recovered his Kingdom and proved the greatest of the West-Saxon Kings that had reigned hitherto as shall be in due time related But Bede tells us That after this King had been some time restored there came out of Ireland a certain Bishop called Agelbert a French Man who offered himself to the King to preach the Gospel whose Learning and Industry when the King understood he offered him the Bishoprick of that Province and consenting to the King's Desires he remained there Bishop several Years till the King finding he could not learn English and growing weary of his bad Pronunciation introduced another Bishop one Wini of his own Nation over his Head who had been ordained in France and so dividing the Province into two Diocesses settled the latter in his Episcopal See at Winchester at which Agelbert being offended because the King had done it without his Knowledge and Consent he returned into France and there accepting of the Bishoprick of Paris died an old Man but not many Years after his daparture Wini being driven from his Bishoprick retired to Wulfer King of Mercia and buying of him the Episcopal See of the City of London for a Sum of Money sate there Bishop as long as he lived thus Simony crept very early into the English Saxon Church So the Kingdom of the West-Saxons was no small time without a Bishop whereupon King Cenwalc being afflicted with great losses in his Wars sent Messengers into France to Bishop Agelbert desiring him to return and reassume the Bishoprick he had left but he excused himself that he could not return being already engaged in another Charge yet to comply as far as he could to the King's desires he sent him his Nephew Elutherius a Priest to be ordained Bishop if he pleased who being Honourably received by the King and People and having been ordained Bishop by Theodorus Arch-Bishop of Canterbury did for many Years Govern alone the Diocess of the West-Saxons This thô happening in a course of some Years is by Bede related as one continued Story This Year Cenwalc King of the West-Saxons gave Cuthred his Cousin Three Thousand Hides of Land near Aescasdune now called Aston near Wallingford This Cuthred was the Son of Cwichelme and he the Son of Cynegils But two years after Aegelbyerth a Bishop who came from France after Byrinus undertook the Bishoprick of the West-Saxons as has been already related at large by Bede This Year K. Oswin was slain xii Kal. of September And within twelve days afterwards died also Aidan the Bishop But the manner of this King's Death is by Bede thus related That King Oswin who succeeded K. Oswald his Brother had from the beginning of his Reign a Consort or Sharer of the Royal Dignity of the Northumbrian Kingdom called Oswi the Son of Usric of the Posterity of King Edwin whilst Oswin govern'd the Province of Dâ—ira for Seven Years with great Happiness and Love of his Subjects But Oswy who reigned in the Kingdom of Bernicia would not long maintain Peace with him 'till at last fresh Dissentions still arising between them he destroyed Oswin by Treachery for both their Armies now lying near each other as ready to fight when Oswin saw that being weaker in Force he was not able to wage Battle with him who came against him with a much greater Army he judged it better to lay aside all Thoughts of fighting and to preserve himself and his Men for some better Opportunity So he sent home his Army from a place called Wilfers Dun and himself retired with only one faithful Follower to lie concealed in the House of Earl Hunwald whom he supposed to have been faithful to him but it proved far otherwise for by him he was betray'd and there slain by the Command of K. Oswi together with his faithful Servant Tondhere in the ninth year of his Reign at a place called Iâ—gerlingum This Fact of King Oswy as it was detestable to all Men so it afterwards proved most hateful to himself who repenting of it built there a Monastery to expiate the Crime and to pray as well for his own Soul as for that of the King he had kill'd This King Oswin was a Man of a beautiful Aspect tall of Stature affable and very bountiful all which excellent Endowments both of Mind and Body procured him such Reputation that he was generally beloved and many Noble Persons out of all the English Provinces thought themselves happy if they could get into his Service but above all his Humility and singular Modesty were most remarkable whereof Bede gives us this Instance K. Oswin had bestowed an excellent Horse upon Aidan that charitable B of Lindisfarne but the Bishop when a poor Man ask'd an Alms gave him the Horse with all the rich Furniture upon him The King hearing of this as they were going to Dinner said to him My Lord Bishop Why would you give that Noble Horse that I bestowed upon you for your own Saddle to a poor Man Have we not many worse Horses and other Things which would better serve the Poor instead of this Horse I made choice of for your own riding The Bishop instantly replied Sir What do you say Is that Son of a Mare more dear to you than the Son of GOD With that they went to Dinner the Bishop took his Seat but the King being newly come in from Hunting fate down by the Fire with his Attendants but remembring what the Bishop had said he rose suddenly up and giving his Sword to his Servant ran hastily to the Bishop and falling down at his Feet besought him not to be angry affirming he would never after speak or concern himself whatever he gave to the Children of GOD. The Bishop being wonderfully amazed and rising hastily from his Seat raised him up telling him he was very well pleased if he would but sit down to Dinner and be chearful The King then at his Request began to be merry but the Bishop to be sad in so much that he shed Tears of which his Priest taking Notice and in their own Language being the Scottish which neither Oswin nor his Servants understood demanded the Reason I know saith he that the King will not live long for till now I never beheld an humble King whence I apprehend that he will speedily be taken away from us for this Nation is not worthy of such a Governor Not long after this Prelage of the Bishop was fulfilled in the Murther of Oswin as you have heard But Aidan lived 'till the twelfth day after his Death and then died himself on the last of August Of the Miracles of which Bishop Bede gives uâ— too long and 〈◊〉 incredible Account either to be believed or inserted here This Year Cenwal King of the West-Saxons fought at Bradenford near the River Aftâ—ne in Wiltshire but it is pity that our Annals had not told us against whom he fought which I cannot find in any Author thô it is
are no certain or Authentick Histories remaining of any transactions before that time for Gildas who liv'd not long after the Saxons were first call'd into Britain freely owns that as for the Antient monuments of his Country whatever they were being either burnt by Enemies or carried beyond Sea by his banish'd Country men they were not then to be found therefore I shall wholly omit that fabulous Succession of Celtick Kings who are feigned to be derived from Samothes one of the Sons of Japhet whom they suppose to have planted Colonies first on the Continent of Celtica or Gaul and next in this Island and thence to have named it Samothea since they never had any existence but in the brain of Amnius de Viterbo and by him vented in his counterfeit Berosus which is long since exploded by all that are any thing versed in Antiquity But now I could heartily wish that we had any certain monuments of the History of this Kingdom which might justly supply their room but having no Authentick accounts left us of the British Kings that reigned in this Island till Julius Caesar's first Expedition hither I could willingly have excused my self from the drudgery of writing things so uncertain nay in diverse particulars utterly false were it not that most Authors who have already writ our History either in English or Latin have thought those long Successions of Kings not unworthy a particular Recital as supposing it scarce possible that a descent of above Sixty Kings together with so many transactions attended with such particular Circumstances as the making of War and Peace building of Cities and enacting Laws should be wholly Fabulous and Romantick or that the names of so many successive Princes should never have been derived from any real Persons For though it is true that Geoffrey of Monmouth is look'd upon as the chief if not only Author of the Story of Brutus and his Successours yet it is certain that he pretends in the Proem to his History which he dedicated to no less a Man than Robert Earle of Gloucester natural Son to K. Hen. the I. that he received an antient British History from Walter Arch-Deacon of Oxon which as he says he faithfully translated out of the British Tongue into Latin though William Neobrigensis who lived some time after this Geoffrey in the very beginning of his History writes thus of him In thesâ— our days says he a certain Writer is risen who hath devised many foolish Fictions of the Britains he is named Geoffrey And a little after thus with hoâ— little shame and with what great Confidence doth he frame his Lyes So that you may see his History began to be cryed out against almost as soon as it was published And yet for all this it is certain that Geoffrey was not the first Author of this Story of Brutus for Nennius who lived in the 8th Century and is also Intituled Gildas in some Copies in his History makes the Isle of Britain to be first inhabited by one Brito the Son of Hisicion the Son of Japhet or else from one Brutus it seems he did not know which whose Pedegree he derives from Aeneas by his Son Ascanius and who as he supposes reigned in Britain in the time that Eli Judged Israel and under whose Conduct the Britains in the third Age of the World first came into this Island which Calculation falls out right enough with our at present received Chronology But as for Sigebertus Gemblacensis a French Monk who lived about Twenty Years before Geoffrey tho' in some Editions he speaks of Bruâ—e with his Trojans arrival in Gaul and of his passage from thence into Britain yet it is certain they are none of that Author's words there being no such thing to be found in the truest Edition of his Chronicle published by Mirraes An. 1608. as the above cited Lord Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield in his learned Preface to his Historical account of Church Government in great Britain and Ireland hath fully proved But after him Henry Arch-Deacon of Huntington an Author of Credit who lived at the same time with Geoffrey ascribes the first habitation of this Island to Brutus the Son of Sylvius Grandson to Aeneas whom together with his certain Trojans he supposes to have come into Britain in the third Age of the World as the Scots did in the fourth into Ireland which he seems to have taken out of Nennius or some other ancient Author But this must still be confest that the whole relation of the Actions of Brutus and the Succession of all the Princes that followed him do all depend upon the Credit of Geoffrey and the truth of his traÌ„saction and so was looked upon in the Age in which he published his History But to make this Brute to be a Trojan and to give him a Genealogy which is plainly contradicted by all the Roman Authors is that for which his History ought to be condemned Yet thus much may be said in Excuse of him and of all those Authors who have ascribed the Origine of the Britains to Brute that they have imitated the Vanity of the ancient Greeks and Romans who derived their Kings from some God or Heroe And have been followed in it not only by the Britains but the French and almost all other Nations of Europe since they began to write Histories of their Originals But since it is fit that we should give you some account though as short as possible of this Brute and his Successors I shall contract their History from Geoffrey of Monmouth into as narrow a Compass as I can Brutus who is suppos'd to have first Peopled Britain with Inhabitants of the Trojan Race is said to have been the Great Grandson of Aeneas by his Son Ascanius who killing his Father Sylvius King of Alba accidently with an Arrow was forced to fly his Country and going into Greece joyned himself with the remainder of those scattered Trojans he â—ound there and becoming their Leader made War upon Pandrasus the King of that Country to whom he sent this Message viz. That the Trojans holding it unworthy their Ancestors to serve in a Foreign Kingdom had retreated to the Woods choosing rather a Savage than a slavish Life if that displeased him then with his leave they might depart to some other Soile The particulars of which being tedious and fabulous are here needless further to be inserted But at last that King being by them made a Prisoner was forced to accept of terms of Peace the Articles of which were That Brute should Marry Inogena the King's Daughter and in Consideration of her Dower should have a Fleet given him with Liberty to transport all such as would be willing to follow his Fortunes The Marriage being thereupon solemnized Brute and his Trojans with a great Fleet betook themselves to Sea and within a short time landed on a deserted Island where they found a ruin'd City in which was a Temple and an Image of Diana
of Cloten King of Cornwall excelling in Valour and Comliness of Person by subduing the other four Princes reduced the whole Island again into a Monarchy and is said to be the First in Britain that wore a Crown of Gold and therefore by some reputed the first King But what he got by Force he managed with great Prudence and Moderation Enacting several excellent Laws which Geoffrey says were translated into Latin by Gildas and in Saxon afterwards by King Alfred But since no such work of his is any where extant I shall not give them so much Credit as to recite them though Mr. Selden hath not thought them unworthy of a place in his learned Treatise called Janus Anglorum But this King after he had governed Forty Years died and was buried at Tâ—inovant to whom succeeded his two Sons Belinus and Brennus who after some Controversies divided the Kingdom between them Brennus being to have all that lay North of Humber and Bâ—linus the rest but the Younger being not long so contented did upon new designs Sail into Norway and enter into a League with Elsing King of that Country and Married his Daughter which Belinus hearing of did in his absence dispossess him of his Kingdom Brennus with a Fleet of Norwegians makes toward Britain but is encounter'd by Guithlac a Danish King who laying claim to his Bride pursued him at Sea and being there vanquish'd in a Fight was forced to get away with a few Ships but Brennus nevertheless recollecting his shattered Navy landed in Albania and gave Battle to his Brother who totally routed him and forced him to fly into Gaul with no more than one single Vessel But Belinus being now rid of his Brother turns his Thoughts to Arts of Peace and amongst other things they reckon his making the Four great Ways or Streets which are still to be seen to run cross the Kingdom which they will have him and not the Romans to have first laid Brennus in the mean while having been kindly received by Seguinus King of Armorica now Britagn in France and having Married his Daughter was by him assisted with a powerful Army to regain his Kingdom and Landing in Britain was now ready to give Battel to his Brother when their Mother Conwenna mediated between them and so perswaded them that embracing each other they were perfectly reconciled so that going to Trinovant they resolved to turn their united Forces on Foreign Parts and then Sailing into Gaul the Author tells us that under these two not only all that Country but also Italy was Conquered as you may find in the Roman Authors If those were Britains and not Gauls which took Rome which is not worth our while to Dispute Some say that Belinus went not into Gaul with his Brother or if he did that he soon returned After which he made it his Business to adorn his Kingdom Building some Cities of which Caer-Uske now Caer-Leon upon Uske was one and he also adorn'd Trinovant with a Gate called to this Day Belin's Gate having a Tower on the Top of it at the Foot of which he made a Harbour for Ships He is also said to be the first Founder of the Tower of London After he had Reigned Twenty-six Years died and his Body being burnt on a Funeral Pile his Ashes were put in a golden Urn and placed on the Top of the Tower that he himself had Built Gurguint Sirnamed Brabtruc his Son succeeded him in whose Reign the Danes refused the Payment of the Tribute which had bin imposed by Belinus when their King Guithlac being driven by force of Weather upon the Coast of Northumberland was made a Prisoner nor could be set free without an Engagement to pay Tribute for himself and Successors which being now denied Gurguint now Sailed into Denmark and by force of Arms obliged the Danes to renew their Treaty and received Homage of their King and Chief Nobility and then Embarqued again for Britain In his return he met with a Fleet of Thirty Sail about the Isle of Orkeney these he encountred and having taken their Captain Bartholain he demanded of him what he was and the Reason of his coming into those Parts Bartholain answered that he and his Followers were named Balences being banished from Spain their Country with their Wives and Children and thereupon had put to Sea to seek out new Habitations whereupon it is said this King assigned them Ireland being a Place not then Peopled This King is supposed to have Built Caer-Werith or Lancaster Caer-Peris or Portchester in Hampshire and Caer-Gaurvie now Warwick where he was buried after he had Reigned Nineteen Years to whom succeeded Guintelin his Son he was a Prince Learned Prudent and of singular Justice and Moderation he is said to have had a Wife of as great Vertue named Martia to whom Geoffrey falsly Attributes the making of the Laws called Merceuenlage which was indeed so called not from her but but from the Mercians by whose Kings they were first enacted This King is also said to have Reigned Twenty-six Years and was succeeded by Sicilius the II. his Son being about Seven Years of Age but under the Government of his Mother Martia he is supposed to have Reign'd Fifteen Years Seven under the Tuition of his Mother and Eight after his full Age and having given all the Signs of a hopeful Prince he was suddenly snatched away by Death and then the Crown fell to Kimarus the Son of Sicilius but he being of a wild and ungovernable Temper and wholly given up to all manner of Exorbitances was killed in the Woods in pursuit after his Game some say by an Ambush others by wild Beasts He Reigned but three Years then Elanius or Danius his Brother succeeded This King was not Inferior to his Predecessor in Wickedness of Life insomuch that some make them the same Person so exactly did these two Princes correspond in their Vices He held the Scepter about Ten Years the succeeded his Son Morvidus or Morindus by a Concubine a Man of great strength and Comeliness as to the Qualities of his Mind he was Liberal but withal exceeding Passionate In his Days the Moriani or rather Morini a People of Gaul Landing in Northumberland with Fire and Sword wasted that Country which Morindus hearing of with all Expedition gathered his Forces and with long and wearifom Marches made up to them and in one Baâ—tel utterly defeated them and then put all the Prisoners to Death with exquisite Torments but not long after hearing of an hideous Monster which coming out of the Irish Sea seized and devoured many that lived near the Shore The King beholding the lamentable Destruction of his Subjects fought the Monster himself the Contest held for a while doubtful but at last the Monster prevailed and devoured the King This is said to have happened in the Ninth Year of his Reign to whom succeeded Gorbonian his eldest Son a religious Prince which he evidenced to the World by repairing decay'd Temples
their Cables Anchors and other Tackle being broken or spoiled became unfit for Service this caused a great Consternation in the Army for there were not any other Ships left in which they could be again transported and all things necessary were wanting to refit them nor was there any Corn provided for them to Winter in these parts all which being known to the Britains their Princes though after the Fight they had agreed to perform those things which Caesar had injoyned yet when they understood that the Romans wanted Horses Ships and Provisions and had also judged of the paucity of their Souldiers from the small circuit of the Roman Camp which seemed the less because Caesar had transported his Legions without any Baggage they thought it the best course again to take Arms and thereby to hinder the Romans from fetching in Corn or other Provisions and so to protract the War till Winter came on for they thought if these were once vanquish'd and cut off from ever returning into Gaul none of them hereafter would again presume to transport an Army into Britain Therefore the Plot being thus laid they began by little and little to steal out of the Camp and privately to draw their Men out of the Fields But Caesar although he did not then know their design yet from the late disaster of his Ships as also from their neglecting to send in their Hostages suspected what would happen therefore provided for the worst for he every day brought in Corn out of the Fields into the Camp and as for those Ships that were most shatter'd he made use of their materials to refit the rest and what things were farther necessary he ordered to be brought from the Continent all which being executed by his Souldiers with the utmost labour and diligence only twelve Ships being lost he fitted out the rest ready to go to Sea Whilst these things were in action the seventh Legion being by course sent out to Forrage and that there was at that time no appearance of War whilst great part of their Men remain'd in the Fields and others of them went and came between that and the Camp those Souldiers who kept guard at its Entries gave notice that there appear'd a greater dust than was usual in that part of the Country toward which that Legion had marched whereupon Caesar suspecting that the Britains were undertaking some new design commanded those Cohorts which were then upon the Guard to march with him towards that Quarter ordering two more to take their places and the rest to Arm and immediately to follow him when he had marched some distance from the Camp he perceived his Souldiers to be overcharged by the Enemy and hardly able to sustain their assault and that the Legion being drawn up close together Darts were cast at them from all quarters for the Corn being cut and carried away in all other parts one piece was left and the Enemies guessing that the Romans would come thither for it had laid in ambush in the Woods and suddainly assaulting them being then without their Arms and busie in reaping killing some thereby routed the rest being then out of their Ranks hemming them in both with their Horse and Chariots For in their Battles they make use for the most part of Chariots with which they first of all scowre through all parts casting Darts as they go and so by the terror of their Horses and ratling of their Chariot-wheels they often break the Roman Ranks and when they have got in among the Troops of Horse they leap down from their Chariots and Fight on Foot in the mean time the Charioteers retire a little from the Battle and so place themselves that if they should be pressed by any number of their Enemies their Masters may find an easie retreat by which way of fighting they had both the speed of Horse-men and the steadiness of Foot Souldiers and had so enured themselves by daily use and Exercise as that they were able to stop their Horses in full speed though running down steep places as likewise they had been used to turn their Charriots in a narrow compass to run along the Pole to sit upon the Yoke that joyn or couple the Horses together and from thence quickly to return into their Chariots The Romans being much astonished with this new way of Fighting Caesar in a lucky moment came to their rescue At whose approach the Enemies stopped and the Romans began to recover themselves which thô done yet Caesar thinking it no fit time further to provoke the Enemy nor then to renew the Fight kept his ground and presently led back the Legions to the Camp whilst these things were doing the Britains who where in the Fields also retired During many days following there happned continual bad weather which both kept the Romans in the Camp and hindered the Enemies from attempting any thing against them But in the mean time the Britains sent Messengers into all parts publishing abroad the small number of the Roman Forces and how great a booty they were like to get that this was the time of freeing themselves for ever if they could but take the Roman Camp Upon which great numbers of Horse and Foot being now drawn together came to the Camp Caesar although he foresaw the Event by that which had happen'd before and that the Enemies if once stoutly repulsed would avoid the danger by flight having got about Thirty Horse whom Comius of Arras had brought over with him at his coming into Britain drew out the Legions in Battle before his Camp which when joyned the Enemy being not able to bear the assault of the Roman Souldiers turned their backs whom Caesar followed as long as his Men's speed and strength would permit After a great slaughter and burning of the Villages round about but they return'd to their Camp The same day Messengers came from the Britains to treat of Peace from whom Caesar demanded double the number of Hostages which he had before enjoyned commanding them to be brought over to him to the Continent because the Equinox approaching he did not think a Winter Voyage was to be undertaken with such weak crazy Vessels therefore having now got a convenient Season a little after midnight he hoisted Sail so that all the Ships got safe to the Continent It is not pertinent to our History to relate here how Caesar's Men as soon almost as they came on Shore were set upon by the Morini whom he had before left in peace and whom notwithstanding he routed and killed a great number of them till they were quite subdued But it seems the Britains had no great Opinion of Caesar's Power for only Two States of all Britain sent him Hostages the rest neglecting it These things being thus performed upon the reading of Caesar's Letters Twenty days supplication to the Gods was decreed by the Senate Thus far we have given you Caesar's own account of his first Expedition into Britain
That the Temple dedicated to Claudius was look'd upon as a Badge of their Eternal Slavery and the Priests ordain'd for it under a Shew of Religion seiz'd upon divers Men's Estates Nor did it seem difficult to destroy a Colony defended by no Fortifications which was but little fore-seen by the Roman Commanders who rather had studied their Pleasure than Safety To all which Provocations Dion also adds That Catus Decianus the Procurator endeavour'd to bring all Men's Goods under the Compass of a new Confiscation by disavowing the Remission of Claudius himself Lastly Seneca only in his Books a Philosopher having drawn in the Britains to borrow of him vast Sums upon fair Promises of an easie Loan and for Re-payment to take their own Time all on a sudden compell'd them to pay both Principal and Interest at once with great Extortion Which you will find in Tacitus expressed at large in a long Speech by the injur'd Britains Thus provok'd by the heaviest Sufferings and invited by Opportunity in the Absence of Paulinus the Icenians and by their Example the Trinobantes and as many more as hated Servitude rose up in Arms but of these ensuing Troubles many foregoing Signs appear'd among which the Image of Victory at Camalodunum fell down of it self with the Face backward as if she had turn'd to the Enemy And certain Women in a kind of Ecstasie foretold great Calamities to come In the Council-House by Night strange Noises were heard and in the Theatre hideous Howlings but in the River Thames horrid Appearances were seen as of a Colony destroy'd but what these were Dion tells us more plainly viz. That in that River there were discover'd the Ruins of Houses under Water Besides the Ocean seem'd of a bloody hue whilst at the Ebb appear'd the Shapes of human Bodies left upon the Sands All which as it rais'd in the Britains new Courage so in the Romans it caused unwonted Fears Therefore since Suetonius was now far off they desired from Catus Decianus some Assistance but he sent them scarce above Two Hundred Men and those ill Arm'd There was within the Town a moderate Garrison of Soldiers who trusted in the Strength of the Temple but some who were conscious of the intended Rebellion had perplex'd their Councils and hindred them from drawing any Line about the Place nor were the Old Women and Children turn'd out and the Fighting Men as they ought to have done only left behind Thus the Romans being secure as in the midst of Peace were circumvented by a Multitude of Barbarians so that all Places were quickly Spoil'd and Burnt at the very first Assault the Temple in which the Soldiers had gotten together held out Two Days but was at last taken The Britains being thus Victors marched out to meet Petillius Cerialis Lieutenant of the Ninth Legion then coming to their Succour they routed his Legion and killed all the Foot but Cerialis with the Horse escaped into the Camp which was defended by the Trenches Catus Decianus the Procurator whose Covetousness and the hatred of the Province that ensued upon it had been the Cause of this War fled like a Coward into Gaul But Suetonius not dismay'd with this sad News marched through his Enemy's Country to London which thô not honoured with the Title of a Colony yet was then famous for the great Concourse of Merchants and plenty of all Provisions where being arriv'd he was doubtful whether or no he should make it the Seat of War but having considered the small number of his Soldiers and taking warning from Cerialis he resolved to preserve the whole by the loss of this one City So that he was not moved by the Crys and Tears of those who implored his Protection from giving his Men the Signal of Departure only taking those into his Army who would or could march along with him they who through weakness of Sex or Age or love of the Place stay'd behind were destroy'd by the Enemy as was also Verulam a Roman Municipium or Free City For the Barbarians omitting Forts and Castles pillag'd the richest Places first and then went easily forward to others more eminent for Strength So that as it afterwards appear'd about Seventy Thousand Citizens with their Confederates in the Places above-mentioned lost their Lives None might be spared none ransom'd but they endeavour'd by Gibbets Fire Crosses and all other ways of Slaughter to return those Punishments they had suffered and prevent any Revenge that was to be taken upon them Dion here also adds That the Roman Wives and Virgins being hung up naked had their Breasts cut off and sow'd to their Mouths that even dead they might be seen to eat their own Flesh whilst the Britains Feasted in the Temple of Andate their Goddess of Victory Suctonius having then with him the Fourteenth Legion with the Standard Bearers of the Twentieth which together with the Auxiliaries made in all about Ten Thousand Men resolving to lay aside all Delays prepar'd to joyn Battel having chosen a Place accessable only by a narrow Lane and defended behind by a Wood knowing well enough that the Enemies could do nothing but upon his Front and that the open Plain was without danger of an Ambuscade he drew up the Legionary Soldiers in close Order and being defended on each side with the light Arm'd Men and the Horse that made both the Wings But the British Forces being drawn up here and there in smaller Companies and Squadrons appear'd a great Multitude being so fierce and confident of Victory that they carried their Wives along with them in Wagons to behold it which were placed in the outward Borders of the Field Let us here also add what Dion says of Boadicia the Widow of Prasutagus who chiefly stired up and perswaded the Britains to make this War upon the Romans Boadicia says he was a British Lady of a Royal Race who did not only Govern with great Authority in Peace but also order'd the whole War Her Disposition was more Masculine than became a Woman being of a tall Statute and a severe Countenance having a harsh Voice and yellow Hair which being let loose hung dishevel'd below her Wast wearing a great Gold Chain about her Neck and having on a loose Coat wrought with divers Colours and a thick Mantle button'd over it holding a Spear in her Hand Having now gotten together an Army of an Hundred Thousand Men which were drawn up ready to fight the Queen getting up on a high heap of Earth made a Speech to her Soldiers which since it is tedious and most likely to be made only to set out the Eloquence and Invention of the Author I shall pass over and shall rather give you what she is suppos'd to have said out of Tacitus as being shorter and more to the Purpose who relates it thus Boadicia carried her Daughters with her in a Chariot in which being driven about to every Nation that compos'd her
Army she spoke to this Effect That since it was no new thing for the Britains to make a War under the Conduct of a Woman therefore for her part thô descended of Noble Ancestors she sought not so much to Revenge the loss of her Kingdom and Treasures but rather as one of the Common People the loss of her Liberty the bruising her Body with Stripes and the violated Chastity of her Daughters That the Roman Lust was such that they did not leave either old Age or Virginity undefil'd That the Gods had hitherto favour'd her just Revenge one Legion being already cut off which dared to fight the rest having hid themselves in their Camps sought how to run away as not being able to endure the Shouts and Clamours of so many Thousands much less their Power So that if they would but consider their own great Forces they ought either to overcome or die in that Battel Neither was Suetonius silent in so great a Danger and although he trusted much in his Soldiers Valour yet thought good to give them some Encouragement to this effect That they should despise the empty noisy Threats of those Barbarians That they beheld more Women than Fighting Men among them That being unwarlike and unarm'd they would presently give way as soon as they felt the sharp Swords and Valour of their Conquerors by whom they had been so often routed and That of so many Legions a few would serve to gain the Victory and that it would be an Addition to their Honour if so small a Force could obtain the same Glory as if it were an entire Army His Advice then was That they should keep close together and having cast their Darts should afterwards continue the Slaughter with their Pikes and Swords not minding the Spoil since the Victory once obtain'd all would be their own The Soldiers were so encouraged with this Speech that the Veterane Soldiers experienc'd by many Battles urged Suetonius to give the Signal Yet all the Legion stood unmov'd keeping that strait Entrance as a Defence before them But when the Enemy had approached nearer and had spent their Darts the Legion sallied forth all at once upon them in the form of a Wedge The like Assault was also made by the Auxiliaries whilst the Horse with their Spears routed all that stood before them The rest turn'd their Backs and fled but could hardly escape because their own Wagons had closed up all the Avenues But the Soldiers gave no Quarter not so much as to the Women and the very Draught-Cattel being run thorough increas'd the Heap of the dead Carcases This Victory was very eminent and the Glory of it equall'd those of Ancient Times since it is related that not less than 80000 Britains were then slain but of the Roman Soldiers not above 400 and about as many wounded Boadicia ended her Life by Poyson And Paenius Posthumus the Commander of the Second Legion when he heard the good Success of those of the Fourteenth and Twentieth since he had defrauded his own Men of the like Glory and had also contrary to the Rules of War refused to obey the Orders of his General run himself through with his own Sword The Army after a general Review still kept the Field to make an end of the War and Suetonius increased his Forces with 2000 Legionary Soldiers and 8 Cohorts of Auxiliaries together with 1000 Horse sent out of Germany by whose coming the Ninth Legion was recruited Whereupon all those Cohorts with some others were put into Winter-Quarters Whatsoever Nations continued either Enemies or Neuters were now destroy'd with Fire and Sword But nothing afflicted them so much as Hunger having been careless to sow Corn because they reckon'd upon the Roman Provisions as their own all their Hands being employ'd in the War But these fierce Nations were the less inclin'd to treat of Peace because Julius Classicianus who succeeded Catus differing with Suetonius their private Animosities hinder'd the publick Good the former giving out that a new Lieutenant was to be expected without the Rancour of a Conqueror and who would treat those that submitted to them with Mercy and Clemency Having also written to Rome that there was no End to be expected of this War unless Suetonius were remov'd attributing all Miscarriages to his ill Conduct and any happy Success to the good Fortune of the Commonwealth Polycletus therefore one of Nero's Freed-men is sent to inspect the State of Britain with great Hopes that he might by his Authority not only procure an Agreement between the Lieutenant and the Procurator but also work the Minds of the Barbarians to a Peace Polycletus after having been burthensome both to Italy and Gaul with his great Retinue and having cross'd the Ocean did not omit to become terrible also to the Roman Soldiers This gave Matter of Sport to the Enemy who then enjoying Liberty had not yet known the Power of these Freed-men but wonder'd that so great a General and an Army who had fought such Battels could obey Slaves But though all things were soften'd and fairly represented on the General 's behalf yet because whilst he was otherwise employ'd in Affairs he had lost a few Galleys near the Shore he was commanded though the War yet lasted to deliver up the Army to Petronius Turpilianus who was then just out of his Consulship who neither provoking the Enemy nor being provoked by them gave his own Slothfulness the honourable Title of Peace But Tacitus also in the Life of Agricola having given a short Relation of this War with Boadicia whom he there calls Voadicia owns that Britain had been lost if Paulinus had not speedily come to its Assistance most of which he restor'd by one Battel to its ancient Subjection though many still continued in Arms whom either the Guilt of Rebellion or the Fear of the Lieutenant still kept out who though he was a worthy Man yet carried himself too haughtily toward those that submitted and as a Revenger of his own Injuries imposed too hard Terms upon the Vanquished Therefore Petronius Turpilianus was sent in his stead as being more exorable who as one altogether ignorant of the Enemy's Failings would be more easie to their Repentance but all former Differences being composed he durst do nothing farther and so deliver'd the Province to Trebellius Maximus who being a Man of an unactive Temper and no Experience in Military Affairs govern'd the Province by a Softness and Complaisance yet nevertheless he continued still in the Government till the Reign of Vitellius But Tacitus here farther tells us That the Britains had now learnt to approve of the pleasant Vices of the Romans whilst the Intervention of their Civil Wars gave them a just Excuse for their own Cowardice But one thing is by no means to be passed by without particular Notice that it was in the Reign of one of these Emperors either Claudius or Nero though uncertain in which
their shallows and whose Countries use had taught them to Swim govern their Horses and Fight all at once which was executed so on the sudden that the Britains who expected Fleets and thought without Shipping nothing could attack them were now surprized and daunted since they believed nothing was difficult or invincible to Men so resolutely prepared for War whereupon they desired Peace and delivered up the Island This sudden Success gained Agricola a great Reputation especially since he employed even his first Entrance into his Province in labour and War which by other Governours was spent in Ceremonies or bestowing of Commands nor did he make use of his Prosperity for Ostentation or call this Expedition a Conquest but only that he had reduced those to Obedience who had been before subdued neither did he so much as adorn his Letters to Rome with Laurels as the custom was Yet even by this slighting of Fame and Reputation he at the same time encreased it all Men admiring that having such great presumptions of future success he could thus conceal such noble Actions Having thus overcome the Britains the next thing he set himself about was to understand the Minds and Inclinations of the People having learned by long experience that little good was to be done by force whilst open injuries and oppressions were permitted therefore he resolved to cut up this War by the very Roots so beginning with his Domesticks he first of all reformed his own Family which is not less difficult to some than to Govern a Province he acted nothing of publick concern by his Freedmen or Servants nor did he nominate his Officers by his own private inclinations nor on the bare recommendations or intreaties of others but still chose the most Vertuous and Faithful he would both know and do all things himself as for small faults he pardoned them but punished great ones nor was he always satisfied with punishment but more often with Repentance putting into Offices and Commands rather such who would not offend at all than punish them when they had He also rendered the payment of Corn and other Tributes more easie by the equality of the Taxation cutting off those exactions which were invented for private gain and which were often more grievous than the Taxes themselves for the People had been compelled to attend at the publick Granaries which were on purpose kept locked against them and when opened the Publicans obliged them to take greater quantities of Corn than their necessities required and that an at extravagant rate and which they were often constrained to sell again at a lower price to make Money for other necessaries or the payment of their Tribute the Purveyors also commanding them when they pleased to carry it not to the nearest but remotest Markets compounding with such as would be excused thus causing a scarcity where there was none indeed they made a particular gain to themselves the reforming these abuses in the very First Year of his Government brought Peace into Reputation which either by the carelesness or connivances of his Predecessors had hitherto been not less dreadful than War Geoffrey of Monmouth and those that follow him do about this time make Arviragus a British King 〈◊〉 to have reigned in some part of this Island and then dying that he was succeeded by one Marius whom some will have to be the same with Gogidunâ—â— all which being as uncertain as whether there was ever any such a Man or not I shall not trouble my self to dispute since this Arviragus whom they suppose to have been his Father lived in the Reign of Domitian as I shall prove when I come to it About this time dyed the Emperor Vespasian and was succeeded by his Son Titus who rather exceeded than equal'd his Father in Valour and Worth He continued Agricola in the Government of Britain who when Summer was once come drew together his Army praising the good Discipline of his Souldiers whilst they keept close to their Ensigns and punishing the Straglers he himself always chusing the places whereon to Encamp and before hand searched the Woods and Sounded the Fords they were to pass by which means he not only hindred the Enemy from taking any rest but so continually allarmed them with fresh Excursions that be prevented the pillaging of the Roman Territories Having thus sufficiently terrified them he then began by sparing them to show them some allurements to Peace by which means many Cities that before stood upon Terms now laid down their Arms gave Hostages and received Garrisons which were all placed with such care and foresight and in such places of advantage that never any of them were attempted whereas before no new fortified place in all Britain escaped unattacked The following Winter was wholly spent in a wise and profitable design for to the end that the Britains who then lived rude and scattered and so apter to make War might be accustomed to pleasure and living at ease he privately encouraged and publickly promoted the building of Temples Houses and Places for Publick Assemblies commending the Readiness of some and quickening the Slowness of others whilst Emulation of Honour wrought more than Compulsion among them He also caused the Noble-Men's Sons to be instructed in the Liberal Sciences And by commending the Wits of Britain before these of Gaul he brought them who before hated the Roman Language to grow in love with the Latin Eloquence And now came the Roman Garb to be in fashion and the Gown no Stranger among them Thus came in by degrees all the Allurements of Vice and Voluptuous Living as Porticoes Baths with the Luxury of Banquets which was by the Ignorant called Good Breeding and Civility when indeed it was but a Badge of their own Slavery In the Third Year's Expedition Agricola discover'd new Nations wasting the Countries as far as the Frith called the Taus Thus by the Terrour of his Marches he so aw'd the Enemy that though his Army was much harass'd by bad Weather yet durst they not attack him so that he had time enough to build Forts And those that were skilful took notice that no other General did more prudently chuse Places fit to be fortified So that no Castle of Agricola's was ever taken by Force or deserted But from these being well provided with Provisions for a Years Siege his Men made frequent Sallies So that the Enemy who before used in Winter to re-gain what in Summer they had lost were now alike in both Seasons straitned and kept short Neither did Agricola as too covetous of Honour attribute to himself things done by others since every Officer or Centurion had him for an impartial Witness as well as Judge of his Actions And though he were taxed by some as too bitter in his Reproofs yet must it be granted that as he was gentle to the Good so he was morose to the bad but his Anger did not last long Nor needed one to
