slew Neil his Brother And under this year I suppose we may justly place the total subduing of the Danes and subjection of the East-Angles and consequently their being freed from the Danish Yoak under which they had groaned for above fifty years though what Government they had from the Death of the last Danish King Eoric is hard to determine William of Malmesbury the only Ancient Author that hath mentioned these Affairs telling us in general That after the Death of this Eoric the Danish Earls or Governors either oppressed them or else excited them against the West-Saxon Kings until this King Edward by driving out the Danes restored the English to their Liberties and added this Kingdom to his own Dominions fifty years after the death of King Edmund which falls out much about this time But Polidore Virgil I know not from what Author hath a long Story how King Eoric above-mentioned made War against King Edward and being routed by him in a great Battel and returning home fell so far into the Hatred and Contempt of his Subjects that they rose up against him and being then divided into Factions were forced to submit themselves to King Edward This if it were true would give a great light into this dark part of the History of the East-Angles of which we have but a very imperfect Account But since this Relation is found in no other Author except Polydore and besides expresly contradicting the Testimony of William of Malmesbury a much more Authentick Writer by whose Account as well as by the Saxon Annals it appears that this Eoric was dead long before I think we may justly look upon Polydore's Relation as a mere Fiction either invented by himself or else taken from some Modern Author of no great Credit Therefore I must now warn the Reader concerning this Historian That though he had the Perusal of a great many Rare Manuscripts yet since he very seldom cites any Authors and that we find he sometimes differs from our most Ancient Writers and is plainly mistaken in divers Relations we have great reason to refuse his Testimony where it is not agreeable with more Authentick Authorities I have nothing else to add under this year but that as William of Malmesbury tells us the Body of King Edmund the Martyr having lain for above Fifty Years obscurely buried at a place called Halesdon in Suffolk was now by some devout people removed to a Town adjoining called Badricesworth now St. Edmundsbury where there was quickly a Church built over him and unto which King Edmund Brother to King Athelstan was a great Benefactor though this place was not much taken notice of until King Cnute to gain the Favour of this Saint whom his Countreymen had murthered here afterwards built a Noble Monastery This year also according to Florence of Worcester and Mat. Westminster the King of Scots Reginald the Danish King of Northumberland with the Duke or Earl of the Gallawy Welshmen or Britains came to King Edward and submitting themselves to him made a firm League with him This is the first time we find any Submission of the King of Scots which whether it amounted to a downright Homage and to hold that Kingdom of the Crown of England may be much questioned and is absolutely denied by the Scotish Historians Between Lent and Midsummer King Edward march'd with his Army to Stanford and there commanded a Castle to be built on the South-side of the River Weland so that all the people who dwelt in the Town on the North-side of that River submitted themselves and besought him to be their Lord. Also according to the Cottonian Copy of these Annals Howel and Cledauc and Jeothwell Prince of Wales with all the Nation of the Northern Britains desired to take the King for their Lord. But in this the Welsh Chronicles are wholly silent as commonly they are of any action that tends to the lessening of their Countrey Out of Wales the King marched to Snottingaham and took the Town and commanded it to be repaired and Garison'd with Danes as well as English and then all the people in the Province of Mercia of both those Nations came over to him This year also according to Florence Athelward Brother to King Edward died and was buried at Winchester This is that Learned Prince Son to King Alfred whose Character we have already given This year King Edward carried his Army about the end of Autumn to Thaelwale that is Thaelwalle in Cheshire and which is supposed to have been so called from its being encompassed at first with a Wall made of Bodies of Trees called in the Saxon Tongue Thal where he ordered that Town to be repaired and he commanded another part of his Forces whilst he stayed there to march out of Mercia to Manigeceaster now Manchester in the Kingdom of Northumberland and order'd it to be rebuilt and strengthened with a Garison This year also Plegmond Archbishop of Canterbury deceased and Reginold the Danish King took Eoferwick that is York Before Midsummer King Edward marched with his Army to Snottingaham and ordered a new Town to be built on the South-side of the River Trent over-against that on the other side and made a Bridge over the River between the two Towns from thence the King went into Peakland that is the Peak in that Shire to Bedecanwell which is supposed may be Bakewell in Dâ—rbyshire and commanded a Town to be built near to it and to be fortified with a Garison Then also the King of Scots with all the Scotish Nation and Reginald the Son of Eardulph the Danish King of Northumberland with all the Inhabitants of that Kingdom whether English or Danes together with the King of the Straecled Welshmen and all his Subjects did chuse King Edward for their Patron and Lord. But this year's actions are placed by Florence of Worcester and Mat. Westminster three years sooner which shews the Copies they had of these Annals differ'd from those we have though which of them is the truest I shall not now take upon me to affirm but it sufficiently shews that both these Copies were not written at one and the same time And now King Edward deceased at Fearndune in the Province of the Mercians now called Farrington in Berkshire and Aelsweard his Son also deceased not long after him at Oxnaford i. e. Oxford But the Canterbury Copy of these Annals as also Florence of Worcester place the Death of these two Princes under the foregoing year and indeed they seem to have been in the right But this is most certain that this Prince who is called Aethelward by William of Malmesbury was his Eldest Son by Queen Aelfleda his Wife the Daughter of Earl Aethelune and being very well instructed in Learning did much resemble King Aelfred his Grandfather as well in Face as Disposition yet though he survived his Father he never took upon him the Title of King because he outlived him so
bloody slaughter on both sides l. 6. p. 31. University of Paris by whose means erected Alcuinus an Englishman reading there Logick Rhetorick and Astronomy l. 4. p. 244. Of Oxford and Cambridge Vid. their particular Heads Unust King of the Picts Vid. Eadbert King of Northumberland Vortigern is chosen King by the Britains l. 3. p. 116. By the Advice of his Council he sent for the Heathen Saxons to repel the Scots and Picts Id. p. 117. Falls passionately in Love with Rowena Hengest's daughter Id. p. 125. Marries her and is divorced from his former Wife Id. p. 126. The story of his taking his own Daughter to Wife and having a Son by her is all unlikely Id. p. 127 128. Is deposed and Vortimer his Son is chosen King by the British Nobles Id. p. 128. Is restored wages War with the Saxons but by the Treachery of Hengest is taken Prisoner and for his Ransom gives up East-Sex Middlesex and Sussex Id. p. 129. Uncertain what at last became of him but was again deposed and thought to be burnt in his Castle by his Successor Aurelius Ambrosius Id. p. 131. Vortimer obtainâ— a great Victory over the Saxons l. 3. p. 128. Drives them into Germany for all his lifâ—time Id. Ib. Dies supposed by Poyson of his Mother-in-Law Rowena's Procurement Id. p. 129. Vortipore King of that part of South-Wales called Demetia l. 3. p. 139. Urbgen or Urien King of Cumberland and his Sons fight with Theodoric and his Sons and where l. 3. p. 146. Urbicus Lollius drives back the Brigantes draws another Wall beyond that of Hadrian and keeps out the Incursions of the Northern Britains l. 2. p. 68. Urgeney Bishop of St. David's is slain by the Danes l. 6. p. 27. Urych Merwin King of the Britains slain at the Battel of Ketell l. 5. p. 260. Uscfrea a Son of King Edwin's l. 4. p. 176. Usurers not to continue in the Kingdom but if any were convicted to forfeit their Goods and be look'd on as outlaw'd l. 6. p. 102. Uther Pendragon look'd on by the British Antiquaries as a mere imaginary King l. 3. p. 133. Uthred his Bravery against the Scots and the Reward he met with for it from King Ethelred casts off his Wife but gives her back her Fortune and marries another one Sigâ— l. 6. p. 27. Submits with all his Northumbrian Kingdom to King Sweyn the Dane and the mischiefs he his Son and their Army did both there and where ever they went Id. p. 37 38. He with Edmund Etheling plunders all places where ever they come Id. p. 41. But at last submits to Cnute and though he gave Hostages was soon after slain and some say by Cnute's Orders Id. Ib. Utrecht in the Gallick Tongue Trajectum in the old Language Wiltaburg l. 4. p. 212. Vulgar or Common People the Care the English-Saxons had of the Persons and Chastity of their meanest Subjects l. 5. p. 293 294. W WAda a Rebel in chief in Northumberland that leads out the Conspirators to Battel against King Eardwulf at Billingahoth near Whalie in Lancashire l. 4. p. 241. Wakes or Parish Feasts their Antiquity in several parts of England l. 6. p. 99. Wales anciently called Cambria by some supposed to come from the King Ina's marrying Gualla the Daughter of Cadwallader King of the Britains but it is certainly a notorious Falshood l. 4. p. 220. Their Chief Lords of any Countrey there called Kings Id. p. 241. Kings of Cardigan Divet and Powis died in one year Id. p. 243. The several Princes of Wales were perpetually weakning each other with Civil Wars which the English observing at last reduced them all under their Dominion l. 5. p. 279 280. Great Commotions there between Jevaf and Jago and their Children after them sevâ—ral Countries being thereby spoiled l. 6. p. 16 20 21 22. Laws concerning the Inabitants of the Mountains of this Countrey Id. p. 44. A great Revolution happen'd there from the fickleness of the Nation Id. p. 64. The last Civil War or Rebellion there that happen'd in Edward the Confessor's Reign Id. p. 85. Is called Brytland and subdued by E. Harold and E. Tostige Id. p. 89. Wall That which Severus built from Sea to Sea 132 miles in length which procured him the stile of Britannicus l. 2. p. 76. Is repaired and fortified with Castles c. by Carausius Id. p. 84. Built cross the Island between the two Seas or Streights called then Glotta and Bodotria now the Friths of Edinburgh and Dunbritton with Turf instead of Stone Id. p. 99 100. A Description of the other Wall of Stone Id. p. 100. Wall-brook whence it had its name l. 2. p. 85. Waltham-Abbey the Foundation of it and the story of the Crucifix brought thither and the Miracles said to be effected by it l. 6. p. 89. King Harold is buried in the Abbey-Church there Id. p. 144. Wall-Town near the Picts-Wall anciently called Admurum l. 4. p. 184. Wanating now Wantige in Berkshire l. 5. p. 261. l. 6. p. 43. Warewell now Harwood Forest l. 6. p. 10. Warham in Dorfetshire formerly Werham a strong Castle of the West-Saxons is taken and destroyed by the Danes together with the Nunnery there l. 5. p. 278. Warwick anciently called Caer-Gaurvie supposed to be built by Gurgwint l. 1. p. 13. And Weringwic l. 5. p. 316. l. 6. p. 41. Watchet in Somersetshire anciently called Weced l. 5. p. 319. And Weedport destroyed by the Danes l. 6. p. 22 26. Wax-Tapers hated by King Ethelred because of his Mother 's unmercifully beating him with one and for what reason l. 6. p. 19. Wectij or Wiccij now Worcester l. 4. p. 160 197.230 The same Shire also anciently called Wiccon l. 4. p. 242. l. 5. p. 247. Vid. the City and County of Worcester Wedesbury in Staffordshire anciently supposed to be called Wearbyrig l. 5. p. 316. Weland River in Northamptonshire on the side of Rutland anciently called Weolade l. 5. p. 322. Welsh the Chronicle called Triades l. 3. p. 140. Manuscript of Britain the Credit of it arraign'd by a late Romish Writer l. 4. p. 162. Are forced to quit all the plain Countrey bâ—tween Severne and Wye and to retire to the Mountains l. 4. p. 231. Western-Welsh that is Cornish-men where a great Fleet of Danes landed l. 5. p. 257. The Welsh beaten by Igmond the Dane Id. p. 303. Are forbid to come into England or the English to enter Wales l. 6. p. 44. Raise some Insurrections in Harold's time and upon what account Id. p. 65. A Law that no Welshman should pass over Offa's Ditch on pain of death Id. Ib. And on the Penalty of losing his Right Hand Id. p. 115. Vid. Britains Build a Castle in Herefordshire upon the Lands of Earl Sweyn and what ensued thereupon Id. p. 77. Wenbury in Devonshire by the Saxons called Wicganbeorch a place where Earl Ceorle with his Forces fights the Pagan Danes and gets the Victory l. 5. p. 261. Werfriht Bishop of Worcester one
Westmoreland I suppose they are omitted in this Catalogue because in the Times not long before the Conquest the first was under the Power of the Scots and consequently under their Laws as the two latter were under that of their own Earls who ruled those Counties as Feudatary Princes under the Kings of England tho thus much is certain that the Danish Laws took Place there as well as in Yorkshire BUT after King Edward the Confessor came to the Crown he reduced the whole Kingdom under one General for thus says Ranulph Higden as he is cited by Sir Henry Spelman in his Glossary Tit. Lex Ex tribus his Legibus Sanctus Edwardus unam Legem Communem edidit quas Leges Sancti Edwardi usque hodie vocant Brompton says the like Iste Supradictus Rex Sanct. Ed. Conf. dictus est Edwardus Tertius qui Leges Communes Anglorum Genti tempore suo ordinavit quia proantè Leges nimìs partiales editae fuerant But Roger Hoveden carries them up higher in his History of Henry the Second for he says Quod istae Leges primùm inventae institutae erant tempore Edgari Avi sui sed postquam Edwardus venit ad Regnum Consilio Baronum Angliae Legem per 48. Annos sopitâ—m excitavit excitatam reparavit reparatam decoravit decoratam confirmavit confirmata verò vocata est Lex Edwardi Regis non quià ipse invenisset eam prius sed cum praetermissa fuerat Oblivioni penitùs data è Diebus Avi sui Edgari qui primus Inventor ejus fuisse dicitur usque ad sua tempora quià justa honesta erant è profundo Abysso extraxit eam revocavit ut suam observandam tradidit But the true Reason why it is called the Common Law is because it is the Common or Municipal Law of this Kingdom so that Lex Communis or Jus Patriae is all one with Lex Patriae or Jus Patrium and it is also called the Common Law in other Countries as Lex Communis Norica Burgundica Lombardica c. And from this latter they were so called by William the First in his Confirmation of them HAVING now given you the Original of our Laws in General we will next proceed to shew you what they were in particular as far as they concern those two great Branches of all Municipal Laws viz. the Civil or the Criminal The former oâ— which concerns Lands and Goods and the latter the Nature and Punishments of Criminal Offences TO begin with the former as far as it concerns Lands I shall satisfy my self with what Dr. Brady hath with great Industry and Exactness extracted in the first part of his Compleat History of England out of those Learned Authors you will find there cited in the Margin which is as follows Mr. Somner says there were but two sorts of Tenures here in the Saxon times before the Conquest Bocland and Folkland to which two all other sorts of Land might be reduced Bocland as Lambard says was Free and Hereditary and was a Possession by Writing the other without That by Writing was possessed by the Free or Nobler sort that without called Folkland was holden by paying Annual Rent or performance of Services and was possessed by the Rural People Rusticks Colons or Clowns in those Times these Writings were called in Latin Libelli Terrarum Landboc's and Telligraphia and Livery and Seizin was then made and given by delivery of a Turf taken from the Land with the Writings This was called Terra Testamentalis hereditaria Land Inheritable and devisable by Will unless the first Purchaser or Acquirer by Writing or Witness had prohibited it and then it could not be sold or disposed of from the nearest Kindred This Bocland was of the same Nature with Allodium in Doomsday holden without any Paiments nor chargeable with Services to any Lord or Seignory and though the Name was almost quite lost yet the thing remained under the Name of Allodium and the Lands possessed by the Allodiarii frequently mentioned in Doomsday I have been the more exact in putting down this Passage because it plainly proves from the learned Doctor 's own shewing that if the greatest part of the Lands before the Conquest held by Men of any Quality were Bocland and that this Bocland was the same as he grants with Lands held in Allodio and I have already proved that such Lands were held without any Paiments or Services other than such publick Taxes as were imposed by the Great Council of the Kingdom that is Danegelt with such other Duties as all Lands whatsoever were liable to then is it also as evident that these Lands which were far the greatest part of the Lands in the Kingdom were not held by Knight's Service and consequently their Owners could not be Tenants in Capite as this Author is pleased in other Places to suppose and therefore these Tenants in Allodio could never be so represented by such Military Persons as that they alone could either make Laws for them or lay Taxes on their Estates without their Consents either by themselves or Representatives in the Great Councils or Parliaments of those Times and therefore such free Tenants must have either appeared for themselves in Person or have chosen others to represent them AND if any Man doubt whether these Lands held in Allodio were before the Conquest the greatest part of the Lands of the Kingdom I must refer them for their Satisfaction to Mr. Somners and Mr. Taylor 's Treatises upon Gavelkind as also to Mr. Lambard's Discourse of the Customs of Kent at the end of his Perambulation of that County who there fully prove that the Antient Bocland descending to all the Male Issue alike was not meer Socage Tenure but Allodial 2 dly That this was the general Tenure of all Lands not held by Knights Service before the Conquest as well Gavelkind as others and that not only at the Common Law but confirmed by divers Saxon Kings as by that Law of King Edmund Si quis intestatus obierit Liberi ejus haereditatem aequalitèr dividant So likewise by the 68 th and 75 th Laws of King Cnute as also by those of Edward the Confessor confirmed by William the Conqueror Cap. 36. And therefore Mr. Somner in his said Treatise of Gavelkind farther proves that this was a Liberty left to the Kentish Men by William the Conqueror when all the rest of England changed its Antient Tenure and Mr. Taylor in his History of Gavelkind Chap. 6 7 8. hath proved this to have been a general Custom not only in Kent but in Wales and several parts of England I shall not any further pursue what the Doctor has said of Lands holden by Military Service before the Conquest or of the Herriots or Reliefs that were due upon them which were payable out of the Feudal Lands of the Ealdormen middle and less Thanes but shall refer
till then a Terror to the Welsh or British About this time Geoffry of Monmouth makes Careticus above mentioned to have succeeded Malgo who perhaps was the same with Mael Gwineth in the Kingdom of the Britains whom he describes to have been a lover of Civil Wars and to be hateful to God and all the Britains so that the Saxons seeing his weakness invited Gormund an African King out of Ireland to Invade England with Six thousand Africans who joining with the Saxons invaded the Territories of Careticus and beating him in many Battels at last besieged him in the City of Cirencester which being taken and burnt he again joined Battel with Careticus and forced him to fly beyond Severne into Wales and then Gormund destroying all the Neighbouring Cities never left till he had destroyed the whole Island from Sea to Sea and so for a time obtained the Supreme Dominion of the whole Kingdom But of these Kings Gareticus and Garmund since not only the most Authentick Welsh Chronicles but the Saxon Annals are wholly silent I suppose them to have been only Romances and invented by Geoffrey to fill up this Gap in his British History not that I will deny that one Gormund a Danish King might reign in Ireland about this time but that he ever reigned in England is utterly false no other Historian but himself and those that borrow from him making any mention of it This year Gregory was made Bishop of Rome Ceawlin late King of the West Saxons died in Banishment and the same year died Cwichelm his Brother together with Cryda King of the Mercians to whom succeeded his Son Wipha or Wippa and Ethelfred began also to reign over both the Northumbrian Kingdoms being the Son of Ethelric the Son of Ida. This Prince did not only defend his own Territories but also invaded and seized those of others But the third year after was very remarkable For now Pope Gregory sent Augustine into Britain with many Monks to preach the Word to the English Nation As for the British Affairs we have but little more to remark ever since the Death of Maelgwin Gwineth for the space of 24 years only we find in the Book of Landaffe that about this time Tudric King of Glamorgan who was still Victorious is said to have exchanged his Crown for an Hermitage till going in Aid of his Son Mouric whom the Saxons had reduced to great extremity taking up Arms again he defended him against them at Tinterne by the River Wye but he himself received a Mortal Wound But about the end of this Century as Geoffry of Monmouth relates when the Britains could not agree for 24 years who should be their Governor at last they chose Cadwan Prince of North Wales to be King of all the Britains but the year of this Election is not set down by Geoffry nor is this Prince mentioned by any other British Author or Chronicle before he wrote But I shall defer speaking farther of this Prince till I come to the next Book Ceolwulf began to reign over the West-Saxons who making continual Wars all his time fought sometimes against the other English-Saxons sometimes against the Britains or else against the Picts and Scots but what is more remarkable this year Augustine the Monk with his Companions arrived in Britain But before I conclude this Period I cannot omit taking some further notice of the Civil as well as Ecclesiastical Affairs in that part of Britain now called Wales where the Remainders of Christianity in this side of our Island were now wholly confined Bangor in the North and Caer-Leon upon Vsk in South-Wales being the chief Places for Learning as well as Religion the last of these being also the See of an Archbishop where was likewise a College of Philosophers of which as Alex. Elsebiensis relates Dubritius Archbishop of that City was the Founder who resigning his Bishoprick became an Anchoret in the Isle of Bardsey to whom succeeded David afterwards Sainted who flourished about the year 509 and is said to have been Uncle by the Mother's side to King Arthur he removed the Episcopal See from Caer-Leon to Menevia now called St. David's in Pembrockshire Nor can I pass by several Learned and Holy Men among the Britains of this Age as first Daniel the most Pious Bishop of Bangor Cadocus Abbot of Lancarvan in Glamorganshire whose Life is written by John of Tinmouth In the same Age also flourished Iltutus a Pious and Learned Man of that Countrey to whom we may also add Sampson his Scholar consecrated Bishop by Dubritius Successor to St. David this Sampson was afterwards Archbishop of Dole in Britain having upon his leaving Britain carried away the Pall along with him as hath been already mentioned Not to omit Patern and Petroc the former a Preacher at Llan Patern in Cardiganshire and the other in Cornwal besides Congal Abbot of Bangor and Kentigern the famous Bishop of Ellwye in North-Wales as also Asaph his Scholar and Successor in the same See now from him called St. Asaph to whom I may also add Taliessen the famous British Poet whose Verses are preserved to this day All these flourished from the beginning till the middle of the Sixth Century which now as much abounded in Learned and Pious Men as the former Age was wanting of them Thus omitting Fables we have given you a View of whatever we find can be relied on for Truth transacted in Britain since the Romans first conquered and then forsook it Wherein we may observe the many Miseries and Desolations brought by Divine Providence on a wicked and perverse Nation driven when nothing else would reform them out of a Rich Countrey into a Mountainous and Barren Corner by Strangers and Heathens So much more intolerable in the Eye of Heaven is the dishonouring the Christian Faith and Religion by Unchristian Works than downright Infidelity Yet am I not of Bede's Opinion That the Britains omission to preach the Gospel to the English-Saxons though they inhabited the same Island was any of their crying Sins since it was not to be expected that they could either Preach or the Saxons would ever Receive the Gospel from those who were their utter Enemies and had taken their Countrey from them by Violence Yet God was not wanting to this Nation but appointed other Preachers to convert it to the Christian Faith which how it was brought about shall be the Subject of the ensuing Book The End of the Third Book Least the Names of the English-Saxon Kings which have been in tâ—â— former Book set down promiscuously according to the Years in which they began to reign should render their Succession perplexed and hard to be remembred I have from the Saxon Annals Florence of Worcester and Mat. Westminster placed the several Kingdoms of the Saâ—â—n Heptarchy together with their Kings in a Chronological Order as far as the End of this Period viz. Anno Dom. 597. Note The Years in
held it Thirty Three Years William of Malmesbury makes him to have been Elected King by the General Consent of his Subjects and that he did not deceive their expectation in governing them well The Saxon Chronicle here also proceeds and gives us his Pedegree which being not to our purpose I omit only you may take notice that he was the Son of one Ecbert and not of the last King that Reigned As soon as ever he was made King he commanded a Great Council to be summoned at a place called Becanceld which though it be somewhere in Kent yet no body certainly knows where it lay unless it were Beckanham which lies near Surry at which Council Withred Himself was present as also the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Rochester and with them all the Abbots and Abbesses together with many Wise and Prudent Men who were there assembled that they might all take Council about the repairing of the Churches in Kent then the King began to speak thus I will That all Churches and Monasteries which have been given and endow'd for God's Glory in the Days of the Faithful Kings my Predecessours shall remain so to God's Honour for ever Therefore I Withred being an Earthly King yet moved by the Heavenly one have learnt from our Ancestours that no Lay-man ought to have right to meddle with any Church or any of those things that belong to it Wherefore we do firmly Decree and appoint and in the Name of the Omnipotent God and all his Saints do straitly forbid all the Kings our Successours with all Ealdermen i. e. Governours or Judges and other Laymen to exercise any Lordship or Dominion over those Churches and their possâ—ssions which either I or my Predâ—cessours have given for the Honour of Christ and our Lady St. Mary and all the Saints but when it shall happen that a Bishop or any Abbot or Abbess shall depart this Life let it be told the Arch-Bishop that by his command one may be chosen who is most worthy Moreover let the Arch-Bishop make good tryal of his Life who shall be elected to so Holy a Function neither let any one be Elected or Consecrated without the consent of the Arch-Bishop for as it is the King's duty to appoâ—nt Ealdermen Sheriffs and Judges so it is the Arch-Bishop's to Govern the Church of God and to take care of it as also to appoint and elect Bishâ—ps Abbots and Abbesses Presbyters and Deacons as also to Consecrate Coâ—firm and Instruct them by his good Precepts and Example least any of God's Flock should wonder out of the way and perish This passage being found in the Cottonian Copy of the Saxon Annals I thought good to insert as a Monument of the ancient power of the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury as Governour of the Church of England though then under the power of the Pope in Ecclesiastical Matters These are the chief heads of this famous Council not do the other Copies in Sir H. Spelman's Collection differ much from this in the Saxon Annals only there follows the Subscriptions of King Wythred and Werburge his Queen who Subscribed for her self and the Prince her Son then follow those of the Bishops and Abbots and after them of Five Abbesses of that Kingdom which shews them to have been present at this Council but whether as consenters or voters or else as bare witnesses I shall not determine but it is observable that their Names are written not only before all the Presbyters but also before Botred a Bishop though of what Diocess is not specified But to return to Civil affairs About this time also as Bede relates though no Historian hath given us the Year Sebbi King of the East-Saxons being fitter for a Bishop than a King and being at last taken with a great bodily Infirmity preferred a private Life before a Crown and took upon him the Habit of a Monk with the Benediction of Waldhere then Bishop and Successour to Erkenwald in the See of London so this pious King after he had bestowed a great Sum of Money in Charity soon departed this Life leaving his Sons Sighard and Senfrid to succeed him This Year the Southumbers that is the Mercians killed Ostrythe the Wife of Ethelred their late King and the Sister of King Egfrid H. Huntington calls it a vile Wickedness but would not or could not give us the reason why they did so nor what punishment was inflicted upon them for it This Year likewise was held the Council of Berghamsted in Kent Bertwald Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Gibmund Bishop of Rochester and all the Ecclesiastical Order of that Kingdom together with all the Lay or Military Men being there assembled by the Common and Unanimous Assent of All they decreed these Laws should be added to the Laws and Customs of the Kentish Men the Constitutions of this Council are called in the Saxon Title the Judgments or Doomes of King Wightred But thô they relate chiefly to Ecclesiastical Matters yet I shall here insert some of the chief of them The First Law is That the Church shall be free and enjoy her own Judgments Rents and Pensions and that Prayer be made for the King and his Commands obeyed not of necessity or Compulsion but out of good will Secondly If any Military Man called there a Gesithcund-man in the Saxon Original shall after this Council is ended despising the King's Law and the Judicial Sentence of the Bishop's Excomunication be taken in Adultery let him pay to his Lord an 100 Shillings By which Law it appears there was at this time Knights Service in England and also that slighting of Excomunication had no further Temporal Penalty than a pecuniary Mulct And that it was to the Lord of whom he held his Land That he was to pay it appears by the next Law by which it is appointed that if the Adulterer were a Country Man or Villager called there Ceorlesman he shall pay Fifty Shillings to his Lord yea thô he do Pennance for that Sin Thirdly If on Saturday in the Evening after the Sun is set or on Sunday Evening after the same time a Servant shall at the Command of his Master do any work let his Master redeem the offence with paying Eighty Shillings Fourthly If a Layman kill a Theif let him lye without any Wiregild that is without making any satisfaction to the Friends of the party slain This Year also the Picts slew Bert the Ealderman H. Huntington ascribes this to the Curse of the Irish Nation whose Churches he had in the late Invasion destroyed for as King Egfrid Invading the Country of the Picts was there cut off so entering their Country to revenge the Death of his Master he was likewise slain Mat. Westminster calls this Ealderman Brithric Earl of the Northumbers but from what Authority I know not I shall conclude this Century with a very remarkable Transaction out of Bede that happen'd about the latter end of it Egbert an English Priest living
Queen ordered the Steward to defile all the Rooms with Cow-dung and other filth and also put a Sow and Pigs into the Bed where they had lain the Night before but when the King and Queen had gone some part of their Journey she perswaded him to return back again to the same place otherwise he would run a great hazard which being done when the King saw the place which was yesterday fit to entertain a Prince now thus spoiled being much troubled at it he went to the Queen and complain'd to her of it at which she laughing replied My Lord and Husband See what is become of all that Feasting and Magnificence we saw Yesterday Are they not all gone and past like Water that runs into the Sea so of all those Vanities there remains nothing but this Dung and Filth that only serves to represent the Corruption of the Soul by such Excesses think then Sir how soon that Flesh will rot that is now pamper'd by Luxury and the greater and more powerful we are the greater will our Torments be hereafter She needed to say no more for she had now brought over her Husband to her Sentiments which she had for some Years before constantly instill'd thô hitherto in vain thus after so many warlike Triumphs being at the highest pitch of Humane Felicity he went to Rome where he shewed not the least Pride in his Conversation but without exposing himself to publick view being there shorn a Monk grew old in that mean Habit nor was his Wife who had been the Authour of this Resolution wanting in following the same Example accompanying him thither her self comforting him and confirming him in that Course he had undertaken by her own Example so not living far from each other in Mutual Love they at last departed this Life not without doing divers Miracles if our Author may be credited But before we dismiss the History of this â—ing it is fit we should take notice of a notorious falshood inserted by some Ignorant trifling Monk among the Laws of King Edward the Confessour concerning this King Ina's Marrying Guala the Daughter of Cadwallader King of the Britains from which Daughter we are there told that Country was called Wallia which in Ancienter times had the name of Cambria and that all the English who lived at that time took their Wives from the British Stock as they did also from the English and that this was done by the Advice of a Common Council of the Kingdom and that in this manner they were made one Nation and one People by God's mercy throughout the whole Kingdom of Britain which hath given occasion to some fabulous Historians to make this Ina King of Wales as well as England though without any ground Since none of the Ancient British or English Chronicles do ever mention any such thing For during the Reign of this Ina Ivour the Son of Alan Duke of Britain is Recorded by the Welsh Chronicles to have Reigned in Wales but the likeness of these two Names I suppose gave the first occasion to this Fable The same Year that Ina went to Rome the Saxon Annals relate That King Ethelhard his Successour fought with Oswald Aetheling which Oswald was the Son of Aethelbald and he the Son of Cynebald Grandson to King Ceawlin who as H. Huntington and Will of Malmesbury tell us Being a Young Prince of the Blood Royal and raising a Rebellion against him in the beginning of his Reign endeavoured to obtain the Kingdom for himself but being worsted was forced to Flee This Year appeared a Comet and that Holy Man Ecgbert dyed at Hye This Ecgbert was the person above mentioned who brought over the Monks of that Monastery to keep Easter after the Roman manner This Year Oswald Aetheling dyed as it is supposed in Banishment This Year Osric King of Northumberland was slain and Ceolwulf succeeded him and held it Eight Years who was the Son of Cutha and he the Son of Cuthwin where follows his Pedigree as far as Eoppa This Year Bede also tells us Bertwald the Arch-Bishop Deceased being worn out with Age and Infirmities having held that See Thirty Seven Years and Six Months in whose room Tatwin was made Arch-Bishop who had been a Priest in the Monastery of Berodune in the Kingdom of the Mercians he was consecrated at Canterbury by Daniel Bishop of Winchester Inguald Bishop of London Aldwin Bishop of Leichfield and Aldulf Bishop of Rochester he was a Man famous for Religion and Prudence and very well skill'd in the Scriptures he sate Arch-Bishop till Bede's Death and lived but Three Years after here also follow in Bede the Names of the rest of the Bishops that were his Contemporaries which is unnecessary here to be inserted But as for the state of Civil Affairs when Bede finished his History he gives us this brief Account viz. That Ceolwulf who was then King of Northumberland had been in the beginning of his Reign perplexed with great Troubles the end of which Bede could not then foresee the Nation of the Picts at this time kept their league with the English Nation and rejoyced to be partakers of the Catholick Peace and Truth with the Universal Church This he speaks because Natan King of the Picts had been but a little before brought over to imbrace the Romish observation of Easter and to their manner of shaving Priest's Crowns Also the Scots who Inhabit Britain being kept in within their own limits did practise no Treachery against the English Nation as to the Britains thô the greatest part from a natural hatred to the English Nation did oppose the Catholick observation of Easter yet the Divine Power as well as Human Force being against them they could not obtain their desires for though they were partly at their own disposal yet were they in great measure subject to the English in this Peaceable and quiet time the most part of the Northumbrian Nation as well Nobles as Private Persons chose rather to make themselves and their Children Monks than to Educate them in a Military Life which says he What end it will have the next Age will shew And so indeed it did not long after Bede's Death for when the best Men thus retired into Monasteries none but the worser or meaner sort being left they soon fell into horrid Rebellions and Civil Wars one King driving out and Murdering another leaving the People an easie Prey to the Danes who in the next Generation Invaded them This as Bede relates was the Present State of Britain in his Time about 285 Years after the Arrival of the English Saxons We being now bereft of the assistance of so good an Authour must for the future wholly rely upon the Saxon Annals together with the other Monkish Writers thô indeed for near the space of above Thirty Years last past Bede growing more intent upon Ecclesiastical than Civil Affairs being all most wholly taken up with the reciteing of Visions and
as his own ever since the time that King Offa took it but now the Mercians tried to recover it by Force The same Year was also held another Synodal Council at Cloveshoe for the Kingdom of Mercia under K. Beornwulf and Wilfred Arch-Bishop of Canterbury with all the Bishops and Chief Men of that Kingdom wherein some disputes about Lands between Heabert Bishop of Worcester and a certain Monastery called Westburgh were determined This Year Ludican King of the Mercians and five of his Ealdermen were slain and Wiglaf began to Reign in his stead Ingulf and Will of Malmesbury tell us That this Ludican was Kinsman to the last mentioned King Beornwulf and leading an Army against the East-Angles to revenge his Death was there overcome and Slain and that both these Tyrants were justly removed who had not only made Kings without any Right but had also by their imprudence been the occasion of the destruction of the Military Forces of that Kingdom which had till then proved Victorious and that thereupon one Withlaf being before Ealderman of Mâ—rcia was by the consent of all the People created King whose Son Wimond had Married Alfleda the Daughter of Ceolwulf the late King This King Withlaf Reigned thirteen Years as Tributary to King Egbert as shall be further related anon The Moon was Eclipsed on Christmass day at Night and the same Year King Egbryht subdued the Kingdom of Mercia and all the Country that lay South of Humber He was the Eighth King who Ruled over all Britain but the First who had so great a Command was Aella King of the South Saxons the Second was Ceaâ—lin King of the West-Saxons the Third was Aethelbryght King of Kent the Fourth was Redwald King of the East Angles the Fifth was Edwin King of Northumberland the Sixth was Oswald who succeeded him the Seventh was Oswi the Brother of Oswald and the Eight was Egbryght King of the West-Saxons who not long after led an Army against the Northumbers as far as Dore which place is supposed to have been in York-shire beyond the River Hâ—mber but the Northumâ—ers offering him Peace and due Subjection they parted Friends From which passage in the Saxon Annals it is apparent that this Supream Dominion of one English King over all the rest was no new thing Bede having taken notice of it long before yet did they not therefore take upon them the Title of Monarchs any more than Egbert who now succeeded them in that Power thô most of our Historians who have written the Saxon History in English have but without any just reason given them that Title which could not properly belong to Kings who had divers others under them with the like Regal Jurisdiction within their own Territories not but that King Egbert was in a more peculiar manner the Supream King of England because by his Absolute Conquest of the Kingdoms of Kent and of the South and East Saxons he was the greatest King who had hitherto Reigned in England all the rest of the Kings that remained Reigning by his permission and paying him Tribute a power which never had been exercised by any other King before him But to return to our History it seems that King Egbert was so highly displeased with the Mercians for setting up a King without his consent that Ingulf and Florence of Worcester tell us That as soon as ever Withlaf was made King before he could raise an Army he was expell'd his Kingdom which Egbert added to his own but Withlaf being search'd for by Egbert's Commanders through all Mercia he was by the industry of Seward Abbot of Croyland concealed in the Cell of the Holy Virgin Etheldrith Daughter of King Offa and once the Spouse of Ethelbert King of the East Angles where King Withlaf found a safe retreat for the space of Four Months until such time as by the Mediation of said Abbot Seward he was reconciled to King Egbert and upon promise of the payment of an Yearly Tribute permitted to return to his Kingdom in Peace which is by him acknowledged in that Charter of his that Ingulf hath given us of his Confirmation of the Lands and priviledges of the Abbey of Croyland It was made in the Great Council of the whole Kingdom in the presence of his Lords Egbert King of West-Saxony and his Son Ethelwulf and before the Bishops and great Men of all England Assembled at the City of London to take Counsel against the Daniâ—h Pyrats then infesting the English Coasts And in the Year 833 as you shall see when we come to that Year This Restoration of King Withlaf to his Kingdom is also mentioned in the Saxon Annals of the next Year where it is said That Withlaf again obtained the Kingdom of the Mercians and Bishop Ethelwald deceased also the same Year King Egbryht led an Army against the Northern Britains and reduced them absolutely to his Obedience For it seems they had again rebelled Now likewise as Mat. Westminster relates King Egbert vanquished Swithred King of the East-Saxons and drove him out of his Kingdom upon whose expulsion the West Saxon Kings ever after possest that Kingdom Now according to the same Authour King Egbert having subdued all the South Parts of England led a great Army into the Kingdom of Northumberland and having grievously wasted that Province made King Eandred his Tributary which is also confirmed by Will of Malmesbury who relates that the Northumbers who stood out the last fearing least this King's anger might break out upon them now giving Hostages submitted themselves to his Dominion but they continued still under Kings of their own as you will further find To this Year I think we may also refer that great Transaction which the Annals of the Cathedral Church of Winchester printed in Monast. Angl. from an ancient Manuscript in the Cottonian Library place under the Year following viz. That King Egbert having thus subdued all the Kingdoms above-mentioned and forced them to submit to his Dominions called a great Council at Winchester whereto were summoned all the Great Men of the whole Kingdom and there by the General Consent of the Clerus Populus i. e. the Clergy and Laity King Egbert was crowned King of Britain And at the same time he Enacted That it should be for ever after called England and that those who before were called Jutes or Saxons should now be called English â—en And this I could not omit because thô William of Malmesbury and other Historians agree of the Matter of Fact yet I think this the truest and most particular Account of the Time and manner when it was performed Also this Year Wilfred the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury deceased and Feologild the Abbot was Elected Arch-Bishop 7 Kal. Maij. and was Consecrated 5. Id. Junij being Sunday and dyed the 3. Kal. Sept. after But here is certainly a mistake in this Copy of the Annals for it was not Feologild but Ceolnoth who was then chosen
take in all the County of Northumberland lying between Tine and Tweed to the utmost Orcades this is by no means to be admitted since as the Lord Primate Usher learnedly observes That Country had long after not only English but Danish Kings as shall in the pursuit of this History be clearly made out and after those were extinct we may read in Turgot's Chronicle of the Bishops of Durham the Earls appointed by the Kings of England under them Governed that Country For as Roger Hoveden in the Year 953 expresly relates after Eric to whom the Northumbers had sworn Allegiance that Province was committed by K. Edred to Earl Oswald who afterwards in the Reign of King Edgar had one Olsac assigned him as a partner in that Government the former Commanding all that lay on the North side of Tyne and the latter all York-shire there also follow all the Successours of these Earls as low as the Time of Edward the Confessour under whom Tosti Governed it who loosing his Earldom by reason of his Tyranny it was by King Edward committed to Earl Morchar but he being taken up with great Imployments committed the Government of that part of it beyond Tyne to one Oswulf who afterwards by the Gift of K. William enjoyed the Government of the whole Country But that Loden and the other Low-Land Countries of Scotland as far as Edinburgh were long after in the possession of the English shall be shewn when we come to the Reign of King Edgar About this Time Eanred King of Northumberland dying Ethelred his Son succeeded him as Simeon of Durham and Mat. of Westminster relate thô the latter places this the Year before But to give some account of the Affairs of Wales from Caradoc's Chronicle About this time was fought the Battle of Ketell betwixt Burthred King of Mercia and the Britains wherein as some do write Mervyn Vrych King of the Britains was Slain leaving behind him a Son afterwards called Rodri Mawr that is to say Redoric the Great yet according to Nennius this King Mervyn was alive Anno Dom. 854 which was the Twenty Fourth Year of this Kings Reign and in which that Authour in his Preface says He wrote his History but I believe there is either an errour in Nennius's Account or else in the Transcribers since all the Welsh Chronicles agree that about this time Mervyn dyed and Rodri succeeded him This Prince Commonly called Rodoric the Great began his Reign over Wales this Year it was he who divided all Wales into three Territories of Aberfraw Dineuawr and Mathraval he had great Wars with Burhred King of Mercia who by the aid of King Ethelulph entred North Wales with a great Power and destroyed Anglesey and fought with the Welshmen of Northwales divers times and slew Meyric a great Prince among them This Year according to Mat. Westminster Aethelred King of Northumberland was driven from his Kingdom I suppose by a Rebellion the usual method in that unquiet Country and one Redwald succeeded him who as soon as ever he was made King fought a Battle with the Danes at a place called Aluethelie where the King and Earl Alfred were slain with the greatest part of their Army and that then K. Ethelred was again restored to the Throne but this Authour does not tell us by what means nor is the Year expressed and thô this Action is found in no other Authour yet is it likely enough to be true for Simeon of Durham in his History of that Church thô he does not mention this Kings Expulsion and Restitution to the Throne yet he there expresly mentions King Ethelred to have about this time succeeded his Father Eandred This Year according to our Annals Eanwulf the Ealdorman with the Somerset-shire Men Men and Ealstan the Bishop and Osric the Ealdorman with the Dorset-shire Men fought with the Danish Army at the mouth of Pedidan called by Hoveden Pendred's Mouth and was indeed the River Parret in Somerset-shire where they made a great slaughter of them and obtained the Victory over the Danes after which the Kingdom enjoyed Peace for divers Years But the Northumbers still continued their old custom of driving out or killing their Kings for about 3 Years after as Florence of Worcester and Simeon of Durham relate Ethelred King of the Northumbers being Slain Osbert Reigned in his stead Eighteen Years and the same Year there was an Eclipse of the Sun about the Sixth Hour of the Day on the Kal. of October this is that King Osbert who was afterwards killed by the Danes According to Florence and Mat. Westminster a Son called Aelfred was now Born to King Ethelwulf at Wanating now Wantige in Berk-shire his Mother was Osberge the Daughter of Aslat or Oslac chief Butler to King Aethelwulf who was related to Stuffe and Whitgar first Princes of the Isle of Wight she was a Woman as remarkable for her Piety as her Birth and deserved to be the Mother of him who was afterwards to prove so great a Prince The same Year also from the same Authours Berthferth the Son of Bertwulf King of Mercia wickedly slew his Cousin Wulstan who was Nephew to both the late Kings of Mercia but his Body was buried at the Famous Monastery of Rependun now Repton in Darby-shire in the Tomb of Wiglaf his Grandfather and if we may believe our Historians a Pillar of Light reaching up to Heaven stood over the place for Thirty Days which procured him the Title of a Saint This Year the Pagan Danes returned hither and Ceorl the Ealdorman together with the Forces of Devonshire fought with their Army at Wicganbeorch supposed to be Wenbury in Devon-shire and there obtained the Victory And the same Year also King Aethelstan and Duke Ealcher fought with them a Sea Fight and routed a great Fleet of them near Sandwic now Sandwich in Kent took 9 Ships and put the rest to Flight now also the Danes Wintered in the Isle of Thanet or as Asser in his Annals relates in the Isle of Sheppy and the same Year came 300 of their Ships into the Mouth of Thames and the Danes landing took Canterbury and London and routed Beorthwulf King of the Mercians with his whole Army who had come out to Fight with them after which the Danes marched Southward beyond Thames into Surry and there K. Aethelwulf and his Son Aethelbald with the Forces of the West-Saxons fought against them at Aclea now called Oakley in Surry where they made a greater slaughter of the Pagan Army than had been heard of at any time before so that the greatest part of them were destroyed The same Year also according to sir H. Spelman's 1. Vol. of Councils was held the Council of Kingsbury under Berthwulf King of the Mercians Ceolnoth Arch-Bishop of Canterbury with the other Bishops and Wise Men of the Province being present wherein besides the publick business of the Kingdom several grievances of the Monks were redressed
Bishop of Shireborne This Year Elfred who was Gerefe of Bathe died and about the same time there was a Peace made between King Edward and those of east-East-England and Northumberland That is as Florence interprets it with the Danish Army inhabiting those Provinces at Ityngaford but where the place was is now unknown to us unless it be Ilford near Christ-Church in Hampshire which is seated in the new Forest called Itene in English-Saxon This Year also Ligceaster now Leicester was repaired And Florence of Worcester likewise relates it to have been done in the Year 908. by the care of Ethelred Duke of Mercia and the Lady Elfleda his Wife and this Author does also inform us That this Year the King subdued Eastseax east-East-England and Northumberland with many other Provinces which the Danes had a long time been possessed of but east-East-England was not reduced till some Years after also that he conquered the borders of the Scots Cumbrians and Galloway Men with the Western Britains and forced their Kings to yield themselves to him and then he returned home with great Glory and Honour This Year also Cadelh Prince of South Wales died he was second Son to Roderic the Great and Father to Howel Dha i. e. the Good who succeeded him in that Dominion Some of the South Wales Antiquaries have endeavoured to prove this Cadelh to have been the eldest Son of Roderic the Great but Mr. Vaughan hath so Learnedly confuted this Mistake in a small Treatise which he published on that Subject at Oxford 1663 that I think no Man can have any Reason to be dissatisfied with it This Year according to Florence of Worcester the ancient City of Caerlegion that is in the English Legeceaster and now Westchester was by the Command of Earl Ethered and Ethelflede his Wife repaired Which thô Mr. Camden in his Britannia will needs have to be Leicester yet that it was not so may appear from the British Name of Caerlegion which was never given to Leicester but only to Westchester by the ancient British Inhabitants ' This Year deceased Denulph who was Bishop of Winchester This is he of whom our Historians tell us That the King lighting on him as he lay concealed at Athelney being then but a Swineheard and finding him a Man of excellent Natural Parts set him to School to learn and he became so good a Proficient in Letters that he was made first a Doctor and afterwards a Bishop This Year also the Body of St. Oswald was translated from Bardenigge that is Bardeney in Lincolnshire into Mercia Frithâ—stan now took the Bishoprick of Winchester and Bishop Asser also deceased soon after who was Bishop of Shireburne Also the same Year King Edward sent an Army of the West Saxons together with the Mercians who very much wasted Northumberland and staying there five Weeks destroyed many of the Danes Florence of Worcester and Simeon of Durham give us a very good Reason for this Action viz. That the Danes had now broken the League they had entred into with King Edward so that he never lest them till he had forced their Kings and Commanders again to renew the Peace which however it seems they kept not long For the next Year our Annals tell us That the Danish Army in Northumberland not regarding the Peace which King Edward and his Son had made with them again wasted the Province of the Mercians but the King being then in Kent had got together about 100 Ships which sailed toward the South-East to meet them and then the Danes supposing that the greatest part of the King's Forces were in his Fleet thought they might march safely whither they would without fighting but so soon as the King understood they were gone out to plunder he sent an Army consisting of West Saxons and Mercians who following the Danes in the Rear as they returned home met with them in a place called Wodnesfield and fought with them routing and killing many Thousands of them with Eowils and Healfden their Kings with several Earls and Chief Commanders of their Army whose Names I forbear to give because I would tire my Reader as little as I could But to these Kings as the Annals of Winchelcombâ— inform us one Reginald succeeded Also the same Year as Florence hath it there was a remarkable Battle between the English and the Danes in Staffordshire but the former obtained the Victory This Year Aethered the Ealdorman of the Mercians deceased and the King then took the Cities of London and Oxenford into his own hands with all the Territories belonging to them But it seems the Lady Elflede now a Widow kept all the rest of Mercia for this Year the Annals say That she being Lady of the Mercians came on the Vigil of the Feast of Holyrood to a place called Sceargeat which is now unknown and there built a Castle and the same Year did the like at Bricge which Mr. Camden supposes to be Bridgenorth in Shropshire that Town being called Brigge by the common People at this day And Florence also adds That about this time she built the Town of Bremesbyrig Now about the Feast of St. Martin King Edward Commanded the Town of Heortford to be new built lying between the Rivers Memar Benefican and Lygean the first and second of which Rivers is now hard to name right only it is certain they were two Rivulets that discharged themselves into the River Lee then called Lygean between Hartford and Ware After this the Summer following between Lent and Midsummer the King marched with part of his Forces into East-Seax as far as Maeldune now Maldon and there encamped whilst a Town could be built and fortified at Witham near adjoyning and then a great part of the People who had before been under the Danish Dominion became subject to him In the mean time whilst part of his Forces built the Town of Heortford on the South side of Lee the Lady Aethelfleda marched with all the Mercians to Tamaweorthige now Tamworth in Staffordshire and there built a Castle and before the Feast of All-Saints did the like at Staeford and the Year following she built another at Eadesbyrig supposed by Mr. Camden to be Edesbury in Cheshire and also the same Year about the end of Autumn she built another at Weringwic now Warwick and the Year following that another at Cyricbyrig now Cherbury in Shropshire and another at Wearbyrig supposed by Mr. Camden to be Wedesbury in Staffordshire and before Christmas another at Run-Cafan that is Runckhorne in Cheshire But Florence places these Actions more rightly three Years after All which Castles being built in the space of the two following Years must be supposed to have been done not casually but as the exigence of Affairs required to secure the Mercian Frontiers against the Danish as well as the Welsh Incursions But it is now time to cast our Eyes a little on the Affairs of that part of
year according to Florence King Athelstan founded the Abby of Middleton in Dorsetshire to expiate the Death of his Brother Prince Edwin whom through false suggestions he had destroy'd as you have already heard About this time also according to the Welsh Chronicle Howel Dha Prince of South-Wales and Powis after the death of Edwal Voel his Cousin Prince of North-Wales took upon him the Government of all Wales the Sons of Edwal being then in Minority This Howel made that Excellent Body of Laws that go under his Name and which you may find in Sir H. Spelman's first Volume of Councils This Prince for his Discreet and Just Government not only made himself highly beloved but also rendred his Memory very glorious to After-Ages But it seems King Athelstan did not long survive this Victory for as our Annals relate he deceased this year on the 6 th Kal. Novemb. just Forty years after the death of King Alfred his Grandfather having reigned Fourteen Years and Ten Months But there is certainly an Error in this Account for either this King must have reigned a year less or else the King his Father must have died a year sooner than our Annals allow him and perhaps with greater Certainty for Florence of Worcester places his Death in Anno Dom. 924. Nor can we before we finish this King's Life omit taking notice That Bromton's Chronicle and other Modern Writers do place the long Story of the Danes invading England in this King's Reign and that one Guy Earl of Warwick returning home by chance from the Holy Land in the Habit of a Pilgrim just when King Athelstan was in great distress for a Champion to fight with one Colebrand a monstrous Danish Gyant whom the King of the Danes had set up to fight with any Champion the English King should bring into the field that Earl Guy accepted this Challenge and without being known to any man but the King fought the Gyant near Winchester and killing him the Danes yielded the Victory whilst Earl Guy privately retired to a Hermitage near Warwick and there living a Hermit's life ended his days But though John Rouse in his Manuscript Treatise de Regibus Anglorum places this Action under Anno 926 as soon as ever King Athelstan came to the Crown and that Tho. Rudburne in his History of Winchester says That this Gyant 's Sword being kept in the Treasury of the Abby of Winchester was shewn in his time yet since neither the Saxon Annals nor any other Ancient Historian mention any Invasion of the Danes in this King's Reign nor any thing of such a Combat it ought to be looked upon as a Monkish Tale only fit for Ballads and Children But since the Monks are very profuse in the Praises of this Prince I will give you William of Malmesbury's Character of him That as for his Person he did not exceed the ordinary Stature being of a slender Body his Hair as he had seen by his Reliques was Yellow that as for his Natural Temper and Disposition he was always kind to God's Servants i. e. the Monks for there was scarce a Monastery in England but what had been adorned by him with Buildings Books or Reliques And though he was grave and serious amongst his Nobles yet was he affable to the Inferior sort often laying aside the Majesty of a King to converse the more freely with ordinary men This made him as much admired by his Subjects for his Humility as he was fear'd by his Enemies and Rebels for his Invincible Courage and Constancy An Eminent Instance of this was in that he compell'd the Kings of North-Wales for some time standing out to meet him at Hereford and submit themselves to him I wish our Author had told us the Year when it was done since our Annals have wholly omitted it for tho Ran. Higden in his Polychronicon has put it under Anno 937 and also relates from Alfred of Beverly that this King restored both Constantine King of Scots and Hoel King of the Britains to their Kingdoms saying It was more glorious to make a King than to be one yet I do not see any Authority for it But this is agreed upon by all That Athelstan did about that time enter Wales with a powerful Army and effected what no King had ever presumed to think of before for he imposed a Yearly Tribute upon those Kings of Twenty Pounds in Gold and Three hundred Pounds in Silver and Twenty five thousand Head of Cattel Yet the Laws of Howel Dha appointed the King of Aberfraw to pay yearly to the King of London no more than Sixty six Pounds for a Tribute besides Hawks and Hounds John of Wallingford makes this King the first who reduced all England into one Monarchy by his Conquest of Northumberland Cumberland and Wales yet that he was in his own nature a Lover of Peace and whatever he had heard from his Grandfather or observed in his Father he put in practice being Just in his Judgments and by a happy conjunction of many Virtues so beloved by all men that to this day Fame which is wont to be too severe to the Faults of Great Men can relate nothing to his prejudice William of Malmesbury also gives us a short Account of his Life and Actions from his very Childhood wherein he tells us That this Prince when he was but a Youth was highly beloved by his Grandfather King Alfred insomuch that he made him a Knight girding him with a Belt set with Precious Stones and whereat hung a Golden-hilted Sword in a Rich Scabbard after which he was sent to be bred under his Uncle Ethelred Earl of Mercia to learn all those Warlike Exercises that were befitting a Young Prince Nor does he only relate him to have been Valiant but also competently Learned as he had been informed from a certain old Author he had seen who compared him to Tully for Eloquence though as he rightly observes the Custom of that Age might very well dispense with that Talent and perhaps a too great Affection to King Athelstan then living might excuse this Author 's over-large Commendations But this must be acknowledged that all Europe then spoke highly in his Praise and extoll'd his Valour to the Skies Neighbouring Kings thinking themselves happy if they could purchase his Friendship either by his Alliance or their Presents Harold King of Norway sent him a Ship whose Stern was Gilded and its Sails Purple and the Ambassadors by whom he sent it being Royally received in the City of York were rewarded with Noble Presents Hugh King of the French sent Anwulf Son of Baldwin Earl of Flanders Grandson to King Edward by Aethelswine his Daughter as his Ambassador to demand his Sister in Marriage who when in a Great Assembly of the Nobility at Abingdon he had declared the Desires of this Royal Woer besides Noble Presents of Spices and Precious Stones especially Emeralds such as had never been seen in England before
because he loved his Law and consulted the Good and Peace of his People beyond all the Princes that had been in the memory of man before him and therefore that he had greater Honour in all Nations round him as well as in his own and he was by a peculiar Blessing from above so assisted that Kings and Princes every where submitted themselves to him insomuch that he disposed of all things as he pleased without fighting But one of the first things that we find in the said Author of St. Dunstan's Life he did was That a great Council being held at a place called Bradanford now Bradford in Wiltshire Abbot Dunstan was by the general consent of all there present chosen Bishop of Worcester for his great Piety and Prudence And also King Edgar being now well instructed by the said Bishop and other Wise Men of the Kingdom in the Arts of Government began to discountenance the Wicked and Vicious and to favour and advance the Good as also to repair the decay'd and ruined Monasteries and then to replenish them with God's Servants i. e. the Monks and in short to undo whatsoever his Brother had done before This year according to our Annals Odo Archbishop of Canterbury dying Dunstan Bishop of Worcester succeeded in the Archbishoprick But in this the Author of these Annals is mistaken for William of Malmesbury as well as other Authors assure us That it was not Dunstan but Elfin Bishop of Winchester who by the means of some Courtiers whom he had gained over to him by the prevailing Power of his Presents procured King Edgar's Precept to make him Archbishop From whence we may observe That notwithstanding the former Decrees of Synods and Councils in England yet those Elections which were called Canonical were neither then nor a long time after this observed But as for Bishop Elfin he is said by our Authors to have trampled upon the Tombstone of that Pious Archbishop Odo his Predecessor and to have uttered opprobrious Language against his Memory which his Ghost it seems so far resented that appearing to the new Archbishop in a Vision it threatned him with a speedy destruction but he looking upon it only as a Dream made what haste he could to Rome to get the Pope's Confirmation by receiving of his Pall but in his Journey over the Alpes he was frozen to death being found with his Feet in his Horse's belly which had been killed and opened to restore heat to them But no sooner did the News arrive of Elfin's death when according to Florence Brythelm Bishop of Wells was made Archbishop But because neither of these last Archbishops ever received their Palls from Rome which was then counted essential to that Dignity I suppose these two last were omitted in our Annals But this Brythelm being not found sufficiently qualified for so great a Charge he was as Osbern relates commanded by the King and the whole Nation to retire whereupon he quietly submitted and returning again to his former Church Dunstan now Bishop of London who also held the See of Worcester in Commendam was by the general Consent of the King and all his Wise Men in the great Council of the Kingdom elected Archbishop of Canterbury for his supposed great Sanctity Of which the Monks of that Age relate so many Miracles that it is tedious to read much more to repeat such stuff insomuch that one would admire were it not for the extreme Ignorance of that Age how men could ever hope they should be believe in so short a time after they were supposed to be done Such are those of this Bishop's Harp being hung against the Wall and playing a whole Psalm without any hands touching it nay the Monks can tell us not only the Tune but the very Words too Then the stopping of King Edmund's Horse when he was just ready to run down a Precipice at that King 's only pronouncing of St. Dunstan's Name to himself Next his often driving away the Devil with a Staff troubling him at Prayers sometimes in the shape of a Fox sometimes of a Wolf or a Bear But above all his taking the Devil by the Nose with a Pair of red hot Tongs who being it seems an excellent Smith was once at work in his Forge when the Devil appeared in the shape of a Handsome Woman but met with very rough entertainment for going about to tempt his Chastity he took his Devilship by the Nose with a Pair of red hot Tongs till he made him roar Now if such Grave Authors as William of Malmesbury are guilty of relating such Fictions what can we expect from those of less Judgment and Honesty But this must be acknowledged that this Archbishop was a great Propagator of Monkery many Monasteries being either new built or new founded in his time and the Clerks or Secular Canons of divers Churches being now to be turned out were put to their choice either to quit their Habits or their Places most of whom rather chose the former and so gave place to those who being of William of Malmesbury's own Order our Author calls their Betters Archbishop Dunstan also exercised Ecclesiastical Discipline without respect of persons imposing upon King Edgar himself a Seven Years Pennance part of which was to forbear wearing his Crown during all that time and this was for taking a Nun out of a Cloyster at Wilton and then debauching her From all which we may observe how necessary it was in those days for a Prince's Quiet as well as Reputation to be blindly obedient to that which was then called the Church-Discipline since King Edwin having to do but with one Woman whom they did not like is branded as one excessively given to Women whilst King Edgar who gave many more Instances of his Failings in this kind is reckon'd for a Saint But as for this Nun whom they call Wilfrede William of Malmesbury tells us that tho she were bred in that Monastery yet was she not then professed but took upon her the Veil only to avoid the King's Lust which yet it seems could not secure her from it for he begot on her that beautiful Lady Editha who became also a Nun in the same Monastery of Wilton where her Mother had been professed before and of which this Young and Virtuous Lady being made Abbess died in the flower of her Age as William of Malmesbury informs us The same Year also according to the Welsh Chronicle North Wales was sorely harass'd by the Forces of King Edgar The Cause of which War was the Non-Payment of the Tribute due from the King of Aberfraw to the King of London But in the end as John Beaver informs us a Peace was concluded on this condition That King Edgar hearing the great Mischief which both England and Wales then received by the vast multitude of Wolves which then abounded especially in Wales released the Tribute in Money which the King of North-Wales was hitherto obliged to pay
and instead thereof engaged the Prince of Wales to send him a Yearly Tribute of so many Wolves Heads in lieu of that Tribute which the said Prince performed till within some Years there being no more Wolves to be found either in England or Wales that Tribute ceased But to proceed with our Annals This Year deceased Aelfgar Cousin to the King and Earl also of Devonshire whose Body lies buried at Wilton Sigeferth likewise here called a King though he was indeed no more than Vice-King or Earl of some Province now made himself away and was buried at Winborne The same Year was a great Mortality of Men and a very Malignant Feaver raged at London Also the Church of St. Pauls at London was this Year burnt and soon after rebuilt and Athelmod the Priest went to Rome and there died I have nothing else to add that is remarkable under this Year but the Foundation of the Abby of Tavistock by Ordgar Earl of Devonshire afterwards Father-in-law to King Edgar though it was within less than fifty years after its foundation burnt down by the Danes in the Reign of King Ethelred but was afterwards rebuilt more stately than before This Year Wolfstan the Deacon deceased and afterwards Gyric the Priest These I suppose were some men of remarkable Sanctity in that Monastery to which this Copy of these Annals did once belong The same Year also Abbot Athelwald received the Bishoprick of Winchester and was consecrated on a Sunday being the Vigil of St. Andrew The second year after his Consecration he repaired divers Monasteries and drove the Clerks i. e. Canons from that Bishoprick because they would observe no Rule and placed Monks in their stead He also founded two Abbies the one of Monks and the other of Nuns and afterwards going to King Edgar he desired him to bestow upon him all the Monasteries the Danes had before destroyed because he intended to rebuild them which the King willingly granted Then the Bishop went to Elig where St. Etheldrith lieth buried and caused that Monastery to be rebuilt and then gave it to the care of one of his Monks named Brightnoth and afterwards made him Abbot of the Monks of that Monastery where there had been Nuns before Then Bishop Athelwald went to the Monastery which is called Medeshamstead which had also been destroyed by the Danes where he found nothing but old Walls with Trees and Bushes growing among them but at last he spied hidden in one of these Walls that Charter which Abbot Headda had formerly wrote in which it appeared that King Wulfher and Ethelred his Brother had founded this Monastery and that the King with the Bishop had freed it from all secular servitude and Pope Agatho had confirmed it by his Bull as also the Archbishop Deus Dedit Which Charter I suppose is that the Substance of which is already recited in the Fourth book Anno 656. and which I have there proved to be forged for the Monks had then a very fair opportunity to forge that Charter and afterwards to pretend they found it in an old Wall But letting that pass thus much is certain from the Peterburgh Copy of these Annals That the said Bishop then caused this Monastery to be rebuilt placing a new Set of Monks therein over whom he appointed an Abbot called Aldulf Then went the Bishop to the King and shewed him the Charter he had lately found whereby he not only obtained a new Charter of Confirmation of all the Lands and Privileges formerly granted by the Mercian Kings but also many other Townships and Lands there recited as particularly Vndale with the Hundred adjoining in Northamptonshire which had formerly been a Monastery of it self as may be observed in the account we have already given of the Life of the Archbishop Wilfrid The King likewise granted That the Lands belonging to that Monastery should be a distinct Shire having Sac and Soc Tol and Team and Infangentheof which terms I shall explain in another place the King there also grants them a Market with the Toll thereof and that there should be no other Market between Stamford and Huntington and to the former of these the King also granted the Abbot a Mint But as for the Names of the Lands given together with the Limits and the Tolls of the Market there mentioned I refer the Reader to the Charter it self Then follows the Subscription of the King with the Sign of the Cross and next the Confirmation of the Archbishop of Canterbury with a dreadful Curse on those that should violate it as also the Confirmation of Oswald Archbishop of York Athelwald Bishop of Winchester with several other Bishops Abbots Ealdormen and Wisemen who all confirmed it and signed it with the Cross This was done Anno Dom. 972. of our Lord's Nativity and in the sixteenth year of the King's Reign which shews this Coppy of the Annals to be written divers years after these things were done as does also more particularly that short History concerning the Affairs of this Abby and the Succession of its Abbots for many years after this time As how Abbot Adulf bought many more Lands wherewith he highly enriched that Monastery where he continued Abbot till Oswald Archbishop of York deceased and he succeeded him in the Archbishoprick and then there was another chosen Abbot of the said Monastery named Kenulph who was afterwards Bishop of Winchester he first built a Wall round the Monastery and gave it the name of Burgh which was before called Medeshamested but he being sometime after made Bishop of Winchester another Abbot was chosen from the same Abby called Aelfi who continued Abbot fifty years He removed the Bodies of St. Kyneburge and St. Cynesuith which lay buried at Castra and St. Tibba which lay entomb'd at Rehala i. e. Ryal in Rutlandshire and brought them to Burgh and dedicated them to St. Peter keeping them there as long as he continued Abbot I have been the more particular in the Account of this so Ancient and Famous Monastery as having been the Episcopal See of the Bishops of Peterburgh almost ever since the Dissolution of that Abby in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth This Year also according to Simeon of Durham King Edgar married Ethelfreda the Daughter of Ordgar Earl of Devonshire after the Death of her Husband Ethelwald Earl of the East-Angles Of her he begot two Sons Edwald and Ethelred the former of whom died in his Infancy but the latter lived to be King of England But before he married this Lady it is certain he had an Elder Son by Elfleda sirnamed The Fair Daughter of Earl Eodmar of whom he begot King Edward called the Martyr But whether King Edgar was ever lawfully married to her may also be doubted since Osbern in his Life of St. Dunstan says That this Saint baptized the Child begotten on Ethelfleda the King's Concubine with whom also agrees Nicholas Trevet in his Chronicle though I confess the Major
the King concealed his Anger but was resolved by another Stratagem to over-reach him And the better to effect what he intended he one day told him pleasantly that at such a time he would come and see whether his Wife was so fair as she was represented to be This unexpected Surprize so exceedingly struck him that he earnestly begg'd of her to consult his Preservation by putting on her worst Cloaths and deforming her self by what other means she thought best for she had now perceived that instead of a King she had married a Subject though an Earl which raised such a Female Indignation in her that against the coming of King Edgar she dressed her self in the most Gay and Charming manner her Pride and Resentment to be thus cheated could devise which had such powerful effects upon him that his Love being so much the more inflamed as it had been so long defrauded he for a Blind appointed a day of hunting in the Forest called Warewell now Harwood Forest and there slew Athelwold with a Dart. The Earl's Son coming by when the Fact was just committed and looking upon his Father's dead Body the King asked him How he liked this Game To which he answered That whatsoever pleased the King ought not to displease him With which flattering Reply the King 's angry Mind was so appeased that he ever after highly favoured the Youth and expiated the Crime committed upon the Father by the great kindness he shewed to the Son But aâ— Ancient Manuscript called Brutus now in the Archbishop's Library at Lambeth relates the latter end of this Story somewhat more for King Edgar's Reputation which since I meet with no where else I shall here give you It is That King Edgar not long after sending this Athelwold now made an Earl to secure the Coast of Northumberland against the Danes then like to invade it as he was in his way thither he was set upon by certain unknown Soldiers who there slew him but whether by the King's Order or no is not said As soon as the Earl was dead the King made Love to his fair Widow and marrying her caused her to be crowned Queen though it much displeased Archbishop Dunstan who could never after this endure her But William of Malmesbury adds that to expiate the Murther of her first Husband she built a Nunnery in the place where he was slain Another thing laid to this charge and which shews him to have been more constant in his Love than could be expected from a Young Prince so universally addicted as he was to the Fair Sex of which you have several Instances in Story one of them here shall suffice It seems coming one time to Andover a Town not far from Winchester he would have had the enjoyment of a certain Ealdorman's Daughter mightily celebrated for her Beauty and commanded her to be brought to his Bed The Mother of the Virgin not daring flatly to deny yet abhorring to be a Bawd to her own Daughter resolved to put a Trick on him by the favour of the Night and so sent a Waiting-Maid she had in her room one that was Handsome enough and not Unwitty as she quickly made to appear for as soon as it was morning she offering to get up the King asked her Why she would make such haste from him She replied she could no longer have the Happiness of his Company because her Lady had set her some Work to do He startling at this wonder'd what she meant for he did not in the least question but that his Bedfellow had been the Earl's real Daughter she then most passionately besought him to set her free from the hard and cruel Service of her Lady as a Reward for her lost Virginity But the King being confounded at his disappointment was for some time divided between Compassion for the poor Maid and Anger at his being thus abused but at last he put it off with a Jest and setting her free carried her along with him and loved her to that degree that he kept himself to her alone until such time as he married Elfreda above-mentioned These were the Stories commonly told in those days of King Edgar and of which more noise had been made by the Monks if he had not built so many Monasteries which stopp'd their mouths from saying much ill of one so devoted to their Order and who perhaps admired Chastity in others though he could not practise it himself But it 's certain England highly flourished under his Government being a Man so truly answering Homer's Description of a King that not only secured his people from Foreign Enemies but Savage Beasts by laying a Yearly Tribute of Three hundred Wolve's Heads on the Prince of Wales as hath been already related What his Employment was in Summer we have already seen in Winter he hunted but in the Spring he usually rode a kind of Circuit round the Kingdom to administer Justice to his People and take care that his Officers did the like He was small of Stature and Slender yet of such mighty Courage and Strength that he would challenge the most Robust to wrestle with him forbidding them to spare him out of respect to his Person It happen'd one time that Kened King of the Scots came to his Court to whom as Matthew Westminster relates he gave Rich Presents with the whole Countrey of Lothian on condition that he and his Successors at his Festivals should come and attend on the Kings of England when they sate Crowned besides he assign'd certain Lodgings for them by the way which to ease them in their Journey were till the time of King Henry the Second held by the Kings of Scotland This Kened as he once sate at his Cups with his Courtiers said jestingly to them It was very strange that so many Provinces should obey such a Little Contemptible Figure of a Man as this Edgar was These Words soon reach'd the King's ears upon which he presently sends for Kened and as if he had a mind to consult him about some Important Affair carries him into a Wood where none being present besides themselves he delivers into his hands one of the two Swords he had brought along with him and then tells him That as they were now alone so they had a very good opportunity to try their Strength and Skill and therefore he was resolved to have it forthwith determined which of them ought to Rule and which to Obey commanding him not to stir a foot but decide the Controversy with him for it was a base and pitiful thing for a King to vapour loud at a Feast and not to be as forward to shew his Courage at a Fray Kened being struck out of countenance at these words fell down at his feet and earnestly begged his Pardon for what he had spoken in Jest without any design of Malice in the least Upon which the King being as Generous as he was Couragious freely forgave him But though this King
if they cannot get them then they should take him alive or dead and seize on all his Estate whereof the Complaining Party having received such a share as should satisfy him the one half of the remainder shall go to the Lord of the Soil and the other half to the Hundred And if any of that Court being either akin to the Party or a stranger to his Blood refuse to go to put this in execution he should forfeit 120 shillings to the King And farther That such as are taken in the very act of stealing or betraying their Masters should not be pardoned during life The Eighth and last ordains That one and the same Money should be current throughout the King's Dominions which no man must refuse and that the measure of Winchester should be the Standard and that a Weigh of Wool should be fold for half a Pound of Money and no more The former of those is the first Law whereby the Private Mints to the Archbishops and several Abbots being forbid the King's Coin was only to pass But to return to our Annals Ten days before the Death of King Edgar Bishop Cyneward departed this life King EDWARD sirnamed the Martyr KING Edgar being dead as you have now heard Prince Edward succeeded his Father though not without some difficulty for as William of Malmesbury and R. Hoveden relate the Great Men of the Kingdom were then divided Archbishop Dunstan and all the rest of the Bishops being for Prince Edward the Eldest Son of King Edgar whilst Queen Aelfreda Widow to the King and many of her Faction were for setting up her Son Ethelred being then about Seven Years of Age that so she might govern under his Name But besides the pretence was which how well they made out I know not That King Edgar had never been lawfully married to Prince Edward's Mother Whereupon the Archbishops Dunstan and Oswald with the Bishops Abbots and many of the Ealdormen of the Kingdom met together in a Great Council and chose Prince Edward King as his Father before his Death had ordained and being thus Elected they presently Anointed him being then but a Youth of about Fifteen Years of Age. But it seems not long after the Death of King Edgar though before the Coronation of King Edward Roger Hoveden and Simeon of Durham tell us that Elfer Earl of the Mercians being lustily bribed by large Presents drove the Abbots and Monks out of the Monasteries in which they had been settled by King Edgar and in their places brought in the Clerks i.e. Secular Chanons with their Wives but Ethelwin Ealdorman of the East-Angles and his Brother Elfwold and Earl Brythnoth opposed it and being in the Common Council or Synod plainly said They would never endure that the Monks should be cast out of the Kingdom who contributed so much to the Maintenance of Religion and so raising an Army they bravely defended the Monasteries of the East-Angles so it seems that during this Interregnum arose this Civil War about the Monks and the above-mentioned Dissention amongst the Nobility concerning the Election of a new King But this serves to explain that Passage in our Annals which would have been otherwise very obscure viz. That then there was viz. upon the Death of King Edgar great Grief and Trouble in Mercia among those that loved God because many of his Servants that is the Monks were turned out till God being slighted shewed Miracles on their behalf and that then also Duke Oslack was unjustly banished beyond the Seas a Nobleman who for his Long Head of Hair but more for his Wisdom was very remarkable And that then also strange Prodigies were seen in the Heavens such as Astrologers call Comets and as a Punishment from God upon this Nation there followed a great Famine Which shews this Copy of the Annals was written about this very time And then the Author concludes with Aelfer the Ealdorman's commanding many Monasteries to be spoiled which King Edgar had commanded Bishop Athelwold to repair All which being in the Cottonian Copy serves to explain what has been already related But the next year ' Was the great Famine in England as just now mentioned About the same time according to Caradoc's Chronicle Aeneon the Son of Owen Prince of south-South-Wales destroyed the Land of Gwyr the second time This year after Easter was that great Synod at Kirtlingtun which Florence of Worcester and R. Hoveden call Kyrleing but where that place was is very uncertain Florence places it in East-England but Sir H. Spelman acknowledges that he does not know any place in those parts that ever bore that name but supposes it to have been the same with Cartlage now the Seat of the Lord North But had not Florence placed it in East-England that Town whose name comes nearest to it is Kyrtlington in Oxfordshire which is also the more confirmed by that which follows in these Annals viz. That Sydeman the Bishop of Devonshire i. e. of Wells died here suddenly who desired his Body might be buried at Krydeanton his Episcopal See but King Edward and Archbishop Dunstan order'd it to be carried to St. Maâ—ies in Abingdon were he was honourably Interr'd in the North Isle of St. Paul's Church Therefore it is highly probable that the place where this Bishop died was not far from Abingdon where he was buried as Kirtlington indeed is But what was done in this Council can we no where find only it is to be supposed that it was concerning this great Difference between the Monks and the Secular Chanons as the former Council was The same year also were great Commotions in Wales for Howel ap Jevaf Prince of North-Wales with a great Army both of Welsh and Englishmen made War upon all who defended or succoured his Uncle Jago and spoiled the Countries of Lhyn Kelynnoc Vawr so that Jago was shortly after taken Prisoner by Prince Howel's men who after that enjoyed his part of the Countrey in peace Nor can I here omit what some of our Monkish Writers and particularly John Pike in his compendious Supplement of the Kings of England now in Manuscript in the Cottonian Library relates That there being this year a Great Council held at Winchester again to debate this great Affair concerning the turning out of the Monks and restoring the Secular Chanons and it being like to be carried in their favour a Crucifix which then stood in the room spoke thus God forbid it should be so This amazing them they resolved to leave the Monks in the condition they then were But whether these words were ever spoke at all or if they were whether it might not be by some person that stood unseen behind the Crucifix I shall leave to the Reader to determine as he pleases Next year all the Grave and Wise Men of the English Nation being met about the same Affair at Calne in Wiltshire fell down together from a certain Upper Room where they were assembled
mean-spirited Prince succeeding a Magnanimous Father so Prince Edmund his Son and Successor equall'd his Grandfather King Edgar in Courage tho not in good Fortune But though King Ethelred was no Great or Worthy Prince in his own Person yet with the Assistance of his Wites or Wise Men of his Great Council he made divers excellent Laws and Constitutions There are in Bromton's Chronicle four several Bodies of these Laws made at as many several times and in divers places whereof there are only two extant among the Saxon Laws published by Mr. Lambard The Laws comprized in the first Division are Six there said to have been made at Woodstock in Mercia for the restoration of Peace according to the Law of England The first is That every Freeman shall find Sureties to be bound for him that he shall do right in case he be accused The second I shall omit since it hath been already mentioned in the Laws of King Edgar only the latter end of it is very remarkable to wit The Lord shall answer for his whole Family and be Surety for the appearance of every Person in it And if any of his Servants after they are accused run away the Lord or Master shall pay his man's Were to the King And if the Master be accused as the Adviser to or Promoter of his Escape he shall purge himself by five Thanes and if he do it not he shall pay to the King his Were and his man shall be an Outlaw The Third ordains That a Bondman being cast by the Ordeal shall be marked with a Hot Iron for the first Offence and being cast in the same manner the second time shall be put to Death Which Law bears some resemblance to our present Law or Custom whereby Clergy is allowed for the first Crime committed By the fifth the King 's Reeve or Officer is obliged to require Sureties for the good behaviour of such as are of ill fame amongst all men which if such a one obstinately refuses to give he is to be put to death and to be buried in an unhallowed place with Malefactors And if any use force in his behalf to further his Escape he is to undergo the same Punishment As for the next Set of Laws they are said to have been made at Veneting or Wanating now Wantage in Berkshire and for the increase of common Peace and Happiness by King Ethelred and his Wise Men. The first of them is concerning the keeping of the King's Peace as it was in the days of his Predecessors and for the punishment of the breach of it in case of Manslaughter If it were in a Gemot or Assembly of five Boroughs with the forfeiture of five Pounds weight in Silver If in an Assembly of a Borough or Town by a Mulct of Seven hundred Shillings But how much this was is not known for we have not now any true account of the Standard of Money at that time If in a Wapentake by One hundred and if in an Ale-house a man be killed with six half Marks if he be not killed with twelve Oares for the Value of which Vid. Sir Hen. Spelman's Gloss. From hence but especially from the Laws of King Ina we may observe how Ancient the Liquor of Ale and Ale-houses have been in England as also what commonly follows it quarrelling and breaking of the Peace in such places The fourth commands That Publick Meetings be observed in every Hundred or Wapentake and that Twelve Thanes says Bromton or Twelve Men of free condition as Lambard reads it being Elderly Men together with their Praepositus or Chief shall swear upon the Gospels or Holy Reliques That they will neither condemn an Innocent Person nor acquit a Guilty One From whence we may observe the Antiquity of Trials by a Grand Inquest of more than Twelve Men even in the English Saxon times and was not introduced by William the Conqueror as Polydore Virgil an Italian not much skill'd in the Antiquities of this Island hath delivered in his History And to confirm what we have here said the Third Chapter of the League betwixt King Alfred and Guthrun the Dane very much maketh out which orders That if the King's Thane or Servant be accused of Homicide he shall purge himself if he dare by twelve other Thanes Which you may see at large in those Laws themselves and besides these the Reader throughout the whole Collection of Saxon Laws may observe there is frequent mention made of clearing and purging by so many men summoned for that purpose as sometimes by twelve sometimes by fewer and sometimes by more As for the Trial by Ordeal it grew more in request in the Reign of King Cnute and his Successors being indeed originally a Danish Custom The rest of the Laws of King Ethelred made at Wantage having many of them relation to this way of Trial by Ordeal and containing many obscure terms I omit But since several of them may very well be referred to other former Laws I shall only select from amongst them such as are most worthy to be taken notice of here The twenty third appoints what Custom should be paid by Ships and Vessels of all sorts that unladed at Billinggesgate from whence it appears that this was the Ancient Port of London Wines and all other Commodities being here unladed The twenty sixth imposes the same Punishment upon such as wittingly receive as well as on those that make Bad Money Whereby we may observe That though the Coining of Bad Money was not as yet made Treason yet it was punishable at the King's discretion either by Fine or Death as you will see in the following Law The twenty eighth puts it into the King's power whether to fine or put to death such Merchants as import Counterfeit Money And further imposeth upon all Port-reeves that shall be accessary the same Punishment as upon those that coin false Money except the King think fit to pardon them There are also other Laws which we cannot certainly affirm to have been made in his time though the general Conjecture is that they were These are comprised in an Agreement or Act which the Wise Men of England and the Counsellors of Wales made concerning the Inhabitants of the Mountains of that Countrey But as for the particular Laws made in this Common-Council of both Nations since they only concern Cattel or other Goods taken away on either side or else the manner of giving Testimony both by Welsh and English Witnesses in such cases I refer the Reader to the Laws themselves and shall only desire him to take notice That Justice was to be equally administred by Twelve Judges Six Welsh and Six English men much after the same manner as the Commission for the Borders of England and Scotland is now executed But that we may see how great a distance there was then between these two Nations which God be thanked are now united into one the sixth Article of these Laws expresly forbids
the Welsh to come into England or the English to enter Wales except received at either Bank by the Borderers who shall take care for their safe conduct and return And in case any Borderer be accused of false dealing herein and cannot by witness disprove it he should be fined King EDMUND sirnamed Ironside AFter the Death of King Ethelred all the Wise and Great Men who were then at London together with the Citizens of that place elected Eadmund the Eldest Son of that King to reign over them who held it but a short time and that with great difficulty William of Malmesbury says he was born of a Woman whose name he did not know but Ethelred Abbot de Rievallis saith she was the only Daughter of Toret a Noble Earl whom the Chronicle of John of Wallingford calls Ethelred's first Wife But Mat. Westminster relates otherwise that he was not born of Queen Emma who was his only Wife but of a certain Ignoble Woman yet besides the Obscurity of his Birth he was a Man without all exception both for Strength of Body and Mind and therefore called by the English Ironside He would have made amends both for his Father's Cowardise and his Mother's want of Birth had he been but allowed some longer time to have lived So that it appears by these Authors that this King Edmund was born of a Concubine But to come to our History When King Edmund was thus declared King at London as Simeon of Durham tells us with great Acclamations of Joy he also relates That many of the Bishops Abbots and Noblemen of England coming to Southampton abjuring the Progeny of King Ethelred at the same time chose Cnute for their King who according to our Annals immediately came with his Fleet to Grenawic about Lent and within a short time after marched up to London where they dug a great Trench on the South-side of the River and drew their Ships to the West-side of the Bridge and besieged the City insomuch that none could go in or out making such frequent Assaults upon it yet the Citizens resisted them vigorously But King Eadmund was marched out before into West-Saxony where all that Nation willingly submitted themselves to him Not long after he fought with the Danes at Peonnan now Pen near Gillingam in Somersetshire But Cnute not being there they do not tell us who commanded in his stead for he was then with his Fleet at the Siege of London ' After Midsummer King Eadmund fought another Battel at Sceorstan which place is supposed to be a Stone that now parts the four Counties of Oxfordshire Gloucestershire Worcestershire and Warwickshire But our Annals do not mention who had the Victory only That there were many kill'd on both sides and that the two Armies marched off from each other of their own accord for Eadric the Ealdorman and Aelmer then joined with the Danes against King Edmund But as William of Malmesbury tells us Eadric the Traytor was the cause of the King's Soldiers running away for holding up his Sword dipped in the Blood of some mean person or as Simeon says his Head which was very like King Edmund's whom he had newly killed he cried out to the English to fly for their King was dead Yet R. Hoveden adds That the Fight was very bloody and both Parties were forced to leave off being quite tired Our Annals do then thus proceed That King Edmund having gathered an Army the third time march'd to London and raised the Siege driving the Danes to their Ships and within two days after the King passed over at Brentford and there fought the Danes and put them to flight but many of the English were drrown'd by their own negligence as they ran before the Army being greedy of spoil After this the King marched down toward the West-Saxons and there reinforced his Army whilst in the mean time the Danish Forces returned to London and besieged that City assaulting it both by Land and Water but God at that time also delivered it whereupon the Danes departed from London with their Ships into Arwan and there landing marched up into Mercia killing and burning all they met with according to their old custom and there furnished themselves with Provisions and then drew all their Ships with their Spoil up the Medway But where this Arwan abovementioned lay is very uncertain That it could not be the River Arrow in Warwickshire as some fancy is plain that being no where Navigable Therefore the Ingenious Editor of these Annals in the explication of the Proper Names of Places at the end of the Book does very probably guess that this River was either that which we now call Orwell which divides Essex from Suffolk or else that there is an Error in the Saxon Copy and instead of into Arwan it should be read to Waran that is they went up the River Lee as far as Ware But this I leave to the Reader 's Judgment and shall again return to the Annals themselves Then King Eadmund assembled the whole English Nation a fourth time and passed the Thames again at Brentford and from thence went into Kent and there put the Danish Horse to flight in Seapige and killed as many of them as they could meet with But Eadric the Ealdorman by his subtle Artifices persuaded the King to stay at Aeglesford which was the most perfidious advice that could be given him Florence of Worcester and William of Malmesbury are more particular in this Transaction and say That the Traitorous Earl above-mentioned so over-persuaded the King by his plausible Insinuations that he did not pursue the Danes when almost routed or else he might have obtained an absolute Victory Then according to our Annals the Danes turned against the West-Saxons and marched into Mercia killing all before them but when the King understood that the Danes were gone thither he drew all the English Forces together the fifth time and following them himself in the Rear overtook them near a Hill called Assandun now Ashdown in Essex where they had a very sharp Engagement but there Eadric the Ealdorman playing his old pranks first of all began the flight with the Magesaetons by Cambden supposed to be the Radnorshire men and so once more deceived his Natural Lord and the whole Nation But here though I cannot but admire the wonderful Courage and Constancy of this Brave Prince yet can I not commed his Prudence who could thus trust a known Traytor that had not only betrayed himself but his Father before him But I need make no long reflections upon this since we find few Princes guilty of the like Easiness in later Ages But this is certain from our Annals That Cnute now obtained the Victory against the greatest part of the English Nation and there were slain on the spot Eadnoth the Bishop and Wilfsige the Abbot Aelfric and Godwin the Ealdormen and Wulfkytel Earl of East-England and most of the English Nobility William of Malmesbury
one of Edric's Sons who at the command of his Father stabbed him in the Hinder Parts with a long sharp Knife and left the Weapon sticking in his Body But H. Huntington and Alred Abbot of Rievalle say that Edric was the first who saluted Cnute Sole King of all England to whom when he had told all the matter the King answer'd Well for so great a Good Turn I will advance thy Head above all the Lords in England and thereupon commanding him to be beheaded order'd his Head to be set upon the Tower of London But this being related by no other Author besides Mat. Westminster is not probable for all others make him to have been alive some time after this But Simeon of Durham and R. Hoveden do with greater certainty relate That as soon as he received the News of Edmund's Death he order'd all the Bishops Ealdormen and Chief Men throughout England to be summoned to London and when they appeared before him he cunningly asked them If they were Witnesses of the Agreement which had been made between him and King Edmund concerning the Division of the Kingdom and whether there was any Condition inserted That either his Sons or his Brethren should succeed him in the Kingdom of the West-Saxons Then they all began with one accord to say They did not know that King Edmund had left any part of the Kingdom to his Brethren either living or dying but as for his Sons they knew very well that Edmund would have left him to be the Protector of his Children till they should come of fitting age to reign But they likewise add that they bore false witness and lied grosly because they hop'd to make King Cnute the more favourable to them and should thereby receive the greater Rewards for their pains But some of them had a just Recompence for their Perjury by being not long after put to death Hereupon King Cnute after he had thus taken their Testimonies received the Oaths of Fidelity from the said Great Men and Bishops who all swore that they would chuse him for their King and willingly raise Taxes to pay his Army and at the same time also they renounced the Sons of King Edmund Edward and Edmund from ever being Kings of this Nation But King Cnute growing jealous of these Young Princes sent them to the King of Sweden that they might by him be made away which he out of compassion not only refused but generously sent them to Solomon King of Hungary to be educated and being there kindly received for some time Edmund the elder of them died but Edward the younger marrying Agatha the Queen's Sister had by her Edgar sirnamed Aetheling Christina a Nun and Margaret afterwards married to Malcolme King of Scotland of whom we shall have occasion to speak further before we come to the end of this Book King CNUTE THis year according to our Annals Cnute King of Denmark began to reign over all England which he divided into four Parts or Governments reserving West Saxony to himself committing East-England to Earl Thurkyl Mercia to Eadric and the Northumbers to Yric but not long after the said Eadric the Ealdorman was killed The manner of which Bromton's Chronicle thus relates That at Christmass the King being at London in a certain upper room on the other side of the Thames it happened that the Traytor Eadric upbraided the King with his services How that for his sake he had betrayed King Ethelred and also made away Edmund his own King and yet he had received no very extraordinary advantage or benefit thereby according to his Merits to be sure as he himself thought at which Cnute being highly enraged answered Out of thy own mouth shalt thou be judged who plainly confessest thy self a Traytor against both thy former Kings therefore thou shalt certainly dye So he immediately commanded him to be tied hand and foot and flung out of the Window into the River though some other Authors relate that he was first strangled But we cannot find for certain which way it was done for William of Malmesbury and R. Hoveden only say this That the King commanded Eadric sirnamed Streon to be slain in the Palace because he was afraid of being circumvented by his Treacheries and ordered likewise his Body to be flung over the Wall of the City and there to lye unburied The Annals do here further add That Northman Son to Earl Leofwin and Aethelward Son to Aethelmaer the Great and Brihtric Son to Aelfger Earl of Defenanscire were also put to death but their Crimes are not set down Therefore R. Hoveden supposes them to have been only the King's Jealousy of their too great Power being all English Noblemen though I suspect they were guilty of somewhat more than what we find related The same year also the King banished Eadwig Aetheling called Ceorles Cyng i.e. King of the Clowns Brother to King Eadmund But the Annals seem to make this Eadwig two persons though for what reason I know not but however he was not immediately banished after Cnute came to the Crown as some Writers suppose neither yet was he put to death as Simeon of Durham and Bromton relate for the latter tells us this Story of him That Cnute not thinking himself safe so long as Edwig was alive consulted with Earl Eadric how to have him dispatched out of the way by whose advice the King sent for one Ethelward and tempted him privately with large Rewards but he abhorring in his heart so foul a deed however promised to do it as soon as he found a fitting opportunity and by this means still deferred it But then the same Author adds That having by the said Eadric's Counsel banished Prince Edwin the year following under a feign'd Reconciliation he was by King Cnute's Order made away which is contrary to what William of Malmesbury relates for he says that this Prince having been long tossed about both by Sea and Land and being broken as well in Body as in Mind secretly return'd into England and lay conceal'd till he died and then was buried at Tavistock But the Annals further say That before the Kal. of August the King commanded Queen Emma Widow of the late King his Predecessor to be brought over to him and some time after took her for his Consort This he did to gain the Friendship of the Duke of Normandy her Father but she is highly censured for marrying the sworn Enemy of her Husband and her Children Though this only let us see that it is no new thing for Princes to prefer the wearing of a Crown even before their own Honour Now again according to our Annals was paid that Tax or Tribute called Danegelt throughout all the English Nation to wit Seventy two thousand Pounds besides that which the Citizens of London paid viz. Eleven thousand Pounds more Which Tax being raised when there seemed to be no more fear of the Danes it looks as if King Cnute 〈◊〉 took upon
him to govern as a Conqueror From which also you may observe the flourishing Trade and Wealth of that City in those days since it could even at that time pay above a Seventh of this excessive Taxation Then also a great part of the Danish Army return'd into Denmark and only forty Ships remain'd with King Cnute the Danes and English were likewise now reconciled and united at Oxnaford Bromton says it was done at a Great Council or Parliament at Oxford where King Cnute ordained the Laws of King Edgar i. e. of England to be observed The same year also Aethelsige Abbot of Abbandune deceased and Aethelwin succeeded him This year King Cnute returned into Denmark and there stayed all the Winter Bromton's Chronicle says he went over to subdue the Vandals who then made War against him and carried along with him an Army both of English and Danes the former being commanded by Earl Godwin set upon the Enemies by surprize and put them to flight after which the King had the English in as much as esteem as his own Danish Subjects But the year following He returned into England and then held a Mycel Gemot or Great Council at Cyrencester where Ethelward the Earldorman was outlaw'd The same year also King Cnute went to Assandune the place where he had before fought the great Battel with King Edmund and there caused a Church to be built of Lime and Stone for the souls of those men that had been slain there Which being as R. Hoveden relates consecrated in the King's presence by Wulstan Archbishop of York and divers other Bishops was committed to the care of his Chaplain whose Name was Stigand Also Archbishop Living deceased and Ethelnoth a Monk and Dean of Canterbury was consecrated Bishop by Wulstan Archbishop of York But before we proceed farther I will give you some account of the Affairs of Wales in these times Where after the death of Kynan or Conan the Usurping Prince of South-Wales above-mentioned Lewelyn Prince of North-Wales had according to Caradoc's Chronicle possessed himself of South-Wales and had for some years governed both those Countries with great Peace and Prosperity so that from the North to the South Sea there was not a Beggar in the whole Countrey but every man had sufficient to live of his own insomuch that the Countrey grew daily more and more populous But this year produced a notable Impostor for a certain Scot of mean Birth came now into South-Wales and called him self Run or Reyn as the Manuscript Copies have it the Son of Meredyth ap Owen late Prince of Wales as you have already heard Upon which the Nobility of that Countrey who loved not Lewelyn set up this Run or Reyn to be their Prince But Lewelyn hearing of it assembled all the Forces of North-Wales and marched against this Run who had now also got all the strength of South-Wales together and going as far as Abergwily i. e. the mouth of the River Gwily there waited the coming of Lewelyn but when he arrived and both Armies were ready to join Battel Run full of outward confidence encouraged his men to fight yet no sooner was the Battel begun but this Impostor soon discovered what he was by withdrawing himself pâ—â—â—ly out of the fight whereas on the contrary Lewelyn like a Couragious Prince standing in the Head of his Army called out aloud for this base Scot Run who durst so belye the Blood of the British Princes Both Armies then meeting fought for a while with great Courage and Malice to each other but it seems the South-Wales men being not so resolute in the Quarrel of this Impostor as those of North-Wales were to defend the Right of their Lawful Prince the latter being also encouraged by the Speeches and Prowess of their Prince put the former to the Rout and pursued this Run so closely that he had much ado to escape Prince Lewelyn having got thus a great deal of Spoil return'd home and for a short time govern'd these Countries in Peace But to return to our Annals This year about Martinmass King Cnute outlaw'd i. e. banished Earl Thurkyl But they tell us not the Crime Yet William of Malmesbury makes it a Judgment for being the principal Promoter of the Murther of Archbishop Aelfeage and that as soon as he return'd into Denmark he was killed by some Noblemen of that Nation This year also according to an Old Manuscript belonging to St. Edmundsbury and cited by the Lord Chief Justice Coke in the Preface to the 9 th Book of his Reports King Cnute held a Parliament at Winchester wherein were present the two Archbishops and all the other Bishops as also many Ealdormen and Earls with divers Abbots together with a great many Knights and a vast multitude of People and there in pursuance of the King's desires it was decreed That the Monastery of St. Edmund the King should be free and for ever exempt from all Jurisdiction of the Bishops and Earls of that Country But Sir H. Spelman here very well observes that this Manuscript could be no Ancienter than the Reign of Henry the Third because the word Parliament was not in use before that time Though thus much is certain That King Cnute the year before founded this Monastery afterwards called St. Edmundsbury but then known to the Saxons by the name of Beadrichesworth where there had been a Church built before and King Edward the Elder in the year 942 had also given several Lands to it and upon which Foundation King Cnute had lately built and endowed the said Abby which was one of the Largest and Richest in all England Lewelyn ap Sitsylt Prince of Wales but a short time enjoyed the fruits of his late Victory for this year the Welsh Chronicles tell us he was slain by Howel and Meredyth the Sons of Prince Edwin or Owen above-mentioned who yet did not succeed in the Principality for Jâ—go Son to Edwal late Prince of Wales was now advanced to the Throne as Lawful Heir having been long debarr'd of his Right But it seems he could not do the like in South-Wales which one Rytheric ap Justin seiz'd upon and held by force This year King Cnute sail'd with his Fleet to the Isle of Wight but upon what account our Annals do not shew us Also Archbishop Aethelnoth went to Rome and was there received by Pope Benedict with great Honour who put on his Pall with his own hands and being so habited celebrated Mass as the Pope commanded him and then after he had dined with him return'd home with his Benediction Also Leofwin the Abbot who had been unjustly expell'd from the Monastery of Elig was his Companion and there cleared himself of those Crimes of which he had been accused before the Pope the Archbishop and all the Company that were there present testifying on his behalf Wulstan Archbishop of York deceased and Aelfric succeeded Edelnoth the Archbishop consecrating him at Canterbury Also this
or Imposition He had also complained to the Pope that his Archbishops paid vast Sums of Money before they could obtain their Palls which Grievance was by the Pope's Decree taken off All these Immunities procured from the Pope the Emperor Rodolph King of France and all other Princes throughout whose Territories he travelled were confirmed by Oath under the Testimonies of Four Archbishops and Twenty Bishops with an innumerable Company of Dukes and other Noblemen there present Then follows a Thanksgiving to Almighty God for giving him such Success in what he had undertaken After this he desires it might be published to all the world that having devoted his Life to Godâ—s service he resolved to govern the People subject to him in all Piety Justice and Equity And in case any thing blameworthy had been done by him in his Youth by the help of God he was now ready to make full amends for it Therefore he charges all his Ministers whatsoever as well Sheriffs as others That for fear of him they should not pervert Justice because there was no necessity that Money should be raised by any unjust exactions And at last after great Asseverations how much he studied the Profit and Conveniency of his People he adjures all his Ministers before he arrived in England that they should procure all Dues to be paid according to the ancient Custom as the Alms of the Plow the Tythes of all Cattel brought forth in the same year Peter-Pence in August with the Tythes of Corn and at Martinmass the First fruits of the same called Curcescot or Cyrescot i.e. Money given to the Church in case this was not paid before his Return he threatens severely to animadvert upon every one according to the Laws William of Malmesbury further adds That at his Return he was as good as his word for he commanded all the Laws which had been made by former English Kings and chiefly by Ethelred his Predecessor to be observed under great Penalties for the true observation whereof our Kings says he are at this very day sworn under the name of the Good Laws of King Edward not that he only ordain'd them but because he observed them So that from hence we may take notice That Kings who have the least of Hereditary Title if they mean to reign happily ought in Policy as well as Conscience to observe the Laws of that Kingdom to which they have been advanced without any Right of Blood But to return again to our Annals they further tell us That upon the King's return from Rome where it seems he staid not long after he marched into Scotland and there King Malcolm became subject to him with two other Kings of the Isles called Maelbaerth and Jehmarc The same year also Robert Earl of Normandy went to Jerusalem and there died and William who was afterwards King of England began to reign being an Infant From whence we may plainly see that the Cottonian Copy of these Annals was wrote in the form we have them after the Conquest and though the other Copies do not expresly call him King of England yet they give him the Title of King William which is all one About this time as the Welsh Chronicles relate the Irish Scots invaded south-South-Wales by the means of Howel and Meredyth the Sons of Edwin above-mentioned who hired them against Rythaerch ap Jestyn the Usurping Prince of that Countrey whom by the assistance of these Scots they slew in Battel and by that means got the Government of South-Wales which they ruled jointly but with small quiet for the Sons of Rythaerch gathered together a great number of their Father's Friends to revenge his death with whom Prince Howel and Meredyth meeting at Hyarthwy after a long Fight routed them and made them fly but the year following Prince Meredyth himself was slain by the Sons of Conan ap Sitsylt Brother to Prince Lewelyn to revenge their Father's death whom Meredyth and his Brother Howel had slain This year appeared a strange kind of Wild-Fire such as no man ever remembred and did a great deal of mischief in divers places The same year also deceased Aelfsige Bishop of Winchester and Aelfwin the King's Chaplain succeeded in that See Merehwit Bishop of Somersetshire i. e. Wells deceased and was buried at Glastingabyrig ' Aetheric the Bishop died the Annals tell us not of what See But Simeon of Durham and R. Hoveden add That Malcolm King of Scots died this year to whom succeeded Mactade The same Authors farther tell us That King Cnute before his Death appointed Swane his Eldest Son to be King of Norway and Hardecnute his Son by Queen Aemma to be King of Denmark and Harold his Son by Aelgiva a Hampshire Lady to be King of England after himself This year King Cnute deceased at Scaeftesbyrig and was buried at the new Monastery at Winchester having been King of England almost twenty years There is no King that can deserve a more various Character than this since none who came in so roughly after govern'd more mildly He was naturally Cruel and very Ambitious and stuck not at any thing to gain a Kingdom as appears by his dealing with his Predecessor's Children and Brothers but more particularly with Olaf King of Norway whom Simeon of Durham relates to have been turn'd out of it by the secret Practices and Bribes which he liberally bestow'd upon the Great and Factious men of that Kingdom but however toward his latter end he reigned both prudently and moderately and we may say of him what a Roman Author does of one of his Emperors That it had been well for this Kingdom if he had never reign'd at all or else had continued longer none of his Sons resembling him either in Valour or Wisdom But to let you see that this King was really sensible before his death of the Vanity of Worldly Empire I shall to divert the Reader give you this story of him out of H. Huntington who thus relates it viz. That King Cnute being once at Southampton caus'd his Royal Seat to be plac'd on the shore while the Tide was coming in and with a Majestick Air said thus Thou Sea belongest to me and the Land whereon I sit is mine nor hath any one unpunished resisted my Commands I charge thee therefore come no further upon my Land neither presume to wet the Feet of thy Sovereign Lord. But the Sea as before came rowling on and without any Reverence at all not only wet but dashed him whereupon the King quickly rising up bade those that were about him to consider the weak and bounded Power of Kings and how none indeed deserved that Title but He whose Eternal Laws both Heaven and Earth and Seas obey A Truth so evident of it self that were it not to shame his Court-Flatterers who would not else be convinced Cnute needed not to have gone wet-shod home From thenceforth he would never afterwards wear his Crown but commanded it to
Horses whereof two with Furniture and two without two Swords four Spears and as many Shields one Helmet one Corslet and fifty Mancuses of Gold The Herriot of an inferior Thane an Horse with Furniture and Arms or amongst the West-Saxons the Sum of Money that is paid called Halfange in Mercia and East-England two Pounds But amongst the Danes the Herriot of a King's Thane who hath free Jurisdiction is four Pounds and if he be nearer to the King his Herriot is two Horses whereof the one with Furniture and the other without a Sword two Spears as many Targets and fifty Mancuses of Gold But the Herriot of a Thane of the lowest condition is two Pounds This word Herriot or as the true Saxon word is written Herëgeate signifies Furniture for War given by the Vassal to his Lord probably at first designed for the driving away Thieves and Robbers which abounded when the Danish or Northern Nations so frequently invaded the Land For though the word Here does in the Saxon Language signify an Army yet it is in our Saxon Authors when without composition generally taken in the worst sense for Invaders and Spoilers A Lawful Army collected by the King for the defence of the Nation being called by the name of Fyrd The seventy first requires Widows to continue in Widowhood for the space of Twelve Months and then permits them to marry If a Woman marry before her Twelve Months be out she shall lose her Dower with all that her Husband left her which is to come in such case to the next of kin and he that marries her shall pay the value of his Head to the King or to whomsoever he assigns it The seventy fifth Law deprives him of Life and Estate who either in an Expedition by Land or Sea deserts his Lord or his Fellow-Soldier and in such case the Lord is to have back the Land he gave him or if it was Bocland it goes to the King But in case any one dye in Fight in the presence of his Lord either at home or abroad his Herriot shall be remitted and his Children shall succeed both to his Goods and Lands and equally divide them The seventy sixth gives him liberty that hath defended his Land and cleared it from all doubts and incumbrances in the Sciregemote or County-Court to possess it quietly whilst he lives and to leave it to whom he pleases when he dies From whence we may observe that before the Conquest men might bequeath their Lands by their Last Will. The seventy seventh gives liberty to every man to hunt in his own Grounds but forbids all men under a Penalty to meddle with the King's Game especially in those places which he had fenced by Privilege By those places thus privileged he means those which afterwards the Normans called Forests being Ground Desart and Woody lying open to the King 's Deer not fenced about with any Hedge or Wall but circumscribed and privileged or as here he words it fenced with certain Bounds Laws and Immunities under Magistrates Judges Officers c. Concerning these Forests the King published certain Constitutions Thirty four in number which you may see at large in Sir Hen. Spelman's Glossary tit Foresta But because he mentions them not in this nor any other of his Laws they seem to have been made afterwards But the Thirtieth Article is therein almost the very same with this Law forbidding all men to meddle with his Game and yet permitting them to hunt in their own Grounds sine Chasea but what that signifies unless it be following their Game out of their own Grounds I will not take upon me to determine King HAROLD sirnamed Harefoot NOT long after the Death of King Cnate our Annals relate That there was a great Witena Gemot or Council of the Wise Men held at Oxnaford where Earl Leofric and almost all the Thanes on the East part of Thames with the Seamen of London chose Harold for King of all England whilst his Brother Hardecnute was in Denmark But Earl Godwin and all the Great Men of the West-Saxons withstood it as much as they could though they were not able to prevail against them Then was it also decreed That Elgiva or Emma the Mother of Hardecnute should reside at Winchester with the Domesâ—ick Servants of the late King and should possess all West-Saxony where Earl Godwin was Governor or Lord Lieutenant It is said also by some concerning this King Harold that he was the Son of King Cnute and of Aelgiva the Daughter of Aelfhelm the Ealdorman but that seems scarce probable to many however he was full or Real King of all England That which gave cause to this suspicion was as Florence of Worcester and Radulph de Diceto relate That this Aelgiva not being able to have Children by King Cnute commanded the Son of a certain Shoomaker then newly born to be brought to her and feigning a formal Lying in to have imposed upon the credulous King her Husband that she was really brought to bed of a Son which if true shews that it is no new or strange thing for a Queen of England to impose a supposititious Birth upon the King her Husband and the whole Nation But this Contention about the Election of Harold gives us great reason to doubt the Truth of the Relation in Simeon of Durham and other Authors of this Harold's being appointed by his Father's Will to succeed in the Kingdom of England such a Nomination or Recommendation seldom or never failing to be observed by the States of the Kingdom without any dispute at the Election of a New King And besides Queen Aemma his Mother who had then the greatest power with King Cnute would sure much rather have had her own Son Hardecnute to have succeeded him in the Kingdom of England than Harold at best supposed to be her Husband's Son by another Woman So that if Harold was now chosen King it is most likely that it was not in pursuance of King Cnute's Will but purely from the prevailing Faction of the Danes and Londoners who as William of Malmesbury tells us were by their long conversation with them become wholly Danish in their Inclinations But if Ingulph may be believed who lived as well before as after the Conquest there was then so great a Dispute about the Election of a King that many fearing a Civil War would ensue it caused multitudes of people to quit their Habitations and betake themselves into Waterish and Fenny Places where they thought the Enemy could not or would no easily pursue them and particularly to the Monastery of Croyland where they caused such a disturbance that the Monks of that place could neither meet in the Church nor in the Refectory When at last to avoid the Effusion of Christian Blood it was agreed at the aforesaid Council at Oxnaford That the Kingdom should be divided between the two Brothers Harold and Hardecnute so that the former should have all the Countries
wont to meet him as he came from School and took delight to pose him in Verses and would also passing from Grammar argue with him in Logick in which she was well skill'd and when she had done would order her Waiting-Woman to give him some Money But as King Edward had till now deferr'd the performance of his Promise in marrying this Lady ever since he came to the Crown so it had been no great matter whether he had married her or not because he never enjoyed her But notwithstanding the temptation of so fair a Lady he not only kept his own Virginity inviolable but also persuaded her to do the like and this as the Abbot of Rieval in his Life relates he did not do out of any hatred to her Father as is commonly reported by several of our other Historians but because the English Nobility being desirous that one from his Loins should succeed him had importun'd him to marry which he could not well refuse for then the secret Resolution of his dying a Virgin would have been disclosed therefore he wedded her both to secure himself against her Father as also to make the Virtue of his Continence appear more conspicuous which as this Author tells us was no Secret being then divulged and believed all over England and divers Censures passed concerning the motives why he did so The same year Brightwulf Bishop of Scirebone deceased who had held that Bishoprick Thirty eight years and Hereman the King's Chaplain succeeded to that Bishoprick Also Wulfric was consecrated Abbot of St. Austin's at Christmas with the King 's good Consent because of the great Bodily Infirmity of Aelfstan the former Abbot This year deceased Living Bishop of Devonshire i.e. of Exeter and Leofric the King's Chaplain succeeded thereunto The same year Aelfstan Abbot of St. Augustin's in Canterbury deceased and also Osgot Glappa the Danish Earl was expelled England The same year likewise according to Simeon of Durham and William of Malmesbury Alwold Bishop of London who had been before Abbot of Evesham being by reason of his great weakness unable to perform his Episcopal Function would have retired to his old Monastery but the Monks not permitting it he resented it so ill at their hands that taking away all the Books and other Ornaments which he had conferred upon them and retiring to the Abby of Ramsey he bestowed them all upon them and there within a short time after ended his days and then King Edward made one Robert a Norman Monk Bishop of London Also the same year the Noble Matron Gunhilda Niece to King Cnute was banished England together with her two Sons This year likewise in a great Council held at London as Florence relates Wulmar a Religious Monk of Evesham was chosen Abbot of that Monastery and was ordained the 4 th of the Ides of August following About this time according to the Welsh Chronicles Prince Griffâ—th having ruled in Peace ever since the last great Battel above-mentioned till now the Gentlemen of Ystrad Towy did by Treachery kill a Hundred and forty of his best Soldiers so that to revenge their deaths the Prince destroyed all those Countries Grymkitel Bishop of the South-Saxons i. e. Selsey deceased as did also the same year Aelfwin Bishop of Winchester and Stigand who was before Bishop in the North-East parts i. e. of Helmham succeeded in that See And Earl Sweyn the Son of Godwin went over to Baldwin Earl of Flanders to Brycge and staid there all Winter and at Summer departed being it seems at that time in disgrace at Court for deflow'ring an Abbess whom he loved This year Aethelstan Abbot of Abbandune deceased to whom succeeded Sparhafock a Monk of St. Edmundsbury Whence you may observe that the Abbots were at that time seldom chosen out of Monks of the same Abby Also this year Bishop Syward deceased and then Archbishop Eadsige retook that Bishoprick Which is contrary to what William of Malmesbury hath already related The same year likewise Lothen and Yrling Danes came to Sandwic with Twenty five Ships and there landing committed great havock and carried away abundance of Booty as well of Gold as Silver so that no man can tell how great it was From whence they sailed about Thanet and attempting there to commit the like Outrages the people of that Countrey vigorously resisted them and hindred their landing and so made them to direct their course towards Essex where they committed the like Barbarities carrying away all the men they could lay hold on and then passing over into the Territories of Earl Baldwin and there selling all their Plunder they sail'd towards the East from whence they came Also the same year according to Simeon of Durham Harold sirnamed Hairfax Brother to the late King Olaf having put Sweyn King of Denmark to flight subdued that Kingdom King Sweyn being thus driven out of his Countrey sent Ambassadors to King Edward desiring his Assistance with his Fleet against the King of Norway which Earl Godwin much approved of but the rest of the Great Men dissuading him from it nothing was done but the King of Norway dying soon after Sweyn recovered his Kingdom But Florence of Worcester places this Transaction two years later but which of them is in the right I will not dispute Also this year according to our Annals as well as other Authors was the great Battel of Vallesdune in Normandy between Henry King of France and the Nobility of that Dukedom because they refused to receive William the Bastard for their Duke But when he afterwards got them into his power he beheaded some of them and others he banished I have mentioned this to let you see with how great difficulty this young Duke who was afterwards King of England was settled in that Dutchy which he could never have obtained without the Protection and Assistance of the King of France About this time also the Welsh Chronicles tell us south-South-Wales was so infested by the Danish Pyrates that the Sea-Coasts were almost quite deserted The same year or else in 1048 as it is in the Cottonian Copy of the Annals was held the great Synod or Council at St. Remy where were present Pope Leo and the Archbishop of Burgundy i. e. of Besanson tho they are here mentioned as two several Archbishopricks as also the Archbishop of Treves and Remes with many other Wise Men both of the Clergy and Laity and thither King Edward sent Bishop Dudoce and Wulfric Abbot of St. Augustine's with Abbot Aelfwin that they might acquaint the King what was there decreed concerning the Christian Faith This year King Edward sail'd to Sandwic with a great Fleet and there met Earl Sweyn who came with seven Ships at Bosenham i.e. Bosham in Sussex where he made a League with the King and received a Promise from him to be restored to all his possessions but Earl Harold his Brother and Beorne very much opposed him saying He was utterly unworthy
what they knew would please their Masters would have passed him over without this Story and have given him a fairer Character His first Wife was the Sister of King Cnute by whom he had a Son but in his Infancy happening to mount an unruly Horse that was presented him by his Grandfather he was run away with into the Thames and there drowned His Mother was kill'd by Thunder which as then was believed fell upon her as a Judgment on the account of her great Cruelty for she made a Trade of selling handsome English Boys and Girls into Denmark After her Death Earl Godwin married another Wife and by her had Six Sons viz. Harold Sweyn Wined Tosti Gyrth and Leofwin His Earldom of West-Seaâ— was given to his Son Harold and the Earldom that Harold had before viz. Essex was conferred on Alfgar the Son of Leofric Earl of Mercia which is also confirmed by our Annals And the same year according to Simeon of Durham Rees the Brother of Griffyn King of South-Wales being taken Prisoner for the many Insolences he had committed against the English was by the Command of King Edward put to death at a place called Bulendun and his Head sent to the King then lying at Gloucester on the Vigil of Epiphany But this is omitted in the Welsh Chronicles as commonly every thing is that makes to the disadvantage of their own Nation This year Leo that Holy Pope of Rome deceased and Victor was elected in his stead And there was also so great a Murrain of all sorts of Cattel in England that none could ever remember the like And now according to the Welsh Chronicles Griffyth the Son of Ratherch ap Justin raised a great Army both of Strangers and others against Griffyth Prince of North Wales who delaying no time but getting all the Forces of that Countrey together and meeting the other Griffyth fought with him and slew him on the place though none of these Chronicles have told us where that was This was the last Rebellion or Welsh Civil War that happened in this Prince's Reign The same year according to Simeon of Durham and Roger Hoveden Siward that Valiant Earl of Northumberland at the Command of King Edward being attended with a powerful Army and a strong Fleet marched into Scotland to restore Malcolm the Right Heir to the Crown of that Kingdom where joining Battel with Macbeth the then Usurping King of Scots many both of that Nation and of the Normans who took their part were slain and the Earl put the Usurper to flight But in this Battel the Earl's Son and several of the English and Danes were slain H. Huntington further adds That when the News was brought to the Earl of the Death of his Son he presently asked Whether he had received the Wound behind or before And being told it was before he only replied I am glad to hear that for so it became my Son to dye He says also That this Son of his whom he does not name had been sent into Scotland before his Father and was there killed and that Earl Siward did not subdue Macbeth till the second Expedition in which he differs from all the rest of the English and Scotish Historians Buchanan indeed acknowledges that this Prince Malcolm having taken Refuge in the Court of England obtain'd of King Edward the Assistance of Ten thousand men under the Conduct of Earl Siward and that the rest were raised for him by Macduf and others of his Party that took Arms on his behalf But John Fordun in his History writes much more improbably and though he allows that King Edward offered Malcolm an Army sufficient to place him on the Throne yet that he refused it with Thanks and only took Earl Siward of all the English Lords along with him as if this Earl's single Might though he was a Man of great Strength and Stature signified any thing against the Forces of Macbeth unless he had also brought a powerful Army along with him Mat. Westminster also adds That Scotland being thus conquered by the Forces of King Edward he bestowed it upon King Malcolm to be held of himself But since this is not found in any of our Ancient Historians and this Author does not acquaint us from whence he had it I do not look upon it as worthy of any great Credit About this time according to Simeon Aldred Bishop of Worcester was sent Ambassador to the Emperor with Noble Presents and being received with great Honour by him as likewise by Herman Archbishop of Cologne he staid in Germany a whole year to prevail with the Emperor on the King's behalf to send Ambassadors into Hungary to bring back Prince Edward the King's Cousin Son of King Edmund Ironside into England The same year also according to the Latin Copy of the Annals ' Was a Battel at Mortimer in Normandy But though they do not tell us by whom it was fought yet from others we learn it was between William Duke of Normandy and the King of France where the former obtain'd a most signal Victory This year Siward Earl of Northumberland deceased and the King gave that Earldom to Tostig Son of Earl Godwin Of this Siward's death our Historians give us divers remarkable Circumstances That being near his End by a Bloody-Flux he said He was asham'd to dye thus like a Beast so causing himself to be compleatly Armed and taking his Sword in his hand as if he would have fought even Death it self he in this Posture expired as he supposed like a Man of Honour King Edward not long after this summoned a Witena Gemot or Great Council seven days before Midlent wherein Earl Aelfgar was outlaw'd upon a Charge of being a Traytor to the King and the whole Nation and of this he was convicted before all there assembled Then Earl Aelfgar went to the Castle of Prince Griffyn in North-Wales and the same year they both together burnt the City of Hereford with the Monastery of St. Aethelbert once King of the East-Angles whose Bones were here enshrin'd This Earl had the greater reason to do what he did having been unjustly banish'd as most of our Historians write Simeon of Durham is somewhat larger in his account of this Affair and says That this Earl Aelfgar first went to Ireland and there procuring Eighteen Pyrate-Ships sail'd with them into Wales to assist Prince Griffyn against King Edward where joining with the Welshmen they laid waste the Countrey about Hereford with Fire and Sword against whom was sent that Cowardly Earl Rodolph King Edward's Sister's Son who gathering an Army and meeting with the Welshmen about two miles from that City he commanded the Englishmen contrary to their custom to fight on Horseback but so soon as they were ready to join Battel Rodulph with all his Frenchmen ran away which the English seeing quickly followed By which you may see that it is no new thing for a Cowardly General to make Cowardly Soldiers The
Victory being thus easily obtained the Prince and the Earl entred Hereford and having killed seven of the Chanons that defended the doors of the Church they burnt it together with the Monastery above-mention'd with all the Reliques of St. Aethelbert and the Rich Ornaments that were in it and so having slain divers of the Citizens and carried away great Numbers of them Prisoners they returned home laden with Booty But as soon as the King was acquainted with it he presently commanded an Army to be raised through all England which being mustered at Gloucester He appointed the Valiant Earl Harold to be Commander in chief who obeying the King's Orders immediately pursued Prince Griffyn and Earl Aelfgar and entring the Borders of Wales pitched his Camp beyond Straetdale as far as Snowdon but they who knew him to be a Brave and Warlike Commander not daring to engage him fled into South-Wales which Harold perceiving left there the greater part of his men with Orders to fight the Enemy if they could come at them and with the rest he returned to Hereford which he fortified by drawing a new Trench about it But whilst he was thus employed the two Captains on the contrary side thinking it best for them to make Peace sent Messengers to him and at last procuring a Meeting at a place called Byligeseage a firm Peace and Friendship was there concluded in pursuance whereof Earl Aelfgar sent his Ships to Chester till they could be paid off and he himself went up to the King from whom he received his former Earldom Henry Emperor of the Germans now died and Henry his Son succeeded him This is only mentioned in the Latin Copy of these Annals But the same year according to Simeon of Durham and R. Hoveden Leofgar who was lately ordained Bishop of Hereford in the room of Bishop Athelstan deceased being together with his Clerks and the Sheriff Agelnoth set upon by Griffyn Prince of Wales at a place called Glastbyrig and was there slain with all his followers after which Aldred Bishop of Worcester to whom the King had committed the Bishoprick of Hereford as also the Earls Leofric and Harold mediated a Peace between King Edward and the said Griffyn This year Edward Aetheling Son to King Edmund returned into this Kingdom together with his Children and shortly after deceased whose Body lies buried in St. Paul's Church at London Also Pope Victor now dying Stephanus Abbot of Mountcassin was consecrated in his stead But the Cottonian Copy of these Annals as also Florence of Worcester place the death of this Pope under the year preceding Earl Leofric also deceased and Aelfgar his Son received the Earldom which his Father enjoyed This is that Leofric Earl of Mercia who together with his Wife Godiva built the rich and stately Monastery of Coventry as hath been already related in which Church he was buried He died this year in a good Old Age whose Wisdom and Counsel was often profitable to England This year Pope Stephanus deceased and Benedict was consecrated in his stead This Pope sent the Pall to Archbishop Stigand Upon whom William of Malmesbury is here very sharp saying That Stigand was so intolerably Covetous that he held both the Bishoprick of Winchester and that of Canterbury at the same time but could never obtain the Pall from the Apostolick See until this Benedict an Intruder as he calls him sent it to him either as first being brib'd by Money or else because as is observed evil men love to favour one another The same year also according to the Annals deceased Heacca Bishop of the South-Saxons i. e. of Chichester and Archbishop Stigand consecrated Aegelric a Monk of Christ-Church Bishop of that See as also Syward the Abbot Bishop of Rochester Also this year according to Simeon of Durham and Florence of Worcester Earl Aelfgar was the second time banished by King Edward but by the help of Griffyn Prince of Wales and of a Norwegian Fleet which came to his assistance he was soon restored to his Earldom again though it was by force In so deplorable a condition was this poor King Edward that those of his Nobility who were strong enough to make any Resistance were sure to be pardoned The same year also according to the above-mentioned Authors Aldred Bishop of Worcester having newly rebuilt the Church of St. Peter in Gloucester went on Pilgrimage through Hungary to Jerusalem as says Simeon of Durham which no English Archbishop or Bishop was ever known to have done before This year Nicholaus Bishop of Florence was made Pope and Benedict was expell'd who was Pope before him Kynsige Archbishop of York deceased the xi Kal. Jan. and Bishop Ealdred succeeded in that See This was that Aldred Bishop of Worcester who had been lately at Rome Also Walter was now made Bishop of Hereford And in the Latin Copy of the Annals it is related That Henry King of France now dying Philip his Son succeeded him This year also deceased Duduc Bishop of Somersetshire i. e. Wells and Gisa was his Successor The same year also deceased Bishop Godwin at St. Martins vii Id. Martii Also Wulfrick Abbot of St. Augustine's in Canterbury deceased in the Easter Week xiv Kal. Maii. Which News being brought to the King he appointed Aethelsige a Monk of the old Church at Winchester to be Abbot who was consecrated by Archbishop Stigand at Windlesore i. e. Windsor at the Feast of St. Augustine And this year according to Simeon of Durham Aldred Archbishop of York went with Earl Tostige to Rome and there received his Pall from Pope Nicholaus But in the mean time Malcolm King of Scots entred Northumberland and depopulated the Earldom of Tostige formerly his sworn Brother This year according to the Latin Copy of our Annals the City of Man was taken by William Duke of Normandy Also about this time Earl Harold afterwards King of England founded the Abby of the Holy Cross at Waltham in Essex so called from a certain Crucifix said to be found by a Vision to a Carpenter at a place called Montacute which Crucifix being brought to Waltham and many Miraculous Stories told there of it one Tovi the Stallere or Chief Standard-Bearer to King Cnute built here a Church for two Priests to keep it which place coming into the hands of Earl Harold he built this Church anew together with a Noble Monastery for a Dean and Twelve Secular Chanons which in the time of Henry the Second were turned to Chanons Regular This Abby being richly endow'd the Foundation was confirmed by King Edward as may be seen by his Charter bearing date Anno 1062. All which appears from an Ancient Manuscript History of the Foundation of this Abby now in the Cottonian Library This year according to our Annals Earl Harold and Earl Tostige his Brother marched with a great Army both by Land and Sea into Brytland i. e. Wales and subdued that Countrey
their own Nation to reign over them they were thereby brought under the subjection of Strangers Indeed Guilel Gemeticensis and Ordoricus Vitalis relate That the Noblemen and Bishops who had retired to London actually chose Edgar Atheling King but this seems not at all probable since none of our own Writers mention it and had Edgar been once elected it is not likely that King William would have been so easily reconciled to him and have not only given him his Liberty but preferred him Having from our Historians of best Credit given you this Account of our English Monarchs most of whom mixing Piety with Civil Prudence reigned gloriously for many Generations it will not be amiss for a Conclusion to let the Reader see how not long before this sad Catastrophe all sorts and degrees of men were now much degenerated from the Simplicity and Sobriety of their Ancestors And first as for the state of Religion in this Island for some Ages before the coming in of the Normans William of Malmesbury observes that Piety and all good Literature were commonly grown so much out of fashion even amongst the Clergy that resting content with a very small share of Devotion as well as Learning they could scarce read Divine Service nay the very Monks were clad in fine Stuffs and made no difference of Days and Meat which tho perhaps no fault in it self yet to them who were under other Principles it was certainly much otherwise Also that the Great Men being given up to Gluttony and a dissolute Life oppressed and made a Prey of the Common People debauching their Daughters whom they had in their Service and then turning them off to the Stews Whilst the meaner sort sat tipling night and day and spent all they had in Rioting and Drunkenness and those attended with other Vices which effeminate men's minds Therefore it came to pass through the just Judgment of God that King Harold and those of his Party being carried away with Rashness and Fury rather than any True Valour or Military Experience gave Duke William this great Advantage over them as hath been but now set forth Not says he but that some few of the Clergy as well as Laity were much better yet for the most part they were as hath been here described But as the long-suffering of God often permits the Bad as well as the Good to enjoy the like Prosperity so likewise his Justice in punishing oft-times does not exempt even Good Men from partaking in the common Calamities of their Countrey Therefore I shall conclude this Volume with the like Admonition as Mr. Milton does his Saxon History viz. That if these were in all probability the Causes of God's heavy Judgments on our Ancestors surely every man ought in this corrupt Age to take care to avoid them lest in the height of a seeming Security their long continuance in a course of Vice and Luxury should without a speedy Amendment meet with as severe if not much worse Punishment FINIS A TABLE of the Succession of the remaining English-Saxon Kings in this last Period The Northumbrian Kings being supplied from Simeon of Durham and the Chronicles of Mailrosse and the Welsh Princes are taken from Caradoc's Chronicle and the old Annals at the end of the lesser Volume of Domes-day Book Tab. 3. Anno Dom. Kings of Kent Anno Dom. Kings of England Anno Dom. Kings of Northumberland Anno Dom. Kings of the East-Angles Anno Dom. Kings of the Mercians Anno Dom. Kings of Wales  Cuthred eight Years 802 Ecgbert reigned 36 Years  Eardulf was expelled his Kingdom Anno Dom. 806. then succeeded 859 St. Edmund reigned 11 Years who being martyr'd by the Danes that Kingdom remain'd without a King until  Kenwulf 22 Years  Caradoc King of North Wales         819 Kenelm a Child his Son murdered by his Aunt Quendrida then 806 Conan Tyndaethwy King of South Wales and afterwards King of North Wales 805 Baldred eighteen Years He being the last King of Kent was expelled his Kingdom by King Egbert 837 Ethelwolf his Son 18 Years and an half 806 Aelfwold who reigned two Years then           808 Eanred Son of Eardulph reigned 32 Years         857 Ethelbald his Son two Years and an half 840 Ethelred his Son reigned 9 Years 870    817 Mervyn-wrych and Esylht his Wife the Daughter of Conan     849 Osbert 13 Years whom was driven out by   820 Ceolwulf his Uncle reigned one Year     860 Ethelbert his Brother reigned five Years and an half 862 Aella an Usurper but both these Kings being slain by the Danes they seized upon that Kingdom and made     843 Rodoric the Great Son or Grandson to Mervyn last mentioned         821 Beornwulf 3 Years           824 Ludican one Year and an half 877 Anarawd Son of Rodoric Prince of North Wales   866 Ethered his Brother five Years 866 Egbert King who was soon expelled by them and then they made 878 Guthrum the Dane was made King by the Concession of K. Alfred and reigned 12 Years 825 Wiglaf 14 Years 913 Edwal Voel Son to Anarawd 838 Athelstan natural Son to K. Ethelwolf made K. of Kent Eastsex and Surry by his Father he died without Issue after which it was again united to the rest of King Ethelwolf's Dominions 871 Alfred his Brother reigned 29 Years and an half  Ricsig a Dane their King who reigned 10 Years then   839 Bertwulf 13 Years These four last Kings were all of them tributary to the Kings of the West Saxons as was also 940 Howel-Dha King of South Wales and after the Death of Edwal he took upon him the Government of all Wales     872 Another Egbert was by them made King who dying the Danes Northumbers remained without any Kâ—ng till         901 Edward his Son sirnamed the Elder 24 Years             883 Guthred a poor Slave was chosen King he reigned over Yorkshire about 11 Years then     948 Jevaf and Jago Sons of Edwal Voel Princes of North Wales whilst the Sons of Howel-Dha ruled South Wales at the same time   925 Athelstan his Son 16 Years     852 Burhed who reigned 22 Years and being expell'd his Kingdom by the Danes they then gave it to one       894 King Alfred seized his share of that Kingdom whilst in the morâ— Northern Parts reigned at the same timâ— Osbert a Dane who was expelled his â—ingdom 890 Eoric the Dane was by Guthrum made his Successor after whose Decease K. Edward the Elder
Wigheard Wight Wightred Wigmore Wilbrode Wilfreda St. Wilfrid Wilfrid 2. William Wills Last Vid. Testament Wilton Wiltshire Wina Vid. Wini Winandermere Winchelcomb Winchester Winchester-Measure Winfrid Winâ— Wipâ—â— or Wippa Wir Wiregild Wiremouth Witchcraft Wite Witena-Gemote Witerne St. Withburg Wiâ—hgar Withlaff Withred Wittereden Woden Wodensbeorge Wolves Woodstock in Mercia Worcester Wounds and Maims Wulfheard Wulfhelme Wulfher 2. Wulfnoth Wulfric Vid. Spoâ— Wulstan 3. Y YArrow Year Year and Day York Yric Yrling Ywrch Edwal Z ZEal Directions to the BINDER PLace the Table beginning Least the Names c. between P. 150 and 151. Place Table 2. between P. 244 and 245. Place Table 3. at the End of the Sixth Book Place the Two Pedegrees of Kings immediately after it and just before this Index Viz. That first beginning with Geat AN ALPHABETICAL TABLE OF THE Principal Matters contained in this History A ABbey Vid. Monastery Abbey-Lands the form of leasing them out which required the Solemnity of the Common-Council of the Kingdom to confirm it Lib. 5. Pag. 261 262. Abbot The Bishop of Norwich notwithstanding the Dissolution of Monasteries retains still the Title of an Abbot l. 6. p. 54. An Abbot of Evesham was chosen in a Great Council held at London Id. p. 73. Seldom chosen out of Monks of the same Abbey Id. p. 74. Aberfraw now a small Village in the Isle of Anglesey but anciently the chief Seat of the Princes of Gwyneth or North-Wales l. 5. p. 279. Tribute due from the King hereof to the King of London l. 6. p. 3. Destroyed by the Irishmen who landed in Anglesey Id. p. 6. Abingdon the Abbey when and by whom founded at first called Sheovesham l. 4. p. 196. Or Secvesham Id. p. 224. Burnt by the Danes rebuilt by Ordgar and had great Endowments Ibid. Anciently a Royal Seat of the Kings of Mercia l. 4. p. 224. Abjuring the Realm the Antiquity of this Law for such great Offences to which the King's Pardon did not in Edward the Confessor's time absolutely extend l. 6. p. 103. Acca succeeds Wilfrid in the Bishoprick of Hagulstade l. 4. p. 215. Is driven out as supposed by the King of Northumberland Id. p. 221. His Death Had in great Reverence both before and after it for his Sanctity c. l. 4. p. 223 224. Achaius King of Scots having aided Hungus King of the Picts with Ten thousand men against one Athelstan he routed the English and killed Athelstan but this is look'd upon as a mere idle Monkish Fancy l. 5. p. 250. Adda King of Bernicia the Eldest Son of Ida l. 3. p. 143. His Death Id. p. 144. Vid. p. 147 148. Adelphius Bishop of the City of Colchester is sent to the Council of Arles in Gallia and for what l. 2. p. 88. Adian or Aedan or Aegthan coming against Ethelfrid is routed l. 4. p. 159. Admurum that is Wall-Town near the Picts Wall l. 4. p. 184. Adrian the Abbot of Canterbury l. 4. p. 165 194. The Pope when he departed this life l. 4. p. 238. Vid. Hadrian Adulf or Eadulf Abbot of Medeshamstead enriched that Monastery with divers Lands that he added to it l. 6. p. 5. Succeeds Oswald in the Archbishoprick of York Ibid. His Decease l. 6. p. 29. Adultery King Withred's Law against it under a Punishment and what a Military what a Countrey-man was to pay that was guilty of it l. 4. p. 211. Alfred's Law increased the Fine according to the Estate or Quality of him against whom the Offence was committed l. 5. p. 293. Vid. Fornification Aeadsige after the death of Ethelnoth made Archbishop of Canterbury l. 6. p. 65. Went to Rome to obtain his Pall Id. p. 66. Crowned Edward the Confessor and made the first Sermon that is to be found at any King's Coronation Id. p. 70. Resigned his Archbishoprick by reason of his great Infirmities Id. p. 72. Resumes it p. 74. His Death p. 75. Aealmond Father of King Egbert when he began to reign in Kent The Annals mistaken as to his ever being King thereof l. 4. p. 233. Aealhstan Bishop of London his decease l. 5. p. 303. Vid. Alstan Aedan Vradog i. e. the Treacherous a Prince of the North parts of Britain l. 3. p. 146. Aedan ap Blegored or Bledhemeyd an absolute Stranger to the British Blood-Royal got the Principality of North-Wales and held it about twelve years but whether it was by Election or Force uncertain l. 6. p. 30 31. Is killed with his four Sons in a bloody Fight by Lhewelyn ap â—itsylt Id. p. 40. Aedric made Ealdorman over all the Kingdom of Mercia Married the King's Daughter His Treachery l. 6. p. 32. By that he kept the King's Army from falling 〈…〉 Dâ—nâ—s when it had hâ—mmed theâ— in and were just ready to give them Battel Id. p. 34. Siâ—named Streon Id. p. 36. Treacherously in his own Chamber caused to be stai◠〈◊〉 Danes of great Riches and Power in the Northern parts and why Id. p. 40. His going over to King Cnute with forty of the Royal Navy and submitting to him l. 6. p. 41 45. The many other perfidious Tricks he plays Id. p. 45 46 47. Traiterously murthers his Natural King and Lord Edmund Ironside and salâ—ting Cnute first sole King of all England he met with a just reward if true Id. p. 48 49. His death occasioned by his upbraiding King Cnute with his Services telling him how that for his sake he had bâ—trayed one King and made away another Id. p. 50. Aegelbyerâ—h or Agebert after Byrinâ—s took upon him the Bishoprick of the West-Saxons l. 4. p. â—82 192. Vid. Agelbert Aegelric a Monk of Christ-Church consecrated Bishop of Chichester l. 6. p. 88. Aelfeage Vid. Elfeage Aelfer Vid. Elfer Aelfgar Vid. Elfgar Aelfleda Wife to King Edmund the Elder the Daughter of Earl Aethelune her numerous Children and how educated and bestowed l. 5. p. 324 327. Aelfred Vid. Alfred Aelfric upon the death of his Father Aelfer was Ealdorman of Mercia and two years after banished the Land l. 6. p. 21. Vid. Ealfric Aelfric Bishop of Winchester elected Archbishop of Canterbury by King Ethelred and all his Wise Men l. 6. p. 25. Went to Rome to obtain his Pall Id. p. 26. Deceased and who succeeded him Id. p. 31. Aelfric succeeds Wulstan in the Archbishoprick and by whom consecrated l. 6. p. 53. His accusing Bishop Living and Earl Godwin of persuading Harold to use Prince Alfred so cruelly as he did Id p. 67. His decease Id. p. 79. Aelfweard Son of King Edward the Elder died at Oxnaford not long after his Father who his Mother and what his Character l. 5. p. 324 327. Aelfwinna Vid. Elfwinna Aelfwold drove Eardulf out of the Kingdom of the Northumbers and reigned two years in his stead l. 5. p. 249. His Death But his Successor somewhat doubtful Ibid. Aelgiva Queen brought to bed of Prince Edgar and died the year after l. 5. p. 344. Aelgiva married to King Ethelred l. 6. p. 29. 〈◊〉
long in their Possession and repairs it and all the English as well as the West-Saxons come under his Subjection Id. p. 288. His first founding of Schools at Oxford and making it an University and the quarrel that happen'd upon it between the old Scholars and Grimbald the Monk Ib. p. 289. The Alms of this King and the West-Saxons sent to Rome by Ethelelm the Ealdorman Id. p. 291. Repairs his Cities and Castles and builds others in the most necessary places of the Kingdom and minds the Political Affairs thereof dividing England into Counties and those into Hundreds and Tythings together with his Civil Oeconomy of Judges and Sheriffs insomuch that no Robberies durst be committed on the Highways Ibid. His Laws Civil and Ecclesiastical when made and in what Great Council l. 5. p. 291 292 293 294 295 296 297. Builds two Monasteries the one for men at Athelney in Somersetshire the other for Nuns at Shaftsbury where Algiva his Daughter was Abbess Id. p. 298. Overcomes Hastings the Danish Commander who was forced to surrender and accept of Conditions of Peace Id. p. 299 300. Fights the Danes near Fernham c. and puts them to flight recovering great Prey Id. p. 300 301. Builds divers Galleys after a new Model such as he thought more advantagious Id. p. 302. His Death Burial Character and Devotion Id. p. 304 305 306 307. His Translation of several Books into the English-Saxon Tongue Id. p. 304. Builds divers Houses with great Magnificence His division of the Hours both by Night and day before Clocks were known The first Inventer of Lanthorns in England Id. p. 305. The Bishops and Priests who assisted him in his Learning and in founding the University of Oxford Id. p. 306. The several Kings of Wales that sought his Protection and submitted to him His wonderful Bounty Generosity and Justice to his People Id. p. 306 307 308. His Last Will and Testament Id. p. 308 309 310. His Issue Id. p. 310 311. To what place the Bones of this King were râ—moved by his Son King Edward the Elder Id. p. 312. Alfred Son to King Ethelred supposed to be Grandfather to Ethelwerd called Quaestor the Historian l. 5. p. 276. Alfred some considerable Person with the factious men of his Party conspires against Athelstan's coming to the Crown whereby he forfeited his Lands which the King conferâ—'d on the Church of Malmesbury He is sent to Rome to purge himself of this Treason and dyes there l. 5. p. 329 331. Alfred and Edward his Brother Sons to King Ethelred Cnute agreed with Robert Duke of Normandy their Unkle that they should peaceably enjoy one half of the Kingdom during his life though they never did but continued still in Exile l. 6. p. 54. The most treacherouâ— and cruel treatment of this Prince and his Followers by King Harold through Godwin's Instâ—gations who caused his eyes to be put out so that he died soon after Id. p. 62 63. Earl Godwin accused by Edward the Confessor in the Great Council of being the cause of this Prince's Murther Id. p. 83. Alfweard or Aelfweard Son of King Edward the Elder deceased at Oxnaford not long after his Father His Mother was Aelfleda the Daughter of Earl Aethelem His Character l. 5. p. 324 327. Alfwin the Bishop deceases at Sutbury in Suffolk and is buried at Dunwich l. 4. p. 242. Alfwold the Son of Oswulf takes the Kingdom of the Northumbers Ethelred being expelled the Land l. 4. p. 231. Sends to Rome to demand the Pall for Eanbald Archbishop of York Id. p. 232. Is slain by Sicga one of his chief Noblemen by treachery at Cilceaster near the Picts-Wall and where buried His Character Id. 231 236. Algithe King Harold's second Wife Widow â—f Griffyth ap Lhewelyn King of Nort-Wales l. 6. p. 114. Algiva or Aethelgiva King Alfred's Daughter Abbess of Shaftsbury which Monastery her Father built l. 5. p. 298 307 311. Alhred King of Northumberland when he began and how he came to reign He was of the Offspring of Ida l. 4. p. 299. Is expelled by the Northumbrians who chose Ethelred the Son of Moll for their King Id. p. 230 236. Alred the Ealdorman who slew King Ethelred killed by one Thormond l. 4. p. 242. Alienation of Lands by Bishops c. committed to their trust in Fee or for longer than one Life without the Consent of the House forbidden by the Seventh Canon of the Synod at Calcuith l. 5. p. 251. Alkuith a City in Scotland delivered up to Eadbert King of Northumberland l. 4. p. 227 228. Allectus slays Carausius by Treachery in Britain and for three years usurped the Empire Encounter'd by Asclepiodotus was overcome and slain with little loss to the Romans l. 2. p. 84. Allegiance if due by Birth in the Saxon times or not till a man had actually perform'd his Homage or sworn Fealty to the King l. 6. p. 83. Alms or Peter-pence of King Alfred how rewarded l. 5. p. 281. Alfred sends the Alms he had vowed to Rome and other Alms into India Id. p. 286 291 298. Alrich King of Kent why neither He nor his Noblemen would be at the Council of Calcuith l. 4. p. 235. Son to Withred reigned 34 years dies and in him the Race of Hengest ended Id. p. 238. Alric the Son of Eadbert slain in the Battel of Whalie in Lancashire l. 4. p. 241. Alstan or Aealhstan Bishop of Shireburne by the Wisdom of this Bishop and St. Swithune Bishop of Winchester Ethelwulf was enabled to support the Calamities the Kingdom suffered by the frequent Irruptions of the Danes l. 5. p. 266 267. After he had held the See fifty years died and was buried in the Town l. 5. p. 268. Alswithe King Alfred's Consort Vid. Ealswithe Alton in Hampshire anciently supposed to be called Aetheling-gadene l. 6. p. 28. Alwin Bishop of Winchester reported to have been too familiar with Queen Emma and committed to Prison upon that Accusation l. 6. p. 79. Alwold Bishop of London before Abbot of Evesham being unable to perform his Episcopal Function would have retired to his old Monastery but the Monks being against it he resented it so ill that he goes to the Abbey of Ramsey with all his Books and other Ornaments which he bestowed on that Abbey though formerly they had been conferr'd on the other and soon after dies l. 6. p. 73. Alypius a Heathen Lieutenant of Britain l. 2. p. 90. Ambresburg or Ambresburi a Town that had some relation to Ambrosius l. 3. p. 131. A Monastery in Wiltshire to whom it was granted by King Alfred l. 5. p. 307. A great Synod or Council held there l. 6. p. 17. A Nunnery there built by Ethelfreda Id. p. 20. Ambrosius Vid. Aurelius Amiens in Picardy anciently called Embenum l. 5. p. 286. Ammianus Marcellinus the first Roman Author that mentions the Scots l. 2. p. 91. Anarawd the Eldest Son of Rodoric the Great when he began his Reign over North-Wales l. 5. p. 280.
