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.

Egelredus.

[illustration]

EGelredus,* 1.1 or Ethel∣dredus, the sonne of king Edgar, and of his laste wife Queene Al∣frede, was or∣deyned King in place of his brother Ed∣warde, after that the same Edwarde was dispat∣ched out of the way, and beganne his raigne ouer this realme of Englande in the yeare of our lorde 979.* 1.2 which was in the seuenth yeare of the Em∣perour Otho the second, in the .xxiiij. of Lothaire king of Fraunce, and about the seconde or thirde yeare of Kenneth the thirde of that name King of Scotlande.

This Egelred, or Etheldred, was the .xxx. in number from Cerdicius the first King of the West Saxons: through his negligente go∣uernment, the state of the common wealth fell in∣to such decay (as wryters doe report) that vnder him it may bee sayde, howe the kingdome was come to the vttermost poynt or period of olde and feeble age. For whereas whilest the Realme was deuided at the first by the Saxons into sundrie dominions, it grew at length (as it were increa∣sing from youthfull yeares) to one absolute Mo∣narchie, which passed vnder the late remembred Princes, Egbert, Adelstane, Edgar, and others, so that in their dayes it might be said, how it was growne to mans state, but now vnder this Egel∣red, through famine, pestilence, and warres, the state thereof was so shaken, turned vpside downe, and weakened on eche parte, that rightly might the season be likened vnto the olde broken yeares of mans life, which through feeblenesse is not a∣ble to helpe it selfe.

Dunstan the Archbishop of Canterbury was thought to haue foreseene this thing, and therfore refused to anoynt Egelred king, whiche by the murther of his brother shoulde atteyne to the go∣uernment: but at length he was compelled to it, and so he sacred him at Kingston vpon Thames, as the maner then was, on the .xxiiij. day of A∣prill, assysted by Oswalde Archbishop of Yorke, and ten other Bishops.

* 1.3But as hath beene reported, Dunstan then sayde that the English people shoulde suffer con∣digne punishment generally with losse of aunci∣ent liberties which before that tyme they had en∣ioyed. Dunstan also long before prophecied of the flouthfulnesse that should remaine in this Ethel∣red. For at what time he ministred the sacrament of Baptisme vnto him, shortly after he came in∣to this world, he defyled the Font with the ordure of his wombe (as hath beene sayde) wherevppon [ 10] Dunstan beeing troubled in hys mynde: By the Lorde (sayth he) and his blessed mother, this child shall proue to be a slouthfull person. It hath bene written also, that when he was but tenne yeares of age, and heard that his brother Edwarde was slaine, he so offended his mother with weeping, bycause she coulde not still him, that hauing no rodde at hande, shee tooke Tapers or Sizes that stoode before hir, and bet him so sore with them, that she had almost killed him, whereby he coulde [ 20] neuer after abyde to haue any such Candles ligh∣ted before him.

* 1.4This Egelred (as writers say) was nothing giuen to warlike enterprises, but was slouthfull, a louer of ydlenesse, and delyting in ryotous lustes, which being knowne to all men, caused him to be euill spoken of amongst his owne people, and no∣thing feared amongst straungers. Herevpon the Danes that exercised roauing on the Seas, be∣ganne to conceyue a boldenesse of courage to dis∣quiet [ 30] and molest the Sea coastes of the realme, insomuche that in the seconde yeare of this Egel∣reds raigne,* 1.5 they came with seuen Shippes on the Englishe coastes of Kent, and spoyled the Isle of Tennet, the Towne of Southampton, and in the yere following they destroyed S. Petrokes Abbay in Cornewall,* 1.6 Porthlande in Deuon∣shire, and dyuerse other places by the Sea syde, specially in Deuonshire and Cornewall.* 1.7 Also a great part of Chesshire was destroyed by Pirates [ 40] of Norway.

* 1.8The same yeare by casualtie of fire, a greate part of the Citie of London was burnt.

* 1.9In the yeare of our Lorde. 983. Alfer Duke of Mercia departed this life, who was cosin to king Edgar, and his sonne Alfrike tooke vpon him the rule of that Dukedome, and within three yeares after was banished the lande.

Aboute the eight yeare of his raigne, Egel∣red maryed one Elgina, or Ethelginu, daughter [ 50] of Earle Egbert.

In the ninth yeare of his raigne, vpon occa∣sion of strife betweene him and the Bishoppe of Rochester, he made warre agaynst the same By∣shop, wasted his Lordships, and besieged the citie of Rochester,* 1.10 till Dunstan procured the Bishops peace with paymēt of an hundred pound in gold: and bycause the king woulde not agree with the Bishop without money at the onely request of Dunstan, the said Dunstan did send him worde, that sithence he made more account of golde than of God, more of money than of S. Andrew Pa∣trone of the Church of Rochester, and more of co∣uetousnesse than of him being the Archbishop, the mischiefes which the Lord had threatned woulde shortly fal and come to passe, but the same should not chance whilest he was aliue, who died in the yere following, the .xxv. of May, on a Saturday.

Of this Dunstan many things are recorded by wryters,* 1.11 that he should be of such holinesse and vertue, that God wrought many myracles by him, both whiles he liued here on earth, and also after his decease. He was borne in west Saxon,* 1.12 his father was named Heorstan, & his mother Ci∣nifride, they in his youth set him to schole, where he so profited, that he excelled al his equals in age. Afterwarde he fell sicke of an Ague, which vexed him so sore that it draue him into a frensie: & ther∣fore his parents appoynted him to the cure and charge of a certain womā, where his disease grew so on him, that he fell in a trance as though he had bin dead, & after that he sodenly arose, & by chance caught a staffe in his hande, and ran vp & downe through hilles and dales, and layde about him as though he had bene afrayde of mad dogges. The next night (as it is sayde) he gat him to the top of the church (by the help of certain ladders that stood there for workmen to mend the roof) and there ran vp and downe very daungerously, but in the ende came safely down, and layd him to sleep betwene two men that watched the Church that night, & when he wakened, maruelled howe he came there. Finally recouering his disease, his parents made him a priest, and placed him in the Abbay of Gla∣stenburie, where he gaue himselfe to the reading of Scriptures and knowledge of vertue: But as well his kinsmen as certaine other did raise a re∣port of him, that he gaue not himselfe so muche to the reading of scriptures, as to charming, coniu∣ring and sorcery, which he vtrerly denied: howbeit learned he was in deed, and could do many pretie things both in handie worke & other deuices: he had good skill in musicke and delited much therin.

At length he grew in such fauour, that he was aduaunced into the seruice of king Adelstane. And on a time as he came to a Gentlewomans house with his harpe, and hung the same on the wall, while he shaped a priestes stoale, the Harpe soden∣ly began to play a Psalm, which draue the whole houshold in such feare, that they ran out and said, hee was too cunning, and knewe more than was expedient: wherevpon he was accused of Nicro∣mancie, and so banished out of the Court.

And after this he began to haue a liking to wo∣men, and when Elfheagus then Bishop of Win∣chester and his cousin, perswaded him to become a

Monke, he refused it, for he rather wished to haue maried a yong damosell, whose pleasant compa∣nie he dayly enioyed. But being soone after strikē with such a swelling disease in his bellie, that all his bodie was brought into such state, as though he had bene infected with a foule leprosie, hee be∣thought himselfe, and vpon his recouerie sent to the bishop, who immediatly shore him a Monke, in which life he liued in so great opinion of holy∣nes, as he in time became Abbot of Glastenbury: [ 10] where on a time as hee was in his prayers before the aulter of S. George, he fell asleepe: and ima∣gining in his dreame, that an vgly rough Beare came towards him with open mouth, and set his forefeete vpon his shoulders ready to deuour him, he sodenly waking for feare, caught his walking staffe which he cōmonly went with, & layd about him, that all the Church rang thereof to the great wonder of such as stood by.* 1.13 The common tale of his plucking the diuell by the nose with a paire of [ 20] pynsors, for tempting him with women, while he was making a Chalice: the great loue that the la∣die Elfleda, nigh kinswoman to K. Adelstan bare to him to hir dying day, with a great meiny of o∣ther such like matters, I leaue as friuolous, and wholy impertinent to our purpose: onely this I reade, that through declaring of his dreames and visions, he obteyned in the time of K. Edgar, first the Bishoprike of Worcester, after of London, & last of al the Archbishoprike of Canterburie. And now I will returne to the doings of Egelred, and to speake of such things as chaunced in his time.

