and Huda with those of Surrey fell on the Danes at thir landing in Tanet and at first put them back but the slain and drown'd were at length so many on either side as left the loss equal on both which yet hinderd not the solemnity of a marriage at the feast of Easter between Burhed the Mercian and Ethelswida King Ethelwolf's Daughter An. Dom. 854 Howbeit the Danes next year winterd again in Shepey Whom Ethelwolf not finding human health sufficient to resist growing daily upon him in hope of divine aid registerd in a Book and dedicated to God the tenth part of his own lands and of his whole Kingdome eas'd of all impositions but converted to the maintenance of Masses and Psalms weekly to be sung for the prospering of Ethelwolf and his Captains as appears at large by the Patent it self in William of Malmsbury Asser saith de did it for the redemtion of his Soul and the Soul of his Ancestors After which as having done some great matter to shew himself at Rome and be applauded of the Pope he takes a long and cumbersome journey thether with young Alfrid again and there staies a year An. Dom. 855 when his place requir'd him rather heer in the field against Pagan Enemies left wintring in his land Yet so much manhood he had as to return thence no Monk and in his way home took to Wife Judith Daughter of Charles the bald King of France But ere his return Ethelbald his eldest Son Alstan his trusty Bishop and Enulf Earl of Somerset conspir'd against him thir complaints were that he had tak'n with him Alfrid his youngest Son to be there inaugurated King and brought home with him an out-landish Wife for which they endeavourd to deprive him of his Kingdom The disturbance was expected to bring forth nothing less then War but the King abhorring civil discord after many conferences tending to peace condescended to divide the Kingdom with his Son division was made but the matter so carried that the Eastern and worst part was malignly afforded to the Father The Western and best giv'n to the Son at which many of the Nobles had great indignation offring to the King thir utmost assistance for the recovery of all whom he peacefully dissuading sat down contented with his portion assign'd In the East-Angles Edmund lineal from the antient stock of those Kings a youth of 14 years only but of great hopes was with consent of all but his own Crown'd at Burie An. Dom. 857 About this time as Buchanan relates the Picts who not long before had by the Scots bin driv'n out of thir Countrey part of them coming to Osbert and Ella then Kings of Northumberland obtain'd aid against Donaldus the Scotish King to recover thir antient possession Osbert who in person undertook the expedition marching into Scotland was at first put to a retreat but returning soon after on the Scots over-secure of thir suppos'd Victory put them to flight with great slaughter took Pris'ner thir King and persu'd his Victory beyond Sterlinbridge The Scots unable to resist longer and by Embassadors entreating peace had it granted them on these conditions the Scots were to quit all they had possess'd within the Wall of Severus the limits of Scotland were beneath Sterlin-bridge to be the River Forth and on the other side Dunbritton Frith from that time so call'd of the Brittish then seated in Cumberland who had joind with Osbert in this Action and so far extended on that side the Brittish limits If this be true as the Scotch Writers themselv's witness and who would think them Fabulous to the disparagement of thir own Country how much wanting have bin our Historians to thir Countries Honour in leting pass unmention'd an exploit so memorable by them rememberd and attested who are wont ofter to extenuate then to amplifie aught done in Scotland by the English Donaldus on these conditions releas't soon after dyes according to Buchanan in 858. Ethelwolf Chief King in England had the year before ended his life and was buried as his Father at Winchester He was from his youth much addicted to devotion so that in his Fathers time he was ordain'd Bishop of Winchester and unwillingly for want of other Legitimate Issue succeeded him in the Throne mannaging therfore his greatest affairs by the activity of two Bishops Alstan of Sherburne and Swithine of Winchester But Alstan is noted of Covetousness and Oppression by William of Malmsbury the more vehemently no doubt for doing some notable damage to that Monastery The same Author writes that Ethelwolf at Rome paid a Tribute to the Pope continu'd to his dayes However he were facil to his Son and seditious Nobles in yeilding up part of his Kingdome yet his Queen he treated not the less honourably for whomsoever it displeas'd The West-Saxon had decreed ever since the time of Eadburga the infamous Wife of Birthric that no Queen should sit in State with the King or be dignifi'd with the Title of Queen But Ethelwolf permitted not that Judith his Queen should loose any point of Regal State by that Law At his Death he divided the Kingdom between his two Sons Ethelbald and Ethelbert to the younger Kent Essex Surrey Sussex to the Elder all the rest to Peter and Paul certain revenues yearly for what uses let others relate who write also his Pedigree from Son to Father up to Adam Ethelbald and Ethelbert EThelbald unnatural and disloyal to his Father fell justly into another though contrary sin of too much love to his Fathers Wife and whom at first he oppos'd coming into the Land her now unlawfully marrying he takes into his Bed but not long enjoying dy'd at three years end without doing aught more worthy to be rememberd having reign'd two years with his Father impiously usurping An. Dom. 860 and three after him as unworthily inheriting And his hap was all that while to be unmolested by the Danes not of Divine favour doubtless but to his greater condemnation living the more securely his incestuous life Huntingdon on the other side much praises Ethelbald and writes him buried at Sherburn with great sorrow of the people who miss'd him long after Mat. West saith that he repented of his incest with Judith and dismiss'd her but Asser an Eye witness of those times mentions no such thing Ethelbert alone EThelbald by Death remov'd the whole Kingdom came rightfully to Ethelbert his next Brother Who though a Prince of great Vertue and no blame had as short a Reign allotted him as his faulty Brother nor that so peacefull once or twice invaded by the Danes But they having landed in the West with a great Army and sackt Winchester were met by Osric Earl of Southampton and Ethelwolf of Bark-shire beat'n to thir Ships and forc't to leave thir booty Five years after about the time of his An. Dom. 855 Death they set foot again in Tanet the Kentish men wearied out with
and built another at Temsford judging that place more opportune from whence to make thir excursions and soon after went forth with design to assail Bedford but the Garrison issuing out slew a great part of them the rest fled After this a greater Army of them gatherd out of Mercia and the East-Angles came and beseig'd the City call'd Wigingmere a whole Day but finding it defended stoutly by them within thence also departed driving away much of thir Cattel wherupon the English from Towns and Citties round about joining Forces laid Seige to the Town and Castle of Temsford and by assault took both slew thir King with Toglea a Duke and Mannan his Son an Earl with all the rest there found who chose to die rather then yeild Encourag'd by this the men of Kent Surrey and part of Essex enterprise the Seige of Colnhester nor gave over till they won it sacking the Town and putting to Sword all the Danes therein except some who escap'd over the Wall To the succour of these a great number of Danes inhabiting Ports and other Towns in the East-Angles united thir Force but coming too late as in revenge beleaguerd Maldon but that Town also timely releiv'd they departed not only frustrate of thir design but so hotly persu'd that many thousands of them lost thir lives in the flight Forthwith King Edward with his West-Saxons went to Passham upon Ouse there to guard the passage while others were building a stone Wall about Torchester to him there Earl Thurfert and other Lord Danes with thir Army thereabout as far as Weolud came and submitted Wherat the Kings Souldiers joyfully cry'd out to be dismiss't home therfore with another part of them he enterd Huntingdon and repair'd it where breaches had bin made all the people thereabout returning to obedience The like was done at Colnchester by the next remove of his Army after which both East and West-Angles and the Danish Forces among them yeilded to the King swearing Allegiance to him both by Sea and Land the Army also of Danes at Grantbrig surrendring themselves took the same Oath The Summer following he came with his Army to Stamford An. Dom. 922 built a Castle there on the South-side of the River where all the people of those quarters acknowledg'd him supream Dureing his abode there Elfled his Sister a martial Woman who after her Husbands Death would no more marry but gave her self to public affairs repairing and fortifying many Towns warring sometimes dy'd at Tamworth the Cheif Seat of Mercia wherof by guift of Alfred her Father she was Lady or Queen wherby that whole Nation became obedient to King Edward as did also North-Wales with Howel Cledaucus and Jeothwell thir Kings Thence passing to Nottingham he enterd and repair'd the Town plac'd there part English part Danes and receav'd fealty from all in Mercia of either Nation The next Autumn coming An. Dom. 923 with his Army into Cheshire he built and fortifi'd Thelwel and while he staid there call'd another Army out of Mercia which he sent to repair and fortifie Manchester About Midsummer following An. Dom. 924 he march'd again to Nottingham built a Town over against it on the South-side of that River and with a Bridg joyn'd them both thence journied to a place call'd Bedecanwillan in Pictland there also built and fenc'd a City on the Borders where the King of Scots did him honour as to his Sovran together with the whole Scotish Nation the like did Reginald and the Son of Eadulf Danish Princes with all the Northumbrians both English and Danes The King also of a people thereabout call'd Streatgledwalli the North Welch as Camden thinks of Strat-Cluid in Denbigh-shire perhaps rather the British of Cumberland did him homage and not undeserv'd For Buchanan himself confesses that this King Edward with a small number of men compar'd to his Enemies overthrew in a great Battel the whole united power both of Scots and Daâ—es slew most of the Scotish Nobility and forc'd Malcolmb whom Constantine the Scotch King had made General and design'd Heir of his Crown to save himself by flight sore wounded Of the English he makes Athelstan the Son of Edward Chief Leader and so far seems to confound times and actions as to make this Battel the same with that fought by Athelstan about 24 years after at Bruneford against Anlaf and Constantine wherof hereafter But here Buchanan takes occasion to inveigh against the English Writers upbraiding them with ignorance who affirm Athelstan to have bin supream King of Britain Constantine the Scotish King with others to have held of him and denies that in the Annals of Marianus Scotus any mention is to be found therof which I shall not stand much to contradict for in Marianus whether by Surname or by Nation Scotus will be found as little mention of any other Scotish affairs till the time of King Dunchad slain by Machetad or Mackbeth in the year 1040. which gives cause of suspition that the affairs of Scotland before that time were so obscure as to be unknown to thir own Countryman who liv'd and wrote his Chronicle not long after But King Edward thus nobly doing and thus honour'd the year following dy'd at Farendon An. Dom. 925 a builder and restorer eev'n in War not a destroyer of his Land He had by several Wives many Childern his eldest Daughter Edgith he gave in marriage to Charles King of France Grand-Child of Charles the Bald above-mention'd of the rest in place convenient His Laws are yet to be seen He was buried at Winchester in the Monastery by Alfred his Father And a few days after him dy'd Ethelwerd his Eldest Son the Heir of his Crown He had the whole Iland in subjection yet so as petty Kings reign'd under him In Northumberland after Ecbert whom the Danes had set up and the Northumbrians yet unruly under thir yoke at the end of 6 years had expell'd one Ricsig was set up King and bore the name 3 years then another Ecbert and Guthred the latter if we beleeve Legends of a Servant made King by command of St. Cudbert in a Vision and enjoyn'd by another Vision of the same Saint to pay well for his Royalty many Lands and privileges to his Church and Monastery But now to the story Athelstan AThelstan next in Age to Ethelward his Brother who deceas'd untimely few days before though born of a Concubine yet for the great appearance of many vertues in him and his Brethren being yet under Age was exalted to the Throne at Kingstone An. Dom. 926 upon Thames and by his Fathers last Will saith Malmsbury yet not without some opposition of one Alfred and his Accomplices who not likeing he should reign had conspir'd to seise on him after his Fathers Death and to put out his Eyes But the Conspiratours discoverd and Alfred denying the Plot was sent to Rome to assert his innocence before the Pope where taking his Oath on
