The Exact Recorder, Chapter 3 (5 of 5)

The Exact Recorder · Chapter 3 (5 of 5)

p. 178Cap. 7. Sapientes etiam decernunt, Ut pro delicto modico nemo Christianum morti adjudicet, sed in misericordia potius Leges administret ad utilitatem populi; et non pro modico eum perdat, qui est opus manuum Dei, et mercimonium ejus magno comparatum pretio. De quolibet autem Crimine acuratius decernito, sententiam praebens juxta factum, mercedem juxta meritum, ita scilicet, ut secundum divinam clementiam levis sit poena, et secundum humanam fragilitatem tolerabilis.

Cap. 9. Nemo dehinc in posterum Ecclesiae servitium imponat, nec clientelam Ecclesiae injuriis afficiat, nec Ministrum Ecclesiae ejiciat inconsulto Episcopo.

Cap. 21. Ve…ba et op…ra rectè quisque disponat, er Jusjurandum pactamque fidem cautè teneat. Omnem etiam Injustitiam è patriae finibus quâ poterit industriâ quisque ejiciat, et perjuria formidanda.

Cap. 22. Urbium, Oppidorum, Arcium atque Pontium instauratio sedulo fiat, prout opus fuerit, restaurentur, renoventur: vallis et fossis muniantur, et circumvallentur; Militaris etiam et Navalis Profectio, uti imperatum est, Proposit. 1, 3, …, 9.ob universalem utique necessitatem.

Cap. 23. De Navali Expeditione sub Paschate. Cavendum etiam est, ut celerius post Paschatis festum p. 179Navalis expeditio Annuo sit parata. Si quis Navem in Reipublicae expeditionem designatum vitiaverit, damnum integrè restituito, et pacem Regis violatam compensato. Si verò eam ita prorsus corruperit, ut deinceps nihili habeatur, plenam luito injuriam et laesam praeterea Majestatem. So one translation out of the Saxon Copy reads it: but another thus. Naves per singulo… annos ob patriae defensionem et munitionem praeparentur: po…ique sacrosanctum Pa…cha cum cunctis utensilibus competentibus fimul congregentur. Qua etiam poena digni sunt qui Navium detrimentum in aliquibus perficiunt, notum cunctis esse cupimus. Quicunque aliquam ex Navibus per quampiam inetriam, vel per incuriam, vel negligentiam corruperit, et tamen recuperabilis sit, Is, navis corruptelam vel fracturam ejusdem, per solidam prius recuperet, Regique deinde, ea quae pro eju…dem munitionis fractura, sibimet pertinet, ritè persolvat.

Cap. 24. De Militiam de…ractante. Si quis de Profectione militari cui Rex intererit, sine licentia se substraxerit, in detrimentum currat omnium fortunarum.

These three last Lawes most clearly demonstrate, that the Militia and Military affairs of this age, with all their Provisions of Arms, Ships for defence of the Realm by Land and Sea, against the invading Danes, and other Enemies, with their Military Laws, and all other apurtenances thereto belonging, were ordered and setled in their General Councils by common consent.

Cap. 26. Si quis vitae Regis insidiabitur,Proposit. 8. sui ipsius vitae dispendio, et quas habet, rebus omnibus poenas luito: Sin negaverit, et purgatione qua licuerit, expetierit, solemniori eam faciat juramento, vel Ordalio triplici, juxta legem Anglorum, et in Danorum lege, prout ipsa statuit.

p. 180Cap. 27. Si quis Christi legibus, sive Regis se nefariè opposuerit, capitis plectitor aestimatione, vel mulctâ aliâ, pro delicti qualitate. Et si is contrarius rebellare armis nititur, et sic occiditur, inultus jaceat.

Proposit. 1, 2, 4, 5.Cap. 29. Scrutari oportet diligentius unumquemque modis omnibus, quonam pacto illud ante omnia efferatur Consilium, quod populo habeat utilissimum, et, ut recta Christi religio …xime provehatur, injustumque quodlibet funditus extirpetur. Haec enim in rem …uerin… totius patriae, ut injustitia conculcetur, et Institia coram Deo et hominibus diligatur.

Cap. 32. Ut quisquis fuerit potentior in hoc seculo, vel per scelera evectus in altiorem gradum, ita gravius emendabit peccata sua, et pro singulis malefactis poenas luet graviores.

Haec itaque Legalia Statuta vel Decreta in Nostro Conventu Synodali, … Rege nostro magnopere edicta, cuncti tunc temporis Optimates, se observaturos fideliter spondebant.

The Invasions and Oppressions of the Danes, excited both the King, his Prelates and Nobles, in this Great General Council, not only to provide for their necessary defence against them by Land and Sea, but likewise to enact good Laws for the advancement of Gods worship and service, the good Government of the Republick, the advancement of Justice, and Righteousnesse, the suppression of all Oppressions, Injustice, wickedness, and preservation of the Just Rights and Liberties both of the Church and People; as the most effectual means to unite and preserve them against the Common Enemy, and to remove Gods wrath and judgements from them, as the other Statutes and Decrees of this Council more fully resolve, which you may peruse at leisure.

About the same year, (as I conjecture) or not p. 181long after [c][c]Chron. … Bromt. col. 893. to 903. Lambardi Archaion, Spelm. Concil. p. 530, 531, 532, 533.King Ethelred having some brea…hing time from wars by his Peace concluded with the perfidious Danes, h…ld three other great Parliamentary Councils, the first at VVoodstock, the second at Venetyngum, the third at Haba, wherein He and his Wisemen made and published many excellent Civil and Ecclesiastical Laws, for the Good Government, Peace, VVelfare and happiness of his People,Proposit. 5, 6. recorded at large in Bromton, Lambard, and Spelman, where you may read them. I shall insert only 3 of them at Venetingum (VVantige, as some take it.)

Cap. 4. Habeantur placita in singulis VVapentakis, ut exeant seniores 12 Thayni & Praepositus cum e…s, & jurent super sanctuarium quod eis dabitur in manus, Quod neminem innocentem velint accusare, vel noxium concelare.

Cap. 23. A… Bilynggesgate si advenisset una navicula, unus obolus Thelonii dabatur: si major & habet siglas, 1 d. si adveniat Ceol, vel ulcus, & ibi jaceat 4 d. ad Thelonium dentur. Proposit. …, 9.De navi plena lignorum, unum lignum ad Theloneum detur. In ebdomada panum Theloneum detur 3 diebus, die Dominica, die Martis, & die Iovis. Qui ad Pontem veniat cum Bato ubi piscis inest, unus ob: dabatur in Theloueum, & de majori Nave 1. d. Homines de Rothomago qui veniebant cum vino vel craspisce, Flandrenses & Pontrienses, & Normannia & Francia monstrabant res suas, & extolneabant. Hogge, & Leodium, & Nivella, qui per terras ibant, osten…ionem dabant et Theoloneum. Et homines Imperatoris qui veniebant cum navibus suis bonarum legum digni tenebantur, sicut & nos emere in suas naves: Et non lic…bat eis aliquod Forcheapum facere burhmannis, & dare Theoloneum suum. Et in sancto natali Domini duos Grisingos pan…os, & unum Brunum, & 10 libras Piperis, & cirotecas 5 hominum, et duos cabillinos, colennos aceto pl…nos, & totidem in Pasca: de Dosseris cum Gallinis, …na Gallina Thelon. & de uno Dosseto cum Ovis, 5 Ova Theolon. Si p. 182veniat ad Mercatum, mongestre, Sinere qui mangonant in Caseo & Butiro 14 diebus ante Natale Domini, 1. d. & 7 diebus post Natale Domini, Unam alium denarium ad Theloneum.

Cap. 24. Si Portireu vel Tungravia, vel alius Praepositus compellat aliqu…m quod Theolon. supertenuerit, & …omo respondeat… quod nullum Theloneum concelaverit quod juste debuit, juret hoc se sexto, & sit quietus. Si app…llet quo a Theolonium dederit, inveniat cui dedit, & qu etus …t. S… …unc hom…nem invenire non posset cui dedit, reddat ipsum Theloneum, et persolvat 5 l. Regi. Si Cacepollum advoce…, quod …i Theoloneum dedit, & ille neget, perneget ad dei …ud…cium, et in nulla alia lada.

These are the first Laws… (to my remembrance) wherein there is any mention of Toll, Tribute, or Custom, paid by any Natives or Foreiners for goods or merchandise imported or sold;Proposit. 1. or any forfeitures or pen…lty imposed for concealing or non-payment thereof, which it seems were imposed about this time by common consent in a Parliamentary Council, for the better maintenance of the Navy, and defence of the Realm against the Danes, the end for which I cite them.