Shortly after the decease of Dunstan,* 1.14 y^e Danes inuaded this Realme on eche side, wasting and spoyling the Countrey in moste miserable wise. They arryued in so manye places at once, that the Englishe men coulde not well deuise why∣ther to goe to encounter first with them. Some of them spoyled a place or towne called Wiche∣port,* 1.15 and from thence passing further into the Countrey,* 1.16 were mette with by the Englishe men, who giuing them battayle, lost theyr Cap∣taine Goda: but yet they gotte the victorie, and beat the Danes oute of the fielde, and so that parte of the Danishe armie was brought to con∣fusion.

[illustration]

* 1.17Simon Dunel. sayth that the English men in deede wanne the fielde here, but not withoute great losse.* 1.18 For besyde Goda, (who by report of the same Authour was Earle of Deuonshire) there dyed an other valyaunt man of warre na∣med Strenwolde.

In the yeare. 991. Brightnod Earle of Essex, at Maldon gaue battaile to an armie of Danes, [ 50] (which vnder their leaders Iustin & Guthmund,* 1.19 had spoyled Gipswich) and was there ouercome & slaine with the most part of his people, and so the Danes obteyned in that place the victorie.

* 1.20The same yeare, and in the .xiij. yeare of king Egelreds raigne, when the land was on eche side sore afflicted, wasted and haried by the Danes, which couered the same as they had beene Gras∣hoppers: by the aduise of the Archbishop of Can∣terburie Siricius, (which was the second of that Sea after Dunstane,) a composition was ta∣ken with the Danes,* 1.21 so that for the summe of ten thousand pound to them to be payde by the king, they should couenant not to trouble his subiectes any further.

This money was called Danegylt,* 1.22 or Dane money, and was leuyed of the people. Although other take that to bee Danegylte, whiche was gyuen vnto suche Danes as King Egelred af∣terwardes reteyned in his seruice to defende the lande from other Danes and enimyes that sought to inuade his Dominions. But by what name so euer thys money (whiche the Danes nowe receyued) was called, true it is that

Herevpon they ceassed from their most cruell inuasions for a time But shortly after they had refreshed themselues,* 1.23 and recouered new strength, they beganne to play theyr olde partes agayne, doing the lyke myschiefe by theyr semblable inuasions, as they hadde vsed before. By rea∣son hereof suche feare came vppon the Englishe people, that they dispayred to be able to resist the enimies.

* 1.24The king yet caused a Nauie to bee set forth [ 10] at London, whereof hee appoynted Earle Alfride (whom before he had banished, and lately reuoked home againe) to bee high Admyrall, adioyning with him Erle Turolde. This nauie did set for∣warde from London towarde the enimies, who hauing warning giuen them from Alfrik, escaped away without hurt.

And shortly after a greater Nauye of the Danes came, and encountered with the kings flete, so that a great nūber of the Londoners were slaine, and all the kings ships taken.* 1.25 For Alfrike like a traytor turned to the Danes side.

[illustration]

* 1.26Math. Westm. maketh other report of this matter, declaring that Alfrike in deede being one of the chiefe captaines of the fleet, aduertised them by forewarning of the daunger that was towarde them, and that when they shoulde come to ioy∣ning, the same Alfrike like a traytor fledde to the Danes, and after vpon necessitie beeing putte to flight, escaped away with them: but the other Captaines of the kings fleete, as Theodred, El∣stan, and Escwen, pursued the Danes, tooke one [ 40] of theyr ships, and slue all those that were founde therein.

The Londoners also (as the same Mat. West. sayth) met with the nauie of the Danishe rouers as they fledde away, and slue a greate number, and also tooke the Shippe of the Traytour Al∣frike with his souldiers and armour, but he him∣selfe escaped, though with muche payne, hauing played the lyke trayterous part once before, and yet was reconcyled to the Kings fauour againe. [ 50]

* 1.27Vpon this mischiefe wrought by the father, the king nowe tooke his sonne Algar, and caused his eyes to be put out.

About the same time was Bambrough de∣stroyed by the Danes, whiche arryued after in Humber, and wasted the Countrey of Lyndsey and Yorkeshyre, on either syde that Ryuer. And when the Englishe men were assembled to giue them battayle: before they ioyned, the Cap∣taynes of the Englishe armie, Frena, Godwin,* 1.28 and Fredegist, that were Danes by theyr fa∣thers side, beganne to flye awaye, and escaped, so gyuing the occasion of the ouerthrowe that lighted on theyr people.

But by some wryters it shoulde appeare, that after the Danes had destroyed all the North partyes, as they spredde abroade without order and good array, the people of the Countrey fell vppon them, and slue some of them, and chased the residue.

Other of the Danes with a nauie of .94.* 1.29 ships entred the Thames, and besieged London, a∣boute our Ladie day in September. They gaue a right sore assault to the Citie, and assayed to haue sette it on fyre: But the Citizens so valy∣antly defended themselues, that the Danes were beaten backe and repulsed, greatly to their losse, so that they were constrayned to departe thence with dishonour.

Then they fell to and wasted the Countreys of Essex, Kent, Sussex, and Hamshire,* 1.30 and ceas∣sed not till they had enforced the King to com∣pounde with them for .xvj. M. pounde,* 1.31 which hee was glad to pay to haue peace with them.

Moreouer, whereas they wintered that yeare at Southampton: the king procured Aulafe king

of the Norwegians to come vnto Andeuer (wher at that time he lay) vpon pledges receyued of the king for his safe returne.* 1.32 Elphegus Bishoppe of Winchester, and Duke Ethelwold were appoin∣ted by king Egelred to bring Aulafe vnto him in most honourable wise.

* 1.33The same time was Aulafe baptised, K. Egel∣red receyuing him at the Font stone, and so hee promised neuer after to make any warre within this lande. And receyuing great gyftes of the [ 10] King he returned into his Countrey, and kept his promise faythfully: But the euilles tooke not so an ende: for other of the Danes sprang vp, as they had bene the heades of the Serpent Hydra, some of them euer being redie to trouble the quiet state of the English nation.

Aboute this season that is to witte, in the yeare of our Lorde .995.* 1.34 Bishop Aldayne whiche was fledde from Chester in the (Strete other∣wise called Cunecester) with the bodie of Saint [ 20] Cuthbert for feare of the inuasion of Danes, vn∣to Rippon, brought the same bodie now vnto Durhā,* 1.35 & there began the fou•…•…dation of a church: so that the Sea of that Bishoprike was from thence forth there established, and the Wooddes were there cutte downe, whiche before tyme co∣uered and ouergrewe that place, wherevpon it began first to be inhabited.

* 1.36Earle Vthred who gouerned that Countrey greatly furthered the Bishop in this work so that [ 30] all the people inhauting betweene the Ryuers of Coquid and Theis,* 1.37 came togither to ridde the wooddes, and to helpe towarde the buylding of the Church and town there.

In the .xix. yeare of King Egelreds raigne, the Danes sayled aboute Cornewall,* 1.38 and com∣ming into the Seuerne sea, they robbed and toke prayes in the coastes of Deuonshire, and South∣wales, and landing at Werheport, they burned vp the countrey, and came about vnto Pen with∣streete [ 40] on the South coast, and so arriuing in the mouth of Tamee, water, came vnto Lydforde, and there wasted all afore them with force of fire. They burned amongest other places, the Mo∣nasterie of Saint Ordulfe at Essyngstocke.

* 1.39After this they came into Dorsetshire, and passed through the countrey with flame and fire, not finding any that offred to resist them.

* 1.40The same yeare also they soiourned for a time in the Isle of Wight, and lyued vpon spoyles [ 50] and prayes whiche they tooke in Hampshire,* 1.41 and Sussex: At length they came into the Thames, and so by the Ryuer of Medeway, arryued at Rochester. The Kentishmen assembled togither and fought with the Danes, but they were ouer∣come, and so left the fielde to the Danes.

* 1.42After this, the same Danes sayled into Nor∣mandie, and king Egelred went into Cumber∣land where the Danes inhabited in great num∣bers, whom he ouercame with sore warre, and wasted almost al Cumberland, taking great spoi∣les in the same.

About the same time or shortly after,* 1.43 the Da∣nes with their nauie, returning out of Norman∣die, came vnto Exmouth,* 1.44 and there assaulted the Castell, but they were repulsed by th•…•… that kept it.

