A Chronicle of the Kings of England from the Time of the Roman Government, Chronicle

A Chronicle of the Kings of England from the Time of the Roman Government · Chronicle

p. 1A CHRONICLE OF THE KINGS OF ENGLAND from the time of the Romans Government, unto the Raigne of King CHARLES.

Of the first knowne times of this Island.

ALthough we begin the Aera of our Computation from William called the Conquerour, as though he were the first King of our English Nation: Yet before him; were many other excellent Kings; and their Acts perhaps as worthy to bee knowne, if they could be knowne. But seeing after ages can know nothing of former times but what is Recorded by writing: It hath followed that as the first Writers were Poets: So the first writings have been Fictions; and nothing is delivered to Posterity of the most ancient times, but very Fables: Such as is the story of Albina (of whom they say, this Island was called Albion: though others say, ab albis rupibus, of the white cliffes) that shee should be… the eldest of the two and thirty daughters of Dioclesian King of Syria, (such as never was) who being marryed to two and thirty Kings, in one night killed all their husbands: for which fact, they were put in a shippe, themselves alone without any Pylo…, so to try their adventure, and by chance arrived in this Island, of whom Gyants were begotten. And if you like not of this; then have you the story of Albion the sonne of Neptune, of whom the Island tooke its name. But when these are exploded; there followes another with great Attestation, and yet as very a Fable as these; namely the story of the Trojan Brute, (of whom the Island they say, was called Britaine: though many other causes are given of the name:) as likewise the story of Brutes cosin Corinaeus, (of whom they say, the Country of Cornwall had its name, to whom it was given, for overcomming the Giant Gogmagog:) and that Brute having three sonnes, Lectrine, Albanact, and Camber; he gave at his death to his eldest sonne Locrine, all the land on this side Humber, and called it Lo…gria; to his second sonne Albanact, all the land beyond Humber, of whom it was called Albania, (now Scotland:) and to his youngest sonne Camber, all the land beyond the river of Severne, of whom it was called Cambria, (now Wales:) with other such stuffe, which may please children, but not riper Judgements; and were first broached by Geoffry Archdeacon p. 2of Monmouth: for which all the Writers of his time cryed shame upon him; and yet can scarce keepe many at this day, from giving credit to his Fictions.

And when we are once gotten out of Fables, and come to some truth; yet that truth is delivered in such slender draughts, and such broken pieces, that very small benefit can be gotten by the knowing it, and was not till the time of Iulius Caesar, a thousand yeares after the Fable of Brute: at which time, the Island was yet but in manner of a Village, being without Walls, as having no shipping, (which are indeed the true Wals of an Island) but onelyonly certaine small vessels, made of boards and wicker. And as they had no ships, for defence without: So neither had they any Forts, for defence within: scarce any houses but such as were made of stakes and boughes of trees fastned together; Neither was it yet come to be a Kingdome, but was Governed by a number of petty Rulers: So as Kent onelyonly had in it (as Caesar calleth them) foure Kings; Cingetorix, Carvilius, Taximagulus, and Segonax: which division, as it made the Britaines the more easie to be conquered, so it made the Romans the longer in conquering. For if they had beene one united body, one or two battailes might have made a conquest of the whole, where being thus divided, there was need to be as many battailes as there were divisions; So as it was many yeares, before the Romanes could conquer the whole Island; even from the time of Iulius Caesar, to the time of the Emperour Domitian; not much lesse then two hundred yeares. It is true, after Caesars first comming, the Island grew sensible of this defect of their division, and thereupon by consent of a great part, made choyce of Cassibelan, King of the Trinovants, who had his seate at Verulam, to be Generall of their warres; which made indeed some little stoppe to the Romanes proceedings, but after the losse of a battaile or two, they fell againe into a relapse of their former defect, and thought it better to secure every one his owne, by his owne meanes, then by a generall power, to hazard all at once; whereby it came afterward to be true: Dum singuli pugnant, universi vincuntur. Yet before the Cou…try could bee wholly Conquered; at first by reason of the Nations valour, seeking to keepe themselves free, and afterward by reason of the insolency of the garrison souldiers, that sought to make them slaves, many great oppositions were made, amongst which the most memorable was that of Voadicia, a certaine Queene of the Country, who having beene by the Romane souldiers herselfe abused, and her daughters ravished, used meanes to levy an Army of six score thousand men, whom she led herselfe into the field, and set upon the Romanes in their chiefe townes, which were London, Verulam, and Camalodunum (now Malden in Essex;) of whom she flew above seventy thousand: but then in a second battaile, had fourescore thousand of her owne Army slaine, after which defeate, for avoyding of slavery, she poysoned herselfe.

This Island for a long time, was so much esteemed of the Romanes, that their Emperors sometimes came hither in person; as first the Emperor Adrian, in the yeare 124. who made a great wall of earth betweene England and Scotland, and having set the Country in order, returned. After him sometime, Severus the Emperor in the yeare 212. came over into Brit…ine to represse the Incur…ions of the Picts and Scots, by whom in a battaile neere Yorke, he was wounded and thereof dyed, or as others say, he dyed of age and sicknesse. Afterward in the yeare 305. Constantius the Emperor came into Britaine, and ended his life at Yorke, making that City famous for the death and buriall of two great Emperors; and yet more famous for the honor done to Constantine the Great, sonne of Constantius, who in that City was first saluted Emperor. But notwithstanding the great estimation the Romanes a long time made of this Island, yet at last, after five hundred yeares they had kept it in subjection, they voluntarily left it: the charge of keeping it, being greater, then the benefit; for to keepe it in subjection, they maintained no fewer than fourescore thousand souldiers in pay, and when warres grew amongst themselves at home, they could no longer spare so many abroad, but recalled them home: but then, though they left Britaine, yet they left not the Britaines, but carried them, at least, a great part of them away with them; of whom the most were slaine in their service, and the rest planted in that part of France, which of them was afterward, and is to this p. 3day called Britaine. And now one would thinke, the Island should be in good case, being freed from them that kept them in subjection, but it proved to bee in worse case being at liberty, then it was before in servitude, for being deprived of their ablest men, and at the same time, their King Lucius happening to dye without issue, they were left as a few loose sticks without the bond of a Governour: which the Picts and Scots observing, thought now was the time to make the Country their owne, and thereupon made invasions upon it with all their Forces. Whereupon the Britaines having none left of their Native Kings to succeed; and knowing they could ill manage the Body of an Army without a Head: they make choyce of Vortigerne Earle of Cornwall, one extracted from the British Line; and he, whether so advised by his Cabinet Counsellor, the Propheticall Merlin, or as finding his owne strength too weake to make resistance; implores first ayde of the Romanes, and they making answer, they had businesse enough to do of their owne, and leaving them to themselves, he then fled to the Saxons for ayde; a warlike people of Germany, and who had greater swarmes then their hives would well hold.

And here we may plainly see how dangerous a thing it is for a Nation, to call in strangers to their ayd, and especially in any great number; for though they come at first but mercenaries, yet once admitted, and finding their owne strength, they soone grow Masters, as here it proved with the Saxons.

But before we speake further of the comming in of the Saxons, who were at that time Infidels, and brought with them their two Idols, Woden and Frya, (whereof two of our weeke dayes, Wednesday and Friday, take their names; it will be fit to say something of the state of the Christian Church in this Island. First then, it is recorded, that in the yeare 63. what time Arviragus raigned here, Ioseph of Arim… thea (who buried the body of Christ) came into this Island, and laid the foundation of the Christian Faith in the Westerne parts, at a place called then Hvalon; now Glastenbury; and that there came with him, Mary Magdalen, Lazarus, and Martha: and more then this, that Simon Zelotes one of the Apostles suffered martyrdome here in Britaine: and more then this, that both St. Peter and St. Paul came into this Island and Preached the Gospell; all which and more to this purpose, is Recorded by Authors of good Account: though it be hard believing, That persons, and specially women of so great age, as these must needes be at this time, should take so long a journey. But howsoever it was, certaine it is, that the doctrine of Christianity was about this time planted in this Island, though it made afterwards but small progresse, and that with some persecution; as in which time, St. Alban suffered martyrdome at Verulam, and at Liechfield shortly after, no fewer then a thousand. After this, in the yeare 180 what time Lucius was King of this Island, Eleutherius then Bishop of Rome, sent Faganus and Damianus to him: upon whose preaching, the Temples of the Heathenish Flamins and Arch-flamins (one and thirty in number) were converted to so many Bishops Sees; whereof London, Yorke, and Caerleyn (now St. Davids) were made the Metropolitans of the Province. And there is a Table remaining at this day, in the Parish Church of St. Peter on Cornhill London, which recordeth; that the Foundation thereof was laid by this King Lucius, and that this Church was the Cathedral to that Archbishops See. In the yeare 359. a Councel was holden at Ariminum in Italie; where foure hundred Westerne Bishops were Assembled, whereof three went out of Britaine, and gave their voyces against the Arian Heresie. After this, about the yeare 420. rose up in this Island, one Pelagius a Monke, brought up in the Monastery of Bangor in Wales, who spread the poyson of his Heresie, first in this his Native Countrey, and afterward all the world over. And these had beene the chiefe passages in matters Ecclesiasticall within this Island, when the Saxons were called in, about the yeare 450.

And now under the Conduct of two brothers, Hengist and Horsa, came over nine thousand Saxons with their wives and children, to a…ist the Britaines ag…inst the Scots, and were appointed the Isle of Thanet to Inhabit. With which assistance the Britaines give their enemies battaile, and overcome them: So as they accounted the Saxons as Angels sent from heaven, and then allowed them Kent also fo… their p. 4Inhabiting. Not long after Hengist obtained of King Vortigern the property of so much ground, as he could enclose with a Buls Hide: which cutting into thongs, hee there built the Castle, Facti de nomine, called Thong Castle. And now having built it he invites V…rtigern to a Feast, where falling in love with Rowena, the beautifull daughter of Hengist, and marrying her, it put Hengist into such a height of boldnesse, that he began to aspire, sending for greater Forces to come over to him; as meaning to transplant himselfe hither, and to make this Island his Inheritance: which the British Lords perceiving, and not able to weane their King from his new wife, and her father Hengist, they Depose him; and in his place set up his sonne Vortimer, a true lover of his Country: who presently in a pitcht battaile neere unto Aylesford in Kent, set upon the Saxons; where Catigern the brother of Vor…imer, and H…rs…, of Hengist, in single …ight hand to hand slew each other. In which place Catigern was buried, and a Monument in memory of him Erected, the stones whereof at this day are standing in a great Plaine in the Parish of Aylesford; which instead of Catigern, is corruptly called Kits-Cotyhouse. Another the like Monument was erected for Hors…, though now defaced; remembred onelyonly by the Towne where it stood, called Horstead. Three other battailes after this were fought betweene the Britaines and the Saxons: one at Craford; another at Weppeds-fleete; the third upon Colmore: in which last, the Britaines got so great a victory, that the Saxons were cleane driven out of Kent, and in Thanet also not suffered also to rest; so as shortly after, Hengist with his Saxons departed the Kingdome, as being now out of hope to make his Fortune in this Island. But while Vortimer was th…s intentive for his Countries liberty; Rowena the former Kings wife, being daughter to Hengist, was as intentive to bring it into servitude; which knowing she could not do as long as Vortimer lived, she used meanes by poyson, to take away his life, after he had beene King the space of foure yeeres, and then by the witchcraft of faire words, so enchanted the British Nobility, that her husband Vortigern was againe established in the Kingdome; which was no sooner don…, but Hengist, (relying upon his sonne Vortigerns love) with a mighty Army attempts to returne againe into the Island; when being resisted, he makes a shew, as if hee desired nothing but to fetch away his daughter Rowena, and to have a friendly conference for continuance of amity: which motion seeming reasonable, a place and time of conference was appointed: the time upon the first of May; the place upon the Plaine of Ambrii, now called Salisbury; whither the plaine meaning Britaines came unarmed, according to agreement; but the fraudulent Saxons under their long Cassocks had short skeynes hidden, with which, upon a watch-word given, they set upon the Britaines, and of their unarmed Nobility slew three, some say five hundred, & took the King himselfe prisoner, whom they would not release, till they were put in possession of these foure Counties, Kent, Sussex, Suffolke, and Norfolke. Whereupon Vortigern, whether fearing a second Deposing, or whether so advised by his Cabinet Counsailour the Propheticall Merlin, betooke him into Wales, and there built him a strong Castle for his safeguard; while the Saxons comming daily in great swarmes into the Land, had at this time overrunne all; if Aurelius Ambrosius a Romane borne, but affected to the British Nation, had not landed at To…nes in Devonshire, to whom resorted great troopes of Britaines. His first expedition was against Vortigern, (as the first cause of the Britaines misery) whose Castle he besieged; and whether by wilde fire, or by fire from Heaven, both he and his Castle, and all that were in it were burnt to ashes. To this Ambrosius is ascribed the admirable Monument in Wiltshire, now called Stoneh…ge, in the place where the Bri…aines had beene treacherously …laughtered and interred; and of whom the Towne of Ambersbury beares its name. After this he set upon the Saxons, and in many batrailes discom…ited them; till at last falling sicke in the City of Winchester, a Saxon, in shew a Britain, and in habit a Physitian, was sent unto him, who instead of Physick, ministred poyson, whereof he died, in the yeare 497. after he had raigned two and thirty yeares.

