Vindication of Fundamental Rights and Governments of English Freemen, Treatise · Chapter 3 · Section 4 (4 of 5)

Vindication of Fundamental Rights and Governments of English Freemen · Treatise · Chapter 3 · Section 4 (4 of 5)

p. 129Towards the end of his Reign the llPolych. l. 6. c. 11. …. 239. Chron. Joh. Bromt. col. 870. Speeds Hiſtory, p. 406.Welchmen moving ſome rebellion, he thereupon aſſembled a mighty Army to ſuppreſs and prevent it; wherewith he entring into the Country of Glamorgan, ſharply puniſhed the Ringleaders thereof: But his Souldiers doing great harm in plundering the Country, lading themſelves p. 130with ſpoyls; the King out of his bounty, commanded them to reſtore to the People all the ſpoyls they had gotten; and more eſpecially St. Ellutus Bell, that was hanged about an Horſes neck; whereby he purchaſed ſingular love and honor from the Inhabitants. At length after he had reigned thus, 16 years and two months in great tranquillity and honor totum regnum ſanctis legibus ſt…enu… gubernantem, as mmHiſtor. Novorum. l. 1. p. 1.Eadmerus rela…es of him, he died happily o… …ueſday the 8 of July, Anno 975. Nec potuit malè mori qui benè vixerat, qui tot Eccleſias Deo fundaverat, qui tot bona perennia brevi tempore ſtatuerat, as nnHiſtor. l. 5. p. 356.Henry Arch-Deacon of Huntingdon obſerves, who beſtowed this honourable Epitaph on him, remembred alſo by ooIo. Brom. Chron. col. 870. Fox Acts and Monuments vol. 1. p. 202.others.

Auctor opum, vindex ſcelerum, largitor honorum▪

Sceptifer Edgarus Regna ſuperna petit.

Hic alter Solomon, legum Pater Orbita Pacis;

Quod caruit bellis, claruit inde magis.

Tem… … dedit agros;

Nequitiae lapſum, juſticiaeque locum.

Nov… enim Regno verum per qu…rere falſo,

Immenſum modico, perpetuumque brevi.

Immediately after his death, Res et ſpes Anglorum retro ſublapſae ſunt, totius Regni ſtatus eſt perturbatus; et poſt tempus laetitiae quod illius tempore vigebat pacificè, caepi… tribulatio undique advenire, as Malmesbury, Wigornienſis, Hoveden, Simeon Dunelmenſis, and Bromton obſerve: ſuch an incomparable lo…s was the death of ſo juſt, pious, and prudent a King to the whole Nation, qui juventutis vitia, poſteà magnis virtutib…s delevit, when moſt others do quite contrary.

p. 131ppIngulphi Hiſtoria, p. 889. will: Malmsb. De Geſtis Regum, l. 2▪ c. 9. Mat. VVeſtm. VVigornienſis, Simeon Dunelmenſis, Huntindon, Hoveden, Anno 975, 976. Chron Iohan: Bromton, col. 871, 872. Henry de Knyghton de Eventibus Angliae, l. 1. c. 1. Col. 2313. Eadmerus Hiſt. Novorum, l. 1. p. 1. Polychronicon, l. 6. c. 12. Fabian, Caxton, Grafton, Holinſhed, Speed, in the Lives of Edgar and Edward. Fox Acts and Monuments, Vol. 1. p. 203. 204. Mat. Parker, in Archbiſhop Dunſtans life. Antonini Chron. pars 2, Tit. 16.King Edgar at the time of his deceaſe leaving Anno 975.behind him two Sons by two venters, Edward his eldeſt Son by Queen Ethelfleda his firſt Wife, then but 12. years old, and Ethelred his ſecond Son by his ſecond Queen Elfreda, then not much above 7. years of age; T… aroſe a great contention amongſt the Nobles of the Realm about chooſing of a new King. For Queen Elfreda, with Alferus Duke of Mercia and many other Nobles, ſiding with the maried Secular Prieſts againſt the Monkiſh Clergy, combined to advance …oung Ethelred, electing him unanimouſly for their King, diſavowing Edward as illegitimate, and begotten of an harlot before mariage; as Malmesbury de Geſtis Regum, l. 2. c. 8. Osburn in the life of Dunstan, Nicholas Trivet, Johannis Pariſi…nſis, Vincentius, Antoninus, Matthew Parker in the Life of Archbiſhop Dunſtan, Mr. Fox and others repute him: though Ingulphus, Huntindon, Hoveden, Mat: Weſtminſter, Florentius Wigornenſis, Bromton, Abbot Ethelred, Simeon Dunelmenſis, Radulphus Ciſtrenſis, and the generality of our modern Hiſtorians, repute him Edgars lawfull Son, and right heir to the Crown: Whereupon the moſt of the Nobles elected him to ſucceed unto his Father: The two Archbiſhops, Dunſtan, and Oſwald, with all the Biſhops, Abbots, and Clergy of the Monkiſh faction, holding their new-gotten States dangerous, and their footing unſure, if in the nonage of the King, their Oppoſites ſhould rule all under him, as they imagined they would, if Ethlred were elected by them; thereupon abetted the Title of Edward, as altogether wrought to their mould and treading in his Fathers footſteps, lawfully begotten in the nuptial bed of Queen Ethelfleda, right heir to his Father, and by him deſigned to ſucceed him. Their claimes thus banded amongſt the Nobles, Duuſtan Propoſit. 5, 6, 8.and O… foreſeeing the danger, prudently aſſemb… all the Biſhops, Abbots, and Nobles together in a Great Council, to debate their rights and ſettle the title; p. 132Where Archbiſhop Dunstan (as ſome write) comming in with his Croſs and Banner, dum conſecrationis ejus tempore nonnulli Patriae Optimates reſiſtere voluiſſent; not ſtaying for further debating de Jure, preſented Prince Edward in the midſt of them de Facto, for their Lawfull King, as his Father had declared him at his death. Upon which, the Major part of the Council, being Clergymen, elected, anointed and conſecrated Edward for their King Quibuſdam Optimatum murmurantibus, ſome of the Nobles of the contrary party murmuring at it, eſpecially Queen Elfrida, who thought to advance her young Son to the Throne, that ſo ſhe might rule all things, and reign under the colour of his name, as Dunſtan and the Monkiſh Clergy did under the colour of King Edwards, whoſe Counſels and admonitions he diligently followed in all things, and judgements acted by him.

During the Interregnum, and banding of theſe two parties about the right of the Crown, and immediately after Edwards coronation, qqMalmsbur. De Geſtis Regum. l. 2. c. 9. p. 61. Mat. Weſtmin. Wigornienſis, Ingulphus, Simeon, Dunelmenſis, Huntindon, Hoveden, Bromton, Ann. 975. Osburne, Capgrav; Mat. Parker, Godwin in the Life of Dunſtan, Baronius & Spondanus, Annal. Eccl. An. 975. n. 12. Surius Concil. Tom. 2. Fox Acts and Monuments, Vol. 1. p. 202, 203, 204, 205.there aroſe great controverſies, tumults and civil Warrs between the Monkiſh Clergy, and maried Secular Prieſts, and the Nobles ſiding with both parties. The marie… Prieſts preſently upon Edgars death, complained to Queen Elfrida; Elfere, and the Nobles, That they were unjuſtly expelled out of their Churches by the Monks and their prevailing party; alleging, that it would be a very great and miſerable diſhonour to the Nation, and ſhame to them; ut novus advena veteres colonos migrare compelleret: hoc nec Deo gratum putari, qui veterum habitationem conceſſi…e… nec alicui probo homini, qui ſibi idem timere poſsit quod aliis praejudicio accediſſe cerneret. Hereupon many clamours and tumults ariſing among the people, they went to Archbiſhop Dunstan; Praecipue Proceribus▪ ut Laicorum eſt, ſucclamantibus praejudicium, &c. but especially to the Nobles, as the manner of Laymen is, crying out unto them; that the Secular Clergy were prejudged, p. 133and ſuffered unjuſtly, being expelled their … poſeſſions without cauſe: that they ought to be more mild…y Propoſit. 2. 4.dealt with, and reſtored to their Rights. Dunſtan giving a deaf ear to theſe their juſt complaints, many of the Princes and Nobles thereupon, in a tumultuous manner, expulſed the Abbots and Monks out of the Monaſteries wherein King Edgar had placed them, and brought in the maried Clerks with their wives in their places, as at firſt. Among others, Alfere Earl of Mercia, gathering great forces, and uſing much inſolence, overturned almoſt all the Monaſteries King Edgar and Biſhop Ethelwold had built in the Province of Mercia; quorundam Potentum aſſenſu …t factione, placing maried Prieſts in them. This they did magnis occaecati muneribus by the maried Clergy, as Hoveden, Simeon Dunelmenſis, Florentius Wigornienſis, and our Monkiſh Hiſtorians aſ…ert. To which rrHiſtoria, p. p. 889. See Fox Acts and Mon. Vol. 1. p. 203, 204.Abbot Ingulphus ſubjoyns. Cujus (Regis Edwardi) ſancta ſimplicitate et innocentia tàm abuſa est factio Tyrannorum, pe… Reginae favorem et potentiam praecipue roborata, quod per Merciam Monachis de quibuſdam Monaſtertis ejectis, Clerici ſunt inducti: Qui ſtatim Monaſteriorum maneria Ducibus terrae diſtribuebant, ut ſic in ſuas partes obligati eos contra Monachos defenſarent. Tunc de Monaſterio Eveſhamenſi Mon …ch…s expulſis, Clerici fuerunt introducti; Terraeque Tyranni de terris Eccleſiae praemiati ſunt: quibus Regina cum novercali nequitia ſtans cum Clericis, in Regis opprobrium favebat. Cum Monachis Rex et ſancti Epiſcopi perſistebant: Sed Tyranni fulti Reginae favore et potentia ſuper Monachos triumphabant. The Monks on the contrary to ſecure their intereſt (by like Bribes and means as is moſt probable, though our Monkiſh Hiſtorians conceal it) ſtirred up Ethelwin Duke of the East-Engliſh, and Brithnorth Earl of Eſſex, (men of great dread and power) to appear in their quarrel and reſiſt the oppoſite party. Qui in Synodo Propoſit. 6.conſtituti; who aſſembled together in a Synod p. 134or Council for that end, proteſted, That they would never indure the Monks ſhould be caſt out of the Realm, who held up all Religion in the Kingdom. After which, they raiſed a mighty Army, defending with great valour the Monaſteries of the Eaſtern Engliſh, keeping the Monks in poſſeſſion of them. This fire between the Monks and maried Prieſts thus blown from a ſpark to a flame, was feared to mount higher, if not timely quenched. Wherefore by mediation of Wiſe men, arms being laid aſide, the cauſe was referred to be heard and decided between them in a Great Council of the whole Kingdom. For which end there was a famous Council ſummoned and held at Winchester; (which ſome Hiſtorians antedate in Edgars life, others place in the Interregnum, after his death; but the ſeries of Story, and moſt judicious Antiquaries, evince it to be after Edwards Coronation, Anno 975.) In this Great Council, the King and Archbiſhop Dunſtan ſitting in their Thrones, as chief Judges of the Controverſie, in the Eaſt-End of the Hall of the Refectory of Wincheſter Abby near the wall, (wherein there was a Crucifix immured juſt behind them▪) Duces cum torius Regni Magnatibus; the Dukes with all the Nobles of the Realm, and the expulſed maried Clerks ſtanding on the left ſide of the Refectory, and pleading for themſelves, that they might be restored; and Oſwald Archbiſhop of York, Athelwold Biſhop of Wincheſter, with the Monks ſtanding all together on the right ſide of the Hall, pleading for their continuance in their Churches (as the Author of the old Manuſcript Chronicle of Wincheſter Abby relates, though he miſdates the time of this Council, as held Anno 968.) After much debate, the Nobles of the Realm fearing they ſhould be overcome by diſpute (…ay the Monks) promiſing reformation of life on the Clergies behalf, moſt humbly intreated the King and Arch-biſhop▪ That they might be readmitted into Monaſteries, out of which they had been ejected. With whoſe prayers, tears & p. 135ſighs the moſt merciful King being much moved, was in a great ſtreight, ruminating in his min…, what he ſhould doe in this▪ buſineſs. At laſt purpoſing, and being about to grant pardon to the Clerks, upon hope of their amendment, and to give them leave to return to the Monaſteries and Churches whence they had been expelled; When he was ready to pronounce this his definitive Sentence; there was thi… divine Voice uttered, by the Crucifix in the Wall, Cum plurium jam Suffragiis de Presbyteris reſtituendis decernehatur, as Mathew Parker relates it; A… ut …o… fi…, &c. God forbid that this ſhould be done; God forbid it ſhould be done; You have judged well once, you would change again not well. Which articulate voice only the King and Archbiſhop who were the Judges of the cauſe, heard, if the Chronicle of Wincheſter may be credited, when as another Monk relates, it was heard by all preſent; At which voice they being both aſtonied, fell to the ground on their faces; but all the reſt hearing only the ſound of the Voice as of a great Thunder, fell down flat to the Earth very much affrighted. Some write, that both ſides by Dunſtans policy appealed to the reſolution of the Crucifix in this caſe, in which Dunſtan had placed a man with a Trunk in the wall behind the Image, who uttered this voice in and by the mouth of the Rood: which is moſt probable. Soon after, …he King and Dunſtan heard this ſecond voice from the Crucifix, Ariſe, be not afraid, becauſe this day Righteouſneſſe and Peace have kiſſed each other in the Monks. In memory of this cheating Oracle and Monkiſh fable, (of which Huntindon, Hoveden, Wigornienſis, Ranul…us Cistrenſis, Fabian, and other old Monaſtical Hiſtorians make no mention, and Malmsbury ſlightly relates it as An hearſay) the Monks of Wincheſter ingraved theſe Verſes over the head of this Crucifix in their Refectory.

