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
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
things to his charge he was by Edmund forbidd'n the Court but by the earnest mediation saith Ingulf of Turkitul the Chancellour receav'd at length to favour and made Abbot of Glaston lastly by Edgar and the generall Vote Archbishop of Canterbury Not long after his Death the Danes arriving in Devonshire were met by Goda Lieutenant of that Country and Strenwold a valiant Leader who put back the Danes but with loss of thir own lives The third year following under the conduct of Justin An. Dom. 991 and Guthmund the Son of Steytan they landed and spoil'd Ipswich fought with Britnoth Duke of the East-Angles about Maldon where they slew him the slaughter else had bin equal on both sides These and the like depredations on every side the English not able to resist by counsel of Siric then Arch-bishop of Canterbury and two Dukes Ethelward and Alfric it was thought best for the present to buy that with Silver which they could not gain with thir Iron and Ten Thousand pound was paid to the Danes for peace Which for a while contented but taught them the ready way how easiest to come by more The next year but one they took by storm and rifl'd Bebbanburg an antient City nigh Durham An. Dom. 993 sailing thence into the mouth of Humber they wasted both sides therof Yorkeshire and Lindsey burning and destroying all before them Against these went out three Noblemen Frena Frithegist and Godwin but being all Danes by the Fathers side willingly began flight and forsook thir own Forces betray'd to the Enemy No less treachery was at Sea for Alfric the Son of Elfer Duke of Mercia whom the King for some offence had banish'd but now recall'd sent from London with a Fleet to surprise the Danes in some place of disadvantage gave them over night intelligence therof then fled to them himself which his Fleet saith Florent perceaveing persu'd took the Ship but miss'd of his person the Londoners by chance grapling with the East-Angles made them fewer saith my Authour by many thousands Others say that by this notice of Alfric the Danes not only escap'd but with a greater Fleet An. Dom. 994 set upon the English took many of thir Ships and in tryumph brought them up the Thames intending to beseige London for Anlaf King of Norway and Swane of Denmarke at the head of these came with 94 Gallies The King for this treason of Alfric put out his Sons Eyes but the Londoners both by land and water so valiantly resisted thir beseigers that they were forc't in one day with great loss to give over But what they could not on the City they wreck'd themselves on the Countries round about wasting with Sword and fire all Essex Kent and Sussex Thence horsing thir Foot diffus'd far wider thir outragious incursions without mercy either to Sex or Age. The slothfull King instead of Warlike opposition in the Field sends Embassadors to treat about another payment the sum promisd was now 16 thousand pound till which paid the Danes winterd at Southampton Ethelred inviteing Anlaf to come and visit him at Andover where he was royally entertain'd some say baptiz'd or confirm'd adopted Son by the King and dismis't with great presents promising by Oath to depart and molest the Kingdome no more which he perform'd but the calamity ended not so for after some intermission of thir rage for three years the other Navy An. Dom. 997 of Danes sailing about to the West enterd Severn and wasted one while South Wales then Cornwall and Devonshire till at length they winterd about Tavistoc For it were an endless work to relate how they wallow'd up and down to every particular place and to repeat as oft what devastations they wrought what desolations left behinde them easie to be imagin'd In summ the next year they afflicted An. Dom. 998 Dorsetshire Hamshire and the I le of Wight by the English many resolutions were tak'n many Armies rais'd but either betray'd by the falshood or discourag'd by the weakness of thir Leaders they were put to rout or disbanded themselves For Souldiers most commonly are as thir Commanders without much odds of valour in one Nation or other only as they are more or less wisely disciplin'd and conducted The following year brought them back An. Dom. 999 upon Kent where they enterd Medway and beseig'd Rochester but the Kentish men assembling gave them a sharp encounter yet that suffic'd not to hinder them from doing as they had done in other places Against these depopulations the King levied an Army but the unskillfull Leaders