regnum fecerat sibi super hoc posteâ— secundum quos dam solemnes nuncios ut praemitâ—…ur destinaverat non obstante Abbot Ailred thus registers Harolds usurpation and the sad events thereof Interea Haroldus Godwini filius Regnum Angliae quod secundum fidem Sacramenti debuerat servasse Willielmo Regis Edmundi consobrino â—ibi nec Iure debitum nec Natura â—rreverenter usurpans malum quod Angliae secundum Sancti Regis oraculum Dominus praeparaverat transgressione pacti et â—â—dei acceleravit laesione Ut autem attenuati viribus facilius ab hiis quos injustè provocaveraâ— hostibus vinceretur susâ—iâ—avit ei a parte aquilonis inimicos Haroldum cognomento Harfar Norwagenorum regem et Tostium fratremsum quem de Anglia ipse expulerat c. p Tho. Walsingham thus stories it Cujus regnum Haroldus continuo invasit ex fidelitate pejuratus quam Duci juraverat Ad quem Legatos direxit protinus hortans ut ab hac vesania resipisceret et fidem quam juramento sposponderat cum digna subjectione servaret Sed ille hoc non solum audire contempsit verum omnem ab illo Anglorum gentem infideliter avertit Hygden in his Polychronicon l. 6. c. 28. Mr John Fox Acts and Monuments Vol. 1. p. 214. Mr. Cambden in his Britannia p 145 146. Holinshed Sir John Hayward Sir Richard Baker affirm the like and incline to this opinion That Harold by his might power craft policy usurped and invaded the Crown without any right against his Oath I shall summ up all their Opinions in the words of Iohn Speed After King Edwards death the Statesmen perplexed for choice of a new Edgar Athelings title was worthy more respect than it found for him they held too young for government besides a stranger born scarce speaking English and withall the prophecies of Edward touching the alienation of the Crown the interest of the Danes and the claim of Duke William made both by gift and consanguinity bred great distractions of desires and opinions but nothing concluded for setling the State no man assuming or possessing the diadem because none had the power or right to adorn therewith his own head In this calm conference a sudden gale arose which blew all the sails spred for that wind into one port Harold son to Earl Godwin a man duly prizing his many worthy parts not unmeet for a Kingdom next Edward his Brorher-in-law in the kingdom courteous in speech and behaviour in martial prowesse the only man qui vivente Edwardo quaecunque contra eum bella incensa sunt virtute sua compressit cupiens se Provincialibns ostentare in regnum scilicet spe prurienti anhelans as Malmsbury writes of him friended by affinity of many of the Nobles expected to be both sided and assisted if his cause came either to trial or voice seeing the time well fitted his entrance Swane King of Denmark most dreaded by the English being then intangled with the Sweden wars William the Norman that made claim from King Edward then absent and at variance with Philip the French King the friends of Edgar in Hungary and himself a Stranger over young for to rule all which concurrent made Harold without deliberation or order from the States to set the Crown on his own head regardlesse of all ceremony and solemn celebration for which act as a violater of holy rites he too too-much offended the Clergy none either greatly applauding or disapproving his presumption except only for the omission of manner and form Harold having gotten actual possession of the Crown Marianus Scotus Florentius Wigorniensis Huntindon Hoveden Sim. Dunelmensis Radulphus de Diceto Hygden Fabian Grafton Holinshed Cambden and Speed record that to ingratiate himself with the Clergy people He began to destroy evil Laws and Customs before used and stablished just and good Laws especially such as were for the defence of holy Church He likewise became a Patron of Churches and Monasteries respected and reverenced Bishops Abbots Monks and Clergymen shewed himself pious humble affable to all good men and hatefull to all Malefactors publickly commanding all his Dukes Earls Sheriffs and other Officers to apprehend all Thieves Robbers and Disturbers of the Realm himself likewise taking extraordinary paines and care for the defence and guarding of the Realm both by Land and Sea Whereunto John Speed superadds He remitted or diminished the grievous customs and Tribute which his Predecessors had raised a course ever powerfull to win the hearts of the Commons to Churchmen he was very munificent and carefull of their advancement and to grow more deeply in their venerable esteem he repaired their Monasteries especially that at Waltham which he sumptuously new built and richly endowed Moreover to satisfie such Nobles as affected young Edgar he created him Earl of Oxford and held him in special favour In brief unto the poor his hand was ever open unto the oppressed he administred Justice and all to hold that Crown upright which he had set on his own head with an unsure hand and deprived him of unto whom he was Protector But these Encomiums of his Justice and Government seem to me to be rather forged than real For how could he reform ill Laws and Customs and enact good Laws when King Edward had so newly and exactly done it before him that there was no need of such a reformation neither finde we the least mention of any Laws made by Harold Or how could he remit or diminish those grievous customs and Tributes which King Edward had totally remitted before him unless himself first revived them Or how could he court the Prelates and Clergy when as he refused to be consecrated by them for which he incurred their disfavour I rather therefore incline to the quite contrary Characters which other Historians give of him and his Government as most consonant to truth Henry de Knyghton though he recites what some forementioned write in his favour yet gives us this account of his proceedings himself Iste devenit nimis e latus et cupidus in collectione auri et argenti et thesaurorum nec aliquam uxorem ducere voluit vi oppressit filias Baronum Procerum atque Militum de regno quod ipsi aegrè ferebant Et de Forestis suis tantam ferocitateÌ„ severitatem erga adjacentes Nobiliores exercuit quod quamplures adnihâ—lavit et multos depaupâ—ravit Nec mirum quamvis ex hiis et aliis nimis odiosus devenit populis suis Et ideo pars Comitum et Baronum ad invicem conferebant decentes ipsum non esse fortunae deditum nec verum esse Regem sed per intrusionem erectum et ideo infauste regere populum suum Et mandaverunt Willielmo Duci Normanniae ut in Angliam venir et eorum Consilio et Auxilio Ius Regni prosecuturus feceruntque ei fidelem securitatem veniendi et consensit And Matthew Westminster gives us
Alferus Duke of Mercia and many other Nobles siding with the maried Secular Priests against the Monkish Clergy combined to advance â—oung Ethelred electing him unanimously for their King disavowing Edward as illegitimate and begotten of an harlot before mariage as Malmesbury de Gestis Regum l. 2. c. 8. Osburn in the life of Dunstan Nicholas Trivet Johannis Parisiâ—nsis Vincentius Antoninus Matthew Parker in the Life of Archbishop Dunstan Mr. Fox and others repute him though Ingulphus Huntindon Hoveden Mat Westminster Florentius Wigornensis Bromton Abbot Ethelred Simeon Dunelmensis Radulphus Cistrensis and the generality of our modern Historians repute him Edgars lawfull Son and right heir to the Crown Whereupon the most of the Nobles elected him to succeed unto his Father The two Archbishops Dunstan and Oswald with all the Bishops Abbots and Clergy of the Monkish faction holding their new-gotten States dangerous and their footing unsure if in the nonage of the King their Opposites should rule all under him as they imagined they would if Ethlred were elected by them thereupon abetted the Title of Edward as altogether wrought to their mould and treading in his Fathers footsteps lawfully begotten in the nuptial bed of Queen Ethelfleda right heir to his Father and by him designed to succeed him Their claimes thus banded amongst the Nobles Duustan and Oâ—… foreseeing the danger prudently assembâ—… all the Bishops Abbots and Nobles together in a Great Council to debate their rights and settle the title Where Archbishop Dunstan as some write comming in with his Cross and Banner dum consecrationis ejus tempore nonnulli Patriae Optimates resistere voluissent not staying for