p. 136Humano more Crux praeſens edidit ore;

Coel…tus effata quae proſpicis hic ſubarat….

writing the words for…ited under this Diſtick, as then uttered by the Crucifix, which aſſerted before all, That Dunſtans way was true. Wherewith the Clerks and their Abettors were quite confounded, and put to ſilence. Sed adhuc non ſedatis animis, &c. But the Nobles and Clerks minds being not as yet quieted by this Oracle (a clear evidence they ſuſpected it as counterfeit) our Hiſtorians inform us, there were three more great Councils ſoon after held to Propoſit. 5, 6.ſettle this Controverſie between the married Prieſts and Monks. The firſt at Kerling, Kerding, or Cerding, or Kirking, as it is variouſly ſtiled, Anno 977. which sswigorn. An. 977. p. 360. Roger Hoveden Annal. pars prior, p. 425. Joh. Bromt. Chron. col. 870. Sim. Duuelm. Hiſt. de Geſt. Reg. col. 160. Antiqu. Eccleſ. Brit. p. 56. Spelm. Concil. p. 497.Wigorn. and Hoveden ſtile Magna Synodus, without Anno 977.recording what was done therein. Sir Henry Spelman out of an old Saxon Note, calls it A great Council, affirmes it was held after Eaſter, and that Sideman Biſhop of Devonſhire died in it. That King Edward and the Archbiſhop therein ordained; That every man ſhould goe in pilgrimage to the Church of St. Mary at Abendune out of Devotion. And Matthew Parker Archbiſhop of Canterbury, in the life of Dunſtan, ſuperaddes: Dunſtanus ibi cum Monachorum labenti conditioni ſuccurrere voluit, nihil profecit, Itaque hoc diſſoluto Concilio, aliud in Regia Villa Wilteria quae Calne vulgo appellatur coegit.

This Great Council held at ttMalmesh. de Gest. Reg. Angl. l. 2. c. 9. Mat. weſtmin. An. 975. VVigornienſis, Simeon Dunelmenſis, Hntindon, Hoveden, Bromt. Anno 975. Gervaſins, Osburn, Capgrave, Matthew Parker, Godwin in the life of Dunſtan, Polychronicon, l. 6. c. 12. Fabian, Caxton, Holinſhed, Grafton, Baker in the life of King Edward, Fox Acts and Monuments, Vol. 1. p. 204, 205. Speeds Htſtory. p. 411, 412. Baronius, & Spondanus An. 977. n. 2. Spelm. Concil. p. 494, 495. Camdens Britannia. p. 243.Calne (ſome ſtile it Cleve) was purpoſely called the ſame year, 977. to end the long continued Controverſie between the p. 137Monks and married Prieſts, which the ſeigned Oracle of the Crucifix at Wincheſter, and the Council of Kerding could not determine. All the Senators and Propoſit. 6.Nobles of England ſitting together at this Council in an Upper room (the King being abſent by reaſon of his tender age or ſickneſs) the buſineſs being debated with great conflict and controverſie; and the ſtrongeſt wall of the Monkiſh Church, Archbiſhop Dunſtan, being aſſaulted with the Darts of many revilings, remained unſhaken. The Diſputants of both parties and orders defending their ſides with greateſt induſtry, in the midſt of the diſpute, the whole Floor, with the Rafters and Beams of the Room wherein they diſputed ſuddenly brake in peeces, and fell to the ground, with all the people in it, except Dunstan, who eſcaped without any harm, ſtanding firm on a beam that remained, of which he took hold-faſt; the reſt being either ſlain outright, or very much hurt and bruiſed with the fall, ſo as they languiſhed ever after, hardly eſcaping preſent death. This miracle (as our Monkiſh Authors ſtile it) gave peace to Archbiſhop Dunſtan from the aſſaults of the Engliſh Clerks, and others, who thereupon from thenceforth ſubmitted to his ſentence and judgement, if William of Malmesbury, and Mat. Weſtminſter may be credited; Whereas Florentius Wigornienſis, John Bromton, and others out of them, aſſure us; that there was not long after another Parliamentary Synod or Aſſembly held at Ambresbery, upon the ſame occaſion, without recording the Proceedings or Event thereof. Some conjecture that this fall was only a fiction of the Monkiſh VVriters, to adde reputation to their languiſhing cauſe, as well as that of the Crucifix Speech forecited. Others conceive, it was wrought by Duuſtans ſorcery, or Policy. Others, that it was caſual, by reaſon of the weight of the People. But Henry Huntindon Hiſt. l. 2. p. 357. Bromton, col. 876. and Sir Henry Spelman out of them, p. 496. record, p. 138That this fall of the Nobles at Calne, was (not a Divine Judgement on them for their Oppoſition againſt, and injury to the Monks as ſome interpreted it, but) ſignum videlicet Dei excel…i fuit quod Proditione et Propoſit. 8.Interfectione Regis ſui, ab amore Dei Caſuri eſſent, et diverſis gentibus digna contritione conterendi; as they were ſoon after broke in pieces by the invading conquering Danes and Normans: And whether the late violent falls and ruptures of our Parliaments and Nobles portend not the like fate to England, by ſome other forein Invaſions for the like Treachery, Apoſtacy, Regicide, or far worſe, let thoſe who are guiltieſt of it, and others determine at their leiſures.Anno 978.

King uuMatt. VVeſtm. VVigorn. Simeon Dunelm. Huntind. Hoveden, Radul. deDice. Ethelr. Bromt. An. 977, 978. Malmes bury de Geſt. Reg. l. 8. c. 2. Polych. l. 6. c. 13. Antonius Chron. pars 2. Fabian, Caxton, Holinſhed, Graſton, Speed, Fox and others in the life of King Edward.Edward imitating the footſteps of his Fathers Religion and Piety, was ſo circumvented by the flattering ſpeeches of his Mother-in-law Queen Elfrida, that although ſhe oppoſed his Title, Election, Coronation, all ſhe could, to advance her own Son to the Crown: yet retaining only the name of a king to himſelf, he ſoon after permitted her and his Brother Ethelred, his Competitor, to order all affairs of the Realm as they pleaſed. VVhereupon (as the Chronicle of Bromton relates) ſhe began to plot how to dethrone this Man of God King Edward, and advance her own Son Ethelred to the Throne; Which when ſhe had a long time meditated upon, ſhe opened the Secrets of her heart to ſome of her chief Counſellours, adviſing with them concerning it, and earneſtly intreating, yea conjuring them to aſſent to her therein, and to find out ſome means to effect it; Cui protenus in necem illius omnes conſeuſerunt, who all forthwith conſented to his Murder, and contrived how they might moſt ſpeedily accompliſh it by ſome fraudulent device, which they ſoon after executed in this manner.

