Historical Vindication Part 3, Treatise · Chapter 3 (2 of 5)

Historical Vindication Part 3 · Treatise · Chapter 3 (2 of 5)

p. 44ooHiſt. Angl. l. 5. Spelman. Concil. p. 343.Polydor Virgil, records, that King Athelwulfe, in the year 847. going in pilgrimage to Rome, repaired Anno 847.the Engliſh School (there lately burned down) and in imitation of King Ina, made that part of his Kingdom which Eghert his Father had added, Tributary towards it; Legeque ſancibit, and enacted by a Law (made in a Propoſ…t. 1.Parliamentary Council) that thoſe who received 30 pence rent every year out of their poſſeſſions, or had more houſes, should pay for thoſe houſes they inhabited, every of them a penny a peece to the Pope (for the maintenance of this School) at the Feaſt of Peter and Paul, or at leaſt of St. Peters bonds; which Law ſome (writes he) though falſely, aſcribr to his Son Alfred; which act others refer to the years 855, or 857, and that more truly.

ppIngulf. Hiſt. p. 858, 859. Spelm. Concil. p. 344. Mat. Weſtm. An. 849, 85…,Abbot Ingulphus in his Hiſt. of the Abby of Croyland, Anno 850.records; that Bertulf uſurping the Crown, by the treacherous p. 45murder of his Coſen St. Weſtan (tantâ ferebatur ad regnandum ambitione) paſſing by the Abbey of Croyland, most wiskedly and violently took away all the Jewels, Plate and ornaments of the Church, which his Brother Prop. 2, 4, 5, 9. 10.Withlaſius and other Kings had given to it; together with all the mony he could find in the Monaſtery; and hiring Souldiers therewith againſt the Danes, then waſting the Country about London, he was vanquiſhed and put to flight by the Pagans; Whereupon this King ſoon after, holding a great Council at Benningdon, An. 850. with the Prelates and Nobles of his whole Realm of Mercia there aſſembled (about the Danes invaſions, how to raiſe forces and monies to reſiſt them, as is moſt probable by our Hiſtorians.) Abbot Siward, and the Monks of Croyland therein complained before them all, by Askillus their fellow Monk, of certain injuries malitiouſly done unto them by their Adverſaries, who lying in wait in the uttermost banks of their Rivers, did ſeiſe upon their ſervants (being ſuch as fled thither for Sanctuary) in caſe at any time they went out of their precincts never ſo little way (either to fiſh, or bring back their ſtragling Sheep, Oxen, or other Cattle) as infringers of their Sanctuary, and ſubjected them to the publick Laws, to their condemnation and destruction; to the great dammage of the Abbey, by the loſs of their ſervice; Of which complaint, the King and all the Council being very ſenſible, and deſirous to provide for the peace and quiet of the Abbey, and to declate and enlarge their Privileges; The King thereupon commanded Radbott Sheriff of Lincoln, and the reſt of his Officers in thoſe parts, to go round about, deſcribe and ſet forth the bounds of their I ſle of Croyland, and of the Mariſhes thereunto belonging, and faithfully and clearly to demonſtrate them to him and his Council, wherever they ſhould be, the laſt day of Eaſter next enſuing; Who fulfilling his command, openly preſented an exact deſcription of their Boundaries to the King and his Council, (which bounds are recited at large in Ingulphus,) keeping their Eaſter at Kingsbury.

p. 46Anno 851. Whereupon the king in this Parliamentary Anno 851.Council at Kingsbury, in Hebdomada Paſcha, pro [q] Ingulphi Hiſtor. p. 858. to 863. Spelm. Concil. p. 344, &c.Regni negotiis congregati; In Recompenſationem tamen aliquam pecuniae direptae; to make ſome kind of Recompence of the Mony he had formerly taken from the Abbey, by the Common Council of his whole Realm, by his Charter made and ratified in this Council (wherein he makes this recital touching this money, as if they had freely lent it to him in his neceſſities; though the Hiſtorian relates, he took it away by force: Gratias Debit as Propoſit. 1, 4.vobis omnibus digniſſimè reddo pro pecuniâ quâ me per vos dudum praetere untem, in me â maximâ indigentiâ contra Paganorum violentiam gratiſſimo & liberaliſſimo animo defoviſtis) granted unto them, That the bounds of their Sanctuary and liberties ſhould extend 20 foot in breadth beyond the fartheſt banks of their grounds compaſſing their Iland; And 20 foot from the water it ſelf; where ever their fugitive ſervants ſhould aſcend, to draw their nets, or do their other neceſſary buſineſſes; and that this Sanctuary for fugitives ſhould extend to all the Mariſhes where they had Common for their Cattle; and that if their Cattel through tempeſt, thefe, or other misfortune, ſtrayed beyond theſe limits into the fields adjoyning, their fugitive ſervants might purſue and fetch them back thence, without any ſeiſure or danger; ſub mutilatione membri magis dilecti, ſi quis i…ud privilegium meum in aliquo temerè violaret. After which, he confirmed all the Lands and privileges formerly granted to this Abbey, by Kings, Earls, or other perſons, particularly recited in this Charter; which was made & granted by the common conſent, ſent and advice of this whole Parl. Council, & of the Biſhops and Nobles of the Realm, as theſe Clauſes in the Charter abundantly atteſt. Cum communi concilio totius Regni mei concedo. Conſentientibus omnibus Nota.Praelatis & Proceribus me is concedo; cum communi Concilio, gratuitoque conſenſu omnium Magnatum Prop. 5, 6, 10.Regni mei concedo; complacuit unanimiter mihi, ac p. 47univerſo Concilio veſtra omnia loca mei authoritate Regii Chirograpi confirmare. Unanimo conſenſu totius preſentis Concilii, hic apud Kingsbury, Anno incarnationis Chriſti Dom. 855. ſeria ſexta in hebdomada Paſchae, pro Regni negotiis congregati, iſtud meum Regium Chirographum ſanctae crucis ſigno ſtabiliter & immutabiliter confirmavi. After which the Archbiſhop of Canterbury, with other Biſhops, 3 Abbots, 2 Dukes, 3 Earls, with Oflat Ambaſſadour of King Ethelwulf and his Sons, in their Names, and the Name of the Weſt-Saxons, ſubſcribed and ratified this Chart…r, affixing the ſign of the Croſs, and their names thereto, as you may read at large in Ingulphus.

That this Parliamentary Council, and the former at Beningdon were principally ſummoned for the defence of the Realm againſt the invading Danes, who rrSee Ingulf. p. 858, 862, 863, 864, 865. Mat. weſtm. Florent. wigorn. Ethelwerdus, Radulf. de Diceto, Huntingdon, Hoveden. Brom. An. 851.then inceſſantly moleſted it; and that this was the chief of thoſe Regni nagotiis for which they were aſſembled, is evident by this publick prayer of the Kings, then ſubſcribed under this Charter.

Ego Bertulphus Rex Merciorum palam omnibus Praelatis & Proceribus Regni mei, divinam deprecor Majeſtatem, quatenus per interceſſionem ſanctiſſimi Confeſſoris ſui ſancti Guthlaci, omniumque ſanctorum ſuorum, dimittat mihi, & omni populo meo, peccata noſtra, & ſicut per aperta miracula ſua oignatus Propoſit. 9.eſt miſericordiam ſuam; ſic ſuper Paganos hoſtes ſuos dare nobis dignetur omni certamine victoriam & poſt praeſentis vitae fragilem curſum in conſortio ſanctorum ſuorum gloriam ſempiternam, Amen.

After which ſſHiſt. p. 861, 862.Ingulphus ſubjoyns this Monkiſh miracle, relating the order of the proceedings in this Council, the ſole end for which I cite it.

God wrought in this Council to the honour of his moſt holy Confeſſor Guthlac, a moſt famous miracle, whereby the devotion of the whole Land, now more lukewarm than ordinary, to goe in pilgrimage to p. 48Croyland, might thenceforth become more frequent, and by all ways, through all Counties might dayly be revived, for whereas a certain diſeaſe like to a Palſie, this year afflicted all England; the Nerves of Men, Women, and Children, being ſmitten with a ſudden and exceſſive cold (their veins ſwelling and growing harder, the which no remedy of cloathes could prevent) and eſpecially the Arms and hands of men being made uſeleſs, and altogether withred; in which diſeaſe, like a fore-running moſt certain Meſſenger thereof, an intollerable pain pre-occupated the Member ſo growing ill. It hapned in this Council, that many, as well of the greater as leſſer ranck, were ſick of this Malady, & cum regni negotia proponerentur, and when as the buſineſſes of the Realm were to be propoſed, Lord Celnoth Archbiſhop of Cant…rbury, who was vexed with this diſeaſe, openly counſelled; Divina negotia deberi primitus proponi, Nota.& ſic humana negotia Chriſti ſuffragante gratia, finem proſperum poſſe ſortiri; Aſſentientibus univerſis, &c. Prop. 5, 6.That Dtvine buſineſſes ought firſt of all to be propoſed, and ſo humane buſineſs, through the ſuffrage of Chriſts grace, might obtain a proſperous end. All aſſenting thereunto, when Lord Siward, then Abbot of Croyland was inquired for; becauſe in Councils and Synods for his great eloquence and holy Religion, he had been, as it were, a divine interpreter for many years, and the most gratious Expoſitor and Promotor of innumerable buſineſſes of the whole Clergy; who by reaſon of his great old age, was not preſent; but by Frier Askillus, his fellow Monk, he excuſed his abſence with a moſt humble Letter, by the burden of his long old age; King. Bertulph himſelf remembring the former complaint of the Church of Croyland, openly related before the Council, the Injuries frequently done to the Lord Abbot Siward, and to his Monaſtery of Croyland, by the fooliſh fury of their Adverſaries; and commanded that Remedy ſhould be provided and Decreed by common p. 49advice. When as therefore this buſineſs was in agitation amongst them, & Petitio Domini Siwardi, (the firſt Petition I meet with of this Nature to and in our Parliamentary Councils) and the Petition of the Lord Abbot Siward concerning the ſame, delivered by the foreſaid Frier Askillus, had run from hand to hand of the Prelates and Nobles of the whole Council, and one adviſed one thing, another another: Lord Ceolnoth Archbiſhop of Canterbury cried out with a loud voice, that he was healed of his diſeaſe, and perfectly recovered by the merits of the moſt holy Confeſſor of Chriſt, most bleſſed Guthlac, whoſe buſineſſes were then handling in their hands: likewiſe many other moſt potent men in the ſaid Council cryed out, as well Prelates as Nobles, that they had been ſick of that diſeaſe, but now by Gods Grace, and the merits of moſt holy Guthlac, they felt no pain in any of their Members, through the ſaid malady: And all of them preſently bound their Conſciences with a moſt ſtrict vow, to viſit the moſt ſacred Tomb of moſt holy Guthlac at Croyland with devout pilgrimage, ſo ſoon as they could. Wherefore our Lord King Bertulf, commanded the Biſhop of London (who was then accounted the beſt Notary, and moſt eloquent ſpeaker, who being moreover touched with the ſame diſeaſe, now predicated, with greateſt joy, that he was healed) to take the Privileges of Croyland into his hands, and that he ſhould inſiſt to honour his Phyſicitian S. Guthlac with his hand writing, prout conſilium ſtatueret, as the Council ſhould ordain; which alſo was done; Therefore in the Subſcriptions of the Kings Charter (afore-mentioned) the Archbiſhop of Canterbury, Ceolnoth, confeſſeth himſelf whole and ſound: St. Swithin Biſhop of Wincheſter, rejoyceth concerning Propoſ. 6.the Lords Miracles. Alstan Biſhop of Sherburn, and Orkenwald of Lichenfeld, give thanks for the ſucceſſes of the Church; and Rethunus Biſhop of Leiceſter, profeſſeth himſelf a Servant to St. Guthlac ſo long as he lived: Unniverſique Concilii Optimates. And p. 50all the Nobles of the Council, with a moſt ardent affection, yeelded obedience to the Kings benevolent affection towards St. Guthlac In all things.