After this they spred abrode ouer all the coun∣trey exercising theyr accustomed trade of destroy∣ing all defo•••• them with fire and sworde. The mē of Sōmersetshire fought with thē at Pentho,* 1.45 but the Danes gate the vpper hand.

Thus the state of the realme in those dayes was verie miserable: for there wanted worthie Chieftains to rule the people, and to chastier them when they did amisse.* 1.46 There was no trust in the noble men, for euery one impugned others do∣ing, and yet woulde not deuise whiche way to deale with better likelyhoope. When they assem∣bled in Counsaile, and should haue occupied their heades in dipising remedies for the interchiefe of the common wealth, they turned theyr purpose vnto altercation aboute such stryles, contentions and quarelles as eche one had agaynst other, and suffered the general case to lie stil in the dust. And if at any time there was any good conclusion a∣greed vpon, for the withstanding of the enimie, & reliefe of the common wealth, anon shoulde the e∣nimie be aduertised thereof by such as were of ali∣ance or consanguinitie vnto them. For as Hari∣son in his Chronologie gathereth out of Caxton, Polichron and others, the English bloud was so mixed with that of the Danes & Britains, who were like enimies to the Englishmen, that there was almost few of the nobilitie & cōmons which had not on the one side a parent of some of them. Whereby it came to passe, that neither the secrete purposes of the k. could be cōcealed til they might take due effect, neither their assemblies proue quiet without quareling & taking of partes. Many also being sent forth with their powers one way whi∣lest the K. went to make resistāce, another did re∣uolt vnto his enimies & turn their swords against him (as you haue heard of Elfrik & his cōplices) & shall read of many others, so y^t it was no maruell that Ethelred sped no better & yet was he as vali∣ant as any of his predecessors, although y^e Mo•••• fauour him not in their writings, bicause he de∣maūded ayd of thē toward his warres & was no∣thing fauorable to their sewd hipocrisie (as y^e same house noteth:) but what is a king if his subiects be not loyall what is a realme, if the cōmon wealth be diuided: by peace & concord of smal beginnings great & famous kingdoms haue oft times procee∣ded, wheras by discord y^e greatest kingdoms haue oftnes bin brought to mine: & so it proued here: for whilest priuate quarels are pursued, the generall

affayres are vtterly neglected: and whilest ech na∣tion seeketh to preferre hir owne alliance, the I∣land it self is like to become a desart. But to pro∣ceede with our Monasticall writers: certes they lay all the fault in the king, saying that he was a mā giuē to no good exercise, he delighted in flesh∣ly lustes and riotous banketting, and still sought wayes how to gather of his subiectes what might be got,* 1.47 as wel by vnlawful meanes as otherwise. For he would for feyned or for very small & light [ 10] causes disinherite his subiectes, and cause them to redeeme their owne possessions for great summes of money. Besides these oppressions, diuerse kinds of sicknesse vexed the people also, as the bloudie Flixe,* 1.48 and hote burning Agues which then raged through the lande, so that many died thereof. By such maner of meanes therfore, what through the misgouernance of the king, the treason & disloyal∣tie of the nobilitie,* 1.49 the lacke of good order and due correction amongst the people, and by such other [ 20] scourges & mishaps as afflicted the English na∣tion in that season, the lād was broght into great ruine, so that, where by strength the enimy coulde not be kept off, there was now no helpe but to ap∣pease thē with mony. By reason wherof frō time of the first agreement with the Danes for tenne thousande pound tribute, it was inhanced to .xvj. thousande pounde (as ye haue heard.) And after that to twentie thousande pounde,* 1.50 then to .xxiiij. thousande pound, and so to .xxx. thousand pound, and lastlye to fortie thousande pounde, till at length the Realme was emptied in maner of all that money and coyne that could in it be founde.* 1.51 In this meane time died Elgiua or Ethelgiua y^e Queene. Then shortly after it was deuised that y^e king should be a suter vnto Ri. Duke of Normā∣die, for his sister Emma,* 1.52 a lady of such excellent beautie, that she was named y^e floure of Normā∣die. This sute was begon & toke such good succes, that the king obteyned his purpose.* 1.53 And so in the yere of our lord .1002. which was about the .xxiiij yere. of K. Egelreds raigne,* 1.54 the same Egelred re∣ceiued the foresaid Emma, & maried hir w^t great solemnitie. This mariage was thought to bee

[illustration]

right necessary, honorable & profitable for y^e realm of Englande, bycause of the great puissance of the Norman princes in those days: but as things af∣terward came to passe, it turned to the subuersiō of y^e whole English state: for by such affinitie & dea∣ling as hapned hereby betwixt the Normās and Englishmē, occasion in y^e end was ministred to y^e same Normans to pretend a tytle to the crowne of Englād, in prosecuting of which title, they ob∣teyned [ 50] and made the whole conquest of the land, as after shall appeare. Egelred being greatly ad∣uaunced, as he thought, by reason of this mary∣age deuised vpon presumption thereof, to cause all the Danes within the lande to bee murthered in one day. Herevpon he sent priuie Commissioners vnto all cities, boroughes and townes within his dominions, commaunding the rulers and officers in the same, to dispatche and slea all such Danes as remayned within theyr liberties,* 1.55 at a certaine day prefixed, being Saint Bryces daye, in the yeare .1012. and in the .34. yeare of king Egelreds raigne.

Herevpon (as sundrie wryters agree,* 1.56) in one day and houre this murther beganne, and was according to the commission and instructions ex∣ecuted. But where it first beganne, the fame is vncertaine: some say at Wellowyn in Herforish.* 1.57 some at a place in Staffordshire called Hownhil, and other in other places, as in suche doubtfull cases it cōmonly happeneth. But wheresoeuer it began the doers shortly after repented it. But first ere we proceede any further, we will shewd what rule the Danes kept here in this Realme before they were thus murthered, as in some bookes we

find recorded. Where it is shewed that the Danes compelled the husbandmen to till the ground,* 1.58 and to doe all maner of labour and toyle to bee done aboute husbandrie: and the Danes liued of the fruite and gaynes that came therof, and kept the husbādmens wiues, their daughters, maydes and seruaunts, vsing and abusing them at theyr plea∣sures. And when the husbandmen came home then coulde they vneth haue such sustenaunce of meates and drinkes as fell for seruantes to haue: [ 10] so that the Danes had all at theyr commaunde∣ments, eating and drinking of the best where the sillie man that was the owner, could hardly come to his fill of the worst.

And besides this, the common people were to oppressed by the Danes, that for feare and dread they called them in euerie such house where anye of them soiourned, Lorde Dane. And if an Englishe man and a Dane chaunced to meete at any Bridge or streyght passage,* 1.59 the Eng∣lishe [ 20] man must staye till the Lorde Dane were passed. But in proces of time, after the Danes were voyded the lande, this worde Lorde Dane was in derisionand dispite of the Danes turned by English men into a name of reproche, as Lor∣dane,* 1.60 which till these our dayes is not forgotten. For when the people in manye partes of thys Realme will note and signifie anye greate ydle lubber that will not labour nor take paine for his liuing, they will call him Lordane. But whe∣ther the Danes vsed the English men in such vile maner, and kept them in such seruile thraldome or not, truth it is that vppon knowledge giuen into Denmarke of the cruell murther of the Danes here in Englande, the people of that Countrey were greatly kindled in malice, and set in such a furious rage agaynst the Englishmen,* 1.61 that with all speede they made forth a Nauie full fraught with menne of warre, the whiche in the yeare following came swarming aboute the coastes of Englande, and landing in the West Coun∣trey, tooke the Citie of Exeter, and got there a

[illustration]

riche spoyle.

* 1.62One Hugh a Norman borne, whom Queene Emma had placed in those parties as gouernour or Sherife there, conspired with the Danes, so that all the Countrey was ouerrunne and wasted.

The king hearing that the Danes were thus landed, and spoyled the west partes of the realme, hee sente vnto Edricus to assemble a power to withstande the enimies. Herevpon the people of [ 50] Hampshire and Wilshire rose and got togither: But when the armyes shoulde ioyne, Earle E∣dricus surnamed de Streona,* 1.63 faigned himselfe sick, and so betrayed his people, of whome hee had the conduct, for they perceyuing the want in theyr leader, were discouraged, and so fled.