King Edward hunting for his diſport in the Foreſt near VVarham, hearing that his Brother Ethelred p. 139whom he intirely loved) was near that place, reſiding then with his Morher at Corph-Caſtle,) ſome ſtile it Corneſgate) rode thither to viſ…t him with very few attendants, who either caſually, or of ſee purpoſe lingring behind him, ſporting in the way, he came alone to the Caſtle gate. Queen Elfrida who had a long time waited for ſuch an opportunity, being informed thereof, went preſently to meet him with her bloody Aſſaſſinate, s and welcoming him with flattering Speeches, and a pleaſant countenance, importuned him to lodge there that night, which o…er he with thanks refuſed, ſaying he deſired only to ſee and ſpeak with his brother, but would not alight from his horſe: Whereupon ſhe commanded a Cup of Wine to be ſpeedily brought him to drink, appointing one of her boldeſt Souldiers to kill him whiles he was drinking▪ VVho kiſſing the king, like another Judas, under a pretext of love, to take away all ſuſpition, ſo ſoon as the Cup was at his mouth, ſtabbed him preſently into the Bowels with a knife. King Edward feeling himſelf wounded, ſet ſpurs to his Horſe, thinking to eſcape to his own faithfull followers; but the wound being mortal, he fell from his Horſe dead, and one of his feet hanging in the Stirrop, he was dragged up and down through the Mire and Fields, and at laſt left there dead near Cerf Gate. VVh…ch his wicked Stepmother hearing of, commanded her moſt wicked Servant to drag him by the Heels like a beaſt, and throw him into a little Cottage hard by, that the fact might not be diſcovered. After which ſhe commanded his Corps to be privily taken from thence, leſt this her moſt execrable work of darkneſs ſhould be diſcovered, and buried in an obſcure buſhy moriſh place, where it ſhould no more be found by any. Moſt of our Hiſtorians write, that he was obſcurely buried at VVearham, without any Royal State; Ac ſi cum Corpore paritèr & Memoriam ſepelliſſent, invidentes ei ſespid…m, cui vivo p. 140inviderunt decus Regium; So Malmsbury; or as Matthew Westminſter deſcants on it, Invidebant enim mortuo Eccleſiaſticam concedere Sepulturam Cni videnti decus Regium auferebant. And not content herewith, they made … than which nothing could be more cruel; That no Man ſhould lament or ſpeak of his death, thinking thereby utterly to …elete his memory. But contrary to their expectation, God by a ſupernatural light from heaven ſhining on the place, and ſundry Miracles there wrought (if our Monkiſh Hiſtorians may bee credited) fruſtrated this deſign. For though the Queen and her Complices out of their tranſcendent malice (which O that ſome of late times had not overmuch imitated,) Inimicitias quas viventi ingeſſerunt in mortuum protelantes, ſepelierunt cum fine Regio honore apud Warham, ut ſicut vitam ejus extinxerant ita et nomen ejus extinguerent: hic vero compertum Propoſit. 8.eſt contra divinam providentiam non ſufficere pra…um cor hominis et inſcrutabile: Quem enim perfidi terris abjicerant, Deus coelo gloriosè ſuſcepit, et memoriae aeternae inſignivit eum Dominus. cujus mentionem Proditores obnubulare ſtuduerant. But mark the ſad ſequel of this prodigious Regicide, Proditione Gentis ſuae perfidae, thus regiſtred by xxHiſtor. l. 5▪ p. 357.Henry Huntindon, an impartial Hiſtorian. Inde Dominus iterum ad iram provocatus eſt, et plus ſolito irritatus, Genti peſsimae malum inextricabile conferre cogitavit, et quod facere paraverat non diſtulit. Veneruntque Dani, et operuerunt Angliam quaſinubes coeli. To which yyDe Geſtis Regum Ang. l. 2. c. 9. p. 61.William of Malmsbury ſubjoyns. Creditumque et celebritèr vulgatum, quod propter Elfridae in Edwardum inſolentiam multo poſt tempore tota patria ſervitutem infremuiſſet Barbaricam. Take the ſumm of his Reign, Murther, Saintſhip in theſe words of * Abbot Ethelred. Tranſlato ad coeleſtia Regna Rege …adgaro▪ in regno terreno filius ejus De Genealog. Reg. Anglor. p. 362.Edwardus ſucceſſit: Qui injuſte ab impiis interfectus, tum … ſanctitatem, tum ob mortis a…bitatem Sancti p. 141Nomen et Meritum Deo donante prom…ruit: being afterward tranſlated to Shaftsbury, and there honourably enſhrined.

King Edward being thus treacherouſly murdered on Anno 979.the 17th day of April, Anno 978. when he had reigned only 3. years and 8. moneths by hereditary Succeſſion, thereupon on the 8. of May 979. his half-brother zzIngulphi Hiſtoria p. 889, 890. Mat. VVeſtm. VVig. & Sim. Dunel. An 978, 979, &c. 1016. Chren. Inhannis Bromton, col. 877, 878. Will: Malmsbur. de Geſtis Regum. l. 2 c. 18. Eadmerus Hiſt. Novorum, l. 1. p. 1. Hoveden Annal. pars prior. p. 427. &c. Hen. de Knyghton de Eventibus Angliae, l. 1. c. 2. Polychron. l. 6. c. 12, 13. Caxton, Fabian, Holinſhed, Grafton, Speed, Stow & others in the life of K. Ethelred. Radulphus de … ce…o Abbrev. Chron. col. 46… ▪Ethelred was crowned King at Kingſton, by both the Archbiſhops, Dunſtan and Oſwald, and ten Biſhops more, in the preſence of the Nobles, much againſt Dunſtans will. And although Ethelred ſo much lamented his Brothers murder, being then but a child of ten years old, not active to promote this Treacherous plot, and ſo deteſting it, that his Mother Elfrida in a rage whipped him for it with candles for want of a rod, which made him abhor candles all his life; yet Dunſtan full of a propheticall Spirit, at the very time of his Coronation told him, that he and his Poſterity, together with the whole kingdom, ſhould ſuffer grievous tribulation all his reign, uſing theſe words then unto him; Becauſe thou hast aſpired to the Kingdom by the death of thy Brother, whom thy Mother murdered; therefore hear the word of the Lord; Thus ſaith the Lord. The Sword and Bloud ſhall not depart from thy Houſe, nor from the Nation, but ſhall rage againſt thee all the days of thy Life, ſlaying thy ſéed, uutil thy Kingdom ſhall be tranſlated to another Realm and Nation, whoſe Cuſtoms and Language that Nation over which thou reigneſt knoweth not; qu eo… in ultim…m red…gat ſerv…tutem▪ who ſhal… reduce them into the extremeſt Bondage, for conſpiring with thy ignominious Mother againſt the Bloud of thy Brother. Neither ſha… thy fin, nor the ſin of thy Mother, Nor the ſin of thoſe who were privy to her wicked Counſell, that they might ſtretch …ut an hand againſt the Lords anointed to ſlay him, be expiated, but by a long Revenge, Propoſit. 8.and much effuſion of bloud. Which accordingly p. 142came to paſs; and let all others whom it concerns moſt nearly, with our whole Engliſh Nation now ſeriouſly reminde it. This Prophecie was preſently after ſeconded, with a prodigious Cloud, ſpread and ſeen over all England ſundry nights, which appeared ſometimes bloudy, other times fiery, and then changing it ſelf into divers ſorts of flaſhings and colours, vaniſhed about the morning. The very next year following the barbarous Danes invaded England, burnt Sonthampton, killing and carrying away Priſoners almoſt all the Inhabitants thereof; after which they inſeſted and waſted the Iſle of Teneth, and City of Weſt-Cheſter, invading England every year with new forces, til they had laid the whole kingdom deſolate, expelled King Ethelred, with his Queen and Children, into foreign patts, and poſſeſſed themſelves both of the Crown and Realm, as abſolute Soveraigns.

And here, before I proceed further, I cannot but take ſpecial Notice of Gods admirable retaliating Juſtice inflicted upon ſome of our Saxon uſurping Regicides and their Poſterities, worthy our ſaddeſt contemplation.

**See… Mat. Weſtm. Malmsb. Huntindon, Hoveden, Ethelwerdus, Ingulphus, Wigornienſis, Simcon Dunelmenſis, … Bromton, Polychronicon, Hen. de Knyghton, Fabian, Speed, Holinſhed, Graſton, Daniel in their lives.King Edgar (as I touched before) injuriouſly uſurped upon his elder Brother King Edwyn; and by force of arms deprived him of half his Crown and kingdom at firſt, and of his whole Realm, if not life too, at laſt. But within few years after by Gods avenging hand, his beſt beloved eldeſt Son and heir, King Edward, to whom he bequeathed the Crown at his death, was firſt oppoſed in his Succeſſion, and ſoon after moſt treacherouſly butchered by his own Queen and younger Son, who invaded the Crown by his ſlaughter. King Edgar treacherouſly ſlew Earl Ethelwold, (as you have read) to eſpouſe his wife Elfredae, & Crown her for his beſt beloved Queen; who (no doubt) was conſenting to, if not the contriver of his murder, as he was hunting in Worel Foreſt. And ſhe to requite this murder, kills p. 143his own Son and heir King Edward, as he came from hunting in a Foreſt, not very far diſtant from the ſame place. Elfere Earl of Mercia, the Queens chief Counſeller and Inſtrument to murther and dethrone King Edward, (whom he ſtabbed to death with his own hands, as Malmesbury records,) though to expiate this crime, he ſoon after honourably tranſlated his Corps from Warham to Shafisbury-Minſter; yet by Gods avenging wrath, about a year after his whole body was eaten up of Lice and Worms, ſo that he died moſt miſerably. Queen Alfrida the chief Plotter of this murder, ſoon after the fact, was ſtruck with ſuch horror of conſcience for this bloudy Regicide, that to pacifie the pangs thereof, and expiate the guilt of his crying bloud, ſhe built two Monaſteries at Almesbury and Warwel, and caſting off her royal robes and State, entred into the later of them, where ſhe afflicted her ſelf with ſackcloth, faſting, weeping, and ſevere penance unto the day of her death, bewailing this bloudy crime all the remainder of her life. The whole Engliſh Nation, who were either conſenters to, or overgreat connivers at their Soveraigns Murther (which they never publikely queſtioned nor revenged) were not only ſtricken, conſumed with all ſorts of Plagues and ſtrange diſeaſes, but unceſſantly invaded, oppreſſed, ſpoiled, captivated, conquered, murderated, and almoſt quite extirpated by the barbarous Danes, who uſurped the Soveraignty over them for three Generations, being made a ſpectacle of divine Juſtice both to Angels and Man. As for King Ethelred himſelf, though then an infant, he purchaſed nothing elſe by his Brothers blood, but a Crown of Thorns and Cares, living in perpetual warrs, cares, fears, wants, diſtreſſes, being croſſed in all his deſigns, warrs by Land and Sea, contemned, deſerted, and frequently betrayed by his own Counſellers, Nobles, Commanders, Souldiers, Subjects; forced out of the Realm with his Queen, children, by the conquering p. 144Danes, all living like exiles in forein parts; dying at laſt neither lamented nor deſired; Some of his Sons after his death were treacherouſly murthered, (as Edmund Ironſide by his own Brother-in-law, and Ethelred his Son-in-law, Duke Edert) all his poſterity renounced by the Engliſh, and the Danes preferred before them, baniſhed, betrayed, devoted to ruine by the uſurping Danes, and his own temporizing Engliſh Prelates and Nobles. Of which more fully hereafter. Take but this brief Character of his unhappy reign out of aaDe Gestis Regum, …. 2. c. 10.William of Malmsbury, and bbDe Eventibus Angliae, l. 1. c. 2.Henry de Knyghton; Ethelredus poſt occiſionem fratris ſui Edwardi in Regem levatus 38. annis reguum potius obſidit, quam rexit. Nam vitae ſuae curſus ſaevus et infauſtus fuit; in principio, miſer; in medio et fine, turpis et reprobus,. Iſte tenuit Regnum in magna anguſtia: Nes mirum, quia ſic felonice et injuſte intruſus eſt in Regnum, Rex ſuorum per fidia Ducum avito ex terris ſolio, et opis egens alienae, in cujus manu aliorum ſolebat ſalus pendere. E Normannia accercitus Londoniae agebat propter proditores, nunquam procedens, ubi animam laboribus et miſeriis natam efflavit. Poſt cujus mortem Proceres Regni, cum Clero ſtirpem ejus abhorrentes, Canutum recognoverunt Regem ſuum fore. All which calamities fell upon theſe Regicides, Traytors, and the whole Engliſh Nation, as our Hiſtorians obſerve, for the murder of their lawfull Soveraign. And have we not all now juſt cauſe to fear the very like, or ſome ſorer Judgements for the ſelfſame crying Sin, and other tranſcendent, bloudy, traiterous violences, oppreſſions of all kinds, farr exceeding this, and all others in former ages? But to proceed from theſe Generals, to the moſt obſervable particulars during his reign.