From all which precedent paſſages in theſe two Councils, it is apparent.

Firſt, That the Parliamentary Councils of that Age, conſiſted only of the King, ſpiritual and temporal Lords and Peers, without any Knights of Shires, or Burgeſſes, of which we find no mention in this, or any other former or ſucceeding Councils, in the Saxons times; though ſometimes Wiſe-men of inferior quality, both of the Clergie and Laity, were particularly ſummoned to them, without any popular election, by the Kings ſpecial direction, for their advice.

2ly. That all Divine and Eccleſiaſtical matters, touching God, Religion, and the Church, and all affairs of the Realm of publique concernment, relating to war or peace, were debated, conſulted of, & ſetled in Parliamentary Councils. 3ly. That the buſineſſes of God and the Church, were therein uſually firſt debated and ſetled, before the affairs of the kingdom, of which they ought to have precedency. 4ly. That all private grievances, injuries and oppreſſions done by the King, his Officers, or other private perſons, to the Church, or other men, were uſually complained of, and redreſſed in Parliamentary Councils, by the advice and judgement of the King and Peers; and that either upon the parties Petition, ſetting forth his grievances, or a relation made thereof by the King, or ſome other Prelate or Nobleman, before the whole Council. 5ly. That what could not be redreſſed in one great Council, was in the next ſucceeding Council revived and redreſſed, according to the merits of the cauſe. 6ly. That no Peer nor Member of the great Council might abſent himſelf in thoſe times, but upon juſt and lawfull excuſe, which he ought humbly to ſignifie to the King and Council by a ſpecial Meſſenger, and p. 51Letter, as Abbot Siward did here. 7ly. That all Members of the Council had free liberty of Debate and Vote, in all buſineſſes complained of, or propoſed to them; and a negative, as well as an affirmative voice. 8ly. That all buſineſſes then were propounded and debated before all the Council, and reſolved by them all, not in private Committees. 9ly. That our Kings in thoſe days, in Caſes of neceſſity, could not lawfully ſeiſe their ſubjects monies and plate againſt their wills, to raiſe Soldiers to reſiſt invading fore in Enemies, but only borrow them by their free conſents, and held themſelves bound to reſtore or recompence the monies lent or taken by them in ſuch exigencies, with thankfull acknowledgment. 10. That our Kings in that age, could not grant away their Crown lands, create or inlarge Sanctuaries, or exempt any Abbies from Taxes and publique payments, or impoſe any publique Taxes on their Subjects, but by Charters, or grants made and ratified in and by their great Councils.

Anno 854. ttMat Weſt. An. 854, 878. Mr. Seldens Hiſt. of Tithes ch. 8. p. 208, 209. Malmsbury de Geſt. Reg. Angl. l. 2. c. 2. Florentius Wigornienſis Anno 855. Ingulphi Hiſt. p. 862. Polychronicon, l. 5. c. 30. Hen. Huntindon, Hiſt. l. 5. p. 348, Ethelwerdi Hiſt. l. 3. c. 3, p. 841, Roger Hoveden Annal. pars prior, p. 413. Chronicon Johannis Bromton, col. 802. Ethelredus Abbas, de genealogiâ Regum Anglie, col. 351. Simeon Dunelm. de Gest. Reg. Angl. col. 121. Radulfus de Diceto. Abbrev. Chron. col. 450. Speeds. Hiſt. p. 377. Spelmanni Concil. p. 348. to 353.King Aethelulf gave the tenth part of An. 854.his Realm to God and his Saints, free from all ſecular ſervices, exactions and Tributes, by this Charter, made and confirmed, by the advice and free aſſent of all the Biſhops and Nobles throughout the Realm then aſſembled in a Great Council, to oppoſe the invading plundering Danes.

Regnante in perpetuum domino noſtro Jeſu Chriſto, in noſtris temporibus bellorum incendia, & direptiones opum noſtrarum, & vaſtantium crudeliſſimas hoſtium barbarorum paganorumque gentium multiplices tribulationes, aſfligentium uſque ad internecionem cernimus, tempota incumbere periculoſa; Quamobrem ego Aethelulfus, Rex Occidentalium Saxonum, cum Conſilio Epiſcoporum, ac Principum p. 52meorum, Conſilium ſalubre arque uniforme reme iam aſſirmavi, ut aliquam portionem Terrae meae Deo & beatae Mariae & omnibus ſanctis, Iure perpetuo Propoſit. 1, 5, 6, 9. 10.poſsidendam concedam, Decimam ſcilicet partem terrae meae, ut ſit tuta mu…eribus, et libera ab omnibus ſervitiis ſecularibus, nec non Regalibus Tributis Majoribus et Minoribus, ſeu Taxationibus, quae nos **Or Winterden as Ingulſus hath it.W…tereaden appellamus, Sitque omnium rerum libera, pro remiſſione animarum & peccatorum meorum; ad ſerviendum ſoli Deo, ſine expeditione, et pontis conſtructione, arcis munitione, ut eo diligentius pro nobis preces ad Deum ſine ceſſatione fundant, quo eorum ſervitutem in aliquo levigamus.

The Copies in our Hiſtorians vary in ſome expreſſions, and in the date of this Charter, ſome placing it in Anno 855. others Anno 865. This Charter; as Ingulphus records, was made at Wincheſter, Novemb. 3. Anno. 855. praeſentibus & ſubſcribentibus Archiepiſcopis Angliae univerſis, nec non Burredo, Merciae, & Edmundi Eaſt-Anglorum rege, Abbatum, & Abbatiſſarum Ducum, Comitum, Procerumque totius terrae, aliorum que fidelium infinita multitudine. Dignitates vero ſua nomina ſubſcripſerunt. After which, for a greater Confirmation the King offered the Written Charter up to God upon the Altar of St. Peter, where the Biſhops received it, and after ſent it into all their Dioceſſes to be publiſhed: and hereupon the Biſhops of Sherburne and Wincheſter, with the Abbots and religious perſons, on whom the ſaid benefits were beſtowed, decreed, That on every Wedneſday, in every Church, all the Friers and Nuns ſhould ſing 50 Pſalms, and every Prieſt 2 Maſſes; one for the King, and an other for his Captains. It is obſervable, firſt, That the Parliamentary Council wherein this Charter was made and ratified by common conſent, and this exemption and tenth granted, was principally called to reſiſt the invading plundering Danes. 2ly. That this King and Council, in thoſe p. 53times of Invaſion and neceſſity, were ſo far from taking away the Lands and Tithes of the Church, for defence of the Realm, or from impoſing new unuſual Taxes and Contributions on the Clergy for that end, that they granted them more Lands and Tithes than formerly, and exempted them from all former ordinary Taxes and Contributions, that they might more cheerfully and frequently pour forth prayers to God for them, as the beſt means of defence and ſecurity, againſt theſe forein invading enemies.

uuHiſtory of Tithes. ch. 8. p. 208, 209.Mr. Selden recites another Charter of this King of the ſame year (different from it in month and place) out of the Chartularies of Abbington Abbey, to the ſame effect, made by Parliamentary conſent of that time, & per conſilium ſalubre cum Epiſcopis, Comitibus, ac cunctis Optimatibus meis, which Charter is ſubſcribed by this King and his two Sons, with ſome Biſhops and Abbots; ratified with their ſigns of the Croſs, and this annexed curſe, Si quis ver ò minuere vel mutare noſtram donationem praeſumpſerit, noſcat ſe ante tribunal Chriſti redditurum rationem, niſi prius ſatisfactione emendaverit, uſual in ſuch Charters.

Aftet xxSee Malmesbury, Huntindon, Hoveden, Matthew Weſtm. Ethelwerdus, Simeon Dunelmenſis, Wigornienſis, Speed, Polychron. Fabian, Holinſhed, Grafton, and others in his life.which, this King going to Rome, carried Alfred his youngeſt Son thither with him (whom he moſt loved) to be educated by Pope Leo; where continuing a year, he cauſed him to be crowned King by the Pope, and returning into his Country married Judith, the King of France his Daughter, bringing Alfred and her with him into England. In the Kings abſence in forein parts, Alſtan Biſhop of Sherburne, Eandulfe Earl of Somerſet, and certain other Nobles making a Conſpiracie with Ethelbald the Kings eldeſt Son, concluded, he ſhould never be received into the Kingdom, upon his return from Rome, for two Cauſes: One, for that he had cauſed his youngeſt ſon Alfred, to be crowned King at Rome, excluding thereby, as it were, his eldeſt Son, and others from the Right of the Kingdom. Another, for that p. 54contemning all the women of England, he had married the Daughter of the King of France, an alien et contra morem et Statuta Regum Weſt-Saxonum, and againſt the uſe and Statutes of the Kings of the Weſt-Saxons, called Ju…ith, (the King of France his Daughter, whom he lately eſpouſed) Queen, and cauſed her to ſit by his ſide at the Table, as he east…d; For the Weſt-Saxons permitted not the KingsWife to ſit by the King at the Table, nor yet to be caled Queen, but the Kings Wife: yyMat. Weſt. An. 802, 854. Huntindon, Hoveden, Bromton, Speed, Holinſh…d, Aſſer. Flor. Wigorn. Radulſ. de Diceto. Simeon Dunelm. Polycbronicon, Fabian, Mr. Seldens Titles of Honour, part. 1. c. 6. p. 116, 117, 118. See here p. 35.Which Infamy aroſe from Eadburga, Daughter of King Offa, Queen of the ſame Nation, who deſtroyed her Husband King Brithr…ic with poiſon, and ſitting by the King, was wont to accuſe all the Nobles of the Realm to him, who thereupon deprived them of l…fe or baniſhed them the Realm; & whom ſhe could not accuſe… ſhe uſed to kill with poiſon: Therefore, for this miſ-doing of the Queen; they all conjured and ſwore, that they would never permit a King to reign over them who ſhould be guilty in the premiſes: Whereupon King Aethelulfe returning peaceably from Rome, his Son Aethelbald, with his Complices, attempted to bring their conceived wickedneſs to effect, in excluding him from his own Realm and Crown. But Almighty God would not permit it; for leſt peradventure a more than civil war ſhould ariſe between the Father and the Son, the Conſpiracie of all the Biſhops and Nobles ceaſed, though the King Clemency, who divided the Kingdom of the Weſt-Saxons (formerly undivided) with his Son, ſo that the Eaſt part of the Realm ſhould go Propoſit. 2, 4, 7, 8, 10.to his Son Ethelbald, and the Weſt-part remain to the Father. And when tota Regni Nobiliras, all the Nobility of the Realm, and the whole Nation of the Weſt-Saxons, would have fought for the King, thruſt his Son (Ethelbald) from the right of the Kingdom, and ba…iſhed him and his Complices out of the Realm, qui tantum facinus perpetrare auſi ſunt, & Regem à regno proprio repellerent (which Wigornienſis, Anno 855. …iles Facinus, et inauditum omnibus ſaeculis ante infortunium) if the Father would have permitted them to do p. 55it. He out of the nobleneſs of his mind, ſatisfied his Sons deſire; ſo that where the Father ought to have reigned by the juſt judgement of God, there the obſtinate and wicked Son reigned. This King zzMatthew VVeſtm. An. 857. Speeds Hiſt. p. 376, 377. Chron. Jo. Bromton, col. 820. and the reſt …orecited.Aethelulfe before the death of Egbert his father, was ordained Biſhop of Wincheſter, but his Father dying, he was made King by the Prelates. Nobles, and People, much againſt his will, cum non eſſet alius de Regio genere qui regnare debuiſſet, becauſe there was none other of the Royal Race who ought to reign: Haeredibus aliis deficientibus, poſtmodum neceſſitate compulſus, gubernacula Regni in ſe ſuſcepit, as Bromton and others expreſſe it.

