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
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
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
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
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
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
thir decline and ruin under a double Conquest and the causes foregoing which not to blur or taint the praises of thir former actions and liberty well defended shall stand severally related and will be more then long enough for another Book The End of the Fifth Book THE HISTORY OF BRITAIN The Sixth Book Edward the Younger EDward the eldest Son of Edgar by Egelfieda his first Wife the Daughter of Duke Ordmer was according to right and his Fathers Will plac'd in the Throne Elfrida his second Wife and her faction only repineing who labour'd to have had her Son Ethelred a Child of 7 years preferr'd before him that she under that pretence might have rul'd all Mean while Comets were seen in Heav'n portending not Famin only which follow'd the next year but the troubl'd State of the whole Realm not long after to ensue The troubles begun in Edwi's daies between Monks and secular Priests now reviv'd and drew on either side many of the Nobles into parties For Elfere Duke of the Mercians with many other Pecrs corrupted as is said with guifts drove the Monks out of those Monasteries where Edgar had plac'd them and in thir stead put secular Priests with thir Wives But Ethelwin Duke of East-Angles with his Brother Elfwold and Earl Britnoth oppos'd them and gathering an Army defended the Abbies of East-Angles from such intruders To appease these tumults a Synod was call'd at Winchester and nothing there concluded a general Councel both of Nobles and Prelates was held at Caln in Wiltshire where while the dispute was hot but chiefly against Dunstan the room wherin they sat fell upon thir heads killing some maiming others Dunstan only escaping upon a beam that fell not and the King absent by reason of his tender Age. This accident quieted the controversie and brought both parts to hold with Dunstan and the Monks Mean while the King addicted to a Religious life and of a mild Spirit simply permitted all things to the ambitious will of his Step-mother and her Son Ethelred to whom she displeas'd that the name only of King was wanting practis'd thenceforth to remove King Edward out of the way which in this manner she brought about Edward on a day wearied with hunting thirsty and alone while his attendance follow'd the Dogs hearing that Ethelred and his mother lodg'd at Corvesgate Corse Castle saith Camden in the I le of Purbeck innocently went thether She with all shew of kindness welcoming him commanded drink to be brought forth for it seems he lighted not from his Horse and while he was drinking caus'd one of her Servants privately before instructed to stab him with a poignard The poor youth who little expected such unkindness there turning speedily the Reins fled bleeding till through loss of blood falling from his Horse and expiring yet held with one foot in the Stirrop he was dragg'd along the way trac'd by his blood and buried without honour at Werham having reign'd about 3 years but the place of his burial An. Dom. 978 not long after grew famous for miracles After which by Duke Elfer who as Malmsbury saith had a hand in his Death he was Royally enterr'd at Skepton or Shaftsbury The murdress Elfrida at length repenting spent the residue of her daies in sorrow and great penance Ethelred EThelred second Son of Edgar by Elfrida for Edmund An. Dom. 979 dy'd a Child his Brother Edward wickedly remov'd was now next in right to succeed and accordingly Crown'd at Kingston reported by some fair of visage comly of person elegant of behaviour but the event will shew that with many sluggish and ignoble vices he quickly sham'd his outside born and prolong'd a fatal mischeif of the people and the ruin of his Country whereof he gave early signes from his first infancy bewraying the Font and Water while the Bishop was baptizing him Whereat Dunstan much troubl'd for he stood by and saw it to them next him broke into these words By God and Gods Mother this Boy will prove a Sluggard Another thing is writt'n of him in his Childhood which argu'd no bad nature that hearing of his Brother Edwards cruel Death he made loud lamentation but his furious mother offended therwith and having no rod at hand beat him so with great Wax Candles that he hated the sight of them ever after Dunstan though unwilling set the Crown upon his head but at the same time foretold op'nly as is reported the great evils that were to come upon him and the Land in avengment of his Brothers innocent blood And about the same time one midnight a Cloud sometimes bloody sometimes fiery was seen over all England and within three years An. Dom. 982 the Danish Tempest which had long surceast revolv'd again upon this Iland To the more ample relating whereof the Danish History at least thir latest and diligentest Historian as neither from the first landing of Danes in the Reign of West-Saxon Brithric so now again from first to last contributes nothing busied more then anough to make out the bare names and successions of thir uncertain Kings and thir small actions at home unless out of him I should transcribe what hee takes and I better may from our own Annals the surer and the sadder witnesses of thir doings here not glorious as they vainly boast but most inhumanly Barbarous For the Danes well understanding that England had now a slothfull King to thir wish first landing at Southampton from 7 great Ships took the Town spoil'd the Country and carried away with them great pillage nor was Devonshire and Cornwall uninfested on the shore Pirats of Norway also harried the Coast of West-Chester and to add a worse calamity the City of London was burnt casually or not is not writt'n An. Dom. 986 It chanc'd fowr years after that Ethelred beseig'd Rochester some way or other offended by the Bishop therof Dunstan not approving the cause sent to warn him that he provoke not St. Andrew the Patron of that City nor wast his Lands an old craft of the Clergy to secure thir Church Lands by entailing them on some Saint the King not hark'ning Dunstan on this condition that the seige might be rais'd sent him a hundred pound the money was accepted and the seige dissolv'd Dunstan reprehending his avarice sent him again this word because thou hast respected money more then Religion the evils which I foretold shall the sooner come upon thee but not in my days for so God hath spok'n The next year An. Dom. 987 An. Dom. 988 was calamitous bringing strange fluxes upon men and murren upon Cattel Dunstan the year following dy'd a strenuous Bishop zealous without dread of person and for ought appeers the best of many Ages if he busied not himself too much in secular affairs He was Chaplain at first to King Athelstan and Edmund who succeeded much imploi'd in Court affairs till envi'd by some who laid many
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
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
this Iland Where the Inhabitants none but Devils as som write or as others a lawless crew left heer by Albion without Head or Governour both entertain'd them and had issue by them a second breed of Giants who tyranniz'd the Ile till Brutus came The Eldest of these Dames in thir Legend they call Albina and from thence for which cause the whole scene was fram'd will have the name Albion deriv'd Incredible it may seem so sluggish a conceit should prove so ancient as to be authoriz'd by the Elder Ninnius reputed to have liv'd above a thousand years agoe This I find not in him but that Histion sprung of Japhet had four Sons Francus Romanus Alemannus and Britto of whom the Britans as true I beleeve as that those other Nations whose names are resembl'd came of the other three if these Dreams give not just occasion to call in doubt the Book it self which bears that title Hitherto the things themselves have giv'n us a warrantable dispatch to run them soon over But now of Brutus and his Line with the whole Progeny of Kings to the entrance of Julius Caesar we cannot so easily be discharg'd Descents of Ancestry long continu'd laws and exploits not plainly seeming to be borrow'd or devis'd which on the common beleif have wrought no small impression defended by many deny'd utterly by few For what though Brutus and the whole Trojan pretence were yeelded up seeing they who first devis'd to bring us from som noble Ancestor were content at first with Brutus the Consul till better invention although not willing to forgoe the name taught them to remove it higher into a more fabulous Age by the same remove lighting on the Trojan Tales in affectation to make the Britan of one Original with the Roman pitch'd there yet those old and inborn names of successive Kings never any to have bin real persons or don in thir lives at least som part of what so long hath bin remember'd cannot be thought without too strict an incredulity For these and those causes above mention'd that which hath receav'd approbation from so many I have chos'n not to omitt Certain or uncertain be that upon the credit of those whom I must follow so far as keeps alooff from impossible and absurd attested by ancient