Makes War upon his Brother Cadelh Prince of South-Wales and destroys his Countries Id. p. 299. Submits himself and all his Subjects to King Alfred's Dominion Id. p. 306 307. His Decease and Issue Id. p. 316. Pitying the distressed condition of the Northern Britains gave them great part of Cheshire to dwell in if they could beat out the Saxons thence Id. p. 317. After a bloody Fight with the Saxons obtains a compleat Victory over them Ibid. Andate the Goddess of Victory among the Britains l. 2. p. 48. Andover a Town not far from Winchester in Hampshire l. 6. p. 10. Anciently called Andefer Id. p. 25. Andragatius Maximus his General kills the Emperor Gratian near the Bridge of Singidunum and establishes his Master in his usurped Empire l. 2. p. 95. And hearing of the ill news of Maximus casts himsâ—lf headlong out of a Ship being then at Sea and so drowns himself Id. p. 96. Andredswood in Kent and Sussex is in length from East to West at least One hundred and twenty Miles and in breadth Thirty containing all that which is called the Wilde of Kent l. 5. p. 299. St. Andrew's Church at Rochester built by Ethelbert King of Kent l. 4. p. 160. Angild the Forfeiture of the whole value of a man's Head and that Hand which stole was to be cut off unless redeemed l. 5. p. 297. Angles supposed to be derived from the Ancient Cimbri l. 3. p. 123. Anglesey anciently called Mona l. 2. p. 46. and Manige l. 6. p. 28. The whole Isle subdued by Godfred the Son of Harold the Dane Id. p. 7 20. Destroyed by the Danes Id. p. 23. And by King Ethelred's Fleet Id. p. 28. They cast off Meredyth and receive Edwal ap Meyric for their Prince Id. p. 24. Anglia Sacra publish'd by the Learned Mr. Wharton l. 4. p. 166. Anlaff Son of Syhtric King of Northumberland flies into Ireland l. 5. p. 332. Supposed the Son of Syhtric His getting into Athelstan's Camp in the disguise of a Musician and the Observations he made there Id. p. 335. His ravaging and wasting the Countries where-ever he came the Battel he had with King Edmund and the Agreement between them both at last His marrying Alditha the Daughter of Earl Orme Id. p. 343. Called Olaf a Dane and Norwegian by Extract who had been expelled in the time of King Athelstan the Kingdom of Northumberland but being some time after recalled by those Rebels he was again expelled by King Edmund who added that Countrey to his own Dominions Id. p. 343 344. Returns again in King Edred's time and with joy is restored to his Kingdom by the People three years after they expel him a third time and set up Eric for their King Id. p. 350. Another of this Name Son to the King of Dublin comes with a great Fleet into Yorkshire or Lincolnshire and lands but he is miserably beaten by King Athelstan Id. p. 334 335. Anlaff or Unlaff King of Norway the Ravages he commits and where l. 6. p. 24 25. Is brought with great honour to King Ethelred After Baptism he returned into his own Countrey Id. p. 25. Anna King of the East-Angles enriches Cnobsbury Monastery with Noble Buildings and Revenues l. 4. p. 180. Is slain in fight by King Penda together with his whole Army Id. p. 185. His youngest Son Erkenwald wâ—s made Bishop of London Id. p. 196. Annals Saxon first collected and written in divers Monasteries of England l. 4. p. 151. The Cottonian Copy of them in the Form we now have them was wrote after the Conquest l. 6. p. 56. Antenor with his Trojans joining Brute their Expedition and the Accidents that befel them l. 1. p. 9. Anwulf Son of Baldwin Earl of Flanders sent Ambassador from Hugh King of the French to King Athelstan to demand his Sister in Marriage l. 5. p. 339. Aper kills Numerianus and is killed by Dioclesian l. 2. p. 83. Appeals none to the King in Suits unless Justice can't otherwise be had l. 6. p. 13. Appledore anciently called Apuldre or Apultre in Kent l. 5. p. 299 300. Arbogastes General to Eugenius sets him up in the Empire of the West against Valentinian the Second but his Master being overcome by Theodosius and put to death he soon after made himself away l. 2. p. 97. Arcadius Emperor of the East Eldest Son to Theodosius Id. ib. Archbishop its Title not known here in the time of Lucius l. 2. p. 69. His ancient Power as Governor of the Church of England l. 2. p. 210. None but Monks made Archbishops of Canterbury l. 5. p. 333. Brythelme resigns at the Command of the King and whole Nation l. 6. p. 2. When the Churches of Wales first owned the Archbishop of Canterbury's Superiority l. 6. p. 21. Archenfield in Herefordshire anciently called Yrcingafield l. 5. p. 319. Archigallo for his Tyranny is deposed by his Nobles but restored to it by the kind Artifice of his Brother l. 1. p. 14. Arch-pyrate anciently did not signify a Robber but one skill'd in Sea-Affairs or a Seaman derived from Pyra which in the Attick Tongue was as much as Craft or Art l. 6. p. 9. Arderydd a Battel fought there on the Borders of Scotland l. 3. p. 146. Areans removed by Theodosius from their stations but who these were is unknown l. 2. p. 93. Ariminum the Council called there by Constantius l. 2. p. 89. Our Bishops sent to it and what was done there Id. p. 90. Arles in Gallia the Council there when held and what British Bishops were sent to it l. 2. p. 88. Is made the Imperial Seat of Constantine and called Constantia it was besieged by Gerontius but he was hinder'd from taking it l. 2. p. 103. Armorica now Britain in France l. 1. p. 13. l. 5. p. 287. A Fleet prepared for the Armorican War l. 2. p. 25. The people there refuse to accept Charles King of the Almans for their King l. 5. p. 287. Armour whence arose the Custom of hanging up the Armour of Great Men in Churches as Offerings made to God for the Honour they had gained to themselves or Benefit to their Countrey through his Assistance and Blessing l. 6. p. 57. Army a Lawful one raised by the King for the Defence of the Nation called anciently by the name of Fyrd l. 6. p. 60. Arnulf the Emperor with the Assistance of the French Saxon and Bavarian Horse put the Danish Foot to flight l. 5. p. 298. Arnwy Abbot of Burgh resigns his Dignity by reason of his ill state of health and with the King's License and the Consent of the Monks confers it upon another Monk of that Abbey l. 6. p. 84. Arrian Heresy when it first infested Britain l. 2. p. 106. Arthur what he was King of who was his Father and the many considerable Victories he gained over the Saxons and when he carried the Picture of Christ's Cross and of the Virgin Mary on his back l. 3. p. 134 135. He besieges
Goths by Honorius l. 2. p. 105. Gemote or Hundred-Court every one ought to be present at it l. 6. p. 13 14. General if his heart fails the Army flies A Cowardly General often makes Cowardly Soldiers l. 6. p. 30 87. Gentlemen of ordinary Estates had in King Alfred's time Villages and Townships of their own as well as the King and the Great Men and they received the Penalties due for Breach of the Peace l. 5. p. 295. Geoffrey of Monmouth is the chief if not the only Author of Brutus and his Successors and his History cried out against almost as soon as published l. 1. p. 6. His story of the British War in Claudius the Emperor's time different frrom the Roman Accounts and wherein l. 2. p. 39 40. A notorious Falshood in him about Severus his Death Id. p. 78. His story of Constantine's being elected King by the Britains proved false l. 3. p. 116. His story as to its truth enquired into of Augustine's persuading King Ethelbert to incite Ethelfrid King of Northumberland to make War on the Britains l. 4. p. 164 165. His Account of Cadwallo's being buried at London and his Body put into a Brazen Statue of a Man on Horseback and set over Ludgate for a Terror to the Saxons all false Id. p. 177. Gerent King of the Britains fights with King Ina and Nun his Kinsman l. 4. p. 215. Is supposed to have been King of Cornwall and why Id. p. 216. Germanus and Lupus sent from France to confirm Britain in the Catholick Faith l. 2. p. 107. His second Voyage to Britain upon the renewed Addresses of the Britains to defend God's Cause against Pelagianism l. 3. p. 117. The Miracle he wrought upon a Magistrate's Son the Sinews of whose Legs had been long shrunk up which by his stroking he restored whole as the other Id. Ibid. Gerontius General to Constans brings all Spain under his Obedience l. 2. p. 103. But being turned out of his Command revolts and sets up Maximus one of his Creatures for Emperor His cruel End Id. Ib. Gessoriacum Portus Iccius in Caesar's time afterwards Bononia and now Buloigne l. 2. p. 31 40. Geta Severus the Emperor's Younger Son Governor of the Southern part of this Island l. 2. p. 75. Is killed by the Treachery of his Brother Bassianus in his Mother's Arms Id. p. 77. And Bassianus had taken the Sirname of Antonini Ib. 79. His Name commanded to be razed out of all Monuments by this his wicked Brother which was done accordingly Id. p. 79. Gethic the ancient Scythic or Gethic Tongue the Mother of the German l. 3. p. 122. Gewisses the Nation of the West-Saxons anciently so called received the Christian Faith in the Reign of Cynegils by the preaching of Byrinus an Italian who came hither by the order of Pope Honorius l. 4. p. 179. Gildas designed not any exact History of the Affairs of his Countrey but only to give a short Account of the Causes of the Ruin of it by the Scots Picts and Saxons l. 3. p. 137. His sharp Invective against the British Kings accusing Five of them of very heinous Enormities Id. p. 139. His severe Character of the British Clergy Id. p. 140 141. That he could not Study at Oxford as is supposed by some for the Pagan-Saxons were then Masters of that part of England l. 5. p. 290. Girwy now Yarrow near the mouth of the River Tyne where a Monastery was built in Honour of St. Paul l. 4. p. 194 205 222. Gisa succeeds Duduc in the Bishoprick of Somersetshire i. e. Wells l. 6. p. 88. Glan-Morgan in Wales had its Name from one Morgan who was driven thither by his Brother Cunedage and there slain l. 1. p. 11. Glappa King of Bernicia Reigned for Two years but who he was or how Descended the Authors are silent in l. 3. p. 144. His Death Id. p. 145. Osgat Glappa the Danish Earl when he was Expelled England l. 6. p. 73. Glass when the Art of making it was first taught the English Nation l. 4. p. 194. Glastenbury Besieged by King Arthur in Gildas his time with a great Army out of Cornwal and Devonshire because Queen Gueniver his Wife had been Ravished from him by Melvas who then Reigned in Somersetshire l. 3. p. 135. The Ancient Registers of this Monastery are not to be wholly slighted as false since King Arthur was there Buried and his Tomb discovered about the end of the Reign of King Henry the Second Id. p. 137. This Ancient Monastery was new built by King Ina with large Endowments and Exemptions from Episcopal Jurisdictions c. l. 4. p. 218 219. King Edmund's Body was brought from a place called Pucklekirk where he was killed hither and here buried l. 5. p. 345. And so likewise King Edgar's with great Solemnity for he had been a very liberal Benefactor to this Monastery l. 6. p. 9. As was Edmund Sirnamed Ironside his Grandson's This was by all the Saxons called Glaestingabyrig Id. p. 48. Gleni a River but where is not by our Authors mentioned l. 4. p. 174. Glewancester now called Gloucester l. 3. p. 145. Glotta and Bodotria two Streights now the Fâ—iths of Edinburgh and Dunbritton in Scotland l. 2. p. 99. God in Bede's time was served in Five several Languâ—ges l. 1. p. 5. Goda Earl of Devonshire marching out with one Strenwald a Valiant Knight to fight the Danes they were both killed l. 6. p. 22. Godfathers answerable for those Children for whom they stand till they come to years capable of Learning the Creed and the Lord's Prayer l. 4. p. 233. Godfred Son of Harold the Dane subdues the whole Isle of Anglesey and spoils all the Land of Dywet with the Church of St. David's c. l. 6. p. 7.20 Godiva a Foundress with her Husband Leofrick Earl of the Mercians of the Monastery of Coventry and how she freed the said Town from the Grievous Taxes imposed on it l. 6. p. 71. Godmundingham the place where an Idol-Temple stood in King Edwin's time not far from York Eastward near the River Darwent l. 4. p. 174. Godwin Earl Governor or Lord Lieutenant of West-Saxony l. 6. p. 61. His Treachery to Alfred one of King Ethelred's Sons whom by a Forged Letter in the Name of Queen Emma his Mother he enticed over into England then made him Prisoner at Guilford and sent him up to Harold and what afterwards became of him and his Six hundred followers his Eyes put out and he not long survived their loss and most of them suffered various kinds of cruel Deaths Id. p. 62 63. Is accused of the Villany by Aelfrick Archbishop of York and how he purchased his Reconciliation to King Hardecnute Id. p. 67. By his Interest gets Edward the Confessor the Brother of the abovementioned Alfred to be Elected and afterwards Crowned King at Westminster Id. p. 69 70. His own and his Son 's great Power in being able to withstand the King and all the Nobility that
Eutiches who maintained but One Will and Person in Christ condemned in a Synod at Heathfield in Hertfordshire l. 4. p. 199. Herethaland that is the Countrey of Pyrates l. 4. p. 235. Heriots King Cnute's Law concerning them settling the Rates of them according to every one's Rank and Dignity l. 6. p. 59 60. Hethfield supposed Hatfield in Yorkshire where King Edwin was slain and his whole Army quite routed l. 4. p. 176. In Hertfordshire where Theodore the Archbishop summoned a Synod in which the Five First General Councils were not only received and confirmed but the latter held at Rome under Pope Martyn I. l. 4. p. 199. Hiberni whether Irish-men or Scotch understood by that name l. 2. p. 83 84. Higbald consecrated at Soccabrig to be Bishop of Lindisfarne l. 4. p. 232. When he deceased and who was his Successor l. 5. p. 248. Higbert consecrated Bishop of Hagulstad in the room of Bishop Alchmund l. 4. p. 232. Or Higebryht chosen Archbishop of Litchfield by King Offa Id. p. 233. Hilda founds the Monastery of Streanshale in which she lived and died Abbess l. 4. p. 188 199. Grand-Niece to King Edwin and converted by Paulinus Her severe Sanctity Id. p. 199. Very much against Bishop Wilfrid upon substantial reasons Id. p. 215. Hinguar and Hubba two cruel Danish Tyrants burnt Coldingham-Nunnery with the Abbess and all her Nuns in it and many other Monasteries l. 5. p. 269 270. And destroys the whole Countrey of the East-Angles and Edmund their King l. 5. p. 270 271 272 273 274. Makes a great slaughter of the Britains but is slain with 1200 men near the Castle of Kenwith Id. p. 281. Hlothe Vid. Troops Hock-Wednesday a Holiday in Memory of Hardecnute's Death on which the people danced and drew Cords across the ways as they do now on stated days in several Parishes in England to stop Passengers till they get some Money from them l. 6. p. 68. Holland in Lincolnshire anciently called Hoyland whence all the Youth were drawn out against the Danes and their Success l. 5. p. 270. Homage whether the Submission the King of Scots paid to King Edward the Elder amounted to it questioned l. 5. p. 323. The story of Llewelyn Prince of North-Wales his doing Homage to Edward the Elder very suspicious and the reason why Id. p. 328. Godwin's performing it shews this Tenure to be in use before the Conquest l. 6. p. 83. Vid. Fealty Honorius the Emperor of the West had during his Minority Stilico appointed for his Governor l. 2. p. 97. Admits Constantine Partner with him in the Empire l. 2. p. 102. Delivers Gaule up to the Goths and did not in his time recover the Province of Britain Id. p. 105. Honorius Archbishop of Canterbury received his Ordination from Paulinus l. 4. p. 175. Consecrates Ithamar a Kentish-man Bishop of Rochester in the room of Paulinus who was equal to his Predecessors in Learning and Piety Id. p. 181. His Death and who succeeded him in the Archbishoprick Id. p. 185 186. Honorius Succeeds Boniface in the Roman See and sends Paulinus upon his hearing the Northumbrians had received the Christian Faith by his Preaching an Archiepiscopal Pall c. l. 4. p. 175. Another Pope of the same Name by his Bull not only ratifies all the Privileges confirmed by former Popes to the Abbey of St. Albans but grants to that and his Successors Episcopal Rights c. Id. p. 237 238. Hoocnorton in Oxfordshire anciently Hocneratune where the Danes committed great Ravages and Slaughter l. 5. p. 319. Horesti supposed to be the Inhabitants of Eskdale in Scotland l. 2. p. 63. Horsa Vid. Hengest Horses Forbidden by King Athelstane's Law to be Transported out of England l. 5. p. 341. St. Dunstan's Horse falling down dead under him upon his hearing a voice from Heaven crying aloud King Edred is dead as true as that the Sea burns Id. p. 351. Hostages given to Sweyn the Dane where-ever he came l. 6. p. 37 38. Hostilianus Trebonianus Gallus Deposed from the Empire by the Soldiers that first raised him to it l. 2. p. 81. Houses Religious Vid. Monasteries Howel Brother to Conan Prince of Wales upon a Quarrel betwixt them obtains the Victory it was upon his claiming the Isle of Anglesey l. 5. p. 250. Howel the Son of Jevaf restores his Father to his Liberty but takes upon himself the sole Government of all North-Wales l. 6. p. 7 9. His being Subject to King Edgar Id. p. 9. Makes War upon all who Succour his Uncle Jago and the Countries he Spoils Id. p. 16. Routs the Danes and Welsh-men assisted Constantine the Black Son to Prince Jago who is there slain in the Field Id. p. 20. Comes into England with an Army where he was fought with and killed in Battel leaving no Issue of his Body Id. p. 21. Howel and Meredyth the Sons of Edwin or Owen how they came to get the Government of south-South-Wales l. 6. p. 56. Is forced to fly his Countrey from Griffyth ap Lewelin ap Sitsylt Id. p. 64. Is slain and his Army routed by Prince Griffyth Id. p. 71. Howel Dha Succeeds his Father Cadelh in the Principality of South-Wales l. 5. p. 315. Takes upon him the Government of all Wales His Laws and Character Id. p. 337. A worthy Prince his Death and Issue and whom he left his Heirs to all South-Wales Id. p. 349. l. 6. p. 9. His Sons engaged in long Wars with Jago and Jevaf Princes of North-Wales Id. p. 349 350. Hubba Vid. the next Word Hubblestones or Hubblestow in Devonshire had its Name from a Danish Captain one Hubba being slain by Odun Earl of that County and there buried under a heap of stones l. 5. p. 281. Huda and his Surrey-men with Ealcher and his Kentish-men fight the Danish Army in the Isle of Thanet and their Success l. 5. p. 262. Huena General of King Ethelred's Forces his advice to have all the Danes in England slain and for what reason which was barbarously put in execution l. 6. p. 29 30. Hugh King of the French sends an Ambassador to King Athelstan to demand his Sister in Marriage l. 5. p. 339. Hundred-Courts every one to be present at them l. 6. p. 13 14. Hundreds when the Counties were first thus divided by King Alfred l. 5. p. 291. Every one of Free Condition ought to enter himself into some Hundred l. 6. p. 58 104. The punishment of them how it came to be in use where a Murther could not be found Id. p. 101. Hunferth has the Bishoprick of Winchester resigned to him by Daniel Bishop thereof and why l. 4. p. 224. He dies and who succeeds him l. 4. p. 226. Hungus King of the Picts by Achaius King of the Scots his helping him with a Thousand Men beats the English and slays one King Athelstan in fight A mere fancy the whole story l. 5. p. 250. Hunting Liberty for every Man to Hunt in his own ground but none to meddle with
the King's Game under a penalty l. 6. p. 60. Huntington anciently called Huntandune l. 5. p. 321. Is repaired and rebuilt in those places that had been destroyed by the Command of King Edward the Elder Id. p. 322. Hussa Succeeds Freodguald in the Kingdom of Bernicia l. 3. p. 146. Hyde and Abbey called by this Name near Winchester l. 5. p. 318. Hye an Island that had always a Bishop residing in it l. 3. p. 143 144. The Monks of Hye Converted by Egbert to the Right Faith in making them to observe Easter Orthodoxly as also the Ecclesiastical Tonsure l. 4. p. 217. I JAgo and Jevaf Princes of North-Wales raise great and long Wars to get the Supreme Government of all Wales as being of the Elder House to the Sons of Howel l. 5. p. 349 350. Civil Wars between them Jago keeping his Brother Prisoner by force for near six years l. 6. p. 6. Jevaf restored to his Liberty by his Son Howel and Jago driven out of the Countrey but by Edgar's mediation with Howel his Uncle was restored to what he held in Jevaf's time Id. p. 7. Great Commotions in Wales upon these Princes and their Sons accounts and the issue thereof Id. p. 16 20 21 22 23. Jago Son to Edwal a Prince of Wales is advanced to the Throne as lawful Heir but could not be admitted to South-Wales Id. p. 53. His Soldiers deserting him he is slain in Battel by Griffyth ap Lewelin Id. p. 64. Janbryht also called Lambert Consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury received the Pall l. 4. p. 228 229. Lost part of his Province to the See of Litchfield Id. p. 233. His Death and who succeeded him Id. p. 236. Japhet very probable that Europe was Peopled by his Posterity l. 1. p. 4. From him originally descended the Saxons that first came into Britain l. 3. p. 121. Iberi were the Spaniards by whom the Southern part of Britain was Peopled l. 1. p. 4. Icanho supposed to be Boston in Lincolnshire where one Bottulf began to build a Monastery l. 4. p. 185. Iceni those who inhabited Suffolk Norfolk Camebridge and Huntingtonshire l. 2. p. 42. Their being overcome by Ostorius Scapula Id. Ib. Are turned out of their ancient Estates and treated like Slaves Id. p. 47. With the Trinobantes rise up in Arms against the Romans to deliver themselves from their hated servitude Id. p. 47 48. Ida the first that took upon him the Title of King of the Northumbrian Kingdom who had Twelve Sons partly by Wives partly by Concubines with his Sons he came into Britain and landed at Flensburgh with Forty Ships and built Bamborough Castle in Northumberland l. 3. p. 142. He hath the Character of being a very Gallant Man but dies within a few years Id. p. 143. Idel a River on the Mercian Border now in Nottinghamshire l. 4. p. 170 171. Idols Their Temples Pope Gregory would not have pulled down but a-new Consecrated l. 4. p. 158. Coisi Burns and utterly destroys the Idol Temples l. 4. p. 173 174. Are destroyed at Earcombert's Command throughout his Kingdom of Kent Id. p. 180. Jerne that is according to the Scottish Writers the Province of Strathern l. 2. p. 98. Jerusalem the Temple there laboured though in vain to be rebuilt by Alypius a Heathen l. 2. p. 90. Jews all that were in the Kingdom to be under the Protection of the King l. 6. p. 102. Iffi the Son of Prince Osfrid received Baptism l. 4. p. 174 176. Dies in France under King Dagobert's Tuition in his Infancy Id. p. 176. Igmond the Dane with a great Number of Soldiers Lands in the Isle of Anglesey where they obtain a Victory over the Welsh-men who gave them Battel l. 5. p. 303. Ilford near Christ-Church in Hampshire seated in the New Forest called Itene in English-Saxon perhaps it anciently went by the Name of Ityngaford l. 5. p. 314. Iltutus a Pious and Learned Britain of Glamorganshire l. 3. p. 149. Images not introduced into the English-Saxon Church at the foundation of the Abbey of Evesham by Edwin Bishop of Worcester as is pretended by some l. 4. p. 216 217. Image-Worship the Church of God wholly abominated as practised in the Greek and Roman Churches and was not then receiv'd in England l. 4. p. 236 237. Impostor a notable Scotch one who called himself Run sets up for Prince of south-South-Wales but he and his Army soon put to the Rout l. 6. p. 52. Ina King of the West-Saxons builds a Monastery at Glastenbury endows it with divers Lands and exempts it from all Episcopal Jurisdiction Reigns Seven and thirty years goes to Rome and there Dies l. 4. p. 204 218 219 220. The Son of Kenred the Son of Ceolwald when he took the Kingdom but without any Right of Successive Descent Id. p. 205. Summons the first Authentick Great Council whose Laws are come to us entire Id. p. 208 209. The Kentish-men enter into a League with him and give him Thirty thousand Pounds for his Friendship and why Id. p. 209. And Nun his Kinsman fight with Gerent King of the Britains Id. p. 215. And Ceolred fight a bloody Battel at Wodensburgh in Wiltshire Id. p. 217. Fights with the South-Saxons and slays Eadbert Aetheling whom before he had banished Id. p. 218. Romescot is conferred on the Bishop of Rome first by him but if so it must be with the Consent of the Great Council of the Kingdom Id. p. 219. A Great Example of his Magnanimity and Justice Piety and Devotion Id. p. 219 220. His being King of Wales as well as England and his marrying Guala the Daughter of Cadwallader King of the Britains a groundless and fabulous story Id. p. 220. Indian Apostles St. Thomas and St. Bartholomew were so called because they were there martyr'd l. 5. p. 286. Indians their deadly Feud against all the Kindred of one that murthers any of them l. 5. p. 347. Ingerlingum the place where King Oswin was treacherously murthered and where afterwards a Monastery was built l. 4. p. 182 183. Ingild the Brother of King Ina his Death l. 4. p. 218. Ingwar a Danish Captain who held London is slain by King Alfred l. 5. p. 286. Inquest Grand the Antiquity of Trials by them of more than twelve men l. 6. p. 43. Intestates how the Goods of those who dye so are to be distributed l. 6. p. 59. Inundation a mighty one about Greenwich that drowned both many People and Towns l. 6. p. 39. Invasion Of the Romans upon the Britains an Account thereof as also of that of the Picts and Scots and then of the English-Saxons after that of the Danes and lastly of the Normans Ep. Dedic l. 5. p. 246. John of Beverlie first he was Bishop of Hagulstad then of York l. 4. p. 202 213 215. He was Bishop Three and thirty Years and Eight Months then dies and is buried at Beverlie and afterwards canonized by the name of St. John of Beverlie Id. p. 218. John
or Incest l. 4. p. 233 234. Honour and Obedience to be rendered to them and none to speak evil of them The Punishment either for Conspiring the Death of Kings or actually Killing of them Id. p. 234. l. 6. p. 59. Chief Lords of any Countrey in Wales when called Kings l. 4. p. 241. The Supreme Dominion of One English King over all the rest no new thing in King Egbert's time l. 5. p. 254. At the Great Councils they used to appear in State with the Crown on their Heads Id. p. 261. A weak Prince by the assistance of Able and Faithful Councellors may Govern his Kingdom prudently and happily Id. p. 267. King of England was anciently called King of London Id. p. 279. Alfred's Law concerning the Death of the King Id. p. 292. In Athelstan's time the Mercians had not lost their Ancient Right of chusing their own Kings Id. p. 329. The King's House no shelter to him that sheds Blood l. 5. p. 347. How dangerous it was for Kings to provoke the Ruling part of the Priests and People Id. p. 354. Neither in Edgar's time nor long after the Conquest did any King Elect take the Title of King till after his Coronation l. 6. p. 8. To be blamed for trusting those who had before betrayed them Id. p. 30. Sworn to observe the good Laws of King Edward not that he only Ordained but obser-served them Id. p. 56. Provision for his Houshold how to be made not to Oppress the Subject Id. p. 59. No Subjâ—ct in their Hunting to meddle with the King's Game Id. p. 60. His Office how declared by Edward the Confessor's Law His power to pardon Life and loss of Member but with a Proviso Id. p. 102. Kingsbury a Council held there under Berthwulf King of the Mercians l. 5. p. 261. King's-Evil Edward the Confessor the first that Cured it by his bare washing the Sores with his own hands l. 6. p. 98. King's Houshold Vid. Provision Kingsige King Edward the Confessor's Chaplain succeeds Aelfric in the Archbishoprick of York l. 6. p. 79. His Deatâ— Id. p. 88. Knight's-Service in England in King Wightred's time l. 4. p. 211. Knute vid. Cnute Kynan vid. Conan Prince of south-South-Wales Kynobelin at Rome saluted by the Emperor a Friend of the Commonwealth l. 2. p. 36. Being King he caused Coins to be stamp'd after the Roman manner Ibid. Died not long before the Roman Invasion by Claudius Id. p. 38. L LAncaster anciently called Caer-Werith supposed to be built by Gurguint l. 1. p. 13. Lands-End the Point anciently called Penwithsteort l. 6. p. 26 82. Langoemagog that is the Giants Leap from a persons taking up the mighty Giant Gogmagog in his Arms and flinging him off from a Cliff in Cornwal into the Sea l. 1. p. 9. Lanthorns first Invented in England by King Alfred of Cow's-Horns cut into thin plates l. 5. p. 305. Lashlite a Fine or Mulct the English and Danes were to pay according to the value of their heads for the Violation of the Laws made between them l. 5. p. 284. Lawrence a Priest and Peter a Monk sent to the Pope to acquaint him that by Augustine and his Monks their Preaching the English had received the Christian Faith and to have his Opinion about certain Questions l. 4. p. 155 165. Consecrates the Old Church rebuilt by Augustine at Canterbury and succeeds him as Archbishop there Id. p. 157 166. Draganus refuses to Eat with him and why Id p. 166. What happened to him upon his going to desert his Flock in Britain Id. p. 169. His Death and Burial Id. p. 171. Laws called Mercevenlage from whence said to be derived l. 1. p. 13. What those were in King Ethelbert's Reign l. 4. p. 163. Ecclesiastical Laws made between King Alfred and Guthrune the Dane l. 5. p. 284 285. Every man to enjoy the benefit of the Law and to have equal Justice done him l. 6. p. 13 58. Three sorts of Laws in use in Brompton the Chronicler's time viz. Merchenlage West-Saxonlage and Danelage Id. p. 103. League or Agreement made between King Alfred and King Guthrune setting out the Territories of each of those Princes l. 5. p. 283 284. Between Edward the Elder and the Danes Inhabiting east-East-England and Northumberland l. 5. p. 314. Vide Peace Learning reduced to a very low ebb in King Alfred's time by reason of the Danish Wars l. 5. p. 304. Lease of Abbey-Lands made in a Great Council the first Example of it l. 4. p. 230. Lee a River anciently called Ligan which divides Middlesex and Essex l. 5. p. 301.316 Leeds in Yorkshire anciently called Loyden where the Battel was fought between Oswy King of Northumberland and Penda King of the Mercians l. 4. p. 185. Legancester that is West-Chester Vide Chester Legion Roman being sent over to Britain made a great Slaughter of their Enemies driving the rest out of the British Borders and so delivered the Inhabitants from being destroyed l. 2. p. 99 100. Legions a City now Caerleon upon Uske l. 2. p. 85. Westchester was anciently called by this Name l. 4. p. 164. Leicester anciently Caer-Leir by whom said to be first Built l. 1. p. 11. Tocca the first Bishop there which continued a Bishop's See for divers Ages l. 4. p. 223. Anciently called Ligceaster and when Repaired l. 5. p. 314. And Ligraceaster Id. p. 319. Leighton in Bedfordshire anciently called Ligtune l. 3. p. 145. l. 5. p. 319. Lent by the Authority of Earcombert Ordained to be observed which seems to have been the first observed in England by a Law l. 4. p. 180. Leo the Pope whom the Romans took and cut out his Tongue and put out his Eyes Deposing him but he was Restored to every thing he had lost Miraculously l. 4. p. 241. When he Died l. 5. p. 251. Leo Bishop of Treve sent by Pope John as his Nuntio to King Ethelred with Letters of Complaint against the Marquiss of Normandy l. 6. p. 24. Leof a notorious Thief Banished by King Edmund but be returned and at a great Entertainment of the King 's Stabs him so that he instantly died l. 5. p. 345. Leofgar Ordained Bishop of Hereford in the room of Bishop Athelstane together with his Clerks is Slain by Griffyn Prince of Wales l. 6. p. 87. Leofred a Dane his Ravages in Wales but at last is Beheaded by Athelstan's Order l. 5. p. 321. Leofric Earl of Mercia with his Lady Godiva Founders of the Monastery of Coventry and the Repairers of several others l. 6. p. 71 72. Comes to the Great Council at Glocester about Earl Godwin Id. p. 77. His Death and Burial in the Church of the Monastery of Coventry Id. p. 88. Leofric King Edward the Confessor's Chaplain succeeds Living Bishop of Devonshire that is of Exeter l. 6. p. 73. Is Enthroned there be walking to Church between the King and Queen Editha his Wife Id. p. 78. Leofwin the Abbot is unjustly Expelled from the Monastery of Elig goes
Châ—rlâ—s King of the Franks l. 4. p. 231. Sardica the Council there when called the Bishops of Britain assisted aâ— it l. 2. p. 89. Sarum Old called in the British times Searebyrig l. 3. p. 142. Or Syrbyrig is burnt by King Sweyn l. 6. p. 30. Saturninus Seius in Antoninus Pius his time had the Charge of the Roman Navy on the British shore l. 2. p. 68. Saxon Annals first collected and writâ—en in divers Monasteries of England l. 4. p. 151. Saxons English at first so very illiterate that it is much doubted whether they had the use of Letters and Writing among them or not l. 3. p. 113. Were sent for to repel the Scots and Picts Id. p. 117. Had the Isle of Thanet given them for their Habitation Id. p. 118. Came from three valiant Nations of Germany Id. p. 118 119 120 121. What Countrey Old Saxony was Id. p. 118 119. Great Disputes about the Name of Saxons Id. p. 121 123 124. Their Religion and Victory over the Picts Id. p. 124 125. Break League with the Britains their Confederates and over-run almost the whole Island Id. p. 126. By Vortimer are forced to return into Germany and never durst return hither till after his death Id. p. 128. Obtain a great Victory over Nazaleod who was slain in the Battel and they remained undisturbed a long time after l. 3. p. 134. Are beaten by the Britains at Wodensburg in Wiltshire Id. p. 148. Were strict Observers of the Lord's-Day l. 4. p. 209. A great Battel between them and the Britains where the King of North-Wales was slain Id. p. 241. The English-Saxons suffer'd no Nation to out-go them in Deceit and all manner of Wickedness and therefore they at last met with the Judgments of God in the Wrath of men l. 5. p. 247. Commanded to be called English-men by a Law of King Egbert Id. p. 255. A great Sea-fight among the Ancient Saxons of Germany supposed with the Danes the former getting the Victory twice Id. p. 287. Are driven out of Wales by the Northern Britains into Mercia Id. p. 317. Utterly rout and put to flight the Scots Irish and Danes Id. p. 334. Saxony Old called Northalbingia its Extent and Bounds l. 3. p. 118. Saxulph or Sexwulf a Monk to his care is committed the finishing of the Abbey of Medeshamsted though Peadda and Oswy had laid the Foundation and gone a good way through it l. 4. p. 186 187. Is ordained by Archbishop Theodore Bishop of the Mercians in the room of Winfrid who was deposed Id. p. 194. Parted with the Church of Hereford to Putta Bishop of Rochester who is said to be expelled from thence Id. p. 196. Scapula Vid. Ostorius Sceapige now the Isle of Sheppy in Kent wasted by the Heathens or Pagans l. 5. p. 255. The Danes take up their Winter-quarters there Id. p. 262. Sceorstan perhaps Shire-stone for the place is supposed to be a Stone that parts now the Four Counties of Oxfordshire Gloucestershire Worcestershire and Warwickshire l. 6. p. 45. Sceva a Roman Soldier his incredible Valour l. 2. p. 29. School erected for the Instruction of Youth by King Sigebert l. 4. p. 179. Supposed to give Being to the University of Cambridge but without ground Id. Ib. Or Colledge of the English Nation at Rome burnt l. 5. p. 251. Whom it were that Alfred obliged to keep their Sons at School until fifteen years of Age Id. p. 297. Scotch Historians extend the Limits of King Kened's conquering the Picts too far l. 5. p. 259. Scotland anciently called Albania North-West to the Mountains of Braid-Albain and its Extent l. 2. p. 83 98. Said to be conquered by the Forces of King Edward the Confessor l. 6. p. 86. The Low-lands long in the possession of the Kings of England l. 5. p. 260. Scots came into this Nation out of Ireland l. 1. p. 4 5. Came into Ireland in the Fourth Age of the World Id. p. 7. Scoti sometimes called Hiberni because they first came out of Ireland l. 2. p. 84. They with the Picts make cruel Incursions and lay waste all places near the Borders of Britain Id. p. 90. The first Roman Author that mentions them is said to be Ammianus Marcellinus but St. Jerome has given a much more Ancient Passage of them which he translated out of Porphyry the Greek Philosopher who wrote an Age before Id. p. 91. Are owned by some Antiquaries to be planted in Ireland in the time of Claudian Id. p. 94 95. And Picts continually wasted the Roman Territories Id. p. 95. Their Incursions in the beginning of Honorius his Reign Id. p. 97 98. They miserably harass'd the Britains till speedy Supplies were sent them by the Romans Id. p. 106. The Scots Conversion to Christianity Id. p. 109 110. Were sometimes used for Irish-men sometimes for Native Scots Id. p. 110. And Picts landing in Britain in shoals on the Romans deserting it l. 3. p. 114. Ever acknowledged Bishops necessary for ordaining others in the Ministry l. 3. p. 144. Per Universam Scotiam that is throughout all Ireland l. 4. p. 166 189. The Scots in Britain regain their Liberty and enjoy it for Six and forty years after Id. p. 202. Who Inhabited Britain practised no Treachery against the English Nation when Bede finished his History Id. p. 221. Three Scots come from Ireland to King Alfred resolving to lead the Life of Pilgrims l. 5. p. 298. The first time any of their King 's made Submission to the English was in King Edward the Elder 's Reign l. 5. p. 323 324. Are miserably routed with their King Constantine by Athelstan and his Army Id. p. 334 335 336. Submit themselves to King Edred and their King Swears Fidelity to him Id. p. 349. Are overcome by Uthred the Valiant Son of Waltheof Earl of the Northumbers and the Reward he received of King Ethelred for his Bravery l. 6. p. 27. Scriptures the Reading of them Decreed in the Second Council at Cloveshoe to be more constantly used in Monasteries and the Creed and Lord's Prayer to be learn'd in English l. 4. p. 225. Sea Those that have the Command there may force a King of England to what terms they please l. 6. p. 81. Seals Edward the Confessor was the first English King we meet with that affixed any to his Charters l. 6. p. 98. The Island of Seals Vid. Seolefeu Sebba Vid. Siger Sebbi King of the East-Saxons becomes a Monk and soon after dies l. 4. p. 210. Sebert the Son of Richala King of the East-Saxons receives Baptism and causes St. Paul's to be Built at London l. 4. p. 159. Founds the Church and Abbey of Westminster Id. p. 166. His Death Id. p. 168. A most Learned and Christian Prince Id. p. 175. Secington anciently Seccandune in Warwickshire l. 4. p. 227. Security to be given by all Servants for their good Abearing and all others of ill Fame to have it given for them l. 5. p. 346. Every one of Twelve Years
vers'd in the History of his own Countrey could not but give us all he knew concerning it though interspersed with so many notorious Fables of his own which he seemeth to have interwoven the better to connect those broken Remains of old Times But since no Man can easily at this distance distinguish Truth from Falshood he ought to be dealt with as we do with those who would impose counterfeit Coin upon us in refusing the whole Sum where the greatest part of it is so plainly discernable to be false HERE by the way I must ingenuously own a small Mistake I have committed in the first Book of this Volume where speaking somewhat in Defence of this Author that he was not the first Inventor of the Story of Brutus it being also found in Nennius who lived long before him and from whom I then supposed Henry of Huntingdon to have borrowed it I now perceive upon better Information that Geoffrey and H. Huntingdon were not only Cotemporaries but the latter in that part of his English History still in Manuscript viz. in the Second of his Epistle dedicated to one Gwarin a British or Welsh Nobleman confesses that in his Journey to Rome staying some time by the Way at the Abbey of Bec he there found a large Book of this Geoffrey's whom he also calls Arthur who had copiously and diligently wrote the British History though in the common printed Copies we find no more than that travelling to the Place abovementioned he had there met with a certain Volume in which were divers things relating to the British History not before known but yet without naming the Author THIS I thought good to advertise the Reader of because those Sheets were wrought off before ever I was sensible of my Mistake AS for my second Book I can only tell you it is a true and just Translation of the British History from all the Greek and Roman Authors I could meet with that have treated of it from whom also I have given you a Description of the Manners and Customs of the Antient Britains and tho I grant this has been already attempted by one Daniel Rodgers whose Papers are in the Cottonian Library and is fully performed by Mr. Camden in his Introduction to his Britannia and likewise by Mr. Speed before his History yet I have my self compared them with the Originals and added some Remarks which I thought were further necessary to be known I have begun this Part with Caesar's Relation as I found it in his Commentaries concerning his two Expeditions into Britain and have ended with the last of the Greek and Roman Historians viz. Zosimus Orosius and Aurelius Victor AND whereas others who have undertaken this Province have used the Liberty of Epitomizing or enlarging those Passages they have cited from the Greek and Latin Authors I have thought fit faithfully to translate them except in some of their long-winded Orations which to avoid Prolixity I thought it better to abridg as not believing those Orations to have been deliver'd in those Circumstances in which they are now dress'd AND tho I do not pretend to have added much to what Mr. Camden and Mr. Milton have already collected from those Writers relating to the History of Britain yet I hope I have from several Verses of the Poet Claudian as also by the Assistance of those great Masters in Antiquity the Lord Primate Usher the Reverend Dr. Stillingfleet now Lord Bishop of Worcester and Dr. Lloyd now Lord Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield not only illustrated but settled divers things relating to that part of our Ecclesiastical as well as Civil Affairs not commonly taken notice of before IN the beginning of the third Book I have from Mr. Sheringham's Treatise De Origine Gentis Anglorum as also from other Authors given you in order to our English Saxon History a more Exact Account of the Original of those Nations which when they came over into England were comprehended under the General Name of Saxons than hath been hitherto published in our own Language AFTER which I have given you a Relation of the Manner of their coming over hither and the Ground and Occasion of their quarrelling with the Britains from Gildas Bede and Nennius BVT as for the Time of their erecting themselves into an Heptarchy since it is not to be learnt from Bede who is wholly silent of what the Saxons did here from their first entrance to the Propagation of Christianity which he made it his Business chiefly to treat of I have taken it from the Saxon Annals as well as other later Authors that have mentioned any thing of it though as to the whole Period of Time contained in this Book it must be confessed it was when Letters were not in use amongst them and therefore could only be convey'd down by Tradition which makes us here be beholding to the Annals abovementioned or to some Antient Memoirs which tho now lost were certainly seen by those Writers who have gathered from them INDEED I was somewhat perplexed what Method to take in digesting the History of seven concurring Kingdoms since which way so ever I engaged I found it attended with some Inconveniences WILLIAM of Malmesbury and several other Authors as well in Latin as English I know thought it best to give us this History digested under each respective Kingdom apart but then there is this Exception against that way of Writing that without Chronological Tables or frequent turning backward and forward one cannot understand the Synchronisms of the several Kings Reigns or the Time wherein they lived so as to compare them with others their Cotemporaries BESIDES which there is also a necessity of an unnecessary Repetition of the same Wars or Transactions as well under the History of the King that made as of him who suffered that Invasion this appeareth in Speed and Dr. Howel 'T is true Mr. Speed thought of a good Method to help this by supposing so many successive Monarchs to have been always in England from the Time of Hengest to K. Egbert under whose several Reigns he also reduces whatsoever Actions happened in the rest of all the other subordinate Kings then Regnant This I confess had been a very good Expedient to avoid the Difficulties abovementioned were it as just as it seems specious but upon Examination it will be found that tho Bede as well as the Saxon Annals have given us a Series of all those Supream Kings whom some of the Modern Writers are pleased to call Monarchs yet as I have sufficiently shewn in this ensuing History they could by no means deserve that Title since it may be clearly seen by any one who will peruse Mr. Speed that there were sometimes Intervals of ten or twenty Years before such a victorious Prince could make all the rest by the Terror of his Arms submit themselves to him which yet they never all did till the Reign of King Egbert without preserving entire all their Royal Rights and Prerogatives over
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
his History of the Church of Durham who has interspersed many excellent Passages concerning the same Northern Story Here likewise we may add the Chronicle of the Abbey of Mailross which tho wrote by the Abbot of Dundraimon was certainly collected out of some much antienter Annals of that Monastery which was then destroyed and these together with the last mentioned Authors have helped us to make up the Succession of the Northumbrian Kings after Eardulf that was expelled his Kingdom Anno 806. from whom our common Writers suppose there was an Interregnum for the space of above sixty Years tho by those above-named it appears to have been otherwise as you may see in the Tables at the end of the last Book AFTER these flourished William of Malmesbury who finished his History in the Reign of King Stephen but certainly he began it long before viz. in the Reign of Henry the First To which Learned Monk being one of the best Writers both for Judgment and Stile of that Age I must own my self obliged for the best and choicest Passages in this Volume TO him succeeded Henry Arch-Deacon of Huntington who wrote a History of the Kings of England as well before as after the Conquest and retiring to Rome lived there for some time for that purpose He deduced his History almost to the end of K. Stephen and writing most commonly by way of Annals transcribed many things out of Florence of Worcester and was of that great Reputation that Geoffrey of Monmouth who was his Cotemporary recommends the English History to be written by his Pen as he does the British to be continued by Caradoc of Lancarvon who wrote a Welsh Chronicle as far as his own Time the Substance whereof I have here likewise given you as it was put out by Dr. Powell to which I have also added several remarkable Passages that were designed in a new Edition of the same Work to be published from the Manuscripts of the Learned Antiquary Mr. Robert Vaughan by Mr. Ellis late of Jesus College in Oxon but which were never finished And I have likewise inserted divers choice Notes that I gathered from another Manuscript of the same Author's relating to the Chronology and Actions of the British Princes which he wrote for the Satisfaction of the Lord Primate Usher and from him is now in my Possession And I suppose no Ingenious British Antiquary will think this Performance unnecessary since he will here find the Substance of all that is contained in Caradoc's Chronicle together with a great many considerable Additions from the Manuscripts abovementioned as also some others gathered from two MS. Copies of the Chronicles of Wales the one in the Cottonian Library the other in the Exchequer written at the end of one of the Volumes of Doomesday for the perusal of which I stand obliged to the Reverend Dr. Gale H. Huntingdon was followed by Rog. Hoveden a secular Priest of Oxford and was Domestick Clerk or Secretary to Henry the Second he seems to have chiefly transcribed from Simeon of Durham as to the Affairs before the Conquest as he does from William of Malmesbury and other Authors as well as his own Observations for those that occur'd afterwards to his own Time continuing his History to the beginning of King John's Reign THE next we come to are those Authors contained in that noble Volume called the Decem-Scriptores such as Ailred Abbot de Rievalle who wrote concerning the Kings of England so far as King Henry the 2d in whose Time he lived as also concerning the Life and Miracles of Edward the Confessor from whom I have taken divers memorable Passages relating to the Life of that King as well as to his Predecessors omitting his Fables and Legends in which he does too much abound AFTER him follows Radulphus de Diceto Dean of St. Pauls London who flourished in the Reign of King John about the Year 1210. he was esteemed a very accomplished Historian and an indefatigable Collector in his Time of things not only before but after the Conquest I have also taken some few Passages from William Thorn a Monk of Canterbury who wrote an entire History of the Affairs of his own Monastery of St. Augustin down to the beginning of King Richard the Second in whose Reign he lived AFTER whom we had for a long time no printed Historians of the Times before the Conquest till that in the Decem-Scriptores which goes under the Name of John Brompton Abbot of Jorvaulx in Richmondshire tho Mr. Selden has shewn us in his Preface to that Volume that he was rather the Purchaser than Author of this Chronicle which he left to his own Abbey he is supposed to have lived in the time of Edward the Third but the History concludes with the Death of Richard the First BVT the said Reverend Dr. Gale farther observes of him That he intended to continue Geoffrey of Monmouth as appears in the Preface and in Col. 1153. as also that he took much from Benedictus Abbas still in Manuscript in the Cottonian Library and not from Roger Hoveden for where a Fault or Omission is found in Benedictus the same is here found also but not so in Hoveden e. g. Benedictus wanted the Seal of the King of Sicily and so did Bromton till it was added from some other Copy and not out of Hoveden for the Seals differ and some Copies of Hoveden have it not at all And tho the Compiler of this History seems to have lived in the Time of Richard I. as himself seems to intimate yet Col. 967. it mentions Richard the Third which must have been added to continue down the Genealogy of our Kings as is often done in antient Chronicles by some later Hand But the Learned Doctor farther supposes this Chronicle to have been written by one John Brompton who as the Doctor found in an old Manuscript Year-Book or Collection of Reports of the Reign of King Edward the First was a Justice Itinerant about that Time which Conjecture is also confirmed by his careful inserting the Antient Saxon Laws into this Chronicle This as it was not done by any before him so neither does it savour of the Monk THIS is the more worthy taking notice of because Sir William Dugdale hath omitted this John Brompton in his Catalogue of Judges Itinerant at the end of his Origines Juridiciales TO this Historian succeeds Henry de Knyghton Canon of Leicester who wrote his History de Eventibus Angliae beginning with King Edgar and ending with the Reign of Richard the Second BVT the Reader may be pleased to take notice that in these two last Authors are found many Passages which are in none of the more Antient Writers and since most of them relate to Customs and Terms that had their Original after the coming in of the Normans therefore they may with good Reason be suspected to have been borrowed from some common Stories or Traditions that then passed up and down for current NOR can
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
no less than three Writers of part of our History who lived before Malmesbury as you may see above and therefore he must also be understood only in this Sense that till himself there was none had undertaken an entire Latin Body of English History for he distinguishing between an History and Annals did not reckon it seems these Saxon Annals as such though he often mentions them by the Name of the English Chronicles being as I said before the ground-Work upon which that Author as well as others that followed him built their History and these Annals remaining in Manuscript till long after Sir Thomas Craig's Death gave him perhaps occasion to affirm in the same Place That there is nothing of certainty to be found in the British History from 734. which was the Year of Bede's Death to the Year 957. but all things were founded upon the Rumours of Antient Men and it may be old Wives Fables which being collected together into one Book and put in a Latin Dress made up as it were the shadow of a History from whence Hollingshead does nevertheless bring most certain Arguments to establish his fictitious Homage THIS Point concerning the Homage I shall not take upon me here to decide but tho I confess there is no express mention of it in the Annals yet I must needs say there is somewhat to be met with in them that comes very near it for under Anno 924. they relate thus of King Edward the Elder That the King and whole Nation of the Scots chose him in Patrem Dominum in the Latin Version i. e. for their Father and Lord which is word for word the same with the Saxon Original which I omit because not commonly understood or read in that Character But because he supposes that Florence of Worcester was the first Author that wrote this Homage and Fealty therefore he must be the first that ever mentioned the Submission of the Scotish King to the King of England I desire those of Sir Thomas his Opinion to tell me tho the formal Ceremonies of Homage and Fealty which in different Ages and divers Countries even where the Feudal Law was obtained were very different were not brought up till after the Norman William came hither yet what could those words in Patrem Dominum signify but such an Acknowledgment or Dependance upon a Superior Lord as was tantamount And it is the more remarkable because this is mentioned above 20 Years before The same Annals relate that King Edmund the Younger Son to King Edward bestowed Cumberland upon Malcolm King of Scots viz. Anno 945. on condition that he should serve him in his Expeditions by Sea and Land for which alone the Scotish Writers will allow this Homage to have been due AND in the Year following we find in the same Annals that K. Eadred Brother to Edmund having reduced all Northumberland into his Power which then took in almost all the Low-Lands of Scotland as far as Edinburgh thereupon Scoti etiam ei juramenta praestiterunt sese velle quiâ—quid is vellet i. e. the Scotish Nation by which I suppose must be understood the King as well as the People took an Oath to King Eadred to perform whatsoever he should please to command them But that Florence of Worcester understood this to be an Oath of Fealty appears by his Paraphrase of these words in the Annals thus Edredus à Scotis ut sibi fideles essent juramentum accepit BVT that if not Homage yet somewhat very like it was rendered in that Age by the Kings of Scotland to those of England for the best part of what is now called the Lowlands may appear from the Testimony of John of Wallingford who in his History relates that Keneth King of Scots received Lothian from King Edgar under the Condition of doing Homage to himself and his Successors which if it had not then the direct Ceremony of Homage which perhaps came in with the Normans yet that it was somewhat very near it John Fordun the antientest Scotish Historian acknowledges in these words That King Edmund viz. of England gave the Province of Cumberland to Malcolm King of Scots sub fidelitate Juramenti and it was afterwards agreed between the said King Edmund and King Malcolm that Prince Indulf his next Heir and all the future Heirs of Scotland successively should pay to King Edmund and his Successors for the same Homagium fidelitatis Sacramentum so that if our English Writers have been mistaken in calling that Submission which the Kings and Princes of Scotland then payed to England Homage you may here see the most Antient Scotish Historian guilty of the same Error which was indeed an Oath of Fidelity if not the same yet very like what the Scotish Kings afterwards took when they did Homage to our Kings of England after the Conquest HAVING said thus much I shall now leave it to the Reader 's Judgment when he has gone through our Annals to consider whether this Author's Censure of our English History from the Year 734. when Bede ended his to the Year 957. be just that they were only things as he says founded upon the Rumours of Antient Men and it may be old Wives Fables and so being collected together in one Book dress'd up in Latin made up as it were the shadow of a History AS also whether what Florence is cited by the Author to say That after Bede's Death the English History ceased and that for his own part he had left things to Posterity either as he found them in the Text of the English Chronicles or as he had them from the relations of Men worthy of Credit or heard and saw them himself deserves that rash Censure not only concerning these Annals now published but of Florence himself viz. as to what concerned the Text of the English Chronicles he mentioned them that he might deceive his Reader with the greater Facility whereas Florence was accounted always a Writer of unquestionable Diligence and Veracity as appears by the several Testimonies of Learned Men before his History BVT the reason of this Author's Triumph before the Victory was that he did not believe any such thing as a Saxon Chronicle could be found for says he immediately after If there were any Chronicles of those Times seeing Florence lived about the Year 1148. they must still remain in the Archives which hitherto no English Author did ever alledg or hath been able to demonstrate for that Chronicle as is observed by the Prologue did only set down the number of Years And so he proceeds to invalidate the Credit of Florence of Worcester as if he had had no Voucher to warrant his Chronicle BVT I hope this Translation I here present you with will satisfy all ordinary Readers that the Saxon Annals do contain much more than the bare numbers of Years and the Edition first published by Mr. Wheelock in Saxon and Latin from two Copies in
talked of Scotish Annals that were kept in the Isle of Jona or Ilcomhil and of their famous Book of the Abbey of Pasely from whence Hector Boethius pretends to have derived the principal Matters that make up the first part of his History Nay what will become of their most creditable Writer John Fordun who bottoms much of his History on the Legends of S. Brendane and others NOR is there any difference that I know of between these Books now mentioned and our Saxon Annals but that these are to be seen I mean the Originals in our Libraries and are also published both in Saxon and Latin and are here translated into English in this ensuing History whilst theirs are not and if Hector Boethius ever saw them is more than we can be sure of since a most Reverend Doctor and now Bishop of our Church hath produced very good Reasons to render it highly suspicious that there never were any such Books at all and if so I wonder what will become of the Credit of all their Antient Scotish History and their long Bedroll of Kings before Fergus the Second AS for the rest of this Author's Objections I shall be very short in my Answers to them THE third of which is that our Authors are not to be credited because they are English-men If this were of any weight I might turn his own Cannon upon him and tell him no more are his Writers who deny this Homage because they are Scots-men and if neither are to be believed I would fain have any Learned Gentleman of that Nation to shew me a Foreign Historian who lived near those Times that denied there was any such thing AS for his last that they were Enemies it is yet more trivial since I have here made use of no Authorities but what were written before the Conquest when there was no War at all between the two Nations but rather a strict Amity or League against their Common Enemy the Danes or else from Florence of Worcester and William of Malmesbury Authors that lived and wrote as hath been already shewn in the very Times when those Homages they mention were done which whether they were for Scotland it self or else for Northumberland and Cumberland which they then held of the Kings of England shall be further considered in my next Volume if God shall permit me to finish it BVT I desire the Reader to take notice that finding the English-Saxon Chronicle to be very dry in many places it giving us only an account of the Succession of their Kings and the Battles they fought against one another without ever telling us what were the Grounds of their falling out the Monks of those Times for want of Civil Affairs or as we call them those of the Cabinet filling up their Annals only with Fighting and Devotion I saw it necessary for me to pursue in great part the Method that Bede had laid down throughout the whole Work and to insert some things relating to Ecclesiastical Affairs to make this History more useful as well as diverting to all sort of Persons AND therefore being sensible of the near Conjunction of the Civil with the Ecclesiastical State which were often united into one Mycel-Synod or Great Council of the whole Nation wherein were made not only Civil Laws but also Ecclesiastical Canons or Constitutions respecting Religion and Discipline as well as Reformation of Manners I have set down both the one and the other whenever I thought they contained any Matter of more than ordinary Notice and as for those Synods or Councils which were wholly Ecclesiastical though I have not always expresly given you all the Canons they made yet I have not failed to refer the Reader for his farther Satisfaction to that rich Treasury of this kind of Knowledg Sir Henry Spelman's first Volume of Councils TO which I have likewise not only added the Succession of some Bishops and Abbots as far as I have found them in the Saxon Annals but have inserted from William of Malmesbury and other Writers whatever I could find relating to them or any other of the same Order remarkable for Learning or Piety especially the Arch-bishops of Canterbury and York whose Successions I have often supplied from other Authors wherein the Annals were silent NOR have I omitted the Foundations of the greater Monasteries as I met with them in the Annals no more than the other Foundations of the same kind set down in Monasticon Anglicanum yet still confining my self to such of them as were valued at 500 l. per annum or more at the time of their Dissolution And I hope no Man that is a Lover of Antiquity or the Honour of his Nation will look upon this as needless any more than the Foundations of our two famous Universities of which I have here given you the earliest Accounts I can find NEITHER do I suppose it will prove tedious if I have here likewise put down the Stories of some Miracles related by Bede and other Monks since I have done it with Moderation and where the Contexture of this Work would have seem'd Lame and Imperfect without it and I only give them you just as I find them leaving every one to make what Judgment he pleases of them I confess I am not satisfied that divers of those Relations swallowed by Bede and other Authors of Note are true they having been since discovered by Men of great Learning and Judgment to carry evident Marks of Forgery along with them such as is that of Joseph of Arimathea his Preaching the Gospel in England which hath been examined with great Accuracy by the Reverend and Learned Dr. Stillingfleet now Lord Bishop of Worcester in his Origines Britannicae so that though I have both from him and others said somewhat upon that Subject yet I must still refer the Reader to the Book it self if he desires farther Satisfaction either in gratifying his Curiosity or informing his Judgment BVT to the foregoing Relations I must needs here add that of the Martyrdom of St. Alban which though the Learned Author last named in his second Chapter of his said Book hath with great Learning proved it if not true yet at least probable I hope he will not take it amiss if I farther examine the Certainty of this Story for notwithstanding it be set down in the old Roman Martyrologies and his Suffering here is also mentioned by Constantius Presbyter who lived above one hundred Years before Bede from whom I have borrowed this yet I must Ingenuously confess I do not see how it can consist with the Ecclesiastical or Civil History of those Times in which it is supposed to have happened For Bede places the Suffering of St. Alban during the Persecution of Dioclesian and after the Recovery of Britain from the Vsurpation of Allectus WHEREAS it is evident from Chronology that Carausius the Vsurper having Anno Dom. 286. rebelled against the Roman Emperors held Britain under his Power for near seven
of the Northumbers which contained Lancashire Yorkshire the Bishoprick of Duresme Cumberland Westmorland Northumberland and part of Scotland as far as Edinburgh Frith THIS Kingdom after the Death of Ida was divided into two parts the first whereof containing all the Countries lying on this side the River Tyne was called the Kingdom of Deira and that on the other side of it was called Bernicia and so continued for several Descents till King Oswy about the Year 643. upon the Murder of King Oswin his Cousin again reduced them into one and they continued thus united till such time as the Southern Provinces were overrun by the Danes as the more Northern were by the Scots and have ever since remained part of that Kingdom and hence it is the Low-Lands of Scotland that is all the Countrey from the River Tyne to the Friths of Edinburgh and Dunbritton antiently spoke the English Saxon Tongue which in succeeding Times was changed into that English Dialect they call the Modern Scotch and consists of the old Saxon with no little mixture of the Danish Language this I suppose proceeded from the great Conquests and settling so many of that Nation in those Northern Parts THIS is in great measure confirmed by John of Wallingford publish'd by the Learned Dr. Gale where he relates that Keneth King of Scots received Lothian from King Edgar under the Condition of a Homage from himself and his Successors Kings of Scotland to the King of England as also that the People of that Countrey should enjoy their Laws and Customs as also the use of the English Tongue BUT as for the true and genuine Scotish which they now call the Speech of the Highlanders because by them only spoken at this day it is no other than the antient Irish which the Scots brought over with them from thence when they first came over to inhabit there as you will find in the Beginning of Bede's History THE sixth Kingdom was that of the East-Angles which contained Norfolk Suffolk Cambridgshire with the Isle of Ely THE seventh was that of the Mercians containing Gloucestershire Herefordshire Worcestershire Warwickshire Leicestershire Rutlandshire Northamptonshire Lincolnshire Huntingtonshire Bedfordshire Buckinghamshire Oxfordshire Staffordshire Shropshire Nottinghamshire Cheshire and part of Hertfordshire BUT as for the Names of the Kings who reigned in each of these Kingdoms till they were all brought under that of the West-Saxons I shall refer you to the Tables at the end of the third fourth and fifth Books of this Volume wherein you have at one view all the Kings that succeeded in each of those Periods as also those of that part of Britain we now call Wales and for the more exact Chronology of the first British Princes I must own my self obliged to the exact account of the Right Reverend the present Lord Bishop of Bangor who I hope one day will let the World see some of his Learned Labours on that Subject THIS is a short Scheme of the several Kingdoms into which that Part of Britain we now call England was divided in the Saxon Times I should next proceed to the particular Laws and Forms of Government in each respective Kingdom but since we have no Remains of those left us for want of Letters before the Preaching of Christianity here we can only say in the general that without doubt each of these Kingdoms had its own particular Laws and Customs and tho they might perhaps differ one from the other in some Points yet they all agreed in the main as to the most Material and Fundamental Constitutions of their Government and long received Laws and Customs before ever they arrived in England as proceeding from the same Common Ancestors AND tho the English-Saxons were not immediately derived from the Germans but Goths as you will find in the third Book of this Volume yet since even the Germans themselves were derived from the same Gothick Original with all the rest of those Northern People as the Sweeds Danes and Norwegians as appears by the Agreement of their Language Customs and Laws I shall therefore suppose that in the main likewise they agreed with the Antient Germans as they are described by Tacitus in their Laws Manners and Religion and therefore I shall from him give you some of the most considerable of them as they are collected by Mr. Selden in his Learned Treatise called Jani Anglorum Facies altera THE first of which is In conciliis Rex vel Princeps prout Aetas cuique prout Nobilitas prout Decus Bellorum prout Facundia est audiuntur Auctoritate suadendi magis quà m jubendi potestate Si displicuit Sententia fremitu aspernantur sin placuit frameas concutiunt Honoratissimum assensûs Genus est Armis laudare Which for the Benefit of the Common Readers I will take upon me to translate into English viz. IN their Councils the King or some principal Person according to every one's respective Age Nobility Reputation in Arms or Eloquence are heard rather by the Authority of Perswading than the Power of Commanding if their Opinions displeased them they shewed their dislike by their Clamour but if they approved of what was spoken they struck their Launces one against another This was thought the most Honourable way of giving their Assent to approve by Arms. THE second is Eliguntur in iisdem Conciliis Principes qui Jura per pagos vicosque reddunt Centeni singulis ex plebe Comites Consilium simul Auctoritas adsunt viz. IN those Councils such chief Men are Elected as judge Causes in Towns and Villages A hundred Assessors chosen out of the common People are added to each of them as well for Counsel as Authority From whence Mr. Selden here supposes our Hundreds had their Original which antiently consisted of the Masters of one hundred Families THE third goes on thus Nihil publicae vel privatae Rei nisi Armati agunt sed Arma sumere non antè cuiquam moris quam Civitas suffecturum probaverit Tum in ipso Concilio vel Principum aliquis vel pater vel propinquus scuto frameâque Juvenem ornant haec apud illos Toga hic primus juventae honos ante hoc Domus pars videntur mox Reipublicae viz. THEY transact nothing either of Publick or Private Concern without their Arms but it was not a Custom for any to assume those Arms before the Common-Wealth had approved of his Ability Then in this very Council either one of the principal Men or his Father or his near Kinsman adorned the Youth with the Shield and Lance. This served them instead of a Gown and was the first Honour of their Youth before they only seemed as part of the Family but now they became a Member of the Common-Wealth And here Mr. Selden discovers the first Footsteps of Knighthood THE fourth is Insignis Nobilitas aut magna patrûm merita Principis dignationem etià m Adolescentulis assignant viz. EMINENT Nobility or the signal Merits
the Saxons being invited by the Britains over hither ever mention their being sent by any of their Kings but only by the Saxon Nation in general and if it continued thus in Bede's Time it ought reasonably to be concluded that it was likewise so before their coming over unless any Man can shew me some better Authority than ever I have yet met with to the contrary AND that this likewise continued so not only in Bede's Time but many Years after may appear from this Testimony of Johan Pomarius in his Saxon Chronicle which tho written in Latin yet not being able as yet to procure the sight of it I shall give you what he says almost to the same effect out of Verstegan's Restitution of decayed Intelligence As for the General Government of the Countrey they ordained twelve Noble-men chosen from among others for their Worthiness and Sufficiency These in the Time of Peace rode their several Circuits to see Justice and good Customs observed and they often of Course â—t appointed Times met all together to consult and give Order in Publick Affairs but ever in Time of War one of these twelve was chosen to be King and so to remain as long only as the War lasted and that being ended his Name and Dignity of King also ceased and he became as before and this Custom continued among them until the Time of their Wars with the Emperor Charles the Great at which time Wittekind one of the Twelve as aforesaid a Nobleman of Angria in Westphalia bore over the rest the Name and Authority of King and he being afterwards by the means of the said Emperor converted to the Faith of Christ had by him his mutable Title of King turned into the induring Title and Honour of Duke and the eleven others were in like manner by the said Emperor advanced to the honourable Titles of Earls and Lords with Establishment for the continual remaining of these Titles and Dignities unto them and their Heirs of whose Descents are since issued the greatest Princes at this present in Germany FROM what now I have given you I think nothing is more evident than that the Government of the Antient English Saxons was rather Aristocratical than Monarchical and admitting they allowed the King they had set over them somewhat more Power than those Noblemen abovementioned by whom they where governed in their own Countrey in time of Peace yet was this Power of theirs far short of that absolute Dominion which Dr. Howell in his Discourse of the Polity of the English-Saxons supposes tho without any just Ground that these Kings enjoyed and therefore he would have it That the Government was Monarchical and that not only in respect of the particular Kingdoms during the Heptarchy which had their peculiar Kings but even of the whole Body of the Nation which was usually commanded by one of the Seven of all which Bede takes notice in his Time BUT if every one of these Kings were no more a Monarch than he who was sometimes Supream or Chief above the Rest I doubt he will fall very short of that Title which is not found either in Bede or in the Saxon Annals or yet in any other Antient Writer before the Conquest until the Time of King Edred BUT I have said enough to confute this Notion I hope in the Preface THE Doctor 's next Argument is from the Nature of the Monarchy which he says We must believe at the first followed the Condition of the Tenure absolute Conquests and Territories both got and held by the Sword alone usually producing absolute Governments which many times either by reason of the infirm Foundation laid by the Conquerors themselves the Humour of the People not induring such Subjection or other Accidents change into more Moderate and less Arbitrary That Hengest Aella and the other Captains where they first erected their Dominations governed their Souldiers whom now being Kings they called Subjects with as great Authority and as full Command as formerly we little doubt IN answer to this and to shew you that notwithstanding what this Author hath alledged we have still great reason to doubt the Truth of it as being founded on no Authority but rather the quite contrary appears I shall therefore only desire the Reader in the first place to take notice that it is no good Argument at all to say that because the Saxon Princes were Conquerors by the means of their Followers therefore they must have submitted themselves absolutely to their Dominion when the War was over FOR the better Proof of which I would farther intreat the Reader to observe FIRST That those Princes or Generals over the English-Saxons thô all of them were descended from Woden their Common Ancestor knew no such Power as that of Kings of Home according to Bede or if we believe Pomarius the Title of King lasted at the most no longer than the War nor could those Princes be made Kings by their own Nation before they came over since being only meer Souldiers of Fortune they had as yet conquered no Dominions from whence they could receive that Denomination so that then it must fall out that they could only be so by the Election of their Souldiers and Followers that came over along with them which may be also proved from the ensuing Annals themselves FOR first they call Hengest and Horsa the two Brothers who came over hither only Heretogan i.e. Leaders or Captains of the Jutes that accompanied them as you may see An. 449. of these Annals NOR secondly do they begin the Reign of Hengest till the Death of Horsa his Brother Anno 455. six Years after his coming over so that it is plain he could have no other Right to his Kingdom of Kent but the free Election of the People that came over with him or else followed him not long afterwards THE like I might say of all the rest of the Kingdoms of the Heptarchy for the same Reason were there no express Authorities to prove it which yet also are not wanting FOR as to the Kingdom of the West-Saxons which afterwards swallowed up all the rest our Annals Anno 495. tell us Of Cerdic and Cynric his Son their landing in Britain with five Ships and having fought with the Britains they about six Years after their coming over upon their conquering the Countrey of the West-Saxons became their first Kings which is further confirmed under Anno 519. where it is expresly related that Cerdic and Cynric then began their Reigns over the West-Saxon Kingdom So likewise in Anno 547. it is there said that Ida began first to reign from whom is derived the Royal Stock of the Northumbrian Kings AND yet we find from Nennius and Malmesbury and all our other Historians who treat of this Matter that Octa and Ebusa Son and Nephew to Hengest had landed in the Northern Parts of England not long after Hengest himself and having conquered those Countries they and their Descendants ruled there
Kingdom And further to confirm that Ordinatur here signifies the same with Eligitur see the Law abovementioned concerning the Election of the Mercian Kings the Title of it in Sir Henry Spelman's first Volume of Councils is de Ordinatione Regum i.e. of the Election of Kings AND that by this word Ordinatur cannot be meant any Lineal Succession in Ethelwerd will further appear from him where he says Post Obitum Athulfi Regis ordinati sunt filii ejus in Regnum which must be understood either an Appointment by the Father's Will or else a new Election since these Sons of King Aethelwulf could never be thus appointed or ordained Kings by the Law of Lineal Succession because each of these Brothers except the Eldest left Sons BUT William of Malmesbury does likewise as good as own that King Egbert came in by Election when he says that upon the Death of Brytrich Egbert at the frequent Solicitations of his Countrey-men coming over into Britain Móxque imperare jussus Patriae Desideriis satisfecit being immediately commanded to reign did thereupon satisfy the Desires of his Countrey Now I would fain know if he had come in by virtue of a Lineal Descent why he should have needed the being commanded to reign since he ought rather to have commanded their Allegiance as his Due AND either to this Time or rather to the latter end of this King 's Reigny as you may find in the ensuing History I suppose may be referred what the Author of the Mirror of Justices in the very beginning of the Book says concerning the first Election of a King to reign over the rest of the Saxon Sovereign Princes viz. That forty of them made him to swear that he would maintain the Holy Christian Faith with all his Power and govern his People according to Right without regard to any Person and that he should be liable to suffer Right i. e. Judgment as well as others of his People THIS Passage tho it be accounted by some of but a doubtful Authority because of the forty Princes abovementioned whereas we never read of above seven or eight Saxon Kings to have reigned at once and those â—oo were by this Egbert reduced to three besides himself viz. the East-Angles Mercia and Northumberland yet if by the Princes here mentioned we understand not Sovereign Princes but Ealdormen of Counties and Great Cities who as Mr. Selden shews us in his Titles of Honour are commonly stiled in the old Saxon Charters Principes and by this Author in his French Original rendred Princes these meeting together in a Great Council did as the chief Magistrates of the Cities and Counties from whence they came injoin the King this Oath which was taken at the General Council mentioned in the ensuing History under Anno 803 or else 828. This Passage in the Mirrour of Jâ—sticâ—s if it were taken out of some old Saxon Monument now lost as I have great reason to believe it was since the Laws which he here relates concerning King Alfred are admitted by the Learned Author of the Notes upon his Life printed at Oxford to have been transcribed by him from some Antient Commentaries of that King which Laws he there a little after recites I say this Passage may serve as a great Proof not only of this King's Election to be the Chief or Supream King of all England but also it gives us the Original Contract if I may so call it which he then entred into with this Nation at the time of his Election and Coronation TO Egbert succeeded Athelwulf his Son who though I grant it is no where said that he was Elected yet if his Father were so as it is most evident he was it is not likely that the Kingdom should become Successive in one Descent especially if we consider the manner of all his five Sons coming to the Kingdom either in his Life-time or after him FOR as to Athelstane his eldest Son on whom he bestowed almost as soon as he came to the Crown the Kingdom of Kent with the South and East-Saxons I have proved in the ensuing History from Matthew Westminster and other Authors that he was Illegitimate and so could have no Legal Right of Succession nor does it seem probable he should be set over those Kingdoms by his Father without any previous Election or Consent of those People AND as for his other four Legitimate Sons Ethelbald the Eldest of them did by the General Consent of the King and the whole Nation which amounts to an Election divide the Kingdom with his Father he himself enjoying that of the West-Saxons whilst his Father ruled over the rest And by the virtue of his Testament confirmed likewise by the General Consent of the Kingdom Ethelbald remained only King of the West-Saxons whilst Ethelbert his second Brother reigned in Kent as also over the East and South-Saxons which had been his Brother Aethelstane's share who died without Issue for ought we can find BUT after King Ethelbald's Death Ethelbert succeeded in the whole Kingdom and he likewise dying Ethelred his Brother succeeded him after whose Death also Alfred the youngest Brother came to the Throne THIS short Account is the Truth of the Matter of Fact yet there requires a great deal to be said to have it well understood since Dr. Brady in his true and exact History of the Succession of the Crown Vol. 1. of his Introduction will needs derive the whole Right which these Princes had to the Kingdom from the Entail of it by their Father's Will abovementioned and if the Testament of a King then Regnant could dispose of the Crown to the prejudice of the Right Heirs by Lineal Descent I desire this Learned Antiquary to satisfy us how this could consist with his supposed Right of Lineal Succession at the same Time BUT the Truth is this worthy Doctor as well as the Author of the great Point of Succession discussed here deal with us like some crafty Witnesses who indeed speak the Truth but not the whole Truth if they find it will make against them For the Doctor in the first Place conceals and the nameless Author of the other Pamphlet either wilfully or ignorantly positively denies that King Alfred's three elder Brothers who reigned before him left any Issue Male whereas it is most certain that two of them if not all Three left Sons behind them for Athelm and Aethelwold to whom King Alfred by his Testament bequeaths divers Lands therein mentioned under the Title of his Brother's Sons are supposed by the Learned Author of the Notes upon his Life to have been the Children of King Ethelbald his eldest Brother tho whether they were so or no I will not be so confident as to affirm But that they were either the Sons of Ethelbald or Ethelbert is most certain and consequently they ought to have reigned before him who was but their Uncle AS for King Ethelred he had
him Jure Haereditario i. e. by Hereditary Right viz. by Virtue of his Father King Ethelwulf's Will therefore when the Crown fell to King Alfred by virtue of that Entail Abbot Ailred expresly says ad Eum totum Regnum jure Haereditario transiit c. And yet King Alfred could not be Lineal Heir to his Brothers since they both left Sons behind them as hath been already observed AND in the same Sense King Edward the Confessor in the Preface to his Charter to the Abbey of Westminster which you may find at large in Monast. Anglican having recited the Miseries the Nation had undergone from Wars raised by Strangers which were to that extremity Adeo ut pene periclitata sit haereditaria Regum Successio magnúmque esset interstitium inter fratrem meum Edmundum qui Patri meo successit méque habitum sit invadentibus Regnum Sweyno Cnuto filio ejus c. where you may observe he calls his own Succession to his Brother Haereditaria Successio and yet his Brother left a Son behind him who was Living when he was chosen King Thus also Eadmerus relates that Duke William claimed the Crown of England Jure Haereditario from King Edward the Confessor's Testament but certainly the Duke could have no pretence to it by Right of Blood being no ways descended from the English-Saxon Kings SO that it is a manifest Errour in some of our Modern Writers of the Succession who will needs understand these words jus Haereditarium to have been used in the same Sense in those as they have been taken in later Ages since the Crown came to be claimed by a Lineal Descent of Blood But indeed Eadmerus his Sense of these words is most agreeable to the Civil Law wherein he is called HAERES EXASSE who comes in as Heir by Testament to the whole Inheritance tho no way related to the Testator for that Law describes an Heir thus Haeredis significatione omnes significari Successores etsi verbis non expressi And therefore our Bracton derives the word Haeres ab Haereditamento for says he Inheritance is a Succession to all the Right which the Predecessor he does not say Ancestor enjoyed from whence you may observe that in Bracton's Time this word Haeres was not even by our Law limited only to an Heir by Blood or Descent HAVING said thus much of our Saxon Kings Accession to the Throne as far as King Alfred I shall in the next Place proceed to give you the Succession of all the rest down to the pretended Conquest from the most Antient Authors who lived either a good while before or else not long after that Time before Men's Minds became prejudiced by those Notions of Lineal Succession which began to be in Vogue about the Time of Edward the Third when the Crown had descended from Father to Son for four Descents tho not without somewhat that was tantamount to an Election in that Prince himself TO King Alfred succeeded his Son King Edward the Elder who not having the Crown bequeathed to him as his Father had viz. by Will confirmed by an Act of the Great Council was fain to be Elected as Ethelwerd expresly tells us in these words Successor equidèm Monarchiae post filius supra memorati Regis coronatur ipse Stemmate Regali à Primatis ELECTVS Pentecostis in die that is afterwards Edward the Son of the abovementioned King being Successor of the Monarchy was Crowned and being descended of the Blood Royal was Elected by the Chief Men of the Kingdom on the day of Pentecost i. e. Whitsunday AFTER this Edward's Decease Aethelstan his Son succeeded him whom most Antient Writers as well in Print as Manuscript relate to have been begot of a Concubine and therefore could have no Legal Right and tho William of Malmesbury endeavours to palliate it yet he is almost forced to confess it at last by saying Sed Ipse praeter hanc Notam si tamen vera est nihil ignobile habuit i. e. that he had no other Mark of ill upon him but this if it were true BUT tho Dr. Brady will have this Prince to have succeeded wholly by virtue of his Father's Will and cites William of Malmesbury for it who he says has these words 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 yet he might have been so fair and ingenuous as to have given us the words that are in the very beginning of this Chapter in the same Author viz. Itáque magno Consensu Optimatum ibidèm Athelstanus ELECTVS apud Regiam Villam quae vocatur Kingston Coronatus est i. e. That thereupon by the General Consent of the Chief Men or Estates of the Kingdom Athelstan being Elected was Crowned at the Royal Town of Kingston but this did not agree with the Doctor 's Hypothesis and so I suppose he thought it best to leave it out THIS Passage was borrowed by William of Malmesbury from a much Antienter Author viz. the Compiler of the Saxon Annals who under Anno 925. expresly tells us That he was Electus in Regem apud Cingestune Consecratus Elected King and Anointed at Kingston from both which it appears that the Election and Consecration were then two different Actions AFTER Athelstan succeeded Edmund his Brother and indeed ought to have been King before him he being Legitimate whereas the other was only a Natural Son BUT he dying and leaving two Sons behind him Edwy and Edgar neither of them but Edred King Edmund's younger Brother was advanced to the Throne which how it could be done unless by Election I confess I do not understand and therefore this might be omitted as to this Prince as well as the Coronation of King Edgar and other of our English-Saxon Kings are both by our Annals and Antient Historians for I must own I cannot find that the word Electus is used in his Advancement to the Throne for Ethelwerd tells us expresly ejus Successor extitit Eadred in Regnum suus quippe frater that Eadred his Successor obtained the Kingdom because he was his own Brother AND in this he is followed by Florence of Worcester who expresses it thus Edredus proximus haeres fratris succedens Regnum suscepit Edred succeeding as next Heir to his Brother enjoyed the Kingdom Dr. Brady in his above-cited Treatise will needs solve this open Breach of a Lineal Succession by the Nonage of King Edmund's Sons and the Nation 's then being under great Difficulties The former of these I grant to be a good Excuse but as for the latter it was not at all true since King Edmund by subduing both Northumberland and Cumberland driving the Danes out of the one and delivering the other to the King of Scots to be enjoyed as his Vassal had thereby sufficiently settled the Peace of the Nation so that let the
Doctor take his choice and either allow this King to have succeeded by Election or else if by Succession it was no Lineal one as the Doctor would maintain because these Historians tell us he succeeded his Brother as next Heir when at the same time they confess too that he left two Sons behind him and if the Nation 's lying then under great Difficulties will be a good Warrant to set by a Right Heir I desire he would be pleased to satisfy me why it may not always be a justifiable Reason to make a Breach upon the Succession in the like Cases AS for Edwy Nephew to this King indeed I do not find any thing mentioned in the Annals or other printed Authors of his Election yet the Antient Manuscript Life of Arch-bishop Odo now in the Cottonian Library and which seems to have been written by some Monk not long after that Time says expresly Edwigus Filius Aedmundi in Regem ELECTVS est Nor indeed could he succeed as Heir to his Uncle for his Lineal Right was before him nor does the Expression commonly used in the Saxon Annals viz. FENG to RICE which is rendered in the Latin by capessit Regnum signify any thing concerning the manner of this or any other King 's coming to the Crown These being as the Doctor himself acknowledges the usual Saxon and Latin words by which the Succession is expressed being variously rendered by Translators by Regnum capessit successit or Electus est and thus we likewise find the same words are used in the Annals to express King Aethelstan's and Eadred's nay Harold's Accession to the Throne tho it is evident none of them could claim by any Lineal Succession AND these are not the only words made use of in the Saxon Chronicle when an Election is signified for An. 1015 we find these words concerning the Election of K. Edmund Ironside that the Wites or Wise Men who were at London and the Citizens Gecuron Eadmund to Cynge i. e. chose Edmund King So likewise Anno 1036. concerning the Election of Harold Harefoot that all the Thanes North of Thames and the Seamen of London Gecuron Harold to rule over all England the same word we also find Anno 1066. where after the words FENG to RICE abovementioned these likewise follow and eac men Hine haer to Gecâ—ron i. e. all Men Elected him viz. Harold to the Crown AND that there may be no dispute about the meaning of this word Gecuron we find it often used in these Annals for the Election of the Pope as e. g. Anno 1054. upon the Death of Pope Leo Victor waes gecuron to Papan So likewise Anno 1057. upon the Death of Victor waes Stephanus Gecoren to Papan and I think the Doctor might with as much appearance of Truth have maintained that the Saxon word Gecaron here rendred by the Latin Electus in these Annals signified not the Election but Recognition of the Pope as to assert as he does with so much Confidence that Eligerunt in all Historians signifies no more than Recognoverunt when used concerning our English Saxon Kings i. e. the Subjects acknowledged owned or submitted to him as their King as he says concerning King Edgar and others BUT King Edwy being cast off by the Mercians and Northumbers our Annals inform us that Eadgar Aetheling FENG TO RICE i. e. succeeded to the Mercian Kingdom which yet was no otherwise than by Election for an Antient Manuscript Life of Arch-bishop Dunstan written before the Conquest and now in the Cottonian Library shews us plainly that both the Mercians and Northumbers Elected him for their King the words are these Hoc ità que Omnium Conspiratione relicto eligêre sibi Domino dictante Eadgarum ejusdem Germanum in Regem i. e. This King Edwy by the Consent of all Men being thus deserted they chose the Lord directing them Eadgar his Brother for their King AND hereupon the Kingdom becoming divided between him and the King his Brother that Division was also confirmed by a publick Act of the Estates as the same Author testifies Sicque Vniverso populo testante Publica Res Regum ex Definitione Sagacium segregata est ità ut famosum Flumen Thamensis Regnum disterminavit Amborum tunc Edgarus à praedicto populo sic sortitus ad Regnum c. i. e. So that all the People being Witnesses each of these King's shares were apportioned and set out by the Decree of the Wites or Wise Men and the Noble River of Thames was the Boundary of both their Kingdoms then Edgar was advanced to the Kingdom by the aforesaid People BUT Edwy dying not long after the same Author relates of this Edgar that Regnum illius velut aequus haeres ab utróque populo ELECTVS suscepit that is that upon his Death Edgar as Right Heir being Elected both by Clergy and Laity succeeded to his Kingdom FROM whence we may observe that the same Person who is here called the Right Heir yet needed an Election upon his Brother's Death to confirm his Title and gain him an Admission to the Throne of the whole Kingdom which is also confirmed by Florence of Worcester whose Citation the Doctor himself here makes use of thus Ab omni Anglorum populo Electus Regnum suscepit which shews that a new Election by all the People of England was necessary tho he was King of part of it before AFTER the Death of King Edgar our Historians tell us there was a Contest between Prince Edward and his Brother Ethelred concerning their Succession to the Crown which says William of Malmesbury was set on foot by Elfrida the Wife of King Edgar and Mother-in-Law to Edward which divers of our Authors tell us was because those of her Faction pretended that Egelfrida the Mother of Prince Edward was never married to King Edgar for otherwise there could have been no Colour why the elder Son should not be preferred before the Younger especially since he was also recommended by his Father's Will and indeed it is left very much in the dark whether the Lady last mentioned were ever Edgar's lawful Wife or not For the Annals and more Antient Historians are wholly silent in it nor does any Writer make mention of that Lady as King Edgar's Wife till John of Wallingford who lived in the Reign of King Henry the Third BUT be it as it will whether Prince Edward was Legitimate or not his Father however had left him as Florence of Worcester says Heir of his Kingdom as well as of his Vertues yet we also learn from Simeon of Durham that Quidam Regis filium Edwardum Quidam illius fratrem eligerunt Ethelredum quam ob causam Archipraesules Dunstanus Oswaldus cum Co-episcopis Abbatibus Ducibusque quamplurimis in unum convenerunt Edwardum ut pater ejus praeceperat eligerunt electum consecrarunt in Regem unxerunt Some Elected Edward the King's Son Edmund some his Brother Ethelred wherefore the Arch-Bishops
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
probably it might have been practised in their own Kingdoms or used it as they found it here practised by the Saxon Kings Or whether the Authorities I have already cited do not expresly prove that every one of the three Danish Kings came in by Election and that Harold Harefoot was the only Prince of those Three who could make any pretence to it by Testament AND as for the Saxon Kings that reigned before them how far they by their last Wills alone could dispose of or entail the Crown without the concurrent Assent and Consent of the Great Council of the Kingdom I refer the Reader to that part of King Alfred's Will I have here made use of for his farther Satisfaction if he have still any doubt left about it I have now dispatched this exact and faithful History of the Succession of our English Saxon Kings in which I am not conscious to my self that I have either added or diminished any thing material to or from the Authors which I have made use of I desire to be believed that I have not wrote this to prove that the Succession to the Crown ought at this day to be Elective in the same manner as it was before the Conquest but only to obviate and remove the false Opinions or Prejudices of some Men who by the plausible Representations of the Doctor and others have been so far prepossessed as to believe that an Hereditary Succession to the Crown hath been as Antient as the Monarchy it self whereas we find that Sweden and Denmark have from Elective become Hereditary Kingdoms in a much less space of Time And I suppose no Man of those Countries would asperse any Writer there of being an Enemy to Monarchy for asserting so evident a Truth and therefore I hope I may find the same fair Quarter at Home notwithstanding the Doctor 's Insinuations before his abovecited History of the Succession of the Crown That none but Papists Fanaticks or Common-Wealth's Men a List of whose Works he there gives us would dare to write for or maintain this Opinion But if Parsons the Jesuit has happened in his Discourse of the Succession to write some Truths concerning it I am no more to be thought Jesuitical for following not him but the Authors from whom he took them than I should be if I had wrote a Mathematical Dissertation founded upon Demonstrations from Euclid which had been before made use of by Tacquet or any other Learned Jesuit that has wrote upon that Subject AFTER the Election I shall say somewhat of the Coronation of our English Saxon Kings which sometimes was performed on the same Day on which they were Elected and sometimes several Days nay Months after as appears by the Coronation of King Edward the Confessor who tho he were Chosen King in June not long after his Brother Hardecnut's Decease yet was he not Crowned till the Easter following as you will find in the Saxon Annals under the Years 1041 1042. But Harold his Successor to make the Crown the surer was Elected and Crowned the same Day This Solemnity of the Coronation was most commonly performed by the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury yet was it not at first done in the Church but in the open Air thus the Kings Athelstan Edmund and Edred are expresly mentioned by our Historians to have been Crowned in the Market Place of Kingston upon Thames and I suppose the like had been used in the Coronation of former Kings since it is not taken notice of as an Innovation BUT to say somewhat of the forms of those Crowns which our Kings then wore it appears from their Coins that they were at first no other than Diadems like those of the Greek Emperors in that Age and from whom they were borrowed thus Offa King of the Mercians is Graven on his Coin with a Diadem of Pearls about his Head but our great King Alfred has no more than a bare Head-band or Circle which seems to have been tied behind as you may see in his Coins And tho I confess there is also a Coin of one K. Egbert with a Coronet of Rayes upon his Head yet that this was not of our K. Egbert but rather of him that was King of Northumberland who began to reign An. 867 I rather incline to believe As for King Edward the Elder he has in his Coins only a kind of Diadem upon his Helmet King Athelstà n Edmund and Eadred his Brothers being the first of our West-Saxon Kings who wore Crowns with three Rayes or Points higher than the rest and therefore I look upon it as a Fiction in them who will needs have it that K. Alfred was Crowned with a Crown wrought with Flower de Lices because such a Crown was kept among the Regalia at Westminster before our late Civil Wars in a Box upon whose Cover was this Inscription Haec est Principalior Corona cum qua Coronabantur Reges Aelfredus Edwardus c. Which having been the Crown of Edward the Confessor it was very easy for the Monks of that Church who kept those Regalia in after times to inscribe what they pleased upon this Box since it added so much to the Antiquity and Reputation of this Crown and I am the more inclined to this Opinion because I find King Cnute and Edward the Confessor to be the first Kings who wore Diadems adorned with Flower-de-Lices as appears by their Coins I shall in the next Place say somewhat of the Titles by which our West-Saxon Kings stiled themselves in their Laws and Charters and to begin with King Egbert however Supreme he were over all the rest of the Kings then reigning in England yet we cannot find that he stiled himself more than Rex West-Saxonum in any of his Charters for as for Laws we have none of his left us The like I may say for his Successors Ethelwolf and his Sons and Grandsons as far as King Athelstan who for ought I can find was the first Prince that upon his Victories over the Danes and Scots changed his Title of Rex West-Saxonum or Anglorum alone which was used by his Predecessors to this that follows Ego Aethelstanus Rex Anglorum per omnipotentis Dextram totius Britanniae Regno sublimatus as you will find it in his Charter in William of Malmesbury de Gestis Pontif. as also in the same Place you will find this King's Title to have somewhat varied for on a rich Box or Shrine given by this King to keep the Relicts of the Saints in was engraven this Inscription Ego Aethelstanus totius Britanniae multarum nationum in circuitu positarum Imperator c. which Title was also made use of by his Brother King Edmund only instead of Imperator he stiles himself Gubernator Rector as appears by his Charter to the Church of Glastonbury set down by the same Author above-mentioned in his Antiquity of the Church of Glastonbury which was also used by King Edgar tho with some difference
who instead of Rector Rex stiled himself totius Albionis Basileus in divers Charters but this proceeded from the corrupt Stile of that Time or else the particular Fancy of the Clerk or Monk who drew the Charter And tho instead of this word Basileus King Ethelred his Son again made use of Rex yet the rest of the Title remained the same and was also continued by King Knut however he sometimes stiled himself Rex totius Albionis Insulae aliarum Nationum plurimarum What Titles his Sons had I do not find because I have not seen any of their Charters only we may here observe that several Kings before Cnute stiled themselves Kings not only of Albion or Britain but of several other Nations round about by which could only be meant that Superiority they assumed at that time over the Kings of Scotland Wales and Northumberland before that Country was reduced into the form of a Province and was governed by Earls I now come in the next place to give you an Account of the chief Powers and Prerogatives of our English-Saxon Kings some of which I find set down in our Saxon Annals at the end of the Year 693 at the Council of Becanceld where the Arch-bishop of Canterbury thus defines them in his Decree at the Conclusion of that Council Regum est says he constituere Comites Duces Vice-Comites Judites it is the Office of Kings to constitute Earls Ealdormen Sheriffs and Judges TO which we may also add the Power of Coining Money which being then the Prerogative of the Crown was granted by Charter to the Arch-bishops of Canterbury and York as likewise to the Abbots of Medeshamsted or Peterborough and to several other Abbies as may be seen in Monasticon Anglicanum as well as in the Annals themselves Some Instances of which I have given you in the ensuing History not omitting some of the Coins which are still preserved in Cabinets some of whose Figures are to be found in the Collection of Saxon Coins before King Alfred's Life as also before the new Edition of Camden's Britannia BUT that any of those Kings had Power by their own Royal Prerogative to enhance or debase the intrinsick Value of the Money coined either in their own or other Mints I can no ways believe since such a Prerogative would have highly tended to the Loss and Defrauding of the Subject for which that Power was never designed nor do I find our Kings ever assumed this Prerogative to themselves till later Ages And in Confirmation of this the Mirror of Justices recites it as an old Law of the Saxon Times that no King of this Realm could change embase or enhance his Money or make other Coin than of Silver san's l'assent de touts ses Counties i. e. without the Assent of Parliament as Sir Edward Coke in his second Institutes hath on very good grounds interpreted this Expression in that Author Andrew Horne who lived in the Reign of King Edward I. TO these we may further add that of pardoning Offendors their Lives in several Cases such as striking in the King's Palace c. which he might also take in Case of Homicides but still reserving the Wiregilds or Compensations that were to be made to the Friends or Relations of the Parties slain which it was not in his Power to release as appears by several Passages in our Saxon Laws some of which I have inserted in this Volume whence I suppose are derived the Appeals of the Wife Son or Brother in Cases of Murder at this day BUT as for the Power of making War or Peace since I find little said of it in our Histories I shall not be positive in asserting any thing concerning it only shall observe that in every Peace made by the King upon Payment of Money the Consent of the Estates of the Kingdom was required for Taxes could not be raised without it as you will find in our Annals under the Years 994 1002 1006 1011 when that extraordinary Tax of Danegelt was raised to be paid to the Danes for purchasing a Peace of them And as for the Power of making Foreign War that could also signify little since those Kings had not the Prerogative of raising Money without the Consent of their People any more than our Kings have at this day nor were their Revenues so much in Money as in Provisions for their Houshold NOR can I omit here taking notice that the English Saxon Kings wanted one great Prerogative which ours exercise at this day viz. the power of granting away the Demesnes of the Crown even to pious Uses without the Consent to the great Council of their Kingdoms and of this we find a remarkable Instance in Sir H. Spelman's first Vol. of Councils where Baldred King of Kent had given the Mannor of Mallings to Christ-Church in Canterbury but because the chief Men of his Kingdom i. e. the Great Council had not consented to it it was revoked until K. Egbert afterwards by the Consent of his WITTENA GEMOT made a new Grant thereof and this was also the reason why the Foundations and Infeodations of Abbies were always confirmed and attested by all the Estates as well Spiritual as Temporal as you will find by most of their Charters in Monast. Anglican of which I have inserted some Examples in the History it self so that I shall leave it to the Reader 's Consideration whether those Princes that could not dispose of their Crown-Lands without the Consent of the Great Council of the Kingdom could without the like Consent dispose of the Crown it self as they pleased as Dr. Brady in his History of the Succession c. asserts tho without any just Grounds as hath been already proved BUT those Kings great Prerogative chiefly consisted in giving their Sanction to all Laws that were made as well relating to Civil as Ecclesiastical Matters that did not concern Doctrines of Faith but this is still to be so understood that this Prerogative could never be exerted without the Advice and Consent of the Mycel-Gemot or Great Council of the Realm at which tho they were often first drawn up into Form and then proposed by the King yet was their Authority also necessary for the enacting of those Laws without which they could no ways oblige the Subject as shall be further shewn towards the end of this Discourse BUT since I have given you so large an Account how our Kings then obtained the Crown it may perhaps be expected I should say somewhat now concerning the manner of their losing it sometimes by other ways than Death IN order to this I desire the Reader would observe that not only in England but in all the Kingdoms of Europe that were raised upon the Ruins of the Roman Empire after the Gothic Model the same mix'd manner of Succession partly by Testament partly by Election did in those days chiefly prevail Of which Monsieur Mezeray himself is so sensible that in his
Abridgment of the History of France he freely owns That during the Kings of the first Race they were still chosen out of the Royal Family but that there were three Conditions required to it 1. Birth thô whether they were legitimate or no it matter'd not 2. The last Will of the Father 3. The Consent of the Great Men or Estates of the Kingdom and the last of these says he almost ever followed the two former Moreover that in all those Kingdoms where this way of Election was in use their Kings were so far from being absolute Monarchs that they were accountable for their Tyranny or Male-Administration to the Estates of the Kingdom and were by them liable to be deposed for the same Of which were it to my present purpose I could give you frequent Examples not only in Denmark and Sweden in both which Kingdoms that Law was in force till within this last Century when they became successive in a Lineal Descent by an Act of all the Estates but also in Castile and Arragon and even in that of France it self as much as she takes upon her to be Absolute at this day and for the Proof of this I shall refer you to any French History Those famous Examples of the last Childerick's being Deposed by the great Council or Assembly of the Estates of France who elected Pepin King in his room and also their setting aside Charles Duke of Lorrain tho the undoubted Heir of the Crown by Blood only for his supposed Enmity to the French Nation and their choosing Hugh Capet for their King from whom all the Kings of France from that time have been so far as we know lineally descended renders this a Truth too notorious to be denied THIS I have here mentioned that so you may not wonder if in the ensuing History you meet with divers Examples of the English Saxons deposing their Kings since the same Custom did in those Ages prevail in all those Kingdoms as a part of their Original Constitution AND for farther Proof of this tho I could bring several Instances from the Mercians and Northumbers yet because the latter were look'd upon as of a Rebellious Disposition against their Princes and for the former it may be said that those they expelled were Usurpers and not lawful Kings I shall therefore content my self with mentioning but two Examples concerning our West-Saxon Kings which you will find hereafter more at large The first is that of Sigebert who as the Saxon Annals inform us Anno 752. for his unryhtum Daedum i.e. illegal Practices or as Hen. Huntington paraphrases it for his Oppression and wresting the Laws to his own Advantage was by all the Wites or Wise and Great Men of West-Saxony deprived of his Kingdom and Cenwolf his Kinsman was by them elected in his room The next is that of King Edwy who for his loose and irregular Life tho chiefly for persecuting the Monks being cast off or deposed by the Mercians and Northumbers his Brother Edgar was chosen to succeed him but yet the Kingdom was divided and Edwy had only West-Saxony for his share And both this Deposition and Division were confirmed by an Act of the Estates of the whole Kingdom as I have already shewn BUT whether this was lawfully and rightfully done for any real Breach of their Original Contract it is none of my Business here to decide it is sufficient to shew that the Estates of those Countries then judged so not that I maintain the Law is or ought to be so at this day but that it was so before the Conquest pray consider this Law which tho found among those that go under the Title of Edward the Confessor yet was certainly much more Antient as containing not only the Office of an English King but what he was to suffer in case he omitted that Duty I shall give it you from the Latin Original in Hoveden and Lambard in these words Rex qui est vicarius summi Regis ad haec est constitutus ut Regnum terrenum Populum Domini super omnia sanctam veneretur ejus Ecclesiam regat ab injuriosis defendat maleficos ab ea evellat destruat penitùs disperdat Quod nisi fecerit nec Regis Nomen in eo constabit i.e. not so much as the Name of a King shall remain to him Here you see not only the Substance of this Original Contract but also the Penalty annex'd to it if it were broken AND that there was such a thing as an Original Compact or Contract between the People of England and the Ancestors of those Kings according to which they were to govern and upon the non-performance of which they were liable to forfeit or lose their Crowns I think may farther be proved tho what the particular Heads of it were we cannot now exactly tell unless they were those mentioned in the Oath recited in the Mirror at the Election of the first Saxon Sovereign whether he were Egbert or any other which indeed amounts to a Contract but there was also a Compact of the like Nature in the Kingdom of the West-Saxons before King Egbert's Time as well as after for how else could the Great Council of the Kingdom proceed against King Sigebert or Edwy if there had not been then some known Laws or Constitutions upon the Violation of which they were judged uncapable to govern any longer And tho the chief Heads of that Contract may have been comprized in King Ethelred's Coronation-Oath which I have already given you the first Article of which is to preserve the Holy Church and all Christian People in true Peace at all Times the second To restrain all Violence and Injustice in all sorts of People which comprehends any raising of Taxes by the King's Officers contrary to Law and the third To observe Equity and Mercy in all his Judgments by which the King is withheld from taking away any of his Subjects Lives arbitrarily as also from pardoning notorious Offenders against the State at his meer Pleasure so that the Religion Estates and Lives of his People were by this Oath well secured I say tho these are the chief Heads of this Contract yet that this was much more Antient than the Ceremony of a Coronation may appear from hence THAT Kingly Government is this Island was never Absolute nor Despotical but always limited by Laws and if limited then those Laws must have been the Bounds or Conditions of that Limitation and if there was from the beginning or first Institution of the Government a constant certain great Council ordained whose Business it was to observe that the King did not transgress the due Bounds of his Power that Council so long as the Kingdom continued Elective had likewise Authority to call him to Account for his Male-Administration BUT since the Preaching of Christianity did no ways alter the Original Constitution of Government in all those seven Kingdoms above-mentioned it follows
that there must have been an Original Contract precedent to the entrance of that Religion And it did not commence from the Coronation of our Kings as some have imagined and consequently from their taking an Oath at that Time to observe the Laws of the Kingdom because both the one and the other was much later than the Preaching of the Gospel it self for this Ceremony of a Coronation as Mr. Selden learnedly proves began no earlier in the West than with Charles the Great his receiving his Imperial Crown from the Hands of the Pope and this Ceremony he also shews us was borrowed from the Greek Emperors who about Justinian or his Successor Justin's Time first introduced their Unction and Coronation by the Patriarch of Constantinople as he there makes out from a Passage of the Learned Onuphrius in these words Constantinopoli vel sub Justiniano vel post ejus statìm Obitum Electioni Imperatoris additum ut quam primùm Imperator renuntiatus esset à Patriarchâ Constantinopolitano in magna Bizantii Basilica Oleo Unctus Diademate Aureo redimeretur AND therefore what we find in our Saxon Chronicles or any other Historians concerning the Coronation of our English Saxon Kings must all of them have commenced since that Time NOW the Emperor Charles's Coronation above mentioned falling out in the Year 800 it is plain that the Coronation of our Kings could not be antienter than that Time which was near 450 Years after the Arrival of the Saxons in England and settling Kingly Government here and above 200 Years after the Preaching of Christianity so that this Coronation Oath seems to have been only a constant Renovation or Confirmation of this Original Contract at every new King's first Accession to the Throne and must have had if at all its Original long before that Time AND this also appears from the Instance of King Sigebert above-mentioned who was deprived of his Kingdom for the Breach of this Contract above forty Years before there was either any Emperor or King formally Crowned in these Western parts of Europe TO all which we may farther add that if our Annals and Historians may be credited it does not appear that several of our Danish Kings tho they were solemnly Elected were ever Crowned at all For as for King Cnute whose Election is mentioned in Florence of Worcester and other Authors to have been by many of the Bishops and Nobility at Southampton Anno Dom. 1015. yet are they all except Abbot Brompton's Chronicle which relates that he was Crowned by Living A. Bp of Canterbury silent as to his Coronation only that upon their swearing Fealty to him it is said he likewise swore to them Quod secundùm Deum seculum fidelis esset eis Dominus i.e. that according to the Laws of God and Man he would be a faithful Lord to them So likewise after the Death of Edmund Ironside the Author of Encomium Emmae says expresly that he was Elected King by the whole English Nation but that he was not admitted without a new Compact both Florence and Roger Hovenden inform us in these words viz. That when they had again accepted of him for their King and had sworn Fealty to him he likewise again pledged his Faith to them in this Form Accepto pignore de manu sua nuda cum juramentis à Principibus Danorum i. e. they received a Pledg or Promise from his bare or naked Hand together with the Oaths given by the chief Men of the Danes who it seems swore on the King's behalf that he would observe the Conditions he had made before with them BUT as for the Coronation of his Son Harold Harefoot that is expresly denied by the said Author of Encomium Emmae for he says that Elnoth or Agelnoth Arch-bishop of Canterbury flatly refused to crown him because he said he had taken an Oath not to anoint him King so long as the Children of Queen Emma were alive and that laying down the Crown and Scepter upon the High Altar he straitly forbad all the Bishops to crown Harold which so incensed him that he thenceforth despised his Episcopal Benediction BUT whether this Author who yet lived in that very Time might not write this out of Hatred to Harold's Memory as well as out of Love to Queen Emma and her Children I will not take upon me to determine since no Historian besides himself makes any mention of it for the antient History of Ramsey Abby written some time after the Conquest and now lately publish'd by Dr. Gale says expresly in the Title to Chapt. 94. That Harold was Consecrated i.e. Anointed King BUT that the English Nation before the Conquest believed that their Kings were obliged to govern them by Law i.e. according to the original Compact and that their Allegiance to them was then looked upon as wholly due on that Account our Annals seem to justify Anno Dom. 1014 when the English Wites or Wise Men both of the Clergy and Laity after the Death of Sweyn King of Denmark sent over a Message to King Ethelred being then retired into Normandy whereby they assured him That no Prince was dearer to them than their own natural Lord always provided Gif He hi rihtlicor healdan wolde thonne He aer dyde as it is in the Saxon i.e. if he would govern them more rightly i.e. according to Law for the future than he had done before whereupon he promised to be a faithful Lord to them i.e. a Prince keeping his Oath and Promise and redress all their Grievances if on their parts they would return to their Allegiance And thus by giving mutual Assurances he came Home and contracted a new Friendship or League with his People HAVING now got over these great Points of the manner of Succession and Deprivation of our Saxon Kings I shall next as briefly as I can run through all those Orders and Degrees of Men that did constitute this Common-Weal THE first Degree of Men beneath that of Kings was that of Aetheling or Prince of the Blood Royal being derived from the Saxon word Aethel which signifies Noble and Ing which being added to it signifies one derived from Royal Blood as appears by the Terminations of Names in the Saxon Genealogies set down in our Annals under Anno 449. and in several other Places and was common not only to the King 's Eldest Son but to all others nearly related to the Blood Royal and was a meer honorary Title without any Power or Jurisdiction annexed to it that I know of unless the King was at any time pleased to bestow it Nor can I here omit giving you the Names of two other principal Offices or Dignities of the Kingdom the one of which was Military the other Civil the former in Saxon was called CYNINGS HOLD in Latin Princeps Militiae i.e. General of all the King's Forces in times of War and thus we find King Alfred in his Will bequeaths a Legacy to Earl Ethelred
Civil Matters the words of this last King's Law run thus Ex omni Comitatu bis quotannis conventus agitor cui quidem illius Dioecesis Episcopus Senator intersunto quorum Alter Jura Divina humana alter populum edoceto IN every County let there be twice a Year an Assembly of the People whereat the Bishop of the Diocess and the Earl shall be present the one to direct in Divine the other in humane Matters WHICH so continued the Bishop and Earl sitting therein together until King William the Conqueror in a full Convention of his Arch-bishops Bishops Abbots and Temporal Lords commanded that Ecclesiastical Matters should thenceforth be handled by the Bishops in Courts of their own and not any more be discust amongst Secular Affairs IN this Court as well as in that of the Country according to the Laws of King Henry I. these Persons following were to be present as may appear by this Clause Intersint autèm Episcopi Comites Vicedomini Vicarii Centenarii Aldermanni Preafecti Praepositi Barones Vavassores Tungrevii caeteri terrarum Domini diligentèr intendentes nè malorum Impunitas aut Gravionum pravitas vel Judicum subversio solita miseros laceratione confiniant AGANTVR itâque primò debita verae Christianitatis Jura secundò Regis placita postremò Causae singulorum dignis satisfactionis expleantur Scil. Ecclesiastical Causes and Pleas of the Crown in the Turn but Private Causes in the County Court Vid. Coke 's 4 th Instit. 259 260. where you will find that THE Tourn is a Court of Record holden before the Sheriff the Antient Institution thereof was before Magna Charta to hear and determine all Felonies Death of Man excepted and Common Nusances See the Stat. Mag. Chart. c. 17. and the Exposition of the same in the 2 d. Instit. THE Stile of this Court is Curia Visus Franc. Domini Regis apud B. coram Vicecomite in Turno suo c. ibid. THE reason of which is because in this Court the Pledges or Sureties of every Decennary or Tithing were entred before the Court Leets were taken out of it and granted to particular Lords of Mannors which Sir H. Spelman in his Glossary supposes to have been done in the Reign of King Alfred but since I find nothing concerning these Court Leets till after the Conquest I shall defer the farther treating of them to that time I have no more to say of this Court but that it was also called the Folcmote and in which by Edward the Confessor's Laws all Freemen were to take the Oath of Allegiance or Fidelity to the King as appears by the Law it self Omnes Proceres Regni milites Liberi Homines totius Regni BRITANNIAE facere debent Fidelitatem Domino Regi in Pleno FOLCMOTO corà m Episcopis Regni c. YOU will likewise find in the same Law just preceding this an extraordinary Assembly of this Folcmote upon any sudden Danger which met on ringing of the Bells called in English Motbel and there they were to consult how to prevent the Danger THE second of these Courts was called the County-Court and was also very Antient and to be held once every Month by the Shireeve as from K. Edward the Elder 's Laws appeareth Praepositus quÃsque ad quartam circitèr quamque septimanam frequentem populi concionem celebrato cuÃque jus dicito aequabile Litesque singulas cum dies condicti advenerint dirimito EVERY Shireeve shall convene the People once a Month and do equal Right to all putting an end to Controversies at Times appointed TO this Court were antienly Appeals made from the Hundred-Court as appears by the Laws of Canutus Et nemo namium capiat in Comitatu vel extra Comitatum priusquam ter in Hundredo suo rectum sibi perquisierit si tertia vice rectum non habeat eat quarta vice ad Conventum totius Comitatus quod Anglicè dicitur Scyremot c. No Man by a Distress shall compel another to the County-Court unless he have thrice complained in the Hundred-Court But if he have not Right the third Time he may then sue in the County-Court which is called the Scyregemot AND besides says Sir William Dugdale Regis placita Causa singulorum debita verae Christianitatis jura were first determined here where interesse debent Commissarii Episcopi Comites Ecclesiae potestates and the Presbyter Ecclesiae as well as quatuor de Melioribus villae were obliged to attendance qui Dei Leges as well as Seculi negotia justâ consideratione definirent AND a little after he further proceeds thus Now let us see of what things the Sheriff here antienly held Plea Ad Vicecomites pertinent ista saith Glanvile Placitum de Recto de liberis Tenementis per Breve Domini Regis ubi Curia Dominorum probatur de Recto defecisse Placitum de Nativis sed per Breve Domini Regis ID est It belongeth to the Shireeve to hold Plea in this Court upon a Writ of Right concerning Freehold in Cases where the Lord of the Mannor wherein the Land lieth hath not done Justice as also to hold Plea concerning Bondmen but by the King 's Writ I shall say no more of this Court but refer the Reader to the said Book from whence I have taken most of those things I have here given you concerning all these Courts wherein he may find at large how great the Power of this Court was not only before but after the Conquest And I have also reserved the treating of these two Courts by themselves because tho the 3 former are supposed by some to be of K. Alfred's Erection upon his new Reformation of the Kingdom but these two were not so for notwithstanding Ingulf tells us that this King Alfred first divided the Provinces of England into Counties yet we find Mr. Selden Learnedly makes it out That Alfred was not the first that divided the Kingdom into Shires or Counties for saith he before Alfred's Time those Provinces had their Ealdormen in them Thus we read of Ethelwolfus Barocensis Pagae Comes and Ceorle Domnaniae Comes and Eanulf Somersetensis Pagae Comes for the Earldoms of Barkshire Devonshire and Somersetshire under King Ethelwolf Father to King Alfred are remembred in Asserius Menevensis that lived in King Alfred's Time Two of them are also in Ethelwerd a Writer of the Saxon Times besides Osric Dorsetum Dux for Eolderman of Dorset Eâ—lchere or Alchere was at the same Time Ealdorman of Kent and Auda or Wuda of Surrey as we have it in Hoveden Huntingdon and in that Asserius also And Ingulphus hath the Charter of King Ethelbald's Foundation of Crowland whereunto the Comites of Leicester and of Lincoln both subscribe TO which I may also add divers Examples that you will meet with of the same kind in the following History out of the Saxon Annals HAVING thus dispatched these inferior
