tortured them to discover where their Treasures were broke up all the Tombs pillaged and burnt the Abby with all the Edifices thereof leaving it a meer ruinous heap then marching on laying all the Country waste before them with fire and Sword sparing neither person age nor sex they cast down burnt destroyed and levelled to the Ground the goodly Monasteries of Bradney Peterborough Huntingdon Ely with sundry others murthering as well all the Monks as Nuns therein which their merciless Swords after they had first polluted them To avoid whose barbarous rape Ebba Abbess of Coldingham and her Nuns by her example and perswasion cut off their upper Lips and Noses to deform themselves to their lascivious eyes which bloody Spectacle preserved their Chastity from their Lust but not their Monasterie or bodies from their Cruelty they burning them and their Nunnery to Ashes After which the same year Inguar and Hubba marched against St. Edmund who in the year 855. was chosen King of the East-Saxons Ab omnibus Regionis illius magnatibus et populis by all the Noblesâ— and People of that Realm being sprung from the antient Royal blood of the Saxons and compelled to take the Government on him much against his will being then but 13 years old and consecrated King by Bishop Humbert in the Royal Town called Bury The reason of their malice to this King as some of our Historians write was this that he was maliciously accused to have murthered their Father Lothbroc driven by a sudden storm in a small boat into England as he was hawking at Fowl by this Kings Faulkoner who having murthered himself out of meer malice was by judgement of the Knights and Lawyers banished the Realm and put alone into Lothbrocs Boat without Oâ—re or Sails for murthering him and so sent to Sea being driven in it into Denmark to excuse himself he maliciouslie accused the King of this Murther to these his Sons Who thereupon invaded England with an Army to revenge their Fathers death And the Reason why they at this time so extraordinarily prevailed aâ—d over-run the Land was the Civil Discords Wars and Emulations amongst the Saxon kings who either out of Malice or Ambition to advance their own Dominion or base unworthy fears would rather induce these common Enemies to over-run them than assist one another against them which William of Malmesburie thus expresseth Meminerit interea lector quod interim Reges Merciorum et Northanimbrorum captata occasione â—dventus Danorum quorum bellis Ethelredus iâ—sudabat a servitio West-Saxonum respirantes dominaâ—ionem suam penè asseruerant Ardebant ergo cunctae saevis popularibus provinciae unusquisque Regum inimicos magis in suis sedibus sustinere quam compatrioâ—is Laborantibus opem porrigere curabat Ita dum maluit vindicare quam praevenire injuriam socordiâ suâ exanguem reddiderunt Patriam Dani sine obstaculo succressere dum et provincialibus timor incresceret et proxima quaeq victoria per additamentum Captiâ—orum instrumentum sequentis fieret c. Northanimbri jamdudâ—m civilibus dissentionibus â—luctuantes adventante hoste correxerunt discordiam Itaque Osbirthum Regem quem expulerant in solium reformaâ—tes magnosque moliti paratus obviam procâ—dunt sed facilè pulsi infra Urbem Eboracum se includunt quâ mox à victoribus succensâ cum laxos crines effusior flamma produceret tota depascens maenia ipsi quoque conflagrati patriam ossibus texêre suis Mercii non semel obtriti obsidatu miserias suas levaverunt At vero Ethelredus multis laboribus infractus obiit Orientalium Anglorum pagi cum urbibus et vicis à praedonibus possessi Rex eorum sanctus Edmundus ab eisdem interemptust Anno Dominicae Incarnationis 870. 12 Calendas Decembris temporaneae mortis compendio regnum emit aeternum The manner of King Edmunds Martyrdom Historians thus relate An. 870. Hinguar King of the Danes invading King Edmunds Realm with a great Power sent a Messenger to King Edmund to demand the half of his Treasure and Wealth and that he should hold his Realm under him threatning otherwise to waste his Kingdom and extirpaâ—e him and his Pâ—ople Sed nimis fraudulentèr Hinguar thesauros exigebat qui Clementissimi Regis caput potius quam pecuntas sitiebat writes Matthew Westminster Where upon Bishop Humbeâ—t advising him to fly â—rom the Danes who approached with their forces towards him to save his life The King wisheâ— Would to God that I might preserve the lives of my Subjects for whom I desire to lay down my life for this is my chiâ—fest wish that I may not survive my faithfull Subjects and most dear friends which this Cruâ—l Pirate hath thâ—evishly slain neither will I stain my glory by slâ—ght who never yet sustained the reproaches of Waâ—re The Heavenly King also is my Witness that no fear of the Barbarians shall separate me from the Love of Christ whether living or dead Then turning to the Messenger of Hinguar he said Thou art worthy to suffer the punishment of death being wâ—t with the blood of my people But imitating the example of my Christ If it should so happen I am not afraid willingly to die for them Return therefore speedily to thy Master and carry my answers to him Although thou takest away my Treasures and riches whiâ—h the Divine Clemency hath given me by thy power yet thou shalt never subject me to thy infidelity for it is an honest thing to defend perpetual liberty together with purity of Religion for which also if there be need we think it not unprofitable to die Therfore as thy proud cruâ—lâ—y hath begun after the servants slaughter cut thou the Kings throatâ— because the King of Kings seeing these things will translate me into Heaven there to reign eternally The Messenger departing the King commanded his Souldiers to run to their Arms aâ—firmingâ— that it was a worthy thing to fight both for their Faith and Country leâ—t they shouâ—d prove deâ—erâ—ers of their Realm and betrayers of the people And being incouraged by Bishop Humbert his Nobles and fellow Souldiers he marched against the Enemy and near Thedford fought a bloody battel with the Danes from morning to night the place being all dyed red with the blood of the slain Aâ— which grievoâ—â—â—ight King Edmund was much grieved not only for the great slaughter of his own Soâ—ldiors â—ightâ—ing for their Country native liberty the faith of Iesus Christ so alreâ—dy â—rouned with Mâ—rtyrdome But likewise for the death of the Barbarous Infidels sent down to Hell in great numbers which he overmuch lamented After which battel retiring to Hegelsdun with his forces that were left he immutably resolved in his mind never to fight battel with the Enemies more saying only this that it was necessary that he alone should die for the People and not the whole Nation perish Soon after Hinguars Army being recruted by the access of Hubba to
and other Officers nor burâ—hened with unjust Exactions or Contributions Yea by his large Aâ—mes and Giâ—â—s he â—ent to Rome â— he procured the English School to be fréed from all Taxes and Tributes by the Popes special Bull. And we never read he imposed the least publick Tax upon his Subjects during all his wars and Exigences by his own Regal Power upon any pretext of publick Necessity Danger Defence or Safety of the Realm against the Numerous Invading plundering Danish forces both by Sea and Land Which our late and present Aegyptian Tax-masters may do well to consider In the year of our Lord 894. this King Alfred and Guthurn the Dane gave to the Church of St. Cutbert in Durham all the Lands between Weor and Tyne for a perpetual Succession free from all Custome and secular Services with all Customes Saca and Socua and infaugtheof thereunto belonging with sundry other Privileges which they ordained to be perpetually observed Non solum Anglorum sed et Danorum consentiente et collaudante exercitu by the consent and approbation of the ARMY not only of the English but Danes also Has Leges haec Statuta which proves that it was done by a Parliamentary Counsell then held in both their Armies Quicunque quolibet nisu Infringere praesumpserint eos in perpetuum nisi emendaverint Gehennae Ignibus puniendos anathematizando Sententia omnium contradidit I pretermit the Welsh Synods held under the Bishops of Landaff during King Alfreds Reign as Sir Henry Spelman conjectureâ— in whom thâ— Reader may peruse them wherein the Bishop of Landaff and his Clergy excommunicated some of their petty Welsh Kings for Murder Perjury violating the Churches Patrimony and Injuring the Bishops family who upon their Repentance and Reconciliation gave all of them some parcels of Land to the Church of Landaff The rather because I conceive them fabulous there being no such form of Excommunication used in those daies as Sir Henry Spelman proves nor any such Episcopal Synods held in England under King Alfred himself The barbarous Danes having throughout all England with fire and sword utterly wasted and destroyed all Cities Towns Castles Monasteries Churches put most of the Bishops Abbots Clergy to the Sword and almost quite deleted the knowledge of Learning and Religion out of the whole Nation insomuch that there were very few spiritual persons on this side Humber who could either understand the Common prayers in the English tongue or translate any writing out of latine into English yea so few that there was not so much as one man on the South-side of the Thames that could do it till King Alfred after his Conquest of the Danes in the latter part of his Reign restored Learning and Religion â—gain by Degrees as this King himself records in expresse terms in his Epistle to Bishop Wulsug by way of Preface to his own Translation of Gregories Pastorals into the English Saxons Language King Alfred deceasing his Son Edward surnamed the Elder succeeding his Father in the year of Christ 901 thereupon Prince Aethelwald his Uncles Son aspiring to the Crown without the consent of the King and Nobles of the Realm seised upon Oxlie and Winburne whereupon King Edward marching with his Armie against him to Bath he fled from Winburne to the Danes in Northumberland for assistance who being glad thereof they all make him King and Prince over all their Kings and Captains Whereupon they invading Essex and Mercia King Ed. raised a great Army chased them into Northumberland and harrowed the whole Country to the Lakes of Northumberland where the Kentishmen remaining contrary to the Kings Command and Messengers sent to them after the retreat of the rest of the Army The Danish Army upon this advantage setting upon them they gallantly defending themselves slew their new King Aethelwald with King Eorit and sundry of their chief Commanders and many of their Souldiers though they lost the field This King and Edelfled his Sister Queen of Mercians to prevent the frequent eruptions plunders the Danes repaired many old ruinated Towns and built many new ones in convenient places which they replenished with Souldiers to protect the Inhabitants and repell the Enemies whereby the Common people weâ—e so incouraged and became such good Souldiers that if they heard of the Enemies approach they would fight and rout them Rege etiam Ducibus inconsultis in certamen ruerent eisque semper numero scientia praeliandi praeâ—â—arent it a hostes contempâ—ni militibus Regi risui erant as Malmesbury writes The Country people themselves sighting with the Danes at Ligetune put them to flight recovered all the prey they had takenâ— and likewise the Danes Horses as they likewise did in some other parts Amongst other places this King repaired the walls of Colchester put warlike men in it certum eis stipendium assignavit and assigned them a certain stipend as Matâ— Westm. records neither he nor other our Historians making mention of assigned wages to any other Garrisons or Souldiers in that age At last the Danes in most places throughout England perceiving King Edwards power and wisdom submitted themselves unto him elected him for their King and Patâ—on and swore homage and fealty to him as likewise did the Kings of Scotland Northumberland and Wales In the year of Grace 905. This King Edward assembled a Synod of the Senators of the English Nation as Malmesbury or a great Council of Bishops Abbots and faithfull people as Matthew Westminster and others sâ—ile it in the Province of the Gewisii which by reason of the Enemies incursions had been destitute of a Bishop for 7 years space Whereupon the King and Bishops in this Council taking good advice made this wholsom constitution That instead of 2 Bishops whereof one had his Sea at Winchester the other at Schireburn 5 Bishops should be created ne Grex Domini absque cura Pastorali luporum incursionibus quateretur Whereupon they in this Council elected 5 Bishops to wit Frithstan for Winchester Athelin for Schireburn Aedulâ—e for Wells Werstan for Crideton and Herstan for Cornwal assigning them their several Sees and Diocess and two other â—ishops â—or Dorchester and Cirencester all consecrated by Archbishop Plegmond at Câ—nterbury in one day Wil. of Malmesb. and some others write that this Council was summoned upon the Letter of Pope Formosus who excommunicated king Edward with all his Subjects for suffering the Bishopricks of Winton and Scireburn to be void for 7 years space together But this must needs be a great mistake since Pope Formosus was dead ten years before this Council and before these Bishopricks became void and his pretended Epistle to the Bishops of England makes no mention at all of the king as Sir Henry Spelman well observes In the year 906. king Edward made a Peace and firm agreement with the Danes of Northumberland and East-England at Intingford when as some think he and