Writers from Books more ancient I refuse not as the due and proper subject of Story The principal Author is well know'n to be Geoffrey of Monmouth what he was and whence his authority who in his age or before him have deliver'd the same matter and such like general discourses will better stand in a Treatise by themselvs All of them agree in this that Brutus was the Son of Silvius he of Ascanius whose Father was Aeneas a Trojan Prince who at the burning of that City with his Son Ascanius and a collected number that escap'd after long wandring on the Sea arriv'd in Italy Where at length by the assistance of Latinus King of Latium who had giv'n him his Daughter Lavinia he obtain'd to succeed in that Kingdom and left it to Ascanius whose Son Silvius though Roman Histories deny Silvius to be Son of Ascanius had maried secretly a Neece of Lavinia She being with Child the matter became known to Ascanius Who commanding his Magicians to enquire by Art what sex the Maid had conceiv'd had answer that it was one who should be the death of both his Parents and banish'd for the fact should after all in a farr Country attain to highest honour The prediction fail'd not for intravel the Mother di'd And Brutus the Child was so call'd at fifteen years of Age attending his Father to the Chace with an arrow unfortunately kill'd him Banish'd therefore by his kindred he retires into Greece Where meeting with the race of Helenus King Priams Son held there in servile condition by Pandrasus then King with them he abides For Pirrhus in revenge of his Father slain at Troy had brought thither with him Helenus and many others into servitude There Brutus among his own stock so thrives in vertue and in Arms as renders him belov'd to Kings and great Captains above all the Youth of that Land Wherby the Trojans not only beginn to hope but secretly to move him that he would lead them the way to liberty They allege their numbers and the promis'd help of Assaracus a Noble Greekish Youth by the Mothers side a Trojan whom for that cause his Brother went about to dispossess of certain Castles bequeath'd him by his Father Brutus considering both the Forces offer'd him and the strength of those Holds not unwillingly consents First therfore having fortifi'd those Castles he with Assaracus and the whole multitude betake them to the Woods and Hills as the safest place from whence to expostulate and in the name of all sends to Pandrasus this Message That the Trojans holding it unworthy thir Ancestors to serv in a Foren Kingdom had retreated to the Woods choosing rather a Savage life then a slavish If that displeas'd him that then with his leave they might depart to some other soil As this may pass with good allowance that the Trojans might be many in these parts for Helenus was by Pirrhus made King of the Chaouians and the Sons of Pirrhus by Andromache Hectors Wise could not but be powerful through all Epirus so much the more it may be doubted how these Trojans could be thus in bondage where they had Freinds and Country-men so Potent But to examin these things with diligence were but to confute the Fables of Britan with the Fables of Greece or Italy for of this Age what we have to say as well concerning most other Countries as this Iland is equally under Question Bee 't how it will Pandrasus not expecting so bold a message from the Sons of Captives gathers an Army And marching toward the Woods Brutus who had notice of his approach nigh to a Town call'd Sparatinum I know not what Towne but certaine of no Greek name over night planting himself there with good part of his men suddenly sets upon him and with slaughter of the Greeks pursues him to the passage of a River which mine Author names Akalon meaning perhaps Achelous or Acheron where at the Ford he overlaies them afresh This victory obtain'd and a sufficient strength left in Sparatinum Brutus with Antigonus the Kings Brother and his Freind Anacletus whom he had tak'n in the fight returns to the residue of his freinds in the thick Woods While Pandrasus with all speed recollecting beseiges the Town Brutus to releive his men beseig'd who earnestly call'd him distrusting the sufficiency of his force bethinks himself of this Policy Calls to him Anacletus and threatning instant death else both to him and his freind Antigonus enjoyns him that he should goe at the second howr of night to the Greekish Leagre and tell the Guards he had brought Antigonus by stealth out of Prison to a certain woody Vale unable through the waight of
his Fetters to move furder entreating them to come speedily and fetch him in Anacletus to save both himself and his freind Antigonus swears this and at fit howr setts on alone toward the Camp is mett examin'd and at last unquestionably known To whom great profession of fidelity first made he frames his Tale as had bin taught him and they now fully assur'd with a credulous rashness leaving thir Stations far'd accordingly by the ambush that there awaited them Forthwith Brutus dividing his men into three parts leads on in silence to the Camp commanding first each part at a several place to enter and forbear Execution till he with his Squadron posses'd of the Kings Tent gave Signal to them by Trumpet The sound whereof no sooner heard but huge havock begins upon the sleeping and unguarded Enemy whom the beseiged also now sallying forth on the other side assaile Brutus the while had special care to seise and secure the Kings Person whose life still within his Custody he knew was the surest pledge to obtain what he should demand Day appearing he enters the Town there distributes the Kings Treasury and leaving the place better fortify'd returns with the King his Prisner to the Woods Strait the ancient and grave men he summons to Counsell what they should now demand of the King After long debate Mempricius one of the gravest utterly dissuading them from thought of longer stay in Greece unlesse they meant to be deluded with a suttle peace and the awaited revenge of those whose freinds they had slain advises them to demand first the Kings Eldest Daughter Innogen in mariage to thir Leader Brutus with a rich dowry next shipping mony and fitt provision for them all to depart the Land This resolution pleasing best the King now brought in and plac'd in a high Seat is breifly told that on these conditions granted he might be free not granted he must prepare to die Prest with fear of death the King readily yeelds especially to bestow his Daughter on whom he confess'd so Noble and so Valiant offers them also the third part of his Kingdom if they like to stay if not to be thir Hostage himself till he had made good his word The Mariage therfore solemniz'd and shipping from all parts got together the Trojans in a Fleet no less writt'n then three hunderd fowr and twenty Sail betake them to the wide Sea where with a prosperous course two daies and a night bring them on a certain Iland long before dispeopl'd and left wast by Sea-Roavers the name wherof was then Leogecia now unknow'n They who were sent out to discover came at length to a ruin'd City where was a Temple and Image of Diana that gave Oracles but not meeting first or last save wild Beasts they return with this notice to thir Ships Wishing thir General would enquire of that Oracle what voiage to pursue Consultation had Brutus taking with him Geriou his Diviner and twely of the ancientest with wonted Ceremonies before the inward shrine of the Goddess in Verse as it seems the manner was utters his request Diva potens nemorum c. Goddess of Shades and Huntress who at will Walk'st on the rowling Sphear and through the deep On thy third Reigne the Earth look now and tell What Land what Seat of rest thou bidst me seek What certain Seat where I may worship thee For aye with Temples vow'd and Virgin quires To whom sleeping before the Altar Diana in a Vision that night thus answer'd Brute sub occasum Solis c. Brutus far to the West in th' Ocean wide Beyond the Realm of Gaul a Land there lies Sea-girt it lies where Giants dwelt of old Now void it fits thy people thether bend Thy course there shalt thou find a lasting seat There to thy Sons another Troy shall rise And Kings be born of thee whose dredded might Shall aw the World and Conquer Nations bold These Verses Originally Greek were put in Latin saith Virunnius by Gildas a British Poet and him to have liv'd under Claudius Which granted true adds much to the Antiquitie of this Fable and indeed the Latin Verses are much better then for the Age of Geoffrey ap Arthur unless perhaps Joseph of Exeter the only smooth Poet of those times befreinded him in this Diana overshot her Oracle thus ending Ipsis totiusterrae subditus orbis erit That to the race of Brute Kings of this Iland the whole Earth shall be subject But Brutus guided now as he thought by divine conduct speeds him towards the West and after som encounters on the Afric side arrives at a place on the Tyrrhen Sea where he happ'ns to find the Race of those Trojans who with Antenor came into Italy and Corineus a man much fam'd was thir Cheif though by surer Authors it be reported that those Trojans with Antenor were seated on the other side of Italie on the Adriatic not the Tyrrhen shoar But these joyning Company and past the Herculean Pillars at the mouth of Ligeris in Aquitania cast Anchor Where after som discovery