of his Reign for his vitious life and incest committed with Nuns was by Kenred fucceeded and aveng'd he reigning two years left Osric in his room An. Dom. 718 In whose 7th year if Beda calculate right Victred King of Kent deceas'd having reign'd 34 years and some part of them with Suebhard as Beda testifies he left behind him three Sons Ethelbert Eadbert and Alric his Heirs An. Dom. 725 Three years after which An. Dom. 728 appear'd two Comets about the Sun terrible to behold the one before him in the Morning the other after him in the Evening for the space of two weeks in January bending thir blaze toward the North at which time the Saracens furiously invaded France but were expell'd soon after with great overthrow The same year in Northumberland Osric dying or slain adopted Kelwulf the Brother of Kenred his Successor to whom Beda dedicates his story but writes this only of him that the beginning and the process of his Reign met with many adverse commotions wherof the event was then doubtfully expected Mean while Ina7 years before having slain Kenwuls to whom Florent gives the addition of Clito giv'n usually to none but of the blood Royal and the 4th year after overthrown and slain Albright another Clito driv'n from Taunton to the South-Saxons for aid vanquish't also the East-Angles in more then one Battel as Malmsbury writes but not the year whether to expiate so much blood or infected with the contagious humour of those times Malmsbury saith at the persuasion of Ethelburga his Wife went to Rome and there ended his dayes yet this praise left behind him to have made good Laws the first of Saxon that remain extant to this day and to his Kinsman Edelard bequeath'd the Crown No less then the whole Monarchy of England and Wales For Ina if we beleeve a digression in the Laws of Edward Confessor was the first King Crown'd of English and British since the Saxons entrance of the British by means of his second Wife some way related to Cadwallader last King of Wales which I had not noted being unlikely but for the place where I found it After Ina by a surer Author An. Dom. 731 Ethelbald King of Mercia commanded all the Provinces on this side Humber with thir Kings the Picts were in league with the English the Scots peaceable within thir bounds and the Britans part were in thir own Goverment part subject to the English In which peacefull state of the land many in Northumberland both Nobles and Commons laying aside the exercise of Armes betook them to the Cloister and not content so to do at home many in the days of Ina Clerks and Laics Men and Woemen hasting to Rome in Herds thought themselves no where sure of Eternal Life till they were Cloisterd there Thus representing the state of things in this Iland Beda surceas'd to write Out of whom cheifly hath bin gatherd since the Saxons arrival such as hath bin deliverd a scatterd story pickt out heer and there with some trouble and tedious work from among his many Legends of Visions and Miracles toward the latter end so bare of civill matters as what can be thence collected may seem a Calendar rather then a History tak'n up for the most part with succession of Kings and computation of years yet those hard to be reconcil'd with the Saxon Annals Thir actions we read of were most commonly Wars but for what cause wag'd or by what Councells carried on no care was had to let us know wherby thir strength and violence we understand of thir wisedom reason or justice little or nothing the rest superstition and monastical affectation Kings one after another leaving thir Kingly Charge to run thir heads fondly into a Monks Cowle which leaves us uncertain whether Beda was wanting to his matter or his matter to him Yet from hence to the Danish Invasion it will be worse with us destitute of Beda Left only to obscure and blockish Chronicles whom Malmsbury and Huntingdon for neither they then we had better Authors of those times ambitious to adorn the History make no scruple oft-times I doubt to interline with conjectures and surmises of thir own them rather then imitate I shall choose to represent the truth naked though as lean as a plain Journal Yet William of Malmsbury must be acknowledg'd both for stile and judgment to be far the best Writer of them all but what labour is to be endur'd turning over Volumes of Rubbish in the rest Florence of Worster Huntingdon Simeon of Durham Hoveden Mathew of Westminster and many others of obscurer note with all thir monachisms is a penance to think Yet these are our only Registers transcribers one after another for the most part and somtimes worthy enough for the things they register This travail rather then not know at once what may be known of our antient story sifted from Fables and impertinences I voluntarily undergo and to save others if they please the like unpleasing labour except those who take pleasure to be all thir life time rakeing in the Foundations of old Abbies and Cathedrals but to my task now as it befalls An. Dom. 733 In the year 733. on the 18th Kalends of September was an Eclipse of the Sun about the third howr of day obscureing almost his whole Orb as with a black sheild Ethelbald of Mercia beseig'd and took the Castle or Town of Somerton An. Dom. 735 and two years after Beda our Historian dy'd some say the year before An. Dom. 738 Kelwulf in Northumberland three years after became Monk in Lindisfarne yet none of the severest for he brought those Monks from milk and water to Wine and Ale in which doctrin no doubt but they were soon docil and well might for Kelwulf brought with him good provision great treasure and revenues of land recited by Simeon yet all under pretense of following I use the Authors words poor Christ by voluntary poverty no marvel then if such applause were giv'n by Monkish Writers to Kings turning Monks and much cunning perhaps us'd to allure them To Eadbert his Uncle he left the Kingdom whose brother Ecbert Archbishop of York built a Library there An. Dom. 740 But two years after while Eadbert was busied in War against the Picts Ethelbald the Mercian by foul fraud assaulted part of Northumberland in his absence as the supplement of Beda's Epitomy records In the West-Saxons Edelard who succeeded Ina having bin much molested in the beginning of his Reign with the Rebellion of Oswald his Kinsman who contended with him for the right of succession overcoming at last those troubles dy'd in Peace 741 An. Dom. 741 leaving Cuthred one of the same linage to succeed him who at first had much War with Ethelbald the Mercian and various success but joyning with him in League two years after An. Dom. 743 made War on the Welch Huntingdon doubts not to give them a great Victory An. Dom. 744
the Altar he fell down immediatly and carried out by his Servants three daies after dy'd Mean while beyond Humber the Danes though much aw'd were not idle Inguald one of thir Kings took possession of Yorke Sitric who some years before had slain Niel his Brother by force took Davenport in Châ—shire and however he defended these doings grew so considerable that Athelstan with great solemnity gave him his Sister Edgith to Wife but he enjoy'd her not long dying ere the years end nor his Sons Anlaf and Guthfert the Kingdome driv'n out the next An. Dom. 927 year by Athelstan not unjustly saith Huntingdon as being first raisers of the War Simeon calls him Gudsrid a British King whom Athelstan this year drove out of his Kingdome and perhaps they were both one the name and time not much differing the place only mistak'n Malmsbury differs in the name also calling him Aldulf a certain Rebel Them also I wish as much mistak'n who write that Athelstan jealous of his younger Brother Edwin's towardly vertues least added to the right of Birth they might some time or other call in question his illegitimate precedence caus'd him to be drown'd in the An. Dom. 933 Sea expos'd some say with one Servant in a rott'n Bark without Sail or Oar where the youth far off land and in rough weather despairing threw himself over-board the Servant more patient got to land and reported the success But this Malmsbury confesses to be sung in old Songs not read in warrantable Authors and Huntingdon speaks as of a sad accident to Athelstan that he lost his Brother Edwin by Sea far the more credible in that Athelstan as is writ'n by all tenderly lov'd and bred up the rest of his Brethren of whom he had no less cause to be jealous And the year following he prosperd better An. Dom. 934 then from so foul a fact passing into Scotland with great Puissance both by Sea and Land and chaceing his Enemies before him by Land as far as Dunseoder and Wertermore by Sea as far as Cathness The cause of this expedition saith Malmsbury was to demand Gudfert the Son of Sitric thether fled though not deny'd at length by Constantine who with Eugenius King of Cumberland at a place call'd Dacor or Dacre in that Shire surrenderd himself and each his Kingdome to Athelstan who brought back with him for hostage the Son of Constantine But Gudfert escaping in the mean while out of Scotland and Constantine exasperated by this invasion perswaded Anlaf the other Son of Sitric then fled into Ireland others write Anlaf King of Ireland and the Iles his An. Dom. 938 Son in law with 615 Ships and the King of Cumberland with other forces to his aid This within fowr years effected they enterd England by Humber and fought with Athelstan at a place call'd Wendune others term it Brunanburg others Bruneford which Ingulf places beyond Humber Camden in Glendale of Northumberland on the Scotch Borders the bloodiest fight say Authors that ever this Iland saw to describe which the Saxon Annalist wont to be sober and succinct whether the same or another writer now labouring under the weight of his Argument and over-charg'd runs on a sudden into such extravagant fansies and metaphors as bare him quite beside the scope of being understood Huntingdon though himself peccant enough in his kind transcribes him word for word as a pastime to his Readers I shall only summe up what of him I can attain in usuall language The Battel was fought eagerly from morning till night some fell of King Edwards old Army try'd in many a Battel before but on the other side great multitudes the rest fled to thir Ships Five Kings and 7 of Anlafs Chief Captains were slain on the place with Froda a Norman Leader Constantine escap'd home but lost his Son in the fight if I understand my Author Anlaf by Sea to Dublin with a small remainder of his great hoast Malmsbury relates this War adding many circumstances after this manner That Anlaf joining with Constantine and the whole power of Scotland besides those which he brought with him out of Ireland came on far Southwards till Athelstan who had retir'd on set purpose to be the surer of his Enimies enclos'd from all succour and retreat met him at Brunesord Anlaf perceaving the valour and resolution of Athelstan and mistrusting his own Forces though numerous resolv'd first to spie in what posture his Enemies lay and imitating perhaps what he heard attempted by King Alfred the Age before in the habit of a Musitian got access by his lute and voice to the Kings tent there playing both the minstrel and the spie then towards Evening dismis't he was observ'd by one who had bin his Souldier and well knew him veiwing earnestly the Kings Tent and what approaches lay about it then in the twilight to depart The Souldier forthwith acquaints the King and by him blam'd for letting go his Enemy answerd that he had giv'n first his military Oath to Anlaf whom if he had betrai'd the King might suspect him of like treasonous minde towards himself which to disprove he advis'd him to remove his Tent a good distance off and so don it happ'nd that a Bishop with his retinue coming that night to the Army pich'd his Tent in the same place from whence the King had remov'd Analf coming by night as he had design'd to assault the Camp and especially the Kings Tent finding there the Bishop in stead flew him with all his followers Athelstan took the Allarm and as it seems was not found so unprovided but that the day now appearing he put his men in order and maintain'd the fight till Evening wherin Constantine himself was slain with five other Kings and twelve Earls the Annals were content with seav'n in the rest not disagreeing Ingulf Abbot of Croyland from the autority of Turketul a principal Leader in this Battel relates it more at large to this effect that Athelstan above a mile distant from the place where execution was done upon the Bishop and his supplies allarm'd at the noise came down by break of day upon Anlaf and his Army over-watch't and wearied now with the slaughter they had made and something out of order yet in two main Battels The King therfore in like manner dividing led the one part consisting most of West Saxons against Anlaf with his Danes and Irish committing the other to his Chancellor Turketul with the Mercians and Londoners against Constantine and his Scots The showr of Arrows and Darts over-pass't both Battells attack'd each other with a close and terrible ingagement for a long space neither side giving ground Till the Chancellor Turketul a man of great stature and strength taking with him a few Londoners of select valour and Singin who led the Worstershire men a Captain of undaunted courage broke into the thickest making his way first through the Picts and Orkeners then through the
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
the rest Thence An. Dom. 1029 returning King of England Denmarke and Norway yet not secure in his mind under colour of an Embassey he sent into banishment Hacun a powerfull Dane who had married the Daughter of his Sister Gunildis having conceav'd some suspition of his practices against him but such course was tak'n that he never came back either perishing at Sea or slain by contrivance the next year in Orkney Canute An. Dom. 1030 therefore having thus establish't himself by bloodshed and oppression to wash away as he An. Dom. 1031 thought the guilt therof sailing again into Denmark went thence to Rome and offerd there to St. Peter great guifts of Gold and Silver and other pretious things besides the usuall tribute of Romscot giving great Alms by the way both thether and back again freeing many places of Custom and Toll with great expence where strangers were wont to pay having vow'd great amendment of life at the Sepulchre of Peter and Paul and to his whole people in a large letter writt'n from Rome yet extant At his return therfore he built and dedicated An. Dom. 1032 a Church to St. Edmund at Bury whom his Ancestors had slain threw out the secular Priests who had intruded there and plac'd Monks in thir stead then going into Scotland subdu'd and receav'd homage of Malcolm and two other Kings An. Dom. 1035 there Melbeath and Jermare Three years after having made Swane his suppos'd Son by Algiva of Northamton Duke Alshelms Daughter for others say the Son of a Preist whom Algiva barren had got ready at the time of her feign'd labour King of Norway and Hardecnute his Son by Emma King of Denmark and design'd Harold his Son by Algiva of Northamton King of England dy'd at Shaftsbury and was buried at Winchester in the old Monastery This King as appears ended better then he began for though he seems to have had no hand in the Death of Ironside but detested the fact and bringing the murderers who came to him in hope of great reward forth among his Courtiers as it were to receave thanks after they had op'nly related the manner of thir killing him deliver'd them to deserved punishment yet he spar'd Edric whom he knew to be the prime Authour of that detestable fact till willing to be rid of him grown importune upon the confidence of his merits and upbraided by him that he had first relinquisht then extinguisht Edmund for his sake angry to be so upbraided therfore said he with a chang'd countnance Traytor to God and to me thou shalt die thine own mouth accuses thee to have slain thy Master my confederate Brother and the Lords Anointed Whereupon although present and privat Execution was in rage done upon Edric yet he himself in cool blood scrupl'd not to make away the Brother and Children of Edmund who had better right to be the Lords Anointed heer then himself When he had obtain'd in England what he desir'd no wonder if he sought the love of his conquerd Subjects for the love of his own quiet the maintainers of his wealth and state for his own profit For the like reason he is thought to have married Emma and that Richard Duke of Normandy her Brother might the less care what became of Elfred and Edward her Sons by King Ethelred He commanded to be observ'd the antient Saxon Laws â—all'd afterwards the Laws of Edward the Confeâ—â—â—r not that hee made them but strictly observ'd them His Letter from Rome professes if he had done aught amiss in his youth through negligence or want of due temper full resolution with the help of God to make amends by governing justly and piously for the future charges and adjures all his Officers and Vicounts that neither for fear of him or favour of any person or to enrich the King they suffer injustice to be done in the land commands his treasurers to pay all his Debts ere his return home which was by Denmarke to compose matters there and what his Letter profess'd he perform'd all his life after But it is a fond conceit in many great ones and pernicious in the end to cease from no violence till they have attain'd the utmost of thir ambitions and desires then to think God appeas'd by thir seeking to bribe him with a share however large of thir ill-gott'n spoils and then lastly to grow zealous of doing right when they have no longer need to do wrong Howbeit Canute was famous through Europe and much honour'd of Conrade the Emperour then at Rome with rich guifts and many grants of what he there demanded for the freeing of passages from Toll and Custome I must not omit one remarkable action done by him as Huntingdon reports it with great Scene of circumstance and emphatical expression to shew the small power of Kings in respect of God which unless to Court-Parasites needed no such laborious demonstration He caus'd his Royal Seat to be set on the shoar while the Tide was coming in and with all the state that Royalty could put into his countnance said thus to the Sea Thou Sea belongst to me and the Land wheron I sit is mine nor hath any one unpunish'd resisted my commands I charge thee come no furder upon my Land neither presume to wet the Feet of thy Sovran Lord. But the Sea as before came rowling on and without reverence both wet and dash'd him Wherat the King quickly riseing wish'd all about him to behold and consider the weak and frivolous power of a King and that none indeed deserv'd the name of a King but he whose Eternal Laws both Heav'n Earth and Sea obey A truth so evident of it self as I said before that unless to shame his Court Flatterers who would not else be convinc't Canute needed not to have gone wet-shod home The best is from that time forth he never would wear a Crown esteeming Earthly Royalty contemptible and vain Harold HArold for his swiftness surnam'd Harefoot the Son of Canute by Algiva of Northampton though some speak doubtfully as if she bore him not but had him of a Shoo-makers Wife as Swane before of a Priest others of a Maid-Servant to conceal her barrenness in a great Assembly at Oxford was by Duke Leofric and the Mercians with the Londoners according to his Fathers Testament elected King but without the Regal Habiliments which Aelnot the Archbishop having in his Custody refus'd to deliver up but to the Sons of Emma for which Harold ever after hated the Clergy and as the Clergy are wont thence to inferr all Religion Godwin Earl of Kent and the West-Saxons with him stood for Hardecnute Malmsbury saith that the contest was between Dane and English that the Danes and Londoners grown now in a manner Danish were all for Hardecnute but he being then in Denmarke Harold prevail'd yet so as that the Kingdom should be divided between them the West and Southpart reserv'd by
Emma for Hardecnute till his return But Harold once advanc't into the Throne banish'd Emma his Mother-in-law seis'd on his Fathers Treasure at Winchester and there remain'd Emma not holding it safe to abide An. Dom. 1036 in Normandy while Duke William the Bastard was yet under Age retir'd to Baldwin Earl of Flanders In the mean while Alfred and Edward Sons of Ethelred accompanied with a small number of Norman Souldiers in a few Ships coming to visit thir mother Emma not yet departed the land and perhaps to see how the people were inclin'd to restore them thir right Elfred was sent for by the King then at London but in his way met at Guilford by Earl Godwin who with all seeming friendship entertain'd him was in the night surpris'd and made Prisner most of his Company put to various sorts of cruel Death decimated twice over then brought to London was by the King sent bound to Eely had his Eyes put out by the way and deliverd to the Monks there dy'd soon after in thir Custody Malmsbury gives little credit to this story of Elfred as not Chronicl'd in his time but rumour'd only Which Emma however hearing sent away her Son Edward who by good hap accompanied not his Brother with all speed into Normandy But the Authour of Encomium Emmae who seems plainly though nameless to have been some Monk yet liv'd and perhaps wrote within the same year when these things were done by his relation differing from all others much aggravates the cruelty of Harold that he not content to have practis'd in secret for op'nly he durst not against the life of Emma sought many treacherous ways to get her Son within his power and resolv'd at length to forge a Letter in the name of thir mother inviting them into England the Copy of which Letter he produces writt'n to this purpose EMma in name only Queen to her Sons Edward and Alfrid imparts motherly salutation While we severally bewail the Death of our Lord the King most Dear Sons and while daily yee are depriv'd more and more of the Kingdom your Inheritance I admire what Counsel yee take knowing that your intermitted delay is a daily strengthning to the Reign of your Vsurper who incessantly goes about from Town to City gaining the Chief Nobles to his party either by gifts prayers or threats But they had much rather one of you should reign over them then to be held under the power of him who now over-rules them I entreat therefore that one of you come to me speedily and privatly to receive from me wholsom Counsel and to know how the business which I intend shall be accomplisht By this Messenger present send back what you determine Farewell as dear both as my own Heart These Letters were sent to the Princes then in Normandy by express Messengers with presents also as from thir mother which they joyfully receiving return word by the same Messengers that one of them will be with her shortly naming both the time and place Alfrid therefore the younger for so it was thought best at the appointed time with a few Ships and small numbers about him appearing on the Coast no sooner came ashore but fell into the snare of Earl Godwin sent on purpose to betray him as above was related Emma greatly sorrowing for the loss of her Son thus cruelly made away fled immediatly with some of the Nobles her faithfullest adherents into Flanders had her dwelling assign'd at Bruges by the Earl where having remain'd about two years she was visited out of An. Dom. 1039 Denmarke by Hardecnute her Son and he not long had remain'd with her there when Harold in England having done nothing the while worth memory save the taxing of every Port at 8 marks of Silver An. Dom. 1040 to 16 Ships dy'd at London some say at Oxford and was buried at Winchester After which most of the Nobility both Danes and English now agreeing send Embassadors to Hardecnute still at Bruges with his mother entreating him to come and receave as his right the Scepter who before Midsomer came with 60 Ships and many Souldiers out of Denmarke Hardecnute HArdecnute receav'd with acclamation and seated in the Throne first call'd to mind the injuries done to him or his Mother Emma in the time of Harold sent Alfric Bishop of Yorke Godwin and others with Troud his Executioner to London commanding them to dig up the body of King Harold and throw it into a Ditch but by a second order into the Thames Whence tak'n up by a Fisherman and convei'd to a Church-yard in London belonging to the Danes it was enterr'd again with honour This done he levied a sore Tax that 8 marks to every Rower and twelve to every Officer in his Fleet should be paid throughout England by which time they who were so forward to call him over had anough of him for he as they thought had too much of theirs After this he call'd to account Godwin Earl of Kent and Leving Bishop of Worster about the Death of Elfred his Brother which Alfric the Archbishop laid to thir charge the King depriv'd Leving of his Bishoprick and gave it to his accuser but the year following pacifi'd with a round summe restor'd it to Leving Godwin made his peace by a sumptuous present a Gally with a guilded stem bravely rigg'd and 80 Souldiers in her every one with Bracelets of gold on each Arm weighing 16 ounces Helmet Corslet and Hilts of his Sword guilded a Danish Curtax listed with gold or silver hung on his left shoulder a Sheild with boss and nales guilded in his left hand in his right a Launce besides this he took his Cath before the King that neither of his own councel or will but by the command of Harold he had done what he did to the putting out of Elfreds Eyes The like Oath took most of the Nobility for themselves or in his behalf The next year Hardecnute sending An. Dom. 1041 his House Earls so they call'd his Officers to gather the Tribute impos'd two of them rigorous in thir Office were slain at Worster by the people wherat the King enrag'd sent Leofric Duke of Mercia and Seward of Northumberland with great Forces and Commission to slay the Cittizens rifle and burn the City wast the whole Province Affrighted with such news all the people fled the Country-men whither they could the Cittizens to a small Iland in Severn call'd Beverege which they fortifi'd and defended stoutly till peace was granted them and freely to return home But thir City they found sack't and burnt wherwith the King was appeas'd This was commendable in him however cruel to others that toward his half brethren though Rivals of his Crown he shew'd himself alwayes tenderly affectiond as now towards Edward who without fear came to him out of Normandy and with unfeigned kindness receav'd remain'd safely and honorably in his Court But Hardecnute An. Dom. 1042 the year following
at a Feast wherin Osgod a great Danish Lord gave his Daughter in marriage at Lambeth to Prudon another potent Dane in the midst of his mirth sound and healthfull to sight while he was drinking fell down speechless and so dying was buried at Winchester beside his Father He was it seems a great lover of good chere sitting at Table fowr times a day with great variety of Dishes and superfluity to all Commers Wheras saith Huntingdon in our time Princes in thir houses made but one meal a day He gave his Sister Gunildis a Virgin of rare Beauty in marriage to Henry the Alman Emperour and to send her forth pompously all the Nobility contributed thir Jewels and richest Ornaments But it may seem a wonder that our Historians if they deserve that name should in a matter so remarkable and so neer thir own time so much differ Huntingdon relates against the credit of all other records that Hardecnute thus dead the English rejoycing at this unexpected riddance of the Danish yoke sent over to Elfred the Elder Son of Emma by King Ethelred of whom we heard but now that he dy'd Prisner at Eely sent thether by Harold six year before that he came now out of Normandy with a great number of men to receave the Crown that Earl Codwin aiming to have his Daughter Queen of England by marrying her to Edward a simple youth for he thought Elfred of a higher Spirit then to accept her persuaded the Nobles that Elfred had brought over too many Normans had promis'd them lands heer that it was not safe to suffer a Warlike and suttle Nation to take root in the Land that these were to be so handl'd as none of them might dare for the future to flock hither upon pretence of relation to the King therupon by common consent of the Nobles both Elfred and his Company were dealt with as was above related that they then sent for Edward out of Normandy with hostages to be left there of thir faithfull intentions to make him King and thir desires not to bring over with him many Normans that Edward at thir call came then first out of Normandy wheras all others agree that he came voluntarily over to visit Hardecnute as is before said and was remaining in the Court at the time of his Death For Hardecnute dead saith Malmsbury Edward doubting greatly his own safety determin'd to rely wholly on the advice and favour of Earl Godwin desiring therfore by messengers to have privat speech with him the Earl a while deliberated at last assenting Prince Edward came and would have fall'n at his feet but that not permitted told him the danger wherin he thought himself at present and in great perplexity besought her help to convey him some whether out of the Land Godwin soon apprehending the fair occasion that prompted him how to advance himself and his Family cherfully exhorted him to remember himself the Son of Ethelred the Grandchild of Edgar right Heir to the Crown at full Age not to think of flying but of reigning which might easily be brought about if he would follow his Counsel then setting forth the power and authority which he had in England promis'd it should be all his to set him on the Throne if he on his part would promise and swear to be for ever his friend to preserve the honour of his House and to marry his Daughter Edward as his necessity then was consented easily and swore to whatever Godwin requir'd An Assembly of States therupon met at Gillingham where Edward pleaded his right and by the powerfull influence of Godwin was accepted Others as Bromton with no probability write that Godwin at this time was fled into Denmarke for what he had done to Elfred return'd and submitted himself to Edward then King was by him charg'd op'nly with the Death of Elfred and not without much ado by the intercession of Leofric and other Peers receav'd at length into favour Edward the Confessor GLad were the English deliverd so unexpectedly from thir Danish Maisters and little thought how neer another Conquest was hanging over them Edward the Easter following Crown'd at Winchester An. Dom. 1043 the same year accompanied with Earl Godwin Leofric and Siward came again thether on a sudden and by thir Counsel seis'd on the treasure of his Mother Emma The cause alleg'd is that she was hard to him in the time of his banishment and indeed she is said not much to have lov'd Ethelred her former Husband and thereafter the Childern by him she was moreover noted to be very covetous hard to the poor and profuse to Monasteries About this time also King Edward according to promise took to Wife Edith or Egith Earl Godwins Daughter commended much for beauty modesty and beyond what is requisite in a woman learning Inguls a youth lodging in the Court with his Father saw her oft and coming from the School was sometimes met by her and pos'd not in Grammar only but in Logic. Edward the next year but one made An. Dom. 1045 ready a strong Navy at Sandwich against Magnus King of Norway who threat'nd an invasion had not Swane King of Denmarke diverted him by a War at home to defend his own land not out of good will to Edward as may be suppos'd who at the An. Dom. 1046 same time express'd none to the Danes banishing Gunildis the Neece of Canute with her two Sons and Osgod by sirname Clapa out of the Realm Swane An. Dom. 1047 over-powred by Magnus sent the next year to entreat aid of King Edward Godwin gave counsel to send him 50 Ships fraught with Souldiers but Leofric and the general voice gain-saying none were sent The next year Harold Harvager King of An. Dom. 1048 Norway sending Embassadors made peace with King Edward but an Earthquake at Worster and Darby Pestilence and Famin in many places much lesse'nd the enjoyment therof The next year Henry the An. Dom. 1049 Emperour displeas'd with Baldwin Earl of Flanders had streit'nd him with a great Army by land and sending to King Edward desir'd him with his Ships to hinder what he might his escape by sea The King therfore with a great Navy coming to Sandwich there staid till the Emperour came to an agreement with Earl Baldwin Mean while Swane Son of Earl Godwin who not permitted to marry Edgiva the Abbess of Chester by him deflour'd had left the land came out of Denmarke with 8 Ships feigning a desire to return into the Kings favour and Beorn his Cousin German who commanded part of the Kings Navy promis'd to intercede that his Earldome might be restor'd him Godwin therfore and Beorn with a few Ships the rest of the Fleet gone home coming to Pevensey but Godwin soon departing thence in persuit of 29 Danish Ships who had got much booty on the Coast of Essex and perish'd by tempest in thir return Swane with his Ships comes to Beorn at Pevensey guilefully