his Predecessors and defrauded the Kingdom of them They adde hereunto that King Edrid had committed all his chief Houshold-stuff Plate Records and tâ—e Treasures of all the Realm with all the Magazines he had gotten to Dunstans custody and laid â—hem up in â—he Monastery at Glastonbury yea he committed his Kingdom body and Soul unto him So as all was wholly in Dunstans power who alone managed all the publick affairs of the Realm and exercised Regal Authority And when King Edred in his sicknesse demanded all his Housholdstuff Jewels Monies and Treasures from him Dunstan pretending to fetch them before he returned with them Dustan heard a voice as our Monkish Writers fable that Edred was dead in the Lord and thereupon detained them in his and his Monks custody being unwilling to part with them to young King Edwin his Successor whereupon he seised on them by force as of righâ— belonging to him and expelled Dunstan with his Monks And so much the rather because Dunstan presumed most impudently and violently to rush into his Bed-chamber and pull him out forcibly thence on the very day of his Coronation contrary to all Christian and Princely â—odesty from the embraces of his beautifull and beloved Alfgina which some Monks and these Historians report to be his lawfull wife â—not his Concubine and not content therewith he excited Odo Archbishop of Canterbury publickly to divorce her from him some say for consanguinity only and others for other Reasons Whereupon the king betaking himself to his Concubines Odo suspended him from the Church excommunicated all his Concubines caused one of them whom the king best affected to be violently fetched out of the Court with armed Men branded her in the forehead with an hot Iron and then banished her into Ireland After which she returning into England Odo apprehended her the second time and cut off her Sinews at the Hock-bone All which intollerable Affronts so incensed Edwin that he banished and spoyled Dunstan with his Monks as aforesaid and threatned Odo with severe punishments none others in the Realm but these daring then to oppose him hereupon they formerly and then bearing the greatest sway by way of revenge and to preveut Edwins further fury against them stirred up the Mercians and Northumbrians to reject him and that in a tumultuous manner by force of Arme in which Uproar Edgar gained possession of half his Kingdom Matthew Parker and Sir Henry Spelman out of him subjoyns that by these civil dissentions raised between King Edwin and his Brother Edgar they much weakned the forces of the Realm in many set Battels fought between them till at last Edgar getting the better Convocato ad Branfordiam Regni concilio Fratris Edwini acta et decreta rescendit Assemblong a Council at Brandford he repealed all the Acts and Decrees of his Brother King Edwin restored to the Churches and Monasteries the Treasures he had taken from them recalled Dunstan from his former banishment and made him first Bishop of Worcester then of London and last of all of Canterbury Henry de Knyghton a Canon of the Abbey of Leicester relates out of the History of Leicester Abbey That Edwin being expulsed and shamefully thrust out of his kingdom for his evil life and exorbitant actions done against the Church the Monarchy of England continued void above a year Whereupon many murders and wickednesses were committed and infinite mischiefs happened amonst the people for want of Government until holy men both of the Clergy and People deeply affected therewith humbled themselves and uncessantly repented of their sins and prayed day and night to God that he would hear them and mercifully relieve them in so great necessity giving them such a King who might govern the Realm of England in such sort as might redound to the honour of God and profit of the Realm That God beholding their prayers from on high in the night silence this voice was heard from God That they should crown Edgar King though but then a youth who rejoyced with this Divine Oracle most likely by the Monks and Dunstans Legerdemain the Divine Oracle that uttered it speedily advanced Edgar to be King being but 16 years old and so he was elected and crowned King by a divine Oracle which never hapned to any King of England in former times Upon Edgars Coronation and Dunstans restitution An. 959. K. Edwin reigning in a decayed Estate living in little Esteem and wiâ—hout being desired for very grieâ— thereof as some write he died after he had for 4 years space Libidinosiè simul Tyrannicè lustfully and also Tyrannically depressed the Realm of England Others aâ—firm that he was deprived both of his Life and Kingdom by the Rebellion of his Subjects But his Monkish Oâ—posiâ—es record that he was taken away by an untimely Death by Gods Iust Iudgement in the year of our Lord 959. Whereupon his Brother Edgar ab omni populo electus being elected king by all the people united the kingdom into one and obtained the intire Monarchy of the Realm the kings of Cumberland Scotland and Wales â— voluntarily submitting and doing homage to him without any effusion of blood or war King Edgar About the year of our Lord 963. contrived the death of Earl Ethelwald who as some Authors aver against his trust had cheated him of Elfrida only Daughter of Ordgarus Duke of Devonshire the Paragon of her Sex by disparaging her beauty to the king and marrying her to himself After which the king being extraordinarily ravished with the true reporr and sight of her transcendent beauty thereupon as Bromtons Chronicle relates statim post octo dies Rex Parliamentum suum apud Sarisberiam convocavit Ubi cunctis suis Proceribus congregatis de custodia terrae Northumbriae qualiter contra ingressum Danorum melius posset custodiri tractaverunt inter quos Ethelwolfus ad Custodiam Eboraci patriae adjacentis in illo erat Concilio deputatus A clear Evidence That Matters of defence against Common Enemies and Guardians of the Sea-coasts against the Danes Invasions were then debated and setled by the King and his Nobles in Parl. then usually summoned by our Kings for that end Hereupon Earl Ethelwolfe travelling through the Forrest of Werewell towards his new VVardship was there cruelly assaulâ—ed and murdered by some unknown armed perâ—ons there placed in ambuscado by the king as was commonly reported and as some relate by king Edgar himself who shot him through with an Arrow as they were there hunting together The slain Earls Bastard-Son being â—here present beholding his dead Corps the king demanded of him how such a hunting pleased him who answered very well my Lord and King for that which pleaseâ—h you ought not to displease me which answer â—o pacified this kings swelling mind that he loved no person more entirely all his life than this Young man Tyrannici facti offensam in Patrem sedulitate Regiâ in filium allevans writes
bloud of their Neighbours and Friends was to be revenged Where upon Swain a cruel man prone to shed bloud animated to revenge by his Messengers and Letters commanded all the Warriers of his Kingdom and charged all the souldierâ— in â—orein Regions greedy of gain to assist him in this expedition against the English which they cheerfully did he having now a fairer shew to do foully than ever wrong having now made him a right of invasion who had none before Anno 1003. King Swain ariving with a great Navy and Army in England by the negligence and treachery of one Hugh a Norman whom Qâ—een Emma had made Earl of Devonshire took and spoyled the City of Exeter rased the wall thereof to the ground and burnt the City to ashes returning with a great prey to his ships leaving nothing behind them but the ashes After which wasting the Province of Wiltshire a strong Army congregated out of Hamshire and Wiltshire went wiâ—h a resolution manfully and constantly to fight with the Enemy but when both Armies were in view of each other ready to joyn battel Earl Edric their General a constant Traytor to his Country and secret friend to the Danes feigned himself to be very sick and began to vomit so that he could not possibly fight Whâ—re upon the Army seeing his slothfulness and fearfullness departed most sorroâ—full from â—heir Enemies without â—ighting being disheartned by the Cowardise of their Captain Which Swane perceiving he marched to Wilton and Sarisbery which he took pillaged and burnt to the ground returning with the spoil to his Ships in triumph The next year Swane to whom God had designed the kingdom of England as some old Historians write sailing with his Fleet to Norwich pillaged and burnt it to the ground Whereupon Ulfketel Duke of east-East-England â— man of great valour seeing himself surprized and wanting time to raise an Army to resist the Danes cum Majoribus East-Angliae habito Consilio taking Counâ—el â—ith the Great men of East England made peace with Swane which he treacherouâ—ly breaking within three weeks after suddenly issuing out of his ships surprized pillaged and burnt Thetford to the ground and covering the Câ—untry like Locusts spoyled all things and slaughtered the Country-men without resistance Which Duke Ulfketel being informed of commanded some of his Country-men to break his ships in pieces in his absence from them which they not dared or neglected to do and he in the mean time raising an Army with as much speed as he could boldly marched against the Enemy retuâ—ning with great booties to their Ships where after a long and sharp incounter on both sides the English being over-powered by the multitude of the Danes were totally roâ—ted and all the Nobles of East-England there slain in their Countries defence who fought so valiantly that the Danes confessed they had never an harder or sharper battel in Eâ—gland than this The great loss the Danes sustained in it though they got the â—ield and an extraordinary â—amine in England the year following greater than any in the memory of man caused Swane to return into Denmark to refresh and recruit his Army King Ethelred quit of these Enemies Anno 1006 deprived Wulfgate the Son of Leonne whom he had loved more than all men of his â—ossessions and all his honours propter injusta judicia for his unjust judgements and proud works and likewise commanded the eyes of the two Sons of that Arch-Trait or Edric Streona to be put out at Cocham where he kept his Courâ— because Edric had treacherously inticed a bloody Butcher Godwin Porthound whom he corrupted with great gifts to murder the Noble Duke Althelin at Scoborbyrig as he was hunting whom Edric purpâ—sâ—ly invited to a Feast that he might thus treacherously murder him While these things were acting in the month of Iuly the Danes returning with an innumerable Navy into England landing at Sandwich consumed all things with fire and sword taking great booties sometimes in Sussex sometimes in Kent Whereupon King Ethelred gathered a great Army out of Mercia and the West-parts of England resolving valiantly to fight with the Daâ—es who declining any open fight and returning to their Ships landed sometimes in one place sometimes in another and so pillaging the Country returned with the booty to the Ships before the English Army could encounter them which they vexed all the Autumn in marching after them from place to place to no purpose The English Army returning home when Winâ—et began to approach the Danes with an extraordinary booty sayled to the Isle of Wight where they continued till the Feast of Chriâ—ts Nativity which Feast they turned into sorrow For then they marching into Hampshire and Berkeshire pillaged and burnt down Reading Wallingford Colesey Essington and very many Villages Quocunque enim peragâ—bant quae parata erant hilariter comedentes cum discederent in retribuâ—ionem procurationis reddebant hospiti caedem hospitio flammam as Huntindon Bromton and others story As they were returning another way to their ships with their booty they found the Inhabitants ready to give them battel at Kenet whom the Danes presently fighting with and routing returned wiâ—h triumph to their ships enriched with the new sâ—oils of the routed English King Ethelred lying all this time in Shropshire unable to resist the Danes Anno 1007. cum Consilio Primatum suorum as Florentius Wigorniensis Simeon Dunelmensis Polycâ—ronicon and others express it by the Counsel of his Nobles sent Messengers to the Danes â— commanding them to tell them quod sumptus et Tributum illis dare vellent that they wouâ—d give â—hem Coâ—ts and Tribute upon this Condition That they should desist from rapines and hold a firm peace with them to which request they consentedâ— and from that time Costs were given them and a Tribute paid them of thirty six thousand pounds out of aâ—l England Henry Hunâ—iâ—don Brâ—mton thus relaâ—e the business Rex et Senatus Anglorum dubii quid agerent quid omitterent communi deliberatione gravem conventioneÌ„ cum exercitu fecerunt ad pacis observationeÌ„ 36000 mil. librar ei dederunt A clear evidence that this Agreement and Peace was made and money granted and raised in England by common advice consent in Parliament or Council Inâ—renduit Anglia toâ—a velut arundinem Zephiro vibrante collisum Unde Rex Ethelredus confusione magna consternatus pecunia pacem ad tempus quam armis non potuit adquisivit writes Matthew Westminster Rex Anglorum Ethelredus pro bono pacis Tributum 36 mil. librarum persâ—lvit Dacis as Radulphus de Diceto words it After which the King this year made Edric aforementioned Duke of Mercia and that by the Providence of God to the destruction of the English a man of base parentage but extraordinary crafty eloquent witty and unconstant surpassing all of that age in envy perfidiousness pride cruelty and Treason who