the King who still laid at him and little expected such assassination mortally into the brest The matter was done in a moment ere men set at Table could turn them or imagin at first what the stir meant till perceaving the King deadly wounded they flew upon the murderer and hew'd him to peeces who like a wild Beast at abbay seeing himself surrounded desperatly laid about him wounding some in his fall The King was buried at Glaston wherof Dunstan was then Abbot his Laws yet remain to be seen among the Laws of other Saxon Kings Edred EDred the third Brother of Athelstan the Sons of Edmund being yet but Children next reign'd not degenerating from his worthy predecessors and Crown'd at Kingston Northumberland he throughly subdu'd the Scots without refusal swore him Allegiance yet the Northumbrians ever of doubtfull Faith soon after chose to themselves one Eric a Dane Huntingdon still haunts us with this Anlaf of whom we gladly would have bin ridd and will have him before Eric recall'd once more and reign fowr years then again put to his shifts But An. Dom. 950 Edred entring into Northumberland and with spoils returning Eric the King fell upon his rear Edred turning about both shook off the Enemy and prepar'd to make a second inroad which the Northumbrians dreading rejected Eric slew Amanous the Son of Anlaf and with many presents appeasing Edred submitted again to his Goverment nor from that time had Kings but were govern'd by Earls of whom Osulf was the first About this time Wulstan An. Dom. 953 Archbishop of York accus'd to have slain certain men of Thetford in revenge of thir Abbot whom the Townsmen had slain was committed by the King to close Custody but soon after enlarg'd was restor'd to his place Malmsbury writes that his crime was to have conniv'd at the revolt of his Countrymen but An. Dom. 955 King Edred two years after sick'ning in the flowr of his youth dy'd much lamented and was buried at Winchester Edwi EDwi the Son of Edmund now come to Age after his Uncle Edred's Death took on him the Goverment and was Crown'd at Kingston His lovely person sirnam'd him the Fair his actions are diversly reported by Huntingdon not thought illaudable But Malnisbury and such as follow him write far otherwise that he married or kept as Concubine his neer Kinswoman some say both her and her Daughter so inordinatly giv'n to his pleasure that on the very day of his Coronation he abruptly withdrew himself from the Company of his Peers whether in Banquet or Consultation to sit wantoning in the Chamber with this Algiva so was her name who had such power over him Wherat his Barons offended sent Bishop Dunstan the boldest among them to request his return he going to the Chamber not only interrupted his dalliance and rebuk'd the Lady but takeing him by the hand between force and persuasion brought him back to his Nobles The King highly displeas'd and instigated perhaps An. Dom. 956 by her who was so prevalent with him not long after sent Dunstan into banishment caus'd his Monastery to be rifl'd and became an Enemy to all Monks Wherupon Odo Archbishop of Canterbury pronounc't a separation or divorce of the King from Algiva But that which most incited William of Malmsbury against him he gave that Monastery to be dwelt in by secular Preists or to use his own phrase made it a stable of Clerks at length these affronts done to the Church were so resented by the people that the Mercians and Northumbrians revolted from him and set up Edgar his Brother leaving to Edwi the An. Dom. 957 An. Dom. 958 West-Saxons only bounded by the River Thames with greif wherof as is thought he soon after ended his daies and was buried at Winchester Mean while Elfsin Bishop of that place after the Death of Odo ascending by Simony to the Chair of Canterbury and going to Rome the same year for his Pall was froz'n to Death in the Alps. Edgar Edgar by his Brothers Death now King of all England at 16 years of Age call'd home Dunstan An. Dom. 959 out of Flanders where he liv'd in exile This King had no War all his Reign yet allways well prepar'd for War govern'd the Kingdom in great Peace Honour and Prosperity gaining thence the Sirname of Peaceable much extoll'd for Justice Clemency and all Kingly Vertues the more ye may be sure by Monks for his building so many Monasteries as some write every year one for he much favour'd the Monks against secular Preists who in the time of Edwi had got possession in most of thir Covents His care and wisdome was great in guarding the Coast round with stout ships to the number of 3600 Mat. West reck'ns them 4800 divided into fowr Squadrons to sail to and fro on the fowr quarters of the land meeting each other the first of 1200 sail from East to West the second of as many from West to East the third and fowrth between North and South himself in the Summer time with his Fleet. Thus he kept out wisely the force of Strangers and prevented Forein War but by thir too frequent resort hither in time of peace and his too much favouring them he let in thir vices unaware Thence the people saith Malmsbury learnt of the out-landish Saxons rudeness of the Flemish daintiness and softness of the Danes Drunk'ness though I doubt these vices are as naturally home-bred heer as in any of those Countries Yet in the Winter and Spring time he usually rode the Circuit as a Judge Itinerant through all his Provinces to see justice well administerd and the poor not oppress'd Theeves and Robbers he rooted almost out of the Land and wild Beasts of prey altogether enjoining Ludwal King of Wales to pay the yearly tribute of 300 Wolves which he did for two years together till the third year no more were to be found nor ever after but his Laws may be read yet extant Whatever was the cause he was not Crown'd till the 30. of his Age but then with great An. Dom. 973 An. Dom. 974 splendor and magnificence at the City of Bath in the Feast of Pentecost This year dy'd Swarling a Monk of Croyland the 142. year of his Age and another soon after him in the 115th in the Fenn and watrish air the more remarkable King Edgar the next year went to Chester and summoning to his Court there all the Kings that held of him took homage of them thir names are Kened King of Scots Malcolm of Cumberland Maccuse of the Iles five of Wales Duswal Huwal Grifith Jacob Judethil these he had in such aw that going one day into a Gally he caus'd them to take each man his Oar and row him down the River Dee while he himself sat at the Stern which might be done in meriment and easily obei'd if with a serious brow discoverd rather vain glory and insulting haughtiness then
this Iland Where the Inhabitants none but Devils as som write or as others a lawless crew left heer by Albion without Head or Governour both entertain'd them and had issue by them a second breed of Giants who tyranniz'd the Ile till Brutus came The Eldest of these Dames in thir Legend they call Albina and from thence for which cause the whole scene was fram'd will have the name Albion deriv'd Incredible it may seem so sluggish a conceit should prove so ancient as to be authoriz'd by the Elder Ninnius reputed to have liv'd above a thousand years agoe This I find not in him but that Histion sprung of Japhet had four Sons Francus Romanus Alemannus and Britto of whom the Britans as true I beleeve as that those other Nations whose names are resembl'd came of the other three if these Dreams give not just occasion to call in doubt the Book it self which bears that title Hitherto the things themselves have giv'n us a warrantable dispatch to run them soon over But now of Brutus and his Line with the whole Progeny of Kings to the entrance of Julius Caesar we cannot so easily be discharg'd Descents of Ancestry long continu'd laws and exploits not plainly seeming to be borrow'd or devis'd which on the common beleif have wrought no small impression defended by many deny'd utterly by few For what though Brutus and the whole Trojan pretence were yeelded up seeing they who first devis'd to bring us from som noble Ancestor were content at first with Brutus the Consul till better invention although not willing to forgoe the name taught them to remove it higher into a more fabulous Age by the same remove lighting on the Trojan Tales in affectation to make the Britan of one Original with the Roman pitch'd there yet those old and inborn names of successive Kings never any to have bin real persons or don in thir lives at least som part of what so long hath bin remember'd cannot be thought without too strict an incredulity For these and those causes above mention'd that which hath receav'd approbation from so many I have chos'n not to omitt Certain or uncertain be that upon the credit of those whom I must follow so far as keeps alooff from impossible and absurd attested by ancient Writers from Books more ancient I refuse not as the due and proper subject of Story The principal Author is well know'n to be Geoffrey of Monmouth what he was and whence his authority who in his age or before him have deliver'd the same matter and such like general discourses will better stand in a Treatise by themselvs All of them agree in this that Brutus was the Son of Silvius he of Ascanius whose Father was Aeneas a Trojan Prince who at the burning of that City with his Son Ascanius and a collected number that escap'd after long wandring on the Sea arriv'd in Italy Where at length by the assistance of Latinus King of Latium who had giv'n him his Daughter Lavinia he obtain'd to succeed in that Kingdom and left it to Ascanius whose Son Silvius though Roman Histories deny Silvius to be Son of Ascanius had maried secretly a Neece of Lavinia She being with Child the matter became known to Ascanius Who commanding his Magicians to enquire by Art what sex the Maid had conceiv'd had answer that it was one who should be the death of both his Parents and banish'd for the fact should after all in a farr Country attain to highest honour The prediction fail'd not for intravel the Mother di'd And Brutus the Child was so call'd at fifteen years of Age attending his Father to the Chace with an arrow unfortunately kill'd him Banish'd therefore by his kindred he retires into Greece Where meeting with the race of Helenus King Priams Son held there in servile condition by Pandrasus then King with them he abides For Pirrhus in revenge of his Father slain at Troy had brought thither with him Helenus and many others into servitude There Brutus among his own stock so thrives in vertue and in Arms as renders him belov'd to Kings and great Captains above all the Youth of that Land Wherby the Trojans not only beginn to hope but secretly to move him that he would lead them the way to liberty They allege their numbers and the promis'd help of Assaracus a Noble Greekish Youth by the Mothers side a Trojan whom for that cause his Brother went about to dispossess of certain Castles bequeath'd him by his Father Brutus considering both the Forces offer'd him and the strength of those Holds not unwillingly consents First therfore having fortifi'd those Castles he with Assaracus and the whole multitude betake them to the Woods and Hills as the safest place from whence to expostulate and in the name of all sends to Pandrasus this Message That the Trojans holding it unworthy thir Ancestors to serv in a Foren Kingdom had retreated to the Woods choosing rather a Savage life then a slavish If that displeas'd him that then with his leave they might depart to some other soil As this may pass with good allowance that the Trojans might be many in these parts for Helenus was by Pirrhus made King of the Chaouians and the Sons of Pirrhus by Andromache Hectors Wise could not but be powerful through all Epirus so much the more it may be doubted how these Trojans could be thus in bondage where they had Freinds and Country-men so Potent But to examin these things with diligence were but to confute the Fables of Britan with the Fables of Greece or Italy for of this Age what we have to say as well concerning most other Countries as this Iland is equally under Question Bee 't how it will Pandrasus not expecting so bold a message from the Sons of Captives gathers an Army And marching toward the Woods Brutus who had notice of his approach nigh to a Town call'd Sparatinum I know not what Towne but certaine of no Greek name over night planting himself there with good part of his men suddenly sets upon him and with slaughter of the Greeks pursues him to the passage of a River which mine Author names Akalon meaning perhaps Achelous or Acheron where at the Ford he overlaies them afresh This victory obtain'd and a sufficient strength left in Sparatinum Brutus with Antigonus the Kings Brother and his Freind Anacletus whom he had tak'n in the fight returns to the residue of his freinds in the thick Woods While Pandrasus with all speed recollecting beseiges the Town Brutus to releive his men beseig'd who earnestly call'd him distrusting the sufficiency of his force bethinks himself of this Policy Calls to him Anacletus and threatning instant death else both to him and his freind Antigonus enjoyns him that he should goe at the second howr of night to the Greekish Leagre and tell the Guards he had brought Antigonus by stealth out of Prison to a certain woody Vale unable through the waight of