* 1.64The Danes followed them vnto Wilton, whiche towne they rifled and ouercame. From thence they went to Salesburie, & so taking theyr pleasure there, returned to their ships, bycause (as some write) they were aduertised that the K. was comming towards them with an huge armie.

In the yeare next ensuing, that is to wit .1004 which was aboute the .xxiiij. yeare of King E∣gelreds raigne, Sweyne, or Swanus,* 1.65 king of Denmarke, wyth a mightie Nauie of shippes came on the coast of Norffolke, and there lan∣ding with his people, made towarde Norwiche,* 1.66 and comming thither tooke that Citie, and spoy∣led it. Then went he vnto Thetford,* 1.67 and when hee had taken and ryfled that Towne, hee bur∣ned it, notwythstandyng a truce taken by Vikillus, or Wil•…•…ketell gouernour of those par∣tyes wyth the same King Sweyne after the ta∣king of Norwich.

In reuenge therefore of such breache of truce,

the same Vskellus,* 1.68 or Welfeketell, with such po∣wer as he coulde rayse, assaulted the hoste of Da∣nes as they returned to their shippes, and slue a great number of them, but was not able to main∣taine the fight, for his enimies ouermatched him in number of men.* 1.69 And so he was constrayned in the ende to giue backe: and the enimies kept on their wayes to their shippes.

* 1.70In the yeare following king Sweyne retur∣ned into Denmark with all his fleete, partly con∣strayned [ 10] so to do (as some write) by reason of the great famin and want of necessarie sustenaunce, which that yeare sore oppressed this land.

* 1.71In the yeare of our Lorde .1006. king Swein returned againe into Englande with a mightie huge Nauie arryuing at Sandwiche, and spoy∣led all the Countrey neare vnto the Sea side. King Egelred raysed all his power agaynst him, and all the Haruest time lay abroade in the fielde to resist the Danes, which according to theyr [ 20] woonted maner spared not to exercise their vn∣mercifull crueltie, in wasting and spoyling the land with fire and sworde, pilfering & taking of prayes in euery part where they came. Neyther coulde King Egelred remedie the matter, by∣cause the enimies styll conueyed themselues with their shippes into some contrarie quarter, from the place where they knew him to be, so that his tra∣uaile was in vaine.

* 1.72About the beginning of Winter they remay∣ned [ 30] in the Ile of Wight, and in the tyme of Christmasse they landed in Hampshire and pas∣sed through that Countrey into Barkeshire, and came to Reding. And from thence to Walling∣forde, and so to Colesey, and then approching neare to Essington, came to Achikelineslawe, and in euery place wheresoeuer they came, they made cleane worke. For that which they coulde not cary with them, they consumed with fire, burning vp theyr Iunes and sleaing their hostes. [ 40] In returning back, the people of the west Coun∣trey gaue them battail, but preuayled not, so that they did but enriche theyr enimies with the spoyle of their bodies.

* 1.73They came fast by the gates of Winchester, as it were in maner of tryumph, with theyr vyt∣tayles and spoyles whiche they had fetched fiftie myles off from the sea side.

In the meane tyme King Egelred lay about Shrewsburie sore troubled with the newes herof. [ 50]

* 1.74In the yeare next ensuing, the king by the ad∣uice of his Counsaile gaue to king Sweine for the redeeming of peace .xxx. M. pound.

The same yeare King Egelred created the traytor Edricus Earle of Mercia.

* 1.75This Edricus although hee had maryed the kings daughter Edgita, was yet noted to be one of those which disclosed the secretes of the realme, and the determinations of the Counsaile vnto the enimies. But he was suche a craftie dissem∣bler, so greatly prouided of sleight to dissemble and cloke his falsehoode, that the king beeing too muche abused by him, had him in singular fa∣uour, where as hee vppon a malicious purpose studyed dayly howe to bring the Realme into vtter ruine and destruction, aduertising the eni∣mies from tyme to tyme howe the state of thinges stoode, whereby they came to know∣ledge where they shoulde giue place,* 1.76 and when they mighte safely come forwarde, Moreouer, beeing sent vnto them oftentymes as a Com∣missioner to treate of peace, hee perswaded them to warre. But suche was the pleasure of God, to haue him and suche other of lyke sort aduaun∣ced to honour in this season, when by his diuine prouidence he ment to punishe the people of thys realme for theyr wickednesse and sinnes, whereby they had iustly prouoked his wrathe and highe displeasure.* 1.77

In the .xxx. yeare of King Egelreds raigne, whiche fell in the yeare of oure Lorde .1008. hee looke order that of euery three hundred and tenne hydes of lande within this realme, there shoulde one shippe be buylded, and of euery .viij. hydes a complete armor furnished.

In the yeare following, the Kinges whole fleete was brought togither at Sandwiche, and suche souldiers came thither, as were appoynted to goe to Sea in the same fleete. There had not beene seene the lyke number of shippes so teim∣ly rigged and furnished in all poyntes, in anye Kinges dayes before. But no greate profitable peece of seruice was wrought by them: For the King hadde aboute that tyme banished a noble yong manne of Sussex called Wilnote,* 1.78 who getting togither twentie sayles, laye vppon the coastes, taking prises where he might gette them.

Brithericke the brother of Earle Edricke, desirous to wynne honour, tooke forth foure score of the sayde Shippes, and promised to bring in the enimie deade or aliue. But as hee was say∣ling forwarde on the Seas, a sore tempest with an outragious winde rose with suche violence, that his shippes were cast vppon the shore. And Wilnote comming vpon them, set them on fyre, and so burned them euery one. The residue of the ships▪ when newes came to them of this mishap, returned backe to London. And then was the ar∣mie dispersed, and so all the cost and trauaile of the English men proued in vaine.

After this, in the Haruest time a newe armie of Danes, vnder the conducte of three Cap∣taynes, Turkell, Henning, and Aulafe,* 1.79 lan∣ded at Sandwiche,* 1.80 and from thence passed forth to Canterburie, and had taken the citie, but that the Citizens gaue them a thousande pounde

to depart from thence, and to leaue the Countrey in peace. Then went the Danes to the Ile of Wight,* 1.81 and afterwardes landed and spoyled the Countrey of Sussex and Hamshire.

King Egelred assembled the whole power of all his subiectes, and co••••••ing to giue them bat∣taile had made an 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of their cruell •…•…ar•…•…ying the Countrey with the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of them all, if Earle Edrike with 〈…〉〈…〉 to put him in 〈…〉〈…〉 gi∣uing [ 10] 〈…〉〈…〉,* 1.82 〈…〉〈…〉 Marty•…•… returned into Kent, and lodged with theyr nauie in the Winter folowing in the Tha∣mes, and oftentymes assaulting the Citie of Lō∣don, were still beaten backe to their losse.

* 1.83After the feast of Christmasse they passed through the Countrey and Wooddes of Chil∣terne vnto Oxforde,* 1.84 whiche Towne they bur∣ned, and then returning backe they fell to wa∣sting [ 20] of the Countrey on both sides the Thames. But hearing that an armie was assembled at London to gyue them battaile, that parte of theyr Hoste whiche kepte on the North syde of the Ryuer,* 1.85 passed the fame Ryuer at Stanes, and so ioyning wyth theyr fellowes marched forth through Southerie, and comming backe to theyr Shippes in Kent, fell in hande to repayre and amende theyr shippes that were in any wise decayed. [ 30]

* 1.86Then after Easter, the Danes sayling about the coast, arryued at Gippeswiche in Suffolke, on the day of the Ascention of our Lorde: and in∣uading the Countrey, gaue battayle at a place called Wigmere, or Rigmere, vnto Vikell, or Vlfeketell leader of the English host in those par∣ties, the fifth of May.

The men of Norffolke and Suffolke fledde at the fyrst onset gyuen. But the Cambridge∣shire men sticked to it valiantly, wynning there∣by [ 40] perpetuall fame and commendation. There was no mindefulnesse amongest them of run∣ning awaye, so that a great number of the No∣bilitie and other were beaten downe and slaine, tyll at the length one Turketell Mireneheved,* 1.87 that had a Dane to hys father, fyrst beganne to take his flight, and deserued thereby an euerla∣sting reproch.