After Ambrosius, succeeded Uter, (some say his brother, others, a Britaine) called Pendragon, of his Royall Banner borne ever before him; wherein was portrayed a p. 5Dragon with a golden Head, as in our English Camps, it is at this day borne for the Imperiall standard. And he also in many battailes discomfited the Saxons, till after eighteene yeares Raigne he came to his end by treachery; dying by poyson put into a Well, whereof he usually dranke; in the yeare 515.

After him succeeded his sonne Arthur, begotten of the faire Lady Igren, wife of the Duke of Cornwall, to whose bed the Art of Merlin brought him in the likenesse of her husband; and hee in t…elve set battailes discomfited the Saxons; but in one most memorable in which gi…ding himselfe with his sword called Callibourne, he flew upon his Enemies, and with his owne hand slew eight hundred of them; which is but one of his wonderfull deedes, whereof there are so many reported, that hee might well be reckoned amongst the Fabulous, if there were not …now true to give them credit. Amongst other his Acts, he Instituted the Order of Knights of the Round Table, to the end there might be no question about Precedence, and to teach Heroicall minds, nor to stand upon place, but Merit. But this great Prince, for all his great valour, was at last in a battaile wounded, whereof he died, in the yeare 542. after he had raigned six and twenty yeares.

After King Arthur succeeded his cosin Constantine; & after his three yeares raigne, Aurelius Conanus the Nephew of King Arthur; whose Raigne is so uncertaine, that some say, he raigned onelyonly two, some, three yeares, some againe thirty, and some three and thirty. After Conanus succeeded Vortiporus, who after many victories against the Saxons, and foure yeares Raigne, died. After whom succeeded Malgo Conanus, and Raigned six yeares. After him Careticus, who setting upon the Saxons and beaten, …led into the Towne of Chichester, whereupon the Saxons catching certaine Sparrowes and fastning fire to their feete, let them fly into the Towne, where lighting upon …traw, and other matter apt to take fire, the whole City in short space was burnt; and thereupon Careticus flying, secured himselfe amongst the Mountaines of Wales, where he dyed, after he had unprosperously Raigned three yeares: and from that time forth, the Britaines lost their whole Kingdome in the East part of the Island, and were confined in the West by the rivers Severne and Dee. After Careticus succeeded Cadwan, who Raigned two and twenty yeares. After him his sonne Cadwallo, who Raigned eight and forty yeares, and then died; whose body was buried in St. Martins Church neere Ludgate, and his Image of brasse placed upon the same gate, for a terrour to the Saxons. In his time, the doctrine of Mahomet began to spread it selfe all the Easterne world over. After Cadwallo succeeded his sonne Cadwalladar; in whose time so great a Famine, and afterward Mortality hapned, continuing eleven yeares, that the Land became in a manner desolate: in so much, that the King and many of his Lords were driven to forsake their native Country, and Cadwalladar himselfe went to his cousin Alan King of little Britaine in France. At which time the Saxons taking advantage of his absence, came over in swarmes, and dispossessed the forlorne Britaines of all they had, and divided the Land amongst themselves. Whereupon Cadwalladar, obtaining assistance of his cousin Alan, was comming over to restraine their insolencies; when making prayers to God for good successe, an Angell appeared to him, or at least to his seeming hee heard a voyce, that forbad him the enterprise, declaring that it was not Gods will, the Britaines should rule this Land any longer, and therefore bade him hie him to Rome, and receive of Pope Sergius the habit of Religion, wherein he should die and rest in peace. Which accordingly he did: and in him ended the blood of the British Kings; in the yeare 689. So as Britaine now, was no longer Brit…ine; but a Colony of the Saxons.

And now is time to speake of the Heptarchy of the Saxons; so much spoken of, by all Writers… and to shew by what degrees the Britai…es lost, and the Saxons got the whole possession of this Island: for this Heptarchie or division of this Island into seven Kingdomes, came not in all at once, nor yet in an equall partition, but some good distance of time, one after another, and as the Invadour had strength to expell the Natives.

p. 6The first Kingdome being of Kent.

THe first Kingdome of the Saxons began by Hengist, in the yeare 455. containing all Kent, and continued 372. yeares, during the raignes of seventeene Kings, of whom as many as performed any memorable Act, shall be remembred, and for the rest, it will be no losse to passe them over in silence. Of these seventeene Kings, Ethelbert being the fifth, was the first Saxon Christian King of this Island, converted by Austin the Monke, whom Pope Gregory sent hither to that purpose, with forty others, in the yeare 595. to whom King Ethelbert gave his chiefe City of Canterbury, and his owne Royall Palace there, made since the Cathedrall of that See; withdrawing himselfe to Re…ulver in the Isle of Thanet, where he erected a Palace for himselfe and his successors. He gave him also an old Temple, standing without the East wall of the City, which he honoured with the name of St. Paneras, and then added a Monastery to it, and Dedicated it to St. Peter and Paul, appointing it to be the place for the Kentish Kings Sepulchers. But in regard of Austin the procurer, both Pan…ras, Peter, and Paul were soone forgotten, and it was; and is to this day, called St. Austines: which Abbey St. Austin enriched with divers Reliques which he brought with him from Rome; amongst which was a part of Christs seamelesse Coate, and of Aarons Rodde. This King after his owne conversion, converted also Sebert King of the East Angles, and assisted him in the building of the Cathedrall Church o… St. Paul London; as also the Church of St. Peter, on the West of London, then called Thorny: and himselfe at Rochester built the Cathedrall Church there, which he Dedicated to the Apostle St. Andrew; and dying, when he had Raigned six and fifty yeares, was buried at Canterbury. And thus by this first Saxon Kingdome, was all Kent lopped off from the Britaines Dominion; and this was their first impairing, and this happened in the Raigne of Ambrosius before spoken of. The sixth King of Kent was Ethelbald; who at first an Apostata, was afterwards converted, and built a Chappell within the Monastery of St. Peter and Paul at Canterbury. The seventh King was Ercombert, a vertuous and religious Prince, who first commanded the observing of Lent; and in his daies, the Archbishop Honorius divided Kent into Parishes. The eighth King was Egbert, who obtained the kingdome by murthering his Nephews: whose sister the Lady Dompnena, founded the Abbey of Minster in Kent. The eleventh King was Withred, who founded the Priory of St. Merton at Dover. The last was Baldred, who overcome by Egbert King of the West Saxons, left Kent a Province to that Kingdome, in the yeare 827.

The second Kingdome being of the South Saxons.

THe second Kingdome of the Heptarchie, was of the South Saxons, and began by Ella, in the yeare 488. containing Sussex and Surrey, and continued 113 yeares, during the raigne of five Kings onelyonly, of whom Cissa being the second founded the City of Chichester, and raigned as some say threescore and sixteene yeares. And then Berthan being the last King, was overcome by Ine King of the West Saxons, and his Country became a Province to that Kingdome, in the yeare 601. and thus as Kent before, so now Sussex and Surrey were lopped off from the Britaines Dominion: and this was a second impairing, which also happened in the Raigne of the British King Ambrosius.

p. 7The third Kingdome being of the West Saxons.

THe third Kingdome of the Heptarchie, was of the West Saxons, and began by Cerdic, in the yeare 519. containing Cornwall, Devonshire, Dorse…shire, Somersetshire, Wiltshire, Hampshire, and Barkeshire, and continued 561. yeares, during the Raignes of nineteene Kings, of whom this Cerdic was the first: in whose time, Porth a Saxon landed in the West, at a place from him called afterward Portesmouth, and ayded Cerdic in his conquest. And this happened in the Raigne of King Arthur: and as Kent, Sussex, and Surrey before, so now these seven other shires were lopped off from the Britaines Dominion: and this was a third impairing. The sixth King of the West Saxons was Kingills, who was the first Christian King of this kingdome, converted by Berynus an Italian Divine, to whom hee gave the City of Dorchester, neere to Oxford; who therein erected his Episcopall See. The seventh King was Kenwald, who at first an Apostata was afterward converted, and founded the Cathedrall of Winchester, and the Abbey of Mamesbery; whose wife Segburg also built a house of devotion in the Isle of Sheppey, wherein herselfe became a Nunne, and was afterward elected Abbesse of Ely. The eleventh King was Ine, who ordained many good lawes, which are yet extant in the Saxon tongue, and are translated into Latin, by the learned Master William Lambert. This King built a Colledge at Wells bearing the name of St. Andrews, which afterward King Kenulph made an Episcopall See. He also in most stately manner new built the Abbey of Glastenbery; and out of his devotion to the See of Rome, he injoyned every one of his Subjects, that possessed in his house of any one kinde of goods to the value of nineteene pence, to pay yearely upon Lammas day, one penny to the Pope; which at first was contributed under the name of the Kings Almes, but afterward was paid by the name of Peter pence. At last hee went to Rome, and there tooke upon him the habit of Religion, and therein died. His wife also became a veyled Nunne, and afterward was made Abbesse of Barking neere London. The thirteenth King was Cuthred, who first permitted the bodies of the dead to be buried within the walls of their Cities, which before were used to bee buried in the fields. The foureteenth was Sigebert, who for his cruelty and exactions, was by his subjects forced to fly into the woods to hide himselfe, where by a swinherd hee was slaine. The fifteenth was Kenwolph, who founded the Cathedrall Church of St. Andrews at Wells, and was afterward slaine by Kynoard, whom he had banished. The sixteenth King was Brithrick, whose Queene Ethelburg, having prepared a poyson for another, the King chanced to tast it, and thereof died. In feare of which chance the Queene fled into France; where Charles the then King for her excellent beauty, offered her the choyce of himselfe or his sonne in marriage: but she out of her lustfull humour choosing the son, was thereupon debard of both, and thrust into a Monastery, where committing adultery, she was driven from thence, and ended her life in great misery. For her sake the West Saxons ordained a Law, that no Kings wife should hereafter have the Title or Majesty of a Queene, which for many yeares after was severely executed.

The fourth Kingdome being of the East Saxons.