Anno Dom. 980. being the ſecond year of King Ethelreds Anno 980.reign, the ccMat. Weſt. Malmsbury, Ingulphus, Huntindon, Hoveden, Simeon Dunelm. Bromton, Wigorn. Radulphus de Diceto, Polychron. Antiqu. Eccleſ. Brit. Fox, Holinſhed, Grafton, Speed.Danes began their invaſion and p. 145perſecution of the Engliſh, waſting, depopulating with fire and ſword Southampton, Cheſter, the Iſle of Teneth, Cornwall, Devonſhire, and other places, continuing their depredations ſundry years after, till they became Lords and Maſters both of the Crown and Realm. All our Hiſtorians record, that the ſins of the Engliſh Nation, (eſpecially their Treaſon and Treachery againſt their innocent murdered Soveraign) were the original cauſe of this Daniſh invaſion, and moſt fatal Judgement: to which Biſhop ddMat. Parker, Antiqu. Eccl. Brit. p. 63, 64.Lupus in his Oration, ſubjoyns theſe other ſins, pertinent to my Theam, of which I fear our Nation is now fart more guilty than their Anceſtors in that age: Eccleſiae vaſtantur, ordo Clericalis ludibrio habetur et contemptui; ima plebs proditorie è regno ſumpto pretio venundatur, infantes ab ipſis incunabilis ad miſeram Propoſit. 1. 4. 8.ſervitutem ſumpti et redacti ſunt, omniſque benignitas et eleemoſyna perit. Ipſi denique liberi avita libertate frui, et in ſervili conditione conſtituti, bonis magnis partis laboribus aut aliundè conceſſis, uti prohibentur. Et quia haec gens, perjuriis, Mendaciis Iuramenti, Fidei, Faederum atque Pignorum fractionibus crebris, homicidio, turto, et quae …d Rempublicam labefactandam ſumma ſunt Proditione, falſo atque Technis vaferrimis in ipſos Domiuos atque Heros multifariam deliquit, cujus fuit indicium, Edwardi regis ipſis hoſtibus traditio, &c. The external cauſes principally inviting, incouraging the Danes to this invaſion, as eeAntiqu. Eccl. Brit. p. 62Matthew Parker, and ffActs and Monuments, Vol. 1. p. 207. Speeds Hiſtory.Mr. Fox conjecture, were theſe: Quod à ſegnibus et torpentibus Monachis Regni facultates eſſent abſorptae; auctaque indies Dacorum vis ab Anglorum ſub Monachis redactorum ignaviam, et civilia orta multa diſcrimina; quae Dacos efferarunt victores. And that the Danes perceiving the diſcords that were then in the Realm, and the hearts of the Subject to be withdrawn from, and ſet againſt their Soveraign, they thought it a ſufficient occaſion and advantage to forward their intendments, and omitting no time, arived on the Coaſts of p. 146Kent, and spoiled the Country as aforeſaid.

About the year of our Lord 982. One Lefſi bought Anno 982.lands in the Iſle of Ily of Adelwold Biſhop of Wincheſter, and not only denied to pay for them, but likewiſe forcibly diſſeiſed the Biſhop of 3. Manors, Burch, Undeles, and Kateringes, which the Biſhop recovered by Judgement of the Earldermen, and Thames in the WITENAGEMOTE (Wittagemiot) or Parliamentary Aſſembly of that age, thus reported by the antient ggMs. de Operibus B. Edelwoldi. Epiſcopi.Book of Ely, and by hhTitles of Honor, ſecond part. c. 5. ſect. 6. p. 693.Mr. Selden, out of it. Edicitur placitum apud Londoniam, quo cum Duces, Principes, Satrapae, Rethores et Cauſidici ex omni parte confluxerant, beatus Aedelwoldus praefatum Lefſium in jus protraxit, et coram cunctis ſuam cauſam et injuriam, ac rapinam quam ipſe Leofſius intulerat ſanctae Eccleſiae ex ordine patefecit. Qua re benè ac apertè ab omnibus diſcuſſa, omnes Deo et beato Aethelwaldo per judicium reddiderunt Burch, et Undeles, et Kateringes. Judicaverunt etiam ut Leofſius Epiſcopo totum damnum ſuum ſuppleret, et **Munda, Saxonice Pax dicitur: ſed et Satiſdatio, ut hic, ni fallor, interpretatur.Mundam ſuam redderet, de rapina verò Regis forisfacturam emendaret, dato pretio genealogiae ſuae. Poſt haec infra octavum diem convenerunt iterum ad Northamtune, et congregata ibi tota Provincia, ſive Vicecomitatu, coram cunctis iterum cauſam ſupradictam Propoſit. 4, 6,patefecerunt. Qua patefacta ac declarata, ut praejudicata erat apud Londoniam, judicaverunt et iſti apud Northamtune. Quo facto omnis populus cum jurejurando in Chriſti Cruce reddiderunt Epiſcopo quae ſua erant, ſcilicet, Burch, et Undeles, et Kateringes. By which Preſident it is apparent, 1. That Parliamentary Councils in that age held Pleas, and gave judgements of Diſſeiſins and Titles of Lands. 2. That they had Lawyers to aſſiſt them, and plead ſuch caſes before them. 3. That the Judgement given in the Great Council at London, was confirmed, recited, and executed in the County-Court held at p. 147Northampton, and poſſeſſion of the Lands accordingly reſtored to the Biſhop.

King iiMatthew Weſtminſt. An. 983, 986. VVigorn. and Sim. Dunelm. An. 986. Ingulphi Hiſt. p. 8…0. Wil. Malmesb. de Geſtis Reg. l. 2. c. 10. Hoveden, Annal. pars prior, p. 427. Huntindon Hiſt. l. 5. p. 357. Chron. Jo▪ Bromton, col. 878. Henry de Knyghton de Eventibus Ang. l. 1. c. 2. col. 2515. Fox Acts and Monumeuts vol. 1. p. 207. Antiq. Eccleſ. Brit. p. 61. Godwins Catalogue of Biſhops p. 394. Speed p. 144.Ethelred being incenſed againſt the Biſhop Anno 986.of Rocheſter, Anno 983. as ſome, or 986. as others compute it, beſieged the City of Rocheſter for a long ſpace; VVhereupon Archbiſhop Dunſtan commanded him to give over the ſiege, leſt he ſhould provoke St. Andrew, Patron of that City, againſt him. The King notwithſtanding continued his ſiege till he extorted one hundred pounds from the Biſhop. VVhereupon Dunſtan admiring at his covetouſneſs, ſent him this Meſſage. Becauſe thou hast preferred ſilver before God, Mony before an Apoſtle, covetouſneſs before me, the evils which the Lord hath denounced ſhall violently come upon thee. Upon which Matthew Weſtminſter makes this obſervation. Anno 986. Rex Anglorum Aethelredus qui prohibente beato Dunſtano Centum libras ab Epiſcopo Roffenſi extorſerat, pro pace breviſſima penſionem 16 millium librarum perſolvere compulſus eſt. VVhichWhich fell not out till the year 994. as himſelf and others record: Malmesbury referrs it to the Tax of 10 thouſand pounds, paid by him to the Danes. Anno 991. In this year 986. Alfric Duke of Mercians, ſon of Duke Alfere was baniſhed England crudeliter, cruelly, without juſt cauſe, as Bromton recites, which made him afterwards prove treacherous to the King, he being one of thoſe Engliſh, quos nullis cauſis extantibus exhaeredabat Rex, et affecto crimine, opibus emungebat; which Malmesbury taxeth him for. His oppreſſion and injuſtice, Propoſ. 2, 4.being the chief cauſes of his miſcarriage and expulſion by the Danes.An. 988, 99….