The Danes obteyning the vpper hande, for the space of three monethes togyther, went vppe [ 50] and downe the Countreys, and wasted those par∣ties of the Realme, that is to say, Norffolke, and Suffolke, with the borders of Lincolnshire, Hun∣tingtonshire, and Cambridgeshire where the fennes are, gayning exceeding ryches by the spoile of the great and wealthie Abbayes and Churches which had their situation within the compasse of the same Fennes.

They also destroyed Thetforde,* 1.88 and burnt Cambridge, and from thence passed through the pleasant mountain countrey of Bellesham, cruel∣ly murthering the people without respect to age, degree or sexe.

After this they entred into Essex,* 1.89 and so came backe to theyr ships, whiche were then arriued in the Thames. But they rested not any long time in quiet, as people that mynded nothing but the destruction of this Realme. So that shortly af∣ter they had somewhat refreshed them, forwarde they set again into the Country, passing through Buckinghamshire▪ and so into Bedsordshire.* 1.90 And about S. Andrewes tide they turned toward Northampton, and comming thither, set fyre on that 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

[illustration]

And then returning through the west country, with fire and sword wasted and destroyed a great part thereof, and namely Wilshire, with other parties. And finally aboute the feast of Christ∣masse they came againe to their shippes.

Thus had the Danes wasted and destroyed the most part of .xvj. or .xvij.* 1.91 shires within this realm as Norff. Suff. Cambridgeshire, Essex, Middle∣sex, Hartfortshire, Oxfordshire, Burkingbāshire, and Bedfordshire, with a part of Huntingdonsh. and also a great portion of Northamptonshire.

This was done in the Countreys that lie on the northside the Riuer of Thames. And on the southside of the same Ryuer, they spoyled and wasted Kent, Southerie, Sussex, Barksh: Hāp∣shire, and (as is before sayd) a great part of Wil∣shire.* 1.92 The king and the peeres of the realme not knowing otherwise how to redresse the matter,* 1.93 sent Ambassadors vnto the Danes, offring them great summes of money to leaue off suche cruell wasting and spoyling of the lande.

The Danes were contented to retayne the money, but yet coulde not abstayne from their cruell doyngs, neither was their greedie thyrst of bloud and spoyle satisfied with the wasting and destroying of so many Countieys and places as

they had passed through. Whervpon in the yeare of our Lorde. 1011. about the feast of Saint Ma∣thew in September, they layde siege to the Citie of Canterburie, which by the Citizens was va∣liantly defended by the space of .xx. dayes. In the ende of which terme it was taken by the enimies, through the treason of a Deacon named A••••∣ricus,* 1.94 whome the Archbishop Elphegus had be∣fore

[illustration]

that time preserued from death.

* 1.95The Danes exercised passing great crueltie in the winning of that Citie (as by sundrie Authors it doth and may appeare.)

* 1.96They slue of menne, women, and children a∣boue the number of .viij. thousand. They tooke the Archbishop Elphegus with an other Bishop na∣med [ 30] Godwyn. Also Abbot Lefwyn & Alseword the kings Baylif there. They spared no degree, in∣somuch that they slue and tooke .900. priestes and other men of religion.* 1.97 And when they had taken their pleasure of the Citie, they set it on fire, and so returned to their ships.

* 1.98There be that write that they tithed the people after an inuerted order, slaying the whole nines through the whole multitude, and reserued the tenth: so that of all the Monkes there were but [ 40] foure saued, and of the lay people .4800. whereby it followeth that there dyed .43200. persons, and hereof is gathered that the citie of Canterburie, & the Countrey thereabouts (the people whereof be∣like fled thither for succor) was at that time verie well inhabited, so as there haue not wanted (sayth Master Lambert) which affyrme that it had then more people than London it selfe.

* 1.99But now to our purpose. In the yeare next ensuing, vpon the Saterday in Easter weeke, af∣ter [ 50] that the Bishop Elphegus had bin kept priso∣ner with them the space of .vj. or .vij. monethes, they cruelly in a rage led him fortb into the fields and dashed out his braynes with stones,* 1.100 bycause he would not redeeme his libertie with three. M. pound, which they demaunded to haue bin leuied of his farmers and tenants.

This cruell murther was cōmitted at Grene∣wich foure miles distant from London, the .xix. of Aprill, where he lay a certaine time vnburied,* 1.101 but at length through miracles shewed (as they say) for myracles are all wrought now by deade men, and not by the liuing: the Danes permitted that his bodie might be caried to London,* 1.102 & there was it buried in the Church of S. Paule, where it rested for the space of ten yeares, till king Cnute or Knoght had the gouernment of this lande,* 1.103 by whose appoyntment it was remoued to Canter∣burie.

Turkillus the leader of those Danes by whom the Archbishop Elphegus was thus murthered helde Norffolke and Suffolke vnder his subiec∣tion,* 1.104 and so continued in those parties as chief L. and gouernor. But the residue of the Danes at length,* 1.105 compounding with the Englishmen for•…•… tribute to be payed to them of .viij.M. pounde, spred abrode in the countrey soiourning in cities, townes and villages, where they mighte finde most conuenient Harbrough.

Moreouer fortye of their Shippes,* 1.106 or ra∣ther, (as some write) .xlv. were retayned to serue the king, promising to defende the Realme, with condition that the Souldiers and Mariners should haue prouision of meate and drinke, with apparell, found them at the kings charges.

As one Authour hath gathered, Sweyne king of Denmarke was in England at the con∣cluding of this peace, which being cōfirmed with solemne othes and sufficient Hostages, he depar∣ted into Denmarke.

Also the same Authour bringeth the gene∣rall slaughter of Danes vppon Saint Bry•…•…es daye,* 1.107 to haue chaunced in the yeare after the

conclusion of this agreement, that is to witte, in the yeare .1012. at what tyme Gunthildis the sister of King Swaine was slaine,* 1.108 with hir hus∣bande and sonne, by the commaundement of the false traytour Edrike. But bycause all other Au∣thours agree that the same murther of Danes was executed aboute tenne yeares before thys supposed tyme: wee haue made rehearsall there∣of in that place. Howbeeit for the death of Gun∣thilde, it maye bee, that shee became Hostage ey∣ther [ 10] in the yeare .1007. at what tyme King E∣gelred payed thirtie thousande pounde vnto king Swayne to haue peace (as before you haue hearde) or else myght shee bee delyuered in ho∣stage, in the yeare .1011. when the last agree∣ment was made with the Danes (as aboue is mētioned.) But when or at what time soeuer she became hostage, this we finde of hir, that she came hither into England with hir husband Palingus,* 1.109 a mightie Earle, and receyued baptisme here. [ 20] Wherevpon she earnestly trauailed in treatie of a peace betwixt hir brother & king Egelred, whiche being brought to passe chiefely by hir suyte, shee was contented to become an Hostage for perfor∣maunce thereof (as before is recyted.) And after by the commaundement of Earle Edricke shee was put to death, pronouncing that the shed∣ding of hir bloude woulde cause all England one day fore to rue.

She was a right beautifull Ladie, and tooke [ 30] hir death without all feare, not once chaunging countenaunce, though she saw hir husbande and hir onely sonne (a yong Gentleman of much to∣wardnesse) first murthered before hir face.

* 1.110Turkillus in the meane tyme had aduertised king Swayne in what state things stoode here within the Realme: howe King Egelred was negligent, onely attending to the lustes and pleasures of the fleshe: howe the Noble menne were vnfaythfull, and the Commons weake [ 40] and feeble through wante of good and trustye leaders.

* 1.111Some wryte yet that Turkyll, as well as other of the Danes whiche remayned here in Englande was in league with King Egelred, insomuche that he was wyth him in London to helpe to defend the Citie agaynst Sweyne when hee came to assault it, (as after shall appeare.) Whiche if it bee true, a doubt may rise whether Sweine receyued any aduertisement from Tur∣kill [ 50] to moue him the rather to inuade the realme: but suche aduertisements might come from him before that he was accorded with Egelred.

* 1.112Swayne therefore as a valiaunt Prince de∣sirous both to reuenge his sisters death, and win honour, prepared an huge armie, and a greate number of Shippes, with the whiche hee made towardes Englande, and firste comming to Sandwiche, taryed there a small while,* 1.113 and ta∣king eftsoones the Sea, compassed aboute the coastes of the East Angles, and arryuing in the mouth of Humber, sayled vp the water, and en∣tring into the Ryuer of Trent, he landed at Gaynesbourgh,* 1.114 purposing to inuade the Nor∣thumbers: But they as men brought into great feare, for that they had beene subiect to the Danes in tymes past, and thinking therefore not to re∣uolte to enimyes, but rather to theyr olde ac∣quaintaunce, if they shoulde submitte themsel∣ues to the Danes,* 1.115 streyght wayes offered to be∣come subiect vnto Swayne, togither with theyr Duke named Wighthred.