further debating de Jure presented Prince Edward in the midst of them de Facto for their Lawfull King as his Father had declared him at his death Upon which the Major part of the Council being Clergymen elected anointed and consecrated Edward for their King Quibusdam Optimatum murmurantibus some of the Nobles of the contrary party murmuring at it especially Queen Elfrida who thought to advance her young Son to the Throne that so she might rule all things and reign under the colour of his name as Dunstan and the Monkish Clergy did under the colour of King Edwards whose Counsels and admonitions he diligently followed in all things and judgements acted by him During the Interregnum and banding of these two parties about the right of the Crown and immediately after Edwards coronation there arose great controversies tumults and civil Warrs between the Monkish Clergy and maried Secular Priests and the Nobles siding with both parties The marieâ— Priests presently upon Edgars death complained to Queen Elfrida Elfere and the Nobles That they were unjustly expelled out of their Churches by the Monks and their prevailing party alleging that it would be a very great and miserable dishonour to the Nation and shame to them ut novus advena veteres colonos migrare compelleret hoc nec Deo gratum putari qui veterum habitationem concessiâ—…eâ— nec alicui probo homini qui sibi idem timere possit quod aliis praejudicio accedisse cerneret Hereupon many clamours and tumults arising among the people they went to Archbishop Dunstan Praecipue Proceribus ut Laicorum est succlamantibus praejudicium c. but especially to the Nobles as the manner of Laymen is crying out unto them that the Secular Clergy were prejudged and suffered unjustly being expelled their 〈◊〉 posessions without cause that they ought to be more mildâ—y dealt with and restored to their Rights Dunstan giving a deaf ear to these their just complaints many of the Princes and Nobles thereupon in a tumultuous manner expulsed the Abbots and Monks out of the Monasteries wherein King Edgar had placed them and brought in the maried Clerks with their wives in their places as at first Among others Alfere Earl of Mercia gathering great forces and using much insolence overturned almost all the Monasteries King Edgar and Bishop Ethelwold had built in the Province of Mercia quorundam Potentum assensu â—t factione placing maried Priests in them This they did magnis occaecati muneribus by the maried Clergy as Hoveden Simeon Dunelmensis Florentius Wigorniensis and our Monkish Historians asâ—ert To which Abbot Ingulphus subjoyns Cujus Regis Edwardi sancta simplicitate et innocentia tà m abusa est factio Tyrannorum peâ— Reginae favorem et potentiam praecipue roborata quod per Merciam Monachis de quibusdam Monastertis ejectis Clerici sunt inducti Qui statim Monasteriorum maneria Ducibus terrae distribuebant ut sic in suas partes obligati eos contra Monachos defensarent Tunc de Monasterio Eveshamensi Mon â—châ—s expulsis Clerici fuerunt introducti Terraeque Tyranni de terris Ecclesiae praemiati sunt quibus Regina cum novercali nequitia stans cum Clericis in Regis opprobrium favebat Cum Monachis Rex et sancti Episcopi persistebant Sed Tyranni fulti Reginae favore et potentia super Monachos triumphabant The Monks on the contrary to secure their interest by like Bribes and means as is most probable though our Monkish Historians conceal it stirred up Ethelwin Duke of the East-English and Brithnorth Earl of Essex men of great dread and power to appear in their quarrel and resist the opposite party Qui in Synodo constituti who assembled together in a Synod or Council for that end protested That they would never indure the Monks should be cast out of the Realm who held up all Religion in the Kingdom After which they raised a mighty Army defending with great valour the Monasteries of the Eastern English keeping the Monks in possession of them This fire between the Monks and maried Priests thus blown from a spark to a flame was feared to mount higher if not timely quenched Wherefore by mediation of Wise men arms being laid aside the cause was referred to be heard and decided between them in a Great Council of the whole Kingdom For which end there was a famous Council summoned and held at Winchester which some Historians antedate in Edgars life others place in the Interregnum after his death but the series of Story and most judicious Antiquaries evince it to be after Edwards Coronation Anno 975. In this Great Council the King and Archbishop Dunstan sitting in their Thrones as chief Judges of the Controversie in the East-End of the Hall of the Refectory of Winchester Abby near the wall wherein there was a Crucifix immured just behind them Duces cum torius Regni Magnatibus the Dukes with all the Nobles of the Realm and the expulsed maried Clerks standing on the left side of the Refectory and pleading for themselves that they might be restored and Oswald Archbishop of York Athelwold Bishop of Winchester with the Monks standing all together on the right side of the Hall pleading for their continuance in their Churches as the Author of the old Manuscript Chronicle of Winchester Abby
Prisoners almost all the Inhabitants thereof after which they insested and wasted the Isle of Teneth and City of West-Chester invading England every year with new forces til they had laid the whole kingdom desolate expelled King Ethelred with his Queen and Children into foreign patts and possessed themselves both of the Crown and Realm as absolute Soveraigns And here before I proceed further I cannot but take special Notice of Gods admirable retaliating Justice inflicted upon some of our Saxon usurping Regicides and their Posterities worthy our saddest contemplation King Edgar as I touched before injuriously usurped upon his elder Brother King Edwyn and by force of arms deprived him of half his Crown and kingdom at first and of his whole Realm if not life too at last But within few years after by Gods avenging hand his best beloved eldest Son and heir King Edward to whom he bequeathed the Crown at his death was first opposed in his Succession and soon after most treacherously butchered by his own Queen and younger Son who invaded the Crown by his slaughter King Edgar treacherously slew Earl Ethelwold as you have read to espouse his wife Elfredae Crown her for his best beloved Queen who no doubt was consenting to if not the contriver of his murder as he was hunting in Worel Forest And she to requite this murder kills his own Son and heir King Edward as he came from hunting in a Forest not very far distant from the same place Elfere Earl of Mercia the Queens chief Counseller and Instrument to murther and dethrone King Edward whom he stabbed to death with his own hands as Malmesbury records though to expiate this crime he soon after honourably translated his Corps from Warham to Shafisbury-Minster yet by Gods avenging wrath about a year after his whole body was eaten up of Lice and Worms so that he died most miserably Queen Alfrida the chief Plotter of this murder soon after the fact was struck with such horror of conscience for this bloudy Regicide that to pacifie the pangs thereof and expiate the guilt of his crying bloud she built two Monasteries at Almesbury and Warwel and casting off her royal robes and State entred into the later of them where she afflicted her self with sackcloth fasting weeping and severe penance unto the day of her death bewailing this bloudy crime all the remainder of her life The whole English Nation who were either consenters to or overgreat connivers at their Soveraigns Murther which they never publikely questioned nor revenged were not only stricken consumed with all sorts of Plagues and strange diseases but uncessantly invaded oppressed spoiled captivated conquered murderated and almost quite extirpated by the barbarous Danes who usurped the Soveraignty over them for three Generations being made a spectacle of divine Justice both to Angels and Man As for King Ethelred himself though then an infant he purchased nothing else by his Brothers blood but a Crown of Thorns and Cares living in perpetual warrs cares fears wants distresses being crossed in all his designs warrs by Land and Sea contemned deserted and frequently betrayed by his own Counsellers Nobles