we here omit several other Pieces of less Bulk and Note published since that Volume last mentioned containing the Chronicles and Histories of divers Cathedrals and Abbeys such as are the Annals of the Abbey of Winchester c. which have been published from the Cottonian and other Libraries in Monasticon Anglicanum and the first Volume of Anglia Sacra lately published by the late Learned and Industrious Mr. Wharton TO these likewise may be added the Histories of the Monasteries of Ely and Ramsey as also of Glastenbury by William of Malmesbury from whom we have taken several Things not only relating to that Abbey but the General History of England nor can I omit the History of John of Wallingford whom Matthew Paris mentions in his Lives of the Abbots of St. Albans as the 21st Abbot of St. Albans he wrote the History of the Kings of England as far as the 42d of King Henry the Third the first Part of which down to the Norman Conquest hath been published in the aforesaid last Volume at Oxford by the Learned Dr. Gale From all which last mentioned tho mingled with abundance of Monkish Trash we have here and there excerpted several excellent Remarks WE have also sometimes made use of Ranulph Higden his Polychronicon who was a Monk of Chester the first Part of which is published also by the said Dr. Gale as far as the Conquest and Matthew a Monk of Westminster his Flores Historiarum these Authors being Cotemporaries and collecting to the Reign of Edward the Third from all the rest of the Antient Writers abovementioned I have seldom used but as subsidiary Helps when the Passages they relate are not to be found any where else several other Authors they borrowed from being now lost or very rare to be met with HAVING now done with our printed Authors I proceed to those that continue still in Manuscript in the Bodleian and Cottonian Libraries and also in those of Lambeth Gresham's College and the Heraulds Office such as are John of Tinmouth his Historia Aurea Johannes Castorius in English Beaver his History of the Kings of England and John Rouse of Warwick his Collections on the same Subject together with above forty or fifty nameless Authors which I have perused to see what I could find in any of them that had not been taken notice of by others but how little they have answered in my Expectations the small Additions I have made from them I hope will satisfy the unprejudiced Reader and for any that are otherwise if they please to take the same Pains that I have done I wish their Labours may be better requited BVT as for the Extracts of Ecclesiastical Canons and Laws which I have inserted at the end of divers King's Reigns I have faithfully transcribed them ou◠of Sir Henry Spelman's first Volume of British Councils and Mr. Lambard's Archaionomia under their respective Years and have also compared and corrected them in a great Part from the Manuscript Notes of the Learned Junius at the end of the Cambridg Edition of Bede which is in the Bodleian Library or else by another Latin Manuscript Version of the Industrious Mr. Somner's And I do not know of any other Saxon Laws unless there be some of King Cnute's which remain as yet in Manuscript untranslated in the Bodleian Library as also in the Hands of Dr. Gale as I am well informed I hope they may be one day added to a new Edition of Mr. Lambard's most useful Work THVS having gone through all the chiefest English Historians both in Print and Manuscript that I know of relating to the Times before the Conquest which I think are as many and of as good Credit as any Countrey in Europe can shew in the like space of Time it may be expected I should say something in their Vindication since I find they have been attacked in a post-humous Treatise long since written by a Learned Civilian Sir Thomas Craig in Latin in answer to what Mr. Hollingshead has published concerning the Homage that was due from the Kings of Scotland to those of England and is lately translated into English by the Ingenious Mr. Ridpath and as I shall here faithfully give you his Arguments against the Antiquity and Credit of our Writers so I hope I shall return such Answers to them as will satisfy all impartial Readers HIS first Objection is That from the Death of Bede whose Credit he says he will every where preserve entire the English have no certain History nor Writer to the Reign of King Henry the First except that Fragment of Ethelwerd's for says he I do not acknowledg that Fragment of Ingulphus who preceded Ethelwerd twenty Years as an History nor Asserius Menevensis who wrote only concerning the Transactions of his own King Alfred And lest he should be thought to affirm any thing rashly He brings William of Malmesbury to witness the Matter saying That all the Memorials of Transactions from the Death of Bede to his own Time which was in the Reign of Henry I. about 1142. were utterly lost nor was there any who followed that Study or indeavoured to pursue the thread of History till himself NOW to give an Answer to this Learned Advocate and take him Point by Point as he goes on in the first Place I am sorry to find a Person otherwise every ways Able and Skillful in his own Profession so ignorant in our English Historians since if he had not been so he could not have committed almost as many Mistakes as he hath wrote Lines for in the first Place he calls Ingulph and Ethelwerd two Fragments whereas if he had been pleased to have looked upon either of them he would have found them entire Pieces so far as they went and we call Polybius Diodorus Siculus Salust Livy Historians not Fragments altho each of them be imperfect only the Edition that was then published of Ingulph wanted the Laws of William the Conqueror and some few Sheets at the Conclusion which have been since added AND whereas he says that Ingulph preceded Ethelwerd twenty Years he is so far from being in the right of that that the direct contrary is true for Ingulph lived and wrote above one hundred Years after Ethelwerd had finished his History with King Edgar's Reign whose Eulogy he only gives us in barbarous Verse AND as for what the Advocate says concerning William of Malmesbury he much misrepresents the Sense of this Author who does not affirm that there were no Memorials from the Death of Bede to his Time but the contrary for he mentions the Saxon Annals in his Proem in these words Sunt sanè quaedam vetustatis Indicia patrio Sermone chronico more per annos Domini ordinata also in his Book de Antiquitate Glastoniae published by Dr. Gale as above he citeth them as good Authority Tradunt Annales bonae credulitatis c. Nay Sir Thomas Craig himself I suppose through Forgetfulness has allowed
it is to this Year we are to refer the great Council which Bede tells us was held in the Kingdom of the West Saxons in which after the Death of Bishop Hedda the Bishoprick of that Province became divided into two one whereof was conferred on Daniel who held it at the time when Bede wrote his History and the other was bestowed upon Aldhelm above-mentioned then Abbot of Malmesbury who was now made Bishop of Shireburn and when he was only an Abbot did at the Command of a Synod of the whole Nation write an excellent Book against that Errour of the Britains in not keeping Easter at the due time whereby he converted many of those Britains which were then subject to the West Saxons to the Catholick Observation thereof Of whose other Works likewise Bede gives us there a Catalogue being a Person says he admirable in all Civil as well as Ecclesiastical and Divine Learning and as William of Malmesbury further informs us was the first of the English Saxons who wrote Latin Verses with a Roman Genius There is here in the Saxon Annals a Gap for the space of 3 Years in which I think we may according to H. Huntington's Account place what Bede relates in the Chapter and Book last cited viz. That Daniel and Aldhelm yet holding their Sees it was ordained by a Synodal Decree That the Province of the South Saxons which had hitherto belonged to the Diocess of Winchester should now be an Episcopal See and have a Bishop of its own and so Ceadbert who was then Abbot of the Monastery of Selsey was consecrated first Bishop of that Place who dying Ceolla succeeded in that Bishoprick but he likewise dying some Years before Bede wrote his History that Bishoprick then ceased This Year the Saxon Annals began with the Death of Bishop Aldhelm whom it calls Bishop of Westwude for so Shireburne was then called after whom one Forther took the Bishoprick and this year Ceolred succeeded in the Kingdom of the Mercians for now Kenred King of the West Saxons went to Rome and Offa with him and Kenred remained there to his Live's end and the same year Bishop Wilferth or Wilfred deceased at Undale his Body was brought to Rypon in Yorkshire This is the Bishop whom King Egferth long since forced to go to Rome There being divers Things put very close together under this Year they will need some Explanation This Offa here mentioned was as Bede and William of Malmesbury relate the Son of Sigher King of the East Saxons who being a young Man of a sweet Behaviour as well as handsom Face in the Flower of his Youth and highly beloved by his People and having not long before succeeded to the Kingdom after Sighard and Senfrid above-mentioned he courted Keneswith the Daughter of King Penda whom he desired to marry but it seems not long after their Marriage she over-perswaded him to embrace a Monastick Life so that he now went to Rome for that End And Bede tells us expresly that both these Kings left their Wives Relations and Countries for Christ's sake But to this Offa succeeded Selred the Son of Sigebert the Good in the Kingdom of the East Saxons H. Huntington proposes King Offa as a Pattern to all other Princes to follow and makes a long Exhortation to them to that purpose as if a King could not do GOD better Service nor more Good to Mankind by well-governing his People than by renouncing the World and hiding his Head in a Cell But such was the Fashion or rather Humour of that Age and the Affairs as well as Consciences of Princes being then altogether Govern'd by Monks it is no wonder if they extoll'd their own Profession as the only One wherein Salvation could certainly be obtained But since I have already given you from Bede and Stephen Heddi a large Account of Bishop Wilfred's Life and Actions above-mentioned I shall not need to add any more to it He was certainly a Man who had tried all the Vicissitudes of an adverse as well as a prosperous Fortune having been no less than three times deprived of his Bishoprick the first time unjustly but whether we may say the same of both the other seems doubtful for let his Friends say what they will it is evident he was at first deprived for opposing a very good Design viz. That of dividing the Northumbrian Kingdom into more Diocesses and he having the rich Monastery of Hagulstad under his Charge would not permit it to be made a Bishoprick thô the Diocess was more than he could well manage and this seems to have been the true Original of that great Quarrel between him and the two Kings Egfrâ—d and Alfred as you have already heard so it should seem the Wrong pretended to have been done him was none at all or else such holy Men as St. Cuthbert St. John of Beverlie and Eatta are described to be would never have accepted of the Bishopricks of York and Hagulstad during the time of his Deprivation and it is very strange that two Arch-Bishops successively with the greater part of the Bishops of England should have agreed to his Deprivation if there had not been great Cause for it nor would so holy and knowing a Woman as the Abbess Hilda have been so much against him had not there been some substantial Reason to justifie it but he had the Pope on his side who always encouraged Appeals to Rome and then it was no wonder if he prevailed but he was certainly a Prelate of a high Spirit and great Parts and who building a great many Monasteries by the Benevolence of the Kings and Princes of that Time and himself thô a Bishop being Abbot of two of them at once it was no wonder if he grew very rich which together with his high way of Living being the first Bishop of that Age who used Silver Vessels it procured him the Envy of those Princes but he was a grand Patron of the Monks and therefore it is not to be wondred at if they cried him up for a Saint of whom the Writer of his Life which he Dedicates to Acca his Successour relates too many Miracles to be believed raising the Dead cuting the Lame being very ordinary Feats but the Monks being the only Writers of that Age we must be contented with what Accounts they will give us thô thus much must be acknowledged in his Commendation That he converted great Multitudes to the Christian Faith and caused the Four Gospels to be written in Letters of Gold But having given you this Account of Bishop Wilfred's Life it is fit I say somewhat further of his Death concerning which the Author above-mentioned tells us That having lived 4 Years in Peace after his last Restitution he at last went to visit the Monasteries which he had founded in the South Parts of England where he was received by his Abbots whom he had put in with great Joy till coming to a Monastery which
