Horses By which means the year ensueing An. Dom. 1016 he with Edric the Traytor passing the Thames at Creâ—lad about twelftide enterd into Mercia and especially Warwickshire depopulating all places in thir way Against these Prince Edmund for his hardiness call'd Ironside gather'd an Army but the Mercians refus'd to fight unless Ethelred with the Londoners came to aid them and so every man return'd home After the Festival Edmund gathering another Army besought his Father to come with the Londoners and what force besides he was able they came with great strength gott'n together but being come and in a hopefull way of good success it was told the King that unless he took the better heed some of his own Forces would fall off and betray him The King daunted with this perhaps cunning whisper of the Enemy disbanding his Army returns to London Edmund betook him into Northumberland as some thought to raise fresh Forces but he with Earl Vthred on the one side and Canute with Edric on the other did little else but wast the Provinces Canute to Conquer them Edmund to punish them who stood neuter for which cause Stafford Shropshire and Lestershire felt heavily his hand while Canute who was ruining the more Southern Shires at length march'd into Northumberland which Edmund hearing dismiss'd his Forces and came to London Vthred the Earl hasted back to Northumberland and finding no
Bridge a long hour against the whole English Army with his single resistance delai'd thir Victorie and scorning offerd life till in the end no man dareing to graple with him either dreaded as too strong or contemn'd as one desperate he was at length shot dead with an Arrow and by his fall op'nd the passage of persuit to a compleat Victorie Wherwith Harold lifted up in minde and forgetting now his former shews of popularitie defrauded his Souldiers thir due and well deserved share of the spoils While these things thus past in Northumberland Duke William lay still at St. Valerie his Ships were readie but the wind serv'd not for many days which put the Souldierie into much discouragement and murmur taking this for an unlucky sign of thir success at last the wind came favourable the Duke first under sail awaited the rest at Anchor till all coming forth the whole Fleet of 900 Ships with a prosperous gale arriv'd at Hastings At his going out of the Boat by a slip falling on his hands to correct the Omen a Souldier standing by said aloud that thir Duke had tak'n possession of England Landed he restrein'd his Army from wast and spoil saying that they ought to spare what was thir own But these are things related of Alexander and Caesar and I doubt thence borrow'd by the Monks to inlay thir story The Duke for 15 days after landing kept his men quiet within the Camp having tak'n the Castle of Hastings or built a Fortress there Harold secure the while and proud of his new Victorie thought all his Enemies now under foot but sitting jollily at dinner news is brought him that Duke William of Normandy with a great multitude of Horse and Foot Slingers and Archers besides other choice Auxiliaries which he had hir'd in France was arriv'd at Pevensey Harold who had expected him all the Summer but not so late in the year as now it was for it was October with his Forces much diminish't after two sore conflicts and the departing of many others from him discontented in great hast marches to London Thence not tarrying for supplies which were on thir way towards him hurries into Sussex for he was always in hast since the day of his Coronation and ere the third part of his Army could be well put in order findes the Duke about 9 mile from Hastings and now drawing nigh sent spies before him to survey the strength and number of his Enemies them discoverd such the Duke causing to be led about and after well fill'd with meat and drink sent back They not over-wise brought word that the Dukes Army were most of them Priests for they saw thir faces all over shav'n the English then useing to let grow on thir upper-lip large Mustachio's as did antiently the Britans The King laughing answerd that they were not Priests but valiant and hardy Souldiers Therefore said Girtha his Brother a youth of noble courage and understanding above his Age Forbear thou thy self to fight who art obnoxious to Duke William by Oath let us unsworn undergo the hazard of Battel who may justly fight in the defence of our Country thou reserv'd to fitter time maist either reunite us flying or revenge us dead The King not hark'ning to this least it might seem to argue fear in him or a bad cause with like resolution rejected the offers of Duke William sent to him by a Monk before the Battel with this only answer hastily deliverd let God judge between us The offers were these that Harold would either lay down the Scepter or hold it of him or try his title with him by single Combate in the sight of both Armies or referr it to the Pope These rejected both sides prepar'd to fight the next morning the English from singing and drinking all night the Normans from confession of thir sins and communion of the host The English were in a streit disadvantagious place so that many discourag'd with thir ill ordering scarse having room where to stand slip'd away before the onset the rest in close order with thir Battel-Axes and Shields made an impenetrable Squadron the King himself with his Brothers on foot stood by the Royal Standard wherin the figure of a man fighting was inwov'n with gold and pretious Stones The Norman Foot most Bowmen made the formost Front on either side Wings of Horse somewhat behind The Duke Arming and his Corslet giv'n him on the wrong side said pleasantly the strength of my Dukedom will be turn'd now into a Kingdom Then the whole Army singing the Song of Rowland the remembrance of whose exploits might hart'n them imploring lastly Divine help the Battel began and was fought sorely on either side but the main body of English Foot by no means would be brok'n till the Duke causing his men to feign flight drew them out with desire of pursuit into op'n disorder then turn'd suddenly upon them so routed by themselves which wrought thir overthrow yet so they dy'd not unmanfully but turning oft upon thir Enemies by the advantage of an upper ground beat them down by heaps and fill'd up a great Ditch with thir Carcasses Thus hung the Victory wavering on either side from the third hour of day to Evening when Harold having maintain'd the fight with unspeakable courage and personal valour shot into the head with an Arrow fell at length and left his Souldiers without heart longer to withstand the unwearied Enemy With Harold fell also his two Brothers Leofwin and Girtha with them greatest part of the English Nobility His Body lying dead a Knight or Souldier wounding on the thigh was by the Duke presently turn'd out of military service Of Normans and French were slain no small number the Duke himself also that day not a little hazarded his person having had three choice Horses kill'd under him Victory obtain'd and his dead carefully buried the English also by permission he sent the body of Harold to his mother without ransom though she offerd very much to redeem it which having receav'd she buried at Waltham in a Church built there by Harold In the mean while Edwin and Morcar who had withdrawn themselves from Harold hearing of his Death came to London sending Aldgith the Queen thir Sister with all speed to West-Chester Aldred Archbishop of York and many of the Nobles with the Londoners would have set up Edgar the right Heir and prepar'd themselves to fight for him but Morcar and Edwin not likeing the choice who each of them expected to have been chos'n before him withdrew thir Forces and return'd home Duke William contrary to his former resolution if Florent of Worster and they who follow him say true wasting burning and slaying all in his way or rather as saith Malmsbury not in hostile but in regal manner came up to London met at Barcham by Edgar with the Nobles Bishops Citizens and at length Edwin and Morcar who all submitted to him gave hostages and swore fidelity he to
