The firste [laste] volume of the chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande conteyning the description and chronicles of England, from the first inhabiting vnto the conquest : the description and chronicles of Scotland, from the first original of the Scottes nation till the yeare of our Lorde 1571 : the description and chronicles of Yrelande, likewise from the first originall of that nation untill the yeare 1571 / faithfully gathered and set forth by Raphaell Holinshed.

Sigibert.

[illustration]

AFter hym succeeded one Sigibert,* 1.1 a cruell prince & one vnmer∣cifull at home, yet a cowarde abrode.

This Sigbert or Sigibert be¦gan his raigne in the yeare of our Lorde .755. very neare ended.* 1.2 He intreated his subiects verie euill, setting lawe

and reason at naught, he could not abide to heare his faultes tolde him, and therefore he cruelly put to death an Earle named Cumbra, which was of his counsaile and faythfully admonished him to reforme his euill doings: wherevpon the rest of his Nobles assembled themselues togither wyth a great multitude of people, and expelled him out of his estate in the beginning of the seconde, or (as Harison hath) the first yeare of hys raigne. Then Sigibert, as hee was fearefull of nature, [ 10] fearing to bee apprehended, gotte him into the Woodde called as then Andredeswalde, and there hydde himselfe, but by chaunce a Swinehearde that belonged to the late Earle Cumbra at Priuetesfloud founde him oute, and perceyuing what he was, slue him in reuenge of his maisters death.

Lo here you may see how the righteous iu∣stice of God rewardeth wicked doings in thys world with worthie recompence, as wel as in the [ 20] worlde to come, appoynting forth euill Princes sometymes to reigne to the punishment of the people, according as they haue deserued permyt∣ting some of them to haue gouernment a long tyme, that both the frowarde Nation maye suf∣fer long for theyr sinnes, and that such wicked Princes maye in an other Worlde taste the more bytter tormentes. Againe, other hee taketh shortly out of the way, that the people maye bee deliuered from oppression, & also that the naugh∣tie [ 30] ruler for his misdemenor may speedily receyue due punishment.

[illustration]

* 1.3 AFter B•…•…∣orne King of Eastangles one Ethelred succeeded in go¦uernment of y^t kingdō, a man noted to bee of [ 40] good & vertu∣ous qualities, in y^t he brought vp his sonne Ethelbert (which succeeded him) so in the feare of the Lorde, that he proued a righte godly prince. This Etheldred raigned (as Hari∣son and also other writers haue) the terme of .lij. yeares.

After that Ceolvulf king of Northumberland was become a Monk, in the Abbey of Lindisfern,* 1.4 [ 50] his vncles sonne Egbert by (order taken by the sayd Ceovulfe) succeeded him in the kingdome, & gouerned the same right worthily for the terme of xxiiij. yeares, and then became a Monke, by the example both of his predecessor the foresayd Ceo∣vulf,* 1.5 and also of diuerse other kings in those days, so that he was the eight king who in this lād had chaunged a kings Crowne for a Monks Cowle, (as Simon Dunel. wryteth.)

This Edbert (in the .xviij. yere of his raigne,)* 1.6 and Vngust king of Pictes came to the Citie of Aleluid with theyr armeyes, and there receyued the Brytaynes into theyr subiection, the fyrst day of August: but the tenth day of the same moneth, the armie which he led from Ouan vnto Newbourgh, was for the more part lost and de∣stroyed.

The same yeare on the .viij. kalendes of De∣cember, the Moone beeing as then in hir full ap∣peared to be of a bloudie coulour, but at length shee came to hir accustomed colour, after a mar∣ueylous meanes, for a starre, whiche followed hir, passed through hir, and went before hir, the like distance as it kept in following hir before she lost hir vsuall light.* 1.7

After that Offa had stayne Bernred the v∣surper of the Kingdome of Mercia (as before is mentioned,) the same Offa tooke vppon hym the gouernment of that Kingdome .758. a man of such stowtnesse of stomacke,* 1.8 that he thought he should be able to bring to passe all things whatso∣euer he conceyued in his mind. He raigned .xxxix. yeares.

His doings were great and marueylous,* 1.9 and suche as some tymes his vertues surpassed hys vices, and sometyme againe his vices seemed to ouermatch his vertues.