At his death (Anno 857.) he did by his will (leſt his Anno 857.Sons ſhould fall out between themſelves after his deceaſe) give the kingdom of Kent, with Suſſex and Eſſex, to Ethelbert his ſecond ſon, and left the kingdom of the Weſt-Saxons to his eldeſt ſon Aethelbald; then he deviſed certain ſums of Money to his Daughter, Kindred, Nobles, and a conſtant annuity for ever, for meat, d…ink, and cloths to one poor man or pilgrim, out of every 10 Hides of his Land, & 300 marks of mony to be ſent yearly to Rome, to be ſpent there in Oyl for Lamps, & Almes: which ſums I never find paid by his Succeſſors, as he preſcribed by his Will and Charter too, becauſe not confirmed by his great Parliamentary Councils, of Prelates and Nobles, as his forcited Charter, and aaRadulph. de Diceto Abbreviationes Chron. col. 450. Chron. Johan. Brom. col. 802, 806. Polychron. l. 5…. c. 30.Peter-pence (likewiſe granted by him) were; upon this occaſion (as ſome record) that he being in Rome, and ſeeing there outlawed men doing penance in bonds of Iron, purchaſed of the Pope, that Engliſhmen after that time ſhould never out of their Country, do penance in Bonds.

About the year of our Lord 867. bbChron. Jo. Bromton, col. 803. Speeds Hiſtory.Osbrith King of Northumberland (as Bromton records) reſiding at York, Anno 867.as he returned from hunting, went into the houſe of one of his Nobles called Bruern Bocard; to eat; who was then gone to the Sea-coaſts, to defend it & the Ports againſt Theeves and Pirates, as he was accuſtomed; His Lady p. 56being extraordinarily beautifull, entertained him very honorably at dinner; The K. enamored with her beauty, after dinner taking her by the hand, leads her into her Chamber, ſaying he would ſpeak with her in private; and there violently raviſhed her againſt her will: which done he preſently returned to York, but the Lady abode at her houſe, weeping and lamenting the deeds of the King; whereby ſhe loſt her former colour and beauty. Her Husband returning, and finding her in this ſad condition, inquired the cauſe thereof; wherewith ſhe fully acquainting him; he thereupon cheered her up with comfortable words, ſaying, that he would not love her the leſſe for it, ſince her weakneſs was unable to reſiſt the Kings power; and vowed by Gods aſſiſtance, ſpeedily to avenge himſelf & her of the King, for this indignity. Where upon, being a Noble and very potent man, of great Parentage, he called all his kinſmen, and the chief Nobles of his Familie to him, with all ſpeed, and acquainted them with this diſhonour done to him by the king, ſaying, he would by all means be avenged thereof; and by their Counſel and Conſent, they went all together to York, to the king, who when he ſaw Bruern called him courteouſly to him; But he, guarded with his kinred and friends, preſently defying the King, reſigned up to him his Homage; Fealty, Lands, and what ever he held of him, ſaying, that he would never hold any thing of him hereafter as of his Lord: And ſo without more words, or greater ſtay, inſtantly departed, and taking leave of his friends, went ſpeedily into Denmark, and complained to Codrinus king thereof, of the Indignity done by King Osbrith to him and his Lady, imploring his aid and aſſiſtance, ſpeedily to revenge it, he being extracted out of his Royal blood. The king and Danes hereupon, being exceeding glad that they had this inducing cauſe to invade England, preſently gathered together a great Army to revenge this Injury done to Bruern, being of his Blood, appointing his p. 57two Brothers, Inguar and Hubba moſt valiant Souldiers, to be their Generals; who providing Ships and other Neceſſaries, tranſported an innumerable Army into England, and landed them in the Nothern parts; This being the true Cauſe why the Danes at this time invaded England in this manner. In the mean time, the Parents, kindred, and Friends of Bruern, expelled and rejected King Osbrith, for this Injury done to him and his Lady, r…fuſing to hold their Lands of, or to obey him Propoſition 8.any longer as their Soveraign, and advanced one Ella to be King, though none of the Royal bloud. Our other ccFlorent. Wigorn. Mat. Weſtm. Anno 867 Sim. Dunelm. Hiſt. de Dunelm. Eccl. c. 6. Huntingd. Hiſt. l. 5. p. 349. Roger, Hovenden, An. pars prior, p. 415. Ethelwerdi Hiſt. l. 4. c. z. p. 842. Polychron. l. 5. c. 32. Hiſt. de Sancto Cuthberto col. 70. Sim. Dunelm. de geſt. Reg. Ang. col. 123, 142. Tho. Stubs. Actus Pontif. Ebor. col. 1608 Speeds Hiſt. p. 248. See Hollinſhed, Fabian and Grafton.Eccl 6Hiſtorians, who mention not this fact of Osbrith, and occaſion of theſe Danes arival to revenge it, write, that the Danes upon their Landing marched to the City of York, waſting all the Country before them with fire and Sword unto Tinmouth. At that time (they write) by the Devilsinſtinct, there was a very great diſcord raiſed between the Northumberlanders, Sicut ſemper populo qui odium incurrerit evenire ſolet: For the Northumberlanders at that time had expelled their lawfull King Osbrith out of the Realm, and advanced one Ella, a Tyrant, not of the Royal bloud, to the Regal Soveraignty of the Kingdom: By reaſon of which diviſion, the Danes taking York, ran up and down the Country filling all places with bloud and Grief, wasting and burning all the Churches and Monaſteries far and near, leaving nothing ſtanding but the Walls and ruines of them, pillaging, depopulating, and laying waſte the whole Country. In which great neceſſity and diſtreſs the Northumberlanders reconciling their two Kings, Osbrith and Ella, one to another, gathered a great Army together against the Danes; which their two Kings and eight Earls marched with to York; where after a long fight, with various ſucceſs, both the ſaid Kings with moſt of the Northumberlanders were all ſlain, April 11. Anno. 867. The City of York conſumed with fire, and the whole Kingdom made tributarie to the Danes: ddHiſt. de Dunelm. Eccleſ. c. 6. col. 14. & Hiſt. de Sancto Cuthberto col. 70.Eccl 6Simeon Dunelmenſis relates, that both p. 58theſe kings had violently & ſacrilegiouſly taken away certain Lands from S. Cuthberts Church in Durham for Osbrit Propoſit. 3, 4.had by a ſacrilegious attempt taken away Wirce wood and Tillemouth; and Ella, Billingham, Heclif and Wigeclif & Creca from S. Cuthbert: tandem cum maximâ parte ſuorum ambo praefati Reges occubuerunt, & Injurias quas Eccleſiae ſancti Cuthberti aliquando irrogaverant, vitâ privati, & regno perſolverurt; Which the Author of the History of St. Cuthbert, obſerves and records more largely, as a puniſhment of their ſacrilegious Rapine: The Danes hereupon made Egbert king of Northumberland, as a Tributary and Viceroy under them: Sic Northumbria bellico jure obtenta barbarorum dominium multo poſt tempore pro conſcientiâ libertatis Ingemuit, writes Malmesbury de Geſtis Regum Angliae, l. 2. c. 3. p. 42.

Theſe rebellious Northumberlanders about 7 years after, uno conſpirantes conſilio, expelled Egbert the Realm by unanimous conſent, together with Archbiſhop Wilfer, Propoſit. 8.making one Richius King in his Place; the Danes both then and long after poſſeſſing and waſting their Country, and ſlaughtering them with fire and ſword (as the **See [c] before p. 57.Marginal Hiſtorians record) more then any other parts of the Iland, by a juſt divine puniſhment for their manifold Treaſons, Seditions, Factions, Rebellions againſt, and Murders of their Soveraigns.

In the year eeSim. Dunel. Hiſt. de Gest. Reg. Ang. cal. 123, 124, 146. Mat. VVeſtm. & Florentius VVigorn. An. 868, 869. Hthelwerdi Hiſt. l. 4. c. 2. Huntingd. Hiſt. l. 5. p. 349. Hoveden Annal. pars 1. p. 416. Ingulph. Hiſt. p. 863, 864. Chron. Job. Bromtom. col. 807. Palych. l. 5. 6. 32. Fabi…, Holinſhed, Grafton, Speed in the life of Be…rced and …thelred.868. a great Army of theſe victorious plundering Danes, marched out of the Kingdome Anno 868.of Northumberland to Nottingham, which they took, and there wintered; Whereupon Beorred (or Brithred) King of Mercians, Onmeſque ejuſdem gentis Optimates, and all the Nobles of that Nation aſſembled together, Where the King, Conſilium habuit cum ſuis Comitibus, & comilitonibus, & omni populo p. 59ſibi ſubjecto, Quaſitèr inimicos bellicâ virtute exuperaret, ſive de Regno expelleret; held a Council with his Earls and fellow Souldiers, and all the people ſubject to him, how he might vanquiſh theſe Enemies with military power, or drive them out of the Realm: By whoſe advice, he ſent Meſſengers to Ethelred King of the Propoſit. 5, 6, 9,Weſt-Saxons, and to his Brother Elfrid, humbly requeſting them, that they would aſſiſt and joyn with him againſt the Daniſh Army; which they eaſily condeſcening to, gathered a very great Army together out of all parts, and joyning all together with Beorred and his forces, marched to Nottingham, unanimouſly, with a a reſolution to give the Danes battel; who ſheltering themſelves under the works of the Caſtle and Town, refuſed to fight with them; whereupon they beſieged them in the Town, but being unable to break the Walls, they concluded a Peace at last with the Danes, upon condition, that they ſhould relinquiſh the Town, and march back again into Northumberland, which they did; where their Army continued the whole year following, in & about York, debacchans & inſaniens, occidens & perdons perplurimos viras & muli…res.

ffHiſt. p. 863. 864.Abbot Ingulphus records; that during the ſiege of Nottingham, King Beorred, (as he ſtiles him) at the requeſt of Earl Algar the younger (who was very gracious with him and the other Kings cauſâ ſuae nobilis militiae) granted a Charter of Confirmation, not only of all the Lands, Advowſons, Poſſeſſions, which this Earl, with Propoſit. 10, 1.other particular perſons and Kings had given to the Abby of Croyland, but likewiſe of all their former Privileges, confirming all their Ilands, Mariſhes, Churches, Chapels, Mannors, Manſions, Cottages, Woods, Lands, Meadows, (therein ſpecified) to God and Saint Guthlae for ever, Libera & Soluta, & emancipata ab omni onere terreno, & ſervitio ſeculari, in Eleemofynam aeternam perpetuo poſſidendam. Which Charter hath this memorable exordium, expreſſing the motives p. 60inducing this King to grant it.