King himself 7. That no Subject could then by law wage battel against the King in an Appeal 8. That the murther of Prince Alfred then heir to the Crown in the time of Harold an actuall King by usurpation without any good title by his command was reputed a treasonable offence in Earl Godwin for which he forfeited his lands and was forced to purchase his pardon and lands restitution with a great fine and summe to the King 9. That though the Author of the Chronicle of Bromton Caxton out of him â—tâ—le this Assembly PARLIAMENTUM a Parliament not a COUNCIL yet it is onely according to the style of the age wherein he writ being in the reign of King Edward the third as Mr. Selden proves not according to the dialect of the age wherein it was held to which the term Parliamentum was a meer stranger and CONCILIUM MAGNUM c. the usual name expressing such Assemblies King Edward Anno 1643. immediately after his Coronation came suddenly from Glocester to Winchester attended with Earl Godwin Siward and Leofric and by their advice forcibly took from his Mother Queen Emma all her gold silver jewels and precious stones and whatever rich things else she possessed commanding onely necessaries to be administred to her there The cause of which unjust act some affirm to be Godwins malice towards her others affirm it to be her unnaturalnesse to King Ethelred her first husband and her own sons by him Alfred and Edward In loving and marrying Cnute their enemy and supplanter when living and applauding him when dead more then Ethelred In advancing Harde-Cnute her â—on by him to the Crown and endeavouring to deprive Alfred Edward thereof In refusing to give any thing toward Prince Edw his maintenance whiles in exâ—le and distresse although he oft requested her to supply his necessities In having some hand in the murther of Prince Alfred and endeavouring to poyson King Edward himself as the Chronicle of Bromton relates After which by the instigation of Robert Archbishop of Canterbury a Norman born he againe spoiled her of all she had and shut her up prisoner in the Abbey of Werwel upon suspition of incontinency with Alwin Bishop of Winchester from which false imputation she purged her self and the Bishop by passing barefoot over nine red hot ploughshares without any harm Whereupon the King craved mercy and pardon from her for the infamy and injury done unto her for which he was disciplined and whipped by his Mother and all the Bishops there present Anno 1044. There was GENERALE CONCILIUM CELEBRATUN a General Council held at London wherein Wolmâ—r was elected Abbot of Evesham And this year King Edward DE COMMUNI CONCIDIO PROCERUM SUORUM as Bromton and others write moâ—t likely when assembled in the Council at London married Edith daughter of Earl Godwin in patrocinium regni sui he being the moâ—t potent man in all the Realm there being in her breast a magazine of all liberall vertues And this same year most probable by this same Councils Edict Gunilda a noble Matron King Câ—ute's sisters daughter with her two sons Hemming and Thurkell were banished out of England into Flanders from whence after a little stay they departed into Denmark King Edward in the year 1045. assembled together to the port of Sandwich a very numerous and strong Navy against Magnus King of Norway purposing to invade Engl. But Swane King of Denmark then warring upon him hindered his voyage for Englaâ—d The next year 1046. Osgodus Clapa was banished out of England Swanâ— King of Denmark Anno 1047. sent Ambassadours to King Edward desiring him to send a Navy to him agaiâ—st Magnus King of Norway Hereupon Earl Godwin counselled the King to send him at least fifty ships furnished with souldiers Sed quia Leofrico comiti ET OMNI POPULO id non vidâ—batur consilium CAETERI PROCERES DISSUASERUNT nullum ei mittere voluit But because that Council seemed not good to Earl Leofric and all the people and the rest of the Nobles disswaded him from it he would send no ships to him Magnus furnished with a great Navy fought with Swane and after a great slaughter on both sides expelled him out of Denmark reigned in it and compelled the Danes to pay him a great Tribute Harold Harvager King of Norwey Anno 1048. sent Ambassadours to King Edward offering peace and friendship to him which he embraced Also Swane King of Denmark sent other Ambassadours to him this year requesting a naval assiâ—tance of ships from him But although Earl Godwin was willing that at least fifty ships should be sent him yet none were sent because Earl Leofric OMNISQUE POPULUS UNO ORE CONTRADIXERUNT and all the people contradicted it with one voice Abbot Ingulphus records That Wulgat Abbot of S. Pâ—ga whose Abbey was quite destroyed and burnt to the ground by the Danes had a long suit in the Kings Court with three Abbots of Burgh concerning the seat of his Abbey especially with Abbot Leofric with whom he most strongly contended Sed Regis curia nimium fav â—nte potentiori contra pauperem sententiante tandem sedem monasterii sui perdidit Tanta fuit Abbatis Leofrici pecunia tanta Comitis Godwini potentia which he thus repeats Illo in tempore venerabilis Pater Wulgatus Abbas Pegelandiae diutissimam calumniam passus ab Abbatibus Burgi Elfrico Arwino Leofrico Abbatiae suae sedem amittens tandem succubuit proâ— nefas totum situm monasterii sui JUDICIO REGALIS CURIAE PERDIDIT Tantum tunc potuit super Iustitiam pecunia contra veritatem versutia in CURIA regis Hardecnuti Godwini potentia After which he addes that in the year 1048. when the said Abbot Wulgat having lost the site of his Monastery had laid the foundation of a new Monastery in his Manor of Northburt next adjoyning to the old intending to translate his Abbey thither and diligently laboured to reedifie a Church Dormitory with other claustral offices there being assisted with the alms of many believers Fernoâ—us a K t. L d. of Bosworth openly shewd out of the Abbots own writings that the said Manour of Northburt was given by his progenitors to the Monastery of S. Pâ—ga and to the Monks there serving God whence by consequence he alâ—edged That seeing Abbot Wulgat and his Monks did not serve God and S. Pega from thâ—t time forwards in that place where the old Monastery stood that they ought not from henceforth to enjoy the said Manour Acceptatum est hoc A REGIS JUSTITIARIO ET CONFESTIM ADjUDICATUM EST dictum manerium de Northburt cum omnibus suis pertinentiis praedicto militi Fernoto tanquam jus suum haereditariuÌ„ de monachis ecclesiae sanctae Pegae alienatuÌ„ perpetuo sublatum Quod tum per universum Regnum citius â—uisset cognitum scilicet Abbatum de Peikirk
whereof is this That the Church shall be free and enjoy her Iudgements Rents and Pensions And Anno Dom. 700. this king Withred unâ cum consensu Principum meorum together with the consent of his Nobles and Bishops who subscribed their names to his Charter granted to the Churches of God in Kentâ— thâ—t they should be perpetually freed ab omni exactione publica tributi atque dispendio vel laesione à praesenti die tempore c. From all publick exaction of Tribute and from all dammage and harm rendring to him his posterity such honour and obedience as they had yeelded to the Kings hâ—s antecessors under whom Iustice and Liberty was kept towards them About the year of our Lord 678. Wilfrid Archbishop of â—ork â—eing in a Council unjustly depriâ—ed of his Bishoprick by Theodor Archbishop of Canâ—erbury who envied the greatness of his Wealth Power and Diocess which he would and did againâ—â— Wilfrids will in that Council divide iâ—to â— more Bishopricks was after that time exiled the Realm through the malice of Egfrid king of Nortâ—umberland and Emburga his Queen whom he would have perswadâ—d â—o become a Nun and desert her Husband as some Authors write and others deny in his favour without any just and lawfull cause and after that about the year 692. being again deprived of his Bishoprick and right by the Iudgement and sentence of another Council held under Aldrid king of Northumberland and Bertuald Archbishop of Canterbury he thereupon maâ—e two successive appeals to Rome against their two unjust sentences as he conceived them The first to Pope Agatho and a Council of 150 Bishops held under him who decreed he should be restored to his Bishoprick and make such Bishops under him by advice of a Council to be held `by him as he should deem meet with which decree against his first sâ—ntence he returning from Rome to king Egfrid to whom he delivered it sealed with the Popes Seal the king upon â—ight and reading thereof in the presence of some of his Bishops tantùm à reverentiâ Romanae sedis abfuit was so far from obeying this Decree of the Roman See that he spoiled Wilfrid of all his Goods and possessions and committed him prisoner to a barbarous and cruel Governour who thrust him into a dark dungeon for many daysâ— and after that committed him to another more cruel Gaoler than he called Tumber who endeavoured to put him into Fetters by the Kings command which he could no ways fasten upon his Legs but they presently fell off again through a Miracle Whereupon wickedness giving place to Religion he was loosed from his Bonds detained in free custody and afterwards released but not restored After which about the year 693. he appealed again to Pope Iohn against the proceedings of the second Council which refused to re-admit him to his Archbishoprick unless he would submit to the decrees of Archbishop Theodore and Brithwald his successor which he refused to do unless they were such as were consonant to the decrees of the holy Canons which he conceived theirs not to be because they would order him to condemn himself without any Crime objected to him Upon which appeal this Pope wiâ—h his Bishops pronounced Wilfrid free from all Crime and ordered him to return to his Aâ—chbishoprick writing Letters to Ethelred King of Mercians and Alfrid King of Northumberland to restore him thereunto Alfrid receiving the Popes Letters by Wilfrids Messengers altogether refused to obey the Popes commands in this Case saying Quod esset contra rationem homini jam bis à toto Anglorum Concilio damnato propter quaelibet Apostolica scripta communicare That it was against reason to communicate with a man already twice condemned by the whole Council of the English Nation for any writings of the Pope so little were the Popes authoritie and decrees then regarded in England contradicting the kings and English Councils proceedings neither would he restore him all his life After his death Edulfe usurping the Crown by Tyranny Wilfrid repaired to him to restore him to his Archbishoprick upon this account of the Popes Letters Whereupon he was so inraged with him for it though formerly his great friend that he presently commanded him to depart the Realm forthwith unless he would be spâ—â—led of all his goods and cast out of it with disgrace But this Usuper being deprived both of his Realm Crown and Life in little more than 3 Months space and Osred son of king Alfrid being restored to the Crown by the Nobles as right heir thereunto at last Wilfrid was re-invested in his Bishoprick by the decree of a Council held under him in Northumberland at a place called Nidden An. 705. not so much in obedience to the Popes command as king Alfrids attested by Elfleda his Sister then Abbess of Streneshash witness these words of Berfride Ego jussionibus Papae obediendum censeo praeâ—erâ—im cum eorum roâ—ori accedat Regis nostri Iussio â— nostrae necessit atis sponsio c. Puer in Regem levatâ—s hostis abactus Tyrannus extinctus est igitur Regiae voluntatis ut Episcopus Wilfridus revestiatur Upon which he was accorâ—ingly restored whereupon all the Bishops embraced him and reconciled themselves to him This Bishop Wilfrid procured to the Church of Hagustald which he founded and was Bishop thereof many privileges and that â—or one miles circuit round about none should be arrested going or coming buâ— injoy inviolable peace Quod inâ—titutum authoritate privilegiis Romanae sediâ— Apostolicorum Archiepiscoporum Episcoporum Regum Principum tam Scotiae quam Angliae confirmatum est Quod si aliquis temerarius insringere audebit magnae pecuniae damno obnoxius erit perpet no Anathematis gladio ab ecclesiâ— seperabitur as Richaâ—d Prior of Hagustald records Anno Domini 708 Egwin Bishop of Worcester procured king Kenred and Offa by their Charters to grant and confirm many Lands and Privileges â—o the Abbey of Evesham which Pope Constantine likewise ratified by his subscription at Rome as well as â—hese kings in the presence of many Archbishops Bishops Princes and Nobles of divers Provinces who commended and approved their Charters and Liberality In pursâ—ance whereof Pope Constantine writ a Letter to Brithwald Archbishop of Canterbury to summon Concilium totius Angliae a Council of all England to wit of the Kings Bishops Religious persons of Holy Orders Optimatesque Regni cum proceribus suis with the Nobles and great men of the Realm who being all assembled together in the name of the Lord The Archbishop should in their presence read the Charters of these Kings and the Popes confirmation of them that they might be confirmed by tâ—e favour and assent of the Clergy and the people and consecraâ—ed with their Benediction Whereupon king Kenred and Offa after their return from Rome assembled a General Council in a place called Alne