The Kentishmen he ouercame in a great bat∣tayle at Otteforde,* 1.10 and the Northumbers also were by hym vanquished, and in battaile put to flight. With Kenvulfe King of West Saxons hee fought in open battaile, and obteyned a no∣ble victorie, wyth small losse of hys people, al∣thoughe the same Kenwulfe was a right valy∣aunt Prince, and a good Captaine. Againe, per∣ceyuing that to proceede wyth craft shoulde soo∣ner aduaunce his purpose, than to vse open force agaynst Egilbert King of East Angles, vnder fayre promises to giue vnto him hys daughter in maryage,* 1.11 hee allured him to come into Mercia, and receyuing him into hys Pa∣layce, caused his heade to be stryken off, and af∣ter by wrongfull meanes inuaded his kingdome, and got it into his possession: yet hee caused the bones of the first Martyr of this lande Saint Albone (by a myraculous meanes brought to light,) to bee taken vp, and put in a riche shrine, adourned with golde and stone, buylding a good∣ly Churche of excellent workemanshippe, and founding a Monasterie in that place in honour of the same Saint, which he indowed with great possessions.* 1.12 Hee remoued the Archbishops Sea from Canterburie vnto Lichfield, thereby to ad∣uaunce his Kingdome of Mercia, as well in dignitie and preheminēce of Spirituall power as Temporall.

He made great suyte to bring that his pur∣pose to passe in the Court of Rome, and at length by great giftes and rewardes he obteyned it at the handes of Pope Adrian the first,* 1.13 as then gouer∣ning the Romaine Sea.

And so Eadulfus as then Bishop of Lich∣fielde was adourned with the Pall, and taken for Archbishop, hauing all those Bishops with∣in the limittes of King Offa his Dominion, Suffraganes vnto him, as Denebertus By∣shop [ 10] of Worcester, Werebertus Bishop of Ches∣ter, Eadulfus Bishop of Dorchester, Wl•…•…nar∣dus Bishop of Hereforde, Halard Bishop of Els∣ham, and Cedferth Bishop of Donwich. There remayned onely to the Archbishop of Canter∣burie, the Bishops of London, Wynchester, Ro∣chester, and Shireburne.

* 1.14And this separation continued all the life time of the Archbishoppe Lambert, although he tra∣uayled earnestly to maintayne his prerogatiue, [ 20] insomuch for that hee styll defended his cause, and woulde not consent to his will, Offa depri∣ued him of all his possessions and reuenues that he helde or enioyed wythin any part of his do∣minions. Neyther was Offa satisfied herewith, but he also tooke into his handes the possessions of manye other Churches, and namely, hee fleeced the house of Malmesburie of parte of hir reue∣nues.* 1.15 Bycause of these and other his harde do∣ings, doubting the malice of hys enimes, hee [ 30] procured the friendship of forraine Princes. Vn∣to Brightricke king of the West Saxons hee gaue hys daughter Ethelburga in mariage. And sending diuerse Ambassadors ouer vnto Charles the great,* 1.16 that was both Emperour and king of Fraunce, at length he purchased his friendshippe, although before there had depended a peece of dis∣pleasure betwixt them,* 1.17 insomuch that the en∣tercourse for trade of Merchandize was stayed for a tyme. [ 40]

One of the Ambassadors that was sent vnto the said Charles (as is reported) was that famous clearke Albine,* 1.18 or Al•…•…wine, by whose perswasion the same Charles 〈◊〉〈◊〉 two Vniuersities, as in place conuenient it may more largely appeare.

Finally king Offa (as it were for a meane to appease Gods wrath, whiche hee doubted to bee iustly conceyued towardes him for his sinnes and wickednesse) graunted the tenth part of all hys goodes vnto Church men, and to poore people. He [ 50] also endowed the Church of Hereforde with great reuenues,* 1.19 and as some write, he builded the Ab∣bay of Bathe, placing Monkes in the same, of the order of Saint Benet, as before hee had done at Saint Albons.

Moreouer hee went vnto Rome, about the yeare of our Lorde .775. and there following the example of Inas King of the West Saxons,* 1.20 he made his realme subiect by way of tribute vnto the Churche of Rome, appoynting that euerye house within the limits of his dominions shoulde yearely pay vnto the Apostolike Sea one pennie, which payment was after named Rome Scot,* 1.21 and Peter pens.