sunk and lost the residue so torn and shak'n as not to be new rigg'd without much labour Strait he assembles what number of Ship-wrights either in his own Legions or from beyond Sea could be summon'd appoints Labienus on the Belgian side to build more and with a dreadful industry of ten days not respiting his Souldiers day or night drew up all his Ships and entrench'd them round within the circuit of his Camp This don and leaving to thir defence the same strength as before he returns with his whole Forces to the same Wood where he had defeated the Britans who preventing him with greater powers then before had now repossess'd themselvs of that place under Cassibelan thir cheif Leader Whose Territory from the States bordering on the Sea was divided by the River Thames about 80 mile inward With him formerly other Citties had continual Warr but now in the common danger had all made choise of him to be thir Generall Heer the British Horse and Charioters meeting with the Roman Cavalrie fought stoutly and at first somthing overmatch'd they retreat to the neer advantage of thir Woods and Hills but still follow'd by the Romans make head again cut of the forwardest among them and after some pause while Caesar who thought the days work had bin don was busied about the entrenching of his Camp march out again give feirce assault to the very Stations of his Guards and Senteries and while the main cohorts of two Legions that were sent to the Alarme stood within a small distance of each other terrify'd at the newness and the boldness of thir fight charg'd back again through the midst without loss of a man Of the Romans that day was slain Quintus Laberius Durus a Tribune the Britans having fought thir fill at the very entrance of Caesars Camp and sustain'd the resistance of his whole Army entrench'd gave over the assault Caesar heer acknowledges that the Roman way both of arming and of fighting was not so well fitted against this kind of Enemy for that the Foot in heavy Armour could not follow thir cunning flight and durst not by ancient Discipline stirr from thir Ensigne and the Horse alone disjoyn'd from the Legions against a foe that turn'd suddenly upon them with a mixt encounter both of Horse and Foot were in equall danger both following and retiring Besides thir fashion was not in great bodies and close order but in small divisions and open distances to make thir onset appointing others at certain spaces now to releev and bring of the weary now to succeed and renew the conflict which argu'd no small experience and use of Armes Next day the Britans afarr off upon the Hills begin to shew themselves heer and there and though less boldly then before to skirmish with the Roman Horse But at Noon Caesar having sent out 3 Legions and all his Horse with Trebonius the Legat to seek fodder suddenly on all sides they set upon the Forragers and charge up after them to the very Legions and thir Standards The Romans with great courage beat them back and in the chace beeing well seconded by the Legions not giving them time either to rally to stand or to descend from thir Chariots as they were wont slew many From this overthrow the Britans that dwelt farder off betook them home and came no more after that time with so great a power against Caesar Whereof advertis'd he marches onward to the Frontiers of Cassibelan which on this side were bounded by the Thames not passable except in one place and that difficult about Coway stakes neer Oatlands as is conjectur'd Hither coming he descries on the other side great Forces of the Enemy plac'd in good Array the bank sett all with sharp stakes others in the bottom cover'd with water whereof the marks in Beda's time were to be seene as he relates This having learnt by such as were tak'n or had run to him he first commands his Horse to pass over then his Foot who wadeing up to the neck went on so resolutely and so fast that they on the furder side not enduring the violence retreated and fled Cassibelan noe more now in hope to contend for Victorie dismissing all but 4000. of those Charioters through Woods and intricate waies attends thir motion where the Romans are to pass drives all before him and with continuall sallies upon the Horse where they least expected cutting off some and terrifying others compells them soe close together as gave them no leave to fetch in prey or bootie without ill success Whereupon Caesar strictly commanding all not to part from the Legions had nothing left him in his way but empty Fields and Houses which he spoil'd and burnt Meane while the Trinobantes a State or Kingdome and perhaps the greatest then among the Britans less favouring Cassibelan send Embassadors and yeild to Caesar upon this reason Immanuentius had bin thir King him Cassibelan had slaine and purpos'd the like to Mandubratius his Son whom Orosius calls Androgorius Beda Androgius but the youth escaping by flight into Gallia put himself under the protection of Caesar These entreat that Mandubratius may be still defended and sent home to succeed in his Fathers right Caesar sends him demands 40 Hostages and provision for his Armie which they immediately bring in and have thir Confines protected from the Souldier By their example the Cenimagni Segontiaci Ancalites Bibroci Cassi so I write them for the modern names are but guess'd on like terms make thir peace By them he learns that the Town of Cassibelan suppos'd to be Verulam was not farr distant fenc't about with Woods and Marshes well stuff't with men and much Cattel For Towns then in Britain were only Wooddy places Ditch't round and with a Mud Wall encompass'd against the inrodes of Enemies Thether goes Caesar with his Legions and though a place of great strength both by art and nature assaults it in two places The Britans after some defence fled out all at another end of the Town in the flight many were taken many slain and great store of Cattel found there Cassibelan for all these losses yet deserts not himself nor was yet his authoritie so much impair'd but that in Kent though in a manner possest by the Enemie his Messengers and commands finde obedience anough to raise all the people By his direction Cingetorix Carvilius Taximagulus and Segonax fowr Kings Reigning in those Countries which ly upon the Sea lead them on to assault that Camp wherein the Romans had entrench'd thir Shipping but they whom Caesar left there issuing out slew many and took Prisners Cingetorix a noted Leader without loss of thir own Cassibelan after so many defeats mov'd especially by revolt of the Citties from him thir inconstancie and falshood one to another uses mediation by Comius of Arras to send Embassadors about treatie of yeilding Caesar who had determin'd to Winter in the Continent by reason that Gallia was unsettl'd and not much of the
hearing themselves entreated by the Britans to that which gladly they would have wish't to obtain of them by entreating to the British Embassy return this answer Be assur'd henceforth of the Saxons as of faithful friends to the Britans no less ready to stand by them in thir need than in thir best of fortune The Embassadors return joyful and with news as welcome to thir Countrie whose sinister fate had now blinded them for destruction The Saxons consulting first thir Gods for they had answer that the Land whereto they went they should hold 300 years half that time conquering and half quietly possessing furnish out three long Gallies or Kyules with a chos'n company of warlike youth under the conduct of two Brothers Hengist and Horsa descended in the fourth degree from Woden of whom deify'd for the fame of his acts most Kings of those Nations derive thir pedigree These and either mixt with these or soon after by themselves two other Tribes or neighbouring people Jutes and Angles the one from Jutland the other from Anglen by the City of Sleswich both Provinces of Denmark An. Dom. 450 arrive in the first year of Martian the Greek Emperor from the birth of Christ 450 receav'd with much good will of the people first then of the King who after some assurances giv'n and tak'n bestows on them the I le of Tanet where they first landed hoping they might be made heerby more eager against the Picts when they fought as for thir own Countrie and more loyal to the Britans from whom they had receav'd a place to dwell in which before they wanted The British Nennius writes that these Brethren were driv'n into exile out of Germany and to Vortigern who reigned in much fear one while of the Picts then of the Romans and Ambrosius came opportunely into the Hav'n For it was the custom in old Saxony when thir numerous off-spring overflow'd the narrowness of thir bounds to send them out by lot into new dwellings wherever they found room either vacant or to be forc't But whether sought or unsought they dwelt not heer long without employment For the Scots and Picts were now come down som say as far as Stamsord in Lincoln-shire whom perhaps not imagining to meet new opposition the Saxons though not till after a sharp encounter put to flight and that more than once slaying in fight as some Scotch Writers affirm thir King Eugenius the Son of Fergus Hengist percaeving the Iland to be rich and fruitful but her Princes and other inhabitants giv'n to vicious ease sends word home inviting others to a share of his good success Who returning with 17 Ships were grown up now to a sufficient Army and entertain'd without suspicion on these terms that they should bear the brunt of War against the Picts receaving stipend and some place to inhabit With these was brought over the Daughter of Hengist a Virgin wondrous fair as is reported Rowen the British call her she by commandment of her Father who had invited the King to a Banquet coming in presence with a Bowle of Wine to welcome him and to attend on his Cup till the Feast ended won so much upon his fancy though already wiv'd as to demand her in mariage upon any conditions Hengist at first though it fell out perhaps according to his drift held off excusiing his meanness then obscurely intimating a desire and almost a necessity by reason of his augmented numbers to have his narrow bounds of Tanet enlarg'd to the Circuit of Kent had it streit by donation though Guorangonus till then was King of that place and so as it were overcome by the great munificence of Vortiger gave his Daughter And still encroaching on the Kings favour got furder leave to call over Octa and Ebissa his own and his Brothers Son pretending that they if the North were giv'n them would sit there as a continual defence against the Scots while himself guarded the East They therfore sayling with forty Ships eev'n to the Orcades and every way curbing the Scots and Picts possess'd that part of the Ile which is now Northumberland Notwithstanding this they complain that thir monthly pay was grown much into arrear which