requests him to sail with him to Sandwich and reconcile him to the King as he had promis'd Beorn mistrusting no evill where he intended good went with him in his Ship attended by three only of his Servants but Swane set upon barbarous cruelty not reconciliation with the King took Beorn now in his power and bound him then coming to Dertmouth slew and buried him in a deep Ditch After which the men of Hastings took six of his Ships and brought them to the King at Sandwich with the other two he escap'd into Flanders there remaining till Aldred Bishop of Worster by earnest mediation wrought his peace with the King About this time King Edward sent to Pope Leo desiring absolution from a vow which he had made in his younger years to take a journey to Rome if God voutsaf'd him to reign in England the Pope dispenc'd with his vow but not without the expence of his journey giv'n to the poor and a Monastery built or re-edifi'd to St. Peter who in a Vision to a Monk as is said chose Westminster which King Edward thereupon rebuilding endow'd with large privileges and revennues The same year saith Florent of Worster certain Irish Pirats with 36 Ships enterd the mouth of Severn and with the aid of Griffin Prince of South-Wales did some hurt in those parts then passing the River Wey burnt Dunedham and slew all the Inhabitants they found Against whom Aldred Bishop of Worster with a few out of Gloster and Herefordshire went out in hast but Griffin to whom the Welch and Irish had privily sent Messengers came down upon the English with his whole power by night and early in the morning suddenly assaulting them slew many and put the rest to flight The next An. Dom. 1051 year but one King Edward remitted the Danish Tax which had continu'd 38 years heavy upon the land since Ethelred first paid it to the Danes and what remain'd therof in his treasury he sent back to the owners but through imprudence laid the foundation of a far worse mischeif to the English while studying gratitude to those Normans who to him in exile had bin helpfull he call'd them over to public Offices heer whom better he might have repaid out of his privat purse by this means exasperating either Nation one against the other and making way by degrees to the Norman Conquest Robert a Monk of that Country who had bin serviceable to him there in time of need he made Bishop first of London then of Canterbury William his Chaplain Bishop of Dorchester Then began the English to lay aside thir own antient Customes and in many things to imitate French manners the great Peers to speak French in thir Houses in French to write thir Bills and Letters as a great peece of Gentility asham'd of thir own a presage of thir subjection shortly to that people whose fashions and language they affected so slavishly But that which gave begining to many troubles ensueing happ'nd this year and upon this occasion Eustace Earl of Boloign Father of the famous Godfrey who won Jerusalem from the Saracens and Husband to Goda the Kings Sister having bin to visit King Edward and returning by Canterbury to take Ship at Dover one of his Harbingers insolently seeking to lodge by force in a House there provok'd so the Master therof as by chance or heat of anger to kill him The Count with his whole train going to the House where his Servant had bin kill'd slew both the slayer and 18 more who defended him But the Townsmen running to Arms requited him with the slaughter of 21 more of his Servants wounded most of the rest hee himself with one or two hardly escapeing ran back with clamour to the King whom seconded by other Norman Courtiers he stirr'd up to great anger against the Citizens of Canterbury Earl Godwin in hast is sent for the cause related and much aggravated by the King against that City the Earl commanded to raise Forces and use the Cittizens therof as Enemies Godwin sorry to see strangers more favour'd of the King then his native people answerd that it were better to summon first the Cheif men of the Town into the Kings Court to charge them with Sedition where both parties might be heard that not found in fault they might be acquitted if otherwise by fine or loss of life might satisfie the King whose peace they had brok'n and the Count whom they had injur'd till this were done refuseing to prosecute with hostile punishment them of his own County unheard whom his Office was rather to defend The King displeas'd with his refusal and not knowing how to compell him appointed an Assembly of all the Peers to be held at Gloster where the matter might be fully try'd the Assembly was full and frequent according to summons but Godwin mistrusting his own cause or the violence of his adversaries with his two Sons Swane and Harold and a great power gatherd out of his own and his Sons Earldomes which contein'd most of the South-East and West parts of England came no furder then Beverstan giving out that thir Forces were to go against the Welch who intended an irruption into Hereford-shire and Swane under that pretence lay with part of his Army thereabout The Welch understanding this device and with all diligence clearing themselves before the King left Godwin detected of false accusation in great hatred to all the Assembly Leofric therfore and Siward Dukes of great power the former in Mercia the other in all parts beyond Humber both ever faithfull to the King send privily with speed to raise the Forces of thir Provinces Which Godwin not knowing sent boldly to King Edward demanding Count Eustace and his followers together with those Boloignians who as Simeon writes held a Castle in the jurisdiction of Canterbury The King as then having but little force at hand entertain'd him a while with treaties and delays till his summond Army drew nigh then rejected his demands Godwin thus match'd commanded his Sons not to begin fight against the King begun with not to give ground The Kings Forces were the flower of those Counties whence they came and eager to fall on But Leofric and the wiser sort detesting civil War brought the matter to this accord that Hostages giv'n on either side the whole cause should be again debated at London Thether the King and Lords coming with thir Army sent to Godwin and his Sons who with thir powers were come as far as Southwarke commanding thir appearance unarm'd with only 12 attendants and that the rest of thir Souldiers they should deliver over to the King They to appear without pledges before an adverse faction deny'd but to dismiss thir Souldiers refus'd not nor in ought else to obey the King as far as might stand with honour and the just regard of thir safety This answer not pleasing the King an edict was presently issu'd forth that Godwin and his Sons
within five days depart the Land He who perceav'd now his numbers to diminish readily obey'd and with his Wife and three Sons Tosti Swane and Gyrtha with as much treasure as thir Ship could carry embarking at Thorney sail'd into Flanders to Earl Baldwin whose Daughter Judith Tosti had married for Wulnod his fourth Son was then hostage to the King in Normandy his other two Harold and Leoswin taking Ship at Bristow in a Vessel that lay ready there belonging to Swane pass'd into Ireland King Edward persueing his displeasure divorc'd his Wife Edith Earl Godwins Daughter sending her despoil'd of all her Ornaments to Warewel with one waiting Maid to be kept in custody by his Sister the Abbess there His reason of so doing was as harsh as his act that she only while her neerest relations were in banishment might not though innocent enjoy ease at home After this William Duke of Normandy with a great number of followers coming into England was by King Edward honorably entertain'd and led about the Cities and Castles as it were to shew him what ere long was to be his own though at that time saith Ingulf no mention thereof pass'd between them then after some time of his abode heer presented richly and dismiss'd he return'd home The next year Queen Emma dy'd and was buried at Winchester The Chronicle attributed An. Dom. 1052 to John Bromton a Yorkshire Abbot but rather of some nameless Author living under Edward the 3d. or later reports that the year before by Robert the Archbishop she was accus'd both of consenting to the Death of her Son Alfred and of prepareing poyson for Edward also lastly of too much familiarity with Alwin Bishop of Winchester that to approve her innocence praying over-night to St. Swithun she offerd to pass blindfold between certain Plow-shares red hot according to the Ordalian Law which without harm she perform'd that the King therupon receav'd her to honour and from her and the Bishop penance for his credulity that the Archbishop asham'd of his accusation fled out of England which besides the silence of antienter Authors for the Bishop fled not till a year after brings the whole story into suspition in this more probable if it can be proov'd that in memory of this deliverance from the nine burning Plow-shares Queen Emma gave to the Abbey of St. Swithune nine Mannors and Bishop Alwin other nine About this time Griffin Prince of South-Wales wasted Herefordshire to oppose whom the people of that Country with many Normans garrisond in the Castle of Hereford went out in Armes but were put to the worse many slain and much booty driv'n away by the Welch Soon after which Harold and Leofwin Sons of Godwin coming into Severn with many Ships in the Confines of Somerset and Dorset-shire spoil'd many Villages and resisted by those of Somerset and Devonshire slew in fight more then 30 of thir principal men many of the common sort and return'd with much booty to thir Fleet. King Edward on the other side made ready above 60 Ships at Sandwich well stor'd with men and provision under the conduct of Odo and Radulf two of his Norman Kindred enjoyning them to find out Godwin whom he heard to be at Sea To quick'n them he himself lay on ship-broad oft-times watch'd and sail'd up and down in search of those Pirats But Godwin whether in a mist or by other accident passing by them arriv'd in another part of Kent and dispersing secret messengers abroad by fair words allur'd the cheif men of Kent Sussex Surrey and Essex to his party which news coming to the Kings fleet at Sandwich they hasted to find him out but missing of him again came up without effect to London Godwin advertisd of this forthwith sail'd to the I le of Wight where at length his two sons Harold and Leofwin finding him with thir united Navy lay on the coast forbearing other hostility then to furnish themselves with fresh victual from Land as they needed Thence as one fleet they set forward to Sandwich using all fair means by the way to encrease thir numbers both of Mariners and Souldiers The King then at London startl'd at these tydings gave speedy order to raise Forces in all parts which had not revolted from him but now too late for Godwin within a few days after with his Ships or Gallies came up the River Thames to Southwark and till the tide return'd had conference with the Londoners whom by fair speeches for he was held a good Speaker in those times he brought to his bent The tide returning and none upon the Bridge hindring he row'd up in his Gallies along the South bank where his Land-army now come to him in array of battel stood on the shore then turning toward the North side of the River where the Kings Gallies lay in some readiness and Land-forces also not far off he made shew as offring to fight but they understood one another and the souldiers on either side soon declar'd thir resolution not to fight English against English Thence coming to treaty the King and the Earl reconcil'd both armies were dissolv'd Godwin and his sons restor'd to their former dignities except Swane who touch't in conscience for the slaughter of Beorn his kinsman was gone bare-foot to Jerusalem and returning home dy'd by sickness or Saracens in Lycia his wife Edith Godwins daughter King Edward took to him again dignify'd as before Then were the Normans who had done many unjust things under the Kings authority and giv'n him ill counsel against his people banish't the Realm some of them not blameable permitted to stay Robert Archbishop of Canterbury William of London Vlf of Lincoln all Normans hardly escaping with thir followers got to Sea The Archbishop went with his complaint to Rome but returning dy'd in Normandy at the same Monastery from whence he came Osbern and Hugh surrender'd thir Castles and by permission of Leofric pass'd through his Counties with thir Normans to Macbeth King of Scotland The year following Rhese An. Dom. 1053 brother to Griffin Prince of South Wales who by inrodes had done much damage to the English tak'n at Bulendun was put to death by the Kings appointment and his head brought to him at Gloster The same year at Winchester on the second holy-day of Easter Earl Godwin sitting with the King at table sunk down suddenly in his seat as dead his three sons Harold Tosti and Gyrtha forthwith carried him into the Kings Chamber hoping he might revive but the malady had so seis'd him that the fifth day after he expir'd The Normans who hated Godwin give out saith Malmsbury that mention happ'ning to be made of Elfred and the King thereat looking sowerly upon Godwin he to vindicate himself utter'd these words Thou O King at every mention made of thy brother Elsred look'st frowningly upon me but let God not suffer me to swallow this morsel if I be guilty of ought done against his life or
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
259. he practises against the life of Prince Edmund and revolts to the Danes p. 260. his cunning devices to hinder Edmund in the prosecution of his Victories against Canute p. 263 264. is thought by some to have been the Contriver of King Edmunds murther p. 266. the Government of the Mercians conferr'd upon him p. 268. he is put to death by Canutus and his head stuck upon a pole and set upon the highest Tower in London p. 268. Edward the Elder Son and Successor of King Alfred hath War with Ethelwald his Kinsman who aspiring to the Crown stirs up the Danes against him p. 115 116. he proves successful and potent divers Princes and great Commanders of the Danes submitting to him p. 216 217 c. the King and whole Nation of Scotland with divers other Frinces and people do him homage as their Soveraign p. 221. he dies at Farendon and is buried at Winchester p. 222. Edward sirnamed the Younger Edgar's Son by his first Wife Egelfleda is advanc't to the Throne p. 241. the contest in his Reign between the Monks and secular Priests each abetted by their several parties p. 242. great mischief done by the falling of a house where a general Council for deciding the controversie was held ibid. Edward inhumanely murder'd by the treachery of his step-mother Elfrida p. 243. Edward Son of Edmund Ironside Heir apparent to the Crown dies at London p. 292. Edward sirnamed the Confessor the Son of King Ethelred by Emma after Hardecnute's death is crown'd at Winchester p. 280. he seizeth on the Treasures of his mother Queen Emma p. 281. he marries Edith Earl Godwin's Daughter ibid. he makes preparation against Magnus King of Norway but next year makes peace with Harold Harvager ibid. he advances the Normans in England which proves of ill consequence p. 283. he is oppos'd by Earl Godwin in the Cause of Eustace of Boloign banishes the Earl and divorces his Daughter whom he had married p. 285 286. entertains Duke William of Normandy p. 287. he sends Odo and Radulf with a Fleet against Godwin and his Sons exercising Piracy p. 288. reconciliation at length made he restores the Earl his Sons and Daughter all to their former dignities p. 289. he is said to have design'd Duke William of Normandy his Successor to the Crown p. 296. dies and is buried at Westminster p. 297. his Character p. 297 298. Edwi the Son and Successor of Edmund is crown'd at Kingston p. 233. he banisheth Bishop Dunstan for reproving his wantonness with Algiva and proves an enemy to all Monks p. 233 234. the Mercians and Northumbrians revolt from him and set up his Brother Edgar p. 234. with grief thereof he ends his days and is buried at Winchester ibid. Edwin thrown out of the Kingdom of Deira by Ethelfrid p. 133. 146. flying to Redwall the East-Angle for refuge he is defended against Ethelfrid p. 147. he exceeds in power and extent of Dominion all before him p. 148. marries Edelburga the Sister of Eadbald ibid. he is wounded by an Assassin from Cuichelm ibid. the strange relation of his Conversion to Christianity p. 149. 150. he perswades Eorpald the Son of Redwald to embrace the Christian Faith p. 153. he is slain in a Battel against Kedwalla ibid. Edwin Duke of the Mercians see Morcar Elanius reckon'd in the number of ancient British Kings p. 25. Eldadus p. 28. Eldol ibid. Eledancus ibid. Elfled the Sister of King Edward the Elder takes Derby from the Danes p. 218. her Army of Mercians victorious against the Welsh ibid. after several Martial Acts she dies at Tamworth p. 221. Elfred the Son of King Ethelred by Emma betray'd by Earl Godwin and cruelly made away by Harold p. 274 276. Elfwald the Son of Oswulf succeeding Ethelred in Northumberland is rebell'd against by two of his Noblemen Osbald and Ethelheard p. 177. he is slain by the conspiracy of Siggan one of his Nobles p. 179. Elfwin slain in a Battel between his Brother Ecfrid and Ethelred p. 166. Elidure's noble demeanor towards his deposed Brother p. 26. after Archigallo's death he resumes the Government but is driven out again and imprison'd by his two other Brethren p. 27. Elind reckon'd in the number of ancient British Kings p. 28. Ella the Saxon lands with his three Sons and beats the Britans in two Battels p. 119. he and his Son Cissa take Andredschester in Kent by force ibid. begins his Kingdom of the South-Saxons ibid. Elwold Nephew of Ethelwald reigns King of the East-Angles after Aldulf p. 187. Emeric succeeds Otha in the Kingdom of Kent p. 127. Emma the Daughter of Richard Duke of Normandy married first to K. p. 249. afterwards to Canute p. 268. banisht by her Son-in-Law Harold she retires to Flanders and is entertained by Earl Baldwin p. 274. her Treasures seized on by her Son King Edward p. 281. she dies and is buried at Winchester p. 287. a Tradition concerning her question'd ib. Eorpwald the Son of Redwald King of the East-Angles perswaded to Christianity by Edwin p. 113. he is slain in fight by Ricbert a Pagan ibid. Erchenwin said by Huntingdon to be the Erector of the Kingdom of the East-Saxons p. 121. Ercombert succeeds Eadbald in the Kingdom of Kent p. 156. Eric see Iric Ermenred thought to have had more right to the Kingdom than Ercombert p. 156. Escwin and Kenswin the Nephew and Son of Kinegil said to have succeeded Kenwalk in the Government of the West-Saxons p. 164. Escwin joyns Battel with Wulfer at Bedanhafer and not long after deceaseth ibid. Estrildis belov'd by Locrine p. 14. is with her Daughter Sabra thrown into a River p. 15. Ethelbald King of Mercia after Ina commands all the Provinces on this side Humber p. 171. he takes the Town of Somerton p. 173. fraudulently assaults part of Northumberland in Eadberts absence p. 174. his encounter at Beorford with Cuthred the West-Saxon p. 175. in another bloody fight at Secandune he is slain p. 176. Ethelbald and Ethelbert share the English-Saxon Kingdom between them after their Father Ethelwolf Ethelbald marries Judith his Father's Widow p. 198. is buried at Shirburn ibid. Ethelbert succeeds Emeric in the Kingdom of Kent p. 127. he is defeated at Wibbandun by Keaulin and his Son Cutha p. 128. inlarges his Dominions from Kent to Humber p. 137. civilly receives Austin and his Fellow-preachers of the Gospel p. 139. is himself baptiz'd p. 140. mov'd by Austin he builds S. Peters Church in Canterbury and endows it p. 141. he builds and endows S. Paul's Church in London and the Cathedral at Rochester p. 142. his death p. 145. Ethelbert Eadbert and Alric succeed their Father Victred in the Kingdom of Kent p. 170. see Eadbright Ethelbert the Son of Ethelwolf after the death of his Brother Ethelbald enjoys the whole Kingdom to himself p. 198. during his Reign the Danes waste Kent p. 199. he is buried with his Brother at Shirburn ibid. Ethelfrid succeeds Ethelric in the Kingdom of
Northumberland p. 134. he wasts the Britans p. 141. overthrows Edan King of Scots ibid. in a Battel at Westchester against the British Forces he slays above 1200 Monks p. 144. Ethelmund and Weolstan the opposite Leaders of each party in a fight between the Worster-shire men and Wilt-shire men slain p. 184. Ethelred succeeding his Brother Wulfer in the Kingdom of Mercia recovers Lindsey and other parts p. 164. invades the Kingdom of Kent ibid. a sore Battel between him and Ecfrid the Northumbrian p. 166. after the violent death of his Queen he exchanges his Crown for a Monks Cowl p. 169. Ethelred the Soâ— of Mollo the Vsurper Alcled being forsaken bâ— the Northumbrians and depos'd is crown'd in his stead p. 177. having caused three of his Noblemen to be treacherously slain he is driven into banishment ibid. after 10 year's banishment restor'd again p. 179. he cruelly and treacherously puts to death Oelf and Oelfwin the Sons of Elfwald formerly King p. 180. and afterwards Osred who though shaven a Monk attempted again upon the Kingdom ibid. he marries Elfled the Daughter of Offa p. 180. is miserably slain by his people p. 182. Ethelred the Son of Eandred driven out in his 4. year p. 193. is re-exalted to his Seat but slain the 4. year after ibid. Ethelred the third Son of Ethelwolf the third Monarch of the English-Saxons infested with fresh Invasions of the Danes p. 199. he fights several great Battels with the Danes with various success p. 202 203 he dies in the 5. year of his Reign and is buried at Winburn p. 203. Ethelred the Son of Edgar by Elfrida crown'd at Kingston p. 243. Dunstan at his Baptism presages ill of his future slothful Reign ibid. new Invasions of the Danes and great spoils committed by them in his Reign p. 244 245 c. being reduc't to streights by the Danes he retires into Normandy p. 258. is recall'd by his people and joyfully received ibid. drives Canute the Dane back to his Ships p. 259. he dies at London p. 262. Ethelric Ida's Son expels Edwin the Son of Alla out of the Kingdom of Deira p. 133. Ethelwald the Son of Oswald King of Deira taking part with the Mercians withdraws his Forces p. 160. Ethelwald the Brother of Edelhere succeeds him in the Kingdom of the East-Angles p. 161. Ethelwald sirnamed Mollo set up King of the Northumbrians in the room of Oswulf p. 177. he slays in Battel Oswin a Lord that rebell'd against him ib. is set upon by Alcled who assumes his place ibid. Ethelwolf the second Monarch of the English-Saxons of a mild nature not warlike or ambitious p. 192. he with his Son Ethelbald gives the Danes a total defeat at Ak-Lea or Oak-Lea p. 194. he dedicatea the tenth of his whole Kingdom toward the maintenance of Masses and Psalms for the prospering of him and his Captains against the Danes p. 195. takes a journey to Rome with his Son Alfrid and marries Judith the Daughter of Charles the Bald of France ibid. he is driven by a Conspiracy to consign half his Kingdom to his Son Ethelbald p. 195. dies and is buried at Winchester p. 197. Ethelwolf Earl of Bark-shire obtains a Victory against the Danes at Englefield p. 201 202. in another Battel is slain himself p. 202. Ethildrith refusing for 12 years her Husband Ecfrids Bed at length veils her self a Nun and is made Abbess of Ely p. 167. Eustace Count of Boloign revenging the death of one of his servants is set upon by the Citizens of Canterbury p. 284. he complains to King Edward who takes his part against the Canterburians and commands Earl Godwin against them but in vain p. 284 285. F. FAganus and Deruvianus said to have preach't the Gospel here and to have converted almost the whole Island p. 79. Faustus incestuously born of Vortimer and his Daughter lives a devout life in Glamorgan-shire p. 115. Fergus King of Scots said to be slain by the joynt Forces of the Britans and Romans p. 102. Ferrex the Son of Gorbogudo slays in fight his Brother Porrex though assisted with Forces out of France p. 21. is in revenge slain himself in bed by his Mother Videna ibid. Flattery odious and contemptible to a generous Spirit p. 273. Francus nam'd among the four Sons of Istion sprung of Japhet and from him the Francs said to be deriv'd p. 5. Fulgenius reckon'd among the ancient British Kings p. 28. the Commander in chief of the Caledonians against Septimius Severus so call'd by Geoffry of Monmouth p. 84. G. GAlgacus heads the Britans against Julius Agricola p. 74. Germanus in a publick disputation at Verulam puts to silence the chief of the Pelagians p. 104. he is intreated by the Britans to head them against the Picts and Saxons p. 104. he gains the Victory by a religious Stratagem p. 105. his death p. 108. Gerontius a Britan by his valour advances the success of Constantine the Vsurper in France and Spain p. 95. displac't by him he calls in the Vanâ—â—â—â— against him ibid. deserted by his Souldiers he depands himself valiantly with the slaughter of 300 of his enemies p. 96. he kills his Wife Nonnichia refusing to out-live him ibid. Geruntius the Son of Elidure not his immediate Successor p. 28. Godwin Earl of Kent and the West-Saxons stand for Hardecnute p. 274. he betrays Prince Elfred to Harold p. 274. 276. being called to account by Hardecnute he appeaseth him with a very rich Present p. 277. he earnestly exhorts Edward to take upon him the Crown of England p. 280. marries his Daughter to King Edward p. 281. he raises Forces in opposition of the French whom the King favour'd p. 285. is banisht p. 286. he and his Sons uniting in a great Fleet grow formidable p. 288. coming up to London with his Ships and preparing for Battel a Reconciliation is suddenly made between him and the King p. 289. sitting with the King at Table he suddenly sinks down dead in his seat p. 290. Gomer the eldest Son of Japhet believ'd the first that peopled these West and Northern Climes p. 4. Gonorill gains upon the affection of her Father King Lier by her dissimulation p. 17. she is married with Maglaunus Duke of Albania p. 18. her ingratitude to her Father after she had gain'd from him what she could p. 19. Gorbogudo or Gorbodego succeeds Kinmarcus in the Kingdom p. 21. Gorbonian succeeds Morindus in the Kingdom p. 25. his justice and piety p. 25 26. Gratianus Funarius the Father of Valentinian Commander in chief of the Roman Armies in Britain p. 89. Gregory Archdeacon of Rome and afterward Pope procures the sending over of Abbot Austin and others to preach the Gospel to the Saxons in this Island p. 138. Griffin Prince of South-Wales joyning with Algar and committing great spoil in Hereford is pursued by Harold Earl of Kent p. 292. after a peace concluded he breaks his faith and returns to Hostility ibid. is again reduc't ibid. Harold
p. 257. to Canute p. 261. his Victory over Malcolm King of Scots p. 262. 269. he is slain by Turebrand a Danish Lord at Canutes either Command or connivence p. 261. W. WEst-Saxon Kingdom by whom erected p. 121. West-Saxons and their Kings converted to the Christian Faith by Berinus p. 155. Wibba succeeds Crida in the Mercian Kingdom p. 134. Wilbrod a Priest goes over with 12 others to preach the Gospel in Germany p. 168. he is countenanc't by Pepin Chief Regent of the Franks and made first Bishop of that Nation p. 168. 169. Wilfrid Bishop of the Northumbrians depriv'd by Ecfrid of his Bishoprick wanders as far as Rome p. 164. returning plants the Gospel in the Isle of Wight and other places assign'd him p. 164. 165. hath the fourth part of that Island given him by Kedwalla he bestows it on Bertwin a Priest his Sisters Son ibid. William Duke of Normandy honourably entertain'd by King Edward and richly dismist p. 287. he betroths his daughter to Harold and receives his Oath to assist him to the Crown of England p. 295. 296. sending after King Edwards Death to demand performance of his promise is put off with a slight answer p. 300. 301. he lands with an Army at Hastings p. 301. over throws Harold who with his two Brothers is slain in Battel p. 305. he is Crown'd at Westminster by Aldred Archbishop of York ibid. Wipped a Saxon Earl slain at a place call'd Wippeds fleot which thence took denomination p. 116. Withgar see Stuff Withgarburgh in the Isle of Wight so call'd from being the burial-place of Withgar p. 125. Withlaf the successour of Ludiken being vanquisht by Ecbert all Mercia becomes tributary to him p. 187. Wulfer the Son of Penda set up by the Mercian Nobles in the room of his Brother Oswi p. 161. said to have been taken Prisoner by Kenwalk the West-Saxon p. 162. he takes and wasts the Isle of Wight but causeth the Inhabitants to be baptized ibid. gives the Island to Ethelwald King of South-Saxons ibid. sends Jeruvianus to recover the East-Saxons fallen off the second time from Christianity ibid. Lindsey taken from him by Ecfrid of Northumberland p. 163. his Death accompany'd with the stain of Simonie p. 164. Wulfheard King Ethelwolf's Chief Captain drives back the Danes at Southampton with great slaughter p. 192. he dies the same year as it is thought of Age. ibid. Wulktul Earl of Ely put to flight with his whole Army by the Danes p. 201. Y. YMner King of Loegria with others slain in Battel by Dunwallo Mulmutius p. 21. FINIS ERRATA PAge 2. l. 16. for Britains read Britans p. 6. l. 18. for by the same remove r. and by the c. p. 8. l. 28. for bee 't r. be p. 13. l. 24. for be-spoken r. bespoken p. 16. l. 9. for Germannus r. Germanus p. 23. l. 3. for Brother r. his Brother ibid. l. 16. for Allobreges r. Allobroges p. 25. l. 3. for Mertian r. Mercian p. 28. l. 18. for opportunety r. opportunety p. 29. l. 9. for unto r. to p. 29. from the end of l. 26. to the beginning of l. 33. should not have been in a different Character so also a line in the next page p. 35. l. last for Bay-Close inviron'd r. Bay close inviron'd p. 51. l. 20. before made leave out he p. 71. l. 33. for ex'steem'd r. esteem'd p. 102. l. 33. for Durstus r. Durstus p. 119. l. 12. for Andreds League r. Andreds Leage p. 126. l. 18. for Armes r. Artur p. 138. l. 5. for haleluja r. Hallelujah ibid. l. 6. for Benedic r. Benedict p. 139. l. 12. for the r. thir p. 150. l. 17. for and r. as ibid. l. 18. after begin no comma p. 151. l. 9. for yee r. thee p. 157. l. 13. for Daughter r. Sister p. 160. l. 31. for Loyden r. Loydes p. 161. l. 7. for her r. his p. 161. l. 35. for Witgeornesburgh r. Witgeornesburg p. 164. l. 4. for year a af read a year after p. 169. l. 21. for Epitomy r. Epitome p. 170. l. 27. after testifies a period p. 173. l. 1. before far r. by ibid. l. last for Unkle r. Unkle's SSon p. 174. l. 30. for Kuiric r. Kinric p. 176. l. 9. after two r. or three ibid. l. last but one for Royal r. Regal p. 177. l. 19. for Occanford r. Ottanford p. 183. l. 23. after Embassadours leave out the stop ibid. l. 24. after Ecbert two points p. 192. l. last for Ethelhelin helam r. Ethelhelm p. 195. l. 13. for de did r. he did p. 197. l. 23. for West-Saxon r. West-Saxons p. 201. l. 14. for flight r. fight p. 216. l. 13. for Thames there nocomma after Thames but after there p. 225. l. 27. for his r. this p 235. l. 4. for on r. about ibid. l. last but two for the r. that p. 246 l. 17. for Frenar Frana p. 260. l. 23. before spread r. he p. 264. l. 23. for Ocford r. Oxford p. 276. l. 29. for Bishop r. Archbishop p. 277. l. 12. for Brother r. half Brother p. 280. l. 4. for that prompted him r. that now as it were prompted him ibid. after the last line leave out deed p. 281. l. 13. for a youth r. then a youth p. 296. l. 16. for of r. with p. 299. l. 25. after legs no stop after hight a period p 308. the six last lines should have been in no different Character from the rest of the Book and in the last line for revolutions r. revolution besides other literal faults and wrong stops through the Book which the Reader of himself may amend Cas l. 6. Holinshed Henry of Hunting don Matthew of Westminster * Matthew Westmin Huntingd. L. 1. Suetonius vit Caes Suetonius Caesar Com. L. 1. Caesar Com. L. 4. Cic. Att. L. 4. Ep. 17. Camden Valer. Max. Plutarch In Caesarib Dion Caesar Com. 5. Camden Pliny Oros Lib. 6. c. 7. 9. Dion Mela. Caesar Herodian Dion Caesar Strabo Dion Strabo Herodian Solinus Caesar Tacitus Diodor Strabo Lucan Tacitus Mela. Dion Caesar Caesar Strabo L. 2. Dion L. 49. Year before the Birth of Christ 25. Dion L. 53. 24. Strabo L. 4. Tacit. an L. 2. Year after the Birth of Christ 16. Dion Sueton Cal. Dion Sueton. Dion L. 62. Tacit. an 14. Sueton. Claud. 5. 24. Sueton. Vesp Dio. L. 60. Tacit. an 12. Tacit. vit Agric. Tacit. vit Agrio Tacit. Hist 3. Sueton. Dion Dion L. 62. Dion Dion Tacit. vit Agric. Tacit. Hist 8. 1. vit Agric. Tacit. Hist 2. vit Agric. Calvis Tacit. Hist 3. vit Agric Dion L. 66. Dion L. 66. Camden Juvenal sat 2. Eutrop. L. 7. Dion L. 66. Spartianus in vit Hidrian Spartianus ibid. Camden Pausan archad Capitolin vit Anton. Capitolin Marc. Ant. Philos Digest L. 36. Beda Nennius Geff. Mon. Dion L. 72. Lamprid. in comm Capitolin in Pert. Capitolin is Alb. Dion Did. Jul. Spartian in Sever. Herod L. 3. Herod L. 3. Digest L. 28.
