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—…i tenendis coucordes facti sunt Unde eisdem Legibus jubente Rege Cnutone ab Anglica lingua in Latinam translatis tà m in Dania quà m in Anglia 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 himself 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 asserent c. they all 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 revolted 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 sailed into Norwey with 50 ships thrust Olaus out of his kingdom by consent of his Nobles and subdued his Realm to himself whence returning into England An. 1029. Hâ—conem Danicum Comitem quasi Legationis causa in Exilium misit because he had maried Gunilda a Noble matron daughter of the King of Vandals unde metuebat ab illo vel à vitâ privari vel à rregno expelli who was after drowned in the Sea or slain in the Orcades Anno 1030. In which year Robert Duke of Normandy going to Hierusalem Apud Fischamium PROCERES AD COLLOQUIUM VOCAVIT ibique Gulielmum filium suum haeredem sibi constituens fecit omnes ei fidelitatem jurare And the same year the Norwegians cruelly murdered Olaus their King Doctor Preacher and Apostle with an ax Indignabatur enim Gens illa pagana et cruentissima QUOD PRIMAS LEGES et superstitiosas idem sanctus Rex Olaus praedicando docendo evangelizando statuendo evacuaret But Cnutes gold was the prime cause thereof to get his Crown as he had done his Realm and Edmond Ironsides for whose soul he prayed and offered a rich embroydered Pale on his Tomb at Glastonbury Anno 1026. Hoc autem fecisse creditur ne in mortem ejus cui in certamine singulari confoederatus fuerat consenssisse videretur writes Mat. Westminster King Cnute Anno 1031 to palliate his Usurpations of other mens Crowns with the shew of Devotion travelled to Rome in very great pomp where he offered very great gifts in gold silver rich vestments and pretious stones and obtained from Pope John That the English School should be frée from Tribute In his going and returning he not only gave large alms to the poor but likewise removed and deleted many nnjust Tolls and Taxes exacted from such who travelled to Rome giving a Great price to abolish them He solemnly vowed to God before the Sepulcher of the Apostle Peter a reformation both of his life and manners In pursuance whereof he writ a Letter from Rome to the Archbishops of Canterbury and Yorke all the Bishops Nobles and Rulers and to the whole English Nation as well Nobles as Plebeans wherein he certified them That he had procured from the Emp. of Germany King Rodolphus the Pope and other Princes a release of all unjust Tolls and Taxes exacted of his people as they travelled out of devotion towards Rome and of the vast sums of money which the Archbishops paid to the Pope for their Palls After which he in forms them That he had vowed to justify his life to God himself in all things To govern the Kingdoms and Nations under his subjection justly and piously To observe just judgement in all things and if through the Intemperance or negligence of his youth he had hitherto done any things besides that which was JUST that he promised by Gods assistance to reform it all Therefore I obtest and command all my Counsellors to whom I have committed the Counsels and Justice of my Realm that by no means either for fear of me or through favour to any potent person they should from henceforth doe any Injustice or cause it to sprout up in all my kingdom Likewise I command all the Sheriffs and Officers throughout my Realm as they desire to enjoy my favour or their own safety that they do No unjust violence to any Man neither to rich nor poor but it shall be lawfull for all as well Noble as Ignoble to enjoy justice and right from which they might not deviate in any manner neither for Regal favour nor for the person of any potent man nec propter mihi congerendam pecuniam quia nulla mihi necessitas est ut iniqua exactione pecunia mihi congeratur nor yet for raising oâ—â—eâ—ping up money to me Because there is uo necessity for me and let those who now plead Necessity both for their own illegal imposing levying of unjust uncessant heavy Taxes Imposts Excises on our Nations without grant and common consent in Parliamâ—nâ—â— consider it that money should be raised and collected for my use by an injust exaction After this he enjoyns them by this Leâ—…r To pay all Debts and Duties due by the antient Law as Tithes of their corn and cattel Peter pence and First fruits at the
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 Kenâ—… that they should be perpetually freed ab omni exactione publica tributi atque dispendio vel laestone à praesenti aie 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 his antecessors under whom Justice and Liberty was kept towards them About the year of our Lord 678. Wilfrid Arch-bishop of York being in a Council unjustly deprived of his Bishoprick by Theodor Archbishop of Canterbury who envied the greatness of his Wealth Power and Diocess which he would and did against Wilfrids will in that Council divide into 〈…〉 more Bishopricks was after that time exiled the Realm through the malice of Egfrid king of Nortbumberland and Emburga his Queen whom he would have perswaded to 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 Judgement and sentence of another Council held under Aldrid kingâ— of Northumberland and Bertuald Archbishop of Canterbury he thereupon made 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 heldâ— by him as he should deem meet with which decree against his first sentence he returning from Rome to king Egfrid to whom he delivered it sealed with the Popes Seal the king upon sight and reading thereof in the presence of some of his Bishops tantùm à reverentiâ Romanae sedis absuit 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 days 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 â—…lace to Religion he was loosed from his Bonds detainâ—ed in free custody and afterwards released but not restored After which about the year 693 he appealed again to Pope John 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 with 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—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 Anno 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 praeserâ—im cum eorum robori accedat Regis nostri Jussio nostrae necessitatis sponsio c. Puer in Regem levatus host is abactus Tyrannus extinctus est igitur Regiae voluntatis ut Episcopus Wilfridus revestiatur Upon which he was accordingly 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 for one miles circuit round about none should be arrested going or coming but injoy inviolable peace Quod institutum authoritate privilegiis Romanae sedis Apostolicorum Archiepiscoporum Episcoporum Regum Principum tam Scotiae quam Angliae confirmatum est Quod si aliquis temerarius infringere audebit magnae pecuniae damno obnoxius erit perpetuo Anathematis gladio ab ecclesiâ seperabitur as Richard 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 to the Abbey of Evesham which Pope Constantine likewise ratified by his subscription at Rome as well as these kings in the presence of many Archbishops Bishops Princes and Nobles of divers Provinces who commended and approved their Charters and Liberality In pursuance 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 the favour and assent of the Clergy and the people and consecrated with their Benediction Whereupon king Kenred and Offa after their return from Rome assembled a General Council in a place called Alne where both the Archbishops Brithwald and Wilfrid with the rest of the Bishops Nobles and these two Kings were
present wherein Donationes omnes confirmatae sunt all these their Donations and Charters were confirmed and likewise in another Synod at London An. 712. A most pregnant evidence that these kings Charters and Donations though ratified by the Pope himself were not valid nor obligatory to their successors or people without their common consent to and confirmation of them in a general Parliamentary Council of the Prelates Nobles Clergy and Laity even by the Popes and these kings own confessions and practice in that age In the year of our Lord 716. Ethelbald king of Mercians by his Charter gave to God the blessed Virgin Saint Bartholomew Kenulphus the whole Isle of Croyland to build a Monastery and confirmed it to them for ever free from all Rent and secular services inde Chartam suam in praesentia Episcoporum Procerumque Regni sui securam statuit all his Bishops and Nobles of his Realm assenting to and ratifying this Charter of his both with the subscriptions of their names and sign of the Cross as well as the King that so it might be firm and irrevocable being his demesne Lands which Charter is at large recorded in the History of Ingulphus About the year of Christ 720. some fabulously write that king Ina took Guala daughter of Cadwallader last king of the Britons to wife with whom he received Wales and Cornwal and the blessed Crown of Britain Whereupon all the English that then were took them wives of the Britons race and all the Britons took them wives of the illustrious blood of the English and Saxons which was done Per commune Concilium et assensum omnium Episcoporum ac Principum Procerum Comitum et omnium Sapientum Seniorum et populorum totius Regni aâ—… General Parliamentary Council Et per praeceptum Regis Inae whereby they became one Nation and People Afâ—er which they all called that the Realm of England which before was called the Realm of Britain and they all ever after stood together united in one for common profit of the Crown of the Realm and with â—…nimous consent most fiercely fought against the Danes and Norwegians and waged most cruel wars with them for the preservation of their Country Lands and Liberties An. 705. King Ina by his Royal Charter granted and confirmed many Lands to the Abbey of Glastonbury endowing that Abbey and the Lands thereto belonging with many large and great Privileges exempting them from all Episcopal Jurisdiction and from all regal exactions and services which are accustomed to be excepted and reserved to wit from Expedition and building and repairing of Castles or Bridges from which they should inviolably remain free and exempted and from all the promulgations and perturbations of Arch-Bishops and Bishops which privileges were formerly granted and confirmed by the ancient Charters of his Predecessors Kâ—…s Kâ—…n â—…alla and Baldred This Charter of his was made and ratified by the consent and subscription not only of king Ina himself but also of Queen Edelburâ—a king Baldrâ—d Adelard the Queens Brother consentientibus etiam omnibus Britanniae Regibus Archiepiscopis Episcopis Ducibus atque Abbatibus all the Kings Archbishops Bishops Dukes and Abbots of Britain consenting likewise thereunto many of which subscribed their names unto it being assembled in a Parliamentary Council for that end King Ina In the year 727. travelling to Rome built there a school for the English to be instructed in the faith granting towards the maintenance of the English Scholars there a penny out of every house within â—his Realm called Romescot or Peter pence to be paid towards it every year All which Things and Tax That they might continue firm for perpetuity Stat 〈◊〉 esâ—generaâ—â— decreâ—o c. were confirmed by a general decree of a Parliamentary Council of his Realm then held for that purpose of which before more largely In the year of our Lord 742. There was a Great Parliamentary Council held at Clovesho or Clysfe where Ethelbald King of Mercia sate President with Cuthbert Archbishop of Canterbury the rest of the Bishops sitting together with them diligently examined things necessary concerning Religion and studiously searched out of the ancient Creeds and institutions of the holy Fathers how things were ordered according to the rule of equity in the beginning of the Churches birth in England whiles they were inquiring after these things and the antient privileges of the Church at last there came to their hands the Liberty and Privileges which King Withred had granted to the Churches in Kent which being read before all by King Ethelbalds command they were all very well pleased therewith and said unanimously That there could not be found any so noble and so prudent a Decree as this formerly made touching Ecclesiastical Discipline and therefore Hoc ab omnibus firmari sanxerunt decreed that it should be confirmed by them all Whereupon King Ethelbald for the salvation of his soul and stability of his kingdome confirmed and subscribed with his own munificent hand That the Liberty Honour Authority and security of Christe Church in all things should be denied by no person but that it should be free from all secular services with all the lands pertaining thereunto except Expedition and building of Bridge and Castle And like as the said King Withred himself ordained those privileges should be observed by him and his so he and this Council commanded they shall continue irrefragably and immutably in all things And if any of our Successors Kings Bishops or Princes shall attempt to infringe this wholsom Decree let him render an account to Almighty God in that terrible day But if any Earl Priests Clerk Deacon or Monk shall resist this Decree let him be deprived of his degree and sequestred from the participation of the body blood of the Lord and alienated from the kingdom of God unless he shall amend with due satisfaction what he hath unjustly done through the evil of Pride Anno 747. There was another Parliamentary Council held at Clovesho or Clyffe under king Ethelbald where the king himself with Cuthbeâ—t Archbishop of Canterbury eleven other Bishops cum Principibus et Ducibus with the Princes and Dukes were present In this Council were some Ecclesiastical Laws and Canons made the last whereof was for Prayers to be publikely made for Kings and Princes incessantly that the People might live a Godly and peaceable life under their pious protection In this Council king Ethelbald renewed and enlarged his former Grant of Privileges to the Churches recited at large in the Marginal Authors the sum whereof is this Plerumque contingere solet pro incertâ futurotum temporum vicissitudine ut ea quae prius multorum fidelium personarum testimonio consilioque roborata fuissent ut fraudulenter per contumaciam plurimorum machinament is simulationis sine ullâ consideratione rationis periculose dissipata essent nisi auctoritate Literarum
Realm and soon after slain by Offa and so dignum finem insidiarum tulit being Author necis of his Sovereign King Ethelbald asuis tutoribus fraudulentèr interfectus as our Historians observe A good Memento for other Traitors and Usurpers treading in his footsteps Qui Regnum Tyrannus invasit per modicum tempus in parva laetitiâ jocunditate tenens Regnum cum vitâ perdidit as Wigorniensis writes of him The English complaining to King Offa in the year 775. of the great exactions in forein parts under Charls the Emperour they being then at variance so as their trading and merchandize was every where prohibited in both their Realms thereupon King Offa by gifts sent to the Emperour obtained this Grant and Privilege from him for his Subjects That all Pilgrims passing through his Dominions to Rome for piety and devotion sake alone should have free and peaceable passage without any molestation or Tribute That all Merchants and others in the company of Pilgrims passing only for gain not devotion should pay only a certain established Tribute in fitting places That all English Merchants and Traders should have lawfull protection by his command within his Realm and if in any place they were vexed with unjust oppression that upon complaint to him or his Judges they should have full justice done unto them In the year 780. Aethelred or Adelred king of Northumberland was deposed by his Subjects after he had feigned 3 years and quite driven out of his Realm by his Nobles who the next year after assaulted and burnt a certain Consull or Earl being their justice in his own house plus aequo saevientem for tyrannizing beyond the Bounds of Law and Right I shall not insist upon the manifold Insurrections of these Northumberlanders against their kings nor their disloyal depositions expulsions Murders of most of them upon pretended oppressions and Exorbitancies in Government rather than â—eal nor on the strange general bloody frequent depredations wars devastations Plagues Judgements Invasions by Danes Normans Scots and others inflicted justly on them for the same by Divine Justice more than on all other parts of this Iland since I have touched some of them before and shall glance at more of them hereafter all which the studious may read at leisure in Maslmesbury Huntindon Hoveden Aethelwendus Matthew Westminsteâ— Bromton Florentius Wagorniensis Simeon Dunelmensis Radulphus de Diceto Polychronicon Holinshed Speed and others Only I shall give you the sum of them about this age in the words of Simeon Dunelmensis and Richardus Hagulstaldenâ—is Crudelis exinde Barbarorum manus innulmeris navibus in Angliam transvecta omnia quaqua versum depopulans Northunhymbrorum autem provincias atrocius devastans omnes Ecclesias omnia Monasteria ferro incendio delevit adeò ut nullum pene Christianitatis signum post se discedens reliquerit Monachi qui loci reverentia confidentes remanserunt de Ecclesiâ extracti alii in mare sub hostibus submersi alii Captivi abducti alii detruncati alii aliis tormentis miserabiliter affecti omnes simul interiêrunt Et indè prosiliens flammâ et ferro in exterminium omnia duxit c. After which sad successive devastations for sundry years by the Danes they were so totally depopulated and extirpated by Famine Sword and Pestilence by the Normans An. 1069. that the whole Country was reduced into a desolate Wilderness without an inhabitant and lay untilled for nine years space bestiarum tantum latronum latibula being only Dens of Beasts and Theeves And how many times in hath been wasted depopulated with fire and sword since this by the Scots and what barbarous cruelties they have exercised therein you may read in the Continuation of Simeon Dunelmensis by the Prior of Hagustald col 264. in Historia Ricardi Prioris Hagustaldensis de Gestis Regis Stephani bello Standardi col 315 316. and other Chronicles since that time The Lord in Mercy divert the like judgements from that Northern part and the whole kingdom now for the like transgressions of a later date In the year of Christ 787. as most account Pope Adrian sent Legates into England to confirm the faith which Augustine had preached who being honourably received both by the Kings Clergy and People thereupon held a great Parliamentary Council at Calâ—huâ— Chalchuthe or Cealtide as Henry Huntindon stiles it In this Council Offa king of Mercians and Kenulphus king of West-Saxons with all their Ecclesiastical and secular Princes Nobles Elders Bishops Abbots were present who all subscribed and consented to the Ecclesiaestical and Temporal Laws and Canons therein made and published being 20 in Number The principle whereof relating to my Theam I have formerly recited In this Parliamentary Council King Offa caused Egfrid his eldest son to be solemnly crowned King who from thenceforth reigned with him And in it Jambertus or Lambert Archbishop of Canterbury much against his will resigned part of his Arch-Bishoprick to the Arch-bishop of Litchfield by the command and power of King Offa who envying the power and Pride of the Archbishop of Canterb. deprived him in this Council notwithstanding all Jamberts appeals to Pope Adrian of all Lands and Jurisdiction within his Realm of Mercia erecting a new Arch-bishoprick at Litchfield to which he subjected all the Bishops of Mercia being then six in number â—ill by another Council they were reunited to Canterbury after the decease of Offa. About the year 788. there being some difference amongst Historians in the year there was a great Council held at Ade and after that another Council kept at Wincenhale or Pincanhale in Northumberland now called Finkely Sir Henry Spelman conceives that these Councils were principally summoned to prevent the incursions of the Danes who in the year 787 came into Britain with 3 ships to discover the Coasts and prey upon it slew King Bricticus his Provost and after that many thousand thousands of the English at sundry times After this there was another Parliamentary Council or Synod held at Aclea or Aclith at which time Duke Sigga by wicked Treason flew his Sovereign Alfwold king of Northumberland and was not long afterwards slain himself by the Danes who miserably wasted and destroyed that rebellious kingdom of Northumberland with fire and sword as a condigu punishment for their treasons Rebellions and Regicides of their Kings Anno 792. there was a Council held at a place called Fincale where the Archbishop with his Suffragan Bishops and many others were present What the occasion of it was appears not only our Historians relate That Osred king of Northumberland was this year chased out of his Kingdom by his rebellious subjects when he had reigned but one year and Ethelred son of Mollo substituted King in his place Whereupon Osred gathering forces together to expel Ethelred which had expulsed him out of his Realm was in his march into it again taken
vengeance pursued this hainous bloody Treachery notwithstanding all his feigned magnified Saintship and works of Charity and Piety for within one year after this bloody fact committed both Queendreda Offa and their Son Egfrid the only joy and pride of his Parents all died and his very kingdom it self was translated from the Mercians to the West-Saxons whom he â—…quered and oppressed O that all men of blood and unjust invaders of others Crowns Realms Possessions by war bloodshed and Treachery would seriously consider this President with all others of this nature both at home and abroad collected to their hands by Sir Walter Raughly in his excellent Preface before his famous History of the World About the year of Christ 797. Cynwolfe or Kenulph King of West-Saxons held a Council wherein he with his Bishops una cum caterva Satraparum and likewise with a great company of his Nobles there assembled writ a Letter to Lullus Bishop of Mentz touching some matters of Religion then in Debate In the year 798. the third of King Kenulph his reign there was a great Parliamentary Synod assemat Pinchamhalch wherein Eanbaldus or Embaldus Archbishop of Yorksate President with very many wise and great Men by whose Wisdom and Justice the Kingdom of Northumberland was then much advanced and renowned Who after they had debated many things concerning the benefit of holy Church and profit of all the Provinces of the People of Northumberland the observation of Easter and of Divine and secular Laws the increase of Gode service and the honours and necessities of the servants of God rehearsed and ratified the faith of the 5 first General Councils concerning the Trinity in brief and pithy expressions sit now to be revived in these times of Heresie and Blasphemy The same year there was another Great Council held at Bacanceld wherein Kenulph King of Mercians sate President Athelardus Archbishop of Canterbury 17 other Bishops sundry Abbots Arch-deacons and other fit persons being there likewise present Wherein by the command of Pope Leo it was decreed That from thenceforth no Laymen should exercise Dominion over the Lords Inheritance and Churches but that they should be governed by Holy Canons and the Rules of their first founders and possessors under pain of Excommunication and that Christ-church in Canterbury should be restored to its antient Metropolitan Jurisdiction Which all the Prelates and Abbots confirmed with their Subscriptions And this year this King consecrated the Church of Winchelcumbe endowing it with great gifts and possessions in a kind of Parliamentary Assembly of 13 Bishops and 10 Dukes where he manumitted and set free at the high Altar Edbert King of Kent surnamed Pren whom he had taken prisoner in Battel Moreover Eanbaldus Archbishop of York this year assembled a Synod at Finchale most likely for the assistance of Eardulfus King of Northumberland against Duke Wadus and other Conspirators who rose up against him whom he vanquished and utterly routed after a long and bloody battle at Bilingeho where many were slain on both sides which History Matthew Westminster couples with this Synod An. 798. King Kenulph in the year 799. By the consent of his Bishops and Priuces at the request of Athelardus Archbishop of Canterbury restored to Christ-Church in Canterbury four parcels of Land which king Offa had formerly taken from it and gave to his Servants free from all secular service and Regal Tribute ratifying this restitution by his Charter signed with the Cross that it might remain inviolable by their concurrent assent There was a Provincial Council held at Clovesho or Clyffe In the year of our Lord 800. by Kenulf king of Mercians Athelwerdus Archbishop of Canterbury and all the Bishops Dukes Abbots â—â—juscunque dignitatis viâ—os and men of all sorts of dignity where after some inquiry how the Catholique Faith was kept and Christian Religion practiced amongst them The Lands which king Offa and king Kenulph had forcibly taken away from Christ-Church with the Nunnery of Cotham and the Hides of Land called Burnam were Synodali Judicio by the Judgement of the Council restored to Christ-Church Et omnium voce Decretum est and It was decreed by the voice of all the Council upon sight of the Books and Deeds there produced before them by the Archbishop that it was just Cotham should be restored to Christ-Church being given to it by King Aethelbald by his Charter of which it had for a long time unjustly been spoiled notwithstanding the frequent complaints made by Archbishop Bregwin and Iambert in every of their Synods In hoc Concilio annuente ipso Rege Athelandus recuper avit dignitates possessiores quas Offa Rex Merciorum abstulerat Iamberto writes Gervasius After which the Archbishop in this Council made this Exchange with Cynedritha then Abbess of Cotham that she and her successors should enjoy all the Lands and Nunnery of Cotham in lieu whereof she should give to him one hundred and ten Hydes of Land in Kent lying in Fleot Tenaham and Creges together with all the writings thereto belonging which exchange was made before confirmed and attested by this Noble Synod that so no Controversie might arise between them their Heirs and Successors or King Offa ' s in future times concerning the same but that they might peaceably injoy them without interruption for ever And more over the Archbishop gave unto Cynedrytha the Monastery called Pretanege which king Egfrid gave to him his heirs Which proves the Gâ—eat Councils and Synods in that age to be Parliaments and that they judicially restored Lands â—â—justly taken away by Kings upon complaint examination anâ— due proof made thereof as well as inquired of errors and abuses in religion In this Councilâ—… conceive i was that Kenulph with his Bishops Dukes et omni sub nostra Ditione Dignatis gradu compiled and â—â—nâ— a Letter to Pope Leo the third promising obedience to his commands requesting that the ancient Canons might be observed and the Jurisdiction and Power of the See of Canterbury which King Offa and Pope Adrian had diminished and divided into two Provinces or Archbishopricks might be restored and united again thereto to avoid Scisms and craving the Popes answer to these their requests which he returned in a special Letter to the King restoring to Athelardus and his successors the Bishopricks substracted from his Province with the Metropolitan Jurisdiction over them as amply as before Hereupon in the year 802. or thereabouts there was another Parliamentary Council assembled at Clovesho wherein the Archbishoprick of Litchfield was dissolved the See of Canterbury restored to its former plenary Metropolitical Jurisdiction according to Pope Leo his Decree By the advice and Decree of the whole Council which commanded in the name of God That no Kings nor Bishops nor Princes neque ullius Tyrannicae potestatis Homines should diminish the honour of the Metropolitical See or presume to divide
Where upon being a Noble and very potent man of great Parentage he called all his kinsmen and the chief Nobles of his Familie to him with all speed and acquainted them with this dishonour done to him by the king saying he would by all means be avenged thereof and by their Counsel and Consent they went all together to York to the king who when he saw Bruern called him courteously to him But he guarded with his kinred and friends presently defying the King resigned up to him his Homage Fealty Lands and what ever he held of him saying that he would never hold any thing of him hereafter as of his Lord And so without more words or greater stay instantly departed and taking leave of his friends went speedily into Denmark and complained to Codrinus king thereof of the Indignity done by King Osbrith to him and his Lady imploring his aid and assistance speedily to revenge it he being extracted out of his Royal blood The king and Danes hereupon being exceeding glad that they had this inducing cause to invade England presently gathered together a great Atmy to revenge this Injury done to Bruern being of his Blood appointing his two Brothers Inguar and Hubba most valiant Souldiers to be their Generals who providing Ships and other Necessaries transported an innumerable Army into England and landed them in the Nothern parts This being the true Cause why the Danes at this time invaded England in this manner In the mean time the Parents Kindred and Friends of Bruern expelled and rejected King Osbrith for this Injury done to him and his Lady refusing to hold their Lands of or to obey him any longer as their Soveraign and advanced one Ella to be King though none of the Royal bloud Our other Historians who mention not this fact of Osbrith and occasion of these Danes arival to revenge it write that the Danes upon their Landing marched to the City of York wasting all the Country before them with fire and Sword unto Tinmouth At that time they write by the Devilsinstinct there was a very great discord raised between the Northumberlanders Sicut semper populo qui odium incurrerit evenire solet For the Northumberlanders at that time had expelled their lawfull King Osbrith out of the Realm and advanced one Ella a Tyrant not of the Royal bloud to the Regal Soveraignty of the Kingdom By reason of which division the Danes taking York ran up and down the Country filling all places with bloud and Grief wasting and burning all the Churches and Monasteries far and near leaving nothing standing but the Walls and ruines of them pillaging depopulating and laying waste the whole Country In which great necessity and distress the Northumberlanders reconciling their two Kings Osbrith and Ella one to another gathered a great Army together against the Danes which their two Kings and eight Earls marched with to York where after a long fight with various success both the said Kings with most of the Northumberlanders were all stain April 11. Anno 867. The City of York consumea with fire and the whole Kingdom made tributarie to the Danes Simeon Dunelmensis relates that both these kings had violently sacrilegiously taken away certain Lands from S. Cuthberts Church in Durham for Osbrit had by a sacrilegious attempt taken away Wircewood and Tillemouth and Ella Billingham Heclif and Wigeclif Creca from S. Cuthbert tandem cum maximâ parte suorum ambo praefati Reges occubuerunt Injurias quas Ecclesiae sancti Cuthberti aliquando irrogaverant vitâ privati regno persolverunt Which the Author of the History of St. Cuthbert observes and records more largely as a punishment of their sacrilegious Rapine The Danes hereupon made Egbert king of Northumberland as a Tributary and Viceroy under them Sic Northumbria bellieo jure obtenta barbaro rum dominium multo post tempore pro conscientiâ libertatis Ingemuit writes Malmesbury de Gestis Regum Angliae l. 2. c. 3. p. 42. These rebellious Northumberlanders about 7 years after uno conspirantes consilio expelled Egbert the Realm by unanimous consent together with Archbishop Wilfer making one Richius King in his Place the Danes both then and long after possessing and wasting their Country and slaughtering them with fire and sword as the Marginal Historians record more than any other parts of the Iland by a just divine punishment for their manifold Treasons Seditions Factions Rebellions against and Murders of their Soveraigns In the year 868. a great Army of these victorious plundering Danes marched out of the Kingdome of Northumberland to Nottingham which they took and there wintered Whereupon Beorred or Brithred King of Mercians omnesque esusdem gentis Optimates and all the Nobles of that Nation assembled together Where the King Consilium habuit cum suis Comitibus comilitonibus omni populo nbi subjecto Qualitèr inimicos bellicâ virtute exuperaret sive de Regno expelleret held a Council with his Earls and fellow Souldiers and all the people subject to him how he might vanquish these Enemies with military power or drive them out of the Realm By whose advice he sent Messengers to Ethelred King of the West-Saxons and to his Brother Elfrid humbly requesting them that they would assist and joyn with him against the Danish Army which they easily condescening to gathered a very great Army together out of all parts and joyning all together with Beorred and his forces marched to Nottingham unanimously with a a resolution to give the Danes battel who sheltering themselves under the works of the Castle and Town refused to fight with them whereupon they besieged them in the Town but being unable to break the Walls they concluded a Peace at last with the Danes upon condition that they should relinquish the Town and march back again into Northumberland which they did where their Army continued the whole year following in about York debacchans insaniens occidens perdens perplurimos viros mulieres Abbot Ingulphus records that during the siege of Nottingham King Beorred as he stiles him at the request of Earl Algar the younger who was very gracious with him and the other Kings causâ suae nobilis militiae granted a Charter of Confirmation not only of all the Lands Advowsons Possessions which this Earl with other particular persons and Kings had given to the Abby of Croyland but likewise of all their former Privileges confirming all their Ilands Marishes Churohes Chapels Mannors Mansions Cottages Woods Lands Meadows therein specified to God and Saint Guthla◠for ever Libera Soluta emancipata ab omni onere terreno servitio seculari in Eleemofynam aeternam perpetuo possidendam Which Charter hath this memorable exordium expressing the motives inducing this King to grant it Beorredus largiente Dei gratiâ Rex Merciorum omnibus provinciis populis earum universam Merciam inhabitantibus fidem Catholicam