not knowing what to do with it when they had it did but drive out time burd'ning and impoverishing the people consuming the publick treasure and more imboldning the Enemy then if they had sat quiet at home What cause mov'd the Danes next year to pass into Normandy is not recorded but that An. Dom. 1000 they return'd thence more outragious then before Mean while the King to make some diversion undertak's an expedition both by Land and Sea into Cumberland where the Danes were most planted there and in the I le of Man or as Camden saith Anglesey imitating his Enemies in spoiling and unpeopleing the Danes from Normandy arriving in the River Ex laid seige to Exeter but the Cittizens as those of London valorously defending themselves An. Dom. 1001 they wreck'd thir anger as before on the Villages round about The Country people of Somerset and Devonshire assembling themselves at Penho shew'd thir readiness but wanted a head and besides being then but few in number were easily put to flight the Enemy plundring all at will with loaded spoils pass'd into the I le of Wight from whence all Dorsetshire and Hamshire felt again thir fury The Saxon Annals write that before thir coming to Exeter the Hamshire men had a bickering with them wherin Ethelward the Kings General was slain adding other things hardly to be understood An. Dom. 1002 and in one antient Copy so end Ethelred whom no adversity could awake from his soft and sluggish life still coming by the worse at fighting by the advice of his Peers not unlike himself sends one of his gay Courtiers though looking loftily to stoop basely and propose a third tribute to the Danes they willingly hark'n but the summ is enhaunc't now to 24 thousand pound and paid the Danes therupon abstaining from hostility But the King to strengthen his House by some potent affinity marries Emma whom the Saxons call Elgiva Daughter of Richard Duke of Normandy With him Ethelred formerly had War or no good correspondence as appears by a Letter of Pope John the 15th who made peace between them about eleaven years before puft up now with his suppos'd access of strength by this affinity he caus'd the Danes all over England though now living peaceably in one day perfidiously to be massacherd both Men Women and Childern sending privat
Letters to every Town and Citty wherby they might be ready all at the same hower which till the appointed time being the 9th of July was conceal'd with great silence and perform'd with much unanimity so generally hated were the Danes Mat. West writes that this execution upon the Danes was ten years after that Huna one of Ethelreds Chief Captains complaining of the Danish insolencies in time of peace thir pride thir ravishing of Matrons and Virgins incited the King to this massacher which in the madness of rage made no difference of innocent or nocent Among these Gunhildis the Sister of Swane was not spar'd though much deserving not pitty only but all protection she with her Husband Earl Palingus coming to live in England and receaving Christianity had her Husband and young Son slain before her face her self then beheaded foretelling and denouncing that her blood would cost England dear Some say this was done by the Traitor Edric to whose custody she was committed but the massacher was some years before Edric's advancement and if it were done by him afterward it seems to contradict the privat correspondence which he was thought to hold with the Danes For Swane breathing revenge An. Dom. 1003 hasted the next year into England and by the treason or negligence of Count Hugh whom Emma had recommended to the Government of Devonshire sack'd the City of Exeter her Wall from East to West-gate brok'n down after this wasting Wiltshire the people of that County and of Hamshire came together in great numbers with resolution stoutly to oppose him but Alfric thir General whose Sons Eyes the King had lately put out madly thinking to revenge himself on the King by ruining his own Country when he should have orderd his Battel the Enemy being at hand fain'd himself tak'n with a vomiting wherby his Army in great discontent destitute of a Commander turn'd from the Enemy who streight took Wilton and Salsbury carrying the pillage therof to his Ships An. Dom. 1004 Thence the next year landing on the Coast of Norfolk he wasted the Country and set Norwich on fire Ulfketel Duke of the East-Angles a man of great valour not having space to gather his Forces after consultation had thought it best to make peace with the Dane which he breaking within three weeks