or against thir whole powers the second time returning obtain'd this Victory Thus Ambrose as cheif Monarch of the I le succeeded Vortigern to whose third Son Pascentius he permitted the rule of two Regions in Wales Buelth and Guorthigirniaun In his daies saith Nennius the Saxons prevail'd not much against whom Arthur as beeing then Cheif General for the British Kings made great War but more renown'd in Songs and Romances then in true stories And the sequel it self declares as much An. Dom. 477 For in the year 477. Ella the Saxon with his three Sons Cymen Pleting and Cissa at a place in Suffex call'd Cymenshore arrive in three Ships kill many of the Britans chasing them that remain'd into the Wood Andreds League An. Dom. 485 Another Battell was fought at Mercreds-Burnamsted wherin Ella had by far the Victory but Huntingdon makes it so doubtful that the Saxons were constrain'd to send home for supplies An. Dom. 489 Four year after dy'd Hengist the first Saxon King of Kent noted to have attain'd that dignity by craft as much as valour and giving scope to his own cruel nature rather then proceeding by mildness or civility His Son Oeric surnam'd Oisc of whom the Kentish Kings were call'd Oiscings succeeded him and sate content with his Fathers winnings more desirous to settle and defend then to enlarge his bounds he reign'd 24 years By this time Ella and his Son Cissa beseiging Andredchester An. Dom. 492 suppos'd now to be Newenden in Kent take it by force and all within it put to the Sword Thus Ella 3 years after the death of Hengist began his Kingdome of the South-Saxons peopling it with new inhabitants from the Country which was then old Saxony at this day Holstein in Denmark and had besides at his command all those Provinces which the Saxons had won on this side Humber Animated with these good successes as if Britain were become now the field of Fortune Kerdic another Saxon Prince the tenth by Linage from Woden an old and practis'd Souldier who in many prosperous conflicts against the Enemy in those parts An. Dom. 495 had nurs'd up a Spirit too big to live at home with equals coming to a certain place which from thence took the name of Kerdic-shoar with 5 Ships and Kenric his Son the very same day overthrew the Britans that oppos'd him and so effectually that smaller skirmishes after that day were sufficient to drive them still furder off leaving him a large territory An. Dom. 501 After him Porta another Saxon with his two Sons Bida and Megla in two Ships arrive at Portsmouth thence call'd and at thir landing slew a young British Nobleman with many others who unadvisedly set upon them An. Dom. 508 The Britans to recover what they had lost draw together all thir Forces led by Natanleod or Nazaleod a certain King in Britain and the greatest saith one but him with 5000 of his men Kerdic puts to rout and slaies From whence the place in Hantshire as far as Kerdicsford now Chardford was call'd of old Nazaleod Who this King should be hath bred much question som think it to be the British name of Ambrose others to be the right name of his Brother who for the terror of his eagerness in fight became more known by the Sirname of Vther which in the Welch Tongue signifies Dreadful And if ever such a King in Britain there were as Vther Pendragon for so also the Monmouth Book surnames him this in all likelyhood must be he Kerdic by so great a blow giv'n to the Britans had made large room about him not only for the men he brought with him but for such also of his friends as he desir'd to make great for which cause and withall the more to strengthen himself An. Dom. 514 his two Nefews Stuf and Withgar in 3 Vessels bring him new levies to Kerdic shoar Who that they might not come sluggishly to possess what others had won for them either by thir own seeking or by appointment are set in place where they could not but at thir first coming give a proof of themselves upon the Enemy and so well they did it that the Britans after a hard encounter left them Maisters of the field And about the same time Ella the first South-Saxon King dy'd whom Cissa his youngest succeeded the other two failing before him Nor can it be much more or less then about this time for it was before the West-Saxon Kingdome that Vffa the 8th from Woden made himself King of the East-Angles who by thir name testifie the Country above mention'd from whence they came in such multitudes that thir native soil is said to have remain'd in the daies of Beda uninhabited Huntingdon deferrs the time of thir coming in to the ninth year of Kerdic's Reigne for saith he at first many of them strove for principality seising every one his Province and for som while so continu'd making petty Warrs among themselves till in the end Vffa of whom those Kings were call'd Vffings overtop'd them all in the year 571 then Titilus his Son the Father of Redwald who became potent And not much after the East-Angles began also the East-Saxons to erect a Kingdom under Sleda the tenth from Woden But Huntingdon as before will have it later by 11 years and Erchenwin to be the first King An. Dom. 519 Kerdic the same in power though not so fond of title forbore the name 24 Years after his arrival but then founded so firmly the Kingdome of West-Saxons that it subjected all the rest at length and became the sole Monarchie of England The same year he had a Victory against the Britans at Kerdics-Ford Ford by the River Aven An. Dom. 527 and after 8 years another great fight at Kerdics Leage but which won the day is not by any set down Hitherto hath bin collected what there is of certainty with circumstance of time and place to be found register'd and no more then barely register'd in annals of best note without describing after Huntingdon the manner of those Battels and Encounters which they who compare and can judge of Books may be confident he never found in any current Author whom he had to follow But this disease hath bin incident to many more Historians and the age wherof we now write hath had the ill hap more then any since the first fabulous times to be surcharg'd with all the idle fancies of posterity Yet that we may not rely altogether on Saxon relaters Gildas in Antiquity far before these and every way more credible speaks of these Wars in such a manner though nothing conceited of the British valour as declares the Saxons in his time and before to have bin foyl'd not seldomer then the Britans For besides that first Victory of Ambrose and the interchangeable success long after he tells that the last overthrow which they receav'd
at Badon Hill was not the least which they in thir oldest annals mention not at all And because the time of this Battell by any who could do more then guess is not set down or any foundation giv'n from whence to draw a solid compute it cannot be much wide to insert it in this place For such Authors as we have to follow give the conduct and praise of this exploit to Arthur and that this was the last of 12 great Battells which he fought victoriously against the Saxons The several places writt'n by Nennius in thir Welch names were many hunder'd years ago unknown and so heer omitted But who Arthur was and whether every any such reign'd in Britain hath bin doubted heertofore and may again with good reason For the Monk of Malmsbury and others whose credit hath sway'd most with the learneder sort we may well perceave to have known no more of this Arthur 500 years past nor of his doeings then we now living And what they had to say transcrib'd out of Nennius a very trivial writer yet extant which hath already bin related Or out of a British Book the same which he of Monmouth set forth utterly unknown to the World till more then 600 years after the dayes of Arthur of whom as Sigebert in his Chronicle confesses all other Histories were silent both Foren and Domestic except only that fabulous Book Others of later time have sought to assert him by old legends and Cathedrall regests But he who can accept of Legends for good story may quickly swell a volume with trash and had need be furnish'd with two only necessaries leasure and beleif whether it be the writer or he that shall read As to Artur no less is in doubt who was his Father for if it be true as Nennius or his notist avers that Artur was call'd Mab-Vther that is to say a cruel Son for the fierseness that men saw in him of a Child and the intent of his name Arturus imports as much it might well be that som in after ages who sought to turn him into a Fable wrested the word Vther into a proper name and so fain'd him the Son of Vther since we read not in any certain story that ever such person liv'd till Geffry of Monmouth set him off with the sirname of Pendragon And as we doubted of his parentage so may we also of his puissance for whether that Victory at Badon Hill were his or no is uncertain Gildas not naming him as he did Ambrose in the former Next if it be true as Caradoc relates that Melvas King of that Country which is now Summerset kept from him Gueniver his Wife a whole year in the Town of Glaston and restor'd her at the entreaty of Gildas rather then for any enforcement that Artur with all his Chivalry could make against a small Town defended only by a moory situation had either his knowledge in War or the force he had to make bin answerable to the fame they bear that petty King had neither dar'd such an affront nor he bin so long and at last without effect in revenging it Considering lastly how the Saxons gain'd upon him every where all the time of his suppos'd reign which began as som write in the tenth year of Kerdic who wrung from him by long Warr the Countries of Summerset and Hamshire there will remain neither place nor circumstance in story An. Dom. 529 which may administer any likelyhood of those great Acts that are ascrib'd him This only is alleg'd by Nennius in Arturs behalf that the Saxons though vanquish't never so oft grew still more numerous upon him by continual supplies out of Germany And the truth is that valour may be over-toil'd and overcom at last with endless overcoming But as for this Battell of Mount Badon where the Saxons were hemm'd in or beseig'd whether by Artur won or whensoever it seems indeed to have giv'n a most undoubted and important blow to the Saxons and to have stop'd thir proceedings for a good while after Gildas himself witnessing that the Britans having thus compel'd them to sit down with peace fell thereupon to civil discord among themselves Which words may seem to let in som light toward the searching out when this Battell was fought And we shall find no time since the first Saxon War from whence a longer peace ensu'd then from the fight at Kerdics Leage in the year 527. which all the Chronicles mention without Victory to Kerdic and give us argument from the custome they have of magnifying thir own deeds upon all occasions to presume heer his ill speeding And if we look still onward eev'n to the 44th year after wherin Gildas wrote if his obscureutterance be understood we shall meet with very little War between the Britans and Saxons This only remains difficult that the Victory first won by Ambrose was not so long before this at Badon Seige but that the same men living might be eye-witnesses of both and by this rate hardly can the latter be thought won by Artur unless we reck'n him a grown youth at least in the daies of Ambrose and much more then a youth if Malmsbury be heard who affirms all the exploits of Ambrose to have bin don cheifly by Artur as his General which will add much unbeleif to the common assertion of his reigning after Ambrose and Vther especially the fight at Badon being the last of his twelve Battels But to prove by that which follows that the fight at Kerdics Leage though it differ in name from that of Badon may be thought the same by all effects Kerdic 3 years after An. Dom. 530 not proceeding onward as his manner was on the continent turns back his Forces on the I le of Wight which with the slaying of a few only in Withgarburgh he soon maisters and not long surviving left it to his Nefews by the Mothers side Stuff and Withgar An. Dom. 534 the rest of what he had subdu'd Kenric his Son held An. Dom. 544 and reign'd 26 years in whose tenth year Withgar was buried in the Town of that Iland which bore his name Notwithstanding all these unlikelyhoods of Artur's Reign and great acheivments in a narration crept in I know not how among the Laws of Edward the Confessor Artur the famous King of Britans is said not only to have expell'd hence the Saracens who were not then known in Europe but to have conquer'd Freesland and all the North East Iles as far as Russia to have made Lapland the Eastern bound of his Empire and Norway the Chamber of Britain When should this be done from the Saxons till after twelve Battells he had no rest at home after those the Britans contented with the quiet they had from thir Saxon Enemies were so far from seeking Conquests abroad that by report of Gildas above cited they fell to civil Wars at home Surely Artur much better had made War in old Saxony to repress
better pass while severally they sought to repell the danger nigh at hand rather then jointly to prevent it farre off But when God hath decreed servitude on a sinful Nation fitted by thir own vices for no condition but servile all Estates of Government are alike unable to avoid it God had purpos'd to punish our instrumental punishers though now Christians by other Heathen according to his Divine retaliation invasion for invasion spoil for spoil destruction for destruction The Saxons were now full as wicked as the Britans were at their arrival brok'n with luxurie and sloth either secular or superstitious for laying aside the exercise of Arms and the study of all vertuous knowledge some betook them to over-worldly or vitious practice others to religious Idleness and Solitude which brought forth nothing but vain and delusive visions easily perceav'd such by thir commanding of things either not belonging to the Gospel or utterly forbidden Ceremonies Reliques Monasteries Masses Idols add to these ostentation of Alms got oft-times by rapine and oppression or intermixt with violent and lustfull deeds sometimes prodigally bestow'd as the expiation of cruelty and bloodshed What longer suffering could there be when Religion it self grew so void of sincerity and the greatest shews of purity were impur'd Ecbert ECbert in full highth of glory having now enjoy'd his Conquest seaven peacefull years his victorious Army long since disbanded and the exercise of Armes perhaps laid aside the more was found unprovided against a sudden storm of Danes from the Sea who landing in the 32. of his Reign An. Dom. 832 wasted Shepey in Kent Ecbert the next year gathering an Army An. Dom. 833 for he had heard of thir arrival in 35 Ships gave them Battail by the River Carr in Dorsetshire the event wherof was that the Danes kept thir ground and encampt where the field was fought two Saxon Leaders Dudda and Osmund and two Bishops as some say were there slain This was the only check of Fortune we read of that Ecbert in all his time receav'd For the Danes returning two years after with a great Navy An. Dom. 835 and joining Forces with the Cornish who had enterd League with them were overthrown and put to flight Of these invasions against Ecbert the Danish History is not silent whether out of thir own Records or ours may be justly doubted for of these times at home I find them in much uncertainty and beholding rather to Out-landish Chronicles then any Records of thir own The Victor Ecbert as one who had done enough seasonably now after prosperous success An. Dom. 836 the next year with glory ended his days and was buried at Winchester Ethelwolf EThelwolf the Son of Ecbert succeeded by Malmsbury describ'd a man of mild nature not inclin'd to War or delighted with much Dominion that therfore contented with the antient West-Saxon bounds he gave to Ethelstan his Brother or Son as some write the Kingdome of Kent and Essex But the Saxon Annalist whose Autority is Elder saith plainly that both these Countries and Sussex were bequeath'd to Ethelstan by Ecbert his Father The unwarlike disposition of Ethelwolf gave encouragement no doubt and easier entrance to the Danes who came again the next year with 33 Ships An. Dom. 837 but Wulfheard one of the Kings Chief Captains drove them back at Southamton with great slaughter himself dying the same year of Age as I suppose for he seems to have bin one of Ecberts old Commanders who was sent with Ethelwolf to subdue Kent Ethelhelam another of the Kings Captains with the Dorsetshire men had at first like success against the Danes at Portsmouth but they reinforcing stood thir ground and put the English to rout Worse was the success of Earl Herebert at a place call'd Mereswar slain with the most part of his Army An. Dom. 838 The year following in Lindsey also East-Angles and Kent much mischief was don by thir landing An. Dom. 839 where the next year embold'nd by success they came on as far as Canterbury Rochester and London it self with no less cruel hostility and giving no respit to the peaceable mind of Ethelwolf they yet return'd with the next year in 35 Ships fought with him An. Dom. 840 as before with his Father at the River Carr and made good thir ground In Northumberland Eandred the Tributary King deceasing left the same tenure to his Son Ethelred driv'n out in his fowrth year An. Dom. 844 and succeeded by Readwulf who soon after his Coronation hasting forth to Battel against the Danes at Alvetheli fell with the most part of his Army and Ethelred like in fortune to the former Ethelred was re-exalted to his Seat And to be yet further like him in Fate was slain the fowrth year after Osbert succeeded in his room An. Dom. 845 But more southerly the Danes next year after met with some stop in the full course of thir outragious insolences For Earnulf with the men of Somerset Alstan the Bishop and Osric with those of Dorsetshire setting upon them at the Rivers mouth of Pedridan slaughterd them in great numbers and obtain'd a just Victory This repulse queld them for ought we hear the space of six years An. Dom. 851 Then also renewing thir invasion with little better success For Keorle an Earl aided with the Forces of Devonshire assaulted and over-threw them at Wigganbearch with great destruction as prosperously were they fought with the same year at Sandwich by King Ethelstan and Ealker his General thir great Army defeated and nine of thir Ships tak'n the rest driv'n off however to ride out the Winter on that shoar Asser saith they then first winter'd in Shepey I le Hard it is through the bad expression of these Writers to define this fight whether by Sea or Land Hoveden terms it a Sea fight Nevertheless with 50 Ships Asser and others add 300 they enterd the mouth of Thames and made excursions as far as Canterbury and London and as Ethelwerd writes destroy'd both of London Asser signifies only that they pillag'd it Bertulf also the Mercian successor of Withlaf with all his Army they forc'd to fly and him beyond the Sea Then passing over Thames with thir powers into Surrey and the West-Saxons and meeting there with King Ethelwolf and Ethelbald his Son at a place call'd Ak-Lea or Oak-Lea they receav'd a total defeat with memorable slaughter This was counted a lucky year to England and brought to Ethelwolf great reputation An. Dom. 853 Burhed therfore who after Bertulf held of him the Mercian Kingdom two years after this imploring his aid against the North-Welch as then troublesome to his Confines obtain'd it of him in person and therby reduc'd them to obedience This done Ethelwolf sent his Son Alfrid a Child of five years well accompanied to Rome whom Leo the Pope both consecrated to be King afterward and adopted to be his Son at home Ealker with the Forces of Kent
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
them in time of Harvest In the mean time suttlely devising to turn Lee stream several waies wherby the Danish Bottoms were left on dry ground which they soon perceaving march'd over Land to Quatbrig on the Severn built a Fortress and winterd there while thir Ships left in Lee were either brok'n or brought away by the Londoners but thir Wives and Children they had left in safety with the East-Angles The next year was pestilent and besides An. Dom. 897 the common sort took away many great Earls Kelmond in Kent Brithulf in Essex Wulfred in Hampshire with many others and to this evill the Danes of Northumberland and East-Angles ceas'd not to endamage the West-Saxons especially by stealth robbing on the South-shoar in certain long Gallies But the King causing to be built others twice as long as usually were built and some of 60 or 70 Oars higher swifter and steddier then such as were in use before either with Danes or Prisons his own invention some of these he sent out against six Danish Pirats who had done much harm in the I le of Wight and parts adjoining The bickering was doubtfull and intricate part on the water part on the Sands not without loss of some eminent men on the English side The Pirats at length were either slain or tak'n two of them stranded the men brought to Winchester where the King then was were executed by his command one of them escap'd to the East-Angles her men much wounded the same year not fewer then twenty of thir Ships perish'd on the South Coast with all thir men And Rollo the Dane or Norman landing heer as Mat. West writes though not in what part of the Iland after an unsuccessful fight against those Forces which first oppos'd him sail'd into France and conquerd the Country since that time called Normandy This is the summe of what pass'd in three years against the Danes returning out of France set down so perplexly by the Saxon Annalist ill-guifted with utterance as with much ado can be understood sometimes what is spok'n whether meant of the Danes or of the Saxons After which troublesome time Alfred enjoying three years of peace by him spent as his manner was not idlely or voluptuously but in all vertuous emploiments both of mind and body becoming a Prince of his Renown ended his daies in the year 900. the 51. of his Age the 30th of his Reign and was buried regally at Winchester he An. Dom. 900 was born at a place call'd Wanading in Barkshire his Mother Osburga the Daughter of Oslac the Kings Cup-bearer a Goth by Nation and of noble descent He was of person comlier then all his Brethren of pleasing Tongue and gracefull behaviour ready wit and memory yet through the fondness of his Parents towards him had not bin taught to read till the twelfth year of his Age but the great desire of learning which was in him soon appear'd by his conning of Saxon Poems day and night which with great attention he heard by others repeated He was besides excellent at Hunting and the new Art then of Hawking but more exemplary in devotion having collected into a Book certain Prayers and Psalms which he carried ever with him in his Bosome to use on all occasions He thirsted after all liberal knowledge and oft complain'd that in his youth he had no Teachers in his middle Age so little vacancy from Wars and the cares of his Kingdome yet leasure he found sometimes not only to learn much himself but to communicate therof what he could to his people by translating Books out of Latin into English Orosius Boethius Beda's History and others permitted none unlern'd to bear Office either in Court or Common-wealth at twenty years of age not yet reigning he took to Wife Egelswitha the Daughter of Ethelred a Mercian Earl The extremities which befell him in the sixt of his Reign Neothan Abbot told him were justly come upon him for neglecting in his younger days the complaints of such as injur'd and oppress'd repair'd to him as then second person in the Kingdome for redress which neglect were it such indeed were yet excusable in a youth through jollity of mind unwilling perhaps to be detain'd long with sad and sorrowfull Narrations but from the time of his undertaking regal charge no man more patient in hearing causes more inquisitive in examining more exact in doing justice and providing good Laws which are yet extant more severe in punishing unjust judges or obstinate offenders Theeves especially and Robbers to the terrour of whom in cross waies were hung upon a high Post certain Chains of Gold as it were dareing any one to take them thence so that justice seem'd in his daies not to flourish only but to tryumph no man then hee more frugal of two pretious things in mans life his time and his revenue no man wiser in the disposal of both His time the day and night he distributed by the burning of certain Tapours into three equall portions the one was for devotion the other for publick or private affairs the third for bodily refreshment how each hour past he was put in minde by one who had that Office His whole annual revenue which his first care was should be justly his own he divided into two equall parts the first he imploi'd to secular uses and subdivided those into three the first to pay his Souldiers Houshold-Servants and Guard of which divided into three Bands one attended monthly by turn the second was to pay his Architects and workmen whom he had got together of several Nations for he was also an Elegant Builder above the Custome and conceit of Englishmen in those days the third he had in readiness to releive or honour Strangers according to thir worth who came from all parts to see him and to live under him The other equal part of his yearly wealth he dedicated to religious uses those of fowr sorts the first to releive the poor the second to the building and maintenance of two Monasteries the third of a School where he had perswaded the Sons of many Noblemen to study sacred knowledge and liberal Arts some say at Oxford the fourth was for the releif of Foreign Churches as far as India to the shrine of St. Thomas sending thether Sigelm Bishop of Sherburn who both return'd safe and brought with him many rich Gems and Spices guifts also and a letter he receav'd from the Patriarch of Jerusalem sent many to Rome and for them receav'd reliques Thus far and much more might be said of his noble minde which renderd him the miror of Princes his body was diseas'd in his youth with a great soreness in the Seige and that ceasing of it self with another inward pain of unknown cause which held him by frequent fits to his dying day yet not disinabl'd to sustain those many glorious labours of his life both in peace and war Edward the Elder EDward the Son of Alfred succeeded in learning
not equal in power and extent of Dominion surpassing his Father The beginning of his Reign had much disturbance by Ethelwald an ambitious young man Son of the Kings Uncle or Cosin German or Brother for his Genealogy is variously deliverd He vainly avouching to have equal right An. Dom. 901 with Edward of succession to the Crown posses'd himself of Winburne in Dorset and another Town diversly nam'd giving out that there he would live or dye but encompass'd with the Kings Forces at Badburie a place nigh his heart failing him he stole out by night and fled to the Danish Army beyond Humber The King sent after him but not overtaking found his Wife in the Town whom he had married out of a Nunnery and commanded her to be sent back thether About this time the Kentish An. Dom. 902 men against a multitude of Danish Pirats fought prosperously at a place call'd Holme as Hoveden records Ethelwald aided by the Northumbrians with Shipping three years after sailing to the East-Angles An. Dom. 905 perswaded the Danes there to fall into the Kings Territory who marching with him as far as Crecklad and passing the Thames there wasted as far beyond as they durst venture and lad'n with spoils return'd home The King with his powers makeing speed after them between the Dike and Ouse suppos'd to be Suffolk and Cambridge-shire as far as the Fenns Northward laid wast all before him Thence intending to return he commanded that all his Army should follow him close without delay but the Kentish men though oft'n call'd upon lagging behind the Danish Army prevented them and join'd Battel with the King where Duke Siguls and Earl Sigelm with many other of the Nobles were slain on the Danes part Eoric thir King and Ethelwald the Author of this War with others of high note and of them greater number but with great ruin on both sides yet the Danes kept in thir power the burying of thir slain What ever follow'd upon this conflict which we read not the King two years after An. Dom. 907 with the Danes both of East-Angles and Northumberland concluded peace which continu'd three years by whomsoever brok'n for at the end thereof An. Dom. 910 King Edward raising great Forces out of West-Sex and Mercia sent them against the Danes beyond Humber where staying five weeks they made great spoil and slaughter The King offer'd them terms of peace but they rejecting all enterd with the next year into Mercia rendring no less hostility An. Dom. 911 then they had suffer'd but at Tetnal in Staffordshire saith Florent were by the English in a set Battel overthrown King Edward then in Kent had got together of Ships about a hunderd Sail others gon Southward came back and met him The Danes now supposing that his main Forces were upon the Sea took liberty to rove and plunder up and down as hope of prey led them beyond Severn The King guessing what might imbold'n them sent before him the lightest of his Army to entertain them Then following with the rest set upon them in thir return over Cantbrig in Glostershire and slew many thousands among whom Ecwils Hafden and Hinguar thir Kings and many other harsh names in Huntingdon the place also of this fight is variously writt'n by Ethelwerd and Florent call'd Wodensfeild The year following Ethred Duke of Mercia to whom An. Dom. 912 Alfred had giv'n London with his daughter in marriage now dying King Edward resum'd that City and Oxford with the Countries adjoining into his own hands and the year after built or much repair'd An. Dom. 913 by his Souldiers the Town of Hertford on either side Lee and leaving a sufficient number at the work march'd about middle Summer with the other part of his Forces into Essex and encamp'd at Maldon while his Souldiers built Witham where a good part of the Country subject formerly to the Danes yeilded themselves to his protection Fowr years An. Dom. 917 after Florent allows but one year the Danes from Leister and Northampton falling into Oxfordshire committed much rapine and in some Towns therof great slaughter while another party wasting Hertfordshire met with other Fortune for the Country-people inur'd now to such kind of incursions joining stoutly together fell upon the spoilers recover'd thir own goods with some booty from thir Enemies About the same time Elfled the Kings Sister sent her Army of Mercians into Wales who routed the Welch took the Castle of Brienam-mere by Brecknock and brought away the Kings Wife of that Country with other Prisners Not long after she took Derby from the Danes and the Castle by a sharp assault But the year ensueing brought a new Fleet An. Dom. 918 of Danes to Lidwic in Devonshire under two Leaders Otter and Roald who sailing thence Westward about the lands end came up to the mouth of Severn there landing wasted the Welch Coast and Irchenfeild part of Herefordshire where they took Kuneleac a British Bishop for whose ransome King Edward gave forty pound but the men of Hereford and Glostershire assembling put them to flight slaying Roald and the Brother of Otter with many more persu'd them to a Wood and there beset compel'd them to give hostages of present departure The King with his Army sat not far off securing from the South of Severn to Avon so that op'nly they durst not by night they twice ventur'd to land but found such welcome that few of them came back the rest anchord by a small Iland where many of them famish'd then sailing to a place call'd Deomed they cross'd into Ireland The King with his Army went to Buckingham staid there a moneth and built two Castles or Forts on either Bank of Ouse ere his departing and Turkitel a Danish Leader with those of Bedford and Northampton yeilded him subjection Wherupon the next year he came with An. Dom. 919 his Army to the Town of Bedford took possession therof staid there a month and gave order to build another part of the Town on the South-side of Ouse Thence the year following went again to An. Dom. 920 Maldon repair'd and fortifi'd the Town Turkitel the Dane having small hope to thrive heer where things with such prudence were mannag'd against his interess got leave of the King with as many voluntaries as would follow him to pass into France Early the next year King Edward re-edifi'd Tovechester An. Dom. 921 now Torchester and another City in the Annals call'd Wigingmere Mean while the Danes of Leister and Northampton-shire not likeing perhaps to be neighbour'd with Strong Towns laid Seige to Torchester but they within repelling the assault one whole day till supplies came quitted the Seige by night and persu'd close by the beseig'd between Birnwud and Ailsbury were surpris'd many of them made Prisners and much of thir bagage lost Other of the Danes at Huntingdon aided from the East-Angles finding that Castle not commodious left it
and built another at Temsford judging that place more opportune from whence to make thir excursions and soon after went forth with design to assail Bedford but the Garrison issuing out slew a great part of them the rest fled After this a greater Army of them gatherd out of Mercia and the East-Angles came and beseig'd the City call'd Wigingmere a whole Day but finding it defended stoutly by them within thence also departed driving away much of thir Cattel wherupon the English from Towns and Citties round about joining Forces laid Seige to the Town and Castle of Temsford and by assault took both slew thir King with Toglea a Duke and Mannan his Son an Earl with all the rest there found who chose to die rather then yeild Encourag'd by this the men of Kent Surrey and part of Essex enterprise the Seige of Colnhester nor gave over till they won it sacking the Town and putting to Sword all the Danes therein except some who escap'd over the Wall To the succour of these a great number of Danes inhabiting Ports and other Towns in the East-Angles united thir Force but coming too late as in revenge beleaguerd Maldon but that Town also timely releiv'd they departed not only frustrate of thir design but so hotly persu'd that many thousands of them lost thir lives in the flight Forthwith King Edward with his West-Saxons went to Passham upon Ouse there to guard the passage while others were building a stone Wall about Torchester to him there Earl Thurfert and other Lord Danes with thir Army thereabout as far as Weolud came and submitted Wherat the Kings Souldiers joyfully cry'd out to be dismiss't home therfore with another part of them he enterd Huntingdon and repair'd it where breaches had bin made all the people thereabout returning to obedience The like was done at Colnchester by the next remove of his Army after which both East and West-Angles and the Danish Forces among them yeilded to the King swearing Allegiance to him both by Sea and Land the Army also of Danes at Grantbrig surrendring themselves took the same Oath The Summer following he came with his Army to Stamford An. Dom. 922 built a Castle there on the South-side of the River where all the people of those quarters acknowledg'd him supream Dureing his abode there Elfled his Sister a martial Woman who after her Husbands Death would no more marry but gave her self to public affairs repairing and fortifying many Towns warring sometimes dy'd at Tamworth the Cheif Seat of Mercia wherof by guift of Alfred her Father she was Lady or Queen wherby that whole Nation became obedient to King Edward as did also North-Wales with Howel Cledaucus and Jeothwell thir Kings Thence passing to Nottingham he enterd and repair'd the Town plac'd there part English part Danes and receav'd fealty from all in Mercia of either Nation The next Autumn coming An. Dom. 923 with his Army into Cheshire he built and fortifi'd Thelwel and while he staid there call'd another Army out of Mercia which he sent to repair and fortifie Manchester About Midsummer following An. Dom. 924 he march'd again to Nottingham built a Town over against it on the South-side of that River and with a Bridg joyn'd them both thence journied to a place call'd Bedecanwillan in Pictland there also built and fenc'd a City on the Borders where the King of Scots did him honour as to his Sovran together with the whole Scotish Nation the like did Reginald and the Son of Eadulf Danish Princes with all the Northumbrians both English and Danes The King also of a people thereabout call'd Streatgledwalli the North Welch as Camden thinks of Strat-Cluid in Denbigh-shire perhaps rather the British of Cumberland did him homage and not undeserv'd For Buchanan himself confesses that this King Edward with a small number of men compar'd to his Enemies overthrew in a great Battel the whole united power both of Scots and Daâ—es slew most of the Scotish Nobility and forc'd Malcolmb whom Constantine the Scotch King had made General and design'd Heir of his Crown to save himself by flight sore wounded Of the English he makes Athelstan the Son of Edward Chief Leader and so far seems to confound times and actions as to make this Battel the same with that fought by Athelstan about 24 years after at Bruneford against Anlaf and Constantine wherof hereafter But here Buchanan takes occasion to inveigh against the English Writers upbraiding them with ignorance who affirm Athelstan to have bin supream King of Britain Constantine the Scotish King with others to have held of him and denies that in the Annals of Marianus Scotus any mention is to be found therof which I shall not stand much to contradict for in Marianus whether by Surname or by Nation Scotus will be found as little mention of any other Scotish affairs till the time of King Dunchad slain by Machetad or Mackbeth in the year 1040. which gives cause of suspition that the affairs of Scotland before that time were so obscure as to be unknown to thir own Countryman who liv'd and wrote his Chronicle not long after But King Edward thus nobly doing and thus honour'd the year following dy'd at Farendon An. Dom. 925 a builder and restorer eev'n in War not a destroyer of his Land He had by several Wives many Childern his eldest Daughter Edgith he gave in marriage to Charles King of France Grand-Child of Charles the Bald above-mention'd of the rest in place convenient His Laws are yet to be seen He was buried at Winchester in the Monastery by Alfred his Father And a few days after him dy'd Ethelwerd his Eldest Son the Heir of his Crown He had the whole Iland in subjection yet so as petty Kings reign'd under him In Northumberland after Ecbert whom the Danes had set up and the Northumbrians yet unruly under thir yoke at the end of 6 years had expell'd one Ricsig was set up King and bore the name 3 years then another Ecbert and Guthred the latter if we beleeve Legends of a Servant made King by command of St. Cudbert in a Vision and enjoyn'd by another Vision of the same Saint to pay well for his Royalty many Lands and privileges to his Church and Monastery But now to the story Athelstan AThelstan next in Age to Ethelward his Brother who deceas'd untimely few days before though born of a Concubine yet for the great appearance of many vertues in him and his Brethren being yet under Age was exalted to the Throne at Kingstone An. Dom. 926 upon Thames and by his Fathers last Will saith Malmsbury yet not without some opposition of one Alfred and his Accomplices who not likeing he should reign had conspir'd to seise on him after his Fathers Death and to put out his Eyes But the Conspiratours discoverd and Alfred denying the Plot was sent to Rome to assert his innocence before the Pope where taking his Oath on
