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
his Fetters to move furder entreating them to come speedily and fetch him in Anacletus to save both himself and his freind Antigonus swears this and at fit howr setts on alone toward the Camp is mett examin'd and at last unquestionably known To whom great profession of fidelity first made he frames his Tale as had bin taught him and they now fully assur'd with a credulous rashness leaving thir Stations far'd accordingly by the ambush that there awaited them Forthwith Brutus dividing his men into three parts leads on in silence to the Camp commanding first each part at a several place to enter and forbear Execution till he with his Squadron posses'd of the Kings Tent gave Signal to them by Trumpet The sound whereof no sooner heard but huge havock begins upon the sleeping and unguarded Enemy whom the beseiged also now sallying forth on the other side assaile Brutus the while had special care to seise and secure the Kings Person whose life still within his Custody he knew was the surest pledge to obtain what he should demand Day appearing he enters the Town there distributes the Kings Treasury and leaving the place better fortify'd returns with the King his Prisner to the Woods Strait the ancient and grave men he summons to Counsell what they should now demand of the King After long debate Mempricius one of the gravest utterly dissuading them from thought of longer stay in Greece unlesse they meant to be deluded with a suttle peace and the awaited revenge of those whose freinds they had slain advises them to demand first the Kings Eldest Daughter Innogen in mariage to thir Leader Brutus with a rich dowry next shipping mony and fitt provision for them all to depart the Land This resolution pleasing best the King now brought in and plac'd in a high Seat is breifly told that on these conditions granted he might be free not granted he must prepare to die Prest with fear of death the King readily yeelds especially to bestow his Daughter on whom he confess'd so Noble and so Valiant offers them also the third part of his Kingdom if they like to stay if not to be thir Hostage himself till he had made good his word The Mariage therfore solemniz'd and shipping from all parts got together the Trojans in a Fleet no less writt'n then three hunderd fowr and twenty Sail betake them to the wide Sea where with a prosperous course two daies and a night bring them on a certain Iland long before dispeopl'd and left wast by Sea-Roavers the name wherof was then Leogecia now unknow'n They who were sent out to discover came at length to a ruin'd City where was a Temple and Image of Diana that gave Oracles but not meeting first or last save wild Beasts they return with this notice to thir Ships Wishing thir General would enquire of that Oracle what voiage to pursue Consultation had Brutus taking with him Geriou his Diviner and twely of the ancientest with wonted Ceremonies before the inward shrine of the Goddess in Verse as it seems the manner was utters his request Diva potens nemorum c. Goddess of Shades and Huntress who at will Walk'st on the rowling Sphear and through the deep On thy third Reigne the Earth look now and tell What Land what Seat of rest thou bidst me seek What certain Seat where I may worship thee For aye with Temples vow'd and Virgin quires To whom sleeping before the Altar Diana in a Vision that night thus answer'd Brute sub occasum Solis c. Brutus far to the West in th' Ocean wide Beyond the Realm of Gaul a Land there lies Sea-girt it lies where Giants dwelt of old Now void it fits thy people thether bend Thy course there shalt thou find a lasting seat There to thy Sons another Troy shall rise And Kings be born of thee whose dredded might Shall aw the World and Conquer Nations bold These Verses Originally Greek were put in Latin saith Virunnius by Gildas a British Poet and him to have liv'd under Claudius Which granted true adds much to the Antiquitie of this Fable and indeed the Latin Verses are much better then for the Age of Geoffrey ap Arthur unless perhaps Joseph of Exeter the only smooth Poet of those times befreinded him in this Diana overshot her Oracle thus ending Ipsis totiusterrae subditus orbis erit That to the race of Brute Kings of this Iland the whole Earth shall be subject But Brutus guided now as he thought by divine conduct speeds him towards the West and after som encounters on the Afric side arrives at a place on the Tyrrhen Sea where he happ'ns to find the Race of those Trojans who with Antenor came into Italy and Corineus a man much fam'd was thir Cheif though by surer Authors it be reported that those Trojans with Antenor were seated on the other side of Italie on the Adriatic not the Tyrrhen shoar But these joyning Company and past the Herculean Pillars at the mouth of Ligeris in Aquitania cast Anchor Where after som discovery made of the place Corineus Hunting nigh the shoar with his Men is by Messengers of the King Goffarius Pictus mett and question'd about his Errand there Who not answering to thir mind Imbertus one of them le ts fly an Arrow at Corineus which he avoiding slaies him and the Pictavian himself heerupon levying his whole Force is over-thrown by Brutus and Corineus who with the Battell Ax which he was wont to manage against the Tyrrhen Giants is said to have done marvells But