Books into which I have divided this Volume I will now proceed to acquaint you with the rest of my Authors from whom I have collected it nor will I give you only their Names which has been done by so many already but a brief Censure of them and their Works and in what Time they wrote being such as lived either before or after the Conquest Of the former sort there are but few since from Bede to Asser. Menev. there flourish'd no general Historian for William of Malmsbury himself confesses that after Bede all liberal Studies more and more declining those that followed spent their Lives in Idleness or Silence yet during even that Period there were some Writers of this kind viz. certain Monks in the greater Monasteries whose business it was to set down in short by way of Annals the most remarkable Passages of their own Times in their own Language nay Learning was in that King's Reign fallen to so low an Ebb that even King Alfred tells us in his Preface to the Saxon Version of Gregory's Pastoral That in the beginning of his Reign there were few on this side Humber who could understand their own Prayers much less turn a piece of Latin into English and where then were our supposed flourishing Vniversities AND I shall here begin with Asserius Menevensis who was so called because he was a Monk of Menevia or St. Davids This was he who being sent for by King Alfred out of Wales assisted him in his Studies and besides taught his Children and others of the Nobility Latin after this King Alfred sent him with others to fetch Grimbald out of Flanders into England and after the Schools were opened at Oxford the latter there professed Divinity and the former Grammar and Rhetorick as you may find in the Annals of Hyde cited in the ensuing History THIS Monk being Learned above the Age in which he lived first wrote the Annals that go under his Name which having long continued in the Cottonian and other Libraries in Manuscript have been lately published by the Learned Dr. Gale in his last Volume of Historians printed at Oxon. After these Annals it is certain Asser also wrote the whole History of King Alfred's Life under the Title of de Gestis Regis Aelfredi which were first published by the Reverend Arch-bishop Parker in Saxon Characters according to the Copy now in the Cottonian Library and was also again put out by Mr. Camden in another Edition at Frankford But it must be confessed there is some difference between these two Copies concerning the Vniversity of Oxford which is taken notice of in this Work in its proper Place but that the Annals abovementioned were written before his History of King Alfred's Life is plain for he there refers you to those Annals which he has also inserted in the Life almost word for word But tho the former of these is continued to the Death of King Alfred and the latter as far as the 14th Year of the Reign of K. Edward the Elder yet it is evident that he himself wrote neither the one nor the other after the Year 893 being the 45th of King Alfred's Age and this appears from the Life it self in which the Author particularly mentions it nor could he extend the Annals any farther because they were written before he wrote the Life This I observe to let the Reader understand that whatever he finds farther in the Annals or Life the Substance of both which I have given him in this Volume were continued by some other Hand and as for the Annals they sufficiently declare it for towards the latter end under Anno Dom. 909. you may meet with this Passage hoc Anno Asserius Episcopus Scireburnensis obiit which was no other than our Author himself yet this must be farther observed of him that he was so extreamly negligent in his Account of Time that he begins the first Year of King Alfred's Reign sometimes at one Year of our Lord and sometimes at another so that no Man can tell by him when it commenced BVT why he left off Writing so many Years before King Alfred died and never finish'd his Life though he survived him nine Years I confess I know not unless being preferred about the Time when he had finish'd it to the Bishoprick of Shireburne he left the King's Service and going to reside at his own See had other Business on his Hands than Writing And that the same Asser who taught King Alfred was also by him made Bishop of Shireburne appears from this King's Preface to the Saxon Translation of St. Gregorie's Pastoral in which he tells you he was assisted by Plegmund his Archbishop and Asser his Bishop to whom the said King in his Will after the Archbishop and some other Bishops bequeathed a 100 Marks by the Title of Asser Bishop of Shireburne from whence it is manifest that the same Person who was King Alfred's Instructor was also Bishop of Shireburne which Bishoprick was certainly bestowed on him after he had done Writing since tho he mentions the Abbeys of Banwell Ambresbury and Exceter to have been bestowed upon him by the King yet he is utterly silent of his being made Bishop which he would not surely have omitted if he had been then so preferred but how long he held this Bishoprick we can say little positively because we do not find when it was first given him but as for the time of his Death not only the Annals that go under his Name but the Saxon Chronicle also places it under Anno 909. So that I think there can be no reasonable cause to doubt of that BVT what should lead such a careful Chronographer as Florence of Worcester into so great a Mistake as to place this Bishop's Death under Anno 883 I know not unless he had some other Copies of the Saxon Annals by him than are now extant but the Fasti of the Saxon Kings and Bishops publish'd by Sir H. Savil at the end of William of Malmesbury and other Writers are guilty of the like Mistake making this Asser to have succeeded Sighelm Bishop of Shireburn and to have died Anno 883 whereas it appears from our Annals that Sighelm whom William of Malmesbury makes to be the same Person with the Bishop abovementioned this very Year carried King Alfred's Alms to Rome and afterwards went himself as far as India however this Mistake of Florence as also the pretended Authority of our Welsh Chronicle hath as I suppose led divers other Learned Men and particularly Bishop Godwin and Arch-bishop Usher into a Belief of two Assers both Bishops the one of whom died Anno 883 and the other to have been Arch-bishop of St. Davids and to have succeeded Novis who according to the Chronicle of that Church publish'd in the 2d Volume of Anglia Sacra died Anno 872 and there immediately follows under Anno 909 Asserius Episcopus Britanniae fit which must certainly be an Errour in
we here omit several other Pieces of less Bulk and Note published since that Volume last mentioned containing the Chronicles and Histories of divers Cathedrals and Abbeys such as are the Annals of the Abbey of Winchester c. which have been published from the Cottonian and other Libraries in Monasticon Anglicanum and the first Volume of Anglia Sacra lately published by the late Learned and Industrious Mr. Wharton TO these likewise may be added the Histories of the Monasteries of Ely and Ramsey as also of Glastenbury by William of Malmesbury from whom we have taken several Things not only relating to that Abbey but the General History of England nor can I omit the History of John of Wallingford whom Matthew Paris mentions in his Lives of the Abbots of St. Albans as the 21st Abbot of St. Albans he wrote the History of the Kings of England as far as the 42d of King Henry the Third the first Part of which down to the Norman Conquest hath been published in the aforesaid last Volume at Oxford by the Learned Dr. Gale From all which last mentioned tho mingled with abundance of Monkish Trash we have here and there excerpted several excellent Remarks WE have also sometimes made use of Ranulph Higden his Polychronicon who was a Monk of Chester the first Part of which is published also by the said Dr. Gale as far as the Conquest and Matthew a Monk of Westminster his Flores Historiarum these Authors being Cotemporaries and collecting to the Reign of Edward the Third from all the rest of the Antient Writers abovementioned I have seldom used but as subsidiary Helps when the Passages they relate are not to be found any where else several other Authors they borrowed from being now lost or very rare to be met with HAVING now done with our printed Authors I proceed to those that continue still in Manuscript in the Bodleian and Cottonian Libraries and also in those of Lambeth Gresham's College and the Heraulds Office such as are John of Tinmouth his Historia Aurea Johannes Castorius in English Beaver his History of the Kings of England and John Rouse of Warwick his Collections on the same Subject together with above forty or fifty nameless Authors which I have perused to see what I could find in any of them that had not been taken notice of by others but how little they have answered in my Expectations the small Additions I have made from them I hope will satisfy the unprejudiced Reader and for any that are otherwise if they please to take the same Pains that I have done I wish their Labours may be better requited BVT as for the Extracts of Ecclesiastical Canons and Laws which I have inserted at the end of divers King's Reigns I have faithfully transcribed them ou◠of Sir Henry Spelman's first Volume of British Councils and Mr. Lambard's Archaionomia under their respective Years and have also compared and corrected them in a great Part from the Manuscript Notes of the Learned Junius at the end of the Cambridg Edition of Bede which is in the Bodleian Library or else by another Latin Manuscript Version of the Industrious Mr. Somner's And I do not know of any other Saxon Laws unless there be some of King Cnute's which remain as yet in Manuscript untranslated in the Bodleian Library as also in the Hands of Dr. Gale as I am well informed I hope they may be one day added to a new Edition of Mr. Lambard's most useful Work THVS having gone through all the chiefest English Historians both in Print and Manuscript that I know of relating to the Times before the Conquest which I think are as many and of as good Credit as any Countrey in Europe can shew in the like space of Time it may be expected I should say something in their Vindication since I find they have been attacked in a post-humous Treatise long since written by a Learned Civilian Sir Thomas Craig in Latin in answer to what Mr. Hollingshead has published concerning the Homage that was due from the Kings of Scotland to those of England and is lately translated into English by the Ingenious Mr. Ridpath and as I shall here faithfully give you his Arguments against the Antiquity and Credit of our Writers so I hope I shall return such Answers to them as will satisfy all impartial Readers HIS first Objection is That from the Death of Bede whose Credit he says he will every where preserve entire the English have no certain History nor Writer to the Reign of King Henry the First except that Fragment of Ethelwerd's for says he I do not acknowledg that Fragment of Ingulphus who preceded Ethelwerd twenty Years as an History nor Asserius Menevensis who wrote only concerning the Transactions of his own King Alfred And lest he should be thought to affirm any thing rashly He brings William of Malmesbury to witness the Matter saying That all the Memorials of Transactions from the Death of Bede to his own Time which was in the Reign of Henry I. about 1142. were utterly lost nor was there any who followed that Study or indeavoured to pursue the thread of History till himself NOW to give an Answer to this Learned Advocate and take him Point by Point as he goes on in the first Place I am sorry to find a Person otherwise every ways Able and Skillful in his own Profession so ignorant in our English Historians since if he had not been so he could not have committed almost as many Mistakes as he hath wrote Lines for in the first Place he calls Ingulph and Ethelwerd two Fragments whereas if he had been pleased to have looked upon either of them he would have found them entire Pieces so far as they went and we call Polybius Diodorus Siculus Salust Livy Historians not Fragments altho each of them be imperfect only the Edition that was then published of Ingulph wanted the Laws of William the Conqueror and some few Sheets at the Conclusion which have been since added AND whereas he says that Ingulph preceded Ethelwerd twenty Years he is so far from being in the right of that that the direct contrary is true for Ingulph lived and wrote above one hundred Years after Ethelwerd had finished his History with King Edgar's Reign whose Eulogy he only gives us in barbarous Verse AND as for what the Advocate says concerning William of Malmesbury he much misrepresents the Sense of this Author who does not affirm that there were no Memorials from the Death of Bede to his Time but the contrary for he mentions the Saxon Annals in his Proem in these words Sunt sanè quaedam vetustatis Indicia patrio Sermone chronico more per annos Domini ordinata also in his Book de Antiquitate Glastoniae published by Dr. Gale as above he citeth them as good Authority Tradunt Annales bonae credulitatis c. Nay Sir Thomas Craig himself I suppose through Forgetfulness has allowed
Names of his Kings and their Course of Succession in many Places but also referring them in particular to the Years of the World in which he supposes them to have Reigned adding also the Years of their Reigns where-ever he thought Geoffrey to be deficient but without vouchsafing to give us the Names of any Authors from whence he took them So that since we have indeed no better Authorities than Geoffrey himself I shall not go about to Confute the Faults that might be found in the Chronology which Mr. White has given us of these Kings Reigns though it were no hard Matter to shew diverse Absurdities in it But this much is evident from the disagreement of these Authors about the Names of their Kings and the Years of their Reigns that they had nothing but their own Fancies to rely upon for what they wrote whence proceeds so great a Confusion in this part of their British History that no Body can certainly conclude any thing from hence unless that they were all mistaken Nor is it only the uncertainty of Kings Names and Successions that we here find fault with but the great Improbability I might say Impossibility of divers Matters of Fact related by Geoffrey of Monmouth in this History of the British Kings As for Instance that of King Ebrane's sending his Thirty Daughters to find Husbands in Italy which Story plainly took its rise from the Sabines denying their Daughters to those People which Romulus many Years after got together Not to mention the Story of Morindus's being devoured by a Sea-Monster whereas neither our Seas nor Rivers do now or ever did afford any such noxious Creatures divers other more improbable Relations because I would not tire the Reader with such Fooleries I have here omitted Besides all which the very Names of many of these Kings such as Jaco which is the same with James in English Molmutius Morindus as also Archigallo Gorbonian Ennianus Geruntius Fulgentius Androgeus Archimalus Rodianus sufficiently betray some a Phoenician some a Grecian and some a Roman Original and could never be derived from the British Oâ—iginals Lastly There is great difference between this part of the British History especially from Elidure to Lud and all other Histories for whereas these commonly are barren of particular Transactions in their beginning and afterwards enlarge themselves still more and more the further they proceed This History is quite contrary and the farther we go the more confused we find the Succession of their Kings and the less there is Recorded of their Actions for from Elidure to Lud there are Nine and Twenty Kings of whom nothing almost is Recorded but their bare Names and which is also very remarkable from this Elidure Geoffrey makes no mention of the Years of their Reigns What we find of this kind hath been added by those that writ long after him who have done it very preposterously allowing not above Ten Years one with another to Thirty Kings which are supposed to have Reign'd in about Two Hundred Years so that if there were any Truth in this History it seems more rational to believe these Kings not to have succeeded each other but many of them to have bin Contemporary Rulers of particular Provinces of this Island I shall therefore conclude this Part of the History with Mr. Milton's Words concerning these Kings Thus far have we gone relying upon the Credit of Geoffrey of Monmouth and his Assertors though for the Reasons above-mentioned I have not thought it beside my Purpose to relate what I have found whereto I neither oblige the Belief of other Persons nor shall over-hastily subscribe my own Yet granting these things not to have been true but invented by the Author above-mentioned yet since even Romances as well as true Histories may furnish us with Observations sufficient to Instruct us not only in the Humours and Passions of Mankind but also in the Causes as well as Effects of human Actions And since Ambition Lust and the Desire of Revenge are commonly in their turns the Motives that incite Princes as well as private Men to Transgress the Laws of Reason let us look back and survey some of the most remarkable Actions of those Princes whose History we have here cited From those frequent Divisions we here read to have been made of the Kingdom between several Brothers we may learn that the Britains had no Notion of any Right in the Eldest Brother to Command over all the Rest no not after they became Christians the Welch Princes still dividing their Territories among all their Sons alike though we may see the Inconvenience of this Course by their making War upon each other about their particular Shares Whence we may conclude that Sovereignty ought to be left undivided and the more Shares there are in it the more Causes there are of Civil Wars and Divisions nor have any prov'd more fatal than those among Brothers of which we have sufficient Examples not only in this but other Histories From so many Kings being depos'd for their Tyranny we may observe that the ancient Britains though under a Monarchy yet did not think themselves oblig'd to suffer their Kings by becoming Tyrants to make their People Slaves but knew how to cast off that Yoke when it grew insupportable Lastly from Cassibelan's being made a King by the People for his Valour and Worth it plainly appears that if the Kingdom were then Hereditary yet the Estates did then reserve a Power to themselves during the Minority of the Right Heir to place in the Throne that Prince of the Blood-Royal who was like to prove most able to defend them either against Foreign or Domestick Enemies as this Prince in the War with Caesar evidenced to the World I have made bold to add these few political Observations that the Reader as well as my self may profit somewhat by Reading a History otherwise so dry and uninstructive THE General History OF BRITAIN NOW CALLED ENGLAND As well Ecclesiastical as Civil BOOK II. Containing the Annals of ENGLAND from the First Landing of JULIUS CAESAR to the Romans Total Desertion thereof being about Four Hundred and Ninety Years HAVING in the former Book deduced the Succession of British Kings as well as I was able from Brute to the Beginning of the Reign of Cassibelan in whose Time Caesar Landed in Britain and having hitherto wandred through divers Ages of Fictions or Uncertainties at best like a Man in a dark Night who knows not well whether he is in or out of his Road yet is still forced to Travel on till Day-light overtake him So we having hitherto gone forward though in the dark are at last arrived at a Period which will give us a more certain Light into our British History though no Roman or Greek Historian did ever undertake to write a History on purpose concerning this Island during all the time that the Roman Emperors govern'd here either in Person or by their Lieutenants For those Authors that are
Lindisfarn where he was with his Clergy and there he was Abbot with his Monks who all belong to the Care of the Bishop where he was also succeeded by divers other Bishops till that Church being destroyed by the Danes the Bishop's See was removed to Durham I need say no more upon this Subject but shall refer the Reader to the said Learned Bishop's Dissertation to prove that no other Church-Government but Episcopal was ever setled amongst the Scots Picts or Saxons upon their Conversion to Christianity But that we may return again to our Saxon Annals Adda King of Bernicia dying this Year as Florence of Worcester and Mâ—tthew of Westminster relate one Glappa reigned in his stead two Years but who he was or how descended these Authors do not tell us The same Year died Maelgwn Guineth King of the Britains after five Years Reign over all that part of Britain that was left them This is according to the account of that Learned Antiquary Mr. Robert Vaughan thô Mat. of Westminster Dr. Powell and Sir John Price make him to have began his Reign long after viz. the former of these in 581 and the latter in 590 both which Opinions the said Mr. Vaughan Learnedly confutes in a Manuscript I have now in my possession but who succeeded Maelgwn Guineth as King of all the Britains since the Welsh Annals are silent I shall be so too for as to those Successors which Geoffery hath given him I have already said sufficient to destroy his Credit in this matter and Will of Newberie's Censure of him is not less sharp than true That concerning the Successors of Arthur he does not lie with less Impudence when he gives them the Monarchy of all Britain even to the 7th Generation The next year Ceawlin and Cutha his Brother beginning a Civil War fought with King Ethelbert and drove him back into Kent and killed two of his Commanders Oslac and Cnebba at Wibbendon now Wimbledon in Surrey This King Ethelbert as Will. of Malmesbury observes was in the beginning of his Reign a Scorn to the Neighbouring Princes for being beaten in one or two Battels he could scarce defend his own Territories But when in his riper Years he learned more Experience in War in a short time he brought under his Subjection all the Nations of the English-Saxons except the Northumbrians and that he might also gain the Friendship of Foreigners he became allied to the King of the Franks by the Marriage of Bertha his Daughter But of this King we hear no more for many years till his Conversion to the Christian Faith Glappa King of Bernicia dying Theodwulf succeeded him for one year But then he also deceasing Frâ—othwulf reigned after him for seven or eight years more We are beholding for the Succession of these two Kings to Florence of Worcester and Rog. Hoveden being omitted by all other Authors they are also more exact in distinguishing this Kingdom from that of Deira most of the rest confounding them together Cuthwulf the Brother of Ceawlin as it is in H. Huntington fought against the Britains at Bedicanford now Bedford and took four Towns viz. Lugeanburh now Loughborough in Leicestershire or else Leighton in Bedfordshire and Eglesburh now Ailesbury in Bucks with Bennington and Egonesham now called Bensington and Enisham in Oxfordshire About this time as is supposed for the Year is not set down in the Saxon Annals nor any other Historian began the Kingdom of the East-Angles under Vffa the Eighth from Woden tho it seems there were before him divers other petty Saxon Princes who had invaded and fixed themselves in the Countries we now call Norfolk and Suffolk for in one Copy of Matth. of Westminster which Mr. Twine had seen tho it be not found in our printed ones he saith That Anno 527. the Pagans came out of Germany and took possession of the Countrey of the East-Angles and tormented the Christians with all sorts of Cruelty but it seems this Vffa in Strength and Policy overpowering the rest of those Petty Princes got himself made sole King and governed with that Glory that H. Huntingdon tells us the Kings descended from him were called Vffings though how long he reigned is uncertain only that dying he left the Crown to Titul or Titillus his Son of whom likewise nothing is recorded and therefore Will. of Malmesbury takes no notice of these two Princes The first he speaks of is Redwald the Tenth from Woden whom he calls the greatest King of the East-Angles but since his Reign began after this Period I shall reserve the speaking further of him to the next Book To return to the Saxon Annals This year Ceawlin and Cuthwin his Son fought with and slew three British Kings viz. Commail Candidan and Farinmaile at a place which is called Deorham now Durham in Gloucestershire and then took three Cities Glewancester now Glocester Cirencester and Bathoncester now Bathe Who these three Kings were is very doubtful some suppose the first and second of them to be Cuniglasus and Aurelius Conan both mentioned by Gildas but for the third I cannot tell what to make of him there being no such King mentioned in any of the old British Chronicles so all that we can guess is that he was some Petty Prince whose Name is wholly omitted in the Welsh Annals or else mistaken in ours From the time of this Battel the Britains or Welshmen as the English call them being driven into that rough and mountainous Countrey we now call Wales lying beyond the Rivers of Dee and Severn made fewer Invasions into what we call England This year as the Welsh Chronicle called Triades relates being an Ancient Manuscript written near 1000 years ago the Battel of Arderydd was fought on the Borders of Scotland between Aeddan Vradog i. e. the Treacherous and Guendelew Son of Keidiaw British Princes of the North Parts of Britain on the one side and Reiderch-hoel i. e. the Liberal a British King of Cumberland on the other side and that upon a very slight occasion a Lark's-Nest and two Dogs In which Battel Guendelew was slain though his men fought and skirmish'd with the other Britains for Six Weeks to revenge his Death After which Fight Aedan being there overcome fled into the Isle of Man The like Story is related by Hector Boethius concerning the Battel between Aedan King of the Scots and the Picts upon the like occasion so that either the Scots borrowed it from the British History or else this had it from them though the former be the most likely But how this can agree with our Saxon Annals who make Adda King of Bernicia to have died Ten Years before I know not one of them must certainly be mistaken since there was but one King of Northumberland who was called Adda This year or the next King Freothwulf dying Theodoric the Son of Ida according to Florence of Worcester and Matth. Westminster
this Table do not always follow the Printed Text of the Saxon Annâ—â— since the Copies often differ sometimes one year and sometimes more and then I have always followed that which I thought to be the best Account The Succession of British Kings is accâ—â—â—ing to the Account I received from the Most Reverend Father in God Humphrey Lord Bishop of Bangor Anno Dom. Kings of Kent Anno Dom. Kings of the South-Saxons Anno Dom. Kings of the West-Saxons Anno Dom. Kings of the East-Saxons Kâ—â—gs of Northumberland in the Provinces called Anno Dom. Kings of the East-Angles Anno Dom. Kings of Mercia Anno Dom. Kings of the Britains         〈…〉 Bernicia Anno Dom. Deira       457 Hengist reigned 31 years               445 Vortiger                 454 Vortimer his Son his Father being Deposed 488 Aesk or Oric his Son 24 years 491 Aella reigned 24 years             458 Vortiger again restored after the Death of his Son 512 Otha or Oisc his Son 20 years               465 Aurelius Ambrosius made General of the Britains Vortiger still living 532 Ermenric his Son 29 years 515 Cissa reigned uncertain how many years 519 Cerdic reigned 15 years 527 Erkenwin or Escwin 〈◊〉 Ida Son of Eoppa reigned over both Kingdoms 12 years       481 Aurelius chosen King after the Death of Vortiger     534 Cynric his Son reigned 26 years  Sigebert 〈◊〉 Adda or Odda his Son reigned 5 years 559 Aella the Son of Yffi reigned near 30 years          After whom reigned divers Kings whose Names are not to be found in our Annals or Historians   535 Swithelm 〈◊〉 Clappa 7 years    Uffa reigned uncertain how long   508 Nazaleod or Nathanleod Chief King of the Britains who whether he was not the same with Aurelius Ambrosius is doubtful 561 Ethelbert his Son   560 Ceawlin his Son 31 years   〈◊〉 Theodwulf 1 year                 〈◊〉 Freothwulf 7 years   578 Titylus or Tytila his Son reigned uncertain too how long           587 Sledda 9 years 〈◊〉 Theodoric 7 years     585 Crida or Creoda how long he reigned is uncertain  Here follows an Inter-regnum of about six years         〈◊〉 Aethelric 2 years                 These two last were Sons of Ida and rul'd here whilst Aella reigned in Deira 589 Edwin his Son who being soon expell'd by Aethelfrid King of Bernicia reigned over both Kingdoms 14 years till Edwin was again restored     515 K. Arthur reigned twenty seven years     591 Ceolric his Kinsman 5 years    This Aethelric last mention'd began also to reign over both these Kingdoms after the death of Aella and reigned in all 5 years      Wippa or Pybba his Son the like 542 After whose Death followed Nine years Interregnum            593 Redwald his Son   551 Mailgwin Gwined was elected King of all the Britains     597 Ceolwulf 14 years 596 Seaber◠〈◊〉 Aethelfred his Son reigned 24 over both Kingdoms      Ceorl the like 586 Mailgwin died after whom was a 17 years Interregnum THE General History OF BRITAIN NOW CALLED ENGLAND As well Ecclesiastical as Civil BOOK IV. From the Preaching of the Christian Religion by AUGUSTINE the Monk to ECBERT the first Chief or Supreme King of ENGLAND containing Two Hundred and Three Years THIS Fourth Period will give us a new and more pleasant Prospect of the Affairs of Britain For as the Gospel of Christ did now dispel that Egyptian Darkness of Paganism under which it had so long laboured so together with Christianity Human Learning and consequently the Art of composing Histories or Annals entred also with it the Monasteries which were not long after founded being then the only Universities in which the Liberal Arts and Sciences were in those times chiefly taught and professed which though it was not without a great mixture of that Gothic Barbarism that had then overspread all Europe and even Italy it self yet was it sufficient in some measure to instruct men not only in Divine but Civil Knowledge the Monks of that Age possessing the greatest share of Learning and being almost the only Historians as well as Divines Therefore we must be beholding to them for what Accounts we have not only of the Ecclesiastical but Civil Affairs of those Times for Bede our first English Historian was himself a Monk And the Saxon Annals which we here give you were first collected and written in divers Monasteries of England and to which is to be ascribed that difference which is found between the Copies of that Chronicle as to the Dates of Years and other Matters for before there was scarce any thing remembred by Tradition but the great Wars and Battels fought by the Saxon Kings against the Britains so after the Monks came to commit things to writing they began to make us understand somewhat of their Civil Constitutions and the Acts of Peace as well as War tho it must be confessed they are not so exact in the former as they might and ought to have been minding more the relating of Visions and Miracles which they supposed to have happen'd and been done in those times for the Confirmation of some new Doctrines then not fully received Yet however I doubt not but from those Remains they have left us both the Constitution of their Governmâ—nt and the manner of the Succession of their Kings may be clearly made out of both which in the former Period we were wholly ignorant But for this we are chiefly beholding to those English-Saxon Laws that are left us which were made by the Sâ—preme Aâ—thority of each Kingdom â—n their Wittenâ— Geâ—ot Myceâ— Gemot or great Counâ—il which we now caâ—â— a Parliament from which times most of the Laws made in those Councils were carefully preserv'd and would have been convey'd to us more entire had it not been for the loss of so many curious Monuments of Antiquity at the suppression of Monasteries in the Reign of King Henry VIII But since it must be confessed that it was to the Learning which Christianity brought in that we owe
afraid least by the Miracles that were now wrought his Mind might be puffed up by vain Glory Therefore that he ought still to remember that when the Disciples returning from their preaching with joy said to their Heavenly Master Lord in thy name the Devils be subject unto us they presently received a rebuke rejoyce not for this but rather rejoyce that your Names are written in Heaven Bede also tells us That Pope Gregory about this time sent King Ethelbert many noble Presents together with a Letter full of good Advice and Instructions Exhorting him to cultivate that Grace which he had received by the especial providence of God to make haste to propagate the Christian Faith among his Subjects to increase the fervency of his own Faith by furthering their Conversion to destroy the Worship of Idols to establish the Manners of his Subjects in the purity of Life by Exhorting Encouraging and Correcting them and by shewing himself as Example of good Works that so he may find his Reward in Heaven Then proposing to him the Example of Constantine the Emperour who had freed the Common-Wealth from Idols to the Worship of our LORD Jesus Christ advising him to hearken to and perform the good Advice which should be given him by Augustine the Bishop and that he should not be troubled in Mind if he should see any Terrours or Prodigies from Heaven contrary to the ordinary course of the Seasons as Tempests Famine and the like since the Lord had already foretold that such things should happen before the end of the World then concludes with wishing a more perfect Conversion of the whole Nation and that God would preserve and perfect him in the Grace he had begun and after a course of many Years would receive him into the fellowship of the Saints above These Letters bear the same date with the former and so must be wrote in the same Year I have dwelt the longer on these things to let you see that the primitive Christian Temper had not yet left the Bishops of the Roman Church thô infected with some Superstitions Let us now return to our Civil History from which we have so long digressed About this time when Ethelbert and his People were wholly taken up in Acts of Piety Ethelfrid still govern'd the Kingdom of Northumberland who being a Warlike Prince and most ambitious of Glory had wasted the Britains more than any other Saxon King of his time winning from them divers large Territories which he either made Tributary or planted with his own Subjects whence Adian as Bede or Aedan or Aegthan as the Saxon Chronicle calls him growing Jealous of Ethelfred's great Success came against him with a great and powerful Army to a place called Degsa-stan or Degstan and was there routed losing most of his Men but in this Battel Theobald the Brother of Ethelfrid was slain that part or wing of the Army which he commanded being unfortunately cut off yet nevertheless the loss was so great on the Scotish side that no King of the Scots durst any more in hostile manner march into Britain to the time that Bede wrote his History which was above a Hundred Years after He also tells us That this happned in the first Year of the Reign of the Emperour Phocas Buchanan in his Scotch History writes that this Ethelfrid assisted by Keawlin whom he mistiles King of the East instead of the West-Saxons had before this time fought a Battel with this Adian wherein Cutha Keawlin's Son was slain but neither the Saxon Chronicle nor any of our English Historians mention any such thing for this Cutha as appears by the said Chronicle was slain in the Year 584. fighting against the Welsh The number of Christians beginning now to multiply not only in Kent but other Countries Augustine found it necessary to ordain two other Bishops Mellitus and Justus sending Mellitus to Preach the Gospel to the Kingdom of the East Saxons which was divided from that of Kent by the River Thamesis over which Nation Sebert the Son of Richala the Sister of K. Ethelbert then Reigned thô under his Authority for he had then the supreme command over all the Nations of the English Saxons as far as the Banks of Humber but when this Province had by the preaching of Mellitus received the Gospel of Christ K. Sebert also baptized Ethelbert caused the Church of St. Paul to be built at London where Mellitus and his Successours should fix their Episcopal See But as for the other Bishop Justus Augustine ordained him Bishop in the Kingdom of Kent of a certain little City then called Rofcaester now Rochester being about Twenty Miles from Canterbury in which King Ethelbert built the Church of St. Andrew and bestowed good endowments on it Hitherto Augustine had laboured only to convert Infidels but now he took upon him by vertue of his Archiepiscopal or rather Legatine Authority which the Pope had conferr'd upon him over all the Bishops of Britain properly so called to make a general Visitation of his Province and coming as far as the borders of Wales being assisted by the power of King Ethelbert he summoned all the British Bishops of the adjoyning Provinces to a Synod at a place called in Bede's time Augustines Ake or Oak then Scituate on the confines of the Wecti now the Diocess of Worcester and the West Saxons supposed to be somewhere on the edge of Worcester-shire and began to perswade them by brotherly Admonitions that they would maintain the Catholick Unity and also joyn in the work of Preaching the Gospel to the Infidel Nations For there was then a great difference between them about the Rule of keeping Easter which Bede tells us The Britains did not keep at a right time but observed it from the Fourteenth to the Twentieth Day of the Moon which Computation is continued in a Cycle of Eighty Four Years which account being somewhat obscure I shall for the clearing of it set down what the learned Bishop of St. Asaph hath given us upon this subject in his Historical Account of Church Government already cited in the last Book where he takes notice that this Cycle of Eighty Four Years which was also called the Roman Account so lately as in Pope Leo's Time the Scots and South Picts used the same Cycle from the time of their Conversion and so did the Britains without any manner of alteration but about Eighty Years after the rending in pieces of the Roman Empire the Romans having left off the use of that Cycle took up another of Nineteen Years which though it was better in many respects yet was new in these Parts and made a great difference from the former and when the Romans had used this new Cycle another Eighty Years coming then to have to do with these Northern Nations who were yet ignorant of it they would needs impose the use of it upon them as a necessary condition of their
Pope as well as the English did afterwards therefore it is most likely according to the Traditions given you in the Second Book that it was first preached and propagated here by some Apostle or Disciple of the Eastern or Asiatick Church And thô a late Romish Writer very much arraigns the Credit of this Manuscript as made since the Days of King Henry the Eighth and cavils at the Welsh thereof as Modern and full of false Spelling yet is not this any material Exception against it since the Welsh used in it is not so Modern as he would make it as I am credibly informed by those who are Criticks in that Language and as for the Spelling that may be the fault of the Transcribers And thô the Archiepiscopal See was then removed from Caer-Leon to St. David's yet it might still retain the former Title as of the first and most famous Place About which time Arch-Bishop Augustine is supposed by the best Chronologers to have departed this Life thô the certain Year of his Death is not to be found either in Bede or the Saxon Chronicle His Body was buried abroad near the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul till that could be finished and dedicated which as soon as that was done was decently buried in the Porch on the North-side of the Church in which were also buried all the succeeding Arch-Bishops except two viz. Theodore and Birthwald who were buried in the Church because the Porch would contain no more but his Epitaph thô it mentions his being sent by the Pope to convert the English Nation and his being the first Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and that he died in the 7th of the Kalends of June in the Reign of King Ethelbert yet omits the Year of that King's Reign as well as that of our Lord in which he died I suppose because the Year of Christ was not then commonly made use of either in the Ecclesiastical or Civil Accounts of that Time but of this we shall treat further hereafter Under this Year Bede also places the Death of Pope Gregory the Great of whose Life and Actions he gives us a long Account to which I refer you but the Saxon Chronicle puts off the Death of this Pope to the next Year but I rather follow Bede as the ancienter and more authentick Author The same Year is also very remarkable for Civil as well as Ecclesiastical Affairs in this Island for now King Ethelbert summoned a Mycel Synod or Great Council as well of the Clergy as Laity wherein by their common Consent and Approbation all the Grants and Charters of this King whereby he had settled great Endowments on Christ-Church and that of St. Pancrace in Canterbury were confirmed which had been before the old ruinous Church of St. Martin without the City already mentioned but the Charters now made and confirmed by King Ethelbert in this Council are almost word for word the same with those he had made by himself before with heavy Imprecations against any who should dare to infringe them as you may see in Sir H. Spelman's First-Volume of British Councils where this Learned Author in his Notes farther shews us that these Charters above-mentioned are very suspicious of being forged in many respects as First That this King there stiles himself King of the English in general whereas indeed he was no more than King of Kent Secondly Because the Year of our Lord is expressed at their Conclusion which was not in use till long after Besides an old Manuscript of the Church of Canterbury says expresly That the Monks of the Monastery had their Lands and Priviledges by a long and peaceable Possession according to Custom until King Wightred Anno Dom. 693 made them a confirmation of all their Priviledges by a Charter under his Soul There are also other Exceptions against the Bull that is there recited to be Arch-Bishop Augustine's which you may see at large in those Learned Notes above-mentioned In this great Council or Synod among many other Secular Laws and Decrees these deserve particularly to be taken notice of the first Law assigns the Penalty of Sacriledge appointing what Amends is to be made for Things taken from a Bishop by a Restitution of nine times the value from a Priest by a Ninth and from a Deacon by a Threefold Restitution The Second Law is That if the King summon'd his People and any Man should presume then to do them Injury he shall make double Amends to the Party and besides shall pay Fifty Shillings to the King The Third Law is That if the King shall drink in a Man's House and there be any Injury done in his Presence the Party so doing it shall make double Satisfaction the rest that follow since they belong only to the Correction of Manners are omitted To these Laws Bede relates when he says That King Ethelbert amongst other good Things which he conferr'd upon his Nation appointed certain Laws concerning Judgments by the Councel of his wise Men according to the Example of the Romans which being written in the English Tongue were yet kept and observed by them to this time and then mentions some of those Laws to the same effect as they are already expressed This Year was fulfilled Arch-Bishop Augustine's Prediction upon the Britains for as Bede and the Saxon Annals relate Ethelfrid King of Northumberland now led his Army to Leger-Ceaster and there killed a great multitude of Britains and so was fulfilled the Prophecy of Augustine above-mentioned and there were then killed 200 Priests or Monks who came thither to prey for the British Army but in Florence of Worcester's Copy it was 2200 but Brockmaile who was to be their Protector escaped with about 50 Men. H. Huntington gives a more particular account of this Action and says That King Ethelfrid having gathered together a powerful Army made a great Slaughter of the Britains near the City of Legions which is called by the English Lege Cestre but more rightly by the Britains Caerlegion so that it is evident it cannot be Leicester as our common Historians write but West-Chester which lay near the Borders of King Ethelfrid's Kingdom where this Battle was fought This Author further adds That when the King saw those Priests or Monks of the Abby of Bangor who came out to pray for the Army ranged by themselves in a place of Safety having one Brockmaile for their Defender and that the King knew for what end they came thither he presently said If these Men pray to their GOD against us though they do not make use of Arms yet do they as â—eally fight against us as if they did And so he commanded his Forces to be first turned upon them who being all cut off he presently defeated the rest of the Army without any great difficulty and he also agrees with Florence of Worcester's Relation of the number of the Monks there slain and accuses their Defender Brockmaile of Cowardice
assistance to revenge their quarrel which happen'd the next Year as the same Authour relates For This Year not long before the Death of King Egfrid that Holy Man Cuthbert was by the same King ordered to be ordained Bishop of Lindisfarne thô he was at first chosen to be Bishop of Hagulstaed instead of Trumbert who had been before deposed from that Bishoprick yet because Cuthbert liked the Church of Lindisfarne better in which he had so long convers'd Eatta was made to return to the See of Hagulstad to which he was at first ordained whilest Cuthbert took the Bishoprick of Lindisfarne But I shall now give you from Bede a farther account of the Life of this good Bishop he had been first bred in the Monastery of Mailross and was afterwards made Abbot of the Monastery of Lindisfarne retiring from whence he had for a long time lived the Life of an Anchorite in the Isle of Farne not far distant but when there was a great Synod assembled King Egfrid being present at a place called Twiford near the River Alne where Arch-Bishop Theodore presiding Cuthbert was by the general consent of them all chosen Bishop who when he could not by any Messages or Letters be drawn from his Cell at length the King himself with Bishop Trumwin and other Noble and Religious Persons sailed thither where they at last after many intreaties prevailed upon him to go with them to the Synod and when he came there thô he very much opposed it yet he was forced to accept the Episcopal Charge and so was consecrated Bishop the Easter following and after his Consecration in imitation of the blessed Appostles he adorned his calling by his good Works for he constantly taught the People commited to his Charge and incited them to the love of Heaven by his constant Prayers and Exhoâ—tations and which is the chief part of a Teacher whatsoever he Taught he himself first practised so having lived in this manner about Two Years being then sensible that the time of his Death or rather of his future Life drew near he again retired to the same Island and Hermitage from whence he came The same Year also King Egfrid rashly lead out his Army to destroy the Province of the Picts thô his Friends and principally Bishop Cuthbert did all they could to hinder it and having now entred the Country he was brought before he was aware by the feigned flight of his Enemies between the streights of certain inaccessible Mountains where he with the greatest part of his Forces he had brought with him were all cut off in the Fortieth Year of his Age and the Fifteenth of his Reign And as the Year aforegoing he refused to hear Bishop Cuthbert who diswaded him from invading Ireland which did him no harm so Bede observes it was a just Judgment upon him for that Sin that he would not hear those who would then have prevented his Ruine From this time the Grandeur and Valour of this Kingdom of the Northumbers began to decline for the Picts now recovered their Country which the English had taken away and the Scots that were in Britain with some part of the Britains themselves regain'd their Liberty which they did enjoy for the space of Forty Six Years after when Bede wrote his History But Alfred Brother to this King succeeding him quickly recovered his Kingdom thô reduced into narrower bounds He was also a Prince very well read in the Holy Scriptures The same Year as the Saxon Annals relate Kentwin King of the West-Saxons dying Ceadwalla began to Reign over that Kingdom whose Pedegree is there inserted which I shall refer to another place and the same Year also died Lothair King of Kent as Bede relates of the Wounds he had received in a Fight against the South Saxons in which Edric his Brother Egbert's Son Commanded against him and reigned in his stead This Year also according to the Annals John was consecrated Bishop of Hugulstad and remained so till Bishop Wilfrith's return but afterwards Bishop Bosâ— dying John became Bishop of York but from thence many Years after retired to his Monastry in Derawnde now called Beverlie in York-shire This Year it rained Blood in Britain and also Milk and Butter were now turned into somewhat like Blood You are here to take notice that this Bishop John above mentioned is the famous St. John of Beverlie of whom Bede in the next Book tells so many Miracles But our Annals do here require some farther Illustration for this Ceadwalla here mentioned was the Grandson of Ceawlin by his Brother Cutha who being a Youth of great hopes was driven into Banishment by his Predecessour and as Stephen Heddi in Bishop Wilfrid's Life relates lay concealed among the Woods and Desarts of Chyltern and Ondred and there remained for a long time till raising an Army thô Bede does not say from whence he slew Aldelwald King of the South-Saxons and seized upon his Province but was soon driven out by two of that King's Captains viz. Bertune and Autune who for some time kept that Kingdom to themselves the former of whom was afterwards slain by the same Ceadwalla when he became King of the West-Saxons but the other who reigned after him again set it free from that servitude for many Years from whence it happen'd that all that time they had no Bishop of their own for when Wilfrid return'd home they became subject to the Bishop of the West-Saxons that is of Dorchester which return as the Author of Wilfrid's Life relates happen'd this Year being the Second of King Alfred's Reign who then invited him home and restored him to his Bishoprick as also to his Monastery at Rypun together with all his other Revenues according to the Decree of Pope Agatho and the Council at Rome above mentioned all which he enjoyed till his second Expulsion as you will hear in due time After Ceadwalla had obtain'd the Kingdom he subdued the Isle of Wight which was as yet infected with Idolatry and therefore this King resolved to destroy all the Inhabitants and to Plant the Island with his own Subjects obliging himself by a Vow althô he himself as it is reported was not yet baptized that he would give the Fourth part of his Conquests to God which he made good by offering it to Bishop Wilfrid who was then come thither by chance out of his own Country The Island consisted of about Two Thousand Families and the King bestowed upon this Bishop as much Land there as then maintained Three Hundred Families the Care of all which the Bishop committed to one of his Clerks named Bernwin his Sisters Son who was to Baptize all those that would be saved Bede also adds That amongst the first Fruits of Believers in that Island there were two Royal Youths Brothers who were the Sons of Arwald late King thereof who having hid themselves for fear of King Ceadwalla were at last discovered and by
held it Thirty Three Years William of Malmesbury makes him to have been Elected King by the General Consent of his Subjects and that he did not deceive their expectation in governing them well The Saxon Chronicle here also proceeds and gives us his Pedegree which being not to our purpose I omit only you may take notice that he was the Son of one Ecbert and not of the last King that Reigned As soon as ever he was made King he commanded a Great Council to be summoned at a place called Becanceld which though it be somewhere in Kent yet no body certainly knows where it lay unless it were Beckanham which lies near Surry at which Council Withred Himself was present as also the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Rochester and with them all the Abbots and Abbesses together with many Wise and Prudent Men who were there assembled that they might all take Council about the repairing of the Churches in Kent then the King began to speak thus I will That all Churches and Monasteries which have been given and endow'd for God's Glory in the Days of the Faithful Kings my Predecessours shall remain so to God's Honour for ever Therefore I Withred being an Earthly King yet moved by the Heavenly one have learnt from our Ancestours that no Lay-man ought to have right to meddle with any Church or any of those things that belong to it Wherefore we do firmly Decree and appoint and in the Name of the Omnipotent God and all his Saints do straitly forbid all the Kings our Successours with all Ealdermen i. e. Governours or Judges and other Laymen to exercise any Lordship or Dominion over those Churches and their possâ—ssions which either I or my Predâ—cessours have given for the Honour of Christ and our Lady St. Mary and all the Saints but when it shall happen that a Bishop or any Abbot or Abbess shall depart this Life let it be told the Arch-Bishop that by his command one may be chosen who is most worthy Moreover let the Arch-Bishop make good tryal of his Life who shall be elected to so Holy a Function neither let any one be Elected or Consecrated without the consent of the Arch-Bishop for as it is the King's duty to appoâ—nt Ealdermen Sheriffs and Judges so it is the Arch-Bishop's to Govern the Church of God and to take care of it as also to appoint and elect Bishâ—ps Abbots and Abbesses Presbyters and Deacons as also to Consecrate Coâ—firm and Instruct them by his good Precepts and Example least any of God's Flock should wonder out of the way and perish This passage being found in the Cottonian Copy of the Saxon Annals I thought good to insert as a Monument of the ancient power of the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury as Governour of the Church of England though then under the power of the Pope in Ecclesiastical Matters These are the chief heads of this famous Council not do the other Copies in Sir H. Spelman's Collection differ much from this in the Saxon Annals only there follows the Subscriptions of King Wythred and Werburge his Queen who Subscribed for her self and the Prince her Son then follow those of the Bishops and Abbots and after them of Five Abbesses of that Kingdom which shews them to have been present at this Council but whether as consenters or voters or else as bare witnesses I shall not determine but it is observable that their Names are written not only before all the Presbyters but also before Botred a Bishop though of what Diocess is not specified But to return to Civil affairs About this time also as Bede relates though no Historian hath given us the Year Sebbi King of the East-Saxons being fitter for a Bishop than a King and being at last taken with a great bodily Infirmity preferred a private Life before a Crown and took upon him the Habit of a Monk with the Benediction of Waldhere then Bishop and Successour to Erkenwald in the See of London so this pious King after he had bestowed a great Sum of Money in Charity soon departed this Life leaving his Sons Sighard and Senfrid to succeed him This Year the Southumbers that is the Mercians killed Ostrythe the Wife of Ethelred their late King and the Sister of King Egfrid H. Huntington calls it a vile Wickedness but would not or could not give us the reason why they did so nor what punishment was inflicted upon them for it This Year likewise was held the Council of Berghamsted in Kent Bertwald Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Gibmund Bishop of Rochester and all the Ecclesiastical Order of that Kingdom together with all the Lay or Military Men being there assembled by the Common and Unanimous Assent of All they decreed these Laws should be added to the Laws and Customs of the Kentish Men the Constitutions of this Council are called in the Saxon Title the Judgments or Doomes of King Wightred But thô they relate chiefly to Ecclesiastical Matters yet I shall here insert some of the chief of them The First Law is That the Church shall be free and enjoy her own Judgments Rents and Pensions and that Prayer be made for the King and his Commands obeyed not of necessity or Compulsion but out of good will Secondly If any Military Man called there a Gesithcund-man in the Saxon Original shall after this Council is ended despising the King's Law and the Judicial Sentence of the Bishop's Excomunication be taken in Adultery let him pay to his Lord an 100 Shillings By which Law it appears there was at this time Knights Service in England and also that slighting of Excomunication had no further Temporal Penalty than a pecuniary Mulct And that it was to the Lord of whom he held his Land That he was to pay it appears by the next Law by which it is appointed that if the Adulterer were a Country Man or Villager called there Ceorlesman he shall pay Fifty Shillings to his Lord yea thô he do Pennance for that Sin Thirdly If on Saturday in the Evening after the Sun is set or on Sunday Evening after the same time a Servant shall at the Command of his Master do any work let his Master redeem the offence with paying Eighty Shillings Fourthly If a Layman kill a Theif let him lye without any Wiregild that is without making any satisfaction to the Friends of the party slain This Year also the Picts slew Bert the Ealderman H. Huntington ascribes this to the Curse of the Irish Nation whose Churches he had in the late Invasion destroyed for as King Egfrid Invading the Country of the Picts was there cut off so entering their Country to revenge the Death of his Master he was likewise slain Mat. Westminster calls this Ealderman Brithric Earl of the Northumbers but from what Authority I know not I shall conclude this Century with a very remarkable Transaction out of Bede that happen'd about the latter end of it Egbert an English Priest living
it is to this Year we are to refer the great Council which Bede tells us was held in the Kingdom of the West Saxons in which after the Death of Bishop Hedda the Bishoprick of that Province became divided into two one whereof was conferred on Daniel who held it at the time when Bede wrote his History and the other was bestowed upon Aldhelm above-mentioned then Abbot of Malmesbury who was now made Bishop of Shireburn and when he was only an Abbot did at the Command of a Synod of the whole Nation write an excellent Book against that Errour of the Britains in not keeping Easter at the due time whereby he converted many of those Britains which were then subject to the West Saxons to the Catholick Observation thereof Of whose other Works likewise Bede gives us there a Catalogue being a Person says he admirable in all Civil as well as Ecclesiastical and Divine Learning and as William of Malmesbury further informs us was the first of the English Saxons who wrote Latin Verses with a Roman Genius There is here in the Saxon Annals a Gap for the space of 3 Years in which I think we may according to H. Huntington's Account place what Bede relates in the Chapter and Book last cited viz. That Daniel and Aldhelm yet holding their Sees it was ordained by a Synodal Decree That the Province of the South Saxons which had hitherto belonged to the Diocess of Winchester should now be an Episcopal See and have a Bishop of its own and so Ceadbert who was then Abbot of the Monastery of Selsey was consecrated first Bishop of that Place who dying Ceolla succeeded in that Bishoprick but he likewise dying some Years before Bede wrote his History that Bishoprick then ceased This Year the Saxon Annals began with the Death of Bishop Aldhelm whom it calls Bishop of Westwude for so Shireburne was then called after whom one Forther took the Bishoprick and this year Ceolred succeeded in the Kingdom of the Mercians for now Kenred King of the West Saxons went to Rome and Offa with him and Kenred remained there to his Live's end and the same year Bishop Wilferth or Wilfred deceased at Undale his Body was brought to Rypon in Yorkshire This is the Bishop whom King Egferth long since forced to go to Rome There being divers Things put very close together under this Year they will need some Explanation This Offa here mentioned was as Bede and William of Malmesbury relate the Son of Sigher King of the East Saxons who being a young Man of a sweet Behaviour as well as handsom Face in the Flower of his Youth and highly beloved by his People and having not long before succeeded to the Kingdom after Sighard and Senfrid above-mentioned he courted Keneswith the Daughter of King Penda whom he desired to marry but it seems not long after their Marriage she over-perswaded him to embrace a Monastick Life so that he now went to Rome for that End And Bede tells us expresly that both these Kings left their Wives Relations and Countries for Christ's sake But to this Offa succeeded Selred the Son of Sigebert the Good in the Kingdom of the East Saxons H. Huntington proposes King Offa as a Pattern to all other Princes to follow and makes a long Exhortation to them to that purpose as if a King could not do GOD better Service nor more Good to Mankind by well-governing his People than by renouncing the World and hiding his Head in a Cell But such was the Fashion or rather Humour of that Age and the Affairs as well as Consciences of Princes being then altogether Govern'd by Monks it is no wonder if they extoll'd their own Profession as the only One wherein Salvation could certainly be obtained But since I have already given you from Bede and Stephen Heddi a large Account of Bishop Wilfred's Life and Actions above-mentioned I shall not need to add any more to it He was certainly a Man who had tried all the Vicissitudes of an adverse as well as a prosperous Fortune having been no less than three times deprived of his Bishoprick the first time unjustly but whether we may say the same of both the other seems doubtful for let his Friends say what they will it is evident he was at first deprived for opposing a very good Design viz. That of dividing the Northumbrian Kingdom into more Diocesses and he having the rich Monastery of Hagulstad under his Charge would not permit it to be made a Bishoprick thô the Diocess was more than he could well manage and this seems to have been the true Original of that great Quarrel between him and the two Kings Egfrâ—d and Alfred as you have already heard so it should seem the Wrong pretended to have been done him was none at all or else such holy Men as St. Cuthbert St. John of Beverlie and Eatta are described to be would never have accepted of the Bishopricks of York and Hagulstad during the time of his Deprivation and it is very strange that two Arch-Bishops successively with the greater part of the Bishops of England should have agreed to his Deprivation if there had not been great Cause for it nor would so holy and knowing a Woman as the Abbess Hilda have been so much against him had not there been some substantial Reason to justifie it but he had the Pope on his side who always encouraged Appeals to Rome and then it was no wonder if he prevailed but he was certainly a Prelate of a high Spirit and great Parts and who building a great many Monasteries by the Benevolence of the Kings and Princes of that Time and himself thô a Bishop being Abbot of two of them at once it was no wonder if he grew very rich which together with his high way of Living being the first Bishop of that Age who used Silver Vessels it procured him the Envy of those Princes but he was a grand Patron of the Monks and therefore it is not to be wondred at if they cried him up for a Saint of whom the Writer of his Life which he Dedicates to Acca his Successour relates too many Miracles to be believed raising the Dead cuting the Lame being very ordinary Feats but the Monks being the only Writers of that Age we must be contented with what Accounts they will give us thô thus much must be acknowledged in his Commendation That he converted great Multitudes to the Christian Faith and caused the Four Gospels to be written in Letters of Gold But having given you this Account of Bishop Wilfred's Life it is fit I say somewhat further of his Death concerning which the Author above-mentioned tells us That having lived 4 Years in Peace after his last Restitution he at last went to visit the Monasteries which he had founded in the South Parts of England where he was received by his Abbots whom he had put in with great Joy till coming to a Monastery which