the King who still laid at him and little expected such assassination mortally into the brest The matter was done in a moment ere men set at Table could turn them or imagin at first what the stir meant till perceaving the King deadly wounded they flew upon the murderer and hew'd him to peeces who like a wild Beast at abbay seeing himself surrounded desperatly laid about him wounding some in his fall The King was buried at Glaston wherof Dunstan was then Abbot his Laws yet remain to be seen among the Laws of other Saxon Kings Edred EDred the third Brother of Athelstan the Sons of Edmund being yet but Children next reign'd not degenerating from his worthy predecessors and Crown'd at Kingston Northumberland he throughly subdu'd the Scots without refusal swore him Allegiance yet the Northumbrians ever of doubtfull Faith soon after chose to themselves one Eric a Dane Huntingdon still haunts us with this Anlaf of whom we gladly would have bin ridd and will have him before Eric recall'd once more and reign fowr years then again put to his shifts But An. Dom. 950 Edred entring into Northumberland and with spoils returning Eric the King fell upon his rear Edred turning about both shook off the Enemy and prepar'd to make a second inroad which the Northumbrians dreading rejected Eric slew Amanous the Son of Anlaf and with many presents appeasing Edred submitted again to his Goverment nor from that time had Kings but were govern'd by Earls of whom Osulf was the first About this time Wulstan An. Dom. 953 Archbishop of York accus'd to have slain certain men of Thetford in revenge of thir Abbot whom the Townsmen had slain was committed by the King to close Custody but soon after enlarg'd was restor'd to his place Malmsbury writes that his crime was to have conniv'd at the revolt of his Countrymen but An. Dom. 955 King Edred two years after sick'ning in the flowr of his youth dy'd much lamented and was buried at Winchester Edwi EDwi the Son of Edmund now come to Age after his Uncle Edred's Death took on him the Goverment and was Crown'd at Kingston His lovely person sirnam'd him the Fair his actions are diversly reported by Huntingdon not thought illaudable But Malnisbury and such as follow him write far otherwise that he married or kept as Concubine his neer Kinswoman some say both her and her Daughter so inordinatly giv'n to his pleasure that on the very day of his Coronation he abruptly withdrew himself from the Company of his Peers whether in Banquet or Consultation to sit wantoning in the Chamber with this Algiva so was her name who had such power over him Wherat his Barons offended sent Bishop Dunstan the boldest among them to request his return he going to the Chamber not only interrupted his dalliance and rebuk'd the Lady but takeing him by the hand between force and persuasion brought him back to his Nobles The King highly displeas'd and instigated perhaps An. Dom. 956 by her who was so prevalent with him not long after sent Dunstan into banishment caus'd his Monastery to be rifl'd and became an Enemy to all Monks Wherupon Odo Archbishop of Canterbury pronounc't a separation or divorce of the King from Algiva But that which most incited William of Malmsbury against him he gave that Monastery to be dwelt in by secular Preists or to use his own phrase made it a stable of Clerks at length these affronts done to the Church were so resented by the people that the Mercians and Northumbrians revolted from him and set up Edgar his Brother leaving to Edwi the An. Dom. 957 An. Dom. 958 West-Saxons only bounded by the River Thames with greif wherof as is thought he soon after ended his daies and was buried at Winchester Mean while Elfsin Bishop of that place after the Death of Odo ascending by Simony to the Chair of Canterbury and going to Rome the same year for his Pall was froz'n to Death in the Alps. Edgar Edgar by his Brothers Death now King of all England at 16 years of Age call'd home Dunstan An. Dom. 959 out of Flanders where he liv'd in exile This King had no War all his Reign yet allways well prepar'd for War govern'd the Kingdom in great Peace Honour and Prosperity gaining thence the Sirname of Peaceable much extoll'd for Justice Clemency and all Kingly Vertues the more ye may be sure by Monks for his building so many Monasteries as some write every year one for he much favour'd the Monks against secular Preists who in the time of Edwi had got possession in most of thir Covents His care and wisdome was great in guarding the Coast round with stout ships to the number of 3600 Mat. West reck'ns them 4800 divided into fowr Squadrons to sail to and fro on the fowr quarters of the land meeting each other the first of 1200 sail from East to West the second of as many from West to East the third and fowrth between North and South himself in the Summer time with his Fleet. Thus he kept out wisely the force of Strangers and prevented Forein War but by thir too frequent resort hither in time of peace and his too much favouring them he let in thir vices unaware Thence the people saith Malmsbury learnt of the out-landish Saxons rudeness of the Flemish daintiness and softness of the Danes Drunk'ness though I doubt these vices are as naturally home-bred heer as in any of those Countries Yet in the Winter and Spring time he usually rode the Circuit as a Judge Itinerant through all his Provinces to see justice well administerd and the poor not oppress'd Theeves and Robbers he rooted almost out of the Land and wild Beasts of prey altogether enjoining Ludwal King of Wales to pay the yearly tribute of 300 Wolves which he did for two years together till the third year no more were to be found nor ever after but his Laws may be read yet extant Whatever was the cause he was not Crown'd till the 30. of his Age but then with great An. Dom. 973 An. Dom. 974 splendor and magnificence at the City of Bath in the Feast of Pentecost This year dy'd Swarling a Monk of Croyland the 142. year of his Age and another soon after him in the 115th in the Fenn and watrish air the more remarkable King Edgar the next year went to Chester and summoning to his Court there all the Kings that held of him took homage of them thir names are Kened King of Scots Malcolm of Cumberland Maccuse of the Iles five of Wales Duswal Huwal Grifith Jacob Judethil these he had in such aw that going one day into a Gally he caus'd them to take each man his Oar and row him down the River Dee while he himself sat at the Stern which might be done in meriment and easily obei'd if with a serious brow discoverd rather vain glory and insulting haughtiness then
moderation of mind And that he did it seriously tryumphing appears by his words then utterd that his successors might then glory to be Kings of England when they had such honour done them And perhaps the Divine power was displeas'd with him for taking too much honour to himself since we read that the year following he was tak'n An. Dom. 975 out of this life by sickness in the highth of his glory and the prime of his Age buried at Glaston Abby The same year as Mat. West relates he gave to Kened the Scottish King many rich presents and the whole Country of Laudian or Lothien to hold of him on condition that he and his successors should repair to the English Court at high Festivals when the King sat Crown'd gave him also many lodging places by the way which till the days of Henry the second were still held by the Kings of Scotland He was of Stature not tall of body slender yet so well made that in strength he chose to contend with such as were thought strongest and dislik'd nothing more then that they should spare him for respect or fear to hurt him Kened King of Scots then in the Court of Edgar sitting one day at Table was heard to say jestingly among his Servants he wonderd how so many Provinces could be held in subjection by such a little dapper man his words were brought to the Kings Ear he sends for Kened as about some private business and in talk drawing him forth to a secret place takes from under his garment two Swords which he had brought with him gave one of them to Kened and now saith he it shall be try'd which ought to be the subject for it is shamefull for a King to boast at Table and shrink in fight Kened much abash'd fell presently at his Feet and besought him to pardon what he had simply spok'n no way intended to his dishonour or disparagement wherewith the King was satisfi'd Camden in his description of Ireland cites a Charter of King Edgar wherin it appears he had in subjection all the Kingdomes of the Iles as far as Norway and had subdu'd the greatest part of Ireland with the City of Dublin but of this other Writers make no mention In his youth having heard of Elfrida Daughter to Ordgar Duke of Devonshire much commended for her Beauty he sent Earl Athelwold whose loyalty he trusted most to see her intending if she were found such as answerd report to demand her in marriage He at the first view tak'n with her presence disloyally as it oft happ'ns in such emploiments began to sue for himself and with consent of her Parents obtain'd her Returning therfore with scarse an ordinary commendation of her Feature he easily took off the Kings mind soon diverted another way But the matter coming to light how Athelwold had forestall'd the King and Elfrida's Beauty more and more spok'n of the King now heated not only with a relapse of Love but with a deep sence of the abuse yet dissembling his disturbance pleasantly told the Earl what day he meant to come and visit him and his fair Wife The Earl seemingly assur'd his welcome but in the mean while acquainting his Wife earnestly advis'd her to deform her self what she might either in dress or otherwise lest the King whose amorous inclination was not unknown should chance to be attracted She who by this time was not ignorant how Athelwold had stepd between her and the King against his coming arraies her self richly useing whatever art she could devise might render her the more amiable and it took effect For the King inflam'd with her love the more for that he had bin so long defrauded and rob'd of her resolv'd not only to recover his intercepted right but to punish the interloper of his destind spouse and appointing with him as was usual a day of hunting drawn aside in a Forest now call'd Harewood smote him through with a Dart. Some censure this act as cruel and tyrannical but considerd well it may be judg'd more favourably and that no man of sensible Spirit but in his place without extraordinary perfection would have done the like for next to life what worse treason could have bin committed against him it chanc'd that the Earls base Son coming by upon the fact the King sternly ask'd him how he lik'd this Game he submisly answering that whatsoever pleas'd the King must not displease him the King return'd to his wonted temper took an affection to the youth and ever after highly favour'd him making amends in the Son for what he had done to the Father Elsrida forthwith he took to Wife who to expiate her former Husbands Death though therin she had no hand coverd the place of his bloodshed with a Monastery of Nuns to sing over him Another fault is laid to his charge no way excusable that he took a Virgin Wilfrida by force out of the Nunnery where she was plac'd by her friends to avoid his persuit and kept her as his Concubine but liv'd not obstinatly in the offence for sharply reprov'd by Dunstan he submitted to 7 years penance and for that time to want his Coronation But why he had it not before is left unwritt'n Another story there goes of Edgar fitter for a Novel then a History but as I find it in Malmsbury so I relate it While he was yet unmarried in his youth he abstain'd not from Women and coming on a day to Andover caus'd a Dukes Daughter there dwelling reported rare of Beauty to be brought to him The mother not dareing flatly to deny yet abhorring that her Daughter should be so deflour'd at fit time of night sent in her attire one of her waiting Maids a Maid it seems not unhansom nor unwitty who suppli'd the place of her young Lady Night pass'd the Maid going to rise but day-light scarse yet appearing was by the King askt why she made such hast she answer'd to do the work which her Lady had set her at which the Kingwondring and with much ado staying her to unfold the riddle for he took her to be the Dukes Daughter she falling at his Feet besought him that since at the command of her Lady she came to his Bed and was enjoy'd by him he would be pleas'd in recompence to set her free from the hard service of her Mistress The King a while standing in a study whether he had best be angry or not at length turning all to a jest took the Maid away with him advanc'd her above her Lady lov'd her and accompanied with her only till he married Elfrida These only are his faults upon record rather to be wonderd how they were so few and so soon left he coming at 16 to the Licence of a Scepter and that his vertues were so many and so mature he dying before the Age wherin wisdome can in others attain to any ripeness however with him dy'd all the Saxon glory From henceforth nothing is to be heard of but
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
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
Gospatric a noble man of that Country to be treacherously slain in the Kings Court and that Tosti himself the year before with like treachery had caus'd to be slain in his Chamber Gamel and Vls two other of thir noble men besides his intolerable exactions and oppressions Then in a manner the whole Country coming up to complain of their grievances met with Harold at Northampton whom the King at Tosti's request had sent to pacifie the Northumbrians but they laying op'n the cruelty of his Government and thir own birth-right of freedom not to endure the tyranny of any Governour whatsoever with absolute refusal to admit him again and Harold hearing reason all the complices of Tosti were expell'd the Earldom He himself banish't the Realm went in Flanders Morcar the Son of Algar made Earl in his stead Huntingdon tells another cause of Tosti's banishment that one day at Windsor while Harold reach'd the Cup to King Edward Tosti envying to see his younger Brother in greater favour then himself could not forbear to run furiously upon him and catching hold of his Hair the scuflle was soon parted by other attendants rushing between and Tosti forbidd'n the Court He with continu'd fury rideing to Hereford where Harold had many Servants preparing an entertainment for the King came to the House and set upon them with his followers then lopping off Hands Armes Legs of some Heads of others threw them into Butts of Wine Meath or Ale which were laid in for the Kings drinking and at his going away charg'd them to send him this word that of other fresh meats he might bring with him to his Farm what he pleas'd but of Sowce he should find plenty provided ready for him that for this barbarous Act the King pronounc't him banish'd that the Northumbrians taking advantage at the Kings displeasure and sentence against him rose also to be reveng'd of his cruelties done to themselves but this no way agrees for why then should Harold or the King so much labour with the Northumbrians to re-admit him if he were a banish'd man for his Crimes done before About this time it happ'nd that Harold putting to Sea one day for his pleasure in a Fisher Boat from his Mannor at Boseham in Sussex caught with a Tempest too far off land was carried into Normandy and by the Earl of Pontiew on whose Coast he was driv'n at his own request brought to Duke William who entertaining him with great courtesie so far won him as to promise the Duke by Oath of his own accord not only the Castle of Dover then in his tenure but the Kingdome also after King Edwards Death to his utmost endeavour therupon betrothing the Dukes Daughter then too young for marriage and departing richly presented Others say that King Edward himself after the Death of Edward his Nephew sent Harold thether on purpose to acquaint Duke William with his intention to bequeath him his Kingdom but Malmsbury accounts the former story to be the truer Ingulf writes that King Edward now grown old and perceaving Edgar his Nephew both in body and mind unfit to govern especially against the pride and insolence of Godwins Sons who would never obey him Duke William on the other side of high merit and his Kinsman by the Mother had sent Robert Archbishop of Canterbury to acquaint the Duke of his purpose not long before Harold came thether The former part may be true that King Edward upon such considerations had sent one or other but Arch-bishop Robert was fled the land and dead many years before Eadmer and Simeon write that Harold went of his own accord into Normandy by the Kings permission or connivence to get free his Brother Wulnod and Nephew Hacun the Son of Swane whom the King had tak'n hostages of Godwin and sent into Normandy that King Edward foretold Harold his journey thether would be to the detriment of all England and his own reproach that Duke William then acquainted Harold how Edward ere his coming to the Crown had promisd if ever he attain'd it to leave Duke William Successor after him Last of these Mathew Paris writes that Harold to get free of Duke William affirm'd his coming thether not to have been by accident or force of Tempest but on set purpose in that privat manner to enter with him into secret confederacie so variously are these things reported After this King Edward An. Dom. 1066 grew sickly yet as he was able kept his Christmas at London and was at the Dedication of St. Peters Church in Westminster which he had rebuilt but on the Eve of Epiphanie or Twelftide deceas'd much lamented and in the Church was Entoomb'd That he was harmless and simple is conjecturd by his words in anger to a Peasant who had cross'd his Game for with Hunting and Hawking he was much delighted by God and Gods Mother said hee I shall do you as shrew'd a turn if I can observing that Law-Maxim the best of all his Successors that the King of England can do no wrong The softness of his Nature gave growth to factions of those about him Normans especially and English these complaining that Robert the Archbishop was a sower of dissention between the King and his people a traducer of the English the other side that Godwin and his Sons bore themselves arrogantly and proudly towards the King usurping to themselves equall share in the Government oft-times making sport with his simplicity that through thir power in the land they made no scruple to kill men of whose inheritance they took a likeing and so to take possession The truth is that Godwin and his Sons did many things boistrously and violently much against the Kings minde which not able to resist he had as some say his Wife Edith Godwins Daughter in such aversation as in bed never to have touch'd her whether for this cause or mistak'n Chastitie not commendable to enquire further is not material His Laws held good and just and long after desir'd by the English of thir Norman Kings are yet extant He is said to be at Table not excessive at Festivals nothing puft up with the costly Robes he wore which his Queen with curious Art had woven for him in Gold He was full of Alms-deeds and exhorted the Monks to like Charitie He is said to be the first of English Kings that cur'd the Disease call'd thence the Kings Evil yet Malmsbury blames them who attribute that Cure to his Royaltie not to his Sanctitie said also to have cur'd certain blinde men with the water wherin he had wash'd his hands A little before his Death lying speechless two days the third day after a deep sleep he was heard to pray that if it were a true Vision not an Illusion which he had seen God would give him strength to utter it otherwise not Then he related how he had seen two devout Monks whom he knew in Normandy to have liv'd and dy'd well who appearing told him
them promis'd peace and defence yet permitted his men the while to burn and make prey Coming to London with all his Army he was on Christmass day sollemly Crown'd in the great Church at Westminster by Aldred Archbishop of York having first giv'n his Oath at the Altar in presence of all the people to defend the Church well govern the people maintain right Law prohibit rapine and unjust judgment Thus the English while they agreed not about the choice of thir native King were constrein'd to take the Yoke of an out-landish Conquerer With what minds and by what course of life they had fitted themselves for this servitude William of Malmsbury spares not to lay op'n Not a few years before the Normans came the Clergy though in Edward the Confessors daies had lost all good literature and Religion scarse able to read and understand thir Latin Service he was a miracle to others who knew his Grammar The Monks went clad in fine stuffs and made no difference what they eat which though in it self no fault yet to their Consciences was irreligious The great men giv'n to gluttony and dissolute life made a prey of the common people abuseing thir Daughters whom they had in service then turning them off to the Stews the meaner sort tipling together night and day spent all they had in Drunk'ness attended with other Vices which effeminate mens minds Whence it came to pass that carried on with fury and rashness more then any true fortitude or skill of War they gave to William thir Conquerour so easie a Conquest Not but that some few of all sorts were much better among them but such was the generality And as the long suffering of God permits bad men to enjoy prosperous daies with the good so his severity oft times exempts not good men from thir share in evil times with the bad If these were the Causes of such misery and thraldom to those our Ancestors with what better close can be concluded then here in fit season to remember this Age in the midst of her security to fear from like Vices without amendment the Revolutions of like Calamities FINIS AN INDEX Of all the Chief Persons and material passages contained in the foregoing HISTORY A. ADda succeeds his Father Ida in the Kingdom of Bernicia p. 127. Adminius the Son of Cunobeline banish't his Country flies to the Emperour Caligula and stirs him up against it p. 51. Aganippus a Gaulish King marries Cordelia the Daughter of King Leir p. 20. Agricola Son of Severianus spreads the Pelagian Doctrine in Britain p. 104. Aidan a Scotch Bishop sent for by Oswald to settle Religion p. 155. he hath his Episcopal Seat at Lindisfarne ibid. he dies for grief of the Murder of Oswin p. 157. Alaric takes Rome from the Emperour Honorius p. 97. Alban of Verulam with others suffers Martyrdom under Dioclesian p. 88. Albanact one of the three Sons of Brutus hath Albania now Scotland for his share in the Kingdom p. 14. Albion the ancient name of this Island p. 4 5. whence derived ibid. Albina said to be the Eldest of Dioclesians 50 Daughters p. 5. from her the name Albion derived ibid. Alcled slaying Ethelwald usurps the Kingdom of the Northumbrians p. 177. Aldfrid recall'd from Ireland succeeds his Brother Ecfrid in the Northumbrian Kingdom p. 168. he leaves Osred a Child to succeed him p. 169. Aldulf the Nephew of Ethelwald succeeds King of the East-Angles p. 187. Alectus treacherously slays his friend Carausius to get the Dominion p. 87. is overthrown by Asclepiodotus and slain ibid. Alemannus reported one of the four Sons of Histion descended from Japhet and of whom the Alemanni or Germans p. 5. Alfage Archbishop of Canterbury inhumanly us'd by the Danes p. 256. kill'd outright by Thrum a Dane in commiseration of his misery ibid. Alfred the fourth Son of Ethelwolf and successour of his Brother Ethelred encounters the Danes at Wilton p. 204. he gives Battel to the whole Danish power at Edinton and totally routing them brings them to terms p. 206. 207. he is said to have bestow'd the East-Angles upon Gytro a Danish King who had been lately baptis'd p. 207. a long tedious War afterwards maintain'd between him and the Danes p. 209. 210. c. he dies in the 30th year of his Reign and is buried at Winchester p. 212. his noble Character p. 213. 214. Alfwold driving out Eardulf usurps the Kingdom of Northumberland p. 185. Algar Earl of Howland now Holland Morcard Lord of Brunne and Osgot Governour of Lincoln slaughter a great multitude of the Danes in Battail with three of their Kings p. 201. overpowr'd with numbers and drawn into a snare Algar dies valiantly fighting ibid. Algar the Son of Leofric banisht by King Edward joins with Griffin Prince of South-Wales p. 291. 292. unable to withstand Harold Earl of Kent he submits to the King and is restor'd p. 292. banisht again he recovers his Earldom by force p. 293. Alipius made Deputy of the British Province in the room of Martinus p. 90. Alla begins the Kingdom of Deira in the South-part of Northumberland p. 127. 133. Alric King of Kent after Ethelbert the II. p. 177. with him dying ends the race of Hengist p. 181. Ambrosius Aurelianus dreaded by Vortimer p. 117. defeats the Saxons in a memorable Battel p. 118. uncertain whether the Son of Constantine the Vsurper or the same with Merlin and Son of a Roman Consul p. 118. he succeeds Vortigern as Chief Monarch of the I le ibid. Anacletus the friend of King Pandrasus is taken in fight by Brutus p. 9. he is forc't by Brutus to betray his own Countrymen ibid. Andragius one in the Catalogue of ancient British Kings p. 28. Androgeus one of Lud's Sons hath London assign'd him and Kent p. 29. forsakes his claim to the Kingdom and follows Caesars fortune p. 51. Anlaf the Dane with his Army of Irish and Constantine King of Scotland utterly discomfited by King Athelstan p. 225. 226. c. Anna succeeds Sigebert in the Kingdom of the East-Angles p. 157. he is slain in War by Penda the Mercian p. 159. Antigonus the Brother of King Pandrasus taken in fight by Brutus p. 9. Antoninus sent against the Caledonians by his Father Severus p. 84. after whose Death he takes hostages and departs to Rome ibid. Archigallo depos'd for his Tyranny p. 26. being restor'd by his Brother he becomes a new man and reigns worthily p. 27. Archimailus one in the number of ancient British Kings p. 28. Armorica in France peopled by Britans that fled from the Saxons p. 114. Arthur the Victory at Badon-hill by some ascrib'd to him which by others is attributed to Ambrose p. 122. who he was and whether the Authour of such famous Acts as are related of him p. 122. 123. c. Arviragus ingaging against Claudius keeps up the Battail to a Victory by personating his slain Brother Guiderius p. 54. Athelstan the Son of King Edward the Elder by
brings them anew to terms of peace and sets sail for Belgia p. 40. the year following he lands his Army again p. 42. he hath a very sharp dispute with the Britans near the Stowr in Kent p. 42 43. he receives terms of peace from the Trinobantes p. 46. he brings Cassibelan to Terms p. 47. he leaves the Island ibid. offers to Venus the Patroness of his Family a Corselet of British Pearl ibid. Julius Frontinus the Emperours Lieutenant in Britain tames the Silures a warlike people p. 69. Julius Severus governs Britain under Adrian the Emperour p. 78. K. KEarl surrenders the Kingdom of Mercia to his Kinsman Penda p. 152. Keaulin succeeds his Father Kenric in the Kingdom of the West-Saxons p. 127. he and his Son Cuthin slay three British Kings at Deorham p. 133. gives the Britans a very great rout at Fethanleage ibid. is totally routed by the Britans at Wodensbeorth and chac't out of his Kingdom dies in poverty p. 134. Kendwalla or Kadwallon a British King joyning with Penda the Mercian slays Edwin in Battel p. 157. Kedwalla a West-Saxon Prince returned from Banishment slays in fight Edelwalk the South-Saxon and after that Edric his Successor p. 165. going to the Isle of Wight he devotes the fourth part thereof to holy uses ibid. the Sons of Arwald King of that Isle slain by his order p. 166. he harrasses the Country of the South-Saxons ibid. is repell'd by the Kentish men ibid. yet revenges the death of his Brother Mollo ibid. going to Rome to be baptiz'd he dies there about five weeks after his Baptism p. 168. Kelred the Son of Ethelred succeeds Kenred in the Mercian Kingdom p. 169. possest with an evil Spirit he dies in despair p. 170. Kelwulf reigns King of the West-Saxons after Keola p. 140. he makes War upon the South-Saxons p. 145. dying leaves the Kingdom to his Brothers Sons ibid. Kenwulf adopted by Osric the Northumbrian to be his Successor in the Kingdom p. 171. he becomes a Monk in Lindisfarn p. 173. Kened King of the Scots does high honour to King Edgar p. 236. receives great favours from him ibid. is challeng'd by him upon some words let fall but soon pacifies him p. 237. Kenelm succeeding a Child in the Kingdom of Mercia after Kenulf is murther'd by order of his Sister Quendrid p. 186. Kenred the Son of Wulfer succeeds Ethelred in the Mercian Kingdom p. 169. having reign'd a while he goes to Rome and is there shorn a Monk ibid. another Kenred succeeds in the Kingdom of Northumberland p. 170. Kenric the Son of Kerdic overthrows the Britans that oppose him p. 120. kills and puts to flight many of the Britans at Searesbirig now Salisbury p. 127. afterwards at Beranvirig now Banbury ibid. Kentwin a West-Saxon King chaces the Welsh-Britans to the Sea-shore p. 165. Kenulf hath the Kingdom of Mercia bequeath'd him by Ecferth p. 182. he leaves behind him the praise of a vertuous Reign p. 186. Kenwalk succeeds his Father Kinegils in the Kingdom of the West-Saxons p. 156. his successes variously deliver'd p. 158. he is said to have discomfited the Britans at Pen in Somerset-shire p. 161. and giving Battel to Wulfer to have taken him prisoner p. 162. dying leaves the Government to Sexburga his Wife p. 163. Kenwulf entituled Clito slain by Ina the West-Saxon p. 171. Kenwulf King of the West-Saxons see Kinwulf Keola the Son of Cuthulf succeeds his Vncle Keaulin in the West-Saxon Kingdom p. 134. Keolwulf the Brother of Kenulf the Mercian after two years reign driven out by Bernulf a Vsurper p. 186. Keorle with the Forces of Devonshire overthrows the Danes at Wigganbeorch p. 193. Kerdic a Saxon Prince lands at Kerdicshore and over-throws the Britans p. 120. defeats their King Natanled in a memorable Battel ibid. founds the Kingdom of the West-Saxons p. 121. he overthrows the Britans again twice at Kerdic's Ford and at Kerdic's League p. 121 122. Kimarus reckon'd among the ancient British Kings p. 25. Kinegils and Cuichelm succeed Kelwulf in the Kingdom of the West-Saxons p. 145. they make Truce with Penda the Mercian p. 152 153. they are converted to the Christian Faith p. 155. Kinegils dying leaves his son Kenwalk to succeed p. 156. Kinmarcus succeeds Sisillius in the Kingdom p. 21. Kinwulf or Kenwulf Sigebert being thrown out and slain by a Swineherd is saluted King of the West-Saxons p. 175. behaves himself valorously in several Battels against the Welsh p. 177. put to the worst at Besington by Offa the Mercian ibid. is routed and slain in Battels by Kineard whom he had commanded into Banishment p. 178. Kymbeline or Cunobeline the Successor of Tenuantius said to be brought up in the Court of Augustus p. 51. his chief Seat Camalodunum or Maldon ibid. L. LEarning and Arts when began to flourish among the Saxons p. 163. Leil succeeds Brute Greensheild and builds Caerleil p. 16. Leofric Duke of Mercia and Siward of Northumberland sent by Hardecnute against the people of Worcester p. 277 278. by their Counsel King Edward seizeth on the Treasures of his Mother Queen Emma p. 281. they raise Forces for the King against Earl Godwin p. 285. Leofric's death p. 293. Leofwin Son of Earl Godwin after his Father Banishment goes over with his Brother Harold into Ireland p. 286. he and Harold assist their Father with a Fleet against King Edward p. 288. be is slain with his Brothers Harold and Gyrtha in the Battel against William Duke of Normandy p. 305. Linceus deliver'd in fabulous story to be the Husband of one of the feign'd 50 Daughters of Dioclesian King of Syria p. 5. the only man sav'd by his Wife when all the rest of the 50 slew their Husbands ib. Locrin the eldest Son of Brutus hath the middle part of this Island call'd Leogria for his share in the Kingdom p. 14. Lollius Urbicus draws a Wall of Turfs between the frith of Dunbritton and Edinborough p. 78. London with a great multitude of her Inhabitants by a sudden fire consumed p. 183. Lothair succeeds his Brother Ecbert in the Kingdom of Kent p. 163. Lucius a King in some part of Britain thought the first of any King in Europe who receiv'd the Christian Faith p. 79. is made the second by descent from Marius ibid. after a long Reign buried at Glocester p. 80. Lud walls about Trinovant and calls it Caer Lud or Luds Town p. 28. Ludiken the Mercian going to avenge Bernulf is surpris'd by the East-Angles and put to the sword p. 187. Lupicinus sent over Deputy into this Island by Julian the Emperour but soon recall'd p. 91. Lupus Bishop of Troyes assistant to Germanus of Auxerre in the Reformation of the British Church p. 104. M. MAdan succeeds his Father Locrin in the Kingdom p. 15. Maglaunus Duke of Albania marries Gonorill eldest Daughter of King Leir p. 18. Magoclune sirnamed the Island Dragon one of the five that reign'd toward the beginning of the Saxon Heptarchy p. 132. Magus
and the Gods must witness that otherwise to express her thoughts she knew not but that she lov'd him above all Creatures and so receavs an equal reward with her Sister But Cordelia the youngest though hitherto best belov'd and now before her Eyes the rich and present hire of a little easie soothing the danger also and the loss likely to betide plain dealing yet moves not from the solid purpose of a sincere and vertuous answer Father saith she my love towards you is as my duty bids what should a Father seek what can a Child promise more they who pretend beyond this flatter When the old man sorry to hear this and wishing her to recall those words persisted asking with a loiall sadness at her Fathers infirmity but somthing on the sudden harsh and glancing rather at her Sisters then speaking her own mind Two waies only saith she I have to answer what you require mee the former Your command is I should recant accept then this other which is lest mee look how much you have so much is your value and so much I love you Then hear thou quoth Leir now all in passion what thy ingratitude hath gain'd thee because thou hast not reverenc'd thy aged Father equall to thy Sisters part in my Kingdom or what else is mine reck'n to have none And without delay gives in mariage his other Daughters Gonorill to Maglaunus Duke of Albania Regan to Henninus Duke of Cornwall with them in present half his Kingdom the rest to follow at his Death In the mean while Fame was not sparing to divulge the wisdom and other Graces of Cordeilla insomuch that Aganippus a great King in Gaul however he came by his Greek name seeks her to Wife and nothing alter'd at the loss of her Dowry receavs her gladly in such manner as she was sent him After this King Leir more and more drooping with Years became an easy prey to his Daughters and thir Husbands who now by dayly encroachment had feis'd the whole Kingdom into thir hands and the old King is put to sojorn with his Eldest Daughter attended only by threescore Knights But they in a short while grudg'd at as too numerous and disorderly for continuall Guests are reduc'd to thirty Not brooking that affront the old King betakes him to his second Daughter but there also discord soon arising between the Servants of differing Masters in one Family five only are suffer'd to attend him Then back again he returns to the other hoping that she his Eldest could not but have more pity on his Gray Hairs but she now refuses to admitt him unless he be content with one only of his followers At last the remembrance of his youngest Cordeilla comes to his thoughts and now acknowledging how true her words had bin though with little hope from whom he had so injur'd be it but to pay her the last recompence she can have from him his confession of her wise forewarning that so perhaps his misery the prooff and experiment of her Wisdom might somthing soft'n her he takes his Journey into France Now might be seen a difference between the silent or down-right spok'n affection of som Children to thir Parents and the talkative obsequiousness of others while the hope of Inheritance over-acts them and on the Tongues end enlarges thir duty Cordeilla out of meer love without the suspicion of expected reward at the message only of her Father in distress powrs forth true filial tears And not enduring either that her own or any other Eye should see him in such forlorn condition as his Messenger declar'd discreetly appoints one of her trusted Servants first to convay him privately toward som good Sea Town there to array him bathe him cherish him furnish him with such Attendance and State as beseemd his Dignity That then as from his first Landing he might send word of his Arrival to her Husband Aganippus Which don with all mature and requisite contrivance Cordelia with the King her Husband and all the Barony of his Realm who then first had news of his passing the Sea goe out to meet him and after all honourable and joyfull entertainment Aganippus as to his Wives Father and his Royall Guest surrenders him during his abode there the power and disposal of his whole Dominion permitting his Wife Cordeilla to go with an Army and set her Father upon his Throne Wherin her piety so prosper'd as that she vanquish'd her impious Sisters with those Dukes and Leir again as saith the story three years obtain'd the Crown To whom dying Cordeilla with all regal Solemnities gave Burial in the Town of Leicestre And then as right Heir succeeding and her Husband dead rul'd the Land five years in Peace Untill Marganus and Cunedagius her two Sisters Sons not bearing that a Kingdom should be govern'd by a Woman in the unseasonablest time to raise that quarrel against a Woman so worthy make War against her depose her and imprison her of which impatient and now long unexercis'd to suffer she there as is related killd her self The Victors between them part the Land but Marganus the Eldest Sisters Son who held by agreement from the North-side of Humber to Cathness incited by those about him to invade all as his own right warres on Cunedagius who soon met him overcame and overtook him in a Town of Wales where he left his life and ever since his name to the place Cuncdagius was now sole King and govern'd with much praise many years about the time when Rome was built Him succeeded Rivallo his Son wise also and fortunat save what they tell us of three daies raining blood and swarmes of stinging Flies whereof men dy'd In order then Gurgustius Jago or Lago his Nefew Sisillius Kinmarcus Then Gorbogudo whom others name Gorbodego and Gorbodion who had two Sons Ferrex and Porrex They in the old Age of thir Father falling to contend who should succeed Porrex attempting by treachery his Brothers life drives him into France and in his return though aided with the force of that Country defeats and slaies him But by his Mother Videna who less lov'd him is himself with the assistance of her Women soon after slain in his Bed With whom ended as is thought the Line of Brutus Whereupon the whole Land with civil broils was rent into five Kingdoms long time waging Warr each on other and som say 50 Years At length Dunwallo Molmutius the Son of Cloten King of Cornwall one of the foresaid five excelling in valour and goodliness of person after his Fathers decease found means to reduce again the whole Iland into a Monarchy subduing the rest at opportunities First Yâ—â—ner King of Loegria whom he slew then Rudaucus of Cambria Staterius of Albania confederat together In which fight Dunwallo is reported while the Victory hung doubtfull to have us'd this Art He takes with him 600 Stout men bids them put on the Armour of thir slain Enemies and so unexpectedly approaching