Courts I come now to the chiefest next to that of the Great Council of the Kingdom viz. that which was called Curia Domini Regis Because oftentimes as Sir Wil. Dugdale informs us the King himself sate here in Person having several Justices à latere suo residentes as Bracton expresseth it and in his Absence the Ealdorman or Chief Justiciary of all England supplied his Place CONCERNING this Court tho we have not many Memorials left of it before the Conquest yet it was certainly at that Time in Being since it seems to have been then the Great Court of all Appeals as well Criminal as Civil long after the Conquest before the Court of Common-Pleas was taken out of it for here it was that K. Alfred is supposed to have re-heard and examined the false Judgments of his inferior Judges in the Hundred and County-Courts and here it was also that he condemned above forty of them to be executed in one Year for their erroneous Sentences in Matters of Life and Death as you will find in the Mirror of Justices I need say no more of this Great Court whose Power now resides in that of the King's-Bench and Common-Pleas neither the Chancery nor Exchequer having then any Being the former of which commenc'd long after the Conquest and the latter was erected by King William the First I have but two Observations to make concerning our Antient English Saxon Courts of Justice the FIRST of which is that strict Union there then was as well in the Folk-mote and County-Court as in the Hundred-Court between the Ecclesiastical and Civil State in both which the Bishop and the Sheriff sitting together all Causes both Spiritual and Secular were equally and at one time dispatched to the great Ease and Satisfaction of the Subject who were taught by the Bishop in the Folk-mote what was their Duty towards God and the Church as they were by the Ealdorman or Sheriff what Common Laws they were bound to observe in order to their Honest and Peaceable Living one among another a Custom which when reading of Books was not generally in use among the Laiety was absolutely necessary for the acquainting them with their Duty in imitation of which I suppose our Common Charges at Assizes and Sessions are continued to this Day THE SECOND is the great Ease the Subject must needs find in having Justice administred to him in smaller Actions in the Court of Decenary or Tything even at their own Doors or else in Appeals and greater Actions at the Court of the Trihing or Lathe from whence they might remove it to the County-Court and if they thought themselves aggrieved there then they might bring it before the King himself or his chief Justiciary in the Great Court abovementioned An Admirable and an Excellent Constitution this whilst the Laws of England were few easy and plain before the Partiality and Corruption of Countrey Juries came in and the bandying and Factions of Rich and Powerful Men in the Countrey against each other together with the vast varieties of Determinations of Cases in Law had rendered those inferior Courts not only perplexed but unsafe and vexatious to the Subject I come now to the Supream Court of the whole Kingdom called in Saxon the Wittena-Gemot or Mycel-Synoth in Latin Magnum or Commune Concilium Regni the Great or Common-Council of the Kingdom consisting of the King and the three Estates which we now call our Parliament which Court the Author of the Mirror of Justices expresly tells us That King Alfred ordained for a perpetual Custom that twice in the Year or oftner in Time of Peace if Business so required they should assemble at London to treat of the good Government of God's People and how Folks should be restrained from Offending and live in Quiet and should receive Right by certain Antient Usages and Judgments c. From whence you may observe that in this Author's Time viz. that of Edward I. it was held for Law That the great Council of the Kingdom antiently met of Course twice in the Year without any express Summons from the King and this it seems was afterwards altered to thrice in the Year viz. at the three great Feasts of Christmass Easter and Whitsontide when the King met his Estates with great Solemnity wearing his Crown upon all solemn Days of Entertainment and when the Feasting was over they fell to dispatch the publick Affairs as Sir H. Spelman well observes THESE stated Councils which were then held ex More as our Historians term it i. e. according to antient Custom continued long after the Conquest as shall be farther shewn hereafter but if this Council happened to meet at any other extraordinary Time then the King 's special Summons was requisite as you may find in Ingulf under Anno Dom. 948. where he tells us King Edred summoned the Arch-bishops Bishops and all the Proceres and Optimates i. e. Chief Men of the Kingdom to meet him at London at the Purification of the Virgin Mary Whence we may observe that this Summons was thus issued because this Council was extraordinary as not being held ex more at any of the usual great Feasts abovementioned CONCERNING the Original of this great Assembly since Sir Robert Filmer in all his Works and particularly in his Patriarcha and Dr. Johnston in his Excellency of Monarchical Government Would have this as well as all our other Liberties and Privileges to have been only Royal Abatements of Power and gracious Indulgences and Condescensions of our Kings for the Benefit and Security of the Subject who were pleased to condescend to call some Persons of each of the three Estates it being left to their Discretion whom to summon and whom not and tho many of our Kings have made use of such great Assemblies to consult about important Affairs of State and by their Consent and Approbation to make Laws as well as at their Prayers and Petitions to redress their just Grievances yet they owed their being to our first Monarchs since till about the time of the Conquest there could be no General Assembly of the Estates of the whole Kingdom because till those Times we cannot learn it was entirely united into one but it was either divided into several Kingdoms or governed by several Laws I confess this looks at first like a specious Hypothesis and may serve perhaps to prevail upon some ignorant and unwary Readers who will not or cannot give themselves the trouble of searching to the Bottom to find out the Truth of things But I desire the Favour of those who believe and maintain this Opinion to answer me these few Queries FIRST How it came to pass that in all the Kingdoms of Europe erected out of the Ruines of the Roman Empire as well as those that were not but yet had been constituted according to the same Gothick Model the like General or Great Council of Estates consisting of the same Degrees
and Orders of Men were to be found in every one of those Kingdoms To begin with Sweden and Denmark and then go on to the Kingdom of Germany now called the Empire and so into France and from thence into Spain among all the petty Kingdoms that then composed that Monarchy taking Portugal if you please into the Account you will find that the Estates of all those Kingdoms as representing the whole Body of the same consisted of the Clergy Nobility and Deputies of Cities and great Towns which is briefly comprized by this single Verse of Gonterus an old German Poet concerning the Estate of the Empire in his Time Praelati Proceres missisque potentibus Vrbes SECONDLY How it happened that in all the Kingdoms of the English-Saxon Heptarchy the first Founders of which came out of Frizeland Westphalia Holstein and Jutland the like Great Councils consisting of the King the Clergy and Nobility came to be instituted in each of them For as to the Representatives of Cities and Towns in England since the Framers of the abovementioned Hypothesis deny their appearance here I shall say nothing as yet THIRDLY Whether it be probable that without a General Agreement of Laws and Manners with those People of Germany from whence these English-Saxons came they should by a sort of Natural and Unaccountable Sympathy fall of themselves into the very same Political Form and Constitution FOVRTHLY Whether Princes were above a thousand Years ago so much more Ignorant of the Arts of Government and so little Ambitious of Riches and Power that they should all agree within a Century of Years to set up one uniform Model of Government and admit the People into a share of their Power especially into that Grand Prerogative of laying Taxes which most Princes now do all they can to perform by their own absolute Will FOR as to that of understanding their Subjects Grievances they might either not take notice of them at all or else if they would might have found out a more easy Method to come to the Knowledg of them than by Summoning the Clergy Nobility and People of a whole Kingdom at once to acquaint them therewith FIFTHLY How it came to pass that in all those Countries so long as they continued Elective the States exercised the same Power of Deposing their Kings for Tyranny or Male-Administration Does this look like a precarious and dependent Power And LASTLY Whence happen'd it that in France and England and I believe I could shew the same in other Countries too the Estates of the Kingdom met twice in the Year according to Custom at a certain Time and Place without any Summons from the King NOW when the Gentlemen who maintain the Hypothesis above-mentioned shall return a fair and satisfactory Answer to these Queries I shall not only willingly submit to their Judgments but give them my Thanks for their better Information but till then I think it is much more agreeable to good Sense as well as Matter of Fact to maintain that those Orders and Degrees of Men that did constitute the Great Councils were more Antient than Kingly Government nay Christianity it self among them as appears by those Testimonies I have produced out of Bede and other Authors from all whom it plainly appears that the first Princes in all those Governments were originally Elected of which I hope I have given undeniable Instances out of our own as well as Foreign Histories and certainly that which gives Being to a Thing must be prior in Nature to that which is produced from it HAVING now done with the Original I shall next proceed to the Constituent Parts of this Mycel-Synoth or Wittena-Gemot the last of which words is derived from the Saxon word Wites or Witen i.e. Sapientes or Wise-Men and tho Dr. Brady in his Glossary will have this word mostly to signify Noblemen or Great Lawyers yet I do not find he brings any good Authority for his so doing For granting it is true Wite signifies a Wise-Man however it no ways proves that all Wisemen must be Lawyers much less that those Lawyers were Noblemen and since he himself does not extend this Wisdom only to Knowledg in the Laws I need not say any more to it AS for the rest of his Authorities in this Page whereby he would prove that divers things were done by the Decrees of these Wisemen or Lawyers they sufficiently answer themselves since it appears even by his own shewing that these Sapientes were the Bishops Abbots Aldermen and Thanes and when he makes it out that every one of these Orders of Men were Noblemen or Lawyers I shall come over to his Opinion AS for what he says in the next Page where he gives us the Interpretation of those words of Bede Principibus Consiliariis by Ealdormannum and Witum they are yet less to the purpose since a Man might be a very good Counsellor and yet at the same Time no great Lawyer BUT the Author's seeming stabbing Proof is out of Asser in his Life of King Alfred Who admiring the Ignorance of his Earls and Praefects commanded them either forthwith to lay down their Places of Judicature or else to apply themselves SAPIENTIAE Studiis to the Study of Knowledg or of the Law Here we see again says he who had the Title of SAPIENTES namely the Judges that is the COMITES PRAEPOSITI MINISTRI or Thegnes for these last were the Seminary of Nobility or Great Officers Civil Military and Ecclesiastick amongst the Saxons NOW I desire the Reader to observe that admitting we should take the word Studia SAPIENTIAE here for the Knowledg of the Law does it therefore follow that all that studied it must be Lawyers by Profession when it is very certain that the Study of the Law was not then nor long after a Trade as it is now since all the Freeholders or Thegnes afterwards called Barons were as well as Ealdormen required to have a competent Knowledg of the Laws of their Country or else how could they either plead their own or try each others Causes in the Hundred and County-Courts as they are in the Laws of K. Henry 1. recited to have done before the Profession of Counsellors came up Or how could they sit and judg Causes in the County-Court or Folc-mote when every Thegne or Gentleman in the County was capable of being chosen Sheriff and of sitting Judg in those Courts many Ages before the Office of an Vnder-Sheriff was heard of AND as for the Auctuary to the 35 th Law of Edward the Confessor wherein the HERETOCHS are called BARONES NOBILES insignes SAPIENTES there can be nothing urged less to purpose for then according to the Doctor they must have had all great Titles and have been chosen Generals in War and Leaders of Armies and Pray why because they were SAPIENTES i. e. Great Lawyers But the Doctor had the good luck to find once in his Life that Studia Sapientiae
I may do not prejudice to the Force of his Argument which in short depends upon this single false Supposition viz. that the Compiler or Drawer up of King Edward's Laws imagined that this Law concerning Tithes was made by King Ethelbert and was afterwards confirmed by King Edward near 500 Years after the Law was made when none could tell by what words the first Legislators were express'd BUT if this now should happen to prove otherwise all that the Doctor has said on this Subject will by an unlucky Mischance fall to the Ground AND I shall shew here that first of all his Argument is not cogent that because the words concessa sunt à Rege Baronibus Populo immediately follow those aforegoing viz Haec enim praedicavit B. Augustinus therefore this Law could be made by no other than K. Ethelbert since the words are put indefinitely without mentioning any King in particular FOR St. Augustine might preach up Tithes and yet the Law whereby they were given to the Clergy might be made many Years after and that this was so will appear by a brief History of the Matter of Fact For first there is not nor I believe ever was any Law extant of King Ethelbert concerning Tithes nor is so much as mentioned by any Writer or Historian that I know of the first Law or Canon we find for the paiment of them being that of the Council or Synod of Calcuithe held under King Offa Anno Dom. 536. and which either because it was only an Ecclesiastical Canon or else because it was not made in a General Council of the whole Kingdom was not of any Universal Obligation at least as a Temporal Law before that famous Grant of Tithes made by King Ethelwolf upon his going to Rome and confirmed as a General Law at a Council held at Winchester after his return Anno Dom. 855. and at which not any of the Bishops and Great Lords were present but an infinite Number of other faithful Subjects or Commons as we now call them I shall shew more at large by and by and to this and not to any Law of King Ethelbert's I doubt not but the Compiler of these Laws of King Edward had respect when he tells us that Tithes were granted A REGE BARONIBVS POPVLO that is by the King Barons and People of all England and not by those of one petty Kingdom as Kent was in the Time of King Ethelbert whose Laws could never oblige the whole English Nation and therefore the words that follow viz. sed posteà c. must also refer to the Time of making this Law by King Ethelwolf and not to this imaginary Grant of King Ethelbert which the Compiler of these Laws knew nothing of THIS being so I think all the rest the Doctor says signifies but little for he is much mistaken notwithstanding he so positively affirms that all those words he there mentions were not known here till the coming over of the Normans since he might have found if he had pleased the words Comes and Miles in the singular Number in the Subscriptions of divers Charters and Laws before the Conquest and the word Comites in the Body of the very Charters themselves for which I shall only refer him to the first Volume of Sir Henry Spelman's Councils as well as those in Monasticon Anglicanum AS for the word Baro I grant it did not come into Common or Legal use till after the Time he mentions yet that it was sometimes used before I shall refer him to Asserius his Annals which however it was continued by another Hand till the beginning of the Reign of K. Edward the Elder yet that it was wrote before the Conquest there is no doubt to be made of it and in the very last Page of those Annals he may find the Names of the Barones Normannorum as he calls them who are there related to have been slain AS for Villanus used for a Ceorle's Man or Country-Man you may see an Example of the use of that word in King Athelstan's Law above-cited and the Doctor himself mentions Terra Villanorum i. e. Lands of Villanes or Villagers before the Norman Times AND as for the rest of the words viz. Servientes Servitium Catalla and Manutenere I confess they are not to be met with in the Latin Versions of the Saxon Laws made before the Conquest but I would fain know why they might not have been in use before that Time tho they are not there mentioned I am confident no impartial Reader will grant that a Negative Argument is any good Proof to the contrary BUT should I own that the words Barones and all the rest of them there cited by the Doctor were not commonly in use till after the Conquest yet that would do him but little Service for admit that this Law was only briefly recited by the Collector of them in the Form there set down it will be all one for the People or Commons were represented in the Time of Henry the First when these Laws were drawn up in the Form we now have them or else they could never have been mentioned in this Law as a distinct Order of Men by a Writer who certainly lived long before the 49 th of Henry III. since this Law is found thus worded in Roger Hoveden's Copy of King Edward's Laws which was written by him being Secretary to Henry II. above a hundred Years before the Commons according to the Doctor 's Hypothesis were ever heard of So that unless he can prove that Henry III. was before Henry II. I think he will but Aethiopem lavare BUT indeed if this single uncouth Expression as the Doctor calls it had been found in one Case and upon one Occasion only I confess it might have been as slender a Proof as he would have it but when I have not only given him frequent Instances of the use of this word in our Antient Charters and Laws as contradistinct from all the rest of the Orders abovementioned I think that Pretence will stand him in little stead and if these are not yet sufficient I will superadd a few more from our Antient Historians to the same purpose FIRST From William of Malmesbury and Henry Huntington who both agree almost in the same words concerning the Deposition of Sigebert King of the West-Saxons for Tyranny and Cruelty Anno 754. Huntington expresses it thus viz. Sigebertus Rex in principio secundi Anni Regni sui cum incorrigibilis Superbiae Nequitiae esset congregati sunt PROCERES POPVLVS totius Regni providâ Deliberatione Omnium expulsus est à Regno Kinewulf verò Juvenis egregius de Regiâ stirpe ELECTVS est in Regem SECONDLY From Ailred Abbot of Rievalle who in his Life of Edward the Confessor giving an Account of the manner of that King 's being Elected in his Mother's Womb tells us that Ethelred his Father having convened a Great Council for the
that has not a Fore-head of Brass For the Presence not of the Kings only but of the Duces Principes Satrapae Populus Terrae c. shews sufficiently that neither the Kings and the Clergy without the concurrent Authority of the same Persons that enacted Temporal Laws could prescribe General Laws in Matters of Religion I do not dispute what Orders of Men among the Saxons were described by Duces Principes c. but sure I am that they were Lay-men and as sure that they assented to and confirmed those Laws without whose Assent they were no Laws so that the Kings of those Times had no greater Legislative Power in Ecclesiastical Matters than in Temporal THE tearing the Ecclesiastical Power from the Temporal was the great Root of the Papacy It was that mounted it to this heighth those Powers never were distinct in England nor most other Nations till that See got the Ascendant And it is strange Inconsistency to argue one while that whatever the Pope de facto formerly did by the Canon Law that of Right belongs to our Kings and another while that the several Acts that restore the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction to the Crown are but declarative It shews how little the Supremacy is understood by Modern Assertors of it and how little they are acquainted with the Antient Government of England THE third Period of Time to be considered shall be from the uniting of the several Kingdoms of the Saxons under one Monarchy to the Norman Conquest IN this Division we find a Letter from Pope Formosus to King Edward the Elder wherein the Pope complains that the Country of the West-Saxons had wanted Bishops for seven whole Years Upon the Receipt of this Letter the King calls Synodum Senatorum Gentis Anglorum who being assembled singulis tribubus Gewisiorum i. e. West-Saxonum singulos constituerunt Episcopos quod olìm duo habuerunt in quinque divisêrunt THE Ecclesiastical Laws of King Edward the Elder and Guthrun the Dane begin with this Proemium Haec sunt Senatus-consulta ac Instituta quae primò Aluredus Guthrunus Reges deindè Edwardus Guthrunus Reges illis ipsis temporibus tulêre cum pacis foedus Daci Angli ferierunt Quaeque posteà à sapìentibus Tha Witan saepiùs recitata átque ad Communem Regni utilitatem aucta átque amplificata sunt The Titles of some of these Laws are De Apostatis De Correctione Ordinatorum i. e. Sacris Initiatorum De Incestu De Jejuniis c. all of Ecclesiastical Cognizance or at least of after-times so reputed These are called Senatus-consulta than which a more apposite word could scarce have been used for Acts of Parliament and were assented to by the Witen from which word the Saxon Term for Parliaments Witena-Gemot is derived A Concilium celebre was held under King Athelstan in quo Leges plurimae tùm Civiles tùm Ecclesiasticae statuebantur It 's true the Civil Laws are omitted and Sir Henry Spelman gives us an Account only of the Ecclesiastical Laws made at this Assembly which conclude Decreta Actaque haec sunt in celebri Gratanleano Concilio cui Wulfelmus interfuit Archiepiscopus cùm eo Optimates Sapientes ab Athelstano evocati frequentissimi KING Edmund held a Council Anno 944. where many Ecclesiastical as well as Secular Laws were made as De Vitae castitate eorum qui sacris initiantur De Fani instauratione De pejerantibus De iis qui barbara factitarunt Sacrificia c. And this Council is expressed to have been Conventus tà m Ecclesiasticorum quà m Laicorum celebris tà m Ecclesiasticorum quà m Laicorum frequentia I will give no more Instances before the Conquest tho numbers are to be had which lie scattered up and down in the Monkish Histories which being compared with one another will sufficiently disclose what I assert For sometimes Laws that concert Temporal Affairs as well as Ecclesiastical are said to have been made by such a King in one Author which very Laws another Historian tells us were made in the Great Council for which yet they have no uniform appropriated Expression Term or Denomination Just as we in common Parlance say King Edward the Third or King Henry the Seventh made such a Law which yet every Man understands to have been made in Parliament because else it were not a Law SO far have I made bold with the words of this Learned Gentleman I shall now by way of Confirmation to what he hath said observe from Mr. Lambard's Edition of his English-Saxon Laws which was a different Copy from that from whence Sir Henry Spelman published his Councils that our Saxon Laws both Ecclesiastical and Civil were made by one and the same Authority as appears by the Preface to the Laws of King Edmund which we find runs thus Aedmundus Rex ipso solemni Paschatis Festo frequentem Londini tà m Ecclesiasticorum quà m Laicorum Coetum celebravit c. So likewise in the Laws of King Edgar the Preface of which is thus Leges quas Edgarus Rex frequenti Senatu ad Dei Gloriam Reipublicae utilitatem sancivit In the Saxon Original thus MID HIS WITENA GEHEAHTE GERAED that is with the Council of his Wise-men he established The Laws of King Cnute likewise begin thus Consultum quod Canutus Anglorum Dacorum Norwegiorum Rex ex Sapientûm Concilio sancivit Note the words in the Saxon are the same as above I could illustrate this further by several more Instances out of the same Volume were I not afraid of having already trespassed too much upon you only I desire you would please to take notice that in each Body of these above-mentioned Laws the Ecclesiastical precede and then the Civil or Temporal follow tho being both made at the same time in the same Council and by the joint Authority of the same Parties BUT now to add one thing more from the said Author Mr. Washington which is That Bishopricks and other Ecclesiastical Dignities were in the Saxon Times commonly conferred in Parliament we have the Testimony of Ingulphus who was Abbot of Crowland in King William the Conqueror's Reign à multis annis retroactis nulla erat Electio Praelatorum merè libera Canonica sed omnes Dignitates tà m Episcoporum quà m Abbatum Regis Curia pro suâ complacentiâ conferebat that is says he that for many Years past there was no Election of Prelates absolutely free and Canonical But all Dignities both of Bishops and Abbots were conferred by the King's Court i. e. the Great Council of the Kingdom as I shall prove by and by according to their good Pleasure AFTER which the Person so elected being first consecrated the King invested him with the Temporalties per traditionem Baculi Annuli as you will find in the same Author AND that this Custom was very antient will appear by the Election of Wilfrid to be Bishop of Hagulstade Anno
you to the Laws of King Cnute and those of the Confessor the former of which you will find at the end of his Reign in the ensuing Volume wherein is set down what the Heirs of each of those Feudatary Tenants were to pay to their Lords at the Death of their Ancestors BUT that these could not be near all the Lands of England appears by what hath been already said of Lands held in Allodio And I have known some Learned Antiquaries who have not without good Cause believed that all Tenure by Knight-Service in England was derived from the Danes and Norwegians who upon their Conquests and settling here first brought in that sort of Tenure out of Denmark and Norway from whence the English Saxon Kings might by Degrees impose it upon several Lands by them granted to their Ealdormen or Earls and chief Thanes by Military or Knights Service who likewise granted them to their inferiour Thanes under the like Tenures and yet it would have been very unreasonable that such inferior Thanes should have so far been deprived of their antient English Freedom as that the Earls and King's Thanes should have it in their Power to make what Laws and impose what Taxes they pleased upon them as their under Tenants without their Consent AND if meer Tenure alone could have done this I would fain know why the English Kings before the Conquest by the same reason might not as well have made Laws and taxed their Tenants in Capite without their Consent as these could have done their Tenants that held under them But this is altogether false in Matter of Fact as all the Histories of those Times shew Danegelt it self being first imposed by the Consent of the King and his Wites as appears by the Saxon Annals NOT but that I grant all the Lands of England were then held under those three great Services called in Latin Trinoda Necessitas viz. 1. Expedition that is the finding of Men to defend the Kingdom in case of Invasion 2. The Repair of Bridges and 3. Fortifying of Castles from which even Lands granted to the Church were not exempted as appears by the Charters to several Monasteries But these were Services due and to be performed by the Common Law and Custom of the Kingdom and did not concern one sort of Tenure more than another I have no more to observe concerning this Bocland but that it passed by Deed called by Ingulphus Chirographa until the Confessor's time and was confirmed by the Subscriptions of the Fideles or Subjects there present with golden Crosses and some other holy Marks only this methinks ought not to be passed over that the Ceremony of Livery or Seizin of Lands is very antient as appears by the Charter of Ceadwalla King of the West-Saxons preserved among the Evidences belonging to the Arch-bishop of Canterbury in the Year DCLXXXVII made to Theodore then Arch-bishop of that See of certain Lands with this Subscription Ad cumulum autèm Confirmationis ego Cedwalla Cespitem terrae praedictae supèr sanctum Altare Salvatoris posui propriâ manu pro ignorantia Literarum signum sanctae Crucis expressi subscripsi that is For the farther Confirmation thereof I Ceadwalla have put this said Turf of Earth upon the holy Altar and for want of Learning have with my own Hand made and subscribed the Sign of the holy Cross. The like also hath Camden out of a Patent made by Withered King of Kent to a Nunnery in the Isle of Thanet So much for Bocland CONTRARY to which was that called Folkland which Sir Henry Spelman says was Terra popularis scilicet quae jure communi possidetur vel sine scripto that is Land belonging to the ordinary sort of People which they enjoyed of common Right without any Writings or Deeds as we see in Copy-hold Lands at this day for which the Tenants have seldom any other Evidences than the Copy of the Court-Rolls of the Mannor which Copy-hold Lands were antiently either held by Sockmen that is Free-men holding by the Plow to perform mean and villain Services or else by those who were Villains appendant to the Mannor THESE might be ousted of their small Estates at the Will of the Lord which a Farmer could not be so long as he honestly performed his Services and these were they who after the Conquest were called Tenants in Antient Demesne either of the King or of some other Lord as you will find in the old Natura Breviam OF the like sort also as Dr. Brady very well informs us were Lands and Possessions mentioned by other Names in our Saxon Laws as Gaffolland Rent-Land or Farm-Land Foedus Alured and Guthr c. 2. Gafogyldenhus an House yielding or paying Rent or Gable LL. Inae c. 6. There are also mentioned Inland or the Lords Demesnes which he kept in his own Hands and Neatland which is called Vtland or Outland in Byrthric's Will Terra Villanorum and was let out to Country-men or Villagers Aegder of Thegnes inlandge of Neatland i. e. either of the Lords or Thanes Inland or Demesnes or else the Country-mans Villagers or Villan's Land Gafolland Neatland and Vtland as Mr. Somner truly informs us were opposed to Inland or Demesne-Lands and were Lands granted out for Rent or Service or both and reducible to Folkland and 't is very probable they were the same or of the same Nature for that in the Laws where they are mentioned it appears they were always occupied by Ceorls Churles Country-men Colons or Clowns by Gebures Boors Rustics Plough or Husbandmen or by Neates and Geneates Drudges Villanes or Villagers These three Saxon words being almost of the same Signification tho very different in Sound were always applied to the ordinary sort of People called by us Folk at this day Thus far the Doctor which I will not contradict tho he here makes all Ceorles Men to have been meer Drudges which was not so since those that held Land by Socage-Services were as free as to all things else from the Power of their Lords as our Tenants are at this day BUT I desire by the way that this may not be unobserved that I can no where find the word Colonus used for a Husbandman or Clown in any of our antient Saxon Laws tho Sir Henry Spelman gives us some Examples of the use of it in the German Laws there signifying Liberi Ecclesiastici quos Colonos vocant and the King had also his Coloni but this learned Author supposes that these Coloni answered our Sockmen who were certainly Freemen and not Villains Nor did Villanus signify a Villain but a Country-man or Villager in general till after the Conquest and then it was not from the Latin but French Idiom that a Villain came to signify a Slave or Drudg HAVING now given you what I thought fit to say concerning the several Tenures and ways of Conveyance of Lands in the
him that was so injured THE highest Offence against Man alone was Treason and the Punishment for this Offence I find set down in the 4 th Law of K. Alfred to this effect viz. That if any one by himself or any other Person should attempt against the King's Life he should lose his Life and Goods or in case he will purge himself he was to do it according to the Valuation of the King's Head But in this the King had no greater a Prerogative than divers other of his Subjects for the same Law doth inform us That it ordained in all Judgments concerning other Men whether Noble or Ignoble whosoever should Conspire against his Lord should lose both his Life and Estate or else pay the Valuation of his Lord's Head I come next to the Coining and Clipping of Money which was not originally such an Offence as was punish'd by Death for the first Law that made it so was that of Ethelred whereby it is left to the King's discretion either to fine or put to Death such Merchants as imported false Money and all Port-Reeves of Towns who should be Accessary to it were made liable to the same but for all this it was not even after the Conquest punishable by Death but amputation of the Right Hand and Privy-Members AS for Murder or killing a Man with Malice prepensed it was by the Preface to King Alfred's Laws punishable by Death And this and the former Law concerning Treason will help us to interpret in what Cases the Wiregilds or Mulcts that we find so frequently mentioned in the Saxon Laws were to be paid for the Life of a Man and particularly that Law of King Athelstan which sets the Rate of these Wiregilds according to the Quality of the Person slain from the King to the Peasant that is when the Party was Killed in some sudden Fray or Quarrel without any Malice forethought THIS I take notice of to obviate the Error of some who suppose that all Murder even of the King himself was redeemable by Money which was not allowed in any Cases but those we account Man-slaughter at this Day and shews the Antiquity of that distinction between Man-slaughter and Murder which is now almost peculiar to England and arose at first from the Proneness of our Nation to Fewds and sudden Quarrels tho the like Custom is also to be found in the Antient Frisian and German Laws if you will take the Pains to consult them But as for Bloodshed Striking Maiming Wounding Dismembring c. they were all of them punishable by Mulcts or Fines as you will see in the Laws of King Alfred and other Places in this Volume I proceed in the next Place to Robbery and Burglary which by the Laws of King Ina were punishable by Death only the Thief was admmitted sometimes to redeem it according to the Estimation of his Head and that I suppose was left to the discretion of the Judg either to deny or allow But for all other less Thefts they were redeemable by Fines And the Laws of Edward the Confessor limited that Punishment of Death to Thefts of twelve Pence in value or above AND Trespasses of a less Nature upon Lands and Goods were to be punished by the Criminal's making Satisfaction to the injured Party and his paying a certain Fine besides to the King which by King Alfred's Law was set at five Shillings and in his Time other Actions were likewise used such as we call Actions upon the Case and the Plaintiff not only recovered Damages for Trespasses done to Possessions and Goods but also Costs for Injuries in Point of Scandal and Defamation in case the Complainant specially declare that he was thereby disabled or injured in his Preferment and made Proof of the same much like to the Forms of our Pleadings now AS for Perjury which I have hitherto omitted tho in strict Method it should have been mentioned before as a Sin against both God and Man the Saxons were utterly Enemies to it and punished it with perpetual discredit of their Testimony and sometimes with Banishment or with grievous Fines to the King and Mulcts to the Judg. For that difference I find observed in those Days between Fines and Mulcts tho the more Antient Times used them for one and the same for I often find pars Muâ—ctae Regi In all these Matters where any Interest was vested in the Crown the King had the Prerogative of Pardon yet always a Recompence was saved to the injured Party besides the Security of the Good-behaviour for Time to come as the case required THESE Mulcts for all these Offences were set down in a Book which was the Rule and Standard of the Judge's Sentence And it is called in the Preface to the Laws of King Edward the Doom or Judgment-Book and Composition was to be made and Satisfaction given according to what was laid in this Judicial or Doom-Book THIS shews that Fines were then set out and appointed by Law and were proportioned not only according to Mens Offences but Abilities of what they were able to pay and were not in those Times left to the Arbitrary Wills and Humours of the Judg to ruin Mens Fortunes and Families and imprison their Persons during Life perhaps only for a small Offence in a rash Word or unmalicious Deed. I confess this Introduction is longer than I first intended it but herein I hope the Reader will excuse me since I have presented him with a true Scheme of the Antient English-Saxon Government and Laws as well Ecclesiastical as Civil relating to the just Prerogatives of the King as also to the true Rights and Liberties of the People and this I have done for two Ends first to inform those of our own Nation as well as Strangers that this Government before the pretended Conquest agreed in the most material parts of it with those of the same Gothick Model all over Europe and that if we do still labour to preserve our Antient Constitution when most of our Neighbours have either lost or given up theirs I think we do deserve Commendation more especially since both Prince and People may have found an equal Interest and Happiness in it AND secondly to shew that neither the Danish nor Norman Invasions called by some Conquests have at all altered it in any of the Substantial parts of our Government or Laws notwithstanding what some Men have so strenuously advanced to the contrary out of what designs they themselves best know AS for what I have here laid down if any thing appears either new or of suspicious Credit I desire to be no farther believed than the Reasons and Authorities I have here produced will justify me and therefore shall leave the Reader to make what Judgment he pleases of it which if it doth not suit with mine I shall not take it amiss since I am sufficiently sensible how much Mens Opinions depend on their present
Interest Education or Course of Life and I cannot but observe that there are a sort of Men whose Heads seem framed for such a set of Notions rather than others which make them that they cannot easily digest any thing that clashes with them BUT I do not pretend to be infallible or to propose my sense as a Rule and Standard to all others Homo sum nihil humanum à me alienum puto as the Comick Poet hath long since well observed ONE thing indeed I think I may pretend to in this Undertaking and that is Integrity for I look upon it a much viler thing either to falsify or conceal part of an Authority that makes against one and use only so much as shall serve a present Turn that it is to pick a Pocket and as it is of far more dangerous Consequence to the Publick if not found out I must say it is likewise more easily to be discovered since every Man may if he please consult the Authors that such Writers make use of and so detect the Fraud BUT for those who think they may differ from me in some things with good Reason and Authority and will please by their learned Labours to give the World any better Information and Account of these Matters than I have done I shall be so far from being displeased at them that I shall upon full Satisfaction readily own my self very much in their Debt for making the World and me so much the Wiser only I must desire to be treated as one who if I chance to be under any Error am not so wilfully nor as I think without great appearance of Reason and Authority on my side since I call God to witness that neither from a vain Ambition of Glory nor prospect of any Temporal Advantage nor design of gratifying any Party or Faction have I wrote any thing that may disgust Men of different Principles and Notions AND I thank God for this great Blessing to us that we live in a Time when we may not only think or speak but also safely write what we believe to be the Truth to which all Mankind do owe Allegiance and therefore I hope I never shall abuse that invaluable Liberty to the Prejudice of the Government or that excellent constituted Church of which I own my self a Member being fully satisfied that the main End of all our Writings ought to be for the Honour of God and the Common Good of Mankind THE TABLE to the Preface and Introduction A. ACtions on the Case how antient page 126 Adultery its Punishment 125 Aetheling the Title what it was 72 St. Albans his Sufferings most probably a Legend 24 25 26 King Alfred his Preface to Pope Gregory's Pastoral 11. His Testament with Observations upon it 51 52 Allodium Lands hâ—ld in Allodio 118 119 Annals Saxon a brief Account of them and their Translation 10 11 Antient Demesne Tenants therein 121 Antiquity of the Ordeal 124. Of the Distinction between Manslaughter and Murder 126 Arch-bishops of Canterbury and York antiently of equal Dignity and Power 116 Asser Menevensis an Account of him and his Writings 12 13 B. BAro its antient Signification 93 94. When it came first in common use 102 Barones Comitatûs what they were 96 Bede the first English Historian 10 Bishopricks and Abbeys often bestowed by the Election of the great Council of the Kingdom in the Saxon-Times 113 114 Bishops sometimes deprived by the same Councils 115 116 Blasphemy vid. Swearing and Cursing Bocland what it was 118. The same with Lands in Allodio 119 Dr. Brady his Errors concerning the English-Saxon Succession 50 51 c. Britain how divided under the Romans pag. 31 32 Bromton John an Account of the Chronicle that passes under his Name 16 Burglary how punishable 126 Burhwitan or Burhwara who they were 80 C. CAradoc of Lancarvon his Welsh Chronicle 15 Ceorl or Ceorl's Man i. e. Country-man his Privileges 77 Chancellor whence derived and the Antiquity of that Office 73 Clipping and Coining of Money its Punishment 126 Coining of Money a Prerogative of the Crown 67 Colonus its Signification 121 Combat single or Duel 125 Comes Littoris Saxonici who he was 33 Commons present in the great Councils of the Kingdom 88-101 To have been also present there in the Reign of K. William I. 97. Prov'd also to have a Right by Prescription before his time 98 Compurgators who 125 Conquests of the Danes and Normans which were no more than Invasions never altered this Government or Laws in any of its substantial parts 127 Contract or Compact Original between the first English Saxon Kings and their Subjects proved 69 70. and that more antient than the Coronation-Oath 71 72 Coronation of our Kings whence derived 16 Coronation-Oath its Form before the pretended Conquest 58 Costs recovering of Costs and Damages how antient pag. 126 Great Council of the Wites for what ends they were established 41 Great Council or Parliament its Original 86-88 The Persons of whom it consisted 87-102 These Councils often met in the open Air 104. It s Power in making Laws 105-08 Counties their Division more antient than the Reign of K. Alfred 84 The County-Court what 84 Courts of Justice in England how many they were under the Saxon Kings 80 85 Court-Barons their Original 82 Craig Sir Thomas his Objections against the Truth and Antiquity of our English Historians considered 18-23 Crown of England not bequeathable by the Testament of the English-Saxon Kings 51 52 Curia Domini Regis its Signification 85 D. DAnegelt first imposed by Authority of the King and his Wites 120 The Decennary or Tything-Court what 81 Defamation how punishable 126 Degrees of Men that constituted the Common-weal 72-80 Demesnes of the Crown could not be granted away even to pious Vses by the English-Saxon Kings without the Consent of the Great Council 68 Deprivation of English Saxon Kings 68. Of Bishops by the Great Council 115 116 Deputies of Cities and great Towns how antient 95 Disposition of Goods and Personal Estates either by Deed or last Will 121 Doom or Judgment-Book 127 Durham Simeon who he was 15 Dux Britanniae what he was 33 E. EAdmerus his History pag. 14 Ealdorman the Title 73 East-Angles the Succession of their Kings 45 East-Saxon Kings their Succession 43 Ecclesiastical Laws by whom made 108-113 Ecclesiastical Power settled at first under the two Arch-bishops of Canâ—erbury and York 116 Eddi Stephen Author of the Life of Bishop Wilfred with a brief account of him 10 Edward the Confessor the manner of his Election 61 Electus eligerunt their true Signification 55 56 Encomium Emmae 14 English-Saxons vid. Saxons Eorl 74 Ethelwerd sirnamed Quaestor an account of him and his Work 14 F. FEng to Rice the meaning of that Saxon Phrase 55 Feudal Lands what 122 Fideles who they were in the Saxon Government 107 Fidelium multitudo in the Charter of King Ethelwulf what it signified 104 105 Fines and Mulcts their difference set down in a
Book at a certain rate and not arbitrary 127 Folcland what it was 118-120 Folcmote the same with the County-Court 83 Fornication its Punishment 125 Franc Pledg what 8 France its antient Kings the manner of their Succession 69 Friburg or Tithing-Court its Institution and Business 80 81 G. GAvelkind 118 119 General of the King's Forces his Antiquity 72 Antient German Laws 35 c. Government of Britain before the arrival of Jul. Caesar very uncertain 29. During the time of the Romans 31-34 Vnder the Saxons 34 c. Of the Antient English Saxons rather Aristocratical than Monarchical pag. 39 H. HAgulstad Richard an account of him and his History 15 Heir its antient Signification 53 54. His Right to Lands and Goods 122 Saxon Heptarchy vid. Kingdoms Heretoch what that Office was 74 Heriots to whom due 122 Higden Ranulph his Polychronicon 17. Our Historians in English a brief Censure of them 5 6 7 Historians in Latin an Account and Censure of their Works 7-18 The Holde what 74 Homage from the Scotish Kings to those of England how far to be credited 19 20 Hoveden Roger an Account of his Works 16 Dr. Howel his Mistake in making the first Saxon Kings absolute Monarchs 39 Hundred-Court what 80 Huntingdon Henry an Account of him 16 I. INtestates their Goods how antiently to be divided 121 122 Introduction its Design 127 Joseph of Arimathea his preaching the Gospel in England fabulous 24 Judgments inflicted for several Offences 125 126 Grand-Juries how antient 123 Jury-men their Number to be Twelve in the English-Saxon Times 123 Jus Haereditarium its Signification 53 K. KEntish Kings their Succession 42 43 Kings of Britain not despotic but often elected 30 Kings at first no better than Generals in War in Peace they had little or no Power pag. 38 Saxon Kings not absolute or by Conquest 39 40 Kings of the Saxons at first elected 39-41 The manner of their Succession to the Crown ib. 66. Their losing their Crowns otherways sometimes than by Death 68 c. The King in what sense he is said to make Laws 108 English Saxon Kings what kind of Supremacy they exercised in Ecclesiastical Affairs 108 c. Kingdoms of the English-Saxons how many erected in this Island 34 35 L. LAnds in England all held under the three great Services called in Latin Trinoda necessitas 120 Lathes what 80 Laws British 29 German 35-38 Ecclesiastical by whom 108-113 Saxon Customary Laws their Original and how many sorts of them 117 118. Reduced into one Body by ◠Edward the Confessor ib. Their Civil Laws concerning Lands 118 Legislative Power in whom it resided under the English Saxon Kings 105-108 M. MAiming c. how punishable antiently 126 Malmesbury William his Character 15 Manslaughter and Murder their distinction ibid. Mercian Kings their Succession 45 Milites what sort of Men 90 Monasteries how far taken notice of in the ensuing History 24 Monmouth Geoffery a Censure of his Work 7 Mulcts the difference betwixt this word and Fines 126 127 Murder its Punishment in the English-Saxon Times pag. 126 N. NObiles Angli who they antiently were 91 Northumbrian Kings their Succession 44 O. OFfences of several sorts with their Penalties 125 126 Optimates who they were 92 Ordeal what and what the Trial 123 124 Ordinaries at first had nothing to do in Administrations 122 Ordinary People how they were called in the Saxon Times 121 Original of the first English Saxon Kings 38-41 Original Contract 70 c. Osbern Author of the Lives of St. Dunstan and St. Alphege 14 P. PArliament the Original of this Great Assembly 86. The same with the antient Witena-Gemots and Mycel Synoth 86. which met thrice every Year ex more ibid. Perjury Saxons utter Enemies to it and their Punishment of it 126 127 Plebs Vulgus their Signification 99 100 Populus Populi must signify the Commons in the Saxon Laws and Charters ibid. to 102 Portgereses or Port Reves their Antiquity 96 The antient Prerogatives of our English Kings 67 68. to pardon 67 127. They could not debase the Money nor give away their Crown-Lands without the Consent of the Common Council of the Kingdom 126 127 Primates Principes Proceres what they were 90 92 Probate of Wills 122. how long a matter of Civil Cognizance 122 123 Procuratores Patriae who they wer◠pag. 95 Punishments among the English Saxons their several sorts 125 126 Q. SEveral Questions for Dr. Brady to answer 99 100 R. DE Rationabili parte Bonorum the Writ grounded at Common Law and on what Custom 122 Robbery how punishable 126 Romans their Government in Britain 31-33 S. SAbaoth-breaking its Punishment 125 Sacrilege its Punishment 125 Sapientes who they were 96 Saxons not at first govern'd by Kings 38 English Saxons whence deriv'd 35. Their Government rather Aristocratrical than Monarchical 39 South-Saxons their Kingdom 34 43 Saxon-Tenures 121 Scandal how punishable 126 Senatores Gentis Anglorum who they were 92 93 The Scire-mote or Sheriffs-tourn what 82 83 Sheriff his antient Office 75 Sithcundman what 78 Slaves or Servants among the English-Saxons and what Power their Lords had over them 79 80 Free Socmen what they were with their Privileges 78 Studia Sapientiae sometimes tho rarely taken for the Study of the Law 88 Succession of the English-Saxon Kings whether hereditary or elective 38-65 Swearing and Cursing rarely known in the Saxon Times 125 Mycel Synoth what 86 T. TEnants in England how many sorts under the Saxon-Kings 118 119. In antient Demesne who 121 Thane his Title and Dignity 75 76 136. Their several sorts ibid. Thanes of London who 96 Trinoda necessitas what 120 Thefts small ones their Punishments 126 The Tourn of the Sheriff 83 Trespasses upon Lands and Goods how punishable 126 A Tithing or Decennary what 81 Tithes granted à Rege Baronibus Populo 100 Treason its Punishment 125 126 Trials the several sorts among the English-Saxons 123 124 125 The Trihing Court what it was 80 V. VIcarius Britanniae what he was 32 Villanus its Signification 120 121 Voyer dire what 125 W. WAllingford John an Account of him 17 Mr. Washington's Observations on the King's Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction 108-113 West-Saxon Kings their Succession 47-65 The Form of their Crowns and Titles 66 67. Often deposed 69 70 Witena Gemote or Great Council by what other Names it is called in our antient Histories 90 Wites or Witan among the English-Saxons its Signification did not mean only Lawyers 88. For what they were established in the Great Councils 41 War or Peace in whom the Power 68 Will the antientest observed before the Conquest when 122 Wiregilds what 67 68 126 Worcester Florence his Character and an Account of his Chronicle 17 ERRATA In the Preface PAge 5. line 5. for be would read would be P. 17. l. 4. f. Greshams r. Gresham Ibid. l. 45. del in P. 23. l. 3. f. Ilcombil r. Ilcombkil P. 23. l. 14. f. that r. whither ib. f.
never r. ever P. 24. l. 15. f. no r. any Introduction PAge 31. line 17. for longer read long Ib. l. 18. f. which r. and ib. r. enjoyed it P. 34. l. 27. del for a long time after P. 86. l. 13. del the Comma's in the Margin beginning at from whence you may observe and ending at well observes P. 89. l. 15. f. word r. words Ibid. l. 32. f. upon r. that Ib. del that P. 96. l. 29. f. Longobardarum r. Longobardorum P. 97. l. a. f. Crihtan r. Crihtan i. e. Knights P. 105. l. 38. f. consist r. reside ADDENDA CORRIGENDA SINCE this Volume was printed off coming to a more strict View of the whole Work than I could make when it was in loose Sheets I think fit to make some few Additions and Corrections as in these following Particulars BOOK IV. Pag. 195. The Consecration of Erkenwald Bishop of London being set down twice viz. in the beginning of Anno 675. and again at the end of that Year and was forgot to be struck out in the Page above-mentioned those first three Lines and half beginning at Line 23. may be struck out and that Relation referred to p. 196. at the end of the Year where it is already and you may read it in these words This Year also according to Matth. of Westminster for Bede does not give us the time when it was done Erkenwald a younger Son to Anna King of the East Angles was by Theodore the Arch-bishop consecrated Bishop of London he being in great Reputation for the Sanctity of his Life as having before he came to be a Bishop c. Read the rest as in the Print P. 198. Queen Etheldrithes being twice married and never lain with having been already mentioned p. 193. you may strike out part of three Lines in p. 198. beginning at Line 48. at who yet remained and ending line 51. with but she and then read it thus Wife of King Egfrid above-mentioned this Lady tho twice married still remaining a Virgin died at last c. BOOK V. Pag. 312. line ult The Continuation of Asser's Chronicle published by Dr. Gale having put this Action of Prince Ethelwald's there mentioned under the Year 904. and Florence of Worcester making him come as far as Crecanford now Crayford in Kent from the different Names of which Places and Years I supposed that this Action was not the same with that related in the Year 905. but upon better Consideration I am now satisfied that either Florence's Copy of the Annals or his Transcriber were mistaken and that Crecanford and Bradenewood mentioned by him under 905 and Creccagelade and Braeden set down in the Annals under the same Year are both the same Places setting aside the difference of the Years so that this is also but one and the same Action and therefore I rather now chuse to follow the printed Copies of the Saxon Annals and place the whole under Anno 905. therefore you may strike out the last Line of pag. 312. beginning at after as also the four first Lines of pag. 313. ending with so returned home P. 265. After the Reign of Ethelwulf Anno 855. add this that follows That about these Times the Scotish Kings held the Low-lands of Scotland as Tributaries to the Kings of Northumberland take this Relation from Lessely Bishop of Rosse's History of Scotland in the Reign of King Donald V. where he tells us that the Picts who had been lately conquered and expelled Scotland having hid themselves in Northumberland and the Neighbouring Countries combined with the Britains and Saxons to recover their Liberties who being thus confederated invaded Scotland whereupon King Donald gathering together his Army met them near Jetburgh and joining Battel with them put them to flight with which Success the King and his Men growing insolent and secure spent the Night following in Luxury and Drinking without keeping any Guard or observing Military Discipline of which the Enemies who it seems fled not far gaining Intelligence and laying hold of this Opportunity set upon them about Midnight and slew near 20000 Scots being then as it were buried in Wine and Sleep King Donald himself being also taken Prisoner and to purchase his Liberty was forced to give up all the Countries lying between the River Cluyde and Sterling to the Britains and Saxons and farther obliged himself and his Successors to the Annual Payment of a Sum of Money in Name of a Tribute and that then in the sixth Year of his unhappy Reign the English-Saxons in Memory of this Victory rebuilt the ruined Castle of Sterling and fortified the Bridg of Forth where they erected a Cross of Stone as a Monument of their Victory on which were engraven these barbarous Latine Verses Anglos à Scotis separat Crux ista remotis Arma hic stant Bruti stant Scoti sub hac Cruce tuti BUT in the mean time the Picts who were the Authors of this Scotish Slaughter were so far from being thereby restored to their Country that they were quite expell'd by the Saxons out of Britain THIS Relation Hector Boetius gives you much more prolix and makes King Osbern who reigned in Northumberland to have commanded the English-Saxons at the great Battle above-mentioned THE same Author likewise shews us in the Reign of K. Gregory Anno 872. how the Britains came to be driven out of Cumberland which they had till then enjoy'd viz. That the Britains having by the Assistance of the Danes expelled the Scots from divers Territories endeavoured also by secret Treacheries to drive them yet further but being surprized by K. Gregory were by him quite expelled Cumberland and Westmorland as a Punishment for having violated their Faith with him Pag. 313. l. 18. After East-Angles add this And Bromton's Chronicle in this Year further adds That Ethelwald having passed the Thames at Crekelade to Brithenden and marched as far as Brandenstoke now Bradenstoke in Wiltshire so that as Mr. Camden well observes our Modern Historians have been much mistaken in making that Place to be Basingstoke in Hampshire BOOK VI. Pag. 8. l. 1. You may strike out the three remaining Lines after Dunstan for I am satisfied upon better Consideration that the Assertion therein contained is not true as I have prov'd in the Introduction p. 71 72. Pag. 12. l. 8. After the words freely forgave him add this That the Low-lands of Scotland continued under the Dominion of the Kings of England till the Reign of King Edgar we have the express Testimony of John of Wallingford Abbot of St. Albans who wrote his Chronicle in the beginning of the Reign of King Henry the Third and before ever the Dispute concerning any Homage being due for the whole Kingdom of Scotland was raised which began not till the time of K. Edward the First This Author thus relates it in the beginning of the Reign of King Edgar viz. that about Anno Dom. 964 that King summoning the Northumbrian Barons i. e. Thanes to a
that gave Oracles whereupon Brutus consulting with his Diviner and Twelve other of the Ancients was advised to invoke the Goddess to tell him in what Land or Region he should find a place to settle in and accordingly as we find it in Geoffrey of Monmouth he is said to Adress her thus Diva potens Nemorum terror Sylvestribus apris Cui licet anfractus ire per aethereos Infernasque domos Terrestria Jura resolve Et dic quas terras nos habitare velis Dic certam sedem quâ te veneremur in aevum Quâ tibi Virgineis Templa dicabo Choris Thus excellently well translated by the Learned Mr. Milton Goddess of Shades and Huntress who at will Walk'st on the rouling Sphere and through the deep On thy third Reign the Earth look now and tell What Land what Seat of rest thou bidst me seek What certain Seat where I may worship thee For ay with Temples vow'd and Virgin Quires Whereupon the Goddess returned this following Answer Brute sub Occasum solis trans Gallica regna Insula in Oecano est undique cincta Mari. Insula in Oceano est habitata Gigantibus olim Nunc deserta quidem Gentibus apta tuis Hanc pete namque tibi sedes erit illa perennis Haec fiet natis altera Troja tuis Hic de prole tua Reges nascentur illis Totius Terrae subditus Orbis erit Rendred thus Brutus far to the West in th' Ocean wide Beyond the Realm of Gaul a Land there lies Sea-Girt it lies where Giants dwelt of old Now void it fits thy People thither bend Thy Course there shalt thou find a lasting Seat There to thy Sons another Troy shall rise And Kings be born of thee whose dreaded Might Shall awe the World and Conquer Nations bold But these Verses being in Latin when there was no such Language spâ—ke in the World sufficiently betray the moderness of the invention So that were it no more to please then instruct I should not have inserted them here And now Brute being guided as he thought by a Divine Conduct Sails again towards the West and Landing in Italy meets with some other Trojans who had come thither with Antenor many of whom he takes along with him together with one Corinaeus their Chief With this recruit Bruâ—â— puts again to Sea and passing the Pillars of Hercules at the mouth of Ligeris in Aquitania casts Anchor where they were set upon by one Goffarius a Pictish King of that Country now called Poictou with whom having several Battles Brute at last Conquered and Expellâ—d him his Kingdom but he solliciting the other Kings of Gaul to his assistance Brute thereupon finding himself too weak for so great a force called a Council where 't was resolved that since this was not the Land promised them by the Oracle they should again put to Sea So embarking all their Forces after a few days Sail they arrived at Albion and Landed at a Haven now called Totuesse in Devonshire The time of which enterprize is supposed to be about 1200 Years after the Flood and about 66. Years after the Destruction of Troy if any certain time can be assigned for so uncertain a relation But Bruâ—e having at length through many dangers and difficulties attained this long wish'd for Island Lands his Trojans and marches up into the Country to take possession of it which he found in great part desart or Inhabited only by some Gyants these he quickly destroys and to his People divides the Land which in allusion to his own Name he called Britain On Corinaeus Cornwall as we now call it was bestowed But here I omit as a Fable only fit to be told Children how this Hero though no Gyant himself yet took up the mighty Gyant Gogmagog in his Arms and flung him off from a Cliff into the Sea from whence the place hath been ever since called Langoemagog that is to say the Gyant 's Leap After Brute had thus conquer'd the Island he chose a fit place to build a City which he called Troja Nova for it seems he spoke Latin though it were not then used in Italy which Cities Name was changed in time to Trinobantum or Troynovant after to London This he made the Seat of his Kingdom Eli being then High Priest in Judea where he enacted several Laws and having reign'd here Fifteen Years he divided his Kingdom among his Three Sons Locrinus the Eldest had that part called Loegria now England Camber the second possessed Cambria now Wales And Albanactus Albania now Scotland but he some time after being invaded by one Humber King of the Huns was slain in Fight and his People driven back into Loegria whereupon King Locrinus and his Brother Camber march'd against this Humber who fighting with them and being overcome and drown'd in a River left his Name to it I designedly omit the long story of the Lady Estrildis whom Locrinus then taking Prisoner he fell in Love with and privately enjoy'd and would have Married had it not been for fear of Corinaeus whose Daughter Gwendolin he had already betroathed but no sooner was Corinaeus dead but he owned Estrildis for his Queen which so incensed Gwendolin that although Locrinus was strengthened by the addition of Cambria upon the Death of his Broâ—her yet she goes into Cornwall and by powerful sollicitations in the behalf of her self and her young Son Madan the Cornish are brought to assist her With these Forces she marched against Locrinus and in a pitch'd Battle nigh the River Stour he was overcome and Slain in the 20th Year of his Reign upon this just as she would have it the Kingdom fell to her Son Madan the Son of Locrinus by Gwendolin although a Child yet succeeded his Father but under the Regency of the Queen his Mother who out of Revenge drown'd Estrildis and her Daughter Sabra in a River which from her was called Sabrina in English Severne Gwendolin her Son coming to full Age resigned her Power and retired into Cornwall after she had Govern'd Fifteen Years But Madan having had the fame of Ruling well for the space of Forty Years in all left behind him two Sons Mempritius and Manlius Mempritius the Eldest Son of Madan is supposed to have ruled over the whole Island but Manlius his Younger Brother rebelling against him he desired a treaty with him who giving his Brother a meeting he treacherously murdered him and now having put an end to that trouble giving himself up to Luxury and Cruelty and at last to unnatural Lust hunting in a Forrest was devoured by Wolves to whom succeeded Ebrank his Son who was a Man of mighty Strength and Stature hâ— first after Brutus wasted Gâ—ul and returning rich and prosperous built Caerbranc now York and in Albania the Town of Mount Agned now Edinburgh He is said to have had Twenty Wives and by them Twenty Sons and Thirty Daughters which as our Author relates were sent under the Conduct of their Brother to Sylvius
Alba then King of Italy to be provided with Husbands because he had heard that the Sabines would not give their Daughters in Marriage to the Latins which is so very ridiculous that it needs no Confutation This Prince dying after he had reign'd about Forty Years left the Kingdom to Brute Sir-named Greenshield from the colour of his Target he revenged those Indignities which had been put upon his Father by Brunchild Prince of Hannonia or Hainault Conquering him near the banks of the Scaldis i. e. the Scheld but the modern names of Hainault and Brunchild sufficiently betray the Novelty of this Fable He hath the Character of an Excellent Prince Just Merciful and a most exact observer of his Word and reigned Twelve Years to whom succeeded Leil his Son who built the City of Carlisle in the Days of Solomon after called by the Romans Lugubalia and did also repair Caerleon now called Chester he was a good Prince till the latter end of his days when falling into several Vices he occasioned great dissentions in the Kingdom which did not end with his life but after he had reigned Twenty five Years left the Kingdom to Rudhudibras or Hudibras who compos'd the disturbances begun in his Fathers days and studying nothing more than to strengthen and adorn his Kingdom built several Cities as Caerkin now Canterbury likewise Caer Guent now Winchester as also Mount Paladur after Septonia or Shaftsbury and having reigned Twenty nine Years was succeeded by Bladud his Son who is said to have been skill'd in Magick and thereby to have found out those Medicinal Waters now called the Bath where he also built a City called Caer Baden he is said to be a Man of a good Invention and having made himself Wings to flye fell down from the Temple of Apollo in Trinovant and broke his Neck having governed Britain Twenty Years To him succeeded Leir his Son who built Caer Leir now called Leicester He had only Three Daughters Gonnilla Râ—gana and Cordiella his darling but in his old Age being jealous of their Affections he called them before him and demanded that they would give him some assurance of their Love the two Eldest called Heaven and Earth to witness that they loved him Ten thousand times dearer than their own Souls and that they were not able to Express their infinite kindness for him and at last concluded their flatteries with horrid Oaths and asseverations of their Sincerity but Cordiella the Youngest though having before her Eyes the present reward of an easie flattery yet could not be moved from giving him this downright honest Answer Father saith she my Love toward you is as my Duty bids What should a Father seek What can a Child promise more They who pretend beyond this flatter This short Answer not at all satisfied the old suspicious King for he shewed his resentments by his neglect of her and the suddain advancement of her Sisters Marrying Regana to the Duke of Cornwall and Gonarilla to the Duke of Albania reserving no portion at all for Cordiella but it so happen'd that Aganippus a Prince of Gaul however he came by this Greek Name hearing of her Vertue and Beauty desired her in Marriage to whom she was welcome without any other Dower but her own Vertues King Leir having thus disposed of his two Eldest Daughters and dividing half his Kingdom between them they within some time by their subtile practices work him out of all so that he was forced to sojourn with his Daughters by turns who being set on by their Husbands put so many affronts and Indignities upon him needless here to be recited that in the end he was constrained to leave the Realm and take refuge with Cordiella This rejected Daughter received him with all the Duty and Affection imaginable and then appeared the difference between the down-right Love of some Children to their Parents and the over talkative obsequiousness of others while the hopes of a large Inheritance obliges their Tongues to Express more Duty than ever they mean to perform but what was more significant than Words she assisted her Father with powerful aids and in Person went to revenge his wrongs So that bringing a great Army into Britain she destroyed his Enemies and restored him to his Crown which he held but for the space of Two Years whose Reign in all is computed to be about Forty Years and then dying left the Throne to Cordilla who Governed the Kingdom for Five Years but in the mean time her Husband Aganippus dying Morgan and Cunedage her Nephews by her Sisters Gonorilla and Regana disdaining to be under the Government of a Woman rebelled against her and so prevailed that they took her Prisoner but she being a Woman of a high Spirit slew her self rather than to live under their Tyranny Whereupon Cunedage and Morgan possessing the whole Government divided the Island between them to Morgan fell Albania to Cunedage all the Land on this side Humber Morgan not being content with his Portion Invaded his Brother but being driven by him into Wales and there Slain gave the Name of Glan-Morgan to that Country Cunedage now Ruling alone built many Temples to his Gods and dying was buried at Trinovant after he had Ruled Thirty three Years to whom succeeded Rivallo the Son of Cunedage in his time it rain'd Blood for Three Days together from whose Putrefaction Noisom and Venemous Flies were bred which in Swarms infested the whole Land and brought great Contagion both upon Men and Beasts He after he had Ruled Forty six Years was succeeded by Gurgust his Son of whom nothing is recorded worth mentioning he is said to have Reign'd Thirty seven Years Nor is there more left of Jago his Nephew Nor yet of Sillius or Sicillius thô how related to the former is not said But to him after Forty nine Years Reign succeeded Kâ—nemare said to be Brother of Jago of whom there is nothing Recorded but that he was Buried at York To whom succeeded Gorâ—odug the Son of Kinemare he is noted for Tyranny But dying he left behind him two Sons Ferrex and Porrex who Reigning joyntly at first did within a few Years begin to contend who should have the whole Kingdom in which Contention after a great Battle Fought between them Ferrex was Slain whose Death affected his Mother with so great a Grief that transported by Revenge she by the help of her Maidens Slew her other Son Porrex whilst he was a Sleep an unheard of Example and too strange to be true After his Death the Blood Royal of Brute being extinguished by his Death there happned cruel Wars so that the Kingdom was rent into five parts one Pinnor made himself King of Loegria or England Stator seized Albania Rudock Cambria and Cloten Cornwall But as to the fifth division the Story is silent this Pentarchie is supposed to have lasted above Fifty Years the Kingdom in the mean time being miserably harrassed by Civil Wars until Dunwallo Molmutius Son
by the Saxons who fled thither for Refuge But that the Britains of Armorica were setled there long before the Britains here were driven out by the Saxons is proved by the above-cited Doctor Stillingfleet in his Antiquities of the British Churches which he proves by these Authorities First from Sidonius Appollinaris in whom there are two Passages which tend to the clearing this matter The first is concerning Arnâ—ndus accused at Rome of Treason in the time of Anthemius for persuading the King of the Goths to make War upon the Greek Emperour i. e. Anthemius who then came out of Greece And upon the Britains on the Loir as Sidonius Appolinaris expresly affirms who lived at that time and pitied his Case This hapned about Anno Dom. 467 before Anthemius was the second time Consul from whence it appears not only that there were Britains then setled on the Loir but that their Strength and Forces were considerable which cannot be supposed to consist of such miserable People as only fled from hence for fear of the Saxons and not being able to keep their own Country it is not likely they could that of others And it is farther observable that about this time Aurelius Ambrosius had success against the Saxons and either by Vortimer's Means or his the Britains were in great likelihood of driving them quite out of Britain so that there is no probability that the Warlike Britains should at that time leave their native Country A second Passage is concerning Riothamus a King of these Armorian Britains in the time of Sidonius Appollinaris and to whom he wrote who went with 12000 Britains to assist the Romans against Euricus King of the Goths but were intercepted by him as Jornandes relates the Story and Sigibert places it Anno Dom. 470 Now What clearer Evidence can be desired than this to prove that a considerable number of Britains were there setled and in a condition not only to defend themselves but to assist the Romans which cannot be imagined of such as meerly fled thither for Refuge after the Saxons coming into Britain Besides we find in Sirmondus's Gallican Councils Mansuetus a Bishop of the Britains subscribing to the first Council at Tours which was held Anno Dom. 461 by which we see the Britains had so full a Settlement then as not only to have Inhabitants but a King and Bishops of their own which was the great Encouragement for other Britains to go over when they found themselves so hard press'd by the Saxons at home For a People frighted from hence would hardly have ventured into a Foreign Country unless they had been secure before hand of a kind Reception there And if they must have fought for a Dwelling had they not far better have done it in their own Country From whence I conclude that there was a large Colony of Britains in Armorica before those Numbers went over upon the Saxon Cruelties of which Eginhardus and other Foreign Historians speak Though how it should come to be setled there unless some Colonies were carried over before by Maximus or Constantine the last Usurper of the Empire I know not but as for this it being very obscure I determine nothing K. Vortigern nothing bettered by these Calamities is said to have added this to his other Crimes that he took his own Daughter to Wife who brought forth a Son who according to Nennius was called Faustus and proved a Religious Man living in great Devotion by the River Rennis in Glamorganshire but for the rest of his Stories concerning the Dialogue between Vortigern and St. German and that the King was condemn'd for this Incest in a great Synod or Council of Clergy-men and Laicks in which St. German presided is certainly false he being then dead as appears from the best approved Authours the year before the Saxons arrived in Britain And indeed this whole Story of Vortigern's committing Incest with his own Daughter seems altogether unlikely for when should he do it Not before he married Rowena for Nennius places it afterwards nor could it well be during the time of his Marriage with her since as the same Authour relates she continued his Wife long after when he was taken Prisoner by Hengist and it is very strange he should fall in love with his own Daughter when at the same time he had another Wife whom he is said to have loved so well that he was divorced from his first Wife for her sake Geoffery of Monmouth relates That the Nobles of Britain being highly displeased at King Vortigern for the great Partiality he shewed to the Saxons and for the ill Success that followed it beseeched the King wholly to desert him but he refusing so to do they deposed him and chose his Son Vortimer King who following their Advice began to Expel the Saxons pursuing them as far as the River Diervent or Darent in Kent where obtaining the Victory he made a great Slaughter of them besides which that he fought also another Battle with them near the Ford which is called in the Saxon Tongue Episford and in the British Tongue Sathenegabail which is also confirmed by the Saxon Annals which say That Hengist and Horsa fought with King Vortigern at a place called Eglesford now Aylesford in Kent and that Horsa was there slain Nennius says by Cartigern the Brother of King Vortimer and that afterwards Hengist and his Son Aesk obtained the Kingdom of Kent and Matthew of Westminster relates that after the Death of his Brother Horsa the Saxons chose Hengist for their King being 8 Years after his arrival in England And yet after this Nennius supposes Vortimer to have fought a third Battle with them in a Field which was near the Stone Titulus which was fixed near the Shore of the Gallic Sea which place Arch-Bishop Usher will have to be Stonar in the Isle of Thanet but Mr. Somner in his Treatise of the Roman Ports and Forts in Kent supposes it should be written Lapis Populi in stead of Tituli and then Folkstone in Kent is most likely to be the place where this Battle was fought it having the same Signification as Lapis Populi in the Latin Geoffery of Monmouth and from him Matthew Westminster further relate That Hengist not being able to withstand the Valour of K. Vortimer was made to retire into the Isle of Thanet whither he was also pursued by the Sea and that at last the Saxons being forced on board their Ships returned into Germany Nennius adds That they durst not return again into this Island till after the Death of Vortimer which thô not mentioned in our English Saxon Annals yet is very likely to be true since Bede relates That about this time the Saxon Army returned home when the Natives thô before driven out or dispers'd began again to take fresh Courage and come out of their Hiding-Places and Retreats This Year Vortimer having obtained many Battels against the Saxons is
grant to have been a very credulous trivial Writer and to have vented a great many Fables Thirdly That thô William of Malmesbury and H. Huntington both make mention of this Arthur and his Victories over the Saxons yet that the latter took all he has written concerning him from Nennius as the former did either from him or else from some Monkish Legends in the Abby of Glastenbury and that he knew no more of this Arthur above 500 Years ago when he wrote his History than we do at this day Lastly That the pretended History of Geoffâ—ry of Monmouth hath made such incredible Romances concerning this Prince's Actions and Conquests not only in Britain but in France Scotland Ireland Norway and other Countries as are sufficient to shock the Credit of his whole History It being a likely matter that he who could not maintain his own Country should have Forces and Leisure sufficient to conquer the Kingdoms of so many Foreign Princes To each of which Objections we shall return these Answers That in the first place as to Gildas his not mentioning him it is at the best but a Negative Argument since it is evident that he did not design any exact History of the Affairs of his Country but only to give a short Account of the Causes of the Ruine of it by the Scots Picts and Saxons the chief of which he ascribes to GOD's Vengeance upon the Britains for their great Wickedness and corruption of Manners nor does he mention any Kings or Commanders of those Times except Vortigern and Aurelius Ambrosius As for Nennius thô what is objected against him be true yet since he lived near 300 Years after Arthur's Death as appears by the Preface to his History it is highly probable he set down what he there wrote if not from some other more ancient Writers yet at the least from the general Tradition of his Country-men at that time who can never be supposed to have been able to forge this whole Story of K. Arthur and the Battles he fought and thô it be true that the Saxon Annals make no mention of this King yet if these were also written from Traditions long after these Things were done being not put into the Form we now have them till long after the Saxons became Christians it is no wonder if there be no mention made of him especially since they could not do it without Recording to Posterity the many Defeats he gave them but notwithstanding this divers of our best and most ancient English Historians as Radulphus de Diceto and Thomas Rudburn do mentiâ—n King Cerdio's fighting divers Battles with King Arthur But as for William of Malmesbury and H. Huntington thô it might be true they neither of them knew any thing of them but what they had from Nennius or the Legends of Glastenbury yet are not the ancient Registers of that Monastery to be wholly slighted as false since King Arthur was there buried But William of Malmesbury in his Book of the Antiquities of that Church makes King Arthur to have begun his Reign over the Britains in the Tenth Year of King Cerdic in which he is also followed by Ran. Higden in Polychronicon and Joh. Tinmuth in his Golden History and thô the Tomb of King Arthur was not found in the time of William of Malmesbury yet was it some Years after discovered about the end of the Reign of Henry the Second as Giraldus Cambrensis relates at large both in his Book De Institutione Principis and in his Speculo Ecclesiastico where he gives a large Account of the manner of finding his Coffin which was made out of a solid Oak as also of the largeness of his Bones which he saw and handled together with an Inscription upon a Leaden Cross of about a Foot long fixed to the lower side of a broad Stone laid three Foot above the Coffin on which was inscribed this Epitaph Hic jacet sepultus inclytus Rex Arthurus in Insula Aualonia which Cross being preserved in the Monastery of Glastenbury till Leland's time he saw and took a Copy of it and is the very Inscription which Mr. Camden hath given us the Draught of in his Britannia But as for the last Objection thô it be true what William of Malmesbury very well observes that the Britains had vented a great many Fables of him yet he still acknowledges him to have been a Prince more worthy to be celebrated in true Histories than Romances and thô it must be confessed that the Stories the Welsh had then made of him encouraged Geoffery of Monmouth to write those incredible Fables of his Conquests yet does it not therefore follow that all that is written of him must be Lies since a true History may be corrupted and yet the Substance of it remain true But whoever desires to see more in justification of the History of King Arthur how much of it is true and what most likely to be false may if they please consult Dr. Stillingfleet's Antiquities of the British Churches But to return to our Saxon Annals in which for the space of 7 Years there is nothing at all mentioned until the time When Cerdic and Cenric fought against the Britains in a place called Cerdics-Leah To which Year also H. Huntington refers the beginning of the East-Saxon Kingdom by Erchenwin the Son of Offa. He seems to be the only Prince who is derived from one Saxnat and not from Woden thô of this Prince they tell us nothing except his Name and Pedigree relating neither the Number of his Forces the Place of his Landing nor so much as the least Encounter he had with the Britains In the same Obscurity we might have also passed over Sledda his Son had he not married Ricicla Daughter of Emerick King of Kent and Sister to Ethelbert the first Christian King so that this Kingdom being at first Tributary to that of Kent and then to that of the Mercians never came to be very considerable thô it had London the chief City of England under its Dominion But in the Year· 530 Cerdic and Cenric conquered the Isle of Wight and slew a great many Men in Withgarabyrig But 4 Years after Cerdic King of the West-Saxons died and Cenric his Son succeeded him and Ruled 26 Years These two Kings bestowed the Isle of Wight on Stuf and Withgar who were Nephews to Cerdic This according to H. Huntingdon happen'd in the time of Justinian the Emperour Offa King of Kent dying his Son Ermeric succeeded him Ran. Higden places it thô falsly An. 544. This Year the Sun was Eclipsed the 14th of the Calends of March from early in the Morning to the third Hour i. e. till nine of the Clock And the Year following The Sun was again Eclipsed the 12th of the Calends of June and the Stars shewed themselves for near half an hour after nine in the Morning But to take a View of the British History
this Table do not always follow the Printed Text of the Saxon Annâ—â— since the Copies often differ sometimes one year and sometimes more and then I have always followed that which I thought to be the best Account The Succession of British Kings is accâ—â—â—ing to the Account I received from the Most Reverend Father in God Humphrey Lord Bishop of Bangor Anno Dom. Kings of Kent Anno Dom. Kings of the South-Saxons Anno Dom. Kings of the West-Saxons Anno Dom. Kings of the East-Saxons Kâ—â—gs of Northumberland in the Provinces called Anno Dom. Kings of the East-Angles Anno Dom. Kings of Mercia Anno Dom. Kings of the Britains         〈…〉 Bernicia Anno Dom. Deira       457 Hengist reigned 31 years               445 Vortiger                 454 Vortimer his Son his Father being Deposed 488 Aesk or Oric his Son 24 years 491 Aella reigned 24 years             458 Vortiger again restored after the Death of his Son 512 Otha or Oisc his Son 20 years               465 Aurelius Ambrosius made General of the Britains Vortiger still living 532 Ermenric his Son 29 years 515 Cissa reigned uncertain how many years 519 Cerdic reigned 15 years 527 Erkenwin or Escwin 〈◊〉 Ida Son of Eoppa reigned over both Kingdoms 12 years       481 Aurelius chosen King after the Death of Vortiger     534 Cynric his Son reigned 26 years  Sigebert 〈◊〉 Adda or Odda his Son reigned 5 years 559 Aella the Son of Yffi reigned near 30 years          After whom reigned divers Kings whose Names are not to be found in our Annals or Historians   535 Swithelm 〈◊〉 Clappa 7 years    Uffa reigned uncertain how long   508 Nazaleod or Nathanleod Chief King of the Britains who whether he was not the same with Aurelius Ambrosius is doubtful 561 Ethelbert his Son   560 Ceawlin his Son 31 years   〈◊〉 Theodwulf 1 year                 〈◊〉 Freothwulf 7 years   578 Titylus or Tytila his Son reigned uncertain too how long           587 Sledda 9 years 〈◊〉 Theodoric 7 years     585 Crida or Creoda how long he reigned is uncertain  Here follows an Inter-regnum of about six years         〈◊〉 Aethelric 2 years                 These two last were Sons of Ida and rul'd here whilst Aella reigned in Deira 589 Edwin his Son who being soon expell'd by Aethelfrid King of Bernicia reigned over both Kingdoms 14 years till Edwin was again restored     515 K. Arthur reigned twenty seven years     591 Ceolric his Kinsman 5 years    This Aethelric last mention'd began also to reign over both these Kingdoms after the death of Aella and reigned in all 5 years      Wippa or Pybba his Son the like 542 After whose Death followed Nine years Interregnum            593 Redwald his Son   551 Mailgwin Gwined was elected King of all the Britains     597 Ceolwulf 14 years 596 Seaber◠〈◊〉 Aethelfred his Son reigned 24 over both Kingdoms      Ceorl the like 586 Mailgwin died after whom was a 17 years Interregnum THE General History OF BRITAIN NOW CALLED ENGLAND As well Ecclesiastical as Civil BOOK IV. From the Preaching of the Christian Religion by AUGUSTINE the Monk to ECBERT the first Chief or Supreme King of ENGLAND containing Two Hundred and Three Years THIS Fourth Period will give us a new and more pleasant Prospect of the Affairs of Britain For as the Gospel of Christ did now dispel that Egyptian Darkness of Paganism under which it had so long laboured so together with Christianity Human Learning and consequently the Art of composing Histories or Annals entred also with it the Monasteries which were not long after founded being then the only Universities in which the Liberal Arts and Sciences were in those times chiefly taught and professed which though it was not without a great mixture of that Gothic Barbarism that had then overspread all Europe and even Italy it self yet was it sufficient in some measure to instruct men not only in Divine but Civil Knowledge the Monks of that Age possessing the greatest share of Learning and being almost the only Historians as well as Divines Therefore we must be beholding to them for what Accounts we have not only of the Ecclesiastical but Civil Affairs of those Times for Bede our first English Historian was himself a Monk And the Saxon Annals which we here give you were first collected and written in divers Monasteries of England and to which is to be ascribed that difference which is found between the Copies of that Chronicle as to the Dates of Years and other Matters for before there was scarce any thing remembred by Tradition but the great Wars and Battels fought by the Saxon Kings against the Britains so after the Monks came to commit things to writing they began to make us understand somewhat of their Civil Constitutions and the Acts of Peace as well as War tho it must be confessed they are not so exact in the former as they might and ought to have been minding more the relating of Visions and Miracles which they supposed to have happen'd and been done in those times for the Confirmation of some new Doctrines then not fully received Yet however I doubt not but from those Remains they have left us both the Constitution of their Governmâ—nt and the manner of the Succession of their Kings may be clearly made out of both which in the former Period we were wholly ignorant But for this we are chiefly beholding to those English-Saxon Laws that are left us which were made by the Sâ—preme Aâ—thority of each Kingdom â—n their Wittenâ— Geâ—ot Myceâ— Gemot or great Counâ—il which we now caâ—â— a Parliament from which times most of the Laws made in those Councils were carefully preserv'd and would have been convey'd to us more entire had it not been for the loss of so many curious Monuments of Antiquity at the suppression of Monasteries in the Reign of King Henry VIII But since it must be confessed that it was to the Learning which Christianity brought in that we owe
who left the poor Monks whom he was to defend to be cut to pieces But William of Malmesbury relates this Matter somewhat otherwise thô he says expresly that this Fight was at Chester then in the hands of the Britains which when King Ethelfrid went about to besiege the Townsmen resolving to suffer any thing rather than a Siege trusting in their Numbers sallied out to fight whom when by an Ambush laid near the City he had easily overcome he then falling upon the Monks who were come in great Numbers to pray for the Success of the British Army of which says this Author there must certainly have been an incredible Number since even in his time there were left such vast Remains of Churches and Cloysters and so great a heap of Ruines as you can scarce says he find any where else The Place is called Bangor which was then an Abby of Monks but is now turned into a Bishoprick yet here our Author was mistaken for this Bangor where the Monastery was is in Flintshire not far from the River Dee whereas that which is the Seat of the Bishoprick is in Caernarvanshire not far from the River or Streight of Menai which parts that Country from the Isle of Anglesey But of all these great Ruines mentioned by Malmesbury there is now nothing left save those of the two principal Gates of this old City the one of which is on that side towards England and the other towards Wales being about a Mile asunder the River Dee running betwixt them But before we proceed further it is fit we enquire into the Truth of that Story of Geâ—ffeâ—y of Monmouth who will needs have Arch-Bishop Augustine to have perswaded King Ethelbert to incite Ethelfrid King of Northumberland thus to make War upon the Britains and to destroy these Monks as you have heard in which he is also followed by other later Writers and particularly by Nicholas Trivet an ancient Author in his History lately printed at Paris among the Collections of Monsieur Dachery as also by Arch-Bishop Parker Author of the Latin History De Antiquitate Ecclesiae Anglicanae and likewise in Bishop Jewel's Apology the former of which thô Bede hath expresly told us that Augâ—stine was dead long before this happened yet will have these Words of Bede to have been foisted in contrary to the old Saxon Manuscripts which is not so for it is found in them all thô not in the Saxon Version but besides the Respect which we ought to have for so good a Man as Augustine is supposed to have been and which inclines us to believe that it was not likely he should have a Hand in so cruel an Action I doubt not but to prove from other Arguments supposing this Passage of Bede not to be his that Augustine died about the Year 605 where I have already placed it In the first place therefore I shall not deny that William of Malmesbury in his First Book De Gest. Pontif. Anglor as well as divers other Historians of later Times suppose Augustine to have sate Arch-Bishop 15 and in some Copies 16 Years and then he must certainly have survived this Massacre of the Monks of Bangor but if I can prove they were mistaken in this Account all that had been said to prove Augustine guilty of it will signifie nothing For First Bede relates that Augustine being yet alive ordained Laurence for his Successor lest himself being dead the yet weak State of that Church if vacant thô for never so small a time might happen to suffer which it must be supposed he did when he found himself in a declining condition and not like long to survive Now that this happened in the Year 605 may be also proved by these Circumstances Bede hath already told us that Augustine in the Year 604 had ordained Mellitus and Justus Bishops immediately after which Relation follows that concerning Augustine's Death which he would scarce have mentioned there had not one followed the other within a short time and that it was so appears in the Manuscript Text of Adrian the Abbot of Canterbury who lived within less than 60 Years after and who obtained a Priviledge from Pope Deusdedit concerning the Free Election of the Abbot of that Monastery at the end of which there is this Passage Anno Dom. 605. died the holy Bishop Gregory IV o Idus Martii and in the same Year also Bishop Augustine VII o Kal. Junii with whom also agree Marianus Scotus and Florence of Worcester in their Chronicles the former of whom under Anno Dom. 605 hath these Words Augustine having ordained Laurence the Presbyter Arch-Bishop in his stead after a short time departed to the Heavenly Kingdom thô in Florence's Copy it is placed under the Year 604 which Difference might easily happen by the carelesness of Transcribers This is also observed by Will. Thorne the Historian and Monk of Canterbury from an old Book of the Life and Miracles of this St. Augustine that now is lost who in his Chronicle says expresly That many have erred concerning the Death of St. Augustine thinking him to have died Anno Dom. 613 The cause of which Errour is owing to the false Dates of some Chronicles who make him to have sate Arch-Bishop Sixteen Years whereas Bede in his second Book says That he ordained Mellitus and Justus to be Bishops a little before his Death and there gives us the same reason as I have already done with whom also agrees an ancient Anonymous Chronicle in the Library at Lambeth as also the short Annals of the Church of Rochester which contain the Successions of the Arch-Bishops of Canterbury both which place the Death of Arch-Bishop Augustine and the Succession of Laurentius in Anno Dom. 604 but of this you may see more in the First Volume of Anglia Sacra published by the learned Mr. Wharton deceased wherein you may also find a short dissertation on this Subject and to whom I own my self obliged for the light I have had towards settling this obscure Question Now having cleared Arch-Bishop Augustine's Memory of that Crime which is laid to his Charge I shall proceed to the Ecclesiastical History of this time Laurentius who succeeded Augustine in the See of Canterbury having seen the English Church not only foundâ—d but much encreased began about this time to bestow his Pastoral care not only upon the English and British Inhabitants of this Island but also upon the Scots who inhabited Ireland because he knew that at that time they as well as the Britains did not observe Easter according to the Nicene Canon the occasion of which Controversie I have already given you Therefore the new Arch-Bishop thought it fit to write an Epistle on purpose to the Irish Bishops wherein he exhorted them to maintain the Catholick Unity in the observation of Easter in which Letters this is remarkable That they are directed to all the Bishops per Universam Scotiam That is through out
a cold stone Edwin wondering not a little who he might be asked him again What his sitting within doors or without concerned him To whom he again replied Think not that who thou art or why sitting here or what danger hangs over thee is to me unknown But what would you promise to that man who would free you out of all these Troubles and persuade Redwald not to molest you nor give you up to your Enemies All that I am able answered Edwin to the Unknown Then he proceeds thus What if the same Person should promise to make you greater than any English King hath been before you I should not doubt replied Edwin to be answerably Grateful But what if to all this he would inform you saith the other of a way to Happiness beyond what any of your Ancestors had known Would you hearken to his Counsel Edwin without any Hesitancy promised he would Then the other laying his right Hand on his Head said When this Sign shall next befall you remember this Night and this Discourse nor defer to perform what thou hast now promised And with these words disappearing he was not only convinced that it was not a Man but a Spirit that had thus talked with him But the Royal Youth was also much revived when on the sudden his Friend who had been gone all this while to listen farther what was like to be resolved concerning him comes back and joyfully bids him go to his Repose for that the King's Mind tho for a while drawn aside was now fully resolved not only never to betray him but to defend him against all his Enemies as he had promised In short the King was as good as his word and not only refused to deliver him up but also raising Forces thereby helped him to regain his Kingdom For the next Year as the Saxon Annals relate Ethelfrid King of Northumberland was slain by Redwald King of the East Angles and Eadwin the Son of Aella succeeded him in that Kingdom who subjected all Britain to him except only Kent He also banished the Royal Youths the Sons of Ethelfrid viz. Ealfrid the eldest Son as also Oswald and Oswin with many other Princes whose Names would be tedious here to be repeated But Will. of Malmesbury gives us a more particular Account of this Fight and that since War had been denounced by Ethelfrid upon his refusing to deliver Edwin that thereupon Redwald determin'd to be before-hand with the Danger and with an Army raised on the sudden surprize Ethelfrid being not aware of an Invasion and in a Fight near to the East side of the River Idel on the Mercian Border now in Nottinghamshire slew him dispatching easily those few Forces which he had got to march out over-hastily with him who yet as a Testimony that his Fortune and not his Valour was to be blamed slew with his own Hands Reiner the King's Son And H. Huntington adds That this Battle was so great and bloody that the River Idel was stained with the Blood And that the Forces of King Redwald being very well drawn up the King of the Northumbers as if he had been sure of the Victory rushing in among the thickest Ranks slew Reiner above-mentioned and wholly routed that Wing of the Army But Redwald not terrified with so great a Blow but rather more incensed renewed the Fight with the two remaining Bodies which being not to be broken by the Northumbers Ethelfrid having got among the thickest of his Enemies further than he ought in Prudence to have done was after a great Slaughter there slain upon which his whole Army fled but his two Sons by Acca King Edwin's Sister Oswald and Oswi escaped into Scotland This End had King Ethâ—lfrid a Prince most skilful in War thô utterly ignorant of the Christian Religion By this Victory Redwald became so far Superiour to the other Saxon Kings that Bede reckons him as the next after Aella and Ethelbert who had all England on this side Humber under his Obedience But to look back a little to Ecclesiastical Affairs about this time Laurentius the Archbishop died and was buried near Augustine his Predecessor to whom succeeded Mellitus who was Bishop of London this Mellitus is related by Bede to have by his Prayers stopp'd a great Fire in Canterbury by causing the Wind to blow the quite contrary way to what it did before which at last quite falling the Fire ceased with it He sat Archbishop only five Years This Year Cadwallo is supposed by Radulphus de Diceto to have succeeded his Father Cadwan in the Kingdom of Britain though some of the Welsh Chronicles make him to have began to reign four Years before But as for Geoffery of Monmouth who gives a large and very improbable Account of this King 's Martial Actions and therefore needless to be here repeated it is not his Custom to cite any Authors nor give any Year or Account when his Kings began to reign or when they died This Year Mellitus deceased and was buried with his Predecessors to whom immediately succeeded Justus who had been hitherto Bishop of Rochester but the Year following Paulinus a Roman was consecrated by Justus to be Bishop of the Northumbers for Bede tells us he had before received Authority from Pope Boniface to ordain what Bishops he pleased and as the present occasion should require the Pope sending also a Pall to bestow upon him at the same time To this Year Bede also refers the Conversion of the Northumbers that is all those English-Saxons who lived North of the River Humber together with Edwin their King to the Christian Faith who as an earnest of his future Faith had the Power of his Empire already so encreased that he took the utmost Borders of Britain under his Protection but the occasion of his Conversion was through his Alliance with the King of Kent by his marrying Ethelburga the Daughter of King Ethelbert whom when he sent to desire of her Brother Eadbald for his Wife it was answered That it was not Lawful to bestow a Christian Virgin in Marriage with a Heathen Which when the Messengers related it to King Edwin he promised he would act nothing contrary to that Faith which the Virgin professed but would rather permit a free exercise of her Religion to all those Priests and others who should attend her Neither did he deny to receive the same Religion himself provided upon a just Examination it should appear more Holy and worthy of GOD. Upon these Terms the Lady was sent to Edwin and Paulinus being ordained Bishop as was before resolved on was sent as a Spiritual Guardian to the Virgin who when he came to King Edwin's Court used his utmost Endeavour to convert the Pagans to the Christian Faith but to little purpose for a long time tho' at last he prevailed by this occasion For the year following When Cuichelme at that time one of the two West-Saxon Kings envious of the
adds further That the Queen Mother to these Princes caused them to be buried under a great heap of Stones and thereby gave Name to the Town of Stone in Staffordshire I thought good to take notice of this Romance because a greater Author viz. Mr. Camden himself hath also thought fit to put it into his Britannia from the Authority of a Manuscript Book once belonging to the Abby of Peterburgh But it is time to look back upon Ecclesiastical Affairs for now according to William of Malmesbury one Adhelm a Monk began to build the Abby of Malmesbury having before obtained a License for so doing together with a Grant of certain Lands called Madulfsburgh from Lutherius Bishop of Winchester the Place being so called from one Maildulf a Scotch Monk and Philosopher under whom Aldhelm had formerly studied who died at this Place where Maildulf had also begun a small Monastery but the few Monks that were there had no Means to subsist but by Alms until such time as this Aldhelm built it anew and got it Endowed by the Charity of Ethelred King of the Mercians Ceadwalla and Ina Kings of the West Saxons with other Noble Benefactors So that it soon became one of the greatest and richest Monasteries in England being at first called Madunesburg and afterwards Malmesbury About the same time also according to the old Book of the Abby of Abingdon in the Cottonian Librarie the Abby of Abingdon was founded by one Hean Nephew to Cissa a Petty Prince under Kentwin King of the West Saxons in Wiltshire and Berkshire the Place at first was called Sheovesham and the Foundation was for no more than an Abbot and 12 Monks but was afterwards much increased by the Charity of succeeding Kings being rebuilt by Abbot Ordgar in the Reign of King Edgar having been burnt and destroyed by the Danes in the time of King Alfred This Year also according to Bede Arch-Bishop Theodore consecrated Erkenwald Bishop of London who was in great Reputation for his Sanctity having before he came to be Bishop founded two Monasteries the one for Ethelburg his Sister at Berking the other for himself at Chertesey in Surrey This Year Escwin Bishop of the East Saxons departed this Life and Hedda took the Bishoprick of that Province and Centwin succeeded in the Kingdom of the West Saxons which Centwin was Son to Cynegils and he the Son of Ceolwulf Also Ethelred King of the Mercians wasted Kent Of which Expedition H. Huntington further relates That this King made War against Lothair King of Kent but he fearing that Valour so Hereditary to the Mercian Family kept out of sight and durst not meet him whereupon the King of Mercia destroyed the City of Rochester and passing through the Kingdom of Kent carried away a great deal of Spoil Bede adds further That he destroyed both Churches and Monasteries without any regard to Religion and so spoiled the Church and Palace of Rochester that Putta the Bishop of that See was forced to retire to Sexwulf Bishop of the Mercians and from him receiving the Possession of a certain Church there ended his Days in Peace This Putta is by Florence of Worcester and William of Malmesbury made the first Bishop of Hereford which Church it seems Sexwulf parted with to him thô Bede does not expresly mention it Also Eadhed was now ordained Bishop in the Province of Lindisse which King Egfrid had lately conquered from Wulfher King of the Mercians But when Ethelred Successour to Wulfher recovered that Province this Bishop retiring from Lindisse governed the Church of Ripon The same Year also Osric a petty Prince of this Country built a Nunnery at Bath which was afterwards turned to a House of Secular Canons but King Edgar turned them out and placed Benedictines in their Places This Year being the Eighth of the Reign of Egfrid King of Northumberland according to Bede and the Saxon Annals there appeared a Comet which continued 3 Months and arising toward Morning carried with it a large Tail like a Pillar in which Year also as Bede relates there arose a great Contention between King Egfrid and Bishop Wilfrid who was expell'd his Bishoprick and two others substituted in his Room over the Northumbrian Nation to wit Bosa who Governed the Province of Deira and Fatta that of Bernicia the former having his Episcopal See at the City of York and the other at Hagulstad being both of them preferred from being Monks Stephen Heddi the Author of St. Wilfrid's Life above-mentioned as also Will. of Malmesbury relate the Quarrel between King Egfrid and the Bishop to have proceeded from the Envy and Ill-will of Erminburge his Queen she making the King jealous of his Secular Glory and Riches and the great Retinue that followed him whereupon the King resolved to be rid of him so that presenting Theodore Arch-Bishop of Canterbury with great Gifts they perswaded him to come into that Province and together with three Bishops he brought with him who were not of the Northern Diocess they not only condemned but deprived Bishop Wilfrid being absent whereupon the Bishop went to the King and the Arch-Bishop and asked them What was the Reason that without any Crime alledged they had robbed him of his Estate that was given him by former Kings for God's sake But if this Author may be credited they gave him a very trifling Answer saying That they found no Fault in him yet would not alter what had been Decreed against him Whereupon the Bishop by the Consent of the rest of his Fellow-Bishops of his Province appealed to Rome But certainly these Bishops could not at that time be many for there were then no more in this Province than Lindisfarne and Whitern in the Picts Country Towards Rome he went the next Year but in his way thither landing in Frizeland he stayed there all that Winter converting the People of that Province And then proceeding in his Journey to Rome the Spring following where arriving he applied himself to the Pope and presented him with a Petition which being read before Pope John and the Synod at Rome he was by the said Pope and all the Bishops there present being 150 in Number Decreed to be restored to his Bishoprick but he could never prevail so far as to get this Council's Decree to be received as long as King Egfrid lived The same Year Bishop Wilfrid returning into England was received by Beorthwald Nephew of Ethelred King of the Mercians who then governed part of that Kingdom under his Uncle who hearing of it his Wife being the Sister of King Egfrid commanded Beorthwald immediately to dismiss him from whence he went to Centwin King of the West Saxons where staying but a little while he was also driven from thence because the Queen was Sister of Queen Erminburge Thus Stephanus Heddy in his Life of Bishop Wilfrid relates but it is to be doubted with too much Partiality on
his side Bede he gives us a more particular Account of the rest of his Actions that thô he were thus expelled his Bishoprick yet that he could not be restrained from Preaching the Gospel for retiring to the Kingdom of the South Saxons which lies between that of Kent and that of the West Saxons where Edilwalch then King and who had not been long before Baptized at the perswasion of King Wulfher as has been already said gave him Commission to Convert and Baptize not only the Principal Officers and Knights of that Province but divers Presbyters there named who came along with him did then or not long after Christen the rest of the common People and Ebba the Queen was also baptized in the Province of the Wectii but what Queen this was Bede does not tell us So that before this it seems thô the King was a Christian yet the whole Province of the South Saxons were as yet unconverted to the Christian Faith of which the Author of the Life of Bishop Wilfrid gives this Reason that this Province by reason of the multitude of the Rocks and thickness of the Woods was hitherto almost inaccessible to strangers But Bede further tells us That then there lived a certain Irish or Scotch Monk named Dicul who had a little Monastery in a place called Bosanham encompassed with Woods and the Sea where he with five or six Brethren served God in great Poverty and Humility yet would not any of the People imitate their Lives or hear their Preaching but when Bishop Wilfrid preach'd the Gospel to them he did not only free them from Eternal Torments but also from present destruction for it had not rained as my Author says for Three Years before in that Country whence multitudes of the poorer sort of People daily perished by Famine so that many becoming desperate Forty or Fifty Men in a Company being almost starved would all take hands together and at once leap down a Rock into the Sea But on the first day of their publick Baptism soft and plentiful showres descending restored plenty to the Summer following so this People casting away their Idolatry became not only enrich'd with Spiritual but Temporal Blessings for when the Bishop came into this Province and saw so dismal a Famine he taught them how to get their livings by fishing for though the Sea and Rivers abounded plentifully with Fish yet had not they the Wit to make Nets to take any but Eels whereupon the Bishop taught them by joyning many of those small Nets together to make them serve to catch Sea-Fish of which they took so great a multitude that they maintained themselves with them till other Provisions could be had At this time also King Edelwalch gave Bishop Wilfrid a certain Island called Seolesen that is in the old English Saxon the Island of Seales or Sea Calves where Wilfrid founded a small Monastery consisting chiefly of those Brethren he brought with him and which his Successours hold to this day viz. in Bede's time for this place after called Selsey was made the seat of the Bishop of that Province until it was long after removed to Chichester here Bishop Wilfrid lived and exercised his Episcopal Functions till the death of King Egfrid The same Year according to the Saxon Annals Escwin was slain near Trent in which place also King Egfrid and Ethelfred fought the same Year and now also St. Etheldrith deceased and Coludesburgh was burnt H. Huntington more at large relates this Fight between the Kings of Northumberland and Mercia and Bede also tells us This Young Prince mentioned in the Annals being the King of Northumberland's Brother and then about Eighteen Years of Age was slain and extreamly lamented in both Kingdoms For King Ethelred had Married Ostrithe his Sister but when Arch-Bishop Theodore saw the causes of their Intestine Quarrels daily to encrease he by his intercession and perswasions made Peace between the two Kings on this condition that King Ethelred should pay King Egfrid a pecuniary Mulct for his Brother who was slain This Queen Etheldrith here mentioned in the Annals was Daughter to Anna King of the East-Saxons and Wife of King Egfrid who yet remained a Virgin for thô she had been twice Married yet would she never let either of her Husbands lye with her but she dyed at last Abbess of the Monastery of Eli which she her self built and of whom Bede makes a large Elegy both in Prose and Verse and that after she had been there buried Sixteen Years her body being taken up as whole as at first she was canonized and called St. Audrey of Ely but this Coludesburgh here mentioned in the Annals was a great Monastery of Monks and Nuns together afterwards called Coldingham in the Marches of Scotland which as Bede tells us was a very magnificent building for that Age but by the just judgment of God for the loose living of the Monks and Nuns was burnt thô it happen'd not by any Miracle but by meer carelesness of the Servants About this time also according to an ancient Manuscript Copy of Florence of Worcester's Chronicle in the Bodleian Library the Province of the Mercians was by the Common Council or consent of Ethelred King of that Kingdom and of Theodore Arch-Bishop of Canterbuâ—y divided into Five Diocesses Bosel being ordained Bishop of the Wicii who had his seat Worcester whilest Cuthwian was ordained to the Diocess of Litchfield Saxulf was pleased to continue Bishop over midle England having his See at Leicester and Ethelwine was set over the Province of Lindisse having his See at Cidnacester but as for the See of Hereford that had been founded about Three Years before by Bishop Putta by the means and consent of Bishop Saxulf as hath been now observed But to return to our Annals This Year Theodore the Arch-Bishop summon'd a Synod at Heathfield now Hatfield in Hartfordshire that he might correct divers errours concerning the Christian Faith but Bede gives us a fuller account of it and tells us it was summoned to condemn the Heresie of Eutyches who then maintained but one will and Person in Christ and which then troubled the Latin as well as Greek Church and therefore the Arch-Bishop being resolved to prevent it held this Synod in which the Five first General Councils were not only received and confirm'd but also the latter held at Rome under Pope Martyn I. in the Reign of the Emperour Constantine Bede also tells us That there was present at this Council John the Praecentor or chief Chanter of the Church of St. Peters in Rome whom Pope Agatho had sent hither not only to instruct the English Monasteries how to Sing after the Roman Fashion but also to give him an account of the Faith of the English Church which he did at his Return to Rome much to its advantage And the same Year according to Bede and the Saxon Annals Hilda the Holy
Abbess deceased at Streanshale now Whitby in York-shire which she her self had Founded she was Grand Niece to King Edwin and having been converted by Paulinus had been almost ever since her Conversion a professed Nun first in the Monastery of Cale in France and was afterwards Abbess of divers Nunneries in England being esteemed a Lady of great Sanctity and Knowledge At this Monastery of Strean-shale which was then for Men as well as Women lived Caedmon the English Saxon Poet who is supposed by Bede to have been once Divinely inspired in his sleep to make Verses in his own Tongue upon the Creation of the World and ever after kept that faculty upon other Divine Subjects there are divers of his Paraphrases in Saxon Verse still extant upon several Stories in Genesis and Exodus but very hard to be understood by reason of the Obsoleteness of the Saxon Dialect They have been Printed at Oxford by the Learned Junius About this time also according to Florence the Kingdom of the Mercians became divided into five Diocesses and Tulfride a learned Monk of the Abbess Hilda's Monastery was elected first Bishop of Worcester but dyed before his Ordination But the ancient Chronicle of the Church of Worcester now in the Cottonian Library relates the Church of Worcester to have been first founded by Atheâ—red King of the Mercians and Theodore Bishop of Canterbury one Bosel being made the first Bishop of that See and sate therein Eleven Years There was then also founded a Colledge of secular Canons which so continued as the Chapter of this Church till Anno Dom. 991 when Bishop Oswald turned them out and put in Benedictine Monks in their Rooms About the same time also one Oswald Nephew to King Ethelred founded a College for Secular Canons at Pershore in Worcestershire which continued till King Edgar and Bishop Oswald Anno 984. brought in Benedictine Monks in their Places I may also add under this Year that pretended Bull of Pope Agatho's Privileges together with the Charter of this K. Ethelred which is reciâ—â—d in the Peterbâ—rgh Copy of the Saxon Annals under Anno. 675 and is there related to have been about the same time confirmed in the Council at Heathfield above-mentioned whereby were grâ—nted to the Monastery of Mâ—deshaâ—isâ—e ad divers greâ—t Immâ—nities which Bull does not only confirm aâ—d those Privileges formerly granted by Pope Vitalian but there is also further added this that the Abbot should be the Pope's Legat over the whole Isle of Britain and that whatsoever Abbot was elected by the Monks should be immediately consecrated by the Archbishop of Câ—nterbury with divers other Things too tedious here to relate Which 〈◊〉 being recited in the Council above-mentioned was by thâ—m estâ—blished and confirmed which being done the King is said to have made a Speech reciting all the Lands he had given to the said Monastery and then having subscribed the Charter the Queen Adrian the Pope's Legat and all the Bishops and Abbots whose Names are there mentioned did so likewise under drâ—â—dful Curses upon those that should violate the Privileges above-mentioned But notwithstanding the so exact Recital and supposed Confirmation of this Charter in the Council above-mentioned we have very great Reason to suspect this Bull as also the Charter it self to have been forged long after by the Monks of Peterburgh for in the first place the Privileges granted to this Abbey do not only exceed any that had been granted by the Pope to any Monastery in England but also were such as we do not find it ever enjoy'd as particularly that of their Abbot's being the Pope's ordinary Legate all over this Island which had been such a Diminution of the Rights of the Archbishop of Canterbury as he would nover have so easily paâ—s'd over And besides all which the Names of the Bishops who are put to this Charter do not at all agree with the Circumstances of Time for first it is certain that Wilfred is here styled Archbishop of York which Title he never took upon him being then no more but a Bishop under the Jurisdiction of Archbishop Theodore and by whom he at this Time stood deprived and was not present at this Council nor did return this Year from Rome as this Copy of the Annals makes him to have done but was indeed returned from thence near three Years before being at this Time converting the South-Saxons â—s hath been already related Neither was Putta Bishop of Rochester or Waldhere Bishop of London at the time when this Council was held though their Names are also put to this Charter for the former had been dead eleven Years before and one Quiehelme was then Bishop of that See as appears by the Catalogue of the Bishops in Sir H. Spelman's Fasâ—â— at the end of the Volume of English Writers after Bede nor was the latter then Bishop of London but Erkenwald who was elected to that See above fifteen Years before and continued in it 'till after the Reign of King Ina who began not to reign 'till Anno 688 so that upon the whole matter I take this Charter to be a notorious piece of Forgery This Year Trumbrith was consecrated Bishop of Hagulstad and Trumwin Bishop of the Picts This was the Bishoprick of Wyterne called in Latin Candida Casa which at that time as Bede testifies belonged to the Kingdom of Northumberland and also Centwin King of the West-Saxons put the Britains to flight as far as the Sea H. Huntington says That he also wasted all their Country with Fire and Sword but the Welsh Chronicle of Caradoc translated by H. Lloyd relates That this Year Kentwin King of the West-Saxons gathered a great Company of his Nation together and came against the Britains who seem'd ready to receive the Battle but yet when both Armies appeared in sight of each other they were not all desirous to fight for they fell to a friendly composition and agreement viz. That Ivor should take Ethelburga to Wife who was Cousin to Kâ—ntwin and quietly enjoy all that he had got during the Reign of Ivor but of this our English Histories are silent This Year the Nunnery of St. Peter in Glocester was founded by Osriâ— then a petty Prince or Governour under Ethelred King of the Mercians but was afterwards King of the Northumbers This Monastery thô it had the honour of having Three Queens successively Abbesses of it was destroyed by the Danes but afterwards was re-edified for Benedictine Monks by Aldred Bishop of Worcester Anno 1058. This Year also according to Bede Egfrid King of Northumberland sent a great Army into Ireland under one Bert or Bryt his General who miserably wasted that innocent Nation which had been always friendly to the English which Character perhaps might have been due to them in Bede's time and did not so much as spare the Churches or Monasteries but the Islanders as far as they were able repel'd Force with Force and invoked the Divine
Miracles and mentioning other things only by the bye hath given us so slender an account of those times that if we had not found some assistance from the Saxon Annals as well as from other Writers the History of that Age though very short and obscure would yet have been much more imperfect without them But to proceed now with our Saxon Annals This Year K. Ethelbald took Sumerton and Acca was driven from his Bishoprick of Hagulstad I suppose by the then King of Northumberland though no Author expresly mentions it Will. of Malmesbury tells us that this Ethelbald was that great and powerful King of the Mercians to whom Boniface Bishop of Mentz being then the Pope's Legat writ a sharp Letter setting forth and reproving the then reigning Vices of this Nation and particularly of that King himself who relying on the vain Confidence of his Justice and Alms was not ashamed no more than the Noblemen of his Kingdom by his Example to commit Uncleanness even with Consecrated Nuns which wicked Actions the Bishop foretells would be the ruin of himself and Kingdom as it proved in the end But King Ethelbald after he had thus taken Somerton with an Army too powerful to be resisted by the K. of the West Saxons became to great that as H. Huntington observes he made all the rest of the Provinces of England together with their Kings subject to him as far as the River Humber This Somerton was anciently a great Town and Castle of the West-Saxon Kings and gave Name to that County which we now call Somersetshire though at present it be but an ordinary Country Village Also this Year the Sun was so much eclipsed that as the Epitome of Bede and Ethelward relate on 13 o Kal. Sept. it s whole Orb seem'd as it were covered with a black Sheild This Year also the Moon appear'd as it were stain'd with Blood and Simeon of Durham saith it lasted one whole hour and then a Blackness following it return'd to its natural Colour Also Tatwin the Archbishop deceased and Egbryht was made Bishop of York Now Bede also died But the Author of his Life in Manuscript in the Cottonian Library refers it to the Year following and the Chronicle of Mailros with greater Truth to the Year 736 for he was as his Life above-cited relates born Anno 677 and deceased in the 59th Year of his Age. But since Bede our Historian deceased about this time and that it is to him we are beholding for the greatest part of the History of this present Period it is fit we give you a short account of his Life He was born in the Province of Northumberland not far from the Monastery of Gyrwie the place is now called Yarrow near the Mouth of the River Were where he was bred up from seven Years of Age and in which being profess'd he lived a Monk all the rest of his Life spending his time in the Study of the Scriptures saying his Prayers or Writing Comments upon the Old and New Testaments as also his Ecclesiastical History so often cited by us besides divers other Books containing the Lives of Saints and other Matters of Humane as well as Divine Learning whose Titles you may find at the end of his said History 'Till at last being wasted by a long Asthma he there made an Heavenly End as may be seen in his Life above-mentioned So that Simeon of Durham very well observes that though he lay as it were hid in the utmost Corner of the World yet after his Death he became known in all Parts by his Learned Writings therefore he hath for his great Piety as well as Learning justly obtained the Title of Venerable Bede After whose decease as Will. of Malmesbury rightly observes all knowledge of Actions passed was almost lost even to his own Times since none proved an Emulator of his Studies nor a Follower of his Learning so that to a slothful Generation one more slothful still succeeding the Love of Learning for a long time grew cold in this whole Island ' This Year Bishop Egbriht received the Pall from Rome but you must here observe that by the Pope's thus sending a Pall to the Bishop of York he now became an Archbishop and consequently Metropolitan of all the Northumbrian Provinces that See having been ever since the Time of Paulinus's Flight out of Northumberland into Kent and carrying the Archiepiscopal Pall along with him no more than an ordinary Bishoprick subject to the Archbishop of Canterbury from whose Power it was from this time exempted and came now to have Supreme Jurisdiction over all the Bishops in Deira and Bernicia as far as the Pictish Kingdom ' The Arch-bishop Nothelm received his Pall from Rome This was the new Archbishop of Canterbury who succeeded Tatwine You may take notice that it was in those Times usual for the Pope to send a Pall to every new Archbishop upon his Consecration to shew his Dependance upon the See of Rome and for which every Archbishop paid a great Sum of Money to the Pope's Treasury This Nothelm when he was a Presbyter of the Church of London was he to whom Bede in the Epistle before his History owns himself beholding for divers ancient Monuments relating to the English Church as also Epistles out of the Pope's Repository This Year Forthere Bishop of Scireburn with Frithogithe Queen of the West-Saxons went to Rome Where as H. Huntington tells us they both took upon them the Monastick Habit which in those days very many of the English Nation of all Degrees and Qualities as well high as low were wont to do For now also as our Annals relate Ceolwulf King of Northumberland surrendred his Kingdom to Eadbert his Cousin who reigned Thirty one Years This Ceolwulf was he to whom Bede dedicated his History who after his professing himself a Monk in the Monastery of Lindisfarne as R. Hoveden relates brought the Monks of that place from the strict discipline of drinking only Milk or Water to drink Wine and Ale and they might very well afford it for he brought along with him good provisions to live easily as great Treasures and Revenues in Land recited at large by Simeon of Durham all which he bestowed on that Monastery no wonder then if such great Commendations be given by Monkish Writers to Kings becoming Monks The same Year also as Simeon of Durham and Mat. of Westminster relates Alwin Bishop of Lichfield dying there were two Bishops ordained in that Diocess viz. Wicca at Lichfield and Tocca the first Bishop of Leycester which Town from this time continued a Bishop's See for divers Ages Also this Year according to the Saxon Annals the Bishops Ethelwald and Acca deceased and Cynwulf was consecrated Bishop and the same Year Ethelbald King of the Mercians wasted the Contry of Northumberland And as H. Huntington adds carried away as much Spoil as he had a mind to from thence Also as Simeon of Durham