Commanders Souldiers Subjects forced out of the Realm with his Queen children by the conquering Danes all living like exiles in forein parts dying at last neither lamented nor desired Some of his Sons after his death were treacherously murthered as Edmund Ironside by his own Brother-in-law and Ethelred his Son-in-law Duke Edert all his posterity renounced by the English and the Danes preferred before them banished betrayed devoted to ruine by the usurping Danes and his own temporizing English Prelates and Nobles Of which more fully hereafter Take but this brief Character of his unhappy reign out of William of Malmsbury and Henry de Knyghton Ethelredus post occisionem fratris sui Edwardi in Regem levatus 38. annis reguum potius obsidit quam rexit Nam vitae suae cursus saevus et infaustus fuit in principio miser in medio et fine turpis et reprobus Iste tenuit Regnum in magna angustia Nes mirum quia sic felonice et injuste intrusus est in Regnum Rex suorum per fidia Ducum avito ex terris solio et opis egens alienae in cujus manu aliorum solebat salus pendere E Normannia accercitus Londoniae agebat propter proditores nunquam procedens ubi animam laboribus et miseriis natam efflavit Post cujus mortem Proceres Regni cum Clero stirpem ejus abhorrentes Canutum recognoverunt Regem suum fore All which calamities fell upon these Regicides Traytors and the whole English Nation as our Historians observe for the murder of their lawfull Soveraign And have we not all now just cause to fear the very like or some sorer Judgements for the selfsame crying Sin and other transcendent bloudy traiterous violences oppressions of all kinds farr exceeding this and all others in former ages But to proceed from these Generals to the most observable particulars during his reign Anno Dom. 980. being the second year of King Ethelreds reign the Danes began their invasion and persecution of the English wasting depopulating with fire and sword Southampton Chester the Isle of Teneth Cornwall Devonshire and other places continuing their depredations sundry years after till they became Lords and Masters both of the Crown and Realm All our Historians record that the sins of the English Nation especially their Treason and Treachery against their innocent murdered Soveraign were the original cause of this Danish invasion and most fatal Judgement to which Bishop Lupus in his Oration subjoyns these other sins pertinent to my Theam of which I fear our Nation is now fart more guilty than their Ancestors in that age Ecclesiae vastantur ordo Clericalis ludibrio habetur et contemptui ima plebs proditorie è regno sumpto pretio venundatur infantes ab ipsis incunabilis ad miseram servitutem sumpti et redacti sunt omnisque benignitas et eleemosyna perit Ipsi denique liberi avita libertate frui et in servili conditione constituti bonis magnis partis laboribus aut aliundè concessis uti prohibentur Et quia haec gens perjuriis Mendaciis Iuramenti Fidei Faederum atque Pignorum fractionibus crebris homicidio turto et quae â—d Rempublicam labefactandam summa sunt Proditione falso atque Technis vaferrimis in ipsos Domiuos atque Heros multifariam deliquit cujus fuit indicium Edwardi regis ipsis hostibus traditio c. The external causes principally inviting incouraging the Danes to this invasion as Matthew Parker and Mr. Fox conjecture were these Quod à segnibus et torpentibus Monachis Regni facultates essent absorptae auctaque indies Dacorum vis ab Anglorum sub Monachis redactorum ignaviam et civilia orta multa discrimina quae Dacos efferarunt victores And that the Danes perceiving the discords that were then in the
done by him to his Mother Queen Emma in banishing and spoiling her of her money and jewels against all right and justice and partly for his unjust invasion of the Crown of England but in truth as a just retaliation of his barbarous cruelty to Prince Alfred and his Normans For whose treacherous inhumane slaughter King Harde-Cnute deprived Alfred Bishop of Worcester of his Bishoprick whose hands were said to have been in Alfreds bloud And for which murder he likewise looked with an evil eye upon Earl Godwin compelling him to an Oath of Purgation touching the same Whereupon Godwin by his own Oath and the Oaths of most of the Nobles of the Realm his compurgators swore though most falsly That Prince Alfreds eyes were not put out nor he murdered as aforesaid by his Counsel or consent but what was done therein was only by the command of King Harold which he durst not resist Notwithstanding which Oath to purchase his peace with Harde-Cnute he presented him with a most rich and royal present to wit with a Ship whose stern was of gold with 80 Souldiers placed therein all uniformly and richly suited having on their heads gilt Burgonets on their armes bracelets of Gold on their bodies Habergeons Swords Battel-axes Targets and other arms after the Danish fashion all richly gilt with gilt bosses and darts in their hands Which Present though it pacified the Kings indignation yet it prevented not Gods avenging justice on him afterwards for Alfreds bloud thus partly avenged on Harolds carcasse which was cast into the Thames and mangled according to Hard-Cnutes command and lay floting on the water sundry dayes till a Fisherman in compassion took up his corps and buried it privately in St. Clements Danes CHAP. V. Containing a Brief Historicall Collection of all the Parliamentary Councils State-Assemblies Historicall Passages and Proceedings that concern the Fundamentall Liberties Priviledges Rights Properties Laws and Government of the Nation under the reign of King Edward the Confessor from the year of our Lord 1042. to 1066. wherein he died KING Harde-Cnute being sodainly taken out of this world without issue by divine Justice on the 6 day of June Anno 1042. thereupon the Earls and Barons of England immediately after his death assembled together in a Great Council about the election of a New King Wherein OMNES ANGLORUM MAGNATES ad invicum tractantes DE COMMVNI CONCILIO ET JURAMENTO STATUERUNT QUOD NUNQUAM TEMPORIBUS FUTURIS ALIQUIS DACUS SUPER EOS IN ANGLIA REGNARET hoc maxime pro contemptibus quos Angli à Danis saepiâ—… acceperunt c. as the Chronicle of Bromton others informe us All the Nobles of the English treating together decreed by common advice which they ratified with an oath THAT IN TIMES TO COME NEVER ANY DANE or person of the Danish blood SHOULD REIGN OR BE KING OVER THEM IN ENGLAND ANY MORE disclaiming all Danish subjection that especially for the contempts which the English had very often received from the Danes For if a Dane had met an Englishmen upon any bridge the Englishman must not be so hardy to move a foot but stand stâ—ll till the Dane was passed quite over it And moreover if the Englishmen had not bâ—wed down their heads to doe reverence to the Danes they should presently have undergone great punishments and stripes Whereupon King Harde-Cnute being dead the English rising up against them drove all the Danes being then without a King and Captaine out of the Realm of England who speedily quâ—tting the land never returned into it afterwards And here we may justly stand still a while and contemplate the admirable retaliating justice of God upon our Danish usurping Kings and their Posterity King Cnute as you heard before caused the temporizing English Bishops Nobles and Barons assembled in a Parliamentary Council against their oaths of allegiance to King Ethelred Edmund Ironside and their heirs no less then twice one after another to renounce cast off and abjure their regall Posterity to make them incapable of the Crowne of England and settle the inheritance of it upon him and his Danish blood Anno 1016. and 1017. And now in little more then twenty years after all the English Prelates and Nobles assembled in Council of their own accords by a solemn Decree and Oath abjure renounce and eternally disinherit all the Danish blood-royall of the Crown of England and restore the Saxon English royall line to that soveraignty which they had formerly disclaimed such are the vicissitudes of divine Justice and providence worthy our observation in these wheeling times wherein we live when no man knoweth what changes of like nature one day or year may bring forth The English putting their Decree for cashiering all the Danes in execution