builder of Temples and gave to all what was thir due to his Gods devout Worship to men of desert honour and preferment to the Commons encouragement in thir Labours and Trades defence and protection from injuries and oppressions so that the Land florish'd above her Neighbours Violence and Wrong seldom was heard of his Death was a general loss he was buried in Trinovant Archigallo the second Brother follow'd not his Example but depress'd the ancient Nobility and by peeling the wealthier sort stuff'd his Treasury and took the right way to be depos'd Elidure the next Brother surnam'd the Pious was set up in his place a mind so noble and so moderat as almost is incredible to have bin ever found For having held the Scepter five Years hunting one day in the Forest of Calater he chanc'd to meet his deposed Brother wandring in mean condition who had bin long in vain beyond the Seas importuning Foren aides to his Restorement and was now in a poor Habit with only ten followers privatly return'd to find subsistence among his secret freinds At the unexpected sight of him Elidure himself also then but thinly accompanied runns to him with open Arms and after many dear and sincere welcomings convaines him to the Citty Alclud there hides him in his own Bed-Chamber Afterwards faining himself sick summons all his Peers as about greatest affairs where admitting them one by one as if his weakness endur'd not the disturbance of more at once causes them willing or unwilling once more to swear Allegiance to Archigallo Whom after reconciliation made on all sides he leads to York and from his own Head places the Crown on the Head of his Brother Who thenceforth Vice it self dissolving in him and forgetting her firmest hold with the admiration of a deed so Heroic became a true converted man rul'd worthily 10 Years dy'd and was Buried in Caerleir Thus was a Brother sav'd by a Brother to whom love of a Crown the thing that so often dazles and vitiats mortal men for which thousands of neerest blood have destroy'd each other was in respect of Brotherly dearness a contemptible thing Elidure now in his own behalf re-assumes the Government and did as was worthy such a man to doe When providence that so great vertue might want no sort of trial to make it more illustrious stirs up Vigenius and Peredure his youngest Brethren against him who had deserv'd so nobly of that relation as lest of all by a Brother to be injur'd Yet him they defeat him they Imprison in the Towr of Trinovant and divide his Kingdom the North to Peredure the South to Vigenius After whose Death Peredure obtaining all so much the better us'd his power by how much the worse he got it So that Elidure now is hardly miss't But yet in all right owing to his Elder the due place wherof he had depriv'd him Fate would that he should die first and Elidure after many years Imprisonment is now the third time seated on the Throne which at last he enjoy'd long in Peace finishing the interrupted course of his mild and just Reign as full of vertuous deeds as daies to his end After these five Sons of Morindus succeeded also thir Sons in Order Regin of Gorbonian Marganus of Archigallo both good Kings But Enniaunus his Brother taking other courses was after six years depos'd Then Idwallo taught by a neer Example Govern'd soberly Then Runno then Geruntius He of Peredure this last the Son of Elidure From whose Loyns for that likely is the durable and surviving Race that springs of just Progenitors issu'd a long descent of Kings whose names only for many successions without other memory stand thus register'd Catellus Coillus Porrex Cherin and his three Sons Fulgenius Eldadus and Andragius his Son Vrianus Eliud Eledaueus Clotenus Gurguntius Merianus Bleduno Capis Oënus Sisillius twentie Kings in a continu'd row that either did nothing or liv'd in Ages that wrote nothing at least a foul pretermission in the Author of this whether Story or Fable himself wearie as seems of his own tedious Tale. But to make amends for this Silence Blegabredus next succeeding is recorded to have excell'd all before him in the Art of Music oppertunely had he but left us one Song of his 20 Predecessors doings Yet after him nine more succeeded in name His Brother Archimailus Eldol Redion Rederchius Samulius Penissel Pir Capoirus but Cliguellius with the addition of Modest Wise and Just His Son Heli Reign'd 40 Years and had three Sons Lud Cassibelaun and Nennius This Heli seems to be the same whom Ninnius in his fragment calls Minocan for him he writes to be the Father of Cassibelan Lud was he that enlarg'd and wall'd about Trinovant there kept his Court made it the prime City and call'd it from his own name Caer-lud or Luds Town now London Which as is alledg'd out of Gildas became matter of great dissention betwixt him and his Brother Nennius who took it hainously that the name of Troy thir ancient Country should be abolish'd for any new one Lud was hardy and bold in Warr in Peace a jolly Feaster He conquer'd many Ilands of the Sea saith Huntingdon and was buried by the Gate which from thence wee call Ludgate His two Sons Androgeus and Tenuantius were left unto the tuition of Cassibelan whose bounty and high demeanor so wraught with the common people as got him easily the Kingdom transferr'd upon himself He nevertheless continuing to favour and support his Nefews conferrs freely upon Androgeus London with Kent upon Tenuantius Cornwall reserving a superiority both over them and all the other Princes to himself till the Romans for a while circumscrib'd his power Thus farr though leaning only on the creâ—â—t of Geffrey Monmouth and his assertors I yet for the specify'd causes have thought it not beneath my purpose to relate what I found Wherto I neither oblige the beleif of other person nor over-hastily subscribe mine own Nor have I stood with others computing or collating years and Chronologies lest I should be vainly curious about the time and circumstance of things wherof the substance is so much in doubt By this time like one who had set out on his way by night and travail'd through a Region of smooth or idle Dreams our History now arrivs on the Confines where day-light and truth meet us with a cleer dawn representing to our view though at a farr distance true colours and shapes For albeit Caesar whose Autority we are now first to follow wanted not who tax'd him of mis-reporting in his Commentaries yea in his Civil Warrs against Pompey much more may wee think in the British affairs of whose little skill in writing he did not easily hope to be contradicted yet now in such variety of good Authors we hardly can miss from one hand or other to be sufficiently inform'd as of things past so long agoe But this will better be referr'd to a second discourse The End of
left heer in Garrison other outlandish Cohorts detain'd listed the very Merchants and Factors of Gallia and with the allurement of spoile invited great numbers of other barbarous Nations to his part and train'd them to Sea service wherein the Romans at that time were grown so out of skill that Carausius with his Navie did at Sea what he listed robbing on every Coast whereby Maximian able to come no neerer than the shoar of Boloigne was forc't to conclude a Peace with Carausius and yeild him Britain as one fittest to guard the Province there against inroads from the North. An. Dom. 291 But not long after having assum'd Constantius Chlorus to the dignity of Caesar sent him against Carausius who in the mean while had made himself strong both within the Land and without Galfred of Monmouth writes that he made the Ticts his confederates to whom lately com out of Scythia he gave Albany to dwell in and it is observ'd that before his time the Picts are not known to have bin any where mentioned and then first by Eumenius a Rhetorician He repair'd and fortifi'd the Wall of Severus with 7 Castles and a round House of smooth stone on the Bank of Carron which River saith Ninnius was of his Name so call'd he built also a Triumphal Arch in remembrance of some Victory there obtain'd In France he held Gessoriacum or Boloigne and all the Franks which had by his permission seated themselves in Belgia were at his devotion But Constantius hasting into Gallia besieges Boloigne and with Stones and Timber obstructing the Port keeps out all relief that could be sent in by Carausius Who ere Constantius with the great Fleet which he had prepar'd could arrive hither was slain treacherously by Alectus one of his Friends who long'd to step into his place An. Dom. 292 when he 7 years and worthily as som say as others tyrannically had rul'd the Iland So much the more did Constantius prosecute that opportunity before Alectus could well strengthen his Affairs and though in ill weather putting to Sea with all urgency from several Hav'ns to spread the terror of his landing and the doubt where to expect him in a Mist passing the British Fleet unseen that lay scouting neer the I le of Wight no sooner got a shoar but fires his own Ships to leave no hope of refuge but in Victory Alectus also though now much dismaid transfers his fortune to a Battel on the shoar but encountred by Asclepiodotus Captain of the Praetorian Bands and desperately rushing on unmindful both of ordering his men or bringing them all to fight save the accessories of his Treason and his outlandish hirelings is overthrown and slain with little or no loss to the Romans but great execution on the Franks His Body was found almost naked in the field for his Purple Robe he had thrown aside lest it should descry him unwilling to be found The rest taking flight to London and purposing with the pillage of that City to escape by Sea are met by another part of the Roman Armie whom the Mist at Sea disjoining had by chance brought thither and with a new slaughter chas'd through all the Streets The Britans thir Wives also and Children with great joy go out to meet Constantius as one whom they acknowledge their deliverer from bondage and insolence All this seems by Eumenius who then liv'd and was of Constantius houshold to have bin don in the course of one continu'd action so also thinks Sigonius a learned Writer though all others allow three years to the tyranny of Alectus In these days were great store of Workmen and excellent Builders in this Iland whom after the alteration of things heer the Aeduans in Burgundie entertain'd to build thir Temples and publick Edifices Dioclesian having hitherto successfully us'd his valour against the Enemies of his Empire uses now his rage in a bloodie persecution against his obedient and harmless Christian Subjects from the feeling whereof neither was this Iland though most remote far anough remov'd Among them heer who suffer'd gloriously Aron and Julius of Caer leon upon Vsk but chiefly Alban of Verulam were most renown'd The story of whose Martyrdom soil'd and worse martyr'd with the fabling zeal of some idle fancies more fond of Miracles than apprehensive of Truth deserves not longer digression Constantius after Dioclesian dividing the Empire with Galerius had Britain among his other Provinces where either preparing or returning with victorie from an expedition against the Caledonians he di'd at York His Son Constantine who happily came Post from Rome to Boloigne just about the time An. Dom. 306 saith Eumenius that his Father was setting sail his last time hither and not long before his death was by him on his death-bed nam'd and after his Funeral by the whole Army saluted Emperor There goes a fame and that seconded by most of our own Historians though not those the ancientest that Constantine was born in this Iland his Mother Helena the Daughter of Coilus a British Prince not sure the Father of King Lucius whose Sister she must then be for that would detect her too old by an hunderd years to be the Mother of Constantine But to salve this incoherence another Coilus is feign'd to be then Earl of Colchester To this therefore the Roman Authors give no testimony except a passage or two in the Panegyrics about the sense whereof much is argu'd others neerest to those times clear the doubt and write him certainly born of Helena a mean Woman at Naisus in Dardania Howbeit ere his departure hence he seems to have had some bickerings in the North which by reason of more urgent affairs compos'd he passes into Gallia An. Dom. 307 and after 4 years returns either to settle or to alter the state of things heer An. Dom. 311 until a new Warr against Maxentius call'd him back leaving Pacatianus his Vicegerent He deceasing Constantine his eldest Son enjoy'd for his part of the Empire with all the Provinces that lay on this side the Alpes this Iland also But falling to Civil Warr with Constans his Brother was by him slain who with his third Brother Constantius coming into Britain seis'd it as Victor An. Dom. 340 Against him rose Magnentius one of his chief Commanders by som affirm'd the Son of a Britan An. Dom. 343 he having gain'd on his side great Forces contested with Constantius in many Battels for the sole Empire but vanquish't in the end slew himself Somwhat before this time Gratianus Funarius An. Dom. 350 the Father of Valentinian afterwards Emperor An. Dom. 353 had chief command of those Armies which the Romans kept heer And the Arrian Doctrine which then divided Christendom wrought also in this Iland no small disturbance a Land saith Gildas greedy of every thing new stedfast in nothing An. Dom. 359 At last Constantius appointeda Synod of
and esteem'd as virtue And this quality thir valour had against a foren Enemy to be ever backward and heartless to civil broils eager and prompt In matters of Government and the search of truth weak and shallow in falshood and wicked deeds pregnant and industrious Pleasing to God or not pleasing with them weighed alike and the worse most an end was the weightier All things were done contrary to public welfare and safety nor only by secular men for the Clergy also whose Example should have guided others were as vitious and corrupt Many of them besotted with continual drunkenness or swoln with pride and willfulness full of contention full of envy indiscreet incompetent Judges to determine what in the practice of life is good or evil what lawful or unlawful Thus furnish'd with judgment and for manners thus qualifi'd both Priest and Lay they agree to chuse them several Kings of thir own as neer as might be likest themselves and the words of my Author import as much Kings were anointed saith he not of Gods anointing but such as were cruellest and soon after as inconsiderately without examining the truth put to death by thir anointers to set up others more fierce and proud As for the election of thir Kings and that they had not all one Monarch appears both in Ages past and by the sequel it began as nigh as may be guess'd either this Year or the following An. Dom. 447 when they saw the Romans had quite deserted thir claim About which time also Pelagianism again prevailing by means of some few the British Clergie too weak it seems at dispute entreat the second time German to thir assistance Who coming with Severus a Disciple of Lupus that was his former associate stands not now to argue for the people generally continu'd right but enquiring those Authors of new disturbance adjudges them to banishment They therefore by consent of all were deliver'd to German An. Dom. 448 who carrying them over with him dispos'd of them in such place where neither they could infect others and were themselves under cure of better instruction But Germanus the same year dy'd in Italy and the Britans not long after found themselves again in much perplexity with no slight rumour that thir old troublers the Scots and Picts had prepar'd a strong invasion purposing to kill all and dwell themselves in the Land from end to end But ere thir coming in as if the instruments of Divine justice had bin at strife which of them first should destroy a wicked Nation the Pestilence forestalling the Sword left scarce alive whom to bury the dead and for that time as one extremity keeps off another preserv'd the Land from a worse incumbrance of those barbarous dispossessors whom the Contagion gave not leave now to enter farr And yet the Britans nothing better'd by these heavy judgments the one threatn'd the other felt instead of acknowledging the hand of Heaven run to the Palace of thir King Vortigern with complaints and cries of what they suddenly fear'd from the Pictish invasion Vortigern who at that time was chief rather than sole King unless the rest had perhaps left thir Dominions to the common Enemy is said by him of Monmouth to have procur'd the death first of Constantine then of Constance his Son who of a Monk was made King and by that means to have usurp'd the Crown But they who can remember how Constantine with his Son Constance the Monk the one made Emperor the other Caesar perish'd in France may discern the simple fraud of this Fable But Vortigern however coming to reign is decipher'd by truer stories a proud unfortunate Tyrant and yet of the people much belov'd because his vices sorted so well with theirs For neither was he skill'd in Warr nor wise in Counsel but covetous lustful luxurious and prone to all vice wasting the public Treasure in gluttony and riot careless of the common danger and through a haughty ignorance unapprehensive of his own Nevertheless importun'd and awak'd at length by unusual clamours of the people he summons a general Council to provide some better means than heertofore had been us'd against these continual annoyances from the North. Wherein by advice of all it was determin'd that the Saxons be invited into Britain against the Scots and Picts whose breaking in they either shortly expected or already found they had not strength anough to oppose The Saxons were a barbarous and heathen Nation famous for nothing else but robberies and cruelties done to all thir Neighbours both by Sea and Land in particular to this Iland witness that military force which the Roman Emperors maintain'd heer purposely against them under a special Commander whose title as is found on good record was Count of the Saxon shoar in Britain and the many mischiefs done by thir landing heer both alone and with the Picts as above hath bin related witness as much They were a people thought by good Writers to be descended of the Sacae a kind of Scythian in the North of Asia thence call'd Sacasons or Sons of Sacae who with a Flood of other Northern Nations came into Europe toward the declining of the Roman Empire and using Pyracy from Denmark all along these Seas possess'd at length by intrusion all that Coast of Germany and the Nether-lands which took thence the name of old Saxony lying between the Rhene and Flve and from thence North as far as Eidora the River bounding Holsatia though not so firmly or so largely but that thir multitude wander'd yet uncertain of habitation Such guests as these the Britans resolve now to send for and entreat into thir houses and possessions at whose very name heertofore they trembl'd afar off So much do men through impatience count ever that the heaviest which they bear at present and to remove the evil which they suffer care not to pull on a greater as if variety and change in evil also were acceptable Or whether it be that men in the despair of better imagine fondly a kind of refuge from one misery to another The Britans therefore with Vortigern who was then accounted King over them all resolve in full Council to send Embassadors of thir choicest men with great gifts and saith a Saxon Writer in these words desiring thir aid Worthy Saxons hearing the fame of your prowess the distressed Britans wearied out and overprest by a continual invading Enemy have sent us to beseech your aid They have a Land fertile and spatious which to your commands they bid us surrender Heertofore we have liv'd with freedom under the obedience and protection of the Roman Empire Next to them we know none worthier than your selves and therefore become suppliants to your valour Leave us not below our present Enemies and to ought by you impos'd willingly we shall submit Yet Ethelwerd writes not that they promis'd subjection but only amity and league They therefore who had chief rule among them
thou expect from these poor Laity so he goes on these beasts all belly shall these amend thee who are themselves laborious in evil doings shalt thou see with their Eyes who see right forward nothing but gain Leave them rather as bids our Saviour lest ye fall both blind-fold into the same perdition Are all thus Perhaps not all or not so grosly But what avail'd it Eli to be himself blameless while he conniv'd at others that were abominable who of them hath bin envi'd for his better life who of them hath hated to consort with these or withstood thir entring the Ministry or endeavour'd zealously thir casting out Yet som of these perhaps by others are legended for great Saints This was the state of Goverment this of Religion among the Britans in that long calm of peace which the fight at Badon Hill had brought forth Wherby it came to pass that so fair a Victory came to nothing Towns and Citties were not reinhabited but lay ruin'd and wast nor was it long ere domestic War breaking out wasted them more For Britain as at other times had then also several Kings Five of whom Gildas living then in Armorica at a safe distance boldly reproves by name First Constantine fabl'd the Son of Cador Duke of Cornwall Arturs half Brother by the Mothers side who then reign'd in Cornwall and Devon a Tyrannical and bloody King polluted also with many Adulteries he got into his power two young Princes of the Blood Royal uncertain whether before him in right or otherwise suspected and after solemn Oath giv'n of thir safety the year that Gildas wrote slew them with thir two Governours in the Church and in thir Mothers Arms through the Abbots Coap which he had thrown over them thinking by the revernce of his vesture to have withheld the murderer These are commonly suppos'd to be the Sons of Mordred Arturs Nefew said to have revolted from his Uncle giv'n him in a Battel his Deaths wound and by him after to have bin slain Which things were they true would much diminish the blame of cruelty in Constantine revenging Artur on the Sons of so false a Mordred In another part but not express'd where Aurelius Conanus was King him he charges also with Adulteries and Parricide cruelties worse then the former to be a hater of his Countries Peace thirsting after civil War and Prey His condition it seems was not very prosperous for Gildas wishes him being now left alone like a Tree withering in the midst of a barren field to remember the vanity and arrogance of his Father and elder Brethren who came all to untimely Death in thir youth The third reigning in Demetia or South Wales was Vortipor the Son of a good Father he was when Gildas wrote grown old not in years only but in Adulteries and in governing full of falshood and cruel Actions In his latter dales putting away his Wife who dy'd in divorce he became if we mistake not Gildas incestuous with his Daughter The fourth was Cuneglas imbru'd in civil War he also had divorc'd his Wife and tak'n her Sister who had vow'd Widdowhood he was a great Enemy to the Clergy high-minded and trusting to his wealth The last but greatest of all in power was Maglocune and greatest also in wickedness he had driv'n out or slain many other Kings or Tyrants and was called the Island Dragon perhaps having his seat in Anglesey a profuse giver a great Warrior and of a goodly stature While he was yet young he over-threw his Uncle though in the head of a compleat Army and took from him the Kingdom then touch't with remorse of his doings not without deliberation took upon him the profession of a Monk but soon forsook his vow and his wife also which for that vow he had left making love to the wife of his Brothers Son then living Who not refusing the offer if she were not rather the first that entic'd found means both to dispatch her own Husband and the former wife of Maglocune to make her marriage with him the more unquestionable Neither did he this for want of better instructions having had the learnedest and wisest man reputed of all Britain the instituter of his youth Thus much the utmost that can be learnt by truer story of what past among the Britans from the time of their useless Victory at Badon to the time that Gildas wrote that is to say as may be guess't from 527 to 571 is here set down altogether not to be reduc't under any certainty of years But now the Saxons who for the most part all this while had bin still unless among themselves began afresh to assault them and ere long to drive them out of all which they yet maintain'd on this side Wales An. Dom. 571 For Cuthulf the Brother of Reaulin by a Victory obtain'd at Bedanford now Bedford took from them 4 good Towns Liganburgh Eglesburh Besington now Benson in Oxfordshire and Ignesham but outliv'd not many months his good success And after 6 years more Keaulin and Cuthwin his Son An. Dom. 577 gave them a great overthrow at Deorrham in Glostershire slew three of thir Kings Comail Condidan and Farinmaile and took three of thir Cheif Citties Glocester Cirencester and Badencester An. Dom. 584 The Britans notwithstanding after some space of time judging to have out-grown thir losses gather to a head and encounter Keaulin with Cutha his Son at Fethanleage whom valiantly fighting they slew among the thickest and as is said forc'd the Saxons to retire But Keaulin reinforcing the fight put them to a main rout and following his advantage took many Towns and return'd lad'n with rich booty The last of those Saxons who rais'd thir own acheivments to a Monarchy was Crida much about this time first founder of the Mercian Kingdom drawing also his Pedigree from Woden Of whom all to write the several Genealogies though it might be done without long search were in my opinion to encumber the story with a sort of barbarous names to little purpose This may suffice that of Wodens 3 Sons from the Eldest issu'd Hengist and his succession from the second the Kings of Mercia from the third all that reign'd in West-Saxon and most of the Northumbers of whom Alla was one the first King of Deira which after his death the race of Ida seis'd and made it one Kingdom with Bernicia usurping on the Childhood of Edwin Alla's Son Whom Ethelric the Son of Ida expel'd An. Dom. 559 Notwithstanding others write of him that from a poor life and beyond hope in his old Age coming to the Crown he could hardly by the access of a Kingdom have overcome his former obscurity had not the fame of his Son preserv'd him An. Dom. 588 Once more the Britans ere they quitted all on this side the Mountains forgot not to shew some manhood for meeting Keaulin at Wodens Beorth An. Dom. 592 that is to say Wodens
Mount in Wiltshire whether it were by thir own Forces or assisted by the Angles whose hatred Keaulin had incurr'd they ruin'd his whole Army and chas'd him out of his Kingdom from whence flying he dy'd the next year in poverty Who a little before was the most potent and indeed sole King of all the Saxons on this side Humber But who was cheif among the Britans in this exploit had bin worth remembring whether it were Maglocune of whose prowess hath bin spok'n or Tendric King of Glamorgan whom the regest of Landaff recounts to have bin alwaies victorious in fight to have reign'd about this time and at length to have exchang'd his Crown for a Hermitage till in the aid of his Son Mouric whom the Saxons had reduc'd to extremes taking armes again he defeated them at Tinterne by the River Wye but himself receav'd a mortal wound The same year with Keaulin whom Keola the Son of Cuthulf Keaulins Brother succeeded An. Dom. 593 Crida also the Mercian King deceas'd in whose room Wibba succeeded and in Northumberland Ethelfrid in the room of Ethelric reigning 24 years Thus omitting Fables we have the veiw of what with reason can be rely'd on for truth don in Britain since the Romans forsook it Wherin we have heard the many miseries and desolations brought by divine hand on a perverse Nation driv'n when nothing else would reform them out of a fair Country into a Mountanous and Barren Corner by Strangers and Pagans So much more tolerable in the Eye of Heav'n is Infidelity profess't then Christian Faith and Religion dishonoured by unchristian works Yet they also at length renounc'd thir Heathenism which how it came to pass will be the matter next related The End of the Third Book THE HISTORY OF BRITAIN The Fourth Book THE Saxons grown up now to 7 absolute Kingdoms and the latest of them establish'd by succession finding thir power arrive well nigh at the utmost of what was to be gain'd upon the Britans and as little fearing to be displanted by them had time now to survey at leasure one anothers greatness Which quickly bred among them either envy or mutual jealousies till the West Kingdom at length grown over powerful put an end to all the rest Mean while above others Ethelbert of Kent who by this time had well rip'nd his young ambition with more ability of years and experience in War what before he attempted to his loss now successfully attains and by degrees brought all the other Monarchies between Kent and Humber to be at his devotion To which design the Kingdom of West-Saxons being the firmest of them all at that time sore shak'n by thir over-throw at Wodens-beorth and the Death of Keaulin gave him no doubt a main advantage the rest yeilded not subjection but as he earn'd it by continual Victories And to win him the more regard abroad he marries Bertha the French Kings Daughter though a Christian and with this condition to have the free exercise of her Faith under the care and instruction of Letardus a Bishop sent by her Parents along with her the King notwithstanding and his people retaining thir own Religion Beda out of Gildas laies it sadly to the Britans charge that they never would voutsafe thir Saxon Neighbours the means of conversion but how far to blame they were and what hope there was of converting in the midst of so much hostility at least falshood from thir first arrival is not now easie to determin Howbeit not long after they had the Christian Faith preach't to them by a Nation more remote and as a report went accounted old in Bedas time upon this occasion The Northumbrians had a custom at that time and many hunder'd yeares after not abolish't to sell thir Childern for a small value into any Foren Land Of which number two comly youths were brought to Rome whose fair and honest countnances invited Gregory Arch-Deacon of that Citty among others that beheld them pittying thir condition to demand whence they were it was answer'd by som who stood by that they were Angli of the Province Deira subjects to Alla King of Northumberland and by Religion Pagans Which last Gregory deploring fram'd on a sudden this allusion to the three names he heard that the Angli so like to Angels should be snatch't de ira that is from the wrath of God to sing Haleluia and forthwith obtaining licence of Benedic the Pope had come and preach't heer among them had not the Roman people whose love endur'd not the absence of so vigilant a Pastor over them recall'd him then on his journey though but deferr'd his pious intention An. Dom. 596 For a while after succeeding in the Papal Seat and now in his fourth year admonisht saith Beda by divine instinct he sent Augustine whom he had design'd for Bishop of the English Nation and other zealous Monks with him to preach to them the Gospel Who being now on thir way discouraged by some reports or thir own carnal fear sent back Austin in the name of all to beseech Gregory they might return home and not be sent a journey so full of hazard to a fierce and infidel Nation whose tongue they understood not Gregory with pious and Apostolic perswasions exhorts them not to shrink back frō so good a work but cheerfully to go on in the strength of divine assistance The Letter it self yet extant among our Writers of Ecclesiastic story I omit heer as not professing to relate of those matters more then what mixes aptly with civil affairs The Abbot Austin for so he was ordain'd over the rest reincourag'd by the exhortations of Gregory and his fellows by the Letter which he brought them came safe to the I le of Tanet An. Dom. 597 in number about 40 besides some of the French Nation whom they took along as Interpreters Ethelbert the King to whom Austin at his landing had sent a new and wondrous message that he came from Rome to proffer Heav'n and eternal happiness in the knowledge of another God then the Saxons knew appoints them to remain where they landed and necessaries to be provided them consulting in the mean time what was to be done And after certain days coming into the Iland chose a place to meet them under the open Sky possest with an old perswasion that all Spells if they should use any to deceive him so it were not within doors would be unavailable They on the other side call'd to his presence advancing for thir Standard a silver cross and the painted image of our Saviour came slowly forward singing the solemn Litanies which wrought in Ethelbert more suspition perhaps that they us'd enchantments till sitting down as the King will'd them they there preach'd to him and all in that assembly the tidings of Salvation Whom having heard attentively the King thus answer'd Fair indeed and ample are the promises which ye bring and such things as have the appearance in them
of much good yet such as being new and uncertain I cannot hastily assent to quitting the Religion which from my Ancestors with all the English Nation so many years I have retain'd Nevertheless because ye are strangers and have endur'd so long a journey to impart us the knowledge of things which I perswade me you believe to be the truest and the best ye may be sure we shall not recompence you with any molestation but shall provide rather how we may friendliest entertain ye nor do we forbid whom ye can by preaching gain to your belief And accordingly thir residence he allotted them in Doroverne or Canturbury his chief Citty and made provision for thir maintenance with free leave to preach their doctrine where they pleased By which and by the example of thir holy life spent in prayer fasting and continual labour in the conversion of Souls they won many on whose bounty and the Kings receiving only what was necessary they subsisted There stood without the Citty on the East-side an ancient Church built in honour of St. Martin while yet the Romans remain'd heer in which Bertha the Queen went out usually to pray Heer they also began first to preach baptize and openly to exercise divine worship An. Dom. 598 But when the King himself convinc't by thir good life miracles became Christian and was baptized which came to pass in the very first year of thir arrival then multitudes daily conforming to thir Prince thought it honour to be reckon'd among those of his faith To whom Ethelbert indeed principally shewed his favour but compell'd none For so he had bin taught by them who were both the Instructors and the Authors of his faith that Christian Religion ought to be voluntary not compell'd About this time Kelwulf the Son of Cutha Keaulins Brother reign'd over the West-Saxons after his Brother Keola or Kelric and had continual War either with English Welch Picts or Scots An. Dom. 601 But Austin whom with his fellows Ethelbert now had endow'd with a better place for thir abode in the Citty and other possessions necessary to livelihood crossing into France was by the Archbishop of Arles at the appointment of Pope Gregory ordain'd Archbishop of the English and returning sent to Rome Laurence and Peter two of his associates to acquaint the Pope of his good success in England and to be resolv'd of certain Theological or rather Levitical questions with answers to which not proper in this place Gregory sends also to the great work of converting that went on so happily a supply of labourers Mellitus Justus Paulinus Rufinian and many others who what they were may be guess't by the stuff which they brought with them vessels and vestments for the Altar Coaps reliques and for the Archbishop Austin a Pall to say Mass in to such a rank superstition that Age was grown though some of them yet retaining an emulation of Apostolic zeal lastly to Ethelbert they brought a letter with many presents Austin thus exalted to Archiepiscopal authority recover'd from the ruins and other profane uses a Christian Church in Canturbury built of old by the Romans which he dedicated by the name of Christs Church and joyning to it built a seat for himself and his successors a Monastery also neer the Citty Eastward where Ethelbert at his motion built St. Peters and enrich't it with great endowments to be a place of burial for the Archbishops and Kings of Kent so quickly they step't up into fellowship of pomp with Kings While thus Ethelbert and his people had thir minds intent Ethelfrid the Northumbrian King was not less bufied in far different affairs for being altogether warlike and covetous of fame he more wasted the Britans then any Saxon King before him winning from them large Territories which either he made tributary or planted with his own Subjects An. Dom. 603 Whence Edan King of those Scots that dwelt in Britain jealous of his successes came against him with a mighty Army to a place call'd Degsastan but in the fight loosing most of his men himself with a few escap'd only Theobald the Kings brother and the whole wing which he commanded unfortunately cut off made the Victory to Ethelfrid less intire Yet from that time no King of Scots in hostile manner durst pass into Britain for a hunderd and more years after and what some years before Kelwulf the West-Saxon is annal'd to have done against the Scots and Picts passing through the Land of Ethelfrid a King so potent unless in his aid and alliance is not likely Buchanan writes as if Ethelfrid assisted by Keaulin whom he mis-titles King of East-Saxons had before this time a battel with Aidan wherein Cutha Keaulins son was slain But Cutha as is above written from better authority was slain in fight against the Welch 20 years before An. Dom. 604 The number of Christians began now to increase so fast that Augustine ordaining Bishops under him two of his assistants Mellitus and Justus sent them out both to the work of thir ministry And Mellitus by preaching converted the East-Saxons over whom Sebert the son of Sleda by permission of Ethelbert being born of his sister Ricula then reign'd Whose conversion Ethelbert to gratulate built them the great Church of St. Paul in London to be their Bishops Cathedral as Justus also had his built at Rochester and both gifted by the same King with fair possessions Hitherto Austin laboured well among Infidels but not with like commendation soon after among Christians For by means of Ethelbert summoning the Britan Bishops to a place on the edge of Worcestershire call'd from that time Augustines Oke he requires them to conform with him in the same day of celebrating Easter and many other points wherein they differ'd from the rites of Rome which when they refus'd to do not prevailing by dispute he appeals to a miracle restoring to sight a blind man whom the Britans could not cure At this something mov'd though not minded to recede from thir own opinions without furder consultation they request a second meeting to which came seven Britan Bishops with many other lerned men especially from the famous Monastery of Bangor in which were said to be so many Monks living all by thir own labour that being divided under seven Rectors none had fewer then 300. One man there was who staid behind a Hermit by the life he led who by his wisdom effected more then all the rest who went being demanded for they held him as an Oracle how they might know Austin to be a man from God that they might follow him he answer'd that if they found him meek and humble they should be taught by him for it was likeliest to be the yoke of Christ both what he bore himself and would have them bear but if he bore himself proudly that they should not regard him for he was then certainly not of God They took his advice and hasted to the place of