resolved to sit down before it supposing that the English would quickly surrender for want of Provisions which they being also sensible of were endeavouring to prevent and resolving either to obtain the Victory or dye they sallyed out early one Morning upon the Enemy who lay Encamp'd without any good Guards so falling upon them at unawares slew Hubba their Leader with his whole Army except a few who were forced to flee to their Ships And this Hubba being here buried under a heap of Stones gave name to the place being called Hubblestones to this day but the English having stripped the dead bodies they there found among the spoils that famous Banner called Reafan that is the Raven being the Picture of a Raven embroidered by the Three Sisters of Hinguar and Hubba in one forenoon on purpose for this Expedition and which being Enchanted by their Magic Arts they put so great a confidence in it that they believed if they were to meet with good success this figure would clap its Wings as if it were alive but if otherwise would let them fall but be this Story true or false it seems they now lost their Oracle before they had time to consult it and the loss of it was certainly a great discouragement to them King Aelfred being now much encouraged with the news of this good success of the Devon-shire-men began to consider how he might perform some worthy action against the Enemy therefore this Year as the Saxon Annals relate having first fortified with his slender Forces a small Castle or Fort at Aetheling-gaige now called Athelney in Somersetshire where he had resided hitherto he marched from thence the Seventh Week after and with his Subjects and Vassals there to fight against the Pagans and it is also about this time that we may place that memorable action of this King which is thus related by Ingulph and Will of Malmesbury which if true shews not only his great Courage but Conduct too for knowing the Enemy to exceed him in numbers as well as other advantages and that if he should set upon them with open Force he would be able to do them little or no prejudice nor could he hope for any better success unless he knew in what condition the Enemie's Army was and not having any one whose Sagacity or Fidelity he could well trust he was resolved to go himself to spy out the Enemie's Camp so taking upon him the Habit of a Country Minstrel or Fidler he went with only one Companion into the Danish Camp where he became so acceptable as well for his Singing as Playing that at last he was introduced to the King's Tent and when he had there as well as in the rest of the Danish Camp learnt as much as he had a mind to know he again returned to his Castle at Athelne where having called together all his chief followers he related to them the careless condition of the Enemies Camp and with what ease they might be destroyed whereat they being extraordinarily surprised he then resolved to muster up what Forces he could So the Seventh Week after Easter he march'd to Ecgbyrth-stan now supposed to be Brixstan in Somerset-shire lying on the East side of Selwood Forest where met him all the Wilt-shire Somerset-shire and Hamptshire Men who were mightily pleased to behold their King after so many hazards but staying there only one night he marched away to Iglay where the place was is not very well known and there encamped another night in which as Asser relates St. Neot who had been formerly his Kinsman and Friend appeared to him in a Dream and bid him not be afraid of the great Army of the Pagans because God would now have mercy upon him and his People and that what had happen'd to him was for his too great Arrogance in his Youth and that God would Fight for him and his People The King you may be sure was much rejoyced at this Dream and failed not to encourage his Men with it so the next Morning removing his Camp from thence he came in one Day more to Ethandune but where it is we cannot tell where the Danes lay encamped and marching against them in very close order he fought their whole Army and though they did for a long time stoutly resist the frequent charges the King's Men made upon them yet at last they gave ground and beginning to flee he obtained a notable Victory making a great slâ—ughter of the Pagans as they retreated to a certain Castle not far off and at which they lay encamped where the King besieged them for Fourteen Days till being overcome by hunger they were reduced to that necessity as to desire Peace on these Conditions That the King should receive from them what Hostages He should name but He not to return any to them so they made such a Peace with him as they had never done with any King before for they swore that they would depart his Kingdom and that Gythram or Gutrum their King should become a Christian all which was performed for about Three Weeks after the said King with about Thirty more of his Chief Noblemen came to the King being then at Alrey the place is now unknown only that it lay near Athelney above-mentioned where King Alfred receiving him from the Font at his Baptism became his Goâ—father and took him for his adopted Son But he did not receive the Chrisme till Eight Days after at a Town of the Kings called Wedmore where he staid with him for the space of Twelve Days who presented him and all those that accompanied him not only with Money but Houses and Lands being now resolved to fix here So this next Year the Danes according to their promise removed from Cippenham i. e. Chippenham in Wiltshire to Cirenceaster and there staid one Year But now another Army of Pagans arriving from beyond the Sea sailed up the River Thames to whom notwithstanding their former Oaths the Army that was here before also join'd and took up their Winter Quarters at Fullanham now Fulham not far from London and the same Year according to the Annals the Sun was Eclipsed for one whole hour also now part of the Pagans who had quartered at Cirencester as say the Annals and Asser marched from thence under the Conduct of King Gythrum into the Kingdom of the East-Angles and dividing the Country among them began to inhabit it which having been in their possession ever since the Death of King Edmund King Alfred now yielded up to their King Gythram but those Danes who had before staid at Fulham now sailed into Frankland and quartered at Ghent for one whole Year from whence you may observe that what we now call Flanders was then accounted part of France or Frankland And to this time we may also refer that League or Agreement made between King Alfred and King Guthram which sets out the Territories of each of these Princes The First
yet there might very well have been before that time a publick School or Studium as it was then call'd where the Liberal Arts were taught as for the other Objection of the improbability of the old Scholars falling out with the new Professors in the very first Year of the Institution of the University that is as soon as ever they came thither this may be also answered by supposing that those Annals were written many Years after the Death of King Alfred from a Common received Tradition and so this transaction might have been dated there or Four Years later than it really happened as John Rouse in his Manuscript History of the Kings of England also places it I confess there is one Objection which I wish I could Answer and that is How Gildas and Nennius could study at Oxford when the latter was not so much as Born till about the Conclusion of this or Beginning of the following Century and much less the Former when even by the best Accounts of those Times the Pagan Saxons were then Masters of that part of England Having said thus much concerning the Antiquity of that Famous University to which I owe my Education I shall not trouble my self with enquiry into the Reality of those supposed Ancient Schools of Creeklad and Leacklade which the Monkish writers suppose to have been anciently called Greeklade and Latinelade the latter of which Derivations thô Mr. Camden justly explodes yet he seems to have more Veneration for the former since in the place from whence I have transcribed the above-cited Quotations he also tells us That the Muses were transported to Oxford from Creeklade now a small Town in Wilt-shire All the Authority for which that I know of beside uncertain Tradition depends upon the Credit of a Manuscript lately in the Liberary of Trinity Hall in Cambridge and is cited by Mr. Wheelock in his Notes upon Bede where speaking of Theodorus Arch-Bishop of Canterbury he says That he held or maintained Schools in a Village near the Water which is called Greekislake but Mr. Somner in his Learned Glossary hath given us a much more likely Derivation of this place viz. from the Old Saxon Word Creek signifying a River or Torrent running either into some River or else into the Sea and Gelad which signified an emptying for it was anciently written Crecca Gelade and not Greeklade as some would now write it This Year the Pagans passing under the Bridge of Paris and from thence by the Seine up the River Meterne now called Marne as far as Cazii now Choisy and which Florence says signified a Royal Village where and at Jona a place we know not they staid Two Years also the same Year Deceased Charles the Grosse King of the Franks but Earnwulf his Brother's Son had expell'd him out of his Kingdom six Weeks before his Death after which it was divided into five Parts over whom were set five Kings but this partition was with Earnewulf's good leave for they all promised to Govern under him because none of them was Heir on the Fathers side besides himself alone therefore Earnwulf fixed the Seat of his Kingdom in the Countries lying on the East side of the Rhine whilst Rodâ—lf took the middle or inward part of the Kingdom and Odo or Otto the Western Part and Beorngar and Witha called in Latine Beringarius and Wido held Lombardy and all the Countries on that side the Mountains all which Kingdoms they held with much Discord Fighting two great Battles and wasting those Countries till such time as each of them had expell'd the other from his Kingdom also the same Year Ethelelm the Ealdorman carried the Alms of King Alfred and the West Saxons to Rome This was the Benevolence called Peter Pence which is here justly termed an Alms and not a Tribute as Modern Popish Writers have termed it But to return to our own Domestick Affairs Asser above-mentioned informs us that the Kingdom being now pretty well at quiet from the Danes the King began to mind his Civil Government to repair his Cities and Castles and also to build others in the most necessary places altering the whole face of the Country into a much better form and having walled several Towers and Castles he made them defensible against the Pagans Nor was he less careful in the Political Affairs of his Kingdom for divers of his own Subjects having under the name of Danes committed great Spoils and Rapines these the King resolving to punish and restrain from these Excesses he first of all divided all the Provinces of England into Counties and those again into Hundreds and Tythings so that every Legal Subject should dwell in some Hundred or Tything whereby if any were suspected of Robbery and being thereof Condemned or absolved by his Hundred or Tything they should either undergo due punishment or else if Innocent be acquitted But the Governours of Provinces who were before called Vice Domini and in English Saxon Geriffs he divided into two Offices That is into Judges whom we now call Justices and into Sheriffs who do yet retain that name and by the Kings care and industry in a short time there was so great a Tranquility through out the whole Kingdom that if a Traveller had happen'd to have lost a Bag of Money in the High-way he might have found it again untouched the next day And Bromton's Chronicle relates That thô there were Gold Bracelets hung up at the parting of several High-ways yet Justice was so strictly executed that no Man durst presume to touch them But in the Distribution of his own Family he followed the Example of King Solomon for dividing it into Three Companies or Bands he set a Chief over each of them so that every Captain with his Band performed his Service in the King's Palace for the space of one Month and then going with his Company to his own Estate he looked after his private Affairs for Two Months and so did each of them in their Order which Rotation of Officers this King observed all the rest of his Reign And to this Year also Sir H. Spelman refers that Great Council wherein King Alfred made those Laws that go under his Name in which after a Preface wherein he first recites and confirms the Ten Commandments as also divers other Laws which are set down in Exodus and Leviticus he concludes to this effect That whatsoever he found worthy of Observation either in the time of K. Ina his Kinsman or Offa King of the Mercians or of Ethelbert the first Christened King he had gathered them all together and committed those to writing which he thought most deserving omitting others which he judged less convenient in doing of which he had taken the Advice and had the Consent of his Wise-Men and having revised the Laws of those Princes he transcribed such of them as he liked into his own and by the Consent of the said Wise-men he thereof made a Collection and