speak with him in private he then seemed more suspicious and having examin'd them by Torture forced them to confess the whole design and then having punished these Conspirators he immediately declared War against Severus and took upon him the Titles of Emperour and Augustus Which as soon as Severus heard he was extreamly incensed and thought it not fit any longer to conceal his Anger but having made a sharp Oration to his Army against Albinus and which was received with great Acclamations he presently began his Expedition against him who to defend himself with the flower of Britain entred Gaul and marching as far as Lyons he and Severus there met at the head of their Armies when the Battle being joyned Albinus had at first the better the British Souldiers not yielding to the Illyrians either in strength or courage so that part of the Army which Severus Commanded being routed he himself was knocked down from his Horse and casting away his Purple Robe was for some time supposed to be slain when Laetus Severus Lieutenant General supposing him to have been killed came in with fresh Forces with an intention to gain the Victory for himself for which treachery he was afterwards by Severus put to Death However at present by his assistance he won the Victory and put his Enemies to flight pursuing and killing them with great slaughter whereupon the City of Lyons being taken Albinus was forced to fly from thence but being pursu'd by Severus's Souldiers and driven into a House near the River Rhosne was there forced to run himself through with his own Sword or as others relate caused one of his Servants to do that office for him but however he was taken and brought to Severus before he was quite dead who quickly dispatched him and cutting of his head sent it to Rome to be set over the place of publick Execution but he let the Body lye before the Praetorium till it stunk and was devoured by Dogs A mean revenge for so great an Emperour to take upon so Valiant a Person But now Sevâ—rus having by this Victory obtained the whole Roman Empire and finding that Britain was a Province too great and powerful to be trusted in the hands of one Man he divided it into two Governments committing the North part thereof to Virius Lupus as Pâ—opraetor and Lieutenant whom Ulpian nameth President of Britain and to Heraclitus the Southern parts as Mr. Speed gathereth by a Coyne of Severus Minted in his Second Consul-ship which fell in the Year of our Lord 198 from whence it appears that after the Death of Albinus Britain was not reduced under the subjection of Severus until he had won it by the Sword the memory of which he left to posterity in this Medal wherein is the Goddess of Victory represented as sitting upon spoils with this Inscription Victoria Britanniae but this Victory must have been then won by his Lieutenant and not by himself But Virius Lupus who had the Government of the Northern parts was forced to buy Peace of the Meatae aâ— a great rate because the Caledonians who had promised to check the Incursions of the Meatae had not performed that Article of their Agreement This Author likewise tells us that the former of these Nations lived next the Wall that divided the South of the Island from the North so that Lupus finding himself unable alone to curb their Inroads after great losses suffered from them sent for Severus but he being at that time taken up with other Wars Lupus was forced to buy this Peace of the Meatae as we have said only some Roman Prisoners were then set free The Memory of this Virius Lupus is preserved in an Altar dug up dedicated to the Goddess Fortune upon the occasion of his repairing a Bath or Hot house at a Town called Levatriae now Bows upon Stanmoor in Richmond shire This was done for the sake of the Thracian Cohorts who lay there in Garison with the Romans But Lupus hearing that Severus had at last put an end to his other Wars he wrote him plainly the state of things here that the Britains of the North made War upon him broke into the Province and harrassed all the Countries nigh them that there needed suddenly either more aid or himself to come in person Severus was not much displeased at this news being in his own nature greedy of Glory and being also desirous after so many Victories in the East to raise also new trophies for the Britains and besides he thought at best to withdraw his Two Sons from the pleasures of Rome and inure the Young Men to hardship and Military Discipline So this Emperour though Old and much troubled with the Gout yet with as great Courage as any Young Man made this expedition into Britain and taking his Journey for the most part in a Litter staid long in no place so that having finished his Journey by Land and having crossed the Sea sooner than could be expected he entred Britain and having Muster'd his Soldiers and brought great Forces together he prepared for War But the Northern Britains daunted with the Report of so great Forces brought over with him and that more were preparing sent Ambassadours to treat of Peace and to excuse their former doings The Emperour now loath to return home without some memorable Action whereby he might assume to his other Titles the addition of Britannicus delay'd his Answer but quickens his preparations till in the end when all things were in a readiness to follow them they were dismissed without effect when he arrived his principal care was to have many Bridges and Causeways laid over Bogs and Moors that his Souldiers might fight on firm ground for many parts of Britain were at that time over run with Bogs and Marshes as Ireland was some Years ago now the Britains used to wade through these Marshes up to the middle not valuing it because they went naked But Severus prepared all things which might be of any use for the Souldiers or a damage to the Britains And when he found all were ready to his Mind having his Younger Son Geta to govern the more Southern part of the Island by the help of Papinian the great Lawyer taking his Eldest Son Bassianus along with himself he marched against the Britains and having passed the Wall that divided their Territories there only happen'd some tumultuary Skirmishes in which thô the Romans were still Conquerours yet the Britains found an easie retreat by hiding themselves in the Woods and Bogs which were well known to them which contributed very much to prolong the War Yet did not Severus desist till he had passed to the very farthest part of the Island and had compell'd the Enemies to make Peace upon this Condition That they should give up great part of their Territory although he lost in this Expedition by the sudden Assaults and Ambushes of the Britains as well as by Diseases near
whilst by others it was turned into a C which if added to the following Figures viz. XXXII make CXXXII but with an L. before them they make only LXXXII Miles as they are indeed no more But to conclude this Subject on which I doubt we have dwelt too long already if Buchanan had not desired to have been singular and to have differed not only from our English Authors but from his own Country-men John Fordun and Major who in their Histories of Scotland are both of our side he had never fallen into this Mistake Whilst this Peace with the Northern Britains lasted it may well be supposed that remarkable Meeting between the Empress Julia the Wife of Severus and the Wife of Argentocoxus a British King might have happened wherein the Empress upbraiding the British Ladies that they lay with so many Men promiscuously according to their Custom of one Woman's having several Husbands as hath been already related The British Lady made her this quick Return We British Women do much better satisfie the Desires of Nature than you Roman Ladies for we have to do only with the best Men and that openly whilst you commit Adulteries with every mean Fellow in a corner A sharp Reproof though no good Excuse for her Country-women But no sooner was Severus returned into the Roman Province but the Caledonians and Maeatae again took Arms which so incensed the old Emperor that calling his Soldiers together he commanded them repeating a Verse of Homer That they should enter the Country and kill all they met both Men Women and Children but being now worn out with Years and Infirmities he could not go himself but sent Bassianus his Son against them yet whether he did any thing considerable is uncertain since Severus died not long after Whose End whether it was hastened by his Son 's wicked Practices or whether he died of meet Age or Sickness is not truly known since Historians differ much about it but before he died he is said to have spoke thus to his two Sons Bassianus and Geta See that you agree between your selves and pay your Soldiers and then you need care for no body else A notable Maxim which hath been observed not only by them but by all who are or desire to be absolute Monarchs He is likewise said by Spartianus to have rejoyced before his Death that he left the Empire to his Sons according to the Example of Antoninus Pius who left the two Antonini his Sons by Adoption his Heirs whereas he had left two Sons gotten by himself Rulers of the Roman Commonwealth But he was deceived in his Expectation for the one by the Parricide of his Brother the other by his own evil Manners were soon destroyed and to expect otherwise shew'd him not to have been so Prudent in that as in his other Actions Upon which the Author last cited in his Life of this Prince makes this shrewd Observation That scarce any great Men had left behind them a Son good for any thing but either they have had no Children or else such that it had been better for Mankind if they had died without any at all This Author also makes him to have further spoke these as his last Words I received the Commonwealth every where disturbed but leave it even as far as Britain in Peace a firm and stable Empire to my Antonines if they prove Virtuous but if otherwise a weak one Dion tells us That his Corps being carried out in great Pomp and laid upon the Funeral Pile without the Walls of York at a place called to this day Sever's Hoe or Sever's Hill the Souldiers rid round it on Horse-back full speed whilst it was burning his own Sons having first kindled the Fire Herodian gives us a long Description of his Funeral Pile and of the manner of burning the Body of a Roman Emperour which being too tedious to be here recited those who are desirous of reading the Description of this Spectacle may find it at large in this Author His Bones being put in an Urn of Porphiry were carried by his Sons to Rome and placed in the Sepulchre of the Antonines It is also said by Dion That Severus a little before his Death commanded this Urn to be brought to him and holding it in his hand to have spoke thus Must thou hold him whom the whole World could not contain Severus is described by this Author to have been in his old age Corpulent but of a strong Constitution thô much afflicted with the Gout of a sharp and excellent Wit a Lover of good Letters in which thô he was a sufficient Master yet was more able to express it by Writing than Words grateful towards his Friends most cruel to his Enemies diligent in Affairs but careless of what Men said of him greedy of Money which he gathered by all means yet for that cause alone he never put any Man to Death He was magnificent in his publick Expences and built many new Edifices and repaired the old ones so that thô he spent vastly yet he left a great Treasure behind him But to add somewhat farther from others he was a great Enemy to Incontinence and Adultery and made strict Laws against it and had certainly as great a mixture of good and evil Qualities as ever were found in any one Man That he was both Perfidious and Cruel appears by his Dealing with Albinus as also with the Wife and Children of Niger whom thô innocent he caused to be put to Death whilst his own Son who had attempted upon his Life and Empire he easily Pardoned which whether he did out of Love to him or weariness of Life as sated with Honour and Power may be doubted and if he had been then a young Man perhaps he would have acted otherwise I have insisted the longer upon the Character of this Prince as being one of the greatest and most fortunate of all the Roman Emperours But having given you an account of the last Words and Actions of Severus in Britain I cannot but here take notice of a notorious Falshood in Geoffery of Monmouth in this part of his History and whereby you may judge of his Skill in the Roman History and I shall give it you in the Words of a Learned Bishop Geoffery having found that Severus the Emperour died in Britain thought it most for the Honour of our Country to kill him fairly in Battle and therefore by power of Fancy he creates one Fulgentius to be General against him who being overpowered here at home went and fetched in the Picts out of Scythia and with their Aid fought Severus and killed him and was killed together for Company All which was Geoffery's own proper Invention And then having found that Severus left a Son Bassianus that was his Successor in the Roman Empire he makes his Britains set up this Bassianus to be their King on his Mother's account who must be the Sister of Fulgenius
pass that the Empire should want no more standing Armies He was thus made away M. Aurelius Carus was advanced to the Empire by the Army he created his two Sons Carinus and Numerianus Caesars to Carinus he gave the Charge of Britain with the rest of the Western Provinces but taking Numerianus along with him into the East he invaded the Persians where he died suddenly as some relate being struck with Lightning thô Vospiscus saith he died a natural Death and that the Souldiers firing his Tent gave occasion to the former Report His pious Son Numerianus was slain by Aper one of his Captains and he again underwent the same Fate by Dioclesian who also in a set Battle not long after slew Carinus who by his Riot and Luxury had much wasted Britain and the other Provinces All these Transactions happened within the space of two Years C. Aurel. Dioclesian being advanced to the Empâ—re by the Choice of the Eastern Army adopted Mar. Aurel. Maximinianus Sirnamed Herculius his Associate in the Empire five Years after which the former of these Emperours nominated Galâ—rius and the latter adopted Constantius Clorus Caesars constraining them to divorce their former Wives and to marry their Daughters In the beginning of this Emperour's Reign Carausius a Man of mean Parentage born in Menapia that is about the Parts of Cleves and Juliers who through all Military Degrees was advanced at length to be Governour of Bononia Admiral of the Belgic and Armoric Seas then much infested by the Francks and Saxons but what he took from the Pirats he neither restored to the Owners nor accounted to the Publick whereby he much enriched himself not so much as guarding the Seas but rather conniving at those Pirats till at length he grew too great a Delinquent to be less than an Emperour therefore hearing that Maximinian had ordered him to be slain he then took upon him the Imperial Robe and hearing that this Emperour was marching against him with the Fleet under his Command passed over into Britain where he built a new Fleet after the Roman fashion getting into his Power the Legion that was left here in Garison with other Outlandish Cohorts he detained and listed the very Merchants and Factors of Gaul and with the Allurements of Spoil invited great numbers of other barbarous Nations to take his part and trained them to Sea-Service wherein the Romans had so much lost their Skill that Carausius with his Navy at Sea did what he listed robbing on all the Sea-Coasts whereby Maximinian not able to come nearer than the Shore of Bononia now Boloigne was forced to conclude a Peace with Carausius and yield him up Britain as one fittest to guard that Province against the Incursions of the Northern Britains This is the reason that in all Carausius's Silver Coins we find two Emperours taking hands with this Inscription on the Reverse CONCORDIA AUGG. But not long after Maximinian sent Constantius Chlorus now Caesar against Carausius who in the mean while had made himself strong both within the Land and without Geoffery of Monmouth writes that he made the Picts his Confederates to whom as being lately come out of Scythia he gave Albania now called Scotland to inhabit And it is indeed observable that about his time the Picts are found to be first mentioned by Eumenius in his Panegyrick to Maximinian where he also mentions the Hiberni together with Picts both which he there calls Half-naked Enemies But whether by those Hiberni are to be understood Irish-men as that word Gramatically imports and as our English Antiquaries understand it or else Scotch-men called Hiberni because they first came out of Ireland as Buchanan and Scaliger would have it since it depends upon so nice a Criticism in the Latin Tongue as whether the words Soli Britanni were intended by the Author for the Nominative Case Plural or else for the Genitive of the Singular Number I shall not take upon me to decide only the Reader may please to take notice that those who understand these words in the former sense do suppose the Scots to have first come out of Ireland into Britain after this time but I have given you the words themselves in the Margin that you may pass what Judgment you please upon them But as Nennius relates Carausius repaired and fortified the Walls of Severus with Castles and a round House of polish'd Stone on the Bank of Carron which River he saith was from him so called also in Gaul he kept Bononia with a Garison and all the Franoks which had by his permission seated themselves in Belgia were at his command but Constantius hasting into Gallia besieged Bononia now called Boloigne as I said before and with Stones and Timber blocking up the Harbour kept out all Relief that could be sent in by Carausius but before Constantius with the Fleet which he had prepared could arrive thither Carausius was slain in Britain by the Treachery of Allectus one of his chief Friends and Commanders who likewise for three Years usurped the Empire when Carausius worthily as some say or as others Tyrannically had Ruled this Island 7 Years But Constantius presently took hold of that Opportunity before Allectus should settle his Affairs therefore thô the weather were ill he put his Army to Sea with all expedition and that from several Havens the more to spread the Terrour of his Landing and render it doubtful where to expect him so in a Mist passing by Allectus with the British Fleet unseen that lay cruising near the Isle of Vecta now Wight he no sooner got on shore but he fired his own Ships to leave his Men no hopes of Safety but in Victory then forthwith the poor oppressed Britains came flocking in to Constantius offering themselves together with their Wives and Children to him as their Deliverer sent them from Heaven which when Allectus heard being much dismayed at this News he passed over to the British Shore where landing he resolved to try his Fortune in a Battle on the Land where being encountred by Asclepiodotus Captain of the Praetorian Bands and desperately rushing on being unmindful both of the well-ordering of his Men and of bringing them all in to fight except the noted Accessories of his Treason and his Outlandish Hirelings He was overthrown and slain with little or no loss to the Romans but great Execution on the Francks Allectus having before flung away his Imperial Robes that he might not be known his Body was found almost naked in the Field the rest of his Men flying to London and purposing with the Pillage of that City to escape by Sea were met by another part of the Roman Army whom the late mentioned Mist at Sea had separated and now by chance had brought up the Thames where landing they killed almost all the rest even in the very City whilst the Citizens had the pleasure to behold their own Deliverance By this Victory
Batavi Herculi Jovii and Victores he marched toward London that ancient City which was afterwards called Augusta and dividing his Forces into several Parties fell upon these Rovers whilst they marched scattered up and down laden with Booty so that easily routing them the Plunder and Captives he quickly recovered and having restored all to their respective owners except some small Portion bestowed on the weary Soldiers he returned to the said City in a triumphant manner and thô before it laboured under many Difficulties he hereby restored it to its former Splendour being emboldened with this Success to undertake greater Matters entring into a ferious consideration what was further to be done he found by what he got out of the Prisoners and Fugitives that the Enemy consisting of divers Nations was too fierce and numerous to be mastered by downright Force but rather by Stratagems and sudden Attacks He first therefore by Promises of Pardon brought most of his own Deserters and Stragglers to return to their Colours but being himself taken up with divers Cares he sent for Civilis to govern Britain as Vice-Praefect a Man of a sharp Wit and a strict observer of Justice with Dulcitius a Commander very famous for his Military Skill Of which Expedition the same Author gives us this short general Account in another place That Theodosius having by his Industry got together an Army of well-disciplined Souldiers marching from London he extreamly relieved the Calamities of the Britains seizing upon all Places from which he might infest the Enemy and commanding his common Souldiers nothing which he did not first undertake himself by which means he performed both the Duties of a valiant Souldier and a famous Commander divers Nations being put to flight who had before been encouraged by Impunity to assault the Roman Territories and repaired the Cities and Castles which had before suffered very much so that a firm Peace was hereby established for a long time But the Year following whil'st Theodosius was thus employ'd there happen'd a horrid Conspiracy which had like to have proved of dangerous Consequence had it not been stifled in its very Birth For one Valentinus of Pannonia a Man of an insolent and unquiet Spirit being for some great Crime banish'd into Britain this wretch impatient of rest contrived a Plot against Theodosius who was the only Obstacle to his wicked designs so that considering by what means he might bring them to pass his Ambitious desires still encreasing he excited some Souldiers and Outlaw'd persons by promising them both Pardon and Preferment And now the time drawing near for effecting his Treason the General being informed thereof and being now become more bold to take Revenge on the Conspirators seized them and delivered them all to Dulcius the Prefect to be put to Death but judging of things future by that long Military Experience in which he excelled all others of his time he forbid any further enquiry into the rest of the Plotters lest many being thereby made afraid those troubles which had been already compos'd should be again revived Then falling to the reforming more necessary things now the danger was over and that it was evident good fortune attended all his undertakings he restored the Cities and Garisons as we have already said fortifying the Borders with constant Watches and Guards which though now recovered had been formerly given up to the Enemy so that the Northern Province being restored to its former condition appointing a new Governour over it he order'd that it should for the future be called Valentia in Honour of Valentinian the Emperour He also removed the Areans from their Stations a sort of Men Instituted in former times to good purpose thô who these Men were we know not but there seems here to be somewhat wanting in the Copy but our Author tells us That he had said somewhat more of them in the Acts of Constans which Book is lost but these sort of Men now fallen into Vices were openly convicted that being allur'd by Promises and Rewards they were often wont to betray to the Barbarians whatsoever was done among the Romans though it ought to have been their business by running to and fro to give notice to the Roman Generals of the Motions of the neighbouring Nations So that all these actions being so well executed when Theodosius was recalled he left this Province in Peace and being attended with the general applause of all Men to the Sea-side he passed over to wait upon the Emperour who received him with great commendations Nor can I here omit inserting that noble Eulogy which Claudian the Poet hath given this renowned General Theodosius in his Panegyrick to his Grandson Honorius in these Verses Facta tui numerabit Avi quem littus adusti Horrescit Lybiae ratibusque impervia Thule Ille leves Mauros nec falso nomine Pictos Edomuit Scotumque vago mucrone secutus Fregit Hyperboreas remis audacibus undas He shall relate thy Gransier's Acts whose name Burnt Libya dreads and Thule known by Fame Who the light Moores and Painted Picts did tame And with his Sword the roving Scots pursued Whil'st with bold Oars He Northern Seas subdued By which last Verses he seems to intimate that as he tamed the Picts by Land so he pursued the Scots by Sea but what are meant by those Hyperborianae Waters whether the Irish Ocean or the Friths of Dunbritton called in the Old Scotish Laws Mare Scoticum I shall not take upon me to determine But those Antiquaries who would have the Scots to be planted in Ireland in the time of Claudian do urge these Verses of the same Poâ—t in the next Panegyrick to that Emperour when speaking in praise also of his said Grandfather he thus proceeds maduerunt Saxone fuso Orcades in caluit Pictorum Sanguine Thule Scotorum tumulos flevit glacialis Ierne The Orcades were moistened with a Flood Of Saxon Gore and Thule by the Blood Of Picts was warmed nor did Ierne fail Whole heaps of Scots then slaughter'd to bewail And about these times the Picts and Scots raising fresh disturbances the Emp. Valentinian sent Framarius King of the Almans whose Country had been totally destroyed by a late incursion into Britain though with no higher a command than that of a Tribune over a Regiment of his own Country Men then highly in request for their Valour and Fidelity but what he did here Ammianus ceases to tell us So that being for the future bereft of the help of good Historians we must be forced to take up with such scraps as we can pick up here and there out of Zosimus Orosius and with other Epitomators of better Authors now lost The Emperour now Valentinian dying his Sons Flavius Gratianus and Fl. Valentinianus succeeded him in the Western Empire in the Fifth Year of whose Reign the Emperour Gratian created Theodosius Son to the former his Partner in the Empire assigning him the East for his
Famine invaded not only Britain but extended it self as far as Constantinople where the Famine together with the corrupt Air produced a great Pestilence whilst this Scarcity prevailed in this Isle it forced many of the Britains to yield themselves up to their Enemies that they might get wherewith to sustain Nature thô others of them chose rather to sally out and resist them from the Woods and Mountains to which they retreated yet now it was as Gildaâ— tells us that not putting their Trust in Man but in God alone they first of all made some slaughter of their Enemies which had preyed upon their Country for so many Years but thô the Boldness of their Enemies was abated for a while yet so was not the Wickedness of the Britains Wâ—o as the same Author describes them were very backward to perform the Duties proper to Peace viz. Justice and Truth but were prone to Lies and all Wickedness so that says he thô these impudent Robbers the Irish went home yet it was to return again within a short time whilst the Picts remained being both then and long afterwards in the farther Parts of the Island sometimes taking Prey and making Incursions so that during the Truce whilst this Wound was slightly skin'd over another Malady more Contagious was breeding For thô during this short interval of Peace there succeeded so great a Plenty of all sorts of Provisions that no Man's Memory could parallel yet was it attended with great Luxury and all sorts of Wickedness began also to increase but chiefly Cruelty together with the Hatred of the Truth and the Love of Lies the taking Evil for Good and the Love of Darkness rather than Light so that what was pleasing to God or not pleasing with them weighed both alike and the worst side of the Cause most commonly prevailed whilst all Things were done contrary to the Publick Good and Safety nay not only by Secular Men but even the Clergy whose Example should have guided others were grown Vicious and Corrupt many of them being given to Drunkenness or swoln with Pride or else full of Envy and Contention indiscreet and incompetent Judges of what in the common Practice of Life was good or evil lawful or unlawful This is the general Character that Gildas and Bede give us both of the British Clergy and Laity of these Times from whence we may easily conclude that People of this temper were not fit to be trusted with the Government of themselves but being more fond of the Name of Liberty than apprehensive of the Charge of Governing well they grew heady and violent in their Affairs and positive in what they understood not none being more stout and daring in Councels none so fearful when it came to Action all pretending to know what ought to be done yet all drawing back in the Performance Thus in a short time when the Heat of Liberty was once spent and the Enemy daily encreased they quickly found their old Temper returning upon them a slavishness of Mind and slothfulness of Body then they might have perceived it was not meer Stomach or a hot and sudden Love of Liberty that could protect them but that Diligence Wisdom and a publick Spirit were still wanting so that they shrunk by degrees into their former tameness of Mind and grew as weary of their new-tried Liberty as they had been of their old Subjection which made them write those Abject Letters to Aetius but now mentioned What particular Kings or Governours the Britains set up after they were set free from the Roman Empire is hard to determine only Gildas tells us in general That Kings were by them anointed but none of God's anointing but such as were most cruel who were soon after as inconsiderately laid aside without any Examination of the Truth whilst some were put to Death by their Anointers to set up others more Fierce and Tyrannical but if any of them seemed Milder and more inclined to the Truth against him as the Subverter of his Country the general Hatred of all Men was presently directed So that the Office of a King seems to have been a very dangerous Employment in those wicked and turbulent Times thô by what we can guess by Gildas's Epistle setting forth the Faults of all Orders and Degrees of Men there had been divers Kings ruling in Britain at once not only in his own but in former Times but who they were he does not particularly mention But to fill up this Interval Geoffery of Monmouth furnisheth us with one Constantine Brother of Adroenus King of Armorica This Constantine he makes to have been elected King and crowned at Cirencester and being killed by a Pict was succeeded by his eldest Son Constans who from a Monk at Winchester was made King and that he being made away by the Procurement of Vortigern he caused himself being at that time Consul or Count of the Gevises to be elected King in his room but if you please to look back into the former Book you will there find how Constantine the Usurper with his Son Constans the Monk the one being made Emperour and the other Caesar perished in France may easily confute the falshood of this Story But since neither Gildas Nennius nor any other British Historian make mention of this Constantine or his Son all that we can conclude to be true in this Relation is That the Britains about this time finding themselves quite deserted by the Romans and being now without any Head and hard pressed by the Scots and Picts chose this Vortigern being then a popular Man thô he proved neither Wise Valiant nor Virtuous for their King in the beginning of whose Reign God was willing to purge his Family as Gildas words it the Britains not being amended with so many Corrections were again frighted with a fresh Rumour that the Scots and Picts were returning with greater Forces than ever and that they threatned the Destruction of the whole Country and intended no less than to plant themselves from one end thereof to the other but before their arrival as if the Instruments of Divine Vengeance were at strife which should first destroy a wicked Nation The residue that the Sword and Famine had left alive were now swept away with a sore Pestilence insomuch that the living scarce sufficed to bury their Dead but neither were the Britains at all amended for all this for now it seems the time drew near that the measure of their Iniquities were full But before we relate how this Vengeance was executed we shall here set down from the aforesaid Authors Constantius and Bede Germanus's Second Voyage to Britain the substance of which is That it being told Germanus that Pelagianism prevailed here again thorough some promoters of it the British Clergy too weak it seems at dispute renewed their addresses to him that he would come over and defend God's Cause which he had once before undertaken which Petition
the Wife of Thor and whom the ancient Swedes and Danes made their Goddess of Justice who had her Temple at Upsal as for the Name of the last day of the Week though Verstegan would derive it from a God called Seater whom the Danes call Crodo yet whither he was the same with the Roman Saturn may be very much doubted since the Danes Swedes and Saxons Worship'd these false Gods before they ever had any thing to do with the Romans Besides these Seaven greater Deities from whom the days of the Week take their Names the ancient Saxons and Angles had many other less Gods and Goddesses such as Hertha who was the same with the Goddess Tellus among the Romans Rheda from whom they call the Month of March Rhed Monach Easter from whose Feast falling out in April our Easter is derived as also Mara which was a Spectre supposed to have haunted People in the Night and from whence comes our Word Mare or Disease so called as for what Worship and Sacrifices they paid these false Gods they are very uncertain only we find that the Swedes and Danes and it is likely the Saxons too sacrificed Men to Thor before any great enterprize but whoever desires to know more on this Subject may consult Verstegan Wormius and other German and Danish Writers But it is now time to return to our English Saxon History from which I doubt we have made too long a digression the Saxons being thus arrived in Britain as you now have heard streight joyned their Forces with the Britains and marching together against the Picts and Scots who were then entred into the Country as far as the hither part of that Province we now call Lincoln-shire and near Stanford they joyned Battle with them where the former fighting with Darts and Launces but the Saxons with Battle-Axes and long Swords they had very much the advantage so that the Picts could not bear their Force but provided for their safety by Flight the Saxons obtaining a clear Victory with the spoil of the Field Hengist perceiving the Island to be Rich and Fruitful but her Princes and Inhabitants given to Vicious Ease and Luxury sends home word of it inviting his Country-men to share in this good success who coming over with Seventeen fresh Ships full of Stout men were now grown up to a sufficient Army being entertained without suspicion on those terms already mentioned with which last supplies as Nennius relates came over Rowena the fair Daughter of Hengist upon whose arrival Hengist made a great Feast for King Vortigern and his Courtiers where was also his Interpreter no Britain but he understanding the Saxon Tongue Hengist then commanded his Daughter to wait on them and to serve the King with Wine with which growing Merry he fell violently in Love with her and demanding her of her Father told him he should have what ever he pleased even to the half of his Kingdom on condition he might obtain her whereupon Hengist taking Council with those Chief or Ancient Men who had come over along with him what he should ask of the King for his Daughter they all agreed that he should demand the Country of Kent which was presently granted him one Guorangonus then Ruling there being ignorant that his Goverment was given away to the Saxons So the Damosel being by her Father given to the King he Married her and grew so extreamly fond of her that he Divorced his former Wife by whom he had several Sons of great hopes But Hengist not satisfied with this told the King farther That being now his Father-in law he must take upon him to advise him and therefore if he would not slight his Counsel he need not fear being overcome by any other Nation as long as that of the Saxons was so potent That therefore he would send over for his own Son and his Nephew who being War-like young Men would fight stoutly against the Picts and Scots if the King would bestow upon them those Countries in the North lying near the Picts Wall So the King gave him leave to send for Octa and Ebusa with 40 Vessels who sailing round about the Picts Country coasted the Isles of Orcades and came and possessed many places on the other side of the Frith or Streight even to the Borders of the Picts Hengist still sending by degrees for more Men and Ships till at last the Countries from whence they came were left almost without any Inhabitants And now they being sufficiently increased in Number and Strength they wholly planted the Country of Kent with Jutes But by the flocking in of such numerous Troops into this Isle of all the above-mentioned Nations they began so exceedingly to increase that they soon became a Terror to those who had invited them over and now began to pick Quarrels with their Entertainers and first they demanded larger Allowances of Corn and other Provisions openly declaring unless this were allowed them they would break the League and waste all parts of the Country The Britains refusing to give them what they demanded desired them to return home since their Numbers were increased beyond what they were able to maintain Whereupon the Saxon Commanders resolved to break the League and having made Peace secretly with the Picts they immediately turn'd their Arms against their Confederates wasting the Country with Fire and Sword from the Eastern to the Western Sea none being able to hinder them so that they over-ran almost the whole Island the Buildings as well publick as private were ruined the Priests were commonly slain at the very Altars and the Bishops were destroy'd without any Respect together with the People nor were scarce any left to bury the dead Whilst some of the miserable Remains of the Britains being taken among the Mountains were slain in Heaps others pined away by Famine yielded themselves to their Enemies and to get Food were forced to undergo perpetual Servitude if they could so preserve their Lives others being forced to seek for Refuge among Foreign Nations but those that remained at home living in perpetual Fear led a hard and miserable Life among the Woods and Mountains Will. of Malmesbury supposes the League between the Britains and Saxons to have lasted Seven years and the first Battel between them is placed in the 6th year after but it is most likely that they fell out some time before that This Flight of these Britains not only our own but Foreign Writers relate for some fled to Armorica and peopled it as some suppose with Britains from whom it was called the Lesser Britain though others think it was called so long before either by the Gift of the last Constantine the Great or else of Maximus to those British Forces who had served them in their Foreign Wars To whom came those also that did not miscarry with the latter Constantine at Arles and now last of all by these Exiles driven out
iâ—tent upon all Occasions not to feed the Flock but to pamper and well line themsâ—lves making use of their Churches only for Lucre's sake teaching the People sound Doctrine but they themselves shewing evil Example rarely Officiating at the Altar and then scarce ever standing there with pure Hearts not correcting the People for their Sins as guilty of the same themselves despising the Precepts of Christ and fulfilling their own Lusts usurping the Chair of Peter but through the blindness of their own worldly Lusts stumbling upon the Seat of Judas deadly haters of Truth and lovers of Lies looking upon the poor Christians with Eyes of Pride and Contempt but fawning upon the wickedest rich Men without Shame great Promoters of other Men's Alms with set Exhortations but themselves ever contributing least concealing or slightly touching the reigning Sins of the Age but highly aggravating their own Injuries as done to Christ himself seeking Preferments and Dâ—grees in the Church more than Heaven and having so gained them make it more their study how to keep than to illustrate them by their good Examples dull and stupid to the Reproofs of holy Men if ever they hear them at all but shew themselves very attentive to the trivial Discourses of the Laity ready to act any unlawful Things carrying their heads a loft but having their affections nothwithstanding the checks of their own Consciences as low as Hell sad at the loss of a penny but joyed if they can get one in Apostolical Censures either through their own Ignorance or the greatness of the Sins Dull and Mute but very skillful in the cheating Tricks of Worldly business from which wicked sort of Conversation many run into Priests Orders which they buy for Money taking the Priesthood without observing its Rules and Institution or knowing what belongs to matters of Faith or Manners And then proceeding in a tedious invective against Simony he at last thus addresses himself to the Laity What can ye expect O unhappy People from these Beasts all Bellies Shall these amend thee who as the Prophet says weary themselves in commiting Iniquity Shalt thou sâ—e with their Eyes which regard only those ways that lead to Hell leave them rather as bids our Saviour least ye fall both blindfold into the same Perdition But are all thus Perhaps not all or not so grosly But what did it avail Eli to be himself blameless whil'st he connived at his Sons that were wicked Who of these hath been envied for his better Life Who of them have hated to consâ—rt with such or withstood their entring into the Ministry or zealously endeavoured their casting out This is the Sense of what he there says it being not only tedious but impossible to Translate Verbatim so barbarous and obscure a Writer thô otherwise he seems to have been a Man of great Wit and ardent Piety above what that Age would admit of But hence we may learn what the State of the Government and Religion among the Britains was in that long Calm of Peace which the Victory at Badon Hill had produced Also at the end of his History he gives a farther account of the sad state of Affairs and great corruption of Manners in those Times And complains That the Cities of his Country were not then inhabited as before but lay ruined and deserted for though Foreign Wars were ceased for a time yet so were not the Civil so that there did still remain upon the face of the Island evident marks of so miserable a destruction but that also as long as the memory of that unlooked for assistance lasted their Kings as well as their Bishops and Priests did pretty well observe due Orders but those deceasing as the next Generation succeeded which had not seen the former Calamities and were only sensible of the present Prosperity all the Principles of Truth and Justice were totally shaken and subverted So that scarce any footsteps remained of them in all the Orders and Degrees of Men above mentioned except some and those but few very few in respect of those who go to Hell so that although they are the only true Sons of our Mother the Church yet by reason of the smallness of their number she can scarce take any notice of them albeit they lye in her very Bosome This much may suffice to give an account as well of this Epistle of Gildas as of his History which Caradoc of Lancarvon in his Legendary Life of this Author supposes to have been writ whil'st he lived at Glastenbury But these passages I thought good to Transcribe from him as not unuseful to be inserted in these Annals not out of any desire to rip up or expose the faults of the ancient British Clergy or Nation much less to insult over their Calamities but rather to serve as a warning to us who live in this loose and corrupt Age that we may avoid the like Sins lest we provoke God to send the like Judgments upon us But to return to the Saxon Chronicle This Year began the Northumbrian Kingdom or in the Words of our Annals Ida began to Reign from whom is derived the Royal Family of the Northumbrian Kings the Saxon Annals here give us a long pedegree of this Ida who reigned Twelve Years and built Bebbanburgh now Bamborough Castle in Northumberland which was at first encompassed only with a Trench and afterwards with a Wall H. Huntington says This Prince was always in War and Will of Malmesbury and Mat. Westminster make him to have had Twelve Sons partly by Wives and partly by Concubines And the latter also tells us that he together with his Sons came into Britain and landed at Plensburgh with Forty Ships But though Ida was the first that took upon him the Title of King yet there were Princes of the Saxons in that Country many Years before for the same Authors tell us That Hengist had long before sent his Brother Ottha and his Son Ebusa Men of great Experience in War to Conquer the North Parts of Britain who pursuing his directions met with a success answerable to their endeavours for fighting often times with the Natives of the Country and conquering all those who indeavoured to resist them they received the rest into their Protection and so enjoyed the fruits of Peace But though they had by their own industry as well as the consent of their Subjects gained some Power in those Parts yet did they never till now take upon them the Title of Kings the same moderation descending also to their Posterity So that for near an Hundred Years the Princes Earls or Dukes of Northumberland lived like Vassals under the Protection of the Kings of Kent But this Nation being naturally haughty in the Year above recited that is Sixty Years after the Death of Hengist this Principality was changed into a Kingdom Ida first reigning there who without doubt was a very gallant Man being then in the prime of his Youth but whether he
