of King Aelfred by Pact and Bargain between him and Guthrum enjoyed East-Saxony or Essex and the Country of the East-Angles and a far greater part of this Nation as many think And in this King Ethelred's Reign Swane King of Denmark with a great Army invaded and made himself Master of the whole Nation forcing Ethelred and his Wife Emmy Sister to Richard second Duke of Normandy with their two Sons Edward and Alfred into that Country But Ethelred had a former Wife Elgive Daughter of Duke Thored By her he had many Sons of whom Edmond called Ironside being the third Aethelstan and Egbert dying without Issue by the Election of the Londoners and West-Saxons succeeded his Father in the Kingdom Florence of Worcester says again after the death of Ethelred the Bishops Abbots Duces quicque Nobiles Angliae met and chose Cnute the Son of Swane but the Londoners and that part of the Nobility which was with them by one consent made Edmund King After several Battels fought for the Sovereignty of the Kingdom between these two Pretenders and their Adherents being weary on both sides they were persuaded to part the Kingdom between them which was done But not long after Edmund died at London The Arch-Traytor Edric after he had caused Edmund's Brother Edwy to be murdered advised Cnute to kill his two Sons also Edward and Edmund But he thinking it a great scandal and disgrace to him that they should be killed in England sent them to his Friend and Confederate the King of Sweves to be slain who not complying with his desire sent them to Solomon King of Hungary to be preserved where Edmund died and Edward married Agatha Daughter to Henry the Roman Emperor by whom he had Edgar Aetheling Edmund Christiana who all died without Issue and Margaret Queen of Scotland whose Daughter Maud was married to Henry the First After the death of Cnute the Londoners as Ingulph of Croyland and William of Malmsbury do report chose Harold but 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 and that he coming over the Kingdom was divided between them and taking Possession of his Share returned into Denmark and that Harold in his absence made himself Master of the whole Kingdom who living only four Years after his death both English add Danes sent for Hardecnute into Denmark to succeed him The Author of the Encomium of Emme says Cnute gave both this and his other Kingdoms to his Son Harde-Cnute by Emme Edward by the Policy Power and Industry chiefly of Earl Goodwin and Livingus Bishop of Worcester was made King at London and was anointed King at Winchester by the arch-Arch-Bishops of Canterbury and York and almost all the Bishops in England He being in England at the time of the death of his half-Brother Harde-Cnute was in a great streight not knowing what to do and thinking to retire into Normandy as he was advised by the Normans applied himself unto Earl Godwin who minded him whose Son he was and of his Right to the Kingdom aud agreeing to marry his Daughter Edgith and to other Conditions propounded to him being forced by necessity to consent thereto Godwin a Council being immediately called by his Reasons and Rhetorick made him King Gul. Gemeticensis saith Hardecnutus reliquit Edwardum fratrem totius regni Haeredem Harde-Cunte left Edward his Brother Heir of the whole Kingdom Ailred Abbot of Rievalle tells an idle Tale in the Life and Miracles of Edward the Confessor that his Father King Ethelred being solicitous about a Successor though he had at that time two Sons Edmund Irorside and Alfred yet in a great Convention of Bishops and Noble Men before him and a great Concourse of ordinary People by the Prescience and Direction of God Almighty this Edward was chosen King while he was in his Mother 's Womb. Praebet electioni Rex consensu laeti praebent proceres Sacramentum inasitato Miraculo in ejus fidelitate jurarunt qui utrum nasceretur ignorarunt The King consents to the Election and the Noble-Men joyfully and by reason of an unusual Miracle swear Fealty to him before they knew whether ever he would be born He is the only Author of this Legend that I know of and do think it a little too gross to be believed Edward the Confessor designed his Nephow Prince Edward the Son of Edmund Ironside for Ins Successor and in the thirteenth Year of his Reign nine Years before he died sent for him out of Hungary where he then was in Banishment but in a short time after he died at London Anno Dom. 1057. Clito Edwardus Regis Eadmundi ferret lateris filius ut ei mandarat suus Patruus Rex Edwardus de Hungaria quo multo anno in exilium missus fuerat Angliam venit decreverat enim Rex illum post se Regni haeredem constituere sed ex quo venit parvo post tempore vita decessit Londoniae After the death of Edward the Confessor Harold Throno Regio se intrusit And as Ailredus before cited hath it Quidam Edgarum Adeling cui Regnum Jure haereditario debebatur Regem constituere moliuntur sed