exhibuisset Which intimates that this King consulted with an assembly of his Nobles a-about his Sisters Marriage to the King of France as a mater of Parliamentary consideration Ingulphus Hist. p. 876 877 878. records that Turketulus was his Chancellor and chief Counsellour who affected not Honors and Riches refuâ—ed many Bishopricks offered him by the King Tanquam â—endiculas Satanae ad animas evertendas and would never accept of any Bishishoprick all his life being Content only with his own Lands and Wages That all his Decrees were so just and legal that they remained irrevocable when once made That he was a great Souldier and fought most valiantly against the Danes and often gloried and said He was most happy in this that he had never murdered nor maimed any one Cum pugnare â—ro patria maximè contra Paganos licite quisque possit He esteeming the slaughter of such Pagan Enemies in defence â—f his Country lawfull and no murther nor maim King Aethelstan deceasing without iâ—â—ue his Brother Edmund succeeded him An. 940. who upon the false suggestions of some of his Souldiers and Courtiers dedeprived Dunstan whom he had made his Chancellour and one of his privy Conâ—cil year ranked amongst the Royal Palatines and Princes of his Realm of all his dignities and Offices The very next day after being like to break his Neck as he rod a hunting over a steep Rock had not his horse miraculously stopped at the Rocks brink in his full carier he immediatly sent for Dunstan and to repair the injury done him rod presently â—o Glastonbury and made him Abbot thereof Presently after Anlaâ—fe King of Norwey whom Aethelstan had driven out of the Kingdom of Northumberland came with a great Navy and Army to York being called in by the persidious and rebellious Northumberlanders who instantly revolted to him and elected him for theâ—r King Whereupon he marching Southward wiâ—h a puissant Army purposing to subjugate the Realm of England to himself King Edmund gathering his forces together encountred him and after a bloody battel fought a whole day between them at Leicester with great loss on both sides Odo Archbishop of Canterbury and Welstan Archbishop of York perceiving the danger on both parts and the Destruction of the Realm made this Agreement between them that Anlaffe should quietly enjoy the whole Northeast part of England lying North of Watlingstreet and Edmund all the Souâ—hern part thereof during their joynt Lives and the Survivor of them enjoy the whole Realm after the others decease Bâ—t Anlaffe soon after wasting the Church of St. Balter and burning Tivinagham with fire was presently seised on by Gods avenging Iudgement and miserably ended his life About the year 940. Hoel Dha Prince of all Wales sent for six Laymen eminent for authority and knowledge out of every Kemut or hundred of his Realm and all the Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors of his Realm digniâ—ied with a Pastoral staff who continuing all togâ—ther in prayer fasting and consultation all the Lent did in this Welsh Paâ—liament make and enact many Civil and Ecclesiastical Laws which they divided into 3 parts and books â—or the better Government of the Realm and Church which you may read in Spelman In the 22 Law whereof they thus determine Tres autem sunt homâ—nes quorum nullus potest per Legem impignoraâ—e contra aliquod Iudicium Primus est Rex ubi non poterit secundum Legem in Lite stare coram judice â—uo agendo vel respondendo per dignitatem naturalem vel per dignitatem terrae ut Optimas vel alius So that by the Laws of those times nor only the Kings of England but even the petty Kings of Wales were by their very Natural and Royal Dignities exempted from all personall Tryals and Iudgements against them in any Courts of Iustice seeing they had no Peers to be tryed by In the year 940 Reingwald or Reginald the Dane comming with a great Navy into Northumberland slew most of the best Inhabitants of that Realm or drove them out of it He likewise seized upon all the Lands of St. Cutbert and gave his Lands to two of â—is Souldiers one of them called Scula who afflicted the miserable Inhabitants with Grievous aud intollerable Tributes whence even unto this day the Yorkshire-men as often at they are compelled to pay Tributum Regale A Royal Tribute endeavour to impose a pecuniary Mulct on the Land which this Scula possessed for the easing of themselves Scilicet Legem deputant quod Paganus per Tyrannidem fecerat qui non legitimo Regi Anglorum sed barbaro et aliegenae Regis Anglorum hosti militabat Nec tamen quamvis multum in hoc Laboraverint Pravam Consuetudinem huc usque Sancto Cuthberto resistente Introducere potuerunt writes Simeon Dunelmensis The other part of those Lands one Onlasbald seised upon who was much more cruel and oppressive to all men than Scula extraordinarily vexing the Bishop Congregation and People of Saint Cutbert and particularly seising upon the Land belonging to the Bishoprick Whereupon the Bishop oft endeavouring by perswasion to draw him to God and entreating him to lay aside the obstinate rigor of his mind and refrain himself from the unlawfull Invasion of the Churches Lands else if he conâ—temned his admonitions God and St. Cutbert would severely avenge the Injuries done by him to them and others He with a diabolical mind contemning his admonitions and Threats swore by his Heathen Gods that he would from thenceforth be a more bitter Enemie towards St. Cuthbert and them all than ever he was before Whereupon the Bishop with all his Monks falling prostrare on the earth earnestly prayed to God and his holy Confessor to annul those proud Tyrants Threats who was then comming into the place where they were praying having one foot within the Door and the other without in which posture he stood there immovably fixed as if both his feet had been nayled being able neither to go out nor come in but standing immovable till being long thus tortured he there gave up his miâ—erable soul in the place with which example all others being terrified would no further presume by any means to invade the Land nor any thing else belonging of right to the Church Anno 941. the Rebellious o Northumberlanders preferring disloyalty before the Fealty which they owed unto Magnificent Edmund King of England elected Anlaff King of the Norâ—eyans for â—heir King Son to the former Anlaff who perishing suddenly for his Sacrilege as aforesaid he and Reginald the Son of Garthfrith after their Baptism breaking their faith and Agreement with King Edmuâ—d by invading his Dominions Edmund thereupon by force of Armes expelled them both out of the Realm of Northumberland and united it to his own kingdom and wrested Lincoln Nottingham Derby Leicester and Stamford out of the hands oâ— the Usurping insolent oppressing Danes with all Mercia subduing and reducing the
Duke Leofsi was sent to the Danes â—ho coming to them importuned them that they would accept of a Stipend and Tribute They gladly embracing his Embassy condescended to his request and determined how much Tribute should be paid them for to keep the peace Whereupon â—oon after A Tribute of 24000 pounds was paid them pro bono Pacis for the good of Peace In this Assembly and Council as I conjecture King Ethelred informed his COUNSELLERS who instructed him both in divine and humane things with the sloathfulness negligence and vicious lives of the Secular Priests throughout England and by their advice thought meet to thrust them out and put Monks in their places to pour forth prayers and praises to God for him and his people in a due manner Whereupon he confirmed by his Charter the ejection of the Secular Priests out of Christs-Church in Canterbury and the introduction of Monks in their places and ratified all the lands and privileges formerly granted them exempting the Monastery and Lands thereof from all Secular services except Expeditione Pontium operatione et Arcium reparatione Beseeching and conjuring all his lawfull Successors Kings Bishops Earls and people that they should not be Ecclesiae Christi Praedones sed sitis Patrimonii Christi defensores seduli ut vita et gaudio aeternis cum omnibus Dei sanctis in aeternum fruâ—mini Which Charter was ratified by the Subscriptions of the King Archbishop Bishops Abbots and of several Aeldermen Nobles and Officers and the sign of the Cross. This year Duke Leofsi slaying Esric a Nobleman the Kings chief Provost was judicially banished the Realm by the King for this offence After this Peace made with the Danes Anno 1002. Emma ariving in England received both the Diadem and name of a Queen whereupon King Ethelred puffed up with pride seeing he could not drive out the Danes by force of arms contrived how to murder and destroy them all in one day by Treachery at unawares either by the sword or by fire because they endeavoured to deprive him and his Nobles both of their Lives and the Realm and to subject all England to their own Dominion The occasion time and manner of whose sudden universal Massacre is thus related by Mat. Westminster An. 1012. though acted An. 1002. as all accord and by Mr. Fox and others Huna General of King Ethelreds Militia a valiant warlike man who had taken upon him the managing of the affairs of the Realm under the King observing the insolency of the Danes who now after the peace made with them did so proudly Lord it through all England that they presumed to ravish the wives and daughters of Noblemen and every where to expose them to scorn by strength caused the English husbandmen to soyl and sow their land and doe all vile labor belonging to the House whiles they would sit idely at home holding their wives daughters and servants at their pleasure and when the husbandmen came home they should scarcely have of their own as his servants had So that the Dane had all at his will and fill faring of the best when the owner scarcely had his fill of the worst Thus the common people being of them oppressed were in such fear and dread that not only they were constrained to suffer them in their Doings but also glad to please them and called every one of them in the House where they had rule LORD DANE c. Hereupon Huna goeth to the King much perplexed and makes a lamentable complaint to him concerning these things Upon which the King being not a little moved by the Counsel of the same Huna sent Letters or Commissions unto all the coasts of the Realm commanding all and every of the Nation that on one day after to wit on the Feast of St. Brice the Bishop all the Danes throughout England should be put to death by a secret Massacre that so the whole Nation of the English might all jointly and at one timâ— be freed from the Danish Oppression And so the Danes who by a firm covenant sworn unto by both sides a little before ought to have dwelt peaceably with the English were too opprobriously slain and the women with their children being dashed against the posts of the houses miserably powred out their souls When â—herefore the sentence of this decree was executed at the City of London without mercy many of the Danes fled to a certain Church in the City where all of them were slain without pity standing by the very Altars themselves Moreover that which aggravated the rage of this persecution was the death of Guimild Sister of King Swain slain in this manner in England she was lawfully maried to Count Palingers a Noble man of great power who going into England with her husband they both there received the faith of Christ and Sacrament of baptism this most prudent Virago being the mediatrix of the peace between the English and Danes gave her self with her husband and only son as Hostages to King Ethelred for the security of the peace she being delivered by the King to that most wicked Duke Edric to keep that Traytor within few days after commanded her husband with her son to be slain before her face with four spears and last of all commanded her to be beheaded She underwent death with a magnanimous minde without fear or change of countenance but yet confidently pronounced as she was dying That the shedding of her bloud would bring great detriment to England Henry Huntindon thus relates the story of this Massacre In the year 1002. Emma the Jewel of the Normans came into England and received both the Diadem and name of a Queen with which match King Ethelred being puffed up with pride bringing forth perfidiousness caused all the Danes who were with peace in England to be slain by clandestine Treason on one and the same day to wit on the feast of St. Brice concerning which wickedness we have heard in our infancy some honest old men say that the said King sent secret Letters into every City according to which the English on the same day and hour destroyeâ— all the Danes either cutting off their heads without giving them warning with swords or taking anâ— burning them suddenly â—ogether with fire Vbi fuit videre miseriam dum quisque charissimos hospites quos etiam arctissima necessitudo dulciores effecerat cogeretur prodere et amplexus gladio deturbare writes Malmsbury The News of this bloudy Massacre of the Danes being brought into Denmark to King Swain by some Youths of the Danâ—sh Nation who eâ—caped and fleâ— out of England in a ship moved him to tears Uocatisque cunctis Regni Principibus Wâ—o calling all the Princes of his Realm together and relating the whole series of what was acted to them he diligently enquired of them what they would advise him to do Who all crying out together as with one mouth DECREED That the