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 pell the Enemies whereby the Common people were 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 praesâ—arent ita hostes contemptui militibus Regi risâ—i erant as Malmesbury writes The Country people themselves fighting with the Danes at Ligetune put them to â—light recovered all the prey they had taken and likewise the Danes Horses as they likewise did in some other parts Amongst other places this King reâ—aired the walls of Colchester put warlike men in it certum eis stipendium assignavit and assigned them a certain stipend as Mat Westm records neither he noâ— 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 Patron 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 stile 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 a holsom 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 Aedulfe for Wells Werstan for Crideton and Herstan for Cornwal assigning them their several Sees and Diocess and two other Bishops for Dorchester and Cirencester all consecrated by Archbishop Plegmond at Canterbury in one day Wil. of Malmesb. and some others write that this Council was summoned upon the Letter of Pope â—ormosus 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 â—ormosus 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 Guthurn the Dane reconfirmed the Civil and Ecclesiastical Laws formerly made and ratified by his Father King Alfred and Guthurn But Guthurn dying in the year 890 full eleven years before this Edward was king could not possibly ratifie these Laws at the time of this Accord being 16 years after his decease as the Title and Prologue to those Laws in Mr. Lambard and Spelman erroneously affirm wherefore I conceive that this confirmation of these Laws was rather made in the year 921. when all our Historians record that after king Edward Anno 910. had sent an army into Northumberland against the perfidious and rebellious Danes slain and taken many of them Prisoners and miserably wasted their Country for 4 days space for breaking their former Agreement with him after his Sister Aegelâ—led An. 919. had forced the Danes at York to agree and swear that they would submit to her and her Brothers pleasure in all things and after Edward had vanquished the other Danes Scotch and Welsh in many Battles thereupon in the yeat 921. the king of Scots with all his Nation Stredded king of Wales with all his people et Regnaldus or Reginaldus Reginald King of the Danes with all the English and Danes inhabiting Northumberland of which Reginald then was King comming to King Edward An. 921. submitted themselves unto him elected him for their Father and Lord and made a firm Covenant with him And therefore I conjecture that Gnthurnus in the Title and Preface of these Laws is either mistaken or else mis-written for Reginaldus then King of these Northern Danes who had no King in the year 906 that I can read of in our Historians Abbot Ethelred gives this Encomium of this Kings transcendent modesty and justice Rex Edwardus vir mansuetus et pius omnibus amabilis et affabilis adeò omnium in se provocabat affectum ut Scotti Cumbri Walenses Northumbri et qui remanserant Daci eum non tà m in Dominum ac Regem quam in Patrem eum omni devotione eligerent Tanta dehinc Modestia regebat Subditos tanta Justitia inter proximum et proximum judicabat ut contra veritatem non dico nihil velle sed nec posse videretur unde fertur quibusdam iratus dixisse dico vobis si possem vicem vobis redidissem Quid non posset Rex in Subditos Dominus in Servos Potens in infirmos Dux in milites Sed quicquid non dictabat aequitas quicquid veritati repugnabat quicquid non permittebat Justitia quicquid Regiam mansuetudinem non decebat Sibi credebat impossibile I wish all our modern domineering Grandees would imitate his presidential Royal Example Yet I read of one injurious Act done by him After the decease of his renowned Sister Elfleda Queen of Mercia Anno 920. he dis-inherited her only Daughter Alfwen or Elwyn his own Neece of the Dominion of all Mercia who held that Kingdom after her Mother seising and Garrisoning Tamesworth and Nottingham first and then disseising her of all Mercia uniting it to his own Realms and removing her thence into West-Sex Magis eurans an utilitèr vel inutilitèr Quan an justè vel injustè Writes Henry Huntingdon which innrious action Si violanda sit fides regni causâ violandae will not excuse The Chronicle of Bromton records that King Edward as he inlarged the bounds of his Kingdom more than his Father So Leges condidit he likewise made Laws to govetn it which are there registred to Posterity in two parcels as made at several times but in what year of his Reign this was it informs us not The first of these Laws declaring his zeal to publick Justice according to the Laws then in Force is this Edwardus Rex mandat et praecipit omnibus Praefectis et Amicis suis ut Justa judicia judicent quam rectiora possint Et in judiciaâ—t Libro stant nec parcant nec dissimulent pro anqua
quod contra nostrum deliquit decretum The same year King Edgar by his regal Charter recorded at large by Abbot Ingulphus confirmed all the Lands and Privileges of the Abby of Croyland formerly granteâ— and confirmed to them by King Edred and his Nobles in the presence of both the Archbishops 〈…〉 Bishops anâ—… Nobles assembled in a Council at London who raâ—… it wiâ—h their â—ubâ—câ—ipâ—ions the â—â—gn of the Cross and a solemn excommunication denounced by the two Archbishops and three Bishops more in Pauls Church London in the presence of King Edgar hiâ— Prelates and Nobles in Octavis Pentecostes against all Infringers of this Chaâ—ter and of their Liberties About the year 967 as some or 969. as others compute King Edgar in a Great Senate or Council by advise of his Wisemen enacted divers civil Ecclesiastical Laws and Canons for the Government of the Stâ—… Church thus prefaced Leges quas â—or hoc est Institutum quod Edgarns Rex freqenti Senatu Consilio Sapientum snorum 〈…〉 gloriam 〈…〉 ornâ—… et Reipublicae utilitatem sancivit or constituit The 7 and 8 of his secular Lawâ— in the Latâ—… â—â—r 1 2 3. in the Saxon Copy I shall only transcribe Hoc est institutio secularis quam volo per omnia â—eneâ—i Voloâ— omnis homo sit dignus juris publiet 〈…〉 quicunque â—it et eiâ— justa judicia judicentur Et â—it in emendationibus remâ—… vemaâ—is apud Deum Et apud seculum tolerabiâ—is Et nemo requiret Regem pro aliqua causa niâ—i domi negatur ei omne dignum recti vel rectum impetrare non possit Et de nulla emendabili re foris faciat homo plusquam Weram suam agreeable to our Kings Coronation oath and Magna Charta Et judex qui injustum judicium judicabit alicui det Regi Cxx s. nisi jurare audeat quod â—ectius judicare nescivit Et qui aliquem injuste superdicere praesumat Unde vita vel commodo pejor sit linguae suae reus erit c. Anno 969. there was a general Council assembled at London by king Edgar at the instigation of Pope Iohn and Archbishop Dunstan wherein as I conceive the King made that elegant Oration against the vicious lives of the Clergy thus expressing his own duty and supremacy over all Persons and causes both Civill and Ecclesiastical Justum proinde est ut qui omnia subjecit sub pedibus nostriâ— subjiciamus illi et Nos et animas nostraâ— et ut hi quos nobis subdidit ejus subdantur Legibus non segniter elaboremus Et meae quidem inâ—ereâ—… Laicos cum aequitatis fure tractare inter virum et proximum suum justum judicium facere punire sacrilegos rebelles supprimere eripere â—…opem de manusortiorum ejus egenum et paâ—perem à deripientibus eum Sed et meae â—ollicitudinis est Ecclesiarum Ministris c. et necessaria procurare et paci eorum et quieti consulere De quorum omnium moribus ad Noâ— spectat examen si vivunt continenter si honeste se habent ad eosqui foris sunt si in divinis officiis solliciti si in Docendo populo assidui si victu sobrii si moderati habitu si in judiciis sunt discreti c. Ego Constantini vos Petri gladium habetis in manibus jungamus dextras gladium gladio copuâ—emus ut ejiciantur â—extra castra leprosi ut purgeâ—ur sanctuarium Domini et ministrâ—nt in Templo silii Levi c. After which directing his speech to Dunstan Aethelwald and Oswald he concludes thus Vobis istud committo negotium â—t Episcopali censura et authoritate Regia turpiter viventes de Ecclesiis ejiciantur ordinatè viventes introducantur Herupon there was a Decree made in this General Council That all Canons Priests Deacons and Sub-Deacons should live chastly that is put away their lawfull Wives vow chastity and become Monks or relinquish the Churches they then held The execution whereof was committed to Oswald and Ethelwald Who thereupon compelled the Clergy in Worcester Winchester and other Churches to become Monks renuentes verò ab omni beneficio spoliarunt depriving those who refused of all their Benefices and putting Monks into them qui novo quidem splendore vniversam Insulam illustrarunt as our Monkish Writers record or rather novo foetore contaminarunt as others write John Bromton informs us that after the slaughter of the Nuns of Ely by Inguar and Hubba the secular Priests enjoyed that Monaâ—â—erâ— one hundred years space whom King Edgar de Concilio beati Dunstani Archiepiscopi dicti Ethelwardi aâ— mâ—gnatum Regni in the forementioned General Council expulit fugavit for their dishonest conversation Bishop Oswald having ejected the married secular Priests out of his Church at Worcester and introduced Monks in their places did this year 969. as I conjecture from the premises not 964. as Sir Henry Spelman computes it â—â—ocure King Edgar by the Counsel and assent of his Princes Nobles and Bishops most probably in the forementioned General Council or that of London next ensuing to ratifie this their ejection and confirm the Church of Worcester with all the lands goods ecclesiastical secular things thereto belonging to the Monks of that Church for ever free from all secular services and exactions hard or easie and from all fiscal duties great and small known or unknown as well of the King or Prince as of their Officers exceptis Arcis Pontis extructione et expeditione edntra hoâ—stem And that by the special Charter called Oswald Law subscribed by the King Queen both the Archbishops and 3 Dukes King Edgar Anno 970. or 971. in the 12 â—ear of his reign held another Parliamentary Council at London where himself his Mother Alfgina Prince Edward his Son Kined King of Scots Mascusius his Admiral both the Ahchbishops with the rest of the Bishops and all the Nobles and great men of the Realm were present By his Charters made in and ratified by this Council this King granted and confirmed many and very magnificent Privileges to the Monastery of Glastonbury communi Episcoporum Abbatum Principuâ—â—que concilio et generali assensu Pontificum Abbatum Optimatumque suorum exempting the Monastery and Monks thereof not only from all Episcopal Jurisdiction but likewise all their Lands from all Tributes and Exchequer businesses for ever Granting them Socam Sacam c. Toll Teame Italibere et quiete sicut ego habeo in regno meo Eandem quoque Libertatem Potestatem quam ego in Curia mea habeo tam in demittendo quam in puniendo in quibuslibet omnino negotiis Abbas Monachi praefati Monasterii in Curia sua habeant And which is a Privilege beyond all president Si autem Abbas vel quilibet Monachus loci illius latronem qui ad suspendium vel quodlibet mortis
periculum ducitâ—â— in itinere obvium habuerit potestatem habeat eripiendi eum ab imminen i periculo in toto Regno meo The old Charter begins thus In nomine Domini nostri Jesu Christi Quamvis Decreta Pontificum verba Sacerdotum inconvulsis ligaminibus velut fundamenta montium fixa sunt tamen plerumque tempestatibus turbinibus saecularium rerum Religio sanctae Ecclesiae maculis reproborum dissipatur ac â—…itur Iccirco profuâ—… succedentibus posteris esse decrevimus ut ea quae salubri Consilio et communi assensu definiuntur nostris literis roborata firmentur c. Hoc itaque Dunstano Doroberniensi at que Oswaldo Eboracensi Episcopo adhortantibus consentiente etiamer annuente Brithelmo Fontanensi Episcopo caeterisque Episcopis Abbatibus et Primatibus Ego Edgar divina dâ—â—poâ—…one Rex Anglorum c. And it concludes thus Acta est haec Privilegii â—aginâ— confirmata apud Londonium Communi Concilio omnium Primatum meorum Then follow the subscriptions of King Egar Alfgina his Mother Prince Edward Kinred King of Scots Mascusius the chief Admiral both the Archbishops 6 Bishops 8 Abbots 3 Dukes and other Officers Which Charter and Privileges at the Kings request were ratified by Pope John the 13 in a general Council at Rome Anno Dom. 971. by a special Bull that they might remain inviolable yet both the Abbey it self Lands Privileges are long since demolished dissipated annihilated such is the mutabiliunity of all sublunary things The self same year Anno 970. King Edgar by his Charter granted and confirmed sundry Lands and Privileges to the Monastery of Medeshamsted formerly demolished by the Danes which Bishop Aethelwold had repaired and named Burgh perpetually exempting it from all Episcopal jurisdiction yoak and exaction Quatenus nec Rex nec Comes nec Episcopus praeter Christianâ—â—atem attinentium Parochiarum nec vicecomes nec ulla alia major minorve persona ulla dominatione occupari praesumat excepta moderata expeditione Pontis Arcisve constructione VVhich Charter was ratified by the kings own subscription both the Archbishops sundry Bishops Abbots Dukes and other chief Officers and the sign of the Cross after each of their Names In the year 973. King Edgar after his seven years penance expired on the Feast of Pentecost in the 30th year of his age was solemnly Crowned and consecrated King and wore his Crown with great glory at Akemancester alias Bath both the Archbishops Dunstan and Oswald with all the rest of the Bishops of England ac Magnatibus universis and all the Nobles being there preâ—ent at his Coronation and received the accustomed Gifts usually given to the Nobles being at such inaugurations Soon after the same year this King with a very great Fleet and Army sayling round about the Northern parts of England came to Westchester where his eight tributary Kings or Vice-royes namely Kyneth king of Scots Malcome King of Cumberland Marcus king of Man and many other Ilands and the other 5 kings of Wales Dufnall Siferth Howel Iames and Iuchill met him as he had commanded them and swore alleâ—i nce to him in these words That they would be faithfull and assisting to him both by Land and Sea Which done he on a certain day entred with them into a Barge and placing them at the Oares himself took the Helm and steered the Barge very skilfully whiles they rowed it down the River of Dee from his Palace to the Monastery of St. John Bapist on the other side all his Dukes and Nobles following and accompanying him in other Barges where having made his Prayers they all rowed him thence back again in like pompe to his Royal Palace which when he had entred he said to his Nobles That any of his Successors might then say he was King of England when with so many Kings following and subject to him he should enjoy the Prerogative of the like pompe and power But Mr. Fox subjoyns In my mind this king had said much better God forbid that I should glory in any thing but in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ The year following An. 974. Certain Merchants comming from York arived in the Islle of Thanet in Kent where they were presently taken by the Ilanders and spoyled of all their goods which king Edgar being informed of was so far incensed against these Plunderers that he spoyled them of all their Goods and deprived some of them of their lives Which Huntingdon and Bromton thus record Rex Edgarus undecimo Anno Regni sui jussit praedari Insulam Tenet Quia jure Regalia spreverant non ut host is insaniens sed ut Rex malo mala puniens The same year as Malmesbury Ingulphus and others write king Edgar by his regal Charter caused the secular Priests to be removed out of the Monastery of Malmesbury and introducing Monks in their places restored to them the Lands and Possessions of the monastery which the secular Priests formerly enjoyed and had leased 〈◊〉 that upon a full hearing before the Wise-men Bishops others in his presence most likely in a Parliamentary Council as this clause in his Charter intimates Haec a praedictis accommodata Clericis a contensioso possessa est Edebnoto sed superstitiosa subtilique ejus disceptatione aSapientibns meis audita et conflictatione illius mendosa ab eisdem me praesente convicta Monasteriali a me reaâ— â—a est usui If the Council of Winchester hereafter cited Anno 975. was held in King Edgars life time as some affirm most probably this debate here mentioned touching these Lands was held in and before that Council and this Charter therein made and ratified with the subscriptions of the Kings Arch-bishops Bishops Abbots and Dukes thereto annexed according to the custome of that age Although King Edgar in his younger daies was subject to many Vices and committed some injurious Tyrannical Acts recorded by Malmesbury Fox Speed and others yet repenting of these his youthfull lustfull Vices he proved such a just and prudent King that our Historians of elder and later ages give these large Encomiums of his Justice Prudence Piety Vertues and politique Government worâ—hy perpetual memory and immitation So excellent was he in Justice So sharp was he in correction of Vices as well in his Magistrates Officers and other Subjects that never before his days was less felony by Robbers nor less extortion or Bribery by false Officers such as were wicked he kept under them that were Rebels he repulsed the godly he maintained and the just and modest he loved the learned and virtuous he encouraged He would suffer no man of what degree or quality soever he were to elude or violate his Laws without condigne punishment In his time there was neither any private Pilferer nor publike Theef but he that in stealing other mens Goods would venture and suffer as he was sure the loss of his own Goods and
Life He was no respecter of persons in judgement but judged every man according to the quantity of his Offence and quality of his person He united all the Nations under him which were divers by the Covenan and Obâ—… of one Law Governing them all with such Justice Equity Integrity and Peace that he was sâ—iâ—eâ— Rex 〈◊〉 Edgarus Pacificus the peaceable King Edgar In his days not Torments not Gibbeâ—s not Exile not banishment were so much feared as the offending of so good and gracious a King He built and endowed no lesse than 48 Monasteries and restored many more endowing them with large possessions privileges out of Piety and Devotion as these times reputed it was a great honourer lover promoter of the vertuous and learned Clergy and suppressor of the vicious and scandalous There was scarce one year throughout all his reign wherein he did not some great and memorable necessary thing for the good of his Country and people the honour of God and advancement of Religion All which made him so honoured and beloved by his Subjects at home so far dreaded by his Enemies abroad that Nullas Domesticorum insidias nullum exterminium alienorum sensit He never felt any homebred treachery or forein invasion but reigned peaceably all his days without war or bloodshed which none of his Predecessors ever did He was so far from tollerating any violence or rapine in men towards each other that he commanded all the Wolves and ravenous Beasts greedy of blood to be destroyed throughout his Dominions And such an Enemy was he to Drunkenness the Mother of Vices Murders Quarrels Thefts wherewith the Danes had much infected the English that to prevent and redress it he caused Pins to be set in every Cup prohibiting by severe Laws and Penalties that none should force others to drink nor yet dâ—ink below those Pins in that moderate proportion which he prescribed them Among other his Politick deeds for the peace and safeguard of his Realm against pillaging Pirates and Forein Invaders he had always in readiness 3600 as most or 4800 strong ships of War as others record to secure the Seas in the Summer season which he divided into three Squadrons or Fleets whereof he placed 1200 in the East Seas to guard them 1200 in the South Seas 1200 in the West Seas and 1200 in the North Seas as some write to prevent Piracies and repulse the invasion of Forein Enemies These Ships immediatly after Easter met together every year at their several places of Rendezvous wherewith the King sailed round about the Island and Sea-coasts with a great force to the terror of Foremers and exercising of his own subjects sayling with the Eastern Navy to the Western parts of the Iland and then sending them back with the Western Fleet to the Northern Coasts and then sayling with the Northern Fleet to the South pius sâ—iâ—icet explorator ne quid Piratae turbarent After his return from the Sea in the Winter and Spring he used to ride in Progress through all the Counties of the Realm diligently to search and inquire how his Laws Statutes Ordinances were kept and observed by his Princes Great Men and Of ficers lest the Poorer sort of people should suffer prejudice or be oppressed by the Greater Richer And whether his Judges or Justices judged uprightly according to the Laws or injured any through Bribery Malice or Partiality Violati Juris severus Ultor being a severe Revenger of his violated Laws sparing neither Rich nor Poor but judging him justly according to the quality of his transgression In hoc Justitiae in ilâ—o fortitudinis in utrâ—que Reipublicae Regni utilitatibus consulens as Wiliam of Malmesbury and Flor. of Worcester report of him Et ideo tempore suo latrones nulli fuerunt nec aliquis qui Guerram vel turbationem in Regno movere audebat Merito ergo non infirma inter Anglos fama est nullum nec ejus nec superioris aetatis Regem in Anglia recto aequabili judicio Edgaro comparandum He being Flos et Decus antecessorum Regum non minus memorabils Anglis quam Romulus Romanis Cyrus Persis Alex. Macedoniis Arsaces Parthis Carolus Magnus Francis as Malmesbury Abbot Ethelred Florentius VVigorniensis Simcon Dunelmensis Henry Huntindon Matthew VVestminster and others record of him who are much more copious in his prayses Mr. Fox closeth up his Encomiums of him with this Speech As I see many things in this worthy Prince to be commended so this one thing in him I cannot but lament to see him like a Phoenix to fly alone that of all his Posterity so few there be that seek to keep him company Towards the end of his Reign the Welchmen moving some rebellion he thereupon assembled a mighty Army to suppress and prevent it wherewith he entring into the Country of Glamorgan sharply punished the Ringleaders thereof But his Souldiers doing great harm in plundering the Country lading themselves with spoyls the King out of his bounty commanded them to restore to the People all the spoyls they had gotten and more especially St. Ellutus Bell that was hanged about an Horses neck whereby he purchased singular love and honor from the Inhabitants At length after he had reigned thus 16 years and two months in great tranquillity and honor totum regnum sanctis legibus stâ—enuâ— gubernantem as Eadmerus relaâ—es of him he died happily oâ— â—uesday the 8 of July Anno 975. Nec potuit malè mori qui benè vixerat qui tot Ecclesias Deo fundaverat qui tot bona perennia brevi tempore statuerat as Henry Arch-Deacon of Huntingdon observes who bestowed this honourable Epitaph on him remembred also by others Auctor opum vindex scelerum largitor honorum Sceptifer Edgarus Regna superna petit Hic alter Solomon legum Pater Orbita Pacis Quod caruit bellis claruit inde magis Temâ—â—◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dedit agros Nequitiae lapsum justiciaeque locum Novâ—â— enim Regno verum per quâ—rere falso Immensum modico perpetuumque brevi Immediately after his death Res et spes Anglorum retro sublapsae sunt totius Regni status est perturbatus et post tempus laetitiae quod illius tempore vigebat pacificè caepiâ— tribulatio undique advenire as Malmesbury Wigorniensis Hoveden Simeon Dunelmensis and Bromton observe such an incomparable loâ—s was the death of so just pious and prudent a King to the whole Nation qui juventutis vitia posteà magnis virtutibâ—s delevit when most others do quite contrary King Edgar at the time of his decease leaving behind him two Sons by two venters Edward his eldest Son by Queen Ethelfleda his first Wife then but 12. years old and Ethelred his second Son by his second Queen Elfreda then not much above 7. years of age Tâ—… arose a great contention amongst the Nobles of the Realm about choosing of a new King For Queen Elfreda with
carry between his arms offering that to him for his trespasse and submissively deprecating that he would 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 him Vnto which award THEY ALL ACCORDING they all laded themselves with treasure in the manner aforesaid and going to the King declared unto him the order and manner of their JUDGEMENT or AVVARD QUORUM CONSIDERATIONI REX CONTRADICERE NOLENS QUICQUID JUDICAVERANT PER OMNIA RATIFICAVIT The King not willing to contradict them in any thing they had judged ratified the same in all things An agreement therefore being made between them in this manner the Earl presently regained all his lands The generality of our Historians as Bromton confesseth deny that Godwin ever fled into Denmark or left England for the murder of Alfred they generally affirming 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 Malmesbury and others write perswaded him to accept the Crown and precontracted with him before he 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 1043. 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 bad no votes in matters of Treason and capitall offences 6. That the Judgement of Parliament then rested properly in the Earls and Barons not the King and that their judgement was not repealable by but obligatory to the 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 stile 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 Glocâ—ster 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 son 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 exile 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 Abbâ—y 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 Wolmar was elected Abbot of Evesham And this year King Edward DE COMMUNI CONCILIO PROCERUM SUORUM as Bromton and others write most likely when assembled in the Council at London married Edith daughter of Earl Godwin in patrocinium regni sui he being the most 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 Crute's sâ—sters 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 England The next year 1046. Osgodus Clapa was banished out of England Swane King of Denmark Anno 1047. sent Ambassadours to King Edward desiring him to send a Navy to him against 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 videbatur 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
this character of him Superbia elatus jam factus de Rege Tyrannus Rex Haroldus in multis patrisans temerarius suit et indiscretus in praesumptione ancipiti nimis suae invictae considens fortitudini laudis cupidus et Thesauri promissorum immemor arridente prosperitate Unde ipsis Anglis quibus praeerat etiam consanguineis se praebuerat odiosum victoriamque cum illi Dominus exercâ—tuum et Deus ultionum concesserat non Deo sed sibi suaeque ascripsit strenuitati Quod recenti experientia fuerat comprobatum cum a Noricis evictis Superbus spoliisque omnium retentis quae aliis promissa debebantur ad Normannorum praelia praecipitanter et inconsultè festinavit Unde Ducis Gulihelmi magnanimi in negotiis bellicis peragendis et circumspecti fidelis in pollicitis in pace socialis jucundi in conviviis dapsilis et sereni omnibus fere tam Anglis quam conterminis maxime tamen Noricis acceptabatur Recipientes eum benevole dicebant Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini Rex pacificus bellator victoriosus pater protector desolatorum Dominus autem Papa simulque fratres Cardinales universi cum tota Curia Romana Regem Haroldum semper exosum habentes pro eo quod sibimet diadema Regni sine eorum convenientia et ecclesiastica solemnitate consensuque Praelatorum praesumpserat injuriam dissimularunt Et videntes que fine ausa praesumptio terminaretur cum fortuna adversa sunt adversati potentiorique manu atque victrici more cupidorum vel potius arundinis exagitatae ventorum turbine quantocius inclinaverunt Such was the Popes Clergies temper then Duke William being certainly informed that Harold contrary to his Oath and promise to him had without right or Title invaded the Crown and being secretly invited by some of the English Nobles to challenge his own right thereunto by Kings Edwards designation sent Messengers to Harold who mildly reprehending him for his breach of Covenant added by way of menace that he would before the year expited exact his due from him by force of arms in case he refused voluntarily to yield up the kingdom to him But Harold growing secure contemning his threats as never likely to be put in execution both because the Dukes daughter to whom he was espoused was dead and himself involved in wars with his Neighbour Princes returned his Messengers to him with this answer Harold King of England sends you this answer That true it is when he espoused your daughter in Normandy being compelled by necessity He sware that the Realm of England should belong to thee But against this he asserts That a forced Oath is not to be kept For if a vow or oath which a Virgin had knowingly made concerning her body in the house of her Father without her parents consent was revocable and void much more the Oath which he being under the Scepter of the King had made without his knowledge by compulsion ought to be nnlled and made voyd as he asserted Moreover he affirmed Nimis praesumptuosum fuisse quod absque generali Consensu Regni Haereditatem vobis juraverat alienandam Addidit etiam Injustum esse peâ—ere ut e regno discedat quod tanto Principum favore susceperat gubernandum That it was overmuch presumption in him that without the general consent of the Realm he had sworn the inheritance thereof should be alienated to him That King Edward being then living he could neither give away the Kingdoms succession to him nor grant it to any other without his consent et sine popull consensu Senatus Decreto et nesciente omni Anglia de toto Regno necessitate temporis coactus impegerit and without the consent of the people and decree of the SENATE or Parliament he could not promise to him the whole Realmof England without the knowledge of all England being compelld therto only by the necessity of the time Adding moreover that it was unjust to demand that he should depart from that kingdom which he had undertaken to govern with so great favour of the Nobles Eadmerus Radulphus de Diceto and some others record this to be his Answer then returned to Duke William Soror mea quam juxta condictum expetis mortua e 〈◊〉 Quod si corpus ejus quale nunc est vult Comes habere mittam ne judicer Sacramentum violasse quod feci Castellum Dofris et in eo puteum aquae licet nesciam cui ut vobis convenit explevi Regnum quod necdum fuit meum quo Iure potui dare vel promittere Si de filia sua quam debui in uxorem ut asserit ducere agit Super Regnum Angliae mulierem extraneam inconsultis Principivus me nec debere nec sine grandi injuria posse adducere noverit The Norman who till then thought England sure to be his and had devoted his hopes from a Duke to a King stormed to see himself thus frustrated on a sudden and instead of a Crown to have such scorns heaped on his head therefore nothing content with this slight and scornfull answer returnd his Ambassadors again to Harold by whom he laid his claim more at large As that King Edward in the Court of France had faithfully promised the Succession unto him and again ratified the same unto him at his being in England and that not done without consent of the State but confirmed by Stigand it should be Robert Arch-bishop of Canterbury the Earls Godwin and Siward yea and by Harold himself and that so firmly assured that his Brother and Nephew were delivered for pledges and for that end sent to him into Normandy that he being no way constrained to swear as he pretended he appealed to Harolds own Conscience who besides his voluntary offer to swear the succession of the Crown unto him contracted himself to Adeliza his daughter then but young upon which foundation the Oath was willingly taken But Harold who thought his own head as fit for a Crown as any others meant nothing less than to lay it down upon parly and therefore told Williams Embassadours plainly That however Edward and he had tampered for the Kingdom yet Edward himself coming in by election and not by any Title of Inheritance his promise was of no validity for how could he give that wherein he was not interested nor in the Danes time was likely to be and tell your Duke that our Kingdom is now brought to a setled estate and with such love and liking of the English as that they will never admit any more a stranger to rule over them That the Duke himself well knew that the Oath he made him was only for fear of death or imprisonment and that an Oath so extorted in time oâ— extremity cannot bind the maker in Conscience to perform it for that were to joyn one sin with another With which and the like Speeches he shifted off the Dukes Embassadours without any Princely entertainment or
and to govern them justly according to their Coronation Oaths and not arbitrarily or tyrannically according to their pleasures 5. That no Freemen in that age could be justly imprisoned banished or put to death but for some hainous misdemeanors and that by a legal trial and conviction 6. That the Subjects of England then held it their bounden duties in times of forein invasion to defend the Realm their Lives Liberties Properties both by Land and Sea against forein Enemies yet they held themselves dis-obliged and were generally averse to defend the person or Title of any Usurper of the Crown against any forein Prince or other Person who had a better right and title to it 7. That our English Ancestors in that age esteemed their hereditary Liberties good antient Laws and Customs more dear and pretious to them than their very lives and would rather die fighting for their Laws and Liberties like freemen than live under slavery or bondage to any Soveraign whatsoever 8. That the Kings of England in that age could neither give away nor legally dispose of their Crowns Kingdoms or Crown Lands to others without the privity and free consent of their Nobles and Kingdom in general Parliamentary Council as is evident by Harolds answers to VVilliams Embassadours the recited passage of Matthew Paris upon that occasion and this of Samuel Daniel p. 34. So much was done either by King Edward or Harold though neither act if any such were was of power to prejudice the State or alter the course of right succession as gave the Duke a colour to claim the Crown by a donation made by Testament which being against the Law and Custom of the Kingdom could be of no validity at all For the Crown of England being held not as patrimonial but in succession by remotion which is a succeeding to anothers place it was not in the power of King Edward to collate the same by any dispositive and Testamentary Will the right descending to the next of blood only by the Laws and Custom of the Kingdom For the successor is not said to be the Heir of the King but of the Kingdom which makes him so and cannot be put from it by any Act of his Predecessors 9. That the Nobilities Clergies and peoples free-Election hath been usually most endeavoured and sought after by our Kings especially Intruders as their best and surest Title To these Legal I shall only subjoyn some Political and Theological Observations naturally slowing from the premised Histories of King Edward Harold and William not unsuitable to nor unseasonable for the most serious thoughts and saddest contemplations of the present age considering the revolutions and postures of our publike affairs 1. That it is very unsafe and perillous for Princes or States to intrust the Military and Civil power of the Realm in the hands of any one potent ambitious or covetous person who will be apt to abuse them to the peoples oppression the kingdoms perturbation and his Sovereigns affront or danger as is evident by Earl Godwin and his Sons 2. That devout pious soft-natured Princes are aptest to be abused and their people to be oppressed by evil Officers 3. That it is very dangerous and pernicious to heditary kingdoms for their King to die without any certain known and declared right Heirs or Successors to their Crowns yea an occasion of many wars and revolutions as is evident by King Edwards death without issue or declared right heir 4. That right heirs to Crowns who are of tender years weak judgement or impotent in Frien is and Purse are easily and frequently put by their rights by bold active and powerfull Intruders as Edgar Atheling was both by Haroid and William successively Yet this is remarkable in both these Invaders of his royal Right 1. That Harold who first dethroned him to make him some kind of recompence and please the Nobles of his party created Edgar Earl of Oxford and held him in special favour 2ly That King William the first to whom he submitted himself and did homage and fealty used him very honourably and entertained him in his Court not only at first buâ— even after he had twice taken up armes against him joyning first with the English Nobilitie then with the Danes and Scots against his interest For Edgar coming to him into Normandy Anno 1066. out of Scotland where he lived some years where nihil ad praesens commodi nihil ad futurum spei praeter quotidianam stipem nactus esset he not only pardoned his fore-past offences but magno donativo donatus est pluribusque annis in Curia manens Libram Argenti quotidie in stipendio accipiebat writes Malmesb. receiving a great donative from him and a pound of silver for a stipend every day and continuing many years in his Court. After which Anno 1089. He went into Apulia to the Holy wars by King Williams licence with 200 Souldiers and many Ships whence returning after the death of Robert son of Godwin and the loss of his best Souldiers he received many benefits from the Emperours both of Greece and Germany who endeavoured to retain him in their Courts for the greatness of his birth but he contemning all their proffers out of a desire to enjoy his Native Country returned into England and there lived all Kings Williams reign In the year 1091. Wil. Rufus going into Normandy to take it by force from his brother Robert deprived Edgar of the honour which his Brother with whom he sided had conferred upon him and banished him out of Normandy whereupon he went into Scotland where by his means a peace being made between VVilliam Rufus and Malcholm king of Scots he was again reconciled to Edgar by Earl Roberts means returned into England being in so great favour with the king that in the year 1097. He sent him into Scotland with an Army Ut in ea consobrinum suum Eadgarum Malcholmi Regis filium patruo suo Dufenoldo qui regnum invaser at expulso Regem constitueret Whence returning into England he lived there till after the reign of king Henry the first betaking himself in his old age to a retired life in the Country as Malmesbury thus records Angliam rediit ubi diverso fortunae ludicro rotatus nunc remotus tacitus canos suo in agro consumit Where most probably he died in peace since I find no mention of his death No less than 4 successive kings permitting this right heir to their Crowns to live both in their Courts and Kingdom of England in peace and security such was the Christian Generosity Charity and Piety of that age without reputing it High Treason for any to relieve or converse with him as the Charity of some Saints in this Iron age would have adjudged it had they lived in those times who have quite forgotten this Gospel Lesson of our Savior they then practised But I say unto you love