and Offa King of the Mercians departed this Life the Latter after he had Reigned Forty Years Yet notwithstanding the Printed Copies of the Saxon Annals have placed the King's Death under this Year Yet the rest of the Copies do not agree with this Account for the Laudean Manuscript Copy in the Bodlean Library places this King's Death in Anno. Dom. 896 and that with greater Truth for first Pope Adrian above-mentioned died not till Two Years after the time here specified And it appears farther in a Letter written by the Emperour Charles the Great to this King Offa and which is recited at large by William of Malmesbury in his Life of this King that Pope Adrian was dead some time before the date of that Letter viz. Anno. Dom. 796 Thô it is certain King Offa did not survive long after I thought to give the Reader notice of this because it puts the Death of this King and the Succession of all his Successours just Two Years later than the common Printed Accounts But whenever this King here died he is said by William of Malmesbury to have been buried in a Chapel at Bedford near the River Ouse whose frequent Inundations had in his time carried away both the Chapel and the Tomb into the River So that it could not be seen unless sometimes by those who washed themselves in that River This Prince is also described by the same Author to have had so great a Mixture of Vertues and Vices that he does not know well what Character to give him The Reason that so confounded him was That thô he was a Cruel and Perfidious Prince yet he Built the Monastery of St. Albans as you have heard but for all that he cannot give him many good words because he took away abundance of good Farms from his Abbey This seems to have been the first of our English Saxon Kings who maintained any great correspondence with Foreign Princes for thô he had first great Enmity with Charles the Great which proceeded so far as to the interdicting of all Commerce yet at last it was changed into as much Amity so that a firm League was made between them as appears by a Letter of the said Charles to Offa extant in William of Malmesbury in which also is mentioned that he sent him many Noble Presents Also he granted saith Henry Huntington a perpetual Tribute to the Pope out of every House in his Kingdom and this perhaps for his consenting to translate the Primacy from Canterbury to Litchfield in his own Dominions He also drew a Trench of a wondrous length between Mercia and the British or Welsh Territories thereby to hinder the Incursions of the Welsh-men called to this day in the Welsh Tongue Claudh Offa i.e. Offa's Dike But from the Grant of the above-mention'd Pension some Men of different Perswasions have drawn as different Consequences Pol. Virgil and divers of the Romish Writers have from thence concluded That King Offa by this Act made his Kingdom Tributary to the Pope whereas indeed it was no such Thing for it had been also granted by King Ina long before as hath been already observed for the Kingdom of the West Saxons whose Example King Offa seemed now to follow and indeed was no more than a Voluntary Annual Alms or Benevolence as it is expresly called in our Saxon Annals as shall be shewn further hereafter This is also urged by some high Promoters of the Royal Prerogative to prove this King 's unlimited Power in Ecclesiastical as well as Civil Matters since He as they suppose could without the Consent of the Great Council of the Kingdom charge all the Houses in his Dominions to pay each of them one Penny to the Pope But this if it be closely looked into will prove a Mistake for thô it be true that upon King Offa's going to Rome he is said to have granted this Alms called Rome's Scot or Peter-pence to the Pope yet Anno 794 immediately upon his Return you will find in Sir H. Spelman's Councils he called a Great Council at Verulam now St. Alban's where this Tribute might be confirmed by the Consent of the Estates of his Kingdom Nor is the Silence of our Histories or of the Acts of this Council it self any material Argument to the contrary since that Law might be lost or omitted by which it was confirmed as well as several other Councils of that Age there being no more mention made of this King's Confirmation of the Lands given to this Monastery in the great Council at Verulam than what is cited in Sir H. Spelman's Councils out of a Manuscript History of St. Alban's all the Acts of that Council being now lost But to return to our Annals The same Year Ethelred who had been twice King of Northumberland was slain by his own People 13 o Kal. Maii and that deservedly as R. Hoveden relates as having been the Death of King Osred his Predecessour After Ethelred one Osbald a Nobleman was made King but held the Throne but a small time being deserted by his Subjects and at last forced to flee the Kingdom going by Sea from Lindisfarne and then taking Refuge with the King of the Picts there died an Abbot Who was most in fault in all these frequent Rebellions and Changes of Kings among the Northumbers is hard to decide since all the Annals as well as Historians are very short in their Relations of these Transactions but it is certain that the People as well as Princes must have suffered much by such frequent Revolutions And it is also very well observed by H. Huntington that these frequent Rebellions and Expulsion of their Kings proceeded in great part from the proud and turbulent Temper of the Northumbrian Angles The same Year according to our Annals Bishop Ceolwulf and Bishop Eadbald departed from the Northumbers and Egferth Son to Offa began his Reign over the Mercians and within a few Months after deceased having scarce reigned half a Year It is also further to be noted That this Prince being of great Hopes and Worth had been crowned King 9 Years before in his Father's Life-time and after his Death restored to the Church whatever he had violently seized on but before he died he left the Crown to Kenwulf the next of the Royal Line But the Monks do ascribe the short Reign of this good Prince to his Father's Sins but of these Things it belongs not to us to determine Also this Year Eadbert or Ethelbert Sirnamed Praen began to Reign in Kent and also Ethelred the Ealderman deceased This Man had been a famous Commander in his time but was then a Monk in the City of York and now also according to the Annals the Heathen Danes destroyed Northumberland and robbed the Monastery built by Egbert which is at the Mouth of the River Weri but there one of the Danish Captains was slain and divers of their Ships destroyed by a Tempest and many of their Men drowned but some of
take in all the County of Northumberland lying between Tine and Tweed to the utmost Orcades this is by no means to be admitted since as the Lord Primate Usher learnedly observes That Country had long after not only English but Danish Kings as shall in the pursuit of this History be clearly made out and after those were extinct we may read in Turgot's Chronicle of the Bishops of Durham the Earls appointed by the Kings of England under them Governed that Country For as Roger Hoveden in the Year 953 expresly relates after Eric to whom the Northumbers had sworn Allegiance that Province was committed by K. Edred to Earl Oswald who afterwards in the Reign of King Edgar had one Olsac assigned him as a partner in that Government the former Commanding all that lay on the North side of Tyne and the latter all York-shire there also follow all the Successours of these Earls as low as the Time of Edward the Confessour under whom Tosti Governed it who loosing his Earldom by reason of his Tyranny it was by King Edward committed to Earl Morchar but he being taken up with great Imployments committed the Government of that part of it beyond Tyne to one Oswulf who afterwards by the Gift of K. William enjoyed the Government of the whole Country But that Loden and the other Low-Land Countries of Scotland as far as Edinburgh were long after in the possession of the English shall be shewn when we come to the Reign of King Edgar About this Time Eanred King of Northumberland dying Ethelred his Son succeeded him as Simeon of Durham and Mat. of Westminster relate thô the latter places this the Year before But to give some account of the Affairs of Wales from Caradoc's Chronicle About this time was fought the Battle of Ketell betwixt Burthred King of Mercia and the Britains wherein as some do write Mervyn Vrych King of the Britains was Slain leaving behind him a Son afterwards called Rodri Mawr that is to say Redoric the Great yet according to Nennius this King Mervyn was alive Anno Dom. 854 which was the Twenty Fourth Year of this Kings Reign and in which that Authour in his Preface says He wrote his History but I believe there is either an errour in Nennius's Account or else in the Transcribers since all the Welsh Chronicles agree that about this time Mervyn dyed and Rodri succeeded him This Prince Commonly called Rodoric the Great began his Reign over Wales this Year it was he who divided all Wales into three Territories of Aberfraw Dineuawr and Mathraval he had great Wars with Burhred King of Mercia who by the aid of King Ethelulph entred North Wales with a great Power and destroyed Anglesey and fought with the Welshmen of Northwales divers times and slew Meyric a great Prince among them This Year according to Mat. Westminster Aethelred King of Northumberland was driven from his Kingdom I suppose by a Rebellion the usual method in that unquiet Country and one Redwald succeeded him who as soon as ever he was made King fought a Battle with the Danes at a place called Aluethelie where the King and Earl Alfred were slain with the greatest part of their Army and that then K. Ethelred was again restored to the Throne but this Authour does not tell us by what means nor is the Year expressed and thô this Action is found in no other Authour yet is it likely enough to be true for Simeon of Durham in his History of that Church thô he does not mention this Kings Expulsion and Restitution to the Throne yet he there expresly mentions King Ethelred to have about this time succeeded his Father Eandred This Year according to our Annals Eanwulf the Ealdorman with the Somerset-shire Men Men and Ealstan the Bishop and Osric the Ealdorman with the Dorset-shire Men fought with the Danish Army at the mouth of Pedidan called by Hoveden Pendred's Mouth and was indeed the River Parret in Somerset-shire where they made a great slaughter of them and obtained the Victory over the Danes after which the Kingdom enjoyed Peace for divers Years But the Northumbers still continued their old custom of driving out or killing their Kings for about 3 Years after as Florence of Worcester and Simeon of Durham relate Ethelred King of the Northumbers being Slain Osbert Reigned in his stead Eighteen Years and the same Year there was an Eclipse of the Sun about the Sixth Hour of the Day on the Kal. of October this is that King Osbert who was afterwards killed by the Danes According to Florence and Mat. Westminster a Son called Aelfred was now Born to King Ethelwulf at Wanating now Wantige in Berk-shire his Mother was Osberge the Daughter of Aslat or Oslac chief Butler to King Aethelwulf who was related to Stuffe and Whitgar first Princes of the Isle of Wight she was a Woman as remarkable for her Piety as her Birth and deserved to be the Mother of him who was afterwards to prove so great a Prince The same Year also from the same Authours Berthferth the Son of Bertwulf King of Mercia wickedly slew his Cousin Wulstan who was Nephew to both the late Kings of Mercia but his Body was buried at the Famous Monastery of Rependun now Repton in Darby-shire in the Tomb of Wiglaf his Grandfather and if we may believe our Historians a Pillar of Light reaching up to Heaven stood over the place for Thirty Days which procured him the Title of a Saint This Year the Pagan Danes returned hither and Ceorl the Ealdorman together with the Forces of Devonshire fought with their Army at Wicganbeorch supposed to be Wenbury in Devon-shire and there obtained the Victory And the same Year also King Aethelstan and Duke Ealcher fought with them a Sea Fight and routed a great Fleet of them near Sandwic now Sandwich in Kent took 9 Ships and put the rest to Flight now also the Danes Wintered in the Isle of Thanet or as Asser in his Annals relates in the Isle of Sheppy and the same Year came 300 of their Ships into the Mouth of Thames and the Danes landing took Canterbury and London and routed Beorthwulf King of the Mercians with his whole Army who had come out to Fight with them after which the Danes marched Southward beyond Thames into Surry and there K. Aethelwulf and his Son Aethelbald with the Forces of the West-Saxons fought against them at Aclea now called Oakley in Surry where they made a greater slaughter of the Pagan Army than had been heard of at any time before so that the greatest part of them were destroyed The same Year also according to sir H. Spelman's 1. Vol. of Councils was held the Council of Kingsbury under Berthwulf King of the Mercians Ceolnoth Arch-Bishop of Canterbury with the other Bishops and Wise Men of the Province being present wherein besides the publick business of the Kingdom several grievances of the Monks were redressed
Men being very much wounded and tired in the Fight surrendred themselves The Danes sailed up the Skeld to Cundoth which was then a Monastery and is now supposed to be Conde upon the River Escaut where they stayed a whole Year Now also Marinus that Religious Pope sent some of the Wood of our LORD's Cross to Alfred and in Return the King sent to Rome the Alms he had vowed by the Hands of Sighelm and Ethelstan Also he sent other Alms into India to St. Thomas and St. Bartholomew who being there martyr'd are accounted the Indian Apostles And about that time the English Army lay encamped against the Danes who held London where yet thanks be to GOD all Things succeeded prosperously Also this Year according to the Chronicle of Mailross and Simeon of Durham King Alfred having slain the two Danish Captains Ingwar and Halfdene caused the wasted Parts of Northumberland to be again Inhabited then Edred the Abbot being so commanded by Cuthbert in a Vision redeemed a certain Youth who had been sold to a Widow at Withingham and made him King of Northumberland by the joynt Consent both of the English and Danes King Alfred himself confirming the Election This King Guthred in Gratitude to St. Cuthbert did also bestow all the Land between the Rivers of Weol and Tyne and says upon that Saint that is upon the Bishop of Lindisfarne who this Year removed the Bishop's See from thence to a place then called Concacestre now Chester and thither they also removed the Body of St. Cuthbert But as for the Miracle of the Earth's opening and swallowing up a whole Army of Scots who came to fight with King Cuthred I leave it to the Monks to be believed by them if they please This is certain that thus making this poor Youth King the Church got all that Country now called the Bishoprick of Durham And who can tell but all this Vision was a Contrivance of Abbot Edred's for that very Design yet if it were so it was but a Pious Fraud which highly tended to the enriching of that Church The same Year according to Florence of Worcester died Asser Bishop of Shirburne who could not be the same with that Asser who writ the Life and Actions of King Alfred since that Author writ to Anno 993 being the 45th Year of King Alfred's Age as appears by that Work Arch Bishop Usher supposes this Asser the Historian to have been he who was afterwards the Bishop of St. David's and was the second of that Name who sate in that See but without any good Authority This Year the Danes sailed up the River Sunne i. e. Some as far as Embenum now Amiens in Picardy where they remained one whole Year And now also deceased the worthy Bishop Athelwold The Danes being thus employed abroad did nothing this Year in England but the next we find in Asser that the Pagan Army divided it self into two Bodies the one whereof sailed to the East Parts of France whilst the other making up the Rivers of Thames and Medway besieged the City of Rochester and having built a strong Fort before the Gates from thence assaulted the City yet could by no means take it because the Citizens valianty defended themselves until such times as King Aelfred came to their Assistance with a powerful Army which when the Pagans saw quitting their Forts and all the Horses which they had brought with them out of France together with a great many Prisoners to the English they in great hast fled away to their Ships and being compelled by necessity passed again that Summer in France King Aelfred having now reinforced his Fleet was resolved to fall upon the Danish Pyrates who then sheltered among their Country Men of East England upon which he sent his Fleet that he had got ready in Kent being very well Mann'd into the mouth of the River Stoure not that in Kent but another that runs by Harwich where they were met by Sixteen Danish Pyrates who lay there watching for a Prey and immediately setting upon them after a sharp resistance the King's Men boarding thâ—m they were all taken together with great Spoils and most of the Men killed But as the King's Fleet were returning home they fell among another Fleet of Danes much stronger with whom fighting again the Danes obtained the Victory thô with what Loss to the English the Annals do not say But the rest of the Danes of East England were so much incensed at this Victory as also with the slaughter of their Country Men that setting out a greet Fleet very well Mann'd they sail'd to the mouth of Thames where setting upon divers of the King's Ships by surprize in the Night when all the Men were asleep they had much the better of them but what damage the King's Ships received and how many Men were lost our Authour does not tell us The same Year somewhat before Christmass Charles King of the Western Franks was killed by a wild Boar which he was then hunting but his Brother Lewis dyed the Year before They were both Sons to that King Lewis who deceased the Year of the last Eclipse and he was the Son of that Charles whose Daughter Ethelwulf King of the West Saxons had married The same Year happened a great Sea Fight among the ancient Saxons of Germany but the Annals do not acquaint us with whom they fought However it is supposed to have been with the Danes and they further add That they fought twice this Year where the Saxons being assisted by the Frisians obtained the Victory Here also Asser as well as our Annals proceed to give us a further account of the French and German affairs with a brief descent of their Kings from Charles the Great as that this Year Charles King of the Allmans received all the Kingdoms of the Western Franks which lye between the Mediteranean Sea and that Bay which was between the Ancient Saxons and the Gauls by the voluntary consent of all the People the Kingdom of Armorica that is of lesâ—er Britain only excepted This Charles was the Son of Lewis Brother of that Charles last mention'd and both the Kings were the Sons of Lewis the Younger Son of Charles the Great who was the Son of King Pipin The same Year also the good Pope Marinus deceased who freed the English School at Rome at the entreaty of King Aelfred from all Tax and Tribute Also about the same time the Danes of East England broke the Peace which they had lately made with King Aelfred The Pagans who had before Invaded the East quitting that now marched towards the West parts of France and passing up the River Seine took their Winter Quarters at Paris The same Year according to Asser as well as the Annals King Alfred after so many Cities being burnt and such great destruction of People not only took the City of London from the Danes who had it long in their Possession but he
yet there might very well have been before that time a publick School or Studium as it was then call'd where the Liberal Arts were taught as for the other Objection of the improbability of the old Scholars falling out with the new Professors in the very first Year of the Institution of the University that is as soon as ever they came thither this may be also answered by supposing that those Annals were written many Years after the Death of King Alfred from a Common received Tradition and so this transaction might have been dated there or Four Years later than it really happened as John Rouse in his Manuscript History of the Kings of England also places it I confess there is one Objection which I wish I could Answer and that is How Gildas and Nennius could study at Oxford when the latter was not so much as Born till about the Conclusion of this or Beginning of the following Century and much less the Former when even by the best Accounts of those Times the Pagan Saxons were then Masters of that part of England Having said thus much concerning the Antiquity of that Famous University to which I owe my Education I shall not trouble my self with enquiry into the Reality of those supposed Ancient Schools of Creeklad and Leacklade which the Monkish writers suppose to have been anciently called Greeklade and Latinelade the latter of which Derivations thô Mr. Camden justly explodes yet he seems to have more Veneration for the former since in the place from whence I have transcribed the above-cited Quotations he also tells us That the Muses were transported to Oxford from Creeklade now a small Town in Wilt-shire All the Authority for which that I know of beside uncertain Tradition depends upon the Credit of a Manuscript lately in the Liberary of Trinity Hall in Cambridge and is cited by Mr. Wheelock in his Notes upon Bede where speaking of Theodorus Arch-Bishop of Canterbury he says That he held or maintained Schools in a Village near the Water which is called Greekislake but Mr. Somner in his Learned Glossary hath given us a much more likely Derivation of this place viz. from the Old Saxon Word Creek signifying a River or Torrent running either into some River or else into the Sea and Gelad which signified an emptying for it was anciently written Crecca Gelade and not Greeklade as some would now write it This Year the Pagans passing under the Bridge of Paris and from thence by the Seine up the River Meterne now called Marne as far as Cazii now Choisy and which Florence says signified a Royal Village where and at Jona a place we know not they staid Two Years also the same Year Deceased Charles the Grosse King of the Franks but Earnwulf his Brother's Son had expell'd him out of his Kingdom six Weeks before his Death after which it was divided into five Parts over whom were set five Kings but this partition was with Earnewulf's good leave for they all promised to Govern under him because none of them was Heir on the Fathers side besides himself alone therefore Earnwulf fixed the Seat of his Kingdom in the Countries lying on the East side of the Rhine whilst Rodâ—lf took the middle or inward part of the Kingdom and Odo or Otto the Western Part and Beorngar and Witha called in Latine Beringarius and Wido held Lombardy and all the Countries on that side the Mountains all which Kingdoms they held with much Discord Fighting two great Battles and wasting those Countries till such time as each of them had expell'd the other from his Kingdom also the same Year Ethelelm the Ealdorman carried the Alms of King Alfred and the West Saxons to Rome This was the Benevolence called Peter Pence which is here justly termed an Alms and not a Tribute as Modern Popish Writers have termed it But to return to our own Domestick Affairs Asser above-mentioned informs us that the Kingdom being now pretty well at quiet from the Danes the King began to mind his Civil Government to repair his Cities and Castles and also to build others in the most necessary places altering the whole face of the Country into a much better form and having walled several Towers and Castles he made them defensible against the Pagans Nor was he less careful in the Political Affairs of his Kingdom for divers of his own Subjects having under the name of Danes committed great Spoils and Rapines these the King resolving to punish and restrain from these Excesses he first of all divided all the Provinces of England into Counties and those again into Hundreds and Tythings so that every Legal Subject should dwell in some Hundred or Tything whereby if any were suspected of Robbery and being thereof Condemned or absolved by his Hundred or Tything they should either undergo due punishment or else if Innocent be acquitted But the Governours of Provinces who were before called Vice Domini and in English Saxon Geriffs he divided into two Offices That is into Judges whom we now call Justices and into Sheriffs who do yet retain that name and by the Kings care and industry in a short time there was so great a Tranquility through out the whole Kingdom that if a Traveller had happen'd to have lost a Bag of Money in the High-way he might have found it again untouched the next day And Bromton's Chronicle relates That thô there were Gold Bracelets hung up at the parting of several High-ways yet Justice was so strictly executed that no Man durst presume to touch them But in the Distribution of his own Family he followed the Example of King Solomon for dividing it into Three Companies or Bands he set a Chief over each of them so that every Captain with his Band performed his Service in the King's Palace for the space of one Month and then going with his Company to his own Estate he looked after his private Affairs for Two Months and so did each of them in their Order which Rotation of Officers this King observed all the rest of his Reign And to this Year also Sir H. Spelman refers that Great Council wherein King Alfred made those Laws that go under his Name in which after a Preface wherein he first recites and confirms the Ten Commandments as also divers other Laws which are set down in Exodus and Leviticus he concludes to this effect That whatsoever he found worthy of Observation either in the time of K. Ina his Kinsman or Offa King of the Mercians or of Ethelbert the first Christened King he had gathered them all together and committed those to writing which he thought most deserving omitting others which he judged less convenient in doing of which he had taken the Advice and had the Consent of his Wise-Men and having revised the Laws of those Princes he transcribed such of them as he liked into his own and by the Consent of the said Wise-men he thereof made a Collection and
Old Minster or Cathedral The nearness of these two Monasteries afterwards occasioned great differences between them until the Monks of this new Abbey who were placed here in the room of the Secular Chanons by Bishop Ethelwald Anno Dom. 963. were removed without the Walls to a place called Hyde as you shall hear in due time and here also the Bones of King Alfred were new Buried by King Edward his Son as Will. of Malmsbury relates because of some foolish Stories made by those of the Old Monastery concerning the dead King's Ghost walking in some Houses adjacent to the Church This Year also according to our Annals the Moon was Eclipsed The next Year Prince Ethelwald incited the Danish Forces in East-England to Arms so that they over-ran and spoiled all the Country of Mercia as far as Crekelade now Crekelade in Wiltshire and there passing the Thames they took in Braedene now Braedon Forest in Wiltshire whatsoever they could find and then return'd home In the mean time King Edward so soon as he could get his Army together followed them and destroyed all the Country which lies between the Ditch and the River Ouse as far as the Northern Fens By the Ditch above-mention'd Florence of Worcester understands that bound or limit drawn between the Territories of the late King Edmund and the River Ouse which at this day is known by the name of the Devil's Ditch that formerly divided the Mercian Kingdom from that of the East-Angles And Bromton's Chronicle under this Year further adds That Ethelwold having thus passed the Thames at Crekelade took Brithenden and marched as far as Brandenstoke now Bradenstoke in Wiltshire so that as Mr. Camden well observes in his Britannia our Modern Historians have been much mistaken in supposing that place to be Basing-Stoke in Hampshire But to return to our History As soon as the King resolved to quit those parts he order'd it to be proclaimed throughout the whole Army that they should all march off but the Kentishmen staying behind contrary to his command he sent Messengers to them to come away yet it seems before they could do it the Danes had so hemmed them in that they were forced to fight and there Eadwald the King's Thane and Cenwulf the Abbot with many more of the English Nobility were slain and on the Danes part were kill'd Eoric their King and Prince Ethelwald who had stirred them to this Rebellion and Byrtsig the Son of Prince Beornoth and Ysopa General of the King's Army and abundance of others which it would be too tedious to enumerate But it was plain that there was a great slaughter made on both sides yet nevertheless the Danes kept the Field of Battel Also this Year Queen Ealswithe the Mother of King Edward deceased in which also a Comet appeared Who this Eoric King of the Danes was is uncertain I suppose him to have been the Danish King of the East-Angles whose death according to Will of Malmesbury's Account falls about this time for he says thus That this King was killed by the English whom he treated tyrannically but for all this yet they could not recover their Liberty certain Danish Earls still oppressing or else inciting them against the West-Saxon Kings till the Eighteenth Year of this King's Reign when they were all by him overcome and the Country brought under obedience To this time we may also refer that great Council which was held by King Edward the Elder where Plegmond Archbishop of Canterbury presided though the place where is not specified yet the occasion of it as we find from Will of Malmesbury as well as the Register of the Priory of Christ-Church in Canterbury cited by Sir H. Spelman was thus Pope Formosus had sent Letters into England threatning Excommunication and his Curse to King Edward and all his Subjects because the Province of the West-Saxons had been now for Seven Years without any Bishops whereupon the King summoned a great Council or Synod of Wise men of the English Nation wherein the Archbishop read the Pope's Letters then the King and the Bishops with all his Lay-Subjects upon mature deliberation found out a safe course to avoid it by appointing Bishops over each of the Western Counties dividing what Two Bishops had formerly held into Five Diocesses The Council being ended the Archbishop went to Rome and reciting the King's Decree with the Advice and Approbation of the Chief Men of his Kingdom He thereby and with rich Presents so pacified the Pope that Plegmond obtain'd his confirmation thereof and then returning into his own Country he ordained five Bishops in one day to wit Fridestan to the Church of Winchester Aldestan to Cornwall Werstan to Shireborne Athelm to Wells and Eadwulf to Crediton in Devonshire But Archbishop Parker in his Antiq Britannicae under this very Year thus recites this Transaction out of a very Ancient Manuscript Author whom he does not particularly name viz. That Plegmund Archbishop of Canterbury together with King Edward called a great Council of the Bishops Abbots Chief men Subjects and People in the Province of the Gewisses where these two Bishopricks were divided into five So that you see here was no less than five new Diocesses erected at once by the Authority of both the King and the Great Council of the Nation though it seems the Pope took upon him the confirmation of this Decree The same Authors likewise tell us That Archbishop Plegmond ordained two more Bishops over the Ancient Provinces to wit one Bernod for the South Saxons and Cenwulf for the Mercians whose See was at Dorchester in Oxfordshire Cardinal Baronius in his Annals having given us a Copy of these Letters of Pope Formosus hath found a notable Error in the Date of them for being written Anno Dom. 904 or 905. they could not be sent by that Pope who was dead about 9 or 10 years before and therefore the Cardinal would put the time of this Council back to Anno Dom. 894. but then as Sir H. Spelman in his Notes upon it well observes the fault will be as great this way as the other for King Edward under whom this Council was held was not King till above 10 years after therefore some would place this Council in the latter end of King Alfred's Reign after the Kingdom came to be setled upon the expulsion of the Danes but Sir H. Spelman affirms That these things being written long after the time when they were transacted the name of Formosus might be put into the Copies of these Letters instead of Pope Leo the Fifth and then all things will fall right enough But as to Frithestan Bishop of Winchester this Account of Will of Malmesbury will not hold for our Annals tell us That he was not made Bishop till Anno Dom. 910. upon the death of Bishop Denulph and therefore that See could not be so long void as this Relation would have it The like mistake is in making Werstan to be then
slew Neil his Brother And under this year I suppose we may justly place the total subduing of the Danes and subjection of the East-Angles and consequently their being freed from the Danish Yoak under which they had groaned for above fifty years though what Government they had from the Death of the last Danish King Eoric is hard to determine William of Malmesbury the only Ancient Author that hath mentioned these Affairs telling us in general That after the Death of this Eoric the Danish Earls or Governors either oppressed them or else excited them against the West-Saxon Kings until this King Edward by driving out the Danes restored the English to their Liberties and added this Kingdom to his own Dominions fifty years after the death of King Edmund which falls out much about this time But Polidore Virgil I know not from what Author hath a long Story how King Eoric above-mentioned made War against King Edward and being routed by him in a great Battel and returning home fell so far into the Hatred and Contempt of his Subjects that they rose up against him and being then divided into Factions were forced to submit themselves to King Edward This if it were true would give a great light into this dark part of the History of the East-Angles of which we have but a very imperfect Account But since this Relation is found in no other Author except Polydore and besides expresly contradicting the Testimony of William of Malmesbury a much more Authentick Writer by whose Account as well as by the Saxon Annals it appears that this Eoric was dead long before I think we may justly look upon Polydore's Relation as a mere Fiction either invented by himself or else taken from some Modern Author of no great Credit Therefore I must now warn the Reader concerning this Historian That though he had the Perusal of a great many Rare Manuscripts yet since he very seldom cites any Authors and that we find he sometimes differs from our most Ancient Writers and is plainly mistaken in divers Relations we have great reason to refuse his Testimony where it is not agreeable with more Authentick Authorities I have nothing else to add under this year but that as William of Malmesbury tells us the Body of King Edmund the Martyr having lain for above Fifty Years obscurely buried at a place called Halesdon in Suffolk was now by some devout people removed to a Town adjoining called Badricesworth now St. Edmundsbury where there was quickly a Church built over him and unto which King Edmund Brother to King Athelstan was a great Benefactor though this place was not much taken notice of until King Cnute to gain the Favour of this Saint whom his Countreymen had murthered here afterwards built a Noble Monastery This year also according to Florence of Worcester and Mat. Westminster the King of Scots Reginald the Danish King of Northumberland with the Duke or Earl of the Gallawy Welshmen or Britains came to King Edward and submitting themselves to him made a firm League with him This is the first time we find any Submission of the King of Scots which whether it amounted to a downright Homage and to hold that Kingdom of the Crown of England may be much questioned and is absolutely denied by the Scotish Historians Between Lent and Midsummer King Edward march'd with his Army to Stanford and there commanded a Castle to be built on the South-side of the River Weland so that all the people who dwelt in the Town on the North-side of that River submitted themselves and besought him to be their Lord. Also according to the Cottonian Copy of these Annals Howel and Cledauc and Jeothwell Prince of Wales with all the Nation of the Northern Britains desired to take the King for their Lord. But in this the Welsh Chronicles are wholly silent as commonly they are of any action that tends to the lessening of their Countrey Out of Wales the King marched to Snottingaham and took the Town and commanded it to be repaired and Garison'd with Danes as well as English and then all the people in the Province of Mercia of both those Nations came over to him This year also according to Florence Athelward Brother to King Edward died and was buried at Winchester This is that Learned Prince Son to King Alfred whose Character we have already given This year King Edward carried his Army about the end of Autumn to Thaelwale that is Thaelwalle in Cheshire and which is supposed to have been so called from its being encompassed at first with a Wall made of Bodies of Trees called in the Saxon Tongue Thal where he ordered that Town to be repaired and he commanded another part of his Forces whilst he stayed there to march out of Mercia to Manigeceaster now Manchester in the Kingdom of Northumberland and order'd it to be rebuilt and strengthened with a Garison This year also Plegmond Archbishop of Canterbury deceased and Reginold the Danish King took Eoferwick that is York Before Midsummer King Edward marched with his Army to Snottingaham and ordered a new Town to be built on the South-side of the River Trent over-against that on the other side and made a Bridge over the River between the two Towns from thence the King went into Peakland that is the Peak in that Shire to Bedecanwell which is supposed may be Bakewell in Dâ—rbyshire and commanded a Town to be built near to it and to be fortified with a Garison Then also the King of Scots with all the Scotish Nation and Reginald the Son of Eardulph the Danish King of Northumberland with all the Inhabitants of that Kingdom whether English or Danes together with the King of the Straecled Welshmen and all his Subjects did chuse King Edward for their Patron and Lord. But this year's actions are placed by Florence of Worcester and Mat. Westminster three years sooner which shews the Copies they had of these Annals differ'd from those we have though which of them is the truest I shall not now take upon me to affirm but it sufficiently shews that both these Copies were not written at one and the same time And now King Edward deceased at Fearndune in the Province of the Mercians now called Farrington in Berkshire and Aelsweard his Son also deceased not long after him at Oxnaford i. e. Oxford But the Canterbury Copy of these Annals as also Florence of Worcester place the Death of these two Princes under the foregoing year and indeed they seem to have been in the right But this is most certain that this Prince who is called Aethelward by William of Malmesbury was his Eldest Son by Queen Aelfleda his Wife the Daughter of Earl Aethelune and being very well instructed in Learning did much resemble King Aelfred his Grandfather as well in Face as Disposition yet though he survived his Father he never took upon him the Title of King because he outlived him so
THE General History OF ENGLAND AS WELL Ecclesiastical as Civil From the Earliest Accounts of Time To the Reign of his Present Majesty King WILLIAM Taken from the most ANTIENT RECORDS MANUSCRIPTS and HISTORIANS Containing the LIVES of the KINGS and MEMORIALS of the most EMINENT PERSONS both in CHURCH and STATE With the Foundations of the NOTED MONASTERIES and both the UNIVERSITIES VOL. I. By JAMES TYRRELL Esq LONDON Printed for Henry Rhodes in Fleetstreet Iohn Dunton in 〈◊〉 Iohn Salusbury in Cornhil and Iohn Harris in 〈…〉 MDCXCVI Collegium Emmanuelis Cantabrigiae To the Right Honourable THOMAS Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery Baron Herbert of Caerdiff Lord Rosse Par Marmion St. Quintin and Shurland Lord Privy-Seal Lord Lieutenant of the County of Wilts and South-Wales and One of his Majesty's most Honourable Privy-Council MY LORD IT having been usual to dedicate Works of publick Use and Benefit to great Persons eminent for Vertue Learning and Nobility I think my self happy under the Obligation of that Custom since it somewhat excuses as well as encourages my Presumption to lay this Performance at your Lordship's Feet I am sure it could not be honoured with a more agreeable Name A Name so universally known that all Men acknowledg your Lordship to be signally endued with those excellent Qualities which render you not only a great Master in the most useful Parts of Learning but likewise incline you to a generous Encouragement of all those who have any pretence to them Which Favour your Lordship having been pleased to confer on me among several others of greater Merit gives me the more Confidence to address this first Volume of our English History to your Lordship's Patronage for as no Person hath been more conversant in things of this Nature than your self so I know none more able to make a right Judgment of them And tho I will not affirm this to be an Exact History according to the strict Rules of Art yet if I were conscious to my self that it was wholly unworthy your Acceptance I should derogate very much from that Respect which is so justly due to your Lordship's Character But if the not Writing any thing which I did not believe to be true nor the concealing any thing useful to the World that is so might qualify me for an Historian perhaps then I may have some pretence to that Title However your Lordship will here meet with a faithful Account of all the chief Actions and Revolutions that have happened in this Kingdom down to the Norman William As first the Conquest the Romans made of that part of Britain we now call England then their quitting it after a long Possession in order to secure their Empire at Home from the Insults of so many barbarous Nations after which followed the calling in of the Saxons to assist the Britains And lastly from the formers quarrelling with the latter ensued their total Expulsion out of the best and most fertile parts of this Island As for the Invasions by the Danes under King Cnute and by the Normans under King William commonly called the Conqueror though it must be granted that these Princes were victorious by their Arms yet was not this Nation subdued by either of them so entirely as that its Submissions could properly be stiled Conquests but rather Acquisitions gained by those Princes upon certain Compacts between them and the People of England both Parties standing obliged in solemn Oaths mutually to perform their parts of the Agreement as will be clearly seen in the Sequel of this History Yet I doubt not but in these great Revolutions your Lordship will take notice that the People of this Kingdom were never overcome by Strangers till their Luxury softning their warlike Tempers and producing a careless Administration of their Affairs had made them an easy Prey to their Invaders This I observe not to reproach but to warn our Nation lest by the like Miscarriages they should incur the like Punishments I have now no more but to beg your Lordship's Acceptance of this Dedication as a Tribute justly yours by reason of those great Obligations for your so freely communicating to me some part of your uncommon Knowledg whenever I have had the Happiness of your excellent Conversation An Honour which engages me to own my self with the utmost Respect My LORD Your Lordship 's most humble and most obedient Servant James Tyrrell THE PREFACE TO THE READER THO it hath been a general Complaint of the most Learned and Judicious Men of this Nation that we have extreamly wanted an exact Body of English History in our own Language for the Instruction and Benefit of our Nobility and Gentry together with others who would be glad to understand by it the Original Constitutions and Laws of their own Country yet since perhaps some ordinary Readers may be inclined to think this Work unnecessary because it hath been already performed by so many different Hands I shall therefore in the first Place say somewhat to obviate and remove this seeming Objection THOSE that are any thing conversant in our Historians do know that the Writers in English especially of this Period now publish'd are not many As for Caxton Fabian and others of less Note who are very short and now read but by few I shall pass them by and only mention Grafton and Hollingshead the former of whom lived in the Reign of Henry VIII and the latter in that of Queen Elizabeth And of these I need not say much for tho they contain a great deal of Matter very curious and fit to be known especially relating to the Times wherein they lived yet not only their dry and uncouth way of Writing and dwelling so long on the exploded Fables of Geoffrey of Monmouth but the stuffing of their Histories with divers mean and trivial Relations unworthy the Dignity of their Subject have rendred their Labours tedious and in a great measure unuseful to their Readers BVT as for Stow and Speed who wrote in the time of King James the First 't is true the former of them is not so long and tiresom in Geoffrey's Stories as those abovementioned and it must be confessed that Mr. Speed was the first English Writer who slighting Geoffrey's Tales immediately fell upon more solid Matter giving us a large Account of the History of this Island during the Time of the Roman Emperors and English Saxon Kings and had he not by making his Reader follow those Emperors in all their Foreign Wars and Expeditions wherein Britain was no way concerned he had rendred his Work less Irksome and more Profitable than now it is BVT notwithstanding both these Writers had many choice Collections of Noble Manuscripts relating to our English History and might have had the View of several others if they would have been at the Pains of seeking after them yet it must be owned they did not make that Improvement of those Opportunities as might have been expected from such great Assistances there being not
much to be found material 〈◊〉 either of them but what was in the other Histories before published though this must be allowed in their Commendation that they are both of them especially the former commonly right in their Châ—onologiâ—â— and the latter has given us a choice Collâ—ction of the Antient Câ—ins of the Roman Emperors as well as of the English Saxon Kings anâ— has been also more exact than any othâ—r Writer in his Account of their Wives and Issue AND as for those who wrote in the Time of K. Charles the First viz. Mr. Daniel and Sir Richard Baker the Relations they have afforded us of those Kings are rather short Abstracts of their Reigns than just Histories it not being their Design to write at large of that Period we here treat of BVT since the Restoration of K. Charles the Second there are several who have undertaken this Province the first of whom was Mr. Milton and it must be acknowledged that he wrote this English Saxon History with Judgment though not with that 〈◊〉 and â—â—â—ctness as we may see he did his other Works of a different Nature since either through want of Opportunity to consult Antient Manuscripts several of which have been published since he wrote or else by not making use of those Authors he might have had and by confining himself too much to the relating of Military Matters and almost wholly neglecting Ecclesiastical Affairs or looking into those things which he by way of Contempt called Cathedral Registers as also by omitting the giving us any Account of the Anâ—ient Saxon Laws and Original Constitutions of this Kingdom he has thereby rendred that Work much more dry and imperfect than otherwise no doubt it would have been from such a Pen as his THE next that succeeded him in this Labour was Mr. Sammes who had a fair Opportunity of improving his History by amending Mr. Milton's Omissions but instead of this by indulging himself too much in the Relation of and giving Credit to Geoffrey of Monmouth and White that called himself Basingstoke their old Stories and by making long and unnecessary Excursions on the Antiquity and Original of the Greeks Romans and Saxons as likewise of their Religion and Manners things altogether foreign to this Subject tho he hath shewn a great deal of Reading yet having been all the while very short in that which ought to have been the main Business of his History he hath thereby spoiled a Noble Design 'T IS true the Learned Dr. Howell in the second and third Volumes of his General History hath given us a faithful Account of the Affairs of Britain from the Coming in of the Romans as far as the Norman Conquest and hath also a very elaborate Discourse of their Civil Policy and Laws and had that Work been done by it self and not involved in such large Volumes but written in a more Chronological Method and had he not laid the History of each Kingdom of the English Saxon Heptarchy separately and apart which makes him often guilty of divers unnecessary Repetitions that Work would have proved much more useful than now it is which being observed by many others besides my self hath caused a certain Clergy-man as I hear to undertake the Epitomizing of that whole Work which would be very useful to those ordinary Readers who cannot well purchase these larger Volumes BVT since these Learned and Ingenious Authors have in some Point or other here mentioned been deficient in this Vndertaking I found it requisite for the making a full and compleat History of the Affairs contained in this Volume rather wholly to erect a new Edifice than to be at the Trouble of altering of theirs and therefore have thought it necessary to draw this Work afresh from the same Originals from which they had taken theirs To which I have also added several other material Passages that either they wanted the Happiness of seeing or else would not be at the Pains and Expence I have been at to peruse not but that I must own my self much beholding to them for divers Choice Remarks and Observations which not to be thought guilty of Plagiary I have noted in the Margin by the Initial Letters of their Names and have likewise sometimes taken their Translations of a few diverting Legends or Stories to spare my self the Trouble of making them anew and even these I have also compared with the Originals and corrected the Stile as well as the Sense in divers Places BVT I cannot here omit taking notice among other Writers of the first Part of Dr. Brady's compleat History of England which tho it comprehends the same Period of Time as this we now present you with yet seeing he hath there rather chosen to give us an Account of the Political Government and Laws of the German and English Saxons than to write an Entire History of those Times I beg his Pardon if I do not take it as to that part for so compleat a History as he is pleased to intitle it however it must be confessed he hath taken much Pains and shewn a great deal of reading in that Volume and I could have wished I might have been able to say he had been also as careful of the just Rights and Liberties of his Country which he has done all he can to depress as he has been in asserting an Imaginary Right of Lineal Succession in our Kings long before the Conquest and that before that time as well as after the Commons had no Representatives in Parliament both which Assertions we shall make bold to examine in our ensuing Introduction And tho I have otherwise a great Value for his Learning yet I hope neither he himself nor any one else who has a real Concern for the publick Good will take it amiss if I differ from him where the Truth of our History as well as our Antient Laws and Constitutions will justify me in contradicting some Assertions which he has with so great an Assurance published to the World AND thus having acquainted you with the Defects of these Writers in their several Vndertakings and the Reasons why it was necessary to compile a new History I shall now shew you what Method I have followed and what Authors I have made use of in the Performance of it AS for the first Book it is no other than an Epitome of Geoffrey of Monmouth's pretended British History and if it had not been more for the Diversion of the younger sort of Readers and that the Work would have been thought by some others to be imperfect without it I should have been much better satisfied in wholly omitting it yet I hope it will neither prove tedious nor unuseful since it may sometimes be of Advantage to know Legends as well as true History or else which way can one tell how to pass a just Censure on them NOR can we positively affirm that every thing contained in that Book of his is absolutely false for he being a Person well
vers'd in the History of his own Countrey could not but give us all he knew concerning it though interspersed with so many notorious Fables of his own which he seemeth to have interwoven the better to connect those broken Remains of old Times But since no Man can easily at this distance distinguish Truth from Falshood he ought to be dealt with as we do with those who would impose counterfeit Coin upon us in refusing the whole Sum where the greatest part of it is so plainly discernable to be false HERE by the way I must ingenuously own a small Mistake I have committed in the first Book of this Volume where speaking somewhat in Defence of this Author that he was not the first Inventor of the Story of Brutus it being also found in Nennius who lived long before him and from whom I then supposed Henry of Huntingdon to have borrowed it I now perceive upon better Information that Geoffrey and H. Huntingdon were not only Cotemporaries but the latter in that part of his English History still in Manuscript viz. in the Second of his Epistle dedicated to one Gwarin a British or Welsh Nobleman confesses that in his Journey to Rome staying some time by the Way at the Abbey of Bec he there found a large Book of this Geoffrey's whom he also calls Arthur who had copiously and diligently wrote the British History though in the common printed Copies we find no more than that travelling to the Place abovementioned he had there met with a certain Volume in which were divers things relating to the British History not before known but yet without naming the Author THIS I thought good to advertise the Reader of because those Sheets were wrought off before ever I was sensible of my Mistake AS for my second Book I can only tell you it is a true and just Translation of the British History from all the Greek and Roman Authors I could meet with that have treated of it from whom also I have given you a Description of the Manners and Customs of the Antient Britains and tho I grant this has been already attempted by one Daniel Rodgers whose Papers are in the Cottonian Library and is fully performed by Mr. Camden in his Introduction to his Britannia and likewise by Mr. Speed before his History yet I have my self compared them with the Originals and added some Remarks which I thought were further necessary to be known I have begun this Part with Caesar's Relation as I found it in his Commentaries concerning his two Expeditions into Britain and have ended with the last of the Greek and Roman Historians viz. Zosimus Orosius and Aurelius Victor AND whereas others who have undertaken this Province have used the Liberty of Epitomizing or enlarging those Passages they have cited from the Greek and Latin Authors I have thought fit faithfully to translate them except in some of their long-winded Orations which to avoid Prolixity I thought it better to abridg as not believing those Orations to have been deliver'd in those Circumstances in which they are now dress'd AND tho I do not pretend to have added much to what Mr. Camden and Mr. Milton have already collected from those Writers relating to the History of Britain yet I hope I have from several Verses of the Poet Claudian as also by the Assistance of those great Masters in Antiquity the Lord Primate Usher the Reverend Dr. Stillingfleet now Lord Bishop of Worcester and Dr. Lloyd now Lord Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield not only illustrated but settled divers things relating to that part of our Ecclesiastical as well as Civil Affairs not commonly taken notice of before IN the beginning of the third Book I have from Mr. Sheringham's Treatise De Origine Gentis Anglorum as also from other Authors given you in order to our English Saxon History a more Exact Account of the Original of those Nations which when they came over into England were comprehended under the General Name of Saxons than hath been hitherto published in our own Language AFTER which I have given you a Relation of the Manner of their coming over hither and the Ground and Occasion of their quarrelling with the Britains from Gildas Bede and Nennius BVT as for the Time of their erecting themselves into an Heptarchy since it is not to be learnt from Bede who is wholly silent of what the Saxons did here from their first entrance to the Propagation of Christianity which he made it his Business chiefly to treat of I have taken it from the Saxon Annals as well as other later Authors that have mentioned any thing of it though as to the whole Period of Time contained in this Book it must be confessed it was when Letters were not in use amongst them and therefore could only be convey'd down by Tradition which makes us here be beholding to the Annals abovementioned or to some Antient Memoirs which tho now lost were certainly seen by those Writers who have gathered from them INDEED I was somewhat perplexed what Method to take in digesting the History of seven concurring Kingdoms since which way so ever I engaged I found it attended with some Inconveniences WILLIAM of Malmesbury and several other Authors as well in Latin as English I know thought it best to give us this History digested under each respective Kingdom apart but then there is this Exception against that way of Writing that without Chronological Tables or frequent turning backward and forward one cannot understand the Synchronisms of the several Kings Reigns or the Time wherein they lived so as to compare them with others their Cotemporaries BESIDES which there is also a necessity of an unnecessary Repetition of the same Wars or Transactions as well under the History of the King that made as of him who suffered that Invasion this appeareth in Speed and Dr. Howel 'T is true Mr. Speed thought of a good Method to help this by supposing so many successive Monarchs to have been always in England from the Time of Hengest to K. Egbert under whose several Reigns he also reduces whatsoever Actions happened in the rest of all the other subordinate Kings then Regnant This I confess had been a very good Expedient to avoid the Difficulties abovementioned were it as just as it seems specious but upon Examination it will be found that tho Bede as well as the Saxon Annals have given us a Series of all those Supream Kings whom some of the Modern Writers are pleased to call Monarchs yet as I have sufficiently shewn in this ensuing History they could by no means deserve that Title since it may be clearly seen by any one who will peruse Mr. Speed that there were sometimes Intervals of ten or twenty Years before such a victorious Prince could make all the rest by the Terror of his Arms submit themselves to him which yet they never all did till the Reign of King Egbert without preserving entire all their Royal Rights and Prerogatives over
the Monk that wrote this Chronicle for Asser himself in his Life of King Alfred tells us of Hemeid Prince of South-wales That Nobis Archiepiscopum Propinquum meum me expulit viz. from the Church of St. Davids which word Nobis the Learned Dr. Gale reads Novis and so makes it good Sense that otherwise seems Non-sense in the printed Copies The false reading of which Word as well as this Chronological mistake of Florence abovementioned led Bale into the belief that the Arch-bishop above-mentioned must have been that Asser whom Caradoc's Chronicle publish'd by Dr. Powel makes to have died Anno Dom. 906. and which Authority led the Lord Primate Usher into that small Mistake in his Index Chronologicus at the end of his Britan. Eccles. Antiquitat of supposing this Asser to have been the Author of the History of King Alfred and not he who was Bishop of Shireburn AND the right reading of this word Nobis in Asser also proves the falshood of that Welsh Annal but now mentioned for if Novis was expell'd his Bishoprick not long before Asser was sent for by King Alfred which was about Anno 885. then Novis could not be dead in Anno 872. as that Chronicle makes him nor yet could Asser succeed Novis Anno Dom. 909. for then there would have been a Vacancy of near 40 Years in that See whereas the Saxon Annals rightly place the Death of our Asser Bishop of Shireburn under this very Year SO that upon the whole Matter it is the Judgment of the Reverend and Learned the now Lord Bishop of Litchfield and Coventry That there never was but one Asser who was also Bishop of Shireburn and that as for this Asser Bishop of St. Davids he had never any Being in Nature but in the Brain of some ignorant Monks who would for the Honour of their Church have made this Asser to have been Bishop not only of St. Davids but of Britain contrary to the Truth of all Chronology as well as Matter of Fact I have no more to remark of this Asser but that Ingulph not only says he was Bishop of Shireburn but also Abbot of Bangor which I find not related by Asser himself nor by any other Author and therefore I look upon it as a Mistake either in Ingulph or his Transcriber in writing Bangor instead of Banwell which was one of those Abbeys that Asser says King Alfred bestowed upon him FROM this Asser to Ethelwerd who calls himself Quaestor i. e. Treasurer and wrote in the beginning of the Reign of King Edgar being descended from the Saxon Blood-Royal by King Alfred his Great-Grandfather there flourished no Historian nor are we indeed so much the better for him as I could wish for unless it be in the right settling of the Reigns and Deaths of some of our Saxon Kings who lived not long before him about which the several Copies of the Saxon Annals do differ there is not much to be learnt from him but what is in the Annals themselves or else in the last mentioned Author from both which one may perceive that he had borrowed the most part of what he there writes So that partly from the affected Obscurity of his Stile and partly from the bad Copy from which it was printed being that which is now in the Cottonian Library in many Places we do not understand his meaning but as far as we are able to do it we have given you a true Account of what he has added to this History BVT either from the Laziness or Ignorance of the Monks who were almost the only Writers of that Age from the Time that Ethelwerd left off to some Years after the Conquest we meet with no Historians except Osbern and another Monk that is Anonymous the former of whom writing the Lives of St. Dunstan and St. Alphege has afforded us some Passages relating to this History as has also the latter in his Life of St. Dunstan which is still in Manuscript in the Cottonian Library But as for Osbern he is published in the first Volume of Anglia Sacra And from these that Age gives us none unless the Author whose Name we know not that wrote that short Account of the Times immediately preceding the Reign of Edward the Confessor called Encomium Emmae until Ingulph Abbot of Croyland finished the History of that Abbey about the latter end of the Reign of William the First And tho he did not take upon him to write a History of more Affairs than those of his own Monastery yet he hath by the by interspersed many considerable Passages relating to the Publick Transactions of this Kingdom which I likewise have here inserted FROM him to Eadmerus we find no Historian and He only relating the Ecclesiastical History during the Reign of William the First and his Sons William Rufus and Henry is of no use to us in this Volume here published IN the beginning of the Reign of Henry the First we find a most Laborious and Diligent Chronologer viz. Florence of Worcester who continuing and enlarging the History of Marianus Scotus hath among the various Transactions of the rest of Europe given us at the end of almost every Year out of the Saxon Annals an exact Account of the Affairs of England to which he hath also added divers very curious Memoirs and Illustrations of his own and besides what is printed there is also in Manuscript in the Bodleian Library a fair and perfect Copy of this Author which once belonged to the Monastery of St. Edmundsbury to which I have been much beholding not only for some things concerning that Abbey but also for several choice Passages relating to this our History which are neither to be found in the printed Editions of this Author nor any where else that I know of therefore where-ever the Reader shall meet with any thing cited from Florence which is not found in Print he may be assured it is in that Manuscript under the Year there set down in the Margin this I mention that the Reader may not be startled if he does not find the Passage I cite in the printed Copies since I had not always time to compare them together FLORENCE was immediately followed by Simeon of Durham who did not only Copy from him but also added several Remarkable things particularly relating to the Northumbrian Kingdom as well before as after it came under the Government of Earls Tho Mr. Selden in his Preface to the Decem-scriptores will not allow this Simeon to have been the Author of this Work but that he was a Plagiary and stole it from Turgot a Monk of the said Church who was also afterwards ordained Bishop of St. Andrews in Scotland and Simeon only adding some things to it of his own took the whole Honour to himself his History reaches no farther than 1129. but was continued by John Prior of Hagulstad to Anno 1154. TO whom we may adjoin Richard a Monk of the same Monastery
