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.

Edwin.

[illustration]

AFter the de∣cesse of E∣dredus,* 1.1 his Ne∣phewe Edwin the eldest sonne of Kyng Ed∣mōd was ma•…•…e King of Eng∣land, and began his raigne ouer the same in the yeare of our L. 955. and in the .20. yeare of the Emperour Otho the firste,* 1.2 in the .28. and last yeare of the raigne of Lewis King of France, and about the twelfth yere of Malcolme the first of that name King of Scotland. He was sacred at Kingston vppon Thames by Odo the Archbishop of Canterbury. The same day of his Coronation, as the Lordes were set in counsell about weighty matters tou∣ching the gouernemente of the Realme, hee rose from the place,* 1.3 gate him into a chamber with one of his neere kinswomen, and there had to do with hir without respect or any regard had to his roy∣all estate and princely dignitie. Dunstane lately beforenamed Abbot of Glastenbury, did not onely without feare of displeasure reprooue the king for such shamefull abusing of his body, but also cau∣sed the Archbishop of Canterbury to constreyne him to forgoe y^e company of that woman whom vnlawfully hee kept as his wife.* 1.4 There be that write, that there were two women both mother and daughter, whome K. Edwin kept as concu∣bines: for the mother beeing of noble parentage, sought to satisfie the Kings lust, in hope that ey∣ther hee woulde take hir, or hir daughter to wife. And therefore perceyuing that Dustane was sore against suche wanton pastime as the King vsed in their company, so wrought,* 1.5 that Dūstan was through hir earnest trauel banished the land. And this is also reported, that when he should departe the Realme, the Deuill was hearde in the West end of the Church, taking vp a great laughter af∣ter his roring manner, as though he should shew himselfe glad and ioyfull of Dunstanes goyng into exile.* 1.6 But Dunstane perceyuing his behaui∣our, spake to him, and sayd: well thou aduersarie, do not so greatly reioyce at the matter, for thou doest not now so much reioyce at my departure, but by Gods grace thou shalt be as sorowfull for my returne.* 1.7 Thus was Dunstane banished by K. Edwine, so that he was compelled to passe o∣uer into Flaunders, where hee remayned for a tyme within a Monasterie at Gaunt, finding muche friendshippe at the handes of the gouer∣noure of that countrey. Also the more to

wreake his wrath,* 1.8 the King spoyled many Reli∣gious houses of their goodes, and droue out the Monkes, placing secular Priests in their roomes, as namely at Malmesbury, where yet the house was not empayred, but rather enriched in landes and ornamentes by the kings liberalitie and the industrious meanes of the same Priestes whyche toke vp the bones of Saint Alderlme, and put the same in a shrine.* 1.9 At length, the inhabitantes of y^e middle parte of England, euen from Humber to [ 10] Thames rebelled againste him,* 1.10 and elected hys brother Edgar to haue the gouernemente ouer them, wherewith King Edwine tooke such griefe for that he saw no meane at hand how to remedy the matter, that shortly after when he had raig∣ned somewhat more than four yeres,* 1.11 he departed this life. His body was buried at Winchester in the new Abbey there.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Edre•…•…
• * 1.2

  955
• * 1.3

  VVil. Malm. Polidor.
• * 1.4

  Iohn Cap.
• * 1.5

  Dunstane ba∣nished the Realme.
• * 1.6

  Dunstane seeth not the Deuill.
• * 1.7

  Dunstane de∣parted into exile.
• * 1.8

  VV. Mal. Edwine dis∣placeth Mōkes and putteth secular Priests in their romes
• * 1.9

  Rebellion raised againste K. Edred.
• * 1.10

  Sim. Dun.
• * 1.11

  Edred depar∣teth this life.