Beorredus largiente Dei gratiâ Rex Merc…orum, omnibus provinciis, & populis earum univerſam Merciam inhabitantibus, & fidem Catholicam conſervantibus ſalutem ſempiternam, in Domino noſtro. Jeſu Chriſto. Quoniam peccatis noſtris exigentibus, manum Domini ſuper nos extenſum, quotidiè cum virgâ ferreâ cernimus cervicibus noſtris imminere, Neceſſarium nobis & ſalubre arbitror, piis ſanctae matris eccleſiae precibus Eleemoſynarumque liberis largitionibus iratum Dominum placatum reddere, et dignis devotionibus ejus gratiam in noſtris neceſſitatibus auxiliariam implorare, Ideoque et ad petitionem ſtrenui Comitis, mihi meritoque dilectiſſimi, conceſſi regio Chirographo meo Theodoro Abbati Croyland, Tam donum dicti Comitis Algari, quam dona aliorum fidelium praeterit orum ac praeſentium, &c. And it concludes thus. Iſtud Regium Chirographum meum, Anno Incarnationis Domini noſtri Jeſu Chriſti, 868. Calendis Auguſti apud Snothingham coram fratribus, & amicis, & omni populo meo in obſidione Paganorum congregatis, ſanctae crucis munimine confirmavi, Then follow the ſubſcriptions and confirmations of Ceolnoth Archbiſhop of Canterbury, 5. Biſhops, 3. Abbots, Ethelred king of Weſt-Saxons, and Alfred his Brother, Edmund kingof Eaſt-Angle, 2 Dukes, and twelve Earls, who all ratified this Charter.

After which Charter confirmed, this king Beorred renders ſpecial thanks to all his Army, for their aſſiſtance againſt the Danes, eſpecially to the Biſhops, Abbots, and other inferior Eccleſiaſtical Perſons, for their voluntary aſſistance of him in thoſe wars againſt theſe Enemies, norwithſtanding his Fathers exemption of them by his Charter from all military expeditions and ſecular ſervices: thus recorded by ggHiſt. p. 864, 865.Ingulphus, and moſt worthy obſervation.

Ego Beorredus Rex Merciorum, Intimo animi affectu, p. 61totisque praecordiis gratias exolvo ſpeciales, omni exercitui meo; maximè tamen Viris Eccleſiaſticis, Epiſcopis & Abbatibus, aliis etiam inferioribus ſtatus & dignitatis. Qui licèt piiſſimae Propoſit. 1, 3, 8.memoriae, Rex quondam Ethelwulfus pater mens, per ſacratiſſimam Chartam ſuam, ab omni expeditione militari vos liberos reddiderit, & ab omni ſervitio ſaeculari penitus abſolutos…; digniſſimâ tamen miſeratione ſuper oppreſſiones Chriſtianae plebis Eccleſiarumque, & Monaſteriorum deſtructicnes luctuoſas, benigniſſimè compaſſi, contra nefandiſſimos Paganos in exercitum domini prompti & ſpontanei conveniſtis, ut tanquam Martyres, Chriſti cultus ſanguine veſtro augeatur, & barbarorum ſuperſtitioſa crudelitas effugetur.

From theſe laſt Paſſages, it is apparent: firſt, That in thoſe days our Saxon Kings made War and Peace by the advice and conſent of their Nobles and Parliamentary great Councils. 2ly. That in caſes of common invaſion and danger by forein Enemies, all the forces raiſed, and ways and means to reſiſt them, were concluded on by advice and conſent of theſe great Councils, and not by the kings abſolute power. 3ly. That all, or moſt Church-men and their Church-lands, in thoſe days, were abſolutely freed and diſcharged from all military, expeditions, Contributions, Aids and Aſſiſtance againſt Enemies, by expreſs Charters, but only ſuch as themſelves voluntarily and freely contributed in caſes of incumbent great Danger and Neceſſity, without compulſion; for which their kings rendred them ſpecial and hearty thanks; acknowledging and confirming theſe their Immunities, not violating them upon ſuch Neceſſities, as this Notable paſſage of Ingulphus atteſts, together with that of hhPag. 312. & Malmesb.Mat. West. An. 867. Concerning Alſtan Biſhop of Sherborne, p. 62de Geſtis Regum. l. 2. c. 2. p. 37.a man of very great Power and Counſel in the Realm: Contra Danos quoque quitunc primò inſulam infeſtabam, Regis Aethelulfi ſaevitiam exacuit; Ipſe ex fiſco pecuniam accipiens, ipſe excercitum componens, Martiis felix eventibus contra hoſtes bella plurima conſtanter Propoſit. 1. 3.peregit: receiving Mony out of the Kings Exchequer (not the Peoples Purſes or Conrributions) to manage theſe Wars and not warring on his own expences. 4ly. That the Nobles, Gentry, and People of the Realm, were the only ſtanding Militia in that Age, to defend it againſt forein Enemies in times of danger or actual invaſion; when they marched out of their own Counties againſt them, voluntarily and freely adventuring their lives for defence of their King, Country, Religion, Liberties, Properties; as they did at this ſiege of Nottingham, and during all the long-laſting Daniſh Wars, Invaſions, and Depredations both by Land and Sea. 5ly. That our Chriſtian Kings, Nobles, and great Councils of thoſe days, in times of greateſt danger, Invaſion and Wars, held it moſt ſeaſonable and neceſſary to confirm and enlarge the Churches Patrimony, Liberties, and Privileges, thereby to ſtir up their Clergy-men more earneſtly to aſſiſt them with their Prayers; not to diminiſh, invade or infringe them, under An. 870.pretext of Real inevitable neceſſity and danger (the practice of late and preſent times) Whereupon they granted and, confirmed this forecited Charter in the very Armi… during the ſiege of Notingham, before all the Kings, Princes, Prelates, Dukes, Earls, and people there preſent.

llIngulphi Hiſt. p. 865 to 869, Mat. Weſtm. Wigorn. Huntingd. Hoveden, Brom. Radulf. de Diceto. Sim. Dunel. Polychron. Fabian, Graft…n, Holinſhed, Speed, Ethelwerdus in the life of Etholred and an. 870.In the year 870. Inguar and Hubba, with the reſt of the Danes comming into Kesteven in Lineoln-ſhire, waſting and ſlaying all the Country with fire and ſword, thereupon Earl Algarus, Oſgot Sheriff of Lincoln, and all the Gentry and People in thoſe parts, with the Band of the Abby of Croyland (…nder the Command of … a Monk, formerly a Souldier) conſiſting of 200 ſtout p. 63men, (moſt of them Fugitives thither for Sanctuary) uniting all their forces together in Keſteven, on the Feaſt of St. Maurice, fought with the Danes, and ſlew 3 of their Kings, with a great multitude of their forces. That night the other Daniſh Kings (diſperſed abroad to pillage the Country) wirh a great booty & many captains, coming to the tents of their routed Companions, with a numerous Army, were inraged with the ſlaughter of their Confederates, in their abſence: Whereupon moſt of the Engliſh ſecretly fled away from the Earl and their Captains in the night through fear: who early in the morning having heard divine Offices, and receiving the Sacrament, reſolved not to retreat, but manfully to fight with the Danes (though not above 700 to their many thouſands) being moſt ready to die for the defence of the faith of Chriſt and of their Country: Whereupon the Danes aſſailing them with great multitudes and fury, they all ſtanding and fighting cloſe together, valiantly ſuſteined their aſſaults from morning till evening, without giving ground. Upon which the Danes to ſever them, purpoſely feigned a Flight, and began to leave the Field: Hereupon the Engliſh, contrary to the commands of their Captains, diſſolving their Ranks, and diſperſing themſelves to purſue the Danes, they ſuddenly returned and ſlew moſt of the Engliſh, who fought gallantly with them to the laſt gaſp, ſome few of them only eſcaping; After which the Danes marching to the Abby of Croyland, put the Abbot with all the Monks and Perſons they there found (one Child excepted) to the Sword, after they had extremely tortured them to diſcover where their Treaſures were; broke up all the Tombs, pillaged and burnt the Abby, with all the Edifices thereof, leaving it a mee… ruinous heap; then marching on, laying all the Country waſte before them with fire and Sword, ſparing neither perſon, age, nor ſex, they caſt down, burnt, deſtroyed, and levelled to the Ground the goodly p. 64Monaſteries of Bradney, Peterborough, Huntingaon, Ely, with ſundry others, murthering as well all the Monks as Nuns therein, which their mercileſs Swords, after they had firſt polluted them. To avoid whoſe barbarous rape, mmMat. VVeſtm. An. 870. p. 313. Speeds Hiſt. p. 383.Ebba Abbeſs of Coldingham and her Nuns (by her example and perſwaſion) cut off their upper Lips, and Noſes, to deform themſelves to their laſcivious eyes; which bloody Spectable preſerved their Chastity from their Luſt; but not their Monaſterie or bodies from their Cruelty, they burning them and their Nunnery to Aſhes.Anno 870.

After which, the ſame year Inguar and Hubba marched (n) Mat. VVeſtm. Anno 855. 870. VVil. Malm, de geſt. Reg. l. 2. c. 3. v. 13. Hunt. Hiſt. l. 5. p. 349. Hov. Annal. pars 1. p. 416. Ethel. Hist. l. 3. c. 1. Chron. Jo. Bromton. col. 745, 754. 804, 805, 806. Sim. Dunelm. Hiſt. de Eccl. Dunelm. l. 2. c. 6. et de geſt. Reg. Ang. col. 124, 143. Polychron. l. 5. c. 42. Fab. Graſt. Hollinſhed, Caxton, Spced in the life of St. Edmund. Fox Acts and Munuments vol. 1. p. 140. Propoſit. 2. 4.againſt St. Edmund, who in the year 855. was choſen King of the East Saxons Ab omnibus Regionis illius magnatibus et (populis, by all the Nobles and People of that Realm (being ſprung from the antient Royal blood of the Saxons) and compelled to take the Government on him much againſt his will, being then but 13 years old, and conſecrated King by Biſhop Humbert in the Royal Town called Bury. The reaſon of their malice to this King, (as ſome of our Hiſtorians write) was this, that he was maliciouſly accuſed to have murthered their Father Lothbroc, driven by a ſudden ſtorm in a ſmall boat into England as he was hawking at Fowl, by this Kings Faulkoner: who having murthered himſelf out of meer malice, was by judgement of the Knights and Lawyers baniſhed the Realm, and put alone into Lothbrocs Boat, without Oare or Sails for murthering him, and ſo ſent to Sea; being driven in it into Denmark, to excuſe himſelf, he maliciouſlie accuſed the King of this Murther, to theſe his Sons; Who thereupon invaded England with an Army to revenge their Fathers death. And the Reaſon why they at this time ſo extraordinarily prevailed, aud over-run the Land, was The Civil Diſcords, Wars, and Emutations amongst the Saxon kings; who either out of Malice or Ambition to advance their own Dominion, or baſe unworthy p. 65fears, would rather induce theſe common Enemies to over-run them, than aſſiſt one another againſt them; which nnDe geſt. Reg. l. 2. c. 3. p. 42.William of Malmesburie thus expreſſeth. Meminerit interea lector, quod interim Reges Merciorum et Northanimbrorum, captata occaſione adventus Danorum, quorum bellis Ethelredus inſudabat, a ſervitio Weſt-Saxonum reſpirantes, domina…ionem ſuam penè aſſeruerant. Ardebant ergo cunctae ſaevis popularibus provinciae, unuſquiſque Regum inimicos magis in ſuis ſedibus ſuſtinere, quam compatriotis Laborantibus opem porrigere curabat: Ita dum maluit ivindicare, quam praevenire injuriam, ſocordiâ ſuâ exanguem reddiderunt Patriam. Dani ſine obſtaculo ſuccreſſere; dum et provincialibus timor increſceret, et proxima quae que victoria per additamentum Capti…orum, inſtrumentum ſequentis fieret, &c. Northanimbri jamdudum civilibus diſſentionibus fluctuantes, adventante hoſte correxerunt diſcordiam. Itaque Osbirthum Regem quem expulerant, in ſolium reformantes, magnoſque moliti paratus, obviam procedunt; ſed facilè pulſi, infra Urbem Eboracum ſe includunt: quâ mox à victoribus ſuccenſâ, cum laxos crines effuſior flamma produceret, tota depaſcens maenia, ipſi quo que conflagrati, patriam oſſibus texêre ſuis, Mercii non ſemel obtriti, obſidatu miſerias ſuas levaverunt. At vero Ethelredus multis laboribus infractus obiit: Orientalium Anglorum pagi, cum urbibus et vicis à praedonibus poſſeſſi; Rex eorum ſanctus Edmundus, ab eiſdem interemptust Anno Dominicae Incarnationis 870. 12 Calendas Decembris, temporaneae mortis compendio regnum emit aeternum.