made of the place Corineus Hunting nigh the shoar with his Men is by Messengers of the King Goffarius Pictus mett and question'd about his Errand there Who not answering to thir mind Imbertus one of them le ts fly an Arrow at Corineus which he avoiding slaies him and the Pictavian himself heerupon levying his whole Force is over-thrown by Brutus and Corineus who with the Battell Ax which he was wont to manage against the Tyrrhen Giants is said to have done marvells But Goffarius having draw'n to his aid the whole Country of Gaul at that time govern'd by twelv Kings puts his Fortune to a second Trial Wherin the Trojans over-born by multitude are driv'n back and beseigd in thir own Camp which by good foresight was strongly situate Whence Brutus unexpectedly issuing out and Corineus in the mean while whose device it was assaulting them behind from a Wood where he had convayd his men the night before The Trojans are again Victors but with the loss of Turon a Valiant Nefew of Brutus whose Ashes left in that place gave name to the City of Tours built there by the Trojans Brutus finding now his powers much lessn'd and this yet not the place foretold him leavs Aquitain and with an easie course arriving at Totness in Dev'nshire quickly perceivs heer to be the promis'd end of his labours The Iland not yet Britain but Albion was in a manner desert and inhospitable kept only by a remnant of Giants whose excessive Force and Tyranie had consum'd the rest Them Brutus destroies and to his people divides the Land which with som reference to his own name he thenceforth calls Britain To Corineus Cornwal as now we call it fell by Lot the rather by him lik't for that the hugest Giants in Rocks and Caves were said to lurk still there which kind of Monsters to deal with was his old exercise And heer with leave be-spok'n
to recite a grand Fable though dignify'd by our best Poets while Brutus on a certain Festival day solemnly kept on that shoar where he first landed was with the people in great jollity and mirth a crew of these Savages breaking in upon them began on the suddain another sort of Game then at such a meeting was expected But at length by many hands overcome Goëmagog the hugest in higth twelv Cubits is reserv'd alive that with him Corineus who desir'd nothing more might try his strength Whom in a Wrestle the Giant catching aloft with a terrible hugg broke three of his Ribs nevertheless Corineus enrag'd heaving him up by main force and on his Shoulders bearing him to the next high Rock threw him headlong all shatter'd into the Sea and left his name on the Cliff call'd ever since Langoëmagog which is to say the Giants leap After this Brutus in a chosen place builds Troia nova chang'd in time to Trinovantum now London and began to enact Laws Heli beeing then high Preist in Judaea and having govern'd the whole Ile 24 Years dy'd and was buried in his new Troy His three Sons Locrine Albanact and Camber divide the Land by consent Locrine had the middle part Loëgria Camber possess'd Cambria or Wales Albanact Albania now Scotland But he in the end by Humber King of the Hunns who with a Fleet invaded that Land was slain in fight and his people driv'n back into Loëgria Locrine and his Brother goe out against Humber who now marching onward was by them defeated and in a River drown'd which to this day retains his name Among the spoils of his Camp and Navy were found certain young Maids and Estrildis above the rest passing fair the Daughter of a King in Germany from whence Humber as he went wasting the Sea-Coast had led her Captive whom Locrine though before contracted to the Daughter of Corineus resolvs to marry But beeing forc'd and threatn'd by Corineus whose Autority and power he fear'd Guendolen the Daughter he yeelds to marry but in secret loves the other and oft-times retiring as to som privat Sacrifice through Vaults and passages made under ground and seven years thus enjoying her had by her a Daughter equally fair whose name was Sabra But when once his fear was off by the Death of Corineus not content with secret enjoyment divorcing Guendolen he makes Estrildis now his Queen Guendolen all in rage departs into Cornwall where Madan the Son she had by Locrine was hitherto brought up by Corineus his Grandfather And gathering an Army of her Fathers Friends and Subjects gives Battail to her Husband by the River Sture wherein Locrine shot with an Arrow ends his life But not so ends the fury of Guendolen for Estrildis and her Daughter Sabra she throws into a River and to leave a Monument of revenge proclaims that the stream be thenceforth call'd after the Damsels name which by length of time is chang'd now to Sabrina or Severn Fifteen Years she governs in behalf of her Son then resigning to him at Age retires to her Fathers Dominion This saith my Author was in the daies of Samuel Madan hath the praise to have well and peacefully rul'd the space of 40 years leaving behind him two Sons Memprioius and Malim Mempricius had first to doe with the ambition of his Brother aspiring to share with him in the Kingdom whom therfore at a meeting to compose matters with a treachery which his cause needed not he slew Nor was he better in the sole possession wherof so ill he could endure a Partner killing his Nobles and those especially next to succeed him till lastly giv'n over to unnaturall lust in the twentith of his Reigne hunting in a Forest he was devowr'd by Wolves His Son Ebranc a man of mighty strength and stature Reign'd 40 Years He first after Brutus wasted Gaul and returning rich and prosperous builded Caerebranc now York in Albania Alclud Mount Agned or the Castle of Maydens now Edinburgh He had 20 Sons and 30 Daughters by 20 Wives His Daughters he sent to Silvius Alba into Italy who bestow'd them on his Peers of the Trojan Line His Sons under the leading of Assaracus thir Brother won them Lands and Signories in Germany thence call'd from these Brethren Germania a derivation too hastily suppos'd perhaps before the word Germannus or the Latin Tongue was in use Som who have describ'd Henault as Jacobus â—ergomas and Lessabeus are cited to affirm that Ebrâ—◠〈◊〉 his Warre there was by Brunchildis Lord of 〈◊〉 put to the worse Brutus therfore surnamed Greenshield succeeding to repair his Fathers losses as the sam Lessabeus reports fought a second Battail in Henault with Brunchild at the mouth of Scaldis and Encamp'd on the River Hania Of which our Spencer also thus Sings Let Scaldis tell and let tell Hania And let the Marsh of Esthambruges tell What colour were thir Waters that same day And all the Moar twixt Elversham and Dell With blood of Henalois which therin fell How oft that day did sad Brunchildis see The Greenshield dy'd in dolorous Vermeil c. But Henault and Brunchild and Greenesheild seeme newer names then for a Story pretended thus Antient. Him succeeded Leil a maintainer of Peace and Equity but slackn'd in his latter end whence arose som civil discord He built in the North Cairleil and in the daies of Solomon Rudhuddibras or Hudibras appeasing the commotions which his Father could not fownded Caerkeynt or Canturbury Caerguent or Winchester and Mount Paladur now Septonia or Shaftsbury but this by others is contradicted Bladud his Son built Caerbadus or Bathe and those medcinable Waters he dedicated to Minerva in whose Temple there he kept fire continually burning He was a man of great invention and taught Necromancie till having made him Wings to fly he fell down upon the Temple of Apollo in Trinovant and so dy'd after twenty years Reigne Hitherto from Father to Son the direct Line hath run on but Leir who next Reign'd had only three Daughters and no Male Issue govern'd laudably and built Caer-Leir now Leicestre on the Bank of Sora. But at last failing through Age he determines to bestow his Daughters and so among them to divide his Kingdom Yet first to try which of them lov'd him best a Trial that might have made him had he known as wisely how to try as he seem'd to know how much the trying behoov'd him he resolves a simple resolution to ask them solemly in order and which of them should profess largest her to beleev Gonorill th' Eldest apprehending too well her Fathers weakness makes answer invoking Heav'n That she lov'd him above her Soul Therfore quoth the old man overjoy'd since thou so honourst my declin'd Age to thee and the Husband whom thou shalt choose I give the third part of my Realm So fair a speeding for a few words soon utter'd was to Regan the second ample instruction what to say She on the same demand spares no protesting
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