The King having thus in the Great Councils of Aenham and Wantige, Anno 1008, 1009.by consent of his Nobles and Wisemen, provided a Navy to be annually set out for the defence of the Realm, in pursuance thereof the selfsame year (as our [d][d]Florentius Wigorn. Sim. Dunelm. Mat. Westm. Huntin. Hoved. Malmesb. Ingulph. Radulph. de Diceto, Bromt. Polychron. Fab. Grafton, Fox, Holinsh. Speed, Daniel, Antiq. Eccles. Brit. Knyghton.Historians joyntly attest) commanded one ship to be built, and furnished out of every 310 Hides, or Ploughlands, and a Buckler & Helmet out of every 9 Ploughlands, throughout his Realm. The ships being accordingly provided, the King victualled and placed chosen Souldiers in them, and assembled them all together to the port of Sandwich, that they might defend the Coasts of the kingdom from the irruptions of Foreiners. An. 1009. Puppes praedictae congregatae sunt apud Sandwic, & viri optime armati, Nec fuit tantus numerus Navium tempore alicujus in Britannia, Proposit. 2, 3, 6, 9.writes Henry Huntindon. But p. 183yet God …rus…rated and blasted all their designs, beyond expectation: For about, or a little before this time, Brithiricus a slippery ambitious proud man, brother to perfidious Duke Edric, injuriously accused Wulnoth, a Noble young man of Southsex to the King, whose servant he was; who thereupon banished him. Wulnoth upon this fled away, lest he should be apprehended, and having gotten 20 Ships, exercised frequent Piracies upon the Sea Coasts. The Kings Navy being thereof informed, and that any man who would might easily take him, Brithtric hereupon, to get praise to himself, took 80 of the Kings Ships with him, and promised to bring Wulnoth alive or dead to the King. VVhen he had prosperously sailed a long time in pursute of him, a most violent tempest suddenly arising, shattered and bruised all the ships, driving them one against another, and forced them to run ashore upon the dry land, with great loss, where Wulnoth presently coming upon them, fired and burnt them all. The rest of the Navy discontented with this sad news, returned to London: The Army likewise then raised was dispersed, Et sic omnis labor Anglorum cassatus est, writes Huntindon: or, as Wigorniensis and others express it, Sicque totius populi maximus labor per…t, to their great grief and disappointment. Upo… this disaster, in the time of Harvest, Earl Turkel a Dan… arived with a great new Fleet of Danes, and …n innumerable Army at Sandwich, whom another great Navy of Danes under the command of Hemmingus, Erglaf…, & Tenetland followed in the MonethMonth of August. These all joyning together marched to Canterbury, assaulted, made a breach therein, and were likely to take it. Whereupon the Citizens and Inhabitants of East-Kent were inforced to purchase a firm peace wi…h them, ar the sum of 3000 pounds; which being paid, they returning to their ships pillaged the Isle of Wight; with the Counties of Sussex and Southampton, near the p. 184Sea-Coasts, burning the Villages, and carrying away great booties thence. King Ethelred upon this, raised and collected a great Army out of all England, placing forces in all Counties near the Sea, to hinder the Danes landing and plundring. Notwithstanding they desisted not, but exercised rapines in all places where they could conveniently land. At last, when they had straggled further off from their Ships than they accustomed, and thought to have returned laden with spoils, the King with many thousands of Souldiers intercepting their passage, resolved to die, or to conquer them. But perfidious Duke Edric, by his treacherous and perplexed orations, endeavored to perswade the King and Souldiers, not then to give the Enemies battel, but to suffer them to escape at that time. Suasit & persuasit. And thus, (like a Traitor to his Country, as he ever had been) he then delivered the Danes out of the Englishmens hands, and suffered them to depart with their booty, without resistance. The Danes a…ter this taking up their VVinter quarters in the River of Thames, maintained themselves with the spoils they took out of Essex, Kent, and other places on both sides of the River, and oft times assaulting the City of London, attempted to take it by assault, but were still valiantly repulsed by the Citizens with great loss.

In Ian. 1010. the [e][e]Malmesb. Ingulph. Flor. Wigorn. Sim. Dunelm. Huntind. Hoveden, Mat. Westmin. Bromt. Radulphus de Diceto. Polychronicon, Knighton, Fab. Holinsh. Speed, Fox, Grafton, Daniel, Antiq. Eccles. Brit.Danes …allying out of their Ships,Anno 1010, 1011, 1012. marched through Chiltern Forest to Oxford, which they pillaged and burnt, wasting the Country on both sides the Thames in their return. Being then informed that there was a great Army raised and assembled against them in London, ready to give them battel; thereupon that part of the Danish Army on th… Northside of the Thames, passed the River at Stanes, and there joyning with those on the South-side, marched in one body to their Ships through Surrey, laden with p. 185spoils, refreshing themselves in Kent all the Lent. After Easter they went into the East parts of England, marching to Ringmere near Ipswich, where Duke Ulfketel resided. On the first of May they fought a set battel with him, where, in the heat of the battel the East-English turned their backs on Turketel a Dane, beginning the fight: but the Cambridgeshire men fighting manfully for their Country and Liberty, resisted the Danes a long time, but at last being overpowred with multitudes, they likewise sle…; Many Nobles and Officers of the King, and an innumerable multitude of people were slain in the fight. The Danes gaining the victory, and thereby East-England, turned all Horsemen, and running through the Country for three Months space, burnt Cambridge, Thetford, with all the Towns and Villages in those parts, slew all the people they met with, as well Women and Children, as Men; tossing their very Infants on the tops of their Pikes, wasted, pillaged all places, killing the Cattel they could not eat, and with an infinite rich booty their Footmen returned to their ships. But their Horsemen marching to the River of Thames, went first into Oxfordshire…, and from thence into Buckingham, Hertford and Bedford Shires, burning Villages, and killing both Men and beasts, and wholly depopulated the Country; then they retired laden with very great booties to their ships. After this, about the Feast of St. Andrew they rambled through Northamptonshire, burning and wasting all the Country, together with Northampton it self; then marching Westward into Wiltshire, they burnt, pillaged, depopulated the Country, leaving all those Counties like a desolate Wilderness, there being none to resist or encounter them after their great victory at Ringmere.

The Danes having thus wasted and depopulated East. England, Essex, Middlesex, Hertford, Buckhingham, Oxford, Cambridge Shires, half Huntindonshire, p. 186most of Northamptonshire, Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Southampton, Wiltshire, and Barkshire, with Fire and Sword. King Ethelred, et Regni sui Magnates, and the Nobles of his Realm,Propos. 1, 6, 9. thereupon sent Amba…adors to the Danes, desiring peace from them, and promising them Wages and Tribute, so as they would desist from depopulating the Realm. Which they upon hearing the Embassadors consented to, yet not without fraud and dissimulation, as the Event proved. For although provi…ions and expences were plentifully provided for them, and Tribute paid them by the English according to their desires, ye… they desisted not from their rapines, but marched in Troops through the Provinces, wasting the Villages every where, spoiling most of the miserable people of their goods, and some of their lives. At last, not satisfied with rapine and bloodshed, between the Feasts o… St. Mary and St. Michael, they besieged Canterbury, (contrary to their dear bought peace) and by the treachery of Archdeacon Almear took the City, which they pillaged and burnt to the ground, together with the Churches therein, burning some of the Citizens in the fire, slaying others of them, casting many of them headlong over the Walls, dragging the VVomen by the hair about the streets, and ravishing, and murdering them. After which they decimated the Men, VVomen, Monks, and little Children that remained, leaving only the tenth of them alive, and murdering the rest, slaying no less than 900 Religious persons, and above 8000 o…ers in this manner, as some of our Historians relate. Mr. (f)(f)See Speeds Hist…ry, p. 419.Lambard in his Perambulation of Kent, computeth, that ther were massacred 43. thousand and two hundred persons in this Decimation, there being only 4 Monks, and 4800 Lay-people saved alive. The Archbishop [g][g]See Antiq. Eccles. Brit. Gervasius, Malmesb. and Godwin in his life. Huntind. Hist. l. 6. p. 361. Mat. VVestm. Hoveden, Bromt. Wigorn. Sim. Dunelm. Polychron. Grafton, Holinsh. Fab. Speed, Daniel, VVil. Thorn, col. 1782. Radulph. de Diceto Abbrev. Chron… col. 464, 465.Alfege p. 187they took prisoner, bound in chains, buffeted, grievously wounded, and then carried to their Fleet, where they kept him prisoner 7 Moneths. At last they propounded to him, that if he would enjoy his life and liberty, he should pay them 3000 pounds for his ransom: which he refusing to do Week after Week; prohibiting any others to give them any thing for his ransom, they were so inraged with him, that bringing him forth publikely to their Council at Greenwich, they struck him down to the ground with their battel Axes, Stones, and the Bones and Heads of Oxen, and at last one Thrum, (whom he had confi…med but the day before) moved with an impious piety, cleft his head with an Axe, and so martyred him. The Londoners hearing of it, purchased his dead corps with a great sum of money, and honou…ably interred it: But above 2000 of these bloody Villains were in short time after destroyed wi…h grievous diseases. VVhiles these things were acted by the Danes in Kent. Anno 1012.Anno 1012. perfidious Duke Edric (h)(h)Simeon Dunelm. Hist. col. 169. Hoveden Annal. pars 1. p. 432. Florent. Wigorn. p. 378. Mat Westm. An. 1012. Polychron. Graft. Fabian, Speed, Daniel.et omnes cujuscunque Ordinis et Dignitatis Primates Congregati, and all the Nobles of every Order and Dignity a…embled together at the City of London continuing there til they had levied and …aid to the Dane… a Tibute of forty (as some) or forty eight thousand pounds (as others write) upon this condition; That all the Danes within the Realm should have everywhere a peaceable habitation with the English, and that there should be, as it were, one Heart, and one Soul of both people (as Matthew Westminster, Daniel, and some others record the Agreement.) Which Accord being ratified on both sides with Pledges and Oaths (as Matthew Propos. 1, 6, 9.Westminster and others relate,) King Swain (as some Historians write, though others mention not his being here in person, but only by his Commanders) returned into his own Land, and so …he rage of the Danish persecution ceased for a short space. Upon this agreement 45 of the Danish ships under the command of p. 188Turkill the Danish General, submitted themselves to King Ethelred, promising, That they would defend England against strangers and forein invasions, upon this con…dition, that the English should find them victuals and cloaths. Henry Huntindon censures this accord,(i)(i)Historiarum l. 6. p. 261. Chron. Iohan. Bromton. col. 891. with the Danes, as made overlate. Tun… vero Rex nimis serò pacem feci… cum Dacorum exercitu, dans eis 8000 (misprinted for 48000) librarum; nunquam enim tempore oportuno pax fiebat, donec nimia contritione terra langueret.

To what extremities King Ethelred was put to raise this and the other forementioned Tributes to the D…nes, and to pay his own Captains besides; and how much the Monasteries were taxed, oppressed, exhausted of all their moneys, pla…e, wealth by the King, his Officers and the Danes, during these wars, by force and menaces, this memorable passage of Abbot Ingulphus will best inform us, not mentioned by any other Historians, which I purposely reserved, as properest for this place.