sunk and lost the residue so torn and shak'n as not to be new rigg'd without much labour Strait he assembles what number of Ship-wrights either in his own Legions or from beyond Sea could be summon'd appoints Labienus on the Belgian side to build more and with a dreadful industry of ten days not respiting his Souldiers day or night drew up all his Ships and entrench'd them round within the circuit of his Camp This don and leaving to thir defence the same strength as before he returns with his whole Forces to the same Wood where he had defeated the Britans who preventing him with greater powers then before had now repossess'd themselvs of that place under Cassibelan thir cheif Leader Whose Territory from the States bordering on the Sea was divided by the River Thames about 80 mile inward With him formerly other Citties had continual Warr but now in the common danger had all made choise of him to be thir Generall Heer the British Horse and Charioters meeting with the Roman Cavalrie fought stoutly and at first somthing overmatch'd they retreat to the neer advantage of thir Woods and Hills but still follow'd by the Romans make head again cut of the forwardest among them and after some pause while Caesar who thought the days work had bin don was busied about the entrenching of his Camp march out again give feirce assault to the very Stations of his Guards and Senteries and while the main cohorts of two Legions that were sent to the Alarme stood within a small distance of each other terrify'd at the newness and the boldness of thir fight charg'd back again through the midst without loss of a man Of the Romans that day was slain Quintus Laberius Durus a Tribune the Britans having fought thir fill at the very entrance of Caesars Camp and sustain'd the resistance of his whole Army entrench'd gave over the assault Caesar heer acknowledges that the Roman way both of arming and of fighting was not so well fitted against this kind of Enemy for that the Foot in heavy Armour could not follow thir cunning flight and durst not by ancient Discipline stirr from thir Ensigne and the Horse alone disjoyn'd from the Legions against a foe that turn'd suddenly upon them with a mixt encounter both of Horse and Foot were in equall danger both following and retiring Besides thir fashion was not in great bodies and close order but in small divisions and open distances to make thir onset appointing others at certain spaces now to releev and bring of the weary now to succeed and renew the conflict which argu'd no small experience and use of Armes Next day the Britans afarr off upon the Hills begin to shew themselves heer and there and though less boldly then before to skirmish with the Roman Horse But at Noon Caesar having sent out 3 Legions and all his Horse with Trebonius the Legat to seek fodder suddenly on all sides they set upon the Forragers and charge up after them to the very Legions and thir Standards The Romans with great courage beat them back and in the chace beeing well seconded by the Legions not giving them time either to rally to stand or to descend from thir Chariots as they were wont slew many From this overthrow the Britans that dwelt farder off betook them home and came no more after that time with so great a power against Caesar Whereof advertis'd he marches onward to the Frontiers of Cassibelan which on this side were bounded by the Thames not passable except in one place and that difficult about Coway stakes neer Oatlands as is conjectur'd Hither coming he descries on the other side great Forces of the Enemy plac'd in good Array the bank sett all with sharp stakes others in the bottom cover'd with water whereof the marks in Beda's time were to be seene as he relates This having learnt by such as were tak'n or had run to him he first commands his Horse to pass over then his Foot who wadeing up to the neck went on so resolutely and so fast that they on the furder side not enduring the violence retreated and fled Cassibelan noe more now in hope to contend for Victorie dismissing all but 4000. of those Charioters through Woods and intricate waies attends thir motion where the Romans are to pass drives all before him and with continuall sallies upon the Horse where they least expected cutting off some and terrifying others compells them soe close together as gave them no leave to fetch in prey or bootie without ill success Whereupon Caesar strictly commanding all not to part from the Legions had nothing left him in his way but empty Fields and Houses which he spoil'd and burnt Meane while the Trinobantes a State or Kingdome and perhaps the greatest then among the Britans less favouring Cassibelan send Embassadors and yeild to Caesar upon this reason Immanuentius had bin thir King him Cassibelan had slaine and purpos'd the like to Mandubratius his Son whom Orosius calls Androgorius Beda Androgius but the youth escaping by flight into Gallia put himself under the protection of Caesar These entreat that Mandubratius may be still defended and sent home to succeed in his Fathers right Caesar sends him demands 40 Hostages and provision for his Armie which they immediately bring in and have thir Confines protected from the Souldier By their example the Cenimagni Segontiaci Ancalites Bibroci Cassi so I write them for the modern names are but guess'd on like terms make thir peace By them he learns that the Town of Cassibelan suppos'd to be Verulam was not farr distant fenc't about with Woods and Marshes well stuff't with men and much Cattel For Towns then in Britain were only Wooddy places Ditch't round and with a Mud Wall encompass'd against the inrodes of Enemies Thether goes Caesar with his Legions and though a place of great strength both by art and nature assaults it in two places The Britans after some defence fled out all at another end of the Town in the flight many were taken many slain and great store of Cattel found there Cassibelan for all these losses yet deserts not himself nor was yet his authoritie so much impair'd but that in Kent though in a manner possest by the Enemie his Messengers and commands finde obedience anough to raise all the people By his direction Cingetorix Carvilius Taximagulus and Segonax fowr Kings Reigning in those Countries which ly upon the Sea lead them on to assault that Camp wherein the Romans had entrench'd thir Shipping but they whom Caesar left there issuing out slew many and took Prisners Cingetorix a noted Leader without loss of thir own Cassibelan after so many defeats mov'd especially by revolt of the Citties from him thir inconstancie and falshood one to another uses mediation by Comius of Arras to send Embassadors about treatie of yeilding Caesar who had determin'd to Winter in the Continent by reason that Gallia was unsettl'd and not much of the