Goffarius having draw'n to his aid the whole Country of Gaul at that time govern'd by twelv Kings puts his Fortune to a second Trial Wherin the Trojans over-born by multitude are driv'n back and beseigd in thir own Camp which by good foresight was strongly situate Whence Brutus unexpectedly issuing out and Corineus in the mean while whose device it was assaulting them behind from a Wood where he had convayd his men the night before The Trojans are again Victors but with the loss of Turon a Valiant Nefew of Brutus whose Ashes left in that place gave name to the City of Tours built there by the Trojans Brutus finding now his powers much lessn'd and this yet not the place foretold him leavs Aquitain and with an easie course arriving at Totness in Dev'nshire quickly perceivs heer to be the promis'd end of his labours The Iland not yet Britain but Albion was in a manner desert and inhospitable kept only by a remnant of Giants whose excessive Force and Tyranie had consum'd the rest Them Brutus destroies and to his people divides the Land which with som reference to his own name he thenceforth calls Britain To Corineus Cornwal as now we call it fell by Lot the rather by him lik't for that the hugest Giants in Rocks and Caves were said to lurk still there which kind of Monsters to deal with was his old exercise And heer with leave be-spok'n
Merlin Nevertheless Faustus who was the Son thus incestuously begott'n under the instructions of German or some of his Disciples for German was dead before prov'd a religious man and liv'd in devotion by the River Remnis in Clamorganshire But the Saxons though finding it so easy to subdue the Ile with most of thir Forces uncertain for what cause return'd home when as the easiness of thir Conquest might seem rather likely to have call'd in more Which makes more probable that which the British write of Guortemir For he coming to Reigne instead of his Father depos'd for incest is said to have thrice driv'n and beseig'd the Saxons in the I le of Taneth and when they issu'd out with powerful supplies sent from Saxony to have fought with them fowr other Battells wherof three are nam'd the first on the River Darwent the second at Episford wherin Horsa the Brother of Hengist fell and on the British part Catigern the other Son of Vortiger The third in a Feild by Stonar then call'd Lapis tituli in Tanct where he beat them into thir Ships that bore them home glad to have so scap'd and not venturing to land again for 5 years after In the space wherof Guortemir dying commanded they should bury him in the Port of Stonar perswaded that his bones lying there would be terror enough to keep the Saxons from ever landing in that place they saith Ninnius neglecting his command buried him in Lincoln But concerning these times antientest annals of the Saxons relate in this manner An. Dom. 455 In the year 455. Hengist and Horsa fought against Vortigern in a place called Eglesthrip now Ailsford in Kent where Horsa lost his life of whom Horsted the place of his burial took name After this first Battel and the Death of his Brother Hengist with his Son Esca took on him Kingly Title and peopl'd Kent with Jutes who also then or not long after possess'd the I le of Wight and part of Hamshire lying opposite An. Dom. 457 Two years after in a fight at Creganford or Craford Hengist and his Son slew of the Britans four Cheif Commanders and as many thousand men the rest in great disorder flying to London with the total loss of Kent An. Dom. 465 And 8 years passing between he made new Warr on the Britans of whom in a Battel at Wippeds-fleot 12 Princes were slain and Wipped the Saxon Earl who left his name to that place though not sufficient to direct us where it now stands An. Dom. 473 His last encounter was at a place not mention'd where he gave them such an overthrow that flying in great fear they left the spoil of all to thir Enemies And these perhaps are the 4 Battells according to Nennius fought by Guortemir though by these Writers far differently related and happ'ning besides many other bickerings in the space of 20 years as Malmsbury reck'ns Nevertheless it plainly appears that the Saxons by whomsoever were put to hard shifts being all this while fought withall in Kent thir own allotted dwelling and somtimes on the very edge of the Sea which the word Wippeds-fleot seems to intimat But Guortemir now dead and none of courage left to defend the Land Vortigern either by the power of his faction or by consent of all reassumes the Government and Hengist thus rid of his grand opposer hearing gladly the restorement of his old favourer returns again with great Forces but to Vortigern whom he well knew how to handle without warring as to his Son in Law now that the only Author of dissention between them was remov'd by Death offers nothing but all terms of new league and amity The King both for his Wives sake and his own sottishness consulting also with his Peers not unlike himself readily yeilds and the place of parly is agree'd on to which either side was to repair without Weapons Hengist whose meaning was not peace but treachery appointed his men to be secretly arm'd and acquainted them to what intent The watch-word was Nemet eour Saxes that is Draw your Daggers which they observing when the Britans were throughly heated with Wine for the Treaty it seems was not without Cups and