his History of the Church of Durham who has interspersed many excellent Passages concerning the same Northern Story Here likewise we may add the Chronicle of the Abbey of Mailross which tho wrote by the Abbot of Dundraimon was certainly collected out of some much antienter Annals of that Monastery which was then destroyed and these together with the last mentioned Authors have helped us to make up the Succession of the Northumbrian Kings after Eardulf that was expelled his Kingdom Anno 806. from whom our common Writers suppose there was an Interregnum for the space of above sixty Years tho by those above-named it appears to have been otherwise as you may see in the Tables at the end of the last Book AFTER these flourished William of Malmesbury who finished his History in the Reign of King Stephen but certainly he began it long before viz. in the Reign of Henry the First To which Learned Monk being one of the best Writers both for Judgment and Stile of that Age I must own my self obliged for the best and choicest Passages in this Volume TO him succeeded Henry Arch-Deacon of Huntington who wrote a History of the Kings of England as well before as after the Conquest and retiring to Rome lived there for some time for that purpose He deduced his History almost to the end of K. Stephen and writing most commonly by way of Annals transcribed many things out of Florence of Worcester and was of that great Reputation that Geoffrey of Monmouth who was his Cotemporary recommends the English History to be written by his Pen as he does the British to be continued by Caradoc of Lancarvon who wrote a Welsh Chronicle as far as his own Time the Substance whereof I have here likewise given you as it was put out by Dr. Powell to which I have also added several remarkable Passages that were designed in a new Edition of the same Work to be published from the Manuscripts of the Learned Antiquary Mr. Robert Vaughan by Mr. Ellis late of Jesus College in Oxon but which were never finished And I have likewise inserted divers choice Notes that I gathered from another Manuscript of the same Author's relating to the Chronology and Actions of the British Princes which he wrote for the Satisfaction of the Lord Primate Usher and from him is now in my Possession And I suppose no Ingenious British Antiquary will think this Performance unnecessary since he will here find the Substance of all that is contained in Caradoc's Chronicle together with a great many considerable Additions from the Manuscripts abovementioned as also some others gathered from two MS. Copies of the Chronicles of Wales the one in the Cottonian Library the other in the Exchequer written at the end of one of the Volumes of Doomesday for the perusal of which I stand obliged to the Reverend Dr. Gale H. Huntingdon was followed by Rog. Hoveden a secular Priest of Oxford and was Domestick Clerk or Secretary to Henry the Second he seems to have chiefly transcribed from Simeon of Durham as to the Affairs before the Conquest as he does from William of Malmesbury and other Authors as well as his own Observations for those that occur'd afterwards to his own Time continuing his History to the beginning of King John's Reign THE next we come to are those Authors contained in that noble Volume called the Decem-Scriptores such as Ailred Abbot de Rievalle who wrote concerning the Kings of England so far as King Henry the 2d in whose Time he lived as also concerning the Life and Miracles of Edward the Confessor from whom I have taken divers memorable Passages relating to the Life of that King as well as to his Predecessors omitting his Fables and Legends in which he does too much abound AFTER him follows Radulphus de Diceto Dean of St. Pauls London who flourished in the Reign of King John about the Year 1210. he was esteemed a very accomplished Historian and an indefatigable Collector in his Time of things not only before but after the Conquest I have also taken some few Passages from William Thorn a Monk of Canterbury who wrote an entire History of the Affairs of his own Monastery of St. Augustin down to the beginning of King Richard the Second in whose Reign he lived AFTER whom we had for a long time no printed Historians of the Times before the Conquest till that in the Decem-Scriptores which goes under the Name of John Brompton Abbot of Jorvaulx in Richmondshire tho Mr. Selden has shewn us in his Preface to that Volume that he was rather the Purchaser than Author of this Chronicle which he left to his own Abbey he is supposed to have lived in the time of Edward the Third but the History concludes with the Death of Richard the First BVT the said Reverend Dr. Gale farther observes of him That he intended to continue Geoffrey of Monmouth as appears in the Preface and in Col. 1153. as also that he took much from Benedictus Abbas still in Manuscript in the Cottonian Library and not from Roger Hoveden for where a Fault or Omission is found in Benedictus the same is here found also but not so in Hoveden e. g. Benedictus wanted the Seal of the King of Sicily and so did Bromton till it was added from some other Copy and not out of Hoveden for the Seals differ and some Copies of Hoveden have it not at all And tho the Compiler of this History seems to have lived in the Time of Richard I. as himself seems to intimate yet Col. 967. it mentions Richard the Third which must have been added to continue down the Genealogy of our Kings as is often done in antient Chronicles by some later Hand But the Learned Doctor farther supposes this Chronicle to have been written by one John Brompton who as the Doctor found in an old Manuscript Year-Book or Collection of Reports of the Reign of King Edward the First was a Justice Itinerant about that Time which Conjecture is also confirmed by his careful inserting the Antient Saxon Laws into this Chronicle This as it was not done by any before him so neither does it savour of the Monk THIS is the more worthy taking notice of because Sir William Dugdale hath omitted this John Brompton in his Catalogue of Judges Itinerant at the end of his Origines Juridiciales TO this Historian succeeds Henry de Knyghton Canon of Leicester who wrote his History de Eventibus Angliae beginning with King Edgar and ending with the Reign of Richard the Second BVT the Reader may be pleased to take notice that in these two last Authors are found many Passages which are in none of the more Antient Writers and since most of them relate to Customs and Terms that had their Original after the coming in of the Normans therefore they may with good Reason be suspected to have been borrowed from some common Stories or Traditions that then passed up and down for current NOR can
no less than three Writers of part of our History who lived before Malmesbury as you may see above and therefore he must also be understood only in this Sense that till himself there was none had undertaken an entire Latin Body of English History for he distinguishing between an History and Annals did not reckon it seems these Saxon Annals as such though he often mentions them by the Name of the English Chronicles being as I said before the ground-Work upon which that Author as well as others that followed him built their History and these Annals remaining in Manuscript till long after Sir Thomas Craig's Death gave him perhaps occasion to affirm in the same Place That there is nothing of certainty to be found in the British History from 734. which was the Year of Bede's Death to the Year 957. but all things were founded upon the Rumours of Antient Men and it may be old Wives Fables which being collected together into one Book and put in a Latin Dress made up as it were the shadow of a History from whence Hollingshead does nevertheless bring most certain Arguments to establish his fictitious Homage THIS Point concerning the Homage I shall not take upon me here to decide but tho I confess there is no express mention of it in the Annals yet I must needs say there is somewhat to be met with in them that comes very near it for under Anno 924. they relate thus of King Edward the Elder That the King and whole Nation of the Scots chose him in Patrem Dominum in the Latin Version i. e. for their Father and Lord which is word for word the same with the Saxon Original which I omit because not commonly understood or read in that Character But because he supposes that Florence of Worcester was the first Author that wrote this Homage and Fealty therefore he must be the first that ever mentioned the Submission of the Scotish King to the King of England I desire those of Sir Thomas his Opinion to tell me tho the formal Ceremonies of Homage and Fealty which in different Ages and divers Countries even where the Feudal Law was obtained were very different were not brought up till after the Norman William came hither yet what could those words in Patrem Dominum signify but such an Acknowledgment or Dependance upon a Superior Lord as was tantamount And it is the more remarkable because this is mentioned above 20 Years before The same Annals relate that King Edmund the Younger Son to King Edward bestowed Cumberland upon Malcolm King of Scots viz. Anno 945. on condition that he should serve him in his Expeditions by Sea and Land for which alone the Scotish Writers will allow this Homage to have been due AND in the Year following we find in the same Annals that K. Eadred Brother to Edmund having reduced all Northumberland into his Power which then took in almost all the Low-Lands of Scotland as far as Edinburgh thereupon Scoti etiam ei juramenta praestiterunt sese velle quiâ—quid is vellet i. e. the Scotish Nation by which I suppose must be understood the King as well as the People took an Oath to King Eadred to perform whatsoever he should please to command them But that Florence of Worcester understood this to be an Oath of Fealty appears by his Paraphrase of these words in the Annals thus Edredus à Scotis ut sibi fideles essent juramentum accepit BVT that if not Homage yet somewhat very like it was rendered in that Age by the Kings of Scotland to those of England for the best part of what is now called the Lowlands may appear from the Testimony of John of Wallingford who in his History relates that Keneth King of Scots received Lothian from King Edgar under the Condition of doing Homage to himself and his Successors which if it had not then the direct Ceremony of Homage which perhaps came in with the Normans yet that it was somewhat very near it John Fordun the antientest Scotish Historian acknowledges in these words That King Edmund viz. of England gave the Province of Cumberland to Malcolm King of Scots sub fidelitate Juramenti and it was afterwards agreed between the said King Edmund and King Malcolm that Prince Indulf his next Heir and all the future Heirs of Scotland successively should pay to King Edmund and his Successors for the same Homagium fidelitatis Sacramentum so that if our English Writers have been mistaken in calling that Submission which the Kings and Princes of Scotland then payed to England Homage you may here see the most Antient Scotish Historian guilty of the same Error which was indeed an Oath of Fidelity if not the same yet very like what the Scotish Kings afterwards took when they did Homage to our Kings of England after the Conquest HAVING said thus much I shall now leave it to the Reader 's Judgment when he has gone through our Annals to consider whether this Author's Censure of our English History from the Year 734. when Bede ended his to the Year 957. be just that they were only things as he says founded upon the Rumours of Antient Men and it may be old Wives Fables and so being collected together in one Book dress'd up in Latin made up as it were the shadow of a History AS also whether what Florence is cited by the Author to say That after Bede's Death the English History ceased and that for his own part he had left things to Posterity either as he found them in the Text of the English Chronicles or as he had them from the relations of Men worthy of Credit or heard and saw them himself deserves that rash Censure not only concerning these Annals now published but of Florence himself viz. as to what concerned the Text of the English Chronicles he mentioned them that he might deceive his Reader with the greater Facility whereas Florence was accounted always a Writer of unquestionable Diligence and Veracity as appears by the several Testimonies of Learned Men before his History BVT the reason of this Author's Triumph before the Victory was that he did not believe any such thing as a Saxon Chronicle could be found for says he immediately after If there were any Chronicles of those Times seeing Florence lived about the Year 1148. they must still remain in the Archives which hitherto no English Author did ever alledg or hath been able to demonstrate for that Chronicle as is observed by the Prologue did only set down the number of Years And so he proceeds to invalidate the Credit of Florence of Worcester as if he had had no Voucher to warrant his Chronicle BVT I hope this Translation I here present you with will satisfy all ordinary Readers that the Saxon Annals do contain much more than the bare numbers of Years and the Edition first published by Mr. Wheelock in Saxon and Latin from two Copies in
talked of Scotish Annals that were kept in the Isle of Jona or Ilcomhil and of their famous Book of the Abbey of Pasely from whence Hector Boethius pretends to have derived the principal Matters that make up the first part of his History Nay what will become of their most creditable Writer John Fordun who bottoms much of his History on the Legends of S. Brendane and others NOR is there any difference that I know of between these Books now mentioned and our Saxon Annals but that these are to be seen I mean the Originals in our Libraries and are also published both in Saxon and Latin and are here translated into English in this ensuing History whilst theirs are not and if Hector Boethius ever saw them is more than we can be sure of since a most Reverend Doctor and now Bishop of our Church hath produced very good Reasons to render it highly suspicious that there never were any such Books at all and if so I wonder what will become of the Credit of all their Antient Scotish History and their long Bedroll of Kings before Fergus the Second AS for the rest of this Author's Objections I shall be very short in my Answers to them THE third of which is that our Authors are not to be credited because they are English-men If this were of any weight I might turn his own Cannon upon him and tell him no more are his Writers who deny this Homage because they are Scots-men and if neither are to be believed I would fain have any Learned Gentleman of that Nation to shew me a Foreign Historian who lived near those Times that denied there was any such thing AS for his last that they were Enemies it is yet more trivial since I have here made use of no Authorities but what were written before the Conquest when there was no War at all between the two Nations but rather a strict Amity or League against their Common Enemy the Danes or else from Florence of Worcester and William of Malmesbury Authors that lived and wrote as hath been already shewn in the very Times when those Homages they mention were done which whether they were for Scotland it self or else for Northumberland and Cumberland which they then held of the Kings of England shall be further considered in my next Volume if God shall permit me to finish it BVT I desire the Reader to take notice that finding the English-Saxon Chronicle to be very dry in many places it giving us only an account of the Succession of their Kings and the Battles they fought against one another without ever telling us what were the Grounds of their falling out the Monks of those Times for want of Civil Affairs or as we call them those of the Cabinet filling up their Annals only with Fighting and Devotion I saw it necessary for me to pursue in great part the Method that Bede had laid down throughout the whole Work and to insert some things relating to Ecclesiastical Affairs to make this History more useful as well as diverting to all sort of Persons AND therefore being sensible of the near Conjunction of the Civil with the Ecclesiastical State which were often united into one Mycel-Synod or Great Council of the whole Nation wherein were made not only Civil Laws but also Ecclesiastical Canons or Constitutions respecting Religion and Discipline as well as Reformation of Manners I have set down both the one and the other whenever I thought they contained any Matter of more than ordinary Notice and as for those Synods or Councils which were wholly Ecclesiastical though I have not always expresly given you all the Canons they made yet I have not failed to refer the Reader for his farther Satisfaction to that rich Treasury of this kind of Knowledg Sir Henry Spelman's first Volume of Councils TO which I have likewise not only added the Succession of some Bishops and Abbots as far as I have found them in the Saxon Annals but have inserted from William of Malmesbury and other Writers whatever I could find relating to them or any other of the same Order remarkable for Learning or Piety especially the Arch-bishops of Canterbury and York whose Successions I have often supplied from other Authors wherein the Annals were silent NOR have I omitted the Foundations of the greater Monasteries as I met with them in the Annals no more than the other Foundations of the same kind set down in Monasticon Anglicanum yet still confining my self to such of them as were valued at 500 l. per annum or more at the time of their Dissolution And I hope no Man that is a Lover of Antiquity or the Honour of his Nation will look upon this as needless any more than the Foundations of our two famous Universities of which I have here given you the earliest Accounts I can find NEITHER do I suppose it will prove tedious if I have here likewise put down the Stories of some Miracles related by Bede and other Monks since I have done it with Moderation and where the Contexture of this Work would have seem'd Lame and Imperfect without it and I only give them you just as I find them leaving every one to make what Judgment he pleases of them I confess I am not satisfied that divers of those Relations swallowed by Bede and other Authors of Note are true they having been since discovered by Men of great Learning and Judgment to carry evident Marks of Forgery along with them such as is that of Joseph of Arimathea his Preaching the Gospel in England which hath been examined with great Accuracy by the Reverend and Learned Dr. Stillingfleet now Lord Bishop of Worcester in his Origines Britannicae so that though I have both from him and others said somewhat upon that Subject yet I must still refer the Reader to the Book it self if he desires farther Satisfaction either in gratifying his Curiosity or informing his Judgment BVT to the foregoing Relations I must needs here add that of the Martyrdom of St. Alban which though the Learned Author last named in his second Chapter of his said Book hath with great Learning proved it if not true yet at least probable I hope he will not take it amiss if I farther examine the Certainty of this Story for notwithstanding it be set down in the old Roman Martyrologies and his Suffering here is also mentioned by Constantius Presbyter who lived above one hundred Years before Bede from whom I have borrowed this yet I must Ingenuously confess I do not see how it can consist with the Ecclesiastical or Civil History of those Times in which it is supposed to have happened For Bede places the Suffering of St. Alban during the Persecution of Dioclesian and after the Recovery of Britain from the Vsurpation of Allectus WHEREAS it is evident from Chronology that Carausius the Vsurper having Anno Dom. 286. rebelled against the Roman Emperors held Britain under his Power for near seven
Doctor take his choice and either allow this King to have succeeded by Election or else if by Succession it was no Lineal one as the Doctor would maintain because these Historians tell us he succeeded his Brother as next Heir when at the same time they confess too that he left two Sons behind him and if the Nation 's lying then under great Difficulties will be a good Warrant to set by a Right Heir I desire he would be pleased to satisfy me why it may not always be a justifiable Reason to make a Breach upon the Succession in the like Cases AS for Edwy Nephew to this King indeed I do not find any thing mentioned in the Annals or other printed Authors of his Election yet the Antient Manuscript Life of Arch-bishop Odo now in the Cottonian Library and which seems to have been written by some Monk not long after that Time says expresly Edwigus Filius Aedmundi in Regem ELECTVS est Nor indeed could he succeed as Heir to his Uncle for his Lineal Right was before him nor does the Expression commonly used in the Saxon Annals viz. FENG to RICE which is rendered in the Latin by capessit Regnum signify any thing concerning the manner of this or any other King 's coming to the Crown These being as the Doctor himself acknowledges the usual Saxon and Latin words by which the Succession is expressed being variously rendered by Translators by Regnum capessit successit or Electus est and thus we likewise find the same words are used in the Annals to express King Aethelstan's and Eadred's nay Harold's Accession to the Throne tho it is evident none of them could claim by any Lineal Succession AND these are not the only words made use of in the Saxon Chronicle when an Election is signified for An. 1015 we find these words concerning the Election of K. Edmund Ironside that the Wites or Wise Men who were at London and the Citizens Gecuron Eadmund to Cynge i. e. chose Edmund King So likewise Anno 1036. concerning the Election of Harold Harefoot that all the Thanes North of Thames and the Seamen of London Gecuron Harold to rule over all England the same word we also find Anno 1066. where after the words FENG to RICE abovementioned these likewise follow and eac men Hine haer to Gecâ—ron i. e. all Men Elected him viz. Harold to the Crown AND that there may be no dispute about the meaning of this word Gecuron we find it often used in these Annals for the Election of the Pope as e. g. Anno 1054. upon the Death of Pope Leo Victor waes gecuron to Papan So likewise Anno 1057. upon the Death of Victor waes Stephanus Gecoren to Papan and I think the Doctor might with as much appearance of Truth have maintained that the Saxon word Gecaron here rendred by the Latin Electus in these Annals signified not the Election but Recognition of the Pope as to assert as he does with so much Confidence that Eligerunt in all Historians signifies no more than Recognoverunt when used concerning our English Saxon Kings i. e. the Subjects acknowledged owned or submitted to him as their King as he says concerning King Edgar and others BUT King Edwy being cast off by the Mercians and Northumbers our Annals inform us that Eadgar Aetheling FENG TO RICE i. e. succeeded to the Mercian Kingdom which yet was no otherwise than by Election for an Antient Manuscript Life of Arch-bishop Dunstan written before the Conquest and now in the Cottonian Library shews us plainly that both the Mercians and Northumbers Elected him for their King the words are these Hoc ità que Omnium Conspiratione relicto eligêre sibi Domino dictante Eadgarum ejusdem Germanum in Regem i. e. This King Edwy by the Consent of all Men being thus deserted they chose the Lord directing them Eadgar his Brother for their King AND hereupon the Kingdom becoming divided between him and the King his Brother that Division was also confirmed by a publick Act of the Estates as the same Author testifies Sicque Vniverso populo testante Publica Res Regum ex Definitione Sagacium segregata est ità ut famosum Flumen Thamensis Regnum disterminavit Amborum tunc Edgarus à praedicto populo sic sortitus ad Regnum c. i. e. So that all the People being Witnesses each of these King's shares were apportioned and set out by the Decree of the Wites or Wise Men and the Noble River of Thames was the Boundary of both their Kingdoms then Edgar was advanced to the Kingdom by the aforesaid People BUT Edwy dying not long after the same Author relates of this Edgar that Regnum illius velut aequus haeres ab utróque populo ELECTVS suscepit that is that upon his Death Edgar as Right Heir being Elected both by Clergy and Laity succeeded to his Kingdom FROM whence we may observe that the same Person who is here called the Right Heir yet needed an Election upon his Brother's Death to confirm his Title and gain him an Admission to the Throne of the whole Kingdom which is also confirmed by Florence of Worcester whose Citation the Doctor himself here makes use of thus Ab omni Anglorum populo Electus Regnum suscepit which shews that a new Election by all the People of England was necessary tho he was King of part of it before AFTER the Death of King Edgar our Historians tell us there was a Contest between Prince Edward and his Brother Ethelred concerning their Succession to the Crown which says William of Malmesbury was set on foot by Elfrida the Wife of King Edgar and Mother-in-Law to Edward which divers of our Authors tell us was because those of her Faction pretended that Egelfrida the Mother of Prince Edward was never married to King Edgar for otherwise there could have been no Colour why the elder Son should not be preferred before the Younger especially since he was also recommended by his Father's Will and indeed it is left very much in the dark whether the Lady last mentioned were ever Edgar's lawful Wife or not For the Annals and more Antient Historians are wholly silent in it nor does any Writer make mention of that Lady as King Edgar's Wife till John of Wallingford who lived in the Reign of King Henry the Third BUT be it as it will whether Prince Edward was Legitimate or not his Father however had left him as Florence of Worcester says Heir of his Kingdom as well as of his Vertues yet we also learn from Simeon of Durham that Quidam Regis filium Edwardum Quidam illius fratrem eligerunt Ethelredum quam ob causam Archipraesules Dunstanus Oswaldus cum Co-episcopis Abbatibus Ducibusque quamplurimis in unum convenerunt Edwardum ut pater ejus praeceperat eligerunt electum consecrarunt in Regem unxerunt Some Elected Edward the King's Son Edmund some his Brother Ethelred wherefore the Arch-Bishops
Dunstan and Oswald with the Bishops Abbots and very many Noblemen being gathered together Elected Edward as his Father had commanded then Consecrated and Anointed him King THIS shews it so plain from the Doctor 's own Translation of the words that Prince Edward notwithstanding his Father's Will was first Elected and then Anointed King that I needed not have added any further Remark to it had he but faithfully rendred the Latin Text as he ought to have done but he has unhappily left out one material small word and that is Electum that so the unwary Reader might not observe that those Kings were first Elected before they could be Anointed BUT I have not yet done with this Prince nor with the Doctor for John of Tinmouth in his Historia Aâ—rea now in Manuscript in the Lambeth Library tells the Story of this Election thus EDGARO Rege mortuo Edwardo ad Regnum relicto dum quidam principes acquiescere nollent Dunstanus arrepto Crucis Vexillo in medio constitit Edwardum illis ostendit elegit sacravit that is King Edgar being Dead and Edward left Heir of the Kingdom whilst some of the Chief Men would not Consent to it Arch-Bishop Dunstan taking up the Banner of the Cross placed him in the midst and shewing him to them he Elected and then Consecrated him SO that I will leave it to the impartial Reader to judg whether these words Eligerunt and Electum here signify no more than recognoverunt As the Doctor will have them i. e. they acknowledged owned submitted unto him as their King as his Father had commanded and by Will appointed as the Doctor has been pleased to Paraphrase it But I would advise him in the next Edition of this Treatise or any other he writes upon this Subject to shew us an Example out of any Antient Roman Authors nay any Glossary of the more barbarous Ages where the word Electus or Eligerunt signifies Recognition FOR as to all his Instances out of his own Glossary at the end of his Introduction instead of Presidents I may boldly say they are only meer Cavils against the Right and Manner by which the Kings or Bishops he there mentions came to obtain their Thrones or Sees for that the Monks who wrote of them ever meant by such their expressions that they were truly Elected he himself cannot deny which also proves the Falshood of that his Assertion wherein he affirms That the old Monks said every one was ELECTED that had not an HEREDITARY Title and tho he was set up by the ART or VIOLENCE of a Faction or obtained the Crown by Force and Arms without Title yet according to them he was ELECTED when as the PEOPLE only received and submitted unto them when they could not help it and it may be because there was much Shouting and many Acclamations at his Reception BUT I hope the Presidents I have here now given will evince the contrary since of all the Kings that have been already mentioned to have been Elected I desire him to shew me one concerning whom the word Election can mean no more than a bare Recognition or Acclamation of the People when they first received and submitted to them whereas indeed they were then solemn and deliberate Acts of Choice by the whole Estates of the Kingdom BUT since the Instances that the Doctor brings for this his Opinion are all after his Conquest when he fancies the Nation totally subdued and their Liberties lost I shall reserve the Consideration of the Force of those Authorities till my Introduction before my next Volume if God shall grant me Life to finish it BUT to return from whence some perhaps may think this too long a Digression KING Edward being murdered by the Instigation of his Mother Ethelred his Brother succeeded him and tho the Doctor again seems to put some stress on the words FENG to RICE as if he had come in by Lineal Succession yet that he was also Elected as well as his Brother I desire he would consult the Antient Annals of the Monastery of Thorney in the Cottonian Library great part of which is written in Saxon Letters and either some time before or else not long after the Conquest and there under Anno 978. he will find these words Eadwardus Rex occiditur Atheldredus eligitur that King Edward was killed and Ethelred Elected AND for a Proof of this there is in the same Library the form of the Coronation of that King and his Queen which hath these words in it SENIOREM per manus producant Duo Episcopi ad Ecclesiam Clerus hanc decantet Antiphonam duobus Episcopis praecinentibus FIRMETVR manus tua ut supra versic GLORIA Patri c perveniens Rex ad Ecclesiam prosternat se coram Altare ut hymnizetur TE Deum Laudamns Te Dominum consitemur QVO finito tenus ymnizato Rex erigetur de Solo AB EPISCOPIS ET A PLEBE ELECTUS Haec tria se servaturum jura promittat clara Voce corà m Deo omnÃque Populo dicat Haec tria populo Christiano mihi subditis in Christi promitto nomine IMPRIMIS ut Ecclesia Dei omnis populus Christianus veram pacem nostro arbitrio in omni tempore servet SECVNDO Vt Rapacitates omnes Iniquitates omnibus gradibus interdicam TERTIO Vt in omnibus Juditiis aequitatem misericordiam praecipiam ut mihi vobis indulgeat suam misericordiam clemens misericors Deus qui vivit c. His peractis omnes dicant Amen AND for a farther Confirmation of the Truth of this Oath there is also an Antient Saxon Copy of it together with a Latin Version which differs but little from that now cited and is said to be that Oath which Arch-Bishop Dunstan administred to this King at Kingston on the Day of his Coronation at the end of which Oath it is also specified that so long as the King observes it he will thereby obtain both Earthly Glory and also God's Mercy so if he breaks it he will still pass from bad to worse as well in respect of himself as People unless he repent This you will find printed both in Saxon and Latin in the second Book of King Alfred's Life printed at Oxford from an Antient Manuscript in the Cottonian Library I shall not trouble you with a verbal Translation of all this long Oath only observe thus much that hereby it appears plainly that King Ethelred had been before Elected by the Clergy and Laity in order to be crowned King which is further confirmed by that old Saxon imperfect Ritual of the Coronation of the English Saxon Kings and Queens part of which Mr. Selden hath given us in his Titles of Honour where in the Prayer upon the Anointing we find these words Respice propitius ad preces nostrae humilitatis super hunc famulum tuum illum quem supplici Devotione in Regem ANGLORUM vel
SAXONUM paritèr ELIGIMVS Benedictionum tuarum Dona multiplica as also what follows in the same Chapter in the Blessing after the Coronation in giving him the Scepter Benedic Domine hunc PRE-ELECTVM Principem qui Regna omnium Regum à saeculo moderaris Amen NOW from both these Places above quoted we may safely conclude that an Election did most commonly precede the Coronation of our English Saxon Kings which I think is made so evident by these Authorities that it needs no farther Enlargement nor should I trouble my self about it were it not to expose the Obstinacy of some Men as well as to continue the Series of this Succession which perhaps would seem lame to others without it down to the Conquest TO go on therefore where we left off after the Death of King Ethelred the Saxon Annals tell us that Omnes Proceres qui in Londonia erant Cives eligerunt Eadmundum in Regem i. e. All the Chief Men or Witan as it is in the Saxon i. e. Wise Men that were at London and the Citizens chose Edmund for their King and yet he was his Father's eldest Son tho whether Legitimate or not is uncertain for we do not find any antient Author till after the Conquest that mentions Ethelred's being married to the Mother of this Prince and if he was not this Son of his could have no other Title but Election This is also confirmed by Ingulph who says Cui Ethelredo successit in Regnum Londonensium West-Saxonum Electione Filius ejus primogenitus Edmundus c. i. e. Edmund his eldest Son succeeded his Father Ethelred by the Election of the Londoners and West-Saxons in the Kingdom BUT tho our Saxon Annals are silent of it yet an Antient Manuscript Chronicle wrote about the Time of the Conquest now in the Cottonian Library relates that about the same Time that King Edmund was thus Elected Episcopi Abbates quique Nobiliores Angliae Canutum in Regem eligere the Bishops Abbots and several of the Chief Men of England chose Cnute for their King which is also confirmed by Florence of Worcester in these words under this very Year Post cujus mortem maxima pars Regni tà m Clericorum quà m Laicorum in unum congregati pari consensu Cnutonem in Regem eligerunt ad eum Suthamptoniam veniens pacem cum eo pepigerunt fidelitatem jurabant i. e. after whose Death viz. of King Ethelred the greatest part of the Kingdom as well of the Clergy as Laity being met together chose Cnute for their King and coming to Southampton made Peace with him and swore Fidelity but he there says nothing of his Coronation THESE Testimonies concerning Ethelred and Edmund being thus plain I confess Dr. Brady has been so just as to cite them and fairly to translate that Passage in Ingulph by the word Election whereas it should have been Recognition if it had suited with his Hypothesis as he does also that of Florence of Worcester rendring the word Eligerunt by chose him King if therefore it were a true Election in one case then surely it must be so in the other for the same Reason BUT the nameless Author of the Great Point of Succession discuss'd tho he does wilfully conceal all the printed Authorities above mentioned yet being hard press'd with this Passage of King Cnute has no other way to evade it but by saying That Canutus by the Terror of his Arms having the greatest part of the Island at his Devotion forced them to acknowledg and receive him for their King which they being under an apparent Force could not refuse to do THE falseness of which Assertion I will not go about to prove in this Place but refer the Reader to the ensuing History where he will find that the Persons abovemention'd were not so forced by the Terror of his Arms as to acknowledg him for their King since London then as still the Capital City of the Nation with many others of the Nobility had before Chosen King Edmund who by their Assistance was strong enough immediately after his Election to fight the Danes at the great Battel at Assendune and therefore if voluntarily yet it was treacherously done of them to quit the Prince who ought to have been Elected and to choose a Stranger and an Invader over his Head and whether the Gentleman this Author writes against had ridiculously called King Cnute's Accession to the Throne an Election as he would have it I shall leave to the impartial Reader 's Judgment AFTER the Death of King Cnute our Annals relate that at a Witena-Gemot or Great Council being held at Oxford Leofricus Comes omnes propè Thani à Boreali parte Thamisis Nautae de Lundonia eligerunt Haroldum in Regem totius Angliae dum ejus Frater Hardcnutus esset in Denmearcia i.e. Leofric the Earl and almost all the Thanes North of the Thames and the Sea-men of London chose Harold King of all England whilst his Brother Hardecnute was in Denmark which is also confirmed by Ingulph and William of Malmesbury who farther report That the English had a Mind to chuse Edward the Son of Ethelred or at least Hardecnute the Son of Cnute by Emme his Wife the Widow of King Ethelred who was then in Denmark BUT Henry of Huntington says expresly Haroldus filius Cnuti in Regem Electus est But Radulphus de Diceto is yet more express as to this Election of Harold as appears by this Passage under An. 1038. Haroldus Rex Merciorum Northymbrorum ut per totam regnaret Angliam à Principibus omni Populo Eligitur i. e. Harold King of the Mercians and Northumbers that he might reign over all England is Chosen by the chief Men and all the People whence you may observe that tho he were then King of the Mercians and Northumbers yet that still needed a new Election to make him King of all England NOW if this were so as the Doctor himself has ingenuously cited it in his said Treatise I desire he would let us know where was then the Right of Lineal Succession when the People of England would fain have chosen Edward who could not be Right Heir of the Crown so long as the Children of his Elder Brother were alive tho then in Exile nor could Hardecnute have any Right so long as Harold his Elder Brother was alive whom also as our Historians relate his Father had appointed Successor at his Death tho whether that be true or no is much to be doubted BUT the Author of the aforementioned Great Point of Succession c. to evade this Proof of Harold's Election will have all this Point in Controversy to have been who had the most Right and best Title to the Crown of those two Harold or Hardecnute and that Earl Godwin objected Harold's Illegitimacy and the Will of the deceased King of all which there is not one word mentioned in any of our most
Antient Historians only he cites a Scrap in the Margin as he thinks ouâ— of Brompton but it should be Simeon of Durhaâ— for no such thing is to be found in the former Author viz. That Harold quasi just us haeres coepit regnare nec tamen ità potentèr ut Canutus quia justior haeres expectabatur Hardicanutus i. e. as just Heir but yet not so absolutely as Cnute because the juster Heir Sâ—il Hâ—rdecanute was expected which he is pleased to call him because he falsly supposes that none could have a Right to the Crown but one of Queen Emma's Children But this Writer cunningly leaves out the preceding Words with a dash because they make against him which I shall here add 〈◊〉 consentientibus quamplurimis MAJORIBVS natu Aâ—glia quasi Justus haeres c. So that it seems his Right to reign proceeded from the Consent of the Estates of the Kingdom SO that granting as this Author supposes That Hardecnute had been left Heir by his Father King Cnute's Testament yet you see this could only give him a Precedency of being first Proposed and Elected HAROLD dying after a few Years Reign Hardecnute was sent for out of Elanders to succeed him yet this could not be as his Heir being but of the half Blood and his supposed Brother only by his Father's side and therefore Henry of Huntington says expresly that Post Mortem Harolds Hardecnute filius Regis Cnuti illicò susceptus est ELECTVS in Regeni ab Anglis DACIS i. e. After the Death of Harold Hardecnute the Son of King Cnute was presently received and Elected King by the English and Danes HARDECNVTE dying suddenly after about two Years Reign the abovecited Antient Chronicle in the Cottonian Library proceeds to tell us that Mortuo Hardecanuto Eadwardus Annitentibus maximè Comite Godwino Wigornensi Livingo levatar Londoniae in Regem i. e. that Hardecnute being dead Edward by the Assistance chiefly of Earl Godwin and Living Bishop of Worcester was advanced to the Throne at London WILLIAM of Malmesbury words it thus speaking of Earl Godwin Nec mora congregato concilio Londoniae rationibus suis explicitis Regem effecit From whence it appears that by Godwin's means he was made King at a Common-Council of the Kingdom BUT Ingulph is yet more express who says Post ejus Sâ—il Hardecanuti obitum Omnium Electione in Edwardum concordatur maximè cohortante Godwino Comite i. e. that after the Death of Hardecnute it was unanimously agreed upon to Elect Prince Edward Earl Godwin chiefly advising it AND Henry Huntington goes yet a step higher and writes thus Edwardus cum paucis venit in Angliam Electus est in Regem ab omni populo Prince Edward coming into England with but a few Men was Elected King by all the People which is also confirmed by an Antient Manuscript Chronicle of Thomas of Chesterton Canon of Litchfield in the Cottonian Library who under Anno 1042. says thus Edwardus filius Athelredi Regis ab omni Populo in Regem Electus Consecratus est BUT the Doctor very cunningly conceals all this concerning his Election and only gives us a shred out of Guilielmus Gemeticensis in these words Hardecanutus Edwardum totius Regni reliquit haeredem that is left Edward Heir of the whole Kingdom but so far indeed the Doctor is in the Right That he could be no other than a Testamentary Heir there being other Heirs of the Right Line both of Saxon and Danish Blood before him But it may well be doubted whether the Author last mentioned being a Foreigner may not be mistaken if he means the words haeredem reliquit for a Bequest by Will since no English Historian that I know of mentions any such thing and indeed it is highly improbable that this Prince made any Will at all since all Writers agree that he died suddenly at a Drunken Feast in the very Flower of his Age and as it is not likely he made any Will before so it was impossible he could do it at his Death BUT this Election of King Edward farther appears from the mean and abject Carriage which this Prince shewed as you will find William of Malmesbury towards Earl Godwin when he was so far from claiming the Crown that he only desired he would save his Life till the Earl encouraging him put him in hopes of obtaining the Kingdom upon Promise of marrying his Daughter which he would never have done had he had so â—air a Pretence as the last Will of his Brother Hardecnute to recommended him to the favour of the Estates of the Kingdom and if that alone would have done to what purpose should he need afterwards to be Elected THIS is in part acknowledged by the Doctor but to palliate it he will have Godwin a Council being immediately called by his Reason and Rhetorick to make him King it seems then he was to be made so but he dares not say one word of his Election for fear it would betray the Cause which he has so strenuously laboured to advance AND therefore he thinks he has now nothing more to do but to expose and ridicule the Legend of the Abbot of Rievalle in making Edwards the Confessor to be elected King in his Mother's Womb which tho I grant to be as absurd as to drink Prince of Wales his Health before he is born yet the Abbot had certainly no ground for this Story unless he had been sufficiently convinced that this was an Elective Kingdom in the Time of King Ethelred his Father BUT if the Reader desires further Satisfaction concerning the Circumstances of this King's Election I shall refer him to the Antient Annals of the Church of Winchester which I have faithfully transcribed out of the first Volume of Monasticon Anglicanum and inserted into this Volume under Anno 1041. where he will find the whole History of this Prince's Election and Coronation written by a Monk of that Church not long after the Conquest these Annals are also in Manuscript in the Cottonian Library to which I must likewise by the Favour of its honourable Possessor own my self highly obliged for several considerable Remarks in this History of the Succession of our Saxon Kings BUT to draw to a Conclusion upon this Subject King Edward as appears by our Annals in the Year 957 sent over for his Cousin Prince Edward sirnamed the Out-Law Son of King Edmund out of Hungary as Simeon of Durham relates Illum se Regni haeredem constituere that he might appoint him Heir of the Kingdom which had been a very idle Thing had the Kingdom been Hereditary and that it had been his undoubted Right by Proximity of Blood THIS Prince dying soon after his coming over we no where find that King Edward ever offered to do the like for his Cousin Edgar Atheling but on the contrary forgetting his own Family Ingulph tells us that the Year before his Death
probably it might have been practised in their own Kingdoms or used it as they found it here practised by the Saxon Kings Or whether the Authorities I have already cited do not expresly prove that every one of the three Danish Kings came in by Election and that Harold Harefoot was the only Prince of those Three who could make any pretence to it by Testament AND as for the Saxon Kings that reigned before them how far they by their last Wills alone could dispose of or entail the Crown without the concurrent Assent and Consent of the Great Council of the Kingdom I refer the Reader to that part of King Alfred's Will I have here made use of for his farther Satisfaction if he have still any doubt left about it I have now dispatched this exact and faithful History of the Succession of our English Saxon Kings in which I am not conscious to my self that I have either added or diminished any thing material to or from the Authors which I have made use of I desire to be believed that I have not wrote this to prove that the Succession to the Crown ought at this day to be Elective in the same manner as it was before the Conquest but only to obviate and remove the false Opinions or Prejudices of some Men who by the plausible Representations of the Doctor and others have been so far prepossessed as to believe that an Hereditary Succession to the Crown hath been as Antient as the Monarchy it self whereas we find that Sweden and Denmark have from Elective become Hereditary Kingdoms in a much less space of Time And I suppose no Man of those Countries would asperse any Writer there of being an Enemy to Monarchy for asserting so evident a Truth and therefore I hope I may find the same fair Quarter at Home notwithstanding the Doctor 's Insinuations before his abovecited History of the Succession of the Crown That none but Papists Fanaticks or Common-Wealth's Men a List of whose Works he there gives us would dare to write for or maintain this Opinion But if Parsons the Jesuit has happened in his Discourse of the Succession to write some Truths concerning it I am no more to be thought Jesuitical for following not him but the Authors from whom he took them than I should be if I had wrote a Mathematical Dissertation founded upon Demonstrations from Euclid which had been before made use of by Tacquet or any other Learned Jesuit that has wrote upon that Subject AFTER the Election I shall say somewhat of the Coronation of our English Saxon Kings which sometimes was performed on the same Day on which they were Elected and sometimes several Days nay Months after as appears by the Coronation of King Edward the Confessor who tho he were Chosen King in June not long after his Brother Hardecnut's Decease yet was he not Crowned till the Easter following as you will find in the Saxon Annals under the Years 1041 1042. But Harold his Successor to make the Crown the surer was Elected and Crowned the same Day This Solemnity of the Coronation was most commonly performed by the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury yet was it not at first done in the Church but in the open Air thus the Kings Athelstan Edmund and Edred are expresly mentioned by our Historians to have been Crowned in the Market Place of Kingston upon Thames and I suppose the like had been used in the Coronation of former Kings since it is not taken notice of as an Innovation BUT to say somewhat of the forms of those Crowns which our Kings then wore it appears from their Coins that they were at first no other than Diadems like those of the Greek Emperors in that Age and from whom they were borrowed thus Offa King of the Mercians is Graven on his Coin with a Diadem of Pearls about his Head but our great King Alfred has no more than a bare Head-band or Circle which seems to have been tied behind as you may see in his Coins And tho I confess there is also a Coin of one K. Egbert with a Coronet of Rayes upon his Head yet that this was not of our K. Egbert but rather of him that was King of Northumberland who began to reign An. 867 I rather incline to believe As for King Edward the Elder he has in his Coins only a kind of Diadem upon his Helmet King Athelstà n Edmund and Eadred his Brothers being the first of our West-Saxon Kings who wore Crowns with three Rayes or Points higher than the rest and therefore I look upon it as a Fiction in them who will needs have it that K. Alfred was Crowned with a Crown wrought with Flower de Lices because such a Crown was kept among the Regalia at Westminster before our late Civil Wars in a Box upon whose Cover was this Inscription Haec est Principalior Corona cum qua Coronabantur Reges Aelfredus Edwardus c. Which having been the Crown of Edward the Confessor it was very easy for the Monks of that Church who kept those Regalia in after times to inscribe what they pleased upon this Box since it added so much to the Antiquity and Reputation of this Crown and I am the more inclined to this Opinion because I find King Cnute and Edward the Confessor to be the first Kings who wore Diadems adorned with Flower-de-Lices as appears by their Coins I shall in the next Place say somewhat of the Titles by which our West-Saxon Kings stiled themselves in their Laws and Charters and to begin with King Egbert however Supreme he were over all the rest of the Kings then reigning in England yet we cannot find that he stiled himself more than Rex West-Saxonum in any of his Charters for as for Laws we have none of his left us The like I may say for his Successors Ethelwolf and his Sons and Grandsons as far as King Athelstan who for ought I can find was the first Prince that upon his Victories over the Danes and Scots changed his Title of Rex West-Saxonum or Anglorum alone which was used by his Predecessors to this that follows Ego Aethelstanus Rex Anglorum per omnipotentis Dextram totius Britanniae Regno sublimatus as you will find it in his Charter in William of Malmesbury de Gestis Pontif. as also in the same Place you will find this King's Title to have somewhat varied for on a rich Box or Shrine given by this King to keep the Relicts of the Saints in was engraven this Inscription Ego Aethelstanus totius Britanniae multarum nationum in circuitu positarum Imperator c. which Title was also made use of by his Brother King Edmund only instead of Imperator he stiles himself Gubernator Rector as appears by his Charter to the Church of Glastonbury set down by the same Author above-mentioned in his Antiquity of the Church of Glastonbury which was also used by King Edgar tho with some difference
that there must have been an Original Contract precedent to the entrance of that Religion And it did not commence from the Coronation of our Kings as some have imagined and consequently from their taking an Oath at that Time to observe the Laws of the Kingdom because both the one and the other was much later than the Preaching of the Gospel it self for this Ceremony of a Coronation as Mr. Selden learnedly proves began no earlier in the West than with Charles the Great his receiving his Imperial Crown from the Hands of the Pope and this Ceremony he also shews us was borrowed from the Greek Emperors who about Justinian or his Successor Justin's Time first introduced their Unction and Coronation by the Patriarch of Constantinople as he there makes out from a Passage of the Learned Onuphrius in these words Constantinopoli vel sub Justiniano vel post ejus statìm Obitum Electioni Imperatoris additum ut quam primùm Imperator renuntiatus esset à Patriarchâ Constantinopolitano in magna Bizantii Basilica Oleo Unctus Diademate Aureo redimeretur AND therefore what we find in our Saxon Chronicles or any other Historians concerning the Coronation of our English Saxon Kings must all of them have commenced since that Time NOW the Emperor Charles's Coronation above mentioned falling out in the Year 800 it is plain that the Coronation of our Kings could not be antienter than that Time which was near 450 Years after the Arrival of the Saxons in England and settling Kingly Government here and above 200 Years after the Preaching of Christianity so that this Coronation Oath seems to have been only a constant Renovation or Confirmation of this Original Contract at every new King's first Accession to the Throne and must have had if at all its Original long before that Time AND this also appears from the Instance of King Sigebert above-mentioned who was deprived of his Kingdom for the Breach of this Contract above forty Years before there was either any Emperor or King formally Crowned in these Western parts of Europe TO all which we may farther add that if our Annals and Historians may be credited it does not appear that several of our Danish Kings tho they were solemnly Elected were ever Crowned at all For as for King Cnute whose Election is mentioned in Florence of Worcester and other Authors to have been by many of the Bishops and Nobility at Southampton Anno Dom. 1015. yet are they all except Abbot Brompton's Chronicle which relates that he was Crowned by Living A. Bp of Canterbury silent as to his Coronation only that upon their swearing Fealty to him it is said he likewise swore to them Quod secundùm Deum seculum fidelis esset eis Dominus i.e. that according to the Laws of God and Man he would be a faithful Lord to them So likewise after the Death of Edmund Ironside the Author of Encomium Emmae says expresly that he was Elected King by the whole English Nation but that he was not admitted without a new Compact both Florence and Roger Hovenden inform us in these words viz. That when they had again accepted of him for their King and had sworn Fealty to him he likewise again pledged his Faith to them in this Form Accepto pignore de manu sua nuda cum juramentis à Principibus Danorum i. e. they received a Pledg or Promise from his bare or naked Hand together with the Oaths given by the chief Men of the Danes who it seems swore on the King's behalf that he would observe the Conditions he had made before with them BUT as for the Coronation of his Son Harold Harefoot that is expresly denied by the said Author of Encomium Emmae for he says that Elnoth or Agelnoth Arch-bishop of Canterbury flatly refused to crown him because he said he had taken an Oath not to anoint him King so long as the Children of Queen Emma were alive and that laying down the Crown and Scepter upon the High Altar he straitly forbad all the Bishops to crown Harold which so incensed him that he thenceforth despised his Episcopal Benediction BUT whether this Author who yet lived in that very Time might not write this out of Hatred to Harold's Memory as well as out of Love to Queen Emma and her Children I will not take upon me to determine since no Historian besides himself makes any mention of it for the antient History of Ramsey Abby written some time after the Conquest and now lately publish'd by Dr. Gale says expresly in the Title to Chapt. 94. That Harold was Consecrated i.e. Anointed King BUT that the English Nation before the Conquest believed that their Kings were obliged to govern them by Law i.e. according to the original Compact and that their Allegiance to them was then looked upon as wholly due on that Account our Annals seem to justify Anno Dom. 1014 when the English Wites or Wise Men both of the Clergy and Laity after the Death of Sweyn King of Denmark sent over a Message to King Ethelred being then retired into Normandy whereby they assured him That no Prince was dearer to them than their own natural Lord always provided Gif He hi rihtlicor healdan wolde thonne He aer dyde as it is in the Saxon i.e. if he would govern them more rightly i.e. according to Law for the future than he had done before whereupon he promised to be a faithful Lord to them i.e. a Prince keeping his Oath and Promise and redress all their Grievances if on their parts they would return to their Allegiance And thus by giving mutual Assurances he came Home and contracted a new Friendship or League with his People HAVING now got over these great Points of the manner of Succession and Deprivation of our Saxon Kings I shall next as briefly as I can run through all those Orders and Degrees of Men that did constitute this Common-Weal THE first Degree of Men beneath that of Kings was that of Aetheling or Prince of the Blood Royal being derived from the Saxon word Aethel which signifies Noble and Ing which being added to it signifies one derived from Royal Blood as appears by the Terminations of Names in the Saxon Genealogies set down in our Annals under Anno 449. and in several other Places and was common not only to the King 's Eldest Son but to all others nearly related to the Blood Royal and was a meer honorary Title without any Power or Jurisdiction annexed to it that I know of unless the King was at any time pleased to bestow it Nor can I here omit giving you the Names of two other principal Offices or Dignities of the Kingdom the one of which was Military the other Civil the former in Saxon was called CYNINGS HOLD in Latin Princeps Militiae i.e. General of all the King's Forces in times of War and thus we find King Alfred in his Will bequeaths a Legacy to Earl Ethelred
appointing a Successor proceeds thus Fit Magnus corà m Rege Episcoporum Procerúmque Conventus Magnus Plebis Vulgìque Consensus Wherein he makes a plain Distinction between the Assembly of the great Noble Men or Proceres from the Consent of the Commons here called Plebs and Vulgus AND tho I grant with the Doctor this Story of King Edward's Election in his Mother's Womb to have been but a Fiction yet it is certain that this Abbot then spoke according to his Belief of the manner of Electing a King in those Times and truly sets down the Parties whose Presence and Votes were necessary for the compleating of such an Election or else he must have spoke as much by way of Prophecy concerning this Matter as King Ethelred and the Estates of the Kingdom had done about K. Edward's being Elected in his Mother 's Womb. And the Reader may remember that these Authors abovecited lived and wrote many Years before the 49 th of Henry III. when the Doctor supposes the Commons were first summoned to Parliament and therefore could not be corrupted with the Notions not to say Prejudices of those who wrote after that Time BUT I know the Doctor has a Subterfuge as he thinks for these plain and full Authoriries and that is that by the Populus Plebs and Vulgus mentioned as you have heard the King's Thanes or less Barons as they were called after the Conquest who were all Tenants in Capite are hereby only to be understood and that no other but they had any Right to be present and vote in the Great Councils of the Kingdom and this he has endeavoured to make good in his Answer to Mr. Petyt's abovesaid Treatise BUT since the Doctor 's Authorities do there relate to the Times after his Conquest concerning which I shall not now say any thing I will content my self at present with asking him only these two Questions FIRST How he will prove that none but the Persons he there mentions appeared in those Councils since we cannot trace any Footsteps in our most Antient Laws or Historians of his Tenants in Capite being the only Constituent Parts of the Saxon Witena-Gemotes AND it was indeed very unlikely they should if we consider the many Free-Tenants who before the Conquest held in Allodio without any Military Services and this as Sir Henry Spelman well observes was opposed to Feud or Fee in the Antient Version of King Canutus his Laws where it is called in Saxon Bockland and in the Laws of King Alfred Terra Haereditaria and seems to be the same with our Fee-Simple which might be made over to Strangers without any Licence from the Lord of whom such Land was held OF which sort of Men there is also frequent mention in Doomsday Book under the Title of Alloarii and Allodiarii and of whom it is there also often said Potuit ire cum terrâ quo voluit or potuit se vertere ad alium Dominum Of these there were certainly many more before the Conquest than afterwards when I own the greatest part of the Kingdom was in a few Years parcell'd out into Knights Fees SECONDLY I desire to be informed how our Great Councils could consist of such a multitude of Persons as I find in Antient Charters and Historians to have appeared at those Assemblies not only before but long after the Conquest But of the Period before that Time and which I treat of in this Volume I shall give these remarkable Instances THE first is out of an Antient Manuscript in the Cottonian Library concerning the League between Alfred and Godrun the Dane which begins thus Circà Annum Salvatoris nostri DCCCLXXVI in Magno Concilio sive Mycel-Gemot Aluredus Rex Anglorum Godrunus Rex Anglo-Danorum Omnes Angligenae Sapientes omnis populus qui in Anglia mansit Pacis agenda sive foedus constituerunt Juramento confirmaverunt pro seipsis Junioribus suis Ingenitis Wherein this is worth observing that by the Angligenae Sapientes here mentioned the greater Wites or Noblemen are understood and by Populus the Representatives of the inferior People or Commons THE next is that at the end of King Ethelwolf's Charter of Tythes Anno 855. where you will find after the Subscriptions of the Bishops Earls and other Great Men or Thanes to this Law these following Parties are mentioned Aliorúmque Fidelium infinita Multitudo qui omnes Regium Chirographum laudaverunt Dignitates verò sua Nomina subscripserunt FROM whence you may observe that tho only the Dignified Persons subscribed their Names yet all the rest of this Multitude had a Right to approve and give their Consents to what was there transacted But it cannot be imagined that this Charter would ever take notice of the Approbation of the meer Rabble without however they might shew a Joy and Satisfaction at what was there done by their Hollowing and Shouting AND this I conceive to be the Reason why these Councils often met in the open Air when the Weather would permit because no one Room could easily hold them as appears by the Conclusion of King Edgar's Charter to Ely Abby bearing date at Wulsamere An. Dom. 970. Apud Wlsamere says the Record non clà m in angulo sed sub Dio palà m evidentissimè scientibus totius Regni mei Primatibus who were not only Primates Rega the King's Tenants in Capite but Primates Regni the principal or most considerable Men of the Kingdom I could give several more Instances to prove that our Antient Witena-Gemotes consisted of a much greater number than the Doctor 's Tenants in Capite which in the time of his Conqueror were not five or six hundred Persons and might not be half that number in the time of Edward the Confessor But since the rest of my Authorities fall out in the following Period I shall reserve them to the next succeeding Volume These are sufficient I think to make out that long before the time the Doctor allows the Commons had their Representatives in the Great Councils by those of their own Order but whether by Knights Citizens and Burgesses as now at this day I do not affirm BUT to pass from Charters to the Laws themselves that prove the English-Saxons Witena Gemotes to have then consisted of a great multitude of People I shall only instance in the famous Charter of Athelwolf's concerning Tithes Anno Dom. 855. which being confirmed into a Law at the Common-Council at Winchester there is both in the Copy of this Charter in Ingulph as also in that in Sir H. Spelman's first Volume of Councils this Conclusion after the Subscriptions of Arch-bishops Bishops Earldormen and others in these words Aliorumque Fidelium infinita multitudo qui omnes Regis Chirographum laudaverunt Dignitates verò sua nomina subscripserunt i. e. there were besides a great multitude of faithful Subjects who all approved of the Royal Subscriptions but the Dignities i. e. the dignified