magnifie thir Countrie The Scots and Picts in manners differing somwhat from each other but still unanimous to rob and spoile hearing that the Romans intended not to return from thir Gorroghs or Leathern Frigats pour out themselves in swarms upon the Land more confident than ever and from the North end of the I le to the very wall side then first took possession as inhabitants while the Britans with idle Weapons in thir hands stand trembling on the Battlements till the half-naked Barbarians with thir long and formidable Iron hooks pull them down headlong The rest not only quitting the Wall but Towns and Cities leave them to the bloodie pursuer who follows killing wasting and destroying all in his way From these confusions arose a Famin and from thence discord and civil commotion among the Britans each man living by what he rob'd or took violently from his Neighbour When all stores were consum'd and spent where men inhabited they betook them to the Woods and liv'd by hunting which was thir only sustainment To the heaps of these evils from without were added new divisions within the Church For Agricola the Son of Severianus a Pelagian Bishop had spread his Doctrine wide among the Britans not uninfected before The sounder part neither willing to embrace his opinion to the overthrow of divine grace nor able to refute him crave assistance from the Churches of France who send them Germanus Bishop of Auxerre An. Dom. 429 and Lupus of Troyes They by continual preaching in Churches in Streets in Fields and not without miracles as is writt'n confirm'd som regain'd others and at Verulam in a public disputation put to silence thir chief adversaries This reformation in the Church was beleev'd to be the cause of thir success a while after in the field An. Dom. 430 For the Saxons and Picts with joint force which was no new thing before the Saxons at least had any dwelling in this Iland during the abode of Germanus heer had made a strong impression from the North. The Britans marching out against them and mistrusting thir own power send to Germanus and his Collegue reposing more in the spiritual strength of those two men than in thir own thousands arm'd They came and thir presence in the Camp was not less than if a whole Army had com to second them It was then the time of Lent and the people instructed by the daily Sermons of these two Pastors came flocking to receave Baptism There was a place in the Camp set apart as a Church and trick'd up with boughs upon Easter-day The Enemy understanding this and that the Britans were tak'n up with Religions more than with feats of Arms advances after the Paschal Feast as to a certain Victorie German who also had intelligence of thir approach undertakes to be Captain that day and riding out with selected Troops to discover what advantages the place might offer lights on a Valley compass't about with Hills by which the Enemy was to pass And placing there his ambush warns them that what word they heard him pronounce aloud the same they should repeat with universal shout The Enemy passes on securely and German thrice aloud cries Halleluia which answered by the Souldiers with a sudd'n burst of clamour is from the Hills and Valleys redoubled The Saxons and Picts on a sudden supposing it the noise of a huge Hoast throw themselves into flight casting down thir Arms and great numbers of them are drown'd in the River which they had newly pass'd This Victory thus won without hands left to the Britans plenty of spoile and to the person and the preaching of German greater authority and reverence than before And the exploit might pass for current if Constantius the Writer of his life in the next age had resolv'd us how the British Army came to want baptizing for of any Paganism at that time or long before in the Land we read not or that Pelagianism was re-baptiz'd The place of this Victory as is reported was in Flintshire by a Town call'd Guid-cruc and the River Allen where a field retains the name of Maes German to this day An. Dom. 431 But so soon as German was return'd home the Scots and Picts though now so many of them Christians that Palladius a Deacon was ordain'd and sent by Celestine the Pope to be a Bishop over them were not so well reclaim'd or not so many of them as to cease from doing mischief to thir Neighbours where they found no impeachment to fall in yearly as they were wont They therefore of the Britans who perhaps were not yet wholly ruin'd in the strongest and South-west parts of the I le send Letters to Aetius then third time Consul of Rome with this superscription To Aetius thrice Consul the groanes of the Britans And after a few words thus An. Dom. 446 The barbarians drive us to the Sea the Sea drives us back to the barbarians thus bandied up and down between two deaths we perish either by the Sword or by the Sea But the Empire at that time overspread with Hunns and Vandals was not in condition to lend them aid Thus rejected and wearied out with continual flying from place to place but more afflicted with Famine which then grew outrageous among them many for hunger yielded to the Enemy others either more resolute or less expos'd to wants keeping within Woods and Mountainous places not only defended themselves but sallying out at length gave a stop to the insulting Foe with many seasonable defeats led by some eminent person as may be thought who exhorted them not to trust in thir own strength but in Divine assistance And perhaps no other heer is meant than the foresaid deliverance by German if computation would permit which Gildas either not much regarded or might mistake but that he tarried so long heer the Writers of his life assent not Finding therefore such opposition the Scots or Irish Robbers for so they are indifferently term'd without delay get them home The Picts as before was mentioned then first began to settle in the utmost parts of the Iland using now and then to make inrodes upon the Britans But they in the mean while thus ridd of thir Enemies begin afresh to till the ground which after cessation yields her fruit in such abundance as had not formerly bin known for many Ages But wantonness and luxury the wonted companions of plenty grow up as fast and with them if Gildas deserve belief all other vices incident to human corruption That which he notes especially to be the chief perverting of all good in the Land and so continued in his days was the hatred of truth and all such as durst appear to vindicate and maintain it Against them as against the only disturbers all the malice of the Land was bent Lies and falsities and such as could best invent them were only in request Evil was embrac'd for good wickedness honour'd
and Huda with those of Surrey fell on the Danes at thir landing in Tanet and at first put them back but the slain and drown'd were at length so many on either side as left the loss equal on both which yet hinderd not the solemnity of a marriage at the feast of Easter between Burhed the Mercian and Ethelswida King Ethelwolf's Daughter An. Dom. 854 Howbeit the Danes next year winterd again in Shepey Whom Ethelwolf not finding human health sufficient to resist growing daily upon him in hope of divine aid registerd in a Book and dedicated to God the tenth part of his own lands and of his whole Kingdome eas'd of all impositions but converted to the maintenance of Masses and Psalms weekly to be sung for the prospering of Ethelwolf and his Captains as appears at large by the Patent it self in William of Malmsbury Asser saith de did it for the redemtion of his Soul and the Soul of his Ancestors After which as having done some great matter to shew himself at Rome and be applauded of the Pope he takes a long and cumbersome journey thether with young Alfrid again and there staies a year An. Dom. 855 when his place requir'd him rather heer in the field against Pagan Enemies left wintring in his land Yet so much manhood he had as to return thence no Monk and in his way home took to Wife Judith Daughter of Charles the bald King of France But ere his return Ethelbald his eldest Son Alstan his trusty Bishop and Enulf Earl of Somerset conspir'd against him thir complaints were that he had tak'n with him Alfrid his youngest Son to be there inaugurated King