bottom they were emptied by the Danes from their own vessels and their bottles broken that had vented their red and bloudy wines in lieu whereof the Lord gave them the cup of wrath whose dreggs he had formerly by their own hands wrung out upon other Nations For the Saxons that had enlarged their Kingdomes by the bloud of the Britons and built their nests high upon the Cedars of others as the Prophet speaketh Habbak 2. committed an evil covâ—tousness to their own habitations and were stricken by the same measure that they had measured to others when as the Danes often attempting the Lands invasion and the subversion of the Eâ—glish Estate made way with their Swords through all the Provinces of the Realm and lastly advanced the Crown upon their own helmets which they wore only for three Successions CHAP. IV. Comprising a Summary Collection of all the Parliamentary Great Councils Synods Historical Passages Proceedings Lawes relating to the Fundamental Liberties Franchisâ—s Rights Government of the People and other remarkables under our Danish Kings Cnute Harold and Harde-Cnute from the year of our Lord 1017. till the first year of King Edward the Confessor Anno 1042. With some brief Observations on the same IMmediately after the murder of King Edmond Ironside King Cnute the Dane Anno 1017. taking possession of the whole Realm of England was solemnly crowned King at London by Living Archbishop of Canterbury succeeding in the Realm of England Non successione haereditaria sed Armorum violentia as William Thorne observes Injuste quidem Regnum ingressus sed magna civilitate et fortitudine vâ—tam componens writes William of Malmsbury Whereupon the better to forâ—ifie his Military Title with a seeming publick Election by the Nobles and Nation in a Parliamentary Council and their open disclaimer and renunciation of any Right or Title either in King Edmonds Sons or Brethren to the English Crown to settle it in perpetuity on himself and his posterity he commanded all the Bishops Dukes Princes and Nobles of the English Nation to be assembled together at London in a Parliamentary Council Where when they were all met together in his presence he most craftily demanded of them as if he were ignorant Who were the Witnesses between him and Edmond Ironside when they made their agreement and division of the Kingdom between them What manner of conference there then was between him and Edmond concerning his Brethren and Sons Whether it was agreed that it should be lawfull for Edmonds Brethren or Children to reign in the kingdom of the West-Saxons after his death by any special reservation or agreement between them in case Edmond should die in his life-time Whom he had designed to be his Heir Whom he had appointed to be guardians to his Sons during their infancy And what he had commanded concerning his Brothers Alfred and Edward To which they all answering both falsly and flatteringly said That they did most certainly know King Edmond neither living nor dying had commended or given no part of his kingdom to his Brethren and they did likewise know that it was King Edmonds will that Cnute should be the Gardian and Protector of his Sons and of the Realm untill they were of age to reign calling God himself to witnesse the truth hereof O the strange temporizing falsity treachery perjury of men in all ages But though they thus called God to witness yet they gave a false testimony and fraudulently lyed preferring a lye before the truth being forgetfull of justice unmindfull of nature unjust witnesses rising up against Innocency and betrayers of their own bloud and Country when as they all well knew that Edmond had designed his Brethren to be his heirs and appointed them to be Guardians of his children thinking by this their false testimony to please King Cnute to make him more mild and gracious to them and that they should receive great rewards from him for the same After their answers to those Interrogatories to ingratiate themselves further with Cnute though they were sworn before to Edmond and his Heirs and were Native Englishmen yet they there all took a solemn â—ath of Allegiance to Cnute swearing to himâ— That they would and did chuse him for their King humbly obey him et Exercitui Uectigalia dare and would give Tribâ—tes to his Army And having received a pledge â—rom Cnutes naked hands with Oathes from the Princes and Nobles of the Danes Cnute reciprocal Oaths from them and all the people they ratified a mutual Covenant and League of Peace with reciprocal Oaths between both Nations reconciling and abandoning all publick enmities between them They likewise swore that they would cast off banish and wholly reject King Edmonds Brothers Sons and Family In pursuance whereof they there presently Fratres et filios Edmondi Regis omnino despexerunt â—osque Reges esse negaverunâ— unum autem ex ipsis praedictis Clitonibus Edwinum egregium et reverendissimum Edmundi Regis germanum Ibidem cum consilio pessimo exulem esse debere coustituerunt as Râ—ger de Hoveden Abbot Ethelred Wigorniâ—nsis and others at large record the Story The discord treacherous falshood disloyal proceedings of the English Nation then towards one another the English royal line is thus elegantly set forth by Abbot Ailred a lively Character of our age Externisque malis accessit civilis dâ—scordia adeò ut quis cui crederâ—t quis cui mentis suae secreta commitâ—eret nesciretur Plena erat proditoribus Insula nusquam tuta fides nuâ—quam â—ine â—uâ—piâ—â—one â—mor Sermo sine simulatione Tandem eousque Proditio Civilis et astuâ—ia Processit hostilis ut de 〈◊〉 Rege Magna pars Insâ—lae legitimis abdicatis haeredibus Cnutoni qui Regnum invaserat manus darent peremptoque iâ—victissimo Regâ— Edmundo paterni honoris simul â—t lâ—boris haerede etiam Filios ejus adâ—uc in cunis agentes barbaris miâ—terent occidendos King Cnute hearing this their palpable flattery and conâ—emptuous rejection of Edwin and the Saxon regal Line went joyfully into his Chamber and calling perfidious Duke Edric to him demanded of him how he might deceive Prince Edwin so as to have him murthered Who thereupon informed him how and by whom his murder might be accomplished by promised rewards of money and preferments which was accordingly effected soon after by Cnutes procurement and command This Edric likewise perswaded Cnute to slay Prince Edward and Edmond King Edmonds sons Whereupon Statuit Cnuto mirabiliter in animo suo omne genus Gentis Regni Anglorum perdere vel exilio perenni eliminare ut regnum Angliae filiis suis jure hâ—roditario râ—servare curaret writes Matthew Westminster p. 402. But because it might seem a great disgrace to him to murder these infant Princes in England he afterwards sent them over Sea to King Swane to slay them in Denmark who abhorring the fact instead thereof sent them to Solomon King of Hungary
to be preserved and educâ—ted Cnute having thus through the flattery perjury and treachery of the Euglish Prelates and Nobles â—ained the intire Monarchy of Englandâ— slew or banished all those perfidious English Sycophants temporizers who had the chiefest hand in this false testimony abjuration treacherous bloudy advice against the Saxon Royal Family â—y whose Couâ—cel he slew or banisheâ— all the blood-royal of the Realm of England that so he mighâ— Iure Haereditario reserve and perpetuate the kingdom to his own Posterity by an hereditary right Duke Edric the principal of them for this and his other Treasons forementioned was deprived of his Dukedom of Mercia and exemplarily executed as a most perfidious Traytor by Cnutes command the first year of his reign and many of his Captains and followers were slain with him of which at large before Morâ—â—m Proditoriâ— pro demeritis accepit laqueo suspensus et in Tamesin fluvium projectus Cum quo plurimis sattellitum suorum similiter occisis eâ—iam inter eos praecipuus et primus Normannus occisus est writes Abbot Ingulphus Turkell Duke of east-East-England and Hirc Duke of Northumberland were both banished the Realm Duke Norman and Bridric slain and a heavy Tax of 82 Thousand pounds besides 10000 pounds imposed on London alone imposed and levied on the whole Nation Quoniam igitur proprii sanguinis proditores adulantes Regi mentiâ—i sunâ— in caput suum gladiuâ— eorum intravit in cor eorum et à Cnutho quem naturalibus Dominis praetulerunt confractus eâ—t arcus eoruâ— Cum 〈◊〉 Monarchiam Insulae favenâ—ibus illis obâ—inuiâ—â—eâ— Omnes qui primi in illo fuere consilio exterminavit et qâ—oâ—quoâ— de regio Semine â—uperstites reperit vel regno repulit vel occidit as Abbot Ethelred records to posâ—eâ—ity To which Henry Huntindon and Henrâ— de Knyghton subjoâ—n Posteà vero Rex justo Dei judicio dignam retributionem nequitiae Anglis reddidit Ipse namque Rex Cnuâ—e Edricum occidit quia timebat ab insidiâ—s ab eo aliquando circumveniri sicut Domini sui priores Ethelredus Edmondus frequenter sunt circumventi quorum diutina proditione alterum vexavit alterum interfecit add â—lorentius Wigorniâ—nsis Simeon Dunelmensis Roger de Hoveden and Radulphus de Diceto Turkellum exulavit Hirc fugere compulit Praeterea summos Procerum aggressus Normannum Ducem interfecit Edwi Adeling exterminavit Adelwoldum detruncavit Edwi Churleging exulavit Birdric ferro vita privavit Aethelwardus filius Agelmari Ducis et Brihtricus filius Alphegi Domnaniensis Satrapae sinâ— culpa interfecti sunt Fecit quoque per Angliam mirabilem Censum reddi scilicet 82. some write 72. mille librarum praeter undecies mille libriâ— quas Londinensis reddiderunt Dignum igitur exactorem Dominus Iustus Anglis imposuit for rejecting their own Hereditary Soveraign Line Radulphus Cestrensis englished by Trevisa Fabian and Grafton thus second them Also they swore that they would in all wise put off Edmonds kinn They trowed thereby to be great with the King afterward but it fared farr otherwise For many or the more part of them specially such as Canutus perceived were sworn beâ—ore to Edmond and his heirs he mistrusted and disdainâ—d ever after Therefore some of them were slain by Gods rightfull dome and some banished and exiled and put out of the land and some by Gods punishment died suddenly and came to a miserable end which other of our Historians likewise register I shall desire all such who are guilty of the like Treachery Flattery Practice or Advice against their lawfull Sovereigns royal Posterity advisedly to ponder this sad domestick President in their most retired Meditations for fear they incur the like divine retaliation by Gods rightful doom when and by whom they least â—uspect or fear it King Cnute thus quit of all King Edmonds Sons Brethren kinred and likewise of the greatest English Dukes and Nobles who might endanger his Life Crown and new-acquired Monarchy in the next place contrived how to secure his Empire against Prince Alfred and Edward Edmonds Broâ—hers then in Normandy with Queen Emma their Mother and their Uncle Richard Duke of Normandy a person of great valour power and interest the only person likely to attempt their restitution to the kingdom and Crown of England For which end he by gifts Ambassies and fair promises procures Earl Richards consent to bestow his Sister Queen Emma upon him for his wife who ariving in England in July 1018. was presently maried to this Invader of her former Husbands kingdom his sons royal throne and murderer banisher dishinheriter of his and her royal Posterity whereby her Brother Duke Richards thoughts were wholly diverted from ayding his Nephews to recover their right in England Ex hinc cum Câ—utoni omnia pro voto cessissent timens Ne Haeres legitimus Regnum quod sibi de Iure debebatur aâ—â—quando Normanica fretus virâ—uâ—â— Reposceret â—t Ducis sibi arctius colligaret affectum Emmam â—efuncti Regis relictam duxit uxorem Whereupon De illorum Elfredi Edwardi restitutione RicharduÌ„ avunculum nihil egisse comperimus quia et sororem suam Emmam hosti et invasori nuptam collocavâ—t Ignores majori illius dedecore qui dederit aâ— fâ—minae quae conseâ— serat ut thalamo illius câ—leret qui viâ—um infestaverit filios effugaverit is Malmesbury his observation and censure thereupon Only their Uncle Robert attempâ—ed their â—estitution Congregatis navibus et impositis militibus profectionem paravit subinde jactitans se pronepotes suos coronaturum et proculdudio fidem dictis explesset nisi quia ut à majoribus accepimus semper â—i ventus adversabatur eontrarius per occultum scilicet Dei judicium in cujus voluntate sunt potestates omnium regnorum Reliquiae navium multo tempore dissolutarum Rothomagi adhuc nostra aetate visebantur writes Malmsbury By this match with Queen Emma as Cnute took off Duke Richard from yielding any assistance to his Nephews in hopes his sister might have issue by him to inherit the Crown of Eâ—gland it being agreed between them on the marriage that the issue of Cnute begotten on her should inherit the Crown so it much obliged the English to him and made them more willing to submit to his Government ut dum consuetae Dominae deferrent obsequium minus Danorum suspirarent Imperium the rather because they much honoured and affected her for her manifold vertues of which they had long former experience and likewise because they hoped it might be a meanes to restore Ethelreds issue by her to the Crown again in case she had no issue by Cnute to inherit it which in truth it effected by Gods providence contrary to Cnutes design After this mariage this politick Forein Intruder to establish his Monarchy over England endeavoured to reconcile the English to him by all other