The manner of King Edmunds Martyrdom ooSee thoſe forecited atHiſtorians (m) and Catgrave, Su…ius, and Ribadeniera, Antonius in the life of St. Edmund, Malm. De Geſtis Reg. l. 2. c. 3.thus relate. An. 870. Hinguar King of the Danes invading King Edmunds Realm with a great Power ſent a Meſſenger to King Edmund to demand the half of his Treaſure and Wealth, and that he ſhould hold his Realm under him; threatning otherwiſe to waſte his Kingdom and extirpate him and his People. Sed nimis fraudulentèr p. 66Hinguar theſauros exigebat, qui Clementiſſimi Regis caput potius quam pecunias ſitiebat, writes qqAn. 870. p. 370.Matthew Weſtminſter. Whereupon Biſhop Humbert adviſing him to fly from the Danes (who approached with their forces towards him) to ſave his life, The King wiſhed; Would to God that I might preſerve the lives of my Subjects, for whom I deſire to lay down my life; for this is my chiefeſt wiſh, that I may not ſurvive my faithfull Subjects, and moſt dear friends, which this Cruel Pirate hath theeviſhly ſlain; neither will I ſtain my glory by fl…ght, who never yet ſustained the reproaches of Wa…re. The Heavenly King alſo is my Witneſs, that no fear of the Barbarians ſhall ſeparate me from the Love of Chriſt, whether living or dead. Then turning to the Meſſenger of Hinguar, he ſaid, Thou art worthy to ſuffer the puniſhment of death, being wet with the blood of my people; But imitating the example of my Chriſt, If it ſhould ſo happen, I am not afraid willingly to die for them; Return therefore ſpeedily to thy Maſter, and carry my anſwers to him: Although thou takeſt away my Treaſures and riches which the Divine Clemency hath given me, by thy power; yet thou ſhalt never ſubject me to thy infidelity: for it is an honeſt thing to defend perpetual liberty, together with purity of Religion fo… which alſo, if there be need, we think it not unprofitable to die: Therefore, as thy proud cruelty hath begun, after the ſervants ſlaughter cut thou the Kings throat; becauſe the King of Kings ſeeing theſe things, will tranſlate Propoſit. 8.me into Heaven, there to reign eternally. The Meſſenger departing, the King commanded his Souldiers to run to their Arms, affirming, that it was a worthy thing to fight both for their Faith and Country …eſt Nota.they ſhould prove deſerters of their Realm, and betrayers of the people. And being incouraged by Biſhop Humbert, his Nobles, and fellow Souldiers, he marched againſt the Enemy, and near Thedford fought a bloody battel with the Danes, from morning to night, p. 67the place being all dyed red with the blood of the ſlain. At which grievous ſight King Edmund was much grieved, not only for the great ſlaughter of his own Souldiers fighting for their Country & native liberty, & the faith of Jeſus Chriſt, & ſo already Crouned with Martyrdome: But likewiſe for the death of the Barbarous Infidels, ſent down to Hell in great numbers; which he overmuch lamented. After which battel, retiring to Hegelſdun with his forces that were left, he immutably reſolved in his mind, never to fight battel w…th the Enemies more, ſaying only this; that it was neceſſary that he alone ſhould die for the People, and not the whole Nation periſh. Soon after Hinguars Army being recruted by the acceſs of Hubba to him, with ten thouſand men, he marched to Hegelſdun, and ſurrounded it, that none might eſcape thence; Whereupon King Edmund flying to the Church, and caſting down his temporal Armes, humbly prayed the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt to give him conſtancy in his paſſion: Then the Daniſh Souldiers ſeiſing on him, brought him from the Church before Hinguar, by whoſe command he was tyed to a tree hard by, cruelly whipped a long time, then ſhot through with Darts, wherewith his Body was ſtuck full; after which, being taken from the tree, his Head was cut off from his Body, with a bloody ſword by the Barbarous Executioner appointed for that purpoſe; and ſo he died a moſt glorious Martyr for his Kingdom, Country, Subjects, and Religion: to whoſe memory a famous Monaſtery was after built; Of which William of Malmesbury de Geſtis Regum, l. 2. c. 13. p. 89. gives this Relation; Quibus Artibus Edmundus ita ſibi omnis Britanniae devinxit incolas, ut beatum ſe in primis aſtruat, qui Coenobium illius, vel nummo vel valenti illuſtraret. Ipſi quoque Reges aliorum Domini, ſervos ſe illius gloriantur, & coronam ei regiam miſſitant, magno ſi uti volunt redimentes commercio. Exactores vectigalium qui alibi Bacchantur p. 73fas nefasque juxta metientes ibi ſupplices, citra Propoſit. 1.…oſſa um ſancti E…mundi, litigationes ſiſtunt, experti multorum paenam, qui perſeverandum putarunt; which I wiſh our Tax-Exactors, and Exciſers would now remember.

Whiles the Danes were thus waſting the Kingdoms of Northumberland and the Eaſt-Saxons with Fier and Anno 870.Sword, and martyring King Edmund [x] Beorred king [r] Ingul phi Hi…t. p. 868, 869, 911.of Mercians was buſied in warring againſt the Britains, who infeſted the Weſtern parts of his Realm: But hearing the Danes had invaded the Eaſtern part of his Kingdom, he came to London, and gathering a great Army together, marching with it through the Eaſtern quarters of his Realm, he applyed the whole Iſle of Ely to his Exchequor, taking into his hands all the lands formerly belonging to the Monaſtery of Medehamſted, lying between Propoſit. 1, 4.Stamford, Huntindon and Wiſebeck, aſſigning the Lands more remote, lying ſcattered through the Country, to his Souldiers. The like he did with the Lands of the Monastery of St. Pega of Rikirk; retaining certain of them to himſelf, and giving ſome of them to his Souldiers. And the like did he with the Lands of all other Monaſteries, deſtroyed totally by the Danes: whoſe Lands by Law **7 E. 4. 11, 12. Brook Eſcheat 19.eſch…ated to the Crown, and thoſe Lords, whoſe predeceſtors founde… and endowed them, by the ſlaughter and chaſing away of all the Monks & Nuns & burning of the Monaſteries; whoſe Lands thereupon were reſumed and confiſcated to the Kings Exchequer: Et cum caetera Monaſteria per Danorum ferocitatem funditus deſtructa, Regali fiſco fuerant aſcripta, denuo et aſſumpta, omnibus Monachis eorum necatis, perditis, ſeu penitus fugatis, as Ingulphus informs us of the Reaſon; yet many of the Monks of Croyland eſcaping the Danes fury, and returning ſoon after thither again, electing a new Abbot, and repairing their Monaſtery by degrees, as well as that exigency would permit, thereupon they enjoyed the ſight of the whole Abby, and the Iſle of Croyland, with the ſelf ſame Liberties and Privileges they had from the beginning, diſchardged from all ſecular ſervices, during all the time of this their deſolation, & the Daniſh wars, till the time of its reſtoration; & after that till Ingulphus time, as he records. Notwithſtanding, becauſe many of the Monks were ſlain, and the Abby burnt down & demoliſhed by the Danes, King Beorred thereupon ſeiſed ſome of their lands into his own hands, & gave other of their Lands more remote from the Abby to his ſtipendiary Soldiers.

And although venerable Abbot Godric, took very much paines, frequently demanding reſtitution of them both from King Beorred & his Souldiers, and very often ſhewed the Charters of the Donors, & the confirmations of former Kings, together with, his own proper Charter, to this Kings, yet he received always nothing but empty words, from & him them: whereupon he at laſt utterly deſpaired of their reſtitution. Perceiving therefore the overmuch malice of the times, et Militiam **Are not the Souldiers now ſick of the ſame diſeaſe.Regis Terrarum cupidiſſimam, and the Kings Militia, and Soldiers moſt covetous of Lands, he reſolved with himſelf in concluſion to paſſe by theſe Royal Donations Surdo Tempore, in a deaf time; being over-glad & rejoycing, that the Kings grace had granted the whole Iſland lying round about the Monaſtery unto it, free and diſcharged from all Regal exactions, much more ſpecially to him then at that time, which had not happened to many other Monaſteries. There departed therefore at that time from the Monaſtery of Croyland theſe poſſeſſions which never returned to this preſent day: The Mannor of Spalding given to Earl Adelwulfe, with all its appurtinances: The Mannor of Deeping given to Langfer a Knight, (or Souldier) and Propoſ. 4.the Kings Baker, with all its appurtenances; The Mannor of Croxton given to Fernod a Knight (or Souldier) the Kings Enſign-bearer, with all its appurtenances; The Mannors of Kerketon and Kimerby in Lindeſy, with all their appurtenances, given to Earl Turgot; but Bukenhale and Halington, then appropriated to the Exchequer, p. 70were afterwards reſtored to the ſaid Monastery by the Induſtry of Turketulus Abbot of Croyland; and the gift of moſt pious King Edred, the Restorer of them with 12 other Mannors (named by Ingulf.) belonging to Croyland; quas Rex Beorredus Fiſco ſuo aſſumſerat, Which King Beorred had then aſſumed in his Exchequor. After which K. Beorred paſſing with his Army into Lindeſey, Latiſſimas Terras Moniſterio Bardney (totally ruined by the Danes) Dudum Pertinentes Fiſco ſuo accepit, remotas vero in diverſis patriis diviſas jacentes, Militibus ſuis dedit. But mark the iſſue. At laſt ſſMattew Weſtm. Floren. VVigorn. An. 874. p. 313. Chron. Joh. Bromt. col. 779, 810. Sim. Dunelm. Hiſt. de Geſt. Reg. Ang. col. 127. VVil. Malm. de Geſt. Reg. l. 1. c. 4. p. 33. Huntin. Hiſt. l. 5. p. 349. Hoveden Annal. pars prior, p. 417. Speeds Hiſt. p. 256.the Danes returning into Mercia Anno 874. waſting and ſpoiling all the Country with fire and ſword, and deſtroying all Churches and Monaſteries, King Beorred, when he beheld all the Land of England, in every corner thereof, waſted with the ſlaughters and rapines of theſe Barbarians, vel de victoriâ deſperans, vel tot laborum Labyrinthum faſtidiens, either deſpairing of victory, or loathing the labyrinth of ſo many troubles, left the Kingdom, and went to Rome, where he died few days after, and was there buried in the Engliſh School, and his Wife following after him, died in her way to Rome; Some write, he was driven out of his kingdom by the Danes.