THe fourth Kingdom of the Heptarchy was of the East Saxons, & began by Erchenwyn, in the yeare 527. containing Essex and Middlesex, and continued 281 years, during the Raignes of foureteene Kings; of whom the third was Sebert, who first built the Cathedrall of St. Paul London, which had formerly beene the Temple of Diana: He likewise Founded the Church of St. Peter in the West of London, at a place called Thorny, where some time stood the Temple of Apollo, which being overthrowne by an Earthquake, King Lucius new built for the service of God; & that againe being decayed, this King restored to a greater beauty, & with p. 8his Queene Athelgarda was there buried. The ninth King was Sebba, who after thirty yeares peaceable Raigne relinquished the Crowne, & tooke upon him a Religious habit, in the Monastery of St. Paul London; where dying, his body was Intumbed in a Coffin of gray Marble, the cover coaped, and as yet standeth in the North wall of the Chancell of the same Church. The twelveth was Offa, famous for the beauty of his countenance, who both enlarged with buildings, and enriched with lands the Church of Westminster, and after eight yeares Raigne went to Rome, and was there shorne a Monke, and in that habit died. The fourteenth was Suthred, whom Egbert King of the West Saxons subdued, and made his Kingdome a Province to his owne. And thus besides the former Shires, these two also were lopped off from the Britaines Dominion, and this was a fourth impairing.

The fifth Kingdome being of Northumberland.

THe fifth Kingdome was of Northumberland, and began by Ella and Ida, in the yeare 547. Containing Yorkeshire, Durham, Lancashire, Westmerland, Cumberland, and Northumberland, and continued 379. yeares, during the Raignes of three and twenty Kings, of whom nothing is recorded of these two first, but that they builded the Castle of Bamburg. The seventh King was Ethelfryd, who at Caerlegion (now Westchester) made a slaughter of twelve hundred Christian Monkes, and was himselfe afterward slaine, by Redwald King of the East Angles. The thirteenth King was Osred, whose wife Cutburga, out of a loathing wearinesse of wedlocke, sued out a divorce from her husband, and built a Nunnery at Winburne in Dorsetshire, where in a Religious habit she ended her life. The sixteenth King was Cednulph, who after eight yeares Raigne, left his Royall robes, and put on the habit of a Monke, in the Isle of Lindesfern or Holy Island. Unto this King the Venerable B…de, a Saxon and a Priest in the Monastery of Peter and Paul at Werimouth neere to Durham, Dedicate… his worke of the English History, which hee continued from the first entrance of the Saxons into this Island, to the yeare 731. containing after his owne account 285. yeares. The seventeenth King was Egbert, who after twenty yeares Raigne forsooke the world also, and shore himselfe a Monke; whose-brother being Archbishop of Yorke, erected a notable Library there, and stored it with an infinite number of learned bookes. The last King was Oswald, after whom this Kingdome yeelded to the protection of Egbert King of the West Saxons, who was now in the yeare 926. become absolute Monarch of the whole Island. And thus by the erection of this fifth Kingdome, were the six Northerne shires lopped off from the Britaines Dominion, and this was a fifth impairing.

The sixth Kingdome being of Mercia.

THe sixth Kingdome was of Mercia, and began in Crida, in the yeare 522. containing Huntington, Rutland, Lincolne, Nottingham, Warwickshire, Leycester, Northampton, Derbyshire, Oxfordshire, Cheshire, Shropshire, Glostershire, Staffordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, and Hartfordshire, and continued 202. yeares, during the Raignes of twenty Kings; eight of whom in a continued succession kept the Imperiall Crowne of the Heptarchie: for though other Raigned as Kings in their owne Territories, yet among them ever one was the supreme head of the rest, and was called King of Engle-lond, till Egbert the West Saxon brought them all into one. The fifth of these Kings of Mercia was Penda, who was the first Christian King of the Mercians, and laid the Foundation of a faire Church at Medeshamstead, now called Peterborough. The seventh King was Ethelred, who Raigned thirty yeares, …nd then gave over the Crowne, and became a Monke in the Monastery of Bradney in Lincolnshire, where in the yeare 716. he died. The eighth King was Kenred, p. 9who after foure yeares raigne went to Rome, where he tooke upon him the habit of a Monke, and after other foure yeares dyed. The tenth King was Ethelbald, who at first was given to much lasciviousnesse of life, but being reprehended for it by Boniface Archbishop of Ments, was so farre converted that he Founded the Monastery of Crowland, driving in mighty piles of Oake into that Marish ground, where he laid a great and goodly building of stone; and after two and forty years Raigne was slaine in a battaile by Cuthred King of the West Saxons. The eleventh King was Offa, who greatly enlarged his Dominions; raigned nine and thirty yeares, and Founded the Monastery of St. Albans. The thirteenth King was Kenwolph, who raigned two and twenty yeares, and Founded the Monastery of Winchcombe in the County of Glocester, where his body was interred. The eighteenth King was Withlafe, who overcome by Egbert King of the West Saxons, held his Country afterward as his substitute and Tributary, acknowledging Egbert as now the sole Monarch of this Island. And by erection of this Mercian Kingdome, were seventeene shires mo…e lopped off from the Britaines Dominion, and was a sixth and a great impairing, so as now they were driven into a narrow roome.

The seventh Kingdome being of the East Angles.

THe seventh Kingdome was of the East Angles, and began by Uffa, in the yeare 575. containing Suffolke, Norfolke, Cambridgeshire, and the Isle of Ely, and continued 353. yeares, during the raigne of fifteene Kings, of whom the fifth was Sigebert, who first brought the light of the Gospell into his Dominions, and built a Schoole for education of youth, but whether at Oxford or Cambridge, is left a Quaere; and after three yeares Raigne shore himselfe a Monke in the Abbey of Cumbreburg, which himselfe had built: but being afterward violently drawne from thence by his Subjects the East Angles, to resist the Mercian King Penda, and refusing to use any other weapon but onelyonly a white wand, was in a battaile by him slaine. The seventh King was Anna, who after thirteene yeares raigne, was also slaine by Penda the Mercian King. This King Anna was memorable chie…ly for the holinesse of his children, of whom his sonne Erkenwald was Bishop of London, and built the Abbey of Barking neere London. His eldest daughter Etheldrid was twice married, and yet continued a Virgin still, and at last became a Nunne, and is remembred to posterity by the name of St. Audrie. His second daughter named Sexburg, his third named Ethelburg, his fourth (a Naturall daughter) named Withburg: all entred into Monasteries, and are Canonized all for Saints. The foureteenth King was Ethelbert, a learned and religious Prince, who being invited by Offa the Mercian King to marry Elfrid his daughter, came for that purpose to Offa's Court, then seated at Sutton Walleys in the County of Hereford, and there by him was cruelly murthered. In whose memoriall notwithstanding, hee afterward built a faire Church at Hereford, the Cathedrall of that See, as though he could expiate a murther of the living, by a Monument to the dead, and were not rather a Monument of his owne impiety. The fifteenth King was Edmund, who assaulted by the Danes for his possessions, was more assaulted for his profession: for continuing constant in his Christian Faith, those Pagans first beat him with bats, then scourged him with whippes, …nd lastly bound him to a stake, and with their arrowes shot him to death; whose body was buried at the Towne where Sigebert the East Anglian King, one of his Predecessors, had built a Church, and where afterward (in honour of him) was built another most spatious, of a wonderfull frame of Timber, and the name of the Towne upon the occasion of his buriall there, called to this day St. Edmunds bury. This Church and place, Suenus the Danish King burnt to ashes: but when his sonne Canutus had gotten possession of the English Crowne, terrified with a Vision of the seeming St. Edmund; in a religious devotion to expiate his Fathers sacriledge, hee built it anew most sumptuously, and offered his owne Crowne upon the Martyrs Tombe. After the death of this Edmund, the East Angles Country was possest by the Danes, and so p. 10continued the space of fifty yeares, untill that Edmund surnamed the Elder, expelled those Danes, and made that Kingdome a Province to the West Saxons.

By that which hath beene said, it plainely appeares, by what degrees the Britaines lost, and the Saxons got the whole possession of this Island. For after that Vortigern in the yeare 455. had called in the Saxons, every Britaine King that succeeded him, lost some part or other of it to the Saxon…, till at last in the yeare 689. C…dw…llader the last Britaine King lost all; and then the Saxon Kings striving amongst themselves for soveraignty, they still gained one upon another, till at last in the yeare 818 Egbert King of the West Saxons reduced them all under his subjection, and then caused all the South of the Island to bee called England, according to the Angles of whom himselfe came; after whom they were no longer properly called Saxon Kings, but Kings of England, and so continued till the Danes, in the yeare 1017. made an interruption; of whose succession now comes the time to speake.

Of the Saxons that Raigned sole Kings of this Island, and may properly be called English Kings.

EGbert the eighteenth King of the West Saxons, is now become the first of the Kings of England, in whose time the Danes began first to infest the Land; as thinking they might do as much against the Saxons, as the Saxons had done against the Britaines; but though they made divers Invasions, and did great spoyle, yet they were still repelled. This King raigned six and thirty yeares, and dying in the yeare 836. was buried at Winchester. Of his issue, his daughter Edith was made Governesse of a Monastery of Ladies, by her planted in a place which the King her brother had given her, called Pollesworth, situate in Arden, in the North part of the County of Warwicke, where shee died and was buri…d, and the place in memory of her called St Edyths of Pollesworth.

To Egbert succeeded his sonne Ethelwolph, who in his youth was so addicted to a Religious life, that he was first made Deacon, and after Bishop of Winchester; but his father dying, he was intreated by his people to take upon him the Crowne, and by Pope Gregory the fourth, was to that end absolved of his Vow. His raigne was infested with many and great Invasions of the Danes, to whom notwithstanding hee gave incredible overthrowes. In the time of his Raigne, remembring his former Religious profession, he ordained that riches and lands due to holy Church, should be free from all Tribute or Regall services, and in great devotion went himselfe to Rome, where he lived a yeare; confirmed the grant of Peter pence, and agreed beside to pay yearely to Rome three hundred Markes. Returning home through France, and being a Widower, he there marryed Iudith, the beautifull daughter of Charles the Bald then Emperor; in honour of whom, in his owne Court, hee ever placed her in a chaire of Estate, with all other Majesticall complements of a Q…ene, contrary to the Law of the West Saxons formerly made; which so much displeased his Lords, that for it they were ready to Depose him; but howsoever hee lived not long after, having Raigned one and twenty yeares. His yongest sonne Neoto, was much addicted to learning, and was one of the first Divinity Readers in the University of Oxford, and Founded a Monastery in Cornwall, which of him was called Neotestock; and being dead his body was Interred in the County of Huntington, at a place then called Arnulphsbury, and afterward, in regard of his Interment, St. Neotes, and now St. N…edes. This King was famous, for having foure sons, who all of them were Kings of this Land successively.

First after him Raigned his eldest sonne Ethelbald, in the yeare 857. who to his eternall shame, tooke to wife Iudith his fathers widdow, Raigned but two yeares and dying, was buried at Shirborn in Dorsetshire, at that time the Episcopal See. From this Iudith, married afterward to the Earle of Flanders, after divers descents, came Maude the wife of William the Conqueror, from whom are descended all our Kings ever since.

p. 11Next to the eldest Raigned the second sonne Ethelbert, all whose Raigne, which was onelyonly five yeares, was perpetually disquieted with Invasions of the Danes, which yet were at last repelled. He died in the yeare 866. and was buried at Shirborne in Dorsetshire.

