Books into which I have divided this Volume I will now proceed to acquaint you with the rest of my Authors from whom I have collected it nor will I give you only their Names which has been done by so many already but a brief Censure of them and their Works and in what Time they wrote being such as lived either before or after the Conquest Of the former sort there are but few since from Bede to Asser. Menev. there flourish'd no general Historian for William of Malmsbury himself confesses that after Bede all liberal Studies more and more declining those that followed spent their Lives in Idleness or Silence yet during even that Period there were some Writers of this kind viz. certain Monks in the greater Monasteries whose business it was to set down in short by way of Annals the most remarkable Passages of their own Times in their own Language nay Learning was in that King's Reign fallen to so low an Ebb that even King Alfred tells us in his Preface to the Saxon Version of Gregory's Pastoral That in the beginning of his Reign there were few on this side Humber who could understand their own Prayers much less turn a piece of Latin into English and where then were our supposed flourishing Vniversities AND I shall here begin with Asserius Menevensis who was so called because he was a Monk of Menevia or St. Davids This was he who being sent for by King Alfred out of Wales assisted him in his Studies and besides taught his Children and others of the Nobility Latin after this King Alfred sent him with others to fetch Grimbald out of Flanders into England and after the Schools were opened at Oxford the latter there professed Divinity and the former Grammar and Rhetorick as you may find in the Annals of Hyde cited in the ensuing History THIS Monk being Learned above the Age in which he lived first wrote the Annals that go under his Name which having long continued in the Cottonian and other Libraries in Manuscript have been lately published by the Learned Dr. Gale in his last Volume of Historians printed at Oxon. After these Annals it is certain Asser also wrote the whole History of King Alfred's Life under the Title of de Gestis Regis Aelfredi which were first published by the Reverend Arch-bishop Parker in Saxon Characters according to the Copy now in the Cottonian Library and was also again put out by Mr. Camden in another Edition at Frankford But it must be confessed there is some difference between these two Copies concerning the Vniversity of Oxford which is taken notice of in this Work in its proper Place but that the Annals abovementioned were written before his History of King Alfred's Life is plain for he there refers you to those Annals which he has also inserted in the Life almost word for word But tho the former of these is continued to the Death of King Alfred and the latter as far as the 14th Year of the Reign of K. Edward the Elder yet it is evident that he himself wrote neither the one nor the other after the Year 893 being the 45th of King Alfred's Age and this appears from the Life it self in which the Author particularly mentions it nor could he extend the Annals any farther because they were written before he wrote the Life This I observe to let the Reader understand that whatever he finds farther in the Annals or Life the Substance of both which I have given him in this Volume were continued by some other Hand and as for the Annals they sufficiently declare it for towards the latter end under Anno Dom. 909. you may meet with this Passage hoc Anno Asserius Episcopus Scireburnensis obiit which was no other than our Author himself yet this must be farther observed of him that he was so extreamly negligent in his Account of Time that he begins the first Year of King Alfred's Reign sometimes at one Year of our Lord and sometimes at another so that no Man can tell by him when it commenced BVT why he left off Writing so many Years before King Alfred died and never finish'd his Life though he survived him nine Years I confess I know not unless being preferred about the Time when he had finish'd it to the Bishoprick of Shireburne he left the King's Service and going to reside at his own See had other Business on his Hands than Writing And that the same Asser who taught King Alfred was also by him made Bishop of Shireburne appears from this King's Preface to the Saxon Translation of St. Gregorie's Pastoral in which he tells you he was assisted by Plegmund his Archbishop and Asser his Bishop to whom the said King in his Will after the Archbishop and some other Bishops bequeathed a 100 Marks by the Title of Asser Bishop of Shireburne from whence it is manifest that the same Person who was King Alfred's Instructor was also Bishop of Shireburne which Bishoprick was certainly bestowed on him after he had done Writing since tho he mentions the Abbeys of Banwell Ambresbury and Exceter to have been bestowed upon him by the King yet he is utterly silent of his being made Bishop which he would not surely have omitted if he had been then so preferred but how long he held this Bishoprick we can say little positively because we do not find when it was first given him but as for the time of his Death not only the Annals that go under his Name but the Saxon Chronicle also places it under Anno 909. So that I think there can be no reasonable cause to doubt of that BVT what should lead such a careful Chronographer as Florence of Worcester into so great a Mistake as to place this Bishop's Death under Anno 883 I know not unless he had some other Copies of the Saxon Annals by him than are now extant but the Fasti of the Saxon Kings and Bishops publish'd by Sir H. Savil at the end of William of Malmesbury and other Writers are guilty of the like Mistake making this Asser to have succeeded Sighelm Bishop of Shireburn and to have died Anno 883 whereas it appears from our Annals that Sighelm whom William of Malmesbury makes to be the same Person with the Bishop abovementioned this very Year carried King Alfred's Alms to Rome and afterwards went himself as far as India however this Mistake of Florence as also the pretended Authority of our Welsh Chronicle hath as I suppose led divers other Learned Men and particularly Bishop Godwin and Arch-bishop Usher into a Belief of two Assers both Bishops the one of whom died Anno 883 and the other to have been Arch-bishop of St. Davids and to have succeeded Novis who according to the Chronicle of that Church publish'd in the 2d Volume of Anglia Sacra died Anno 872 and there immediately follows under Anno 909 Asserius Episcopus Britanniae fit which must certainly be an Errour in
his History of the Church of Durham who has interspersed many excellent Passages concerning the same Northern Story Here likewise we may add the Chronicle of the Abbey of Mailross which tho wrote by the Abbot of Dundraimon was certainly collected out of some much antienter Annals of that Monastery which was then destroyed and these together with the last mentioned Authors have helped us to make up the Succession of the Northumbrian Kings after Eardulf that was expelled his Kingdom Anno 806. from whom our common Writers suppose there was an Interregnum for the space of above sixty Years tho by those above-named it appears to have been otherwise as you may see in the Tables at the end of the last Book AFTER these flourished William of Malmesbury who finished his History in the Reign of King Stephen but certainly he began it long before viz. in the Reign of Henry the First To which Learned Monk being one of the best Writers both for Judgment and Stile of that Age I must own my self obliged for the best and choicest Passages in this Volume TO him succeeded Henry Arch-Deacon of Huntington who wrote a History of the Kings of England as well before as after the Conquest and retiring to Rome lived there for some time for that purpose He deduced his History almost to the end of K. Stephen and writing most commonly by way of Annals transcribed many things out of Florence of Worcester and was of that great Reputation that Geoffrey of Monmouth who was his Cotemporary recommends the English History to be written by his Pen as he does the British to be continued by Caradoc of Lancarvon who wrote a Welsh Chronicle as far as his own Time the Substance whereof I have here likewise given you as it was put out by Dr. Powell to which I have also added several remarkable Passages that were designed in a new Edition of the same Work to be published from the Manuscripts of the Learned Antiquary Mr. Robert Vaughan by Mr. Ellis late of Jesus College in Oxon but which were never finished And I have likewise inserted divers choice Notes that I gathered from another Manuscript of the same Author's relating to the Chronology and Actions of the British Princes which he wrote for the Satisfaction of the Lord Primate Usher and from him is now in my Possession And I suppose no Ingenious British Antiquary will think this Performance unnecessary since he will here find the Substance of all that is contained in Caradoc's Chronicle together with a great many considerable Additions from the Manuscripts abovementioned as also some others gathered from two MS. Copies of the Chronicles of Wales the one in the Cottonian Library the other in the Exchequer written at the end of one of the Volumes of Doomesday for the perusal of which I stand obliged to the Reverend Dr. Gale H. Huntingdon was followed by Rog. Hoveden a secular Priest of Oxford and was Domestick Clerk or Secretary to Henry the Second he seems to have chiefly transcribed from Simeon of Durham as to the Affairs before the Conquest as he does from William of Malmesbury and other Authors as well as his own Observations for those that occur'd afterwards to his own Time continuing his History to the beginning of King John's Reign THE next we come to are those Authors contained in that noble Volume called the Decem-Scriptores such as Ailred Abbot de Rievalle who wrote concerning the Kings of England so far as King Henry the 2d in whose Time he lived as also concerning the Life and Miracles of Edward the Confessor from whom I have taken divers memorable Passages relating to the Life of that King as well as to his Predecessors omitting his Fables and Legends in which he does too much abound AFTER him follows Radulphus de Diceto Dean of St. Pauls London who flourished in the Reign of King John about the Year 1210. he was esteemed a very accomplished Historian and an indefatigable Collector in his Time of things not only before but after the Conquest I have also taken some few Passages from William Thorn a Monk of Canterbury who wrote an entire History of the Affairs of his own Monastery of St. Augustin down to the beginning of King Richard the Second in whose Reign he lived AFTER whom we had for a long time no printed Historians of the Times before the Conquest till that in the Decem-Scriptores which goes under the Name of John Brompton Abbot of Jorvaulx in Richmondshire tho Mr. Selden has shewn us in his Preface to that Volume that he was rather the Purchaser than Author of this Chronicle which he left to his own Abbey he is supposed to have lived in the time of Edward the Third but the History concludes with the Death of Richard the First BVT the said Reverend Dr. Gale farther observes of him That he intended to continue Geoffrey of Monmouth as appears in the Preface and in Col. 1153. as also that he took much from Benedictus Abbas still in Manuscript in the Cottonian Library and not from Roger Hoveden for where a Fault or Omission is found in Benedictus the same is here found also but not so in Hoveden e. g. Benedictus wanted the Seal of the King of Sicily and so did Bromton till it was added from some other Copy and not out of Hoveden for the Seals differ and some Copies of Hoveden have it not at all And tho the Compiler of this History seems to have lived in the Time of Richard I. as himself seems to intimate yet Col. 967. it mentions Richard the Third which must have been added to continue down the Genealogy of our Kings as is often done in antient Chronicles by some later Hand But the Learned Doctor farther supposes this Chronicle to have been written by one John Brompton who as the Doctor found in an old Manuscript Year-Book or Collection of Reports of the Reign of King Edward the First was a Justice Itinerant about that Time which Conjecture is also confirmed by his careful inserting the Antient Saxon Laws into this Chronicle This as it was not done by any before him so neither does it savour of the Monk THIS is the more worthy taking notice of because Sir William Dugdale hath omitted this John Brompton in his Catalogue of Judges Itinerant at the end of his Origines Juridiciales TO this Historian succeeds Henry de Knyghton Canon of Leicester who wrote his History de Eventibus Angliae beginning with King Edgar and ending with the Reign of Richard the Second BVT the Reader may be pleased to take notice that in these two last Authors are found many Passages which are in none of the more Antient Writers and since most of them relate to Customs and Terms that had their Original after the coming in of the Normans therefore they may with good Reason be suspected to have been borrowed from some common Stories or Traditions that then passed up and down for current NOR can
we here omit several other Pieces of less Bulk and Note published since that Volume last mentioned containing the Chronicles and Histories of divers Cathedrals and Abbeys such as are the Annals of the Abbey of Winchester c. which have been published from the Cottonian and other Libraries in Monasticon Anglicanum and the first Volume of Anglia Sacra lately published by the late Learned and Industrious Mr. Wharton TO these likewise may be added the Histories of the Monasteries of Ely and Ramsey as also of Glastenbury by William of Malmesbury from whom we have taken several Things not only relating to that Abbey but the General History of England nor can I omit the History of John of Wallingford whom Matthew Paris mentions in his Lives of the Abbots of St. Albans as the 21st Abbot of St. Albans he wrote the History of the Kings of England as far as the 42d of King Henry the Third the first Part of which down to the Norman Conquest hath been published in the aforesaid last Volume at Oxford by the Learned Dr. Gale From all which last mentioned tho mingled with abundance of Monkish Trash we have here and there excerpted several excellent Remarks WE have also sometimes made use of Ranulph Higden his Polychronicon who was a Monk of Chester the first Part of which is published also by the said Dr. Gale as far as the Conquest and Matthew a Monk of Westminster his Flores Historiarum these Authors being Cotemporaries and collecting to the Reign of Edward the Third from all the rest of the Antient Writers abovementioned I have seldom used but as subsidiary Helps when the Passages they relate are not to be found any where else several other Authors they borrowed from being now lost or very rare to be met with HAVING now done with our printed Authors I proceed to those that continue still in Manuscript in the Bodleian and Cottonian Libraries and also in those of Lambeth Gresham's College and the Heraulds Office such as are John of Tinmouth his Historia Aurea Johannes Castorius in English Beaver his History of the Kings of England and John Rouse of Warwick his Collections on the same Subject together with above forty or fifty nameless Authors which I have perused to see what I could find in any of them that had not been taken notice of by others but how little they have answered in my Expectations the small Additions I have made from them I hope will satisfy the unprejudiced Reader and for any that are otherwise if they please to take the same Pains that I have done I wish their Labours may be better requited BVT as for the Extracts of Ecclesiastical Canons and Laws which I have inserted at the end of divers King's Reigns I have faithfully transcribed them ou◠of Sir Henry Spelman's first Volume of British Councils and Mr. Lambard's Archaionomia under their respective Years and have also compared and corrected them in a great Part from the Manuscript Notes of the Learned Junius at the end of the Cambridg Edition of Bede which is in the Bodleian Library or else by another Latin Manuscript Version of the Industrious Mr. Somner's And I do not know of any other Saxon Laws unless there be some of King Cnute's which remain as yet in Manuscript untranslated in the Bodleian Library as also in the Hands of Dr. Gale as I am well informed I hope they may be one day added to a new Edition of Mr. Lambard's most useful Work THVS having gone through all the chiefest English Historians both in Print and Manuscript that I know of relating to the Times before the Conquest which I think are as many and of as good Credit as any Countrey in Europe can shew in the like space of Time it may be expected I should say something in their Vindication since I find they have been attacked in a post-humous Treatise long since written by a Learned Civilian Sir Thomas Craig in Latin in answer to what Mr. Hollingshead has published concerning the Homage that was due from the Kings of Scotland to those of England and is lately translated into English by the Ingenious Mr. Ridpath and as I shall here faithfully give you his Arguments against the Antiquity and Credit of our Writers so I hope I shall return such Answers to them as will satisfy all impartial Readers HIS first Objection is That from the Death of Bede whose Credit he says he will every where preserve entire the English have no certain History nor Writer to the Reign of King Henry the First except that Fragment of Ethelwerd's for says he I do not acknowledg that Fragment of Ingulphus who preceded Ethelwerd twenty Years as an History nor Asserius Menevensis who wrote only concerning the Transactions of his own King Alfred And lest he should be thought to affirm any thing rashly He brings William of Malmesbury to witness the Matter saying That all the Memorials of Transactions from the Death of Bede to his own Time which was in the Reign of Henry I. about 1142. were utterly lost nor was there any who followed that Study or indeavoured to pursue the thread of History till himself NOW to give an Answer to this Learned Advocate and take him Point by Point as he goes on in the first Place I am sorry to find a Person otherwise every ways Able and Skillful in his own Profession so ignorant in our English Historians since if he had not been so he could not have committed almost as many Mistakes as he hath wrote Lines for in the first Place he calls Ingulph and Ethelwerd two Fragments whereas if he had been pleased to have looked upon either of them he would have found them entire Pieces so far as they went and we call Polybius Diodorus Siculus Salust Livy Historians not Fragments altho each of them be imperfect only the Edition that was then published of Ingulph wanted the Laws of William the Conqueror and some few Sheets at the Conclusion which have been since added AND whereas he says that Ingulph preceded Ethelwerd twenty Years he is so far from being in the right of that that the direct contrary is true for Ingulph lived and wrote above one hundred Years after Ethelwerd had finished his History with King Edgar's Reign whose Eulogy he only gives us in barbarous Verse AND as for what the Advocate says concerning William of Malmesbury he much misrepresents the Sense of this Author who does not affirm that there were no Memorials from the Death of Bede to his Time but the contrary for he mentions the Saxon Annals in his Proem in these words Sunt sanè quaedam vetustatis Indicia patrio Sermone chronico more per annos Domini ordinata also in his Book de Antiquitate Glastoniae published by Dr. Gale as above he citeth them as good Authority Tradunt Annales bonae credulitatis c. Nay Sir Thomas Craig himself I suppose through Forgetfulness has allowed
fought near the Mouth of the River which is called Glein or Gleni which is supposed by some to have been in Devonshire but by others and that more likely to have been Glein in Lincolnshire the Second Third Fourth and Fifth Battels were near another River called Duglâ—s which is in the Country of Linvis or Linnis by some supposed to be the River Dug or Due in Lincâ—lnshire but others place it in Lancashire where there is a River called Dugles near Wigan the Sixth Battel was by a River called Bassas which is supposed to run by Boston in Lincoln-shire the Eighth Battel was near the Castle of Gunion or Guinion in which Arthur carried the Picture of Christ's Cross and of the Virgin Mary upon his back or as Mat. Westminster has it painted on his Target and the Pagans were that day put to flight and many of them slain so that they received a very great overthrow the Ninth Battel was fought near the City of Legions that is in the British Tongue Kaer-Leon now Chester the Tenth was near a River called Ribroit or Arderic the Eleventh was upon the Mountain which is called Agâ—ed Cath Reginian which is some place in Somerset-shire but by Humphrey Lloyd it is supposed to have been Edinburgh H. Huntington confesses these places to be unknown in his time and therefore can be only guessed at in ours As for the Twelfth Battel since the certain time of it is fixed we shall speak of that by and by but the learned Dr. Gale to whom we are beholding for this last Edition of Gildas and Nennius printed at Oxon as also for the various readings and Notes at the end of him supposes that all the Battels here reckoned up were performed in the space of Forty Years aforegoing and althô they may be here attributed to King Arthur yet might be fought under Vortigern Ambrosius and others but that some of these Battles were really fought by King Arthur against the Saxons is acknowledged by all our English Writers and Ranulph Higden in his Polychronicon expresly relates that it is found in some ancient Chronicles that K. Cerdic fighting often with Arthur thô he were overcome yet still came on again more fiercely until Arthur being quite wearied out after the Six and Twentieth Year of Cerdic's coming over gave him up Hampshire and Somersetshire which Countries he then called West-Sexe And Thomas Rudburne in his greater Chronicle about this time we now treat of relates That Cerdic fought oftentimes with King Arthur who being at last weary of War made a League with Cerdic who thereupon granted to the Cornish-men to enjoy the Christian Religion under a Yearly Tribute which is likely enough to be true supposing as we have already said that he was only King of Cornwal and which shews this Prince not to have been such a mighty Monarch as Geoffery of Monmouth would make him Which is likewise confessed by the Welsh Historian Caradoc of Lancarvan in his Life of Gildas where he relates That Glastenbury was in Gildas his time besieged by King Arthur with a great Army out of Cornwal and Devonshire because Queen Gueniver his Wife had been ravish'd from him by Melvas who then Reigned in Somersetshire and that she was there kept by him because of the Strength of that Place whereupon King Arthur raising a great Army out of Cornwal and Devonshire marched to take the Town when the Abbot of Glastenbury accompanied with Gildas went between the two Armies and perswaded Melvas his King to restore the ravish'd Wife which being done both Kings were reconciled Which plainly shews this Arthur to have been but of small Power as well as Reputation who could thus tamely swallow such an Affront But to return to the Saxon Annals which relate That Stufe and Withgar Nephews to King Cerdic arrived in Britain with three Ships at the Port called Cerdics-Ora and fighting against the Britains put them to flight H. Huntington makes a long Description of this Battel which since it is not much to the purpose I omit only he tells us That the British Army was drawn up on a Hill side as also in the Valley which at first put the Saxons in much fear till recovering themselves they put them all to the Rout. Under this Year also Ranulph Higden in Polychron places the Death of Aesc the Son of Hengist to whom succeeded Otta his Son who Reigned 22 Years without any thing related of him either in the Saxon Annals or any other History About this time also thô without assigning the Year the same Author places the Death of Aella King of the South-Saxons who had all the Kings and chief Men in Britain under his Command to whom succeeded his Son Cyssa but in a short time his Posterity whose Names are no where mentioned grew weaker and weaker till they became subject to other Kings This Year Cerdic and Cynric took upon them the Title of Kings of the West-Saxons and the same Year fought against the Britains at a place called Cerdice's-Ford now Charford in Hampshire from which time the Royal Race of the Saxon Kings have reigned there and the same Year the Emperour Justin the Elder began to reign It seems King Cerdic was hitherto very modest for tho he had now been a Conquerour for 24 Years yet did he never take upon him the Title of King till now when he had gained a very large Territory and his Affairs were well established by this great Victory at Cerdice's-Ford but the Time when this Kingdom began is the more observable because at last it conquered all the other six Saxon Kingdoms and so obtained the sole Command of all England so that says H. Huntingdon the Times of all other Kingdoms being applied to these Kings may be by them the better distinguished In this Year as all the best British Manuscripts as well as printed Chronicles relate was fought the great Battel of Badon-Hill which is supposed to be the same with Banesdown near Bathe where the British Writers suppose King Arthur to have Commanded in Person thô divers of our Authors make him to have been only General to Aurelius Ambrosius which is not at all likely since according to the best British Accounts Aurelius died above 20 Years before this Battel This Nennius makes to be the twelfth Battel he had fought with the Saxons yet since Mr. Milton as well as others have been pleased to question whether there was ever any such King who Reigned in Britain it were not amiss if we did a little clear and establish that Point before we proceed any further since so great and remarkable a part of the History of the British Kings depends upon it The Objections that are made against Arthur's being a King in Britain are these First That Gildas makes no mention of him Secondly That he is not so much as mentioned by any ancient British Historian except Nennius who lived near 300 Years after and whom all
Abbess deceased at Streanshale now Whitby in York-shire which she her self had Founded she was Grand Niece to King Edwin and having been converted by Paulinus had been almost ever since her Conversion a professed Nun first in the Monastery of Cale in France and was afterwards Abbess of divers Nunneries in England being esteemed a Lady of great Sanctity and Knowledge At this Monastery of Strean-shale which was then for Men as well as Women lived Caedmon the English Saxon Poet who is supposed by Bede to have been once Divinely inspired in his sleep to make Verses in his own Tongue upon the Creation of the World and ever after kept that faculty upon other Divine Subjects there are divers of his Paraphrases in Saxon Verse still extant upon several Stories in Genesis and Exodus but very hard to be understood by reason of the Obsoleteness of the Saxon Dialect They have been Printed at Oxford by the Learned Junius About this time also according to Florence the Kingdom of the Mercians became divided into five Diocesses and Tulfride a learned Monk of the Abbess Hilda's Monastery was elected first Bishop of Worcester but dyed before his Ordination But the ancient Chronicle of the Church of Worcester now in the Cottonian Library relates the Church of Worcester to have been first founded by Atheâ—red King of the Mercians and Theodore Bishop of Canterbury one Bosel being made the first Bishop of that See and sate therein Eleven Years There was then also founded a Colledge of secular Canons which so continued as the Chapter of this Church till Anno Dom. 991 when Bishop Oswald turned them out and put in Benedictine Monks in their Rooms About the same time also one Oswald Nephew to King Ethelred founded a College for Secular Canons at Pershore in Worcestershire which continued till King Edgar and Bishop Oswald Anno 984. brought in Benedictine Monks in their Places I may also add under this Year that pretended Bull of Pope Agatho's Privileges together with the Charter of this K. Ethelred which is reciâ—â—d in the Peterbâ—rgh Copy of the Saxon Annals under Anno. 675 and is there related to have been about the same time confirmed in the Council at Heathfield above-mentioned whereby were grâ—nted to the Monastery of Mâ—deshaâ—isâ—e ad divers greâ—t Immâ—nities which Bull does not only confirm aâ—d those Privileges formerly granted by Pope Vitalian but there is also further added this that the Abbot should be the Pope's Legat over the whole Isle of Britain and that whatsoever Abbot was elected by the Monks should be immediately consecrated by the Archbishop of Câ—nterbury with divers other Things too tedious here to relate Which 〈◊〉 being recited in the Council above-mentioned was by thâ—m estâ—blished and confirmed which being done the King is said to have made a Speech reciting all the Lands he had given to the said Monastery and then having subscribed the Charter the Queen Adrian the Pope's Legat and all the Bishops and Abbots whose Names are there mentioned did so likewise under drâ—â—dful Curses upon those that should violate the Privileges above-mentioned But notwithstanding the so exact Recital and supposed Confirmation of this Charter in the Council above-mentioned we have very great Reason to suspect this Bull as also the Charter it self to have been forged long after by the Monks of Peterburgh for in the first place the Privileges granted to this Abbey do not only exceed any that had been granted by the Pope to any Monastery in England but also were such as we do not find it ever enjoy'd as particularly that of their Abbot's being the Pope's ordinary Legate all over this Island which had been such a Diminution of the Rights of the Archbishop of Canterbury as he would nover have so easily paâ—s'd over And besides all which the Names of the Bishops who are put to this Charter do not at all agree with the Circumstances of Time for first it is certain that Wilfred is here styled Archbishop of York which Title he never took upon him being then no more but a Bishop under the Jurisdiction of Archbishop Theodore and by whom he at this Time stood deprived and was not present at this Council nor did return this Year from Rome as this Copy of the Annals makes him to have done but was indeed returned from thence near three Years before being at this Time converting the South-Saxons â—s hath been already related Neither was Putta Bishop of Rochester or Waldhere Bishop of London at the time when this Council was held though their Names are also put to this Charter for the former had been dead eleven Years before and one Quiehelme was then Bishop of that See as appears by the Catalogue of the Bishops in Sir H. Spelman's Fasâ—â— at the end of the Volume of English Writers after Bede nor was the latter then Bishop of London but Erkenwald who was elected to that See above fifteen Years before and continued in it 'till after the Reign of King Ina who began not to reign 'till Anno 688 so that upon the whole matter I take this Charter to be a notorious piece of Forgery This Year Trumbrith was consecrated Bishop of Hagulstad and Trumwin Bishop of the Picts This was the Bishoprick of Wyterne called in Latin Candida Casa which at that time as Bede testifies belonged to the Kingdom of Northumberland and also Centwin King of the West-Saxons put the Britains to flight as far as the Sea H. Huntington says That he also wasted all their Country with Fire and Sword but the Welsh Chronicle of Caradoc translated by H. Lloyd relates That this Year Kentwin King of the West-Saxons gathered a great Company of his Nation together and came against the Britains who seem'd ready to receive the Battle but yet when both Armies appeared in sight of each other they were not all desirous to fight for they fell to a friendly composition and agreement viz. That Ivor should take Ethelburga to Wife who was Cousin to Kâ—ntwin and quietly enjoy all that he had got during the Reign of Ivor but of this our English Histories are silent This Year the Nunnery of St. Peter in Glocester was founded by Osriâ— then a petty Prince or Governour under Ethelred King of the Mercians but was afterwards King of the Northumbers This Monastery thô it had the honour of having Three Queens successively Abbesses of it was destroyed by the Danes but afterwards was re-edified for Benedictine Monks by Aldred Bishop of Worcester Anno 1058. This Year also according to Bede Egfrid King of Northumberland sent a great Army into Ireland under one Bert or Bryt his General who miserably wasted that innocent Nation which had been always friendly to the English which Character perhaps might have been due to them in Bede's time and did not so much as spare the Churches or Monasteries but the Islanders as far as they were able repel'd Force with Force and invoked the Divine
Miracles and mentioning other things only by the bye hath given us so slender an account of those times that if we had not found some assistance from the Saxon Annals as well as from other Writers the History of that Age though very short and obscure would yet have been much more imperfect without them But to proceed now with our Saxon Annals This Year K. Ethelbald took Sumerton and Acca was driven from his Bishoprick of Hagulstad I suppose by the then King of Northumberland though no Author expresly mentions it Will. of Malmesbury tells us that this Ethelbald was that great and powerful King of the Mercians to whom Boniface Bishop of Mentz being then the Pope's Legat writ a sharp Letter setting forth and reproving the then reigning Vices of this Nation and particularly of that King himself who relying on the vain Confidence of his Justice and Alms was not ashamed no more than the Noblemen of his Kingdom by his Example to commit Uncleanness even with Consecrated Nuns which wicked Actions the Bishop foretells would be the ruin of himself and Kingdom as it proved in the end But King Ethelbald after he had thus taken Somerton with an Army too powerful to be resisted by the K. of the West Saxons became to great that as H. Huntington observes he made all the rest of the Provinces of England together with their Kings subject to him as far as the River Humber This Somerton was anciently a great Town and Castle of the West-Saxon Kings and gave Name to that County which we now call Somersetshire though at present it be but an ordinary Country Village Also this Year the Sun was so much eclipsed that as the Epitome of Bede and Ethelward relate on 13 o Kal. Sept. it s whole Orb seem'd as it were covered with a black Sheild This Year also the Moon appear'd as it were stain'd with Blood and Simeon of Durham saith it lasted one whole hour and then a Blackness following it return'd to its natural Colour Also Tatwin the Archbishop deceased and Egbryht was made Bishop of York Now Bede also died But the Author of his Life in Manuscript in the Cottonian Library refers it to the Year following and the Chronicle of Mailros with greater Truth to the Year 736 for he was as his Life above-cited relates born Anno 677 and deceased in the 59th Year of his Age. But since Bede our Historian deceased about this time and that it is to him we are beholding for the greatest part of the History of this present Period it is fit we give you a short account of his Life He was born in the Province of Northumberland not far from the Monastery of Gyrwie the place is now called Yarrow near the Mouth of the River Were where he was bred up from seven Years of Age and in which being profess'd he lived a Monk all the rest of his Life spending his time in the Study of the Scriptures saying his Prayers or Writing Comments upon the Old and New Testaments as also his Ecclesiastical History so often cited by us besides divers other Books containing the Lives of Saints and other Matters of Humane as well as Divine Learning whose Titles you may find at the end of his said History 'Till at last being wasted by a long Asthma he there made an Heavenly End as may be seen in his Life above-mentioned So that Simeon of Durham very well observes that though he lay as it were hid in the utmost Corner of the World yet after his Death he became known in all Parts by his Learned Writings therefore he hath for his great Piety as well as Learning justly obtained the Title of Venerable Bede After whose decease as Will. of Malmesbury rightly observes all knowledge of Actions passed was almost lost even to his own Times since none proved an Emulator of his Studies nor a Follower of his Learning so that to a slothful Generation one more slothful still succeeding the Love of Learning for a long time grew cold in this whole Island ' This Year Bishop Egbriht received the Pall from Rome but you must here observe that by the Pope's thus sending a Pall to the Bishop of York he now became an Archbishop and consequently Metropolitan of all the Northumbrian Provinces that See having been ever since the Time of Paulinus's Flight out of Northumberland into Kent and carrying the Archiepiscopal Pall along with him no more than an ordinary Bishoprick subject to the Archbishop of Canterbury from whose Power it was from this time exempted and came now to have Supreme Jurisdiction over all the Bishops in Deira and Bernicia as far as the Pictish Kingdom ' The Arch-bishop Nothelm received his Pall from Rome This was the new Archbishop of Canterbury who succeeded Tatwine You may take notice that it was in those Times usual for the Pope to send a Pall to every new Archbishop upon his Consecration to shew his Dependance upon the See of Rome and for which every Archbishop paid a great Sum of Money to the Pope's Treasury This Nothelm when he was a Presbyter of the Church of London was he to whom Bede in the Epistle before his History owns himself beholding for divers ancient Monuments relating to the English Church as also Epistles out of the Pope's Repository This Year Forthere Bishop of Scireburn with Frithogithe Queen of the West-Saxons went to Rome Where as H. Huntington tells us they both took upon them the Monastick Habit which in those days very many of the English Nation of all Degrees and Qualities as well high as low were wont to do For now also as our Annals relate Ceolwulf King of Northumberland surrendred his Kingdom to Eadbert his Cousin who reigned Thirty one Years This Ceolwulf was he to whom Bede dedicated his History who after his professing himself a Monk in the Monastery of Lindisfarne as R. Hoveden relates brought the Monks of that place from the strict discipline of drinking only Milk or Water to drink Wine and Ale and they might very well afford it for he brought along with him good provisions to live easily as great Treasures and Revenues in Land recited at large by Simeon of Durham all which he bestowed on that Monastery no wonder then if such great Commendations be given by Monkish Writers to Kings becoming Monks The same Year also as Simeon of Durham and Mat. of Westminster relates Alwin Bishop of Lichfield dying there were two Bishops ordained in that Diocess viz. Wicca at Lichfield and Tocca the first Bishop of Leycester which Town from this time continued a Bishop's See for divers Ages Also this Year according to the Saxon Annals the Bishops Ethelwald and Acca deceased and Cynwulf was consecrated Bishop and the same Year Ethelbald King of the Mercians wasted the Contry of Northumberland And as H. Huntington adds carried away as much Spoil as he had a mind to from thence Also as Simeon of Durham