when the Britans found means to satisfie though alleging withall that they to whom promise was made of wages were nothing so many in number quieted with this a while but still seeking occasion to fall off they find fault next that thir pay is too small for the danger they undergo threatning op'n Warr unless it be augmented Guortimer the Kings Son perceaving his Father and the Kingdom thus betray'd from that time bends his utmost endeavour to drive them out They on the other side making League with the Picts and Scots and issuing out of Kent wasted without resistance almost the whole Land eev'n to the Western Sea with such a horrid devastation that Towns and Colonies overturn'd Preists and people slain Temples and Palaces what with fire and Sword lay alltogether heap'd in one mixt ruin Of all which multitude so great was the sinfullness that brought this upon them Gildas adds that few or none were likely to be other then lew'd and wicked persons The residue of these part overtak'n in the Mountains were slain others subdu'd with hunger preferr'd slavery before instant death som getting to Rocks Hills and Woods inaccessible preferr'd the fear and danger of any Death before the shame of a secure slavery many fled over Sea into other Countries some into Holland where yet remain the ruins of Brittenburgh an old Castle on the Sea to be seen at low water not far from Leiden either built as Writers of thir own affirm or seis'd on by those Britans in thir escape from Hengist Others into Armorica peopl'd as som think with Britans long before either by guift of Constantine the Great or else of Maximus to those British Forces which had serv'd them in Forein Wars to whom those also that miscarried not with the latter Constantine at Arles and lastly these exiles driv'n out by Saxons fled for refuge But the antient Chronicles of those Provinces attest thir coming thether to be then first when they fled the Saxons and indeed the name of Britain in France is not read till after that time Yet how a sort of fugitives who had quitted without stroke thir own Country should so soon win another appears not unless joyn'd to som party of thir own settl'd there before Vortiger nothing better'd by these calamities grew at last so obdurat as to commit incest with his daughter tempted or tempting him out of an ambition to the Crown For which beeing censur'd and condemn'd in a great Synod of Clercs and Laics and partly for fear of the Saxons according to the Counsel of his Peers he retir'd into Wales and built him there a strong Castle in Radnorshire by the advice of Ambrosius a young prophet whom others call
Merlin Nevertheless Faustus who was the Son thus incestuously begott'n under the instructions of German or some of his Disciples for German was dead before prov'd a religious man and liv'd in devotion by the River Remnis in Clamorganshire But the Saxons though finding it so easy to subdue the Ile with most of thir Forces uncertain for what cause return'd home when as the easiness of thir Conquest might seem rather likely to have call'd in more Which makes more probable that which the British write of Guortemir For he coming to Reigne instead of his Father depos'd for incest is said to have thrice driv'n and beseig'd the Saxons in the I le of Taneth and when they issu'd out with powerful supplies sent from Saxony to have fought with them fowr other Battells wherof three are nam'd the first on the River Darwent the second at Episford wherin Horsa the Brother of Hengist fell and on the British part Catigern the other Son of Vortiger The third in a Feild by Stonar then call'd Lapis tituli in Tanct where he beat them into thir Ships that bore them home glad to have so scap'd and not venturing to land again for 5 years after In the space wherof Guortemir dying commanded they should bury him in the Port of Stonar perswaded that his bones lying there would be terror enough to keep the Saxons from ever landing in that place they saith Ninnius neglecting his command buried him in Lincoln But concerning these times antientest annals of the Saxons relate in this manner An. Dom. 455 In the year 455. Hengist and Horsa fought against Vortigern in a place called Eglesthrip now Ailsford in Kent where Horsa lost his life of whom Horsted the place of his burial took name After this first Battel and the Death of his Brother Hengist with his Son Esca took on him Kingly Title and peopl'd Kent with Jutes who also then or not long after possess'd the I le of Wight and part of Hamshire lying opposite An. Dom. 457 Two years after in a fight at Creganford or Craford Hengist and his Son slew of the Britans four Cheif Commanders and as many thousand men the rest in great disorder flying to London with the total loss of Kent An. Dom. 465 And 8 years passing between he made new Warr on the Britans of whom in a Battel at Wippeds-fleot 12 Princes were slain and Wipped the Saxon Earl who left his name to that place though not sufficient to direct us where it now stands An. Dom. 473 His last encounter was at a place not mention'd where he gave them such an overthrow that flying in great fear they left the spoil of all to thir Enemies And these perhaps are the 4 Battells according to Nennius fought by Guortemir though by these Writers far differently related and happ'ning besides many other bickerings in the space of 20 years as Malmsbury reck'ns Nevertheless it plainly appears that the Saxons by whomsoever were put to hard shifts being all this while fought withall in Kent thir own allotted dwelling and somtimes on the very edge of the Sea which the word Wippeds-fleot seems to intimat But Guortemir now dead and none of courage left to defend the Land Vortigern either by the power of his faction or by consent of all reassumes the Government and Hengist thus rid of his grand opposer hearing gladly the restorement of his old favourer returns again with great Forces but to Vortigern whom he well knew how to handle without warring as to his Son in Law now that the only Author of dissention between them was remov'd by Death offers nothing but all terms of new league and amity The King both for his Wives sake and his own sottishness consulting also with his Peers not unlike himself readily yeilds and the place of parly is agree'd on to which either side was to repair without Weapons Hengist whose meaning was not peace but treachery appointed his men to be secretly arm'd and acquainted them to what intent The watch-word was Nemet eour Saxes that is Draw your Daggers which they observing when the Britans were throughly heated with Wine for the Treaty it seems was not without Cups and provok'd as was plotted by som affront dispatch'd with those Poniards every one his next man to the number of 300. the cheif of those that could do ought against him either in Counsel or in Field Vortigern they only bound and kept in Custody untill he granted them for his ransome three Provinces which were called afterward Essex Sussex and Middlesex Who thus dismist retiring again to his solitary abode in the Country of Guorthigirniaun so call'd by his name from thence to the Castle of his own building in North-Wales by the River Tiebi and living there obscurely among his Wives was at length burnt in his Towre by fire from Heav'n at the Praier as some say of German but that coheres not as others by Ambrosius Aurelian of whom as we have heard at first he stood in great fear and partly for that cause invited in the Saxons Who whether by constraint or of thir own accord after much mischeif don most of them returning back into thir own Country left a fair opportunity to the Britans of avenging themselves the easier on those that staid behinde Repenting therefore and with earnest supplication imploring divine help to prevent thir final rooting out they gather from all parts and under the leading of Ambrosius Aurelianus a vertuous and modest man the last heer of Roman stock advancing now onward against the late Victors defeat them in a memorable Battell Common opinion but grounded cheifly on the British Fables makes this Ambrosius to be a younger Son of that Constantine whose eldest as we heard was Constance the Monk who both lost thir lives abroad usurping the Empire But the express words both of Gildas and Bede assures us that the Parents of this Ambrosius having heer born regal dignity were slain in these Pictish Wars and commotions in the Iland And if the fear of Ambrose induc'd Vortigern to call in the Saxons it seems Vortigern usurp'd his right I perceave not that Nennius makes any difference between him and Merlin for that Child without Father that propheci'd to Vortigern he names not Merlin but Ambrose makes him the Son of a Roman Consul but conceal'd by his mother as fearing that the King therfore sought his life yet the youth no sooner had confess'd his parentage but Vortigern either in reward of his predictions or as his right bestow'd upon him all the West of Britain himself retiring to a solitary life Whose ever Son he was he was the first according to surest Authors that led against the Saxons and overthrew them but whether before this time or after none have writt'n This is certain that in a time when most of the Saxon Forces were departed home the Britans gather'd strength and either against those who were left remaining
out of the Province till both by fire and Sword he had aveng'd the Death of his Brother An. Dom. 687 At length Victred the Son of Ecbert attaining the Kingdome both settl'd at home all things in peace and secur'd his Borders from all outward Hostility While thus Kedwalla disquieted both West and East after his winning the Crown Ecfrid the Northumbrian and Ethelred the Mercian fought a sore Battel by the River Trent wherin Elswin Brother to Ecfrid a youth of 18 years much belov'd was slain and the accident likely to occasion much more sheding of blood peace was happily made by the grave exhortation of Archbishop Theodore a pecuniary fine only paid to Ecfrid as some satisfaction for the loss of his Brothers life Another adversity befell Ecfrid in his Family by means of Ethildrith his Wife King Anna's Daughter who having tak'n him for hir Husband and professing to love him above all other men persisted twelve years in the obstinat refusal of his bed therby thinking to live the purer life So perversly then was chastity instructed against the Apostles rule At length obtaining of him with much importunity her departure she veild her self a Nun then made Abbess of Ely dy'd 7 years after the pestilence and might with better warrant have kept faithfully her undertak'n Wedlock though now canoniz'd St. Audrey of Ely In the mean while Ecfrid had sent Bertus with a power to subdue Ireland a harmless Nation saith Beda and ever friendly to the English in both which they seem to have left a posterity much unlike them at this day miserably wasted without regard had to places hallow'd or profane they betook them partly to thir Weapons partly to implore divine aid and as was thought obtain'd it in thir full avengement upon Ecfrid For he the next year against the mind and persuasion of his sagest friends and especially of Cudbert a famous Bishop of that Age marching unadvisedly against the Picts who long before had bin subject to Northumberland was by them feigning flight drawn unawares into narrow streights overtopt with Hills and cut off with most of his Army From which time saith Bede military valour began among the Saxons to decay nor only the Picts till then peaceable but some part of the Britans also recover'd by Armes thir liberty for many years after Yet Aldfrid elder but base Brother to Ecfrid a man said to be learned in the Scriptures recall'd from Ireland to which place in his Brothers Reign he had retir'd and now succeeding upheld with much honour though in narrower bounds the residue of his Kingdome Kedwalla having now with great disturbance of his Neighbours reign'd over the West-Saxons two years besides what time he spent in gaining it wearied perhaps with his own turbulence went to Rome desirous there to receave Baptism which till then his worldly affairs had deferr'd and accordingly on Easter Day 689. he was baptiz'd by Sergius An. Dom. 689 the Pope and his name chang'd to Peter All which notwithstanding surpris'd with a Disease he out-liv'd not the Ceremony so far sought much above the space of 5 weeks in the Thirtieth year of his Age and in the Church of St. Peter was there buried with a large Epitaph upon his Tomb. Him succeeded Ina of the Royal Family and from the