Books into which I have divided this Volume I will now proceed to acquaint you with the rest of my Authors from whom I have collected it nor will I give you only their Names which has been done by so many already but a brief Censure of them and their Works and in what Time they wrote being such as lived either before or after the Conquest Of the former sort there are but few since from Bede to Asser. Menev. there flourish'd no general Historian for William of Malmsbury himself confesses that after Bede all liberal Studies more and more declining those that followed spent their Lives in Idleness or Silence yet during even that Period there were some Writers of this kind viz. certain Monks in the greater Monasteries whose business it was to set down in short by way of Annals the most remarkable Passages of their own Times in their own Language nay Learning was in that King's Reign fallen to so low an Ebb that even King Alfred tells us in his Preface to the Saxon Version of Gregory's Pastoral That in the beginning of his Reign there were few on this side Humber who could understand their own Prayers much less turn a piece of Latin into English and where then were our supposed flourishing Vniversities AND I shall here begin with Asserius Menevensis who was so called because he was a Monk of Menevia or St. Davids This was he who being sent for by King Alfred out of Wales assisted him in his Studies and besides taught his Children and others of the Nobility Latin after this King Alfred sent him with others to fetch Grimbald out of Flanders into England and after the Schools were opened at Oxford the latter there professed Divinity and the former Grammar and Rhetorick as you may find in the Annals of Hyde cited in the ensuing History THIS Monk being Learned above the Age in which he lived first wrote the Annals that go under his Name which having long continued in the Cottonian and other Libraries in Manuscript have been lately published by the Learned Dr. Gale in his last Volume of Historians printed at Oxon. After these Annals it is certain Asser also wrote the whole History of King Alfred's Life under the Title of de Gestis Regis Aelfredi which were first published by the Reverend Arch-bishop Parker in Saxon Characters according to the Copy now in the Cottonian Library and was also again put out by Mr. Camden in another Edition at Frankford But it must be confessed there is some difference between these two Copies concerning the Vniversity of Oxford which is taken notice of in this Work in its proper Place but that the Annals abovementioned were written before his History of King Alfred's Life is plain for he there refers you to those Annals which he has also inserted in the Life almost word for word But tho the former of these is continued to the Death of King Alfred and the latter as far as the 14th Year of the Reign of K. Edward the Elder yet it is evident that he himself wrote neither the one nor the other after the Year 893 being the 45th of King Alfred's Age and this appears from the Life it self in which the Author particularly mentions it nor could he extend the Annals any farther because they were written before he wrote the Life This I observe to let the Reader understand that whatever he finds farther in the Annals or Life the Substance of both which I have given him in this Volume were continued by some other Hand and as for the Annals they sufficiently declare it for towards the latter end under Anno Dom. 909. you may meet with this Passage hoc Anno Asserius Episcopus Scireburnensis obiit which was no other than our Author himself yet this must be farther observed of him that he was so extreamly negligent in his Account of Time that he begins the first Year of King Alfred's Reign sometimes at one Year of our Lord and sometimes at another so that no Man can tell by him when it commenced BVT why he left off Writing so many Years before King Alfred died and never finish'd his Life though he survived him nine Years I confess I know not unless being preferred about the Time when he had finish'd it to the Bishoprick of Shireburne he left the King's Service and going to reside at his own See had other Business on his Hands than Writing And that the same Asser who taught King Alfred was also by him made Bishop of Shireburne appears from this King's Preface to the Saxon Translation of St. Gregorie's Pastoral in which he tells you he was assisted by Plegmund his Archbishop and Asser his Bishop to whom the said King in his Will after the Archbishop and some other Bishops bequeathed a 100 Marks by the Title of Asser Bishop of Shireburne from whence it is manifest that the same Person who was King Alfred's Instructor was also Bishop of Shireburne which Bishoprick was certainly bestowed on him after he had done Writing since tho he mentions the Abbeys of Banwell Ambresbury and Exceter to have been bestowed upon him by the King yet he is utterly silent of his being made Bishop which he would not surely have omitted if he had been then so preferred but how long he held this Bishoprick we can say little positively because we do not find when it was first given him but as for the time of his Death not only the Annals that go under his Name but the Saxon Chronicle also places it under Anno 909. So that I think there can be no reasonable cause to doubt of that BVT what should lead such a careful Chronographer as Florence of Worcester into so great a Mistake as to place this Bishop's Death under Anno 883 I know not unless he had some other Copies of the Saxon Annals by him than are now extant but the Fasti of the Saxon Kings and Bishops publish'd by Sir H. Savil at the end of William of Malmesbury and other Writers are guilty of the like Mistake making this Asser to have succeeded Sighelm Bishop of Shireburn and to have died Anno 883 whereas it appears from our Annals that Sighelm whom William of Malmesbury makes to be the same Person with the Bishop abovementioned this very Year carried King Alfred's Alms to Rome and afterwards went himself as far as India however this Mistake of Florence as also the pretended Authority of our Welsh Chronicle hath as I suppose led divers other Learned Men and particularly Bishop Godwin and Arch-bishop Usher into a Belief of two Assers both Bishops the one of whom died Anno 883 and the other to have been Arch-bishop of St. Davids and to have succeeded Novis who according to the Chronicle of that Church publish'd in the 2d Volume of Anglia Sacra died Anno 872 and there immediately follows under Anno 909 Asserius Episcopus Britanniae fit which must certainly be an Errour in
Officers called ab Actis who were Publick Notaries that wrote Testaments Contracts and other Instruments which were signed before by the Judg or President and attested by him that so after the Death of the Party they might remain Authentick then other Clerks or Secretaries de Curâ or de Curâ Epistolarum who wrote and sent the Letters and Dispatches of the Governours of Provinces to the Emperor or to each other BESIDES whom the Vicarius himself and I suppose also each of the Presidents had his Adjutorem i. e. his Coadjutor in case of Sickness or necessary Absence as likewise Subadjuvas Under-Assistants or Assistants to the Adjutor and in short certain other Officers called Singulares from the particular Civil Imployments they had who seem'd to have been Prosecutors Informers or Serjeants not to mention others of more inferiour Rank as Apparitors Summoners or Messengers This was the Civil Court of the Vicarius or Deputy of Britain under the Praefectus Praetorii of Gaul who had the Power to reverse his Judgments and Decrees THE Ensigns of his Government were a Draught of those Five Parts of Britain before-mentioned expressed in the Forms of several Buildings with the Superscription of their Names placed on the Triangular Form of the Island as if they had compâ—ehended the whole Island the Book of their Instructions covered with Green and the Commission in a gilt Cover with several Letters inscribed on the Book the Signification of which is unnecessary to be here inserted but you will find this as also a Draught of these Insignia themselves in the above-cited Pancirollus BESIDES these general Presidents there were likewise Courts in all the great Cities Municipia or Colonies of each Province which had their several Officers and Magistrates according to the Model of Rome it self who heard Causes and administred Justice to the particular Districts belonging to them much after the same manner as the Parliaments in France do at this day HAVING thus concluded their Civil Administration we now come to the Military which was executed by Three Chief Officers under the Magister Militum of the West and they were these viz. the Comes Britanniarum Comes Littoris Saxonici and the Dux Britanniarum whose several Charges and the Tracts subjected to each of their Commands may be best discerned by the Names of those Towns where their Under-Officers and Forces are said to have had their Head-quarters The first of these viz. the Count of Britain is thought to have had his Command over the Inward or Middle Part of the Island because the two others are known to have had theirs over the Northern or Maritime Parts thereof but the Notitia assigns not any Forces to the former nor mentions any Places under his Command because as Pancirollus writes the whole Island was then almost over-run by Barbarians BUT as for the Comes Littoris Saxonici so called in the Declension of the Roman Empire from the charge or Care he had to suppress the Saxon Pirates who often landing on the Eastern Parts of Britain lying over against Germany committed great Ravages there he had eight Praepositi and one Tribune under him that were Leaders of divers Cohorts consisting of Gauls Germans and other Foreign Nations who quartered in several Towns all along the Coasts from Sussex as far as the remotest part of Norfolk for the Names of whom with the Places where they lay I shall refer you to the Notitia Imperii Occidentalis or if you had rather have them in English to Mr. Selden's Titles of Honour and Dr. Howell's second Part and third Chapter of his General History THE like I may also say of the Forces under the Dux Britanniarum or General of Britain whose Army had it then been really in being was sufficient to have suppressed both the Picts and Scots for they consisted of no less than fourteen Praefects or Praepositi of Horse and Foot whose Names and Places where they quartered extending from Lincolnshire through all the Northern Counties as far as the Pictish Borders and so round about by Lancashire into North-Wales you may find in the Authors abovementioned BUT as for the several Ensigns of these three chief Military Officers they being much what the same with those of the Vicarius Britanniae viz. The Figures of certain Towns with their Names set over them together with