Saxon Times I shall proceed in the next place to discourse somewhat of the manner of the disposing of their Goods and Personal Estates which they might do either by Deed or last Will in Writing as at this day But if they happened at any time to die intestate then their Goods were equally divided between the Wife and Children of the Deceased tho by a Law of King Edmund the Relict or Widow was to have half her Husband's Goods yet by the Laws of Edward the Confessor it was declared that in case any one died Intestate then the Children were equally to divide the Goods which I take to be understood with a Salvo of the Wife's Dower or Portion As yet therefore the Ordinaries had nothing to do with the Administration for Goods passed by Descent as well as Lands and upon this Custom the Writ de Rationabili parte Bonorum was grounded at the Common Law as well for the Children as the Wife's Part according as by the Body of the Writ may appear THE antientest Will that Mr. Selden says he hath observed before the Conquest is one of King Edgar's time which Mr. Lambard has given us in his Perambulation of Kent and that is of one Brithric a Gentleman or Thane and his Wife Elswithe wherein they devised both their Lands and Goods and also gave his chief Lord and the Lady his Wife several noble Legacies to prevail with him that his Will might stand good By which it should seem the Lands bequeathed were Feudal Lands held by Knights Service which could not be alienated without the Lord's Consent But Mr. Selden there further takes notice That the Protection or Execution of this Testament as well as the Probate were within the Jurisdiction of the Lord's Court and that especially because divers Lords of Mannors have to this day the Probate of Testaments by Custom continued against that which is otherwise regularly settled in the Church BUT as for Intestates Goods he says The Disposition or Administration of them was in the Saxon times in the chief Lord of him that died in case the Intestate were an immediate Tenant and died at home in Peace But in case he were no Tenant or died in his Lord's Army then it was it seems as other Inheritance under the Jurisdiction of that Temporal Court within whose Territory the Goods were This may be proved out of the Laws of that Time which ordain that upon the Death of an Intestate whom they call CWIALE AWE the Lord is only to have the Heriots due to him which are also appointed by the Laws of the same time that by his the Lord's Advice or Judgment his the Intestate's Goods be divided among his Wife and Children and the next of kin according as to every one of them of right belongs that is according to the nearness of Kindred if no Children or Nephews from them be for it must I suppose be understood that the Succession was such that the Children excluded all their Kindred and of their Kindred the next succeeded according to that in Tacitus of his Germans whose Customs were doubtless mixed with our English-Saxons Haeredes says he successorésque sint cuique liberi nullum Testamentum But it seems Christianity afterwards brought in the free Power of making Testaments amongst them Si liberi non sunt proximus gradus in possessione Fratres Patrui Avunculi BUT this is express'd only in case the Tenant died at home and in Peace for if he died in his Lord's Army both the Heriot was forgiven and the Inheritance both of Goods and Lands was to be divided as it ought which was it seems by the Jurisdiction of the Temporal Court within whose Territory the Death of the Intestate or Goods were for in that case it is not said that the Lord's Judgment was to be used but that the Heirs should divide all or as the words in the Confessor's Law are habeant Haeredes ejus pecuniam terram ejus sine aliqua Diminutione rectè dividant inter se where the Right of the Heir both to Lands and Goods is expresly designed but the Judg that should give it them not mentioned Therefore it seems it remained as other Parts of the Common Law under the Temporal Jurisdiction as by the Civil Law it was under the Praetors Thus far this learned and great Author FROM whence we may make this Note that the Probate of Wills was a Matter of Civil Cognizance before the Conquest and for some time after till the Canon Law being more generally received in England the Bishops Courts took this Power to themselves supposed by Mr. Selden in his 6 th Chapter of his said Treatise to be about the time of Henry the Second WE shall now in the last place go on to the Criminal part of the English-Saxon Laws viz. the manner of Trial Judgment and Execution pass'd and inflicted on Offenders in those Times ALL Trials for Criminal Matters were then either in the Court-Leets the Sheriffs-turn or the County-Courts in which last the greater Offenders were commonly tried and that most antiently by Witnesses and Juries as at this day for we find in the Mirror of Justices that King Alfred commanded one of his Justices to be put to death for passing Sentence upon a Verdict corruptly obtained upon the Votes of the Jurors whereof three of the Twelve were in the Negative And the same King put another of his Justices to death for passing Sentence of Death upon an Ignoramus return'd by the Jury BUT the first Law we read of that defined the Number of Jury-men to be Twelve was that of Aetheldred I. above two hundred Years before the Conquest which says In singulis Centuriis c. in English thus In every Century or Hundred let there be a Court and let Twelve Antient Freemen together with the Lord of the Hundred be sworn that they will not condemn the Innocent nor acquit the Guilty BUT whether there were any such thing as a Grand Jury or Inquest we do not particularly find only we may reasonably conclude there was because in the same Mirror we read that a Justice suffered Death for passing Sentence only upon the Coroner's Record and another Justice had the same Punishment for condemning one without any preceding Appeal or Indictment YET the first time that we find any mention of a Jury by Mens Peers or Equals is in the Agreement between Alfred and Guthrune the Dane in these words in English viz. That if a Lord or a Baron be accused of Homicide he shall be acquitted by twelve Lords but if of inferiour Rank he shall be acquitted by eleven of his Equals and one Lord. BUT in Cases very doubtful and where there was not sufficient Evidence by Witnesses but only strong Presumptions of Guilt in the times after King Alfred Trials by Ordeal came in which Somner in his Glossary says was
never r. ever P. 24. l. 15. f. no r. any Introduction PAge 31. line 17. for longer read long Ib. l. 18. f. which r. and ib. r. enjoyed it P. 34. l. 27. del for a long time after P. 86. l. 13. del the Comma's in the Margin beginning at from whence you may observe and ending at well observes P. 89. l. 15. f. word r. words Ibid. l. 32. f. upon r. that Ib. del that P. 96. l. 29. f. Longobardarum r. Longobardorum P. 97. l. a. f. Crihtan r. Crihtan i. e. Knights P. 105. l. 38. f. consist r. reside ADDENDA CORRIGENDA SINCE this Volume was printed off coming to a more strict View of the whole Work than I could make when it was in loose Sheets I think fit to make some few Additions and Corrections as in these following Particulars BOOK IV. Pag. 195. The Consecration of Erkenwald Bishop of London being set down twice viz. in the beginning of Anno 675. and again at the end of that Year and was forgot to be struck out in the Page above-mentioned those first three Lines and half beginning at Line 23. may be struck out and that Relation referred to p. 196. at the end of the Year where it is already and you may read it in these words This Year also according to Matth. of Westminster for Bede does not give us the time when it was done Erkenwald a younger Son to Anna King of the East Angles was by Theodore the Arch-bishop consecrated Bishop of London he being in great Reputation for the Sanctity of his Life as having before he came to be a Bishop c. Read the rest as in the Print P. 198. Queen Etheldrithes being twice married and never lain with having been already mentioned p. 193. you may strike out part of three Lines in p. 198. beginning at Line 48. at who yet remained and ending line 51. with but she and then read it thus Wife of King Egfrid above-mentioned this Lady tho twice married still remaining a Virgin died at last c. BOOK V. Pag. 312. line ult The Continuation of Asser's Chronicle published by Dr. Gale having put this Action of Prince Ethelwald's there mentioned under the Year 904. and Florence of Worcester making him come as far as Crecanford now Crayford in Kent from the different Names of which Places and Years I supposed that this Action was not the same with that related in the Year 905. but upon better Consideration I am now satisfied that either Florence's Copy of the Annals or his Transcriber were mistaken and that Crecanford and Bradenewood mentioned by him under 905 and Creccagelade and Braeden set down in the Annals under the same Year are both the same Places setting aside the difference of the Years so that this is also but one and the same Action and therefore I rather now chuse to follow the printed Copies of the Saxon Annals and place the whole under Anno 905. therefore you may strike out the last Line of pag. 312. beginning at after as also the four first Lines of pag. 313. ending with so returned home P. 265. After the Reign of Ethelwulf Anno 855. add this that follows That about these Times the Scotish Kings held the Low-lands of Scotland as Tributaries to the Kings of Northumberland take this Relation from Lessely Bishop of Rosse's History of Scotland in the Reign of King Donald V. where he tells us that the Picts who had been lately conquered and expelled Scotland having hid themselves in Northumberland and the Neighbouring Countries combined with the Britains and Saxons to recover their Liberties who being thus confederated invaded Scotland whereupon King Donald gathering together his Army met them near Jetburgh and joining Battel with them put them to flight with which Success the King and his Men growing insolent and secure spent the Night following in Luxury and Drinking without keeping any Guard or observing Military Discipline of which the Enemies who it seems fled not far gaining Intelligence and laying hold of this Opportunity set upon them about Midnight and slew near 20000 Scots being then as it were buried in Wine and Sleep King Donald himself being also taken Prisoner and to purchase his Liberty was forced to give up all the Countries lying between the River Cluyde and Sterling to the Britains and Saxons and farther obliged himself and his Successors to the Annual Payment of a Sum of Money in Name of a Tribute and that then in the sixth Year of his unhappy Reign the English-Saxons in Memory of this Victory rebuilt the ruined Castle of Sterling and fortified the Bridg of Forth where they erected a Cross of Stone as a Monument of their Victory on which were engraven these barbarous Latine Verses Anglos à Scotis separat Crux ista remotis Arma hic stant Bruti stant Scoti sub hac Cruce tuti BUT in the mean time the Picts who were the Authors of this Scotish Slaughter were so far from being thereby restored to their Country that they were quite expell'd by the Saxons out of Britain THIS Relation Hector Boetius gives you much more prolix and makes King Osbern who reigned in Northumberland to have commanded the English-Saxons at the great Battle above-mentioned THE same Author likewise shews us in the Reign of K. Gregory Anno 872. how the Britains came to be driven out of Cumberland which they had till then enjoy'd viz. That the Britains having by the Assistance of the Danes expelled the Scots from divers Territories endeavoured also by secret Treacheries to drive them yet further but being surprized by K. Gregory were by him quite expelled Cumberland and Westmorland as a Punishment for having violated their Faith with him Pag. 313. l. 18. After East-Angles add this And Bromton's Chronicle in this Year further adds That Ethelwald having passed the Thames at Crekelade to Brithenden and marched as far as Brandenstoke now Bradenstoke in Wiltshire so that as Mr. Camden well observes our Modern Historians have been much mistaken in making that Place to be Basingstoke in Hampshire BOOK VI. Pag. 8. l. 1. You may strike out the three remaining Lines after Dunstan for I am satisfied upon better Consideration that the Assertion therein contained is not true as I have prov'd in the Introduction p. 71 72. Pag. 12. l. 8. After the words freely forgave him add this That the Low-lands of Scotland continued under the Dominion of the Kings of England till the Reign of King Edgar we have the express Testimony of John of Wallingford Abbot of St. Albans who wrote his Chronicle in the beginning of the Reign of King Henry the Third and before ever the Dispute concerning any Homage being due for the whole Kingdom of Scotland was raised which began not till the time of K. Edward the First This Author thus relates it in the beginning of the Reign of King Edgar viz. that about Anno Dom. 964 that King summoning the Northumbrian Barons i. e. Thanes to a
are no certain or Authentick Histories remaining of any transactions before that time for Gildas who liv'd not long after the Saxons were first call'd into Britain freely owns that as for the Antient monuments of his Country whatever they were being either burnt by Enemies or carried beyond Sea by his banish'd Country men they were not then to be found therefore I shall wholly omit that fabulous Succession of Celtick Kings who are feigned to be derived from Samothes one of the Sons of Japhet whom they suppose to have planted Colonies first on the Continent of Celtica or Gaul and next in this Island and thence to have named it Samothea since they never had any existence but in the brain of Amnius de Viterbo and by him vented in his counterfeit Berosus which is long since exploded by all that are any thing versed in Antiquity But now I could heartily wish that we had any certain monuments of the History of this Kingdom which might justly supply their room but having no Authentick accounts left us of the British Kings that reigned in this Island till Julius Caesar's first Expedition hither I could willingly have excused my self from the drudgery of writing things so uncertain nay in diverse particulars utterly false were it not that most Authors who have already writ our History either in English or Latin have thought those long Successions of Kings not unworthy a particular Recital as supposing it scarce possible that a descent of above Sixty Kings together with so many transactions attended with such particular Circumstances as the making of War and Peace building of Cities and enacting Laws should be wholly Fabulous and Romantick or that the names of so many successive Princes should never have been derived from any real Persons For though it is true that Geoffrey of Monmouth is look'd upon as the chief if not only Author of the Story of Brutus and his Successours yet it is certain that he pretends in the Proem to his History which he dedicated to no less a Man than Robert Earle of Gloucester natural Son to K. Hen. the I. that he received an antient British History from Walter Arch-Deacon of Oxon which as he says he faithfully translated out of the British Tongue into Latin though William Neobrigensis who lived some time after this Geoffrey in the very beginning of his History writes thus of him In thesâ— our days says he a certain Writer is risen who hath devised many foolish Fictions of the Britains he is named Geoffrey And a little after thus with hoâ— little shame and with what great Confidence doth he frame his Lyes So that you may see his History began to be cryed out against almost as soon as it was published And yet for all this it is certain that Geoffrey was not the first Author of this Story of Brutus for Nennius who lived in the 8th Century and is also Intituled Gildas in some Copies in his History makes the Isle of Britain to be first inhabited by one Brito the Son of Hisicion the Son of Japhet or else from one Brutus it seems he did not know which whose Pedegree he derives from Aeneas by his Son Ascanius and who as he supposes reigned in Britain in the time that Eli Judged Israel and under whose Conduct the Britains in the third Age of the World first came into this Island which Calculation falls out right enough with our at present received Chronology But as for Sigebertus Gemblacensis a French Monk who lived about Twenty Years before Geoffrey tho' in some Editions he speaks of Bruâ—e with his Trojans arrival in Gaul and of his passage from thence into Britain yet it is certain they are none of that Author's words there being no such thing to be found in the truest Edition of his Chronicle published by Mirraes An. 1608. as the above cited Lord Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield in his learned Preface to his Historical account of Church Government in great Britain and Ireland hath fully proved But after him Henry Arch-Deacon of Huntington an Author of Credit who lived at the same time with Geoffrey ascribes the first habitation of this Island to Brutus the Son of Sylvius Grandson to Aeneas whom together with his certain Trojans he supposes to have come into Britain in the third Age of the World as the Scots did in the fourth into Ireland which he seems to have taken out of Nennius or some other ancient Author But this must still be confest that the whole relation of the Actions of Brutus and the Succession of all the Princes that followed him do all depend upon the Credit of Geoffrey and the truth of his traÌ„saction and so was looked upon in the Age in which he published his History But to make this Brute to be a Trojan and to give him a Genealogy which is plainly contradicted by all the Roman Authors is that for which his History ought to be condemned Yet thus much may be said in Excuse of him and of all those Authors who have ascribed the Origine of the Britains to Brute that they have imitated the Vanity of the ancient Greeks and Romans who derived their Kings from some God or Heroe And have been followed in it not only by the Britains but the French and almost all other Nations of Europe since they began to write Histories of their Originals But since it is fit that we should give you some account though as short as possible of this Brute and his Successors I shall contract their History from Geoffrey of Monmouth into as narrow a Compass as I can Brutus who is suppos'd to have first Peopled Britain with Inhabitants of the Trojan Race is said to have been the Great Grandson of Aeneas by his Son Ascanius who killing his Father Sylvius King of Alba accidently with an Arrow was forced to fly his Country and going into Greece joyned himself with the remainder of those scattered Trojans he â—ound there and becoming their Leader made War upon Pandrasus the King of that Country to whom he sent this Message viz. That the Trojans holding it unworthy their Ancestors to serve in a Foreign Kingdom had retreated to the Woods choosing rather a Savage than a slavish Life if that displeased him then with his leave they might depart to some other Soile The particulars of which being tedious and fabulous are here needless further to be inserted But at last that King being by them made a Prisoner was forced to accept of terms of Peace the Articles of which were That Brute should Marry Inogena the King's Daughter and in Consideration of her Dower should have a Fleet given him with Liberty to transport all such as would be willing to follow his Fortunes The Marriage being thereupon solemnized Brute and his Trojans with a great Fleet betook themselves to Sea and within a short time landed on a deserted Island where they found a ruin'd City in which was a Temple and an Image of Diana
to it now it is certain that he was not chosen Pope till the Year of our Lord 171 at the soonest or according to Eusebius's Chronicle till 176 and so Lucius's Conversion must have happened in the Time of Marcus Aurelius to which time the English Saxon Annals as also Bede himself with divers others of our Ancient Historians as well Foreign as English do refer it though Roger of Wendover and other Authors about the same Age refer it to Anno Dom. 184 which falls out in the Second or Third Year of the Emperour of Commodus which seems most likely if it were ever done at all But that there was never any such King seems to some learned Men very probable since Gildas makes no mention of any such thing but says the time of Christ's being first Preached in this Island was as early as the first Conquest of it by the Romans besides which the Monks who have since new drest up this Story not only make him to have been King of all Britain but to have settled Christianity in all parts of his Dominions and instead of Flamens and Arch-Flamens in the chief Cities as London York c. to have placed the Arch-Bishops and Bishops in their rooms which is impossible to be true since the Title of Arch-Bishop was not then known in the Church nor could Lucius settle Christianity all over Britain which was then either under the power of the Romans or else what remained unconquered was absolutely Heathen and Barbarous at the time of this supposed conversion But however I think we may safely follow Arch-Bishop Usher and Doctor Stillingfleet in allowing the common Tradition of King Lucius and that he had Regal Authority under the Romans in some part of this Island since the two Coins seen by the said Arch Bishop the one of Gold and the other of Silver with the Image of a King on them and the Letters LVC with a Cross do sufficiently evidence it But in what part of Britain he governed whether as Successour to Prasutagus among the Iceni or else was King of the Belgae or was Successor to Cogidunus over the Regni in those parts that we now call Surrey and Sussex I will not take upon me to determine thô I rather incline to the last being Dr. Stillingfleet's Opinion for the Reasons and Conjectures he gives us in the same Chapter but as for the Letters pretended to have been writ by Pope Eleutherius to King Lucius thô they are inserted among the Laws of K. Edward the Confessor and are also to be found in an old Book of the Constitutions of the City of London I shall not trouble you with the Contents of them since they plainly discover their Imposture to any Man at all versed in Antiquities I have no more to add concerning this King but that the Grisons make him to have been their Apostle and to have first preached the Gospel in their Country and shew his Tomb at Cloir to this Day which can by no means agree with our British as well as English Historians who all suppose that he dyed in his own Country without any Children But to return again to the civil History of Britain we further find that under the Emperour Commodus Britain as well as other Countries was much infested with Waâ—s and Seditions for Xiphiline in his Epitomy of Dion relates that the British War was the greatest of all others because the Britains having broken through the Wall which divided their Territories from that of the Romans had laid wast many places and had cut off the Roman General together with his Army whereupon Commodus terrified with this Rebellion sent Ulpius Marcellus against them who was a sober and modest Man and lived after the rate of a Common Souldier he was also Stout anâ— Magnanimous in his Warlike Expeditions but thô he was not to be corrupted with Money yet was not at all complaisant in his Conversation but as for the other examples this Author gives us of his great Vigilance and Temperance they are so trivial that they do not merit any particular relation and I could have wisht that Xiphilin his Epitomator would have been more sparing in his Character and larger upon the Actions of this great Man for all he tells us further of him is that he did very great mischief to the Barbarous People in Britain for which he was very near being made away by Commodus because of his Vertue yet that nevertheless he let him alone Britain being again brought to Obedience by so worthy a Commander after he was recalled began to fall into more dangerous Commotions for Aelius Lampridius in his Life of this Emperour tells us That now stubbornness began to break into the Roman Camp and the Military Discipline of the British Army being relaxed the Souldiers began to refuse to Obey Commodus and would have set up another Emperour against him for Perennis who was than in highest power with his Prince removing Senators set Men only of the equestrial Order to Command the British Army which being made known by their Lieutenant Perennis was declared a publick Enemy by the Souldiers for as Dion farther relates the Army in Britain mutinying against Perennis sent no less than 1500 of their own number into Italy to represent their Grievances at Rome and being admitted to the Emperour's presence they told him that the reason of their coming was to let him know that Perennis had conspired against him and endeavoured to make his Son Emperour to which Commodus giving credit at the Instigation of Cleander immediately delivered up Perennis thô then Praefectus Pretorii to the power of the Praetorian Bands whom he then commanded who soon dispatched him but Commodus listed those 1500 who were sent out of Britain among those Bands who were his Guards Perennis being thus dispatched Commodus sent Hâ—â—vius Pertinax afterwards Emperor in to Britain though he was then employ'd against the Parthians who when he came hither did what he could to hinder the Soldiers from Sedition who would rather have had any other Man for their Emperor than Commodus and especially Pertinax himself yet he then underwent the Censure of an envious Person because he was said to have accused Antistius Burrbus and Aristius Antonius to Commodus of affecting the Empire so that though he quell'd some Seditions in Britain yet he escaped a great danger being almost kill'd in a Mutiny of one of the Legions and left for dead among the slain which Fact though Pertinax severely revenged it upon the Mutineer yet afterwards he asked leave to be dismiss'd of his Government alledging that the Legions were displeased with him for holding them too close to Discipline Having thus received a Successor he was after some time made Proconsul of Africa After Pertinax Clodius Albinus a Man of great Birth and Valour was made Lieutenant of Britain He had before got himself a great Reputation whil'st he govern'd Gaul but routing
these Objections Arch-bishop Usher in his Ant. Brit. Ecclesiae gives us a satisfactory answer viz. That before the coming in of the Saxons to settle here it appears that they made several Incursions by Sea as hath been already proved from divers Authorities and further Paulus Diaconus in the Relation of this story expresly says That whil'st these Bishops were here a strong Army of Scots and Picts Invaded Britain But as for the rest of the Miracles and Actions of Germanus and Lupus in Britain since they are only related by Nennius and some of our English Monks from certain Legends of little or no Credit as written long after those Times I shall wholly omit them only could wish that the Writers of this Story would have given us as exact a Relation of Civil Affairs in this Island as they do of those concerning the Religion of this Age that we might have known what Kings or Governours the Britains had from the time of the last departure of the Romans to the making of Vortigern King the want of which no doubt was a great encouragement to Geoffery of Monmouth to forge so many Fictitious Princes during this interval But for the other Objection it is I confess somewhat harder to be answer'd some Modern Writers suppose that in that sad Confusion and Corruption of Manners that happen'd after the departure of the Romans a great many of the Britains turned Idolaters or else which is most likely were Christians but in Name and so had never been Baptized at all till now I shall now conclude with the rest of the Ecclesiastical History of these Times This Year as our Saxon Annals from Prosper's Chronicle relate Palladius the Bishop was sent by Pope Coelestine to the Scots to confirm their Faith or as Bede in his Epitome Lib. 1. cap. as well as in his Epitome at the end under the Year CCCCXXX expresses it almost in the words of Prosper viz. Palladius was sent the first Bishop by the said Pope to the Scots believing in Christ but in one of the Copies of the Saxon Annals now in the Cottonian Library it is thus This Year Palladius was sent by Pope Coelestine to Preach Baptism i. e. Christianity to the Scots in which it agrees with Nennius who speaking of this matter says That this Bishop was first of all sent by the said Pope to convert the Scots to Christ But being hinder'd from God by certain Tempests departed from Ireland and arrived in Britain and there died in the Country of the Picts in which he is also followed by Probus and Joseline in their Lives of S. Patrick who thô they agree that Palladius was sent to Convert Ireland yet differ from him in the account how he came to fail in his design laying the fault upon the obstinacy of the Irish who would not receive his Doctrine but they both agree with Nennius that thereupon he left Ireland and dy'd in the confines of the Picts This difference in these Copies hath bred a great dispute between the English Antiquaries on the one side and the Scotish Historians and Antiquaries on the other the former supposing from the Authority of Nennius and the above cited Copy of the Saxon Chronicle besides that of the Irish Annals that the Scots were not converted to Christianity till the Year above mention'd and consequently were not made Christians so early as their Historians relate which Opinion hath been strenuously asserted by Arch-bishop Usher in his Britan. Eccles. Antiquitat as also by the Bishop of St. Asaph now Bishop of Litchfield in his Historical account of Church Goverment and been also further improved by the learned Dr. Stillingfleet now Bishop of Worcester in his Antiquity of the British Churches who all conclude that the Scots were converted to Christianity long before their planting in Britain which they suppose not to have happen'd till about the end of the Fifth or the beginning of the Sixth Century Against which Opinions though asserted by so many learned Men Sir George Mackenzy late Lord Advocate of Scotland hath Written two Treatises which he calls a defence of the Royal-line of Scotland in the former of which written against the said Bishop as well as the latter against Dr. Stillingfleet he alters the state of the Controversie from an Ecclesiastical to a Civil dispute making it a crime of loese Majesty so much as to question the reality of the Kings of Scotland before Fergus the Second but omitting the Proofs that he produces for the Antiquity of the Scotish Kings before that time as also what he writes for the Scots Conversion as performed in Scotland and not in Ireland being beyond the bounds of our History I shall leave the Reader for his farther satisfaction to peruse those Treatises if he think fit being writ with great Wit and Smartness But since I found the time of Palladius's being sent by the Pope to the Scots mentioned not only in Bede but in our Saxon Chronicles I could not well omit putting it down yet without taking upon me positively to determine whither the Scots of Scotland or those of Ireland are there meant since I confess the Words are Ambiguous and the Copies differ as I have already shewed But the Year after Palladius's being sent to the Scots whether in Ireland or Scotland the Saxon Annals tell us that Patrick was sent by the same Pope Coelestine to Preach Baptism i. e Christianity to the Scots Although I find in the Notes of upon Nennius p. 129 a Chronicle noting Anno Dom. 475 Venit S. Patricius ad Hiberniam Now that these were the Scots of Ireland is agreed on by all yet this Controversie is made more intricate by what Ranul Higden writes in his Polychron l. 4. c. 33. Celestinus Papa misit S. Patricium ad Hiberniam Convertendam Palladium Romanum Diaconum ad Scotos Convertendos Anno Scil. Pontificatus sui IX And also by what is found in a Manuscript Copy of Dicetus thus Celestinus Papa ad Scotos Palladium Primum mittit Episcopum Postquam ad eosdem ab eodem Celestino missus est S. Patricius filius Conches Sororis S. Martini Turonensis For which last Notes I must own my self obliged to the Learned Doctor Gale but on the other side if the Scots to whom Palladius is said to have been sent were not the same with those in Ireland but the Scots than living in Scotland it must then be confessed that the promiscuous use of the Name of Scotia sometimes for Ireland and sometimes for Scotland and of Scoti sometimes used by Bede and other Writers of those times for Irish Men and sometimes for Native Scots have so confounded the Histories of both these Nations that no Man without other Circumstances can tell when they mean the one or the other But since the Ecclesiastical History of Britain in these Times is very obscure and deficient there being so little to be found concerning it either in Bede or
any other Writer and the Age also being become very Corrupt and Ignorant during the frequent Wars and Revolutions that happen'd in this part of the Island It is not to be expected that we should be able to set down the Names of any Bishops or others Remarkable in this last Age for Piety or Learning So having given as good an Account as I am able and as the broken History of those Times will allow of the Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire in Britain and the State of Affairs as well Ecclesiastical as Civil during the space of near 490 Years that the Romans had to do here I shall in the next Book give you a Prospect of the lamentable State of this part of Britain after the departure of the Romans and that the Britains had set up Princes of their own Nation The End of the Second Book THE General History OF BRITAIN NOW CALLED ENGLAND As well Ecclesiastical as Civil BOOK III. From its Desertion by the Romans to the Preaching of Christianity by AUGUSTINE the Monk being One hundred Sixty two Years BEING now come to the Third Period of this First Volume it is fit we say somewhat by way of Introduction before so great a Change as you will here find to have followed the Desertion of Britain by the Romans For with the Roman Empire fell also what before were chiefly Roman Learning Valour Eloquence and Civility and consequently History too which is but the Product of these all which at first encreasing by means of the Roman Power and Encouragement did also diminish and decline upon its Departure till it was at last quite extinct by the coming in of the Pagan Saxons and the long cruel Wars they made upon the Britains as you may observe from the barbarous Latin of Gildas and Nennius which are the only Authentick British Historians that are now extant As for the English Saxons they were at first so illiterate that it is much doubted whether they had the use of Letters and Writing among them or not since we have no Histories or Annals of their Times elder than their receiving Christianity for thô there are some few Stones to be found in England inscribed with the ancient Runick Characters as appears from the late English Edition of Mr. Camden's Britannia yet that they are wholly Danish Monuments and made after the time of their Conversion I need only refer you to the Inscriptions themselves as they are to be found in the said Britannia with the Additions that follow it so that it ought not to seem strange that the Saxon Annals are so short and obscure in many places and that the Relations of Things done before the entrance of Christianity among them are contradictory to each other in point of Time and other Circumstances since they were only delivered by Memory and Tradition which must be acknowledged for a very uncertain Guide in Matters of Fact as well as of Doctrine Nor is this Uncertainty to be found only in the Saxon Chronicles but also in those of the Britains of that Age since from the Reign of King Vortigern to that of Cadwalladar is indeed the darkest and most confused part of all the British or Welsh History Hence it is that we are forced in this Period not only to make use of Authors who lived long after the Things they treat of were done but also are otherwise of no great Credit such as Nennius and Geoffery of Monmouth whom we sometimes make use of for want of those of better Authority As for the English Saxon History we have nothing more ancient than Bede and the Saxon Chronicle which we shall here give you almost entire since it seems to be writ faithfully as far as it goes yet being only Annals extracted out of Bede as far as he goes they barely relate the Succession of their Kings with their chief Wars and Actions without expressing the Grounds or Causes of either or giving us any Account of their particular Laws and original Constitutions so that I confess they cannot prove so Instructive to Humane Life as is required of a just History Britain being thus deserted by the Romans as you have seen in the last Book with an intention to return no more and having caused the Britains to rebuild the Wall in the manner already related the Scots and Picts thô in Manners differing from each other yet still unanimous to rob and spoil hearing that the Roman Forces were withdrawn landed in Shoals out of their Curroghs or Leathern Vessels in which they passed over that part of the Irish Sea which lying next Britain is called by Gildas The Scythic Vale these upon the Assurance that the Romans would never return becoming more bold than ever took possession of all the Northern Parts even from the outmost Bounds of the Land as far as the Wall already mentioned in the mean time the Guards which were placed upon it to defend it being cowardly in Fight and unable to fly stood trembling on the Battlements keeping their Stations day and night to little or no purpose whilst the Enemy from below with long Hooks pluck'd them down and dashed them against the Ground thus preventing by a speedy Death those languishing Torments which attended their Country-men and Relations In short both the Wall and the Towns adjoyning to it being deserted the Inhabitants saved themselves by flight which yet could not long secure them for the Enemy pursuing them a fresh Slaughter quickly followed more bloody than the former and which was worse than all the rest being tormented with Famine to get Subsistence they fell upon and robbed each other for they who came from the North as may probably be supposed and had fled from the Enemy being unable to pay for their Quarters when they came into the Southern Parts seized what they could find from whence rose Discords and Quarrels among them and thence Civil Wars for this Nation as Gilda◠observes thô feeble in repressing Foreign Enemies yet in home-bred Quarrels was very bold and obstinate But whilst they thus for some Years wore themselves out with continual Acts of mutual Hostility the Famine grew General upon all so that those half-starved Men that remained were forced to maintain their Lives with what they could get by Hunting so that at last the miserable Remnants of this afflicted People having now no other Remedy left were constrained to write doleful Letters to Aetius then the Emperour's Lieutenant in Gaul directed To Aetius thrice Consul the Groans of the Britains wherein they thus complain The Barbarians drive us to the Sea whilst the Sea driveth us back to the Barbarians between these two sorts of Deaths we must be either slain or drown'd What Answer they received is uncertain but Gildas expresly tells us That they received no Assistance by those Letters because Aetius then expected a War with Attilla King of the Huns. And indeed about these Times a terrible
Famine invaded not only Britain but extended it self as far as Constantinople where the Famine together with the corrupt Air produced a great Pestilence whilst this Scarcity prevailed in this Isle it forced many of the Britains to yield themselves up to their Enemies that they might get wherewith to sustain Nature thô others of them chose rather to sally out and resist them from the Woods and Mountains to which they retreated yet now it was as Gildaâ— tells us that not putting their Trust in Man but in God alone they first of all made some slaughter of their Enemies which had preyed upon their Country for so many Years but thô the Boldness of their Enemies was abated for a while yet so was not the Wickedness of the Britains Wâ—o as the same Author describes them were very backward to perform the Duties proper to Peace viz. Justice and Truth but were prone to Lies and all Wickedness so that says he thô these impudent Robbers the Irish went home yet it was to return again within a short time whilst the Picts remained being both then and long afterwards in the farther Parts of the Island sometimes taking Prey and making Incursions so that during the Truce whilst this Wound was slightly skin'd over another Malady more Contagious was breeding For thô during this short interval of Peace there succeeded so great a Plenty of all sorts of Provisions that no Man's Memory could parallel yet was it attended with great Luxury and all sorts of Wickedness began also to increase but chiefly Cruelty together with the Hatred of the Truth and the Love of Lies the taking Evil for Good and the Love of Darkness rather than Light so that what was pleasing to God or not pleasing with them weighed both alike and the worst side of the Cause most commonly prevailed whilst all Things were done contrary to the Publick Good and Safety nay not only by Secular Men but even the Clergy whose Example should have guided others were grown Vicious and Corrupt many of them being given to Drunkenness or swoln with Pride or else full of Envy and Contention indiscreet and incompetent Judges of what in the common Practice of Life was good or evil lawful or unlawful This is the general Character that Gildas and Bede give us both of the British Clergy and Laity of these Times from whence we may easily conclude that People of this temper were not fit to be trusted with the Government of themselves but being more fond of the Name of Liberty than apprehensive of the Charge of Governing well they grew heady and violent in their Affairs and positive in what they understood not none being more stout and daring in Councels none so fearful when it came to Action all pretending to know what ought to be done yet all drawing back in the Performance Thus in a short time when the Heat of Liberty was once spent and the Enemy daily encreased they quickly found their old Temper returning upon them a slavishness of Mind and slothfulness of Body then they might have perceived it was not meer Stomach or a hot and sudden Love of Liberty that could protect them but that Diligence Wisdom and a publick Spirit were still wanting so that they shrunk by degrees into their former tameness of Mind and grew as weary of their new-tried Liberty as they had been of their old Subjection which made them write those Abject Letters to Aetius but now mentioned What particular Kings or Governours the Britains set up after they were set free from the Roman Empire is hard to determine only Gildas tells us in general That Kings were by them anointed but none of God's anointing but such as were most cruel who were soon after as inconsiderately laid aside without any Examination of the Truth whilst some were put to Death by their Anointers to set up others more Fierce and Tyrannical but if any of them seemed Milder and more inclined to the Truth against him as the Subverter of his Country the general Hatred of all Men was presently directed So that the Office of a King seems to have been a very dangerous Employment in those wicked and turbulent Times thô by what we can guess by Gildas's Epistle setting forth the Faults of all Orders and Degrees of Men there had been divers Kings ruling in Britain at once not only in his own but in former Times but who they were he does not particularly mention But to fill up this Interval Geoffery of Monmouth furnisheth us with one Constantine Brother of Adroenus King of Armorica This Constantine he makes to have been elected King and crowned at Cirencester and being killed by a Pict was succeeded by his eldest Son Constans who from a Monk at Winchester was made King and that he being made away by the Procurement of Vortigern he caused himself being at that time Consul or Count of the Gevises to be elected King in his room but if you please to look back into the former Book you will there find how Constantine the Usurper with his Son Constans the Monk the one being made Emperour and the other Caesar perished in France may easily confute the falshood of this Story But since neither Gildas Nennius nor any other British Historian make mention of this Constantine or his Son all that we can conclude to be true in this Relation is That the Britains about this time finding themselves quite deserted by the Romans and being now without any Head and hard pressed by the Scots and Picts chose this Vortigern being then a popular Man thô he proved neither Wise Valiant nor Virtuous for their King in the beginning of whose Reign God was willing to purge his Family as Gildas words it the Britains not being amended with so many Corrections were again frighted with a fresh Rumour that the Scots and Picts were returning with greater Forces than ever and that they threatned the Destruction of the whole Country and intended no less than to plant themselves from one end thereof to the other but before their arrival as if the Instruments of Divine Vengeance were at strife which should first destroy a wicked Nation The residue that the Sword and Famine had left alive were now swept away with a sore Pestilence insomuch that the living scarce sufficed to bury their Dead but neither were the Britains at all amended for all this for now it seems the time drew near that the measure of their Iniquities were full But before we relate how this Vengeance was executed we shall here set down from the aforesaid Authors Constantius and Bede Germanus's Second Voyage to Britain the substance of which is That it being told Germanus that Pelagianism prevailed here again thorough some promoters of it the British Clergy too weak it seems at dispute renewed their addresses to him that he would come over and defend God's Cause which he had once before undertaken which Petition
the Northern Coasts of Germany as far as the Cimbric 〈…〉 so that the Swedes Danes and Saxons had one and the same Scythic Original as the Learned Grotius in his said Prolegomena hath fully proved as also Mr. Sherringham in Chap. 7. of his last-cited Treatise as well from the ancient Gothic Chronicles written in that Language both in Prose and Verse as also from Jornandes de Rebus Geticis Chap. 4. that these Getae or Goths multiplying more than these Countries could well bear in the time of Filemar the 5th King after Berig great multitudes of them under his Conduct removed their Dwellings into the Asiatic Scythia called Oudin in their Language from whence in process of Time they spread themselves as far as the Palus Maeotis and the Northern Countries near the Euxine Sea even to Thracia and Maesia towards the South where they still retained the Name of Getae or Gotti thô they were also from the Countries where they lived often called Thracians or Maesians being divided into several Tribes viz. Visigoths or Western Goths and Ostrogoths or Eastern Goths the former of which invaded Spain and the latter Italy But some Ages before this as the Norwegians and Swedish Annals cited by Mr. Sherringham relate one Woden King of a Territory and City in Asia called Asgard near the River Tanais led back a great multitude of these Goths out of the Asiatic Scythia into Europe and partly by good will and partly by force seized on all those Countries afterwards called Saxony but that afterward leaving his Sons Princes of those Regions he returned into Swedeland where after many Travels he ended his Days being counted a great Magician as well as Warriour so that after his decease his Subjects and Descendants worship'd him as a God But divers Danish and Swedish Authors do very much doubt whether this Woden whom they thus worship'd were the same with him from whom the Saxon Princes drew their Pedigrees since thereby it appears that Hengist and Horsa were the Sons of Witgilfus who was the Son of Witta and he the Son of Vecta and he the Son of Woden So that these Princes were no more than three Descents removed from him which could not amount to above 200 Years and consequently was too short a time for their multiplying into such great Multitudes much less for their worshiping him for a God yet this is very probable that most of the Goths that came along with this Woden changed their Names to that of the Saxons and Peopled all those Countries already mentioned and thô there may be a great deal of Fabulous Stuff in this Story as it is related in the Old Swedish and Iselandish Histories called Eddas yet thus much is certain that there was such a Prince who brought back the Goths out of Asia into those parts since the Swedes Danes Norwegians and Saxons worship'd him as their common Deity and all agree in the same Tradition concerning him Yet since Cluverius and Verstegan have both affirmed the Saxons not to be derived from the Goths but Germans and that the former has endeavoured to prove that the ancient Getae or Gothes were not the same Nation I shall here give you the sum of those Arguments which Grotius and Mr. Sheringham have given us to prove the ancient Getae and Gothi to have been all one Nation and that the Saxons were deriv'd from them For the first they alledge the Testimony of the most ancient Latin and Greek Authours that make any mention of the Goths as Vospicus in his Life of the Emperour Probus to whom may be also added divers Christian Writers as Origen St. Hierome and St. Augustine and of the Greeks Procopius Photius the Patriarch 〈…〉 Georgius Syncellus not to mention the Gothic Writers themselves as Jornandes and Issidore in his Gothic Chronicle who all agree that the Goths were anciently called Getae and that they were one and the same Nation Secondly from the places where these ancient Getae or Scythians first inhabited that they were the same from whence the Goths afterwards came who over-ran the Roman Empire viz. from the Countries about the Palus Maeotis which are now possessed by the Chrim Tartars Lastly from their great agreement in Language and Grotius in his said Prolegomena brings divers Instances too long here to be recited to prove that the ancient Scythic or Gethic Tongue was the Mother of the German which seems to be further made out by Mr. Sherringham from the Etymology of divers Scythian Words which are found to be the same with the Gothic and Saxon Lastly Busbâ—quius in his Turkish Epistles mentions some remainders of the ancient Goths who dwell among the Tartars in the Cimbric Cbersonese some of whom he met and discours'd with at Constantinople and gives you not only their names of numbers but also above Forty Words which are very near the Dutch and English signifying the same things and which argue a derivation from the same Gothic Original and thô this Author there doubts whether these Goths were not some remainders of the Saxons brought thither by Charles the Great yet Grotius in his said Prolegamena fully removes that difficulty and shews from the Testimony of Josophat Barbarus a Noble Venetian who had lived among them that these People called themselves not Saxons but Goths and their Country Gothland which is also confirmed by the learned Scaliger in his Canoni Isagog where he relates that they still lived under the Precopian Tartars and have the Bible in the same Characters which were invented by Ulphilas their Bishop But the learned Dr. Hicks hath given us much greater light into this matter in his English Saxon and Maesogothick Grammar as also by reprinting the Isleland Grammar of Ranulph Jones in both which by comparing the radical Words of the English Saxon Tongue as also the Declensions of the Verbs and Pronouns any Man that will but take the pains to peruse it must needs think that not only the Old Maesogothic and Scandian Gothic were one and the same Language the latter being derived from the former but that our English Saxon comes from one and the same Original But if the Getae and Gothi were one and the same Nation and if all the Danish Swedish and Saxon Writers have it that Woden was a Goth it will also follow that all those who came into Germany along with him were also Goths and from whom that part of it was called at first Reid Gothland now Jutland in which as Grotius tells us there is a River called Guden Aa i. e. the Goths River which Country being deserted by its ancient Inhabitants the Jutes and Angles was not long after seized by the Danes who possess it to this day and who as we find by their Histories had maintained Wars upon that account with the Saxons for many Ages before I shall not here trouble the Reader with the particular Arguments and Objections that Verstegan and Cluverius have brought
by the Saxons who fled thither for Refuge But that the Britains of Armorica were setled there long before the Britains here were driven out by the Saxons is proved by the above-cited Doctor Stillingfleet in his Antiquities of the British Churches which he proves by these Authorities First from Sidonius Appollinaris in whom there are two Passages which tend to the clearing this matter The first is concerning Arnâ—ndus accused at Rome of Treason in the time of Anthemius for persuading the King of the Goths to make War upon the Greek Emperour i. e. Anthemius who then came out of Greece And upon the Britains on the Loir as Sidonius Appolinaris expresly affirms who lived at that time and pitied his Case This hapned about Anno Dom. 467 before Anthemius was the second time Consul from whence it appears not only that there were Britains then setled on the Loir but that their Strength and Forces were considerable which cannot be supposed to consist of such miserable People as only fled from hence for fear of the Saxons and not being able to keep their own Country it is not likely they could that of others And it is farther observable that about this time Aurelius Ambrosius had success against the Saxons and either by Vortimer's Means or his the Britains were in great likelihood of driving them quite out of Britain so that there is no probability that the Warlike Britains should at that time leave their native Country A second Passage is concerning Riothamus a King of these Armorian Britains in the time of Sidonius Appollinaris and to whom he wrote who went with 12000 Britains to assist the Romans against Euricus King of the Goths but were intercepted by him as Jornandes relates the Story and Sigibert places it Anno Dom. 470 Now What clearer Evidence can be desired than this to prove that a considerable number of Britains were there setled and in a condition not only to defend themselves but to assist the Romans which cannot be imagined of such as meerly fled thither for Refuge after the Saxons coming into Britain Besides we find in Sirmondus's Gallican Councils Mansuetus a Bishop of the Britains subscribing to the first Council at Tours which was held Anno Dom. 461 by which we see the Britains had so full a Settlement then as not only to have Inhabitants but a King and Bishops of their own which was the great Encouragement for other Britains to go over when they found themselves so hard press'd by the Saxons at home For a People frighted from hence would hardly have ventured into a Foreign Country unless they had been secure before hand of a kind Reception there And if they must have fought for a Dwelling had they not far better have done it in their own Country From whence I conclude that there was a large Colony of Britains in Armorica before those Numbers went over upon the Saxon Cruelties of which Eginhardus and other Foreign Historians speak Though how it should come to be setled there unless some Colonies were carried over before by Maximus or Constantine the last Usurper of the Empire I know not but as for this it being very obscure I determine nothing K. Vortigern nothing bettered by these Calamities is said to have added this to his other Crimes that he took his own Daughter to Wife who brought forth a Son who according to Nennius was called Faustus and proved a Religious Man living in great Devotion by the River Rennis in Glamorganshire but for the rest of his Stories concerning the Dialogue between Vortigern and St. German and that the King was condemn'd for this Incest in a great Synod or Council of Clergy-men and Laicks in which St. German presided is certainly false he being then dead as appears from the best approved Authours the year before the Saxons arrived in Britain And indeed this whole Story of Vortigern's committing Incest with his own Daughter seems altogether unlikely for when should he do it Not before he married Rowena for Nennius places it afterwards nor could it well be during the time of his Marriage with her since as the same Authour relates she continued his Wife long after when he was taken Prisoner by Hengist and it is very strange he should fall in love with his own Daughter when at the same time he had another Wife whom he is said to have loved so well that he was divorced from his first Wife for her sake Geoffery of Monmouth relates That the Nobles of Britain being highly displeased at King Vortigern for the great Partiality he shewed to the Saxons and for the ill Success that followed it beseeched the King wholly to desert him but he refusing so to do they deposed him and chose his Son Vortimer King who following their Advice began to Expel the Saxons pursuing them as far as the River Diervent or Darent in Kent where obtaining the Victory he made a great Slaughter of them besides which that he fought also another Battle with them near the Ford which is called in the Saxon Tongue Episford and in the British Tongue Sathenegabail which is also confirmed by the Saxon Annals which say That Hengist and Horsa fought with King Vortigern at a place called Eglesford now Aylesford in Kent and that Horsa was there slain Nennius says by Cartigern the Brother of King Vortimer and that afterwards Hengist and his Son Aesk obtained the Kingdom of Kent and Matthew of Westminster relates that after the Death of his Brother Horsa the Saxons chose Hengist for their King being 8 Years after his arrival in England And yet after this Nennius supposes Vortimer to have fought a third Battle with them in a Field which was near the Stone Titulus which was fixed near the Shore of the Gallic Sea which place Arch-Bishop Usher will have to be Stonar in the Isle of Thanet but Mr. Somner in his Treatise of the Roman Ports and Forts in Kent supposes it should be written Lapis Populi in stead of Tituli and then Folkstone in Kent is most likely to be the place where this Battle was fought it having the same Signification as Lapis Populi in the Latin Geoffery of Monmouth and from him Matthew Westminster further relate That Hengist not being able to withstand the Valour of K. Vortimer was made to retire into the Isle of Thanet whither he was also pursued by the Sea and that at last the Saxons being forced on board their Ships returned into Germany Nennius adds That they durst not return again into this Island till after the Death of Vortimer which thô not mentioned in our English Saxon Annals yet is very likely to be true since Bede relates That about this time the Saxon Army returned home when the Natives thô before driven out or dispers'd began again to take fresh Courage and come out of their Hiding-Places and Retreats This Year Vortimer having obtained many Battels against the Saxons is