destroy the Altars Temples of the Idols with the rails and bounds wherewith they were inclosed He answered I who have worshipped them through foolishness And presently renouncing his Superstition he demanded Arms and an Horse of the King which by their old Law Priests might not use which being granted him he mounted the Horse with a Sword and Lance in his Hand and riding to the Idols thus armed the people deeming him to be mad prophaned the Temple and commanded his Companions to destroy and burn it with the Idols and all the Hedges about it which they did Whereupon the King with his Nobles and very many of the people embraced the Christian Religion and were baptized by Paulinus in the Church of St. Peter at York which the King there speedily commanded to be built of Wood and afterwards enlarged ordaining Paulinus Bishop of that place who converted baptized him and his people as Beda and others more largely record the History From which memorable president we may observe these particulars 1. That the King himself could not then alter the established Laws or received Religion of this Realm though false nor introduce new Laws or set up the true Religion without the concurrent Assent of his Nobles and Wisemen in a general Parliamentary Council 2. That the Princes Chief Priests Nobles and Aeldermen of the Realm were the Parliament Members in that Age. 3. That every one of them in these Councils had freedom of Vote and Debate and gave their voices severally for the bringing in of Christianity and destruction of Idolatry William of Malmesbury gives this Character of this Kings Government after he became a Christan and of the vicissitude of humane affairs worthy our present observation he being suddenly slain in battle together with his Son after all his former conquests and felicity Nullus tunc Praedo Publicus nullus latro domesticus insidiator conjugalis pudoris procul Expilator alienae Haereditatis exul Magnum id in ejus laudibus nostrâ aetate splendidum Itaque Imperii sui ad eos limites incrementa perducta sunt ut Justitia Pax libentèr in mutuos amplexus concurrerent osculorum gratiam grata vicissitudine libantes faeliciter tunc Anglorum Respublica procedere potuisset nisi mors immatura temporalis beatitudinis Noverca turpi fortunae ludo virum abstulisâ—et Patriae Aetatis enim 48. Regni 17. Rebellantibus Regulis quos sub jugum miferat Ceadwalla Britonum Penda Merciorum cum Filio interemptus miserabile varietatis humanae fuit exemplum nulli prudentiâ inferior qui nè Christianam fidem nisi diligentissimè inspectat â ratione voluit suscipere susceptaeque nihil existimare comparabile Anno 673 Theodor Archbishop of Canterbury held a great Council at Hertford presentibus Episcopis Angliae ac Regibus Magnatibus universis the Bishops of England and Kings to wit King Lotharius and Easwine and all the Nobles being present at it In this Council they made ten Canons or Laws which they all subscribed and ratified with their hands the 7th whereof was That a Synod or Parliamentary Assembly should be assembled twice or because divers causes hindred Placuit omnibus in commune they all agreed in common that in the Calends of August in a place called Cloveshoon a Synod should be congregated at least once every year The rest of them you may peruse in the marginal Authors at leisure being meerly Ecclesiastical and not so pertinent to my Discourse Ceadwalla King of the West-Saxons In the year of our Lord 680. granted to Bishop Wilfrid certain Lands with their appurtenances called Pagaliam cum consensu devotâ confirmatione omnium Optimatum meorum with the consent and devout confirmation of all his Nobles assembled in a Parliamentary Council the grant of his Crown Lands to him being not valid to bind his Successours without his Nobles concurrent confirmation William of Malmesbury writes of him That though before his conversion unto Christianity he addicted himself to wars and to plunder and spoil his neighbouring Kings yet he conscientiously dedicated the tenth of all his spoils to God Inter haec arduum memoratâ— est quantum etiam ante Baptismum inservierit pietati ut omnes manubias quas jure praedatorio in suos usus transcripserat Deo Decimaret In quo etsi approbamus affectum improbamus exemplum juxta illud Qui offert sacrificium de substantia Pauperis quasi qui immolat silium in conspectu patris If all the Plundering warring Saints of this Age would imitate his example in giving the Tenths of all their spoils and plunders to God his Ministers instead of spoiling them of their Tithes and antient Church-Revenues men would deem them as good Saints as this plundering conquering Saxon King of whom it is likewise storied that before he turned Christian intending to invade the Isle of Wight and unite it to his Kingdom he vowed to give the 4th part of the Iland and Prey to Christ if he should vanquish it Whereupon he conquering the Isle slew the Natives in it being Pagans with a Tragical slaughter and in performance of his vow gave to Bishop Wilfrid and his Clerks for their maintenance and encouragement the possession of 300 I-Hides of Land being the fourth part thereof When our new Conquerours shall be so bountifull in bestowing the fourth or but the tenth part of all the pretended conquered Lands they have gotten on Christs Church and Ministers instead of invading and purchasing the Churches antient Lands Glebes Tithes and Inheritance they may demerit the Name and praise of Saints as well as Ceadwalla who before he came to the Crown as he was unjustly banished from his Country through the envy of others only for his vertues and worthiness which first caused him to take up armes and invade the South-Saxons two of whose Kings he slew successively in the field after which he twice invaded and afflicted Kent with grievous wars taking advantage of their civil discords wherein he shed abundance of Christian blood So when he had reigned but two years space after all his victories out of meer devotion he voluntarily left his Crown Kingdom Conquests and went in Pilgrimage to Rome where he was baptized to bewail and expiate the guilt of all his former wars bloodshed plunders rapines perplexing his Conscience and there died The first Charter and grant I find extant of any Lands given to the Church after those of Ethelbert King of Kent forecited is that of King Eadbaldus his Son and successour Anno Dom. 616 who being by Gods mercy through the admonition of Archbishop Lawrence converted from the pravity of his life for the Salvation of his soul and hope of a future reward gave to Christ-Church in Canterbury and to the family serving God in that Church his Lands called Edesham with the Fields Woods Pastures and all things thereunto of right appertaining free from all secular
services Fiscal tributes except these three Expedition Building of Castle and Bridge The next in time is the Grant of Lotharius King of Kent Anno 679. of certain Lands in the Isle of Thannet to the Monastery of Raculph free from all secular services except these three Expedition Building of Bridge and Castle To which I might annex these ensuing Grants and Charters which I shall only name The Grant of King Egfrid and his Queen Etheldrida of Hestodesham to Bishop Wilfrid Anno 674. The Charter and Grant of Ceadwalla a foresaid and Kendritha his wife of 4 plough-Lands to Archbishop Theodor and the Family of Christ-Church in Canterbury free from all secular services but those 3 forementioned An. 687. of Withrid King of Kent Anno. 694 of King Offa An. 774 of King Edmund An. 784. of King Kenewlfe An. 791 814 815 822. of King Wilof An. 829. of King Athulfus An. 832 833 834. of King Ethelstan An. 927 940. of King Edred An. 941 948 949. of King Egered An. 979 980. and of King Cnute An. Dom. 1016. To pretermit others of this kind All which Grants being for the most part only of their own private Lands gotten by Purchase or Conquest not of the Lands or Demesnes of their Crowns passed by their own Charters alone without any confirmation or assent of their Nobles in a Parliamentary Council not mentioned at all in them But no grants of any Lands Rents or Revenues of their Crowns to pious or other uses were then either valid in Law or obligatory to their successors without common consent and ratifications of their Nobles in Parliamentary Councils which for this reason is still mentioned in all their Charters and donations of such Lands and Rents to pious uses Neither could they exempt those Lands from any of these three forenamed publick charges for the common defence and benefit of their Realms by their own royal Charters alone unless ratified by the Nobles in their great Councils Whereupon in all these forecited Charters and other grants of Lands by particular persons ratified by these Kings they exempted them only from all secular services exceptis Expeditione Pontis Arcis constructione which they could not discharge them from but by special Grants in General Parliamentary Assemblies as subsequent Presidents will more fully demonstrate Theodor Archbishop of Canterbury Anno 685. held a Council at Twyford in the presence of Egfrid King or Northumberland who going in person to St. Cutbert when as he neither by Letters nor Messengers could be drawn out of his Iland Lindesfarne to the Synod brought him to it much against his will where by the command of all the Synod he was constrained to take upon him the Office of a Bishop Whereupon King Egfrid by the advice of Archbishop Theodor Bishop Trumwin totius Concilii and of the whole Council for the salvation of his and his successors souls by his Charter gave to St. Cutbert and all his successors the Village called Creic and 3 mile in circuit round about it together with the City called Lugabadia and 15 miles circuit round about it to have to him and his successors for the service of God for ever as freely and quietly as he himself enjoyed them and to dispose thereof at his pleasure which Charter the Arch-Bishop and Bishops present in the Conncil confirmed with their Subscriptions What other Councils and Synods were held under this Arch-Bishop Theodor at Hartford Clovesho Heathfield or Hatfeild and what Canons were made in them for the confirmation of the Christian faith the 5 first General Councils c. you may read at leisure in Gervasius Doroberniensis Matthew Parker and Godwin in his life where they are recorded and in Matthew Westminster An. 880. Chronicon Johannis Bromton Col. 741 756 799 780. Radul de Diceto Abbreviationes Chronic. Col. 441. Chronica Wil. Thorne col 1770 Henry Huntindon Historiarum lib. 3. p. 335 Spelmanni Concilia p. 152. Beda Ecclesiastieae Historiae l. 4. c. 5 17 18. Mr. Fox Acts and Monuments vol. 1. p. 160 161. To which I shall refer you About the year of Christ 692. Ina King of the West-Saxons who succeeded Ceadwalla by the exhortation and advice of Cenred his Father Hedda and Erkenwald his Bishops and of all his Aldermen or Senators and of all the Elders and Wisemen of his Realm in a great Assembly of the Servants of God for the salvation of his peoples souls and the common conservation of his Realm Enacted sundry Ecclesiastical and civil wholsom Laws that by them just judgements might be founded and established throughout his Dominions and that from thenceforth it might be lawfull for no Alderman Senator or other person living within his Realm to abolish these his Laws tending all to advance Piety Justice Peace and preserve his people from violence rapine oppression and all Punishments Taxes Fines but such only as were imposed ascertained by his Laws and Parliamentary Councils as you may read at large in the Laws themselves especially Lex 2 3 4 6 9 10 11 16 17 51 73 74. In the year 694 Withred King of Kent summoned Brithwald Archbishop of Canterbury Toby Bishop of Rochester with the other Abbots Abbesses Priests Deacons Dukes and Earls to a great Council at Beccanceld or Baccanceld as others write it where consulting all together concerning the State of the Churches of God within that Realm how they might establish and perpetuate to them to the end of the World those Lands and Revenues which their plous Kings and Ancestors had granted and appropriated to God and his Church as their perpetual inheritance without substraction or diminution They thereupon enacted decreed and in the name of God Almighty commanded that all their successours both Kings and Princes with allother Laymen whatsoever should not invade the Rights Lands or Dominions of the Churches which they then confirmed nor presume to violate the Privileges granted to them and specially by king Withreds Charter which they ratified in this Council with all their subscriptions wherein he and they exempted Churches from all secular services and Tributes but such as they should voluntarily and freely render without compulsion which should not be drawn into custom to their prejudice witnesâ—e this Clause of the Charter and exemption then confirmed ab omni debito vel pulsatione Regalium Tributorum nisi suâ spontanea voluntate ex largitate beneficiorum quid facere velint tamen hoc imposterum non servetur nec habeatur in malam consuetudinem The same King Withred in the Parliamentary Council of Berghamsteed Anno 697. by the advice and common consent of his Bishops and other Ecclesiastical Orders cum viris quibusdam militaribus enacted sundry Ecclesiastical and civil Laws to be added to the former Laws and customs of Kent the first whereof is this That the Church shall be free and enjoy her Judgements Rents and Pensions And
testimonio Cyrographorum aeternae memoriae inserta sint Quapropter Ego Ethelbaldus Rex Merciorum pro amore caelestis patriae hanc donavion emâ—…me vivente concedo â—â—r omnia Monasteria Ecclesiae Regni mei A publicis vectigalibus ab omnibus operibus oneribusque absolvantur nisi in instructionibus Arcium vel Pontium quae nulli unquam possint laxari as Ingulph renders it or as other Copies nisi sola quae communiter fruenda sint omnique populo edicto Regis facienda jubentur id est instructionibus Pontium vel necessariis defensionibus Arcium contra â—ostes non suntrenuenda Sed nec hoc praetermittendum est cum necessarium constat Ecclesiis Dei Praetereâ— habeant famuli Dei propriam Libertatem in prosicuis Sylvarum in fructu Agrorum in captura piscium nec munuscula praebeant Regi vel Principibus nisi voluntaria sed liberi Domino serviant in contemplatione pacificâ per totum regnum meum usque in aevum Sed cunctas rribulationes quae nocere vel impedire possint in Domo Dei omnibus Principibus sub meâ potestate degentibus demittere auferre praecipio Quatenus sublimitas Regni mei prosperis successibus polleat in terris meritorum manipuli multipliciter maturescant in coelis Qui verò haec benigna mentis intentione atque in-laesâ cogitatione custodierit aeternâ claritate coronetur ornetur glorificetur Si quis hoc quod absit cujuslibet personae tyrannica cupiditate instinctus contrà hanc donationis chartulam â—aeculari potentiâ fretus venire nititur sit sub Anathemate Judae Proditoris Domini nostri Jesu Christi Ad confirmandum verò hoc nostrae benefiâ—entiae munus Hi â—…runt Nostri Magistrarus Optimates et Duces fidelissimique amici concesserunt et scripserunt Then toâ—â—ow the subscriptions of the King Bishops and Nobles with Ego his statutis consentions subscripsi confirmandoque signum crucis aravi In this Council amongst other Synodal Decrees subscribed by the Bishops It was decreed That the Feasts of St. Gregory the Pope and St. Augustine the English Apostle should be perpetually observed with greatest solemnity King Ethelbald with his Nobles being there present and approving it In the year of Grace 752. Cathred king of the West-Saxons being unable to endure the proud Exactions and insolencies of king Ethelbald for vindication of his own and his peoples Liberty from his oppressions raised an Army and fought a bloody Battel with him at Beorsord where through Gods assistance who giveth grace to the Humble and resisteth the Proud he routed him and his whole Army and after An. 755. flew him in a second battel he disdaining to fly by the Treachery of Bernred his Captain the chief Author of his death King Cuthred deceasing Sigiberâ— his kinsman who succeeded him growing insolent and proud by his Prâ—â—ecessors great successes became intollerable to his Subjects treating them very ill in every kind Depraving or altering the Laws of his Ancestors for his own private Lucre and exercising exactions and cruelties upon his Subjects setting aside all Laws Whereupon his faithfull Counsellor Earl Cumbra ovingly admonishing him to govern his people more mildly and justly that so he might become amiable to God and men he was so incensed with him that he commanded him most wickedly to be slain and became more cruel and Tyrannical to his people than before The Peâ—rs and Commons hereupon seeing their Laws and Liberties thus violated and their Estates and Lives every day in danger being incensed into fury assembling themselves together did all unamimously rise up in Aâ—… against him and upon mature prudent deliberation by the unanimous consent of all expelled him the Kingdom for his Tyranny and mis-governmenr Upon which Sigebert flying into the woods for shelter like a sorlorn person was there slain by Cumbra his Swine-herd in revenge of his Masters murder Florensius Wigornâ—ensis relates that after his expulsion from the Realm by the Nobles for the multitude of his unjust deeds Kenulphus allotted him the County of Hampshire for his maintenance until he slew Earl Cumbra such was the Charity and Humanity of those times even to an expelled deposed Tyrannical King now quite oâ—â— of date with whom Ethelwerdus Hist l. 2. c. 17. and Polychronicon l. 5. c. 24. accord Some of our Historians especially Ethelwerdus and Wigorniensis relate that Kenulphus usurped the Crown by meer force of Arms first drawing the Nobles and People to rise up against and expell Sigebert for his exorbitant actions and the multitude of his unjust deeds and then usurping the Throne being not of the blood Royal as Malmesbury relates though of a Noble family But they all unanimously record that he came to a miserable end upon this occasion When he had reigned 31 years with honour and good success being puffed up therewith and fearing lest Kineardus Sigiberts Brother who began to be potent should revenge his Brothers death upon him and dispossess him or his posterity of the Crown he banished and compelled him to depart his Kingdom Who thereupon giving way to the time voluntarily sled out of his Dominions But soon after secretly drawing together through private Conventicles a band of desperate men he found an opportunity to fall upon Kenulphus when he went with a few followers to visit his Paramore at Merton where he besetting the House round slew the King with all his followers The fame of which Act coming to his Nobles and Souldiers not far from the place They upon Exhortation of Esric the chiefest of them not to let pass the death of their Lord unrevenged to their notorious and perpetual infamy furiously encountred Keneardus and his Complices and notwithstanding all their fair promises of Mony preferments to them and all intreaties after a sharp bloody incounter put them all to the sword with the loss of some of their own lives Ecce quomodo Dei Iustitia non solum futuro saeculo verum etiam in isto digna meriâ—is manifesto judicio recompensat c. Add Henry Huntindon Roger Hoveden John Bromton Malmesbury and others as a Corollary to this History of Sigibert and Kenulphus Which all Traitors Tyrants and Usurpers treading in their exorbitant footsteps may do well advisedly to consider In the year of our Lord 758. The people of the Realm of Mercia rising up against their King Bernred because he governed them not by just Laws but by Tyranny assembled all together in one as well Noble as Ignoble and Offa being their Captain they expelled him out of the Kingdom and then by the unanimous consent of all as well Clergy as people they crowned Offa King This Bernred as Malmesbury Speed and Simeon Dunelmensis write treacherously murthered King Ethelbald his Soveraign whose General he was and thereupon usurping his Throne and turning a Tyrant as most Usurpers do was in the very first year of his usurped reign expelled the
the Church of Worcester This Bishop with 50 Mass Priests and 160 other Priests Deacons Monks and Abbots whose names are recorded in the Manuscript swore that this Lana and Monastery were impropriated to his possession and Church which Oath with all these fellow swearers hewas ordered to take at Westminster and did it accordingly after 30 nights respite Whereupon It was ordained and decreed by the Archbishop all the Council consenting with him that the Bishop should enjoy the Monastery Lands and Books to him and his Church and so that sute was ended and this Decree pronounced thereupon Quapropter si quis hunc agrum ab illâ Ecclesiâ in Ceastre nititur eveâ—lere contra Decreta sanctorum Canonum sciat se facere quia sancti Canones decernunt Quicquid Sancta Synodus universalis cum Catholico Archiepiscopo suo adjudicaverit nullo modo fractum vel irritum esse faciendum Haec autem gesta sunt Hi sunt Testes Connrmatores hujus rei quorum nomina hic infra notantur à die tertio Calend Novembrium Ego Beornulf Rex Merciorum hanc chartulam Synodalis decreti signo sanctae Christi Crucis consirmavi Then follows the Archbishops Subscription and confirmation in like words with the subscriptions of sundry Bishops Abbots Dakes and Nobles being 32 in number all ratifying this Decree An. 833. Egbert King of West-Saxons Athelwulfe his Son Witlasius king of Mercians both the Arcbbishops Abbots cum Proceribus majoribus totius Angliae with the greatest Nobles of all England were all assembled together at London in a National Parliamentaty Council pro consilio capiendo contra Danicos Piratas Littora Angliae assidne infestantes to take Counsel what to do against the Danish Pirates dayly infesting the Sea-Coasts of England In this Council the Charter of Witlasius king of Mercians to the Abbey of Croyland where he was hid and secured from his enemies was made and ratified wherein he granted them many rich gifts of Plate Gold Silver Land and the Privilege of a Sanctuary for all offenders flying to it for shelter which grant could not be valid without a Parliamentary confirmation for he being elected King omnium consensu after the slaughters of Bernulf and Ludican two invading Tyrants cut off in a short time qui contra fas purpuram in duerent regno vehementâ—t oppresâ—o totam militiam ejus quae quondam plurima extiterat victorio sissima sua imprudentia perdiderant as Ingulphus writes was enforced to hold his kingdom from Egbert king of West-Saxons under a Tribute And thereupon conferring divers Lands by his Charter to this Abbey for ever to be held of him his heirs and Successors Kings of Mercia in perpetual and pure Frankalmoigne quietae solutae ab omnibus oneribus secularibus exactionibus vectigalibus universis quocunque nomine censeantur That his grant might be sound and valid he was necessitated to have it consirmed in this Parliamentary Council by the consent of King Egbert and his Son and of all the Bishops Abbots et Proceribus Majoribus Angliae and the greater Nobles of England there present most of them subscribing and ratifying this Charter with the sign of the Cross and their names About the year of Grace 838. there was a Parliamentary Council held at Kingston in which Egbert king of the West-Saâ—ons and his Son Aethelwulfe Ceolâ—eth Archbishop of Canterbury with the rest of the Bishops and Nobles of England were present Amongst many things there acted and spoken Archbishop Ceolnoth shewed before the whole Council That the foresaid Kings Egbert and Aeâ—hel wulfe had given to Christchurch the Mannor called Malinges in Sudex free from all secular service and Regal Tributes excepting only these three Expedition building of Bridge and Castle which foresaid Mannor and Lands King Baldred gave to Christchurch Sed quia ille Rex cuneâ—is Principibus non placuit noluerunt donum ejus permanere râ—…m But because this King pleased not all his Nobles they would not that this his gift should continue firm To which Sir Henry Spelman adds this Marginal Note Rex non potuit distrahere patrimonium Regni sine assensu Procerum Wherefore the foresaid Kings in this Parliamentary Council with their Nobles assent at the request of the said Archbishop regranted and confirmed it to Christchurch with this Anathema annexed against the infringers of this grant If any shall presume to violate it on the behalf of God and of us Kings Bishops Abbots and all Christians let him be separated from God and bet his portion be with the Devil and his Angols Polydor Virgil records that King Athelwulfe in the year 847. going in pilgrimage to Rome repaired the English School there lately burned down and in imitation of King Ina made that part of his Kingdom which Egbert his Father had added Tributary towards it Legeque sancivit and enacted by a Law made in a Parliamentary Council that those who received 30 pence rent every year out of their possessions or had more houses should pay for those houses they inhabited every of them a penny a peece to the Pope for the maintenance of this School at the Feast of Peter and Paul or at least of St. Peters bonds which Law some writes he though falsely ascribr to his Son Alfred which act others refer to the years 855 or 857 and that more truly Abbot Ingulphus in his Hist of the Abby of Croyland records that Bertulf usurping the Crown by the treacherous murder of his Cosen St. Westan tantà ferebatur ad regnandum ambitione passing by the Abbey of â—royland most wickedly and violently took away all the Jewels Pâ—ate and ornaments of the Church which his Brother Withlasins and other Kings had given to it together with all the mony he could find in the Monastery and hiring Souldiers therewith against the Danes then wasting the Country about London he was vanquished and put to slight by the Paâ—ans Whereupon this King soon after holding a great Council at Benningdon An. 850. with the Prelates and Nobles of his whole Realm of Mercia there assembled about the Danes invasions how to raiâ—e â—orces and monies to resist them as is most probable by 〈◊〉 Historians Abbot Siward and the Monks of Croy land therein complained before them all by Askillus then fellow Monk of certain injuries malitiously doâ—e unto them by their Adversaries who lying in wat in the uttermost banks of their Rivers did seise upon their servants being such as fled thither for Sanctuary in case at any time they went out of their precincts never so little way either to fish or bring back their stragling Sheep Oxen or other Cattle as infringers of their Sanctuary and subjected them to the publick Laws to their condemnation and destruction to the great dammage of the Abbey by the loss of their service Of which complaint the King and all the Council being very sensible and
Ceolnoth Archbishop of Canterbury cried out with a loud voice that he was healed of his disease and perfectly recovered by the merits of the most holy Confessor of Christ most blessed Guthlac whose businesses were then handling in their hands likewise many other most potent men in the said Council cryed out as well Prelates as Nobles that they had been sick of that disease but now by Gods Grace and the merits of most holy Guthlac they felt no pain in any of their Members through the said malady And all of them presently bound their Consciences with a most strict vow to visit the most sacred Tomb of most holy Guthlac at Croyland with devout pilgrimage so soon as they could Wherefore our Lord King Bertulf commanded the Bishop of London who was then accounted the best Notary and most eloquent speaker who being moreover touched with the same disease now predicated with greatest joy that he was healed to take the Privileges of Croyland into his hands and that he should insist to honour his Physicitian S. Guthlac with his hand writing prout consilium slatueret as the Council should ordain which also was done Therefore in the Subscriptions of the Kings Charter afore-mentioned the Archbishop of Canterbury Coolnoth confesseth himfelf whole and sound St. Swithin Bishop of Winchester rejoyceth concerning the Lords Miracles Alstan Bishop of Sherburn and Orkenwald of Lichenfeld give thanks for the successes of the Church and Rethunus Bishop of Leicester professeth himself a Servant to St. Guthlac so long as he lived Uuniversique Concilii Optimates And all the Nobles of the Council with a most ardent affection yeelded obedience to the Kings benevolent affection towards St. Guthlac In all things From all which precedent passages in these two Councils it is apparent First That the Parliamentary Councils of that Age consisted only of the King spiritual and temporal Lords and Peers without any Knights of Shires or Burgesses of which we find no mention in this or any other former or succeeding Councils in the Saxons times though sometimes Wise-men of inferior quality both of the Clergie and Laity were particularly summoned to them without any popular election by the Kings special direction for their advice 2ly That all Divine and Ecclesiastical matters touching God Religion and the Church and all affairs of the Realm of publique concernment relating to war or peace were debated consulted of setled in Parliamentary Councils 3ly That the businesses of God and the Church were there in usually first debated and setled before the affairs of the kingdom of which they ought to have precedency 4ly That all private grievances injuries and oppressions done by the King his Officers or other private persons to the Church or other men were usually complained of and redressed in Parliamentary Councils by the advice and judgement of the King and Peers and that either upon the parties Petition setting forth his grievances or a relation made thereof by the King or some other Prelate or Nobleman before the whole Council 5ly That what could not be redressed in one great Council was in the next succeeding Council revived and redressed according to the merits of the cause 6ly That no Peer nor Member of the great Council might absent himself in those times but upon just and lawfull excuse which he ought humbly to signifie to the King and Council by a special Messenger and Letter as Abbot Siward did here 7ly That all Members of the Council had free liberty of Debate and Vote in all businesses complained of or proposed to them and a negative as well as an affirmative voice 8ly That all businesses then were propounded and debated before all the Council and resolved by them all not in private Committees 9ly That our Kings in those days in Cases of necessity could not lawfully seise their subjects monies and plate against their wills to raise Soldiers to resist invading forein Enemies but only borrow them by their free consents and held themselves bound to restore or recompence the monies lent or taken by them in such exigencies with thankfull acknowledgement 10. That our Kings in that age could not grant away their Crown lands create or in large Sanctuaries or exempt any Abbies from Taxes and publique payments or impose any publique Taxes on their Subjects but by Charters or grants made and ratified in and by their great Councils Anno 854. King Aethelulf gave the tenth part of his Realm to God and his Saints free from all secular services exactions and Tributes by this Charter made and confirmed by the advice and free assent of all the Bishops and Nobles throughout the Realm then assembled in a Great Council to oppose the invading plundering Danes Regnante in perpetnum domino nostro Jesu Christo in nostris temporibus bellorum incendia direptiones opum nostrarum vastantium crudelissimas hostium barbarorum paganorumque gentium multiplices tribulationes affligentium usque ad internecionem cernimus tempota incumbere periculosa Quamobrem ego Aethelulfus Rex Occidentaliâ—m Saxonum cum Consilio Episcoporum ac Principum meorum Consilium salubre arque uniforme reme iâ—m â—…avi ut aliquam portionem Terrae meae Deo beatae Mariae omnibus sanctis Iure perpetuo possidendam concedam Decimam scilicet partem terrae meae 〈…〉 et libera ab omnibus servitiis secularibus nec non Regalibus Tributis Majoribus et Minoribus seu Taxationibus quae nos 〈…〉 appeâ—…amus Sitque omnium rerum libera pro remissione apimarum preccarorum meorum â—…erviendâ—m soli Deo sine expeditione et pontis constructione arcis munitione ut â—o diligentius â—…o nobis preces ad Deum â—â—e cessatione funâ—anâ— quo eorum servitutem in aliquo levigamus The Copies in our Historians vary in some expressions and in the dare of this Charter some placing it in Anno 855. others Anno 865. This Charter as Ingulphus records was made at Winchester Novemb. 3. Anno. 855. praesentibus subscribentibus Archiepiscopis Angliae universis nec non Burredo Merciae Edmundi East-Anglorum rege Abbatum Abbatissarum Ducum Comitum Procerumque totius terrae aliorumque fidelium infinita multitudine Dignitates vero sua nomina subscripserunt After which for a greater Confirmation the King offered the Written Charter up to God upon the Altar of St. Peter where the Bishops received it and after sent it into all their Diocesses to be published and hereupon the Bishops of Sherburne and Winchester with the Abbots and religious persons on whom the said benefits were bestowed decreed That on every Wednesday in every Church all the Friers and Nuns should sing 50 Psalms and every Priest 2 Masses one for the King and an other for his Captains It is observable first That the Parliamentary Council wherein this Charter was made and ratified by common consent and this exemption and tenth granted was principally called to resist the invading plundering Danes 2ly
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 Nobles 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 the ir 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 Oare 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 and 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 adventus Danorum quorum bellis Ethelredus insudabat a servitio West-Saxonum respirantes dominationem suam penè asseruerant Ardebant ergo cunctae saevis popularibus provinciae unusquisque Regum inimicos magis in suis sedibus sustinere quam compatriotis Laborantibus opem porrigere curabat Ita dum malâ—it â—â—vindicare quam praevenire injuriam socordiâ suâ exanguem reddiderunt Patriam Dani sine obstaculo succressere dum et provincialibus timor incresce ret et proxima quaeque victoria per additamentum Captivorum instrumentum sequentis fieret c. Northanimbri jamdudum civilibus dissentionibus fluctuantes adventante hoste correxerunt discordiam Itaque Osbirthum Regem quem expulerant in solium reformantes magnosque moliti paratus obviam procedunt sed facilè pulsi infra Urbem Eboracum se includunt quâ mox à victoribus succensâ cum laxos crines â—ffusior flamma produceret tota depascens maenia ipsi quoque conflagratâ— 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 corum 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 extirpate him and his People Sed nimis fraudulentèr Hinguar the sauros exigebat qui Clementissimi Regis caput potius quam pecunias sitiebat writes Matthew Westminster Where upon Bishop Humbert advising him to fly from the Danes who approached with their forces towards him to save his life The King wished 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 chiefest wish that I may not survive my faithfull Subjects and most dear friends which this Cruel Pirate hath the evishly slain neither will I stain my glory by flâ—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 wet 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 which 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 wâ—… also if there be need we think it not unprofitable to die Therfore as thy proud cruelty hath begun after the servants slaughter cut thou the Kings throat 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 affirming that it was a worrhy thing to fight both for their Faith and Country est they should prove deserters 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 At which grievous sight King Edmund was much grieved not only for the great slaughter of his own Souldiers fighting for their Country native liberty the faith of Jesus Christ so already Crouned with Martyrdome 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 sight battel wâ—th 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 him with ten thousand men he marched to Hegelsdun and surrounded it that none might escape thence Whereupon King Edmund flying to the Church and casting down