and brought home with him an out-landish Wife for which they endeavourd to deprive him of his Kingdom The disturbance was expected to bring forth nothing less then War but the King abhorring civil discord after many conferences tending to peace condescended to divide the Kingdom with his Son division was made but the matter so carried that the Eastern and worst part was malignly afforded to the Father The Western and best giv'n to the Son at which many of the Nobles had great indignation offring to the King thir utmost assistance for the recovery of all whom he peacefully dissuading sat down contented with his portion assign'd In the East-Angles Edmund lineal from the antient stock of those Kings a youth of 14 years only but of great hopes was with consent of all but his own Crown'd at Burie An. Dom. 857 About this time as Buchanan relates the Picts who not long before had by the Scots bin driv'n out of thir Countrey part of them coming to Osbert and Ella then Kings of Northumberland obtain'd aid against Donaldus the Scotish King to recover thir antient possession Osbert who in person undertook the expedition marching into Scotland was at first put to a retreat but returning soon after on the Scots over-secure of thir suppos'd Victory put them to flight with great slaughter took Pris'ner thir King and persu'd his Victory beyond Sterlinbridge The Scots unable to resist longer and by Embassadors entreating peace had it granted them on these conditions the Scots were to quit all they had possess'd within the Wall of Severus the limits of Scotland were beneath Sterlin-bridge to be the River Forth and on the other side Dunbritton Frith from that time so call'd of the Brittish then seated in Cumberland who had joind with Osbert in this Action and so far extended on that side the Brittish limits If this be true as the Scotch Writers themselv's witness and who would think them Fabulous to the disparagement of thir own Country how much wanting have bin our Historians to thir Countries Honour in leting pass unmention'd an exploit so memorable by them rememberd and attested who are wont ofter to extenuate then to amplifie aught done in Scotland by the English Donaldus on these conditions releas't soon after dyes according to Buchanan in 858. Ethelwolf Chief King in England had the year before ended his life and was buried as his Father at Winchester He was from his youth much addicted to devotion so that in his Fathers time he was ordain'd Bishop of Winchester and unwillingly for want of other Legitimate Issue succeeded him in the Throne mannaging therfore his greatest affairs by the activity of two Bishops Alstan of Sherburne and Swithine of Winchester But Alstan is noted of Covetousness and Oppression by William of Malmsbury the more vehemently no doubt for doing some notable damage to that Monastery The same Author writes that Ethelwolf at Rome paid a Tribute to the Pope continu'd to his dayes However he were facil to his Son and seditious Nobles in yeilding up part of his Kingdome yet his Queen he treated not the less honourably for whomsoever it displeas'd The West-Saxon had decreed ever since the time of Eadburga the infamous Wife of Birthric that no Queen should sit in State with the King or be dignifi'd with the Title of Queen But Ethelwolf permitted not that Judith his Queen should loose any point of Regal State by that Law At his Death he divided the Kingdom between his two Sons Ethelbald and Ethelbert to the younger Kent Essex Surrey Sussex to the Elder all the rest to Peter and Paul certain revenues yearly for what uses let others relate who write also his Pedigree from Son to Father up to Adam Ethelbald and Ethelbert EThelbald unnatural and disloyal to his Father fell justly into another though contrary sin of too much love to his Fathers Wife and whom at first he oppos'd coming into the Land her now unlawfully marrying he takes into his Bed but not long enjoying dy'd at three years end without doing aught more worthy to be rememberd having reign'd two years with his Father impiously usurping An. Dom. 860 and three after him as unworthily inheriting And his hap was all that while to be unmolested by the Danes not of Divine favour doubtless but to his greater condemnation living the more securely his incestuous life Huntingdon on the other side much praises Ethelbald and writes him buried at Sherburn with great sorrow of the people who miss'd him long after Mat. West saith that he repented of his incest with Judith and dismiss'd her but Asser an Eye witness of those times mentions no such thing Ethelbert alone EThelbald by Death remov'd the whole Kingdom came rightfully to Ethelbert his next Brother Who though a Prince of great Vertue and no blame had as short a Reign allotted him as his faulty Brother nor that so peacefull once or twice invaded by the Danes But they having landed in the West with a great Army and sackt Winchester were met by Osric Earl of Southampton and Ethelwolf of Bark-shire beat'n to thir Ships and forc't to leave thir booty Five years after about the time of his An. Dom. 855 Death they set foot again in Tanet the Kentish men wearied out with
hold of him the bounds wherof may be read among the Laws of Alfred Others of them went to Fulham on the Thames and joining there with a great Fleet newly come into the River thence pass't over into France and Flanders both which they enterd so far conquering or wasting as witness'd sufficiently that the French and Flemish were no more able then the English by Policy or prowess to keep off that Danish inundation from thir land Alfred thus rid of them and intending for the future to prevent thir landing Three years after quiet the mean while An. Dom. 882 with more Ships and better provided puts to Sea and at first met with four of theirs wherof two he took throwing the men over-board then with two others wherin were two of thir Princes and took them also but not without some loss of his own After three years another Fleet of them appear'd on An. Dom. 885 these Seas so huge that one part thought themselves sufficient to enter upon East-France the other came to Rochester and beleaguerd it they within stoutly defending themselves till Alfred with great Forces coming down upon the Danes drove them to thir Ships leaving for hast all thir Horses behind them The same year Alfred sent a Fleet toward the East-Angles then inhabited by the Danes which at the mouth of Stour meeting with 16 Danish Ships after some flight took them all and slew the Souldiers aboard but in thir way home lying careless were overtak'n by another part of that Fleet and came off with loss whereupon perhaps those Danes who were settl'd among the East-Angles erected with new hopes violated the peace which they had sworn to Alfred who spent the next year in repairing London An. Dom. 886 beâ—â—â—ging saith Huntingdon much ruind and unpeopl'd by the Danes the Londoners all but those who had bin led away Captive soon return'd to thir dwellings and Ethred Duke of Mercia was by An. Dom. 893 the King appointed thir Governour But after 13 years respite of peace another Danish Fleet of 250 Sail from the East part of France arriv'd at the mouth of a River in East Kent call'd Limen nigh to the great Wood Andred famous for length and bredth into that Wood they drew up thir Ships four mile from the Rivers mouth and built a Fortress After whom Haesten with another Danish Fleet of 80 Ships entring the mouth of Thames built a Fort at Middleton the former Army remaining at a place call'd Apeltre Alfred perceaving this took of those Danes who dwelt in Northumberland a new Oath of Fidelity and of those in Essex hostages lest they should joyn as they were wont with thir