time of his coming in for many years oppress'd the Land with like greevances as Kedwalla had done before him insomuch that in those times there was no Bishop among them His first expedition was into Kent to demand satisfaction for the burning of Mollo Victred loth to hazard all for the rash act of a few deliver'd up 30 of those that could be found accessory or as others say pacifi'd Ina with a great sum of money Mean while at the incitement of Ecbert a devout Monk Wilbrod a Priest eminent for learning past over Sea having 12 others in Company with intent to preach the Gospel in Germany And coming to â—epin Cheif Regent of the Franks who An. Dom. 694 a little before had conquer'd the hither Frisia by his countnance and protection promise also of many benefits to them who should beleeve they found the work of conversion much the easier and Wilbrod the first Bishoprick in that Nation But two Priests each of them Hewald by name and for distinction surnam'd from the colour of thir Hair the black and the white by his example piously affected to the Souls of thir Country-men the old Saxons at thir coming thether to convert them met with much worse entertainment For in the House of a Farmer who had promis'd to convey them as they desir'd to the Governour of that Country discoverd by thir daily Ceremonies to be Christian Priests and the cause of thir coming suspected they were by him and his Heathen Neighbours cruelly butcherd yet not unaveng'd for the Governour enrag'd at such violence offerd to his Strangers sending Armed Men slew all those Inhabitants and burnt thir Village An. Dom. 697 After three years in Mercia Ostrid the Queen Wife to Ethelred was kill'd by her own Nobles as Beda's Epitomy records Florence calls them Southimbrians negligently omitting the cause of so strange a fact An. Dom. 698 And the year following Bertred a Northumbrian General was slain by the Picts An. Dom. 704 Ethelred 7 years after the violent Death of his Queen put on the Monk and resign'd his Kingdome to Kenred the Son of Wulfer his Brother An. Dom. 705 The next year Aldfrid in Northumberland dy'd leaving Osred a Child of 8 years to succeed him An. Dom. 709 Fowr years after which Kenred having a while with praise govern'd the Mercian Kingdome went to Rome in the time of Pope Constantine and shorn a Monk spent there the residue of his daies Kelred succeeded him the Son of Ethelred who had reign'd the next before With Kenred went Offa the Son of Siger King of East-Saxons and betook him to the same habit leaving his Wife and Native Country a comely Person in the prime of his youth much desir'd of the people and such his vertue by report as might have otherwise bin worthy to have reign'd An. Dom. 710 Ina the West-Saxon one year after fought a Battell at first doubtfull at last successfull against Gerent King of Wales An. Dom. 711 The next year Bertfrid another Northumbrian Captain fought with the Picts and slaughterd them saith Huntingdon to the full avengment of Ecfrids Death An. Dom. 715 The fowrth year after Ina had another doubtfull and cruell Battel at Wodnesburg in Wiltshire with Kelred the Mercian who dy'd the year following a lamentable Death for as he sat one day feasting with his Nobles An. Dom. 716 suddenly possess'd with an evill Spirit he expir'd in despair as Boniface Archbishop of Ments an English man who taxes him for a defiler of Nuns writes by way of caution to Ethelbald his next of Kin who succeeded him Osred also the young Northumbrian King slain by his Kindred in the 11.
of his Reign for his vitious life and incest committed with Nuns was by Kenred fucceeded and aveng'd he reigning two years left Osric in his room An. Dom. 718 In whose 7th year if Beda calculate right Victred King of Kent deceas'd having reign'd 34 years and some part of them with Suebhard as Beda testifies he left behind him three Sons Ethelbert Eadbert and Alric his Heirs An. Dom. 725 Three years after which An. Dom. 728 appear'd two Comets about the Sun terrible to behold the one before him in the Morning the other after him in the Evening for the space of two weeks in January bending thir blaze toward the North at which time the Saracens furiously invaded France but were expell'd soon after with great overthrow The same year in Northumberland Osric dying or slain adopted Kelwulf the Brother of Kenred his Successor to whom Beda dedicates his story but writes this only of him that the beginning and the process of his Reign met with many adverse commotions wherof the event was then doubtfully expected Mean while Ina7 years before having slain Kenwuls to whom Florent gives the addition of Clito giv'n usually to none but of the blood Royal and the 4th year after overthrown and slain Albright another Clito driv'n from Taunton to the South-Saxons for aid vanquish't also the East-Angles in more then one Battel as Malmsbury writes but not the year whether to expiate so much blood or infected with the contagious humour of those times Malmsbury saith at the persuasion of Ethelburga his Wife went to Rome and there ended his dayes yet this praise left behind him to have made good Laws the first of Saxon that remain extant to this day and to his Kinsman Edelard bequeath'd the Crown No less then the whole Monarchy of England and Wales For Ina if we beleeve a digression in the Laws of Edward Confessor was the first King Crown'd of English and British since the Saxons entrance of the British by means of his second Wife some way related to Cadwallader last King of Wales which I had not noted being unlikely but for the place where I found it After Ina by a surer Author An. Dom. 731 Ethelbald King of Mercia commanded all the Provinces on this side Humber with thir Kings the Picts were in league with the English the Scots peaceable within thir bounds and the Britans part were in thir own Goverment part subject to the English In which peacefull state of the land many in Northumberland both Nobles and Commons laying aside the exercise of Armes betook them to the Cloister and not content so to do at home many in the days of Ina Clerks and Laics Men and Woemen hasting to Rome in Herds thought themselves no where sure of Eternal Life till they were Cloisterd there Thus representing the state of things in this Iland Beda surceas'd to write Out of whom cheifly hath bin gatherd since the Saxons arrival such as hath bin deliverd a scatterd story pickt out heer and there with some trouble and tedious work from among his many Legends of Visions and Miracles toward the latter end so bare of civill matters as what can be thence collected may seem a Calendar rather then a History tak'n up for the most part with succession of Kings and computation of years yet those hard to be reconcil'd with the Saxon Annals Thir actions we read of were most commonly Wars but for what cause wag'd or by what Councells carried on no care was had to let us know wherby thir strength and violence we understand of thir wisedom reason or justice little or nothing the rest superstition and monastical affectation Kings one after another leaving thir Kingly Charge to run thir heads fondly into a Monks Cowle which leaves us uncertain whether Beda was wanting to his matter or his matter to him Yet from hence to the Danish Invasion it will be worse with us destitute of Beda Left only to obscure and blockish Chronicles whom Malmsbury and Huntingdon for neither they then we had better Authors of those times ambitious to adorn the History make no scruple oft-times I doubt to interline with conjectures and surmises of thir own them rather then imitate I shall choose to represent the truth naked though as lean as a plain Journal Yet William of Malmsbury must be acknowledg'd both for stile and judgment to be far the best Writer of them all but what labour is to be endur'd turning over Volumes of Rubbish in the rest Florence of Worster Huntingdon Simeon of Durham Hoveden Mathew of Westminster and many others of obscurer note with all thir monachisms is a penance to think Yet these are our only Registers transcribers one after another for the most part and somtimes worthy enough for the things they register This travail rather then not know at once what may be known of our antient story sifted from Fables and impertinences I voluntarily undergo and to save others if they please the like unpleasing labour except those who take pleasure to be all thir life time rakeing in the Foundations of old Abbies and Cathedrals but to my task now as it befalls An. Dom. 733 In the year 733. on the 18th Kalends of September was an Eclipse of the Sun about the third howr of day obscureing almost his whole Orb as with a black sheild Ethelbald of Mercia beseig'd and took the Castle or Town of Somerton An. Dom. 735 and two years after Beda our Historian dy'd some say the year before An. Dom. 738 Kelwulf in Northumberland three years after became Monk in Lindisfarne yet none of the severest for he brought those Monks from milk and water to Wine and Ale in which doctrin no doubt but they were soon docil and well might for Kelwulf brought with him good provision great treasure and revenues of land recited by Simeon yet all under pretense of following I use the Authors words poor Christ by voluntary poverty no marvel then if such applause were giv'n by Monkish Writers to Kings turning Monks and much cunning perhaps us'd to allure them To Eadbert his Uncle he left the Kingdom whose brother Ecbert Archbishop of York built a Library there An. Dom. 740 But two years after while Eadbert was busied in War against the Picts Ethelbald the Mercian by foul fraud assaulted part of Northumberland in his absence as the supplement of Beda's Epitomy records In the West-Saxons Edelard who succeeded Ina having bin much molested in the beginning of his Reign with the Rebellion of Oswald his Kinsman who contended with him for the right of succession overcoming at last those troubles dy'd in Peace 741 An. Dom. 741 leaving Cuthred one of the same linage to succeed him who at first had much War with Ethelbald the Mercian and various success but joyning with him in League two years after An. Dom. 743 made War on the Welch Huntingdon doubts not to give them a great Victory An. Dom. 744
a sickness ended his Reign And to Kenulf next in right of the same Progeny bequeath'd his Kingdome Mean while the Danish Pirats who still wasted Northumberland ventring on shoar to spoil another Monastery at the mouth of the River Don were assail'd by the English thir Cheif Captain slain on the place then returning to Sea were most of them Ship-wrack'd others driv'n again on shoar were put all to the Sword Simeon attributes this thir punishment to the power of St. Cudbert offended with them for the rifling of his Covent An. Dom. 796 Two years after this dy'd Ethelred twice King but not exempted at last from the fate of many his predecessors miserably slain by his people some say deservedly as not inconscious with them who train'd Osred to his ruin Osbald a Nobleman exalted to the Throne and in less then a month deserted and expell'd was forc'd to fly at last from Lindisfarne by Sea to the Pictish King and dy'd an Abbot Eardulf whom Ethelred six years before had commanded to be put to Death at Ripun before the Abbey-Gate dead as was suppos'd and with solemn Dirge carried into the Church after midnight found there alive I read not how then banish'd now recall'd was in Yorke created King In Kent Ethelbert or Pren whom the Annals call Eadbright so different they often are one from another both in timeing and in nameing by some means having usurp'd regal power after two years Reign contending with Kenulf the Mercian was by him tak'n Pris'ner and soon after out of pious commiseration let go but not receav'd of his own what became of him Malmsbury leaves in doubt Simeon writes that Kenulf commanded to put out his Eyes and lop off his hands but whether the sentence were executed or not is left as much in doubt by his want of expression An. Dom. 798 The second year after this they in Northumberland who had conspir'd against Ethelred now also raising War against Eardulf under Wada thir Cheif Captain after much havock on either side at Langho by Whaley in Lancashire the Conspirators at last flying Eardulf return'd with Victory The same year London with a great multitude of her Inhabitants by a sudden fire was consum'd An. Dom. 800 The year 800. made way for great alteration in England uniting her seaven Kingdoms into one by Echert the famous West-Saxon him Birthric dying Childless left next to