relates Swebriht King of the East-Saxons died this Year Eadbriht or Egbert the Son of Eatta who was the Son of Leodwald began to Reign in the Kingdom of the Northumbers and held it One and Twenty Years Egbert Arch-Bishop of York was his Brother who were both buried in the City of York in the same Church-Porch But it there is an over-sight in these Annals for this Eadbriht above mentioned must be the same with Eadbriht under the former Year This Year also according to Simeon of Durham Swebright King of the East-Saxons died Ceolwulf late King of Northumberland died this Year according to Mat. Westminster in the Monastery of Lindisfarne Also as Simeon of Durham relates Nothelm Arch-Bishop of Canterbury deceased but the Saxon Annals defer his Death two Years longer This Year Acca Bishop of Hagulstad deceased who as the same Author relates was had in great Reverence not only during his Life but also after his Decease for his great Sanctity and supposed Miracles King Ethelred deceased and Cuthred his Cousin succeeded in the Kingdom of the West Saxons and held it 16 Years This King made sharp War against Ethelbald King of the Mercians and that with various Success as H. Huntington tells us sometimes making Peace and then again renewing the War This Year also Nothelm the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury deceased and Cuthbriht was Consecrated in his stead as was also Dun Bishop of Rochester after the Death of Eadulph ' This Year also the City of York was burnt together with the Monastery as Simeon has it Now was held the great Synod at Cloveshoe where were present Ethelbald King of the Mercians and Cuthbert the Arch-Bishop with many other wise Men. Where this Cloveshoe was is now very uncertain since the Name is wholly lost some suppose it to have been Cliffe in Kent near Gravesend but it is not likely that Ethelbald being now the chief King of England would permit this Council to have been held out of his own Dominions so that others suppose it to have been Abingdon in Berkshire which was anciently called Secvesham where as the old Book of that Abbey tells us was anciently a Royal Seat of the Kings and where there used to be great Assemblies of the People concerning the arduous Affairs of the Mercian Kingdom But thô we are more certain of the Decrees of this Council than of the Place where it was held yet since it was a meer Ecclesiastical Synod and no great Council of that Kingdom and that its Decrees were chiefly made in Confirmation of the Charter of King Withred concerning free Elections to Monasteries in Kent according to the Directions of the Archbishop of Canterbury I shall refer you to the Canons themselves as they are to be found in the Decem Scriptores and Sir H. Spelman's British Councils and shall only take notice of this one that now Bishops were first ordered to visit their Diocesses once a Year This Year Ethelbald King of the Mercians and Cuthred King of the West Saxons fought against the Britains H. Huntington tell us That these two Kings now joyning their Forces brought two great Armies into the Field against the Welsh-men who not being able to defend themselves were forced to flie leaving great Spoils behind them so both the Kings returned home Victorious According to Florence of Worcester Wilfred the second Bishop of York of that Name died after he had fate 30 Years Also this Year according to the Annals Daniel resigned the Bishoprick of Winchester being worn out by Age and Hunferth succeeded him and they say the Stars seemed to fall from Heaven But Simeon of Durham calls them with more probability such Lightnings as those of that Age had never before seen About this time also according to Simeon there happened a great Fight between the Picts and the Britains I suppose he means those of Camberland for no other Britains lay near the Picts This year Bishop Daniel above-mentioned deceased after he had been 43 years Bishop ' This year Selred King of the East-Saxons was slain But by whom or which way is not here said This Selred was Sirnamed The Good and reigned 38 years Switheard King of the East-Angles dying Elfwold succeeded him as the Chronicle of Mailros relates This Year also was held the second Council at Cloveshoe under Cuthbert Arch-Bishop of Canterbury there being present beside the Bishops Abbots and many Ecclesiasticks Ethelbald King of the Mercians with his chief Men and Ealdermen In which besides many Decrees concerning the Unity of the Church and for promoting Peace which you may see at large in Sir H. Spelman's First Volume of Councils and after the reading of Pope Zachary's Letters to the People of England to live more continently These among other Decrees were likewise passed viz. 1. That the Reading of the Holy Scriptures be more constantly used in Monasteries 2. That Priests receive no Reward for baptizing Children or for other Sacraments 3. That they learn the Creed and the Lord's Prayer in English and are likewise to understand and interpret into their own Tongue the Words of Consecration in the Celebration of Mass and also of Baptism c. This year Cynric Aetheling that is Prince of the Blood-Royal of the West Saxons was slain and Eadbriht King of Kent died after six Years Reign and Ethelbryht the Son of King Withred succeeded him This Cynric was he whom H. Huntington relates to be Son of Cuthred King of the West Saxons who thô young in Years was a great Warriour for his time yet perished in a sudden Sedition of his own Souldiers but where he does not say Simeon affirms That Elfwald King of the East Angles now dying Hunbeanna and Albert divided that Kingdom between them but what relation they had to the late King he does not tell us This year Cuthred King of the West Saxons in the 12th Year of his Reign fought against Ethelune that couragious Ealderman H. Huntington calls him a bold Earl who moved Sedition against his Lord and thô he were inferiour in the number of his Souldiers yet maintained the Fight a great while by his sole Courage and Conduct but while he was ready to get the Victory a Wound he then unfortunately received so disabled him and disheartened his Men that the King's being the stronger as well as the juster Side did thereby prevail Also the same Year according to Simeon of Durham and the Chronicle of Mailros Eadbert King of Northumberland led Kynwulf Bishop of Lindisfarne Prisoner to the City of Beban who it seems had some ways rebelled against him for he then also caused the Cathedral Church of Lindisfarne to be besieged The same Year as Bede's Continuator relates Eadbert King of Northumberland made War upon the Picts and subdued all the Country of Kyle with other Territories joyning them to his own Dominions This Year according to the Saxon Annals King
Cuthred fought against the Britains But of this the Welsh Chronicles are silent as well as other Authors The same Year also being the 12th Year of his Reign King Cuthred fought against Aethelbald King of the Mercians at Beorgford now Burford in Oxfordshire and there put him to flight But H. Huntington gives us this Battle more at large That King Cuthred being not any longer able to bear the Insolencies and Impositions of that proud King Ethelbald took Arms and met him with an Army in the Field preferring his Liberty before his Life being encouraged by Earl Ethelune above-mentioned who it seems was now cured and reconciled to the King relying upon whose Courage and Council he resolved to undertake this War but Ethelbald as a King of Kings had brought along with him besides his own Mercians the Kentish Men with the East Angles and Saxons which made all together a very great Army and being both drawn up on the Spot they approached each other whilst Earl Athelune marching before the West Saxons carried the Royal Standard being a Golden Dragon and in the beginning of the Battle challenging him to a single Combat there slew the Standard-bearer of the Enemy upon which a great Shout being given Cuthred's Souldiers were very much encouraged then both Armies engaging there followed a great and bloody Fight of which our Author gives us a long and pompous Relation Pride and Ambition says he inciting the Mercians and fear of Servitude provoking the West Saxons to fight it to the last but wherever Earl Ethelune charged the Enemies he with the force of his invincible Battle-Axe destroyed all before him but at last K. Ethelbald and the Earl meeting they fought together with great Obstinacy and Resolution till GOD who resisteth the Proud so discouraged this King that he turned his Back and fled whilst his Men still fought on yet at last they were all routed nor from that time to the day of his Death did GOD give him any more Success Cuthred King of the West Saxons departed this Life and according to Simeon Sigebert his Cousin succeeded him Also Cyneheard succeeded in the Bishoprick of Winchester after Hunferth and the same year the City of Canterbury was burnt This Year was very remarkable for now as our Annals inform us Cynwulf with the Wife and Noble Men of the West Saxons deprived King Sigebert of the whole Kingdom for his Cruelty and Injustice except Hampshire which he kept for some time until he slew one Cumbran an Ealderman who had continued longest with him so that at last Sigebert was driven into Andred's Wood where he remained till such time as a certain Hogheard ran him through with a Lance at Pruutes-Flood and thereby revenged the Death of Cumbran the Ealderman This King Cynwulf often overcame the Britains in Fight but after he had governed the Kingdom about 30 Years he was slain by Cyneheard Aetheling brother to Sigebert as shall be shewn hereafter H. Huntington is very particular in the Reasons and manner of King Sigebert's Deposition and tells us That being puff'd up with the good Succâ—ss of his Predecessours he grew intollerable to his Subjects for he had oppressed them by all manner of ways and wrested the Laws for his own Advantage insomuch that this Cumbran one of his noblest Earls at the Desire of the People represented their Grievances to this cruel King who because he perswaded him that he should govern them more gently and thereby become more beloved both by God and Man he presently commanded him to be slain and so daily increased in his Tyranny till in the beginning of his Second Year the Great Men and People of the whole Kingdom being gathered together by the Provident Deliberation and Unanimous Consent of them All he was expell'd the Kingdom and Cinewulf a notable young Man of the Blood Royal was Elected King in his room This is the first Example we have in our English History of the Solemn Deposition of a King by the Authority of the Great Council of the Kingdom concerning whom our Author bids us remark the manifold Justice and Providence of God how sometimes it doth not only recompence Kings according to their Merits in the World to come but also in this for oftentimes setting up Wicked Kings for the Deserved Punishment of their Subjects he lets some of them Tyrannize a great while that so a wicked People might be punished and the King becoming more wicked may be tormented for ever as may be seen in Aethelbald King of Mercia above-mentioned whilst God cuts others short by a speedy Destruction lest his People being oppress'd by too great Tyranny should not be able to subsist under it so that the immoderate Wickedness of a Prince does often accelerate his Punishment The same Year according to Caradoc's Chronicle published by Dr. Powel Conan Tindaethwy Son of Rodri Molwynoc began his Reign over the Britains in Wales This Year also according to the Saxon Annals Aethelbald King of the Mercians was slain at Seccandune now Secington in Warwickshire after he had reigned 41 Years and then Beornred usurped the Kingdom and held it but a little while and that with great Trouble for the same year King Offa expelled Beornred and taking Possession of the Throne held it 39 Years but his Son Egberth no more than 140 Days This Offa was the Son of Thincerth and he the Son of Eanwulf The rest of his Pedigree as far as Woden I omit Abbot Bromton's Chronicle farther adds concerning the Death of King Ethelbald That he was slain in a Fight at the Place above-mention'd yet was it not by the Enemy but by the Treachery of this Beornred Ingulph in his History of Croyland tells us That King Ethelbald having founded the Abby of Ripendune now Repton in Derbyshire being the most famous of that Age was there buried and also of this Beornred whom he calls a Tyrant that he did not long enjoy his Usurpation for it seems he was not of the Blood Royal of the Mercian Kings but when he was Expelled Offa succeeded him by the General Consent of the Nobles of Mercia but Mat. Westminster who puts the Succession of King Offa two Years later is more particular in this Transaction and relates That this Beornred governing very Tyrannically the whole Nation of the Mercians rose up against him so that both the Nobility and Commons joyning together under the Conduct of Offa a valiant young Man Nephew to the late King Aethelbald they expelled Beornred the Kingdom and then Offa by the General Consent of the Clergy and Laity of that Kingdom was crowned King This was that King Offa who afterwards became a Terrour to all the Kings of England Eadbert King of Northumberland and Unust King of the Picts brought an Army against the City Alkuith which the Britains delivered upon Conditions This is from the Authority of Simeon of Durham and lets us see that this City now in Scotland was then in the Hands
King of the Mercians fought against Kenwulf King of the West-Saxons at the Siege of Bensington Castle But Kenwulf being worsted was forced to flee and so Offa took the Castle Now Janbryht the Archbishop deceased and Ethelheard the Abbot was elected Archbishop Also Osred King of the Northumbers was betray'd and driven out of his Kingdom and Ethelred the Son of Ethelwald Sirnamed Mull reigned after him or rather was again restored to the Kingdom having reigned there before as hath been already shewn But Simeon of Durham adds farther that this Osred the late King of this Kingdom having been also shaven a Monk against his Will escaped again out of the Monastery into the Isle of Man But the next Year As Simeon relates Oelf and Oelfwin Sons of Alfwold formerly King of Northumberland were drawn by fair Promises from the Principal Church of York and afterwards at the Command of King Ethelred cruelly put to Death at Wonwalderemâ—re a Village by the great Pool in Lancashire now called Winanderemere Also about this time according to the same Author one Eardulf an Earl being taken and brought to Ripun was there Sentenced by the said King to be put to Death without the Gate of the Monastery whose Body when the Monks had carried to the Church with solemn Dirges and placed under a Pavilion was about Midnight found alive But this Relation is very imperfect for it neither tells us how he escaped Death nor how he was conveyed away though we find him five Years after this made King of Northumberland This Year as Simeon of Durham and Mat. Westminster relate Charles King of France sent certain Synodal Decrees into England in which alas for with great Grief our Author speaks it were found many inconvenient things and altogether contrary to the true Faith For it had been decreed in a Council at Constantinople by more than Three Hundred Bishops that Images ought to be adored which the Church of God does say they wholly abominate Then Albinus that is our Alcuin wrote an Epistle wherein he proved it by the Authority of the Holy Scriptures to be utterly Unlawful and this he offered together with the Book it self to the King of France on the behalf of all our Bishops and Great Men and this Letter of Alcuinus is thought to have wrought such an effect on the Synod of Francfort assembled about two Years after that the Worship of Images was therein solemnly condemned From which it is evident that Image-Worship as now practised in the Greek and Roman Churches was not then received in England And this Year also according to the same Author Osred late King of Nortbumberland being deceived by the Oaths of some great Men returned privately from the Isle of Man when his Souldiers deserting him and being taken Prisoner by King Ethelred he was by his Command put to Death at a Place called Aynsburg but his Body was buried at the famous Monastery at the mouth of Tine and the same Year King Ethelred betrothed Elfrede the Daughter of King Offa. In whom also there was found as little Faith as Mercy for this Year according to our Annals Will. of Malmesbury and Mat. Westminster Ethelbert the Son of Ethelred King of the East-Angles notwithstanding the disswasions of his Mother going to the Court of King Offa in order to Wooe his Daughter was there slain by the wicked instigations of Queen Quendrith so that out of an Ambition to seize his Kingdom Offa was perswaded to make him away but by what means it is not agreed The Annals relate him to have been beheaded But the same Annals and Florence of Worcester agree That his Body was buried in the Monastery at Tinmouth But the Chronicle ascribed to Abbot Bromton as also Mat. Westminster have given us long and Legendary Accounts of the Death of this Prince and the latter of these as well as other Monks who were favourers of this King Offa would have this Murther to be committed without this King's knowledge and Mat. Westminster has a long Story about it but not all probable especially since the King was so well pleased with the Fact when it was done that he presently seized the Kingdom of this poor Murthered Prince and added it to his own Dominions This Year as Mat. Paris and his Namesake of Westminster relate King Offa was warned by an Angel to remove the Reliques of St. Alban into a more noble Shrine and so either for this cause or else which is more likely to expiate the several Murthers he had committed began to build a new Church and Monastery in honour of St. Alban and thither removing his Bones into a Silver shrine all gilt and adorned with precious Stones he placed them in the new Church that he had built without the Town where as the Monks pretended they wrought great Miracles This King having made a journey on purpose to Rome obtained of Pope Adrian to have him Canonized King Offa also conferred upon this Monastery very great Privileges and vast Possessions all which he confirmed by his Charter which you may find in the first Volume of Monast. Anglic. as that also Anno. Dom. 1154. One Nicholas having been first a Servant in this Abbey and afterwards was Bishop of Alba Elected Pope by the name of Adrian IV he by his Bull ordained that as St. Alban was the first Martyr of England so this Abbot should be the first in Dignity of all the Abbots in England and Pope Honorius did by a Bull in the Year 1118 not only ratifie all the Privileges made and confirmed by former Popes but also granted to the Abbot and his Successours Episcopal Rights together with the Habit and that he and his Monks should be exempt from all Jurisdiction to the Bishop of Lincoln with other Exemptions too long here to be set down Also this Year there appeared strange Prodigies in the Country of Northumberland which mightily terrified the People of that Province viz. immoderate Lightnings there were also seen Meteors like fiery Dragons flying in the Air after which signs followed a cruel Famine and a little after the same Year 6 o Idus Jan. certain Heathens i.e. Danes miserably destroyed the Church of God in Lindisfarne committing great Spoils and Murthers Simeon of Durham says These Danes not only pillaged that Monastery but killing divers of the Friers carried away the rest Captive sparing neither Priests nor Laymen This Year also Sicga died he who killed the good King Alfwold who now as Roger Hoveden relates slew himself And the same Year according to Florence of Worcester Ethelard was ordained Arch-Bishop of York and as Simeon of Durham relates the same Year died Alric Third Son to Withred King of Kent after a long Reign of Thirty Four Years in whom ended the Race of Hengist Thenceforth as Will. of Malmesbury observes whomsoever Wealth or Faction advanced took on him the Title of King of that Province This Year both Pope Adrian
4 years   796 Kenwulf one of the Blood-Royal tho far remote 24 years           795 Osbald 27 days and then deposed               795 Eardulf 10 years       794 Cuthred as his Tributary          Edmund sirnamed the Martyr     THE General History OF BRITAIN NOW CALLED ENGLAND As well Ecclesiastical as Civil BOOK V. From the beginning of the Reign of King EGBERT to that of King EDGAR Being the space of One Hundred Fifty Six Years and an Half THE English Saxons having after their Conquest of so great 〈◊〉 part of Britain and the expulsion of the Natives into Wales and Cornwall erected Seven and if we reckon Deira and Bernicia as distinct Eight different Kingdoms in this part of our Island that naturally followed which always attends a Warlike People canton'd out into many small independant principalities viz. constant disputes about the borders of their respective Territories or else a strife for the Mastery who should be Chief and Domineere most over the rest from whence besides divers other accidental occasions of Quarrels sprang Civil Wars incident to neighbouring Nations no ways divided but by Rivers or other less certain boundaries which never ceased until what had been begun by King Egbert's Predecessours was finish'd by himself and his Successours who at length united all those Kingdoms into one to the lasting quiet and happiness of the English Nation which to set forth shall be the subject of this present Period For though there had been before Egbert many chief or Principal Kings several of whom Bede as also the Saxon Annals have mentioned who by the sole power of their Arms succeeded each other in that Title yet did it never so properly belong to any one as to King Egbert with whose Reign we shall begin this Book since he was not satisfied as others had been before him with the bare acknowledgments and submissions of the other remaining Kings but having subdued most of them he laid their Kingdoms to his own leaving only those of the Mercians Northumbrians and East-Anglâ—s to be held by their respective Princes as Tributaries to his Crown in which state they continued till the Invasion and Conquest of the Danes wholly swallowed up all those Principalities and that after their expulsion by King Alfred and his Son Edward the Elder these Kingdoms became again united to the rest of their Dominions under the General name of England But since the Invasion of the Danes also happened in the beginning of this Period 't is fit we say something of it both as to its Causes and Instruments by which it was performed in the doing of which I shall make use of H. Huntington's words in the Prologue to his Fifth Book wherein he tells us That the Invasion of the Danes was much the fiercest and most câ—uel that ever was felt in this Island for the Romans althô they subdued Britain to their Empire yet used their Victory with moderation and made those they conquered partakers of the Roman Laws and Civility and as for the Invasion of the Picts and Scots which followed the decay of the Roman Empire in Britain though it fell severely upon the Northern Parts yet was it not of any long continuance or of any general extent being soon stopt by the more predominant Power and Valour of the English-Saxons who as you have already heard conquering this Kingdom by degrees though they drove out the ancient Inhabitants who refused to submit to them yet we do not find but that they spared the lives of all those that became their Vassals and having Conquered the Country they not only repaired the ancient Towns and Cities but likewise built many new ones and governed the Kingdom by their own Laws and Constitutions Lastly the Normans who succeeded the Danes in subduing this Nation yet granted not only Life and Liberty to the vanquished but also permited them the use of their ancient Laws and Customs whereas the Danes wasted and spoiled this whole Island for a long time together by frequent Incursions exempting no places Sacred or Prophane from Spoil or Ruin so that sparing neither Age nor Sex they seemed for a long time not so much to design the Conquest as Destruction of tâ—e English Nation till at last King Knute obtaining the Crown of Englaâ—d after the Death of King Edmund Sir-named Irâ—nside by restoring iâ—â— ancient Laws and Liberties made some amends for the continual spoils and depredations of himself and his Predecessours If therefore you do but consider the frequent Invasions of that Barbarous People how they often landed in several places at once thereby not only dividing the Forces of the English-Saxons but also so distracting their Commanders that they could not tell which way to March against them you may hence observe that next to the Providence and Mercy of God nothing but the extraordinary Valour and Conduct of those Kings whose Great and Noble Actions we shall here relate could have preserved this Nation from being totally subdued long before nor could they ever bring it under their Power till they met with a Prince who fell very short of his Ancestors as well in Prudence and Valour as in the chiefest thing of all the love of his Subjects But as for the causes which provoked the wrath of God to bring this dreadful Judgment upon the English Nation the same Author gives us this probable Account viz. That in the Primitive Church of England Religion shined with so great a Lustre that divers Kings and Queens together with many of the great Men and Bishops undertook Monastick Vows as you have already heard but in process of time all Virtue and Piety so far declined that the English Saxons suffered no Nation to exceed them in deceit and all manner of wickedness which chiefly appears in the precedent as well as following History of the Northumbrian Kings in which you will find that all Orders and Degrees of Men were guilty of so great Treachery and Rebellion that nothing was a greater disgrace than Piety and Innocence which was looked upon as a just occasion to be made away wherefore it was no wonder if God thought fit to send upon them whole swarms of cruel Nations which destroyed all before them to wit the Danes or Norwegians together with the Swedes and Vandals These from the latter end of the Reign of King Egbert to the beginning of the Reign of William the First being above Two Hundred and Thirty Years never gave this Island any long respite from their Invasions So that it seems it was not the Nation of the Danes alone properly so called who were the cause of this Destruction but a mixture of divers of these Northern Nations who joyning together proposed at first to themselves no other design but
Plunder and Spoil But of this we shall speak more in due time and shall now proceed in our History where we left off in our last Book Egbert the only surviving Prince of the Blood-Royal of the West Saxon Kings as great Nephew to Ina by his Brother Inegilds being arrived in England was now ordained King as Ethelwerd expressly terms his Election But since Asser in his Annals places this King 's coming to the Crown under Anno 802. as does Simeon of Durham and also Roger Howden from an Ancient piece of Saxon Chronologie inserted at the beginning of the first Book of his first part and this account being also proved by that great Master in Chronology the now Lord Bishop of Litchfield to be truer then that of the Saxon Annals or Ethelwerd by divers Proofs too long to be here Inserted I have made bold to put this King 's coming to the Crown two Years backwarder then it is in the last Book thô I confess the former Account in the Saxon Annals would have made a more exact Epocha Also about this time as appears from the ancient Register of St. Leonard's Abbey in York cited in Monast. Anglican viz. ' That Anno Dom. 800 Egbert King of all Britain in a Parliament at Winchester by the consent of his People changed the Name of this Kingdom and commanded it to be called England Now thô by the word Parliament here used it is certain that this Register was writ long after the Conquest yet it might be transcribed from some more ancient Monument since Will. of Malmesbury tells us of this King tho' without setting down the time that by the greatness of his Mind he reduced all the Varieties of the English Saxon Kingdoms to one uniform Empire or Dominion which he called England though others perhaps more truly refer it towards the latter end of his Reign as you will find when we come to it This Year Eardulf King of the Northumbers led his Army against Kenwulf King of Mercia for harbouring his Enemies who also gathering together a great Army they approached to each other when by the Advice of the Bishops and Noblemen of England as also by the Intercession of the chief King of the English by whom is meant King Egbert who then passed under that Title They agreed upon a lasting Peace which was also confirmed by Oath on both sides This we find in Simeon of Durham's History of that Church and in no other Authour About this time also St. Alburhe Sister to King Egbert founded a Benedictine Nunnery at Wilton which was long after rebuilt by King Alfred and augmented by King Edgar for Twenty Six Nuns and an Abbess The same Year the Moon was Eclipsed on the 13 Kal. Jan. and ' Beormod was Consecrated Bishop of Rochester About this time in Obedience to a Letter from Pope Leo III. who at the desire of Kenwulf King of the Mercians had Two Years since restored the See of Canterbury to its ancient Primacy was held the Third Synod at Cloveshoe by â—rch bishop Ethelward and 12 Bishops of his Province whereby the See of Canterbury was not only restored to all its ancient Rights and Priviledges but it was also forbid for all times to come upon Pain of Damnation if not repented of for any Man to violate the Rights of that ancient See and thereby to destroy the Unity of Christ's Holy Church then follow the Subscriptions of the Arch-bishop of Canterbury and of 12 other Bishops of his Province together with those of many Abbots and Presbyters who never Subscribed before but without the Subcriptions of the King or any of the Lay Nobility Which plainly shews it to have been a meer Ecclesiastical Synod and no great Council of the Kingdom as you may see at large in Sir H. Spelman's 1 Vol of Councils the Decree of which Synod also shews that the Church of England did not then conceive the Authority of the People alone sufficient to disanul what had been solemnly Decreed in a great Council of the Kingdom as was the Removal of the Primacy from Canterbury to Litchfield The next Year According to our Annals Ethelheard Arch-bishop of Canterbury deceased and Wulfred was consecrated Arch-bishop in his stead and Forther the Abbot dyed The same Year also Deceased Higbald Bishop of Lindisfarne 8 o Kal Julii and Eegbert was Consecrated to that See 3 o Ides Junii ' This Year Wulfred the Arch bishop received his Pall. Cuthred King of Kent deceased as did also Ceolburh the Abbess and Heabyrnt the Ealdorman This Cuthred here mentioned was as Will. of Malmesbury informs us he whom Kenulph King of the Mercians hath made King of Kent instead of Ethelbert called Pren. This Year the Moon was Eclipsed on the Kal. of September and Eardwulf King of the Northumbers was driven from his Kingdom and Eanbryth Bishop of Hagulstad Deceased Also this Year 2 o Non Junii the sign of the Cross was seen in the Moon upon Wednesday in the Morning and the same Year on the Third Kal. Septemb. a wonderful Circle was seen round the Sun This Eardwulf above-mentioned is related by Simeon of Durham to have been the Son of Eardulf the first of that Name King of Northumberland and after Ten Years Reign to have been driven out by one Aelfwold who Reigned Two Years in his stead During these Confusions in the Northumbrian Kingdom Arch-Bishop Usher with great probability supposes in his Antiquitat Britan. Eccles. that the Picts and Scots Conquered the Countries of Galloway and Lothian as also those Countries called the Lowlands of Scotland as far as the Friths of Dunbritain and Edenburgh And that this City was also in the possession of the English Saxons about an Hundred Years after this I shall shew in due order of time and that our Kings did long after maintain their claim to Lothian shall be further shewn when I come to it But that all the Lowlands of Scotland as far as the English Saxon Tongue was spoken were anciently part of the Bernician Kingdom the English Language as well as the Names of places which are all English Saxon and neither Scotish nor Pictish do sufficiently make out The Sun was Eclipsed on the 7th Kal. of August about the Fifth Hour of the Day This Year as Sigebert in his Chronicle relates King Eardulph above-mentioned being expelled his Kingdom and coming for Refuge to the Emperour Charles the Great was by his Assistance restored thereunto but since neither the Saxon Annals nor Florence nor yet any of our English Historians do mention it I much doubt the Truth of this Relation thô it must be also acknowledged that it is inserted in the ancient French Annals of that time and recited that this King's Restitution was procured by the Intercession of the Pope's and Emperour's Legates who were sent into England for that purpose This Year according to Mat. Westminster Egbert King of the West
Arch-Bishop for in the next Year it is thus corrected viz. This Year Ceolnoth was Elected and Consecrated Arch-Bishop and Feologild the Abbot deceased ' And the Year following Ceolnoth the Arch-BP received his Pall from Rome This Year certain Heathens or Pagans wasted Sceapige now the Isle of Sheppey in Kent But since this is the first time that these Heathens are mentioned in the Saxon Annals it is fit we should tell you a little more exactly who they were and from whence they came for they were indeed no other than that Nation which was before in our Saxon Annals called Northmanna and sometimes Deanscan i. e. Danes the Etymology of which Name since I find writers are so divided about I will not take upon me to determine not that all these People came out of that Country which is at this day called Denmark for it is impossible that so narrow a Region thô you should likewise include whatsoever that Kingdom did then or does now enjoy upon the Continent of Swedeland and Jutland could ever send out such vast Shoales of People as for near Two Thousand Years before the Norman Conquest over-ran and destroyed France the Low Countries and also this Island but you may from what has been already said observe that H. Huntington in the Prologue to his Book above cited does besides the Danes add also the Norwegians together with the Goths Swedes and Vandals to have been those Nations which for so many Years wasted England and that he did not deliver this without Book but had sufficient Authority for what he wrote I shall further make out from the Testimony of those Writers who lived in that very Age when these Nations first infested those parts of Europe For Eginhart who was Son-in-Law and Chancellour to Charles the Great thus writes in his History of that Prince which I shall here faithfully Translate In like manner the Danes and Sweones with those whom we call Normans do possess the Northern Shore of Scandinavia together with all the Islands adjoyning to it whil'st the Sclavi with divers other Nations inhabit the Southern Coasts but the Norwegans or rather Northern Men for so they are called by the Swedes because they lye more Northerly than the greater part of that Nation and indeed all those that inhabit Scanzia are by those People of Europe that lye more remote with very good reason called in the German Tongue i.e. Northland Men. Next to Eginhart Adam of Bremen who lived about Two Hundred Years after does not only insert these very words of the aforesaid Authour but also adds this further that the Danes and Swedes with the other Nations beyond the River Danabius are by the French Historians all called Normans so likewise Albertus Abbot of Stade who wrote about the Year 1250 says likewise that the Danes and other Nations who lived beyond Denmark are all called Normans from which Authorities the learned Grotius in his Prolegomena to his Gothic History lays it down as an undeniable Truth that whatever we find among any writers of that Age concerning the Normans does rightly belong to the Swedes who were then one of the greatest and most powerful of those Northern Nations that were all then called by one general Name of Normans But as for their Religion I need say no more of it since I have already told you in the beginning of the Third Book that all those Nations had the same common Deities viz. Woden and Thor c. whose Names I have there already set down to which last Deities as Ubbo Emmius relates they before any great exepedition sacrificed a Captive by knocking out his Brains and smearing their Faces in his Blood immediately marched against their Enemies but that they were extreamly given to Witchcraft and Inchantments all their own Authours relate which would be too tedious here to repeat since you will meer with some Instances of it in the following History But to return again to our Annals This Year is very remarkable for King Egbert encountred Thirty Five Ships of Danish Pyrates at Carrum now called Charmouth in Dorsetshire where there was a great slaughter but the Danes kept the Field whereby we may guess that they had the advantage yet it seems before this time even in this very Year the Danes had been vanquished and put to flight at Dunmouth now called Tinmouth from whence having now spoiled the Isle of Sheppey they Sail'd to Charmouth above-mentioned This shews us as Will. of Malmesbury well observes the Instability of all Worldly grandeur for now King Egbert being arrived at the height of Empire met with this unlooked for Enemy who harrassed him and his Posterity for divers Generations And thô in this Sea Fight last mentioned he had the better for the greater part of the Day yet towards Night he lost the Victory thô by the help of it he retreated and so saved the disgrace of an entire defeat this was the only time that Fortune ceased to favour King Egbert's Undertakings This Year also according to our Annals Herefrith Bishop of Winchester and Wigen or Sighelm Bishop of Scirborne and also Two Ealdormen Dudda and Osmund deceased The same Year was held that General Council of the whole Kingdom at London at the Feast of St. Augustin the English Apostle Egbert King of West Saxony and Withlaf King of the Mercians with both the Arch-Bishops and all the other Bishops and Chief Men of England being present at which besides a Consultation how to restrain the Invasion of the Danes the Privileges and Concessâ—ons of the said King Withlaf to the Monastery of Croyland were also confirmed by the said Council and were subscribed to by King Withlaf and both the Arch-Bishops and most of 〈◊〉 Bishops of England The next Year a great Fleet of Danes landed amongst the Western Welsh i. e. Cornishmen who being joyned with them in a League against King Egbert offered him Battle which he accepting of streight ways marched against them with his whole Army and at Hengestdune now Hengston in Cornwal put both the Britains and Danes to flight and as Mat. Westminster adds freed his Kingdom at this time from the Invasion of those barbarous Enemies King Egbryht departed this Life having Reigned Thirty Seven Years and Seven Months but the Annals must needs be mistaken either in the time of his Reign or else in the Year of his Death for if he began to Reign Anno Dom. 800 and Reigned Thirty Seven Years and an half it is evident he must have dyed Anno Dom. 838 the Printed Copy of Will of Malmesbury places his Death Anno Dom. 837 and another reading in the Margin in 838 but Florence of Worcester places it according to the Annals in 836. This King as the same Authour relates governed his Subjects with great Clemency and was as terrible to his Enemies and for Nine Years Reigned Supream King over all Britain Before his Death he is
said by Will of Malmesbury to have told his Son Ethelwulf whom he left his Successour That he might be happy if he did not permit the Kingdom which he had now laid together with great Industry to be spoiled by sloathfulness to which this Nation had been too much addicted There is little mention of this King's Children except Ethelwulf only it is said by John of Tinmouth that he had also a Daughter called Edgithe who being first bred up under an Irish Abbess called Modwina was made Abbess of the Nunnery at Polesworth but this since we have no better Authority than modern hands for it I cannot be certain of but as for the Wife of King Egbert who was according to the late West-Saxon Law never called Queen her Name was Redburge and she is mentioned by John Beaver to have procured that Law from her Husband that no Welshman should without leave pass over Offa's Ditch upon pain of Death But the same Year that King Egbert dyed was held a Common Council of the whole Kingdom at Kingston upon Thames where were present Egbert King of the West-Saxons and Ethelwulf his Son with Ceolnoth Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and other Bishops and Chief Men of England where among other things the manner of Mallings in Sussex having been bestowed by Baldred King of Kent on Christ Church Cant. and being afterwards taken away from it because the great Men of that Kingdom would not ratifie the Donation it was now by the consent of the King and all his Chief and Wise Men again confirmed King ETHELWULF with his Son King ATHELSTAN No sooner was King Egbert's Body buried at Winchester but King Ethelwulf succeeded to the Throne and though none of our Historians mention any former Election or Coronation of this King yet it is certain he came to the Crown by Vertue of his Father's Testament Henry Huntington and Roger Hoveden telling us expresly That he left his Two Sons Ethelwulf and Athelstan his Heirs which though it be in part a mistake since this Athelstan was not Son but Brother to King Ethelwulf yet that concerning the King's bequeathing the Crown is very probable it being according to the Custom of that time but that this alone would not have been sufficient shall be shewn in another place This Prince as Thomas Rudborn in his History of the Church of Winchester relates had been during the Life of his Elder Brother whose Name we know not educated in the Monastery of Winchester under the Tuition of Helmestan Bishop and Swithune Praepositus or Dean of that Church and had there taken the Order of a Subdeacon with an intent as is supposed to have professed himself a Monk not that he was ever made Bishop of that Church thô it is so related by H. Huntington and other Writers But King Egbert having no other Son living he was dispenced with to Marry and returning very early to a Secular Life helped his Father in his Wars after whose Death he was advanced to the Throne yet he always retained a great deal of the Monk loved his ease and had very little Ambition and therefore not caring to trouble himself with the Governing of many Provinces he rested contented with his Paternal Kingdom of West Saxony and made over the Kingdoms of Kent and of the South and East Saxons being his Father's Conquests to Athelstan his Son as the Saxon Annals and Will of Malmesbury expresly call him and which is more Ethelwerd in his Chronicle gives us the Names of Five Sons of King Ethelwuâ—f of which says he Athelstan who Reigned together with his Father was the Eldest that Alfred the Fifth Son Reigned after them all yet most of the other Historians going directly contrary to those Authorities will needs have him to be his Brother I suppose to save this Pious Prince's Reputation but Mat. Westminster says That he was his base Son which is most probable since he had not any Legitimate Son then old enough to Govern a Kingdom as this Athelstan at that time was and whom we shall often find mentioned in this History thô when or how he dyed all our Writers are silent This Year according to the Saxon Annals Wulfheard the Ealdorman fought at Hamtun i. e. Southampton with a Fleet of Thirty Three Danish Pyrates and there making a great slaughter of them obtained the Victory The same Year this Wulfheard deceased Also Aethelm another Ealdorman fought with the Danish Army at Port now called Portland where he being assisted by the Dorset-shire Men soon put them to flight but how this can consist with what follows I know not viz. That the Danes notwithstanding kept the Field where the Battle was Fought and slew the Chief Commander being an Ealdorman unless it relate to the Year following when Hâ—rebryht the Ealdorman was killed by the Danes and many others with him in Merscwarum that is Mercia also the same Year in Lindisse as also among the East Angles and in Kent many were Slain by their Forces for there according to Mat. Westminster the above said Earl or Ealdormen was slain the Danes obtaining the Victory destroying all places with Fire and Sword And the same Year according to Florence of Worcester Wiglaf King of Mercia dying Bertulf succeeded him There was this Year a great slaughter made by the Danes about London Cantwic i. e. Canterbury and Hrofcester that is Rochester So that now it seems the Danes had entred farther into the Land making havock of all where ever they came This Year King Ethelwulf fought at Carrum i. e. Charmouth against 35 Danish Ships who kept the Field where the Battle was fought So that according to H. Huntington they here obtained the Victory for though the number of their Ships were but small yet they were very large and full of Men. ' This Year also the Emperour Lewis the Pious dyed Nor can I here omit what the Scotish Historians place under the former Year but ours under this viz. The total Conquest of the Picts by Kened the first King of Scotland after many fierce Battles in the last of which Drusken King of the Picts being Slain that Kingdom was totally destroyed and as H. Huntington long since observed not only their Laws but also their very Language except what remains in the Names of places is now totally lost and that Nation being long since incorporated with that of the Antient Scots and Saxons shews us that even whole Kingdoms and Nations have both their Originals and fatal periods as well as particular Persons But thô the Scotish Historians do justly date the Empire of their Kings over all Scotland from this Total Conquest of the Picts by King Kened according to that old Verse Primus in Albania fertur regnasse Kenedus Yet when those Historians will by this Conquest extend the limits of this King and his Successour's Dominions so far beyond Edenburgh Southward making him to have Reigned from the River Tyne and so would
and the Charter of that King to the Abby of Croyland is confirmed under the Rule of St. Benedict and is supposed by Sir H. Spelman in his Councils to be a great Council of that Kingdom because it bears date in the Week of Easter when they were Assembled about the publick Affairs of the Kingdom at which time as also at Whitsontide and Christmass the great Men of the Kingdom were wont of course to attend at the King's Court to consult and ordain what should be necessary for the common Good when also the King used to appear in State with his Crown upon his head which custom of holding great Councils was also continued after the Norman Conquest to the middle of the Reign of Henry the Second as Sir H. Spelman learnedly observes in his Notes at the end of this Council This Year according to the Peterburgh Copy of the Saxon Annals Ceolred Abbot of Medeshamstead and his Monks leased out to one Wulfred the Land of Sempigaham perhaps Sempingham in Lincoln-shire on Condition That after his Death it should again revert to the Monastery he paying in the mean time a Yearly Rent of so many Loads of Wood Coals and Turf and so many Barrels of Beer and Ale and other Provisions with Thirty Shillings in Money as is there specified at which Agreement Burherd King of the Mercians who had now succeeded Beorthwulf was present together with Ceolred the Arch-Bishop with divers other Bishops Abbots and Ealdormen I have inserted this to let you see the form of Leasing out the Abbey Lands in those Days and which it seems required the Solemnity of the Common Council of that Kingdom to confirm it The same Year also according to Florence Berthulph King of the Mercians deceased and Burhed succeeded him Who this next Year together with his Wites that is the Wise Men of his Great Council desired King Aethelwulf that he would assist them to subdue the Northern Welshmen which he performed and marching with his Army through Mercia made the Men of North-Wales Subject to King Burhed but of this the Welsh Chronicles are silent This Year also King Aethelwulf sent his Son Aelfred to Pope Leo to Rome who there anointed him King and adopted him for his Episcopal Son It is much disputed among some of our Modern Historians of what the Pope anointed Alfred King whether of any present or else future Dominions But since an ancient Manuscript in the Cottonian Library containing an History of the Kings of England says expresly That he was anointed In Successorem Paterni Regni and that we do not read of any Territories King Alfred enjoyed till after the Death of his Brethren it is most reasonable to understand it in the plain Literal Sense as it is here set down not only in these Annals but in Asser's Account of this King's Life and Actions that the Pope anointed him King as a Prophetical Presage of his future Royal Dignity And the same Year Ealcher with the Kentish-men and Huda with the Surrey-men fought with the Danish Army in the Isle of Thanet and at first had the better of them but there were many killed and drowned on both sides and both the Ealdormen or Chief Commanders perished Also Burhed King of the Mercians now married the Daughter of King Ethelwulf Asser relates the Marriage to have been kept with great Solemnity at a Town of the King 's called Cippenham now Chipnam in Wiltshire This Year the Danes winter'd in Scepige or Sheppie and the same year King Aethelwulf discharged the Tenth part of his Land throughout his whole Kingdom of all Tribute or Taxes for the Honour of God and his own Salvation This being the famous and solemn Grant of King Aethelwulf concerning Tythes requires a more particular Relation and therefore I shall here give you the Words of the said Grant at large I Aethelwulf King of the West Saxons with the Councel or Consent of my Bishops and Chief Men c. have consented That a certain Hereditary Part of the Lands heretofore possess'd by all Orders and Degrees of Persons whether Men or Women Servants of GOD i. e. Monks or Nuns or meer Laicks shall give their Tenth Mansion and where it is least the Tenth Part of all their Goods free and discharged of all Secular Servitude and particularly of all Royal Tributes or Taxations as well the greater as the less which they call Wittereden which signifies a certain Fine or Forfeiture and that they be free from all other Things as Expedition building of a Bridge or fortifying of a Castle c. And that they may the more diligently pour out their Prayers to GOD for us without ceasing we do in some part discharge their other Service These Things were done in Winchester in the Church of St. Peter in the Year of our LORD's Incarnation 855 the Third Indiction on the Nones of November before the great Altar in Honour of the Glorious Virgin Mary the Mother of GOD St. Michael the Arch-Angel and St. Peter Prince of the Apostles as also of our blessed Father Pope Gregory all the Arch-Bishops and Bishops of England being present and subscribing to it as also Beorhed King of Mercia together with the Abbots Abbesses Earls and other chief Men of the whole Kingdom with an infinite multitude of other Believers who all of them have witnessed and consented to the Royal Grant but the Dignitaries have thereunto subscribed their Names But as Ingulph relates King Aethelwulf for the greater firmness thereof offered this Charter at the Altar of St. Peter at Rome but that the Bishops received it in the Faith of God and transmitted it to be published throughout all the Churches in their several Diocesses Thô this Grant of Tithes is mentioned by the Annals as to be made before the King 's going to Rome yet it appears by the Date as also from Asser and Ingulph not to have been done till after his Return from thence which makes Sir H. Spelman conjecture and not without good Grounds that this Grant was twice made once before his going to Rome it being there confirmed by the Pope and was also regranted by a Great Council of the Kingdom after his Return as appears by the Charter here recited I have been the more exact in reciting this Law concerning Tythes both because it gives us the form of passing an Act in the great Council of the Kingdom at that time and who were the Parties to it as also because this was the first general Law that was ever made in a Mycel Synod of the whole Kingdom for the payment of Tythes thô I do not deny but there had been before some particular Laws of King Ina and King Offa to the same effect yet those could only oblige the West Saxon and Mercian Kingdoms The next Year also according to Florence and Asser's Chronicle K. Aethelwulf went to Rome carrying Aelfred his youngest and best beloved Son along with him but
to what intent having been so lately there before we know not any more than what the King did there unless to repair the English School or Colledge for Youth that had been lately burnt but it is certain he stayed abroad near a Year and in his Return home Charles Sirnamed The Bald King of the Franks gave him his Daughter to Wife who was called Leotheta in French Judith and so together with her he returned into England But as Asser relates there was in the mean time an infamous Conspiracy framed in the Western Parts of England for Prince Aethelbald the King 's eldest Son and Ealchstan Bishop of Scirborne and Aeanwulf Earl of Somerset had plotted together that King Aethelwulf at his Return Home should never be received into his Kingdom most Men laid this to the Charge of this Bishop and Earl only thô many do chiefly attribute it to the Perverseness of this young Prince who was also very obstinate in other Wickedness So the King his Father returning from Rome Prince Ethelbald together with his Councellors contrived this great Villany viz. to expell the King from his own Kingdom thô God would not permit it to take effect neither did all the Noblemen of England consent to it yet lest so great a Mischief should happen that the Father and Son making War on each other the whole Nation should be engaged in mutual Slaughter by the wonderful Clemency of the King and with the Consent of all his Nobility the Kingdom which was before united became now divided between the Father and the Son the Eastern Countries being allotted to the former and the Western to the latter but where the Father ought indeed by Right to have Reigned there Ruled this Rebellious and Undutiful Son for the Western part of the England was always accounted before the Eastern King Ethelwulf therefore coming back from Rom◠the whole Nation as it ought highly rejoyced at his return and would if he had pleased have expelled his wicked Son Aethelbald with all his Adherents out of the Kingdom but the King would by no means suffer it using great Clemency and Prudence lest the Kingdom might thereby be endangered All this Disturbance seems to have been raised by his Son and his Faction because of his marrying this new Wife whom notwithstanding having now brought over with him he placed by him on the Royal Throne as long as he lived without any Dispute or Opposition from his Nobles thô says this Author the Nation of the West Saxons did not permit the Queen to sit by the King or to be called Queen which Custom our Ancestors relate to have proceeded from a certain wicked Queen called Eadburga the Wife of King Bryhtric whose Story Asser in his Annals as also in his De Gestis Alfredi hath given us at large where speaking of the Occasion of this severe Law he tells us it proceeded from the wicked Carriage of that Queen already mentioned at the end of the former Book who abusing her Husband's Affections by untrue Accusations took away many Men's Lives and being hated by the English after that King's Decease they made that Law now mentioned William of Malmesbury and Mat. Westminster do assure us That King Ethelwulf lived but two Years after his return from Rome during which time he thought not only of the World to come but also what should happen in this after his Decease and therefore lest his Sons should quarrel among themselves after his Death he commanded his Testament to be written Asser calls it an Hereditary or Commendatory Epistle in which he ordained his Kingdom should be divided between the two eldest Sons as also his own proper Inheritance between all his Sons and Daughters and near Kinsmen but for his Money he ordered it to be divided between his Sons and his Nobles and what was left to be employed for the good of his Soul to which end he ordained That his Successours throughout all his own Hereditary Lands should maintain out of every Ten Families one Poor Person either Native or Stranger with Meat Drink and Apparel always provided that the Land did not then lie waste but was cultivated by Men and Cattle It is also to be noted That this Grant was wholly different from that of Tythes thô Bromton's Chronicle hath confounded them together and made them all one he also ordered to be sent every Year to Rome 300 Mancuses which William of Malmesbury renders Marks thô what the Sum was is uncertain but it was to be equally distributed between the Churches of St. Peter and St. Paul to provide Lights on Easter Eve and of this 300 Marks the Pope was to have 100 to himself These Grants are supposed by Sir Henry Spelman to have been made in a general Council of the whole Kingdom but after this time we find no more of them for many Years by reason of the frequent Invasions of the Danes But not long after King Ethelwulf died and was buried at Winchester having reigned 20 Years and 5 Months for the Saxon Annals which allow him but 18 Years and an half are certainly mistaken This Year also according to Florence of Worcester Humbert the Bishop anointed that Glorious Martyr Edmund King of the East Angles being then but 15 Years old at a Town called Buram being then the Royal Seat But having no Account of King Edmund's Pedigree or of the Place of his Birth from any of our English Historians you must be content with what Johannes Anglicus of Tinmouth hath told us or in his Legend of Saints called Sanctilogium of this King and Martyr viz. That he was the Son of one Alemond a Nobleman of the Blood Royal of the East Angles who having fled for fear of King Offa into Old Saxony out of which his Family first came had there by his Wife called Cywara a Son whom he named Edmund the pretended Miracles of whose Birth I purposely omit This Prince having been instructed in all Christian and Moral Duties lived in Germany to the 14th Year of his Age and upon his return into England was so acceptable to the East Angles that he was by them Elected King and till his Death continued in the quiet Possession of that Kingdom without any opposition of King Ethelwulf or any of his Sons then Kings of the West Saxons to whose Dominions that Kingdom of the East Angles had lately been made subject and hence it may be reasonably inferred that it was by King Ethelwulf's Consent that Edmund being returned out of Germany took Possession of that Kingdom Being thus made King and by reason of his tender Age not esteeming himself capable of managing the Affairs of the Nation he willingly submitted them and himself to the Direction of the said Bishop of the East Angles by whom he was Crowned and by whose Councel and Direction he behaved himself as became a Prince endued with all Kingly Virtues so that during his Reign his principal Care was to repair
the Ruines which the Mercian Arms and Tyranny had brought upon the Churches of the East Angles reduced by War to extream Poverty and consequently to a Neglect of Piety and Ecclesiastical Discipline And thus he Reigned 14 Years in Peace with the Affection of all his Subjects till GOD was pleased by sending the Pagan Danes as a Scourge to his Country to render this Prince a high Example of Christian Fortitude and Constancy King ETHELBALD and King ETHELRED After the Death of Ethelwulf King of the West Saxons his two eldest Sons divided their Father's Kingdom according to his Will Ethelbald his eldest Son succeeded him in West Saxony whilst his younger Brother Ethelred Reigned in Kent as also over the East and South Saxons And now according to our Annals the Pope hearing of the Death of King Ethelwulf anointed Alfred to be King and also delivered him to a Bishop to be Confirmed If this was so the King his Father must have left him behind at Rome for Asser says expresly That he went thither with him but over what Kingdom the Pope should Anoint him I know not unless foretold by way of Prophecy he would be King after his Brothers But as for King Ethelbald above-mentioned both Ingulph and Will of Malmesbury give him a very bad Character That he married Judeth his Father's Widow and was also besides both Lazy and Perfidious but Thomas Redborne in his larger History of Winchester says That by the Admonition of Swithin Bishop of that Church he repented of his Incest and put away Judeth his Mother-in-Law and observed all Things that the Bishop enjoyned him This Author farther relates from one Gerard of Cornwal's History of the West Saxon Kings not now extant that I know of That he died in a few Years after without doing or suffering any thing that deserves to be mentioned for we do not find that the Danes troubled this Kingdom all his Reign concerning the Length of which there is very different Relations amongst our Historians the Saxon Annals and William of Malmesbury making him to have reigned 5 Years whereas Asser and Ingulph allow him but Two and an half which seems to be the truer Account for if King Ethelwulf returned from Rome in the Year 855 and lived above Two Years after it is plain King Ethelbald could not Reign above Two Years and an half for the Saxon Annals tell us that in the next Year but one viz. King Ethelbald deceased and that his Body was buried at Scireborne King ETHELBERT alone Theâ— Aethelbryght his Brother took the Kingdom and held it in great Concord and Quiet I suppose our Author means from Domestick Commotions for he immediately tells us That in this King's time there came an Army of Danes from the Sea and took Winchester with whom in their return to their Ships Osric and Aethelwulf the Ealdormen with the Hampshire and Berkshire-men fought and put the Danes to flight and kept the Field of Battle but the Annals do not tell us in what Year of his Reign this Invasion happened ' This Year deceased St. Swithune Bishop of Winchester Now concerning this holy Bishop as also Alstan Bishop of Shirbone William of Malmesbury gives us this Character which omitting all the Bedroll of Miracles that follow I shall here set down King Aethelwulf bearing a great Reverence to St. Swithune whom he calls his Teacher and Master desisted not till he had honoured him with the Government of the said Bishoprick so that he was Consecrated with the Unanimous Consent and Joy of all the whole Clergy of that Diocess by Cealâ—oth Arch Bishop of Canterbury hereby Bishop Swithune's Authority encreasing his Councels for the Good of the Kingdom proved of greater weight so that by his Admonitions both the Church and State received great Benefit And indeed he was a rich Treasure of all Virtues but those in which he took most Delight were Humility and Clemency and in the discharge of his Episcopal Function he omitted nothing belonging to a True Pastor By his Assistance principally together with that of the Prudent and Couragious Prelate Alstan Bishop of Shirborne King Aethelwulf was enabled to support the Calamities his Kingdom suffered by the frequent Irruptions of the Danes for these two were his principal Councellours in all Affairs Bishop Swithune who contemned Worldly Things informed his Lord in all Matters which concerned his Soul whilst Alstan judging that Temporal Advantages were not to be neglected encouraged him to oppose the Danes and provided Money for his Exchequer and also ordered his Armies so that thô this King was of a slow unactive Nature yet by the Admonitions of these two worthy Councellours he Governed his Kingdom prudently and happily Many noble Designs for the good of the Church and State being well begun were prosperously executed in his Reign This Year the Danish Army landed in Thanet and wintering there made a League with the Kentish-men who promised them Money provided they would keep the Peace under pretence of which and of the Money promised the Danes stole out of their Camp and wasted all the East part of Kent For as Asser well observes they knew they could get more by Plunder than by Peace Now according to the same Annals King Aethelbryht died to the great Grief of his Subjects having governed the Kingdom 5 Years with a general Satisfaction and was buried at Scyreburne near to his Brother This Prince is supposed to have had a Son call'd Ethelwald whom you will find in this History to have raised a Rebellion against King Edward the elder many Years after King ETHELRED Then according to the Annals Aethelred Brother to the late King began his Reign and the same Year a great Army of Danes landed in England and took up their Winter Quarters among the East Angles and there turned Horsemen and that Nation was forced to make Peace with them Then the Pagan Army sailed from the East Angles and went up the River Humber to the City of York where was at that time great Discord between the People of that Nation I shall here give you Asser's Account of this Transaction being to the same effect thô more particular than that in the Annals themselves For says he the Northumbers had now expelled Osbright their lawful King and had set up a Tyrant or Usurper one Aella who was not descended of the Royal Line but now when the Pagans invaded them by the Intercession of the great Men and for the Common Safety the two Kings joyned their Forces and so marched to York at whose coming the Danes presently fled and endeavoured to defend themselves within the City which the Christians perceiving resolved to follow them to the very Walls and breaking in and entering the Town with them for it seems that City had not in those Times such strong Walls as they had when Asser wrote his History therefore when the Christians had made a Breach in the Wall as
second assault Tuba the Brother of Count Hubba being knocked down with a Stone was carried off for Dead whereat Hubba was so enraged that breaking into the Monastery he slew all the Monks that came in his way whilest the rest of them destroyed the others till at last all perished so that in short the Monastery was wholly destroyed and the Church together with a noble Library of Books and all its Charters were reduced to Ashes But the fourth day after this the Pagan Army having got together all the spoil they could marched toward Huntington but in their way thither as the two Counts Sidrocs brought up the Rear of the Army which had now passed the River Nene two Waggon loads of rich moveables happened to be sunk in the Ford as also the Beasts that drew them in getting out of which whilest Sidroc and his Men were busied the Boy Turgar slipped away into the next Wood and walking all Night about break of Day he got to Croyland where he found the Monks returned again and busie in quenching the Fire as well as they could to whom he related all that had happened and discovering where the body of the Abbot and most of the Monks lay they removed the rubbish and buried them and then having chosen Godric one of the Monks that escaped for their Abbot they were resolved to go and do the like Pious Office for the late Prior and Monks of Medeshamstead where arriving they buried the Bodies of above fourscore Monks in one Grave in the Church-yard placing over them a Pyramidal Stone of about a Yard high whereon were carved the Images of the Abbot and Monks about him which was then to be seen in Ingulph's time In the mean time the Britains spoiling the Country as far as Grant-bridge now Cambridge they then fell upon and burnt the famous Nunnery of Ely killing all that were therein both Men and Women and carrying away a great deal of Riches which had been brought thither from all parts for their better security from whence they passed over into the Country of the East-Angles where they slew Earl Wulketule coming against them and making a stout resistance with his small Forces from whence they marched against King Edmund himself of whose Life and Martyrdom I shall out of Asser's Annals give you a particular account and thô I will not pass my word for the truth of all his Relation being written after the manner of the Legends of those times yet the substance of it is no doubt true and the rest may serve if not to instruct yet at least to divert the Readers But before I proceed to the Story of the Martyrdom of this King it may not be amiss to relate the occasion why the Danes invaded the Kingdom of the East-Angles and put King Edmund so cruelly to Death which story thô it be not very probable yet since it is found in Mat. Westminsters Flores Historiarum I will from thence repeat it in as few words as I can being to this effect That in the Kingdom of Denmark there was one Lothbrook who being descended from the Royal Family had by his Wife two Sons Inguar and Hubba Lothbrook going to Sea by himself in a Boat with only a Hawke on his Fist to seek for Game in a Neighbouring Island being taken by a sudden and violent Storm was tossed up and down for several Days till at last he was by the Wind and Tide driven upon the Coast of that Country we now call Northfolk where being found alone with his Hawk he is presented to Edmund the King and being kindly received for the comliness of his Person continued in his Court and told the King the Tale of his strange Fortune and often went out in the Field for his Recreation with Beorn the King's Huntsman being extraordinarily dexterous both in Hunting and Fowling for this Reason this Huntsman greatly envied him and as they two were hunting together alone he secretly murdered him and hid his Body in a Wood. Now Lothebroc kept a Greyhound which was exceedingly fond of him and the Huntsman being gone away with the rest of the Dogs he stayed there alone by his Master's Body next day when the King asked for Lothebroc Beorn answered That the day before he stayed in the Wood and since that he had not seen him But behold the Greyhound comes to Court and fawning upon the King as well as others as soon as he had filled his Belly again departed till doing this often he was followed to the place by some of the King's Servants who there found out the Body and brought the Relation of it to the King The Matter being examined and found out the Huntsman is sentenced to be put into the same Boat in which Lothebroc arrived without any Oars or Tackling in which after a few days surely the Boat knew its way he was cast upon the Coast of Denmark where being brought to Lothebroc's Sons and by them examined what was become of their Father whose Boat they sufficiently knew he affirmed That he was killed by Edmund King of the East Angles Whereupon they prepare a Navy and passing into England landed first in the Northern Parts and as was said before they grievously harass'd the Country of the Northumbers and having brought it under Subjection Hinguar quits his Company and with a great Fleet sailed to East England where King Edmund Reigned But Saxo Grammaticus gives us quite another Account of the Death of these Prince's Father whom he calls Regner viz. That he was taken Prisoner in Ireland and there killed in Prison by Snakes where none you must know ever were a Story altogether as probable as the former so I have here given you from several Authors two different Accounts of the Reason of the Danes invading England and shall leave it to the Reader to believe one or neither since as they cannot both be true so neither of them seem very probable This King Edmund had now Reigned five Years with great Affection of his Subjects for being a Prince of great Hopes he was by the Unanimous Favour and Consent of the People of that Province not only Elected but rather forced to Rule over them He had a Majestick Meen that became a King and in his Countenance appeared a certain Air of Piety mixed with Meekness and Devotion It was indeed but a short time he Reigned but in that time he did by his Charity to the Poor and his Care over Widows and Orphans perform all the Duties of a Pious Man as well as of a Good King But to come to the Story it self The Danes having now spoiled the Country and routed the King's Army as you have heard came on a sudden upon a certain City and taking it by Surprise they killed the Inhabitants and ravished the Women sparing neither Age nor Sex but when they had pretty well satiated their Fury Hinguar their Captain examined some of the ordinary People that were left alive
leaving Hreoptun became divided into two and Halfden their Commander marched with one part of it into the Kingdom of Northumberland and there took up his Winter-Quarters near the River Tine where they conquered the whole Country and also spoiled the Country between the Picts and the Straecled Welsh-men who then inhabited part of Galloway in Scotland whilst another part of them under the Command of Godrun Oskytel and Amwynd three of their Kings marched to Grantbridge and there Wintered And the same Summer King Aelfred fought at Sea against seven of their Ships and took one of them the rest escaping This Year as Asser and the Saxon Annals relate Rollo the Dan◠or Norman wasted Neustria afterwards called Normandy and in some time after made an entire Conquest of it Asser also says that this Rollo having had a Dream of a Swarm of Bees flying towards the South he chose to leave England and go over into France though as other Authours affirm it was because he was so warmly received by King Alfred that he did not like to stay here but rather chose to pass into another Country of easier Conquest as Normandy indeed proved for he reigned there fifty Years The same Year according to the Chronicle of Mailrosse and Simeon of Durham Ricsig King of Northumberland dying another Egbert succeeded him but we have no account of his Actions more than that he reigned beyond Tyne as a Tributary to the Danes who possessed all the rest of the Country as you will find by the Saxon Annals The same Year accordingly the Danes stealing away by Night from Grantbridge where they had long encamped marched to Werham now Warham in Dorsetshire being then a strong Castle of the West-Saxons this place they took and destroyed together with the Nunnery there then passing higher as into a secure Harbour they drew up all their Ships so that now King Alfred was reduced to such great streights that he was forced to make Peace with him and they gave the King for Pledges some of the Noblest Persons in their Army and took an Oath upon a sacred Bracelet they had which Oath they would never take to any Nation before that they would presently depart the Kingdom but in the mean while that part of the Army which had Horses stole away to Exanceaster now Exeter whereupon the King put all their Hostages to Death The same Year in the Month of August Healfden the Danish King divided the Kingdom of the Northumbers among his People who now settling there ploughed and sowed from whence the Danes date their Reign over that Kingdom But the Year following The Danes having left Werham and come to Exeter as you have already heard their Fleet in the mean time fetching a compass sailing towards the West I suppose to Exmouth there arose so violent a Storm as that 120 of their Ships were cast away near Swandwic now Swanwick in Hampshire then King Aelfred followed that part of the Army as far as Exeter thô he could not overtake them till they had got into the Castle which proved so strong that no body could come at them but he streightning them there they gave him what Hostages he required and took fresh Oaths and for a small time observed the league they had made yet nevertheless in the Month of August following the same Danish Army marched into the Province of the Mercians where dividing part of it between themselves they left the rest to Ceolwulf above mentioned About this time also according to Caradoc's Chronicle the English having entred Wales the Year before fought a Bloody Battel with the Welshmen though this Authour neither tells who were the Commanders nor who had the Victory and the Year following there was another Battel between them wherein Rodorick Sirnamed The Great King or Prince of Wales and Guyriad his Brother or as some say his Son were slain This Rodorick had by his Wife Engharaud the Daughter of Prince Meyric several Sons as Anarawd his Eldest to whom he gave Aberffraw with North Wales Cadelh the second to whom he left Dynevowr with South-Wales who also took by force Marthraval and Powysland after the Death of Mervyn the third Son to whom their Father Rodorick had given the same To which Dr. Powel likewise adds That this Rodorick is esteemed by all Writers to be sole King of all Wales North-Wales descending to him from his Mother Esylcht the Daughter and sole Heir of Conan Tindaethwy but South-Wales he had in Right of his Wife the Daughter and Heir of Meyric ap Dyfnwal King of Cardigan Powis he had by Nest the Sister and Heir of Congen ap Cadhel King of Powis his Father's Mother These three Dominions he appointed under their Meeres and Bounds with a Princely House in each of them These he had named Ytair Talaeth and left them unto three of his Sons Anarawd Cadhel and Mervyn who were called Ytrit Twysoc Talaethioc that is the three Crown'd Princes because each of them did wear upon his Bonnet or Helmet a Coronet of Gold being a broad Lace or Head-band indented upwards set and wrought with precious Stones which in the British or Welsh Speech is called Talaeth and to which Mr. Vaughan in his Additional Notes to Caradoc's History hath added out of an ancient Welsh Manuscript That this Rodorick is said to have corrected some of the old British Laws and to have appointed new ones He also ordained that his Eldest Son should have the Crown or Coronet of Aberffraw with the Fifteen Cantreds thereunto belonging This Aberffraw is now a small Village in the Isle of Anglesey and was anciently the chief Seat of the Princes of Guyneth or North-Wales He left to his second the Crown or Coronet of Dinevowr or Cardigan with its fifteen Cantreds extending from the Mouth of the River Devi to the Mouth of Severne and also that his Son should have the Crown or Coronet of Mathraval with the Fifteen Cantreds of Powis from the mouth of the River Dee to the bridge over Severne at Gloucester He ordained also That his Eldest Son and his successours should continue the payment of the ancient tribute to the King of London i. e. King of England and that the other two their Heirs and Successours should acknowledge his Sovereignty and pay the like tribute to him and his Successours and that upon the Invasions of Strangers they should all send him aid and be also ready to protect them when there should be need Moreover he ordained That when any difference should arise between the Princes of Aberffraw and Cardigan the Three Princes should meet at Bwlchy Pawl and after hearing of Council on both sides the Prince of Powis should be Umpire between them And if the difference were between the Kings of Aberffraw and Powis that they should likewise all Three meet at Dolhrianedd perchance Morvarhianed on the Bank of the River Dee where the King of Cardigan was to end the Controversie And if
Article is That it is agreed that the Limits of K. Alfred's Land are first upon the Thames then proceed they to the River Lee as far as his Fountain then straight to Beaford and then along the River Ouse as far as Watling-street which I suppose is thus to be understood that K. Alfred did hereby grant him East-England and Essex so that the bounds of these Kings Dominions were first the Thames then the River Lee as far as Harford whereabouts it arises Then from Harford to Bedford all along Watling-street and then from Bedford all along the Ouse to the Sea The Second Article appoints the value of a Man slain whether English or Dane to be four Marks of pure Gold and the Redemption of each Four hundred Shillings But if the King's Servant or Thane was accused of Man-slaughter the Third Article proceeds That he then should be tried by Twelve other of the King's Servants or in ease he was not the King's Servant but belonged to some inferiour Lord he should be tried by eleven of his Equals and by one of the King's Servants The same Order was taken in all Suits which exceeded four Marks but in case he refused to undergo this Trial his Fine was to be encreased threefold The Fourth appoints Vouchers for the Sale of Men Horses or Oxen. The Fifth and Last Ordains That none from either Army should pass to the other without Leave and in case it be by way of Traffick such shall find Sureties for their good Behaviour that the Peace may not be broken This was the League it self with some other Articles needless to be here recited the Preface to which declares That it was made betwixt the two Kings Aelfred and Gythrum so the Saxon Original by Consent of all the Wise Men of the English and of all those that inhabited East England and that not only in behalf of themselves but of their Posterity This sufficiently shews that the Eastern Parts of England then belonged to the Danes yet Polydore Virgil calling this King by the Name of Gormon vehemently contends that he had not that Country bestowed upon him Krantzius also denies that this Gormon was converted to the Faith yet confesses that about this time one Froto was converted But whatever they write this League sufficiently evinceth the Distinction of their Territories and the Testimoy of Asser is uncontrollable as to his Baptism who lived himself at this very time not to mention that the Saxon Annals also affirm the same thing After which follow the Ecclesiastical Laws said in their Title to be made between King Alfred and King Gythrum as they are to be found in Abbot Brompton's Chronicle The First of which is That the Danes and English should Love and Serve the true GOD alone and Renounce Paganism And in the next place That if any should Renounce his Christianity and Relapse to Paganism then he should pay his Weare Wite and Lashlite according to what he had done The Third Law is That if any in Holy Orders shall either Fight Perjure himself or commit Fornication let him likewise make Amends by the like Penalties above-mentioned and likewise make Satisfaction to GOD according to the Canons of the Church and also give a Pledge or Security to do so no more Note That the Weare Wite and Lashlite above-mentioned were all of them Fines or Mulcts which the Danes and English were to pay according to the value of their Heads as hath been already shewn but as for the last of these Words Mr. Somner in his Glossary supposes it to be purely Danish and signified no more than the two former Words but was so called in relation to the Danes alone who were to undergo it after which follow several Constitutions against the Offences of Clergy-men against committing Incest and with-holding of Tythes and Romescot or Peter-pence in all which Offences a Dane was to pay the like Weare and Wite with an English-man as also against Buying Selling and Working on the Lord's Day in which Cases if a Freeman wrought upon Holy-days he was to lose his Liberty or pay his Wite but if he were a Servant or Villain he was to satisfie it with his Skin i. e. by Whipping or pay his Head-Gild but if a Master compelled his Servant to work upon Holy-days he was to pay his Lashlite as the Danes and his Wite as the English did that is according as he was a Dane or an English-man which sufficiently justifies Mr. Somner's Sense of that Word The rest of these Laws being against divers other Offences as against violating the Fasts of the Church against making Ordeal or taking an Oath on Sundays or Fast-days Not that this Ordeal or Trial by a hot Iron or boyling Water in case the Person was accused of a Crime was to be used unless there was no direct Proof against him The rest of the Laws are against putting any Man to Death upon a Sunday as also against Witches Perjured Persons and Common Whores all which Persons were to be banished the Country But the last Law saving one is a sort of Cruel Mercy for thereby if a Man had lost any of his Members for any Crime and survived the same four Nights it was afterwards lawful with the License of the Bishop for any one to give him Help and Assistance which it seems before that time it was not lawful to do But the Reader may further from the Title of these Laws observe the Subjection or Dependence which King Gytrum then had upon K. Alfred at that time for King Gytrum and his Danes gave their Consent to them in a Common-Council of the Kingdom in the same manner as the Kings of Mercia and of the East Angles were wont to do in the General Council of the West Saxon Kingdom in acknowledgment of its Superiority over them as may be proved by divers Examples and if this King Gytrum could have made Laws by his own Authority he might have called a Council of his own to do so which we do not find he ever did having received his Kingdom wholly from the Bounty of King Alfred Also about the Year last mentioned King Alfred new built the Town of Shaftsbury as appears by an old Inscription cited by Mr. Camden out of an old Manuscript Copy of William of Malmesbury then belonging to the Lord Burghley which Inscription was in that Author's time to be seen in the Chapter-house of that Nunnery which was built at this place by this King some Years after The Pagans entred further into France where the French fought with them and as it is supposed were routed for here the Danes found Horses enough to mount the greatest part of their Men. This Year the Danes sailed up the Maese now the Meuse into Frankland and there stayed another Year The same Year also King Aelfred sailing out with his Fleet fought against four Danish Pirat Ships and took two of their Men and the other two the
Men being very much wounded and tired in the Fight surrendred themselves The Danes sailed up the Skeld to Cundoth which was then a Monastery and is now supposed to be Conde upon the River Escaut where they stayed a whole Year Now also Marinus that Religious Pope sent some of the Wood of our LORD's Cross to Alfred and in Return the King sent to Rome the Alms he had vowed by the Hands of Sighelm and Ethelstan Also he sent other Alms into India to St. Thomas and St. Bartholomew who being there martyr'd are accounted the Indian Apostles And about that time the English Army lay encamped against the Danes who held London where yet thanks be to GOD all Things succeeded prosperously Also this Year according to the Chronicle of Mailross and Simeon of Durham King Alfred having slain the two Danish Captains Ingwar and Halfdene caused the wasted Parts of Northumberland to be again Inhabited then Edred the Abbot being so commanded by Cuthbert in a Vision redeemed a certain Youth who had been sold to a Widow at Withingham and made him King of Northumberland by the joynt Consent both of the English and Danes King Alfred himself confirming the Election This King Guthred in Gratitude to St. Cuthbert did also bestow all the Land between the Rivers of Weol and Tyne and says upon that Saint that is upon the Bishop of Lindisfarne who this Year removed the Bishop's See from thence to a place then called Concacestre now Chester and thither they also removed the Body of St. Cuthbert But as for the Miracle of the Earth's opening and swallowing up a whole Army of Scots who came to fight with King Cuthred I leave it to the Monks to be believed by them if they please This is certain that thus making this poor Youth King the Church got all that Country now called the Bishoprick of Durham And who can tell but all this Vision was a Contrivance of Abbot Edred's for that very Design yet if it were so it was but a Pious Fraud which highly tended to the enriching of that Church The same Year according to Florence of Worcester died Asser Bishop of Shirburne who could not be the same with that Asser who writ the Life and Actions of King Alfred since that Author writ to Anno 993 being the 45th Year of King Alfred's Age as appears by that Work Arch Bishop Usher supposes this Asser the Historian to have been he who was afterwards the Bishop of St. David's and was the second of that Name who sate in that See but without any good Authority This Year the Danes sailed up the River Sunne i. e. Some as far as Embenum now Amiens in Picardy where they remained one whole Year And now also deceased the worthy Bishop Athelwold The Danes being thus employed abroad did nothing this Year in England but the next we find in Asser that the Pagan Army divided it self into two Bodies the one whereof sailed to the East Parts of France whilst the other making up the Rivers of Thames and Medway besieged the City of Rochester and having built a strong Fort before the Gates from thence assaulted the City yet could by no means take it because the Citizens valianty defended themselves until such times as King Aelfred came to their Assistance with a powerful Army which when the Pagans saw quitting their Forts and all the Horses which they had brought with them out of France together with a great many Prisoners to the English they in great hast fled away to their Ships and being compelled by necessity passed again that Summer in France King Aelfred having now reinforced his Fleet was resolved to fall upon the Danish Pyrates who then sheltered among their Country Men of East England upon which he sent his Fleet that he had got ready in Kent being very well Mann'd into the mouth of the River Stoure not that in Kent but another that runs by Harwich where they were met by Sixteen Danish Pyrates who lay there watching for a Prey and immediately setting upon them after a sharp resistance the King's Men boarding thâ—m they were all taken together with great Spoils and most of the Men killed But as the King's Fleet were returning home they fell among another Fleet of Danes much stronger with whom fighting again the Danes obtained the Victory thô with what Loss to the English the Annals do not say But the rest of the Danes of East England were so much incensed at this Victory as also with the slaughter of their Country Men that setting out a greet Fleet very well Mann'd they sail'd to the mouth of Thames where setting upon divers of the King's Ships by surprize in the Night when all the Men were asleep they had much the better of them but what damage the King's Ships received and how many Men were lost our Authour does not tell us The same Year somewhat before Christmass Charles King of the Western Franks was killed by a wild Boar which he was then hunting but his Brother Lewis dyed the Year before They were both Sons to that King Lewis who deceased the Year of the last Eclipse and he was the Son of that Charles whose Daughter Ethelwulf King of the West Saxons had married The same Year happened a great Sea Fight among the ancient Saxons of Germany but the Annals do not acquaint us with whom they fought However it is supposed to have been with the Danes and they further add That they fought twice this Year where the Saxons being assisted by the Frisians obtained the Victory Here also Asser as well as our Annals proceed to give us a further account of the French and German affairs with a brief descent of their Kings from Charles the Great as that this Year Charles King of the Allmans received all the Kingdoms of the Western Franks which lye between the Mediteranean Sea and that Bay which was between the Ancient Saxons and the Gauls by the voluntary consent of all the People the Kingdom of Armorica that is of lesâ—er Britain only excepted This Charles was the Son of Lewis Brother of that Charles last mention'd and both the Kings were the Sons of Lewis the Younger Son of Charles the Great who was the Son of King Pipin The same Year also the good Pope Marinus deceased who freed the English School at Rome at the entreaty of King Aelfred from all Tax and Tribute Also about the same time the Danes of East England broke the Peace which they had lately made with King Aelfred The Pagans who had before Invaded the East quitting that now marched towards the West parts of France and passing up the River Seine took their Winter Quarters at Paris The same Year according to Asser as well as the Annals King Alfred after so many Cities being burnt and such great destruction of People not only took the City of London from the Danes who had it long in their Possession but he
now repaired it and made it habitable and then committed it to the Custody of his Son-in-Law Ethered Earl of the Mercians and now all the English viz. the Mercians and Kentishmen as also the East and West Saxons who had been before dispersed or made Prisoners with the Danes being now returned home put themselves under King Alfred's Protection But these Danish Storms being pretty well blown over King Alfred began now to make some use of the Learned Men he had sent for from abroad for as Mr. Camden shews us in his Britannia we have a large account of the University of Oxon. Under the Year of our Lord 886 viz. That in the Second Year of St. Grimbald's coming over into England the University of Oxford was founded the first Regents there and Readers in Divinity were St. Neot an Abbot an Eminent Professor of Theology and St. Grimbald and Eloquent and most Excellent Interpreter of the Holy Scriptures whilst Grammer and Rhetorick were Taught by Asser a Monk a Man of extraordinary Learning Logick Musick and Arithmetick were Read by John a Monk of St. Davids Geometry and Astronomy were professed by John another Monk and Collegue of St. Grimbald one of a sharp Wit and Immense Knowledge These Lectures were often honoured with the presence of the most Illustrious and Invincible Monarch King Aelfred which is also asserted by Will of Malmesbury who tells us a constant Tradition of his time that King Alfred by the Advice of Neot the Abbot first founded publick Schools of various Arts at Oxford which is further confirm'd by an Ancient Manuscript Copy of Randolph Higden's Polychron in Bayliol College Library which in the beginning treating of all the Kings of England when he comes to King Alfred says thus That he first founded the University of Oxford John Rouse in his Manuscript Treatise de Regibus Angliae Lib. 1. seems also to have seen this passage in Winchester Annals and adds Three Halls to have been thus built The one for Grammar near the East Gate the Second near the North-Gate for Logicians and the Third in the High-Street for Divines But since this only proves that King Alfred first founded publick Schools here and not that there was any such thing here before I shall recite also what follows as it is quoted by the said Mr. Camden out of an ancient Copy of Asser de Gestis Alfredi which I could wish may clear this point About this time says he there arose a sharp and grievous dissention between Grimbald and those learned Men whom he brought hither with him and the old Scholars whom he found here at his coming for these absolutely refused to comply with the Statutes Institutions and Forms of Reading perscribed by Grimbald the difference proceeded to no great height for the space of Three Years yet there was always a private Grudge and Enmity between them which soon after broke out with the utmost violence imaginable to appease these Tumults the most Invincible King Aelfred being informed of the Faction by a Message and Complaint from Grimbald came to Oxford to accommodate the matter and submitted to a great deal of Pains and Patience to hear the Cause and Complaint of both Parties The Controversie depended upon this The Old Scholars maintain'd that before the coming of Grimbald to Oxford Learning did here flourish thô the Students were less in number than they had formerly been because very many of them had been Expell'd by the cruel Tyranny of the Pagans They farther declar'd and proved by the undoubted Testimony of their ancient Annals that good Orders and constitutions for the Government of that place had been already made by Men of great Piety and Learning such as Gildas Melkin Ninnias Kentigern and others who had there prosecuted their Studies to a good old Age All things being then managed in happy Peace and quiet and that St. German coming to Oxford and residing there half a Year after he had gone through all England to Preach down the Pelagian Heresie did well approve of their Rules and Orders The King with incredible Humility and great attention heard both parties exhorting them with Pious and Importunate entreaties to preserve Love and Amity with one another upon this he left them in hopes that they both would follow his Advice and obey his Instructions But Grimbald resenting these proceedings retired imediately to the Monastery of Winchester which King Aelfred had lately founded and soon after he got his Tomb to be removed thither to him in which he had designed his Bones should be put after his Decease and laid in a Vault under the Chancel of the Church of S. Peters in Oxford which Church the said Grimbald had raised from the ground of Stones hewn and carved with great Art But since it must be confessed that this passage of the quarrel of St. Grimbald and the Old Scholars of Oxford is not to be found in that ancient Copy of Asser which Arch-Bishop Parker first published in Saxon Characters like those in which it is written being still Extant in the Cottonian Library yet though it was published by Mr. Camden in that Edition of Asser which was printed at Frankford in 1603. The Original of which the Lord Primate Usher in his Ant. Brit. Eccles. expresly tells us Mr. Camden never saw from whence Sir John Spelman in his History of the Life of King Aelfred hath made a very hard inferences as if that clause was not to be found in any of the ancient Copies of that Authour but had been foisted in either by the Publisher or else by Mr. Camden himself thô this Authour does not say so in express terms I shall therefore repeat in short what Mr. Ant. Wood hath answered to this Objection in the Antiquities of the University of Oxford from a Manuscript Testimonial under the hand of the learned Mr. Twyne viz. That he himself long after discoursing with Mr. Camden on this Subject and asking him expresly about this passage whose authority began to be then questioned His Answer was that he very well knew that he had truly transcribed that passage from an ancient Manuscript of Asser which he had then by him and which as the said Mr. Wood in his Notes tells us then belonged to Sir Henry Savile of Banke near Halifax in York-shire But I shall not now take upon me to Answer the rest of the Objections which the said Sir John Spelman does there produce against the validity of the above cited passage which supposes publick Schools to have been at Oxford before King Alfreds time for they are all reduceable to these two heads First the express words of the Annals of the Abbey of Hyde above-mentioned as also that of Polychronicon That King Alfred was the first King who founded a University there all which may be answered by allowing that to be true in respect of a University endow'd with Priviledges and distinct Halls and Colledges built on purpose and
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
there declare their number that they may be ready to produce them to answer any thing that shall be demanded of them in the said Folcmote and if it happen that they bring many strangers on shore that they also certifie this to the King's Officer in that said Assembly that so they may be forth coming Now considering the Times wherein King Alfred lived when there was such flocking of Strangers being Enemies into England this Law was very justly and seasonably made The Thirty First inflicts upon him that shall put a Ceorles's Man that is an ordinary Country-Man without any fault into Bonds viz. A Mulct of Ten Shillings upon him that beats such a one Twenty Shillings if he hang him up a-loft Thirty Shillings if he cut off his Hair to expose him like a Fool Ten Shillings if he shave his Head like a Priest yet bind him not Thirty Shillings and in case he only cut off his Beard Twenty Shillings but if he bind him and shave his Hair like a Priest then Sixty Shillings Which Law was no doubt made to restrain the Tyranny and Insolence of the English Nobility who were wont before that Law too much to domineer over poor Country-Men here called Ceorles-men and therefore it seems highly probable that the Commons of England had then Representatives in the Great Council or else it is not likely the Nobility would ever have lost that Power they then Usurped over them Wherefore I shall leave it to the Indifferent Reader to Consider whether the Common People of England were then such Slaves as some late Writers would fain make them since not only satisfaction was to be made for their Lives but also for the least injury or abuse that might be committed against their Persons The Thirty Fourth Law imposes upon him that shall strike or fight in open Court before the King 's Ealdorman both the value of his own head and such a Fine besides as shall be thought fit and also 120 Shillings to be paid to the Ealdorman by him that by thus drawing his Weapon shall make any disturbance in the Folcmote or County Court if the Ealdorman were not present but the fact was done before his Substitute or the King's Priest then a Were or Amerciament of Thirty Shillings Here by the King's Priest is meant either the King's Chaplain or Bishop I will not determine whether who as we formerly said in those times presided also in the Folcmotes and there dispatched all business relating to the Church The Thirty Fifth ordains What satisfaction shall be made for breach of the Peace in any other place as for Example he that fights in the home-stall of a Country-man shall pay the said Country-man Six Shillings if he drew his Sword but struck not half as much which Penalty also was to be encreased according to the Estate or Quality of him upon whose ground the Assault was made So that if he fought in the House of one worth 600 Shillings he was to pay Three times as much if of one worth 1200 Shillings then the Amends was to be twice as much as the former The Thirty Six Law of Bâ—rhbrice or breach of the Peace in a Town confirms that part of King Ina's Law concerning that matter in imposing upon the Offender for the breach of the Peace in the King's Town or City by setting the Mulct of an Hundred and Twenty Shillings but if it be done in the Arch-Bishop's Town then Ninety Shillings in that of a Bishop or Ealdorman Sixty Shillings in the Town of a Man valued at 1200 Shillings Estate Thirty Shillings but half as much if done in a Village of one worth but half that Sum. From whence we may observe That in those times not only the King and the Great Men such as Bishops and Ealdormen but also Gentlemen of ordinary Estates had Villages or Townships of their own and they themselves received the Mulcts or Penalties imposed for the breach of the Peace within their Precincts which priviledge they lost I suppose after the coming of King William I. The Thirty Seventh is That Law concerning Bocland by vertue whereof he that holds Lands left him by his Ancestors was forbid to alienate it from his Kindred to others in case it could be proved by Writing or Testimony before the King or the Bishop his Kindred being present that the Man who first granted them forbid him all Alienation and laid on him this Condition From the making of this Law Mr. Selden informs us that we may here find an Estate in Fee-Tail much more ancient than the thirteenth Year of Edward the First The 38th Law is concerning Quarrels or deadly Feuds which since it gives a strange Licence for Men to take Satisfaction on their Enemies even without the Presence of any Officer I shall likewise set down First It forbids any Man to attack his Enemy if he find him in his own House except he first demand of him Satisfaction But if he have force enough he may besiege the House for seven days yet he shall not assault him if he will stay within but if he then surrender himself and his Arms into the Defendant's hands he may keep him thirty Days without hurt but then shall leave him so to his Kindred or Friends In case he flie to a Church the Honour of the Church is to be preserved But if the Demandant have not Strength enough to besiege him in his House he may desire the Assistance of the Ealderman which if he cannot obtain he must appeal to the King before he can assault him If any one by chance light upon his Adversary not knowing that he keeps himself at home and he will deliver up his Arms to him he shall keep him safe thirty Days and then deliver him to his Friends But in case he will not deliver up his Arms then he may fight with him but if he be willing to deliver up himself and his Arms to his Enemy and any other Man sets upon him such a Man shall pay the value of his Head if he kills him or give Satisfaction for his Wounds if any be given him according to the Fact besides which he shall be fined and lose all that may fall to him by reason of Kindred From whence you may observe that the nature of that Rough and Martial Age did allow Men a greater Liberty of righting themselves against those that had injured them than was afterwards thought fit to be allowed in more settled and peaceable Times The last of King Alfred's Laws is concerning Wounds and Maims which being very long I shall only give you an Abstract of it It is in short to appoint what Satisfaction in Money any Man shall pay for wounding or maiming another or for cutting off any Member or part of his Body even to the Nail of his little Finger All which was ascertained according to the particular Sums there set down and I shall leave it to wiser Judgments to consider whether
it would not be better if the Law were so at this day since it would not only prevent the too great Favour of Juries in some Cases but also their over-Severity in others by often giving either very small or else excessive Damages according as the Plaintiff or Defendant is more or less known to them or that they have a greater or less Kindness for them There was likewise made in the same Synod divers Ecclesiastical Canons some of which taken from amongst the Civil Ones I shall here likewise set down The first is concerning the Immunities of the Churches by which it is ordained That if a Man guilty of any little Crime flie to a Church which does not belong to the King or the Family of a private Person he shall have three Nights to provide for himself unless in the mean time he can make his Peace But if any Man within that Term shall inflict upon him either Bonds or Blows he shall pay the Price of his Head according to the Custom of the Country and also to the Ministers or Officers of the Church 120 Shillings for violating the Peace thereof The next Law but one is likewise to the same effect whereby is granted to every Church consecrated by the Bishop the like Peace and if any Offender shall flie to it none shall take him thence for seven Days if any Man shall presume to do so he shall be culpable of breaking the King's and Churche's Peace If the Officers shall have need of their Church in the mean time he shall be put into another House which has no more Doors than the Church only the Elder i.e. Presbyter of that Church shall take Care he have no Meat given him But if he will surrender himself and his Arms to his Enemies he shall be kept thirty Nights and then be delivered up to his Kinsmen Also whosoever shall flie to a Church for any Crime which he hath not yet confess'd if he shall there make Confession of it in God's Name half the Penalty shall be remitted to him From whence you may observe the Antiquity and Design of Sanctuaries in England which were not then as they were afterwards abused being at first only intended for Places where Offenders might stay for a time 'till they could agree with their Adversaries or Prosecutors as well as they could since almost all Crimes whatever were redeemable with pecuniary Mulcts in those days The 5th Law is that if one shall steal any thing out of a Church he must restore the value and also forfeit as belongs to an Angild the meaning of which you may see in the next Law The 6th Law is That if any one shall steal on the Sunday or on Christmas or Easter or Ascension-days the Forfeiture should be as belongs to an Angild i. e. the whole value of his Head Also the Hand with which he stole was to be cut off But if he would redeem his Hand it should be permitted him to compound for it according as it should appertain to his Were i. e. the Price of his Head Besides which Laws Alfred Abbot of Rieval in his Geneal Regum Angliae mentions another Law of this King 's whereby every Freeman of the Kingdom having two Hides of Land was obliged to keep his Sons at School 'till they were 15 Years of Age that so they might become Men of Understanding and live happily for said the King in this Law a Man Free-born and unlettered is to be regarded no otherwise than a Beast or a Man void of Understanding The 12th is concerning the Breach of the Peace by Priests If a Priest kill any one he should be taken and all his Estate confiscated and also the Bishop should degrade him and put him out from the Church unless his Lord would obtain his Pardon by the Price of his Head The rest being concerning the Penalties for the Violation of Nuns I omit I have been the more particular in the reciting of these Laws of King Alfred as well Ecclesiastical as Civil that the Reader may see the Penalties that were inflicted upon Offenders in that Age and how different they were from ours But to return to our Annals This Year Beocca the Ealderman carried the Alms of the West-Saxons as well as the King 's to Rome Also Queen Aethelswith who was the Sister of K. Aelfred and Widow of Burhed King of Menia died in her Journey thither whose Body was buried at Pavia And the same Year Aethered Archbishop of Canterbury and Aethelwald the Ealderman deceased in the same Month. About this time also according to Asser King Alfred built two Monasteries the one for Men at Ethelingaie now Athelney that is The Isle of Nobles where he had before lain so concealed and the other for Nuns at Shaftsbury where he made Algiva his own Daughter Abbess endowing them both with great Revenues ' This Year none went to Rome unless two ordinary Messengers whom the King sent with Letters yet nevertheless Florence of Worcester affirms the King Commanded all the Bishops and Religious Men of England to Collect the Alms of the Faithful in order to sen◠them to Rome and Jerusalem And The next Year according to the same Annals Beornhelm Abbot of the West Saxons carried those Alms to Rome and also Goarun or Gythrum King of the Normans i.e. Danes deceased and being God-Son to King Aelfred his Christian Name was Ethelstan this was he who possessed the Country of the East-Angles after the Death of King Edmund Also the same Year the Danes left the River Seine and came to Sand-Laudan which place lyes between the Bretons and the French but the Bretons fighting with them obtained the Victory and drove them into a River where many of them were drown'd This Year also the Annals relate That Plegmond was Elected by God and all his Holy Men to the Arch-Bishoprick of Canterbury thô Florence of Worcester places it and that more rightly under the Year before The Danes again Invaded the Eastern Franckland and Arnulf the Emperour being assisted by the French Saxons and Bavarian Horse fought with the Danish Foot and put them to flight Also Three Scots came now to King Alfred from Ireland in one Boat made of Hides having quitted their Country because they would live the Life of Pilgrims i. e. a Wandring Life for God's sake not being solicitous about any place wherefore they had brought only one Week's Provision with them and after about Seven Days being at Sea landing in Cornwall they were presently brought to King Alfred their Names were Dubslane Macbeth and Maelinmun also Swifneh who was chief Preacher amongst the Irish Scots deceased The same Year after Easter appeared a Comet This Year after Eight Years Intermission the Kingdom became again infested worse than ever by a fresh Invasion of the Danes for their Army above-mentioned being driven by the Emperour Arnwulf out of France marched Westward to Bunnan now Boloign where taking
Shiping in Two Hundred and Fifty Vessels together with their Horses they arrived in the Mouth of the River Limene which then lay from the Eastern Part of Kent as far as the East End of that great Wood which is called Andred which Wood or Forest is in length from East to West at least an Hundred and Twenty Miles and in breadth Thirty containing all that which we call the Weald of Kent to this Day as also the Woodland part of Sussex as far as Hamptshire but up this River Limene they drew their Ships as far as the said Wood or Forest viz. Four Miles from the furthest part where the Sea flows up and there they made a Fort in that Fen which was raised by a few of their Ceorls or Villains And not long after arrived Haestein the Dane who entring the Mouth of Thames with Eighty Vessels Built a Fort at Middletune in Kent whil'st another part of the Army did the same at Apuldre or Apultre now called Apledore in the same County where as Ethelward relates They took and destroyed an Old Castle being defended only by a few Country People he also makes Haestein to have Fortified Middleton after Apuldere and his Army to have Winter'd in both places ' This Year also Wulfhere Arch-Bishop of the Northumbers decased But to look a little upon the Affairs of Wales The same Year Anarawd Prince of North-Wales came with a great number of English Men whom he had got to join with him and made War upon his Brother Cadelh Prince of Southwales and spoiled the Countries of Cardigan and Ystradgwy What the Danes did immediately after their Landing our Annals mention not but we may with great probability hither refer that Action touched upon in our Annals which are very confused and obscure in the Relation of this War viz. That it is most likely the Kings Army besieged Haestein either at Middleton or Beamfleot where not long after his Landing he had built a strong Fort on the opposite Shore and being reduced by the King to great Extremities he was forced to surrender himself with his Wife and his Two Sons to the King's Mercy upon Condition that they should be Christened which being done the King and Aethered Ealdorman of Mercia being their Godfather Haesten gave the King Hostages and solemnly swore to depart the Kingdom but as soon he got loose he broke all those Agreements and retiring into Beamfleot there fortified himself a fresh And the Spring after Aethelward assures us That passing along the great Forest of Andredeswood they then wasted the adjacent Countries of Hamptshire and Berkshire but the Saxon Annals affirm that about a Year after the Danes had raised that Fort I suppose of Middleton above-mentioned in the East part of the Kingdom K. Alfred the better to secure himself caused the Danes of Northumberland and East England to take an Oath to be true to him and the King also compell'd the East Angles to give him Hostages yet nevertheless they broke this Peace for when the Danes in Kent went out of their Ships in Troops to Plunder they also went with them or else the Danes carried the Prey into their Territories wherefore King Alfred gathering together his Army and marching forward Encamp'd between Two Parties of these Danish Robbers where by reason of Woods as also of Water on both sides he had a very convenient place for that purpose insomuch that he could set upon either Party whenever they marched into the Country to Plunder but they Robb'd in Troops as well on Horse-back as on Foot in all Parts where the King's Army was not yet were repulsed almost every Day as well by the King's Forces as by the Neighbouring Towns For the King had now divided his Forces into two Bodies so that one half of them remained always at home whilest the other marched out except those whose business it was to defend the Towns but the Danes oftener sallied out of their Camp than the King's Men For the 〈◊〉 in one Body sallied not out of their Camp but twice Once when they first Landed and another time when they were about to Decamp and then having taken a great Booty they endeavoured to carry it over the Thames into Essex toward their Ships But the King's Forces prevented them and fought them near Fernham and put them to flight and rescued the Prey from whence they fled beyond the Thames and thence by the River Colne into a certain Island called by Mr. Speed Brecklesey where the King's Army besieged them as long as their own Provisions lasted for they had only Victuals for a small time Then the King marched thither with the Forces of that Province whil'st the former returned home but the Danes in the mean time remained there because they could not carry away their King being then wounded along with them but those Danes that Inhabited Northumberland and East England got together an Hundred Ships with which they sailed about the South Parts whil'st with Forty others they did the like in the North with the former they besieged a certain strong place lying on the Northern Coast of Devonshire and then fetching a Compass towards the South besieged Exancester now Exceter which when the King heard he turned all his Forces toward that place but the Danes as Florence relates affrighted at the News of his approach got again to their Ships carrying their Prey to Cisseancester now Chichester in Sussex where they were repulsed by the Citizens and great part of their Army killed but in the mean time while one Party of the King's Army remained behind the other marched on to London and then proceeded Eastward with the Citizens of that place and other Auxiliaries that came from the West as far as Beamfleot now South Bemfleet in Essex whither Haestein was come with the Forces which had been before quartered at Middleton to which also were joined those that first arrived at Apuldre in the Mouth of the River Limene for Haesten had built a strong Fort at Beamfleot and was from thence marched out to Plunder whil'st great part of his Army remained at home but when the King's Forces came thither they soon put his Army to flight and demolished the Fort taking all that was within it together with their Goods Wives and Children carrying them to London and as for their Ships part of them they broke to pieces but carried the best of them to Rochester and London and burnt the rest but the Wife of Haesten and his Two Sons being brought to the King he not long after sent them back to him at his request because one of the Boys had been the King's and the other Earl Aethered's Godson as hath been already said H. Huntington places the Siege of Exester after the taking of Bemfleet whereas the Annals suppose it to be done about the same time but be it as it will they all agree that whilest the King was detained in the West at that Siege
both Armies of the Danes viz. as well those which had been before routed at Bemfleet as those which were at the Isle of Brecklesey met at Sceobyrig now South-Shoebury in Essex and there built a Castle and then marching along the Thames a great many of the Danes of East England and Northumberland joined them and so they marched from the Thames as far as the River Severne then Aethered Aethelm and Aethelnoth the Ealdormen and the King's Thanes who were left at home in the Garisons drew all the Men together they could from every Town on the East-side of Pedridan now Parret in Somersetshire and on the West of Selwood Forest as also from both sides of the Thames even as far as North Wales who when they were all assembled followed the Pagans to Butdigingtune on the side of Severne now called Budington in Shropshire and there besieged them on all sides in a certain Fort they had cast up but when they had staid there for divers Weeks Encamp'd on both sides the River the King being then in Devonshire with his Fleet the Pagans pressed with Hunger Eat their Horses and many of them perished with Famine yet at last they broke out upon those who lay on the East side of the River where as Aethelwerd tells us was a very sharp Dispute thô the Christians got the Victory and kept the Field but there Ordhelm the King's Thane was kill'd as also many others of the same Rank but that part of the Danish Army which remained alive escaped by flight And when they were got into their Garisons and Ships in East Saxe just before Winter they Muster'd a great Army from among the East Angles and Northumbers and committing their Wives Ships and Goods to the keeping of the East Angles marched Day and Night till they took up their Quarters at a certain City in Werheal called Legacester now Chester but the Kings Forces could not overtake them before they had got into the Castle which nevertheless they besieged for about Two Days and took away all the Cattle that were in those Parts and kill'd all the Men they could find without the place and partly burnt the Corn and partly devoured it with their Horses This was done about a Twelve Month after the Danes arrival here Not long after this the Pagans went from Werheal into North Wales but they could not stay there long because the Cattle and Corn were all drove away and destroyed so they were forced to march thorough the Country of the Northumbers and East Angles with such speed that the King's Forces could not overtake them till they came into the East part of East Seaxe to a certain Island seated near the Sea called Meresige now Mercey in Essex Also the same Year the Danes who were encamp'd in Meresige drew their Ships up the Thames and thence up the River Ligan now called Lee which divides Middlesex from Essex and there according to Florence they began to raise a Fort this happen'd in the second Year after their arrival The Pagans having raised the Fortification near Ligan above-mentioned about 20 Miles from London this Summer a great part of the Citizens and others marched thither and endeavoured to take and destroy it but they were there forc'd to fly for it and Four of the King's Thanes were kill'd on the spot This Autumn when the King had pitched his Camp in those Parts about Harvest time to hinder the Danes from carrying away their Corn it happen'd one day as the King rode by the River side that he found a place where the River might be so diverted that the Danes should not be able to carry back their Ships and thô they had built two Castles one of each side the River to defend them yet so soon as the Danes saw that the stream being now diverted into several Channels they could not carry back their Ships they quitted them and marched away on Foot till they came to Quatbrige now supposed to be Cambridge not far from the River Severne where they cast up a Fort but the King's Forces pursued them toward the West on Horse-back whilest the Citizens of London seized and broke their Ships and carried all that was worth any thing to the City but the Danes had left their Wives with the East Angles before they departed from that place so that that Winter they staid at Quatbridge being the Third Year since their last arrival But the next Year according to our Annals The Danes marched part of them into East England and part into Northumberland because wanting Money they could only there procure Ships which having got they sailed from thence Southward to the River Seine Thus by God's Mercy this vast Army of Pagans did not wholly ruine the English Nation althô it was very much weaken'd during these Three Years as well by the Murrain of Cattle as also by a great Plague upon Men by which many of the King 's noblest Thanes that were in the Kingdom dyed of which number were Swithulf Bishop of Rochester Beorthalf Ealdorman of the East Saxons Wulfred Ealdorman of Hamptshire and Ethelheard Bishop of Dorchester with many others But I have only noted the most remarkable The same Year those Robbers residing in east-East-England and Northumberland very much infested West Saxony especially the Southern Coasts by their stolen Booties chiefly with their Ships which they had got ready long before for that purpose then King Alfred being it seems at last sensible how much damage the want of a Fleet had done his Country Commanded divers Galleys to be made which were almost twice as long as others some whereof had sixty Rowers they were also swifter higher and less apt to rowle than others formerly built for they were made neither according to the model of the Frisian Vessels nor the Danish but after such a manner as was thought might prove most useful And some time after in this Year there arrived six Danish Ships at the Isle of Wight and Sailing along committed great spoil in Devonshire and all up and down that Coast. Then the King commanded that they should set Sail with the Nine Gallyes newly built and shut up the Enemies Ships from going out of the Harbour where they were upon which the Pyrats sailed out with Three Ships against them the other three being left in the entrance of the Harbour upon the dry ground and the Sea-men gone out of them But the King's Fleet took two of the Danish Ships that came out of the Harbour and slew the Men but the Third escaped though all except Five were kill'd There came also other Ships thither which were somewhat more conveniently posted Three of them being placed in that part of the Sea where the Danish Ships had before taken up their station but all the rest in another part so that they could not assist each other for the Tide had gone back many Furlongs from the King's Ships And so the Danes going out
of their Vessels set upon Three English Ships which lay on the dry ground and Fighting with them there slew Lucomon the King's Admiral and Wulfherd Aebba and Aethelerd being all Frizelanders who it seems then served in the King's Fleet so that of the Frisons and English there were slain Sixty Two of the Danes One Hundred and Twenty But the Tide returning the Danish Ships got away before the English could have out theirs at Sea thô they were so shatter'd that they could scarce reach the Coast of Sussex for two of them were ran on Shore and the Men being brought to the King at Winchester he Commanded them all to be Hang'd But those who were in the Third Ship being very much wounded with great difficulty reached east-East-England The same Year there perished no less than Twenty of their Ships together with the Seamen near the Southern Coast and then also Wulfred Master of the King's Horse Deceased who was a British or Welsh Gerefe or Governour Aethelm Ealdorman of Wiltshire deceased Nine days before Midsummer and the same Year also Aealhstan Bishop of London dyed This Year according to the Welsh Chronicle Igmond the Dane with a great number of Soldiers Landed in the Isle of Man or Anglesey where the Welshmen gave him Battle at a place called Molerain or Meilon wherein we may suppose the Danes got the Victory for their Chronicle says nothing to the contrary and besides Merwy Son to Rodri King of Powis was there slain Also now King Alfred Deceased six days before the Feast of All Saints He was King over all the English Nation except what was under the power of the Danâ—s But since we are come to the end of this King's Life I shall here give you Florence of Worcester's Character of â—him viz. That Famous and Victorious Warriour King Alfred the Defender of Widows and Orphans the most skillful of all the Saxon Poets who excelled in Prudence Justice Fortitude and Temperance being as Discreet and Diligent in hearing of Causes and giving Judgments as he was devout in the Service of God was also most Liberal and affable to all Men so that for these Vertues he was highly beloved by his Subjects now died of an Infirmity under which he had long laboured whose Body lies buried in the new Monastery of Winchester in a stately Tomb of Porphyrie But I shall from Asser's History of this King's Life and Actions give you a larger account of him from his Infancy He was as you have already heard born Anno Dom. 849 and had been twice at Rome but after his last Return together with his Father He tells us He was bred up at Court with the great Care and Affection both of his Father and Mother who loved him above the rest of his Brothers because he was not only more Witty and Handsome but also of a sweeter Disposition and it had been well if he could have improved his own excellent Parts by Humane Learning for to his great regret afterwards by the extream fondness of his Parents or by the negligence of those who had the care of his Education he remained till the Twelfth Year of his Age without so much as being taught his Letters only having an excellent Memory he learned by heart several Saxon Poems being repeated to him by others for he had a great and natural Inclination to Poetry as our Authour himself had often observed and as an instance of the quickness of his Parts gives us this Account That one Day when his Mother shewed him and the rest of his Brothers a certain fine Book in Saxon Verse with which they were very well pleased he being taken with the beauty of the Capital Letters at the beginning of it she promised to give it to him that should soonest understand and get it by heart which Alfred undertaking to do he carried it to his Master and not only learned to Read it but also got it without Book and so repeating it to his Mother had the Book given him for his pains after this he also learned the Daily Office and then some Psalms and Prayers by heart which being writ together in a Book he still carried in his Bosome for his daily use But alas England could not then supply him with any fit Tutors in the Liberal Arts which he often complained was one of the greatest hindrances in his Life that at the time when he had most leasure to learn he had no Masters that could teach him and afterwards when he grew more in Years he was troubled with incessant Pains both Night and Day the causes of which were unknown to Physicians but when he came to be King he was then taken up with the cares of the Government and how to resist the Invasions of the Danes so that he had but little time for Study yet notwithstanding all these impediments from his very Child-hood to the day of his Death he never ceased to have an insatiable desire after knowledge insomuch that he did not only at leisure times learn himself but also communicated that learning to others by translating into the English Saxon Tongue Orosius's Roman and Bede's Ecclesiastical Histories the latter of which Versions is Printed but the former is still in Manuscript in the Library of Corpus Christi Coll. Oxon. as also in other places he had likewise begun to Translate the Psalms of David but was prevented by Death from making an end of it But to how low an Ebb Learning was then reduced by the frequent Wars and devastations of the Danes King Alfred himself tells us in his Preface to St. Gregorie's Pastoral that learning was so decay'd in the English Nation that very few Priests on this side of Humber could understand the Common Service of the Church and he knew none South of Thames who could turn an ordinary piece of Latine into English though things were now somewhat better yet that he himself had turn'd this Book into English by the help of Arch-Bishop Plegmond with Grimbald and John his Priests and had sent one of them to every Bishops See in the Kingdom with an Aestel as the Saxon Word is or Stilus as in the Latin Version upon each Book of fifty Mancuses in value charging them in God's Name neither to take away that Aestel from the Book nor any of those Books out of the Church seeing it was uncertain how long there would continue such Learned Bishops as now God be Thanked were in all parts of this Kingdom But how this can consist with the supposed Relation out of Asser concerning the flourishing state of Learning at Oxford before that King 's Founding the University I do not understand But in the Twentieth Year of his Age as soon as he was Married that Distemper took him which held him till about his Fortieth Year the cause whereof being unknown to his Physicians it was supposed by some that he was bewitched and it was so sharp that he feared the