his temporal Armes humbly prayed the Father Son and Holy Ghost to give him constancy in his passion Then the Danish Souldiers seising on him brought him from the Church before Hinguar by whose command he was tyed to a tree hard by cruelly whipped a long time then shot through with Darts wherewith his Body was stuck full after which being taken from the tree his Head was cut off from his Body with a bloody sword by the Barbarous Executioner appointed for that purpose and so he died a most glorious Martyr for his Kingdom Country Subjects and Religion to whose memory a famous Monastery was after built Of which William of Malmesbury de Gestis Regum l. 2. c. 13. p. 89. gives this Relation Quibus Artibus Edmundus ita sibi omnis Britanniae devinxit incolas ut beatum se in primis astruat qui Coenobium illius vel nummo vel valenti illustraret Ipsi quoque Reges aliorum Domini servos se illius gloriantur coronam ei regiam missitant magno si uri volunt redimentes commercio Exactores vectigalium qui alibi Bacchantur fas nefasque juxta metientes ibi supplices cira â—ssa um sancti Edmundi litigationes sistunt experti multorum paenam qui perseverandum putarunt which I wish our Tax-Exactors and Excisers would now remember Whiles the Danes were thus wasting the Kingdoms of Northumberland and the East-Saxons with Fier and Sword and martyring King Edmund Beorred king of Mercians was busied in warring against the Britains who infested the Western parts of his Realm But hearing the Danes had invaded the Eastern part of his Kingdom he came to London and gathering a great Army together matching with it through the Eastern quarters of his Realm he applyed the whole Isle of Ely to his Exchequor taking into his hands all the lands formerly belonging to the Monastery of Medehamsted lying between Stamford Huntindon and Wisebeck assigning the Lands more remote lying scattered through the Country to his Souldiers The like he did with the Lands of the Monastery of St. Pega of Rikirk retaining certain of them to himself and giving some of them to his Souldiers And the like did he with the Lands of all other Monasteries destroyed totally by the Danes whose Lands by Law escheated to the Crown and those Lords whose predecessors founded and endowed them by the slaughter and chasing away of all the Monks Nuns burning of the Monasteries whose Lands thereupon were resumed and confilcated to the Kings Exchequer Et cum caetera Monasteria per Danorum ferocitatem funditus destructa Regali fisco fuerant ascripta denuo et assumpta omnibus Monachis eoru 〈◊〉 necatis perditis seu penitus fugatis as Ingulphus informs us of the Reason yet many of the Monks of Croyland escaping the Danes fury and returning soon after thither again electing a new Abbot and repairing their Monastery by degrees as well as that exigency would permit thereupon they enjoyed the sight of the whole Abby and the Isle of Croyland with the self same Liberties and Privileges they had from the beginning aischardged from all secular services during all the time of this their desolation the Danish wars till the time of its restoration after that till Ingulphus time as he records Notwithstanding because many of the Monks were slain and the Abby burnt down demolished by the Danes King Reorred thereupon seised some of their lands into his own hands gave other of their Lands more remote from the Abby to his stipendiary Soldiers And although venerable Abbot Godric took very much paines frequently demanding restitution of them both from King Beorred his Souldiers and very often shewed the Charters of the Donors the confirmations of former Kings together with his own proper Charter to this Kings yet he received always nothing but empty words from him them whereupon he at last utterly despaired of their restitution Perceiving therefore the overmuch malice of the times et Militiam Regis Terrarum cupidissimam and the Kings Militia and Soldiers most covetous of Lands he resolved with himself in conclusion to passe by these Royal Donations Surdo Tempore in a deaf time being over-glad rejoycing that the Kings grace had granted the whole Island lying round about the Monastery unto it free and discharged from all Regal exactions much more specially to him then at that time which had not happened to many otheâ— Monasteries There departed therefore at that time from the Monastery of Croyland these possessions which never returned to this present day The Mannor of Spalding given to Earl Adelwulfe with all its appurtinances The Mannor of Deeping given to Langfer a Knight or Souldier and the Kings Baker with all its appurtenances The Mannor of Croxton given to Fernod a Knight or Souldier the Kings Ensign-bearer with all its appurtenances The Mannors of Kerketon and Kimerby in Lindesy with all their appurtenances given to Earl Turgot but Bukenhale and Halington then appropriated to the Exchequer were afterwards restored to the said Monastory by the Industry of Turketulus Abbot of Croyland and the gift of most pious King Edred the Restorer of them with 12 other Mannors named by Ingulf belonging to Croyland quas Rex Beorred us Fisco suo assumserat Which King Beorred had then assumed in his Exehequor After which K. Beorred passing with his Army into Lindesey Latissimas Terras Monisterio Bardney totally ruined by the Danes Dudum Pertinentes Fisco suo accepit remotas vero in diversis patriâ—s divisas jacentes Militibus suis dedit But mark the issue At last the Danes returning into Mercia Anno 874. wasting and spoiling all the Country with fire and sword and destroying all Churches and Monasteries King Beorred when he beheld all the Land of England in every corner thereof wasted with the slaughters and rapines of these Barbarians vel de victoriâ desperans vel tot laborum Labyrinthum fastidiens either despairing of victory or loathing the labyrinth of so many troubles left the Kingdom and went to Rome where he died few days after and was there buried in the English School and his Wife following after him died in her way to Rome Some write he was driven out of his kingdom by the Danes Here upon the Danes Anno 874. substituted in his place in the Realm of Mercia one Ceolwulfus a servant of King Beorreds an Eglishman by Nation sed Barbarus impietate but a Barbarian in impiety For he swore fealty and gave pledges to the Danes Quod tributa imposita eis fidelitèr persolveret that he would faithfully pay unto them the Tributes they imposed and that whensoever they would redemand the Kingdom committed to him He would resign it without any Resistance under pain of losing his Head Whereupon he as Ingulphus records going round about the Land paucos Rusticos relictos excoriavit Mercatores absorbuit Viduas Orphanos oppressit
Re Populi Rectum et jus publicum recitate et unum quodque placitum terminum habeat quando peragatur quod tunc recitabitur The first Chapter of the second part of his Laws intimates that they were made by his Wtse men assembled in a Parliamentary Council at Exeter witness the contents thereof Edwardus Rex admonuit Omnes Sapientes quando fuerunt Exoniae ut investigarent simul et quaererent quomodo pax eo rum melior esse possit quà m ante à fuit quia visumest ei quod hoc impletum sit aliter quam deceret et quam ante à praecepisset Inquisivit itaque qui ad emendationem velint redire et in societate permanere quâ ipse sit et amare quod amat et nolle quod nolit in Mari in Terrâ Hoc est tunc Ne Quisquam rectum difforceat alicui Siquis hoc faciat emendet sicut supra dictum est In his first Laws then either made or rehearsed prima vice 30 s. secundâ similitèr ad tertiam vicem 120 s. Regi The last Chapter being the VIII in Bromtons translation but the XI in the Saxon Coppy is this Volo ut omnis Praepositus habeat Gemotum an Hundred Court semper ad quatuor hebdomadas et efficiat ut omnis homo rectum habeat et omne placitum capiat terminum quando perveniat ad finem Siquis hoc excipiat emendet sicut antè dictum est King Edward deceasing Aethelstan his eldest Son designed by his Fathers Will to succeed him was elected King at Winchester in the year 924. Magno Optimatum consensu et omnium favore and soâ—emnly Crowned at Kingston only one Alfred and some factious ones opposed his election pretending he was illegitimate and born of a Concubine whereupon they would have set up his Brothet Edwin being legitimate and next heir as they pretended whom the Generality of the Nobles rejected nondum ad regnandum propter teneros Annos Idoneo Aethelstan after his Coronation knowing his Brother to be born in lawfull Matrimony and fearing Ne per ipsum quandoque Regni solio privaretur lest he should be some time or other deprived of his kingdom by him hated him extremely and at the sollicitation of some Parasites whereof his Cup-bearer was the chief to be rid of him and this his fear he caused young Edwin attended only with one Page to be put into an old broken Boat in the midst of the Sea without Sail Oare or Pilate that so his death might be imputed to the waves out off which Boat the young Prince in discontent cast himself head-long into the Sea or rather the Page threw him head-long over-board and so was he drowned But the Page recovering his body by rowing with his hands and feet brought it to Land where it was interred The King was hereat so troubed with a real or feigned contrition for this barbarous bloudy fact that he did seven years voluntary penance for this his fratricide and adjudged his Cup-bearer to a cruel death who gave him this ill advice and to pacifie his Brothers Ghost and his own Conscience built two new Monasteries at Middleton and Michelresse and there was scarce any old Monastery in England which he adorned not either with buildings or Ornaments or Books or Lands to expiate this his bloody crime In this king Aethelstans reign In the year 927. There were fiery Beams and Meteors seen throughout all the Northern parts of England soon after which Athelstan resolved utterly to extirpate the perfidious Nation of the Danes and treacherous Scots which had violated their Agreement made with his Father whereupon he marched with a great Army by Land and Navy by Sea into Northumberland and Scotland wasted and harrowed the Country without resistance forced Guithfrith King of Northumberland out of his kingdom uniting it to his own Realm vanquished and overcame Howel king of Wales Constantine king of Scots Anlafe the Dane and others in a set battel drove them out of their Realms and forced them to submit to him Who upon their submission knowing the chance of war to be variable and pitying the Cases of these down-cast Princes restor'd them presently to their former estates with this Princely Speech That it was more honour to make a King than to be a King yet these petty Kings Princes rebelling afterwards siding with Anlafe against him were all routed by Athelstane King Constantine of Scotland with five more of these Kings 12 Dukes and most of their Army slain in one battel principally by the valor of Turketulus and the Londoners An. 837 Whereupon the petty Kings of Wales contracted to pay him a yearly tribute of 20 pound weight of Gold and 300 of Silver and 25000 head of Cattel with a certain number of Hawks and Hounds which no King of England ever exacted or received from them before William of Malmeshury who exceeds in his praises writes that it was truly reported of him amongst the English Quod nemo Legalius vel literatius rempublicam administraverit That no king governed the Commonwealâ—h more legally or learnedly than he being as Ingulphus records guided and directed by Turketulus his Chancellour a man of great integrity honesty and piety of proâ—â—und judgement whose decrees upon debate were irrefragâ—ble This king Athelstan for the better administration of Justice enacted sundry excellent civil and ecclesiastical Laws recorded in Bromt. Lamb. Spelm. The first of these his Laws were made and enacted in the famous Council of Grately about the year 928 in which the king himself Wulfehelm Arch-bishop of Cante bâ—ry and the rest of the Bishops and all the Nobles and Wisemen which King Ethelstan could assemble were present who all ordained and confirmed these Laws in this great Counâ—il as the last Chapter there oâ— informs us in these words Totum hoc institutum est et confirmatum In magno Synodo apud Grateleyam câ—i Archiepiscopus Wolâ—â—nus â—eâ—… et omnes Optimates et Sapientes quos Adelstanus Rex potuit Congregare Oâ— Cum Optimates et Sapientes ab Aethelstano evocaâ—â— frequentissimi as another Copy renders it which proves that all the Members of this Council were summoned to it by this kings writ and not elected by the peoples suffrages And although the Archbishops Bishops and other Clergy men were the chief advisers of the Ecclesiastical Lâ—ws made in this Council as this Prologue to them attests Ego Aethelstanus Rex ex prudenti Ulfnelmae Archiepiscopi aliorumque Episcoporum et Servorum Dei consilio mando yet they were all enacted and confirmed by all the Nobles and Wisemen in the Council as the premises evidence In this Council the king commanded by his Laws all his Officers that they should demand and exact from his Subjects such things and duties only as they might justly and lawfully receive adding this memorable reason for it Nunquam enim erit populo bene consultum nec digne
600 or 200 s. Land by the year consocientur et exuperent eum vivum vel mortuum alterutrum quod potâ—runt et qui aliquem eorum infaidiabit qui in câ quaestione suerint fit inimicus Regis et omnium Amicorum ipsius Et si quis adire negaverit et coadjuvare nolit emendat Regi cxx s vel secundum hoc pernegat quod nescivit et hundredo xxx s. From whence it is apparent That all Oaths of Allegance and Laws against Theeves and other Malefactors were then made and enacted in Parliamentary Council s assembled for that purpose and all fines for offences imposed and reduced to a certainty only by Parliament And by the last parcel of King Edmunds Laws in Bromton it seems the manner of contracting Marriage was then prescribed and setled by a Parliamentary Council This King Edmund as he gave and restored by his Charters to Christ-Church and St. Augustines in Canterbury several Lands unjustly taken away from them by his Predecessors free from all secular services except expedition and building of Bridge and Castle and ratified the Laws and Privileges of St. Cutberts Church at Durham by consent of his Bishops and Nobles So likewise Anno 944. he graâ—ted by his Charter written in golden Characters â—â—dry large Liberties together with the Mannor of Glâ—stâ—â—bury to the Abbey of Glustonbury Consiâ—io et coâ—sen 〈◊〉 Opâ—imatum meorum then assembled in a Paliamentary Council at London ratifying the Privileges grantâ—d to the Monastery by King Edmund his Father Eâ—frid â—…twine Ina and Cuthred et nè quisquam mortalâ—… seu Episcopus vel Dux aut Princeps aut quilibet ministrorum eorum audeat eam omnino intrare causa placitandi vel capiendi vel quidquam faciendi quod contrarium fore possit inibi Deo Servientibus Dei indictone prohibuit In the year 945. this King Edmund gave many Lands and Privileges tothe Monastery of St. Edmundsbury by his Charters quam subscriptione Episcorum Comitum et Baronum piâ devotione roboravit most probably in the Parliamentary Council of London at Culington where they were all assembled King Edmund in the year 946. celebrating with great Solemnity the Feast of St. Augustine which the English accustomed to celebrate every year at Canterbury as some or at Pulcherkirke now at Puckel-Church in Glostershire as others or Michelesberith as Matthew Westminster stiles it as he was sitting at Dinner in the Hall amidst his Nobles and Courtiers espyed a notable Thief called Leoff whom he formerly banished for his theft stand in the Hall Whereupon he not enduring his sight commanded his Butler to thrust that Thief presently out of the Palace who refusing to depart upon the Kings Command and resisting the Butler the King therupon in a rage rising suddenly from the Table took the Thief by the Hair and threw him to the Ground whereupon the Traitor feeling himself hurt and the King lying upon him presently drew out his Knife which he carried secretly about him ript up the Kings bowels and slew him with it which the Knights and Souldiers perceiving rushed all upon the Thief and with their Swords and Knives chopped all his flesh and bones into small pieces Some â—istorians write that he slew some of the Kings followers likewise and wounded more of them and so escaped in the midst of the Tumult Sicque clarum regalis Convivii principium nebulosus rerum Gestarum exitus terminavit Communi ergo decretum Concilio It was thereupon decreed by a Common Council that his Body should be interred in Glastonbury Abby Abbot Ethelred gives this Encomium of him Erat autem pauis Edwardi in omnibus imitabitor homo simplex rectus et timens Deum et usque ad finem vitae suae permanens in innocentiâ suâ Edred his Brother succeeded him the same year in the Throne and was crowned King at Kingston by Odo Archbishop of Canterbury Edwin and Edgar King Edmunds Sons being put by because of their Infancy quiaâ—tepugnante legitimâ aetate patri succedere non valebant as Matthew Westminster renders the reason No sooner was he crowned but entring into Northumberland with a great army he subdued the rebellious Northumberlanders who refused to bear the yoak of his government reducing them all under his obedience Wherupon Wulstan Arcbbishop of York and all the Nobles of the Northumberlanders swore fealty to King Edred which they did not long observe After which King Edred entred with Banners displayed into Scotland whereupon the Scots strucken with a fear without any resistance or war swore homage and fealty to him as to their true Lord as well as the Northumberlanders which Oath they soon violated For no sooner was Edred returned with his Army into the Southern parts but Anlaff who was chased out of Northumberland returning thither again with a great Fleet was joyfully received by the Northumberlanders and restored by them to the Throne of the Kingdom which he kept by force near four years But in the fourth year the Northumberlanders using their accustomed treachery and disloyalty châ—sed away their King Anlaff and received Hire or Eâ—icus son of Harald for their king who held the kingdom but a short time for the People of the Country not long enduring any king as they haâ— lightly received Hire for their king so in the third year of his Reign they as lightly rejected him and calling king Edred to them of their own accord received him again for their Soveraign and set him in the Throne as Humindon records But Malmesbuty Roger Hoâ—eden and others relate That king Edred Anno 948 was soincensed with the Northumberlanders for their treachery towards him in chusing Hirc for their king against their Oath of Allegiance sworn to him that he wasted all Norshumberland with fire and sword and famine et penè ex hominibus delevit But some of the Northumberlanders in his return from thence sallying out of York with their forces cut off some of the Rear of his Army ar Cesterford wherwith king Edred was so enraged that he resolved presently to return et totam illam terram penitus desere and ututterly to destroy all that Country Which the Northumberlanders hearing they were so terrified that they rejected their new King Hirc and received Edred for their Soveraign satisfying the King with Honors and the Damages and Wrongs they had done unto him with Gifts and no small Sums of Mony These treacherous Rebellious Northumberlanders after Edred and Hirc had no particular King at all to rule over them but only Dukes whose names and successions with their Treachery towards and Rebellions against them you may read at leisure in Roger Hoveden who subjoyns the History of them immediately to this relation This King Edred about the year 951. close imprisoned Wulstan Archbishop of York in Withaubrig and suspended him from his Archbishoprick near a whole year for certain causes of which he had been
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 spcedily 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 reâ—…tion An. 959. K. Edwin reigning in a decayed Estate living in little Esteem and without being desired for very grieâ— thereof as some write he died after he had for 4 years space Libidinosè simul Tyrannicè â—ustfully and also Tyrannically depressed the Realm of England Others affirm that he was deprived both of his Life and Kingdom by the Rebellion of his Subjects But his Monkish O posites record that he was taken away by an untimely Death by Gods Just Judgement 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 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 beanty to the king and marrying her to himself After which the king being extraordinarily ravished with the true report and sight of her transcendent beauty thereupon as Bromtons Chronicle relates statim post octo dies Rex Parliamentum suum apud Sarisberiam convocaviâ— Ubi cunctis suis Proceribus congregatis de custodia terrae Northumbriae qualiter contra ingressum Danorum melius posset custodiri tractaverunt inter quos Ethelwolfus ad Custodiam Eboraci parriae 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 Ethel wolfe travelling through the Forrest of Werewell towards his new VVardship was there cruely assaulted 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 there present beholding hiâ— dead Corps the king demanded of him how such a hunting pleased him who answered very well my Lord and King for that which pleaseth you ought not to displease me which answer so pacified this king sâ—veâ—…ing 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 Malmesbury This being done the king with great joy bringing Alfrida to London there espoused her and the same day both of them wore a golden Crown adorned with precious pearls on their heads Hereupon Arch-bishop Dunstan the next morning boldly rushing into the kings Bedchamber whiles they were both in Bed together demanded of the king what Woman he had lying in bed with him who answered that it was his Queen Dunstan by way of rebuke replyed That he could not marry or retain her as his wife without offending God and the Laws of the Church because he had been Godfather to her Son often admonishing the king that he would put her away and be divorced from her VVhich he by reason of his ardent love towards her and unsatiable lust with her would by no means hearken to Anno 964. King Edgar heating of a Nun of incomparable beauty in the Monastery of Wilton named Wilfrida a Dukes Daughter took her out of the Nunnery and frequently admitted her to his Bed VVich being commonly blazed abroad Arch bishop Dunstan understanding of it with great passion and indignation of mind came to the king who seeing the Archbishop arose from the Royal Throne to take him by the hand and give him place But Dunstan refused to take him by the hand and with a stern countenance bending his Browes spake thus unto him Thou that hast not feared to corrupt a Virgin espoused to Christ presumest thou to touch the consecrated hands of a Bishop Thou hast defiled the Spouse of thy Maker and thinkest thou by flattering service to pacifie the Friend of the Bridegroom No Sir his Friend will not I be who hath Christ for his Enemy c. The king terrified with these and other thundering words of Dunstan and compuncted with inward repentance for his perpetrated sin fell down at Dunstans feet weeping who raising him up again from the ground began to relate unto him the hainousness of the fact And finding the king ready to undergoe what ever satisfaction he should lay upon him injoyned him this following Penance for 7 years space That during these seven years he should wear no Crown That he should fast twice every VVeek That he should liberally distribute the Treasures left him by his Ancestors to the poor That he should build a Monastery of Nuns at Shastesbury That as he had robbed God of one Virgin through his transgression so should he again restore many to him in time to come Moreover That he should expel Clerks of evil lives meaning secular Priests who had VVives and Children out of Churches and place Covents of Monks in their room That he shoulo enact just Laws such as were acceptable to God and command the people to observe them through all parts of the Realm VVhich the king promising effectually to perform was there upon absolved and vigorously set himself to execute what he had promised Hereupon in the year 966. King Edgar founded the Monastery of Hyde near Winchester filled it with Monks endowed them with large privileges and possessions exempting them from all secular services whatsoever but these rata expeditione Pontis Arcisve constructione praescribed several Laws and Canons for the Monks thereof to observe made by advice and consent of his Bishops and Nobles and ratified by his Royal Charter subscribed by himself his two sons Prince Edmund and Edward his Queen Grandmother both the Archbishops 9 Bishops 5 Abbots 3 Dukes and sundry others with the sign of the Cross annexed to their names In which Charter there is this solemn curse donounced against all the infringers and perverters thereof Si quis autem hanc nostram Donationem in aliud quam constituimus transferre voluerit privatus consorâ—io sanctae Dei Ecclesiae aeternis Barathri incendiis lugubris jugiter cum Juda Christi proditore ejusque complicibus puniatur si non satisfactione emendaverit congrua
Alferus Duke of Mercia and many other Nobles siding with the maried Secular Priests against the Monkish Clergy combined to advance â—oung Ethelred electing him unanimously for their King disavowing Edward as illegitimate and begotten of an harlot before mariage as Malmesbury de Gestis Regum l. 2. c. 8. Osburn in the life of Dunstan Nicholas Trivet Johannis Parisiâ—nsis Vincentius Antoninus Matthew Parker in the Life of Archbishop Dunstan Mr. Fox and others repute him though Ingulphus Huntindon Hoveden Mat Westminster Florentius Wigornensis Bromton Abbot Ethelred Simeon Dunelmensis Radulphus Cistrensis and the generality of our modern Historians repute him Edgars lawfull Son and right heir to the Crown Whereupon the most of the Nobles elected him to succeed unto his Father The two Archbishops Dunstan and Oswald with all the Bishops Abbots and Clergy of the Monkish faction holding their new-gotten States dangerous and their footing unsure if in the nonage of the King their Opposites should rule all under him as they imagined they would if Ethlred were elected by them thereupon abetted the Title of Edward as altogether wrought to their mould and treading in his Fathers footsteps lawfully begotten in the nuptial bed of Queen Ethelfleda right heir to his Father and by him designed to succeed him Their claimes thus banded amongst the Nobles Duustan and Oâ—… foreseeing the danger prudently assembâ—… all the Bishops Abbots and Nobles together in a Great Council to debate their rights and settle the title Where Archbishop Dunstan as some write comming in with his Cross and Banner dum consecrationis ejus tempore nonnulli Patriae Optimates resistere voluissent not staying for further debating de Jure presented Prince Edward in the midst of them de Facto for their Lawfull King as his Father had declared him at his death Upon which the Major part of the Council being Clergymen elected anointed and consecrated Edward for their King Quibusdam Optimatum murmurantibus some of the Nobles of the contrary party murmuring at it especially Queen Elfrida who thought to advance her young Son to the Throne that so she might rule all things and reign under the colour of his name as Dunstan and the Monkish Clergy did under the colour of King Edwards whose Counsels and admonitions he diligently followed in all things and judgements acted by him During the Interregnum and banding of these two parties about the right of the Crown and immediately after Edwards coronation there arose great controversies tumults and civil Warrs between the Monkish Clergy and maried Secular Priests and the Nobles siding with both parties The marieâ— Priests presently upon Edgars death complained to Queen Elfrida Elfere and the Nobles That they were unjustly expelled out of their Churches by the Monks and their prevailing party alleging that it would be a very great and miserable dishonour to the Nation and shame to them ut novus advena veteres colonos migrare compelleret hoc nec Deo gratum putari qui veterum habitationem concessiâ—…eâ— nec alicui probo homini qui sibi idem timere possit quod aliis praejudicio accedisse cerneret Hereupon many clamours and tumults arising among the people they went to Archbishop Dunstan Praecipue Proceribus ut Laicorum est succlamantibus praejudicium c. but especially to the Nobles as the manner of Laymen is crying out unto them that the Secular Clergy were prejudged and suffered unjustly being expelled their 〈◊〉 posessions without cause that they ought to be more mildâ—y dealt with and restored to their Rights Dunstan giving a deaf ear to these their just complaints many of the Princes and Nobles thereupon in a tumultuous manner expulsed the Abbots and Monks out of the Monasteries wherein King Edgar had placed them and brought in the maried Clerks with their wives in their places as at first Among others Alfere Earl of Mercia gathering great forces and using much insolence overturned almost all the Monasteries King Edgar and Bishop Ethelwold had built in the Province of Mercia quorundam Potentum assensu â—t factione placing maried Priests in them This they did magnis occaecati muneribus by the maried Clergy as Hoveden Simeon Dunelmensis Florentius Wigorniensis and our Monkish Historians asâ—ert To which Abbot Ingulphus subjoyns Cujus Regis Edwardi sancta simplicitate et innocentia tà m abusa est factio Tyrannorum peâ— Reginae favorem et potentiam praecipue roborata quod per Merciam Monachis de quibusdam Monastertis ejectis Clerici sunt inducti Qui statim Monasteriorum maneria Ducibus terrae distribuebant ut sic in suas partes obligati eos contra Monachos defensarent Tunc de Monasterio Eveshamensi Mon â—châ—s expulsis Clerici fuerunt introducti Terraeque Tyranni de terris Ecclesiae praemiati sunt quibus Regina cum novercali nequitia stans cum Clericis in Regis opprobrium favebat Cum Monachis Rex et sancti Episcopi persistebant Sed Tyranni fulti Reginae favore et potentia super Monachos triumphabant The Monks on the contrary to secure their interest by like Bribes and means as is most probable though our Monkish Historians conceal it stirred up Ethelwin Duke of the East-English and Brithnorth Earl of Essex men of great dread and power to appear in their quarrel and resist the opposite party Qui in Synodo constituti who assembled together in a Synod or Council for that end protested That they would never indure the Monks should be cast out of the Realm who held up all Religion in the Kingdom After which they raised a mighty Army defending with great valour the Monasteries of the Eastern English keeping the Monks in possession of them This fire between the Monks and maried Priests thus blown from a spark to a flame was feared to mount higher if not timely quenched Wherefore by mediation of Wise men arms being laid aside the cause was referred to be heard and decided between them in a Great Council of the whole Kingdom For which end there was a famous Council summoned and held at Winchester which some Historians antedate in Edgars life others place in the Interregnum after his death but the series of Story and most judicious Antiquaries evince it to be after Edwards Coronation Anno 975. In this Great Council the King and Archbishop Dunstan sitting in their Thrones as chief Judges of the Controversie in the East-End of the Hall of the Refectory of Winchester Abby near the wall wherein there was a Crucifix immured just behind them Duces cum torius Regni Magnatibus the Dukes with all the Nobles of the Realm and the expulsed maried Clerks standing on the left side of the Refectory and pleading for themselves that they might be restored and Oswald Archbishop of York Athelwold Bishop of Winchester with the Monks standing all together on the right side of the Hall pleading for their continuance in their Churches as the Author of the old Manuscript Chronicle of Winchester Abby