Also the people of Lyndesey and all those of the Northsyde of Watlingstreete yeelded them∣selues vnto him, and deliuered pledges.* 1.116 Then he appoynted his sonne Cnutus to haue the keping of those pledges, and to remain vpon the safegard of his ships, whiles he himselfe passed forward in∣to the Countrey. Then marched he forwarde to subdue them of South Mercia:* 1.117 and so came to Oxford, & to Winchester, making the countreys subiect to him throughout wheresoeuer he came.

With this prosperous successe, Swayne be∣ing greatly encouraged, prepared to go vnto Lō∣don where king Egelred as then remayned, ha∣uing with him Turkillus the Dane, which was retayned in wages with other of the Danes (as by report of some Authours it may appeare) and were nowe readie to defende the Citie agaynste theyr Countrey men in support of King Egel∣red togyther wyth the Citizens.* 1.118 Swayne by∣cause hee woulde not steppe so farre oute of the way as to goe to the nexte bridge, lost a greate number of his menne as hee passed through the Thames.

At his comming to London, he beganne to assaulte the Citie right fiercely,* 1.119 in hope eyther to put his enimie in such feare that he should dispaire of all reliefe and comfort, or at the least to trye what hee was able to doe. The Londoners on the other part, although they were broght in some feare by this sodaine attempt of the enimyes, yet considering with themselues, that the hazarde of all the whole state of the Realme was annexed to theyrs, sithe theyr Citie was the chiefe and Metropolitane of all the Kingdome,* 1.120 they valy∣antly stoode in defence of themselues, and of their king that was present there with them, beating backe the enimies, chasing them from the walles, and otherwise doing their best to keepe them of. At length although the Danes did most valiant∣ly assault the Citie, the English men yet to de∣fend their prince from all iniurie of enimies, did not shrinke, but boldly sallied forth at y^e gates in heapes togither, & encountered with theyr aduer∣saries, and began to fight with thē right fiercely.

Sweyn whilest he goeth aboute to keepe his men in order, as one most desirous to retayne the victorie nowe almoste gotten, is compassed so aboute with the Londoners on eche syde, that after he had lost a greate number of his men, he was constrayned for his safegarde to breake out through the myddest of his enimyes weapons, and was gladde that hee might so escape. And so with the residue of his armie ceassed not to iourney day and night tyll hee came to Bathe,* 1.121 [ 10] where Ethelmere an Earle of greate power in those West parties of the Realme, submitted himselfe wyth all hys people vnto him, who shortly after neuerthelesse (* 1.122 as some write) was compelled through want of vitayles to release the tribute lately couenanted to bee payed vnto him for a certaine summe of money, which when hee had receyued, he returned into Denmarke,* 1.123 mea∣ning shortly to returne againe with a greater power.

King Egelred supposed that by the payment of that money he should haue beene rid out of all troubles of warre with the Danes. But the No∣bles of the realme thought otherwise and therfore willed him to prepare an armie with al speed that might be made. Sweyn taryed not long (to proue the doubt of the noble men to be grounded of fort∣knowledge)* 1.124 but that with swift speede be returned againe into Englande, and immediately vppon his arriuall was an armie of English men assem∣bled and led agaynst him into the field. Here vpon they ioyne in battaile, which was sore foughten

[illustration]

for a time,* 1.125 til at length by reason of diuerse Eng∣lishmen that turned to the enimies side, the dis∣comfiture fel with such slaughter vpon the Eng∣lish host, that king Egelred well perceyued the state of his regall gouernment to be brought into [ 40] vtter daunger. Wherevpon after the losse of this fielde, hee assembled the rest of his people that were escaped, and spake vnto them after thys maner.

* 1.126I shoulde for euer bee put to silence, if there wanted in vs the vertue of a fatherly minde, in giuing good aduice and counsaile for the well or∣dering the administration of things in the com∣mon wealth, or if there lacked courage or might in our souldiers and men of warre to defende our [ 50] Country. Truly to die in defence of the Country where we are borne, I •…•…o esse it a worthie thing, and I for my part am readie to take vpon me to enter into the middest of the enimies in defence of my kingdome. But here I see our countrey and the whole English nation to be at a poynt to fall into vtter ruine. We are ouercome of the Danes, not with weapō or force of armes, but with trea∣son wrought by our owne people: wee did at the first prepare a nauie agaynste the enimies, the which that false traytor Elfrik betrayd into their handes. Againe oftentymes haue we giuen bat∣taile with euill successe, and onely through the fault of our owne people that haue beene false and disloyal, wherby we haue bene constrayned to agree with the enimies vpon dishonorable condi∣tions, euen as necessitie required, which to ouer∣come resteth only in God. Such kind of agreemēt hath bin made in deed to our destruction, sith the enimies haue not sticked to breake it (they being such a wicked kinde of people as neither regarde God nor man) contrarie to right & reason, and be∣side all our hope & expectation. And so is the mat∣ter come nowe to this passe, y^t we haue not cause only to feare the losse of our gouerment out least the name of the whole English natiō be destroyed for euer. Therfore sithence the enimies are at hād▪ and as it were ouer our heades, ye to whō my cō∣mandemēt hath euer bin had in good regard▪ pro∣uide▪ take counsell, & see to succor the state of your cūtry now redy to decay & to fal into irrecouerable

ruine. Herevpon they fel in cōsultation euery one, alledging and bringing foorth his opinion as see∣med to him best, but it appeared they hadde the Woolfe by the eare, for they wist not which way to turne them: If they shoulde gyue battayle it was to be doubted, least through treason amōgst themselues, the armie should be betrayed into the enimies hands, the which would not fayle to exe∣cute all kinde of crueltie in the slaughter of the whole nation. And if they dyd not stand vali∣antly [ 10] to shewe themselues ready to defende theyr countrey, there was no shifte but to yeeld them∣selues, whiche though it were a thyng reproch∣full and dishonorable, yet shoulde it be lesse euill as they tooke the matter, for thereby myght ma∣ny bee preserued from deathe, and in tyme to come, be able to recouer the libertie of their coun∣trey againe when occasion shoulde thereto be of∣fered.

This poynt was allowed of them all, and so [ 20] in the ende they rested vpon that resolution.

* 1.127Kyng Egelred therefore determined to com∣mitte hymselfe into the hands of his brother in lawe Richarde Duke of Normandy, whose si∣ster (as ye haue hearde) he hadde married. But bycause he woulde not do this vnaduisedly, firste he sent ouer hys Wife Queene Emme,* 1.128 with hys sonnes which he hadde begotten of hir, Alfred and Edwarde, that by theyr entertaynemente hee might vnderstande how hee shoulde be welcome. [ 30] Duke Richarde receyued his sister and hys Ne∣phewes right ioyfully, and promised to ayde hys brother King Egelred in defence of his Kyng∣dome. But in this meane while had Sueyne cō∣quered the more part of al England, and brought (by little and little) that whiche remayned, vnder his subiection. The people through feare submit∣ting themselues on each hand, King Egelred in this meane time, (for the Londoners had submit∣ted themselues to Sweyne) was first withdrawē [ 40] vnto Greenewiche,* 1.129 and there remayned for a tyme with the nauie of the Danes,* 1.130 which was vnder the gouernemente of Earle Turkill,* 1.131 and from thence sayled vnto the Isle of Wight, and there remayned a great part of the Winter, and finally after Christmas,* 1.132 sayled hymselfe into Normandy,* 1.133 and was of his brother in law ioy∣fully receyued, and greatly comforted in that hys tyme of necessitie. Sweyne hauing now gote the whole rule of the lande, was reputed for Kyng, [ 50] and so commanded that his army shoulde be pro∣uided of wages and victuals to bee taken vp and leuied through the Realme. In like manner Turkill cōmanded that to his army whych lod∣ged at Greenewhich, shoulde wages and victuals be deliuered sufficiente for the finding and susten∣tation therof.* 1.134 Sweyne vsed the victory very cru∣elly against the Englishmen, oppressing them on each hand, to the intent that they being broughte lowe, he might gouerne in more suretie. The yere in which he obteined the rule thus of this Realm, and that Kyng Egelred was constreyned to flee into Normandy, was in the fiue and thirtith yere of the same Egelrede his raigne, and after the birth of our Lord. 114. Sweyne being once esta∣blished in the gouernemente, dyd not onely vse much crueltie, in oppressing the laitie, but also he stretched foorthe his hande to the Churche and to the Ministers in the same, fleecing them and spoyling both Churches and Ministers, without any remorce of conscience, in so muche, that ha∣uing a quarrell against the inhabitantes within the precinct of S. Edmonds land in Suffolke, he did not onely harry the countrey, but also ry∣fled and spoyled the Abbey of Bury, where the body of Saint Edmond rested.