Saxons marching in an Hostile manner into Cornwal absolutely subdued it and added it to his own Kingdom many being there slain on both sides The same Year also according to Caradoc's Chronicle Run King of Dyvet and Cadhel King of Powis deceased Charles the Emperour made Peace with Nicephorus Emperour of Constantinople This Year also according to the same Caradoc Elbods Arch-Bishop of North Wales i. e. of St. Asaph deceased before whose Death was a great Eclipse of the Sun But as the Reverend Lord Bishop of Bangor in his Catalogue of the Welsh Kings which he has been pleased to communicate to me well observes That Eclipse falling out Anno 810 the Bishops Death must do so likewise and therefore in this the Chronicles must needs be mistaken Also according to Mat. Westminster Aelfwold King of Northumberland dying Earnred succeeded him and held it for 32 Years which is also confirmed by Simeon of Durham thô this can by no means agree with the Chronicle of Mailross which says That Eardulf being expelled his Kingdom it continued without any King for many Years but William of Malmesbury makes this Anarchy to have begun from the murther of King Ethered Anno 794 as hath been already observed in the last Book and that this Confusion lasted for about 33 Years during which time that Province became a Scorn to its Neighbours But it seems they still had Kings thô very obscure and but of small Account But of greater certainty is that which Mat. Westminster relates under this Year viz. That King Egbert subdued the Northern Welsh-men and made them Tributary to him But it is wholly incredible what Buchanan in his Scotish History relates in the Year following to wit That Achaius King of Scots having reigned 32 Years and had formerly aided but in what Year of his Reign he tells us not Hungus King of the Picts with 10000 Scots against one Athelstan then wasting the Pictish Borders and that Hungus by the Aid of those Scots and the Help of St. Andrew their Patron in a Vision by Night and the Appearance of a Cross by Day routed the astonished English and slew this Athelstan in Fight But who this Athelstan was I believe no Man knows Buchanan supposes him to have been some Danish Commander on whom King Alured or Alfred had bestowed Northumberland Yet of this I find no Foot-steps in our ancient Writers and if any such Thing were done in the time of Alfred it must be above 60 Years after for King Alfred began not to Reign till Anno 871. And John Fordun in his Scotish History is also as much mistaken making this Athelstan to be the Son of King Ethelwulf who then governed the Northern Provinces under his Father which also fails almost as much in point of time this Prince Athelstan here mentioned being as appears by the Saxon Annals alive and engaged in a Sea-Fight against the Danes above 40 Years after as you will find in its due place set down This Athelstan therefore and this great Overthrow seems rather to have been a meer Fancy of some idle Monk And this Year according to Mat. Westminster as King Egbert had the Year before subdued the Welsh-men so it seems upon some fresh Rebellion of theirs he again entred their Borders and laid them waste from North to South with Fire and Sword and then returned home Victorious But notwithstanding the Wars the Welsh had from abroad it seems they had also time enough for Civil Wars at home for now according to Caradoc's Chronicle Conan Prince of Wales and his Brother Howel could not agree insomuch that they tried the Matter by Battle where Howel had the Victory to which Dr. Powel hath here added this Observation That this Howel the Brother of Conan King or Prince of North Wales did claim the Isle of Mon or Anglesey for part of his Father's Inheritance which Conan refusing to give him thereupon they fell at Variance and consequently made War the one against the other And here says he I think fit to say somewhat of the old Custom and Tenure of Wales from whence this Mischief grew that is the Division of the Father's Inheritance amongst all the Sons commonly called Gauel kind Gauel is a British Term signifying a Hold because every one of the Sons did hold some portion of his Father's Lands as his lawful Son and Successour This was the Cause not only of the Overthrow of all the ancient Nobility of Wales for by that means the Inheritance being continually divided and subdivided amongst the Children and Children's Children it was at length brought to nothing but also of much Bloodshed unnatural Strife and Contention amongst Brethren as we have here an Example and many others in this History This kind of Partition is very good to plant and settle a Nation in a large Country not inhabited but in a populous Country already furnished with Inhabitants it is the utter Decay of great Families and as I said before the cause of constant Strife and Debate But some Years after Howel gave his Brother Conan another Defeat and slew a great many of his People Whereupon Conan levied an Army in the Year 817 and chased his Brother Howel out of the Isle of Anglesey compelling him to flee into that of Man and a little after died Conan chief King of the Britains or Welsh-men leaving behind him a Daughter named Esylht who was married to a Nobleman called Mâ—rvyn Vrych the Son of Gwyriad who was afterwards King in her Right This Year also as the Manuscript Annals of the Abbey of Winchelcomb relate the Charter of this Monastery was granted by King Kenulph as appears by a Copy there inserted which shews what Orders of Men were summoned by that King to be present at the Council in which this Charter was confirmed viz. Merciorum optimates Episcopos Principes Comites Procuratores meosque i. e. Regis Propinquos which Terms having already been explained in the Introduction to this Book I need noâ—â—ere repeat There were also present Cuthred King of Kent his 〈…〉 King of the East-Saxons with all others who should be present at those Synodal Councils Then follow the Subscriptions of K. Kenulph as also of both the said Kings and of Wilfred Arch-Bishop of Canterbury with the rest of the Bishops and Ealdermen there stiled Duces This Year according to our Annals the Emperour Charles the Great departed this Life when he had Reigned Forty Five Years also Wilfred the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and Wigbright the Bishop of the West-Saxons went to Rome But here our Annals are mistaken for this Emperour dyed not till the Year 814. Mat. Westminster also adds that these Bishops above-mentioned went to Rome about the Affairs of the English Church Arch-Bishop Wilfred having received the Benediction of Pope Leo returned again to his Bishoprick and the same Year King Egbert wasted the Western Welsh from the South to the West This seems but to have been the
resolved to sit down before it supposing that the English would quickly surrender for want of Provisions which they being also sensible of were endeavouring to prevent and resolving either to obtain the Victory or dye they sallyed out early one Morning upon the Enemy who lay Encamp'd without any good Guards so falling upon them at unawares slew Hubba their Leader with his whole Army except a few who were forced to flee to their Ships And this Hubba being here buried under a heap of Stones gave name to the place being called Hubblestones to this day but the English having stripped the dead bodies they there found among the spoils that famous Banner called Reafan that is the Raven being the Picture of a Raven embroidered by the Three Sisters of Hinguar and Hubba in one forenoon on purpose for this Expedition and which being Enchanted by their Magic Arts they put so great a confidence in it that they believed if they were to meet with good success this figure would clap its Wings as if it were alive but if otherwise would let them fall but be this Story true or false it seems they now lost their Oracle before they had time to consult it and the loss of it was certainly a great discouragement to them King Aelfred being now much encouraged with the news of this good success of the Devon-shire-men began to consider how he might perform some worthy action against the Enemy therefore this Year as the Saxon Annals relate having first fortified with his slender Forces a small Castle or Fort at Aetheling-gaige now called Athelney in Somersetshire where he had resided hitherto he marched from thence the Seventh Week after and with his Subjects and Vassals there to fight against the Pagans and it is also about this time that we may place that memorable action of this King which is thus related by Ingulph and Will of Malmesbury which if true shews not only his great Courage but Conduct too for knowing the Enemy to exceed him in numbers as well as other advantages and that if he should set upon them with open Force he would be able to do them little or no prejudice nor could he hope for any better success unless he knew in what condition the Enemie's Army was and not having any one whose Sagacity or Fidelity he could well trust he was resolved to go himself to spy out the Enemie's Camp so taking upon him the Habit of a Country Minstrel or Fidler he went with only one Companion into the Danish Camp where he became so acceptable as well for his Singing as Playing that at last he was introduced to the King's Tent and when he had there as well as in the rest of the Danish Camp learnt as much as he had a mind to know he again returned to his Castle at Athelne where having called together all his chief followers he related to them the careless condition of the Enemies Camp and with what ease they might be destroyed whereat they being extraordinarily surprised he then resolved to muster up what Forces he could So the Seventh Week after Easter he march'd to Ecgbyrth-stan now supposed to be Brixstan in Somerset-shire lying on the East side of Selwood Forest where met him all the Wilt-shire Somerset-shire and Hamptshire Men who were mightily pleased to behold their King after so many hazards but staying there only one night he marched away to Iglay where the place was is not very well known and there encamped another night in which as Asser relates St. Neot who had been formerly his Kinsman and Friend appeared to him in a Dream and bid him not be afraid of the great Army of the Pagans because God would now have mercy upon him and his People and that what had happen'd to him was for his too great Arrogance in his Youth and that God would Fight for him and his People The King you may be sure was much rejoyced at this Dream and failed not to encourage his Men with it so the next Morning removing his Camp from thence he came in one Day more to Ethandune but where it is we cannot tell where the Danes lay encamped and marching against them in very close order he fought their whole Army and though they did for a long time stoutly resist the frequent charges the King's Men made upon them yet at last they gave ground and beginning to flee he obtained a notable Victory making a great slâ—ughter of the Pagans as they retreated to a certain Castle not far off and at which they lay encamped where the King besieged them for Fourteen Days till being overcome by hunger they were reduced to that necessity as to desire Peace on these Conditions That the King should receive from them what Hostages He should name but He not to return any to them so they made such a Peace with him as they had never done with any King before for they swore that they would depart his Kingdom and that Gythram or Gutrum their King should become a Christian all which was performed for about Three Weeks after the said King with about Thirty more of his Chief Noblemen came to the King being then at Alrey the place is now unknown only that it lay near Athelney above-mentioned where King Alfred receiving him from the Font at his Baptism became his Goâ—father and took him for his adopted Son But he did not receive the Chrisme till Eight Days after at a Town of the Kings called Wedmore where he staid with him for the space of Twelve Days who presented him and all those that accompanied him not only with Money but Houses and Lands being now resolved to fix here So this next Year the Danes according to their promise removed from Cippenham i. e. Chippenham in Wiltshire to Cirenceaster and there staid one Year But now another Army of Pagans arriving from beyond the Sea sailed up the River Thames to whom notwithstanding their former Oaths the Army that was here before also join'd and took up their Winter Quarters at Fullanham now Fulham not far from London and the same Year according to the Annals the Sun was Eclipsed for one whole hour also now part of the Pagans who had quartered at Cirencester as say the Annals and Asser marched from thence under the Conduct of King Gythrum into the Kingdom of the East-Angles and dividing the Country among them began to inhabit it which having been in their possession ever since the Death of King Edmund King Alfred now yielded up to their King Gythram but those Danes who had before staid at Fulham now sailed into Frankland and quartered at Ghent for one whole Year from whence you may observe that what we now call Flanders was then accounted part of France or Frankland And to this time we may also refer that League or Agreement made between King Alfred and King Guthram which sets out the Territories of each of these Princes The First
Bishop of Shireborne This Year Elfred who was Gerefe of Bathe died and about the same time there was a Peace made between King Edward and those of East-England and Northumberland That is as Florence interprets it with the Danish Army inhabiting those Provinces at Ityngaford but where the place was is now unknown to us unless it be Ilford near Christ-Church in Hampshire which is seated in the new Forest called Itene in English-Saxon This Year also Ligceaster now Leicester was repaired And Florence of Worcester likewise relates it to have been done in the Year 908. by the care of Ethelred Duke of Mercia and the Lady Elfleda his Wife and this Author does also inform us That this Year the King subdued Eastseax East-England and Northumberland with many other Provinces which the Danes had a long time been possessed of but East-England was not reduced till some Years after also that he conquered the borders of the Scots Cumbrians and Galloway Men with the Western Britains and forced their Kings to yield themselves to him and then he returned home with great Glory and Honour This Year also Cadelh Prince of South Wales died he was second Son to Roderic the Great and Father to Howel Dha i. e. the Good who succeeded him in that Dominion Some of the South Wales Antiquaries have endeavoured to prove this Cadelh to have been the eldest Son of Roderic the Great but Mr. Vaughan hath so Learnedly confuted this Mistake in a small Treatise which he published on that Subject at Oxford 1663 that I think no Man can have any Reason to be dissatisfied with it This Year according to Florence of Worcester the ancient City of Caerlegion that is in the English Legeceaster and now Westchester was by the Command of Earl Ethered and Ethelflede his Wife repaired Which thô Mr. Camden in his Britannia will needs have to be Leicester yet that it was not so may appear from the British Name of Caerlegion which was never given to Leicester but only to Westchester by the ancient British Inhabitants ' This Year deceased Denulph who was Bishop of Winchester This is he of whom our Historians tell us That the King lighting on him as he lay concealed at Athelney being then but a Swineheard and finding him a Man of excellent Natural Parts set him to School to learn and he became so good a Proficient in Letters that he was made first a Doctor and afterwards a Bishop This Year also the Body of St. Oswald was translated from Bardenigge that is Bardeney in Lincolnshire into Mercia Frithâ—stan now took the Bishoprick of Winchester and Bishop Asser also deceased soon after who was Bishop of Shireburne Also the same Year King Edward sent an Army of the West Saxons together with the Mercians who very much wasted Northumberland and staying there five Weeks destroyed many of the Danes Florence of Worcester and Simeon of Durham give us a very good Reason for this Action viz. That the Danes had now broken the League they had entred into with King Edward so that he never lest them till he had forced their Kings and Commanders again to renew the Peace which however it seems they kept not long For the next Year our Annals tell us That the Danish Army in Northumberland not regarding the Peace which King Edward and his Son had made with them again wasted the Province of the Mercians but the King being then in Kent had got together about 100 Ships which sailed toward the South-East to meet them and then the Danes supposing that the greatest part of the King's Forces were in his Fleet thought they might march safely whither they would without fighting but so soon as the King understood they were gone out to plunder he sent an Army consisting of West Saxons and Mercians who following the Danes in the Rear as they returned home met with them in a place called Wodnesfield and fought with them routing and killing many Thousands of them with Eowils and Healfden their Kings with several Earls and Chief Commanders of their Army whose Names I forbear to give because I would tire my Reader as little as I could But to these Kings as the Annals of Winchelcombâ— inform us one Reginald succeeded Also the same Year as Florence hath it there was a remarkable Battle between the English and the Danes in Staffordshire but the former obtained the Victory This Year Aethered the Ealdorman of the Mercians deceased and the King then took the Cities of London and Oxenford into his own hands with all the Territories belonging to them But it seems the Lady Elflede now a Widow kept all the rest of Mercia for this Year the Annals say That she being Lady of the Mercians came on the Vigil of the Feast of Holyrood to a place called Sceargeat which is now unknown and there built a Castle and the same Year did the like at Bricge which Mr. Camden supposes to be Bridgenorth in Shropshire that Town being called Brigge by the common People at this day And Florence also adds That about this time she built the Town of Bremesbyrig Now about the Feast of St. Martin King Edward Commanded the Town of Heortford to be new built lying between the Rivers Memar Benefican and Lygean the first and second of which Rivers is now hard to name right only it is certain they were two Rivulets that discharged themselves into the River Lee then called Lygean between Hartford and Ware After this the Summer following between Lent and Midsummer the King marched with part of his Forces into East-Seax as far as Maeldune now Maldon and there encamped whilst a Town could be built and fortified at Witham near adjoyning and then a great part of the People who had before been under the Danish Dominion became subject to him In the mean time whilst part of his Forces built the Town of Heortford on the South side of Lee the Lady Aethelfleda marched with all the Mercians to Tamaweorthige now Tamworth in Staffordshire and there built a Castle and before the Feast of All-Saints did the like at Staeford and the Year following she built another at Eadesbyrig supposed by Mr. Camden to be Edesbury in Cheshire and also the same Year about the end of Autumn she built another at Weringwic now Warwick and the Year following that another at Cyricbyrig now Cherbury in Shropshire and another at Wearbyrig supposed by Mr. Camden to be Wedesbury in Staffordshire and before Christmas another at Run-Cafan that is Runckhorne in Cheshire But Florence places these Actions more rightly three Years after All which Castles being built in the space of the two following Years must be supposed to have been done not casually but as the exigence of Affairs required to secure the Mercian Frontiers against the Danish as well as the Welsh Incursions But it is now time to cast our Eyes a little on the Affairs of that part of
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
year according to Florence King Athelstan founded the Abby of Middleton in Dorsetshire to expiate the Death of his Brother Prince Edwin whom through false suggestions he had destroy'd as you have already heard About this time also according to the Welsh Chronicle Howel Dha Prince of South-Wales and Powis after the death of Edwal Voel his Cousin Prince of North-Wales took upon him the Government of all Wales the Sons of Edwal being then in Minority This Howel made that Excellent Body of Laws that go under his Name and which you may find in Sir H. Spelman's first Volume of Councils This Prince for his Discreet and Just Government not only made himself highly beloved but also rendred his Memory very glorious to After-Ages But it seems King Athelstan did not long survive this Victory for as our Annals relate he deceased this year on the 6 th Kal. Novemb. just Forty years after the death of King Alfred his Grandfather having reigned Fourteen Years and Ten Months But there is certainly an Error in this Account for either this King must have reigned a year less or else the King his Father must have died a year sooner than our Annals allow him and perhaps with greater Certainty for Florence of Worcester places his Death in Anno Dom. 924. Nor can we before we finish this King's Life omit taking notice That Bromton's Chronicle and other Modern Writers do place the long Story of the Danes invading England in this King's Reign and that one Guy Earl of Warwick returning home by chance from the Holy Land in the Habit of a Pilgrim just when King Athelstan was in great distress for a Champion to fight with one Colebrand a monstrous Danish Gyant whom the King of the Danes had set up to fight with any Champion the English King should bring into the field that Earl Guy accepted this Challenge and without being known to any man but the King fought the Gyant near Winchester and killing him the Danes yielded the Victory whilst Earl Guy privately retired to a Hermitage near Warwick and there living a Hermit's life ended his days But though John Rouse in his Manuscript Treatise de Regibus Anglorum places this Action under Anno 926 as soon as ever King Athelstan came to the Crown and that Tho. Rudburne in his History of Winchester says That this Gyant 's Sword being kept in the Treasury of the Abby of Winchester was shewn in his time yet since neither the Saxon Annals nor any other Ancient Historian mention any Invasion of the Danes in this King's Reign nor any thing of such a Combat it ought to be looked upon as a Monkish Tale only fit for Ballads and Children But since the Monks are very profuse in the Praises of this Prince I will give you William of Malmesbury's Character of him That as for his Person he did not exceed the ordinary Stature being of a slender Body his Hair as he had seen by his Reliques was Yellow that as for his Natural Temper and Disposition he was always kind to God's Servants i. e. the Monks for there was scarce a Monastery in England but what had been adorned by him with Buildings Books or Reliques And though he was grave and serious amongst his Nobles yet was he affable to the Inferior sort often laying aside the Majesty of a King to converse the more freely with ordinary men This made him as much admired by his Subjects for his Humility as he was fear'd by his Enemies and Rebels for his Invincible Courage and Constancy An Eminent Instance of this was in that he compell'd the Kings of North-Wales for some time standing out to meet him at Hereford and submit themselves to him I wish our Author had told us the Year when it was done since our Annals have wholly omitted it for tho Ran. Higden in his Polychronicon has put it under Anno 937 and also relates from Alfred of Beverly that this King restored both Constantine King of Scots and Hoel King of the Britains to their Kingdoms saying It was more glorious to make a King than to be one yet I do not see any Authority for it But this is agreed upon by all That Athelstan did about that time enter Wales with a powerful Army and effected what no King had ever presumed to think of before for he imposed a Yearly Tribute upon those Kings of Twenty Pounds in Gold and Three hundred Pounds in Silver and Twenty five thousand Head of Cattel Yet the Laws of Howel Dha appointed the King of Aberfraw to pay yearly to the King of London no more than Sixty six Pounds for a Tribute besides Hawks and Hounds John of Wallingford makes this King the first who reduced all England into one Monarchy by his Conquest of Northumberland Cumberland and Wales yet that he was in his own nature a Lover of Peace and whatever he had heard from his Grandfather or observed in his Father he put in practice being Just in his Judgments and by a happy conjunction of many Virtues so beloved by all men that to this day Fame which is wont to be too severe to the Faults of Great Men can relate nothing to his prejudice William of Malmesbury also gives us a short Account of his Life and Actions from his very Childhood wherein he tells us That this Prince when he was but a Youth was highly beloved by his Grandfather King Alfred insomuch that he made him a Knight girding him with a Belt set with Precious Stones and whereat hung a Golden-hilted Sword in a Rich Scabbard after which he was sent to be bred under his Uncle Ethelred Earl of Mercia to learn all those Warlike Exercises that were befitting a Young Prince Nor does he only relate him to have been Valiant but also competently Learned as he had been informed from a certain old Author he had seen who compared him to Tully for Eloquence though as he rightly observes the Custom of that Age might very well dispense with that Talent and perhaps a too great Affection to King Athelstan then living might excuse this Author 's over-large Commendations But this must be acknowledged that all Europe then spoke highly in his Praise and extoll'd his Valour to the Skies Neighbouring Kings thinking themselves happy if they could purchase his Friendship either by his Alliance or their Presents Harold King of Norway sent him a Ship whose Stern was Gilded and its Sails Purple and the Ambassadors by whom he sent it being Royally received in the City of York were rewarded with Noble Presents Hugh King of the French sent Anwulf Son of Baldwin Earl of Flanders Grandson to King Edward by Aethelswine his Daughter as his Ambassador to demand his Sister in Marriage who when in a Great Assembly of the Nobility at Abingdon he had declared the Desires of this Royal Woer besides Noble Presents of Spices and Precious Stones especially Emeralds such as had never been seen in England before
Pay and Victuals to his Army and that Winter Thurkil demanded the same for King Ethelred's Forces which lay at Grenawic i. e. Greenwich But both the Armies refrain'd not a jot the less from plundering where they pleased so that the Nation both as well in the North as in the South was no longer able bear it After this the King stayed some time with his Fleet which lay then in the Thames whilst the Queen retired beyond Sea to her Brother Earl Richard in Normandy and Elsige Abbot of Burgh went along with her the King also sent thither the Princes Eadward and Aelfred with Bishop Aelfune to be their Governor Then the King went with his Fleet about Christmass into Wihtland and there kept the Festival and afterwards passed over to Earl Richard and there stayed with him till Sweyn died There is in the Peterburgh Copy of these Annals this following Relation That whilst the Queen thus remained beyond Sea Elsige Abbot of Burgh who was then with her went to the Monastery called Boneval where the Body of Saint Florentine lay buried This place he found almost wholly deserted and the poor Abbot and Monks in a miserable condition having been robbed of all they had then he bought of the Abbot and Monks the whole Body except the Head for Five thousand Pounds and at his return into England dedicated it to Christ and St. Peter that is he placed it in the Church of Peterburgh of which he was then Abbot This was a vast Sum of Money in those days to be given for the Bones of one dead Carkass and not entire neither but such was the Superstition of that Age. This year King Sweyn ended his Life about Candlemas Then all the Danish Fleet and Army chose Cnute his Son to be their King But all the Wise or Chief Men of the English Nation as well of the Clergy as Laity sent to King Aethelred to let him know that there was no Prince dearer to them than their own Natural Lord provided he would govern them better than he had hitherto done Upon this the King sent Prince Edward his Son and several others Attendants into this Kingdom with Orders to recommend him to the whole Nation in his Name promising them to be a faithful and kind Lord to them and that he would redress whatever Grievances they had suffer'd and would also pardon whatsoever had been done against him either by Words or Deeds provided they would all sincerely return to their Allegiance Then a full and firm Amity being concluded on both by Words and Deeds and Hostages being given on both sides they decreed the Danish King for ever banished England After which King Ethelred return'd about Lent into his own Countrey and was chearfully received by all men The Bodleian Copy of Florence here adds That Queen Elfgiva or Emma with the Two Young Princes her Sons remained still in Normandy until she was after the Death of her Husband sent for over by King Cnute and the Common-Council of the Kingdom and being married to him was solemnly crowned at Westminster in the presence of all the Bishops and Great Men of England After Sweyn was dead Cnute his Son staid with his Army at Gegnesburgh until Easter and there agreed with the people of Lindesige that they should provide his Army with Horses and then that all of them should march out together to plunder but King Ethelred came thither with a strong Army before they were ready to execute their Design and spoiled and burnt all places killing all the men they could meet with therefore King Cnute departed thence with his Fleet leaving the poor miserable people to shift for themselves and sail'd Southward till he came to Sandwic and there put the Hostages on shore which had been given to his Father having first cut off their Hands and Noses But for an addition to all these Calamities the King commanded Twenty one thousand Pounds to be paid to the Army that then lay at Grenawic Also this year on the Vigil of St. Michael happen'd a great Inundation of the Sea all along this Coast insomuch that it spread further than ever it had yet done so that it drowned many Towns and an innumerable company of men We have nothing further to add under this year more than to observe the various Relations of our Monkish Writers concerning the sudden death of King Sweyn which they will needs have to be a Judgment upon him for wasting the Lands belonging to the Monastery of Badricesworth and for giving opprobrious language against the Memory of St. Edmund who was then enshrin'd But because their Relation of this matter is very remarkable I shall give you both Florence of Worcester and Simeon of Durham their Account of it which is thus That King Sweyn lying then at Gainsborough there held a General Assembly of his Great Officers and when it grew toward evening being encircled with his Armed Men he cast out Threats that he would send and spoil that Monastery whereupon he presently thought he saw St. Edmund coming all Armed toward him which made him cry out vehemently Help help Fellow-soldiers look here King Edmund comes to kill me and as he uttered these words he received a Mortal Blow by the Saint's hands and so fell from his Horse and lying till the dusk of the evening in great torment he expired on the second of February and was carried to York and there buried So these Writers report from the Legend of St. Edmund Yet John of Tinmouth makes St. Edmund's Ghost to have stabbed him with his Dagger as he sate in his Chair But William of Malmesbury tells us That St. Edmund appeared to him in his sleep and smote him whilst he was in bed because he answered him rudely But they all agree that he died of the Blow which St. Edmund had given him But I do believe that there may be so much Truth in this story that King Sweyn being mortally wounded by some unknown hand who had the good fortune to make his escape gave occasion to the Monks of St. Edmundsbury to invent this Legend for the Honour of their Saint and also to deter others from daring to violate that place which was then accounted sacred But is seems King Ethelred was not much better'd by Affliction nor did he long observe his Promise of governing according to Law for the next year A Mycel Gemot or Great Council being now held at Oxnaford Earl Eadrâ—c there betray'd Sigeferth and Morcar two Danish Thanes of the Seafenburghs that is the Seven Towns but where they lay we know not and inviting them all into his Chamber they were there treacherously slain Then the King seized upon all their Goods and commanded the Widow of Sigeferth to be secured and carried to Meadelnesbyrig i. e. Malmesbury But some short time after Edmund Aetheling coming thither married this Woman against his Father's will For the Prince going as William of Malmesbury relates to see
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