quia puer tanto honore minus idoneus videbatur Haraldus Comes de genere perditorum cujus erat mens astutior crumena faecundior miles copiosior sinistro omine Regnum obtinuit Some endeavoured to make Edward Atheling King to whom the Kingdom belonged by Hereditary Right But because he was a Child and seemed not fit for so great Honour Earl Hurold a crafty Traytor being better furnished with Money and Soldiers by sinister Fater obtained the Kingdom To the same purpose Henry of Huntington says Quidam Anglorum Eadgar Adeling permovere volebant in Regem Haraldus vero viribus genere fretus Regni Diadema invasit That is Some of the English would have had Edgar Atheling King but Harold being well furnished with Forces and assisted by his Kindred invaded the Crown f. 210. b. n. 10. From the various Expressions of the antient Writers of the Saxon Story concerning the Succession an unwary Reader would think the Saxons agreed not in one Rule of Succession or that they had no Rule at all But whoever considers with understanding what here is said will find they had and pursued a sure Rule of Succession which was either Right of Blood or the Nomination and Appointment of the preceding King as we hinted before which Nomination by the Saxon Kings mostly happened in the Minority or Nonage of their Children and that only was thought and allowed Cause sufficient for the Father to prefer his Brother's Son before his own or a Bastard before his lawful Issue For by the subsequent Instances it will plainly appear that the Saxons did in their
his Heirs and if he should die without Issue Vt reciperent Comitem Johannem fratrem Richardi Regis in Regem Dominum That they would receive Earl John the Brother of King Richard for their King and Lord and swore Fealty to him against all Men saving their Fealty to his Brother King Richard Two Years afterward confederating with the King of France against his Brother and being assisted by him he returned into England and brought many Strangers with him and coming to London demanded the Kingdom of the Arch-Bishop of Roven who was then Justiciary and the other Justiciaries of England Fidelitates Hominum Angliae affirming the King of England his Brother was dead But not believing him they and the other great Men of the Kingdom rejected him Then swelling with Fury he fortified his Castles and places of Strength and seized the Crown-Lands Many came in unto him but being deceived they were punished according to their deserts And for these and other Treasons committed the Year following as combining with the King of France and offering great Sums of Money to the Emperor to keep King Richard in Prison and making new Disturbances in the Nation Per Commune Consilium Regni Definitum est quod Comes Johannes dissaifiretur de omnibus Tenementis suis in Anglia By the Common Council of the Kingdom it was decreed he should be disseized of all he held of the King in England And presently all his Castles were besieged and taken from him Yet for all this the next Year King Richard pardoned his Brother John and restored to him the Earldom of Moreton or Mortaigne the Honour of Eye and Earldom of Glocester except the Castles and for his other Earldoms and Lands allowed him Yearly eight thousand Pounds of Anjou-Money And in the last Year of his Reign Cum Rex de vita desperaret divisit Johanni fratri suo Regnum Angliae omnes alias terras suas fecit fieri praedicto Johanni fidelitates ab illis qui aderant praecepit ut traderentur ei Castella sua tres partes Thesauris sui When the King despaired of Life he devised to his Brother John the Kingdom of England and all other his Lands and made all present swear Fealty to him and commanded that his Castles and three parts of his Treasure should be delivered to him Richard being dead John stayed in Normandy where by Walter Arch-Bishop of Roven he was girt with the Sword of that Dutchy April 25. on St. Mark 's Day and sent Hubert Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and the Pope's Legat and William Marshal Earl of Strigvil into England to keep the Peace together with Jeffrey Fitz-Peter Justitiary of England and other Barons of the Kingdom Qui fecerunt homines regni tam de Civitatibus quem de Burgis Comites Barones libere tenentes jurare fidelitatem pacem Johanni Normannorum Duci filii Henrici Regis filii Matildis Imperatricis contra omnes homines Who made the Homagers of England as well of Cities as Burroughs and Earls Barons and free Tenants to swear Fealty and Peace to John Duke of Normandy the Son of King Henry the Son of Maud the Empress against all Men. Notwithstanding this all the Bishops Earls and Barons which had Castles Manned Victualled and stored them with Arms. But Hubert the arch-Arch-Bishops William Marshal and Jeffrey Fitz-Peter Justiciary of England met at Northampton and called before them those which they most doubted David Brother to the King of Scots Richard Earl of