their Commissions contained in Books of different coloured Covers with the Emperor's Images set by them on Pillars I will leave it to those who take more Pleasure than I do in such Curiosities ALL these Comites and Duces were equal in Power and only subordinate to the Vicarius Britanniae the Forces under their Command were not only dispersed through the Municipia or Free Colonies which the Romans planted here and were governed by their own Civil Magistrates in Imitation of Rome their Mother-City but were also garison'd in divers Towns Castles and Forts all along the Roman Limits thereby to discover the Motions of the Neighbouring Nations several of which being intended only at first for their Military Camps by degrees grew up into Cities and are known at this day by the Name of Chesters such as are West-Chester on the River Dee Portchester in Hampshire now destroyed Chester in the Street in Northumberland with several others of less note near the Picts Wall as also in the Inland Parts of England ending in the word Cester as Leicester Cirencester c. all which owe their Original to the Latin Name Castra HAVING now dispatched the British and Roman Polity I come to the main part of Design which is to give a brief Account of the Civil Government that the English Saxons established in this part of our Island which they called England who consisting of several Tribes or Nations inhabiting different Countries yet all speaking the same Language came over hither at several Times under their particular Leaders and as soon as they had expelled the Britains they did within the space of about a hundred Years erect seven distinct Kingdoms though not of equal Extent the Names of which notwithstanding they are set down in the History it self yet having not given you the particular Catalogue of the several Counties they contained because their Dominions were not then divided into those Districts as they were afterwards I have reserved to this place THE first Kingdom being that of Kent consisted only of that County and Surrey THE second viz. that of the South-Saxons contained Sussex and Surrey or at least great part of it THE third was the Kingdom of the West-Saxons and contained Devonshire Dorsetshire Somersetshire Wiltshire Hampshire and Berkshire But as for that Countrey called Cornwall I shall not reckon it here because it was for a long Time after governed by its own Princes and not brought under the West-Saxon Dominion till long after THE fourth was that of the East-Saxons which contained Essex Middlesex and part of Hertfordshire THE fifth was that
SAXONUM paritèr ELIGIMVS Benedictionum tuarum Dona multiplica as also what follows in the same Chapter in the Blessing after the Coronation in giving him the Scepter Benedic Domine hunc PRE-ELECTVM Principem qui Regna omnium Regum à saeculo moderaris Amen NOW from both these Places above quoted we may safely conclude that an Election did most commonly precede the Coronation of our English Saxon Kings which I think is made so evident by these Authorities that it needs no farther Enlargement nor should I trouble my self about it were it not to expose the Obstinacy of some Men as well as to continue the Series of this Succession which perhaps would seem lame to others without it down to the Conquest TO go on therefore where we left off after the Death of King Ethelred the Saxon Annals tell us that Omnes Proceres qui in Londonia erant Cives eligerunt Eadmundum in Regem i. e. All the Chief Men or Witan as it is in the Saxon i. e. Wise Men that were at London and the Citizens chose Edmund for their King and yet he was his Father's eldest Son tho whether Legitimate or not is uncertain for we do not find any antient Author till after the Conquest that mentions Ethelred's being married to the Mother of this Prince and if he was not this Son of his could have no other Title but Election This is also confirmed by Ingulph who says Cui Ethelredo successit in Regnum Londonensium West-Saxonum Electione Filius ejus primogenitus Edmundus c. i. e. Edmund his eldest Son succeeded his Father Ethelred by the Election of the Londoners and West-Saxons in the Kingdom BUT tho our Saxon Annals are silent of it yet an Antient Manuscript Chronicle wrote about the Time of the Conquest now in the Cottonian Library relates that about the same Time that King Edmund was thus Elected Episcopi Abbates quique Nobiliores Angliae Canutum in Regem eligere the Bishops Abbots and several of the Chief Men of England chose Cnute for their King which is also confirmed by Florence of Worcester in these words under this very Year Post cujus mortem maxima pars Regni tà m Clericorum quà m Laicorum in unum congregati pari consensu Cnutonem in Regem eligerunt ad eum Suthamptoniam veniens pacem cum eo pepigerunt fidelitatem jurabant i. e. after whose Death viz. of King Ethelred the greatest part of the Kingdom as well of the Clergy as Laity being met together chose Cnute for their King and coming to Southampton made Peace with him and swore Fidelity but he there says nothing of his Coronation THESE Testimonies concerning Ethelred and Edmund being thus plain I confess Dr. Brady has been so just as to cite them and fairly to translate that Passage in Ingulph by the word Election whereas it should have been Recognition if it had suited with his Hypothesis as he does also that of Florence of Worcester rendring the word Eligerunt by chose him King if therefore it were a true Election in one case then surely it must be so in the other for the same Reason BUT the nameless Author of the Great Point of Succession discuss'd tho he does wilfully conceal all the printed Authorities above mentioned yet being hard press'd with this Passage of King Cnute has no other way to evade it but by saying That Canutus by the Terror of his Arms having the greatest part of the Island at his Devotion forced them to acknowledg and receive him for their King which they being under an apparent Force could not refuse to do THE falseness of which Assertion I will not go about to prove in this Place but refer the Reader to the ensuing History where he will find that the Persons abovemention'd were not so forced by the Terror of his Arms as to acknowledg him for their King since London then as still the Capital City of the Nation with many others of the Nobility had before Chosen King Edmund who by their Assistance was strong enough immediately after his Election to fight the Danes at the great Battel at Assendune and therefore if voluntarily yet it was treacherously done of them to quit the Prince who ought to have been Elected and to choose a Stranger and an Invader over his Head and whether the Gentleman this Author writes against had ridiculously called King Cnute's Accession to the Throne an Election as he would have it I shall leave to the impartial Reader 's Judgment AFTER the Death of King Cnute our Annals relate that at a Witena-Gemot or Great Council being held at Oxford Leofricus Comes omnes propè Thani à Boreali parte Thamisis Nautae de Lundonia eligerunt Haroldum in Regem totius Angliae dum ejus Frater Hardcnutus esset in Denmearcia i.e. Leofric the Earl and almost all the Thanes North of the Thames and the Sea-men of London chose Harold King of all England whilst his Brother Hardecnute was in Denmark which is also confirmed by Ingulph and William of Malmesbury who farther report That the English had a Mind to chuse Edward the Son of Ethelred or at least Hardecnute the Son of Cnute by Emme his Wife the Widow of King Ethelred who was then in Denmark BUT Henry of Huntington says expresly Haroldus filius Cnuti in Regem Electus est But Radulphus de Diceto is yet more express as to this Election of Harold as appears by this Passage under An. 1038. Haroldus Rex Merciorum Northymbrorum ut per totam regnaret Angliam à Principibus omni Populo Eligitur i. e. Harold King of the Mercians and Northumbers that he might reign over all England is Chosen by the chief Men and all the People whence you may observe that tho he were then King of the Mercians and Northumbers yet that still needed a new Election to make him King of all England NOW if this were so as the Doctor himself has ingenuously cited it in his said Treatise I desire he would let us know where was then the Right of Lineal Succession when the People of England would fain have chosen Edward who could not be Right Heir of the Crown so long as the Children of his Elder Brother were alive tho then in Exile nor could Hardecnute have any Right so long as Harold his Elder Brother was alive whom also as our Historians relate his Father had appointed Successor at his Death tho whether that be true or no is much to be doubted BUT the Author of the aforementioned Great Point of Succession c. to evade this Proof of Harold's Election will have all this Point in Controversy to have been who had the most Right and best Title to the Crown of those two Harold or Hardecnute and that Earl Godwin objected Harold's Illegitimacy and the Will of the deceased King of all which there is not one word mentioned in any of our most
whilst by others it was turned into a C which if added to the following Figures viz. XXXII make CXXXII but with an L. before them they make only LXXXII Miles as they are indeed no more But to conclude this Subject on which I doubt we have dwelt too long already if Buchanan had not desired to have been singular and to have differed not only from our English Authors but from his own Country-men John Fordun and Major who in their Histories of Scotland are both of our side he had never fallen into this Mistake Whilst this Peace with the Northern Britains lasted it may well be supposed that remarkable Meeting between the Empress Julia the Wife of Severus and the Wife of Argentocoxus a British King might have happened wherein the Empress upbraiding the British Ladies that they lay with so many Men promiscuously according to their Custom of one Woman's having several Husbands as hath been already related The British Lady made her this quick Return We British Women do much better satisfie the Desires of Nature than you Roman Ladies for we have to do only with the best Men and that openly whilst you commit Adulteries with every mean Fellow in a corner A sharp Reproof though no good Excuse for her Country-women But no sooner was Severus returned into the Roman Province but the Caledonians and Maeatae again took Arms which so incensed the old Emperor that calling his Soldiers together he commanded them repeating a Verse of Homer That they should enter the Country and kill all they met both Men Women and Children but being now worn out with Years and Infirmities he could not go himself but sent Bassianus his Son against them yet whether he did any thing considerable is uncertain since Severus died not long after Whose End whether it was hastened by his Son 's wicked Practices or whether he died of meet Age or Sickness is not truly known since Historians differ much about it but before he died he is said to have spoke thus to his two Sons Bassianus and Geta See that you agree between your selves and pay your Soldiers and then you need care for no body else A notable Maxim which hath been observed not only by them but by all who are or desire to be absolute Monarchs He is likewise said by Spartianus to have rejoyced before his Death that he left the Empire to his Sons according to the Example of Antoninus Pius who left the two Antonini his Sons by Adoption his Heirs whereas he had left two Sons gotten by himself Rulers of the Roman Commonwealth But he was deceived in his Expectation for the one by the Parricide of his Brother the other by his own evil Manners were soon destroyed and to expect otherwise shew'd him not to have been so Prudent in that as in his other Actions Upon which the Author last cited in his Life of this Prince makes this shrewd Observation That scarce any great Men had left behind them a Son good for any thing but either they have had no Children or else such that it had been better for Mankind if they had died without any at all This Author also makes him to have further spoke these as his last Words I received the Commonwealth every where disturbed but leave it even as far as Britain in Peace a firm and stable Empire to my Antonines if they prove Virtuous but if otherwise a weak one Dion tells us That his Corps being carried out in great Pomp and laid upon the Funeral Pile without the Walls of York at a place called to this day Sever's Hoe or Sever's