Next to the second Raigned his third sonne Ethelred, whose Raigne was more disquieted with the Danes then any others before: for they Invading the Land, under the leading of Hungar, and Hubba, spoyled all the Country as they went, not sparing Religious places; amongst other, the goodly Monasteries of Bradney, Crowland, Peterborough, Ely, and Huntington, they laid levell with the ground: the Monkes and Nunnes they murthered or ravished; at which time a rare example of Chastity and Fortitude was seene in the Nunnes of Coldingham. For to avoyd the ba…barous pollutions of these Pagans, they deformed themselves by cutting off their upper lips and noses. Nine battailes in one yeare this King fought with the Danes, in most o… them victorious; but at last received a wound whereof he died, and was buried in the Church at Winborne in Dorsetshire.

Next to the third Raigned his fourth son Alfred, in whose time came over greater swarmes of Danes then ever before, and had now got footing in the North, the West, & South parts of this Island, leaving this King nothing of all his great Monarchy, but only Somerset, Hampton, and Wiltshire; and not these neither altogether free, so as he was forced sometimes to flie into the Fennes and Marish grounds to secure himselfe, where he lived by Fishing and Fowling, and hunting of wilde beasts, till at last learning policy from adversity, and gathering courage from misery, hee ventured in the habit of a common Minstrell, to enter the Danes Campe; where having viewed the manner of their Encamping, and observed their security, he returned backe, shewing his Lords in what condition he found them: whereupon setting upon them at unawares, he not onelyonly made of them a great slaughter, but brought upon them a greater terrour: for presently upon this the Danes sue for Peace, and deliver Hostages for performance of these Conditions; that their King should receive Baptisme, and their great Army depart quietly out of the Land. But though upon this agreement they departed for the present into France, yet the yeare following they returned with greater Forces, forraging all parts of the Countrey in most cruell manner, though still encountred by this Valorous Prince, till hee ended his life in the yeare 901. after he had Raigned nine and twenty yeares. The vertues of this King, if they were not incredible, they were at least admirable, whereof these may be instances. The day and night containing foure and twenty houres, he designed equally to three speciall uses, observing them by the burning of a Taper set in his Chappell; (there being at that time, no other way of distinguishing them) Eight houres he spent in Contemplation, Reading and Prayers: Eight in provision for himselfe, his Health and Recreation: and the other eight in the Affaires of the Common-wealth and State. His Kingdome likewise he divided into Shires, Hundreds and Tythings; ordaining that no man might remove out of his Hundred without security: by which course he so suppressed Theeves and Robbers, which had formerly encreased by the long warres, that it is said a boy or girle might openly carry a bag of gold or silver, and carry it safely all the Country over. Besid…s his great Piety, he was also learned; and …s farre as it may be a commendation in a Prince, a skilfull Musitian and an excellent Poet. All former Lawes hee caused to be survayed, and made choyce of the best, which hee translated into the English tongue; as also the Pastorall of St. Gregorie, the History of Bede, and Boetius his consolation of Philosophie; the Psalmes of David likewise he began to translate, but died before he could finish it. And so great a love he had to learning, that he made a Law, that all Freemen of the Kingdome, possessing two Hides of land, should bring up their sonnes in learning, till they were fifteene yeares of age at least, that so they might be trained to know God, to be men of understanding, and to live happily. His buildings were many, both for Gods service and for other publike use: as at Edlingsey a Monastery, at Winchester a new Minster, and at Shaftesb…ry a house of Nunnes; whereof he made his daughter Ethelgeda the Abbesse; but his p. 12Foundation of the University of Oxford, exceeded all the rest: which he began in the yeare 895. and to furnish it with able Scholars, drew thither out of France, Grimbaldus and Scotus, and out of Wales, Asser, (who wrote his life) whose Lectures he honoured often with his owne presence. And for a stocke of Frugality, he made a Survey of the Kingdome; and had all the particulars of his Estate, registred in a Booke; which he kept in his Treasury at Winchester. He Raigned seven and twenty yeares, and dying was buryed in the Cathedrall Church of Saint Peter at Winchester, though removed afterward, into the Church of the new Monastery, without the North-gate of the City called Hyde. His Wife Elsewith, Founded a Monastery of Nunnes at Winchester, and was there buryed. Their second daughter Ethelgeda, tooke upon her the Vow of Virginity; and by her Fathers appointment was made a Nunne of Shaftesbery, in the County of Dorset, in the Monastery …ounded there by him, who is also accounted the Founder of the Towne it selfe.

King Alfred being deceased, his sonne Edward (called Edward the Elder) succeeded: not so learned as his Father; but in Valour his Equall, and Superiour in Fortune. For, first, he overcame his Cousin Ethelwald, who aspired to the Crowne; then the Danes, whose chiefe leader he …lew in battaile; lastly the Welsh; but these last, more by humility shewed to their Prince Leolyn, then by force of A…mes. But yet he must not have all the glory of his time; some must be imparted to his sister Elflede; who being marryed to Ethelred Earle of Mercia, had by him a daughter, but with so grievous pa…nes in her travaile, that ever after she refused the nuptiall bed of her Husband, saying, it was a foolish pleasure, that brought with it so excessive paines. And thereupon after her husbands death, made choyce to follow the warres; assisting her brother both against the Welsh, and against the Danes, whom she brought to be at her disposing. Dying she was buryed at Glocester, in the Monastery of Saint Peter, which her Husband and her selfe had built. King Edw…rd himselfe, after foure and twenty yeares Raigne, deceased at Faringdon in Barkshire, in the yeare 924. and was buryed in the new Monastery of Winchester, which his Father began, and himselfe wholly finished: having had by his three Wives, six Sonnes and nine Daughters, of whom his eldest sonne Athelstan succeeded him in the kingdome, whom his Grandfather King Alfred had with his owne hands Knighted… in an extraordinary manner; putting upon him a purple Robe, and girding him with a girdle wrought with Pearle. His second sonne Elfred, he so loved, that he caused him to be Crowned King with himselfe, which yet he enjoyed but a short time, being taken away by death. His third sonne Elsward, presently upon his Fathers death, dyed himselfe also. His fourth son Edwyn, was by his brother Athelstan, out of jealousie of state, put into a little Pinnace, without either Tackle or Oares, accompanyed onelyonly with one Page; with griefe whereof, the young Prince leaped into the Sea and drowned himselfe. His fifth, and sixth sonnes, Edmund, and Edred, came in succession to be Kings of England. Of his Daughters, the eldest Edytha, was marryed to Sithricke the Danish King of Northumberland, and he deceasing, she entred into a Monastery, which she began at Tamworth in Warwickshire, and there dyed. His second daughter Elflede, tooke upon her the vow of Virginity, in the Monastery of Ramsey, in the County of Southhampton, where she dyed and was interred. His third daughter Eguina, was first marryed to Charles the Simple, King of France, and after his decease, to Herbert, Ea…le of Vermandois. His fourth daughter Ethelhild, became a Nunne in the Monastery of Wilton, which was sometime the head Towne, giving name to the whole County of Wil…shire, and anciently called Ellandon. That we may see in those first times of Religion, when there was lea…t knowledge, there was most devotion. His fifth daughter Edhold, was marryed to Hugh, surnamed the Great, Earle of Paris, and Constable of France. And Edgith his sixth daughter, to Otho, the Emperour of the West, …urnamed the Great. His seventh daughter Elgina, was marryed to a Duke of Italy. His ninth Edgina, to Lewis Prince of Aquitaine in France.

p. 13After the death of King Edward, his eldest sonne Athelstan succeeded, and was Crowned at Kingstone upon Thames, in the County of Surrey, by Athelmu… Archbishop of Canterbury, in the yeare 924. The beginning of whose Raigne, was molested with the Treason of one Elfrid a Nobleman, who being apprehended and sent to Rome to purge himselfe, and there denying the Act upon his Oath, fell suddenly downe, and within three dayes dyed, to the eternall …errour of all perjured persons. Presently upon this, another dysaster befell King Athelstan, for having caused his brother Edwyns death, (as before is shewed) chiefly procured by his Cupbearers suggestions: It hapned not long after, that his Cupbearer, in his service at a Festivall, stumbling with one foote, and recovering himselfe with the other, and saying merrily, See how one brother helpes another; His words put the King in remembrance of his Brother, whose death he had caused, and with remorse thereof, not onelyonly caused his Cup-bearer to be put to death, but did also seven yeare… penance: and built the two Monasteries of Middleton, and Michelnesse, in the County of Dorset, in expiation of his offence. This King ordained many good Lawes; and those to binde as well the Clergy, as the Laity; amongst which, one was the Attachment of Felons, that stole a…ove twelve pence, and were above twelve yeares old. Of this King, there is one Act related, that may seeme ridiculous; another that may seeme miraculous; For what more ridiculous, then that, going to visit the Tombe of Saint Iohn of Beverley, and having nothing else of worth to offer, he offered his knife in devotion to the Saint? Yet the mirac…lous is more apparent: For going to encounter the Danes, and praying to God for good successe, he prayed withall, that God would shew some signe of his rightfull cause, and thereupon striking with his sword, he strucke it an ell deepe into a hard stone, which stood so cloven a long time after. But whether this be true or no, this certainly is true, that he obtained many great victories against the Danes, against the Scots, against the Ir…sh, and against the Welsh, whose Princes he brought to be his Tributaries, entring Covenant at Heref…rd, to pay him yearely twenty pound weight of gold, three hundred of silver, and five and twenty hundred head of Cattell, besides a certaine number of Hawkes and Hounds. Lastly, he joyned Northumberland to the rest of his Monarchy, and enlarged his Dominions beyond any of his Predecessours, which made all Neighbouring Princes to seeke his friendship, and to gratify him with rare presents, as Hugh King of France sent him the sword of Constantine the Great, in the hilt whereof, was one of the nayles that fastned Christ to his Crosse; He sent him also the speare of Charles the Grea…, reputed to be the same that pierced Christs side; as also part of the Crosse whereon Christ suffered, and a piece of the Thorny Crowne put upon his head. Likewise Otho the Emperour, who had marryed his sister, sent him a vessell of pretious stones, artificially made, wherein were seene Landskips with Vines, Corne, and Men, all of them seeming so artificially to move, as if they were growing, and alive. Likewise the King of Norway sent him a goodly Ship, with a gilt Ste…ne, purple …ayles, and the decke garnished all with gold. Of these accounted Holy Reliques, King Athelstan gave part to the Abbey of Saint Swithin in Winchester, and the rest to the Monastery of Mamesbury, whereof Adelm was the Founder, and his Tutelar Saint. He new built the Monasteries of Wilton, Michelnesse, and Middleton; Founded Saint Germans in Cornwall, Saint Petrocus at Bodmyn, and the Priory of Pilton; new walled and beautifyed the City of Exceter, and enriched either with Jewels or Lands, every speciall Abbey of the Land. But the chiefest of his workes for the service of God, and good of his Subjects, was the Translation of the Bible into the Saxon Tongue, which was then the Mother tongue of the Land. He Raigned fifteen… yeares, Dyed at Glocest…r, and was buryed at Mamesbery, in the yeare 940. having never beene marryed.

After the death of Athelstan, his brother Edmund, the fifth sonne of his Father succeeded; and was Crowned at Kingstone upon Thames; but no sooner was the Crowne set upon his head, but the Danes were upon his backe; and in Northumberland made Insurrections, whom yet he not onelyonly repressed in that part; but tooke p. 14from them the Townes of Lincolne, Leycester, Darby, Stafford and Nottingham; compelling them withall to receive Baptisme, and to become his Subjects, so as the Country was wholly his as farre as Humber. Cumberland also, which had beene an entire Kingdome of it selfe, and was now ayded by Leolyn King of South-wales, he utterly wasted, and gave it to Malcolme King of Scots, to hold of him by Fealty. After his returning home, he …et himselfe to ordaine Lawes for the good of his People; which Master Lambert hath since transla…ed into Latine. But after all his noble Acts both in Warre and Peace, he came at last to a lamentable end; for at his Manour of Pucklekerks, in the County of Glocester, interposing himselfe to part a fray betweene two of his servants, he was thrust through the body, and so wounded that he dyed, and was buryed at Glastenbury, after he had Raigned five yeares and seven moneths, leaving behinde him two young Sonnes, Edwyn, and Edgar.