Clare Ranulph Earl of Chester William Earl of Tutesbury and Walran Earl of Warwick Roger Constable of Chester William de Mowbray and many other Earls and Barons to whom they promised and engaged that John Duke of Normandy should restore to every Man his Right if they would keep Faith and Peace with him Súb hac igitur Conventione supradicti Comites c. According to this Agreement the said Earls and Barons swore Fealty and faithful Service to John Duke of Normandy against all Men. This was done while he was in Normandy On the 25th of May following Duke John crossed the Seas from Normandy into England and the next day came to London and there were convened in Expectation of him Hubert Arch-Bishop of Canterbury John Arch-Bishop of Dublin William Bishop of London Gilbert of Rochester John of Norwich Hugh of Lincoln Eustace of Ely Godfrid of Winchester Henry of Exeter Sefrid of Chichester Jeffrey of Coventry Savaric of Bath Herbert of Salisbury Philip of Durham Roger of St. Andrews in Scotland Henry of Landaff Bishops Robert Earl of Leicester Richard Earl of Glare William of Tutesbury Hamelin de Warenn William of Salisbury William de Strigvil Walran of Warwick Roger Bigot William de Arundell Ranulph de Cestre Earls and many Barons And then Hubert Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Consecrated and Crowned the said John Duke of Normandy King of England in the Church of St. Peter at Westminster on the 27th of May being Ascension Day Not one word here of any Election by but only a Submission from the Barons Spiritual and Temporal to King John and a Recognition that he was their King And all this related by Hoveden in all probability an Eye-witness of this Translation Indeed Matthew Paris who died Anno Dom. 1259. was then either unborn or so young as not with Judgment to take sufficient notice of this Affair relates it thus Congregatis in adventu ejus Archiepiscopis Episcopis Comitibus Baronibus atque aliis omnibus qui ejus Coronationi interesse debuerant Archiepiscopus stans in medio omnium dixit audite universi noverit discretio vestra quod nullus proevia ratione alii succedere habet Regnum nisi ab universitate Regni unanimiter invocata Spiritus Gratia electus secundum morum suorum eminentiam praeelectus ad exemplum fimilitudinis Saul primi Regis inuncti quem praeposuit Dominus populo suo non Regis filium nec de Regali stirpe procreatum similiter post eum David Jesse silium Hunc quia strenuum aptum Dignitati Regiae illum quia sanctum humilem ut sic qui cunctos in regno supereminet strenuitate omnibus praefit potestate regimine verum si quis ex stirpe Regis defuncti aliis prepolleret pronius promptius in electionem ejus est consentiendum Haec idcirco diximus pro inclyto Comite Johanne qui praesens est frater illustrissimi nameri Richardi jam defuncti qui haerede caruit ab eo egrediente qui providus strenuus manifeste nobilis quem nos invocata Spiritus Sancti Gratia ratione tam meritorum quom Sanguinis Regii unanimiter elegimus universi nec ausi erant alii super his adhuc ambigere scientes quod Archiepiscopus sine causa hoc non sic diffiniverat verum Comes Johannes omnes hoc
exortus Diadema totius regni capiti imposuit William of Malmsbury is more particular in this matter and reports the Jealousie Brihtric had of Egbert Quem solum regalis prosapiae superstitem validissimum suis utilitatibus obicem metuebat Franciam fugandum curavit Who only of the Royal Line was left and the greatest Cheek to his Design he caused to fly into France Nam ipse Brihtricus caeteri infra Inam Reges licet naturalium splendore gloriantes quippe qui de Cerdicio originem traherent non purum tamen linea regiae stirpis exorbitaverant For though Brihtric himself and the rest of the Kings since Ina boasting of their Lineage as drawing their Origin from Cerdic yet they did not a little exorbitate from the true Royal Line The Pedigree of Egbert Egbertus fuit filius Ealmundi Ealmundus Eafae Eafa Eoppae Eoppa fuit filius Ingildi Egbert was the Son of Ealmund Ealmund of Eafa Eafa of Eoppa Eoppa of Ingild the only Brother of Ina King of the West-Saxons who left his Kingdom went to Rome lived a Monastick Life and died Childless Ethelwolfe succeeded his Father Egbert in the Kingdom of the West-Saxons and he gave to his other Son Aethelstan his Conquests Kent East-Sex Surrey and Sussex of which he made him King Malmsbury saith thus Ethelwolphus West-Saxonum regno contentus caetera quae pater subjugaverat Appendicia Aethelstano filio contradidit qui quanto que fine defecerit incertum Ethelwolph by Will divided his Kingdom between his Sons Ethelbald and Ethelbert To Ethelbald he gave West-Saxony to the other Kent c. and by Will gave the Kingdom of West-Saxony to his Sons Ethelred and Elfred after Ethelbald's Death Successively Ethelbald lived but five Years when Ethelbert possessed the whole Kingdom Vt justum èrat says Asser Florence of Worcester and Simeon Dunelmensis Ethelred third Son to Ethelwolph and Brother to Ethelbert succeeded him in his Father's Kingdom who Reigned five or six Years Alfred fourth and youngest Son of Ethelwolph succeeded his Brother Ethelred Fratribus suis Sccundarius fuit He was a Coadjutor or Assistant to his other Brothers Asser fol. 7. 