of her Husbands enjoy her and at last with much ado obtained Leave of this King to quit his Palace and retire into a Nunnery which perverting of the Ends of Marriage was counted a great piece of Sanctity in those Times But the Monastery above-mentioned being burnt and destroyed by the Danes Anno 870 was afterwards re-edified by King Edgar as shall be in due time more particularly related Also Egbright King of Kent deceased and Lothair his Brother succeeded him This Year also according to Bede Bosa Bishop of Dunmoc being deprived by reason of his Infirmities two Bishops viz. Acca and Bedwin were placed in that Diocess one of whom had his See at Dunmoc now Dunwich in Suffolk and the other at Helmham in Norfolk ' This Year Aescwin began to Reign over the West Saxons Here also follows his Pedigree needless to be repeated for William of Malmesbury remarks no more of him than that he was supposed to be the next of the Royal Line as being the great Nephew of Cynegils by his Brother Cuthgils The same Year as Bede tells us in his Lives of the Abbots of Wiremuth and Girwy Abbot Benedict I suppose from his Episcopal Actions Sirnamed Biscop having before come over with Arch-Bishop Theodorus was by him made Abbot of the Monastery of St. Peter in Canterbury which he 2 Years after resigning and Adrian that great Scholar succeeding him he went again to Rome and then returning into Britain brought along with him many Books of Divine Knowledge and then applying himself to Egfrid King of Northumberland he obtained of him as much Land as served 70 Families lying near the Mouth of the River Wir in the Bishoprick of Durham where he began a Monastery in Honour of St. Peter but before it was finished he went into France and from thence brought Masons who built the Church of Stone after the Roman fashion and the Work being near finished he sent into the same Country for Artificers who understood the making of Glass which till then had been unknown in Britain wherewith he glazed the Windows of the Church and Monastery he had there built and thereby taught the English Nation the Art of Glass-making which says my Author hath proved so useful in making of Lamps for Churches and also other Vessels so necessary for divers Uses And because this Island nor yet France it self could then afford all the Ornaments requisite for the Altar he took care to fetch them from Rome whither he went for that purpose from whence again returning he brought a great many choice Books of all sorts together with divers Relicks of Saints and curious Pictures with which he adorned the Church he had built and he likewise received a Bull from Pope Agatho whereby the Monastery also by the Consent and License of King Egfrid was freed from all Secular Servitude But some time after Simeon of Durham says 8 Years King Egfrid being very well satisfied with what Benedict had done bestowed as much more Land upon him as then maintained 40 Families for the building of another Monastery at a Place called Girwy now Tarro◠near the Mouth of the River Tine which was built in Honour of St. Paul when also by reason of his frequent Absence and Employment in other Affairs he appointed one Easterwine his Kinsman Abbot of that of St. Peter and Ceolfrid a Monk of the same Monastery over that of S. Paul in which Charges they continued several Years under his Inspection till at last after the decease of Easterwine and another Abbot called Sigfrid Ceolfrid above-mentioned was made Abbot of both Monasteries which he Governed many Years untill He resigning that Charge went to end his Days at Rome but died by the way in France These Transactions thô happening in the space of about 40 Years I have here put together that you may have at once the History of these two ancient and famous Monasteries in the latter of which Bede himself the Author of this Account lived and died a Monk as shall be related hereafter About this time also thô Bede does not set down the Year Arch-Bishop Theodore deposed Winfrid Bishop of the Mercians for some Canonical Disobedience and ordained Sexwulf Abbot of Medeshamsted in his Room But to return to the Annals This Year Wulfher the Son of Penda and Aescwin Son of Genwulf fought at Bedanheafde and also King Wulfher deceased the same Year Where that Place was is uncertain thô some suppose it to be Bedwin in Wiltshire lying near Berkshire H. Huntington describes this Battle to have been very sharp but that the Mercian King inheriting his Father's and his Grandfather's Courage was somewhat superior yet that both Armies were terribly shattered and many Thousands slain on both Sides on which our Author makes this just Reflection That from hence it is worth while to observe how Vile the Actions of Men and how Vain those Wars are which Princes call Glorious Undertakings for when these Kings had brought so great a Destruction upon their own Nations both of them survived not long after For according to Florence's Chronicle King Wulfher deceased this Year having destroyed the Worship of Idols throughout his Kingdom and caused the Gospel to be preached in all Places of his Dominions and Ethelred his Brother succeeded him in the Kingdom whom William of Malmesbury describes to have been more famous for Devotion than Fighting unless when he shewed his Courage in a notable Expedition against Kent or else when he met and repell'd Egfrid King of Northumberland and forced him to return home recovering from him all Lindsey which Wulfher had taken away before thô with the loss of his Brother Edwin in that Expedition after which he spent all the rest of his Life in Peace About this time also according to Math. Westminster for Bede hath not set down the Years Erkenwald younger Son of Anna King of the East Angles was by Arch-Bishop Theodore ordained Bishop of London being a Man of great Worth and Piety This Year also according to Florence King Wulfher was first baptized but the Saxon Annals mention no such thing and therefore I wonder from whence he had it for it is quite contrary to what Bede relates concerning his being Baptized long before or else How could he be Godfather to Edelwalch King of the West Saxons who was Baptized near 20 Years before But I suppose Florence had it from some old Monkish Legend if not from the Roman Martyrology it self in which is related that incredible Story of King Wulfher's murdering of his two Sons Ulfwald and Rufin with his own Hands because they had been instructed in the Christian Faith by Ceadda Bishop of Litchfield And Mr. Stow in his Chronicle having found the same Story in an old Ledger-Book of that Church hath thought fit to insert it into his History placing the Year of their Suffering in Anno 668 when all our Historians do at that time relate him to have been a Christian. But this Book
him ordered to be slain which when the Abbot of Reodford heard as having his Monastery not far from thence he went to the King who then lay private in those Parts to be cured of the Wounds he had received in taking of the Island and desired of him if the Youths must needs dye that they might first received Baptism which the King granted whereupon the Abbot immediately instructed and then Baptized them so when the Executitioner came to put them to Death they chearfully underwent it because they hoped thereby to obtain an Eternal Kingdom Thus the Isle of Wight did thô last of all receive the Christian Faith and that upon very harsh terms as if God would make them suffer for their so long refusal of the Gospel The same Year also Ceadwalla and Mollo or Mull his Brother wasted Kent And W. Malmesbury adds That the occasion of this War was to be revenged of King Edric who had killed Lothair his Predecessour and that falling upon that Province now grown Esseminate with long Peace he committed a great deal of Spoil throughout the Country but at last meeting with the Kentish Men was repulsed with loss This Year also according to Stephen Hâ—ddis's Life of Bishop Wilfrid he was re-called home by King Alfred and restored to his Sees of York and Hagulstad the Bishop that then enjoyed them being turned out The same Year also Cuthbert that Pious Bishop of Lindisfarne having resigned his Bishoprick and retired again to Farne-Island there deceased but his Body was translated to Lindisfarne which being taken up Eleven Years after was found as entire as when it was first buried This Year Mollo or Mull the Brother of King Ceadwalla but now mentioned was burnt in Kent and Twelve others with him but Ceadwalla afterwards wasted Kent the same Year which action Will. of Malmesbury and H. Huntington relate more at large That Ceadwalla in the second Year of his Reign sent his Brother Mollo at his own request to Ravage and Pâ—under the Province of Kent out of a Desire of Spoil and Ambition of Glory so marching into Kent then divided into divers Factions and finding none there to resist him he laid all the Country waste but when he despised his Enemies and thought he might do what he pleased with them going about to plunder a certain House and having no more thâ—n Twelve Men in his Company being there encompassed on the sudden with far greater Forces and not daring to sally out upon them they set the House on Fire about his Ears where He with Twelve Knights were burnt And thus this brave Army consisting of the Flower of the West-Saxon Youth came to nothing But Will. Thorne in his Chronicle of the Abbots of St. Augustine Cant. relates the Death of this Prince with more Circumstances vâ—z That he invading and spoiling Kent and coming before the City of Canterbury and being there stoutly resisted by the Citizens till almost all his Men were killed was at last constrained to flee to a certain House where the Men of Canterbury burnt him to Death as hath been already related but it seems his Body not being reduced to Ashes was taken up and buried in the Church of the Abby of St. Augustine with the Kings of Kent this I thought fit to add as not being found elsewhere But when Ceadwalla heard this news being extremely enraged at it he again entred Kent and there satiating himself with Spoil and Slaughter when he had left nothing worth carrying away returned home Victorious This Year King Ceadwalla after he had Reign'd 2 Years perhaps having some remorse for his former Cruelties went to Rome and there received Baptism from Pope Sergius who gave him the Name of Peter where he not long after dyed and was buried in the Church of St. Peter to whom Ina succeeded in the Kingdom of the West-Saxons and Reigned Thirty Seven Years He also built the Monastery at Glastingabyrig now Glastenbury and also went to Rome and there remained until his Death Bede who has given us a long Epitaph on Ceadwalla both in Verse and Prose places this Prince's Baptism by the Pope in Anno 689 which might very well be for he resigned his Kingdom the Year above mentioned and it was ended by that time he could be baptized and so the Saxon Annalist might well place both that and his Baptism under one and the same Year The British Historians confounded this Ceadwalla with their King Ceadwallo who slew King Edwin but he lived above Twenty Years before this time as hath been already observed But Dr. Powel and Mr. Vaughan in their Learned Notes upon Caradoc's Welsh Chronicle do suppose with great probability that this Cadwallo was Edwal sirnamed Ywrch Prince of Wales who about this time began to Reign being the Son of Cadwallader and may also very well agree with what Guidonius writeth of one Ethwal Prince of Wales who about this time went to Rome and there dyed for in proper Names it is an easie matter for a Capital C to creep in since it was commonly used in old hands at the beginning of a Paragraph and might by an Ignorant Copier be added to the Name it self and so of Edwal make Cadwal and from thence Cadwallader But the Year after Ceadwalla dyed at Rome according to Bede as well as our Annals Theodorus Arch-Bishop of Canterbury also deceased being Eighty Eight Years of Age having sate Arch-Bishop Twenty Two Years and was buried in the Church of St. Peter in Canterbury Bede tells us That the English Church never attained to that height of perfection under any Arch-Bishops Government as it did under his he being the first Arch-Bishop who Exercised his Metropolitan Jurisdiction over all the Bishops as well beyond as on this side of Humber Berthwald who now succeeded Theodore in the Arch-Bishoprick had been Abbot of a certain Monastery called Raculf now Reculver in Kent near the Isle of Thanet and was a Man well read in the Scriptures and skil'd in Ecclesiastical Discipline but yet he ought not to be compared to his Predecessours he was Elected this Year but it seems his Consecration was deferr'd till near Three Years after when the Saxon Chronicle likewise recites it This Year also according to Florence Ina a Prince of the Royal Blood took the Kingdom of the West-Saxons being the Son of Kenred the Son of Ceolwald Yet it seems he had no right by Succession for Will of Malmesbury tells us expresly That it was more in respect to his own Natural Vertue than to the Right of a successive descent that he was now made King and indeed How could it be otherwise his Father Kenred being then alive This Year also Abbot Benedict above-mentioned dyed after a long Sickness of whom Bede in his Life already cited gives us a large Account that having been at first a Servant to King Oswin and receiving from him a competent Estate for his Quality he quited
it is to this Year we are to refer the great Council which Bede tells us was held in the Kingdom of the West Saxons in which after the Death of Bishop Hedda the Bishoprick of that Province became divided into two one whereof was conferred on Daniel who held it at the time when Bede wrote his History and the other was bestowed upon Aldhelm above-mentioned then Abbot of Malmesbury who was now made Bishop of Shireburn and when he was only an Abbot did at the Command of a Synod of the whole Nation write an excellent Book against that Errour of the Britains in not keeping Easter at the due time whereby he converted many of those Britains which were then subject to the West Saxons to the Catholick Observation thereof Of whose other Works likewise Bede gives us there a Catalogue being a Person says he admirable in all Civil as well as Ecclesiastical and Divine Learning and as William of Malmesbury further informs us was the first of the English Saxons who wrote Latin Verses with a Roman Genius There is here in the Saxon Annals a Gap for the space of 3 Years in which I think we may according to H. Huntington's Account place what Bede relates in the Chapter and Book last cited viz. That Daniel and Aldhelm yet holding their Sees it was ordained by a Synodal Decree That the Province of the South Saxons which had hitherto belonged to the Diocess of Winchester should now be an Episcopal See and have a Bishop of its own and so Ceadbert who was then Abbot of the Monastery of Selsey was consecrated first Bishop of that Place who dying Ceolla succeeded in that Bishoprick but he likewise dying some Years before Bede wrote his History that Bishoprick then ceased This Year the Saxon Annals began with the Death of Bishop Aldhelm whom it calls Bishop of Westwude for so Shireburne was then called after whom one Forther took the Bishoprick and this year Ceolred succeeded in the Kingdom of the Mercians for now Kenred King of the West Saxons went to Rome and Offa with him and Kenred remained there to his Live's end and the same year Bishop Wilferth or Wilfred deceased at Undale his Body was brought to Rypon in Yorkshire This is the Bishop whom King Egferth long since forced to go to Rome There being divers Things put very close together under this Year they will need some Explanation This Offa here mentioned was as Bede and William of Malmesbury relate the Son of Sigher King of the East Saxons who being a young Man of a sweet Behaviour as well as handsom Face in the Flower of his Youth and highly beloved by his People and having not long before succeeded to the Kingdom after Sighard and Senfrid above-mentioned he courted Keneswith the Daughter of King Penda whom he desired to marry but it seems not long after their Marriage she over-perswaded him to embrace a Monastick Life so that he now went to Rome for that End And Bede tells us expresly that both these Kings left their Wives Relations and Countries for Christ's sake But to this Offa succeeded Selred the Son of Sigebert the Good in the Kingdom of the East Saxons H. Huntington proposes King Offa as a Pattern to all other Princes to follow and makes a long Exhortation to them to that purpose as if a King could not do GOD better Service nor more Good to Mankind by well-governing his People than by renouncing the World and hiding his Head in a Cell But such was the Fashion or rather Humour of that Age and the Affairs as well as Consciences of Princes being then altogether Govern'd by Monks it is no wonder if they extoll'd their own Profession as the only One wherein Salvation could certainly be obtained But since I have already given you from Bede and Stephen Heddi a large Account of Bishop Wilfred's Life and Actions above-mentioned I shall not need to add any more to it He was certainly a Man who had tried all the Vicissitudes of an adverse as well as a prosperous Fortune having been no less than three times deprived of his Bishoprick the first time unjustly but whether we may say the same of both the other seems doubtful for let his Friends say what they will it is evident he was at first deprived for opposing a very good Design viz. That of dividing the Northumbrian Kingdom into more Diocesses and he having the rich Monastery of Hagulstad under his Charge would not permit it to be made a Bishoprick thô the Diocess was more than he could well manage and this seems to have been the true Original of that great Quarrel between him and the two Kings Egfrâ—d and Alfred as you have already heard so it should seem the Wrong pretended to have been done him was none at all or else such holy Men as St. Cuthbert St. John of Beverlie and Eatta are described to be would never have accepted of the Bishopricks of York and Hagulstad during the time of his Deprivation and it is very strange that two Arch-Bishops successively with the greater part of the Bishops of England should have agreed to his Deprivation if there had not been great Cause for it nor would so holy and knowing a Woman as the Abbess Hilda have been so much against him had not there been some substantial Reason to justifie it but he had the Pope on his side who always encouraged Appeals to Rome and then it was no wonder if he prevailed but he was certainly a Prelate of a high Spirit and great Parts and who building a great many Monasteries by the Benevolence of the Kings and Princes of that Time and himself thô a Bishop being Abbot of two of them at once it was no wonder if he grew very rich which together with his high way of Living being the first Bishop of that Age who used Silver Vessels it procured him the Envy of those Princes but he was a grand Patron of the Monks and therefore it is not to be wondred at if they cried him up for a Saint of whom the Writer of his Life which he Dedicates to Acca his Successour relates too many Miracles to be believed raising the Dead cuting the Lame being very ordinary Feats but the Monks being the only Writers of that Age we must be contented with what Accounts they will give us thô thus much must be acknowledged in his Commendation That he converted great Multitudes to the Christian Faith and caused the Four Gospels to be written in Letters of Gold But having given you this Account of Bishop Wilfred's Life it is fit I say somewhat further of his Death concerning which the Author above-mentioned tells us That having lived 4 Years in Peace after his last Restitution he at last went to visit the Monasteries which he had founded in the South Parts of England where he was received by his Abbots whom he had put in with great Joy till coming to a Monastery which
of the Northern Britains This year Eadbert King of the Northumbers was shorn a Monk and Ofwulf his Son succeeded him yet Reigned but one Year being slain by the Treachery of his own Servants on the 9th of the Kal. August following thô without any just Cause as I can find Concerning this Eadbert Simeon of Durham in his History of that Church tells us That after he had reigned 21 Years and ruled his Kingdom with great Wisdom and Courage so that all his Adversaries being either overcome by force or else submitting themselves to him the English Pictish and Scotish Kings not only maintained Peace and Friendship with him but rejoyced to do him Honour so that the Fame of his Grandeur spreading as far as France King Pipin not only made a League with him but sent him great Presents and the Kings his Neighbours when he was about to resign the Crown had him in that Esteem that they offered him part of their own Dominions on Condition that he would not lay down his Charge but he refused it and resigned his Kingdom to Usulf his Son Also about this time according to the British Chronicles there was a great Battle fought at Hereford between the Britains and the Saxons where Dyfnwal ap Theodore was slain But they do not tell us who obtained the Victory This Year Cathbert Arch Bishop of Canterbury deceased having fate Arch-Bishop 18 Years Also according to Florence about this time Swithred reigned over the East and Osmund over the South Saxons as also Beorne was King over the East Angles This Year Bregowin was consecrated Arch-Bishop of Canterbury at the Feast of St. Michael and Ethelwold Sirnamed Moll began to reign over the Northumbers and at last resigned the Crown ' Ethelbryght King of Kent deceased he was the Son of King Wythred Of this King William of Malmesbury records nothing remarkable but that the City of Canterbury was burnt in his Reign Ceolwulf also late King of Northumberland departed this Life the same Year dying a Monk in the Isle of Lindisfarne But Simeon of Durham prolongs his Life 4 Years longer This Year was a very sharp Winter and Ethelwald Moll King of Northumberland slew Duke Oswin at Edwinsclife on the Eighth of the Ides of August But thô who this Duke was our Annals do not tell us yet Simeon of Durham and Roger of Hoveden relate he was one of those Great Northumbrian Lords that rebelled against the King who gained the Victory over him and those Rebels that took his part ' This Year deceased Bergowine the Arch-Bishop above-mentioned But if he sate 4 Years as these Annals affirm he could not have died till the Year following in which also Janbryht who is also called Lambert was now consecrated Arch-Bishop of Canterbury about 40 Days after Christmas Also Frithwald Bishop of Witherne died on the Nones of May he had been Consecrated in York on the 18th Kalends of September in the Reign of Ceolwulf and sate Bishop 29 Years and then Piyhtwin or Pechtwin was Consecrated Bishop of Witerne at Aelfet on the 16th Kal. of August ' Janbryht the Arch-Bishop received his Pall This was as Florence of Worcester informs us from Pope Paul I. ' This Year also as Simeon of Durham relates there was much Mischief done by Fire at London Winchester and other Places ' Alhred King of Northumberland began to reign and reigned Eight Years Ethelwold Moll having now by Death quitted that Kingdom The manner of which is given us more perfectly by William of Malmesbury and Roger Hoveden viz. That Ethelwold lost the Kingdom of Northumberland at Winchan-hea 1 o Kal. November being murder'd by the Treachery of this Albred who succeeded him and was also of the Race of Ida being his Great Nephew The same Year also according to William of Malmesbury Offa King of the Mercians envying the Greatness of the Arch-Bishops of Canterbury did by most noble Presents made to the Pope obtain a Pall for the See of Lichfield that is That it should be for the future an Arch-Bishoprick and that all the Bishops of the Provinces of the Kingdom of Mercia and the East Angles should be subject to it and this he not only gained notwithstanding the Opposition and Remonstrances of Arch-Bishop Jambert to the contrary but also bereaved the Arch-Bishoprick of Canterbury of all its Lands which lay within the Mercian Territories which Injustice continued during the whole Reign of King Offa till Kenulph his Successour by the Intercession of Eanbald then Arch-Bishop of York restored the See of Canterbury to its ancient Rights This Year deceased Egbert Arch-Bishop of York 13 o Kal. Sept. who sate Bishop 36 Years This is he who was Base Brother to the King of the same Name and regained the Pall to his See after it had been without it ever since the time of Paulinus He also built a Noble Library at York which was then counted one of the best in Europe for William of Malmesbury relates that Alcuin the greatest Scholar of his time once told the Emperour Charles That if he would give him such Books of exquisite Learning as he had in his own Country by the Pious Industry of his Master Arch-Bishop Eghert then he would instruct and send him back some young Men who should carry over the choicest Flowers of the English Learning into France According to Simeon of Durham Albert was now ordained Arch-Bishop of York ' Eadbert the Son of Eatta deceased on 14 o Kal. September This Eadbert had been formerly King of Northumberland and according to Simeon of Durham died 10 Years after his taking the Habit of a Monk and was buried at York Also this Year as the Welsh Chronicles acquaint us by the means of Flbodius that Learned and Pious Bishop of North Wales it was decreed in a General Synod of the British Nation That Easter should be kept after the Custom of Rome so that all Differences between that Church and the British now ceased ' Charles King of the Franks began his Reign for Pepin his Father died this Year as R. Hoveden informs us Also the fair City of Cataract in Yorkshire was burnt by Bâ—ornred the Mercian Tyrant and He also perished by Fire the same Year This Year according to Simeon of Durham and R. Hoveden Offa King of the Mercians subdued the Nation of the Hestings by force of Arms but who these People were or where they inhabited no Author informs us Mr. Lambert in his Glossary at the end of the Decem Scriptores will have them to be Danes but I see no reason for it here since the Danes were not then settled in England ' This Year died Milred the Bishop Florence says he was Bishop of the Wiccii that is of the Diocess of Worcester and was in great Reputation for his Sanctity This Year Albert Arch-Bishop of York received his Pall from Pope Adrian as Simeon informs us
This Year the Northumbrians expelled their King Albred from York about Easter and chose Ethelred the Son of Moll once King for their Lord He reigned 4 Years Of which Transaction Roger Hoveden gives us this particular Relation That King Alhred being deposed by the Common-Council and Consent of his own Subjects and forsaken of all his Great Men was forced to retire first to the City of Bebban afterwards called Banbarough-Castle from whence he betook himself to Cynoth King of the Picts with but very few Followers The same Year also appeared a Red Cross in the Heavens after Sun-set and the Mercians and Kentish-men fought at Ottanford now Otford in Kent But neither the Saxon Annals nor any other vouchsafe to tell us what was the Quarrel nor who were the Commanders on either side nor yet what was the Success Also strange Serpents were seen in the Province of the South Saxons Mat. Westminster places this Prodigy two Years after and says They seemed to creep out of the Earth This Year Cynwulf King of the West Saxons and Offa King of the Mercians fought at Binsington now Bensington in Oxfordshire but Offa took the Town So it seems Cynwulf had the worst of it Here follows in the Peterburgh Copy another Relation concerning that Abbey which is thus That In the Reign of King Offa there was a certain Abbot of Medeshamstead called Beonna who with the Consent of the Monks of his Monastery leased out to Cuthbriht the Ealderman X Bonde-land that is the Ground of ten Bond-men or Villains at Swinesheafde with the Meadows and Pastures and all other Things thereunto belonging upon this Condition That Cuthbriht should pay the Abbot Fifty Pounds and one Night's Entertainment every Year or else Thirty Shillings in Money and that after his Death the Lands should again revert to the Monastery To which Grant King Offa King Egferth Arch Bishop Higebert the Bishop Ceolwulf the Bishop Inwona with Beon the Abbot and many other Bishops Abbots and Great Men were Witnesses I have inserted this Passage thô it does not relate to the Civil History of these Times because it is the First Example of a Lease of this kind and seems to have been done in a great Council of the Kingdom where these Kings were present which was then necessary for such a Grant Also in the time of this King Offa as the Peterburgh Copies relate there was a certain Ealderman called Brordan who desired of the King That for his sake he would free a certain Monastery of his called Wocingas because he intended to give it to St. Peter and to the Church of Medeshamsted one Pusa being then Abbot of it This Pusa succeeded Beonna and the King loved him very well wherefore he freed the Church of Wocingas by the King's consent with that of the Bishop Earls and all other Men's consents so that no body should from thenceforth have any duty or Tribute besides St. Peter and the Abbot this was done in the King's Town called Freoricburne Pehtwin Bishop of Witerne called in Latin Candida Casa deceased XIII Kal. Octob. he was Bishop Fourteen Years and had been bred under Aldhelm that Pious Bishop of Winchester and the same Year Ethelbert was consecrated Bishop of that See at York XVII Kal. Junii This Year according to the Welsh Chronicle the South-Welshmen destroyed great part of Mercia with Fire and Sword As also The Summer following all the Welshmen both of North and South-Wales gathered themselves together and Invading the Kingdom of Mercia made great spoil by burning and plundering the Country whereupon King Offa was forced to make Peace with the other Saxon Kings and to bend his whole Forces against the Welsh Men who not being able to encounter so great a strength as he then brought against them were forced to quit all the plain Country between the Rivers of Severne and Wye and retired into the Mountains whereupon Offa perceiving this seised upon all the Country and planted Saxons in their places and annexing it to his own Kingdom caused that famous Ditch or Trench to be made from Sea to Sea betwixt his Kingdom and Wales whereby he might the better defend his Country from the Incursions of the Welsh hereafter This Ditch is seen at this day in divers places and is called Welsh Clawdh Offa i.e. Offa's Ditch This Year Aethebald and Hearbert kill'd Three chief Gerifs or Governours Ealdwulf the Son of Bosa at Cyningeselife i. e. Kings Cliffe and Cynwulf and Ecga at Helathyrn XI Kal. Aprilis then Alfwold took the Kingdom Aethelred being Expel'd the Land and Reigned Ten Years But H. Huntington and Simeon of Durham gives us a more exact account of this Matter that Aethelred King of Northumberland having caused Three of his Nobles Aldwulf Kinwulf and Ecga to be treacherously slain by two of the same rank The Year following his Subjects Rebelling against him they first slew Aldwulf General of the King's Army in Flight at the place above mentioned as they also did the two other Commanders in the same manner so that King Aethelred's Captains being all slain and his hopes as well as his Forces defeated he was forced to flee into another Country and so Elfwald the Son of Oswulf succeeded him thô not without Civil Broils He was a Just and Pious Prince yet could not escape the hard Fate of his Predecessors as you will see in due time The same Year as the Laudean Copy relates King Charles entred Spain and destroyed the Citties of Pampelona and Cesar Augusta now called Saragosa and having joined his Army subdued the Saracens and received Hostages from them and then returned by Narbon and Gascony into France This Year the chief Gerifs or Governours of Northumberland burnt Beorne the Ealderman in Seletune 19 Kal. Januarij Roger Hoveden calls these Gerifs Osbald and Aethelheard and H. Huntington says They burnt this Ealderman or Chief Justice of the Kingdom because he was more Rigid and Severe than in Reason he ought to have been The same Year the Ancient Saxons and Franks fought against each other in which Battle Charles King of the Franks gained the Victory having wasted the Saxon Territories with Fire and Sword and laid them to his own Dominions as not only our own but the French Historians relate Also Bishop Aethelheard dyed at York and Eanbald was consecrated to the same See and Cynebald the Bishop resigned his See at Lindisfarne and Alchmuna Bishop of Hagulstead deceased 7 th Id. Sept. and Higbert was consecrated in his stead the 6 th of the Nones of Octob. as likewise Higbald was consecrated at Soccabrig to be Bishop of Lindisfarne Also King Allwold sent to Rome to demand the Pall for Eanbald Arch-Bishop of York This Year Werburh the Wife of King Ceolred late King of the Mercians deceased at her Nunnery of Chester where she was Abbess and where the Church is dedicated to her Memory also Cenwulf Bishop of Lindisfarne died
Saxons marching in an Hostile manner into Cornwal absolutely subdued it and added it to his own Kingdom many being there slain on both sides The same Year also according to Caradoc's Chronicle Run King of Dyvet and Cadhel King of Powis deceased Charles the Emperour made Peace with Nicephorus Emperour of Constantinople This Year also according to the same Caradoc Elbods Arch-Bishop of North Wales i. e. of St. Asaph deceased before whose Death was a great Eclipse of the Sun But as the Reverend Lord Bishop of Bangor in his Catalogue of the Welsh Kings which he has been pleased to communicate to me well observes That Eclipse falling out Anno 810 the Bishops Death must do so likewise and therefore in this the Chronicles must needs be mistaken Also according to Mat. Westminster Aelfwold King of Northumberland dying Earnred succeeded him and held it for 32 Years which is also confirmed by Simeon of Durham thô this can by no means agree with the Chronicle of Mailross which says That Eardulf being expelled his Kingdom it continued without any King for many Years but William of Malmesbury makes this Anarchy to have begun from the murther of King Ethered Anno 794 as hath been already observed in the last Book and that this Confusion lasted for about 33 Years during which time that Province became a Scorn to its Neighbours But it seems they still had Kings thô very obscure and but of small Account But of greater certainty is that which Mat. Westminster relates under this Year viz. That King Egbert subdued the Northern Welsh-men and made them Tributary to him But it is wholly incredible what Buchanan in his Scotish History relates in the Year following to wit That Achaius King of Scots having reigned 32 Years and had formerly aided but in what Year of his Reign he tells us not Hungus King of the Picts with 10000 Scots against one Athelstan then wasting the Pictish Borders and that Hungus by the Aid of those Scots and the Help of St. Andrew their Patron in a Vision by Night and the Appearance of a Cross by Day routed the astonished English and slew this Athelstan in Fight But who this Athelstan was I believe no Man knows Buchanan supposes him to have been some Danish Commander on whom King Alured or Alfred had bestowed Northumberland Yet of this I find no Foot-steps in our ancient Writers and if any such Thing were done in the time of Alfred it must be above 60 Years after for King Alfred began not to Reign till Anno 871. And John Fordun in his Scotish History is also as much mistaken making this Athelstan to be the Son of King Ethelwulf who then governed the Northern Provinces under his Father which also fails almost as much in point of time this Prince Athelstan here mentioned being as appears by the Saxon Annals alive and engaged in a Sea-Fight against the Danes above 40 Years after as you will find in its due place set down This Athelstan therefore and this great Overthrow seems rather to have been a meer Fancy of some idle Monk And this Year according to Mat. Westminster as King Egbert had the Year before subdued the Welsh-men so it seems upon some fresh Rebellion of theirs he again entred their Borders and laid them waste from North to South with Fire and Sword and then returned home Victorious But notwithstanding the Wars the Welsh had from abroad it seems they had also time enough for Civil Wars at home for now according to Caradoc's Chronicle Conan Prince of Wales and his Brother Howel could not agree insomuch that they tried the Matter by Battle where Howel had the Victory to which Dr. Powel hath here added this Observation That this Howel the Brother of Conan King or Prince of North Wales did claim the Isle of Mon or Anglesey for part of his Father's Inheritance which Conan refusing to give him thereupon they fell at Variance and consequently made War the one against the other And here says he I think fit to say somewhat of the old Custom and Tenure of Wales from whence this Mischief grew that is the Division of the Father's Inheritance amongst all the Sons commonly called Gauel kind Gauel is a British Term signifying a Hold because every one of the Sons did hold some portion of his Father's Lands as his lawful Son and Successour This was the Cause not only of the Overthrow of all the ancient Nobility of Wales for by that means the Inheritance being continually divided and subdivided amongst the Children and Children's Children it was at length brought to nothing but also of much Bloodshed unnatural Strife and Contention amongst Brethren as we have here an Example and many others in this History This kind of Partition is very good to plant and settle a Nation in a large Country not inhabited but in a populous Country already furnished with Inhabitants it is the utter Decay of great Families and as I said before the cause of constant Strife and Debate But some Years after Howel gave his Brother Conan another Defeat and slew a great many of his People Whereupon Conan levied an Army in the Year 817 and chased his Brother Howel out of the Isle of Anglesey compelling him to flee into that of Man and a little after died Conan chief King of the Britains or Welsh-men leaving behind him a Daughter named Esylht who was married to a Nobleman called Mâ—rvyn Vrych the Son of Gwyriad who was afterwards King in her Right This Year also as the Manuscript Annals of the Abbey of Winchelcomb relate the Charter of this Monastery was granted by King Kenulph as appears by a Copy there inserted which shews what Orders of Men were summoned by that King to be present at the Council in which this Charter was confirmed viz. Merciorum optimates Episcopos Principes Comites Procuratores meosque i. e. Regis Propinquos which Terms having already been explained in the Introduction to this Book I need noâ—â—ere repeat There were also present Cuthred King of Kent his 〈…〉 King of the East-Saxons with all others who should be present at those Synodal Councils Then follow the Subscriptions of K. Kenulph as also of both the said Kings and of Wilfred Arch-Bishop of Canterbury with the rest of the Bishops and Ealdermen there stiled Duces This Year according to our Annals the Emperour Charles the Great departed this Life when he had Reigned Forty Five Years also Wilfred the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and Wigbright the Bishop of the West-Saxons went to Rome But here our Annals are mistaken for this Emperour dyed not till the Year 814. Mat. Westminster also adds that these Bishops above-mentioned went to Rome about the Affairs of the English Church Arch-Bishop Wilfred having received the Benediction of Pope Leo returned again to his Bishoprick and the same Year King Egbert wasted the Western Welsh from the South to the West This seems but to have been the
as his own ever since the time that King Offa took it but now the Mercians tried to recover it by Force The same Year was also held another Synodal Council at Cloveshoe for the Kingdom of Mercia under K. Beornwulf and Wilfred Arch-Bishop of Canterbury with all the Bishops and Chief Men of that Kingdom wherein some disputes about Lands between Heabert Bishop of Worcester and a certain Monastery called Westburgh were determined This Year Ludican King of the Mercians and five of his Ealdermen were slain and Wiglaf began to Reign in his stead Ingulf and Will of Malmesbury tell us That this Ludican was Kinsman to the last mentioned King Beornwulf and leading an Army against the East-Angles to revenge his Death was there overcome and Slain and that both these Tyrants were justly removed who had not only made Kings without any Right but had also by their imprudence been the occasion of the destruction of the Military Forces of that Kingdom which had till then proved Victorious and that thereupon one Withlaf being before Ealderman of Mâ—rcia was by the consent of all the People created King whose Son Wimond had Married Alfleda the Daughter of Ceolwulf the late King This King Withlaf Reigned thirteen Years as Tributary to King Egbert as shall be further related anon The Moon was Eclipsed on Christmass day at Night and the same Year King Egbryht subdued the Kingdom of Mercia and all the Country that lay South of Humber He was the Eighth King who Ruled over all Britain but the First who had so great a Command was Aella King of the South Saxons the Second was Ceaâ—lin King of the West-Saxons the Third was Aethelbryght King of Kent the Fourth was Redwald King of the East Angles the Fifth was Edwin King of Northumberland the Sixth was Oswald who succeeded him the Seventh was Oswi the Brother of Oswald and the Eight was Egbryght King of the West-Saxons who not long after led an Army against the Northumbers as far as Dore which place is supposed to have been in York-shire beyond the River Hâ—mber but the Northumâ—ers offering him Peace and due Subjection they parted Friends From which passage in the Saxon Annals it is apparent that this Supream Dominion of one English King over all the rest was no new thing Bede having taken notice of it long before yet did they not therefore take upon them the Title of Monarchs any more than Egbert who now succeeded them in that Power thô most of our Historians who have written the Saxon History in English have but without any just reason given them that Title which could not properly belong to Kings who had divers others under them with the like Regal Jurisdiction within their own Territories not but that King Egbert was in a more peculiar manner the Supream King of England because by his Absolute Conquest of the Kingdoms of Kent and of the South and East Saxons he was the greatest King who had hitherto Reigned in England all the rest of the Kings that remained Reigning by his permission and paying him Tribute a power which never had been exercised by any other King before him But to return to our History it seems that King Egbert was so highly displeased with the Mercians for setting up a King without his consent that Ingulf and Florence of Worcester tell us That as soon as ever Withlaf was made King before he could raise an Army he was expell'd his Kingdom which Egbert added to his own but Withlaf being search'd for by Egbert's Commanders through all Mercia he was by the industry of Seward Abbot of Croyland concealed in the Cell of the Holy Virgin Etheldrith Daughter of King Offa and once the Spouse of Ethelbert King of the East Angles where King Withlaf found a safe retreat for the space of Four Months until such time as by the Mediation of said Abbot Seward he was reconciled to King Egbert and upon promise of the payment of an Yearly Tribute permitted to return to his Kingdom in Peace which is by him acknowledged in that Charter of his that Ingulf hath given us of his Confirmation of the Lands and priviledges of the Abbey of Croyland It was made in the Great Council of the whole Kingdom in the presence of his Lords Egbert King of West-Saxony and his Son Ethelwulf and before the Bishops and great Men of all England Assembled at the City of London to take Counsel against the Daniâ—h Pyrats then infesting the English Coasts And in the Year 833 as you shall see when we come to that Year This Restoration of King Withlaf to his Kingdom is also mentioned in the Saxon Annals of the next Year where it is said That Withlaf again obtained the Kingdom of the Mercians and Bishop Ethelwald deceased also the same Year King Egbryht led an Army against the Northern Britains and reduced them absolutely to his Obedience For it seems they had again rebelled Now likewise as Mat. Westminster relates King Egbert vanquished Swithred King of the East-Saxons and drove him out of his Kingdom upon whose expulsion the West Saxon Kings ever after possest that Kingdom Now according to the same Authour King Egbert having subdued all the South Parts of England led a great Army into the Kingdom of Northumberland and having grievously wasted that Province made King Eandred his Tributary which is also confirmed by Will of Malmesbury who relates that the Northumbers who stood out the last fearing least this King's anger might break out upon them now giving Hostages submitted themselves to his Dominion but they continued still under Kings of their own as you will further find To this Year I think we may also refer that great Transaction which the Annals of the Cathedral Church of Winchester printed in Monast. Angl. from an ancient Manuscript in the Cottonian Library place under the Year following viz. That King Egbert having thus subdued all the Kingdoms above-mentioned and forced them to submit to his Dominions called a great Council at Winchester whereto were summoned all the Great Men of the whole Kingdom and there by the General Consent of the Clerus Populus i. e. the Clergy and Laity King Egbert was crowned King of Britain And at the same time he Enacted That it should be for ever after called England and that those who before were called Jutes or Saxons should now be called English â—en And this I could not omit because thô William of Malmesbury and other Historians agree of the Matter of Fact yet I think this the truest and most particular Account of the Time and manner when it was performed Also this Year Wilfred the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury deceased and Feologild the Abbot was Elected Arch-Bishop 7 Kal. Maij. and was Consecrated 5. Id. Junij being Sunday and dyed the 3. Kal. Sept. after But here is certainly a mistake in this Copy of the Annals for it was not Feologild but Ceolnoth who was then chosen