King Edmund dying, his brother Edred, in the minority of his Nephewes, was Crowned at Kingstone upon Thames, by Otho Arch-bishop of Canterbury, in the yeare 946. Not as Protector; (It seemes that kinde of Authority was not yet come in use) but as King himselfe, though with purpose to resigne, when the right Heire should come of age, which at this time needed not, for while the right Heire was scarce yet fourteene yeares old, he resigned to him the Kingdome, by resigning his life to Nature, after he had twice repressed the rebelling Northumbrians, and twice forgiven their rebelling, which yet was not a simple Rebellion; for they had sent for Anlafe the Dane out of Ireland, and made him their King; which place for foure yeares he held; and then weary of his government, they thrust him out and take one Hericus to be their King, whom not long after they put downe also; and then partly allured by the lenity of King Edred; and partly forced by his Armes; they submit themselves to him, and aske forgivenesse; to whom he, as a mercifull Prince, giants an Act of Oblivion, and received them againe into protection. This Prince was so devout and humble, that he submitted his body to be chastised at the will of Dunstan Abbot of Glastenbury, and committed all his Treasure and Jewels to his custody. The stately Abbey of Mich at Abington neare Oxford, built by King Inas, but destroyed by the Danes, he newly re-edified; endowing it with revenues and Lands, the Charters whereof he confirmed with seales of Gold. He ordained Saint Germans in Cornwall, to be a Bishops See, which there continued, till by Canutus it was annexed to the Episcopall See of Kyrton in Devonshire; Both which Sees were afterward by King Edward the Confessor, translated to the City of Exceter. He left behinde him two Sonnes, Elfred, and Bertfred, and was buryed in the old Minster, without the City of Winchester; whose bones with other Kings, are to this day preserved in a gilt Coffer, fixed upon the wall, in the South side of the Quire.

After Edred, not any of his sonnes, but his Nephew Edwyn, the eldest sonne of King Edmund succeeded, and was annoynted and Crowned at Kingston upon Thames, by Otho Arch-bishop of Canterbury, in the yeare 955. This Prince, though scarce fourteene yeares old, and in age but a childe, yet was able to commit sinne as a man; For upon the very day of his Coronation, and in sight of his Lords, as they sate in Counsell, he shamefully abused a Lady of great Estate, and his neare kinswoman, and to mend the matter, shortly after slew her Husband, the more freely to injoy his incestuous pleasure. And whether for this infamous fact, or for thrusting the Monkes out of the Monasteries of Mamesbury, and Glastenbury, and placing marryed Priests in their roomes, as also for banishing Dunstan the holy Abbot of Glastenbury out of the Realme, a great part of his Subjects hearts was so turned against him, that the Mercians and Northumbrians revolted, and swore Fealty to his younger brother Edgar, with griefe whereof, after foure yeares Raigne, he ended his life, and was buryed in the Church of the New Abbey of Hyde, at Winchester.

After Edwyn, succeeded his younger brother Edgar, at the age of sixteene yeares; but his Coronation, when, and where, and by whom, so uncertaine, that some say p. 15he was Crowned at Kingston upon Thames, by Otho Arch-bishop of Canterbury, in the first yeare of his Raigne, others say, not till the twelfth, and William of Mamesbery, not till the thirtyeth: Another Chronicle saith, in his eleventh yeare; and that in the City of Bathe, by the hands of Dunstan Arch-bishop of Canterbury. This King, by reason of the tranquillity of his Raigne, was surnamed the Peaceable; for as he was something inclined to the Danes, so the Danes never offered to stirre in all his time; and as for the Saxons, they acknowledged him their sole Soveraigne, without division of Provinces or Titles. His Acts were, some Vertuous, some Politick, some Just, some Pious, and yet all these not without some mixture of vice. To represse dunkennesse, which the Danes had brought in; he ma…e a Law, Ordaining a size, by certaine pinnes in the pot, with penalty to any, that should presume to drinke deeper then the marke. It was a Politicke device which he used for the destruction of Wolves, that in his dayes did great annoyance to the Land. For, the tribute imposed on the Princes of Wales, by King Athelstan, he wholly remitted, appointing in lieu thereof a certaine number of Wolves yearely to be paid; whereof the Prince of North-wales, for his part was to pay three hundred; which continued for three yeares space: and in the fourth yeare, there was not a Wolfe to be found; and so the tribute ceased. He had in his Navy Royall, three thousand and sixe hundred ships, which he divided into three parts, appointing every one of them to a severall Quarter, to scowre the Seas, and to secure the Coasts from Pirats: and left his Officers might be carelesse, or corrupted; he would himselfe in person saile about all the Coasts of his Kingdome every Summer. It was a notable Act of Justice, that in his Circuits, and Progresses through the Country, he would take speciall account of the demeanour of his Lords; and specially for his Judges; whom he severely punished, if he fonnd them Delinquents. Warres he had none in all his Raigne, onelyonly towards his end, the Welshmen moved some rebellion; against whom he went with a mighty Army, and chastised the Authours; but when his Souldiers had gotten great spoyles, and made prey upon the innocent Countrey people; he commanded them to restore it all backe againe; which, if it made some few English angry, it made the whole Country of the Welsh well pleased, and sound forth his praises. His Pious Acts were, that he built and prepared seven and forty Monasteries, and meant to have made them up fifty, but was prevented by death. But now his mixture of Vice marred all; especially being a Vice opposite to all those Vertues, which was Lasciviousnesse. For first, he deflowred a sacred Nunne, called Wolfchild; on whom yet he begot a Saint, the chast Edyth. After her, another Virgin, called Ethelflede, for her excellent beauty surnamed the White, on whom he begot his eldest Sonne Edward; for which Fact he did seven yeares penance, enjoyned him by the Arch-bishop Dunstan. After this he chanced to heare of a Virgin, Daughter to a Westerne Duke, exceedingly praysed for her beauty, and comming to Andover, commanded her to his Bed. But the Mother, tender of her Daughters honour, brought in the darke her mayd to him; who in the morning, making hast to rise, and the King not suffering her to depart, she told him what great worke she had to doe; and how she should incurre her Ladies displeasure, if it were not done; by which words, the King perceiving the deceit, turned it to a jest, but so well liked her company, that he kept himselfe true to her ever after, till he marryed. But now his marriage it selfe happened by a greater vice then any of these; For hearing of the admirable beauty of El…rida, the onelyonly daughter of Ordganus Duke of Devonshire, Founder of Tavestocke Abbey in that Country, he sent his great Favorite Earle Ethelwold, (who could well judge of beauty) to try the truth thereof; with Commission, that if he found her such as Fame reported, he should seise her for him, and he would make her his Queene. The young Earle, upon sight of the lady, was so surprized with her love, that he began to wooe her for himselfe, and got her Fathers good will, so as the King would give his consent. Hereupon the Earle posted to the King, relating to him, that the Mayd was faire indeed, but nothing answerable to the Fame that went of her: yet desired the King that he might marry p. 16her, as being her Fathers heire, thereby to raise his Fortunes. The King consented, and the marriage was solemnized. Soone after, the fame of her beauty began to spread more then before, so as the King much doubting that he had beene abused, meant to try the truth himselfe, and thereupon taking occasion of hunting in the Dukes Parke, came to his house: whose comming Ethelwold suspecting, acquainted his wife with the wrong he had done both her, and the King, and therefore to prevent the Kings displeasure, intreated her by all the perswasions he could use, to cloathe her selfe in such attire, as might be least fit to set her forth; but she considering that now was the time, to make the most of her beauty, and longing to be a Queene; would not be accessary to her owne wrong, but decked her selfe in her richest Ornaments; which so improved her beauty, that the King at her first sight was strucke with admiration, and meant to be revenged of his persidious Favourite; yet dissembling his passion, till he could take him at advantage, he then with a Javelin ran him through; and having thereby made the faire Elfrid a Widow, tooke her to be his Wife. This King founded the Monastery of Ramsey in Hamshire, Raigned sixteene yeares, Lived seven and thirty, and with great Fun…rall pompe was buryed in the Abbey of Glastenbury. He had children by his first wife Ethelfleda, one sonne named Edward; and by his second wife Elfrid, two sons, one named Edmund, who dyed young, the other Ethelred. He had also one naturall Daughter, named Edgyth, by a Lady named Wolfchild, the daughter of Wolholme, the sonne of Birding, the sonne of Nesting; which two latter beare in their names, the memory of their Fortunes; the last of them being found in an Eagles nest, by King Alfred as he was a hunting. This Edgyth built the Monastery and Church of Saint Dennis at Wilton, and was there buryed.

After the death of King Edgar, succeeded his sonne Edward, but not without some opposition, for Queene Elfrid combined with divers of the Lords, to make her Sonne Ethelred King, saying that Prince Edward was illegitimate; on the other side, the Arch-bishop Dunstan, and the Monkes stood for Edward, abetting his Title as being lawfully borne; but while the Counsell was assembled to argue their Rights, the Arch-bishop came in with his Banner and Crosse, and not staying for debating De Iure, De Facto presented Prince Edward for their lawfull King, and the Assembly consisting most of Clergy men, drew the approbation of the rest; and thereupon Prince Edward was admitted, being but twelve yeares of age, and was Crowned King at Kingstone upon Thames, by Arch-bishop Dunstan, in the yeare 975. In the beginning of his Raigne, it fell into debate whether marryed Priests were to be allowed to live in Monasteries upon the revenues of the Church. The Mercian Duke Alferus, favouring the cause of the marryed Priests, destroyed the Monasteries in his Province, cast out the Monkes, and restored againe the ancient revenues to the Priests and their wives. On the other side, Edelwyn Duke of the East Angles, and Brithnoth Earle of Essex, who stood for the Monkes, cast marryed Priests out of their Provinces. The matter being debated in a Councell at Westminster, the Monkes cause was like to have the foyle, till it was referred to the Rood, placed on the Refectory wall, where the Counsell sate. For to this gréat Oracle, Saint Dunstan desired them devoutly to pray, and to give diligent eare for an Answer; when suddenly a voyce was heard to say, God forbid it should be so, God forbid it should be so. This was thought authority sufficient, to suppresse the Priests, till they perswading the people, that this was but a cunning practise of the Monkes, in placing behind the wall, a man of their owne, who through a Trunke uttered these words in the mouth of the Rood, whereupon another Assembly was appointed at Cleve in Wiltshire, whither repaired the Prelates, with most of all the Lords and Gentlemen of the Kingdome. The Synod being set, and the matter at the heighth of discussing, it happened that the Joysts of the roome, where the Synod was held, suddenly brake, and the floore with all the people thereon, fell downe, whereof many were hurt, and some slaine. OnelyOnly the Arch-bishop Dunstan then President, and mouth for the Monkes, remained unhurt; which whether it were done by practise, or were miraculous, it served the Monkes turne p. 17for justifying their cause; and marryed Priests were thereupon discarded. It were infinite and indeed ridiculous, to speake of all the Miracles reported to be done by this Saint Dunstan, which may be fit for a Legend, but not for a Chronicle.