[illustration]

Whervpō shortly after as hee was at Gemes∣borough or Thetforde (as some haue)* 1.135 and there in his iollitie talked with his Nobles of his good successe in conquering of this lande, he was sud∣daynely striken with a knife, as it is reported, mi∣raculously, for no man wist how or by whome: and within three dayes after, to wit, on the thirde of February, hee ended his life with greenous payne and torment in yelling and roring, by rea∣son of his extreme anguish beyonde all measure. There hathe sproong a pleasant tale amongst the posteritie of that age, how he should be wounded with the same knife whiche King Edmonde in his life time vsed to weare. Thus haue some of our Writers reported,* 1.136 but the Danishe Chro∣nicles recorde a farre more happy ende whiche should chaunce vnto this Sueyno, than is before mentioned, out of our Writers: for the sayde Chronicles reporte, y^t after he had subdued Eng∣land, he tooke order with King Egelred, whome they name amisse Adelstane, that he shoulde not ordeine any other successor, but onely the same Sueno. Then after this, he returned into Den∣marke, where vsing himselfe like a righte godly

Prince, at length he there ended his life, beeing a very old man. But when, or how soeuer he dyed, immediately after his decesse, the Danes elected his son Cnute or Knought to succeede in his do∣minions.* 1.137 But the Englishmen of nothing more desirous than to shake the yoke of the Danishe thraldome besides their neckes and shoulders, straight wayes vpon knowledge had of Swey∣nes deathe, with all speede aduertised King E∣gelred thereof,* 1.138 and that they were ready to receiue [ 10] and assist him if he woulde make hast to come o∣uer to deliuer his countrey out of y^e hands of strā∣gers. These newes were right ioyful vnto Egel∣red, who brenning in desire to be reuenged on thē that had expulsed him out of his Kingdom, made no long tarriance to put that enterprise forward. But yet doubting y^e incōstancie of the people, sent his elder son (named Edward) to trie the minds of them,* 1.139 & to vnderstand whether they were cōstant or wauering in y^t they had promised. The yong [ 20] Gentleman hasting ouer into Englande, & with diligēt enquirie perceyuing how they were bent, returned with like speede as he came into Nor∣mandie againe, declaring to his father, that all things were in safetie if hee would make hast. K. Egelred then conceiued an assured hope to reco∣uer his Kingdome,* 1.140 ayded w^t his brother in lawes power, & trusting vpon y^e assistance of the Eng∣lishmē, returned into England in y^e time of Lēt. His returne was ioyfull & most acceptable to the [ 30] English people, as to those that abhorred the rule of y^e Danes,* 1.141 which was most sharp and bitter to them although Cnute did what he could by boū∣tifulnesse and curteous dealings to haue reteyned thē vnder his obeisance. And to y^e intēt to procure Gods fauour in the well ordering of things for y^e administration in y^e common wealth, he soughte first to appease his wrath, & also to make amend•…•… to S. Edmond for his fathers offence commit∣ted (as was thought) against him: in so muche, y^t after he had obteyned the Kingdome, he causede great ditche to be cast round about the land of S. Edmond,* 1.142 & graunted many freedomes to the in∣habitants, and acquit them of certain taskes and payments, vnto y^e which other of their neighbors were contributaries. He also builded a Church on y^e place wher S. Edmond was buried, & ordeined an house of Monkes there, or rather remoued the Canons or secular Priests that were there afore, and put Monkes in their roomes. He offered vppe also hys Crowne vnto the same S. Edmonde,* 1.143 & redemed it again with a great summe of money, which maner of doing grewe into an vse vnto o∣ther kings y^t folowed him. He adorned y^e Church there with many riche iewels, and endowed the Monasterie with greate possessions. But these things were not done nowe at the firste, but after that he was established in the Kingdome. For in the mean time, after that K. Egelred was retur∣ned out of Normandie, Cnute as then soiour∣ning at Eaynesbrough, remayned there till the feast of Easter, and made agreemente with there of Lindsey, so that they finding him horses, they should altogither goe foorth to spoyle their neigh∣bours. King Egelred aduertised thereof, spedde him thither with a mighty host, and with greate cruelty brenned vp the Countrey, and slewe the more part of the inhabitantes, bicause they hadde

[illustration]

takē part w^t his enimies.* 1.144 Cnute as the was not of power able to resist Egelred, and therefore ta∣king his Ships whiche lay in Humber, fled from thence, & sailed about y^e coast, til he came to Sād∣wich, and there sore greeued in his mind to remē∣ber what mischiefe was fallen & chanced to hys •…•…s & •…•…s of Lindsey, only for his •…•…auie, he cōmanded y^t such pledges as had bin deliuered to his father by certaine noble men of this Realme,* 1.145 for assurance of theyr fidelities, should haue their noses slit, & their eares stoued, or as some write, their handes and theyr noses cut off.

When this cruell acte according to his com∣mandement was done, he taking the Sea, sayled into Denmarke, but yet he toke not al the Danes with him whiche his father broughte hither, for Earle Turkill perceyuing the welthinesse of y^e lande,* 1.146 compounded with the Englishmen, and chose rather to remayne in a region replenished with all riches, than to returne home into hys owne countrey that wanted suche commodities as were here to be had. And yet as some thought, [ 10] hee did not forsake his soueraigne Lorde Cnute for any euill meaning towards him, but rather to ayde him when time serued, to recouer the posses∣sion of Englād againe, as it afterwards wel ap∣peared: for notwithstanding that he was now re∣teyned by King Egelred with fortie shippes, and the floure of all the Danes that were menne of war, so as Cnute returned but with .60. Ships into his countrey, yet shortly after, Earle Tur∣kill with nine of those Ships sailed into Den∣marke, [ 20] submitted himselfe vnto Cnute, coun∣selled him to returne into Englande, and pro∣mised him the assistaunce of the residue of those Danish Shippes whiche yet remayned in Eng∣land,* 1.147 beeing to the number of thirtie, with all the Souldiers and mariners that to them belonged. To conclude, hee did so much by his earnest per∣swasions, that Cnute (through ayde of his bro∣ther Harrold Kyng of Denmarke) gote togither a nauie of two hundred Shippes, so royally dec∣ked, [ 30] furnished, and appoynted, both for braue shewe and necessary furniture of all manner of weapon, armour and munition, as it is strange to consider that whiche is written by them that liued in those dayes, and tooke in hand to register the doings of that time. But nowe to returne to our purpose, to shewe what chaunced in Eng∣lande after the departure of Cnute. The same yeare vnto these accustomed mischiefes an vn∣wonted misaduenture happened,* 1.148 for the Sea rose [ 40] with suche high spring tydes, that ouerflowing the countreys nexte adioyning, diuers villages with the inhabitantes were drowned vp and de∣stroyed.* 1.149 Also to encrease the peoples miserie, K. Egelred commaunded, that .xxx. thousande. lb. shuld be leuied to pay the tribute due to y^e Danes which lay at Greenewiche.