the Ruines which the Mercian Arms and Tyranny had brought upon the Churches of the East Angles reduced by War to extream Poverty and consequently to a Neglect of Piety and Ecclesiastical Discipline And thus he Reigned 14 Years in Peace with the Affection of all his Subjects till GOD was pleased by sending the Pagan Danes as a Scourge to his Country to render this Prince a high Example of Christian Fortitude and Constancy King ETHELBALD and King ETHELRED After the Death of Ethelwulf King of the West Saxons his two eldest Sons divided their Father's Kingdom according to his Will Ethelbald his eldest Son succeeded him in West Saxony whilst his younger Brother Ethelred Reigned in Kent as also over the East and South Saxons And now according to our Annals the Pope hearing of the Death of King Ethelwulf anointed Alfred to be King and also delivered him to a Bishop to be Confirmed If this was so the King his Father must have left him behind at Rome for Asser says expresly That he went thither with him but over what Kingdom the Pope should Anoint him I know not unless foretold by way of Prophecy he would be King after his Brothers But as for King Ethelbald above-mentioned both Ingulph and Will of Malmesbury give him a very bad Character That he married Judeth his Father's Widow and was also besides both Lazy and Perfidious but Thomas Redborne in his larger History of Winchester says That by the Admonition of Swithin Bishop of that Church he repented of his Incest and put away Judeth his Mother-in-Law and observed all Things that the Bishop enjoyned him This Author farther relates from one Gerard of Cornwal's History of the West Saxon Kings not now extant that I know of That he died in a few Years after without doing or suffering any thing that deserves to be mentioned for we do not find that the Danes troubled this Kingdom all his Reign concerning the Length of which there is very different Relations amongst our Historians the Saxon Annals and William of Malmesbury making him to have reigned 5 Years whereas Asser and Ingulph allow him but Two and an half which seems to be the truer Account for if King Ethelwulf returned from Rome in the Year 855 and lived above Two Years after it is plain King Ethelbald could not Reign above Two Years and an half for the Saxon Annals tell us that in the next Year but one viz. King Ethelbald deceased and that his Body was buried at Scireborne King ETHELBERT alone Theâ— Aethelbryght his Brother took the Kingdom and held it in great Concord and Quiet I suppose our Author means from Domestick Commotions for he immediately tells us That in this King's time there came an Army of Danes from the Sea and took Winchester with whom in their return to their Ships Osric and Aethelwulf the Ealdormen with the Hampshire and Berkshire-men fought and put the Danes to flight and kept the Field of Battle but the Annals do not tell us in what Year of his Reign this Invasion happened ' This Year deceased St. Swithune Bishop of Winchester Now concerning this holy Bishop as also Alstan Bishop of Shirbone William of Malmesbury gives us this Character which omitting all the Bedroll of Miracles that follow I shall here set down King Aethelwulf bearing a great Reverence to St. Swithune whom he calls his Teacher and Master desisted not till he had honoured him with the Government of the said Bishoprick so that he was Consecrated with the Unanimous Consent and Joy of all the whole Clergy of that Diocess by Cealâ—oth Arch Bishop of Canterbury hereby Bishop Swithune's Authority encreasing his Councels for the Good of the Kingdom proved of greater weight so that by his Admonitions both the Church and State received great Benefit And indeed he was a rich Treasure of all Virtues but those in which he took most Delight were Humility and Clemency and in the discharge of his Episcopal Function he omitted nothing belonging to a True Pastor By his Assistance principally together with that of the Prudent and Couragious Prelate Alstan Bishop of Shirborne King Aethelwulf was enabled to support the Calamities his Kingdom suffered by the frequent Irruptions of the Danes for these two were his principal Councellours in all Affairs Bishop Swithune who contemned Worldly Things informed his Lord in all Matters which concerned his Soul whilst Alstan judging that Temporal Advantages were not to be neglected encouraged him to oppose the Danes and provided Money for his Exchequer and also ordered his Armies so that thô this King was of a slow unactive Nature yet by the Admonitions of these two worthy Councellours he Governed his Kingdom prudently and happily Many noble Designs for the good of the Church and State being well begun were prosperously executed in his Reign This Year the Danish Army landed in Thanet and wintering there made a League with the Kentish-men who promised them Money provided they would keep the Peace under pretence of which and of the Money promised the Danes stole out of their Camp and wasted all the East part of Kent For as Asser well observes they knew they could get more by Plunder than by Peace Now according to the same Annals King Aethelbryht died to the great Grief of his Subjects having governed the Kingdom 5 Years with a general Satisfaction and was buried at Scyreburne near to his Brother This Prince is supposed to have had a Son call'd Ethelwald whom you will find in this History to have raised a Rebellion against King Edward the elder many Years after King ETHELRED Then according to the Annals Aethelred Brother to the late King began his Reign and the same Year a great Army of Danes landed in England and took up their Winter Quarters among the East Angles and there turned Horsemen and that Nation was forced to make Peace with them Then the Pagan Army sailed from the East Angles and went up the River Humber to the City of York where was at that time great Discord between the People of that Nation I shall here give you Asser's Account of this Transaction being to the same effect thô more particular than that in the Annals themselves For says he the Northumbers had now expelled Osbright their lawful King and had set up a Tyrant or Usurper one Aella who was not descended of the Royal Line but now when the Pagans invaded them by the Intercession of the great Men and for the Common Safety the two Kings joyned their Forces and so marched to York at whose coming the Danes presently fled and endeavoured to defend themselves within the City which the Christians perceiving resolved to follow them to the very Walls and breaking in and entering the Town with them for it seems that City had not in those Times such strong Walls as they had when Asser wrote his History therefore when the Christians had made a Breach in the Wall as
they designed and that a great part of them had entred the City the Pagans being compelled by Necessity and Despair broke out upon them and killed routed and put to flight the whole Army as well within as without the Town so that both the Kings were slain together with many Noblemen and a vast number of Common Souldiers and a great many were taken Prisoners and those that remained alive were forced to make Peace with the Danes who according to the Chronicle of Mailross made one Egbert King over the Northumbers that were left thô under the Danish Dominion but it seems it was over those that lay on the North side of the River Time as Simeon of Darham in his History of that Church relates The same Year also died Aethstan the Bishop after he had held his See of Scireborne 50 Years whose Body was buried in that Town But since the Chronicle that goes under the Name of Abbot Bromton undertakes to give some probable Account how the Danes came to invade the Kingdom of Northumberland thô it looks somewhat like a Romance yet I shall here give it you since it is found in no other Author that I know of being thus Osbriht King of Northumberland going one day a hunting as he returned home went privately to the House of one of his Noblemen called Bruern Brocard to refresh himself Bruern knowing nothing of the King 's coming was gone to the Sea side according to his Custom to secure the Shoar against Pirats but his Wife a Woman of great Beauty entertained the King at Dinner very splendidly The King have dined took her by the Hand and led her to her Chamber telling her He must speak with her in private and there removing all out of the way but such as were privy to his Secrets he by Force and Violence lay with her Having thus had his Will he speedily returned to York whilst she so lamented and wept that her Face was extremely altered which caused her Husband at his return to ask the cause of so sudden a Change and such an unusual Sadness Whereupon she told him the whole Matter how the King had forced her which having heard he comforted her bidding her not to afflict her self since she was not able to resist a Man so potent assuring her because she had told him the Truth he would not love her less than he had done before and if GOD gave him leave he would Revenge both himself and her upon him that had committed the Crime Then did Bruern being a Man both Noble and Powerful call his Kindred together to whom he revealed the Affront put upon him and his Intention speedily to Revenge it To which they all consenting and approving his Purpose he with them took Horse and rode to York The King upon sight of him called him to him very civilly but he having all his Relations at his Back defied him renouncing his Allegiance giving up his Land and whatsoever else he held of him This said without any more Words he withdrew making no stay at all at Court So his Friends consenting he went straitways over to Denmark where he made a great Complaint to the King of the Affront offered to him and his Wife by K. Osbriht desiring his speedy Relief and Supplies to put him into a Capacity to revenge himself At this News Godrin and his Danes conceived very great Joy having now some Reason to induce them to invade the English and revenge the Injury offered to Bruern who was descended of his Blood whereupon he speedily prepared a great Army over which he made Captains two Brothers called Inguar and Hubba most valiant Souldiers and to them he gave a Navy furnished with all Necessaries to transport an innumerable Company of Men. These Adventurers landing in the Northern Parts and taking their way through Holderness destroyed all the Towns with their Inhabitants and coming to York provoked Osbriht to come out and fight them where he and his Brother-King were both slain as you have already heard This Year the Danish Army marched into Mercia as far as Snotingaham now Nottingham and there took up their Quarters but Burhred King of the Mercians with his Great or Wise Men entreated Aethelred King of the West Saxons and Aelfred his Brother to help them to fight against the Pagans whereupon they likewise marched to the same place where finding the Danish Army strongly fortified they only besieged Nottingham But as Asser and Ingulph relate the Christians not being able to take either the Town or Castle there was very little fighting so that the Mercians were forced to make Peace with the Pagans whereupon the Danes marched back again into the Kingdom of Northumberland The same Year Asser in his Life of K. Alfred tells us That the King married the Daughter of Aethelred the Ealdorman of the Gaini i. e. of the Country about Gainesburrough in Yorkshire But the next Year the Danish Army returned again to York and there stayed Twelve Months and now there was also a great Mortality both of Men and Beasts But we cannot here omit the Relation of Mat. Westminster under this Year concerning what the Danes did before they left the North of England where he says they slew both Old and Young not sparing the Lives or Chastities so much as of the Nuns where he gives us a strange Example of an Heroick if not too Great a Love of Chastity for Ebba afterwards Sainted then Abbess of Coldingham Nunnery in Yorkshire being more afraid of the loss of her Virginity than her Life calling her Nuns into the Chapter-house there made a Speech to them setting forth the Lust and Cruelty of the Danes and also exhorting them to follow her Example in avoiding it which they all promising to observe she then took a Razour and cut off her own Nose and upper Lip in which she was immediately followed by all the Sisters which being done those cruel Tyrants Hinguar and Hubba coming thither the next day together with their Forces and seeing so horrible a Spectacle they not only ran out of the Monastery and left them but also gave order to their Followers that they should set the House on fire which they forthwith did so it was burnt to Ashes together with the Abbess and all her Nuns who thought themselves happy in thus suffering Martyrdom for the preservation of that which was dearer to them than their Lives Nor did they discharge their Fury upon this Nunnery alone but upon all the rest of the Monasteries of the Northumbrian Kingdom having not long before destroyed the Monasteries and Church of Linaisfarne with those of Girwy and Weremuth besides the famous Nunneries of Streanshale and Tinmuth most of which were never rebuilt and those that were not till several Ages after But to proceed with our Annals In the Peterborough Copy it follows thus Then the Danes quitting the North and mounting themselves on Horseback marched through Mercia into East
now repaired it and made it habitable and then committed it to the Custody of his Son-in-Law Ethered Earl of the Mercians and now all the English viz. the Mercians and Kentishmen as also the East and West Saxons who had been before dispersed or made Prisoners with the Danes being now returned home put themselves under King Alfred's Protection But these Danish Storms being pretty well blown over King Alfred began now to make some use of the Learned Men he had sent for from abroad for as Mr. Camden shews us in his Britannia we have a large account of the University of Oxon. Under the Year of our Lord 886 viz. That in the Second Year of St. Grimbald's coming over into England the University of Oxford was founded the first Regents there and Readers in Divinity were St. Neot an Abbot an Eminent Professor of Theology and St. Grimbald and Eloquent and most Excellent Interpreter of the Holy Scriptures whilst Grammer and Rhetorick were Taught by Asser a Monk a Man of extraordinary Learning Logick Musick and Arithmetick were Read by John a Monk of St. Davids Geometry and Astronomy were professed by John another Monk and Collegue of St. Grimbald one of a sharp Wit and Immense Knowledge These Lectures were often honoured with the presence of the most Illustrious and Invincible Monarch King Aelfred which is also asserted by Will of Malmesbury who tells us a constant Tradition of his time that King Alfred by the Advice of Neot the Abbot first founded publick Schools of various Arts at Oxford which is further confirm'd by an Ancient Manuscript Copy of Randolph Higden's Polychron in Bayliol College Library which in the beginning treating of all the Kings of England when he comes to King Alfred says thus That he first founded the University of Oxford John Rouse in his Manuscript Treatise de Regibus Angliae Lib. 1. seems also to have seen this passage in Winchester Annals and adds Three Halls to have been thus built The one for Grammar near the East Gate the Second near the North-Gate for Logicians and the Third in the High-Street for Divines But since this only proves that King Alfred first founded publick Schools here and not that there was any such thing here before I shall recite also what follows as it is quoted by the said Mr. Camden out of an ancient Copy of Asser de Gestis Alfredi which I could wish may clear this point About this time says he there arose a sharp and grievous dissention between Grimbald and those learned Men whom he brought hither with him and the old Scholars whom he found here at his coming for these absolutely refused to comply with the Statutes Institutions and Forms of Reading perscribed by Grimbald the difference proceeded to no great height for the space of Three Years yet there was always a private Grudge and Enmity between them which soon after broke out with the utmost violence imaginable to appease these Tumults the most Invincible King Aelfred being informed of the Faction by a Message and Complaint from Grimbald came to Oxford to accommodate the matter and submitted to a great deal of Pains and Patience to hear the Cause and Complaint of both Parties The Controversie depended upon this The Old Scholars maintain'd that before the coming of Grimbald to Oxford Learning did here flourish thô the Students were less in number than they had formerly been because very many of them had been Expell'd by the cruel Tyranny of the Pagans They farther declar'd and proved by the undoubted Testimony of their ancient Annals that good Orders and constitutions for the Government of that place had been already made by Men of great Piety and Learning such as Gildas Melkin Ninnias Kentigern and others who had there prosecuted their Studies to a good old Age All things being then managed in happy Peace and quiet and that St. German coming to Oxford and residing there half a Year after he had gone through all England to Preach down the Pelagian Heresie did well approve of their Rules and Orders The King with incredible Humility and great attention heard both parties exhorting them with Pious and Importunate entreaties to preserve Love and Amity with one another upon this he left them in hopes that they both would follow his Advice and obey his Instructions But Grimbald resenting these proceedings retired imediately to the Monastery of Winchester which King Aelfred had lately founded and soon after he got his Tomb to be removed thither to him in which he had designed his Bones should be put after his Decease and laid in a Vault under the Chancel of the Church of S. Peters in Oxford which Church the said Grimbald had raised from the ground of Stones hewn and carved with great Art But since it must be confessed that this passage of the quarrel of St. Grimbald and the Old Scholars of Oxford is not to be found in that ancient Copy of Asser which Arch-Bishop Parker first published in Saxon Characters like those in which it is written being still Extant in the Cottonian Library yet though it was published by Mr. Camden in that Edition of Asser which was printed at Frankford in 1603. The Original of which the Lord Primate Usher in his Ant. Brit. Eccles. expresly tells us Mr. Camden never saw from whence Sir John Spelman in his History of the Life of King Aelfred hath made a very hard inferences as if that clause was not to be found in any of the ancient Copies of that Authour but had been foisted in either by the Publisher or else by Mr. Camden himself thô this Authour does not say so in express terms I shall therefore repeat in short what Mr. Ant. Wood hath answered to this Objection in the Antiquities of the University of Oxford from a Manuscript Testimonial under the hand of the learned Mr. Twyne viz. That he himself long after discoursing with Mr. Camden on this Subject and asking him expresly about this passage whose authority began to be then questioned His Answer was that he very well knew that he had truly transcribed that passage from an ancient Manuscript of Asser which he had then by him and which as the said Mr. Wood in his Notes tells us then belonged to Sir Henry Savile of Banke near Halifax in York-shire But I shall not now take upon me to Answer the rest of the Objections which the said Sir John Spelman does there produce against the validity of the above cited passage which supposes publick Schools to have been at Oxford before King Alfreds time for they are all reduceable to these two heads First the express words of the Annals of the Abbey of Hyde above-mentioned as also that of Polychronicon That King Alfred was the first King who founded a University there all which may be answered by allowing that to be true in respect of a University endow'd with Priviledges and distinct Halls and Colledges built on purpose and
Bishop of Shireborne This Year Elfred who was Gerefe of Bathe died and about the same time there was a Peace made between King Edward and those of East-England and Northumberland That is as Florence interprets it with the Danish Army inhabiting those Provinces at Ityngaford but where the place was is now unknown to us unless it be Ilford near Christ-Church in Hampshire which is seated in the new Forest called Itene in English-Saxon This Year also Ligceaster now Leicester was repaired And Florence of Worcester likewise relates it to have been done in the Year 908. by the care of Ethelred Duke of Mercia and the Lady Elfleda his Wife and this Author does also inform us That this Year the King subdued Eastseax East-England and Northumberland with many other Provinces which the Danes had a long time been possessed of but East-England was not reduced till some Years after also that he conquered the borders of the Scots Cumbrians and Galloway Men with the Western Britains and forced their Kings to yield themselves to him and then he returned home with great Glory and Honour This Year also Cadelh Prince of South Wales died he was second Son to Roderic the Great and Father to Howel Dha i. e. the Good who succeeded him in that Dominion Some of the South Wales Antiquaries have endeavoured to prove this Cadelh to have been the eldest Son of Roderic the Great but Mr. Vaughan hath so Learnedly confuted this Mistake in a small Treatise which he published on that Subject at Oxford 1663 that I think no Man can have any Reason to be dissatisfied with it This Year according to Florence of Worcester the ancient City of Caerlegion that is in the English Legeceaster and now Westchester was by the Command of Earl Ethered and Ethelflede his Wife repaired Which thô Mr. Camden in his Britannia will needs have to be Leicester yet that it was not so may appear from the British Name of Caerlegion which was never given to Leicester but only to Westchester by the ancient British Inhabitants ' This Year deceased Denulph who was Bishop of Winchester This is he of whom our Historians tell us That the King lighting on him as he lay concealed at Athelney being then but a Swineheard and finding him a Man of excellent Natural Parts set him to School to learn and he became so good a Proficient in Letters that he was made first a Doctor and afterwards a Bishop This Year also the Body of St. Oswald was translated from Bardenigge that is Bardeney in Lincolnshire into Mercia Frithâ—stan now took the Bishoprick of Winchester and Bishop Asser also deceased soon after who was Bishop of Shireburne Also the same Year King Edward sent an Army of the West Saxons together with the Mercians who very much wasted Northumberland and staying there five Weeks destroyed many of the Danes Florence of Worcester and Simeon of Durham give us a very good Reason for this Action viz. That the Danes had now broken the League they had entred into with King Edward so that he never lest them till he had forced their Kings and Commanders again to renew the Peace which however it seems they kept not long For the next Year our Annals tell us That the Danish Army in Northumberland not regarding the Peace which King Edward and his Son had made with them again wasted the Province of the Mercians but the King being then in Kent had got together about 100 Ships which sailed toward the South-East to meet them and then the Danes supposing that the greatest part of the King's Forces were in his Fleet thought they might march safely whither they would without fighting but so soon as the King understood they were gone out to plunder he sent an Army consisting of West Saxons and Mercians who following the Danes in the Rear as they returned home met with them in a place called Wodnesfield and fought with them routing and killing many Thousands of them with Eowils and Healfden their Kings with several Earls and Chief Commanders of their Army whose Names I forbear to give because I would tire my Reader as little as I could But to these Kings as the Annals of Winchelcombâ— inform us one Reginald succeeded Also the same Year as Florence hath it there was a remarkable Battle between the English and the Danes in Staffordshire but the former obtained the Victory This Year Aethered the Ealdorman of the Mercians deceased and the King then took the Cities of London and Oxenford into his own hands with all the Territories belonging to them But it seems the Lady Elflede now a Widow kept all the rest of Mercia for this Year the Annals say That she being Lady of the Mercians came on the Vigil of the Feast of Holyrood to a place called Sceargeat which is now unknown and there built a Castle and the same Year did the like at Bricge which Mr. Camden supposes to be Bridgenorth in Shropshire that Town being called Brigge by the common People at this day And Florence also adds That about this time she built the Town of Bremesbyrig Now about the Feast of St. Martin King Edward Commanded the Town of Heortford to be new built lying between the Rivers Memar Benefican and Lygean the first and second of which Rivers is now hard to name right only it is certain they were two Rivulets that discharged themselves into the River Lee then called Lygean between Hartford and Ware After this the Summer following between Lent and Midsummer the King marched with part of his Forces into East-Seax as far as Maeldune now Maldon and there encamped whilst a Town could be built and fortified at Witham near adjoyning and then a great part of the People who had before been under the Danish Dominion became subject to him In the mean time whilst part of his Forces built the Town of Heortford on the South side of Lee the Lady Aethelfleda marched with all the Mercians to Tamaweorthige now Tamworth in Staffordshire and there built a Castle and before the Feast of All-Saints did the like at Staeford and the Year following she built another at Eadesbyrig supposed by Mr. Camden to be Edesbury in Cheshire and also the same Year about the end of Autumn she built another at Weringwic now Warwick and the Year following that another at Cyricbyrig now Cherbury in Shropshire and another at Wearbyrig supposed by Mr. Camden to be Wedesbury in Staffordshire and before Christmas another at Run-Cafan that is Runckhorne in Cheshire But Florence places these Actions more rightly three Years after All which Castles being built in the space of the two following Years must be supposed to have been done not casually but as the exigence of Affairs required to secure the Mercian Frontiers against the Danish as well as the Welsh Incursions But it is now time to cast our Eyes a little on the Affairs of that part of
year according to Florence King Athelstan founded the Abby of Middleton in Dorsetshire to expiate the Death of his Brother Prince Edwin whom through false suggestions he had destroy'd as you have already heard About this time also according to the Welsh Chronicle Howel Dha Prince of South-Wales and Powis after the death of Edwal Voel his Cousin Prince of North-Wales took upon him the Government of all Wales the Sons of Edwal being then in Minority This Howel made that Excellent Body of Laws that go under his Name and which you may find in Sir H. Spelman's first Volume of Councils This Prince for his Discreet and Just Government not only made himself highly beloved but also rendred his Memory very glorious to After-Ages But it seems King Athelstan did not long survive this Victory for as our Annals relate he deceased this year on the 6 th Kal. Novemb. just Forty years after the death of King Alfred his Grandfather having reigned Fourteen Years and Ten Months But there is certainly an Error in this Account for either this King must have reigned a year less or else the King his Father must have died a year sooner than our Annals allow him and perhaps with greater Certainty for Florence of Worcester places his Death in Anno Dom. 924. Nor can we before we finish this King's Life omit taking notice That Bromton's Chronicle and other Modern Writers do place the long Story of the Danes invading England in this King's Reign and that one Guy Earl of Warwick returning home by chance from the Holy Land in the Habit of a Pilgrim just when King Athelstan was in great distress for a Champion to fight with one Colebrand a monstrous Danish Gyant whom the King of the Danes had set up to fight with any Champion the English King should bring into the field that Earl Guy accepted this Challenge and without being known to any man but the King fought the Gyant near Winchester and killing him the Danes yielded the Victory whilst Earl Guy privately retired to a Hermitage near Warwick and there living a Hermit's life ended his days But though John Rouse in his Manuscript Treatise de Regibus Anglorum places this Action under Anno 926 as soon as ever King Athelstan came to the Crown and that Tho. Rudburne in his History of Winchester says That this Gyant 's Sword being kept in the Treasury of the Abby of Winchester was shewn in his time yet since neither the Saxon Annals nor any other Ancient Historian mention any Invasion of the Danes in this King's Reign nor any thing of such a Combat it ought to be looked upon as a Monkish Tale only fit for Ballads and Children But since the Monks are very profuse in the Praises of this Prince I will give you William of Malmesbury's Character of him That as for his Person he did not exceed the ordinary Stature being of a slender Body his Hair as he had seen by his Reliques was Yellow that as for his Natural Temper and Disposition he was always kind to God's Servants i. e. the Monks for there was scarce a Monastery in England but what had been adorned by him with Buildings Books or Reliques And though he was grave and serious amongst his Nobles yet was he affable to the Inferior sort often laying aside the Majesty of a King to converse the more freely with ordinary men This made him as much admired by his Subjects for his Humility as he was fear'd by his Enemies and Rebels for his Invincible Courage and Constancy An Eminent Instance of this was in that he compell'd the Kings of North-Wales for some time standing out to meet him at Hereford and submit themselves to him I wish our Author had told us the Year when it was done since our Annals have wholly omitted it for tho Ran. Higden in his Polychronicon has put it under Anno 937 and also relates from Alfred of Beverly that this King restored both Constantine King of Scots and Hoel King of the Britains to their Kingdoms saying It was more glorious to make a King than to be one yet I do not see any Authority for it But this is agreed upon by all That Athelstan did about that time enter Wales with a powerful Army and effected what no King had ever presumed to think of before for he imposed a Yearly Tribute upon those Kings of Twenty Pounds in Gold and Three hundred Pounds in Silver and Twenty five thousand Head of Cattel Yet the Laws of Howel Dha appointed the King of Aberfraw to pay yearly to the King of London no more than Sixty six Pounds for a Tribute besides Hawks and Hounds John of Wallingford makes this King the first who reduced all England into one Monarchy by his Conquest of Northumberland Cumberland and Wales yet that he was in his own nature a Lover of Peace and whatever he had heard from his Grandfather or observed in his Father he put in practice being Just in his Judgments and by a happy conjunction of many Virtues so beloved by all men that to this day Fame which is wont to be too severe to the Faults of Great Men can relate nothing to his prejudice William of Malmesbury also gives us a short Account of his Life and Actions from his very Childhood wherein he tells us That this Prince when he was but a Youth was highly beloved by his Grandfather King Alfred insomuch that he made him a Knight girding him with a Belt set with Precious Stones and whereat hung a Golden-hilted Sword in a Rich Scabbard after which he was sent to be bred under his Uncle Ethelred Earl of Mercia to learn all those Warlike Exercises that were befitting a Young Prince Nor does he only relate him to have been Valiant but also competently Learned as he had been informed from a certain old Author he had seen who compared him to Tully for Eloquence though as he rightly observes the Custom of that Age might very well dispense with that Talent and perhaps a too great Affection to King Athelstan then living might excuse this Author 's over-large Commendations But this must be acknowledged that all Europe then spoke highly in his Praise and extoll'd his Valour to the Skies Neighbouring Kings thinking themselves happy if they could purchase his Friendship either by his Alliance or their Presents Harold King of Norway sent him a Ship whose Stern was Gilded and its Sails Purple and the Ambassadors by whom he sent it being Royally received in the City of York were rewarded with Noble Presents Hugh King of the French sent Anwulf Son of Baldwin Earl of Flanders Grandson to King Edward by Aethelswine his Daughter as his Ambassador to demand his Sister in Marriage who when in a Great Assembly of the Nobility at Abingdon he had declared the Desires of this Royal Woer besides Noble Presents of Spices and Precious Stones especially Emeralds such as had never been seen in England before
because he loved his Law and consulted the Good and Peace of his People beyond all the Princes that had been in the memory of man before him and therefore that he had greater Honour in all Nations round him as well as in his own and he was by a peculiar Blessing from above so assisted that Kings and Princes every where submitted themselves to him insomuch that he disposed of all things as he pleased without fighting But one of the first things that we find in the said Author of St. Dunstan's Life he did was That a great Council being held at a place called Bradanford now Bradford in Wiltshire Abbot Dunstan was by the general consent of all there present chosen Bishop of Worcester for his great Piety and Prudence And also King Edgar being now well instructed by the said Bishop and other Wise Men of the Kingdom in the Arts of Government began to discountenance the Wicked and Vicious and to favour and advance the Good as also to repair the decay'd and ruined Monasteries and then to replenish them with God's Servants i. e. the Monks and in short to undo whatsoever his Brother had done before This year according to our Annals Odo Archbishop of Canterbury dying Dunstan Bishop of Worcester succeeded in the Archbishoprick But in this the Author of these Annals is mistaken for William of Malmesbury as well as other Authors assure us That it was not Dunstan but Elfin Bishop of Winchester who by the means of some Courtiers whom he had gained over to him by the prevailing Power of his Presents procured King Edgar's Precept to make him Archbishop From whence we may observe That notwithstanding the former Decrees of Synods and Councils in England yet those Elections which were called Canonical were neither then nor a long time after this observed But as for Bishop Elfin he is said by our Authors to have trampled upon the Tombstone of that Pious Archbishop Odo his Predecessor and to have uttered opprobrious Language against his Memory which his Ghost it seems so far resented that appearing to the new Archbishop in a Vision it threatned him with a speedy destruction but he looking upon it only as a Dream made what haste he could to Rome to get the Pope's Confirmation by receiving of his Pall but in his Journey over the Alpes he was frozen to death being found with his Feet in his Horse's belly which had been killed and opened to restore heat to them But no sooner did the News arrive of Elfin's death when according to Florence Brythelm Bishop of Wells was made Archbishop But because neither of these last Archbishops ever received their Palls from Rome which was then counted essential to that Dignity I suppose these two last were omitted in our Annals But this Brythelm being not found sufficiently qualified for so great a Charge he was as Osbern relates commanded by the King and the whole Nation to retire whereupon he quietly submitted and returning again to his former Church Dunstan now Bishop of London who also held the See of Worcester in Commendam was by the general Consent of the King and all his Wise Men in the great Council of the Kingdom elected Archbishop of Canterbury for his supposed great Sanctity Of which the Monks of that Age relate so many Miracles that it is tedious to read much more to repeat such stuff insomuch that one would admire were it not for the extreme Ignorance of that Age how men could ever hope they should be believe in so short a time after they were supposed to be done Such are those of this Bishop's Harp being hung against the Wall and playing a whole Psalm without any hands touching it nay the Monks can tell us not only the Tune but the very Words too Then the stopping of King Edmund's Horse when he was just ready to run down a Precipice at that King 's only pronouncing of St. Dunstan's Name to himself Next his often driving away the Devil with a Staff troubling him at Prayers sometimes in the shape of a Fox sometimes of a Wolf or a Bear But above all his taking the Devil by the Nose with a Pair of red hot Tongs who being it seems an excellent Smith was once at work in his Forge when the Devil appeared in the shape of a Handsome Woman but met with very rough entertainment for going about to tempt his Chastity he took his Devilship by the Nose with a Pair of red hot Tongs till he made him roar Now if such Grave Authors as William of Malmesbury are guilty of relating such Fictions what can we expect from those of less Judgment and Honesty But this must be acknowledged that this Archbishop was a great Propagator of Monkery many Monasteries being either new built or new founded in his time and the Clerks or Secular Canons of divers Churches being now to be turned out were put to their choice either to quit their Habits or their Places most of whom rather chose the former and so gave place to those who being of William of Malmesbury's own Order our Author calls their Betters Archbishop Dunstan also exercised Ecclesiastical Discipline without respect of persons imposing upon King Edgar himself a Seven Years Pennance part of which was to forbear wearing his Crown during all that time and this was for taking a Nun out of a Cloyster at Wilton and then debauching her From all which we may observe how necessary it was in those days for a Prince's Quiet as well as Reputation to be blindly obedient to that which was then called the Church-Discipline since King Edwin having to do but with one Woman whom they did not like is branded as one excessively given to Women whilst King Edgar who gave many more Instances of his Failings in this kind is reckon'd for a Saint But as for this Nun whom they call Wilfrede William of Malmesbury tells us that tho she were bred in that Monastery yet was she not then professed but took upon her the Veil only to avoid the King's Lust which yet it seems could not secure her from it for he begot on her that beautiful Lady Editha who became also a Nun in the same Monastery of Wilton where her Mother had been professed before and of which this Young and Virtuous Lady being made Abbess died in the flower of her Age as William of Malmesbury informs us The same Year also according to the Welsh Chronicle North Wales was sorely harass'd by the Forces of King Edgar The Cause of which War was the Non-Payment of the Tribute due from the King of Aberfraw to the King of London But in the end as John Beaver informs us a Peace was concluded on this condition That King Edgar hearing the great Mischief which both England and Wales then received by the vast multitude of Wolves which then abounded especially in Wales released the Tribute in Money which the King of North-Wales was hitherto obliged to pay