issu'd silently out of his Ships came to Thetford staid there a night and in the Morning left it flameing Vlsketel hearing this commanded some to go and break or burn his Ships but they not dareing or neglecting he in the mean while with what secresie and speed was possible drawing together his Forces went out against the Enemy and gave them a feirce onset retreating to thir Ships but much inferiour in number many of the Cheif East-Angles there lost thir lives Nor did the Danes come off without great slaughter of thir own confessing that they never met in England with so rough a charge The next year whom War could An. Dom. 1005 not a great Famin drove Swane out of the Land But the Summer following another great Fleet of Danes enterd the Port of Sandwich thence powrd An. Dom. 1006 out over all Kent and Sussex made prey of what they found The King levying an Army out of Mercia and the West-Saxons took on him for once the Manhood to go out and face them But they who held it safer to live by rapine then to hazard a Battel shifting lightly from place to place frustrated the slow motions of a heavy Camp following thir wonted course of robbery then running to thir Ships Thus all Autumn they wearied out the Kings Army which gone home to winter they carried all thir pillage to the I le of Wight and there staid till Christmas at which time the King being in Shropshire and but ill imploi'd for by the procurement of Edric he caus'd as is thought Alfhelm a noble Duke treacherously to be slain and the Eyes of his two Sons to be put out they came forth again over-running Hamshire and Barkeshire as far as Reading and Wallingford thence to Ashdune and other places thereabout neither known nor of tolerable pronuntiation and returning by another way found many of the people in Armes by the River Kenet but making thir way through they got safe with vast booty to thir Ships The An. Dom. 1007 King and his Courtiers wearied out with thir last Summers jaunt after the nimble Danes to no purpose which by proof they found too toilsome for thir soft Bones more us'd to Beds and Couches had recourse to thir last and only remedy thir Cofers and send now the fourth time to buy a dishonorable peace every time still dearer not to be had now under 36 thousand pound for the Danes knew how to milk such easie Kine in name of Tribute and expences which out of the people over all England already half beggerd was extorted and paid About the same time Ethelred advanc'd Edric surnam'd Streon from obscure condition to be Duke of Mercia and marry Edgitha the Kings Daughter The cause of his advancement Florent of Worster and Mat. West attribute to his great wealth gott'n by fine polices and a plausible tongue he prov'd a main accessory to the ruin of England as his actions will soon declare Ethelred the next year somewhat An. Dom. 1008 rowsing himself ordain'd that every 310 Hides a Hide is so much land as one Plow can sufficiently till should set out a Ship or Gally and every nine Hides find a Corslet and Head-peice new Ships in every Port were builded vittl'd fraught with stout Mariners and Souldiers and appointed to meet all at Sandwich A man might now think that all would go well when suddenly a new mischief sprung up dissention among the great ones which brought all this diligence to as little success as at other times before Bithric the Brother of Edric falsly accus'd Wulnoth a great Officer set over the South-Saxons who fearing the potency of his Enemies with 20 Ships got to Sea and practis'd piracy on the Coast Against whom reported to be in a place where he might be easily surpris'd Bithrie sets forth with 80 Ships all which driv'n back by a Tempest and wrackt upon the shoar were burnt soon after by Wulnoth Disheart'nd with this misfortune the King returns to London the rest of his Navy after him and all this great preparation to nothing Wherupon Turkill a Danish Earl came with a Navy An. Dom. 1009 to the I le of Tanet and in August a far greater led by Heming and Ilaf joyn'd with him Thence coasting to Sandwich and landed they went onward and began to assault Canterbury but the Citizens and East Kentish men coming to composition with them for three thousand pound they departed thence to the I le of Wight robbing and burning by the way Against these the King levies an Army through all the land and in several quarters places them nigh the Sea but so
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