Hereupon the ttIngulphi Hiſt. p. 869, 870. Florent. VVigorn. An. 874. p. 313. Chron. Joh. Bromt. col. 810. Simeon Dunelm. de Geſt. Reg. Ang. col. 127. VVil. Malmesbury de Geſt. Reg. l. 1. c. 4. p. 33. Huntind. Hiſt. l. 5. p. 349. Hoveden Annal. pars prior p. 417.Danes, Anno 874. ſubſtituted Anno 874.in his place in the Realm of Mercia, one Ceolwulfus, a ſervant of King Beorreds, an Egliſhman by Nation, ſed Barbarus impietate; but a Barbarian in impiety. For he ſwore fealty, and gave pledges to the Danes, Quod tributa impoſita eis fidelitèr perſolveret, that he would faithfully pay unto them the Tributes they impoſed, and that whenſoever they would redemand the Kingdom committed to him, He would reſign it without any Reſiſtance, under pain of loſing his Head. Whereupon he (as Ingulphus records) going round about the Land, paucos Ruſticos relictos excoriavit, Mercatores abſorbuit, Viduas & Orphanos oppreſſit, religioſos omnes tanquam conſcios theſaurorum innumeris tormentis afflixit; plucked off the Skins of the few Countrymen that were left; ſwallowed p. 71up the Merchants, oppreſſed the Widows and Orphans, and afflicted all Religious Perſons, as conſcious Propoſit. 1. 4.of hidden Treaſures, with innumerable torments: whence amongſt very many evils he did, Impopoſing a Ttibute of a thouſand pounds upon Godric, the venerable Abbot of Croyland, and his miſerable Freers, he almoſt undid the Monaſtery of Croyland. For no man after that, by reaſon of the overmuch Poverty of the place, would come to converſion; Yea Abbot Godric being unable to ſuſtain his profeſſed Monks, diſperſed many of the Monks amongſt their Parents and other Friends of the Monaſtery through all the Country, very few remaining with him in the Monaſtery, and protracting their life in greateſt want. Then all the Chalices of the ſaid Monaſtery except 3. and all the ſilver Veſſels, beſides the Crucible of King Withlaſius, and other Jewels very precious, being changed into Mony, or ſold for Mony, were ſcarce able to ſatisfie the unſatiable covetouſneſs of Ceolwulfe, the Vice-roy: who at laſt, by his Lords the Danes, moſt juſt in this, (after all his Rapines and Oppreſſions of the People by unjuſt Taxes and impoſts) was depoſed and ſtripped naked of all his ill-gotten Treaſure, even to his very Privities, and ſo ended his life moſt miſerably. And the Kingdom alſo of the Mercians at this very time, (King Alfred prevailing againſt the Danes) was united to the Kingdom of the Weſt-Saxons, and remained ſo united ever after, when it had continued a Kingdom from the firſt year of Penda (the firſt King thereof) to the laſt times of this miſerable Viceroy Ceolwulph, about 230 years: Of which Kingdom aaDe Geſt. Reg. l. 1. c. 4.William of Malmesbury thus concludes; Ita Principatus Merciorum, qui per tumidam gentilis viri inſaniam ſubitó effloruit, tunc per miſeram ſemiviri ignaviam omninó emarcuit, Anno Dom. 875. though Speed poſt-dates its period in the year 886. Whence it is obſervable, that unjuſt Rapines, Taxes, Oppreſſions ſpeedily & ſuddenly deſtroy both Kings and Kingdoms.

p. 76The next year following Anno 876. bbAn. 876. Mat. VVeſtm. & VVigorn. An. 876. Huntingd. Hiſt. l. 5. p. 329. Hoveden, Annal. pars prior p. 417. Ethel. Hiſt. l. 4. c. 3. p. 844. Sim. Dunel. Hiſt. de Dunel. Eccleſ. col. 14, 17, 21. Hiſt. de Sancto Cuthherto col. 70. & de Gest. Reg. col. 155.Halden king of the Danes, ſeiſing upon the ſeditious kingdom of Northumberland, ſibi eam, ſuis que Miniſtris diſtribuit, illam que ab exercitu ſuo coli fecit auobus Annis; totally diſpoſſeſſing the ſeditious, murtherous Northumberlanders thereof; who but a little before had expelled both their King and Archbiſhop out of their Realm. This Halden and his Souldiers miſerably waſted and deſtroyed the Churches of God in thoſe parts, for which the wrath of God ſuddenly f…ll upon Halden; who was not only ſtruck with madneſſe of mind, but with ſuch a moſt loathſome diſeaſe in his body, which much tormented him, that the intollerable ſtink thereof made him ſo odious & loathſome to his whole Army, that being contemned and caſt out by them all, he fled away from Tine, only with three Ships, and ſoon after periſhed with all his Plundering, Sacrilegious Followers; The Propoſition 4.Danes elected Guthred king in his ſtead, poſſeſſing this ſeditious Realm of Northumberland till diſpoſſeſſed of it by king Edmund An. 944. who then annexed it to his kingdom.

Our Noble Saxon King ccFlorentins Wigarn. & Mat. Weſtm. An. 871 to 900. See Malmeſ. Huntingd, Aſſer. Fab, Holinſhed, Speed, and others in his life. Lamb. Arch. Spelman concil. p. 360, 362. Ingulph, Hiſtor. p. 870, 871. Chron. 10. Brom. col. 809 to 832.Alfred the firſt anointed king of England, (as glorious for his moſt excellent Laws, tranſcendent Juſtice and civil Government, as for Anno 877.his Martial Exploits, Victories; and for his incomparable Piety and extraordinary bounty to the Clergy and Learned men) comming to the Crown Anno Dom. 871, in the years 873, 874, and ſundry years following, by common conſent of his Wiſe men, commanded long Ships and Gallies to be built, throughout the Realm, and furniſhed with Mariners, to guard the Seas and encounter the Daniſh Ships and Pirates, which then infested and waſted the Realm, from time to time: whoſe forces he often encountred, as well by Sea as by Land, with various ſucceſs. At laſt having obtained the p. 73Propoſit. 3, 5, 6, 7, 9.Monarchy of all England, and received their Homages and Oaths of Fealty to him, he appointed ſpecial Guardians to guard the Seas and Sea-coſts in all places; Whereby he very much freed the Land from the Danes devaſtations. About the year 887. (even in the midſt of his wars, when Laws uſe to be ſilent) he compiled a body of Eccleſiastical Anno 887.and Canon Laws out of the ſacred Scriptures, and the Laws which his pious predeceſſors, Ina, Offa, and Ethelbert had religiouſly made and obſerved; antiquating ſome of them, retaining, reforming others of them, and adding ſome new Laws of his own, by the advice and counſel of his wiſemen & of the moſt prudent of his Subjects; the obſervation of which Laws was enjoyned by the conſent of them Propoſ. 5, 6.all. Wherein certain fines and penalties were preſcribed for moſt particular offences, which might not be altered or exceeded: Amongſt other Laws, (as ddMirrour of Juſtices, c. 1. ſect. 3. p. 10. c. 5. ſect. 1. Cooks Preface to his 9 Reports 1 Inſtitutes, f. 110. See Spel. Concil. p. 347.) Andrew Horn, and others record) this King and his Wiſemen ordained: That a Parliament twice every year, and oftner in time of Peace, ſhould be called together at London, that therein they might make Laws and Ordinances to keep the People of God from ſin, that they might live in peace, and receive right and Justice by certain cuſtoms and Holy Judgements; and not be ruled in an arbitrary manner, but by ſtable known Laws.

And it was then agreed, that the king ſhould have Propoſit. 5, 6.the Soveraignty of all the Land unto the midſt of the Sea invironing the Land, as belonging of Right to the Soveraign Juriſdiction of the Crown. This King, eeSee Mat. VVeſtm: An. 892 Ingulphi Hiſt. p. 870. 871. Chron. Iohan. Brompton col. 818 819 Chron. VVill. Thorn cap. 5. Sect. Col. 1777.by appointing Hundreds and Tithings throughout the Realm, with Conſtables and Tithing men, who were to take ſureties, or pledges for the good behaviour of all within their Juriſdictions, or elſe the hundred to anſwer all offences & injuries therein committed, both to the party and king, cauſed ſuch a general peace throughout the Realm; and ſuch ſecurity from Robbers and plunderers even in thoſe times of war, That he would hang up golden bracelets in the p. 74High-ways, and none durſt touch them, and a …ir… might have travelled ſafely, laden with Gold, from one end of the Realm to the other, without any violence, ffMat. VVeſtma. An. 888 Florent. VVigorn. An. 887 p. 326. 327.Matthew Weſtminſter, and Florence of Worceſter record, That he ſpent a great part of his time in Compoſitione legum, Quibus Milvorum Rapacitatem Reprimeretur, & ſimplex …denum de otio firmaretur; And amongſt many other m…morable acts of his Juſtice, as he frequently examined the Judgements and Proceedings of his Judges and Juſtices, ſeverely checking them when they gave any illegal Judgement againſt Law and Right, meerly out of Ignorance, of which they were to purge themſelves by Oath, that they could judge no better: ſo he ſeverely puniſhed them when they thus offended out of Corruption, Partiality and Malice. ggMirrour of Iuſt. cap. 5. Sect. 3. p. 296. to 301.Andrew Horn in his Mirrour of Juſtices records, That he hanged up no leſs than 44 of his Judges and Justices in one year, as Murtherers and Capital Offenders, princicipally, for their falſe judgements in condemning and executing ſundry of his people againſt Law, without any lawfull tryal by their Peeres, or Verdict and Iudgement by a ſworn Iury; or upon in ſufficient evidence, or Propoſit. 2.for Crimes not Capital by the Laws. The names of theſe Judges with their ſeveral offe…ces, you may read at large in Horn. Had thoſe pretended Judges of a new edition, who of late arraigned, condemned, executed the King, Nobles, Gentlemen and Freemen of England in ſtrange new arbitrary Courts of high Iustice, without any legal Indictment and Tryal by a ſworn Jury of their peers; and many of them, for offences not Capital by any known Lawes or Statutes of the Realm, and upon very ſlender evidence, lived in this Juſt Kings reign, they might juſtly fear he would have hanged them all up, as Murtherers and Capital Malefactors, as well as theſe 44 Judges, not altogether ſo peccant in this kind as they: this form of tryal by ſworn Juries of their Peers then in uſe, being ſince confirmed by the p. 75Great Charters of King John and King Henry the 3, ſome hundreds of ſubſequent Statutes, and the Petition of Right not known in Alfreds days.

I find in the Preface to King Alfreds Laws (of which Laws Abbot Ethelred gives this true encomium, Leges **De Gen. Reg. Ang. col. 355.Chriſtianiſſimas & ſcripſit, & promulgavit, in quibus fides ejus et devotio in deum, ſollicitudo in ſubditos, hhI ambar di Archaion Spelmanni Concil p. 362.miſericordia in pauperes, Iuſticia ci…ca omnes cunctis legentibus pate…) this obſervable paſſage: That the Apostles & elders aſſembled in a Synod at Jeruſalem, Acts 15. in their Epistle to the Churches of the Gentiles, to abſtain from things offered unto Idols; added this Summary of all Laws: And what ye would not to be done to your ſelves, that doe ye not to others: from which one precept it ſufficiently appeareth, unicuique ex aequo jus eſſe reddendum; that right or Law is of Juſtice to be rendred to every one; neither will there be need of any other Law or Law-book whatſoever, if he who ſits Judge upon others, ſhall only remember this, that he would not himſelf ſhould pronounce any other ſentence againſt others than what he would ſhould be paſſed againſt himſelf in their Caſe. But when the Goſpel was propagated, many Nations, and amongſt them the Engliſh, embraced the faith of Gods word, there were then held ſome Aſſemblies and Councils of Biſhops, and other moſt illuſtrious Propoſit. 5. 4. 7.Wiſe men, throughout the World, and likewiſe in England: and theſe being throughly instructed by Gods mercy, did now firſt of all, Impoſe a pecuniary Mulct upon Offenders; and without any Divine Offence, delegated the Office of exacting it to Magiſtrates, leave being firſt granted: Only on a Traitor and Deſerter of his Lord (or King) they decreed, that this Milder puniſhment (by pecuniary Mulcts) was not to be inflicted: becauſe they thought juſt, that ſuch a man was not at all to be ſpared; both becauſe God would have Contemners of him unworthy of all mercy, and likewiſe becauſe Chriſt did not at all compaſſionate them who put him to p. 76death, but appointed the King to be honoured above all others: Theſe therefore in many Councils, ſingulorum ſcelerum paenas conſtituerum, ordained the puniſhments of every kind of offences, and commit…ea them to writing.