50. To whom succeeded his Son Edward called the Elder To him succeeded his Son Ethelstan EADWEARD CYNG FORTH FERD and AETHELSTAN his SUNN FENG to RICE King Edward died Ejusque filius Aethelstanus capescit regnum And his Son Aethelstan succeeded in the Kingdom These being the usual Saxon and Latin Words by which the Succession is expressed Florence of Worcester and Simeon of Durham both say Rex Edwardus Sen. ex hac vita transiens Aethelstano filio regni gubernacula reliquit King Edward the Elder dying left the Government of the Kingdom to his Son Aethelstan Malmsbury says thus in the History of Edward the Elder Jussu Patris in Testamento Aethelstanus in Regem acclamatus est By the Command of his Father in his Will Aethelstan was proclaimed King By some Aethelstan is affirmed to be a Bastard from the report of William of Malmsbury in the Book and Chapters last cited Who tells us that one Alfred a Man of great Insolence and his Faction opposed Aethelstan upon pretence he was a Bastard Occasio contradictionis ut serunt says the Historian quod Aethelstanus ex Concubina natus csset The occasion of Contradiction was that Aethelstan was born of a Concubine as was reported Sed ipse praeter hanc notam si tamen vera est nihil ignobile habens But he had no other Mark of Ill upon him but this if it were true And telling the story how King Edward the Elder as it was reported stole a Leap with a Shepherd's Daughter by the help of his sometimes Nurse of whom it is fabled he begat Aethelstan he says he had it from trite Tales and Songs and that he related it not to defend the truth of it but because he would keep nothing from his Readers Nor indeed is the story credible for the same Author in the same Chapter reports that his Grandfather famous King Alfred in his Life-time wished him a prosperous Reign embracing him as a Child of great Hope and excellent Behaviour and Knighted him in his Childhood putting on him a Scarlet Cloak and girding him with a Belt set with Gems and a Saxon Sword in a Golden Scabbard This so wise and great a King as Alfred was would never have said and done to a Bastard Edmund his Brother succeeded Aethelstan in the Kingdom After him Edred third Brother to Aethelstan succeeded in the Kingdom and was consecrated King by Odo Arch Bishop of Canterbury This was done in the Nonage of King Edmund's Sons when they were very young and the Nation under great difficulties The Saxon Chronology says EADRED AETHELING his Brother FENG to RICE regnum â—apessit Florence of Worcester Edredus proximus haeres fratris succedens regnum suscepit Malmsbury Edredus tertius e filiis Edwardi regnum suscepit Simeon Dunelmensis Edredus frater Edmundi in regnum successit Edwy the Son of Edmund succeeded his Uncle Edred He banished Dunstan turned out Monks and placed Secular Priests in Monasteries and was so displeasing to the Mercians and Northumbrians that they rejected him and chose his Brother Edgar who also succeeded Edwy in the Kingdom of the West-Saxons Eadwigus Rex Kal. Octobris obiit and Edgar his Brother FENG to RICE Edwy died on the First of October and Edgar his Brother took the Kingdom Flor Wigorn. Abomni Anglorum populo Electus regnum suscepit Malmsbury Edgarus adolescentulus se decem annorum regnum adipiscit Edward his Son called the Martyr succeeded him filiumque suum Edwardum regnt morum haeredem reliquit And left his Son Edward Heir as well of the Kingdom as of his Vertues and Endowments But there happening a Contest between him and this Brother about the Succession Quidam Regis silium Edwardum quidam illius fratrem eligerunt Ethelredum quam ob causam Archipresules Dunstanus Oswaldus cum Co-episcopis Abbatibus â—ucâ—busque quamplurimis in unum convenerunt Edwardum ut pater eius praeceperat eligerunt Electum consecrarunt in Regem unxerunt Some elected Edward the King's Son some his Brother Ethelred wherefore the arch-Arch-Bishops Dunstan and Oswald with the Bishops Abbots and very many Noble-Men being gathered together elected Edward as his Father had commanded consecrated and anointed him King This Contest was managed and set on foot by Elfrida second Wife to Edgar and Mother in Law to Edward Who by her Contrivance being murthered was succeeded by his Brother Ethelred FENG ETHELRED AETHELING his BROTHER to RICE and Ethelred Aetheling his Brother enjoyed or possessed the Kingdom The Danes ever since the beginning of King Egbert having by continued Invasions harassed and grievously wasted and molested England in the Reign