more than 400 Bishops to assemble at Ariminum on the Emperors charges which the rest all refusing three only of the British poverty constreining them accepted though the other Bishops among them offer'd to have born thir charges esteeming it more honourable to live on the publick than to be obnoxious to any private Purse Doubtless an ingenuous mind and far above the Presbyters of our Age who like well to sit in Assembly on the publick stipend but lik'd not the poverty that caus'd these to do so After this Martinus was Deputy of the Province who being offended with the cruelty which Paulus an inquisitor sent from Constantius exercis'd in his enquiry after those Military Officers who had conspir'd with Magnentius was himself laid hold on as an accessory at which enrag'd he runs at Paulus with his drawnSword but failing to kill him turns it on himself Next to whom as may be guess'd Alipius was made Deputy In the mean time Julian whom Constantius had made Caesar having recover'd much Territory about Rhine where the German inrodes before had long insulted to releeve those Countries almost ruin'd causes 800 Pinaces to be built and with them by frequent Voyages plenty of Corn to be fetch'd in from Britain which eev'n then was the usual bounty of this Soil to those parts as oft as French and Saxon Pirats hinderd not the transportation An. Dom. 360 While Constantius yet reign'd the Scots and Picts breaking in upon the Northern confines Julian being at Paris sends over Lupicinus a well try'd Souldier but a proud and covetous man who with a power of light arm'd Herulians Batavians and Maesians in the midst of Winter sailing from Boloigne arrives at Rutupiae seated on the opposite shoar and comes to London to consult there about the Warr but soon after was recall'd by Julian then chosen Emperor Under whom we read not of ought happing heer only that Palladius one of his great Officers was hither banish'd This year Valentinian being Emperor An. Dom. 364 the Attacots Picts and Scots roaving up and down and last the Saxons with perpetual landings and invasions harryed the South Coast of Britain slew Nectaridius who govern'd the Sea Borders and Bulchobaudes with his Forces by an ambush With which news Valentinian not a little perplext sends first Severus high Steward of his House and soon recalls him then Jovinus who intimating the necessity of greater supplies he sends at length Theodosius a man of try'd valour and experience father to the first Emperor of that Name He with selected numbers out of the Legions and Cohorts An. Dom. 367 crosses the Sea from Boloigne to Rutupiae from whence with the Batavians Herulians and other Legions that arriv'd soon after he marches to London and dividing his Forces into several Bodies sets upon the dispers'd and plundring Enemie lad'n with spoile from whom recovering the booty which they led away and were forc'd to leave there with thir lives herestores all to the right owners save a small portion to his wearied Souldiers and enters London victoriously which before in many straits and difficulties was now reviv'd as with a great deliverance The numerous Enemy with whom he had to deal was of different Nations and the Warr scatter'd which Theodosius getting daily som intelligence from fugitives and prisoners resolves to carry on by sudden parties and surprisals rather than set Battels nor omits he to proclaim indemnity to such as would lay down Arms and accept of peace which brought in many Yet all this not ending the work he requires that Civilis a man of much uprightness might be sent him to be as Deputy of the Iland and Dulcitius a famous Captain Thus was Theodosius busy'd besetting with ambushes the roaving Enemy repressing his Rodes restoring Cities and Castles to thir former safety and defence laying every where the firm foundation of a long peace An. Dom. 368 when Valentinus a Pannonian for some great offence banish'd into Britain conspiring with certain Exiles and Souldiers against Theodosius whose worth he dreaded as the only obstacle to his greater design of gaining the I le into his power is discover'd and with his chief accomplices deliver'd over to condign punishment against the rest Theodosius with a wise lenity suffer'd not inquisition to proceed too rigorously lest the fear thereof appertaining to so many occasion might arise of new trouble in a time so unsettl'd This don he applies himself to reform things out of order raises on the confines many strong holds and in them appoints due and diligent watches and so reduc'd all things out of danger that the Province which but lately was under command of the Enemy became now wholly Roman new nam'd