or Orencester not Winchester the 4th year of his reign wherin by the Counsel of Queen Emma and of his Bishops and Barons he placed Monks in the Monasterie of Bederichesiorthe where St. Edmund was interred and endowed the Monastery of St. Edmond with so many farmes and other goods as made it one of the richest in all England as those Historians witness Whose Name and date the ignorant comâ—iler oâ— this Manuscript mistook whose Antiquitie and reputation is very suspiâ—ious as Sir Henry Spelman informs us First because Sir Henry could never gain the sight of it from Sir Edward Cook though he oft-times promised to lend it him to peruse for his satisfaction And that which dares not abide the sight and test of such a judicious learned Antiquary when desired may justly be deemed an Imposture 2ly Sir Henry Spelman conceives the Author of this Manuscript writ not before the end of King Henry the 3d if so soon seeing he calls the Great Council of the Realm so frequently a Parliament which Title was not given it in Manuscripts or Historians till the end of King Henry the 3d. or aâ—ter his reign And Wigorniensis Matthew Westminster Hoveden and Simeon Dunelmensis all stile it onely CONCILIUM not Parliamentum 3ly Because he certainly mistakes in his Chronology in making Aegelnoth Archbishop of Canterbury in the reign of King Hardecnute when as he died and Eadsi was made Archbishop thereof two years before Hardicnuâ—es reign which Eadsi crown'd him King as Matt. Westminster An. 1038. together with Matthew Parker and Godwin attest And therefore he might as grosly mistake in other things 4ly It appears by the recital it self that it was writ above 130 years at least after this Council under Cnute because it recites it preceeded the Decrees made so long after under Pope Eugenius An. 1150. 5ly The form of the Prologue Haec sunt Statuta c. coupled with ad suum convocans Parliamentum in suo publico Parliamento and aliis Episcopis ipsorum Suffraganeis prove it not to be written before King Edward the first his reign when such phrases came first in vse Sir Edward Cooke himself informing us in his Epistle that in Cnute his reign such State-Assemblies were stiled Uenerandum Concilium Sapientum sic enim apuâ— majores Parliamentum illud Latine redditur 6ly Becauâ—e it â—ubjoins cum quamplurimis gregarâ—s militibus ac cum populi multitudine copiosa as if â—hey had been personally present in this Parliamentary Council as well as the Archbishops Bishops Abbots Dukes and Nobles of which there is not one syllable in our four antient Historians which mention this Council at Cirencester Neither can these Gregarii milites be intended Knights of shires nor populi multitudine copiosa Commoners or Burgesses elected to serve in Parliament by and for the people as Sir Edward Cooke and others fancy there being no mâ—ntion of any such chosen Kngihâ—s of Counties Citizens Burgesses or Commons in that or succeeding ages till about the reign of King Hâ—nry the 3d. but only ordinary Souldiers and the Vulgar sort of people admitted to be present in the Council at the reading and passing of the Charter to St. Edmond as they are now admitted into the Lords House together with the Knights and Burgesses at the beginnings and ending of our Parliaments and upon publike Trials Conferences and Occasions at which times there are more common people ten to one usually present to see and hear what is acted who are no members then there are Members of the Commons House which never sate together with the Lords for ought appears much less in this Parliament as some confidently inferr â—rom this Spurious Aâ—tiquity which Sir Edward Cooke little versed in Antiquities and oft mistaken in them so much magnifies and insists on In the year of Christ 1021. King Cnute uppon occasions and offences taken by him banished Duke Turkell to whom he had formerly committed East England with Edgitha his wife and Hirc Duke of Northumberland out of England Turkell no sooner arived in Denmark but he was there slain by the Dukes of the Country by divine vengeance he being a chief inciter of the death of St. Alphege The English Danes An. 1022. in Colloquio apud Oxoniam celebrato de Legibus Regi Edwardi prâ—mitenendis coucorâ—es facti sunt Unde â—isdem Legibus jubente Rege Cnutone ab Anglica lingua in Latinam translatis tà m in Dania quà m in Angliaâ— propter earum aequitatem à Rege praefato observari jubentur as Mat. Westminster relates Anno 1022. So as he imposed no New Laws on them nor revived old but only by common consent in a Parliamentary Council both of English and Danes King Cnute in the year 1023. did so carefully endeavour to reform all things wherein himâ—elf or his Ancestors had offended as he seemed to wipe away Prioris Injustitiae Naevum the Blot of his former Injustice as well with God as with men And by the exhortation of Queen Emma studying to reconcile all the English to himself he bestowed many Gifts upon them et insuper bonas Leges omnibus et placentes promisit and moreover promised good and pleasing Lawes to all The best means to win and knit the peoples hearts Anno 1024. Cnute leading an Army of English and Danes against the Swedes whereof he lost many in the first battel the next day when he appointed again to fight with them Earl Godwin General of the Enlish Militia without King Cnutes privity resolved with his English forces alone to invade the Swedish Enemies in the night Whereupon using this Speech to his Souldiers ut pristinae gloriae memores robur suum oculis novi Domini assererent c. they alâ— valiantly assaulted the Enemies at unawares put them all to flight slew an innumerable multitude of them and compelled the Kings of that Nation Ulf and Eglaf to yield to terms of Peace Cnute preparing to fight very early the next morning thought the English had been either fled away or revoâ—ted to the Enemies but marching to the Enemies tents and finding nothing but the bloud and carcasses of those the English had slain he thereupon ever after had the English in great esteem who by this their Victory Comitatum Duci sibi laudem paraverunt writes Malmsbury Cnute returning joyfull of this Victory into England and bestowing an Earldom on Godwin for this Service In the year 1027. Cnute hearing that the Norwegians disesteemed Olaus their King by reason of his simplicity bribed his Nobles with great sums of gold and silver to reject Olaus and elect him for their King which they promising to do the next year he failed into Norwey with 50 ships thrust Olaus out of his kingdom by consent of his Nobles and subdued his Realm to himself wheâ—ce returning into England An. 1029. Hâ—conem Danicum Comitem quasi Legationis causa in Exilium misit
meis omnibus ut in proprio meo lucrentur et inde mihi serviant Et nemo cogatur ad firmae adjutorium aliquid dare nisi sponte sua velit Et si quis aliquem inde gravabit Werae suae reus sit orga Regem Lex 97. Si quis ex hac vita decedat sine distributione rerum suarum vel per incustodiamâ— vel per mortem improvisam non usurpet dominus ejus de pecunia nisi quantum ad justam Relevationem pertinet quae Anglicè vocatur Hereget sed sit secundnm dictionem ejus ipsa pecunia recte divisa uxori pueris et propinquis unicuique secundum modum qui ad eum pertinet Et sint Relevationes ità minutae sicut modus est Comitis sicut ad eum perâ—inet hoc est octo equi quatuor sellati quatuor insellati et galeae quatuor et loricae quatuor cum octo lanceis et totidem scutis et gladii quatuorâ— et CC. marcae auri Postea Thayni regis qui ei proximus sit quatuor equi duo sellati et duo insellati et duo gladii et quatuor laâ—ceae et totidem scuta et galea cum lorica sua et 50. marcae auri Et mediocris Thayni equus cum apparatu suo et arma sua vel suum Halsfang in Westsaxia in Mircenis ij l. in Estanglia ij l. Et si notus sit Regi equi duo unus cum sella et alius sine sella et unus gladius et duae lanceae et totidem scuta et 50 marcae auri Et qui minus potest det duas libras Lex 104. Et qui fugiat à Domino vel socio suo pro timiditate in Expedâ—tione navali vel terrestri per dat omne quod suum est et suam â—psius vitam et manus mittat Dominus ad terram quam ei antea dederat Et si terram haereditariam habeat ipsa in manum regis transeat Lex 105. Et qui in bello aâ—te Dominum suum ceciderit sâ—t hoc in terra sit alibi sint relevatitones condonatae et haâ— beâ—nt haeredes ejus terram sicut et pecuniam suam et rectè dividant inter se. Lex 107. Et volo ut omnis homo pacem habeat eundo ad Gemoâ—um vâ—l rediens de Gemoto id est placito nisi sit fur probatus Lex 110. Qui leges istas apostabit quas Rex modo nobis omnibus indulsit sit Dacus sit Anglus Werae suae reus sit erga regâ—m Et si secundo faciat reddat bis Weram suam Si quis addat tertio râ—us sit omnium quae habebit In the rest of his Lawes all corporal and pecuniary penalties and fines for all sorts of Offences and Crimes are reduced to a certainty and none left arbitrary and by Lex 104 105. it is evident that the Military Laws as wel as the Civil Ecclesiastical were made in and by advice and direction of the Great Councils The Chronicle of Bromton informs us that King Cnute per Chartam suam à se et haeredibus suis dedit quà m cito post in Parliamento suo apud Wintoniam when and where â—hose Laws were made coram omnibus Regni sui Magnatibus confirmavit gave and confirmed the Manors of Hornyng Ludham and Netershede to the Monastery of Cowholm in Northfolke And that one Maynard riding towards this Parliamentary Council brake his neck who had so incensed the King against Wulfriâ— and the Monks of this Monastery that he threatned to put â—hem to death What lands and privileges he gave by his Charters to St. Cuthberts Church in Durham Christs-Church in Canterbury and other Monasteries the Marginal Authors will inform us About the year 1034. King Cnute having obtained the Soveraign Dominion of England Scotland Norwey a great part of Sweden and of all Denmarke principally by the Sword through the flattery of his followers who stiled him a King of all Kings most mighty Soveraign and the like who had under his subjection Dominion not only the People and Land but the Sea likewise also by reason of his Great Dominions was so much elevated with pride of heart that he once commanded the royal Throne of his Empire to be placed on the Sea shore near the water as the Sea was flowing in upon it and then stepping up into his Throne sitting in it he spake thus to the Sea in an imperious manner as if he were absolute Sovereign of it Tu meae ditionis es c. Thou art under my Dominion and part of my Empire and the land on which I sit is mine neither is there any one in it who dares resist my command without punishment Therefore I now command thee that thou ascend and come not up upon my land nor yet presume to wet my royal robes nor the feet or Members of thy Soveraign But the Sea notwithstanding this Inhibition ascending after its accustomed manner and nature and no wayes obeying his commands wet both his feet legs and royal Robes without any revernce Whereupon the King leaping hastily out of his Throne almost over-late and retiring from the waves used these words Lâ—t all the Inhabitants of the world know that the power of Kings is but vain and frivolous and that no man is worthy the name of a King but he alone to whose beck both Heaven Earth and the Sea obey by everlasting Laws Henry de Knyghton superaddes thereto as part of his Speech which most others omit I am a Wretch and a Captive able to do nothing possessing nothing wiâ—hout his gift I commend I recommend my self to him and let him be the Gardian of debiliâ—y Amen After which King Cnute never wore his Crown upon his head but put it upon the head of the Crucifix at Winchester as most accord to the praise of the great King thereby giving a great example of humility to Kings and Conquerors who in the height of all their power can not command the Sea or least wave not to flow or wash them Henry de Knyghton conceives this to be before his pilgrimage to Rome others expresly record it was after his return from thence whose computation I here follow and therefore place it in this year In the year of our Lord 1035. King Cnute a little before his death made this partition of his kingdoms amongst his Sons Swane his son by Q. Algiva or as some affirm of a Priests wife suborned by Algiva as her own he made King of Norwey his Son Harde-Cnute by Queen Emma he caused to be crowned King of Denmark as Wigorniensis Hoveden and others write yet some gainsay it that he made his Son Harold King of England and soon after died at Shaftesbury November 12. 1035. and was buried at Winchester Immediatly after his decease the Nobles met at Oxford about the election of a new Kingâ— which our Historians thus