time would not bend gave Hostages admitted Garrisons and came in voluntarily The Winter he spent all in worthie actions teaching and promoting like a public Father the institutes and customes of civil life The Inhabitants rude and scatter'd and by that the proner to Warr he so perswaded as to build Houses Temples and Seats of Justice and by praysing the forward quick'ning the slow assisting all turn'd the name of necessitie into an emulation He caus'd moreover the Noblemens Sons to be bred up in liberal Arts and by preferring the Witts of Britain before the Studies of Gallia brought them to affect the Latine Eloquence who before hated the Language Then were the Roman fashions imitated and the Gown after a while the incitements also and materials of Vice and voluptuous life proud Buildings Baths and the elegance of Banqueting which the foolisher sort call'd civilitie but was indeed a secret Art to prepare them for bondage An. Dom. 81 Spring appearing he took the Field and with a prosperous expedition wasted as farr Northward as the Frith of Taus all that obey'd not with such a terror as he went that the Roman Army though much hinderd by tempestuous weather had the leasure to build Forts and Castles where they pleas'd none dareing to oppose them Besides Agricola had this excellence in him so providently to choose his places where to fortifie as not another General then alive No sconce or fortress of his raising was ever known either to have bin forc'd or yeilded up or quitted Out of these impregnable by seige or in that case duely releev'd with continual irruptions he so prevail'd that the Enemie whose manner was in Winter to regain what in Summer he had lost was now alike in both seasons kept short and streit'n'd For these exploits then ex'steem'd so great and honourable Titus in whose Reign they were atcheev'd was the fifteenth time saluted Imperator and of him Agricola receav'd triumphal honours An. Dom. 82 The fourth Summer Domitian then ruleing the Empire he spent in settling and confirming what the year before he had travail'd over with a running Conquest And had the valour of his Souldiers bin answerable he had reach'd that year as was thought the utmost bounds of Britain For Glota and Bodotria now Dunbritton and the Frith of Edinburrow two opposite Armes of the Sea divided only by a neck of Land and all the Creeks and Inlets on this side were held by the Romans and the Enemie driv'n as it were into another Iland An. Dom. 83 In his fift year he pass'd over into the Orcades as we may probably guess and other Scotch Iles discovering and subdueing Nations till then unknown He gain'd also with his Forces that part of Britain which faces Ireland as aiming also to conquer that Iland where one of the Irish Kings driv'n out by civil Warrs comming to him he both gladly receav'd and retain'd him as against a fitt time An. Dom. 84 The Summer ensueing on mistrust that the Nations beyond Bodotria would generally rise and forelay the passages by land he caus'd his Fleet makeing a great shew to bear along the Coast and up the Friths and Harbours joyning most commonly at night on the same shoar both Land and Sea Forces with mutual shouts and loud greetings At sight whereof the Britans not wont to see thir Sea so ridd'n were much daunted Howbeit the Caledonians with great preparation and by rumor as of things unknown much greater taking Armes and of thir own accord begining Warr by the assault of sundry Castles sent back some of thir fear to the Romans themselves and there were of the Commanders who cloaking thir fear under shew of sage advice counsel'd the General to retreat back on this side Bodotria He in the mean while having intelligence that the Enemie would fall on in many Bodies devided also his Armie into three parts Which advantage the Britans quickly spying and on a sudden uniting what before they had disjoyn'd assaile by night with all thir Forces that part of the Roman Armie which they knew to be the weakest and breaking in upon the Camp surpris'd between sleep and fear had begun some Execution When Agricola who had learnt what way the Enemies took and follow'd them with all speed sending before him the lightest of his Horse and Foot to charge them behind the rest as they came on to affright them with clamour so ply'd them without respite that by approach of day the Roman Ensigns glittering all about had encompass'd the Britans who now after a sharp fight in the very Ports of the Camp betook them to thir wonted refuge the Woods and Fens poursu'd a while by the Romans that day else in all appearance had ended the Warr. The Legions reincourag'd by this event they also now boasting who but lately trembl'd cry all to be led on as farr as there was British ground The Britans also not acknowledging the loss of that day to Roman valour but to the policy of their Captaine abated nothing of their stoutness but arming thir youth conveying thir Wives and Children to places of safty in frequent assemblies and by solemn covnants bound themselves to mutual assistance against the common Enemy About the same time a Cohort of Germans having slain thir Centurion with other Roman Officers in a mutiny and for fear of punishment fled a Shipboard launch'd forth in three light Gallies without Pilot and by tide or weather carried round about the Coast using Piracy where they landed while their Ships held out and as thir skill serv'd them with various fortune were the first discoverers to the Romans that Britain was an Iland An. Dom. 85 The following Summer Agricola having before sent his Navie to hover on the Coast and with sundrie and uncertaine landings to divert and disunite the Britans himself with a power best appointed for expedition wherein also were many Britans whom he had long try'd both valiant and faithful marches onward to the Mountaine Grampius where the British above 30 thousand were now lodg'd and still encreasing for neither would thir old men so many as were yet vigorous and lusty be left at home long practis'd in Warr and every one adorn'd with some badge or cognisance of his warlike deeds long agoe Of whom Galgacus both by birth and merit the prime Leader to thir courage though of it self hot and violent is by his rough Oratory in detestation of servitude and the Roman yoke said to have added much more eagerness of fight testifi'd by thir shouts and barbarous applauses As much did on the others side Agricola exhort his Souldiers to Victorie and Glorie as much the Souldiers by his firm and well grounded Exhortations were all on a fire to the onset But first he orders them in this sort Of 8000 Auxiliar Foot he makes his middle ward on the wings 3000 Horse the Legions as a reserve stood in array before the Camp either to seise the Victorie won without their own
of things requires a several relation THE HISTORY OF BRITAIN The Third Book THis third Book having to tell of accidents as various and exemplary as the intermission or change of Government hath any where brought forth may deserve attention more than common and repay it with like benefit to them who can judiciously read considering especially that the late civil broils had cast us into a condition not much unlike to what the Britans then were in when the imperial jurisdiction departing hence left them to the sway of thir own Councils which times by comparing seriously with these later and that confused Anarchy with this intereign we may be able from two such remarkable turns of State producing like events among us to raise a knowledg of our selves both great and weighty by judging hence what kind of men the Britans generally are in matters of so high enterprise how by nature industry or custom fitted to attempt or undergoe matters of so main consequence for if it be a high point of wisdom in every private man much more is it in a Nation to know it self rather than puft up with vulgar flatteries and encomiums for want of self knowledge to enterprise rashly and come off miserably in great undertakings The Britans thus as we heard being left without protection from the Empire and the Land in a manner emptied of all her youth consumed in Warrs abroad or not caring to return home themselves through long subjection servile in mind sloathful of body and with the use of Arms unacquainted sustain'd but ill for many years the violence of those barbarous Invaders who now daily grew upon them For although at first greedy of change and to be thought the leading Nation to freedom from the Empire they seem'd a while to bestirr them with a shew of diligence in thir new affairs som secretly aspiring to rule others adoring the name of liberty yet so soon as they felt by proof the weight of what it was to govern well themselves and what was wanting within them not stomach or the love of licence but the wisdom the virtue the labour to use and maintain true libertie they soon remitted thir heat and shrunk more wretchedly under the burden of thir own libertie than before under a foren yoke Insomuch that the residue of those Romans which had planted themselves heer despairing of thir ill deportment at home and weak resistance in the field by those few who had the courage or the strength to bear Arms nine years after the sacking of Rome remov'd out of Britain into France An. Dom. 418 hiding for haste great part of thir treasure which was never after found And now again the Britans no longer able to support themselves against the prevailing Enemy sollicit Honorius to thir aid with mournful Letters Embassages and vows of perpetual subjection to Rome if the Northern Foe were but repuls't An. Dom. 422 He at thir request spares them one Legion which with great slaughter of the Scots and Picts drove them beyond the Borders rescu'd the Britans and advis'd them to build a Wall cross the Iland between Sea and Sea from the place where Edinburg now stands to the Frith of Dunbritton by the City Alcluith But the material being only Turf and by the rude multitude unartificially built up without better direction avail'd them little For no sooner was the