meeting Whom Austin being already there before them neither arose to meet nor receiv'd in any brotherly sort but sat all the while pontifically in his Chair Whereat the Britans as they were counsel'd by the holy man neglected him and neither hark'n'd to his proposals of conformity nor would acknowledge him for an Archbishop And in name of the rest Dinothus then Abbot of Bangor is said thus sagely to have answer'd him As to the subjection which you require be thus perswaded of us that in the bond of love and charity we are all Subjects and Servants to the Church of God yea to the Pope of Rome and every good Christian to help them forward both by word and deed to be the Childern of God other obedience then this we know not to be due to him whom you term the Pope and this obedience we are ready to give both to him and to every Christian continually Besides we are govern'd under God by the Bishop of Caerleon who is to oversee us in spiritual matters To which Austin thus presaging some say menacing replies since ye refuse to accept of peace with your brethren ye shall have War from your enemies and since ye will not with us preach the word of life to whom ye ought from their hands ye shall receive death This though Writers agree not whether Austin spake it as his prophecy or as his plot against the Britans fell out accordingly For many years were not past when Ethelfrid whether of his own accord An. Dom. 607 or at the request of Ethelbert incens't by Austin with a powerful host came to Westchester then Caer-legion Where being met by the British Forces and both sides in readiness to give the onset he discernes a company of men not habited for War standing together in a place of some safety and by them a Squadron arm'd Whom having lernt upon some enquiry to be Priests and Monks assembl'd thither after three days fasting to pray for the good success of thir Forces against him therefore they first faith he shall feel our Swords for they who pray against us fight heaviest against us by thir prayers and are our dangerousest enemies And with that turns his first charge upon the Monks Brocmail the Captain set to guard them quickly turns his back and leaves above 1200 Monks to a sudden massacher whereof scarse fifty scap'd but not so easie work found Ethelfrid against another part of Britans that stood in arms whom though at last he overthrew yet with slaughter nigh as great to his own souldiers To excuse Austin of this bloodshed lest some might think it his revengeful policy Beda writes that he was dead long before although if the time of his sitting Archbishop be right computed sixteen years he must survive this action Other just ground of charging him with this imputatión appears not save what evidently we have from Geffry Monmouth whose weight we know The same year Kelwulf made War on the South-Saxons bloody saith Huntingdon to both sides but most to them of the South An. Dom. 611 and four years after dying left the Government of West-Saxons to Kinegils and Cuichelm the sons of his brother Keola Others as Florent of Worster and Mathew of Westminster will have Cuichelm son of Kinegils but admitted to reign with his father An. Dom. 614 in whose third year they are recorded with joynt Forces or conduct to have fought against the Britans in Beandune now Bindon in Dorsetshire An. Dom. 616 and to have slain of them above two thousand More memorable was the second year following by the death of Ethelbert the first Christian King of Saxons and no less a favourer of all civility in that rude age He gave Laws and Statutes after the example of Roman Emperors written with the advice of his sagest Counsellors but in the English tongue and observ'd long after Wherein his special care was to punish those who had stoln ought from Church or Church-man thereby shewing how gratefully he receiv'd at thir hands the Christian Faith Which he no sooner dead but his son Eadbald took the course as fast to extinguish not only falling back to Heathenism but that which Heathenism was wont to abhor marrying his fathers second wife Then soon was perceiv'd what multitudes for fear or countenance of the King had profess't Christianity returning now as eagerly to thir old Religion Nor staid the Apostacy within one Province but quickly spread over to the East-Saxons occasion'd there likewise or set forward by the death of thir Christian King Sebert whose three sons of whom two are nam'd Sexted and Seward neither in his life time would be brought to baptism and after his decease re-establish'd the free exercise of Idolatry nor so content they set themselves in despight to do some op'n profanation against the other Sacrament Coming therfore into the Church where Mellitus the Bishop was ministring they requir'd him in abuse and scorn to deliver to them unbaptiz'd the consecrated bread and him refuseing drove disgracefully out of their dominion Who cross'd forthwith into Kent where things were in the same plight and thence into France with Justus Bishop of Rochester But Divine vengeance deferr'd not long the punishment of men so impious for Eadbald vext with an evil Spirit fell oft'n into foul fits of distraction and the Sons of Sebert in a fight against the West-Saxons perish'd with their whole Army But Eadbald within the year by an extraordinary means became penitent For when Laurence the Archbishop and successor of Austin was preparing to ship for France after Justus and Mellitus the story goes if it be worth beleeving that St. Peter in whose Church he spent the night before in watching and praying appear'd to him and to make the Vision more sensible gave him many stripes for offering to desert his flock at sight whereof the King to whom next morning he shew'd the marks of what he had suffer'd by whom and for what cause relenting and in great fear dissolv'd his incestuous marriage and appli'd himself to the Christian Faith more sincerely then before with all his people But the Londoners addicted still to Paganism would not be perswaded to receave again Mellitus thir Bishop and to compell them was not in his power An. Dom. 617 Thus much through all the South was troubl'd in Religion as much were the North parts disquieted through Ambition For Ethelfrid of Bernicia as was touch't before having thrown Edwin out of Deira and join'd that Kingdome to his own not content to have bereav'd him of his right whose known vertues and high parts gave cause of suspition to his Enemies sends Messengers to demand him of Redwald King of East-Angles under whose protection after many years wandring obscurely through all the Iland he had plac'd his safety Redwald though having promis'd all defence to Edwin as to his suppliant yet tempted with continual and large offers of gold and not contemning the
stopping promis'd he would And the other laying his right hand on Edwins head when this sign saith he shall next befall yee remember this time of night and this discourse to perform what thou hast promis'd and with these words disappeering left Edwin much reviv'd but not less fill'd with wonder who this unknown should be When suddenly the friend who had bin gon all this while to list'n furder what was like to be decree'd of Edwin comes back and joyfully bids him rise to his repose for that the Kings mind though for a while drawn aside was now fully resolv'd not only not to betray him but to defend him against all Enemies as he had promis'd This was said to be the cause why Edwin admonish't by the Bishop of a sign which had befaln him so strangely and as he thought so secretly arose to him with that reverence and amazement as to one sent from Heav'n to claim that promise of him which he perceav'd well was due to a Divinepower that had assisted him in his troubles To Paulinus therefore he makes answer that the Christian Beleef he himself ought by promise and intended to receave but would conferr first with his Cheif Peers and Counsellers that if they likewise could be won all at once might be baptiz'd They therfore being ask'd in Counsel what thir opinion was concerning this new Doctrine and well perceaving which way the King enclin'd every one thereafter shap'd his reply The Cheif-Preist speaking first discover'd an old grudge he had against his Gods for advancing others in the Kings Favour above him thir Cheif Preist another hiding his Court-compliance with a grave sentence commended the choise of certain before uncertain upon due examination to like purpose answer'd all the rest of his Sages none op'nly dissenting from what was likely to be the Kings Creed wheras the preaching of Paulinus could work no such effect upon them toiling till that time without success Whereupon Edwin renouncing Heathenism became Christian and the Pagan Preist offring himself freely to demolish the Altars of his former Gods made some amends for his teaching to adore them An. Dom. 627 With Edwin his two Sons Osfrid and Eanfrid born to him by Quenburga Daughter as saith Beda of Kearle King of Mercia in the time of his banishment and with them most of the people both Nobles and Commons easily converted were baptiz'd he with his whole Family at York in a Church hastily built up of Wood the multitude most part in Rivers Northumberland thus christ'nd Paulinus crossing Humber converted also the Province of Lindsey and Blecca the Governour of Lincoln with his Houshold and most of that City wherin he built a Church of Stone curiously wrought but of small continuance for the Roof in Bedas time uncertain whether by neglect or Enemies was down the Walls only standing Mean while in Mercia Kearle a Kinsman of Wibba saith Huntingdon not a Son having long withheld the Kingdome from Penda Wibba's Son left it now at length to the fiftieth year of his Age with whom Kinegils and Cuichelm the West-Saxon Kings An. Dom. 629 two year after having by that time it seems recover'd strength since the Inrode made upon them by Edwin fought at Cirencester then made Truce But Edwin seeking every way to propagate the Faith which with so much deliberation he had receav'd persuaded Eorpwald the Son of Redwald King of East-Angles to imbrace the same beleef An. Dom. 632 willingly or in aw is not known retaining under Edwin the name only of a King But Eorpwald not long surviv'd his conversion slain in fight by Ricbert a Pagan wherby the people having lightly follow'd the Religion of thir King as lightly fell back to thir old superstitions for above 3 years after Edwin in the mean while to his Faith adding vertue by the due administration of justice wrought such peace over all his Territories that from Sea to Sea man or woman might have travail'd in safety His care also was of Fountains by the way side to make them fittest for the use of Travellers And not unmindful of regal State whether in War or Peace he had a Royal Banner carried before him But having reign'd with much honour 17 years he was at length by Kedwalla or Cadwallon King of the Britans who with aid of the Mercian Penda had rebell'd against him slain in a Battel with his Son Osfrid at a place call'd Hethseild and his whole Army overthrown or disperst in the year 633. and the 47th of his Age An. Dom. 633 in the Eye of man worthy a more peacefull end His Head brought to York was there buried in the Church by him begun Sad was this overthrow both to Church and State of the Northumbrians for Penda being a Heathen and the British King though in name a Christian yet in deeds more bloody then the Pagan nothing was omitted of barbarous cruelty in the slaughter of Sex or Age Kedwalla threatning to root out the whole Nation though then newly Christian For the Britans and as Beda saith eev'n to his dayes accounted Saxon Christianity no better then Paganism and with them held as little Communion From these calamities no refuge being left but flight Paulinus taking with him Ethilburga the Queen and her Children aided by Bassus one of Edwins Captains made escape by Sea to Eadbald King of Kent who receaving his Sister with all kindness made Paulinus Bishop of Rochester where he ended his days After Edwin the Kingdom of Northumberland became divided as before each rightfull Heir seising his part in Deira Osric the Son of Elfric Edwins Uncle by profession a Christian and baptiz'd by Paulinus in Bernicia Eanfrid the Son of Ethelfrid who all the time of Edwin with his Brother Oswald and many of the young Nobility liv'd in Scotland exil'd and had bin there taught and baptiz'd No sooner had they gott'n each a Kingdom but both turn'd recreant sliding back into their old Religion and both were the same year slain Osric by a sudden eruption of Kedwalla whom he in a strong Town had unadvisedly beseig'd Eanfrid seeking peace and inconsideratly with a few surrendring himself Kedwalla now rang'd at will through both those Provinces useing cruelly his Conquest when Oswald the Brother of Eanfrid with a small but Christian Army An. Dom. 634 unexpectedly coming on defeated and destroy'd both him and his huge Forces which he boasted to be invincible by a little River running into Tine neer the antient Roman Wall then call'd Denisburn the place afterwards Heav'n field from the Cross reported miraculous for Cures which Oswald there erected before the Battail in tok'n of his Faith against the great number of his Enemies Obtaining the Kingdom he took care to instruct again the people in Christianity Sending therfore to the Scotish Elders Beda so terms them among whom he had receav'd Baptism requested of them som faithfull Teacher who might again settle Religion in his Realm which the late troubles had
impar'd they as readily hearkning to his request send Aidan a Scotch Monk and Bishop but of singular zeal and meekness with others to assist him whom at thir own desire he seated in Lindisfarne as the Episcopal Seat now Holy Iland and being the Son of Ethelfrid by the Sister of Edwin as right Heir others failing easily reduc'd both Kingdoms of Northumberland as before into one nor of Edwins Dominion lost any part but enlarg'd it rather over all the fowr British Nations Angles Britans Picts and Scots exerciseing regall Authority Of his Devotion Humility and Almes-deeds much is spok'n that he disdain'd not to be the interpreter of Aidan preaching in Scotch or bad English to his Nobles and Houshold Servants and had the poor continually serv'd at his Gate after the promiscuous manner of those times his meaning might be upright but the manner more antient of privat or of Church contribution is doubtless more Evangelical About this time the West-Saxons An. Dom. 635 antiently call'd Gevissi by the preaching of Berinus a Bishop whom Pope Honorius had sent were converted to the Faith with Kinegils thir King him Oswald receav'd out of the Font An. Dom. 636 and his Daughter in mariage The next year Cuichelm was baptiz'd in Dorchester but liv'd not to the years end The East-Angles also this year were reclaim'd to the Faith of Christ which for som years past they had thrown off But Sigbert the Brother of Eorpwald now succeeded in that Kingdom prais'd for a most Christian and Learned Man who while his Brother yet reign'd living in France an exile for some displeasure conceav'd against him by Redwald his Father lern'd there the Christian Faith and reigning soon after in the same instructed his people by the preaching of Felix a Burgundian Bishop An. Dom. 640 In the year 640. Eadbald deceasing left to Ercombert his Son by Emma the French Kings Daughter the Kingdom of Kent recorded the first of English Kings who commanded through his limits the destroying of Idols laudably if all Idols without exception and the first to have establisht Lent among us under strict penalty not worth remembring but only to inform us that no Lent was observ'd heer till his time by compulsion especially being noted by some to have fraudulently usurp'd upon his Elder Brother Ermenred whose right was precedent to the Crown An. Dom. 642 Oswald having reign'd 8 years worthy also as might seem of longer life fell into the same fate with Edwin and from the same hand in a great Battel overcom and slain by Penda at a place call'd Maserfeild now Oswestre in Shropshire miraculous as saith Beda after his Death His Brother Oswi succeeded him reigning though in much trouble 28 years oppos'd either by Penda or his own Son Alfred or his Brothers Son Ethilwald An. Dom. 643 Next year Kinegils the West-Saxon dying left his Son Kenwalk in his stead though as yet unconverted About this time Sigebert King of East-Angles having lernt in France ere his coming to Reign the manner of thir Schools with the assistance of some Teachers out of Kent instituted a School heer after the same Discipline thought to be the University of Cambridge then first founded and at length weary of his Kingly Office betook him to a Monastical life commending the care of Government to his Kinsman Egric who had sustain'd with him part of that burden before It happen'd some years after that Penda made War on the East-Angles they expecting a sharp encounter besought Sigebert whom they esteem'd an expert Leader with his presence to confirm the Souldiery and him refuseing carried by force out of the Monastery into the Camp where acting the Monk rather then the Captain with a single wand in his hand he was slain with Egric and his whole Army put to flight Anna of the Royal Stock as next in right succeeded and hath the praise of a vertuous and most Christian Prince An. Dom. 645 But Kenwalk the West-Saxon having maried the Daughter of Penda and divorc't her was by him with more appearance of a just cause vanquisht in fight and depriv'd of his Crown whence retiring to Anna King of the East-Angles after three years abode in his Court he there became Christian An. Dom. 648 and afterwards regain'd his Kingdom Oswi in the former years of his Reign had sharer with him Oswin Nephew of Edwin who rul'd in Deira 7 years commended much for his zeal in Religion and for comliness of person with other princely qualities belov'd of all Notwithstanding which dissentions growing between them it came to Armes Oswin seeing himself much exceeded in numbers thought it more prudence dismissing his Army to reserve himself for some better occasion But committing his person with one faithfull attendant to the Loyalty of Hunwald an Earl his imagin'd friend he was by him treacherously discoverd and by command of Oswi slain An. Dom. 651 After whom within 12 days and for greif of him whose death he foretold dy'd Bishop Aidan famous for his Charity meekness and labour in the Gospel The fact of Oswi was detestable to all which therfore to expiate a Monastery was built in the place where it was don and Prayers there daily offerd up for the Souls of both Kings the slain and the slayer Kenwalk by this time reinstall'd in his Kingdom kept it long but with various Fortune for Beda relates him oft-times afflicted by his Enemies with great losses An. Dom. 652 and in 652. by the Annals fought a Battel Civil War Ethelwerd calls it at Bradanford by the River Afene against whom and for what cause or who had the Victory they write not Camden names the place Bradford in Wiltshire by the River Avon and Cuthred his neer Kinsman against whom he fought but cites no Autority certain it is that Kenwalk fowr years before had giv'n large possessions to his Nephew Cuthred the more unlikely therefore now to have rebell'd An. Dom. 653 The next year Peada whom his Father Penda though a Heathen had for his Princely Vertues made Prince of Middle-Angles belonging to the Mercians was with that people converted to the Faith For coming to Oswi with request to have in mariage Alfâ—eda his Daughter he was deni'd her but on condition that he with all his people should receave Christianity Heering therefore not unwillingly what was preach't to him of Resurrection and Eternal life much persuaded also by Alfrid the Kings Son who had his Sister Kyniburg to Wife he easily assented for the truths sake only as he profess'd whether he obtain'd the Virgin or no and was baptiz'd with all his followers Returning he took with him fowr Presbyters to teach the people of his Province who by thir daily preaching won many Neither did Penda though himself no Beleever prohibit any in his Kingdome to heer to beleeve the Gospel but rather hated and despis'd those who professing to beleeve atested not thir Faith by good works condemning them for
miserable and justly to be despis'd who obey not that God in whom they choose to beleeve How well might Penda this Heathen rise up in judgment against many pretending Christians both of his own and these daies yet being a man bred up to War as no less were others then reigning and oft-times one against another though both Christians he warr'd on Anna An. Dom. 654 King of the East-Angles perhaps without cause for Anna was esteem'd a just man and at length slew him About this time the East-Saxons who as above hath bin said had expell'd thir Bishop Mellitus and renounc'd the Faith were by the means of Oswi thus reconverted Sigebert surnam'd the small being the Son of Seward without other memory of his Reign left his Son King of that Province after him Sigebert the Second who coming oft'n to visit Oswi his great friend was by him at several times fervently disuaded from Idolatry and convinc't at length to forsake it was there baptiz'd on his return home taking with him Kedda a laborious Preacher afterwards made Bishop by whose teaching with some help of others the people were again recoverd from misbeleef But Sigebert some years after though standing fast in Religion was by the Conspiracy of two Brethren in place neer about him wickedly murder'd who being ask'd what mov'd them to do a deed so hainous gave no other then this barbarous answer that they were angry with him for being so gentle to his Enemies as to forgive them thir injuries whenever they besought him Yet his Death seems to have happ'nd not without some cause by him giv'n of Divine displeasure For one of those Earls who slew him living in unlawfull wedlock and therfore excommunicated so severely by the Bishop that no man might presume to enter into his House much less to sit at meat with him the King not regarding this Church censure went to feast with him at his invitation Whom the Bishop meeting in his return though penitent for what he had don and faln at his feet touch'd with the rod in his hand and angerly thus foretold because thou hast neglected to abstain from the House of that Excommunicate in that House thou shalt die and so it fell out perhaps from that prediction God bearing witness to his Minister in the power of Church Discipline spiritually executed not juridically on the contemner therof An. Dom. 655 This year 655. prov'd fortunate to Oswi and fatal to Penda for Oswi by the continual inrodes of Penda having long endur'd much devastation to the endangering once by assault and fire Bebbanburg his strongest City now Bamborrow Castle unable to resist him with many rich presents offerd to buy his Peace Which not accepted by the Pagan who intended nothing but destruction to that King though more then once in affinity with him turning guifts into vows he implores Divine Assistance devoting if he were deliverd from his Enemy a Child of one year old his Daughter to be a Nun and 12 portions of land wheron to build Monasteries His vows as may be thought found better success then his profferd guifts for heerupon with his Son Alfrid gathering a small power he encounterd and discomfited the Mercians 30 times exceeding his in number and led on by expert Captains at a place call'd Loyden now Leeds in Yorkeshire Besides this Ethelwald the Son of Oswald who rul'd in Deira took part with the Mercians but in the fight withdrew his Forces and in a safe place expected the event with which unseasonable retreat the Mercians perhaps terrifi'd and misdoubting more danger fled thir Commanders with Penda himself most being slain among whom Edilhere the Brother of Anna who rul'd after him the East-Angles and was the Author of this War many more flying were drown'd in the River which Beda calls Winwed then swoln above her Banks The Death of Penda who had bin the Death of so many good Kings made generall rejoicing as the Song witness'd At the River Winwed Anna was aveng'd To Edelhere succeeded Ethelwald his Brother in the East-Angles to Sigebert in the East-Saxons Suidhelm the Son of Sexbald saith Bede the Brother of Sigebert saith Malmsbury he was baptiz'd by Kedda then residing in the East-Angles and by Ethelwald the King receav'd out of the Font. But Oswi in the strength of his late Victory An. Dom. 658 within three years after subdu'd all Mercia and of the Pictish Nation greatest part at which time he gave to Peada his Son in Law the Kingdome of South-Mercia divided from the Northern by Trent An. Dom. 659 But Peada the Spring following as was said by the Treason of his Wife the Daughter of Oswi married by him for a special Christian on the Feast of Faster not protected by the holy time was slain The Mercian Nobles Immin Eaba and Eadbert throwing off the Government of Oswi set up Wulser the other Son of Penda to be thir King whom till then they had kept hid and with him adherd to the Christian Faith Kenwalk the West-Saxon now settl'd at home and desirous to enlarge his Dominion prepares against the Britans joins Battel with them at Pen in Somerset-shire and over coming persues them to Pedridan Another fight he had with them before at a place call'd Witgeornesburg barely mention'd by the Monk of Malmsbury An. Dom. 661 Nor was it long ere he fell at variance with Wulser the Son of Penda his old Enemy scarce yet warm in his Throne fought with him at Possentesburg on the Easter Holy-days and as Ethelwerd saith took him Prisner but the Saxon Annals quite otherwise that Wulfer winning the field wasted the West-Saxon Country as far as Eskesdun nor staying there took and wasted the I le of Wight but causing the Inhabitants to be baptiz'd till then unbeleevers gave the Iland to Ethelwald King of South-Saxons whom he had receav'd out of the Font. An. Dom. 664 The year 664. a Synod of Scotish and English Bishops in the presence of Oswi and Alfred his Son was held at a Monastery in those parts to debate on what Day Easter should be kept a controverfie which long before had disturb'd the Greek and Latin Churches wherin the Scots not agreeing with the way of Rome nor yeilding to the disputants on that side to whom the King most enclin'd such as were Bishops heer resign'd and return'd home with thir Disciples Another clerical question was there also much controverted not so superstitious in my opinion as ridiculous about the right shaving of crowns The same year was seen an Eclips of the Sun in May followed by a sore pestilence beginning in the South but spreading to the North and over all Ireland with great mortality In which time the East-Saxons after Swithelms Decease being govern'd by Siger the Son of Sigebert the small and Sebbi of Seward though both subject to the Mercians Siger and his people unstedie of Faith supposing that this Plague was come upon them for renouncing
thir old Religion fell off the second time to Infidelity Which the Mercian King Wulfer understanding sent Jarumannus a Faithfull Bishop who with other his fellow Labourers by sound Doctrin and gentle dealing soon recur'd them of thir second relaps In Kent Ercombert expiring was succeeded by his Son Ecbert An. Dom. 668 In whose fowrth year by means of Theodore a learned Greekish Monk of Tarsus whom Pope Vitalian had ordain'd Archbishop of Canterbury the Greek and Latin Tongue with other liberal Arts Arithmetic Music Astronomie and the like began first to flourish among the Saxons as did also the whole Land under potent and religious Kings more then ever before as Bede affirms till his own days An. Dom. 670 Two years after in Northumberland dy'd Oswi much addicted to Romish Rites and resolv'd had his Disease releas'd him to have ended his days at Rome Ecfrid the eldest of his Sons begot in Wedlock succeeded him An. Dom. 673 After other three years Ecbert in Kent deceasing left nothing memorable behind him but the general suspition to have slain or conniv'd at the slaughter of his Uncles two Sons Elbert and Egelbright In recompence wherof he gave to the Mother of them part of Tanet wherein to build an Abbey the Kingdom fell to his Brother Lothair And much about this time by best account it should be however plac'd in Beda that Ecfrid of Northumberland having War with the Mercian Wulfer won from him Lindsey and the Country thereabout Sebbi having reign'd over the East-Saxons 30 years not long before his Death though long before desireing took on him the Habit of a Monk and drew his Wife at length though unwilling to the same Devotion Kenwalk also dying left the Government to Sexburga his Wife who out-liv'd him in it but one year driv'n out saith Mat. West by the Nobles disdaining Female Government An. Dom. 674 After whom several petty Kings as Beda calls them for ten years space divided the West-Saxons others name two Escwin the Nephew of Kinigils and Kentwin the Son not petty by thir deeds for Escwin fought a Battell with Wulfer at Bedanhafde and about year a afboth deceas'd An. Dom. 676 but Wulfer not without a stain left behind him of selling the Bishoprick of London to Wini the first Simonist we read of in this story Kenwalk had before expell'd him from his Chair at Winchester Ethelred the Brother of Wulfer obtaining next the Kingdom of Mercia not only recoverd Lindsey and what besides in those parts Wulfer had lost to Ecfrid some years before but found himself strong enough to extend his Armes another way as far as Kent wasting that Country without respect to Church or Monastery much also endamaging the City of Rochester Notwithstanding what resistance Lothair could make against him An. Dom. 678 In August 678. was seen a Morning Comet for 3 Months following in manner of a fiery Pillar And the South-Saxons about this time were converted to the Christian Faith upon this occasion Wilsrid Bishop of the Northumbrians entring into contention with Ecfrid the King was by him depriv'd of his Bishoprick and long wandring up and down as far as Rome An. Dom. 679 return'd at length into England but not dareing to approach the North whence he was banish'd bethought him where he might to best purpose elsewhere exercise his Ministery The South of all other Saxons remain'd yet Heathen but Edilwalk thir King not long before had bin baptiz'd in Mercia persuaded by Wulfer and by him as hath bin said receav'd out of the Font. For which relations sake he had the I le of Wight and a Province of the Meannari adjoining giv'n him on the Continent about Meanesborow in Hantshir which Wulfer had a little before gott'n from Kenwalk Thether Wilfrid takes his journey and with the help of other Spiritual Labourers about him in short time planted there the Gospel It had not rain'd as is said of three years before in that Country whence many of the people daily perish'd by Famin till on the first day of thir public Baptism soft and plentifull showers descending restor'd all abundance to the Summer following An. Dom. 681 Two years after this Kentwin the other West-Saxon King above-nam'd chac'd the Welch-Britans as is Chronicl'd without circumstance to the very Sea shoar An. Dom. 683 But in the year by Beda's reck'ning 683 Kedwalla a West-Saxon of the Royal Line whom the Welch will have to be Cadwallader last King of the Britans thrown out by faction return'd from banishment and invaded both Kentwin if then living or whoever else had divided the succession of Kenwalk slaying in fight Edelwalk the South-Saxon who oppos'd him in their aid but soon after was repuls'd by two of his Captains Bertune and Andune who for a while held the province in thir power But Kedwalla gathering new force with the slaughter of Berâ—une An. Dom. 684 and also of Edric the successor of Edelwalk won the Kingdome But reduc'd the people to heavy thraldome Then addressing to Conquer the I le of Wight till that time Pagan saith Beda others otherwise as above hath bin related made a vow though himself yet unbaptiz'd to devote the fowrth part of that Iland and the spoils therof to holy uses Conquest obtain'd paying his vow as then was the beleef he gave hiâ— fowrth to Bishop Wilsrid by chance there present and he to Bertwin a Priest his Sisters Son with commission to baptise all the vanquisht who meant to save thir lives But the two young Sons of Arwald King of that Iland met with much more hostility for they at the Enemies approach flying out of the I le and betray'd where they were hid not far from thence were led to Kedwalla who lay then under Cure of some wounds receav'd and by his appointment after instruction and Baptism first giv'n them harshly put to death which the youths are said above thir Age to have Christianly sufferd In Kent Lothair dy'd this year of his wounds receav'd in fight against the South-Saxons led on by Edric who descending from Ermenred it seems challeng'd the Crown and wore it though not commendably one year and a half An. Dom. 685 but coming to a violent Death left the land expos'd a prey either to home-bred usurpers or neighbouring invaders Among whom Kedwalla taking advantage from thir civil distempers and marching easily through the South-Saxons whom he had subdu'd sorely harrass'd the Country untouch'd of a long time by any hostile incursion But the Kentish men all parties uniteing against a common Enemy with joint power so oppos'd him that he was constrain'd to retire back his Brother Mollo in the flight with 12 men of his Company seeking shelter in a House was beset and therin burnt by the persuers Kedwalla much troubl'd at so great a loss recalling and soon rallying his disorderd Forces return'd fiercely upon the chaseing Enemy An. Dom. 686 nor could be got
out of the Province till both by fire and Sword he had aveng'd the Death of his Brother An. Dom. 687 At length Victred the Son of Ecbert attaining the Kingdome both settl'd at home all things in peace and secur'd his Borders from all outward Hostility While thus Kedwalla disquieted both West and East after his winning the Crown Ecfrid the Northumbrian and Ethelred the Mercian fought a sore Battel by the River Trent wherin Elswin Brother to Ecfrid a youth of 18 years much belov'd was slain and the accident likely to occasion much more sheding of blood peace was happily made by the grave exhortation of Archbishop Theodore a pecuniary fine only paid to Ecfrid as some satisfaction for the loss of his Brothers life Another adversity befell Ecfrid in his Family by means of Ethildrith his Wife King Anna's Daughter who having tak'n him for hir Husband and professing to love him above all other men persisted twelve years in the obstinat refusal of his bed therby thinking to live the purer life So perversly then was chastity instructed against the Apostles rule At length obtaining of him with much importunity her departure she veild her self a Nun then made Abbess of Ely dy'd 7 years after the pestilence and might with better warrant have kept faithfully her undertak'n Wedlock though now canoniz'd St. Audrey of Ely In the mean while Ecfrid had sent Bertus with a power to subdue Ireland a harmless Nation saith Beda and ever friendly to the English in both which they seem to have left a posterity much unlike them at this day miserably wasted without regard had to places hallow'd or profane they betook them partly to thir Weapons partly to implore divine aid and as was thought obtain'd it in thir full avengement upon Ecfrid For he the next year against the mind and persuasion of his sagest friends and especially of Cudbert a famous Bishop of that Age marching unadvisedly against the Picts who long before had bin subject to Northumberland was by them feigning flight drawn unawares into narrow streights overtopt with Hills and cut off with most of his Army From which time saith Bede military valour began among the Saxons to decay nor only the Picts till then peaceable but some part of the Britans also recover'd by Armes thir liberty for many years after Yet Aldfrid elder but base Brother to Ecfrid a man said to be learned in the Scriptures recall'd from Ireland to which place in his Brothers Reign he had retir'd and now succeeding upheld with much honour though in narrower bounds the residue of his Kingdome Kedwalla having now with great disturbance of his Neighbours reign'd over the West-Saxons two years besides what time he spent in gaining it wearied perhaps with his own turbulence went to Rome desirous there to receave Baptism which till then his worldly affairs had deferr'd and accordingly on Easter Day 689. he was baptiz'd by Sergius An. Dom. 689 the Pope and his name chang'd to Peter All which notwithstanding surpris'd with a Disease he out-liv'd not the Ceremony so far sought much above the space of 5 weeks in the Thirtieth year of his Age and in the Church of St. Peter was there buried with a large Epitaph upon his Tomb. Him succeeded Ina of the Royal Family and from the time of his coming in for many years oppress'd the Land with like greevances as Kedwalla had done before him insomuch that in those times there was no Bishop among them His first expedition was into Kent to demand satisfaction for the burning of Mollo Victred loth to hazard all for the rash act of a few deliver'd up 30 of those that could be found accessory or as others say pacifi'd Ina with a great sum of money Mean while at the incitement of Ecbert a devout Monk Wilbrod a Priest eminent for learning past over Sea having 12 others in Company with intent to preach the Gospel in Germany And coming to â—epin Cheif Regent of the Franks who An. Dom. 694 a little before had conquer'd the hither Frisia by his countnance and protection promise also of many benefits to them who should beleeve they found the work of conversion much the easier and Wilbrod the first Bishoprick in that Nation But two Priests each of them Hewald by name and for distinction surnam'd from the colour of thir Hair the black and the white by his example piously affected to the Souls of thir Country-men the old Saxons at thir coming thether to convert them met with much worse entertainment For in the House of a Farmer who had promis'd to convey them as they desir'd to the Governour of that Country discoverd by thir daily Ceremonies to be Christian Priests and the cause of thir coming suspected they were by him and his Heathen Neighbours cruelly butcherd yet not unaveng'd for the Governour enrag'd at such violence offerd to his Strangers sending Armed Men slew all those Inhabitants and burnt thir Village An. Dom. 697 After three years in Mercia Ostrid the Queen Wife to Ethelred was kill'd by her own Nobles as Beda's Epitomy records Florence calls them Southimbrians negligently omitting the cause of so strange a fact An. Dom. 698 And the year following Bertred a Northumbrian General was slain by the Picts An. Dom. 704 Ethelred 7 years after the violent Death of his Queen put on the Monk and resign'd his Kingdome to Kenred the Son of Wulfer his Brother An. Dom. 705 The next year Aldfrid in Northumberland dy'd leaving Osred a Child of 8 years to succeed him An. Dom. 709 Fowr years after which Kenred having a while with praise govern'd the Mercian Kingdome went to Rome in the time of Pope Constantine and shorn a Monk spent there the residue of his daies Kelred succeeded him the Son of Ethelred who had reign'd the next before With Kenred went Offa the Son of Siger King of East-Saxons and betook him to the same habit leaving his Wife and Native Country a comely Person in the prime of his youth much desir'd of the people and such his vertue by report as might have otherwise bin worthy to have reign'd An. Dom. 710 Ina the West-Saxon one year after fought a Battell at first doubtfull at last successfull against Gerent King of Wales An. Dom. 711 The next year Bertfrid another Northumbrian Captain fought with the Picts and slaughterd them saith Huntingdon to the full avengment of Ecfrids Death An. Dom. 715 The fowrth year after Ina had another doubtfull and cruell Battel at Wodnesburg in Wiltshire with Kelred the Mercian who dy'd the year following a lamentable Death for as he sat one day feasting with his Nobles An. Dom. 716 suddenly possess'd with an evill Spirit he expir'd in despair as Boniface Archbishop of Ments an English man who taxes him for a defiler of Nuns writes by way of caution to Ethelbald his next of Kin who succeeded him Osred also the young Northumbrian King slain by his Kindred in the 11.