Leprosie or Blindness or else some worse Distemper which often makes Men unuseful or despised but by Praying to God in a certain Church in Cornwal where St. Neot lay buried and near which the King came by chance to Hunt he was relieved of that Pain which tho this Authour does not tell us what it was yet it seems to have been somewhat proceeding from the stoppage of the Humours in the lower Parts and which our Authour calls the Ficus or Emerhoids I shall now in the next place shew you how this King spent his time as well in his private as publick Affairs as the same Author hath related it by which the Reader will be better enabled to frame a true Character of this most Pious Learned and Magnanimous Prince King Alfred notwithstanding his frequent hindrances not only by the Danish Wars but also his bodily Infirmities was always mindful of the Affairs of State thô at spare times he used Hunting for his Recteation and to oversee and direct his Artificers Huntsmen and Faulkners He built also his Houses much more Magnificent than those of his Predecessors and at leisure times was wont to read English Saxon Books and learn Verses in the same Tongue by heart so that he never failed when he was alone to imploy himself well And for the better performance of his Duty he vowed to bestow half his time as far as his occasions and Infirmities would permit in God's Service And because it was impossible to know how the Hours of the Day and Night past when often by reason of the Clouds the Sun could not be seen no Clocks being then invented he began to think how he might distinguish the Hours by Night as well as by Day and at last by his own ingenious contrivance he ordered Six Wax-Tapers to be made of equal length and bigness so that each Taper being divided into Inches and every Inch marked out upon the Taper by this means those Six Tapers being set up one after another before the Reliques of the Saints which he still carried with him gave a constant and certain Light during the whole Twenty four Hours both by Night and by Day But when sometimes by reason of the Wind which came in at the Windows or Doors of the Chappel or thorough the Chinks of the Walls or the Cloth of his Tents the Tapers were made to burn out sooner than they were used to do at other times he first found out the Invention of making Lanthorns of Cow's Horns cut into thin Plates whereby no Wind could wast the Tapers so that by this Invention none of them burnt out sooner than another Afterwards he endeavoured to perform his former Vow in dedicating half his time to God so that he was wont not only to hear Mass every day but also to repeat his Prayers Psalms and other Nocturnal Offices having made a Collection out of David's Psalms for his own private use which being with certain Prayers written in a small Book he always carried about with him in his Bosom he likewise used to frequent the Church in the Night time and there alone to say his Prayers He was also very liberal in his Alms to Strangers as well as his own People treating all sorts of Men with great Gentleness and Affability he would often hear the Scriptures read by his own Servants and also Prayers read by Strangers when he came to any place by chance He loved his Bishops and all the Clergy very well as also his Earls Noblemen and Servants expressing his affection in Educating their Sons in his own Family and by causing them to be constantly instructed in Letters and good Manners with the same care as if they had been his own Children Yet for all this the King was not satisfied but was sorry that God had not made him more capable of true Wisdom as well as Liberal Arts admiring Solomon for nothing more than that despising Riches and Worldly Glory and desiring of God Wisdom he thereby obtained not only those outward things but this Request too over and above Thus our King imitated the Bee which rising early gathers Honey from all sorts of Flowers So whatever was rare that he had not in his own Kingdom he fetched from abroad for about this time God favouring his Pious Desires sent him Werfriht after Bishop of Worcester one very well skilled in the Holy Scriptures who by this King's Command Elegantly and exactly Translated the Dialogues of Pope Gregory out of Latin into the English Saxon Tongue and after him Plegmond a Mercian who was afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury a Venerable Man and indued with all true Knowledge to whom we may also add Aethelstan and Werwulf Priests and the King's Chaplains These learned Men above-mentioned King Aelfred had sent for out of Mercia whose Erudition as it daily encreased the King's Love to it so his greedy Thirst after it could never be satisfied for Night and Day as often as he had leisure he Commanded some or other to read to him for he was never without one of them near him whereby he obtain'd a general Knowledge of almost all sorts of Books nor was he contented with those he found at home but he sent Messengers into France to procure new Masters fetching from thence one Grimbald a Priest and Monk a worthy Man and an excellent Chanter and one well skilled in all Secular as well as Ecclesiastical Learning as also John another Priest and Monk throughly versed in all manner of Litterature by whose assistance as the King's Mind became much inlarged so in Requital he Honour'd and Enrich'd them And here I may likewise add what some other Authors have written concerning these two last Learned Persons by whose assistance he first Founded the University of Oxford as hath been already related for John Rouse in his History of the Kings of England hath wrote of these two Monks that Grimbald was sent for from his Monastery in Flanders then counted part of France as John was from his of St. Bertin at St. Omers this is that John commonly call'd Scotus and Erigena thô from whence he borrowed this last Name I shall not determine since the Learned differ so much about it 't was he Translated Dionisius his Hierarchia out of Greek into Latin which is now publish'd by the Learned Dr. Gale About the same time Asser also relates that he was sent for by the King from the Western or furthest Parts of Britain that is from St. David's in Wales and being kindly received by him he earnestly entreated him to leave whatever he had on the other side of Severne and Dedicate himself wholly to his Service but he could not promise that for above six Months in the Year standing engaged the other six to reside at his own Monastery for the Abbot and Monks there hoped that by his Interest with the King they might better avoid those Troubles and Injuries From King Hemeid who had often spoiled that
Records that are now lost may be credited this King condemn'd no less than Fourty four inferior Judges in Hundred and County Courts to be hanged in one Year for their false Judgments either in condemning or acquitting Men without the Verdict of the Jury but the particular Cases being many and long I refer you to the Authour himself wherein you will see the Difference between the manner of Judicial Proceedings in those Times from what they were presently after the Norman Conquest But some of our Historians as particularly Harding in his Chronicle made this King to have collected a Body of Laws not only out of the Old and New Testament but also from the Greek Roman British and Danish Laws which if it were ever done is not now extant Having thus finished the Life of King Alfred I cannot but take Notice of his last Will and Testament the only one we have left of all the English-Saxon Kings wherein at the very beginning he styles himself By the Divine Grace King of the West-Saxons with the Means and Assistance of Athelred the Archbishop as also with the Assent and Consent of the Nobility of all West-Saxony whom he there summons as Witnesses of this his last Will and to be Trustees and Overseers of his Goods and Estate for the good of his Soul as well of the Inheritance which GOD and the chief Men together with the Ealdormen of the People had affectionately and bountifully bestowed upon him as also of the Inheritance which his Father Aethelwulf had bequeathed to him and his three Brothers viz. Aethelbald Aethered and himself so as that the Survivor of them should enjoy the entire Dominion of the whole Kingdom And then proceeds to shew the particular force of that Entail according to his said Father's Will in these Words as he gives it us speaking in the first Person That if it should happen That Aethelbald the eldest Son of our Father should first decease then Aethered together with the Nobility of all West-Saxony should be Witnesses for us of our Share in the said Kingdom on the Day of his Coronation whom we should with all our Might endeavour to advance to the Throne after the Death of Aethelbald our eldest Brother according to the Agreement he made with us viz. That the said King Aethered should permit us to enjoy our Distributions as we had them before our said Brother's Coronation And also the Engagement he stood in to us concerning the said Hereditary Distribution was confirmed in like manner to wit that the Lands and Territories which K. Aethered by our Assistance and the Power of our Men should acquire to himself as also the Dominions which should fall to him by Hereditary Right he should in Brotherly Love proportionably divide with us But yet if it should so happen that Aethered should succeed to the Kingdom he himself was to promise the same thing But he refusing as this Testament particularly takes notice to observe this Agreement only promised That as for the Lands and Territories which he by Alfred's and his People's Assistance should acquire to his Dominions as also the Inheritance to which he was born he would after his decease confer upon none else but my self And being thus pacified I thereupon remitted all further Complaints against my Brother Then he proceeds farther That in case it should happen that we all should fall by the hands of our Danish Enemies then it was especially provided that every one of us should so dispose of our Estates to our Sons that each of them should successively enjoy our Inheritance and our Lands and Possessions in like manner as the Inheritance it self with the Dominions Lands and Possessions which had been before conferred upon us And then he goes on to recite what had been formerly done in a General Council of the West Saxon Nobility at Swinbourne wherein he had adjured them all to bear witness of the manner and intent of the former Entail the sum of which was That since K. Aethered his Elder Brother was deceased there was then none left but himself who had any writing or Testimony concerning this Inheritance nor any other Heir besides himself and that if any one should offer to claim the said Inheritance he should lose his Right unless he forthwith produced witnesses of it but then he heard that all his Kinsmen were dead and so the whole Inheritance of King Aethelwulf his Father was devolved upon him by a Charter made thereof at his General Council at Langdene which Charter he had then likewise wife commanded to be read before the Witnesses of all West Saxony and after it was read he ordered all there present to declare whether they had heard or knew of any Man who could justly claim any Right to his Inheritance which had never come to his Knowledge before because it was his intent to disinherit none of his Kinsmen of any thing and then all the Princes and Ealdormen of his People did firmly and positively declare that they never heard of any who had a juster Title to it than himself and then they gave him full power to make his Will and bequeath his Estate to his Kinsmen and Friends in such manner as best pleased him Next King Alfred proceeds in the presence of the said Witnesses to make his last Will and to confer upon his Eldest Son Edward divers Lands and Territories there particularly mentioned lying in divers Countries in England but without any mention of the Crown he also leaves other Lands there recited to his Younger Son the like he does for each of his Daughters to whom he gives divers Lands there particularly set down and then bequeaths to Athelm and Aethelwald his Brother's Sons divers Towns there also particularly recited then follow his Legacies in Money to his Sons Daughters and Servants and to his Kinsmen above mentioned as also to Ethelred General of his Militia and to the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Asser Bishop of Shireburne and several other Bishops all which would be too tedious here to be set down And to let you see that Entails were then in force He farther Wills That those to whom he had given his Free-Hold-Lands should not alienate them beyond their own Lives and if they had no Children they should go to the next of Kin especially to the Eldest Son as long as any one of them remain'd alive for so his Father had bequeathed his Inheritance but if it should any ways happen that his said Lands should come into the hands of Women then he Wills That after their Decease those Lands should revert to his next Male Kindred descending from their bodies c. And then concludes with an earnest Exhortation and desire that none of his Relations should any ways disquiet each other concerning those things which he had already given and bequeathed to them since the whole Nobility of the West Saxon Nation had already agreed with him that it was but Just and Right that
Old Minster or Cathedral The nearness of these two Monasteries afterwards occasioned great differences between them until the Monks of this new Abbey who were placed here in the room of the Secular Chanons by Bishop Ethelwald Anno Dom. 963. were removed without the Walls to a place called Hyde as you shall hear in due time and here also the Bones of King Alfred were new Buried by King Edward his Son as Will. of Malmsbury relates because of some foolish Stories made by those of the Old Monastery concerning the dead King's Ghost walking in some Houses adjacent to the Church This Year also according to our Annals the Moon was Eclipsed The next Year Prince Ethelwald incited the Danish Forces in east-East-England to Arms so that they over-ran and spoiled all the Country of Mercia as far as Crekelade now Crekelade in Wiltshire and there passing the Thames they took in Braedene now Braedon Forest in Wiltshire whatsoever they could find and then return'd home In the mean time King Edward so soon as he could get his Army together followed them and destroyed all the Country which lies between the Ditch and the River Ouse as far as the Northern Fens By the Ditch above-mention'd Florence of Worcester understands that bound or limit drawn between the Territories of the late King Edmund and the River Ouse which at this day is known by the name of the Devil's Ditch that formerly divided the Mercian Kingdom from that of the East-Angles And Bromton's Chronicle under this Year further adds That Ethelwold having thus passed the Thames at Crekelade took Brithenden and marched as far as Brandenstoke now Bradenstoke in Wiltshire so that as Mr. Camden well observes in his Britannia our Modern Historians have been much mistaken in supposing that place to be Basing-Stoke in Hampshire But to return to our History As soon as the King resolved to quit those parts he order'd it to be proclaimed throughout the whole Army that they should all march off but the Kentishmen staying behind contrary to his command he sent Messengers to them to come away yet it seems before they could do it the Danes had so hemmed them in that they were forced to fight and there Eadwald the King's Thane and Cenwulf the Abbot with many more of the English Nobility were slain and on the Danes part were kill'd Eoric their King and Prince Ethelwald who had stirred them to this Rebellion and Byrtsig the Son of Prince Beornoth and Ysopa General of the King's Army and abundance of others which it would be too tedious to enumerate But it was plain that there was a great slaughter made on both sides yet nevertheless the Danes kept the Field of Battel Also this Year Queen Ealswithe the Mother of King Edward deceased in which also a Comet appeared Who this Eoric King of the Danes was is uncertain I suppose him to have been the Danish King of the East-Angles whose death according to Will of Malmesbury's Account falls about this time for he says thus That this King was killed by the English whom he treated tyrannically but for all this yet they could not recover their Liberty certain Danish Earls still oppressing or else inciting them against the West-Saxon Kings till the Eighteenth Year of this King's Reign when they were all by him overcome and the Country brought under obedience To this time we may also refer that great Council which was held by King Edward the Elder where Plegmond Archbishop of Canterbury presided though the place where is not specified yet the occasion of it as we find from Will of Malmesbury as well as the Register of the Priory of Christ-Church in Canterbury cited by Sir H. Spelman was thus Pope Formosus had sent Letters into England threatning Excommunication and his Curse to King Edward and all his Subjects because the Province of the West-Saxons had been now for Seven Years without any Bishops whereupon the King summoned a great Council or Synod of Wise men of the English Nation wherein the Archbishop read the Pope's Letters then the King and the Bishops with all his Lay-Subjects upon mature deliberation found out a safe course to avoid it by appointing Bishops over each of the Western Counties dividing what Two Bishops had formerly held into Five Diocesses The Council being ended the Archbishop went to Rome and reciting the King's Decree with the Advice and Approbation of the Chief Men of his Kingdom He thereby and with rich Presents so pacified the Pope that Plegmond obtain'd his confirmation thereof and then returning into his own Country he ordained five Bishops in one day to wit Fridestan to the Church of Winchester Aldestan to Cornwall Werstan to Shireborne Athelm to Wells and Eadwulf to Crediton in Devonshire But Archbishop Parker in his Antiq Britannicae under this very Year thus recites this Transaction out of a very Ancient Manuscript Author whom he does not particularly name viz. That Plegmund Archbishop of Canterbury together with King Edward called a great Council of the Bishops Abbots Chief men Subjects and People in the Province of the Gewisses where these two Bishopricks were divided into five So that you see here was no less than five new Diocesses erected at once by the Authority of both the King and the Great Council of the Nation though it seems the Pope took upon him the confirmation of this Decree The same Authors likewise tell us That Archbishop Plegmond ordained two more Bishops over the Ancient Provinces to wit one Bernod for the South Saxons and Cenwulf for the Mercians whose See was at Dorchester in Oxfordshire Cardinal Baronius in his Annals having given us a Copy of these Letters of Pope Formosus hath found a notable Error in the Date of them for being written Anno Dom. 904 or 905. they could not be sent by that Pope who was dead about 9 or 10 years before and therefore the Cardinal would put the time of this Council back to Anno Dom. 894. but then as Sir H. Spelman in his Notes upon it well observes the fault will be as great this way as the other for King Edward under whom this Council was held was not King till above 10 years after therefore some would place this Council in the latter end of King Alfred's Reign after the Kingdom came to be setled upon the expulsion of the Danes but Sir H. Spelman affirms That these things being written long after the time when they were transacted the name of Formosus might be put into the Copies of these Letters instead of Pope Leo the Fifth and then all things will fall right enough But as to Frithestan Bishop of Winchester this Account of Will of Malmesbury will not hold for our Annals tell us That he was not made Bishop till Anno Dom. 910. upon the death of Bishop Denulph and therefore that See could not be so long void as this Relation would have it The like mistake is in making Werstan to be then
England called Wales where we find in the Chronicle of Caradoc That this Year Anarawd chief King of Wales died leaving behind him two Sons Edwal Ugel i. e. the Bald who Reigned after him and Elise and as some say a third Son named Meyric This Edwal is he whom our Historians stile Idwal Rex omnium Wallensium i. e. Supreme King of all Wales And I shall here likewise subjoyn what Mr. Vaughan in his Notes upon this Chronicle hath also added concerning the Welsh Affairs during the Reign of this Prince thô happening somewhat before this time viz. That after the Death of Roderic the Great the Northern Britains of Straetclwyd and Cumberland were as Hector Boetius and Buchanan relate much infested and weakened with the daily Incursions of the Danes Saxons and Scots which made many of them that is all that would not submit their Necks to that Yoke to quit their Country and seek out more quiet Habitations so that under the Conduct of one Hobert they came to Gwyneth i. e. North Wales in the beginning of Anarawd's Reign who commiserating their distressed Condition gave them the Country from Chester to the River Conwey to inhabit if they could beat out the Saxons who had lately possessed themselves thereof These Britains having returned Thanks to Prince Anarawd as was meet fell upon the Saxons and Necessiry giving edge to their Valour they soon drove them out thence being yet scarce warm in their Seats and Edred or Ethered Earl of Mercia made great Preparations for the regaining of the said Country But the Northern Britains who had settled themselves there having Intelligence thereof for the better securing of their Cattle and Goods removed them over the River Conwey In the mean time Anarawd was not idle but gathering together all the Strength he could make his Army encamped near the Town of Conwey at a place called Cymryt where his Men making a gallant Resistance against the Assaults of the Saxon Forces at length after a bloody Fight obtained a compleat Victory over them This Battle was called Gwaeth Cymryt Conwey because it was fought in the Township of Cymryt hard by Conwey but Anarawd called it Dial Rodri because he had there revenged the Death of his Father Rodri. In this Battle Tudwal the Son of Rodri Mawr received a Hurt in the Knee which made him be called Tudwall Gloff or The Lame ever after His Brethren to reward his Valour and Service gave him the Lands of Unchellogoed Gwynned and then the Britains pursuing their Victory chased the Saxons quite out of Wales into Mercia where having burnt and destroyed the Borders they returned home laden with rich Spoils And Anarawd to express his Thankfulness to GOD for this great Victory gave Lands and Possessions to the Church of Bangor as the Records of that See do testifie and likewise to the Collegiate Church of Clynnoc in Arvon as we read in the Extent of North Wales After this the Northern Britains came back from beyond the River Conwey and possessed again the Lands assigned to them between Conwey and Chester which for a long time after they peaceably enjoyed Some English Writers as Mat. Westminster c. not considering that the Britains had Lands in Loegria and Albania after King Cadwalader's time mistake those of Cumberland and Straetclwyd for the Britains of Wales but Asser Menev. who lived about the year 875 saith That Halden the Dane marched into Northumberland which he subdued having before conquered the Picts and Britains of Straetclwyd in Northumberland I have given you this Relation at length because it is not found in any of our Historians and it â—ets us see that the English as well as the Wâ—lsh have been very sparing to record their own Defeats But to return again to our History About this time according to the Copy of a Charter of King Edward extant in an old Manuscript belonging to Clare Hall in Cambridge He by the Command of Pope John and Arch-Bishop Plegmund and by the Advice of all the Bishops and Chief Men of his Kingdom confirmed to the Doctors and Scholars of Cambridge as also to their Servants all Priviledges which had been granted by himself or his Predecessours for ever to endure by a perpetual Right This Charter bears Date at Grantecester i. e. Cambridge in the Year 915 and is directed to Frithestan then Chancellor and Doctor But if Sir John Spelman thought he had Reason to suspect the Truth of that Passage we have cited out of Asser's History of the Life of King Alfred concerning the Studium or School at Oxford before King Alfred's time our Antiquaries may have as much if not more Reason to question the Truth of this Charter since the Original of it is not to be found but only this Transcript in the Book above cited for they say it looks very improbable that Cambridge should have continued an University during all the time of the Danish Wars and under the Possession of those three Danish Kings the last of whom enjoyned it till the latter end of this King's Reign as appears by our present History And besides all this the barbarous and pedantic Latine at the Conclusion of this Charter where the King is made to confirm it in these Words Stabili jure grata rata decerno durare quamdiu vertigo Poli circa terras atque Aequora Aethera Syderum justo moderamine volvet Which seems to betray the ignorant Monk's Pen that counterfeited it but John Rouse in his Manuscript History De Regibus Angliae cited by Bale relates from an ancient Table and Chronicle of the Abbey of Hyde near Winchester which himself by the Favour of the Abbot had perused the Restoration of the University of Cambridge by King Edward as follows Therefore for the Augmenration of Clerk-like Learning as his Father had done to Oxford so he again raised up Cambridge to her first Glory which for a long time with other general Schools had lain desolate and destroyed as also like a most loving Nourisher of Scholars he commanded that Halls for Students Chairs and Seats of Doctors and Masters should there be erected and built at his own proper Charges for he sent from Oxford University which his Noble Father the King had founded Masters of those Arts which we call Liberal together with Doctors in Divinity and invited them there formally to Read and Teach But since the Author here cited is but of modern Times in comparison to this famous University and also that Passage he hath cited out of the Annals of Hyde is not now to be found in the Copies we have of them I shall give the Reader a much more ancient Testimony out of Tho. Rudborn's larger History of the Church of Winchester where he cites an Epistle of one Bonagratia de Villa Dei to the Black Monks of England wherein there is this Passage which I shall here Translate viz. That whilst he was banished from his Country into
England and sojourned with the most Holy and Religious Monks in the City of Winchester Helmestan Abbot of the said Cathedral Church and the Venerable Swithune Praepositus i. e. Bishop of the same who had been before in Professione sacrae Theologiae in Studio Canterbriggiensi Cathedratus i. e. Professor of Divinity in the University of Cambridge had often relieved him during the many Hardships he suffered in his Banishment with special Favour he desired always should be acknowledged If we were assured that this Epistle was Genuine it would advance the Antiquity of this University far higher than the time we are now treating of and would make it Ancienter than the time of King Alfred in the latter end of whose Reign St. Swithune sate Bishop of Winchester But since we have not the Originals but only Citations from these ancient Pieces I shall not take upon me to determine of their Validity but leave that as also this Authors Credit to the Reader 's Judgment But to return to our Annals This Year Egbriht the innocent Abbot was slain on the 16th Kal. of July a little before the Summer Solstice and about three Days after Aethelfleda sent an Army against the Welsh which took Brecenanmere supposed to be either Brecknock Castle or else some place near it and there she took the King's Wife and about thirty four Prisoners The Danes marching now on Horseback after Easter from Hamtune i. e. Northampton and Lygraceaster now Leicester slew many Men at Hocneratune now Hoocnorton in Oxfordshire and the places adjoyning and as soon as they had returned home again they sent out another Company of Robbers which marched towards Ligtune most likely to be Leighton in Bedfordshire but the People of that Country being forewarned of their coming fought with them and not only put them to flight but also recovered whatsoever they had taken away so that they left a great many of their Horses and Arms behind them Now a great Fleet sailed from the Southern Parts of Armorica under the Command of two Earls Ohtor and Rhoald and sailing about toward the East entred the Mouth of the River Severne and there spoiled all the Coasts of North Wales toward the Sea as far as they could and they also took Cumeleac the Welsh Bishop in Yrcingafield now Archenfield in Herefordshire and carried him Prisoner to their Ships but King Edward within some time Ransomed him for Forty Pounds but after this the Danes quitting their Ships marched again towards Yrcingafeild where the Men of Hereford and Gleawcester and the neighbouring Towns fought them and put them to flight and there slew Rhoald and a Brother of Earl Ohtor's with a great part of their Army and drove them into a certain Wood where they besieged them till they made them give Hostages to depart out of King Edward's Kingdom But at last it seemed advisable for the King to place a good Guard from the South part of the Mouth of Severne and from the West of Wales toward the East as far as the River Avon that so the Danes might not Land any more on that side nevertheless leaving their Ships they stole away privately by Night in two Companies to plunder the one to Weced now Watchet in Somersetshire and the other to Portlocan now Portlochbay in the same County but they were routed in both places insomuch that few of them escaped alive unless it were those who swam off to their Ships Then they besieged an Island at Bradanrelic Florence calls it Reoric which is supposed to be a little Island now called Shepholm in the Mouth of Severne where they were in such great want of Victuals that many died with Hunger because they could get no Provisions there After this they went to Deomed supposed to be South Wales from whence they passed into Ireland All this happened in Autumn And the same Year a little before Martinmass King Edward marched with his Army to Buckingaham and there stayed a Month building two Forts on each side the River Ouse before he parted thence Thurkytel the Danish Earl owned him for his Lord as also all their chief Commanders and almost all their Noblemen who were at Bedanford now Bedford with many of them that belonged to Hamptune This Year also Ethelfleda Lady of the Mercians before Whitsontide took the Town of Deorby where within the Gates were killed four Thanes who were very dear to her Also we read in the Collections of that Learned Antiquary Mr. Lambert and by him given to the Cottonian Library that it is found in an Ancient Chronicle once belonging to the Monastry of Rochester and collected by one Edmund de Hadenham That this Year the Lady Elfleda by the Assistance of the King her Brother besieged the City of Canterbury and taking it slew a great many Danes that were therein King Edward marching with his Army to Bedanford about Martinmass had the Town surrendred to him and then all the Inhabitants who were his Subjects returned thither and there he stayed a Month and before he departed he commanded a Castle to be built there on the South-side of the River After this King Edward went to Maeldune now Maldon and rebuilt the Town and saw it fortified whilst he was there Also Earl Thurkytel passed over into France by K. Edward's Leave and Convoy with all those Danes that would follow him as likewise Aethelfleda brought under her Dominion the Town of Legracester now Leicester and a great many of the Danes belonging to that place became subject to her as also those who were at York nay some of them confirmed it both with an Oath and by giving of Hostages that they would continue so but as soon as this was done she departed this Life twelve days before Midsummer at Tammeworth it being the Eighth Year of her Government over the Mercians after her Husband's Death with great Moderation and Justice Her Body lies buried at Gleawcester in the East Isle of St. Peter's Church This Lady's Death is placed in our printed Annals under the Year 918 and that more rightly for the Cottonian Copy of these Annals is certainly mistaken in putting the Death of this Princess two Years later than this viz. 920. though they all agree in Substance viz. that she died at Tamworth about a Fortnight before Midsummer and that thereupon King Edward going thither the whole Nation of the Mercians submitted to him But whenever this Princess died she was certainly a Woman of great Virtue Prudence and Courage and truly resembled her worthy Father King Alfred as far as the Difference of Sex would permit But to return again to our Annals The same Year the Daughter and Heir of Ethered Lord of the Mercians called Aelfwinna whom her Mother had left her Heir was deprived by the King of that Dominion and she was about three weeks before Christmas brought into West-Seax John Bevour who calls himself Castoreus in his Manuscript History of the Kings
of England gives us a very good Reason if true why the King dealt thus severely with this young Princess his Niece which was this That Aelfwinna not making the King her Uncle whom her Mother had appointed her Guardian privy to her Designs had contracted a Mariage with Reginald King of the Danes Whereupon King Edward to prevent his Enemy entred the Country of Mercia and took it into his own Hands and also carried the said Lady away with him The same Author likewise reporteth That about this time Leofred a Dane and Griffyth ap Madoc Brother-in-Law to the Prince of West-Wales came from Ireland with a great Army to Snowdon in Caernarvonshire and designing to bring all Wales and the Marches thereof to their subjection over-ran and subdued all the Countrey as far as Chester before ever King Edward had Intelligence of their Arrival whereat he was very much offended but being loath to trouble his Subjects in that behalf he made a Vow That he and his Sons with their own people would be revenged on Leofred and Griffyth and thereupon he came to Chester and took the City from them After this he made two Divisions of his Army whereof he and his Son Athelstan led the first and Edmund and Edred the second and followed them with such Celerity that he overtook them at the Forest of Walewode now Sherwood where Leofred and Griffyth set upon him so fiercely that the King at the beginning was in some distress until Prince Athelstan stepped in between his Father and Leofred and gave the Dane such a Wound in the Arm that it disabled him from holding his Spear whereupon he was soon taken and committed to the Custody of Athelstan In the mean time Prince Edmund and Edred encountering with Griffyth slew him and brought his Head to their Father Upon that Athelstan caused Leofred to be beheaded likewise and so both their Heads were set up together on the top of the Tower of Chester and Edward and his Sons returned home with a great Triumph But it appears by the Age of Prince Edmund when he came to the Crown that this Relation concerning himself and his Brother Edred's commanding part of their Father's Army cannot be true for he was not above Four years old when King Edward his Father died and not above Eighteen when he began to reign This year according to our Annals King Edward commanded his men to go to the Town of Tofeceaster now Tocester in Northamptonshire and to rebuild it after which the same year about Lent he commanded the Town of Wigingamere now Wigmore in Herefordshire to be rebuilt But the same Summer between Whitsuntide and Midsummer the Danes of Hamptune i. e. Northampton as was said before and Ligeracester and those that lay Northward broke the Peace and marched to Tofeceaster and assaulting the Town a whole day hoped to take it but those that were within defending it until such time as more men could come to their assistance the Danes were forced to leave the Town and march'd off After this they often went out by night to plunder and falling upon those that were unprovided took a great many men and much Cattle between Barnewoode and Eglesbyrig the former of which was Barnwood Forest near Bury-hill and the latter Alisbury both in Buckinghamshire About the same time the Danes of Huntandune i. e. Huntington and the East-Angles marched out and built a Castle at Temsford where they settled themselves for they had left that at Huntandune supposing that from thence they might recover a greater share of the Countrey and so they march'd till they came to Bedanford but the men who were within it going out to meet them killed great numbers of them putting the rest to flight After this a great Army of Danes being got together advanced to the Town of Wiggingamere and stormed it for most part of the day but those who were within defending it very well they were forced to leave the Town and retreat carrying away with them all the Cattel they found thereabouts After this also the same Summer there were great Forces assembled of King Edward's Subjects from the Towns round about Temesford whither they went and laying close Siege to the Town they at length took it and kill'd a Danish King and Taglosse an Earl and Mannan his Son together with his Brother and all those who defended the Town From which time according to Florence the Danish Power did by little and little decrease and that of the English increase But this Author places all these actions of this year under Anno 917. The same year a great many men assembled together in Autumn as well from Kent Surry and Essex as from the neighbouring Towns and marching to Colneceaster i.e. Colchester assaulted that City till they took it and all the Plunder they found in it and killed all the men except those that escaped over the Wall After which also the same Autumn a great Army of Danes were got together with the East-Angles both Land-Soldiers and Pyrates whom they had invited to their assistance hoping thereby to revenge the Defeat they had lately received wherefore they went directly to Maeldune and besieged that Town till such time that more men coming to its assistance the Danes were forced to quit it and retreat but the men who were within it together with those that came to their assistance overtaking the Danes killed many hundreds of the Land-men as well as Pyrates not long after which King Edward marched with an Army of South-Saxons to Passenham i. e. Pasham in Northamptonshire and there continued till the Town of Tofeceaster could be encompassed with a Stone-Wall where Earl Thurferth and the chief Commander of the Danish Forces that belonged to Hamtune with all towards the North as far as Weolade that is the River Weland accepted King Edward for their Lord and Protector but about the time that the King's Army was to return home he sent out fresh Forces to the Town of Huntandune who repaired and rebuilt it in those places that were destroyed according to the King's Command so that all the people of that Countrey that ramained alive surrendred themselves to King Edward and sought his Peace and Protection Likewise this very year before Martinmass the King marched with an Army of West-Saxons to Colneceaster and rebuilt the Wall and repaired all places which were ruinous Then many as well of the East-Angles as also of the East-Saxons who were before under the Danish Dominion and had been so for above thirty years now delivered themselves up to the King and also all the Danish Army in east-East-England swore Allegiance to him promising to do whatever he thought good and to defend his Subjects as well by Sea as by Land but the Army that belonged to Grantanbyrig i. e. Cambridge did by themselves chuse the King for their Lord and Patron confirming it by their Oaths as he had appointed him This year also Sytric the Danish King
little a time that he could not be solemnly Elected and Crowned King according to the Law and Custom of Succession in those times I have nothing more to add to this Reign of King Edward the Elder but only the Laws he made which since it is not specified in what year of his Reign nor in what Common-Council of the Kingdom they were enacted I thought best to refer to this place In the Preface to his Laws he strictly charges and commands his Officers that as much as in them lies they do Justice according as it stands in the Judicial Book supposed to be some Book of Presidents or Judgments and without all fear boldly dispense common Right to all men and that they set and appoint certain days for determination of the several Causes depending before them The first Law is concerning Traffick and in way of confirmation of the fourth Article of the League made betwixt his Father and the Danish King Guthrun ordains that if a man will sell any thing he shall have one to vouch and make good the sale and that no man buy any thing without the Town unless he have the Portreeve for witness or some other men worthy of Credit otherwise he shall undergo the Penalty of Contumacy against the King This Vouching or Warranty shall also proceed from one to another till it end with him who first sold it The rest of this Law containing in what cases the Buyer and likewise the Demandant shall find sufficient Testimomony or Oaths of the true buying of the Goods so bought being long I refer the Reader to the Law it self The second of King Edward's Laws ordains That whosoever denies another man his Right either in Bocland or Folcland demanding it before the King's Sheriff when as he hath no Right in either shall pay to the King for the first Offence Thirty Shillings and as much more for the second and if he offend the third time then to pay an Hundred and twenty shillings for his Contumacy against the King The third adjudges that for one who had forsworn himself or born false witness no credit should be given to him for the time to come but that he be put to Ordeal in all cases where his Oath is required The fourth declares That King Edward lying at Exeter and consulting with his Wise Men by what means he might best provide for the Publick Peace and Tranquility it then seemed to them that what he had commanded was too remissly executed therefore he now required all that will amend and reform these things and would with him enjoy common society that they would prosecute with their utmost hatred the same persons as he did both by Sea and Land and that they would take care not to do wrong or injury to any man He that doth contrary let him as was formerly ordained pay thirty shillings to the King and if he offend the second time as much more if the third an hundred and twenty shillings The fifth commands that that Reeve or Judge who doth not Justice according to the testimony of such as are summon'd pay an hundred and twenty shillings for his Contumacy against the King The sixth wills That if a Servant be accused of Theft he that recommended him to his Master or other of his Friends if he have any be Sureties for him that he discharge himself of what is deposed against him and if he have none to interpose on his behalf those that are concerned may seize his Goods but if he have neither Goods nor Friends let him be taken into custody The eighth Law enjoins that no man knowingly and voluntarily have peace with or harbour one that is condemned for any Crime he that acts contrary and thereby breaks his Oath and the Faith given by him and all the people let him undergo the Mulct prescribed in the Judiciary Book which if he refuse to pay he is to be deprived of the King's Favour and all other mens Friendship and farther forfeit all his Estate and if any afterwards relieve him let him also incur the Penalty expressed in the said Book and farther whosoever shall relieve a Fugitive either in this Countrey or in the Eastern or Northern parts of the Kingdom i. e. in East-England and Northumberland let him be punished as by the Articles of Peace is ordained The ninth provides that if one deprived of his liberty for stealing steal again so that all his Kindred forsake him and none will engage for him he is to be set to servile and hard labour as opportunity shall offer and his Kindred shall lose the valuation of his head The tenth Law forbids any man to receive another man's Servant without his leave and that he hath fully satisfied his Master he that doth otherwise shall be punished as contumacious against the King The eleventh and last commands That about every fourth Week every Sheriff or Judge hold the Gemot or Assembly and administer Justice to every man and determine all Causes at the days appointed if he do otherwise he is to be punished as was before said From all which Laws we may observe First That the Law concerning redeeming of all Crimes by Pecuniary Fines was not yet abolished nor in some Ages after but the strict Laws for vouching of Goods sold as also against Fugitives and Runaway Servants were but necessary in such licentious and turbulent times when it was so very easy for Offenders to pass out of the English Territories into those of the Danes You may also here observe the Antiquity and Power of the County-Court which was then held as now every Month but had much more Power anciently than at this day As for the Laws that follow and which are entituled in Mr. Lambard's Copy The Ecclesiastical Laws of Edward the Elder King of England and Gutherne King of the Danes in east-East-England which were first made by the Kings Alfred and Gutherne and were now said to be again confirmed by King Edward Son to Alfred and the same King Gutherne there must certainly be an Error in the Name of the Danish King here mentioned since it appears by our Annals that Gutherne died ten years before King Alfred therefore since we do not find any other Danish King of this Name we may rather suppose that these Laws were made by King Edward and Eoric the Danish King who succeeded Gutherne in that Kingdom but be it as it will I shall not trouble the Reader with their Recital since they relate chiefly to Ecclesiastical Affairs and are in most points but a Repetition of those things which had been before agreed upon by King Alfred and King Gutherne some years before King Edward dying after four and twenty years Reign was buried in the Monastery at Winchester which his Father had founded leaving by his Testament Athelstan his Eldest Son to succeed him who as Florence of Worcester and William of Malmesbury and most other Writers relate was not born of the Queen but of
one Egwinna a Lady the Daughter of a Nobleman whose Name though William of Malmesbury does not tell us because he says he had not found it in writing yet the Chronicle ascribed to Abbot Bromton tells us a long and improbable Story of the getting and Birth of this Prince which being no where else to be found as I know of I shall here give you That in the Reign of King Aelfred when his Son Edward was young there was in a Village of the West-Saxons the Daughter of a certain Shephard called Egwinna who falling asleep dreamed that the Moon shone out of her Womb so bright that all England was enlighten'd by its Splendor This Dream she told to a Grave Matron that had been Nurse to several of the King's Children Upon this she takes her into her house and educates her as carefully as if she had been her own Daughter instructing her so to demean her self as might become a Person both of Birth and Breeding In process of time it happen'd that Prince Edward the King 's Eldest Son passing upon some occasion through this Town thought himself obliged in Honour and Good Nature to visit his Nurse by which means he got sight of this Maid and she being exceeding beautiful fell passionately in love with her and by his violent Importunity he got her Consent to lye with him and by one Night's Lodging she proved with Child and being afterwards delivered of a Son in respect to the Mother's Dream the Father gave him the Name of Athelstan which signifies The most Noble If this Story be true that he married this Woman without the Consent of his Father and kept the Marriage private the Authors above-cited had good cause to suppose her to have been rather his Concubine than his Queen though there be also other Historians who make her to have been his Lawful Wife But thus much is more certain That King Edward had Prince Ethelward above-mentioned by his Wife Aelfleda the Daughter of Earl Aethelem as also another Son called Edwin of the manner of whose Death William of Malmesbury says he cannot certainly tell us but gives us an exact account of what became of all the rest of his Children He had also by her six Daughters viz. Edelfleda Edgiva Ethelhilda Ethilda Edgitha and Elgiva of whom the first and third vowed their Virginity to God and both of them lye buried by their Mother in the Monastery of Winchester as for Edgiva her Father bestowed her upon Charles King of France and for Ethilda her Brother King Athelstan bestowed her in Marriage upon Hugo a King or Prince of the French and Edgitha and Elgiva their Brother sent to Henry the German Emperor the Second of which he married to Otho his Son and the Elder to a certain Duke near the Alpes King Edward also begot of his Third Wife Edgiva Edmund and Edred who both reigned successively after their Brother King Athelstan as also two other Daughters Eadburga and Edgiva the former became a Nun but the latter being a great Beauty was bestowed in Marriage by her Brother Athelstan on Lewis Prince or Duke of Aquitain But King Edward had so well bred all his said Daughters from their Infancy that they were wont all of them to bestow their leisure time upon good Letters and after that were wont to exercise both their Distaff and the Needle and in this manner they passed the first years of their Virginity Likewise his Sons were so inured to Learning that not being rude and ignorant in Knowledge they became like Plato's Philosophers fit to Govern the Common-wealth as our Author handsomly expresses it This King seems by his History to have been a Prince of great Mildness and Humility as well as Courage which appears by this Story but tho it be not found in any of our Historians is yet related by Walter Mape in his Nugis Curialium in Manuscript as follows That when K. Edward the Elder came to Austelin I suppose that which we now call Aust where is a Ferry to pass out of Somersetshire into Wales Lewelyn Prince of North-Wales came to Bethesley about a Treaty of Peace he refused first to cross the Severne but when King Edward heard it he took Boat and rowed towards him but the Prince being then by the Water-side when he saw him and knew who he was he cast off the Rich Robe he then had on which he had provided for that meeting and entring the River breast-high taking hold of the end of the Boat submissively said Most Sage King thy Humility hath overcome my Insolence and thy Wisdom triumph'd over my Folly Come pray Sir get upon this Neck which I like a Fool as I am have lifted up against thee and thus enter that Land which thy benign Clemency hath made this day thine own So taking the King upon his Shoulders and setting him on shore he made him to sit down upon his own Royal Robe and putting his own hands between the King 's there did him Homage But this Circumstance only serves to bring all the rest of this Story into question for it is certain this Ceremony of doing Homage was not in use till after the coming in of the Normans Besides the Welsh Chronicles mention no such thing nor can I find any Prince either of North or South Wales called Lewelyn at that time till Anno 1015 in the Reign of King Cnute above a hundred year after the death of King Edward the Elder but perhaps the Story may be true being told by Tradition though the Name of the Prince may be mistaken and Lewelyn put instead of Howel who was now King of South-Wales and in whose Territories this Action must have happen'd But whether this Relation be true or false we may from it draw this Observation That it is not always Wisdom in Princes to insist too nicely upon Circumstances especially in Ceremony but that sometimes to recede from them may tend to the greater Advantage of that Prince that doth it King ATHELSTAN THE same year not long after King Edward's decease the Saxon Annals tell us That Aethelstan was elected King by the Mercians and afterwards Crowned at Kingstune upon Thames being then a Royal Town Note He was crowned in the midst of the Town upon a Scaffold built on purpose whereon the Ceremony of the Coronation was performed in the open view of all men by Athelm Archbishop of Canterbury with great Acclamations of the People Also St. Dunstan was born and Wulfhelme was consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury upon the Death of Athelm From whence you may observe the Mercians had not yet lost their Ancient Right of chusing their own King and no doubt but the West-Saxons did so likewise though it be not particularly express'd in the Annals For an Ancient Manuscript Chronicle in the * Cottonian Library says only Electus est in Regem And you may also hence observe That the King's Consecration or Coronation is placed as a different
action from his Election as it is also in the Author last cited and in H. Huntington who therein follow our Annals and say expresly That he was Elected But it seems before his Election one Alfred with some factious men of his Party endeavour'd to hinder King Athelstan's coming to the Crown because he was begot on a Concubine which says William of Malmesbury if it were true as he seems there to doubt yet had he nothing else ignoble in him for he surpassed all his Predecessors as well in his Devotion as his Victories So much better is it as he well observes to excel in good Qualities than in his Ancestors the former only being truly a man 's own Hither we may also refer what the same Author tells us concerning this Alfred above-mentioned out of the Preface to King Athelstan's Charter whereby he confers the Lands once belonging to this Alfred upon the Church of Malmesbury for the Souls of his Cousins Ethelred Edwin and Ethelwin there buried And to testify to the world that he gave what was his own he there at large relates the whole Conspiracy which Alfred had laid together with his Complices to seize him in the City of Winchester and to put out his Eyes but the Plot being happily discovered and Alfred denying it he was sent to Rome there to purge himself before Pope John where coming to take his Oath at the Altar of St. Peter he fell down and being carried by his Servants into the English School there died the third night after but it seems the Pope would not dispose of his Body till he had sent to ask King Athelstan's Judgment what should be done with it when by the Advice and at the Request of the Chief Men the King assented that it should though unworthy of that Honour be laid among the Bodies of other Christians but his whole Estate was adjudged confiscated for so black a Treason But one of the first things this King performed after his coming to the Crown as we find in Florence of Worcester was his bestowing his Sister Edgitha in Marriage to Sihtric the Danish King of Northumberland who desired the Alliance of King Athelstan And as Matthew Westminster relates this Prince professing himself a Christian was a little before his Marriage baptized but did not long continue so for he relapsed again to his former Paganism And the next year According to Florence and Simeon of Durham he deceased after whose death the Lady above-mentioned retiring to her Brother King Athelstan became a Nun at Pollesworth Nor can I here omit the Falshood of the Scotish Historians who out of spight to King Athelstan's Memory make Sihtric to have been poyson'd by this Lady whom they call Beatrix and that at the Instigation of her Brother King Athelstan whereas her Name was not Beatrix but Edgitha or Orgiva and was a Woman of as great Reputation for her Sanctity as the King her Brother was for his Valour and other Noble Virtues which render'd him above the putting his Sister upon so base an Action But before I dismiss this Relation I cannot omit what John of Wallingford adds concerning this King Sihtric whom he calls Sictric viz. That upon this Marriage with King Athelstan's Sister he advanced him to the Title of King that his Sister might not stoop so low as to that of Countess and that Sictric then had for his Kingdom all the Countrey from the River Theys as far as Edinburgh from which time the Danes began to settle in those parts who before rambled about over all England to which Settlement as also to a fresh accession of more the Northerly Situation of that Countrey lying over-against Denmark contributed very much as this Author well observes This year according to Florence of Worcester and Simeon of Durham Sihtric King of the Northumbers departed this life so that it seems that this King survived his Marriage but a small time Also the same year according to Florence Hugh the Son of Robert King of the French married King Athelstan's Sister and after the death of King Sihtric Guthfrith his Son succeeded him though but for a little while for the year following our Annals tell us That King Aethelstan expelled the said Guthfryth King of Northumberland and added his Dominions to his own And the same year Wulfhelm the Archbishop went to Rome From which Conquest of the Kingdom of Northumberland we may observe That as King Edward had before conquered the Danes of east-East-England and had also added Mercia to his own Kingdom so King Athelstan by the Expulsion of King Guthfrith who was also of the Danish Race became the first King that ruled all England without any King under him Of this Prince also John of Wallingford relates That being a Young Man he was stirred up to this Rebellion by the suggestion of the Northumbers who told him that their Countrey had always enjoyed a King of their own without being Tributary to the Southern English And indeed from the first arrival of the English Saxons they had been never subject to any of the West-Saxon Kings except King Athelstan Therefore this Guithfrith or Gutred moved by these instigations took upon him the Name of King without King Athelstan's consent and casting out the Garisons seized all the Forts and Castles of that Country and flatly denied to pay the Tribute imposed upon his Father with which K. Athelstan being much provoked he not only raised great Forces of his own Subjects but also sent for Aid to his Friends in Neighbouring Kingdoms and so in few days gathering together a great Army totally expell'd him his Kingdom And therefore Alfred of Beverly an Ancient Author still in Manuscript very well observes of this Prince That by subduing the Scots Welsh and all the Kings of Britain he justly deserved the Title of the first Monarch though his Modesty was so great that he never gave himself that Title but left it to his Brother Edred to take as shall be shewn in his Reign This year William Son to Rollo succeeded to the Dukedom of Normandy and held it fifteen years Byrnstan was consecrated Bishop of Winchester and held that Bishoprick two years and an half The year following ' Frithelstan the Bishop deceased Florence of Worcester and Simeon of Durham as also the Chronicle of Mailrosse do all agree that this Bishop Frithelstan did before his death ordain Bishop Byrnstan in his room and if so he resigned the Bishoprick of Winchester to him and lived only one year after it Also the same year according to our Annals Edwin Aetheling was drowned This Edwin here mentioned in our Annals was Brother to King Athelstan whose Death being the greatest Blot of this King's Reign divers Authors have concealed it but notwithstanding it is thus given us by William of Malmesbury and the Chronicle called Abbot Bromton's Alfred above-mentioned having conspired against King Athelstan as you have already heard had several
never sought to hoard up Money for himself but bestowed whatever he got either upon those Servants he found faithful to him or else upon Monasteries No wonder then if he won the hearts of all the Monks who were the only Historians of those times Now also as Florence relates Wulfhelm Archbishop of Canterbury deceasing Odo Bishop of Wells succeeded him This Man was of a Danish Race whose Parents had come over hither in King Alfred's Reign but their Son had been first a Soldier under him and then turning Priest was at last by King Athelstan's Recommendation made a Bishop but having never been a Monk and none but Monks having been hitherto made Archbishops of Canterbury he for a long time refused it till at last he was persuaded to go over into France and there taking upon him the Habit of a Monk and returning home was immediately consecrated Archbishop This Man was a Prelate of great Sanctity according to those times and a severe Exactor of Ecclesiastical Discipline as you will find hereafter This year also according to the Annals Bishop Byrnstan above-mentioned deceased at Winchester And the following year ' Bishop Elfeage succeeded him in that Bishoprick About this time according to William of Malmesbury King Athelstan drove the Welsh out of Exeter and built new Walls about it and then founded a Monastery of Benedictines which was afterwards changed upon the removal of the Bishop's See from Credition to this City into a Dean and Secular Chanons as shall be shewn in due time But after two years The War was again renewed between King Athelstan and Constantine King of Scots and a great Battle followed of which our Annals give us contrary to their custom a Poetical if not a Romantick Relation which to translate verbatim would be ridiculous but the Substance of it is thus That this year King Athelstan and his Brother Eadmund Aetheling overcame the Scots in Battel about Brunanburh now Bromrige in the County of Northumberland as Cambden supposes breaking through their Works and killing many of their Noblemen so that both Armies fighting from Sun-rising to Sun-set there perished a great multitude of Scots Irish and Danes For it seems by Florence of Worcester that another Anlaf Son to the King of Dublin being excited by his Father-in Law King Constantine had sail'd up the River Humber with a great Fleet and landing King Athelstan and his Brother Edmund met them with a powerful Army at the place above-mentioned and if so it could not be in Northumberland as Mr. Cambden supposes but rather in Yorkshire or Lincolnshire But to proceed with our Annals the Success of this Fight was That the English-Saxons towards the latter end of the day utterly routed and put to flight the Enemies Forces and pursued them as long as day-light lasted so that in that place there fell no less than five Kings besides seven other Commanders on Anlaf's side not reckoning those of the Naval Forces and the Scots Fleet who were kill'd without number so that Anlaf was forced to save his Life by going on board his Ships with a small Company as also one Froda by flight returned into his own Countrey This Froda was it seems some Norman or Danish Commander who came to assist Anlaf Neither could King Constantine brag much of the success of this Fight among his Relations for they most of them fell that day in Battel the King leaving his Son dead upon the Spot behind him having received many Wounds Nor could King Anlaf himself boast of much better good fortune for they had all reason enough to repent their having tried the Valour of these English Princes And not only the Scotch but Irish King with great difficulty got home to Difiline now Dublin in Ireland But King Athelstan and the Prince his Brother return'd home with Honour and Glory into their own Countrey leaving their Enemies Carcasses to be devoured by the Fowls of the Air and Beasts of the Field insomuch that there never was a greater Slaughter in this Island mentioned by Historians since the time that the English-Saxons conquered this part of Britain So far you have from the Peterburgh Copy of these Annals but that in the Cottonian Library says no more than that This year King Athelstan and King Eadmund his Brother led their Army to Brunanburgh and there fighting with Anlaf by the help of Christ obtained the Victory But having given you a short Relation of this Battel from the Saxon Annals who only relate the Success of this Fight without giving us any Causes or other Circumstances of it I shall both from Ingulph as also from William of Malmesbury give you a more perfect Account of it which is thus Constantine King of the Scots being exasperated by the late Invasion made in his Kingdom joined with Anlaf the Son of Sihtric whom Florence more probably supposes to have been not this Sihtric but some other of his name who was King of Ireland and the Isles adjacent and had married the Daughter of King Constantine who also drew in Eugenius Prince of Cumberland with great Forces which he had raised out of several Countries to their Assistance and after near four years preparation they invaded England by the River Humber and passed through the Countrey to a place called Brunanburgh or Bruneford Athelstan all this time feigning a Retreat on purpose that he might obtain some better advantage against them as some write or as others that they â—eing fearful to grapple with him Anlaf perceiving with whom he had to do puts off his Royal Habit and becomes a Spy upon him in the Disguise of a Musician attending with an Harp in his Hand at Athelstan's Tent by which means he was easily admitted into the King's Presence diverting them by his Musick till such time as they having eaten and drank sufficiently they began to debate seriously about the Work they had in hand and he all the while made what Observation he could at last when he had received his Reward and was commanded out of the Tent he scorning to carry the Money away with him hid it in the Earth which a certain Soldier who had formerly served him taking notice of thereby came to know him and after he was gone acquainted the King who he was but being blamed for not giving him more timely notice the Soldier excused it as having formerly taken a Military Oath in Anlaf's Service affirming that had he betrayed Anlaf he himself to whom now he was in the same Relation might have expected no better Fidelity but however he advised King Athelstan to remove his Tent into another place This Advice was looked upon as good and wholsome and indeed how seasonable it proved very shortly appeared for a certain Bishop coming to the Camp that night pitched his Tent in the same place when Anlaf with a design to destroy the King assaulted that part of the Camp being ignorant of what had passed
men accused of any Crime till they have first made satisfaction By this it appears how ancient in this Nation the Custom is of calling a Servant by the word used for the whole Species of Mankind a Phrase in use as well with the Romans and others more ancient as with modern people The twenty fourth is concerning Traffick and in confirmation of former Laws ordains That if a man buy any thing with witness which another man challenges for his own the Seller shall make it good and secure the bargain whether he be Bond or Free But on the Lord's day no Market shall be held under penalty or forfeiture of the Wares and a Mulct of 30 shillings besides The next thing that follows at the end of these Laws relating to the Civil State is the Valuation of mens Heads which we have often heard mentioned by these Laws but never yet to what it particularly amounted First then saith the Text The valuation of the King's Head according to the English Common Laws is thirty thousand Thrymses whereof fifteen thousand are properly the value of his Head the rest being due to the Kingdom so that the latter fifteen belonged to the Nation the former to his Kindred An Archbishop's and Earl's Weregild as the Saxons called the valuation of his Head is fifteen thousand Thrymses A Bishop's and Ealdorman's eight thousand A General 's of an Army or an High Marshal's four thousand Thrymses The valuation of a Spiritual Thane or Priest as also of a Temporal Thane was two thousand Thrymses That of a Countreyman or Câ—orl by the Danish Law was 267 Thrymses But if a Welshman grow so rich as to maintain a Family have Land and pay a yearly Rent to the King he shall be valued at 120 shillings if he possess half a Hide of Land at 80 shillings If he have no Land yet if he be a Freeman the value of his Head shall be seventy shillings If a Ceorl or Countreyman be so wealthy as to possess five Hides of Land in case he be killed the price or value of his Life shall be two thousand Thrymses but if he come to have a Corslet an Helmet and a Gilt Sword tho he have no Land he shall be accounted a Sithcundmon and if his Children or Grandchildren shall grow so rich as to possess five Hides of Land all their Posterity shall be reckoned as so many Sithcundmen and be valued at two thousand Thrymses The Mercians value a Countreyman at two hundred shillings a Thane at twelve hundred They are wont to equal the single value of the King's Head with six thousand Thanes that is thirty thousand Sceats for so much is the value of the King's Head and as much more must be paid as a recompence for his death the value of his Head belongs to his Kindred and the compensation of his Death to the people He that is valued at 1200 shillings his Oath shall be of the same esteem as those of six Countreymen for where such an one is slain six Countreymen would satisfy over and above for the value therefore the value of him and all them shall be the same By the English Law the Oaths of a Priest and a Thane are of the like esteem By these valuations of Heads from the highest to the lowest Rank we may perceive that in those Ancient Times Punishments consisted rather in Mulcts than in Blood contrary to our present Custom whereby small Offences in comparison especially if reiterated are become Capital which whence it hath proceeded whether from this consideration that Crimes in latter Ages do more abound or from other reasons is not evident As for the Sithcundmon mentioned in this Law Mr. Somner derives this word from Syth or Gethysa an Equal or Companion and cund kind and Mon man so that he seems to have been one equal to a Thane King EDMUND NOT long after King Athelstan's Decease Prince Edmund his Brother succeeded him at the Age of Eighteen Years and reigned Six Years and an half This year according to the Annals King Edmund Lord of the English and the Protector of his Subjects invaded Mercia on that side where the River Humber and the Way of the White Fountain divide the Countrey he there took in five Cities viz. Ligoracester now Leicester Lindcolne now Lincoln and Snotingaham Stanford and Deorby which were all before under the power of the Danes being forced to submit to them having been long under their Tyrannical Yoke This seems very strange for most of those places are mentioned to have been before recovered from the Danes by King Edward his Father and how they could be conquered again in the time of so great a Warrier as King Athelstan was I could not understand were it not explained by other Authors The same year King Aeadmund received King Anlaf to Baptism and some time after he likewise received King Reginald at his Confirmation This year also King Anlaf deceased and Richard the Elder took upon him the Dukedom of Normandy and governed it 52 years But R. Hoveden and Mat. Westminster from what Authority I know not relate That this Anlaf the Dane above-mentioned and Norwegian by Extract who had been in the time of King Athelstan expell'd the Kingdom of Northumberland about this time landed in Yorkshire with a great Fleet resolving to subdue the whole Kingdom of England and marching Southward besieged Northampton but not succeeding there he marched back to Tamworth where having wasted the Countrey round about came at last to Legacester now Westchester which when King Edmund heard of he march'd with a powerful Army and met him at that City and having fought with him most part of the day the two Archbishop of Canterbury and York seeing the great Danger and Hazard the Kingdom was then in made an Agreement betwixt the two Kings That Anlaf should possess that part of England lying North of Watlingstreet and King Edmund that part which lay South of it and that the Survivor of them should quietly enjoy the whole Kingdom and thereupon Anlaf married Alditha the Daughter of Earl Orme by whose Counsel and Assistance he obtained the late Victory But William of Malmesbury tells this Story somewhat different viz. That about this time the Northumbers rebelling recalled this Anlaf out of Ireland whom they made their King but whom nevertheless King Edmund conquered and at last expell'd the Kingdom and so once again added Northumberland to his own Dominions which shews the great uncertainty of the History of these times But R. Hoveden and Mat. Westminster do further add That when this Anlaf had not long after his Marriage spoiled and burned the Church of St. Balther and had burnt Tiningaham by the just Judgment of God he miserably ended his Life but without telling us by what means And they both further relate That Anlaf the Son of Sihtric after this reigned again over the Northumbers and was this year expelled that Kingdom by King
Edmund But it seems R. Hoveden and Mat. Westminster make this latter Anlaf a quite different person from the former who is supposed to have reigned in Ireland whereas this was the Son of Sihtric late King of Northumberland and whom we shall meet with again more than once in the following History But John of Walingford's Chronicle makes this King whom he calls Olaf a Norwegian whom the Northumbers had called in and bestowed upon him the Title of King and under him rebelled against K. Edmund As for this Reginald her mentioned in our Annals I suppose he is the same whom H. Huntington calls King of York because he had conquered the Countrey But tho the History of these Transactions are very short and obscure yet that which has been already related from these Authors will serve to explain what would have been otherwise in the dark viz. how the Cities and Towns above-mentioned now came to be recovered from the Danes as having been taken by their King Anlaf aforesaid This year Queen Aelgiva was brought to Bed of Prince Edgar afterwards King as Florence relates Yet she lived not long after but died the year following according to Ethelward's Chronicle King Edmund reduced all the Countrey of Northumberland under his own Dominion expelling thence the two Kings Anlaf the Son of Sihtric and Reginald the Son of Guthferth But Ethelwerd relates this action to have been done by this King's Lieutenants viz. Bishop Wulstan and the Ealdorman of Mercia whose Name he does not give us only that these two expelled certain Deserters viz. Reginald and Anlaf out of the City of York and reduced it wholly under this King's Power John of Wallingford also makes this Anlaf to be the King's Nephew and different from Anlaf the Norwegian King Eadmund subdued the whole Countrey of Cumberland and gave it to Malcolme King of Scots upon condition that he should assist him in his Wars both by Sea and Land For the Reader is to observe that hitherto the Britains though much disturbed by their Neighbours the Picts Scots and English had ever since the coming in of the Saxons still there continued a distinct Principality and after several of them had been wearied out they retired into North Wales and there erected the Colony of Straetcluyd as we formerly said though the History and Succession of these Kings are wholly lost unless it be such scattered Remains as we have given you in the former Book But Mat. Westminster though under the next year adds that which is very unlikely to be true that King Edmund conquered this Countrey by the Assistance of Lewellyn Prince of Wales and put out the Eyes of the two Sons of Dunmaile King of that Province though what he adds further appears somewhat more probable That he granted it to the King of Scots upon this condition viz. To defend the North-parts of England from the Invasion of Enemies both by Sea and Land To which Bromton's Chronicle adds likewise That he was also to attend the King of England at several Great Feasts in the year when he held his Common Council and that the King of Scots had for that end several Houses assigned him to lye at by the way Also this year Mat. Westminster relates that King Edmund gave one of his Royal Towns then called Beadricesworth with divers other Lands to build a Church and Monastery in Memory of St. Edmund the Martyr whose Body was there enshrin'd This year likewise as Florence relates King Edmund sent Ambassadors to Prince Hugh of France for the Restitution of King Lewis whereupon the said Prince held a Solemn Council with all the Chief Men of the Kingdom concerning it But not long after King Edmund deceased at the Feast of St. Augustin having held the Kingdom Six Years and an half But the Laudean or Peterburgh Copy of these Annals as also Ethelwerd's Chronicle place the Death of this King Anno Dom. 948 which without doubt is the truest Account So that he died in the very Flower of his Age being not yet Five and twenty years old But we shall give you the manner of his Death from William of Malmesbury as well as from other Authors since he met with such an End the like to which I have not read of any other Prince taking all the Circumstances together And thus we find it He having made a Great Entertainment at a place called Pucklekirk upon the Holiday of St. Augustin Archbishop of Canterbury for all his Nobility and Chief Men and there spying towards the end of Dinner a certain Notorious Thief called Leof sitting at the Table whom he had before banished commanded Leon his Sewer to lay hold on him But the Thief not only resisted him but was also like to have killed the Sewer Whereupon the King leaping from the Table and going to rescue him out of the Villain 's hands and having now laid hold on him and thrown him on the ground he twisted his hands in his hair upon which the Thief pulling out a Dagger stabbed the King who lay upon him into the Breast so that he immediately expired but the King's Servants presently coming in soon cut the Villain to pieces though some of them were first wounded by him The King's Body was thereupon carried to Glastenbury and there buried and the Town wherein he was killed was bestowed on the same Monastery to sing Masses for his Soul To this Place the Prince as well as his Brother was a great Benefactor as appears by his recited Charter in William of Malmesbury whereby he confers divers large Privileges upon that Abby of which St. Dunstan was then the Abbot And it is also to be observed that He there stiles himself in the beginning of his Charter Edmund King of the English and Governor and Ruler of the other Nations round about and says That with the Advice and by the Consent of his Chief Men and for the Remission of his Sins He made that Grant to the Church of St. Mary at Glastenbury This Charter bore date Anno 944. in Letters of Gold and was written at the end of a Book of Gospels which he had given to the same Church most curiously bound So that it is no wonder if he had the good words of the Monks though he might also very well deserve them yet this last Action speaks him to have been extremely transported with Passion thus to debase the Majesty of a King in going about to seize a common Malefactor with his own hands and indeed he paid too dear for thus acting below his Character This King made divers good Laws which since the Title does not recite in what year they were made I have referred to this place some of which I shall here give you translated from the Latin Copies in Abbot Bromton's Chronicle as well as from Mr. Lambard's Collection In the Preface of which we are told That at the solemn Feast of Easter the King had held a Great
Huntington agrees tho he places it a year sooner relating That then the Northumbers being weary of the Government of this Eric did as easily cast him off as they had before lightly received him and calling in Edred they again placed him on the Throne though this does not accord with William of Malmesbury his Account that King Edred expell'd Eric by force and wasted all that Kingdom with fire and sword After which the Northumbrians being wholly subdued were no more governed by Kings but Earls a Catalogue of which Roger Hoveden hath there given us as far as the Conquest King Edred having been as Malmesbury informs us long tormented with frequent Convulsions in several parts of his Body being admonished by Archbishop Dunstan of his approaching death did not only bear that affliction with Patience but spending his time in acts of Devotion made his Palace a School of all Vertues and being at length consumed by a tedious long sickness he according to the Annals departed this life at the Feast of St. Clement in the very flower of his Age to the great grief of all his Subjects after having Reigned Nine Years and an half But the Manuscript life of St. Dunstan already cited is much more particular as to the Disease he died of viz. that not being able to swallow his Meat he could only eat Broth so that being wasted away he died This Relation of King Edred's not being able to swallow his Meat gave occasion to John of Wallingford absurdly to tell us in his Chronicle not long since Printed that King Edred having his Teeth fallen out by reason of Old Age could not Chew his Meat and the Broths they made for him were not sufficient to keep him alive and so he died of Hunger But this is altogether as true as the story that follows not only in this Author but in most other Monkish Writers of the History of those times from the Relation of the above-cited Author of St. Dunstan's Life that St. Dunstan hearing how dangerously Ill the King was and making haste to Visit him before he died as he rode on the way thither there came a Voice from Heaven which cried aloud to him King Edred is now dead at which all present being astonished the poor Horse upon which St. Dunstan was then Mounted immediately fell down dead But William of Malmesbury though he mentions this story of the Voice yet is so wise as to pass by the death of the Horse being sensible it was a Pill too large to be easily swallowed As for the Character of this King the Monkish Writers of those times give him that of a most Vertuous and Pious Prince and as to his Valour William of Malmesbury saith he was not inferior in Magnanimity to either of his Brothers he was also the first King of England who as I can find stiled himself Rex Magnae Britanniae King of Great Britain in a Charter to the Abbey of Croyland recited by Ingulphus as also in another Charter to the Abbey of Reculver in Monast. Anglic. he stiles himself Totius Albionis Monarchus i. e. Monarch of all England In which Stile he was also followed by his Nephew King Edgar from whence we may observe That King James was not the first who took upon him the Title of King of Great Britain though as being also King of Scotland he did much better deserve it than the former But as for King Edred he could not fail of the good will of the Monks since the same Manuscript Author of St. Dunstan's Life relates That he put such great confidence in that Holy Abbot that he committed the chief Muniments and Treasures of his Kingdom to his Care to be kept at his Abby of Glastenbury and that as the King lay on his Death-bed St. Dunstan was then carrying them back to him to be disposed of as he should think fit but he just before received the News of his death as you have already heard Nor did this King die without Issue as many believe for Mr. Speed proves the contrary from certain ancient Charters Cited by him at the end of this King's Life wherein you will find that his Two Sons Elfrid and Bertfrid were Witnesses to them tho they did not Succeed their Father but Edwi Son to his Elder Brother Edmund King EDWI IMmediately after King Edmund's decease our Annals tell us Edwig Son to the late King Edmund and Elgiva began his Reign and he banisht St. Dunstan out of England This King as all our Historians agree was crowned at Kingston by Odo Archbishop of Canterbury but William of Malmesbury gives us the cause of this Disgrace of St. Dunstan to this effect That this King being a Youth of great Beauty and amorous above his years was mightily in love with a young Lady his near Kinswoman whom he fain would have married but the Bishops and Nobles of his Kingdom were utterly averse to it not only because of the nearness of their Relation but because she had none of the best Reputation as to her Chastity But though William of Malmesbury gives us all the rest of this Story yet I shall rather chuse to take it from the Manusâ—ript Life of St. Dunstan who lived about the same time and out of which that Author borrowed it and it is thus That on the very day that by the common Election of all the chief Men of England Edwig was anointed King after the Coronation-Dinner was over he and the chief Bishops and Nobility being retired into a private Room there treating of the Great Affairs of the Kingdom the King perhaps at that Critical Juncture being weary of their company stole into the Apartment of this Beautiful Lady to enjoy some pleasurable moments with her which the Nobility hearing of they highly resented it but none would adventure to bring him back only Abbot Dunstan and a Bishop whose Name was Cynesius the King's Cousin went boldly into the Chamber where they found him with his Crown off his head lying between the Mother of this Lady and her Daughter upon which they not only reproved him but putting on his Crown again and taking him by the hand they pulled him away from them and carried him back by force into the Room where his Nobles were but Athelgiva for it seems so was this Lady sometimes called being highly provoked at this Affront did not fail to exasperate the King against Dunstan so that in revenge he banished him the Kingdom who thereupon as R. Hoveden relates retired to a Monastery in Flanders Nor did the King's Resentments stop here but out of hatred to Dunstan he not only turned the Monks out of Glastenbury but out of divers of the greatest Monasteries in England where also as William of Malmesbury words it his own Abbey was turned into a Stable for Clerks that is Secular Chanons were put in their places not only there but in all other Abbeys where the Monks were expelled
But tho the King's violence to Abbot Dunstan and the Monks is by no means to be justified yet this rudeness to the King and pressing upon his privacy and carrying him by force out of the Room from his Mistress or Wife for some Historians tell us that he had been privately married to her can as little be excused So that no wonder if a young King and an enraged Woman did all they could to revenge so great an Affront Yet it seems by the same Author of St. Dunstan's Life that Archbishop Odo was severely revenged on this Lady for he not only sent Armed men to take her out of the Court by force but also branded her with a hot Iron on the Cheeks to take off the King's Affections from her and then caused her to be sent into Ireland but whether this was done by the Great Council of the Kingdom or by his own Authority I do not find But it seems upon her return thence again being on her way to the King the said Archbishop's Officers met her and cut her Hamstrings so that not being able to stir she is supposed to have died not long after of this cruel Treatment But however this did not happen immediately but some time after for this Year all the People North of Humber together with the Mercians as far as the River Thames rose against King Edwi with an intention to expel him the Kingdom for his violence done to the Monks so that as Osborne in the Life of Dunstan relates he was forced to fly with his Adulteress to the City of Glocester But Florence of Worcester and Simeon of Durham are more particular in this Relation saying that the Mercians and Northumbrians hating and despising King Edwi for his Evil Government deserted him and having deposed him they elected his Brother Prince Edgar King over them which it seems was also confirmed by the Common Council of the Kingdom for the above-cited Author of the Life of St. Dunstan saith it was done by the Common Consent of all the Wise men of the Kingdom So that Edwi having no more left him than the Kingdom of the West Saxons for his share the River Thames was made the Boundary between their two Kingdoms Henry de Knighton out of some Ancient Chronicles then preserved in the Abbey of Legcester here farther relates That after the Expulsion of King Edwi for his Evil Life and the Enormous Deeds which he committed against the Church the Throne was vacant for above a year and many Murthers and Robberies and other Mischiefs were committed in the Kingdom for want of Government till some Good men of the Clergy and Laity seeking God by frequent Prayers heard at last a Voice from Heaven commanding them to Crown Prince Edgar being yet a Youth their King which they immediately obeyed But this sounds like a Monkish Legend only to enhance the Excellency of King Edgar's Reign which with them must owe its Original to no less an Author than Heaven it self but no other Historians mention any such thing but agree that King Edwi was never deprived of more than the Kingdoms of Mercia and Northumberland and there was no Vacancy of the Throne that Division being made presently upon the aforesaid Defection of the People of these Kingdoms and immediately confirmed by an Act of the Witena Gemote as hath been already related But however it happened King Edwi was forced to rest contented with this unequal division since not having the good-will of his Subjects it was well he could keep what he had From whence we may observe how dangerous a thing it was for Princes to provoke the Ruling Part of the Priests and People of those times who could so easily turn the hearts of their Subjects against them Our Annals though they are very short in this Relation yet confirm the deposing of King Edwi viz. That this Year Edgar Atheling took upon him the Kingdom of the Mercians and also adds That not long before Wulstan Archbishop of York deceased Although the printed Copy of the Saxon Annals place the Death of King Edwi under the year 957 yet it appears by the Manuscript Laudean Copy of these Annals as also by Florence of Worcester that he died not till this very year for we cannot otherwise make up the space of near four years which all our Historians allow to this King's Reign Of whom they give us this Character That though he was extraordinary Handsome yet he abused that Comeliness of his Person by his excessive Lust and yet we do not hear of above one Mistress he kept and that too whom he was either married to or else lived withal like a Wife But it is no wonder if he have a very bad Character of them when the Monks his Enemies are the only persons that have given it to us But H. Huntington who was a Secular Priest and no Monk is more moderate by telling us that this King did not uncommendably hold the Scepter But when in the beginning of his Reign his Kingdom began to flourish an Untimely Death put a stop to those happy Expectations from him His Body was buried at Winchester with his Uncle's And with this King's Reign I shall also put a Period to this Book lest it should swell beyond a due proportion The End of the Fifth Book THE General History OF BRITAIN NOW CALLED ENGLAND As well Ecclesiastical as Civil BOOK VI. Containing the General History of England from the Reign of King EDGAR to the Death of King HAROLD being One hundred and seventeen Years King EDGAR I Have begun this Period with this Prince's Reign for though it does not exactly divide the Space of Time between King Egbert and the coming in of King William sirnamed the Conqueror into two equal parts yet will it much better suit with the Proportion of the Books into which we have divided this Period Besides King Edgar by again reuniting the Kingdom and enjoying by his Valour as well as his good Fortune a happy and peaceable Reign though he was not the first Prince who took upon him the Title of Monarch of all Albion or England as hath been already shewn yet since all the Kings of this Island did willingly submit themselves to his Dominion he seems to have best deserved that Title of any I can find King Edwy being now dead as our Annals have related King Edgar his Brother began to reign not only over the Mercians and Northumbers but also over all the West-Saxon Kingdom that is as the Manuscript Author of St. Dunstan's Life relates he succeeded in his Brother's Kingdom as Heir and was elected by the Clergy as well as Laity over both Kingdoms Which is also confirmed by Florence of Worcester and R. Hoveden who expresly tells us he was elected King by the whole English Nation in the Sixteenth Year of his Age So that as the Annals observe In his days all things succeeded prosperously God giving him Peace as long as he lived
these Princes that here met him from William of Malmesbury Florence of Worcester and other Authors who increase their Number to Eight Thousand which being so glorious for our Nation I shall here set down at large This King was the first who was truly Lord of our Seas for every Summer saith William of Malmesbury immediately after Easter commanding his Ships from every Shore to be brought into one collected Body he sailed usually with the Eastern Fleet to the Western part of the Island and then sending it back sailed with the Western Fleet unto the Northern and thence with the Northern he returned to the Eastern Coasts sailing in this manner quite round the Island being exceeding diligent to prevent the Incursions of Pyrates and couragious in the defence of his Kingdom against Foreigners and diligent in the training up of himself and his People for Military Employments Each of these Fleets as we are told consisted of One thousand and two hundred Ships and these also very stout ones for those times So that the number of all must have amounted to Three thousand and six hundred Sail as some of our Author expresly relate but others Four thousand Vessels and there are some also that add to these Three a Fourth Fleet by which means the Number will be increased to Four thousand and eight hundred Sail as may be seen in Mathew Westminster To sustain which Charge besides the private Contributions of his Subjects he had also in the latter end of his Reign Six Petty Kings under him who were bound by Oath to be ready at his Command to serve him both by Sea and Land which Oath they took at Chester as the Annals relate where he had given them order to meet him as he sailed about the North of Britain with a great Navy Their Names are Kened or Kineth King of the Scots Malcolm King of Cumberland who at this time it seems were so called though as we said the Cumbrians had now thrown off that Title and taken that of Earls Maccuse Lord of the Isles with five Princes of Wales the Names of whom were Dusnal Griffyth Huuald Jacob and Judethil who all meeting him at his Court at Chester to set forth the Splendor and Greatness of his Dominion one day he went into a Galley and caused himself to be rowed by these Petty Princes he himself holding the Stern and steering the Vessel along the River Dee was waited on by all his Nobles in another Barge so he sailed to the Monastery of St. John Baptist where an Oration being made to him in the same State and Pomp he retutned to his Palace Where when he arrived he is said to have told his Nobles about him That then his Successors might boast themselves to be truly Kings of England when they should be like him attended by so many Princes his Vassals as Florence of Worcester and William of Malmesbury relate it As for these Petty Kings above-mentioned Maccuse by the said Florence Matthew of Westminster and R. Hoveden is called a King of Man and many other Islands but William of Malmesbury stiles him an Arch-pirate by which word a Robber is not to be understood but as Asser and others of that Age use that Appellation one skilled in Sea Affairs or a Seaman so called from Pira which in the Attique Tongue signifies a Craft or Art but afterward it came to be applicable only to such as without any Right infested the Seas Another of the Kings and that of Wales was Huual or Hewal who tho he be not placed the first in order yet if we follow the account of some Authors must have been the chief of them all the Prince to whom all the rest performed Obedience The Book of Landaff bids us take notice that at the same time with Edgar lived Howel Dha and Morgan Heu which two yet were the Subjects of King Edgar But in this either that Author or the Chronicle of Caradoc must be mistaken who places the Death of Howel Dha under the year 948 And therefore it is more likely that the Howel here mentioned was not Howel Dha but Howel the Son of Jevaf who had the year before expell'd his Uncle and taken upon himself the Principality of Wales notwithstanding his Father was then alive But as for all the rest of these Welsh Princes I do not know how to make them out from their Chronicles which give no account of this Action only I take Dufnal to be the Son of Howel Dha and as Matthew of Westminster says was then Prince of South-Wales As for Jacob and Judethel I suppose they must have been the same with Jevaf and Jago as they are called in the Welsh Chronicles But as for this Prince Gryffith I can find none such among any of the Welsh Princes ruling at that time But to return to our Annals This year Eadgar King of the English changed this frail Life for another more Glorious on the 18 th day of July But his Body was buried with great Solemnity at the Abby of Glastenbury to which he himself had been a great Benefactor as appears by his Charter recited at large by William of Malmesbury in his Treatise of the Antiquity of that Monastery in which Charter he also stiles himself Totius Britanniae Basileus i. e. King of all Britain But since our Historians are so very large and full in their Commendations of his Prince as that he was most Religious Valiant and Wise and exceeded all his Predecessors except King Alfred and King Athelstan it will not I hope be amiss to shew you how partial these Monks were to the Memory of this Prince who though they will needs have to be a Saint because the either built or repaired so many Monasteries yet was certainly if the same Monkish Writers are to be believed guilty of as great Excesses of Lust and Cruelty as any of his Predecessors for William of Malmesbury tells us that Ordgar Duke of Devonshire had a Daughter named Elfreda fam'd for an extraordinary Beauty which caus'd the King to have great Inclinations for her upon the bare Report made of her to him but to be more certain he sent a Knight called Athelwold his Confident to see her resolving to marry her if she were found to be handsome as she was reported Athelwold made haste and got a sight of her wherewith he was so smitten that he concealed the Errand on which he came and resolved to obtain her for himself which being easily done he lessened her to the King as a Woman but very ordinary and of so small a Stature as would misbecome his Royal Bed so that he married her with the King's consent whose Thoughts were now diverted to other Objects But at last the Earl's Enemies discovered the Intrigue and told the King how he had deceived him and whom the more to enrage they omitted no words whereby to set out and enhance the extraordinary Beauty of the Lady Upon which
Edgar was certainly a very Great and Heroick Prince yet questionless that Charter which makes him to have subdued the greatest part of Ireland with the City of Dublin and to be Lord of all the Isles as far as Norway is fictitious and nothing but a piece of Monkish Forgery no Author of that Age making mention of any such thing and instead of a Great Warrior he is usually stiled Edgar the Peaceable for he never made any Foreign Wars that we can learn However such was his mighty Fame that if he did not go himself to Foreigners they came to him out of Saxony Flanders Denmark and other places Though William of Malmesbury observes their coming over did much detriment to the Natives who from the Saxons learned Rudeness from the Flemings Effeminacy and from the Danes Drunkenness the English being before free from those gross Vices and contented themselves to defend their own with a natural Simplicity and not given to admire the Customs and Fashions of other Nations Hereupon the Monk tells us he is deservedly blamed in Story for his too great Indulgence to Strangers This Noble Prince died when he had Reigned about Sixteen Years in the very flower of his Age being scarce Two and thirty years old and with him fell all the Glory of the English Nation scarce any thing henceforth being to be heard of among them but Misery and Disorder He had by Egelfleda sirnamed the Fair the Daughter of Earl Ordmer it 's uncertain whether his Wife or Concubine a Son named Edward who succeeded him By Wilfrida the Nun he had a Daughter named Editha who was also a Nun as hath been already related And by Elfreda the Daughter of Duke Ordgar a Son called Edmund who died five years before his Father and another called Ethelrede who reigned after him but was wholly unlike him in Prudence and Courage I have nothing else to add that is considerable under this year but the death of the Noble Turketule Abbot of Croyland whom from Chancellor to King Edred was at his own desire by him made Abbot He repaired and much enriched that Abby after its being ruined by the Danes and was the first that by adding to the Two Great Bells of that Monastery Six more made the first Tuneable Rings of Bells in England as Ingulph at the end of the account he gives of his Life informs us But before I dismiss this King's Reign it is fit I give you a short account of the chief Laws he made which since neither the time nor place of their enacting are any where mention'd I refer to this place The Preface of these Laws is thus This is the Decree or Law which King Edgar made with the counsel or consent of his Wites or Wisemen for the Honour of God the Confirmation of his Royal Dignity and for the Good of his People The Laws themselves begin with some Ecclesiastical Canons the first of which is concerning the Immunities of the Church and about paying Tythes out of the Lands of the Thanes as well as of those of Ceorles or Countrey-men The Second is concerning payment of Tythes and First fruits as well where a Thane had a Church with a Burying-place as also where he had not The Third appoints the times the Tythes should be paid at and what Remedy was to be had in case they were not paid at the time when they were due The Fourth ordains at what time of the year Peter-pence should be paid and the Penalty that should be incurred by those that should neglect to pay them in accordingly The last ordains every Sunday to be kept holy and to begin at Three a Clock in the Afternoon on Saturday and to end at break of day on Monday upon the penalty appointed by the Judiciary Book From which last Law you may observe how early keeping the Sunday like the Jewish Sabbath began in England Then follow the Secular or Temporal Laws The First of which enjoins that every man poor or rich enjoy the benefit of the Law and have equal Justice done him and for Punishments he would have them so moderated that being accommodated to the Divine Clemency they may be the more tolerable unto men The Second forbids Appeals to the King in Suits except Justice cannot otherwise be obtained And if a man be oppressed he may betake himself to the King for relief and in case a Pecuniary Mulct be inflicted for a fault it must not exceed the value of the man's head The Third imposes a Mulct of an Hundred and twenty Shillings to the King upon a Judge that passes an unjust Sentence against any man except such Judge will take his Oath that he did it not out of any malice but only from Unskilfulness and Mistake in Judgment and in such case he is to be removed from his Place except he can obtain favour of the King longer to retain it and then the Bishop of the Diocess is to send the Mulct imposed upon him to the King's Treasure The Fourth commands That whosoever maliciously shall defame another man whereby he receives any damage either in his Body or Estate so that the defam'd Party can clear himself of those Reports and prove them false then the Defamer's Tongue shall either be cut out or he shall redeem it with the value of his Head The Fifth is to the same effect as in another Law we have formerly cited commanding every one to be present at the Gemote or Assembly of the Hundred and further ordains That the Burghmotes or Assemblies of the great Towns or Cities be held thrice a year and the Shiregemotes or general Meeting of the whole County twice whereat were to be present the Bishop and the Ealdorman the one to teach the people God's Law and the other Man's From whence you may observe the Antiquity of our Charges at our Assizes and Sessions which no doubt do succeed those Discourses which the Ealdorman and Bishop then made to the people upon the subjects above-mentioned The Sixth requires that every man find Sureties for his Good Behaviour and in case any one commit a Crime and fly for it the Sureties should undergo what should be laid upon him If he stole any thing and be taken within a Twelvemonth he should be brought to Justice and then the Sureties should receive back what they had paid on his account Hence we may also take notice not only of the Antiquity of Frank-Pledges which had been long before instituted by King Alfred but also the continuation of this Law by King Edgar from whence it appears that it was no Norman invention introduced to keep under the English Commonalty as some men have without any just cause imagined The Seventh ordains That when any one of evil report is again accused of a Crime and absents himself from the Gemotes or publick Meetings some of the Court shall go where he dwells and take Sureties for his Appearance if they may be had but
wrote but the wonder will be much abated when we consider that he had the King's Purse at his command besides those of other people who then looked upon such Works as meritorious But to return to our Annals Elfeage whose sirname was Goodwin succeeded Athelwald and was consecrated 14. Kal. Novemb. but was enthron'd at Winchester at the Feast of St. Simon and Jude R. Hoveden tells us he was first Abbot of Bathe and then Archbishop of Canterbury but at last was killed by the Danes being a man of great Sanctity of Life Also the same year Howel ap Jevaf Prince of North-Wales came into England with an Army where he was fought with and slain in Battel but the place is not mentioned This Howel having no Issue his Brother Cadwalhan succeeded him This year according to the Saxon Annals Aelfric the Ealdorman was banish'd the Land Mat. Westminster stiles him Earl of Mercia and says he was Son to Earl Alfure but neither of them inform us of the Crime for which he suffered that Punishment King Ethelred laid waste the Bishoprick of Rochester and also there was a great Mortality of Cattel in England William of Malmesbury and R. Hoveden do here add much light to our Annals That the King because of some Dissentions between him and the Bishop of Rochester besieged that City but not being able to take it went and wasted the Lands of St. Andrew i. e. those belonging to that Bishoprick but being commanded by the Archbishop to desist from his Fury and not provoke the Saint to whom that Church is dedicated the King despised his Admonition till such time as he had an Hundred Pounds sent to him and then he drew off his Forces but the Archbishop abhorring his sordid Covetousness is there said to have denounced fearful Judgments against him though they were not to be inflicted till after the Archbishop's death This year as the Welsh Chronicles relate Meredyth Son to Owen Prince of South-Wales entred North-Wales with what Forces he could raise and slew Cadwalhon ap Jevaf in a Fight together with Meyric his Brother and conquered the whole Countrey to himself Wherein we may observe how God punished the wrong which Jevaf and Jago did to their eldest Brother Meyric who being disinherited had his eyes put out for first Jevaf was imprisoned by Jago as Jago himself was by Howel the Son of Jevaf and then this Howel and his Brethren Cadwalhon and Meyric were slain and lost their Dominions This year Weedport that is Watchet in Somersetshire was destroyed by the Danes About this time as appears by the Charter in the Monast. Angl. p. 284. the Abby of Cerne in Dorsetshire was founded by Ailmer Earl of Cornwall near to a Fountain where it was said that St. Augustine had formerly baptized many Pagans And where also long after Prince Edwold Brother to St. Edmund the Martyr quitting his Countrey then over run by the Danes lived and died an Hermit But it seems from the Manuscript History of Walter of Coventry this Abby was only enlarged by this Earl Ailmer having been built some years before by one Alward his Father a Rich and Powerful Person in those Parts Goda a Thane was killed and there was a great Slaughter But the same Author last mentioned writing from some other Copy of Annals relates this Story another way That this Goda being Earl of Devonshire together with one Strenwald a valiant Knight marching out to fight the Danes they were both there killed but there being more of them destroyed than of the English the latter kept the field But to return to our Annals This year Dunstan that Holy Archbishop exchanged this Terrestrial Life for a Heavenly one and Ethelgar Bishop of Selsey succeeded him but lived not long after viz. only One Year and Three Months This is that Great Archbishop called St. Dunstan who was the Restorer of the Monkish Discipline in England and who made a Collection of Ordinances for the Benedictine Order by which he thought the Rule of that Order might be more strictly observed in all the Monasteries of England Edwin the Abbot I suppose of Peterborough deceased and Wulfgar succeeded him The same year also Bishop Syric was consecrated Archbishop in the room of Ethelgar abovementioned and afterwards he went to Rome to obtain his Pall. This man is commonly written Siricins but his Name in English Saxon was Syric or Sigeric About this time according to the Welsh Chronicle Meredyth Prince of North Wales destroyed the Town of Radnor whilst his Nephew Edwin or as some Copies call him Owen the Son of Eneon assisted by a great Army of English under Earl Adelf spoiled all the Lands of Prince Meredyth in South-Wales as Cardigan c. as far as St. Davids taking Pledges of all the Chief Men of those Countries whilst in the mean time Prince Meredyth with his Forces spoiled the Countrey of Glamorgan So that no place in those parts was free from Fire and Sword Yet at last Prince Meredyth and Edwin his Nephew coming to an agreement were made Friends But whilst Meredyth was thus taken up in South-Wales North-Wales lay open to the Danes who about this time arriving in Anglesey destroyed the whole Isle This year Gipiswic was wasted by the Danes this was Ipswich in Suffolk and shortly after Brightnoth the Ealdorman was slain at Maldune All which mischief Florence of Worcester tells us was done by the Danes whose Captains were Justin and Guthmund when the Person abovementioned fighting with them at Maldon there was a great multitude slain on both sides and the said Earl or Ealdorman was slain there so that the Danes had the Victory The same year also according to the Annals it was first decreed that Tribute should be paid to the Danes because of the great Terror which they gave the Inhabitants of the Sea-Coast The first Payment was Ten thousand Pounds and it is said Archbishop Syric first gave this Counsel To which also R. Hoveden adds That Adwald and Alfric the Ealdormen join'd with him in it but which as William of Malmesbury well observes served only to satisfy for a time the Covetousness of the Danes and being a thing of infamous example a generous Mind would never have been prevailed upon by any violence to have submitted to for when the Danes had once tasted the sweetness of this Money they never left off exacting still more so long as there was any left but they now met with a weak and unwarlike Prince most of whose Nobility were no better than himself and so as the same Author farther observes they were fain to buy off those with Silver who ought to have been repell'd with Iron This year Oswald that blessed Archbishop of York departed this life as also did Ethelwin the Ealdorman The former of them Simeon of Durham tells us had the year before consecrated the Abby Church of Ramsey which the latter had newly founded and
as Florence adds was buried in the Church of St. Mary in Worcester which he had newly built The same year also the King and all his Wise and Great Men decreed That all the stronger Ships should be got together at London and the King made Ealfric and Thorod the Ealdormen Admirals of this Fleet as also Aelfstan and Aestwig Bishops commanding them that they should endeavour if it were possible to encompass the Danish Fleet but Ealfric sent to them underhand to take care of themselves and the Night before they were to give Battel he to his perpetual Infamy secretly withdrew himself from the King 's to the Danish Fleet so that all the Danes escaped by flight But Florence is more plain than the Annals in the Relation of this Flight and tells us that the King's Fleet immediately pursued them and took one of their Ships all the rest escaping only the Londoners meeting with the Ships of the East-Angles by chance and fighting with them killed many Thousands of the Danes and took the Ship wherein Earl Ealfric was with all the men himself hardly escaping The same year the Inhabitants of the Isle of Anglesey having been cruelly harass'd by the Danes and finding no Protection or Defence from Meredyth their Prince then employed in other Wars as you have already heard they cast him off and received Edwal ap Meyric the right Heir of North-Wales for their Prince who better defended his Subjects from Foreign Invasions for not long after Meredyth Prince of North-Wales resolving again to recover so considerable a part of his Dominion entring Anglesey Prince Edwal with his Forces met him at Lhangwin and routed him in a set Battel so Theodor or Tewdor Mawr Nephew to Prince Meredyth was there slain and he himself forced to fly This year also according to our Annals Vnlaf or Anlaf the Dane came with Ninety three Ships as far as Stane now Staines upon the River Thames and there wasted the Countrey round about and from thence they went to Sandwic and from thence to Gypswic and spoiled all that Countrey But I suppose this is a Mistake in the Cambridge Copy of these Annals which repeat that Action of the Danes together with the Death of Duke Bryghtnoth which had been already said in the Laudean and Cottonian Copies to have happened Anno 991 and therefore what follows seems likewise misplaced in this Copy concerning the Receiving and Baptizing of this King Anlaf which it makes to be the effect of the Victory now obtain'd for Anlaf was not baptized till the year following as will by and by appear But this is more certain which comes after viz. That this year the Town of Bebanburgh i.e. Banborow in Northumberland was destroyed by the Danes and a great Prey there taken after which the Danes came up the River Humber and did much mischief as well to those of Lindsige as the Northumbers Then were muster'd together a great number of Soldiers but when they were going to give them Battel they fled the first Encouragers of their flight being their own Captains Fraena Godwin and Frithegist all Three of the Danish Race This year also according to the same Copy King Ethelred commanded the Eyes of Ealfric the Ealdorman's Son to be put out But it does not tell us for what But William of Malmesbury is more express and says it was a Punishment for his Father's Perfidiousness which if done now was not only very unjust to punish the Son for the Father's faults but also ill tim'd to do it so long after the Crime had been committed But he further tells us that he not only revolted once but again and so perhaps it was for this last Rebellion that the King inflicted this cruel Punishment upon his Son for had the Father been in his power it is most likely he would have made him to have suffer'd himself But this being so much in the dark I shall leave it to the Reader to make what he please on 't There having been for some time great Enmity between Richard Duke of Normandy which it seems had broke out into open War Pope John sent Leo Bishop of Treve as his Nuncio first to the King of England who having received the Pope's Letters called a Council of all the Great and Wise Men of the Nation who agreed That upon the Pope's Admonition Ambassadors should be sent to the Marquess of Normandy for so he called to treat of a Peace and when they were there the said Marquess agreed to a lasting Peace upon the Pope's Admonition so that none for the future should receive each other's Enemies All which appears in the Epistle of the said Pope John concerning this affair which is recited at large in William of Malmesbury in his Reign of this King to which I refer the Reader About this time according to the Welsh Chronicles Sweyn the Son of Harold the Dane having destroyed the Isle of Man enter'd North-Wales and slew Edwal ap Meyric in Battel This Prince left behind him one Son an Infant who at last came to be Prince of Wales So that it seems there was an Anarchy in North Wales for some time unless Owen formerly expell'd now recover'd his Principality which my Author does not mention This year Sigeric or Syric Archbishop of Canterbury deceased and Aelfric Bishop of Winchester was elected in his stead on Easter-Day at Ambresbyrig by King Ethelred and all his Wise Men. This same year also Anlaf and Sweyn came to London on the Nativity of St. Mary with Ninety four Ships and assaulted the City very sharply endeavouring to burn it but here they received much more damage than they believed it to be in the power of the Citizens ever to have done them for the Holy Mother of God out of her great mercy took care of the Citizens and delivered them from their Enemies Or as William of Malmesbury more plainly tells us the Besiegers despairing of taking the City because the Citizens made so vigorous a defence were forced to march away But as they went off they did as much mischief as any Army ever did by burning and wasting the whole Countrey thereabouts and killing all the Inhabitants in Essex Kent and Sussex as also in Hampshire And as Florence relates sparing neither Man Woman nor Child But at last they provided themselves with Horses and riding where-ever they pleased did unspeakable Mischiefs Whereupon it was ordained by the King and his Wise Men That Messengers should be sent to them promising them both Tribute and Provisions if they would desist from their Spoil and Rapine To which request they consented and so the whole Army came to Hamtune and there took up their Winter-Quarters and in the mean time the West-Saxon Kingdom was forced to maintain them and Sixteen thousand Pounds were given to them besides their maintenance Then the King sent Bishop Elfeage to King Anlaf as also Aethelward the Ealdorman and leaving Hostages at the Ships they
brought Anlaf with great Honour to the King to Andefer that is Andover in Hampshire then King Aethelred received him at his Confirmation from the Bishop's hand whereupon Anlaf promised him which he also performed that he would never again infest the English Nation And as Florence farther adds he now returned into his own Countrey So it seems the Kingdom was rid of Anlaf but what became of Sweyen or Sweyn the Annals do not tell us for we hear no more of him till Anno 1004 as you will find by and by So that whether he went away with Anlaf or commanded those who infested the Kingdom the next year is uncertain But perhaps we may to this time refer that which Adam of Bremen relates of this King Sweyn who having made War upon his Father Harwold the Great whom he outed of his Kingdom and Life together was afterwards himself overcome and expelled his Kingdom by Aerick King of Sweden thus justly rewarded for his horrid Crimes he wander'd up and down without relief Thrucco the Son of Haco then Prince of the Normans rejected him as a Pagan and Ethelred the Son of Edgar he calls him Adalred remembring what mischiefs the Danes had brought on England with scorn repell'd him So that at length he was entertained by the King of the Scots who taking compassion on him gave him free Quarter for Fourteen years together But so enraged was he at the repulse given him by the King of England that ever after he studied all he could how to plague and afflict that Countrey one while by his own particular Forces and another by the assistance of others How true this Story is we cannot affirm the Affairs of the Northern Nations as to those Times being involved in so great an obscurity However we thought it not amiss to give it you as suiting with the Fortunes and Inclinations of this man which proved so great a Plague to this our Countrey that he seems to have been acted by some extraordinary Passion whether of Ambition or Revenge or both together But to return to our Annals This year also Richard the Elder Duke of Normandy died and Richard his Son succeeded him and reigned One and thirty years ' This year appeared a Comet Also the same year as Simeon of Durham relates Aldune Bishop of Lindisfarne removed the Body of St. Cuthbert which had for above an Hundred years remained at Cunecaeaster that is Chester in the Bishoprick of Durham to the place where the City of Durham was afterwards built it being then altogether uninhabited Here Bishop Aldune built a small Church of Stone dedicating it to St. Cuthbert and a Town being here shortly after built it was called Durham ' The Kingdom had rest this year as also the next but The Danes sail'd round about Devonshire to the mouth of the River Severne and there took much Plunder as well among the North Welsh as in Cornwall and Devonshire Yet here it seems that North-Wales was mis-put in these Annals instead of the South for no part of the Severn Sea borders upon North-Wales But after this the Danes going up as far as Wecedport or Watchet they did much hurt both by burning the Houses and killing the Inhabitants whereever they came After this they sail'd round Penwithsteort i. e. the Point called the Land's-End toward the South Coast and sailing up the River Thames went with their Ships as far as Hildaford now Lideford burning and killing whatever they met as they passed along They also burnt the Monastery of Ordulph which had been lately built by him at Aetesingstoce now Tavistock in Devonshire and carried a very great deal of Plunder along with them to their Ships This year also Aelfric the Archbishop went to Rome to obtain his Pall. Then the Danes turned toward the East up the mouth of the River Frome and there marched as far as they would into Dorseta i. e. Dorsetshire where an Army got together against them but as often as the English fought with them so often were they by some misfortune or other put to flight so that the Danes still obtain'd the Victory After this they quarter'd in the Isle of Wight but fetch'd their Provisions from Hamptunseire and Southseax Also this year according to Caradoc's Chronicle the Danes landing again in South-Wales destroyed St. Davids and slew Vrgeney Bishop of that See And now Meredyth ap Owen Prince of North-Wales deceased leaving one only Daughter who was married to Lewelyn ap Sitsylt afterward in her Right Prince of North-Wales But after the death of this Prince Owen Edwin his Nephew above-mentioned as the Manuscript Chronicle relates possessed himself of South-Wales and reigned there some years This year the Danes sail'd up the River Thames and from thence went into the Medway to Rofceaster where the Kentish Forces met them and there was a very sharp Dispute but alas they presently gave place to their Enemies and fled because they had not assistance enough so that the Danes kept the field and then getting Horses rode whereever they pleased spoiling and laying waste all the Western part of Kent Then it was ordained by the King and his Wise Men that an Army should be forthwith raised against them both by Sea and Land but when the Ships were ready they delayed the time from day to day oppressing the poor people that served on board and if at any time the Fleet was ready to sail it was still put off from one time to another so that they suffered the Enemies Forces to increase and when the Danes retired from the Sea-Coast then our Fleet was wont to go out so that at the last these Naval Forces served for no other end but to harass the People spend their Money and provoke the Enemy This year as Simeon of Durham relates Malcolm King of the Scots with a great Army wasted the Province of the Northumbers and besieged Durham At that time Waltheof Earl of the Northumbers being very old and unable to fight with the Enemies enclosed himself in Bebbanburgh whilst Vthred his Son a Valiant Young Man assembling an Army out of Northumberland and Yorkshire fought with the Scots and destroyed in a manner their whole Army insomuch that the King himself very hardly escaped After this he made choice of a certain number of slain Scotchmen's Heads the best adorn'd with Hair he could get and gave them to an Old Woman to wash allowing her for each Head a Cow for her pains these Heads when wash'd he set upon high Poles round about the Walls of Durham King Ethelred being informed of this Action sent for the Young Man and as a Reward for his Valour not only gave him his Father's Countrey but added to it that of Yorkshire Upon this Vthred returning home dismissed his Wife the Daughter of Aeldhure Bishop of Durham but because he cast her off contrary to his Promise he surrender'd up to her Six Mannors which the Bishop her Father