grant to have been a very credulous trivial Writer and to have vented a great many Fables Thirdly That thô William of Malmesbury and H. Huntington both make mention of this Arthur and his Victories over the Saxons yet that the latter took all he has written concerning him from Nennius as the former did either from him or else from some Monkish Legends in the Abby of Glastenbury and that he knew no more of this Arthur above 500 Years ago when he wrote his History than we do at this day Lastly That the pretended History of Geoffâ—ry of Monmouth hath made such incredible Romances concerning this Prince's Actions and Conquests not only in Britain but in France Scotland Ireland Norway and other Countries as are sufficient to shock the Credit of his whole History It being a likely matter that he who could not maintain his own Country should have Forces and Leisure sufficient to conquer the Kingdoms of so many Foreign Princes To each of which Objections we shall return these Answers That in the first place as to Gildas his not mentioning him it is at the best but a Negative Argument since it is evident that he did not design any exact History of the Affairs of his Country but only to give a short Account of the Causes of the Ruine of it by the Scots Picts and Saxons the chief of which he ascribes to GOD's Vengeance upon the Britains for their great Wickedness and corruption of Manners nor does he mention any Kings or Commanders of those Times except Vortigern and Aurelius Ambrosius As for Nennius thô what is objected against him be true yet since he lived near 300 Years after Arthur's Death as appears by the Preface to his History it is highly probable he set down what he there wrote if not from some other more ancient Writers yet at the least from the general Tradition of his Country-men at that time who can never be supposed to have been able to forge this whole Story of K. Arthur and the Battles he fought and thô it be true that the Saxon Annals make no mention of this King yet if these were also written from Traditions long after these Things were done being not put into the Form we now have them till long after the Saxons became Christians it is no wonder if there be no mention made of him especially since they could not do it without Recording to Posterity the many Defeats he gave them but notwithstanding this divers of our best and most ancient English Historians as Radulphus de Diceto and Thomas Rudburn do mentiâ—n King Cerdio's fighting divers Battles with King Arthur But as for William of Malmesbury and H. Huntington thô it might be true they neither of them knew any thing of them but what they had from Nennius or the Legends of Glastenbury yet are not the ancient Registers of that Monastery to be wholly slighted as false since King Arthur was there buried But William of Malmesbury in his Book of the Antiquities of that Church makes King Arthur to have begun his Reign over the Britains in the Tenth Year of King Cerdic in which he is also followed by Ran. Higden in Polychronicon and Joh. Tinmuth in his Golden History and thô the Tomb of King Arthur was not found in the time of William of Malmesbury yet was it some Years after discovered about the end of the Reign of Henry the Second as Giraldus Cambrensis relates at large both in his Book De Institutione Principis and in his Speculo Ecclesiastico where he gives a large Account of the manner of finding his Coffin which was made out of a solid Oak as also of the largeness of his Bones which he saw and handled together with an Inscription upon a Leaden Cross of about a Foot long fixed to the lower side of a broad Stone laid three Foot above the Coffin on which was inscribed this Epitaph Hic jacet sepultus inclytus Rex Arthurus in Insula Aualonia which Cross being preserved in the Monastery of Glastenbury till Leland's time he saw and took a Copy of it and is the very Inscription which Mr. Camden hath given us the Draught of in his Britannia But as for the last Objection thô it be true what William of Malmesbury very well observes that the Britains had vented a great many Fables of him yet he still acknowledges him to have been a Prince more worthy to be celebrated in true Histories than Romances and thô it must be confessed that the Stories the Welsh had then made of him encouraged Geoffery of Monmouth to write those incredible Fables of his Conquests yet does it not therefore follow that all that is written of him must be Lies since a true History may be corrupted and yet the Substance of it remain true But whoever desires to see more in justification of the History of King Arthur how much of it is true and what most likely to be false may if they please consult Dr. Stillingfleet's Antiquities of the British Churches But to return to our Saxon Annals in which for the space of 7 Years there is nothing at all mentioned until the time When Cerdic and Cenric fought against the Britains in a place called Cerdics-Leah To which Year also H. Huntington refers the beginning of the East-Saxon Kingdom by Erchenwin the Son of Offa. He seems to be the only Prince who is derived from one Saxnat and not from Woden thô of this Prince they tell us nothing except his Name and Pedigree relating neither the Number of his Forces the Place of his Landing nor so much as the least Encounter he had with the Britains In the same Obscurity we might have also passed over Sledda his Son had he not married Ricicla Daughter of Emerick King of Kent and Sister to Ethelbert the first Christian King so that this Kingdom being at first Tributary to that of Kent and then to that of the Mercians never came to be very considerable thô it had London the chief City of England under its Dominion But in the Year· 530 Cerdic and Cenric conquered the Isle of Wight and slew a great many Men in Withgarabyrig But 4 Years after Cerdic King of the West-Saxons died and Cenric his Son succeeded him and Ruled 26 Years These two Kings bestowed the Isle of Wight on Stuf and Withgar who were Nephews to Cerdic This according to H. Huntingdon happen'd in the time of Justinian the Emperour Offa King of Kent dying his Son Ermeric succeeded him Ran. Higden places it thô falsly An. 544. This Year the Sun was Eclipsed the 14th of the Calends of March from early in the Morning to the third Hour i. e. till nine of the Clock And the Year following The Sun was again Eclipsed the 12th of the Calends of June and the Stars shewed themselves for near half an hour after nine in the Morning But to take a View of the British History
growing Greatness of King Edwin sent privily one Eomer an hired Cut-Throat to assassinate him He under pretence of delivering a Message from his Master with a poyson'd Weapon stabs at Edwin whil'st he was discoursing with him in his House by the River Derwent in Yorkshire on an Easter-day which Lilla one of the King 's Attendants at the lucky instant perceiving having no other Means to defend him interposed his own Body to receive the Blow thrô which notwithstanding it reached the King's Person with a dangerous Wound the Murtherer being now encompassed with many Swords and made more desperate by his own Danger slew another of the King's Servants in the same manner That Night the Queen brought forth a Daughter who was called Eanfled and when the King in the presence of Paulinus gave Thanks to his Gods for the Birth of his Daughter the Bishop on the contrary gave Thanks to our Lord Christ that the Queen was safely delivered by his Prayers At which the King being well pleased promised the Bishop to renounce his Idols and become the Servant of Christ if he would grant him Life and Victory against that King who had thus sent a Murtherer to kill him and as an earnest thereof he gave his new-born Daughter to be bred up in that Religion who with 12 other of his Family on the day of Pentecost was baptised and by that time being well recovered of his Wound to punish the Authors of so foul a Fact he march'd with an Army against the West Saxons whom having subdued and put some of those to Death who had conspired against him and received others to Mercy he return'd home victorious But I cannot omit here taking notice of a great Mistake in Mat. Westminster's Flores Historiarum who under this Year makes K. Cuichelme abovementioned to have been kill'd in this Battle though from what Authority I know not whereas it will appear by our Annals that he was alive and Christned near ten Years after But thô after this Victory K. Edwin forbore to worship Idols yet ventured he not presently to receive Baptism but first took care to be instructed aright by the Bishop Paulinus in the Principles of the Christian Faith still conferring with himself and others of his chief Men whom he thought most wise what was best to be done in so weighty an Affair and he himself being a Man of a piercing Understanding when he was alone often considered with himself which Religion was best to be followed About this time also he received Letters from the Pope wherein having briefly set forth the Doctrine of the Trinity as the Foundation of the Christian Faith and having extolled the Conversion of King Eadbald and Piety of the Queen his own Wife he exhorts him to imitate their Examples and casting away his Idols to receive Christ. The Pope writ also Letters at the same time to Queen Ethelâ—urga his Wife wherein he congratulated her Conversion and praised her Piety exhorting her to persist in the Course she had begun and to do her Endeavour to reclaim her Husband from his Infidelity But thô the King joyfully received these Letters yet did they not so much prevail with him as the wonderful fulfilling of the Prediction of the Vision above-mentioned for when the King still deferred the declaring himself a Christian Bishop Aidan as it is supposed had that Transaction revealed to him for one day coming in to the King on a sudden he laid his Hand upon his Head and desired him to remember that Sign whereupon the King being much surprised fell down at his Feet but the Bishop raising him up said thus GOD hath delivered you from your Enemies and given you the Kingdom as you desired perform now what so long since you promised him and receive his Doctrine which I now bring you and that Faith which will not only save your Soul from perpetual Torments but also make you a Partaker of Eternal Happiness Which when the King heard he confessed That he would nay ought to receive this Faith but said he I must first consult further with my chief Friends and Councellors concerning this Matter that if they should likewise receive it we might all be Converted and Baptized together Which Paulinus agreeing to and the King there holding a Council with his wise Men asked them severally What they thought of this new Doctrine and Worship which had been as yet unknown among them To whom Coifi chief of the Idol-Priests presently answered You may Sir consider what is now preached to you but to tell you freely my Opinion the Religion we profess is good for nothing for although no Man hath more studiously observed the Worship of our Gods than my self yet nevertheless there are many who have received greater Benefits and Dignities from you than I have done and have been more Happy and Prosperous in all their Undertakings whereas if these Gods had any Power they would rather have assisted me who took such care to serve them Wherefore if upon a good Examination you find that the New Doctrine now preached is far better than the Old let us then receive it without delay To which Opinion another of the great Men also yielding his Assent further said It seems Sir to me that the present Life of Man upon Earth in comparison of that Time which to us is unknown is like unto a little Sparrow which whilst you feasted in your Presence-Chamber flew in at one Window and out at another we saw it that short time it remained in the House and it was then well shelter'd from Wind and Weather but as soon as it got out into the cold Air whither it went we were altogether as ignorant as from whence it came Thus we can give some Account of our Souls during its abode in the Body whilst hoâ—sed and harboured therein but where it was before or how it fareth afterwardâ— is to us altogether unknown If therefore Paulinus his Preaching can certainly inform us herein it deserveth in my Opinion to be well received To which Discourses Coifi also further added That he desired to hear Paulinus himself preach concerning his God Which when he had performed as the King had commanded him Coifi cried out I have long since understood that what we worshipped was nothing for the more I sought to understand the Truth in that Religion the less still I found of it So that it is in this Doctrine alone that Truth clearly shines and which is able to confer upon us Eternal Happiness In short the King not only gave Paulinus his Consent to preach publickly but also renouncing his Idolatry received the Christian Faith But Coifi the Chief Priest did not only declare That the Temples and Altars of their false Gods should be pulled down and destroyed but when the King asked him who should undertake it he freely offered himself to do it and so desiring of him a Horse and Arms taking a Lance in his Hand he
Slain amongst whom was Ethelher King of the East-Angles who forgeting the Death of his Brother K. Anna formerly Slain by Penda now took part with him and was the chief Authour of this War many as they were flying were drown'd in the River Winved then swoln above her Banks The death of Penda that Cruel and Heathen King caused a General rejoycing among the Christians according to the Old English saying mentioned by Mathew Westminster at Winved So that after Penda had been the death of no less than Four or Five Christian Kings whom he slew in Battle he himself underwent the same Fate so little Difference is there between the deaths of Good and Bad Princes only the former are called God's Corrections but the latter his Judgments But to Ethelher succeeded Ethelwald his Brother and to Penda his Son Peadda who being a Christian and Son in Law to Oswi himself he allowed him to hold the Province of South Mercia divided from the Northern by the River of Trent then containing according to Bede Five Thousand Families to be held as Tributary to the Northumbrian Kingdom After this the Mercians became all Christians by the means of King Oswi and Peadda and here that Copy of the Saxon Chronicle Written in the Abby of Peterburgh gives us a large account of the Foundation of that Abby which is thus That in the Time of this Peadda he and Oswi the Brother of King Oswald met and conferred about building a Monastery in honour of Christ and St. Peter which they afterwards did and gave it the Name of Medeshamsted from a certain Well which is there called Medeswell so they laid the Foundations and when they had near finished the Work they committed it to the Care of a certain Monk called Saxulf who was dear to God and beloved of all the Nation for he was a Rich and Noble Person in his time but is now much richer in Christ. This Year also Honorius the Archbishop deceasing on the 7th of the Calends of April Ithamer Bishop of Rochester Consecrated Deus Dedit to be Arch-Bishop of Canterbury This was the first English Monk that had ever been chosen Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and was also the first that was Consecrated but by one Bishop for the better sound sake he changed his Name to Deus Dedit having been before called Fridonà or Fridon This Year was Peadda Slain about Easter by the Treachery of his Wife the Daughter of K. Oswy and Wulfher his Brother the Son of Penda succeeded him Thô not until some Years after for upon the Death of Peadda King Oswi seized also that part of the Kingdom and held and laid it to his own Dominions Here the Saxon Chronicle proceeds to give us a further account concerning the finishing of the aforesaid Monastery of Peterburgh but thô it was done some Years after and the Relation be somewhat long yet because it shews more plainly than any other History the Form and Manner of erecting such a Foundation I shall give you the substance of it omitting what is not pertinent to our purpose The said Chronicle proceeds thus That in his viz. Wulfher's Reign the Abby of Medeshamsted was greatly encreased in Riches for that King favoured it very much for the sake of his own Brother Peadda and of Oswie his Brother in the Christian Faith as also of Saxulf the Abbot wherefore he said that he would render it yet more famous and would highly adorn it being thereunto perswaded By his Brothers Ethelred and Merwalla and his Sisters Kyneburg and Kyneswith as also by Arch-Bishop Deus Dedit and all his Wise Men both Clerks and Laicks that were in his Kingdom then the King sending for the said Abbot told him that since his Bâ—other Peadda and his Friend Oswie had begun this Monastery and that he was Departed this Life therefore the Abbot should take diligent care to see it finished and he would provide all things as both Gold and Silver Lands and possessions and whatever else was needful for it whereupon the Abbot went home and setting to the Work so far advanced it that in few Years it was finished which when it was told the King he was very joyful and sent to give notice of it to all his Thanes throughout the whole Nation as also the Arch-Bishop Bishops Earls and all who loved God that they should come to him so he appointed them a day when the Monastery should be Consecrated at which Consecration King Wulfer and his Brother Ethelred and his Sisters were all present as was also Arch-Bishop Deus Dedit and Ithamer Bishop of Rochester together with Wina Bishop of London and several other Bishops There were also present all the Thanes that were in his Kingdom when this Monastery was Consecrated in the Names of St. Peter St. Paul and St. Andrew Then the King rising up from his Chair spoke thus with a loud Voice before all his Thanes Thanks be to the most High and Omnipotent GOD for this honour which he hath done me and I will That you all confirm my Words I Wulfer do give this Day to St. Peter and to Saxulf and to the Monks of this Monastery all these Lands Waters c. and all the Territories lying round about them which are of my Royal Patrimony so freely that no Man shall have thence any Tribute or Revenue besides the Abbot and Monks which Gift is this Then the King proceeded to declare the Meets and Bounds of the Lands which he had given which because they are not to our purpose I omit only that they reach'd as far as Stamford and were above Threescore Miles about then said the King The Gift indeed is small but I will that they hold it so freely that none may exact any Gueld or Tribute out of it but what is paid to the Monks and I do hereby free this Monastery from being subject to any but the See of Rome but I will also That all those who cannot go thither should here implore to St. Peter When the King had spoke these things the Abbot made a request to him in the behalf of certain Religious Monks who desired to lead the Lives of Anchorites and therefore prayed that on a certain Island a small Monastery should be Built wherein they might live in Peace and Solitude which was presently granted by the King then he also desired his Brothers and Sisters that for the good of their Souls they would be witnesses to his Charter conjuring all thosâ— who should succeed him to preserve his Gift Inviolate as they hoped to be partakers of Eternal Life and would escape Eternal Torments then follow the Names of the Witnesses who were present and who subscribed and with the sign of the Cross confirmed it by their consents that is King Wulfer who first of all confirmed it with his Word and then sign'd it with the Cross and then spake thus I King Wulfer with the Earls Heoretoghs and Thanes being Witnesses of my
Gift do confirm it with Christ's Cross before the Arch-Bishop Deus Dedit Then follow the Subscriptions of the Kings and others of the Blood Royal viz. Oswi King of Northumberland King Sygar King Sibbi Ethelred the King's Brother together with his Sisters above named as also of Deus Dedit Arch-Bishop of Canterbury after whom follow the Subscriptions of the rest of the Bishops together with some Presbyters and Saxulf the Abbot as also of divers Eoldermen or Governours of Countries who with divers others of the King 's great Men did likewise confirm it This Charter was made in the Year after our Lord's Nativity 664 being the Seventh Year of King Wulfer's Reign they did then also denounce the Curse of God and all his Saints against all that should violate any thing that was there done to which they all answered Amen As soon as this was over the King sent to Rome to Pope Vitalian desiring him to confirm all that he had granted by his Letters or Bull which the Pope immediately performed being to the same effect with the King's Charter already mentioned in this manner was the Monastery of Medeshamsted Founded which was afterwards called Burgh now Peterburgh But to return again to Civil Affairs having dwelt I doubt too long upon Ecclesiastical This Year Kenwalk King of the West-Saxons fought against the Welsh at a place called Peonnum and pursued them as far as Pedridan Of which Fight H. Huntington gives us this further Account That at the first Onset the Britains were too hard for the English but they abhoring flight as bad as Death it self persisted in fighting with them till the Britains growing tired and disheartened fled and were pursued as hath been already said so that they received a very great blow This Year according to Florence of Worcester Hilda the Abbess Founded a Monastery at a place called Streanshale wherein she lived and dyed Abbess The same Year also according to the same Author Inumin Eaba and Eadbert Eoldermen of Mercia rebelled against King Oswi and proclaimed for their King Wulfer the Son of Penda whom they had hitherto kept concealed Also Aedelbert or Agâ—â—bert the Bishop left King Cenwalch and took the Bishoprick of Paris and Wina held the Bishoprick of Winchester of both which Bede hath already given us a particular account The same Year also according to Florence of Worcester Cuthred the Son of Cuichelm a Cousin to King Cenwalch as also Kenbryht the Eolderman great Grandson to King Ceawlin and Father of King Cadwalla dyed This Year according to the Saxon Annals King Cenwalch fought about the time of Easter with King Wulfher at Posentesbyrig supposed to be Pontesbury in Shropshire and Wulfher the Son of Penda wasted the Country as far as Aescesdune now Aston near Wallingford and Cuthred the Son of Culthelm as also King Kenbryht dyed The same Year according to Bede Wulfher took the Isle of Wight with the Country of the Meanvari and gave them to Athelwald King of the South Saxons because he had been that King's Godfather at his Baptism and Eoppa the Priest at the Command of Bishop Wilfrid and King Wulfher first of all offered Baptism to the Inhabitants of that Island whether they accepted it or not is very uncertain But I cannot but here observe the uncertainty of the History of these Times for Ethelwerd in his Chronicle under this Year and at this very place above mentioned relates that Cenwalk had the Victory and carried away Wulfher Prisoner These Meanvari here mentioned by Bede are supposed by Mr. Camden in his Britannia to have been the People of that part of Hampshire lying over against the Isle of Wight This Year also Sigebert King of the East-Saxons thô standing firm in the Christian Faith was as Bede tells us wickedly Murder'd by the Conspiracy of two Brethren in places near about him who being asked what moved them to do so wicked a Deeed gave no other than this Barbarous Answer That they were angry with him for being so gentle to his Enemies as to forgive them their Injuries when ever they besought him But the occasion of his death is much more remarkable for one of those Earls who slew him living in unlawful Wedlock stood thereof excommunicated by the Bishop so that no man might presume to enter into his House much less to Eat with him the King not regarding this Church-Censure went to a Feast at his House upon an Invitation whom the Bishop meeting in his return thô penitent for what he had done and fallen at his Feet yet gently touched with the Rod in his Hand and being provoked thus foretold Because thou hast neglected to abstain from the House of this Excommunicate in that House thou shalt dye and so it fell out not long after perhaps from that Prediction God then bearing witness to his Minister in the due power of Church Discipline when Spiritually executed on the Contemner thereof Yet Bede is so Charitable as to believe that the unfortunate Death of this Religious Prince did not only attone for his fault but might also increase his merit To Sigebert Swidhelm the Son of Sexbald succeeded in that Kingdom who was Baptized by Bishop Cedda in the Province of the East-Angles in the Royal Village called Rendlesham Edelwald King of that Country who was the Brother of King Anna being his Godfather The Sun was now eclipsed V o Non Maij and Ercenbryht King of Kent departed this Life and Ecgbryht his Son succeeded him in that Kingdom As for King Ercombert Will. Malmesbury gives him a very good Character being famous for his Religion to God and his Love to his Country but he had no Right to the Crown save only by Election having an Elder Brother called Ermenred who was alive at the beginning of his Reign and left two Sons behind him Coleman also with his Companions then departed to his own Nation the same Year there was a great Plague over all the Isle of Britain in which perished Tuda the Bishop and was buried at Wagele which Bede calls Pegnaleth also Ceadda and Wilverth were now Consecrated Bishops and the same Year too the Archbishop Deus Dedit dyed after whom the See remained void for Four Years But of the occasion of this departure of Coleman Bede hath given us a long and particular account viz. That a Synod being called at Strean-shall now Whitby in York-shire by the procurement of Hilda the Abbess of that place thô by the Authority of King Oswi who was there present concerning the old Difference about the observation of Easter Wilfred the Abbot and Romanus a Priest were very earnest for the observation of it according to the Order of the Church of Rome and Coleman Bishop of Lindisfarne was as zealous on the other side but after many Arguments pro and con which you may find at large in Bede the Synod at last determining in favour of the Romish Easter it so far displeased
Coleman that he was resolved to quit his Bishoprick and depart into Scotland to the Isle of Hye from whence he cam◠rather than to comply with it from whence he also departed into Ireland here called Scotland where he built a Monastery in that Country and lived all the rest of his days and in which only English Men were admitted at the time when Bede wrote his History But after the departure of Coleman one Tuda who had been ordained Bishop among the Southern Scots was made Bishop of Lindisfarne but he enjoyed that Bishoprick but a very little while But after the Death of Bishop Tuda according to the Life of Bishop Wilfrid King Oswi held a great Council with the Wise Men of his Nation whom they should chuse in the vacant See as most fit for that holy Function when they all with one Consent nominated and chose Abbot Wilfrid as the fittest and worthiest Person to succeed him but being to be Consecrated he refused it from any Bishop at home because he look'd upon them all as Uncanonical being all ordained by Scotish Bishops who differed from the Roman Church about this Point of keeping Easter so that he would needs go over into France for Ordination where staying too long the King put Ceadda who had lately come out of Ireland into his Place which Wilfred upon his return much resenting retired to his Monastery at Ripon and there resided as also sometimes with Wulfher King of Mercia or else with Ecghert King of Kent till he was restored to his See Bede tells us that the above-mentioned Eclipse was followed by a sudden Pestilence the same Year which first depopulating the Southern Parts of Britain then proceeded to the Northern wherein Bishop Tuda deceased it also invaded Ireland and there took off many Religious as well as Secular Persons The same Year also according to Florence Ercombert King of Kent dying left that Kingdom to Egbert his Son Also Ethelwald King of the East Angles dying this Year Aldulf succeeded him About this time according to Bede Siger and Sebba succeeding Swidhelm in the Kingdom of the East Saxons being unsteady in the Faith and supposing the late great Pestilence to have fell upon them for renouncing their old Superstition relapsed again to Idolatry and rebuilt the Idol-Temples hoping by that means to be defended from the present Mortality but as soon as Wulfher King of the Mercians to whom this Kingdom was then subject heard of it he sent Bishop Jaruman to them who together with their Fellow-Labourers by their sound Doctrine and gentle Dealing soon reclaimed them from their Apostacy This Mortality is also partly confirmed by Mat. Westminster who the next Year relates so great a Mortality to have raged in England that many Men going in Troops to the Sea-side cast themselves in headlong preferring a speedy Death before the Torments of a long and painful Sickness thô this seems to be no other than the great Pestilence which raged the Year before unless we suppose it to have lasted for 2 Years successively The same Year also according to the Account of an ancient British Chronicle lately in the Possession of Mr. Robert Vaughan Cadwallader last King of the Britains having been forced by a great Famine and Mortality to quit his Native Country and to sojourn with Alan King of Armorica finding no hopes of ever recovering his Kingdom from thence went to Rome where professing himself a Monk he died about 8 Years after Now thô the British History of Caradoc Translated by Humphrey Lloyd and Published by Dr. Powel places Cadwallader's going to Rome Anno 680 which Mr. Vaughan in the Manuscript I have by me and which is already cited in the former Book proves can neither agree with the Account of the said old Chronicle nor yet with the Time of the great Mortality above-mentioned for Caradoc and Geoffery of Monmouth do both place Cadwallader's going to Rome in the Year of the great Pestilence which as Bede and Mat. Westminster testifie fell out in the Year 664 or 665 and therefore that learned Antiquary very well observes That as for their Calculation who prolong Cadwallader's Life to the Year 688 or 689 and place his going to Rome in Pope Sergius's time he thinks they had no better Warrant for it than their mistaking Ceadwalla King of the West Saxons who then indeed went to Rome and there died for this Cadwallader who lived near 20 Years before whereby they have confounded this History and brought it into a great deal of uncertainty whereas that ancient Appendix annex'd to the Manuscript Nennius in the Cottonian Library whose Author lived above 300 Years before either Geoffery or Caradoc doth clearly shew that this Monastery above-mentioned and consequently Cadwallader's going to Rome happened in the Reign of Oswi King of Northumberland who according to the Saxon Annals began to Reign Anno 642 and died Anno 670 and therefore no other Mortality ought to be assigned for Cadwallader's going to Rome than this in King Oswi's Reign Anno 665 for the Words of the said old Author are these Oswi the Son of Ethelfred reigned 28 Years and 6 Months and whilst he reigned there happened a great Mortality of Men Catwalater so he spells it then reigning over the Britains after his Father and therein perished Now the Case is clear if these Words in the Latin Et in ea periit have relation to Cadwallader as most likely they have considering Oswi lived 5 Years after the Year 665 wherein this Mortality raged then Cadwallader never went to Rome at all but died of this Plague but of this I dare not positively determine since the greater part of the Welsh Chronicles are so positive in Cadwallader's dying at Rome But to return to our Annals This Year Oswi King of Northumberland and Ecgbrith King of Kent with the Consent of the whole English Church as Bede relates sent Wigheard the Presbyter to Rome to be there made Arch-Bishop of Canterbury but he died almost as soon as he arrived So that Theodorus being the next Year consecrated Arch-Bishop was sent into Britain Of which Transaction Bede gives us this particular Account About this time also as Bede relates Wina Bishop of Winchester being driven from his See by King Kenwalch went and bought the See of London of King Wulfher This is the first Example of Simony in the English Church The See of Canterbury had been now vacant for above 3 Years for the Pope was resolved himself to Ordain an Arch-Bishop and at last at the Recommendation of one Adrian a Greek Monk who might have been Arch-Bishop himself but refused it the Pope chose this Theodorus then a Monk and a Native of Tharsus in Cilicia who being an excellent Scholar brought the knowledge of the Greek Tongue as also Arithmetick Musick and Astronomy in use among the English Saxons This Arch-Bishop immediately upon his coming into England made a thorough Visitation of
a Military Life for a Heavenly one and leaving his Country went to Rome in the Company of Alfred Son to that King and upon his return thence the second time professed himself a Monk in the Isle of Lyren where staying Two Years he accompanied Wyghard to Rome who went thither to be ordained Arch-Bishop but soon after dying there he again returned home with Arch-Bishop Theodore and after some time built the Monasteries of Wyremouth and Girwy as you have already heard and now after a long Sickness made a Holy End in the Monastery of St. Peter at Wyremouth where he was also buried About this time Wythred the Son of Egbert King of Kent being Established in his Kingdom did by his Piety and Industry free it from Foreign Invasions thô one Swebheard or Webheard held part of it together with him for some time This Year also according to Florence for the Years are not exactly set down by Bede or Stephen Heddi Bishop Wilfrid was the second time Expel'd from his Bishoprick by Alfred King of Northumberland which as this Authour in his Life relates happen'd because that King had not restored to the Church of St. Peter at Rypun divers of its Possessions The next was because the Monastery of Hagulstad had been erected into a Bishoprick without his consent and contrary to the priviledge which Pope Agatho had bestowed upon it And lastly because that King would have compelled him to obey certain Decrees of Arch-Bishop Theodore which had been made in Bishop Wilfrid's absence and during the first quarrel that had risen between them which he refusing to observe thereupon retired to his old Friend Ethelred King of the Mercians who received him with great honour But King Alfred as likewise Arch-Bishop Bertwald and all the Bishops of Britain being assembled in a Synod at a place called Onestrefield or Hosterfield They sent Messengers to Bishop Wilfrid desiring him to appear before them but when he came to the Synod he could by no means agree with them because they did not perform what they had promised by their Messengers so that great disputes arising chiefly from those Bishops of the new Sees who together with certain Abbots had been also set on by King Alfred and for the sake of their own private Interests did not desire the Peace of the Church they also objected many false things against him which could no ways be proved and at last decreed that the Bishop should be censured according to the Decrees of the late Arch-Bishop Theodore whereupon Bishop Wilfrid asked them with what Face they could prefer the Decrees of Theodore before the Apostolical Canons which had been enjoined them from Pope Agatho and Pope Sergius but when no due or decent manner of speaking was observed and that they urged him to subscribe a Resignation of his Bishoprick and Monasteries in Northumberland and Mercia into the hands of the Arch-Bishop he utterly refused it and only offered to submit to the Judgment of the Arch-Bishop as far as it was agreeable with the Canons of the Holy Fathers but at last they offered him that if he would resign his Bishoprick he might still retain his Abbey of Ripon and live there in quiet provided he did not go out of the bounds of the Monastery nor exercise any Episcopal Jurisdiction upon which he in a long Speech set forth his former Merits in converting the Northumbrian Nation to the due observation of Easter Then asked them for what offence they went now about to degrade him To which the King and the Arch-Bishop replied That he was culpable in this and was therefore to be condemned because he had prefer'd the Judgment of the Men at Rome before theirs and the King then offer'd the Arch-Bishop to make him submit by force to their Judgment but this was opposed by most of the Bishops because he had come thither under their safe conduct Then the Bishop retired again to King Ethelred setting forth the hard usage which he had received at the Synod whereupon the King promised him never to alter any thing in the Monasteries which he had bestowed upon him until he had sent to Rome for the Pope's Judgment of these Matters and how he might act safely therein but in the mean time the Arch-Bishop and the Synod did not only deprive but also Excomunicate Bishop Wilfrid and also all those who were in communion with him so that none might so much as eat with them and whatsoever they touched was looked upon as defiled Wherefore Bishop Wilfrid was again forced to go to Rome there to make his appeal before the Pope to whom he presented a long Petition setting forth that the Troubles which he had met with in Britain had proceeded from those who having seized upon his Bishoprick and Monasteries had refused to observe the Decrees of his Holiness's Predecessours whereupon the Pope at that time holding a Council at Rome did there hear the whole difference between him and Arch-Bishop Bertwald who had now sent his Deputies thither together with the accusations against him so in short upon a solemn hearing of the whole matter on both sides and after above Seventy Congregations in about Four Months time in all which the Bishops Innocence did more and more appear he was at last absolved by the Pope and the whole Council the particulars of which are too long to relate only that thereupon the Pope wrote Letters to Ethelred King of the Mercians and Alfred King of Northumberland reciting Bishop Wilfrid's former appeal to Pope Agatho and the Decree that had been made in his Favour as also what had been now done at Rome and how well the Bishop had acquitted himself of whatsoever had been laid to his Charge and therefore did not only order them to receive him but also admonished Arch-Bishop Bertwald to call another Synod together with Bishop Wilfrid and there to Summon the Bishops Bosa and John to hear what they would say in their own behalf and if they could make any agreement with the liking of Bishop Wilfrid it would be very grateful to him but if otherwise they were to exhibit the Reasons of their dissent before the Pope there to be determined in a more ample Council and whoever should refuse this should be subject to be Excomunicated and deposed from his Bishoprick The Bishop in his Return home with these Letters fell so sick by the way that he was like to dye at Melune in France where 't is said he had a Vision of an Angel appearing to him which promised him restitution to his See within Four Years so he at last arrived again in Britain where applying himself to Arch-Bishop Bertwald He being frighted with the Pope's Letters which had been before sent him by Messengers received Bishop Wilfrid very kindly and being then reconciled to him promised to mitigate that harsh Judgment given against him in the former Synod Then the Bishop delivered his Letters to Ethelred who having at that
he had founded at Oundale in Northamptonshire being there seized with the same Sickness which had often attacked him before thô what it was this Author does not tell us he there died having before made his Will and given a great deal both in ready Money and Jewels to the Monasteries he had founded His Body was carried with great Pomp and Attendance of many Abbots and Monks to his Abbey of Rypon and there buried This Year Acca the principal Chaplain of Bishop Wilfred succeeded him in his Bishoprick of Hagulstad To this Bishop Florence of Worcester gives the Character of a skilful Singer and Learned in the Scriptures Also this Year Beorthfrith the Ealderman fought against the Picts between Haefe and Caere supposed to be Carehouse and Hatfeild in Northumberland and also King Ina and Nun his Kinsman fought with Gerent King of the Britains and the same Year Hygbald was slain Mat. Westminster places this Action in Anno 708 and makes this Hygbald to have been killed in the beginning of the Fight by the Welsh King above mentioned and He being there put to flight left great spoils behind him to the English who as Florence adds obtained the Victory This British Prince here mentioned is supposed to have been King of Cornwall for we can find no such name in the Catalogue of the Princes of North or South-Wales About this time according to Bede Naitan King of the Picts being convinced by the frequent reading of divers Ecclesiastical Writers renounced his Error concerning the Celebration of Easter and that he might likewise reclaim his Subjects with greater Authority he desired the assistance of the English Nation and therefore sent Messengers to Ceolfrid Abbot of the Monastery of Wyremouth desiring some Exhortatory Letters from him whereby he might confute those who presumed not to keep Easter at the due time as also concerning the true manner of shaving of Priest's Crowns he likewise desired some Architects that might build a Church for him after the Roman fashion which he promised to Dedicate in honour of St. Peter To which Pious requests Ceolfrid assenting did not only send him the Architect he desired but also writ him a long Epistle upon those two Questions in which he desired to be satisfied which you may see at large in Bede where besides many notable Arguments for keeping Easter on the first Sunday after the first Full Moon that follows the Vernal Equinox and besides some others there is this doughty Reason against the Scotch way of shaving Crowns that it was the Tonsure of Simon Magus and then what good Christian could not but abhor it as much as Magick it self This Year Guthlac dyed as also Pipin King of France this Guthlac here mentioned was at first a Monk at Repandun Abbey but afterwards professing himself an Anchorite he retired into the Fens and built himself a Cell at Croyland of him the Monkish Writers of those times relate incredible Miracles of his Temptations Sufferings by and Victories over Evil Spirits which then haunted that place at which some Years after the Abbey of Croyland was founded The same Year also Egwin Bishop of Worcester founded the Abbey of Evesham upon this occasion the Virgin Mary as the Monks relate had appeared about this place to one Eoves a Shepheard and not long after to the Bishop himself having a Book in her hand bringing two Female Attendants with her though who they were it seems she did not declare whereupon the Bishop there founded this Monastery testifying this Vision in the Charter of the Foundation which you may see at large in Monast. Anglic. as also in Sir H. Spelman's first Volume of Councils but as for the Story related by the Magdeburg Centuriators that the Virgin Mary did then Command her Image to be set up and worshiped in that Church there being no colour for it in the pretended Charter of the Bishop himself that must be certainly forged for as Sir H. Spelman has very well observed Arch-Bishop Brightwald is said to have writ this Charter by the command of the Pope whereas this Arch-Bishop was never at Rome nor was the Council in which it is said to have been confirmed held till after Bishop Egwin's Return home into England and as for the Kings Kenred and Offa who are made to witness and confirm it they had both of them resigned their Crowns and gone to Rome Five Years before the date of this Charter which is Anno Dom. 714 therefore I shall pass it by as a mere Fable since it is certain that the worship of Images was not then not long after introduced into the English-Saxon Church But before I dismiss this Subject concerning the foundation of the Abby of Evesham I cannot forbear taking notice of another Charter pretended to be made Anno Dom. 709 by King Kenred and King Offa above mentioned wherein they grant those Lands in which the Virgin Mary was supposed to appear to Bishop Egwin for the building of a Monastery according to the Rule of St. Benedict in which Charter thô the Lands are particularly named and set out yet it is as justly suspicious as the other to have been forged by the Monks of that Abby in after times as Sir H. Spelman very well observes who hath Printed both these Charters in his first Volume of Councils the former of which is dated at Rome Five Years before the other of Bishop Egwin's and is supposed to be subscribed by the Pope this Bishop himself and the two Kings who there stile themselves the former by the Title of King of Mercia and the latter by that of King of the East-Angles whereas it is apparent both from our Annals and Historians that they had both then resigned their Kingdoms to their Successours before they went to Rome and which is worse Offa was not King of the East-Angles but of the East-Saxons as Bede expresly relates nor can the fault be laid upon the Transcribers since the Error is in the Original Charter it self neither do we read of any King of the East-Angles all that time till King Offa upon the Murther of King Ethelbert seized that Kingdom but enough if not too much of these Monkish Forgeries we shall now return to our Annals King Ina and Ceolred fought at Wodensburh in Wiltshire a great and bloody Battle and now also Dagobert King of the French deceased This Year was founded at Theoewkesbury in Glocester-shire a noble Monastery for Bendictine Monks by Odo and Dodo Ealdermen of Mercia The same Year Osred King of Northumberland was killed near the Southern borders Mat. Westminster relates it was in a Fight near the Sea but names not the Enemy with whom he fought This Osred held the Kingdom Eleven Years then Cenred took it and held it Two Years and after him Osric who held it Eleven Years The same Year also Ceolred King of the Mercians Dyed and lyeth Buried in Licetfield now Lichfield Then Ethelbald succeeded
Miracles and mentioning other things only by the bye hath given us so slender an account of those times that if we had not found some assistance from the Saxon Annals as well as from other Writers the History of that Age though very short and obscure would yet have been much more imperfect without them But to proceed now with our Saxon Annals This Year K. Ethelbald took Sumerton and Acca was driven from his Bishoprick of Hagulstad I suppose by the then King of Northumberland though no Author expresly mentions it Will. of Malmesbury tells us that this Ethelbald was that great and powerful King of the Mercians to whom Boniface Bishop of Mentz being then the Pope's Legat writ a sharp Letter setting forth and reproving the then reigning Vices of this Nation and particularly of that King himself who relying on the vain Confidence of his Justice and Alms was not ashamed no more than the Noblemen of his Kingdom by his Example to commit Uncleanness even with Consecrated Nuns which wicked Actions the Bishop foretells would be the ruin of himself and Kingdom as it proved in the end But King Ethelbald after he had thus taken Somerton with an Army too powerful to be resisted by the K. of the West Saxons became to great that as H. Huntington observes he made all the rest of the Provinces of England together with their Kings subject to him as far as the River Humber This Somerton was anciently a great Town and Castle of the West-Saxon Kings and gave Name to that County which we now call Somersetshire though at present it be but an ordinary Country Village Also this Year the Sun was so much eclipsed that as the Epitome of Bede and Ethelward relate on 13 o Kal. Sept. it s whole Orb seem'd as it were covered with a black Sheild This Year also the Moon appear'd as it were stain'd with Blood and Simeon of Durham saith it lasted one whole hour and then a Blackness following it return'd to its natural Colour Also Tatwin the Archbishop deceased and Egbryht was made Bishop of York Now Bede also died But the Author of his Life in Manuscript in the Cottonian Library refers it to the Year following and the Chronicle of Mailros with greater Truth to the Year 736 for he was as his Life above-cited relates born Anno 677 and deceased in the 59th Year of his Age. But since Bede our Historian deceased about this time and that it is to him we are beholding for the greatest part of the History of this present Period it is fit we give you a short account of his Life He was born in the Province of Northumberland not far from the Monastery of Gyrwie the place is now called Yarrow near the Mouth of the River Were where he was bred up from seven Years of Age and in which being profess'd he lived a Monk all the rest of his Life spending his time in the Study of the Scriptures saying his Prayers or Writing Comments upon the Old and New Testaments as also his Ecclesiastical History so often cited by us besides divers other Books containing the Lives of Saints and other Matters of Humane as well as Divine Learning whose Titles you may find at the end of his said History 'Till at last being wasted by a long Asthma he there made an Heavenly End as may be seen in his Life above-mentioned So that Simeon of Durham very well observes that though he lay as it were hid in the utmost Corner of the World yet after his Death he became known in all Parts by his Learned Writings therefore he hath for his great Piety as well as Learning justly obtained the Title of Venerable Bede After whose decease as Will. of Malmesbury rightly observes all knowledge of Actions passed was almost lost even to his own Times since none proved an Emulator of his Studies nor a Follower of his Learning so that to a slothful Generation one more slothful still succeeding the Love of Learning for a long time grew cold in this whole Island ' This Year Bishop Egbriht received the Pall from Rome but you must here observe that by the Pope's thus sending a Pall to the Bishop of York he now became an Archbishop and consequently Metropolitan of all the Northumbrian Provinces that See having been ever since the Time of Paulinus's Flight out of Northumberland into Kent and carrying the Archiepiscopal Pall along with him no more than an ordinary Bishoprick subject to the Archbishop of Canterbury from whose Power it was from this time exempted and came now to have Supreme Jurisdiction over all the Bishops in Deira and Bernicia as far as the Pictish Kingdom ' The Arch-bishop Nothelm received his Pall from Rome This was the new Archbishop of Canterbury who succeeded Tatwine You may take notice that it was in those Times usual for the Pope to send a Pall to every new Archbishop upon his Consecration to shew his Dependance upon the See of Rome and for which every Archbishop paid a great Sum of Money to the Pope's Treasury This Nothelm when he was a Presbyter of the Church of London was he to whom Bede in the Epistle before his History owns himself beholding for divers ancient Monuments relating to the English Church as also Epistles out of the Pope's Repository This Year Forthere Bishop of Scireburn with Frithogithe Queen of the West-Saxons went to Rome Where as H. Huntington tells us they both took upon them the Monastick Habit which in those days very many of the English Nation of all Degrees and Qualities as well high as low were wont to do For now also as our Annals relate Ceolwulf King of Northumberland surrendred his Kingdom to Eadbert his Cousin who reigned Thirty one Years This Ceolwulf was he to whom Bede dedicated his History who after his professing himself a Monk in the Monastery of Lindisfarne as R. Hoveden relates brought the Monks of that place from the strict discipline of drinking only Milk or Water to drink Wine and Ale and they might very well afford it for he brought along with him good provisions to live easily as great Treasures and Revenues in Land recited at large by Simeon of Durham all which he bestowed on that Monastery no wonder then if such great Commendations be given by Monkish Writers to Kings becoming Monks The same Year also as Simeon of Durham and Mat. of Westminster relates Alwin Bishop of Lichfield dying there were two Bishops ordained in that Diocess viz. Wicca at Lichfield and Tocca the first Bishop of Leycester which Town from this time continued a Bishop's See for divers Ages Also this Year according to the Saxon Annals the Bishops Ethelwald and Acca deceased and Cynwulf was consecrated Bishop and the same Year Ethelbald King of the Mercians wasted the Contry of Northumberland And as H. Huntington adds carried away as much Spoil as he had a mind to from thence Also as Simeon of Durham
King of the Mercians fought against Kenwulf King of the West-Saxons at the Siege of Bensington Castle But Kenwulf being worsted was forced to flee and so Offa took the Castle Now Janbryht the Archbishop deceased and Ethelheard the Abbot was elected Archbishop Also Osred King of the Northumbers was betray'd and driven out of his Kingdom and Ethelred the Son of Ethelwald Sirnamed Mull reigned after him or rather was again restored to the Kingdom having reigned there before as hath been already shewn But Simeon of Durham adds farther that this Osred the late King of this Kingdom having been also shaven a Monk against his Will escaped again out of the Monastery into the Isle of Man But the next Year As Simeon relates Oelf and Oelfwin Sons of Alfwold formerly King of Northumberland were drawn by fair Promises from the Principal Church of York and afterwards at the Command of King Ethelred cruelly put to Death at Wonwalderemâ—re a Village by the great Pool in Lancashire now called Winanderemere Also about this time according to the same Author one Eardulf an Earl being taken and brought to Ripun was there Sentenced by the said King to be put to Death without the Gate of the Monastery whose Body when the Monks had carried to the Church with solemn Dirges and placed under a Pavilion was about Midnight found alive But this Relation is very imperfect for it neither tells us how he escaped Death nor how he was conveyed away though we find him five Years after this made King of Northumberland This Year as Simeon of Durham and Mat. Westminster relate Charles King of France sent certain Synodal Decrees into England in which alas for with great Grief our Author speaks it were found many inconvenient things and altogether contrary to the true Faith For it had been decreed in a Council at Constantinople by more than Three Hundred Bishops that Images ought to be adored which the Church of God does say they wholly abominate Then Albinus that is our Alcuin wrote an Epistle wherein he proved it by the Authority of the Holy Scriptures to be utterly Unlawful and this he offered together with the Book it self to the King of France on the behalf of all our Bishops and Great Men and this Letter of Alcuinus is thought to have wrought such an effect on the Synod of Francfort assembled about two Years after that the Worship of Images was therein solemnly condemned From which it is evident that Image-Worship as now practised in the Greek and Roman Churches was not then received in England And this Year also according to the same Author Osred late King of Nortbumberland being deceived by the Oaths of some great Men returned privately from the Isle of Man when his Souldiers deserting him and being taken Prisoner by King Ethelred he was by his Command put to Death at a Place called Aynsburg but his Body was buried at the famous Monastery at the mouth of Tine and the same Year King Ethelred betrothed Elfrede the Daughter of King Offa. In whom also there was found as little Faith as Mercy for this Year according to our Annals Will. of Malmesbury and Mat. Westminster Ethelbert the Son of Ethelred King of the East-Angles notwithstanding the disswasions of his Mother going to the Court of King Offa in order to Wooe his Daughter was there slain by the wicked instigations of Queen Quendrith so that out of an Ambition to seize his Kingdom Offa was perswaded to make him away but by what means it is not agreed The Annals relate him to have been beheaded But the same Annals and Florence of Worcester agree That his Body was buried in the Monastery at Tinmouth But the Chronicle ascribed to Abbot Bromton as also Mat. Westminster have given us long and Legendary Accounts of the Death of this Prince and the latter of these as well as other Monks who were favourers of this King Offa would have this Murther to be committed without this King's knowledge and Mat. Westminster has a long Story about it but not all probable especially since the King was so well pleased with the Fact when it was done that he presently seized the Kingdom of this poor Murthered Prince and added it to his own Dominions This Year as Mat. Paris and his Namesake of Westminster relate King Offa was warned by an Angel to remove the Reliques of St. Alban into a more noble Shrine and so either for this cause or else which is more likely to expiate the several Murthers he had committed began to build a new Church and Monastery in honour of St. Alban and thither removing his Bones into a Silver shrine all gilt and adorned with precious Stones he placed them in the new Church that he had built without the Town where as the Monks pretended they wrought great Miracles This King having made a journey on purpose to Rome obtained of Pope Adrian to have him Canonized King Offa also conferred upon this Monastery very great Privileges and vast Possessions all which he confirmed by his Charter which you may find in the first Volume of Monast. Anglic. as that also Anno. Dom. 1154. One Nicholas having been first a Servant in this Abbey and afterwards was Bishop of Alba Elected Pope by the name of Adrian IV he by his Bull ordained that as St. Alban was the first Martyr of England so this Abbot should be the first in Dignity of all the Abbots in England and Pope Honorius did by a Bull in the Year 1118 not only ratifie all the Privileges made and confirmed by former Popes but also granted to the Abbot and his Successours Episcopal Rights together with the Habit and that he and his Monks should be exempt from all Jurisdiction to the Bishop of Lincoln with other Exemptions too long here to be set down Also this Year there appeared strange Prodigies in the Country of Northumberland which mightily terrified the People of that Province viz. immoderate Lightnings there were also seen Meteors like fiery Dragons flying in the Air after which signs followed a cruel Famine and a little after the same Year 6 o Idus Jan. certain Heathens i.e. Danes miserably destroyed the Church of God in Lindisfarne committing great Spoils and Murthers Simeon of Durham says These Danes not only pillaged that Monastery but killing divers of the Friers carried away the rest Captive sparing neither Priests nor Laymen This Year also Sicga died he who killed the good King Alfwold who now as Roger Hoveden relates slew himself And the same Year according to Florence of Worcester Ethelard was ordained Arch-Bishop of York and as Simeon of Durham relates the same Year died Alric Third Son to Withred King of Kent after a long Reign of Thirty Four Years in whom ended the Race of Hengist Thenceforth as Will. of Malmesbury observes whomsoever Wealth or Faction advanced took on him the Title of King of that Province This Year both Pope Adrian
them reaching the Shore were presently slain at the Mouth of the same River But Simeon of Durham imputes this to a Judgment inflicted on them by St. Cuthbert for thus spoiling his Monastery The Moon was Eclipsed 5 o Kal. Aprilis from the Cock crowing till the Morning Eardwulf also began to reign over Northumberland 1 o Idus Maii and was afterwards Consecrated and placed on the Throne 7 o Kal. Junii at York by Eanbald the Arch-Bishop and by the Bishops Ethelbert Higbald and Badewulf This Eardwulf as Florence of Worcester informs us was he who 5 Years before had so strangely escaped Death at Ripun after he had been carried out to be buried but the Chronicle of Mailross does here give great Light of the Saxon Annals for it tells us that now the Northumbers murthered their King Ethelred the Son of Moll Simeon places it a Year after but says The Murther was committed on the 14th of the Kalends of May at a Place called Cobene but they both agree that immediately after his Death one Osbald a Nobleman of that Country was made King but reigned only 27 Days and that then being forsaken by the Chief Men of his Kingdom he was driven into the Isle of Lindisfarne with a few Followers from whence he fled by Sea to the King of the Picts where he became a Monk And this Eardwulf reigned of his stead William of Malmesbury further adds that Alcuin writing to King Offa tells him That King Charles so soon as he heard of this Murther of King Ethelred above-mentioned and of the Perfidiousness of the Northumbrian Nation not only stopt the Gifts he was then sending but falling into a Passion against them called them a perverse and perfidious Nation and worse than Pagans so that if Alcuin had not interceded for them he would have done them all the Mischief he could About this time also the Welsh Chronicles relate there was a great Battle fought at Ruthlan between the Saxons and the Britains where Caradoc ap Gwin King of North Wales was slain But as Dr. Powel observed in his Notes upon Caradoc's Chronicle in those Times there was no settled Government in Wales therefore such as were Chief Lords of any Country there are in this History called Kings This Year died Eanbald Arch-bishop of York the 4th of the Ides of August whose Body was there buried also the same Year Bishop Ceolwulf died and another Eanbald was Consecrated in his stead This Year likewise Cenwulf King of the Mercians destroyed Kent to the Borders of Mercia and took Eadbert or Ethelbert Sirnamed Praen and carryed him Prisoner into Mercia and there caused his Eyes to be put out and his Hands to be cut off Also Ethelheard Arch-bishop of Canterbury called a Synod which by the Command of Pope Leo established and confirmed all those things relating to God's Church which had been before constituted in the Reign of King Withgar and then the Arch-bishop said thus I Ethelheard Arch-bishop of Canterbury with the Unanimous Consent of the whole Synod and of the whole Body of all the Monasteries to whom Exemption hath been granted of Old Times by Believers in the Name of GOD and by his fearful Judgments and as I have received Command from Pope Leo do Decree That for the future none shall presume to Elect themselves Covâ—rnours amongst Lay-men over GOD's Heritage but as it is contained in the Charter or Bulls which the Pope hath granted or Holy Men to wit our Kings and Ancestors have ordained concerning the Holy Monasteries so let them remain inviolate without any gain-saying and if there be any one who shall refuse to obey this Command from GOD the Pope and Us but shall despise it and count it as nothing let him know that he shall give an Account of it before the Tribunal of GOD. And I Aethelheard the Archbishop with Twelve Bishops and Three and Twenty Abbots do hereby establish and confirm this Decree with the Sign of the Cross. This Council thô the Annals do not expresly mention it under that Title is that great Council of Becanceld placed in Sir H. Spelman's Collection under Anno 798 being held under Cenwulf King of the Mercians Aethelheard Arch-bishop of Canterbury with 17 Bishops more who all subscribed to this Decree thô the Annals mention no more than 12 Bishops to have been there This Year the Romans took Pope Leo and cut out his Tongue and put cut his Eyes and deposed him but presently after if it may be believed he could both see and speak by the help of GOD as well as he could before and was also restored to the Papacy by the Emperour Charles Also Eanbald the Arch-bishop of York received the Pall and Ethelbert Bishop of Hagulstad deceased 3 o Kal. Nov. This Year was a bloody Battle in the Province of Northumberland in Lent-time at Wealaege now called Whalie in Lancashire where was slain Alric the Son of Heardbert and many others with him The occasion of which Civil War Simeon of Durham hath thus given us â—iz That besides Alric there were divers others in Northumberland who had formerly conspired against King Ethelred and now raising a Rebellion against Eardwulf under Wadâ— their Captain after much slaughter on both sides at Billangahoth near Whalie in Lancashire the Conspirators being at last put to flight King Eardwulf returned home Victorious The same Year London according to the same Author with a great multitude of its Inhabitants by a sudden Fire was Consumed And now according both to Simeon of Durham and Roger Hoveden was held the Second Council of Pinchinhale in the Kingdom of Northumberland under Eanbald Arch-bishop of York and divers other Principal and Ecclesiastical Men where many things were ordained for the Profit of GOD's Church and of the Northumbrian Nation as concerning the keeping Easter and other Matters not particularly mentioned The same Year also according to Monasticon Anglicanum Kenwulf King of the Mercians founded a stately Abbey at Winchelcomb in Glocestershire for 300 Benedictine Monks and when it was Dedicated in the Presence of Wilfrid Arch-bishop of Canterbury and 13 other Bishops he then set free before the High Altar Eadbert King of Kent who was then his Prisoner of War But having before most cruelly put out his Eyes and cut off his Hands and disposed of his Kingdom to another I doubt that Liberty proved but a small Satisfaction to his poor injured Prince But such was the Superstitious Zeal of that Age the Foundation of a Monastery was counted a sufficient Atonement to GOD for whatsoever Cruelties or Injustice Princes hath then committed This Year Ethâ—lheard the Arclt-bishop and Cynebriht Bishop of the West Saxons went to Rome the latter to take the Habit of a Monk and Bishop Alfwin deceased at Southburg now Sutbury in Suffolk and was buried at Domuc now Dunwich in the same County being then the Seat of that Bishoprick and Tidfrith was chosen in his Room