Anno 988. The Danes invading VVecedport, thereupon [k] Mat. VVestm. VVigorn. Huntindon, Ho…den, Bromt. Speed, Holinſh. Fox, Grafton.Goda Earl of Devonſhire, Strenwild, a moſt valiant Knight, and many others in defence of their Native Country and Liberties, fought with them, and were ſlain by them. And Anno 891. Brithnoth the moſt valiant Duke of the East Engliſh, and his forces, fought p. 148a ſet battle with the invading Danes, who waſted Ipſwich and the parts adjoyning: In which battel an innumerable multitude were ſlain on both ſides, and this valiant Duke with many thouſands of the Engliſh, in defence of their Country againſt theſe Invaders. After which, by the Counſel of llGervaſius Antiq. Ecclef. Brit. and Godwin in the liſe of Spricius.Syricius Arch-biſhop of Canterbury, Duke Aethelward, Alfric, and other Nobles (aſſembled no doubt in a Parliamentary Council, as Malmesbury his Duces et Proceres Propoſit. 1.ſi quando in Concilium veniſſent, pars hic, … illud el… &c. … Henry de Knyghton his Proceres Regni, ſi quando ad Concilium congregati, &c. import) A Tribute of ten thouſand pounds was given to the Danes, that they might deſiſt from their frequenr rapines, and ſlaughters of men, which they frequently exerciſed about the Sea-coaſts, pacemque firmam cum iis tenerent, and might hold a firm peace with them. Some of our Hiſtorians ſtile this mmHuntind. Hiſt. l. 5. p. 357. Chron. Iohan. Bromton, col. 879.Infauſtum Concilium, an unlucky Council. Eadmerus nnHiſt. Novoruml. 1. p. 1.gives this verdict of it. Regis deſidia circum circa innotuit, Et ideo extevorum cupiditas opes Anglorum quam mortes affectans, hac & illac, per mare, terram invadere: & primo propinquas mari villas & urbes, deinde remotiores, ac demum totam Provinciam miſerabili depopulatione devaſtare. Quibus cum ille nimio pavore perculſus, non armis occurrere, ſed data pecunia pacem ab eis petere non erubuiſſet, ipſi Propoſ. 1, 5, 6, ….ſuſcepto pretio in ſua revertebantur, ut, numero ſuorum adaucto fortiores redirent, ac praemia iteratae irruptionis multiplicata reciperent; Unde modo decem millia, modo ſedecim millia, modo viginti quatuor millia, modo triginta millia librarum argenti conſecuti ſunt: omnia illis largiente praefato Rege Edelredo. et gravi exactione totum Regnum opprimente. ooDe Geſtis Reg. Angl. l. 2. c. 10. p. 62.VVilliam of Malmesbury pa…eth this cenſure on it, and the unhappy conſequence of it. Danis omnes portus infeſtantibus, & levitate piratica p. 149ubique infeſtantibus, dum neſciretur, ubi eis occurrere debent decretum à Syriaco Archiepiepiſcopo. &c. ut repellerentur argento qui non poterunt ferro. Ita decem milli… librarum ſoluta cupiditatem Danorum expl…ere. Exemplum Infamiae et Viris indignnm, libertatem pecunia redimere, quam ab invicto animo nulla violentia poſsit excutere. Et tunc quidem paliſper ab incur…bus ceſtarunt, mox ubi vires otio reſumpſerunt, ad ſuperiora reditum. Tantus timor Anglos invaſerat, ut nihil de reſiſtendo cogitarent. Si qui antiquae gloriae memores obviare; & …gna colligere tentaſſent, hoſtium multitudine, & ſociorum defectione deſtituebantur whereby they became Vaſſals and Tributaries to the [p] De Geſtis Pontif. l. 1. p 203.inſulting Danes. Cujus Siricii conſilio in geſtis Regum dixi Ethelredum Regem animi libertatem Danis pretio …endicaſſe. Ut eoru… pacem argento redimerent, quod ferro repellere poſſe… niſi corde car…re…. Unde Importabilis Tributi penſio impoſita Angliae, fortunas provincialium ad ſolum uſque deſtruxit. qqHiſtor. l. 5. p 357.Henry Huntindon, and the rrcol. 879.Chronicle of Bromton paſs this verdict againſt, and deduce this memorable obſervation from this Tribute. Edelredi Regis, Anno 13. Primo ſtatuerunt Angli (which intimates Propoſit. 1, 6, 9.it to be … Parliamentary Council) Concilio infauſto Siricii Archiepiſcopi, quod ipſi cenſum Dacis perſolverent, quatenus à rapinis & caede ce…arent, & …eis decem mille libras. Hoc antem malum uſque in hodiernum diem duravit, et diu, niſi Dei Pietas ſubveniat, durabit: Regibus namque noſtris modo perſolvimus, ex conſuetudine quod Dacis perſolvebatur ex ineffabili terrore. To which Bromton, ssPolychr. l. 6. c. 13.Ranulphus Censtrenſis, and ttDe Eventibus Angliae, l. 1. c. 2.Henry de Knyghton immediately ſubjoyn. Dacis Tributum annuum ſolvunt. Primo anno 10 milia librarum▪ Secundo anno 16 millia librarum, Tertio anno 20 millia librarum, Quarto anno 24 millia, Quinto p. 150anno 40. millia librarum, d…nec tandem pecun…a deficiente iterum tenderent ad Rapinas. Et tunc No… depraeda…es, et Londoniam obſidente…, Coegerunt regem tributum dare. uuAntiqu. Eccleſ. Brit. p. 64.Mat. Parker Archbiſhop of Cauterbury, thus cenſures this ill advice of his Predeceſſor; Siricius pacem Chriſtianis ab infidelibus Dacis 10. librarum millibus redemit, Ad ignominiam ſane, peneque perniciem totius Regni. xxActs and Mon. Vol. 1. 207.Mr. John Fox in…orms us, That King Ethelred being gl…d to grant the Danes great ſums of money for peace, gave himſelf to polling of his Subjects, and diſinheriting them of their poſſeſſions; and cauſed them to redeem the ſame again with great ſums of money; For that he paid great Tributes to the Danes yearly, which …as called Danegelt. Which Tribute ſo increaſed, that Propoſit. 1. 4.from the firſt Tribute of 10000 l. it was brought at last in proceſſe of 5. or 6. years, to 40000 l. The which yearly Tribute (until the coming of St. Edward and after) was levied of the people of the Land: Moreover, for lack of Juſtice, many Theeves, Rioters, and Bribers, were in the land, with much miſery and miſchief. To which ſorrow moreover was joy…ed hunger and penury (beſides a bloudy flux, feavers, mortality, murrain amongſt cattel, &c.) amongſt the Commons, inſomuch that every one of them was constrained to pick and ſteal from others. So that what for the pillage of the Danes, and what by inward Theeves and Bribers, this Land was brought into great affliction: Albeit the greatest cauſe of this affliction (as it ſeemeth to me) is not ſo much to be imputed to the King as to the diſſention among the Lords themſelves, who d… not agrée one with another; but when they aſſembled in Conſultation together, either they did draw divers wayes, or if any thing were agreed upon any matter of peace between the parties, ſoon it was broken again; or elſe if any good thing were deviſed for the prejudice of the Enemy, even the Danes were warned thereof by ſome of the ſame Council. yyPage 415, 416.John Speed, in his Hiſt: of Great Britain relates, p. 151That King Ethelred could not redreſs the evils occaſioned by the proſperous Danes ſucceſſes, who lay in the land like unto Graſhoppers, his strengths being ſmall, and his Subjects affections l…ſs. The…efor… calling to counſell Propoſit, 1, 6, 9.the Stateſmen and Peers, demanded their Advics, what was beſt to be done? Some few of theſe profe…ed the King their aſſiſtance, but more of them perſwaded to a compoſition, whereof Siricius Archbiſhop of Canterbury was chief; and in fine, ten thouſand pounds paid to the Danes for their departure. This golden mine once entred, was more eagerly digged into by thoſe ſtill thirſting Danes, who finding the branch ſo beneficial at firſt, hoped the vein in following would prove farr more beneficial; and therefore, regardleſs of promiſe, the next year prepared themſelves again for England, and with a great Fleet d…ſp…ched to Sea. The News whereof ſtruck ſuch terror into the Engliſh hearts, that deſpairing of hope they accounted themſelves the Bondſlaves of Miſery, and were enforced to compound a peace with them, with the payment of 16000 pounds, which they at last mounted to 40000 (or 48000) pounds till it emptied the Land of all her coin, the Kingdom of her Glory, the Nobi…ity of their Courage, the Commons of their Content, and the Soveraign of his wonted Reſpect and Obſervation. (A pattern of our age and times.) zzA Collection of the Hiſtory of England. London 1634. p. 16.Samuel D…mel gives us this Cenſure of this firſt unworthy heavy Tax: Ethelred in the end was fain, ſeeing he could not prevail with the ſword, to aſſail them with money, and bought a peace for 10000 pounds, which God wot, proved after a very dear penny-worth to the Commonwealth: Shewing the ſeller thereof, how much was in his power, and the buyer, at how bad a rate, his neceſſity was to be ſerved, and yet not ſure of his bargain, longer than the Contractor would. Who having found the benefit of this market, raiſed the price therof almoſt every year. And yet had not Ethelred what he paid for, the land in one part or other being never free from ſpoil and invaſion, but rather, were more oppreſſed both by p. 152the Dane, and by this Taxation, which was the firſt we find in our Annals laid upon the Kingdom, and with heavy grievance raiſed in a poor diſtreſſed State, continuing many Ages after the occaſion was extinct; And in the end (though in ano…her …) became the uſual Supplement in the Dangers of the Kingdom, and the Occaſions of Princes. And hereby Ethelred enlarged the means and deſires of the Enemy, ſo that at length came Swaine King of Denmark, and Anlafe King of Norwey in perſon, as if likewiſe to receive him for committing outrage, and were both returned with great ſumms. And many years it was not ere Swaine returned again to raiſe new ſumms by new afflictions, and tormenting here this poor turmoiled people more than ever, receives a fee Propopoſition 1, 6, 9.for bloudſhed, to the ſumm of 48000 l. Granted in the General Aſſembly of the States at London; and a Peace, or rather paction of ſervitude concluded.

From theſe paſſages of our Hiſtorians it is moſt evident. 1. That this Tax of ten thouſand pounds to the Danes, was the very firſt we find impoſed on the Engliſh Nation, An. Domini 991, being never ſubject to any publike Civil Tax til then, for ought appears by Hiſtory. 2. That this Tax was then impoſed, and after reimpoſed, augmented on the Nation, only by common advice, grant, and conſent of the King, Prelates, and Nobles aſſembled in a publike and Parliamentary Council. 3. That the original ground of granting it was baſe degenerous cowardiſe, or unmanly fear, and ſluggiſhneſs, both in the King, Nobles, and People, and that by the very unlucky, imprudent, ill Council and advice, of an Archprelate, Siricius Archbiſhop of Canterbury being the ptinciple adviſer of it. 4ly. That it was originally paid, not to a lawfull Native Soveraign king, for defence of the Nation, but to a forein invading prevailing, victorious Daniſh Enemy, to purchaſe peace, and be quit of future troubles and Invaſions. 5ly, That when this was firſt impoſed, it was with a p. 153belief and reſolution never to reiterate or draw it again into cuſtom or preſident in ſucceeding ages: and that only to ſatisfie a covetous invading Enemy for the preſent, without any thoughts that it would but ſtrengthen or encourage their Enemies to new invaſions and Tributes of this Nature, doubled and trebled on the Nation afterwards. Yet loe the contrary ſad effects of this ill preſident & advice. 1. It is within few years after, ſeveral times drawn into Uſe and Cuſtom again. 2. It is every time increaſed, augmented more than other, till it amounted to 4 times as much as it was at firſt. 3. It did but impoveriſh, weaken the Engliſh themſelves, and much ſtrengthen, encourage their Daniſh Enemies, and keep them ſtill under their Vaſſalage. Whereas ſo much mony or leſs raiſed and ſpent for their own defence againſt the Danes, would probably have expulſed and beaten them home to their own Country with loſſe, and ſo have prevented their future invaſion. 4ly After the Danes were quite expelled, and the occaſion of this tax quite extinct, yet it then became a uſual conſtant ſuppliment to our Kings for ſundry ages after, upon all occaſions, and was the only ground-work, pattern, of all the heavy publike Shipmony, Taxes, Aids, Impoſitions, Payments, under which the people have ſuffered in all ſucceeding ages, till this preſent. It is very dangerous therefore for Parliaments, or Stateſmen, upon any extraordinary preſſing Neceſſity, to lay any new Taxes, Tributes, or Impoſts on the people, and moſt perillous for the people voluntarily to ſubmit unto their payment; for being but once or twice granted, impoſed, paid, and made a Preſident, they are hardly ever aboliſhed or conjured down again, but kept ſtill on foot upon ſome pretext or other; yea oft doubled, trebled, and quadrupled by degrees, to the peoples grand oppreſſion and undoing, as we may ſee by this old Preſident of Danegelt; and the late ſad Preſidents of o…r new impoſed p. 154Exciſes, Impoſts, Monethly Contributio…s, raiſed from 20 to 30, 40, 50, 60, 100, and 120 thouſand pounds, amonth, and the Exciſe from thouſands to Millions; and ſo continued for ſundry years, without hope of end, or eaſe: the only bleſſed liberty which we have hitherto purchaſed with all our Prayers, Tears, Faſts, Counſels, Treaſures, wars and whole Oceans of Chriſtian blood. I ſhall therfore deſire our late and preſent Tax-Maſters, Exciſers, if they be not now paſt all ſhame, ſadly to conſider, how much more burthenſome and injurious they have been & are now to their native Chriſtian Engliſh Brethren, than the Barbarous Pagan, fore in invading Danes were then to their predeceſ…ors; in that they by their own authority, without any lawfull grant, or Act by a free Parliament, impoſe on their Brethrens exhauſted purſes and eſtates, no leſs than 60 or 120 thouſand pounds every MonethMonth, beſides Exciſes, Impoſts, Cuſtomes, amounting to much more; when as the barbarous, fore in Danes exacted of them, only by their own common conſent in free Parliamentary Councils, only ten thouſand pounds in one year at firſt, and then 16000, 24000, 30000, 40000, or 48000 l. at the utmoſt for ſeveral whole years Tribute, without any Exciſe, Impoſts, or other Cuſtoms. Which meditation me thinks ſhould now induce them to mitigate, releaſe, ceaſe, our long continued unceſſant Taxes, Exciſes, Impoſts, or at leaſt to reduce them to the Danes higheſt annual proportion, of 48000 thouſand pounds, leſt the whole Nation and Poſterity repute them more oppreſſive, barbarous, tyrannical to their Chriſtian Countrymen now; than the worſt of the forein Pagan Daniſh Invaders were heretofore, and greater preſent Enemies to their Native Country, than the Danes then were to our Progenitors.