turned the mâ—â—t of all the Castles Forts Garrisons Cities Villages throughout England as well those of the Royall and Noble blood as the vulgar sort and forced them to depart the Realm as they had formerly banished the English Princes and Nobles Procâ—reâ— igitur Anglorum jam DACORUM DOMINIO LIBERATI The Nobles therefore of Engl. being thus freed from the Danes dominion for so much of God of his mercy and providence who is the maker of heirs thought good after the woâ—ull captivity of the English Nation to grant them some respite of deliverance in taking away the Danish Kings without any issue left behinde them who reigning here in England kept the English people in miserable subjection about the space of 28 years and from their first landing in the time of King Brictâ—icus wasted and vexed this land for the space of 255 years their Tyranny now coming to an end by the death of Harde Cnute they thereupon assembling together in a great Council with a generall consent elected Prince Edward surnamed the Confessor the youngest and onely surviving son of King Ethelred for their King who ANNUENTE CLERO ET POPULO LONDONIIS IN REGEM ELIGITUR as Mat. Westminster relates whereupon Edward being then in Normandy where he had long lived in exile being a man of a gentle and soft spirit more appliable to other mens counsels then able to trust his own naturally so averse from all war bloodshed that he wished rather to continue all his life long in a private exiled estate then by war or blood to aspire to the Crown the Lords sent messengers to him to come over and take peaceable possession of the Kingdome of England they having chosen him for their King advising him to bring with him as few Normans as he could and they would most faithfully establish him in the throne Edward though at first he much doubted what course to stear somewhat mistrusting the treachery and inconstancy of the fickle headed English yet at last upon the importunity of the messengers who informed him melius esse ut vivat gloriosus in Imperio quà m ignominiosus moriâ—ur in exilio JURE EI COMPETERE REGNUM aevo
maturo laboribus defaecato sciâ—…ti administrare principatum per aetatem severè miserias Provinci ilium pro pristina aequitate temperare c. and upon putting in sufficient pledges and an oath given for his security he came into England with a small train of Normans where he was joyfully received by the Nobles and people Nec mora Gilingeam or rather Londoniam CONGREGATO CONCILIO rationibus suis explicitis regem effecit Dominio palam ab omnibus dato as Malmsbury or electus â—st in Regem ab omni populo as Huntindon and others expresse it After which on Easter day Apr 2. 1043. he was solemnly crowned King at Winchester with great pomp by Eadsi Arch-bishop of Canterbury by the unanimous consent of the Archbishops Bishops Nobles Clergie and people of England to their great joy and content without the least opposition war or blood-shed after 25 yeares seclusion from the Crown by the Danish usurpers Our Historians generally record that Bryghtwold a Monk of Glastenbury afterwards first Bishop of Wilton when King Cnute had banished and almost extinguished the whole royal issue of the English race almost past any possibility or probability of their restitution to the Crown which he had forcibly invaded by the sword on a certian night fell into a sad deep contemplation of the forlorn condition of the royall Progeny of the English nation then almost quite deleted by the Danes and of the miserable condition of England under these forraign usurpers After which falling into a deep sleep he saw in a vision the Apostle S. Peter himself holding Prince Edward then an exile in Normandy by the hand and anointing him King in his sight who declared to him at large how holy this Edward should be that his reign should be peaceable and that it should continue for 23 years After which Bryghtwold being yet unsatisfied who should succed him and doubting of Edwards off-spring demanded of S. Peter who should succeed him whereunto S. Peter returned him this answer REGNUM ANGLIAE EST REGNUM DEI ET IPSE SIBI REGES or REGEM as some render it PROVIDEBIT The Realm of England is Gods Kingdome and he himself shall provide Kings or a King for himself according to his good pleasure Yea the golden legend of King Edwards life informs us THAT HE WAS CHOSEN KING OF ENGLAND BY CONSENT OF PARLIAMENT WHILES HE WAS YET IN HIS MOTHERS WOMB as well as after Harde-Cnute's death Take the relation of it in Abbot Ailreds words and of Brightwolds vision likewise Cum igitur gloriosus Rex Ethelredus ex filia praeclarissimi comitis Thoreti filium suscepisset Eadmundum cognomento Ferreumlatus ex Regina autem Emma Aluredum beatus Edvardus inter Viscera materna conclusus utrique praefertur agente â—o qui omnia operatur secundum concilium voluntatis suae qui dominatur in regno hominum cui voluerit dat illud FIT MAGNUS CORAM REGE EPISCOPORUM PROCERUMQUE CONVENTUS magnus plebis vulgique concursus quia jam futurae cladis indicia saeva praecesserant AGITUR INTER EOS DE REGNI STATU TRACTATUS Deinde Rex successorem sibi designare desiderans QUID SINGULIS QUIDVE OMNIBUS VIDERETUR EXPLORAT Pro diversorum diversa senentia res pendebat in dubio Alii enim Eâ—dmundum ob invictissimum robur corporis caeâ—eris aestimant praeferendum alii ob virtutem Normanâ—…ci generis Aluredum promovendum tutiùs arbitrantur Sed futurorum omnium praescius prioris brevissimam vitam alterius mortem immaturam prespiciens in pueâ—uÌ„ nec dum natuÌ„ UNIVERSORUM VOTA CONVERTIT Vtero adhuc claudetur in Regem eligitur non natus natis praefertur quem nec dum terra susceperat terrae dominus designatur Praebet electioni REX CONSENSUM laeti PRAEâ—ENT PROCâ—RES SACRAMENTUM inusitato miraculâ— IN Ejus FIDELITATE JURARUNT qui utrum nasceretur ignorarunt Tua haec sunt opera Christe Jesu qui omnia operaris in omnibus qui electum dilectum tibi an e mundi constitutionem plebis tui rectorem hiis indiciis declarasti quem liâ—èt per illos non tamen illi sedâ—… potius ele gisti Quis enim non videat rec aptum usui nec conveniens tempori nec censonum rationi nec humano ferendum fuisse sensui ut omissis filiâ—… legitimâ—s adultis hostili gladio imminente parvulus necdum natus ELIGERETUR IN REGEM quem in tali n cessitate n c hostes m tuerent nec cives revererentur Sed omnipotens Deus Spiritum prophesiae veci simul affectui plebis infudit praesentia malâ—spe futurae consolation is temperans ut sciant omnes in totius regni consolationem regem futurum quem ab ipso Deo plebe nesciente quid fecerit nullus dubitaret clectum Saevibat interim gladius hostilis in Anglia caedibus rapinis omnia replebantur ubique luctus ubique clamor ubique desolatio Incenduntur ecclesiae monasteria devastantur ut verbis propheticis utar effuderunt sanguinem sanctorum in circuitu Jerusalem non erat qui sepeliret Sacerdotes suis fugatisedibus sicubi pax quies aliqua in monasteriis vel locis desertis inveniebatur communem miseriam deplorantes delitescebant Inter quos vene abilis Bryghtwaldus Wintoniensis Episcopus caenobâ—um Glastoniense maerens tristis ingressus orationibus vacabat psalmis Qui cum aliquando pro Regis plebisque liberatione preces lacrymasque profunderet quasi in haec verba prorumpens Et tu inquit Domine usque quo usque quo avertis faciem tuam obliviscens inopiae nostrae tribulationis nostrae Sanctos tuos occiderunt altaria tua suffoderunt non est qui redimat neque qui salvum faciat Scio Domine scio quia omnia quae fecisti nobis in vero judicio fecisti sed nunquid in aeternum projiciet Deus non opponet complacitus sit adhuc erit ne Domine Deus meus erit ne finis horum mirabilium aut in aeternum tuus in nos mucro desaeviet percutias usque ad internecionem Inter preces tandem lachrim as fatigatum soper suavis excepit viditque per somnium caelâ—stem chorum cum lumine beatissimumque Petrum in eminâ—nti loâ—o constitutum dignum tantae majestati habitum praeserentem Videbatur ante eum virâ—pyaeâ—lâ—ri vultus in forma decenti regalâ—bus amictus insigniis quem cum p opriis manibus Apostolus censecrasset â—uxisset in regem monita salutis adjacit praecipuâ—que caelibem vitam commendans quot esset annos regnaturus aperuit Obstupefactus Praesul tanti novitate miraculi petit sibi a sanâ—to visionis hujus mysterium revelari de statu insuper regni instantis fine periculi apostolicum exegit oraculum Tunc factus vultus placido in tuâ—ns inâ—uentem Domini inquâ—t o Praesul Domini est regnum ipse dominatur in fâ—…s hominum Ipse