Plunder and Spoil But of this we shall speak more in due time and shall now proceed in our History where we left off in our last Book Egbert the only surviving Prince of the Blood-Royal of the West Saxon Kings as great Nephew to Ina by his Brother Inegilds being arrived in England was now ordained King as Ethelwerd expressly terms his Election But since Asser in his Annals places this King 's coming to the Crown under Anno 802. as does Simeon of Durham and also Roger Howden from an Ancient piece of Saxon Chronologie inserted at the beginning of the first Book of his first part and this account being also proved by that great Master in Chronology the now Lord Bishop of Litchfield to be truer then that of the Saxon Annals or Ethelwerd by divers Proofs too long to be here Inserted I have made bold to put this King 's coming to the Crown two Years backwarder then it is in the last Book thô I confess the former Account in the Saxon Annals would have made a more exact Epocha Also about this time as appears from the ancient Register of St. Leonard's Abbey in York cited in Monast. Anglican viz. ' That Anno Dom. 800 Egbert King of all Britain in a Parliament at Winchester by the consent of his People changed the Name of this Kingdom and commanded it to be called England Now thô by the word Parliament here used it is certain that this Register was writ long after the Conquest yet it might be transcribed from some more ancient Monument since Will. of Malmesbury tells us of this King tho' without setting down the time that by the greatness of his Mind he reduced all the Varieties of the English Saxon Kingdoms to one uniform Empire or Dominion which he called England though others perhaps more truly refer it towards the latter end of his Reign as you will find when we come to it This Year Eardulf King of the Northumbers led his Army against Kenwulf King of Mercia for harbouring his Enemies who also gathering together a great Army they approached to each other when by the Advice of the Bishops and Noblemen of England as also by the Intercession of the chief King of the English by whom is meant King Egbert who then passed under that Title They agreed upon a lasting Peace which was also confirmed by Oath on both sides This we find in Simeon of Durham's History of that Church and in no other Authour About this time also St. Alburhe Sister to King Egbert founded a Benedictine Nunnery at Wilton which was long after rebuilt by King Alfred and augmented by King Edgar for Twenty Six Nuns and an Abbess The same Year the Moon was Eclipsed on the 13 Kal. Jan. and ' Beormod was Consecrated Bishop of Rochester About this time in Obedience to a Letter from Pope Leo III. who at the desire of Kenwulf King of the Mercians had Two Years since restored the See of Canterbury to its ancient Primacy was held the Third Synod at Cloveshoe by â—rch bishop Ethelward and 12 Bishops of his Province whereby the See of Canterbury was not only restored to all its ancient Rights and Priviledges but it was also forbid for all times to come upon Pain of Damnation if not repented of for any Man to violate the Rights of that ancient See and thereby to destroy the Unity of Christ's Holy Church then follow the Subscriptions of the Arch-bishop of Canterbury and of 12 other Bishops of his Province together with those of many Abbots and Presbyters who never Subscribed before but without the Subcriptions of the King or any of the Lay Nobility Which plainly shews it to have been a meer Ecclesiastical Synod and no great Council of the Kingdom as you may see at large in Sir H. Spelman's 1 Vol of Councils the Decree of which Synod also shews that the Church of England did not then conceive the Authority of the People alone sufficient to disanul what had been solemnly Decreed in a great Council of the Kingdom as was the Removal of the Primacy from Canterbury to Litchfield The next Year According to our Annals Ethelheard Arch-bishop of Canterbury deceased and Wulfred was consecrated Arch-bishop in his stead and Forther the Abbot dyed The same Year also Deceased Higbald Bishop of Lindisfarne 8 o Kal Julii and Eegbert was Consecrated to that See 3 o Ides Junii ' This Year Wulfred the Arch bishop received his Pall. Cuthred King of Kent deceased as did also Ceolburh the Abbess and Heabyrnt the Ealdorman This Cuthred here mentioned was as Will. of Malmesbury informs us he whom Kenulph King of the Mercians hath made King of Kent instead of Ethelbert called Pren. This Year the Moon was Eclipsed on the Kal. of September and Eardwulf King of the Northumbers was driven from his Kingdom and Eanbryth Bishop of Hagulstad Deceased Also this Year 2 o Non Junii the sign of the Cross was seen in the Moon upon Wednesday in the Morning and the same Year on the Third Kal. Septemb. a wonderful Circle was seen round the Sun This Eardwulf above-mentioned is related by Simeon of Durham to have been the Son of Eardulf the first of that Name King of Northumberland and after Ten Years Reign to have been driven out by one Aelfwold who Reigned Two Years in his stead During these Confusions in the Northumbrian Kingdom Arch-Bishop Usher with great probability supposes in his Antiquitat Britan. Eccles. that the Picts and Scots Conquered the Countries of Galloway and Lothian as also those Countries called the Lowlands of Scotland as far as the Friths of Dunbritain and Edenburgh And that this City was also in the possession of the English Saxons about an Hundred Years after this I shall shew in due order of time and that our Kings did long after maintain their claim to Lothian shall be further shewn when I come to it But that all the Lowlands of Scotland as far as the English Saxon Tongue was spoken were anciently part of the Bernician Kingdom the English Language as well as the Names of places which are all English Saxon and neither Scotish nor Pictish do sufficiently make out The Sun was Eclipsed on the 7th Kal. of August about the Fifth Hour of the Day This Year as Sigebert in his Chronicle relates King Eardulph above-mentioned being expelled his Kingdom and coming for Refuge to the Emperour Charles the Great was by his Assistance restored thereunto but since neither the Saxon Annals nor Florence nor yet any of our English Historians do mention it I much doubt the Truth of this Relation thô it must be also acknowledged that it is inserted in the ancient French Annals of that time and recited that this King's Restitution was procured by the Intercession of the Pope's and Emperour's Legates who were sent into England for that purpose This Year according to Mat. Westminster Egbert King of the West
same Invasion mentioned by Mat. Westminster under An. 811. This Year Leo that worthy and Holy Pope deceased and Stephanus succeeded in the Popedome but Florence of Worcester more rightly places the Death of this Pope Two Years later Pope Stephanus deceased and Pascalis was consecrated Pope in his stead and the same Year the School or College of the English Nation 〈◊〉 Rome was burnt But Mat. Westminster does more rightly place the Death of Pope Stephanus the Year following At this time was held the Synod at Calcuith under Wilfred Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and Kenulph King of the Mercians who was there present but the Decrees being wholly Ecclesiastical I pass them by and refer the curious to Sir H. Spelman's 1. Volume of Councils only shall here take notice of this one passage that now Bishops Abbots and Abbesses were first forbid by the Seventh Canon of this Synod to alien their Lands committed to their trust in Fee or for longer time then one Life and that with the consent of the House Cenwulf King of the Mercians deceased and Ceolwulf began to Reign in his stead also Eadbyrht the Ealderman dyed But the Saxon Annals do here omit that which is very remarkable that not Ceolwulf but Kenelm Son to King Kenwulf being a Child of Seven Years Old succeeded his Father under the tutelage of his Sister Quendride who being tempted by a wicked Ambition of Reigning was by her made away and thereby he obtained the Name of a Martyr The manner of which thô it is certainly but a Legend I shall to divert the Reader relate out of Will of Malmesbury and Mat. Westminster This young Prince was committed by his Sister to an Attendant on purpose to be made away who carrying him into a Wood under pretence of Hunting cut off his Head and threw his Body into a Thicket of Bushes his Sister presently seizing the Kingdom straitly forbad all inquiry to be made after her lost Brother But sure it was Miraculous That a thing done so privately in England should be first known at Rome but so it came to pass by Divine Revelation for upon the Altar of St. Peter a White Dove let fall a certain Paper which discovered both the Death of King Kenelm and also the place of his Burial which being Written in Golden Letters was thus In Clent Cow-batch Kenelme King Bearne lieth under a Thorne heaved bereaved Which being in Saxon may be thus Translated into English Rhime In Clent-cow-pasture under a Thorne Of Head bereft lies Kenelme King Born But it seems the Characters were so hard to be read that all the Roman Clerks there present attempted in vain at the Pope's Command to read this writing but an English Man by chance standing by whom to make the Miracle the greater Mat. Westminster reading Angelus instead of Anglus calls an Angel and Translating this writing into Latin caused the Pope by an Epistle sent by him on purpose to give notice to the English Kings of their Martyr'd Country-man whose Body being thus Miraculously discovered was in a great Assembly of Clerks and Nobles taken out of the hole where it was laid and carried to Winchelcombe in Gloucester-shire and there buried in the Church of that Abbey which his Father had founded which after some time brought no small profit to that Monastery by frequent Pilgrimages made to the Tomb of this little Saint But now my hand is in pray take all the rest of the Story When the Body of this Young Prince was brought home the Murdress his Sister being vexed with the Singing of those Clerks and Laicks that attended the Corps and looking out of her Chamber Window in pure Spite repeated the Psalm backward which they then Sung thereby to disturb the Harmony of the Chorus but as the same Authour adds whilest she was thus singing both her Eyes fell out of her Head upon the Psalter she held in her Hands and the Psalter it self set in Silver and besmeared with the Blood of her Eyes being then to be seen gave a pregnant Testimony of her Crime as well as punishment yet it seems Will. of Malmesbury knew nothing of this Legend of the finding the Body but only says it was discovered by Miraculous Rays of a vast Light which shining all Night over the place where it lay was the occasion of its being found out but no matter for the manner both of them being alike credible This is enough if not too much of this Boy King and Martyr And this is certain that his unnatural Sister did not enjoy the Fruits of her wicked Ambition long for Ceolwulf Brother to King Kenwulf succeeded in the Kingdom thô he likewise Reigned but little more than one Year For the next Year he was deprived of his Kingdom as Ingulphus relates by one Bernulph an Ambitious Man of great Riches and Power thô no way related to the Blood Royal. ' This Year Two Ealdermen were slain Burkelm and Muca but who these were our Annals do not acquaint us There was also this Year held a Synod at Cloveshoe under King Beornwulf and Arch-Bishop Wilfred whose Constitutions relating wholly to Ecclesiastical Affairs you may find in Sir H. Spelman's 1. Vol. The only Civil Business was that of the Abbess Cendrythe's being forced to make satisfaction to Archbishop Wilfred by rendering 100 Manses or Farmes for the wrongs which King Cenwulf her Father had done to the Church of Canterbury This Cendrythe is the same with Quendrithe or Quendrida as she was called by our Latin Authors who made away her Brother K. Kenelme as you have already heard and who to Expiate for the Death of her Brother since she could not be a Queen had professed her self a Nun and was now an Abbess There was a Fight between the Britains and Devonshire Men at Gafulford now Camelford in Cornwall and Florence of Worcester tells us That the Britains were slain by those of Devonshire The same Year also according to our Annals Ecbriht King of the West-Saxons and Beornwulf King of the Mercians fought at Ellendune supposed to be Wilton near Salisbury where Ecbriht obtained the Victory a great slaughter being there made after which King Ecbright sent Aethelwulf his Son and Ealstan his Bishop and Wulfheard his Ealderman with a great Army into Kent where they forced King Baldred to Fly over Thames into the Northern parts then the Kentishmen and those of Surry together with the South-Saxons and East-Saxons submitted themselves to King Egbert which last Nation had been unjustly wrested from his Family and had as Florence relates for the space of several Years been subject to Kings that were strangers the same Year also the King of the East-Angles together with the whole Nation beseeched King Ecbriht to grant them Peace and be their Protector for fear of the Mercians And the same Year the East-Angles slew Beornwulf King of the Mercians because as Mat. Westminster relates he challenged their Kingdom
as his own ever since the time that King Offa took it but now the Mercians tried to recover it by Force The same Year was also held another Synodal Council at Cloveshoe for the Kingdom of Mercia under K. Beornwulf and Wilfred Arch-Bishop of Canterbury with all the Bishops and Chief Men of that Kingdom wherein some disputes about Lands between Heabert Bishop of Worcester and a certain Monastery called Westburgh were determined This Year Ludican King of the Mercians and five of his Ealdermen were slain and Wiglaf began to Reign in his stead Ingulf and Will of Malmesbury tell us That this Ludican was Kinsman to the last mentioned King Beornwulf and leading an Army against the East-Angles to revenge his Death was there overcome and Slain and that both these Tyrants were justly removed who had not only made Kings without any Right but had also by their imprudence been the occasion of the destruction of the Military Forces of that Kingdom which had till then proved Victorious and that thereupon one Withlaf being before Ealderman of Mâ—rcia was by the consent of all the People created King whose Son Wimond had Married Alfleda the Daughter of Ceolwulf the late King This King Withlaf Reigned thirteen Years as Tributary to King Egbert as shall be further related anon The Moon was Eclipsed on Christmass day at Night and the same Year King Egbryht subdued the Kingdom of Mercia and all the Country that lay South of Humber He was the Eighth King who Ruled over all Britain but the First who had so great a Command was Aella King of the South Saxons the Second was Ceaâ—lin King of the West-Saxons the Third was Aethelbryght King of Kent the Fourth was Redwald King of the East Angles the Fifth was Edwin King of Northumberland the Sixth was Oswald who succeeded him the Seventh was Oswi the Brother of Oswald and the Eight was Egbryght King of the West-Saxons who not long after led an Army against the Northumbers as far as Dore which place is supposed to have been in York-shire beyond the River Hâ—mber but the Northumâ—ers offering him Peace and due Subjection they parted Friends From which passage in the Saxon Annals it is apparent that this Supream Dominion of one English King over all the rest was no new thing Bede having taken notice of it long before yet did they not therefore take upon them the Title of Monarchs any more than Egbert who now succeeded them in that Power thô most of our Historians who have written the Saxon History in English have but without any just reason given them that Title which could not properly belong to Kings who had divers others under them with the like Regal Jurisdiction within their own Territories not but that King Egbert was in a more peculiar manner the Supream King of England because by his Absolute Conquest of the Kingdoms of Kent and of the South and East Saxons he was the greatest King who had hitherto Reigned in England all the rest of the Kings that remained Reigning by his permission and paying him Tribute a power which never had been exercised by any other King before him But to return to our History it seems that King Egbert was so highly displeased with the Mercians for setting up a King without his consent that Ingulf and Florence of Worcester tell us That as soon as ever Withlaf was made King before he could raise an Army he was expell'd his Kingdom which Egbert added to his own but Withlaf being search'd for by Egbert's Commanders through all Mercia he was by the industry of Seward Abbot of Croyland concealed in the Cell of the Holy Virgin Etheldrith Daughter of King Offa and once the Spouse of Ethelbert King of the East Angles where King Withlaf found a safe retreat for the space of Four Months until such time as by the Mediation of said Abbot Seward he was reconciled to King Egbert and upon promise of the payment of an Yearly Tribute permitted to return to his Kingdom in Peace which is by him acknowledged in that Charter of his that Ingulf hath given us of his Confirmation of the Lands and priviledges of the Abbey of Croyland It was made in the Great Council of the whole Kingdom in the presence of his Lords Egbert King of West-Saxony and his Son Ethelwulf and before the Bishops and great Men of all England Assembled at the City of London to take Counsel against the Daniâ—h Pyrats then infesting the English Coasts And in the Year 833 as you shall see when we come to that Year This Restoration of King Withlaf to his Kingdom is also mentioned in the Saxon Annals of the next Year where it is said That Withlaf again obtained the Kingdom of the Mercians and Bishop Ethelwald deceased also the same Year King Egbryht led an Army against the Northern Britains and reduced them absolutely to his Obedience For it seems they had again rebelled Now likewise as Mat. Westminster relates King Egbert vanquished Swithred King of the East-Saxons and drove him out of his Kingdom upon whose expulsion the West Saxon Kings ever after possest that Kingdom Now according to the same Authour King Egbert having subdued all the South Parts of England led a great Army into the Kingdom of Northumberland and having grievously wasted that Province made King Eandred his Tributary which is also confirmed by Will of Malmesbury who relates that the Northumbers who stood out the last fearing least this King's anger might break out upon them now giving Hostages submitted themselves to his Dominion but they continued still under Kings of their own as you will further find To this Year I think we may also refer that great Transaction which the Annals of the Cathedral Church of Winchester printed in Monast. Angl. from an ancient Manuscript in the Cottonian Library place under the Year following viz. That King Egbert having thus subdued all the Kingdoms above-mentioned and forced them to submit to his Dominions called a great Council at Winchester whereto were summoned all the Great Men of the whole Kingdom and there by the General Consent of the Clerus Populus i. e. the Clergy and Laity King Egbert was crowned King of Britain And at the same time he Enacted That it should be for ever after called England and that those who before were called Jutes or Saxons should now be called English â—en And this I could not omit because thô William of Malmesbury and other Historians agree of the Matter of Fact yet I think this the truest and most particular Account of the Time and manner when it was performed Also this Year Wilfred the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury deceased and Feologild the Abbot was Elected Arch-Bishop 7 Kal. Maij. and was Consecrated 5. Id. Junij being Sunday and dyed the 3. Kal. Sept. after But here is certainly a mistake in this Copy of the Annals for it was not Feologild but Ceolnoth who was then chosen
second assault Tuba the Brother of Count Hubba being knocked down with a Stone was carried off for Dead whereat Hubba was so enraged that breaking into the Monastery he slew all the Monks that came in his way whilest the rest of them destroyed the others till at last all perished so that in short the Monastery was wholly destroyed and the Church together with a noble Library of Books and all its Charters were reduced to Ashes But the fourth day after this the Pagan Army having got together all the spoil they could marched toward Huntington but in their way thither as the two Counts Sidrocs brought up the Rear of the Army which had now passed the River Nene two Waggon loads of rich moveables happened to be sunk in the Ford as also the Beasts that drew them in getting out of which whilest Sidroc and his Men were busied the Boy Turgar slipped away into the next Wood and walking all Night about break of Day he got to Croyland where he found the Monks returned again and busie in quenching the Fire as well as they could to whom he related all that had happened and discovering where the body of the Abbot and most of the Monks lay they removed the rubbish and buried them and then having chosen Godric one of the Monks that escaped for their Abbot they were resolved to go and do the like Pious Office for the late Prior and Monks of Medeshamstead where arriving they buried the Bodies of above fourscore Monks in one Grave in the Church-yard placing over them a Pyramidal Stone of about a Yard high whereon were carved the Images of the Abbot and Monks about him which was then to be seen in Ingulph's time In the mean time the Britains spoiling the Country as far as Grant-bridge now Cambridge they then fell upon and burnt the famous Nunnery of Ely killing all that were therein both Men and Women and carrying away a great deal of Riches which had been brought thither from all parts for their better security from whence they passed over into the Country of the East-Angles where they slew Earl Wulketule coming against them and making a stout resistance with his small Forces from whence they marched against King Edmund himself of whose Life and Martyrdom I shall out of Asser's Annals give you a particular account and thô I will not pass my word for the truth of all his Relation being written after the manner of the Legends of those times yet the substance of it is no doubt true and the rest may serve if not to instruct yet at least to divert the Readers But before I proceed to the Story of the Martyrdom of this King it may not be amiss to relate the occasion why the Danes invaded the Kingdom of the East-Angles and put King Edmund so cruelly to Death which story thô it be not very probable yet since it is found in Mat. Westminsters Flores Historiarum I will from thence repeat it in as few words as I can being to this effect That in the Kingdom of Denmark there was one Lothbrook who being descended from the Royal Family had by his Wife two Sons Inguar and Hubba Lothbrook going to Sea by himself in a Boat with only a Hawke on his Fist to seek for Game in a Neighbouring Island being taken by a sudden and violent Storm was tossed up and down for several Days till at last he was by the Wind and Tide driven upon the Coast of that Country we now call Northfolk where being found alone with his Hawk he is presented to Edmund the King and being kindly received for the comliness of his Person continued in his Court and told the King the Tale of his strange Fortune and often went out in the Field for his Recreation with Beorn the King's Huntsman being extraordinarily dexterous both in Hunting and Fowling for this Reason this Huntsman greatly envied him and as they two were hunting together alone he secretly murdered him and hid his Body in a Wood. Now Lothebroc kept a Greyhound which was exceedingly fond of him and the Huntsman being gone away with the rest of the Dogs he stayed there alone by his Master's Body next day when the King asked for Lothebroc Beorn answered That the day before he stayed in the Wood and since that he had not seen him But behold the Greyhound comes to Court and fawning upon the King as well as others as soon as he had filled his Belly again departed till doing this often he was followed to the place by some of the King's Servants who there found out the Body and brought the Relation of it to the King The Matter being examined and found out the Huntsman is sentenced to be put into the same Boat in which Lothebroc arrived without any Oars or Tackling in which after a few days surely the Boat knew its way he was cast upon the Coast of Denmark where being brought to Lothebroc's Sons and by them examined what was become of their Father whose Boat they sufficiently knew he affirmed That he was killed by Edmund King of the East Angles Whereupon they prepare a Navy and passing into England landed first in the Northern Parts and as was said before they grievously harass'd the Country of the Northumbers and having brought it under Subjection Hinguar quits his Company and with a great Fleet sailed to East England where King Edmund Reigned But Saxo Grammaticus gives us quite another Account of the Death of these Prince's Father whom he calls Regner viz. That he was taken Prisoner in Ireland and there killed in Prison by Snakes where none you must know ever were a Story altogether as probable as the former so I have here given you from several Authors two different Accounts of the Reason of the Danes invading England and shall leave it to the Reader to believe one or neither since as they cannot both be true so neither of them seem very probable This King Edmund had now Reigned five Years with great Affection of his Subjects for being a Prince of great Hopes he was by the Unanimous Favour and Consent of the People of that Province not only Elected but rather forced to Rule over them He had a Majestick Meen that became a King and in his Countenance appeared a certain Air of Piety mixed with Meekness and Devotion It was indeed but a short time he Reigned but in that time he did by his Charity to the Poor and his Care over Widows and Orphans perform all the Duties of a Pious Man as well as of a Good King But to come to the Story it self The Danes having now spoiled the Country and routed the King's Army as you have heard came on a sudden upon a certain City and taking it by Surprise they killed the Inhabitants and ravished the Women sparing neither Age nor Sex but when they had pretty well satiated their Fury Hinguar their Captain examined some of the ordinary People that were left alive
there declare their number that they may be ready to produce them to answer any thing that shall be demanded of them in the said Folcmote and if it happen that they bring many strangers on shore that they also certifie this to the King's Officer in that said Assembly that so they may be forth coming Now considering the Times wherein King Alfred lived when there was such flocking of Strangers being Enemies into England this Law was very justly and seasonably made The Thirty First inflicts upon him that shall put a Ceorles's Man that is an ordinary Country-Man without any fault into Bonds viz. A Mulct of Ten Shillings upon him that beats such a one Twenty Shillings if he hang him up a-loft Thirty Shillings if he cut off his Hair to expose him like a Fool Ten Shillings if he shave his Head like a Priest yet bind him not Thirty Shillings and in case he only cut off his Beard Twenty Shillings but if he bind him and shave his Hair like a Priest then Sixty Shillings Which Law was no doubt made to restrain the Tyranny and Insolence of the English Nobility who were wont before that Law too much to domineer over poor Country-Men here called Ceorles-men and therefore it seems highly probable that the Commons of England had then Representatives in the Great Council or else it is not likely the Nobility would ever have lost that Power they then Usurped over them Wherefore I shall leave it to the Indifferent Reader to Consider whether the Common People of England were then such Slaves as some late Writers would fain make them since not only satisfaction was to be made for their Lives but also for the least injury or abuse that might be committed against their Persons The Thirty Fourth Law imposes upon him that shall strike or fight in open Court before the King 's Ealdorman both the value of his own head and such a Fine besides as shall be thought fit and also 120 Shillings to be paid to the Ealdorman by him that by thus drawing his Weapon shall make any disturbance in the Folcmote or County Court if the Ealdorman were not present but the fact was done before his Substitute or the King's Priest then a Were or Amerciament of Thirty Shillings Here by the King's Priest is meant either the King's Chaplain or Bishop I will not determine whether who as we formerly said in those times presided also in the Folcmotes and there dispatched all business relating to the Church The Thirty Fifth ordains What satisfaction shall be made for breach of the Peace in any other place as for Example he that fights in the home-stall of a Country-man shall pay the said Country-man Six Shillings if he drew his Sword but struck not half as much which Penalty also was to be encreased according to the Estate or Quality of him upon whose ground the Assault was made So that if he fought in the House of one worth 600 Shillings he was to pay Three times as much if of one worth 1200 Shillings then the Amends was to be twice as much as the former The Thirty Six Law of Bâ—rhbrice or breach of the Peace in a Town confirms that part of King Ina's Law concerning that matter in imposing upon the Offender for the breach of the Peace in the King's Town or City by setting the Mulct of an Hundred and Twenty Shillings but if it be done in the Arch-Bishop's Town then Ninety Shillings in that of a Bishop or Ealdorman Sixty Shillings in the Town of a Man valued at 1200 Shillings Estate Thirty Shillings but half as much if done in a Village of one worth but half that Sum. From whence we may observe That in those times not only the King and the Great Men such as Bishops and Ealdormen but also Gentlemen of ordinary Estates had Villages or Townships of their own and they themselves received the Mulcts or Penalties imposed for the breach of the Peace within their Precincts which priviledge they lost I suppose after the coming of King William I. The Thirty Seventh is That Law concerning Bocland by vertue whereof he that holds Lands left him by his Ancestors was forbid to alienate it from his Kindred to others in case it could be proved by Writing or Testimony before the King or the Bishop his Kindred being present that the Man who first granted them forbid him all Alienation and laid on him this Condition From the making of this Law Mr. Selden informs us that we may here find an Estate in Fee-Tail much more ancient than the thirteenth Year of Edward the First The 38th Law is concerning Quarrels or deadly Feuds which since it gives a strange Licence for Men to take Satisfaction on their Enemies even without the Presence of any Officer I shall likewise set down First It forbids any Man to attack his Enemy if he find him in his own House except he first demand of him Satisfaction But if he have force enough he may besiege the House for seven days yet he shall not assault him if he will stay within but if he then surrender himself and his Arms into the Defendant's hands he may keep him thirty Days without hurt but then shall leave him so to his Kindred or Friends In case he flie to a Church the Honour of the Church is to be preserved But if the Demandant have not Strength enough to besiege him in his House he may desire the Assistance of the Ealderman which if he cannot obtain he must appeal to the King before he can assault him If any one by chance light upon his Adversary not knowing that he keeps himself at home and he will deliver up his Arms to him he shall keep him safe thirty Days and then deliver him to his Friends But in case he will not deliver up his Arms then he may fight with him but if he be willing to deliver up himself and his Arms to his Enemy and any other Man sets upon him such a Man shall pay the value of his Head if he kills him or give Satisfaction for his Wounds if any be given him according to the Fact besides which he shall be fined and lose all that may fall to him by reason of Kindred From whence you may observe that the nature of that Rough and Martial Age did allow Men a greater Liberty of righting themselves against those that had injured them than was afterwards thought fit to be allowed in more settled and peaceable Times The last of King Alfred's Laws is concerning Wounds and Maims which being very long I shall only give you an Abstract of it It is in short to appoint what Satisfaction in Money any Man shall pay for wounding or maiming another or for cutting off any Member or part of his Body even to the Nail of his little Finger All which was ascertained according to the particular Sums there set down and I shall leave it to wiser Judgments to consider whether
Leprosie or Blindness or else some worse Distemper which often makes Men unuseful or despised but by Praying to God in a certain Church in Cornwal where St. Neot lay buried and near which the King came by chance to Hunt he was relieved of that Pain which tho this Authour does not tell us what it was yet it seems to have been somewhat proceeding from the stoppage of the Humours in the lower Parts and which our Authour calls the Ficus or Emerhoids I shall now in the next place shew you how this King spent his time as well in his private as publick Affairs as the same Author hath related it by which the Reader will be better enabled to frame a true Character of this most Pious Learned and Magnanimous Prince King Alfred notwithstanding his frequent hindrances not only by the Danish Wars but also his bodily Infirmities was always mindful of the Affairs of State thô at spare times he used Hunting for his Recteation and to oversee and direct his Artificers Huntsmen and Faulkners He built also his Houses much more Magnificent than those of his Predecessors and at leisure times was wont to read English Saxon Books and learn Verses in the same Tongue by heart so that he never failed when he was alone to imploy himself well And for the better performance of his Duty he vowed to bestow half his time as far as his occasions and Infirmities would permit in God's Service And because it was impossible to know how the Hours of the Day and Night past when often by reason of the Clouds the Sun could not be seen no Clocks being then invented he began to think how he might distinguish the Hours by Night as well as by Day and at last by his own ingenious contrivance he ordered Six Wax-Tapers to be made of equal length and bigness so that each Taper being divided into Inches and every Inch marked out upon the Taper by this means those Six Tapers being set up one after another before the Reliques of the Saints which he still carried with him gave a constant and certain Light during the whole Twenty four Hours both by Night and by Day But when sometimes by reason of the Wind which came in at the Windows or Doors of the Chappel or thorough the Chinks of the Walls or the Cloth of his Tents the Tapers were made to burn out sooner than they were used to do at other times he first found out the Invention of making Lanthorns of Cow's Horns cut into thin Plates whereby no Wind could wast the Tapers so that by this Invention none of them burnt out sooner than another Afterwards he endeavoured to perform his former Vow in dedicating half his time to God so that he was wont not only to hear Mass every day but also to repeat his Prayers Psalms and other Nocturnal Offices having made a Collection out of David's Psalms for his own private use which being with certain Prayers written in a small Book he always carried about with him in his Bosom he likewise used to frequent the Church in the Night time and there alone to say his Prayers He was also very liberal in his Alms to Strangers as well as his own People treating all sorts of Men with great Gentleness and Affability he would often hear the Scriptures read by his own Servants and also Prayers read by Strangers when he came to any place by chance He loved his Bishops and all the Clergy very well as also his Earls Noblemen and Servants expressing his affection in Educating their Sons in his own Family and by causing them to be constantly instructed in Letters and good Manners with the same care as if they had been his own Children Yet for all this the King was not satisfied but was sorry that God had not made him more capable of true Wisdom as well as Liberal Arts admiring Solomon for nothing more than that despising Riches and Worldly Glory and desiring of God Wisdom he thereby obtained not only those outward things but this Request too over and above Thus our King imitated the Bee which rising early gathers Honey from all sorts of Flowers So whatever was rare that he had not in his own Kingdom he fetched from abroad for about this time God favouring his Pious Desires sent him Werfriht after Bishop of Worcester one very well skilled in the Holy Scriptures who by this King's Command Elegantly and exactly Translated the Dialogues of Pope Gregory out of Latin into the English Saxon Tongue and after him Plegmond a Mercian who was afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury a Venerable Man and indued with all true Knowledge to whom we may also add Aethelstan and Werwulf Priests and the King's Chaplains These learned Men above-mentioned King Aelfred had sent for out of Mercia whose Erudition as it daily encreased the King's Love to it so his greedy Thirst after it could never be satisfied for Night and Day as often as he had leisure he Commanded some or other to read to him for he was never without one of them near him whereby he obtain'd a general Knowledge of almost all sorts of Books nor was he contented with those he found at home but he sent Messengers into France to procure new Masters fetching from thence one Grimbald a Priest and Monk a worthy Man and an excellent Chanter and one well skilled in all Secular as well as Ecclesiastical Learning as also John another Priest and Monk throughly versed in all manner of Litterature by whose assistance as the King's Mind became much inlarged so in Requital he Honour'd and Enrich'd them And here I may likewise add what some other Authors have written concerning these two last Learned Persons by whose assistance he first Founded the University of Oxford as hath been already related for John Rouse in his History of the Kings of England hath wrote of these two Monks that Grimbald was sent for from his Monastery in Flanders then counted part of France as John was from his of St. Bertin at St. Omers this is that John commonly call'd Scotus and Erigena thô from whence he borrowed this last Name I shall not determine since the Learned differ so much about it 't was he Translated Dionisius his Hierarchia out of Greek into Latin which is now publish'd by the Learned Dr. Gale About the same time Asser also relates that he was sent for by the King from the Western or furthest Parts of Britain that is from St. David's in Wales and being kindly received by him he earnestly entreated him to leave whatever he had on the other side of Severne and Dedicate himself wholly to his Service but he could not promise that for above six Months in the Year standing engaged the other six to reside at his own Monastery for the Abbot and Monks there hoped that by his Interest with the King they might better avoid those Troubles and Injuries From King Hemeid who had often spoiled that
Council at London as well of Ecclesiasticks as Laicks where were present Odo and Wulstan Archbishops with many other Bishops to consult for the good of their own Souls and of those that were committed to their Care and Government At which Synod or Council were enacted several Laws viz. but they being six in number of mere Ecclesiastical Concernment as for paying Tithes and against Fornication with Nuns and Perjury I omit them Then Follow in Bromton's Copy seven other Constitutions of Civil Concernment said to have been made by the King his Bishops and Wise Men at Cullington not extant in the Saxon Edition The first of these requires an Oath of Fidelity to be taken by all to King Edmund in like manner as a man ought to bear Faith to his Lord without any Controversy or Sedition both in publick and private to love whom the King should love and to hate whom he should hate and before the Oath be given that no man should conceal a Crime in his Brother or Neighbour more than in a Stranger The second concerning the apprehension of Thieves enjoins that if it be known for certain where a Thief is the Twelfhind and Twihind men i. e. the former worth Twelve hundred and the latter Two hundred Shillings of Estate should combine together and take him either alive or dead but in case any man take up a mortal Feud against another for so doing he is to be esteemed as the Enemy of the King and all his Friends And if any refuse to assist in his apprehension he shall forfeit to the King an 120 shillings and to the Hundred 30 shillings The fourth enjoins That if several Thieves do steal the eldest of them shall be hanged and each of the rest be whipp'd thrice and for an Example have his little finger cut off This I take notice of because it is the first Law whereby Thieves are expresly ordered to be hanged without being admitted to pay their Weregild or Price of their Heads The fifth and sixth being against buying and receiving Strangers Cattel I pass by The seventh enjoins that every Person make his Servants and all that live within his Peace i. e. his District and on his Lands to give Security and also that all others of Ill Fame who lye under Accusations should have Security given for them and what Officer Thane Ealdorman or Countreyman soever he be that refuseth to do according thereunto shall forfeit 120 shillings and further be deemed worthy of such Punishments as have been before mentioned After these follow seven other of King Edmund's Laws found both in Bromton and Lambard's Copies before which also we find a Preface Wherein the King signifies to all Subjects both old and young that he had most studiously enquired in a Solemn Assembly of Ecclesiasticks and Laicks by what means the Christian Life might best be maintained and that it seemed most convenient to them all that he should cherish and procure Love and mutual Friendship through all his Dominions for they were much troubled at the unjust Divisions and Contentions among them therefore the King and they did now ordain First That if hereafter one man kill another he alone should bear the Deadly Feud or Enmity of the Kindred of the Party slain unless within Twelve Months by the assistance of his own Kindred he should pay the Weregild or value of the slain man's head of what condition soever he was and then they should not be taken for Enemies in the mean time they shall not relieve him nor have peace with him and if they do or have they shall forfeit all their Estate to the King and he that shall kill any man shall be taken as an Enemy by all the Kindred of the slain and they may maintain Deadly Feud against him and if any shall revenge himself upon or prosecute any other of his Kindred besides the Manslayer himself he shall forfeit all he hath and be taken as an Enemy both by the King and all that love him Which Law was made because before this if one man killed another the Kindred of the slain had a Mortal Feud and revenged his Death upon any of the Relations of the Murderer as they do among the Indians even to this day The second denounces That if a man fly to a Church or to the King's Town and there any one set upon him or do him harm he shall be punished in the same manner By the third the King expresly forbids that any Fyhtwite or Manbote that is any Fine for fighting or killing be remitted By the fourth the King opâ—nly declares that his House shall afford no shelter to him that hath shed blood except he have first made satisfaction to God and the Kindred of the Party slain and done whatsoever was enjoined him by the Bishop in whose Diocess the Fact was committed The sixth enjoins That he that breaks the Peace and sets upon a man in his own house shall forfeit all he hath and his Life be at the Kings's Mercy The seventh and last of these Laws is also concerning Enmities or Deadly Feuds declaring that it is the Duty of all Wise Men to suppress them and prescribing the way and means of doing it As First That an Indifferent Friend be sent before to the Kindred of him that is slain to signify to them that he that killed him will make all due satisfaction upon which the Manslayer shall be delivered into his hands that he may safely appear and give Caution for the Payment of the value of the dead man's head which as soon as he hath done the King's Peace is next to be made betwixt them Then after the end of one and twenty days he shall pay Halsfage according to Bromton's Copy or as the Saxon Text has it Healfange that is as Mr. Lambard interprets it that which was paid in Commutation for the Punishment of hanging by the Neck to the King or Lord. The rest as being tedious I omit for I think sufficient to let the Reader understand the nature of these Deadly Feuds or Family Quarrels among the English who were derived from the Ancient Saxons Germans and other barbarous Northern Nations that commonly maintained private Quarrels by their whole Kindred thereby rendring their Feuds as it were Hereditary So Tacitus writes concerning the Germans that they were forced to take up the Quarrels and Friendships of their Fathers and Kinsmen Besides these Laws before-mentioned there is some other Constitutions ascribed to the same King Edmund concerning the Manner and Rites of Marriage and though found by Sir H. Spelman in Saxon in an Ancient Book belonging to Corpus Christi College in Cambridge tacked to the Laws of King Alfred yet Bromton reckons them amongst the Laws of King Edmund and I think they ought rather to be supposed his They are to this effect That where a man resolves to marry a Woman with her Friends Consent the Bridegroom shall give Caution or Security by his
Friends not only to marry her but also to fulfil the Covenants made between them and shall also engage to maintain her After that the Bridegroom is to declare what he will give his Bride besides that which she formerly made choice of with his good liking if she survive him In case they so agree it provides that after his Decease she shall have the one half of all his Estate and if they have a Child betwixt them the whole till such time as â—he marry again Then when they have agreed on all things the Kindred of the Bride shall contract her to him and engage for her Honesty and at the same time they shall give Caution for the Celebration of the Marriage The rest being not very material I omit and have only set down these to let the Reader see the Antiquity of Covenants before Marriage and of Bonds for the performance of them as also of Jointures the Thirds of the Estate not being then settled by Law as Dower by what I can find Having now finished the Reign of King Edmund I have no more to observe but that though he left two Sons by the Queen his Wife viz. Edwi and Edgar yet notwithstanding his Brother Edred succeeded to him as Next Heir for so Ethelwerd as well as Florence of Worcester stiles him King EDRED THIS year according to our Annals Eadred Aetheling after his Brother's Decease was made King and presently reduced all Northumberland under his Obedience Upon which the Scots also swore to perform whatever he would require of them But the Manuscript Life of St Dunstan written by a Monk of those times and which is now in the Cottonian Library is much more particular concerning this King's Succession saying That King Edmund being slain Eadred took the Kingdom succeeding to his Brother as his Heir Which is also confirmed by Florence of Worcester who says That Edred being Next Heir to his Brother succeeded him And Ethelwerd gives us the reason of it more fully That he succeeded him quippe ejus Haeres because he was Next Heir And Simeon of Durham further adds That this King was Crowned at Kingston by Odo Archbishop of Canterbury H. Huntington and Mat. Westminster give us the Particulars of this War against the Northumbers and Scots more at large viz. That he subdued the Northumbrians with a powerful Army they refusing to submit to his Dominion and that the Scots thereupon being afraid submitted themselves to him without any War at all and that the King of the Scots swore Fidelity to him It seems here by Ingulph that this Submission of the Northumbers was wrought by the means of Turketule Chancellor to King Edred and afterwards Abbot of Croyland who was now sent Ambassador to the Northumbers to reduce them to their Duty which he upon his Arrival at York performed with that Prudence and Diligence that he brought back the Archbishop and all the People of that City to their former Allegiance But R. Hoveden places the Oath taken by the Northumbrians under this year and that Wulstan Archbishop of York and all the Northumbrian Lords swore Fealty to King Edred in a Town called Tadencliff though they did not long observe it Under this year most of the Welsh Chronicles place the death of that Worthy Prince Howel Dha and say That he left his four Sons Owen Run Roderic and Edwin his Heirs of all his Territories in South-Wales But as for North Wales it returned to the two Sons of Edwal Voel called Jevaf and Jago because Meyric their Elder Brother was not thought fit to govern These as being of the Elder House would have had the Supreme Government of all Wales which being denied them by the Sons of Howel caused great and long Wars between them Yet nothwithstanding other of the Welsh Chronicles place the death of Howel Dha much later for they make him Contemporary with our King Edgar as shall be shewn when we come to the History of his Reign in the next Book Also the same year according to R. Hoveden King Edred being much provoked by the Treachery of the Northumbers laid all Northumberland waste in which devastation the Monastery of Ripun which had been built by Bishop Wilfrid was burnt But our Annals defer this Rebellion of the Northumbers to the year following When Anlaf again returned into the Countrey of the Northumbers This is also confirmed by Florence of Worcester and H. Huntington viz. That King Edred being returned into the Southern parts of the Kingdom Anlaf who had been formerly expell'd the Kingdom of Northumberland reâ—urned thither with a great Navy and being received with joy by the people was again restored to his Kingdom About this time Jago and Jevaf Princes of North-Wales entred South-Wales with a great and powerful Army against whom came over the Eldest Son of Howel with his Brethren and fought a Battel at the Hills of Carne where Jevaf and Jago obtained the Victory And the year following the same Princes twice invaded South-Wales and spoiled Dyvet and slew Dunwallon Lord thereof And to place these Welsh Wars together in the year 952. the said Sons of Howel Dha gathered their Forces together against Jevaf and Jago and entred their Countrey as far as the River Coâ—â—y where they fought a cruel bloody Battel at a place called Gwrhustu or Llanrwst Multitudes being slain on both sides as Edwin the Son of Howel Dha with other Welsh Princes and the Sons of Howel being vanquish'd Jevaf and Jago pursued them as far as Curdigan destroying their Countrey with Fire and Sword This year according to the Annals Aelfeag Bishop of Winchester deceased at the Feast of St. Gregory The Northumbers again expelled King Anlaf and set up Eric the Son of Harold for their King This is the same with Eric mentioned by Hoveden who yet did not immediately enter upon the Throne as that Author supposes till Anlaf had been expell'd but Florence of Worcester and the Chronicle of Mailrosse place the expulsion of Anlaf and the setting up of Eric two years sooner and perhaps with better reason For the same year according to Hoveden King Edred made Wulstan Archbishop of York close Prisoner at Witharbirig because he had been often accused to him upon divers accounts Yet Will. Malmesbury tells us expresly it was for favouring or conniving at his Countreymen in their late Rebellion But after he had kept him a long time in Prison he thought fit to pardon him out of reverence to his Function And the year following the Chronicle of Mailrosse relates that Archbishop Wulstan being set free was restored to his Episcopal Function at Doncacester But this is certain King Edred could not have done this till after Eric had been driven out as this Author more truly reckons tho our Annals do it the next year saying That The Northumbers drove out King Eric and King Eadred again possessed himself of that Kingdom With which also H.
and instead thereof engaged the Prince of Wales to send him a Yearly Tribute of so many Wolves Heads in lieu of that Tribute which the said Prince performed till within some Years there being no more Wolves to be found either in England or Wales that Tribute ceased But to proceed with our Annals This Year deceased Aelfgar Cousin to the King and Earl also of Devonshire whose Body lies buried at Wilton Sigeferth likewise here called a King though he was indeed no more than Vice-King or Earl of some Province now made himself away and was buried at Winborne The same Year was a great Mortality of Men and a very Malignant Feaver raged at London Also the Church of St. Pauls at London was this Year burnt and soon after rebuilt and Athelmod the Priest went to Rome and there died I have nothing else to add that is remarkable under this Year but the Foundation of the Abby of Tavistock by Ordgar Earl of Devonshire afterwards Father-in-law to King Edgar though it was within less than fifty years after its foundation burnt down by the Danes in the Reign of King Ethelred but was afterwards rebuilt more stately than before This Year Wolfstan the Deacon deceased and afterwards Gyric the Priest These I suppose were some men of remarkable Sanctity in that Monastery to which this Copy of these Annals did once belong The same Year also Abbot Athelwald received the Bishoprick of Winchester and was consecrated on a Sunday being the Vigil of St. Andrew The second year after his Consecration he repaired divers Monasteries and drove the Clerks i. e. Canons from that Bishoprick because they would observe no Rule and placed Monks in their stead He also founded two Abbies the one of Monks and the other of Nuns and afterwards going to King Edgar he desired him to bestow upon him all the Monasteries the Danes had before destroyed because he intended to rebuild them which the King willingly granted Then the Bishop went to Elig where St. Etheldrith lieth buried and caused that Monastery to be rebuilt and then gave it to the care of one of his Monks named Brightnoth and afterwards made him Abbot of the Monks of that Monastery where there had been Nuns before Then Bishop Athelwald went to the Monastery which is called Medeshamstead which had also been destroyed by the Danes where he found nothing but old Walls with Trees and Bushes growing among them but at last he spied hidden in one of these Walls that Charter which Abbot Headda had formerly wrote in which it appeared that King Wulfher and Ethelred his Brother had founded this Monastery and that the King with the Bishop had freed it from all secular servitude and Pope Agatho had confirmed it by his Bull as also the Archbishop Deus Dedit Which Charter I suppose is that the Substance of which is already recited in the Fourth book Anno 656. and which I have there proved to be forged for the Monks had then a very fair opportunity to forge that Charter and afterwards to pretend they found it in an old Wall But letting that pass thus much is certain from the Peterburgh Copy of these Annals That the said Bishop then caused this Monastery to be rebuilt placing a new Set of Monks therein over whom he appointed an Abbot called Aldulf Then went the Bishop to the King and shewed him the Charter he had lately found whereby he not only obtained a new Charter of Confirmation of all the Lands and Privileges formerly granted by the Mercian Kings but also many other Townships and Lands there recited as particularly Vndale with the Hundred adjoining in Northamptonshire which had formerly been a Monastery of it self as may be observed in the account we have already given of the Life of the Archbishop Wilfrid The King likewise granted That the Lands belonging to that Monastery should be a distinct Shire having Sac and Soc Tol and Team and Infangentheof which terms I shall explain in another place the King there also grants them a Market with the Toll thereof and that there should be no other Market between Stamford and Huntington and to the former of these the King also granted the Abbot a Mint But as for the Names of the Lands given together with the Limits and the Tolls of the Market there mentioned I refer the Reader to the Charter it self Then follows the Subscription of the King with the Sign of the Cross and next the Confirmation of the Archbishop of Canterbury with a dreadful Curse on those that should violate it as also the Confirmation of Oswald Archbishop of York Athelwald Bishop of Winchester with several other Bishops Abbots Ealdormen and Wisemen who all confirmed it and signed it with the Cross This was done Anno Dom. 972. of our Lord's Nativity and in the sixteenth year of the King's Reign which shews this Coppy of the Annals to be written divers years after these things were done as does also more particularly that short History concerning the Affairs of this Abby and the Succession of its Abbots for many years after this time As how Abbot Adulf bought many more Lands wherewith he highly enriched that Monastery where he continued Abbot till Oswald Archbishop of York deceased and he succeeded him in the Archbishoprick and then there was another chosen Abbot of the said Monastery named Kenulph who was afterwards Bishop of Winchester he first built a Wall round the Monastery and gave it the name of Burgh which was before called Medeshamested but he being sometime after made Bishop of Winchester another Abbot was chosen from the same Abby called Aelfi who continued Abbot fifty years He removed the Bodies of St. Kyneburge and St. Cynesuith which lay buried at Castra and St. Tibba which lay entomb'd at Rehala i. e. Ryal in Rutlandshire and brought them to Burgh and dedicated them to St. Peter keeping them there as long as he continued Abbot I have been the more particular in the Account of this so Ancient and Famous Monastery as having been the Episcopal See of the Bishops of Peterburgh almost ever since the Dissolution of that Abby in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth This Year also according to Simeon of Durham King Edgar married Ethelfreda the Daughter of Ordgar Earl of Devonshire after the Death of her Husband Ethelwald Earl of the East-Angles Of her he begot two Sons Edwald and Ethelred the former of whom died in his Infancy but the latter lived to be King of England But before he married this Lady it is certain he had an Elder Son by Elfleda sirnamed The Fair Daughter of Earl Eodmar of whom he begot King Edward called the Martyr But whether King Edgar was ever lawfully married to her may also be doubted since Osbern in his Life of St. Dunstan says That this Saint baptized the Child begotten on Ethelfleda the King's Concubine with whom also agrees Nicholas Trevet in his Chronicle though I confess the Major
if they cannot get them then they should take him alive or dead and seize on all his Estate whereof the Complaining Party having received such a share as should satisfy him the one half of the remainder shall go to the Lord of the Soil and the other half to the Hundred And if any of that Court being either akin to the Party or a stranger to his Blood refuse to go to put this in execution he should forfeit 120 shillings to the King And farther That such as are taken in the very act of stealing or betraying their Masters should not be pardoned during life The Eighth and last ordains That one and the same Money should be current throughout the King's Dominions which no man must refuse and that the measure of Winchester should be the Standard and that a Weigh of Wool should be fold for half a Pound of Money and no more The former of those is the first Law whereby the Private Mints to the Archbishops and several Abbots being forbid the King's Coin was only to pass But to return to our Annals Ten days before the Death of King Edgar Bishop Cyneward departed this life King EDWARD sirnamed the Martyr KING Edgar being dead as you have now heard Prince Edward succeeded his Father though not without some difficulty for as William of Malmesbury and R. Hoveden relate the Great Men of the Kingdom were then divided Archbishop Dunstan and all the rest of the Bishops being for Prince Edward the Eldest Son of King Edgar whilst Queen Aelfreda Widow to the King and many of her Faction were for setting up her Son Ethelred being then about Seven Years of Age that so she might govern under his Name But besides the pretence was which how well they made out I know not That King Edgar had never been lawfully married to Prince Edward's Mother Whereupon the Archbishops Dunstan and Oswald with the Bishops Abbots and many of the Ealdormen of the Kingdom met together in a Great Council and chose Prince Edward King as his Father before his Death had ordained and being thus Elected they presently Anointed him being then but a Youth of about Fifteen Years of Age. But it seems not long after the Death of King Edgar though before the Coronation of King Edward Roger Hoveden and Simeon of Durham tell us that Elfer Earl of the Mercians being lustily bribed by large Presents drove the Abbots and Monks out of the Monasteries in which they had been settled by King Edgar and in their places brought in the Clerks i.e. Secular Chanons with their Wives but Ethelwin Ealdorman of the East-Angles and his Brother Elfwold and Earl Brythnoth opposed it and being in the Common Council or Synod plainly said They would never endure that the Monks should be cast out of the Kingdom who contributed so much to the Maintenance of Religion and so raising an Army they bravely defended the Monasteries of the East-Angles so it seems that during this Interregnum arose this Civil War about the Monks and the above-mentioned Dissention amongst the Nobility concerning the Election of a new King But this serves to explain that Passage in our Annals which would have been otherwise very obscure viz. That then there was viz. upon the Death of King Edgar great Grief and Trouble in Mercia among those that loved God because many of his Servants that is the Monks were turned out till God being slighted shewed Miracles on their behalf and that then also Duke Oslack was unjustly banished beyond the Seas a Nobleman who for his Long Head of Hair but more for his Wisdom was very remarkable And that then also strange Prodigies were seen in the Heavens such as Astrologers call Comets and as a Punishment from God upon this Nation there followed a great Famine Which shews this Copy of the Annals was written about this very time And then the Author concludes with Aelfer the Ealdorman's commanding many Monasteries to be spoiled which King Edgar had commanded Bishop Athelwold to repair All which being in the Cottonian Copy serves to explain what has been already related But the next year ' Was the great Famine in England as just now mentioned About the same time according to Caradoc's Chronicle Aeneon the Son of Owen Prince of South-Wales destroyed the Land of Gwyr the second time This year after Easter was that great Synod at Kirtlingtun which Florence of Worcester and R. Hoveden call Kyrleing but where that place was is very uncertain Florence places it in East-England but Sir H. Spelman acknowledges that he does not know any place in those parts that ever bore that name but supposes it to have been the same with Cartlage now the Seat of the Lord North But had not Florence placed it in East-England that Town whose name comes nearest to it is Kyrtlington in Oxfordshire which is also the more confirmed by that which follows in these Annals viz. That Sydeman the Bishop of Devonshire i. e. of Wells died here suddenly who desired his Body might be buried at Krydeanton his Episcopal See but King Edward and Archbishop Dunstan order'd it to be carried to St. Maâ—ies in Abingdon were he was honourably Interr'd in the North Isle of St. Paul's Church Therefore it is highly probable that the place where this Bishop died was not far from Abingdon where he was buried as Kirtlington indeed is But what was done in this Council can we no where find only it is to be supposed that it was concerning this great Difference between the Monks and the Secular Chanons as the former Council was The same year also were great Commotions in Wales for Howel ap Jevaf Prince of North-Wales with a great Army both of Welsh and Englishmen made War upon all who defended or succoured his Uncle Jago and spoiled the Countries of Lhyn Kelynnoc Vawr so that Jago was shortly after taken Prisoner by Prince Howel's men who after that enjoyed his part of the Countrey in peace Nor can I here omit what some of our Monkish Writers and particularly John Pike in his compendious Supplement of the Kings of England now in Manuscript in the Cottonian Library relates That there being this year a Great Council held at Winchester again to debate this great Affair concerning the turning out of the Monks and restoring the Secular Chanons and it being like to be carried in their favour a Crucifix which then stood in the room spoke thus God forbid it should be so This amazing them they resolved to leave the Monks in the condition they then were But whether these words were ever spoke at all or if they were whether it might not be by some person that stood unseen behind the Crucifix I shall leave to the Reader to determine as he pleases Next year all the Grave and Wise Men of the English Nation being met about the same Affair at Calne in Wiltshire fell down together from a certain Upper Room where they were assembled