treacherie of Earl Godwin and his son Harold Which how fatal it proved to them both by Gods avenging Justice you shall hear in its due place and what divine vengeance it drew at last on the whole English Nation religious and judicious Mr. Iohn Fox informes us in these words This cruel fact of Godwin and his men against the innocent Normans whether it came of himself or of the Kings setting on seemeth to me to be the cause why the justice of God did shortly after avenge the quarrel of these Normans in conquering and subduing the English Nation by William the Conquerour and the Normans which came with him For so just and right it was that as the Normans coming with a natural English Prince were murdered of English men so afterwards the Englishmen should be slain and conquered by the Normans coming with a forein King being none of their natural Country After the bâ—nishment of Queen Emma out of and murder of Prince Alfred in England Harde-Cnute delaying the time in Denmark and deferring his coming inâ—o England thereupon Harold formerly King only of â—he Mercians and Northumbrians that he might râ—ign over all England in the year 1037. A Principibâ—s et omni Populo Rex eligitâ—râ— was elected King by all the Nobles and People Harde-Cnutus verò quia in Denmarchia mansâ—rat et ad Anglian ut rogabatur venire distulit penitus abjicitur as Florentius Wigorniensis Simeon Dunelmensis Hoveden Bromton Radulphus de Diceto and others inform us After which King Harold degenerating from Cnute his Father in all things took no care at all either of military or civil affairs nor of his own Courtly honour doing only his own will and contrary to his royal estate going more willingly on foot of which he was so swift that he was named Harefoot than riding on Horseback In his dayes there were rendred and paid to 16 Ships from every Port not In-land Towns 8. marks of Silver as in the time of his Father as Henry Huntindon records to which Iohn Speed subjoynes This Dane seeing his hazards prevented sought to secure himself and wâ—th 16 Ships of the Danish Fleet kept the Seas which continued ever in a readiness and wafted from port to port to the maintenance whereof he charged the English with great payments to their no little grudge and reviling whereby he lost the love of his Subjects before it hâ—d taken root in their hearts Neither held he long those disloyal courses for that his speedy death did cut off the infamy of a longer life he dying at Oxford where he was elected King without wife or children to survive his person or revive his name when he had reigned only 4. years and as many moneths Anno 1040. Upon the death of Harold Proceres tam Anglorum quam Danorum in unum concordantes sententiam the Nobâ—es both of the English and Danes assembling together in a Parliamentary Council and concording in one opinion sent Embassadours to Harde-Cnute then at Bruges in Flanders visiting Queen Emma his Mother where he had made great preparation of ships and land-forces to recover the Crown of England which belonged to him both by birth and compact from his brother Harold beseeching him to make hast into England and to take possession of the Crown thereof Whereupon he immediately consenting to the Counsel of the Nobles came speedily into England with 60 as some or 40 ships as others write furnished with Danish Souldiers and Mariners where he was recâ—ived with great joy elected King both by the English and Danes and solemnly crowned at London by Elnothus Archbishop of Canterbury Soon after he commanded Alfric Archbishop of Yorke Earl Godwin and others to digg up the interred corps of his brother King Harold out of his grave in London and his head to be cut off by the hangman and then both head and corps to be thrown into the Common sink and after that into the Thames And that partly in revenge of the injuries done by him to his Mother Queen Emma in banishing and spoiling her of her money and jewels against all right and justice and partly for his unjust invasion of the Crown of England but in truth as a just retaliation of his barbarous cruelty to Prince Alfred and his Normans For whose treacherous inhumane slaughter King Harde-Cnute deprived Alfred Bishop of Worcester of his Bishoprick whose hands were said to have been in Alfreds bloud And for which murder he likewise looked with an evil eye upon Earl Godwin compelling him to an Oath of Purgation touching the same Whereupon Godwin by his own Oath and the Oaths of most of the Nobles of the Realm his compurgators sworeâ— though most falsly That Prince Alfreds eyes were not put out nor he murdered as aforesaid by his Counsel or consent but what was done therein was only by the command of King Harold which he durst not resist Notwithstanding which Oath to purchase his peace with Harde-Cnute he presented him with a most rich and royal present to wit with a Ship whose stern was of gold with 80 Souldiers placed therein all uniformly and richly suited having on their heads gilt Burgonets on their armes bracelets of Gold on their bodies Habergeons Swords Battel-axes Targets and other arms after the Danish fashion all richly gilt with gilt bosses and darts in their hands Which Present though it pacified the Kings indignation yet it prevented not Gods avenging justice on him afterwards for Alfreds bloud thus partly avenged on Harolds carcasse which was cast into the Thames and mangled according to Hard-Cnutes command and lay floting on the water sundry dayes till a Fisherman in compassion took up his corps and buried it privately in St. Clements Danes Soon after Harde-Cnute in the second year of his reign commanded 8. Marks to be paid to every Mariner Some write 20. others 30. marks to every Shipwright of his Danish Navy besides a vast sum of money to his Land-Army Hujus anno secundo redditus est Census Exercitui Dacorum scilicet 21000 lib. 89 lib. Et posteà sunt redditae 32. puppibus 11000 lib. 48. lib. writes Henry Huntindon Tributum inexorabile et importabile Angliae imposuit ut Classiariis suis per singulas nâ—ves viginâ—i â—ac triginti marcas ex pollicito pensitaret Quod dum importune per Angliam exigitur duo infestius hoc munus exequentes a Wigorniae Civibus extincti sunt as Will of Malmsbury expresseth it Hic etiam contra omnem spem octo Marcas unicuique remigi Classis suae de importabili tributo Angliae solvi fecit So Bromton Which â—lorentius Wigorniensis Hoveden Simeon Dunelmensis Matthew Westminster Polychronicon Caxton Fabian Holinshed Grafton and Speed thus more at large relate Anno 1040. Octo Marcas unicuique suae classis Remigi et 12. unicuique gubernatori de tota Anglia praecepit dependi Tributum videlicet tam grave ut
act without their seeking as he did here restore Prince Edward after 25 years interruption and Aurelius Ambrosius long before to the British Crown to omit all others 6. That Crowns invaded ravished by force of armes and bloodshed are seldome long or peaceably enjoyed by the usurpers themselves or their posterity that of Curtius being an experimentall truth Non est diuâ—turna possessio in quam gladio inducimur All which we find experimentally verified in this History of King Edward his election and restitution to the Crown of England worthy our special observation King Edw. coming to the Crown was not onely very charitable to the poor humble mercifull and just towards all men but also PLURES Lâ—GES BONAS IN ANGLIA STATUIT quae pro majore paâ—te adhuc in regno tenerentur Whereupon about the year 1043. as the Chronâ—cle of Brompton William Caxton in his Chronicle and Mr. Selden inform us Earl Godwin a fugitive in Denmark for the murther of prince Alfred hearing of his piety and mercy resolved to return into England humbly to implore his mercy and grace that he might have his lands again that were confiscated having provided all things for his voyage he put to sea and arrived in Englanâ— and then posted to London UBI REX ET OMNES MAGNATES AD PARLIAMENTUM TUM FUERUNT Where the King and all the Nobles were then at a parliament here he beseeched intreated his friends kindred who were the greatest Lords of the land after the King that they would study to procure to him the Kings Grace and friendship who having thereupon taken deliberate counsel among themselves led him with them before the King to seek his Grace But so soon as the King saw him he presently appealed him of TREASON of the death of Alfred his brother and using these words unto him said THOU TRAITOUR GODVVIN â— THEE APPEAL FOR THE DEATH OF ALFRED MY BROTHER WHOM THOU HAST TRAITâ—ROUSLY SLAIN To whom Godwin excusing himself answered My Lord and King saving your Revereâ—câ— and Grace Peace Lordship I never betrayed nor yeâ— slew your Brother unde super hoc pono me IN CONSIDERATIONE CURIAE VESTRAE whence I put my sâ—lf upon the consideration and judgement of your Courâ— concerning this matter Then said the King KARISSIMI DOMINI COMITES ET BARONES TERRAE c. Most dear Lords Earls and Barons of the land who are my Liege-men now here assembled you have heard both my appeale and Godwins answer Volo quod inter Nos in iâ—ta appellatione RECTUM JUDICIUM DECERNATIS ET DEBITAM JUSTITIAM FACIATIS I will that between us in this appeale you award right Iudgement and do due Iusticâ— COMITIBUS VERO ET BARONIBUS SUPER HOC AD INVICEM TRACTANTIBUS Hereupon the Earls and Barons debating upon this businesse among themselves some among thâ—m were different in their opinions from others in doing just judgemâ—nt herein For some said that Godwin was never obliged to the King so Bromton to Alfred writes Caxâ—on by homage service or fealty and therefore HE WAS NOT HIS TRAITOUR and that he had not slain Alfred with his own hands But others said Quod Comes nec Baro nec aliquis Regi subditus BELLUM CONTRA REGEM IN APPELLATIONE SUA DE LEGE POTâ—ST VADIARE That neither the Earl nor any Baron nor any Subject to the King could by the Law wage Battel against the King in his Appeal but ought wholy to put himself in his mercy and to offer him competent amends Then Leofric Earl of Chester or Coventry as Caxton a good man towards God and the world spake and said The Earl Godwin after the King is a man of the best parentage of all England and he cannot deny but that BY HIS COUNCEL Alfred thâ— Kings Brother was slain wherefore I award as touching my parâ— that himself and his son and every of us DUODECIM COMITES the twelve Earls who are his friends and kinsmen shâ—uld go humbly before the King laden with as much gold and silver as every of us can carry between his arms offering that to him for his trespasse and submissively deprâ—cating that he woulâ— pardon all his rancour and ill-will to the Earle and receiving his homage and fealâ—y he would restore and redeliver his lands intirely to himâ— Vnto which award THEY ALL ACCORDING they all laded themselves with treasure in the manner aforesaid and gâ—ing to the King declared unto him the order and mannâ—r of their JUDGEMENT or AVVARD QUORUM CONSIDERATIONI REX CONTRADICERE NOLENS QUICQUID JUDICAVERANT PER OMNIA RATIâ—ICAVIT The King not willing to contradict them in any thing thâ—y had judged ratified the same in all things An agreement therefore being made between thâ—m in this manner the Earl presently regained all his lands The generality of our Historians as Bromâ—on confesseth deny that Godwin ever fled into Dâ—nmark or left England for the murder of Alfred they generally affâ—rming that he purged himself thereof though falsly CORAM PROCERIBUS before the Nobles in the reign of Harde-Cnute swearing with his compurgators that he never consented to his death NISI REGIA VI COACTUS but through compulsion by royall violence Recording likewise that after the death of King Harde-Cnute Prince Edward was called out of Normandy and elected King principally by the help and counsel of Earle Godwin himself who as Malmesbuâ—y and others write perswaded him to accept the Crown and precontracted with him before hâ— came into England Paciscatur ergo sibi amicitiam solidam filiis honores integros filiae matrimonium brevi futurum ut se Regem videat qui nunc vitae naufragus exul spei alterius opem implorat Utrinque fide data quicquid petebatur sacramento firmavit If there were then any such Parliament as this then held at London and such proceedings in it concerning Godwin it was most probably in the year 1043â— as I here place it And from these memorable proceedings in it we may observe 1. That there is mention onely of the King Earls and Barons present in this Parliament as members of it not of any Knights of shires Citizens or Burgesses elected by the people of which there is not one syllable 2. That the Earls and Barons in Parliament were the onely judges in that age in Parliament between the King and his Nobles subjects both in criminal and other causes there decided 3. That Peers in that age were onely tryed and judged by their Peers for treason and capitall offences 4. That appeals of Treason were then tryed in Parliament and the Earls and Barons the sole Judges of them and of what offences were Treason and what not 5. That the Bishops and Clergy in that age had no votes in matters of Treason and capitall offences 6. That the Judgement of Parliament then reâ—ted properly in the Earls and Barons not the King and that their judgement was not repealable by but obligatory to the