had given him with her Then Vthred married Siga the Daughter of Styre the Son of Vlfelme The King marched into Cumerland i. e. Cumberland and laid it almost waste but neither our Annals nor any other Author tell us wherefore he made this War nor upon whom it was made but John Fordon in his Scotch History gives us this Account of it That King Ethelred having paid great Tributes to the Danes sent to Malcolm then Prince of Cumberland under Gryme King of the Scots commanding him that he should make his Subjects of Cumberland pay part of this Tribute as well as the rest of the People of England which he denying sent the King word That neither he nor his Subjects ought to pay any Tribute but only were obliged to be ready at the King's Command to make War together with the rest of the Kingdom whenever he pleased for he said it was much better to fight manfully than only to buy Liberty with Money For this cause as well as for that the King affirmed that the Prince of Cumberland favoured the Danes King Ethelred invaded that Countrey and carried away great spoils from thence but presently after the two Princes being reconciled they entred into a firm Peace for ever after But to proceed with our Annals After the King had thus wasted Cumberland he commanded his Ships to sail round by Legceaster i. e. Chester to meet him there but they could not do it by reason of the contrary Winds so they wasted the Island Manige now called Anglesey for the Danish Fleet was turned this Summer upon the Dukedom of Normandy But the next year Their Fleet being now returned into England there arose great Troubles in this Island by reason of this Fleet which every where spoiled the Countries and burnt the Towns and landing they marched in one day as far as Aetheling gadene which is supposed to be Alton in Hampshire but there the Forces of that County marched against and fought with them and there Aethelweard the King 's High Sheriff and Leofric Gerif of Whitcircan i. e. Whitchurch in Hampshire and Leofwin the King's High-Sheriff and Wulfer the Bishop's Thane and Godwin the Gerif were all slain at Weorthige the place is now unknown as also Aelfsige the Bishop's God-son and of all sorts of men Eighty one yet many more of the Danes were slain there though indeed they kept the Field of Battel But from thence their Fleet sail'd toward the West until they came to Devonshire where met him Pallig with what Ships he could gather together He had revolted from King Ethelred divers times notwithstanding his Faith plighted to him and though the King had largely rewarded him both with Lands and Money Then they burnt Tengton i. e. Taunton and many other good Towns more than we can now name which being done there was a League clapt up with them After this they went to Exanmuthan i. e. Exmouth from whence they marched in one day to Peanhoe now Pen in Somerset-shire where Cola the King's High-Sheriff and Eadsig the King's Gerif met them with what Forces they could but they were put to flight and many of them slain and the Danes kept the Field so the next morning they burnt the Towns of Peanho and Clistune or Clifton and several other good Towns Then the Danes returned to the Isle of Wight and there one morning burnt the Town of Weltham with divers other Villages and presently after a League was made with them and they hearken'd to Terms of Peace But the Laudean and Cottonian Copies differ very much from that of Cambridge in the telling of this story for they make the Danes to have first sailed up the River Exe as far as Eaxcester and to have besieged the City but not being able to take it they raised the Siege and then marched all over the Countrey killing and destroying whatever they met with and that then a strong Army of the Devonshire and Somersetshire men fought with them at Peanho with the success above-mentioned The rest differs but little from the Printed Copy but this last relation seems most likely to be true The year following it was decreed by the King and his Wise Men That a Tribute should be paid to the Danish Fleet and Peace should be concluded with them upon condition that they would cease from doing mischief Then the King sent Leofsig the Ealdorman to the Fleet who treated with them on the behalf of the King and his Council of Wise Men proposing that they would be content with Provisions and Money which they agreed to Then not long after they paid them Four and twenty thousand Pounds In the mean time Leofsig the Ealdorman killed Aelfric the King 's High Sheriff upon which the King banished the other the Kingdom And the Lent afterwards came hither Aelgiva Daughter of Richard Duke of Normandy to be married to the King The same Summer Eadulf Archbishop of York deceased And this year also the King commanded all the Danes in England to be slain at the Feast of St. Brice because it was told the King that they endeavoured to deprive him and all his Great and Wise Men of their lives and to seize the Kingdom to themselves without any opposition Matthew of Westminster casts the Odium of this Action from the King and lays it upon one of his Evil Counsellors whom he calls Huena General of the King's Forces â—o manage the chief Affairs of the Kingdom He seeing the Insolencies of the Danes and that after the late Agreement they were grown insupportable to the Kingdom for they violated the Wives and Daughters of Persons of Quality and committed divers other Injuries not to be endured Thereupon he came in great seeming trouble to the King making most dismal Complaints of these unspeakable Outrages at which the King was so incensed that by the Counsel of the said Huena he sent private Letters into all parts of the Kingdom commanding all his Subjects without exception That upon a certain Day they should every where privily set upon the Danes and without mercy cut them off In these Letters was also signified that the Danes had a design to deprive him of his Life and Kingdom and to destroy all the Nobility in order to bring the whole Island under their subjection And thus the Danes who a little before by a League solemnly sworn on both sides had been admitted quietly to inhabit among the English were most treacherously and barbarously murthered not many of them escaping even the very Women were put to death and their Children's Brains dash'd out against the Walls particularly at London when this Bloody Decree was to be executed many of the Danes fled into a certain Church of that City but for all that it proved no Sanctuary to them for they were all there cruelly murthered even at the very Altar H. Huntington moreover adds That he himself being a Child had heard it from certain Old Men that by the King's Command
Letters were privately dispatch'd all over England to make away the Danes in one Night But so much Innocent Blood being thus perfidiously shed cry'd aloud to Heaven for Vengeance and the Clamours of it likewise quickly reached as far as Denmark And Walsingham hath given us in his History a particular Account of the manner of it for on the day when this barbarous Decree was executed at London certain young men of the Danish Nation being too nimble for their Pursuers got into a small Vessel then in the Thames and by that means escaped and fled to Denmark where they certified King Sweyn of what had passed in England who being moved with indignation at this treatment thereupon called a great Council of all the Chief Men of his Kingdom and declaring to them this Cruel Massacre desired their Advice what was best to be done and they being inflamed with Rage and Grief for the loss of so many of their Friends and Kindred decreed with one consent That they ought to revenge it with all the Forces of their Nation Upon which great Preparations were made in the several Provinces and Messengers sent to other Nations to desire their Alliance with him promising them their share in the Spoils of that Countrey which they were going to conquer So King Sweyn having got ready a vast Fleet of above Three hundred Sail arrived in England But as Bromton's Chronicle relates The year following Sweyn King of Denmark hearing of the Death of his Subjects sail'd with a mighty Fleet to the Coast of Cornwall where he landed and marched up to Eaxceaster which as our Annals tell us by the Carelesness or Cowardise of a certain Norman one Count Hugh whom the Queen had made Governor there the Pagans took and quite destroyed the City and carried thence a great Booty Then a Numerous Army was raised from Wiltshire and Hampshire and being very unanimous they all marched briskly against the Danes but Aelfric the Ealdorman who commanded in chief here shewed his wonted tricks for as soon as both Armies were in sight of each other he feigned himself sick and began to vomit pretending he had got some violent Distemper and by that means betray'd those whom he ought to have led to Victory according to the Proverb If the General 's heart fails the Army flies But though this was very ill done of Aelfrick thus to betray his trust yet certainly the King was no less to be blamed himself for trusting a man that had so often betray'd him and whom he had already sufficiently provoked by putting out the Eyes of his Son as you have already heard But to return to our Annals Sweyn now finding the Cowardise or Inconstancy of the English marched with his Forces to Wiltune which Town he burnt from thence he marched to Syrbirig i. e. Old Sarum which they also burnt and from thence to the Sea-side to their Ships After the death of Edwal ap Meyric and Meredyth ap Owen Princes of North-Wales as you have already heard North-Wales having for some years continued under a sort of Anarchy without any Prince Meredyth leaving behind him no Issue Male and Edwal but one Son an Infant it gave occasion as the Welsh Chronicles relate to great disturbances for one Aedan ap Blegored or Bledhemeyd as the Cottonian Copy of the Welsh Annals call him tho an absolute stranger to the British Blood-Royal about this time possessed himself of the Principality of North-Wales and held it about twelve years but whether he came in by Election or Force is not said only that one Conan ap Howel who fought with this Aedan for the Dominion was this year slain in Battel So that Aedan for a time held that Countrey peaceably since we do not read of any other Wars he had till the last year of his Reign This year Sweyn came with his Fleet to Northwick i. e. Norwich the River it seems being navigable up to it in those days and wholly destroyed and burnt that City then Vlfkytel the Ealdorman consulted with the Wise and Great Men of East-England and by them it was judged most expedient to buy Peace of the Danish Army to prevent their doing any more mischief for the Danes had taken them unprovided before they had time to draw their Forces together But these Danes not valuing the Peace which they had newly made stole away with all their Ships and sailed to Theatford which as soon as Vlfkytel had learnt he sent a Messenger with Commands to break or burn all their Ships which notwithstanding the English neglected to do whilst he in the mean time tried to get together his Forces with what speed he could But the Danes coming to Theodford three Weeks after the destruction of Norwich stayed within the Town of Theodford only one night and then burnt and laid it in ashes But the next morning as they returned to their Ships Vlkytel met with them and there began a very sharp Fight which ended in a very great slaughter on both sides and abundance of the English Nobility were there killed but if all the English Forces had been there the Danes had never reached their Ships But notwithstanding these cruel Wars in the Eastern and Southern Parts of England Wulfric Spot an Officer in the Court of King Ethelred now built the Monastery of Burton in Staffordshire and endowed it with all his Paternal Inheritance which was very great and gave that King Three hundred Mancuses of Gold to purchase his Confirmation of what he had done This Monastery though its Rents at the Dissolution were somewhat below the Value of Five hundred Pounds per Annum yet being an Abby of great Note in those Parts and also render'd more famous from its Annals publish'd at Oxford I thought good to take particular notice of it This year Aelfric Archbishop of Canterbury deceased and Aelfeag Bishop of Winchester was made Archbishop But the Laudean and Cottonian Copies place this under the next year So cruel a Famine also raged here as England never suffer'd a worse Florence relates the Famine to be so great that England was not able to subsist The same year also King Sweyn with the Danish Fleet sail'd into Denmark but in a short time return'd hither again This year Aelfeage was now consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury and Brightwald took the Bishoprick of Wiltonshire as also Wulfgeat was deprived of all his Honours and Wulfeath had his Eyes put out These were Noblemen who suffered under the King's displeasure but what the cause of it was I find not And this year Bishop Kenwulph deceased Then after Midsummer the Danish Fleet came to Sandwic and did as they used to do killing wasting and plundering whatever they met with Therefore the King commanded all the West Saxon and Mercian Nations to be assembled who kept watch all the Autumn by Companies against the Danes but all this signified no more than what they had done often before for
the Danes made no less Incursions but went whereever they pleased and this Expedition did the people more damage than any Army could do Winter coming on the English Forces return'd home and the Danes about Martinmass retired to their old Sanctuary the Isle of Wight whither they carried whatever they had need of and afterwards about Christmass they marched out to seek for fresh Provisions in Hamptunshire and Berrocseire as far as Reading and havocking according to their usual custom burnt the Beacons whereever they found them and from thence they marched to Wealingaford i. e. Wallingford which Town they wholly destroyed Then marching to Aescesdune now Aston near Wallingford they came to Cwicchelmeslaw now Cuckamsley-hill in Berkshire without ever touching near the Sea and at last return'd home another way About the same time an English Army was mustered at Cynet i. e. Kennet in Wiltshire where a Battel was fought but the English Troops were immediately worsted after which the Danes carried off all their Booty to the Sea-side There might one have seen the Wiltshire men like a Cowardly sort of people suffer the Danes to return to the Sea-side even just by their doors with their Provisions and Spoils In the mean time the King marched over Thames into Scrobbesbyrigscire i. e. Shropshire and there kept his Christmass At that time the Danes struck so great a Terror into the English Nation that no man could devise how to get them out of the Kingdom nor how well to maintain it against them because they had destroyed all the Countries of the West-Saxons with Burnings and Devastations Then the King often consulted with his Wise Men about what was best to be done in this case whereby they might save the Countrey before it was quite ruined and after mature deliberation it was at length decreed by them all for the Common Good of the Nation though much against their wills That Tribute should be again paid to the Danes Then the King sent to their Army to let them know that he was contented to enter into a Peace with them and to pay them Tribute and also find them Provisions during their stay To which Terms all the Danes assented So it seems the whole English Nation was forced to maintain them And the beginning of the year following This Tribute was again paid to them to wit Thirty thousand Pounds Also the same year Aedric was made Ealdorman over all the Kingdom of Mercia This Aedric though he had married the King's Daughter is characterized by all our Historians for a Proud False and Unconstant Man and who by his Treachery proved the Ruin of his Countrey as well as of many particular Persons of great Worth For not long before as Florence relates he made away Athelme that Noble Ealdorman at Shrewsbury inviting him to a Feast and afterwards carrying him out a hunting where he hired the City-Hangman to set his Dog upon him called Porthund which tore him to pieces And not long after his two Sons Walfheage and Vflgeat had their Eyes put out by the King's Order at Cotham where he then resided But we may hence observe to how sad a state the Nation was reduced under a Voluptuous and Cowardly King and a Degenerate Nobility And the reason why the Annals say That the People's being kept in Arms all the Winter did them as much harm as the Enemy was because having then no standing Forces the Countrey Militia were fain to be kept upon Duty at their own Charges whilst their Families were ready to starve at home So impossible a thing it is to maintain any long War either at home or abroad without a Standing Army But now the King having too late perceived his Error viz. That the greatest Cause of his Ruin proceeded from the want of a good Fleet He then commanded Ships to be built all over England to wit to every Hundred and ten Hides of Lands one Ship and of every Eight Hides a Helmet and Breast-plate And so by the next year His Ships were all finished and they were both so many and withal so good that as our Histories affirm England never saw the like before Then after they were all well mann'd and victual'd they were brought to Sandwic and there remain'd in order to defend the Kingdom against the Invasion of Strangers yet notwithstanding all those Preparatives the English Nation was so unhappy that this great Fleet met with no better success than often before for it happen'd about this time or a little sooner that Brightric a false and ambitious man the Brother of Aedric above mentioned accused Wulfnoth a Thane of the South Saxons and Father of Earl Godwin to the King upon which Wulfnoth saving himself by flight got together twenty Ships and with them turning Pyrate took Prizes all round the Southern Coast and did a world of mischief but as soon as it was told the King's Fleet that they might easily surprize him if they would but cruise about that place Brightric upon this taking Eighty Sail along with him had mighty hopes by seizing of him either alive or dead to make himself signally famous but as he was sailing thither so great a Tempest arose as never had been in the memory of man by which all his Fleet was shipwrack'd or stranded on the shore and Wulfnoth coming thither presently after burnt all the rest that were left Now when this News came to that part of the Fleet where the King was in Person the whole Action seem'd to be undertaken very precipitately without any good Advice at all And thereupon the King with all his Ealdormen and Great Men return'd home leaving both the Ships and Men to shift for themselves But those that were in them carried them up to London And thus did all the Labour and Expence of the whole Nation come to nothing without in the least diminishing the Power of their Enemies as the people hoped they would have done When all these Naval Preparations were thus defeated there arrived presently after Harvest a mighty Fleet of Danes at Sandwic and after they were landed they immediately marched to Canterbury which City they would forthwith have destroyed had they not humbly besought a Peace of them Upon which all the East Kentish men came and clapt up a Peace with the Danes and purchased it at the Price of Three thousand Pounds But these Heathens presently afterwards sail'd round again till they came to Wihtland i. e. the Isle of Wight and there as also in Southseax Hamtunscire and Bearruscire they plunder'd and burnt Towns as they used to do Hereupon the King commanded the whole Nation to be summoned that every Province should defend it self against them But for all this they still marched whereever they pleased without any body 's disturbing them But one time when the King had hemm'd them in with his whole Army as they were going to their Ships and all his Forces were just ready to fall upon them Aedric
the Ealdorman hinder'd them as he always did For as R. Hoveden relates he over persuaded the King by his cunning and plausible reasons not to run the hazard of a Battel but to let them go off if they would and so they return'd to their Ships with a great deal of joy that they had so well got themselves out of that Toil. Then after Martinmass they return'd again into Kent and took up their Winter-Quarters near the Thames fetching their Provisions from Essex and those Provinces that lay nearest on each side the River and they frequently threatned the City of London but thanks be to God it had hitherto kept it self safe there they met with always but an ill reception After Christmass they made an excursion through Cyltern that is the Chiltern or Woody Countrey of Bucks and Oxfordshire and so to Oxnaford and burnt that City and having plunder'd on both sides the Thames they return'd to their ships but when they heard that an Army was prepared ready against them at London they again passed over the River at Stanes and thus rambled about the Countrey all this Winter yet about Spring they came again into Kent and there refitted their ships But presently after Easter the Danish Army marched out against the English and going on shore at Gypeswic i. e. Ipswich went directly thither where they knew Earl Vlfkitel was encamp'd with his Forces this happen'd on Ascension day in the morning so the East-English presently fled and there were on the spot slain Ethelstan the King's Son-in-Law as also Oswi and his Son and Wulfric the Son of Leofwin with many other Noble Thanes and common Soldiers not to be numbred One Thurkytel sirnamed Myranheafod that is in our present Language Ant's-head first began to fly whereby the Danes kept the field and having provided themselves with Horses they subdued all East-England spoiling and burning for three Months together where they went then marching into the Fens they there destroyed both Men and Cattel and burnt the Towns of Theodford and Grantabyrig i. e. Cambridge Then turning Southward toward the Thames they rode on Horseback to their ships and presently coming out of them again they marched towards the West into Oxnafordscire and from thence into Buckinghamscire and so along the River Owse till they got as far as Bedanford and thence to Temesanford now Temsford burning all the Towns in their way Then again they returned to their ships with all their Plunder and there divided it amongst them But as for the King's Forces when they should have stopped their passage they e'en returned home and when the Danes were in the East they were taken up in the West and whilst they were in the South the others were in the North. And Florence farther adds That in this Expedition into Oxfordshire the Danes not only took but burnt the City of Oxford All which Destructions must needs have proceeded from hence that the Danes making War by Sea as well as by Land could upon the approach of the King's Army sail away to any other part of the Kingdom and from thence march off again before the King's Army could ever come at them which proves how absolutely necessary it is for an Island to maintain a powerful Fleet if ever they mean to be safe But to return to our Annals At last all the Wise Men of the Kingdom were again summoned by the King to consult how they might better defend the Kingdom but it seems whatsover was there resolved on did not continue a month without alteration till at last there were no Commanders that would raise any Forces but every one fled away as fast as they could neither would any one Shire help its Neighbours Insomuch that before the Feast of St. Andrew the Danish Army came to Hamtune which Sea-Town they burnt and took what Plunder they pleased in the Neighbourhood and from thence again passed over the Thames into West-Seax and thence into the Marshes of Kent all which they wholly burnt and destroyed And when they had thus marched where-ever they would about Midsummer they returned again to their Ships Oxford and Cambridge being both burnt this year by the Danes all Studies ceased at each of these Places till long after as Thomas Rudburn relates one Robert Bolean began to read his Lectures on the Scriptures Anno 1133. From which time says he the Scholars have still continued both at Oxford and Cambridge But no wonder that things succeeded no better if what Caxton in his Chronicle relates were true concerning those Times That when the Nobles met in the Great Council of the Kingdom instead of consulting for the good of it they fell to impeaching one another and spent their whole time in their own private Quarrels the Church-men standing upon their Privileges refused to assist the King or to contribute any thing considerable to the Publick Necessities To all which mischiefs were likewise added Robberies and Scarcity of Bread which still encouraged the Danes as they perceived the Kingdom grow weaker and weaker to demand greater Tribute to buy their Peace till at last the Kingdom was quite exhausted of all its Treasure This year the King and his Wise Men sent again to the Danish Army with desires of Peace promising them both Provisions and Money for they had then subjected to them all east-East-England East-Seax Middle-Seax Oxnaford Grantebiryge Heortford Buckingaham Bedanford and Huntandun Scyres and on the South-side of Thames and all the Kentish-men and South-Saxons with the Town of Haestings and besides all these Suthrig i. e. Surrey Bearruc and Hamtune Scires and great part of Wiltunscire all which miseries happen'd to us through evil Council because the Tribute was not paid them time enough and not till they had done all the mischiefs they could Then was a Peace clapp'd up with them Yet nevertheless this League being soon broken they marched about every where in Troops carrying off a world of Booty with them either taking these poor people Prisoners or else slaying them outright Also this year between the Nativity of the Virgin Mary and Michaelmas they besieged Canterbury and took it by Treachery for one Aelmer an Archdeacon whose Life Archbishop Aelfeage had formerly saved betrayed it to them after twenty days Siege then they took Prisoners Archbishop Aelfeage and Aelfwold the King's Sheriff and Leofwin the Abbot and Godwin the Bishop of Rochester but Aelmer Abbot of St. Augustine's they let go They likewise took all in Holy Orders both Men and Women nor can it be told how many these were after which they remain'd in the City as long as they pleased But as soon as they had plunder'd it they went back again to their Ships carrying the Archbishop along with them and he was now become a Captive who but a little before was the Spiritual Head of the English Nation One might there have seen Misery at its full stretch where used to be Joy and Prosperity even in that
City from whence was first brought to us the joyful Tidings of the Gospel But they detain'd the Archbishop Prisoner near Seven Months till such time as they martyr'd him Osbern in his Life of St. Elfeage relates That this Archbishop sent to the Danes when they came before the Town desiring them to spare so many innocent Christians lives but they despising his request fell to battering the Walls and so throwing Firebrands into the City set it on fire so that whilst the Citizens ran to save their Houses Aelmeric the Archdeacon let the Danes into the City Florence here adds That the Monks and Laity were decimated after a strange manner so that out of every Ten Persons only the Tenth was to be kept alive and that only Four Monks and about Eight hundred Laymen remain'd after this Decimation And that not long after above Two thousand Danes perished by divers inward Torments and the rest were admonish'd to make satisfaction to the Bishop but yet they obstinately refused it Florence of Worcester and R. Hoveden also relate That the Danes destroyed many of the Prisoners they had taken with cruel Torments and various Deaths This year Eadric the Ealdorman sirnamed Streon and all the Wise and Chief Men both Clerks and Laicks of the English Nation came to London before Easter which fell out then the day before the Ides of April and there stayed until such time as the above-mentioned Tribute could be paid which was not done till after Easter and was then Eight thousand Pounds In the mean time being about Six Months after upon a Saturday the Danish Army being highly incensed against Archbishop Aelfeage because he would neither promise them Money himself nor yet would suffer any body else to give them any thing for his Ransom for which as Osbern in his Life relates they demanded no less than Three thousand Pounds in Silver a vast Sum in those days which being denied them and many of them being got drunk they laid hold on the Archbishop and led him to their Council on the Saturday after Easter and there knocked him on the head as the Annals relate with Stones and Cows Horns till at last one of them striking him with an Axe on the Head he fell down dead with the Blow Florence says that this was done by one Thrum a Dane whom he had the day before confirmed being thereunto moved by an Impious Piety But John of Tinmouth in his Manuscript History of Saints called Historia Aurea now in the Library at Lambeth relates that when Archbishop Elfeage was thus killed the Danes threw his Body into the River which was soon taken out again by those whom he had converted But our Annals here farther That the Bishops Eadnoth and Aelfhune the former of Lincoln and the latter of London took away his sacred Body early the next morning and buried it in St. Paul's Minster where God now shews the power of this Holy Martyr But as soon as the Tribute was paid and the Peace confirmed by Oath the Danish Army was loosely dispersed abroad being before closely compacted together then Five and forty of their Ships submitted to the King and promised him to defend the Kingdom provided he would allow them Victuals and Apparel The year after Archbishop Aelfeage was thus martyr'd the King made one Lifing Archbishop of Canterbury Also the same year before the Month of August King Sweyn came with his Fleet to Sandwich and soon after sailing about east-East-England arrived in the Mouth of Humber and from thence up the River Trent till they came to Gegnesburgh now Gainsborough in Lincolnshire Which mischief according to William of Malmesbury proceeded from Turkil a Dane who was the great Inciter of the Death of the Archbishop and who had then the East-English subjected to his will This man sent Messengers into his own Countrey to King Sweyn letting him know that he should come again into England for the King was given so much to Wine and Women that he minded nothing else wherefore he was hated by his Subjects and contemned by Strangers that his Commanders were Cowards the Natives weak and who would run away at the first sound of his Trumpets Though this seems not very probable for Earl Turkil was then of King Ethelred's side as you will see by and by King Sweyn being prone enough to slaughter needed no great Intreaties to bring him over he had been here eight years before and why he stayed away so long I wish our Authors would have told us But William of Malmesbury further adds That one chief end of his coming over was to revenge the death of his Sister Gunhildis who being a Beautiful Young Lady had come over into England with Palling her Husband a powerful Danish Earl and receiving the Christian Religion became her self a Hostage of the Peace that had been formerly concluded But tho the unhappy Fury of Edric had commanded her to be beheaded together with some other of her Countreymen yet she bore her Death with an undaunted Spirit having seen her Husband and a Son a Youth of great and promising hopes slain before her face But to come again to our Annals So soon as King Sweyn arrived in the North Earl Vhtred and all the Countrey of the Northumbers with all the people in Lindesige and the people of the five Burghs or Towns but what these were we now know not lying on the other side Waetlingastreet submitted themselves to him There were also Hostages given him out of every Shire but when he found that all the people were now become subject to him he commanded them to provide his Forces both with Horses and Provisions whilst he in the mean time marched toward the South with great expedition committing the Ships and Hostages to Knute his Son And after he had passed Waetlingastreet they did as much mischief as any Army could do Then they turn'd to Oxnaford whose Citizens presently submitted themselves to him from thence he went to Wincester where the Inhabitants did the same and from thence they marched Eastward towards London near which many of his men were drown'd in the Thames because they would not stay to find a Bridge but when they came thither the Citizens would not submit but sallying out had a sharp Engagement with them because King Ethelred was there and Earl Turkil with him Wherefore King Sweyn departed thence to Wealingaford and then over Thames Westward to Bathe and there sate down with his whole Army whither came to him Aethelmar the Ealdorman of Devonshire with all the Western Thanes who all submitted themselves to him and gave him Hostages When he had subdued all these places he marched Northwards to his Ships and then almost the whole Nation received and acknowledged him for their real King And after this the Citizens of London became subject to him and gave him Hostages because otherwise they fear'd they should be utterly destroy'd for Sweyn demanded that they should give full
Pay and Victuals to his Army and that Winter Thurkil demanded the same for King Ethelred's Forces which lay at Grenawic i. e. Greenwich But both the Armies refrain'd not a jot the less from plundering where they pleased so that the Nation both as well in the North as in the South was no longer able bear it After this the King stayed some time with his Fleet which lay then in the Thames whilst the Queen retired beyond Sea to her Brother Earl Richard in Normandy and Elsige Abbot of Burgh went along with her the King also sent thither the Princes Eadward and Aelfred with Bishop Aelfune to be their Governor Then the King went with his Fleet about Christmass into Wihtland and there kept the Festival and afterwards passed over to Earl Richard and there stayed with him till Sweyn died There is in the Peterburgh Copy of these Annals this following Relation That whilst the Queen thus remained beyond Sea Elsige Abbot of Burgh who was then with her went to the Monastery called Boneval where the Body of Saint Florentine lay buried This place he found almost wholly deserted and the poor Abbot and Monks in a miserable condition having been robbed of all they had then he bought of the Abbot and Monks the whole Body except the Head for Five thousand Pounds and at his return into England dedicated it to Christ and St. Peter that is he placed it in the Church of Peterburgh of which he was then Abbot This was a vast Sum of Money in those days to be given for the Bones of one dead Carkass and not entire neither but such was the Superstition of that Age. This year King Sweyn ended his Life about Candlemas Then all the Danish Fleet and Army chose Cnute his Son to be their King But all the Wise or Chief Men of the English Nation as well of the Clergy as Laity sent to King Aethelred to let him know that there was no Prince dearer to them than their own Natural Lord provided he would govern them better than he had hitherto done Upon this the King sent Prince Edward his Son and several others Attendants into this Kingdom with Orders to recommend him to the whole Nation in his Name promising them to be a faithful and kind Lord to them and that he would redress whatever Grievances they had suffer'd and would also pardon whatsoever had been done against him either by Words or Deeds provided they would all sincerely return to their Allegiance Then a full and firm Amity being concluded on both by Words and Deeds and Hostages being given on both sides they decreed the Danish King for ever banished England After which King Ethelred return'd about Lent into his own Countrey and was chearfully received by all men The Bodleian Copy of Florence here adds That Queen Elfgiva or Emma with the Two Young Princes her Sons remained still in Normandy until she was after the Death of her Husband sent for over by King Cnute and the Common-Council of the Kingdom and being married to him was solemnly crowned at Westminster in the presence of all the Bishops and Great Men of England After Sweyn was dead Cnute his Son staid with his Army at Gegnesburgh until Easter and there agreed with the people of Lindesige that they should provide his Army with Horses and then that all of them should march out together to plunder but King Ethelred came thither with a strong Army before they were ready to execute their Design and spoiled and burnt all places killing all the men they could meet with therefore King Cnute departed thence with his Fleet leaving the poor miserable people to shift for themselves and sail'd Southward till he came to Sandwic and there put the Hostages on shore which had been given to his Father having first cut off their Hands and Noses But for an addition to all these Calamities the King commanded Twenty one thousand Pounds to be paid to the Army that then lay at Grenawic Also this year on the Vigil of St. Michael happen'd a great Inundation of the Sea all along this Coast insomuch that it spread further than ever it had yet done so that it drowned many Towns and an innumerable company of men We have nothing further to add under this year more than to observe the various Relations of our Monkish Writers concerning the sudden death of King Sweyn which they will needs have to be a Judgment upon him for wasting the Lands belonging to the Monastery of Badricesworth and for giving opprobrious language against the Memory of St. Edmund who was then enshrin'd But because their Relation of this matter is very remarkable I shall give you both Florence of Worcester and Simeon of Durham their Account of it which is thus That King Sweyn lying then at Gainsborough there held a General Assembly of his Great Officers and when it grew toward evening being encircled with his Armed Men he cast out Threats that he would send and spoil that Monastery whereupon he presently thought he saw St. Edmund coming all Armed toward him which made him cry out vehemently Help help Fellow-soldiers look here King Edmund comes to kill me and as he uttered these words he received a Mortal Blow by the Saint's hands and so fell from his Horse and lying till the dusk of the evening in great torment he expired on the second of February and was carried to York and there buried So these Writers report from the Legend of St. Edmund Yet John of Tinmouth makes St. Edmund's Ghost to have stabbed him with his Dagger as he sate in his Chair But William of Malmesbury tells us That St. Edmund appeared to him in his sleep and smote him whilst he was in bed because he answered him rudely But they all agree that he died of the Blow which St. Edmund had given him But I do believe that there may be so much Truth in this story that King Sweyn being mortally wounded by some unknown hand who had the good fortune to make his escape gave occasion to the Monks of St. Edmundsbury to invent this Legend for the Honour of their Saint and also to deter others from daring to violate that place which was then accounted sacred But is seems King Ethelred was not much better'd by Affliction nor did he long observe his Promise of governing according to Law for the next year A Mycel Gemot or Great Council being now held at Oxnaford Earl Eadrâ—c there betray'd Sigeferth and Morcar two Danish Thanes of the Seafenburghs that is the Seven Towns but where they lay we know not and inviting them all into his Chamber they were there treacherously slain Then the King seized upon all their Goods and commanded the Widow of Sigeferth to be secured and carried to Meadelnesbyrig i. e. Malmesbury But some short time after Edmund Aetheling coming thither married this Woman against his Father's will For the Prince going as William of Malmesbury relates to see
highly commends this Wulfkytel and says that he deserved perpetual Honour because he was the first in the time of Sweyn who set upon the Danish Pyrates and gave some hopes that they might be conquered But as for Eadnoth Bishop of Lincoln and the Abbot above-mentioned they came not to fight but as Simeon says to pray to God for those that did so that the English Nation never yet received a greater Blow But King Edmund being left almost alone got to Gloucester and there rallied and recruited his shatter'd Troops but thither according to our Annals King Cnute with all his Army pursued him Then Eadric the Ealdorman and all the Great Men on both sides advised the Two Kings to come to Terms of Peace Whereupon they both met together at Olanege an Island in the River Severn now called the Eighth and there concluded a League between them Hostages and Oaths being mutually exchanged and agreed That the Danish Army should be paid A Peace being thus concluded the two Kings parted from each other Eadmund going into West-Saxony and Cnute to the Mercians But since other Authors have more particularly related the Cause and Manner of making this Peace I shall give you a larger account of it from Simeon of Durham and R. Hoveden the first of whom says That the Traytor Edric and some others when King Edmund would have fought again with Cnute would by no means suffer him to do it but advised him rather to make a Peace and divide the Kingdom with him to whose Persuasions the King at last though unwillingly consented and Messengers passing between them and Hostages being interchanged the two Kings or rather their Commissioners as Bromton's Chronicle relates it met at a place called Deorhurst on the Severne and there concluded a Truce Then King Edmund with his men being on the West side Severne and Cnute with his Followers sitting down on the East side thereof they passed over in Ferry-boats to the Island above-mentioned where they met and agreed upon the Terms of Peace But Ethelred Abbot of Rieval tells the Story somewhat different viz. That both Armies growing weary of the War at last compelled the Great Men on each side to come to a Conference where one of the most Elderly among them is brought in making a long Speech I suppose to shew the Wit of those Authors and therein he very pathetically represents the Mischiefs the Soldiers lay under in thus exposing their Lives and Fortunes for Two Princes of equal Courage and so advised them before it was too late That since King Edmund could not endure a Superior nor Cnute an Equal they should leave it to them two to fight by themselves for that Crown which they both so much desired to wear left by this desperate way of fighting the Soldiers should be all kill'd and then there would be none left to defend the Nation against Foreign Invaders Which Speech being highly approved of by all there present both Armies cried out with one voice Let them either Fight or Agree This Sentence of the Chief Commanders and Soldiers being brought to both the Kings pleased them so well that they met in the Island above-mentioned and there fought singly in the sight of both Armies where having broken their Spears and then drawn their Swords there follows in these Authors a long and Tragical Relation of this mighty Combat which yet it seems happened without any Wounds on either side but Cnute beginning at last to be out of breath and fearing the greater Strength and Youth of King Edmund proposed a Peace to be made by division of the Kingdom between them and they give us also the fine Speech made by King Cnute upon this Subject which Proposal being willingly received by King Edmund they kissed and embraced each other both Armies wondering and weeping for joy at this so happy and unexpected agreement So mutually changing both their Arms and Apparrel in token of Friendship they each return'd to their own men and there drew up the Conditions of the League viz. That King Edmund should enjoy West-Saxony and Cnute the Kingdom of Mercia but what was to become of the rest of England they do not speak one word But tho so many of our Writers seem pleas'd with this Romantick Story yet I rather assent to the Testimony of our Annals and the Encomium Emmae as also William of Malmesbury Florence of Worcester and several Manuscript Authors in the Cottonian Library who all agree this Peace to have been made at the place aforesaid without any Combat at all between the two Kings Only William of Malmesbury relates that when King Edmund had challenged Cnute to fight with him single to save the further Effusion of their Subjects Blood this Challenge being carried to King Cnute he utterly declined it saying Though he had as great a Courage as his Antagonist yet he would not venture his own small Body against a man of so great Strength and Stature but since both their Fathers had enjoyed a share of the Kingdom it was more agreeable to prudence to divide it between them Which Proposal being joyfully received by both Armies as a thing most just and equal in it self and which most tended to the good of both Nations now harass'd out by long and cruel Wars King Edmund accepted of and agreed though with some reluctancy to a Peace upon the terms above-mentioned Thus we find what a great uncertainty there is in most of the Relations of those times But to proceed with our Annals The Danes as soon as this Peace was concluded went to their Ships with all the Plunder they had taken and from thence fail'd to London and there took up their Winter-Quarters For that City as being part of the Mercian Kingdom had now submitted it self to them Not long after this viz. at the Feast of St. Andrew King Eadmund departed this life and was buried with his Grandfather King Eadgar at Glaestingabyrig The same year also deceased Wulfgar in Abbandune whereof he was Abbot and Aethelsige succeeded him But since our Annals tell us only of the sudden Death of this Prince without relating the manner of it we shall give it you more at large from other Authors who almost generally agree that he was murthered by that Traytor Edric though they differ somewhat in the Actors or Instruments by whom it was committed some will have him to be taken off by Poyson others with an Arrow shot by an Image made on purpose which discharged it self upon the King as soon as he touched it but this is too improbable to beget any credit And therefore what William of Malmesbury and Bromton relate is most likely to be true viz. That this Aedric above-mentioned suborned two of this King's Servants to lye under the House-of-Office and to thrust up a sharp piece of Iron into his Fundament as one night he sate down to ease himself Tho the Chronicle last-mentioned says this Murther was committed at Oxford by
year the same Archbishop translated the Reliques of St. Aelfeage his Predecessor from London to Canterbury The King himself as William of Malmesbury tells us removed them with his own hands paying them all due Veneration and further adds that his Body remain'd as uncorrupt as if he had been but lately kill'd Richard the Second Duke of Normandy died and Richard his Son ruled after him one year and then Rodbert his Brother succeeded him and ruled eight years This year King Cnute sail'd with his Fleet into Denmark to a Plain near the Holy River but where that was I know not and there came against him Wulf and Eglaf with a very powerful Army out of Sweden both by Land and Sea and many on King Cnute's side were there killed both Danes and English the Swedes keeping the field of Battel After which Cnute returning into England I find no mention made of any Action here in any Author for the two succeeding years But then King Cnute sail'd with fifty Ships of English Thanes into Norway and drove King Olaf out of that Countrey and conquer'd it for himself Bromton's Chronicle relates That this Olaf being a Soft and Easy Prince was already in a manner driven out by his own Subjects and so Cnute only went as it were to receive the Kingdom from the Nobility and People who submitted themselves presently to him ' King Cnute came back into England And as R. Hoveden adds upon his Return banished Hacun a Danish Earl that had married his Niece Gunhilda who was his Sister's Daughter sending him away under pretence of an Embassy for the King was afraid lest otherwise he might deprive him both of his Kingdom and Life King Olaf return'd again into Norway to regain his Right but the People rising up against him he was there slain This is he who was afterwards canoniz'd under the Title of King Olaf the Martyr About this time as Guil. Gemeticensis and John of Walingford do both relate Robert Duke of Normandy pitying the long Exile of his Nephews Edward and Alfred sent Ambassadors to King Cnute requiring him to restore them to their Right but he not at all valuing his threatning sent the Ambassadors back with a Repulse whereat the Duke conceiving great indignation assembled his Nobles and by their Advice caus'd a great Navy to be prepar'd which in a short time came to Anchor at Fescam then the Duke with his Army put to Sea but by Tempest was driven into the Isle of Guernsey and so shatter'd that he was forced to return home where they were detain'd a long time by contrary Winds which was an extreme mortification to him But not long after Ambassadors came over to him from King Cnute signifying That he was contented to resign to the Young Princes half the Kingdom which they should peaceably enjoy during his life and that was not like to be long for he then laboured under a languishing Distemper Wherefore the Duke thought good for some time to defer his Expedition till he should be come back from Jerusalem whither he had vowed to undertake a Pilgrimage And when he had recommended to Robert Archbishop of Rouen and other Nobles his Son William then a Child of Seven Years old and received from them Assurances of their Fidelity to him he began the said Voyage and having perform'd it as he was returning homewards the next year he fell sick and died about the Alpes But of this William his Son by Harlotte his Concubine 〈◊〉 not only succeeded his Father but was also afterwards King of England as you shall hear when we come to his Reign This year as soon as King Cnute return'd into England he gave the Port of Sandwic to Christ's Church in Canterbury with all the Issues and Profits arising from thence on both sides the Haven according to an Extract from his Charter preserved among the Evidences of that Church and that as far as when the Tide of Flood was highest and a Ship lying near the Shore a man could from thence cast a little Axe on land so far the Christ-Church Officers should receive all Rights and Dues This year also according to Monast. Angl. King Cnute founded another Monastery for Benedictines in Norfolk which from its being seated in a Woody Place was called by St. Bennet's in Holme the Lands and Scite of which Abby being by King Henry the VIII th after the Dissolution of the Monasteries exchanged with the Bishop of Norwich for other Lands he is the only Bishop of England who has still the Title of an Abbot Also under this year I find a Charter in the Manuscript Copy of Florence of Worcester in the Bodleian Library made to the Monastery of St. Edmundsbury granting and confirming all its Lands and Privileges the beginning of which Charter being somewhat remarkable I shall here recite Cnute Rex Totius Albionis Insulae aliarumque Nationum adjacentium in Cathedra Regali promotus cum Consilio Decreto Archiepiscoporum Episcoporum Abbatum Comitum omniumque meorum Fidelium elegi sanciendum perpetuo stabilimento ab omnibus confirmandum quod Monasterium quod Badriceswerde nuncupatur c. which is also printed from the Original at the end of Mr. Petyts Treatise of the Rights of the Commons c. King Cnute having performed these great Deeds of Charity and Devotion not long after in the same year as our Annals inform us ' began his Journey to Rome But since our Annals do not tell us what he did there I shall give it you in short from his own Letter as I find it in William of Malmesbury which upon his return from Rome he wrote and sent into England by Living Abbot of Tavistock and begins thus Cnute King of Denmark Norway and all Swedeland to Ailnoth or Egelnoth the Metropolitan and to Alfric of York with all the Bishops and Primates and to the whole English Nation as well Noblemen as Plebeians Health Wherein he gives an account of his Journey as also the reason of his undertaking it then how honourably he was received at Rome and what he had there negotiated for the benefit of his Subjects Then he gives Directions and Commands to his Officers to do all Justice and Right to the People in his Absence a thing to which he resolved on as he says long before but never could till now accomplish what he had designed for the Pardon of his Sins and the Safety of all his Subjects he further signifies that he was received by all the Princes who at that time were with Pope John solemnizing the Feast of Easter with extraordinary Respect and Honour but especially by Conrade the German Emperor that he had dealt with them all about the concernments of his people both English and Danes that their Passage to Rome might be more free and open and had obtained that as well Merchants as others should with all safety pass and repass without any Toll
be put upon the Head of the Crucifix at Winchester From whose Example as Petrus Pictaviensis relates arose that custom of hanging up the Armour of Great Men in Churches as Offerings made to God by whose assistance they had attained any Honour to themselves or Benefit to their Countrey either by Victory or an Honourable Death I shall conclude his Reign with his Laws which since we have not the time when they were made I have reserved to this place They begin thus This is the Law or Decree which Cnute King of all England Denmark and Norway hath ordained with the Consent of his Wise Men at London as well for the Maintenance of his own Royal Dignity as for the Benefit of his People and were made at Winchester in Mid-winter i.e. at Christmas which you must note was one of the stated times when all the Great Men of the Kingdom both Clergy and Laity used of course to attend upon the King whether he summoned them or not But since these Laws are very long and contain a Repetition and Confirmation of divers Laws formerly made by his Predecessors I shall only here extract some of them and refer the Reader to Mr. Lambard for the rest The first of Civil Concernment commands Justice to be faithfully and indifferently administred both to Poor and Rich and abolishes all unjust Laws The second requires Mercy to be used and that no man be put to death for a small offence The eighth ordains that all people keep the Peace and orders one and the same good Money to be current and no man to refuse it If any one embase the Coin his hands shall be cut off without any Redemption And if a Reeve or Magistrate be accused that it was done by his consent he shall purge himself by a treble Purgation and if he be cast incur the same Punishment with the Offender The twelfth is remarkable since it comprizes all those Forfeitures which the King challenges as due to himself in the Counties of West-Saxony except he please to confer them upon any other viz. the Penalties incurr'd for the breach of the Peace for breaking into a House stopping up a Passage and forsaking a man's Colours If also for any Crime a man be outlaw'd the Restitution of him to his former state belongs to the King He also that possesseth Bocland i. e. Land conveyâ—d by Deed forfeits to the King let his Lord be who he will as also whoever relieves or Harbours a Fugitive The fourteenth Law appoints Mulcts for divers Offences and particulary That if any Judge have out of Hatred or Lucre perverted Justice by the Law of the English he is to pay to the King the value of his Head and also to be removed from his Place or redeem it as the King shall please except he plead that what he did was from Ignorance and then he must confirm this Assertion by Oath And by the Law of the Danes he is to incur the Mulct of the breach of that Law except he can plead Ignorance The Nineteenth renews the former Laws of King Alfred commanding every one of free condition to enter himself into some Hundred or Tything that being in a condition to purge himself he may also be in a capacity to claim from another the value of his Head otherwise none that exceeds twelve years of age in case he receive any wrong shall be capable of enjoying the same privilege with a Freeman and be he a Master of a Family or a Retainer he must be entred into some Hundred or other and must find Pledges or Sureties for his appearance in case he be accused of a Crime Some Great Men says the King if they can do it will protect their Servants giving out sometimes that they are Free other times that they are Slaves but we not enduring any such unjust practises enjoin That every one of twelve years of age shall give Security by Oath that he will neither steal himself nor be accessary to the Theft of any other Thus doth he revive what King Alfred had before ordained That no Freeman should be out of Tything or live at random without this most efficacious Tye of Suretyship and to what was enacted before adds this caution of twelve years beyond which for the Publick Peace and Security none were to live without being admitted and received into some Hundred and Tything The twentieth Law of King Cnute so far indulges a man unblameable and of good Repute who never brake his Oath in the Hundred nor was cast by the Ordeal that his single Purgation shall be accepted But a man of the contrary Reputation shall either be compelled to take his single Oath in three Hundreds or a threefold one according to the custom of that Court or be put to the Ordeal but a single Purgation is to be made with a threefold preparatory Oath By virtue of the fifty fourth Law whosoever conspires against the King or his Lord shall forfeit Life and Fortunes except he purge himself by the threefold Ordeal The sixty first declares breaking down or burning Houses as also Theft manifest Murthers and betraying of ones Lord according to Human Laws to be Crimes for which there is no Bote or Satisfaction to be made by way of Mulct or Compensation Which is alteration of the former Laws by which all these Crimes were redeemable by Money The next wills That Mercy be shewn as much as may be to such as truly and unfeignedly amend their ways And by that which follows the King declares he will put a differrence betwixt Small and Great Rich and Poor Young and Old Infirm and Healthful forasmuch as some men may offend out of a kind of necessity and that a distinction is to be made betwixt a forced and a voluntary act Therefore he promises to succour where there is most need of his help The sixty seventh contains an Act of Grace of the King to his Subjects whereby he relieves such as were formerly oppressed He also enjoins all his Officers that they make provision for his House out of his own Lands and Tillage and that they compel no man to furnish him with any Provisions in this kind upon pain of paying the value of their heads if they impose any Mulct upon Refusers The sixty eighth ordains That in case any man by neglect or sudden Death depart this world intestate his Lord shall take nothing of his Goods except what is due to him as an Herriot but all is to be distributed by his Judgment to the Wife Children and next Kindred justly according to their several Rights The sixty ninth settles the rates of all Herriots to the King ordering that the Herriot of every one be according to his dignity as first That of an Earl eight Horses whereof four with Furniture and four without four Helmets as many Corslets eight Spears and as many Shields four Swords and two hundred Mancuses of Gold That of the King 's chief Thane four
lying Northward from the Thames together with the City of London and Hardecnute enjoy all the Southern Provinces But Hardecnute having received his share of the Kingdom went into Denmark where making unnecessary delays Harold seized the whole Kingdom to himself Which is in part confirmed by an Ancient Manuscript Chronicle in the Cottonian Library which relates That Harold King of the Northumbrians and Mercians was elected King of all England and Hardecnute because he staid in Denmark was cast off To which may be added certain old Manuscript Annals now in the same Library part of which is supposed to be written by Henry of Huntington That Harold was elected by the Chief Men of the East-Angles i. e. the Danes of that Countrey together with the Londoners so that he usurped the Kingdom of his Brother Hardecnute being then in Denmark And Simeon of Durham relates That by the Consent of the Great Men of England Harold began to reign as true and just Heir but not so indisputably as King Cnute his Father had done because Hardecnute who was a truer Heir than he was then expected yet that in a short time the Kingdom became divided after the same manner as Ingulph hath related But it seems very unlikely that Hardecnute if he had been chosen King of any part of England would have left it and gone over into Denmark before he was well settled at home It is therefore more likely what Florence of Worcester asserts That Harold was at first elected King only of the Mercians and Northumbers Hardecnute being to enjoy all the rest but that not coming out of Denmark in due time Harold got himself chosen King of the whole Kingdom the year following But leaving this matter concerning Hardecnute's Succession which must be confessed is much in the dark the Author last mentioned does say That Harold after he had obtained the Royal Dignity sent his Guards speedily to Winchester and there tyrannically seized on the greater part of the Treasures of the King his Father which had been bequeathed by Cnute to the Queen his Mother-in-Law But I cannot omit taking notice of the most Cruel and Bloody Treatment of Prince Alfred Brother to King Edward and his Followers which because many of our Best and most Ancient Historians as well Printed as Manuscript refer to this year and that too not long after King Harold's coming to the Crown I shall here set down since it seems most likely to have happened now rather than at any other time For though our Authors differ much about it yet seeing most of the Ancient Manuscript Annals in the Cottonian Library as also that old Treatise called Encomium Emmae being a Panegyrick wrote on that Queen by a Monk of her own time agree in relating the Circumstances of this horrid Action I shall from thence transcribe this following Account of it viz. That King Harold seeking by Treachery how to get those two young Princes Sons to the late King Ethelred into his power forged a Letter in the Name of Queen Emma their Mother inviting them into England wherein personating her she seemed to chide them gently for their delay in not coming over to look after their own concerns seeing they could not but know that it procured the daily confirming of the Usurper in his power who omitted no arts or means whatsoever to gain the chief Nobility over to his Party yet also assures them that the English Nation had much rather have one of them to be their King and in conclusion desires they would come as speedily and as privately as they could to consult with her what course was best to be taken This Letter was sent to the Princes then in Normandy by an express Messenger with Presents also as from their Mother which they joyfully receiving returned word by the same hand That one of them would be with her shortly naming both the Time and Place Alfred who was the younger for so it was thought best at the appointed time with a few Ships and some small number of Normans about him appeared on the Coast and no sooner came ashore but fell into the Snare that Earl Godwin had laid for him being sent on purpose to betray him and being cajoll'd into a belief that he was sent for by the King then at London he was in the way met at Guilford by Earl Godwin who with all seeming Friendship at first kindly entertained him but in the night surprized the Prince and made him Prisoner with all his Company most of whom in all about Six hundred men were put to various kinds of cruel deaths and being twice decimated every Tenth man suffered without mercy The Prince was brought to London and by the King sent bound to Ely and had his eyes put out as soon as he landed there and being delivered to the Monks to be kept died soon after in their Custody but whether of the Pain or Grief or some other Indisposition is left uncertain Yet though this Author makes no mention of Prince Edward his Brother's coming over with him but rather asserting the contrary that he never came at all however several other Historians will have this Prince to have either come over then or some time before and that being with his Mother when his Brother was thus treated she immediately sent him back into Normandy which I must confess seems very improbable since Harold had it then in his power to destroy them both But though it is certain that this unfortunate Prince was made away yet since our Annals are wholly silent in it there is nothing about which our Historians so much vary as concerning the time when it was done William of Malmesbury and Bromton place it after the death of Harold and before the coming over of Hardecnute when they say that Prince Alfred arrived with some expectations of the Kingdom but the former plainly confesses that he related this story only upon common fame yet because the Chronicles i. e. the Saxon Annals are silent he will not affirm it for truth so it seems he had never seen the above-mention'd Encomium Emmae But that Prince Alfred was made away by the means of Earl Godwin we shall further make out when we come to the Reign of King Edward the Confessor And the reason that some of our Historians give for Godwin's cruel usage of Prince Alfred whilst he let his Brother escape is that Godwin was afraid of the High Spirit and Wit of this young Prince because he knew that if ever he came to be King he would never be governed by him nor marry his Daughter both which he hoped for from Edward in case he should be chosen King by his means as afterwards happen'd This whether true or not I will not determine yet it suits well enough with the Interest of that Politick Earl I shall say no more of this only we cannot but hence observe the great Uncertainty of Traditional Accounts though of no long standing
since this Story transacted not many years before the Conquest is told so many several ways This year according to our Annals Aelgiva the Widow of King Cnute and Mother of King Hardecnute and King Edward was banished but going over to Baldwin Earl of Flanders he assign'd her Bricge i. e. Bruges for her Retirement where he protected her and provided for her as long as she staid there But the Reader is to take notice that this Queen who is here called Aelgiva in the English-Saxon is the same with Emma in the Norman-French Dialect and who was now banished England by King Harold as all Writers agree But the reason why this Queen did not retire into Normandy her own Countrey was that her Father and Brother were both dead and though William her Nephew then succeeded in the Dukedom yet he was but an Infant under the Tutelage of the King of France This year also produced a great Revolution in Wales for Griffyth ap Lewelyn ap Sitsylt sometimes Prince of Wales raised a great Army against Prince Jago who now enjoyed the Principality of North-Wales as you have already heard and Jago also provided for himself as well as he could but the greater part and the better Soldiers were of Griffyth's side for the love they bore to his Father as plainly appeared when it came to a trial for after the Battel was joined Jago his Soldiers deserting him was soon overthrown and slain and then Griffyth reigned in his stead From whence we may observe the strange fickleness of the Welsh Nation in those times who notwithstanding their seeming Affection to this Prince the Right Heir yet left him as soon as ever they met with one of the same Race whom they liked better From which evil custom these Countries were never long without Civil Wars till the total Conquest of them by the English But Griffyth ap Lewelyn after he had thus slain Prince Jago governed North-Wales very well following his Father's steps and in the very first year of his Government he fought with the Englishmen and Danes at Crosford upon Severne and from thence he led his Army to Lhanpadarn vawr in Caerdiganshire and destroyed that place and thence passing into South-Wales totally subdued it Howel ap Edwin at that time Prince thereof being forced to fly his Countrey and when he had thus reduced South-Wales he returned home again with Honour But the next year Howel Prince of South-Wales as the English as well as Welsh Chronicles relate having now procured Edwin the Brother of Leofric Earl of Mercia to assist him marched with a great Army of English and Danes against Prince Griffyth who meeting them in the field overcame them and slew Edwin at Pencadair and pursued Howel so closely that though he escaped himself yet his Wife was taken Prisoner whom Griffyth like so well that he kept her for his Mistress But though Howel after this made several Attempts to regain his Countrey yet he could never succeed for that Prince Griffyth held it all his time But the Cottonian Chronicle relates that fighting afterwards with Griffyth at a place called Paldiwach he obtained the Victory and again made himself Prince of South-Wales But this I leave to the Reader 's Judgment To return again to our Annals Ethelnoth Archbishop of Canterbury deceased and a little after Ethelric Bishop of the South-Saxons and also a little before Christmas Bryteh Bishop of Worcester and a little after Aelfric Bishop of the East Angles Then Aeadsige was made Archbishop and Grymkytel Bishop of the South-Saxons and Living succeeded in the Bishopricks of Worcester and Gloucester This year King Harold deceased at Oxnaford 16. Kal. April and was buried at Westminster He governed England Four Years and Sixteen Weeks But there is certainly an Error in this Copy of the Annals for either he deceased not till the next year as the Cambridge Copy and Mat. Westminster place it or else he could reign but Three Years and perhaps so many odd Weeks as these Annals mention In his time was again paid a great Tax for the setting out Sixteen Sail to wit Eight Marks to every Rower which shews it consisted of only Gallies and not Ships and as Florence also adds Twelve Marks more to every Master which he order'd to be rais'd through all England as was before done in the Reign of King Cnute But it seems every Port was bound to pay such a proportion to set out these Sixteen Sail as H. Huntington relates whereby nevertheless he so much incensed the minds of the English against him that the Welsh perceiving it or else for some other reason began to be very unruly insomuch that some Insurrections happened thereupon wherein many of the English Nobility were slain as Edwin Brother to Earl Leofric Turketil and Algeat the Sons of Effi both of them Great Persons and several others And to this time I suppose we may refer what Caradoc in his Welsh Chronicle relates That Griffyth ap Lewelyn Prince of North-Wales in the first year of his Reign fought with the English and Danes at Crossford upon Severne and put them to flight and from thence he led his Army to Lhanpadan vawr in Caerdiganshire and destroyed the place utterly and from thence passed all over South-Wales receiving the people into his subjection for Howel ap Edwin their King fled before him and forsook the Land As for the Character of this King Harold and the reason why he was called Harefoot they are very uncertain H. Knighton in his Chronicle writes very oddly That he had a Body like a Hare sure he means hairy like that Creature and from thence was called Harefoot which is very improbable But others with more appearance of truth derive it from his Swiftness of Foot Bromton gives him this Character That in all respects he degenerated from the Worth of his Father King Cnute insomuch that divers suspected him not to have been his Son for he was altogether careless both as to matters of War and Peace only he would pursue his own Will and Pleasure and what was very unbecoming his Royal Estate chusing rather to go on foot than ride whence for the lightness and swiftness of his Feet he seems to have been called Harefoot As for his Laws we have only this one mentioned by Mr. Selden in his Janus Anglorum which was That whatever Welshman coming into England without leave was taken on this side Offa's Ditch should have his Right Hand cut off by the King's Officers King HARDECNUTE KING Harold dying thus suddenly the Chief Men of England with whom also the Londoners now joined sent Messengers to Hardecnute who was then at Bruges with his Mother intreating him to come and receive the Crown whereupon he hasted into Denmark there to settle his Affairs which when he had done with Forty or as some say Sixty Ships well mann'd with Danish Soldiers according to our Annals he arrived at Sandwich seven days before
Midsummer being joyfully received both by the Danes and English and as H. Huntington relates was by both of them elected King though afterwards the Great Men that did it paid dearly for it for not long after it was decreed That a Tax of Eight Marks should be again paid to the Rowers in Sixty two Sail of Ships The same year also a Sâ—ster i. e. a Horse-load of Wheat was sold for Fifty five Pence and more This year Eadsige the Archbishop went to Rome and also another Military Tax was paid of Twenty nine thousand twenty nine pounds And after this was paid Eleven thousand forty eight pounds for two and thirty Sail of Ships But whether these Taxes were raised by Authority of the Great Council of the Kingdom our Authors do not mention but I believe not for this Danegelt was now by constant usage become a Prerogative The same year came Eadward the Son of King Aethelred into this Kingdom from Wealand by which our Annals mean Normandy After which time Prince Edward returned no more thither but staid in England till his Brother died But the same year not long after his Coronation he sent Alfric Archbishop of York and Earl Godwin and divers Great Men of his Court to London attended by the Hangman and out of Hatred to his Brother Harold and Revenge of the Injuries done to his Mother as he pretended commanded his Body to be dug up and the Head to be cut off and flung into the Thames but some Fishermen afterwards pulling it up with their Nets buried it again in St. Clement's Church-yard being then the Burying-place of the Danes The same year also according to Bromton's Chronicle King Hardecnute sent over his Sister Gunhilda to the Emperor Henry to whom she had been in her Father's life-time betroth'd But before she went the King kept the Nuptial Feast with that Magnificence in Cloaths Equipage and Feasting that as Mat. Westminster relates it was remembred in his time and sung by Musicians at all great Entertainments But this Lady was received and treated by the Emperor her Husband with great kindness for some time till being accused of Adultery she could find it seems no beter a Champion to vindicate her Honour than a certain little Page she had brought out of England with her who undertaking her defence fought in a single Combat against a man of a vast Stature named Rodingar and by cutting his Hamstrings with his Sword and falling down he obtained the Victory and so cleared his Lady's Honour of which she yet received so little satisfaction that she forsook her Husband and retired into a Monastery where she ended her days About this time also as Simeon of Durham Bromton's Chronicle and other Authors inform us King Hardecnute was highly incensed against Living Bishop of Worcester and Earl Godwin for the death of his Half Brother Alfred Son to King Ethelred Alfric Archbishop of York accusing them both of having persuaded King Harold to use him so cruelly as you have already heard The Bishop and Earl being thus accused before King Hardecnute the former was deprived of his Bishoprick and the latter was also in very great danger But not long after the King being appeased with Money the Bishop was again restored and as for Earl Godwin he had also incurred some heavy Punishment had he not been so cunning as to buy his peace as these Authors relate by presenting the King with a Galley most magnificently equipp'd having a gilded Stern and furnished with all Conveniences both for War and Pleasure and mann'd with Eighty choice Soldiers every one of whom had upon each Arm a Golden Bracelet weighing sixteen Ounces with Helmet and Corslet all gilt as were also the Hilts of their Swords having a Danish Battel-Axe adorned with Silver and Gold hung on his Left Shoulder whilst in his Left Hand he held a Shield the Boss and Nails of which were also gilded and in his Right a Launce in the English-Saxon Tongue called a Tegar But all this would not serve his turn without an Oath That Prince Alfred had not his eyes put out by his Advice but he therein merely obeyed Harold's Commands being at that time his King and Master This year according to Simeon of Durham King Hardecnute sent his Huisceorles i. e. his Domestick Servants or Guards to exact the Tax which he had lately imposed But the Citizens of Worcester and the Worcestershire men rising slew two of them called Feadar and Turstan having fled into a Tower belonging to a Monastery of that City Thereupon Hardecnute being exceedingly provoked to hear of their deaths sent to revenge it Leofric Ealdorman of the Mercians Godwin of the West-Saxons Siward of the Northumbrians and others with great Forces and orders to kill all the men plunder and burn the City and waste the Countrey round about On the evening preceding the thirteenth of November they began to put his Commands in execution and continued both wasting and spoiling the City and Countrey for four days together but few of the Inhabitants themselves could be laid hold of the Countrey-men shifting for themselves every man as well as they could and the Citizens betaking themselves to a little Island in the Severne called Beverege which they fortified and vigorously stood upon their Defence till their Opposers being tired out and spent were forced to make Peace with them and so suffered them to return quietly home This was not done till the fifth day when the City being burnt the Army retreated loaded with the Plunder they had got Simeon next after this cruel Expedition places the coming over of Prince Edward but our Annals with greater probability put his Return under the year before This year also King Hardecnute deceased at Lambeth 6. Id. Junii He was King of England two years wanting seven days and was buried in the New Monastery of Winchester his Mother giving the Head of St. Valentine to pray for his Soul But since our Annals are very short in the Relation of his Death we must take it from other Authors who all agree That the King being invited to a Wedding at the place above-mentioned which with great Pomp and Luxury was solemnized betwixt Tovy sirnamed Prudan a Danish Nobleman and Githa the Daughter of Osgod Clappa a great Lord also of that Nation as he was very jolly and merry carousing it with the Bridegroom and some of the Company he fell down speechless and died in the Flower of his Age. He is to be commended for his Piety and Good Nature to his Mother and Brother Prince Edward But the great Faults laid to this Prince's charge are Cruelty Gluttony and Drunkenness For the first of these you have had a late Example and for the latter take what H. Huntington relates That Four Meals a day he allowed his Court and it must be then supposed he loved eating well himself though this Author attributes it to his Bounty and how he rather desired that
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
Conan into Ireland But notwithstanding K. Edward had been elected King ever since the last Summer yet was he not Anointed or Crowned till this year when as our Annals relate that Ceremony was performed on Easter-day with great Solemnity by Eadsige the Archbishop who also preached before the people and instructed them for the King 's good as well as their own advantage This is the first Discourse or Sermon that we can find was ever made of this nature at any King's Coronation The same year also Stig and the Priest was consecrated Bishop of the East-Angles and presently after the King ordered all the Lands his Mother held from him to be surveyed taking from her whatsoever Gold and Silver she had with many other things because she had been too severe to him as well before he was King as after and as Roger Hoveden observes had given him less than he expected from her So that in this Undutifulness to his Mother he does not shew himself so great a Saint as the Monks represent him But they say for his excuse that he did it by the Advice of the Earls Leofric Godwin and Syward by whom this Weak and Easy Prince was chiefly managed This year also according to the Welsh Chronicles Howel ap Edwin late Prince of South-Wales with all the Forces he could raise of his own Countrey-men and the English entred South Wales and began to spoil and havock it of which when Prince Griffyth was informed he gathered his People together in North-Wales and came courageously to meet his Enemies whom he had twice before discomfited and overcame and chased them the third time as far as the Spring of the River Towy where after a long and dangerous Battel Howel was slain and his Army routed and was so closely pursued that few or none escaped alive After whose Death Rytherch and Rees the Sons of Rythaerch ap Jestyn aspiring again to the Rule and Government of South-Wales which their Father had once before acquired gathered a great Army as well of strangers as out of Guentland and Glamorgan and meeting with Griffyth Prince of Wales he courageously animated his men with the remembrance of their former Victories under his Standard and joined Battel with his Enemies whom he found disposed to try if they could regain the Honour which before they had lost Wherefore when they were come up to engage the Fight was so bloody and desperate that it continued till night parted both Armies and then being quite spent they retreated But still each being fearful of one another they thought it their best way to return to their own Countries to raise fresh Recruits About this time was founded a Noble Monastery near Coventry in Warwickshire by Leofric Earl of the Mercians and the Lady Godiva his Wife who was not only one of the most Beautiful but most Pious Women of that Age they also enriched this Monastery with great Presents both of Gold and Silver By reason of which Monastery the Town adjoining became much more flourishing and took the name of Coventry from this Convent And we farther read in Bromton's Chronicle That this worthy Lady Godiva being desirous to exempt the said Town from the grievous Taxes and Tolls imposed on it she earnestly and frequently sollicited her Husband to take them off but yet was still denied However she ceasing not to renew her request he told her jestingly at last That if she would be content to ride naked through the Town he would grant her Petition which she readily undertook to do and so commanding all people at that time to keep within doors she covered her Body with her own Hair of which she had so great a quantity that it served instead of a Mantle Thus did she generously free the Citizens from those heavy Exactions which they then lay under though by the no-very-decent exposing of her self and afterwards gave them a Charter of Exemptions affixing her Husband's and her own Seal to it Now how the Episcopal See came afterwards to be removed hither from Litchfield and Chester we shall in its due place declare The Charter of the Foundation of this Monastery dedicated to our Blessed Lady St. Peter and all the Saints is printed in Monast. Angl. though without any date wherein are named all the Mannors given by the said Munificent Founder and the same is ratified by the Charter of King Edward and a Bull of Pope Alexander bearing date Anno Dom. 1042. Neither did the Piety of these Liberal Persons rest here for Earl Leofric with the Assent of his Lady Godiva repaired also the Monasteries of Leon or Lemster near Hereford of Wenlock of St. Wereburga in Chester of St. John in Worcester and lastly that of Evesham This year Archbishop Eadsige resigned his Archbishoprick by reason of great Bodily Infirmities and by the King's leave and the advice of Earl Godwin he consecrated Syward Abbot of Abbandune to succeed him which thing was known but to few till it was actually done because the Archbishop was afraid lest some other less Learned and Able would either by Money or Interest obtain that See if so be it was once divulged before it was done But of this Syward William of Malmesbury tells us That though he was thus consecrated Archbishop yet notwithstanding he was soon after deposed for his Ingratitude to his Predecessor in that he defrauded the weak Old Man of his necessary maintenance But however to make this Syward some amends he was translated to the Bishoprick of Rochester which was a great Fall indeed from the See of an Archbishop to that of his principal Chaplain but it seems he was resolved to be a Bishop though a mean one comparatively The Annals also relate That this year there was so great a Famine in England that a Sester of Wheat which as Roger Hoveden tells us was then a Horse-load was sold for Sixty Pence and more Which was then a great deal of Money considering the scarcity of Silver in those times and that every Penny then weighed Four Pence of our Money Also the same year the King sail'd to Sandwic with Five and thirty Ships And as R. Hoveden informs us it was to meet Magnus King of Norway then designing to invade England but a War breaking out with Sweyn King of Denmark it put an end to that Expedition Also Aethelstan the Oeconomus or Steward of the Abby of Abbingdon was made Abbot and Stigand again received his Bishoprick of the East-Angles from which it seems by the cunning and Simoniacal practices of Bishop Grymkytel he had been before deprived The same year King Edward married the Daughter of Earl Godwin whose Name was Edgitha or Editha A Woman as William of Malmesbury says not only of great Beauty and Piety but also Learned above what Women usually were in that Age wherein he lived insomuch that Ingulph tells us when he was but a Boy and lived at Court with his Father she was
at Byferstane i. e. Beverston in Gloucestershire together with a great many in their Retinue to attend on the King their Natural Lord and all the Chief and Wise Men that waited on him whereby they might have the King's Consent and Assistance as also that of his Great Council to revenge the Affront and Dishonour which had been lately done to the King and the whole Nation But the Welshmen getting first to the King highly accused the Earls insomuch that they durst not appear in his presence for they said they only came thither to betray him But then there came to the King the Earls Syward and Leofric with many others from the North parts being as William of Malmesbury relates almost all the Nobility of England who had been summoned by the King to come thither But whilst according to our Annals it was told Earl Godwin and his Sons that the King and those that were with him were taking Counsel against them they on the other side stood resolutely on their own defence though it seem'd an hard thing for them to act any thing against their Natural Lord. But William of Malmesbury adds farther That Earl Godwin commanded those of his Party not to fight against the King yet if they were set upon that they should defend themselves so that there had then like to have happen'd a Cruel Civil War if calmer Counsels had not prevailed By this you may see the great Power of Earl Godwin and his Sons who could thus withstand the King and all the Nobility that were with him But to proceed with our Annals Then it was agreed by the chief men on both sides that they should desist from any further violence and thereupon the King gave them God's Peace and his own Word After this the King and his Great Men about him resolved a second time to summon a Witena Gemot or Great Council at London at the beginning of September He also commanded an Army to be raised as great as ever had been seen in England both from the North and South side of Thames When this Council met Earl Sweyn was declared outlaw'd and Earl Godwin and Earl Harold were cited to appear at the Council with all speed As soon as they were come there they desired Peace i. e. Security and also Pledges to be given them whereby they might have safe ingress and regress to and from the Council But the King required all the Earl's Servants to deliver them up into his hands after which the King sent to them commanding them to come with Twelve men to the Great Council but the Earl again demanded Securities and Pledges to be given him and then he promised to clear himself from all Crimes laid to his charge But the Pledges were still denied him and there was only granted him a five days Peace or Truce in which he might depart the Land Then Earl Godwin and Earl Sweyn his Son went to Bosenham in Sussex and their Ships being brought out of the Harbour they sail'd beyond the Seas and sought the Protection of Earl Baldwin staying with him all that Winter but Earl Harold sailed Eastward into Ireland and there took up his Residence under that King's Protection Soon after this the King sent away his Wife who had been crown'd Queen and suffer'd all her Money Lands and Goods to be taken from her and then committed her to the Custody of his Sister at the Nunnery of Werwell But note that Florence of Worcester places this Quarrel with Earl Godwin and his Sons three years later viz. under Anno 1051 and farther adds That the reason why Earl Godwin fled thus privately away was that his Army had forsook him so that he durst not plead the matter with the King but fled away the night following with his five Sons carrying away all their Treasure with them into Flanders This is the Relation which Florence and the Printed Copy of these Annals give us of this great difference between the King and Earl Godwin and his two Sons in the carriage of which both Parties are to be blamed the King in yielding so easy an ear to the false Accusations brought against them and they in refusing to stand to the Determination of the Great Council of the Kingdom without Pledges first given them by the King which is more than any Subject ought to require from his Prince But certainly the King shewed himself a very Weak Man in being persuaded to deal thus severely with his Innocent Queen for the Faults of her Father and Brothers which it was not in her power to help But to conclude the Affairs of this unhappy year our Annals proceed to tell us That About the same time the Abbot Sparhafoc was deposed from the Bishoprick of London and William the King's Chaplain ordained to that See Also Earl Odda was appointed Governor of Defenascire Somersetscire and Dorsetscire and of all the Welsh and the Earldom which Earl Harold lately held was given to Aelfgar the Son of Earl Leofric About this time the Bishoprick of Credington in Cornwal was as we find in the Monasticon at the Request of Pope Leo removed from thence to Exeter where the Monastery of St. Peter and St. Paul was made a Bishop's See the Monks being removed from thence to Westminster and Secular Chanons placed in their stead Which shews that the humour of Monkery did not so much prevail now as in the days of King Edgar And this year Leofric Bishop of that Diocess was enthron'd at Exeter after a solemn Procession where the Bishop walked to Church between King Edward and Queen Editha his Wife This year according to Florence of Worcester the King released the Nation from that cruel Burthen of Danegelt under which it had for so many years groaned but I will not pass my word for the truth of the occasion why he did it though related by Ingulph viz. That King Edward going into his Treasury where this Tax had been laid up saw the Devil capering and dancing upon the Money-bags which it seems no body else could see but himself at which he was so concerned that he ordered all the Money to be restored to the right Owners and forbad its being gathered any more Not long after according to the same Author William Duke of Normandy the King's Cousin coming over into England was honourably received here and had Noble Presents made him and as some relate too that King Edward promised to make him his Successor in the Kingdom This year also according to Florence of Worcester Alfric Archbishop of York deceased and Kinsing the King's Chaplain succeeded him This year deceased Aelgiva alias Ymma the Mother of King Eadward and King Hardecnute She hath a various Character given her by our Historians William of Malmesbury represents her to be very Covetous and Unkind to her first Husbands Children which seems to have been true enough But then she was very Devout and had a great Respect for
do not now know and others Northward to a Castle of Archbishop Rodbert's who together with Bishop Vlf and all their Party going out at the East Gate I suppose of London kill'd and wounded many young men who I suppose went about to seize them thence they went directly to Ealdulphe's Naese now the Nesse-Point in Essex where the Archbishop going on board a small Vessel left his Pall and Bishoprick behind him as God would have it since he had attain'd that Honour without God's Approbation From all which Transactions we may draw these Observations That all this Contest between the King and Earl Godwin seems to have been chiefly from the two great Factions that of the Normans whom the King brought over with him and that of his English Subjects and which happening under a Weak and Easy King that had neither the Prudence nor Courage to keep the Balance even it produced this Pyratical War made by Earl Godwin and his Sons to force the King to restore them to their Estates All which not only shews the great Power of this Earl and his Partizans but also that those who have the Command at Sea may force a King of England to what Terms they please It is also evident that these Annals were wrote by some Monk of the English Party who was wholly of Earl Godwin's side But to return again to them Then was appointed a Great Council without London where all the Earls and Chief Men then in England were present and there Earl Godwin pleaded for himself and was acquitted before the King and the whole Nation and affirmed that he and Harold his Son with the rest of his Children were innocent of the Crimes whereof they stood accused Whereupon the King received the Earl and his Sons with all those of his Party into his full Grace and Favour restoring him to his Earldom and whatsoever else he before enjoyed as likewise to every one his own again And then too the King restored to the Queen his Wife who had been before sent away whatsoever she had been possessed of but Archbishop Rodbert and all the Frenchmen were outlaw'd and banish'd because they were those who had been the chief Incendiaries of this Quarrel between the King and the Earl and Bishop Stigand was then made Archbishop of Canterbury Though our Annals are in the Relation of what passed at this Great Council much more particular than most of our Historians yet in the Account of this War between the King and Earl Godwin there are some things to be further taken notice of as what Simeon of Durham relates That Earl Harold when he came out of Ireland first entred the Mouth of Severne and there spoiled the Coast of Somersetshire plundering both the Towns and Countrey round about and then coming back to his Ships loaden with Prey he presently sail'd round Penwithstâ—ot i. e. the Land's-End and met his Father as you have heard before and when it was told King Edward that Earl Godwin was come to Sandwic he commanded all those who had not revolted from him to make haste to his Assistance but they delay'd so long their coming up that in the mean while Godwin with his Fleet sail'd up the River Thames as far as Southweork and there lay till the Tide but yet not without sending Messengers to some of the chief Citizens of London whom he had before drawn over to his Party by fair Promises and so far prevailed with them that they absolutely engaged themselves to be at his service and do whatever he would command them Then all things being thus prepared the next Tide they weighed Anchor and sail'd Southward up the Stream no body opposing them on the Bridge From whence we may observe that those Ships he had were only small Galleys with Masts to be taken up and down at pleasure much like our Huoys at this day Then came the Earl's Land-Army and flanking themselves all along the side of the River made a very thick and terrible Body insomuch that he turned his Fleet toward the Northern Shore as if he were resolved to have encompassed that of the King's which it seems then lay above-Bridge over-against London And though He had at that time both a Fleet and a Numerous Land-Army of Foot-Soldiers yet they being all English abhorred to fight against their own Kinsfolks and Countreymen and therefore the wiser sort of both sides laid hold on this Opportunity and became such powerful Mediators between the King and the Earl as made them mutually to strike up a Peace and so dismiss their Armies The next day the King held a Great Council and restored Earl Godwin and his Sons to their former Honours and Estates except Sweyn who being prick'd in Conscience for the Murther of his Cousin Beorn was gone from Flanders barefoot as far as Jerusalem and in his return homeward died in Lycia of a Disease contracted through extreme Cold. A firm Concord and Peace being thus concluded both the King and the Earl promised right Law i. e. Justice to all people and banished all those Normans that had introduced unjust Laws and given false Judgments and committed many Outrages upon the English though some of them were permitted to stay as Robert the Deacon and Richard Fitzscrob his Son-in-Law as also Alred the Yeoman of the King's Stirrup Anfred sirnamed Cocksfoot and some others who had been the King's greatest Favourites and always faithful to him and the People all the rest were sent away and amongst them was also William Bishop of London but he being a good honest man was called back again in a short time Osbern sirnamed Pentecost from whom the Castle above-mention'd was so called and his Companion Hugh surrender'd their Castles and by the License of Earl Leofric passing through his Earldom of Mercia went into Scotland and were there kindly received by King Macbeth Mr. Selden in his Titles of Honour refers that Relation in Bromton's Chronicle to this Great Council held this very year in which the manner of King Edward's Reconciliation with Earl Godwin is more particularly set down viz. That the King having summoned a Great Council as soon as he there beheld Earl Godwin immediately accused him before them all of having betrayed and murthered his Brother Prince Alfred in these words Thou Traytor Godwin I accuse thee of the Death of Alfred my Brother whom thou hast traitorously murthered and for the Proof of this I refer my self to the Judgment of Curiae Vestrae i. e. your Court. Then the King proceeded thus ' You most Noble Lords the Earls and Barons of the Kingdom where note That by Barons are to be understood Thanes for they were one and the same before the Conquest You who are my Liege-men being here assembled have heard my Appeal as also the Answer of Earl Godwin I will that you now give a Right Sentence between us in this my Appeal and afford due Justice therein Then the Earls and Barons having maturely debated
this matter among themselves some were for giving Judgment for the King but others differed from them saying That Earl Godwin had never been obliged to the King by either Homage Service or Fealty and therefore could be no Traytor to him and besides that he had not kill'd the Prince with his own hands But others replied That no Earl Baron nor any other Subject of the King could by Law wage Battel against him in his Appeal but ought upon the whole matter to submit himself to the King's Mercy and offer him reasonable Amends Then Leofric Earl of Chester who was an upright and sincere man both with respect to God and the world spoke thus Earl Godwin who next to the King is indeed a Person of the best Quality in England cannot deny but that by his Counsel Alfred the King's Brother was killed and therefore my opinion is That both he himself and his Sons and Twelve of us Earls that are his Friends and Kinsmen should appear humbly before the King each of us carrying as much Gold and Silver as he can bold in his Arms and offering it to him most humbly supplicate for his Pardon and then the King should remit to the Earl all Rancor and Anger whatsoever against him and having received his Homage and Fealty peacebly restore him to all his Lands To this the Assembly agreed and those that were appointed loading themselves with Treasure after the manner aforesaid went unto the King shewing him the order and manner of their Judgment which he being unwilling to contradict complied with and so ratified whatever they had before decreed This tho written a long time after the Conquest as appears by the Words there used viz. Parliament Baron Homage and Fealty yet it might be true in the main as being transcribed out of some Ancient Records of the Great Councils of those times which are now lost and if so would be a Notable Precedent of the large Authority of the Witena Gemot or Great Council of the Nation not only in assenting to new Laws but also of their Judicial Authority in giving Judgment upon all Suits or Complaints brought before them as well in Appeals between Subject and Subject as also where the King himself was a Party and if Authentick would also shew not only that this Tenure of the King by Homage and Fealty was in use before the Conquest but also according to the Judgment of this Great Council that there was no Allegiance due by Birth nor until a man had actually performed his Homage or sworn Fealty to the King and lastly that a satisfaction made by Money was looked upon as sufficient for the Death even of the King 's own Brother Yet to deal ingenuously with the Reader notwithstanding this fair story Bromton himself seems to doubt the truth of it for after he hath there told us from some nameless Author that Earl Godwin out of fear of some of the English Nobility who had sworn to be revenged of him for the murther of Prince Alfred retired into Denmark during the Reign of King Hardecnute but returning in the beginning of King Edward's Reign he appeared at a Parliament at London where the King impeached him of the Death of his Brother in the manner as you have already heard and if so this could not fall out as Mr. Selden supposes in this Great Council after this last return of Earl Godwin which happen'd not in the beginning but the middle of this King's Reign With which Relation also agree two Ancient Chronicles in French written in the time of Edward the Third and are both in the Cottonian Library And Bromton himself acknowledges that according to most Authors Earl Godwin never went into Denmark at all nor left England during the Reign of King Hardecnute so that this Transaction if it ever happen'd at all seems most likely to have fell out in the Reign of King Hardecnute when that King charged Earl Godwin with his Brother's Death and made him redeem it with a great Present as we have above told you But to conclude this year From the Peterburgh Copy of these Annals it appears that about this time Arnwy Abbot of Burgh resigned his Dignity by reason of his bad Health and conferred it with the King's License and the Consent of the Monks upon Leofriâ— a Monk of that Abby But Abbot Arnwy lived eight years after During which time Abbot Leofric so adorned that Monastery with rich Guildings that it was called the Golden Burgh he also endowed it very much with Lands as well as other Treasures This year according to Florence of Worcester Griffyn Prince of Wales entring England spoiled great part of Hâ—refordshire against whom many Inhabitants of that County marched together with the Norman Garison of Hereford Castle but Prince Griffyn meeting with them killed a great many and putting the rest to flight carried away a great deal of Booty This year Earl Godwin deceased 17 th Kal. of May and was buried in the Old Monastery of Winchester Of the manner of whose Death though our Annals are silent yet I shall here set down what I find concerning it by almost all our Historians and it is thus That King Edward celebrating the Feast of Easter at Winchester or at Windsor as some will have it Earl Godwin as his Custom was sitting at Table with him was suddenly seized with so violent a Distemper that it struck him speechless and made him fall off from the Chair on which he sate and his Three Sons Harold Tosti and Gyrth being present they immediately removed him into the King's Chamber hoping it was but a sudden Fit and would be speedily over but he lay in that languishing condition four days and died on the fifth This is the account of his Death to which the Norman Monks and such as write in favour of them add other Circumstances which shew either his Guilt or their Malice since they relate That mention being made by somebody at the King's Table of Alfred his late Brother he thereupon looked very angrily at Earl Godwin when he to vindicate himself told King Edward He perceived that upon the least mentioning of that Prince he cast a frowning Countenance upon him But saith he let not God suffer me to swallow this Morsel if I am guilty of any thing done either toward the taking away his Life or against your Interest After which words being presently choaked with the Bit he had just before put into his Mouth he sunk immediately down and never recovered more But let the manner of his death be as it will he was a Man of an Active and Turbulent Spirit not over-nicely conscientious either in getting or keeping what he could not to be excused for his too much forcing his Sovereign to whatever he listed But had he not been so great a Lover of his Countrey and an Enemy to Strangers those that wrote in the Norman times and who durst not write any thing but
so that the Inhabitants giving them Hostages became subject to King Edward Afterwards marching farther they slew King Griffyth and brought his Head to Harold who placed another King there All this though done in the two following years is here related all at once But Simeon of Durham and Florence of Worcester are much more large in their Account of these Welsh Affairs which they give us under the following year viz. Griffyn Prince of Wales having by his frequent Inroads highly exasperated King Edward being then at Gloucester he after the Christmas Holidays from thence dispatch'd Earl Harold against him with a strong Party of Horse if possible to surprize him yet he got timely notice of his coming and by that means made a shift to escape but left behind him most of his Ships which the Earl taking commanded to be burnt and so returned into England But about Rogation Week Harold having got a Fleet in readiness he set sail from Bristol and compassing the greatest part of Wales joined himself to the Horse with which his Brother Tostige met him and did so much mischief in Wales that tho Prince Griffyn had mustered up an Army to oppose them yet the Welshmen being thus hard put to it at last yielded themselves to Earl Harold delivering up Hostages and consented to pay him Tribute and absolutely renounced Griffyth their Prince So that not long after Prince Griffyth being betrayed by his own People was by them murthered and his Head being cut off was sent to Earl Harold together with the Gilded Stern of his Ship all which the Earl immediately caused to be carried to the King Thus fell Griffyth ap Lhewelyn to whom the Welsh Chronicles give a Noble Character of a Valiant and Generous Prince who had been hitherto for the most part victorious in all his Undertakings till now he perished by the Treachery of his own Servants After this King Edward as Simeon of Durham relates made Blechen and Rithwalla whom the Welsh Chronicles call Blethyn and Rithwallen Joint-Princes of North-Wales being Half-Brethren to Griffyth the last Prince on the Mother's side as being Sons to Angharat Daughter to Meredyth Prince of Wales Florence of Worcester also adds That these Welsh Princes above-mentioned when they received from the King this Grant of North-Wales swore Fealty not only to Him but also to Earl Harold who it seems delivered it to them swearing to perform their Commands both by Sea and Land and to pay those Tributes which had been formerly paid to King Edward's Predecessors Which if true shews that Earl Harold was already adopted and declared Heir of the Crown But this being not found in our Annals nor in any other Historian I cannot pass my word for the Truth of it This year also according to the Annals the Northumbers took Arms against Tostige their Earl and slew as many of his Servants as they could lay hold on as well English as Danes they also seized upon all his Arms that were in York and his Treasure where ever they could find it and then sent for Earl Morchar the Son of Earl Aelfgar and chose him for their Earl who then marched Southward with all that Province as also all the men of Snotingaham Deorbie and Lincolnascires till they came even to Northamtune where his Brother Eadwin with all his Company met him But there Earl Harold came against them to whom they sent a Message which they desired might be conveyed to the King as also the Messengers by whom they besought to let them have Morchar for their Earl The King hereupon granting their Request afterwards sent Earl Harold to them to Hamtune at the Feast of St. Simon and Jude farther assuring them of it and he also at their request confirmed and renewed the Laws of King Cnute But the Northern men had done much damage to the Countrey about Hamtune whilst their Message was thus transacting for they slew their Men and burnt the Houses and Corn and took away several Thousand Head of Cattel together with some Hundreds of Men whom they carried Captives into the North-Parts so that this Country and the others adjacent felt the damage for many years after But Earl Tostige with his Wife and as many as were of their Party went over to Earl Baldwin where they tarried all that Winter The occasion of which Insurrection as Florence and Simeon of Durham inform us was this There was one Gospatrick a great Officer in Northumberland with whom Earl Tostige having a Quarrel his Sister Queen Edgitha caused him to be murthered at Court the Christmas before though this seems very unsuitable to the Meek and Pious Temper of this good Queen Yet however so much is certain That this Gospatrick being slain the Earl also killed in his own Lodgings two of his Friends viz. Gammel the Son of Orne and Vlf the Son of Dolphin having treacherously drawn them thither and had besides laid intolerable Impositions on the People all which so incensed them against him that three or four of the principal Thanes of that Countrey viz. Gammelbearne Dimstan the Son of Agelnoth and Gloincorn the Son of Eardulf with Four hundred Florence says Twenty thousand men in Arms entred York a little after Michaelmass and there first slew two of the Earl's Huisceorles i. e. Domestick Servants Amund and Ravensheart though fled out of the City and the day following above Two hundred more of his men on the North-side of the River Humber Tostige hereupon made loud Complaints to the King and at his Request Harold his Brother and others were appointed to take up the business but as they were going down into the North for this purpose the whole Countrey in a manner rose and met them at Northampton where as also afterwards at Oxford they strenuously refused to receive Earl Tostige and by no means would admit of a Reconciliation And so violent were they and resolute that after the Feast of All-Saints they caused both him and his Adherents to be banished the Land William of Malmesbury also adds the reason which the Northumbers gave to justify this their Rising viz. That they were Freemen born and as freely educated and that they would not endure the Insolence of an Earl for they had learned from their Ancestors to chuse either Liberty or Death In short if the King meant to have them still his Subjects he should set Earl Morchar over them and then he should soon find they could if kindly used willingly submit This was the most probable occasion of Tostige's Banishment Tho H. Huntington who lived after the Conquest and had heard many Tales of the Hatred which Earl Godwin's Sons bore to each other tells us another story of this matter viz. That as the King sate at Dinner at Windsor he commanded Earl Harold to serve him with the Cup Tostige his Brother being present and not able to endure that his younger Brother should be preferred before himself in the King 's very presence flew
in his face and catching him by the hair flung him on the ground The Scuffle being ended the King foretold that their Destruction was nigh and that the Wrath of God would not much longer be deferred For says this Author they were come to that height of Barbarism and Cruelty that if they but liked the House or Possessions of any one they would by night procure the Owner to be murthered with all his Children to get his Estate and these were at that time the chief Justiciaries of the Kingdom But this seems to have been a story invented long since out of hatred to the Memory of Harold afterwards King for he hath the Character of a Valiant and Worthy Prince and who as William of Malmesbury relates in this Quarrel with the Northumbers preferred the Peace of his Countrey to his Brother 's private Interests But Tostige in a great Rage leaving the Court went to a House at Hereford where at that time he heard his Brother Harold had order'd mighty Preparations for the Entertainment of the King and there made a most terrible havock of his Servants divers of whom being killed he flung their mangled Members into all the Vessels of Wine Mead Ale and other Liquors and then sent word to his Brother That he need take no care for Pickled Meats but as for all other sorts he might bring them down along with him And it was therefore for this most horrid Villany that the King commanded him to be banished which the Northumbers understanding for this as well as several other Murthers he had committed they expell'd him their Countrey as hath been already shewn But this does not well agree with what Simeon of Durham hath already with more probability related of him for if Earl Tostige had been found guilty of so great an Insolence and that he was thereupon banished the Kingdom it had certainly been very needless for the Northumbers to have rose up against him and to have driven him out of the Countrey or at least to have desired another Earl in his room since the King would have appointed them a new one without giving them so just an Occasion for a Rebellion against him To this year also we may refer Earl Harold's going over into Normandy which some of our Historians place a year or two sooner but they differ much more about the manner and occasion of it some making it to be a meer Casualty others saying it was on purpose But William of Malmesbury's account of it is thus That Harold being at his House at Bosenham in Sussex near the Sea-side he for his Recreation with some of his Retinue took a Fisher-boat meaning only to row up and down but sailing a little further to Sea than they were aware a Tempest rose and carried them cross the Channel to the French Coast where glad to be safe any where they were forced to land in the Territories of the Earl of Ponthieu the men of that Countrey according to their custom and that barbarous practise which is in use in most places to make a Prey of the distressed and shipwrack'd presently fell upon them and being many and well arm'd they easily seiz'd upon Earl Harold and his Followers who were without Weapons so that they not only took them Prisoners but also fetter'd them Then Harold considering with himself what was to be done hired a Messenger to go to Duke William and acquaint him how he was sent over by the King of England by his Word and Presence to confirm what other lesser Envoys had only whispered but that he was kept Prisoner and hinder'd from the discharge of his Message by Gwido Earl of Ponthieu and that it would become a man of so great Honour as himself not to suffer a Villany so derogatory to his Authority to go unpunished since he had appealed to his Justice But if his Liberty was to be purchased with Money he would willingly pay the Price to Earl William but not to such a mean-spirited man as Gwido Upon this Harold by the Command of Duke William was soon set at liberty and sent to Court where being honourably received he was also invited to an Expedition into Little-Britain where at that time the Norman Duke made War But by his Wit and Valour he so well approved himself to the Duke that he was very much taken with him to whom that he might also the more endear himself he promised by Oath That in case King Edward died he would deliver up to him the Castle of Dover which was then under his Command and procure him to succeed in the Kingdom of England Hereupon the Duke's Daughter as yet too young for Marriage was betrothed to him and so he was sent home with very rich Presents This is William of Malmesbury's and divers other Historians Relation of it but Bromton's Chronicle as he is singular in many things so he is in this and relates the Cause of Harold's Voyage into Normandy thus viz. That he had asked leave of King Edward to go over to Duke William to procure him to set his Brother Wulnoth and his Nephew Hacune free who were there detain'd as Hostages whereupon the King told him he might go with his Leave but not by his Advice for said he I foresee that nothing but Damage and Ruin can happen to England thereby for I know Earl William will not be so ignorant and impolitick as to grant their Delivery unless it shall tend to his own advantage So Harold going on Shipboard and intending for Normandy was driven by a Tempest on the Coast of Picardy and there seized by the Earl of Ponthieu and by him at last was sent to Duke William as hath been already related The rest of the Story is much the same with the former and needs no Repetition only this is added That Earl Harold at his Return home having told the King all that had happened to him in France the King is said to reply thus Did not I tell thee that this Voyage would prove neither for thy Profit nor that of the Kingdom But one may plainly perceive this Story to have been feigned by one of the later Monks to prove that King Edward had the Spirit of Prophecy and would not have been omitted by William of Malmesbury if he had known it or thought it to have been true This year also as Florence of Worcester tells us Harold Earl of West-Saxony having built a House in South-Wales at a place called Portascith and made great Preparations for the King's Entertainment who was to come thither a hunting when Caradoc or Cradoc Son to Griffyn Prince of South-Wales whom Griffyn Prince of North-Wales had slain some years before came to this place about St. Bartholomew-day and there not only slew all the Workmen and Servants but carried away all the Goods that had been brought thither This year was consecrated the Monastery of Westminster on the Feast of the Holy Innocents This Church as
the Abbot of Rievalle in his Life of King Edward informs us had been begun some years before in performance of a Vow the King had formerly made to go to Rome but being dissuaded from it by the Chief Men of his Kingdom he sent thither Aldred Archbishop of York and Herman Bishop of Winchester to obtain Pope Leo's Dispensation from that Journey who by the said Bishops returned it him upon these terms That he should bestow the Money he would have spent in that Voyage in building a Stately Church and Monastery in Honour of St. Peter Whereupon the King chose out a place near his own Palace where had anciently stood a Church and Monastery built by Sebert King of the West-Saxons and Mellitus Bishop of London but it being destroyed by the Danes had ever since lain in Ruins But an Ancient Epitome of English Chronicles written by a Monk of Westminster and now in the Cottonian Library relates That Archbishop Dunstan had here before erected a small Monastery for Twelve Monks which was vastly augmented by King Edward Though whether this were so or no is as uncertain as it is incredible what these Monkish Writers tell us of its being anciently consecrated by St. Peter himself which not being mentioned by Bede looks like a Fable invented only to gain a greater Veneration for that Place Here also in the Author above-mentioned follows the King's Letter to Pope Nicholaus That he would please not only to confirm what his Predecessor had done but also grant him new Privileges for the said Monastery and then comes the Pope's Bull or Privilege for that purpose in which is recited this Legend of that Church's having been anciently consecrated by St. Peter But though Simeon of Durham places the Consecration of this Church on the day above-mentioned yet he refers it to the end of the year 1065 and perhaps with more Exactness since the English-Saxon year began then not at Lady-day as it does now but New-years-tide And after this Author farther adds That upon Christmass-day preceding the King held his Curia or Great Council at Westminster where were present King Edward and his Queen Edgitha and Stigand the Archbishop of Canterbury and Aldred Archbishop of York with the other Bishops and Abbots of England together with the King's Chaplains Earls Thanes and Knights Which Council as Sir H. Spelman informs us was summoned to confirm the King's Charter of Endowment of the said Monastery but though it be there imperfect yet you may find it at large in Monast. Anglican wherein after the Recital of the Bull of Pope Leo follows this Clause viz. That the King for the Expiation of his own Vow and also for the Souls of the Kings his Predecessors as well as Successors had granted to that place viz. Westminster all manner of Liberty as far as Earthly Power could reach and that for the Love of God by whose Mercy he was placed in the Royal Throne and now by the Counsel and Decree of the Archbishops Bishops Earls and other of his Great Men and for the Benefit and Advantage of the said Church and all those that should belong to it he had granted these Privileges following not only in present but for future times Then follows an Exemption from all Episcopal Jurisdiction as also another Clause whereby he grants it the Privilege of Sanctuary so that any one of whatsoever condition he be for whatsoever cause that shall fly unto that Holy Place or the Precincts thereof shall be free and obtain full Liberty And at last concludes thus I have commanded this Charter to be written and seal'd and have also signed it with my hand with the Sign of the Cross and have ordered fit Witnesses to subscribe it for its greater Corroboration Then immediately follows the King's Subscription in these words Ego Edwardus Deo largiente Anglorum Rex signum venerandae Crucis impressi Then follows the Subscription of Queen Editha with those of the two Archbishops seven of the Bishops and as many Abbots and so comes on the Subscriptions of the Laity viz. of Raynbald the Chancellor and of the Earls Harold and Edwin who write themselves Duces and six Thanes besides other of inferior Order This Charter bears date on St. Innocents day Anno Dom. 1066. which how it could be so dated four days before New-years-day when the year then began I do not understand Here also follows a Third Charter which is much the same with the former only it contains the King's Letter to Pope Nicholaus and his Bull reciting the Privileges granted to the said Church all which are there at large inserted Then follows the Subscriptions of the King Queen Archbishops Bishops Earls c. almost in the same order as the former only Osbald and another of the King's Chaplains do here subscribe before any of the Lay-Nobility and besides the Thanes there are several who subscribed with the Title of Milites added to their Names I have been the larger upon this Foundation not only because it was the Greatest and Noblest of any in England but also for that it still continues though under another Title to be a Collegiate Church for a Dean and Eight Prebends with an excellent School belonging to it which hath hitherto furnished both the Church and State with as great a number of Learned and Considerable Persons as any in the whole Nation But to return again to our History as it is related by the aforesaid Abbot of Rievâ—lle King Edward having at this Great Assembly of the Estates of his Kingdom appeared solemnly with his Crown on his Head according to custom was a day or two before Christmass in the night-time taken with a Feaver which very much damped the Jollity of that Festival yet he concealed it as much as he could for two or three days still sitting down at Meals with his Bishops and Noblemen till the third day perceiving the time of his Dissolution drew near he commanded all things to be got ready for the Consecration of his New Church which he resolved should be solemnized the next day being the Feast of the Holy Innocents whereat all the Bishops and Great Men of the Kingdom assisted and the King as far as his Health would permit but presently after the King growing worse and worse he was forced to take his Bed the Queen Bishops and the Nobility standing weeping about him and whilst he lay speechless and almost without life for two days and the third awakening as if it were from a Trance both William of Malmesbury and the Abbot above-mentioned relate That after a devout Prayer he told them That in a Vision he had lately seen two holy Monks whom he had in his youth known in Normandy to be men of meek and pious Conversation and whom he therefore had very much loved and now appeared to him as sent from God to tell him what should happen to England after his decease shewing him That the Iniquity of
the English being now full had provoked the Divine Vengeance for that the Priests despising God's Law treated Holy Things with corrupt hearts and polluted hands and not being true Pastors but Mercenaries exposed the Sheep to the Wolves seeking the Wool and the Milk more than the Sheep themselves That the Chief Men of the Land were Infidels Companions of the Thieves and Robbers of their Countrey who neither feared God nor honoured his Law to whom Truth was a Burthen Justice a Maygame and Cruelty a Delight And that therefore since neither the Rulers observed Justice nor the Ruled Discipline the Lord had drawn his Sword and bent his Bow and made it ready for that he would shew this People his Wrath and Indignation by sending Evil Angels to punish them for a year and a day with Fire and Sword But when the King replied to them That he would admonish his People to repent them of the evil of their ways and doings and then he hoped God would not bring these dreadful Judgments upon them but would again receive them into his Mercy To this they answered That now it could not be because the hearts of this people were hardened and their eyes blinded and their ears stopped so that they would neither hear those that would instruct them nor be advised by those that should admonish them being neither to be terrified by his Threatnings nor melted by his Benefits And the King asking them when there would be an end of all these Judgments and what comfort they might be like to receive under all these great afflictions those holy men only answered him in a Parable of a certain Green Tree that should be cut down and removed from the Root about the distance of Three Acres and when without any human hand the Tree should be restored to its Ancient Root and flourish and bear Fruit then and not till then was there any Comfort to be hoped for But this Author's application of the Tree that was to be cut down to the English-Saxon Royal Family's being for a time destroyed and its Separation to the distance of three Acres to Harold and the two first Norman Kings and its Restitution again to King Henry the first by his marrying of Queen Mathildis and its flourishing again in the Empress her Daughter and then its bearing Fruit to the Succession of Henry the second do sufficiently shew that great part of this Vision was made and accommodated for the Reigns of these Princes William of Malmesbury indeed recites the same Vision though in fewer words but without any Interpretation of the Parable But be this Vision true or false I think we may have reason to pray to God that neither our Clergy nor Laity by falling into the like wicked and deplorable state above described may ever bring the like Judgments upon this Nation But when the Queen Robert the Lord Chamberlain and Earl Harold who are said to have been present at the Relation of this Vision seemed very much concern'd Archbishop Stigand received it with a Smile saying That the good Old Man was only delirous by reason of his Distemper But says Malmesbury we have too dearly tried the Truth of this Vision England being now made the Habitation of Strangers and groaning under the Dominion of Foreigners there being says he at this day i. e. at the time when he wrote no Englishman either an Earl a Bishop or an Abbot but Strangers devour the Riches and gnaw even the very Bowels of England neither is there a prospect of having any End of these Miseries This it seems was written in the beginning of the Reign of Henry the First and before he had seen the more Happy Times that succeeded in that of Henry the Second when the Abbot above-mentioned tells us That England had then a King of the Ancient Blood Royal as also Bishops and Abbots of the same Nation with many Earls Barons and Knights who as being descended both from the French and English Blood were an Honour to the One and a Comfort to the Other But to come to the Death and Last Words of this most Pious King The Abbot above-mentioned gives us an Excellent Discourse which he made before his Death recommending the Queen to her Brother and the Nobility there present and highly extolling her Chastity and Obedience who though she appeared publickly his Wife yet was privately rather like a Sister or Daughter desiring of them That whatsoever he had left her for her Jointure should never be taken from her He also recommended to them his Servants who had followed him out of Normandy and that they should have their free choice either of returning home to their own Countrey or staying here After which he appointed his Body to be buried in St. Peter's Church at Westminster which he had so newly dedicated and so having received the Blessed Eucharist and recommended his Soul to God he quietly departed this Life having reigned Three and twenty Years Six Months and Seven and twenty Days It is very observable That this Abbot does not tell us that he said any thing concerning who should be his Successor whereas many of the Monks of those Times make him to have bequeathed the Crown at his Death to his Cousin William Duke of Normandy and Ingulph further says That King Edward â—â—me years before his Death had sent Robert Archbishop of Canterbury as an Ambassador to him to let him know that he had design'd him his Successor both because he was of his Blood and also Eminent for his Virtue What Pretences the Duke might have to the Crown by the latter I know not but it is certain the former could give him no Title to it since all the Relation that was between King Edward and Duke William was by Queen Emma who was Mother to the King and Aunt to the Duke so that it is evident on the score of this Relation that Duke William could have no pretence by Blood to the Crown of England But it is very suspicious that this Story of Archbishop Robert's being sent into Normandy upon this Errand was but a Fiction since he sate but three years in that See before his Expulsion and that happened near ten years before after which King Edward sent over for his Cousin Edward sirnamed The Outlaw to make him his Heir King Edward being dead they made great haste to bury him for his Funerals were performed the next day with as great Solemnity as the shortness of that time would admit of but it was sufficient that all the Bishops and Nobility of the Kingdom attended his Body to the Grave in the Church aforesaid where his Tomb is at this day to be seen behind the Altar and his Body was afterwards preserved in a Rich Shrine of Gold and Silver till the Reign of Henry the Eighth As for the Character which the Writers of the following Age give this Prince it is such as they thought was due to One whom they took to be