their own Subjects AND besides this Power owing its Original wholly to Force and not to a Lineal Succession or Election over the rest of those Princes upon whom it was usurped was without any Just or Legal Right and consequently lasted no longer than the Success or at farthest the Life-time of such a Conquering Prince and then it was for a time Extinct until some other of the Seven by the like success of his Arms could set up for the same Power and Greatness SO that at length we found that the best way of Writing this History was to follow the plain and natural Method of our Saxon Annals not only as the most easy for our selves but also for the Reader AND tho perhaps an Objection may be made against this Method viz. That the crowding of so many different Actions done in several Places and under several Kings renders the Work perplexed and difficult to be remembred which I grant is in part true yet to obviate this I have at the end of each of the ensuing Books except the last presented you with exact Chronological Tables not only of the Names of all the Kings contained under each Period but also in what Year of our Lord they began and ended their Reigns so that the Reader by casting his Eye upon any one of them may easily find what Kings lived and reigned together and consequently in which of their Reigns any Action related in the History was performed And now TO come to the fourth Book Bede being the most antient Author that gives us an Account of what was done in this Period and out of whom the Saxon Annals themselves have borrowed almost the greatest part of what they relate concerning those early Times of Christianity I have therefore wholly confined my self to him without having recourse to these Annals or any other unless it be where I find they relate any Action of which he has been wholly silent But in this Period I cannot but mention Stephen Eddi or Heddi a Monk who as Bede tells was one of the first Masters for Singing in the Northumbrian Churches and having been invited by Wilfred Archbishop of York out of Kent for that purpose had so great a Veneration for his Memory that he wrote his Life in Latin in a Stile somewhat better than could be expected from that Age this Treatise having continued in Manuscript in the Library of Sir Jo. Cotton and also of that of Salisbury has lately been published by the Learned Dr. Gale in his last Volume of English Writers and to which I must own my self beholding for many choice Passages relating to the Ecclesiastical as well as Civil State in those Times this Author flourish'd cotemporary with Bede in the Reign of Osric King of Northumberland and died about Anno. Dom. 720. BVT indeed as for the last forty Years or thereabouts viz. from the Time when Bede ceased to write which was Anno Dom. 637. we have been forced to make use of the Annals or else of those of later Writers that have made any Additions to them WHICH Annals since I found them the Store-house or Repository from whence most if not all of our Latin Historians as well those that wrote before as since the Conquest have borrowed the earliest Accounts of our English Saxon Affairs I have by the advice of Persons of much greater Learning and Judgment than my self rather chose to translate and give you them almost entire as I find them in the Edition lately published than to do as most other Writers cite them at second Hand not that I have omitted setting down whatsoever any other Authors have added to these Annals by way of Improvement or Illustration WHEREFORE to avoid stuffing my Margins with unnecessary Quotations I desire my Reader once for all to observe that wheresoever he shall find the Lines Comma'd unless they be before some Speeches or Laws they always denote the Saxon Annals whether expresly mentioned or not as also in all other places tho not Comma'd where no other Writer is cited BVT if some think I have inserted too many Names of Authors into the Body of this History and that it had been better omitted there and put into the Margin or bottom of the Pages to this I answer that intending faithfully to translate these Annals and to make such frequent use of them as I have done there could be no way to distinguish them from other Writers but either by Letters in the Margin or else by setting them in a different Character But as the former would have been a constant and unsightly clog to the Margin so the other would have looked as unhandsome in the Body and especially at the latter end of the Work where these Annals alone take up several whole Pages AND tho in my Citations of Authors I have seldom quoted the Page yet having taken what I write from those who have wrote in a Chronological Method the Reader by turning to the Years of our Lord may easily find what he looks for making some small allowance for different Accounts and where other Authors have not taken that Course I have there quoted the Chapter or Book and in matters of greater Moment the very Page BVT that even the Annals themselves do vary from each other in Account of Time often one and sometimes two or three Years that is to be ascribed either to the fault of the several Amanuenses or else to the different Calculations of those Monks who drew them up in the Form we now have them as any may easily perceive that will give himself the Trouble to compare the various Readings of the several Copies of these Annals lately published at Oxford by the Ingenious Mr. Edmund Gibson IN the fifth and sixth Books as I have endeavoured faithfully to translate the same Annals so I have also used that Liberty as not slavishly to confine my self to the very Words themselves when either the Obscurity or Vncouthness of the Phrase would not bear a literal Translation but I thought I could give them a better turn AND here as also in the two preceding Books I have often added by way of Illustration to the Text the present proper Names of Places in a Parenthesis immediately after the obsolete Saxon ones as also the Titles of the Ealdormen or Earls Bishops and Abbots out of Florence of Worcester and other Authors where the Annals have only given their bare Names without telling us to what Places they belonged and here likewise I would note That in all Saxon words where the Letter C is made use of it is always pronounced like K there being no K in that Language And as for the Saxon Names of Men made use of in the Annals I have as near as I could faithfully kept to the Saxon Original tho they often differ very much in their way and manner of spelling them from that of those Latin Authors that translate them HAVING thus given you a short Account of the several
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
Sir Robert Cotton's and Bennet College Libraries have long since convinced all Learned Men that we really had such Monuments in our Archives which have been also farther confirmed as to the Truth of it from two other Manuscript Copies given by Arch-bishop Laud to the Bodleian Library at Oxford and lately published together with those abovementioned by the aforesaid Mr. Edmund Gibson most of which Copies belonged to several antient Monasteries and I doubt not but many more of them were lost at their Dissolation in Henry the Eighth's Time or carried over Seas for we find Lazius in his Book de Migratione Gentium quotes several of them And it 's evident that our Annals sometimes follow not Tradition only but also old written Histories and perhaps Latin Writers as may appear by the Actions of Athelstane and Eadmund An. 938 and 942. But for the support of their Authority I refer the Reader to this Author 's own Country-man John Fordun where he tells us in his Prologue to his Scotish History He had heard it was very well ordered in England that every Monastery of Royal Foundation should have its particular Writer who was Chronologically to set down all the Memorable things which happened in each King's Reign either in their own or Neighbouring Kingdoms and that at the next Great Council after the Death of every respective King each of those Chronographers met there and produced whatsoever they had so remarked and that some of the most discreet Persons in the said Council who were best skilled in such Matters being chosen for that purpose should examine those Memorials and by comparing them together should extract a brief Chronicle from them all which was to be preserved in the Libraries of those Monasteries as Authentick Annals to be relied on by Posterity that so the remembrance of those publick Affairs of the Kingdom might not be lost or devoured by the Rust of Time WHICH Passage had Sir Thomas Craig but carefully considered he would have had no reason to doubt whether we had had any Chronicles of those times remaining in our Archives and whether William of Malmesbury and all the rest of our Historians have blindly followed Florence of Worcester into an Error as Cattel do their Leader that break over a Ditch BVT if our Saxon Annals were not a good Foundation for succeeding Historians to build upon I desire to know what Credit the Antient Greek and Roman Authors can claim with Men of that scrupulous Temper since they had nothing but such short Annals or Chronicles preserved in their Archives besides Traditions and the common Fame of their Ancestors from whence to compose the particular Histories of those Common-Wealths they treat of such as were the Libri Lintei preserved in the Capitol from whence Livy drew the most antient Memorials for the writing his Roman History AND tho there is some difference to be found between the several Copies of these Annals as to the Calculation of Years and some particular Matters that are sometimes inserted in one and omitted in another yet the Ingenious Author of the Preface before it has given the World a satisfactory Answer as to this Matter which is That as to the general Affairs of the whole Kingdom they all agree well enough tho indeed as to foreign Transactions or some few Passages relating to their own private Monasteries there may be some Additions that are not to be met with in the rest as may be observ'd from those called the Canterbury and Laudean Copies in the Bodleian Library SO I shall leave it upon the whole Matter to the Reader to consider whether the Author has made good his Challenge viz. That the English were not able to produce one approved Writer of their own Countrey who composed any Story or History from the Death of Bede to the Time of Henry the Second tho I suppose he meant the First however it is unluckily printed twice the Second in one Page BVT to come to this Author's second Objection against our English Historians the substance of which is That the Writers as well before as after the Conquest were Monks who being dead to the World have no right of giving a Legal Evidence it being expresly forbid by the Canon Law to concern themselves in secular Matters and also that by reason of their solitary Lives they ought very seldom to be entrusted in publick Affairs seeing they are no competent Judges concerning them for it was not very probable that either the Secrets of Princes or things belonging to the State were ever communicated to them otherwise than by common Report seeing they were kept at the greatest distance from all manner of Action and do oftentimes embrace things doubtful as certain and Fictions for Matter of Fact and that therefore this feigned Homage must of necessity fall to the Ground for which there is no better Evidence than that of a Monk for it will not be admitted as a good Conclusion that because a Monk says so therefore it is true THIS Argument may as easily be retorted upon him thus That as a thing is not true because a Monk writes it so neither is it false for that reason alone for tho Monks are by the Canon Law forbid medling with Secular Affairs and may not perhaps be admitted for good Witnesses in Civil Causes yet is this but a meer Cavil as to the Point in Question since that was not the intent of the Canon to forbid them the writing either of Civil or Ecclesiastical Histories and Bede himself whose Credit this Author says he will not impair was a Monk as were also Marianus Scotus whom he alloweth and would have to be taken for his own Countrey-Man Sigebertus Hermannus Contractus and almost all the Famous Chronographers of those Times who flourished in our Neighbouring Nations as well as our own and that they were not of such retired Lives as not to have Memorials sent them of publick Actions appears by the aforesaid Citation out of Fordun concerning the manner of writing our English Annals in the Monasteries which as he tells us were supervised afterwards by some appointed of the Great Council of the Kingdom And that some of the Monks after the Conquest were in great Reputation for their faithful Accounts appears by the great Credit given to Florence of Worcester and William of Malmesbury in those times the last of whom dedicated his History to Robert Earl of Gloucester Natural Son to King Henry the First and Matthew Paris was of so great Esteem that we learn from himself that King Henry the Third gave him particular Directions for inserting into his History several considerable Passages relating to his own Reign so far were the Princes of that Age from being of this Author's Opinion that Monks were no wise fit to write History nor to be credited when they had done BVT if no Credit must be given to the Memorials of Monks I desire to know what will become of the so much
the Saxons being invited by the Britains over hither ever mention their being sent by any of their Kings but only by the Saxon Nation in general and if it continued thus in Bede's Time it ought reasonably to be concluded that it was likewise so before their coming over unless any Man can shew me some better Authority than ever I have yet met with to the contrary AND that this likewise continued so not only in Bede's Time but many Years after may appear from this Testimony of Johan Pomarius in his Saxon Chronicle which tho written in Latin yet not being able as yet to procure the sight of it I shall give you what he says almost to the same effect out of Verstegan's Restitution of decayed Intelligence As for the General Government of the Countrey they ordained twelve Noble-men chosen from among others for their Worthiness and Sufficiency These in the Time of Peace rode their several Circuits to see Justice and good Customs observed and they often of Course â—t appointed Times met all together to consult and give Order in Publick Affairs but ever in Time of War one of these twelve was chosen to be King and so to remain as long only as the War lasted and that being ended his Name and Dignity of King also ceased and he became as before and this Custom continued among them until the Time of their Wars with the Emperor Charles the Great at which time Wittekind one of the Twelve as aforesaid a Nobleman of Angria in Westphalia bore over the rest the Name and Authority of King and he being afterwards by the means of the said Emperor converted to the Faith of Christ had by him his mutable Title of King turned into the induring Title and Honour of Duke and the eleven others were in like manner by the said Emperor advanced to the honourable Titles of Earls and Lords with Establishment for the continual remaining of these Titles and Dignities unto them and their Heirs of whose Descents are since issued the greatest Princes at this present in Germany FROM what now I have given you I think nothing is more evident than that the Government of the Antient English Saxons was rather Aristocratical than Monarchical and admitting they allowed the King they had set over them somewhat more Power than those Noblemen abovementioned by whom they where governed in their own Countrey in time of Peace yet was this Power of theirs far short of that absolute Dominion which Dr. Howell in his Discourse of the Polity of the English-Saxons supposes tho without any just Ground that these Kings enjoyed and therefore he would have it That the Government was Monarchical and that not only in respect of the particular Kingdoms during the Heptarchy which had their peculiar Kings but even of the whole Body of the Nation which was usually commanded by one of the Seven of all which Bede takes notice in his Time BUT if every one of these Kings were no more a Monarch than he who was sometimes Supream or Chief above the Rest I doubt he will fall very short of that Title which is not found either in Bede or in the Saxon Annals or yet in any other Antient Writer before the Conquest until the Time of King Edred BUT I have said enough to confute this Notion I hope in the Preface THE Doctor 's next Argument is from the Nature of the Monarchy which he says We must believe at the first followed the Condition of the Tenure absolute Conquests and Territories both got and held by the Sword alone usually producing absolute Governments which many times either by reason of the infirm Foundation laid by the Conquerors themselves the Humour of the People not induring such Subjection or other Accidents change into more Moderate and less Arbitrary That Hengest Aella and the other Captains where they first erected their Dominations governed their Souldiers whom now being Kings they called Subjects with as great Authority and as full Command as formerly we little doubt IN answer to this and to shew you that notwithstanding what this Author hath alledged we have still great reason to doubt the Truth of it as being founded on no Authority but rather the quite contrary appears I shall therefore only desire the Reader in the first place to take notice that it is no good Argument at all to say that because the Saxon Princes were Conquerors by the means of their Followers therefore they must have submitted themselves absolutely to their Dominion when the War was over FOR the better Proof of which I would farther intreat the Reader to observe FIRST That those Princes or Generals over the English-Saxons thô all of them were descended from Woden their Common Ancestor knew no such Power as that of Kings of Home according to Bede or if we believe Pomarius the Title of King lasted at the most no longer than the War nor could those Princes be made Kings by their own Nation before they came over since being only meer Souldiers of Fortune they had as yet conquered no Dominions from whence they could receive that Denomination so that then it must fall out that they could only be so by the Election of their Souldiers and Followers that came over along with them which may be also proved from the ensuing Annals themselves FOR first they call Hengest and Horsa the two Brothers who came over hither only Heretogan i.e. Leaders or Captains of the Jutes that accompanied them as you may see An. 449. of these Annals NOR secondly do they begin the Reign of Hengest till the Death of Horsa his Brother Anno 455. six Years after his coming over so that it is plain he could have no other Right to his Kingdom of Kent but the free Election of the People that came over with him or else followed him not long afterwards THE like I might say of all the rest of the Kingdoms of the Heptarchy for the same Reason were there no express Authorities to prove it which yet also are not wanting FOR as to the Kingdom of the West-Saxons which afterwards swallowed up all the rest our Annals Anno 495. tell us Of Cerdic and Cynric his Son their landing in Britain with five Ships and having fought with the Britains they about six Years after their coming over upon their conquering the Countrey of the West-Saxons became their first Kings which is further confirmed under Anno 519. where it is expresly related that Cerdic and Cynric then began their Reigns over the West-Saxon Kingdom So likewise in Anno 547. it is there said that Ida began first to reign from whom is derived the Royal Stock of the Northumbrian Kings AND yet we find from Nennius and Malmesbury and all our other Historians who treat of this Matter that Octa and Ebusa Son and Nephew to Hengest had landed in the Northern Parts of England not long after Hengest himself and having conquered those Countries they and their Descendants ruled there
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
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
he sent Robert Arch-Bp of Canterbury his Ambassadour to let William Duke of Normandy know Illum designatum esse sui Regni successorem that he had appointed him Heir of his Kingdom which relation tho I have proved to be false as to Arch-bishop Robert towards the end of this ensuing History yet might it be true in the main and some other Bishop might have gone over to Duke William on that Message but however for all this King Edward afterwards adopted Earl Harold upon his Death-bed for which we have very good Authority since our Saxon Annals testify it in these words Tunc Haroldus Comes capessit Regnum sicut Rex ei concesserat omnésque ad id Eum eligebant consecratus est in Regem in Festo Epiphaniae which was the same day that King Edward was Buried THIS is also confirmed by the History of the Abby of Ely written not long after the Conquest and lately published by the Learned Dr. Gale Quo Scil. Edwardo tumulato subregulus Haraldus Godwini Ducis Filius quem Rex antè suam Decessionem Regni Successorem eligerat à totius Angliae Primatibus ad Regale Culmen ELECTVS est Die eodem ab Aldredo Eboracensi Archiepiscopo in Regem honorificè consecratus which also agrees with Florence of Worcester and Simeon of Durham under Anno 1066. almost in the very same words and by Eadmerus who lived not long after the Conquest in these words Juxtà quod Edwardus ante mortem statuerat successit HARALDVS FROM all which remarkable Testimonies I shall draw these two Conclusions FIRST That this Testamentary Designation of Harold by King Edward for his Heir was not sufficient alone to make him King but it also required a subsequent Election of the Estates of the Kingdom SECONDLY That there is an apparent Distinction here made between his Election and Consecration AND I think this enough had I no more to say to settle this Point but to let the Reader know the utmost that may be objected against these Authorities I must freely confess that divers Writers of good Credit and Reputation who lived after the Conquest viz. Ingulph of Croyland William of Malmesbury Ailred Abbot of Rievalle and Henry of Huntington look upon this Donation of King Edward as a meer Pretence invented by the English in Prejudice of the Norman Duke BUT how they will be able to answer those plain and full Authorities I have before cited I know not for William of Malmesbury himself was also forced to confess that King Harold claimed not only by virtue of Edward's Designation but by the Election of the Great Council of the Kingdom as appears by this Memorable Passage viz. Ille scilicet Haraldus in his Answer to William then Duke of Normandy de puellae nuptiis referens de Regno addebat praesumptuosum fuisse quod absque generali Senatûs Populi Conventu Edicto alienam illi haereditatem juraverit i. e. That Harold speaking of the Marriage of the Duke's Sister further added that it was a very presumptuous thing to swear away another's Inheritance to him without the General Act and Appointment of the Senate and People that is the Nobility and Commons THIS shews that it would have been a most notorious Falshood for Harold thus to have gone about to impose upon Duke William had there never been any such thing as a Real and Solemn Election which our abovementioned Authors have related NOR is Dr. Brady's Objection against this at all material in saying that those who thus set him up were only a Court Faction for the People all England over could never have notice to come to or send their Representatives to such a Solemnity as to elect and crown him King in four and twenty Hour's Time and therefore should his Election be granted he could not be chosen by the People who had neither Notice nor Knowledg of it but only received and submitted to him as their King NOW in answer to this I need only say that if the Doctor would have been so fair as to have consulted Sir Henry Spelman's first Volume of Councils or the first Volume of Monasticon Anglicanum he would have found in both of them in the Charters of the Foundation of the Abby of Westminster and the History of that Church printed in the Latter that it was not as he says never to have been imagined for it was really true that the Estates of the Kingdom did meet a little before Christmass secundùm Morem according to Custom and not only so but were expresly summoned to be present at the Great Solemnity of the Consecration of that Abbey which was as our Annals inform us on St. Innocent's day and the King dying on the Twefth-day following this Great Council which certainly was a full one was so far from being then Dissolved that it chose Harold for their succeeding King as the said Annals relate The nicety of the Dissolution of a Parliament upon the King's Decease not being at that time known I think this is sufficient to answer all that the Doctor has or I suppose can say upon this Head therefore I will now leave it to the Reader to consider how far any of his Assertions are true AS first Whether the sure Rule of Succession was either Right of Blood OR Secondly Whether the bare Nomination or Appointment of the preceding King was then thought and allowed as Cause sufficient for the Father to prefer his Brother's Son before his own or a Bastard before his Lawful Issue or that the Instances which he hath produced will be able to make it out or else whether those very Instances which I have here set in their true Light do not directly evince the contrary THIRDLY Whether from this foregoing History of the Succession it appears also to be true what he asserts viz. That from Egbert the first Saxon Monarch to Ethelred the last by Right of Blood we do not read of many Elections for the space of two hundred and sixteen Years and that those we meet with are bound and limited by Proximity of Blood or Nomination of the Successor by the Predecessor and that where the word Election or any thing in that Sense is used it signifies only a Recognition and Submission And I will now leave it to the Reader 's Judgment if I have not given sufficient Instances to the contrary in every one of these Particulars there being not above two Kings in all this long Series of more than two hundred and sixty Years concerning whom I have not brought express Testimonies from Authors of undoubted Credit both in Print and Manuscript of their Election by the Estates of the Kingdom Or FOURTHLY Whether his last Assertion be any truer than the former viz. That the Danish Kings after Sweyn had conquered the Kingdom whose best Title was the Sword either brought hither the Custom of the Predecessor naming or giving the Kingdom to the Successor as
Civil Matters the words of this last King's Law run thus Ex omni Comitatu bis quotannis conventus agitor cui quidem illius Dioecesis Episcopus Senator intersunto quorum Alter Jura Divina humana alter populum edoceto IN every County let there be twice a Year an Assembly of the People whereat the Bishop of the Diocess and the Earl shall be present the one to direct in Divine the other in humane Matters WHICH so continued the Bishop and Earl sitting therein together until King William the Conqueror in a full Convention of his Arch-bishops Bishops Abbots and Temporal Lords commanded that Ecclesiastical Matters should thenceforth be handled by the Bishops in Courts of their own and not any more be discust amongst Secular Affairs IN this Court as well as in that of the Country according to the Laws of King Henry I. these Persons following were to be present as may appear by this Clause Intersint autèm Episcopi Comites Vicedomini Vicarii Centenarii Aldermanni Preafecti Praepositi Barones Vavassores Tungrevii caeteri terrarum Domini diligentèr intendentes nè malorum Impunitas aut Gravionum pravitas vel Judicum subversio solita miseros laceratione confiniant AGANTVR itâque primò debita verae Christianitatis Jura secundò Regis placita postremò Causae singulorum dignis satisfactionis expleantur Scil. Ecclesiastical Causes and Pleas of the Crown in the Turn but Private Causes in the County Court Vid. Coke 's 4 th Instit. 259 260. where you will find that THE Tourn is a Court of Record holden before the Sheriff the Antient Institution thereof was before Magna Charta to hear and determine all Felonies Death of Man excepted and Common Nusances See the Stat. Mag. Chart. c. 17. and the Exposition of the same in the 2 d. Instit. THE Stile of this Court is Curia Visus Franc. Domini Regis apud B. coram Vicecomite in Turno suo c. ibid. THE reason of which is because in this Court the Pledges or Sureties of every Decennary or Tithing were entred before the Court Leets were taken out of it and granted to particular Lords of Mannors which Sir H. Spelman in his Glossary supposes to have been done in the Reign of King Alfred but since I find nothing concerning these Court Leets till after the Conquest I shall defer the farther treating of them to that time I have no more to say of this Court but that it was also called the Folcmote and in which by Edward the Confessor's Laws all Freemen were to take the Oath of Allegiance or Fidelity to the King as appears by the Law it self Omnes Proceres Regni milites Liberi Homines totius Regni BRITANNIAE facere debent Fidelitatem Domino Regi in Pleno FOLCMOTO corà m Episcopis Regni c. YOU will likewise find in the same Law just preceding this an extraordinary Assembly of this Folcmote upon any sudden Danger which met on ringing of the Bells called in English Motbel and there they were to consult how to prevent the Danger THE second of these Courts was called the County-Court and was also very Antient and to be held once every Month by the Shireeve as from K. Edward the Elder 's Laws appeareth Praepositus quÃsque ad quartam circitèr quamque septimanam frequentem populi concionem celebrato cuÃque jus dicito aequabile Litesque singulas cum dies condicti advenerint dirimito EVERY Shireeve shall convene the People once a Month and do equal Right to all putting an end to Controversies at Times appointed TO this Court were antienly Appeals made from the Hundred-Court as appears by the Laws of Canutus Et nemo namium capiat in Comitatu vel extra Comitatum priusquam ter in Hundredo suo rectum sibi perquisierit si tertia vice rectum non habeat eat quarta vice ad Conventum totius Comitatus quod Anglicè dicitur Scyremot c. No Man by a Distress shall compel another to the County-Court unless he have thrice complained in the Hundred-Court But if he have not Right the third Time he may then sue in the County-Court which is called the Scyregemot AND besides says Sir William Dugdale Regis placita Causa singulorum debita verae Christianitatis jura were first determined here where interesse debent Commissarii Episcopi Comites Ecclesiae potestates and the Presbyter Ecclesiae as well as quatuor de Melioribus villae were obliged to attendance qui Dei Leges as well as Seculi negotia justâ consideratione definirent AND a little after he further proceeds thus Now let us see of what things the Sheriff here antienly held Plea Ad Vicecomites pertinent ista saith Glanvile Placitum de Recto de liberis Tenementis per Breve Domini Regis ubi Curia Dominorum probatur de Recto defecisse Placitum de Nativis sed per Breve Domini Regis ID est It belongeth to the Shireeve to hold Plea in this Court upon a Writ of Right concerning Freehold in Cases where the Lord of the Mannor wherein the Land lieth hath not done Justice as also to hold Plea concerning Bondmen but by the King 's Writ I shall say no more of this Court but refer the Reader to the said Book from whence I have taken most of those things I have here given you concerning all these Courts wherein he may find at large how great the Power of this Court was not only before but after the Conquest And I have also reserved the treating of these two Courts by themselves because tho the 3 former are supposed by some to be of K. Alfred's Erection upon his new Reformation of the Kingdom but these two were not so for notwithstanding Ingulf tells us that this King Alfred first divided the Provinces of England into Counties yet we find Mr. Selden Learnedly makes it out That Alfred was not the first that divided the Kingdom into Shires or Counties for saith he before Alfred's Time those Provinces had their Ealdormen in them Thus we read of Ethelwolfus Barocensis Pagae Comes and Ceorle Domnaniae Comes and Eanulf Somersetensis Pagae Comes for the Earldoms of Barkshire Devonshire and Somersetshire under King Ethelwolf Father to King Alfred are remembred in Asserius Menevensis that lived in King Alfred's Time Two of them are also in Ethelwerd a Writer of the Saxon Times besides Osric Dorsetum Dux for Eolderman of Dorset Eâ—lchere or Alchere was at the same Time Ealdorman of Kent and Auda or Wuda of Surrey as we have it in Hoveden Huntingdon and in that Asserius also And Ingulphus hath the Charter of King Ethelbald's Foundation of Crowland whereunto the Comites of Leicester and of Lincoln both subscribe TO which I may also add divers Examples that you will meet with of the same kind in the following History out of the Saxon Annals HAVING thus dispatched these inferior
I may do not prejudice to the Force of his Argument which in short depends upon this single false Supposition viz. that the Compiler or Drawer up of King Edward's Laws imagined that this Law concerning Tithes was made by King Ethelbert and was afterwards confirmed by King Edward near 500 Years after the Law was made when none could tell by what words the first Legislators were express'd BUT if this now should happen to prove otherwise all that the Doctor has said on this Subject will by an unlucky Mischance fall to the Ground AND I shall shew here that first of all his Argument is not cogent that because the words concessa sunt à Rege Baronibus Populo immediately follow those aforegoing viz Haec enim praedicavit B. Augustinus therefore this Law could be made by no other than K. Ethelbert since the words are put indefinitely without mentioning any King in particular FOR St. Augustine might preach up Tithes and yet the Law whereby they were given to the Clergy might be made many Years after and that this was so will appear by a brief History of the Matter of Fact For first there is not nor I believe ever was any Law extant of King Ethelbert concerning Tithes nor is so much as mentioned by any Writer or Historian that I know of the first Law or Canon we find for the paiment of them being that of the Council or Synod of Calcuithe held under King Offa Anno Dom. 536. and which either because it was only an Ecclesiastical Canon or else because it was not made in a General Council of the whole Kingdom was not of any Universal Obligation at least as a Temporal Law before that famous Grant of Tithes made by King Ethelwolf upon his going to Rome and confirmed as a General Law at a Council held at Winchester after his return Anno Dom. 855. and at which not any of the Bishops and Great Lords were present but an infinite Number of other faithful Subjects or Commons as we now call them I shall shew more at large by and by and to this and not to any Law of King Ethelbert's I doubt not but the Compiler of these Laws of King Edward had respect when he tells us that Tithes were granted A REGE BARONIBVS POPVLO that is by the King Barons and People of all England and not by those of one petty Kingdom as Kent was in the Time of King Ethelbert whose Laws could never oblige the whole English Nation and therefore the words that follow viz. sed posteà c. must also refer to the Time of making this Law by King Ethelwolf and not to this imaginary Grant of King Ethelbert which the Compiler of these Laws knew nothing of THIS being so I think all the rest the Doctor says signifies but little for he is much mistaken notwithstanding he so positively affirms that all those words he there mentions were not known here till the coming over of the Normans since he might have found if he had pleased the words Comes and Miles in the singular Number in the Subscriptions of divers Charters and Laws before the Conquest and the word Comites in the Body of the very Charters themselves for which I shall only refer him to the first Volume of Sir Henry Spelman's Councils as well as those in Monasticon Anglicanum AS for the word Baro I grant it did not come into Common or Legal use till after the Time he mentions yet that it was sometimes used before I shall refer him to Asserius his Annals which however it was continued by another Hand till the beginning of the Reign of K. Edward the Elder yet that it was wrote before the Conquest there is no doubt to be made of it and in the very last Page of those Annals he may find the Names of the Barones Normannorum as he calls them who are there related to have been slain AS for Villanus used for a Ceorle's Man or Country-Man you may see an Example of the use of that word in King Athelstan's Law above-cited and the Doctor himself mentions Terra Villanorum i. e. Lands of Villanes or Villagers before the Norman Times AND as for the rest of the words viz. Servientes Servitium Catalla and Manutenere I confess they are not to be met with in the Latin Versions of the Saxon Laws made before the Conquest but I would fain know why they might not have been in use before that Time tho they are not there mentioned I am confident no impartial Reader will grant that a Negative Argument is any good Proof to the contrary BUT should I own that the words Barones and all the rest of them there cited by the Doctor were not commonly in use till after the Conquest yet that would do him but little Service for admit that this Law was only briefly recited by the Collector of them in the Form there set down it will be all one for the People or Commons were represented in the Time of Henry the First when these Laws were drawn up in the Form we now have them or else they could never have been mentioned in this Law as a distinct Order of Men by a Writer who certainly lived long before the 49 th of Henry III. since this Law is found thus worded in Roger Hoveden's Copy of King Edward's Laws which was written by him being Secretary to Henry II. above a hundred Years before the Commons according to the Doctor 's Hypothesis were ever heard of So that unless he can prove that Henry III. was before Henry II. I think he will but Aethiopem lavare BUT indeed if this single uncouth Expression as the Doctor calls it had been found in one Case and upon one Occasion only I confess it might have been as slender a Proof as he would have it but when I have not only given him frequent Instances of the use of this word in our Antient Charters and Laws as contradistinct from all the rest of the Orders abovementioned I think that Pretence will stand him in little stead and if these are not yet sufficient I will superadd a few more from our Antient Historians to the same purpose FIRST From William of Malmesbury and Henry Huntington who both agree almost in the same words concerning the Deposition of Sigebert King of the West-Saxons for Tyranny and Cruelty Anno 754. Huntington expresses it thus viz. Sigebertus Rex in principio secundi Anni Regni sui cum incorrigibilis Superbiae Nequitiae esset congregati sunt PROCERES POPVLVS totius Regni providâ Deliberatione Omnium expulsus est à Regno Kinewulf verò Juvenis egregius de Regiâ stirpe ELECTVS est in Regem SECONDLY From Ailred Abbot of Rievalle who in his Life of Edward the Confessor giving an Account of the manner of that King 's being Elected in his Mother's Womb tells us that Ethelred his Father having convened a Great Council for the