if they cannot get them then they should take him alive or dead and seize on all his Estate whereof the Complaining Party having received such a share as should satisfy him the one half of the remainder shall go to the Lord of the Soil and the other half to the Hundred And if any of that Court being either akin to the Party or a stranger to his Blood refuse to go to put this in execution he should forfeit 120 shillings to the King And farther That such as are taken in the very act of stealing or betraying their Masters should not be pardoned during life The Eighth and last ordains That one and the same Money should be current throughout the King's Dominions which no man must refuse and that the measure of Winchester should be the Standard and that a Weigh of Wool should be fold for half a Pound of Money and no more The former of those is the first Law whereby the Private Mints to the Archbishops and several Abbots being forbid the King's Coin was only to pass But to return to our Annals Ten days before the Death of King Edgar Bishop Cyneward departed this life King EDWARD sirnamed the Martyr KING Edgar being dead as you have now heard Prince Edward succeeded his Father though not without some difficulty for as William of Malmesbury and R. Hoveden relate the Great Men of the Kingdom were then divided Archbishop Dunstan and all the rest of the Bishops being for Prince Edward the Eldest Son of King Edgar whilst Queen Aelfreda Widow to the King and many of her Faction were for setting up her Son Ethelred being then about Seven Years of Age that so she might govern under his Name But besides the pretence was which how well they made out I know not That King Edgar had never been lawfully married to Prince Edward's Mother Whereupon the Archbishops Dunstan and Oswald with the Bishops Abbots and many of the Ealdormen of the Kingdom met together in a Great Council and chose Prince Edward King as his Father before his Death had ordained and being thus Elected they presently Anointed him being then but a Youth of about Fifteen Years of Age. But it seems not long after the Death of King Edgar though before the Coronation of King Edward Roger Hoveden and Simeon of Durham tell us that Elfer Earl of the Mercians being lustily bribed by large Presents drove the Abbots and Monks out of the Monasteries in which they had been settled by King Edgar and in their places brought in the Clerks i.e. Secular Chanons with their Wives but Ethelwin Ealdorman of the East-Angles and his Brother Elfwold and Earl Brythnoth opposed it and being in the Common Council or Synod plainly said They would never endure that the Monks should be cast out of the Kingdom who contributed so much to the Maintenance of Religion and so raising an Army they bravely defended the Monasteries of the East-Angles so it seems that during this Interregnum arose this Civil War about the Monks and the above-mentioned Dissention amongst the Nobility concerning the Election of a new King But this serves to explain that Passage in our Annals which would have been otherwise very obscure viz. That then there was viz. upon the Death of King Edgar great Grief and Trouble in Mercia among those that loved God because many of his Servants that is the Monks were turned out till God being slighted shewed Miracles on their behalf and that then also Duke Oslack was unjustly banished beyond the Seas a Nobleman who for his Long Head of Hair but more for his Wisdom was very remarkable And that then also strange Prodigies were seen in the Heavens such as Astrologers call Comets and as a Punishment from God upon this Nation there followed a great Famine Which shews this Copy of the Annals was written about this very time And then the Author concludes with Aelfer the Ealdorman's commanding many Monasteries to be spoiled which King Edgar had commanded Bishop Athelwold to repair All which being in the Cottonian Copy serves to explain what has been already related But the next year ' Was the great Famine in England as just now mentioned About the same time according to Caradoc's Chronicle Aeneon the Son of Owen Prince of South-Wales destroyed the Land of Gwyr the second time This year after Easter was that great Synod at Kirtlingtun which Florence of Worcester and R. Hoveden call Kyrleing but where that place was is very uncertain Florence places it in East-England but Sir H. Spelman acknowledges that he does not know any place in those parts that ever bore that name but supposes it to have been the same with Cartlage now the Seat of the Lord North But had not Florence placed it in East-England that Town whose name comes nearest to it is Kyrtlington in Oxfordshire which is also the more confirmed by that which follows in these Annals viz. That Sydeman the Bishop of Devonshire i. e. of Wells died here suddenly who desired his Body might be buried at Krydeanton his Episcopal See but King Edward and Archbishop Dunstan order'd it to be carried to St. Maâ—ies in Abingdon were he was honourably Interr'd in the North Isle of St. Paul's Church Therefore it is highly probable that the place where this Bishop died was not far from Abingdon where he was buried as Kirtlington indeed is But what was done in this Council can we no where find only it is to be supposed that it was concerning this great Difference between the Monks and the Secular Chanons as the former Council was The same year also were great Commotions in Wales for Howel ap Jevaf Prince of North-Wales with a great Army both of Welsh and Englishmen made War upon all who defended or succoured his Uncle Jago and spoiled the Countries of Lhyn Kelynnoc Vawr so that Jago was shortly after taken Prisoner by Prince Howel's men who after that enjoyed his part of the Countrey in peace Nor can I here omit what some of our Monkish Writers and particularly John Pike in his compendious Supplement of the Kings of England now in Manuscript in the Cottonian Library relates That there being this year a Great Council held at Winchester again to debate this great Affair concerning the turning out of the Monks and restoring the Secular Chanons and it being like to be carried in their favour a Crucifix which then stood in the room spoke thus God forbid it should be so This amazing them they resolved to leave the Monks in the condition they then were But whether these words were ever spoke at all or if they were whether it might not be by some person that stood unseen behind the Crucifix I shall leave to the Reader to determine as he pleases Next year all the Grave and Wise Men of the English Nation being met about the same Affair at Calne in Wiltshire fell down together from a certain Upper Room where they were assembled
City from whence was first brought to us the joyful Tidings of the Gospel But they detain'd the Archbishop Prisoner near Seven Months till such time as they martyr'd him Osbern in his Life of St. Elfeage relates That this Archbishop sent to the Danes when they came before the Town desiring them to spare so many innocent Christians lives but they despising his request fell to battering the Walls and so throwing Firebrands into the City set it on fire so that whilst the Citizens ran to save their Houses Aelmeric the Archdeacon let the Danes into the City Florence here adds That the Monks and Laity were decimated after a strange manner so that out of every Ten Persons only the Tenth was to be kept alive and that only Four Monks and about Eight hundred Laymen remain'd after this Decimation And that not long after above Two thousand Danes perished by divers inward Torments and the rest were admonish'd to make satisfaction to the Bishop but yet they obstinately refused it Florence of Worcester and R. Hoveden also relate That the Danes destroyed many of the Prisoners they had taken with cruel Torments and various Deaths This year Eadric the Ealdorman sirnamed Streon and all the Wise and Chief Men both Clerks and Laicks of the English Nation came to London before Easter which fell out then the day before the Ides of April and there stayed until such time as the above-mentioned Tribute could be paid which was not done till after Easter and was then Eight thousand Pounds In the mean time being about Six Months after upon a Saturday the Danish Army being highly incensed against Archbishop Aelfeage because he would neither promise them Money himself nor yet would suffer any body else to give them any thing for his Ransom for which as Osbern in his Life relates they demanded no less than Three thousand Pounds in Silver a vast Sum in those days which being denied them and many of them being got drunk they laid hold on the Archbishop and led him to their Council on the Saturday after Easter and there knocked him on the head as the Annals relate with Stones and Cows Horns till at last one of them striking him with an Axe on the Head he fell down dead with the Blow Florence says that this was done by one Thrum a Dane whom he had the day before confirmed being thereunto moved by an Impious Piety But John of Tinmouth in his Manuscript History of Saints called Historia Aurea now in the Library at Lambeth relates that when Archbishop Elfeage was thus killed the Danes threw his Body into the River which was soon taken out again by those whom he had converted But our Annals here farther That the Bishops Eadnoth and Aelfhune the former of Lincoln and the latter of London took away his sacred Body early the next morning and buried it in St. Paul's Minster where God now shews the power of this Holy Martyr But as soon as the Tribute was paid and the Peace confirmed by Oath the Danish Army was loosely dispersed abroad being before closely compacted together then Five and forty of their Ships submitted to the King and promised him to defend the Kingdom provided he would allow them Victuals and Apparel The year after Archbishop Aelfeage was thus martyr'd the King made one Lifing Archbishop of Canterbury Also the same year before the Month of August King Sweyn came with his Fleet to Sandwich and soon after sailing about East-England arrived in the Mouth of Humber and from thence up the River Trent till they came to Gegnesburgh now Gainsborough in Lincolnshire Which mischief according to William of Malmesbury proceeded from Turkil a Dane who was the great Inciter of the Death of the Archbishop and who had then the East-English subjected to his will This man sent Messengers into his own Countrey to King Sweyn letting him know that he should come again into England for the King was given so much to Wine and Women that he minded nothing else wherefore he was hated by his Subjects and contemned by Strangers that his Commanders were Cowards the Natives weak and who would run away at the first sound of his Trumpets Though this seems not very probable for Earl Turkil was then of King Ethelred's side as you will see by and by King Sweyn being prone enough to slaughter needed no great Intreaties to bring him over he had been here eight years before and why he stayed away so long I wish our Authors would have told us But William of Malmesbury further adds That one chief end of his coming over was to revenge the death of his Sister Gunhildis who being a Beautiful Young Lady had come over into England with Palling her Husband a powerful Danish Earl and receiving the Christian Religion became her self a Hostage of the Peace that had been formerly concluded But tho the unhappy Fury of Edric had commanded her to be beheaded together with some other of her Countreymen yet she bore her Death with an undaunted Spirit having seen her Husband and a Son a Youth of great and promising hopes slain before her face But to come again to our Annals So soon as King Sweyn arrived in the North Earl Vhtred and all the Countrey of the Northumbers with all the people in Lindesige and the people of the five Burghs or Towns but what these were we now know not lying on the other side Waetlingastreet submitted themselves to him There were also Hostages given him out of every Shire but when he found that all the people were now become subject to him he commanded them to provide his Forces both with Horses and Provisions whilst he in the mean time marched toward the South with great expedition committing the Ships and Hostages to Knute his Son And after he had passed Waetlingastreet they did as much mischief as any Army could do Then they turn'd to Oxnaford whose Citizens presently submitted themselves to him from thence he went to Wincester where the Inhabitants did the same and from thence they marched Eastward towards London near which many of his men were drown'd in the Thames because they would not stay to find a Bridge but when they came thither the Citizens would not submit but sallying out had a sharp Engagement with them because King Ethelred was there and Earl Turkil with him Wherefore King Sweyn departed thence to Wealingaford and then over Thames Westward to Bathe and there sate down with his whole Army whither came to him Aethelmar the Ealdorman of Devonshire with all the Western Thanes who all submitted themselves to him and gave him Hostages When he had subdued all these places he marched Northwards to his Ships and then almost the whole Nation received and acknowledged him for their real King And after this the Citizens of London became subject to him and gave him Hostages because otherwise they fear'd they should be utterly destroy'd for Sweyn demanded that they should give full
highly commends this Wulfkytel and says that he deserved perpetual Honour because he was the first in the time of Sweyn who set upon the Danish Pyrates and gave some hopes that they might be conquered But as for Eadnoth Bishop of Lincoln and the Abbot above-mentioned they came not to fight but as Simeon says to pray to God for those that did so that the English Nation never yet received a greater Blow But King Edmund being left almost alone got to Gloucester and there rallied and recruited his shatter'd Troops but thither according to our Annals King Cnute with all his Army pursued him Then Eadric the Ealdorman and all the Great Men on both sides advised the Two Kings to come to Terms of Peace Whereupon they both met together at Olanege an Island in the River Severn now called the Eighth and there concluded a League between them Hostages and Oaths being mutually exchanged and agreed That the Danish Army should be paid A Peace being thus concluded the two Kings parted from each other Eadmund going into West-Saxony and Cnute to the Mercians But since other Authors have more particularly related the Cause and Manner of making this Peace I shall give you a larger account of it from Simeon of Durham and R. Hoveden the first of whom says That the Traytor Edric and some others when King Edmund would have fought again with Cnute would by no means suffer him to do it but advised him rather to make a Peace and divide the Kingdom with him to whose Persuasions the King at last though unwillingly consented and Messengers passing between them and Hostages being interchanged the two Kings or rather their Commissioners as Bromton's Chronicle relates it met at a place called Deorhurst on the Severne and there concluded a Truce Then King Edmund with his men being on the West side Severne and Cnute with his Followers sitting down on the East side thereof they passed over in Ferry-boats to the Island above-mentioned where they met and agreed upon the Terms of Peace But Ethelred Abbot of Rieval tells the Story somewhat different viz. That both Armies growing weary of the War at last compelled the Great Men on each side to come to a Conference where one of the most Elderly among them is brought in making a long Speech I suppose to shew the Wit of those Authors and therein he very pathetically represents the Mischiefs the Soldiers lay under in thus exposing their Lives and Fortunes for Two Princes of equal Courage and so advised them before it was too late That since King Edmund could not endure a Superior nor Cnute an Equal they should leave it to them two to fight by themselves for that Crown which they both so much desired to wear left by this desperate way of fighting the Soldiers should be all kill'd and then there would be none left to defend the Nation against Foreign Invaders Which Speech being highly approved of by all there present both Armies cried out with one voice Let them either Fight or Agree This Sentence of the Chief Commanders and Soldiers being brought to both the Kings pleased them so well that they met in the Island above-mentioned and there fought singly in the sight of both Armies where having broken their Spears and then drawn their Swords there follows in these Authors a long and Tragical Relation of this mighty Combat which yet it seems happened without any Wounds on either side but Cnute beginning at last to be out of breath and fearing the greater Strength and Youth of King Edmund proposed a Peace to be made by division of the Kingdom between them and they give us also the fine Speech made by King Cnute upon this Subject which Proposal being willingly received by King Edmund they kissed and embraced each other both Armies wondering and weeping for joy at this so happy and unexpected agreement So mutually changing both their Arms and Apparrel in token of Friendship they each return'd to their own men and there drew up the Conditions of the League viz. That King Edmund should enjoy West-Saxony and Cnute the Kingdom of Mercia but what was to become of the rest of England they do not speak one word But tho so many of our Writers seem pleas'd with this Romantick Story yet I rather assent to the Testimony of our Annals and the Encomium Emmae as also William of Malmesbury Florence of Worcester and several Manuscript Authors in the Cottonian Library who all agree this Peace to have been made at the place aforesaid without any Combat at all between the two Kings Only William of Malmesbury relates that when King Edmund had challenged Cnute to fight with him single to save the further Effusion of their Subjects Blood this Challenge being carried to King Cnute he utterly declined it saying Though he had as great a Courage as his Antagonist yet he would not venture his own small Body against a man of so great Strength and Stature but since both their Fathers had enjoyed a share of the Kingdom it was more agreeable to prudence to divide it between them Which Proposal being joyfully received by both Armies as a thing most just and equal in it self and which most tended to the good of both Nations now harass'd out by long and cruel Wars King Edmund accepted of and agreed though with some reluctancy to a Peace upon the terms above-mentioned Thus we find what a great uncertainty there is in most of the Relations of those times But to proceed with our Annals The Danes as soon as this Peace was concluded went to their Ships with all the Plunder they had taken and from thence fail'd to London and there took up their Winter-Quarters For that City as being part of the Mercian Kingdom had now submitted it self to them Not long after this viz. at the Feast of St. Andrew King Eadmund departed this life and was buried with his Grandfather King Eadgar at Glaestingabyrig The same year also deceased Wulfgar in Abbandune whereof he was Abbot and Aethelsige succeeded him But since our Annals tell us only of the sudden Death of this Prince without relating the manner of it we shall give it you more at large from other Authors who almost generally agree that he was murthered by that Traytor Edric though they differ somewhat in the Actors or Instruments by whom it was committed some will have him to be taken off by Poyson others with an Arrow shot by an Image made on purpose which discharged it self upon the King as soon as he touched it but this is too improbable to beget any credit And therefore what William of Malmesbury and Bromton relate is most likely to be true viz. That this Aedric above-mentioned suborned two of this King's Servants to lye under the House-of-Office and to thrust up a sharp piece of Iron into his Fundament as one night he sate down to ease himself Tho the Chronicle last-mentioned says this Murther was committed at Oxford by
Midsummer being joyfully received both by the Danes and English and as H. Huntington relates was by both of them elected King though afterwards the Great Men that did it paid dearly for it for not long after it was decreed That a Tax of Eight Marks should be again paid to the Rowers in Sixty two Sail of Ships The same year also a Sâ—ster i. e. a Horse-load of Wheat was sold for Fifty five Pence and more This year Eadsige the Archbishop went to Rome and also another Military Tax was paid of Twenty nine thousand twenty nine pounds And after this was paid Eleven thousand forty eight pounds for two and thirty Sail of Ships But whether these Taxes were raised by Authority of the Great Council of the Kingdom our Authors do not mention but I believe not for this Danegelt was now by constant usage become a Prerogative The same year came Eadward the Son of King Aethelred into this Kingdom from Wealand by which our Annals mean Normandy After which time Prince Edward returned no more thither but staid in England till his Brother died But the same year not long after his Coronation he sent Alfric Archbishop of York and Earl Godwin and divers Great Men of his Court to London attended by the Hangman and out of Hatred to his Brother Harold and Revenge of the Injuries done to his Mother as he pretended commanded his Body to be dug up and the Head to be cut off and flung into the Thames but some Fishermen afterwards pulling it up with their Nets buried it again in St. Clement's Church-yard being then the Burying-place of the Danes The same year also according to Bromton's Chronicle King Hardecnute sent over his Sister Gunhilda to the Emperor Henry to whom she had been in her Father's life-time betroth'd But before she went the King kept the Nuptial Feast with that Magnificence in Cloaths Equipage and Feasting that as Mat. Westminster relates it was remembred in his time and sung by Musicians at all great Entertainments But this Lady was received and treated by the Emperor her Husband with great kindness for some time till being accused of Adultery she could find it seems no beter a Champion to vindicate her Honour than a certain little Page she had brought out of England with her who undertaking her defence fought in a single Combat against a man of a vast Stature named Rodingar and by cutting his Hamstrings with his Sword and falling down he obtained the Victory and so cleared his Lady's Honour of which she yet received so little satisfaction that she forsook her Husband and retired into a Monastery where she ended her days About this time also as Simeon of Durham Bromton's Chronicle and other Authors inform us King Hardecnute was highly incensed against Living Bishop of Worcester and Earl Godwin for the death of his Half Brother Alfred Son to King Ethelred Alfric Archbishop of York accusing them both of having persuaded King Harold to use him so cruelly as you have already heard The Bishop and Earl being thus accused before King Hardecnute the former was deprived of his Bishoprick and the latter was also in very great danger But not long after the King being appeased with Money the Bishop was again restored and as for Earl Godwin he had also incurred some heavy Punishment had he not been so cunning as to buy his peace as these Authors relate by presenting the King with a Galley most magnificently equipp'd having a gilded Stern and furnished with all Conveniences both for War and Pleasure and mann'd with Eighty choice Soldiers every one of whom had upon each Arm a Golden Bracelet weighing sixteen Ounces with Helmet and Corslet all gilt as were also the Hilts of their Swords having a Danish Battel-Axe adorned with Silver and Gold hung on his Left Shoulder whilst in his Left Hand he held a Shield the Boss and Nails of which were also gilded and in his Right a Launce in the English-Saxon Tongue called a Tegar But all this would not serve his turn without an Oath That Prince Alfred had not his eyes put out by his Advice but he therein merely obeyed Harold's Commands being at that time his King and Master This year according to Simeon of Durham King Hardecnute sent his Huisceorles i. e. his Domestick Servants or Guards to exact the Tax which he had lately imposed But the Citizens of Worcester and the Worcestershire men rising slew two of them called Feadar and Turstan having fled into a Tower belonging to a Monastery of that City Thereupon Hardecnute being exceedingly provoked to hear of their deaths sent to revenge it Leofric Ealdorman of the Mercians Godwin of the West-Saxons Siward of the Northumbrians and others with great Forces and orders to kill all the men plunder and burn the City and waste the Countrey round about On the evening preceding the thirteenth of November they began to put his Commands in execution and continued both wasting and spoiling the City and Countrey for four days together but few of the Inhabitants themselves could be laid hold of the Countrey-men shifting for themselves every man as well as they could and the Citizens betaking themselves to a little Island in the Severne called Beverege which they fortified and vigorously stood upon their Defence till their Opposers being tired out and spent were forced to make Peace with them and so suffered them to return quietly home This was not done till the fifth day when the City being burnt the Army retreated loaded with the Plunder they had got Simeon next after this cruel Expedition places the coming over of Prince Edward but our Annals with greater probability put his Return under the year before This year also King Hardecnute deceased at Lambeth 6. Id. Junii He was King of England two years wanting seven days and was buried in the New Monastery of Winchester his Mother giving the Head of St. Valentine to pray for his Soul But since our Annals are very short in the Relation of his Death we must take it from other Authors who all agree That the King being invited to a Wedding at the place above-mentioned which with great Pomp and Luxury was solemnized betwixt Tovy sirnamed Prudan a Danish Nobleman and Githa the Daughter of Osgod Clappa a great Lord also of that Nation as he was very jolly and merry carousing it with the Bridegroom and some of the Company he fell down speechless and died in the Flower of his Age. He is to be commended for his Piety and Good Nature to his Mother and Brother Prince Edward But the great Faults laid to this Prince's charge are Cruelty Gluttony and Drunkenness For the first of these you have had a late Example and for the latter take what H. Huntington relates That Four Meals a day he allowed his Court and it must be then supposed he loved eating well himself though this Author attributes it to his Bounty and how he rather desired that
wont to meet him as he came from School and took delight to pose him in Verses and would also passing from Grammar argue with him in Logick in which she was well skill'd and when she had done would order her Waiting-Woman to give him some Money But as King Edward had till now deferr'd the performance of his Promise in marrying this Lady ever since he came to the Crown so it had been no great matter whether he had married her or not because he never enjoyed her But notwithstanding the temptation of so fair a Lady he not only kept his own Virginity inviolable but also persuaded her to do the like and this as the Abbot of Rieval in his Life relates he did not do out of any hatred to her Father as is commonly reported by several of our other Historians but because the English Nobility being desirous that one from his Loins should succeed him had importun'd him to marry which he could not well refuse for then the secret Resolution of his dying a Virgin would have been disclosed therefore he wedded her both to secure himself against her Father as also to make the Virtue of his Continence appear more conspicuous which as this Author tells us was no Secret being then divulged and believed all over England and divers Censures passed concerning the motives why he did so The same year Brightwulf Bishop of Scirebone deceased who had held that Bishoprick Thirty eight years and Hereman the King's Chaplain succeeded to that Bishoprick Also Wulfric was consecrated Abbot of St. Austin's at Christmas with the King 's good Consent because of the great Bodily Infirmity of Aelfstan the former Abbot This year deceased Living Bishop of Devonshire i.e. of Exeter and Leofric the King's Chaplain succeeded thereunto The same year Aelfstan Abbot of St. Augustin's in Canterbury deceased and also Osgot Glappa the Danish Earl was expelled England The same year likewise according to Simeon of Durham and William of Malmesbury Alwold Bishop of London who had been before Abbot of Evesham being by reason of his great weakness unable to perform his Episcopal Function would have retired to his old Monastery but the Monks not permitting it he resented it so ill at their hands that taking away all the Books and other Ornaments which he had conferred upon them and retiring to the Abby of Ramsey he bestowed them all upon them and there within a short time after ended his days and then King Edward made one Robert a Norman Monk Bishop of London Also the same year the Noble Matron Gunhilda Niece to King Cnute was banished England together with her two Sons This year likewise in a great Council held at London as Florence relates Wulmar a Religious Monk of Evesham was chosen Abbot of that Monastery and was ordained the 4 th of the Ides of August following About this time according to the Welsh Chronicles Prince Griffâ—th having ruled in Peace ever since the last great Battel above-mentioned till now the Gentlemen of Ystrad Towy did by Treachery kill a Hundred and forty of his best Soldiers so that to revenge their deaths the Prince destroyed all those Countries Grymkitel Bishop of the South-Saxons i. e. Selsey deceased as did also the same year Aelfwin Bishop of Winchester and Stigand who was before Bishop in the North-East parts i. e. of Helmham succeeded in that See And Earl Sweyn the Son of Godwin went over to Baldwin Earl of Flanders to Brycge and staid there all Winter and at Summer departed being it seems at that time in disgrace at Court for deflow'ring an Abbess whom he loved This year Aethelstan Abbot of Abbandune deceased to whom succeeded Sparhafock a Monk of St. Edmundsbury Whence you may observe that the Abbots were at that time seldom chosen out of Monks of the same Abby Also this year Bishop Syward deceased and then Archbishop Eadsige retook that Bishoprick Which is contrary to what William of Malmesbury hath already related The same year likewise Lothen and Yrling Danes came to Sandwic with Twenty five Ships and there landing committed great havock and carried away abundance of Booty as well of Gold as Silver so that no man can tell how great it was From whence they sailed about Thanet and attempting there to commit the like Outrages the people of that Countrey vigorously resisted them and hindred their landing and so made them to direct their course towards Essex where they committed the like Barbarities carrying away all the men they could lay hold on and then passing over into the Territories of Earl Baldwin and there selling all their Plunder they sail'd towards the East from whence they came Also the same year according to Simeon of Durham Harold sirnamed Hairfax Brother to the late King Olaf having put Sweyn King of Denmark to flight subdued that Kingdom King Sweyn being thus driven out of his Countrey sent Ambassadors to King Edward desiring his Assistance with his Fleet against the King of Norway which Earl Godwin much approved of but the rest of the Great Men dissuading him from it nothing was done but the King of Norway dying soon after Sweyn recovered his Kingdom But Florence of Worcester places this Transaction two years later but which of them is in the right I will not dispute Also this year according to our Annals as well as other Authors was the great Battel of Vallesdune in Normandy between Henry King of France and the Nobility of that Dukedom because they refused to receive William the Bastard for their Duke But when he afterwards got them into his power he beheaded some of them and others he banished I have mentioned this to let you see with how great difficulty this young Duke who was afterwards King of England was settled in that Dutchy which he could never have obtained without the Protection and Assistance of the King of France About this time also the Welsh Chronicles tell us South-Wales was so infested by the Danish Pyrates that the Sea-Coasts were almost quite deserted The same year or else in 1048 as it is in the Cottonian Copy of the Annals was held the great Synod or Council at St. Remy where were present Pope Leo and the Archbishop of Burgundy i. e. of Besanson tho they are here mentioned as two several Archbishopricks as also the Archbishop of Treves and Remes with many other Wise Men both of the Clergy and Laity and thither King Edward sent Bishop Dudoce and Wulfric Abbot of St. Augustine's with Abbot Aelfwin that they might acquaint the King what was there decreed concerning the Christian Faith This year King Edward sail'd to Sandwic with a great Fleet and there met Earl Sweyn who came with seven Ships at Bosenham i.e. Bosham in Sussex where he made a League with the King and received a Promise from him to be restored to all his possessions but Earl Harold his Brother and Beorne very much opposed him saying He was utterly unworthy
of those Favours the King had promised him so he had only four days allowed him to go back again to his Ships In the mean time a Report was brought to the King That a Fleet of Enemies were landed on the Coast of the East-Angles and there taking of Prey Then Earl Godwin sail'd about toward the East with two of the King's Ships one of which his Son Harold commanded and the other Earl Totsige his Brother and also Two and forty Sail of the people of the Countrey Then was Earl Harold with the King's Ships driven by a Storm into Pevensee and there detain'd by contrary Winds but within two days after Earl Sweyn came thither and had Conference with his Father Earl Godwin and Earl Beorne whom he intreated to accompany him to the King at Sandwic and there use their interest to make his Reconciliation with him but whilst they were on their way Sweyne begged of Beorne his Cousin that he would go back along with him to his Ships saying He feared lest his men would desert him unless he speedily returned whereupon complying with him they went back to the place where the Ships rode and there Sweyn was very importunate with him to go on Ship-board but he utterly refusing that the Mariners bound him and then put him into a Pinnace and so carried him on board by force then hoisting up Sail they steered Eastward to Axamutha and there kept him till they had made him away Then they took his Body and buried it in a certain Church but afterwards his Relations and the Mariners of London came and digging up his Body carried it with them to the old Church of Winchester where they buried it near his Uncle King Cnute Then Sweyn sailing Eastward towards Flanders staid there a whole Winter in Brycge with Earl Baldwin's good leave The same year deceased Eadnoth Bishop in the North parts and one Vlf was consecrated Bishop in his stead This year was a great Council held at London in Midlent and there were sent out Nine Ships well mann'd with Seamen Five only being left in Port also this very year Earl Sweyn return'd into England For Aldred Bishop of Worcester had by his Intercession made his Peace with the King The same year was a Great Synod assembled at Rome whither King Eadward sent the Bishops Hereman and Aldred who arrived there on Easter-Eve after which the Pope held a Synod at Vercelle whither was sent Bishop Vlf who was afterwards like to be deprived because he could not perform his Function as he ought had he not paid a good round Sum of Money This year also deceased Eadsige the Archbishop 4 o Kal. Novemb. King Edward now appointed Rodbyrd Bishop of London to be Archbishop of Canterbury in Lent who immediately went to Rome to obtain his Pall Then the King bestowed the Bishoprick of London on Sparhafoc Abbot of Abbandune and gave that Abby to Bishop Rothulf his Kinsman About the same time the Archbishop returning from Rome the day before the Vigil of St. Peter was Installed in the Episcopal Throne at Christ-Church on St. Peter's Day Then came to him Sparhafoc with the King's Letters and Seal commanding that he should consecrate him Bishop of London but the Archbishop refusing it said The Pope had forbad him to do it After which the Abbot return'd to the Archbishop and desired his Episcopal Orders but he peremptorily denied them saying The Pope had strictly charged him not to do it Then the Abbot went to London and held the Bishoprick nothwithstanding all that Summer and the Autumn following Then Eustatius Earl of Boloigne the King's Brother-in-Law came from beyond the Seas and having been with the King and told him his Business he return'd homewards and when he came to Canterbury he refreshed himself and his Company and so went on to Dofra i. e. Dover but when he was within a Mile of this side thereof he and his Retinue put on their Breast-plates and so entred the Town As soon as they were come thither they took up their Quarters in what Houses they liked best but one of his Followers resolving to quarter in the House of an Inhabitant there whether he would or no because he told him he should not he wounded him whereupon the Master killed him At which News Earl Eustatius being very much incensed mounted to Horse with all his Followers and setting upon the Good Man of the House killed him even within his own doors and then going into the Town they killed partly within and partly without more than Twenty men But the Townsmen to be even with them killed Nineteen of their men and wounded many more Upon this Earl Eustatius making his Escape with a few Followers went to the King and told him what had happen'd so much as made to his purpose at which the King being highly provoked with the Townsmen sent Earl Godwin and commanded him to march to Dofra in a Hostile manner for Eustatius had only insinuated to the King as if what had happen'd had been wholly through the Townsmens fault though indeed it was quite otherwise But the Earl was very unwilling to go into Kent because he looked on it as an odious thing for him to destroy his own people For as William of Malmesbury farther relates he plainly saw the King was imposed on and had passed sentence upon them when he had only heard one side And indeed the Earl was much concerned to see Strangers find greater favour with the King than his own Subjects for Eustatius had got a Friend near the King who had very much exasperated him against them therefore though the King continually press'd Earl Godwin to go into Kent with an Army to be revenged of the men of Dofra yet he still declined it which much displeased the King yet nevertheless the Earl's Proposal seem'd but just and reasonable That the Officers of the Castle who it seems had a hand in this business should be first summoned to answer in the King 's Curia or Court concerning this Sedition and that if they could clear themselves there they might be discharged but if not that they might make satisfaction to the King and the Earl with their Bodies and Estates for Earl Godwin told the King that it would seem very unjust to condemn those unheard whom he ought chiefly to protect and defend And so far no doubt the Earl was in the right and behaved himself like a true Englishman in thus declining to execute the King's unjust Commands though not in what he did afterwards But to return again to our Annals The King hereupon summoned all his Chief and Wise Men to appear at Gloucester a little after the Feast of St. Mary for the Welshmen had in the mean time built a Castle in Herefordshire upon the Lands of Earl Sweyn and had done a great deal of mischief to the King's Liege-People in the Neighbourhood Then Earl Godwin with Sweyn and Harold his Sons met
at Byferstane i. e. Beverston in Gloucestershire together with a great many in their Retinue to attend on the King their Natural Lord and all the Chief and Wise Men that waited on him whereby they might have the King's Consent and Assistance as also that of his Great Council to revenge the Affront and Dishonour which had been lately done to the King and the whole Nation But the Welshmen getting first to the King highly accused the Earls insomuch that they durst not appear in his presence for they said they only came thither to betray him But then there came to the King the Earls Syward and Leofric with many others from the North parts being as William of Malmesbury relates almost all the Nobility of England who had been summoned by the King to come thither But whilst according to our Annals it was told Earl Godwin and his Sons that the King and those that were with him were taking Counsel against them they on the other side stood resolutely on their own defence though it seem'd an hard thing for them to act any thing against their Natural Lord. But William of Malmesbury adds farther That Earl Godwin commanded those of his Party not to fight against the King yet if they were set upon that they should defend themselves so that there had then like to have happen'd a Cruel Civil War if calmer Counsels had not prevailed By this you may see the great Power of Earl Godwin and his Sons who could thus withstand the King and all the Nobility that were with him But to proceed with our Annals Then it was agreed by the chief men on both sides that they should desist from any further violence and thereupon the King gave them God's Peace and his own Word After this the King and his Great Men about him resolved a second time to summon a Witena Gemot or Great Council at London at the beginning of September He also commanded an Army to be raised as great as ever had been seen in England both from the North and South side of Thames When this Council met Earl Sweyn was declared outlaw'd and Earl Godwin and Earl Harold were cited to appear at the Council with all speed As soon as they were come there they desired Peace i. e. Security and also Pledges to be given them whereby they might have safe ingress and regress to and from the Council But the King required all the Earl's Servants to deliver them up into his hands after which the King sent to them commanding them to come with Twelve men to the Great Council but the Earl again demanded Securities and Pledges to be given him and then he promised to clear himself from all Crimes laid to his charge But the Pledges were still denied him and there was only granted him a five days Peace or Truce in which he might depart the Land Then Earl Godwin and Earl Sweyn his Son went to Bosenham in Sussex and their Ships being brought out of the Harbour they sail'd beyond the Seas and sought the Protection of Earl Baldwin staying with him all that Winter but Earl Harold sailed Eastward into Ireland and there took up his Residence under that King's Protection Soon after this the King sent away his Wife who had been crown'd Queen and suffer'd all her Money Lands and Goods to be taken from her and then committed her to the Custody of his Sister at the Nunnery of Werwell But note that Florence of Worcester places this Quarrel with Earl Godwin and his Sons three years later viz. under Anno 1051 and farther adds That the reason why Earl Godwin fled thus privately away was that his Army had forsook him so that he durst not plead the matter with the King but fled away the night following with his five Sons carrying away all their Treasure with them into Flanders This is the Relation which Florence and the Printed Copy of these Annals give us of this great difference between the King and Earl Godwin and his two Sons in the carriage of which both Parties are to be blamed the King in yielding so easy an ear to the false Accusations brought against them and they in refusing to stand to the Determination of the Great Council of the Kingdom without Pledges first given them by the King which is more than any Subject ought to require from his Prince But certainly the King shewed himself a very Weak Man in being persuaded to deal thus severely with his Innocent Queen for the Faults of her Father and Brothers which it was not in her power to help But to conclude the Affairs of this unhappy year our Annals proceed to tell us That About the same time the Abbot Sparhafoc was deposed from the Bishoprick of London and William the King's Chaplain ordained to that See Also Earl Odda was appointed Governor of Defenascire Somersetscire and Dorsetscire and of all the Welsh and the Earldom which Earl Harold lately held was given to Aelfgar the Son of Earl Leofric About this time the Bishoprick of Credington in Cornwal was as we find in the Monasticon at the Request of Pope Leo removed from thence to Exeter where the Monastery of St. Peter and St. Paul was made a Bishop's See the Monks being removed from thence to Westminster and Secular Chanons placed in their stead Which shews that the humour of Monkery did not so much prevail now as in the days of King Edgar And this year Leofric Bishop of that Diocess was enthron'd at Exeter after a solemn Procession where the Bishop walked to Church between King Edward and Queen Editha his Wife This year according to Florence of Worcester the King released the Nation from that cruel Burthen of Danegelt under which it had for so many years groaned but I will not pass my word for the truth of the occasion why he did it though related by Ingulph viz. That King Edward going into his Treasury where this Tax had been laid up saw the Devil capering and dancing upon the Money-bags which it seems no body else could see but himself at which he was so concerned that he ordered all the Money to be restored to the right Owners and forbad its being gathered any more Not long after according to the same Author William Duke of Normandy the King's Cousin coming over into England was honourably received here and had Noble Presents made him and as some relate too that King Edward promised to make him his Successor in the Kingdom This year also according to Florence of Worcester Alfric Archbishop of York deceased and Kinsing the King's Chaplain succeeded him This year deceased Aelgiva alias Ymma the Mother of King Eadward and King Hardecnute She hath a various Character given her by our Historians William of Malmesbury represents her to be very Covetous and Unkind to her first Husbands Children which seems to have been true enough But then she was very Devout and had a great Respect for