Legion departed but the greedy spoilers returning land in great numbers from thir Boats and Pinaces wasting slaying and treading down all before them Then are messengers again posted to Rome in lamentable sort beseeching that they would not suffer a whole Province to be destroy'd and the Roman name so honourable yet among them to become the subject of barbarian scorn and insolence An. Dom. 423 The Emperor at thir sad complaint with what speed was possible sends to thir succour Who coming suddenly on those ravenous multitudes that minded only spoil surprise them with a terrible slaughter They who escap'd fled back to those Seas from whence yearly they were wont to arrive and return lad'n with booties But the Romans who came not now to rule but charitably to aid declaring that it stood not longer with the ease of thir Affairs to make such labourious voyages in pursuit of so base and vagabond robbers of whom neither glory was to be got nor gain exhorted them to manage thir own warfare and to defend like men thir Country thir Wives thir Children and what was to be dearer than life thir liberty against an Enemy not stronger than themselves if thir own sloth and cowardise had not made them so if they would but only find hands to grasp defensive Arms rather than basely stretch them out to receave bonds They gave them also thir help to build a new Wall not of earth as the former but of stone both at the public cost and by particular contributions traversing the I le in direct line from East to West between certain Cities plac'd there as Frontiers to bear off the Enemy where Severus had wall'd once before They rais'd it 12 Foot high 8 broad Along the South shoar because from thence also like hostility was fear'd they place Towers by the Sea side at certain distances for safety of the Coast Withall they instruct them in the art of Warr leaving Patterns of thir Arms and Weapons behind them and with animating words and many lessons of valour to a faint-hearted audience bid them finally farewell without purpose to return And these two friendly Expeditions the last of any hither by the Romans were perform'd as may be gather'd out of Beda and Diaconus the two last years of Honorius Thir Leader as som modernly write was Gallio of Ravenna Buchanan who departs not much from the Fables of his Predecessor Boethius names him Maximianus and brings against him to this Battel Fergus first King of Scots after thir second suppos'd coming into Scotland Dursius King of Picts both there slain and Dioneth an imaginary King of Britain or Duke of Cornwall who improbablie sided with them against his own Countrie hardlie escaping With no less exactness of particular circumstances he takes upon him to relate all those tumultuarie inrodes of the Scots and Picts into Britain as if they had but yesterday happen'd thir order of Battel manner of fight number of slain Articles of Peace things whereof Gildas and Beda are utterly silent Authors to whom the Scotch Writers have none to cite comparable in Antiquity no more therefore to be believ'd for bare assertions however quaintlie drest than our Geofry of Monmouth when he varies most from authentick storie But either the inbred vanity of some in that respect unworthily call'd Historians or the fond zeal of praising thir Nations above truth hath so far transported them that where they find nothing faithfully to relate they fall confidently to invent what they think may either best set off thir Historie or
magnifie thir Countrie The Scots and Picts in manners differing somwhat from each other but still unanimous to rob and spoile hearing that the Romans intended not to return from thir Gorroghs or Leathern Frigats pour out themselves in swarms upon the Land more confident than ever and from the North end of the I le to the very wall side then first took possession as inhabitants while the Britans with idle Weapons in thir hands stand trembling on the Battlements till the half-naked Barbarians with thir long and formidable Iron hooks pull them down headlong The rest not only quitting the Wall but Towns and Cities leave them to the bloodie pursuer who follows killing wasting and destroying all in his way From these confusions arose a Famin and from thence discord and civil commotion among the Britans each man living by what he rob'd or took violently from his Neighbour When all stores were consum'd and spent where men inhabited they betook them to the Woods and liv'd by hunting which was thir only sustainment To the heaps of these evils from without were added new divisions within the Church For Agricola the Son of Severianus a Pelagian Bishop had spread his Doctrine wide among the Britans not uninfected before The sounder part neither willing to embrace his opinion to the overthrow of divine grace nor able to refute him crave assistance from the Churches of France who send them Germanus Bishop of Auxerre An. Dom. 429 and Lupus of Troyes They by continual preaching in Churches in Streets in Fields and not without miracles as is writt'n confirm'd som regain'd others and at Verulam in a public disputation put to silence thir chief adversaries This reformation in the Church was beleev'd to be the cause of thir success a while after in the field An. Dom. 430 For the Saxons and Picts with joint force which was no new thing before the Saxons at least had any dwelling in this Iland during the abode of Germanus heer had made a strong impression from the North. The Britans marching out against them and mistrusting thir own power send to Germanus and his Collegue reposing more in the spiritual strength of those two men than in thir own thousands arm'd They came and thir presence in the Camp was not less than if a whole Army had com to second them It was then the time of Lent and the people instructed by the daily Sermons of these two Pastors came flocking to receave Baptism There was a place in the Camp set apart as a Church and trick'd up with boughs upon Easter-day The Enemy understanding this and that the Britans were tak'n up with Religions more than with feats of Arms advances after the Paschal Feast as to a certain Victorie German who also had intelligence of thir approach undertakes to be Captain that day and riding out with selected Troops to discover what advantages the place might offer lights on a Valley compass't about with Hills by which the Enemy was to pass And placing there his ambush warns them that what word they heard him pronounce aloud the same they should repeat with universal shout The Enemy passes on securely and German thrice aloud cries Halleluia which answered by the Souldiers with a sudd'n burst of clamour is from the Hills and Valleys redoubled The Saxons and Picts on a sudden supposing it the noise of a huge Hoast throw themselves into flight casting down thir Arms and great numbers of them are drown'd in the River which they had newly pass'd This Victory thus won without hands left to the Britans plenty of spoile and to the person and the preaching of German greater authority and reverence than before And the exploit might pass for current if Constantius the Writer of his life in the next age had resolv'd us how the British Army came to want baptizing for of any Paganism at that time or long before in the Land we read not or that Pelagianism was re-baptiz'd The place of this Victory as is reported was in Flintshire by a Town call'd Guid-cruc and the River Allen where a field retains the name of Maes German to this day An. Dom. 431 But so soon as German was return'd home the Scots and Picts though now so many of them Christians that Palladius a Deacon was ordain'd and sent by Celestine the Pope to be a Bishop over them were not so well reclaim'd or not so many of them as to cease from doing mischief to thir Neighbours where they found no impeachment to fall in yearly as they were wont They therefore of the Britans who perhaps were not yet wholly ruin'd in the strongest and South-west parts of the I le send Letters to Aetius then third time Consul of Rome with this superscription To Aetius thrice Consul the groanes of the Britans And after a few words thus An. Dom. 446 The barbarians drive us to the Sea the Sea drives us back to the barbarians thus bandied up and down between two deaths we perish either by the Sword or by the Sea But the Empire at that time overspread with Hunns and Vandals was not in condition to lend them aid Thus rejected and wearied out with continual flying from place to place but more afflicted with Famine which then grew outrageous among them many for hunger yielded to the Enemy others either more resolute or less expos'd to wants keeping within Woods and Mountainous places not only defended themselves but sallying out at length gave a stop to the insulting Foe with many seasonable defeats led by some eminent person as may be thought who exhorted them not to trust in thir own strength but in Divine assistance And perhaps no other heer is meant than the foresaid deliverance by German if computation would permit which Gildas either not much regarded or might mistake but that he tarried so long heer the Writers of his life assent not Finding therefore such opposition the Scots or Irish Robbers for so they are indifferently term'd without delay get them home The Picts as before was mentioned then first began to settle in the utmost parts of the Iland using now and then to make inrodes upon the Britans But they in the mean while thus ridd of thir Enemies begin afresh to till the ground which after cessation yields her fruit in such abundance as had not formerly bin known for many Ages But wantonness and luxury the wonted companions of plenty grow up as fast and with them if Gildas deserve belief all other vices incident to human corruption That which he notes especially to be the chief perverting of all good in the Land and so continued in his days was the hatred of truth and all such as durst appear to vindicate and maintain it Against them as against the only disturbers all the malice of the Land was bent Lies and falsities and such as could best invent them were only in request Evil was embrac'd for good wickedness honour'd