Council at York ordained divers things relating to the Publick Affairs of the Kingdom among which he divided the Earldom of Oswulph Earl of Northumberland late deceased into two for the King was not willing to bestow so great a Part of the Kingdom on any as an Inheritance lest the Northumbers should again aspire to their antient Liberty wherefore he bestowed that Part of Northumberland lying between the Humber and the Theys upon Earl Oslac girding him with the Sword of that Earldom But from Theys to Mireferth being the Sea-coast of Deira he bestowed upon Earl Eadulf sirnamed Ethelwald and thus the two Kingdoms became two Earldoms and so continued all the times of the English-Saxon Kings under their Gift and Jurisdiction whilst Lothian lying open to the Incursions of the Scots was of no great concern to our Kings BUT Keneth K. of Scotland receiving a high Character of the Generosity of K. Edgar from the two Earls above-mentioned desired the King 's safe Conduct to come to London to visit him which being granted the said two Earls conducted him thither where he was honourably received by K. Edgar who often conversing friendly and familiarly with Keneth he then represented to K. Edgar that Lothian appertained to him as his Right having been long possessed by the Kings of Scotland as their Inheritance but the King not being willing to do any thing that he might afterwards repent of referred the Determination of this Affair to his great Council where the chief Men of the Kingdom would not assent to part with it unless under a Homage to be yielded by the K. of Scotland to the K. of England and that too only because all Access to that Country was very difficult and its Government of little or no Profit Whereupon K. Keneth assented to this Demand and so received it under that Condition did Homage for it accordingly promising likewise many other things as that the People should still remain under the English Name and Language which continues to this day and so the old Quarrel about Lothian was now happily determined tho some new ones were often started Thus the King of Scots became Feudatary to King Edgar on this occasion whence you may observe how the Scotish Nation became Masters of Lothian where Edinburgh the Capital City of the Kingdom is seated and which City continued in the Hands of the English as Mr. Camden well observes from an antient Manuscript he there cites till the Reign of K. Indulf viz. till about Anno Dom. 960. You may add this to the Laws of King Edgar at the end of his Reign p. 14. This King is also related by William of Malmesbury to have made a Law to restrain excessive drinking of great Draughts by which Law it was ordained that no Man under a great Penalty should drink at one Draught below certain Pins that were ordered to be fixt within the sides of the Cups or Goblets for that purpose Pag. 72. I confess I was so far misled by the Authority of the Saxon Annals and Matth. Westminster as to believe that Siward mentioned under Anno 1043. had been consecrated Arch-bishop of Canterbury but being now satisfied of the contrary and having given good Reasons against it in the Introduction p. 115 116. that Relation of William of Malmesbury from these words l. 20. of which Author may be thus altered That tho he was designed Successor to this Arch-bishop and to that end was consecrated his Corepiscopus i. e. his Coadjutor yet that notwithstanding he was soon after deposed for his Ingratitude in defrauding the weak old Man of his necessary Maintenance But that this also was a mistake in this Author see the Introduction p. 115 116. Thus much I thought fit to advertise the Reader since I had rather confess my own involuntary Mistakes than put another to the trouble of shewing them to the World but however since I do not pretend to be infallible if any Person of greater Skill in our English Histories will take the pains to shew the World any other Errors or Omissions I have been guilty of in this Work I shall be â—o far from taking it ill that for the publick Satisfaction they shall be mended 〈◊〉 the next Edition THE General History OF BRITAIN NOW CALLED ENGLAND As well Ecclesiastical as Civil BOOK I. From the Earliest Accounts of TIME to the First Coming of JULIUS CAESAR SINCE I design with God's Permission to write and digest the most Remarkable Things and Transactions that have occurred in this Kingdom from the earliest Accounts of Time I shall follow Venerable Bede as well as other Historians in first giving a brief Description of this Island Britain the largest of all the Europaean Islands and one of the biggest in this Habitable Globe is scituate between 50 Degrees 16 Minutes and 59 Degrees 30 Minutes North Latitude the whole Isle lying in length from Dunsby-Head the most Northerly Promontory of Scotland to Dover the space of near Six hundred Miles yet is the Climate more mild and temperate than could be expected in so Northerly a Scituation the Winds from the Seas encompassing it on all sides so tempering the Air that it is neither so cold in Winter nor yet so hot in Summer as the opposite Continents of France Germany and the Low-Countries and also by the Indulgence of Heaven as well as the Fertility of its Native Soil it is plentifully furnished with all Things necessary for Human Life It was anciently called by the Greeks Albion but whether from a Giant of that Name feigned to be the Son of Neptune after the Fabulous Humour of those Times in giving Names to Countries from Giants and Heroes or else from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which according to Festus signifies White since this Island is on many sides of it encompassed with Rocks of that Colour or else from the Phoenician word Alp which signifies High or from Alben which in the Hebrew Tongue signifies White is uncertain and therefore needless to be insisted on too much As for the Name of Britain which Nennius and divers other British Writers derive from Brutus whom they likewise call Brito but others of them from the British words Pryd Cain i. e. Forma candida a white Form it seems too far fetch'd and besides we do not find that the Natives of this Isle ever called it Britain Mr. Camden derives it from the Welsh word Brith which signifies Painted for the ancient Britains used to paint themselves of a pale blewish Colour with Glastum or Woad and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which in Greek signifies a Region or Country But this Etymology has this Inconvenience in it that it is derived from too far different Languages and besides it seems very improbable that such an Accidental Custom as that of painting their Bodies should give a Name to the whole Island as well as its Inhabitants Nor does this word Brith signifie in the Welsh Tongue Painted but rather
and erecting new ones in several Places in his Dominions He is said to have built Grantham in Lincolnshire and some say Cambridge antiently called Caer-Grant and Grant Chester He Reigned Ten Years and was succeeded by his Brother Archigallo the Second Son of Morindus he endeavoured to depress the Nobility by depriving them of all Power and Command and preferring Mean and unworthy Men and by taking away Men's Estates to enrich his own Treasure all which Oppressions the Nobility of the Kingdom not being any longer to bear they rose up in Arms and deposing him placed Elidure his Brother in the Throne he was called by his Subjects Elidure the Pious for as he went on Hunting one Day in the Wood Calater in the midst of the Forest he met with his Brother Archigallo and being struck with Pity of his Misfortunes he secretly conveyed him Home to his own House at the City of Alchluid where feigning himself sick he assembled all the Nobles of his Realm and there partly by Perswasions partly by Commands he engaged them again to receive his Brother Archigallo for their Sovereign and afterwards calling a general Assembly of his People at York he there publickly resigned his Crown and taking it off his own Head placed it on his Brother's after he had Reigned Three Years Archigallo being thus Restored by his wise and sober Deportment regained the Affections of his People for he discarded his former Favourites and adhered to the prudent Advice of his Nobility and Reigning to the general Liking of his Subjects for the space of Ten Years died and was buried at Caer-brank or York Elidure after the Death of his Brother became once more King of Britain and so with much Honour and Reputation received the second time the Crown but was soon deposed by the Ambition of his Brethren Vigenius and Peridurus after One Year's Government when being seized by them and his Person confined to the Tower of London they divided the Kingdom between them Peridurus took Albania and Vigenius all the Country on this side Humber for his share Vigenius dying after he had Reigned Seven Years the whole Kingdom devolved to Peridurus who managed it with great Moderation and Justice and having governed Nine Years died then Elidure again resumed the Crown being delivered out of Prison by his Subjects and after he had Reigned Four Years to the general Satisfaction of all Men then dying was succeeded by his Nephew or Grandson the Son of Gorbonian who is called Regin by Mat of Westminster though not named particularly by Geoffrey He was a worthy Prince and Reigned with the general Approbation of all his People to whom succeeded Morgan or Margan the Son of Arâ—igallo he Reigned Fourteen Years in Tranquillity After him Ennian or Emerian another Son of Archigallo's was advanced to the Throne who quite different from his Brother govern'd Tyrannically and was in the Sixth Year of his Reign Depos'd and then succeeded Ydwallo the Son of Vigenius who warned by the Misfortune of his Predecessor avoided Tyranny after whom Reigned Rinco the Son of Peridurus an heroic Prince and a great Warriour Then next follows in Geoffrey of Monmouth a long descent of Kings who either did nothing or had no Body to Record it these make up Seventeen Kings in all viz. Gerantius the Son of Elidurus to whom succeeded Catellus his Son then Coillus and after him Porrex the Second then Cherin or Cherim then succeeded Fulgentius the Eldest Son of Cherin next him Androgeus the Third Son of Cherim enjoyed the Crown then after him Urianus the Son of Androgeus began to Reign who giving himself up to all Riot and Intemperance soon died and to him succeeded Eliod then Elidavius then Cledanus or Cletanus called also by others Detonus but here arises so great a Difference amongst the Writers of this long Bed-Roll of British Kings that there is nothing of Certainty concerning their very Names much less of their Actions for their Names are variously recited by Geoffrey and those Authors that lived after him and pretend to correct or enlarge him but you must take them as we find them Then succeeded Gurgurntius then Merianus and after him Bledunus then Capenus next to him Sisilius the Third then Blegabred who is said to have been excellently well Skill'd in Vocal as well as Instrumental Musick he Reigned Ten Years After him succeeded Arthimallo his Brother and after him Eldâ—l Then follow Nine Kings more without any thing Recorded of them but their bare Names viz. Rodianus or Redian then Redarchius or Redargius then Samuil then Penisill then Carpoir or Corporius and after him Geiduâ—llus or Dinellus the Son of Carpoir a Prince Modest and Prudent in all his Actions who left his Son Heli his Successor who Reign'd Forty Years and was succeeded by Lud his Eldest Son who is reported to have been a Vertuous Princâ— making divers excellent Laws and Correcting many Abuses in the Government he Adorn'd the City of London with new Walls and Towers and therein built a Gate which is still called after his Name Lud-Gate and is said to have built himself a Palace not far from it And after he had Reigned Eleven Years died leaving behind him two Sons Anarogeus and Theomantius under the Tuition of his Brother Cassibelan whose Bounty and Worthy demeanour so wrought upon the People that he easily got the Kingdom transferr'd upon himself yet nevertheless shewing some Favour to his Nephews he conferred freely upon Androgeus London with Kent and upon Theomantius Cornwall reserving to himself a Superiority over them both till the Romans for a while eclipsed his Power I shall not here trouble my self to set down much less to confute the Errors that may be found in the Chronology of these Kings Reigns since Geoffrey of Monmouth from whom they are taken hath bin so cautious as not to give us any account in what Year of the World they Reign'd sometimes telling us tho' with no certainty at all the Names of the Judges and Kings of Israel whom he makes Contemporary with them But as for his last Nine and Twenty Kings from Elidure to Lud he has given us nothing but their bare Names without so much as setting down how many Years they reign'd as if he himself or those Authors he had Translated had bin ashamed or weary of their own tedious Stories and so would make it as short as they could But as for Mat. of Westminster Ponticus Virunnius Polydore Virgil and one Richard White who calls himself Basinstoke I do not think it worth while to put down their pretended Corrections Emendations and Additions of Geoffrey's History since if he had no Authority to invent I am sure they can less pretend to Correct his Inventions or alter his Course of Succession of the British Kings as Polydore has done under pretence of making them more suitable to his own Accounts of time But White has exceeded all others in this making bold with Geoffrey not onâ—y altering the
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
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
affirm That there were only Two Orders of Monks in use amongst our Ancestours of the English Saxon Church One of those who followed the Rites of the Aegyptian Monks and the other of Benedictine's who came over with Augustine and so continued from that time to their dissolution under King Henry the Eighth to which Letter or Certificate all the said learned Persons above mentioned did put their Hands as appears by the Certificate it self which you will find Printed in Clem. Reyner de Appostolatu Benedictini in Anglia This though perhaps it may seem an impertinent digression to some yet I hope will not prove so to those who are lovers of Ecllesiastical Antiquities This Year Ethelbert King of Kent dyed who was the first English King that recâ—ived Baptism Bede tells us That this King dyed above Twenty Years after his Conversion and was buried in St. Martin's Porch in the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul after whose decease Eadbald his Son succeeded to him in the Kingdom The beginning of whose Reign I shall give you out of Bede being much more particular than that in the Chronicle This King did not only refuse the Faith of Christ but also polluted himself with such Fornication which the Apostle says ought not to be heard of among the Gentiles in that he Married his Father's Wife by which wickedness he gave occasion to those to return to their former Heathenism who had embraced Christianity in his Father's Reign either out of Fear or hopes of Favour thô God's Judgments were not wanting to Correct this Infidel King for he was tormented with frequent fits of Frensie and the possession of an unclean Spirit but the Death of Sebert King of the East Saxons happening also about this time extremely encreased the present Storm of Afflictions for he left Three Sons Heirs to his Kingdom who all relapsed to Paganism having in their Father's life-time seemed Christians but now permitted all their Subjects the free licence of worshiping Idols and when they saw the Bishop Administring the Eucharist to the People in the Church they thus spoke to him in their Barbarous folly Why dost thou not give us this White Bread which thou wert wont to Minister to our Father To whom the Bishop replyed That they must first be washed in that saving Font in which their Father had been Baptised and then they might partake of the same Bread which though they deny'd to do yet would they not desist from requiring this Bread at his hands which he still refusing them they then plainly told him That if he would not yield to them in so small a matter he must not stay any longer in their Dominions and so commanded them to be gone who being thus expelled went thence into Kent to consult with the Bishops Laurentius and Justus what was best to be done on this occasion where it was decreed by common Consent That it was better that all of them should return into their own Countrey there to serve God with freedom of Conscience than to live without any Fruit of their Labours amongst such Barbarous Rebels to the Christian Faith thereupon Mellitus and Justus departed first and went into France there resolving to expect the issue of these things but not long after these Three Princes who had driven out a Preacher of the Truth and relapsed to the Worship of Idols marching out to Battel against the West-Saxons were all cut off together with their Army However though the Authors of this Apostacy were destroyed yet the common people being once inured to wickedness could not easily be brought back to the Faith of Christ. But when Laurentius was about to leave Britain to follow Mellitus and Justus he ordered a Pallet to be laid for him in the Church of St. Peter and Paul on which after many Prayers and Tears poured forth to God he laid down to take his rest where if credit may be given to Bede's relation St. Peter in whose Church he had spent great part of the Night in watching and Prayer appeared to him and to make the Vision more sensible gave him many stripes for thus offering to desert his Flock at sight whereof the King to whom next morning he shewed the marks of what he had suffered and by whom and for what cause relenting in great fear renounced his Incestuous Marriage and applied himself to the Christian Faith more sincerely than before together with all his People but the Londoners refusing again to receive their Bishop Mellitus this King had not so much power as his Father to force them to it whether they would or not yet nevertheless he with all his Nation from the time that he was thus re-converted to Christ endeavoured wholly to submit himself to the Divine Precepts and then near the Monastery of the Apostles built a Church in honour of the blessed Virgin which was consecrated by Archbishop Mellitus But to return again to Civil Affairs This Year also Edwin of the Blood-Royal of Northumberland having been forced to fly from Ethelfrid then King of that Countrey had wander'd for some Years as a banished Man through divers Kingdoms till at last he took refuge with Redwald King of the East-Angles beseeching him to save his Life from so cruel and unjust a Persecution who thereupon receiving him into his protection granted his Request but whilst he thus sojourned with King Redwald he had a Vision or Apparition which was the cause of his future Conversion and which though it looks very much like a Monkish Legend yet since it is related by so grave an Author as Bede I shall here from him set down So soon as Ethelfrid heard where Edwin was he sent Ambassadors to Redwald offering him a great Sum of Money to put him to death which being refused he still repeated and increased his offers twice or thrice threatning War if he were refused till at last the King being either prevailed upon by his great proffers or terrified by his threatnings yielded promising either to kill Edwin or to deliver him to his Ambassadors which when a certain Friend of Edwin's then near the King came to know the first hour of the Night he went in haste to his Chamber and calling him forth for better secresy revealed to him his Danger and offer'd him his Aid to make his Escape where neither Redwald nor Ethelfrid should ever find him But he not approving of that course as seeming dishonourable without more manifest cause to begin first to distrust one who so long had been his only Refuge chose rather to dye by his Hand than by any other more Ignoble Whereupon his Friend departing Edwin being thus left alone without the Palace-Gate full of sad and perplexed Thoughts discerns about the dead of Night a man approaching towards him neither by Countenance nor Habit to him known who after a short Salutation asked him Why at this Hour when all others were at Rest he alone sate so sadly waking on
in Ireland being hindred by a Storm that forced him back from Preaching the Gospel as he intended in Germany he perswaded one Wilbrode his Country man to do it who having obtain'd the Pope's License to Preach to the Heathen Nations he performed it first by preaching the Gospel in old Frizeland which then included not only those Provinces called East and West Frizeland to this day but also Holland and Zealand and divers others of the Belgic Provinces where he converted all those Nations to the Christian Faith and was afterwards at the desire of Pipin father to King Charles ordained by the Pope Arch-Bishop of the Frisons Anno Dom. 596 and upon his return to Rome Pipin being then Major of the Palace or General of France gave him for his Episcopal See that famous Castle which is called in the Old Language of that Nation Wiltaburg but in the Gallic Tongue Trajectum at this day Utrecht But not long after two Priests each of them named Henwald and for distinction Sirnamed from the colour of their Hair the Black and the White being by his Example piously affected to the Souls of their Country-men the Old Saxons at their coming into Old Saxony to convert them met with much worse Entertainment for being in the House of a Farmer who had promised to convey them as they desired to the Governour of that Country and being discovered by their daily Ceremonies to be Christian Priests and the cause of their coming also known they were by him and his Heathen Neighbours cruelly butcher'd and their Bodies flung into the Rhine but the Governour coming to the knowledge of it being enraged at such Violence offered to two Strangers sent Armed Men and slew all those wicked Inhabitants and burnt their Village About this time Sir H. Spelman in his first Volume of Councils records a Charter of Priviledge granted by King Wythred in a General Council or Synod of Kent whereby with the Consent of the Chief Men of his Kingdom he freed all the Churches thereof from all Publick Payments or Tributes whatsoever provided they yielded the King and his Successours the same Honour and Obedience as they had done his Predecessours under whom hitherto they had enjoyed all Justice and Liberty This was done in the Eighth Year of his Reign at a Place called Cylling which seems to be no more than a Confirmation of what had been done 6 Years before in the Council of Becanceld But to return to our Annals ' This Year Cenred began to Reign over the Southumbers i. e. the Mercians as has been already said Hedda the Bishop departed this Life he held the Bishoprick of Winchester 27 Years This Hedda is he of whom Bede gives the Character of an Excellent Bishop and one who Adorn'd the Episcopal See converting more by his Example than Preaching Ethelred the Son of Penda King of the Mercians became a Monk at Bardeney Abbey having reigned 29 or rather 30 Years and Cenred succeeded him who was his Cousin-German William of Malmesbury further adds That from a Monk he came to be Abbot of that Monastery wherein he died and that of Osgilde the Sister of Egfrid King of Northumberland he begat a Son called Ceolred yet for all this Ethelred passing him by he appointed Cenred the Son of his Brother Wulfher for his Successour who reigned with great Love to his Country and a singular Probity of Manners till in the Fifth Year of his Reign he went to Rome and as Bede tells us taking upon him the Habit of a Monk during the Papacy of Pope Constantine there ended his Days in Prayers Fasting and Alms. Ealfert or Alfred King of the Northumbers deceased on the 19 o Kal. Jan. at Driffeild in the 12th Year of his Reign Osred his Son succeeding in that Kingdom But Stephen Heddi in his Life of Bishop Wilfrid and who lived at that time hath given us a more accurate Account of the Death of this King and of his Successours viz. That King Alfred lying now sick upon his Death-bed repented of what he had done toward Bishop Wilfrid and promised That if ever he recovered of that Sickness he would restore the Bishop and in all Things observe the Decree of the Apostolick See but if he died he enjoyn'd who ever should succeed him to be reconciled with that Bishop for the good of both their Souls but this King dying one Eardwulf succeeded him thô but for a small time and the Bishop going to him and carrying that King's Son along with him he sent Messengers before supposing him to be his Friend but the King being perswaded by his Councellors and also prompted by his own natural Wickedness sent the Bishop word binding it with an Oath That unless he departed his Kingdom within the space of six Days whosoever he found of his Company should be put to Death Not long after which harsh Message a Plot being laid against him he was driven out of the Kingdom which he had scarce enjoyed two Months and so the Royal Youth Osred Son of the late King Alfred succeeded in the Kingdom and became Bishop Wilfrid's adopted Son In the first Year of which King the Author above-mentioned hath given us the following Account concerning the Restitution of the said Bishop viz. That Berthwald Arch-Bishop of Canterbury came about this time from the South together with all the Bishops Abbots and Chief Men of the whole Kingdom by the Precept of the Apostolical See to hold a Synod at a Place lying on the East-side of the River Nid in Northumberland where the King with his Bishops and Chief Men being met the Arch-Bishop made a Speech to them setting forth the Letters from the Pope which Bishop Wilfrid had brought directed to himself and which he desired might be read the Purport whereof was to the same effect as you have already heard Then Aelfleda the Abbess Daughter to the late King as also Berechtfrid the second Man in the Kingdom set forth the Will of the late King and therefore that it was fit to obey it as well as the Commands of the Apostolical See whereupon the King with his Great Men and all the Bishops upon mature Deliberation resolved to be reconciled to Bishop Wilfrid and that his two Monasteries of Rypon and Hagulstad together with all their Revenues should be restored to him and so a firm Reconciliation being made all the Bishops departed in Peace But yet for all this by what Richard Prior of Hagulstad hath left us of this matter it appears that Wilfrid did not carry the Cause so clearly as this Author would make it for he only was restored to the Bishoprick of Hagulstad and Bishop John above-named was from thence translated to York which Bishop Wilfrid had held before only Bishop John parted with Hagulstad for Peace-sake I have been the more exact in this Transaction because it has never been done by any body in our Language before Also
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
said by Will of Malmesbury to have told his Son Ethelwulf whom he left his Successour That he might be happy if he did not permit the Kingdom which he had now laid together with great Industry to be spoiled by sloathfulness to which this Nation had been too much addicted There is little mention of this King's Children except Ethelwulf only it is said by John of Tinmouth that he had also a Daughter called Edgithe who being first bred up under an Irish Abbess called Modwina was made Abbess of the Nunnery at Polesworth but this since we have no better Authority than modern hands for it I cannot be certain of but as for the Wife of King Egbert who was according to the late West-Saxon Law never called Queen her Name was Redburge and she is mentioned by John Beaver to have procured that Law from her Husband that no Welshman should without leave pass over Offa's Ditch upon pain of Death But the same Year that King Egbert dyed was held a Common Council of the whole Kingdom at Kingston upon Thames where were present Egbert King of the West-Saxons and Ethelwulf his Son with Ceolnoth Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and other Bishops and Chief Men of England where among other things the manner of Mallings in Sussex having been bestowed by Baldred King of Kent on Christ Church Cant. and being afterwards taken away from it because the great Men of that Kingdom would not ratifie the Donation it was now by the consent of the King and all his Chief and Wise Men again confirmed King ETHELWULF with his Son King ATHELSTAN No sooner was King Egbert's Body buried at Winchester but King Ethelwulf succeeded to the Throne and though none of our Historians mention any former Election or Coronation of this King yet it is certain he came to the Crown by Vertue of his Father's Testament Henry Huntington and Roger Hoveden telling us expresly That he left his Two Sons Ethelwulf and Athelstan his Heirs which though it be in part a mistake since this Athelstan was not Son but Brother to King Ethelwulf yet that concerning the King's bequeathing the Crown is very probable it being according to the Custom of that time but that this alone would not have been sufficient shall be shewn in another place This Prince as Thomas Rudborn in his History of the Church of Winchester relates had been during the Life of his Elder Brother whose Name we know not educated in the Monastery of Winchester under the Tuition of Helmestan Bishop and Swithune Praepositus or Dean of that Church and had there taken the Order of a Subdeacon with an intent as is supposed to have professed himself a Monk not that he was ever made Bishop of that Church thô it is so related by H. Huntington and other Writers But King Egbert having no other Son living he was dispenced with to Marry and returning very early to a Secular Life helped his Father in his Wars after whose Death he was advanced to the Throne yet he always retained a great deal of the Monk loved his ease and had very little Ambition and therefore not caring to trouble himself with the Governing of many Provinces he rested contented with his Paternal Kingdom of West Saxony and made over the Kingdoms of Kent and of the South and East Saxons being his Father's Conquests to Athelstan his Son as the Saxon Annals and Will of Malmesbury expresly call him and which is more Ethelwerd in his Chronicle gives us the Names of Five Sons of King Ethelwuâ—f of which says he Athelstan who Reigned together with his Father was the Eldest that Alfred the Fifth Son Reigned after them all yet most of the other Historians going directly contrary to those Authorities will needs have him to be his Brother I suppose to save this Pious Prince's Reputation but Mat. Westminster says That he was his base Son which is most probable since he had not any Legitimate Son then old enough to Govern a Kingdom as this Athelstan at that time was and whom we shall often find mentioned in this History thô when or how he dyed all our Writers are silent This Year according to the Saxon Annals Wulfheard the Ealdorman fought at Hamtun i. e. Southampton with a Fleet of Thirty Three Danish Pyrates and there making a great slaughter of them obtained the Victory The same Year this Wulfheard deceased Also Aethelm another Ealdorman fought with the Danish Army at Port now called Portland where he being assisted by the Dorset-shire Men soon put them to flight but how this can consist with what follows I know not viz. That the Danes notwithstanding kept the Field where the Battle was Fought and slew the Chief Commander being an Ealdorman unless it relate to the Year following when Hâ—rebryht the Ealdorman was killed by the Danes and many others with him in Merscwarum that is Mercia also the same Year in Lindisse as also among the East Angles and in Kent many were Slain by their Forces for there according to Mat. Westminster the above said Earl or Ealdormen was slain the Danes obtaining the Victory destroying all places with Fire and Sword And the same Year according to Florence of Worcester Wiglaf King of Mercia dying Bertulf succeeded him There was this Year a great slaughter made by the Danes about London Cantwic i. e. Canterbury and Hrofcester that is Rochester So that now it seems the Danes had entred farther into the Land making havock of all where ever they came This Year King Ethelwulf fought at Carrum i. e. Charmouth against 35 Danish Ships who kept the Field where the Battle was fought So that according to H. Huntington they here obtained the Victory for though the number of their Ships were but small yet they were very large and full of Men. ' This Year also the Emperour Lewis the Pious dyed Nor can I here omit what the Scotish Historians place under the former Year but ours under this viz. The total Conquest of the Picts by Kened the first King of Scotland after many fierce Battles in the last of which Drusken King of the Picts being Slain that Kingdom was totally destroyed and as H. Huntington long since observed not only their Laws but also their very Language except what remains in the Names of places is now totally lost and that Nation being long since incorporated with that of the Antient Scots and Saxons shews us that even whole Kingdoms and Nations have both their Originals and fatal periods as well as particular Persons But thô the Scotish Historians do justly date the Empire of their Kings over all Scotland from this Total Conquest of the Picts by King Kened according to that old Verse Primus in Albania fertur regnasse Kenedus Yet when those Historians will by this Conquest extend the limits of this King and his Successour's Dominions so far beyond Edenburgh Southward making him to have Reigned from the River Tyne and so would