especially beautifull maides in England and to send them into Denmark that she might heap up riches by their deformed sale After her death he maried another wife on whom he begot Harold Swane Wulnoth Tosti Girth and Leofwin Harold after Edward was King for some Moneths and being conquered by William at Hastings lost both his life and kingdom with his two younger Brothers there slain in battel Wulnoth sent into Normandy by King Edward because his father had given him for an hostage was there detained a Prisoner without any release during all King Edwards life and being sent back into England in Williams reign continued in bonds at Sarisbury till his old age Swane of a perverse wit treacherous against his King revolted oftentimes both from his Father and his Brother Harold and becomming a Pyrate polluted the vertues of his ancestors with his maritime Robberies and murder At last going barefoot to Jerusalem in pilgrimage out of conscience to expiate the wilfull murder of his Cosen Breuno and as some say his Brother in his return thence he was circumvented and slain by the Saracens Tosti being advanced by King Edward to the Earldom of Northumberland after the death of Earl Syward ruled the County near two years which being expired he stirred up the Northumbrians to a Rebellion with the asperity of his manners for finding him solitary they chased him out of the Country not thinking fit to slay him by reason of his Dukedom but they beheaded all his men both English and Danes and spoiled him of all his horses arms and houshold-stuff whereupon being deprived of his Earldom he went with his wife and children into Flanders and at last invading Northumberland and joyning with the Danes against his own brother King Harold was there slain by him in battel with all his forces His daughter Queen Egitha besides her forementioned repudiation by King Edward and the imprisonment and disgraces put upon her by him for her Fathers sake was never carnally known by him as his wife out of a detestation to her Father Godwin because he would not ingender heirs to succeed him in the royal Throne out of the Race and séed of such a Traytor as many Historians assert Even so let all other such like perfidious Traytors their Posterities perish who imitate him and them in their Treasons Perjuries Rebellions and will not be warned nor reclaimed by his or their sad examples The same year Earl Godwin thus perished Rbeese brother of Griffin King of Southwales was slain by King Edwards command and his head brought to Glocester to the King on the Vigil of Epiphany for his manifold Treasons rebellions and frequent depredations upon his English Subjects King Edward Anno 1054. commanded Sywarà the valiant Duke of Northumberland to invade Scotland with an Army of horse and a strong Navy to remove Mackbeoth K. of Scots to whom he had formerly given the Realm of Scotland to hold it of him and make Malcolm the King of Cumberlands Son King in his place Who thereupon entring Scotland with a puissant Army fought a set battle with Mackbeoth slew many thousands of the Scots and all the Normans who went to him out of England chased him out of Scotland then totally wasted and subdued by Syward and deprived him both of his Life and Realm Which being effected King Edward gave the Realm of Scotland to Malcolm to be held from and under himself Not long after Duke Syward being likely to die of a flux when he saw death approaching said What a shame is it that I who could not die in so many battels and warrs should be reserved to die with disgrace like a Cow Wherefore put upon me my impenetrable coat of male gird me with my sword set my helmet upon my head put my buckler in my left hand and my gilt battel-ax in my right hand that being the strongest of all Souldiers I may die like a Souldier Whereupon being thus armed as he commanded he said Thus it becomes a Souldier to die and not lying down in his bed like an Ox and so he most honourably gave up the Ghost But because Walteof his Son was then but an insant his Earldom was given by the King to Tosti son of Earl Godwin whose Earldom after Godwins sudden death was bestowed on Harold and Harolds Earldom given to Algarus Earl of Chester Earldoms in that age being only for life not hereditary In the year 1055. King Edward Habito Londoniae Concilio holding a Parliamentary Councill at London banished Algarus Son of Earl Leofric quia de Proditione Regis in Concilio convictus fuerat because he had been convicted in the Council of Treason against the King as Henry Huntindon Bromtons Chronicle and Hygden record Yet Florentius Wigorniensis Simeon Dunelmensis Hoveden Henry de Knyghton and others write He was banished sine culpa without any crime Whereupon passing over into Ireland he soon after repaired with 18. piratical Ships to Griffin King of Wales requesting him to give him aid against King Edward Who thereupon forthwith assembling a very great Army out of all his Realm commanded Algarus to meet him and his Army with all his forces at a certain place where uniting their forces together they entred into Herefordshire to spoil and depopulate it Against whom timorous Earl Ralph King Edwards Sisters Son raising an Army and meeting them two miles from the City of Hereford commanded the English to fight on horseback contrary to their custom But when they were about to joyn battel the Earl with his French and Normans fled away first of all which the English perceiving followed their Captain in flying whom the Enemies pursuing slew four or five hundred of them and wounded many more and having gained the Victory took the City of Herford slew some of the Citizens carried away many of them captives annd having burnt and pillaged the City returned enriched with great booties The King being informed of it commanded an Army to be presently assembled out of all England which meeting together at Gloucester he made valiant Earl Harold their General who devoutly obeying his commands diligently pursued Griffin and Algarus and boldly entring into the coasts of Wales encamped at Straddle But they knowing him to be a valiant man not daring to fight with him fled into South-wales Upon which Harold leaving the greatest part of his Army there commanded them manfully to resist the Enemies if there were cause and returning with the rest of the multitude to Hereford he enviroued it with a broad and deep trench and fortified it with gates and barrs At last Messengers passing between them and Harold they made a firm Peace between them Whereupon Earl Algarus his Navy returning to Chester there exacted the wages he had promised them but he repairing to the King received his Earldom from him again This same year Herman Bishop of Salisbury requested of the King and almost obtained leave to remove
de regno post eum obtinendo minime potuit adimplere unde Willhelmo cognato suo Normannorum Duci Regnum post eum optinendum per solennes nuncios assignavit And Col. 957. he adds Some say that King Edward before his death had appointed William to succeed him according to the promise which the said King had made him when he was a young man living in Normandy that he should succeed him in the Kingdom concerning which as some write be had sent solemn Messengers to him into Normandy The like is affirmed almost in the same words by Henry de Knyghton de Eventibus Angliae l. 1. c 15. col 2238. and by Fabian Caxton Cambden Holinshed Grafton Speed Daniel Stow Vestegan and other modern Historians Matthew Paris in the beginning of his History of England p. 1. relates Harolds driving into Pountoise by storm as he was taking his pleasure at Sea his presenting to Duke William his espousals to his daughter under age which he ratified by Oath taken upon the reliques of Saints adding Juravit insuper se post mortem Regis Edwardi qui jam senuit sine liberis Regnum Angliae Duci qui in Regnum jus habuit fideliter conservaturum Consummatis igitur aliquot diebus cum summa laetitia amplis muneribus ditatus in Angliam reversus est Haroldus Sed cum in tuto constitueretur jactabat se laqueos evasisse Hostiles Perjurii crimen eligendo And Anno 1257. Writing of the Lay Peers of France