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
thir flowing hither then to have won Kingdoms as far as Russia scarce able heer to defend his own Buchanan our Neighbour Historian reprehends him of Monmouth and others for fabling in the deeds of Arms yet what he writes thereof himself as of better credit shews not whence he had but from those Fables which he seems content to believe in part on condition that the Scots and Picts may be thought to have assisted Arthur in all his Wars and atchievments whereof appears as little grownd by any credible story as of that which he most counts Fabulous But not furder to contest about such uncertainties An. Dom. 547 In the year 547. Ida the Saxon sprung also from Woden in the tenth degree began the Kingdome of Bernicia in Northumberland built the Town Bebbanburg which was after wall'd and had 12 Sons half by Wives and half by Concubines Hengist by leave of Vortigern we may remember had sent Octa and Ebissa to seek them seats in the North and there by warring on the Picts to secure the Southern parts Which they so prudently effected that what by force and fair proceeding they well quioted those Countries and though so far distant from Kent nor without power in thir hands yet kept themselves nigh 180 years within moderation and as inferiour Governors they and their off-spring gave obedience to the Kings of Kent as to the elder Family Till at length following the example of that Age when no less then Kingdoms were the prize of every fortunat Commander they thought it but reason as well as others of thir Nation to assume Royalty Of whom Ida was the first a man in the prime of his years and of Parentage as we heard but how he came to wear the Crown aspiring or by free choise is not said Certain enough it is that his vertues made him not less noble then his birth in War undaunted and unfoil'd in peace tempring the aw of Magistracy with a naturall mildness he raign'd about 12 years An. Dom. 552 In the mean while Kenric in a fight at Searesbirig now Salsbury kil'd and put to flight many of the Britans An. Dom. 556 and the fourth year after at Beranvirig now Banbury as some think with Keaulin his son put them again to flight Keaulin shortly after succeeded his father in the West-Saxons And Alla descended also of Woden An. Dom. 560 but by another line set up a second Kingdom in Deira the South part of Northumberland and held it 30 years while Adda the son of Ida and five more after him reign'd without other memory in Bernicia and in Kent Ethelbert the next year began An. Dom. 561 For Esca the son of Hengist had left Otha and he Emeric to rule after him both which without adding to their bounds kept what they had in peace 53 years But Ethelbert in length of reign equal'd both his progenitors and as Beda counts 3 years exceeded Young at his first entrance and unexperienc'd he was the first raiser of civill War among the Saxons claiming from the priority of time wherin Hengist took possession here a kind of right over the later Kingdomes and thereupon was troublesome to thir Confines but by them twise defeated he who but now thought to seem dreadfull became almost contemptible For Keaulin and Cutha his Son An. Dom. 568 persuing him into his own Territory slew there in Battel at Wibbandun 2 of his Earls Oslac and Cnebban By this means the Britans but cheifly by this Victory at Badon for the space of 44 years ending in 571 receav'd no great annoyance from the Saxons but the peace they enjoy'd by ill using it prov'd more destructive to them then War For being rais'd on a sudden by two such eminent successes from the lowest condition of thraldome they whose Eyes had beheld both those deliverances that by Ambrose and this at Badon were taught by the experience of either Fortune both Kings Magistrates Priests and privat men to live orderly But when the next Age unacquainted with past Evils and only sensible of thir present ease and quiet succeeded strait follow'd the apparent subversion of all truth and justice in the minds of most men scarse the lest footstep or impression of goodness left remaining through all ranks and degrees in the Land except in some so very few as to be hardly visible in a general corruption which grew in short space not only manifest but odious to all the Neighbour Nations And first thir Kings among whom also the Sons or Grand-Children of Ambrose were fouly degenerated to all Tyranny and vitious life Wherof to hear som particulars out of Gildas will not be impertinent They avenge saith he and they protect not the innocent but the guilty they swear oft but perjure they wage War but civil and unjust War They punish rigorously them that rob by the high way but those grand Robbers that sit with them at Table they honour and reward They give alms largly but in the face of thir Alms-deeds pile up wickedness to a far higher heap They sit in the seat of Judgment but goe seldome by the rule of right neglecting and proudly overlooking the modest and harmless but countenancing the audacious though guilty of abominablest crimes they stuff thir Prisons but with men committed rather by circumvention then any just cause Nothing better were the Clergy but at the same pass or rather worse then when the Saxons came first in Unlerned Unapprehensive yet impudent suttle Prowlers Pastors in Name but indeed Wolves intent upon all occasions not to feed the Flock but to pamper and well line themselves not call'd but seising on the Ministry as a Trade not as a Spiritual Charge teaching the people not by sound Doctrin but by evil Example usurping the Chair of Peter but through the blindness of thir own worldly lusts they stumble upon the Seat of Judas deadly haters of truth broachers of lies looking on the poor Christian with Eyes of Pride and Contempt but fawning on the wickedest rich men without shame great promoters of other mens Alms with thir set exhortations but themselves contributing ever least slightly touching the many vices of the Age but preaching without end thir own greivances as don to Christ seeking after preferments and degrees in the Church more then after Heav'n and so gain'd make it thir whole study how to keep them by any Tyranny Yet lest they should be thought things of no use in thir eminent places they have thir niceties and trivial points to keep in aw the superstitious multitude but in true saving knowledge leave them still as gross and stupid as themselves bunglers at the Scripture nay forbidding and silencing them that know but in worldly matters practis'd and cunning Shifters in that only art and symony great Clercs and Maisters bearing thir heads high but thir thoughts abject and low He taxes them also as gluttonous incontinent and daily Drunkards And what shouldst
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
unskillfully or unsuccessfully that the Danes were not therby hinderd from exerciseing thir wonted Robberies It happ'nd that the Danes one day were gone up into the Country far from thir Ships the King having notice therof thought to intercept them in thir return his men were resolute to overcome or die time and place advantagious but where courage and fortune was not wanting there wanted Loyalty among them Edric with suttle arguments that had a shew of deep policy disputed and perswaded the simplicity of his Fellow Counsellers that it would be best consulted at that time to let the Danes pass without ambush or interception The Danes where they expected danger finding none pass'd on with great joy and booty to thir Ships After this sailing about Kent they lay that Winter in the Thames forcing Kent and Essex to contribution oft-times attempting the City of London but repuls't as oft to thir great loss Spring begun leaving thir Ships they pass'd An. Dom. 1010 through Chiltern Wood into Oxfordshire burnt the City and thence returning with divided forces wasted on both sides the Thames but hearing that an Army from London was marcht out against them they on the North-side passing the River at Stanes join'd with them on the South into one body and enrich't with great spoils came back through Surrey to thir Ships which all the Lent-time they repair'd After Easter sailing to the East-Angles they arriv'd at Ipswich and came to a place call'd Ringmere where they heard that Vlfketell with his Forces lay who with a sharp encounter soon entertain'd them but his men at length giving back through the suttlety of a Danish Servant among them who began the flight lost the field though the men of Cambridgeshire stood to