Country-men newly arriv'd And by the next year having An. Dom. 894 got together his Forces between either Army of the Danes encamp'd so as to be ready for either of them who first should happ'n to stir forth Troops of Horse also he sent continually abroad assisted by such as could be spar'd from strong places wherever the Countries wanted them to encounter forageing parties of the Enemy The King also divided sometimes his whole Army marching out with one part by turns the other keeping intrencht In conclusion rowling up and down both sides met at Farnham in Surrey where the Danes by Alfreds Horse Troops were put to flight and crossing the Thames to a certain Iland neer Coln in Essex or as Camden thinks by Colebrooke were beseig'd there by Alfred till provision fail'd the the beseigers another part staid behind with thir King wounded Mean while Alfred preparing to reinforce the seige in Colney the Danes of Northumberland breaking Faith came by Sea to the East-Angles and with a hunderd Ships Coasting Southward landed in Devonshire and beseig'd Exeter thether Alfred hasted with his powers except a Squadron of Welch that came to London with whom the Citizens marching forth to Beamflet where Haesten the Dane had built a strong Fort and left a Garrison while he himself with the main of his Army was enterd far into the Country luckily surprise the Fort maister the Garrison make prey of all they find there thir Ships also they burnt or brought away with good booty and many Prisners among whom the Wife and two Sons of Heasten were sent to the King who forthwith set them at liberty Whereupon Heasten gave Oath of Amitie and Hostages to the King he in requital whether freely or by agreement a summe of money Nevertheless without regard of Faith giv'n while Alfred was busied about Exeter joining with the other Danish Army he built another Castle in Essex at Shoberie thence marching Westward by the Thames aided with Northumbrian and East-Anglish Danes they came at length to Severn pillaging all in thir way But Ethred Ethelm and Ethelnoth the Kings Captains with united Forces pitch'd nigh to them at Buttingtun on the Severn Bank in Montgomery-shire the River running between and there many weeks attended the King mean while blocking up the Danes who beseig'd Exeter having eat'n part of thir Horses the rest urg'd with hunger broke forth to thir fellows who lay encamp't on the East-side of the River and were all there discomfitted with some loss of valiant men on the Kings party the rest fled back to Essex and thir Fortress there Then Laf one of their Leaders gatherd before Winter a great Army of Northumbrian and East-Anglish Danes who leaving thir money Ships and Wives with the East-Angles and marching day and night sat down before a City in the West call'd Wirheal neer to Chester and took it ere they could be overtak'n The English after two daies seige hopeless to dislodge them wasted the Country round to cut off from them all provision and departed Soon after which next year the An. Dom. 895 Danes no longer able to hold Wirheal destitute of Vittles enterd North-Wales thence lad'n with spoils part return'd into Northumberland others to the East-Angles as far as Essex where they seis'd on a small Iland call'd Meresig And heer again the Annals record them to beseige Exeter but without coherence of sence or story Others relate to this purpose that returning by Sea from the Seige of Exeter and in thir way landing on the Coast of Sussex they of Cichester sallied out and slew of them many hunderds taking also some of thir Ships The same year they who possess'd Meresig intending to winter thereabout drew up thir Ships some into the Thames others into the River Lee and on the Bank therof built a Castle twenty miles from London to assault which the Londoners aided with other Forces march'd out the Summer following but were soon put to An. Dom. 896 flight loosing fowr of the Kings Captains Huntingdon writes quite the contrary that these fowr were Danish Captains and the overthrow theirs but little credit is to be plac'd in Huntingdon single For the King therupon with his Forces lay encamp't neerer the City that the Danes might not infest
things to his charge he was by Edmund forbidd'n the Court but by the earnest mediation saith Ingulf of Turkitul the Chancellour receav'd at length to favour and made Abbot of Glaston lastly by Edgar and the generall Vote Archbishop of Canterbury Not long after his Death the Danes arriving in Devonshire were met by Goda Lieutenant of that Country and Strenwold a valiant Leader who put back the Danes but with loss of thir own lives The third year following under the conduct of Justin An. Dom. 991 and Guthmund the Son of Steytan they landed and spoil'd Ipswich fought with Britnoth Duke of the East-Angles about Maldon where they slew him the slaughter else had bin equal on both sides These and the like depredations on every side the English not able to resist by counsel of Siric then Arch-bishop of Canterbury and two Dukes Ethelward and Alfric it was thought best for the present to buy that with Silver which they could not gain with thir Iron and Ten Thousand pound was paid to the Danes for peace Which for a while contented but taught them the ready way how easiest to come by more The next year but one they took by storm and rifl'd Bebbanburg an antient City nigh Durham An. Dom. 993 sailing thence into the mouth of Humber they wasted both sides therof Yorkeshire and Lindsey burning and destroying all before them Against these went out three Noblemen Frena Frithegist and Godwin but being all Danes by the Fathers side willingly began flight and forsook thir own Forces betray'd to the Enemy No less treachery was at Sea for Alfric the Son of Elfer Duke of Mercia whom the King for some offence had banish'd but now recall'd sent from London with a Fleet to surprise the Danes in some place of disadvantage gave them over night intelligence therof then fled to them himself which his Fleet saith Florent perceaveing persu'd took the Ship but miss'd of his person the Londoners by chance grapling with the East-Angles made them fewer saith my Authour by many thousands Others say that by this notice of Alfric the Danes not only escap'd but with a greater Fleet An. Dom. 994 set upon the English took many of thir Ships and in tryumph brought them up the Thames intending to beseige London for Anlaf King of Norway and Swane of Denmarke at the head of these came with 94 Gallies The King for this treason of Alfric put out his Sons Eyes but the Londoners both by land and water so valiantly resisted thir beseigers that they were forc't in one day with great loss to give over But what they could not on the City they wreck'd themselves on the Countries round about wasting with Sword and fire all Essex Kent and Sussex Thence horsing thir Foot diffus'd far wider thir outragious incursions without mercy either to Sex or Age. The slothfull King instead of Warlike opposition in the Field sends Embassadors to treat about another payment the sum promisd was now 16 thousand pound till which paid the Danes winterd at Southampton Ethelred inviteing Anlaf to come and visit him at Andover where he was royally entertain'd some say baptiz'd or confirm'd adopted Son by the King and dismis't with great presents promising by Oath to depart and molest the Kingdome no more which he perform'd but the calamity ended not so for after some intermission of thir rage for three years the other Navy An. Dom. 997 of Danes sailing about to the West enterd Severn and wasted one while South Wales then Cornwall and Devonshire till at length they winterd about Tavistoc For it were an endless work to relate how they wallow'd up and