do not now know and others Northward to a Castle of Archbishop Rodbert's who together with Bishop Vlf and all their Party going out at the East Gate I suppose of London kill'd and wounded many young men who I suppose went about to seize them thence they went directly to Ealdulphe's Naese now the Nesse-Point in Essex where the Archbishop going on board a small Vessel left his Pall and Bishoprick behind him as God would have it since he had attain'd that Honour without God's Approbation From all which Transactions we may draw these Observations That all this Contest between the King and Earl Godwin seems to have been chiefly from the two great Factions that of the Normans whom the King brought over with him and that of his English Subjects and which happening under a Weak and Easy King that had neither the Prudence nor Courage to keep the Balance even it produced this Pyratical War made by Earl Godwin and his Sons to force the King to restore them to their Estates All which not only shews the great Power of this Earl and his Partizans but also that those who have the Command at Sea may force a King of England to what Terms they please It is also evident that these Annals were wrote by some Monk of the English Party who was wholly of Earl Godwin's side But to return again to them Then was appointed a Great Council without London where all the Earls and Chief Men then in England were present and there Earl Godwin pleaded for himself and was acquitted before the King and the whole Nation and affirmed that he and Harold his Son with the rest of his Children were innocent of the Crimes whereof they stood accused Whereupon the King received the Earl and his Sons with all those of his Party into his full Grace and Favour restoring him to his Earldom and whatsoever else he before enjoyed as likewise to every one his own again And then too the King restored to the Queen his Wife who had been before sent away whatsoever she had been possessed of but Archbishop Rodbert and all the Frenchmen were outlaw'd and banish'd because they were those who had been the chief Incendiaries of this Quarrel between the King and the Earl and Bishop Stigand was then made Archbishop of Canterbury Though our Annals are in the Relation of what passed at this Great Council much more particular than most of our Historians yet in the Account of this War between the King and Earl Godwin there are some things to be further taken notice of as what Simeon of Durham relates That Earl Harold when he came out of Ireland first entred the Mouth of Severne and there spoiled the Coast of Somersetshire plundering both the Towns and Countrey round about and then coming back to his Ships loaden with Prey he presently sail'd round Penwithstâ—ot i. e. the Land's-End and met his Father as you have heard before and when it was told King Edward that Earl Godwin was come to Sandwic he commanded all those who had not revolted from him to make haste to his Assistance but they delay'd so long their coming up that in the mean while Godwin with his Fleet sail'd up the River Thames as far as Southweork and there lay till the Tide but yet not without sending Messengers to some of the chief Citizens of London whom he had before drawn over to his Party by fair Promises and so far prevailed with them that they absolutely engaged themselves to be at his service and do whatever he would command them Then all things being thus prepared the next Tide they weighed Anchor and sail'd Southward up the Stream no body opposing them on the Bridge From whence we may observe that those Ships he had were only small Galleys with Masts to be taken up and down at pleasure much like our Huoys at this day Then came the Earl's Land-Army and flanking themselves all along the side of the River made a very thick and terrible Body insomuch that he turned his Fleet toward the Northern Shore as if he were resolved to have encompassed that of the King's which it seems then lay above-Bridge over-against London And though He had at that time both a Fleet and a Numerous Land-Army of Foot-Soldiers yet they being all English abhorred to fight against their own Kinsfolks and Countreymen and therefore the wiser sort of both sides laid hold on this Opportunity and became such powerful Mediators between the King and the Earl as made them mutually to strike up a Peace and so dismiss their Armies The next day the King held a Great Council and restored Earl Godwin and his Sons to their former Honours and Estates except Sweyn who being prick'd in Conscience for the Murther of his Cousin Beorn was gone from Flanders barefoot as far as Jerusalem and in his return homeward died in Lycia of a Disease contracted through extreme Cold. A firm Concord and Peace being thus concluded both the King and the Earl promised right Law i. e. Justice to all people and banished all those Normans that had introduced unjust Laws and given false Judgments and committed many Outrages upon the English though some of them were permitted to stay as Robert the Deacon and Richard Fitzscrob his Son-in-Law as also Alred the Yeoman of the King's Stirrup Anfred sirnamed Cocksfoot and some others who had been the King's greatest Favourites and always faithful to him and the People all the rest were sent away and amongst them was also William Bishop of London but he being a good honest man was called back again in a short time Osbern sirnamed Pentecost from whom the Castle above-mention'd was so called and his Companion Hugh surrender'd their Castles and by the License of Earl Leofric passing through his Earldom of Mercia went into Scotland and were there kindly received by King Macbeth Mr. Selden in his Titles of Honour refers that Relation in Bromton's Chronicle to this Great Council held this very year in which the manner of King Edward's Reconciliation with Earl Godwin is more particularly set down viz. That the King having summoned a Great Council as soon as he there beheld Earl Godwin immediately accused him before them all of having betrayed and murthered his Brother Prince Alfred in these words Thou Traytor Godwin I accuse thee of the Death of Alfred my Brother whom thou hast traitorously murthered and for the Proof of this I refer my self to the Judgment of Curiae Vestrae i. e. your Court. Then the King proceeded thus ' You most Noble Lords the Earls and Barons of the Kingdom where note That by Barons are to be understood Thanes for they were one and the same before the Conquest You who are my Liege-men being here assembled have heard my Appeal as also the Answer of Earl Godwin I will that you now give a Right Sentence between us in this my Appeal and afford due Justice therein Then the Earls and Barons having maturely debated
in his face and catching him by the hair flung him on the ground The Scuffle being ended the King foretold that their Destruction was nigh and that the Wrath of God would not much longer be deferred For says this Author they were come to that height of Barbarism and Cruelty that if they but liked the House or Possessions of any one they would by night procure the Owner to be murthered with all his Children to get his Estate and these were at that time the chief Justiciaries of the Kingdom But this seems to have been a story invented long since out of hatred to the Memory of Harold afterwards King for he hath the Character of a Valiant and Worthy Prince and who as William of Malmesbury relates in this Quarrel with the Northumbers preferred the Peace of his Countrey to his Brother 's private Interests But Tostige in a great Rage leaving the Court went to a House at Hereford where at that time he heard his Brother Harold had order'd mighty Preparations for the Entertainment of the King and there made a most terrible havock of his Servants divers of whom being killed he flung their mangled Members into all the Vessels of Wine Mead Ale and other Liquors and then sent word to his Brother That he need take no care for Pickled Meats but as for all other sorts he might bring them down along with him And it was therefore for this most horrid Villany that the King commanded him to be banished which the Northumbers understanding for this as well as several other Murthers he had committed they expell'd him their Countrey as hath been already shewn But this does not well agree with what Simeon of Durham hath already with more probability related of him for if Earl Tostige had been found guilty of so great an Insolence and that he was thereupon banished the Kingdom it had certainly been very needless for the Northumbers to have rose up against him and to have driven him out of the Countrey or at least to have desired another Earl in his room since the King would have appointed them a new one without giving them so just an Occasion for a Rebellion against him To this year also we may refer Earl Harold's going over into Normandy which some of our Historians place a year or two sooner but they differ much more about the manner and occasion of it some making it to be a meer Casualty others saying it was on purpose But William of Malmesbury's account of it is thus That Harold being at his House at Bosenham in Sussex near the Sea-side he for his Recreation with some of his Retinue took a Fisher-boat meaning only to row up and down but sailing a little further to Sea than they were aware a Tempest rose and carried them cross the Channel to the French Coast where glad to be safe any where they were forced to land in the Territories of the Earl of Ponthieu the men of that Countrey according to their custom and that barbarous practise which is in use in most places to make a Prey of the distressed and shipwrack'd presently fell upon them and being many and well arm'd they easily seiz'd upon Earl Harold and his Followers who were without Weapons so that they not only took them Prisoners but also fetter'd them Then Harold considering with himself what was to be done hired a Messenger to go to Duke William and acquaint him how he was sent over by the King of England by his Word and Presence to confirm what other lesser Envoys had only whispered but that he was kept Prisoner and hinder'd from the discharge of his Message by Gwido Earl of Ponthieu and that it would become a man of so great Honour as himself not to suffer a Villany so derogatory to his Authority to go unpunished since he had appealed to his Justice But if his Liberty was to be purchased with Money he would willingly pay the Price to Earl William but not to such a mean-spirited man as Gwido Upon this Harold by the Command of Duke William was soon set at liberty and sent to Court where being honourably received he was also invited to an Expedition into Little-Britain where at that time the Norman Duke made War But by his Wit and Valour he so well approved himself to the Duke that he was very much taken with him to whom that he might also the more endear himself he promised by Oath That in case King Edward died he would deliver up to him the Castle of Dover which was then under his Command and procure him to succeed in the Kingdom of England Hereupon the Duke's Daughter as yet too young for Marriage was betrothed to him and so he was sent home with very rich Presents This is William of Malmesbury's and divers other Historians Relation of it but Bromton's Chronicle as he is singular in many things so he is in this and relates the Cause of Harold's Voyage into Normandy thus viz. That he had asked leave of King Edward to go over to Duke William to procure him to set his Brother Wulnoth and his Nephew Hacune free who were there detain'd as Hostages whereupon the King told him he might go with his Leave but not by his Advice for said he I foresee that nothing but Damage and Ruin can happen to England thereby for I know Earl William will not be so ignorant and impolitick as to grant their Delivery unless it shall tend to his own advantage So Harold going on Shipboard and intending for Normandy was driven by a Tempest on the Coast of Picardy and there seized by the Earl of Ponthieu and by him at last was sent to Duke William as hath been already related The rest of the Story is much the same with the former and needs no Repetition only this is added That Earl Harold at his Return home having told the King all that had happened to him in France the King is said to reply thus Did not I tell thee that this Voyage would prove neither for thy Profit nor that of the Kingdom But one may plainly perceive this Story to have been feigned by one of the later Monks to prove that King Edward had the Spirit of Prophecy and would not have been omitted by William of Malmesbury if he had known it or thought it to have been true This year also as Florence of Worcester tells us Harold Earl of West-Saxony having built a House in South-Wales at a place called Portascith and made great Preparations for the King's Entertainment who was to come thither a hunting when Caradoc or Cradoc Son to Griffyn Prince of South-Wales whom Griffyn Prince of North-Wales had slain some years before came to this place about St. Bartholomew-day and there not only slew all the Workmen and Servants but carried away all the Goods that had been brought thither This year was consecrated the Monastery of Westminster on the Feast of the Holy Innocents This Church as
well as on the Holidays themselves as also in Parishes when the Feast of the Saint to whom the Church is dedicated is kept so that if any one come devoutly to the Celebration thereof he was to have security in going staying and returning home and besides in many other cases too long here to set down From whence we may observe the Antiquity of those Parish Feasts called in several parts of England Wakes The fourth appoints That where ever the King's Justice or any other Person shall hold Civil Pleas if the King's Deputy or Attorney comes thither to open any Cause concerning Holy Church that shall be first determined for it is just God be served before all others The fifth ordains That whosoever holds any thing of the Church or hath his Mansion on the Church's Land he or they shall not be compell'd to plead out of the Ecclesiastical Courts for Contumacy or otherwise nay though he forfeit unless Justice be wanting in those Courts which says the Law God forbid By which all the Tenants of the Church were exempted from pleading or appearing at the King's Courts which though a strange and unreasonable Privilege yet it seems it continued in the time of William the First The sixth confirms the Laws of Sanctuaries ordaining That no man shall be taken out of any Church to which he hath fled for any offence unless it be by the Bishop or his Officers The like Privilege is also allowed to the Priest's House provided it stand upon the Ground of the Church but if a Thief went out of the Sanctuary to rob he was to forfeit that Privilege The seventh leaves those to the Justice of the Bishop who violate the Peace of Holy Church and if any Offender shall despise his Sentence either by flying or contemning it and Complaint thereof be made to the King after forty days he shall give Pledges to reconcile himself to God the King and the Church and if he cannot be found he shall be outlaw'd and if then he be found and can be laid hold on he shall be delivered up to the King if he defends himself he shall be slain For from the day of his Outlawry he is said in English to have Wulfsheofod i.e. a Wolfs-head or as we now commonly say in Latin gerere Caput Lupinum This is the common Law of all Outlaws The eighth and ninth appoint what things small Tythes should be paid out of and recites that they had been granted long before a Rege Baronibus Popâ—lo that is by the King the Barons and the People And though the word Barons was not commonly used till the time of King William the First when these Laws were drawn up in the form we now have them upon an Inquisition granted to the Ancient and Wise Men of all the Counties in England as Rog. Hoveden informs us yet is this but a Recital of the Ancient Law of Tythes in the Dialect of those times when the word Baron came to be used instead of Thane The tenth appoints after what manner the Ordeal or Judgment by Fire or Water should be executed by the Bishop's Officer and the King's Justice upon those that deserved it From which you may observe that this Law of Ordeal was in force some time after the coming in of the Normans This Law also ordains in what Cases and over what Persons the Courts Baron should have Jurisdiction but it being somewhat large I refer you to it The Eleventh again reinforces the payment of Romescot or Peter-pence which iâ— denied the King's Justice shall compel the payment because it is the King 's Alms. From whence we may observe how much those Romish Writers are mistaken who will needs make these Peter-pence to have been a Tribute from the Kings of England to the Pope The twelfth shews what Danegelt was and on what occasion it was first imposed That the payment of Danegelt was first ordained because of the frequent Invasions of the Danish Pyrates to repress which there was Twelvepence imposed upon every Hide of Land throughout England to be paid yearly Which also shews us about what time these Laws were collected into the form we now have them by this Clause viz. That the Church was excused from this payment until the time of William Rufus who as is here recited asking an Aid of his Barons for the obtaining Normandy from his Brother then going to Jerusalem there was granted to him not by any standing Law but only for the present necessity Four Shillings upon every Hide of Land the Church not excepted The thirteenth sets forth That the Peace of the King is manifold as sometimes it is given by his own hand which the English call Cyninges honde sealde gryth This Protection was granted not only to Persons but Places also by way of Privilege as likewise to Churches or Churhmen within their own Walls as appears by the League betwixt King Edward and Guthrum in which it is termed Cyninges honde gryth Another sort of Peace was on the Coronation-day which lasted eight days that at Christmass which held also eight days and so on the Feast of Easter and Whitsuntide Another sort was given by his Brief or Letters and another there was belonging to the Four great Highways viz. Watlingstreet Foss Hickenildstreet and Ermingstreet whereof two are extended to the Length and two to the Breadth of the Kingdom Another still there was belonging to the Rivers of Note which conveyed Provisions to Towns and Cities From whence it appears that this Peace of the King was a Priâ—ilege or Exemption granted to Persons not to be sued or answer at Law in any Action â—rought against them during certain solemn and stated Times and in certain of the most famous and frequented Highways of the Kingdom The fourteenth declares That all Treasure prove should be the King 's unless it were found in a Church or Church-yard in which case if it were Gold it was all the King 's but if Silver one half was to go to him and another to the Church The fifteenth treateth of Murther and declares if any one was murthered the Murtherer should be enquired after in the Village or Town where the Body was found and if he was discovered to be delivered up to the King's Justice within eight days after the Fact committed and in case he could not be found a month and a day was allowed for search after him within which term if he could not be seiz'd on forty six Marks were to be collected out of that Town and if it was not able to pay so much then the Hundred was liable to make it good And forasmuch as this Payment could not be made in the Towns and great inconveniences arose the Barons i.e. the Freeholders of the County took care that six and forty Marks should be paid out of the Hundred which being seal'd up with the Seal of some one Baron of the County they were to be sent to the Treasurer and by
Friends nor Interest sufficient to oppose so great a Party as Harold had amongst the Lay-Nobility and especially among the Bishops who were all to a man for him And that which made more against Prince Edgar was That he wanted the Nomination of King Edward to recommend him to the Election of the Wittena Gemot or Great Council of the Kingdom which either Duke William or Harold certainly had and perhaps both of them though at different times according as they had the opportunity of making their Interest with that Easy King who certainly was very much to blame not to have better ascertained that great Point of the Succession to the Crown in his own life-time for had he declared either Duke William or Edgar his Heir and procured the Estates of the Kingdom to confirm it in his life-time he might have prevented that Calamity which afterwards fell upon the English Nation from Duke William when he came to be King But to return to our History Harold being thus advanced to the Throne took that course which all Wise Princes who can claim no Right by Blood but only by Election of the People have always taken and that was The abolishing of all unjust Laws and the making good ones in their stead the seizing upon and punishing all Thieves Robbers and Disturbers of the Publick Peace and indeed wholly made it his business to defend the Kingdom from Foreign Invaders both by Sea and Land and that he might become truly popular he was a great Patron of the Churches and Monasteries yielding much Reverence to the Bishops and Abbots shewing himself humble and affable to all that were virtuous and good as he was severe to all others of a contrary Character On the 24 th day of April after his Coronation as Simeon of Durham tells us appeared a Dreadful Comet which was visible in all these parts of the world not long after which followed the Invasion of Tostige who having been banish'd chiefly by his Brother's procurement and now no longer able to digest the Preferment of his Younger Brother to the Royal Dignity in exclusion to him was moved with so much Envy and Indignation as to endeavour all ways possible to dethrone him for which purpose he sailed to Duke William and thence out of Flanders with some Ships to the Isle of Wight where after he had forced Money from the Inhabitants he departed and played the Pyrate upon the Coasts till he came to Sandwich King Harold being then at London upon notice thereof got in readiness both a strong Fleet and a good Party of Horse with which he resolved in Person to go to Sandwich and fight him But Tostige having intelligence of it took along with him all the Seamen he could find and went to the Coast of Lindisse where he burnt several Villages and killed a world of men But Edwin Earl of Mercia and his Brother Morcar Earl of Northumberland hastening to those parts with an Army soon forced him to quit that Countrey And as Florence relates not being able to return into Normandy by reason of contrary Winds he sail'd into Norway and there join'd his Fleet with that which King Harold Harfager was now preparing for the Invasion of England In the mean time King Harold lay at Sandwich expecting his Fleet which when it was got together he sail'd to the Isle of Wight and because William Duke of Normandy was now expected to invade England with an Army he waited his coming over all that Summer and the Autumn following lining all the Sea-Coasts with Land-Forces in order the better to receive him This seems indeed more probable than what William of Malmesbury relates That King Harold did not believe Duke William would undertake so hazardous an Expedition being at that time engaged in Wars with his Neighbouring Princes and had now wholly given himself up to his Ease and Pleasure so that had it not been for his hearing that the King of Norway likewise threaten'd an Invasion he would never have raised any Army at all which seems a very improbable story since he was as you have already heard from Simeon of Durham forced to get out his Fleet and raise an Army to prevent the Incursions of his Brother Tostige But it is fit we now give you some account of the Reasons of these great Preparations made by Duke William to invade England for Ingulph and the Author last mentioned both assure us That so soon as he had heard of King Harold's taking upon him the Crown of England contrary to the Oath he had given him and that he was actually crowned he sent over Ambassadors to put him in mind of the breach of his word threatning to force him to perform it if he would not do it by fair means and that before the year came about Harold's Answer to these Ambassadors as William of Malmesbury relates it was very plausible being to this effect That what he had promised concerning marrying the Duke's Daughter she being dead it could not now be performed but that if he had promised him any thing concerning the Kingdom it was very rashly done of him to have given away that which was not his own without the General Consent and Decree of the Great Council of that Kingdom therefore that a rash Oath was to be broken for if the Oath or Vow of a Virgin made without the consent of her Parents was by the Law of God declared void how much more ought that Oath to be accounted so which he being then under the Authority of his King but compell'd necessity had made concerning the Kingdom who was at that time wholly ignorant of what had been transacted And that the Duke was very unjust in requiring him to resign that Crown which he had so lately received by the General Favour and Consent of the People Bromton's Chronicle further adds That Duke William sent another Message to King Harold whereby he acquainted him That although he had not observed his Faith in other things yet if he would marry his Daughter he would pass by all the rest or otherwise would vindicate his Succession by force of Arms. All which is very improbable since most Historians relate the young Lady to be then dead and it is very unlikely that a Man of King William's Ambition would quit his Pretentions to the Kingdom for so slight a satisfaction as the Marriage of his Daughter But this Author does with more probability reduce the Duke's Quarrel against Harold to these Three Heads First To revenge the death of Prince Alfred his Cousin who had been long since murthered by Earl Godwin the Father of Harold Secondly To restore Archbishop Robert Earl Odo and the rest of the Normans who had been unjustly banished in the late King's life-time Thirdly Because Harold had contrary to his Oath possessed himself of the Kingdom which as well by the Right of Consanguinity as by that of a Double Promise ought to be his But the Ambassadors of
Etheling Margaret married to Malcolm King of Scots from whom all the Kings of England since King Henry I. are descended Christina a Nun at Wilton 1 Edward the Martyr R. XXIX 1 Edwie R. XXVII 3 Edwin 2 Athelstan Illegitimate R. XXIV Kings of the Danish Race who reigned between King Edmund Ironside and Edward the Confessor Cnute King of England Denmark and Norway 1 Harold sirnamed Harefoot esteemed Supposititious 2 Hardecnute succeeded his Brother Harold He was Son to Queen Emma 1 Aethelward or Aelfweard 3 Aethelred R. XXI 1 Aelfred 2 Oswald 2 Aethelbert R. XX. 2 Athelm 1 Aethelwald 1 Aethelbald R. XIX 1 Cutha Cada Cenbyrht 2 Mulla or Moll 1 Ceadwalla R. X. 4 Ceolwulf Cuthgils Cenferth Cenfus Aescwine R. IX 5 Cwichelm INDEX Note The Numbers signify so many of the same Name A ABbey Abbey-Lands Abbot Aberfraw Abingdon Abjuring Acca Achaius Adda Adelphius Adian Admurum Adrian Adulf Adultery Aeadsige Aealmond Aealhstan Aedan Vradog Aedan ap Blegored Aedric Aegelbyerth Aegelric Aelfeage Aelfer Aelfgar Aelfleda Aelfred or Alfred Aelfric 3. Aelfweard Aelfwinna Aelfwold Aelgiva 3. Aella 3. Aelmer Aemilianus Aeneon Aescasdune Aescwin 2. Aesk Aestel Aethelbald 2. Aethelbryht Aethelburga Aethelfleda Aethelgiva Aethelheard Aethelred Aethelswithe Aethelwald 2. Aethelwulf Aetius Agatha Agatho Agelbert Agricola Agrippina Aidan Ailesbury Ailmer Ailnoth Ailwin Akmanceaster Alan 2. Alaric St. Alban Albania Albert Albinus Chlodius Alburge Alchluid Alchmuid Alchmund Alcuin Aldhelm Aldred Aldune Alehouses Alemond Alfleda Alfred 5. Alfweard Alfwin Alfwold Algithe Algiva Alhred 2. Alienation Alkuith Allectus Allegiance Alms Alrich 2. Alstan Alton Alwin Alwold Alypius Ambresburg Ambrosius Amiens Ammianus Marcellinus Anarawd Andate Andover Andragatius Andredswood Angild Angles Anglesey Anglia Sacra Anlaff 2. Anna Annals Saxon Antenor Anwulf Aper Appeals Vid. Pope Appledore Arbogastes Arcadius Archbishop Archenfield Archigallo Arch-pyrate Arderydd Areans Ariminum Arles Armorica Armour Army Arnulf Arnwy Arrian Heresy Arthur Arviragus Arwald Arwan Asaph Asclepiodotus Ashdown Assault Asser Assize-Charges Asterius Ataulphus Athelgiâ—â— Athelm Athelney Athelric Athelstan 3. Athelwald Athelward Athelwold Attacotti Atticus Augusta Augustine Augustine's-Ake Augustus Caesar Avon Aurelian Aurelius Ambrosius Atticus Conan Marcus Aust Axanminster B BAchseg Badon-Hill Bakewell Balbinus Clodius Baldred Baldwin Bamborough-Castle Banbury Bangor Banner Banuwelle Baptism Bardeney Bardsey-Island Barnwood Barons St. Bartholomew St. Basile Basse Bassianus Bassus Bastardy Bathan Bathe Beadricesworth Beamdune Beamfleet-Castle Becancelde Bedanhealfde Bede Bedicanford Belinus Bells Benedict Benedictines St. Bennet 's in Holme Bennington Beonna Beormond Beorne 4. Beornred Beornwulf Berferth Berkshire Bernicia Bertha Bertulf Beverlie Bevorstone Billingsgate Birds Birth Supposititious Birthwald Bishops Blecca Blood Boadicia Bocland Bodotria Boetius Hector Bolanus Bonagratia de Villa Dei Bondland Bondman Bonosus Bosa Bosenham Boston Bottulf Bounds Bracelets Bradanford Brandanrelie Breach of the Peace Brecklesey-Island Brecknock-Castle Bregowin Brennus Bridgenorth Brigantes Brige Brightnoth Brihtric 2. Britain Great Britain Britains Britains of Armorica British Church Brixstan Brockmaile Bromrige Bruerne Brocard Brun-Albin Brute Bryâ—htwald Bryghtwulf Brythelme Buchanan Budington Buloigne Buoy in the Nore Burford Burgh Burghmotes Burhred Byrinus Byrnstan C CAdelh Cadocus Cadwallader Cadwallo 3. Cadwan Caedmon Caerialis Petilius Caer-Leon Caesar Calais Calcuithe Caledonians Caligula Camalodunum Cambden Cambria Cambridge Camelford Candida Casa Candidus Canterbury Caractacus Caradoc Carausius Carehouse Careticus Carlisle Carron Carrum Cartismandua Carus Cassibelan Cassiterides Castinus Castor Castra Exploratorum Cataract Cattle Ceadda Ceadwalla Ceawlin 3. Cedda Cendrythe Cenered Cenwall Cenwulf 2. Ceolfus Ceolnoth Ceolred 2. Ceolric Ceolwulf 5. Cerdic Cerdicsford Cerne Chacea St. Chad Chanons Secular Charges at Assizes Charles 5. Charters Chastity Cherbury Chertsey Chester Chichester Chiltern Chipnam Choisy Christianity Christ Church Cant. Chrysanthius Church Cimbric Chersonese Cimerii Cippenham Cirencester Civilis Civil War Claudia Rufina Claudian Claudius 2. Clergy Clodius Balbinus Chlorus Constantius Cloveshoe Cnobsbury Cnute Coelestine Cogidunus Coifi Coil Coinage Colchester Coldingham Coleman Coludesburgh Columba Comets Commodus Commons of England Compurgators Conan 5. Congal Constans Constantine 5. Constantius 2. Corfesgeate Cornwal Coronation Corrodies Coventry Councils Counties Countreymen County-Court Coway-stakes Crayford Creed Creeklade Creoda or Crida Crimes Criminal Crown Croyland Chrysanthius Cuckamsley-hill Cumbran Cuneglasus Curescot Cutha Cuthbert Cuthbryht Cuthred 3. Cuthwulf Cwichelme 2. Cycle Cynebald Cynebryht Cynegils Cyneheard 2. Cynoth Cynric 2. Cynwulf D DAgobert Dalliance Danegelt Danes Daniel 2. Darwent David St. Davids Deadly Feuds Death Decennary Decianus Decimation Decius Defamation Degradation Degsa-stan Deira Demetae Denulph Deomed Deorham Deposition Deprivation Derawnde Desertion Devils-Ditch Devise of Lands Deusdedit 2. Dicul Didius Difilina Dinoth Diocesses Dioclesian Dionotus Domitian Dorinea Dover Dower Draganus Drinking Druids Dublin Dubritius Duduc Dulcitius Dun Dunbritton Dunmoc St. Dunstan Dunwallo Molmutius Dunwich Durham Duty to Parents E EAdbald 2. Eadbert 2. Eadbryht Eadburga Eadesbyrig Eadfrid Eadhed Eadmund Aetheling Eadred Eadsige Eadulf Eadwig Aetheling Eadwin Eagle Ealcher Ealchstan Ealerd Ealfert Ealfric Ealswithe Eanbald Eanbryht Eanfrid Earcombert Earcongath Eardulf Eardwulf Earnred Earnwulf East-Angles Easter East-Saxons Eatta Ebba 2. Eborius Eclipses Eddobeccus Edelwalch Edgar Edgar Aetheling 2. Edgitha 2. Edingburgh Editha Edmund the Martyr Edmund Son to Edward the Elder Edmund Son of King Alfred Edmund Aetheling St. Edmundsbury Edred 2. Edric Edwal ap Meyric Edwal Ugel Edwal Ywrch Edward the Elder Edward Aetheling Edward the Martyr Edward the Confessor Edwi Edwin 3. Edwin Aetheling Edwold Egbert 7. Egelfleda Egelnoth Egfrid Eglesburgh Egonesham Egric Egwin Egwinna Eighth Elbodius Election of King V. Kings Sparsim Eleutherius Elfeage 2. Elfer Elfgar Elfin Elfleda Elfric Elfwald Elfwinna Elgiva V. Aelgiva Elidurus Ellendune Ellwye Elutherius Ely-Monastery Emma Emperor Eneon England Englisherie English-men English-Saxons Entail Eoppa Eoric Eorpenwald Eorpwald Eowils Ercenbryht Eric Erkenwald Ermenred Esylht Ethelard Ethelbald 2. Ethelbert 4. Ethelbryht Ethelburgh Etheldrethe Etheldrith Etheler Ethelfleda Ethelfred Ethelfreda Ethelfrid Ethelgar Ethelheard 2. Ethelnoth Ethelred 8. Ethelwald 2. Ethelward Ethelwerd Ethelwin Ethelwold 2. Ethelwulf Evesham Eugenius 2. Evil Councils Europe Eustatius Eutherius Excommuication Exeter Exmouth F FAith False News Famine Farrington Fealty Fee or Feuds Fee-tayl Estate Feologild Fergus Fernham Festidus Fidelity Fighting Finan Fines Finkley Fire First Fruits Five Burghs Flanders Flattery Fleet Foelix Folcmote Folcstone Foreign Tongue Forests Forfeitures Formosus Fornication Framarius France Frank-pledges Franks Freemen Freodguald Freothwulf Frethanleage Friburg Friesland Frisians Frithestan Frithogithe Frithwald Fugitives Fullenham Furseus G GAcon Gaini Gainsborough Galgacus Galienus Gallio Game Gavelkind Gaule Gemote General Gentlemen Geoffrey of Monmouth Gerent Germanus Gerontius Gessoriacum Geta Gethic Gewisses Gildas Girwy Gisa Glan-morgan Glappa 2. Glass Glastenbury Gleni Glewancester Glotta and Bodotria God Goda Godfathers Godfred Godiva Godmundingham Godwin Gogmagog Gordianus Gormond Gospatrick Gospel Government Graetanleage Grand Inquest Vid. Inquest Gratian Gratianus Gregory Griffyn Griffyth ap Llewelin ap Sitsylt Griffyth ap Madoc St. Grimbald Grime Grisons Grymkytel Guarinus Gueld Guendelew Gueniver Guiderac Guild Guintelin
Ailesbury in Buckinghamshire anciently called Eglesbyrig l. 5. p. 321. Ailmer Earl of Cornwal Founder of the Abbey of Cerne in Dorsetshirâ— l. 6. p. 22. Ailnoth Vid. Ethelnoth Ailwin the Ealdorman Founder of the Abbey of Ramsey l. 6. p. 6 7. Akmanceaster an Ancient City called Bathan by the Inhabitants l. 6. p. 7. Alan King of Armorica receives Cadwallader l. 4. p. 190. Alan Earl of Britain so great an Assistant to William Duke of Normandy that after his Conquest he made him Earl of Richmond and had great part of the Countrey thereabouts given him l. 6. p. 109. Alaric King of the Goths takes Rome l. 2 p. 104. St. Alban an Account of his Martyrdom l. 2. p. 85 86. The Miracles thereat Ibid. p. 107 108. Is privately buried that Age being ignorant of the virtue of keeping Saints Relicks Id. p. 86. Offa is warned by an Angel to remove his Relicks to a more Noble Shrine He builds a new Church and Monastery in honour of him who was after canonized l. 4. p. 237. As he was the first Martyr of England so the Abbot thereof ought to be the first in Dignity of all the Abbots in England Ib. p. 238. Pope Honorius ratified the Privileges formerly granted and gave to this Abbot and his Successors Episcopal Rights together with the Habit c. Jd. Ib. St. Albans anciently called Verulam where a Great Council was held by King Offa Id. p. 239. Albania now Scotland Northwest of the Mountains of Braid-Albain and its extent l. 2. p. 83 98. Albert ordained Archbishop of York l. 4. p. 229. Receives his Pall for the Archbishoprick from Pope Adrian Id. p. 230. Albinus Chlodius made Lieutenant of Britain by Commodus the Emperor who would have created him Caesar and permitted him in his presence to wear the Purple Robe but he refused them then yet afterwards assumed the Titles and Honour and died in asserting his Right to the Imperial Purple l. 2. p. 71 73. Is dismissed from the Government of Britain but retained it under both Pertinax and Didius Julianus Takes upon him the Title of Caesar under Severus had Statues erected and Money coin'd with his Image Forced the Messengers sent by the Emperor to dispatch him by Torture to confess the Design Id. p. 72. But is obliged at last to run himself through with his own Sword Id. p. 73. Alburge Sister to King Egbert Foundress of a Benedictine Nunnery at Wilton l. 5. p. 248. Alcluid now called Dunbritton in Scotland l. 2. p. 101. Is destroyed by the Danes l. 5. p. 277. Alchmuid Son to Ethelred King of Northumberland being taken by the Guards of King Eardulf is slain by his Command l. 4. p. 243. Alchmund Bishop of Hagulstade his Decease l. 4. p. 232. Alcuin or Albinus writes an Epistle wherein he proves Image-Worship utterly unlawful l. 4. p. 237. At his Intercession the Northumbrian Kingdom is spared from Ruin Id. p. 240. Goes into France and is much in favour with Charles the Great whom he taught the Liberal Arts and by his means the University of Paris is erected His Death and Character Id. p. 244. Aldhelm made Bishop of Shireburn and by whom l. 4. p. 213. A Catalogue of his Works given us by Bede Id. p. 213 214. His Death and Character Id. p. 214. Aldred Bishop of Worcester by his Intercession makes Sweyn's Peace with Edward the Confessor and goes with Bishop Hereman to the great Synod assembled at Rome l. 6. p. 75. Is sent Ambassador to the Emperor with Noble Presents to prevail with him to send Ambassadors into Hungary to bring back Prince Edward the King's Cousin Son of King Edmund Ironside into England Id. p. 86. His rebuilding the Church of St. Peter in Gloucester and going on Pilgrimage through Hungary to Jerusalem Id. p. 88. Is made Archbishop of York and goes with Earl Tostige to Rome where he receives his Pall Ibid. Crowns Harold King of England Id. p. 105. Aldune Bishop of Lindisfarne removes the Body of St. Cuthbert from Chester after a hundred years lying there to Durham and there builds a small Church dedicating it to him l. 6. p. 26. Alehouses how anciently these have been here with the Consequences thereof viz. quarrelling and breaking of the Peace l. 6. p. 43. Alemond Father to Edmund the King and Martyr whom he had by his Wife Cywara in old Saxony l. 5. p. 265. Alfleda Daughter to Ceolwulf King of the Mercians is married to Wimond Son of Withlaff an Ealdorman there who is afterwards made King by the Consent of the People l. 5. p. 253. Alfred King of Northumberland would not alter the Judgment against Bishop Wilfrid for any Letter from the Pope l. 4. p. 207. Deceases at Driffield and on his Death-bed repents of what he had done towards the Bishop Id. p. 212 213. Alfred King of the West-Saxons was the fifth Son of King Aethelwulf Id. p. 258. When born of Osberge his Mother at Wantige in Berkshire l. 5. p. 261. Is anointed King by the Pope as a Prophetical Presage of his future Royal Dignity Id. p. 262 265. Married to Alswitha the Daughter of Aethelred the Ealdorman of the Gaini l. 5. p. 269. He with his Brother Ethelred made a great slaughter of the Danes Id. p. 275. By the general Consent of the whole Kingdom is advanced to the Throne Id. p. 276. Fights with the Danes and the various success of his Fortune Ibid. Fights at Sea against seven of their Ships and takes one the rest escaping Id. p. 277. Is forced to make Peace with them and what Hostages they give him to depart the Kingdom but upon breach of Oath he puts them all to death The Danes make another Peace with him but did not long observed it Id. p. 278. Leads an uneasy Life upon their account beiâ—g forced to hide and lurk among the Woody parts of Somersetshire Id. p. 280. His excessive Charity to a poor man in the midst of his own Extremity Id. p. 280 281. Goes into the Danish Army in the habit of a Countrey Fidler discovers their weakness and by that means obtain a signal Victory over them Id. p. 282. Delivers the Kingdom of the East-Angles up to Guthrune and the League made between them setting out the Extent of each other's Territories Id. p. 283 284. The Subjection or Dependance the Danes shew'd to this King by their consenting to the Laws made in a Common-Council of the Kingdom Id. p. 285. Fights against four Danish Pyrate-ships takes two the other two surrender Id. p. 285 286. Pope Martinus sends some of the Wood of our Lord's Cross to him and in return he sends to Rome the Alms he had vowed Id. p. 286. Setting upon the Danish Pyrates with his Fleet takes them all with great Spoils and kills most of their men but returning home and meeting with another Fleet of them they prove too hard for him Id. p. 286 287. Takes the City of London from the Danes who had kept it
long in their Possession and repairs it and all the English as well as the West-Saxons come under his Subjection Id. p. 288. His first founding of Schools at Oxford and making it an University and the quarrel that happen'd upon it between the old Scholars and Grimbald the Monk Ib. p. 289. The Alms of this King and the West-Saxons sent to Rome by Ethelelm the Ealdorman Id. p. 291. Repairs his Cities and Castles and builds others in the most necessary places of the Kingdom and minds the Political Affairs thereof dividing England into Counties and those into Hundreds and Tythings together with his Civil Oeconomy of Judges and Sheriffs insomuch that no Robberies durst be committed on the Highways Ibid. His Laws Civil and Ecclesiastical when made and in what Great Council l. 5. p. 291 292 293 294 295 296 297. Builds two Monasteries the one for men at Athelney in Somersetshire the other for Nuns at Shaftsbury where Algiva his Daughter was Abbess Id. p. 298. Overcomes Hastings the Danish Commander who was forced to surrender and accept of Conditions of Peace Id. p. 299 300. Fights the Danes near Fernham c. and puts them to flight recovering great Prey Id. p. 300 301. Builds divers Galleys after a new Model such as he thought more advantagious Id. p. 302. His Death Burial Character and Devotion Id. p. 304 305 306 307. His Translation of several Books into the English-Saxon Tongue Id. p. 304. Builds divers Houses with great Magnificence His division of the Hours both by Night and day before Clocks were known The first Inventer of Lanthorns in England Id. p. 305. The Bishops and Priests who assisted him in his Learning and in founding the University of Oxford Id. p. 306. The several Kings of Wales that sought his Protection and submitted to him His wonderful Bounty Generosity and Justice to his People Id. p. 306 307 308. His Last Will and Testament Id. p. 308 309 310. His Issue Id. p. 310 311. To what place the Bones of this King were râ—moved by his Son King Edward the Elder Id. p. 312. Alfred Son to King Ethelred supposed to be Grandfather to Ethelwerd called Quaestor the Historian l. 5. p. 276. Alfred some considerable Person with the factious men of his Party conspires against Athelstan's coming to the Crown whereby he forfeited his Lands which the King conferâ—'d on the Church of Malmesbury He is sent to Rome to purge himself of this Treason and dyes there l. 5. p. 329 331. Alfred and Edward his Brother Sons to King Ethelred Cnute agreed with Robert Duke of Normandy their Unkle that they should peaceably enjoy one half of the Kingdom during his life though they never did but continued still in Exile l. 6. p. 54. The most treacherouâ— and cruel treatment of this Prince and his Followers by King Harold through Godwin's Instâ—gations who caused his eyes to be put out so that he died soon after Id. p. 62 63. Earl Godwin accused by Edward the Confessor in the Great Council of being the cause of this Prince's Murther Id. p. 83. Alfweard or Aelfweard Son of King Edward the Elder deceased at Oxnaford not long after his Father His Mother was Aelfleda the Daughter of Earl Aethelem His Character l. 5. p. 324 327. Alfwin the Bishop deceases at Sutbury in Suffolk and is buried at Dunwich l. 4. p. 242. Alfwold the Son of Oswulf takes the Kingdom of the Northumbers Ethelred being expelled the Land l. 4. p. 231. Sends to Rome to demand the Pall for Eanbald Archbishop of York Id. p. 232. Is slain by Sicga one of his chief Noblemen by treachery at Cilceaster near the Picts-Wall and where buried His Character Id. 231 236. Algithe King Harold's second Wife Widow â—f Griffyth ap Lhewelyn King of Nort-Wales l. 6. p. 114. Algiva or Aethelgiva King Alfred's Daughter Abbess of Shaftsbury which Monastery her Father built l. 5. p. 298 307 311. Alhred King of Northumberland when he began and how he came to reign He was of the Offspring of Ida l. 4. p. 299. Is expelled by the Northumbrians who chose Ethelred the Son of Moll for their King Id. p. 230 236. Alred the Ealdorman who slew King Ethelred killed by one Thormond l. 4. p. 242. Alienation of Lands by Bishops c. committed to their trust in Fee or for longer than one Life without the Consent of the House forbidden by the Seventh Canon of the Synod at Calcuith l. 5. p. 251. Alkuith a City in Scotland delivered up to Eadbert King of Northumberland l. 4. p. 227 228. Allectus slays Carausius by Treachery in Britain and for three years usurped the Empire Encounter'd by Asclepiodotus was overcome and slain with little loss to the Romans l. 2. p. 84. Allegiance if due by Birth in the Saxon times or not till a man had actually perform'd his Homage or sworn Fealty to the King l. 6. p. 83. Alms or Peter-pence of King Alfred how rewarded l. 5. p. 281. Alfred sends the Alms he had vowed to Rome and other Alms into India Id. p. 286 291 298. Alrich King of Kent why neither He nor his Noblemen would be at the Council of Calcuith l. 4. p. 235. Son to Withred reigned 34 years dies and in him the Race of Hengest ended Id. p. 238. Alric the Son of Eadbert slain in the Battel of Whalie in Lancashire l. 4. p. 241. Alstan or Aealhstan Bishop of Shireburne by the Wisdom of this Bishop and St. Swithune Bishop of Winchester Ethelwulf was enabled to support the Calamities the Kingdom suffered by the frequent Irruptions of the Danes l. 5. p. 266 267. After he had held the See fifty years died and was buried in the Town l. 5. p. 268. Alswithe King Alfred's Consort Vid. Ealswithe Alton in Hampshire anciently supposed to be called Aetheling-gadene l. 6. p. 28. Alwin Bishop of Winchester reported to have been too familiar with Queen Emma and committed to Prison upon that Accusation l. 6. p. 79. Alwold Bishop of London before Abbot of Evesham being unable to perform his Episcopal Function would have retired to his old Monastery but the Monks being against it he resented it so ill that he goes to the Abbey of Ramsey with all his Books and other Ornaments which he bestowed on that Abbey though formerly they had been conferr'd on the other and soon after dies l. 6. p. 73. Alypius a Heathen Lieutenant of Britain l. 2. p. 90. Ambresburg or Ambresburi a Town that had some relation to Ambrosius l. 3. p. 131. A Monastery in Wiltshire to whom it was granted by King Alfred l. 5. p. 307. A great Synod or Council held there l. 6. p. 17. A Nunnery there built by Ethelfreda Id. p. 20. Ambrosius Vid. Aurelius Amiens in Picardy anciently called Embenum l. 5. p. 286. Ammianus Marcellinus the first Roman Author that mentions the Scots l. 2. p. 91. Anarawd the Eldest Son of Rodoric the Great when he began his Reign over North-Wales l. 5. p. 280.