reign the only surviver of that linage descended from Inegild the Brother of King Ina. And according to his Birth liberally bred he began early from his youth to give signal hopes of more then ordinary worth growing up in him which Birthric fearing and with all his juster title to the Crown secretly sought his life and Ecbert perceaving fled to Offa the Mercian but he having married Eadburg his Daughter to Birthric easily gave ear to his Embassadors coming to require Ecbert he again put to his shifts escap'd thence into France but after three years banishment there which perhaps contributed much to his education Charles the Great then reigning he was call'd over by the publick voice for Birthric was newly dead and with general applause created King of West-Saxons The same day Ethelmund at Kinneresford passing over with the Worcestershire men was met by Weolstan another Nobleman with those of Wiltshire between whom happ'nd a great fray wherin the Wiltshire men overcame but both Dukes were slain no reason of thir quarrel writ'n such bickerings to recount met oft'n in these our Writers what more worth is it then to Chronicle the Wars of Kites or Crows flocking and fighting in the Air An. Dom. 801 The year following Eardulf the Northumbrian leading forth an Army against Kenulf the Mercian for harboring certain of his Enemies by the diligent mediation of other Princes and Prelats Armes were laid aside and amity soon sworn between them But Eadburga the Wife of Birthric a woeman every way wicked in malice especially cruel An. Dom. 802 could not or car'd not to appease the general hatred justly conceiv'd against her accustom'd in her Husbands days to accuse any whom she spighted and not prevailing to his ruin her practice was by poison secretly to contrive his Death It fortun'd that the King her Husband lighting on a Cup which she had temperd not for him but for one of his great Favourites whom she could not harm by accuseing sip'd therof only and in a while after still pineing away ended his days the favourite drinking deeper found speedier the operation She fearing to be questiond for these facts with what treasure she had pass'd over-sea to Charles the Great whom with rich guifts coming to his presence the Emperour courtly receav'd with this pleasant proposal Choose Eadburga which of us two thou wilt me or my Son for his Son stood by him to be thy Husband She no dissembler of what she lik'd best made easie answer Were it in my choise I should choose of the two your Son rather as the younger man To whom the Emperour between jest and earnest hadst thou chosen me I had bestow'd on thee my Son but since thou hast chos'n him thou shalt have neither him nor me Nevertheless he assign'd her a rich Monastery to dwell in as Abbess for that life it may seem she chose next to profess but being a while after detected of unchastity with one of her followers she was commanded to depart thence from that time wandring poorly up and down with one Servant in Pavia a City of Italy she finish'd at last in beggery her shamefull life An. Dom. 805 In the year 805. Cuthred whom Kenuls the Mercian had instead of Pren made King in Kent having obscurely reign'd 8 years deceas'd An. Dom. 806 In Northumberland Eardulf the year following was driv'n out of his Realm by Alfwold who Reign'd two years in his room after whom Eandred Son of Eardulf 33 years An. Dom. 808 but I see not how this can stand with the sequel of story out of better Authors An. Dom. 809 Much less that which Buchanan relates the year following of Acaius King of Scots who having reign'd 32 years and dying in 809 had formerly aided but in what year of his Reign tells not Hungus King of Picts with 10000 Scots against Athelstan a Saxon or English-man then wasting the Pictish Borders that Hungus by the aid of those Scots and the help of St. Andrew thir Patron in a Vision by night and the appearance of his cross by day routed the astonisht English and slew Athelstan in fight 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 bestow'd Northumberland but of this I find no footsteps in our antient Writers and if any such thing were done in the time of Alfred it must be little less then 100. years after this Athelstan therefore and this great overthrow seems rather to have bin the fancy of
moderation of mind And that he did it seriously tryumphing appears by his words then utterd that his successors might then glory to be Kings of England when they had such honour done them And perhaps the Divine power was displeas'd with him for taking too much honour to himself since we read that the year following he was tak'n An. Dom. 975 out of this life by sickness in the highth of his glory and the prime of his Age buried at Glaston Abby The same year as Mat. West relates he gave to Kened the Scottish King many rich presents and the whole Country of Laudian or Lothien to hold of him on condition that he and his successors should repair to the English Court at high Festivals when the King sat Crown'd gave him also many lodging places by the way which till the days of Henry the second were still held by the Kings of Scotland He was of Stature not tall of body slender yet so well made that in strength he chose to contend with such as were thought strongest and dislik'd nothing more then that they should spare him for respect or fear to hurt him Kened King of Scots then in the Court of Edgar sitting one day at Table was heard to say jestingly among his Servants he wonderd how so many Provinces could be held in subjection by such a little dapper man his words were brought to the Kings Ear he sends for Kened as about some private business and in talk drawing him forth to a secret place takes from under his garment two Swords which he had brought with him gave one of them to Kened and now saith he it shall be try'd which ought to be the subject for it is shamefull for a King to boast at Table and shrink in fight Kened much abash'd fell presently at his Feet and besought him to pardon what he had simply spok'n no way intended to his dishonour or disparagement wherewith the King was satisfi'd Camden in his description of Ireland cites a Charter of King Edgar wherin it appears he had in subjection all the Kingdomes of the Iles as far as Norway and had subdu'd the greatest part of Ireland with the City of Dublin but of this other Writers make no mention In his youth having heard of Elfrida Daughter to Ordgar Duke of Devonshire much commended for her Beauty he sent Earl Athelwold whose loyalty he trusted most to see her intending if she were found such as answerd report to demand her in marriage He at the first view tak'n with her presence disloyally as it oft happ'ns in such emploiments began to sue for himself and with consent of her Parents obtain'd her Returning therfore with scarse an ordinary commendation of her Feature he easily took off the Kings mind soon diverted another way But the matter coming to light how Athelwold had forestall'd the King and Elfrida's Beauty more and more spok'n of the King now heated not only with a relapse of Love but with a deep sence of the abuse yet dissembling his disturbance pleasantly told the Earl what day he meant to come and visit him and his fair Wife The Earl seemingly assur'd his welcome but in the mean while acquainting his Wife earnestly advis'd her to deform her self what she might either in dress or otherwise lest the King whose amorous inclination was not unknown should chance to be attracted She who by this time was not ignorant how Athelwold had stepd between her and the King against his coming arraies her self richly useing whatever art she could devise might render her the more amiable and it took effect For the King inflam'd with her love the more for that he had bin so long defrauded and rob'd of her resolv'd not only to recover his intercepted right but to punish the interloper of his destind spouse and appointing with him as was usual a day of hunting drawn aside in a Forest now call'd Harewood smote him through with a Dart. Some censure this act as cruel and tyrannical but considerd well it may be judg'd more favourably and that no man of sensible Spirit but in his place without extraordinary perfection would have done the like for next to life what worse treason could have bin committed against him it chanc'd that the Earls base Son coming by upon the fact the King sternly ask'd him how he lik'd this Game he submisly answering that whatsoever pleas'd the King must not displease him the King return'd to his wonted temper took an affection to the youth and ever after highly favour'd him making amends in the Son for what he had done to the Father Elsrida forthwith he took to Wife who to expiate her former Husbands Death though therin she had no hand coverd the place of his bloodshed with a Monastery of Nuns to sing over him Another fault is laid to his charge no way excusable that he took a Virgin Wilfrida by force out of the Nunnery where she was plac'd by her friends to avoid his persuit and kept her as his Concubine but liv'd not obstinatly in the offence for sharply reprov'd by Dunstan he submitted to 7 years penance and for that time to want his Coronation But why he had it not before is left unwritt'n Another story there goes of Edgar fitter for a Novel then a History but as I find it in Malmsbury so I relate it While he was yet unmarried in his youth he abstain'd not from Women and coming on a day to Andover caus'd a Dukes Daughter there dwelling reported rare of Beauty to be brought to him The mother not dareing flatly to deny yet abhorring that her Daughter should be so deflour'd at fit time of night sent in her attire one of her waiting Maids a Maid it seems not unhansom nor unwitty who suppli'd the place of her young Lady Night pass'd the Maid going to rise but day-light scarse yet appearing was by the King askt why she made such hast she answer'd to do the work which her Lady had set her at which the Kingwondring and with much ado staying her to unfold the riddle for he took her to be the Dukes Daughter she falling at his Feet besought him that since at the command of her Lady she came to his Bed and was enjoy'd by him he would be pleas'd in recompence to set her free from the hard service of her Mistress The King a while standing in a study whether he had best be angry or not at length turning all to a jest took the Maid away with him advanc'd her above her Lady lov'd her and accompanied with her only till he married Elfrida These only are his faults upon record rather to be wonderd how they were so few and so soon left he coming at 16 to the Licence of a Scepter and that his vertues were so many and so mature he dying before the Age wherin wisdome can in others attain to any ripeness however with him dy'd all the Saxon glory From henceforth nothing is to be heard of but