From whence it is apparent, Firſt, That all capital, coporal, and pecuniary Mulcts and penalties for any civil or Eccleſiaſtical offences whatſoever, inflicted on the Subjects of this Realm, in that and all former ages ſince they embraced the Goſpel, were only ſuch as were particularly defined and preſcribed by their Parliamentary Councils, and the Laws therein enacted, and not left arbitrary to the King, Judges, or Magiſtrates, as it appears by the forecited paſſages of Beda, Malmesbury, Huntindon and Bromton concerning King Ethelberts Laws, part 2. p. 50. by the Laws of King Ina, Lex 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 47, 48, 49, 54, 57, 58, 64, 73, 75, 76, 80. & more ſpecially by the Laws of King Alfred himſelf, Lex 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 44, 45, 46, 48, 51. with the Laws of our other Saxon kings, preſcribing particular fines, pecuniary, corporal and capital puniſhments for all ſorts of offences and injuries, to avoid all arbitrary proceedings and cenſures in ſuch Caſes. 2ly. That no impriſonment Corporal, Capital, or pecuniary Mulcts, or puniſhments whatſoever, juſtly might, or legally ought to be then inflicted upon any Malefactors or Treſpaſſers whatſoever, but when, where, and for ſuch offences only, as the known Parliamentary and common Laws then in force, particularly warranted and preſcribed: which penalties and Laws could not be altered nor abrogated, but by Parliamentary Councils only. 3ly. That Common right and Juſtice, were then to be equally diſpenſed to all men, by our Kings, Judges, and other Magiſttates, according to the Laws then eſtabliſhed, in ſuch ſort as they would p. 77have them adminiſtred to themſelves in the like Caſes. 4ly. That wilfull Traitors and Deſerters of their lawfull Lords & Soveraigns, were not to be ſpared or pardoned by the Laws of God or Men, nor yet puniſhed only with ſines, but put to death without Mercy: Wherce this Law was then enacted by king Alfred and his Wiſemen. iiChron. Iohan Bromion, col. 822, and I. mbard. archaton.Lex 4. Si quis vel ger ſe ve… ſuſceptam vel ſuſpectam …erſonam. De morte Regis tradet, vitae ſuae reus ſit, et omnium quae habebit, and if any fought or drew any weapon in the Kings houſe, and was apprehended, ſit in arbitrio Regis, ſit vita, ſit mors, ſicut ei condonate voluerit, Lex 8. becauſe it might endanger the kings perſon.

This king Alfred made two ſpecial Laws for ſecuring even Leets, and Inferiour Courts of Iuſtice from armed violence and disturbances by fighting, which I ſhall recite.

kkChron. Ioh Bromt. col. 825, & Lambardi Archai. Spelmanni Concil. p. 369. which ſomewhat deprives the ſenſe of it in the tranſlation, and make it Lex 51.Lex 41. Si quis coram Alderma…no Regis pugnet. In publico, emendet Weram & Witam ſicut rectum ſit, & ſupra hoc CXX s. ad Witam.

Lex 42. Si quis Folemot id est populi placitum. Armorum exercitione turbabit, emendet Aldermanno CXX s. Witae, id eſt foris factu…ae.

What Fines and puniſhments then do they deſerve, who not only fight before, and diſturb Aldermen and Leets with their Armes, but even diſturb, fight, and uſe their Armes againſt our Aldermen themſelves, yea, all the Aldermen, Peers, and Great men of the Realm, aſſembled in the higheſt greateſt Parliamentary Councils, and over-awe, impriſon, ſecure, ſeclude, and forcibly diſſolve them at their pleaſures? as ſome of late times have done, beyond all former Preſidents.

During the reign of this Noble king Alfred, Gythro the Dane, (ſometimes ſtiled Godrin, or Guthurn) Anno 878.llSee Mat, weſtm. F…orent. VVigorn. Simeon Dunelm. Bromt. Huntindon, Hoveden, Polychronicon, Fabian, H…linſhed, Speed, Aſſer. Ethelwerd, Fox and others, An. 878, 879.Anno 878. with an invincible Army running over p. 78all the Coaſts of England, waſiing the Country, and depopulating all ſacred places whereſoever he came, quicquid in auro et argento rapere poteſt, Militibus erogavit; and ſeiſing upon loca quaeque munita, forced King Alfred (being ſo diſtreſſed that he knew not what to do, nor whither to turn himſelf) to retire and ſave himſelf in the Iſle Aethelingie, for a ſeaſon; till recollecting his ſcattered Subjects and Forces together, he vanquiſhed Githro and his Army in a ſet battel at Ethendune, and then beſieging him and his remaining forces 15 dayes in a Caſtle, to which they fled, compelled them by Famine and the Sword, to make peace with him upon this Condition: ut Regni et Regis infeſtationem perpetuo abjurarent; That they ſhould perpetually abjure the infeſting of the King and Realm, and that they ſhould turn Chriſtians: which they accordingly performed, Githro, with 30 of the choiceſt men in his Army being baptized at Alve, 15 days after, king Alfred being their Godfather, and giving him the name of Aethelſtane. After which Alfred feaſting him and his Captains 12 days in his Court, gave Githro Eaſtengland to inhabit, wherein king Edmund reigned, to be held of and under him: Whereupon Githro and his Danes An. 879. leaving Cirencenſter marched into the Eaſt parts of England, which he divided amongſt his Souldiers, who then began to inhabit it by Alfreds donation.

Upon this accord, or ſome time after, King Alfre and Gythro, by the Common conſent of their Great Councils and wiſe men, made and enacted certain civil and Eccleſiaſtical Laws, for the government of their People and Realms, recorded in Bromton, Lambert, and Spelman, where thoſe who pleaſe may peruſe them: the Prologue and 2 firſt Laws whereof, I ſhall only recite, as both pertinent to my purpoſe, and ſeaſonable Propoſit. 5.for our times, much oppoſing the Magiſtrates coercive power in matters relating to God and Religion.

p. 79mmChron. Io. Brom. col. 829. Spelman. conc. p. 375. 376, 390, 391. Propoſition 6.Hoc eſt conſili…m quod Alredus Rex et Godrinus Rex eligerunt, et condixerunt, quando Angli et Dani ad pacem et concordiam plenè convenerunt, et Sapientes, et qui poſteà ſucceſſerunt, ſaepiùs Hoc eſt aſſid…è renovantes, in bonum ſemper adduxerunt.

Cap. 1. Inprimis eſt, ut unum Deum diligere velint, et omni Paganiſmo ſedulo renunciare: et inſtituerunt ſecularem Iuſtitiam, pro eo quod ſciebant, quod non poterant multos alitèr caſtigare: plures verò Nolebant ad Dei cultum ſicut deberent ali…è. Inclinari; et ſecularem emendationem inſtituerunt, communem Chriſto, et Regi, ubicunque Recuſabitur Lex Dei juſtè ſervari ſecundum dictionem Epiſ…opi. Et hoc eſt primum edictum Eccleſiae, Pax intra parietes ſuos, ut Regis Handgrith, ſemper inconvulſa permaneat.

Cap. 2. Siquis Christanitatem ſuam malè mutat, vel Paganiſmum veneretur verbis vel operibus, reddat ſic Weram, ſic Witam, ſic Laſhlyte, ſecundum quod factum ſit▪ that is, Let him be fined, and ranſomed according to the quality of his offence.

This Noble King Alfred (who fought no leſſe than 46 bloody Battels with the Danes by Land and Sea for his Countries Liberties) Although he was involved in perpetual Wars and Troubles with the Daniſh Invaders all his daies, as our Hiſtorians and this his nnHuntingd. Hiſt. l. 5. p. 352 Aſſer. Aelercedi R…g. Geſt. Chron. Io. Br. col. 819. Camb. Britan. p. 224.Epitaph Demonſtrates,

Nobilitas innata tibi, probitatis Honorem

Armipotens Alurede dedit, Probitaſ que laborem;

Perpetuumque Labor nomen; cui mixta dolori

Gandia ſemper erant, ſpes ſemper mixta timori;

Si modò victus er at, ad craſtina bella parabat:

Si modò victor erat, ad craſtina bella pavebat.

Cui veſtes ſudore jugi, cui ſica cruore

Tincta jugi, quantum ſit onus regnare probarunt.

Non fuit immenſi quiſquam per climata mundi

p. 80Cui tot in adverſis vel respirare liceret.

Nec tamen aut ferro contritus ponere Ferrum

Aut Gladio potuit vitae fiuiſſe Labores.

I am poſt tranſactos Regni vitaeque Labores

Chriſtus ei fit vera quies ſceptrumque perenne.