But now a most lamentable dysaster, comes to be remembred: For King Edward, hunting one time in the Island of Purbacke: not farre from Corfe Castle; where his mother in Law Queene Elfrid, with his brother Prince Ethelred, were then residing, he out of his love to both, would needs himselfe alone goe visit them; where the cruell woman, out of ambition to bring her owne Sonne to the Crowne, caused one to runne him into the backe with a knife, as he was drinking a cup of Wine on horse backe at his departing, who feeling himselfe hurt, set spurres to his horse, thinking thereby to get to his company, but the wound being mortall, and he fainting thorow losse of much blood, fell from his Horse; but one foote being intangled in the stirrup, he was thereby rufully dragged up and downe, through Woods, and Lands: And lastly left dead at Corfes gate; for which untimely death, he was ever after called by …he name of Edward the Martyr. He Raigned onelyonly three yeares and …ix moneths, and was Buryed first at Winchester, without all Funerall pompe; but after three yeares, by Duke Alferus removed, and with great solemnity interred in the Minster of Shaftsbury. Queene Elfrid, to expiate this her bloody fact, built the two Monasteries of Almesbery, and Worwell, in the Counties of Wil…shire, and Southampton, in which latter, with great repentance, she lived till her death.

After the death of Edward the Martyr, dying at the age of sixteene yeares, his halfe brother Ethelred, at the age of twelve yeares, in the yeare 979. was Crowned King at Kingston upon Thames, by Dunstan Arch-bishop of Canterbury, though much against his will; which King, by reason of his backwardnesse in Action, was commonly called the Unready. Before whose time, for two and twenty yeares past…; the Danes had lived as quiet Inmates with the English, but whether weary of so long doing nothing, or finding now opportunity of doing something, in the second yeare of this King, they begin to stirre, and inviting from home more forces, who in seven Ships arrived upon the Coast of Kent, they spoyled all the Country, specially the Isle of Thanet, and continued this course of forraging the Kingdome, sometimes in one part, and sometimes in another, for eleven yeares together: till at last in the yeare 991. the King, by advice of his Lords, of whom Siricius, the now Arch-bishop of Canterbury was chiefe, was contented to pay them ten thousand pounds, upon condition they should quietly depart the Realme. This served the turne for the present, but was so farre from satisfying them, that it did but give them the greater appetite: for the yeare following they came againe, and that with a greater Fleet then before, against whom the King prepared a competent Navy, and committed it to Elfricke, Earle of Mercia, but he proving treacherous (as indeed all other for the most part did, whom the King imployed against the Danes, as with whom they were allyanced in blood) the Dan…s so prevailed… that for the next Composition, they had sixteene thousand pounds given them, and a yeare after, twenty thousand; and so every yeare more and more, till it came at last to forty thousand: by which meanes, the Land was emptyed of all Coyne, and the English were brought so low, that they were faine to Till, and Eare the Ground, whilest the Danes sate idle, and ate the fruite of their labours; abusing the Wives and Daughters of their Hosts where they lay, and yet i… every place, for every feare, were called Lord-Danes; (which afterward became a word of derision, when one would signifie a lazy Lubber.) In this distressed state, the King at last bethought himselfe of a course: He sent forth a secret Commission, into every City within his Dominions, that at an appointed time, they should massacre all the Danes that were amongst them; The day was the thirteenth of November, being the Festivall of Saint Bricius, in the yeare 1002. His command was accordingly performed, and with such rigour, that in Oxford the Danes for refuge tooke into the Church of Saint Frideswyde, as into a Sanctuary, when the English, neither regarding Place nor Person, set the Church on site, wherein many of the Danes were burnt, and the Library thereof utterly defaced. And who p. 18would not now thinke, but that England by this Fact had cleane shaken off the Danish yoke for ever? yet it proved cleane otherwise: For the newes of this massacre, adding a new edge of revenge, to the old edge of ambition: made the Danes sharper set against the English, then ever they had beene before; so as the yeare following, their King Sweyne, with a mighty Navy, entred the Country, razed, and levelled with the ground the City of Exceter, all along from the East Gate to the West; against whom the King levyed an Army, and made Generall over it, the Earle Edricke, his great Favourite; whom he had created Duke of Mercia; and given him his Daughter Edgyth in marriage; yet all this great favour could not keepe him from being treacherous, for being sent Embassadour to the Danes, to mediate for Peace, he revealed to them the weaknesse of the Land, and treacherously disswaded them from consenting to any Truce. Upon this King Ethelred gave order, that every three hundred and ten Hydes of Land should build a Ship, and every eight Hydes, finde a compleat Armour furnished, yet all this great preparation came to nothing, but onelyonly to make a shew. After this, the King seeing no end of their invasions, nor promise kept upon any composition; (for three Danish Princes, with a great Fleet, were now newly arrived) He intended to adventure once for all, and to commit his cause to God, by the fortune of a Battaile. To which end he secretly gathered a mightily Power, and comming unlooked for, when the Enemy was unprepared, he had certainely given an end to the Quarrell, if the wicked Edricke had not disswaded him from fighting, and put him into a causelesse feare, by forged tales. After this, the Danes forraged many Countryes; burnt Oxford, The…ford, and Cambridge: and lastly entred Wiltshire, which was the seventh shire in number, they had laid waste like a Wildernesse. The yeare after, they make a new Expedition, and besiege Canterbury; which by treason of a Church-man they wonne, tooke Alphegus the Arch-bishop, and flew nine hundred Monkes, and men of Religion, besides many Citizens, without all mercy; for they Tythed the people, slaying all by nines, and reserving onelyonly the tenth to live; so that of all the Monkes in the Towne, there were but foure saved, and of the Lay people, foure thousand eight hundred, by which account Master Lambert collecteth, that there dyed in this Massacre, three and forty thousand, and two hundred persons. The Arch-bishop Alphegus, for that he refused to charge his Tenants with three thousand pounds to pay for his ransome, they most cruelly stoned to death at Green…wich. Turkillus the leader of these murtherers, tooke into his possession all Norfolke and Suffolke, over whom he tyrannized in most savage manner; the rest compounding with the English for eight thousand pounds, quietly for a while sojourned among them. The yeare following came King Sweyne againe, and with a great Navy arrived in the mouth of Humber, and landed at Gainsborough, to whom the Northumbrians, and the people of Lindsey, yeelded themselves; So that now over all the North from Watlingstreete, he Raigned sole King, and exacted pledges of them for their further obedience. From the North he passed into the South, subduing all before him, till he came to London, where he was so valiantly encountred by the Londoners, that he was glad to retire, in which retyring notwithstanding he entred Bathe; where Ethelmore Earle of Devonshire, with his Westerne people, submitted himselfe to him. Yet after this, betweene him and the English was strucke a fierce battaile, which had beene with good successe, if the treachery of some in turning to the Danes, had not hindered it. After this the Danes proceeded on victoriously, and had gotten most part of the Land, and even London also by submission: whereupon the unfortunate King Ethelred sending his Wife Emma, with her two sonnes, Edward and Alfred, to her Brother, Duke of Normandy, himselfe also the Winter following passed thither, leaving the Danes Lording it in his Realme. Sweyne now as an absolute King, extorted from the English both Victuals, and Pay for his Souldiers; and demanding such a Composition for preserving of Saint Edmunds Monastery in Suffolke, as the Inhabitants were not able, and therefore refused to pay; he thereupon threatned spoyle, both to the Place, and to the Martyrs bones there interred, when suddenly, in the middest of p. 19his jollity (saith Hoveden) he cryed out, that he was strucke by Saint Edmund with a sword, being then in the midst of his Lords: and no man seeing from whose hand it came, and so with great horrour and torment, three dayes af…er; upon the third of February, he ended his life at Thetford, or (as others say) at Gaynsborough. And now who would not thinke, but this was a faire opportunity offered to the English, to free themselves wholly from the Danish yoke? but when all was don…, either crossed by treachery, or frustrated by misfortune, nothing prospered. I… is true, upon this occasion of Sweynes death, King Ethelred returned out of Normandy, but at his comming, Canutus the sonne o Sweyne, had gotten the peopl… of Lindsey to be at his devotion, and to find him both Horse and Men against their owne King; so as Ethelred was now to encounter as well his owne Subjects… as the Danes, which he did so valiantly, that he made Canutus glad to returne into Denmarke, as utterly hopelesse of any good to be done in England. And now one would certainely thinke the Danes had beene removed, Roote and Branch, out of England, and never like to trouble the Land any more; and indeed there was all the appearance of probability for it that could be. But it is a true saying, That which will be, shall be, let all be done that can be. For now Turkill the Dane, who had before revolted to King Ethelred, growing sensible of his fault, which was this, or no way to be redeemed; and tender of his Countrymens case, which was now or never to be helpt; with nine of his Ships sailed into Denmarke, and first excusing himselfe to Canutus for his former defection, as though he had done it of purpose, to learne all advantages against the English, which now he could discover to him, he so prevailed with Canutus once againe to try his fortune, that with a Navy of two hundred Ships he set saile for England, and landed at Sandwich, where he gave the English a great overthrow, and passed victoriously through the Counties of Dorset, Somerset, and Wilts. When (Ethelred lying dangerously sicke at Cossam) the managing of the Warre was committed to Prince Edmund his sonne, who preparing to give the Danes battaile, had suddenly notice given him, that his Brother in Law Edricke, meant to betray him into his Enemies hands, which made him suspend his proceeding; and Edricke perceiving his designe to be discovered, cast off the masque, and with forty of the Kings ships fled openly to the Enemy; and thereupon, all the West Countries submitted themselves unto Canutus. By this time King Ethelred having recovered his sicknesse, prepared to goe on with the Battaile, which his sonne Edmund had intended, but his Forces being assembled, he likewise had suddenly notice given him, that his Subjects meant to betray him to the Danes. Hereupon he withdrew himselfe to London, as the place in which he most confided; where falling into a relapse of his former sicknes, he ended his unfortunate dayes, in the yeare 1016. when he had Raigned 37. yeares; and was buried in the Cathedrall Church of Saint Paul, whose bones as yet remaine in the North wall of the Chancell, in a chest of gray Marble; adjoyning to that of Sebba King of the East Saxons. He had by his two Wives, eight Sonnes, and foure Daughters; of whom, his youngest named Goda, was marryed to one Walter de Maigne, a Nobleman of Normandy; by whom she had a sonne named Rodolph, which Rodolph had a sonne named Harold, created afterward by King William the Conquerour, Baron of Sudeley, in the County of Glocester, and Ancestor to the Barons of that place succeeding, and of the Lord Chandowes of Sudeley now being.