themselves suspected thought it not safe for them to come thither without an armed Guard whereupon they encampâ—d at Brâ—verstone with a great host and there stayed giving out a report among the people that they had therefore gathered an Army together out of Kent Surry Yorkshire Oxfordshire Glocestershire Somersetshire Herfordshire Essâ—x Notinghamshire and other parts that they might curbe the Welshmen who meditating Tyranny and Rebellion against the King had fortified a Town in Herefordshire where Swane one of the Earl Godwins Sonnes then pretended to keep watch and ward against them The King hearing that Godwin and his Sonnâ—s had raised a great Army of men out of all these Counties upon this false pretext presently sent Messengers to Syward Earle of Northumberland and Leofric Earle of Mercia to hasten to him being in great danger with all the forces they could raise Who repairing to him at the first with small forces so soon as they knew how the matter went sending their Officers through their Coâ—ntries together with Earle Ralph in his Countrey speedily assembled a great Army to assist the King ready to encounter these enemies if there were a necessity In the mean time Godwin marching with his Army into Glocestershire sent messengers to the King as Matthew VVestminster and some others story commanding him to deliver up Earle Eustace with his companions the Normans Bonomans who then held the Castls of Dovâ—r to him else he should denounce war against him To whom the King being sufficiently furnished with military forces sent this answer That he would not deliver up Earl Eustace to him commanding moreover Ut qui exercitum contra ipsum collegerat sine eâ—us licentia pacem regnâ— perturbaverat veniret ad eum die statuta sâ—per hac injuria sibi responsurus juri pariturus Godwin and his Sonnes being accused of A CONSPIRACY against the King and made odious to the whole Court by the VVelshmen and Normans so that a rumor was spread abroad that the Kings Army would assault them in the same place where they quartered and were unanimously resolved and ready to fight with Godwins Army being much incensed against him if the King would have permitted them Quo accepto Godwinus ad Conjuratos classicum cecinit Ut ultro Domino regi non resisterent sed si conuenti suissent quin se ulciscerentur loco non cederent profecto facinus miserabile plus quam civile bellum fuisset nisi maturiora consilia interessent writes Malmsbury But because the best and greatest men of all England were engaged on the one side and other it seemed a great unadvisednesse to Earl Leofric and others that they should fight a battle and wage war with their own Countrymen and thereupon they advised That hostages being given on both sides the King and Godwin should meet at London on a certain day to plead togâ—ther which Counsel being approved of and mesâ—engers running to and fro between them hostages being given and received and some small agreement made between them at the present thereupon the Earle returned into VVest-Sax and the King increasing his Army both out of Mercia and Northumberland returned with them to London by agreement between both parties Iterumque praeceptum ut Londini Concilium coageretur and it was again commanded by the King that A COVNCEL or PARLIAMENT as Trevisa Speed and others render iâ— should be assembled at London Swane the Son of Godwin was commanded to mitigate the Kings anger by his flight Godwin and Harold were ordered to come to this Councel with twelve men only in their company and that they should resigne up to the King the services of all the Knights and Souldiers which they had thoroughout England But Godwin and his Sonnes as they durst not wage war against the King so ad Curiam ejus venire Iuri parituri negabant They would not come to his Court to put themselves upon a legal tryall alleadging That they would not goe to a Conventicle of factious persons without pledges and hostages that they would obey their Lord in the surrender of all their Knights services and in all things else without the perill of their honour and safety That if they came thither unarmed they might fear the losse of lifâ— if with a few followers it would be a reproach to their honour But the King being so resolute in his minde that he would not recede from what he had resolved by their intreaties â—pon their refusal to come unto his Court to justify themselves Rex in suo Concilio communi Curiae suae judicio by the common judgement of his Court in this Parliamentary Councel Et omnis exercitus unanimi consensu and by the unanimâ—us consent of his whole Army as Flo-rence of VVorcester and his followers subjoyne banished Godwin himself and his five Sons out of England whereupon prolatum Edictum est A Decree Proclamation was then published that within five dayes they should dâ—part out of England Godwin perceving that his souldiers deserted him some some â—or fear of the Kings Army and displeasure thereupon he and his wife Gâ—va and his three sonnes Swane Gurth and Tosti with his wife Iudith daughter to the Earle of Flanders departed presently out of England by the Isle of Thanet into Flanders to Earle Baldwin with much treasure but his other two soâ—nâ—s Harold and Leofric sailed by Bristol into Ireland Moreover the King put away his Qâ—een Edâ—tha for her Father Godwins sake thrust her into the Abbie of Warwel or Redwel without worship with one maid only to attend her committing her to the custody of the Abbess his own sister taking away all her substance without leaving her so much as one penny ne scilicet omnibus suis parentibus patriam suspirantâ—bus sola sterteret in pluma Harolds Earldom and County wâ—a bestowed on Algarus who ruled it nobly and he with good will resigned it up to Harold upon his returne These things being done William Duke of Normandy came to visit the King with a great multitude of Normans and Souldiers whom King Edward honorably received and magnificently entertained for a season carrying him about to all his royal Castles and Cities and at last sent back into Normandy with many and great presents bestowed on him and his followers De successione autem Regni spes adhuc aut menâ—io nulla facta inter eos fuit writes Iâ—gulphus King Edward In Parliamento Pleno having in Plain or full Parliament as Radulphus Cestrensis Knighton de eventibus Angliae l. 1. c. 10. Trevisa and others relate thus banished and outlawed Godwin and his sons in which in condition as some write they continued two ful years Thereupon in the year 1052. Harold and Leofric by way of reveng coming out of Ireland with such ships and forces as they could there raise pâ—llaged the western parts of England â— infesting the shores with continual robberies carrying away rich booties
enflamed with the love and liberty of their Native Country voluntarily engaged themselves with him in the defence thereof against the common dangerous invading Enemy raâ—her than to support his usurped Diadem and Royalty over them of which number there were very few Immo vero pauci et manu promptissimi fuere qui charitati corporum renunciantes Pro patria animas posuerunt Nam praeter Stipendiarios et Mercinarios milites paucos admodum ex comprovincialibus habuit Praecipitabant â—um nimium fata ut nec auxilia convocari vellet nec si vellet multos parituros invenerat Ita omnes ei erant infensi quod solus manubiis Borealibus incubuerat Unde cum suis quos ductabat astutia Gulielmi â—ircumventus fusus est levi videlicet belli negotio sed occulto et stupendo Dei consilio quod nunquam posteâ— Angli Communi praelio in libertatem spiraverint quasi cum Haraldo omne robur deciderit Angliae quae certe Potuit et debuit etiam per inertissimos solvere paenas perfidiae Yet Thomas of Walsingham and some others write that Harold had gathered together an innumerable company of Englishmâ—n against Duke William and the multitudes of the Nobility Gentry and Commons of England slain in the Battel besides those who fled from it and could not come to fight manifest his Army not to be so small as these Authors would make it only to augment the Englishmens valour and ecclipse the Normans as overcomming them more by stratagem and multitude than true fortitude Whiles Harold was in his march towards William within 9 miles of his Fort in Sussex he sent out Scouts before him to discover the forces and numbers of the Enemy who being intercepted and brought to William he caused them to be led about his tents that they might well view his Army and then being bountiâ—ully feasted he commanded them to be sent back to their Master without any harm Who returning to Harold commending the Dukes magnificence martial prowess and clemency seriously affirmed that all his Souldiers seemed to be Priests because their faces and both their lips were shaven which kind of shaving none of the English then used but their Priests only Upon which Harold smiling at the Scouts simplicity replied They were not effeminate Priests but Souldiers of great and valourous minds invincible in arms Whereupon Girth Harolds younger Brother a man of great knowledge and valour beyond his years taking the Speech out of his mouth said Seeing you commend the valour of the Normans to be so great I hold it unadvised rashnesse for you to fight with them to whom you may be reputed inferiour both in merit and valour Neither are you able to gainsay bâ—t that you took an Oath to William to reserve the Crown to his use voluntarily or unvoluntarily Wherefore you shall doe more advisedly to withdraw your self out of the field in this instant necâ—ssity ne si perjurus decertans vel fugam vel mortem incurras lest fighting perjured you incurre either flight or death and the whole Army perish for your sin of Perjury seeing there is no fighting against God Therefore expect the issue of the battel without danger For we are altogether free from any Oath justum suscipimus bellum pro Patria pugnaturi and have undertaken a just warr to fight for our Country If we fight alone without thee thy cause shall prosper better and thou shalt be more safe whatâ—ver befalls us For if we fly thou maist be able to succour and restore us and if we be slain thou maist revenge us But such was Harolds unbridled rashness that he would not give a pleasing ear to this admonition esteeming it inglorious and a great dishonour to his former life and valour to turn his back to any Enemy or danger Whiles these discourses passed between them in comes a Monk sent by Duke William claiming the kingdom as his Because King Edward had granted it to him by advice of Archbishop Stigand and of the Earls Godwin and Siward and had sent the Son and Nephew of Godwin hostages thereof into Normandy But to avoid effusion of Christian bloud the Monk brought him these three profers Either to depart with the Realm to William aâ—cording to his Oath and agreement Or tâ— hold the Kingdom from and reign under him Or finally to determine the controversie between them two by a single Duâ—l in thâ— viâ—w of both their Armies But Harold out of a strange imprudence impudence pride of heart as one whom the heavens would depresse accepting neither domestick counsel nor the Nâ—rmans ofâ—er would neither vouchsafe to look upon the Messenger with a good countenance nor discourse with him in milde terms but sending him away with indignation prayed only thus That God would judge between him and his Master William To whom the Monk boldly replying required that if he would deny the right of William he should either referr it to the Iudgement of the Seâ— Apostolick or else to battel if he had rather by which he asserted that William was ready to triâ— his Title But Harold answering nothing to those his Proposals but what he had done before went within little of laying violent hands upon the Embassador commanding William with violent terms and menaces to depart his kingdom By which he whetted the minds of the Normans to fight and gave them hopes of Victory by his Injustice After which both Armies provided to give battel the next morning being Harolds birth-day 4. October 1066. his Souldiers as men whose Heads were sure to be crowned with lawress of Victory spent the whole night in licentious revels riot drunkennesse clamours shouts but the Normans more Christianly and seriously demeaning themselves spent it in confessions of their sins prayers and Vowes to God for victorious successe No sooner did the morning appear but the Norman Army was prepared for battel Then Duke William making an elegant oration to them minded them of the extraordinary valour the manifold victories and conquests of their ancestors and themselves which he exhorted them now tâ— second concluding his Speech with this exhortation To avenge the injury of Harold and the treachery of him and the English in murdering Prince Alfred and the Noble Normans who accompanyed him Nonne pudet Regem Haroldam contra me in praesentia vestri perjuram faciem suam vobis ostendere ausum fuisse Mihi tamen stupor est Quod eos qui parentes vestros cum Alfrido cognato meo proditione nefanda excapitaverunt oculis vestris vidistis et eorum capita adhuc humeris eorum superâ—int Erigite vexilla viri nec sit irae promeritae modus vel modestia Ab oriente ad occidente videatur fulmen gloriae vestrae audiatur tonitrum impetus vestri Uindicesque generosissimi sanguinis At which words all the Normans were so incensed against the English that they left their Duke alone speaking to himself befoâ—e he had ended his Speech