The ſelf ſame year aawilliam Malmsbur. De Geſtis Regum. l. 2. c. xo. p. 64. Spelman. Concil. p▪ 503.there being ſome difference p. 155Anno 991.between King Ethelred and Richard Marqueſs of Norma…dy, he thereupon ſlew and pillaged all the Engliſh paſſing through his Country, and affronted King Ethelred with frequent injuries. Pope John the 15. hereupon ſent Leo his Legate, with exhortatory Letters to make peace between them: who coming with them to King Ethelred on Chriſtmaſs day, Anno 901. the King, …on receit of the Popes Letters, Accerſitis cunctis ſui Propoſi… 6. 9.Regni fidelibus, utriuſque ordinis Sapientioribus, Aſſembling all the Wiſeſt men of his Realm of both Orders, for the love and fear of Almighty God, and St. Peter the Prince of the Apoſtles, granted and eſtabiſhed a moſt firm peace with all his Sons and Daughters, preſent, and to come, and with all his Lieges, without guile. In purſuance whereof, the King ſent Edelfinus Biſhop of Sherburn, with two other perſons of quality into Normandy to the Marqueſs: Who, upon receit of the Popes Admonitions, and hearing of the kings Decree, with a willing mind, confirwed the ſaid Peace with his Sons and Daughters preſent and to come, and with all his Subjects, upon this reaſonable condition, That if any oſ them, or they themſelves ſhould perpetrate any unjuſt thing againſt the other, it ſhould be expiated with eondign reparation. Which Peace that it might remain perpetually firm, was ratified by the Oaths of the Commiſſioners of both parts, at Rhoan, in March following. Here we have a Peace adviſed, ratified by the direction of a Parliamentary Great Council: recorded at large by Malmsbury: The laſt clauſe whereof was this, Et de hominibus Regis, vel de inimicis ſuis, nullum Richardus recipiat, nec Rex de ſuis, ſine Sigillo eorum.

King bbFlorentius wigornienſis, Mat. weſtm. Simeon Dunelmenſis, Hoveden, Huntindon, Hiſt. l. 5. p. 357. Chron. Johan. Bromton. col. 879. 880. Speed, Holinſhed, Grafton, Fox.Ethelred in the year 992. hearing that the Anno 992.Danes intended a new invaſion of England, and that they had ſent a great Fleet to Sea, contrary to their former Agreement the year before, aſſembled a Council of his p. 156Nobles to conſult how to reſist them. What the reſult of their conſultation was, Florence of Worceſter thus records Conſilio juſſuque Regis Anglorum Etheiredi, Procerumque ſuorum, de tota Anglia robuſtiores, Londoniae congregatae ſunt Naves. By the Counſel and Propoſit. 6, 9.command of Ethelbert king of England, and of his Nobles, all the ſtrongeſt Ships were aſſembled together at London, out of all England; which the king furniſhing with choice Souldiers, made Duke Alfric, Duke Thorold; Alstan and Aeſcwi… (two Biſhops) Admirals over them; commanding them, if by any means they could, to take the Daniſh Army and Fleet by invironing them in ſome part. But Duke Alfric (formerly baniſhed, forgiven, and now made chief Admiral) turning Traytor, both to his king and Country, firſt ſends a ſecret Meſſenger to the Danes, to acquaint them with the deſigns againſt them, intreating them to prevent the ambuſhes prepared to ſurprize them, whereby they eſcaped the hands of the Engliſh. After which, when the Engliſh and Danes were ready to encounter each other in a Sea-fight, Alfric fled ſecretly to the Daniſh Fleet the night before, and by reaſon of the inſtant danger, fled away ſhamefully with them. The kings Navy purſuing them, took and pillaged one of the Daniſh Ships, ſlaying all the men therein. But the London ſhips meeting with the other Daniſh Pirates, as they were flying, fought with them, ſlew many thouſands of the Danes; and took Duke Alfric his Ship, with the Souldiers and Armes, himſelf hardly eſcaping, as Wigornienſis and Matthew Weſtminſter relate. But Huntind. & Bromton, write, that the Danes recruiting their Navy, met and fought with the kings Navy, flew many of the Londoners, triumphantly took whole armed Ships, and Duke Alfric who was in them; whom the king ſhould not have truſted, according to the antient ſaying: Quem femel gravitèr laeſeris, non facile ti…i fidelem credideris. For this Treaſon of Alfric, the king p. 157cauſed the Eyes of his Son Algar to be put out, Unae odium & infamia e…us crudelitatis adaucta eſt, as Huntindon and others obſerve.

The next year 993. the ccVVi…ormenſis, Bromt. Huntindon, Hoveden, Mat. VVeſtminſt. Malmes bury Simeon Dunelm. Radulphus …ſtrenſis, Fabian, Holinſhed, Speed,Daniſh Fleet entring Anno 993.Humber, waſted the Country of Northumberland and Lindeſey, burning the Villages, ſlaying the people, and pillaging their goods. Whereupon great mul…itudes of the people of that Country, aſſembling together, reſolved and haſtned to fight with them: but when they were ready to give them battel, Frena, Frithgiſt and Godwin their Captains, being of Daniſh Progeny▪ proving treacherous to their followers perſwaded them to fly, and fled firſt themſelves. Notwithſtanding the Country (as Malmesbury, Speed, and others write) being unable to digeſt their intollerable inſolence and plunders, fell upon the Danes, ſlew many of them, and chaſed away the reſt to defend their Lives, Liberties, and Eſtates.

Anno 994. Swane king of Denmark▪ and Anlafe Anno 994.king of Norwey with 94 Ships ſailed up to London, beſieged [d] Florent. VVigorn. Stm. Dunelm. Mat. Weſtm. Anno 994. William Malmes, de Geſt. Reg. l. 2. c. 10. Huu…indon Hiſt. l. 5. p. 358. Hoveden, A…nal. pars prior, p. 428. Chron. Joh. Bromt. col. 880, Polych. l. …. c. 13. Henry de Knyghton de Even…. Angl. l. 1. c. 2. Fabian, Grafton, Holinſhed, Stow, Speed, Spelm, Gloſſarium, Tit. Danegelt, Radulph. de Diceto Abbrevi. Chron. 461.and fiercely aſſaulted the City, thinking to take it; but the Citizens ſo manfully defended it, that they repulſed the Danes thence with great loſs. Who thereupon turning their fury upon the Counties of Eſſex, Kent, Suſſex, and Southampton, ſo greivouſly waſted them with fire and ſword, burning the Villages, and ſlaying the Inhabitants, that King Ethelred, Con…llio Procerum ſuorum, by the Council of his Nobles (aſſembled together for that end, as Wigornienſis Matthew Weſtminſter, Hoveden, Simeon Dunelmenſis and others write) ſent Embaſſadours to them, promiſing to give them Tribute and Wages, and Money, upon this condition, that they ſhould deſiſt from their cruelty. Who thereupon condeſcending to the kings requeſt, returned to their Ships, and drawing all their Army together unto Southampton, wintered there: To p. 158whom a Tribute of fixteen thouſand pounds, was given Propoſit. 1, 6, 9.and paid out of all England, that they ſhould ceaſe from their rapines and ſlaughters of innocent perſons. After this agreement King Anlaf tepaired to Andover, to King Ethelred, where he received baptiſm, Ethelred being his Godfather: and beſtowing great gifts upon him; Heteupon Anlaf entred into a League with him, promiſing, to return into his own Countrey, and never after to return into England with an Army; Which promiſe he faithfully obſerved. The Articles of the Agreement between King Ethelred and him, are at large recorded in the Chronicle of Bromton, Col. 899, 900. being made by advice of all his Wiſemen aſ…embled in a Parliamentary Council, as this Title to them intimates. Haec ſunt verba Pacis et Prolocutionis, quas Ethelredus Rex et omnes Sapientes ejus cum exercitu firmaverunt, qui cum Ana…an…, et Juſtino, et Gudermundo Stegiar… filio venit. The Articles of the Peace between them are X, in the Saxon, but XI, in the Latin Copy.

The perfidious An. 997, 998, 999.Danes violating their former agreement, eeWigornienſis, Mat. VVeſ. Huntindon, Rad. de Diceto, Simeon Dunelmenſis, Polychron. Bromton, Hen. Knyghton, Malmsbury, Hoveden, Fab… on, Holinſhed, Speed, Grafton, and others.Anno 997. came with a great Fleet and Army into the mouth of Severn, waſted and laid waſte and deſolate Northwales, and moſt of the Weſt and South parts of England, no man reſiſting them, gaining an extraordinary great booty and Wintring about Taveſtock. The next year 998. They entring the river o… Frome, waſted and ſpoiled Dorſetſhire, the Iſle of Wight, and Suſſex over and over, living upon their ſpoils: whereupon the Engliſh many times aſſembled an Army to reſiſt and expell them; but ſo often as they were about to give them battel, Angli aut inſidiis, aut aliquo infortunio impediti, terga verterunt, et hostibus victoriam dederunt; moſt of the Nobles of England ſecretly favouring the Danes, and not loving Ethelred, quia Alfrida mater ſua pro ipſo liberius in regno ſubſtituendo, ſanctum Edwardum fratrem ſuum dolosè extinxerat, as p. 159Bromton and others atte…. Anno 999. The Daniſh fleet entring the river of Medway, beſieged Rocheſter, and waſted Kent. The Kentiſh men uniting their forces fought a ſharp battel with them, wherein many were ſlain on both ſides, but the Danes winning the field, horſed their foot on the horſes they gained, and miſerably waſted all the Weſt part of Kent. Which King Ethelred being informe… of, ſuorum Primatum Propoſit. 1, 6, 9.Conſilio et claſſem et pedeſtrem congregavit exercitum; by the advice of his Nobles, he aſ…embled a Navy and foot Army to encounter them. But whiles the ſhips were preparing, the Captains of the Army delaying from day to day their begun le…yes and undertakings, Grievouſly vexed the People. In concluſion, neither the Navy nor Army did any thing at all for the peoples benefit or defence, prae…er populi laborem, pecuniae pe…ditionem, hostium incitationem, as Florentius Wigornienſis, Roger Hoveden, and others obſerve.