(k)(k)Ingulphi Histor. p. 890, 891, 892.In tempore i…aque Domini Osk…tuli Abbatis Croylandiae, cum sic Dani totam terram inquietarent, indigenae …e Villis & Vicis ad Civitates & Castella, & pl…imi ad paludes, et lacum, loca invia refugientes, Danorum transitum et discursum pro anima praecavebant. Coeperunt tunc omnia terrae Monasteria a Rege Ethelredo, Proposit. 1, 9.et Ducibus ejus ac Ministris Gravissimis exactionibus subjici, et ad satisfaciendum Danicis Tributis pro immensis pecuniarum summis sibi impositis, supra modum affligi: Et direptis thesauris, ac monasteriorum tam sacris calicibus, quam aliis jocalibus, etiam sanctorum Scrinia jubent ab exactoribus spoliari. Venerabilis ergo pater dominus Osketulus Abbas Croilandiae 400. marcas pro talibus Tributis variis vicibus exolverat: et tandem 12. annis in officio pastorali sanctè ac strenuè consummatis, mortis sacrae compendio Regias exactiones, universosque p. 189seculi timo…es cum carnis depositione finalitèr exnebat. 12. Cal. Novemb. Anno scil. Domini 1005. Cui successit ad Abbatis officium Venerabilis Pater Abbas Godricus, electus et effectus Abbas in diebus angustiae, tribulationis et miseriae; laboriosissimeque rexit Monasterium 14. annis, sub praedicto rege Ethel…edo: Hujus Abbatis tempore cum Dani totius terrae ferè obtinerent dominium, et …àm per Ethelredum regem et ejus Duces Edricum, Alf…icum, Godwinum et alios …lures importabiles Impositiones pro Danorum tributis persolvendis, ac aliae Exactiones gravissimae ad eorundem Ducum expensas plurimas restaurandas, quam per Analafum et Swanum, ac eorum exerci…us depraedationes, despo…iation…s et destructiones assi… ne fierent saepe multa Monasteria de omni Denario emuncta sunt. Non tamen exact r…s ultimam quadrantem se extorsisse credere voluerent. Ita hinc religiosi, quo magis premebantur magis… putabantur habentes, magis putabantur abundantes. Hinc venerabilis Pater Abbas God…icus solvit primo Anno Regi Ethelredo, 200 marcas: Ducesque sui pro suis expensis similiter ducentas marcas extorquebant, praeter minores sumptus, qui quotidie Regis ministris irruentibus con…inue fiebant. Secundo, tertio ac quarto anno similiter actum est. Tertio enim ann… pro Triremibus per omnes portus Fabricandis, et Navali Militia cum victualibus, et aliis necessariis exhibenda, Ducentae Librae exactae sunt. Quarto etiam anno cum …urketulus, Danicus Comes cum fortissima classe appllcuisset. Pro centum Libris missum et ad solutionem per exactores crudelissimos commissum est. Di…current…que Dani tunc per provin…ias, omnia mobilia diripientes, immobilia cremantes, Draiton, Kotenham, et Hoke…on maneria Croylandiae, cum toto Comitatu Cantabrigiae direpta, ignibus tradiderunt. Sed haec nuntia sunt malorum. Quippe cum quolibet anno sequente quater …ntum Marcae Regiis exactionibus et Ducum p. 190suornm sumptibus communiter solverent, rex Swanus veniens cum classe recenti exercitu ferocissimo tunc omnia depopulatur. Irruens enim de Lindesia, vicos cremat, rusticos eviscerat, religiosos omnes variis tormentis necat: tunc Baston et Langtoft flammis donat. Is erat annus Domini 1008. Tunc monasterium Sanctae Pegae omniaque sua contigua maneria, scilicet Slinton, Northumburtham, Makesey, Etton, Badington, & Bernake, omnia una vice combusta, tota familia caesa, vel in captivitatem ducta. Abbas cum toto comitatu nocte fugiens et navigio in Croylandiam veniens, salvatus est. Similiter Monasterium Burgi, villaeque vicinae ac maneria sua, Ege, Thorp, Walton, Witherington, Paston, Dodifthorp, et Castre, prius omnia direpta, postea flammis tradita sunt. Abbas cum majore parte conventus sui assumptis secum sacris reliquiis sanctarum Virginum, Kineburgae, Kineswithae ac Tibbae Thorniam adiit. Prior autem cum nonnullis fratribus, assumpto secum brachio sancti Oswaldi regis, ad insulam de Hely aufugit. Subprior vero cum 10. fratribus ad Croylandiam venit faelicitèr. Illo anno ex frequentibus fluviis inundationes excreverunt, et vicinas paludes, circum que jacentes mariscos immeabiles reddebant. Ideo totus mundus advenit, populus infinitus affluxit, Chorus et claustrum replebantur Monachis, caetera Ecclesia sacerdotibus et clericis, Abbatia tota laicis, caemeterium que nocte ac die sub tentoriis mulieribus et pueris: fortiores quicunque inter eos ac juvenes in ulnis et alnetis ora fluminum observabant: erantque tunc quotidie (ut caetera onera taceantur) 100 Monachi in mensa. Super haec omnia, per nuncium Rex Swanus Monasterio Croylandiae mille Marcas imposuit, et …ub poena combustionis totius Monasterii solutionem dictae pecuniae certo die apud Lincoln assignavit; infraque tertium mensem post solutionem hujus pecuniae, iterum pro victualibus suo exercitui providendis exactores nequissimi mille Marc…s p. 191minis maximis extorquebant. Ventilatum est tunc et ubique vulgatum crudele martyrium S. Elphegi Archiepiscopi Doroberniae, qui quia summ…m pecuniae excessivam sibi impositam pro sua redemptione solvere detrectavit, belluina Dacorum ferocitas eum acerbissimo tormento crudeliter interemit. Omnes fera tempora flebant, foelices qui quocunque modo in fata processerant. Abbas Godricus maximè, cui cura tanti populi incumbebat et quem Rex Ethelredus cumulos argenti habere existimabat. Danicus vero Swanus, snusque totus exercitus ei, tanquam Domino de manibus eorum refugientium, juges insidias et minas semper maximas ingerebat. Demum expensis interni… et exactionibus externis totus thesaurus Domini Turketuli Abbatis distractus est, horre… …riborum Egelri…orum …m…lita …un…, cum adhuc Regii exactores pro pecuniis quotidie irruerent Et eum tanquam patriae proditorem, et Danorum provisorem regi in proximo cum dignis compedibus deducendum, et supplicus tradendum pro suis demeritis affirmarent. Perculsus ergo venerabilis Pater Abbas Godricus dolore cordis intrinsecus pro tot minis terribilibus, convocat totum suum conventum; et nuncians nummos Monasterio deficere, orat et exorat, quatenus doceant et decernant in medio, quid contra nequam seculum magis expediat faciendum? Tandem longo tractatu placet haec sententia cunctis, aliquem Ministrorum seu satellitum Edrici Ducis Merciorum conducere, et cum pecuniae deficeren…, terris et tenementis ad terminum vitae concedendis, in suum defensorem contra imminentia pericula obligare. Erat enim ille Edricus potentissimus post regem in terra, et cum rege Ethelredo, et cum Swano rege Danorum familiarissimus, et postea cum Cnuto filio suo. Conductus est ergo quidam maximus satellitum dicti Ducis Edrici nomine Normannus, sanguine summe clarus, filius, videlicet Comitis Lefwini, et Frater Leofrici nobilis Comitis Leicestriae, dato sibi (prout postulabat) manerio p. 192de Badby, ad terminum 100. annorum. Ille dictum manerium acceptans, tenere de Sancto Guthlaco per firmam in grano piperis per annum in festo S. Bartholomaei singulis annis persolvendo, fideliter promittebat, et se futurum procuratorem ac protectorem Monasterii contra omnes adversarios confecto inde chirographo obligabat. Valuit illud Monasterio aliquanto tempore, scilicet omnibus diebus vitae suae.

By which passages it is apparent, what Taxes, exaction…, …re…sures the Monasteries and others suffered both from King Ethelred his Captains and Officers on the one side, and from the Danes on the other side; and how they were enforced to hire and b…ibe great Souldiers and Courtiers, by leases and monies, to protect them from utter ruine.

(l)(l)History of Great Britain, p. 416.Ioh… Speed affirms, That the Clergy as backward as any, denied to King Ethelred their assistance, pleading their exemp…ions from warr, and privileges of the Church, when the land lay bleeding and deploring for help, and scandalized all his other proceedings for dema…ding their aydes. But this passage of Abbot Ingulphus so near that age, out of the Register Books of Croyland (whereof he was Abbot not long after) proves they paid great annual contributions to the King and his Officers, which consumed all their money, plate, Jewels, Chalices, and the very shrines of their Saints, notwithstanding all Charters and exemptions. And as for the Laity, (m)(m)De Gestis Reg. l. 2. c. 10.William of Malmsbury, Radulphus Cistrensis, Mr. Fox, and others write. That King Ethelred had such a condition, that he would lightly dis-inherit Englishm…n of their lands and possessions, Proposit. 1, 4.and caused them to redeem the same with great sums of money, and that he gave himself to polling of his Subjects, and framed Trespasses for to gain their money and goods, for that he paid great Tribute to the Danes yearly. Whereby he lost the affections of the people, who at last deserted him, and submitted p. 193themselves to the Danish Invaders, who usurped the Soveraign power, and forced him out of England with his Queen and Children. These Unrighteous Oppressions, Dis-inherisons, and Exactions of his were specially provided against by his Nobles, Prelates, and VVisemen in the (n)(n)Spelm. Concil. p. 530.531. Chron. Ioh. Bromt. col. 901, 902, 903.Councils of Aenham and Habam forecited, by special Laws, and special excellent Prayers and Humiliations prescribed to be made to God to protect them from his judgements, and the invading, oppressing, bloody Danes, worthy perusal; yet pretended necessities and VVar, laid all those Laws asleep.