relates though he misdates the time of this Council as held Anno 968. After much debate the Nobles of the Realm fearing they should be overcome by dispute â—ay the Monks promising reformation of life on the Clergies behalf most humbly intreated the King and Arch-bishop That they might be readmitted into Monasteries out of which they had been ejected With whose prayers tears sighs the most merciful King being much moved was in a great streight ruminating in his minâ— what he should doe in this business At last purposing and being about to grant pardon to the Clerks upon hope of their amendment and to give them leave to return to the Monasteries and Churches whence they had been expelled When he was ready to pronounce this his definitive Sentence there was thiâ— divine Voice uttered by the Crucifix in the Wall Cum plurium jam Suffragiis de Presbyteris restituendis decernehatur as Mathew Parker relates it Aâ—… ut â—oâ— fiâ—â— c. God forbid that this should be done God forbid it should be done You have judged well once you would change again not well Which articulate voice only the King and Archbishop who were the Judges of the cause heard if the Chronicle of Winchester may be credited when as another Monk relates it was heard by all present At which voice they being both astonied fell to the ground on their faces but all the rest hearing only the sound of the Voice as of a great Thunder fell down flat to the Earth very much affrighted Some write that both sides by Dunstans policy appealed to the resolution of the Crucifix in this case in which Dunstan had placed a man with a Trunk in the wall behind the Image who uttered this voice in and by the mouth of the Rood which is most probable Soon after â—he King and Dunstan heard this second voice from the Crucifix Arise be not afraid because this day Righteousnesse and Peace have kissed each other in the Monks In memory of this cheating Oracle and Monkish fable of which Huntindon Hoveden Wigorniensis Ranulâ—us Cistrensis Fabian and other old Monastical Historians make no mention and Malmsbury slightly relates it as An hear-say the Monks of Winchester ingraved these Verses over the head of this Crucifix in their Refectory Humano more Crux praesens edidit ore Coelâ—tus effata quae prospicis hic subaratâ—â— writing the words forâ—ited under this Distick as then uttered by the Crucifix which asserted before all That Dunstans way was true Wherewith the Clerks and their Abettors were quite confounded and put to silence Sed adhuc non sedatis animis c. But the Nobles and Clerks minds being not as yet quieted by this Oracle a clear evidence they suspected it as counterfeit our Historians inform us there were three more great Councils soon after held to settle this Controversie between the married Priests and Monks The first at Kerling Kerding or Cerding or Kirking as it is variously stiled Anno 977. which Wigorn. and Hoveden stile Magna Synodus without recording what was done therein Sir Henry Spelman out of an old Saxon Note calls it A great Council affirmes it was held after Easter and that Sideman Bishop of Devonshire died in it That King Edward and the Archbishop therein ordained That every man should goe in pilgrimage to the Church of St. Mary at Abendune out of Devotion And Matthew Parker Archbishop of Canterbury in the life of Dunstan superaddes Dunstanus ibi cum Monachorum labenti conditioni succurrere voluit nihil profecit Itaque hoc dissoluto Concilio aliud in Regia Villa Wilteria quae Calne vulgo appellatur coegit This Great Council held at Calne some stile it Cleve was purposely called the same year 977. to end the long continued Controversie between the Monks and married Priests which the seigned Oracle of the Crucifix at Winchester and the Council of Kerding could not determine All the Senators and Nobles of England sitting together at this Council in an Upper room the King being absent by reason of his tender age or sickness the business being debated with great conflict and controversie and the strongest wall of the Monkish Church Archbishop Dunstan being assaulted with the Darts of many revilings remained unshaken The Disputants of both parties and orders defending their sides with greatest industry in the midst of the dispute the whole Floor with the Rafters and Beams of the Room wherein they disputed suddenly brake in peeces and fell to the ground with all the people in it except Dunstan who escaped without any harm standing firm on a beam that remained of which he took hold-fast the rest being either slain outright or very much hurt and bruised with the fall so as they languished ever after hardly escaping present death This miracle as our Monkish Authors stile it gave peace to Archbishop Dunstan from the assaults of the English Clerks and others who thereupon from thenceforth submitted to his sentence and judgement if William of Malmesbury and Mat. Westminster may be credited Whereas Florentius Wigorniensis John Bromton and others out of them assure us that there was not long after another Parliamentary Synod or Assembly held at Ambresbery upon the same occasion without recording the Proceedings or Event thereof Some conjecture that this fall was only a fiction of the Monkish VVriters to adde reputation to their languishing cause as well as that of the Crucifix Speech forecited Others conceive it was wrought by Duustans sorcery or Policy Others that it was casual by reason of the weight of the People But Henry Huntindon Hist l. 2. p. 357. Bromton col 876. and Sir Henry Spelman out of them p. 496. record That this fall of the Nobles at Calne was not a Divine Judgement on them for their Opposition against and injury to the Monks as some interpreted it but signum videlicet Dei excelâ—i fuit quod Proditione et Interfectione Regis sui ab amore Dei Casuri essent et diversis gentibus digna contritione conterendi as they were soon after broke in pieces by the invading conquering Danes and Normans And whether the late violent falls and ruptures of our Parliaments and Nobles portend not the like fate to England by some other forein Invasions for the like Treachery Apostacy Regicide or far worse let those who are guiltiest of it and others determine at their leisures King Edward imitating the footsteps of his Fathers Religion and Piety was so circumvented by the flattering speeches of his Mother-in-law Queen Elfrida that although she opposed his Title Election Coronation all she could to advance her own Son to the Crown yet retaining only the name of a king to himself he soon after permitted her and his Brother Ethelred his Competitor to order all affairs of the Realm as they pleased VVhereupon as the Chronicle of Bromton relates she began to plot how to dethrone this Man of God King Edward and advance her own
the London ships meeting with the other Danish Pirates as they were flying fought with them slew many thousands of the Danes and took Duke Alfric his Ship with the Souldiers and Armes himself hardly escaping as Wigorniensis and Matthew Westminster relate But Huntind Bromton write that the Danes recruiting their Navy met and fought with the kings Navy flew many of the Londoners triumphantly took whole armed Ships and Duke Alfric who was in them whom the king should not have trusted according to the antient saying Quem femel gravitèr laeseris non facile tiâ—i fidelem credideris For this Treason of Alfric the king caused the Eyes of his Son Algar to be put out Unae odium infamia eâ—us crudelitatis adaucta est as Huntindon and others observe The next year 993. the Danish Fleet entring Humber wasted the Country of Northumberland and Lindesey burning the Villages slaying the people and pillaging their goods Whereupon great mulâ—itudes of the people of that Country assembling together resolved and hastned to fight with them but when they were ready to give them battel Frena Frithgist and Godwin their Captains being of Danish Progeny proving treacherous to their followers perswaded them to fly and fled first themselves Notwithstanding the Country as Malmesbury Speed and others write being unable to digest their intollerable insolence and plunders fell upon the Danes slew many of them and chased away the rest to defend their Lives Liberties and Estates Anno 994. Swane king of Denmark and Anlafe king of Norwey with 94 Ships sailed up to London besieged and fiercely assaulted the City thinking to take it but the Citizens so manfully defended it that they repulsed the Danes thence with great loss Who thereupon turning their fury upon the Counties of Essex Kent Sussex and Southampton so greivously wasted them with fire and sword burning the Villages and slaying the Inhabitants that King Ethelred Conâ—llio Procerum suorum by the Council of his Nobles assembled together for that end as Wigorniensis Matthew Westminster Hoveden Simeon Dunelmensis and others write sent Embassadours to them promising to give them Tribute and Wages and Money upon this condition that they should desist from their cruelty Who thereupon condescending to the kings request returned to their Ships and drawing all their Army together unto Southampton wintered there To whom a Tribute of fixteen thousand pounds was given and paid out of all England that they should cease from their rapines and slaughters of innocent persons After this agreement King Anlaf tepaired to Andover to King Ethelred where he received baptism Ethelred being his Godfather and bestowing great gifts upon him Heteupon Anlaf entred into a League with him promising to return into his own Countrey and never after to return into England with an Army Which promise he faithfully observed The Articles of the Agreement between King Ethelred and him are at large recorded in the Chronicle of Bromton Col. 899 900. being made by advice of all his Wisemen asâ—embled in a Parliamentary Council as this Title to them intimates Haec sunt verba Pacis et Prolocutionis quas Ethelredus Rex et omnes Sapientes ejus cum exercitu firmaverunt qui cum Anaâ—anâ— et Justino et Gudermundo Stegiarâ— filio venit The Articles of the Peace between them are X in the Saxon but XI in the Latin Copy The perfidious Danes violating their former agreement Anno 997. came with a great Fleet and Army into the mouth of Severn wasted and laid waste and desolate Northwales and most of the West and South parts of England no man resisting them gaining an extraordinary great booty and Wintring about Tavestock The next year 998. They entring the river oâ— Frome wasted and spoiled Dorsetshire the Isle of Wight and Sussex over and over living upon their spoils whereupon the English many times assembled an Army to resist and expell them but so often as they were about to give them battel Angli aut insidiis aut aliquo infortunio impediti terga verterunt et hostibus victoriam dederunt most of the Nobles of England secretly favouring the Danes and not loving Ethelred quia Alfrida mater sua pro ipso liberius in regno substituendo sanctum Edwardum fratrem suum dolosè extinxerat as Bromton and others atteâ— Anno 999. The Danish fleet entring the river of Medway besieged Rochester and wasted Kent The Kentish men uniting their forces fought a sharp battel with them wherein many were slain on both sides but the Danes winning the field horsed their foot on the horses they gained and miserably wasted all the West part of Kent Which King Ethelred being informeâ— of suorum Primatum Consilio et classem et pedestrem congregavit exercitum by the advice of his Nobles he asâ—embled a Navy and foot Army to encounter them But whiles the ships were preparing the Captains of the Army delaying from day to day their begun leâ—yes and undertakings Grievously vexed the People In conclusion neither the Navy nor Army did any thing at all for the peoples benefit or defence praeâ—er populi laborem pecuniae peâ—ditionem hostium incitationem as Florentius Wigorniensis Roger Hoveden and others observe Hereupon King Ethelred Anno 1000. for the better defence of his Realm resolved to take to wiâ—e Emma daughter of Richard Earl of Normandy who was then most valiant and formidable to the whole Realm of France For he saw himself and his Subjects very much weakned and did not a little fear their future overthrow Hoc autem Dei nuâ—u factum esse constat ut veniret contra improbos malum Genti enim Anglorum quam sceleribus suis exigentibus disterminare proposuerat sicut et ipsi Brittones peccatis accusantibus humiliaverant Dominus omnipotens duplicem contritionem proposuit et quasi militares insidias adhibuit Scilicet ut hinc Dacorum persecutione saeviente illinc Normannorum conjunctione accrescente si ab Dacorum manifesta fulminatione evaderent Normannorum improvisam cum fortitudine cautelam non evaderent Quod in sequentibus apparuit cum ex hac conjunctione Regis Anglorum et filiae Ducis Normannorum Angliam JUSTE secundum jus Gentium Normanni et calumniati sunt et adepti sunt Praedixit etiam eis quidam vir Dei quod ex scelerum suorum immanitate non solum quia semper caediet proditioni studuebant verum etiam quia semper ebrietaâ—â— et negligentiae domus Domini dediti erant eis insperatum à Francia adventurum Dominium quod et eorum excellentiam in aeternum deprimeret et honorem sine termino restitutionis eventilaret Praedixit etiam quod non ea gens solum verum et Scottorum quos vilissimos habebant eâ—s ad emeritam confusionem dominaretur Praedixit nihilominus varium adeò seculum creandum ut varietas quae in mentibus hominum latebat et in actibus patebat multimoda variatione vestium et
that so the whole Nation of the English might all jointly and at one time 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 therefore 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 destroyed all the Danes either cutting off their heads without giving them warning with swords or taking and burning them suddenly together with fire Vbi fuit videre miseriam dum quisque charissimos hospites quos etiam arctissima necessitudo dulcâ—ores 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 Danish Nation who escaped and fled out of England in a ship moved him to tears Vocatisque cunctis Regni Principibus Who 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 bloud of their Neighbours and Friends was to be revenged Whereupon 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 souldiers in forein 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 Queen 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 with 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 Where upon the Army seeing his slothfulness and fearfullness departed most sorrowfull from their Enemies without fighting 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-England 〈◊〉 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 Counsel with the Great men of East England made peace with Swane which he treacherously breaking within three weeks after suddenly issuing out of his ships surprized pillaged and burnt Thetford to the ground and covering the Country 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 returning 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 ronted 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 England than this The great loss the Danes sustained in it though they got the field and an extraordinary famine 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 possessions and all his homours propter injusta judicia for his unjust judgements and proud works and likewise commanded the eyes of the two Sons of that Arch-Traitor Edric Strcona to be put out at Cocham where he kept his Court 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 purposely invited to a Feast that he might thus treacherously murder him While these things were acting in the month of July 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 Danes 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 Winteâ— began to approach the Danes with an extraordinary booty sayled to the Isle of Wight where they continued till the Feast of Christs 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 per agebant quae parata erant hilariter comedentes cum discederent in retributionem 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 with triumph to their ships enriched with the new spoils 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 Polychronicon and others express it by the Counsel of his Nobles sent Messengers to the Danes commanding them to tell them quod sumptus et Tributum illis dare vellent that they would give them Costs and Tribute upon this Condition That they should desist from rapines and hold a firm peace with them to which request they consented and from that time Costs were given them and a Tribute paid them of thirty six thousand pounds out of all England Henry Huntindon Bromton thus relate the business Rexet 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 Infrenduit Anglia tota 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 perselvit 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 persidiousness pride cruelty and Treason who soon after maried the Kings daughter Edith whereby he had the better opportunity to betray the King and kingdom with less suspition King Ethelred though often vexed with the wars and invasions of these forein Enemies yet he had a care to make good Laws for the benefit peace and safety of his people whereupon having thus made Peace with the Danes An. 1007. he summoned and held a Great Parliamentary Council at Aenham on the Feast of Easter at the exhortation of Aelfeag Archbishop of Canterbury and Wulstan Archbishop of Yorke who together with the rest of the Bishops and all the Nobles of England were present at it Regis Aethelredi Edicto concrepante acciti sunt convenire Where they all assembling together de catholicae cultu Religionis reparando deque etiam rei statu publicae reparando vel consulendo plura et non pauca utpote divinâ—â—us inspirati ratiocinando sermocinabantur In this Council they debated resolved on divers things and enacted many wholesom Laws and Edicts for the reformation and setling of Religion and Churchmen the advancement of Gods worship the Government of the Church and State the advancement of civil Justice and honesty and defence of the Realm by Land and Sea beginning with the things of God and the Church in the first place which you may read at large in Sir Henry Spelman Some Laws where of I shall here transcribe being very pertinent to my subject Cap. 5. Sapientes decernunt Ut Leges quique coram Deo et hominibus aequas statuant et tueantur iniquas autem omnino deleant justitiam pauperi atque diviti pari exhibentes lance et pacem insuper et concordiam piè in hoc seculo coram Deo et hominibus retinentes Cap. 6. Sapientes etiam decernunt Ut nemo Christianum et inâ—ontem pretio tradat extra patriam praesertim in Pagani alicujus servitium Cap 7. Sapientes etiam decernunt Ut pro delicto modico nemo Christianum morti adjudicet sed in misericordia potius Leges administret ad utilitatem populi et non pro modico eum perdat qui est opus manuum Dei et mercimonium ejus magno comparatum pretio De quolibet autem Crimine acuratius decernito sententiam praebens juxta factum mercedem juxta meritum ita scilicet ut secundum divinam clementiam levis sit poena et secundum humanam fragilitatem tolerabilis Cap. 9. Nemo dehinc in posterum Ecclesiae servitium imponat nec clientelam Ecclesiae injuriis afficiat nec Ministrum Ecclesiae ejiciat inconsulto Episcopo Cap. 21. Verba et opera rectè quisque disâ—onat et Jusjurandum pactamque fidem cautè teneat Omnem etiam Injustitiam è patriae finibus quâ poterit industriâ quisque ejiciat et perjuria formidanda Cap. 22. Urbium Oppidorum Arcium atque Pontium instauratio sedulo fiat prout opus fuerit restaurentur renoventur vallis et fossis muniantur et circumvallentur Militaris etiam et Navalis Profectio uti imperatum est ob universalem utique necessitatem Cap. 23. De Navali Expeditione sub Paschate Cavendum etiam est ut celerius post Paschatis festum Navalis expeditio Annuo sit parata Si quis Navem in Reipublicae expeditionem deâ—ignatum vitiaverit damnum integrè restituito et pacem Regis violatam compensato Si verò eam ita prorsus corruperit ut deinceps nihili habeatur plenam luito injuriam et laesam praeterea Majestatem So one translation out of the Saxon Copy reads it but another thus Naves per singulos annos ob patriae defensionem et munitionem praeparentur poâ—â—que sacrosanctum Paâ—cha cum cunctis ut enâ—libus competentibus simul congregentur Qua etiam poena digni sunt qui Navium detrimentum in aliquibus perficiunt notum cunctis esse cupimus Quicunque aliquam ex Navibus per quampiam inertiam
Necfuit tantus numerus Navium tempore alicujus in Britannia writes Henry Huntindon But yet God frustrated and blasted all their designs beyond expectation For about or a little before this time Brithtricus a slippery ambitious proud man brother to perfidious Duke Edric injuriously accused Wulnoth a Noble young man of Southsex to the King whose servant he was who thereupon banished him Wulnoth upon this fled away lest he should be apprehended and having gotten 20 Ships exercised frequent Piracies upon the Sea Coasts The Kings Navy being thereof informed and that any man who would might easily take him Brithtric hereupon to get praise to himself took 80 of the Kings Ships with him and promised to bring Wulnoth alive or dead to the King VVhen he had prosperously sailed a long time in pursute of him a most violent tempest suddenly arising shattered and bruised all the ships driving them one against another and forced them to run ashore upon the dry land with great loss where Wulnoth presently coming upon them fired and burnt them all The rest of the Navy discontented with this sad news returned to London The Army likewise then raised was dispersed Et sic omnis labor Anglorum cassatus est writes Huntindon or as Wigorniensis and others express it Sicque totius populi maximus labor periit to their great grief and disappointment Upon this disaster in the time of Harvest Earl Turkel a Dane arived with a great new Fleet of Danes and an innumerable Army at Sandwich whom another great Navy of Danes under the command of Hemmingus Erglafe Tenetland followed in the Moneth of August These all joyning together marched to Canterbury aslaulted made a breach therein and were likely to take it Whereupon the Citizens and Inhabitants of East-Kent were inforced to purchase a firm peace with them ar the sum of 3000 pounds which being paid they returning to their ships pillaged the Isle of Wight with the Counties of Sussex and Southampton near the Sea-Coasts burning the Villages and carrying away great booties thence King Ethelred upon this raised and collected a great Army out of all England placing forces in all Counties near the Sea to hinder the Danes landing and plundring Notwithstanding they desisted not but exercised rapines in all places where they could conveniently land At last when they had straggled further off from their Ships than they accustomed and thought to have returned laden with spoils the King with many thousands of Souldiers intercepting their passage resolved to die or to conquer them But perfidious Duke Edric by his treacherous and perplexed orations endeavored to perswade the King and Souldiers not then to give the Enemies battel but to suffer them to escape at that time Suasit persuasit And thus like a Traitor to his Country as he ever had been he then delivered the Danes out of the Englishmens hands and suffered them to depart with their booty without resistance The Danes after this taking up their VVinter quarters in the River of Thames maintained themselves with the spoils they took out of Essex Kent and other places on both sides of the River and oft times assaulting the City of London attempted to take it by assault but were still valiantly repulsed by the Citizens with great loss In Jan. 1010. the Danes sallying out of their Ships marched through Chiltern Forest to Oxford which they pillaged and burnt wasting the Country on both sides the Thames in their return Being then informed that there was a great Army raised and assembled against them in London ready to give them battel thereupon that part of the Danish Army on the North-side of the Thames passed the River at Stanes and there joyning with those on the South side marched in one body to their Ships through Surrey laden with spoils refreshing themselves in Kent all the Lent After Easter they went into the East parts of England marching to Ringmere near Ipswich where Duke Ulfketel resided On the first of May they fought a set battel with him where in the heat of the battel the East-English turned their backs on Turketel a Dane beginning the fight but the Cambridgeshire men fighting manfully for their Country and Liberty resisted the Danes a long time but at last being overpowred with multitudes they likewise sled Many Nobles and Officers of the King and an innumerable multitude of people were slain in the fight The Danes gaining the victory and thereby East-England turned all Horsemen and running through the Country for three Months space burnt Cambridge Thetford with all the Towns and Villages in those parts slew all the people they met with as well Women and Children as Men tossing their very Infants on the â—ops of their Pikes wasted pillaged all places killing the Cattel they could not eat and with an infinite rich booty their Footmen returned to their ships But their Horsemen marching to the River of Thames went first into Oxfordshireâ— and from thence into Buckingham Hertford and Bedford Shires burning Villages and killing both Men and beasts and wholly depopulated the Country then they retired laden with very great booties to their ships After this about the Feast of St. Andrew they rambled through Northamptonshire burning and wasting all the Country together with Northampton it self then marching Westward into Wiltshire they burnt pillaged depopulated the Country leaving all those Counties like a desolate Wilderness there being none to resist or encounter them after their great victory at Ringmere The Danes having thus wasted and depopulated East-England Essex Middlesex Hertford Buckhingham Oxford Cambridge Shires half Huntindonshire most of Northamptonshire Kent Surrey Sussex Southampton Wiltshire and Barkshire with Fire and Sword King Ethelred et Regni sui Magnates and the Nobles of his Realm thereupon sent Ambassadors to the Danes desiring peace from them and promising them Wages and Tribute so as they would desist from depopulating the Realm Which they upon hearing the Embassadors consented to yet not without fraud and dissimulation as the Event proved For although provisions and expences were plentifully provided for them and Tribute paid them by the English according to their desires yer they desisted not from their rapines but marched in Troops through the Provinces wasting the Villages every where spoiling most of the miserable people of their goods and some of their lives At last not satisfied with rapine and bloodshed between the Feasts of St. Mary and St. Michael they besieged Canterbury contrary to their dear bought peace and by the treachery of Archdeacon Almear took the City which they pillaged and burnt to the ground together with the Churches therein burning some of the Citizens in the fire slaying others of them casting many of them headlong over the Walls dragging the VVomen by the hair about the streets and ravishing and murdering them After which they decimated the Men VVomen Monks and little Children that remained leaving only the tenth of them alive and murdering the rest slaying no
less than 900 Religious persons and above 8000 others in this manner as some of our Historians relate Mr. Lambard in his Perambulation of Kent computeth that ther were massacred 43 thousand and two hundred persons in this Decimation there being only 4 Monks and 4800 Lay-people saved alive The Archbishop Alfege they took prisoner bound in chains buffeted grievously wounded and then carried to their Fleet where they kept him prisoner 7 Moneths At last they propounded to him that if he would enjoy his life and liberty he should pay them 3000 pounds for his ransom which he refusing to do Week after Week prohibiting any others to give them any thing for his ransom they were so inraged with him that bringing him forth publikely to their Council at Greenwich they struck him down to the ground with their battel Axes Stones and the Bones and Heads of Oxen and at last one Thrum whom he had confitmed but the day before moved with an impious piety cleft his head with an Axe and so martyred him The Londoners hearing of it purchased his dead corps with a great sum of money and honourably interred it But above 2000 of these bloody Villains were in short time after destroyed with grievous diseases VVhiles these things were acted by the Danes in Kent Anno 1012. perfidious Duke Edric et omnes cujuscunque Ordinis et Dignitatis Primates Congregati and all the Nobles of every Order and Dignity assembled together at the City of London continuing there til they had levied and paid to the Danes a Tibute of forty as some or forty eight thousand pounds as others write upon this condition That all the Danes within the Realm should have every where a peaceable habitation with the English and that there should be as it were one Heart and one Soul of both people as Matthew Westminster Daniel and some others record the Agreement Which Accord being ratified on both sides with Pledges and Oaths as Matthew Westminster and others relate King Swain as some Historians write though others mention not his being here in person but only by his Commanders returned into his own Land and so the rage of the Danish persecution ceased for a short space Upon this agreement 45 of the Danish ships under the command of Turkill the Danish General submitted themselves to King Ethelred promising That they would defend England against strangers and forein invasions upon this condition that the English should find them victuals and cloaths Henry Huntindon censures this accord with the Danes as made overlate Tunc vero Rex nimis serò pacem fecit cum Dacorum exercitu dans eis 8000 misprinted for 48000 librarum nunquam enim tempore oportuno pax fiâ—bat donec nimia contritione terra langueret To what extremities King Ethelred was put to raise this and the other forementioned Tributes to the Dâ—â—nes and to pay his own Captains besides and how much the Monasteries were taxed oppressed exhausted of all their moneys plate wealth by the King his Officers and the Danes during these wars by force and menaces this memorable passage of Abbot Ingulphus will best inform us not mentioned by any other Historians which I purposely reserved as properest for this place In tempore itaque Domini Osketuli Abbatis Croylandiae cum sic Dani totam terram inquietarent indigenae â—e Villis Vicis ad Civitates Castella plurimi ad paludes et lacum loca invia refugientes Danorum transitum et discursum pro anima praecavebant Coeperunt tunc omnia terrae Monasteria a Rege Ethelredo et Ducibus ejus ac Ministris Gravissimis exactionibus subjici et ad satisfaciendum Danicis Tributis pro immensis pecuniarum summis sibi impositis supra modum affligi Et direptis thesauris ac monasteriorum tam sacris calicibus quam alâ—â—s jocalibus etiam sanctorum Scrinia jubent ab exactoribus spoliari Venerabilis ergo pater dominus Osketulus Abbas Croilandiae 400. marcas pro talibus Tributis variis vicibus exolverat et tandem 12. annis in officio pastorali sanctè ac strenuè consummatis mortis sacrae compendio Regias exactiones universosque seculi timores cum carnis depositione finalitèr exuebat 12. Cal. Novemb. Anno scil Domini 1005. Cui successit ad Abbatis officium Venerabilis Pater Abbas Godricus electus et effectus Abbas in diebus angustiae tribulationis et miseriae laboriosissimeque rexit Monasterium 14. annis sub praedicto rege Ethelredo Hujus Abbatis tempore cum Dani totius terrae ferè obtinerent dominium et tà m per Ethelredum regem et ejus Duces Edricum Alf â—cum Godwinum et alios 〈◊〉 importabiles Impositiones pro Danorum tributis persolvendis ac aliae Exactiones gravissimae ad eorundem Ducum expensas plurimas restaurandas quam per Analafum et Swanum ac eorum exerciâ—us depraedationes despoliationes et destructiones assidue fierent saepe multa Monasteria de omni Denario emuncta sunt Non tamen exacâ—…râ—…s ultimum quadrantem se extorsisse credere voluerunt Ita hinc religiosi quo magis premebantur magis putabantur habentes magis putabantur abundantes Hinc venerabilis Pater Abbas Godricus solvit primo Anno Regi Ethelredo 200 marcas Ducesque sui pro suis expensis similiter ducentas marcas extorquebant praeter minores sumptus qui quotidie Regis ministris irruentibus continue fiebant Secundo tertio ac quarto anno similiter actum est Tertio enim anno pro Triremibus per omnes portus Fabricandis et Navali Militia cum victualibus et aliis necessariis exhibenda Ducentae Librae exactae sunt Quarto etiam anno cum Turketulus Danicus Comes cum fortissima classe appllcâ—isset Procentum Libris missuâ— et ad solutionem per exactores crudelissimos commissum est Di currentesque Dani tunc per provincias omnia mobilia diripientes immobilia cremantes Draiton Kotenham et Hoketon maneria Croylandiae cum toto Comitatu Cantabrigiae direpta ignibus tradiderunt Sed haec nuntia sunt malorum Quippe cum quolibet anno sequente quater centum Marcae Regiis exactionibus et Ducum suornm sumptibus communiter solverent rex Swanus veniens cum classe recenti exercitu ferocissimo tunc omnia depopulatur Irruens enim de Lindesia vicos cremat rusticos eviscerat religiosos omnes variis torment is necat tunc Baston et Langtoft flammis donat Is erat annus Domini 1008. Tunc monasterium Sanctae Pegae omniaque sua contigua maneria scilicet Slinton Northumburtham Makesey Etton Badington Bernake omnia una vice combusta tota familia caesa vel in captivitatem ducta Abbas cum toto comitatu nocte fugiens et navigio in Croylandiam veniens salvatus est Similiter Monasterium Burgi villaeque vicinae ac maneria sua Ege Thorp Walton Witherington Paston Dodifthorp et Castre prius omnia direpta
postea slammis tradita sunt Abbas cum majore parte conventus sui assumptis secum sacris reliquiis sanctarum Virginum Kineburgae Kineswithae ac Tibbae Thorniam adiit Prior autem cum nonnullis fratribus assumpto secum brachio sancti Oswaldi regis ad insulam de Hely aufugit Subprior vero cum 10. fratribus ad Croylandiam venit faelicitèr Illo anno ex frequentibus fluviis inundationes excreverunt et vicinas paludes circumque jacentes mariscos immeabiles reddebant Ideo totus mundus advenit populus infinitus affluxit Chorus et claustrum replebantur Monachis caetera Ecclesia sacerdotibus et clericis Abbatia tota laicis caemeteriumque nocte ac die sub tentoriis mulieribus et pueris fortiores quicunque inter eos ac juvenes in ulnis et alnetis ora fluminum observabant erantque tunc quotidie ut caetera onera taceantur 100 Monachi in mensa Super haec omnia per nuncium Rex Swanus Monasterio Croylandiae mille Marcas imposuit et â—ub poena combustionis totius Monasterii solutionem dictae pecuniae certo die apud Lincoln assignavit infraque tertium mensem post solutionem hujus pecuniae iterum pro victualibus suo exercitui providendis exactores nequissimi mille Marcas minis maximis extorquebant Ventilatum est tunc et ubique vulgatum crudele martyrium S. Elphegi Archiepiscopi Doroberniae qui quia summam pecuniâ— excessivam sibi impositam pro sua redemptione solvere detrectavit belluina Dacorum ferocitas eum acerbissimo tormento crudeliter interemit Omnes fera tempora flebant foelices qui quocunque modo in fata processerant Abbas Godricus maximè cui cura tanti populi incumbebat et quem Rex Ethelredus cumulos argenti habere existimabat Daniens vero Swanus sunsque totus exercitus ei tanquam Domino de manibus eorum refugientium juges insidias et minas semper maximas ingerebat Demum expensis internis et exactionibus externis totus thesaurus Domini Turketuli Abbatis distractus est horrea â—mborum Egelrâ—corum â—â—m lita sunt cum adhuc Regii exactores pro pecuniis quotidie irruerent Et eum tanquam patriae proditorem et Danorum provisorem regi in proximo cum dignis compedibus deducendum et suppliciis tradendum pro suis demeritis affirmarent Perculsus ergo venerabilis Pater Abbas Godricus dolore cordis intrinsecus pro tot minis terribilibus convocat totum suum conventum et nuncians nummos Monasterio deficere orat et exorat quatenus doceant et decernant in medio quid contra nequam seculum magis expediat faciendum Tandem longo tractatu placet haec sententia cunctis aliquem Ministrorum seu satellitum Edrici Ducis Merciorum conducere et cum pecuniae deficerenâ— terris et tenementis ad terminum vitae concedendis in suum defensorem contra imminentia pericula obligare Erat enim ille Edricus potentissimus post regem in terra et cum rege Ethelredo et cum Swano rege Danorum familiarissimus et postea cum Cnuto filio suo Conductus est ergo quidam maximus satellitum dicti Ducis Edrici nomine Normannus sanguine summe clarus filius videlicet Comitis Lefwini et Frater Leofrici nobilis Comitis Leicestriae dato sibi prout postulabat manerio de Badby ad terminum 100. annorum Ille dictum manerium acceptans tenere de Sancto Guthlaco per firmam in grano piperis per annum in festo S. Bartholomaei singulis annis persolvendo fideliter promittebat et se futurum procuratorem ac protectorem Monasterii contra omnes adversarios confecto inde chirographo obligabat Valuit illud Monasterio aliquanto tempore scilicet omnibus diebus vitae suae By which passages it is apparent what Taxes exactions predures the Monasteries and others suffered both from King Ethelred his Captains and Officers on the one side and from the Danes on the other side and how they were enforced to hire and bribe great Souldiers and Courtiers by leases and monies to protect them from utter ruine John Speed affirms That the Clergy as backward as any denied to King Ethelred their assistance pleading their exemptions from warr and privileges of the Church when the land lay bleeding and deploring for help and scandalized all his other proceedings for demanding their aydes But this passage of Abbot Ingulphus so near that age out of the Register Books of Croyland whereof he was Abbot not long after proves they paid great annual contributions to the King and his Officers which consumed all their money plate Jewels Chalices and the very shrines of their Saints notwithstanding all Charters and exemptions And as for the Laity William of Malmsbury Radulphus Cistrensis Mr. Fox and others write That King Ethelred had such a condition that he would lightly dis-inherit Englishmen of their lands and possessions and caused them to redeem the same with great sums of money and that he gave himself to polling of his Subjects and framed Trespasses for to gain their money and goods for that he paid great Tribute to the Danes yearly Whereby he lost the affections of the people who at last deserted him and submitted themselves to the Danish Invaders who usurped the Soveraign power and forced him out of England with his Queen and Children These Unrighteous Oppressions Dis-inherisons and Exactions of his were specially provided against by his Nobles Prelates and VVisemen in the Councils of Aenham and Habam forecited by special Laws and special excellent Prayers and Humiliations prescribed to be made to God to protect them from his judgements and the invading oppressing bloody Danes worthy perusal yet pretended necessities and VVar laid all those Laws asleep In the year of Christ 1013. the very next after the Englishmens dearest purchased Peace which the perfidious gold-thirsty Danes never really intended to observe King Swain by the secret instigation of Turkel the Dane whom King Ethelred unadvisedly hired to guard him with his Danish shiâ—s from forein Invasions who sent him this Message Angliam praeclaram esse patriam opimam sed Regem stertere illum Venere Vino que studentem nihil minus quà m bellum cogitare Quapropter odiosum suis ridiculum alienis Duces invidos Provinciales infirmos primo stridore Lituorum proelio cessuros arrived at Sandwich with a great Fleet and Army of Danes in the Moneth of July where resting themselves a few days he failed round the East part of England to the mouth of Humber and from thence into the River of Trent to Gainsborough where he quitted his ships intending to wasâ—e the Country Hereupon first of all Earl Uhtred the Northumbriaâ—s with those of Lindesey presently without delay and after them the Freelingers with all the people in the Northern parts of Watling street having no man to defend them yeelded themselves up to Swain without striking one stroke