Yet ooMat Weſt. Wig. Aſ. Men. An. 888, 898. Ae…hel. Abbas de Gen. Reg. Ang. col. 355. Chron. 10. Brom col. 814, 818. Sim. Dunel…. Hiſt. de Geſt. Reg. col. 132, 133. Wil. Mal. de Geſt. Reg. l. 25. c. 4. Ingulph. Hiſt. p. 870, 171. Hov. Annal. pars 1. p. 420, 421. Ethelwerdi Hiſt. l. 4. c3. Polychron. Fab. Caxton, Hollinſhed, Grafton, Speed in the life Alfred. of Camd. Brit. p. 378, 379. Spelman concil. p. 354 to 380. Antiq. Eccl. But. p. 43.theſe things are remarkable in him. 1. That he moſt exactly and juſtly governed his people by and according to his and his Predeceſſors known Laws, in the midst of all his Wars; not by the harſh Laws of Conqueſt and the largeſt Sword. 2. That he advanced Learning and all ſorts of Learned Men, erecting Schools of Learning, and the famous Univerſity of Oxford; which he founded, or at leaſt refounded when decayed, in the heat of all his Wars and Troubles. 3. That he was ſo far from ſpoyling the Church and Churchmen, or any other his Subjects of their Lan…s, Tithes or Revenues to maintain his perpetual Wars againſt the impious Pagan Danes, who deſtroyed all Churches and Religious, as well as other Houſes, where ever they came; that he not only prepared, adorned, endowed many old deoayed Churches and Monaſteries, but likewiſe in the year 888, he built two new Monaſteries of his own, at Ethelingei and Shaff…esbury, and endowed them with ample riches and poſſeſſions; and by ſundry Charters gave ſeveral Lands to the Churches of Durham, Worceſter, and Canterbury. Moreover he not only duly paid Tithes and other Duties to the Church himſelf, but alſo by his Laws, enjoyned all his Subjects under ſundry mulcts, juſtly to pay Tithes and Churchels to their Priests and Miniſters, with all other Duites and Oblations belonging to the Church for the maintenance of the Miniſters and Gods worſhip: together with Peterpence for the maintenance of the Engliſh School at Rome; prohibiting all men to invade the Churches Rights and Poſſeſſions under ſevere penalties. 4. That he equally divided all his annual Revenues into p. 81two equal parts: The firſt moity was for Pious uſes, which he ſubdivided into three parts. The firſt parcel he beſtowed in Almes, to relieve the poor both at home and in forein parts; The ſecond, he beſtowed on Religious Houſes and Perſons; The third, he gave towards the maintenance of Schools, Scholars, Doctors, and learned Men of all ſorts, reſorting to and liberally rewarded by him according to their merits. The other moity was for civil uſes, which he likewiſe divided into 3 equal portions. The firſt he gave unto his Souldiers; whom he divided into 3 Squadrons: The firſt Squadron, which were Horſe, waited one month on him at his Court, (as his Life-guard) whiles the other two were imployed in military expeditions in the Field: And when their month expired, they all returned from the wars, and then another new Company ſucceeded them; And when their Month was ended, they returning to their Houſes, the other Company ſucceeded them. And ſo they ſucceſſively kept their monthly courſes during all his Reign, being one month in actual ſervice, and two months at home about their own affairs. The ſecond part he gave to his Workmen and Artificers of all ſorts, skilfull in all Worldly affairs. The third part he gave to Strangers in Royal Gifts and Preſents, and that as well to the Rich as Poor. Beſides, he had a very great Care Ne à Vicecomitibus et Miniſtris pauperes opprimere…tur, et indebitis exactionibos gravarentur; That the poor people ſhould not be oppreſſed by Sheriffs and other Officers, nor burthened with unjuſt Exactions or Contributions; Yea by his large Almes and Gifrs he ſent Propoſ. 1.to Rome, he procured the Engliſh School to be fréed from all Taxes and Tributes by the Popes ſpecial Bull. And we never read he impoſed the leaſt publick Tax upon his Subjects during all his wars and Exigences, by his own Regal Power, upon any pretext p. 28of publick Neceſſity, Danger, Defence or Safety of the Realm againſt the Numerous Invading, plundering Daniſh forces both by Sea and Land; Which our late and preſent Aegyptian Tax-maſters may do well to conſider.

In the year of our Lord 894. this King Alfred and Anno 894. Sim. Dunelm. Hiſt. de Dunel. Eccl. c. 13, 14. col. 22, 23.Sir 13:14Guthurn the Dane, gave to the Church of St. Cutbert in Durham, all the Lands between Weor and Tyne, for a perpetual Succeſſion, free from all Custome and ſecular Services, with all Cuſtomes, Saca, and Socua, and infaugtheof thereunto belonging, with ſundry other Privileges, Propoſ. 10.which they ordained to be perpetually obſerved, Non ſolum Anglorum ſed et Danorum conſentiente et collaudante exercitu; by the conſent and approbation of the ARMY, not only of the Engliſh but Danes alſo: Has Leges & haec Statuta (which proves that it was done by a Parliamentary Counſell then held in both their Armies,) Quicunqu… quolibet niſu Infringere praeſumpſerint, eos in perpetuum, niſi emendaverint, Gehennae Ignibus puniendos, anathematizando, Sententia omnium contradidit.

I pretermit the qqSpelman concil. p. 381 to 387.Welſh Synods held under the Biſhops of Landaff during King Alfreds Reign (as Sir Henry Spelman conjecture…, in whom the Reader may peruſe them) where in the Biſhop of Landaff and his Clergy excommunicated ſome of their petty Welſh Kings for Murder, Perjury, violating the Churches Patrimony; and Injuring the Biſhops family; who upon their Repentance and Reconciliation gave all of them ſome parcels of Land to the Church of Landaff. The rather becauſe I conceive them fabulous, there being no ſuch form of Excommunication uſed in thoſe daies, as rrSpelman▪ concil, p. 353, 379, 380.Sir Henry Spelman proves, nor any ſuch Epiſcopal Synods held in England under King Alfred himſelf. The barbarous Danes having throughout all England with fire and ſword utterly waſted and deſtroyed all Cities, Towns, Caſtles, Monaſteries, Churches, put moſt of the Biſhops, Abbots, Clergy to the Sword, and almoſt quite deleted the knowledge of Learning and Religion p. 83out of the whole Nation; inſomuch that there were very few ſpiritual perſons on this ſide Humber, who could either underſtand the Common prayers in the Engliſh tongue, or tranſlate anywriting out of latine into Engliſh; yea ſo few, that there was not ſo much as one man on the South-ſide of the Thames that could do it, till King Alfred after his Conqueſt of the Danes in the latter part of his Reign) reſtored Learning and Religion again by Degrees; as this King himſelf records in expreſſe terms, in his Epiſtle to Biſhop Wulſug, by way of Preface to his own Tranſlation of Gregories Paſtorals into the Engliſh Saxons Language.

King Alfred deceaſing, his Son Edward ſurnamed the Elder, ssEthel. Hiſt. l. 49. c. 4. Mal. de Geſt. Reg. l. 2. c. 5. Matth. Weſtm. Florent. Wigorn. Sim. Dunelm. Hunting d. Hov. Ethel. Bromt. Polychon. Ethelr. Abbas. Fab. Holinſhed, Grafton, Speed in the life of Ed. the Elder and An. 901 to 925.ſucceeding his Father in the A nno 901.year of Chriſt 901, thereupon Prince Aethelwald his Uncles Son, aſpiring to the Crown without the conſent of the King and Nobles of the Realm, ſeiſed upon Oxlie and Winburne: whereupon King Edward marching with his Armie againſt him to Bath, he fled from Winburne to the Danes in Northumberland for aſſiſtance: who being glad thereof, they all make him King and Prince over all their Kings and Captains: Whereupon they invading Eſſex and Mercia, King Ed. raiſed a great Army, chaſed them into Northumberland, and harrowed the whole Country to the Lakes of Northumberland; where the Kentiſhmen remaining (contrary to the Kings Command, and Meſſengers ſent to them) after the retreat of the reſt of the Army; The Daniſh Army upon this advantage ſetting upon them, they gallantly defending themſelves, ſlew their new King Aethelwald, with King Eorit, and ſundry of their chief Commanders, and many of their Souldiers, though they loſt the field. This King and Edelfled his Siſter, Queen of Mercians, to prevent the frequent eruptions, plunders the Danes, repaired many old ruinated Towns, and built many new ones in convenient places, which they repleniſhed with Souldiers, to protect the Inhabitants and repell p. 84the Enemies, whereby the Common people we…e ſo incouraged, and became ſuch good Souldiers, that if they heard of the Enemies approach, they would fight and rout them, Rege etiam & Ducibus inconſultis in certamen ruerent, Propoſit. 3.eiſque ſemper numero & ſcientia praeliandi praeſtarent, ita hoſtes contemptui milit…bus, Regi riſui erant, as Malmesbury writes. The Country people themſelves fighting with the Danes at Ligetune, put them to flight, recovered all the prey they had taken, and likewiſe the Danes Horſes, as they likewiſe did in ſome other parts. Amongſt other places, this King repaired the walls of Colcheſter, put warlike men in it, & certum eis ſtipendium aſſignavit; and aſſigned them a certain ſtipend, as Mat, Weſtm. records, neither he, nor other our Hiſtorians making mention of aſſigned wages, to any other Garriſons or Souldiers in that age; At laſt the Danes in moſt places throughout England, perceiving King Edwards power and wiſdom, ſubmitted themſelves unto him, elected him for their King and Patron, and ſwore homage and fealty to him; as likewiſe did the Kings of Scotland, Northumberland, and Wales.

In the year of Grace 905. This ttVVil. Malmesb. de Geſt. Reg. l. 2. c. 5. p. 47, & 48. Mat. VVeſtm. An. 905. Antiq. Eccleſ. Brit. p. 45. Gervaſius Dorobern. Act. Pont. Cant. col. 1644. Godwin in the life of Plegmund, Spelm. Concil. p. 387, 388. Ingulphi Hiſt. p. 877.King Edward An. 905.aſſembled a Synod of the Senators of the Engliſh Nation, as Malmesbury, or a great Council of Biſhops, Abbots, and faithfull people (as Matthew Weſtminſter, and others ſtile it) in the Province of the Gewiſii; which by reaſon of the Enemies incurſions had been deſtitute of a Biſhop for 7 years ſpace. Whereupon the King and Biſhops in this Council, taking good advice, made this wholſom conſtitution; That inſtead of 2 Biſhops, whereof one had his Sea at Wincheſter, the other at Schireburn, 5 Biſhops ſhould be created; ne Grex Domini, abſque cura Paſtorali, luporum incurſionibus quateretur: Whereupon they in this Council elected 5 Biſhops; to wit Frithſtan, for Wincheſter; Athelin for Schireburn; Aedulfe for Wells; Werſtan for Crideton, and Herſtan for Cornwal; aſſigning them their ſeveral Sees and Dioceſs; and p. 85opo…t. 5.two other Biſhops for Dorcheſter and Cirenceſter, all conſecrated by Archbiſhop Plegmond at Canterbury in one day. Wil. of Malmesb. and ſome others write, that this Council was ſummoned upon the Letter of Pope Formoſus, who excommunicated king Edward with all his Subjects, Propoſ. 5, 6.for ſuffering the Biſhopricks of Winton and Scireburn to be void for 7 years ſpace together: But this muſt needs be a great miſtake, ſince Pope Formoſus was dead ten years before this Council, and before theſe Biſhopricks became void, and his pretended Epiſtle to the Biſhops of England makes no mention at all of the king, as Sir Henry Spelman well obſerves.

In the year 906. uuLambardi Archaion. Spel. Concil. p. 390, to 400. Mat. Weſtminſter, Wigorn. Huut. Hoveden, Sim. Dunelm. Brom. and others. An. Dom. 906, 910, 918, 921.king Edward made a Peace and firm agreement with the Danes of Northumberland, and An. 906, 921.Eaſt-England, at Intingford, when (as ſome think) he and Guthurn the Dane reconfirmed the Civil and Eccleſiaſtical Laws formerly made and ratified by his Father King Alfred and Guthurn. But Guthurn dying in the year 890, full eleven years before this Edward was king, could not-poſſibly ratifie theſe Laws at the time of this Accord, being 16 years after his deceaſe, as the Title and Prologue to thoſe Laws in Mr. Lambard and Spelman erroneouſly affirm; wherefore, I conceive, that this confirmation of theſe Laws was rather made in Propoſ. 5.the year 921. when all our Hiſtorians record; that after king Edward (Anno 910. had ſent an army into Northumberland, againſt the perfidious and rebellious Danes, ſlain and taken many of them Priſoners, and miſerably wasted their Country for 4 days space, for breaking their former Agreement with him: after his Siſter Aegelfled, An. 919. had forced the Danes at York to agree, and ſwear, that they would ſubmit to her and her Brothers pleaſure in all things; and after Edward had vanquiſhed the other Danes, Scotch and Welſh in many Battles; thereupon, in the yeat 921. the king of Scots, with all his Nation, Stredded king of Wales, with all his people, et Regnaldus (or Reginaldus) Reginald King of the Danes, with all the Engliſh and Danes inhabiting Northumberland p. 86(of which Reginald then was King) comming to King Edward, An. 921. ſubmitted themſelves unto him, elected him for their Father and Lord, and made a firm Covenant with him; And therefore I conjecture that Guthurnus in the Title and Preface of theſe Laws, is either miſtaken, or elſe miſ-written for Reginaldus then King of theſe Northern Danes, who had no King in the year 906, that I can read of in our Hiſtorians.