whereof the Duke of Normandy is first he hath this passage Rex Angliae Dux est de jure Normanniae sanguinis derivatione geneali Rex ex conquestu dicitur tamen quod beatus Edwardus eo quod haerede caruit Regnum legavit Willielmo Bastardo Duci Normannorum Sed hoc robore asseruitur caruisse quia hoc fecit in lecto Lethali et sine Baronagii sui commnni consensu By all which Testimonies as likewise by the express relations of Mr. Cambden in his Britannia p. 144 145. Richard Verstegan his Restitution of decayed Antiquities Matthew Parker his Antiquitates Ecclesiae Britanniae p. 88. Mr. Seldens Review of his History of Tithes p. 482 483. it is apparent that King Edward whiles he was in Normandy before he was King upon Duke Williams repairing into England to him after he was King by several Messengers and Hostages sent to him in his old age and in his very death-bed appointed Duke William to be both his successor and heir to the Crown of England and that Harold either voluntarily as purposely sent by King Edward or craftily upon pretence he was sent by him to work his own enlargement and his Nephews or upon Williams motion to him voluntarily swore that he would faithfully preserve the Crown and Realm of England for him after King Edwards death who had appointed him to succeed him as his heir next kinsman by the mothers side and that he intended to dishinherit his Cosen Edgar Atheling of it though next heir to it by reason of his minority unfitness and indisposition both of body and minde to sway the Scepter of the Realm King Edward having finished his Abby of Westminster and endowed it with ample lands and privileges by three several Charters by the advice and assent of all his Bishops and Nobles as aforesaid Anno 1066 caused it to be solemnly consecrated on Innecents day with great solemnity but falling sick in the midst of these festival Solemnities of its dedication he betook himself to his bed where continuing speechlesse for two days space together on the third day giving a great groan and arising as it were from the dead he related to those then about him a Vision he had seen touching the State of England Namely that two religious Monks he had formerly known in Normandy dead many years before were sent unto him with this message declaring the Corruptions and Vices both of the Clergy Nobility Gentry and People of England and the judgements ready to fall upon them for the same Which Matthew Westminster thus relates Quoniam Primores Angliae Duces Episcopi Abbates non sunt Ministri Dei sed Diaboli tradidit Deus hoc regnum uno anno et die uno in manu inimici Daemonesque terram hanc totam pervagabunt Abbot Ailred thus records it Impletum dicunt Anglorum nequitiam iniquitas consummata iram provocat accelerat vindâ—ctam Sacerdotes praevaricati sunt pactum Domini polluto pectore manibus iniquitatis sancta contrectant non Pastores sed Mercenarii exponunt lupis oves non protegunt lac lanam quaerunt non oves ut detrusos ad inferos mors pastores depascat et oves Sed et Principes terrae infideles Sociae surum PRAEDONES PATRIAE quibus nec Deus timori est NEC LEX HONORI quibus veritas oneri JUS CONTEMPTUI CRUDELITAS DELECTATIONI Itaque NEC SERVANT PRAELATI JUSTITIAM nec subditi disciplinam Et ecce Dominus gladium suum vibravit arcum suum tetendit et paravit illum ostendet deinceps populo hinc iram indignationeÌ„ immissiones insuper per Angelos malos quibus traditi sunt anno uno die uno igne simul et gladio puniendi The King groaning and sighing for this calamity that was ready to fall upon his people demanded of the Monks Whether if they repented of their sins upon his admonition to them God would not pardon them and remove his judgements as he did from the Ninivites They replied That God would by no means receive them into his favour because the heart of this people was hardned and their eyes blinded and their ears deafned that they would not hear reproof nor understand admonition nor be terrified with threatnings nor provoked with his late benefits The King thereupon demanded Whether God would be angry for ever Whether he would be any more intreated and when they might hope for a release of so great calamities To which they replyed That if a green tree cut in the midst and carried a great space from the stock could without any help reunite it self to the root and grow again and bring sorth fruit then might the remission of such evils be hoped for The veritie of which Prophecy add our Historians the Englishmen experimentally felt namely That England should be an habitation of strangers and a Domination of Foreiners because a little space after scarce any Englishman was either a King a Duke Bishop or Abbot neither was there any hope also of the end of this misety King Edward after his relation of this Vision to the Nobles and Prelates then about him yielded up the Ghost and died without issue on Epiphany Eve An. 1066. and was solemnly interred the next day in Westminster Abbey the royal line of the Saxon Kings ending in him which had continued from Cerdic the first King of the West-Saxons for 571. years without interruption except by some
Danish Usurpers who for the Sins of the English reigned for some years over them with rigour and were soon cut off by death CHAPTER 6. Comprising the Historical Passages relating to the Parliamentary Councils Lawes Liberties Properties Rights Government of England Anno 1066. under the Short reign of the Usurper King Harold till the Coronation of King William the First falsly surnamed The Conquerour though never claiming the Crown by Conquest but Title KIng Edward deceasing without any issue of his body to succeed him refusing all carnal copulation with his Queen either out of a vowed virginity as most Historians conclude or out of a detestation of Earl Godwins Trayterous race quod Rex Religiosus de genere proditor is haeredes qui sibi succederent corrupto semine Regio nolue rit procreari as Ingulphus Matthew Westminster and others record thereby exposed the kingdom for a prey to the ambitious Pretenders aspiring after it Upon which consideration praesentiebant plures in ejus morte desolationem Patriae Plebis exterminium totius Angliae Nobilitatis excidium finem libertatis honoris ruinam as Abbot Ailred informs us The English Prelates and Nobles being then all assembled at Westminster to the solemn consecration of the Abbey were much perplexed and the generality of the people exceedingly grieved at his death For although he were Vir propter morum simplicitatem parum Imperio idoneus yet he was Deo devotus ideoque ab eo directus Denique eo regnante nullus tumultus domesticus qui non cito comprimeretur nullum bellum forinsecus omnia domi forisque quieta omnia tranquilla quod eo magis stupendum quia ita se mansuete ageret ut nec viles homunculos verbo laedere noscet Nam dum quadam vice venatum isset et agrestis quidem stabulata illa quibus in casses cervi urgentur confudisset ille sua nobili percitus ira per Deum inquit et Matrem ejus tantundem tibi nocebo si potero Egregius animus quise regem in talibus non meminisset nec abjectae conditionis homini se posse nocere putaret Erat interea ejus apud domesticos reverentia vehemens apud exteros metus ingens fovebat profecto ejus simplicitatem Deus ut posset timeri qui nesciret irasci No wonder then if his death were much lamented by all his Subjects cum omnes et in Rege cernerent unde gauderent et in se sentirent unde dolerent The English Nobility were much troubled and divided in their minds and affections which were wavering touching the election of a fit person to succeed him Fluctuabant Proceres Regni quem sibi Regem praeficerent et Rectorem Many of them favoured William Duke of Normandy as specially designed by King Edward to succeed him others of them inclined to Prince Edgar Atheling as the next and right heir to the Crown Cui de Iure debebatur Others of them favored Harold Earl Godwins son as being a person then of greatest Power and Valour in the Realm Anglia dubio favore nutabat cui se Rectori committeret incerta an Haraldo an Willielmo an Edgaro Nam illum pro genere proximum regno Proceribus Rex commendaverat Harold being a crafty subtil man knowing that delayes were hurtfull to those who were prepared on the very day of Epiphany whereon King Edward was buried having the command of all the Militia and