Valentia of Valentinian and the City of London Augusta Thus Theodosius nobly acquitting himself in all Affairs with general applause of the whole Province accompanied to the Sea-side returns to Valentinian Who about 5 years after sent hither Fraomarius An. Dom. 373 a King of the Almans with authority of a Tribune over his own Country Forces which then both for number and good service were in high esteem Against Gratian who succeeded in the Western Empire Maximus a Spanyard and one who had serv'd in the British Warrs with younger Theodosius for hee also either with his Father or not long after him seems to have done somthing in this Iland and now General of the Roman Armies heer either discontented that Theodosius was preferr'd before him to the Empire or constrain'd by the Souldiers who hated Gratian assumes the imperial Purple and having attain'd Victorie against the Scots and Picts with the flowr and strength of Britain passes into France there slays Gratian An. Dom. 383 and without much difficultie the space of 5 years obtains his part of the Empire overthrown at length and slain by Theodosius An. Dom. 388 With whom perishing most of his followers or not returning out of Armorioa which Maximus had giv'n them to possess the South of Britain by this means exhausted of her youth and what there was of Roman Souldiers on the Confines drawn off became a prey to savage Invasions An. Dom. 389 of Scots from the Irish Seas of Saxons from the German of Picts from the North. Against them first Chrysanthus the Son of Marcian a Bishop made Deputy of Britain by Theodosius demean'd himself worthily then Stilicho a man of great power whom Theodosius dying left Protector of his Son Honorius either came in person or sending over sufficient aid repress'd them and as it seems new fortifi'd the Wall against them But that Legion being call'd away when the Roman Armies from all parts hasted to releive Honorius then besieg'd in Asta of Piemont An. Dom. 402 by Alaric the Goth Britain was left expos'd as before to those Barbarous Robbers Lest any wonder how the Scots came to infest Britain from the Irish Sea it must be understood that the Scots not many years before had been driv'n all
out of the Province till both by fire and Sword he had aveng'd the Death of his Brother An. Dom. 687 At length Victred the Son of Ecbert attaining the Kingdome both settl'd at home all things in peace and secur'd his Borders from all outward Hostility While thus Kedwalla disquieted both West and East after his winning the Crown Ecfrid the Northumbrian and Ethelred the Mercian fought a sore Battel by the River Trent wherin Elswin Brother to Ecfrid a youth of 18 years much belov'd was slain and the accident likely to occasion much more sheding of blood peace was happily made by the grave exhortation of Archbishop Theodore a pecuniary fine only paid to Ecfrid as some satisfaction for the loss of his Brothers life Another adversity befell Ecfrid in his Family by means of Ethildrith his Wife King Anna's Daughter who having tak'n him for hir Husband and professing to love him above all other men persisted twelve years in the obstinat refusal of his bed therby thinking to live the purer life So perversly then was chastity instructed against the Apostles rule At length obtaining of him with much importunity her departure she veild her self a Nun then made Abbess of Ely dy'd 7 years after the pestilence and might with better warrant have kept faithfully her undertak'n Wedlock though now canoniz'd St. Audrey of Ely In the mean while Ecfrid had sent Bertus with a power to subdue Ireland a harmless Nation saith Beda and ever friendly to the English in both which they seem to have left a posterity much unlike them at this day miserably wasted without regard had to places hallow'd or profane they betook them partly to thir Weapons partly to implore divine aid and as was thought obtain'd it in thir full avengement upon Ecfrid For he the next year against the mind and persuasion of his sagest friends and especially of Cudbert a famous Bishop of that Age marching unadvisedly against the Picts who long before had bin subject to Northumberland was by them feigning flight drawn unawares into narrow streights overtopt with Hills and cut off with most of his Army From which time saith Bede military valour began among the Saxons to decay nor only the Picts till then peaceable but some part of the Britans also recover'd by Armes thir liberty for many years after Yet Aldfrid elder but base Brother to Ecfrid a man said to be learned in the