and establishing a peace with him they gave him Hostages for their loyalty and swore Fealty to him as their Soveraign Whereupon he commanded them to provide hoâ—ses and victuals for his Army which they did William Malmesbury observes that the Northumbrians thus unworthily submitted to Swane his Government Non quod in eorum mentibus genuinus ille calor Dominorum impaâ—iens refriguerie sed quod Princeps eorum Uthredus primus exemplum defectionis dederit Whose example drew on all other parts Illis sub jugum missis coeteri quoque omnes populi qui Angliam ab Aquilone inhabitant vectigal et obsides dederunt A very strange and sudden change conquest without a blow Swain committing his Navy and Hostages to his son Cnute raised chosen Anxiliaries out of the English who submitted to him and then marched against the Southern Mercians Having passed Watling street he by a publike Proclamation commanded his Soldiers to wast the Fields burn the Villages cut down the Woods and Orchards spoil the Churches kill all the Males that should come into their hands Old and Young without shewing them any mercy reserving only the Females to satisfie their lusts and to do all the mischiefs that possibly they could act Which they accordingly executed raging with beastly cruelty Marching to Oxford he gained it sooner than he imagined by surrender taking Hostages of them He posted thence to Winchester Where the Citizens extraordinarily terrified with the excessiveness of his cruelty immediately yeelded and made their peace with him they and the whole Country giving him such and so many hostages as he desired for his security and likewise swearing allegiance to him Only the Londoners defending their lawfull King within their walls shut the Gates against him From Winchester Swain marched with great glory and triumph to London endeavouring by all means either to take it by force or surprize it by fraud At his first arrival he lost many of his Souldiers who were drowned in the River of Thames through overmuch rashness because they would neither seek for Bridge nor ford to pass over it King Ethelred being then within the City and having no other refuge the Citizens closing their Gates manfully defended their lawfull King and City against the assailants Who encouraged with the hope of glory and great booty fiercely assaulted the City on all sides but were all most valiantly repulsed by the Citizens through the assistance of valiant Earl Turkel then within it the Danes sustaining great loss of men who were partly slain and partly drowned the Citizens not only repulsing them from the Walls but likewise sallying forth and slaying them by heaps so that Swain himself was in danger to be slain had he not desperately ran through the midst of his Enemies and by flight escaped their swords Malmesbury thus writes of the Citizens Oppidani in mortem pro Libertate ruebant nullam sibi veniam futuram arbitrantes si Regem desererent quibus ipse vitam suam commiserat It aque cum ut â—nque acriter certaretur Iustior causa victoriam habuit Civibus magna ope conanâ—â—bus dum unusquisque sâ—dores suos Principi ostentare et pro eo pulchrum putaret emori Hostium pars prostrata pars in flumine Thamesi necata Hereupon Swain despairing to take the City marched with his torn shattered Army first to Wallingford plundering and demolishing all things they met with in their way after their wonted manner and at last they came to Bath where Ethelmere Earl of the West Country with all his people came and submitted to him giving him hostages for their loyalty Having thus finished all things according to his desire he returned with his Hostages to his Navy being both called and reputed King by all the People of England Lordâ—n excepted si Rex â—ure queat vocari qui fere cuncta Tyrannice faciebat write Florence of Worcesteâ— Simeon Dunelmensis verâ— cauâ—elouslâ— Nec adhuc flecterentur Londinenses tota jam Anglia in clientelam ejus inclinata nisi Ethelredus praesentia eos destâ—ueret sua as Malmesbury observes King Ethelred being a man given to sloathfullness and through consciousness of his own demeriâ—s very fearful deeming no man faithfull to him by reason of the tragical death of his Brother Edwaod for which he felt this Divine revenge not daring to raise an Army nor sight the Enemy with it when raised Ne Nobiles Regni quos injuste exhaeredaverat lest the Nobles of the Realm whom he had unjustly dis-inherited should desert and deliver him up to the Enemy declining the necessity of war and of a new siege most unworthily deserted the Londoners his faithfull valiant Subjects and Protectors in the midst of their dangers Enemies slying away secretly froÌ„ them to Hamshire by secret journies from wbence he sailed to the Isle of Wight Hereupon the Londoners Laudandi prorsus viâ—i quos Mars ipse collata non sperneret hasta si Ducem habuissent Cujus dum vel sola umbra protegerentur totius pugnae aleam ipsam ohsidionem etiam non paucis mensibus luserunt Seeing themselves thus unworthily deserted by their Soveraign in their extremities moved by the example of the rest of their Countrymen submitted themselves likewise to King Swain sending Hostages to and making their peace with him the rather for that they feared Swains fury was so much incensed against them for his former shamefull repulses by them that if they submitted not to him of their own accords he would not only spoil them of all their goods but likewise command either all their eyes to be pulled out or their hands and feet to be cut off if he subdued them by force John Speed against the current of other Historians informs us That Swain after his repulse from London having received a certain sum of money went back into Denmark for want of victuals and to recruit his shattered Army whence returning soon after he was immediatly met by the English where betwixt them was struck a sore battel which had been with good success had not the Treason of some hindred it in turning to the Danes King Ethelred therefore seeing himself and the Land betrayed on this manner to those few true English that were left used this Speech as followeth If there wanted in me a fatherly care either for the defence of the Kingdom or administration of Justice in the Commonwealth or in you the carriage of Souldiers for defence of your Native Country then truly silent would I be for ever and bear those calamities with a more dejected mind but as the case stands be it as it is I for my part am resolved to rush into the midst of the Enemy and to lose my life for my kingdom and Crown And you I am sure hold it a worthy death that is purchased for the Liberties of your selves and kinred and therein I pray you let us all die for I see both God and destiny against us and
Saint he fell off from his horse and continued in great torment till night and so ended his life with a miserable death Swane being deâ—d the whole Navy and Nation of the Danes Elected and made â—…te his son their King and Lord 〈…〉 Majores Natu totius Angliae The Nobles and Senators of all England liking nothing â—eâ—s than bondages especially under such new tyrannizing forein Intrâ—… thinking it now or never the time to shake ofâ— their new yoak pronounced their Natural Lord to be dearer to them than any Foreiner Si regalius se quam consuâ—verat ageret Whereupon with unanimous consent and great joy and speed they sent messengers â—…o Normandy to Ethelred to inform him Nullum eo libentius se in Regem recepturos si ipse vel rectius gubernare vel mitius eos tractare vellet quam prius tractaverat and to hasten his return unto them Who thereupon presently sent over his son Edward qui fidem Principum favoremque vulgi praesens specularetur who together with his Embassadors assured both the Nobles and Commons of the English Nation That he would for time to come be their mild and devout Lord consent to their wills in all things acquiesce in their Counsels and if he had offended in any kinde he would reform it according as they should think fit and with a ready mind pardon whatsoever had been contemptuously or disgracefully spoken or acted by them against him or his if they would all unanimously receive him again as their King into the Kingdom To which they all gave a favourable and satisfactory answer Whereupon a plenary reconciliation was ratified between them on both sides both by words and compact Moreover The Nobles unanimously and fréely agreed and voted That they would never more admit a Danish King into England to reign over them These things concluded King Ethelred speedily returns into England where he was honourably and joyfully received by the English And that he might seem to cast off his former sloathfulness he hastned to raise an Army against Cnute who remaining with his Navy in Lindesey made an agreement with the inhabitants exacting men and horses from them that he might surprise Ethelred at unawares and threatning grievously to punish all such as revolted from him But Cnute being taken in his own craft Ethelred marching thither with a strong army before he was provided to receive him fled from thence with his Hostages Army and Navy to Sandwich whereupon Ethelred depopulated all Lindesey wasting the Country with fire and sword slaying all the Inhabitants as Traitors to him and their Native Country Cnute by way of revenge humano et divino Jure contempto in insontes grassatus cuts off the hands and ears and â—â—its the Noses of all the most Noble and beautiful Hostages throughout England given to his father and so dismissing them sailed into Denmark to settle his affairs and augment his sorces resolving to return the year following After his departure King Ethelred this very year Super haec omnia mala Classi quae apud Greenwic â—acuiâ— Tributum quod erat 30. millia librarum pendi mandavit to wit to the Fleet under Turkell the Dane who instead of defending did but help to pillage and oppress the English Huntindon writes it was but 21 thousand pounds and Bromton avers that it was Cnute not Ethelred who commanded it to be paid to his Navy Soon after which the Sea rising higher than it was accustomed drowned an innumerable Company of Villages people and cartel After Cnutes departure King Ethelred summoned a Parliamentary Council at Oxford Anno 1015 both of the Danes and English Malmsbury expressly stiles it MAGNUM CONCILIUM Wigorniensis Hoveden Sim. Dunelmensis MAGNUM PLACITUM Matthew Westminster and others MAGNUM COLLOQUIUM our later English Historians a Great Council and Parliament The King by the ill advise of that Arch Traytor Duke Edric at this Great Council commanded some Nobles of the Danes to be sodenly and secretly slain quasi de Regia proditione notatos ac persidiae apud se insimulatos the chiefest of them were Sygeforth and Morcar whom Edric treacherously invited to his chamber and there making them drunk caused his armed guards there placed secretly to murder them which they did Hereupon their Servants endeavouring to revenge their Lords deaths being digniores et potentiores ex Seovengensibus they were repulsed with arms and forced to slye into the Tower of St. Frideswides Church for safety whence when they could not be forcibly expelled they were all there burnt together The King presently seised upon their lands and goods the chief cause of their murder as some conceived and sent the relict of Sygeforth a very Noble beautifull and vertuous Lady prisoner to Malmsbury whither Edmond the Kings base Son as some affirm posted without his fathers privity and being enamored with her beauty first carnally abused then afterward maried her and by her advice forcibly invaded and seised upon the Lands of her husband and Morcar which were very great and the Earldom of Northumberland which his father denied him upon his request Whereupon all the Inhabitants of that County readily submitted to him Whiles these things were acting d Cnute having setled his affairs in Denmark and made a League with his neighbour Kings recruired his Army and Navy and returned into England with a resolution either to win it or to lose his life in the attempt Ariving first at Sandwich and sailing thence to the West he pillaged Dorsetshire Somersetshire and Wiltshire filling all places with slaughters and plunders King Ethelred lying then sick at Cosham his son Edmond Ironside and Duke Edric raised an Army against Cnute but when both their forces were united to fight him the old persidious Traytor Edric endeavoured by all means to betray Edmond to the Danes or treacherously to slay him which being discovered to Edmond thereupon they severed their forces from each other and gave place to the Enemies without giving them battel Not long after Edric inticing to him 40 of the Kings ships furnished with Danish Mariners and Souldiers openly revolted and went with them to Cnute subjecting himself to his dominion as his Soveraign by whose example all West-Sex submitted to him as their Kiâ—g delivering him hostages for their fidelity resigning up all their arms to him and providing both horse and arms for his Danish Army The Mercians offred themselves alone to resist the Danes but through the Kings sloathfulness the business of war received delay and the enemies proceeded in their rapines without opposition In the year 1016. King Cnute and treacherous Duke Edric came with 200 sail of ships into the river of Thames whence they marched by land with a great Army of horse and foot and invaded Mercia in an hostile manner burning all the Towns and Villages and slaying all the men they met with in Warwickshire and other places whereupon King Ethelred as
Huntindon Wigorniensis and others record made an Edict Ut quicunque Anglorum sanus esset secum in bello procederet That every Englishman who was in health should go with him in battel against the Danes An innumerable multitude of people upon this assembled together to assist him But when his and his son Edmonds forces were conjoyned in one body the King was informed that some of his auxiliaries were ready to betray and deliver him up to the enemies unless he took care to prevent it and save himself and as some write the Mercians refused to fight with the VVest-Saxons and Danes whereupon the expedition was given over and every man returned to his own home After this Edmund Ironside raised a greater Army than before against Cnute and sent Messengers to King Ethelred to London to raise as many men as possible he could and speedily to come and joyn with him against the Danes but he for fear of being betrayed to the Enemy presently dismissed the Army without fighting and returned to London Hereupon Ed. Ironside went into Northumberland where some imagined he would raise a greater Army against Cnute the Dane but he and Vhtred Earl of Northumberland instead of incountring Cnute wasted the Counties of Stafford Shrewsbury and Leicester because they would not go forth to fight against the Danes Army in defence of their Country and King Cnute on the other side wasting with fire and sword the Counties of Buckingham Bedford Huntindon Northampton Lincoln Nottingham and after that Northumberland Which Edmond being informed of returned to London to his Father and Earl Uhtred returning home being compelled by necessity repaired to Cnute and submitted himself to him with all the Northumbrians making a Peace with him and giving him hostages for performance thereof and for his and their fidelity Not long after Uhtred and Turketel Earls of Northumberland were both treacherously slain by Turebrand a Dane by Cnutes command or Commission Which done Cnute made one Hirc some stile him Egric Earl of Northumberland in his place and then returned with all his army to his Ships in triumph a little before the feast of Easter with a very great booty Not long after King Ethelred born to troubles and mischief after manifold labours vexations treacheries and incessant tribulations ended his wretched life in London where he died May 9th Anno 1016. being there buried in St Pauls Church finding rest in his Grave by death which he could never find in his Throne all his life having attained it by Treachery and his Brothers Soveraigns murder whose Ghost as Malmesbury and others write did perpetually vex and haunt him all his reign and made him so subject to and fearfull of plots and treacheries that he knew not whom to trust nor ever deemed himself secure even in the midst of his oft raised Armies Nobles People though ready to adventure their Lives for his defence I have related these Passages of the Danish wars and invasions during Ethelreds reign more largely than I intended 1. Because on the Englishmâ—ns parts they were meerly defensive of their Native Country King Laws Liberties Properties Estates Lives against forein Invaders and â—…rpers 2ly Because they more or less relate to my forementioned Propositions touch-the fundamental Rights Liberties Properties of the English Nation 3ly Because they shew forth unto us the true original grounds causes motives necessities and manner of granting the very first Civil Tax and Tribute mentioned in our Histories by the King and his Nobles in their General Councils to the Danish invaders to purchase peace and the true nature use of our antient Danegelt and rectifie some mistakes in our common late English Historians Immediately after King Ethelreds decease Episcopi Abbates Duces et quique Nobiliores Angliae in unum congregati as Wigornienâ—…s Hoveden â—…n Duneâ—…s Râ—…us de Diceâ—o Bromton Or Maxima pars Regni tam Clericorum quam Laicorum in unum congregati 〈◊〉 Matthew VVestminster Or Proceres Regni cum Clero as Knyghton expresses it Pari consensu in Dominum et Regem Canntum eligere All the Bishops Abbots Dukes and Nobles of England and the greatest part of the chief Clergy and Laity assembled together in a kind of Parliamentary Council by unanimous conient elected Cnute for their Lord and King notwithstanding their solemn Vow and Engagement but the year before never to suffer a Danish King to reign over them Whereupon they all repaired â—o Cnute to Southampton omnemque Progeniem Regis Ethelredi coram illo abhorrentes et abnegando repudiantes as Wigorâ—iâ—â— sis Huntindon Knyghton and others record and there in his presence abhorring and utterly renouncing and abjuring all the Progeny of King Ethelred they submitted themselves and swore â—eâ—lty to him as to their only King and Soveraign he reciprocally then swearing unto them That he would be a faithfull Lord unto them both in things appertaining to God and the World which our Historians thus express Quibus ille juravâ—t quoa secundum Deum secundum seculum fidelis illis foret Dominus Only the City of London and part of the Nobles then in it unanimously chose and cryed up Ed. â—ronside King Ethelreds 3. son by Elgina his first Wife Daughter to Duke Thored as Speed and others relate though Matthew Westminster and others register his birth Non ex Emma Regma sed ex quadam ignobili foemina generatus qui utique matris suae ignobilitatem generis mentis ingenuitate corporis strâ—…it te redintegrando redemit After Edmonds election he was crowned King by Liuing Archbishop of Canterbury at Kingston upon Thames where our Kings in that age were usually crowned No sooner was he thus advanced to the Regal dignity but he presently marched undauntedly into VVest-Sex and being there received by all the People with great gratulation and joy he most speedily subjected it to his Dominion Which being divulg'd in other parts many Counties of England deserting Cnute voluntarily submitted themselves unto him such is the sickleness of the People unconstancy of worldly power and affairs Cnute in the mean time to be revenged of the Londoners for making Edmond King marched to London with his whole Army and Fleet besieged and blocked up the City with his Ships drawn up the Thames on the West-side of the Bridge and then drew a large and deep trench round about the City from the Southside of the River whereby he intercepted all ingress and egress to the Citizens and others whom he shut up so close that none could go in or out of the City and endeavoured by many strong assaults to force it but being still repulsed by the Citizens who valiantly defended the walls he left off the siege with great confusion and loss as well as dishonor Thence he marched with his Army into Dorsetshire to subdue it Where King Edmond meeting him with such forces as he could suddenly raise gave him battel at Penham near Gillingham where
with many others of Edrics followers were likewise slain without offence together with Edric because Cnute feared he should one time or other be circumvented by the treacheries of this old perfidious Traitor hearing his former natural Lords Ethelred and Edmond had frequently been betrayed by him quorum diutina proditione alterum vexavit alterum interfecit there being no trust to be reposed in such a Traytor to his Soveraigns Thus this inveterate Arch-Traitor to his Natural Country Kings and bloudy Regicide by Gods divine Justice received the just punishment of all his Treasons at the last instead of expected great rewards from that hand he least suspected Whence p Matthew Westminster relating both the Histories of the manner of Edrics death concludes thus Sed sive sic sive aliter vitam finierit Proditor Edricus non multum ad rem pertinet quia hoc liquido constat Quod ille qui multos circumvenerat tandem est justo Dei Iudicio circumventus et proditionis suae meruit subire talionem And let all those who have or shall imitare him in his Treasons against his native Country Kings and Regicide seriously meditate on his tragical end and expect the self same retribution in conclusion though they escape as many years as he then did before final execution A third sort of Authors as Marianus Scotus Wigorniensis Roger Hoveden and Simeon Dunelmensis make no mention of King Edmonds murder by Edric his subordination but only that he died at London not Oxford about the Feast of St. Andrew as if he had died of a naturall death but the generality of Writers agree he was murdered at Oxford ambiguum quo casu extinctus writes Malmesbury the common fame being he was murdered by Edric as aforesaid And Bromton who recites all three opinions concludes thus Sed primus modus videliceâ— quod rex Edmundus ad requiem naturae sedens proditione dicti Edrici occisus fuit verior aliis et autenticior habetur The Author of the Encomium of Emma concurring with Marianus subjoynes this Observation touching his short reign and speedy death That God c. minding his own doctrine That a kingdom divided in it self cannot long stand and pitying the English took away Edmond lest if the Kings had continued long together they should have both lived in danger and the Realm in continual trouble His reign continued onely seven moneths in which time he fought seven or eight battels in defence of his Country People and their Liberties besides his single Duel with Cnute and by his untimely death the English Saxon Monarchy was devolved to the Danes who by Treachery and the Sword for three descents deprived the English Saxons of the Crown and Kingdom through divine retaliation as they had unjustly by treachery and the Sword dispossess'd and disinherited the Britons thereof about 450 yeares before as Henry Huntindon Bromton Radulphus Cistrensis Mr. Fox Speed and others observe The Sinnes of the Saxons grown now to the full writes Speed and their dreggs as it were sunk to 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 covetousness 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 English 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 Franchises 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 vitam componens writes William of Malmsbury Whereupon the better to fortifie 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 agreementâ—… 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 slatteringly 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 Oath of Allegiance to Cnute swearing to him That they would and did chuse him for their King humbly obey him et Exercitui Vectigalia dare and would give Tributes to his Army And having received a pledge from 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 eosque Reges esse negaverunt unum autem ex ipsis praedictis Clitonibus Edwinum egregium et rever endissimum Edmundi Regis germanum Ividem cum consilio pessimo exulem esse debere coustituerunt as Roger de Hoveden Abbot Ethelred Wigorniensis 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 discordia adeò ut quis cui crederet quis cui mentis suae secreta committeret nesciretur Plena erat proditoribus Insula nusquam tuta fides nusquam sine suspitione amor Sermo sine simulatione Tandem eousque Proditio Civilis et astutia Processit hostilis ut defuncto Rege Magna pars Insnlae legitimis abdicatis haeredibus Cnutoni qui Regnum invaserat manus darent peremptoque invictissimo Rege Edmundo paterni honoris simul et laboris haerede etiam Filios ejus adhuc in cunis agences barbaris mitterent occidendos King Cnute hearing this their palpable flattery and contemptuous 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 haereditario reservare 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 educated Cnute having thus through the flattery perjury and treachery of the English Prelates and Nobles gained the intire Monarchy of England 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—…hose Counsel he slew or banishea all the blood-royal of the Realm of England that so he might 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 Mortem Proditoris pro demeritis accepit laqueo suspensus et in Tamesin fluvium projectus Cum quo plurimis sattellitum suorum similiter occisis etiam inter eos praecipuus et primus Normannus occisus est writes Abbot Ingulphus Turkell Duke of East-England and Hire Duke of Northumberland were both banished the Realm Duke Norman and Bridric slain an a heavy Tax of 82 Thousand pounds besides 10000 pounds imposed on London alone imposed and levied on the whole Nation Quoniam igiâ—… proprii sanguinis proditores adulantes Regimentiâ—◠〈…〉 in capâ—… in cor 〈…〉 et à Câ—â—the quem naturalibus Dominis praetulerunt confracture 〈…〉 Omnes qui primi in illo fuere consilio exterminavit et 〈…〉 vel regno repulit vel occidit as Abbot Eâ—â—elred recoâ—â—s to poâ—…ty so which Henry Huntindon and Henry de Knyghton subjovn Posteà vero Rex justo Dei judicio dignam retributionem nequitiae Anglis reddidit Ipse namque â—â—x Cnute Edâ—…m occidit quia timebat ab insidiâ—s ab co aliquando circumveniri sicut Domini sui priores Ethelredus Edmondus frequenter sunt circumventi quorum diutina proditione alterum vexavit alterum interfecit add Florentius Wigornionsis 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 sine culpa interfecti sunt Fecit quoque per Angliam mirabilem Censum reddi scilicet 82. some write 72. mille librarum praeter undecies mille libri 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 before to Edmond and his heirs he mistrusted and disdained 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 suspect 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
year as Radulphus de Diceto informs us Rex Canutus CONSILIO CLERI ET PROCERUM by the Counsel of his Clergy and Nobles most likely assembled in this Council at Cirencester and especially of his Queen Emma he placed Monks in the Monastery of Badricesworth wherein the bodie of King Edmond the Martyr resteth removing the Secular Priests from thence Matthew Westminster thus relates it Consilio Emmae Reginae et EPISCOPORUM SIMUL ET BARONUM ANGLIAE Monachos in eo constituit c. Caenobium quoque beati Regis et Martyris Edmundi tot praediis et bonis aliis ampliavit ut omnibus ferè Angliae Monasteriis in rebus temporalibus merito praeferatur Sir Edward Cook in his Preface to his 9. Reports out of an antient Manuscript of the Abbey of St. Edmonds which he said was in his custody gives us this account of a Parliament held at Winchester in the 5. year of King Cnute his reign Anno 1021. Haec sunt Statuta Canuti Regis Anglorum Danorum Norwegiarum Venerando Sapientum ejus consilio ad laudem et gloriam Dei et sui Regalitatem et commune commodum habito in Sancto Natali Domini apud Winton c. Rex Canutus anno regni sui 5. viz. per centum et triginta annos ante compilationem Decretorum quae Anno Dom. 1150. fuerunt compilata anno septimo Pontificatus Papae Eugeâ—â—i â—ertii et ante compilationem aliorum Canorum quorumcunque Cunctos Regni sui Praelatos Proceresque ac Magnates ad suum convocans Parliamentum in suo publico Parliamento persistentibus personaliteâ— in eodem â—…no et Adeâ—nodo Archiepiscopis et Ailwino Episcopo Elmhamense et aliis Episcopis ipsorum suffraganeis septem Ducibus cum totidem Comitibus necnon diversorum Monasteriorum nonnullis Abbatibus cum quamplurimis gregariis Militibus ac cum populi multitudine copiosa ac Omnibus tunc in eodem Parliamento personalitur exisientibus Votis Regiis unanimiter consentientibus praeceptum et decretum fuit Quod Monaste Sancti Edmondi c. sit ab omni Jurisdictione Episcoporum Comitatus illius ex tunc in perpetuum funditus liberum et exemptum c. Illustris Rex Hardicanu us praedicti Regis Canuti filius haeres et successor ac sui Patris Vestigiorum devotus imitator c. cum laude et favore Aegelnodi Doroberniensis nunc Catuariensis et Alfrici Eborac Episcoporum aliorumque Episcoporum Suffraganeis necnon Cunctorum Regni sui mundanorum Principum descriptum constituit roboravitque praeceptum That which this Manuscript stiles so often a Parliament held at Winchester in the 5th year of King Cnute of which there is not one Syllable in any of our Historians is as I conceive that which Matthew Westminster Wigorniensis Hoveden and Simeon Dunelmensis stile CONCILIUM ET MAGNUM CONCILIUM c. held at Cirencester 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 compiler of this Manuscript mistook whose Antiquitie and reputation is very suspitious as c 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 after 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 Hardicnutes 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 Venerandum Concilium Sapientum sic enim apud majores Parliamentum illud Latine redditur 6ly Because it subjoins cum quamplurimis gregariis militibus ac cum populi multitudine copiosa as if they 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 mention of any such chosen Knighrs of Counties Citizens Burgesses or Commons in that or succeeding ages till about the reign of King Henry 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 from this Spurious Antiquity 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
Feasts appointed under pain of the penalties inflicted by the Laws which he would strictly exact without pardon Neither was he worse than his word writes Malmsbury for he commanded all the Laws made by antient Kings and especially by his predecessor King Ethelred to be for ever observed under pain of a regal mulct To the custody of all which ancient Laws Even now writes he our Kings are sworn under the name of King Edwards Lawes non quod illa statuerit sed observaverit And Matthew Westminster records further Vicecomitibus Regni Angliae et Praepositis districtè mandavâ— ut nulli hominum vim inferant nec propter pecuniam fisco reponendam in aliqu o a Iustitia deviant dum non habeat necessitatem de peccato pecuniam adaugere If this Forein Danish Conqueror and Usnrper of the Crown of England qnod Bellico Iure obtinebat et armorum violentia as William Thorne records was at last so just and equal to the English as to reform all his former extravagant acts of Injustice Exactions Oppressions to release all unjust Taxes Exactions Oppressions and not to exact or raise any monies unjustly on the people upon any real or pretended necessity without their common consent in Parliament by any of his Officers should not out own English Conquerors domineering Grandees now much more imitate this his laudable Example who pretend not only to equal but exceed him in Saintship Justice Devotion no longer to oppress the griev'd people with their arbitrary Tyrannical Taxes Excises Imposts extravaganr violent poceedings in new wayes of highest Injustice as hitherto they have done against all their Oaths Covenants Declarations promises and Engagements to the Nation King Cnute returning from Rome into England Anno 1032. treated the English very justly and civilly confessed redressed his own former and his ancestors extortions oppressions rapines endowed many Monasteries with lands and priviledges and ratified them with his Charters Hereupon Brithmerus Abbot of Croyland Cum Cnutonem Regem super Angliam stabilitum cerneret universos Anglios civiliter satis amicabiliter tractare insuper sanctam Ecclesiam speciali devotione deligere ac filiali subjectione honorare monaste riis multisque sanctorum locis benè facere quaedam verò Monasteria ad summam gloriam promovere there upon resolved to go to the King procure his Charter of confirmation of the Abbey Lands liberties of Croyland quorundam adversariorum qui tempore guerrae multum creverant vim formidans Which Charter he readily obtained in these memorable words wherein he acknowledgeth his rapines and bloodshed to posterity Cnutus Rex totius Angliae Danmarchiae Norwagiae magnae partis Swavorum omnibus Provinciis nationibus populis meae potestati Subjectis tam minoribus quam majoribus salutem Cum terram Angliae progenitores mei parentes DURIS EXTORTIONIBUS DIRIS DEPRAEDATIONIBUS SAEPIUS OPPRESSERUNT Et fateor INNOCENTEM SANGUINEM FREQUENTER IN EA EFFVDERVNT studium meum a principio regni mei fuit semper erit in futurum tam penes caelum quam penes seculum PROPTER HAEC MEA PECCATA ET PARENTVM MEORVMSATISFACERE statum totius sanctae matris Ecclesiae uniuscujusque Monasterii sub Imperio meo constituti cum in aliquo meo patrocinio indiguerint devotione debita emendare omnesque sanctos Dei per haec alia bona opera mihi in meis necessitatibus reddere benignos ac deprecationibus meis favorabiles placatos Ideo in arras hujus meae satisfactionis offero sancto Guâ—hlaco de Croyland caeteris sanctis ejusdem loci de substantia mea unum calicem confirmans Brithmero Abbati Monachis suis totum Monasterium suum Croylandiae cum insula circumjacente duobus Mariscis adjacentibus scilicet Arderlound Goggislound eisdem terminis limitibus quibus in Chirographo inclyti quondam Regis Edredi restauratoris sui dicta insula dictique duo Marisci satis apertè describuntur Confirmo etiam omnes Ecclesias Capellas terras tenementa libertates privilegia in ejusdem Regis Chirographo contenta cum quibus omnibus dictus Rex Edredus dictum Monasterium Croylandiae ad honorem Dei S. Guthlaci confessoris sui corporaliter in ea requie scentis dotavit donavit ditavit suo Chirographo confirmavit Nullusque hominum meorum audeat à modo dictos Monachos inquietare vel in aliquo conturbare proprae dictis Quod si quis facere praesumserit vel tentaverit usurpare vel gladii mei sentiet aciem vel gladii paenam sacrilegis debitam subibitabsque omni remissione redemptione puniendus juxta modum et mensuram injuriae dictis Monachis irrogatae Ego Cnutus Rex anno Dominicae incarnationis 1032. Londoniis istud meum Chirographum signo sanctae crucis confirmavi ✚ Then follow the subscriptions of both the Archbishops sundry Bishops Abbots Earls and others The same year 1012. King Cnute granted and con firmed to the Abbot of Glastonbury the Conusance of all ecclesiastical and secular causes within the Island of Glastonbury by a special Charter Cum Consilio Deereto Archipraesulis nostri Edâ—lnâ—thâ— â—mulque cunctâ—…m Dei Sacerdotum Consensu Optimatum meorum as the words of the Charter atten to the end it might be valid in Law And the self same year King Cnute commanded Elstan Abbot of Sâ— Augustines in Canterbury to repair to him at the Feast of Pentecost concerning the translation of the Corps of St. Mildretha to that Monastery ut translationem faciendam ipse Rex per concessionem Procerum per literas suas firmius confirmaret as William Thorn in his Chronicle relates King Cnute in the year 1033. on the Feast of Christs Nativity held a Parliamentary Conncil at Winchester where Venerando Sapientum ejus Eonsilio by the venerable Counsel of his Wisemen he made and published sundry excellent Ecclesiastical and Civil Laws for the good government of the Church and Realm to the praise of God the honour of his Regality and common good of the People being 103 in the Saxon and 110 in the Latine Copies His 61 Ecclesiastical Law thus resolves against the Anti-Magistratical opinion of this licentious age Christiano Regi jure pertinet ut injurias Deo factas vindicet secundum quod acciderit His Civil Laws begin thus Haec est institutio Legum secularium quam communi Sapientum meorum Consilio per totam Angliam tâ—n ri proâ—…io Imp imis volo ut Iustae Leges erigantur et injustae sub vertantur et omnis Injustitia modis omnibus sarculetuâ— a modo omnis homo dignus publica rectitudine reputetur pauper dives quicunque sit eis justa judicia judicentur I shall transcribe only some few of his Laws pertinent to my Theam Lex 25. Prohibemus ne Christianus aliquis penitus pro parva re saltem