Hill the Souldiers rid round it on Horse-back full speed whilst it was burning his own Sons having first kindled the Fire Herodian gives us a long Description of his Funeral Pile and of the manner of burning the Body of a Roman Emperour which being too tedious to be here recited those who are desirous of reading the Description of this Spectacle may find it at large in this Author His Bones being put in an Urn of Porphiry were carried by his Sons to Rome and placed in the Sepulchre of the Antonines It is also said by Dion That Severus a little before his Death commanded this Urn to be brought to him and holding it in his hand to have spoke thus Must thou hold him whom the whole World could not contain Severus is described by this Author to have been in his old age Corpulent but of a strong Constitution thô much afflicted with the Gout of a sharp and excellent Wit a Lover of good Letters in which thô he was a sufficient Master yet was more able to express it by Writing than Words grateful towards his Friends most cruel to his Enemies diligent in Affairs but careless of what Men said of him greedy of Money which he gathered by all means yet for that cause alone he never put any Man to Death He was magnificent in his publick Expences and built many new Edifices and repaired the old ones so that thô he spent vastly yet he left a great Treasure behind him But to add somewhat farther from others he was a great Enemy to Incontinence and Adultery and made strict Laws against it and had certainly as great a mixture of good and evil Qualities as ever were found in any one Man That he was both Perfidious and Cruel appears by his Dealing with Albinus as also with the Wife and Children of Niger whom thô innocent he caused to be put to Death whilst his own Son who had attempted upon his Life and Empire he easily Pardoned which whether he did out of Love to him or weariness of Life as sated with Honour and Power may be doubted and if he had been then a young Man perhaps he would have acted otherwise I have insisted the longer upon the Character of this Prince as being one of the greatest and most fortunate of all the Roman Emperours But having given you an account of the last Words and Actions of Severus in Britain I cannot but here take notice of a notorious Falshood in Geoffery of Monmouth in this part of his History and whereby you may judge of his Skill in the Roman History and I shall give it you in the Words of a Learned Bishop Geoffery having found that Severus the Emperour died in Britain thought it most for the Honour of our Country to kill him fairly in Battle and therefore by power of Fancy he creates one Fulgentius to be General against him who being overpowered here at home went and fetched in the Picts out of Scythia and with their Aid fought Severus and killed him and was killed together for Company All which was Geoffery's own proper Invention And then having found that Severus left a Son Bassianus that was his Successor in the Roman Empire he makes his Britains set up this Bassianus to be their King on his Mother's account who must be the Sister of Fulgenius
then having found that Britain was Governed by Carausius some time after thô he knew not when putting both these together he makes the fore-mentioned Emperour Bassianus being betrayed by the Picts that came in with his Uncle Fulgenius to be killed in Fight by this Carausius thô there was a distance of some 70 Years between them But that was nothing with Geoffery he writ I dare say what might be true for ought he knew nor has Geoffery erred alone but hath also led John Fordun and Hector Boethius the Scotch Historians into the same Error who as the said Learned Bishop observes make this Fulgenius whom they call a British Consul his Name a little altered into Fulgentius to have headed the Scots and Picts in this War with Severus But I need say no more of this for Geoffery being once exposed as he deserves those that write from him will need no other Confutation After the Death of Severus his Sons Bassianus and Geta having before taken the Sirname of Antonini succeeded in the Empire and althô the Elder pretended to hold it in common with his Brother yet he presently began to Reign alone soon ending the War with the Britains and relinquishing the Garisons not long after left this Island together with his Brother Geta with whom when he had some Quarrels Julia the Empress together with their Friends and Councellors patched up a Reconciliation between them which was only in outward Appearance and more by Constraint than Good Will So both of them enjoying the like Imperial Honours passed into Italy leaving Virius Lupus as their Lieutenant in Britain but as soon as they came to Rome their Hatred to each other breaking out afresh Bassianus coming into his Brother Geta's Bed-chamber when he looked for no such thing cruelly murdered him in his Mother's Arms and then bestowing a great Donative upon the Souldiers to gain their Good Wills was alone declared Emperour and his Brother Geta condemned as an Enemy as having conspired against him But one thing is very remarkable That when he had committed this Parricide he would have had Papinian the great Civil Lawyer to have wrote a Defence of it but he like an honest Roman utterly refused it plainly telling him That it was easier to commit Parricide than to defend it when it was committed But this plain Answer cost him his Life the Emperour commanding his Soldiers to kill him in his Presence which one of them doing with an Axe the Emperour chid him for it saying That he ought to have performed his Commands with a Sword The Reign of Antoninus Bâ—ssianus Caracalla affords us nothing transacted in this Island only that after the Death of his Bother Geta he commanded his Name to be razed out of all Monuments which was accordingly observed in Britain as appears by an Inscription dug out of the Earth in Monmouthshire which was erected for the Safety of the then Emperor Severus and Antoninus and Geta Caesars wherein the Name of Geta by the tract of Letters may be discovered to have once been there though now razed out The like is to be seen in another Stone mentioned by Camden in Richmondshire The Emperor Caracalla so called from a Military Cloak he wore being made away by Opilius Macrinus who was then Praefectus Praetorii and succeeded him being chosen Emperor by the Army in his Reign as likewise of many other of his Successors We find no mention made of Britain whether it were that the Empire declining apace good Authors grew scarce or are now lost or which is more probable that the succeeding Princes being advanced by the heady Affection of the Soldiers and quickly again deposed and murthered had no time to perform any thing considerable in this Island lying so remote Hence it is that for some years we are left in the dark having only a few Fragments left us lying scatter'd here and there in divers Authors which give us just Light enough to discover that Britain as yet continued a Roman Province and still had its Proprâ—tors and Presidents Nay Geoffery himself hath here left wide Gaps and Interregnums for many years together So that if we would we could not piece up a History of these Times even out of his Romances and were it not undecent to leave so great a Breach in the midst of this History many of the following Emperor's Names might be spâ—red But however we will give you the following Emperors in the order they stand in the Roman Histories we have left us To Opilius Maâ—rinus succeeded Anton. Heliogabolus being as the Soldiers falsely believed a Bastard Son of Bassianus Caracalla but this Monster after three Years Reign was killed by the Pretorian Bands and Alexander Severus his Cousin-German succeeded him having been before declared Caesar by the Senate It is thought by some that he made an Expedition into Britain for Lampridius says he was slain in a Town called Sicila but whether it were in Britain or Gaul he leaves it uncertain howbeit somewhat we find in the same Author of his Actions in this Island That he first gave unto the Captains and Soldiers near the Marshes or Wall of Severus those Lands which were won from the Enemy so that they should be their Propriety so long as their Heirs served as Soldiers and that they should not revert to private Men supposing they would go to the Wars more willingly and take better Care to defend their own peculiar Possessions From whence as Mr. Camden very well notes may be deduced either a kind of Feudum or Fee or at least the the first Foot-steps we can find of Military Feuds which were afterwards so much in use amongst the Goths and those Nations derived from them as the Normans and others The same Author also adds that before his Death a Druid Woman cry'd out to him in the Gaulish Tongue Go on but hope not for Victory and trust not thy Soldiers A good Advice if he could have taken it for he Was slain by some of his own Army at the Instigation of Maximin who succeeded him The true cause of his Death was that the Soldiers grown loose under Heliogabolus could not endure the Severity of his Discipline so that though he were one of the best and most virtuous Emperors that ever govern'd yet he found the same Fate from his Soldiers as the worst had done In so sad a Condition are those Monarchs whose Lives or Deaths depend upon the good or bad Humours of a standing Army The place of his Death is uncertain for St. Hierom and Orosius suppose him to have been killed at Mentz by the Conspiracy of his Soldiers together with his Mother whose covetouseness was a great cause of his Ruin Julius Maximinus succeeded him who was as wicked and cruel as his Predecessor was good and gentle he being condemn'd by the Senate was slain by the Soldiers but before his Death the two Gordiani Father and
any other Writer and the Age also being become very Corrupt and Ignorant during the frequent Wars and Revolutions that happen'd in this part of the Island It is not to be expected that we should be able to set down the Names of any Bishops or others Remarkable in this last Age for Piety or Learning So having given as good an Account as I am able and as the broken History of those Times will allow of the Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire in Britain and the State of Affairs as well Ecclesiastical as Civil during the space of near 490 Years that the Romans had to do here I shall in the next Book give you a Prospect of the lamentable State of this part of Britain after the departure of the Romans and that the Britains had set up Princes of their own Nation The End of the Second Book THE General History OF BRITAIN NOW CALLED ENGLAND As well Ecclesiastical as Civil BOOK III. From its Desertion by the Romans to the Preaching of Christianity by AUGUSTINE the Monk being One hundred Sixty two Years BEING now come to the Third Period of this First Volume it is fit we say somewhat by way of Introduction before so great a Change as you will here find to have followed the Desertion of Britain by the Romans For with the Roman Empire fell also what before were chiefly Roman Learning Valour Eloquence and Civility and consequently History too which is but the Product of these all which at first encreasing by means of the Roman Power and Encouragement did also diminish and decline upon its Departure till it was at last quite extinct by the coming in of the Pagan Saxons and the long cruel Wars they made upon the Britains as you may observe from the barbarous Latin of Gildas and Nennius which are the only Authentick British Historians that are now extant As for the English Saxons they were at first so illiterate that it is much doubted whether they had the use of Letters and Writing among them or not since we have no Histories or Annals of their Times elder than their receiving Christianity for thô there are some few Stones to be found in England inscribed with the ancient Runick Characters as appears from the late English Edition of Mr. Camden's Britannia yet that they are wholly Danish Monuments and made after the time of their Conversion I need only refer you to the Inscriptions themselves as they are to be found in the said Britannia with the Additions that follow it so that it ought not to seem strange that the Saxon Annals are so short and obscure in many places and that the Relations of Things done before the entrance of Christianity among them are contradictory to each other in point of Time and other Circumstances since they were only delivered by Memory