Ethelred being dead, his third sonne Edmund called Ironside (of his ability in enduring labour) but the eldest living at his fathers death, succeeded, and was Crowned at Kingston upon Thames, by Levingus Archbishop of Canterbury, in the yeare 1016. A great part of the English both feared and favoured, and indeed out of feare favoured Canutus; especially the Clergy, who at Southampton ordained him their King, and sware Feaalty to him: but the Londoners stood firme to Prince Edmund, and were the principall authors of his Election. Canutus before the death of King Ethelred, had besieged the City, and now with a large Trench encompassed it: but the new King Edmund comming on, raised the siege, and made Canutus flie to the Isle of Sheppey, where having stayed the winter, the Spring following, he assayled p. 20the West of England, and at Penham in Dorse…shire, a battaile was fought, and the Danes discomfitted. After this, in Worc…stershire at a place called Sherostan, another battaile was fought, where the Danes were like againe to be discomfited, but the traiterous Edrick perceiving it, he cut off the head of a souldier like unto King Edm…nd both in haire and countenance, and shaking his bloody sword, with the gasping head, cried to the Army of the English, Fly ye wretches flie, & get away, for your King is slain; behold, here is his head: but King Edmund having notice of this treacherous stratagem, hasted to shew himself where he might best be seen: whose sight so encouraged his men, that they had gotten that day a finall Victory, if night had not prevented them. Duke Edrick excused his fact, as being mistaken in the countenance of the man, and desirous to save the blood of the English; upon which false colour hee was received into favour againe. After this, Canutus secretly in the night brake up his Campe, and marched towards London, which in a sort was still besieged by the Danish ships: but King Edmund hearing of his departure, followed him, and with small adoe removed the siege, and in Triumphant manner entred the City. After this, neere unto Otford in Kent, was another great battaile fought, in which Canutus lost foure thousand five hundred men, and King Edmund onelyonly six hundred; the rest of the Danes saving themselves by …light; whom if King Edmund had pur…ued, it is thought that day had ended the warres betweene these two Nations for ever. But the ever traiterous Edrick, kept King Edmund from pursuing them, by telling him of Ambushes and other dangers: So as Canutu… had leisure to passe over into Essex, but thither also King Edmund followed him; where at Ashdone three miles from Saffron Walden, another battaile was fought, in which …he Danes being at the point to be overthrowne, the traiterous Edrick with all his Forces revoulted to their side, by which treachery the English lost the day. There died of King Edmunds Nobility, Duke Alfred, Duke Goodwyn, Duke Athelward, Duke Athelwyn, Earle Urchill, Codnoth Bishop of Lincolne, Woolsey Abbot of Ramsey, with many other. The remembrance of which battaile is retained to this day, by certaine small hils there remaining, whence have beene digged the bones of men, Armour, and horsebridles. After this; at Dereherst neere to the river Severn…, another battaile was ready to be fought; when suddenly a certaine Captaine steps forth, and for saving of blood u…ed great perswasions, that either they should try the matter by single Combat, or else divide the Kingdome betwixt them. Upon this the Combat is agreed on, and the two Princes entering into a small Island called Alney, adjoyning to the City of Glocester, in compleat Armour assayled each other, at first on horsebacke, and after on foote: when Canutus having received a dangerous wound, and finding himselfe overmatched in strength, desired a Compromise, and with a loud voyce used these words. What necessity should move us most Valiant Prince, for obtaining of a Title to endanger our lives? were it not better to lay malice aside, and condescend to a loving agreement? let us therefore become sworne brothers, and divide the Kingdome between us. This motion was by King Edmund accepted, and thus was the Kingdome divided betweene these two Princes; Edmund enjoying that part which lies upon the coast of France, and Canutus the rest. But now Duke Edrick hath his last and greatest Act of treachery to play: for King Edmund being retired to a place for natures n…cessity, he thurst from under the draught a sharpe speare into his body, and then cutting off his head, presented it to Canutus, with these fawning words, All hayle, thou sole Monarch now of England, for here behold the head of thy Copartner, which for thy sake I have adventured to cut off. Canutus though ambitious enough of soveraignty, yet aba…hed at so disloyall a fact, replyed and vowed, that in reward of that service his own head should bee advanced above all the Peeres of his Kingdom, which soone after he performed; for by his command the false Edricks head was cut off, and placed upon the highest gate in London. The death of this King in this manner, some say was acted at Oxford; other, that he died of naturall sicknesse in London, but howsoever he came to his death, his Raigne was but onelyonly seven months, & his body was buried at Glasten…ury, neere to his Grandfather King Edgar. This King Edmund had by his wife Algyt…, two sonnes; the eldest named Edward, surnamed p. 21the Outlaw, because he lived out of England in Hungary as a banished man, for feare of King Canutus: but when his Uncle King Edward the Confessor, had obtained the Crowne, he was recalled, and honourably entertained till he died. He married Agatha, sister to Queene Sophia, wife to Salomon King of Hungarie, and daughter to the Emperour Henry the second; by whom he had Edgar surnamed Atheling, the right Heire of the English Crowne, though he never enjoyed it. King Edmund had also two daughters, Margaret and Christian, of whom the younger became a Veyled Nunne at Ramsey in Hampshire; the elder Margaret, after sole Heire to the Saxon Monarchie, married Malcolme the third King of Scotland, from which Princely bed in a lineall Descent, our High and Mighty Monarch King Iames the first, doth in his most Royall person, unite the Britaines, Saxons, Normans, and Scottish Imperiall Crownes in one.

Of the first Danish King in England.

CAnutus being possest of halfe the Kingdome by composition with King Edmund, now after his death seised upon the whole, and to prevent all further question, he called a Councell of the English Nobility, wherein it was propounded, whether in the agreement betwixt Edm…nd and him, any claime of Title to the Crowne had beene reserved for King Edmunds brethren or sonnes: to which (not daring to say otherwise) they absolutely answered no, and thereupon tooke all of them the Oath of Allegeance to Canutus. Being thus cleered of all Opposites he prepared with great solemnity for his Coronation, which was performed at London, by the hands of Levingus surnamed Elstane, Archbishop of Canterbury, in the yeare 1017. being the first Dane that Raigned Monarch of England. But Canutus not thinking himselfe sufficiently safe, as long as any that might pretend, were in the peoples eye, caused first Edwyn the sonne of King Ethelred, and brother of Edmund, to abjure the Realme, who was yet afterward recalled, and treacherously murthered by his owne men, and his body buried at Tavestock in Devonshire. Next were the two sonnes of Edmund Ironside, Edward and Edmund, whom to the end the people might not see him shed the blood of Innocents, he sent to his halfe brother King of Sweden to be made away. Then remained Edward and Alfred, the sonnes of King Ethelred, and them their mother Queene Emma had sent away before to her brother the Duke of Normandie, there to be in safety: so as none of the Royall blood was now left in the land, to give Canutus any feare of competition. After this, he tooke to wife the vertuous Lady Emma, the Relict of King Ethelred, by which match he procured to himselfe three great benefits: one that hee wonne the love of the people by marrying a Lady whom they so entirely loved; another, that he got the Alliance of the Duke of Normandi…, a neighbou…ing Prince of great power; the third, that by marrying the mother, hee secured himselfe against the sons: as likewise Queene Emma was not unwillingly perswaded to the match, upon agreement to make her issue, if he had any by her, to inherit the Crowne of England. And to winne the love of the people more, hee caused great numbers of his Danes, who pestered the Country, to return home, bestowing amongst them for their satisfaction foure score and two thousand pounds. And to winne the love of the people yet more, he now set himselfe to the making of good lawes… in a Parliament at Oxford, whereof, for a Patterne of those times, some that concerne Religion, may not unfitly be here related. First, for the celebration of divine Service, it was ordained, that all Ceremonies tending to the encrease of reverence & devotion should bee used as need required. Secondly, that upon the Sabbath day, all publike Faires, Markets, Synods, Huntings, and all secular actions should be forborne, unlesse some urgent necessity should require it. Thirdly, that every Christian should thrice in the yeare receive the blessed Sacrament of the Lords Supper. Fourthly, that if a Minister of the Altar killed a man, or committed any notorious crime, he should bee deprived both of his Order and Dignity. Fifthly, th…t a married woman convict p. 22of adultery, should have her nose and eares cut off. Sixthly, That a widow marrying within a twelvemonth after her husbands decease, should lose her Joynture. These and many other good lawes were made, whereby the kingdome remained during all his time, in a most peaceable state and government. In the third yeare of his Raign, he heard how the Vandales taking advantage of his absence, had entred Denmarke, and annoyed his subjects; whereupon with a great Army of English hee passed over the Seas, and gave them battaile, but with ill successe the first day; when preparing for the next dayes battaile, the Earle Goodwyn who was Generall of the English, secretly in the dead of the night, set upon the Vandals Campe, & with a great slaughter of their souldiers, made their two Princes Ulfus and Anlave, to flie the field. In the morning it was told Canutus, that the English were fled, for that their station was left, and not a man of them to be found, which did not a little trouble his patience: but he going in person to see the truth, found the great overthrow the English had given, for which service ever after, hee held the English, and especially the Earle Goodwyn in great estimation. After this, returning home hee made a prosperous Expedition against Malcolme King of Scots; and at last, in the fifteenth yeare of his Raigne, wearied with the honourable troubles of the world, and out of devotion, he tooke a Journey to Rome, to visit the Sepulchre of St. Peter and Paul, from whence he writ to the Bishops and Nobility of England, that they should carefully administer Justice, and never seeke to advance his profit by any undue wayes, or with the detriment of any man. At his returne frō Rome, he built in Essex the Church of Ashdone, where he got the victory against King Edmund; in Norfolke, the Abbey of St. Benets, which Saint he greatly reverenced; and in Suffolke the Monastery of St. Edmund, which Saint he deadly feared. To the Church of Winchester hee gave many rich Jewels, whereof one was a Crosse, valued to be worth as much as the whole Revenue of England amounted to in one yeare. To Coventry he gave the arme of the great St. Austin, which he bought at Pavia in his returne from Rome, for which he payd an hundred Talents of silver and one of gold. One strange Act is recorded, which he did for convincing his fawning flatterers, who used to tell him that his power were more then humane. For being one time at Southampton, he commanded that his chaire of State should be set on the shoare when the Sea began to flow, and then sitting downe there in the presence of his many attendants, he spake thus to that Element: I charge thee that thou presume not to enter my Land, nor wet these Robes of thy Lord that are about me. But the Sea giving no heede to his command, but keeping on his usuall course of Tyde, first wet his skirts, and after his thighes, whereupon suddenly rising, he thus spake in the hearing of them all. Let all the worlds Inhabitants know, that vaine and weake is the power of their Kings; and that none is worthy of the name of King, but he that keepes both heaven and earth and sea in obedience. After which time he would never …uffer the Crowne to be set upon his head, but presently Crowned therewith the Picture of Christ on the Crosse at Winchester: from which example arose perhaps the custome, to hang up the Armour of Worthy men in Churches, as Offerings consecrated to him who is the Lord of battaile. When he had Raigned nineteene yeares, he deceased at Shafte…bery in the County of Dorset, the twelfth of November, in the yeare 1035. and was buried in the Church of the old Monastery at Winchester, which being after new built, his bones with many other English Saxon Kings, were taken up, and are preserved in gilt Coff…rs, fixed upon the wals of the Quire in that Cathedrall Church. He had by his two wives, three sonnes, Sweyne, and Harold by his first wife Alfgive; and Hardicnute by his second wife Queene Emma, and two daughters, of whom the eldest, called Guinhilda, was married to the Romane Emperour Henry the third, who being accused of adultery, and none found to defend her cause, at last an English Page adventured to maintaine her Innocency against a mighty Gyantlike-Combatant; who in fight, at one blow cutting the sinewes of his adversaries legge, with another he felled him to the ground, and then with his sword taking his head from his shoulders, redeemed both the Empresses life and honour. But the Empresse after this hard usage forsooke her husbands bed, and tooke upon her the p. 23Veyle of a Nun, in the Towne of Burges in Flanders, where she devoutly spent the r…st of her life.

Of the second Danish King in England.

KIng Canutus dying left his Kingdome of Norway, to his eldest Son Sweyn…, and his Kingdome of England, to his youngest Sonne Hardikn…te, whom he had by his wife Emma, but he being at the time of his Fathers death in Denmarke, Harold his elder Brother, by a former wife, taking advantage of his absence, layes claime to the Crowne. For determining of which Right, the Lords assembled at Oxford, where Queene Emma pleaded for her sonne Hardiknute, urging the Covenant of Can…tus at their marriage, and his last Will at his death; as also Earle Goodwyn of Kent did the like, being left Guardian of her Children, and keeper of his last Will. But Harolds presence, together with the favour of the Londoners, Danes, and Northumbrians, so wrought with the Lords, that the absent Hardiknute was neglected, and Harold was Proclaimed and Crowned King at Oxford, by …lnothus Arch-bishop of Canterbury, in the yeare 1036.