In the year of Christ 1013.Anno 1013. (the very next after the Englishmens dearest purchased Peace, which the perfidious gold-thirsty Danes never really intended to observe) King Swain, by the sec…et instigation of Turkel the Dane (whom King Ethelred unadvisedly hired to guard him with his Danish shi…s from forein Invasions) who sent him this Message, (o)(o)Malmesb. de Gestis Reg. l. 2, c. 10. p. 69.Angliam praeclaram esse patriam & opimam, sed Regem stertere illum Ven… re Vinoque studentem, nihil minus quàm bellum cogitare: Quapropter odiosum suis, ridiculum alienis, Duces invidos, Provinciales infirmos, primo stridore Lituorum proel…o cessuros, [p][p]Malmesb. Wigorn. Mat. Westm. Sim. Dunelm. Radulphus de Diceto. …untind. Hoveden, Ingulphus, Polych…on. Fabian, G…on, Holinshed, Speed, Daniel, Fox.arrived at Sandwich with a great Fleet and Army of Danes, in the Mone…h of Iuly; where resting themselves a few days, he sailed round the East par… of England, to the mouth of Humber, and from thence into the River of Trent, to Gainsborough, where he quitted his ships, intending to waste the Country. Hereupon, first of all Earl Uhtred & the Northumbria…s, with those of Lindesey, presently without delay, and after them the Freelingers with all the people in the Northern parts of Watlingstreet, having no man to de…fend them, yeelded themselves up to Swain without striking one stroke: and establishing a peace with him, …hey gave him Hostages for their loyalty, and swore Fealty to him as their Soveraign. Whereupon he commanded them to provide horses and victuals p. 194for his Army, which they did. William Malmesbury observes, that the Northumbrians thus unworthily submitted to Swan… his Government; Non quod in eorum mentibus genuinus ille calor, & Dominorum impa…iens refrigueri…, s…d quod Princeps eorum Uthredus primus exemplum defectionis dederit. Whose example drew on all other parts. Illis sub jugum missis coeteri quoque omnes …opuli qui Angliam ab Aquilone inhabitant vectigal et obsides dederunt. A very strange and sudden change, conq…est, without a blow. Swain committing his Navy and Hostages to his son Cnute, raised chosen Auxiliaries out of the English, who submitted to him, and then marched against the Southern Mercians. Having passed Watlingstreet, he by a publike Proclamation commanded his Soldiers, to wast the Fields, burn the Villages, cut down the Woods and Orchards, spoil the Churches, kill all the Males that should come into their hands, Old and Young, without shewing them any mercy, reserving only the Females to satisfie their lusts, and to do all the mischiefs that possibly they could act. Which they accordingly executed, raging with beastly cruelty. Marching to Oxford, he gained it sooner than he imagined by surrender: taking Hostages of them, He posted thence to Winchester: Where the Citizens extraordinarily terrified with the excessiveness of his cruelty, immediately yeelded, and made their peace with him; they and the whole Country giving him such and so many hostages as he desired, for his security, and likewise swearing allegiance to him. Only the Londoners defending their lawfull King within their walls, shut the Gates against him. From Winchester Swain marched with great glory and triumph to London, endeavouring by all means, either to take it by force, or surprize it by fraud. At his first arrival he lost many of his Souldiers, who were drowned in the River of Thames through overmuch rashness, because they would neither seek for Bridge nor ford to pass over it. p. 195King Ethelred being then within the City, and having no other refuge, the Citizens closing their Gates manfully defended their lawfull King and City against the assailants. Who encouraged with the hope of glory, and great booty, fiercely assaulted the City on all sides, but were all most valiantly repulsed by the Citizens, through the assistance of valiant Earl Turkel, then within it; the Danes sustaining great loss of men, who were partly slain, and partly drowned, the Citizens not only repulsing them from the Walls; but likewise …allying forth, and slaying them by heaps, so that Swain himself was in danger to be slain, had he not desperately ran through the midst of his Enemies, and by flight escaped their swords. (q)(q)De gestis Regum l. 2. c… 10. p. 69.Malmesbury thus writes of the Citizens, Oppidani in mortem pro Libertate ruebant, nullam sibi veniam futuram arbi…rantes… si Regem desererent, quibus ipse vitam suam commiserat. I…aque cum …trinque ac…ter ce…taretur, Proposit. 8.Iustior causa victoriam habuit, Civibus magna ope conantibus, dum unusq…sque sud…es suos, Principi ostentare, et pro eo pulchrum putaret emori: Hostium pars prostrata, pars in flumine Thamesi necuta. Hereupon Swain despairing to take the City, marched with his torn shattered Army, first to Wallingford, plundering and demolishing all things they met with in their way… after …heir wonted manner, and at last they came to Bath; where Ethelmere Earl of the West Country, with all his people came and submitted to him, giving him hostages for their loyalty. Having thus finished all things according to his desire, he returned with his Hostages to his Navy, being both called and reputed King by all the People of England (London excepted si Rex jure queat vocari, qui fere cuncta Tyrannice faciebat, …ite Florence o… Worceste, & Simeon D… nelmensis ver… ca…e…o…sly. Nec adhuc flecterentur Londinenses tota jam Anglia in clientelam ejus inclinata, nisi Ethelredus praesentia eos destitueret sua: as Malmesbury observes.

p. 196King Ethelred being a man given to sloathfullness, and through consciousness of his own demerits, very fearful (deeming no man faithfull to him, (r)(r)Matthew Westmin…t. An. 1013. p. 393. Malmesbury, l. 2. c. 10. Huntind. p. 432. Sim. Dunelm. p. 169.by reason of the tragical death of his Brother Edwaod, for which he felt this Divine revenge, not daring to raise an Army, not fight the Enemy wi…h it when raised, Ne Nobiles Regni quos injuste exhaeredaverat, lest the Nobles of the Rea…m, whom he had unju…ly dis-inherited, should desert and deliver him up to the Enemy;) declining the necessity of war, and of a new siege, most un…orthily deserted the Londoners (his faithfull valiant Subjects and Pro…ectors in the midst of their dangers & Enemies, …lying away secretly f…ō them to Hamshire, by secret journies, from w…ence he sailed to the Isle of Wight. Hereupon the Londoners, [s][s]Malmesb. de Gestis Reg. l. 1. c. 10.Laudandi prorsus vi…i & quos Mars ipse collata non sperneret hasta, si Ducem habuissent, Cu…us dum vel sola umbra protegerentur totius pugnae, aleam, ipsam obsidionem etiam non paucis mensibus luserunt) Seeing themselves thus unworthily deserted by their Soveraign in their extremities, moved by the example of the rest of their Countrymen, submitted themselves likewise to King Swain, sending Hostages to, and making their peace wi…h him; the rather, for that they feared Swains fury was so much incensed against them, for his former shamefull repulses by them, that if they submitted not to …m of their own accords, he would not only spoil them of all their goods, but likewise command either all their eyes to be pulled out, or their hands and feet to be cut off, i… he subdued them by force. [t][t]History of Great Britain, p. 4…0, 421. & Edu. 1611. p. 378, 379.Iohn Speed (against the current of other Historians) informs us, That Swain after his repulse from London, having received a certain sum of money, went back into Denmark, for want of victuals, and to recruit his shattered Army, whence returning soon after, he was immediatly met by the English, where betwixt them was struck a sore battel, which had been with good success, had p. 197not the Treason of some hindred it, in turning to the Danes. King Ethelred therefore seeing himself and the Land betrayed on this manner, to those few true English that were left, used this Speech as followeth.

If there wanted in me a fatherly care, either for the defence of the Kingdom, or ad…inis…ration of Justice in the Commonwealth, or in you, the carriage of Souldiers for defence of your Native Country, then truly silent would I be for ever, and bear those calamities with a more dejected mind: but as the case stands (be it as it is) I for my part am resolved, to rush into the midst of the Enemy, and to lose my life for my kingdom and Crown. And you (I am sure) hold it a worthy death, that is purchased for the Liberties of your selves and kindred; and therein I pray you, let us all die; for I see both God and destiny against us, and the name of the English Nation brought almost to the last period: for we are overcome, not by weapons and hostile warr, but by Treason and dom…stick falshood: our Navy betrayed into the Danes hands, our battel weakned by the revolt of our Captains, our designs betrayed to them by our own Counsellers, and they also inforcing composition of dishonourable Peace: I my self disesteemed, and in scorn termed, Ethelred the unready: Your valour and loyalty betrayed by your own Leaders, and all our poverty yearly augmented by the payment of their Danegelt; Proposit. 1.which how to re…ress God only knoweth, and we are to seek. For if we pay money for peace, and that confirmed by Oath, these Enemies soon break it, as a people that nei…her regard God nor man, contrary to equity and the Laws of War… and of Nations; and so f…r off is all hope of better success, as we have cause to fear the losse of our kingdom, & you the extinction of the English Nations revenue. Therefore seeing our enemies are at hand, and their hands at our throats, let us by fore-sight and counsel save our own lives, or else by courage sheath p. 198our swords in their bowels, either of which I am willing to enter into, to secure our Estate and Nation from an irrecoverable Ruine. After which Speech he and his Army retreated, and gave way to the prevailing Enemy.

Swain herepon setling all things according to his own will, when as he knew, that no man durst resist him, commanded himself to be called King of England, Dum non fuit alius qui pro jure regni decertare, vel se regem confiteri a…sus fuisset, as (u)(u)Ann. 1013. p. 393. Huntindon, p. 452.Matt. Westminster, and others write. Such a strange fear and stupidity was then fallen upon Ethelred and the whole English Nation. After this Ethelred privily departed from London to Hampton, and from thence to the Isle of Weight as aforesaid, where advising with the Abbots, and Bishops there assembled in Council, what course was best to steer, he spake thus unto them, the History whereof I shall fully relate in (x)(x)De Gestis Regum, l. 2. c. 10. p. 69, 70.William of Malmesbury his words. Ibi Abbates et Episcopos… Qui nec in tali necessitate Dominum suum deserendum putarent, in hanc convenit sententiam. Vide…ent quam in angusto res essent suae,Proposit. 8. et suorum se perfidia Ducum avito extorrem solio, et opis egentem a…i…nae, in cujus manu al…orum …olebat salus pendere: quondam Monarcham et Potentem, modo miserum et exulem: dolendum sibi hanc commutationem, quia facilius toleres o…es non habuisse, quam habitas amisisse. Pudendam Anglis eo magis, quod deserti Ducis exemplu… processurum sit in orbem terrarum. I…os amore sui sine sumptibus voluntariam sube untes fugam, domos et facultates suas praedonibus exposuisse, in arcto esse victum omnibus, vestitum deesse pluribus: probare se fidem illorum … sed non reperire salutem, adeo jam subjugata terra, observari littora, ut nusquam sine periculo sit exitus. Quapropter considerent in m…dium, quid censerent faciendum. Si maneant, plus a Civibus cavendum quam ab Hostibus; p. 199forsitan enim crucibus suis novi domini gratiam mercarentur; e… cer…è occidi ab ho…te …i…u…atur fortunae, prodi a Cive addicetur Ignaviae. Si ad exteras gentes …giunt gloriae fore dispendium; si ad notas, metuendum ne cum fortuna colerent animum. Plaerosque enim probos et illustres viros hac occasione caesos, experiendum tamen sortem et tentandum pectus Richardi Ducis Normannorum, qui si Sororem et Nepotes non ingrato animo susceperit, se quoque non aspernanter protecturum. Vadabitur enim mihi meam salutem conjugi et liberis impensus favor. Quod si ille adversum pedem contulerit, non deerit mihi animus, pla…è non deerit, hic gloriosè occumbere, quàm illic ignominiosè vivere.