provok'd as was plotted by som affront dispatch'd with those Poniards every one his next man to the number of 300. the cheif of those that could do ought against him either in Counsel or in Field Vortigern they only bound and kept in Custody untill he granted them for his ransome three Provinces which were called afterward Essex Sussex and Middlesex Who thus dismist retiring again to his solitary abode in the Country of Guorthigirniaun so call'd by his name from thence to the Castle of his own building in North-Wales by the River Tiebi and living there obscurely among his Wives was at length burnt in his Towre by fire from Heav'n at the Praier as some say of German but that coheres not as others by Ambrosius Aurelian of whom as we have heard at first he stood in great fear and partly for that cause invited in the Saxons Who whether by constraint or of thir own accord after much mischeif don most of them returning back into thir own Country left a fair opportunity to the Britans of avenging themselves the easier on those that staid behinde Repenting therefore and with earnest supplication imploring divine help to prevent thir final rooting out they gather from all parts and under the leading of Ambrosius Aurelianus a vertuous and modest man the last heer of Roman stock advancing now onward against the late Victors defeat them in a memorable Battell Common opinion but grounded cheifly on the British Fables makes this Ambrosius to be a younger Son of that Constantine whose eldest as we heard was Constance the Monk who both lost thir lives abroad usurping the Empire But the express words both of Gildas and Bede assures us that the Parents of this Ambrosius having heer born regal dignity were slain in these Pictish Wars and commotions in the Iland And if the fear of Ambrose induc'd Vortigern to call in the Saxons it seems Vortigern usurp'd his right I perceave not that Nennius makes any difference between him and Merlin for that Child without Father that propheci'd to Vortigern he names not Merlin but Ambrose makes him the Son of a Roman Consul but conceal'd by his mother as fearing that the King therfore sought his life yet the youth no sooner had confess'd his parentage but Vortigern either in reward of his predictions or as his right bestow'd upon him all the West of Britain himself retiring to a solitary life Whose ever Son he was he was the first according to surest Authors that led against the Saxons and overthrew them but whether before this time or after none have writt'n This is certain that in a time when most of the Saxon Forces were departed home the Britans gather'd strength and either against those who were left remaining
Mount in Wiltshire whether it were by thir own Forces or assisted by the Angles whose hatred Keaulin had incurr'd they ruin'd his whole Army and chas'd him out of his Kingdom from whence flying he dy'd the next year in poverty Who a little before was the most potent and indeed sole King of all the Saxons on this side Humber But who was cheif among the Britans in this exploit had bin worth remembring whether it were Maglocune of whose prowess hath bin spok'n or Tendric King of Glamorgan whom the regest of Landaff recounts to have bin alwaies victorious in fight to have reign'd about this time and at length to have exchang'd his Crown for a Hermitage till in the aid of his Son Mouric whom the Saxons had reduc'd to extremes taking armes again he defeated them at Tinterne by the River Wye but himself receav'd a mortal wound The same year with Keaulin whom Keola the Son of Cuthulf Keaulins Brother succeeded An. Dom. 593 Crida also the Mercian King deceas'd in whose room Wibba succeeded and in Northumberland Ethelfrid in the room of Ethelric reigning 24 years Thus omitting Fables we have the veiw of what with reason can be rely'd on for truth don in Britain since the Romans forsook it Wherin we have heard the many miseries and desolations brought by divine hand on a perverse Nation driv'n when nothing else would reform them out of a fair Country into a Mountanous and Barren Corner by Strangers and Pagans So much more tolerable in the Eye of Heav'n is Infidelity profess't then Christian Faith and Religion dishonoured by unchristian works Yet they also at length renounc'd thir Heathenism which how it came to pass will be the matter next related The End of the Third Book THE HISTORY OF BRITAIN The Fourth Book THE Saxons grown up now to 7 absolute Kingdoms and the latest of them establish'd by succession finding thir power arrive well nigh at the utmost of what was to be gain'd upon the Britans and as little fearing to be displanted by them had time now to survey at leasure one anothers greatness Which quickly bred among them either envy or mutual jealousies till the West Kingdom at length grown over powerful put an end to all the rest Mean while above others Ethelbert of Kent who by this time had well rip'nd his young ambition with more ability of years and experience in War what before he attempted to his loss now successfully attains and by degrees brought all the other Monarchies between Kent and Humber to be at his devotion To which design the Kingdom of West-Saxons being the firmest of them all at that time sore shak'n by thir over-throw at Wodens-beorth and the Death of Keaulin gave him no doubt a main advantage the rest yeilded not subjection