Harold having now attained the Crowne, was not so jealous of his Brother Hardiknute, as of his mother in Law Queene Emma, and her Sonnes by King Ethelre… who were beyond Sea, and therefore how to secure himselfe against these, was his first care. For effecting whereof, he framed a Letter, as written by Queene Emma, to her two Sonnes Edward and Alfred; instigating them to attempt the Crown usurped by Harold, against their Right: to which letter, comming first to the hands of Alfred, he suspecting no fraud, returned Answer, that he would shortly come over, and follow her Counsaile. And thereupon with a small Fleet, and some few souldiers, lent him by Baldwyn Earle of Flaunders, he tooke the Sea for England, where comming to shoare, Earle Goodwyn met him, and bound himselfe by Oath to be his guide to his Mother Queene Emma, but being wrought firme for Harold, he led him and his company a contrary way, and lodged them at Guilford, making knowne to King Harold what he had done, who presently committed them all to slaughter, sparing onelyonly every tenth man, for service or sale. Prince Alfred himselfe he sent Prisoner to the Isle of Ely, where having his eyes inhumanely put out, in griefe and torment he ended his life. Some adde a more horrible kind of cruelty, as that his belly was opened, and one end of his bowels drawne out, and fastned to a stake, his body pricked with Needles, or Poignards, and forced about, till all his Entrailes were extracted. This done, he then set upon Queene Emma, confiscated her Goods, and banished her the Realme. And now further to secure himselfe, he kept the Seas with sixteene Danish Ships, to the maintenance whereof, he charged the English with great payments; by which, if he procured the safety of his Person, he certainly procured the hatred of his Subjects. This King for his swiftnesse in running was called Harefoot; but though by his swiftnesse he outrunne his Brother for the Kingdome, yet could he not runne so fast, but that death quickely overtooke him; For having Raigned onelyonly foure yeares and some moneths, he dyed at Oxford … and was buryed at Westminster; having never had Wife or Children.

Of the third and last Danish King in England.

KIng Harold being dead, the Lords to make amends for their former neglect, send now for Hardiknute, and offer him their Allegeance, who accepteth their offer, and thereupon taking Sea, arrived upon the Coast of Kent, the sixth day after he had set saile out of Denmarke; and with great pompe conveyed to London, was there Crowned King by Elnothus Arch-bishop of Canterbury, in the yeare 1040. His first Act, was to be revenged of his deceased p. 24brother Harold, whose body he caused to be digged up, and throwne into the Thames, where it remained till a Fisherman found it, and buryed it in the Church yard of Saint Clement without Temple Barre, commonly called Saint Clement Danes, because it was the burying place of the Danes, as some write. But towards his Mother, and halfe Brother Prince Edw…rd, he shewed true naturall affection, inviting them both to returne into England; where he received them with all the honour, that from a Sonne or Brother could be expected.

But now, as the King Harold, for his swiftnesse in running was surnamed Harefoo…e; So this King for his intemperance in dyet, might have been surnamed Swines-mouth, or Bocc…di Porco; for his Tables were spread every day foure times, and furnished with all kindes of curious dishes, as delighting in nothing but Gormandizing and Swilling; and as for managing the State, he committed it wholly to his Mother Q…eene Emma, and to the politicke Earle of Kent, Godwyn; who finding this weaknesse in the King, began to thinke himselfe of aspiring… and to make the better way for it, he sought by all meanes to alien the Subjects hearts from the Prince, amongst other courses, he caused him to lay heavy Taxes upon them; onelyonly for Ship-money to pay his Danes, amounting to two and thirty thousand pounds: which was so offensive to the people, that the Citizens of Worcester slew two of his Officers, Thursta… and Fe…dax, that came to Collect it. But this King had soone the reward of his Intemperance; For in a Solemne Assembly and Banquet at Lambeth, Revelling and Carowsing, he suddenly fell downe without speech, or breath, after he had Raigned only two yeares, and was buryed at Winchester. His death was so welcome to his Subjects, that the day of his death, is to this day commonly celebrated with open pastimes in the street, and is called Hocks-tide, signifying scorning or contempt, which fell upon the Danes by his death. For with him ended the Raigne of the Danes in England; after they had miserably afflicted the kingdome, for the space of two hundred and forty yeares, though in Regall Government, but onelyonly six and twenty.

Of English Kings againe, and first of Edward the Confessour.

KIng Hardiknute dying without issue, as having never beene marryed, and the Danish line cleane extinguished, Edward, for his Piety called the Confessour, halfe Brother to the deceased Hardiknute, and sonne to King Ethelred by his Wife Queene Emma, was by a generall consent admitted King of England, and was Crowned at Winchester by Edsyne Arch-bishop of Canterbury, on Easter day, in the yeare 1042. being then of the age of forty yeares. He was borne at Islip, neare to Oxford, and after his Fathers death, for safety sent into France, to the Duke of Normandy his Mothers Brother, from whence he now came, to take upon him the Crowne of England. His Acts for gaining the Peoples love, were first, the remitting the yearely tribute of forty thousand pounds, gathered by the name of Danegilt, which had beene imposed by his Father, and for forty yeares together paid out of all mens Lands, but onelyonly the Clergy; and then, from the divers Lawes of the Mercians, West Saxons, Danes, and Northumbrians, he selected the best, and made of them one Body certaine, and written in Latine, being in a sort the Fountaine of those which at this day we tearme the Common Lawes, though the formes of pleading, and processe therein, were afterward brought in by the Conquerour. The Raigne of this King was very peaceable: OnelyOnly in his sixth yeare, the Danish Pirates entred the Port of Sandwich; which with all the Sea-coast of Essex they spoyled, and then in Flanders made merchandise of their prey. As likewise the Irish, with thirty ships entred Severne, and with the assistance of Griffyth King of Southwales, burnt or …lew all in their way, till at last, Reese the brother of Griffyth was slaine at B…lenden, and his head presented to King Edward at Glocester. His Domesticall troubles were onelyonly by Earle G…dwyn and his sonnes; who yet after many contestations and affronts, were reconciled, and Godwyn received againe p. 25into as great favour as before. But though King Edward forgave his Treasons, yet the Divine Providence did not; for soone after, as he sate at Table with the King, on Easter Munday, he was suddenly strucken with death, and on the Thursday following dyed, and was buryed at Winchester. Some make his death more exemplar; as that justifying himselfe for Prince Alfreds death, he should pray to God, that if he were any way guilty of it, he might never swallow downe one morsell of bread, and thereupon by the just Judgement of God, was choaked by the first morsell he offered to eate.

In this Kings time, such abundance of snow fell in Ianuary, continuing till the middle of March following, that almost all Cattell and Fowle perished, and therewithall an excessive dearth followed.

Two Acts are related of this King, that seeme nothing correspondent to the generall opinion had of his Vertue, one concerning his Mother, the other touching his Wife. That concerning his Mother Queen Emma was this, that because after King Ethelreds death, she marryed the Danish King Canutus, and seemed to favour her issue by him, more then her issue by King Ethelred, therefore he dispossest her of all her Goods; and committed her to custody, in the Abbey of Worwell; and more then this, so farre hearkned to an aspersion cast upon her, of unchaste familiarity with Alwyne Bishop of Winchester, that for her Purgation, she was faine to passe the tryall of Fire Ordeall, which was in this manner; nine Plow-shares red hot we…e laid in unequall distance, which she must passe bare-foote and blindfold; and if she passed them unhurt, then she was judged Innocent, if otherwise, Guilty. And this tryall she passed, and came off fairely, to the great astonishment of all beholders. The other touching his Wife was this; He had marryed Editha the beautifull, and indeed vertuous daughter of the Earle Godwyn, and because he had taken displeasure against the Father, he would shew no kindnesse to the daughter; he had made her his wife, but conversed not with her as his wife, onelyonly at board, bu… not at Bed, or if at bed, no otherwise then David with Abishagh, and yet was content to heare her accused of Incontinency, whereof if she were guilty, he could not be innocent. So as, what the vertues were, for which after his death, he should be reputed a Saint, doth not easily appeare. It seemes he was chaste, but not without injury to his wife; Pious, but not without ungratefulnesse to his Mother; Just in his present Government, but not without neglect of Posterity; for through his want of providence in that point, he left the Crowne to so doubtfull succession, that soone after his decease it was translated out of English into French, and the Kingdome made servile to a fourth forraine Nation. One Ability he had which raised him above the pitch of ordinary Kings, and yet at this day is ordinary with Kings, that by his onelyonly touching and laying his hand upon it, he cured a Disease, which from his Curing, is called The Kings Evill. His Mother Queene Emma, in memory of the nine Plow-shares she had passed in her Tryall, gave nine Manors to the Minster of Winchester, and himselfe remembring the wrong he had done her, bestowed on the same place, the Island of Portland in Dorsetshire, being about seven miles in compasse. He made also of a little Monastery in the West of London … by the River of Thames, a most beautifull Church, (called of the place Westminster) where he provided for his owne Sepulchre, and another Dedicated to Saint Margaret, standing without the Abbey. This of Westminster he endowed with many rich revenues, and confirmed his Charters under his broad Seale, being the first of the Kings of England, who used that large and stately Impression in their Charters and Patents. He Founded also the Colledge of Saint Mary Otterey in Devonshire, and gave unto it the Village of Otereg, and removed the Bishops See from Cridington to Exceter, as to a place of farre more Dignity: and when he had Raigned the space of three and twenty yeares and six moneths, he ended his life, the fourth of Ianuary, in that roome of his Palace at Westminster, which is now called the Paynted Chamber, in the yeare 1066. and was buryed in the Church at Westminster, which he had builded.

p. 26Of Harold the second English King after the Danes.

KIng Edward the Confessour, being himselfe without issue, had in his life time, sent into Hungary for his Nephew Edward called the Outlaw, the sonne of Edmund Ironside; with a purpose to designe him his Successour in the Crowne, but he dying soone after his comming into England, King Edward then gave his Sonne Edgar the name of Atheling; as to say; Prince Edgar meaning to designe him for his Successour, but being prevented by death, before the successour was fully established, and Edgar Atheling, though he had right, yet being young, and not of power to make good his Right, Harold the sonne of Earle Goodwyn steps into the Throne, and never standing upon ceremonies, set himselfe the Crowne upon his owne head, wherein, though as a violater of holy Rites, he offended the Clergy, yet not any either of Clergy or Layity, durst oppose him, as being at that time the most martiall man in the Kingdome; and such a one, as the state of the Realme stood at that time in need of, and besides his owne worthinesse had the assistance of Edwyn and Marchar, the two great Earles of Yorkeshire and Chester, whose sister Algyth he had marryed. It is true withall, that King Edward had appointed the Crowne after his owne decease, sometimes to William Duke of Normandy, sometimes to Edgar Atheling, and sometimes to this Harold, so as he was Crowned by Aldred Arch-bishop of Yorke, as not comming in by intrusion or wrong, but by the appointment of King Edward, though that appointment of King Edwa…d, was rather to make him Regent, during the minority of Edgar, then to make him absolute King, but howsoever, being once in the Throne, he was then able to make his owne Title, and to make Prince Edgar some amends, he created him Earle of Oxford, which was indeed to use him like a Childe, take away a Jewell, and please him with an Apple. Yet Harold having once gotten into the Throne, he c…rryed himselfe with great Valour and Justice, for the time he sate in it, which was but very short, as being indeed but tottering from the very beginning, and that chiefly by meanes of his owne Brother To…stayne, who by diverting his Forces to suppresse a Rebellion, made him of lesse force to resist an invasion. But now that we have shewed how Harold entred the Throne, we must forbeare to shew how he was cast out, till we come to him that cast him out, who because he was not onelyonly of another Family, but of another Nation, we must necessarily take the beginning from a deeper roote, and indeed, seeing in him, we shall joyne our Island to the Continent, which is a larger world: Our Kings hereafter, will afford a larger Extent for matter of Discourse then heretofore they have done.