a Saint yet they give him the Title of Confessor which had been in the Primitive Times bestowed only on those who suffered for Christ though not unto death but how he could claim that Title upon this Account I know not unless his resisting the ordinary motions of the Flesh may be looked upon as such a kind of suffering having been as is already related so chaste that he never knew his own Wife though a very Beautiful Lady for which as well as his other Virtues and particularly his Charity to the Poor he is commonly stiled St. Edward the Confessor But he was indeed but a Weak and Easy Prince and so the more liable to be drawn away by the false suggestions of those about him as may be observed in his severe proceedings against his Mother and his Wife though that very Weakness and Easiness of Nature is in him reckoned for a Virtue as you may see by this Story which is related by Abbot Ailred viz. That this King Edward being one Afternoon laid down upon his Bed to repose himself and no body left in the Chamber with him and the Curtains close drawn round about him there came in by chance a Boy that was employed in the meaner Offices of the House who seeing no body in the room and finding there a certain Chest open in which the Chamberlain kept the Money for the King 's ordinary Expences and which had been through negligence forgot to be lock'd the Boy ran hastily to it and filling his Pockets went away with the Money But the King perceiving him through the Curtains said nothing but let him go The Boy finding he had sped so well resolved to go again to make the best of his time and having laid by the Money he had stolen came again to fetch more whereupon the King thinking him then a little too bold called out to him saying Sirrah you had best be contented with what you have got for if Hugolin come for so was the Chamberlain call'd he will not only whip you soundly but likewise take away all you have purloined already The Boy hearing a Voice but seeing no body ran away in a great fright and the King concerned himself no further about it but Hugolin coming in not long after and finding both the Chest open and a good deal of Money taken out of it was in a great Passion which the King taking notice of bid him rest contented For said he the Poor Rogue that hath it wants it more than we do So that upon the whole I think we may safely rely upon William of Malmesbury's Character of this Prince That if you consider his Simplicity he seemed very unfit for Government yet by reason of his Virtue and Piety towards God he was so directed by him that the most Politick and Couragious Kings have scarce ruled more happily For during his Reign the Kingdom was never iâ—vaded by Foreign Enemies nor were there any Civil Disturbances but what were immediately suppressed But though the Abbot of Rievalle who hath wrote his Life hath also given us a long Bed-roll of his Miracles which I shall not take upon me to relate yet cannot but take notice of one or two of them how it is said that he cured some blind People by only washing their Eyes with fair Water in which his own Fingers had been first dipped and that he also healed a Woman who had been grievously over-run with those Swellings we now call the King 's Evil by his bare washing the Sores with his own hands and from whose Blessing or Example I will not dispute the Touch of our Kings of England have ever since been thought very effectual for curing the King's-Evil But among these Miracles this seems not the least That this Author makes him to have been Elected King by his Father's Command and that in a Great Council whilst he was yet in his Mother's Belly As for his private Recreations he loved Hawking and Hunting above all the rest and would be in a Passion if he had been crossed in his Game For a Countrey Clown once spoiling his Sport the King riding up to him as if he would have beat him only said By God's-Mother I would be even with you if I could He is said not to be excessive at his private Meals nor at solemn Festivals was he at all elated with the Costly Robes he wore which his Queen curiously embroidered for him with Silk and Gold And being thus Mild Charitable and Beneficent to all his People it was no wonder if his Death was so deeply lamented by all his Subjects But this they grant to be his Fault that he brought too many Normans over with him into England and they having great Offices and Preferments bestow'd upon them soon corrupted the then English Simplicity by their Norman Customs So that as Ingulph well observes the English Nobility growing as it were ashamed of their own began to imitate the French Manners the generality of the Noblemen speaking the French Tongue in their Houses as being then most modish and made their Charters and other Writings after the French way and this humour still more and more prevailed till at length they became as it were Slaves and Vassals to those they before so extremely admired So true a Maxim is it generally speaking that where a Foreign Tongue prevails it is reckoned half a Conquest As for this King's Person he is described to be Tall and Comely of a very Fair and Ruddy Complexion and in his latter years Venerable for his long and white Beard as you may see in his Seals and Pictures And which is most remarkable he was the first English King whose Seals we can find affixed to his Charters as you may see in Mr. Speed Yet perhaps other Kings might have Seals to their Charters before him however they are now defaced But though this King made many excellent Laws which being wrote in the Saxon Tongue are now almost quite lost yet since some Heads or Extracts of them are to be found in R. Hoveden and Mr. Lambard's Collections I shall give you such of them as are necessary for the clearing of our Ancient Constitution and for shewing what liberty the English Subjects enjoyed before the Conquest which Laws were also confirmed by King William the First in the Fourth Year of his Reign but they not specifying any time when they were made I have referr'd them to this place The first of these Laws establishes the Goods and Possessions of all Clerks and Scholars The second appoints the times and days of the King's Peace making it more Penal to violate it from the Advent of our Lord to the Octaves of the Epiphany and in like manner from Lent to the Octaves of Easter i. e. eight days after that Feast and from our Lord's Ascension to the Octaves of Pentacost and also on all Saturdays from Nine a Clock to the Monday morning following likewise on the Vigils of all Holidays as
well as on the Holidays themselves as also in Parishes when the Feast of the Saint to whom the Church is dedicated is kept so that if any one come devoutly to the Celebration thereof he was to have security in going staying and returning home and besides in many other cases too long here to set down From whence we may observe the Antiquity of those Parish Feasts called in several parts of England Wakes The fourth appoints That where ever the King's Justice or any other Person shall hold Civil Pleas if the King's Deputy or Attorney comes thither to open any Cause concerning Holy Church that shall be first determined for it is just God be served before all others The fifth ordains That whosoever holds any thing of the Church or hath his Mansion on the Church's Land he or they shall not be compell'd to plead out of the Ecclesiastical Courts for Contumacy or otherwise nay though he forfeit unless Justice be wanting in those Courts which says the Law God forbid By which all the Tenants of the Church were exempted from pleading or appearing at the King's Courts which though a strange and unreasonable Privilege yet it seems it continued in the time of William the First The sixth confirms the Laws of Sanctuaries ordaining That no man shall be taken out of any Church to which he hath fled for any offence unless it be by the Bishop or his Officers The like Privilege is also allowed to the Priest's House provided it stand upon the Ground of the Church but if a Thief went out of the Sanctuary to rob he was to forfeit that Privilege The seventh leaves those to the Justice of the Bishop who violate the Peace of Holy Church and if any Offender shall despise his Sentence either by flying or contemning it and Complaint thereof be made to the King after forty days he shall give Pledges to reconcile himself to God the King and the Church and if he cannot be found he shall be outlaw'd and if then he be found and can be laid hold on he shall be delivered up to the King if he defends himself he shall be slain For from the day of his Outlawry he is said in English to have Wulfsheofod i.e. a Wolfs-head or as we now commonly say in Latin gerere Caput Lupinum This is the common Law of all Outlaws The eighth and ninth appoint what things small Tythes should be paid out of and recites that they had been granted long before a Rege Baronibus Popâ—lo that is by the King the Barons and the People And though the word Barons was not commonly used till the time of King William the First when these Laws were drawn up in the form we now have them upon an Inquisition granted to the Ancient and Wise Men of all the Counties in England as Rog. Hoveden informs us yet is this but a Recital of the Ancient Law of Tythes in the Dialect of those times when the word Baron came to be used instead of Thane The tenth appoints after what manner the Ordeal or Judgment by Fire or Water should be executed by the Bishop's Officer and the King's Justice upon those that deserved it From which you may observe that this Law of Ordeal was in force some time after the coming in of the Normans This Law also ordains in what Cases and over what Persons the Courts Baron should have Jurisdiction but it being somewhat large I refer you to it The Eleventh again reinforces the payment of Romescot or Peter-pence which iâ— denied the King's Justice shall compel the payment because it is the King 's Alms. From whence we may observe how much those Romish Writers are mistaken who will needs make these Peter-pence to have been a Tribute from the Kings of England to the Pope The twelfth shews what Danegelt was and on what occasion it was first imposed That the payment of Danegelt was first ordained because of the frequent Invasions of the Danish Pyrates to repress which there was Twelvepence imposed upon every Hide of Land throughout England to be paid yearly Which also shews us about what time these Laws were collected into the form we now have them by this Clause viz. That the Church was excused from this payment until the time of William Rufus who as is here recited asking an Aid of his Barons for the obtaining Normandy from his Brother then going to Jerusalem there was granted to him not by any standing Law but only for the present necessity Four Shillings upon every Hide of Land the Church not excepted The thirteenth sets forth That the Peace of the King is manifold as sometimes it is given by his own hand which the English call Cyninges honde sealde gryth This Protection was granted not only to Persons but Places also by way of Privilege as likewise to Churches or Churhmen within their own Walls as appears by the League betwixt King Edward and Guthrum in which it is termed Cyninges honde gryth Another sort of Peace was on the Coronation-day which lasted eight days that at Christmass which held also eight days and so on the Feast of Easter and Whitsuntide Another sort was given by his Brief or Letters and another there was belonging to the Four great Highways viz. Watlingstreet Foss Hickenildstreet and Ermingstreet whereof two are extended to the Length and two to the Breadth of the Kingdom Another still there was belonging to the Rivers of Note which conveyed Provisions to Towns and Cities From whence it appears that this Peace of the King was a Priâ—ilege or Exemption granted to Persons not to be sued or answer at Law in any Action â—rought against them during certain solemn and stated Times and in certain of the most famous and frequented Highways of the Kingdom The fourteenth declares That all Treasure prove should be the King 's unless it were found in a Church or Church-yard in which case if it were Gold it was all the King 's but if Silver one half was to go to him and another to the Church The fifteenth treateth of Murther and declares if any one was murthered the Murtherer should be enquired after in the Village or Town where the Body was found and if he was discovered to be delivered up to the King's Justice within eight days after the Fact committed and in case he could not be found a month and a day was allowed for search after him within which term if he could not be seiz'd on forty six Marks were to be collected out of that Town and if it was not able to pay so much then the Hundred was liable to make it good And forasmuch as this Payment could not be made in the Towns and great inconveniences arose the Barons i.e. the Freeholders of the County took care that six and forty Marks should be paid out of the Hundred which being seal'd up with the Seal of some one Baron of the County they were to be sent to the Treasurer and by
him so kept seal'd up for a year and a day within which time if the Murtherer was found out upon his being delivered to the King's Justice they were to be repaid but in case within that time he could not be discovered then were the Kindred of the Murthered Party to have six of the said Marks and the King the other forty if he had no Kindred his Lord was to receive it and if he had no Lord then his sworn Friend and Companion but if there were none of these then the King should have the whole Sum to himself The sixteenth Article shews us how this way of discovering Murther and punishing the Hundred came to be in use where the Murtherer could not be found viz. That King Cnute when he had gotten England and settled it in Peace and at the request of the English Barons had sent back his Army into Denmark those Barons became Sureties that all the Danes that staid behind with him should in all things enjoy perfect Peace so that in case an Englishman kill'd any of them if he could not clear himself by the Judgment of God that is by Water or Iron meaning the Ordeal Justice was to be executed upon him and in case he ran away Payment was to be made as is aforesaid This Law to prevent the killing of the Normans was likewise continued by King William the Conqueror for in case a man were found slain he was to be taken for a Norman and his Death to be more grievously punished than that of an Englishman unless the Englescherie of him that was killed could be made out before the King's Justices that is that he was an Englishman as Bracton hath particularly shewn us But I shall reserve the speaking further of this Law to the next Volume The seventeenth declares the Office of a King in these words The King who is the Vicegerent of the Supreme King is appointed to this very end That he may Govern and Defend his Earthly Kingdom and the People of the Lord and above all things should reverence his Holy Church and extirpate evil doers out of it which unless he shall do not so much as the Name of a King shall remain to him but he shall utterly lose it as Pope John witnesses Then follows the occasion of this opinion of Pope John's viz. His having given it in answer to the Letter which Pepin and Charles his Son wrote concerning a foolish King of France whether they should still continue him on the Throne or not which being no material part of the Law I omit And then there is somewhat concerning Barons which have Courts and Customs of their own in these words The Archbishops Bishops Earls Barons and all those who have Sac Soc Thol Team and Infangâ—heof shall have their Knights Servants and all other sorts of Dependants under their Friburg that is should either have them forth coming or else should answer for them that if they shall forfeit to any one and a Complaint be made by the Neighbours against them they must bring them forth to have Justice done them in their own Court The eighteenth nineteenth twentieth and one and twentieth are explanations of the Saxon terms in the above-mentioned Law which being explained already in the Introduction I thither refer you The two and twentieth declares all Jews that were in the Kingdom to be under the Protection of the King so that none of them could put himself in the service of any great man without the King's leave for that the Jews and all that are there are the King 's By the three and twentieth King Edward forbad all Usurers to continue in his Kingdom and if any one were convicted that he exacted Usury he should forfeit his Goods and be looked upon as out-law'd After which follows in Mr. Lambard's Copy another Law declaring the King's Power by Virtue of his Royal Dignity to pardon Life and loss of Member but with this Proviso That the Male-factor make satisfaction to such as he hath injured according to his power and besides find Sureties for his good Behaviour which if he did not he was to be banished From whence you may observe That this Prerogative of pardoning in the King was not to extend to the prejudice of the Party injured or his Kindred to whom an Appeal was hereby reserved Concerning which The nineteenth in like manner declares his Royal Prerogative to be such that the King may set at liberty any Captive or Prisoner whenever he comes in any City Borough Castle c. or if he meet him in the way by his mere Word or Command Yet was he that was thus set at liberty bound to make satisfaction to the injured Party But a Murtherer Traytor or one guilty of such like Crimes altho the King should pardon him as to Life and Member according to Law he shall in no wise stay in the Countrey but shall swear that he will depart to the Sea-coast within a stated time set him by the Justice and pass over as soon as he can get opportunity of a Ship and Wind and in case any such prove perjured and shall stay in the Land beyond the time any one that meets them may do Justice upon them i. e. take away their lives From whence you may observe the Antiquity of the Law for abjuring the Realm for such great Offences to which the King's Pardon did not then absolutely extend The rest of this Law which only recites the Penalties for the harbouring or favouring such Malefactors I omit The twenty seventh Article gives leave to harbour a Stranger or Foreigner whom in English they termed Couth or Vncouth that is known or unknown as a Guest for two nights in which space if he transgress he that harboured him shall not be answerable for him but if any one be injured and complaint is made that it was by the Counsel and Advice of him that lodged him he shall with two honest Neighbours by Oath purge himself as to the Advice and Fact or otherwise shall make satisfaction The reason whereof was because after the third night the Law then was such that this stranger was to be looked upon as one of the Family and the Master of it was to answer for him if he transgressed The twenty eighth appoints how Money or Cattel brought into a Town and said by him who brought them that they were found shall be disposed of and who shall have the Custody of them The thirtieth enjoins That those who have the King's Peace either by his Hand or Letters shall take care not to injure others under a double Penalty The thirty first declares the particular Mulcts or Penalties of those who shall violate the King's Peace above-mentioned and especially that of the eight days of his Coronation or of any of the Feasts aforesaid and who should have the Forfeitures arising from thence how much the King and how much the Earl and how much the Dean or the Bishop in whose
Deanry the Peace was broken The thirty sixth Article directs how that after a man is killed as a Thief or a Robber if any Complaint be made by his nearest Relation to the Justice that the man was wrongfully put to death and lies buried among Thieves and that such Relations offer to make it good in such case they shall first give security for so doing and then it follows in what manner the Party slain may be cleared in his Reputation and what satisfaction shall be made to his Friends for it in case it appears he was killed unjustly These are the Laws which bear the Name of Edward the Confessor though they are not properly so because many of them were made long before his time and there are so many things in the Latin Original which are rather Explanations of Laws than Laws themselves that they more truly seem to have been collected and written by some ignorant Sciolist or pretender about Henry the First 's time For though Roger Hoveden hath given us this Collection of those Laws which we now have yet it is plain that there was no Original of them extant at the time when Hoveden wrote nor long before or else he need not have told us that King William the Conqueror in the fourth year of his Reign summoned so many Noble and Wise Men of the English Nation only to enquire into and acquaint him what those Laws were But Bromton's Chronicle gives us a short History of the several Laws that had been used in England and tells us of three sorts of Laws then in use viz Merchenlage West-Saxonlage and Danelage and that King Edward made one Common Law out of them all which are called the Laws of King Edward to this day yet of these he gives us no more than the bare Explanation of some Words or Terms frequently used in them but without setting down any of the Laws themselves which whether he did out of ignorance or on purpose I will not determine though the former is most likely seeing he had before given us all the Laws he could meet with of the precedent English-Saxon Kings So that when the Reader hears the Laws of St. Edward so much talked of and so much contended for after the Conquest he must not understand these here set down to have been the only Laws above-mentioned For those are but some parts of them recited and commented upon by after-Writers And indeed these Laws were first said to be the Laws of Edward the Confessor after the Normans coming over not because King Edward made them but renewed the observance of them as William of Malmesbury expresly tells us of one of those that King Cnute also revived being in substance the same with that formerly ordained by King Alfred Commanding every one above Twelve years old to be entred into some Decenary Tything or Hundred But Bracton also ascribes it to King Edward So likewise this Interpolator or Noter himself tells you That those Laws of St. Edward so much desired and at length obtained from William the Conqueror were ordained in the time of King Edgar his Grandfather but after his death were laid aside for sixty eight years but because they were just and honest King Edward revived them and delivered them to be observed as his own By these and other circumstances we may gather That the whole Body of these Laws we have now recited were such as were approved and confirmed by King Edward who was a Prince of great Mercy and Indulgence to his People so that such written Laws as were in force in his time and such Customs as had been all along observed in the Saxon times and had been still kept on foot in his days were after the Norman Conquest when both the People of the Norman as well as English Extraction so earnestly contended for their Liberties called by the name of the Laws of St. Edward thereby being indeed meant the English-Saxon Laws which then received Denomination from him being in effect the last King of that Race and one whose Memory the People reverenced in an especial manner for the high Reputation he had gained for his great Sanctity and Clemency to his Subjects King HAROLD KING Edward's Funerals being over our Annals proceed to tell us how that Earl Harold succeeded in the Kingdom as King Edward had appointed and that the People elected him to that Dignity as also that he was anointed King on the Feast of Epiphany but he held the Kingdom only forty weeks and one day Thus the Laudean or Peterburgh Copy relates it being written by some Monk that favour'd King Harold's Title to the Crown But R. Hoveden with other of the English Writers tell us expresly That King Edward being buried Earl Harold whom the King had before his decease declared his Successor being by all the Chief Men of England elected to the Throne was the same day anointed King by Aldred Archbishop of York Which is also confirmed by the Manuscript Chronicle of one Henry de Silgrave who wrote about the Reign of King Edward the First and is now in the Cottonian Library And the relation of this Affair being found no where else I shall here recite leaving the Credit thereof to the Reader 's Judgment which is thus That King Edward lying on his Death-bed Earl Harold came to him and desired him to appoint him for his Successor to which the King replied That he had already made Duke William his Heir But the Earl and his Friends still persisting in their Request the King turning his Face to the Wall replied thus When I am dead let the English make either the Duke or the Earl their King Which if true shews that it was but a Consent in part and was also extorted from him But this Relation being found in no other Author I shall not pass my word for the Truth of it But William of Malmesbury and such Writers as prefer the Title of King William tell another story and say That King Harold on the very day of the King's Funeral having extorted an Oath of Fidelity from the Chief Men snatch'd up the Crown of his own accord although the English say it was bequeathed him by King Edward which yet he says he believes to be rather asserted by them out of partiality than by any true judgment or knowledge of the thing H. Huntington does not mention any such Election of Harold but says on the contrary that divers of the English would have advanced Edgar Aetheling to be King But Ingulph is more cautious and does not determine one way or other of this matter only says in general That the day after the King's Funeral Harold wickedly forgetting his Oath which he had formerly made to Duke William intruded himself into the Throne and was solemnly Crowned by Alred Archbishop of York As for Edgar Aetheling the only surviving Male of the Ancient Royal Family he was but Young and being a Stranger born had neither
Friends nor Interest sufficient to oppose so great a Party as Harold had amongst the Lay-Nobility and especially among the Bishops who were all to a man for him And that which made more against Prince Edgar was That he wanted the Nomination of King Edward to recommend him to the Election of the Wittena Gemot or Great Council of the Kingdom which either Duke William or Harold certainly had and perhaps both of them though at different times according as they had the opportunity of making their Interest with that Easy King who certainly was very much to blame not to have better ascertained that great Point of the Succession to the Crown in his own life-time for had he declared either Duke William or Edgar his Heir and procured the Estates of the Kingdom to confirm it in his life-time he might have prevented that Calamity which afterwards fell upon the English Nation from Duke William when he came to be King But to return to our History Harold being thus advanced to the Throne took that course which all Wise Princes who can claim no Right by Blood but only by Election of the People have always taken and that was The abolishing of all unjust Laws and the making good ones in their stead the seizing upon and punishing all Thieves Robbers and Disturbers of the Publick Peace and indeed wholly made it his business to defend the Kingdom from Foreign Invaders both by Sea and Land and that he might become truly popular he was a great Patron of the Churches and Monasteries yielding much Reverence to the Bishops and Abbots shewing himself humble and affable to all that were virtuous and good as he was severe to all others of a contrary Character On the 24 th day of April after his Coronation as Simeon of Durham tells us appeared a Dreadful Comet which was visible in all these parts of the world not long after which followed the Invasion of Tostige who having been banish'd chiefly by his Brother's procurement and now no longer able to digest the Preferment of his Younger Brother to the Royal Dignity in exclusion to him was moved with so much Envy and Indignation as to endeavour all ways possible to dethrone him for which purpose he sailed to Duke William and thence out of Flanders with some Ships to the Isle of Wight where after he had forced Money from the Inhabitants he departed and played the Pyrate upon the Coasts till he came to Sandwich King Harold being then at London upon notice thereof got in readiness both a strong Fleet and a good Party of Horse with which he resolved in Person to go to Sandwich and fight him But Tostige having intelligence of it took along with him all the Seamen he could find and went to the Coast of Lindisse where he burnt several Villages and killed a world of men But Edwin Earl of Mercia and his Brother Morcar Earl of Northumberland hastening to those parts with an Army soon forced him to quit that Countrey And as Florence relates not being able to return into Normandy by reason of contrary Winds he sail'd into Norway and there join'd his Fleet with that which King Harold Harfager was now preparing for the Invasion of England In the mean time King Harold lay at Sandwich expecting his Fleet which when it was got together he sail'd to the Isle of Wight and because William Duke of Normandy was now expected to invade England with an Army he waited his coming over all that Summer and the Autumn following lining all the Sea-Coasts with Land-Forces in order the better to receive him This seems indeed more probable than what William of Malmesbury relates That King Harold did not believe Duke William would undertake so hazardous an Expedition being at that time engaged in Wars with his Neighbouring Princes and had now wholly given himself up to his Ease and Pleasure so that had it not been for his hearing that the King of Norway likewise threaten'd an Invasion he would never have raised any Army at all which seems a very improbable story since he was as you have already heard from Simeon of Durham forced to get out his Fleet and raise an Army to prevent the Incursions of his Brother Tostige But it is fit we now give you some account of the Reasons of these great Preparations made by Duke William to invade England for Ingulph and the Author last mentioned both assure us That so soon as he had heard of King Harold's taking upon him the Crown of England contrary to the Oath he had given him and that he was actually crowned he sent over Ambassadors to put him in mind of the breach of his word threatning to force him to perform it if he would not do it by fair means and that before the year came about Harold's Answer to these Ambassadors as William of Malmesbury relates it was very plausible being to this effect That what he had promised concerning marrying the Duke's Daughter she being dead it could not now be performed but that if he had promised him any thing concerning the Kingdom it was very rashly done of him to have given away that which was not his own without the General Consent and Decree of the Great Council of that Kingdom therefore that a rash Oath was to be broken for if the Oath or Vow of a Virgin made without the consent of her Parents was by the Law of God declared void how much more ought that Oath to be accounted so which he being then under the Authority of his King but compell'd necessity had made concerning the Kingdom who was at that time wholly ignorant of what had been transacted And that the Duke was very unjust in requiring him to resign that Crown which he had so lately received by the General Favour and Consent of the People Bromton's Chronicle further adds That Duke William sent another Message to King Harold whereby he acquainted him That although he had not observed his Faith in other things yet if he would marry his Daughter he would pass by all the rest or otherwise would vindicate his Succession by force of Arms. All which is very improbable since most Historians relate the young Lady to be then dead and it is very unlikely that a Man of King William's Ambition would quit his Pretentions to the Kingdom for so slight a satisfaction as the Marriage of his Daughter But this Author does with more probability reduce the Duke's Quarrel against Harold to these Three Heads First To revenge the death of Prince Alfred his Cousin who had been long since murthered by Earl Godwin the Father of Harold Secondly To restore Archbishop Robert Earl Odo and the rest of the Normans who had been unjustly banished in the late King's life-time Thirdly Because Harold had contrary to his Oath possessed himself of the Kingdom which as well by the Right of Consanguinity as by that of a Double Promise ought to be his But the Ambassadors of
Duke William being return'd without any satisfactory Answer from King Harold the Duke employed the rest of the year in preparing all things necessary for his Expedition hiring Soldiers out of his own Countrey with large Pay and inviting Strangers from abroad with greater Allowances so that upon the Muster of his Forces he found that they did not only excel in strength of Body and height of Stature but also the chief Commanders and Captains of them were as remarkable for their Valour as for their Experience and Conduct Also his Bishops and Abbots strove with the Nobility who should by their liberal Contributions most advance this Enterprize But that the Duke might not prejudice the Equity of his Cause by precipitation he sent Ambassadors to Pope Alexander who did with great Eloquence set forth the Justice of the War which their Prince was going to undertake and that Harold not only had broken his Oath with him but refused to give him any Satisfaction either because that now he was a Crown'd Head or else that he distrusted his Cause Whereupon the Pope taking into his serious consideration this weighty matter approved of the Enterprize and sent the Duke a Consecrated Banner as an Omen of Victory which when the Duke had received he called a Great Council of his Nobility at Lillebone to ask all their Opinions in this great Affair and when they had all encouraged his Undertaking by great Promises of Assistance he appointed an Assessment for his Fleet and Army according to their several respective Estates and so they departed home till the time appointed for a General Rendezvouz But Mr. Cambden from the Authority of some Ancient Norman Writers I have not yet met with makes this Enterprize much more difficult than our Historians commonly do as that though he found his Chief Officers to whom he communicated his Design very chearful and resolute to follow him yet all the Skill lay how to bear the Charge of so great a War for when in an Assembly of all the States of Normandy a Subsidy was propounded their Answer was That in the late War against the French their Wealth was so much exhausted that if a new War should happen they should scarce be able to hold and defend their own and therefore that they were more obliged to look after the Defence of their own than to think of Invading the Territories of others That this intended War though never so just yet did not seem so necessary at that time as it was apparently hazardous and that besides the Normans were not by their Allegiance bound to Military Service in Foreign Parts Neither could they by any means be brought to grant a General Tax although William Fitz-osbern a man in high favour with the Duke and as gracious among the People endeavoured what he could to effect it and to draw in others by his own example promised to set out forty Ships at his own proper Charges Duke William then perceiving he could not bring this about in a Publick Meeting went another way to work and therefore sends for the wealthiest men of his Dutchy severally one by one to come to him then he speaks them fair and desires them to contribute somewhat toward this War Whereupon as if they had strove who should most largely assist their Prince they promised him liberally and he causing to be presently registred whatsoever they had promised it amounted to a vast Sum more than most men could reasonably ever have believed This Affair being thus dispatch'd he next craves Aid of the Princes his Neighbours to wit of the Earls of Anjou Poictou Maine and Bretaigne unto these he promised large Tracks of Land and great Possessions in England But how much each of these Princes contributed to this Expedition is not known tho as for Alan Earl of Bretaigne he certainly was so great an Assistant to Duke William that he was after this Conquest of King Harold made Earl of Richmond and had great part of the Country thereabouts given him by William when he came to be King to be held by Knights Service And for the rest of the Princes above-mentioned it is certain that they permitted Duke William to raise great store of men in their Territories who being headed by divers Noble Volunteers of those Countries at their own Charges afterwards enjoyed great Possessions in England as a Reward of their Services Duke William also made his Addresses to Philip King of France and went in Person to solicite his Assistance in this intended War against Harold voluntarily offering that King that in case he would assist him and that he thereby became victorious to hold England of him as his Vassal which King Philip refused to accept thinking it against the interest of France to make the Duke of Normandy greater than he was already who now began not to be so pliant to his Interests as he thought the many Obligations which Duke William owed the King his Father required Therefore as the growing Greatness of a Neighbouring Prince was then is and will ever be suspected by him who is his Rival in Power and Empire so King Philip was so far from giving the Duke any Assistance that he wholly dissuaded him from this Enterprize which nevertheless he vigorously pursued notwithstanding this discouragement But leaving Duke William to his Warlike Preparations we will return into England where our Annals tell us That Earl Tostige had been met upon the Northern Coast with three hundred Norwegian Ships commanded by Harold King of Norway to whom when he had joined those he had with them they all sail'd up the Humber till they came as far as York where the Earls Brothers Morcar and Eadwin met and fought them but it seems the King of Norway gain'd the Victory Ingulph is more express in this affair and says that Harold King of Norway sail'd up the River Ouse as far as York where the Fleet being left under a strong Guard they landed and stormed York and soon plundered it and slew many of the poor Inhabitants But the two Earls abovementioned having gotten together a small Recruit of ill-arm'd Countreymen were easily routed and according to our Annals when King Harold heard of it he immediately marched against the King of Norway and meeting him at Staenford-briâ—ge in Yorkshire there fought and slew that King with Earl Tostige his own Brother Ingulph adds That the Norwegians made a very stout resistance great multitudes of them being slain together with their Chief Commanders so that King Harold obtain'd an entire Victory only Prince Olave Son to Harold King of Norway and Paul Earl of Orcades were permitted quietly to return home with twenty Ships But before I dismiss this Relation I cannot omit a remarkable Example of one single Norwegian who standing upon the Bridge above-mentioned killed more than forty Englishmen with his Battel-Axe making good his Post against the whole Army till three a Clock in the Afternoon and then one going in
subduing the Danes added that Kingdom to his own       941 Edmund his Brother five Years                   973 Howel ap Jevaf   946 Edred his Brother 9 Years       984 Cadwalhon ap Jevaf Brother to Howel     902 Ricsig another Danish Kâ—ng who being slain was succeeded by         955 Edwi Son to Edmond two Years     874 Ceolmulf who held it but a short time the Danes taking it again and being driven out by King Edward the Elder he committed the Government of it to Ethered under the Title of Earl who having married Ethelfleda that King's Sister she also govern'd it after his Death but King Edward seizing it after her Decease added it to the rest of his Dominions 986 Meridith ap Owen Grand-son to Howel-Dha     903 Reginald and Niel both Dâ—â—es who reigned at once they having aâ—ter King Alfred's Death taken the wholâ— Kingdom but Niel being slain by         957 Edgar his Brother 16 Years       992 Edwal ap Meryc           1003 Aedan ap Blegored not of the Blood of the Welsh Princes   973 Edward his Son sirnamed the Martyr reigned 5 Years             914 Sihtric his Brother he reigned in his stead     1015 Lhewelyn ap Sits-sylht in right of Angerat his Wife the Daughter of Prince Merydith     919 Inguald another Danish Kâ—ng reigned about the same time as did alsâ— Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 978 Ethelred his Brother 38 Years             926 Guthfert Son to Sihtric hâ— was expelled by K. Athelstan after whiâ—h Anlaf King of Norway seized this Kingdom for a time but being expelled by tâ—e Northumbers      Jago ap Edwal   1016 Edmund sir-named Iron-side reigned 9 Months       1022 Gryffith ap Lhewelyn whilst Howel ap Edwin reigned in South Wales at the same time   1017 Cnute King of Denmark reigned 19 Years  Another Anlaf Son to Sihtâ—ic was by them made King He was also expelled by King Edmund and restored fâ—r two Years but then was again driven â—ut by K. Edred yet after this the Northâ—mbers made Eoric of Danish Race their Kâ—ng but he being again deserted by theâ— they returned to K. Edred's Allegiance who thereupon added that Kingdom to his own     1064 Blethyn and Rywalhon Sons of Convin and half Brothers to the former Prince were made by King Edward the Confessor Princes of Wales after Gryffith their Brother was slain     944          1036 Harold his Son three Years 945            947    920      1039 Hardecnute his Brother two Years and an half 948                956 Edgar Brother to K. Edwi chosen King of Mercia and Northumberland reigned there one Year before his Brother's Decease     1042 Edward the Confessor reigned 24 Years             952 From which time the Kiâ—gs of Northumberland failing it was eâ—er after governed by Earls         1066 Harold Son to Earl Godwin reigned 9 Months             953 Oswulf being by K. Edreâ— made the first Earl but King Edgar â—â—vided it into two Earldoms       Having hitherto omitted the Genealogies of the English-Saxon Kings as they 〈…〉 be found in the Annals I thought it best to refer them to this Table where you may view them altogether as they are derived from GEAT who is supposed to have been 〈◊〉 â—ommon Ancestor of the Getae or Gothes and I could have carried it very much higher but that before this Geat they are so extreamly uncertain Note These are extracted not 〈◊〉 from the Annals but from three choice Manuscript Copies of Florence of Worcester compar'd with that Pedegree in the Textus Roffensis published by the Reverend Dr. Gale at 〈◊〉 â—nd of his last Volume but it must be acknowledged that the Genealogies in Florence differ from those in the Textus Roffensis in many Particulars GEAT Godwulf Fin Fritholwulf Fretholaf or Frealaf Woden The common Ancestor of all the English-Saxon Kings Wehta Waegdaeg Withgils Witta Hengest Casar Tytimon Trigils Rothmund Rippan or Hrip Guithelm or Withelm Webha Vffa Aeaxneat or Seaxnet Gesecg Ansecg Sweppa Sigefuget Bedca Offa Aescwine or Erkenwine Waegdeg Sigear or Siggar Swebdeg Sigeat or Wiggeat Saebald Sweort Seafugel Seomnel Westerwacna Wilgils Vscfrea Yffe Aella Beldeg Brand Freothgar or Freodegar Freawine Wig. Gewis Esla Elesa Cerdic Beorne or Beornic Waegbrand Ingebrand Elusa or Aloc Angelgeot or Angenwit Aethelbert Eosa Eoppa Ida Wythelgeat or Weodgeat Waga Wihtlaeg Waeremund Offa. Ingeltheot Eomar Icel Kwebba Cynewald Cryda or Creoda The rest that follow you may see in the former Tables of the Kings That the Succession of the West-Saxon Kings may be the better understood as being those from whom all the Kings of England both before and since the Conquest are descended I have here added their Pedigree down as low as King Edward the Consessor which I have taken from the Saxon Annals Florence of Worcester and other Authentick Authors Tab. Vlt. Note That R. signifies Rex and the Number following is in what Order that King reigned Cerdic I. King of the West-Saxons Cynrâ—c R. II. 3 Cutha 1 Ceol or Ceola Cynegils R. VI. 1 Cwichelm R. VII Cuthred 2 Cenwalh R. VIII -Sexburga Reg. to whom her Husband left the Crown 2 Ceolwulf R. V. 2 Cuthwulf Ceolric R. IV. 1 Ceawling or Celm R. III. 2 Cuthwine Cutha or Cuthwulf Ceolwald Cenred 1 Ina R. XI Aethelheard R. XII Cuthred R. XIII Sigebert R. XIV Cynewulf R. XV. Brihtric R. XVI 2 Ingild Eoppa Eafa Ealhmund Egbert R. XVII Ethelwulf R. XVIII 4 Aelfred R. XXII 1 Ethelwerd 2 Edward the Elder R. XXIII 6 Edred R. XXVI 5 Aelfred 4 Edmund R. XXV Ethelfleda-2 Edgar R. XXVIII -Elfreda supposed to be a Concubine Emma-2 Ethelred R. XXX-Elgiva 2 Edward the Confessor R. XXXII 1 Edmund Ironside R. XXXI 1 Edmund died without Issue 2 Edward sirnamed the Outlaw Edgar
Etheling Margaret married to Malcolm King of Scots from whom all the Kings of England since King Henry I. are descended Christina a Nun at Wilton 1 Edward the Martyr R. XXIX 1 Edwie R. XXVII 3 Edwin 2 Athelstan Illegitimate R. XXIV Kings of the Danish Race who reigned between King Edmund Ironside and Edward the Confessor Cnute King of England Denmark and Norway 1 Harold sirnamed Harefoot esteemed Supposititious 2 Hardecnute succeeded his Brother Harold He was Son to Queen Emma 1 Aethelward or Aelfweard 3 Aethelred R. XXI 1 Aelfred 2 Oswald 2 Aethelbert R. XX. 2 Athelm 1 Aethelwald 1 Aethelbald R. XIX 1 Cutha Cada Cenbyrht 2 Mulla or Moll 1 Ceadwalla R. X. 4 Ceolwulf Cuthgils Cenferth Cenfus Aescwine R. IX 5 Cwichelm INDEX Note The Numbers signify so many of the same Name A ABbey Abbey-Lands Abbot Aberfraw Abingdon Abjuring Acca Achaius Adda Adelphius Adian Admurum Adrian Adulf Adultery Aeadsige Aealmond Aealhstan Aedan Vradog Aedan ap Blegored Aedric Aegelbyerth Aegelric Aelfeage Aelfer Aelfgar Aelfleda Aelfred or Alfred Aelfric 3. Aelfweard Aelfwinna Aelfwold Aelgiva 3. Aella 3. Aelmer Aemilianus Aeneon Aescasdune Aescwin 2. Aesk Aestel Aethelbald 2. Aethelbryht Aethelburga Aethelfleda Aethelgiva Aethelheard Aethelred Aethelswithe Aethelwald 2. Aethelwulf Aetius Agatha Agatho Agelbert Agricola Agrippina Aidan Ailesbury Ailmer Ailnoth Ailwin Akmanceaster Alan 2. Alaric St. Alban Albania Albert Albinus Chlodius Alburge Alchluid Alchmuid Alchmund Alcuin Aldhelm Aldred Aldune Alehouses Alemond Alfleda Alfred 5. Alfweard Alfwin Alfwold Algithe Algiva Alhred 2. Alienation Alkuith Allectus Allegiance Alms Alrich 2. Alstan Alton Alwin Alwold Alypius Ambresburg Ambrosius Amiens Ammianus Marcellinus Anarawd Andate Andover Andragatius Andredswood Angild Angles Anglesey Anglia Sacra Anlaff 2. Anna Annals Saxon Antenor Anwulf Aper Appeals Vid. Pope Appledore Arbogastes Arcadius Archbishop Archenfield Archigallo Arch-pyrate Arderydd Areans Ariminum Arles Armorica Armour Army Arnulf Arnwy Arrian Heresy Arthur Arviragus Arwald Arwan Asaph Asclepiodotus Ashdown Assault Asser Assize-Charges Asterius Ataulphus Athelgiâ—â— Athelm Athelney Athelric Athelstan 3. Athelwald Athelward Athelwold Attacotti Atticus Augusta Augustine Augustine's-Ake Augustus Caesar Avon Aurelian Aurelius Ambrosius Atticus Conan Marcus Aust Axanminster B BAchseg Badon-Hill Bakewell Balbinus Clodius Baldred Baldwin Bamborough-Castle Banbury Bangor Banner Banuwelle Baptism Bardeney Bardsey-Island Barnwood Barons St. Bartholomew St. Basile Basse Bassianus Bassus Bastardy Bathan Bathe Beadricesworth Beamdune Beamfleet-Castle Becancelde Bedanhealfde Bede Bedicanford Belinus Bells Benedict Benedictines St. Bennet 's in Holme Bennington Beonna Beormond Beorne 4. Beornred Beornwulf Berferth Berkshire Bernicia Bertha Bertulf Beverlie Bevorstone Billingsgate Birds Birth Supposititious Birthwald Bishops Blecca Blood Boadicia Bocland Bodotria Boetius Hector Bolanus Bonagratia de Villa Dei Bondland Bondman Bonosus Bosa Bosenham Boston Bottulf Bounds Bracelets Bradanford Brandanrelie Breach of the Peace Brecklesey-Island Brecknock-Castle Bregowin Brennus Bridgenorth Brigantes Brige Brightnoth Brihtric 2. Britain Great Britain Britains Britains of Armorica British Church Brixstan Brockmaile Bromrige Bruerne Brocard Brun-Albin Brute Bryâ—htwald Bryghtwulf Brythelme Buchanan Budington Buloigne Buoy in the Nore Burford Burgh Burghmotes Burhred Byrinus Byrnstan C CAdelh Cadocus Cadwallader Cadwallo 3. Cadwan Caedmon Caerialis Petilius Caer-Leon Caesar Calais Calcuithe Caledonians Caligula Camalodunum Cambden Cambria Cambridge Camelford Candida Casa Candidus Canterbury Caractacus Caradoc Carausius Carehouse Careticus Carlisle Carron Carrum Cartismandua Carus Cassibelan Cassiterides Castinus Castor Castra Exploratorum Cataract Cattle Ceadda Ceadwalla Ceawlin 3. Cedda Cendrythe Cenered Cenwall Cenwulf 2. Ceolfus Ceolnoth Ceolred 2. Ceolric Ceolwulf 5. Cerdic Cerdicsford Cerne Chacea St. Chad Chanons Secular Charges at Assizes Charles 5. Charters Chastity Cherbury Chertsey Chester Chichester Chiltern Chipnam Choisy Christianity Christ Church Cant. Chrysanthius Church Cimbric Chersonese Cimerii Cippenham Cirencester Civilis Civil War Claudia Rufina Claudian Claudius 2. Clergy Clodius Balbinus Chlorus Constantius Cloveshoe Cnobsbury Cnute Coelestine Cogidunus Coifi Coil Coinage Colchester Coldingham Coleman Coludesburgh Columba Comets Commodus Commons of England Compurgators Conan 5. Congal Constans Constantine 5. Constantius 2. Corfesgeate Cornwal Coronation Corrodies Coventry Councils Counties Countreymen County-Court Coway-stakes Crayford Creed Creeklade Creoda or Crida Crimes Criminal Crown Croyland Chrysanthius Cuckamsley-hill Cumbran Cuneglasus Curescot Cutha Cuthbert Cuthbryht Cuthred 3. Cuthwulf Cwichelme 2. Cycle Cynebald Cynebryht Cynegils Cyneheard 2. Cynoth Cynric 2. Cynwulf D DAgobert Dalliance Danegelt Danes Daniel 2. Darwent David St. Davids Deadly Feuds Death Decennary Decianus Decimation Decius Defamation Degradation Degsa-stan Deira Demetae Denulph Deomed Deorham Deposition Deprivation Derawnde Desertion Devils-Ditch Devise of Lands Deusdedit 2. Dicul Didius Difilina Dinoth Diocesses Dioclesian Dionotus Domitian Dorinea Dover Dower Draganus Drinking Druids Dublin Dubritius Duduc Dulcitius Dun Dunbritton Dunmoc St. Dunstan Dunwallo Molmutius Dunwich Durham Duty to Parents E EAdbald 2. Eadbert 2. Eadbryht Eadburga Eadesbyrig Eadfrid Eadhed Eadmund Aetheling Eadred Eadsige Eadulf Eadwig Aetheling Eadwin Eagle Ealcher Ealchstan Ealerd Ealfert Ealfric Ealswithe Eanbald Eanbryht Eanfrid Earcombert Earcongath Eardulf Eardwulf Earnred Earnwulf East-Angles Easter East-Saxons Eatta Ebba 2. Eborius Eclipses Eddobeccus Edelwalch Edgar Edgar Aetheling 2. Edgitha 2. Edingburgh Editha Edmund the Martyr Edmund Son to Edward the Elder Edmund Son of King Alfred Edmund Aetheling St. Edmundsbury Edred 2. Edric Edwal ap Meyric Edwal Ugel Edwal Ywrch Edward the Elder Edward Aetheling Edward the Martyr Edward the Confessor Edwi Edwin 3. Edwin Aetheling Edwold Egbert 7. Egelfleda Egelnoth Egfrid Eglesburgh Egonesham Egric Egwin Egwinna Eighth Elbodius Election of King V. Kings Sparsim Eleutherius Elfeage 2. Elfer Elfgar Elfin Elfleda Elfric Elfwald Elfwinna Elgiva V. Aelgiva Elidurus Ellendune Ellwye Elutherius Ely-Monastery Emma Emperor Eneon England Englisherie English-men English-Saxons Entail Eoppa Eoric Eorpenwald Eorpwald Eowils Ercenbryht Eric Erkenwald Ermenred Esylht Ethelard Ethelbald 2. Ethelbert 4. Ethelbryht Ethelburgh Etheldrethe Etheldrith Etheler Ethelfleda Ethelfred Ethelfreda Ethelfrid Ethelgar Ethelheard 2. Ethelnoth Ethelred 8. Ethelwald 2. Ethelward Ethelwerd Ethelwin Ethelwold 2. Ethelwulf Evesham Eugenius 2. Evil Councils Europe Eustatius Eutherius Excommuication Exeter Exmouth F FAith False News Famine Farrington Fealty Fee or Feuds Fee-tayl Estate Feologild Fergus Fernham Festidus Fidelity Fighting Finan Fines Finkley Fire First Fruits Five Burghs Flanders Flattery Fleet Foelix Folcmote Folcstone Foreign Tongue Forests Forfeitures Formosus Fornication Framarius France Frank-pledges Franks Freemen Freodguald Freothwulf Frethanleage Friburg Friesland Frisians Frithestan Frithogithe Frithwald Fugitives Fullenham Furseus G GAcon Gaini Gainsborough Galgacus Galienus Gallio Game Gavelkind Gaule Gemote General Gentlemen Geoffrey of Monmouth Gerent Germanus Gerontius Gessoriacum Geta Gethic Gewisses Gildas Girwy Gisa Glan-morgan Glappa 2. Glass Glastenbury Gleni Glewancester Glotta and Bodotria God Goda Godfathers Godfred Godiva Godmundingham Godwin Gogmagog Gordianus Gormond Gospatrick Gospel Government Graetanleage Grand Inquest Vid. Inquest Gratian Gratianus Gregory Griffyn Griffyth ap Llewelin ap Sitsylt Griffyth ap Madoc St. Grimbald Grime Grisons Grymkytel Guarinus Gueld Guendelew Gueniver Guiderac Guild Guintelin
forced to retire beyond 〈…〉 her Brother of Normandy for safety Id. p. 38. Aelgiva a Hampshire Lady Daughter of Aelfhelm the Ealdorman one of Cnute's Wives bore him Harold whom before his death his Father appointed to be King of England after him l. 6. â— 56. But the Story seems a littlâ— improbable for it is said she was barren and therefore â—â—etenâ—ing a Big-Belly imposed on the credulous King a Supposititious Birth viz. the Son of a Shoemaker then newly born Id. p. 61. In the English-Saxon is the same with Emma in the Norman-French Dialect the Widow of King Cnute who was banished England by King Harold Id. p. 64. Aella with his three Sons slew a great many of the Britains and possessed themselves of all the Sea-Coast of Sussex l. 3. p. 132. He and Ciffa receiving fresh Supplies besieged Anâ—redesceaster and â—ook it by force and put all the Britains to the Sword Ibid. His Death Id. p. 136. Is said to be the first that ruled all over Britain l. 5. p. 254. Aella King of Deira l. 3. p. 147. A general Name given to the Kings of Deira l. 4. p. 152. His Death l. 3. p. 148. Aella a Tyrant and Usurper made King of that Countrey by the Northumbers who had expelled Osbryht newly before who was their lawful King l. 5. p. 267. Aelmer an Archdeacon betrays Canterbury to the Danes l. 6. p. 35 36. Aemilianus Emperor of Rome but three Months l. 2. p. 81. Aeneon Vid. Eneon Aescasdune now called Aston near Wallingford l. 4. p. 182 188. l. 5. p. 275. Aescwin reigns over the West-Saxons is supposed to be the next of the Royal Line l. 4. p. 194. Son of Cenwulf the Battel he fought and with whom His Death Id. 195 198. Aescwin Bishop of the East-Saxons his Death and who succeeded him l. 4. p. 196. Aesk also called Oisk and Osric Hengest's Son began his Reign when and how long he continued it l. 3. p. 132. His Death Id. p. 136. Aestel the signification of it uncertain l. 5. p. 304. Aethelbald King of the Mercians held it forty years l. 4. p. 217. His Pedigree Ibid. Took Somerton and was that great and powerful King as not to be ashamed of committing Uncleanness even with Consecrated Nuns Id. p. 221 222. Made all the rest of the Provinces of England and their Kings subject to him as far as the Humber l. 4. p. 222. Wasted the Countrey of Northumberland and carried away with him great Spoil Id. p. 223. His War with Cuthred King of the West-Saxons and the various success of it Id. p. 224 226. Slain at Seccandune in Warwickshire and buried in Ripendune Abbey which he himself had founded Id. p. 227. Aethelbald Son of Ethelwulf King of the West-Saxons and his Father made a greater slaughter of the Danes than ever was done before l. 5. p. 261. Forms a most wicked Conspiracy in the West of England against his Father upon the account of his new Wife and so gets the Kingdom divided betwixt his Father and him which before was united l. 5. p. 263 264. Vid. Ethelbald Aethelbryght Vid. Ethelbert Aethelburga returns by Sea into Kent with Paulinus the Archbishop and is received with great Honour by King Eadbald and Archbishop Honorius l. 4. p. 176. Destroys the Castle of Taunton-Dean in Somersetshire and for what reason Id. p. 218. Aethelfleda King Alfred's Eldest Daughter married to Eadred or Ethelred King of the Mercians l. 5. p. 311. Vid. Ethelfleda Aethelgiva Vid. Algiva Aethelheard the Bishop dies at York l. 4. p. 232. Vid. Ethelheard Aethelred Vid. Ethelred Aethelswithe Queen Sister to King Alfred and Widow of Burhred King of Mercia dies in her Journey to Rome l. 5. p. 298. Aethelwald Edward the Elder 's Cousin-German rebels against him and going over to the Danish Army they joyfully received him for their King He takes a Nun out of the Monastery of Winburn and marries her but going over to France to raise new Recruits King Edward seizes her and brings her back again l. 5. p. 312. Returns from France and with a mighty Army coming into Kent gets much Plunder there and then ravages over other Countries but at last is killed in fight Id. p. 313. Aethelwald Abbot received the Bishoprick of Winchester and is consecrated His many good Works and what Monasteries he repaired and built l. 6. p. 4 21. Was Father of the Monks His Decease Id. p. 21. Aethelwulf Vid. Ethelwulf Aetius somewhat recovered the Credit of the Roman Empire in Gaul l. 2. p. 106. Received doleful Latters from the Britains imploring Assistance l. 3. p. 115. Expecting a War with Attila King of the Huns Ibid. Agatha the Queen of Hungary's Sister is married to Prince Edward Son to Edmund Ironside l. 6. p. 49. Agatho the Pope his Bull to the Abbey of Medeshamstead supposed to be forgâ—d long after by the Monks of Peterburgh l. 4. p. 200. Agelbert Bishop of Kent but turned out and wherefore l. 4. p. 181 182. Left King Cenwalch and took the Bishoprick of Paris l. 4. p. 182 188. Vid. Aegelbyerth Agricola sent into Britain in Vespasian the Emperor's time as his Lieutenant Almost cut 's off the whole Nation of the Ordovices Going with his men to subdue Mona the Island sues for Peace and delivers â—t self up to him Increases his Fame by his Successes and Moderation l. 2. p. 55. His wise Conduct both in his own Family and in Britain Id. p. 56. Brought here in fashion the Roman Language Garb and Gown No Castle of his ever taken by force Rewarded with Triumphal Ornaments His farther Conquests Places Garisons in that part of Britain that lay over-against Ireland Id. p. 57. Carries on the War both by Sea and Land and overcomes the Caledonians Id. p. 58 59. Which is confessed to be more owing to his own Conduct than the Courage of the Roman Soldiers Id. p. 59. His Speech to his Soldiers and after what manner he ordered the Battel against Galgacus Id. p. 61. Overthrows and puts the Britains to flight His Ruin secretly designed by his Prince Id. p. 62 63. How at his Return he is received at Rome Accused to Domitian but acquitted Oftâ—n near his Ruin as well by his own Virtues as by the Vices of others The Proconsulship of Africa seemingly offered to him void by the Death of Civica Id. p. 64. His Death whether by Poyson or otherwise uncertain He carried the Roman Eagles to the utmost Bounds of Britain Id. p. 65. He was the Son of Severian a Pelagian Bishop Id. p. 107. Agrippina presiding over the Roman Ensigns l. 2. p. 44. Aidan a Scotch Bishop desires Edwin to remember his Vision and Promise and become a Christian l. 4. p. 173. Is sent to Oswald to ground his Subjects in the Christian Faith from the Monâ—stery of the Isle of Hye Id. 177 178. His Character being an excellent Pattern for succeeding Bishops and Clâ—rgymen to follow Id. p. 178. His Death Id. p. 182 183.
Ailesbury in Buckinghamshire anciently called Eglesbyrig l. 5. p. 321. Ailmer Earl of Cornwal Founder of the Abbey of Cerne in Dorsetshirâ— l. 6. p. 22. Ailnoth Vid. Ethelnoth Ailwin the Ealdorman Founder of the Abbey of Ramsey l. 6. p. 6 7. Akmanceaster an Ancient City called Bathan by the Inhabitants l. 6. p. 7. Alan King of Armorica receives Cadwallader l. 4. p. 190. Alan Earl of Britain so great an Assistant to William Duke of Normandy that after his Conquest he made him Earl of Richmond and had great part of the Countrey thereabouts given him l. 6. p. 109. Alaric King of the Goths takes Rome l. 2 p. 104. St. Alban an Account of his Martyrdom l. 2. p. 85 86. The Miracles thereat Ibid. p. 107 108. Is privately buried that Age being ignorant of the virtue of keeping Saints Relicks Id. p. 86. Offa is warned by an Angel to remove his Relicks to a more Noble Shrine He builds a new Church and Monastery in honour of him who was after canonized l. 4. p. 237. As he was the first Martyr of England so the Abbot thereof ought to be the first in Dignity of all the Abbots in England Ib. p. 238. Pope Honorius ratified the Privileges formerly granted and gave to this Abbot and his Successors Episcopal Rights together with the Habit c. Jd. Ib. St. Albans anciently called Verulam where a Great Council was held by King Offa Id. p. 239. Albania now Scotland Northwest of the Mountains of Braid-Albain and its extent l. 2. p. 83 98. Albert ordained Archbishop of York l. 4. p. 229. Receives his Pall for the Archbishoprick from Pope Adrian Id. p. 230. Albinus Chlodius made Lieutenant of Britain by Commodus the Emperor who would have created him Caesar and permitted him in his presence to wear the Purple Robe but he refused them then yet afterwards assumed the Titles and Honour and died in asserting his Right to the Imperial Purple l. 2. p. 71 73. Is dismissed from the Government of Britain but retained it under both Pertinax and Didius Julianus Takes upon him the Title of Caesar under Severus had Statues erected and Money coin'd with his Image Forced the Messengers sent by the Emperor to dispatch him by Torture to confess the Design Id. p. 72. But is obliged at last to run himself through with his own Sword Id. p. 73. Alburge Sister to King Egbert Foundress of a Benedictine Nunnery at Wilton l. 5. p. 248. Alcluid now called Dunbritton in Scotland l. 2. p. 101. Is destroyed by the Danes l. 5. p. 277. Alchmuid Son to Ethelred King of Northumberland being taken by the Guards of King Eardulf is slain by his Command l. 4. p. 243. Alchmund Bishop of Hagulstade his Decease l. 4. p. 232. Alcuin or Albinus writes an Epistle wherein he proves Image-Worship utterly unlawful l. 4. p. 237. At his Intercession the Northumbrian Kingdom is spared from Ruin Id. p. 240. Goes into France and is much in favour with Charles the Great whom he taught the Liberal Arts and by his means the University of Paris is erected His Death and Character Id. p. 244. Aldhelm made Bishop of Shireburn and by whom l. 4. p. 213. A Catalogue of his Works given us by Bede Id. p. 213 214. His Death and Character Id. p. 214. Aldred Bishop of Worcester by his Intercession makes Sweyn's Peace with Edward the Confessor and goes with Bishop Hereman to the great Synod assembled at Rome l. 6. p. 75. Is sent Ambassador to the Emperor with Noble Presents to prevail with him to send Ambassadors into Hungary to bring back Prince Edward the King's Cousin Son of King Edmund Ironside into England Id. p. 86. His rebuilding the Church of St. Peter in Gloucester and going on Pilgrimage through Hungary to Jerusalem Id. p. 88. Is made Archbishop of York and goes with Earl Tostige to Rome where he receives his Pall Ibid. Crowns Harold King of England Id. p. 105. Aldune Bishop of Lindisfarne removes the Body of St. Cuthbert from Chester after a hundred years lying there to Durham and there builds a small Church dedicating it to him l. 6. p. 26. Alehouses how anciently these have been here with the Consequences thereof viz. quarrelling and breaking of the Peace l. 6. p. 43. Alemond Father to Edmund the King and Martyr whom he had by his Wife Cywara in old Saxony l. 5. p. 265. Alfleda Daughter to Ceolwulf King of the Mercians is married to Wimond Son of Withlaff an Ealdorman there who is afterwards made King by the Consent of the People l. 5. p. 253. Alfred King of Northumberland would not alter the Judgment against Bishop Wilfrid for any Letter from the Pope l. 4. p. 207. Deceases at Driffield and on his Death-bed repents of what he had done towards the Bishop Id. p. 212 213. Alfred King of the West-Saxons was the fifth Son of King Aethelwulf Id. p. 258. When born of Osberge his Mother at Wantige in Berkshire l. 5. p. 261. Is anointed King by the Pope as a Prophetical Presage of his future Royal Dignity Id. p. 262 265. Married to Alswitha the Daughter of Aethelred the Ealdorman of the Gaini l. 5. p. 269. He with his Brother Ethelred made a great slaughter of the Danes Id. p. 275. By the general Consent of the whole Kingdom is advanced to the Throne Id. p. 276. Fights with the Danes and the various success of his Fortune Ibid. Fights at Sea against seven of their Ships and takes one the rest escaping Id. p. 277. Is forced to make Peace with them and what Hostages they give him to depart the Kingdom but upon breach of Oath he puts them all to death The Danes make another Peace with him but did not long observed it Id. p. 278. Leads an uneasy Life upon their account beiâ—g forced to hide and lurk among the Woody parts of Somersetshire Id. p. 280. His excessive Charity to a poor man in the midst of his own Extremity Id. p. 280 281. Goes into the Danish Army in the habit of a Countrey Fidler discovers their weakness and by that means obtain a signal Victory over them Id. p. 282. Delivers the Kingdom of the East-Angles up to Guthrune and the League made between them setting out the Extent of each other's Territories Id. p. 283 284. The Subjection or Dependance the Danes shew'd to this King by their consenting to the Laws made in a Common-Council of the Kingdom Id. p. 285. Fights against four Danish Pyrate-ships takes two the other two surrender Id. p. 285 286. Pope Martinus sends some of the Wood of our Lord's Cross to him and in return he sends to Rome the Alms he had vowed Id. p. 286. Setting upon the Danish Pyrates with his Fleet takes them all with great Spoils and kills most of their men but returning home and meeting with another Fleet of them they prove too hard for him Id. p. 286 287. Takes the City of London from the Danes who had kept it
the Benedictine Order Id. p. 167. Augustine's Ake scituate on the Confines of the Wectii l. 4. p. 160. Augustus Caesar his coming as far as Gallia twice to reduce Britain under his Obedience l. 2. p. 36. Vid. Caesar. Avon the River anciently called Antona l. 2. p. 41. Aurelian L. Domitius the Emperor killed by Mnestheus his Secretary The Ninth Persecution under him l. a. p. 82. Aurelius Ambrosius his Success against the Saxons when l. 3. p. 127. Elected General of the Britains Vortigern being as then King though only in name so Id. p. 129 130. His mighty victory over the Saxons and his ordering the Churches to be repaired which the Saxons had destroyed p. 130. Marches up to London and going about to repair that He is crowned at Stonehenge and not long after buried there At a solemn Council he appoints two Metropolitans for the Vacant Sees viz. York and Caer-Leon Id. p. 131. A Rebellion raised against him in the North among the Britains who were put to flight Ibid. Chosen King of the Britains and reigned 19 years Id. p. 132. Died being poysoned by procurement of Pascentius Son to Vortigern who before had rebelled against him Id. p. 131 133. Aurelius Atticus Commander in Chief of a Roman Cohort slain by the Britains in the Battel between Agricola and Galgacus l. 2. p. 62. Aurelius Conan King of Powis-Land or else some other Southern Province l. 3. p. 139 146. Aurelius Marcus succeeds Antoninus Pius in the Empire the Britains raise new Commotion against him but they lasted not long after Calphurnius Agricola's Arrival l. 2. p. 68. Aust where is a Ferry to pass out of Somersetshire into Wales anciently called Austelin l. 5. p. 328. Axanminster now Axminster in Devonshire l. 4. p. 233. B BAchfeg a Danish King whom their History calls Ivor the Son of Reynere is slain by King Aethelred and Aelfred his Brother in Battel near Reading where most of his Troops being cut off the rest were forced to fly l. 5. p. 275. Badon-hill supposed to be the same with Banesdown near Bathe where the great Battel was fought by Prince Arthur against the Saxons l. 3. p. 136. Bakewell in Derbyshire anciently called Bedecanwell l. 5. p. 324. Balbinus Clodius with Pupienus Maximus elected Emperors by the Senate but were soon after slain by the Praetorian Bands l. 2. p. 81. Baldred King of Kent forced to fly from King Egbert's Army over the Thames into the Northern parts l. 5. p. 253. Bestows the Manner of Mallings in Sussex on Christ's Church at Canterbury which being afterwards taken away for some reasons was confirmed to it by the Common-Council of the whole Kingdom under King Egbert Id. p. 257. Baldwin Earl of Flanders assigns Aelgiva whom Harold had banished England Bruges for her Retirement and both protected and provided for her as long as she staid there l. 6. p. 64. Bamborough Castle in Northumberland anciently called Bebbanburgh when built and by whom l. 3. p. 142 143. l. 4. p. 230. Assaulted and set on fire by King Penda's Orders l. 4. p. 185. The Town destroyed by the Danes and the great Booty they got there l. 6. p. 24. Banbury anciently called Berinbyrig where Cynric and Ceawlin his Son fought with the Britains and routed them l. 3. p. 143. Bangor built by Malgoclunus near the River Menai Id. Ib. One Dynoth the Abbot there pretended he was instructed and by whom how to know whether Augustine's Preaching was from God or not l. 4. p. 161 162. Is not far from the River Dee in Flintshire Id. p. 164. The Massacre of the Monks there Ib. p. 165. Lands and Possesions given to this Church by Prince Anarawd l. 5. p. 317. Banner the famous one called Reafan that is The Raven which was so enchanted by Magick Art that it would clap its Wings upon the prospect of good Success or let them fall at that of bad as if it were alive l. 5. p. 281 282. Banuwelle Monastery to whom granted by King Alfred l. 5. p. 307. Baptism Priests obliged to explain this and the Mass l. 4. p. 225. To be performed at the times appointed by the former Canons of the Church Id. p. 233. Bardeney in Lincolnshire anciently called Bardenigge l. 5. p. 315. Bardsey-Island where Archbishop Dubritius became an Anchoret l. 3. p. 149. Barnwood Forest near Bury-hill in Bucks where the Danes went out to plunder l. 5. p. 321. Barons by this word Thanes are to be understood l. 6. p. 83. Edward the Confessor's Law about Tythes made à Rege Baronibus Populo Id. p. 100. The Law concerning those Barons who have Courts and Customs of their own Id. p. 102. St. Bartholomew called an Indian Apostle because of his Martyrdom there l. 5. p. 286. St. Basile the Monks of that Order were the same with the Monks of Ireland and those Monasteries founded in the Kingdom of Northumberland followed this Rule l. 4. p. 167. Basse the Priest builds the Monastery of Reculver in Kent l. 4. p. 192. Bassianus Eldest Son of Severus the Emperor by his wicked Carriage gave him perpetual trouble for as soon as he had Power he aimed to kill both his Brother and Father l. 2. p. 77. Was not long after his Father's Death destroyed Id. Ib. Cruelly murthered his Brother Geta in his Mother's Arms and would have had Papinian the great Civil Lawyer to have wrote a Defence of it Id. p. 79. Bassus a valiant Captain of King Edwin's conducted Aethelburga c. into Kent from Cadwalla's Rage and Cruelty l. 4. p. 176. Bastardy the first Decree found in this kind That Bastards and those begotten of Nuns should not inherit l. 4. p. 234. Bathan so called by the Inhabitants the ancient City of Akmancester where King Edgar was crowned l. 6. p. 7. Bathe called Caer-Baden built by Bladud who is said by his skill in Magick to have found out there those Medicinal Waters l. 1. p. 10. Called likewise Bathoncester l. 3. p. 146. A Nunnery built here by Osric and afterwards it was turned to a House of Secular Chanons l. 4. p. 196. Beadricesworth i. e. St. Edmundsbury where King Cnute built a Noble Monastery l. 5. p. 323. King Edmund gave this Royal Town and divers other Lands to build a Church and Monastery in memory of St. Edmund the Martyr l. 5. p. 345. Beamdune now Bindon in Dorsetshire where a great Battel was fought between the West-Saxons and the Britains and the latter were overcome l. 4. p. 166. Beamfleet Castle or Fort built by Hastings the Danish Pyrate l. 5. p. 299. Demolished and his Army routed by King Alfred's Forces Id. p. 300. Becancelde perhaps Beckenham near Surrey but not certain l. 4. p. 209. The great Council held here under Withred King of Kent Id. p. 209 210. Another held here under Kenwult King of the Mercians Id. p. 241. Bedanhealfde supposed by some to be Bedwyn in Wiltshire near Berkshire l. 4. p. 195. Bede the ancientest English-Saxon
him And after Caesar's departure till the time of Claudius they were free from the Roman Yoke Id. p. 35 36. They send Ambassadors into Gallia to Augustus to beg Peace and begin to learn the Roman Arts of Flattery c. Id. p. 36 37. Victory obtained over them by Claudius his Clemency towards them for which they build him a Temple and adore him as a God Id. p. 40. Their Victory over Catus Decianus and the Romans in the absence of Paulinus Suetonius and Cruelty to the Roman Wives and Virgins Id. p. 48 49. Learnt the Vices of the Romans are overcome by Agricola Id. p. 51 55 56 57 58 59. Would not own themselves beaten by the Courage of the Roman Soldiers but by the Conduct of their General Id. p. 59. They get together Thirty thousand strong on the Grampion Hills and are resolved to fight him again but are miserably beaten and put to flight Id. p. 59 60 61 62 63. Recovering fresh Strength and Courage under the Conduct of Arviragus revolt against the Emperor Trajan but are soon reduced again l. 2. p. 65 66. Would have entirely rovolted from Hadrian after Julius Severus his departure had not Hadrian in the second year of his Empire made a Journey hither and by force of Arms reduced them Id. p. 67. The South-Britains within Hadrian's Wall enjoy the Privilege in Antoninus Pius his time of being free Citizens of Rome Id. p. 67 68. Raise new Commotions in Marcus Aurelius Antoninus his time who succeeds Antoninus Pius From Lucius till the time of Dioclesian they maintain the Christian Faith without disturbance Id. p. 68. Under the Power of the Romans in Lucius his time or what remained unconquered were absolutely Heathen and Barbarous at the time of his supposed Conversion Id. p. 69. Much infested with Wars and Seditions in Commodus his Reign They mutiny against Perennis and send Fifteen hundred Soldiers into Italy to let Commodus the Emperor know that Perennis had conspired against him endeavouring to make his Son Emperor Id. p. 70. Come flocking in to Constantius Chlorus against Allectus Id. p. 84. Suffer Persecution here under Dioclesian the Emperor Id. p. 85. Revolt against the Emperor Constantine but are subdued Id. p. 87 88. Renounce all further Obedience to the Roman Empire Id. p. 104. The first Supplies sent to them were between the Death of Maximus and the setting up of Gratianus Municeps and when the second Id. p. 105 106. Their Endeavours to get the Roman Protection in Valentinian the Third's time Id. p. 106. Would by no means receive the Pelagian Doctrine Id. p. 107. Their Victory over the Picts and Saxons and by what means Id. p. 108. Their doleful Letters to Aetius the Emperor's Lieutenant in Gaul for Assistance And their Wickedness both in Clergy and Laity Id. p. 115. Their leaving Kent and flying in great fear to London l. 3. p. 129. Their Victory over the Saxons through their Carelessness Id. p. 148. Believe Augustin's Doctrine to be from God from his Miraculous Cure of a Blind Man l. 4. p. 161. In Bede's time it was their custom to set at nought the Religion of the English-Saxons Id. p. 176. Fight with Kenwalc King of the West-Saxons at Peonnum but put to flight by him and pursued as far as Pedridan l. 4. p. 188. Deliver the City of Alkuith upon Conditions to Eadbert King of Northumberland and Unust King of the Picts l. 4. p. 227. A great Battel between them and the Saxons at Hereford l. 4. p. 228. And at Ruthin where Caradoc ap Gwin King of North-Wales was slain Id. p. 241. And another between them and the Devonshire men where the former were-routed l. 5. p. 253. Suffer a great slaughter from Hinguar and Hubba Id. p. 281. Obtain a Victory over the Danes and driving them into a River drown many of them Id. p. 298. Northern Britains much infested by the Incursions of the Danes Saxons and Scots Id. p. 317. Ever since the coming in of the Saxons had continued a distinct Principality in the North and retiring into North-Wales had there erected the Colony of Straetcluyd Id. p. 344. Britains of Armorica settled there long before ours were driven out by the Saxons l. 3. p. 127. British Church sent divers Bishops to the Council of Arles in Gallia l. 2. p. 88. Enjoyed perfect Peace till the Arrian Heresy over-ran the whole world Id. p. 105. All differences cease between this Church and that of North-Wales and how effected l. 4. p. 229. Brixstan in Somersetshire anciently called Ecbyrth-stan lying on the East-side of Selwood-Forest l. 5. p. 282. Brockmaile the Protector and Defender of the Britains l. 4. p. 164. Bromrige in the County of Northumberland anciently called Brunanburh l. 5. p. 334 335. Bruerne Brocard resenting the Injury King Osbryht had done him in lying with his Wife goes over to Denmark to complain of it and gets a great Army to come from thence who revenge the Affront by the King's death l. 5. p. 268 269. Brun-Albin or Drum-Albin that is the Ridge of Scotland l. 2. p. 98. Brute and his Successors their History How he consults the Oracle and the Answer it returned l. 1. p. 7 8. He divides the Kingdom to his Three Sons the Eldest to have Loegria now England the Second Cambria now Wales and the Third Albania now Scotland Id. p. 9. Bryghtwald takes the Bishoprick of Wiltonshire l. 6. p. 31. Bryghtwulf Bishop of Scireborne deceases after he had held the Bishoprick eight and thirty years Id. p. 73. Brythelme Bishop of Wells made Archbishop of Canterbury but being found not fit for so great a Charge by the Command of the King and whole Nation he retired and went to his former Church l. 6. p. 2. Buchanan his Mistakes About Severus his Wall l. 2. p. 76 77. About The last Wall which he will have built in Scotland Id. p. 100 101. About The last War between the Romans and the Britains Id. p. 101 102. About Achaius King of Scots having reigned 32 years c. l. 5. p. 250. About King Athelstan's Parricide Id. p. 335. Budington in Shropshire anciently called Butdigingtune l. 5. p. 301. Buloigne the Portus Ictius and ancient Gessoriacum from whence the Romans most commonly passed into Britain l. 2. p. 31 40. Buoy in the Nore supposed anciently to be called Northmuthe l. 6. p. 80. Burford in the Saxon times called Beorgford in Oxfordshire l. 4. p. 226. Burgh an Abbey which Leofric the Abbot of it so adorned with Rich Gildings that it was called the Golden Burgh c. l. 6. p. 84. Burghmotes to be held Thrice a Year and who to be present thereat l. 6. p. 13. Burhred Burherd or Beorhed King of Mercia fights with the Britains and kills their King Enters North-Wales with great Power and destroys Anglesey and slays Meyric l. 5. p. 261. Succeeds Beorthwulf and present at the Agreement made by Ceolred Abbot of Medeshamsted and his Monks of a Lease
by Dioclesian Id. p. 87. Died at York Ibid. Vid. Constantine the Great Cloveshoe a Synod appointed to be assembled there once a year l. 4. p. 193. The Great Synod where were present Ethelbald the Mercian King and Archbishop Cuthbert where the place was is uncertain several Supposals and Conjectures about it Id. p. 224. The second Council held here and what was decreed in it Id. p. 225. The third Council held here under King Kenwulf and what was transacted therein Id. p. 243. l. 5. p. 248. A Synod held here under King Beornwulf and Archbishop Wilfrid whose Constitutions wholly relate to Ecclesiastical Affairs l. 5. p. 253. Another Synodal Council held here by Beornwulf c. wherein some Disputes about Lands between Heabert Bishop of Worcester and the Monastery of Westburgh are determined Ibid. Cnobsbury a Town wherein Fursaeus by the help of King Sigebert erects a Monastery which afterwards Anna King of the East-Angles richly endows l. 4. p. 180. Cnute having obtained the Crown of England restores its ancient Laws and Liberties l. 5. p. 246. Builds a Noble Monastery at Beadricesworth now St. Edmundsbury whither the Body of Edmund the Martyr was removed some time before l. 5. p. 323. Is chosen King by all the Danish Fleet and Army after the Death of his Father Sweyn l. 6. p. 39. Puts the Hostages on Shore at Sandwich that were given to his Father but first cuts off their Hands and Noses Ibid. Plunders all about Wiltshire Dorsetshire and Somersetshire c. and Aedric and the West-Saxons Submission to him Id. p. 40 41 42. Is chosen King by several of the Bishops Abbots and Noblemen of England upon which he comes up with his Fleet to Greenwich to besiege London and the Battels he fought with King Edmund and those that espoused his Interest Id. p. 45 46 47. A Peace concluded on between him and Edmund Ironside with an Account of the Particulars of it Id. p. 47 48. The Council he summoned to London about making him King of all England and setting aside his Children and Brethren from the Kingdom of the West-Saxons Id. p. 49. When he began his Reign divides all England into four Parts or Governments râ—serving West-Saxony to himself Id. p. 50. Marries Emma Widow of the King his Predecessor and the Reason of State for it Goes to Denmark to subdue the Vandals carrying along with him an Army of English and Danes the former behaving themselves so bravely against the Enemy that after that Battel he had the English in as much esteem at his own Native Subjects Holds a Great Council at Cyrencester and what is â—ransacted therein Id. p. 51. A Parliament called by him at Winchester and who present and what decreed therein l. 6. p. 52. Founds the Monastery of Beadricesworth where a Church had been built before and endows it which was one of the Largest and Richest in England Ibid. Goes again into Denmark with his Fleet and engages with the Swedes both by Land and Sea the latter getting the Victory Two years after he drives Olaf out of Norway and conquers it for himself Ranishes Hacun a Danish Earl his Nephew by Marriage under pretence of an Embassy Id. p. 53. Agrees with Robert Duke of Normandy That King Ethelred's two Sons should have half the Kingdom peaceably during his life Gives the Port of Sandwich to Christ-Church in Canterbury with all the Issues c. And founds a Monastery for Benedictines in Norfolk called St. Bennet's in Holme Id. p. 54. Goes to Rome and what he does there he declares in a Letter he sent upon his return from thence into England to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York Id. p. 55. Goes into Scotland and there King Malcolme becomes subject to him Before his Death he appoints Swayn his Eldest Son King of Norway Hardecnute his Son by Queen Emma King of Denmark and Harold his Son by Elgiva King of England after him Id. p. 56 61. Dies at Shaftsbury and is buried at the new Monastery of Winchester having reigned almost Twenty Years His Character A pretty Story about the sense he had of the Vanity of Worldly Empire Id. p. 57. The Laws he ordains with the Consent of his Wise Men at Winchester Id. p. 57 58 59 60. His Laws afterwards confirm'd and renew'd by King Edward the Confessor at the Request of the Northumbers Id. p. 90. Coelestine the Pope sends Palladius the Bishop to the Scots to confirm their Faith l. 2. p. 109 110. Cogidunus held several British Cities of Ostorius Scapula as Tributary to the Roman Empire l. 2. p. 41. Coifi chief of King Edwin's Idol Priests consents to receive the Christian Religion confessing his own to be good for nothing l. 4. p. 173. Burns the Idol Temples and demolishes the Altars of his former Gods Id. p. 174. Coil the Son of Marius succeeds him in Britain loves the Romans and is honoured by them and governs the Kingdom long and peaceably l. 2. p. 67. Dies towards the end of Marcus Aurelius the Emperor's Reign Id. p. 68. Coinage King Athelstan's Law That no Money be coined out of some Town no embasing to be of the Coin under Forfeiture of the loss of the Hand c. l. 5. p. 340. Though not Treason in King Ethelred's time yet punishable at the King's discretion either by Fine or Death l. 6. p. 44. Vid. Money Colchester anciently called Colnaceastre taken from the Danes by the men of Kent Surrey and Essex and the neighbouring Towns The Wall rebuilt and all ruinous places repaired by the Command of King Edward the Elder l. 5. p. 322. Coldingham the Monastery Vid. Monastery of Coludesburgh Coleman Bishop of Lindisfarne departs to Scotland and upon what account l. 4. p. 189. Coludesburgh a great Monastery of Monks and Nuns together called afterwards Coldingham in the Marches of Scotland burnt and how l. 4. p. 198 199. Columba the Priest or Presbyter comes out of Ireland to preach the Word of God to the Northern Picts and receives the Island of Hy to build a Monastery in l. 3. p. 143. Comets one appeared in King Egfrid's time that continued three Months carrying with it every morning a large Tail like a Pillar l. 4. p. 196. Another in Ethelheard's time l. 4. p. 220. One appeared some time after Easter in the year 891. l. 5. p. 298. Another appeared about the time of Queen Ealswithe's Death Id. p. 313. Another was seen in the year 995. l. 6. p. 26. A dreadful one appeared which was visible in all these parts of the world Id. p. 106. Commodus succeeds his Father Marcus Aurelius in the Empire l. 2. p. 68. In his Reign the Britains and other Countries were much infested with Wars and Seditions Id. p. 70. Makes Helvius Pertinax Lieutenant in Britain but was soon dismissed of his Government there Id. p. 70 71 He was odious to the Commonwealth because of his Vices by which he not only destroyed it but disgraced himself Id. p. 71.
224 226. In the Twelfth Year of his Reign fighâ—s against Ethelune the Ealdorman and prevails Id. p. 225. He and Ethelune reconciled and both fight against Ethelbald who fled His Decease and Sigebert his Cousin succeeds to him Id. p. 226. Cuthred King of Kent made King â—hereof by Kenwulf instead of Ethelbert called Praen His Death l. 5. p. 248 251. Cuthwulf or Cutha Brother to Ceawlin fights against the Britains at Bedicanford and takes Four Towns l. 3. p. 145. They both fight against the Britains at a place called Frethanleag where Cutha is slain Id. p. 147. l. 4. p. 159. Cwichelme Brother to Ceawlin his Death l. 3. p. 149. Cwichelme and Cynegils fight with the Britains at Beamdune and there slay Two thousand and forty six men l. 4. p. 166. His Character and how related to Cynegils Id. p. 167. Matthew Westminster's mistake concerning his Death Id. p. 172. Fights with Penda King of Mercia at Cirencester and at last a League is made betwâ—en them Id. p. 174. Is converted and baptized into the Christian Faith and soon after dies Id. p. 179. Cycle of Eighty four years an account of it the uâ—e of which the Romans having left off took up another of nineteen years l 4. p. 160. Cynebald the Bishop resigns his See at Lindisfarne l. 4. p. 232. Cynebryht Bishop of the West-Saxons goes to Rome to take the Habit of a Monk l. 4. p. 242. Cynegils when he began to reign over the West-Saxons and whose Son he was l. 4. p. 166. Vid. Cwichelme His Character Id. p. 167. Fights with Penda at Cirencester and the Success thereof Id. p. 174. The West-Saxons receive the Christian Faith in his Reign and himself too Id. p. 179. Cyneheard succeeds Hunferth in the Bishoprick of Winchester l. 4. p. 226. Cyneheard Aetheling Brother to Sigebert kills Cynwulf l. 4. p. 226 232. Is slain by the Thanes of King Cynewulf and lies buried at Axminster Id. p. 233. Cynoth King of the Picts to whom Alhred King of the Northumbers fled after he was deposed l. 4. p. 230. Cynric fights against the Britains at Searebyrig i. e. Old Sarum and puts them to flight l. 3. p. 142. And at Banbury anciently called Berinbyrig Id. p. 24â— His Death and Ceawlin his Son reigns after him Ibid. Cynric Aetheling a Prince of the Blood-Royal of the West-Saxons is slain Son of Cuthred a great Warrior for his time and how he fell l. 4. p. 225. Cynwulf with the Great Council deposes Sigebert King of the West-Saxons and by thâ—m is unanimously elected King in his room He often overcomes the Britains in fight but at last is slain l. 4. p. 226 227. And Offa King of the Mercians fight at Bensington in Oxfordshire Id. p. 230. Is slain by Cyneheard but he fâ—ll likewise with him Id. p. 232. Buried at Wintencester he was descended from Cerdic Id. p. 233. Vid. Kenwulf D DAgobert King of the French his Death l. 4. p. 217. Dalliance with other men's Wiveâ— the Fine imposed for it by Alfred's Law l. 5. p. 293. Danegelt viz. Seventy two thousand Pounds paid as a Tribute throughout England besides Eleven thousand Pounds more which the Citizens of London paid l. 6. p. 51. Vid. Tribute and Tax It was now by constant Usage become a Prerogative Id. p. 66. This cruel Burthen taken off the Nation by Edward the Confessor and how it came to pass Id. p. 78. What it was and upon what occasion it was first imposed The Church always excused from this Payment till Will Rufus's time Id. p. 100. Danes upon their first arrival in England were forced to fly to their Ships again These and the Normans then looked upon to be but one and the same People l. 4. p. 235. Miserably destroying the Churches of God in Lindisfarne and committing great Ravages Id. p. 238. Destroy Northumberland and rob the Monastery built there by Egbert Id. p. 240. Their Invasion and Conquest of several Principalities till expelled by King Alfred and his Son Edward the Elder when these Kingdoms became united under the general name of England An account of their Invasion both as to its Causes and Instruments by which effected being the fiercest and most cruel that this Island ever felt Id. p. 246. Their Nation in the Saxon Annals called sometimes Northmanna and sometimes Deanscan l. 5. p. 256. They keep the Fiâ—ld at the Battel of Carrum now Charmouth in Dorsetshire from Egbert Id. p. 256. Consultation in a General Council of the whole Kingdom how to prevent their Invasion A great Fleet of them land among the Western-Welsh that is Cornish-Men and fight Egbert Id. p. 257. Danish Pyrates beaten at Southampton by Wulfheard the Ealdorman they fight again and their various Successes Id. p. 258 259. Fight with the Somersetshire and Dorsetshire Men but are miserably worsted Id p. 260. Their several Battels and Successes Id. p. 261 262. They take Winchester from King Ethelbert Id. p. 266. Make a League with the Kentish-men but for all that they waste all the East part of it as knowing they could get more by Plunder than peace A great Army of them land here and take up their Winter-quarters among the East-Angles who are forced to make Peace with them then they march to York Kill the Two Kings there and put to flight the whole Army as well within as without the Town Id. p. 267. Make one Egbert King over the Northumbers though under the Danish Dominion Id. p. 268. Force the Mercians to make Peace with them Id. p. 269. Return to York where they stay Twelve Months and commit horrible Cruelties there and in the Kingdom of the East-Angles which they wholly conquer Id. p. 269 270. Landing in Lincolnshire they spoil all that Country committing Murthers and Desolations without mercy though not without great losses to themselves Id. p. 271 272. The reason of their Invading the Kingdom of the East-Angles Id. p. 272 273. Going into the West-Saxon Kingdom to Reading in Berkshire are routed Id. 274 275. In other places meet with various Successes of good and evil fortune Id. p. 276. Enter into a Peace with the English Saxons to depart the Kingdom which they did not long observe for the next year they land again and take up their Winter-Quarters in London and the Mercians forced to make Pâ—ace with thâ—m They destroy Alcluid in Scotland oblige Burhred King of Mercia to desert his Kingdom and go to Rome and bring the whole Kingdom under their Dominion and Vassalage Id. p. 277. Destroy the whole Countrey of Northumberland and ravag up to Galloway ruin Warham in Dorsetshire a strong Castle of the West-Saxons give Hostages to King Alfred but upon breach of their Oath are all put to death From whence they date their Reign over the King of Northumbers A Hundred and twenty of their Ships cast away in a storm near Swanwick in Hampshire Id. p. 278. Fix their Quarters in West-Saxony and make Aelfred very uneasy Id.
p. 280. Hinguar their Captain with Twelve Hundred Men slain near the Castle of Kenwith Id. p. 281. Are signally beaten by King Aelfred so as to desire Peace on Conditions Id. p. 282 283. The Laws made between them and King Aelfred in a Common Council of the Kingdom acknowledging his Superiority over them Id. p. 285. Besiege the City of Rochester build a strong Fort before the Gates of it but however they are forced to retire and go to their Ships Id. p. 286. One Fleet of theirs beaten by King Alfred another meeting him on his Return home prove too hard for him The Peace lately made with King Alfred broke by the Danes of east-East-England Id. p. 286 287. Beaten by the Bretons and by Arnulf the Emperor Id. p. 298. Infest the Kingdom for Three years worse than ever their landing in Kent and their various Successes Id. p. 298 299 300 301 302. Fight at Holme with the Kentish-men and their success l. 5. p. 312 313. Break their League with King Edward the Elder afterwards are beaten by the English in Staffordshire Id. p. 315 316. Commit great Ravage and Slaughter in Oxfordshire and several other Countries but often worsted Id. p. 319 321. Their power beginning to decrease and that of the English to increase Id. p. 321 322. Burn Tavistock in less than Fifty years after it was founded l. 6. p. 4. With the Welshmen that assisted them routed by Howel ap Jevaf their Pyrates destroy Southampton and commit great Ravage there They land in Cornwal and Burn the Church and Monastery of St. Petroc Id. p. 20. They land in Dorsetshire and spoil the Isle of Portland Id. p. 21. Destroy Weedport that is Watchet in Somersetshire Id. p. 22. As likewise the whole Isle of Anglesey and the Town of Ipswich in Suffolk Id. p. 23. Several Tributes paid them and yet those did not long satisfy their Covetousness Id. p. 25 29 32. Their Fleet escape by flight from being encompassed by King Ethelred's Id. p. 23. Come hither again with Ninety three Ships and ravaging several Countries Id. p. 24 25. Maintained by the West-Saxons and received a great Tribute besides Id. p. 25. Take much plunder from the Welsh Cornwal and Devonshire c. Id. p. 26 27. And the Spoils Burnings and Desolations they made where-ever they came Id. p. 28.29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 45 46 47 74. Leagues made with them but they never regarded them long Id. 28 31. King Ethelred commands all the Danes that could be found in England to be slain with the reason why which was most barbarously put in Execution especially at London but not long after it was bloodily revenged Id. p. 29 30 31. They insolently demand greater Tribute of the King and Kingdom l. 6. p. 35. Two thousand of them perish by divers inward Torments Their submission to King Ethelred upon Conditions Id. p. 36 37. Upon a Peace with Edmond Ironside they take up their Winter-Quarters at London Id. p. 48. They and the English are reconciled and united at Oxford at a Great Council Id. p. 51. At the Election of Edward the Confessor the Great Council agreed and Swore That no Danes should Reign over them any more and why Id. p. 70. Lothen and Yrling Danes with Five and twenty Ships landing at Sandwic commit great havock and carry off abundance of Booty Id. p. 74. Daniel the Learned and most Pious Bishop of Bangor in what Age he lived among the Britains l. 3. p. 149. Daniel being worn out by Age resigns the Bishoprick of Winchester to Hunferth l. 4. p. 224. His Death after he had been Three and forty years a Bishop Id. p. 225. Darwent a River near York not far from which stood an Idol-Temple called Godmundingham in King Edwin's time l. 4. p. 174. David afterwards Sainted succeeds Dubritius in the Archbishoprick of Caer-Leon l. 3. p. 149. Is said to have been Uncle by the Mother side to King Athur Ibid. St. Davids destroyed by the Danes who slew Urgeney the Bishop of that See l. 6. p. 27. Deadly Feuds vid. Quarrels Death None to Die for small offences but Mercy to be shewn to such Criminals by King Cnute's Law l. 6. p. 58. He that dies in fight c. his Heriot shâ—ll be remitted and his Children shall equally divide his Goods and Lands between them Id. p. 60. Decennary every one of Twelve years old to be entered into it l. 6. p. 58 104. Decianus Catus solicited by the Romans here to send them some Assistance against the Iceni and Trinobantes l. 2. p. 47 48. Decimation a very strange one indeed which the Danes made both of the Monks and Laity so that but One out of Ten persons was kept alive l. 6. p. 36. Decius Scil. Quintus Trajanus a great Enemy to Christianity he raised the Seventh Persecution l. 2. p. 81. Defamation punishable by cutting out the Tongue of the Party or redeeming it with the Value of his Head l. 6. p. 13. Degradation of a Priest for Murther as well as Confiscation of all his Estate unless his Lord will obtain his Pardon by the Price of his Head l. 5. p. 297. Degsa-stan or Degstan where Adian jealous of Ethelfrid's great Success came against him with a powerful Army but was routed l. 4. p. 159. Deira a Kingdom in Northumberland whose Kings were generally named Ella l. 4. p. 152. And Bernicia united into one Kingdom in Oswald's time Id. p. 178. Demetae that is South-Welshmen l. 3. p. 139 Vid. Venedoti Denulp Bishop of Winchester his Education Advancement and Death l. 5. p. 315. Deomed supposed to be South-Wales l. 5. p. 319. Deorham now Durham in Gloucestershire l. 3. p. 146. Deposition the first Instance of it by the Authority of the Great Council l. 4. p. 227. Alhred deposed by the Common Council and Consent of his own Subjects Id. p. 230. Of Edwi confirmed by the Common Council of the Kingdom l. 5. p. 354. Sparsim Deprivation of Bosa Bishop of Dunmoc and for what l. 4. p. 193. Derawnde now called Beverley in Yorkshire l. 4. p. 202. Desertion he that deserts his Lord or Fellow-Soldier either by Land or Sea in an Expedition is deprived both of Life and Estate l. 6. p. 60. Devils-Ditch formerly divided the Mercian Kingdom from that of the East-Angles l. 4. p. 239. l. 5. p. 313. Devise of Lands by Will Vid. Testament Deusdedit the Pope grants Adrian the Abbot of Canterbury a Privilege concerning the free Election of the Abbot of that Monastery l. 4. p. 165. Deusdedit consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury and was the first English Monk that had ever been chosen Archbishop of that See and the first Bishop consecrated but by one he changed his Name to this having before been called Fridona or Fridon l. 4. p. 186. His Death Id. p. 189. Dicul an Irish or Scotch Monk that lived in a little Monastery at a place called Bosenham with five or six Brethren in great
Devotion l. 4. p. 198. Didius Aulus a Roman Praetor sent Lieutenant into Britain in the room of Ostorius his Engagements and Success there l. 2. p. 45. Difilina Vid. Dublin Dinoth Abbot of Bangor instructed how to know whether Augustine's Preaching were of God by a Holy man that led the life of an Anchoret l. 4. p. 161 162. Diocesses five made out of two at a Great Council held by Edward the Elder l. 5. p. 313. Dioclesian chose Emperor by the Eastern Army makes Marc. Aurel. Maximinianus his Associate in the Empire nominates Galerius Caesar constrains them to divorce their Wives and to marry their Daughters l. 2. p. 83. His Persecution of his obedient and harmless Christian Subjects Id. p. 85. Dionotus Duke of Cornwall Geoffrey of Monmouth's story of him l. 2. p. 96. v. 102. Domitian succeeds Titus Vespasian his Brother l. 2. p. 57. Secretly designs the Ruin of Agricola through jealousy that the Glory of a private man should eclipse that of his Prince Id. p. 63. Causes it to be reported That the Province of Syria should be bestowed on Agricola Ibid. p. 64. Dorinea since Dorchester in Oxfordshire a City anciently though now but a poor Countrey Town l. 4. p. 179. Dover the Sedition there of the Townsmen against Eustatius Earl of Boloigne how it arose and how it ended l. 6. p. 76 77. Dower Where a Widow marries before her Twelve-month is expired she loses it and who is to have it and all that her Husband left her l. 6. p. 60. Draganus an Irish Bishop refuses to eat upon his coming over hither with Laurentius Archbishop of Canterbury and why l. 4. p. 166. Drinking Bonosus a Hard Drinker having hang'd himself for being vanquished by the Emperor Probus occasioned that sharp Saying Here hangs a Tankard l. 2. p. 82. Brass Pots set upon Posts at Fountains near the Highways for the use of Travellers to drink out of l. 4. p. 175. Edgar's Law to restrain excessive drinking of great Draughts Vid. Addenda p. 136. Druids their great Authority Doctrine and Gods l. 2. p. 23 24. Dublin in Ireland anciently called Difiline l. 5. p. 334. Dubritius Archbishop of Caer-Leon upon Usk in South-Wales Founder of the College of Philosophers there l. 3. p. 149. Resigned his Bishoprick and became an Anchoret in the Isle of Bardsey Ibid. Duduc Bishop of Somersetshire that is Wells his Decease and who is his Successor l. 6. p. 88. Dulcitius a famous Commander with Civilis sent for to Britain by Theodosius and an Account of their Expedition l. 2. p. 93. Dun consecrated Bishop of Rochester after the Death of Eardulph l. 4. p. 224. Dunbritton in Scotland anciently called Alcluid l. 2. p. 101. When it was destroyed by the Danes l. 5. p. 277. Dunmoc a Town in the Kingdom of the East-Angles but destroyed by the Danes l. 5 p. 274. Vid. Dunwich St. Dunstan an Account of his Birth l. 5. p. 329. Then Abbot of Glastenbury when King Edmund conferr'd divers large Privileges upon that Monastery Id. p. 345. King Edred commits the chief Treasures of his Kingdom to his care to be kept at his Abbey Id. p. 351. Is banished out of England by King Edwi and the occasion of it with his Retirement thereupon to a Monastery in Flanders Id. p. 353. Is chosen Bishop of Worcester by the General Consent of a Great Council and afterwards made Archbishop of Canterbury l. 6. p. 2. The Miracles that the Monks relate were done by him as his Harp hanging against the Wall and a whole Psalm being audibly plaid upon it without any hand touching it c. but above all his taking the Devil by the Nose with a Pair of Red Hot Tongs till he made him to roar again Id. p. 3. A great Propagator of Monkery many Monasteries either new built or new founded in his time Exercised Ecclesiastical Discipline without respect of persons witness the Penance he made King Edgar submit to Ibid. As soon as made Archbishop he went to Rome and there obtained his Pall Id. p. 6. Could never endure Ethelfreda Edgar's Queen and the reason why Id. p. 10. Narrowly escapes being killed when the Floor fell down at the Council at Calne in Wiltshire Id. p. 17. He and Oswald c. crown Ethelred the Brother of Edward the Martyr St. Dunstan's Prediction of this King Ethelred Id. p. 19. His Decease He restores the Monkish Discipline in England and makes a Collection of Ordinances for the Benedictine Order l. 6. p. 22. A Relation of his having erected in his life-time a small Monastery at Westminster for Twelve Monks which was vastly augmented by Edward the Confessor Id. p. 93. Dunwallo Molmutius reduces this Island from a Pentarchy in which it was before into a Monarchy l. 1. p. 12. Dunwich in Suffolk Foelix founded his Episcopal See here l. 4. p. 179. Anciently called Dunmoc l. 4. p. 193. And Domue Id. p. 242. Durham the City about what time built and a Church there dedicated to St. Cuthbert by whom erected l. 6. p. 26. Is besieged by Malcolme King of the Scots with a very great Army Id. p. 27. Durstus King of the Picts is slain in Battel and the particular Account of it l. 2. p. 102. Duty to Parents a pretty remarkable Instance of it in one of King Leir's Daughters named Cordiella if it were true l. 1. p. 11. E EAdbald Ethelbert's Son who succeeded him in the Kingdom of Kent His wicked Reign l. 4. p. 168. His Incestuous Marriage upon what account he renounced Id. p. 169. Gives Ethelburga his Niece in Marriage to King Edwin upon condition that she should enjoy the Christian Religion Id. p. 171. He and Archbishop Honorius receive her with great Honour Id. p. 176. Dies after he had reigned Five and twenty years leaving two Sons Id. p. 180. Eadbald the Bishop departs from the Northumbers l. 4. p. 240. Eadbert or Egbryht King of Northumberland marries Cuthburge Sister to King Ina but they are both made to leave each other's Bed l. 4. p. 218. He is forced to fly into Surrey to the South-Saxons and upon what occasion Ibid. Ceolwulf surrenders his Kingdom again to him and he reigned One and twenty years Id. p. 223. Leads Kynwulf Bishop of Lindisfarne Prisoner to the City of Beban who it seems had some way rebelled against him Id. p. 225. His War against the Picts subduing all the Countrey of Kyle c. and joining them to his own Dominions Ibid. And Unust King of the Picts bring an Army against the City Alkuith which was delivered by the Britains upon Conditions Id. p. 227. Is shorn a Monk and Oswulf or Usulf his Son succeeds him after he had reigned One and twenty Years with great Wisdom and Courage insomuch that Pepin King of France not only made a League with him but sent him great Presents Id. p. 228. Dies Ten Years after his taking the Monastical Habit and is buried at York Id. p. 229. Eadbert or
whereby he converted many of the Britains then Subject to the West-Saxons Id. p. 213. Naitan King of the Picts concerns himself about the Celebration of Easter and it is appointed to be kept on the First Sunday after the First Full Moon that follows the Vernal Equinox l. 4. p. 216. Decreed to be kept after the Custom of Rome in a General Synod of the British Nation Id. p. 229. Ordinances touching the Keeping of Easter made at the Second Council of Pinchinhale Id. p. 242 East-Saxons the beginning of this Kingdom 〈◊〉 Erchenwin the Son of Offa according to H. Huntington l. 3. p. 13â— It had London the Chief City of England under its Dominion Ibid. This Kingdom was divided from that of Kent by the River Thames c. l. 4. p. 159. Upon the Death of Sebert his Three Sons whom he left Heirs to the Kingdom all relapse to Paganism and great part of the Nation with them Id. p. 168. But between Thirty and Forty years after at the Instance of King Oswy they again receive the Christian Faith Id. p. 184. Eatta Bishop of the Province of Bernicia had his Episcopal See at Hagulstad l. 4. p. 197. Reckoned to be a very Holy Man Id. p. 215. Ebba a Queen is Converted and Baptized in the Province of the Wectij but what Queen Bede says not l. 4. p. 197. Ebba Abbess of Coldingham-Nunnery in Yorkshire an Heroine Example of Chastity in her and all her Sisters l. 5. p. 269. Eborius Bishop of the City of Eboracum is sent with others to the Council of Arles in Gallia as one of the Deputies for the rest of the Bishops of Britain l. 2. p. 88. Eclipses of the Sun one from early in the Morning till Nine a Clock another where the Stars shewed themselves for near half an hour after Nine in the Morning l. 3. p. 138. Of the Sun which was so great that it 's whole Orb seemed as it were covered with a black Shield Another of the Moon appearing first as stained with Blood which lasted a whole hour and then a Blackness following it returned to its own Colour l. 4. p. 222. One of the Moon From the Cock Crowing till the morning Id. p. 240. One of the Moon In the Second hour of the night 17. Kal. Feb. Id. p. 242. One of the Moon On the 13th Kal. of January l. 5. p. 248. One of the Moon And on the Kal. of September l. 5. p. 248. Of the Sun on the 7th Kal. of August about the fifth hour of the day Id. p. 249. Of the Moon on Christmas-day at night Id. p. 254. Of the Sun About the sixth hour of the day on the Kal. of October Id. p. 260. Of the Sun For one whole hour Id. p. 283. One of the Moon appeared Id. p. 313. Eddobeccus is dispatched away by Constans to the Germans with an Account of Gerontius his Revolt l. 2. p. 103. Edelwalch King of the West-Saxons when he was baptized l. 4. p. 195. Gives Wilfrid Commission to convert and baptize in his Province Id. p. 197. Edgar Son of Edmund and Elgiva afterwards King his Birth l. 5. p. 344. Is elected by the Mercians and Northumbrians their King and confirmed so by the Common Council of the Kingdom Id. p. 354. On the death of his Brother Edwi is elected by the Clergy and Laity King of the West-Saxons and though he was not the first yet he was the best that deserved the Title of First Monarch of all England l. 6. p. 1. And so he stiles himself in his Charter to the Abbey of Glastenbury Id. p. 9. His great Charity and the Nation 's happiness under him Id. p. 2 11. Seven years Penance is imposed upon him by Archbishop Dunstan part of which was That he should not wear his Crown all that time and that for taking a Nun out of a Cloyster and then debauching her Id. p. 3. Harasses North-Wales with War till he forces a Peace upon this Condition That the Tribute in Money should be turned into that of so many Wolves-Heads yearly Id. p. 3 4 11. Grants a New Charter of Confirmation with divers additional Endowments of Lands and Privileges to the Monastery of Medeshamsted Id. p. 5. Marries Ethelfreda or Elfreda Daughter of Ordgar Earl of Devonshire and his Issue by her Id. p. 5 6. Hath an Elder Son by Elfleda sirnamed The â—air Daughter of Earl Eodmar who is called afterwards Edward the Martyr but doubtful whether he was married to her or not Id. p. 6. Places Nuns in the Monastery of Rumsey in Hampshire commands all the Countrey of Thanet to be laid waste and for what reason Ibid. Causes the Chanons to be driven out of all the greatâ—r Monasteries in Mercia and Monks to be put in their places Id. p. 7. Is crowned King in the ancient City of Ackmanceaster called Bathan by the Inhabitants with Remarks about his Coronation then for he was crowned before And founds a new Church at Bangor dedicating it to the Virgin Mary Id. p. 7 8. Six Kings make League with him promising upon Oath their Assistance both by Sea and Land An Account who they were and of his Fleet at West-Chester where they all met him He is the first that was truly Lord of our Seas Id. p. 8. His Death and Burial at Glastenbury and Character The great Kindnesses he shewed to Ethelfreda's first Husband's Son Id. p. 9 10 11. A mighty Lover of the Fair Sex Id. p. 3 5 6 9 10 11. A Famous Instance of his great Courage and Strength though but little of Stature Id. p. 11. His Charter about having subdued all Ireland c. much suspected to be fictitious With this King fell all the Glory of the English Nation Id. p. 12. The Laws he made with the Council by the Consent of his Wise-Men Id. p. 12 13 14. Great Dissention amongst the Nobility after his Death about the Election of a New King Id. p. 15. Edgar sirnamed Aetheling the Son of Prince Edward by Agatha Id. p. 49. Edgar Aetheling how he was put by from the Throne though the only surviving Male of the Ancient Royal Family l. 6. p. 105 106. Is proposed to be made King upon Harold's Death but his Party were not prevalent enough to carry it Id. p. 115 116. Edgitha Daughter of King Egbert is first bred up under an Irish Abbess and then made Abbess her self of the Nunnery of Polesworth l. 5. p. 257. Another of this Name King Athelstan's Sister her Marriage with Sihtric the Danish King of Northumberland and being afterwards a Widow she became a Nun at Polesworth Her Character and the False Story of the Scots upon her Id. p. 330. Edgitha or Editha Daughter of Earl Godwin married to Edward the Confessor a Lady not only Beautiful and Pious but Learned above her Sex in that Age l. 6. p. 72 73 96. An improbable Story of her causing Gospatrick to be murthered upon the Account of her Brother Tostige l. 6. p. 90.
Subscribes King Edward's Charter of Endowment of the Abbey of Westminster Id. p. 94. Vid. more in Tit. Edward the Confessor Edinburgh anciently called Mount-Agned built by Ebrank the Son of Manlius l. 1. p. 10. In the Possession of the English-Saxons when and how long l. 5. p. 249. Editha Daughter to King Edgar by Wilfreda whom he took out of a Cloyster at Wilton and who was afterwards Abbess of the said Nunnery l. 6. p. 3 12 20. Edmund the Martyr anointed King of the East-Angles by Bishop Humbert at fifteen years of Age at Buram then the Royal Seat l. 5. p. 265. An Account of his Pedigree Education living in Germany Return into England and Election to the Kingdom which as well as himself he submitted to the direction of Bishop Humbert his Reign Fourteen Years in Peace and his Glorious End of Martyrdom Ibid. p. 273. Fighting with the Danes they slew him and wholly conquer that Kingdom Id. p. 269 273. A particular Account both of his Life and Martyrdom Id. p. 272 273 274. Had a Church and Monastery erected to his Memory Id. p. 274 323. Edmund Prince Son to Edward the Elder the relation of his commanding part of his Father's Army with his Brother Edred cannot be true for he was but Four Years old when his Father died l. 5. p. 321. A great Benefactor to the Church built over the Tomb of King Edmund the Martyr Id. p. 323. He and his Brother Athelstan overcome the Scots about Bromrige in the North Id. p. 334. Succeeds his Brother Athelstan in the Kingdom at eighteen years of Age. Invades Mercia and forces Leicester Lincoln Nottingham Stamford and Derby all then under the Power of the Danes to submit to him The Battel he had with Anlaff and the Agreement made at last between these two Kings Id. p. 343. Conquers Anlaff expels him the Kingdom of Northumberland and adds it to his own Dominions Ibid. p. 344. Subdues the whole Countrey of Cumberland giving it to Malcolme King of Scots upon this Condition That he should assist him both by Sea and Land Id. p. 344. Sends Ambassadors to Prince Hugh of France to restore King Lewis His decease and the manner of it His Burial at Glastenbury with his great Benefaction to that Abbey He stiles himself in his Charter King of the English and Governor and Ruler of the other Nations round about Id. p. 345. The Laws he made in the Great Council he held at London Id. p. 346 347 348. The Legend of St. Edmund's Ghost stabbing King Sweyn the Dane l. 6. p. 39 40. Edmund a Son of King Alfred born before Prince Edward commonly called the Elder is crowned King by his Father 's Appointment in his Life-time but dying before him he was buried in the Abbey-Church of Winchester l. 5. p. 311. Edmund Aetheling marries the Widow of Sigeferth who was lately murthered against his Father's Will upon the Fame of her Beauty and Virtue And invades all the Countrey where her Husband's Lands lay l. 6. p. 40. His Expedition against Cnute and Aedric of little service to him and why Id. p. 41. Is Elected King by all the Great and Wise Men then at London together with the Citizens upon his Father's decease though he held it but a short time and that with great difficulty He is called Ironside for his Strength both of Body and Mind and born of a Concubine Id. p. 45. The several Battels he fought with Cnute and his Party Id. p. 45 46 47. His Prudence not to be commended though his Courage and Constancy were praise-worthy Id. p. 46. Concludes a Peace with King Cnute and the Particulars of it Id. p. 47 48. His Decease being murthered and Burial at Glastenbury with his Grandfather King Edgar Id. p. 48 49. His Children Edward and Edmund excluded from the Kingdom of the West-Saxons and by whom They were sent to the King of Sweden to be made away but he generously conveyed them to Solyman King of Hungary to be educated where Edmund died Id. p. 49. St. Edmundsbury anciently called Badricesworth where King Cnute built a Noble Monastery l. 5. p. 323. Is given by King Edmund with divers other Lands to build a Church and Monastery in Memory of St. Edmund the Martyr Id. p. 345. For ever exempt from all Jurisdiction of the Bishops and Earls of that Countrey by Parliament according to the MS. l. 6. p. 52. Edred an Abbot of Northumberland made a certain Youth sold to a Widow at Withingham whom he redeemed King and by that means the Church got all that Countrey now called the Bishoprick of Durham l. 5. p. 286. Edred Brother to King Athelstan and Edmund takes upon him the Title of First Monarch l. 5. p. 331. Is made King and the manner of his Succession Crowned at Kingston reduces all Northumberland under his Obedience and upon their relapse lays the whole Country waste Id. p. 349 350. Their continual Rebellions against him and his regaining that Kingdom Id. p. 350. The First King of England that stiled himself Rex Magnae Britanniae as appears by a Charter of his to the Abbey of Croyland Id. p. 351. Dies in the Flower of his Age of what his Character and Issue Id. p. 351 352. Edric vid. Aedric Edwal ap Meyric is received by the Inhabitants of the Isle of Anglesey for their Prince he was the right Heir of North-Wales routs Meredith in a set Battel l. 6. p. 24. But is slain in Battel by Sweyne the Son of Harold the Dane Id. p. 25. Edwal Ugel that is the Bald Succeeds his Father Anarawd and is stiled by Historians Supreme King of all Wales l. 5. p. 316. Edwal Ywrch Son of Cadwallader Prince of Wales began to Reign upon his Father's supposed Journey to Rome l. 3. p. 145. Conjectured to be Cadwallo by Dr. Powel and Mr. Vaughan l. 4. p. 205. Edward the First commonly called the Elder the Son of King Alfred when he began his Reign he was Elected by all the Chief Men of the Kingdom l. 5. p. 311. Meets with a great Disturbance at his first entrance to the Crown from Aethelwald his Cousin-German Ibid. p. 312. Builds new Towns and repairs Cities that had been before destroyed Id. p. 312. Has great Battels with the Danes but at last he overcomes them all calls a great Council though the place where is not specified but wherein Plegmund presided which appoints Bishops over each of the Western-Counties and makes Five out of Two Diocesses Id. p. 313. Subdues East-Sex East-England and Northumberland with many other Provinces which the Danes had long before been possessed of Id. p. 314 315. Very much wasts Northumberland with his Army and destroys many Danes Id. p. 315. Takes the Cities of London and Oxenford into his own hands Commands the Town of Hertford to be New Built Builds and Fortifies another Town at Witham near Maldon in Essex Id. p. 316. Confirms to the Doctors and Scholars of Cambridg by Charter all
their former Privileges to endure for ever by a perpetual Right Id. p. 317 318. Builds Two Forts on both sides the River Ouse in Buckinghamshire to oppose the Danes who at last almost all submit to him Id. p. 319 320. Has the Town of Bedford surrendred to him where he built a Castle Rebuilds and Fortifies the Town of Maldon and makes the whole Nation of the Mercians submit to him Id. p. 320. Overcomes Leofred the Dane and Griffyth ap Madac Brother-in-Law to the Prince of West-Wales Id. p. 321. The several Towns he ordered to be rebuilt l. 5. p. 321 322 323 324. Is accepted for Lord and Protector by several Countries under the Danish Dominions and adds the Kingdom of the East-Angles to his own Id. p. 322 323. Several other Kings make their Submission to him Id. p. 324. His Decease at Fearndune in the Province of the Mercians Id. p. 324. Aelfleda the Daughter of the Earl Aethelem was his Queen and Wife Id. p. 327. The Laws both Civil and Ecclesiastical made in his Reign Id. p. 325 326. His Children how bred up and bestowed in Marriage c. Id. p. 327. His Character of being Mild and Humble as well as Couragious Id. p. 328. No Martyr as Buchanan in his History fancies him and why Id. p. 332. Edward Aetheling Son of King Edmund sirnamed Ironside Marries Agatha the Queen of Hungary's Sister his Issue by her l. 6. p. 49. Is sought by Ambassy to return into England which he did about Three years after together with his Children and soon after Dies his Body being Buried in St. Paul's Church Id. p. 86 87. Edward Sirnamed the Martyr is Elected in a great Council and presently Anointed King according to his Father Edgar's Appointment l. 6. p. 15. Not present at the Council of Calne in Wiltshire upon the persuasion of Archbishop Dunstan as supposed Id. p. 16 17. Is Killed by whom and by what at Corfesgeate now Corfe-Castle in the Isle of Purbeck and buried at Werham without any Royal Pomp having Reigned Three years and a half Id. p. 17 18. His Character Ibid. His Body taken up and carried and Buried at Shaftsbury with great Solemnity Id. p. 20. Edward the Confessor Son of King Ethelred comes into England from Normandy and returns no more back but tarried till his Brother Hardecnute died l. 6. p. 66 67. His Advancement to the Crown by Election in the Great Council and how it is effected Id. p. 69 70. His undutifulness to his Mother by taking from her all the Gold and Silver she had with other things because of her severity to him formerly shews him not to be altogether so great a Saint as the Monks represent him Id. p. 71 97. Marries Edgitha or Editha the Daughter of Earl Godwin who was not only Beautiful and Pious but Learned above the Women of her Age but he never carnally knew her l. 6. p. 72 73 97. Sends Bishops to the Great Council at St. Remy to know what was there decreed concerning the Christian Faith Id. p. 74. The Difference between the King and Earl Godwin and his Sons and what the ground of it Id. p. 75 77 78 81. Sends away his Wife who had been Crowned Queen committing her to the Custody of his Sister at the Nunnery of Werwel and takes away almost all she had Id. p. 78. Begs his Mother's Pardon for having suffered her to undergo the Ordeal and upon what Account Id. p. 79. Hearing Earl Godwin was come with his Ships for England he orders his Fleet to pursue him whereupon he returns to Bruges but soon after comes again and commits many Insults upon the Sea-coasts Id. p. 80 81. Restores to the Queen his Wife upon his Peace with Earl Godwin whatsoever she had been before possessed of Id. p. 81. In a great Council is Reconciled to Earl Godwin whom he restores to his former Honours and Estate Id. p. 82 83. Commands Rees the Brother of Griffyn King of South-Wales his Head to be cut off and sent him to Gloucester for his Insolencies against the English Id. p. 85. His Forces under Siward the Valiant Earl of Northumberland are said to Conquer Scotland Id. p. 86. Aelfgar's Rebellion against him twice and yet he was forced to Pardon him Ibid. p. 87.88 Confirms by his Charter the Foundation of the Abbey of the Holy-Cross at Waltham in Essex Id. p. 89. Wales Subdued and becomes subject to him the Inhabitants giving Hostages Ibid. After which he makes Two Brothers Joint-Princes of North-Wales l. 6. p. 90. Confirms and renews the Laws of King Cnute at the Request of the Northumbers Ibid. Builds Westminster Church and Abbey its Consecration Calls his Curia or Great Council to confirm his Charter of Endowment of this Monastery His Sickness and Speech to those about him concerning the Vision he had seen of Two Holy Monks that told him of the Misery which would befall this Nation after his Death Id. p. 93 94 95. The Application of it with what befell the Kingdom in succeeding Reigns Id. p. 96. Recommends upon his Death-bed the Queen to her Brother c. and highly extols her Chastity and Obedience Id. p. 96. His last Words Death and Burial in St. Peter's Church at Westminster Ibid. p. 97. The various reports of his Bequeathing the Crown to his Cousin William Duke of Normandy Id. p. 96 97. His Character and the story of the Boy that Robbed his Chest he being then in the Room Id. p. 97 98 104. His Miracles of Curing the Blind and those Sores we now call the King 's Evil and of his being Elected King by his Father's Command in a Great Council whilst he was in his Mother's Belly Id. p. 98. His Laws or those which bear his Name because he renewed the Observance of them shew what Liberty English Subjects enjoyed before the Conquest Id. p. 99 100 101 102 103 104. By the Laws of St. Edward are meant the English-Saxon Laws Id. p. 104. Edwi When he Began his Reign and where and by whom Crowned he turns the Monks out of Glastenbury and out of the greatest Monasteries in England placing Secular Channons therein l. 3. p. 353. The Mercians and Northumbrians Deposing him Elect Edgar his Brother for their King which is confirmed by the Common Council of the Kingdom Edwi having no more left him than that of the West-Saxons for his share Id. p. 354. His Death and Character and Burial at Winchester Id. p. 355. Edwin of the Blood-Royal of Northumberland being the Son of Aella is forced to fly from Ethelfrid as a Banished Man with the cause of his future Conversion l. 4. p. 169. The wonderful Vision he had and the Success of it He succeds Ethelfrid and Banishes his Sons Id. p. 170. Being Converted to the Christian Faith he receives Baptism with all his Noblemen and a great many of the common people Id. p. 171 172 173 174. At last is killed by the Pagans and his whole Army routed Id.
p. 174 176. Had after Redwald's death the Kingdom of the East-Angles delivered up to him by the People Id. p. 175. Causes Brass-Pots to be set upon Posts at Fountains near the High-ways for Travellers to drink in and had a Banner carried before him as he went through the streets Ibid. Chief King over all the English-Saxons overcomes Cadwallo King of the Britains and conquers almost all his Countrey Id. p. 176. His Head brought to York and deposited in St. Peter's Church there which he had begun to build Ibid. He was the fifth King that ruled over all Britain l. 5. p. 254. Edwin and Ethelwin Sons of Prince Ethelwerd are slain in a fight against Anlaff King of the Danes and buried in the Church of the Abbey of Malmesbury l. 5. p. 311. Edwin Aetheling drowned with an Account how the greatest Blot in King Athelstan's Reign l. 5. p. 331 337. Edwin the Brother of Leofric Earl of Mercia is overcome by Griffyth ap Lewellin ap Sitsylt and slain at Pencadair l. 6. p. 64 65. Edwold Brother to St. Edmund the Martyr lived and died a Hermit in the Abbey of Cerne in Dorsetshire l. 6. p. 22. Egbert succeeds his Father Ercenbryht in the Kingdom of Kent l. 4. p. 189. Gives Reculf to Basse the Priest and at his Death bestows part of the Isle of Thanet to build a Monastery for expiating the Murther of his Cousins whom he had caused to be slain His decease Id. p. 192 193. Egbert the Priest a Venerable Person coming out of Ireland converts the Monks of Hij to the right Faith so that they afterwards observed the Catholick Rites and when he had lived with them here thirteen years dies l. 4. p. 217 220. Egbert made Bishop of York and the next year after receives a Pall from the Pope whereby he became an Archbishop and so Metropolitan of all the Northumbrian Provinces and had supreme Jurisdiction over all the Bishops in Deira and Bernicia l. 4. p. 222 223. His Death and Burial He was base Brother to the King of the same Name who regained the Pall to that See Built a Noble Library in York accounted then one of the best in Europe Id. p. 223 229. Egbert the Son of Aealmond was the Father of Athulf or Athelwulf l. 4. p. 233. Egbert or Egferth the Son of Offa King of the Mercians is anointed King with him l. 4. p. 233 235. When he began his Reign but within a few Months after dies Id. p. 240. Egbert or Ecgbryht King of the West-Saxons when he began to reign l. 4. p. 242. His Succession to Brihtric and afterwards Chief or Supreme King of this Kingdom Id. p. 243. l. 5. p. 254. Through Brihtric's jealousy he is forced to fly to King Offa for Refuge from him he retires into France where he tarries three years and so polishes the roughness of his own Countrey Manners Id. p. 243. But is upon Brihtric's Death without Issue recalled by the West-Saxon Nobility and ordained King and reigned with great Glory and Honour Id. p. 244. He unites all the Heptarchy into one Kingdom to the lasting Peace of the English Nation l. 5. p. 245. Leaves the Mercians Northumbrians and East-Angles to be held by their respective Princes as Tributaries to his Crown Id. p. 2 46 253 254 255. Is ordained King which Ethelwerd expresly terms his Election as being the only surviving Prince of the Blood-Royal of the West-Saxon Kings as great Nephew so Ina by his Brother Inegilds Id. p. 247 255. And in a Parliament at Winchester by the Consent of his People he changes the name of this Kingdom into that of England Id. Ibid. Makes up a Peace between Eardulf and Kenwulf and hath it confirmed by Oath l. 5. p. 248. Absolutely subdues Cornwall and adds it to his own Kingdom Id. p. 249. Subdues the Northern Welsh-men making them Tributary to him and enters again their Borders upon a fresh Rebellion and lays them wast from North to South with Fire and Sword Id. p. 250 251 254 255. Obtains a great Victory over Beornwulf King of the Mercians the Kentish and Surrey men the South and East-Saxons all submit to him Id. p. 253 254 255. Subdues the Kingdom of Mercia and all the South of Humber He was the Eighth King that ruled over all Britain the Seven before him are there enumerated Id. p. 254. Is offered Peace and due Subjection by the Northumbers having led an Army against them as far as Dore a place supposed to be beyond Humber He was the greatest King that till then had ever reigned in England He expels Withlaff King of Mercia and adds it to his own Kingdom Id. Ibid. Vanquishes Switherd King of the East-Saxons and drives him out of the Kingdom which ever after that Expulsion the West-Saxon Kings possessed He wastes Northumberland and makes Eanred the King thereof his Tributary Is crowned King of Britain by the Consent of the Clerus and Populus in a Great Council which he summoned to meet at Winchester Ibid. Encounters Thirty Ships of Danish Pyrates at Carrum in Gloucestershire but after a great slaughter the latter kept the field being the only time that Fortune ceased to favour his Undertakings Id. p. 256. Fights the Danes and Cornish-men at Hengston in Cornwall and beats them His Death having reigned thirty seven years and seven months and Character For nine years reigned Supreme King over all Britain Id. p. 257. His Burial at Winchester Id. p. 258. Egbert King of the Northumbers is by them expelled His Death and who succeeded to him l. 5. p. 277. Egelfleda sirnamed the Fair the Daughter of Earl Ordmar whether King Edgar's Wife or Concubine uncertain l. 6. p. 12. Egelnoth Vid. Ethelnoth Egfrid or Ecverth succeeds Oswi in the Kingdom of Northumberland l. 4. p. 192. Wages War with Wulfher and wins from him all the Countrey of Lindsey Id. p. 193 196. Gives Abbot Benedict as much Land as served Seventy Families lying near the Mouth of the River Wir in the Bishoprick of Durham Id. p. 194. Had a great Contention with Bishop Wilfrid who was expelled his Bishoprick Id. p. 196 197. Fights with Ethelfred near Trent Id. p. 198. Sends a great Army to Ireland which miserably wastes that Nation Id. p. 201. He and his Army through rashness are all cut off by the Picts Id. p. 202 211. Eglesburh now called Alesbury in Buckinghamshire l. 3. p. 145. Egonesham now Enisham in Oxfordshire Id. Ib. Egric upon King Sigebert's Resignation and turning Monk becomes King of the East-Angles l. 4. p. 179. His Death Id. p. 181. Egwin Bishop of Worcester founds the Abbey of Evesham and upon what occasion râ—ported l. 4. p. 216 217. Egwinna a Lady the Daughter of a Noblâ—man whose Name is not certainly known Her strange Dream and how she came afterwards to yield to the Importunities of Prince Edward the Elder on whom he begot Athelstan that is The most Noble that succeeded him in the Kingdom l.