forces of the Realm as General and Vice-roy to the deceased King by the strength of himself and his kinred and friends invaded and seized upon the royal Crown and then presently set it upon his own head crowning himself King without any Title Right or due Election by the Nobles or Coronation by the Bishops whereby he incurred the hatred both of the English Prelates and Pope and then extorted allegeance from the Nobles as William of Malmsbury Matthew Paris Ingulphus Henry Huntindon Matthew Westminster the Chronicle of Bromton Knyghton Caxton Mr. Fox Speed and some others attest But Marianus Scotus Florent Wigorniensis Roger de Hoveden Sim. Dunelm Radulfus de Diceto Eadmerus Hygden Fabian Grafton with others write in favour of Harold that King Edward before his death made him not only his General but Vice-roy and ordained that he should be King after him Whereupon A totius Angliae Primatibus ad regale culmen electus he was elected to be â—ing by all the Nobles of England and solemnly consecrated and crowned King by Aldred Archbishop of Yorke And so Juxta quod ante mortem Edwardus statuerat in Regnum ei successit Haroldus writes l Eadmerus That King Edward designed him for his Successor in the Crown seems very improbable because Harold himself never alleged nor pretended it in any of his Answers to Duke Williams Embassadors to him who claimed the Crown by his speciall bequest and designation in his life-time and because King Edwards hatred to Godwin and his Posterity seems inconsistent with it William of Malmsbury an impartial disingaged Author living in or near that time gives us this determination of these different relations Recâ—nâ—i adhuâ— regalis funeris luctu Haroldus ipso Theophaniae die extorta a Principibus fide arrâ—… Diaâ—â—ma quaâ—ivis Angli dicant a Rege concessuâ—… quod tamen magis benevolentia quam judicio allegari existimo ut illi haereditâ—tens transfunderet suam cujus semper suspectam habuerat potentiam Quamvis ut non celetur veritas pro persona quam gerebat regnum prudentiae fortitudine gubernaret si legitime suscepiscet Abbot Ingulphus living at that time thus relates his intrusion into the Throne against his Oath In crastino Regiâ—funeris Comes Haroldus contra suum statum jusjurandum contempter praestiâ—ae fidei ac nequiter oblitus sui Sacramenti Throno Regio se intrusit yet adds per Archiepiscopum Eboracae Aldredum solenniter coronatus Henry Huntindon thus records it Quidem Anglorum Edgar Adeling promovere volebant in Regem Haroldus vero viribus et genere fretus Regni Diadema invasit The Chronicle of Bromton and Knyghton thus give us the story of it Sancto Edwardo rege et Confessore mortuo quidam Anglorum Magnates Edgarum Adelynge filium Edwardi filii Regis Edmondi Ironside in Regem promovere moliebantur sed quia puer erat et tanto oneri minus idoneus et in bursa minus refertus Haroldus Comes viribus et genere fretus Cui erat Mens astutior crumena fâ—â—undior et miles copiosior et pompis gloriosior sinistro omine Regnum occupavit et contra Sacramentum quod Willielmo Duci Normanniae praestiterat Regni Diadema sinistro omine illico invasit et sic perjurus sancto Edwardo successit juxta quod idem Edwardus ut quidam aiunt ante mortem suam statuerat promissione quam idem Rex dum juvenis in Normannia extitit dicto Willielmo de sâ—â—cedendo post cum in
battel in a tumultuous manner were routed by them many of them being slain in the field and the rest inforced to fly into York for shelter which the Enemies besieging was presently surrendred up to them and hostages delivered them after the slaughter of many Citizens Nobles and Clergy-men Upon this King Harold recollecting his disbanded Army and Navy marched with all speed towards York against the Danes Norwegeans and his brother Tosti but coming to Hamford Bridge one valiant Dane with his Battle Axe slew 40 of his men and made good the Bridge against the whole Army for a long space till at last some going under the Bridge in a Boat slew him with a spear Both Armies joyning battel after a long and bloudy fight Harfager and Tosti with may other of Note were slain their whole Army routed all their Ships taken with the loss of many of the bravest English Souldiers and 20 of their Ships only permitted to depart into Denmark with their wounded men and Olaus Harfagers Son who to save his life took an Oath never from thenceforth to attempt any hostility or invasion against the English This victory Abbot Ailred a ascribes to the merits of Edward the Confessor who promised to be the Captain and Protector of the English Nation against those Enemies who invaded the Realm contrary to right and Law and promised them the victory over them But Harold ascribing it to his own valour instead of rewarding his Souldiers with the spoils of the vanquished enemies as the price of their bloud out of a base unworthy a varice converted all the spoils and booty to his own private use giving no part of them to any other Wherewith many of the Nobles and common Souldiers were so incensed that detesting the covetousness of their Prince they unanimously departed from his service and refused to march with him against the Normans This triumphant victory so puffed up Harold that he thought himself secure in the Throne beyond the fear or reach of any adversity and instead of a King became a TYRANT Whilst Harold with all his Land and Sea forces were thus busied in the North of England Duke VVilliam in August assembled all his Land Army and Navy consisting of 900 ships at the Port of S. Valerie to invade England in the South then wholly destitute of all Guards by Land and Navy by Sea to resist his landing And to satissie his Souldiers and all others of the justice of his undertaking he alleged these three causes thereof which Henry de Knyghton devides into four The first was to revenge the cruel murther of his Cousin Prince Alfred King Edmunds brother and of the Normans who came with him to assist him to recover the Crown of England to which he was right heir whom Godwin and his Sons had shamefully dishonoured treacherously betrayed and barbarously murdered which fact he ascribed principally to Harold The second was because Godwin and his Sons by their cunning had injuriously banished Robert Arch-bishop of Canterbury Earl Odo and all the French and Normans out of England which wrong he would revenge on Harold as done principally by his means and labour The third and chief ground was because Harold falling headlong into perjury had without any right usurped the Crown and Realm of England which of due belonged unto him both by right of Kinred to and gift by King Edward his Nephew and by Harolds own solemn Oath and promise made to him in Normandy to preserve the Kingdom for his use after King Edwards death without children according to King Edwards command While Duke William with his ships and Army lay many days together at S. Valerie expecting a fair gale for England the winds being cross many of the common souldiers there lying in Tents thus muttered one to another That the man was mad who would by force invade and make another mans Country and Realm his own That God did fight against them in withdrawing the winds That his Father attempted the same thing in the same manner and was hindered and inhibited therein That it was fatal to his family that aspiring to things above their power they should find God opposite to them These speeches bruted abroad which might enfeeble the strength and abate the courage even of valiant men The Duke thereupon taking Counsel with his Senators caused the Corps of St. Valerie to be brought forth to procure a wind presently a prosperous gale filling their sayles the Duke himself first took ship and launched forth and all the rest after him then casting Anchor till the Fleeâ— came round about him they all sailing with a gentle course landed at Hastings and Pevemsy The Duke stepping forth of the ship upon the shore one of his feet slipped so that he fell down into the mud one of his hands being filled with sand whch he interpreted as an ill omen and sinister event But one of his Souldiers who stood next him lifting him up from his fall whiles he held the mud in his hand changed this event into a better interpretation saying Most happy Duke thou already possessest England and plowest it up Behold the land is in thy hand