but when they had both bloudily fought for a long time the Pagans being no longer able to withstand the Christians Arms a great part of their Troops was slain and the rest saved themselves by flight leaving behind them dead upon the place one of their Kings called Bachseg and several other great Men with many Thousands of common Souldiers needless here to be particularly mentioned but this King here called Bachseg the Danish History naâ—es Ivar the Son of Reynere so the rest of their Army fled that night to the Castle of Reading above-mentioned whither the Christians following killed them as long as day-light would permit But thô Asser the Writer of King Alfred's Life and Actions hath for his Honour attributed the whole Success of this Battle to that Prince yet it is more probable what the Manuscript called Scala Chronica cited by Mr. Speed relates That when Prince Aelfred's Men being now spent were ready to Retreat King Ethered came into the Battle from his Prayers and so well seconded his Brother with fresh Forces that renewing the Fight the Victory the greatest they had ever yet obtained was chiefly owing to their Valour But Fifteen Days after this King Aethered with his Brother Aelfred marched again towards Basing to fight the Enemy where another Battle happened and the Pagans making there an obstinate Resistance obtain'd the Victory and kept the Field after which Fight a fresh Army of Pagans coming from beyond Sea joyned themselves to the former But here the Saxon Annals further add That about two Months after this King Aethered and Aelfred his Brother fought again with the Pagans at Meretune now Merton in Surrey where the Army being divided into two Parts at first put the Enemy to the Rout and had the better for a great part of the day yet at last after a mighty slaughter the Danes kept the Field and there was slain Bishop Heamund with abundance of brave Men. After this Battle during the whole Summer following the Danes remained in quiet at Reading but the same Year King Aethered having now for five Years stoutly and nobly Govern'd his Kingdom thô with many Troubles deceased and was buried in the Monastery of Winburne in Dorsetshire But thô the Chronicle that goes under the Name of Abbot Bromton from I know not what Authority relates this King to have died of the Wounds which he had received in a Fight against one Somerled a Danish King who had newly destroyed the Town of Reading and the Inscription on this King's Tomb at Winborne cited by Mr. Camden in his Britannia relates him to be slain by the Danes yet since neither Asser Ingulph the Saxon Annals nor William of Malmesbury mention any such thing and that the Inscription it self is but Modern I rather suppose him to have died a natural Death of the Plague which then reigned This King is said by the Annals of Ireland to have had a Daughter named Thyra married to Gormun King of the Danes who on her begat Sweyn the Father of King Cnute This Ethered had also several Sons as Alfred supposed to be Grandfather to Ethelwerd called Quaestor the Historian as also Oswald who his Father mentions in his Charter to the Abbey of Abingdon King AELFRED otherwise called ALFRED Immediately after King Ethered's Death as Asser relates Prince Alfred who during the Lives of his three Brothers had been only their Deputy or Lieutenant now by the General Consent of the whole Kingdom took the Government upon him which he might have had if he pleased during their Life-time since he exceeded them all both in Wisdom and Courage so that indeed he Reigned almost whether he would or no. But before the first Month of his Reign was at an end he trusting on the Divine Assistance marched his Army thô but few in comparison of the Pagans to Wilton lying on the South side of the River Willie from which both the Town and Country take their Names where it was valiantly fought on both sides for great part of the day till the Pagans not being able any longer to endure the Force and Valour of the English began to turn their Backs but then finding the Number of the Pursuers to be small they rallied and obtaining the Victory kept the Field Nor let this seem strange to any that will but consider how small the Number of the Christians were in comparison of the Pagans for the English had in the space of one Year fought 8 or 9 Battles against them besides innumerable Skirmishes which King Alfred or his Commanders had with them wherein thô they lost one King and nine Earls or Principal Commanders yet receiving such frequent Recruits from beyond Sea whilst the Saxons every day grew weaker it is no Wonder if they prevailed yet notwithstanding Asser and the Saxon Annals tell us That this Year there was a Peace made with the Danes upon condition that they would depart the Kingdom which they for the present observed but to little purpose For the next Year as the same Author tells us the Danes having landed again marched from Reading to London and there took up their Winter-Quarters and the Mercians were forced to make Peace with them Also this Year according to the Chronicle of Mailross and Simeon of Durham the Northumbers expelled Egbert their King and Wulfher Arch-Bishop of York who both as Mat. Westminster relates flying to Bertulph King of the Mercians were by him honourably received About the same time according to Caradoc's Chronicle also died Gwgan King or Prince of Cardigan who as some British Chronicles relate was drowned by misfortune and at the same time the Danes destroyed the Town of Alcluid in Scotland This Year the Danish Army leaving the Countries about London marched into the Kingdom of the Northumbers and there Wintered in a place called Tursige now Torswick in Lindsey which was then part of the Northumbrian Kingdom so that the Neighbouring Nations were again forced to renew their League with them And now also according to Simeon of Durham Egbert King of Northumberland dying one Ricsige succeeded him and Arch-Bishop Wulfher was now restored to his Bishoprick The next Year the Pagan Army leaving Lindisse marched into Mercia and wintered in a place called Hreoptun now Repton in Derbyshire where they forced Burhred King of the Mercians to desert his Kingdom and pass the Seas to go to Rome where arriving he lived not long but there dying in the 22d Year of his Reign he was honourably buried at the English School or College in the Church of St. Mary thereunto belonging The Danes after his Expulsion brought the whole Kingdom of Mercia under their Dominion and then delivered it to one Ceolwulf an inconsiderable Fellow and Servant of the late King upon this miserable Condition That he should deliver it up to them again whensoever they required it and for this he gave Hostages swearing to obey them in all Things Now the Danish Army
leaving Hreoptun became divided into two and Halfden their Commander marched with one part of it into the Kingdom of Northumberland and there took up his Winter-Quarters near the River Tine where they conquered the whole Country and also spoiled the Country between the Picts and the Straecled Welsh-men who then inhabited part of Galloway in Scotland whilst another part of them under the Command of Godrun Oskytel and Amwynd three of their Kings marched to Grantbridge and there Wintered And the same Summer King Aelfred fought at Sea against seven of their Ships and took one of them the rest escaping This Year as Asser and the Saxon Annals relate Rollo the Dan◠or Norman wasted Neustria afterwards called Normandy and in some time after made an entire Conquest of it Asser also says that this Rollo having had a Dream of a Swarm of Bees flying towards the South he chose to leave England and go over into France though as other Authours affirm it was because he was so warmly received by King Alfred that he did not like to stay here but rather chose to pass into another Country of easier Conquest as Normandy indeed proved for he reigned there fifty Years The same Year according to the Chronicle of Mailrosse and Simeon of Durham Ricsig King of Northumberland dying another Egbert succeeded him but we have no account of his Actions more than that he reigned beyond Tyne as a Tributary to the Danes who possessed all the rest of the Country as you will find by the Saxon Annals The same Year accordingly the Danes stealing away by Night from Grantbridge where they had long encamped marched to Werham now Warham in Dorsetshire being then a strong Castle of the West-Saxons this place they took and destroyed together with the Nunnery there then passing higher as into a secure Harbour they drew up all their Ships so that now King Alfred was reduced to such great streights that he was forced to make Peace with him and they gave the King for Pledges some of the Noblest Persons in their Army and took an Oath upon a sacred Bracelet they had which Oath they would never take to any Nation before that they would presently depart the Kingdom but in the mean while that part of the Army which had Horses stole away to Exanceaster now Exeter whereupon the King put all their Hostages to Death The same Year in the Month of August Healfden the Danish King divided the Kingdom of the Northumbers among his People who now settling there ploughed and sowed from whence the Danes date their Reign over that Kingdom But the Year following The Danes having left Werham and come to Exeter as you have already heard their Fleet in the mean time fetching a compass sailing towards the West I suppose to Exmouth there arose so violent a Storm as that 120 of their Ships were cast away near Swandwic now Swanwick in Hampshire then King Aelfred followed that part of the Army as far as Exeter thô he could not overtake them till they had got into the Castle which proved so strong that no body could come at them but he streightning them there they gave him what Hostages he required and took fresh Oaths and for a small time observed the league they had made yet nevertheless in the Month of August following the same Danish Army marched into the Province of the Mercians where dividing part of it between themselves they left the rest to Ceolwulf above mentioned About this time also according to Caradoc's Chronicle the English having entred Wales the Year before fought a Bloody Battel with the Welshmen though this Authour neither tells who were the Commanders nor who had the Victory and the Year following there was another Battel between them wherein Rodorick Sirnamed The Great King or Prince of Wales and Guyriad his Brother or as some say his Son were slain This Rodorick had by his Wife Engharaud the Daughter of Prince Meyric several Sons as Anarawd his Eldest to whom he gave Aberffraw with North Wales Cadelh the second to whom he left Dynevowr with South-Wales who also took by force Marthraval and Powysland after the Death of Mervyn the third Son to whom their Father Rodorick had given the same To which Dr. Powel likewise adds That this Rodorick is esteemed by all Writers to be sole King of all Wales North-Wales descending to him from his Mother Esylcht the Daughter and sole Heir of Conan Tindaethwy but South-Wales he had in Right of his Wife the Daughter and Heir of Meyric ap Dyfnwal King of Cardigan Powis he had by Nest the Sister and Heir of Congen ap Cadhel King of Powis his Father's Mother These three Dominions he appointed under their Meeres and Bounds with a Princely House in each of them These he had named Ytair Talaeth and left them unto three of his Sons Anarawd Cadhel and Mervyn who were called Ytrit Twysoc Talaethioc that is the three Crown'd Princes because each of them did wear upon his Bonnet or Helmet a Coronet of Gold being a broad Lace or Head-band indented upwards set and wrought with precious Stones which in the British or Welsh Speech is called Talaeth and to which Mr. Vaughan in his Additional Notes to Caradoc's History hath added out of an ancient Welsh Manuscript That this Rodorick is said to have corrected some of the old British Laws and to have appointed new ones He also ordained that his Eldest Son should have the Crown or Coronet of Aberffraw with the Fifteen Cantreds thereunto belonging This Aberffraw is now a small Village in the Isle of Anglesey and was anciently the chief Seat of the Princes of Guyneth or North-Wales He left to his second the Crown or Coronet of Dinevowr or Cardigan with its fifteen Cantreds extending from the Mouth of the River Devi to the Mouth of Severne and also that his Son should have the Crown or Coronet of Mathraval with the Fifteen Cantreds of Powis from the mouth of the River Dee to the bridge over Severne at Gloucester He ordained also That his Eldest Son and his successours should continue the payment of the ancient tribute to the King of London i. e. King of England and that the other two their Heirs and Successours should acknowledge his Sovereignty and pay the like tribute to him and his Successours and that upon the Invasions of Strangers they should all send him aid and be also ready to protect them when there should be need Moreover he ordained That when any difference should arise between the Princes of Aberffraw and Cardigan the Three Princes should meet at Bwlchy Pawl and after hearing of Council on both sides the Prince of Powis should be Umpire between them And if the difference were between the Kings of Aberffraw and Powis that they should likewise all Three meet at Dolhrianedd perchance Morvarhianed on the Bank of the River Dee where the King of Cardigan was to end the Controversie And if
there should be any difference between the Kings of Powis and Cardigan the meeting should be at Llyswen upon the River Wy and the King of Aberffraw to decide it This thô it seems to have been as wise a course as could be taken to maintain amity in a divided Kingdom yet did prove of no effect for it seems the Princes of these Countries did not long observe this Constitution of their Ancestour King Rodoric but perpetually weakned each other with Civil Wars so that the English taking advantage of their mutual divisions by assisting the weaker Prince against the stronger they at last by degrees reduced them all under the English Dominion as shall be further shewn in its proper place About this time Anarawd the Eldest Son of Rodorick above mentioned began his Reign over North-Wales This Year according to Asser the Danes stealing away privately after the Feast of Epiphany to Cypenham and having now got Horses marched through all the Country of the West-Saxons and there began to fix their Quarters forcing many of the Inhabitants beyond Sea and subjecting the rest of their Dominion in so much that King Alfred was forced with a few of his Nobles and with some Souldiers and Vassals to lurk among the Woody and Boggy parts of Somerset-shire where he led a very uneasie Life in great Trouble and Scarcity having no Provisions but what he could take away by frequent incursions from the Enemies or else those Christians who had submitted themselves to their Dominion and it is found in the Life of St. Neot as he lay hid with a certain Cow-herd it happened one day that as his Wife was making of Cakes the King sate by the Fire fitting up his Bow and Arrows and other Weapons but when the Woman saw the Cakes which lay before the fire begin to burn she presently ran and removed them and chiding the King whom she did not know said thus Doest thou Fellow think much to turn these Cakes which thou can'st eat fast enough when they are baked At which the King laughing took all in good part but be the Story true or false this much is certain that the King lay at this time so private that neither his Friends nor Enemies could tell where he was in so much that all this while the Royal Patrimony became a prey as well to the revolting English as to the Danes themselves But the Monkish writers of these times according to their usual Custom of interpreting all misfortunes to be God's Judgments will needs have this to be a judgment upon this King because that in the beginning of his Reign being taken up with the desire of Learning or else diverted by Hunting and other Juvenile Pleasures he had too much neglected the public affairs and that being admonished by St. Neot and refusing to amend the Holy Man foretold there would be a time when he should be driven from his Kingdom and from his own House But be this as it will whilest King Alfred was thus over-powered by the great multitude of Danes that daily entred the Kingdom he was forced to retreat yet even then being followed by a small band of Stout and Loyal Souldiers he often set upon the Enemies by surprize and with so good success that he let them see though he was overcome by numbers yet he was not vanquished since he remained formidable even in his flight but to this Retreat the then Woody and Bogy parts of Somersetshire between the Rivers Thone and Parret chiefly contributed which were then almost an Island and not to be enter'd without a Boat unless by one narrow way as Leland in his Itinerary hath rightly observed but Will of Malmesbury tells us That it is to no purpose to relate all the little Skirmishes and Adventures of this King during his Retreat only one passage will not be unpleasant whether it be true or false it happen'd one Day that whil'st King Alfred lay pivate in a little Castle or Fort in the Wood Athelney it being Winter time and the Waters frozen up he sent out his followers to seek for some Fish or Fowle whereby they might sustain Nature so that none were left at home but himself and his Mother for it seems the Queen his Wife was either dead or else lay concealed some where else but the King having to pass away the time taken up a Book and began to read as his custom was when he had nothing else to do a certain poor Man knocked at the door and begged an Alms whereupon the King calling to his Mother desired her to see if there was any thing for him to eat but she told him that there was no more than one Loaf left and this would not be enough for the whole Company when they returned home the King hearing this said no more but let God be blessed for all his gifts then praying his Mother to bestow half of it upon this poor Christian further added that he who had fed 5000 Men with Five Loaves and Two small Fishes could also if he pleased make half a Loaf suffice their necessities whereupon his Mother complying with his desire and the poor Man having got more than he looked for went his way but the King having read till he was tired happened to fall asleep and dreamt that he saw St. Cuthbert formerly Bishop of Lindisfarne coming to him and telling him that he was sent from God to let him know that he was now resolved to put an end to the long and grievous punishments which the English had hitherto suffered for their Sins and that the Alms which he had just now bestowed was so acceptable in his sight that he would restore him to his Kingdom and said as a sign of this his Servants who were then gone out a Fishing thô with very small hopes of catching any thing should return home so loaded that he should look upon it with wonder but that which is more strange his Mother fell also a sleep and dreamed the like Dream at the same time as she told the King her Son when he awaked her but whilest they with great astonishment discoursed of this Miracle his followers returned home bringing Fish enough with them to have served a little Army if there had been occasion But be this Story true or false it is certain that not long after the King received news that Hinguar and Hubba returning out of Wales where having made a great slaughter of the Britains they had past the Winter and being lately landed in Devon-shire with Twenty three Ships there met with some of the King's party by whom their Captain with 1200 Souldiers were slain near the Castle of Kenwith the manner of which was thus Odun Earl of Devon-shire with many others of the King's Subjects upon the arrival of Hubba had fled hither for refuge but when the Danes knew the Castle was but weakly fortified and they within were not provided of things necessary for a Siege they then
yet there might very well have been before that time a publick School or Studium as it was then call'd where the Liberal Arts were taught as for the other Objection of the improbability of the old Scholars falling out with the new Professors in the very first Year of the Institution of the University that is as soon as ever they came thither this may be also answered by supposing that those Annals were written many Years after the Death of King Alfred from a Common received Tradition and so this transaction might have been dated there or Four Years later than it really happened as John Rouse in his Manuscript History of the Kings of England also places it I confess there is one Objection which I wish I could Answer and that is How Gildas and Nennius could study at Oxford when the latter was not so much as Born till about the Conclusion of this or Beginning of the following Century and much less the Former when even by the best Accounts of those Times the Pagan Saxons were then Masters of that part of England Having said thus much concerning the Antiquity of that Famous University to which I owe my Education I shall not trouble my self with enquiry into the Reality of those supposed Ancient Schools of Creeklad and Leacklade which the Monkish writers suppose to have been anciently called Greeklade and Latinelade the latter of which Derivations thô Mr. Camden justly explodes yet he seems to have more Veneration for the former since in the place from whence I have transcribed the above-cited Quotations he also tells us That the Muses were transported to Oxford from Creeklade now a small Town in Wilt-shire All the Authority for which that I know of beside uncertain Tradition depends upon the Credit of a Manuscript lately in the Liberary of Trinity Hall in Cambridge and is cited by Mr. Wheelock in his Notes upon Bede where speaking of Theodorus Arch-Bishop of Canterbury he says That he held or maintained Schools in a Village near the Water which is called Greekislake but Mr. Somner in his Learned Glossary hath given us a much more likely Derivation of this place viz. from the Old Saxon Word Creek signifying a River or Torrent running either into some River or else into the Sea and Gelad which signified an emptying for it was anciently written Crecca Gelade and not Greeklade as some would now write it This Year the Pagans passing under the Bridge of Paris and from thence by the Seine up the River Meterne now called Marne as far as Cazii now Choisy and which Florence says signified a Royal Village where and at Jona a place we know not they staid Two Years also the same Year Deceased Charles the Grosse King of the Franks but Earnwulf his Brother's Son had expell'd him out of his Kingdom six Weeks before his Death after which it was divided into five Parts over whom were set five Kings but this partition was with Earnewulf's good leave for they all promised to Govern under him because none of them was Heir on the Fathers side besides himself alone therefore Earnwulf fixed the Seat of his Kingdom in the Countries lying on the East side of the Rhine whilst Rodâ—lf took the middle or inward part of the Kingdom and Odo or Otto the Western Part and Beorngar and Witha called in Latine Beringarius and Wido held Lombardy and all the Countries on that side the Mountains all which Kingdoms they held with much Discord Fighting two great Battles and wasting those Countries till such time as each of them had expell'd the other from his Kingdom also the same Year Ethelelm the Ealdorman carried the Alms of King Alfred and the West Saxons to Rome This was the Benevolence called Peter Pence which is here justly termed an Alms and not a Tribute as Modern Popish Writers have termed it But to return to our own Domestick Affairs Asser above-mentioned informs us that the Kingdom being now pretty well at quiet from the Danes the King began to mind his Civil Government to repair his Cities and Castles and also to build others in the most necessary places altering the whole face of the Country into a much better form and having walled several Towers and Castles he made them defensible against the Pagans Nor was he less careful in the Political Affairs of his Kingdom for divers of his own Subjects having under the name of Danes committed great Spoils and Rapines these the King resolving to punish and restrain from these Excesses he first of all divided all the Provinces of England into Counties and those again into Hundreds and Tythings so that every Legal Subject should dwell in some Hundred or Tything whereby if any were suspected of Robbery and being thereof Condemned or absolved by his Hundred or Tything they should either undergo due punishment or else if Innocent be acquitted But the Governours of Provinces who were before called Vice Domini and in English Saxon Geriffs he divided into two Offices That is into Judges whom we now call Justices and into Sheriffs who do yet retain that name and by the Kings care and industry in a short time there was so great a Tranquility through out the whole Kingdom that if a Traveller had happen'd to have lost a Bag of Money in the High-way he might have found it again untouched the next day And Bromton's Chronicle relates That thô there were Gold Bracelets hung up at the parting of several High-ways yet Justice was so strictly executed that no Man durst presume to touch them But in the Distribution of his own Family he followed the Example of King Solomon for dividing it into Three Companies or Bands he set a Chief over each of them so that every Captain with his Band performed his Service in the King's Palace for the space of one Month and then going with his Company to his own Estate he looked after his private Affairs for Two Months and so did each of them in their Order which Rotation of Officers this King observed all the rest of his Reign And to this Year also Sir H. Spelman refers that Great Council wherein King Alfred made those Laws that go under his Name in which after a Preface wherein he first recites and confirms the Ten Commandments as also divers other Laws which are set down in Exodus and Leviticus he concludes to this effect That whatsoever he found worthy of Observation either in the time of K. Ina his Kinsman or Offa King of the Mercians or of Ethelbert the first Christened King he had gathered them all together and committed those to writing which he thought most deserving omitting others which he judged less convenient in doing of which he had taken the Advice and had the Consent of his Wise-Men and having revised the Laws of those Princes he transcribed such of them as he liked into his own and by the Consent of the said Wise-men he thereof made a Collection and
there declare their number that they may be ready to produce them to answer any thing that shall be demanded of them in the said Folcmote and if it happen that they bring many strangers on shore that they also certifie this to the King's Officer in that said Assembly that so they may be forth coming Now considering the Times wherein King Alfred lived when there was such flocking of Strangers being Enemies into England this Law was very justly and seasonably made The Thirty First inflicts upon him that shall put a Ceorles's Man that is an ordinary Country-Man without any fault into Bonds viz. A Mulct of Ten Shillings upon him that beats such a one Twenty Shillings if he hang him up a-loft Thirty Shillings if he cut off his Hair to expose him like a Fool Ten Shillings if he shave his Head like a Priest yet bind him not Thirty Shillings and in case he only cut off his Beard Twenty Shillings but if he bind him and shave his Hair like a Priest then Sixty Shillings Which Law was no doubt made to restrain the Tyranny and Insolence of the English Nobility who were wont before that Law too much to domineer over poor Country-Men here called Ceorles-men and therefore it seems highly probable that the Commons of England had then Representatives in the Great Council or else it is not likely the Nobility would ever have lost that Power they then Usurped over them Wherefore I shall leave it to the Indifferent Reader to Consider whether the Common People of England were then such Slaves as some late Writers would fain make them since not only satisfaction was to be made for their Lives but also for the least injury or abuse that might be committed against their Persons The Thirty Fourth Law imposes upon him that shall strike or fight in open Court before the King 's Ealdorman both the value of his own head and such a Fine besides as shall be thought fit and also 120 Shillings to be paid to the Ealdorman by him that by thus drawing his Weapon shall make any disturbance in the Folcmote or County Court if the Ealdorman were not present but the fact was done before his Substitute or the King's Priest then a Were or Amerciament of Thirty Shillings Here by the King's Priest is meant either the King's Chaplain or Bishop I will not determine whether who as we formerly said in those times presided also in the Folcmotes and there dispatched all business relating to the Church The Thirty Fifth ordains What satisfaction shall be made for breach of the Peace in any other place as for Example he that fights in the home-stall of a Country-man shall pay the said Country-man Six Shillings if he drew his Sword but struck not half as much which Penalty also was to be encreased according to the Estate or Quality of him upon whose ground the Assault was made So that if he fought in the House of one worth 600 Shillings he was to pay Three times as much if of one worth 1200 Shillings then the Amends was to be twice as much as the former The Thirty Six Law of Bâ—rhbrice or breach of the Peace in a Town confirms that part of King Ina's Law concerning that matter in imposing upon the Offender for the breach of the Peace in the King's Town or City by setting the Mulct of an Hundred and Twenty Shillings but if it be done in the Arch-Bishop's Town then Ninety Shillings in that of a Bishop or Ealdorman Sixty Shillings in the Town of a Man valued at 1200 Shillings Estate Thirty Shillings but half as much if done in a Village of one worth but half that Sum. From whence we may observe That in those times not only the King and the Great Men such as Bishops and Ealdormen but also Gentlemen of ordinary Estates had Villages or Townships of their own and they themselves received the Mulcts or Penalties imposed for the breach of the Peace within their Precincts which priviledge they lost I suppose after the coming of King William I. The Thirty Seventh is That Law concerning Bocland by vertue whereof he that holds Lands left him by his Ancestors was forbid to alienate it from his Kindred to others in case it could be proved by Writing or Testimony before the King or the Bishop his Kindred being present that the Man who first granted them forbid him all Alienation and laid on him this Condition From the making of this Law Mr. Selden informs us that we may here find an Estate in Fee-Tail much more ancient than the thirteenth Year of Edward the First The 38th Law is concerning Quarrels or deadly Feuds which since it gives a strange Licence for Men to take Satisfaction on their Enemies even without the Presence of any Officer I shall likewise set down First It forbids any Man to attack his Enemy if he find him in his own House except he first demand of him Satisfaction But if he have force enough he may besiege the House for seven days yet he shall not assault him if he will stay within but if he then surrender himself and his Arms into the Defendant's hands he may keep him thirty Days without hurt but then shall leave him so to his Kindred or Friends In case he flie to a Church the Honour of the Church is to be preserved But if the Demandant have not Strength enough to besiege him in his House he may desire the Assistance of the Ealderman which if he cannot obtain he must appeal to the King before he can assault him If any one by chance light upon his Adversary not knowing that he keeps himself at home and he will deliver up his Arms to him he shall keep him safe thirty Days and then deliver him to his Friends But in case he will not deliver up his Arms then he may fight with him but if he be willing to deliver up himself and his Arms to his Enemy and any other Man sets upon him such a Man shall pay the value of his Head if he kills him or give Satisfaction for his Wounds if any be given him according to the Fact besides which he shall be fined and lose all that may fall to him by reason of Kindred From whence you may observe that the nature of that Rough and Martial Age did allow Men a greater Liberty of righting themselves against those that had injured them than was afterwards thought fit to be allowed in more settled and peaceable Times The last of King Alfred's Laws is concerning Wounds and Maims which being very long I shall only give you an Abstract of it It is in short to appoint what Satisfaction in Money any Man shall pay for wounding or maiming another or for cutting off any Member or part of his Body even to the Nail of his little Finger All which was ascertained according to the particular Sums there set down and I shall leave it to wiser Judgments to consider whether
England called Wales where we find in the Chronicle of Caradoc That this Year Anarawd chief King of Wales died leaving behind him two Sons Edwal Ugel i. e. the Bald who Reigned after him and Elise and as some say a third Son named Meyric This Edwal is he whom our Historians stile Idwal Rex omnium Wallensium i. e. Supreme King of all Wales And I shall here likewise subjoyn what Mr. Vaughan in his Notes upon this Chronicle hath also added concerning the Welsh Affairs during the Reign of this Prince thô happening somewhat before this time viz. That after the Death of Roderic the Great the Northern Britains of Straetclwyd and Cumberland were as Hector Boetius and Buchanan relate much infested and weakened with the daily Incursions of the Danes Saxons and Scots which made many of them that is all that would not submit their Necks to that Yoke to quit their Country and seek out more quiet Habitations so that under the Conduct of one Hobert they came to Gwyneth i. e. North Wales in the beginning of Anarawd's Reign who commiserating their distressed Condition gave them the Country from Chester to the River Conwey to inhabit if they could beat out the Saxons who had lately possessed themselves thereof These Britains having returned Thanks to Prince Anarawd as was meet fell upon the Saxons and Necessiry giving edge to their Valour they soon drove them out thence being yet scarce warm in their Seats and Edred or Ethered Earl of Mercia made great Preparations for the regaining of the said Country But the Northern Britains who had settled themselves there having Intelligence thereof for the better securing of their Cattle and Goods removed them over the River Conwey In the mean time Anarawd was not idle but gathering together all the Strength he could make his Army encamped near the Town of Conwey at a place called Cymryt where his Men making a gallant Resistance against the Assaults of the Saxon Forces at length after a bloody Fight obtained a compleat Victory over them This Battle was called Gwaeth Cymryt Conwey because it was fought in the Township of Cymryt hard by Conwey but Anarawd called it Dial Rodri because he had there revenged the Death of his Father Rodri. In this Battle Tudwal the Son of Rodri Mawr received a Hurt in the Knee which made him be called Tudwall Gloff or The Lame ever after His Brethren to reward his Valour and Service gave him the Lands of Unchellogoed Gwynned and then the Britains pursuing their Victory chased the Saxons quite out of Wales into Mercia where having burnt and destroyed the Borders they returned home laden with rich Spoils And Anarawd to express his Thankfulness to GOD for this great Victory gave Lands and Possessions to the Church of Bangor as the Records of that See do testifie and likewise to the Collegiate Church of Clynnoc in Arvon as we read in the Extent of North Wales After this the Northern Britains came back from beyond the River Conwey and possessed again the Lands assigned to them between Conwey and Chester which for a long time after they peaceably enjoyed Some English Writers as Mat. Westminster c. not considering that the Britains had Lands in Loegria and Albania after King Cadwalader's time mistake those of Cumberland and Straetclwyd for the Britains of Wales but Asser Menev. who lived about the year 875 saith That Halden the Dane marched into Northumberland which he subdued having before conquered the Picts and Britains of Straetclwyd in Northumberland I have given you this Relation at length because it is not found in any of our Historians and it â—ets us see that the English as well as the Wâ—lsh have been very sparing to record their own Defeats But to return again to our History About this time according to the Copy of a Charter of King Edward extant in an old Manuscript belonging to Clare Hall in Cambridge He by the Command of Pope John and Arch-Bishop Plegmund and by the Advice of all the Bishops and Chief Men of his Kingdom confirmed to the Doctors and Scholars of Cambridge as also to their Servants all Priviledges which had been granted by himself or his Predecessours for ever to endure by a perpetual Right This Charter bears Date at Grantecester i. e. Cambridge in the Year 915 and is directed to Frithestan then Chancellor and Doctor But if Sir John Spelman thought he had Reason to suspect the Truth of that Passage we have cited out of Asser's History of the Life of King Alfred concerning the Studium or School at Oxford before King Alfred's time our Antiquaries may have as much if not more Reason to question the Truth of this Charter since the Original of it is not to be found but only this Transcript in the Book above cited for they say it looks very improbable that Cambridge should have continued an University during all the time of the Danish Wars and under the Possession of those three Danish Kings the last of whom enjoyned it till the latter end of this King's Reign as appears by our present History And besides all this the barbarous and pedantic Latine at the Conclusion of this Charter where the King is made to confirm it in these Words Stabili jure grata rata decerno durare quamdiu vertigo Poli circa terras atque Aequora Aethera Syderum justo moderamine volvet Which seems to betray the ignorant Monk's Pen that counterfeited it but John Rouse in his Manuscript History De Regibus Angliae cited by Bale relates from an ancient Table and Chronicle of the Abbey of Hyde near Winchester which himself by the Favour of the Abbot had perused the Restoration of the University of Cambridge by King Edward as follows Therefore for the Augmenration of Clerk-like Learning as his Father had done to Oxford so he again raised up Cambridge to her first Glory which for a long time with other general Schools had lain desolate and destroyed as also like a most loving Nourisher of Scholars he commanded that Halls for Students Chairs and Seats of Doctors and Masters should there be erected and built at his own proper Charges for he sent from Oxford University which his Noble Father the King had founded Masters of those Arts which we call Liberal together with Doctors in Divinity and invited them there formally to Read and Teach But since the Author here cited is but of modern Times in comparison to this famous University and also that Passage he hath cited out of the Annals of Hyde is not now to be found in the Copies we have of them I shall give the Reader a much more ancient Testimony out of Tho. Rudborn's larger History of the Church of Winchester where he cites an Epistle of one Bonagratia de Villa Dei to the Black Monks of England wherein there is this Passage which I shall here Translate viz. That whilst he was banished from his Country into