Hereupon he sends Emma his Queen and her children in the monethmonth of August into Normandy, accompanied with the Bishop of Durham, and Abbot of Burgh, where they are joyfully received by Duke Richard, who invites Ethelred himself to honour his Court with his presence; who thereupon in Ianuary following passeth over into Normandy and there solaceth his miseries with the curteous entertainment he there found. (y)(y)Wigorn. Sim. Dunelm. Huntindon, Hoveden, Radul. de Diceto, Polychronicon, Malmesb. l. 2. c. 10. p. 70. Mat. W…stm. p. 394. Bromton, Knyghton, Fa…bian, Graston, Holinshed, Speed, Daniel.King Swane in the mean time provokes invaded England with ruines and slaughters, playes the absolute Tyrant, commands Provisions to be abundantly provided for his Army and Navy, et Tributum fere importabile solvi praecepit, and likewi…e commanded an insupportable Tribute to be paid: And the like in all things Earl Turkell the Dane, commanded to be paid to his Navy lying at Greenwich, hired by King Ethelred to defend the English from Foreiners; yet both of them as often as they pleased preyed upon and pillaged the Country besides, first polling the inhabitants of their goods, and then banishing them. Provincialium substantiae prius abreptae, mox proscriptiones factae. Propos. 1, 4.In this sad oppressed condition under their New Soveraign, to whom they had submitted themselves, both Nobles p. 200and people knew not what to do. Haesitabatur totis urbibus quid fieret: si pararetur rebellio, assertorem non haberent; si eligeretur subjectio, placido rectore careren…. Ita privatae et publicae opes ad naves cum obsidibus deportabantur. Quo evidenter apparet Swanum naturalem et legitimum non esse Dominum, sed atrocissimum Tyrannum, …s Malmesbury, Matthew Westminster, and others record. But God who is propitious to people in their greatest extremities, suffered not England to lye long fluctuating in so many calamities. For this barbarous Tyrant Swane, after innumerable evils and cruelties perpetrated in England and elsewhere, added this to the heap of his further damnation, that he Exacted a great Tribute out of the Town of St. Edmondsbury, Anno 1014. which none ever before presumed to doe, since it was given to the Church wherein the body of the precious Martyr St. Edmond lieth intombed, all the lands thereof being exempted from Tributes. Beginning to vex the possessions of the Church, and Proposit. 1.threatning to burn the Town and destroy all the Monks unless they speedily paid him the Tribute he exacted, and using reproachfull speeches against St. Edmond, as having no holiness in him, he was suddenly struck dead and ended his life on the Feast of the Purification of the blessed Virgin, Anno 1014. Our Monkish Historians record; That on the Evening of the day whereon he held a general Court at Ge…gnesburgh, …ei…erating his menaces against the Town, and ready to put them in execution, for not paying the Tribute demanded, he saw St. Edmond comming alone armed against him, whiles he was invironed in the midst of his Danish Troops; whereupon he presently cried out with great affright and a lowd voice; Help O fellow Souldiers, help, behold St. Edmond comes to slay me: and whiles he was thus speaking, being grievously wounded with a spear by the Saint, he fell off from his horse, and continued in great torment till night, and so ended p. 201his life, with a miserable death.

[z][z]Malmesb. Hu…ind. Hoveden, Wigorn. Sim. Dunelm. Radul…hus de Diceto, Mat. Westmin. Polychron. Bro…ton, Fabian, Grafton, Speed, Daniel, Knighton,Swane being dead,Anno 1014. the whole Navy and Nation of the Danes, Elected and made Cnute his son their King and Lord: Majores Natu totius Angliae; The Nobles and Senators of all England …iking nothing …e…s than bondage, especially under such new tyrannizing forein Intruders, thinking it now or never the time to shake of… their new yoak, pronounced their Natural Lord, to be dearer to them than any Foreiner, Si … se quam consueverat ageret. Whereupon with unanimous consent, and great joy and speed they sent m…ssengers into Normandy to Ethelred to inform him; Nullum eo libentius se in Regem recepturos, si ipse vel rectius gubernare, vel mitius eos tractare vellet quam prius tractaverat: Proposit. 1, 5, 6, 8.and to hasten his return unto them. Who thereupon presently sent over his son Edward, qui fidem Principum, favor…mque vulgi praesens specularetur: who together with his Embassadors, assured both the Nobles and Commons of the English Nation; That he would for time to come be their mild and devout Lord, consent to their wills in all things, acquiesce in their Counsels, and if he had offended in any kinde, he would reform it according as they should think …it, and with a ready mind pardon whatsoever had beed contemptuously or disgrace…ully spoken or acted by them, agai…st him or his, if they would all unanimously receive him again as their King into the Kingdom. To which they all gave a favourable and satisfactory answer: Whereupon a plenary reconciliation was ratified between them on both sides, both b… words and com…act. Moreover (a)(a)Ad haec Principes, se non amplius Danicum Regem admissuros in Angliam unanimi…er sposponderunt. Florentius Wigorniensis, p. 385. Henry Huntindon, p. 433. Simeon Dunelmensis, Hist. col. 171.The Nobles unanimously and fréely agreed and voted, That they would never more admit a Danish King into England to reign over them. The…e things conc…uded, King Ethelred speedily returns into England, where he was honourably and joyfully received p. 202by the English. And that he might seem to ca…t off his former sloathfulness, he hastned to raise an Army against Cnute, who remaining with hi… Navy in Lindesey, made an agreement with the inhabitants, exacting men and horses from them, that he might surprise Ethelred at unawares, and threatning grievously to punish all such as revolted from him. But Cnute being taken in his own craft, (Ethelred marching thither with a strong army before he was pro…ided to receive him) fled from thence with his Hostages, Army and Navy to Sandwich; whereupon Ethelred depopulated all Lindesey, wasting the Country wi…h fire and sword, slaying all the Inhabitants (as Traitors to him and …heir Na…ive Country;) Cnute … by way of revenge, humano et divino Iure contempto in insontes grassatus, cuts o…f the hands and ears, and …its the Noses of all the most Noble and beautiful Hostages throughout England, given to his father, and so dismissing them, sailed into Denmark to settle his affairs and augment his forces, resolving to return the year following. After his departure, (b)(b)Sim. Dunelmensis, Florent. Wigorn. p. 382.King Ethelred this very year… Super haec omnia mala Classi quae apud Greenwic …acui… Tributum quod erat 30. millia librarum, pendi mandavit; to wit, to the Fleet under Turkell the Dane,Proposit. 1. who instead of defending, did but help to pillage and oppress the English: Huntindon wri…es, it was but 21 thousand pounds; and Bromton avers… that it was Cnute, not Ethelred, who commanded it to be paid to his Navy. Soon after which, the Sea rising higher than it was accustomed, drowned an innumerable Company of Villages, people, and cattel.

Anno 1015.After Cnutes departure, (c)(c)Malmsbury l. 2. c. 10. p. 71. Wigorn. p. 382. Mat. Westminster, p. 395. Hoveden, p. 433. Polychronicon, Fabian, Grafton, Holinshed, Speed.King Ethelred summoned a Parliamentaty Council at Oxford, Anno 1015. both of the Danes and English. Malmsbury expressly stiles it, MAGNUM CONCILIUM; Wigorniensis, Hoved…n, Sim. Dunelmensis, MAGNUM PLACITUM: p. 203Matthew Westminster and others, MAGNVM COLLOQUIUM; our later English Historians, a Great Council and Parliament. The King by the ill advise of that Arch Traytor Duke Edric at this Great Council, commanded some Noble… of the Danes to be sodenly and secretly slain, quasi de Regia proditione notatos ac perfidiae apud se insimulatos, the chiefest of them were Sygeforth and Morcar, whom Edric, treacherously invited to his chamber, and there making them drunk, caused his armed guards there placed secretly to murder them, which they did. Hereupon their Servants endeavouring to revenge their Lords deaths (being digniores et potentiores ex Scovengensibus) they were repul…ed wi…h arms, and forced to slye into the Tower of St. Frideswides Church for safety; whence when they could not be forcibly expelled, they were all there burnt together. The King presently seised upon their lands and goods (the chief cause of their murder, as some conceived) and sent the relict of Sygeforth (a very Noble, beautifull and vertuous Lady) prisoner to Malmsbury: whither Edmond (the Kings base Son, as some affirm,) pos…ed without his fathers privity, and being enamored with her beauty, first carnally abused, then afterward maried her; and by her advice forcibly invaded and seised upon the Lands of her husband and Morcar, which were very great, and the Earldom of Northumberland, which his father denied him upon his request: Whereupon all the Inhabitants of that County readily submitted to him. Whiles these things were acting, (c)(c)Malmsbury, Wigorn. Sim. Dunelm. Radulphus de Diceto, Huntindon, Hoveden, Bromton, Polychronicon, Fabian, Holinshed, Gra…ton, Speed, Daniel.Cnute having setled his affairs in Denmark, and made a League with his neighbour Kings, recrui…ed his Army and Navy, and returned into England, with a resolution, either to win it, or to lose his life in the attempt. Ariving first at Sandwich, and sailing thence to the West, he pillaged Dorsetshire, Somersetshire, and Wiltshire, filling all places with slaughters and plunders. King Ethelred lying then sick at Cosham, p. 204his son Edmond Ironside, and Duke Edric, raised an Army against Cnute; but when both their forces were united to fight him, the old perfidious Traytor Edric endeavoured by all means to betray Edmond to the Danes, or treacherously to slay him; which being discovered to Edmond, thereupon they severed their forces from each other, and gave place to the Enemies without giving them battel. Not long after Edric inticing to him 40 of the Kings ships furnished with Danish Mariners and Souldiers, openly revolted, and went with them to Cnute, subjecting himself to his dominion as his Soveraign: by whose example all West-Sex submitted to him as their Kihg, delivering him hostages for their fidelity, resigning up all their arms to him, and providing both horse and arms for his Danish Army. The Mercians offred themselves alone to resist the Danes, but through the Kings sloathfulness, the business of war received delay, and the enemies proceeded in their rapines without opposition.