wrote but the wonder will be much abated when we consider that he had the King's Purse at his command besides those of other people who then looked upon such Works as meritorious But to return to our Annals Elfeage whose sirname was Goodwin succeeded Athelwald and was consecrated 14. Kal. Novemb. but was enthron'd at Winchester at the Feast of St. Simon and Jude R. Hoveden tells us he was first Abbot of Bathe and then Archbishop of Canterbury but at last was killed by the Danes being a man of great Sanctity of Life Also the same year Howel ap Jevaf Prince of North-Wales came into England with an Army where he was fought with and slain in Battel but the place is not mentioned This Howel having no Issue his Brother Cadwalhan succeeded him This year according to the Saxon Annals Aelfric the Ealdorman was banish'd the Land Mat. Westminster stiles him Earl of Mercia and says he was Son to Earl Alfure but neither of them inform us of the Crime for which he suffered that Punishment King Ethelred laid waste the Bishoprick of Rochester and also there was a great Mortality of Cattel in England William of Malmesbury and R. Hoveden do here add much light to our Annals That the King because of some Dissentions between him and the Bishop of Rochester besieged that City but not being able to take it went and wasted the Lands of St. Andrew i. e. those belonging to that Bishoprick but being commanded by the Archbishop to desist from his Fury and not provoke the Saint to whom that Church is dedicated the King despised his Admonition till such time as he had an Hundred Pounds sent to him and then he drew off his Forces but the Archbishop abhorring his sordid Covetousness is there said to have denounced fearful Judgments against him though they were not to be inflicted till after the Archbishop's death This year as the Welsh Chronicles relate Meredyth Son to Owen Prince of South-Wales entred North-Wales with what Forces he could raise and slew Cadwalhon ap Jevaf in a Fight together with Meyric his Brother and conquered the whole Countrey to himself Wherein we may observe how God punished the wrong which Jevaf and Jago did to their eldest Brother Meyric who being disinherited had his eyes put out for first Jevaf was imprisoned by Jago as Jago himself was by Howel the Son of Jevaf and then this Howel and his Brethren Cadwalhon and Meyric were slain and lost their Dominions This year Weedport that is Watchet in Somersetshire was destroyed by the Danes About this time as appears by the Charter in the Monast. Angl. p. 284. the Abby of Cerne in Dorsetshire was founded by Ailmer Earl of Cornwall near to a Fountain where it was said that St. Augustine had formerly baptized many Pagans And where also long after Prince Edwold Brother to St. Edmund the Martyr quitting his Countrey then over run by the Danes lived and died an Hermit But it seems from the Manuscript History of Walter of Coventry this Abby was only enlarged by this Earl Ailmer having been built some years before by one Alward his Father a Rich and Powerful Person in those Parts Goda a Thane was killed and there was a great Slaughter But the same Author last mentioned writing from some other Copy of Annals relates this Story another way That this Goda being Earl of Devonshire together with one Strenwald a valiant Knight marching out to fight the Danes they were both there killed but there being more of them destroyed than of the English the latter kept the field But to return to our Annals This year Dunstan that Holy Archbishop exchanged this Terrestrial Life for a Heavenly one and Ethelgar Bishop of Selsey succeeded him but lived not long after viz. only One Year and Three Months This is that Great Archbishop called St. Dunstan who was the Restorer of the Monkish Discipline in England and who made a Collection of Ordinances for the Benedictine Order by which he thought the Rule of that Order might be more strictly observed in all the Monasteries of England Edwin the Abbot I suppose of Peterborough deceased and Wulfgar succeeded him The same year also Bishop Syric was consecrated Archbishop in the room of Ethelgar abovementioned and afterwards he went to Rome to obtain his Pall. This man is commonly written Siricins but his Name in English Saxon was Syric or Sigeric About this time according to the Welsh Chronicle Meredyth Prince of North Wales destroyed the Town of Radnor whilst his Nephew Edwin or as some Copies call him Owen the Son of Eneon assisted by a great Army of English under Earl Adelf spoiled all the Lands of Prince Meredyth in South-Wales as Cardigan c. as far as St. Davids taking Pledges of all the Chief Men of those Countries whilst in the mean time Prince Meredyth with his Forces spoiled the Countrey of Glamorgan So that no place in those parts was free from Fire and Sword Yet at last Prince Meredyth and Edwin his Nephew coming to an agreement were made Friends But whilst Meredyth was thus taken up in South-Wales North-Wales lay open to the Danes who about this time arriving in Anglesey destroyed the whole Isle This year Gipiswic was wasted by the Danes this was Ipswich in Suffolk and shortly after Brightnoth the Ealdorman was slain at Maldune All which mischief Florence of Worcester tells us was done by the Danes whose Captains were Justin and Guthmund when the Person abovementioned fighting with them at Maldon there was a great multitude slain on both sides and the said Earl or Ealdorman was slain there so that the Danes had the Victory The same year also according to the Annals it was first decreed that Tribute should be paid to the Danes because of the great Terror which they gave the Inhabitants of the Sea-Coast The first Payment was Ten thousand Pounds and it is said Archbishop Syric first gave this Counsel To which also R. Hoveden adds That Adwald and Alfric the Ealdormen join'd with him in it but which as William of Malmesbury well observes served only to satisfy for a time the Covetousness of the Danes and being a thing of infamous example a generous Mind would never have been prevailed upon by any violence to have submitted to for when the Danes had once tasted the sweetness of this Money they never left off exacting still more so long as there was any left but they now met with a weak and unwarlike Prince most of whose Nobility were no better than himself and so as the same Author farther observes they were fain to buy off those with Silver who ought to have been repell'd with Iron This year Oswald that blessed Archbishop of York departed this life as also did Ethelwin the Ealdorman The former of them Simeon of Durham tells us had the year before consecrated the Abby Church of Ramsey which the latter had newly founded and
year the same Archbishop translated the Reliques of St. Aelfeage his Predecessor from London to Canterbury The King himself as William of Malmesbury tells us removed them with his own hands paying them all due Veneration and further adds that his Body remain'd as uncorrupt as if he had been but lately kill'd Richard the Second Duke of Normandy died and Richard his Son ruled after him one year and then Rodbert his Brother succeeded him and ruled eight years This year King Cnute sail'd with his Fleet into Denmark to a Plain near the Holy River but where that was I know not and there came against him Wulf and Eglaf with a very powerful Army out of Sweden both by Land and Sea and many on King Cnute's side were there killed both Danes and English the Swedes keeping the field of Battel After which Cnute returning into England I find no mention made of any Action here in any Author for the two succeeding years But then King Cnute sail'd with fifty Ships of English Thanes into Norway and drove King Olaf out of that Countrey and conquer'd it for himself Bromton's Chronicle relates That this Olaf being a Soft and Easy Prince was already in a manner driven out by his own Subjects and so Cnute only went as it were to receive the Kingdom from the Nobility and People who submitted themselves presently to him ' King Cnute came back into England And as R. Hoveden adds upon his Return banished Hacun a Danish Earl that had married his Niece Gunhilda who was his Sister's Daughter sending him away under pretence of an Embassy for the King was afraid lest otherwise he might deprive him both of his Kingdom and Life King Olaf return'd again into Norway to regain his Right but the People rising up against him he was there slain This is he who was afterwards canoniz'd under the Title of King Olaf the Martyr About this time as Guil. Gemeticensis and John of Walingford do both relate Robert Duke of Normandy pitying the long Exile of his Nephews Edward and Alfred sent Ambassadors to King Cnute requiring him to restore them to their Right but he not at all valuing his threatning sent the Ambassadors back with a Repulse whereat the Duke conceiving great indignation assembled his Nobles and by their Advice caus'd a great Navy to be prepar'd which in a short time came to Anchor at Fescam then the Duke with his Army put to Sea but by Tempest was driven into the Isle of Guernsey and so shatter'd that he was forced to return home where they were detain'd a long time by contrary Winds which was an extreme mortification to him But not long after Ambassadors came over to him from King Cnute signifying That he was contented to resign to the Young Princes half the Kingdom which they should peaceably enjoy during his life and that was not like to be long for he then laboured under a languishing Distemper Wherefore the Duke thought good for some time to defer his Expedition till he should be come back from Jerusalem whither he had vowed to undertake a Pilgrimage And when he had recommended to Robert Archbishop of Rouen and other Nobles his Son William then a Child of Seven Years old and received from them Assurances of their Fidelity to him he began the said Voyage and having perform'd it as he was returning homewards the next year he fell sick and died about the Alpes But of this William his Son by Harlotte his Concubine 〈◊〉 not only succeeded his Father but was also afterwards King of England as you shall hear when we come to his Reign This year as soon as King Cnute return'd into England he gave the Port of Sandwic to Christ's Church in Canterbury with all the Issues and Profits arising from thence on both sides the Haven according to an Extract from his Charter preserved among the Evidences of that Church and that as far as when the Tide of Flood was highest and a Ship lying near the Shore a man could from thence cast a little Axe on land so far the Christ-Church Officers should receive all Rights and Dues This year also according to Monast. Angl. King Cnute founded another Monastery for Benedictines in Norfolk which from its being seated in a Woody Place was called by St. Bennet's in Holme the Lands and Scite of which Abby being by King Henry the VIII th after the Dissolution of the Monasteries exchanged with the Bishop of Norwich for other Lands he is the only Bishop of England who has still the Title of an Abbot Also under this year I find a Charter in the Manuscript Copy of Florence of Worcester in the Bodleian Library made to the Monastery of St. Edmundsbury granting and confirming all its Lands and Privileges the beginning of which Charter being somewhat remarkable I shall here recite Cnute Rex Totius Albionis Insulae aliarumque Nationum adjacentium in Cathedra Regali promotus cum Consilio Decreto Archiepiscoporum Episcoporum Abbatum Comitum omniumque meorum Fidelium elegi sanciendum perpetuo stabilimento ab omnibus confirmandum quod Monasterium quod Badriceswerde nuncupatur c. which is also printed from the Original at the end of Mr. Petyts Treatise of the Rights of the Commons c. King Cnute having performed these great Deeds of Charity and Devotion not long after in the same year as our Annals inform us ' began his Journey to Rome But since our Annals do not tell us what he did there I shall give it you in short from his own Letter as I find it in William of Malmesbury which upon his return from Rome he wrote and sent into England by Living Abbot of Tavistock and begins thus Cnute King of Denmark Norway and all Swedeland to Ailnoth or Egelnoth the Metropolitan and to Alfric of York with all the Bishops and Primates and to the whole English Nation as well Noblemen as Plebeians Health Wherein he gives an account of his Journey as also the reason of his undertaking it then how honourably he was received at Rome and what he had there negotiated for the benefit of his Subjects Then he gives Directions and Commands to his Officers to do all Justice and Right to the People in his Absence a thing to which he resolved on as he says long before but never could till now accomplish what he had designed for the Pardon of his Sins and the Safety of all his Subjects he further signifies that he was received by all the Princes who at that time were with Pope John solemnizing the Feast of Easter with extraordinary Respect and Honour but especially by Conrade the German Emperor that he had dealt with them all about the concernments of his people both English and Danes that their Passage to Rome might be more free and open and had obtained that as well Merchants as others should with all safety pass and repass without any Toll
or Imposition He had also complained to the Pope that his Archbishops paid vast Sums of Money before they could obtain their Palls which Grievance was by the Pope's Decree taken off All these Immunities procured from the Pope the Emperor Rodolph King of France and all other Princes throughout whose Territories he travelled were confirmed by Oath under the Testimonies of Four Archbishops and Twenty Bishops with an innumerable Company of Dukes and other Noblemen there present Then follows a Thanksgiving to Almighty God for giving him such Success in what he had undertaken After this he desires it might be published to all the world that having devoted his Life to Godâ—s service he resolved to govern the People subject to him in all Piety Justice and Equity And in case any thing blameworthy had been done by him in his Youth by the help of God he was now ready to make full amends for it Therefore he charges all his Ministers whatsoever as well Sheriffs as others That for fear of him they should not pervert Justice because there was no necessity that Money should be raised by any unjust exactions And at last after great Asseverations how much he studied the Profit and Conveniency of his People he adjures all his Ministers before he arrived in England that they should procure all Dues to be paid according to the ancient Custom as the Alms of the Plow the Tythes of all Cattel brought forth in the same year Peter-Pence in August with the Tythes of Corn and at Martinmass the First fruits of the same called Curcescot or Cyrescot i.e. Money given to the Church in case this was not paid before his Return he threatens severely to animadvert upon every one according to the Laws William of Malmesbury further adds That at his Return he was as good as his word for he commanded all the Laws which had been made by former English Kings and chiefly by Ethelred his Predecessor to be observed under great Penalties for the true observation whereof our Kings says he are at this very day sworn under the name of the Good Laws of King Edward not that he only ordain'd them but because he observed them So that from hence we may take notice That Kings who have the least of Hereditary Title if they mean to reign happily ought in Policy as well as Conscience to observe the Laws of that Kingdom to which they have been advanced without any Right of Blood But to return again to our Annals they further tell us That upon the King's return from Rome where it seems he staid not long after he marched into Scotland and there King Malcolm became subject to him with two other Kings of the Isles called Maelbaerth and Jehmarc The same year also Robert Earl of Normandy went to Jerusalem and there died and William who was afterwards King of England began to reign being an Infant From whence we may plainly see that the Cottonian Copy of these Annals was wrote in the form we have them after the Conquest and though the other Copies do not expresly call him King of England yet they give him the Title of King William which is all one About this time as the Welsh Chronicles relate the Irish Scots invaded South-Wales by the means of Howel and Meredyth the Sons of Edwin above-mentioned who hired them against Rythaerch ap Jestyn the Usurping Prince of that Countrey whom by the assistance of these Scots they slew in Battel and by that means got the Government of South-Wales which they ruled jointly but with small quiet for the Sons of Rythaerch gathered together a great number of their Father's Friends to revenge his death with whom Prince Howel and Meredyth meeting at Hyarthwy after a long Fight routed them and made them fly but the year following Prince Meredyth himself was slain by the Sons of Conan ap Sitsylt Brother to Prince Lewelyn to revenge their Father's death whom Meredyth and his Brother Howel had slain This year appeared a strange kind of Wild-Fire such as no man ever remembred and did a great deal of mischief in divers places The same year also deceased Aelfsige Bishop of Winchester and Aelfwin the King's Chaplain succeeded in that See Merehwit Bishop of Somersetshire i. e. Wells deceased and was buried at Glastingabyrig ' Aetheric the Bishop died the Annals tell us not of what See But Simeon of Durham and R. Hoveden add That Malcolm King of Scots died this year to whom succeeded Mactade The same Authors farther tell us That King Cnute before his Death appointed Swane his Eldest Son to be King of Norway and Hardecnute his Son by Queen Aemma to be King of Denmark and Harold his Son by Aelgiva a Hampshire Lady to be King of England after himself This year King Cnute deceased at Scaeftesbyrig and was buried at the new Monastery at Winchester having been King of England almost twenty years There is no King that can deserve a more various Character than this since none who came in so roughly after govern'd more mildly He was naturally Cruel and very Ambitious and stuck not at any thing to gain a Kingdom as appears by his dealing with his Predecessor's Children and Brothers but more particularly with Olaf King of Norway whom Simeon of Durham relates to have been turn'd out of it by the secret Practices and Bribes which he liberally bestow'd upon the Great and Factious men of that Kingdom but however toward his latter end he reigned both prudently and moderately and we may say of him what a Roman Author does of one of his Emperors That it had been well for this Kingdom if he had never reign'd at all or else had continued longer none of his Sons resembling him either in Valour or Wisdom But to let you see that this King was really sensible before his death of the Vanity of Worldly Empire I shall to divert the Reader give you this story of him out of H. Huntington who thus relates it viz. That King Cnute being once at Southampton caus'd his Royal Seat to be plac'd on the shore while the Tide was coming in and with a Majestick Air said thus Thou Sea belongest to me and the Land whereon I sit is mine nor hath any one unpunished resisted my Commands I charge thee therefore come no further upon my Land neither presume to wet the Feet of thy Sovereign Lord. But the Sea as before came rowling on and without any Reverence at all not only wet but dashed him whereupon the King quickly rising up bade those that were about him to consider the weak and bounded Power of Kings and how none indeed deserved that Title but He whose Eternal Laws both Heaven and Earth and Seas obey A Truth so evident of it self that were it not to shame his Court-Flatterers who would not else be convinced Cnute needed not to have gone wet-shod home From thenceforth he would never afterwards wear his Crown but commanded it to
lying Northward from the Thames together with the City of London and Hardecnute enjoy all the Southern Provinces But Hardecnute having received his share of the Kingdom went into Denmark where making unnecessary delays Harold seized the whole Kingdom to himself Which is in part confirmed by an Ancient Manuscript Chronicle in the Cottonian Library which relates That Harold King of the Northumbrians and Mercians was elected King of all England and Hardecnute because he staid in Denmark was cast off To which may be added certain old Manuscript Annals now in the same Library part of which is supposed to be written by Henry of Huntington That Harold was elected by the Chief Men of the East-Angles i. e. the Danes of that Countrey together with the Londoners so that he usurped the Kingdom of his Brother Hardecnute being then in Denmark And Simeon of Durham relates That by the Consent of the Great Men of England Harold began to reign as true and just Heir but not so indisputably as King Cnute his Father had done because Hardecnute who was a truer Heir than he was then expected yet that in a short time the Kingdom became divided after the same manner as Ingulph hath related But it seems very unlikely that Hardecnute if he had been chosen King of any part of England would have left it and gone over into Denmark before he was well settled at home It is therefore more likely what Florence of Worcester asserts That Harold was at first elected King only of the Mercians and Northumbers Hardecnute being to enjoy all the rest but that not coming out of Denmark in due time Harold got himself chosen King of the whole Kingdom the year following But leaving this matter concerning Hardecnute's Succession which must be confessed is much in the dark the Author last mentioned does say That Harold after he had obtained the Royal Dignity sent his Guards speedily to Winchester and there tyrannically seized on the greater part of the Treasures of the King his Father which had been bequeathed by Cnute to the Queen his Mother-in-Law But I cannot omit taking notice of the most Cruel and Bloody Treatment of Prince Alfred Brother to King Edward and his Followers which because many of our Best and most Ancient Historians as well Printed as Manuscript refer to this year and that too not long after King Harold's coming to the Crown I shall here set down since it seems most likely to have happened now rather than at any other time For though our Authors differ much about it yet seeing most of the Ancient Manuscript Annals in the Cottonian Library as also that old Treatise called Encomium Emmae being a Panegyrick wrote on that Queen by a Monk of her own time agree in relating the Circumstances of this horrid Action I shall from thence transcribe this following Account of it viz. That King Harold seeking by Treachery how to get those two young Princes Sons to the late King Ethelred into his power forged a Letter in the Name of Queen Emma their Mother inviting them into England wherein personating her she seemed to chide them gently for their delay in not coming over to look after their own concerns seeing they could not but know that it procured the daily confirming of the Usurper in his power who omitted no arts or means whatsoever to gain the chief Nobility over to his Party yet also assures them that the English Nation had much rather have one of them to be their King and in conclusion desires they would come as speedily and as privately as they could to consult with her what course was best to be taken This Letter was sent to the Princes then in Normandy by an express Messenger with Presents also as from their Mother which they joyfully receiving returned word by the same hand That one of them would be with her shortly naming both the Time and Place Alfred who was the younger for so it was thought best at the appointed time with a few Ships and some small number of Normans about him appeared on the Coast and no sooner came ashore but fell into the Snare that Earl Godwin had laid for him being sent on purpose to betray him and being cajoll'd into a belief that he was sent for by the King then at London he was in the way met at Guilford by Earl Godwin who with all seeming Friendship at first kindly entertained him but in the night surprized the Prince and made him Prisoner with all his Company most of whom in all about Six hundred men were put to various kinds of cruel deaths and being twice decimated every Tenth man suffered without mercy The Prince was brought to London and by the King sent bound to Ely and had his eyes put out as soon as he landed there and being delivered to the Monks to be kept died soon after in their Custody but whether of the Pain or Grief or some other Indisposition is left uncertain Yet though this Author makes no mention of Prince Edward his Brother's coming over with him but rather asserting the contrary that he never came at all however several other Historians will have this Prince to have either come over then or some time before and that being with his Mother when his Brother was thus treated she immediately sent him back into Normandy which I must confess seems very improbable since Harold had it then in his power to destroy them both But though it is certain that this unfortunate Prince was made away yet since our Annals are wholly silent in it there is nothing about which our Historians so much vary as concerning the time when it was done William of Malmesbury and Bromton place it after the death of Harold and before the coming over of Hardecnute when they say that Prince Alfred arrived with some expectations of the Kingdom but the former plainly confesses that he related this story only upon common fame yet because the Chronicles i. e. the Saxon Annals are silent he will not affirm it for truth so it seems he had never seen the above-mention'd Encomium Emmae But that Prince Alfred was made away by the means of Earl Godwin we shall further make out when we come to the Reign of King Edward the Confessor And the reason that some of our Historians give for Godwin's cruel usage of Prince Alfred whilst he let his Brother escape is that Godwin was afraid of the High Spirit and Wit of this young Prince because he knew that if ever he came to be King he would never be governed by him nor marry his Daughter both which he hoped for from Edward in case he should be chosen King by his means as afterwards happen'd This whether true or not I will not determine yet it suits well enough with the Interest of that Politick Earl I shall say no more of this only we cannot but hence observe the great Uncertainty of Traditional Accounts though of no long standing
the Meat should be taken away untouched from such as were invited than that those who were not invited should complain for want of Victuals whereas saith he the custom of our time is either out of Covetousness or as they pretend because their people cannot eat for Great Men to allow their Followers but one Meal a day which shews that the custom of Set Suppers hath had divers Vicissitudeâ— being not commonly used in England in Great Mens Families at the time when H. Huntington wrote and therefore is an English Custom prevailing since that time the Norman Fashions being then most used John Rouse also in his Manuscript Treatise de Regibus Ang. already cited relates That the day of King Hardâ—cnute's Death was in his time kept by the English as an Holiday being called Hock-Wednesday on which they danced and drew Cords cross the way as they do in several Parishes in England even at this day to stop people till they will pay them some Money King Edward called the Confessor BEfore King Hardecnute was buried all the People chose Edward Aethâ—ling King at London who reigned as long as God permitted him But William of Malmesbury with greater probability says That this King did not come to the Crown without some difficulty for when he had received the News of his Brother Hardecnute's Death he was in great perplexity what was most advisable for him to do at last after mature deliberation he thought it the safest course to trust his Fortune to Earl Godwin's Advice who being sent for to a friendly Conference for some time he was considering whether he should come to him or not but at length he agreed to speak with him and upon the Enterview Edward was about to lay himself at his Feet but that he would by no means suffer Then the Prince earnestly desired he would assist him in his safe return to Normandy when immediately Godwin gave him this unexpected answer That he had better live gloriously King of England than dye ignominiously in Exile That the Crown did of Right belong to him as Son of Ethelred and Grandchild of Edgar That he was one of mature Age inur'd to Labour and who had learnt by experience how to order Publick Affairs with Justice and had been taught by his own late Afflictions how to remove and prevent the Miseries of the People That to bring this about there would be no great Obstacle for if he would but trust himself to him he should find that his Interest was very powerful in the Nation and that Fortune would be favourable to his just Pretensions and if he would accept of the Royal Dignity he was confident there would be none to oppose it but on condition that he would establish a firm Friendship with him and his Family by promising to prefer his Sons and marry his Daughter that then he should soon find himself a King Edward's case at this time was such as not to reject so fair Proposals but rather agree to any Conditions and comply with the present state of Affairs whatsoever therefore Godwin required he promised and swore to perform Now the Earl was a Man fitted by Nature for managing such an Intrigue having a very smooth and plausible Tongue so Eloquent that he could move and charm the Affections of the People insinuate into them whatsoever he pleased and bring them entirely over to his Interest and Service Upon this he procures a Great Council to be summoned at Gillingham some Copies have it at London and there he influenced some by his own Authority gain'd over others by his Promises and those who were inclined before to Prince Edward's Cause he fully settled and confirmed to his Party the rest that made opposition being over-power'd were first of all turn'd out of their Places and then banished the Land The Annals of the Abby of Winchester printed in the Monast. Ang. from the Manuscript in the Cottonian Library not only agree with William of Malmesbury in this Relation but are also much more particular viz. That Prince Edward coming to Godwin one morning in disguise to London fell at his Feet begging him to preserve his Life but the Earl taking him up promised to use him like his Son and also gave him farther Encouragements and Assurance so that Edward returning again to Winchester to his Mother Godwin shortly after summoned all the Great Men of the Kingdom to meet there to consult about making a New King Then these Annals proceed to relate the manner of this Election Viz. That Earl Godwin raising the Prince from the place where he sate at his feet being then incognito having his Hood over his Face said thus Behold your King This is Prince Edward the Son of King Ethelred and Queen Emma This is He whom I Elect c. and so first did him Homage Then after some Debates among themselves they all at last consented to his Election so that if it displeased any there they durst not shew their Discontent since Earl Godwin would have it so and Edward being thus Elected was not long after crown'd at Westminster Which is also confirmed by an Ancient Chronicle in the Cottonian Library already cited ending with this Prince which saith That Hardecnute being dead Eadward was advanced to the Crown by the endeavours chiefly of Earl Godwin and Living Bishop of Worcester Bromton's Chronicle farther adds That at this Grand Council all the Great Men of England agreed and swore with one consent That no Danes should reign over them any more because of the great Affronts and Contempts they had received from that Nation For they held the English in such servile subjection That if an Englishman had met a Dane upon a Bridge he was obliged to stand still till the other had passed by and if he had not bowed to the Dane he was sure to be well basted for his neglect so that as soon as King Hardecnute was dead the English drove all the Danes out of the Kingdom But notwithstanding the great happiness the English now received by having a King of their own Nation yet it seems This year was unfortunate for the Intemperance of the Season which as our Annals relate destroyed the Fruits of the Earth so that a great number of Cattel died Also about this time Aelf Abbot of Burgh deceased and Arnwi a Monk was chosen Abbot being a mild and good man About the same time also according to the Welsh Chronicle Prince Conan the Son of Jago who had fled into Ireland to save his life and coming now over from thence being assisted with the Forces of Alfred the Danish King of Dublin entred North-Wales by surprize took Prince Griffyth Prisoner and was carrying him away to his Ships But the people of the Countrey hearing of it they immediately rose and pursued the Irishmen and at last overtaking them rescued their Prince and made a great flaughter among them the rest with much difficulty got to their Ships and returned with
this matter among themselves some were for giving Judgment for the King but others differed from them saying That Earl Godwin had never been obliged to the King by either Homage Service or Fealty and therefore could be no Traytor to him and besides that he had not kill'd the Prince with his own hands But others replied That no Earl Baron nor any other Subject of the King could by Law wage Battel against him in his Appeal but ought upon the whole matter to submit himself to the King's Mercy and offer him reasonable Amends Then Leofric Earl of Chester who was an upright and sincere man both with respect to God and the world spoke thus Earl Godwin who next to the King is indeed a Person of the best Quality in England cannot deny but that by his Counsel Alfred the King's Brother was killed and therefore my opinion is That both he himself and his Sons and Twelve of us Earls that are his Friends and Kinsmen should appear humbly before the King each of us carrying as much Gold and Silver as he can bold in his Arms and offering it to him most humbly supplicate for his Pardon and then the King should remit to the Earl all Rancor and Anger whatsoever against him and having received his Homage and Fealty peacebly restore him to all his Lands To this the Assembly agreed and those that were appointed loading themselves with Treasure after the manner aforesaid went unto the King shewing him the order and manner of their Judgment which he being unwilling to contradict complied with and so ratified whatever they had before decreed This tho written a long time after the Conquest as appears by the Words there used viz. Parliament Baron Homage and Fealty yet it might be true in the main as being transcribed out of some Ancient Records of the Great Councils of those times which are now lost and if so would be a Notable Precedent of the large Authority of the Witena Gemot or Great Council of the Nation not only in assenting to new Laws but also of their Judicial Authority in giving Judgment upon all Suits or Complaints brought before them as well in Appeals between Subject and Subject as also where the King himself was a Party and if Authentick would also shew not only that this Tenure of the King by Homage and Fealty was in use before the Conquest but also according to the Judgment of this Great Council that there was no Allegiance due by Birth nor until a man had actually performed his Homage or sworn Fealty to the King and lastly that a satisfaction made by Money was looked upon as sufficient for the Death even of the King 's own Brother Yet to deal ingenuously with the Reader notwithstanding this fair story Bromton himself seems to doubt the truth of it for after he hath there told us from some nameless Author that Earl Godwin out of fear of some of the English Nobility who had sworn to be revenged of him for the murther of Prince Alfred retired into Denmark during the Reign of King Hardecnute but returning in the beginning of King Edward's Reign he appeared at a Parliament at London where the King impeached him of the Death of his Brother in the manner as you have already heard and if so this could not fall out as Mr. Selden supposes in this Great Council after this last return of Earl Godwin which happen'd not in the beginning but the middle of this King's Reign With which Relation also agree two Ancient Chronicles in French written in the time of Edward the Third and are both in the Cottonian Library And Bromton himself acknowledges that according to most Authors Earl Godwin never went into Denmark at all nor left England during the Reign of King Hardecnute so that this Transaction if it ever happen'd at all seems most likely to have fell out in the Reign of King Hardecnute when that King charged Earl Godwin with his Brother's Death and made him redeem it with a great Present as we have above told you But to conclude this year From the Peterburgh Copy of these Annals it appears that about this time Arnwy Abbot of Burgh resigned his Dignity by reason of his bad Health and conferred it with the King's License and the Consent of the Monks upon Leofriâ— a Monk of that Abby But Abbot Arnwy lived eight years after During which time Abbot Leofric so adorned that Monastery with rich Guildings that it was called the Golden Burgh he also endowed it very much with Lands as well as other Treasures This year according to Florence of Worcester Griffyn Prince of Wales entring England spoiled great part of Hâ—refordshire against whom many Inhabitants of that County marched together with the Norman Garison of Hereford Castle but Prince Griffyn meeting with them killed a great many and putting the rest to flight carried away a great deal of Booty This year Earl Godwin deceased 17 th Kal. of May and was buried in the Old Monastery of Winchester Of the manner of whose Death though our Annals are silent yet I shall here set down what I find concerning it by almost all our Historians and it is thus That King Edward celebrating the Feast of Easter at Winchester or at Windsor as some will have it Earl Godwin as his Custom was sitting at Table with him was suddenly seized with so violent a Distemper that it struck him speechless and made him fall off from the Chair on which he sate and his Three Sons Harold Tosti and Gyrth being present they immediately removed him into the King's Chamber hoping it was but a sudden Fit and would be speedily over but he lay in that languishing condition four days and died on the fifth This is the account of his Death to which the Norman Monks and such as write in favour of them add other Circumstances which shew either his Guilt or their Malice since they relate That mention being made by somebody at the King's Table of Alfred his late Brother he thereupon looked very angrily at Earl Godwin when he to vindicate himself told King Edward He perceived that upon the least mentioning of that Prince he cast a frowning Countenance upon him But saith he let not God suffer me to swallow this Morsel if I am guilty of any thing done either toward the taking away his Life or against your Interest After which words being presently choaked with the Bit he had just before put into his Mouth he sunk immediately down and never recovered more But let the manner of his death be as it will he was a Man of an Active and Turbulent Spirit not over-nicely conscientious either in getting or keeping what he could not to be excused for his too much forcing his Sovereign to whatever he listed But had he not been so great a Lover of his Countrey and an Enemy to Strangers those that wrote in the Norman times and who durst not write any thing but
what they knew would please their Masters would have passed him over without this Story and have given him a fairer Character His first Wife was the Sister of King Cnute by whom he had a Son but in his Infancy happening to mount an unruly Horse that was presented him by his Grandfather he was run away with into the Thames and there drowned His Mother was kill'd by Thunder which as then was believed fell upon her as a Judgment on the account of her great Cruelty for she made a Trade of selling handsome English Boys and Girls into Denmark After her Death Earl Godwin married another Wife and by her had Six Sons viz. Harold Sweyn Wined Tosti Gyrth and Leofwin His Earldom of West-Seaâ— was given to his Son Harold and the Earldom that Harold had before viz. Essex was conferred on Alfgar the Son of Leofric Earl of Mercia which is also confirmed by our Annals And the same year according to Simeon of Durham Rees the Brother of Griffyn King of South-Wales being taken Prisoner for the many Insolences he had committed against the English was by the Command of King Edward put to death at a place called Bulendun and his Head sent to the King then lying at Gloucester on the Vigil of Epiphany But this is omitted in the Welsh Chronicles as commonly every thing is that makes to the disadvantage of their own Nation This year Leo that Holy Pope of Rome deceased and Victor was elected in his stead And there was also so great a Murrain of all sorts of Cattel in England that none could ever remember the like And now according to the Welsh Chronicles Griffyth the Son of Ratherch ap Justin raised a great Army both of Strangers and others against Griffyth Prince of North Wales who delaying no time but getting all the Forces of that Countrey together and meeting the other Griffyth fought with him and slew him on the place though none of these Chronicles have told us where that was This was the last Rebellion or Welsh Civil War that happened in this Prince's Reign The same year according to Simeon of Durham and Roger Hoveden Siward that Valiant Earl of Northumberland at the Command of King Edward being attended with a powerful Army and a strong Fleet marched into Scotland to restore Malcolm the Right Heir to the Crown of that Kingdom where joining Battel with Macbeth the then Usurping King of Scots many both of that Nation and of the Normans who took their part were slain and the Earl put the Usurper to flight But in this Battel the Earl's Son and several of the English and Danes were slain H. Huntington further adds That when the News was brought to the Earl of the Death of his Son he presently asked Whether he had received the Wound behind or before And being told it was before he only replied I am glad to hear that for so it became my Son to dye He says also That this Son of his whom he does not name had been sent into Scotland before his Father and was there killed and that Earl Siward did not subdue Macbeth till the second Expedition in which he differs from all the rest of the English and Scotish Historians Buchanan indeed acknowledges that this Prince Malcolm having taken Refuge in the Court of England obtain'd of King Edward the Assistance of Ten thousand men under the Conduct of Earl Siward and that the rest were raised for him by Macduf and others of his Party that took Arms on his behalf But John Fordun in his History writes much more improbably and though he allows that King Edward offered Malcolm an Army sufficient to place him on the Throne yet that he refused it with Thanks and only took Earl Siward of all the English Lords along with him as if this Earl's single Might though he was a Man of great Strength and Stature signified any thing against the Forces of Macbeth unless he had also brought a powerful Army along with him Mat. Westminster also adds That Scotland being thus conquered by the Forces of King Edward he bestowed it upon King Malcolm to be held of himself But since this is not found in any of our Ancient Historians and this Author does not acquaint us from whence he had it I do not look upon it as worthy of any great Credit About this time according to Simeon Aldred Bishop of Worcester was sent Ambassador to the Emperor with Noble Presents and being received with great Honour by him as likewise by Herman Archbishop of Cologne he staid in Germany a whole year to prevail with the Emperor on the King's behalf to send Ambassadors into Hungary to bring back Prince Edward the King's Cousin Son of King Edmund Ironside into England The same year also according to the Latin Copy of the Annals ' Was a Battel at Mortimer in Normandy But though they do not tell us by whom it was fought yet from others we learn it was between William Duke of Normandy and the King of France where the former obtain'd a most signal Victory This year Siward Earl of Northumberland deceased and the King gave that Earldom to Tostig Son of Earl Godwin Of this Siward's death our Historians give us divers remarkable Circumstances That being near his End by a Bloody-Flux he said He was asham'd to dye thus like a Beast so causing himself to be compleatly Armed and taking his Sword in his hand as if he would have fought even Death it self he in this Posture expired as he supposed like a Man of Honour King Edward not long after this summoned a Witena Gemot or Great Council seven days before Midlent wherein Earl Aelfgar was outlaw'd upon a Charge of being a Traytor to the King and the whole Nation and of this he was convicted before all there assembled Then Earl Aelfgar went to the Castle of Prince Griffyn in North-Wales and the same year they both together burnt the City of Hereford with the Monastery of St. Aethelbert once King of the East-Angles whose Bones were here enshrin'd This Earl had the greater reason to do what he did having been unjustly banish'd as most of our Historians write Simeon of Durham is somewhat larger in his account of this Affair and says That this Earl Aelfgar first went to Ireland and there procuring Eighteen Pyrate-Ships sail'd with them into Wales to assist Prince Griffyn against King Edward where joining with the Welshmen they laid waste the Countrey about Hereford with Fire and Sword against whom was sent that Cowardly Earl Rodolph King Edward's Sister's Son who gathering an Army and meeting with the Welshmen about two miles from that City he commanded the Englishmen contrary to their custom to fight on Horseback but so soon as they were ready to join Battel Rodulph with all his Frenchmen ran away which the English seeing quickly followed By which you may see that it is no new thing for a Cowardly General to make Cowardly Soldiers The
the Abbot of Rievalle in his Life of King Edward informs us had been begun some years before in performance of a Vow the King had formerly made to go to Rome but being dissuaded from it by the Chief Men of his Kingdom he sent thither Aldred Archbishop of York and Herman Bishop of Winchester to obtain Pope Leo's Dispensation from that Journey who by the said Bishops returned it him upon these terms That he should bestow the Money he would have spent in that Voyage in building a Stately Church and Monastery in Honour of St. Peter Whereupon the King chose out a place near his own Palace where had anciently stood a Church and Monastery built by Sebert King of the West-Saxons and Mellitus Bishop of London but it being destroyed by the Danes had ever since lain in Ruins But an Ancient Epitome of English Chronicles written by a Monk of Westminster and now in the Cottonian Library relates That Archbishop Dunstan had here before erected a small Monastery for Twelve Monks which was vastly augmented by King Edward Though whether this were so or no is as uncertain as it is incredible what these Monkish Writers tell us of its being anciently consecrated by St. Peter himself which not being mentioned by Bede looks like a Fable invented only to gain a greater Veneration for that Place Here also in the Author above-mentioned follows the King's Letter to Pope Nicholaus That he would please not only to confirm what his Predecessor had done but also grant him new Privileges for the said Monastery and then comes the Pope's Bull or Privilege for that purpose in which is recited this Legend of that Church's having been anciently consecrated by St. Peter But though Simeon of Durham places the Consecration of this Church on the day above-mentioned yet he refers it to the end of the year 1065 and perhaps with more Exactness since the English-Saxon year began then not at Lady-day as it does now but New-years-tide And after this Author farther adds That upon Christmass-day preceding the King held his Curia or Great Council at Westminster where were present King Edward and his Queen Edgitha and Stigand the Archbishop of Canterbury and Aldred Archbishop of York with the other Bishops and Abbots of England together with the King's Chaplains Earls Thanes and Knights Which Council as Sir H. Spelman informs us was summoned to confirm the King's Charter of Endowment of the said Monastery but though it be there imperfect yet you may find it at large in Monast. Anglican wherein after the Recital of the Bull of Pope Leo follows this Clause viz. That the King for the Expiation of his own Vow and also for the Souls of the Kings his Predecessors as well as Successors had granted to that place viz. Westminster all manner of Liberty as far as Earthly Power could reach and that for the Love of God by whose Mercy he was placed in the Royal Throne and now by the Counsel and Decree of the Archbishops Bishops Earls and other of his Great Men and for the Benefit and Advantage of the said Church and all those that should belong to it he had granted these Privileges following not only in present but for future times Then follows an Exemption from all Episcopal Jurisdiction as also another Clause whereby he grants it the Privilege of Sanctuary so that any one of whatsoever condition he be for whatsoever cause that shall fly unto that Holy Place or the Precincts thereof shall be free and obtain full Liberty And at last concludes thus I have commanded this Charter to be written and seal'd and have also signed it with my hand with the Sign of the Cross and have ordered fit Witnesses to subscribe it for its greater Corroboration Then immediately follows the King's Subscription in these words Ego Edwardus Deo largiente Anglorum Rex signum venerandae Crucis impressi Then follows the Subscription of Queen Editha with those of the two Archbishops seven of the Bishops and as many Abbots and so comes on the Subscriptions of the Laity viz. of Raynbald the Chancellor and of the Earls Harold and Edwin who write themselves Duces and six Thanes besides other of inferior Order This Charter bears date on St. Innocents day Anno Dom. 1066. which how it could be so dated four days before New-years-day when the year then began I do not understand Here also follows a Third Charter which is much the same with the former only it contains the King's Letter to Pope Nicholaus and his Bull reciting the Privileges granted to the said Church all which are there at large inserted Then follows the Subscriptions of the King Queen Archbishops Bishops Earls c. almost in the same order as the former only Osbald and another of the King's Chaplains do here subscribe before any of the Lay-Nobility and besides the Thanes there are several who subscribed with the Title of Milites added to their Names I have been the larger upon this Foundation not only because it was the Greatest and Noblest of any in England but also for that it still continues though under another Title to be a Collegiate Church for a Dean and Eight Prebends with an excellent School belonging to it which hath hitherto furnished both the Church and State with as great a number of Learned and Considerable Persons as any in the whole Nation But to return again to our History as it is related by the aforesaid Abbot of Rievâ—lle King Edward having at this Great Assembly of the Estates of his Kingdom appeared solemnly with his Crown on his Head according to custom was a day or two before Christmass in the night-time taken with a Feaver which very much damped the Jollity of that Festival yet he concealed it as much as he could for two or three days still sitting down at Meals with his Bishops and Noblemen till the third day perceiving the time of his Dissolution drew near he commanded all things to be got ready for the Consecration of his New Church which he resolved should be solemnized the next day being the Feast of the Holy Innocents whereat all the Bishops and Great Men of the Kingdom assisted and the King as far as his Health would permit but presently after the King growing worse and worse he was forced to take his Bed the Queen Bishops and the Nobility standing weeping about him and whilst he lay speechless and almost without life for two days and the third awakening as if it were from a Trance both William of Malmesbury and the Abbot above-mentioned relate That after a devout Prayer he told them That in a Vision he had lately seen two holy Monks whom he had in his youth known in Normandy to be men of meek and pious Conversation and whom he therefore had very much loved and now appeared to him as sent from God to tell him what should happen to England after his decease shewing him That the Iniquity of
the English being now full had provoked the Divine Vengeance for that the Priests despising God's Law treated Holy Things with corrupt hearts and polluted hands and not being true Pastors but Mercenaries exposed the Sheep to the Wolves seeking the Wool and the Milk more than the Sheep themselves That the Chief Men of the Land were Infidels Companions of the Thieves and Robbers of their Countrey who neither feared God nor honoured his Law to whom Truth was a Burthen Justice a Maygame and Cruelty a Delight And that therefore since neither the Rulers observed Justice nor the Ruled Discipline the Lord had drawn his Sword and bent his Bow and made it ready for that he would shew this People his Wrath and Indignation by sending Evil Angels to punish them for a year and a day with Fire and Sword But when the King replied to them That he would admonish his People to repent them of the evil of their ways and doings and then he hoped God would not bring these dreadful Judgments upon them but would again receive them into his Mercy To this they answered That now it could not be because the hearts of this people were hardened and their eyes blinded and their ears stopped so that they would neither hear those that would instruct them nor be advised by those that should admonish them being neither to be terrified by his Threatnings nor melted by his Benefits And the King asking them when there would be an end of all these Judgments and what comfort they might be like to receive under all these great afflictions those holy men only answered him in a Parable of a certain Green Tree that should be cut down and removed from the Root about the distance of Three Acres and when without any human hand the Tree should be restored to its Ancient Root and flourish and bear Fruit then and not till then was there any Comfort to be hoped for But this Author's application of the Tree that was to be cut down to the English-Saxon Royal Family's being for a time destroyed and its Separation to the distance of three Acres to Harold and the two first Norman Kings and its Restitution again to King Henry the first by his marrying of Queen Mathildis and its flourishing again in the Empress her Daughter and then its bearing Fruit to the Succession of Henry the second do sufficiently shew that great part of this Vision was made and accommodated for the Reigns of these Princes William of Malmesbury indeed recites the same Vision though in fewer words but without any Interpretation of the Parable But be this Vision true or false I think we may have reason to pray to God that neither our Clergy nor Laity by falling into the like wicked and deplorable state above described may ever bring the like Judgments upon this Nation But when the Queen Robert the Lord Chamberlain and Earl Harold who are said to have been present at the Relation of this Vision seemed very much concern'd Archbishop Stigand received it with a Smile saying That the good Old Man was only delirous by reason of his Distemper But says Malmesbury we have too dearly tried the Truth of this Vision England being now made the Habitation of Strangers and groaning under the Dominion of Foreigners there being says he at this day i. e. at the time when he wrote no Englishman either an Earl a Bishop or an Abbot but Strangers devour the Riches and gnaw even the very Bowels of England neither is there a prospect of having any End of these Miseries This it seems was written in the beginning of the Reign of Henry the First and before he had seen the more Happy Times that succeeded in that of Henry the Second when the Abbot above-mentioned tells us That England had then a King of the Ancient Blood Royal as also Bishops and Abbots of the same Nation with many Earls Barons and Knights who as being descended both from the French and English Blood were an Honour to the One and a Comfort to the Other But to come to the Death and Last Words of this most Pious King The Abbot above-mentioned gives us an Excellent Discourse which he made before his Death recommending the Queen to her Brother and the Nobility there present and highly extolling her Chastity and Obedience who though she appeared publickly his Wife yet was privately rather like a Sister or Daughter desiring of them That whatsoever he had left her for her Jointure should never be taken from her He also recommended to them his Servants who had followed him out of Normandy and that they should have their free choice either of returning home to their own Countrey or staying here After which he appointed his Body to be buried in St. Peter's Church at Westminster which he had so newly dedicated and so having received the Blessed Eucharist and recommended his Soul to God he quietly departed this Life having reigned Three and twenty Years Six Months and Seven and twenty Days It is very observable That this Abbot does not tell us that he said any thing concerning who should be his Successor whereas many of the Monks of those Times make him to have bequeathed the Crown at his Death to his Cousin William Duke of Normandy and Ingulph further says That King Edward â—â—me years before his Death had sent Robert Archbishop of Canterbury as an Ambassador to him to let him know that he had design'd him his Successor both because he was of his Blood and also Eminent for his Virtue What Pretences the Duke might have to the Crown by the latter I know not but it is certain the former could give him no Title to it since all the Relation that was between King Edward and Duke William was by Queen Emma who was Mother to the King and Aunt to the Duke so that it is evident on the score of this Relation that Duke William could have no pretence by Blood to the Crown of England But it is very suspicious that this Story of Archbishop Robert's being sent into Normandy upon this Errand was but a Fiction since he sate but three years in that See before his Expulsion and that happened near ten years before after which King Edward sent over for his Cousin Edward sirnamed The Outlaw to make him his Heir King Edward being dead they made great haste to bury him for his Funerals were performed the next day with as great Solemnity as the shortness of that time would admit of but it was sufficient that all the Bishops and Nobility of the Kingdom attended his Body to the Grave in the Church aforesaid where his Tomb is at this day to be seen behind the Altar and his Body was afterwards preserved in a Rich Shrine of Gold and Silver till the Reign of Henry the Eighth As for the Character which the Writers of the following Age give this Prince it is such as they thought was due to One whom they took to be
him so kept seal'd up for a year and a day within which time if the Murtherer was found out upon his being delivered to the King's Justice they were to be repaid but in case within that time he could not be discovered then were the Kindred of the Murthered Party to have six of the said Marks and the King the other forty if he had no Kindred his Lord was to receive it and if he had no Lord then his sworn Friend and Companion but if there were none of these then the King should have the whole Sum to himself The sixteenth Article shews us how this way of discovering Murther and punishing the Hundred came to be in use where the Murtherer could not be found viz. That King Cnute when he had gotten England and settled it in Peace and at the request of the English Barons had sent back his Army into Denmark those Barons became Sureties that all the Danes that staid behind with him should in all things enjoy perfect Peace so that in case an Englishman kill'd any of them if he could not clear himself by the Judgment of God that is by Water or Iron meaning the Ordeal Justice was to be executed upon him and in case he ran away Payment was to be made as is aforesaid This Law to prevent the killing of the Normans was likewise continued by King William the Conqueror for in case a man were found slain he was to be taken for a Norman and his Death to be more grievously punished than that of an Englishman unless the Englescherie of him that was killed could be made out before the King's Justices that is that he was an Englishman as Bracton hath particularly shewn us But I shall reserve the speaking further of this Law to the next Volume The seventeenth declares the Office of a King in these words The King who is the Vicegerent of the Supreme King is appointed to this very end That he may Govern and Defend his Earthly Kingdom and the People of the Lord and above all things should reverence his Holy Church and extirpate evil doers out of it which unless he shall do not so much as the Name of a King shall remain to him but he shall utterly lose it as Pope John witnesses Then follows the occasion of this opinion of Pope John's viz. His having given it in answer to the Letter which Pepin and Charles his Son wrote concerning a foolish King of France whether they should still continue him on the Throne or not which being no material part of the Law I omit And then there is somewhat concerning Barons which have Courts and Customs of their own in these words The Archbishops Bishops Earls Barons and all those who have Sac Soc Thol Team and Infangâ—heof shall have their Knights Servants and all other sorts of Dependants under their Friburg that is should either have them forth coming or else should answer for them that if they shall forfeit to any one and a Complaint be made by the Neighbours against them they must bring them forth to have Justice done them in their own Court The eighteenth nineteenth twentieth and one and twentieth are explanations of the Saxon terms in the above-mentioned Law which being explained already in the Introduction I thither refer you The two and twentieth declares all Jews that were in the Kingdom to be under the Protection of the King so that none of them could put himself in the service of any great man without the King's leave for that the Jews and all that are there are the King 's By the three and twentieth King Edward forbad all Usurers to continue in his Kingdom and if any one were convicted that he exacted Usury he should forfeit his Goods and be looked upon as out-law'd After which follows in Mr. Lambard's Copy another Law declaring the King's Power by Virtue of his Royal Dignity to pardon Life and loss of Member but with this Proviso That the Male-factor make satisfaction to such as he hath injured according to his power and besides find Sureties for his good Behaviour which if he did not he was to be banished From whence you may observe That this Prerogative of pardoning in the King was not to extend to the prejudice of the Party injured or his Kindred to whom an Appeal was hereby reserved Concerning which The nineteenth in like manner declares his Royal Prerogative to be such that the King may set at liberty any Captive or Prisoner whenever he comes in any City Borough Castle c. or if he meet him in the way by his mere Word or Command Yet was he that was thus set at liberty bound to make satisfaction to the injured Party But a Murtherer Traytor or one guilty of such like Crimes altho the King should pardon him as to Life and Member according to Law he shall in no wise stay in the Countrey but shall swear that he will depart to the Sea-coast within a stated time set him by the Justice and pass over as soon as he can get opportunity of a Ship and Wind and in case any such prove perjured and shall stay in the Land beyond the time any one that meets them may do Justice upon them i. e. take away their lives From whence you may observe the Antiquity of the Law for abjuring the Realm for such great Offences to which the King's Pardon did not then absolutely extend The rest of this Law which only recites the Penalties for the harbouring or favouring such Malefactors I omit The twenty seventh Article gives leave to harbour a Stranger or Foreigner whom in English they termed Couth or Vncouth that is known or unknown as a Guest for two nights in which space if he transgress he that harboured him shall not be answerable for him but if any one be injured and complaint is made that it was by the Counsel and Advice of him that lodged him he shall with two honest Neighbours by Oath purge himself as to the Advice and Fact or otherwise shall make satisfaction The reason whereof was because after the third night the Law then was such that this stranger was to be looked upon as one of the Family and the Master of it was to answer for him if he transgressed The twenty eighth appoints how Money or Cattel brought into a Town and said by him who brought them that they were found shall be disposed of and who shall have the Custody of them The thirtieth enjoins That those who have the King's Peace either by his Hand or Letters shall take care not to injure others under a double Penalty The thirty first declares the particular Mulcts or Penalties of those who shall violate the King's Peace above-mentioned and especially that of the eight days of his Coronation or of any of the Feasts aforesaid and who should have the Forfeitures arising from thence how much the King and how much the Earl and how much the Dean or the Bishop in whose