but as he earn'd it by continual Victories And to win him the more regard abroad he marries Bertha the French Kings Daughter though a Christian and with this condition to have the free exercise of her Faith under the care and instruction of Letardus a Bishop sent by her Parents along with her the King notwithstanding and his people retaining thir own Religion Beda out of Gildas laies it sadly to the Britans charge that they never would voutsafe thir Saxon Neighbours the means of conversion but how far to blame they were and what hope there was of converting in the midst of so much hostility at least falshood from thir first arrival is not now easie to determin Howbeit not long after they had the Christian Faith preach't to them by a Nation more remote and as a report went accounted old in Bedas time upon this occasion The Northumbrians had a custom at that time and many hunder'd yeares after not abolish't to sell thir Childern for a small value into any Foren Land Of which number two comly youths were brought to Rome whose fair and honest countnances invited Gregory Arch-Deacon of that Citty among others that beheld them pittying thir condition to demand whence they were it was answer'd by som who stood by that they were Angli of the Province Deira subjects to Alla King of Northumberland and by Religion Pagans Which last Gregory deploring fram'd on a sudden this allusion to the three names he heard that the Angli so like to Angels should be snatch't de ira that is from the wrath of God to sing Haleluia and forthwith obtaining licence of Benedic the Pope had come and preach't heer among them had not the Roman people whose love endur'd not the absence of so vigilant a Pastor over them recall'd him then on his journey though but deferr'd his pious intention An. Dom. 596 For a while after succeeding in the Papal Seat and now in his fourth year admonisht saith Beda by divine instinct he sent Augustine whom he had design'd for Bishop of the English Nation and other zealous Monks with him to preach to them the Gospel Who being now on thir way discouraged by some reports or thir own carnal fear sent back Austin in the name of all to beseech Gregory they might return home and not be sent a journey so full of hazard to a fierce and infidel Nation whose tongue they understood not Gregory with pious and Apostolic perswasions exhorts them not to shrink back frō so good a work but cheerfully to go on in the strength of divine assistance The Letter it self yet extant among our Writers of Ecclesiastic story I omit heer as not professing to relate of those matters more then what mixes aptly with civil affairs The Abbot Austin for so he was ordain'd over the rest reincourag'd by the exhortations of Gregory and his fellows by the Letter which he brought them came safe to the I le of Tanet An. Dom. 597 in number about 40 besides some of the French Nation whom they took along as Interpreters Ethelbert the King to whom Austin at his landing had sent a new and wondrous message that he came from Rome to proffer Heav'n and eternal happiness in the knowledge of another God then the Saxons knew appoints them to remain where they landed and necessaries to be provided them consulting in the mean time what was to be done And after certain days coming into the Iland chose a place to meet them under the open Sky possest with an old perswasion that all Spells if they should use any to deceive him so it were not within doors would be unavailable They on the other side call'd to his presence advancing for thir Standard a silver cross and the painted image of our Saviour came slowly forward singing the solemn Litanies which wrought in Ethelbert more suspition perhaps that they us'd enchantments till sitting down as the King will'd them they there preach'd to him and all in that assembly the tidings of Salvation Whom having heard attentively the King thus answer'd Fair indeed and ample are the promises which ye bring and such things as have the appearance in them
and built another at Temsford judging that place more opportune from whence to make thir excursions and soon after went forth with design to assail Bedford but the Garrison issuing out slew a great part of them the rest fled After this a greater Army of them gatherd out of Mercia and the East-Angles came and beseig'd the City call'd Wigingmere a whole Day but finding it defended stoutly by them within thence also departed driving away much of thir Cattel wherupon the English from Towns and Citties round about joining Forces laid Seige to the Town and Castle of Temsford and by assault took both slew thir King with Toglea a Duke and Mannan his Son an Earl with all the rest there found who chose to die rather then yeild Encourag'd by this the men of Kent Surrey and part of Essex enterprise the Seige of Colnhester nor gave over till they won it sacking the Town and putting to Sword all the Danes therein except some who escap'd over the Wall To the succour of these a great number of Danes inhabiting Ports and other Towns in the East-Angles united thir Force but coming too late as in revenge beleaguerd Maldon but that Town also timely releiv'd they departed not only frustrate of thir design but so hotly persu'd that many thousands of them lost thir lives in the flight Forthwith King Edward with his West-Saxons went to Passham upon Ouse there to