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 fit 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 without his gift I commend I recommend my self to him and let him be the Gardian of debility 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 King which our Historians thus express Convenerunt apud Oxoniam ad Colloquium as Mat. Westm or Placitum magnum as Huntindon and others stile it Proceres Regni Vt de novo Rege creando tractarent ibidem All the Nobles of the Realm assembled in a great Parliamentary Council or Court at Oxford that they might consult about the electiction of a New King which they would not have done had Harold been made King of England before by Cnute in his life time Leofric Earl of Chester and the rest of the Nobles on the Northside of the Thames with all the Danish Princes and Londoners who by conversing with the Danes amongst them were corrupted with their vices and addicted to their party elected Harold Son of Cnute by his Concubine Algiva whom some aver to be the son of a Tayler for their King But Godwin Earl of Kent with the Princes of the Western part of England contradicting them would rather have elected Harde-Cnute son of Cnute by Queen Emma or one of the Sons of King Ethelred and Emma then in Normandy After great strife and debate between the Nobles about the Election because Harold was there personally present but Harde-Cnute then in Denmark and Alfred and Edward in Normandy Harolds party prevailed against Earl Godwins qui tandem vi numero minor cessit violentiae Whereupon Harold was presently crowned King at Oxford by Elnothus Archbishop of Canterbury though at first he was very unwilling to perform that service For it is reported of him that he having the regal Scepter and Crown in his custody refused with an Oath to consecrate any other for King so long as Queen Emma her children were living for said she Cnute committed them to my trust and assurance and to them will I give my faith and allegiance This Scepter and Crown therefore I here lay down upon the Altar neither do I deny nor deliver them to you but I require by the Apostolick Authority all Bishops that none of them presume to take the same away neither that they consecrate him King therewith as for your self if you dare you may usurp that which I have committed to God on this Table Notwithstanding this great thunderclap being allayed with the showers of Golden promises of his just good and religious government intended though present experience manifested the contrary he was crowned by him Anno Anno. 1035. Henry Huntindon and others write That they elected him King only to keep the kingdom for his Brother Harde-Cnute then in Denmark Harold and the Nobles of West-Sex who opposed his election upon advice taken resolved that Qneen Emma wife of the deceased King should keep West-Sex and Winchester for the use of her Son Harde Cnute and that Earl Godwin should be their Captain in military affairs Roger Hoveden and others record That Harold being elected King by the consent of the major part of the Nobles of England obtained the royal dignity and began to reign quia justus haeres because he was a lawfull heir yet he reigned noâ— so powerfully as Cnute quia justior haeres expectabatur Harde Cnutus because a juster heir Harde Cnute was expected By reason of this disagreement amongst the Nobles to please both parties the kingdom of England was therupon divided by Lot Harold enjoying the Northern part thereof and Harde-Cnutes friends retaining the Southern part of it for his use No sooner was Harold crowned King but to secure himself the better in his Throne he presently posted to Winchester with his forces where tyrannically and forcibly taking away all the Treasures and goods which Cnute had left to Queen Emma his Mother-in-law he banished her out of England into Flanders some write she was thus banished by the secret Counsel and treachery of Earl Godwin whom she had made General of her forces for her preservation who proved unconstant and a Traytor to her and her children where in this her distresse she was honourably entertained by Earl Baldwin In the year 1036. Alfred eldest Son of King Ethelred comming over to claim his
then to mary his daughter Godith to Edward the younger Brother and to make him King as being of a more milde and simple disposition apt to be ruled by him Hereupon Godwin went to Southampton to meet with the two Brothers at their landing It fell out that the Messengers sent into Normandy found only Alfred there Edward being then gone into Hungarie to speak with his Cosen Edward the Outlaw Ironsides son When Alfred heard these Messengers tydings he thanked God and in all hast sped him to England ariving at Southampton with some of his Mothers kinred and many of his fellow-Souldiers of like age who were Normans Whereupon Godwin intimated to the Nobles of England That Alfred had brought over too great a company of Normans with him and had likewise promised the lands of the Englishmen to them and therefore it would not be safe to instirpate such a valiant and crafty Nation amongst them That these ought to undergoe exemplary punishment lest others by reason of their alliance to the King should presume to intrude themselves amongst the English And then posting to Southampton welcomed and received Alfred with much joy pretending to conduct him safe to London where the Barons waited for to make him King and expected his comming and so they passed forth together towards London But when they came to Guild-down Godwin said to Alfred Look round about thee on thy right hand and left and behold what a kingdom shall be subjugated to thy Dominion Upon which Alfred giving thanks to God presently promised that if it happened hâ— should be crowned King He would constitute such Laws as should be pleasing and acceptable both to God and Man Which words were no sooner uttered but the Traytor Godwin commanded all his men to apprehend Alfred and to slay all the Normans that came with him in his company and after that to carry Alfred into the Isle of Ely and there to put out both his eys and to pull out his bowels which they accordingly executed as aforesaid And so died this innocent Alfred right heir to the Crown through the Treason of wicked Godwin When the Lords of England heard thereof and how Alfred that should have been their King was put to death through the false Treason of Godwin against their wills tâ—…ey were wonderfull â—orrow â—ll and wroth and swore before God and Man that he should die a worser Death than did Edric which destroyed his Lord Edmond Ironside and would immediately have put him to death but that the Traytor fled and escaped into Denmark and there continued 4. yeares and more and lost all his Lands Rents Goods and Chattels in England confiscated in the mean time for this his Treason These Historians though they somewhat vary in the time and occasion of Prince Alfreds death yet they all agree in the substance of his and of his Norman Souldiers and Campanions treacherous barbarous murders by the joynt or separate 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. John 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 Nationâ—… 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 banishment of Queen Emma out of and murder of Prince Alfred in England Harde-Cnute delaying the time in Denmark and deferring his coming into England thereupon Harold formerly King only of the Mercians and Northumbrians that he might reign over all England in the year 1037. A Principibns et omni Populo Rex eligitnr 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 John Speed subjoynes This Dane seeing his hazards prevented sought to secure himself and with 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 had 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 Nobles both of the English and Danes aâ—â—embling 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 received with great joy elected King both by the English and Danes and solemnty crowned at London by â—lnothus Archbishop of Canterbury Soon after he commanded Alfric Arch-bishop 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
of Thanet into Flanders to Earle Baldwin with much treasure but his other two sonnes Harold and Leofric sailed by Bristol into Ireland Moreover the King put away his Queen Editha 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 suspirantibus 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 mentio nulla facta inter eos fuit writes Iugulphus King Edward In Parliamento Pleno having in Plain or sull 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 pillaged the western parts of England infesting the shores with continual robberies carrying away rich booties and slaying such as resisted them Then marching from Severn into the confines of Somsetshire and Dorsetshire they plundered many Towns and Villages in those parts against whom a great multitude assembled out of these two Counties making head were incountred and routed by Harold many of their chief Officers and others being slain After which they returning to their ships with great booties sailed round about by the shore to Plimonth Upon this King Edward speedily sent forth forty ships well victualed and furnished with choice Souldiers commanding them to watch for and resist the coming and landing of Earle Godwin who without their privity coming with a few ships undescerned out of Flanders practised pyracy and pillaged the sea-coasts of Kent and Sussex and at last came to the Isle of Weight where his two sonnes Harold and Leofric joyning their ships and Forces with his they studiously plotted how they might aveng themselves upon King Edward by sea Griffin King of VVales in the mean time by their instigation de populating Herefordshire by land slaying many of the Countrey people who resisted him On the Kings part there were about sixty ships assembled together to oppose Harold riding at anchor the Admirals of which Navy were the Earls Odo and Ralph the Kings kinsmen neither was the King himself sloathfull in this necessity lying all night on shipboard and diligently observing the excursions of these Pyrates executing that by sage counsel which by reason of age he could not act with his hand When both Navies were drawn near together and ready to grapple with and encounter each other a thick fogge and cloud sodainly arising blinded the eyes of these furiou persons and restrained the wretched audacity of these mortals so that they could not encounter each other Godwin with his companions being forced by the winds to returne from whence they came After which Godwin and his sonnes by secret messengers drew unto their party an innumerable company of the inhabitants of Kent Essex Sussex and Surry and all the Mariners of Hastings with many Souldiers and having drawn together a very great Army out of those parts who all promised with one voice To live and dye with Godwin forbearing all plunder and depopulation after they met together taking only victuals for their Army when occasion and necessity required and alluring all they could to their party they marched with their forces first to Sandwich Which the King hearing of being then at London speedily sent messengers to all who had not revolted from him to come with all speed to his assistance who delaying overlong came not at the time appointed In the mean while Godwin comes up the Thames with his Navy and Army toward London and pitched his Tents in Southwark near the City King Edward who was then at London had assembled a great company of armed men together and no small Navy to pursue Godwin and his sonnes both by Sea and Land But because very few with the King or Godwin had courage to fight with each other and the English whose sonnes Nephews Kinsmen and Friends were with Godwin and Harold refused to fight against their own parents kinred of the Kings party thereupon some wise men on both parts diligently endeavored to make a firme peace and reconciliation between the King and Godwin and commanded the Armies and Navies to forbear fighting Godwin being aged and potent both with his favour and tongue to bow the mindes of his auditors very well purged himself from all the things objected against him The next morning Rex habens cum Primartbus suis Concilio the King taking Counsel with his Nobles restored Godwin and all his sonnes except Swane who went on Pilgrimage barefoot to Jerusalem to expiate the murder of Beorne together with the Queen his daughter to their former honours Godwin giving his Sonne VVolnoth and Hake the Son of Swane his hostages to the King for his keeping of the peace and future loyaltie to him whom the King immediatly sent into Normandy to be kept there A concord and peace being thus made and ratified the King and Nobles omni populo bonas Leges rectam justitiam promiserunt promised good Laws and right Justiceto all the people then they banished Robert arch-bishop oâ— Canterbury William Bishop of London Vlfe Bishop of Dorchester and all the other Normans who incensed and gave the King evill counsel against Earle Godwin and the English and had invented unjust laws and pronounced unjust judgements against them permitting only some few Normans nominated in our Historians whom the King loved more than the rest and who had been faithfull to him and all the people to remain in England Not long after VVilliam Bishop of London was for his goodnesse recalled and restored to his Bishoprick but Stigand was made Archbishop of Canterbury in the place of Robert and Osburne and Hugh two Normans by birth leaving their Castles here went to the King of Scots who entertained them and so the land was freed from these forreign incendiaries Normannos omnes ignominâ notatos prolata Sententia in Robertum Archiepis ejusque complices quod statum regni conturbarant animum Kegis in provinciales agitantes Upon this sentence denounced Robert and others of them presently fled the Realme of their own accord
Great Councils of that or later ages held in England or Ireland with the many falshoods and absurdities in it will sufficiently evidence it to every intelligent Peruser to be a late Bastard Treatise and no such Antient Record as Sir Edward Cooke most confidently averrs it upon groundless Reasons and bold false averments void of Truth Which Modus if really made and observed in his reign and after ages no doubt our Historians would have mentioned it as well as his Laws of which they give us this following account Henry de Knyghton records That King Edward after his Coronation Consilto Baronum et caeterorum Regni received established and confirmed the good Laws which for 68 years lay as it were asleep among the sleepers and buried in Oblivion These Laws are called the Laws of St. Edward not because he had first invented them but because they being as it were put under a Bushel and laid in oblivion from the time of his Grandfather King Edgar he put to his hand first to find them out and then to establish them Wil. of Malmesbury thus writes of these Laws Omnes Leges ab antiquis Regibus maxime ab antecessore suo Ethelredâ— latas sub interminatione Regiae mulctae perpetuis temporibus observari praecepit in quarum custodia etiam nunc tempore bonorum sub nomine Regis Edwardi Iuratur non quod ille statuerit sed observaverit The Author of the antient Manuscript Chronicle of Litchfield and Mr. Selden out of him together with Roger Hoveden and Bishop Usher inform us concerning these Laws Ex illo die magna autoritate veneratae et per universum regnum corroboratae consecratae sunt prae caeteris regni legibus Leges Regis Edwardi quae quidem prius inventae constitutae fuerunt tempore Regis Edgari avi sui Veruntatem post mortem ipsius Regis Edgari usque ad Coronationem S. Regis Edw. quodcontinet annos 67 predictae leges sopitae sunt eâ— penitus praetermissae Sed postquam Rex Edwardus in regno fuit sublimatus Consilio Baronum Angliae Legem 67 annis sopitam excitavit excitatam reparavit reparatam decoravit decoratam confirmavit confirmata vocata est Lex sancti Regis Edwardi non quod prius ipse invenisset eam sed cum praetermissa fuisset oblivioni penitus dedita a morte avi sui Regis Edgari qui prius Inventor ejus fuisse dicitur usque ad sua tempora videlicet 67 annis The Chronicle of Bromton col 956 957. gives us this large account of these and our other ancient Laws This holy King Edward the Confessor Leges communes Anglorem genti tempore suo ordinavit ordained common Laws in his time for the English Nation because the Laws promulged in former times were over-partial For Dunwallo Molmucius first of all set forth Laws in Britain whose Laws were called Molmucine sufficiently famous until the times of King Edward amongst which he ordained That the Cities and Temples of the Gods and the ways leading to them and the Ploughs of Husbandmen should enjoy the privilege of Sanctuary After which Marcia Queen of the Britons Wife of Guithelin from whom the Provinces of the Mercians is thought to be denonated publish da Law full of discretion and justice which is called Mercian Law These two Laws the Historian Gildas translated out of the British into the Latine tongue and so it was afterwards commonly called Merchenelaga that is The Law of the Mercians by which Law 8 Counties were formerly judged namely Gloucestershire Worcestershire Herefordshire Shropshire Cheshire Staffordshire Warwickshire and Oxfordshire After these there was superadded a Law written in the Saxon or English tongue by Ina King of West-Saxons to which Alfred King of the West-Saxons afterwards superadded the Law which was stiled West-Saxenelega that is the Law of the West-Saxons By which Law in antient times the 9 Southern Counties divided by the River of Thames from the rest of England were judged namely Kent Sussex Surrey Berkeshire Wiltshire Southampton Somersetshire Dorset and Devonshire At length the Danes dominering in the Land a third Law sprang up which was called Danelega that is the Law of the Danes by which Law heretofore the 15 Eastern and Northern Counties were judged to wit Middle sex Suthfolk Northfolk Herthfordshire Cambridgeshire Huntingdonshire Lincoln-shire Nottinghamshire Derbyshire Northamptonshire Leicestershire Buckinghamshire Beddefordshire and Yorkshire which County of York heretofore contained all Northumberland from the water of Humber to the River of Twede which is the beginning of Scotland and is now divided into six Shires Now out of the foresaid three Laws Merchenelega West-Saxenelega and Danelega this King Edward set forth one common Law which even to this day is called the Law of Edward The like is recorded by Hygden in his Polychronicon l. 1. c. 50. Mr. John Fox in his Acts and Monuments vol. 1. p. 213 214. Samuel Daniel his Collection of the History of England p. 22. John Speed his History of Great Britain p. 410. Fabian Holinshed Caxton Grafton and others almost in the self-same words These Laws are no where extant in any Manuscripts or printed Authors as they were originally compiled and digested into one body by him and his Barons but as they were presented upon Oath to and confirmed by King William the Conqueror in the 4th year of his reign of which Ingulphus Abbot of Croyland in the close of his History to which they are annexed in some Manuscripts gives us this account flourishing in that age Attuli eadem vice mecum de Londonâ—is in meum Monasterium Leges aequissimi Regis Edwardi quas Dominus meus inclytus Rex Willielmus autenticas esse et perpetuas per totum Regnum Angliae inviolabiliter tenendas sub paenis gravissimis proclamarat et suis Insticiariis commendarat eodem idiomate quo editae â—unt ne per ignorantiam contingat nos vel nostros aliquando in nostrum grave periculum contraire offendere ausu temerario regiam majestatem ne in ejus censuras rigidissimas improvidum pedem ferre contentas saepius in eisdem hoc modo These Laws are partly Ecclesiastical partly Civil recorded by Roger de Hoveden Annalium pars posterior p. 611. to 631 by Mr. Lambaerd in his Archaion Henry de Knyghton de Eventibus Angliae l. 2. c. 4. Spelmanni Concili p. 613. Mr. Iohn Selden ad Eadmerum Notae Spicelegium p. 172. to 195. Mr. Iohn Fox his Acts and Monuments vol. 1. p. 214. wherein those who please may peruse them In these Laws it is observable 1. That all capital corporal pecuniary punishments fines for criminal offences and all reliefs services and duties to the King are reduced to a certainty not left arbitrary to the King his Iustices or other Officers for the Subjects greater liberty ease and security 2. That they protect preserve the Possessions Privileges Persons of the
Church and Clergy from all Invasion injury violence disturbance and specially enact That not only all Clerks and Clergy men but all other persons shall enjoy the peace of God and the Church free from all assaults arrests and other disturbances whatsoever both on Lords-days Solemn Festivals and other times of publike Church meetings eundo subsistendo redeundo both in going to continuing at and returning from the Church and publike duties of Gods worship or to Synods and Chapters to which they are either summoned or where they have any business requiring their personal presence wherewith the Statute of 8 H. 6. c. 1. concurs as to the later clause Therefore all Quakers Anabaptists and others who disturb affront and revile assault or abuse our Ministers or their people as many now doe in going to or returning from the Church or whiles they continue in it as well before or after as during Divine Service Sermons or Sacraments there administred may and ought by the Common Law of England confirmed both by Confessor and Conquerour in their Parliamentary Councils to be duly punished as Breakers of the Peace by all our Kings Justices and Ministers of publike Iustice being ratified by Magna Charta c. 1 and the Coronation Oaths of all our Kings which all our Judges and Justices are bound to observe To keep to God and holy Church to the Clergy and to the People Peace and Concord entirely according to their power especially during the publike worship of God in the Church and in going to tarrying at and returning from the duties which they owe unto him both as his Creatures and Servants And to grant keep and confirm the Laws Customs and Franchises granted by the glorious King Edward 3. That they prescribe the due payment of Tithes to God and his Ministers as well personal as praedial under Ecclesiastical and temporal penalties being granted and consented unto a Rege et Baronibus et Populo 4. That the Causes and pleas of the Church ought first to be heard ended in Courts and Councils before any other Iustitia enim est ut Deus ubique praecaeteris honoretur 5. That they thus define Danegild Danegaldi redditio propter Piratas primitus Statuta est Patriam enim infestantes vastationi ejus pro posse suo insistebant Ad eorum quidem insolentiam reprimendam Statutum est Danegaldum annuatim reddi scilicet duodecim denarios de unaquaque Hida totius Patriae ad conducendos eos qui Piratarum eruptioni Resistendo obviarent To which Hoveden Knyghton Lambard and others subjoyn De hoc quoque Danegaldo omnis ecclesia libera est quieta omnis terra quae in proprio dominico Ecclesiae erat ubicunque jacebar nihil prorsus in tali redemptione persolvens quia magis in Ecclesiae confidebant orationibus quam in armorum defensionibus usque tempora Willielmi junioris qui Ruffus vocabatur donec eodem a Baronibus Angliae auxilium requirente ad Normanniam requirendam retinendam de Roberto suo fratre cognomine Cortehose Ierusalem proficiscente Concessum esi ei non Lege sancitum neque confirmatum sed hac necessitatis causa ex unaquaque hida sibi dari quatuor solidos Ecclesia non excepta Dum vero collectio census fieret proclamabat Ecclesia suam reposcens libertatem sed nil profecit By which it is apparent 1. That this grievous Tax of Danegeld was first granted and appointed by a publike Law in a Parliamentary Council to hire men to resist the eruption of the Pyrates and Enemies That it amounted but to 12 d. a year upon every Ploughland That the Church and Demesne Lands of the Church where ever they lay were exempted from it till William Rufus his time who first exacted it from the Clergy upon a pretended necessity and raised it from 12 d. to 4 s. a Ploughland by grant of the Barons without any Law to enact or confirm it for fear of drawing it into consequence 6ly That these Laws thus describe the Duty and Office of a King The King because he is the Vicar of the highest King is constituted for this end that he may rule the earthly kingdom and the Lords people and above all things that he may reverence his holy Church and defend it from injuries pluck away evildoers from it and utterly to destroy and disperse them Which unless he shall doe the name of a King agreeth not unto him the Prophet Pope John witnessing Nomen Regis perdit qui quod Regis est non faciat he loseth the name of a King who dischargeth not the duty of a King Pepin and Charls his Son being not yet Kings but Princes under the French King hearing this definitive Sentence as well truly as prudently pronounced concerning the name of a King by William the bastard King of England foolishly writ to Pope John demanding this question of him Whether the Kings of France ought so to continue being content only with the name of a King Who answered That it is convenient to call them Kings who do watch over defend and govern the Church of God and his people imitating King David the Psalmograph saying He shall not dwell in my House which worketh pride c. After which it followeth in Mr. Fox and some others but not in Hoveden and Knyghton Moreover the King by his right and by his Office ought to defend and conserve fully and wholly in all ampleness without diminution all the Lands Honours Dignities Rights and Liberties of the Crown of his Kingdom And further to reduce into their pristine state all such things as have been dispersed wasted and lost which appertain to his kingdom Also the whole and universal Land with all Ilands about the same in Norwey and Denmark be appertaining to the Crown of his kingdom and be of the appurtenances and dignity of the King making one Monarchy and one Kingdom which sometimes was called the Kingdom of Britain and now the Kingdom of England such bounds and limits as is abovesaid be appointed and limited to the name of this kingdom A King above all things ought to fear God to love and observe his commandements and cause them to be observed through his whole kingdom He ought also to keep cherish maintain and govern the holy Church within his kingdom with all integrity and Liberty according to the constitution of his ancestors and predecessors and to defend the same against all Enemies so that God above all things be honoured and ever before his eyes He ought also to set up Good Laws and Customs such as be wholesom and approved Such as be otherwise to repeal them and thrust them out of his kingdom Item he ought to doe Iudgement and Iustice in his kingdom by the counsel of his Realm All these things ought a King in his own person to do taking his Oath upon the Evangelist swearing in the presence of the whole State of
the Realm as well of the Temporalty as of the Spiritualty before he be crowned of the Archbishops and Bishops Three Servants the King ought to have under his feet as Vassals Fleshly Lust Avarice and Greedy desire whom if he keep under as his Seruants and Slaves he shall reign well and honourably in his Kingdom All things are to be done with good advisement and premeditation and that properly belongeth to a King For hasty rashness bringeth all things to ruine according to the saying of the Gospel Every kingdom divided in it self shall be desolate c. A clear evidence that our Saxon Kings had no arbitrary nor tyrannical power to condemn banish imprison oppresse or Tax their Subjects in any kinde against their Laws Liberties Properties And thus much touching King Edwards Laws Qui ob vitae integritatem Regnandi Iustitiam clementiam Legumque sive à se latarum sive ex veteribus sumptarum Equitatem inter Sanctos relatus est as Matthew Parker records of him In the year of Christ 1053. as many or 1054. as others compute it that old perjured Traytor Earl Godwin came to a most soddein shamefull exemplary death by divine justice which the marginal Historians thus relate and Abbot Ailred thus prefaceth Inserendum arbitror quomodo Godwinum proditionum suarum donatum stipendiis divini judicii ultrix ira consumpserit detest andique facinoris quod in Regem fratremque ejus cōmiserat populo spectante ipsam quam meruerat poenam exolverat This Godwin being the Kings Father-in-law abusing his simplicity multa in regno contra jus et fas pro potestate faciebat did many things in the Realm against Law and right by his power and often attempted to incline the Kings minde to his Injustice At last his subtilty proceeded so farr that by fraud deceit and circumvention he banished out of the land almost all the Kings kinred and friends whom he had either brought with him or called out of Normandy as well Bishops as Clerks and Laymen of other dignities believing that all things would succeed according to his desires if the King deprived of all his friends should make use only of his Counsels But Edward dissembling all things in regard of time place and out of religion addicted himself wholly to divine duties sometimes predicting That divine Justice would at some time or other revenge so great malice of the Earl and telling Godwin himself so much Whereupon on a certain day when the King was celebrating the Feast of Easter at Winchester as most or at Windsor as some or Hodiam as others relate which feast was famous among the people the King sitting at his royal Table at dinner the Kings Cup-bearer Harold Godwins own Son as some record bringing the Kings cup filled with Wine towards the Table striking one of his feet very hard against a stumbling block on the pavement fell almost to the ground but his other foot going straight on recovered him again and set him upright so that he had no harm nor shed any of the wine Upon which many discoursing touching this event and rejoycing that one foot helped the other Earl Godwin who customarily sate next to the King at Table being his Father-in-law laughing thereat said by way of merriment Here a brother helped a brother as some or So is a Brother helping to a Brother and one assisting another in necessity as others report his words To whom the King upon this occasion ironically answering said Thus my Brother Alfred might have assisted me had it not been for Godwins Treachery who would not permit him Which Speech of the Kings Godwin taking over-grievously was sore afraid and with a very pale and sad countenance replied I know O King I know it hath been often reported to thee that I have sought to betray thee and that thou O King dost as yet accuse and suspect me concerning the death of thy Brother Alfred neither yet doest thou think that those are to be discredited who call me either his or thy Traytor or betrayer But let thy God who is true and just and knoweth all secrets judge between us and let him never suffer this piece of bread I now hold in my hand to pass down my throat without choaking me if I be guilty of any Treason at all against thee or had ever so much as a thought to betray thee Or if I be guilty of thy Brothers death or if ever thy brother by me or my counsel was nearer to death or remoter from life And so may I safely swallow down this morsel of bread in my hand as I am guiltlesse of these facts When he had thus spoken the King blessed the piece of bread whereupon Godwin putting it into his mouth swallowed it down to the midst of his throat where it stuck so fast that he could neither get it down nor cast it up by any means till through the cooperation of divine vengeance he was so choaked with it that his breath was quite stopped his eyes turned upside down his arms grew stiff being conscious to himself of what he thus abjured and so he fell down dead under the Table Deus autem justus et verax audivit vocem Proditoris et mox eodem pane strangulatus mortem praegustavit aeternam writes Radulphus de Diceto The King seeing him pale and dead and that divine judgement and vengeance had thus passed upon him said to those who stood by Dragg out of this dog this Traytor and bury him in the high way for he is unworthy of Christian burial Whereupon his Sonnes there present beholding this Spectacle drew him from under the Table into a Bedchamber ubi debitum proditoris sortitus est sinem and immediately after they buried him privily in the old Monastery at Winchester without honour or solemnity Abbot Ingulphus thus briefly relates the story of this his death Anno Domini 1053. cum Godwinus Comes in mensa Regis de nece sui fratris impeteretur ille post multa Sacramenta tandem per buccellam deglutiendam abjuravit buccella gustata continuo suffocatus interiit As this judgement of God upon Earl Godwin for murdering Prince Alfred right heir to the Crown and the Normans who accompanied him 17 years after the fact was most exemplary so Gods justice upon his posterity is remarkable which to omit their forementioned exiles troubles are thus epitomized by Will. Malmsb. Godwin in his younger years had the Sister of Cnute for his wife on whom he begat a Son who having passed the first years of his childhood whiles he was riding on a horse given to him by his Grandfather in a proud childish bravado giving him the spurr and rains the horse carried him into the swift stream of the River of Thames where he was drowned His Mother also was slain with the stroke of a thunderbolt receiving the punishment of her cruelty who was reported to buy whole droves of slaves