Subjection owning of and Submission to their Princes acknowledge both Proximity of Blood and Nomination of their Princes often both sometimes only one of them but never followed any other Rule Aethelwolph the Father of Elfred notwithstanding by Proximity of Blood his Sons were his Heirs yet bequeathed his Kingdom successively to Ethelbald his Eldest Ethelredg his Third and Aelfred his Fourth having before given Kent Surrey and Sussex c. to his Second Son Ethelbert yet he succeeded Ethelbald in all his Dominions and Ethelred and Aelfred both succeeded him according to their Father's Will notwithstanding it is said Ethelbert had two Sons Athelm and Aethelwald This Testament of Ethelwolph Florence of Worcester calls Epistola Haereditaria Edgar filium faum Edwardum Regni morum hoeredem reliquit Left his Son Edward Heir of his Kingdom and Endowments Archipresules Dunstanus Oswaldus cum Coepis Abbatibus Ducibus quamplurimis una convenerant Edwardum ut pater ejus praeceperat eligerunt electum consecraverunt in Regem unxerunt The Arch-Bishops Dunstan and Oswald with their Fellow-Bishop Abbats and very many Dukes or prime Men chose Edward as his Father had commanded and consecrated and anointed him King Eligerunt here signifies no more than Recognoverunt They acknowledged owned submitted unto him as their King as his Father had commanded and by Will appointed This King's Command was stricter than a Conge D'estire where the King nominated the Person to be chosen Bishop and he is always accepted and owned by the Chapter and yet they are said to chuse though limited by the King's Nomination So in many Corporations and Bodies Politick in this and other Nations they have a Person nominated to them and yet they are said to chuse him though they can chuse no other Rex Edwardus senior ex hac vita transiens filio Aethelstano Regni Gubernacula reliquit King Edward the Elder dying left the Government of the Kingdom to his Son Aethelstan Aethelstanus jussu patris in Test amento in regem acclamatus est After him his Brother Edmund swayed the Scepter Cui Edredus proximus heres fratri succedens Regnum suscepit To whom Edred the next Heir succceded his Brother Edmund and undertook the Government What next Heir could Edred be his Brother Edmund but a Testamentary Heir when at that time he left two Sons Edwy and Edgar both small Children and both were Kings successively after their Uncle Concerning this Testamentary Heir it is said Viventis non est haeres for the Testator might alter his Will when he pleased These Testamentary Heirs were either Scripti as when the Testament was written by the Testator or Nuncupati as when it was written by another and dedicated by the Testator or they were declared Heirs only before many Witnesses without writing and without doubt often it happened that our Saxon Kings did only call together the Bishops and Nobility or such of them as they pleased and declared their minds concerning their Successor Cnutoni virorum dignissimo d pater Swanus Sceptrum commiit Regale Swanus Danorum Rex Angliam vi suo subjugandat imperio moriens ejusdem Regni Cnutonem Successorem constituit Swane King of Denmark having subdued England by force dying appointed Cnute his Successor in that Kingdom By Emme Widow to King Ethelred whom he had married and made his Queen he had Harde-Cnute his Son e To him his half-Brother Cnute gave all that had been any ways under his Government But Harde-Cnute being in Denmark when his Father died whereof he had made him King Harold possessed himself of England Who was Cnute's Son by a Concubine or a Bastard Son of a Maid-Servant brought into his Concubine's Chamber and imposed on him by her And for this reason Elnoth Arch-Bishop of Canterbury refused to consecrate him King and to deliver him the Crown and Scepter Harold being dead Harde-Cnute so soon as he was consirmed and setled in this Kingdom called his half-Brother Edward by his Mother Emme afterward called the Conseffor out of Normandy and caused him to live with him who dying within two Years Edwardum totus Regni reliquit baredem Left Edwardum Heir of the whole Kingdom He could be no other than a Testamentary Heir there being Heirs of the right Line both of Saxon and Danish Blood before him Rex Edwardus Robertum Archiepiscopum Cantuariae Legatun ad Gulielmum Comitem Normaniae a latere suo direxit illumque designatum sui Regni Successorem tam debito cognationis quam merito virtutis sui Archipresules relatu insinuavit King Edward sent Robert Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Envoy to William Earl of Normandy to let him know he was appointed his Successor in his Kingdom as well for that he was of his Kindred as for his great Vertue With Ingulph agrees William of Poictou and adds the Succession was given to him by Edward Cum optimatum suorum assensu Harold going to William Duke of Normandy to release his Brother and Nephew that were Hostages with him for his Father Earl Godwin's Good Behaviour towards King Edward he told Harold that King Edward