Hereupon ffHen. Huntindon. Hiſtor. l. 6. p. 359. Chro. Johau. Bromton Col. 883, 884, Polych…onicon, l. 5. c. 60.King Ethelred, Anno 1000. for the Anno 1000.better defence of his Realm, reſolved to take to wi…e Emma daughter of Richard Earl of Normandy, who was then moſt valiant, and formidable to the whole Realm of France: For he ſaw himſelf and his Subjects very much weakned, and did not a little fear their future overthrow. Hoc autem Dei nu…u factum eſſe conſtat, ut veniret contra improbos malum. Genti enim Anglorum quam ſceleribus ſuis exigentibus disterminare propoſuerat, ſicut et ipſi Brittones peccatis accuſantibus humiliaverant, Dominus omnipotens duplicem contritionem propoſuit, et quaſi militares inſidias adhibuit. Scilicet, ut hinc Dacorum perſecutione ſaeviente, illinc Normannorum conjunctione accreſcente, ſi ab Dacorum manifeſta fulminatione evaderent, Normannorum improviſam cum fortitudine cautelam non evaderent. Quod in ſequentibus apparuit, cum ex hac conjunctione Regis Anglorum, et filiae Ducis Normannorum, Angliam, JUSTE, ſecundum jus Gentium p. 160Normanni et calumniati ſunt, et adepti ſunt. Praedixit etiam eis quidam vir Dei, quod ex ſcelerum ſuorum immanitate, non ſolum quia ſemper caediet proditioni ſtuduebant, verum etiam quia ſemper ebrieta… et negligentiae domus Domini dediti erant, eis insperatum à Francia adventurum Dominium; quod et eorum excellentiam in aeternum deprimeret, et honorem ſine termino reſtitutionis eventilaret. Praedixit etiam, quod non ea gens ſolum, verum et Scottorum, quos viliſſimos habebant e…s ad emeritam confuſionem dominaretur. Praedixit nihilominus varium adeò ſeculum creandum, ut varietas quae in mentibus hominum latebat, et in actibus patebat, multimoda variatione veſtium et indumentorum deſignaretur. Hac igitur providentia cum Legatoriis ad Ducem Normannorum miſſis, Rex Anglorum ſuae petitionis conceſſionem obtinuiſſet, Statut… tempore tanto digno ministerio ad Dominam ſuam recipiendam et adducendam Proceres Anglorum mittuntur in Normanniam, quae longo et digno regibus apparatu dirigentur in Angliam. Thus Henry Archdeacon of Huntindon, Radulphus Ciſtrenſis, Bromton, and others out of them, vrite of this Norman ma…ch, as the ground-work of tranſlating the Goverment in ſucceeding times from the Saxons to the Normans, for the Saxons ſinnes forenamed.

This ſame year, the Daniſh Fleet ſailing into Normandy [g] Mat. Weſtm. Hoveden, Wigornienſis, Sim. Dunelmenſis, Holinſhed, Speed, and others. Anno 1000.and pillaging it, King Ethelred hearing of it, marched with a great Army into Cumberland and the Northern parrs, which had revolted to the Danes, and where their greateſt Colony was; where he vanquiſhed the Danes in a great battel, and waſted, pillaged moſt of all the Country. Which done, he commanded his Navy to ſail round about the North parts of Wales, and to meet him at an appointed place, which by reaſon of croſs winds they could not doe: yet they waſted and took the Iſle of Man; which ſucceſs ſomewhat raiſed and encouraged the dejected ſpirits of the Engliſh, and encreaſed the Kings reputation with them.

p. 169In the years 1001. hhWigornienſ, Huntindon, Hoved. Ethelwerdus, Ingulphus, Malmsb, Radulphus de Diceto, Radulphus Ciſtrenſis, Simeon Dunelm. Bromton, Mat. VVeſtmin. Hen: de Knyghton, Mat. Parker, Fox, Fabian, Holinſhed, Grafton, Speed, Daniel.The Daniſh Fleet returning Anno. 1001. 1002.from Normandy, entred the river of Ex, and beſieged Exceter: which the Citizens manfully defending, repulſed them with great loſs from their walls. Wherewith they being extremely enraged, marched through all Devonſhire, burning the villages, waſting the fields, and ſlaying the people, without diſtinction of age or ſex, after their uſual manner. Whereupon the inhabitants of Devon, Somerſet, and Dorſetſhires, uniting their forces in a Body in a Place called Penho, gave them battel: but being overpowred by the multitude of the Danes, who farr exceeded them both in number and military skill, they were forced to ſlie, and many of them ſlain. The Danes there upon getting their horſes, harrowed Devonſhire farr worſe than before, and returned with a great booty to their ſhips: Whence ſteering their conrſe to the Iſle of Wight, they preyed ſometimes upon it, ſometimes upon Hampſhire, other times upon Dorſetſhire, no man reſiſting them. Deſtroying the men with the ſword, and the Villages and Towns with fire, in ſuch ſort, ut cum illis nec claſſica manus navali, nec pedeſtris exercitus certare audeat praello terreſtri: for which cauſe the King and People were overwhelmed with unſpeakable grief and ſadneſs. In this ſad perplexity, King Ethelred, Anno 1002. Habito conſilio cum regni ſui Primatibus (as Florentius Wigornienſis, Simeon Dunelmenſis, Radulphus de Dicet…, Roger Hoveden, Propoſit. 1, 6, 8, 9.and others expreſs it; or Conſilio Primatum ſuorum, as Mat. Weſtminſter and his followers relate it:) By the Counſel of the Nobles of his realm, (aſſembled together for this purpoſe at London) reputed it beneficial for him and his people to make an Agreement with the Danes, and to give them a Stipend, and Pacifying Tribute, that ſo they might ceaſe from their miſchiefs. For which end Duke Leofſi was ſent to the Danes, who coming to them, importuned them, that they would accept of a Stipend and Tribute. They gladly embracing p. 170his Embaſſy, condeſcended to his requeſt, and determined how much Tribute ſhould be paid them for to keep the peace. Whereupon ſoon after A Tribute of 24000 pounds was paid them, pro bono Pacis, for the good of Peace.

In this Aſſembly and Council, (as I conjecture) iiChron. VVil. Thorn, col. 1780 Spelmanni Concil. p. 504. to 510.King Ethelred informed his COUNSELLERS, who inſtructed him both in divine and humane things, with the ſloathfulneſs, negligence, and vicious lives of the Secular Prieſts throughout England, and by their advice thought meet to thruſt them out, and put Monks in their places, to pour forth prayers and praiſes to God for him and his people in a due manner. Whereupon he confirmed by his Charter, the ejection of the Secular Prieſts out of Chriſts-Church in Canterbury, and the Propoſit. 6, 10.introduction of Monks in their places; and ratified all the lands and privileges formerly granted them; exempting the Monaſtery and Lands thereof from all Secular ſervices, except Expeditione, Pontium operatione, et Arcium reparatione. Beſeeching and conjuring all his lawfull Succeſſors, Kings, Biſhops, Earls, and people, that they ſhould not be, Eccleſiae Chriſti Praedones, ſed ſitis Patrimonii Chriſti defenſores ſeduli, ut vita et gaudio aeternis cum omnibus Dei ſanctis in aeternum frua…. Which Charter was ratified by the Subſcriptions of the King, Archbiſhop, Biſhops, Abbots, and of Propoſition 2.ſeveral Aeldermen, Nobles, and Officers, and the ſign of the Croſs. This year, **…enſis. and others.Duke Leofſi ſlaying Eſric a Nobleman, the Kings chief Provoſt, was judicially baniſhed the Realm by the King for this offence.

After this Peace made with the Danes, Anno 1002. Emma ariving in England, received both the Diadem Anno 1002.and name of a Queen; whereupon King Ethelred puffed (k) Huntindon, Hoveden, Malmsb. Mat. VVestm. Radulphus de Diceto, Simeon Dunelm. VVigorn. Bromton, Hen. de Knyghton, Fox Acts & Monuments, Vol. 1. p. 207. Polychron. Fabian, Holinſhed, Grafton, Speed, Daniel.up with pride, ſeeing he could not drive out the Danes by force of arms, contrived how to murder and p. 171deſtroy them all in one day by Treachery at unawares, either by the ſword or by fire; becauſe they endeavoured to deprive him and his Nobles both of their Lives and the Realm, and to ſubject all England to their own Dominion: The occaſion, time, and manner of whoſe ſudden univerſal Maſſacre is thus related by Mat. Weſtminſter, An. 1012. (though acted An. 1002. as all accord) and by Mr. Fox and others. Huna General of King Ethelreds Militia, a valiant warlike man, who had taken upon him the managing of the affairs of the Realm under the King, obſerving the inſolency of the Danes, who now after the peace made with them, did ſo proudly Lord it through all England, that they preſumed to raviſh the wives and daughters of Noblemen, and every where to expoſe them to ſcorn; by ſtrength cauſed the Engliſh husbandmen to ſoyl and ſow their land, and doe all vile labor belonging to the Houſe, whiles they would ſit idely at home, holding their wives, daughters, and ſervants at their pleaſure; and when the husbandmen came home, they ſhould ſcarcely have of their own, as his ſervants had: So that the Dane had all at his will and fill, faring of the beſt, when the owner ſcarcely had his fill of the worſt. Thus the common people being of them oppreſted, were in ſuch fear and dread, that not only they were conſtrained to ſuffer them in their Doings, but alſo glad to pleaſe them, and called every one of them in the Houſe where they had rule, LORD DANE, &c. Hereupon Huna goeth to the King much perplexed, and makes a lamentable complaint to him concerning theſe things. Upon which the King being not a little moved, by the Counſel of the ſame Huna, ſent Letters (or Commiſſions) unto all the coaſts of the Realm, commanding all and every of the Nation, that on one day after, to wit, on the Feaſt of St. Brice the Biſhop, all the Danes throughout England ſhould be put to death by a ſecret Maſſacre, that ſo the whole Nation of the Engliſh might p. 172all jointly and at one time be freed from the Daniſh Oppreſsion. And ſo the Danes, who by a firm covenant, ſworn unto by both ſides a little before, ought to have dwelt peaceably with the Engliſh, were too opprobriouſly Propoſit. 2.ſlain, and the women with their children being daſhed againſt the poſts of the houſes, miſerably powred out their ſouls. When therefore the ſentence of this decree was executed at the City of London without mercy, many of the Danes fled to a certain Church in the City, where all of them were ſlain without pity, ſtanding by the very Altars themſelves. Moreover, that which aggravated the rage of this perſecution, was the death of Guimild, Siſter of King Swain, ſlain in this manner in England: ſhe was lawfully maried to Count Palingers, a Noble man of great power, who going into England with her husband, they both there received the faith of Chriſt and Sacrament of baptiſm: this moſt prudent Virago being the mediatrix of the peace between the Engliſh and Danes, gave her ſelf with her husband and only ſon, as Hoſtages to King Ethelred for the ſecurity of the peace, ſhe being delivered by the King to that moſt wicked Duke Edric to keep, that Traytor within few days after commanded her husband, with her ſon, to be ſlain before her face with four ſpears, and laſt of all commanded her to be beheaded. She underwent death with a magnanimous minde, without fear or change of countenance; but yet confidently pronounced as ſhe was dying, That the ſhedding of her bloud would bring great detriment to England.

llHiſtoriarum, l. 6. p. 360.Henry Huntindon thus relates the ſtory of this Maſſacre. In the year 1002. Emma the Jewel of the Normans came into England, and received both the Diadem and name of a Queen; with which match King Ethelred being puffed up with pride, bringing forth perfidiouſneſs, cauſed all the Danes who were with peace in England, to be ſlain by clandeſtine Treaſon on p. 173one and the ſame day, to wit on the feaſt of St. Brice, concerning which wickedneſs we have heard, in our infancy ſome honeſt old men ſay; that the ſaid King ſent ſecret Letters into every City, according to which Propoſit. 2.the Engliſh on the ſame day and hour deſtroyed all the Danes, either cutting off their heads, without giving them warning, with ſwords, or taking and burning them ſuddenly together with fire. Ʋbi fuit videre miſeriam, dum quiſque chariſſimos hospites, quos etiam arctiſsima neceſsitudo dulc…ores effecerat, cogeretur prodere, et amplexus gladio deturbare, writes mmDe Geſt. Regum, l. 2. c. 10. p. 64.Malmsbury.