upon her the Habit of a Nun at Were-well a Nunnery which she had lately founded and also builds another at Ambresbury Id. p. 20. Ethelfrid a Prince most skilful in War though utterly ignorant of the Christian Religion l. 4. p. 171. Ethelgar Bishop of Selsey succeeds Archbishop Dunstan in the See of Canterbury enjoys it but a Year and Three Months and then dies l. 6. p. 22. Ethelheard his Kinsman succeeds Ina in the Kingdom of the West-Saxons l. 4. p. 219. Fights with and worsts Oswald Aetheling the Son of Aethelbald and forces him to flee l. 4. p. 220. Ethelheard Vid. Aethelheard The Abbot is elected Archbishop of Canterbury upon the Death of Janbryht l. 4. p. 236. Calls a Synod that confirms all things relating to the Church which had been made before the King Withgar Id. p. 241. Goes to Rome to obtain his Pall Id. p. 242. Ethelnoth Ailnoth or Egelnoth a Monk and Dean of Canterbury is consecrated Archbishop of that See by Wulstan Archbishop of York l. 6. p. 51. Goes to Rome and is honourably received by Pope Benedict who put on his Pall with his own hands Id. p. 53. Consecrates Aelfric Archbishop of York at Canterbury and translates the Reliques of Aelfeage his Predecessor from London to Canterbury Id. Ib. A Letter sent to him by Cnute upon his Return from Rome of what he did there Id. p. 55. His Decease Id. p. 65. Ethelred Brother to Wulfher succeeds him in the Kingdom of Mercia his notable Expedition into Kent and recovering all Lindsey from Egfrid and his Fame for Devotion l. 4. p. 195 196. Wastes Kent destroys Rochester and carries away a great deal of Spoil Id. p. 196. A Battel fought and Peace made on condition that this King should pay Egfrid a Pecuniary Mulct Id. p. 198. His Charter to the Monastery of Medeshamsted justly suspected of Forgery Id. p. 200 201. He receives Bishop Wilfrid with great Honour Id. p. 206. Resigns his Kingdom passing by his Son Ceolred whom he had by his Wife Osgilde to his Cousin-German Cenered Son of his Brother Wulfher and himself turns Monk Id. p. 212. Ethelred the Son of Moll is chosen by the Northumbrians for their King in the room of Alhred whom they had expelled from York l. 4. p. 230 236. Is expelled the Land for causing three of his Nobles to be treacherously slain by two of the same Order Id. p. 231. Is again restored to the Kingdom upon Osred's being driven out Id. p. 236 239. Betroths Elfreda the Daughter of King Offa Id. p. 237. Is slain by his own People and said deservedly as having been the Death of Osred his Predecessor Id. p. 239 240. Ethelred the Ealdorman deceases a famous Commander at first but a Monk in the City of York when he died l. 4. p. 240. Ethelred Son to Eanred succeeds his Father in the Kingdom of Northumberland is driven out from his Kingdom but soon after restored to it and about three years after is slain l. 5. p. 260. Ethelred Son of King Ethelwulf reigned in Kent as also over the East and South-Saxons l. 5. p. 265. Began his Reign in West-Saxony after his Brother Ethelbert's Decease Id. p. 267. Makes with his Brother Aelfred a great Slaughter of the Danes at Reading Id. p. 275. Deceases and is buried in the Monastery of Winburne in Dorsetshire but whether slain in Battel or died a Natural Death of the Plague which then reigned is uncertain though this latter is the more probable Id. p. 276. An Account of his Children Ibid. Ethelred Bishop of Wiltunscire is elected Archbishop of Canterbury upon the Decease of Ceolnoth his Predecessor l. 5. p. 274. His Death Id. p. 298. Ethelred Duke or Ealdorman of Mercia and Elfleda his Wife by their Care is Leicester repaired l. 5. p. 314. By their command Caer-Legion that is now Westchester is repaired Id. p. 315. His Decease Id. p. 316. Ethelred Brother to Edward the Martyr elected King and crowned being a lovely Youth l. 6. p. 19. He rather distressed than governed the Kingdom for Seven and thirty years His aversion to Wax-Lights and for what reason Ibid. Lays waste the Bishoprick of Rochester because of some Dissentions between him and the Bishop His sordid Covetousness Id. p. 21 22. A weak and unwarlike Prince and most of the Nobility as bad as himself His Fleet designed to encompass that of the Danes but he was betrayed by Aelfric one of his Admirals who went over to them Id. p. 23. Commands the Eyes of Aelfric's Son to be put out and for what Id. p. 24. Calls a Council who agree upon reading the Pope's Letters to the King to send Ambassadors to the Marquis of Normandy to treat of Peace He receives King Anlaff with great Honour who promises never to insest the English Nation more Id. p. 24 25. Sends for the valiant Son of Waltheof Earl of the Northumbers and for a Reward of his Bravery in overcoming the Scots gives him not only his Father's Countrey but adds to it that of Yorkshire Id. p. 27. Lays Cumberland almost waste because the Prince thereof denied to bear his share in the Tribute paid to the Danes Id. p. 28. Aelgiva Daughter of Richard Duke of Normandy comes hither to be married to the King Id. p. 29. At the instigation of Huena one of his Evil Counsellors he commands all the Danes in England to be slain at the Feast of St. Brice because he was told that they endeavoured to deprive him and all his Great Men of their Lives and to seize the Kingdom for themselves Ibid. The Calamities that befel him and his Kingdom hereupon by the coming over King Sweyn from Denmark with a mighty Fleet Id. p. 30. His Displeasure against two Noblemen depriving one of all his Honours and putting out the eyes of the other Id. p. 31. Enters into several Treaties of Peace with the Danes and pays them Tributes in Money as well as Maintenance and Provision but nothing did long oblige them Id. p. 25 29 32 Perceiving his error in the want of a good Fleet commands over all England That out of every Hundred and ten Hides of Land a Ship should be built c. But his Fleet is much destroyed either by Tempest or Fire Id. p. 33. Is betrayed and hindred from falling upon the Danes when his whole Army had hemm'd them in and were just ready to give them Battel His Forces too signified but little to him for when the Enemy went East they were sure to be taken up in the West c. Id. p. 34. He demands of the Londoners full Pay and Victuals for his Army and is in such distress by Sweyn that he is forced to send his Wife and Children into Normandy and afterwards to go thither himself where he tarried till Sweyn died But upon his return to his own Kingdom he is received on conditions to govern them better that he had done before and then is again solemnly crowned at Westminster Id.
p. 38 39. But he was not very long mindful of his Promise to his Subjects Id. p. 40. Through his Cowardice or Ill Fortune he was constantly attended with ill success Id. p. 41. He is called THE UNREADY and justly by our English Historians His Decease and Burial at St. Paul's Church in London Id. p. 42. His Character and excellent Laws Id. p. 19 42 43. The Issue he had by his Queen Id. p. 38 42. Ethelwald succeeds his Brother Etheler in the Kingdom of the East-Angles l. 4. p. 186. His Death and who succeeds him Id. p. 190. Ethelwald Earl of the East-Angles by what Trick he got Ethelfreda for his Wife from King Edgar but which cost him his Life l. 6. p. 9 10. Ethelward the Third Synod at Cloveshoe was held undâ—r him and twelve Bishops of his Province and what was therein transacted The next year he dies l. 5. p. 248. Ethelwerd King Alfred's Youngest Child bred up at Oxford his Death and Issue l. 5. p. 311. Was learned above that Age. He was buried at Winchester Id. p. 324. Ethelwin Vid. Edwin and Ethelwin Ethelwold Bishop by King Edgar's Command turns out the Chanons at Winchester and places Benedictines in their rooms l. 4. p. 181. His Decease when Id. p. 223. Ethelwold sirnamed Moll when he began to reign over the Northumbers Slays Duke Oswin in a Fight at Edwinscliffe l. 4. p. 228. Is murthered by the Treachery of Alhred who succeded him Id. p. 229. Ethelwulf the Son succeeds Egbert in the Kingdom of the West-Saxons who gave him good Advice how he might be happy in his Kingdom l. 5. p. 257 258. Comes to the Crown by virtue of his Father's Testament His Education and Tutors during his Elder Brother's life His Character and what Kingdoms he made over to Athelstan his Son Id. p. 258. Fights against Five and thirty Danish Ships at Charmouth Id. p. 251. A Son called Aelfred is born to him by Osberge his Wife Id. p. 261. He and Ethelbald his Son with the Forces of the West-Saxons fight with the Pagan Danes and make a greater slaughter of them than ever before Ibid. Assisting Burhred makes the men of North-Wales subject to him Id. p. 262. His Famous and Solemn Grant of Tythes throughout his Kingdom Id. p. 262 263. Goes to Rome carrying Aelfred his Son along with him Id. p. 263. In his return marries Leotheta the Daughter of Charles the Bald King of the Franks Ibid. A most infamous Conspiracy is formed in the West of England against him on the account of his new Wife Id. p. 263 264. Divides the Kingdom which was before united with the Consent of all his Nobility between him and his Son Ethelbald And to prevent Quarrels between his Sons he orders by his Will how his Kingdom should be enjoyed amongst them l. 5. p. 264. By his Last Will grants Corrodies for the Maintenance of Poor People a Yearly Allowance of Three hundred Mancuses to Rome and one hundred of them to the Pope His Death and Burial at Winchester after he had reigned Twenty Years Id. p. 264 265. St. Swithune Bishop of Winchester and Alstan Bishop of Shireborne were this King 's two Principal Counsellors in all Affairs Id. p. 267. Evesham-Abbey concerning the Forging of the Charters about it l. 4. p. 216 217. Is repaired by Leofric with the Consent of his Lady Godiva l. 6. p. 72. Eugenius set up against Valentinian the second by Arbogastes the former's General but he was soon after put to death by Theodosius l. 2. p. 97. Eugenius Prince of Cumberland assists Anlaff against King Athelstan l. 5. p. 334 335. The Scotch call him King of Deira and own he died in this Battel Id. p. 336. Evil Councils bring all the Miserie 's imaginable on a Nation l. 6. p. 23 27 32 35. Europe first peopled by the Posterity of Japhet either from one Alanus supposed to have been his Grandson or from Gomer his Son l. 1. p. 4. Eustatius Earl of Boloigne Edward the Confessor's Brother-in-Law with his Retinue entring Dover and resolving to quarter where they pleased was resisted by the Townsmen upon which ensued a great deal of Bloodshed on both sides l. 6. p. 76. Eutherius Archbishop of Arles Augustine and the Monks recommended to his Care and Protection l. 4. p. 153. Ordains Augustine Archbishop of the English Nation Id. p. 154. Excommunication had in King Withred's time no other Temporal punishment than a pecuniary Mulct l. 4. p. 211. Exeter anciently Exancester Besieged and where King Alfred pursued the Danes l. 5. p. 300 306. The removal of the See from Crediton to this City l. 5. p. 333. Is made a Bishops See instead of Credington in Cornwal at the request of Pope Leo l. 6. p. 78. Exmouth anciently called Exanmuthan l. 6. p. 28. F FAith the first People that were ever Executed by any Christian Prince for meer matters of Faith l. 2. p. 96. False News the spreaders of it against the Government to be punished with loss of Tongue or to Redeem themselves by the value of their Head and to be of no credit afterwards l. 5. p. 294. Famine a dreadful one about the Year CCCCXLVI in Britain l. 3. p. 115. Another among the South-Saxons wherein multitudes of the poorer People perished daily it being said not to have rained in that Countrey for Three years before l. 4 p. 198. A cruel one followed strange Prodigies in the Countrey of Northumberland Id. p. 238. A little after the Death of King Edgar a very great Famine happened l. 6. p. 15 16. In Ethelred the Unready's time so great a Famine raged as England never underwent a worse Id. p. 31. And in the Reign of Edward the Confessor there was another so great here that a Sester of Wheat was sold for Sixty Pence and more Id. p. 72. Farrington in Berkshire anciently called Fearndune where King Edward the Elder died l. 5. p. 324. Fealty or Fidelity the Oath required by Law to be taken by all Persons to King Edmund l. 5. p. 346. King of the Scots Swears Fidelity to King Edmund and all the Northumbrian Lords do the same Id. p. 349. Two joint Princes of North-Wales upon his Grant of it to them Swear Fealty to Edward the Confessor and likewise to Earl Harold l. 6. p. 90. Fee or Feuds the first footsteps of Military Feuds afterwards so much in use amongst the Goths Normans and other Nations l. 2. p. 80. Fee-tayl-Estate much more Ancient than the Thirteenth of Edward the First appears by the Thirty seventh Law of King Alfred concerning Bockland l. 5. p. 295 296. Feologild the Abbot his being said to be chosen Archbishop of Canterbury but certainly a mistake His Death l. 5. p. 255. Fergus the Son of Erk bringing great Supplies of the Scots from Ireland and Norway they came to recover their Countrey With a Relation of Fergus his Action l. 2. p 98. King of the Scots is slain in Battel and by whom
Id. p. 102. Fernham the place where King Alfred fought with the Danes and put them to flight l. 5. p. 300. Festidus a Learned British Bishop if not an Archbishop l. 2. p. 107 Fidelity vid. Fealty Fighting the Punishment of such as do so either in the King's House Church or Earldorman's Nobleman's or Villager's House or in the open Field l. 4. p. 208. The Punishment of those in Holy Orders if they chance to fight l. 5. p. 284. The Law against Fighters in the King's Palace and the punishment of an Offender that flies Id. p. 293 295. No Fyhtwite or Manbote that is Fine for Fighting or Killing to be Remitted Id. p. 347. Finan a Bishop calling to him Two other Bishops Ordains Cedda Bishop over the East-Saxons l. 4. p. 184. Fines vid. Pecuniary Fines and Mulcts Finkley in the Bishoprick of Durham and Kingdom of the Northumbers anciently called Pynchanhale or Finekanhale where a General Synod Assembled l. 4. p. 236. Fire great mischief done thereby at London Winchester and other places l. 4. p. 229. Vid. London and Winchester First-Fruits vid. Tythes Five Burghs not known where but somewhere in Northumberland l. 6. p. 37 40. Flanders what we now call so was anciently accounted part of France or Frankland l. 5. p. 283. Flattery notorious in Two of King Leir's Daughters to their Father l. 1. p. 11. Of the Bishops Ealdormen and Chief Men throughout the Kingdom about making Cnute upon the Death of Edmund Ironside King of all England to the Exclusion of his Children and Brethren l. 6. p. 49. Fleet set out against the Danes but continually delayed from doing any good l. 6. p. 27 33. Out of so many Hydes of Land to build a Ship in order to set out a great Fleet against the Danes Id. p. 33. Absolutely necessary for an Island to maintain a Powerful Fleet Id. p. 35. Foelix a Bishop Preached the Faith of Christ to the East-Angles he was a Burgundian and the first Bishop in Dunwich in Suffolk l. 4. p. 179. Folemote Strangers to be brought before the King's Officers there by the Merchants that so their Numbers might be known and they forthcoming upon occasion l. 5. p. 294. The Punishment of striking therein before the King 's Ealdorman Id. p. 295. If any Absent himself thrice he is to be Punished as Contumacious to the King and in case of refusal to do right all he hath is to be seized and he to give security for his appearance Id. p. 341. Folcstone in Kent anciently called Folcestane where Earl Godwin took all the Ships he could find l. 6. p. 80. Foreign-Tongue where it prevails generally speaking it is reckoned half a Conquest l. 6. p. 98. Forests are priviledg'd places fenced in with certain Bounds Laws and Immunities under Magistrates Judges Officer's c. for the King's Service and Game l. 6. p. 60. Forfeitures those the King challenges as due to himself in the County of West-Saxony l. 6. p. 58. Formosus the Pope sends Letters to England threatning Excommunication and his Curse to King Edward the Elder and all his Subjects for suffering the Province of the West-Saxons to be Seven years without Bishops l. 5. p. 313. A notable Error either in the Date of these Letters or of the Name of the Pope Id. p. 314. Fornication if any one in Holy Orders commit it what his Punishment l. 5. p. 284 346. vid. Adultery Framarius King of the Almans sent by the Emperor Valentinian into Britain though with no higher a Command than that of a Tribune c. l. 2. p. 94. France how early it became the most Civilized of those Gothic and German Nations that had some Ages before settled themselves in this part of Europe l. 4. p. 243. Frank-pledges the Antiquity of them no Norman Invention as some People pretend l. 6. p. 14. Franks the Kingdom so called divided by Earnwulf Charles the Gross his Brother's Son into Five parts and each King to Govern under Earnwulf and where their several Kingdoms were fixed l. 5. p. 290. Freemen no English Freeman could in the Saxon times be hanged for any Crime but Treason l. 4. p. 209. Every one to find Sureties that he shall do right if accused l. 6. p. 42. Every one to enter himself into some Hundred or Tything Id. p. 58. Freodguald Succeeds Theodoric in the Kingdom of Bernicia l. 3. p. 146. Freothwulf Reigned in Bernicia Seven or Eight years l. 3. p. 145. His Decease Id. p. 146. Frethanleage now Fretherne in Gloucestershire l. 3. p. 147. Friburg that is Barons to have their Dependants forth-coming or to answer for them upon any complaint l. 6. p. 102. Friesland Old the Gospel first preached there and by whom l. 4. p. 211. The English-Saxons derived from the Frisians l. 3. p. 120. Frisians assist the ancient Saxons of Germany against the Danes in a Sea-fight l. 5 p. 287. Frithestan when he was Ordained and took the Bishoprick of Winchester l. 5. p. 314.315 Edward the Elder 's Charter of Confirmation of the Priviledges of Cambridge directed to this Frithestan then Chancellor and Doctor but the Charter is grievously suspected Id. p. 318. His Decease Id. p. 331. Frithogithe Queen of the West-Saxons went with Forthere Bishop of Shireburne to Rome l. 4. p. 223. Frithwald Bishop of Wytherne died when he was Consecrated and how long he continued a Bishop l. 4. p. 228. Fugitives King Edward the Elder 's Law against them l. 5. p. 325 326. What the Forfeiture of relieving or harbouring any l. 6. p. 58. Fullenham now Fulham not far from London l. 5. p. 283. Furfeus or Fursee comes out of Ireland to preach the Gospel to the East-Angles and converts many people l. 4. p. 180. G GAcon Bishop of Landaff the First of the Welsh-Bishops that was consecrated by an Archbishop of Canterbury l. 6. p. 21. Gaini anciently the Country about Gainsborough in Yorkshire l. 5. p. 269. Gainsborough in Lincolnshire anciently called Gegnesburgh l. 6. p. 37 39. Galgacus Chief of the Britains in Authority and Birth makes a Noble Oration to his Army l. 2. p. 60. Their utter Overthrow and Flight Id. p. 62 63. Galienus Pub. Licinius Emperor in his Father Valerian's life-time The Empire had been quite ruined through his Excesses and Carelessness had not the Thirty Tyrants as they are called undertaken its Defence l. 2. p. 81. Is at last slain by the Treachery of three of his own Captains Ibid. Gallio of Ravenna sent against Bonifitius in Africa but the year before he was sent into Britain upon their earnest soliciting the Romans the second time for Supplies which in all probability were brought hither in the beginning of the Reign of Valentinian the third l. 2. p. 105 106. Game None in hunting to meddle with the King's Game l. 6. p. 60. Gavelkind That old Custom or Tenure first set up in Wales and the great mischief it occasioned l. 5. p. 250. Gaule upon composition delivered up to the
were with him at a Great Council at Gloucester Id. p. 77 81. But being summoned to appear at another Curia held at London he and Earl Sweyn his Son fled to Baldwin Earl of Flanders for Protection Id. p. 77 78. His sailing for England but being pursued he returns to Bruges and coming again soon after commits a thousand Ravages Id. p. 80 81. What the ground of all this contest between the King and him at last in a Great Council a Peace was made and Hostages given on both sides Id. p. 81. Is Accused by King Edward for the Death of his Brother in the Great Council and how he made his Peace Id. p. 83. He and his Sons restored to their former Honours and Estates in a Great Council Id. p. 82 83 84. His Death and Burial in the old Monastery of Winchester Id. p. 84 85. His Character Wives and Issue Id. p. 85. Gogmagog the mighty Gyant in Cornwall taken up by Corinaeus in his Arms though he was no Gyant himself and flung off by him if you will believe the Fable from a Cliff into the Sea l. 1. p. 9. Gordianus M. Anton. elected Emperor by the Praetorian Bands had an Army in Britain though nothing was done by what can be found l. 2. p. 81. Gormond an African King comes out of Ireland to fight Careticus and what the success l. 3. p. 148. Gospatrick a great Officer in Northumberland murthered upon the account of a quarrel between him and Earl Tostige l. 6. p. 90. Gospel supposed to be first preached in this Island in the Reigns of either Claudius or Nero though by whom unknown l. 2. p. 51 52. The story of Joseph of Arimathea and his Twelve Companions coming to preach the Gospel in Britain Id. p. 52 53. Christ was preached here as early as the first Conquest of it by the Britains Id. p. 69. Who first preached the Gospel in the Countrey of the Grisons l. 2. p. 70. The first preaching of the Gospel in Germany and by whom l. 4. p. 211. The joyful Tidings of it first brought to us from Canterbury l. 6. p. 36. Government devolved on the People when the Emperor acquitted the Britains of the Roman Jurisdiction l. 2. p. 104. Graetanleage the Laws that were made there by King Athelstan in a Great Council l. 5. p. 339 340 341. Grand Inquest Vid. Inquest Gratian the Emperor creates Theodosius the Younger his Partner in the Empire assigning him the East for his share l. 2. p. 95. Being routed by the Forces of Maximus is forced to fly with Three hundred Horse towards the Alps but Andragathius with some Light-Horse being sent after him overtakes him near the Bridge of Singidunum and there kills him Id. Ibid. Gratianus sirnamed Funarius from his great strength in pulling a Rope from Four Men made General of all the Forces throughout Britain l. 2. p. 89. The British Army elected him Emperor and cloathed him with the Imperial Purple Id. p. 102. But he is soon after deprived both of his Life and Empire Id. p. 104 105. Gregory made Bishop of Rome in what year l. 3. p. 149. Sirnamed the Great to whom the English Nation owed its Conversion l. 4. p. 152. Would have come himself to preach God's Word to the English but the Citizens of Rome would by no means suffer him to go so far from them l. 4. p. 153. In the Fourth Year of his Pontificate he sends Augustine with many Monks over to the Britains to preach Gospel to them Calls the Emperor his Lord and dates his Letters by the year of His Reign and not that of his own l. 3. p. 149. l. 4. p. 153 158. His Decease the Account of his life may be read in Bede Id. p. 163 165. Griffyn Prince of Wales entring England spoils great part of Herefordshire and carries away much Booty l. 6. p. 84 86 87. The Son of Ratherch ap Justin raises a great Army against Griffyth Prince of north-North-Wales and what the success Id. p. 85. A Peace mediated between Edward the Confessor and this Prince Id. p. 87. How he restores Aelfgar to his Earldom after he was a second time banished by King Edward Id. p. 88. Is slain by his own people and his Head sent to Earl Harold and the gilded Stern of his Ship which he caused to be carried to King Edward Id. p. 89. Griffyth ap Lewellin ap Sitsylt raises a great Army against Prince Jago of North-Wales whose Soldiers deserting him he was soon overthrown and slain l. 6. p. 64. His good Government afterwards over those of North-Wales and his total subduction of South-Wales and his other Conquests Howel ap Edwin narrowly escapes him but he took his Wife Prisoner whom he liked so well that he kept her for his Mistress Ibid. He is taken Prisoner by surprize but is immediately rescued Id. p. 70. His Engagement with Ritherch and Rees and the success thereof Id. p. 71. Revenges the death of One hundred and forty of his best Soldiers treacherously killed by the Gentlemen of Ystrad Towy Id. p. 73. Griffyth ap Madoc designing to bring all Wales c. under his subjection was slain by the Princes Edmund and Edred who brought his Head to their Father l. 5. p. 321. St. Grimbald the University of Oxford founded in the second year of his coming over into England the difference between him and those he brought over with him and the Old Scholars whom he found there l. 5. p. 288 289 290 306. St. Grimbald sent for from France by King Alfred to assist him in his Learning l. 5. p. 306. His Decease Id. p. 312. Grime King of the Scots refusing to pay part of a Tribute to the Danes which King Ethelred demanded of him had his Countrey of Cumberland laid almost waste l. 6. p. 28. Grisons make Lucius to have been their Apostle and first to have Preached the Gospel in their Countrey and shew his Tomb at Cloir at this day l. 2. p. 70. Grymkyrel made upon the Death of Ethelric Bishop of the South-Saxons that is of Selsey l. 6. p. 65. His Decease Id. p. 73. Guarinus King of the Huns l. 2. p. 96. Gueld that is Tribute l. 4. p. 187. Guendelew Son of Keidiaw a Prince of the North parts of Britain l. 3. p. 146. Gueniver Vid. Glastenbury Guiderac in the British Tongue is Mould in Flintshire in the English the place is called Maes German that is German's Field where the Britains got a great Victory over the Picts and Saxons by the means of Germanus a French Bishop l. 2. p. 108 109. Guild or Fraternity signified sometimes such as were Fellow-Contributors to the same Parish-Feast in honour of the Saints sometimes such as were bound together in the same Decennary or Tything l. 5. p. 294. Guintelin his Character his Virtuous Wife Maetia and his Reign l. 1. p. 13. Gunhilda Cnute's Niece being his Sister's Daughter Marries Hacun a Danish Earl l. 6. p. 53. Hardecnute's
Sister sent over to the Emperor Henry to whom she had been before Betrothed and was kindly received by him for some time till she was accused of Adultery and how her Honour was vindicated at last be her little Page Id. p. 66 67. But it made her forsake her Husband and retire into a Monastery for all her life afeer Id. p. 67. The Noble Matron was Banished England with her Two Sons Id. p. 73. Gunhildis a Beautiful Young Lady Sweyn's Sister Beheaded and bore her death with great bravery having seen her Husband and her Son slain before her face l. 6. p. 37. Gurgi a British Prince Son of Gliver Gosgard Vawr a Prince of Cumberland l. 3. p. 147. Gurguint in his Reign the Danes refused to pay him the Tribute which had been imposed by Belinus l. 1. p. 13. Guthfrith or Godfred Son to Syhtric a Danish King of Northumberland succeeds his Father there but was soon expelled by Athelstan who added those Dominions to his own l. 5. p. 330. Flie into Scotland and raises a Rebellion against Athelstan but he makes him submit to him The Civil Treatment Athelstan gives him and his Revolt from him afterwards Id. p. 331 332 333. Guthlac first a Monk then a professed Anchoriâ—e builds a Cell at Croyland the incredible Miracles told of him l. 4. p. 216. A Monastery founded in honour of him by Ethelbald King of the Mercians who was then lately deceased Id. p. 218. The Danes break open his Tomb and those of the Princes there buried and finding no plunder set the Church on fire and burn their dead bodies l. 5. p. 271. Guthrun Gythram or Gorman their Leader or King was promised by the Danes to become a Christian and accordingly King Alfred was his Godfather at his Baptism l. 5. p. 283 284 298. The Kingdom of the East-Angles delivered up to him Id. p. 283. The League between King Alfred and him as also the Secular and Ecclesiastical Laws that were made then by them Id. p. 283 284 285. His Christian Name Ethelstan called King of the Normans his Decease l. 5. p. 298. He died Ten years before King Alfred therefore no Ecclesiastical Laws could be made between him and Edward the Elder who was Alfred's Son and Successor Id. p. 326. Guy Earl of Warwick returning from the Holy Land in a Pilgrim's Habit Fights one Colebrand a Monstrous Danish Giant near Winchester and kills him and retiring to a Hermitage near Warwick there ends his days l. 5. p. 337 338. Gwgan King or Prince of Cardigan his death some say he was drowned by misfortune l. 5. p. 277. Gwido Earl of Ponthieu detains Earl Harold Prisoner but soon sets him at Liberty by the Command of William Duke of Normandy l. 6. p. 92. Gwyn or Gwyr a Countrey in North-Wales subdued by Eneon Son of Owen Prince of South-Wales l. 6. p. 6. Is destroyed a second time by the same Person Id. p. 16. Gwyneth that is North-Wales l. 3. p. 147. l. 5. p. 317. Gyrth King Harold's Youngest Brother his excellent Advice to him not to fight in Person against Duke William rejected which cost Harold his Life l. 6. p. 111. H HAcun a Danish Earl Banished England under pretence of an Ambassy by King Cnute who was afraid of him and why l. 6. p. 53. Hadrian Aelius a Spaniard succeeds his Uncle Trajan in the Empire his Politicks l. 2. p. 67. Comes over into Britain and reduces the Inhabitants he builds a wall of Eighty Miles in lâ—ngth cross the Island Id. p. 67 76. Haefe supposed to be Hatfield in Northumberland l. 4. p. 215. Halfdene Marches with one half of the Danish Army into the Kingdom of Northumberland and there soon conquers the whole Countrey spoiling as far as Galloway l. 5. p. 277 315. Divides that Kingdom amongst his People from whence they date their Reign there Id. p. 278. Is slain by King Alfred Id. p. 286. Hamtun that is now Southampton where Wulfheard the Ealdorman fights with a Fleet of Three and thirty Danish Pyrates and obtains a signal Victory over them l. 5. p. 258. Hardecnute Son to King Cnute by Queen Emma is appointed by his Father to be King of Denmark l. 6. p. 56. But is Decreed in the Great Council at Oxnaford upon the fierce disputes of the contending Parties That this Kingdom should be divided between Harold and him and Hardecnute to enjoy all the Southern Provinces but he never did all the time of his Brother Harold Id. p. 62. He being at Harold's Death in Bruges with his Mother is invited by the Chief Men of England to come over and receive the Crown which he accordingly did with all possible convenience and so is Elected King The several Taxes he raises His Consecration His revenging the Injury Harold did to his Mother and sending his Sister Gunhilda to the Emperor Henry to whom she had been before Betroth'd and the Feast he first kept for her Nuptials Id. p. 66. Is incensed against Bishop Lifing and Earl Godwin for the Death of his Half-Brother Alfred and how the business was made up and he reconciled to them Id. p. 67. Plunders and Burns the City and wastes the County of Worcester and upon what account Deceases at Lambeth and is Buried in the New Monastery of Winchester His Character A Holyday kept to his remembrance Id. p. 68. Harold King of Norway his Present to King Athelstan of a Ship whose Stern was Gilded and it's Sails Purple l. 5. p. 339. Harold Son to King Cnute by Aelgiva he appoints to be King of England after him l. 6. p. 56. Is Chosen King by the Great Council held at Oxnaford though opposed by the Great Men of the West-Saxons upon the pretence of a Supposititious Birth and the Disputes rise so high about the Election that many fearing it would issue in a Civil War left their Habitations upon it Id. p. 61 62. Sends a Guard to Winchester and Tyrannically seizes on his Father's Treasures there which he had bequeathed to the Queen his Mother-in-law Id. p. 62. Dies at Oxnaford and is Buried at Westminster how long he Governed England Id. p. 65. The Tax he raised for setting out Sixteen Sail of Ships whereof every Port was to bear their proportion incenses the minds of the English against him His Character and the reason of his being called Harefoot l. 6. p. 65. His Body is dug up by Hardecnute's Order his Head cut off and flung into the Thames buâ— afterwards taken up by Fishermen and Buried in St. Clement's Curch-yard Id. p. 66. Harold sirnamed Hairfax King of Norway and Brother to King Olaf putting Sweyn King of Denmark to flight subdues that Kingdom but dying soon after Sweyn recovers it again l. 6. p. 74. Harold Son of Earl Godwin the Quarrel that arose between Edward the Confessor and his Father his Brother Sweyn and him and how he is forced to fly into Ireland for Protection l. 6. p. 75 77 78. Returns from Ireland and kills and
plunders all that comes in his way but is in a Great Council restored to his former Honour and Estate Id. p. 80 81 82. Is Founder of the Abbey of the Holy Cross at Waltham in Essex goes with Earl Tostige his Brother with a great Army both by Land and Sea into Wales and subdues that Countrey Id. p. 89. Seems to be the Adopted and Declared Heir of the Crown Id. p. 90. Endeavours to appease the Northumbers about his Brother Tostige but in vain his Character of being a Valiant and Worthy Prince Id. p. 90 91. His going over into Normandy and the occasion of it His promises to Duke William there That when King Edward died he would deliver up Dover-Castle to him and procure him the Succession but yet he succeeded the Confessor who declared him his Successor in the Kingdom Id. p. 92. The various Reports how he was advanced to it whether by Election or otherwise Id. p. 105. The wise course he takes to preserve himself in that Dignity he had got Id. p. 106. The several Invasions designed and preparing against him and his great Care and Industry in opposing them both by Sea and Land Id. p. 106 108 109. An Ambassador sent to him from Duke William to put him in mind of the Breach of his Word and threatning to force him to perform it with Harold's Answer l. 6. p. 107. His Victory over the King of Norway and his Brother Tostige Id. p. 109. His going against Duke William who landed at Hastings with but part of his Forces with a Resolution to fight him and his preparations for it Id. p. 110 111. The precipitate Answer he gave to the Monk whom Duke William sent to him with Proposals telling him He would leave it to God to determine between them Id. p. 111. The manner how he drew up his Army in order to a Battel Id. p. 111 112. His Foot breaking in pursuit of the Enemy who they thought were flying lost him the Victory his Crown and Life for he was slain by an Arrow shot through his Brains his Standard taken and sent to the Pope Id. p. 112 113. How his Body came to be known amidst the Crowd of the slain and not long after buried in the Abbey-Church of Waltham His Character His Wives and Children and the Law he made Id. p. 114 115. Harwood-Forest anciently called Warewell where Athelwold was slain with a Dart by whom and upon what account l. 6. p. 10. Hastings or Haestein the Dane his arrival in Kent and the Ravages he makes there but is at last forced to surrender to King Alfred with his Wife and two Sons and to become a Christian and accept of Conditions which he soon after broke l. 5. p. 299 300. His Ships broke to Pieces the best of them being saved and carried into Port Id. p. 300. Hatred too many men's natures to hate those that have too much obliged them l. 2. p. 64 65. Heacca Bishop of the South-Saxons that is of Chichester his Decease l. 6. p. 88. Headda Abbot of Medeshamsted the Charter said to be wrote by him l. 6. p. 4 5. Heads Oswald's Head and Arms cut off by Penda's Order and set on a Pole for a Trophy of his Victory l. 4. p. 181. Scotch slain in War set upon high Poles round about the Walls of Durham l. 6. p. 27. Healfange that is what is paid in Commutation for the Punishment of hanging by the Neck to the King or Lord l. 5. p. 347. Vid. l. 6. p. 59. Healfden a Danish King is slain in Battel with several Earls and many Thousand Soldiers by King Edward the Elder 's Army l. 5. p. 315. Heathens and Pagans by these names are meant the Danes and Norwegians together with the Goths Swedes and Vandals which for so long together wasted England l. 5. p. 255 256. Heavens a Red-Cross appeared in the Heavens after Sun-set l. 4. p. 230. Hedda when he sate as first Bishop of Winchester Id. p. 181. Took the Bishoprick of the East-Saxons Id. p. 196. His Death and Excellent Character Id. p. 212 213. Heddi consecrated Bishop of Winchester that is of the West-Saxons by Archbishop Theodore when l. 4. p. 193. Heddi Stephen the Author of the Life of St. Wilfrid his Account of the Quarrel between Egfrid King of Northumberland and that Bishop l. 4. p. 197. Heliogabolus Anton. succeeds Opilius Macrinus in the Empire but after three years Reign is killed by the Praetorian Band l. 2. p. 80. Helmestan Bishop of Winchester and the Dean of that Church had the Education of Prince Ethelwulf during the Life of his Elder Brother l. 5. p. 257. Helmham in Norfolk a Bishop's See taken out of the Bishoprick of Dunmoc l. 4. p. 193. Is continued to be the sole Bishop's See for the Kingdom of the East-Angles till long after that it was removed to Norwich l. 5. p. 274. Hemeida a Welsh King expelled the Bishops of St. Davids and Archbishop Novis but at last he and all the Inhabitants of South-Wales and Rodri with his Six Sons submit to Alfred l. 5. p. 306. Hengest and Horsa their first coming over to Britain l. 3. p. 118. They were originally Saxons by Descent Ib. p. 120. Those that came over with them were rather Frisians Id. p. 120. Were the Sons of Witgilfus who was the Son of Witta and he the Son of Vecta and he the Son of Woden Id. p. 121. Hengest demands of King Vortigern the Countrey of Kent for his Daughter and has it Id. p. 126. Sends over for Octa and Ebusa his Son and Nephew Ibid. p. 142. Is chosen King by the Saxons and made to retire into the Isle of Thanet Id. p. 128. When he and his Son Aesk fought against the Britains and obtained a great Victory l. 3. p. 129. When he and his Brother fought again with them and took much spoil Id. p. 131. His Death Id. p. 132. With Alrick King of Kent ended the Race of Hengest l. 4. p. 238. His Brother Horsa slain at Engleford in Kent l. 3. p. 128. Hengestdune now Hengston in Cornwal where King Egbert beats the Danes and Western Welsh l. 5. p. 257. Henwald two Priests of this name barbarously murthered by the Old Saxons and their Bodies flung into the Rhine but their Murther was notoriously revenged l. 4. p. 212. Heofenfield or Heaven-field lying near to what we call the Picts-Wall l. 4. p. 177. Heraclitus made by Severus Lieutenant of the Southern Parts of Britain l. 2. p. 74. Herefrith Bishop of Winchester his Decease l. 5. p. 257. Hereman King Edward the Confessor's Chaplain succeeds Brightwulf in the Bishoprick of Shireburne l. 6. p. 73. Is sent with Bishop Aldred to the great Synod held at Rome and for what Id. p. 75. Heresy Arrian when it first began to infect Britain l. 2. p. 106. Pelagian when it was broached here by a British Monk for absolute Freewill without the Assisting Grace of God l. 2. p. 107. Of
Gratian the Emperor who is killed by him l. 2. p. 95. His Image is sent to Alexandria and set up in the Market-place to be Reverenced l. 2. p. 96. His great concern for the Catholick Religion and Execution of Persons for meer matters of Faith His Death Id. Ib. Meanwari supposed to be People of that part of Hampshire lying over against the Isle of Wight l. 4. p. 188. Medcant now called Turne-Island l. 3. p. 146. Medeshamhamsted a Monastery built in Honour of Christ and St. Peter it had its Name from a Well there called Medeswell l. 4. p. 186. The manner of erecting this Foundation Id. p. 186 187. Pope Agatho's Bull of Priviledges to it supposed to be Forged long after and by whom l. 4. p. 200. l. 6. p. 4 5. Is burnt and destroyed by the Danes who killed all the Abbots and Monks they found there with a Noble Library and all its Charters and they carried away all the rich spoil of that place l. 5. p. 270 271 272. Afterwards the Bodies of above Fourscore Monks with their Abbot there slain were Buried in one Grave in the Church-yard and putting a Pyramidal Stone over them the Images of the Abbot and Monks about him were Carved on it Id. p. 172. Is rebuilt by Athelwald Bishop of Winchester who is said to have found the Charter which Abbot Headda had formerly wrote l. 6. p. 4 5. A new Charter of Confirmation with many other Endowments granted by King Edgar the Lands granted by him to this Monastery to be a distinct Shire having Sac Soc c. Is more enriched in Lands by Abbot Adulf who is succeeded by Kenulf that changed its name into Burgh It has been the Episcopal See of the Bishops of Peterburgh almost ever since the Dissolution of this Abbey in H. VIII's time Id. p. 5. Melgas King of the Picts the Story of the Virgins that were Killed or made Slaves by him a notorious Invention l. 2. p. 96. Mellitus is sent to Preach the Word in Britain and Letters of Instruction sent afterwards by the Pope to him concerning the Idol-Temples l. 4. p. 157 158. Ordained by Augustine Bishop of the East-Saxons he was to fix his Episcopal See at London l. 4. p. 159 165 166. Sent to Rome to confer with Pope Boniface about the necessary Affairs of the English Church Id. p. 166. His departure into France and for what reason Id. p. 169. Succeeâ—s Lawrence in the Archbishoprick of Canterbury stops a great Fire there by his Prayers Id. p. 171. Members loss of any for Crimes of the Party survived it Four Nights he with the Bishops leave might be helped which before was unlawful l. 5. p. 285. Menai a River near to which Bangor was built and by whom l. 3. p. 143. Iâ— parts Caernarvonshire from the Isle of Wight l. 4. p. 165. Menaevia now is called St. David's in Pembrokeshire l. 3. p. 149. Mercevenlage from whence the Laws were so called l. 1. p. 13. Mercia when this Kingdom began it was one of the largest of the English-Saxon Kingdoms and one of the last conquered by the West-Saxons l. 3. p. 147. The People received the Christian Faith under Peadda their Ealdorman l. 4. p. 183 186. The Province of the Mercians is divided into Five Diocesses Id. p. 199 200. The Mercians or Southumbers Kill Ostrythe the Wife of Ethelred their late King Id. p. 210 212. A great part of it destroyed with Fire and Sword by the South-Welshmen Id. p. 231. Anciently was called Merscwarum l. 5. p. 259. Is forced to come to a Peace with the Danes Id. p. 269. Mercy King Cnute's Law to have it used and that none should die for small Offences l. 6. p. 58 59. Meredyth Conquers the whole Countrey of North-Wales for himself l. 6. p. 22. Others laying waste his Countrey of South-Wales Id. p. 23. Cast off by the Inhabitants of the Isle of Anglesey for not well Protecting them but afterwards resolving if he could to recover so considerable a part of his Dominions he Fights with Edwal ap Meyric who had Usurped upon him but is worsted by him in a set Battel Id. p. 24. Meredyth and Howel the Sons of Edwin or Owen how they got the Government of South-Wales but were afterwards slain by the Sons of Conan ap Sitsylt Brother to Prince Lewelin l. 6. p. 56. Merehwit Bishop of Somersetshire that is Wells Deceases and is Buried at Glastenbury l. 6. p. 56. Meresige now Mercey in Essex an Island near the Sea l. 5. p. 301. Merton in Surrey anciently called Merinton l. 4. p. 232. Merwina an Abbess of the Nunnery of Rumsey in Hampshire l. 6. p. 6. Midletune in Kent where the Danes built a Fort to infest the English l. 5. p. 298 300. Militia King Athelstan's Law that for every Plow a man shall keep Two well-furnished Horsemen is one of the Ancientest of this kind in England being laid according to the rate of Estates l. 5. p. 341. Milred Bishop of the Wiccij that is of the Diocess of Worcester his Character and death l. 4. p. 230. Milton his History of England commended by the Author l. 2. p. 20. Mints places appointed for them by King Athelstan's Law l. 5. p. 341. One granted to the Abbot of Stamford by King Edgar l. 6. p. 5. The first Law whereby the private Mints to the Archbishops and Abbots were forbid Id. p. 14. Miracles Germanus and Lupus two French Bishops recover a Magistrate's Daughter Aged Ten Years of Blindness which the Pelagians refused to attempt l. 2. p. 107 108. A great Fire in Canterbury suddenly stopp'd by the Prayers of Mellitus the Archbishop which caused the Wind to blow directly contrary to what it had done before l. 4. p. 171. Of Oswald King of Northumberland after his Death Id. p. 180. Of one Eardulf who after he was commanded to be put to death was found alive Id. p. 236. On Pope Leo who received his Sight and Hands after the one was put out and the other cut off Id. p. 241. About Kenelm King of the Mercians whom Quedride his Sister made away out of an Ambition of Reigning her self l. 5. p. 251. A Pillar of Light reaching up to Heaven stood over Wiglaff's Tomb in Repton-Monastery where Wulstan was Buried for Thirty days which procured him the Title of a Saint l. 5. p. 261. Of the Earth's Opening and swallowing up a whole Army of Scots who came to fight with King Cuthred l. 5. p. 286. Of Athelstan's striking a Rock with his Sword near the Castle of Dunbar which made a Gap in it an Ell deep Id. p. 337. Of St. Dunstan's Horse falling down dead under him at the Hearing of a Voice from Heaven which the Horse it seems perfectly understood Id. p. 351. Of his Harp Playing a whole Psalm as it hung against the Wall without any hands to touch it and his taking the Devil by the Nose with red hot Tongs l. 6. p. 3. Of the speaking of a
Crucifix in a Great Council at Winchester Id. p. 16. Edward the Confessor's Curing the Blind and what we call now the King 's Evil and his being Elected King by his Father's Command in a Great Council whilst he was in his Mother's Womb Id. p. 98. Modwina an Irish Abbess who first bred up Edgithe King Egbert's Daughter l. 5. p. 257. Mollo Brother to Ceadwalla is Burnt in Kent and Twelve others with him but his Body not being reduced to Ashes Buried in the Church of the Abbey of St. Augustine Cant. l. 4. p. 204. Mona is now known by the Name of Anglesey l. 2. p. 46. Upon Agricola's coming to subdue it desires Peace and delivers up the Island Id. p. 55. Monarch this Title the Saxon Kings never took upon them though our Historians have unjustly given it them for it could not properly belong to those who had divers others under them with like Jurisdiction within their own Territories l. 5. p. 254. Monasteries the only Universities wherein the Liberal Arts and Sciences were Taught l. 4. p. 151. That of Christ-Church in Canterbury when Founded Id. p. 167. One in a Town called Cnobsbury enriched afterwards with Noble Buildings and Revenues Id. p. 180. Of Brige Cale and Andelegium in the Kingdom of the Franks where many of the Britains used to send their Children to be taught and professed there being then but very few here Id. Ib. Of Reculf l. 4. p. 182. now Reculver in Kent Id. p. 205. Of Ingerlingum and upon what account it was built l. 4. p. 183. Of Streanshale by whom founded and where it was Id. p. 188 189. It was burnt and destroyed by the Danish cruel Tyrants l. â— p. 269. Of St. Peter in the Bishoprick of Durham by King Egfrid's Consent and License freed from all Secular Servitude l. 4. p. 194. Of St. Paul at Girwy now Yarrow near Tyne Id. p. 194 205. Of Abington founded by one Hean Id. p. 196. Of Berking and Chertsey by Erkenwald Id. p. 196. Of Ely built by Queen Etheldrethe Id. p. 198. Burnt and all killed in it c. l. 5. p. 272. And is rebuilt l. 6. p. 4. Of Coludesburgh for Monks and Nuns but afterwards was called Coldingham in the Marches of Scotland l. 4. p. 198 199. Of Medeshamsted l. 4. p. 187 200. The Charter of it justly suspected of Forgery Id. p. 200 201. l. 5. p. 271. Of Lindisfarne l. 4. p. 201. Destroyed l. 5. p. 269. Of Derawnde now Beverley l. 4. p. 202. Of Glastingabyrig now Glastenbury Id. p. 204 218 219. Of Wiremouth and Girwy built by Abbot Benedict l. 4. p. 205. And is destroyed l. 5. p. 269. Bardeney Abbey l. 4. p. 212. Destroyed l. 5. p. 270. Of Selsey where Ceadbert the Abbot of that place was consecrated the first Bishop of the Province of the South-Saxons l. 4. p. 214. Of Evesham founded by Egwin Bishop of Worcester and on what occassion Id. p. 216 217. Of Theoewkesbury in Gloucester founded for Benedictine Monks Id. p. 217. Of Winburne built by Cuthburgh Sister to King Ina Id. p. 218. Of Berodune in the Kingdom of the Mercians Id. p. 221. Of Vocingas freed from all Duties besides St. Peter and the Abbot Id. p. 230 231. Of Chester where Werburh Wife of King Ceolred was Abbess Id. p. 232. Of Winchelcomb in Gloucestershire for Three hundred Benedictine Monks founded by Kenwulf King of the Mercians and its Consecration Id. p. 242. l. 5. p. 251. Of Cotham and St. Saviour's in Canterbury l. 4. p. 243. At Wilton founded by Alburge Sister to King Egbert for Benedictine Nuns l. 5. p. 248. Some Disputes determined in a Synodal Council at Cloveshoe concerning this of Westburgh l. 5. p. 253. Of Croyland Egbert's Confirmation of the Lands and Priviledges belonging to it in the Great Council of the whole Kingdom Id. p. 254. Of Polesworth whereof Edgithe King Egbert's Daughter was Abbess Id. p. 257 330. Of Rependun now Repton in Derbyshire Id. p. 261. Of Coldingham Nunnery the Chastity of the Abbess Id. p. 269. Of Tinmouth destroyed by the Danes Id. Ib. Of Athelney in Somersetshire built by King Alfred for men Id. p. 298 307. Of Shaftsbury for Nuns built by the same King Ibid. Of Ambresbyri in Wiltshire and Banuwelle to whom granted by Alfred Id. p. 307. Of Exeter anciently called Exancester l. 5. p. 307. Of Winchester its Consecration when Id. p. 312. Abbey of Hyde near Winchester Id. p. 318. Of Rochester Id. p. 320. Of Badricesworth now St. Edmundsbury Id. p. 323. l. 6. p. 52. Of Middletune in Dorsetshire founded by King Athelstan l. 5. p. 337. l. 6. p. 6. Of Tavistock by whom founded and how soon after burnt l. 6. p. 4. Of Undale in Northamptonshire Id. p. 5. Of Winchester both old and new Id. p. 6. Of Chertsey in Surrey Id. p. 6. Of Rumsey in Hampshire founded by King Edward Id. p. 6. Of Ramsey founded by Aylwin the Ealdorman Id. p. 6 7. Of St. John Baptist Id. p. 8. Of Cerne in Dorsetshire founded by whom l. 6. p. 22. Of Burton in Staffordshire built by one of King Ethelbert's Courtiers during the cruel Wars in the Eastern and Southern parts of England who endowed it with his Paternal Inheritance and purchased the King's Confirmation of what he had done Id. p. 31. Of St. Bennet's in Holme founded by King Cnute for Benedictines Id. p. 54. Of Coventry founded by Leofric Earl of the Mercians and the Lady Godiva l. 6. p. 71. Of Leon or Lemster near Hereford Repaired by the said Earl and Lady Id. p. 72. Of Wenlock Repaired by the said Earl and Lady Id. p. 72. Of St. Wereburga in Chester Repaired by the said Earl and Lady Id. p. 72. Of St. John in Worcester Repaired by the said Earl and Lady Id. p. 72. Of Evesham Repaired by the said Earl and Lady Id. p. 72. Of Burgh richly endowed by Abbot Leofric and called the Golden Burgh Id. p. 84. Of St. Aethelbert in Hereford City burnt and by whom Id. p. 86 87. Of the Holy Cross at Waltham in Essex founded by Earl Harold who was afterwards King of England Id. p. 89. Of Westminster by whom founded and when consecrated Id. p. 93. Money King Athelstan's Law That through all his Dominions one and the same Money be current l. 5. p. 314. The same enacted by the last Law of King Edgar l. 6. p. 14. The same Punishment for wittingly receiving as for making Bad Money and for Merchants that import any Counterfeit Money Id. p 44. No more Money ought to be raised by any unjust Exactions Id. p. 55. One and the same to be current and none to refuse it Embasing the Coin punishable by cutting off the guilty person's Hands without Redemption Cnute's Law Id. p. 58. How Money brought to a Town and said to be found shall be disposed of Id. p. 103. Monks formerly almost the only Historians as well as Divines and from them we are to have our Accounts both of
the Ecclesiastical and Civil Affairs of Ancient Times l. 4. p. 151. There were only two Orders of them in use amongst our Ancestors of the English-Saxon Church and what Orders they were Id. p. 168. Most people of all Qualities used to take upon them the Monastick Habit Id. p. 221 223. None but Monks anciently made Archbishops of Canterbury l. 5. p. 333. Turn'd out of divers Monasteries by King EdwiÌ„ and Secular Channons put into their places Id. p. 353. Are restored to them again by King Edgar l. 6. p. 6 7. A Civil War is raised in the Nation about them Id. p. 15 16. Are removed from Exeter to Westminster and Secular Channons placed in their stead Id. p. 78. Morchar a Dane of great Riches and Power in the Northern Parts is Treacherously slain by Edric's Order at his own House when he was invited to a Feast l. 6. p. 40. Morchar the Son of Earl Aelfgar is chosen by the Northumbers to be their Earl Id. p. 90. Morgant a Prince of the Isle of Medcant l. 3. p. 147. Morindus Vid. Morvidus Morini or Moriani a People of Gaul landing in Northumberland with Fire and Sword wast the Countrey but are at last defeated by Morindus and his Army l. 1. p. 14. It was the Province of Picardy l. 2. p. 25. Mortality Vid. Plague Morvidus defeating the Moriani putting all the Prisoners to death with exquisite Torments but at last is devoured by a Monster that came out of the Irish Sâ—a with which he would needs fight l. 1. p. 14. Moston his British Mâ— arraigned as to the credit of it by a late Romish Writer but without any material Objection l. 4. p. 162. Mould in Flintshire in the British Tongue is called Guiderac l. 2. p. 108. Mouric Son of Tudric King of Glamorgan is reduced to great extremity by the Saxons l. 3. p. 148 149. Mulcts Cnute's Law about them for divers Offences l. 6. p. 58. For what Crimes no satisfaction to be made by way of Compensation Id. p. 59. The particular Mulcts of those that Violate the King's Peace Id. p. 103. Vid. Murther Murrain Vid. Plague Murther The Punishment for it Anciently Redeemable by Pecuniary Mulcts l. 4. p. 209. Of Two Priests notably returned on the Murtherers l. 4. p. 209. If a Layman kill a Thief no satisfaction to be made to the Friends of the Party slain Id. p. 211. The Value of a Man slain whether English or Dane Four Marks of Pure Gold and the Redemption of each Four hundred shillings l. 5. p. 283. The Mulct which was to be paid for killing a Woman with Child or of killing in Troops or Companies and to whom Id. p. 293 294. By a Priest his Estate is Confiscated and he Degraded c. Id. p. 297. By Witchcraft the Punishment for it by King Ethelstan's Law Id. p. 340. The Murtherer alone to bear the deadly feud of the Kindred of the Party slain or within a Year to Pay the Value of the slain Man's Head Id. p. 347. The Punishment in case of Manslaughter l. 6. p. 43. Edward the Confessor's Law concerning it Id. p. 101. How the Party wrongfully killed is to be cleared in his Reputation and what satisfaction is to be made to his Friends for it Id. p. 103. Myranheofod that is in Saxon Ant's-head Thurkytell of that Name fled from the Danes and the English Army beaten by them l. 6. p. 34. N NAitan King of the Picts desires the Assistance of the English Nation concerning the Celebration of Easter l. 4. p. 216 221. Nation the Miseries and Desolations that Divine Providence brings upon a Wicked and Perverse People in it l. 3. p. 150. Nazaleod a Great British King some think him Ambrosius others Uther Pendragon his pretended Brother and others again only the General of the King of the Britains l. 3. p. 134. Nennius a British Author of no great Credit Id. p. 114. A credulous trivial Writer who vents a great many Fables l. 3. p. 1â—6 Could not Study at Oxford as is supposed by some Writers and why l. 5. p. 290. St. Neot the Story of King Alfred in the Account of this Saint's Life l. 5. p. 280. Nero his succeeding Claudius in the Empire l. 2. p. 45. Nerva his short Reign and the great Commotions in it in this Island l. 2. p. 66. Nesse-point in Essex called by the Saxons Ealdulfe's Naese l. 6. p. 81. Newenden a Town in Kent quite destroyed by the Saxons and afterwards rebuilt where it stood in the Reign of King Edward the First l. 3. p. 132 133. Nice the Great Council there when Assembled some of our Bishops assisted at it l. 2. p. 88. Nicholaus Bishop of Florence made Pope upon the Expulsion of Pope Benedict l. 6. p. 88. Niger Peseenius Saluted Emperor in Syria War against him by Severus l. 2. p. 72. Is afterwards slain by him Id. p. 73. Night-Mare a Disease whence it came to be so called l. 3. p. 125. Nobility their Domineering and Severity â—ver poor Countreymen restrained by King Alfred's Law l. 5. p. 294. Most of the English Nobility slain at the Battel of Ash-down by Cnute and his Army l. 6. p. 47. King Cnute causes several of them to be put to death but for what Crimes unknown Id. p. 50. Their great Degeneracy before the coming in of William Duke of Normandy Id. p. 116. Normandy formerly called Neustria entirely Conquered by Rollo the Dane who Reigned there Fifty years l. 5. p. 278. The Succession of the Dukes there l. 6. p. 53. The great Battel of Vallesdune between Henry King of France and the Nobility of that Dukedome for their refusing to accept of the Bastard William for their Duke Id. p 74. Normans or Northlandmen were Danes and Swedes their Religion and common Deities l. 5. p. 256. All Banish'd that had introduc'd unjust Laws and given false Judgments and committed many Outrages upon the English except a very few l. 6. p. 82. Too many brought over by Edward the Confessor who soon by their Customs corrupted the English Simplicity Id. p. 98. Before their Engaging King Harold spent the night in Prayers and Confessions c. l. 6. p. 112. Northalbingia formerly Old Saxony it 's extent and bounds l. 3. p. 118. Northampton anciently called Hamtune l. 5. p. 319 321. Northern People of Britain described by Herodian afterwards supposed to be called Picti l. 2. p. 22. Northumbers that is all those English-Saxons who lived North of the River Humber l. 4. p. 171. When most part of this Nation as well Nobles as others retired into Monasteries Id. p. 221. Their frequent Rebellions and Expulsion of their Kings shew them to be of a proud and turbulent Temper Id. p. 239 240. l. 5. p. 260. Kings of England appointed Earls under them to Govern that Countrey l. 5. p. 259. Expel their Lawful King Osbryht and set up a Tyrant and Usurper not Descended from the Royal Line Id. p. 267. Expel Egbert their King and
Wulfher Archbishop of York Id. p. 277. Rebel against King Athelstan and the Event of their so doing Id. p. 330. Beat the Scotchmen many of whose Heads were afterwards set upon Poles round the Walls of Durham l. 6. p. 27. Take Arms against their Earl Tostige slaying his Servants and seizing his Treasures committing a world of Outrages and Desolations And what the ground of this Insurrection Id. p. 90 91 Northumbrian Kingdom began in Ida and when l. 3. p. 142. Becomes divided into Two viz. Deira and Bernicia Id. p. 143. The Custom of this Nation was anciently to sell their own Children or other near Relations to Foreign Merchants l. 4. p. 152. A perverse and perfidious Nation worse than Pagans Id. p. 240. A certain Youth is made King hereof by the joint Consent of both the English and Danes King Alfred himself confirming the Election l. 5. p. 286. North-Wales a part of the Roman Province anciently called Genoani or Guinethia l. 2. p. 68. l. 5. p. 317 All the Coasts thereabouts spoiled by the Danes l. 5. p. 319. Upon the Death of Howel Dha it returned to the Two Sons of Edwal Voel l. 5. p. 349. Is sorely harrassed by King Edgar and the cause of the War l. 6. p. 3 4. War is made upon it by Eneon who subdues all the Countrey of Gwin or Gwir Id. p. 6 16. Is Conquered by Meredyth Prince of South-Wales for himself Id. p. 22. On the Death of Edwal ap Meyric it was under an Anarchy for some time l. 6. p. 25. It gave occasion to great disturbances till Aedan got and held it for Twelve Years but whether by Election or Force uncertain Id. p. 30 31. Blithen and Rithwallen made Joint Princes thereof by King Edward the Confessor Id. p. 90. Norway Harold Harfager their King coming with a great Fleet to Invade England Lands in Yorkshire but is slain in Battel with most of his Men l. 6. p. 109. Norwich the only Bishop in England since the Dissolution of Monasteries that has still the Title of an Abbot l. 6. p. 54. Nothelm receives his Pall from Rome and is made Archbishop of Canterbury after Tatwin l. 4. p. 223. His Death and who is Consecrated in his room Id. p. 224. Numerianus the Son of the Emperor Carus made Caesar by him whom he takes with him into the East but this pious Son was slain by Aper one of his Captains l. 2. p. 83. Nunnery Vid. Monastery Nunnichia the Wife of Gerontius her extraordinary Courage and Affection to her Husband who was prevailed upon to slay her by her own Importunity rather than she would be left behind him exposed to the violence of an enraged Multitude l. 2. p. 103. O OAkly in Surrey anciently called Aclea where the Danes were beaten by King Aethelwulf l. 5. p. 261. Oath of Fidelity Vid. Fealty The Oath the Danes took to King Alfred which they ne'er would take before to any Nation upon a Sacred Bracelet to depart the Kingdom l. 5. p. 278. Or Pledge i. e. a man's Promise to observe the Law and keep the Peace to be strictly kept and the Punishment in breaking it made by King Alfred Id. p. 292. To give Security by Oath at twelve years of Age and for what l. 6. p. 58. Vid. Purgation Odo Bishop of Wells succeeds Wulfhelme in the Archbishoprick of Canterbury His Character l. 5. p. 333. Is severely revenged on the Lady Athelgiva for causing King Edwi to turn all the Monks out of divers Monasteries and putting Secular Channons in their rooms Id. p. 354. His Decease l. 6. p. 2. Offa the Son of Sigher King of the East-Saxons marries Keneswith but not long after through her persuasions takes upon him a Monastick Life and goes to Rome for that end l. 4. p. 214. Vid. 217. Is proposed as a Pattern for all other Princes to follow Id p. 214. Offa expels the Usurper Beornred King of the Mercians His Pedigree and succeeds him by the General Consent of the Nobles and afterwards becomes a Terror to all the Kings of England Id. p. 227. Obtains of the Pope a Pall for the See of Litchfield to become an Archbishoprick Id. p. 229. Subdues the Nation of the Hestings but who they were is not known Id. p. 230. And Cynwulf King of the West-Saxons fight at Bensington in Oxfordshire where Offa prevails Id. Ib. p. 236. Is forced to make a Peace with the Saxon Kings Id. p. 231. Seizes on the whole Countrey of North and South-Wales planting Saxons in their places and annexes them to his own Kingdom making a famous Ditch from Sea to Sea to defend his Countrey from the Incursions of the Welsh called Offa's Ditch Ibid. p. 239. His Eldest Son Egfred or Egbert as in the Saxon Annals is anointed and crowned King with him l. 4. p. 233 235. Builds a new Church and Monastery in honour of St. Alban Id. p. 237. His Death after he had reigned forty years and Burial in a Chappel at Bedford near the River Ouse He had a great mixture in him of Virtues and Vices and seems to have been the first of our English-Saxon Kings who maintained any great Correspondence with Foreign Princes Id. p. 238. His Enmity with Charles the Great and afterwards his firm League with him Id. p. 239. Offerings at the Altar Pope Gregory determines how they were to be divided l. 4. p. 155. Olaff is driven out of Norway Cnute conquering that Countrey for himself l. 6. p. 53. Returning to regain his Right he was slain by the people but afterwards was canonized under the Title of a Martyr Id. p. 54. Olanaege an Island in the River Severne now called the Eighth l. 6. p. 47. Old Saxony Vid. Northalbingia Orcades the Islands in the Northern Ocean near Scotland l. 2. p. 94. Governed long by English and Danish Kings l. 5. p. 259. Ordeal not to be used to a person accused of a Crime unless there be no direct proof against him l. 5. p. 285. A simple and a threefold Ordeal Id. p. 340. l. 6. p. 59. A Danish Custom and grew more in request in the Reign of King Cnute l. 6. p. 43. After what manner this Judgment was to be executed by the Bishop's Officer Id. p. 100. Order that of St. Basil l. 4. p. 167. That of St. Benedict Id. p. 167 168. Of St. Equitus Id. p. 168. Ordgar the Abbot rebuilds the Abbey of Abingdon which had been destroyed by the Danes l. 4. p. 196. Ordgar Earl of Devonshire and afterwards Father-in-Law to King Edgar founded the Abbey of Tavistock which was not long after burnt by the Danes l. 6. p. 4. Ordination of a Bishop whether without the presence of other Bishops or not l. 4. p. 156. Ceadda renews his Ordination and upon what account Id. p. 191. Bishop Wilfrid is sent into France to be re-ordained Id. p. 192. Ordovices those people now of North-Wales l. 2. p. 42. Almost destroyed a whole Squadron of Roman
likely propagated here by some Apostle of the Eastern or Asiatick Church Id. p. 162. The state of it here before the coming in of William the Conqueror l. 6. p. 116. Religious Houses Vid. Monasteries Resignation of Bishopricks and why l. 3. p. 149. l. 4. p. 224 232. Restitutus Bishop of the City of London is sent with others to the Council of Arles in Gallia l. 2. p. 88. Revenge none to take it for any Injury done him before publick Justice be demanded and the Penalty on those that do l. 4. p. 208. Rhine fortified with Garisons by Constantine l. 2. p. 102. Richard the Elder took upon him the Dukedome of Normandy and Governed it Two and fifty Years l. 5. p. 343. His Enmity to and War with Pope John l. 6. p. 24. His Death and who succeeded him in that Dutchy Id. p. 26. Richbert a Heathen slays Eorpwald not long after he had received the Christian Faith l. 4. p. 175. Ricsige succeeded Egbert in the Kingdom of Northumberland l. 5. p. 277. His Death and who his Successor Id. p. 278. Ripendune alias Hrepton Abbey now Repton in Derbyshire Founded by King Aethelbald the most famous one of that Age l. 4. p. 227. l. 5. p. 277. Ripon in Yorkshire the Monastery Burnt which had been Built by Bishop Wilfrid l. 5. p. 350. Ritheric ap Justin on the Death of Llewelyn ap Sitsylt Seizes upon South-Wales and holds it by Force l. 6. p. 53. Is slain in Battel by Howel and Meredyth with the assistance of the Irish Scots l. 6. p. 56. Ritherch and Rees the Sons of Ritheric ap Justin their Engagement with Griffith Prince of Wales and the Success thereof l. 6. p. 71. Robber his Punishment who called Robbers l. 4. p. 209. Robert Duke of Normandy sends Ambassadors to King Cnute to demand that his Nephews viz. Edward and Alfred King Ethelred's Two Sons might be restored to their Right and upon his refusing he prepares a great Navy to force him to it and what happened thereupon l. 6. p. 54. To whom he recommends his Son William a Child of Seven Years Old afterwards King of England whilst he undertakes his Pilgrimage to Jerusalem where he Dies Ibid. p. 56. Robert a Norman Monk made Bishop of London by Edward the Confessor l. 6. p. 73. And upon the Death of Eadsige made Archbishop of Canterbury He immediately went to Rome to obtain his Pall Id. p. 75. Accuses Queen Emma of being too Familiar with Alwin Bishop of Winchester Id. p. 79. His flight out of England variously reported Id. p. 80 81. Is Banished and Outlawed for being a Chief Incendiary in the Quarrel between Edward the Confessor and Earl Godwin Id. p. 81. But having made his Peace King Edward sends him Ambassador to Duke William to acquaint him That he had designed him his Successor Id. p. 96 97 Rodoric or Rodri when he began to Reign over the Britains in Wales l. 4. p. 218. Another Rodoric one of the Sons of Edwal Voel Prince of Wales is slain by Irishmen l. 6. p. 6. Rodri Maur that is Rodoric the Great succeeds his Father Merwyn Urych in the Kingdom of the Britains and divides Wales into three Territories His Wars and Death l. 5. p. 260 278. His Wife and Children and Bequests amongst them Id. p. 278 279. Esteemed by all Writers to be sole King of all Wales and in what Right His Laws Id. p. 279. The several Ordinances he made about paying the Ancient Tribute to the King of London and acknowledging his Sovereigâ—ty as also about who should decide the differences that might arise between any of his Children Id. p. 279. l. 6. p. 3. Rofcaester or Hrofcester now Rochester l. 4. p. 159. l. 5. p. 259. St. Andrew's Church there built by Ethelbert King of Kent l. 4. p. 160. Tobias the Bishop there dies Id. p. 219. Dun consecrated Bishop here after the Death of Eadulph Id. p. 224. Rollo the Dane or Norman wastes Neustria afterwards called Normandy and not long after made an entire Conquest of it reigning there fifty years His Dream l. 5. p. 278. Roman Affairs when they became desperate in Britain l. 2. p. 105 106. Empire what fell with it in Britain l. 3. p. 113. Language Gaâ—â— and Gown came to be in fashion among the Britains in Agricola's time l. 2. p. 57. Romans left the â—ritains at their departure Paterns of the Arms and Weapons they would have them make to defend themselves l. 2. p. 100. Though they subdued Britain to their Empire yet they used their Victory with Moderation l. 5. p. 246. Romanus Bishop of Rochester drowned in going on a Message to Rome l. 4. p. 176. Rome taken by Alaric King of the Goths l. 2. p. 104. Romescot said to be first given to the Pope by King Ina but much doubted l. 4. p. 219. Then by King Offa supposed to be confirm'd by the great Council's consent Id. p. 239. Aethelwulf by his Last Will orders to be sent every year to Rome Three hundred Mancuses l. 5. p. 264 265. Vid. Peter-pence Rowena Hengest's Daughter her Arrival into Britain c. l. 3. p. 125. Rufina Claudia Wife of Pudens a Senator famous for her Beauty in the Elegant Epigram of Martial Some assert she was the same St. Paul makes mention of in his second Epistle to Timothy l. 2. p. 66. Run or Reyn the pretended Son of Meredyth ap Owen a vile Scotch Impostâ—r thâ—t sets up for Prince of Soâ—th Waleâ— but he is soon rouâ—ed and all his Paâ—â—y l. 6. p. 52. Runick Characters found upon a few Stones in England l. 3. p. 113. Runkhorne in Cheshire anciently called Run-cafan l. 5. p. 316. Rusticus Decimius from Master of his Offices is advanced by Constans to â—e Praefect l. 2. p. 103. Ryal in Rutlandshire anciently called Rehala where St. Tibba's â—ody lay entomb'd l. 6. p. 5. S SAcriledge what Punishments to be inflicted on those who commit it l. 4. p. 156 163. Salaries usually allowed to those that hâ—d been Proconsuls l. 2. p. 64. Safe of Goods c. Vid. Traffick Sampson Scholar to Iltutus and afterwards Archbishop of Dole in Britain l. 3. p. 149. Sanctuaries very ancient in England l. 4. p. 208 209. l. 5. p. 296 â—97 Their Design primitively very good only to stay there for a time till the Offender could agree with his Advâ—rsary l. 5. p. 297. The Punishment of him who 〈◊〉 â—ny one that sâ—es to a Church The Knigâ—t Hoâ—se no shelâ—er to him thâ—â— sheds bloâ—d l. 5. p. 347. Graâ—ted 〈◊〉 Westminster â—y Edward â—he Confessor Charter and confirmed by the Great Council l. 6. p. 94. The Laws concerning them confirmâ—d Id. p. 99. Sandwicâ— anciently câ—â—led Rutipae l. â— p. 90. and Sandwiâ— l. 5. p. 261. The Port given by King Cnute in Christ-Church in Canterbury with all the Issues c. l. 6. p. 54. Saragosa in Spain anciently called Caesar Augustâ— a corrupted Compouâ—d of thâ—se two words destroyed by
of Age to give it by Oath and for what l. 6. p. 58. Selred King of the East-Saxons l. 4. p. 214. Sirnamed the Good Reigned Thirty eight year and then slain but is unknown how or by whom Id. p. 225. Sempingham in Lincolnshire anciently called Sempigaham l. 5. p. 261. Seneca only in his Books a Philosopher his Extortion on the Britains l. 2. p. 47. Seolefeu that is The Island of Seals afterwards called Selsey where Wilfrid Founded a small Monastery l. 4. p. 198. Sermon the first that is to be found at any King's Coronation by whom and to whom made l. 6. p. 70. Serpents strange ones seen in the Province of the South-Saxons l. 4. p. 230. Servants none to receive another Man's Man into his Family without leave first had of his Master the Penalty of doing the contrary l. 5. p. 341. To give Security for their good Abearing Id. p. 346. Who Desert their Lord in Battel what they Forfeit and to whom l. 6. p. 60. Sester that is a Horse-Load of Wheat Sold in Hardecnute's time for Fifty five Pence and more l. 6. p. 66 72. Severn the River from whence it came to be so called l. 1. p. 10. Severus the Emperor makes War against Pescenius Niger and slays him then sends Messengers to dispatch Albinus and the effect thereof l. 2. p. 72 73. Puts Laetus Severus to Death for his Treachery Id. Ib. Makes an Expedition into Britain and the issue of it Id. p. 74 75. How he Treats his Son Baffianus that twice attempted to kill him Id. p. 75 76. Makes a Wall cross the Island from Sea to Sea One hundred thirty two Miles in length and from thence he receiv'd the Stile of Britannicus Id. p. 76. This Wall was built in the same place where Adrian's was before Id. p. 100. His Death and Funeral Pile and Character Id. p. 77 78. Severus Alexander succeeds Heliogabolus having been before declared Caesar by the Senate his Actions in this Island l. 2. p. 80. Is slain by some of his own Army Id. Ib. Severus Germanus his Scholar being Ordained Bishop of Triers preaches the Gospel to the Germans l. 3. p. 117. Seward Abbot of Croyland conceals Withlaf King of Mercia from the Displeasure of King Egbert in the Cell of the Holy Virgin Etheldrith Daughter of King Offa till a perfect Reconciliation was made l. 5. p. 254. Sexburga Governs the Kingdom of the West-Saxons for a year as being left to her by King Cenwalch her Husband Her Character l. 4. p. 192. Shaftsbury first called Paladur afterwards Septonia by whom Built l. 1. p. 10. New built by King Alfred l. 5. p. 285 298 307. Called in Saxon Scaeftesbyrig l. 6. p. 20. Shaving of Crowns and about the manner of it l. 4. p. 216. Sheovesham or Secvesham Abby Vid. Abingdon Shepholme a little Island in the Mouth of Severne anciently called Bradanrelic Florence calls it Reoric l. 5. p. 319. Sheriffs their Antiquity and Appointment by King Alfred l. 5. p. 291. Sherwood-Forest anciently called Walewode l. 5. p. 321. Ships a great Tax raised by Harold for setting out Sixteen Sail which highly incensed the minds of the English l. 6. p. 65. Sixty two Sail had another Tax of Eight Marks to be paid the Rowers Id. p. 66. Shireburne anciently called Westwude l. 4. p. 214. Shiremotes to be held Twice every Year and who to be present thereat l. 6. p. 13. Shropshire anciently called Scrobbesbyrigscire l. 6. p. 32. Sicga dies who killed the good King Oswald or Alfwold as one Historian says by his own hands l. 4. p. 236 238. Sigebert succeeds his Brother Eorpenwald in the Kingdom of the East-Angles he was Baptized in France whither he had been Banished and by Bishop Foelix his assistance erects a School to Instruct Youth and two Years after Resigns his Kingdom to his Cousin Egric and became a Monk l. 4. p. 179. Is forced out of his Monastery by the East-Angles to encourage the Soldiers against Penda King of the Mercians where he is killed Id. p. 181. Is made a Christian at the persuasion of King Oswy Id. p. 184. And at last wickedly Murthered by whom and upon what occasion Id. p. 188 189. Sigebert Cousin to Cuthred succeeds him in the Kingdom of the West-Saxons is Deposed by Cynwulf and the Great Council for his Cruelty and Injustice and at last a certain Hog-herd ran him through and killed him l. 4. p. 226. Sigeferth a petty King of some Province makes himself away and is Buried at Wilton l. 6. p. 4. Another of the same Name a Danish Thane Treacherously slain and his Goods seized on and his Beautiful Widow secured by King Ethelred Id. p. 40. Siger and Sebba who succeed Swidhelm in the Kingdom of the East-Saxons their relapse from the Christian Faith into Idolatry but soon again they renounced their Apostacy l. 4. p. 190. Sigeric Vid. Syric Sihtric a Danish King of Northumberland is Married to Edgitha the Sister of King Athelstan his professing himself a Christian though he relapsed soon after and Died the next year l. 5. p. 330. Another of this Name King of Ireland and the Isles adjacent Id. p. 334. Silures their Complexion Swarthy and they had Curled Hair like the Spaniards l. 1. p. 4. The Inhabitants of the now South-Wales l. 2. p. 42. Their Name ought wholly to be extinguished and why Id. p. 45. Are wasted by many small Incursions Id. p. 46. Simony the first Example of it in the English Church l. 4. p. 191. Vid. Wini. Singin a Captain over the Worcestershire-men kills Constantine King of the Scots l. 5. p. 335 336. Sithicundmon esteemed equal to a Thane by the Valuation of his Head l. 5. p. 342. Slaves The Common People of England were not such Slaves in Alfred's time as some late Writers would fain make them l. 5. p. 294 295. Snottingaham the Town taken and Commanded to be Repaired and Garison'd by King Edward the Elder l. 5. p. 324. Soldier the Discovery made by One and yet his Fidelity at the same time to a Prince to whom he had formerly taken a Military Oath l. 5. p. 335. He that deserts his Lord or fellow Soldier what he Forfeits and to whom l. 6. p. 60. Somerton taken by Ethelbald from the West-Saxons l. 4. p. 221. Was anciently a great Town and Castle that gave Name to that Countrey which is now called Somersetshire Id. p. 222. Southampton was anciently called Hamtun l. 5. p. 258. Destroyed by Danish Pyrates when l. 6. p. 20. South-Saxons when this Kingdom began l. 3. p. 132. Are Converted by the Preaching of Wilfrid l. 4. p. 198. Their Province which had belonged to the Diocess of Winchester is made an Episcopal See Id. p. 214. South-Shoebury in Essex anciently called Sceobyrig where the Danes built a Castle l. 5. p. 300. Southumbers that is the Mercians l. 4. p. 210 212. South-Wales the Seat of War a long while for the Supremacy between Jevaf and
Jago the Sons of Edwal Voel and the Sons of Howel Dha and the Danes l. 5. p. 349 350. l. 6. p. 6 7 16 20 21 22 23 26 27 53 64. The Irish-Scots invade it by the means of Howel and Meredyth l. 6. p. 56. Is molested by Conan the Son of Jago who had fled into Ireland for the safety of his life Id. p. 70. So infested by the Danish Pyrates that the Sea-Coasts were almost deserted Id. p. 74. Sparhafock a Monk of St. Edmundsbury made Abbot of Abandune and afterwards Bishop of London upon the Translation of Robbyrd to the See of Canterbury l. 6. p. 74 75. But the Archbishop refused to consecrate him tho he came to him with the King's Letters and Seal because the Pope had forbad him However he held his Bishoprick Id. p. 76. Sometime after is deposed from it Id. p. 78. Spot Wulfric a Courtier builds the Monastery of Burton in Staffordshire with his own Paternal Inheritance and gets King Ethelred to confirm it l. 6. p. 31. Stamford a Castle commanded by King Edward the Elder to be built on the South-side of the River Weland l. 5. p. 323. Standing-Army no War possibly to be maintained long either at home or abroad without one l. 6. p. 33. Stanmore Battel in Westmorland between Marius the British King and the Caledonians l. 2. p. 66. Stealing Vid. Theft Stephanus the Pope succeeds Leo and the next year dies l. 5. p. 251. Another of this name Abbot of Mountcassin is consecrated Pope in the room of Victor l. 6. p. 87. Deceases the next year and who succeeds him Id. p. 88. Stigand Cnute's Chaplain had the care of the Church of Ashdown which the King caused to be built there committed to him l. 6. p. 51. Is consecrated Bishop of the East-Angles i. e. Helmham Id. p. 71 73. Receives again his Bishoprick from which it seems by the Simoniacal Practices of Bishop Grymkitel he had been before deprived Id. p. 72. And upon the death of Alfwin is promoted to the See of Winchester Id. p. 73. At last is made Archbishop of Canterbury Id. p. 81. Had the Pall sent him by Pope Benedict William of Malmesbury his Character of him He consecrates Aegelric a Monk of Christ-Church Bishop of Chichester and Syward the Abbot Bishop of Rochester Id. p. 88. Stilico Governor to the Emperor Honorius during his Minority his Character l. 2. p. 97. By a Legion sufficiently furnished with Arms dispatched to Britain delivered the Inhabitants both from spoil and inevitable Captivity Id. p. 99 104 105. Is killed by the Army when Bassus and Philippus were Consuls Id. p. 104. Stone in Staffordshire whence it had its name l. 4. p. 195. Stonehenge here Aurelius Ambrosius was crowned and not long after buried l. 3. p. 131. Is called Mons Ambrosij said to be the Monument of Ambrosius and thought by the latter Antiquaries to be founded by him Ibid. Straetcluyd the Colony erected by the Britains l. 5. p. 344. Strangers as soon as they landed the Merchants are to declare their number and bring them before the King's Officers in Folcmote l. 5. p. 294. The Law against buying and receiving Strangers Cattle Id. p. 346. A Law to harbour them for two nights as Guests but no longer so l. 6. p. 103. Strathern the Scotish Writers will needs have this Province understood by the word Jerne l. 2. p. 98. Streanshale Monastery founded by Hilda l. 4. p. 188. Is now Whitby in Yorkshire Id. p. 189. Strikers in open Court before the King's Ealdormen their Punishment l. 5. p. 295. Stufe and Withgar Nephews to King Cerdic fight against the Britains and put them to flight l. 3. p. 135. Succession to the Crown how settled between the Picts and Scots l. 1. p. 4 5. The Britains had no Notion of any Right the Eldest Brother had to command all the rest not even after they became Christians Id. p. 17. Suetonius Paulinus in his time the Romans received a great Blow in Britain and the Account of it l. 2. p. 46 47 48. Afterwards he gained a mighty Victory over Boadicia and them Id. p. 49 50. Carries it too haughtily towards those that submit Id. p. 50 51. Is succeeded by Petronius Turpilianus Id. p. 51. Sunday Vid. Lord's-Day Supposititious Birth said to be put upon King Cnute viz. the Son of a Shoemaker then newly born by Aelgiva one of his Wives l. 6. p. 61. Suretyship concerning the Breach of the King 's and Archbishops c. what Fine was to be paid upon it by Alfred's Law l. 5. p. 295. Every one to find Sureties for his good Behaviour l. 6. p. 14. Every Lord to be Surety for the appearance of every person in his Family Id. p. 42. Whosoever refuses to give it to be put to death Id. p. 42 43. For the Danes that stay in England to enjoy in all things perfect Peace Id. p. 101. Sutbury in Suffolk anciently called Southburg where Bishop Alfwin deceased l. 4. p. 242. Swale a River but where is not mentioned l. 4. p. 174. Swanawic now Swanwick in Hampshire near the place where the Danes lost 120 of their Ships in a violent Storm as they were going towards Exmouth l. 5. p. 278. Swebryht King of the East-Saxons his Death l. 4. p. 223. Sweden anciently called Scandinovia l. 1. p. 4. And Gothia Id. p. 5. Swedes and Danes called Normans by the French Historians an Account of their Religion and the Deities they worshipped l. 5. p. 256. Sweyn the Son of Harold the Dane slays Edwal ap Meyric in Battel and destroys the Isle of Man He and Anlaff besieges London endeavouring to burn it but are forced to march off the Ravage and Murthers they committed in Essex Kent and Sussex c. l. 6. p. 25. Ousted his Father both of his Kingdom and Life was afterwards expelled himself and wander'd up and down without relief but plagues England after this all he could for refusing to receive him Id. p. 26. Sweyn King of Denmark receiving news of the Massacre of his Countreymen in England by the Advice of his Great Council comes with Three hundred Sail of great Ships and revenges this barbarous piece of Treachery l. 6. p. 30 31. His frequent Returns home and Incursions and Ravages here Id. p. 32 37 38. His Return into England and upon what occasion Id. p. 37. His Decease and the Monk's Relation of the Suddenness of it Id. p. 38 39 40. Sweyn Eldest Son of King Cnute he appoints before his death to be King of Norway l. 6. p. 56. Is driven out of his Kingdom by Harold sirnamed Hairfax but he recovered it again Id. p. 74. Sweyn Earl Son of Godwin goes over to Baldwin Earl of Flanders and stays there all Winter being in disgrace at Court for deflowring an Abbess l. 6. p. 73 74. Makes a League with Edward the Confessor and the King's Promises to him How he decoys his Cousin Beorne on Shipboard and causes him afterwards
very well skill'd in the Holy Scriptures sent to King Alfred out of Mercia l. 5. p. 305 306. West-burgh a Monastery in Worcestershire l. 5. p. 253. West-Chester Vid. Chester Westminster Church and Abbey founded by King Sebert Mellitus the Bishop dedicating it to St. Peter l. 4. p. 166. But being destroyed by the Danes it had ever since lain in Ruins till Edward the Confessor built it anew and had it re-consâ—crated l. 6. p. 93 94 95. The Legend of this Church her having been anciently consecrated by St. Peter Id. p. 93. Charter of Endowment and Privileges of this Church confirmed by the Great Council The Greatest and Noblest of any Foundation in England Id. p. 94. West-Saxons when this Kingdom first began l. 3. p. 133. Were conquered by Cerdic and his Sâ—ns Id. Ib. Who first took upon them the Title of the Kings of the West-Saxons and at last they overcome all the other six Kingdoms Id. p. 136. They fight with Ivor and are put to flight Id. p. 145. Cut off Sebert's three Sons who were all Heirs to the East-Saxon Kingdom l. 4. p. 168 169. Their Conversion by the preaching of Byrinus an Italian Id. p. 179. Anciently called Gewisses Id. Ib. Bishop of the West-Saxons that is of Dorchester Id. p. 203. Their Royal Standard a Golden Dragon Id. p. 226. Are forced to maintain the Danes and what Money they give them besides l. 6. p. 25. Submit to King Cnute and give him Hostages and likewise provide Horses for his Army Id. p. 41. Westwude since called Shireburne l. 4. p. 214. Whalie in Lancashire anciently called Wealaege where a bloody Battel was fought and with whom l. 4. p. 241. Wheat at what rate sold in Hardecnute's time Vid. Sester Whipping a Punishment to be inflicted only on Villains l. 5. p. 285. Whitby in Yorkshire anciently called Streanshale l. 4. p. 189. Whitchurch in Hampshire anciently called Whitcircan l. 6. p. 28. Whitsand an ancient Port Five hundred years before Caesar's time l. 2. p. 31. About the Fourteenth Century was made unserviceable being stopp'd up by the Sands Id. Ib. Wibbendon now Wimbledon in Surrey l. 3. p. 145. Wiccon now Worcestershire l. 4. p. 242. l. 5. p. 247. Widow to remain so a Twelvemonth by King Cnute's Law and if she marry within that time to lose her Dower and all that her Husband left her l. 6. p. 60. Wigbryht Bishop of the West-Saxons goes to Rome about the Affairs of the English Church l. 5. p. 251. Wigheard the Presbyter sent to Rome there to be made Archbishop of Canterbury but died almost as soon as he arrived there l. 4. p. 195 205. Wight is brought under subjection by Titus Vespatian l. 2. p. 41. The Isle anciently called Vecta l. 2. p. 84. Is conquered by Cerdic and Cynric who bâ—stow it on Stufe and Withgar Nephews to the former l. 3. p. 138. Is taken by Wulfher King of Mercia l. 4. p. 188. Received at last the Christian Faith though upon hard terms l. 4. p. 203. The Danes quartering here made it their old Sanctuary l. 6. p. 27 31. Wightred confirms all the Privileges of the Monks of the Church of Canterbury by a Charter under his Hand l. 4. p. 163. Wigmore in Herefordshire anciently called Wigingamere l. 5. p. 321. Wilbrode an English Priest converts several Nations in Germany to the Christian Faith is ordained by the Pope Archbishop of the Frisons l. 4. p. 211. His Episcopal See was the famous Castle anciently called Wiltaburg now Utrecht Id. p. 211 212. Wilfreda a Nun taken out of a Cloyster at Wilton by King Edgar by whom he had a Beautiful Daughter that was afterwards Abbess of the said Monastery l. 6. p. 3 12. St. Wilfrid Bishop of York when he caused the Rule of St. Benedict to be observed in England l. 4. p. 167 168. Wilfrid Abbot chosen unanimously by Oswi's Great Council Bishop of Lindisfarne and how he came to lose it upon his refusing Consecration here at home l. 4. p. 190. Is sent into France to be ordained Id. p. 192. A great Contention between King Egfrid and him so that he was expell'd his Bishoprick Id. p. 196. He appeals to Rome and what the success thereof Id. p. 197. By his preaching converts the South-Saxons Id. p. 198. Receives of Ceadwallo as much Land in the Isle of Wight as maintain'd 300 Families Id. p. 203. Is recalled home by King Alfred and restored in a General Synod to his Sees of York and Hagulstad Id. p. 204 213. Is a second time expelled by Alfred and why Id. p. 205 206. Three times deprived the first time unjustly but whether so the other two is doubtful His Decease at Undale and Burial at Ripon in Yorkshire Id. p. 214 215. His Character Is the first Bishop in that Age that ever used Silver Plate Id. p. 215. An Account of his building the Monastery of Ripon l. 5. p. 350. The second Bishop of York of that name his Death l. 4. p. 224. Wilfrid or Wulfred consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury in the room of Ethelward deceased and the next year received his Pall l. 5. p. 248. Goes to Rome about the Affairs of the British Church Id. p. 251. His Death and the different Account who succeeded him Id. p. 255. William the Son of Robert Duke of Normandy by Harlotte his Concubine afterwards King of England to whom recommended whilst his Father made his Pilgrimage to Jerusalem l. 6. p. 54. When he began to reign in Normandy Id. p. 56. The great Battel at Vallesdune in Normandy upon his account Id. p. 74. His coming over into England and noble Reception here with Edward's promising to make him his Successor Id. p. 79. Takes the City of Man l. 6. p. 89. Sets Harold at liberty who was detained by the Earl of Ponthieu contracts Friendship with and betroths his Daughter to him Id. p. 92. Harold promises upon King Edward's death to deliver up Dover-Castle to him and procure his Succession to the Throne Id. Ib. Could have no pretence to the Crown of England by Blood Id. p. 96 97. His great Preparations to invade England and the reasons why first acquainting the Pope with his Design and receiving his Answer with the account of his craving Aid of his People and Neighbour Princes Id. p. 107 108 109. His coming over and landing at Pevensey and Preparations for a Battel but first sends a Monk to Harold with Proposals which he by no means would hearken to Id. p. 110 111. The manner how he drew up his Army in order to fight him Id. p. 112. By seeming to retreat he gets the Victory wherein Harold is slain Id. p. 212 213. Having got Harold's Standard which was curiously embroider'd he sends it to the Pope Id. p. 113. Sends Harold's Body as soon as it was found to his Mother Id. p. 114. Wills Last Vid. Testament Wilton near Salisbury supposed anciently to be Ellendune where a great Battel was fought between
for to manage r. who managed p. 39. l. 36. for then r. there p. 56. l. 16. d. after p 72. l. 15. for consecrated r. design'd p. 89. l. 10. for chief Standard-bearer r. Mareschal p. 96. l. penult for some years r. the year p 97. l. 9. for suspicious r. certain p. 110. l. 30. for Kings r. Dukes p. 113. l. 26. d. them ib. for not to shoot r. not to be shot p. 116. l. 20. for Ages r. Years Appendix to the former Addenda SOme things of moment having been casually omitted or mistaken I thought good to insert them here The Years of our Lord left out in the Margin by the Oversight of the Printers and not perceived till the Work was finish'd P. 132. l 32. in margin add Anno. Dom. CCCCLXXXVIII p. 174. l. 15. in marg add Anno Dom. DCXXVIII P. 80. l. 16. after Macrinus add within a Parenthesis being slain by the Army as was also his Predecessor p. 110. l 28. after Notes r. of the Learned Dr. Gale p 138. l. 42. after absence add but was here also slain And yet another Ancient Welsh Chronicle makes King Arthur to have died at Glastenbury of the Wounds he received in that Battel p. 179. l. 39. after Episcopal See add whom Pope Honorius sent into England to preach the Gospel to the East-Angles p. 181 l. 4. after Victory add But he was some years after esteemed a Saint and Martyr for the Christian Religion Oswin his Brother succeeded him and according to the Saxon Annals reigned 30 years p. 185. l. 45. after Winved add Anna was avenged p. 193. l. 26. after Easter add day and after fourteenth add day of the These words not being Bede 's are to be added to explain his meaning p. 195. l. 22. The Account of St. Erkenwald being repeated in the next Page may be here struck out And p 196. l. 16. after according to d. Bede and read it thus According to Mat. Westminster for Bede does not give us the time Archbishop Theodore c. consecrated Erkenwald younger Son to Anna King of the East-Angles Bishop c. p. 225. l. 45. over-against these words the City of Beban add in â—he margin now called Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland p. 232 l. 12. over-against Soccabyrig add in the margin now called Secburne in the Bishoprick of Durham p. 241. l 9. after buried r. thus and another Eanbald was consecrated in his stead Also the same year Bishop Ceolwulf died And then d the same words in that line p. 262. l 28. after Dignity add Though I conceive the truth of the story was That this anointing amounted to no more than the Chrism administred by the Pope at this young Prince's Confirmation which by the Monkish Writers of those times is magnified into a Royal Unction p. 311. l. 2 after Eadred add Vice-King or Alderman of c. p. 315. l. 24. after St. Oswaid add within a Parenthesis once King of Northumberland p. 317. l. 44. after Northumberland add Yet that the Britains of Cumberland were notwithstanding this Relation many years after still remaining in that Countrey as you may find in the next Book under Anno Dom 945. Book VI. p. 12 l 9 after Charter add commonly called Oswald's Law from St. Oswald the Bishop who is supposed to have procured it ib. in the margin over-against the word Charter add Vid. Sir H. Spelman's Councils Vol. 1. Anno Dom. 964. It is also found to be enrolled by Inspeximus in the Tower Vid. Chart 9. Edw. 3. n. 49. Chart. 4. Edw. 4. n. 4. p. 14 l. 31. after to pass add This King is also mentioned by William of Malmesbury to have made a Law for restraining excessive drinking by which it was ordained That no man under a great Penalty should drink at one draught below certain Pins which were order'd to be fix'd on purpose on the inside of the Cups or Goblets p. 25. l 48. after Countrey add Norway of which as John of Wallingford informs us he was then King p. 45. l. 40. after Almer d joined r. both which had then privately combined with and assisted the Danes underhand Vid. Append. 3. ad vit Alfredi Vid. Gorcelin in vit Grimbaldi Page 491. Edit Camden De Gest. Ponâ— lib. 2. Script Britan. Cent. 2. cap. 25. Vid. Hollinsheaâ— Lib. 1. Scotland's Soveraignty asserted p. 39 40. Lib. 1. fol. 23. Vid. Vol. 1. Script Ang. Edit Oxon. Florenc An. Dom. 921.943 Craig ubi supra p. 47. Pag. 545. Lib. 4. cap. 24. Idem pa. 41. Id. ibid. Id. p. 47. Vid. Dr. Stillingfleet Antiq. of the British Church Pref. pag. 39 40. Chap. 1. Lib. 1. c. 6. Dissert Cypr. 11. de paucitate Martyrum §. 75. Cap. 13. Lib. 1. Lib. 2. An. 1257. An. 794. De â—is Nominiâ—us vid. Pancirol ad Nâ—t imperii Occident Camden Brit. Vid. Pancirol in Notit Imperii The Heprarchy 1 st Kingdom 2 d. Kingdom 3 d. Kingdom 4 th Kingdom 5 th Kingdom 545. 6 th Kingdom 7 th Kingdom * De moribus Germanorum 32 Hen. VIII Cap. 1. Adam Bremens Hist. Eccles. Brem Hamburg cap. 5. ex Bibliothecâ Henric Ranzovii * Nithard p. 4. Vid. Mag. Charta C. 6. Merton C. 7. Bede Eccles. Hist. Li. 5. Cap. 12. Verstegan Chap. 3. pag. 68 69. Dr. Howell's General History Part. 4 Fol. 272. Id. ibid. 1. Kent Vid. Florence of Worcester 's Genealogy of the Kentish Kings at the end of his Chronicle pag. 689. and Will of Malmesâ—ury Lib. 1. p. 10 11. * Vide Saxon Annals Anno 901 902. Ibid. 2. South-Saxons 3. East-Saxons Bede Lib. 2. Cap. 5. Flor. Wig. pag. 690. Ibid. Cap. 12. 4. Northumbers Vid. The Genealogies of the Saxon Kings at the end of Florence of Worcester Lib. 1. Cap. 3. See Florence in the Place above cited Flor. Ibid. 5. East-Angles 6. Mercians * Florence Wig. p. 691. †Pag. 852. printed at the end of Script post Bedam ‖ Anno 758. * Page 26. Vid. Sir Henry Spelm. Coâ—cil Vol. 1. Anno 787. Lib. 1. Vid. Chronicon Saxonicum Anno DCCLV where his Pedigree is set down Vid. William Malm. Lib. p. 33. 7. West-Saxons * Vid. Rad. de Diceto Anno 593. Vid. Annal. Saxon. An. 611. * Lib. 1. cap. 2. * Vid. Flor. Wig. An. 666. and the Pedigree at the end of the 4 th Book ‖ Vid. William Malmesb. Lib. 1. pag. 13. * Flor. Hist. Anno 672. Vid. Annal. Saxon. Anno 693. * Vid. 1st Vol. of Sir Henry Spelman 's Councils as also the ensuing History Anno 755. Eâ—helwerdi Hist. Lib. 3. cap. 2. Fol. 292. Lib. 4. Cap. 1. Lib. 2. Cap. 1. Selden Tit. Hon. Fol. 502. last Edition The Division of England into Counties was much more antient than King Alfred Aelfredi Magnì Vita Fol. 82. Vid. Annal. Saxon. Flor. Wig. An. 636. * Flor. Hist. Anno 637. * Vid. Annal. Asserii Anno 855. pag. 56. edit per Doct. Gale De Gestis Aelfredi pag. 3. Vid. Testament Alfredi
vol. of Councils ad finem Spelm. Gloss. f. 225. col 1. 22 Edw. 3. f. 3. a. b. Observations on the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the Kings of England pag. 13 14 c. Tacit. de Morib German Cap. 11. Vid. Bede Eccl. Hist l. 2. c. 13. Hunting l. 3. f. 188. Vid. Spel. Concil ubicunque Mat. Westm. fol. 122 123. Spelm. Concil Vol. 1. Pag. 152 153. Ibid. fol. 182 183 c. Ibid. p. 189 190. Ibid. p. 194. Spelm. Concil p. 242 c. Spelm. Concil vol. 1. f. 291 292 c. Spelm. Concil 387 388. Spelm. Concil 390 c. Spelm. Concil 396 c. Spelm. Concil fol. 419 c. Lamb. Archaionomia f. 57. dein Id. fol. 62. Id. fol. 97. In vitâ Wilfridi cap. 11. edit per Rev. Dom. Dr. Gale fol. 46. Claudius A. 5. Bibl. Cotton Vitellius D. 17. Mat. Paris fol. 20. Lib. 1. de Pont. Vid. Ang. Sacra Vol. 1. Pag. 107. Vid. Lambard 's Perambâ—lat of Kent Pag. 340. Of the English Laws before the Conquest The Original of the Saxon Customary Laws 1. Merchen-Lage 2. West-Saxon-Lage 3. Dane-Lage The Civil Laws Dr. Brady's Compleat Hist. Fol. 66 67. Gavelkind Fol. 11. [1.] K. Edw. Sen. cap. 11. [2.] Gloss. in verbo Terrâ ex Scripto Bocland and Folkland what [3.] Spelm. Concil Fol. 310. An. 800. Concil Clovesho C. 2 3 6. [4.] Somner ut â—up pag. 12 13. [5.] LL. Aâ—uvid Cap. 37. Bocland and Allodium Compl. Hist. pag. 66 67. Pag. 603. Anno 994. Ingulph Hist. fol. 508. Vid. Camd. Brit. in Cantio Folkland Spelm. Gloss. â—it Folkland Tenants in Antient Demesne Cap. Breve de Recto Compleat Hist. fol. 67 68. Saxon Tenures Inland Utland or Outland * Lamb. Peramb Kent p. 495. 1 Edit Spelm. Gloss. in verb. †Gavelk p. 14 115. Spelm. Gloss. in verbo The Names of ordinary People Spelm. Gloss. in verb. F.N.B. p. 122. * The Original of Ecclesiast Jurisdict of Testaments set out by Dr. Littleton fol. 5. †Peramb Cant. p. 548. Selden ut sup fol. 15 16. cap. 1. * Canuti Leg. cap. 68. †Ejusdem Leg. cap. 68. ‖ De Moribus Germanorum * Canut Legibus cap. 75. †Leg. Edw. Confess cap. de Heretochiis * F. S Instit. de bonorum possessione Criminal part of the English Saxon Laws All Trials in Court-Leets Sheriffs-turn or County-Courts Mirror Cap. 5. Sect. 1. The Number of Jury-men to be Twelve LL. Sax. Lamb. Grand Jury K. Alured Concil Brit. fol. 492. Ordeal what and what 〈◊〉 Trial. Somn. Glossâ—r in verbo Ordeal LL. Longob lib. 1. tit 9. c. 39. Glanv lib. 14. cap. 1. in fine Fol. 79. See the Hist. Anno 1042. * De Praesul p. 89 90. LL. Aethelst Can. 23. Vita Roberti Archiep. Sacrilege De Gestis Pontificum l. 1. Sabaoth-breaking Adultery and Fornication Treason Coining and Clipping Murder Manslaughter Maiming c. Robbery and Burglary Trespasses Cap. 30. Perjury LL. Aethelst Cap. 12. LL. Canuti c. 5. Spec. Sax. l. 3. Art 53. LL. Edw. c. 18. Fines set and appointed by Law * Britan. Wiltshire p. 102. * P. 444 44â— * Vid. Britan. Dâ—scâ—ipt of Scotland Introduct to Britan. * Lib. III. c. 2. * Lib. II. c. 16. * Lib. I. c. 39. * 〈◊〉 II. c. 2. * Lib. VII c. 36. * Lib. II. Cap. 5. Cap. 2.3 4. * Lib. IV. â—iâ— â— Hist. Lib. IV. * Lib. III. * Cap. 2. Lib. LXIII Lib. XI Lib. XXXIII cap. 1. Lib. XVII c. 8. Cap. 35. Caesar Comment Lib. IV. Comment Lib. IV. * 'T is supposed by Mr. Somner to have been near Dover * Note the Roman Ensigns were then all Eagles tho afterwards they took the Figures of other Animals * i. e. that side which wa◠〈…〉 * Esseda a sort of open Waggons * Temo †Jugum * De Portiâ— Ictiâ— Anno ante Christ. LII Anno ante Christ. LII * i.e. A kind of an Arch made with their Shields clap'd câ—ose to each other like the back of a Tortoise from whence it had its Name Anno ante Christ. LII Anno ante Christ. LII * I shall not undertake to English thâ—se Names bâ—cause they are very â—ncertain Anno ante Christ. LII M. Anno ante Christ. XL. Anno ante Christ. XL. * Dâ—on Cas. l. 49. †Ibâ—d l. 23. Anno ante Chr. XIV * Geoff. Mon. †Dion ibid. ‖ Car. Lib. III. Od. 5. Coelo tonantem credidimus Iovem Regnare praesâ—ns divus habebitur Augustus adjectis Britannis Impâ—rio gravibusque Pâ—rsis Anno Dom. XIV * Suet. in Aug. Anno Dom. XXXVII †Sueton in Calig Anno Dom. XXXVII * Dion l. 15. †Suet. ibid. Anno Dom. XLIII * Lib. 60. Anno Dom· XLIII Anno Dom. XLIV †Sueton in Claudio Anno Dom. XLIV S. Anno Dom. XLIV Tacitus Annal. Lib. XIII c. 32. * A sort of petty triumph performâ—d on foot Sueton in Vespas An. XXV Id. Annal. Lib. XII c. 31. Anno Dom. XLIV Tacit. An. lib. 12. câ—p 32. †Ib. cap. 33. Anno Dom. XLIV Ib. cap. 36. Anno Dom. XLIV * As being the Daughter of Germanicus Tacit. An. lib. 12. cap. 38. 〈◊〉 c. 39. Anno Dom. XLIV Anno Dom. LV. Annal. XII Id. Ibid. Anno Dom. LV. History III. Annal. LXIII Ibid. c. 38. Anno Dom. LXIII Anno Dom. LXIII * Tacit. lib. 12. †Lib. LXII * In Vita Agric. cap. 14. †Annal. Lib. XIV Cap. 31 Anno Dom. LXIII Ibid. cap. 33. Tacit. Ibid. chap. 34. Anno Dom. LXIII * Ibid. ‖ Ibid. cap. 35. * Ibid. cap. 36. Anno Dom. LXIII †Tacit. c. 37. * Ibid. cap. 39. Anno Dom. LXIII * Cap. â—◠†Ibid. Anno Dom. LXIX * Cap â— Anno Dom. LXIX * Chap. III. Anno Dom. LXIX Anno Dom. LXIX * Ibid. Anno Dom. LXX †Tacit. Hâ—stor Lib. II. c. â— 5 Id. vâ—t Agricolae 〈◊〉 1â— Anno Dom. LXX Anno Dom. LXXI Tacit. vi a Agritol 17. Anno Dom. LXXVII Anno Dom. LXXVIII Ibid. cap. 19. Anno Dom. LXXVIII Anno Dom. LXXIX Ibid. cap. 10. Ib. c. 20. Anno Dom. LXXIX †Ibid. cap. 22. Anno Dom. LXXX Anno Dom. LXXXI * Ibid. cap. 24. Anno Dom. LXXXII Anno Dom. LXXXII Anno Dom. LXXXIII †Ibid. cap. 24. * Ibid. cap. 26. Anno Dom. LXXXIII * Ibid. cap. 27. †Ibid. cap. 28 29. Anno Dom. LXXXIV Anno Dom. LXXXIV Ibid. c. 30 31 30. Galgacus his Spâ—â—ch to the Britains ‖ Ibid. c. 33 34. Anno Dom. LXXXIV The Substance of Agricola 's Speâ—ch Ib. cap. 36. Anno Dom. LXXXIV Ibid. 38. Ib. 38. Anno Dom. LXXXIV Ib. ch 39. Dion lib. 67. Ib. c. 40. Anno Dom. LXXXIV Anno Dom. LXXXV Ibid. 41 42. Anno Dom. LXXXV Domitian As I find it Elegantly translated in Mr. Dryden 's Juvenal lib. 1. Sat. 4 v. 12â— Anno Dom. LXXXII Anno Dom. XCVI Anno Dom. XCVIII De Ecâ—les Brit. Antiquitat Anno Dom. XCVII Dâ—on Lib. 68. Anno Dom. CXX Spartian in Adriano Anno Dom. CXXXVIII Anno Dom.
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
154. When the See remained void for four years l. 4. p. 189. The Ancient Power of the Archbishop of this See as Governor of the Church of England when under the Power of the Pope in Ecclesiastical Matters l. 4. p. 209 210. The City is burnt Id. p. 226 228. The Violence done to it by removing the See from thence to Litchfield Id. p. 234 235. Is restored to its ancient Rights which it had been deprived of by King Offa's taking away all its Lands which lay within the Kingdom of Mercia Id. p. 229 235. By the See of Litchfield's being made an Archbishoprick no more were under this Jurisdiction than the Bishops of London Winchester Rochester and Shireburne Id. p. 235. Forbid on pain of Damnation if not repented of for any one hereafter to violate the Rights of this Ancient See l. 5. p. 248. Is taken by the Danes who then routed Beorthwulf the King of the Mercians and his whole Army Id. p. 261. And is retaken by the Lady Aethelfleda with the Assistance of the King her Brother wherein a great many Danes were killed Id. p. 320. Humbly beseeches a Peace of the Danes which at the Price of Three thousand Pounds is concluded l. 6. p. 33. Is besieged again and taken by the Treachery of the Danes Id. p. 35 36. Caractacus and Togodumnus the Sons of Kynobelin overcome by the Romans l. 2. p. 39. His Engagement with Ostorius Scapula and the Success of it Id. p. 42 43. Though he was taken Prisoner yet his Fame was celebrated as far as Italy Id. p. 43. His Manly Procession at Rome and the Noble Speech he made to Caesar His Pardon and Acknowledgment Id. p. 44. Caradoc or Cradoc Son to Gryffin Prince of South-Wales his barbarous Cruelty and Ill Usage both of the House of Harold Earl of West-Saxony and of his Servants l. 6. p. 93. Carausius a man of mean Parentage who through all Military degrees advanced himself to be Governor of Bononia now Buloigne c. takes on him the Imperial Purple and makes Maximilian to conclude a Peace and yield him up Britain making the Picts his Confederates l. 2. p. 83. Repairs the Pict's-Walls with Castles c. and at last is slain by the Treachery of Allectus Id. p. 84. Carehouse in Northumberland supposed to be Caere in the time of the Saxons l. 4. p. 215. Careticus succeeds Malgo in the Kingdom of the Britains His Character l. 3. p. 148. Carlisle built by Leil in the days of Solomon l. 1. p. 10. Was afterwards by the Romans called Lugubalia Ib. l. 2. p. 66. Carron a River which had its name from Carausius where it is l. 2. p. 84. Carrum now Charmouth in Dorsetshire where a Battel was fought between Egbert and the Danes and the latter kept the field l. 5. p. 256. Another Battel sought there between Ethelwulf and the Danes Id. p. 259. Cartismandua Queen of the Brigantes to whose fidelity Caractacus having committed himself she delivered him up bound to the Roman Victors l. 2. p. 43. Despises her Husband Venutius and a Civil War arising between them the issue of it Id. p. 45 46. Carus Marc. Aurel succeeds Probus in the Empire and invading the Persians dies suddenly l. 2. p. 83. He created his Son Carinus Caesar and gave him the Charge of Britain and the rest of the Western Provinces Is slain by Dioclesian Ibid. Cassibelan by his worthy Demeanour so wrought upon the people that he easily got the Kingdom for himself l. 1. p. 16. But he was not sole King of this Island only a small Inland Prince l. 2. p. 33. In his Reign Caesar landed in Britain but he engaging with him and his Romans was forced to submit to Caesar and to give him Hostages l. 1. p. 19. l. 2. p. 33 34 35. After the departure of the Romans he is said to reign ten years which time he spent in taking revenge on the Citâ—es and States that had revolted from him during his Wars with Caesar Id. p. 36. Cassiterides these Western Islands were so called by the Greeks l. 1. p. 2 3. Castinus sent into Spain by Honorius against the Vandals l. 2. p. 105. Castor the Worthiest Man in Severus his Court and Chief of his Bed-Chamber the same as Lord-Chamberlain with us l. 2. p. 75. Castra Exploratorum a place in Cumberland l. 2. p. 81. Cataract a fair City in Yorkshire burnt by Beornred the Mercian Tyrant l. 4. p. 229. Cattle that are brought into a Town and said to be found how to be disposed of and who to have the Custody of them l. 6. p. 103. Caedda is consecrated Bishop of Litchfield l. 4. p. 189 195. Renews his Ordination according to the Catholick Rites Id. p. 191. Is deprived of his Bishoprick as being unduly elected Id. p. 192. His Death and Character called by us at this day St. Chad Id. p. 193. Ceadwalla Vid. Cadwallo with whom he is confounded as he is also with Cadwallader l. 3. p. 145. l. 4. p. 204. Subdues the Petty Princes of the West-Saxons and takes the Kingdom to himself according to Bede Id. p. 193. Succeeds to the Kingdom of the West-Saxons after the death of Kentwin He was the Grandson of Ceawlin by his Brother Cutha Id. p. 202. Subdues the Isle of Wight and gives the fourth part of his Conquests to God Id. p. 203. He and Moll his Brother waste Kent l. 4. p. 203 204. Goes to Rome and is there baptized by Pope Sergius by the name of Peter but dies soon after and is buried in the Church of St. Peter Id. p. 204 205. Ceawlin and Cutha fight with and drive Ethelbert into Kent l. 3. p. 145 146. And Cuthwi kill three other Kings and take there three Cities Id. p. 145. Fights against the Britains and takes away several Towns from them but is driven out of his Kingdom after one and thirty years reign His Banishment and Character Id. p. 147 148. His Death in Exile Id. p. 149. Vid. Cuthwulf Ceawlin King of the West-Saxons and Ethelfrid fight with Adian wherein Cutha Ceawlin's Son is slain l. 4. p. 159. Ceawlin the second King of the West-Saxons that ruled over all Britain l. 5. p. 254. Cedda ordained a Bishop over the Nation of the East-Saxons l. 4. p. 184. Baptizes Swidhelm King thereof in the Province of the East-Angles Id. p. 189. Cendrythe an Abbess is forced to make satisfaction to Archbishop Wilfrid for the wrongs that King Kenwulf her Father had done to the Church of Canterbury l. 5. p. 253. The same with Quendride where see more of her Cenered King of Mercia or Southumbers succeeds Ethelred by his own appointment who himself resigned and turned Monk l. 4. p. 207 212. Cenwall or Cenwalch succeeds his Father Cynegils in the Kingdom of the West-Saxons and being soon after driven out of it by Penda King of the Mercians he retires to Anna King of the East-Angles and there receives Baptism l. 4. p. 181.