and Tradition which must be acknowledged for a very uncertain Guide in Matters of Fact as well as of Doctrine Nor is this Uncertainty to be found only in the Saxon Chronicles but also in those of the Britains of that Age since from the Reign of King Vortigern to that of Cadwalladar is indeed the darkest and most confused part of all the British or Welsh History Hence it is that we are forced in this Period not only to make use of Authors who lived long after the Things they treat of were done but also are otherwise of no great Credit such as Nennius and Geoffery of Monmouth whom we sometimes make use of for want of those of better Authority As for the English Saxon History we have nothing more ancient than Bede and the Saxon Chronicle which we shall here give you almost entire since it seems to be writ faithfully as far as it goes yet being only Annals extracted out of Bede as far as he goes they barely relate the Succession of their Kings with their chief Wars and Actions without expressing the Grounds or Causes of either or giving us any Account of their particular Laws and original Constitutions so that I confess they cannot prove so Instructive to Humane Life as is required of a just History Britain being thus deserted by the Romans as you have seen in the last Book with an intention to return no more and having caused the Britains to rebuild the Wall in the manner already related the Scots and Picts thô in Manners differing from each other yet still unanimous to rob and spoil hearing that the Roman Forces were withdrawn landed in Shoals out of their Curroghs or Leathern Vessels in which they passed over that part of the Irish Sea which lying next Britain is called by Gildas The Scythic Vale these upon the Assurance that the Romans would never return becoming more bold than ever took possession of all the Northern Parts even from the outmost Bounds of the Land as far as the Wall already mentioned in the mean time the Guards which were placed upon it to defend it being cowardly in Fight and unable to fly stood trembling on the Battlements keeping their Stations day and night to little or no purpose whilst the Enemy from below with long Hooks pluck'd them down and dashed them against the Ground thus preventing by a speedy Death those languishing Torments which attended their Country-men and Relations In short both the Wall and the Towns adjoyning to it being deserted the Inhabitants saved themselves by flight which yet could not long secure them for the Enemy pursuing them a fresh Slaughter quickly followed more bloody than the former and which was worse than all the rest being tormented with Famine to get Subsistence they fell upon and robbed each other for they who came from the North as may probably be supposed and had fled from the Enemy being unable to pay for their Quarters when they came into the Southern Parts seized what they could find from whence rose Discords and Quarrels among them and thence Civil Wars for this Nation as Gilda◠observes thô feeble in repressing Foreign Enemies yet in home-bred Quarrels was very bold and obstinate But whilst they thus for some Years wore themselves out with continual Acts of mutual Hostility the Famine grew General upon all so that those half-starved Men that remained were forced to maintain their Lives with what they could get by Hunting so that at last the miserable Remnants of this afflicted People having now no other Remedy left were constrained to write doleful Letters to Aetius then the Emperour's Lieutenant in Gaul directed To Aetius thrice Consul the Groans of the Britains wherein they thus complain The Barbarians drive us to the Sea whilst the Sea driveth us back to the Barbarians between these two sorts of Deaths we must be either slain or drown'd What Answer they received is uncertain but Gildas expresly tells us That they received no Assistance by those Letters because Aetius then expected a War with Attilla King of the Huns. And indeed about these Times a terrible
affirm That there were only Two Orders of Monks in use amongst our Ancestours of the English Saxon Church One of those who followed the Rites of the Aegyptian Monks and the other of Benedictine's who came over with Augustine and so continued from that time to their dissolution under King Henry the Eighth to which Letter or Certificate all the said learned Persons above mentioned did put their Hands as appears by the Certificate it self which you will find Printed in Clem. Reyner de Appostolatu Benedictini in Anglia This though perhaps it may seem an impertinent digression to some yet I hope will not prove so to those who are lovers of Ecllesiastical Antiquities This Year Ethelbert King of Kent dyed who was the first English King that recâ—ived Baptism Bede tells us That this King dyed above Twenty Years after his Conversion and was buried in St. Martin's Porch in the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul after whose decease Eadbald his Son succeeded to him in the Kingdom The beginning of whose Reign I shall give you out of Bede being much more particular than that in the Chronicle This King did not only refuse the Faith of Christ but also polluted himself with such Fornication which the Apostle says ought not to be heard of among the Gentiles in that he Married his Father's Wife by which wickedness he gave occasion to those to return to their former Heathenism who had embraced Christianity in his Father's Reign either out of Fear or hopes of Favour thô God's Judgments were not wanting to Correct this Infidel King for he was tormented with frequent fits of Frensie and the possession of an unclean Spirit but the Death of Sebert King of the East Saxons happening also about this time extremely encreased the present Storm of Afflictions for he left Three Sons Heirs to his Kingdom who all relapsed to Paganism having in their Father's life-time seemed Christians but now permitted all their Subjects the free licence of worshiping Idols and when they saw the Bishop Administring the Eucharist to the People in the Church they thus spoke to him in their Barbarous folly Why dost thou not give us this White Bread which thou wert wont to Minister to our Father To whom the Bishop replyed That they must first be washed in that saving Font in which their Father had been Baptised and then they might partake of the same Bread which though they deny'd to do yet would they not desist from requiring this Bread at his hands which he still refusing them they then plainly told him That if he would not yield to them in so small a matter he must not stay any longer in their Dominions and so commanded them to be gone who being thus expelled went thence into Kent to consult with the Bishops Laurentius and Justus what was best to be done on this occasion where it was decreed by common Consent That it was better that all of them should return into their own Countrey there to serve God with freedom of Conscience than to live without any Fruit of their Labours amongst such Barbarous Rebels to the Christian Faith thereupon Mellitus and Justus departed first and went into France there resolving to expect the issue of these things but not long after these Three Princes who had driven out a Preacher of the Truth and relapsed to the Worship of Idols marching out to Battel against the West-Saxons were all cut off together with their Army However though the Authors of this Apostacy were destroyed yet the common people being once inured to wickedness could not easily be brought back to the Faith of Christ. But when Laurentius was about to leave Britain to follow Mellitus and Justus he ordered a Pallet to be laid for him in the Church of St. Peter and Paul on which after many Prayers and Tears poured forth to God he laid down to take his rest where if credit may be given to Bede's relation St. Peter in whose Church he had spent great part of the Night in watching and Prayer appeared to him and to make the Vision more sensible gave him many stripes for thus offering to desert his Flock at sight whereof the King to whom next morning he shewed the marks of what he had suffered and by whom and for what cause relenting in great fear renounced his Incestuous Marriage and applied himself to the Christian Faith more sincerely than before together with all his People but the Londoners refusing again to receive their Bishop Mellitus this King had not so much power as his Father to force them to it whether they would or not yet nevertheless he with all his Nation from the time that he was thus re-converted to Christ endeavoured wholly to submit himself to the Divine Precepts and then near the Monastery of the Apostles built a Church in honour of the blessed Virgin which was consecrated by Archbishop Mellitus But to return again to Civil Affairs This Year also Edwin of the Blood-Royal of Northumberland having been forced to fly from Ethelfrid then King of that Countrey had wander'd for some Years as a banished Man through divers Kingdoms till at last he took refuge with Redwald King of the East-Angles beseeching him to save his Life from so cruel and unjust a Persecution who thereupon receiving him into his protection granted his Request but whilst he thus sojourned with King Redwald he had a Vision or Apparition which was the cause of his future Conversion and which though it looks very much like a Monkish Legend yet since it is related by so grave an Author as Bede I shall here from him set down So soon as Ethelfrid heard where Edwin was he sent Ambassadors to Redwald offering him a great Sum of Money to put him to death which being refused he still repeated and increased his offers twice or thrice threatning War if he were refused till at last the King being either prevailed upon by his great proffers or terrified by his threatnings yielded promising either to kill Edwin or to deliver him to his Ambassadors which when a certain Friend of Edwin's then near the King came to know the first hour of the Night he went in haste to his Chamber and calling him forth for better secresy revealed to him his Danger and offer'd him his Aid to make his Escape where neither Redwald nor Ethelfrid should ever find him But he not approving of that course as seeming dishonourable without more manifest cause to begin first to distrust one who so long had been his only Refuge chose rather to dye by his Hand than by any other more Ignoble Whereupon his Friend departing Edwin being thus left alone without the Palace-Gate full of sad and perplexed Thoughts discerns about the dead of Night a man approaching towards him neither by Countenance nor Habit to him known who after a short Salutation asked him Why at this Hour when all others were at Rest he alone sate so sadly waking on