And Simeon reports another Battel fought between Britans and Picts the year ensueing Now was the Kingdome of East-Saxons drawing to a Period for Sigeard and Senfred the Sons of Sebbi having reign'd a while and after them young Offa who soon quitted his Kingdome to go to Rome with Kenred as hath been said the Goverment was conferr'd on Selred Son of Sigebert the good who having rul'd 38 years came to a violent death An. Dom. 746 how or wherefore is not set down After whom Swithred was the last King driv'n out by Ecbert the West-Saxon but London with the Countries adjacent obey'd the Mercians till they also were dissolv'd Cuthred had now reign'd about nine years An. Dom. 748 when Kuiric his Son a valiant young Prince was in a military tumult slain by his own Souldiers The same year Eadbert dying in Kent his Brother Edilbert reign'd in his stead An. Dom. 750 But after two years the other Eadbert in Northumberland whose War with the Picts hath bin above-mention'd made now such Progress there as to subdue Kyle so saith the Auctarie of Bede and other Countries thereabout to his dominion While Cuthred the West-Saxon had a fight with Ethelhun one of his Nobles a stout Warrier envi'd by him in some matter of the Common-wealth as far as by the Latin of Ethelward can be understood others interpret it Sedition and with much ado overcoming An. Dom. 752 took Ethelhun for his valour into favour by whom faithfully serv'd in the twelf or thirteenth of his Reign he encounter'd in a set Battell with Ethelbald the Mercian at Beorford now Burford in Oxfordshire An. Dom. 753 one year after against the Welch which was the last but one of his life Huntingdon as his manner is to comment upon the annal Text makes a terrible description of that fight between Cuthred and Ethelbald and the Prowess of Ethelhun at Beorford but so affectedly and therfore suspiciously that I hold it not worth rehersal and both in that and the latter conflict gives Victory to Cuthred after whom Sigebert uncertain by what right An. Dom. 754 his Kinsman saith Florent step'd into the Throne whom hated for his cruelty and other evil doings Kimwulf joining with most of the Nobility dispossess'd of all but Hamshir that Province he lost also within a year An. Dom. 755 together with the love of all those who till then remain'd his adherents by slaying Cumbran one of his Cheif Captains who for a long time had faithfully serv'd and now disuaded him from incensing the people by such Tyrannical practices Thence flying for safety into Andreds Wood forsak'n of all he was at length slain by the Swine-heard of Cumbran in revenge of his Maister and Kinwulf who had undoubted right to the Crown joyfully saluted King An. Dom. 756 The next year Eadbert the Northumbrian joining forces with Vnust King of the Picts as Simeon writes beseig'd and took by surrender the City Alcluith now Dunbritton in Lennox from the Britans of Cumberland and ten days after the whole Army perishd about Niwanbirig but to tell us how he forgetts In Mercia Ethelbald was slain at a place call'd Secandune An. Dom. 757 now Seckinton in Warwickshire the year following in a bloody fight against Cuthred as Huntingdon surmises but Cuthred was dead two years before others write him murder'd in the night by his own Guard and the Treason as some say of Beornred who succeeded him but ere many Months was defeated and slain by Offa. Yet Ethelbald seems not without cause after a long and prosperous Reign to have fall'n by a violent Death not shameing on the vain confidence of his many Alms to commit uncleaness with consecrated Nuns besides Laic Adulteries as the Arch-Bishop of Ments in a letter taxes him and his Predecessor and that by his example most of his Peers did the like which adulterous doings he foretold him were likely to produce a slothfull off-spring good for nothing but to be the ruin of that Kingdome as it fell out not long after An. Dom. 758 The next year Osmund according to Florence ruleing the South-Saxons and Swithred the East Eadbert in Northumberland following the steps of his Predecessor got him into a Monks Hood the more to be wonder'd that having reign'd worthily 21 years with the love and high estimation of all both at home and abroad able still to govern and much entreated by the Kings his Neighbours not to lay down his charge with offer on that condition to yeild up to him part of thir own Dominion he could not be mov'd from his resolution but relinquish'd his Royal Office to Oswulf his Son An. Dom. 759 who at the years end though without just cause was slain by his own Servants And the year after dy'd Ethelbert Son of Victred the second of that name in Kent An. Dom. 762 After Oswulf Ethelwald otherwise call'd Mollo was set up King who in his third year had a great Battel at Eldune by Melros slew Oswin a great Lord rebelling and gain'd the Victory An. Dom. 765 But the third year after fell by the treachery of Alcred who assum'd his place An. Dom. 769 The fowrth year after which Cataracta an antient and fair City in Yorkeshire was burnt by Arnred a certain Tyrant who the same year came to like end An. Dom. 774 And after five years more Alfred the King depos'd and forsak'n of all his people fled with a few first to Bebba a strong City of those parts thence to Kinot King of the Picts Ethelred the Son of Mollo was crown'd in his stead Mean while Offa the Mercian growing powerfull had subdu'd a Neighbouring people by Simeon call'd Hestings and fought successfully this year with Alric King of Kent at a place call'd Occanford the Annals also speak of wondrous Serpents then seen in Sussex Nor had Kinwulf the West-Saxon giv'n small proof of his valour in several Battels against the Welch heretofore An. Dom. 775 but this year 775. meeting with Offa at a place call'd Besington was put to the worse and Offa won the Town for which they contended An. Dom. 778 In Northumberland Ethelred having caus'd three of his Nobles Aldwulf Kinwulf and Ecca treacherously to be slain by two other Peers was himself the next year driv'n into banishment Elfwald the Son of Oswulf succeeding in his place yet not without civil broils An. Dom. 780 for in his second year Osbald and Ethelheard two Noblemen raising Forces against him routed Bearne his General and persueing burnt him at a place call'd Seletune I am sensible how wearisom it may likely be to read of so many bare and reasonless Actions so many names of Kings one after another acting little more then mute persons in a Scene what would it be to have inserted the long Bead-roll of Archbishops Bishops Abbots Abbesses and thir doeings neither to Religion profitable nor to morality swelling my Authors each to
a voluminous body by me studiously omitted and left as their propriety who have a mind to write the Ecclesiastical matters of those Ages neither do I care to wrincle the smoothness of History with rugged names of places unknown better harp'd at in Camden and other Chorographers An. Dom. 786 Six years therfore pass'd over in silence as wholely of such Argument bring us to relate next the unfortunate end of Kinwulf the West-Saxon who having laudably reign'd about 31 years yet suspecting that Kineard Brother of Sigebert the former King intended to usurp the Crown after his Decease or revenge his Brothers expulsion had commanded him into banishment but he lurking heer and there on the borders with a small Company having had intelligence that Kenwulf was in the Country thereabout at Merantun or Merton in Surrey at the House of a Woeman whom he lov'd went by night and beset the place Kenwulf over-confident either of his Royal presence or personal valour issuing forth with the few about him runs feirsly at Kineard and wounds him sore but by his followers hem'd in is kill'd among them The report of so great an accident soon running to a place not far off where many more attendants awaited the Kings return Osric and Wivert two Earles hasted with a great number to the House where Kineard and his fellows yet remain'd He seeing himself surrounded with fair words and promise of great guifts attempted to appease them but those rejected with disdain fights it out to the last and is slain with all but one or two of his retinue which were nigh a hunderd Kinwulf was succeeded by Birthric being both descended of Kerdic the the Founder of that Kingdome An. Dom. 788 Not better was the end of Elswald in Northumberland two years after slain miserably by the conspiracy of Siggan one of his Nobles others say of the whole people at Scilcester by the Roman Wall yet undeservedly as his Sepulchre at Hagustald now Hexham upon Tine and some miracles there said to be done are alleg'd to witness and Siggan 5 years after laid violent hands on himself Osred Son of Alcred advanc't into the room of Elfwald and within one year driv'n out left his seat vacant to Ethelred Son of Mollo who after ten years of banishment impris'nment saith Alcuin had the Scepter put again into his hand An. Dom. 789 The third year of Birthric King of West-Saxons gave beginning from abroad to a new and fatal revolution of calamity on this Land For three Danish Ships the first that had bin seen heer of that Nation arriving in the West to visit these as was suppos'd Foren Merchants the Kings gatherer of Customes taking Horse from Dorchester found them Spies and Enemies For being commanded to come and give account of thir ladeing at the Kings Custome House they slew him and all who came with him as an earnest of the many slaughters rapines and hostilities which they return'd not long after to commit over all the Iland Of this Danish first arrival and on a sudden worse then hostile Aggression the Danish History far otherwise relates as if thir landing had bin at the mouth of Humber and thir spoilfull march far into the Country though soon repelld by the Inhabitants they hasted back as fast to thir Ships But from what cause what reason of state what Authority or publick counsell the invasion proceeded makes not mention and our wonder yet the more by telling us that Sigefrid then King in Denmarke and long after was a man studious more of peace and quiet then of warlike matters These therefore seem rather to have bin some wanderers at Sea who with publick Commission or without through love of spoil or hatred of Christianity seeking booties on any land of Christians came by chance or weather on this shore An. Dom. 790 The next year Osred in Northumberland who driv'n out by his Nobles had giv'n place to Ethelred was tak'n and forcibly shav'n a Monk at Yorke An. Dom. 791 And the year after Oels and Oelswin Sons of Elfwald formerly King were drawn by fair promises from the principal Church of Yorke and after by command of Ethelred cruelly put to Death at Wonwaldremere a Village by the great Pool in Lancashire now call'd Winandermere Nor was the third year less bloody An. Dom. 792 for Osred who not likeing a shav'n Crown had desir'd banishment and obtain'd it returning from the I le of Man with small Forces at the secret but deceitfull call of certain Nobles who by Oath had promis'd to assist him was also tak'n and by Ethelred dealt with in the same manner who the better to avouch his Cruelties therupon married Elfled the Daughter of Offa for in Offa was found as little Faith or mercy He the same year having drawn to his Palace Ethelbrite King of East-Angles with fair invitations to marry his Daughter caus'd him to be there inhospitably beheaded and his Kingdome wrongfully seis'd by the wicked counsel of his Wife saith Mat. West annexing thereto a long unlikely Tale. For which violence and bloodshed to make attonement with Fryers at lest he bestows the reliques of St. Alban in a shrine of Pearl and Gold An. Dom. 793 Far worse it far'd the next year with the reliques in Lindisfarne where the Danes landing pillag'd that Monastery and of Fryers kill'd some carried away others Captive sparing neither Preist nor Lay which many strange thunders and fiery Dragons with other impressions in the air seen frequently before were judg'd to foresignifie This year Alric third Son of Victred ended in Kent his long Reign of 34 years with him ended the race of Hengist thenceforth whomsoever wealth or faction advanc'd took on him the name and state of a King The Saxon Annals of 784. name Ealmund then reigning in Kent but that consists not with the time of Alric and I find him no where else mentiond An. Dom. 794 The year following was remarkable for the Death of Offa the Mercian a strenuous and suttle King he had much intercourse with Charles the Great at first enmity to the interdicting of commerce on either side at length much amity and firm League as appears by the Letter of Charles himself yet extant procur'd by Alcuin a learned and prudent man though a Monk whom the Kings of England in those days had sent Orator into France to maintain good correspondence between them and Charles the Great He granted saith Huntingdon a perpetual tribute to the Pope out of every House in his Kingdome for yeilding perhaps to translate the Primacy of Canterbury to Lichfeild in his own Dominion He drew a trench of wondrous length between Mercia and the British Confines from Sea to Sea Ecferth the Son of Offa a Prince of great hope who also had bin Crown'd 9 years before his Fathers Decease restoring to the Church what his Father had seis'd on yet within fowr Months by
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
some Legend then any warrantable Record Mean while Ecbert having with much Prudence Justice and Clemency An. Dom. 813 a work of more then one year establisht his Kingdome and himself in the affections of his people turns his first enterprise against the Britans both them of Cornwal and those beyond Seavern subdueing both In Mercia Kenulf the 6th year after having reign'd with great praise of his religious mind and vertues both in Peace and War deceas'd An. Dom. 819 His Son Kenelm a Child of seaven years was committed to the care of his Elder Sister Quendrid who with a female ambition aspiring to the Crown hir'd one who had the charge of his nurture to murder him led into a woody place upon pretence of hunting The murder as is reported was miraculously reveal'd but to tell how by a Dove droping a writt'n note on the Altar at Rome is a long story told though out of order by Malmsbury and under the year 821. by Mat. West where I leave it to be sought by such as are more credulous then I wish my Readers Only the note was to this purpose Low in a mead of Kine under a Thorn Of head bereft li'th poor Kenelm King-born An. Dom. 820 Keolwulf the Brother of Kenulf after one years Reign was driv'n out by one Bernulf an Usurper who in his third year An. Dom. 823 uncertain whether invading or invaded was by Ecbert though with great loss on both sides overthrown and put to flight at Ellandune or Wilton yet Malmsbury accounts this Battel fought in 806 a wide difference but frequently found in thir computations Bernulf thence retireing to the East-Angles as part of his Dominion by the late seisure of Offa was by them met in the field and slain but they doubting what the Mercians might do in revenge hereof forthwith yielded themselves both King and people to the Sovrantie of Ecbert As for the Kings of East-Angles our Annals mention them not since Ethelwald him succeeded his Brothers Sons as we find in Malmsbury Aldulf a good King well acquainted with Bede and Elwold who left the Kingdome to Beorn he to Ethelred the Father of Ethelbrite whom Offa perfidiously put to Death Simeon and Hoveden in the year 749. write that Elfwald King of East-Angles dying Humbeanna and Albert shar'd the Kingdom between them but where to insert this among the former successions is not easie nor much material after Ethelbrite none is nam'd of that Kingdom till thir submitting now to Ecbert he from this Victory against Bernulf sent part of his Army under Ethelwulf his Son with Alstan Bishop of Shirburn and Wulferd a Chief Commander into Kent Who finding Baldred there reigning in his 18th year overcame and drove him over the Thames whereupon all Kent Surrey Sussex and lastly Essex with her King Swithred became subject to the Dominion of Ecbert Neither were these all his exploits of this year the first in order set down in Saxon Annals being his fight against the Devonshire Welch at a place call'd Gasulford now Camelford in Cornwal An. Dom. 825 Ludiken the Mercian after two years preparing to avenge Bernulf his Kinsman on the East-Angles was by them with his five Consuls as the Annals call them surpris'd and put to the Sword and Withlaf his successor first vanquisht then upon submission with all Mercia made tributary to Ecbert Mean while the Northumbrian Kingdom of it self was fall'n to shivers thir Kings one after another so oft'n slain by the people no man dareing though never so ambitious to take up the Scepter which many had found so hot the only effectual cure of ambition that I have read for the space of 33 years after the Death of Ethelred Son of Mollo as Malmsbury writes there was no King many Noblemen and Prelats were fled the Country Which mis-rule among them the Danes having understood oft-times from thir Ships entring far into the land infested those parts with wide depopulations wasting Towns Churches and Monasteries for they were yet Heathen The Lent before whose coming on the North-side of St. Peters Church in Yorke was seen from the roof to rain blood The causes of these calamities and the ruin of that Kingdom Alcuin a learned Monk living in those days attributes in several Epistles and well may to the general ignorance and decay of lerning which crept in among them after the Death of Beda and of Ecbert the Archbishop thir neglect of breeding up youth in the Scriptures the spruce and gay apparel of thir Preists and Nuns discovering thir vain and wanton minds examples are also read eev'n in Beda's days of thir wanton deeds thence Altars defil'd with perjuries Cloisters violated with Adulteries the Land polluted with blood of thir Princes civil dissentions among the people and finally all the same vices which Gildas alledg'd of old to have ruin'd the Britans In this estate Ecbert who had now conquerd all the South finding them in the year 827. An. Dom. 827 for he was march'd thether with an Army to compleat his Conquest of the whole Iland no wonder if they submitted themselves to the yoke without resistance Eandred thir King becoming Tributary An. Dom. 828 Thence turning his forces the year following he subdu'd more throughly what remain'd of North-Wales The End of the Fourth Book THE HISTORY OF BRITAIN The Fifth Book THE sum of things in this Iland or the best part therof reduc't now under the power of one man and him one of the worthiest which as far as can be found in good Authors was by none attain'd at any time heer before unless in Fables men might with some reason have expected from such Union peace and plenty greatness and the flourishing of all Estates and Degrees but far the contrary fell out soon after Invasion Spoil Desolation slaughter of many slavery of the rest by the forcible landing of a fierce Nation Danes commonly call'd and somtimes Dacians by others the same with Normans as barbarous as the Saxons themselves were at first reputed and much more for the Saxons first invited came hither to dwell these unsent for unprovok'd came only to destroy But if the Saxons as is above related came most of them from Jutland and Anglen a part of Denmarke as Danish Writers affirm and that Danes and Normans are the same then in this invasion Danes drove out Danes thir own posterity And Normans afterwards none but antienter Normans Which invasion perhaps had the Heptarchie stood divided as it was had either not bin attempted or not uneasily resisted while each Prince and people excited by thir neerest concernments had more industriously defended thir own bounds then depending on the neglect of a deputed Governour sent oft-times from the remote residence of a secure Monarch Though as it fell out in those troubles the lesser Kingdoms revolting from the West-Saxon yoke and not aiding each other too much concern'd with thir own safety it came to no
so frequent Alarms came to agreement with them for a certain sum of money but ere the peace could be ratifi'd and the money gatherd the Danes impatient of delay by a sudden eruption in the night soon wasted all the East of Kent Mean while or something before Ethelbert deceasing was buried as his Brother at Sherburne Ethelred EThelred the third Son of Ethelwolf at his first An. Dom. 866 coming to the Crown was entertain'd with a fresh invasion of Danes led by Hinguar and Hubba two Brothers who now had got footing among the East-Angles there they winterd and coming to terms of peace with the Inhabitants furnish'd themselves of Horses forming by that means many Troops with Riders of thir own These Pagans Asser saith came from the River Danubius Fitted An. Dom. 867 thus for a long expedition they ventur'd the next year to make thir way over land and over Humber as far as Yorke them they found to thir hands imbroil'd in civil dissentions thir King Osbert they had thrown out and Ella Leader of another faction chosen in his room who both though late admonish'd by thir common danger towards the years end with united powers made head against the Danes and prevail'd but persueing them over-eagerly into Yorke then but slenderly wall'd the Northumbrians were every where slaughter'd both within and without thir Kings also both slain thir City burnt saith Malmsbury the rest as they could made thir peace over-run and vanquisht as far as the River Tine and Egbert of English race appointed King over them Bromton no antient Author for he wrote since Mat. West nor of much credit writes a particular cause of the Danes coming to Yorke that Bruern a Nobleman whose Wife King Osbert had ravisht call'd in Hinguar and Hubba to revenge him The example is remarkable if the truth were as evident Thence victorious the Danes next year enterd into Mercia towards An. Dom. 868 Nottingham where they spent the Winter Burhed then King of that Country unable to resist implores the aid of Ethelred and young Alfred his Brother they assembling thir Forces and joining with the Mercians about Nottingham offer Battel the Danes not daring to come forth kept themselves within that Town and Castle so that no great fight was hazarded there at length the Mercians weary of long suspence enterd into conditions of peace with thir Enemies After which the Danes returning back to Yorke made thir abode there the space of one year committing some say many cruelties An. Dom. 869 An. Dom. 870 Thence imbarking to Lindsey and all the Summer destroying that Country about September they came with like fury into Kesteven another part of Lincolnshire where Algar the Earl of Howland now Holland with his Forces and two hunderd stout Souldiers belonging to the Abbey of Croiland three hunderd from about Boston Morcard Lord of Brunne with his numerous Family well train'd and arm'd Osgot Governour of Lincoln with 500. of that City all joyning together gave Battel to the Danes slew of them a great multitude with three of thir Kings and persu'd the rest to thir Tents but the night following Gothrun Baseg Osketil Halfden and Hamond five Kings and as many Earls Frena Hinguar Hubba Sidroc the Elder and Younger coming in from several parts with great forces and spoils great part of the English began to slink home Nevertheless Algar with such as forsook him not all next day in order of Battel facing the Danes and sustaining unmov'd the brunt of thir assaults could not withhold his men at last from persueing thir counterfitted flight wherby op'nd and disorder'd they fell into the snare of thir Enemies rushing back upon them Algar and those Captains fore-nam'd with him all resolute men retreating to a hill side and slaying of such as follow'd them manifold thir own number dy'd at length upon heaps of dead which they had made round about them The Danes thence passing on into the Country of East-Angles rifl'd and burnt the Monastery of Elie overthrew Earl Wulketul with his whole Army and lodg'd out the Winter at Thetford where King Edmund assailing them was with his whole Army put to flight himself tak'n bound to a stake and shot to Death with Arrows his whole Country subdu'd The next year An. Dom. 871 with great supplies saith Huntingdon bending thir march toward the West-Saxons the only people now left in whom might seem yet to remain strength or courage likely to oppose them they came to Reading fortifi'd there between the two Rivers of Thames and Kenet and about three dayes after sent out wings of Horse under two Earls to forage the Country but Ethelwulf Earl of Barkshire at Englefeild a Village nigh encounterd them slew one of thir Earls and obtain'd a great Victory Four dayes after came the King himself and his Brother Alfred with the main Battail and the Danes issuing forth a bloody fight began on either side great slaughter in which Earl Ethelwulf lost his life but the Danes loosing no ground kept thir place of standing to the end Neither did the English for this make less hast to another conflict at Escesdunc or Ashdown four dayes after where both Armies with thir whole force on either side met The Danes were imbattail'd in two great Bodies the one led by Bascai and Halfden thir two Kings the other by such Earls as were appointed in like manner the English divided thir powers Ethelred the King stood against their Kings and though on the lower ground and coming later into the Battail from his Orisons gave a fierce onset wherin Bascai the Danish History names him Erazus the Son of Regicerus was slain Alfred was plac'd against the Earls and beginning the Battail ere his Brother came into the field with such resolution charg'd them that in the shock most of them were slain they are nam'd Sidroc Elder and Younger Osbern Frean Harald at length in both Divisions the Danes turn thir backs many thousands of them cut off the rest persu'd till night So much the more it may be wonderd to hear next in the Annals that the Danes 14 days after such an over-throw fighting again with Ethelred and his Brother Alfred at Basing under conduct saith the Danish History of Agnerus and Hubbo Brothers of the slain Evacus should obtain the Victory especially since the new supply of Danes mention'd by Asser arriv'd after this action But after two Months the King and his Brother fought with them again at Mertun in two Squadrons as before in which fight hard it is to understand who had the better so darkly do the Saxon Annals deliver thir meaning with more then wonted infancy Yet these I take for Asser is heer silent to be the Chief Fountain of our story the ground and basis upon which the Monks later in time gloss and comment at thir pleasure Nevertheless it appears that on the Saxon part not Heamund the Bishop only but many valiant men
lost thir lives This fight was follow'd by a heavy Summer Plague wherof as is thought King Ethelred dy'd in the fifth of his Reign and was buried at Winburne where his Epitaph inscribes that he had his Deaths wound by the Danes according to the Danish History 872. Of all these terrible landings and devastations by the Danes from the days of Ethelwolf till thir two last Battels with Ethelred or of thir Leaders whether Kings Dukes or Earls the Danish History of best credit saith nothing So little Wit or Conscience it seems they had to leave any memory of thir brutish rather then manly actions unless we shall suppose them to have come as above was cited out of Asser from Danubius rather then from Denmarke more probable some barbarous Nations of Prussia or Livonia not long before seated more Northward on the Baltic Sea Alfred ALfred the fourth Son of Ethelwols had scarse perform'd his Brothers obsequies and the solemnity of his own Crowning when at the months end in hast with a small power he encounterd the whole Army of Danes at Wilton and most part of the day foyl'd them but unwarily following the Chase gave others of them the advantage to rally who returning upon him now weary remain'd Masters of the field This year as is affirm'd in the Annals nine Battels had bin fought against the Danes on the South-side of Thames besides innumerable excursions made by Alfred and other Leaders one King nine Earls were fall'n in fight so that weary on both sides at the years end League or Truce was concluded Yet next year the Danes took thir march to An. Dom. 872 London now expos'd thir prey there they winterd and thether came the Mercians to renue peace with them The year following they rov'd back to the parts beyond Humber but winter'd at Torksey in Lincolnshire where the Mercians now the third time made peace with them Notwithstanding which An. Dom. 873 An. Dom. 874 removing thir Camp to Rependune in Mercia now Repton upon Trent in Darbishire and there wintring they constrein'd Burhed the King to fly into Forein parts makeing seisure of his Kingdome he running the direct way to Rome with better reason then his Ancestors dy'd there and was buried in a Church by the English School His Kingdom the Danes farm'd out to Kelwulf one of his Houshold Servants or Officers with condition to be resign'd them when they commanded From Rependune they An. Dom. 875 dislodg'd Hafden thir King leading part of his Army Northward winterd by the River Tine and subjecting all those quarters wasted also the Picts and British beyond but Guthrun Oskitell and Anwynd other three of thir Kings moving from Rependune came with a great Army to Grantbrig and remain'd there a whole year Alfred that Summer purposing to try his Fortune with a Fleet at Sea for he had found that the want of Shipping and neglect of Navigation had expos'd the Land to these Piracies met with 7 Danish Rovers took one the rest escaping an acceptable success from so small a begining for the English at that time were but little experienc't in Sea affairs The next years first motion An. Dom. 876 of the Danes was towards Warham Castle where Alfred meeting them either by policy or their doubt of his power Ethelwerd saith by money brought them to such terms of peace as that they swore to him upon a hallow'd Bracelet others say upon certain Reliques a Solemn Oath it seems which they never voutsal'd before to any other Nation forthwith to depart the land but falsifying that Oath by night with all the Horse they had Asser saith slaying all the Horseman he had stole to Exeter and there winterd In Northumberland Hafden thir King began to settle to divide the land to till and to inhabit Mean while they in the West who were march'd to Exeter enterd the City coursing now and then to Warham but thir Fleet the next An. Dom. 877 year sailing or rowing about the West met with such a tempest neer to Swanswich or Gnavewic as wrack'd 120 of thir Ships and left the rest easie to be maisterd by those Gallies which Alfred had set there to guard the Seas and streit'n Exeter of provision He the while beleagering them in the City now humbl'd with the loss of thir Navy two Navies saith Asser the one at Gnavewic the other at Swanwine distress'd them so as that they gave him as many hostages as he requir'd and as many Oaths to keep thir covnanted peace and kept it For the Summer coming on they departed into Mercia wherof part they divided amongst themselves part left to Kelwulf thir substituted King The twelftide An. Dom. 878 following all Oaths forgott'n they came to Chippenham in Wiltshire dispeopleing the Countries round dispossessing some driving others beyond the Sea Alfred himself with a small Company was forc'd to keep within Woods and Fenny places and for some time all alone as Florent saith sojourn'd with Dunwulf a Swine-heard made afterwards for his devotion and aptness to learning Bishop of Winchester Hafden and the Brother of Hinguar coming with 23 Ships from North-wales where they had made great spoil landed in Devonshire nigh to a strong Castle nam'd Kinwith where by the Garrison issuing forth unexpectedly they were slain with 12 hunderd of thir men Mean while the King about Easter not despairing of his affairs built a Fortress at a place call'd Athelney in Somersetshire therin valiantly defending himself and his followers frequently sallying forth The 7th week after he rode out to a place call'd Ecbryt-stone in the East part of Selwood thether resorted to him with much gratulation the Somerset and Wiltshire men with many out of Hamshire some of whom a little before had fled thir Country with these marching to Ethandune now Edindon in Wiltshire he gave Battel to the whole Danish power and put them to flight Then beseiging thir Castle within fourteen days took it Malmsbury writes that in this time of his recess to go a spy into the Danish Camp he took upon him with one Servant the habit of a Fidler by this means gaining access to the Kings Table and somtimes to his Bed-Chamber got knowledge of thir secrets thir careless encamping and thereby this opportunity of assailing them on a sudden The Danes by this misfortune brok'n gave him more hostages and renu'd thir Oaths to depart out of his Kingdom Thir King Gytro or Gothrun offer'd willingly to receave Baptism and accordingly came with 30 of his friends to a place call'd Aldra or Aulre neer to Athelney and were baptiz'd at Wedmore where Alfred receav'd him out of the Font and nam'd him Athelstan After which they abode with him 12 daies and were dismiss'd with rich presents Whereupon An. Dom. 879 the Danes remov'd next year to Cirencester thence peaceably to the East-Angles which Alfred as some write had bestow'd on Gothrun to
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