After hys returne from Rome,* 1.22 percey∣uing himselfe to drawe into yeares, hee caused his Sonne Egfride to bee ordeyned King in hys lyfe tyme: and shortly after departing oute of this Worlde, lefte the Kingdome vnto hym, after hee had gouerned it by the space of .xxxix. yeares.* 1.23

Amongst other the doings of this Offa which surely were great and marueylous, this may not passe with silence, that he caused a mightie greate ditch to be cast betwixte the Marches of hys Countrey, and the Welche confines, to deuide thereby the boundes of their dominions.

This Ditche was called Offeditch euer af∣ter,* 1.24 and stretched from the South side by Bry∣stowe, vnder the Mountaynes of Wales, run∣ning Northwarde ouer the Ryuers of Seuerne and Dee, vnto the verie mouth of Dee, where that Ryuer falleth into the Sea. Hee likewyse buylded a Church in Warwikeshire, whereof the towne there taketh name, and is called Offchurch euen to this day.

Egfred taking vpon him the rule, beganne to follow the approued good doings of his father,* 1.25 and first restored vnto the Churches theyr aun∣cient priuiledges, which his father sometime had taken from them. Great hope was conceyued of hys further good proceedings, but death cut off the same, taking him out of this lyfe, after he had raigned the space of foure Monethes, not for his owne offences (as was thought) but rather for that hys Father hadde caused so muche bloud to bee spylte for the confyrming of hym in the Kingdome, which so small a time he nowe enioyed.

After that Eadbert or Egbert king of Nor∣thumberlande was become a Monke,* 1.26 his sonne Osoulphus succeeded him: but after he had raig∣ned onely one yeare, he was traterously murthe∣red by his owne feruants at Mikilwong•…•…on, on the .ix. Kalends of August.

Then succeeded one Molle, otherwise called Edilwold or Edilwald, but not immediately,* 1.27 for he began not his raigne till the Nones of August in the yeare following, which was after the byrth of our Sauior .759.

This man proued right valiaunt in gouern∣ment of his subiects. He slue in battaile an Earle of his Countrey named Oswin, the which artea∣ring warre agaynst him, fought with him in a pight fielde at Eadwines Cliue, and receyued the worthie rewarde of rebellion.

This chaunced in the third yeare of his raigne.

Shortly after, that is to witte in the yeare of our Lorde .764.* 1.28 there fel such a marueylous great snowe, and therewith so extreeme a frost, as the like had not beene heard of, continuing from the begynning of the Winter, almost tyll the midst of the Spring, with the rygour whereof, trees and fruites wythered away, and lost theyr liuely shape and growth: and not onely feathered foules, but also beastes on the lande, and fishes in the [ 10] Sea dyed in great numbers. The same yeare died Ceolwulf somtyme king of Northumberlande, vnto whome Beda dyd dedicate his booke of Hystories of the English Nation. After that hee was become a Monke in the Monasterie of Lyndisferne,* 1.29 the Monkes of that house had ly∣cence to drincke Wine, or Ale, where as be∣fore they myght not drinke any other thing than milke, or water, by the ancient rule prescribed thē of Bishop Aydan first founder of the place. [ 20]

The same yeare sundrye Cities, Townes, and Monasteryes were defaced and sore wa∣sted with fyre chauncing on the sodayne, as Stretehu, Giwento, Anwicke, London, Yorke, Doncaster, and many other.

After that Molle had raigned .vj. yeares, he re∣signed his kingdome. But other write that hee raigned .xj. yeares,* 1.30 and was in the ende slaine by treason of his successor Altred.

* 1.31This Altred raigned ten yeares ouer the Nor∣thumbers, [ 30] and was then expulsed out of his king∣dome by his owne subiects.

Then was Ethelbert, named also Edelrede, the sonne of the foresayde Molle, made king of Northumberlande, and in the fifth yeare of hys raigne, he was dryuen oute of his kingdome by two Dukes of his Countrey, named Edelbalde, and Herebert, the whiche moouing warre against him, had slaine first Aldulfe the sonne of Bosa the Generall of his armie at Kingesclyffe, and after [ 40] Kinewulfe, and Egga, other two of his Dukes, at Helatherne in a sore foughten fielde, so that Ethelbert dispayring of all recouerie, was con∣strayned to get him oute of the Countrey. And thus was the Kingdome of Northumberlande brought into a myserable state, by the ambi∣tious working of the Princes and Nobles of the same.