Coleman that he was resolved to quit his Bishoprick and depart into Scotland to the Isle of Hye from whence he cam◠rather than to comply with it from whence he also departed into Ireland here called Scotland where he built a Monastery in that Country and lived all the rest of his days and in which only English Men were admitted at the time when Bede wrote his History But after the departure of Coleman one Tuda who had been ordained Bishop among the Southern Scots was made Bishop of Lindisfarne but he enjoyed that Bishoprick but a very little while But after the Death of Bishop Tuda according to the Life of Bishop Wilfrid King Oswi held a great Council with the Wise Men of his Nation whom they should chuse in the vacant See as most fit for that holy Function when they all with one Consent nominated and chose Abbot Wilfrid as the fittest and worthiest Person to succeed him but being to be Consecrated he refused it from any Bishop at home because he look'd upon them all as Uncanonical being all ordained by Scotish Bishops who differed from the Roman Church about this Point of keeping Easter so that he would needs go over into France for Ordination where staying too long the King put Ceadda who had lately come out of Ireland into his Place which Wilfred upon his return much resenting retired to his Monastery at Ripon and there resided as also sometimes with Wulfher King of Mercia or else with Ecghert King of Kent till he was restored to his See Bede tells us that the above-mentioned Eclipse was followed by a sudden Pestilence the same Year which first depopulating the Southern Parts of Britain then proceeded to the Northern wherein Bishop Tuda deceased it also invaded Ireland and there took off many Religious as well as Secular Persons The same Year also according to Florence Ercombert King of Kent dying left that Kingdom to Egbert his Son Also Ethelwald King of the East Angles dying this Year Aldulf succeeded him About this time according to Bede Siger and Sebba succeeding Swidhelm in the Kingdom of the East Saxons being unsteady in the Faith and supposing the late great Pestilence to have fell upon them for renouncing their old Superstition relapsed again to Idolatry and rebuilt the Idol-Temples hoping by that means to be defended from the present Mortality but as soon as Wulfher King of the Mercians to whom this Kingdom was then subject heard of it he sent Bishop Jaruman to them who together with their Fellow-Labourers by their sound Doctrine and gentle Dealing soon reclaimed them from their Apostacy This Mortality is also partly confirmed by Mat. Westminster who the next Year relates so great a Mortality to have raged in England that many Men going in Troops to the Sea-side cast themselves in headlong preferring a speedy Death before the Torments of a long and painful Sickness thô this seems to be no other than the great Pestilence which raged the Year before unless we suppose it to have lasted for 2 Years successively The same Year also according to the Account of an ancient British Chronicle lately in the Possession of Mr. Robert Vaughan Cadwallader last King of the Britains having been forced by a great Famine and Mortality to quit his Native Country and to sojourn with Alan King of Armorica finding no hopes of ever recovering his Kingdom from thence went to Rome where professing himself a Monk he died about 8 Years after Now thô the British History of Caradoc Translated by Humphrey Lloyd and Published by Dr. Powel places Cadwallader's going to Rome Anno 680 which Mr. Vaughan in the Manuscript I have by me and which is already cited in the former Book proves can neither agree with the Account of the said old Chronicle nor yet with the Time of the great Mortality above-mentioned for Caradoc and Geoffery of Monmouth do both place Cadwallader's going to Rome in the Year of the great Pestilence which as Bede and Mat. Westminster testifie fell out in the Year 664 or 665 and therefore that learned Antiquary very well observes That as for their Calculation who prolong Cadwallader's Life to the Year 688 or 689 and place his going to Rome in Pope Sergius's time he thinks they had no better Warrant for it than their mistaking Ceadwalla King of the West Saxons who then indeed went to Rome and there died for this Cadwallader who lived near 20 Years before whereby they have confounded this History and brought it into a great deal of uncertainty whereas that ancient Appendix annex'd to the Manuscript Nennius in the Cottonian Library whose Author lived above 300 Years before either Geoffery or Caradoc doth clearly shew that this Monastery above-mentioned and consequently Cadwallader's going to Rome happened in the Reign of Oswi King of Northumberland who according to the Saxon Annals began to Reign Anno 642 and died Anno 670 and therefore no other Mortality ought to be assigned for Cadwallader's going to Rome than this in King Oswi's Reign Anno 665 for the Words of the said old Author are these Oswi the Son of Ethelfred reigned 28 Years and 6 Months and whilst he reigned there happened a great Mortality of Men Catwalater so he spells it then reigning over the Britains after his Father and therein perished Now the Case is clear if these Words in the Latin Et in ea periit have relation to Cadwallader as most likely they have considering Oswi lived 5 Years after the Year 665 wherein this Mortality raged then Cadwallader never went to Rome at all but died of this Plague but of this I dare not positively determine since the greater part of the Welsh Chronicles are so positive in Cadwallader's dying at Rome But to return to our Annals This Year Oswi King of Northumberland and Ecgbrith King of Kent with the Consent of the whole English Church as Bede relates sent Wigheard the Presbyter to Rome to be there made Arch-Bishop of Canterbury but he died almost as soon as he arrived So that Theodorus being the next Year consecrated Arch-Bishop was sent into Britain Of which Transaction Bede gives us this particular Account About this time also as Bede relates Wina Bishop of Winchester being driven from his See by King Kenwalch went and bought the See of London of King Wulfher This is the first Example of Simony in the English Church The See of Canterbury had been now vacant for above 3 Years for the Pope was resolved himself to Ordain an Arch-Bishop and at last at the Recommendation of one Adrian a Greek Monk who might have been Arch-Bishop himself but refused it the Pope chose this Theodorus then a Monk and a Native of Tharsus in Cilicia who being an excellent Scholar brought the knowledge of the Greek Tongue as also Arithmetick Musick and Astronomy in use among the English Saxons This Arch-Bishop immediately upon his coming into England made a thorough Visitation of
the Meat should be taken away untouched from such as were invited than that those who were not invited should complain for want of Victuals whereas saith he the custom of our time is either out of Covetousness or as they pretend because their people cannot eat for Great Men to allow their Followers but one Meal a day which shews that the custom of Set Suppers hath had divers Vicissitudeâ— being not commonly used in England in Great Mens Families at the time when H. Huntington wrote and therefore is an English Custom prevailing since that time the Norman Fashions being then most used John Rouse also in his Manuscript Treatise de Regibus Ang. already cited relates That the day of King Hardâ—cnute's Death was in his time kept by the English as an Holiday being called Hock-Wednesday on which they danced and drew Cords cross the way as they do in several Parishes in England even at this day to stop people till they will pay them some Money King Edward called the Confessor BEfore King Hardecnute was buried all the People chose Edward Aethâ—ling King at London who reigned as long as God permitted him But William of Malmesbury with greater probability says That this King did not come to the Crown without some difficulty for when he had received the News of his Brother Hardecnute's Death he was in great perplexity what was most advisable for him to do at last after mature deliberation he thought it the safest course to trust his Fortune to Earl Godwin's Advice who being sent for to a friendly Conference for some time he was considering whether he should come to him or not but at length he agreed to speak with him and upon the Enterview Edward was about to lay himself at his Feet but that he would by no means suffer Then the Prince earnestly desired he would assist him in his safe return to Normandy when immediately Godwin gave him this unexpected answer That he had better live gloriously King of England than dye ignominiously in Exile That the Crown did of Right belong to him as Son of Ethelred and Grandchild of Edgar That he was one of mature Age inur'd to Labour and who had learnt by experience how to order Publick Affairs with Justice and had been taught by his own late Afflictions how to remove and prevent the Miseries of the People That to bring this about there would be no great Obstacle for if he would but trust himself to him he should find that his Interest was very powerful in the Nation and that Fortune would be favourable to his just Pretensions and if he would accept of the Royal Dignity he was confident there would be none to oppose it but on condition that he would establish a firm Friendship with him and his Family by promising to prefer his Sons and marry his Daughter that then he should soon find himself a King Edward's case at this time was such as not to reject so fair Proposals but rather agree to any Conditions and comply with the present state of Affairs whatsoever therefore Godwin required he promised and swore to perform Now the Earl was a Man fitted by Nature for managing such an Intrigue having a very smooth and plausible Tongue so Eloquent that he could move and charm the Affections of the People insinuate into them whatsoever he pleased and bring them entirely over to his Interest and Service Upon this he procures a Great Council to be summoned at Gillingham some Copies have it at London and there he influenced some by his own Authority gain'd over others by his Promises and those who were inclined before to Prince Edward's Cause he fully settled and confirmed to his Party the rest that made opposition being over-power'd were first of all turn'd out of their Places and then banished the Land The Annals of the Abby of Winchester printed in the Monast. Ang. from the Manuscript in the Cottonian Library not only agree with William of Malmesbury in this Relation but are also much more particular viz. That Prince Edward coming to Godwin one morning in disguise to London fell at his Feet begging him to preserve his Life but the Earl taking him up promised to use him like his Son and also gave him farther Encouragements and Assurance so that Edward returning again to Winchester to his Mother Godwin shortly after summoned all the Great Men of the Kingdom to meet there to consult about making a New King Then these Annals proceed to relate the manner of this Election Viz. That Earl Godwin raising the Prince from the place where he sate at his feet being then incognito having his Hood over his Face said thus Behold your King This is Prince Edward the Son of King Ethelred and Queen Emma This is He whom I Elect c. and so first did him Homage Then after some Debates among themselves they all at last consented to his Election so that if it displeased any there they durst not shew their Discontent since Earl Godwin would have it so and Edward being thus Elected was not long after crown'd at Westminster Which is also confirmed by an Ancient Chronicle in the Cottonian Library already cited ending with this Prince which saith That Hardecnute being dead Eadward was advanced to the Crown by the endeavours chiefly of Earl Godwin and Living Bishop of Worcester Bromton's Chronicle farther adds That at this Grand Council all the Great Men of England agreed and swore with one consent That no Danes should reign over them any more because of the great Affronts and Contempts they had received from that Nation For they held the English in such servile subjection That if an Englishman had met a Dane upon a Bridge he was obliged to stand still till the other had passed by and if he had not bowed to the Dane he was sure to be well basted for his neglect so that as soon as King Hardecnute was dead the English drove all the Danes out of the Kingdom But notwithstanding the great happiness the English now received by having a King of their own Nation yet it seems This year was unfortunate for the Intemperance of the Season which as our Annals relate destroyed the Fruits of the Earth so that a great number of Cattel died Also about this time Aelf Abbot of Burgh deceased and Arnwi a Monk was chosen Abbot being a mild and good man About the same time also according to the Welsh Chronicle Prince Conan the Son of Jago who had fled into Ireland to save his life and coming now over from thence being assisted with the Forces of Alfred the Danish King of Dublin entred North-Wales by surprize took Prince Griffyth Prisoner and was carrying him away to his Ships But the people of the Countrey hearing of it they immediately rose and pursued the Irishmen and at last overtaking them rescued their Prince and made a great flaughter among them the rest with much difficulty got to their Ships and returned with