Scriptures recall'd from Ireland to which place in his Brothers Reign he had retir'd and now succeeding upheld with much honour though in narrower bounds the residue of his Kingdome Kedwalla having now with great disturbance of his Neighbours reign'd over the West-Saxons two years besides what time he spent in gaining it wearied perhaps with his own turbulence went to Rome desirous there to receave Baptism which till then his worldly affairs had deferr'd and accordingly on Easter Day 689. he was baptiz'd by Sergius An. Dom. 689 the Pope and his name chang'd to Peter All which notwithstanding surpris'd with a Disease he out-liv'd not the Ceremony so far sought much above the space of 5 weeks in the Thirtieth year of his Age and in the Church of St. Peter was there buried with a large Epitaph upon his Tomb. Him succeeded Ina of the Royal Family and from the time of his coming in for many years oppress'd the Land with like greevances as Kedwalla had done before him insomuch that in those times there was no Bishop among them His first expedition was into Kent to demand satisfaction for the burning of Mollo Victred loth to hazard all for the rash act of a few deliver'd up 30 of those that could be found accessory or as others say pacifi'd Ina with a great sum of money Mean while at the incitement of Ecbert a devout Monk Wilbrod a Priest eminent for learning past over Sea having 12 others in Company with intent to preach the Gospel in Germany And coming to â—epin Cheif Regent of the Franks who An. Dom. 694 a little before had conquer'd the hither Frisia by his countnance and protection promise also of many benefits to them who should beleeve they found the work of conversion much the easier and Wilbrod the first Bishoprick in that Nation But two Priests each of them Hewald by name and for distinction surnam'd from the colour of thir Hair the black and the white by his example piously affected to the Souls of thir Country-men the old Saxons at thir coming thether to convert them met with much worse entertainment For in the House of a Farmer who had promis'd to convey them as they desir'd to the Governour of that Country discoverd by thir daily Ceremonies to be Christian Priests and the cause of thir coming suspected they were by him and his Heathen Neighbours cruelly butcherd yet not unaveng'd for the Governour enrag'd at such violence offerd to his Strangers sending Armed Men slew all those Inhabitants and burnt thir Village An. Dom. 697 After three years in Mercia Ostrid the Queen Wife to Ethelred was kill'd by her own Nobles as Beda's Epitomy records Florence calls them Southimbrians negligently omitting the cause of so strange a fact An. Dom. 698 And the year following Bertred a Northumbrian General was slain by the Picts An. Dom. 704 Ethelred 7 years after the violent Death of his Queen put on the Monk and resign'd his Kingdome to Kenred the Son of Wulfer his Brother An. Dom. 705 The next year Aldfrid in Northumberland dy'd leaving Osred a Child of 8 years to succeed him An. Dom. 709 Fowr years after which Kenred having a while with praise govern'd the Mercian Kingdome went to Rome in the time of Pope Constantine and shorn a Monk spent there the residue of his daies Kelred succeeded him the Son of Ethelred who had reign'd the next before With Kenred went Offa the Son of Siger King of East-Saxons and betook him to the same habit leaving his Wife and Native Country a comely Person in the prime of his youth much desir'd of the people and such his vertue by report as might have otherwise bin worthy to have reign'd An. Dom. 710 Ina the West-Saxon one year after fought a Battell at first doubtfull at last successfull against Gerent King of Wales An. Dom. 711 The next year Bertfrid another Northumbrian Captain fought with the Picts and slaughterd them saith Huntingdon to the full avengment of Ecfrids Death An. Dom. 715 The fowrth year after Ina had another doubtfull and cruell Battel at Wodnesburg in Wiltshire with Kelred the Mercian who dy'd the year following a lamentable Death for as he sat one day feasting with his Nobles An. Dom. 716 suddenly possess'd with an evill Spirit he expir'd in despair as Boniface Archbishop of Ments an English man who taxes him for a defiler of Nuns writes by way of caution to Ethelbald his next of Kin who succeeded him Osred also the young Northumbrian King slain by his Kindred in the 11.
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
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
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