After that Ethelbert King of East Angles was dead,* 1.32 his sonne Ethelbert succeeded hym, a [ 50] Prince of great towardnesse, and so vertuously brought vp by his fathers circumspect care and diligence, that hee vtterly abhorred vice, and de∣lighted onely in vertue and commendable exer∣cises, for the better atteyning to knowledge and vnderstanding of good sciences. There remayne manye sundrye sayings and doyngs of hym, manyfestly bearing wytnesse that there coulde not be a man more honourable, thankefull, curte∣ous or gentle.

Amongst other he had this saying oftentimes in his mouth, That the greater that men 〈◊〉〈◊〉,* 1.33 the more humble they ought to beare themselues: for the Lorde putteth prowde and mightie 〈◊〉〈◊〉 from theyr seates, and exalteth the humble and meeke. Moreouer he did not shew himselfe one∣ly wise in wordes, but desired also to excell in∣stayednesse of maners, and continencie of life: Whereby hee wanne to hym the heartes of hys people, who perceyuing that hee was nothing delighted in the companie of women, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 therefore mynded not maryage, they of a sin∣gular loue and fauour towards him, required that he shuld in any wise yet take a wife, that he might haue issue to succeed him. At length the ma•…•…ter beeing referred to hys Counsayle, hee was perswaded to followe theyr aduices. And so Alfred the daughter of Offa King of Mercia was fiaunced to hym: so that he hymselfe ap∣poynted (for meane to procure more fauor at hys father in lawes hands) to go to fetch the bride frō hir fathers house.

Manye straunge things that happened to hym in taking vppon hym this iourney, putte hym in greate doubte of that whiche shoulde followe.* 1.34 Hee was no sooner mounted on hys Horse, but that (as seemed to hym) the earth shooke vnder him: Againe, as he was in his iour∣ney, aboute the mydde tyme of the daye, suche a darke myste compassed hym on eche side, that he coulde not see nor discerne for a certaine time a∣ny thing aboute him at all: Lastly, as hee lay•…•… one night a sleepe, hee thought hee sawe in a dreame the roofe of his owne Palayce fall downe to the ground. But althoughe wyth these things hee was brought into greate feare,* 1.35 yet hee kept on his iourney, as hee that mistrusted no deceyte, measuring other mens maners by his owne.

King Offa right honourably receyued hym: but his wyfe named Qu••••dred, a wyse wo∣man, but therewyth wic••••d, conceyued a ma∣licious deuise in hir heart, and streyght wayes goeth aboute to perswade hir husbande to putte it in execution, which was to murther king E∣thelbert, and after to take into hys handes hys Kingdome.

Offa at the firste was offended wyth hys wyfe for thys motion, but in the ende through the importunate request of the woman, hee con∣sented to hir minde.

The order of the murther was committed vnto one Wynnebert,* 1.36 that had serued both the sayde Ethelbert and hys father before tyme, the whiche feyning as thoughe hee had beene sent from Offa to will Ethelbert to come vnto

him in the night season,* 1.37 slue him that once mis∣trusted not any such treason.

[illustration]

[ 10]

Offa hauing thus dispatched Ethelbert, in∣uaded his kingdome,* 1.38 and conquered it. But when the Bryde Alfreda vnderstoode the death of hir [ 20] liked Make and Bridegrome, she abhorring the fact, did curse father and mother, & as if were in∣spired with the spirit of prophecie, she pronounced that worthie punishment woulde shortly fall on hir wicked mother, for hir heynous crime cōmit∣ted in perswading so detestable a deede▪ and ac∣cording to hir wordes it came to passe, for hir mother dyed miserably within three Monethes after.

* 1.39The Mayde Alfreda refusing the worlde, pro∣fessed [ 30] hirselfe a Nunne at Crowlande, the which place beganne to waxe famous aboute the yeare of our Lorde .695. by the meanes of one Gut∣lake a man esteemed of great vertue and holy∣nesse, which chose to himselfe an habitation there, and departing this lyfe about the yeare of oure Lorde .714. was buried in that place, where af∣terwardes an Abbay of Monkes was builded of Saint Benets order.