especially beautifull maides in England and to send them into Denmark that she might heap up riches by their deformed sale After her death he maried another wife on whom he begot Harold Swane Wulnoth Tosti Girth and Leofwin Harold after Edward was King for some Moneths and being conquered by William at Hastings lost both his life and kingdom with his two younger Brothers there slain in battel Wulnoth sent into Normandy by King Edward because his father had given him for an hostage was there detained a Prisoner without any release during all King Edwards life and being sent back into England in Williams reign continued in bonds at Sarisbury till his old age Swane of a perverse wit treacherous against his King revolted oftentimes both from his Father and his Brother Harold and becomming a Pyrate polluted the vertues of his ancestors with his maritime Robberies and murder At last going barefoot to Jerusalem in pilgrimage out of conscience to expiate the wilfull murder of his Cosen Breuno and as some say his Brother in his return thence he was circumvented and slain by the Saracens Tosti being advanced by King Edward to the Earldom of Northumberland after the death of Earl Syward ruled the County near two years which being expired he stirred up the Northumbrians to a Rebellion with the asperity of his manners for finding him solitary they chased him out of the Country not thinking fit to slay him by reason of his Dukedom but they beheaded all his men both English and Danes and spoiled him of all his horses arms and houshold-stuff whereupon being deprived of his Earldom he went with his wife and children into Flanders and at last invading Northumberland and joyning with the Danes against his own brother King Harold was there slain by him in battel with all his forces His daughter Queen Egitha besides her forementioned repudiation by King Edward and the imprisonment and disgraces put upon her by him for her Fathers sake was never carnally known by him as his wife out of a detestation to her Father Godwin because he would not ingender heirs to succeed him in the royal Throne out of the Race and séed of such a Traytor as many Historians assert Even so let all other such like perfidious Traytors their Posterities perish who imitate him and them in their Treasons Perjuries Rebellions and will not be warned nor reclaimed by his or their sad examples The same year Earl Godwin thus perished Rbeese brother of Griffin King of Southwales was slain by King Edwards command and his head brought to Glocester to the King on the Vigil of Epiphany for his manifold Treasons rebellions and frequent depredations upon his English Subjects King Edward Anno 1054. commanded Sywarà the valiant Duke of Northumberland to invade Scotland with an Army of horse and a strong Navy to remove Mackbeoth K. of Scots to whom he had formerly given the Realm of Scotland to hold it of him and make Malcolm the King of Cumberlands Son King in his place Who thereupon entring Scotland with a puissant Army fought a set battle with Mackbeoth slew many thousands of the Scots and all the Normans who went to him out of England chased him out of Scotland then totally wasted and subdued by Syward and deprived him both of his Life and Realm Which being effected King Edward gave the Realm of Scotland to Malcolm to be held from and under himself Not long after Duke Syward being likely to die of a flux when he saw death approaching said What a shame is it that I who could not die in so many battels and warrs should be reserved to die with disgrace like a Cow Wherefore put upon me my impenetrable coat of male gird me with my sword set my helmet upon my head put my buckler in my left hand and my gilt battel-ax in my right hand that being the strongest of all Souldiers I may die like a Souldier Whereupon being thus armed as he commanded he said Thus it becomes a Souldier to die and not lying down in his bed like an Ox and so he most honourably gave up the Ghost But because Walteof his Son was then but an insant his Earldom was given by the King to Tosti son of Earl Godwin whose Earldom after Godwins sudden death was bestowed on Harold and Harolds Earldom given to Algarus Earl of Chester Earldoms in that age being only for life not hereditary In the year 1055. King Edward Habito Londoniae Concilio holding a Parliamentary Councill at London banished Algarus Son of Earl Leofric quia de Proditione Regis in Concilio convictus fuerat because he had been convicted in the Council of Treason against the King as Henry Huntindon Bromtons Chronicle and Hygden record Yet Florentius Wigorniensis Simeon Dunelmensis Hoveden Henry de Knyghton and others write He was banished sine culpa without any crime Whereupon passing over into Ireland he soon after repaired with 18. piratical Ships to Griffin King of Wales requesting him to give him aid against King Edward Who thereupon forthwith assembling a very great Army out of all his Realm commanded Algarus to meet him and his Army with all his forces at a certain place where uniting their forces together they entred into Herefordshire to spoil and depopulate it Against whom timorous Earl Ralph King Edwards Sisters Son raising an Army and meeting them two miles from the City of Hereford commanded the English to fight on horseback contrary to their custom But when they were about to joyn battel the Earl with his French and Normans fled away first of all which the English perceiving followed their Captain in flying whom the Enemies pursuing slew four or five hundred of them and wounded many more and having gained the Victory took the City of Herford slew some of the Citizens carried away many of them captives annd having burnt and pillaged the City returned enriched with great booties The King being informed of it commanded an Army to be presently assembled out of all England which meeting together at Gloucester he made valiant Earl Harold their General who devoutly obeying his commands diligently pursued Griffin and Algarus and boldly entring into the coasts of Wales encamped at Straddle But they knowing him to be a valiant man not daring to fight with him fled into South-wales Upon which Harold leaving the greatest part of his Army there commanded them manfully to resist the Enemies if there were cause and returning with the rest of the multitude to Hereford he enviroued it with a broad and deep trench and fortified it with gates and barrs At last Messengers passing between them and Harold they made a firm Peace between them Whereupon Earl Algarus his Navy returning to Chester there exacted the wages he had promised them but he repairing to the King received his Earldom from him again This same year Herman Bishop of Salisbury requested of the King and almost obtained leave to remove
de regno post eum obtinendo minime potuit adimplere unde Willhelmo cognato suo Normannorum Duci Regnum post eum optinendum per solennes nuncios assignavit And Col. 957. he adds Some say that King Edward before his death had appointed William to succeed him according to the promise which the said King had made him when he was a young man living in Normandy that he should succeed him in the Kingdom concerning which as some write be had sent solemn Messengers to him into Normandy The like is affirmed almost in the same words by Henry de Knyghton de Eventibus Angliae l. 1. c 15. col 2238. and by Fabian Caxton Cambden Holinshed Grafton Speed Daniel Stow Vestegan and other modern Historians Matthew Paris in the beginning of his History of England p. 1. relates Harolds driving into Pountoise by storm as he was taking his pleasure at Sea his presenting to Duke William his espousals to his daughter under age which he ratified by Oath taken upon the reliques of Saints adding Juravit insuper se post mortem Regis Edwardi qui jam senuit sine liberis Regnum Angliae Duci qui in Regnum jus habuit fideliter conservaturum Consummatis igitur aliquot diebus cum summa laetitia amplis muneribus ditatus in Angliam reversus est Haroldus Sed cum in tuto constitueretur jactabat se laqueos evasisse Hostiles Perjurii crimen eligendo And Anno 1257. Writing of the Lay Peers of France whereof the Duke of Normandy is first he hath this passage Rex Angliae Dux est de jure Normanniae sanguinis derivatione geneali Rex ex conquestu dicitur tamen quod beatus Edwardus eo quod haerede caruit Regnum legavit Willielmo Bastardo Duci Normannorum Sed hoc robore asseruitur caruisse quia hoc fecit in lecto Lethali et sine Baronagii sui commnni consensu By all which Testimonies as likewise by the express relations of Mr. Cambden in his Britannia p. 144 145. Richard Verstegan his Restitution of decayed Antiquities Matthew Parker his Antiquitates Ecclesiae Britanniae p. 88. Mr. Seldens Review of his History of Tithes p. 482 483. it is apparent that King Edward whiles he was in Normandy before he was King upon Duke Williams repairing into England to him after he was King by several Messengers and Hostages sent to him in his old age and in his very death-bed appointed Duke William to be both his successor and heir to the Crown of England and that Harold either voluntarily as purposely sent by King Edward or craftily upon pretence he was sent by him to work his own enlargement and his Nephews or upon Williams motion to him voluntarily swore that he would faithfully preserve the Crown and Realm of England for him after King Edwards death who had appointed him to succeed him as his heir next kinsman by the mothers side and that he intended to dishinherit his Cosen Edgar Atheling of it though next heir to it by reason of his minority unfitness and indisposition both of body and minde to sway the Scepter of the Realm King Edward having finished his Abby of Westminster and endowed it with ample lands and privileges by three several Charters by the advice and assent of all his Bishops and Nobles as aforesaid Anno 1066 caused it to be solemnly consecrated on Innecents day with great solemnity but falling sick in the midst of these festival Solemnities of its dedication he betook himself to his bed where continuing speechlesse for two days space together on the third day giving a great groan and arising as it were from the dead he related to those then about him a Vision he had seen touching the State of England Namely that two religious Monks he had formerly known in Normandy dead many years before were sent unto him with this message declaring the Corruptions and Vices both of the Clergy Nobility Gentry and People of England and the judgements ready to fall upon them for the same Which Matthew Westminster thus relates Quoniam Primores Angliae Duces Episcopi Abbates non sunt Ministri Dei sed Diaboli tradidit Deus hoc regnum uno anno et die uno in manu inimici Daemonesque terram hanc totam pervagabunt Abbot Ailred thus records it Impletum dicunt Anglorum nequitiam iniquitas consummata iram provocat accelerat vindâ—ctam Sacerdotes praevaricati sunt pactum Domini polluto pectore manibus iniquitatis sancta contrectant non Pastores sed Mercenarii exponunt lupis oves non protegunt lac lanam quaerunt non oves ut detrusos ad inferos mors pastores depascat et oves Sed et Principes terrae infideles Sociae surum PRAEDONES PATRIAE quibus nec Deus timori est NEC LEX HONORI quibus veritas oneri JUS CONTEMPTUI CRUDELITAS DELECTATIONI Itaque NEC SERVANT PRAELATI JUSTITIAM nec subditi disciplinam Et ecce Dominus gladium suum vibravit arcum suum tetendit et paravit illum ostendet deinceps populo hinc iram indignationeÌ„ immissiones insuper per Angelos malos quibus traditi sunt anno uno die uno igne simul et gladio puniendi The King groaning and sighing for this calamity that was ready to fall upon his people demanded of the Monks Whether if they repented of their sins upon his admonition to them God would not pardon them and remove his judgements as he did from the Ninivites They replied That God would by no means receive them into his favour because the heart of this people was hardned and their eyes blinded and their ears deafned that they would not hear reproof nor understand admonition nor be terrified with threatnings nor provoked with his late benefits The King thereupon demanded Whether God would be angry for ever Whether he would be any more intreated and when they might hope for a release of so great calamities To which they replyed That if a green tree cut in the midst and carried a great space from the stock could without any help reunite it self to the root and grow again and bring sorth fruit then might the remission of such evils be hoped for The veritie of which Prophecy add our Historians the Englishmen experimentally felt namely That England should be an habitation of strangers and a Domination of Foreiners because a little space after scarce any Englishman was either a King a Duke Bishop or Abbot neither was there any hope also of the end of this misety King Edward after his relation of this Vision to the Nobles and Prelates then about him yielded up the Ghost and died without issue on Epiphany Eve An. 1066. and was solemnly interred the next day in Westminster Abbey the royal line of the Saxon Kings ending in him which had continued from Cerdic the first King of the West-Saxons for 571. years without interruption except by some
Danish Usurpers who for the Sins of the English reigned for some years over them with rigour and were soon cut off by death CHAPTER 6. Comprising the Historical Passages relating to the Parliamentary Councils Lawes Liberties Properties Rights Government of England Anno 1066. under the Short reign of the Usurper King Harold till the Coronation of King William the First falsly surnamed The Conquerour though never claiming the Crown by Conquest but Title KIng Edward deceasing without any issue of his body to succeed him refusing all carnal copulation with his Queen either out of a vowed virginity as most Historians conclude or out of a detestation of Earl Godwins Trayterous race quod Rex Religiosus de genere proditor is haeredes qui sibi succederent corrupto semine Regio nolue rit procreari as Ingulphus Matthew Westminster and others record thereby exposed the kingdom for a prey to the ambitious Pretenders aspiring after it Upon which consideration praesentiebant plures in ejus morte desolationem Patriae Plebis exterminium totius Angliae Nobilitatis excidium finem libertatis honoris ruinam as Abbot Ailred informs us The English Prelates and Nobles being then all assembled at Westminster to the solemn consecration of the Abbey were much perplexed and the generality of the people exceedingly grieved at his death For although he were Vir propter morum simplicitatem parum Imperio idoneus yet he was Deo devotus ideoque ab eo directus Denique eo regnante nullus tumultus domesticus qui non cito comprimeretur nullum bellum forinsecus omnia domi forisque quieta omnia tranquilla quod eo magis stupendum quia ita se mansuete ageret ut nec viles homunculos verbo laedere noscet Nam dum quadam vice venatum isset et agrestis quidem stabulata illa quibus in casses cervi urgentur confudisset ille sua nobili percitus ira per Deum inquit et Matrem ejus tantundem tibi nocebo si potero Egregius animus quise regem in talibus non meminisset nec abjectae conditionis homini se posse nocere putaret Erat interea ejus apud domesticos reverentia vehemens apud exteros metus ingens fovebat profecto ejus simplicitatem Deus ut posset timeri qui nesciret irasci No wonder then if his death were much lamented by all his Subjects cum omnes et in Rege cernerent unde gauderent et in se sentirent unde dolerent The English Nobility were much troubled and divided in their minds and affections which were wavering touching the election of a fit person to succeed him Fluctuabant Proceres Regni quem sibi Regem praeficerent et Rectorem Many of them favoured William Duke of Normandy as specially designed by King Edward to succeed him others of them inclined to Prince Edgar Atheling as the next and right heir to the Crown Cui de Iure debebatur Others of them favored Harold Earl Godwins son as being a person then of greatest Power and Valour in the Realm Anglia dubio favore nutabat cui se Rectori committeret incerta an Haraldo an Willielmo an Edgaro Nam illum pro genere proximum regno Proceribus Rex commendaverat Harold being a crafty subtil man knowing that delayes were hurtfull to those who were prepared on the very day of Epiphany whereon King Edward was buried having the command of all the Militia and forces of the Realm as General and Vice-roy to the deceased King by the strength of himself and his kinred and friends invaded and seized upon the royal Crown and then presently set it upon his own head crowning himself King without any Title Right or due Election by the Nobles or Coronation by the Bishops whereby he incurred the hatred both of the English Prelates and Pope and then extorted allegeance from the Nobles as William of Malmsbury Matthew Paris Ingulphus Henry Huntindon Matthew Westminster the Chronicle of Bromton Knyghton Caxton Mr. Fox Speed and some others attest But Marianus Scotus Florent Wigorniensis Roger de Hoveden Sim. Dunelm Radulfus de Diceto Eadmerus Hygden Fabian Grafton with others write in favour of Harold that King Edward before his death made him not only his General but Vice-roy and ordained that he should be King after him Whereupon A totius Angliae Primatibus ad regale culmen electus he was elected to be â—ing by all the Nobles of England and solemnly consecrated and crowned King by Aldred Archbishop of Yorke And so Juxta quod ante mortem Edwardus statuerat in Regnum ei successit Haroldus writes l Eadmerus That King Edward designed him for his Successor in the Crown seems very improbable because Harold himself never alleged nor pretended it in any of his Answers to Duke Williams Embassadors to him who claimed the Crown by his speciall bequest and designation in his life-time and because King Edwards hatred to Godwin and his Posterity seems inconsistent with it William of Malmsbury an impartial disingaged Author living in or near that time gives us this determination of these different relations Recâ—nâ—i adhuâ— regalis funeris luctu Haroldus ipso Theophaniae die extorta a Principibus fide arrâ—… Diaâ—â—ma quaâ—ivis Angli dicant a Rege concessuâ—… quod tamen magis benevolentia quam judicio allegari existimo ut illi haereditâ—tens transfunderet suam cujus semper suspectam habuerat potentiam Quamvis ut non celetur veritas pro persona quam gerebat regnum prudentiae fortitudine gubernaret si legitime suscepiscet Abbot Ingulphus living at that time thus relates his intrusion into the Throne against his Oath In crastino Regiâ—funeris Comes Haroldus contra suum statum jusjurandum contempter praestiâ—ae fidei ac nequiter oblitus sui Sacramenti Throno Regio se intrusit yet adds per Archiepiscopum Eboracae Aldredum solenniter coronatus Henry Huntindon thus records it Quidem Anglorum Edgar Adeling promovere volebant in Regem Haroldus vero viribus et genere fretus Regni Diadema invasit The Chronicle of Bromton and Knyghton thus give us the story of it Sancto Edwardo rege et Confessore mortuo quidam Anglorum Magnates Edgarum Adelynge filium Edwardi filii Regis Edmondi Ironside in Regem promovere moliebantur sed quia puer erat et tanto oneri minus idoneus et in bursa minus refertus Haroldus Comes viribus et genere fretus Cui erat Mens astutior crumena fâ—â—undior et miles copiosior et pompis gloriosior sinistro omine Regnum occupavit et contra Sacramentum quod Willielmo Duci Normanniae praestiterat Regni Diadema sinistro omine illico invasit et sic perjurus sancto Edwardo successit juxta quod idem Edwardus ut quidam aiunt ante mortem suam statuerat promissione quam idem Rex dum juvenis in Normannia extitit dicto Willielmo de sâ—â—cedendo post cum in
regnum fecerat sibi super hoc posteâ— secundum quos dam solemnes nuncios ut praemitâ—…ur destinaverat non obstante Abbot Ailred thus registers Harolds usurpation and the sad events thereof Interea Haroldus Godwini filius Regnum Angliae quod secundum fidem Sacramenti debuerat servasse Willielmo Regis Edmundi consobrino â—ibi nec Iure debitum nec Natura â—rreverenter usurpans malum quod Angliae secundum Sancti Regis oraculum Dominus praeparaverat transgressione pacti et â—â—dei acceleravit laesione Ut autem attenuati viribus facilius ab hiis quos injustè provocaveraâ— hostibus vinceretur susâ—iâ—avit ei a parte aquilonis inimicos Haroldum cognomento Harfar Norwagenorum regem et Tostium fratremsum quem de Anglia ipse expulerat c. p Tho. Walsingham thus stories it Cujus regnum Haroldus continuo invasit ex fidelitate pejuratus quam Duci juraverat Ad quem Legatos direxit protinus hortans ut ab hac vesania resipisceret et fidem quam juramento sposponderat cum digna subjectione servaret Sed ille hoc non solum audire contempsit verum omnem ab illo Anglorum gentem infideliter avertit Hygden in his Polychronicon l. 6. c. 28. Mr John Fox Acts and Monuments Vol. 1. p. 214. Mr. Cambden in his Britannia p 145 146. Holinshed Sir John Hayward Sir Richard Baker affirm the like and incline to this opinion That Harold by his might power craft policy usurped and invaded the Crown without any right against his Oath I shall summ up all their Opinions in the words of Iohn Speed After King Edwards death the Statesmen perplexed for choice of a new Edgar Athelings title was worthy more respect than it found for him they held too young for government besides a stranger born scarce speaking English and withall the prophecies of Edward touching the alienation of the Crown the interest of the Danes and the claim of Duke William made both by gift and consanguinity bred great distractions of desires and opinions but nothing concluded for setling the State no man assuming or possessing the diadem because none had the power or right to adorn therewith his own head In this calm conference a sudden gale arose which blew all the sails spred for that wind into one port Harold son to Earl Godwin a man duly prizing his many worthy parts not unmeet for a Kingdom next Edward his Brorher-in-law in the kingdom courteous in speech and behaviour in martial prowesse the only man qui vivente Edwardo quaecunque contra eum bella incensa sunt virtute sua compressit cupiens se Provincialibns ostentare in regnum scilicet spe prurienti anhelans as Malmsbury writes of him friended by affinity of many of the Nobles expected to be both sided and assisted if his cause came either to trial or voice seeing the time well fitted his entrance Swane King of Denmark most dreaded by the English being then intangled with the Sweden wars William the Norman that made claim from King Edward then absent and at variance with Philip the French King the friends of Edgar in Hungary and himself a Stranger over young for to rule all which concurrent made Harold without deliberation or order from the States to set the Crown on his own head regardlesse of all ceremony and solemn celebration for which act as a violater of holy rites he too too-much offended the Clergy none either greatly applauding or disapproving his presumption except only for the omission of manner and form Harold having gotten actual possession of the Crown Marianus Scotus Florentius Wigorniensis Huntindon Hoveden Sim. Dunelmensis Radulphus de Diceto Hygden Fabian Grafton Holinshed Cambden and Speed record that to ingratiate himself with the Clergy people He began to destroy evil Laws and Customs before used and stablished just and good Laws especially such as were for the defence of holy Church He likewise became a Patron of Churches and Monasteries respected and reverenced Bishops Abbots Monks and Clergymen shewed himself pious humble affable to all good men and hatefull to all Malefactors publickly commanding all his Dukes Earls Sheriffs and other Officers to apprehend all Thieves Robbers and Disturbers of the Realm himself likewise taking extraordinary paines and care for the defence and guarding of the Realm both by Land and Sea Whereunto John Speed superadds He remitted or diminished the grievous customs and Tribute which his Predecessors had raised a course ever powerfull to win the hearts of the Commons to Churchmen he was very munificent and carefull of their advancement and to grow more deeply in their venerable esteem he repaired their Monasteries especially that at Waltham which he sumptuously new built and richly endowed Moreover to satisfie such Nobles as affected young Edgar he created him Earl of Oxford and held him in special favour In brief unto the poor his hand was ever open unto the oppressed he administred Justice and all to hold that Crown upright which he had set on his own head with an unsure hand and deprived him of unto whom he was Protector But these Encomiums of his Justice and Government seem to me to be rather forged than real For how could he reform ill Laws and Customs and enact good Laws when King Edward had so newly and exactly done it before him that there was no need of such a reformation neither finde we the least mention of any Laws made by Harold Or how could he remit or diminish those grievous customs and Tributes which King Edward had totally remitted before him unless himself first revived them Or how could he court the Prelates and Clergy when as he refused to be consecrated by them for which he incurred their disfavour I rather therefore incline to the quite contrary Characters which other Historians give of him and his Government as most consonant to truth Henry de Knyghton though he recites what some forementioned write in his favour yet gives us this account of his proceedings himself Iste devenit nimis e latus et cupidus in collectione auri et argenti et thesaurorum nec aliquam uxorem ducere voluit vi oppressit filias Baronum Procerum atque Militum de regno quod ipsi aegrè ferebant Et de Forestis suis tantam ferocitateÌ„ severitatem erga adjacentes Nobiliores exercuit quod quamplures adnihâ—lavit et multos depaupâ—ravit Nec mirum quamvis ex hiis et aliis nimis odiosus devenit populis suis Et ideo pars Comitum et Baronum ad invicem conferebant decentes ipsum non esse fortunae deditum nec verum esse Regem sed per intrusionem erectum et ideo infauste regere populum suum Et mandaverunt Willielmo Duci Normanniae ut in Angliam venir et eorum Consilio et Auxilio Ius Regni prosecuturus feceruntque ei fidelem securitatem veniendi et consensit And Matthew Westminster gives us
others observe In this Battel Duke William had three Horses slain under him and often acknowledged that Gods divine hand did more protect him than mans seeing his Enemy amidst so many showers of darts and arrows which they shot against him could not draw so much as one drop of his bloud though they frequently hit him with them Morcar and Edwin Earls of Yorkeshire and Cheshire Harolds Brother-in-laws withdrawing themselves and their forces from their battel either for want of room to fight as was pretended or rather for former discontents retreated to London where consulting with Alfred Archbishop of York and other Peers and with the Citizens and Mariners of London they all resolved to crown and â—et up Edgar Atheling the true heir for their King promising to march under him with all their forces against Duke William and to try another field for which end they posted abroad Messengers to levy new forces and raise up the hearts of the dejected English from a despairing fear But before Edgars Coronation whiles many were preparing themselves for a new battel Morcar and Edwyn whom this fearful estate of their native Conntry would not disswade or restrain from disloyalty and ambition to gain the Crown to themselves as some record secretly hindered that noble and prudent design by withdrawing themselves from Edgar and marched home with all their forces and their Sister Algitha or Agatha Harolds wife into Northumberland conjecturing out of their simplicity that Duke William would never come so farr Upon their departure though the rest of the Nobles would still have elected and crowned Edgar King if the Bishops would have assented thereunto yet the Prelates struck with the fear of the Popes thunderbolt from abroad and with the consideration of the divisions distractions of the Nobility and people and the imminent danger at home would no wayes concurr with the Nobles Londoners Sea-Captains and others to crown Edgar but resolved to go forth and submit themselves to the victorious Duke and elect and crown him for their Soveraign The Nobility discerning this wavering inconstancy of the Bishops and considering that they were nobly born and must have a King that not to take him who was of power to make himself King would shew more of passion than discretion distrusting each others faith began to strive and runn headlong who should be the first to preoccupate the Grace of Servitude and intrâ—de them into forein subjection The Commons like a strong Vessel that might have been for good use were hereby left without a stern and could not move irregularly without apparent shipwrack So that all estates in generall either transported with sordid fear or corrupted with new hopes forsook Edgar themselves and their distressed Country resolving all to become Williams sworn Vassals without any further contest Ita Angli qui in unam coeuntes sententiam potuissent Patriae reformare ruinam dum nullum ex suis volebant induxerunt alienum During this their Consultation at London Duke William after his victory marched with his army through Oxfordshire Buckinghamshire and Hartfordshire towards London so farr as Berkhamsted without the least opposition wasting the Country burning the Villages and slaying the people as Hoveden Cambden and others write notwithstanding his former inhibition of plunder to force them more readily to submit unto him Hereupon Aldred Archbishop of York Wulstane Bishop of Worcester Walter Bishop of Hereford yea Prince Edgar himself all the English Nobility the chiefest of the Londoners and many others repaired to the victorious Duke at Berkhamsteed where giving him hostages for their fidelity they resigned themselves up unto him as his subjects and swore allegiance to him with whom he reciprocally made a Covenant of Peace nihilominus exercitui suo villas cremare rapinas agere permisit adds Hoveden When the feast of Christs Nativity approached Duke William resolved to march to London with all his Army and there to be crowned King but being on his way he found all the passâ—ges blocked up with many great trees which Frederick Abbot of St. Albans descended from the Saxons noble bloud had caused to be cut down and cast in the waies to secure his Monastery from the destruction of the Normans whereat the Duke both wondering and fretting sent for the Abbot under assurance of his safe return and demanding the cause Why his woods were thus felled and the wayes blocked up he returned him this stout answer I have done saith he both the duty of my birth and profession and if others of my rank had performed the like as they well might and ought to doe it had not been in thy power to have pierced the land thus farr William hearing his bold answer and knowing it was now a â—iâ—ter time to pacifie than exulcerate the English Spirits gave way to the present necessity and marched to London with his Army where he was joyfully received by the Prelates Nobles and Generality of the People and by them all elected and crowned King on the day of Christs Nativity Anno 1066. In magna exultatione a Clero et Populo susceptus et ab omnibus Rex acclamatus Thomas of Walsingham records that Williams Vantguard marching into London before him found many Rebels against him in the streets of the City with whom they encountring forthwith brought no small grief and lamentation to the City by reason of the many funerals of the Citizens and their Sons whom they slew At last the Citizens perceiving they could no longer resist them put in hostages subjecting themselves with all theirs to their Conqueror and Hereditary Lord. After which writes he the Duke on Christmass day was elected King by all the Nobles as well of the Normans as English and anoynted with sacred oyl and crowned with the royal Crown by the Bishops of the Realm at Westminster He receiving the Crown from the hands of Aldred Archbishop of York refusing to be crowned by Stigand Archbishop of Canterbury by reason of the many evils and horrible crimes reported of him and because he had unlawfully invaded that See during the life of Robert for which he was suspended by the Pope ne maledictionem videretur induere pro benedictione as most of our Historians accord though the Chronicle of Bromton and Mat. Parker assert that Stigand peremptorily reâ—used to crown him being a man of bloud and an invader of anothers right Cumque Willielmus Dux Normanniae Conquestor Angliae Tyranni nomen exhorresceret et nomen Legitimi Principis induere vellet à Stigando Cantuariensi Archiepiscopo in regno petiâ—t consecrari Ille vero ut quidam dicunt cruenti viro et alieni Iuris invasori manus imponere formidans nullatenus adquievit Unde licet ipse Willielmus eundem Stigandum ut noverat multis modis blandè honoravit ipsum tamen nunquam cordialiter amavit Thomas Sprot William Thorne and out of them Matthew Parker Mr. Lambard
deceasing Anno 672. Regni arbiâ—rium Uxori Sexburgae delegandum putavit nec deerat mulieri spiritus ad obeundaregia munia ipsa novos exercitus molâ—ri veteres tenere in officio ipsa subjectos clementer moderari hostibus minaciter infremere prorsus omnia facere ut nihil praeâ—â—r sexum discerneres Veruntamen plus quam animos foemineos anhelantem vita destituit viâ— anâ—ua potestate perfunctam When she had reigned thus one year Indignantibus Regni Magnatibus assembled most likely in a Parliamentary Council expulsa est a Regno nolentes sub sexu Foemineo militare The Nobles thereupon made Eschwin King in her place being Regali prosapia proximus next of the royal bloud quo decedente vel morte sua vel vi aliena vacantem aulam successione legitima implevit â—entianus He being the next right heir Page 24. l. 24. About the year 783. Kenulph King of Mercia Cum Episcopis Ducibus et omni sub nostra ditione dignitatis gradu with the Bishops Dukes and Nobles of every degrée of Honor under his Dominion assembled in a Parliamentary Council writ a Letter to Pope Leo the 3d. to reâ—nite those Bishopricks to the Metropolitical See of Canterbury which King Offa out of his hatred to Arcbbishop Living had severed from it and united to a new-erected Arcbbishoprick at Licheâ—ield alleging in the Letter Visum est cunctis gentis nostrae Sapientibus quatenus in illa Civitate Metropolitanus honor haberetur ubi corpus beatae recordationis Augustini qui verbum Dei imperante beato Gregorio Anglorum genti remonstrabat et gloriosissime Ecclesiae praefuit Saxoniae pansat qui his partibus fidei veritatem inseruit This Letter with Pope Leo his answer thereunto worth the reading are at large registred in Malmsbury and Mathew Parker Hereupon the new Archbishoprick of Lichfield was dissolved and the antient Metropolitical Iurisdiction of the See of Canterbury restored Anno 798. by the Iudgement and decree of the Council of Bacanceld and advice of Pope Leo who being advanced to the Papacy and saying his first Masse a certain woman to whom he formerly had accesse as was reported coming up to offer wringing him sweetly by the hand and kissing it thereby stirred up an incentive of lust in the Pope Who after the Masse ended sitting in his Chamber and reprehending himself sodenly cut off his hand according to that Gospel-saying If thy foot or hand shall offend cut it off and cast it from thee c. After which concealing the fact and retiring to a solitary place he prayed to the blessed Virgin to restore his hand cut off from his arm which she miraculously did And thereupon it was then decreed Statutum est tunc quod nunquam ex tunc manus Papae ab offerentibus deoscularetur sed Pes that never from thenceforth the Popes hand should be kissed by such who offered or resorted to him but his foot as Matthew Westminster and others record The original ground of kissing the Popes foot instead of his hand ever since Some write this Popes tongue and eyes were once or twice cut off and pulled out by the Citizens of Rome and yet again miraculously restored to him as well as his hand which the blind Papists may credit though few else believe to be a truth but a ridiculous lying Romish Legend for the whetstone ERRATA PAge 35. line 37. r. malitiam p. 37. l. 16. r. preceeded p. 41. l. 36. Heabert p. 46. l. 31. dele sent p. 64. l. 26. r. him himsef p. 69. l. 16. him and them p. 80. l. 10. largest r. longest l. 30. Churchets p. 83. l. 35. of the p. 91. l. 21. this p. 206. l. 9. at or p. 107. l. 2. imitator p. 113. l. 34. King p. 120. l. 30. hoc haec p. 126. l. 8. jura l. 21. Edelnato p. 135. l 14. again p. 144. l. 5. r. Edric p. 146. l. 3. Ely p. 147. l. 29. affecto p. 148. l. 21. exterorum p. 197. l. 8. cariage r. Courage p. 235. l. 2 Regis p. 241. l. 4. r. 1032. p. 246. l. 26. dele as p. 250. l. Harold Harde-cnute Godwin Harold p. 267. l. 6. of as p. 271. l. 12. fact us Sanctis p. 279. l. 34. Abbatem p. 286. l. 17. erunt p. 288. l. 28. Solium l. 36. limina p. 297. l. 8. Hoveden l. 28. pater l. 32. Edward p. 298. l. 21. Hoveden l. 29. regina p. 300. l. 5. 31. one hundred thousand p. 301. l. 28. cure of the Kings evil p. 302. l. 12. gentilitium l. 13. Francorum l. 27. King l. 33. Fabian p. 303. l. 36. harm p. 304. l. 17. Beverston p. 305. l. 5. Bononians Castle p. 307. l. 30. dele in p. 3â—0 l. 25. ignominia p. 316. l. 9. denominated p. 328. l. 〈◊〉 Hereford p. 331. l. 8. which with p. 341. l. 20. impletam l. 27. socii l. 35. huic p. 355. l. 31. King Duke p. 357. l. 30. may many p. 361. l. 28. tired forces p. 365. l. 7. occidentem p. 368. l. 22. their the. p. 387. l. 36. them him p. 291. l. 32. 1069. Margin p. 6. l. 3. r. 1. p. 65. l. 9. p. 115. r. Antoninus p. 8. l. 31. Briâ— p. 104. l. 4. Propos l. 9. 7 r. 8. p. 275. l. 12. Regum p. 276 l. 2. Epistle l. 4. Scriptor p. 282. l. 2. miraculis p. 314. l. 12. 1134. a Isay 41. 22 23 26. Acts 1. 7. Deut. 29. 29. Dan. 2. 18 19 22. b Dan. 2. 21 c. 4. 32 35. Psal 75. 6 7. Psal 135. 6. Jer. 1. 10. â—s 40. 23 24. c Prov. 22. 3. c. 27. 12. Isay 26. 20 21. Amos 3. 6 7. Rev. 18. 4. See the the life Dâ— James Usher p. â—9 86 â—o 92 166. d Isay 14. 10. to 15. Obad. 3. 4. Jer. 49 16. e Eccles 5. 8. Deut. 32. 35 Psal 94. 8 9. f Psal 119 120 g Mich. 7 3. h Isay 3 8 9. i Psai 10. 5 11. 13. k Deut. 29. 19 20. l Prov. 28. 1. c. 24. 21 22. * Mat Paris Hist Angl. p. 368. m See part 〈◊〉 p. 21. 24. Antiqu. Eccles Brit. Spelmanni Concilia Fox Speed Holinshed in their lives Usserius De Ecclesâ—it Primordiis c. 3 5. Godwins Conversion of Britain n 〈◊〉 Acts 〈…〉 and others in their livâ—s 〈…〉 aâ—d 〈…〉 o 〈…〉 p See 〈…〉 q Preface to his Chroicle r De Vita Miraculis Edwardi Confessoris col 369 371. s Historiae Anglicana scriptores col 1757. De Gestis Reg Angl. 〈◊〉 5. p. 173 174. * See Mat. Westminst An. 586 c. Malmesbury de Gest Regum Anglorum l. 1. Hen. Huntindon Hist lib. 2. Ethelwerdi Hist lib. 1. 2. Fox Acts and Monum Vol. 1. p. 148. Speeds Hist of Great Britain p. 209 c. a Chronic. Wil. Thorne col 1760 1761 1762 2123. Spelman Concil p. 118. to 129. Chronicon Johan Bromton col 733. An. Dom. 605 Proposition 5. 6 10. b