Cumbrians and Scots and came at length where constantine himself fought unhors'd him and us'd all means to take him alive but the Scots valiantly defending thir King and laying load upon Turketul which the goodness of his Armour well endur'd he had yet bin beat'n down had not Singin his faithfull second at the same time slain Constantine which once known Analf and the whole Army betook them to flight wherof a huge multitude fell by the Sword This Turketul not long after leaving worldly affairs became Abbot of Croyland which at his own cost he had repair'd from Danish ruins and lest there this memorial of his former actions Athelstan with his Brother Edmund victorious thence turning into Wales with much more ease vanquish'd Ludwal the King and possest his land But Malmsbury writes that commiserating human chance as he displac'd so he restor'd both him and Constantine to thir Regal State for the surrender of King Constantine hath bin above spok'n of However the Welch did him homage at the City of Hereford and covnanted yearly payment of Gold 20 pound of Silver 300 of Oxen 25 thousand besides Hunting Dogs and Hawks He also took Exeter from the Cornish Britans who till that time had equal right there with the English and bounded them with the River Tamar as the other Brittish with Wey Thus dreaded of his Enemies and renown'd far and neer three years after he dy'd at Gloster and was buried with An. Dom. 941 many Trophies at Malmsbury where he had caus'd to be laid his two Cosin Germans Elwin and Ethelstan both slain in the Battel against Anlaf He was 30 years old at his coming to the Crown mature in wisedom from his Childhood comly of person and behaviour so that Alfred his Grandfather in blessing him was wont to pray he might live to have the Kingdome and put him yet a Child into Souldiers habit He had his breeding in the Court of Elfled his Aunt of whose vertues more then female we have related sufficient to evince that his mother though said to be no wedded Wife was yet such of parentage and worth as the Royal line disdain'd not though the Song went in Malmsburies daies for it seems he refus'd not the autority of Ballats for want of better that his mother was a Farmers Daughter but of excellent feature who dreamt one night she brought forth a Moon that should enlight'n the whole land which the Kings Nurse hearing of took her home and bred up Courtly that the King coming one day to visit his Nurse saw there this Damsel lik'd her and by earnest suit prevailing had by her this famous Athelstan a bounteous just and affable King as Malmsbury sets him forth nor less honour'd abroad by Foren Kings who sought his Friendship by great guifts or affinity that Harold King of Noricum sent him a Ship whose Prow was of gold sails purple and other golden things the more to be wonderd at sent from Noricum whether meant Norway or Bavaria the one place so far from such superfluity of wealth the other from all Sea the Embassadors were Helgrim and Offrid who found the King at Yorke His Sisters he gave in marriage to greatest Princes Elgif to Otho Son of Henry the Emperour Egdith to a certain Duke about the Alpes Edgiv to Ludwic King of Aquitain sprung of Charles the Great Ethilda to Hugo King of France who sent Aldulf Son of Baldwin Earl of Flanders to obtain her From all these great suitors especially from the Emperour and King of France came rich presents Horses of excellent Breed gorgeous Trappings and Armour Reliques Jewels Odors Vessels of Onyx and other pretious things which I leave poetically describ'd in Malmsbury tak'n as he confesses out of an old versifier some of whose verses he recites The only blemish left upon him was the exposing of his Brother Edwin who disavow'd by Oath the treason wherof he was accus'd and implor'd an equall hearing But these were Songs as before hath bin said which add also that Athelstan his anger over soon repented of the fact and put to Death his Cup-bearer who had induc't him to suspect and expose his Brother put in mind by a word falling from the Cup-bearers own mouth who slipping one day as he bore the Kings Cup and recovring himself on the other leg said aloud fatally as to him it prov'd one Brother helps the other Which words the King laying to heart and pondring how ill he had done to make away his Brother aveng'd himself first on the adviser of that fact took on him seav'n years penance and as Mat. West saith built two Monasteries for the Soul of his Brother His Laws are extant among the Laws of other Saxon Kings to this day Edmund EDmund not above 18 years old succeeded his Brother Athelstan in courage not inferiour An. Dom. 942 For in the second of his Reign he free'd Mercia of the Danes that remain'd there and took from them the Citties of Lincoln Nottingham Stamsord Darby and Leister where they were plac'd by King Edward but it seems gave not good proof of thir fidelity Simeon writes that Anlaf setting forth from Yorke and having wasted Southward as far as Northampton was met by Edmund at Leister but that ere the Battails join'd peace was made between them by Odo and Wulstan the two Archbishops with conversion of Anlaf for the same year Edmund receav'd at the Font-stone this or another Anlaf as saith Huntingdon not him spok'n of before who dy'd this year so uncertain they are in the story of these times also and held Reginald another King of the Northumbers while the Bishop confirm'd him thir limits were divided North and South by Watling-street But spirituall kindred little avail'd to keep peace between them whoever gave the cause for we read him two years after driving Anlaf whom An. Dom. 944 the Annals now first call the Son of Sitric and Suthfrid Son of Reginald out of Northumberland takeing the whole Country into subjection Edmund the next year harras'd Cumberland then gave An. Dom. 945 it to Malcolm King of Scots thereby bound to assist him in his Wars both by Sea and Land Mat. West adds that in this action Edmund had the aid of Leolin Prince of Northwales against Dummail the Cumbrian King him depriving of his Kingdome and his two Sons of thir sight But the year after he himself An. Dom. 946 by strange accident came to an untimely Death feasting with his Nobles on St. Austins Day at Puclekerke in Glostershire to celebrat the memory of his first converting the Saxons He spi'd Leof a noted Theef whom he had banish'd sitting among his Guests wherat transported with too much vehemence of Spirit though in a just cause riseing from the Table he ran upon the Theef and catching his hair pull'd him to the ground The Theef who doubted from such handling no less then his Death intended thought to die not unreveng'd and with a short Dagger strook
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
other remedy submitted himself with all the Northumbrians giving hostages to Canute Nevertheless by his command or connivence and the hand of one Turebrand a Danish Lord Vthred was slain and Tric another Dane made Earl in his stead This Vthred Son of Walteof as Simeon writes in his treatise of the Seige of Durham in his youth obtain'd a great Victory against Malcolm Son of Kened King of Scots who with the whole power of his Kingdome was fall'n into Northumberland and laid seige to Durham Walteof the old Earl unable to resist had secur'd himself in Bebbanburg a strong Town but Vthred gathering an Army rais'd the Seige slew most of the Scots thir King narrowly escaping and with the heads of thir slain fixt upon Poles beset round the Walls of Durham The year of this exploit Simeon cleers not for in 969. and in the Reign of Ethelred as he affirms it could not bee Canute by another way returning Southward joyfull of his success before Easter came back with all the Army to his Fleet. About the end of April ensueing Ethelred after a long troublesome and ill govern'd Reign ended his daies at London and was buried in the Church of St. Paul Edmund Ironside AFter the decease of Ethelred they of the Nobility who were then at London together with the Citizens chose Edmund his Son not by Emma but a former Wife the Daughter of Earl Thored in his Fathers room but the Archbishops Abbots and many of the Nobles assembling together elected Canute and coming to Southamton where he then remain'd renounc'd before him all the race of Ethelred and swore him fidelity he also swore to them in matters both religious and secular to be thir faithfull Lord. But Edmund with all speed going to the West-Saxons was joyfully receav'd of them as thir King and of many other Provinces by their example Mean while Canute about mid May came with his whole Fleet up the River to London then causing a great Dike to be made on Surrey side turn'd the stream and drew his Ships thether West of the Bridge then begirting the City with a broad and deep trench assail'd it on every side but repulst as before by the valorous Defendants and in despair of success at that time leaving part of his Army for the defence of his Ships with the rest sped him to the West-Saxons ere Edmund could have time to assemble all his powers who yet with such as were at hand invoking divine aid encounterd the Danes at Pen by Gillingham in Dorsetshire and put him to flight After mid-summer encreast with new Forces he met with him again at a place call'd Sherastan now Sharstan but Edric Almar and Algar with the Hamshire and Wiltshire men then sideing with the Danes he only maintain'd the fight obstinatly fought on both sides till night and weariness parted them Day light returning renu'd the conflict wherein the Danes appearing inferiour Edric to dishart'n the English cuts off the Head of one Osmer in countnance and hair somewhat resembling the King and holding it up cries aloud to the English that Edmund being slain and this his head it was time for them to flie which falacy Edmund perceaving and op'nly shewing himself to his Souldiers by a spear thrown at Edric that missing him yet slew one next him and through him another behinde they recoverd heart and lay sore upon the Danes till night parted them as before for ere the third morn Canute sensible of his loss march'd away by stealth to his Ships at London renuing there his leagre Some would have this Battell at Sherastan the same with that at Scorastan before mention'd but the circumstance of time permits not that having bin before the landing of Canute this a good while after as by the Process of things appears from Sherastan or Sharstan Edmund return'd to the West-Saxons whose valour Edric fearing least it might prevail against the Danes sought pardon of his revolt and obtaining it swore loyalty to the King who now the third time coming with an Army from the West-Saxons to London rais'd the Seige chaseing Canute and his Danes to thir Ships Then after two daies passing the Thames at Branford and so coming on thir backs kept them so turn'd and obtain'd the Victory then returns again to his West Saxons and Canute to his Seige but still in vain riseing therfore thence he enterd with his Ships a River then call'd Arenne and from the Banks therof wasted Mercia thence thir Horse by land thir Foot by Ship came to Medway Edmund in the mean while with multipli'd Forces out of many Shires crossing again at Branford came into Kent seeking Canute encounterd him at Ocford and so defeated that of his Horse they who escap'd fled to the I le of Sheppey and a full Victory he had gain'd had not Edric still the Traytor by some wile or other detain'd his persuit and Edmund who never wanted courage heer wanted prudence to be so misled ever after forsak'n of his wonted Fortune Canute crossing with his Army into Essex thence wasted Mercia worse then before and with heavy prey return'd to his Ships them Edmund with a collected Army persueing overtook at a place call'd Assandune or Asseshill now Ashdown in Essex the Battel on either side was fought with great vehemence but perfidious Edric perceaving the Victory to incline towards Edmund with that part of the Army which was under him fled as he had promis'd Canute and left the King over-match't with numbers by which desertion the English were overthrown Duke Alfric Duke Godwin and Vlfketel the valiant Duke of East-Angles with a great part of the Nobility slain so as the English of a long time had not receav'd a greater blow Yet after a while Edmund not absurdly call'd Ironside preparing to try again his Fortune in another feild was hinderd by Edric and others of his faction adviseing him to make peace and divide the Kingdome with Canute To which Edmund over-rul'd a treaty appointed and pledges mutually giv'n both Kings met together at a place call'd Deorhirst in Glostershire Edmund on the West side of Severn Canute on the East with thir Armies then both in person wafted into an Iland at that time call'd Olanege now Alney in the midst of the River swearing amity and brotherhood they parted the Kingdome between them Then interchanging Armes and the habit they wore assessing also what pay should be allotted to the Navy they departed each his way Concerning this interveiw and the cause therof others write otherwise Malmsbury that Edmund greiving at the loss of so much blood spilt for the ambition only of two men striveing who should reign of his own accord sent to Canute offering him single Combate to prevent in thir own cause the effusion of more blood then thir own that Canute though of courage anough yet not unwisely doubting to adventure his body of small Timber against a man of Iron sides refus'd the Combate offring
they were sent Messengers from God to foretell that because the great ones of England Dukes Lords Bishops and Abbots were not Ministers of God but of the Devil God had deliverd the Land to thir Enemies and when he desir'd that he might reveal this Vision to the end they might repent it was answerd they neither will repent neither will God pardon them at this relation others trembling Stigand the Simonious Archbishop whom Edward much to blame had sufferd many years to sit Primate in the Church is said to have laugh't as at the feavourish Dream of a doteing old man but the event prov'd it true Harold Son of Earl Godwin HArold whether by King Edward a little before Hoved. Florent his Death ordain'd Successor to the Crown as Simeon of Durham and others affirm or by the prevalence of his faction excluding Edgar the right Heir Grandchild to Edmund Ironside as Malmsbury and Huntingdon agree no sooner was the Funeral of King Edward ended but on the same day was elected and Crown'd King and no sooner plac't in the Throne but began to frame himself by all manner of compliances to gain affection endeavour'd to make good Laws repeal'd bad became a great Patron to Church and Church-men courteous and affable to all reputed good a hater of evill doers charg'd all his Officers to punish Theeves Robbers and all disturbers of the peace while he himself by Sea and Land labourd in the defence of his Country so good an actor is ambition In the mean while a blazing Star 7 Mornings together about the end of April was seen to stream terribly not only over England but other parts of the World foretelling heer as was thought the great changes approaching plainliest prognosticated by Elmer a Monk of Malmsbury who could not foresee when time was the breaking of his own Leggs for soaring too high he in his youth strangely aspiring had made and fitted Wings to his Hands and Feet with these on the top of a Tower spread out to gather air he flew more then a Furlong but the wind being too high came fluttering down to the maiming of all his Limbs yet so conceited of his Art that he attributed the cause of his fall to the want of a Tail as Birds have which he forgot to make to his hinder parts This story though seeming otherwise too light in the midst of a sad narration yet for the strangness therof I thought worthy anough the placeing as I found it plac't in my Authour But to digress no farder Tosti the Kings Brother coming from Flanders full of envy at his younger Brothers advancement to the Crown resolv'd what he might to trouble his Reign forcing therfore them of Wight I le to contribution he sail'd thence to Sandwich committing Piracies on the Coast between Harold then residing at London with a great number of Ships drawn together and of Horse Troops by Land prepares in person for Sandwich wherof Tosti having notice directs his course with 60 Ships towards Lindsey taking with him all the Sea-men he found willing or unwilling where he burnt many Villages and slew many of the Inhabitants but Edwin the Mercian Duke and Morcar his Brother the Northumbrian Earl with thir Forces on either side soon drove him out of the Country Who thence betook him to Malcolm the Scottish King and with him abode the whole Summer About the same time Duke William sending Embassadors to admonish Harold of his promise and Oath to assist him in his Plea to the Kingdom he made answer that by the death of his Daughter betroth'd to him on that condition he was absolv'd of his Oath or not Dead he could not take her now an out-landish woman without consent of the Realm that it was presumptuously done and not to be persisted in if without consent or knowledge of the States he had sworn away the right of the Kingdome that what he swore was to gain his liberty being in a manner then his Prisner that it was unreasonable in the Duke to require or expect of him the foregoing of a Kingdome conferr'd upon him with universal favour and acclamation of the people to this flat deniall he added contempt sending the Messengers back saith Mathew Paris on maim'd Horses The Duke thus contemptuously put off addresses himself to the Pope setting forth the Justice of his cause which Harold whether through haughtiness of mind or distrust or that the ways to Rome were stop'd sought not to do Duke William besides the promise and Oath of Harold alleg'd that King Edward by the advice of Seward Godwin himself and Stigand the Archbishop had giv'n him the right of succession and had sent him the Son and Nephew of Godwin pledges of the guift the Pope sent to Duke William after this demonstration of his right a consecrated Banner Wherupon he having with great care and choice got an Army of tall and stout Souldiers under Captains of great skill and mature Age came in August to the Port of St. Valerie Mean while Harold from London comes to Sandwich there expecting his Navy which also coming he sails to the I le of Wight and having heard of Duke William's preparations and readiness to invade him kept good watch on the Coast and Foot Forces every where in fit places to guard the shoar But ere the middle of September provision failing when it was most needed both Fleet and Army return home When on a sudden Harold Harvager King of Norway with a Navy of more then 500 great Ships others less'n them by two hunderd others augment them to a thousand appears at the mouth of Tine to whom Earl Tosti with his Ships came as was agreed between them whence both uniting set sail with all speed and enterd the River Humber Thence turning into Ouse as far as Rical landed and won Yorke by assault At these tideings Harold with all his power hasts thetherward but ere his coming Edwin and Morcar at Fulford by Yorke on the North side of Ouse about the Feast of St. Mathew had giv'n them Battel successfully at first but over-born at length with numbers and forc't to turn thir backs more of them perish'd in the River then in the Fight The Norwegians taking with them 500 Hostages out of Yorke and leaving there 150 of thir own retir'd to thir Ships But the fift day after King Harold with a great and well appointed Army coming to York and at Stamford-Bridge or Battell-Bridge on Darwent assailing the Norwegians after much bloodshed on both sides cut off the greatest part of them with Harfager thir King and Tosti his own Brother But Olave the Kings Son and Paul Earl of Orkney left with many Souldiers to guard the Ships surrendring themselves with Hostages and Oath giv'n never to return as Enemies he sufferd freely to depart with 20 Ships and the small remnant of thir Army One man of the Norwegians is not to be forgott'n who with incredible valour keeping the
Plautius p. 53. heads the Silures against the Romans p. 56. 57. is betray'd by Cartismandua to whom he fled for refuge p. 57. is sent to Rome ibid. his Speech to the Emperour p. 58. by the braveness of his carriage he obtains pardon for himself and all his Company ibid. Carausius grown rich with Piracy possesses himself of this Island p. 86. he fortifies the Wall of Severus ibid. in the midst of the great preparations of Constantius Chlorus against him he is slain by his friend Alectus p. 87. Carinus sent by his Father Carus the Emperour to govern this Isle of Britain is overcome and slain by Dioclesian p. 85. Cartismandua Queen of the Brigantes delivers Caractacus bound to the Romans p. 57. deserts her Husband Venutius and gives both her self and Kingdom to Vellocatus one of his Squires p. 60. Carvilius a petty King in Britain assaults the Roman Camp with three others p. 46. Cassibelaun one of the Sons of Heli gains the Kingdom by common consent p. 29. his generosity to his Brothers Sons ibid. he heads the Britans against Julius Caesar and the Romans p. 45. he is deserted by the Trinobantes and why p. 46. he yields to Caesar p. 47. is reported to have had War with Androgeus dies and is buried at York ibid. Cataracta an ancient City in Yorkshire burnt by Arnred a Tyrant Catellus an ancient Brittish King p. 28. Cerdic a Saxon Prince lands at Cerdic shore and overthrows the Britans p. 120. defeats their King Natanleod in a memorable Battel ibid. founds the Kingdom of West-Saxons p. 121. see Kerdic Cherin an ancient Brittish King p. 28. Christian Faith receiv'd in Britain by King Lucius p. 79. said to have been preach't by Faganus and Deruvianus p. 79. others say long before by Simon Zelotes or Joseph of Arimathaea p. 80. upon what occasion preach't to the Saxons p. 137. 138. Chrysanthus the Son of Marcianus a Bishop made Deputy of Britain by Theodosius p. 93. Cingetorix a petty King in Britain assaults the Roman Camp p. 46. is taken Prisoner by Caesar p. 47. Claudius the Emperour is perswaded by Bericus though a Britan to invade this Island p. 51. he sends Aulus Plautius hither with an Army p. 52. he comes over himself and joins with Plautius p. 53. defeats the Britans in a set Battel and takes Camalodunum p. 54. he returns to Rome leaving Plautius behind ibid. he hath excessive honours decreed him by the Senate ibid. Cliguellius an ancient Brittish King p. 28. Clodius Albinus succeeds Pertinax in the Government of Britain for the Romans p. 81. he is vanquish't and slain in a Battel against Septimius Severus p. 81. Coilus the Son of Marius leaves the Kingdom to Lucius p. 79. Coillus an ancient British King p. 28. Comail and two other British Kings slain by Keaulin and his Son Cuthwin p. 133. Comius of Arras sent by Caesar to make a party among the Britans p. 35. Constans of a Monk made a Caesars reduce all Spain to his Father Constantius's Obedience p. 95. displacing Gerontius is oppos'd by him and at last slain ibid. Constantine the Son of Constantius Chlorus saluted Emperour after his Fathers Death p. 88. 89. his Mother said to be Helena the Daughter of Coilus a British Prince p. 89. his eldest Son of the same name enjoys among other Provinces of the Empire this Island also ibid. a common Souldier of the same name saluted Emperour p. 95. by the valour of Oedebecus and Gerontius he gains in France as far as Arles ibid. by the conduct of his Son Constans and of Gerontius he reduces all Spain ibid. Gerontius displac't by him calls in the Vandals against him ibid. beseig'd by Constantius Comes he turns Priest is afterwards carried into Italy and put to Death p. 96. Constantine the Son of Cador sharply inveigh'd against by Gildas p. 131. he is said to have murder'd two young Princes of the blood Royal. ibid. Constantine King of Scotland joining with the Danes and Irish under Anlaf is overthrown by Athelstan p. 225. 226. Constantius Chlorus sent against Carausius p. 86. defeats Alectus who is slain in the Battel p. 87. is acknowledg'd by the Britans as their deliverer p. 88. divides the Empire with Galerius ibid. dies at York ibid. Constantius the Son of Constantine overcomes Magnentius who contested with him for the sole Empire p. 89. Cordeilla's sincere answer to her Father begets his displeasure p. 18. she is married to Aganippus a King in Gaul ibid. she receives her Father rejected by his other Daughters with most dutiful affection p. 19. restores him to his Crown and Reigns after him p. 20. is vanquisht depos'd and imprison'd by her two Sister's Sons ibid. Corineus a Trojan Commander joins Forces with Brutus p. 12. slaies Imbertus ibid. arrives with Brutus in this Island p. 13. Cornwal from him denominated falls to his Lot p. 14. he overcomes the Giant Goemagog p. 14. Crida the first of the Mercian Kingdom p. 133. Cuichelm the West-Saxon sends Eumerus a Sword-man to assassin King Edwin p. 148. is baptis'd in Dorchester but dies the same year p. 155. Cunedagius the Son of Regan deposeth his Aunt Cordelia p. 20. shares the Kingdom with his Cosin Marganus is invaded by him meets him and overcomes him p. 20. Cuneglas a British King Reigns one of five a little before the Saxons were setled p. 131. Cunobeline see Kymbeline Cutha helps his Father Keaulin against Ethelbert p. 128. Cuthred King of West-Saxons joyns with Ethelbald the Mercian and gains a great victory over the Welsh p. 174. he hath a fierce battel with Ethelbald the Mercian which he not long survives p. 175. a King of Kent of the same name p. 185. Cuthulf the Brother of Keaulin vanquisheth the Britains at Bedanford and takes several Towns p. 132. Cuthwin see Keaulin D. DAnes first appear in the West p. 179. they stay the Kings Gatherers of Custom ibid. landing at Lindisfarne in York-shire they pillage that Monastery slay and captivate several both Fryars and others p. 181. attempting to spoil another Monastery they are cut off by the English p. 182. they make very great waste and havock in Northumberland p. 188. they waste Shepey in Kent and engage with Ecbert near the River Carr p. 191. they are overthrown and put to flight by Ecbert p. 192. their various success in the reign of Ethelwolf p. 192 193 c. many great battels between them and the English in the reign of Ethelred with various fortune p. 201 202 c. their whole Army being defeated they are brought to terms by King Alfred p. 207. in the same Kings reign several vast Fleets of Danes arrive with fresh supplies p. 208. a vast Army of them over-thrown by King Athelstan p. 225. a massicre committed upon them by the English in all parts of the Land in the reign of King Ethelred p. 249. Danius reckon'd among the Ancient British Kings p. 25. Deruvianus see Faganus Dinothus Abbot of Bangor his
sent against him brings the Welsh to submission p. 293. lurking about the Country he is taken and slain by Griffin Prince of North-Wales ibid. Guendolen the Daughter of Corineus is married to Locrine the Son of Brutus p. 14. being divorc't by him gives him Battel wherein he is slain p. 15. causeth Estrildis whom Locrine had married to be thrown into a River with her Daughter Sabra p. 15. governs 15 years in behalf of her Son Madan ibid. Gueniver the Wife of Melval a British King kept from King Arthur in the Town of Glaston p. 126. Guiderius said to have been the Son of Cunobeline and slain in a Battel against Claudius p. 54. Guitheline succeeds his Father Gurguntius Barbirus in the Kingdom Gunhildis the Sister of Swane with her Husband Earl Palingus and her young Son cruelly murther'd p. 150. Guorangonus a King of Kent before it was given to the Saxons p. 113. Guortigner the Son of Vortiger bends his endeavours to drive out the Saxons p. 113. his success against them in several Battels p. 415. dying he commands his bones to be buried in the Port of Stonar ibid. Gurguntius Barbirus succeeds Belinus in the Kingdom overcomes the Dane and gives incouragement to Bartholinus a Spaniard to settle a plantation in Ireland p. 24. another ancient British King nam'd Gurguntius p. 28. Gurgustius succeeds Rivallo in the Kingdom p. 21. Gyrtha Son of Earl Godwin accompanies his Father into Flanders together with his Brothers Tosti and Swane p. 286. his noble advice to his Brother Harold as he was ready to give Battel to Duke William of Normandy p. 304. he is slain in the said Battel with his Brothers Harold and Leofwin p. 305. Gythro or Gothrun a Danish King baptiz'd and receiv'd out of the Font by King Alfred p. 207. the Kingdom of the East-Angles said to be bestow'd on him to hold of the said Alfred ibid. H. HArdecnute the Son of Canute by Emma call'd over from Bruges and receiv'd King with general acclamation p. 276. he calls Godwin and others to account about the death of Elfred p. 277. enrag'd at the Citizens of Worcester for killing his Tax-gatherers he sends an Army against them and burns the City p. 277 278. he kindly receives and entertains his half Brother Edward p. 278. eating and drinking hard at a great Feast he falls down speechless and soon after expiring is buried at Winchester ibid. Harold sirnamed Harefoot the Son of Canute elected King by Duke Leofric and the Mercians p. 273. he banishes his Mother-in-Law Emma p. 274. his perfidiousness and cruelty towards Elfred the Son of Ethelred p. 274. 276. he dies and is buried at Winchester p. 276. Harold Son of Godwin made Earl of Kent and sent against Prince Griffin of Wales p. 292. he reduces him at last to utmost extremity p. 293. being cast upon the Coast of Normandy and brought to Duke William he promises his endeavours to make him King of England p. 295 296. he takes the Crown himself p. 299. puts off Duke William demanding it with a slighting answer p. 300 301. is invaded by his Brother Tosti p. 300. by Harold Harvager King of Norwey whom he utterly overthrows and slays together with Tosti p. 301 302. is invaded by Duke William of Normandy p. 303. is over-thrown at the Battel of Hastings and slain together with his two Brothers Leofwin and Gyrtha p. 305. Helvius Pertinax succeeds Ulpius Marcellus in the Government of Britain p. 81. Hengist and Horsa with an Army of Saxons Jutes and Angles lands in the Isle of Thanet p. 111 112. Hengist invites over more of his Country-men p. 112. he gains advantages of Vortimer by marrying his Daughter to him p. 113. he takes on him Kingly Title p. 116. his several Battels against the Britans ibid. his treacherous slaughter of 300 British Grandees under pretence of Treaty p. 117. his death p. 119. Henninus Duke of Cornwall hath Regan the Daughter of King Leir given him in Marriage p. 18. Herebert a Saxon Earl slain with most part of his Army by the Danes at a place call'd Mereswar p. 193. Hinguar and Hubba two Danish Brethren how they got footing by degrees in England p. 199 200. Histion said to be descended of Japhet and to have had four Sons who peopled the greatest part of Europe p. 5. Honorius the Emperour sends aid twice to the Britans against their Northern Invaders p. 101. Horsa the Brother of Hengist slain in the Saxons War against the Britans p. 115 116. his Burial-place gave name to Horsted a Town in Kent p. 116. Humbeanna and Albert said by some to have shar'd the Kingdom of East-Angles after one Elfwald p. 187. I. JAgo or Lago succeeds his Vncle Gurgustius in the Kingdom p. 21. Icenians and by their example the Trinobantes rise up in Arms against the Romans p. 63. Ida the Saxon begins the Kingdom of Bernicia in Northumberland p. 126 127. Idwallo learns by his Brother 's ill success to rule well p. 27. Immanuentius slain by Cassibelan p. 46. Immin Eaba and Eadbert Noblemen of Mercia throw off Oswi and set up Wulfer p. 161. Ina succeeds Kedwalla in the Kingdom of the West-Saxons p. 168. he marches into Kent to demand satisfaction for the burning of Mollo ibid. is pacified by Victred with a sum of money and the delivering up of the Accessories ibid. vanquishes Gerent King of Wales p. 170. stays Kenwulf and Albright and vanquishes the East-Angles p. 171. ends his days at Rome ibid. Inniaunus depos'd for his ill courses p. 27. Joseph of Arimathaea said to have first preacht the Christian Faith in this Island p. 80. Jovinus sent Deputy into this Island by the Emperour Valentinian p. 91. Iric a Dane made Earl of Northumberland by Canute in place of Uthred slain p. 261. 268. he is said by some to have made War against Malcolm King of Scots p. 269. his greatness suspected by Canute he is banisht the Realm ibid. Julius Agricola the Emperours Lieutenant in Britain almost extirpates the Ordovices p. 69. finishes the Conquest of the Isle of Mona p. 69. his justice and prudence in Government p. 70. he brings the Britans to Civility Arts and an Imitation of the Roman fashions p. 71. he receives triumphal Honours from Titus p. 71 72. he extends his Conquests to Scotland subdues the Orcades and other Scotch Islands p. 72. he is hard put to it in several Conflicts but comes off victorious p. 74 75 c. he is commanded home by Domitian p. 77. Julius Caesar hath Intelligence that the Britans are aiding to his Enemies the Gauls p. 33. he sends Caius Volusenus to make discovery of the nature of the people and strength of the Country p. 34. after him Comius of Arras to make a party among the Britans p. 35. the stout resistance he meets with from them at his landing p. 36 37. he receives terms of peace from them p. 38. he loses a great part of his Fleet ibid. defeats the Britans and
the Romans p. 56. they continue the War after Caractacus was taken against Ostorius and others p. 59. 60. 61. Simon Zelotes by some said to have preacht the Christian Faith in this Island p. 80. Sisillius succeeds Jago p. 21. Sisilius the Son of Guitheline succeeds his Mother Martia p. 25. another of that name reckon'd in the number of the ancient Brittish Kings p. 28. Siward Earl of Northumberland sent by Hardecnute together with Leofric against the people of Worcester p. 277. 278. he and Leofric raise Forces for King Edward against Earl Godwin p. 285. he makes an expedition into Scotland vanquishes Macbeth and placeth in his stead Malcolm Son of the Cumbrian King p. 290. 291. he dies at York in an armed posture p. 291. Sleda erects the Kingdom of the East-Saxons p. 121. South-Saxon Kingdom by whom erected p. 119. South-Saxons upon what occasion converted to the Christian Faith p. 164. Staterius King of Albany is defeated and slain in fight by Dunwallo Mulmutius p. 21. Stilicho represses the invading Scots and Picts p. 93. Stuff and Withgar the Nephews of Kerdic bring him new levies p. 120. they inherit what he won in the Isle of Wight p. 125. Suetonius Paulinus Lieutenant in Britain attaques the Isle of Mona or Anglesey p. 61. Suidhelm succeeds Sigebert in the Kingdom of the East-Saxons p. 61. he is baptiz'd by Kedda ibid. Swane in revenge of his Sisters Death makes great devastations in the West of England p. 250. he carries all before him as far as London but is there repell'd p. 257. is stil'd King of England ibid. he sickens and dies p. 258. Swane the Son of Earl Godwin treacherously murthers his Kinsman Beorn p. 282. his peace wrought with the King by Aldred Bishop of Worcester ibid. toucht in Conscience for the slaughter of Beorn he goes barefoot to Rome and returning home dies in Lycia p. 289. Swithred the last King of the East-Saxon Kingdom driven out by Eâ—bert the West-Saxon p. 174. 187. T. TAximagulus a petty King anciently in Britain one of the four Kings that assaulted Caesar's Camp p. 46. Tenuantius one of the Sons of Lud hath Cornwal allotted him p. 28. made King after the Death of Cassibelan p. 50. Tendric a Warlike King of Britain said to have exchang'd his Crown for a Hermitage p. 134. to have taken up Arms again in aid of his Son Mouric ibid. Theobale the Brother of King Ethelfrid slain at Degiastan p. 141. Theodore a Monk of Tarsus ordain'd Bishop of Canterbury by P. Vitalian p. 163. by his means the Liberal Arts and the Greek and Latin Tongues flourish among the Saxons ibid. Theodosius sent over by the Emperour Valentinian enters London victoriously p. 91. sends for Civilis and Dulcitius p. 92. punishes Valentinus a Pannonian conspiring against him ibid. he returns with applause to Valentinian p. 92. 93. Theodosius the Son of the former preferr'd to the Empire p. 93. overcomes and slays Maximus usurping the Empire p. 93. Thurfert and dirers other Danish Lords submit to King Edward the Elder p. 220. Titulus succeeds his Father Uffa in the Kingdom of the East-Angles p. 121. Togodumnus the second Son of Cunobeline succeeds in the Kingdom p. 51. is overthrown by Aulus Plautius p. 52. slain in Battel p. 53. Tosti the Son of Godwin made Earl of Northumberland in the room of Siward p. 291. he swears Brotherhood with Malcolm King of Scotland p. 293. goes to Rome with Aldred Bishop of York ibid. the Northumbrians rise against him and expel him p. 294. 295. a story of great outrage and cruelty committed by him at Hereford p. 295. making War against his Brother King Harold he is driven out of the Country by Edwin and Morcar p. 300. joining with Harold Harfager King of Norway against his Brother he is slain together with Harfager in the Battel p. 302. Trebellius Maximus sent into Britain in the room of Petronius Turpilianus p. 68. Trinobantes fall off from Cassibelan and submit to Caesar and recommend Mandubratius to his protection p. 45. 46. Turkil a Danish Earl assaults Canterbury but is bought off p. 253. he swears Allegiance to King Ethelred that under that pretence he might stay and give intelligence to Swane p. 256. he leaves the English again and joins with Canute p. 260. his greatness suspected by Canute he is banisht the Realm p. 269. Turquetill a Danish Leader submitting to King Edward obtains leave of him to go and try his Fortune in France p. 219. V. VAlentinian the Emperour sends over several Deputies successively into this Island p. 91. Vectius Bolanus sent into Britain in the room of Trebellius Maximus p. 68. Vellocatus see Venutius and Cartismandua Venutius a King of the Brigantes deserted by his Wife Cartismandua who marries his Squire Vellocatus p. 60. he rights himself against her by Arms ibid. makes War successfully against those taking part with his Wife p. 60. 61. Verannius succeeds A. Didius in the Brittish Wars p. 61. Vertue ever highly rewarded by the ancient Romans p. 55. Vespasian valiantly fighting under Plautius against the Britans is rescued from danger by his Son Titus p. 55. for his eminent services here he receives triumphal Ornaments at Rome p. 55. Uffa erects the Kingdom of the East-Angles p. 121. from him his successours call'd Uffings p. 121. Victorinus a Moor appeaseth a Commotion in Britain by slaying a Governour of his own recommending p. 85. Victorinus of Tolosa made Prefect of this Island p. 94. Victred the Son of Ecbert obtaining the Kingdom of Kent settles all things in peace p. 166. after 34 years Reign he deceaseth p. 170. Videna slays her Son Ferrex in revenge of her other Son Porrex p. 21. Vigenius and Peredure expelling their Brother Elidure share the Kingdom between them p. 27. Virius Lupus hath the North part of the Government assign'd him by Severus the Emperour p. 81. Ulfketel Duke of the East-Angles sets upon the Danes with great valour p. 250. his Army defeated through the subtlety of a Danish Servant p. 254. he is slain with several other Dukes at the fatal Battel of Assandune p. 264. Ulpius Marcellus sent Lieutenant into Britain by Commodus ends the War by his Valour and Prudence p. 8. Vortipor reigns in Demetia or South-Wales p. 132. Vortigern's Character p. 109. he is advis'd by his Council to invite in the Saxons against the Scots and Picts ibid. he bestows upon Hengist and the Saxons the Isle of Thanet p. 112. then all Kent upon a marriage with Rowen Hengist's Daughter p. 113. condemn'd in a Synod for incest with his Daughter he retires to a Castle in Radnorshire built for the purpose p. 115. his Son Guortimer dead heresumes the Government p. 116. is drawn into a snare by Hengist p. 117. retiring again is burnt in his Tower p. 117. Urianus reckon'd in the number of ancient Brittish Kings p. 28. Utherpendragon thought to be the same with Natanleod p. 120. Uthred submits himself with the Northumbrians to Swane