Deanry the Peace was broken The thirty sixth Article directs how that after a man is killed as a Thief or a Robber if any Complaint be made by his nearest Relation to the Justice that the man was wrongfully put to death and lies buried among Thieves and that such Relations offer to make it good in such case they shall first give security for so doing and then it follows in what manner the Party slain may be cleared in his Reputation and what satisfaction shall be made to his Friends for it in case it appears he was killed unjustly These are the Laws which bear the Name of Edward the Confessor though they are not properly so because many of them were made long before his time and there are so many things in the Latin Original which are rather Explanations of Laws than Laws themselves that they more truly seem to have been collected and written by some ignorant Sciolist or pretender about Henry the First 's time For though Roger Hoveden hath given us this Collection of those Laws which we now have yet it is plain that there was no Original of them extant at the time when Hoveden wrote nor long before or else he need not have told us that King William the Conqueror in the fourth year of his Reign summoned so many Noble and Wise Men of the English Nation only to enquire into and acquaint him what those Laws were But Bromton's Chronicle gives us a short History of the several Laws that had been used in England and tells us of three sorts of Laws then in use viz Merchenlage West-Saxonlage and Danelage and that King Edward made one Common Law out of them all which are called the Laws of King Edward to this day yet of these he gives us no more than the bare Explanation of some Words or Terms frequently used in them but without setting down any of the Laws themselves which whether he did out of ignorance or on purpose I will not determine though the former is most likely seeing he had before given us all the Laws he could meet with of the precedent English-Saxon Kings So that when the Reader hears the Laws of St. Edward so much talked of and so much contended for after the Conquest he must not understand these here set down to have been the only Laws above-mentioned For those are but some parts of them recited and commented upon by after-Writers And indeed these Laws were first said to be the Laws of Edward the Confessor after the Normans coming over not because King Edward made them but renewed the observance of them as William of Malmesbury expresly tells us of one of those that King Cnute also revived being in substance the same with that formerly ordained by King Alfred Commanding every one above Twelve years old to be entred into some Decenary Tything or Hundred But Bracton also ascribes it to King Edward So likewise this Interpolator or Noter himself tells you That those Laws of St. Edward so much desired and at length obtained from William the Conqueror were ordained in the time of King Edgar his Grandfather but after his death were laid aside for sixty eight years but because they were just and honest King Edward revived them and delivered them to be observed as his own By these and other circumstances we may gather That the whole Body of these Laws we have now recited were such as were approved and confirmed by King Edward who was a Prince of great Mercy and Indulgence to his People so that such written Laws as were in force in his time and such Customs as had been all along observed in the Saxon times and had been still kept on foot in his days were after the Norman Conquest when both the People of the Norman as well as English Extraction so earnestly contended for their Liberties called by the name of the Laws of St. Edward thereby being indeed meant the English-Saxon Laws which then received Denomination from him being in effect the last King of that Race and one whose Memory the People reverenced in an especial manner for the high Reputation he had gained for his great Sanctity and Clemency to his Subjects King HAROLD KING Edward's Funerals being over our Annals proceed to tell us how that Earl Harold succeeded in the Kingdom as King Edward had appointed and that the People elected him to that Dignity as also that he was anointed King on the Feast of Epiphany but he held the Kingdom only forty weeks and one day Thus the Laudean or Peterburgh Copy relates it being written by some Monk that favour'd King Harold's Title to the Crown But R. Hoveden with other of the English Writers tell us expresly That King Edward being buried Earl Harold whom the King had before his decease declared his Successor being by all the Chief Men of England elected to the Throne was the same day anointed King by Aldred Archbishop of York Which is also confirmed by the Manuscript Chronicle of one Henry de Silgrave who wrote about the Reign of King Edward the First and is now in the Cottonian Library And the relation of this Affair being found no where else I shall here recite leaving the Credit thereof to the Reader 's Judgment which is thus That King Edward lying on his Death-bed Earl Harold came to him and desired him to appoint him for his Successor to which the King replied That he had already made Duke William his Heir But the Earl and his Friends still persisting in their Request the King turning his Face to the Wall replied thus When I am dead let the English make either the Duke or the Earl their King Which if true shews that it was but a Consent in part and was also extorted from him But this Relation being found in no other Author I shall not pass my word for the Truth of it But William of Malmesbury and such Writers as prefer the Title of King William tell another story and say That King Harold on the very day of the King's Funeral having extorted an Oath of Fidelity from the Chief Men snatch'd up the Crown of his own accord although the English say it was bequeathed him by King Edward which yet he says he believes to be rather asserted by them out of partiality than by any true judgment or knowledge of the thing H. Huntington does not mention any such Election of Harold but says on the contrary that divers of the English would have advanced Edgar Aetheling to be King But Ingulph is more cautious and does not determine one way or other of this matter only says in general That the day after the King's Funeral Harold wickedly forgetting his Oath which he had formerly made to Duke William intruded himself into the Throne and was solemnly Crowned by Alred Archbishop of York As for Edgar Aetheling the only surviving Male of the Ancient Royal Family he was but Young and being a Stranger born had neither
Makes War upon his Brother Cadelh Prince of South-Wales and destroys his Countries Id. p. 299. Submits himself and all his Subjects to King Alfred's Dominion Id. p. 306 307. His Decease and Issue Id. p. 316. Pitying the distressed condition of the Northern Britains gave them great part of Cheshire to dwell in if they could beat out the Saxons thence Id. p. 317. After a bloody Fight with the Saxons obtains a compleat Victory over them Ibid. Andate the Goddess of Victory among the Britains l. 2. p. 48. Andover a Town not far from Winchester in Hampshire l. 6. p. 10. Anciently called Andefer Id. p. 25. Andragatius Maximus his General kills the Emperor Gratian near the Bridge of Singidunum and establishes his Master in his usurped Empire l. 2. p. 95. And hearing of the ill news of Maximus casts himsâ—lf headlong out of a Ship being then at Sea and so drowns himself Id. p. 96. Andredswood in Kent and Sussex is in length from East to West at least One hundred and twenty Miles and in breadth Thirty containing all that which is called the Wilde of Kent l. 5. p. 299. St. Andrew's Church at Rochester built by Ethelbert King of Kent l. 4. p. 160. Angild the Forfeiture of the whole value of a man's Head and that Hand which stole was to be cut off unless redeemed l. 5. p. 297. Angles supposed to be derived from the Ancient Cimbri l. 3. p. 123. Anglesey anciently called Mona l. 2. p. 46. and Manige l. 6. p. 28. The whole Isle subdued by Godfred the Son of Harold the Dane Id. p. 7 20. Destroyed by the Danes Id. p. 23. And by King Ethelred's Fleet Id. p. 28. They cast off Meredyth and receive Edwal ap Meyric for their Prince Id. p. 24. Anglia Sacra publish'd by the Learned Mr. Wharton l. 4. p. 166. Anlaff Son of Syhtric King of Northumberland flies into Ireland l. 5. p. 332. Supposed the Son of Syhtric His getting into Athelstan's Camp in the disguise of a Musician and the Observations he made there Id. p. 335. His ravaging and wasting the Countries where-ever he came the Battel he had with King Edmund and the Agreement between them both at last His marrying Alditha the Daughter of Earl Orme Id. p. 343. Called Olaf a Dane and Norwegian by Extract who had been expelled in the time of King Athelstan the Kingdom of Northumberland but being some time after recalled by those Rebels he was again expelled by King Edmund who added that Countrey to his own Dominions Id. p. 343 344. Returns again in King Edred's time and with joy is restored to his Kingdom by the People three years after they expel him a third time and set up Eric for their King Id. p. 350. Another of this Name Son to the King of Dublin comes with a great Fleet into Yorkshire or Lincolnshire and lands but he is miserably beaten by King Athelstan Id. p. 334 335. Anlaff or Unlaff King of Norway the Ravages he commits and where l. 6. p. 24 25. Is brought with great honour to King Ethelred After Baptism he returned into his own Countrey Id. p. 25. Anna King of the East-Angles enriches Cnobsbury Monastery with Noble Buildings and Revenues l. 4. p. 180. Is slain in fight by King Penda together with his whole Army Id. p. 185. His youngest Son Erkenwald wâ—s made Bishop of London Id. p. 196. Annals Saxon first collected and written in divers Monasteries of England l. 4. p. 151. The Cottonian Copy of them in the Form we now have them was wrote after the Conquest l. 6. p. 56. Antenor with his Trojans joining Brute their Expedition and the Accidents that befel them l. 1. p. 9. Anwulf Son of Baldwin Earl of Flanders sent Ambassador from Hugh King of the French to King Athelstan to demand his Sister in Marriage l. 5. p. 339. Aper kills Numerianus and is killed by Dioclesian l. 2. p. 83. Appeals none to the King in Suits unless Justice can't otherwise be had l. 6. p. 13. Appledore anciently called Apuldre or Apultre in Kent l. 5. p. 299 300. Arbogastes General to Eugenius sets him up in the Empire of the West against Valentinian the Second but his Master being overcome by Theodosius and put to death he soon after made himself away l. 2. p. 97. Arcadius Emperor of the East Eldest Son to Theodosius Id. ib. Archbishop its Title not known here in the time of Lucius l. 2. p. 69. His ancient Power as Governor of the Church of England l. 2. p. 210. None but Monks made Archbishops of Canterbury l. 5. p. 333. Brythelme resigns at the Command of the King and whole Nation l. 6. p. 2. When the Churches of Wales first owned the Archbishop of Canterbury's Superiority l. 6. p. 21. Archenfield in Herefordshire anciently called Yrcingafield l. 5. p. 319. Archigallo for his Tyranny is deposed by his Nobles but restored to it by the kind Artifice of his Brother l. 1. p. 14. Arch-pyrate anciently did not signify a Robber but one skill'd in Sea-Affairs or a Seaman derived from Pyra which in the Attick Tongue was as much as Craft or Art l. 6. p. 9. Arderydd a Battel fought there on the Borders of Scotland l. 3. p. 146. Areans removed by Theodosius from their stations but who these were is unknown l. 2. p. 93. Ariminum the Council called there by Constantius l. 2. p. 89. Our Bishops sent to it and what was done there Id. p. 90. Arles in Gallia the Council there when held and what British Bishops were sent to it l. 2. p. 88. Is made the Imperial Seat of Constantine and called Constantia it was besieged by Gerontius but he was hinder'd from taking it l. 2. p. 103. Armorica now Britain in France l. 1. p. 13. l. 5. p. 287. A Fleet prepared for the Armorican War l. 2. p. 25. The people there refuse to accept Charles King of the Almans for their King l. 5. p. 287. Armour whence arose the Custom of hanging up the Armour of Great Men in Churches as Offerings made to God for the Honour they had gained to themselves or Benefit to their Countrey through his Assistance and Blessing l. 6. p. 57. Army a Lawful one raised by the King for the Defence of the Nation called anciently by the name of Fyrd l. 6. p. 60. Arnulf the Emperor with the Assistance of the French Saxon and Bavarian Horse put the Danish Foot to flight l. 5. p. 298. Arnwy Abbot of Burgh resigns his Dignity by reason of his ill state of health and with the King's License and the Consent of the Monks confers it upon another Monk of that Abbey l. 6. p. 84. Arrian Heresy when it first infested Britain l. 2. p. 106. Arthur what he was King of who was his Father and the many considerable Victories he gained over the Saxons and when he carried the Picture of Christ's Cross and of the Virgin Mary on his back l. 3. p. 134 135. He besieges
the Benedictine Order Id. p. 167. Augustine's Ake scituate on the Confines of the Wectii l. 4. p. 160. Augustus Caesar his coming as far as Gallia twice to reduce Britain under his Obedience l. 2. p. 36. Vid. Caesar. Avon the River anciently called Antona l. 2. p. 41. Aurelian L. Domitius the Emperor killed by Mnestheus his Secretary The Ninth Persecution under him l. a. p. 82. Aurelius Ambrosius his Success against the Saxons when l. 3. p. 127. Elected General of the Britains Vortigern being as then King though only in name so Id. p. 129 130. His mighty victory over the Saxons and his ordering the Churches to be repaired which the Saxons had destroyed p. 130. Marches up to London and going about to repair that He is crowned at Stonehenge and not long after buried there At a solemn Council he appoints two Metropolitans for the Vacant Sees viz. York and Caer-Leon Id. p. 131. A Rebellion raised against him in the North among the Britains who were put to flight Ibid. Chosen King of the Britains and reigned 19 years Id. p. 132. Died being poysoned by procurement of Pascentius Son to Vortigern who before had rebelled against him Id. p. 131 133. Aurelius Atticus Commander in Chief of a Roman Cohort slain by the Britains in the Battel between Agricola and Galgacus l. 2. p. 62. Aurelius Conan King of Powis-Land or else some other Southern Province l. 3. p. 139 146. Aurelius Marcus succeeds Antoninus Pius in the Empire the Britains raise new Commotion against him but they lasted not long after Calphurnius Agricola's Arrival l. 2. p. 68. Aust where is a Ferry to pass out of Somersetshire into Wales anciently called Austelin l. 5. p. 328. Axanminster now Axminster in Devonshire l. 4. p. 233. B BAchfeg a Danish King whom their History calls Ivor the Son of Reynere is slain by King Aethelred and Aelfred his Brother in Battel near Reading where most of his Troops being cut off the rest were forced to fly l. 5. p. 275. Badon-hill supposed to be the same with Banesdown near Bathe where the great Battel was fought by Prince Arthur against the Saxons l. 3. p. 136. Bakewell in Derbyshire anciently called Bedecanwell l. 5. p. 324. Balbinus Clodius with Pupienus Maximus elected Emperors by the Senate but were soon after slain by the Praetorian Bands l. 2. p. 81. Baldred King of Kent forced to fly from King Egbert's Army over the Thames into the Northern parts l. 5. p. 253. Bestows the Manner of Mallings in Sussex on Christ's Church at Canterbury which being afterwards taken away for some reasons was confirmed to it by the Common-Council of the whole Kingdom under King Egbert Id. p. 257. Baldwin Earl of Flanders assigns Aelgiva whom Harold had banished England Bruges for her Retirement and both protected and provided for her as long as she staid there l. 6. p. 64. Bamborough Castle in Northumberland anciently called Bebbanburgh when built and by whom l. 3. p. 142 143. l. 4. p. 230. Assaulted and set on fire by King Penda's Orders l. 4. p. 185. The Town destroyed by the Danes and the great Booty they got there l. 6. p. 24. Banbury anciently called Berinbyrig where Cynric and Ceawlin his Son fought with the Britains and routed them l. 3. p. 143. Bangor built by Malgoclunus near the River Menai Id. Ib. One Dynoth the Abbot there pretended he was instructed and by whom how to know whether Augustine's Preaching was from God or not l. 4. p. 161 162. Is not far from the River Dee in Flintshire Id. p. 164. The Massacre of the Monks there Ib. p. 165. Lands and Possesions given to this Church by Prince Anarawd l. 5. p. 317. Banner the famous one called Reafan that is The Raven which was so enchanted by Magick Art that it would clap its Wings upon the prospect of good Success or let them fall at that of bad as if it were alive l. 5. p. 281 282. Banuwelle Monastery to whom granted by King Alfred l. 5. p. 307. Baptism Priests obliged to explain this and the Mass l. 4. p. 225. To be performed at the times appointed by the former Canons of the Church Id. p. 233. Bardeney in Lincolnshire anciently called Bardenigge l. 5. p. 315. Bardsey-Island where Archbishop Dubritius became an Anchoret l. 3. p. 149. Barnwood Forest near Bury-hill in Bucks where the Danes went out to plunder l. 5. p. 321. Barons by this word Thanes are to be understood l. 6. p. 83. Edward the Confessor's Law about Tythes made à Rege Baronibus Populo Id. p. 100. The Law concerning those Barons who have Courts and Customs of their own Id. p. 102. St. Bartholomew called an Indian Apostle because of his Martyrdom there l. 5. p. 286. St. Basile the Monks of that Order were the same with the Monks of Ireland and those Monasteries founded in the Kingdom of Northumberland followed this Rule l. 4. p. 167. Basse the Priest builds the Monastery of Reculver in Kent l. 4. p. 192. Bassianus Eldest Son of Severus the Emperor by his wicked Carriage gave him perpetual trouble for as soon as he had Power he aimed to kill both his Brother and Father l. 2. p. 77. Was not long after his Father's Death destroyed Id. Ib. Cruelly murthered his Brother Geta in his Mother's Arms and would have had Papinian the great Civil Lawyer to have wrote a Defence of it Id. p. 79. Bassus a valiant Captain of King Edwin's conducted Aethelburga c. into Kent from Cadwalla's Rage and Cruelty l. 4. p. 176. Bastardy the first Decree found in this kind That Bastards and those begotten of Nuns should not inherit l. 4. p. 234. Bathan so called by the Inhabitants the ancient City of Akmancester where King Edgar was crowned l. 6. p. 7. Bathe called Caer-Baden built by Bladud who is said by his skill in Magick to have found out there those Medicinal Waters l. 1. p. 10. Called likewise Bathoncester l. 3. p. 146. A Nunnery built here by Osric and afterwards it was turned to a House of Secular Chanons l. 4. p. 196. Beadricesworth i. e. St. Edmundsbury where King Cnute built a Noble Monastery l. 5. p. 323. King Edmund gave this Royal Town and divers other Lands to build a Church and Monastery in memory of St. Edmund the Martyr l. 5. p. 345. Beamdune now Bindon in Dorsetshire where a great Battel was fought between the West-Saxons and the Britains and the latter were overcome l. 4. p. 166. Beamfleet Castle or Fort built by Hastings the Danish Pyrate l. 5. p. 299. Demolished and his Army routed by King Alfred's Forces Id. p. 300. Becancelde perhaps Beckenham near Surrey but not certain l. 4. p. 209. The great Council held here under Withred King of Kent Id. p. 209 210. Another held here under Kenwult King of the Mercians Id. p. 241. Bedanhealfde supposed by some to be Bedwyn in Wiltshire near Berkshire l. 4. p. 195. Bede the ancientest English-Saxon
Bondman he that is cast by the Ordeal to be branded with a hot Iron for the first Offence and for the second to be put to death l. 6. p. 42. Bonosus a matchless Drinker made himself as Emperor for a time but being vanquished by the Emperor Probus he hanged himself He was by Descent a Britain l. 2. p. 82. Bosa Bishop of Dunmoc now Dunwich in Suffolk deprived by reason of his great Infirmities l. 4. p. 193. Governed the Province of Deira having his Episcopal See at the City of York l. 4. p. 197. Bosenham that is Bosham in Sussex where Sweyne made a League with Edward the Confessor l. 6. p. 74. Boston in Lincolnshire supposed anciently to be called Icanho l. 4. p. 185. Bottulf when he began to build a Monastery at Icanho Id. Ib. Bounds The old ones continued in the year 395. between the Picts and the Britains l. 2. p. 100. Bracelets The Oath the Danes took to King Alfred upon a Sacred Bracelet they had which Oath they would never take to any Nation before immediately to depart the Kingdom l. 5. p. 278. Of Gold if hung up at the parting of several Highways in Alfred's time none would dare to touch them Justice was so strictly observed Id. p. 291. Bradanford in Wiltshire now Bradford l. 4. p. 183. Brandanrelie supposed to be a little Island now called Shepholm in the mouth of Severn l. 5. p. 319. Breach of the Peace Alfred's Laws about it l. 5. p. 292 295 297. What he shall forfeit that sets upon a man in his own house l. 5. p. 347. The Punishment of this Offence in several Instances l. 6. p. 43. Brecklesey-Island whither the Danes fled when they were beaten by King Alfred l. 5. p. 300. Brecknock-Castle supposed by Brecenanmere which Aethelfleda took with her Army l. 5. p. 319. In Wales destroyed by Earl Alfred who joined with Howel the Son of Edwal l. 6. p. 21. Bregowin consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury but enjoyed that See not long for his Death happen'd about three years after l. 4. p. 228. Brennus and Belinus divided the Kingdom between them and what happen'd afterwards l. 1. p. 12 13. Brigantes supposed to be the Inhabitants of Yorkshire Lancashire and the other Northern Countries l. 2. p. 42. Their State attack'd by Petilius Caerialis most of which he conquered Id. p. 54. Under the Conduct of a Woman had almost quite destroy'd the Romans Id. p. 60. Breaking in upon Genoani or North-Wales were driven back by Lollius Urbicus Id. p. 68. No mention of them beyond the River Tweed Id. p. 91. Brige now Bruges in Flanders where Earcongota the Daughter of Earcombert a Virgin of great Piety went to be a Nun in a Monastery built there by a Noble Abbess there being at that time not many Monasteries in Britain l. 4. p. 180. Bridgenorth in Shropshire anciently Bricge and the Town is generally called by the common people Brigge at this day l. 5. p. 316. Brightnoth a Monk made Abbot of Elig Monastery where there had been Nuns before l. 6. p. 4. Brihtric when he began to reign over the West-Saxons when he died and where he was buried l. 4. p. 233 242. Married Eadburghe the Daughter of King Offa and for what reason of State Id. p. 235 243. A fuller Account of his Death and Character Id. p. 243. Brihtric accuses Wulfnoth to King Ethelred and pursuing him by Sea loses all his part of the Fleet and how l. 6. p. 33. Britain briefly described anciently called Albion and whence its Name l. 1. p. 1 2. First discovered by the Phoenicians known to the Greeks though Mr. Cambden seems to deny it Who the first Inhabitants l. 1. p. 2 3 4 6 7. Generally speaking no body came hither besides Merchants l. 2. p. 24. Was divided into many Petty States or Principalities in the Romans time and subject to divers Kings l. 1. p. 6. Id. p. 33 39. Invaded by the Emperor Claudius in the Reign of Togodumnus supposed to be the same with Guidar or Guinder Id. p. 38 39. During the Reigns of the succeeding Emperors to Domitian as far as the Friths of Dunbritton and Edinburgh it was entirely redated into the Form of a Roman Province Id. p. 65. Hadrian though he restrained the Limits yet by no means would part with this Province Id. p. 67. Is divided into two Governments by Severus the Emperor Id. p. 73. Continued a Roman Province in Opilius Macrinus his time and had its Propraetors Id. p. 80. The Occasion of Porphyrius the Philosopher's saying That Britain was a Soil fruitful of Tyrants Id. p. 81 91. The Province wholly recovered to the Roman Empire by Constantius and Asclepiodotus after it had been Ten Years in Rebellion Id. p. 84. Great store of good Workmen and excellent Builders in those times of Publick Disturbance Id. p. 85. The ancient Divisions of it alter'd by Constantine Id. p. 88. Reduced to the last Extremities in Valentinian's time Id. p. 92. The Northern Province of it being by Theodosius restored to its former condition he ordered it for the future to be called Valentia in honour of Valentinian the Emperor Id. p. 93. It s History very obscure and uncertain espâ—cially as to the times when things were done from the Death of Maximus to the coming in of the Saxons Id. p. 99. Ow'd its first Ruin to Maximus his carrying over so many Britains and Romans into Gaul Ibid. Bede ascribes the chief Causes of its Ruin to God's Vengeance on the Inhabitants for their great Wickedness and Corruption of Manners l. 3. p. 137. By what means she was brought to the Knowledge of Christ l. 4. p. 152. The present state of it when Bede wrote his History l. 4. p. 221. Though subdued to the Roman Empire yet they used their Victory with moderation making the conquer'd partakers both of their Laws and Civility l. 5. p. 246. Great Britain Edred was the first who stiled himself King of Great Britain in a Charter to the Abbey of Croyland l. 6. p. 351. Britains had no Notion of the Unalterable Right of Succession in the Eldest Brother over all the rest no not after they became Christians l. 1. p. 17. An Account of the Inhabitants their Religion Customs and Manner of living l. 2. p. 21 22 23. Would not suffer their Kings by becoming Tyrants to make their people Slaves l. 1. p. 18 l. 2. p. 22. Not much different in several respects from the naked Indians of some parts of America l. 2. p. 23. Hinder'd the Romans from landing though with much difficulty but being afterwards worsted by them they desired Peace which was granted and Hostages sent but they soon again take up Arms Id. p. 26 27 28. Treat of Peace but now a double number of Hostages being required only two Estates of all Britain sent them Id. p. 29. Their Engagement with Caesar and his Romans in his second Expedition Id. p. 33. Cassibelan is forced to make Peace with
of Land to one Wulfred By the Assistance of King Aethelwulf made North-Wales subject to him Marries Aethelwulf's Daughter with great Solemnity l. 5. p. 261 262. Is forced by the Danes to desert his Kingdom and pass the Seas to Rome where not long after he died and was buried at the English College in the Church of St. Mary Id. p. 277. Byrinus an Italian coming hither by his Preaching converts the West-Saxons and had a City in Oxfordshire conferred on him to fix his Episcopal See in l. 4. p. 179. Baptizes Cuthred at Dorchester being a Prince of the Blood-Royal Id. p. 180. Byrnstan consecrated Bishop of Winchester and how long he held it l. 5. p. 331. His Death and Burial at Winchester Id. p. 332 333. C CAdelh Prince of South-Wales is fallen upon by his Brother Anarawd who grievously spoils his Countries l. 5. p. 299. Second Son to Rodoric the Great and Father to Howel Dha his Decease Id. p. 315. Cadocus Abbot of Lancarvan in Glamorganshire His Life written by John of Tinmouth l. 3. p. 149. Cadwallader his supposed Journey to Rome l. 3. p. 145. The last King of the Britains His death l. 4. p. 190 191. Cadwallo King of the Britains an Account of his being routed and killed l. 4. p. 177. Cadwallo and Ceadwalla these two Names are confounded together by the British Historians Id. p. 204. Cadwallo supposed to be Edwal sirnamed Ywrch and for what reason Id. p. 205. Cadwallo succeeds his Father Cadwan in the Kingdom of Britain Id. p. 171. Is overcome by Edwin and flies to Ireland but returning afterwards he beats Penda and they joining together fight Edwin and slay him and rout his whole Army He is in Profession a Christian but in his Actions shews himself worse than a Pagan Id. p. 176. Cuts off Osric on a sudden and all his Army and basely kills Eanfrid Id. p. 177. Cadwan Prince of North-Wales is chose King of all the Britains l. 3. p. 149. Caedmon the English-Saxon Poet what he wrote and what he printed l. 4. p. 199. Caerialis Petilius sent hither as soon as Vespatian was acknowledged in Britain as his Lieutenant He had inured Agricola to Labours and Dangers l. 2. p. 54. Caer-Leon upon Usk in South-Wales an Archiepiscopal See l. 3. p. 149. Caesar's landing in Britain in the Reign of Cassibelan a small Inland Prince l. 1. p. 19. l. 2. p. 33. His Account of the Inhabitants their Religion and Manner of living l. 2. p. 21. The Pretences he made for his Expedition hither l. 2. p. 24. But first he sends Ca. Volusenus to make his Observations of the Countrey and then upon on his Arrival Ambassadors come to him from divers Princes and States of this Island promising Obedience to the Roman Empire Id. p. 25. He had no great cause to boast of his first Expedition and why l. 2. p. 29. Most of his Horse were cast away in a violent Storm therefore goes into Italy resolving to make another Descent upon them and orders new Ships to be built and directs after what Model whereupon six hundred such were built besides eight and twenty Gallies Id. p. 30. Setting sail again for Britain and landing he fought and conquered the next day he had news That by a great Tempest rising that night forty of his Ships had fallen foul upon one another and were lost and the rest much shatter'd Id. p. 31 32. His care about the remainder and directions for others to be built His Engagements with the Britains and their various successes Id. p. 32 33 34. His description of a British Town Id. p. 35. Makes Cassibelan submit and give Hostages to him and then goes over to the Continent and at his Return to Rome he offers to Venus a Breast-plate covered with British Pearl Id. Ib. Calais never used for a Port until Philip Earl of Buloigne built and walled the Town l. 2. p. 31. Calcuithe the troublesome Synod there where Archbishop Janbryht lost part of his Province to the See of Litchfield l. 4. p. 233 235. The Nicene Creed and the Seven first General Councils received and confirmed in it and many Canons made concerning Matters of Religion and Ecclesiastical Discipline Id. p. 233. There were two distinct Sessions of it Id. p. 234. It was supposed to be held in the Kingdom of Mercia Ibid. A Synod held there under Wilfrid Archbishop of Canterbury and Kenwulf King of the Mercians l. 5. p. 251. Caledonians make great Preparations for War in shew more than in reality against Agricola l. 2. p. 58. But they were miserably routed by his Forces Id. p. 59. Rodorick King of the Picts aids them but is slain by Marius Id. p. 66. Caligula Caius the Magnificent Letters he sent to Rome l. 2. p. 37. Marches his Army to the Belgick Shore and his foolish Bravado after he had put a little to Sea in a Galley and then returned to Land carrying the Shells that he and his Army had gathered on the shore to Rome and his Galleys and demands a Triumph but the Senate refused it and at last he was murthered Id. p. 38. Camalodunum now Maldon in Essex where Andraste supposed to have been the Goddess of Victory had a Temple l. 2. p. 24. On the Reverse of Kynobelin's Coin is CAM signifying Camalodunum which was his Royal Seat Id. p. 37 40. Taken by Claudius who obtaining a Victory over the Britains left them to the Government of Plautius Id. p. 40. Cambden's History in Latin commended highly by this Author l. 2. p. 20. Cambria Vid. Wales Cambridge anciently called Caer-grant and Grant-Chester l. 1. p. 14. Grantbridge l. 5. p. 272 322. l. 6. p. 34. Quatbridge l. 5. p. 302. And Grantecester l. 5. p. 318. Lay in the Kingdom of the East Angles and had no University or School there in the time of King Alfred l. 4. p. 179 180. The Antiquity of this University illustrated l. 5. p. 318. All their former Privileges confirmed by King Edward the Elder 's Charter to them for ever to endure by a perpetual Right Id. p. 317 318. Improbable that it should have continued an University during the Danish Wars under the Possession of Three Danish Kings but this Edward did restore the University Id. p. 318. Is burnt by the Danes with Oxford likewise and then all Studies ceased at both places till about 1133. from which time the Scholars have continued at both Universities l. 6. p. 34 35. Camelford in Cornwall anciently Gafulford where was a Battel fought between the Britains and Devonshire-men the latter getting the Victory l. 5. p. 253. Candida Casa Vid. Witerne Candidus a Presbyter whom the Pope sent to receive and dispose of the Church's Revenues in France l. 4. p. 153. Canterbury anciently called Caerkin by whom it was first pretended to be built l. 1. p. 10. And Cantwic l. 5. p. 259. The Metropolis of King Ethelbert's Kingdom appointed for the Residence of Augustine and his Monks l. 4. p. 153
with Archbishop Athelnoth to Rome and there clears himself before the Pope of what he had been accused l. 6. p. 53. Leotheta in French Judith Daughter of Charles the Bald King of the Franks Married to Ethelwulf King of the West-Saxons l. 5. p. 263. Places her by him on his Royal Throne but the Nation would not permit her to be called Queen for there was formerly a Law made against it upon account of a certain wicked Queen called Eadburga Wife to King Brythtric Id. p. 264. Lethard Bishop to Bertha Wife of Ethelbert King of Kent whom she brings over with her from France to assist and strengthen her in the Christian Faith l. 4. p. 153. Levatriae now Bows upon Standmore in Richmondshire l. 2. p. 74. Vid. Stanmore Leutherius or Lothair Bishop of Winchester l. 4. p. 192. Vid. Eleutherius A Grant of Lands from him to build the Abbey of Malmesbury Id. p. 195. Llewelin Prince of North-Wales surely mistastaken and put instead of Howel King of South-Wales l. 5. p. 328. Llewelin ap Sitsylt in Right of his Wife Prince of South-Wales l. 6. p. 27. Raises great Forces against Aedan ap Blegored the Usurper of his Countrey and in a bloody Battel Kills him with his Four Sons His Descent Id. p. 40. After Conan's Death he possesses himself of South-Wales and Governs both the Countries with great Peace and Prosperity Id. p. 51 52. Slain by Howel and Meredith the Sons of Prince Edwin or Owen Id. p. 53. Liblacum signifies the Art of Conjuration or Witchcraft that sort of it particularly called Fascination l. 5. p. 340. Licinius Priscus Propraetor or Lieutenant in this Island in Hadrian's time l. 2. p. 67. Lideford anciently called Hildaford l. 6. p. 26. Lising made Archbishop of Canterbury l. 6. p. 37. Deceases and who succeeds in his room Id. p. 51. Lightning such fell as the Age had never seen before it appeared as if the stars shot from Heaven l. 4. p. 224. l. 5. p. 261. Vid. Miracles and Prodigies Strange kind of Wild-Fire appeared such as none ever remembred and did a great deal of mischief l. 6. p. 56. Limene a River lying from the Eastern part of Kent as far as the East-end of that great Wood called Andred l. 5. p. 299. Lindisfarne an Isle and Episcopal See till that Church was destroyed by the Danes and then the See was removed to Durham l. 3. p. 144. Desired by Aidan of Oswald for his Episcopal See it is a Peninsula except when the Sea quite overflows that Neck of Land which joins it to England l. 4. p. 178 183. Ceolwulf professes himself a Monk in this Monastery who brought great Treasures and Revenues in Land to it Id. p. 223. Eadbert King of Northumberland causes the Cathedral Church to be besieged Id. p. 225. Lindisse the Danes landing at Humberstan spoil all that Countrey l. 4. p. 170. Lindissi now Lincoln l. 4. p. 175. Litchfield anciently called Licetfield l. 4. p. 217. Two Bishops ordained in this Diocess on the Death of Alwin Id. p. 223. Becomes an Archbishoprick the Bishops of the Provinces of the Kingdom of Mercia and the East-Angles subject to it obtained of the Pope by Offa Id. p. 229 233. The Archbishoprick confirm'd by a General Synod of the Kingdom Id. p. 233. Becomes again an ordinary Bishoprick subject to the See of Canterbury Id. p. 235. Living Abbot of Tavistock brings the Letter that Cnute wrote upon his Return from Rome and sent into England the Purport of which is there set down l. 6. p. 55. Succeeded in the Bishopricks of Worcester and Gloucester Id. p. 65. Is accused to King Hardecnute and deprived of his Bishoprick Id. p. 67. Living Bishop of Devonshire that is Exeter deceases and who succeeds him Id. p. 73. London said though without any ground of truth to be called by Brute Troja Nova which in time was changed to Trinobantum or Troynovant l. 1. p. 9. Mellitus made Bishop of London l. 4. p. 159 166. When it had been part of the East-Saxon Kingdom for above One hundred years Id. p. 177. When it suffered great mischief by Fire Id. p. 229. With a great Multitude of its Inhabitants consumed by a sudden Fire Id. p. 242. Taken by the Danes Three hundred of their Ships coming into the Mouth of Thames l. 5. p. 261. Tribute due from the King of Aberfraw to the King of London l. 5. p. 229. l. 6. p. 3. Taken from the Danes by King Alfred who repairs it l. 5. p. 288. The City miserably destroyed by Fire l. 6. p. 21. Besieged by the Danes but they were forced to draw off Id. p. 25. Always gave the Danes an ill Reception Id. p. 34. Becomes subject and gives Hostages to Sweyn the Dane Id. p. 38. Besieged by the Danish Forces both by Land and Sea but God delivers it from their fury Id. p. 46. Submits to the Danes as part of the Mercian Kingdom who take up their Winter-Quarters there Id. p. 48. The flourishing Trade and Wealth of it that in Cnute's time could pay above a seventh part of that excessive Tax of Danegelt which was laid on the whole Nation Id. p. 51. Lords to have none of the Intestate's Goods but what is due to them as a Heriot l. 6. p. 59. Lord's-Day if any Servant do then any work by his Master's order he shall be free and his Master fined Thirty Shillings but if he does it of his own accord he shall be beaten c. The Punishment of a Freeman or Priest that worketh on that day l. 4. p. 208 211. l. 5. p. 285. Strictly observed in the Saxon times l. 4. p. 209. No Market to be held on this day under Penalty of the Wares and a Mulct of Thirty Shillings besides by King Athelstan's twenty fourth Law l. 5. p. 341. Edgar's Law for keeping this day like the Jewish Sabbath l. 6. p. 13. Lord's-Prayer Vid. Creed Lothaire King of Kent his Death l. 4. p. 202. Lothair Nephew of Bishop Agelbert takes on him the Episcopal Charge over the West-Saxons l. 4. p. 192. Lothebroc descended from the Royal Family in Denmark the story of his coming hither into Norfolk and being killed by King Edmund's Huntsman the Body found out by his own Greyhound l. 5. p. 272 273. Lots none to be cast for deciding of Civil Controversies l. 4. p. 234. Lucius succeeds his Father Coil the Tributary King of the Britains is called Lees sirnamed by the Britains Lever-Maur that is the Great Light l. 2. p. 68. In the beginning of Commodus his Reign he sends to Eleutherius then Bishop of Rome desiring by his means to be made a Christian Id. p. 68 69. But the story seems to be of very suspicious credit Id. p. 69. His Conversion when it happened Ibid. Had Regal Authority under the Romans in some part of this Island Id. Ib. Lucullus Salustius Legate of Britain in the days of Domitian l. 2. p. 65. Ludgate received its name from King Lud
Gratian the Emperor who is killed by him l. 2. p. 95. His Image is sent to Alexandria and set up in the Market-place to be Reverenced l. 2. p. 96. His great concern for the Catholick Religion and Execution of Persons for meer matters of Faith His Death Id. Ib. Meanwari supposed to be People of that part of Hampshire lying over against the Isle of Wight l. 4. p. 188. Medcant now called Turne-Island l. 3. p. 146. Medeshamhamsted a Monastery built in Honour of Christ and St. Peter it had its Name from a Well there called Medeswell l. 4. p. 186. The manner of erecting this Foundation Id. p. 186 187. Pope Agatho's Bull of Priviledges to it supposed to be Forged long after and by whom l. 4. p. 200. l. 6. p. 4 5. Is burnt and destroyed by the Danes who killed all the Abbots and Monks they found there with a Noble Library and all its Charters and they carried away all the rich spoil of that place l. 5. p. 270 271 272. Afterwards the Bodies of above Fourscore Monks with their Abbot there slain were Buried in one Grave in the Church-yard and putting a Pyramidal Stone over them the Images of the Abbot and Monks about him were Carved on it Id. p. 172. Is rebuilt by Athelwald Bishop of Winchester who is said to have found the Charter which Abbot Headda had formerly wrote l. 6. p. 4 5. A new Charter of Confirmation with many other Endowments granted by King Edgar the Lands granted by him to this Monastery to be a distinct Shire having Sac Soc c. Is more enriched in Lands by Abbot Adulf who is succeeded by Kenulf that changed its name into Burgh It has been the Episcopal See of the Bishops of Peterburgh almost ever since the Dissolution of this Abbey in H. VIII's time Id. p. 5. Melgas King of the Picts the Story of the Virgins that were Killed or made Slaves by him a notorious Invention l. 2. p. 96. Mellitus is sent to Preach the Word in Britain and Letters of Instruction sent afterwards by the Pope to him concerning the Idol-Temples l. 4. p. 157 158. Ordained by Augustine Bishop of the East-Saxons he was to fix his Episcopal See at London l. 4. p. 159 165 166. Sent to Rome to confer with Pope Boniface about the necessary Affairs of the English Church Id. p. 166. His departure into France and for what reason Id. p. 169. Succeeâ—s Lawrence in the Archbishoprick of Canterbury stops a great Fire there by his Prayers Id. p. 171. Members loss of any for Crimes of the Party survived it Four Nights he with the Bishops leave might be helped which before was unlawful l. 5. p. 285. Menai a River near to which Bangor was built and by whom l. 3. p. 143. Iâ— parts Caernarvonshire from the Isle of Wight l. 4. p. 165. Menaevia now is called St. David's in Pembrokeshire l. 3. p. 149. Mercevenlage from whence the Laws were so called l. 1. p. 13. Mercia when this Kingdom began it was one of the largest of the English-Saxon Kingdoms and one of the last conquered by the West-Saxons l. 3. p. 147. The People received the Christian Faith under Peadda their Ealdorman l. 4. p. 183 186. The Province of the Mercians is divided into Five Diocesses Id. p. 199 200. The Mercians or Southumbers Kill Ostrythe the Wife of Ethelred their late King Id. p. 210 212. A great part of it destroyed with Fire and Sword by the South-Welshmen Id. p. 231. Anciently was called Merscwarum l. 5. p. 259. Is forced to come to a Peace with the Danes Id. p. 269. Mercy King Cnute's Law to have it used and that none should die for small Offences l. 6. p. 58 59. Meredyth Conquers the whole Countrey of North-Wales for himself l. 6. p. 22. Others laying waste his Countrey of South-Wales Id. p. 23. Cast off by the Inhabitants of the Isle of Anglesey for not well Protecting them but afterwards resolving if he could to recover so considerable a part of his Dominions he Fights with Edwal ap Meyric who had Usurped upon him but is worsted by him in a set Battel Id. p. 24. Meredyth and Howel the Sons of Edwin or Owen how they got the Government of South-Wales but were afterwards slain by the Sons of Conan ap Sitsylt Brother to Prince Lewelin l. 6. p. 56. Merehwit Bishop of Somersetshire that is Wells Deceases and is Buried at Glastenbury l. 6. p. 56. Meresige now Mercey in Essex an Island near the Sea l. 5. p. 301. Merton in Surrey anciently called Merinton l. 4. p. 232. Merwina an Abbess of the Nunnery of Rumsey in Hampshire l. 6. p. 6. Midletune in Kent where the Danes built a Fort to infest the English l. 5. p. 298 300. Militia King Athelstan's Law that for every Plow a man shall keep Two well-furnished Horsemen is one of the Ancientest of this kind in England being laid according to the rate of Estates l. 5. p. 341. Milred Bishop of the Wiccij that is of the Diocess of Worcester his Character and death l. 4. p. 230. Milton his History of England commended by the Author l. 2. p. 20. Mints places appointed for them by King Athelstan's Law l. 5. p. 341. One granted to the Abbot of Stamford by King Edgar l. 6. p. 5. The first Law whereby the private Mints to the Archbishops and Abbots were forbid Id. p. 14. Miracles Germanus and Lupus two French Bishops recover a Magistrate's Daughter Aged Ten Years of Blindness which the Pelagians refused to attempt l. 2. p. 107 108. A great Fire in Canterbury suddenly stopp'd by the Prayers of Mellitus the Archbishop which caused the Wind to blow directly contrary to what it had done before l. 4. p. 171. Of Oswald King of Northumberland after his Death Id. p. 180. Of one Eardulf who after he was commanded to be put to death was found alive Id. p. 236. On Pope Leo who received his Sight and Hands after the one was put out and the other cut off Id. p. 241. About Kenelm King of the Mercians whom Quedride his Sister made away out of an Ambition of Reigning her self l. 5. p. 251. A Pillar of Light reaching up to Heaven stood over Wiglaff's Tomb in Repton-Monastery where Wulstan was Buried for Thirty days which procured him the Title of a Saint l. 5. p. 261. Of the Earth's Opening and swallowing up a whole Army of Scots who came to fight with King Cuthred l. 5. p. 286. Of Athelstan's striking a Rock with his Sword near the Castle of Dunbar which made a Gap in it an Ell deep Id. p. 337. Of St. Dunstan's Horse falling down dead under him at the Hearing of a Voice from Heaven which the Horse it seems perfectly understood Id. p. 351. Of his Harp Playing a whole Psalm as it hung against the Wall without any hands to touch it and his taking the Devil by the Nose with red hot Tongs l. 6. p. 3. Of the speaking of a
Horse Id. p. 55. Their whole Nation very near cut off by Agricola Ibid. Orgiva Vid. Edgitha Orkeney the Isles when first discovered by the Romans l. 2. p. 63. Orotius Paulus took what he wrote from an History of Suetonius which is now lost l. 2. p. 35. Osbald a Nobleman is made King of Northumberland but held it not long being forced to fly and going to the King of the Picts dies there an Abbot l. 4. p. 239 240. According to Simeon of Durham he was buried in York Minster Id. p. 242. Osberge the Daughter of Aslat or Oslac chief Butler to King Aethelwulf to whom she was married and became the Mother of Alfred who was afterwards King l. 5. p. 261. Her Character Ibid. Osbert or Osbryght succeeds Ethelred in the Kingdom of Northumberland and afterwards is killed by the Danes l. 5. p. 260. Their lawful King is expelled by the Northumbers who set up an Usurper not descended from the Royal Line Id p. 267. Lies with the Wife of one of his Noblemen who complaining of the Affront to the King of Denmark causes a great Army to come over to revenge that Injury Id. p. 268 269. Osfrid a Son of King Edwin by Quenburga the Daughter of Ceorle King of Mercia l. 4. p. 174. Is slain with his Father in the Battel of Hethfield Id. p. 176. Oskytel first consecrated Bishop of Dorchester then made Archbishop of York his Death and Burial l. 6. p. 7. Osmund when he began to reign over the South-Saxons l. 4. p. 228. Osred succeeds his Father Alfred in the Kingdom of the Northumbers l. 4. p. 213. Is reconciled to Wilfrid with his Great Men and Bishops Ibid. Becomes Bishop Wilfrid's adopted Son Id. p. 214. Is killed in a Fight near the Sea on the Southern Borders His Character Id. p. 217. Osred the Son of Alchred Nephew of King Alfwold reigned after him and is betrayed and driven out of his Kingdom and who succeeded l. 4. p. 236. Is put to death by King Ethelred's Command and where buried Id. p. 237. Osric the Son of Elfric obtains the Kingdom of Deira abjures the Christian Religion and is cut off by Cadwallo with all his Army l. 4. p. 176. Osric builds a Nunnery at Bath l. 4. p. 196. And the Nunnery of St. Peter in Gloucester which afterwards was destroyed by the Danes and then rebuilt and after was King of the Northumbers Id. p. 201. Osric King of Northumberland slain and who succeeded him Id. p. 220. Ostorius Scapula succeeds Plautius in the quality of Propraetor and reduces the most Southerly parts of Britain to the form of a Province l. 2. p. 41. Overcomes the Iceni engages with the Silures and Caractacus and his Success over them Id. p. 42 43. Is decreed by the Senate all the Ensigns of a Triumph and being worn out with cares and troubles dies Id. p. 44 45. Oswald and Oswie with Eanfrid their Elder Brother all Sons of King Ethelfrid are banished by Edwin l. 4. p. 170 171. Oswald Edwin's Successor in the Kingdom of Northumberland finishes St. Peter's Church in York Id. p. 174 176 l. 5. p. 254. Routs Cadwallo with all his Forces His Speech to his Army l. 4. p. 177. His Kingdom extended over both Deira and Bernicia He would interpret Bishop Aidan's Sermons to his Subjects that heard but did not understand them In his Reign Churches were built in divers places of his Kingdom His Great Character Id. p. 178. His Charity He was Edwin's Nephew by his Sister Acca Ibid. p. 179. Fights a great Battel with Penda â—und was therein slain Id. p. 180. The many Miracles supposed that he wrought after his death Ibid. He was the sixth King that ruled over all Britain l. 5. p. 254. His Body under the Title of Saint long after translated from Bardeney in Lincolnshire into Mercia l. 5. p. 315. Oswald Aetheling fighting with Ethelhard is worsted and the next year dies l. 4. p. 220. Oswald Son to King Ethelred is mentioned by his Father in his Charter to the Abbey of Abingdon l. 5. p. 276. Oswald Archbishop of York his Decease l. 6. p. 5. Oswald Bishop of Worcester succeeds his Kinsman Oskytell in the Archbishoprick of York l. 6. p. 7. His Death and Burial in the Church of St. Mary in Worcester Id. p. 23. Oswestre in Shropshire anciently called Maserfield where was fought the great Battel between Oswald the most Christian King of Northumberland and Penda the Pagan King of the Mercians l. 4. p. 180. Oswin the Brother of King Oswald is made King of Deira l. 4. p. 181. His Death at Ingerlingum Id. p. 182. His Character Id. p. 183. The Seventh King that Ruled over all Britain l. 5. p. 254. Oswulf his Son succeeds Eadbert in the Kingdom of Northumberland but is slain within a Year after by the Treachery of his own Servants l. 4. p. 228. Oswy the Son of Usric King of Bernicia l. 4. p. 182. Treacherously procures Oswin to be slain but afterwards builds a Monastery where the Murther was committed to expiate the Crime Id. p. 183. Overcomes Penda who in the Battel is slain Id. p. 185. The Ealdormen of Mercia Rebel against him Id. p. 188. His Death and Burial at Streanshale-Monastery Id. p. 192. Otford in Kent anciently called Ottanford where the Mercians and Kentishmen had a Battel l. 4. p. 230. Outlawry Ethelward the Ealdorman is Outlaw'd in a Great Council of the Kingdom l. 6. p. 51. Earl Sweyn Son of Godwin is declared Outlaw'd in a Great Council at London Id. p. 77. The Common Law of all Outlaws they are said to have Wulfes hefod i. e. a Wolf's head or as we say in Latin gerere Caput Lupinum Id. p. 99 100. Usurer 's Convicted to be look'd on as Outlaw'd Persons Id. p. 102. Earl Elfgar is Outlaw'd in the Witena-Gemot and for what l. 6. p. 86. Vid. Pledge Oxford the University when Founded and who the first Regents and Professors there The Quarrel that arose betwixt Grimbald and the Old Scholars of Oxford This passage of the Quarrel c. objected against by Sir Henry Spelman and answered l. 5. p. 288 289 290. The flourishing state of Learning here related by Asser very much questioned Id. p. 304. King Alfred assisted by Grimbald and John Scotus in Founding this University Id. p. 306. Is taken and Burnt by the Danes l. 6. p. 34 35. All Studies cease there for a long time after till about the Year Eleven hundred thirty three from which time the Scholars have continued there Id. p. 35. P PAenius Posthumus runs himself through with his own Sword and why l. 2. p. 50. Pagan-Rites the Forbidding of them to be observed by the Decree of Calcuith l. 4. p. 234. Pagans Vid. Heathens Palace-Royal the Punishment on any that fight within it l. 4. p. 208. Palladius the Bishop sent by Pope Caelestine to the Scots to confirm their Faith l. 2. p. 109 110. St. Pancrace Church the first Built
Ethelbert sirnamed Praen begins to reign in Kent l. 4. p. 240. Hath his Eyes put out and his Hands cut off by the order of Cenwulf King of Mercia whither he is carried Prisoner Id. p. 241. Is set free before the High Altar being then a Prisoner of War upon the Dedication of the Abbey of Winchelcomb Id. p. 242. Eadbriht King of Kent his Death after he had reigned Six Years l. 4. p. 225. Eadburga Daughter to King Offa Marries Brithtrick King of the West-Saxons l. 4. p. 235. Makes away her Husband by Poison designed indeed for one of his Favourites whom she could not endure Id. p. 243. Retires into France is put there into a Nunnery and why and being expelled thence for her Incontinency she begg'd her bread in Italy till she died l. 4. p. 243. A Law made upon her account That the King's Consort for the future should not be called Queen l. 5. p. 264. Eadesbyrig supposed by Mr. Cambden to be Edesbury in Cheshire where Aethelfleda Lady of the Mercians built a Castle l. 5. p. 316. Eadfrid a Son of King Edwin by his Wife Quenburga who was Daughter of Ceorle King of Mercia l. 4. p. 174. Surrenders up himself to Penda King of the Mercians Id. p. 176. Eadhed is Ordained Bishop in the Province of Lindisse and afterwards Governed the Church of Rippon l. 4. p. 196. Eadmund Etheling Son to King Edgar his Death and Burial at Rumsey in Hampshire l. 6. p. 7. Eadred or Ethelred King of the Mercians Marries Ethelfleda King Alfred's Eldest Daughter l. 5. p. 311. Vid. Ethelred Duke of Mercia Eadsige vid. Aeadsige Eadulf vid. Adulf Eadwig Etheling called Ceorle's Cyng that is King of the Clowns Brother to King Edward is Banished the whole story of him he is made Two Persons by the Annals l. 6. p. 50 51. Eadwin vid. Edwin Eagle the Roman Ensigns were in Caesar's time all Eagles l. 2. p. 26. Ealcher and his Kentish-men with Huda and his Surry-men fight with the Danish Army in the Isle of Thanet and the Success thereof l. 5. p. 261 262. Ealchstan Bishop of Scireborne and Prince Aethelbald join in a most wicked Conspiracy to remove Aethelwulf out of his Kingdom l. 5. p. 263. Ealerd a Daughter of King Edwin's by Queen Aethelburga l. 4. p. 176. Ealfert or Alfred King of the Northumbers his Decease l. 4. p. 213. Ealfric an Ealdorman and one of King Ethelred's Admirals who was to have encompass'd the Danish Fleet by surpise but underhand he betrays the design sending them notice to take care of themselves and the night before the intended Engagement goes over to them himself l. 6. p. 23 24. Several other Treacheries he plays as leaving the Army whereof he was General c. Id. p. 30. Ealswithe The Daughter of Aethelred Ealdorman of the Gaini is Married to King Alfred l. 5. p. 269 313. Her Children by him and her Decease Id. p. 310 311 313. Eanbald Consecrated Archbishop to the See of York on the Death of Ethelheard The Pall demanded for him of the Pope by Alwold King of the Northumbers l. 4. p. 232. Departs from the Northumbers and afterwards Consecrates and places on the Throne Eardwulf who had begun his Reign over Northumberland about a Month before Id. p. 240. His Death and Burial at York the Year after Id. p. 241. Another of the same Name upon his Decease was Consecrated Archbishop of York and the Year following he received the Pall Ibid. This Eanbald held the Second Council at Pinchinhale and what was done therein Id. p. 242. Eanbryht Bishop of Hagulstad his Decease l. 5. p. 248. Eanfrid or Earlfrid the Son of Ethelfrid the last King before Edwin Ruled the Kingdom of Bernicia and Abjured the Christian Religion which before he had Professed l. 4. p. 176. Is basely put to Death by Cadwallo when he imprudently came to him with only Twelve Select Knights in his Company to Treat of Peace Id. p. 177. Earcombert the First English King viz. of Kent who Commanded Idols to be destroyed and ordered Lent to be observed l. 4. p. 180. His Death and who succeeded him Id. p. 185 190. His Character Id. p. 189. Earcongath or Earcongata Daughter to Earcombert a Virgin of great Piety constantly serving God in a Monastery of the Kingdom of the Franks in the Town of Bruges in Flanders l. 4. p. 180. Eardulf succeeds Alfred or Ealfert in the Kingdom of the Northumbers but is expelled from it within Two Months by a Plot laid against him l. 4. p. 213. Eardwulf an Earl commanded to be put to death is found afterwards alive and after that made King of Northumberland Id. p. 236. When he began to Reign there and whom he succeeded Id. p. 240. Returns home Victorious by destroying the Rebels that rose up against him Id. p. 241. Leads an Army against Kenwulf King of Mercia for Harbouring his Enemies but by the Intercession of King Egbert a Peace is agreed on and confirmed by Oath l. 5. p. 248. About Three years after he is driven out of his Kingdom and by whom Ibid. p. 249. The Son of Eardulf the first King of that Name there restored to his Kingdom by the Assistance of the Emperor Charles the Great l. 5. p. 249. Earnred succeeds Aelfwold King of Northumberland l. 5. p. 249. Holds his Kingdom as Tributary to Egbert Chief King of the English who had grievously wasted it with his Arms Id. p. 248 255. His Death his Son succeeding him Id. p. 260. Earnwulf Charles the Gross King of the Franks his Brother's Son expels his Uncle his Kingdom dividing it into Five parts and each of the Kings to Govern under him l. 5.290 East-Angles the Countries we now call Norfolk and Suffolk the Kingdom of it supposed to begin about Anno 575. under Uffa the Eighth King from Woden l. 3. p. 145. The Gospel is preached to them by Furseus which Converted many of them l. 4. p. 180. The Kingdom thereof divided between Hunbeanna and Albert Id. p. 225. They slay Beornwulf King of the Mercians for Challenging this Kingdom as his own l. 5. p. 253. Edmund their King fighting with the Danes they obtain the Victory kill him and wholly Conquer that Kingdom Id. p. 269 272 273 274. Their Subjection and Freedom from the Danish Yoke Id. p. 322 Easter it 's Observation according to the manner prescribed in the Council of Nice l. 2. p. 88. l. 4. p. 166. The Difference about the Rule of keeping it in Augustin's time l. 4. p. 160 161. How it was observed by Bishop Aidan Id. p. 177. Is Commanded to be kept according to the Order of the Church of Rome Id. p. 189. Appointed by the Synod at Hartford in Anno 673. to be kept on the First Lord's Day after the Fourteenth Moon of the First Month that is January this was a General Council of the whole Kingdom Id. p. 193. Aldhelm Abbot of Malmesbury wrote an excellent Book about the Keeping of Easter
whereby he converted many of the Britains then Subject to the West-Saxons Id. p. 213. Naitan King of the Picts concerns himself about the Celebration of Easter and it is appointed to be kept on the First Sunday after the First Full Moon that follows the Vernal Equinox l. 4. p. 216. Decreed to be kept after the Custom of Rome in a General Synod of the British Nation Id. p. 229. Ordinances touching the Keeping of Easter made at the Second Council of Pinchinhale Id. p. 242 East-Saxons the beginning of this Kingdom 〈◊〉 Erchenwin the Son of Offa according to H. Huntington l. 3. p. 13â— It had London the Chief City of England under its Dominion Ibid. This Kingdom was divided from that of Kent by the River Thames c. l. 4. p. 159. Upon the Death of Sebert his Three Sons whom he left Heirs to the Kingdom all relapse to Paganism and great part of the Nation with them Id. p. 168. But between Thirty and Forty years after at the Instance of King Oswy they again receive the Christian Faith Id. p. 184. Eatta Bishop of the Province of Bernicia had his Episcopal See at Hagulstad l. 4. p. 197. Reckoned to be a very Holy Man Id. p. 215. Ebba a Queen is Converted and Baptized in the Province of the Wectij but what Queen Bede says not l. 4. p. 197. Ebba Abbess of Coldingham-Nunnery in Yorkshire an Heroine Example of Chastity in her and all her Sisters l. 5. p. 269. Eborius Bishop of the City of Eboracum is sent with others to the Council of Arles in Gallia as one of the Deputies for the rest of the Bishops of Britain l. 2. p. 88. Eclipses of the Sun one from early in the Morning till Nine a Clock another where the Stars shewed themselves for near half an hour after Nine in the Morning l. 3. p. 138. Of the Sun which was so great that it 's whole Orb seemed as it were covered with a black Shield Another of the Moon appearing first as stained with Blood which lasted a whole hour and then a Blackness following it returned to its own Colour l. 4. p. 222. One of the Moon From the Cock Crowing till the morning Id. p. 240. One of the Moon In the Second hour of the night 17. Kal. Feb. Id. p. 242. One of the Moon On the 13th Kal. of January l. 5. p. 248. One of the Moon And on the Kal. of September l. 5. p. 248. Of the Sun on the 7th Kal. of August about the fifth hour of the day Id. p. 249. Of the Moon on Christmas-day at night Id. p. 254. Of the Sun About the sixth hour of the day on the Kal. of October Id. p. 260. Of the Sun For one whole hour Id. p. 283. One of the Moon appeared Id. p. 313. Eddobeccus is dispatched away by Constans to the Germans with an Account of Gerontius his Revolt l. 2. p. 103. Edelwalch King of the West-Saxons when he was baptized l. 4. p. 195. Gives Wilfrid Commission to convert and baptize in his Province Id. p. 197. Edgar Son of Edmund and Elgiva afterwards King his Birth l. 5. p. 344. Is elected by the Mercians and Northumbrians their King and confirmed so by the Common Council of the Kingdom Id. p. 354. On the death of his Brother Edwi is elected by the Clergy and Laity King of the West-Saxons and though he was not the first yet he was the best that deserved the Title of First Monarch of all England l. 6. p. 1. And so he stiles himself in his Charter to the Abbey of Glastenbury Id. p. 9. His great Charity and the Nation 's happiness under him Id. p. 2 11. Seven years Penance is imposed upon him by Archbishop Dunstan part of which was That he should not wear his Crown all that time and that for taking a Nun out of a Cloyster and then debauching her Id. p. 3. Harasses North-Wales with War till he forces a Peace upon this Condition That the Tribute in Money should be turned into that of so many Wolves-Heads yearly Id. p. 3 4 11. Grants a New Charter of Confirmation with divers additional Endowments of Lands and Privileges to the Monastery of Medeshamsted Id. p. 5. Marries Ethelfreda or Elfreda Daughter of Ordgar Earl of Devonshire and his Issue by her Id. p. 5 6. Hath an Elder Son by Elfleda sirnamed The â—air Daughter of Earl Eodmar who is called afterwards Edward the Martyr but doubtful whether he was married to her or not Id. p. 6. Places Nuns in the Monastery of Rumsey in Hampshire commands all the Countrey of Thanet to be laid waste and for what reason Ibid. Causes the Chanons to be driven out of all the greatâ—r Monasteries in Mercia and Monks to be put in their places Id. p. 7. Is crowned King in the ancient City of Ackmanceaster called Bathan by the Inhabitants with Remarks about his Coronation then for he was crowned before And founds a new Church at Bangor dedicating it to the Virgin Mary Id. p. 7 8. Six Kings make League with him promising upon Oath their Assistance both by Sea and Land An Account who they were and of his Fleet at West-Chester where they all met him He is the first that was truly Lord of our Seas Id. p. 8. His Death and Burial at Glastenbury and Character The great Kindnesses he shewed to Ethelfreda's first Husband's Son Id. p. 9 10 11. A mighty Lover of the Fair Sex Id. p. 3 5 6 9 10 11. A Famous Instance of his great Courage and Strength though but little of Stature Id. p. 11. His Charter about having subdued all Ireland c. much suspected to be fictitious With this King fell all the Glory of the English Nation Id. p. 12. The Laws he made with the Council by the Consent of his Wise-Men Id. p. 12 13 14. Great Dissention amongst the Nobility after his Death about the Election of a New King Id. p. 15. Edgar sirnamed Aetheling the Son of Prince Edward by Agatha Id. p. 49. Edgar Aetheling how he was put by from the Throne though the only surviving Male of the Ancient Royal Family l. 6. p. 105 106. Is proposed to be made King upon Harold's Death but his Party were not prevalent enough to carry it Id. p. 115 116. Edgitha Daughter of King Egbert is first bred up under an Irish Abbess and then made Abbess her self of the Nunnery of Polesworth l. 5. p. 257. Another of this Name King Athelstan's Sister her Marriage with Sihtric the Danish King of Northumberland and being afterwards a Widow she became a Nun at Polesworth Her Character and the False Story of the Scots upon her Id. p. 330. Edgitha or Editha Daughter of Earl Godwin married to Edward the Confessor a Lady not only Beautiful and Pious but Learned above her Sex in that Age l. 6. p. 72 73 96. An improbable Story of her causing Gospatrick to be murthered upon the Account of her Brother Tostige l. 6. p. 90.