of Land to one Wulfred By the Assistance of King Aethelwulf made North-Wales subject to him Marries Aethelwulf's Daughter with great Solemnity l. 5. p. 261 262. Is forced by the Danes to desert his Kingdom and pass the Seas to Rome where not long after he died and was buried at the English College in the Church of St. Mary Id. p. 277. Byrinus an Italian coming hither by his Preaching converts the West-Saxons and had a City in Oxfordshire conferred on him to fix his Episcopal See in l. 4. p. 179. Baptizes Cuthred at Dorchester being a Prince of the Blood-Royal Id. p. 180. Byrnstan consecrated Bishop of Winchester and how long he held it l. 5. p. 331. His Death and Burial at Winchester Id. p. 332 333. C CAdelh Prince of South-Wales is fallen upon by his Brother Anarawd who grievously spoils his Countries l. 5. p. 299. Second Son to Rodoric the Great and Father to Howel Dha his Decease Id. p. 315. Cadocus Abbot of Lancarvan in Glamorganshire His Life written by John of Tinmouth l. 3. p. 149. Cadwallader his supposed Journey to Rome l. 3. p. 145. The last King of the Britains His death l. 4. p. 190 191. Cadwallo King of the Britains an Account of his being routed and killed l. 4. p. 177. Cadwallo and Ceadwalla these two Names are confounded together by the British Historians Id. p. 204. Cadwallo supposed to be Edwal sirnamed Ywrch and for what reason Id. p. 205. Cadwallo succeeds his Father Cadwan in the Kingdom of Britain Id. p. 171. Is overcome by Edwin and flies to Ireland but returning afterwards he beats Penda and they joining together fight Edwin and slay him and rout his whole Army He is in Profession a Christian but in his Actions shews himself worse than a Pagan Id. p. 176. Cuts off Osric on a sudden and all his Army and basely kills Eanfrid Id. p. 177. Cadwan Prince of North-Wales is chose King of all the Britains l. 3. p. 149. Caedmon the English-Saxon Poet what he wrote and what he printed l. 4. p. 199. Caerialis Petilius sent hither as soon as Vespatian was acknowledged in Britain as his Lieutenant He had inured Agricola to Labours and Dangers l. 2. p. 54. Caer-Leon upon Usk in South-Wales an Archiepiscopal See l. 3. p. 149. Caesar's landing in Britain in the Reign of Cassibelan a small Inland Prince l. 1. p. 19. l. 2. p. 33. His Account of the Inhabitants their Religion and Manner of living l. 2. p. 21. The Pretences he made for his Expedition hither l. 2. p. 24. But first he sends Ca. Volusenus to make his Observations of the Countrey and then upon on his Arrival Ambassadors come to him from divers Princes and States of this Island promising Obedience to the Roman Empire Id. p. 25. He had no great cause to boast of his first Expedition and why l. 2. p. 29. Most of his Horse were cast away in a violent Storm therefore goes into Italy resolving to make another Descent upon them and orders new Ships to be built and directs after what Model whereupon six hundred such were built besides eight and twenty Gallies Id. p. 30. Setting sail again for Britain and landing he fought and conquered the next day he had news That by a great Tempest rising that night forty of his Ships had fallen foul upon one another and were lost and the rest much shatter'd Id. p. 31 32. His care about the remainder and directions for others to be built His Engagements with the Britains and their various successes Id. p. 32 33 34. His description of a British Town Id. p. 35. Makes Cassibelan submit and give Hostages to him and then goes over to the Continent and at his Return to Rome he offers to Venus a Breast-plate covered with British Pearl Id. Ib. Calais never used for a Port until Philip Earl of Buloigne built and walled the Town l. 2. p. 31. Calcuithe the troublesome Synod there where Archbishop Janbryht lost part of his Province to the See of Litchfield l. 4. p. 233 235. The Nicene Creed and the Seven first General Councils received and confirmed in it and many Canons made concerning Matters of Religion and Ecclesiastical Discipline Id. p. 233. There were two distinct Sessions of it Id. p. 234. It was supposed to be held in the Kingdom of Mercia Ibid. A Synod held there under Wilfrid Archbishop of Canterbury and Kenwulf King of the Mercians l. 5. p. 251. Caledonians make great Preparations for War in shew more than in reality against Agricola l. 2. p. 58. But they were miserably routed by his Forces Id. p. 59. Rodorick King of the Picts aids them but is slain by Marius Id. p. 66. Caligula Caius the Magnificent Letters he sent to Rome l. 2. p. 37. Marches his Army to the Belgick Shore and his foolish Bravado after he had put a little to Sea in a Galley and then returned to Land carrying the Shells that he and his Army had gathered on the shore to Rome and his Galleys and demands a Triumph but the Senate refused it and at last he was murthered Id. p. 38. Camalodunum now Maldon in Essex where Andraste supposed to have been the Goddess of Victory had a Temple l. 2. p. 24. On the Reverse of Kynobelin's Coin is CAM signifying Camalodunum which was his Royal Seat Id. p. 37 40. Taken by Claudius who obtaining a Victory over the Britains left them to the Government of Plautius Id. p. 40. Cambden's History in Latin commended highly by this Author l. 2. p. 20. Cambria Vid. Wales Cambridge anciently called Caer-grant and Grant-Chester l. 1. p. 14. Grantbridge l. 5. p. 272 322. l. 6. p. 34. Quatbridge l. 5. p. 302. And Grantecester l. 5. p. 318. Lay in the Kingdom of the East Angles and had no University or School there in the time of King Alfred l. 4. p. 179 180. The Antiquity of this University illustrated l. 5. p. 318. All their former Privileges confirmed by King Edward the Elder 's Charter to them for ever to endure by a perpetual Right Id. p. 317 318. Improbable that it should have continued an University during the Danish Wars under the Possession of Three Danish Kings but this Edward did restore the University Id. p. 318. Is burnt by the Danes with Oxford likewise and then all Studies ceased at both places till about 1133. from which time the Scholars have continued at both Universities l. 6. p. 34 35. Camelford in Cornwall anciently Gafulford where was a Battel fought between the Britains and Devonshire-men the latter getting the Victory l. 5. p. 253. Candida Casa Vid. Witerne Candidus a Presbyter whom the Pope sent to receive and dispose of the Church's Revenues in France l. 4. p. 153. Canterbury anciently called Caerkin by whom it was first pretended to be built l. 1. p. 10. And Cantwic l. 5. p. 259. The Metropolis of King Ethelbert's Kingdom appointed for the Residence of Augustine and his Monks l. 4. p. 153
Battel by the Kentish men l. 5. p. 313. After his Death the Danes there yielded themselves up to Edward the Elder l. 5. p. 322 323. The Ecclesiastical Laws made between this Eoric who succeeded Gutherne in the Government of East-England and King Edward Id. p. 326. Eorpenwald King of the East-Angles Son to Redwald when he began his Reign l. 4. p. 157. Is succeeded by his Brother Sigebert whom formerly he had Banished Id. p. 179. Eorpwald or Eorpald King of the East-Saxons Baptized but not long after is slain by one Richbert a Heathen l. 4. p. 175. Eowils slain in battel with many thousands of his Danes at a place called Wodnesfield by King Edward the Elder 's Army l. 5. p. 315. Ercenbright or Ercombert Vid. Earcombert Eric the Son of Harold whom the Northumbers set up for their King and about a year or two after drove him out again l. 5. p. 350. Erkenwald Younger Son to Anna King of the East-Angles is Consecrated Bishop of London by Theodore Archbishop of Canterbury He founded Two Monasteries before he came to be Bishop and for whom l. 4. p. 196. Continued Bishop thereof till after the Reign of King Ina Id. p. 201. Ermenred The Eldest Son of Eadbald craftily supplanted by his Younger Brother Earcombert who got the Kingdom from him He had Two Sons who were cruelly Murthered by Thunore one of the King's Thanes whom he employed in that Execucution l. 4. p. 180 185. Esylht Daughter to Conan King or Prince of North-Wales Marries Merwyn Urych a Nobleman the Son of Gwyriad who afterwards was King in her Right l. 5. p. 251. Ethelard Ordained Archbishop of York l. 4. p. 238. Ethelbald succeeds Ceolred in the Kingdom of Mercia and holds it One and Forty years l. 4. p. 217. Ethelbald after his Father's Death succeeds him in West-Saxony l. 5. p. 265. Marries his Father's Widow but afterwards Repenting of the Incest puts her away from him His Character Reign Death and Burial Id. p. 266. Vid Aethelbald Ethelbert King of Kent in his time Pope Gregory made the English-Saxons Christians l. 3. p. 143 153. Beaten by Ceawlin and Cutha his Brother his double Character and Alliance l. 3. p. 145. The most powerful Prince that had Reigned in Kent having extended the bounds of his Dominions as far as Humber he Marries Bertha a Christian Lady the King of France his Sister and upon what Conditions l. 4. p. 153. By Augustin's persuasion builds the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul in Canterbury Id. p. 157. Is Baptized in St. Pancrace Church there which before had been a Heathen Temple Ibid. Had many noble Presents sent him by Pope Gregory with a Letter full of Sanatory Advice Id. p. 158 159. Builds the Church of St. Andrew at Rochester and endows it Id. p. 160. Confirms in a Great Council both of Clergy and Laity all the Grants and Charters whereby he had settled great Endowments on both Christ-Church and that of St. Pancrace Ibid. But his Charters are very suspitious of being Forged in many respects Id. p. 163. The Secular Laws that were Enacted in the Great Council in his time Id. Ibid. His Death and Burial in St. Martin's Porch in the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul He was the First English King that ever received Baptism and lived above Twenty years after his Conversion Id. p. 168. He was the Third King that Ruled over all Britain l. 5. p. 254. Ethelbert is Consecrated Bishop of Witerne called in Latin Candida Casa at York l. 4. p. 231. One of his Name Bishop of Hagulstad Deceases l. 4. p. 241. Ethelbert the Son of Ethelred King of the East-Angles is slain in the Court of King Offa and by whose Instigations l. 4. p. 237. Ethelbert or Aethelbryht after his Brother Ethelbald's Decease takes the Kingdom and holds it in great Peace and Quiet from Domestick Commotions l. 5. p. 266. His Death lamented after having Governed Five years to general satisfaction buried at Shireburne and is supposed to have a Son called Ethelwald Id. p. 267. Ethelbryht the Son of King Withred succeeds Eadbryht King of Kent l. 4. p. 225. Nothing remarkable but that the City of Canterbury was Burnt in his Reign Id. p. 228. His Death Ibid. Ethelburgh Vid. Aethelburga Etheldrethe twice married but would let neither of her Husbands enjoy her which was accounted in those days a great piece of Sanctity l. 4. p. 193 198. Is Foundress of the Monastery of Ely in which she her self became the First Abbess Id. p. 193. Daughter to Anna King of the East-Saxons her Death and after Sixteen Years Burial her Body being taken up as whole as at first she was Canonized and called St. Audrey of Ely Id. p. 198 199. Etheldrith Daughter to King Offa and once the Spouse of Ethelbert King of the East-Angles a holy Virgin that lived in a Cell wherein Withlaff King of the Mercians found a safe Retreat from the high Displeasure of Egbert for Four Months till he was reconciled to him l. 5. p. 254. Etheler King of the East-Angles taking part with Penda against Oswy is slain l. 4. p. 185. Ethelfleda the Lady of Mercia builds many Castles to secure the Mercian Frontiers against the Danes and Welsh l. 5. p. 316. Sends an Army against the Welsh which took Brecenanmere supposed to be Brecknock Castle and the King's Wife and about Four and thirty Prisoners Id. p. 319. Takes the Town of Derby and the City of Canterbury Reduces Leicester under her Dominion and the Danes become subject to her Dies at Tamworth in the Eighth Year of her Government and lies buried at Gloucester in the East-Isle of St. Peter's Church Her Character Id. p. 320. Vid. Ethelred Duke of Mercia her Husband Ethelfred the Son of Ethelric the Son of Ida reigns over both the Northumbrian Kingdoms l. 3. p. 148. l. 4. p. 159. A Warlike Prince that wasted the Britains more than any other Saxon Kings l. 4. p. 159. Leads his Army to Leger-Ceaster and theâ—e slays a great multitude of Britains Id. p. 164. His Pursuit of Edwin after his Banishment though he was of the Blood-Royal Id. p. 169. Is slain by Redwald King of the East-Angles and his Sons banished by Edwin Id. p. 170. Ethelfreda or Elfreda Daughter to Earl Ordgar and Widow of Ethelwald Earl of the East-Angles married to King Edgar and her Children by him l. 6. p. 5 6. The Trick her first Husband plaid to obtain her and the return she made him for it Id. p. 9 10. Builds a Nunnery in the place where her first Husband was slain Id. p. 10 20. She is crowned Queen to the great displeasure of Archbishop Dunstan Id. p. 10. Contrives the Death of Edward the Martyr and how but being convinced of her wickedness for it she betook her self to very severe Penalties Id. p. 17 18. Her violent Passion to her Son Ethelred a Youth in beating him unmercifully with a Wax-Taper and why Id. p. 19. Takes