Huntington agrees tho he places it a year sooner relating That then the Northumbers being weary of the Government of this Eric did as easily cast him off as they had before lightly received him and calling in Edred they again placed him on the Throne though this does not accord with William of Malmesbury his Account that King Edred expell'd Eric by force and wasted all that Kingdom with fire and sword After which the Northumbrians being wholly subdued were no more governed by Kings but Earls a Catalogue of which Roger Hoveden hath there given us as far as the Conquest King Edred having been as Malmesbury informs us long tormented with frequent Convulsions in several parts of his Body being admonished by Archbishop Dunstan of his approaching death did not only bear that affliction with Patience but spending his time in acts of Devotion made his Palace a School of all Vertues and being at length consumed by a tedious long sickness he according to the Annals departed this life at the Feast of St. Clement in the very flower of his Age to the great grief of all his Subjects after having Reigned Nine Years and an half But the Manuscript life of St. Dunstan already cited is much more particular as to the Disease he died of viz. that not being able to swallow his Meat he could only eat Broth so that being wasted away he died This Relation of King Edred's not being able to swallow his Meat gave occasion to John of Wallingford absurdly to tell us in his Chronicle not long since Printed that King Edred having his Teeth fallen out by reason of Old Age could not Chew his Meat and the Broths they made for him were not sufficient to keep him alive and so he died of Hunger But this is altogether as true as the story that follows not only in this Author but in most other Monkish Writers of the History of those times from the Relation of the above-cited Author of St. Dunstan's Life that St. Dunstan hearing how dangerously Ill the King was and making haste to Visit him before he died as he rode on the way thither there came a Voice from Heaven which cried aloud to him King Edred is now dead at which all present being astonished the poor Horse upon which St. Dunstan was then Mounted immediately fell down dead But William of Malmesbury though he mentions this story of the Voice yet is so wise as to pass by the death of the Horse being sensible it was a Pill too large to be easily swallowed As for the Character of this King the Monkish Writers of those times give him that of a most Vertuous and Pious Prince and as to his Valour William of Malmesbury saith he was not inferior in Magnanimity to either of his Brothers he was also the first King of England who as I can find stiled himself Rex Magnae Britanniae King of Great Britain in a Charter to the Abbey of Croyland recited by Ingulphus as also in another Charter to the Abbey of Reculver in Monast. Anglic. he stiles himself Totius Albionis Monarchus i. e. Monarch of all England In which Stile he was also followed by his Nephew King Edgar from whence we may observe That King James was not the first who took upon him the Title of King of Great Britain though as being also King of Scotland he did much better deserve it than the former But as for King Edred he could not fail of the good will of the Monks since the same Manuscript Author of St. Dunstan's Life relates That he put such great confidence in that Holy Abbot that he committed the chief Muniments and Treasures of his Kingdom to his Care to be kept at his Abby of Glastenbury and that as the King lay on his Death-bed St. Dunstan was then carrying them back to him to be disposed of as he should think fit but he just before received the News of his death as you have already heard Nor did this King die without Issue as many believe for Mr. Speed proves the contrary from certain ancient Charters Cited by him at the end of this King's Life wherein you will find that his Two Sons Elfrid and Bertfrid were Witnesses to them tho they did not Succeed their Father but Edwi Son to his Elder Brother Edmund King EDWI IMmediately after King Edmund's decease our Annals tell us Edwig Son to the late King Edmund and Elgiva began his Reign and he banisht St. Dunstan out of England This King as all our Historians agree was crowned at Kingston by Odo Archbishop of Canterbury but William of Malmesbury gives us the cause of this Disgrace of St. Dunstan to this effect That this King being a Youth of great Beauty and amorous above his years was mightily in love with a young Lady his near Kinswoman whom he fain would have married but the Bishops and Nobles of his Kingdom were utterly averse to it not only because of the nearness of their Relation but because she had none of the best Reputation as to her Chastity But though William of Malmesbury gives us all the rest of this Story yet I shall rather chuse to take it from the Manusâ—ript Life of St. Dunstan who lived about the same time and out of which that Author borrowed it and it is thus That on the very day that by the common Election of all the chief Men of England Edwig was anointed King after the Coronation-Dinner was over he and the chief Bishops and Nobility being retired into a private Room there treating of the Great Affairs of the Kingdom the King perhaps at that Critical Juncture being weary of their company stole into the Apartment of this Beautiful Lady to enjoy some pleasurable moments with her which the Nobility hearing of they highly resented it but none would adventure to bring him back only Abbot Dunstan and a Bishop whose Name was Cynesius the King's Cousin went boldly into the Chamber where they found him with his Crown off his head lying between the Mother of this Lady and her Daughter upon which they not only reproved him but putting on his Crown again and taking him by the hand they pulled him away from them and carried him back by force into the Room where his Nobles were but Athelgiva for it seems so was this Lady sometimes called being highly provoked at this Affront did not fail to exasperate the King against Dunstan so that in revenge he banished him the Kingdom who thereupon as R. Hoveden relates retired to a Monastery in Flanders Nor did the King's Resentments stop here but out of hatred to Dunstan he not only turned the Monks out of Glastenbury but out of divers of the greatest Monasteries in England where also as William of Malmesbury words it his own Abbey was turned into a Stable for Clerks that is Secular Chanons were put in their places not only there but in all other Abbeys where the Monks were expelled
these Princes that here met him from William of Malmesbury Florence of Worcester and other Authors who increase their Number to Eight Thousand which being so glorious for our Nation I shall here set down at large This King was the first who was truly Lord of our Seas for every Summer saith William of Malmesbury immediately after Easter commanding his Ships from every Shore to be brought into one collected Body he sailed usually with the Eastern Fleet to the Western part of the Island and then sending it back sailed with the Western Fleet unto the Northern and thence with the Northern he returned to the Eastern Coasts sailing in this manner quite round the Island being exceeding diligent to prevent the Incursions of Pyrates and couragious in the defence of his Kingdom against Foreigners and diligent in the training up of himself and his People for Military Employments Each of these Fleets as we are told consisted of One thousand and two hundred Ships and these also very stout ones for those times So that the number of all must have amounted to Three thousand and six hundred Sail as some of our Author expresly relate but others Four thousand Vessels and there are some also that add to these Three a Fourth Fleet by which means the Number will be increased to Four thousand and eight hundred Sail as may be seen in Mathew Westminster To sustain which Charge besides the private Contributions of his Subjects he had also in the latter end of his Reign Six Petty Kings under him who were bound by Oath to be ready at his Command to serve him both by Sea and Land which Oath they took at Chester as the Annals relate where he had given them order to meet him as he sailed about the North of Britain with a great Navy Their Names are Kened or Kineth King of the Scots Malcolm King of Cumberland who at this time it seems were so called though as we said the Cumbrians had now thrown off that Title and taken that of Earls Maccuse Lord of the Isles with five Princes of Wales the Names of whom were Dusnal Griffyth Huuald Jacob and Judethil who all meeting him at his Court at Chester to set forth the Splendor and Greatness of his Dominion one day he went into a Galley and caused himself to be rowed by these Petty Princes he himself holding the Stern and steering the Vessel along the River Dee was waited on by all his Nobles in another Barge so he sailed to the Monastery of St. John Baptist where an Oration being made to him in the same State and Pomp he retutned to his Palace Where when he arrived he is said to have told his Nobles about him That then his Successors might boast themselves to be truly Kings of England when they should be like him attended by so many Princes his Vassals as Florence of Worcester and William of Malmesbury relate it As for these Petty Kings above-mentioned Maccuse by the said Florence Matthew of Westminster and R. Hoveden is called a King of Man and many other Islands but William of Malmesbury stiles him an Arch-pirate by which word a Robber is not to be understood but as Asser and others of that Age use that Appellation one skilled in Sea Affairs or a Seaman so called from Pira which in the Attique Tongue signifies a Craft or Art but afterward it came to be applicable only to such as without any Right infested the Seas Another of the Kings and that of Wales was Huual or Hewal who tho he be not placed the first in order yet if we follow the account of some Authors must have been the chief of them all the Prince to whom all the rest performed Obedience The Book of Landaff bids us take notice that at the same time with Edgar lived Howel Dha and Morgan Heu which two yet were the Subjects of King Edgar But in this either that Author or the Chronicle of Caradoc must be mistaken who places the Death of Howel Dha under the year 948 And therefore it is more likely that the Howel here mentioned was not Howel Dha but Howel the Son of Jevaf who had the year before expell'd his Uncle and taken upon himself the Principality of Wales notwithstanding his Father was then alive But as for all the rest of these Welsh Princes I do not know how to make them out from their Chronicles which give no account of this Action only I take Dufnal to be the Son of Howel Dha and as Matthew of Westminster says was then Prince of South-Wales As for Jacob and Judethel I suppose they must have been the same with Jevaf and Jago as they are called in the Welsh Chronicles But as for this Prince Gryffith I can find none such among any of the Welsh Princes ruling at that time But to return to our Annals This year Eadgar King of the English changed this frail Life for another more Glorious on the 18 th day of July But his Body was buried with great Solemnity at the Abby of Glastenbury to which he himself had been a great Benefactor as appears by his Charter recited at large by William of Malmesbury in his Treatise of the Antiquity of that Monastery in which Charter he also stiles himself Totius Britanniae Basileus i. e. King of all Britain But since our Historians are so very large and full in their Commendations of his Prince as that he was most Religious Valiant and Wise and exceeded all his Predecessors except King Alfred and King Athelstan it will not I hope be amiss to shew you how partial these Monks were to the Memory of this Prince who though they will needs have to be a Saint because the either built or repaired so many Monasteries yet was certainly if the same Monkish Writers are to be believed guilty of as great Excesses of Lust and Cruelty as any of his Predecessors for William of Malmesbury tells us that Ordgar Duke of Devonshire had a Daughter named Elfreda fam'd for an extraordinary Beauty which caus'd the King to have great Inclinations for her upon the bare Report made of her to him but to be more certain he sent a Knight called Athelwold his Confident to see her resolving to marry her if she were found to be handsome as she was reported Athelwold made haste and got a sight of her wherewith he was so smitten that he concealed the Errand on which he came and resolved to obtain her for himself which being easily done he lessened her to the King as a Woman but very ordinary and of so small a Stature as would misbecome his Royal Bed so that he married her with the King's consent whose Thoughts were now diverted to other Objects But at last the Earl's Enemies discovered the Intrigue and told the King how he had deceived him and whom the more to enrage they omitted no words whereby to set out and enhance the extraordinary Beauty of the Lady Upon which
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
since this Story transacted not many years before the Conquest is told so many several ways This year according to our Annals Aelgiva the Widow of King Cnute and Mother of King Hardecnute and King Edward was banished but going over to Baldwin Earl of Flanders he assign'd her Bricge i. e. Bruges for her Retirement where he protected her and provided for her as long as she staid there But the Reader is to take notice that this Queen who is here called Aelgiva in the English-Saxon is the same with Emma in the Norman-French Dialect and who was now banished England by King Harold as all Writers agree But the reason why this Queen did not retire into Normandy her own Countrey was that her Father and Brother were both dead and though William her Nephew then succeeded in the Dukedom yet he was but an Infant under the Tutelage of the King of France This year also produced a great Revolution in Wales for Griffyth ap Lewelyn ap Sitsylt sometimes Prince of Wales raised a great Army against Prince Jago who now enjoyed the Principality of North-Wales as you have already heard and Jago also provided for himself as well as he could but the greater part and the better Soldiers were of Griffyth's side for the love they bore to his Father as plainly appeared when it came to a trial for after the Battel was joined Jago his Soldiers deserting him was soon overthrown and slain and then Griffyth reigned in his stead From whence we may observe the strange fickleness of the Welsh Nation in those times who notwithstanding their seeming Affection to this Prince the Right Heir yet left him as soon as ever they met with one of the same Race whom they liked better From which evil custom these Countries were never long without Civil Wars till the total Conquest of them by the English But Griffyth ap Lewelyn after he had thus slain Prince Jago governed North-Wales very well following his Father's steps and in the very first year of his Government he fought with the Englishmen and Danes at Crosford upon Severne and from thence he led his Army to Lhanpadarn vawr in Caerdiganshire and destroyed that place and thence passing into South-Wales totally subdued it Howel ap Edwin at that time Prince thereof being forced to fly his Countrey and when he had thus reduced South-Wales he returned home again with Honour But the next year Howel Prince of South-Wales as the English as well as Welsh Chronicles relate having now procured Edwin the Brother of Leofric Earl of Mercia to assist him marched with a great Army of English and Danes against Prince Griffyth who meeting them in the field overcame them and slew Edwin at Pencadair and pursued Howel so closely that though he escaped himself yet his Wife was taken Prisoner whom Griffyth like so well that he kept her for his Mistress But though Howel after this made several Attempts to regain his Countrey yet he could never succeed for that Prince Griffyth held it all his time But the Cottonian Chronicle relates that fighting afterwards with Griffyth at a place called Paldiwach he obtained the Victory and again made himself Prince of South-Wales But this I leave to the Reader 's Judgment To return again to our Annals Ethelnoth Archbishop of Canterbury deceased and a little after Ethelric Bishop of the South-Saxons and also a little before Christmas Bryteh Bishop of Worcester and a little after Aelfric Bishop of the East Angles Then Aeadsige was made Archbishop and Grymkytel Bishop of the South-Saxons and Living succeeded in the Bishopricks of Worcester and Gloucester This year King Harold deceased at Oxnaford 16. Kal. April and was buried at Westminster He governed England Four Years and Sixteen Weeks But there is certainly an Error in this Copy of the Annals for either he deceased not till the next year as the Cambridge Copy and Mat. Westminster place it or else he could reign but Three Years and perhaps so many odd Weeks as these Annals mention In his time was again paid a great Tax for the setting out Sixteen Sail to wit Eight Marks to every Rower which shews it consisted of only Gallies and not Ships and as Florence also adds Twelve Marks more to every Master which he order'd to be rais'd through all England as was before done in the Reign of King Cnute But it seems every Port was bound to pay such a proportion to set out these Sixteen Sail as H. Huntington relates whereby nevertheless he so much incensed the minds of the English against him that the Welsh perceiving it or else for some other reason began to be very unruly insomuch that some Insurrections happened thereupon wherein many of the English Nobility were slain as Edwin Brother to Earl Leofric Turketil and Algeat the Sons of Effi both of them Great Persons and several others And to this time I suppose we may refer what Caradoc in his Welsh Chronicle relates That Griffyth ap Lewelyn Prince of North-Wales in the first year of his Reign fought with the English and Danes at Crossford upon Severne and put them to flight and from thence he led his Army to Lhanpadan vawr in Caerdiganshire and destroyed the place utterly and from thence passed all over South-Wales receiving the people into his subjection for Howel ap Edwin their King fled before him and forsook the Land As for the Character of this King Harold and the reason why he was called Harefoot they are very uncertain H. Knighton in his Chronicle writes very oddly That he had a Body like a Hare sure he means hairy like that Creature and from thence was called Harefoot which is very improbable But others with more appearance of truth derive it from his Swiftness of Foot Bromton gives him this Character That in all respects he degenerated from the Worth of his Father King Cnute insomuch that divers suspected him not to have been his Son for he was altogether careless both as to matters of War and Peace only he would pursue his own Will and Pleasure and what was very unbecoming his Royal Estate chusing rather to go on foot than ride whence for the lightness and swiftness of his Feet he seems to have been called Harefoot As for his Laws we have only this one mentioned by Mr. Selden in his Janus Anglorum which was That whatever Welshman coming into England without leave was taken on this side Offa's Ditch should have his Right Hand cut off by the King's Officers King HARDECNUTE KING Harold dying thus suddenly the Chief Men of England with whom also the Londoners now joined sent Messengers to Hardecnute who was then at Bruges with his Mother intreating him to come and receive the Crown whereupon he hasted into Denmark there to settle his Affairs which when he had done with Forty or as some say Sixty Ships well mann'd with Danish Soldiers according to our Annals he arrived at Sandwich seven days before
at Byferstane i. e. Beverston in Gloucestershire together with a great many in their Retinue to attend on the King their Natural Lord and all the Chief and Wise Men that waited on him whereby they might have the King's Consent and Assistance as also that of his Great Council to revenge the Affront and Dishonour which had been lately done to the King and the whole Nation But the Welshmen getting first to the King highly accused the Earls insomuch that they durst not appear in his presence for they said they only came thither to betray him But then there came to the King the Earls Syward and Leofric with many others from the North parts being as William of Malmesbury relates almost all the Nobility of England who had been summoned by the King to come thither But whilst according to our Annals it was told Earl Godwin and his Sons that the King and those that were with him were taking Counsel against them they on the other side stood resolutely on their own defence though it seem'd an hard thing for them to act any thing against their Natural Lord. But William of Malmesbury adds farther That Earl Godwin commanded those of his Party not to fight against the King yet if they were set upon that they should defend themselves so that there had then like to have happen'd a Cruel Civil War if calmer Counsels had not prevailed By this you may see the great Power of Earl Godwin and his Sons who could thus withstand the King and all the Nobility that were with him But to proceed with our Annals Then it was agreed by the chief men on both sides that they should desist from any further violence and thereupon the King gave them God's Peace and his own Word After this the King and his Great Men about him resolved a second time to summon a Witena Gemot or Great Council at London at the beginning of September He also commanded an Army to be raised as great as ever had been seen in England both from the North and South side of Thames When this Council met Earl Sweyn was declared outlaw'd and Earl Godwin and Earl Harold were cited to appear at the Council with all speed As soon as they were come there they desired Peace i. e. Security and also Pledges to be given them whereby they might have safe ingress and regress to and from the Council But the King required all the Earl's Servants to deliver them up into his hands after which the King sent to them commanding them to come with Twelve men to the Great Council but the Earl again demanded Securities and Pledges to be given him and then he promised to clear himself from all Crimes laid to his charge But the Pledges were still denied him and there was only granted him a five days Peace or Truce in which he might depart the Land Then Earl Godwin and Earl Sweyn his Son went to Bosenham in Sussex and their Ships being brought out of the Harbour they sail'd beyond the Seas and sought the Protection of Earl Baldwin staying with him all that Winter but Earl Harold sailed Eastward into Ireland and there took up his Residence under that King's Protection Soon after this the King sent away his Wife who had been crown'd Queen and suffer'd all her Money Lands and Goods to be taken from her and then committed her to the Custody of his Sister at the Nunnery of Werwell But note that Florence of Worcester places this Quarrel with Earl Godwin and his Sons three years later viz. under Anno 1051 and farther adds That the reason why Earl Godwin fled thus privately away was that his Army had forsook him so that he durst not plead the matter with the King but fled away the night following with his five Sons carrying away all their Treasure with them into Flanders This is the Relation which Florence and the Printed Copy of these Annals give us of this great difference between the King and Earl Godwin and his two Sons in the carriage of which both Parties are to be blamed the King in yielding so easy an ear to the false Accusations brought against them and they in refusing to stand to the Determination of the Great Council of the Kingdom without Pledges first given them by the King which is more than any Subject ought to require from his Prince But certainly the King shewed himself a very Weak Man in being persuaded to deal thus severely with his Innocent Queen for the Faults of her Father and Brothers which it was not in her power to help But to conclude the Affairs of this unhappy year our Annals proceed to tell us That About the same time the Abbot Sparhafoc was deposed from the Bishoprick of London and William the King's Chaplain ordained to that See Also Earl Odda was appointed Governor of Defenascire Somersetscire and Dorsetscire and of all the Welsh and the Earldom which Earl Harold lately held was given to Aelfgar the Son of Earl Leofric About this time the Bishoprick of Credington in Cornwal was as we find in the Monasticon at the Request of Pope Leo removed from thence to Exeter where the Monastery of St. Peter and St. Paul was made a Bishop's See the Monks being removed from thence to Westminster and Secular Chanons placed in their stead Which shews that the humour of Monkery did not so much prevail now as in the days of King Edgar And this year Leofric Bishop of that Diocess was enthron'd at Exeter after a solemn Procession where the Bishop walked to Church between King Edward and Queen Editha his Wife This year according to Florence of Worcester the King released the Nation from that cruel Burthen of Danegelt under which it had for so many years groaned but I will not pass my word for the truth of the occasion why he did it though related by Ingulph viz. That King Edward going into his Treasury where this Tax had been laid up saw the Devil capering and dancing upon the Money-bags which it seems no body else could see but himself at which he was so concerned that he ordered all the Money to be restored to the right Owners and forbad its being gathered any more Not long after according to the same Author William Duke of Normandy the King's Cousin coming over into England was honourably received here and had Noble Presents made him and as some relate too that King Edward promised to make him his Successor in the Kingdom This year also according to Florence of Worcester Alfric Archbishop of York deceased and Kinsing the King's Chaplain succeeded him This year deceased Aelgiva alias Ymma the Mother of King Eadward and King Hardecnute She hath a various Character given her by our Historians William of Malmesbury represents her to be very Covetous and Unkind to her first Husbands Children which seems to have been true enough But then she was very Devout and had a great Respect for
the Bishops and Monks from whom she was sure to have their good word yet however she did not escape Scandal for she had several Enemies that incensed the King against her but especially Archbishop Robert the Norman who had accused her some years before her death of being too familiar with Alwin Bishop of Winchester Whereupon she was sent to the Abby of Werewell having first of all her Goods taken from her whilst the Bishop was committed to Prison Archbishop Robert crying out That such Villany ought not to go unpunished for fear it should be an encouragement for others to do the like but she not being kept very strictly wrote to all the Bishops of England whom she knew to be her Friends professing that she was more troubled at the Disgrace offered to the Bishop than that which was done to her self and that she was ready to clear his Innocency by the Fire Ordeal Upon this the Bishops met and had easily prevailed with the King to put up the business had not Archbishop Robert stifly opposed them demanding of his Brethren How they could have the confidence to take upon them the Defence of that Beast rather than Woman meaning the Queen Mother who had so detracted from the King her Son and yet had called her Paramour The Anointed of the Lord But said he this Woman will purge the Bishop but who shall purge her that consented to the Death of her Son Alfred and prepared Poyson for his Brother now King Edward But if she desires to be acquitted let her accept of her own Proposal and walk barefoot over Nine Red-hot Plowshares four for her self and five for the Bishop and then if she escape untouch'd let her pass for Innocent Upon this the Day for Trial was appointed and she having the night before at his Shrine earnestly invoked the Assistance of St. Swithin she came to the place where the King and all the Bishops except Robert were present and there passed unhurt over all the Red-hot Plowshares to the great Joy and Wonder both of her self and all the Spectators especially of the King her Son that she had so well cleared her self then he was very sorry that he had been so credulous as to admit those Calumnies against his own Mother whose Pardon he now begged as also the Bishops and as divers of the Monkish Writers relate received Penance from them on his bare back Queen Emma for this signal Deliverance gave to St. Swithin Nine Mannors and the Bishop of Winchester as many the Innocency of them both being hereby absolutely cleared Moreover the King is said to have bestowed on the Church of Winchester the whole Isle of Portland and other Possessions The substance of this Story is both delivered by John Bromton and Henry de Knighton but Dr. Harpesfield hath embellished it with divers other trivial Circumstances whilst our more Ancient Authors as Malmesbury and others say nothing of it But methinks that which follows spoils all the rest viz. That Archbishop Robert whom some will have Bishop and others Archbishop at this time thereupon fled out of the Land whereas indeed he continued here much longer and fled out of England upon another occasion as we shall shew hereafter But to return again to our Annals The same year it was also decreed by the King and his Chief Men That Ships should be sent to Sandwich and that Earl Rolfe and Earl Odda should command them in the mean time Earl Godwin departed from Brycge with his Ships to Ysera a place we know not and then landing the next day but one to Midsummer-Eve he came to the Head or Point lying on the South side of Rumenea now Rumney in Kent which when it was told the Earls at Sandwic they immediately sail'd out in pursuit of him and also commanded the Land-Forces to be in a readiness to join them But is seems Earl Godwin had timely notice of it and so he fell back to Pevensea i. e. Pensey in Sussex and then so violent a Tempest arose that the Earls could not inform themselves which way Godwin was gone but afterwards he returned and came to Brycge and the King's Ships went to Sandwic and from thence they were order'd back to London and other Captains to command them but the matter was so long delay'd that all the Seamen left their Ships and returned to their own homes As soon as Earl Godwin heard this he set out his Fleet again to Sea and sail'd directly Westward to the Isle of Wight where his men going ashore plundered so long till at last the people would give them what Contributions soever they demanded Then they sail'd further Westward till they came to the Isle of Portland and there going again on shore they did all the damage they could to the Inhabitants In the mean time Harold return'd from Ireland with Nine Ships and landed at Portloc Bay in Somersetshire where much people were got together against him but he not being at all afraid of them marched out to seek Provisions and there killed all before him taking Men Cattel and Money whatsoever he met with From thence he sail'd Eastward towards his Father whom having met they went together to the Isle of Wight and there plunder'd whatsoever was left and thence coasted to Pevensea where they took all the Ships that were in that Harbour afterwards they went to the Naesse Point and carried away all the Ships that were in Rumenea Hythe and Folcestane now Folcston in Kent Thence they sail'd Eastward again to Dofra and going on shore took there as many Ships and Hostages as they could and then went to Sandwic where also they did the like so that they had Hostages and Provisions given them where ever they came as much as they required then again they sail'd to Northmuthe supposed to be that which we call now the Buoy in the Nore and thence up towards London they also sent some Ships to Scepige and there did a great deal of mischief then they turn'd to Middle-tune a Town of the King's in Essex and burnt it down to the ground and afterwards the Earls went towards London but when they came thither they found the King with all his Great Men ready to receive them with Fifty Sail. Then the outlaw'd Earls sent to the King beseeching him that they might be restor'd to their Estates of which they had been unjustly deprived but for a long time the King would not hearken to them by any means till at last the men who were with the Earl were so enraged against him and his people that the Earl had much a-do to appease them Then were assembled by God's assistance Bishop Stigand and other Prudent Men as well within the City as without and there they agreed upon a Peace to be made Hostages being first given on both sides which when Archbishop Rodbert and the other Frenchmen understood they took Horse and fled some Westward to Pentecost's Castle but where it was we
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
well as on the Holidays themselves as also in Parishes when the Feast of the Saint to whom the Church is dedicated is kept so that if any one come devoutly to the Celebration thereof he was to have security in going staying and returning home and besides in many other cases too long here to set down From whence we may observe the Antiquity of those Parish Feasts called in several parts of England Wakes The fourth appoints That where ever the King's Justice or any other Person shall hold Civil Pleas if the King's Deputy or Attorney comes thither to open any Cause concerning Holy Church that shall be first determined for it is just God be served before all others The fifth ordains That whosoever holds any thing of the Church or hath his Mansion on the Church's Land he or they shall not be compell'd to plead out of the Ecclesiastical Courts for Contumacy or otherwise nay though he forfeit unless Justice be wanting in those Courts which says the Law God forbid By which all the Tenants of the Church were exempted from pleading or appearing at the King's Courts which though a strange and unreasonable Privilege yet it seems it continued in the time of William the First The sixth confirms the Laws of Sanctuaries ordaining That no man shall be taken out of any Church to which he hath fled for any offence unless it be by the Bishop or his Officers The like Privilege is also allowed to the Priest's House provided it stand upon the Ground of the Church but if a Thief went out of the Sanctuary to rob he was to forfeit that Privilege The seventh leaves those to the Justice of the Bishop who violate the Peace of Holy Church and if any Offender shall despise his Sentence either by flying or contemning it and Complaint thereof be made to the King after forty days he shall give Pledges to reconcile himself to God the King and the Church and if he cannot be found he shall be outlaw'd and if then he be found and can be laid hold on he shall be delivered up to the King if he defends himself he shall be slain For from the day of his Outlawry he is said in English to have Wulfsheofod i.e. a Wolfs-head or as we now commonly say in Latin gerere Caput Lupinum This is the common Law of all Outlaws The eighth and ninth appoint what things small Tythes should be paid out of and recites that they had been granted long before a Rege Baronibus Popâ—lo that is by the King the Barons and the People And though the word Barons was not commonly used till the time of King William the First when these Laws were drawn up in the form we now have them upon an Inquisition granted to the Ancient and Wise Men of all the Counties in England as Rog. Hoveden informs us yet is this but a Recital of the Ancient Law of Tythes in the Dialect of those times when the word Baron came to be used instead of Thane The tenth appoints after what manner the Ordeal or Judgment by Fire or Water should be executed by the Bishop's Officer and the King's Justice upon those that deserved it From which you may observe that this Law of Ordeal was in force some time after the coming in of the Normans This Law also ordains in what Cases and over what Persons the Courts Baron should have Jurisdiction but it being somewhat large I refer you to it The Eleventh again reinforces the payment of Romescot or Peter-pence which iâ— denied the King's Justice shall compel the payment because it is the King 's Alms. From whence we may observe how much those Romish Writers are mistaken who will needs make these Peter-pence to have been a Tribute from the Kings of England to the Pope The twelfth shews what Danegelt was and on what occasion it was first imposed That the payment of Danegelt was first ordained because of the frequent Invasions of the Danish Pyrates to repress which there was Twelvepence imposed upon every Hide of Land throughout England to be paid yearly Which also shews us about what time these Laws were collected into the form we now have them by this Clause viz. That the Church was excused from this payment until the time of William Rufus who as is here recited asking an Aid of his Barons for the obtaining Normandy from his Brother then going to Jerusalem there was granted to him not by any standing Law but only for the present necessity Four Shillings upon every Hide of Land the Church not excepted The thirteenth sets forth That the Peace of the King is manifold as sometimes it is given by his own hand which the English call Cyninges honde sealde gryth This Protection was granted not only to Persons but Places also by way of Privilege as likewise to Churches or Churhmen within their own Walls as appears by the League betwixt King Edward and Guthrum in which it is termed Cyninges honde gryth Another sort of Peace was on the Coronation-day which lasted eight days that at Christmass which held also eight days and so on the Feast of Easter and Whitsuntide Another sort was given by his Brief or Letters and another there was belonging to the Four great Highways viz. Watlingstreet Foss Hickenildstreet and Ermingstreet whereof two are extended to the Length and two to the Breadth of the Kingdom Another still there was belonging to the Rivers of Note which conveyed Provisions to Towns and Cities From whence it appears that this Peace of the King was a Priâ—ilege or Exemption granted to Persons not to be sued or answer at Law in any Action â—rought against them during certain solemn and stated Times and in certain of the most famous and frequented Highways of the Kingdom The fourteenth declares That all Treasure prove should be the King 's unless it were found in a Church or Church-yard in which case if it were Gold it was all the King 's but if Silver one half was to go to him and another to the Church The fifteenth treateth of Murther and declares if any one was murthered the Murtherer should be enquired after in the Village or Town where the Body was found and if he was discovered to be delivered up to the King's Justice within eight days after the Fact committed and in case he could not be found a month and a day was allowed for search after him within which term if he could not be seiz'd on forty six Marks were to be collected out of that Town and if it was not able to pay so much then the Hundred was liable to make it good And forasmuch as this Payment could not be made in the Towns and great inconveniences arose the Barons i.e. the Freeholders of the County took care that six and forty Marks should be paid out of the Hundred which being seal'd up with the Seal of some one Baron of the County they were to be sent to the Treasurer and by