had faithfully promised him that if ever should be King Jus Regni in illium iure bareditario post se transferret That he would after himself transfer the Hereditary Right of the Kingdom to him Yet Eadmer says Juxta quod Edvardus ante mortem statuerat in Regnum ei successit Haraldus according as Edward had appointed before his death Harold succeeded him in the Kingdom Florence of Worcester says Haraldus quem Rex ante suam Decessionem regni Successorem elegerat a totius Angliae primatibus ad regale culmen electhus est Simeon of Durham hath the same words Harold whom the King had chosen his Successor before his Decease was elected to the Royal Dignity by the chief Men of England Here we see how the Election was bound and limited by the Nomination of the Successor by the Predecessor These are the words of Florence of Worcester and such as follow him Which notwithstanding he certainly was a plain Usurper according to Ingulph of Croyland and Aifred Abbas Rieval and Henry of Huntington before noted the Donation of Edward being a meer pretence From Egbert the first Saxon Monarch to Ethelred the last Saxon King by Right of Blood for the space of two hundred and sixteen Years we read not of many Elections and where we do meet them they are bound and limited by Proximity of Blood or Nomination of the Successor by the Predecessor And where the word Election or any thing in that Sense is used it signifies only a Recognition and Submission The Saxon Expression concerning Succession and the Successor is always the same FENG to RICE variously turned by Translators Regnum capessit in the Saxon Chronology which renders it verbatim by others Successit electus est c.
He took Possession of the Kingdom He succeeded He was chosen c. The Danish Kings stayed not long here after Swane had conquered the Kingdom they all four reigned not much above twenty five Years their best Title was the Sword notwithstanding they either brought hither the Custom of the Predecessor naming or giving the Kingdom to his Successor as probably it might have been practised in their own Kingdoms or used it as they found it here practised by the Saxon Kings The Saxons were very weary of the Danish Government and without doubt very forward to set up a King of their own Nation yet the Donation of Harde-Cnute was as great a step for Edward the Consessor to the Throne as the Power and Policy of Earl Godwin and Livingus the Bishop of Worcester Ingulph Secretary to William when Duke of Normandy reports the Donation of England to him very confidently and as if in those times such Gifts were not much questioned Anno eodem Rex Edward senio jam gravatus cernens Clisonis Edwardi nuper defuncti filium Edgarum Regio so lio minus idoneum tarn corde quam corpore Godwini que Comitis multam malamque sobolem quotidie super terram crescere ad cognatum suum Willielmum Comitem Normaniae animum apposuit c. eum sibi succedere in Regnum Angliae voce stabili savivit In the same Year King Edward grown infirm witli Age perceiving Edgar the Son of the late deceased Edward Aetheling neither in Mind or Body fit for the Government nor to bear up against the growing Power and Malice of Godwin's Sons thought upon his Cousin William Earl of Normandy and by a firm Declaration decreed he should succeed him in the Kingdom Norman Succession FRom what hath been said the Pretences and Causes of William Duke of Normandy his succeeding Edward the Confessor and enjoying the Crown of England are very evident as also are the same to his Dukedom He was the only Son of his Father Robert who going on Pilgrimage to Jerusalem called together the Noble-men of his Dukedom and brought his Son William though Illegitimate before them and earnestly exacted of them that in his stead they would chuse him their Lord who though but a Child they forthwith according to the Decree of the Duke acknowledged him for their Prince and Lord swearing Fealty unto him Robertum ergo Archiepiscopum cum optimatibus suis Duc atus accersivit illis velle se appetere Jerosolimitanam pergrinationem manifestavit exponens autem eis Willielmus filium suum quem unicum apud Falesiam genuerat ab iis attentissime exigebat ut hinc sibi loco sui dum eligerent Qui licet sub tenerrima detineretur oetati puerili juxta Decretum Ducis protinus cum prompta viracitate collaudavere principem Dominum pangentes ti fidelitatem non violandis Sacramentis And R. Hoveden affirms it to have been the custom in Norway from whence the Normans came for Bastards to inherit and that in his time it was so Consuetudo Regni Norweiae est usque in hodiernum diem quod is qui alicujus Regis Norweiae dignoscitur esse filius licet sit spurius de ancilla genitus tantum sibi jus vendicat in Regnum gentitus ideo fiunt inter eos proelia indesinenter donec unus eorum vincatur interficiatur And so it happened between the Curators of Duke William in his Nonage and the Pretenders as Heirs to his