224 226. In the Twelfth Year of his Reign fighâ—s against Ethelune the Ealdorman and prevails Id. p. 225. He and Ethelune reconciled and both fight against Ethelbald who fled His Decease and Sigebert his Cousin succeeds to him Id. p. 226. Cuthred King of Kent made King â—hereof by Kenwulf instead of Ethelbert called Praen His Death l. 5. p. 248 251. Cuthwulf or Cutha Brother to Ceawlin fights against the Britains at Bedicanford and takes Four Towns l. 3. p. 145. They both fight against the Britains at a place called Frethanleag where Cutha is slain Id. p. 147. l. 4. p. 159. Cwichelme Brother to Ceawlin his Death l. 3. p. 149. Cwichelme and Cynegils fight with the Britains at Beamdune and there slay Two thousand and forty six men l. 4. p. 166. His Character and how related to Cynegils Id. p. 167. Matthew Westminster's mistake concerning his Death Id. p. 172. Fights with Penda King of Mercia at Cirencester and at last a League is made betwâ—en them Id. p. 174. Is converted and baptized into the Christian Faith and soon after dies Id. p. 179. Cycle of Eighty four years an account of it the uâ—e of which the Romans having left off took up another of nineteen years l 4. p. 160. Cynebald the Bishop resigns his See at Lindisfarne l. 4. p. 232. Cynebryht Bishop of the West-Saxons goes to Rome to take the Habit of a Monk l. 4. p. 242. Cynegils when he began to reign over the West-Saxons and whose Son he was l. 4. p. 166. Vid. Cwichelme His Character Id. p. 167. Fights with Penda at Cirencester and the Success thereof Id. p. 174. The West-Saxons receive the Christian Faith in his Reign and himself too Id. p. 179. Cyneheard succeeds Hunferth in the Bishoprick of Winchester l. 4. p. 226. Cyneheard Aetheling Brother to Sigebert kills Cynwulf l. 4. p. 226 232. Is slain by the Thanes of King Cynewulf and lies buried at Axminster Id. p. 233. Cynoth King of the Picts to whom Alhred King of the Northumbers fled after he was deposed l. 4. p. 230. Cynric fights against the Britains at Searebyrig i. e. Old Sarum and puts them to flight l. 3. p. 142. And at Banbury anciently called Berinbyrig Id. p. 24â— His Death and Ceawlin his Son reigns after him Ibid. Cynric Aetheling a Prince of the Blood-Royal of the West-Saxons is slain Son of Cuthred a great Warrior for his time and how he fell l. 4. p. 225. Cynwulf with the Great Council deposes Sigebert King of the West-Saxons and by thâ—m is unanimously elected King in his room He often overcomes the Britains in fight but at last is slain l. 4. p. 226 227. And Offa King of the Mercians fight at Bensington in Oxfordshire Id. p. 230. Is slain by Cyneheard but he fâ—ll likewise with him Id. p. 232. Buried at Wintencester he was descended from Cerdic Id. p. 233. Vid. Kenwulf D DAgobert King of the French his Death l. 4. p. 217. Dalliance with other men's Wiveâ— the Fine imposed for it by Alfred's Law l. 5. p. 293. Danegelt viz. Seventy two thousand Pounds paid as a Tribute throughout England besides Eleven thousand Pounds more which the Citizens of London paid l. 6. p. 51. Vid. Tribute and Tax It was now by constant Usage become a Prerogative Id. p. 66. This cruel Burthen taken off the Nation by Edward the Confessor and how it came to pass Id. p. 78. What it was and upon what occasion it was first imposed The Church always excused from this Payment till Will Rufus's time Id. p. 100. Danes upon their first arrival in England were forced to fly to their Ships again These and the Normans then looked upon to be but one and the same People l. 4. p. 235. Miserably destroying the Churches of God in Lindisfarne and committing great Ravages Id. p. 238. Destroy Northumberland and rob the Monastery built there by Egbert Id. p. 240. Their Invasion and Conquest of several Principalities till expelled by King Alfred and his Son Edward the Elder when these Kingdoms became united under the general name of England An account of their Invasion both as to its Causes and Instruments by which effected being the fiercest and most cruel that this Island ever felt Id. p. 246. Their Nation in the Saxon Annals called sometimes Northmanna and sometimes Deanscan l. 5. p. 256. They keep the Fiâ—ld at the Battel of Carrum now Charmouth in Dorsetshire from Egbert Id. p. 256. Consultation in a General Council of the whole Kingdom how to prevent their Invasion A great Fleet of them land among the Western-Welsh that is Cornish-Men and fight Egbert Id. p. 257. Danish Pyrates beaten at Southampton by Wulfheard the Ealdorman they fight again and their various Successes Id. p. 258 259. Fight with the Somersetshire and Dorsetshire Men but are miserably worsted Id p. 260. Their several Battels and Successes Id. p. 261 262. They take Winchester from King Ethelbert Id. p. 266. Make a League with the Kentish-men but for all that they waste all the East part of it as knowing they could get more by Plunder than peace A great Army of them land here and take up their Winter-quarters among the East-Angles who are forced to make Peace with them then they march to York Kill the Two Kings there and put to flight the whole Army as well within as without the Town Id. p. 267. Make one Egbert King over the Northumbers though under the Danish Dominion Id. p. 268. Force the Mercians to make Peace with them Id. p. 269. Return to York where they stay Twelve Months and commit horrible Cruelties there and in the Kingdom of the East-Angles which they wholly conquer Id. p. 269 270. Landing in Lincolnshire they spoil all that Country committing Murthers and Desolations without mercy though not without great losses to themselves Id. p. 271 272. The reason of their Invading the Kingdom of the East-Angles Id. p. 272 273. Going into the West-Saxon Kingdom to Reading in Berkshire are routed Id. 274 275. In other places meet with various Successes of good and evil fortune Id. p. 276. Enter into a Peace with the English Saxons to depart the Kingdom which they did not long observe for the next year they land again and take up their Winter-Quarters in London and the Mercians forced to make Pâ—ace with thâ—m They destroy Alcluid in Scotland oblige Burhred King of Mercia to desert his Kingdom and go to Rome and bring the whole Kingdom under their Dominion and Vassalage Id. p. 277. Destroy the whole Countrey of Northumberland and ravag up to Galloway ruin Warham in Dorsetshire a strong Castle of the West-Saxons give Hostages to King Alfred but upon breach of their Oath are all put to death From whence they date their Reign over the King of Northumbers A Hundred and twenty of their Ships cast away in a storm near Swanwick in Hampshire Id. p. 278. Fix their Quarters in West-Saxony and make Aelfred very uneasy Id.
p. 280. Hinguar their Captain with Twelve Hundred Men slain near the Castle of Kenwith Id. p. 281. Are signally beaten by King Aelfred so as to desire Peace on Conditions Id. p. 282 283. The Laws made between them and King Aelfred in a Common Council of the Kingdom acknowledging his Superiority over them Id. p. 285. Besiege the City of Rochester build a strong Fort before the Gates of it but however they are forced to retire and go to their Ships Id. p. 286. One Fleet of theirs beaten by King Alfred another meeting him on his Return home prove too hard for him The Peace lately made with King Alfred broke by the Danes of East-England Id. p. 286 287. Beaten by the Bretons and by Arnulf the Emperor Id. p. 298. Infest the Kingdom for Three years worse than ever their landing in Kent and their various Successes Id. p. 298 299 300 301 302. Fight at Holme with the Kentish-men and their success l. 5. p. 312 313. Break their League with King Edward the Elder afterwards are beaten by the English in Staffordshire Id. p. 315 316. Commit great Ravage and Slaughter in Oxfordshire and several other Countries but often worsted Id. p. 319 321. Their power beginning to decrease and that of the English to increase Id. p. 321 322. Burn Tavistock in less than Fifty years after it was founded l. 6. p. 4. With the Welshmen that assisted them routed by Howel ap Jevaf their Pyrates destroy Southampton and commit great Ravage there They land in Cornwal and Burn the Church and Monastery of St. Petroc Id. p. 20. They land in Dorsetshire and spoil the Isle of Portland Id. p. 21. Destroy Weedport that is Watchet in Somersetshire Id. p. 22. As likewise the whole Isle of Anglesey and the Town of Ipswich in Suffolk Id. p. 23. Several Tributes paid them and yet those did not long satisfy their Covetousness Id. p. 25 29 32. Their Fleet escape by flight from being encompassed by King Ethelred's Id. p. 23. Come hither again with Ninety three Ships and ravaging several Countries Id. p. 24 25. Maintained by the West-Saxons and received a great Tribute besides Id. p. 25. Take much plunder from the Welsh Cornwal and Devonshire c. Id. p. 26 27. And the Spoils Burnings and Desolations they made where-ever they came Id. p. 28.29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 45 46 47 74. Leagues made with them but they never regarded them long Id. 28 31. King Ethelred commands all the Danes that could be found in England to be slain with the reason why which was most barbarously put in Execution especially at London but not long after it was bloodily revenged Id. p. 29 30 31. They insolently demand greater Tribute of the King and Kingdom l. 6. p. 35. Two thousand of them perish by divers inward Torments Their submission to King Ethelred upon Conditions Id. p. 36 37. Upon a Peace with Edmond Ironside they take up their Winter-Quarters at London Id. p. 48. They and the English are reconciled and united at Oxford at a Great Council Id. p. 51. At the Election of Edward the Confessor the Great Council agreed and Swore That no Danes should Reign over them any more and why Id. p. 70. Lothen and Yrling Danes with Five and twenty Ships landing at Sandwic commit great havock and carry off abundance of Booty Id. p. 74. Daniel the Learned and most Pious Bishop of Bangor in what Age he lived among the Britains l. 3. p. 149. Daniel being worn out by Age resigns the Bishoprick of Winchester to Hunferth l. 4. p. 224. His Death after he had been Three and forty years a Bishop Id. p. 225. Darwent a River near York not far from which stood an Idol-Temple called Godmundingham in King Edwin's time l. 4. p. 174. David afterwards Sainted succeeds Dubritius in the Archbishoprick of Caer-Leon l. 3. p. 149. Is said to have been Uncle by the Mother side to King Athur Ibid. St. Davids destroyed by the Danes who slew Urgeney the Bishop of that See l. 6. p. 27. Deadly Feuds vid. Quarrels Death None to Die for small offences but Mercy to be shewn to such Criminals by King Cnute's Law l. 6. p. 58. He that dies in fight c. his Heriot shâ—ll be remitted and his Children shall equally divide his Goods and Lands between them Id. p. 60. Decennary every one of Twelve years old to be entered into it l. 6. p. 58 104. Decianus Catus solicited by the Romans here to send them some Assistance against the Iceni and Trinobantes l. 2. p. 47 48. Decimation a very strange one indeed which the Danes made both of the Monks and Laity so that but One out of Ten persons was kept alive l. 6. p. 36. Decius Scil. Quintus Trajanus a great Enemy to Christianity he raised the Seventh Persecution l. 2. p. 81. Defamation punishable by cutting out the Tongue of the Party or redeeming it with the Value of his Head l. 6. p. 13. Degradation of a Priest for Murther as well as Confiscation of all his Estate unless his Lord will obtain his Pardon by the Price of his Head l. 5. p. 297. Degsa-stan or Degstan where Adian jealous of Ethelfrid's great Success came against him with a powerful Army but was routed l. 4. p. 159. Deira a Kingdom in Northumberland whose Kings were generally named Ella l. 4. p. 152. And Bernicia united into one Kingdom in Oswald's time Id. p. 178. Demetae that is South-Welshmen l. 3. p. 139 Vid. Venedoti Denulp Bishop of Winchester his Education Advancement and Death l. 5. p. 315. Deomed supposed to be South-Wales l. 5. p. 319. Deorham now Durham in Gloucestershire l. 3. p. 146. Deposition the first Instance of it by the Authority of the Great Council l. 4. p. 227. Alhred deposed by the Common Council and Consent of his own Subjects Id. p. 230. Of Edwi confirmed by the Common Council of the Kingdom l. 5. p. 354. Sparsim Deprivation of Bosa Bishop of Dunmoc and for what l. 4. p. 193. Derawnde now called Beverley in Yorkshire l. 4. p. 202. Desertion he that deserts his Lord or Fellow-Soldier either by Land or Sea in an Expedition is deprived both of Life and Estate l. 6. p. 60. Devils-Ditch formerly divided the Mercian Kingdom from that of the East-Angles l. 4. p. 239. l. 5. p. 313. Devise of Lands by Will Vid. Testament Deusdedit the Pope grants Adrian the Abbot of Canterbury a Privilege concerning the free Election of the Abbot of that Monastery l. 4. p. 165. Deusdedit consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury and was the first English Monk that had ever been chosen Archbishop of that See and the first Bishop consecrated but by one he changed his Name to this having before been called Fridona or Fridon l. 4. p. 186. His Death Id. p. 189. Dicul an Irish or Scotch Monk that lived in a little Monastery at a place called Bosenham with five or six Brethren in great
their former Privileges to endure for ever by a perpetual Right Id. p. 317 318. Builds Two Forts on both sides the River Ouse in Buckinghamshire to oppose the Danes who at last almost all submit to him Id. p. 319 320. Has the Town of Bedford surrendred to him where he built a Castle Rebuilds and Fortifies the Town of Maldon and makes the whole Nation of the Mercians submit to him Id. p. 320. Overcomes Leofred the Dane and Griffyth ap Madac Brother-in-Law to the Prince of West-Wales Id. p. 321. The several Towns he ordered to be rebuilt l. 5. p. 321 322 323 324. Is accepted for Lord and Protector by several Countries under the Danish Dominions and adds the Kingdom of the East-Angles to his own Id. p. 322 323. Several other Kings make their Submission to him Id. p. 324. His Decease at Fearndune in the Province of the Mercians Id. p. 324. Aelfleda the Daughter of the Earl Aethelem was his Queen and Wife Id. p. 327. The Laws both Civil and Ecclesiastical made in his Reign Id. p. 325 326. His Children how bred up and bestowed in Marriage c. Id. p. 327. His Character of being Mild and Humble as well as Couragious Id. p. 328. No Martyr as Buchanan in his History fancies him and why Id. p. 332. Edward Aetheling Son of King Edmund sirnamed Ironside Marries Agatha the Queen of Hungary's Sister his Issue by her l. 6. p. 49. Is sought by Ambassy to return into England which he did about Three years after together with his Children and soon after Dies his Body being Buried in St. Paul's Church Id. p. 86 87. Edward Sirnamed the Martyr is Elected in a great Council and presently Anointed King according to his Father Edgar's Appointment l. 6. p. 15. Not present at the Council of Calne in Wiltshire upon the persuasion of Archbishop Dunstan as supposed Id. p. 16 17. Is Killed by whom and by what at Corfesgeate now Corfe-Castle in the Isle of Purbeck and buried at Werham without any Royal Pomp having Reigned Three years and a half Id. p. 17 18. His Character Ibid. His Body taken up and carried and Buried at Shaftsbury with great Solemnity Id. p. 20. Edward the Confessor Son of King Ethelred comes into England from Normandy and returns no more back but tarried till his Brother Hardecnute died l. 6. p. 66 67. His Advancement to the Crown by Election in the Great Council and how it is effected Id. p. 69 70. His undutifulness to his Mother by taking from her all the Gold and Silver she had with other things because of her severity to him formerly shews him not to be altogether so great a Saint as the Monks represent him Id. p. 71 97. Marries Edgitha or Editha the Daughter of Earl Godwin who was not only Beautiful and Pious but Learned above the Women of her Age but he never carnally knew her l. 6. p. 72 73 97. Sends Bishops to the Great Council at St. Remy to know what was there decreed concerning the Christian Faith Id. p. 74. The Difference between the King and Earl Godwin and his Sons and what the ground of it Id. p. 75 77 78 81. Sends away his Wife who had been Crowned Queen committing her to the Custody of his Sister at the Nunnery of Werwel and takes away almost all she had Id. p. 78. Begs his Mother's Pardon for having suffered her to undergo the Ordeal and upon what Account Id. p. 79. Hearing Earl Godwin was come with his Ships for England he orders his Fleet to pursue him whereupon he returns to Bruges but soon after comes again and commits many Insults upon the Sea-coasts Id. p. 80 81. Restores to the Queen his Wife upon his Peace with Earl Godwin whatsoever she had been before possessed of Id. p. 81. In a great Council is Reconciled to Earl Godwin whom he restores to his former Honours and Estate Id. p. 82 83. Commands Rees the Brother of Griffyn King of South-Wales his Head to be cut off and sent him to Gloucester for his Insolencies against the English Id. p. 85. His Forces under Siward the Valiant Earl of Northumberland are said to Conquer Scotland Id. p. 86. Aelfgar's Rebellion against him twice and yet he was forced to Pardon him Ibid. p. 87.88 Confirms by his Charter the Foundation of the Abbey of the Holy-Cross at Waltham in Essex Id. p. 89. Wales Subdued and becomes subject to him the Inhabitants giving Hostages Ibid. After which he makes Two Brothers Joint-Princes of North-Wales l. 6. p. 90. Confirms and renews the Laws of King Cnute at the Request of the Northumbers Ibid. Builds Westminster Church and Abbey its Consecration Calls his Curia or Great Council to confirm his Charter of Endowment of this Monastery His Sickness and Speech to those about him concerning the Vision he had seen of Two Holy Monks that told him of the Misery which would befall this Nation after his Death Id. p. 93 94 95. The Application of it with what befell the Kingdom in succeeding Reigns Id. p. 96. Recommends upon his Death-bed the Queen to her Brother c. and highly extols her Chastity and Obedience Id. p. 96. His last Words Death and Burial in St. Peter's Church at Westminster Ibid. p. 97. The various reports of his Bequeathing the Crown to his Cousin William Duke of Normandy Id. p. 96 97. His Character and the story of the Boy that Robbed his Chest he being then in the Room Id. p. 97 98 104. His Miracles of Curing the Blind and those Sores we now call the King 's Evil and of his being Elected King by his Father's Command in a Great Council whilst he was in his Mother's Belly Id. p. 98. His Laws or those which bear his Name because he renewed the Observance of them shew what Liberty English Subjects enjoyed before the Conquest Id. p. 99 100 101 102 103 104. By the Laws of St. Edward are meant the English-Saxon Laws Id. p. 104. Edwi When he Began his Reign and where and by whom Crowned he turns the Monks out of Glastenbury and out of the greatest Monasteries in England placing Secular Channons therein l. 3. p. 353. The Mercians and Northumbrians Deposing him Elect Edgar his Brother for their King which is confirmed by the Common Council of the Kingdom Edwi having no more left him than that of the West-Saxons for his share Id. p. 354. His Death and Character and Burial at Winchester Id. p. 355. Edwin of the Blood-Royal of Northumberland being the Son of Aella is forced to fly from Ethelfrid as a Banished Man with the cause of his future Conversion l. 4. p. 169. The wonderful Vision he had and the Success of it He succeds Ethelfrid and Banishes his Sons Id. p. 170. Being Converted to the Christian Faith he receives Baptism with all his Noblemen and a great many of the common people Id. p. 171 172 173 174. At last is killed by the Pagans and his whole Army routed Id.
p. 174 176. Had after Redwald's death the Kingdom of the East-Angles delivered up to him by the People Id. p. 175. Causes Brass-Pots to be set upon Posts at Fountains near the High-ways for Travellers to drink in and had a Banner carried before him as he went through the streets Ibid. Chief King over all the English-Saxons overcomes Cadwallo King of the Britains and conquers almost all his Countrey Id. p. 176. His Head brought to York and deposited in St. Peter's Church there which he had begun to build Ibid. He was the fifth King that ruled over all Britain l. 5. p. 254. Edwin and Ethelwin Sons of Prince Ethelwerd are slain in a fight against Anlaff King of the Danes and buried in the Church of the Abbey of Malmesbury l. 5. p. 311. Edwin Aetheling drowned with an Account how the greatest Blot in King Athelstan's Reign l. 5. p. 331 337. Edwin the Brother of Leofric Earl of Mercia is overcome by Griffyth ap Lewellin ap Sitsylt and slain at Pencadair l. 6. p. 64 65. Edwold Brother to St. Edmund the Martyr lived and died a Hermit in the Abbey of Cerne in Dorsetshire l. 6. p. 22. Egbert succeeds his Father Ercenbryht in the Kingdom of Kent l. 4. p. 189. Gives Reculf to Basse the Priest and at his Death bestows part of the Isle of Thanet to build a Monastery for expiating the Murther of his Cousins whom he had caused to be slain His decease Id. p. 192 193. Egbert the Priest a Venerable Person coming out of Ireland converts the Monks of Hij to the right Faith so that they afterwards observed the Catholick Rites and when he had lived with them here thirteen years dies l. 4. p. 217 220. Egbert made Bishop of York and the next year after receives a Pall from the Pope whereby he became an Archbishop and so Metropolitan of all the Northumbrian Provinces and had supreme Jurisdiction over all the Bishops in Deira and Bernicia l. 4. p. 222 223. His Death and Burial He was base Brother to the King of the same Name who regained the Pall to that See Built a Noble Library in York accounted then one of the best in Europe Id. p. 223 229. Egbert the Son of Aealmond was the Father of Athulf or Athelwulf l. 4. p. 233. Egbert or Egferth the Son of Offa King of the Mercians is anointed King with him l. 4. p. 233 235. When he began his Reign but within a few Months after dies Id. p. 240. Egbert or Ecgbryht King of the West-Saxons when he began to reign l. 4. p. 242. His Succession to Brihtric and afterwards Chief or Supreme King of this Kingdom Id. p. 243. l. 5. p. 254. Through Brihtric's jealousy he is forced to fly to King Offa for Refuge from him he retires into France where he tarries three years and so polishes the roughness of his own Countrey Manners Id. p. 243. But is upon Brihtric's Death without Issue recalled by the West-Saxon Nobility and ordained King and reigned with great Glory and Honour Id. p. 244. He unites all the Heptarchy into one Kingdom to the lasting Peace of the English Nation l. 5. p. 245. Leaves the Mercians Northumbrians and East-Angles to be held by their respective Princes as Tributaries to his Crown Id. p. 2 46 253 254 255. Is ordained King which Ethelwerd expresly terms his Election as being the only surviving Prince of the Blood-Royal of the West-Saxon Kings as great Nephew so Ina by his Brother Inegilds Id. p. 247 255. And in a Parliament at Winchester by the Consent of his People he changes the name of this Kingdom into that of England Id. Ibid. Makes up a Peace between Eardulf and Kenwulf and hath it confirmed by Oath l. 5. p. 248. Absolutely subdues Cornwall and adds it to his own Kingdom Id. p. 249. Subdues the Northern Welsh-men making them Tributary to him and enters again their Borders upon a fresh Rebellion and lays them wast from North to South with Fire and Sword Id. p. 250 251 254 255. Obtains a great Victory over Beornwulf King of the Mercians the Kentish and Surrey men the South and East-Saxons all submit to him Id. p. 253 254 255. Subdues the Kingdom of Mercia and all the South of Humber He was the Eighth King that ruled over all Britain the Seven before him are there enumerated Id. p. 254. Is offered Peace and due Subjection by the Northumbers having led an Army against them as far as Dore a place supposed to be beyond Humber He was the greatest King that till then had ever reigned in England He expels Withlaff King of Mercia and adds it to his own Kingdom Id. Ibid. Vanquishes Switherd King of the East-Saxons and drives him out of the Kingdom which ever after that Expulsion the West-Saxon Kings possessed He wastes Northumberland and makes Eanred the King thereof his Tributary Is crowned King of Britain by the Consent of the Clerus and Populus in a Great Council which he summoned to meet at Winchester Ibid. Encounters Thirty Ships of Danish Pyrates at Carrum in Gloucestershire but after a great slaughter the latter kept the field being the only time that Fortune ceased to favour his Undertakings Id. p. 256. Fights the Danes and Cornish-men at Hengston in Cornwall and beats them His Death having reigned thirty seven years and seven months and Character For nine years reigned Supreme King over all Britain Id. p. 257. His Burial at Winchester Id. p. 258. Egbert King of the Northumbers is by them expelled His Death and who succeeded to him l. 5. p. 277. Egelfleda sirnamed the Fair the Daughter of Earl Ordmar whether King Edgar's Wife or Concubine uncertain l. 6. p. 12. Egelnoth Vid. Ethelnoth Egfrid or Ecverth succeeds Oswi in the Kingdom of Northumberland l. 4. p. 192. Wages War with Wulfher and wins from him all the Countrey of Lindsey Id. p. 193 196. Gives Abbot Benedict as much Land as served Seventy Families lying near the Mouth of the River Wir in the Bishoprick of Durham Id. p. 194. Had a great Contention with Bishop Wilfrid who was expelled his Bishoprick Id. p. 196 197. Fights with Ethelfred near Trent Id. p. 198. Sends a great Army to Ireland which miserably wastes that Nation Id. p. 201. He and his Army through rashness are all cut off by the Picts Id. p. 202 211. Eglesburh now called Alesbury in Buckinghamshire l. 3. p. 145. Egonesham now Enisham in Oxfordshire Id. Ib. Egric upon King Sigebert's Resignation and turning Monk becomes King of the East-Angles l. 4. p. 179. His Death Id. p. 181. Egwin Bishop of Worcester founds the Abbey of Evesham and upon what occasion râ—ported l. 4. p. 216 217. Egwinna a Lady the Daughter of a Noblâ—man whose Name is not certainly known Her strange Dream and how she came afterwards to yield to the Importunities of Prince Edward the Elder on whom he begot Athelstan that is The most Noble that succeeded him in the Kingdom l.
upon her the Habit of a Nun at Were-well a Nunnery which she had lately founded and also builds another at Ambresbury Id. p. 20. Ethelfrid a Prince most skilful in War though utterly ignorant of the Christian Religion l. 4. p. 171. Ethelgar Bishop of Selsey succeeds Archbishop Dunstan in the See of Canterbury enjoys it but a Year and Three Months and then dies l. 6. p. 22. Ethelheard his Kinsman succeeds Ina in the Kingdom of the West-Saxons l. 4. p. 219. Fights with and worsts Oswald Aetheling the Son of Aethelbald and forces him to flee l. 4. p. 220. Ethelheard Vid. Aethelheard The Abbot is elected Archbishop of Canterbury upon the Death of Janbryht l. 4. p. 236. Calls a Synod that confirms all things relating to the Church which had been made before the King Withgar Id. p. 241. Goes to Rome to obtain his Pall Id. p. 242. Ethelnoth Ailnoth or Egelnoth a Monk and Dean of Canterbury is consecrated Archbishop of that See by Wulstan Archbishop of York l. 6. p. 51. Goes to Rome and is honourably received by Pope Benedict who put on his Pall with his own hands Id. p. 53. Consecrates Aelfric Archbishop of York at Canterbury and translates the Reliques of Aelfeage his Predecessor from London to Canterbury Id. Ib. A Letter sent to him by Cnute upon his Return from Rome of what he did there Id. p. 55. His Decease Id. p. 65. Ethelred Brother to Wulfher succeeds him in the Kingdom of Mercia his notable Expedition into Kent and recovering all Lindsey from Egfrid and his Fame for Devotion l. 4. p. 195 196. Wastes Kent destroys Rochester and carries away a great deal of Spoil Id. p. 196. A Battel fought and Peace made on condition that this King should pay Egfrid a Pecuniary Mulct Id. p. 198. His Charter to the Monastery of Medeshamsted justly suspected of Forgery Id. p. 200 201. He receives Bishop Wilfrid with great Honour Id. p. 206. Resigns his Kingdom passing by his Son Ceolred whom he had by his Wife Osgilde to his Cousin-German Cenered Son of his Brother Wulfher and himself turns Monk Id. p. 212. Ethelred the Son of Moll is chosen by the Northumbrians for their King in the room of Alhred whom they had expelled from York l. 4. p. 230 236. Is expelled the Land for causing three of his Nobles to be treacherously slain by two of the same Order Id. p. 231. Is again restored to the Kingdom upon Osred's being driven out Id. p. 236 239. Betroths Elfreda the Daughter of King Offa Id. p. 237. Is slain by his own People and said deservedly as having been the Death of Osred his Predecessor Id. p. 239 240. Ethelred the Ealdorman deceases a famous Commander at first but a Monk in the City of York when he died l. 4. p. 240. Ethelred Son to Eanred succeeds his Father in the Kingdom of Northumberland is driven out from his Kingdom but soon after restored to it and about three years after is slain l. 5. p. 260. Ethelred Son of King Ethelwulf reigned in Kent as also over the East and South-Saxons l. 5. p. 265. Began his Reign in West-Saxony after his Brother Ethelbert's Decease Id. p. 267. Makes with his Brother Aelfred a great Slaughter of the Danes at Reading Id. p. 275. Deceases and is buried in the Monastery of Winburne in Dorsetshire but whether slain in Battel or died a Natural Death of the Plague which then reigned is uncertain though this latter is the more probable Id. p. 276. An Account of his Children Ibid. Ethelred Bishop of Wiltunscire is elected Archbishop of Canterbury upon the Decease of Ceolnoth his Predecessor l. 5. p. 274. His Death Id. p. 298. Ethelred Duke or Ealdorman of Mercia and Elfleda his Wife by their Care is Leicester repaired l. 5. p. 314. By their command Caer-Legion that is now Westchester is repaired Id. p. 315. His Decease Id. p. 316. Ethelred Brother to Edward the Martyr elected King and crowned being a lovely Youth l. 6. p. 19. He rather distressed than governed the Kingdom for Seven and thirty years His aversion to Wax-Lights and for what reason Ibid. Lays waste the Bishoprick of Rochester because of some Dissentions between him and the Bishop His sordid Covetousness Id. p. 21 22. A weak and unwarlike Prince and most of the Nobility as bad as himself His Fleet designed to encompass that of the Danes but he was betrayed by Aelfric one of his Admirals who went over to them Id. p. 23. Commands the Eyes of Aelfric's Son to be put out and for what Id. p. 24. Calls a Council who agree upon reading the Pope's Letters to the King to send Ambassadors to the Marquis of Normandy to treat of Peace He receives King Anlaff with great Honour who promises never to insest the English Nation more Id. p. 24 25. Sends for the valiant Son of Waltheof Earl of the Northumbers and for a Reward of his Bravery in overcoming the Scots gives him not only his Father's Countrey but adds to it that of Yorkshire Id. p. 27. Lays Cumberland almost waste because the Prince thereof denied to bear his share in the Tribute paid to the Danes Id. p. 28. Aelgiva Daughter of Richard Duke of Normandy comes hither to be married to the King Id. p. 29. At the instigation of Huena one of his Evil Counsellors he commands all the Danes in England to be slain at the Feast of St. Brice because he was told that they endeavoured to deprive him and all his Great Men of their Lives and to seize the Kingdom for themselves Ibid. The Calamities that befel him and his Kingdom hereupon by the coming over King Sweyn from Denmark with a mighty Fleet Id. p. 30. His Displeasure against two Noblemen depriving one of all his Honours and putting out the eyes of the other Id. p. 31. Enters into several Treaties of Peace with the Danes and pays them Tributes in Money as well as Maintenance and Provision but nothing did long oblige them Id. p. 25 29 32 Perceiving his error in the want of a good Fleet commands over all England That out of every Hundred and ten Hides of Land a Ship should be built c. But his Fleet is much destroyed either by Tempest or Fire Id. p. 33. Is betrayed and hindred from falling upon the Danes when his whole Army had hemm'd them in and were just ready to give them Battel His Forces too signified but little to him for when the Enemy went East they were sure to be taken up in the West c. Id. p. 34. He demands of the Londoners full Pay and Victuals for his Army and is in such distress by Sweyn that he is forced to send his Wife and Children into Normandy and afterwards to go thither himself where he tarried till Sweyn died But upon his return to his own Kingdom he is received on conditions to govern them better that he had done before and then is again solemnly crowned at Westminster Id.
