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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A50902	The history of Britain, that part especially now call'd England from the first traditional beginning, continu'd to the Norman conquest / collected out of the antientest and best authours thereof by John Milton.	Milton, John, 1608-1674.; Faithorne, William, 1616-1691.	1670 (1670)	Wing M2119; ESTC R13663	213,672	366

Ioannis Miltoni Effigies Aetat 62. 1670. G●l Faithorne ad Vivum Delin et sculpsit THE HISTORY OF BRITAIN That part especially now call'd ENGLAND From the first Traditional Beginning continu'd to the NORMAN CONQVEST Collected out of the antientest and best Authors thereof by JOHN MILTON LONDON Printed by J. M. for James Allestry at the Rose and Crown in St. Paul's Church-Yard MDCLXX THE HISTORY OF BRITAIN That Part especially now call'd England Continu'd to the Norman Conquest BOOK I. THe beginning of Nations those excepted of whom sacred Books have spok'n is to this day unknown Nor only the beginning but the deeds also of many succeeding Ages yea periods of Ages either wholly unknown or obscur'd and blemisht with Fables Whether it were that the use of Letters came in long after or were it the violence of barbarous inundations or they themselves at certain revolutions of time fatally decaying and degenerating into Sloth and Ignorance wherby the monuments of more ancient civility have bin som destroy'd som lost Perhaps dis-esteem and contempt of the public affairs then present as not worth recording might partly be in cause Certainly oft-times we see that wise men and of best abilitie have forborn to write the Acts of thir own daies while they beheld with a just loathing and disdain not only how unworthy how pervers how corrupt but often how ignoble how petty how below all History the persons and thir actions were who either by fortune or som rude election had attain'd as a sore judgment and ignominie upon the Land to have cheif sway in managing the Common-wealth But that any law or superstition of our old Philosophers the Druids forbad the Britains to write thir memorable deeds I know not why any out of Caesar should allege he indeed saith that thir doctrine they thought not lawful to commit to Letters but in most matters else both privat and public among which well may History be reck'nd they us'd the Greek Tongue and that the British Druids who taught those in Gaule would be ignorant of any Language known and us'd by thir Disciples or so frequently writing other things and so inquisitive into highest would for want of recording be ever Children in the Knowledge of Times and Ages is not likely What ever might be the reason this we find that of British affairs from the first peopling of the Iland to the coming of Julius Caesar nothing certain either by Tradition History or Ancient Fame hath hitherto bin left us That which we have of oldest seeming hath by the greater part of judicious Antiquaries bin long rejected for a modern Fable Nevertheless there being others besides the first suppos'd Author men not unread nor unlerned in Antiquitie who admitt that for approved story which the former explode for fiction and seeing that oft-times relations heertofore accounted fabulous have bin after found to contain in them many footsteps and reliques of somthing true as what we read in Poets of the Flood and Giants little beleev'd till undoubted witnesses taught us that all was not fain'd I have therfore determin'd to bestow the telling over ev'n of these reputed Tales be it for nothing else but in favour of our English Poets and Rhetoricians who by thir Art will know how to use them judiciously I might also produce example as Diodorus among the Greeks Livie and others of the Latines Polydore and Virunnius accounted among our own Writers But I intend not with controversies and quotations to delay or interrupt the smooth course of History much less to argue and debate long who were the first Inhabitants with what probabilities what authorities each opinion hath bin upheld but shall endevor that which hitherto hath bin needed most with plain and lightsom brevity to relate well and orderly things worth the nothing so as may best instruct and benefit them that read Which imploring divine assistance that it may redound to his glory and the good of the British Nation I now begin That the whole Earth was inhabited before the Flood and to the utmost point of habitable ground from those effectual words of God in the Creation may be more then conjectur'd Hence that this Iland also had her dwellers her affairs and perhaps her stories eev'n in that old World those many hunderd years with much reason we may inferr After the Flood and the dispersing of Nations as they journey'd leasurely from the East Gomer the eldest Son of Japhet and his off-spring as by Authorities Arguments and Affinitie of divers names is generally beleev'd were the first that peopl'd all these West and Northren Climes But they of our own Writers who thought they had don nothing unless with all circumstance they tell us when and who first set foot upon this Iland presume to name out of fabulous and counterfet Authors a certain Samothes or Dis a fowrth or sixt Son of Japhet whom they make about 200 years after the Flood to have planted with Colonies first the Continent of Celtica or Gaule and next this Iland Thence to have nam'd it Samothea to have reign'd heer and after him lineally fowr Kings Magus Saron Druis and Bardus But the forg'd Berosus whom only they have to cite no where mentions that either hee or any of those whom they bring did ever pass into Britain or send thir people hither So that this out-landish figment may easily excuse our not allowing it the room heer so much as of a British Fable That which follows perhaps as wide from truth though seeming less impertinent is that these Samotheans under the Reign of Bardus were subdu'd by Albion a Giant Son of Neptune who call'd the Iland after his own name and rul'd it 44 years Till at length passing over into Gaul in aid of his Brother Lestrygon against whom Hercules was hasting out of Spain into Italy he was there slain in fight and Bergion also his Brother Sure anough we are that Britan hath bin anciently term'd Albion both by the Greeks and Romans And Mela the Geographer makes mention of a stonie shoar in Languedoc where by report such a Battel was fought The rest as his giving name to the I le or ever landing heer depends altogether upon late surmises But too absurd and too unconscionably gross is that fond invention that wafted hither the fifty daughters of a strange Dioclesian King of Syria brought in doubtles by som illiterat pretender to somthing mistak'n in the Common Poetical Story of Danaus King of Argos while his vanity not pleas'd with the obscure beginning which truest Antiquity affords the Nation labour'd to contrive us a Pedigree as he thought more noble These Daughters by appointment of Danaus on the mariage-night having murder'd all thir Husbands except Linceus whom his Wives loialty sav'd were by him at the suit of his Wife thir Sister not put to death but turn'd out to Sea in a Ship unmann'd of which whole Sex they had incurr'd the hate and as the Tale goes were driv'n on

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