Grandfather of the Dutchy of Normandy The same Right of Succession as Testamentary Heir to his Father William Rufus had to the Crown of England Metuens Rex ne in Regno tam diffuso repentina oriretur turbatio epistolam de constituendo Rege fecit Lanfranco Archiepiscopo suoque sigillo signatam tradidit Gulielmo Rufo silio suo jubens ut in Angliam transfretaret continuo This was done a little before the Conqueror's Death and he did it for that his Son William always stuck close to him and had in every thing according to the utmost of his power been dutiful and obedient Rufus brought his Father's Epistle by which he had constituted him King of England to Lanfranc Arch-Bishop of Canterbury who having read it hasted with him to London and consecrated him King in the old Church of St. Peter at Westminster on the 26th of September his Father dying the 9th of the same Month Willielmus Willielmi filius saith Malmsbury a patre ultima valetudine decumbente in Successorem adoptatus est accessit favori ejus maximum rerum momentum Archiepiscopus Lansrancus eo quod eum nutrierat militem fecerat quo Authore annitente Die Sanctorum Cosinae Damianae Coronatus est That is William the Son of Willaim was by his Father in his last Sickness adopted his Successor but it was matter of great moment and the greatest Addition to his Success that Arch-Bishop Lanfranc had educated him and made him a Knight by whose Authority and Endeavour he was Crowned on the day of Cesina and Damianus Florence of Worcester who only says that he was consecrated King at Westminster by Arch-Bishop Laufranc hath noted that not long atter his Coronation there arose great Discord and Contention between the chief Men of England for part of the Great and Noble Normans favoured King William but it was the least and the other part of them favoured Robert Duke of Normandy which was the greatest Odo who mortally hated Lanfranc headed the Duke's Party and Lanfranc headed the King's who with the King Congregatio quantum ad presens poterat Normanorum sed tamen maxime Anglorum equestri pedestri licet mediocri exercitu c. Having raised such an Army as he could of Horse and Foot of Normans but the grratest part English though but a mean one and by using the common Bait of Liberty declaring he would relax the rigid Laws give free leave of Hunting c. Also by insinuating into Roger Earl of Arundel and Shrewsbury the chief Person for the Duke next unto Odo Bishop of Baieux and Earl of Kent brought him off to his Party By these means he brake the Force of his Enemies and ever after ruled by an Army More of this story may be seen in Eadmer Ord. Vit. f. 666. c. Florence of Worcester and Malmsbury in the places before cited who all lived at the time Here we see Rufus claimed as Testamentary Heir and by reason of that Claim was advanced to the Throne by the Assistance of Lanfranc's and the Bishops Faction who then swayed the People and ruled by the help of an Army ever after Whoever rightly considers this story cannot call it an Election After the death of Rufus Florence of Worcester only says that Henry his third Brother succeeded him and that the day he was crowned by Maurice Bishop of London he gave great Liberties to the Church and Kingdom and
be true he was Testamentary Heir and had a Testamentary Right and in that Right he was made King But be this story true or false his Advancement to the Throne was as followeth Notwithstanding all the Nobility and amongst them King Stephen himself had sworn Fealty to Maud the Empress yet by the Interest of his Brother Henry Bishop of Winchester and the Pope's Legat without which he could have done nothing he was made King he brought off Roger Bishop of Salisbury a great and powerful Prelate also William de Pout-Arch Keeper of King Henry's Treasure which was 100000 l. in Money And by his own Dexterity the Artifice of his Brother and Roger Bishop of Salisbury and the advantage of this Money he inclined the minds of the Noble Men much towards him and to secure himself raised an Army mostly of Flemings and Britains At his Coronation were only three Bishops the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury the Bishops of Winchester and Salisbury no Abbots and few Noble-men I think this looks not like an Election yet he in his Charter of Liberties which he chiefly granted to the Church says he was elected by the Assent of the Clergy and Laity and confirmed by the Pope Afterwards Stephen using the Bishops roughly lost his Brother Henry's favour who by his Legantine Power called a Council of the Clergy at Winchester to consult of the Peace of the Kingdom Where they conclude that the Right of chusing and ordaining Kings chiefly belonged to them And therefore having first called upon God they chose Maud the Empress Queen Ad Cleri ius potissimum spectat principem eligere ordinare invocata itaque in auxilium Divinitate filiam Regis in Angliae Normanni aeque