down to every particular place and to repeat as oft what devastations they wrought what desolations left behinde them easie to be imagin'd In summ the next year they afflicted An. Dom. 998 Dorsetshire Hamshire and the I le of Wight by the English many resolutions were tak'n many Armies rais'd but either betray'd by the falshood or discourag'd by the weakness of thir Leaders they were put to rout or disbanded themselves For Souldiers most commonly are as thir Commanders without much odds of valour in one Nation or other only as they are more or less wisely disciplin'd and conducted The following year brought them back An. Dom. 999 upon Kent where they enterd Medway and beseig'd Rochester but the Kentish men assembling gave them a sharp encounter yet that suffic'd not to hinder them from doing as they had done in other places Against these depopulations the King levied an Army but the unskillfull Leaders not knowing what to do with it when they had it did but drive out time burd'ning and impoverishing the people consuming the publick treasure and more imboldning the Enemy then if they had sat quiet at home What cause mov'd the Danes next year to pass into Normandy is not recorded but that An. Dom. 1000 they return'd thence more outragious then before Mean while the King to make some diversion undertak's an expedition both by Land and Sea into Cumberland where the Danes were most planted there and in the I le of Man or as Camden saith Anglesey imitating his Enemies in spoiling and unpeopleing the Danes from Normandy arriving in the River Ex laid seige to Exeter but the Cittizens as those of London valorously defending themselves An. Dom. 1001 they wreck'd thir anger as before on the Villages round about The Country people of Somerset and Devonshire assembling themselves at Penho shew'd thir readiness but wanted a head and besides being then but few in number were easily put to flight the Enemy plundring all at will with loaded spoils pass'd into the I le of Wight from whence all Dorsetshire and Hamshire felt again thir fury The Saxon Annals write that before thir coming to Exeter the Hamshire men had a bickering with them wherin Ethelward the Kings General was slain adding other things hardly to be understood An. Dom. 1002 and in one antient Copy so end Ethelred whom no adversity could awake from his soft and sluggish life still coming by the worse at fighting by the advice of his Peers not unlike himself sends one of his gay Courtiers though looking loftily to stoop basely and propose a third tribute to the Danes they willingly hark'n but the summ is enhaunc't now to 24 thousand pound and paid the Danes therupon abstaining from hostility But the King to strengthen his House by some potent affinity marries Emma whom the Saxons call Elgiva Daughter of Richard Duke of Normandy With him Ethelred formerly had War or no good correspondence as appears by a Letter of Pope John the 15th who made peace between them about eleaven years before puft up now with his suppos'd access of strength by this affinity he caus'd the Danes all over England though now living peaceably in one day perfidiously to be massacherd both Men Women and Childern sending privat
Letters to every Town and Citty wherby they might be ready all at the same hower which till the appointed time being the 9th of July was conceal'd with great silence and perform'd with much unanimity so generally hated were the Danes Mat. West writes that this execution upon the Danes was ten years after that Huna one of Ethelreds Chief Captains complaining of the Danish insolencies in time of peace thir pride thir ravishing of Matrons and Virgins incited the King to this massacher which in the madness of rage made no difference of innocent or nocent Among these Gunhildis the Sister of Swane was not spar'd though much deserving not pitty only but all protection she with her Husband Earl Palingus coming to live in England and receaving Christianity had her Husband and young Son slain before her face her self then beheaded foretelling and denouncing that her blood would cost England dear Some say this was done by the Traitor Edric to whose custody she was committed but the massacher was some years before Edric's advancement and if it were done by him afterward it seems to contradict the privat correspondence which he was thought to hold with the Danes For Swane breathing revenge An. Dom. 1003 hasted the next year into England and by the treason or negligence of Count Hugh whom Emma had recommended to the Government of Devonshire sack'd the City of Exeter her Wall from East to West-gate brok'n down after this wasting Wiltshire the people of that County and of Hamshire came together in great numbers with resolution stoutly to oppose him but Alfric thir General whose Sons Eyes the King had lately put out madly thinking to revenge himself on the King by ruining his own Country when he should have orderd his Battel the Enemy being at hand fain'd himself tak'n with a vomiting wherby his Army in great discontent destitute of a Commander turn'd from the Enemy who streight took Wilton and Salsbury carrying the pillage therof to his Ships An. Dom. 1004 Thence the next year landing on the Coast of Norfolk he wasted the Country and set Norwich on fire Ulfketel Duke of the East-Angles a man of great valour not having space to gather his Forces after consultation had thought it best to make peace with the Dane which he breaking within three weeks issu'd silently out of his Ships came to Thetford staid there a night and in the Morning left it flameing Vlsketel hearing this commanded some to go and break or burn his Ships but they not dareing or neglecting he in the mean while with what secresie and speed was possible drawing together his Forces went out against the Enemy and gave them a feirce onset retreating to thir Ships but much inferiour in number many of the Cheif East-Angles there lost thir lives Nor did the Danes come off without great slaughter of thir own confessing that they never met in England with so rough a charge The next year whom War could An. Dom. 1005 not a great Famin drove Swane out of the Land But the Summer following another great Fleet of Danes enterd the Port of Sandwich thence powrd An. Dom. 1006 out over all Kent and Sussex made prey of what they found The King levying an Army out of Mercia and the West-Saxons took on him for once the Manhood to go out and face them But they who held it safer to live by rapine then to hazard a Battel shifting lightly from place to place frustrated the slow motions of a heavy Camp following thir wonted course of robbery then running to thir Ships Thus all Autumn they wearied out the Kings Army which gone home to winter they carried all thir pillage to the I le of Wight and there staid till Christmas at which time the King being in Shropshire and but ill imploi'd for by the procurement of Edric he caus'd as is thought Alfhelm a noble Duke treacherously to be slain and the Eyes of his two Sons to be put out they came forth again over-running Hamshire and Barkeshire as far as Reading and Wallingford thence to Ashdune and other places thereabout neither known nor of tolerable pronuntiation and returning by another way found many of the people in Armes by the River Kenet but making thir way through they got safe with vast booty to thir Ships The An. Dom. 1007 King and his Courtiers wearied out with thir last Summers jaunt after the nimble Danes to no purpose which by proof they found too toilsome for thir soft Bones more us'd to Beds and Couches had recourse to thir last and only remedy thir Cofers and send now the fourth time to buy a dishonorable peace every time still dearer not to be had now under 36 