The bodie of king Ethelbert at length was [ 40] buried at Hereford, though first it was committed to b•…•…riall in a vile place, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the banke of a riuer called Lugge.

The kingdome of East Angles from thence∣forth was brought so into decay, that it remay∣ned subiect one while vnto them of Mercia, an o∣ther while vnto the west Saxons and somewhile vnto them of Kent, till that Edmonde surnamed the Martyr obteyned the gouernment thereof, (as after shall appeare.) [ 50]

After that Selred king of East Saxons had gouerned the tearme of .xxxviij. yeares,* 1.40 hee was slaine, but in what maner, wryters haue not expressed.

After him succeeded one Swithed, or Swi∣thred, the .xj. and last in number that particu∣larly gouerned those people. He was finally ex∣pulsed by Egbert king of West Saxons, the same yeare that the sayde Egbert ouercame the Kentish men (as after shall be shewed) and so the kings of that kingdom of the East Saxons ceas∣sed and tooke ende.

About this time,* 1.41 there was a Mayde in Ox∣forde named Friswide, daughter to a certaine Duke or Noble man called Didanus, wyth whom one Algarus a Prince in those parties fell in loue, and woulde haue rauished hir, but God the reuenger of sinnes was at hande as hir storie sayth. For when Algar followed the mayd that fled before him, she getting into the towne, the gate was shutte agaynst him, and his sight also was sodainly taken from him. But the Mayde by hir prayers pacifyed Gods wrath towardes him, so that his sight was to him againe resto∣red. But whether this bee a fable or a true tale, hereof grewe the report that the kings of thys Realme long tymes after were afrayde to en∣ter into the Citie of Oxforde. So easily is the minde of man turned to superstition, as sayth Polidore.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Sigibert.
• * 1.2

  755
• * 1.3

  Ethel∣red.
• * 1.4

  728 Egbert king of Northumber∣lande. Har. hath. 21. 758
• * 1.5

  Chaunging of crownes for Monks cowles
• * 1.6

  756
• * 1.7

  Offa.
• * 1.8

  758 Mat. VVest.
• * 1.9

  VVil. Mal.
• * 1.10

  The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of king Offa. Mat. VVest. 779
• * 1.11

  Falsehed is feloship.
• * 1.12

  The Archbi∣shops sea re∣moued from Canterburie to Lichfielde.
• * 1.13

  785 ••••t. VVest.
• * 1.14

  •…•…he Archbi∣••••op Lambert ••••••ended his, 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.15

  Offa allyeth himselfe with •…•…ther Princes.
• * 1.16

  Mat. VVest.
• * 1.17

  The enter∣course of mar∣chants stayed.
• * 1.18

  Alcuine an Englishmā.
• * 1.19

  Polidor.
• * 1.20

  775
• * 1.21

  Peter p•…•…nce, or Rome Scot.
• * 1.22

  VVil. Malm. 797
• * 1.23

  Offa departed this life.
• * 1.24

  Offditch.
• * 1.25

  Egfride king of Mercia.
• * 1.26

  Eadbert king of Northum∣berlande. 758 Simon Dun. H. Hunt.
• * 1.27

  Edilwold king of Northum∣berland. Simon Dun. Henric. Hūt.
• * 1.28

  Simon Dun. 764
• * 1.29

  Monkes licen∣ced to drinke wine.
• * 1.30

  VVil. Malm.
• * 1.31

  Altred began his raigne in the yeare .765. as Simō Dun. hath. Henric. Hūt. Mat. VVest. Ethelbert.
• * 1.32

  H. Hunt. Iohn Cap∣graue. Mat. VVest. and others. Ethelbert king of East angles.
• * 1.33

  The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 king 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.34

  Tokens of mishap follow.
• * 1.35

  The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 mistrusted of no 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.36

  Iohn Ca•…•…. Wynnebert.
• * 1.37

  •…•…mon Dun. •…•…th. 771.
• * 1.38

  Offa conque∣reth East An∣gles.
• * 1.39

  Alfreda a Nunne. Beda. Mat. VVest.
• * 1.40

  H. Hunt.
• * 1.41

  Friswide a virgine.