subjection These things flowing to his wish he betook him to his Navy from that time still'd and accounted King of England if a Tyrant saith Simeon may be call'd a King The Londoners also sent him hostages and made thir peace for they fear'd his fury Ethelred thus reduc't to narrow compass sent Emma his Queen with his two Sons had by her and all his treasure to Richard the 2d her Brother Duke of Normandy himself with his Danish Fleet abode some while at Greenwich then sailing to the I le of Wight pass'd after Christmas into Normandy where he was honourably receav'd at Roan by the Duke though known to have born himself churlishly and proudly towards Emma his Sister besides his dissolute Company with other women Mean while Swane ceas'd not to exact almost insupportable tribute of the people spoiling them when he listed besides the like did Turkill at Greenwich The next An. Dom. 1014 year beginning Swane sickens and dyes some say terrifi'd and smitt'n by an appearing shape of St. Edmund arm'd whose Church at Bury he had threat'nd to demolish but the authority hereof relies only upon the Legend of St. Edmund After his Death the Danish Army and Fleet made his Son Canute thir King but the Nobility and States of England sent Messengers to Ethelred declareing that they preferr'd none before thir Native Sovran if he would promise to govern them better then he had done and with more Clemency Wherat the King rejoicing sends over his Son Edward with Embassadors to Court both high and low and win thir love promising largly to be thir mild and devoted Lord to consent in all things to thir will follow thir counsel and whatever had been done or spok'n by any man against him freely to pardon if they would loyally restore him to be thir King To this the people cheerfully answer'd and amity was both promisd and confirm'd on both sides An Embassey of Lords is sent to bring back the King honourably he returns in Lent and is joyfully receav'd of the people marches with a strong Army against Canute who having got Horses and joyn'd with the men of Lindsey was preparing to make spoil in the Countries adjoining but by Ethelred unexpectedly coming upon him was soon driv'n to his Ships and his Confederats of Lindsey left to the anger of thir Country-men executed without mercy both by fire and Sword Canute in all hast sailing back to Sandwich took the hostages giv'n to his Father from all parts of England and with slit Noses Ears cropt and hands chop 't off setting them ashore departed into Denmarke Yet the people were not disburd'nd for the King rais'd out of them 30 thousand pound to pay his Fleet of Danes at Greenwich To these evills the Sea in October pass'd his bounds overwhelming many Towns in England and of thir inhabitants many thousands The year following an An. Dom. 1015 Assembly being at Oxford Edric of Streon having invited two Noblemen Sigeferth and Morcar the Sons of Earngrun of Seav'nburg to his Lodging secretly murderd them the King for what cause is unknown seis'd thir Estates and caus'd Algith the Wife of Sigeferth to be kept at Maidulfsburg now Malmsbury whom Edmund the Prince there married against his Fathers minde then went and possesd thir lands making the people there subject to him Mat. West saith that these two were of the Danes who had seated themselves in Northumberland slain by Edric under colour of Treason laid to thir charge They who attended them without tumulting at the Death of thir Maisters were beat'n back and driv'n into a Church and defending themselves were burnt there in the Steeple Mean while Canute returning from Denmarke with a great Navy 200 Ships richly gilded and adorn'd well fraught with Arms and all provision and which Encomium Emmae mentions not two other Kings Lachman of Sweden Olav of Norway arriv'd at Sandwich And as the same Authour then living writes sent out spies to discover what resistance on land was to be expected who return'd with certain report that a great Army of English was in readiness to oppose them Turkill who upon the arrival of these Danish Powers kept faith no longer with the English but joining now with Canute as it were to reingratiate himself after his revolt whether real or complotted councell'd him being yet young not to land but leave to him the management of this first Battel the King assented and he with the Forces which he had brought and part of those which arriv'd with Canute landing to thir wish encounterd the English though double in number at a place call'd Scorastan and was at first beaten back with much loss But at length animating his men with rage only and despair obtain'd a clear Victory which won him great reward and possessions from Canute But of this action no other writer makes mention from Sandwich therefore sailing about to the River Frome and there landing over all Dorset Sommerset and Wiltshire spread wastfull hostility The King lay then sick at Cosham in this County though it may seem strange how he could lie sick there in the midst of his Enemies Howbeit Edmund in one part and Edric of Streon in another rais'd Forces by themselves but so soon as both Armies were united the Traytor Edric being found to practice against the life of Edmund he remov'd with his Army from him whereof the Enemy took great advantage Edric easily enticeing the 40 Ships of Danes to side with him revolted to Canute the West-Saxons also gave pledges and furnished him with Horses By which means the year ensueing An. Dom. 1016 he with Edric the Traytor passing the Thames at Creâ—lad about twelftide enterd into Mercia and especially Warwickshire depopulating all places in thir way Against these Prince Edmund for his hardiness call'd Ironside gather'd an Army but the Mercians refus'd to fight unless Ethelred with the Londoners came to aid them and so every man return'd home After the Festival Edmund gathering another Army besought his Father to come with the Londoners and what force besides he was able they came with great strength gott'n together but being come and in a hopefull way of good success it was told the King that unless he took the better heed some of his own Forces would fall off and betray him The King daunted with this perhaps cunning whisper of the Enemy disbanding his Army returns to London Edmund betook him into Northumberland as some thought to raise fresh Forces but he with Earl Vthred on the one side and Canute with Edric on the other did little else but wast the Provinces Canute to Conquer them Edmund to punish them who stood neuter for which cause Stafford Shropshire and Lestershire felt heavily his hand while Canute who was ruining the more Southern Shires at length march'd into Northumberland which Edmund hearing dismiss'd his Forces and came to London Vthred the Earl hasted back to Northumberland and finding no
the rest Thence An. Dom. 1029 returning King of England Denmarke and Norway yet not secure in his mind under colour of an Embassey he sent into banishment Hacun a powerfull Dane who had married the Daughter of his Sister Gunildis having conceav'd some suspition of his practices against him but such course was tak'n that he never came back either perishing at Sea or slain by contrivance the next year in Orkney Canute An. Dom. 1030 therefore having thus establish't himself by bloodshed and oppression to wash away as he An. Dom. 1031 thought the guilt therof sailing again into Denmark went thence to Rome and offerd there to St. Peter great guifts of Gold and Silver and other pretious things besides the usuall tribute of Romscot giving great Alms by the way both thether and back again freeing many places of Custom and Toll with great expence where strangers were wont to pay having vow'd great amendment of life at the Sepulchre of Peter and Paul and to his whole people in a large letter writt'n from Rome yet extant At his return therfore he built and dedicated An. Dom. 1032 a Church to St. Edmund at Bury whom his Ancestors had slain threw out the secular Priests who had intruded there and plac'd Monks in thir stead then going into Scotland subdu'd and receav'd homage of Malcolm and two other Kings An. Dom. 1035 there Melbeath and Jermare Three years after having made Swane his suppos'd Son by Algiva of Northamton Duke Alshelms Daughter for others say the Son of a Preist whom Algiva barren had got ready at the time of her feign'd labour King of Norway and Hardecnute his Son by Emma King of Denmark and design'd Harold his Son by Algiva of Northamton King of England dy'd at Shaftsbury and was buried at Winchester in the old Monastery This King as appears ended better then he began for though he seems to have had no hand in the Death of Ironside but detested the fact and bringing the murderers who came to him in hope of great reward forth among his Courtiers as it were to receave thanks after they had op'nly related the manner of thir killing him deliver'd them to deserved punishment yet he spar'd Edric whom he knew to be the prime Authour of that detestable fact till willing to be rid of him grown importune upon the confidence of his merits and upbraided by him that he had first relinquisht then extinguisht Edmund for his sake angry to be so upbraided therfore said he with a chang'd countnance Traytor to God and to me thou shalt die thine own mouth accuses thee to have slain thy Master my confederate Brother and the Lords Anointed Whereupon although present and privat Execution was in rage done upon Edric yet he himself in cool blood scrupl'd not to make away the Brother and Children of Edmund who had better right to be the Lords Anointed heer then himself When he had obtain'd in England what he desir'd no wonder if he sought the love of his conquerd Subjects for the love of his own quiet the maintainers of his wealth and state for his own profit For the like reason he is thought to have married Emma and that Richard Duke of Normandy her Brother might the less care what became of Elfred and Edward her Sons by King Ethelred He commanded to be observ'd the antient Saxon Laws â—all'd afterwards the Laws of Edward the Confeâ—â—â—r not that hee made them but strictly observ'd them His Letter from Rome professes if he had done aught amiss in his youth through negligence or want of due temper full resolution with the help of God to make amends by governing justly and piously for the future charges and adjures all his Officers and Vicounts that neither for fear of him or favour of any person or to enrich the King they suffer injustice to be done in the land commands his treasurers to pay all his Debts ere his return home which was by Denmarke to compose matters there and what his Letter profess'd he perform'd all his life after But it is a fond conceit in many great ones and pernicious in the end to cease from no violence till they have attain'd the utmost of thir ambitions and desires then to think God appeas'd by thir seeking to bribe him with a share however large of thir ill-gott'n spoils and then lastly to grow zealous of doing right when they have no longer need to do wrong Howbeit Canute was famous through Europe and much honour'd of Conrade the Emperour then at Rome with rich guifts and many grants of what he there demanded for the freeing of passages from Toll and Custome I must not omit one remarkable action done by him as Huntingdon reports it with great Scene of circumstance and emphatical expression to shew the small power of Kings in respect of God which unless to Court-Parasites needed no such laborious demonstration He caus'd his Royal Seat to be set on the shoar while the Tide was coming in and with all the state that Royalty could put into his countnance said thus to the Sea Thou Sea belongst to me and the Land wheron I sit is mine nor hath any one unpunish'd resisted my commands I charge thee come no furder upon my Land neither presume to wet the Feet of thy Sovran Lord. But the Sea as before came rowling on and without reverence both wet and dash'd him Wherat the King quickly riseing wish'd all about him to behold and consider the weak and frivolous power of a King and that none indeed deserv'd the name of a King but he whose Eternal Laws both Heav'n Earth and Sea obey A truth so evident of it self as I said before that unless to shame his Court Flatterers who would not else be convinc't Canute needed not to have gone wet-shod home The best is from that time forth he never would wear a Crown esteeming Earthly Royalty contemptible and vain Harold HArold for his swiftness surnam'd Harefoot the Son of Canute by Algiva of Northampton though some speak doubtfully as if she bore him not but had him of a Shoo-makers Wife as Swane before of a Priest others of a Maid-Servant to conceal her barrenness in a great Assembly at Oxford was by Duke Leofric and the Mercians with the Londoners according to his Fathers Testament elected King but without the Regal Habiliments which Aelnot the Archbishop having in his Custody refus'd to deliver up but to the Sons of Emma for which Harold ever after hated the Clergy and as the Clergy are wont thence to inferr all Religion Godwin Earl of Kent and the West-Saxons with him stood for Hardecnute Malmsbury saith that the contest was between Dane and English that the Danes and Londoners grown now in a manner Danish were all for Hardecnute but he being then in Denmarke Harold prevail'd yet so as that the Kingdom should be divided between them the West and Southpart reserv'd by