Lift up thy self with good hope thou sha't be King of England ere long No sooner was the Army landed m but the King strictly charged them to forbear plundering and take no booties seeing they ought to spare the things that should be his own nor to wrong any of their persons who should ere long become his Subjects Richard Vestegan records out of a French Historian that Duke VVilliam the same day he landed in England caused divers of his chief Officers and Friends to dine with him and chancing at dinner to talk of an Astrologer who by the conjunction of the Planets had assured him at St. Valerie That Harold should never withstand him but submit himself unto him and yeeld him faith and homage willed now that the said Astrologer should be brought unto him whom he had caused to be imbarqued for that voyage But it was told him that the Ship wherein the said Astrologer sailed was cast away at Sea and he drowned in it Where unto the Duke replyed That man was not wise who had more regard to the good or â—ll fortune of another than unto his own I am now thanks be to God come over I know not how the rest will succeed How false this Star-gazers prediction proved the sequel will manifest Duke VVilliam after his arrival rested quietly 15. days without acting any thing as if he minded nothing less than war After which to cut off all occasion or hopes of return from his Souldiets he fired all his ships or as some write drew them all a shore and intrenched them as others erecting only a Castle on the shore for a retiring place for his Souldiers if need were From Pevensy he marched to Hastings where he built another Fort. Henry de Knyghton records that the first
and to govern them justly according to their Coronation Oaths and not arbitrarily or tyrannically according to their pleasures 5. That no Freemen in that age could be justly imprisoned banished or put to death but for some hainous misdemeanors and that by a legal trial and conviction 6. That the Subjects of England then held it their bounden duties in times of forein invasion to defend the Realm their Lives Liberties Properties both by Land and Sea against forein Enemies yet they held themselves dis-obliged and were generally averse to defend the person or Title of any Usurper of the Crown against any forein Prince or other Person who had a better right and title to it 7. That our English Ancestors in that age esteemed their hereditary Liberties good antient Laws and Customs more dear and pretious to them than their very lives and would rather die fighting for their Laws and Liberties like freemen than live under slavery or bondage to any Soveraign whatsoever 8. That the Kings of England in that age could neither give away nor legally dispose of their Crowns Kingdoms or Crown Lands to others without the privity and free consent of their Nobles and Kingdom in general Parliamentary Council as is evident by Harolds answers to VVilliams Embassadours the recited passage of Matthew Paris upon that occasion and this of Samuel Daniel p. 34. So much was done either by King Edward or Harold though neither act if any such were was of power to prejudice the State or alter the course of right succession as gave the Duke a colour to claim the Crown by a donation made by Testament which being against the Law and Custom of the Kingdom could be of no validity at all For the Crown of England being held not as patrimonial but in succession by remotion which is a succeeding to anothers place it was not in the power of King Edward to collate the same by any dispositive and Testamentary Will the right descending to the next of blood only by the Laws and Custom of the Kingdom For the successor is not said to be the Heir of the King but of the Kingdom which makes him so and cannot be put from it by any Act of his Predecessors 9. That the Nobilities Clergies and peoples free-Election hath been usually most endeavoured and sought after by our Kings especially Intruders as their best and surest Title To these Legal I shall only subjoyn some Political and Theological Observations naturally slowing from the premised Histories of King Edward Harold and William not unsuitable to nor unseasonable for the most serious thoughts and saddest contemplations of the present age considering the revolutions and postures of our publike affairs 1. That it is very unsafe and perillous for Princes or States to intrust the Military and Civil power of the Realm in the hands of any one potent ambitious or covetous person who will be apt to abuse them to the peoples oppression the kingdoms perturbation and his Sovereigns affront or danger as is evident by Earl Godwin and his Sons 2. That devout pious soft-natured Princes are aptest to be abused and their people to be oppressed by evil Officers 3. That it is very dangerous and pernicious to heditary kingdoms for their King to die without any certain known and declared right Heirs or Successors to their Crowns yea an occasion of many wars and revolutions as is evident by King Edwards death without issue or declared right heir 4. That right heirs to Crowns who are of tender years weak judgement or impotent in Frien is and Purse are easily and frequently put by their rights by bold active and powerfull Intruders as Edgar Atheling was both by Haroid and William successively Yet this is remarkable in both these Invaders of his royal Right 1. That Harold who first dethroned him to make him some kind of recompence and please the Nobles of his party created Edgar Earl of Oxford and held him in special favour 2ly That King William the first to whom he submitted himself and did homage and fealty used him very honourably and entertained him in his Court not only at first buâ— even after he had twice taken up armes against him joyning first with the English Nobilitie then with the Danes and Scots against his interest For Edgar coming to him into Normandy Anno 1066. out of Scotland where he lived some years where nihil ad praesens commodi nihil ad futurum spei praeter quotidianam stipem nactus esset he not only pardoned his fore-past offences but magno donativo donatus est pluribusque annis in Curia manens Libram Argenti quotidie in stipendio accipiebat writes Malmesb. receiving a great donative from him and a pound of silver for a stipend every day and continuing many years in his Court. After which Anno 1089. He went into Apulia to the Holy wars by King Williams licence with 200 Souldiers and many Ships whence returning after the death of Robert son of Godwin and the loss of his best Souldiers he received many benefits from the Emperours both of Greece and Germany who endeavoured to retain him in their Courts for the greatness of his birth but he contemning all their proffers out of a desire to enjoy his Native Country returned into England and there lived all Kings Williams reign In the year 1091. Wil. Rufus going into Normandy to take it by force from his brother Robert deprived Edgar of the honour which his Brother with whom he sided had conferred upon him and banished him out of Normandy whereupon he went into Scotland where by his means a peace being made between VVilliam Rufus and Malcholm king of Scots he was again reconciled to Edgar by Earl Roberts means returned into England being in so great favour with the king that in the year 1097. He sent him into Scotland with an Army Ut in ea consobrinum suum Eadgarum Malcholmi Regis filium patruo suo Dufenoldo qui regnum invaser at expulso Regem constitueret Whence returning into England he lived there till after the reign of king Henry the first betaking himself in his old age to a retired life in the Country as Malmesbury thus records Angliam rediit ubi diverso fortunae ludicro rotatus nunc remotus tacitus canos suo in agro consumit Where most probably he died in peace since I find no mention of his death No less than 4 successive kings permitting this right heir to their Crowns to live both in their Courts and Kingdom of England in peace and security such was the Christian Generosity Charity and Piety of that age without reputing it High Treason for any to relieve or converse with him as the Charity of some Saints in this Iron age would have adjudged it had they lived in those times who have quite forgotten this Gospel Lesson of our Savior they then practised But I say unto you love