Anno 1016.In the year 1016. King Cnute, and treacherous Duke Edric, came with 200 sail of ships into the river of Thames, whence they marched by land with a great Army of horse and foot, and invaded Mercia in an hostile manner, burning all the Towns and Villages, and slaying all the men they met with in Warwickshire and other places; whereupon King Ethelred, (as Huntindon, Wigorniensis, and others record) made an Edict,Proposit. 3, 8. Ut quicunque Anglorum sanus esset, secum in bello procederet, That every Englishman who was in health, should go with him in battel against the Danes. An innumerable multitude of people upon this assembled together to assist him: But when his and his son Edmonds forces were conjoyned in one body, the King was informed, that some of his auxiliaries were ready to betray and deliver him up to the enemies, unless he took care to prevent it and save himself: and as some write, the Mercians refused to p. 205…ight with the VVest-Saxons and Danes; whereupon the expedition was given over, and every man returned to his own home. After this Edmund Ironside raised a greater Army than before against Cnute, and sent Messengers to King Ethelred to London, to raise as many men as possible he could, and speedily to come and joyn with him against the Danes; but he, for fear of being betrayed to the Enemy, presently dismissed the Army without fighting, and returned to London. Hereupon Ed… Ironside went into Northumberland, where some imagined he would raise a greater Army against Cnute the Dane; but he and Vh…red Earl of Northumberland, instead of incountring Cnute, wasted the Counties of Stafford, Shrewsbury and Leicester, because they would not go forth to fight against the Danes Army, Proposit. 8.in defence of their Country and King. Cnute, on the other side wasting with fire and sword the Counties of Buckingham, Bedford, Huntindon, Northampton, Lincoln, Nottingham, and after that Northumberland: Which Edmond being informed of, returned to London to his Father, and Earl Uhtred returning home, being compelled by necessity, repaired to Cnute, and submitted himself to him, with all the Northumbrians, making a Peace with him, and giving him hostages for performance thereof, and for his and their fidelity. Not long after Uhtred and Turketel, Earls of Northumberland, were both treacherously slain by Turebrand a Dane, by Cnutes command or Commission. Which done, Cnute made one Hirc (some stile him Egric) Earl of Northumberland in his place; and then returned with all his army to his Ships in triumph, a little before the feast of Easter, with a very great booty. Not long after, King Ethelred (born to troubles and mischief,) after manifold labours, vexations, treacheries, and incessant tribulations, ended his wretched life in London, where he died May 9th. Anno 1016. being there buried in St-Pauls Church, finding rest in his Grave by death, p. 206which he could never find in hi… Throne all his life, having attaine… it by Treachery, …nd his Brothers, Soveraigns murder **Exagitabant illum umbrae …ratern…, diras exigentes inferi…s, &…. Malmesbu…y De Ges…is …eg. l. 2. c. 10.whose Ghost (as Malmesbury and others write… did perpetually vex and haunt him all his r…ign, and made him so subject to, and fearfull of plots and treacheries, that he knew not whom to trust, nor ever deemed himself secure, even in the midst of his oft raised Armies, Nobles, People, though ready to adventure thei… Lives for his defence.

I have related these Passages of the Danish wars… and invasions during Ethelreds reign, more largely than I intended. 1. Because on the Englishmens parts, they were meerly defensive of their Native Country, King, Laws, Liberties, Properties, Estates, Lives against forein Invaders and …urpers. 2ly. Because they more or less relate to my forementioned Propositions, touch-the fundamental Rights, Liberties, Properties, of the English Nation. 3ly. Because they shew forth unto us the true original grounds, causes, motives, necessities, and manner of granting the very first Civil Tax and Tribute mentioned in our Histories, by the King and his Nobles, in their General Councils, to the Danish invaders, to purchase peace, and the true nature, use of our antient Danegelt, and rectifie some mistakes in our common late E…glish Historians.

Anno 1016.Immediately after King Ethelreds decease (e)(e)Florentius Wigorn. p. 384. Huntind. pars 1. p. 434. Sim. Dunelm. Hist. col. 173. Radulph. de Diceto Abbrev. Chron. col. 446. Chron. Io. Brom…on, col. 903. H…nry de Knyghton de … Angl. l. 1. c. 2. Polychron. Malmsb. Mat. Westm. Fabian, Speed, Spelm.Episcopi, Abbates, Duces, et quique Nobiliores Angliae in unum congregati (as W…gornien…s, Hoveden, S…meon Dunelme…is, Radulphus de Diceto, Bromton … Or, Maxima pars Regni, tam Clericorum quam Laicorum in unum congregati (as Matthew VVestminster … Or, Proceres Regni cum Clero, (as Kn…hton expresses i…) Pari consensu in Dominum et Regem Canntum eligere: All the Bishops, Abbots, Dukes and Nobles of England, and the greatest part of the chief Clergy and Laity, assembled together (in a kind of p. 207Parliamentary Counci… … unanimous consent elected Cnute for their Lord a… King (notwithstanding their solemn Vow and Engagement but the year before, never to suffer a Danish King to reign over them) Whereupon …he… all repaired to Cnute to Southampton Wigorn. c. 304. Hoved. Annal. pars 1. p. 434. Sim. Dunelm. col. 173. Bromt. col. 903. Henry de Knyght. de Ev…ntib. Augl. l. 2. c. 2. col. 2315. Ailredus de vita & mirac. Edward. col. 374. Se… Po…yc. Fab. Holinshed. Grast. Speed.omnemque Progeniem Regis Ethelredi, coram illo abhorrentes, et abnegando repudiantes (a… Wigorniensis, Huntindon, Knyghton, and others record) and there in his presence abhorring and utterly renouncing and abjuring all the Progeny of King Ethelred, they submitted themselves, and swore fealty to him, as to their only King and Soveraign, he reciprocally then swearing unto them, That he would be a faithfull Lord unto them… both in things appertaining to God and the World, which our Historians thus express. Quibus ille juravit, quod & secundum Deum, & secundum seculum fidelis illis foret Dominus. Only the City of London, an… part of the Nobles then in it, unanimously chose and cryed up Ed. Ironside, Proposit. 8.King Ethelreds 3. son, by Elgina his first Wife, Daughter to Duke Thored, as Speed and o…hers relate, though Matthew Westminst…r, and others register his bir…h, Non ex Emma Regina, sed ex quadam ignobili foemina generatus, qui utique matris suae ignobilitatem generis mentis ingenuitate & corporis streuuit te redintegrando redemit. After Edmonds election, he was crowned King by Liuing Archbishop of Canterbury, at Kingston upon Thames (where our Kiugs in that age were usually crowned.) No sooner was he thus advanced to the Regal dignity, but he presently marched undauntedly into VVest-Sex, and being there recei…ed by all the People, with great gratulation and joy, he mo…t speedily subj…cted it to his Dominion. Which being divulg'd in other parts, many Counties of England, deserting Cnute, voluntarily submitted themselves unto him, such is the fickleness of …he People, & unconstancy of worldly power and affairs. (g)(g)Malmesb. Huntind. VV… gorn. Sim. Dunelm. Mat. VVestm. Radulph. de Diceto. Bromt. Polychron. Fab. Caxton, Gr…fton, Holinsh. Speed, Daniel, and others in the life of Edmond Ironside & Cnute.Cnute in …he mean p. 208time to be revenged of the Londoners for making Edmond King, marched to London with his whole Army and Fleet, besieged and blocked up the City with his Ships, drawn up the Thames on the West-side of the Bridge, and then drew a large and deep trench round about the City, from the Southside of the River, whereby he intercepted all ingress and egress to the Citizens and others, whom he shut up so close, that none could go in or out of the City, and endeavoured by many strong assaults to force it: but being still repulsed by the Citizen…, who valiantly defended the walls, he left off the siege with great confusion and loss, as well as dishonor. Thence he marched with his Army into Dorsetshire, to subdue it: Where King Edmond meeting him with such forces as he could suddenly raise, gave him battel at Penham near Gillingham; where after a bl…udy and cruel encounter, he put Cnute and his Army to flight, and slew many of them. Not long after, they recruiting their forces, both Armies meeting at Steorstan, King Edmond resolving there to give Cnute battel, placed the most expert and valiantest of his Souldiers in the front; and the rest of the English who came flocking in to him, he kept for a reserve in the rear. Then calling upon every of them by name, he exhorted and inform…d them, That they now fought for their Country, for their Children, for their Wives, for their Houses and Liberties, in…laming the minds of his Souldiers with his excellent Speeches; in this battel with the Enemy, he exercised the O…fices of a valiant Soldier, and good General, charging very couragiously; But because that most per…idious Duke Edric, Almar, and Algar, and others of the great men, who ought to have assisted him with the Inhabitants of Southampton, VViltshire, and innume…able other English, joyned with the Danes, the battel continued all day, from morning to night, with equal fortune, till both sides being ti…ed out, and p. 209many of each party slain, the night constrained them to march one from another. But their bloud not being cold, the next day they buckled together again, with no less courage than before; till at last, in the very heat of the battel, the most perfidious Duke Edric perceiving the Danes like to be totally routed, and the English in great forwardness of victory, cut off the head of a Souldier named Osmeranus, very like to King Edmund both in hair and countenance, and shaking his bloody sword, with the half gasping head in his hand, which he lifted up on high, cryed out to the English Army: O ye Dorsetshire men, Devonshire men, and oth…r English, flee and get away, for your head is lost; be…old here is the head of your King Edmund, which I hold in my hand, therefore hasten hence with all speed, and save your lives. Which when the English heard and saw, they were more affrighted with the atrocity of the thing, than with the belief of the Speaker: whereupon all the more unconstant of the Army were ready to fly away. But Edmond having present notice of this treacherous stratagem, and seeing his men ready to give over the fight, hasted where he might be best seen, and posting from rank to rank, encouraged them to fight like Englishmen: who thereupon resuming their courage, charged the Danes more fiercely than be…ore; and bending their force against the Traytor, had shot him to death, but that he retreated presently to the Enemy, the English reviving, and manfully continuing the battel again till the darkness of the night caused both Armies voluntarily to retreat, from each other into their Tents. When much of the night was spent, Cnute commanded his men in great silence to break up their Camp, and marched to his Ships, and soon after, whiles King Edmond was recruiting his Army in West-Sex, besieged London again… whereupon Edmond marching to London with a select company of Souldiers, chased Cnute and his Army to their ships, p. 210removed the siege, and entred the City in manner of Triumph. Cnute and Edric perceiving the valour and good success of Edmond, conspired together, to overcome him by Treason, whom they could not vanquish by Armes; for which end, Edric, before King Edmonds march to London (as some) or soon after, as others relate, feignedly revolted …rom Cnute, and submitted himself again to Edmond, as his natural Lord: and renewing his peace with him, fraudently swore that he would continue faithfull to him, only that he might betray him. Edmond, two days after he had chased the Danes from the siege of London, pursuing his victory, passed over the Thames at Brentford, where, though many of the English were drowned in passing over the River, through their carelesness, yet he there fought with the Danes the fourth (or …ather fifth) time, routed them, and won the field. After which, Edmo…d, by the advice of Edric, marched again into West-Sex, to raise a more numerous Army, to supply those who were drowned and slain in this last battel: Upon which advantage, the Danes again returned to the siege at London, invironing, and fiercely assaulting it on every side; but being valiantly repulsed by the Citizens, they retired from thence to their ships, and sailed into the River of Arewe; where leaping out of their ships, they… went about pillaging in Mercia, killing all they met, and burning the Villages, returning to their ships with a great booty: Another company of their foot sailing up the River of Meadway, pillaged Kent, their Horse marching thither by Land to meet them, doing the like, wasting all places with fire and sword. King Edmond having in the mean time raised a strong Army out of all England, passed over with them again at Brentford, to fight the Danes, and giving them battel near Oteford, routed the whole Danish Army, not able to endure his fierce charge, and pursued them as far as Ilesford, slaying many thousands of them in the pursute; and had p. 211he followed the pursute further, it was conceived that day had put an end to the war and Danes for ever. But perfidious Duke Edric by his most wicked Counsel (the worst ever given in England) caused him to give over the chace. Whereupon the …lying Danes escaped into the Isle of Shepy. Edmond returning into VVest-Sex to observe Cnutes motion, he thereupon transported his forces into Kent, who began to plunder and wast Mercia far worse than ever they had done before: VVhereupon King Edmond marching with his Army against them, gave them battel the sixt time, at Esesdune, (or Assendune) now Ashdune in Essex; whereafter a long and bloody fight, with equall valour, and great loss on both sides: King Edmond seeing the Danes to fight more valiantly than ever before, leaving his place (which usually was between the Dragon and Standard) ran into the very front of the battel, and breaking in like thunder u…on the Enemy, brake their ranks, pierced into the very midst of them, and made way for others to follow him, forcing the Danes to give back; VVhichWhich the ever traitero…s Edric perceiving, …led with the whole Squadron of Souldiers which he commanded, unto Cnute, as was formerly agreed between them, whereupon the Danes becoming the stronger, made an extraordinary slaughter of the E…glish; as Matthew VVestminster and his followers s…ory. Henry Huntindon relates, That Edric seeing the Danes going to ruine, cryed out to the English Army, Fly O Englishmen, …ly Englishmen, for Edmond is dead (being not seen in his wonted place) and crying out thus, he and his Brigade first began the flight; whereupon the whole Army of the English following them, fled likewise. VVigorniensis informs us; that King Edmond before this battel, riding about to every Company, admonished and commanded them, that be…ng mindfull of their pristine valour and victory, they should defend themselves and the Realm from the avarice of the Danes, being p. 212now to fight with those they had formerly conquered. …hat perfidious Duke Edric seeing the Danish army inclining to flight, and the English about to gain the victory, began to fly with the VVagesetensians, and that part of the army which he commanded, as he formerly promised to Cnute, that circumventing his Lord King Edmond and the English army with deceits, he gave the victorie to the Danes by his treacherie; and by the consent of all our VVriters, he here gave the greatest wound to the English Nobility and Nation that ever they rece…d in any former battel, Duke Alfric, Duke Godwin, D…e Ulfketel, Duke Aethelward, Ailward son of Duke Alke, and all the flower of the English Nobility, together with Eadnoth Bishop of Lincoln, and Abbot VVulfius, (qui ad exorandum Deum pro milite bellum agente convenerunt) with an infinite number of co…mon Souldiers being there slain in this fight and slight: qui nunquam ante in uno praelio tantam cladem ab hostibus a…ceperunt. Ibi Cnuto Regnum expugnavit, ibi omne decus Anglorum occubuit, ibi flos patriae totus emarcuit, VVrites Malmesbury, Cnute likewise on his side sustained an irreperable loss, both of his Dukes and Nobles.