at a Feast wherin Osgod a great Danish Lord gave his Daughter in marriage at Lambeth to Prudon another potent Dane in the midst of his mirth sound and healthfull to sight while he was drinking fell down speechless and so dying was buried at Winchester beside his Father He was it seems a great lover of good chere sitting at Table fowr times a day with great variety of Dishes and superfluity to all Commers Wheras saith Huntingdon in our time Princes in thir houses made but one meal a day He gave his Sister Gunildis a Virgin of rare Beauty in marriage to Henry the Alman Emperour and to send her forth pompously all the Nobility contributed thir Jewels and richest Ornaments But it may seem a wonder that our Historians if they deserve that name should in a matter so remarkable and so neer thir own time so much differ Huntingdon relates against the credit of all other records that Hardecnute thus dead the English rejoycing at this unexpected riddance of the Danish yoke sent over to Elfred the Elder Son of Emma by King Ethelred of whom we heard but now that he dy'd Prisner at Eely sent thether by Harold six year before that he came now out of Normandy with a great number of men to receave the Crown that Earl Codwin aiming to have his Daughter Queen of England by marrying her to Edward a simple youth for he thought Elfred of a higher Spirit then to accept her persuaded the Nobles that Elfred had brought over too many Normans had promis'd them lands heer that it was not safe to suffer a Warlike and suttle Nation to take root in the Land that these were to be so handl'd as none of them might dare for the future to flock hither upon pretence of relation to the King therupon by common consent of the Nobles both Elfred and his Company were dealt with as was above related that they then sent for Edward out of Normandy with hostages to be left there of thir faithfull intentions to make him King and thir desires not to bring over with him many Normans that Edward at thir call came then first out of Normandy wheras all others agree that he came voluntarily over to visit Hardecnute as is before said and was remaining in the Court at the time of his Death For Hardecnute dead saith Malmsbury Edward doubting greatly his own safety determin'd to rely wholly on the advice and favour of Earl Godwin desiring therfore by messengers to have privat speech with him the Earl a while deliberated at last assenting Prince Edward came and would have fall'n at his feet but that not permitted told him the danger wherin he thought himself at present and in great perplexity besought her help to convey him some whether out of the Land Godwin soon apprehending the fair occasion that prompted him how to advance himself and his Family cherfully exhorted him to remember himself the Son of Ethelred the Grandchild of Edgar right Heir to the Crown at full Age not to think of flying but of reigning which might easily be brought about if he would follow his Counsel then setting forth the power and authority which he had in England promis'd it should be all his to set him on the Throne if he on his part would promise and swear to be for ever his friend to preserve the honour of his House and to marry his Daughter Edward as his necessity then was consented easily and swore to whatever Godwin requir'd An Assembly of States therupon met at Gillingham where Edward pleaded his right and by the powerfull influence of Godwin was accepted Others as Bromton with no probability write that Godwin at this time was fled into Denmarke for what he had done to Elfred return'd and submitted himself to Edward then King was by him charg'd op'nly with the Death of Elfred and not without much ado by the intercession of Leofric and other Peers receav'd at length into favour Edward the Confessor GLad were the English deliverd so unexpectedly from thir Danish Maisters and little thought how neer another Conquest was hanging over them Edward the Easter following Crown'd at Winchester An. Dom. 1043 the same year accompanied with Earl Godwin Leofric and Siward came again thether on a sudden and by thir Counsel seis'd on the treasure of his Mother Emma The cause alleg'd is that she was hard to him in the time of his banishment and indeed she is said not much to have lov'd Ethelred her former Husband and thereafter the Childern by him she was moreover noted to be very covetous hard to the poor and profuse to Monasteries About this time also King Edward according to promise took to Wife Edith or Egith Earl Godwins Daughter commended much for beauty modesty and beyond what is requisite in a woman learning Inguls a youth lodging in the Court with his Father saw her oft and coming from the School was sometimes met by her and pos'd not in Grammar only but in Logic. Edward the next year but one made An. Dom. 1045 ready a strong Navy at Sandwich against Magnus King of Norway who threat'nd an invasion had not Swane King of Denmarke diverted him by a War at home to defend his own land not out of good will to Edward as may be suppos'd who at the An. Dom. 1046 same time express'd none to the Danes banishing Gunildis the Neece of Canute with her two Sons and Osgod by sirname Clapa out of the Realm Swane An. Dom. 1047 over-powred by Magnus sent the next year to entreat aid of King Edward Godwin gave counsel to send him 50 Ships fraught with Souldiers but Leofric and the general voice gain-saying none were sent The next year Harold Harvager King of An. Dom. 1048 Norway sending Embassadors made peace with King Edward but an Earthquake at Worster and Darby Pestilence and Famin in many places much lesse'nd the enjoyment therof The next year Henry the An. Dom. 1049 Emperour displeas'd with Baldwin Earl of Flanders had streit'nd him with a great Army by land and sending to King Edward desir'd him with his Ships to hinder what he might his escape by sea The King therfore with a great Navy coming to Sandwich there staid till the Emperour came to an agreement with Earl Baldwin Mean while Swane Son of Earl Godwin who not permitted to marry Edgiva the Abbess of Chester by him deflour'd had left the land came out of Denmarke with 8 Ships feigning a desire to return into the Kings favour and Beorn his Cousin German who commanded part of the Kings Navy promis'd to intercede that his Earldome might be restor'd him Godwin therfore and Beorn with a few Ships the rest of the Fleet gone home coming to Pevensey but Godwin soon departing thence in persuit of 29 Danish Ships who had got much booty on the Coast of Essex and perish'd by tempest in thir return Swane with his Ships comes to Beorn at Pevensey guilefully
Bridge a long hour against the whole English Army with his single resistance delai'd thir Victorie and scorning offerd life till in the end no man dareing to graple with him either dreaded as too strong or contemn'd as one desperate he was at length shot dead with an Arrow and by his fall op'nd the passage of persuit to a compleat Victorie Wherwith Harold lifted up in minde and forgetting now his former shews of popularitie defrauded his Souldiers thir due and well deserved share of the spoils While these things thus past in Northumberland Duke William lay still at St. Valerie his Ships were readie but the wind serv'd not for many days which put the Souldierie into much discouragement and murmur taking this for an unlucky sign of thir success at last the wind came favourable the Duke first under sail awaited the rest at Anchor till all coming forth the whole Fleet of 900 Ships with a prosperous gale arriv'd at Hastings At his going out of the Boat by a slip falling on his hands to correct the Omen a Souldier standing by said aloud that thir Duke had tak'n possession of England Landed he restrein'd his Army from wast and spoil saying that they ought to spare what was thir own But these are things related of Alexander and Caesar and I doubt thence borrow'd by the Monks to inlay thir story The Duke for 15 days after landing kept his men quiet within the Camp having tak'n the Castle of Hastings or built a Fortress there Harold secure the while and proud of his new Victorie thought all his Enemies now under foot but sitting jollily at dinner news is brought him that Duke William of Normandy with a great multitude of Horse and Foot Slingers and Archers besides other choice Auxiliaries which he had hir'd in France was arriv'd at Pevensey Harold who had expected him all the Summer but not so late in the year as now it was for it was October with his Forces much diminish't after two sore conflicts and the departing of many others from him discontented in great hast marches to London Thence not tarrying for supplies which were on thir way towards him hurries into Sussex for he was always in hast since the day of his Coronation and ere the third part of his Army could be well put in order findes the Duke about 9 mile from Hastings and now drawing nigh sent spies before him to survey the strength and number of his Enemies them discoverd such the Duke causing to be led about and after well fill'd with meat and drink sent back They not over-wise brought word that the Dukes Army were most of them Priests for they saw thir faces all over shav'n the English then useing to let grow on thir upper-lip large Mustachio's as did antiently the Britans The King laughing answerd that they were not Priests but valiant and hardy Souldiers Therefore said Girtha his Brother a youth of noble courage and understanding above his Age Forbear thou thy self to fight who art obnoxious to Duke William by Oath let us unsworn undergo the hazard of Battel who may justly fight in the defence of our Country thou reserv'd to fitter time maist either reunite us flying or revenge us dead The King not hark'ning to this least it might seem to argue fear in him or a bad cause with like resolution rejected the offers of Duke William sent to him by a Monk before the Battel with this only answer hastily deliverd let God judge between us The offers were these that Harold would either lay down the Scepter or hold it of him or try his title with him by single Combate in the sight of both Armies or referr it to the Pope These rejected both sides prepar'd to fight the next morning the English from singing and drinking all night the Normans from confession of thir sins and communion of the host The English were in a streit disadvantagious place so that many discourag'd with thir ill ordering scarse having room where to stand slip'd away before the onset the rest in close order with thir Battel-Axes and Shields made an impenetrable Squadron the King himself with his Brothers on foot stood by the Royal Standard wherin the figure of a man fighting was inwov'n with gold and pretious Stones The Norman Foot most Bowmen made the formost Front on either side Wings of Horse somewhat behind The Duke Arming and his Corslet giv'n him on the wrong side said pleasantly the strength of my Dukedom will be turn'd now into a Kingdom Then the whole Army singing the Song of Rowland the remembrance of whose exploits might hart'n them imploring lastly Divine help the Battel began and was fought sorely on either side but the main body of English Foot by no means would be brok'n till the Duke causing his men to feign flight drew them out with desire of pursuit into op'n disorder then turn'd suddenly upon them so routed by themselves which wrought thir overthrow yet so they dy'd not unmanfully but turning oft upon thir Enemies by the advantage of an upper ground beat them down by heaps and fill'd up a great Ditch with thir Carcasses Thus hung the Victory wavering on either side from the third hour of day to Evening when Harold having maintain'd the fight with unspeakable courage and personal valour shot into the head with an Arrow fell at length and left his Souldiers without heart longer to withstand the unwearied Enemy With Harold fell also his two Brothers Leofwin and Girtha with them greatest part of the English Nobility His Body lying dead a Knight or Souldier wounding on the thigh was by the Duke presently turn'd out of military service Of Normans and French were slain no small number the Duke himself also that day not a little hazarded his person having had three choice Horses kill'd under him Victory obtain'd and his dead carefully buried the English also by permission he sent the body of Harold to his mother without ransom though she offerd very much to redeem it which having receav'd she buried at Waltham in a Church built there by Harold In the mean while Edwin and Morcar who had withdrawn themselves from Harold hearing of his Death came to London sending Aldgith the Queen thir Sister with all speed to West-Chester Aldred Archbishop of York and many of the Nobles with the Londoners would have set up Edgar the right Heir and prepar'd themselves to fight for him but Morcar and Edwin not likeing the choice who each of them expected to have been chos'n before him withdrew thir Forces and return'd home Duke William contrary to his former resolution if Florent of Worster and they who follow him say true wasting burning and slaying all in his way or rather as saith Malmsbury not in hostile but in regal manner came up to London met at Barcham by Edgar with the Nobles Bishops Citizens and at length Edwin and Morcar who all submitted to him gave hostages and swore fidelity he to