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-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
and Decisive Battel which yet is very imperfect since no Historians that I know of either English or Normans have given us the Number of the Armies on both sides or how many were slain perhaps because both had a mind to conceal what they thought did not make for their Credit Only it is acknowledged on all hands that they were so many on the Normans side as well as the English that nothing but the over-ruling Providence of God by the Death of their King could have given it away from them to their Enemies In this Battel King Harold and his two Brothers Gyrth and Leofwin with most of the English Nobility were slain and an Ancient Manuscript in the Cottonian Library farther relates That the King's Body was hard to be certainly known by reason of its being so much disfigured by Wounds yet was at last discovered by one who had been formerly his Mistress and that by the means of certain private Marks known only to her self and being taken up and wash'd by two of the Chanons of Waltham which Monastery he had founded was ordered by Duke William to be delivered to his Mother and that without any Ransom though she would have given a considerable Sum for it but it was not long after buried in the Abby-Church of Waltham Yet notwithstanding Henry de Knyghton from Giraldus Cambrensis gives a quite different account what became of this Prince for he says that he was not slain in this Battel but retiring privately out of it lived and died an Anchoret in a Cell near St. John's Church in Chester as was owned by himself at his last Confession when he lay a dying and farther that in memory thereof they shewed his Tomb when that Author wrote But the concurrent Testimony of so many English Writers concerning his being slain and buried at Waltham is certainly to be preferred before one single Evidence not but that it might be true that somebody might thus personate Harold and have his Tomb afterwards shewn as his But where or however he died he was certainly a Prince of a Noble Presence and of as Great a Mind and had he not by a preposterous Ambition of gaining a Kingdom to which he had no Right as well as by a Notorious Violation of his Solemn Oath given Duke William a just Occasion of making War upon him wherein he not only lost his own Life but also was the occasion of the Ruin of so many of his Countreymen he might have had as great a Character in History as any Prince of his time He had two Wives the first he buried long before he was King but none of our Writers mention her Name His second was Algithe Widow of Griffyth ap Lhewelyn King of North-Wales Sister of Edwi and Morchar Earls of Yorkshire and Chester By the former it is recorded that he had Children then of such an Age that they waged War against K. William in the second year of his Reign The first was Godwin who with his Brother Edmund after his Father's Death and Overthrow fled into Ireland but returning again into Somersetshire slew Ednoth one of his Father's Ealdormen who encounter'd him and then making great spoil in Devonshire and Cornwal departed The next year fighting with Beorne an Ealdorman of Cornwal he afterwards returned into Ireland and from thence went to Denmark to King Sweyn where he continued the Residue of his Life The second was Edmund who engaged with him in all his abovesaid Brother's Invasions and Wars depending absolutely upon him whilst he lived and died as he did in Denmark Magnus his third Son went with his two Brothers into Ireland and came back with them the first time into England but we find nothing of him after this unless he was that Magnus who afterwards became an Anchoret Wolfe his fourth Son seems to be born of Queen Algithe and probably at King William's Entrance here he was but an Infant yet after his Death he is named among his Prisoners but by William Rufus was released and by him honoured with the Order of Knighthood Gunhilde a Daughter of Harold's is mentioned by John Capgrave in the Life of Wolstan Bishop of Worcester and that she was a Nun but where is not mentioned and being in most mens opinion's wholly blind this Wolstan if you will believe it from Capgrave by a Miracle restor'd her absolutely to her Eyesight Another Daughter of Harold's is mentioned by Saxo Grammaticus in his Danish History to have been well received by her Kinsman King Sweyn the younger and afterwards married to Waldemar King of the Russians and to have had a Daughter by him who was the Mother of Waldemar the first King of Denmark of that Name from whom all the Danish Kings for many Ages after succeeded This Account I have borrowed from Mr. Speed who is very exact in the Pedigrees of our English-Saxon Kings We find no Laws made in this King's time only this mentioned by Ingulph viz. That King Harold made a Law that whatever Welshman were found without leave on this side Offa's Ditch he should have his Right-hand cut off by the King's Officers Which Law I suppose was made to restrain the pilfering Incursions of the Welsh who were wont to come in small Companies into the English Borders to rob and carry away Cattel But as for the Earls Syward of Mercia and Morchar of Northumberland Brothers it is said they withdrew themselves out of the Battel with their Followers almost as soon as it began either because they liked not the streightness of the Place where they were drawn up or else were discontented with the King's Conduct so marching immediately up to London they there met with Aldred Archbishop of York and Edgar Atheling with divers other Noblemen and Bishops and consulted whom they should make King divers of them were for Edgar Atheling as the only remaining Branch of the Saxon Blood-Royal under whom they resolved to renew the War but he being young and unexperienced and the Major Part of the Bishops being against it nothing was done William of Malmesbury relates That the two Earls above-mentioned solicited the Londoners to make one of them King which when they found they could not prevail upon them so to do taking their Sister the Widow of King Harold along with them and leaving her for security at Chester they retired into Northumberland supposing that Duke William would never march so far that Winter But how much they were mistaken and how they were forced to submit themselves to him when the City of London and all the rest of the Kingdom had acknowledg'd him must be reserved for the next Volume In the mean time the Nobility and Clergy being thus divided in their sentiments all their designs came to nothing Thus as the same Author well observes that as the English if they had been all of one mind might have prevented the Ruin of their Countrey so since they could not agree to have one of
their own Nation to reign over them they were thereby brought under the subjection of Strangers Indeed Guilel Gemeticensis and Ordoricus Vitalis relate That the Noblemen and Bishops who had retired to London actually chose Edgar Atheling King but this seems not at all probable since none of our own Writers mention it and had Edgar been once elected it is not likely that King William would have been so easily reconciled to him and have not only given him his Liberty but preferred him Having from our Historians of best Credit given you this Account of our English Monarchs most of whom mixing Piety with Civil Prudence reigned gloriously for many Generations it will not be amiss for a Conclusion to let the Reader see how not long before this sad Catastrophe all sorts and degrees of men were now much degenerated from the Simplicity and Sobriety of their Ancestors And first as for the state of Religion in this Island for some Ages before the coming in of the Normans William of Malmesbury observes that Piety and all good Literature were commonly grown so much out of fashion even amongst the Clergy that resting content with a very small share of Devotion as well as Learning they could scarce read Divine Service nay the very Monks were clad in fine Stuffs and made no difference of Days and Meat which tho perhaps no fault in it self yet to them who were under other Principles it was certainly much otherwise Also that the Great Men being given up to Gluttony and a dissolute Life oppressed and made a Prey of the Common People debauching their Daughters whom they had in their Service and then turning them off to the Stews Whilst the meaner sort sat tipling night and day and spent all they had in Rioting and Drunkenness and those attended with other Vices which effeminate men's minds Therefore it came to pass through the just Judgment of God that King Harold and those of his Party being carried away with Rashness and Fury rather than any True Valour or Military Experience gave Duke William this great Advantage over them as hath been but now set forth Not says he but that some few of the Clergy as well as Laity were much better yet for the most part they were as hath been here described But as the long-suffering of God often permits the Bad as well as the Good to enjoy the like Prosperity so likewise his Justice in punishing oft-times does not exempt even Good Men from partaking in the common Calamities of their Countrey Therefore I shall conclude this Volume with the like Admonition as Mr. Milton does his Saxon History viz. That if these were in all probability the Causes of God's heavy Judgments on our Ancestors surely every man ought in this corrupt Age to take care to avoid them lest in the height of a seeming Security their long continuance in a course of Vice and Luxury should without a speedy Amendment meet with as severe if not much worse Punishment FINIS A TABLE of the Succession of the remaining English-Saxon Kings in this last Period The Northumbrian Kings being supplied from Simeon of Durham and the Chronicles of Mailrosse and the Welsh Princes are taken from Caradoc's Chronicle and the old Annals at the end of the lesser Volume of Domes-day Book Tab. 3. Anno Dom. Kings of Kent Anno Dom. Kings of England Anno Dom. Kings of Northumberland Anno Dom. Kings of the East-Angles Anno Dom. Kings of the Mercians Anno Dom. Kings of Wales  Cuthred eight Years 802 Ecgbert reigned 36 Years  Eardulf was expelled his Kingdom Anno Dom. 806. then succeeded 859 St. Edmund reigned 11 Years who being martyr'd by the Danes that Kingdom remain'd without a King until  Kenwulf 22 Years  Caradoc King of North Wales         819 Kenelm a Child his Son murdered by his Aunt Quendrida then 806 Conan Tyndaethwy King of South Wales and afterwards King of North Wales 805 Baldred eighteen Years He being the last King of Kent was expelled his Kingdom by King Egbert 837 Ethelwolf his Son 18 Years and an half 806 Aelfwold who reigned two Years then           808 Eanred Son of Eardulph reigned 32 Years         857 Ethelbald his Son two Years and an half 840 Ethelred his Son reigned 9 Years 870    817 Mervyn-wrych and Esylht his Wife the Daughter of Conan     849 Osbert 13 Years whom was driven out by   820 Ceolwulf his Uncle reigned one Year     860 Ethelbert his Brother reigned five Years and an half 862 Aella an Usurper but both these Kings being slain by the Danes they seized upon that Kingdom and made     843 Rodoric the Great Son or Grandson to Mervyn last mentioned         821 Beornwulf 3 Years           824 Ludican one Year and an half 877 Anarawd Son of Rodoric Prince of North Wales   866 Ethered his Brother five Years 866 Egbert King who was soon expelled by them and then they made 878 Guthrum the Dane was made King by the Concession of K. Alfred and reigned 12 Years 825 Wiglaf 14 Years 913 Edwal Voel Son to Anarawd 838 Athelstan natural Son to K. Ethelwolf made K. of Kent Eastsex and Surry by his Father he died without Issue after which it was again united to the rest of King Ethelwolf's Dominions 871 Alfred his Brother reigned 29 Years and an half  Ricsig a Dane their King who reigned 10 Years then   839 Bertwulf 13 Years These four last Kings were all of them tributary to the Kings of the West Saxons as was also 940 Howel-Dha King of South Wales and after the Death of Edwal he took upon him the Government of all Wales     872 Another Egbert was by them made King who dying the Danes Northumbers remained without any Kâ—ng till         901 Edward his Son sirnamed the Elder 24 Years             883 Guthred a poor Slave was chosen King he reigned over Yorkshire about 11 Years then     948 Jevaf and Jago Sons of Edwal Voel Princes of North Wales whilst the Sons of Howel-Dha ruled South Wales at the same time   925 Athelstan his Son 16 Years     852 Burhed who reigned 22 Years and being expell'd his Kingdom by the Danes they then gave it to one       894 King Alfred seized his share of that Kingdom whilst in the morâ— Northern Parts reigned at the same timâ— Osbert a Dane who was expelled his â—ingdom 890 Eoric the Dane was by Guthrum made his Successor after whose Decease K. Edward the Elder
the King's Game under a penalty l. 6. p. 60. Huntington anciently called Huntandune l. 5. p. 321. Is repaired and rebuilt in those places that had been destroyed by the Command of King Edward the Elder Id. p. 322. Hussa Succeeds Freodguald in the Kingdom of Bernicia l. 3. p. 146. Hyde and Abbey called by this Name near Winchester l. 5. p. 318. Hye an Island that had always a Bishop residing in it l. 3. p. 143 144. The Monks of Hye Converted by Egbert to the Right Faith in making them to observe Easter Orthodoxly as also the Ecclesiastical Tonsure l. 4. p. 217. I JAgo and Jevaf Princes of North-Wales raise great and long Wars to get the Supreme Government of all Wales as being of the Elder House to the Sons of Howel l. 5. p. 349 350. Civil Wars between them Jago keeping his Brother Prisoner by force for near six years l. 6. p. 6. Jevaf restored to his Liberty by his Son Howel and Jago driven out of the Countrey but by Edgar's mediation with Howel his Uncle was restored to what he held in Jevaf's time Id. p. 7. Great Commotions in Wales upon these Princes and their Sons accounts and the issue thereof Id. p. 16 20 21 22 23. Jago Son to Edwal a Prince of Wales is advanced to the Throne as lawful Heir but could not be admitted to South-Wales Id. p. 53. His Soldiers deserting him he is slain in Battel by Griffyth ap Lewelin Id. p. 64. Janbryht also called Lambert Consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury received the Pall l. 4. p. 228 229. Lost part of his Province to the See of Litchfield Id. p. 233. His Death and who succeeded him Id. p. 236. Japhet very probable that Europe was Peopled by his Posterity l. 1. p. 4. From him originally descended the Saxons that first came into Britain l. 3. p. 121. Iberi were the Spaniards by whom the Southern part of Britain was Peopled l. 1. p. 4. Icanho supposed to be Boston in Lincolnshire where one Bottulf began to build a Monastery l. 4. p. 185. Iceni those who inhabited Suffolk Norfolk Camebridge and Huntingtonshire l. 2. p. 42. Their being overcome by Ostorius Scapula Id. Ib. Are turned out of their ancient Estates and treated like Slaves Id. p. 47. With the Trinobantes rise up in Arms against the Romans to deliver themselves from their hated servitude Id. p. 47 48. Ida the first that took upon him the Title of King of the Northumbrian Kingdom who had Twelve Sons partly by Wives partly by Concubines with his Sons he came into Britain and landed at Flensburgh with Forty Ships and built Bamborough Castle in Northumberland l. 3. p. 142. He hath the Character of being a very Gallant Man but dies within a few years Id. p. 143. Idel a River on the Mercian Border now in Nottinghamshire l. 4. p. 170 171. Idols Their Temples Pope Gregory would not have pulled down but a-new Consecrated l. 4. p. 158. Coisi Burns and utterly destroys the Idol Temples l. 4. p. 173 174. Are destroyed at Earcombert's Command throughout his Kingdom of Kent Id. p. 180. Jerne that is according to the Scottish Writers the Province of Strathern l. 2. p. 98. Jerusalem the Temple there laboured though in vain to be rebuilt by Alypius a Heathen l. 2. p. 90. Jews all that were in the Kingdom to be under the Protection of the King l. 6. p. 102. Iffi the Son of Prince Osfrid received Baptism l. 4. p. 174 176. Dies in France under King Dagobert's Tuition in his Infancy Id. p. 176. Igmond the Dane with a great Number of Soldiers Lands in the Isle of Anglesey where they obtain a Victory over the Welsh-men who gave them Battel l. 5. p. 303. Ilford near Christ-Church in Hampshire seated in the New Forest called Itene in English-Saxon perhaps it anciently went by the Name of Ityngaford l. 5. p. 314. Iltutus a Pious and Learned Britain of Glamorganshire l. 3. p. 149. Images not introduced into the English-Saxon Church at the foundation of the Abbey of Evesham by Edwin Bishop of Worcester as is pretended by some l. 4. p. 216 217. Image-Worship the Church of God wholly abominated as practised in the Greek and Roman Churches and was not then receiv'd in England l. 4. p. 236 237. Impostor a notable Scotch one who called himself Run sets up for Prince of South-Wales but he and his Army soon put to the Rout l. 6. p. 52. Ina King of the West-Saxons builds a Monastery at Glastenbury endows it with divers Lands and exempts it from all Episcopal Jurisdiction Reigns Seven and thirty years goes to Rome and there Dies l. 4. p. 204 218 219 220. The Son of Kenred the Son of Ceolwald when he took the Kingdom but without any Right of Successive Descent Id. p. 205. Summons the first Authentick Great Council whose Laws are come to us entire Id. p. 208 209. The Kentish-men enter into a League with him and give him Thirty thousand Pounds for his Friendship and why Id. p. 209. And Nun his Kinsman fight with Gerent King of the Britains Id. p. 215. And Ceolred fight a bloody Battel at Wodensburgh in Wiltshire Id. p. 217. Fights with the South-Saxons and slays Eadbert Aetheling whom before he had banished Id. p. 218. Romescot is conferred on the Bishop of Rome first by him but if so it must be with the Consent of the Great Council of the Kingdom Id. p. 219. A Great Example of his Magnanimity and Justice Piety and Devotion Id. p. 219 220. His being King of Wales as well as England and his marrying Guala the Daughter of Cadwallader King of the Britains a groundless and fabulous story Id. p. 220. Indian Apostles St. Thomas and St. Bartholomew were so called because they were there martyr'd l. 5. p. 286. Indians their deadly Feud against all the Kindred of one that murthers any of them l. 5. p. 347. Ingerlingum the place where King Oswin was treacherously murthered and where afterwards a Monastery was built l. 4. p. 182 183. Ingild the Brother of King Ina his Death l. 4. p. 218. Ingwar a Danish Captain who held London is slain by King Alfred l. 5. p. 286. Inquest Grand the Antiquity of Trials by them of more than twelve men l. 6. p. 43. Intestates how the Goods of those who dye so are to be distributed l. 6. p. 59. Inundation a mighty one about Greenwich that drowned both many People and Towns l. 6. p. 39. Invasion Of the Romans upon the Britains an Account thereof as also of that of the Picts and Scots and then of the English-Saxons after that of the Danes and lastly of the Normans Ep. Dedic l. 5. p. 246. John of Beverlie first he was Bishop of Hagulstad then of York l. 4. p. 202 213 215. He was Bishop Three and thirty Years and Eight Months then dies and is buried at Beverlie and afterwards canonized by the name of St. John of Beverlie Id. p. 218. John
as conjectured l. 1. p. 16. Cadwallo's being in a Brass Statue set over Ludgate false l. 4. p. 177. Ludican King of the Mercians and five of his Ealdormen slain by the East-Angles and upon what occasion l. 5. p. 253. Lugeanburh now Loughburrow in Leicestershire or Leighton in Bedfordshire l. 3. p. 145. Lupicinus sent into Britain by Julian to compose the Troubles there raised by the Scots and Picts l. 2. p. 90. Lupus Bishop of Troyes and Germanus Bishop of Auxerre sent to confirm Britain in the Catholick Faith l. 2. p. 107. Lupus Virius had the Government of the Northern parts of Britain but buys a Peace of the Meatae He gives an Account to Severus of the state of Affairs here l. 2. p. 74. Was left by the Antonini their Lieutenant in Britain Id. p. 79. M MAccuse King of Man and several other Islands l. 6. p. 9. Macrinus Opilius makes away Caracalla and is chosen Emperor by the Army l. 2. p. 79. Maelgwn Gwineth elected King of the Britains in Wales and the manner of it l. 3. p. 146 147. His Decease Id. p. 148. Vid. Malgo. Magnentius slays Constans and keeps the Western Empire from Constantius for three years and then not longer being able to contest it kills himself at Lyons l. 2. p. 89. Maildulf a Scotch Monk and Philosopher l. 4. p. 195. Maims and Wounds King Alfred's Law concerning them l. 5. p. 296. Malcolm King of Scots receives from King Edmund the whole Countrey of Cumberland upon condition to assist him both by Sea and Land l. 5. p. 344. And to attend him at several great Feasts in the year when he held his Common-Council and for that end divers Houses were assigned him to lye at by the way Id. p. 345. Receives Sweyn and gives him free Quarter for fourteen years l. 6. p. 26. Wastes the Province of the Northumbers and besieges Durham Id. p. 27. Another of the same Name becomes subject to King Cnute upon his going thither and three years after dies Id. p. 56. A Third of this Name enters Northumberland and depopulates the Earldom of Tostige formerly his sworn Brother Id. p. 89. Maldon in Essex anciently Maldune rebuilt and fortified by King Edward the Elder l. 5. p. 320. Malgo or Malgoclunus in Welsh Mailgwn Gwineth King of North-Wales or else of the Northern parts of Britain l. 3. p. 139. Called by Gildas the Island-Dragon accused of Sodomy and of murthering the King his Uncle Id. p. 140. Professes himself a Monk but afterwards breaks his Vow and reigns as Supreme or Sole King of the Britains Id. p. 142. The time he reigned afterwards and his Death Id. p. 144. Mallings in Sussex the Mannor given by Baldred King of Kent to Christ-Church in Canterbury but being afterwards taken away it was confirmed by the Common-Council of the Kingdom under King Egbert l. 5. p. 257. Malmesbury the Abbey begun to be built by one Adhelm l. 4. p. 195. Greatly endowed and by whom Id. p. 196. l. 5. p. 329 339. King Athelstan's great Liberality to this Abbey where he was buried Id. p. 339. A Nun is taken from hence by King Edgar and deflowred l. 6. p. 4. Anciently called in Saxon Mealdelnesbyrig Id. p. 40. Man the City taken by William Duke of Normandy l. 6. p. 89. Man the Isle whither Aedan fled from the Borders of Scotland after he was beaten l. 3. p. 147. Destroyed by Sweyn the Son of Harold the Dane l. 6. p. 25. Manchester in the Kingdom of Northumberland anciently called Manigeceaster is rebuilt and fortified with a Garison at the Command of King Edward the Elder l. 5. p. 324. Mancuses what Sum of Money now uncertain but by Ethelwulf's last Will he orders Three hundred to be sent every year to Rome for such and such Uses and One hundred of them for the Pope himself l. 5. p. 264 265. Mandubratius desires to be relieved from the Injuries of Cassibelan l. 2. p. 34. Who thereupon is forbid by Caesar further to molest him Id. p. 35. Is not restored to the Kingdom of the Trinobantes whereupon he attends Caesar to Rome and is there entertained as King of Britain and a Friend to the Roman Commonwealth Id. p. 36. Manslaughter Vid. Murther Marcellus Ulpius sent to stop the Rebellion of the Britains in Commodus his Reign a man not to be corrupted by Money but severe in his Conversation l. 2. p. 70. Marcus Aurelius Vid. Aurelius Marcus is Elected Emperor by the British Army but they soon took him off he not answering their expectations l. 2. p. 102. Margaret Daughter of Edward the Son of Edmund Ironside is married to Malcolm King of Scotland l. 6. p. 49. Mariage concerning the manner and Rights thereof with Covenants the Antiquity of them and of Bonds for Performance l. 5. p. 348. Widows not to marry within the Twelve-Months after their Husbands decease and what they forfeit if they do l. 6. p. 60. Marinus the worthy good Pope sends some Wood of the Holy Cross unto King Alfred l. 5. p. 286. His Decease and freeing the English School at Rome from all Tax and Tribute Id. p. 287. Marius called by our British Writers Meurig succeeds his Father Arviragus and slays Roderick King of the Picts who aided the Caledonians l. 2. p. 66. His Death about what year of our Lord leaving the Kingdom to his Son Coil Id. p. 67. St. Martin an old ruinous Church without the City of Canterbury now St. Pancrace l. 4. p. 163. Martinus a Prefect endeavours to stab Paulus but missing his Pass runs his Sword into his own Body His good Character l. 2. p. 89. Martinus the Pope sends some of the Wood of the Holy Cross to King Alfred and what reâ—urn he makes again l. 5. p. 286. Martyrdom that of St. Alban's a particular Account of it l. 2. p. 85. Of several other Christians at Litchfield and Winchester Id. p. 86. Maserfield now called Oswestre in Shropshire l. 4. p. 180. Maxentius The Tyrant overthrown near Rome by Constantine l. 2. p. 87. Maximinian said to Command the Roman Legion in Britain the Fabulous story of him l. 2. p. 101 102. Marcus Aurelius Maximinianus Associate in the Empire with Dioclesian adopted Constantius Chlorus Caesar constrains him to put away his Wife and to Marry his Daughter is forced to conclude a Peace with Carausius and to yield him up Britain l. 2. p. 83. Maximinus Julius succeeds Alexander Severus but being condemned by the Senate is slain by the Soldiers l. 2. p. 80. Maximus Pupienus Vid. Balbinus Maximus Trebellius hath the Province of Britain delivered to him l. 2. p. 51. Falls into the Hatred and Contempt of his Army for his sordid Covetousness and the Aversion heightned by Roscius Coelius Id. p. 53. Maximus General of the Roman Armies assumes the Imperial Purple drives back and subdues the Scots and Picts l. 2. p. 91. Makes Triers the seat of his Usurped Empire sends Andragathius as his General against
the Ecclesiastical and Civil Affairs of Ancient Times l. 4. p. 151. There were only two Orders of them in use amongst our Ancestors of the English-Saxon Church and what Orders they were Id. p. 168. Most people of all Qualities used to take upon them the Monastick Habit Id. p. 221 223. None but Monks anciently made Archbishops of Canterbury l. 5. p. 333. Turn'd out of divers Monasteries by King EdwiÌ„ and Secular Channons put into their places Id. p. 353. Are restored to them again by King Edgar l. 6. p. 6 7. A Civil War is raised in the Nation about them Id. p. 15 16. Are removed from Exeter to Westminster and Secular Channons placed in their stead Id. p. 78. Morchar a Dane of great Riches and Power in the Northern Parts is Treacherously slain by Edric's Order at his own House when he was invited to a Feast l. 6. p. 40. Morchar the Son of Earl Aelfgar is chosen by the Northumbers to be their Earl Id. p. 90. Morgant a Prince of the Isle of Medcant l. 3. p. 147. Morindus Vid. Morvidus Morini or Moriani a People of Gaul landing in Northumberland with Fire and Sword wast the Countrey but are at last defeated by Morindus and his Army l. 1. p. 14. It was the Province of Picardy l. 2. p. 25. Mortality Vid. Plague Morvidus defeating the Moriani putting all the Prisoners to death with exquisite Torments but at last is devoured by a Monster that came out of the Irish Sâ—a with which he would needs fight l. 1. p. 14. Moston his British Mâ— arraigned as to the credit of it by a late Romish Writer but without any material Objection l. 4. p. 162. Mould in Flintshire in the British Tongue is called Guiderac l. 2. p. 108. Mouric Son of Tudric King of Glamorgan is reduced to great extremity by the Saxons l. 3. p. 148 149. Mulcts Cnute's Law about them for divers Offences l. 6. p. 58. For what Crimes no satisfaction to be made by way of Compensation Id. p. 59. The particular Mulcts of those that Violate the King's Peace Id. p. 103. Vid. Murther Murrain Vid. Plague Murther The Punishment for it Anciently Redeemable by Pecuniary Mulcts l. 4. p. 209. Of Two Priests notably returned on the Murtherers l. 4. p. 209. If a Layman kill a Thief no satisfaction to be made to the Friends of the Party slain Id. p. 211. The Value of a Man slain whether English or Dane Four Marks of Pure Gold and the Redemption of each Four hundred shillings l. 5. p. 283. The Mulct which was to be paid for killing a Woman with Child or of killing in Troops or Companies and to whom Id. p. 293 294. By a Priest his Estate is Confiscated and he Degraded c. Id. p. 297. By Witchcraft the Punishment for it by King Ethelstan's Law Id. p. 340. The Murtherer alone to bear the deadly feud of the Kindred of the Party slain or within a Year to Pay the Value of the slain Man's Head Id. p. 347. The Punishment in case of Manslaughter l. 6. p. 43. Edward the Confessor's Law concerning it Id. p. 101. How the Party wrongfully killed is to be cleared in his Reputation and what satisfaction is to be made to his Friends for it Id. p. 103. Myranheofod that is in Saxon Ant's-head Thurkytell of that Name fled from the Danes and the English Army beaten by them l. 6. p. 34. N NAitan King of the Picts desires the Assistance of the English Nation concerning the Celebration of Easter l. 4. p. 216 221. Nation the Miseries and Desolations that Divine Providence brings upon a Wicked and Perverse People in it l. 3. p. 150. Nazaleod a Great British King some think him Ambrosius others Uther Pendragon his pretended Brother and others again only the General of the King of the Britains l. 3. p. 134. Nennius a British Author of no great Credit Id. p. 114. A credulous trivial Writer who vents a great many Fables l. 3. p. 1â—6 Could not Study at Oxford as is supposed by some Writers and why l. 5. p. 290. St. Neot the Story of King Alfred in the Account of this Saint's Life l. 5. p. 280. Nero his succeeding Claudius in the Empire l. 2. p. 45. Nerva his short Reign and the great Commotions in it in this Island l. 2. p. 66. Nesse-point in Essex called by the Saxons Ealdulfe's Naese l. 6. p. 81. Newenden a Town in Kent quite destroyed by the Saxons and afterwards rebuilt where it stood in the Reign of King Edward the First l. 3. p. 132 133. Nice the Great Council there when Assembled some of our Bishops assisted at it l. 2. p. 88. Nicholaus Bishop of Florence made Pope upon the Expulsion of Pope Benedict l. 6. p. 88. Niger Peseenius Saluted Emperor in Syria War against him by Severus l. 2. p. 72. Is afterwards slain by him Id. p. 73. Night-Mare a Disease whence it came to be so called l. 3. p. 125. Nobility their Domineering and Severity â—ver poor Countreymen restrained by King Alfred's Law l. 5. p. 294. Most of the English Nobility slain at the Battel of Ash-down by Cnute and his Army l. 6. p. 47. King Cnute causes several of them to be put to death but for what Crimes unknown Id. p. 50. Their great Degeneracy before the coming in of William Duke of Normandy Id. p. 116. Normandy formerly called Neustria entirely Conquered by Rollo the Dane who Reigned there Fifty years l. 5. p. 278. The Succession of the Dukes there l. 6. p. 53. The great Battel of Vallesdune between Henry King of France and the Nobility of that Dukedome for their refusing to accept of the Bastard William for their Duke Id. p 74. Normans or Northlandmen were Danes and Swedes their Religion and common Deities l. 5. p. 256. All Banish'd that had introduc'd unjust Laws and given false Judgments and committed many Outrages upon the English except a very few l. 6. p. 82. Too many brought over by Edward the Confessor who soon by their Customs corrupted the English Simplicity Id. p. 98. Before their Engaging King Harold spent the night in Prayers and Confessions c. l. 6. p. 112. Northalbingia formerly Old Saxony it 's extent and bounds l. 3. p. 118. Northampton anciently called Hamtune l. 5. p. 319 321. Northern People of Britain described by Herodian afterwards supposed to be called Picti l. 2. p. 22. Northumbers that is all those English-Saxons who lived North of the River Humber l. 4. p. 171. When most part of this Nation as well Nobles as others retired into Monasteries Id. p. 221. Their frequent Rebellions and Expulsion of their Kings shew them to be of a proud and turbulent Temper Id. p. 239 240. l. 5. p. 260. Kings of England appointed Earls under them to Govern that Countrey l. 5. p. 259. Expel their Lawful King Osbryht and set up a Tyrant and Usurper not Descended from the Royal Line Id. p. 267. Expel Egbert their King and