thousand pound for the Danes knew how to milk such easie Kine in name of Tribute and expences which out of the people over all England already half beggerd was extorted and paid About the same time Ethelred advanc'd Edric surnam'd Streon from obscure condition to be Duke of Mercia and marry Edgitha the Kings Daughter The cause of his advancement Florent of Worster and Mat. West attribute to his great wealth gott'n by fine polices and a plausible tongue he prov'd a main accessory to the ruin of England as his actions will soon declare Ethelred the next year somewhat An. Dom. 1008 rowsing himself ordain'd that every 310 Hides a Hide is so much land as one Plow can sufficiently till should set out a Ship or Gally and every nine Hides find a Corslet and Head-peice new Ships in every Port were builded vittl'd fraught with stout Mariners and Souldiers and appointed to meet all at Sandwich A man might now think that all would go well when suddenly a new mischief sprung up dissention among the great ones which brought all this diligence to as little success as at other times before Bithric the Brother of Edric falsly accus'd Wulnoth a great Officer set over the South-Saxons who fearing the potency of his Enemies with 20 Ships got to Sea and practis'd piracy on the Coast Against whom reported to be in a place where he might be easily surpris'd Bithrie sets forth with 80 Ships all which driv'n back by a Tempest and wrackt upon the shoar were burnt soon after by Wulnoth Disheart'nd with this misfortune the King returns to London the rest of his Navy after him and all this great preparation to nothing Wherupon Turkill a Danish Earl came with a Navy An. Dom. 1009 to the I le of Tanet and in August a far greater led by Heming and Ilaf joyn'd with him Thence coasting to Sandwich and landed they went onward and began to assault Canterbury but the Citizens and East Kentish men coming to composition with them for three thousand pound they departed thence to the I le of Wight robbing and burning by the way Against these the King levies an Army through all the land and in several quarters places them nigh the Sea but so
to divide the Kingdome this offer pleasing both Armies Edmund was not difficult to consent and the decision was that he as his hereditary Kingdome should rule the West-Saxons and all the South Canute the Mercians and the North. Huntingdon follow'd by Mat. West relates that the Peers on every side wearied out with continuall warfare and not refraining to affirm op'nly that they two who expected to reign singly had most reason to fight singly the Kings were content the Iland was thir lists the Combate Knightly till Knute finding himself too weak began to parle which ended as is said before After which the Londoners bought thir peace of the Danes and permitted them to winter in the City But King Edmund about the Feast of St. Andrew unexpectedly deceas'd at London and was buried neer to Edgar his Grandfather at Glaston The cause of his so sudden death is uncertain common fame saith Malmsbury laies the guilt therof upon Edric who to please Canute allur'd with promise of reward two of the Kings Privy Chamber though at first abhorring the fact to assassinate him at the stool by thrusting a sharp Iron into his hinder parts Huntingdon and Mat. West relate it done at Oxford by the Son of Edric and something vary in the manner not worth recital Edmund dead Canute meaning to reign sole King of England calls to him all the Dukes Barons and Bishops of the Land cunningly demanding of them who were witnesses what agreement was made between him and Edmund dividing the Kingdome whether the Sons and Brothers of Edmund were to govern the West-Saxons after him Canute living they who understood his meaning and fear'd to undergo his anger timorously answerd that Edmund they knew had left no part therof to his Sons or Brethren living or dying but that he intended Canute should be thir Guardian till they came to age of reigning Simeon affirms that for fear or hope of reward they attested what was not true notwithstanding which he put many of them to death not long after Canute or Knute CAnute having thus sounded the Nobility and An. Dom. 1017 by them understood receav'd thir Oath of fealty they the pledge of his bare hand and Oath from the Danish Nobles wherupon the House of Edmund was renounc't and Canute Crown'd Then they enacted that Edwi Brother of Edmund a Prince of great hope should be banish't the Realm But Canute not thinking himself secure while Edwi liv'd consulted with Edric how to make him away who told him of one Ethelward a decay'd Nobleman likeliest to do the work Ethelward sent for and tempted by the King in privat with largest rewards but abhorring in his mind the deed promisd to do it when he saw his opportunity and so still deferr'd it But Edwi afterwards receav'd into favour as a snare was by him or some other of his false freinds Canute contriving it the same year slain Edric also counsel'd him to dispatch Edward and Edmund the Sons of Ironside but the King doubting that the fact would seem too foul done in England sent them to the King of Sweden with like intent but he disdaining the Office sent them for better safety to Solomon King of Hungary where Edmund at length dy'd but Edward married Agatha Daughter to Henry the German Emperour A digression in the Laws of Edward Confessor under the Title of Lex Noricorum saith that this Edward for fear of Canute fled of his own accord to Malesclot King of the Rugians who receav'd him honourably and of that Country gave him a Wife Canute settl'd in his Throne divided the Government of his Kingdom into fowr parts the West-Saxons to himself the East-Angles to Earl Turkill the Mercians to Edric the Northumbrians to Eric then made peace with all Princes round about him and his former Wife being dead in July married Emma the Widow of King Ethelred The Christmas following was an ill Feast to Edric of whose Treason the King having now made use as much as serv'd his turn and fearing himself to be the next betray'd caus'd him to be slain at London in the Palace thrown over the City Wall and there to lie unburied the head of Edric fixt on a pole he commanded to be set on the highest Tower of London as in a double sence he had promis'd him for the murder of King Edmund to exalt him above all the Peers of England Huntingdon Malmsbury and Mat. West write that suspecting the Kings intention to degrade him from his Mercian Dukedome and upbraiding him with his merits the King enrag'd caus'd him to be strangl'd in the room and out at a Window thrown into the Thames Another writes that Eric at the Kings command struck off his head Other great men though without fault as Duke Norman the Son of Leofwin Ethelward Son of Duke Agelmar he put to death at the same time jealous of thir power or familiarity with Edric and notwithstanding peace kept still his Army to maintain which the next An. Dom. 1018 year he squees'd out of the English though now his subjects not his Enemies 72 some say 82 thousand pound besides 15 thousand out of London Mean while great War arose at Carr between Vthred Son of Waldef Earl of Northumberland and Malcolm Son of Kened King of Scots with whom held Eugenius King of Lothian But heer Simeon the relater seems to have committed some mistake having slain Vthred by Canute two years before and set Eric in his place Eric therfore it must needs be not Vthred who manag'd this War against the Scots About which time in a Convention of Danes at Oxford it was agreed on both parties to keep the Laws of Edgar Mat. West saith of Edward the Elder The An. Dom. 1019 next year Canute sail'd into Denmarke and there abode all Winter Huntingdon and Mat. West say he went thether to repress the Swedes and that the night before a Battel to be fought with them Godwin stealing out of the Camp with his English assaulted the Swedes and had got the Victory ere Canute in the morning knew of any fight For which bold enterprise though against Discipline he had the English in more esteem ever after In the Spring An. Dom. 1020 at his return into England he held in the time of Easter a great assembly at Chirchester and the same year was with Turkill the Dane at the dedication of a Church by them built at Assendune in the place of that great Victory which won him the Crown But suspecting his greatness the year following banish'd An. Dom. 1021 An. Dom. 1028 him the Realm and found occasion to do the like by Eric the Northumbrian Earl upon the same jealousie Nor yet content with his Conquest of England though now above ten years enjoy'd he pass'd with 50 Ships into Norway dispossess'd Olave thir King and subdu'd the land first with great summes of money sent the year before to gain him a party then coming with an Army to compell