Dominam eligimus c. But not long after being displeased with Maud he entred into a Confederacy against her and as Legat called another Council at Westminister in which was read the Pope's Bull in favour of Stephen who was then advanced to the Throne again And the Kingdom being wasted and destroyed with continual Wars the Arch-Bishop this Legat and the Bishops mediate a Peace between Stephen and Henry Duke of Anjou Son to the Empress by which it was agreed that Stephen should adopt Henry his Son who after his death should enjoy the Crown and Stephen quietly to wear it during his Life c. Which Agreement is most fully and clearly related by Matthew of Westminister Rex Stephanus omni horede viduatus praeter solummodo Ducem Henricum recognovit in Conventu Episcoporum aliorum de Regno optimatum quod Dux Henricus jus haereditarium in Regnum Angliae habebat Dux benigne concessit ut Rex Stephanus tota vita sua suum Regnum pacifice possideret Ita tamen confirmatum est quod ipse Rex Episcopi tunc praesentes cum caeteris Regni optimatibus jurarent quod Dux Henricus post mortem Regis si illum superviverct Regnum sine aliqua contradictione obtineret that is King Stephen not having an Heir except only Duke Henry did acknowledge in an Assembly of the Bishops and other Chief Men of the Kingdom That Duke Henry had the Hereditary Right to the Kingdom of England and the Duke kindly granted that King Stephen should during his life peaceably enjoy his Kingdom The Agreement was so confirmed that the King himself and the Bishops then present with the rest of the best Men of the Kingdom sware that Duke Henry after the death of the King if he should out-live him should enjoy the Kingdom without all contradiction This Accord afforded Quiet and Tranquillity both to Henry and the Nation with certain Confidence of enjoying the Kingdom after the death of Stephen which he did But as to his Right and Title it added nothing to that it being Hereditary for he was acknowledged the true Heir by his Adversary Stephen in the presence of the Bishops and the best Men of the Kingdom who all likewise acknowledged it by owning the Accord and swearing to observe it On the 24th of October the Year following King Stephen died and on the 19th of December following Henry was Crowned at Westminster by Theobald Arch-Bishop of Canterbury And Maud the Empress being satisfied with the Enthroning of her Son quitted her Pretensions King Henry the Second dying in France July 7. 1189 his eldest Son and Heir Richard was by Walter Arch-Bishop of Roven girt with the Sword of the Dukedom of Normandy on the 20th of the same Month in the presence of the Bishops Earls and Barons of Normandy And before his coming into England every Free-man of the whole Kingdom by the Command of his Mother Alienor sware Fealty to Richard King of England Son of King Henry as to their Liege Lord against all Men. Afterwards coming to London Congregatis ibi Archiepiscopis Episcopis Comitibus Baronibus copiosa Militum multitudine in occursum ejus quorum Consilio assensu ipse Dux 3. Nonas Septembris Consecratus Coronatus est apud Westmonasterium in Regem Angliae a Baldwino Cantuariensi Archiepiscopo c. The arch-Arch-Bishops Bishops Earls Barons and a copious multitude of Knights met him by whose Advice and Assent the Duke was Crowned King of England by Baldwin Arch-Bishop of Canterbury many other Bishops there named assisting Et omnibus fere Abbatibus Prioribus Comitibus Baronibus Angliae astantibus Almost all the Abbots Priors Earls and Barons of England being Spectators Ralph de Diceto then Dean of St. Paul's London who in the Vacancy of that Church and Bishoprick supplied the Office of the Bishop at King Richard's Coronation hath this passage Comes itaque Pictavorum Richardus HAEREDITARIO JURE PRAEMOVENDUS in Ragem post tam Cleri quam Populi solemnem debitam Electionem involutus est triplici Sacramento c. Therefore Richard Earl of Poictou being by Hereditary Right to be made King after the solemn and due Election as well of the Clergy as the Laity sware to three things Scilicet Quod opem impendet pro viribus ut Ecclesia Dei populusque Christianus veram pacem obtinent quod interdicet omnibus Rapacitatem quod in judiciis equitatem praecipiet misericordiam That is to say That he would use his utmost power that the Church of God and Christian People might enjoy true Peace That he would interdict Rapine to all Men That he would command Mercy and Equity to be done in Judgments What can this solemn and due Election signifie here what can it mean further than that Richard being King by Hereditary Right was so owned and recognized by the Clergy and Laity John in his Brother Richard's Life-time had a mind to be King and taking advantage or his Absence in the Holy Land and his Imprisonment in Germany practised with the Nobility and Londoners to that purpose The last sware faithful Service to their Lord King Richard and to