likely propagated here by some Apostle of the Eastern or Asiatick Church Id. p. 162. The state of it here before the coming in of William the Conqueror l. 6. p. 116. Religious Houses Vid. Monasteries Resignation of Bishopricks and why l. 3. p. 149. l. 4. p. 224 232. Restitutus Bishop of the City of London is sent with others to the Council of Arles in Gallia l. 2. p. 88. Revenge none to take it for any Injury done him before publick Justice be demanded and the Penalty on those that do l. 4. p. 208. Rhine fortified with Garisons by Constantine l. 2. p. 102. Richard the Elder took upon him the Dukedome of Normandy and Governed it Two and fifty Years l. 5. p. 343. His Enmity to and War with Pope John l. 6. p. 24. His Death and who succeeded him in that Dutchy Id. p. 26. Richbert a Heathen slays Eorpwald not long after he had received the Christian Faith l. 4. p. 175. Ricsige succeeded Egbert in the Kingdom of Northumberland l. 5. p. 277. His Death and who his Successor Id. p. 278. Ripendune alias Hrepton Abbey now Repton in Derbyshire Founded by King Aethelbald the most famous one of that Age l. 4. p. 227. l. 5. p. 277. Ripon in Yorkshire the Monastery Burnt which had been Built by Bishop Wilfrid l. 5. p. 350. Ritheric ap Justin on the Death of Llewelyn ap Sitsylt Seizes upon South-Wales and holds it by Force l. 6. p. 53. Is slain in Battel by Howel and Meredyth with the assistance of the Irish Scots l. 6. p. 56. Ritherch and Rees the Sons of Ritheric ap Justin their Engagement with Griffith Prince of Wales and the Success thereof l. 6. p. 71. Robber his Punishment who called Robbers l. 4. p. 209. Robert Duke of Normandy sends Ambassadors to King Cnute to demand that his Nephews viz. Edward and Alfred King Ethelred's Two Sons might be restored to their Right and upon his refusing he prepares a great Navy to force him to it and what happened thereupon l. 6. p. 54. To whom he recommends his Son William a Child of Seven Years Old afterwards King of England whilst he undertakes his Pilgrimage to Jerusalem where he Dies Ibid. p. 56. Robert a Norman Monk made Bishop of London by Edward the Confessor l. 6. p. 73. And upon the Death of Eadsige made Archbishop of Canterbury He immediately went to Rome to obtain his Pall Id. p. 75. Accuses Queen Emma of being too Familiar with Alwin Bishop of Winchester Id. p. 79. His flight out of England variously reported Id. p. 80 81. Is Banished and Outlawed for being a Chief Incendiary in the Quarrel between Edward the Confessor and Earl Godwin Id. p. 81. But having made his Peace King Edward sends him Ambassador to Duke William to acquaint him That he had designed him his Successor Id. p. 96 97 Rodoric or Rodri when he began to Reign over the Britains in Wales l. 4. p. 218. Another Rodoric one of the Sons of Edwal Voel Prince of Wales is slain by Irishmen l. 6. p. 6. Rodri Maur that is Rodoric the Great succeeds his Father Merwyn Urych in the Kingdom of the Britains and divides Wales into three Territories His Wars and Death l. 5. p. 260 278. His Wife and Children and Bequests amongst them Id. p. 278 279. Esteemed by all Writers to be sole King of all Wales and in what Right His Laws Id. p. 279. The several Ordinances he made about paying the Ancient Tribute to the King of London and acknowledging his Sovereigâ—ty as also about who should decide the differences that might arise between any of his Children Id. p. 279. l. 6. p. 3. Rofcaester or Hrofcester now Rochester l. 4. p. 159. l. 5. p. 259. St. Andrew's Church there built by Ethelbert King of Kent l. 4. p. 160. Tobias the Bishop there dies Id. p. 219. Dun consecrated Bishop here after the Death of Eadulph Id. p. 224. Rollo the Dane or Norman wastes Neustria afterwards called Normandy and not long after made an entire Conquest of it reigning there fifty years His Dream l. 5. p. 278. Roman Affairs when they became desperate in Britain l. 2. p. 105 106. Empire what fell with it in Britain l. 3. p. 113. Language Gaâ—â— and Gown came to be in fashion among the Britains in Agricola's time l. 2. p. 57. Romans left the â—ritains at their departure Paterns of the Arms and Weapons they would have them make to defend themselves l. 2. p. 100. Though they subdued Britain to their Empire yet they used their Victory with Moderation l. 5. p. 246. Romanus Bishop of Rochester drowned in going on a Message to Rome l. 4. p. 176. Rome taken by Alaric King of the Goths l. 2. p. 104. Romescot said to be first given to the Pope by King Ina but much doubted l. 4. p. 219. Then by King Offa supposed to be confirm'd by the great Council's consent Id. p. 239. Aethelwulf by his Last Will orders to be sent every year to Rome Three hundred Mancuses l. 5. p. 264 265. Vid. Peter-pence Rowena Hengest's Daughter her Arrival into Britain c. l. 3. p. 125. Rufina Claudia Wife of Pudens a Senator famous for her Beauty in the Elegant Epigram of Martial Some assert she was the same St. Paul makes mention of in his second Epistle to Timothy l. 2. p. 66. Run or Reyn the pretended Son of Meredyth ap Owen a vile Scotch Impostâ—r thâ—t sets up for Prince of Soâ—th Waleâ— but he is soon rouâ—ed and all his Paâ—â—y l. 6. p. 52. Runick Characters found upon a few Stones in England l. 3. p. 113. Runkhorne in Cheshire anciently called Run-cafan l. 5. p. 316. Rusticus Decimius from Master of his Offices is advanced by Constans to â—e Praefect l. 2. p. 103. Ryal in Rutlandshire anciently called Rehala where St. Tibba's â—ody lay entomb'd l. 6. p. 5. S SAcriledge what Punishments to be inflicted on those who commit it l. 4. p. 156 163. Salaries usually allowed to those that hâ—d been Proconsuls l. 2. p. 64. Safe of Goods c. Vid. Traffick Sampson Scholar to Iltutus and afterwards Archbishop of Dole in Britain l. 3. p. 149. Sanctuaries very ancient in England l. 4. p. 208 209. l. 5. p. 296 â—97 Their Design primitively very good only to stay there for a time till the Offender could agree with his Advâ—rsary l. 5. p. 297. The Punishment of him who 〈◊〉 â—ny one that sâ—es to a Church The Knigâ—t Hoâ—se no shelâ—er to him thâ—â— sheds bloâ—d l. 5. p. 347. Graâ—ted 〈◊〉 Westminster â—y Edward â—he Confessor Charter and confirmed by the Great Council l. 6. p. 94. The Laws concerning them confirmâ—d Id. p. 99. Sandwicâ— anciently câ—â—led Rutipae l. â— p. 90. and Sandwiâ— l. 5. p. 261. The Port given by King Cnute in Christ-Church in Canterbury with all the Issues c. l. 6. p. 54. Saragosa in Spain anciently called Caesar Augustâ— a corrupted Compouâ—d of thâ—se two words destroyed by
of Age to give it by Oath and for what l. 6. p. 58. Selred King of the East-Saxons l. 4. p. 214. Sirnamed the Good Reigned Thirty eight year and then slain but is unknown how or by whom Id. p. 225. Sempingham in Lincolnshire anciently called Sempigaham l. 5. p. 261. Seneca only in his Books a Philosopher his Extortion on the Britains l. 2. p. 47. Seolefeu that is The Island of Seals afterwards called Selsey where Wilfrid Founded a small Monastery l. 4. p. 198. Sermon the first that is to be found at any King's Coronation by whom and to whom made l. 6. p. 70. Serpents strange ones seen in the Province of the South-Saxons l. 4. p. 230. Servants none to receive another Man's Man into his Family without leave first had of his Master the Penalty of doing the contrary l. 5. p. 341. To give Security for their good Abearing Id. p. 346. Who Desert their Lord in Battel what they Forfeit and to whom l. 6. p. 60. Sester that is a Horse-Load of Wheat Sold in Hardecnute's time for Fifty five Pence and more l. 6. p. 66 72. Severn the River from whence it came to be so called l. 1. p. 10. Severus the Emperor makes War against Pescenius Niger and slays him then sends Messengers to dispatch Albinus and the effect thereof l. 2. p. 72 73. Puts Laetus Severus to Death for his Treachery Id. Ib. Makes an Expedition into Britain and the issue of it Id. p. 74 75. How he Treats his Son Baffianus that twice attempted to kill him Id. p. 75 76. Makes a Wall cross the Island from Sea to Sea One hundred thirty two Miles in length and from thence he receiv'd the Stile of Britannicus Id. p. 76. This Wall was built in the same place where Adrian's was before Id. p. 100. His Death and Funeral Pile and Character Id. p. 77 78. Severus Alexander succeeds Heliogabolus having been before declared Caesar by the Senate his Actions in this Island l. 2. p. 80. Is slain by some of his own Army Id. Ib. Severus Germanus his Scholar being Ordained Bishop of Triers preaches the Gospel to the Germans l. 3. p. 117. Seward Abbot of Croyland conceals Withlaf King of Mercia from the Displeasure of King Egbert in the Cell of the Holy Virgin Etheldrith Daughter of King Offa till a perfect Reconciliation was made l. 5. p. 254. Sexburga Governs the Kingdom of the West-Saxons for a year as being left to her by King Cenwalch her Husband Her Character l. 4. p. 192. Shaftsbury first called Paladur afterwards Septonia by whom Built l. 1. p. 10. New built by King Alfred l. 5. p. 285 298 307. Called in Saxon Scaeftesbyrig l. 6. p. 20. Shaving of Crowns and about the manner of it l. 4. p. 216. Sheovesham or Secvesham Abby Vid. Abingdon Shepholme a little Island in the Mouth of Severne anciently called Bradanrelic Florence calls it Reoric l. 5. p. 319. Sheriffs their Antiquity and Appointment by King Alfred l. 5. p. 291. Sherwood-Forest anciently called Walewode l. 5. p. 321. Ships a great Tax raised by Harold for setting out Sixteen Sail which highly incensed the minds of the English l. 6. p. 65. Sixty two Sail had another Tax of Eight Marks to be paid the Rowers Id. p. 66. Shireburne anciently called Westwude l. 4. p. 214. Shiremotes to be held Twice every Year and who to be present thereat l. 6. p. 13. Shropshire anciently called Scrobbesbyrigscire l. 6. p. 32. Sicga dies who killed the good King Oswald or Alfwold as one Historian says by his own hands l. 4. p. 236 238. Sigebert succeeds his Brother Eorpenwald in the Kingdom of the East-Angles he was Baptized in France whither he had been Banished and by Bishop Foelix his assistance erects a School to Instruct Youth and two Years after Resigns his Kingdom to his Cousin Egric and became a Monk l. 4. p. 179. Is forced out of his Monastery by the East-Angles to encourage the Soldiers against Penda King of the Mercians where he is killed Id. p. 181. Is made a Christian at the persuasion of King Oswy Id. p. 184. And at last wickedly Murthered by whom and upon what occasion Id. p. 188 189. Sigebert Cousin to Cuthred succeeds him in the Kingdom of the West-Saxons is Deposed by Cynwulf and the Great Council for his Cruelty and Injustice and at last a certain Hog-herd ran him through and killed him l. 4. p. 226. Sigeferth a petty King of some Province makes himself away and is Buried at Wilton l. 6. p. 4. Another of the same Name a Danish Thane Treacherously slain and his Goods seized on and his Beautiful Widow secured by King Ethelred Id. p. 40. Siger and Sebba who succeed Swidhelm in the Kingdom of the East-Saxons their relapse from the Christian Faith into Idolatry but soon again they renounced their Apostacy l. 4. p. 190. Sigeric Vid. Syric Sihtric a Danish King of Northumberland is Married to Edgitha the Sister of King Athelstan his professing himself a Christian though he relapsed soon after and Died the next year l. 5. p. 330. Another of this Name King of Ireland and the Isles adjacent Id. p. 334. Silures their Complexion Swarthy and they had Curled Hair like the Spaniards l. 1. p. 4. The Inhabitants of the now South-Wales l. 2. p. 42. Their Name ought wholly to be extinguished and why Id. p. 45. Are wasted by many small Incursions Id. p. 46. Simony the first Example of it in the English Church l. 4. p. 191. Vid. Wini. Singin a Captain over the Worcestershire-men kills Constantine King of the Scots l. 5. p. 335 336. Sithicundmon esteemed equal to a Thane by the Valuation of his Head l. 5. p. 342. Slaves The Common People of England were not such Slaves in Alfred's time as some late Writers would fain make them l. 5. p. 294 295. Snottingaham the Town taken and Commanded to be Repaired and Garison'd by King Edward the Elder l. 5. p. 324. Soldier the Discovery made by One and yet his Fidelity at the same time to a Prince to whom he had formerly taken a Military Oath l. 5. p. 335. He that deserts his Lord or fellow Soldier what he Forfeits and to whom l. 6. p. 60. Somerton taken by Ethelbald from the West-Saxons l. 4. p. 221. Was anciently a great Town and Castle that gave Name to that Countrey which is now called Somersetshire Id. p. 222. Southampton was anciently called Hamtun l. 5. p. 258. Destroyed by Danish Pyrates when l. 6. p. 20. South-Saxons when this Kingdom began l. 3. p. 132. Are Converted by the Preaching of Wilfrid l. 4. p. 198. Their Province which had belonged to the Diocess of Winchester is made an Episcopal See Id. p. 214. South-Shoebury in Essex anciently called Sceobyrig where the Danes built a Castle l. 5. p. 300. Southumbers that is the Mercians l. 4. p. 210 212. South-Wales the Seat of War a long while for the Supremacy between Jevaf and
Jago the Sons of Edwal Voel and the Sons of Howel Dha and the Danes l. 5. p. 349 350. l. 6. p. 6 7 16 20 21 22 23 26 27 53 64. The Irish-Scots invade it by the means of Howel and Meredyth l. 6. p. 56. Is molested by Conan the Son of Jago who had fled into Ireland for the safety of his life Id. p. 70. So infested by the Danish Pyrates that the Sea-Coasts were almost deserted Id. p. 74. Sparhafock a Monk of St. Edmundsbury made Abbot of Abandune and afterwards Bishop of London upon the Translation of Robbyrd to the See of Canterbury l. 6. p. 74 75. But the Archbishop refused to consecrate him tho he came to him with the King's Letters and Seal because the Pope had forbad him However he held his Bishoprick Id. p. 76. Sometime after is deposed from it Id. p. 78. Spot Wulfric a Courtier builds the Monastery of Burton in Staffordshire with his own Paternal Inheritance and gets King Ethelred to confirm it l. 6. p. 31. Stamford a Castle commanded by King Edward the Elder to be built on the South-side of the River Weland l. 5. p. 323. Standing-Army no War possibly to be maintained long either at home or abroad without one l. 6. p. 33. Stanmore Battel in Westmorland between Marius the British King and the Caledonians l. 2. p. 66. Stealing Vid. Theft Stephanus the Pope succeeds Leo and the next year dies l. 5. p. 251. Another of this name Abbot of Mountcassin is consecrated Pope in the room of Victor l. 6. p. 87. Deceases the next year and who succeeds him Id. p. 88. Stigand Cnute's Chaplain had the care of the Church of Ashdown which the King caused to be built there committed to him l. 6. p. 51. Is consecrated Bishop of the East-Angles i. e. Helmham Id. p. 71 73. Receives again his Bishoprick from which it seems by the Simoniacal Practices of Bishop Grymkitel he had been before deprived Id. p. 72. And upon the death of Alfwin is promoted to the See of Winchester Id. p. 73. At last is made Archbishop of Canterbury Id. p. 81. Had the Pall sent him by Pope Benedict William of Malmesbury his Character of him He consecrates Aegelric a Monk of Christ-Church Bishop of Chichester and Syward the Abbot Bishop of Rochester Id. p. 88. Stilico Governor to the Emperor Honorius during his Minority his Character l. 2. p. 97. By a Legion sufficiently furnished with Arms dispatched to Britain delivered the Inhabitants both from spoil and inevitable Captivity Id. p. 99 104 105. Is killed by the Army when Bassus and Philippus were Consuls Id. p. 104. Stone in Staffordshire whence it had its name l. 4. p. 195. Stonehenge here Aurelius Ambrosius was crowned and not long after buried l. 3. p. 131. Is called Mons Ambrosij said to be the Monument of Ambrosius and thought by the latter Antiquaries to be founded by him Ibid. Straetcluyd the Colony erected by the Britains l. 5. p. 344. Strangers as soon as they landed the Merchants are to declare their number and bring them before the King's Officers in Folcmote l. 5. p. 294. The Law against buying and receiving Strangers Cattle Id. p. 346. A Law to harbour them for two nights as Guests but no longer so l. 6. p. 103. Strathern the Scotish Writers will needs have this Province understood by the word Jerne l. 2. p. 98. Streanshale Monastery founded by Hilda l. 4. p. 188. Is now Whitby in Yorkshire Id. p. 189. Strikers in open Court before the King's Ealdormen their Punishment l. 5. p. 295. Stufe and Withgar Nephews to King Cerdic fight against the Britains and put them to flight l. 3. p. 135. Succession to the Crown how settled between the Picts and Scots l. 1. p. 4 5. The Britains had no Notion of any Right the Eldest Brother had to command all the rest not even after they became Christians Id. p. 17. Suetonius Paulinus in his time the Romans received a great Blow in Britain and the Account of it l. 2. p. 46 47 48. Afterwards he gained a mighty Victory over Boadicia and them Id. p. 49 50. Carries it too haughtily towards those that submit Id. p. 50 51. Is succeeded by Petronius Turpilianus Id. p. 51. Sunday Vid. Lord's-Day Supposititious Birth said to be put upon King Cnute viz. the Son of a Shoemaker then newly born by Aelgiva one of his Wives l. 6. p. 61. Suretyship concerning the Breach of the King 's and Archbishops c. what Fine was to be paid upon it by Alfred's Law l. 5. p. 295. Every one to find Sureties for his good Behaviour l. 6. p. 14. Every Lord to be Surety for the appearance of every person in his Family Id. p. 42. Whosoever refuses to give it to be put to death Id. p. 42 43. For the Danes that stay in England to enjoy in all things perfect Peace Id. p. 101. Sutbury in Suffolk anciently called Southburg where Bishop Alfwin deceased l. 4. p. 242. Swale a River but where is not mentioned l. 4. p. 174. Swanawic now Swanwick in Hampshire near the place where the Danes lost 120 of their Ships in a violent Storm as they were going towards Exmouth l. 5. p. 278. Swebryht King of the East-Saxons his Death l. 4. p. 223. Sweden anciently called Scandinovia l. 1. p. 4. And Gothia Id. p. 5. Swedes and Danes called Normans by the French Historians an Account of their Religion and the Deities they worshipped l. 5. p. 256. Sweyn the Son of Harold the Dane slays Edwal ap Meyric in Battel and destroys the Isle of Man He and Anlaff besieges London endeavouring to burn it but are forced to march off the Ravage and Murthers they committed in Essex Kent and Sussex c. l. 6. p. 25. Ousted his Father both of his Kingdom and Life was afterwards expelled himself and wander'd up and down without relief but plagues England after this all he could for refusing to receive him Id. p. 26. Sweyn King of Denmark receiving news of the Massacre of his Countreymen in England by the Advice of his Great Council comes with Three hundred Sail of great Ships and revenges this barbarous piece of Treachery l. 6. p. 30 31. His frequent Returns home and Incursions and Ravages here Id. p. 32 37 38. His Return into England and upon what occasion Id. p. 37. His Decease and the Monk's Relation of the Suddenness of it Id. p. 38 39 40. Sweyn Eldest Son of King Cnute he appoints before his death to be King of Norway l. 6. p. 56. Is driven out of his Kingdom by Harold sirnamed Hairfax but he recovered it again Id. p. 74. Sweyn Earl Son of Godwin goes over to Baldwin Earl of Flanders and stays there all Winter being in disgrace at Court for deflowring an Abbess l. 6. p. 73 74. Makes a League with Edward the Confessor and the King's Promises to him How he decoys his Cousin Beorne on Shipboard and causes him afterwards
for to manage r. who managed p. 39. l. 36. for then r. there p. 56. l. 16. d. after p 72. l. 15. for consecrated r. design'd p. 89. l. 10. for chief Standard-bearer r. Mareschal p. 96. l. penult for some years r. the year p 97. l. 9. for suspicious r. certain p. 110. l. 30. for Kings r. Dukes p. 113. l. 26. d. them ib. for not to shoot r. not to be shot p. 116. l. 20. for Ages r. Years Appendix to the former Addenda SOme things of moment having been casually omitted or mistaken I thought good to insert them here The Years of our Lord left out in the Margin by the Oversight of the Printers and not perceived till the Work was finish'd P. 132. l 32. in margin add Anno. Dom. CCCCLXXXVIII p. 174. l. 15. in marg add Anno Dom. DCXXVIII P. 80. l. 16. after Macrinus add within a Parenthesis being slain by the Army as was also his Predecessor p. 110. l 28. after Notes r. of the Learned Dr. Gale p 138. l. 42. after absence add but was here also slain And yet another Ancient Welsh Chronicle makes King Arthur to have died at Glastenbury of the Wounds he received in that Battel p. 179. l. 39. after Episcopal See add whom Pope Honorius sent into England to preach the Gospel to the East-Angles p. 181 l. 4. after Victory add But he was some years after esteemed a Saint and Martyr for the Christian Religion Oswin his Brother succeeded him and according to the Saxon Annals reigned 30 years p. 185. l. 45. after Winved add Anna was avenged p. 193. l. 26. after Easter add day and after fourteenth add day of the These words not being Bede 's are to be added to explain his meaning p. 195. l. 22. The Account of St. Erkenwald being repeated in the next Page may be here struck out And p 196. l. 16. after according to d. Bede and read it thus According to Mat. Westminster for Bede does not give us the time Archbishop Theodore c. consecrated Erkenwald younger Son to Anna King of the East-Angles Bishop c. p. 225. l. 45. over-against these words the City of Beban add in â—he margin now called Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland p. 232 l. 12. over-against Soccabyrig add in the margin now called Secburne in the Bishoprick of Durham p. 241. l 9. after buried r. thus and another Eanbald was consecrated in his stead Also the same year Bishop Ceolwulf died And then d the same words in that line p. 262. l 28. after Dignity add Though I conceive the truth of the story was That this anointing amounted to no more than the Chrism administred by the Pope at this young Prince's Confirmation which by the Monkish Writers of those times is magnified into a Royal Unction p. 311. l. 2 after Eadred add vice-Vice-King or Alderman of c. p. 315. l. 24. after St. Oswaid add within a Parenthesis once King of Northumberland p. 317. l. 44. after Northumberland add Yet that the Britains of Cumberland were notwithstanding this Relation many years after still remaining in that Countrey as you may find in the next Book under Anno Dom 945. Book VI. p. 12 l 9 after Charter add commonly called Oswald's Law from St. Oswald the Bishop who is supposed to have procured it ib. in the margin over-against the word Charter add Vid. Sir H. Spelman's Councils Vol. 1. Anno Dom. 964. It is also found to be enrolled by Inspeximus in the Tower Vid. Chart 9. Edw. 3. n. 49. Chart. 4. Edw. 4. n. 4. p. 14 l. 31. after to pass add This King is also mentioned by William of Malmesbury to have made a Law for restraining excessive drinking by which it was ordained That no man under a great Penalty should drink at one draught below certain Pins which were order'd to be fix'd on purpose on the inside of the Cups or Goblets p. 25. l 48. after Countrey add Norway of which as John of Wallingford informs us he was then King p. 45. l. 40. after Almer d joined r. both which had then privately combined with and assisted the Danes underhand Vid. Append. 3. ad vit Alfredi Vid. Gorcelin in vit Grimbaldi Page 491. Edit Camden De Gest. Ponâ— lib. 2. Script Britan. Cent. 2. cap. 25. Vid. Hollinsheaâ— Lib. 1. Scotland's Soveraignty asserted p. 39 40. Lib. 1. fol. 23. Vid. Vol. 1. Script Ang. Edit Oxon. Florenc An. Dom. 921.943 Craig ubi supra p. 47. Pag. 545. Lib. 4. cap. 24. Idem pa. 41. Id. ibid. Id. p. 47. Vid. Dr. Stillingfleet Antiq. of the British Church Pref. pag. 39 40. Chap. 1. Lib. 1. c. 6. Dissert Cypr. 11. de paucitate Martyrum §. 75. Cap. 13. Lib. 1. Lib. 2. An. 1257. An. 794. De â—is Nominiâ—us vid. Pancirol ad Nâ—t imperii Occident Camden Brit. Vid. Pancirol in Notit Imperii The Heprarchy 1 st Kingdom 2 d. Kingdom 3 d. Kingdom 4 th Kingdom 5 th Kingdom 545. 6 th Kingdom 7 th Kingdom * De moribus Germanorum 32 Hen. VIII Cap. 1. Adam Bremens Hist. Eccles. Brem Hamburg cap. 5. ex Bibliothecâ Henric Ranzovii * Nithard p. 4. Vid. Mag. Charta C. 6. Merton C. 7. Bede Eccles. Hist. Li. 5. Cap. 12. Verstegan Chap. 3. pag. 68 69. Dr. Howell's General History Part. 4 Fol. 272. Id. ibid. 1. Kent Vid. Florence of Worcester 's Genealogy of the Kentish Kings at the end of his Chronicle pag. 689. and Will of Malmesâ—ury Lib. 1. p. 10 11. * Vide Saxon Annals Anno 901 902. Ibid. 2. South-Saxons 3. East-Saxons Bede Lib. 2. Cap. 5. Flor. Wig. pag. 690. Ibid. Cap. 12. 4. Northumbers Vid. The Genealogies of the Saxon Kings at the end of Florence of Worcester Lib. 1. Cap. 3. See Florence in the Place above cited Flor. Ibid. 5. East-Angles 6. Mercians * Florence Wig. p. 691. †Pag. 852. printed at the end of Script post Bedam ‖ Anno 758. * Page 26. Vid. Sir Henry Spelm. Coâ—cil Vol. 1. Anno 787. Lib. 1. Vid. Chronicon Saxonicum Anno DCCLV where his Pedigree is set down Vid. William Malm. Lib. p. 33. 7. West-Saxons * Vid. Rad. de Diceto Anno 593. Vid. Annal. Saxon. An. 611. * Lib. 1. cap. 2. * Vid. Flor. Wig. An. 666. and the Pedigree at the end of the 4 th Book ‖ Vid. William Malmesb. Lib. 1. pag. 13. * Flor. Hist. Anno 672. Vid. Annal. Saxon. Anno 693. * Vid. 1st Vol. of Sir Henry Spelman 's Councils as also the ensuing History Anno 755. Eâ—helwerdi Hist. Lib. 3. cap. 2. Fol. 292. Lib. 4. Cap. 1. Lib. 2. Cap. 1. Selden Tit. Hon. Fol. 502. last Edition The Division of England into Counties was much more antient than King Alfred Aelfredi Magnì Vita Fol. 82. Vid. Annal. Saxon. Flor. Wig. An. 636. * Flor. Hist. Anno 637. * Vid. Annal. Asserii Anno 855. pag. 56. edit per Doct. Gale De Gestis Aelfredi pag. 3. Vid. Testament Alfredi
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
5. p. 326 327. Eighth the Eighth an Island so called in the River Severne anciently known by the name of Olanege where a League was concluded between Edmund sirnamed Ironside and King Cnute l. 6. p. 47. Elbodius a Learned and Pious Bishop of North-Wales gets it decreed in a general Synod of the British Nation That Easter should be kept after the Romish Custom l. 4. p. 229. Archbishop of North-Wales that is of St. Asaph deceases but when uncertain l. 5. p. 249. Election of Kings Vid. Kings Eleutherius Bishop of Rome when chosen Pope The story of Lucius his sending to him to receive Christianity of suspicious credit l. 2. p. 69. His Letters to King Lucius the Contents of them discover their Imposture Id. p. 70. Elfeage succeeds Byrnstan in the Archbishoprick of Winchester l. 5. p. 333. Deceases at the Feast of St. Gregory Anno 951. Id. p. 350. Elfeage whose Sirname was Goodwin succeeds Athelwald in the Bishoprick of Winchester He was first Abbot of Bathe and afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury at last was killed by the Danes l. 6. p. 21. Is sent to King Anlaff with Aethelward the Ealdorman and upon what occaslon Id. p. 25. When made and consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury Id. p. 31. Is taken Prisoner by the Danes and killed because they had not Three thousand Pounds in Silver for his Ransom he is buried in St. Paul's Minster Id. p. 36. His Reliques translated from London to Canterbury by Archbishop Ethelnoth Id. p. 53. Elfer Ealdorman of the Mercians drives the Monks out of the Monasteries and commands them to be spoiled l. 6. p. 15. His Death is reported by the Monks that he was eaten up with Lice Id. p. 21. Elfgar Cousin to King Edgar and Earl of Devonshire his Death l. 6. p. 4. The Son of Earl Leofric had the Earldom given him which Harold formerly enjoyed Id. p. 78. Is outlaw'd in a Great Council and convicted for being a Traytor to the King and whole Nation His going to Griffyn Prince of North-Wales and their burning Hereford City Id. p. 86 87. At length is restored to the Peace and to his former Earldom Id. p. 87. Upon the Decease of his Father Leofric he receives the Earldom of Mercia and is banished a second time but soon restored to his Earldom and by what Force Id. p. 88. Elfin Bishop of Winchester succeeds Odo in the Archbishoprick of Canterbury his trampling on the Tombstone of that Pious Prelate c. Going to Rome for his Pall upon the Alps is found frozen to death l. 6. p. 2. Elfleda or Egelfleda the Fair Daughter of Earl Eodmar or Ordmar by whom King Edgar had a Son called Edward the Martyr but whether this Lady was married to the King or not is uncertain l. 6. p. 6 12. Elfric Archbishop turns the Secular Chanons out of the Cathedral of Christ-Church in Canterbury and places Monks in their rooms l. 4. p. 167. Elfwald King of the East-Angles his Death l. 4. p. 225. Vid. Alfwald Elfwinna Daughter and Heir of Aethelfleda is deprived of the Dominion of the Mercians by King Edward the Elder upon Contracting her self in Marriage with Reginald King of the Danes and brought into West-Seax by him l. 3. p. 320. Elgiva Vid. Aelgiva Elidurus the Pious Resigns the Crown which the Kingdom had given him to Reinstate his Brother who had been Deposed l. 1. p. 14. After his Brother's Death he receives the Crown the Second time but is soon Deposed by the Ambition of his Brethren who Seized and Confined his Person to the Tower of London for several years whilst they divided the Kingdom betwixt them but they dying he Resumes the Crown the Third Time and Governs for Four years to the general satisfaction of all Id. p. 15. Ellendune supposed to be Wilton near Salisbury where a Battel was Fought between Egbert King of the West-Saxons and Beornwulf King of the Mercians l. 5. p. 253. Ellwye in North-Wales a Bishoprick now known by the Name of St. Asaph l. 3. p. 149. Elutherius a Priest comes from France to King Cenwalc and is Ordained Bishop of the West-Saxons that is Winchester by Theodore Archbishop of Canterbury l. 4. p. 182 192. His Death and Succession Id. p. 193. Ely-Monastery Founded by Etheldrethe late Wife to King Egfrid in which she became the first Abbess l. 4. p. 193. Is destroyed by the Danes and when and afterwards Re-edified by King Edgar Ibid. Emma said to be King Ethelred's only Wife had Edward and Alfred by him l. 6. p. 45. Is Married afterwards to King Cnute and how she is Censured for it Id. p. 51. Her Son Hardecnute his Father before his Death appointed to be King of Denmark Id. p. 56. Decreed in a Great Council that she should reside at Winchester with the Domesticks of the late King her Husband and possess all West-Saxony She is also called Elgiva Id. p. 61. Her Decease and Character is accused of having been too Familiar with Bishop Alwyn for which she undergoes the Ordeal Id. p. 79. Emperor the First Emperors that were not Romans were Trajan and Hadrian who were both Spaniards l. 2. p. 67. Eneon the Son of Owen Prince of South-Wales subdues all the Countrey of Gwin or Gwyr in North-Wales l 6. p. 6. Destroys it again the second time Id. p. 16. The greatest part of Earl Alfred's Army is slain by him and his Forces and the rest put to flight But the Year after the Gentlemen of Guentland in South-Wales cruelly slay him His Character Id. p. 21. England Old England seated between the Saxons and the Jutes having for its Capital City that which is called in the Saxon Tongue Sleswic but by the Danes Heathaby l. 3. p. 118. When the Nation came under this General Name l. 5. p. 246 247 255. Never had any long respite from Invasions by the Danes c. from King Egbert's time to the beginning of the Reign of William the First l. 5. p. 247. Wasted for many years by the Danes Norwegians Goths Sweeds and Vandals Id. p. 255. Is divided first into Counties and those inâ—o Hundreds and Tythings by King Alfred Id. p. 291. Englisherie what and the Law made concerning it in Edward the Confessor's time l. 6. p. 101. English-men by the general Consent of the Clerus and Populus Assembled in the Great Council it is Enacted That those who before were called Jutes or Saxons should now be call'd by this Name l. 5. p. 255 292. English-Saxons their Character vid. Saxons In one year had fought eight or nine Battles against the Danes c. besides innumerable Skirmishes l. 5. p. 277. Entail of the Crown mentioned by Alfred in his last Will to have been made formerly in a General Council of the West-Saxon Nobility at Swinburne l. 5. p. 309. Of Lands also to be in force in his time Ibid. 310. Eoppa who he was and what his Pedigree l. 4. p. 217. Eoric a Danish King of the East-Angles killed in
Battel by the Kentish men l. 5. p. 313. After his Death the Danes there yielded themselves up to Edward the Elder l. 5. p. 322 323. The Ecclesiastical Laws made between this Eoric who succeeded Gutherne in the Government of East-England and King Edward Id. p. 326. Eorpenwald King of the East-Angles Son to Redwald when he began his Reign l. 4. p. 157. Is succeeded by his Brother Sigebert whom formerly he had Banished Id. p. 179. Eorpwald or Eorpald King of the East-Saxons Baptized but not long after is slain by one Richbert a Heathen l. 4. p. 175. Eowils slain in battel with many thousands of his Danes at a place called Wodnesfield by King Edward the Elder 's Army l. 5. p. 315. Ercenbright or Ercombert Vid. Earcombert Eric the Son of Harold whom the Northumbers set up for their King and about a year or two after drove him out again l. 5. p. 350. Erkenwald Younger Son to Anna King of the East-Angles is Consecrated Bishop of London by Theodore Archbishop of Canterbury He founded Two Monasteries before he came to be Bishop and for whom l. 4. p. 196. Continued Bishop thereof till after the Reign of King Ina Id. p. 201. Ermenred The Eldest Son of Eadbald craftily supplanted by his Younger Brother Earcombert who got the Kingdom from him He had Two Sons who were cruelly Murthered by Thunore one of the King's Thanes whom he employed in that Execucution l. 4. p. 180 185. Esylht Daughter to Conan King or Prince of North-Wales Marries Merwyn Urych a Nobleman the Son of Gwyriad who afterwards was King in her Right l. 5. p. 251. Ethelard Ordained Archbishop of York l. 4. p. 238. Ethelbald succeeds Ceolred in the Kingdom of Mercia and holds it One and Forty years l. 4. p. 217. Ethelbald after his Father's Death succeeds him in West-Saxony l. 5. p. 265. Marries his Father's Widow but afterwards Repenting of the Incest puts her away from him His Character Reign Death and Burial Id. p. 266. Vid Aethelbald Ethelbert King of Kent in his time Pope Gregory made the English-Saxons Christians l. 3. p. 143 153. Beaten by Ceawlin and Cutha his Brother his double Character and Alliance l. 3. p. 145. The most powerful Prince that had Reigned in Kent having extended the bounds of his Dominions as far as Humber he Marries Bertha a Christian Lady the King of France his Sister and upon what Conditions l. 4. p. 153. By Augustin's persuasion builds the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul in Canterbury Id. p. 157. Is Baptized in St. Pancrace Church there which before had been a Heathen Temple Ibid. Had many noble Presents sent him by Pope Gregory with a Letter full of Sanatory Advice Id. p. 158 159. Builds the Church of St. Andrew at Rochester and endows it Id. p. 160. Confirms in a Great Council both of Clergy and Laity all the Grants and Charters whereby he had settled great Endowments on both Christ-Church and that of St. Pancrace Ibid. But his Charters are very suspitious of being Forged in many respects Id. p. 163. The Secular Laws that were Enacted in the Great Council in his time Id. Ibid. His Death and Burial in St. Martin's Porch in the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul He was the First English King that ever received Baptism and lived above Twenty years after his Conversion Id. p. 168. He was the Third King that Ruled over all Britain l. 5. p. 254. Ethelbert is Consecrated Bishop of Witerne called in Latin Candida Casa at York l. 4. p. 231. One of his Name Bishop of Hagulstad Deceases l. 4. p. 241. Ethelbert the Son of Ethelred King of the East-Angles is slain in the Court of King Offa and by whose Instigations l. 4. p. 237. Ethelbert or Aethelbryht after his Brother Ethelbald's Decease takes the Kingdom and holds it in great Peace and Quiet from Domestick Commotions l. 5. p. 266. His Death lamented after having Governed Five years to general satisfaction buried at Shireburne and is supposed to have a Son called Ethelwald Id. p. 267. Ethelbryht the Son of King Withred succeeds Eadbryht King of Kent l. 4. p. 225. Nothing remarkable but that the City of Canterbury was Burnt in his Reign Id. p. 228. His Death Ibid. Ethelburgh Vid. Aethelburga Etheldrethe twice married but would let neither of her Husbands enjoy her which was accounted in those days a great piece of Sanctity l. 4. p. 193 198. Is Foundress of the Monastery of Ely in which she her self became the First Abbess Id. p. 193. Daughter to Anna King of the East-Saxons her Death and after Sixteen Years Burial her Body being taken up as whole as at first she was Canonized and called St. Audrey of Ely Id. p. 198 199. Etheldrith Daughter to King Offa and once the Spouse of Ethelbert King of the East-Angles a holy Virgin that lived in a Cell wherein Withlaff King of the Mercians found a safe Retreat from the high Displeasure of Egbert for Four Months till he was reconciled to him l. 5. p. 254. Etheler King of the East-Angles taking part with Penda against Oswy is slain l. 4. p. 185. Ethelfleda the Lady of Mercia builds many Castles to secure the Mercian Frontiers against the Danes and Welsh l. 5. p. 316. Sends an Army against the Welsh which took Brecenanmere supposed to be Brecknock Castle and the King's Wife and about Four and thirty Prisoners Id. p. 319. Takes the Town of Derby and the City of Canterbury Reduces Leicester under her Dominion and the Danes become subject to her Dies at Tamworth in the Eighth Year of her Government and lies buried at Gloucester in the East-Isle of St. Peter's Church Her Character Id. p. 320. Vid. Ethelred Duke of Mercia her Husband Ethelfred the Son of Ethelric the Son of Ida reigns over both the Northumbrian Kingdoms l. 3. p. 148. l. 4. p. 159. A Warlike Prince that wasted the Britains more than any other Saxon Kings l. 4. p. 159. Leads his Army to Leger-Ceaster and theâ—e slays a great multitude of Britains Id. p. 164. His Pursuit of Edwin after his Banishment though he was of the Blood-Royal Id. p. 169. Is slain by Redwald King of the East-Angles and his Sons banished by Edwin Id. p. 170. Ethelfreda or Elfreda Daughter to Earl Ordgar and Widow of Ethelwald Earl of the East-Angles married to King Edgar and her Children by him l. 6. p. 5 6. The Trick her first Husband plaid to obtain her and the return she made him for it Id. p. 9 10. Builds a Nunnery in the place where her first Husband was slain Id. p. 10 20. She is crowned Queen to the great displeasure of Archbishop Dunstan Id. p. 10. Contrives the Death of Edward the Martyr and how but being convinced of her wickedness for it she betook her self to very severe Penalties Id. p. 17 18. Her violent Passion to her Son Ethelred a Youth in beating him unmercifully with a Wax-Taper and why Id. p. 19. Takes