After this lamentable loss, wherein so many Nobles fell, Cnute marching to London in triumph, took the Royal Scepters; whence depar…ing into Glocestershire, in pursute of Edmond (who retreated almost alone to Glocester, and there recruited his broken forces) he wasted and pillaged the Country in his march. King Edmond resolved to give him another battel in a place called Dierhurst; where Edmond with his army being on the VVest-part of the River Severn, and Cnute on the Eastside with his army, both set in battel array, ready manfully to encounter each other, wicked Duke Edric, magnatibus convocatis, calling the Nobles of both parties together, …pake unto them as followeth, as Matthew VVestminster, and others accord, before any incounter; but Abbot Ethelred records, that p. 213both Armies then fought a most bloudy bat…el for one whole day from morning to night, an innumerable Company being slain on both sides, without any Victory; the night only causing them to re…ire, ad similem ludum eundemque exitum die craestina reversuri. Both Armies being wearied with this bloudy sport, when they saw King Edmonds forces daily increasing, and Cnutes company likewise augmented out of foreign parts, by constant recruits, which he caused to be sent from thence, Uterque Exercitus Proceres ad colloquium cogunt, both armies compel…ed their Nobles to a Conference; where one of them, being elder than the rest (which others affirm to be Duke Edric) requiring silence, spake thus unto them, as (h)(h)Ethel…edus Abbas, De Geneal. Regum Angl. coll. 363, 364. Polychronicon, l. 6. c. 17.Abbot Ethelred records his words.

I desire, O wise men, in these our dangers to give advice; who verily am in…eriour to you in wisdom, but superiour to you in age, as these gray hairs testify… and peradventure what wisdom hath not, use hath taught me, and what science hath denied, experience hath conferred. Many things verily we have seen and known, many things moreover our Fathers have to…d us, and not without cause we require audience, that we may utter no doubtful senten… of things certain and apparent. A perillous thing is acted; we suffer evil things, we discern worser, we fear the worst of all. We fight daily, neither do we overcom, nor yet are we vanquished; yea we are overcome, and yet no man vanquisheth. For how are we not overcome, who are wounded, who are oppressed, who are wearied, who are distressed by forces, who are spoiled by arms? Neither flie we, since there is none who may assault us; neither do we assault, since courage fails on both sides. How long shall it be, ere we see an end of these wonderfull things? When shall there be rest from this labour, tranquillity from this storm, security from this fear? Certainly Edmond is invincible p. 214by reason of his wonderful fortitude; an… Cnute also is invincible by reason of fortunes favour. We are broken in pieces, we are slain, we are dissipated, we lose our dearest pledges, we expose our sweet friends and alliances to death. But of this labour what frui…? what end? what price? what emolument? what I pray, but that the souldiers being slain on both sides, the Captains at last compelled by necessity, may compound? or verily fight alone, without a Souldier? Why then not now? Truly while we live, while we breath, whiles the Army remains this might be done more profitably, honestly, securely. I demand, what insolence yea violence, yea madness is this? England heretofore when subjected to many Kings, both flourished in glory, and abounded in riches. O ambition! how blind is it alwaies, which cove…ing the whole, loseth the whole? Why I pray, doth not that now suffice two, which heretofore was sufficient for five Kings? But if there be in them so great a lust of domineering, that Edmond disdains a Peer, Cnu…e a Superiour, PUGNENT, QUAESO, SOLI, QUI SOLI CUPIUNT DOMINARI: CERTENT PRO CORONA SOLI, QUI SOLI CUPIUNT INSIGNIRI; let them fight, I beseech you, alone, who desire to domineer alone; le… them contend for the Crown alone, who desire to be crowned alone. Let the Generals themselves enter into the hazard of a Duel, that even by this means one of them may be vanquished; lest if the Army should fight more often, all being slain, there should be no souldiers for them to rule over, nor any who may defend the Realm against Foreiners.

Whiles he was about to speak more, ALL THE PEOPLE, shut up his Speech in the midst of his Jaws, if I may so speak, crying out and saying, AUT PUGNENT IPSI AUT COMPONENT, let them fight p. 215themselves, or let them compound. His Speech recorded in Bromton, Hen… de Knyghton, Speed … and others, is much to the same effect, though different in some expressions.

Anno 1016. p. 400.Matthew Westmininster brings in Edric speaking only, thus to the Nobles. O insensati Nobiles, et armis pot…ntes! cur …oties morimur in bello pro Regibus, cum ipsi nobis mor…entibus, nec regnum ob…ineant, nec avaritiae suae finem imponant. Pugnent consulto, singulariter, qui singulariter regnare contend…t, Quae est ista regnandi libido, Quod Anglia modo duobus non sufficit, quae …lim octo regibus satisfuit? Itaque vel soli componant, vel soli pro regno decertent. PLACUIT AUTEM HAEC SENTENTIA OMNIBUS, ET AD REGES PROCERUM DELATUM ARBITRIUM, ILLI CONSENTIENDO APPROBANT. Hereupon all the Nobles concurring in this opinion, both Kings approving their Determination, fought a royal single duel, first on horseback, then on foot, in the Isle of Olerenge, or Olney, (near Glocester) in the midst of Severn, in the view of both their Armies, with extraordinary courage, and equall success, till they were both quite tyred, but neither of them vanquished: At last upon Cnutes motion they began to parly in a friendly manner; Cnute speaking thus to Edmond. Hitherto I have been covetous of thy Realm, now most valiant of men, I am verily more desirous of thy self, whom I see, art to be preferred, I say, not before the Realm of England, but the whole world it self. Denmark hath yielded to me, Norwey hath subjected it self to me, the King of Swedes hath given me his hand, and thy admirable Valour hath more than once fructrated the force of my assaults, which I believed no mortal man could have been able to sustain. Wherefore although fortune hath promised that I should be every where a Conquerer, yet thy admirable valour hath so allured me to favour, that I above measure desire thee both for a friend and consort of my kingdome: would to God that thou also maist be as desirous of me, that I may reign with thee in p. 216England, and thou maist reign with me in Denmark. Truly, if thy valour shall be united to my fortune, Norway will fear, and Sweden will quake: France it self, accustomed to warrs, will tremble. In brief, Edmond and Cnute both consent to divide the Kingdom: Edmond yielding to words, who had not yielded to swords, being overcome with this Oration, who could not be overcome with arms; whereupon, laying aside their arms, they run and mutually imbrace and kiss each other, both Armies rejoycing, and the Clergy singing Te Deum laudamus, with a lowd voice. Afterwards in testimony of Agreement, they change clothes and Arms with each other, and returning to their Armies, prescribed the manner of the Agreement and Peace. Wigorniensis, Simeon Du…elmensis, and **Annal. pars prior, p. 436.Roger Hoveden add, that they ratified the agreement with Oaths, TRIBUTOQUE QUOD CLASSICAE MANVI PENDERETUR STATUTO; and appointed a Tribute which should be paid to the Sea forces, Proposit. 1, 9.and then departed from each other. The Danes returned with the great booty they had gotten to their ships, with whom the Citizens of London having made a peace, DATO PRECIO, which they paid a pr…ce for, they permitted them there to winter. The Realm was divided between them both, but the Crown remained to Edmond, with the City of London, Essex, East-England, and all the Land on the Southside the River of Thames, and Cnute enjoyed the North parts of England, by mutual consent and agreement of all the Nobles; and so this bloudy warr between them …after 7. or 8. battels, within so many moneths space) ceased.