were with him at a Great Council at Gloucester Id. p. 77 81. But being summoned to appear at another Curia held at London he and Earl Sweyn his Son fled to Baldwin Earl of Flanders for Protection Id. p. 77 78. His sailing for England but being pursued he returns to Bruges and coming again soon after commits a thousand Ravages Id. p. 80 81. What the ground of all this contest between the King and him at last in a Great Council a Peace was made and Hostages given on both sides Id. p. 81. Is Accused by King Edward for the Death of his Brother in the Great Council and how he made his Peace Id. p. 83. He and his Sons restored to their former Honours and Estates in a Great Council Id. p. 82 83 84. His Death and Burial in the old Monastery of Winchester Id. p. 84 85. His Character Wives and Issue Id. p. 85. Gogmagog the mighty Gyant in Cornwall taken up by Corinaeus in his Arms though he was no Gyant himself and flung off by him if you will believe the Fable from a Cliff into the Sea l. 1. p. 9. Gordianus M. Anton. elected Emperor by the Praetorian Bands had an Army in Britain though nothing was done by what can be found l. 2. p. 81. Gormond an African King comes out of Ireland to fight Careticus and what the success l. 3. p. 148. Gospatrick a great Officer in Northumberland murthered upon the account of a quarrel between him and Earl Tostige l. 6. p. 90. Gospel supposed to be first preached in this Island in the Reigns of either Claudius or Nero though by whom unknown l. 2. p. 51 52. The story of Joseph of Arimathea and his Twelve Companions coming to preach the Gospel in Britain Id. p. 52 53. Christ was preached here as early as the first Conquest of it by the Britains Id. p. 69. Who first preached the Gospel in the Countrey of the Grisons l. 2. p. 70. The first preaching of the Gospel in Germany and by whom l. 4. p. 211. The joyful Tidings of it first brought to us from Canterbury l. 6. p. 36. Government devolved on the People when the Emperor acquitted the Britains of the Roman Jurisdiction l. 2. p. 104. Graetanleage the Laws that were made there by King Athelstan in a Great Council l. 5. p. 339 340 341. Grand Inquest Vid. Inquest Gratian the Emperor creates Theodosius the Younger his Partner in the Empire assigning him the East for his share l. 2. p. 95. Being routed by the Forces of Maximus is forced to fly with Three hundred Horse towards the Alps but Andragathius with some Light-Horse being sent after him overtakes him near the Bridge of Singidunum and there kills him Id. Ibid. Gratianus sirnamed Funarius from his great strength in pulling a Rope from Four Men made General of all the Forces throughout Britain l. 2. p. 89. The British Army elected him Emperor and cloathed him with the Imperial Purple Id. p. 102. But he is soon after deprived both of his Life and Empire Id. p. 104 105. Gregory made Bishop of Rome in what year l. 3. p. 149. Sirnamed the Great to whom the English Nation owed its Conversion l. 4. p. 152. Would have come himself to preach God's Word to the English but the Citizens of Rome would by no means suffer him to go so far from them l. 4. p. 153. In the Fourth Year of his Pontificate he sends Augustine with many Monks over to the Britains to preach Gospel to them Calls the Emperor his Lord and dates his Letters by the year of His Reign and not that of his own l. 3. p. 149. l. 4. p. 153 158. His Decease the Account of his life may be read in Bede Id. p. 163 165. Griffyn Prince of Wales entring England spoils great part of Herefordshire and carries away much Booty l. 6. p. 84 86 87. The Son of Ratherch ap Justin raises a great Army against Griffyth Prince of North-Wales and what the success Id. p. 85. A Peace mediated between Edward the Confessor and this Prince Id. p. 87. How he restores Aelfgar to his Earldom after he was a second time banished by King Edward Id. p. 88. Is slain by his own people and his Head sent to Earl Harold and the gilded Stern of his Ship which he caused to be carried to King Edward Id. p. 89. Griffyth ap Lewellin ap Sitsylt raises a great Army against Prince Jago of North-Wales whose Soldiers deserting him he was soon overthrown and slain l. 6. p. 64. His good Government afterwards over those of North-Wales and his total subduction of South-Wales and his other Conquests Howel ap Edwin narrowly escapes him but he took his Wife Prisoner whom he liked so well that he kept her for his Mistress Ibid. He is taken Prisoner by surprize but is immediately rescued Id. p. 70. His Engagement with Ritherch and Rees and the success thereof Id. p. 71. Revenges the death of One hundred and forty of his best Soldiers treacherously killed by the Gentlemen of Ystrad Towy Id. p. 73. Griffyth ap Madoc designing to bring all Wales c. under his subjection was slain by the Princes Edmund and Edred who brought his Head to their Father l. 5. p. 321. St. Grimbald the University of Oxford founded in the second year of his coming over into England the difference between him and those he brought over with him and the Old Scholars whom he found there l. 5. p. 288 289 290 306. St. Grimbald sent for from France by King Alfred to assist him in his Learning l. 5. p. 306. His Decease Id. p. 312. Grime King of the Scots refusing to pay part of a Tribute to the Danes which King Ethelred demanded of him had his Countrey of Cumberland laid almost waste l. 6. p. 28. Grisons make Lucius to have been their Apostle and first to have Preached the Gospel in their Countrey and shew his Tomb at Cloir at this day l. 2. p. 70. Grymkyrel made upon the Death of Ethelric Bishop of the South-Saxons that is of Selsey l. 6. p. 65. His Decease Id. p. 73. Guarinus King of the Huns l. 2. p. 96. Gueld that is Tribute l. 4. p. 187. Guendelew Son of Keidiaw a Prince of the North parts of Britain l. 3. p. 146. Gueniver Vid. Glastenbury Guiderac in the British Tongue is Mould in Flintshire in the English the place is called Maes German that is German's Field where the Britains got a great Victory over the Picts and Saxons by the means of Germanus a French Bishop l. 2. p. 108 109. Guild or Fraternity signified sometimes such as were Fellow-Contributors to the same Parish-Feast in honour of the Saints sometimes such as were bound together in the same Decennary or Tything l. 5. p. 294. Guintelin his Character his Virtuous Wife Maetia and his Reign l. 1. p. 13. Gunhilda Cnute's Niece being his Sister's Daughter Marries Hacun a Danish Earl l. 6. p. 53. Hardecnute's
or Incest l. 4. p. 233 234. Honour and Obedience to be rendered to them and none to speak evil of them The Punishment either for Conspiring the Death of Kings or actually Killing of them Id. p. 234. l. 6. p. 59. Chief Lords of any Countrey in Wales when called Kings l. 4. p. 241. The Supreme Dominion of One English King over all the rest no new thing in King Egbert's time l. 5. p. 254. At the Great Councils they used to appear in State with the Crown on their Heads Id. p. 261. A weak Prince by the assistance of Able and Faithful Councellors may Govern his Kingdom prudently and happily Id. p. 267. King of England was anciently called King of London Id. p. 279. Alfred's Law concerning the Death of the King Id. p. 292. In Athelstan's time the Mercians had not lost their Ancient Right of chusing their own Kings Id. p. 329. The King's House no shelter to him that sheds Blood l. 5. p. 347. How dangerous it was for Kings to provoke the Ruling part of the Priests and People Id. p. 354. Neither in Edgar's time nor long after the Conquest did any King Elect take the Title of King till after his Coronation l. 6. p. 8. To be blamed for trusting those who had before betrayed them Id. p. 30. Sworn to observe the good Laws of King Edward not that he only Ordained but obser-served them Id. p. 56. Provision for his Houshold how to be made not to Oppress the Subject Id. p. 59. No Subjâ—ct in their Hunting to meddle with the King's Game Id. p. 60. His Office how declared by Edward the Confessor's Law His power to pardon Life and loss of Member but with a Proviso Id. p. 102. Kingsbury a Council held there under Berthwulf King of the Mercians l. 5. p. 261. King's-Evil Edward the Confessor the first that Cured it by his bare washing the Sores with his own hands l. 6. p. 98. King's Houshold Vid. Provision Kingsige King Edward the Confessor's Chaplain succeeds Aelfric in the Archbishoprick of York l. 6. p. 79. His Deatâ— Id. p. 88. Knight's-Service in England in King Wightred's time l. 4. p. 211. Knute vid. Cnute Kynan vid. Conan Prince of South-Wales Kynobelin at Rome saluted by the Emperor a Friend of the Commonwealth l. 2. p. 36. Being King he caused Coins to be stamp'd after the Roman manner Ibid. Died not long before the Roman Invasion by Claudius Id. p. 38. L LAncaster anciently called Caer-Werith supposed to be built by Gurguint l. 1. p. 13. Lands-End the Point anciently called Penwithsteort l. 6. p. 26 82. Langoemagog that is the Giants Leap from a persons taking up the mighty Giant Gogmagog in his Arms and flinging him off from a Cliff in Cornwal into the Sea l. 1. p. 9. Lanthorns first Invented in England by King Alfred of Cow's-Horns cut into thin plates l. 5. p. 305. Lashlite a Fine or Mulct the English and Danes were to pay according to the value of their heads for the Violation of the Laws made between them l. 5. p. 284. Lawrence a Priest and Peter a Monk sent to the Pope to acquaint him that by Augustine and his Monks their Preaching the English had received the Christian Faith and to have his Opinion about certain Questions l. 4. p. 155 165. Consecrates the Old Church rebuilt by Augustine at Canterbury and succeeds him as Archbishop there Id. p. 157 166. Draganus refuses to Eat with him and why Id p. 166. What happened to him upon his going to desert his Flock in Britain Id. p. 169. His Death and Burial Id. p. 171. Laws called Mercevenlage from whence said to be derived l. 1. p. 13. What those were in King Ethelbert's Reign l. 4. p. 163. Ecclesiastical Laws made between King Alfred and Guthrune the Dane l. 5. p. 284 285. Every man to enjoy the benefit of the Law and to have equal Justice done him l. 6. p. 13 58. Three sorts of Laws in use in Brompton the Chronicler's time viz. Merchenlage West-Saxonlage and Danelage Id. p. 103. League or Agreement made between King Alfred and King Guthrune setting out the Territories of each of those Princes l. 5. p. 283 284. Between Edward the Elder and the Danes Inhabiting East-England and Northumberland l. 5. p. 314. Vide Peace Learning reduced to a very low ebb in King Alfred's time by reason of the Danish Wars l. 5. p. 304. Lease of Abbey-Lands made in a Great Council the first Example of it l. 4. p. 230. Lee a River anciently called Ligan which divides Middlesex and Essex l. 5. p. 301.316 Leeds in Yorkshire anciently called Loyden where the Battel was fought between Oswy King of Northumberland and Penda King of the Mercians l. 4. p. 185. Legancester that is West-Chester Vide Chester Legion Roman being sent over to Britain made a great Slaughter of their Enemies driving the rest out of the British Borders and so delivered the Inhabitants from being destroyed l. 2. p. 99 100. Legions a City now Caerleon upon Uske l. 2. p. 85. Westchester was anciently called by this Name l. 4. p. 164. Leicester anciently Caer-Leir by whom said to be first Built l. 1. p. 11. Tocca the first Bishop there which continued a Bishop's See for divers Ages l. 4. p. 223. Anciently called Ligceaster and when Repaired l. 5. p. 314. And Ligraceaster Id. p. 319. Leighton in Bedfordshire anciently called Ligtune l. 3. p. 145. l. 5. p. 319. Lent by the Authority of Earcombert Ordained to be observed which seems to have been the first observed in England by a Law l. 4. p. 180. Leo the Pope whom the Romans took and cut out his Tongue and put out his Eyes Deposing him but he was Restored to every thing he had lost Miraculously l. 4. p. 241. When he Died l. 5. p. 251. Leo Bishop of Treve sent by Pope John as his Nuntio to King Ethelred with Letters of Complaint against the Marquiss of Normandy l. 6. p. 24. Leof a notorious Thief Banished by King Edmund but be returned and at a great Entertainment of the King 's Stabs him so that he instantly died l. 5. p. 345. Leofgar Ordained Bishop of Hereford in the room of Bishop Athelstane together with his Clerks is Slain by Griffyn Prince of Wales l. 6. p. 87. Leofred a Dane his Ravages in Wales but at last is Beheaded by Athelstan's Order l. 5. p. 321. Leofric Earl of Mercia with his Lady Godiva Founders of the Monastery of Coventry and the Repairers of several others l. 6. p. 71 72. Comes to the Great Council at Glocester about Earl Godwin Id. p. 77. His Death and Burial in the Church of the Monastery of Coventry Id. p. 88. Leofric King Edward the Confessor's Chaplain succeeds Living Bishop of Devonshire that is of Exeter l. 6. p. 73. Is Enthroned there be walking to Church between the King and Queen Editha his Wife Id. p. 78. Leofwin the Abbot is unjustly Expelled from the Monastery of Elig goes
by it for it was only a Voluntary Annual Alms or Benevolence Id. p. 239. Alfred call'd it his Alms and how he sent it to Rome l. 5. p. 281 286 291 298. Justly called Alms and not a Tribute as the Modern Popish Writers term it Id. p. 291. When it was to be paid and the Penalty for not performing it accordingly l. 6. p. 13. Edward the Confessor's Law to reinforce the Payment of it Id. p. 100. Vid. Romescot Petroc a Learned British Preacher in Cornwall l. 3. p. 149. Philip upon the death of Henry is made King of France l. 6. p. 88. Visited by Duke William who solicited his Assistance in his designed War against Harold but he would not hearken to the Proposals made him and for what reason Id. p. 109. Philippus Marcus Julius an Arabian succeeded Gordianus in the Empire but his Army soon made away with him l. 2. p. 81. Philippus Nonnius a Lieutenant in Britain under the Emperor Gordianus Id. Ib. Phoenicians the first Discoverers of this Island l. 1. p. 2 3. Picts came out of Scythia and landed first in the North of Ireland l. 1. p. 4. Are totally subdued by the Scots Their Language is unknown Id. p. 5. Confederate with Carausius against Constantius Chlorus l. 2. p. 83. Surrender up many of their Forts and strong Places to Fergus Id. p. 98. And Scots their landing first in Britain passing over that part of the Irish Sea which is called the Scythic Vale l. 3. p. 114. And Saxons privately make a Peace Id. p. 126. The Picts cut off King Egfrid and his whole Army and recover their Countrey the English had taken away l. 4. p. 202. Slay Bert the Ealdorman Id p. 211. Fight against Beorfrith the Ealdorman Id. p. 215. Keep their League with the English and rejoice to be partakers of the Catholick Peace and Truth Id. p. 221. A great fight between them and the Britains that is those of Cumberland Id. p. 225. These and the Scots conquer Galloway and Lothian and the Low-lands of Scotland as far as the Friths of Dunbritton and Edinburgh l. 5. p. 249. Rout the English and slay King Athelstan in fight a story Id. p. 250. The total Conquest of the Picts by Kened the first King of Scotland Id. p. 259. Pightwin or Pechtwin is consecrated Bishop of Witherne called in Latin Candida Casa at Aelfet l. 4. p. 228. His Decease Id. p. 231. Pinchenhale or Finkenhale now Finkney in the Bishoprick of Durham and Kingdom of Northumberland where a General Synod assembled l. 4. p. 236. The second Synod or Council held here under Eanbald Archbishop of York c. Id. p. 242. Pius Antoninus succeeds Hadrian and at his first coming to the Throne hath a Law made That all the Subjects of the Roman Empire should be Free Citizens of Rome l. 2. p. 67. Plague a very sore one in Britain when l. 3. p. 117. A great one over all the Isle of Britain and then it went into Ireland l. 4. p. 190. A great Mortality both of Men and Beasts l. 5. p. 269. Another great one upon Men and Murrain of Cattle Id. p. 302. A great Mortality of Men and a very malignant Feaver in London l. 6. p. 4. A great Mortality of Cattle in England Id. p. 21. A great number of Cattle died and by the Intemperance of the Season the Fruits of the Earth were destroyed Id. p. 70. So great a Murrain of all sorts of Cattle in England that none could ever remember the like Id. p. 85. Plautius Praetor in Gaul invades Britain and his Success l. 2. p. 38 39. Has an Ovation allowed him by Claudius Id. p. 41. Pledge Alfred's Law about keeping the Peace and the Punishment in breaking it l. 5. p. 292 295. Those who violate the Peace of Holy Church and despise the Bishop's Sentence shall give Pledges to reconcile themselves to God the King and Church or to be outlaw'd l. 6. p. 99 100. Vid. Security Plegmund elected by God and all his Holy Men to be Archbishop of Canterbury l. 5. p. 298. Sent for by King Alfred out of Mercia to help him in his Learning Id. p. 306. Presides at the Great Council held by King Edward the Elder where five new Bishopricks were â—rected at once by the Authority of the King and Council with the Pope's Confirmation of this Decree Id. p. 313 314. His Decease Id. p. 324. Plâ—nty a wonderful one of all sorts of Prâ—vision in Britain l. 3. p. 115. Polidore Virgil an Historian of no â—xtraordinary Credit though he had the Perusal of a great many curious Manuscripts l. 5. p. 323. Polycleâ—us one of Nero â—s Free'd Men sent to â—nspect the State of Britain l. 2. p. 50. Pope who called the Emperor Mauritius his Lord and dated his Letters by the Year of his Reign l. 4. p. 153 158. Sends more Preachers of the Word into England upon Augustine's notice of the want of them Id. p. 157. Sends Letters to King Edwin exhorting him to casâ— off his Idols and to receivâ— Chrisâ— Id. p. 17â— The Kings of Northumberland thoâ—ght themselves not bound to observe the Pope's Deâ—rees on Appeals if contrary to a General Synod or Council of the whole Nation Id. p. 206 207 208. Always encouraging Appeals to Rome Id. p. 215. Usually sent his Pall to every new Archbishop on his Consecration as a token of his Dependance on the See of Rome Id. p. 223. The Church of England thought his Authority alone not sufficient to annul what had been solemnly decreed in a great Council of the Kingdom l. 5. p. 248. Anointâ— Alfred King in his Father's Life-time in way of Prophecy of his future Royal Grâ—atness Id. p. 262. Aethelwulf orders by his last Last Will Three hundred Mancuses to be sent to Rome every year for such and such uses and One hâ—ndred of them to be for the Pope himself Id. p. 264 265. Port now called Portland in Dorsetshire where the Danes were put to flight l. 5. p. 258. The Isle spoiled by the Danish Pyrates that landed in Dorsetshire l. 6. p. 21. The whole Island and other Possessions given to the Church of Winchester by Edward the Confessor and upon what account l. 6. p. 79. Portlock-bay in Somersetshire anciently called Portlocan l. 5. p. 319. Portsmouth so called from one Portâ— who with his two Sons obtained a great Victory over the Britains l. 3. p. 133. Portus Ictius where it was and whether it be yet in being l. 2. p. 30 31. Posentesbyrig supposed Pontesbury in Shropshire l. 4. p. 188. Praeâ—idialis a Province that is so is not governed by any particular Praetor or Proconsul but is under the immediate Protectioâ— and Eye of the Emperor l. 2. p. 65. Prasutagus King of the Icenians deceived in leaving Caesar Co-heir with his two Daughters and how the Romans used them l. 2. p. 47. Prayer to be made for Kings by Withred King of Kent's Law l. 4. p. 211. Priests to learn
there l. 4. p. 162. Another of this name consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury at Rome is sent into Britain Id. p. 191. Makes a thorough Visitation of his Province Id. Ib. Calls a Synod of all the Bishops and Great Men at Hartford Id. p. 193. His Death and Burial Id. p. 205. Theodoric the Son of Ida reigns in Bernicia l. 3. p. 146. Theodosius sent as General by Valentinian to put a stop to the Incursions on the Britains made by several barbarous Nations l. 2. p. 92. Returns to London victorious having recovered the Plunder and Captives and establishes a firm Peace for a long time l. 2. p. 92 93. A Plot contrived against him by Valentinus of Pannonia but he and the Conspirators being seized are commanded to be put to death Id. p. 93. Is received by the Emperor with great Commendations on his being recalled to Rome after he had left Britain in Peace Id. p. 94. Theodosius the Son created by Gratian his Partner in the Empire Id. p. 95. Undertakes his Quarrel against Maximus the Tyrant who seizes him and orders him to be beheaded Id. p. 96. Restores Valentinian the second to the Empire of the West and overcomes Eugenius the Usurper who was deservedly put to death Id. p. 97. Takes the whole Empire to himself both of East and West His death Id. Ib. Theodwulf King of Bernicia for one year and then dies l. 3. p. 146. Theomantius or Tenantius succeeds Cassibelan by the general applause of the people l. 2. p. 36. In his Reign Octavius obtains the Empire of Rome Id. Ib. Tholouse taken by the Goths l. 2. p. 104. St. Thomas called an Indian Apostle because he there suffered Martyrdom l. 5. p. 286. Thunore a Thane cruelly murthers the two Sons of Ermenred l. 4. p. 180 185. Thurkyll appointed Earl over East-England by King Cnute l. 6. p. 50. Is banished by King Cnute but the Crime for which is uncertain though said for being a principal Promoter of Archbishop Aelfeage's Murther Id. p. 52. Thyra King Aethelred's Daughter married to Gormun King of the Danes whose Son by her was Sweyn the Father of King Cnute l. 5. p. 276. Tiberius succeeds Augustus in the Empire and is given up to Ease and Luxury which made him rather have thoughts of contracting than enlarging the Bounds thereof In his time the Britains paid their usual Customs and Tolls for those Commodities they transported to the Romans into Gaul and what they took in exchange from them l. 2. p. 37. Tilabury now called Tilbury near the River Thames l. 4. p. 184. Tinmouth anciently called Dunmouth where the Danes were vanquished l. 5. p. 256. Tiowulfingeeaster a City near the River Trent but where is not known l. 4. p. 175. Titulus or Titillus Son of Uffa King of the East-Angles l. 3. p. 145. Tobias the Bishop dies at Rochester a very Learned man in that Age l. 4. p. 219. Tocester in Northamptonshire anciently called Tofeceaster l. 5. p. 321 322. Torswick anciently Tursige in Lindsey part then of the Northumbrian Kingdom l. 5. p. 277. Tostige Son of Earl Godwin to whom Edward the Confessor gave the Earldom of Northumberland l. 6. p. 86. His Earldom depopulated by Malcolme King of Scots Id. p. 89. The Northumbers rise against him and set him aside and chuse Morchar for their Earl Id. p. 90. His Banishment and what the occasion of it Id. p. 91 92. His Invasion and endeavours to dethrone his Brother Harold with the Ravages he committed up and down the Sea-Coasts Id. p. 106. Joins the King of Norway's Fleet and lands in Yorkshire with them but they are both slain by Harold at Staenford-Bricge Id. p. 109. Tower of London said to be first founded by Belinus l. 1. p. 13. Tradition an uncertain Guide in Matters of Fact l. 3. p. 114. Traffick King Edward the Elder 's Law about it confirming the Fourth Article of the League made between his Father and Guthrun the Dane appointing Vouchers to make good the Sale of any thing l. 5. p. 284 325. Atheltan's Law forbidding any Commutati-of Goods unless in the presence of such as are thereby appointed Id. p. 340 341. Trajan the Emperor soon reduces the Britains that Revolted against him l. 2. p. 66. Paved the publick ways with Stone and raised Cause-ways c. Id. Ib. Transmarine-Nations are the Scots from the North-West and the Picts from the North and why this Name is given to them l. 2. p. 99. Transportation a Law for it as to such and such Criminals though the King should Pardon them as to Life and Member l. 6. p. 102. Traytor Elfgar was so to the King and the whole Nation l. 6. p. 86. Treasure-Trove all to be the King 's unless found in a Church and then too it was the King's if it were Gold but if Silver then he to have one half and the Church the other l. 6. p. 101. Trebellius Maximus Vid. Maximus Trekingham a place so called from Three Danish Kings being Buried there l. 5. p. 270. Triades an Antient Welsh Chronicle so called written near a Thousand Years ago l. 3. p. 146. Tribute Caesar appoints how much should be paid by the Britains to the People of Rome l. 2. p. 35. It ceases during the Residence of Kynobelin at Rome Id. p. 36. Is suspected to be paid in Kynobelin's time by a Coin of his Id. p. 37. A great one is imposed upon North-Wales annually by King Athelstan l. 5. p. 338. War is made upon North-Wales by King Edgar for non-payment of Tribute from the King of Aberfraw to the King of London l. 6. p. 3 4. Ten thousand pounds decreed to be paid to the Danes for the Terror they gave the Inhabitants of the Sea-Coasts but yet this did not long satisfy their Covetousness Id. p. 23. Sixteen thousand pounds Tribute given them beside their maintenance Id. p. 25. Another of Twenty four thousand pound paid them and provision likewise Id. p. 29. Another of Thirty thousand pounds paid them and to find them Provisions during their stay Id. p. 32. And another both of Provisions and Money to make Peace with them which they soon after broke Id. p. 35. Vid. Danegelt Triers The Seat of Maximus his Usurped Empire l. 2. p. 95. Trinobantes submit to Caesar sending him Forty Hostages and Corn for his Army l. 2. p. 34. Moved to Rebel by the Cruelty of the Romans Id. p. 47 48. Triumphal Honours and Ornaments bestowed on C. Sidius though he had never been Consul for Routing the Britains l. 2. p. 39. Given to Flavius Vespatian and two Sacerdotal Dignities with the Consulship and why Id. p. 41. Conferre'd on Agricola By Titus Vespatian for his great Atchievements Id. p. 57. Conferre'd on Agricola And by Domitian with the Honour of a Statue Id. p. 63. Troops or Companies by the Saxons called Hlothe by the Laws of King Ina the Number that constituted one was above thirty The Mulcts payable by those that killed in Troops
Egbert King of the West-Saxons and Beornwulf King of the Mercians the latter being beaten l. 5. p. 253. Both Town and County take their names from the River Willie Id. p. 276. Wiltshire-men gain the Victory over the Worcestershire-men or Mercians l. 5. p. 247. Wina Vid. Wini. Winandermere anciently called Wonwaldermere a Village by the great Pool in Lancashire l. 4. p. 236. Winchelcomb a Monastery in Gloucestershire for Three hundred Benedictine Monks founded by Kenwulf King of the Mercians and its Consecration l. 4. p. 242. l. 5. p. 251. Kenelm his Son martyr'd by his Sistâ—r Quendride after his Body was found was brought hither and buried in the Church of this Abbey l. 5. p. 252. Winchester anciently called Caer-Guent by whom it is first pretended to be built l. 1. p. 10. The Old Church there commanded to be built by King Cenwall l. 4. p. 181. The Bishoprick is resigned by Daniel by reason of his Old Age to Hunferth Id. p. 224. Is taken from King Ethelbert by the Danes l. 5. p. 266. The Consecration of the New Monastery here l. 5. p. 312. A Great Council held here concerning the turning out of the Monks l. 6. p. 16. Winchester-Measure to be the Standard l. 6. p. 14. Winfrid Bishop of the Mercians deposed by Archbishop Theodore and why l. 4. p. 194. Wini or Wina made Bishop of the West-Saxons and the Province being divided into two Diocesses he is settled in that of Winchester l. 4. p. 182 188. But being driven from his See by King Kenwalch goes and purchases the See of London of King Wulfher The First Example of Simony here Id. p. 191. Wipha or Wippa the Son of Cryda succeeded his Father in the Kingdom of the Mercians l. 3. p. 148. Wir a River in the Bishoprick of Durham l. 4. p. 194. Wiregild is a satisfaction made by a Murtherer to the Friends of the Party slain l. 4. p. 211. The Valuation of a Man's Head l. 5. p. 341. Wiremouth a Monastery built by Abbot Benedict l. 4. p. 194 205. Witchcraft King Athelstan's Law against it l. 5. p. 340. Wite a Fine or Mulct to be paid by the English and Danes upon the violating of their Laws l. 5. p. 284 285. Witena-Gemote their large Authority not only in assenting to new Laws but in their Judicial Power in giving Judgments upâ—n all Suits or Complaints brought before them as well in Appeals between Subject and Subject as when the King himself was a Party l. 6. p. 83. It outlaws and convicts Earl Aelfgar upon a Charge of being a Traytor to the King and the whole Nation Id. p. 86. Witerne a Bishopriâ—k called in Latin Candida Casa belonging to the Kingdom of Northumberland l. 4. p. 201 231. St. Withburg her Body found at Durham entire and uncorrupt after she had been Fifty five years buried l. 4. p. 242. Withgar Nephew to King Cerdick with Stufe put the Britains to flight l. 3. p. 135. His Death and Burial at Withgarasbyrig supposed Caresbrook-Castle in the Isle of Wight Id. p. 138. His Constitutions of the Church confirmed in the Synod called by Archbishop Ethelheard l. 4. p. 241. He and Stufe first Princes of the Isle of Wight l. 5. p. 261. Withlaff an Ealdorman of Mercia created King by the Consent of all the People l. 5. p. 253. Reigns Thirteen Years as Tributary to King Egbert Id. p. 254. Is expelled and upon what account where he lay concealed till he procured Egbert's Reconciliation upon which he was restored paying a Yearly Tribute Ib. Ib. The Privileges and Concessions of this King to the Monastery of Croyland confirmed in a General Council held at London and who were present in it Id. p. 257. His Decease and who succeeded him Id. p. 259. Withred by his Piety and Industry freed Kent from Foreign Invasions l. 4. p. 205. King of Kent elected by the General Consent of his Subjects and held it thirty years l. 4. p. 209. Holds a great Council at Becancelde and who were there present and what was transacted Id. p. 210. Another at Berkhamsted in Kent and what Laws were made there Id. p. 211. His Death His Children and Character Id. p. 218. Wittereden signifies a certain Fine or Forfeiture l. 5. p. 262. Woden King of a City in Asia called Asgard dies in Swedeland counted a great Magician and after his Death is worshipped as a God l. 3. p. 121. Brought back the Goths out of Asia into Europe Ib. p. 122. Wodensbeorge now Wodensburg a little Village in Wiltshire l. 3. p. 148. Wolves a Tribute of so many Wolves Heads to be paid to King Edgar instead of that in Money for his concluding a Peace with North-Wales l. 6. p. 4. Woodstock in Mercia where King Ethelred made several Excellent Laws with the Assistance of his Great Council l. 6. p. 42 43. Worcester anciently was called Vectij l. 4. p. 160 230. Bofel being ordained Bishop of the Wiâ—ij had his See here Id. p. 199 200. The First Bishop hereof was Talfride a Learned Monk but he died before Ordination Id. p. 200. Thiâ— Church was first founded by Athelred King of the Mercians Id. Ib. The City plunder'd and burnt and the Countrey wasted by Hardecnute and why l. 6. p. 67. The Shire anciently called Wicon l. 4. p. 242. l. 5. p. 247. Wounds and Maims King Alfred's Law concerning them l. 5. p. 296. Wulfheard an Ealdorman at Southampton fights 33 Danish Pyrates and makes there a terrible slaughter of them Id. p 258. Wulfhelme consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury l. 5. p. 329. His Decease and who succeeds him Id. p. 333. Wulfher succeeds his Brother Peadda and greatly enriches the Abbey of Medeshamsted with Lands and other Endowments l. 4. p. 186 187. Is proclaimed King by the Ealdormen of Mercia takes the Isle of Wight with the Countrey of the Meanvari Id. p. 188. Fights with Aescwin at Bedanheafde Id. p. 195. Concerning his Baptism and the ridiculous story of his murthering his two Sons with his own hands as also his Death Id. Ib. Wulfher Archbishop of York is expelled by the Northumbers but restored to it the next year after l. 5. p. 277. His Decease Id. p. 299. Wulfnoth Father of Earl Godwin being impeached before King Ethelred and escaping and running away with some of his Ships turns Pyrate and does a world of mischief by burning the rest of the Fleet that had escaped Shipwreck l. 6. p. 33. Wulfric Vid. Spot Wulstan is wickedly slain by his Cousin Berthferth Son of Bertwulf King of Mercia and his Body buried at the Monastery of Rependun in Derbyshire l. 5. p. 261. Wulstan Archbishop of York is made a close Prisoner at Witharbyrig by King Edred and for what but because of his Function he is afterwards pardoned and restored l. 5. p. 350. His Decease Id. p. 355. Wulstan Archbishop of York consecrates Ethelnoth a Monk and Dean of Canterbury Bishop l. 6. p. 51. His Decease and who succeeds him Id. p.
But tho the King's violence to Abbot Dunstan and the Monks is by no means to be justified yet this rudeness to the King and pressing upon his privacy and carrying him by force out of the Room from his Mistress or Wife for some Historians tell us that he had been privately married to her can as little be excused So that no wonder if a young King and an enraged Woman did all they could to revenge so great an Affront Yet it seems by the same Author of St. Dunstan's Life that Archbishop Odo was severely revenged on this Lady for he not only sent Armed men to take her out of the Court by force but also branded her with a hot Iron on the Cheeks to take off the King's Affections from her and then caused her to be sent into Ireland but whether this was done by the Great Council of the Kingdom or by his own Authority I do not find But it seems upon her return thence again being on her way to the King the said Archbishop's Officers met her and cut her Hamstrings so that not being able to stir she is supposed to have died not long after of this cruel Treatment But however this did not happen immediately but some time after for this Year all the People North of Humber together with the Mercians as far as the River Thames rose against King Edwi with an intention to expel him the Kingdom for his violence done to the Monks so that as Osborne in the Life of Dunstan relates he was forced to fly with his Adulteress to the City of Glocester But Florence of Worcester and Simeon of Durham are more particular in this Relation saying that the Mercians and Northumbrians hating and despising King Edwi for his Evil Government deserted him and having deposed him they elected his Brother Prince Edgar King over them which it seems was also confirmed by the Common Council of the Kingdom for the above-cited Author of the Life of St. Dunstan saith it was done by the Common Consent of all the Wise men of the Kingdom So that Edwi having no more left him than the Kingdom of the West Saxons for his share the River Thames was made the Boundary between their two Kingdoms Henry de Knighton out of some Ancient Chronicles then preserved in the Abbey of Legcester here farther relates That after the Expulsion of King Edwi for his Evil Life and the Enormous Deeds which he committed against the Church the Throne was vacant for above a year and many Murthers and Robberies and other Mischiefs were committed in the Kingdom for want of Government till some Good men of the Clergy and Laity seeking God by frequent Prayers heard at last a Voice from Heaven commanding them to Crown Prince Edgar being yet a Youth their King which they immediately obeyed But this sounds like a Monkish Legend only to enhance the Excellency of King Edgar's Reign which with them must owe its Original to no less an Author than Heaven it self but no other Historians mention any such thing but agree that King Edwi was never deprived of more than the Kingdoms of Mercia and Northumberland and there was no Vacancy of the Throne that Division being made presently upon the aforesaid Defection of the People of these Kingdoms and immediately confirmed by an Act of the Witena Gemote as hath been already related But however it happened King Edwi was forced to rest contented with this unequal division since not having the good-will of his Subjects it was well he could keep what he had From whence we may observe how dangerous a thing it was for Princes to provoke the Ruling Part of the Priests and People of those times who could so easily turn the hearts of their Subjects against them Our Annals though they are very short in this Relation yet confirm the deposing of King Edwi viz. That this Year Edgar Atheling took upon him the Kingdom of the Mercians and also adds That not long before Wulstan Archbishop of York deceased Although the printed Copy of the Saxon Annals place the Death of King Edwi under the year 957 yet it appears by the Manuscript Laudean Copy of these Annals as also by Florence of Worcester that he died not till this very year for we cannot otherwise make up the space of near four years which all our Historians allow to this King's Reign Of whom they give us this Character That though he was extraordinary Handsome yet he abused that Comeliness of his Person by his excessive Lust and yet we do not hear of above one Mistress he kept and that too whom he was either married to or else lived withal like a Wife But it is no wonder if he have a very bad Character of them when the Monks his Enemies are the only persons that have given it to us But H. Huntington who was a Secular Priest and no Monk is more moderate by telling us that this King did not uncommendably hold the Scepter But when in the beginning of his Reign his Kingdom began to flourish an Untimely Death put a stop to those happy Expectations from him His Body was buried at Winchester with his Uncle's And with this King's Reign I shall also put a Period to this Book lest it should swell beyond a due proportion The End of the Fifth Book THE General History OF BRITAIN NOW CALLED ENGLAND As well Ecclesiastical as Civil BOOK VI. Containing the General History of England from the Reign of King EDGAR to the Death of King HAROLD being One hundred and seventeen Years King EDGAR I Have begun this Period with this Prince's Reign for though it does not exactly divide the Space of Time between King Egbert and the coming in of King William sirnamed the Conqueror into two equal parts yet will it much better suit with the Proportion of the Books into which we have divided this Period Besides King Edgar by again reuniting the Kingdom and enjoying by his Valour as well as his good Fortune a happy and peaceable Reign though he was not the first Prince who took upon him the Title of Monarch of all Albion or England as hath been already shewn yet since all the Kings of this Island did willingly submit themselves to his Dominion he seems to have best deserved that Title of any I can find King Edwy being now dead as our Annals have related King Edgar his Brother began to reign not only over the Mercians and Northumbers but also over all the West-Saxon Kingdom that is as the Manuscript Author of St. Dunstan's Life relates he succeeded in his Brother's Kingdom as Heir and was elected by the Clergy as well as Laity over both Kingdoms Which is also confirmed by Florence of Worcester and R. Hoveden who expresly tells us he was elected King by the whole English Nation in the Sixteenth Year of his Age So that as the Annals observe In his days all things succeeded prosperously God giving him Peace as long as he lived