The News of this bloudy Maſſacre of the Danes, being brought into Denmark to King Swain by ſome Youths of the Daniſh Nation who eſcaped and fled out of England in a ſhip, moved him to tears, nnMat westmin. An. 1012, p. 391, 392.Vocatiſque cunctis Regni Principibus, Who calling all the Princes of his Realm together, and relating the whole ſeries of what was acted to them; he diligently enquired of them, what they would adviſe him to do? Who all crying out together, as with one mouth, DECREED, That the bloud of their Neighbours and Friends was to be revenged. Whereupon Swain, a cruel man, prone to ſhed bloud, animated to revenge, by his Meſſengers and Letters commanded all the Warriers of his Kingdom, and charged all the ſouldiers in forein Regions, greedy of gain, to aſſiſt him in this expedition againſt the Engliſh, which they cheerfully did, he having now a fairer ſhew to do foully than ever, wrong having now made him a right of invaſion, who had none before.

Anno 1003. King Swain ariving with a great Navy Anno 1003.and Army in England, by the negligence and treachery [o] Malmsbury, Huntindon, Hoveden, VVigornienſis, Simeon Dunelmenſis, [Radulphus de Diceto, Bromton, Henry de Knyghton, Polychronicon, Ingulphus, Mat. Weſtm. Fabian, Fox, Holinſhed, Grafton, Speed, Danielof one Hugh a Norman, whom Queen Emma had made Earl of Devonſhire, took and ſpoyled the City of Exeter, raſed the wall thereof to the ground, and burnt the City to aſhes, returning with a great prey to his ſhips, p. 074leaving nothing behind them but the aſhes. After which waſting the Province of Wiltſhire: a ſtrong Army congregated out of Hamſhire and Wiltſhire, went with a reſolution manfully and conſtantly to fight with the Enemy; but when both Armies were in view of each other, ready to joyn battel, Earl Edric their General (a conſtant Traytor to his Country, and ſecret friend to the Danes) feigned himſelf to be very ſick, and began to vomit, ſo that he could not poſſibly fight. Where upon the Army ſeeing his ſlothfulneſs and fearfullneſs, departed moſt ſorrowfull from their Enemies, without fighting, being diſheartned by the Cowardiſe of their Captain: Which Swane perceiving, he marched to Wilton and Sarisbery, which he took, pillaged, and burnt to the ground, returning with the ſpoil to his Ships in triumph.

The next year Swane (to whom God had deſigned the kingdom of England, as ſome old ppVVigorn. Hoveden, Huntind▪ Hiſt. 1. 6. Speed, & others.Hiſtorians write) Anno 1004.ſailing with his Fleet to Norwich, pillaged and burnt it to the ground. Whereupon Ulfketel, Duke of Eaſt-England, … man of great valour, ſeeing himſelf ſurprized, and wanting time to raiſe an Army to reſiſt the Danes, cum Majoribus Eaſt-Angliae habito Conſilio, taking Propoſit. 6, …9.Counſel with the Great men of Eaſt-England, made peace with Swane; which he treacherouſly breaking within three weeks after, ſuddenly iſſuing out of his ſhips, ſurprized, pillaged, and burnt Thetford to the ground; and covering the Country like Locuſts, ſpoyled all things, and ſlaughtered the Country-men without reſiſtance. Which Duke Ulfketel being informed of, commanded ſome of his Country-men to break his ſhips in pieces, in his abſence from them, which they not dared, or neglected to do, and he in the mean time raiſing an Army with as much ſpeed as he could, boldly marched againſt the Enemy, returning with great booties to their Ships; where after a long and ſharp incounter on both ſides, the Engliſh being over-powered p. 175by the multitude of the Danes, were totally ronted, and all the Nobles of Eaſt-England there ſlain in their Countries defence, who fought ſo valiantly, that the Danes confeſſed they had never an harder or ſharper battel in England than this. The great loſs the Danes ſuſtained in it, though they got the field, and an extraordinary famine in England the year following, greater than any in the memory of man, cauſed Swane to return into Denmark to refreſh and recruit his Army.

King Ethelred quit of theſe Enemies, Anno 1006, Ano 1006.deprived Wulfgate the Son of Leonne, whom he had loved (u) Florentius Wigornienſis, Mat. Weſtm.more than all men, of his poſſeſſions and all his homours, propter injuſta judicia, for his unjuſt judgements and proud works; and likewiſe commanded the Propoſ. 2, 6.eyes of the two Sons of that Arch-Traitor Edric Strcona to be put out at Cocham, where he kept his Court, becauſe Edric had treacherouſly inticed a bloody Butcher, Godwin Porthound (whom he corrupted with great gifts) to murder the Noble Duke Althelin at Scoborbyrig, as he was hunting, whom Edric purpoſely invited to a Feaſt, that he might thus treacherouſly murder him. While theſe things were acting, in the month of July, the Danes returning with an innumerable Navy into England, landing at xxHuntind, Hoveden, Malmesbury, S…m. D…elmenſis, VVigorn. Mat. VVeſtm. Ingulphus, Bromton, Radul p…. de Diceto, Knyghton, Folych. Fabian, Holinſhed, Grafton, Fox, Speed, Daniel.Sandwich, conſumed all things with fire and ſword, taking great booties, ſometimes in Suſſex, ſometimes in Kent: Whereupon King Ethelred gathered a great Army out of Mercia and the Weſt-parts of England, reſolving valiantly to fight with the Danes; who declining any open fight, and returning to their Ships, landed ſometimes in one place, ſometimes in another, and ſo pillaging the Country, returned with the booty to the Ships before the Engliſh Army could encounter them, which they vexed all the Autumn in marching after them from place to place to no purpoſe: The Engliſh Army returning home when Winte… began to approach the p. 176Danes with an extraordinary booty ſayled to the Iſle of Wight, where they continued till the Feaſt of Chriſts Nativity, which Feaſt they turned into ſorrow. For then they marching into Hampſhire and Berkeſhire, pillaged, and burnt down Reading, Wallingford, Coleſey, Eſſington, and very many Villages, Quocunque enim per agebant, quae parata erant hilariter comedentes, cum diſcederent in retributionem procurationis reddebant hoſpiti caedem, hoſpitio flammam, as Huntindon, Bromton, and others ſtory. As they were returning another way to their ſhips with their booty, they found the Inhabitants ready to give them battel at Kenet; whom the Danes preſently fighting with, and routing, returned with triumph to their ſhips, enriched with the new ſpoils of the routed Engliſh.

King Ethelred lying all this time in Shropſhire, unable Anno 1007.to reſiſt the Danes, Anno 1007. cum Conſilio Primatum ſuorum (as Florentius Wigornienſis, Simeon Dunelmenſis, Polychronicon, and others expreſs it) by the Counſel of his Nobles, ſent Meſſengers to the Danes▪ commanding them to tell them, quod ſumptus Propoſit. 1, 6, 9.et Tributum illis dare vellent, that they would give them Coſts and Tribute, upon this Condition; That they ſhould deſist from rapines, and hold a firm peace with them; to which requeſt they conſented, and from that time Coſts were given them, and a Tribute paid them of thirty ſix thouſand pounds out of all England, yyHiſtoriarum l. 6. p. 360.Henry Huntindon, & Bromton, thus relate the buſineſs. Rexet Senatus Anglorum, dubii quid agerent, quid omitterent, communi deliberatione, gravem conventionē cum exercitu fecerunt, & ad pacis obſervationē 36000 mil. librar. ei dederunt. A clear evidence that this Agreement and Peace was made, and money granted and raiſed in England, by common advice & conſent in Parliament (or Council) Infrenduit Anglia tota velut arundinem Zephiro vibrante colliſum. Unde Rex Ethelredus confuſione magna conſternatus, pecunia pacem ad p. 177tempus, quam armis non potuit, adquiſivit, writes zzAnno 1007. p. 387.Matthew Weſtminſter. Rex Anglorum Ethelredus, Anno 1007. 387.pro bono pacis Tributum 36 mil. librarum perſelvit Dacis, as aaAbbrev. Chron. col. 462.Radulphus de Diceto words it. After which the King this year made Edric, (aforementioned) Duke of Mercia; and that by the Providence of God, to the deſtruction of the Engliſh, a man of baſe parentage, but extraordinary crafty, eloquent, witty, and unconſtant, ſurpaſſing all of that age in envy, perſidiouſneſs, pride, cruelty and Treaſon, who ſoon after maried the Kings daughter Edith: whereby he had the better opportunity to betray the King and kingdom, with leſs ſuſpition.

bbSpelmann… Concil. p. 510. to 531. Malms…. l. 2. c. 10.King Ethelred, though often vexed with the Anno 1007.wars and invaſions of theſe forein Enemies, yet he had a care to make good Laws for the benefit, peace and ſafety of his people; whereupon, having thus made Peace with the Danes, An. 1007. he ſummoned and held a Great Parliamentary Council at Aenham, on the Feaſt of Eaſter, at the exhortation of Aelfeag Archbiſhop of Canterbury, and Wulſtan Archbiſhop of Yorke who together with the reſt of the Biſhops, and all the Nobles Propoſit. 5. 6.of England were preſent at it. Regis Aethelredi Edicto concrepante acciti ſunt convenire. Where they all aſſembling together, de catholicae cultu Religionis reparando deque etiam rei ſtatu publicae reparando vel conſulendo, plura et non pauca, utpote divin…us inſpirati, ratiocinando ſermocinabantur. In this Council they debated, reſolved on divers things, and enacted many wholeſom Laws and Edicts for the reformation and ſetling of Religion, and Churchmen, the advancement of Gods worſhip; the Government of the Church and State, the advancement of civil Juſtice and honeſty, and defence of the Realm by Land and Sea, beginning with the things of God and the Church in the firſt place; which you may read at large in Sir Henry Spelman. Some Laws where of I ſhall p. 178here tranſcribe, being very pertinent to my ſubject.

Cap. 5. Sapientes decernunt, Ut Leges quique coram Deo et hominibus aequas ſtatuant et tueantur: Propoſit. 1, 2, 4, 5.iniquas autem omnino deleant: juſtitiam pauperi atque diviti, pari exhibentes lance: et pacem inſuper et concordiam piè in hoc ſeculo coram Deo et hominibus retinentes.

Cap. 6. Sapientes etiam decernunt, Ut nemo Chriſtianum et in…ontem pretio tradat extra patriam, praeſertim in Pagani alicujus ſervitium.

Cap 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. Verba et opera rectè quiſque diſ…onat, et 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, ob univerſalem utique Propoſit. 1, 3, 6, 9.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 de…ignatum 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 ſingulos annos ob patriae defenſionem et munitionem praeparentur: po…que ſacroſanctum Pa…cha cum cunctis ut en…libus competentibus ſimul congregentur. Qua etiam poena digni ſunt qui Navium detrimentum in aliquibus perficiunt, notum cunctis eſſe cupimus. Quicunque aliquam ex Navibus per quampiam inertiam, 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 ejuſdem munitionis fractura, …bimet pertinet, ritè perſolvat.