Soon after this fatal Agreement and partition of the Realm, which made Edmond but half a King… and England half Denmark, that ever trayterous Duke Edric, to ingratiate himself the more with Cnute, treacherously mur…er…d King Edmond at Oxford, of which there are 3. different relations in our Historians. (l)(l)William Malmsbury, de Gestis Regum, l. 2. c. 10, 11. … Hen. de Knyghton, de Eventibus Angliae.Some say that he corrupted the Kings Chamberlains wi…h gifts p. 217to murder him in his bed: and that King Cnute, in the first year of his Coronation, caused all of them who had conspired his death by Edric's exhortation to come before him, where they declared to the King the Treason they had committed against King Edmond, expecting a large reward for i…. Whereupon the King sent for the Great Men and Nobles of the Realm, and made the Traitors to acknowledge their Treason before them, and a great assembly of people; fearing lest otherwise it should be believed that he had foreplotted the Treason aforesaid, and suborned them to execute it. After their publick confession thereof, he caused them all to be first drawn, and then hanged for it. (m)(m)Hen. Huntindon, Hist. l. 6. p. 363. Radulphus de Diceto, Ymagines Hist. & Mat. Westm. Flores Histor. Anno 1016. Polychron. l. 6… c. 17, 18. Chronicon Iohan. Bromton, col. 906, 907, 90….Others write, that Edric himself, or his Son by his command, murdered him at Oxford on St. And…ews night as he was easing nature in an house of Office, stabbing him into the bowels with a two-edged knife through the hole of the privy, (in which one of them lay in wait to murder him) leaving the knife sticking in his bowels, and him dead in the place: And some write, that he placed an Image in his Chamber with a bow and arrow ready bent; which Edmond admiring at, touching the spring which held the bow thus bent, the arrow thereupon pierced & slew him in the place. That before his death was known, Edric went to Edmonds wife, and taking away her two young Sons from her, brought and delivered them to Cnute; and then saluted him, saying; GOD SAVE THEE SOLE KING OF ENGLAND. Whereupon Cnute demanding, Why he saluted him in this manner? He then informed him of King Edmo…ds death, and how he had murdered him of purpose to make him sole King of England. Speed adds, That he cut off his Soveraigns head … presenting it to Cnute with these …awning salutations, All hail thou sole Monarch of England, for here behold the head of thy Copartner, which for thy sake I have adventured to cut off: which no antient Historian mentions. Upon this, Cnute, p. 218though ambitious enough in Soveraignty, yet out of a Princely disposition, sore grieved at such a disloyal treacherous act, presently replyed to him, I for reward of so great and meritorious a service done for me, will… this day advance thee above all the Nobles of the Realm; After which he caused his head to be cut off, then fixed on an hig… poll, and placed on the highest Tower of London, for the birds to prey upon. (m)(m)Ingulphi Hist. p. 892. Florent. Wigorn. Mat. Wes…min. Simeon Dunelm, Hoveden, Anno 1016, 1017. Chron. Iohan. Bromton col. 907, 908. Hen. de Knyghton de Eventib. Angliae, l. 2. c. 2, 3. Radulphus de Diceto Abbreviationes Chronicorum.Others more agreeable to the truth, relate; That Cnute in the first year of his reign depriving this Arch-Traitor Edric of the Dukedom of Mercia, which he had many years enjoyed; thereupon Edric in the feast of Christs Nativity, repaired to Cnute at his Palace in London, to expostulate with him about it: where checking the King over-harshly, he upbraided him with the many benefits he had received from him, amongst which he mentioned two, wherewith he specially provoked him to anger; saying, Most dear King, you ought not to speak harshly to me, nor suffer any evil to be done unto me; for you had never enjoyed the Realm of England, but by my means. For out of love to thee, I have first betrayed King Ethelred; after that I deserted Edmond my proper and natural Lord; and afterwards I foreplotted his death, and murdered my just and true liege Lord, Proposit. 8.out of my fidelity towards thee, to bring the whole kingdom unto thee: and dost thou so lightly vilify so great love conferred on thee, for which I never received any benefit or profit from thee? At which speeches, Cnute changing his countenance, expressing his fury by its redness, presently pronounced this sentence against him, saying: And thou shalt deservedly die, thou most perfidious Traitor, seeing by thy own confession thou art guilty of Treason both against God and me, who hast slain thine own Soveraign and natural King, and my dear confederate Brother. His bloud be upon thy head, because thou hast stretched out thy hand against the Lords anointed. And lest a tumult should be raised among the people, he commanded him to be there presently p. 219strangled in his palace, and his body to be cast through a window into the river of Thames, to be devo…red of the fishes, as some, or hanged upon London walls unburied, to be devoured by birds, as others story. At which time (n)(n)Ingulphi Historia, p. 891, 892.Duke Norman, son of Duke Leofwin, (Captain of Edrics guard) Aethelward son of Duke Agelmar, and Brihtricus son of Alphege Earl of Devonshire, with many others of Edrics followers were likewise slain without offence, together with Edric; because Cnute feared he should one time or other be circumvented by the treacheries of this old perfidious Traitor, hearing his former natural Lords Ethelred, and Edmond had frequently been betrayed by him, quorum diutina proditione alterum vexavit, alterum interfecit; there being no trust to be reposed in such a Traytor to his Soveraigns. Thus this inveterate Arch-Traitor to his Natural Country, Kings, and bloudy Regicide, by Gods divine Justice received the just punishment of all his Treasons at the last, instead of expected great rewards, from that hand he least suspected. Whence (o)(o)Anno 1017. p. 402.Matthew Westminster relating both the Histories of the manner of Edrics death, concludes thus, Sed sive sic, sive aliter vitam finierit Proditor Edricus, non multum ad rem pertinet; quia hoc liquido constat, Quod ille qui multos circumvenerat, tandem est justo De… Iudicio circumventus, et proditionis suae meruit subire talionem: And let all those who have or shall imitare him in his Treasons against his native Country, Kings, and Regicide, seriously meditate on his tragical end, and expect the self same retribution in conclusion, though they escape as many years as he then did before final execution.

A third sort of Authors, as Marianus Scotus, Wigorniensis, Roger Hoveden, and Simeon Dunelmensis, make no mention of King Edmonds murder by Edric his subordination, but only that he died at London, (not Oxford) about the Feast of St. Andrew; p. 220as if he had died of a naturall death; but the generality of Writers agree, he was murdered at Oxford, ambiguum quo casu extinctus, writes (p)(p)De Gestis Regum, l. 2. c. 10. p. 72. Chron. Iohan. Bromton col. 906, 907.Malmesbury; the common fame being he was murdered, by Edric as aforesaid. And Bromton, who recites all three opinions, concludes thus, Sed primus modus, videlice…, quod rex Edmundus, ad requiem naturae sedens, proditione dicti Edrici occisus fuit, verior aliis et au…enticior habetur. The Author of the Encomium of Emma, concurring with Marianus, subjoynes this Observa…ion touching his short reign and speedy death: That God, &c. minding his own doctrine, That a kingdom divided in it self caunot long stand, and pitying the English, took away Edmond, lest if the Kings had continued long together, they should have both lived in danger, and the Realm in continual trouble. His reign continued onelyonly seven moneths, in which time he fought seven or eight battels in defence of his Country, People, and their Liberties, besides his single Duel with C…ute: and by his untimely death, the English-Saxon Monarchy was devolved to the Danes, who by Treachery and the Sword for three descents, deprived the English Saxons of the Crown and Kingdom, through divine retaliation, as they had unjustly by treachery and the Sword dispossess'd and disinherited the Britons thereof, about 450 yeares before, as (q)(q)Histor. l. 6. p. 359.Henry Huntindon, (r)(r)Chron. col. 883.Bromton, (s)(s)Polychron. l. 1. c. 59 f. 56.Radulphus Cistrensis, (t)(t)Acts and Monuments, Vol. 1. p. 222.Mr. Fox… (u)(u)History of Great Britain, p. 394. to 398…Speed, and others observe. The Sinnes of the Saxons grown now to the full, (writes Speed) and their dreggs as it were sunk to the bottom, they were emptied by the Danes from their own vessels, and their bottles broken, that had vented their red and bloudy wines; in lieu whereof the Lord gave them the cup of wrath, whose dreggs he had formerly (by their own hands) wrung out upon other Nations. For the Saxons, that had enlarged their Kingdomes by the bloud of the Britons, p. 221and built their nests high upon the Cedars of others, (as the Prophet speaketh, Habbak. 2.) committed an evil cov…tousness to their own habitations, and were stricken by the same measure that they had measured to others, when as the Danes often attempting the Lands invasion, and the subversion of the E…glish Estate, made way with their Swords through all the Provinces of the Realm, and lastly, advanced the Crown upon their own helmets, which they wore only for three Successions.