it valiantly In this Battel Ethelstan the Kings Son in Law with many other Noblemen was slain wherby the Danes without more resistance three months together had the spoiling of those Countries and all the Fenns burnt Thetsord and Grantbrig or Cambridge thence to a hilly place not far off call'd by Huntingdon Balesham by Camden Gogmagog Hills and the Villages therabout they turn'd thir fury slaying all they met save one man who getting up into a Steeple is said to have defended himself against the whole Danish Army They therefore so leaving him thir Foot by Sea thir Horse by land through Fssex return'd back lad'n to thir Ships left in the Thames But many daies pass'd not between when salying again out of thir Ships as out of Savage Denns they plunderd over again all Oxfordshire and added to thir prey Buckingham Bedford and Hertfordshire then like wild Beasts glutted returning to thir Caves A third excursion they made into Northamptonshire burnt Northampton ransacking the Country round then as to fresh pasture betook them to the West-Saxons and in like sort harrasing all Wiltshire return'd as I said before like wild Beasts or rather Sea-Monsters to thir Water-stables accomplishing by Christmas the Circuit of thir whole years good Deeds an unjust and inhuman Nation who receaving or not receaving tribute where none was owing them made such destruction of mankind and rapine of their lively-hood as is a misery to read Yet here they ceas'd not for the next year An. Dom. 1011 repeating the same cruelties on both sides the Thames one way as far as Huntingdon the other as far as Wiltshire and Southampton sollicited again by the King for peace and receaving thir demands both of tribute and contribution they slighted thir faith and in the beginning of September laid seige to Canterbury On the twentieth day by the treachery of Almere the Archdeacon they took part of it and burnt it committing all sorts of massacher as a sport some they threw over the Wall others into the fire hung some by the privy members infants pull'd from thir mothers breasts were either tost on spears or Carts drawn over them Matrons and Virgins by the hair dragd and ravish't Alfage the grave Arch-bishop above others hated of the Danes as in all Counsells and actions to his might thir known opposer tak'n wounded imprison'd in a noisom Ship the multitude are tith'd and every tenth only spar'd An. Dom. 1012 Early the next year before Easter while Ethelred and his Peers were assembl'd at London to raise now the fifth Tribute amounting to 48 thousand pound the Danes at Canterbury propose to the Archbishop who had bin now seav'n months thir Prisoner life and liberty if he pay them three thousand pound which he refuseing as not able of himself and not willing to extort it from his Tennants is permitted till the next Sunday to consider then hal'd before thir Counsel of whom Turkill was Cheif and still refuseing they rise most of them being drunk and beat him with the blunt side of thir Axes then thrust forth deliver him to be pelted with stones till one Thrum a converted Dane pittying him half dead to put him out of pain with a pious impiety at one stroak of his Ax on the head dispatch'd him His body was carried to London and there buried thence afterward remov'd to Canterbury By this time the tribute paid and peace so oft'n violated sworn again by the Danes they dispers'd thir Fleet forty five of them and Turkill thir Cheif staid at London with the King swore him Allegeance to defend his Land against all strangers on condition only to be fed and cloth'd by him But this voluntary friendship of Turkill was thought to be deceitfull that staying under this pretence he gave intelligence to Swane when most it would be seasonable to come In July therfore of the next year King Swane An. Dom. 1013 arriving at Sandwich made no stay there but sailing first to Humber thence into Trent landed and encamp'd at Gainsburrow whither without delay repair'd to him the Northumbrians with Vthred thir Earl those of Lindsey also then those of Fisburg and lastly all on the North of Watling-street which is a high way from East to West Sea gave Oath and Hostages to obey him From whom he commanded Horses and provision for his Army taking with him besides Bands and Companies of thir choicest men and committing to his Son Canute the care of his Fleet and hostages he marches towards the South Mercians commanding his Souldiers to exercise all Acts of hostility with the terror wherof fully executed he took in few daies the City of Oxford then Winchester thence tending to London in his hasty passage over the Thames without seeking Bridge or Ford lost many of his men Nor was his expedition against London prosperous for assaying all means by force or wile to take the City wherin the King then was Turkill with his Danes he was stoutly beat'n off as at other times Thence back to Wallingford and Bath directing his course after usual havock made he sate a while and refresh'd his Army There Ethelm an Earl of Devonshire and other great Officers in the West yeilded him
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
158. he hath South-Mercia conferr'd on him by Oswi p. 161. is slain by the treachery of his Wife on Easter-day ibid. Pelagius a Britan brings new opinions into the Church p. 94. the Pelagian Doctrine refuted by Germanus p. 104. the Pelagians are judg'd to banishment by Germanus p. 108. Penda the Son of Wibba King of Mercia hath the Kingdom surrender'd him by Kearle p. 152. he joyns with Kedwalla against Edwin p. 153. he slays Oswald in Battel p. 156. in another Battel Sigebert p 157. in another Anna King of the East-Angles p. 159. he is slain in a Battel against Oswi p. 161. Penissel reckon'd in the number of ancientest British Kings p. 28. Peredure and Vigenius expel their Brother Elidure and share the Kingdom between them p. 27. Perjury an example of Divine vengeance in Alfred who conspir'd against King Athelstane p. 223. Petilius Cerealis utterly defeated by the Britans p. 64. he commands the Roman Army in Britain p. 68 69. Petronius Turpilianus commands in chief in Britain after Suetonius Paulinus p. 68. Pir one of the ancientest Race of British Kings p. 28. Picts and Scots harrass the South Coasts of Britain p. 91. c. See Scots Picts and Saxons beaten by the Britans through the pious Conduct of Germanus p. 104 105. Porrex the Son of Gorbogudo though assisted from France is slain by his Brother Ferrex p. 21. his death reveng'd by his Mother Videna ibid. another of that name reckon'd in the Catalogue of British Kings p. 28. Portsmouth denominated from the landing of Porta a Saxon Prince with his two Sons Bida and Megla p. 120. Prafutagus King of the Icenians leaving Caesar coheir with his Daughters causeth the Britans to revolt p. 62 63. Priscus Licinius Lieutenant in this Isle under Adrian p. 78. Probus subdues the Vsurper Bonosus who falls in the Battel p. 85. prevents by his wisdom new risings in Britain ibid. R. REadwulf succeeding Ethelred in Northumbria soon after his Coronation cut off with his whole Army by the Danes at Alvetheli p. 193. Rederchius reckon'd among the ancient British Kings p. 28. Redion another British King ibid. Redwald King of the East-Angles wars against Ethelfrid in defence of Edwin and slays him in Battel p. 147. Regin Son of Gorbonian a good King p. 27. Rivallo succeeds his Father Cunedagius p. 21. Rollo the Dane or Norman having fought unsuccessfully here turns his Forces into France and conquers the Country since call'd Normandy p. 212. Romans land in Britain under the Conduct of Julius Caesar p. 36 37. their sharp Conflict with the Britans near the Stoure in Kent p. 42 43. the cruel Massacre of the Britans upon them p. 64. they leave the Island to succour their declining affairs in other parts p. 104. they come and aid the Britans against the Scots and Picts ibid. they help them to build a new Wall p. 102. instruct them in War and take their last farewel ibid. Romanus nam'd among the four Sons of Histion sprung of Japhet and from him the Romans fabled to be derived p. 5. Rowen the Daughter of Hengist sent for over by her Father p. 112. she presents King Vortigern with a bowl of wine by her Fathers Command p. 112 113. she is upon the King's demand given him in Marriage p. 113. Rudancus King of Cambria subdued in fight and slain by Dunwallo Mulmutius p. 21. Rudhuddibras succeeds his Father Leil and founds Caerkeint or Canterbury with several other places p. 16. Runno the Son of Peredure not immediate Successor p. 28. S. SAbra thrown into the River thence call'd Sabrina with her Mother Estrildis by Guendolen p. 15. Samothes the first King that History or Fable mentions to have peopled this Island p. 4. Samulius recorded among the ancient British Kings p. 28. Saron the second King nam'd among the Successors of Samothes p. 4. Saxons harrass the South Coast of Britain slay Nectaridius and Bulcobandes p. 91. Saxons and Picts see Picts Saxons invited into Britain by Vortigern and the Britans against the Scots and Picts p. 109 110. their Original p. 110. they arrive under the leading of Hergist and Horsa p. 111. they beat the Scots and Picts near Stamford p. 112. fresh Forces sent them over and their bounds enlarged p. 112. 