thy advantage that after these words choak't with the morsel tak'n he sunk down and recover'd not His first wife was the sister of Cannute a woman of much infamy for the trade she drove of buying up English Youths and Maids to sell in Denmarke whereof she made great gain but ere long was struck with thunder and dy'd The year ensuing Siward Earl of An. Dom. 1054 Northumberland with a great number of horse and foot attended also by a strong fleet at the Kings appointment made an expedition into Scotland vanquish't the Tyrant Macbeth slaying many thousands of Scots with those Normans that went thether and plac'd Malcolm Son of the Cumbrian King in his stead yet not without loss of his own Son and many other both English and Danes Told of his Sons Death he ask'd whether he receav'd his Deaths wound before or behind when it was answerd before I am glad saith hee and should not else have thought him though my Son worthy of Burial In the mean while King Edward being without Issue to succeed him sent Aldred Bishop of Winchester with great presents to the Emperour entreating him to prevail with the King of Hungary that Edward the remaining Son of his Brother Edmund Ironside might be sent into England Siward but one year surviving An. Dom. 1055 his great Victory dy'd at Yorke reported by Huntingdon a man of Giant-like stature by his own demeanour at point of Death manifested of a rough and meer souldierly mind For much disdaining to die in bed by a disease not in the field fighting with his enemies he caus'd himself compleatly arm'd and weapon'd with battel-ax and shield to be set in a chair whether to fight with death if he could be so vain or to meet him when far other weapons and preparations were needful in a Martial bravery but true fortitude glories not in the feats of War as they are such but as they serve to end War soonest by a victorious Peace His Earldom the King bestow'd on Tosti the Son of Earl Godwin and soon after in a Convention held at London banish't without visible cause Huntigdon saith for treason Algar the Son of Leofric who passing into Ireland soon return'd with eighteen ships to Griffin Prince of South Wales requesting his aid against King Edward He assembling his Powers enter'd with him into Hereford-shire whom Radulf a timorous Captain Son to the Kings Sister not by Eustace but a former husband met two miles distant from Hereford and having hors'd the English who knew better to fight on foot without stroke he with his French and Normans beginning to flie taught the English by his example Griffin and Algar following the chase slew many wounded more enter'd Hereford slew seven Canons defending the Minster burnt the Monasterie and Reliques then the City killing some leading captive others of the Citizens return'd with great spoils whereof King Edward having notice gather'd a great Army at Gloster under the conduct of Harold now Earl of Kent who strenuously pursuing Griffin enter'd Wales and encamp'd beyond Straddale But the enemy flying before him farther into the Country leaving there the greater part of his Army with such as had charge to fight if occasion were offer'd with the rest he return'd and fortifi'd Hereford with a wall and gates Mean while Griffin and Algar dreading the diligence of Harold after many messages to and fro concluded a Peace with him Algar discharging his fleet with pay at West Chester came to the King and was restor'd to his Earldom But Griffin with breach of faith the next year set upon An. Dom. 1056 Leofgar the Bishop of Hereford and his Clerks then at a place call'd Glastbrig with Agelnoth Vicount of the shire and slew them but Leofric Harold and King Edward by force as is likeliest though it be not said how reduc'd him to Peace The next year An. Dom. 1057 Edward Son of Edmund Ironside for whom his Uncle King Edward had sent to the Emperour came out of Hungary design'd Successor to the Crown but within a few days after his coming dy'd at London leaving behind him Edgar Atheling his Son Margaret and Christina his Daughters About the same time also dy'd Earl Leofric in a good old age a man of no less vertue then power in his time religious prudent and faithful to his Country happily wedded to Godiva a woman of great praise His Son Algar found less favour with King Edward again banish't the year after An. Dom. 1058 his Fathers death but he again by the aid of Griffin and a fleet from Norway maugre the King soon recover'd his Earldom The next year Malcolm An. Dom. 1059 King of Scots coming to visit King Edward was brought on his way by Tosti the Northumbrian Earl to whom he swore brotherhood yet the next year An. Dom. 1061 but one while Tosti was gone to Rome with Aldred Archbishop of York for his Pall this sworn brother taking advantage of his absence roughly harrass'd Northumberland The year passing to an end without other matter of moment save the frequent inrodes and robberies of Griffin whom no bonds of faith could restrain King Edward sent against him after Christmas Harold now Duke of West-Saxons An. Dom. 1062 with no great body of Horse from Gloster where he then kept his Court whose coming heard of Griffin not daring to abide nor in any part of his Land holding himself secure escap't hardly by Sea ere Harold coming to Rudeland burnt his Palace and Ships there returning to Gloster the same day But by the middle An. Dom. 1063 of May setting out with a fleet from Bristow he sail'd about the most part of Wales and met by his brother Tosti with many Troops of Horse as the King had appointed began to waste the Country but the Welch giving pledges yeilded themselves promis'd to become tributary and banish Griffin thir Prince who lurking somewhere was the next year tak'n and An. Dom. 1064 slain by Griffin Prince of North Wales his head with the head and tackle of his Ship sent to Harold by him to the King who of his gentleness made Blechgent and Rithwallon or Rivallon his two Brothers Princes in his stead they to Harold in behalf of the King swore fealty and tribute Yet the next year An. Dom. 1065 Harold having built a fair house at a place call'd Portascith in Monmouth-shire and stor'd it with provision that the King might lodge there in time of hunting Caradoc the Son of Griffin slain the year before came with a number of men slew all he found there and took away the provision Soon after which the Northumbrians in a tumult at York beset the Palace of Tosti their Earl slew more then 200 of his Souldiers and Servants pillag'd his Treasure and put him to flie for his life The cause of this insurrection they alledg'd to be for that the Queen Edith had commanded in her Brother Tosti's behalf