guard the passage while others were building a stone Wall about Torchester to him there Earl Thurfert and other Lord Danes with thir Army thereabout as far as Weolud came and submitted Wherat the Kings Souldiers joyfully cry'd out to be dismiss't home therfore with another part of them he enterd Huntingdon and repair'd it where breaches had bin made all the people thereabout returning to obedience The like was done at Colnchester by the next remove of his Army after which both East and West-Angles and the Danish Forces among them yeilded to the King swearing Allegiance to him both by Sea and Land the Army also of Danes at Grantbrig surrendring themselves took the same Oath The Summer following he came with his Army to Stamford An. Dom. 922 built a Castle there on the South-side of the River where all the people of those quarters acknowledg'd him supream Dureing his abode there Elfled his Sister a martial Woman who after her Husbands Death would no more marry but gave her self to public affairs repairing and fortifying many Towns warring sometimes dy'd at Tamworth the Cheif Seat of Mercia wherof by guift of Alfred her Father she was Lady or Queen wherby that whole Nation became obedient to King Edward as did also North-Wales with Howel Cledaucus and Jeothwell thir Kings Thence passing to Nottingham he enterd and repair'd the Town plac'd there part English part Danes and receav'd fealty from all in Mercia of either Nation The next Autumn coming An. Dom. 923 with his Army into Cheshire he built and fortifi'd Thelwel and while he staid there call'd another Army out of Mercia which he sent to repair and fortifie Manchester About Midsummer following An. Dom. 924 he march'd again to Nottingham built a Town over against it on the South-side of that River and with a Bridg joyn'd them both thence journied to a place call'd Bedecanwillan in Pictland there also built and fenc'd a City on the Borders where the King of Scots did him honour as to his Sovran together with the whole Scotish Nation the like did Reginald and the Son of Eadulf Danish Princes with all the Northumbrians both English and Danes The King also of a people thereabout call'd Streatgledwalli the North Welch as Camden thinks of Strat-Cluid in Denbigh-shire perhaps rather the British of Cumberland did him homage and not undeserv'd For Buchanan himself confesses that this King Edward with a small number of men compar'd to his Enemies overthrew in a great Battel the whole united power both of Scots and Daâ—es slew most of the Scotish Nobility and forc'd Malcolmb whom Constantine the Scotch King had made General and design'd Heir of his Crown to save himself by flight sore wounded Of the English he makes Athelstan the Son of Edward Chief Leader and so far seems to confound times and actions as to make this Battel the same with that fought by Athelstan about 24 years after at Bruneford against Anlaf and Constantine wherof hereafter But here Buchanan takes occasion to inveigh against the English Writers upbraiding them with ignorance who affirm Athelstan to have bin supream King of Britain Constantine the Scotish King with others to have held of him and denies that in the Annals of Marianus Scotus any mention is to be found therof which I shall not stand much to contradict for in Marianus whether by Surname or by Nation Scotus will be found as little mention of any other Scotish affairs till the time of King Dunchad slain by Machetad or Mackbeth in the year 1040. which gives cause of suspition that the affairs of Scotland before that time were so obscure as to be unknown to thir own Countryman who liv'd and wrote his Chronicle not long after But King Edward thus nobly doing and thus honour'd the year following dy'd at Farendon An. Dom. 925 a builder and restorer eev'n in War not a destroyer of his Land He had by several Wives many Childern his eldest Daughter Edgith he gave in marriage to Charles King of France Grand-Child of Charles the Bald above-mention'd of the rest in place convenient His Laws are yet to be seen He was buried at Winchester in the Monastery by Alfred his Father And a few days after him dy'd Ethelwerd his Eldest Son the Heir of his Crown He had the whole Iland in subjection yet so as petty Kings reign'd under him In Northumberland after Ecbert whom the Danes had set up and the Northumbrians yet unruly under thir yoke at the end of 6 years had expell'd one Ricsig was set up King and bore the name 3 years then another Ecbert and Guthred the latter if we beleeve Legends of a Servant made King by command of St. Cudbert in a Vision and enjoyn'd by another Vision of the same Saint to pay well for his Royalty many Lands and privileges to his Church and Monastery But now to the story Athelstan AThelstan next in Age to Ethelward his Brother who deceas'd untimely few days before though born of a Concubine yet for the great appearance of many vertues in him and his Brethren being yet under Age was exalted to the Throne at Kingstone An. Dom. 926 upon Thames and by his Fathers last Will saith Malmsbury yet not without some opposition of one Alfred and his Accomplices who not likeing he should reign had conspir'd to seise on him after his Fathers Death and to put out his Eyes But the Conspiratours discoverd and Alfred denying the Plot was sent to Rome to assert his innocence before the Pope where taking his Oath on