113. they making league with the Scots and Picts wast the land without resistance ibid. beaten by Guortimer in four Battels and driven into Thanet p. 115. they return most of them into their own Country p. 117. the rest notably defeated by Ambrosius Aurelianus and the Britans p. 118. Scots Picts and Attacots harrass the South Coast of Britain p. 91. overcome by Maximus p. 93. Scots possest Ireland first and named it Scotia p. 94. Scots and Picts beaten by the Romans sent to the supply of the Britans p. 101. they make spoil and havock with little or no opposition p. 103. Sebbi having reign'd over the East-Saxons 30 years takes on him the habit of a Monk p. 163. Sebert the Son of Sleda reigns over the East-Saxons by permission of Ethelbert p. 142. Segonax one of the four petty Kings in Britain that assaulted Caesar's Camp p. 46. Sejus Saturninus commands the Roman Navy in Britain p. 78. Selred the Son of Sigebert the Good succeeds Ossa in the East-Saxon Kingdom and comes to a violent end p. 174. Septimius Severus the Roman Emperour arrives in person with an Army in this Island p. 81. 82. his ill success against the Caledonians p. 82. nevertheless goes on and brings them to terms of peace p. 83. builds a Wall across the Island from Sea to Sea ibid. they taking Arms again he sends his Son Antoninus against them p. 84. he dies at York 't is thought of grief ibid. Severus sent over Deputy into this Island by the Emperour Valentinian p. 91. Sexburga the Wife of Kenwalk driven out by the Nobles disdaining female Government p. 163. Sexted and Seward re-establish Heathenism in East-Saxony after the Death of their Father Sebert p. 145. in a fight against the Britans they perish with their whole Army p. 146. Sigeard and Senfred succeed their Father Sebbi in the East-Saxon Kingdom p. 174. Sigebert succeeds his Brother Eorpwald in the Kingdom of the East-Angles p. 156. he founds a School or Colledge and betakes himself to a Monastical life p. 156. being forc't into the field against Penda he is slain with his Kinsman Egric p. 157. Sigebert sirnamed the Small succeeds his Father Seward King of the East-Saxons p. 159. his successour Sigebert the 2d is perswaded by Oswi to imbrace Christianity ibid. is murdered by the Conspiracy of two Brethren ibid. his Death denounc't by the Bishop for eating with an excommunicate person p. 160. Sigebert the Kinsman of Cuthred succeeds him in the West-Saxon Kingdom p. 175. Siger the Son of Sigebert the Small and Sebbi the Son of Seward succeed in the government of the East-Saxons after Swithelms decease p. 162. Silures a people of Britain chuse Caractacus for their Leader against
the Squadron where those two Kings had plac'd themselvs in fight from that part which they thought securest assaults and dispatches them Then displaying his own Ensignes which before he had conceal'd and sending notice to the other part of his Army what was don adds to them new courage and gains a final Victory This Dunwallo was the first in Britain that wore a Crown of Gold and therfore by som reputed the first King He established the Molmutine Laws famous among the English to this day writt'n long after in Latine by Gildas and in Saxon by King Alfred so saith Geofrey but Gildas denies to have known aught of the Britans before Caesar much less knew Alfred These Laws whoever made them bestow'd on Temples the privilege of Sanctuary to Cities also and the waies thether leading yea to Plows granted a kind of like refuge and made such riddance of Theeves and Robbers that all passages were safe Forty Years he Govern'd alone and was buried nigh to the Temple of Concord which he to the memory of peace restor'd had built in Trinovant His two Sons Belinus and Brennus contending about the Crown by decision of Freinds came at length to an accord Brennus to have the North of Humber Belinus the Sovrantie of all But the younger not long so contented that he as they whisper'd to him whose valour had so oft repell'd the invasions of Ceulphus the Morine Duke should now be subject to his Brother upon new Designe fails into Norway enters League and Affinitie with Elsing that King which Belinus perceaving in his absence disposseses him of all the North. Brennus with a Fleet of Norwegians makes toward Britain but encounter'd by Guithlac the Danish King who laying claim to his Bride pursu'd him on the Sea his hast was retarded and he berest of his Spouse who from the fight by a sudden Tempest was by the Danish King driv'n on Northumberland and brought to Belinus Brennus nevertheless recollecting his Navy lands in Albania and gives Battell to his Brother in the Wood Calaterium but loosing the day escapes with one single Ship into Gaul Mean while the Dane upon his own offer to become tributary sent home with his new prise Belinus returns his thoughts to the administring of Justice and the perfeting of his Fathers Laws and to explain what High-waies might enjoy the foresaid privileges he caus'd to be drawn out and pav'd fowr main Roades to the utmost length and bredth of the Iland and two others athwart which are since attributed to the Romans Bren-Brennus on the other side solliciting to his aid the Kings of Gaul happ'ns at last on Seginus Duke of the Allobreges where his worth and comliness of person wan him the Dukes Daughter and Heir In whose right he shortly succeeding and by obtain'd leave passing with a great Host through the length of Gaul gets footing once again in Britain Nor was Belinus unprepar'd and now the Battell ready to joyn Conuvenna the Mother of them both all in a fright throws her self between and calling earnestly to Brennus her Son whose absence had so long depriv'd her of his sight after imbracements and teares assails him with such a motherly power and the mention of things so dear and reverend as irresistibly wrung from him all his enmity against Belinus Then are hands joyn'd reconciliation made firm and Counsel held to turn thir united preparations on Foren parts Thence that by these two all Gallia was overrun the story tells and what they did in Italy and at Rome if these be they and not Gauls who took that City the Roman Authors can best relate So far from home I undertake not for the Monmouth Chronicle which heer against the stream of History carries up and down these Brethren now into Germany then again to Rome pursuing Gabius and Porsena two unheard of Consuls Thus much is more generally beleev'd that both this Brennus and another famous Captain Britomarus whom the Epitomist Florus and others mention were not Gauls but Britans the name of the first in that Tongue signifying a King and of the other a Great Britan. However Belinus after a while returning home the rest of his daies rul'd in Peace Wealth and Honour above all his Predecessors building som Cities of which one was Caerose upon Osca since Caerlegion beautifying others as Trinovant with a Gate a Hav'n and a Towr on the Thames retaining yet his name on the top wherof his Ashes are said to have bin laid up in a Golden Urne After him Gurguntius Barbirus was King mild and just but yet inheriting his Fathers Courage he subdu'd the Dacian or Dane who refus'd to pay the Tribute Covnanted to Belinus for his enlargement In his return finding about the Orkneies 30 Ships of Spain or Biscay fraught with Men and Women for a Plantation whose Captain also Bartholinus wrongfully banish't as he pleaded besaught him that som part of his Territory might be assign'd them to dwell in he sent with them certain of his own men to Ireland which then lay unpeopl'd and gave them that Iland to hold of him as in Homage He was buried in Caerlegion a City which he had wall'd about Guitheline his Son is also remember'd as a just and good Prince and his Wife Martia to have excell'd so much in wisdom as to venture upon a new Institution of Laws Which King Alfred translating call'd Marchen Leage but more truly therby is meant the Mertian Law not translated by Alfred but digested or incorporated with the West-Saxon In the minority of her Son she had the rule and then as may be suppos'd brought forth these Laws not her self for Laws are Masculin Births but by the advice of her sagest Counselors and therin she might doe vertuously since it befell her to supply the nonage of her Son else nothing more awry from the Law of God and Nature then that a Woman should give Laws to Men. Hir Son Sisilius comming to Yeares receav'd the Rule then in order Kimarus then Danius or Elanius his Brother Then Morindus his Son by Tanguestela a Concubine who is recorded a man of excessive Strength Valiant Liberal and fair of Aspect but immanely Cruell not sparing in his Anger Enemy or Freind if any Weapon were in his hand A certain King of the Morines or Picards invaded Northumberland whose Army this King though not wanting sufficient numbers cheifly by his own prowess overcame But dishonour'd his Victory by the cruel usage of his Prisners whom his own hands or others in his presence put all to several Deaths well fitted to such a bestiall Cruelty was his end for hearing of a huge Monster that from the Irish Sea infested the Coast and in the Pride of his Strength foolishly attempting to set manly valour against a Brute vastness when his Weapons were all in vain by that horrible mouth he was catch't up and devour'd Gorbonian the Eldest of his five Sons then whom a Juster man liv'd not in his Age was a great
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