This yere also,* 1.150 King Egelred held a counsell at Oxforde, at the whiche, a great number of no∣ble men were present, both Danes and English∣men, and there did the King cause Sigeferd and Morcade two noble personages of the Danes to bee murthered within his owne chamber, by the trayterous practise of Edericke de Streona, whi∣che accused them of some conspiracie, but the quarrell was onely as men supposed, for that the King had a desire to their goodes and possessions. Their seruauntes tooke in hand to haue reuenged the death of their masters, but were beaten barke, wherevppon, they fledde into the Steeple of S. Frifroyds Churche, and kepte the same, till fyre was set vpon the place, and so they were brenned to death. The wife of Sigesferd was taken, and sente to Malmesbury, beeing a woman of hygh fame and greate worthinesse, wherevppon the Kyngs eldest sonne named Edmond, tooke occa∣sion vppon pretence of other businesse to goe thy∣ther, and there to see hir, with whome hee fell so farre in loue, that he tooke and married hir.* 1.151 That done, hee required to haue hir husbandes landes and possessions, whiche were an Earles lyuing, and lay in Northumberland, and when the K. refused to graunt his request, he goeth thither, and seased the same possessions and landes into hys hands, without hauing any commission so to do, finding the farmours and tenauntes there ready to receiue him for their Lord. While these things were a doing, Cnute hauing made his prouision of Ships and men,* 1.152 with all necessary furniture (as before yee haue hearde) for his returne into England, set forward with full purpose, eyther to recouer the Realme out of Egelredes handes, or to die in the quarrell. Heerevpon he landed at Sandwich, and firste Earle Turkill obteyned licence to goe against the Englishmen that were assembled to resist the Danes,* 1.153 and finding them at a place called Scorastan, he gaue them the o∣uerthrow, gote a great bootie, and returned there∣with to the Ships. After this, Eric gouernor of Norway, made a roade likewise into another parte of the countrey, and with a rich spoyle, and many Prisoners, returned vnto the nauie.

[illustration]

After this iourney atchieued thus by Eric, Cnute commaunded that they shoulde not wast the countrey any more, but gaue order to prepare all thyngs ready to besiege London. But before hee attempted that enterprise,* 1.154 as other write, hee marched foorth into Kent or rather sailing round about that countrey, tooke his iourney West∣ward, and came to Fromundham, and after de∣parting from thence, wasted Dorsetshire, Som∣mersetshire, and Wiltshire.* 1.155 Kyng Egelrede in [ 10] this meane time lay sicke at Cossam. His sonne Edmond had gote togither a mighty host, how∣beit,* 1.156 ere hee came to ioyne battayle with his eni∣mies, he was aduertised, that Earle Edricke wēt about to betray him, and therefore he withdrewe with the army into a place of surety. And E∣dricke to make his traiterous purpose manifest to the whole world,* 1.157 fled to the enimies with fortie of the Kings Shippes, fraughte with Danishe Souldiers. Herevpon, al the West countrey sub∣mitted it selfe vnto Cnute, who receyued pledges of the chiefe Lords and Nobles, and then set for∣ward to subdue them of Mercia.* 1.158 The people of that countrey woulde not yeelde, but determined to defend the quarrell and title of King Egelred so long as they mighte haue any Captayne that would stand with them, and help to order them.

In the yere .116. in Christmas, Cnute & Earle Edricke passed the Thames at Krikelade, and entring into Mercia, cruelly beganne with fire and sword, to wast and destroy the countrey,* 1.159 and namely Warwikeshire.

[illustration]

* 1.160In the meane time was King Egelred reco∣uered of his sicknesse, and sent sommonance foorth to rayse all his power, appoynting euery man to resort vnto him, that he mighte encounter the e∣nimies and giue them battaile.* 1.161 But yet when his [ 40] people were assembled, hee was warned to take heede to himselfe, and in any wise to beware how he gaue battayle, for his owne subiects were pur∣posed to betrary him. Herevpon, the armie brake vp, and King Egelrede withdrew to London, there to abide his enimies within walles, with whome in the fielde hee doubteth to trie the bat∣tayle.* 1.162 His sonne Edmond gote him to Vtred, an Earle of great power, inhabiting beyond Hum∣ber, and perswading him to ioyne his forces with [ 50] his, foorthe they wente to wast those countreyes that were become subiect to Cnute, as Stafford∣shire, Lecestershire, and Shropshire, not sparing to exercise great cruelty vpon the inhabitants, as a punishmēt for their reuolting, that other might take ensample thereof. But Cnute perceyuyng whereabout they went, politikely deuised to fru∣strate their purpose, and with doyng of like hurte in all places where he came, passed through Buc∣kinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Huntingtonshire, and so through the Fennes, came to Stamford,* 1.163 and then entred into Lincolnshire, and from thence into Notinghamshire, and so into York∣shire, not sparing to do what mischiefe myght be deuised in all places where he came. Vthred ad∣uertised hereof, was constreyned to departe home to saue his owne countrey from presente destru∣ction, and therefore comming backe into Nor∣thumberlande, and perceyuing himselfe not able to resist the puissaunt force of his enimies, was constreyned to deliuer pledges,* 1.164 and submit hym∣selfe vnto Cnute: but yet was hee not heereby warranted from danger, for shortly after he was taken, and put to death, and then were his lands giuen vnto one Iricke or Iricius,* 1.165 whome after∣ward Cnute did banishe out of the Realme, by∣cause that he did attempt to chalenge like autho∣ritie to him in all poynts, as Cnute himselfe had.

After that Cnute had subdued the Northum∣bers, hee pursued Edmond till hee heard that hee had taken London for his refuge, and stayed there

with his father. Then didde Cnute take his Shippes,* 1.166 and came about to the coast of Hente, preparing to besiege the Citie of London: but in the meanetime, King Egelred sort worry with long sicknesse, departed this life the .23. of Aprill, being S. Georges daye, or as other haue, on S. Gregorses day, being the twelfth of Marche, but I take this to be an error growen, by mistakyng the feast day of S. Gregory for S. George. Hee raigned the tearme of .•…•…7. yeres,* 1.167 or little lesse. His [ 10] body was buryed in the Churche of S. Paule, in the North Ile besides the Choyre, as by a me∣moriall there in the wall it may appeare. He had two Wiues as before is mentioned, by Elgiua his first Wife, he had issue three sonnes, Edmōd Edwine and Adelstane, besides one daughter na∣med Edgi•…•…a. By his secōd wife Emma, daugh∣ter to Richarde the firste of that name, Duke of Normandy, and sister to Richard the second, he had two sonnes, Alfride and Edward. This E∣gelfred [ 20] as you haue heard, had euill successe in his warres against the Danes, and besides the cala∣mitie that fell thereof to his people, many other miseries oppressed this lande in his dayes, not so much through his lacke of courage and slothfull negligēce,* 1.168 as by reasō of his presumptuous price, wherby he alienated the hartes of his people from him. His affections he could not rule, but was led by them withoute order of reason, for hee did not only disinherite diuerse of his owne English sub∣iects [ 30] without apparant cause of offence by plaine forged cauillatiōs, and also caused all the Danes to be murthered through his Realme in one day, by some lighte suspition of their euill meanings, but also gaue himselfe to lecherous lust, in abu∣sing his body with naughty strumpets, forsaking

[illustration]

[ 40] [ 50] the bedde of his owne lawfull wife, to his greate infamie and shame of that high degree of Maie∣stie, whiche by his Kingly office hee bare and su∣steyned. To conclude: he was from his tender youth, more apt to idle rest, than to the exercise of warres, more giuen to pleasures of the body, than to any vertues of the minde, although that toward his latter ende, beeing growen into age, and taught by long experiēce of worldly affaires, and proofe of passed miseries, hee soughte (though in vayne) to haue recouered the decayed state of his common•…•…wealth and countrey.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Egel∣red.
• * 1.2

  979 Simon Dun.
• * 1.3

  VVil. Mal.
• * 1.4

  Polidor.
• * 1.5

  Ran. Higd.

  980
• * 1.6

  Sim. Dunel.
• * 1.7

  Ran. Higd.
• * 1.8

  982
• * 1.9

  983 Alfer or Elfer •…•…uke of Mer∣cia departed this life.

  Alfrike or El∣frike duke of Mercia. Fabian.
• * 1.10

  VVil. Malm. Mat. VVest.
• * 1.11

  Vita Dun∣stane.
• * 1.12

  Iohn Capg. Osborne. Ran. Higd.
• * 1.13

  Po••••trors.
• * 1.14

  VVil. Malm. Mat. VVest. The Danes in∣uade this land.
• * 1.15

  Alias Wece∣derport.
• * 1.16

  Hen. Hunt. Sim. Dunel. Danes vanqui∣shed.
• * 1.17

  Simon Dun:
• * 1.18

  Goda Earle of Deuonshire slaine.
• * 1.19

  Mat. VVest.
• * 1.20

  991
• * 1.21

  Ten thousand pound payed to the Danes.
• * 1.22

  Dane gylt.
• * 1.23

  VVil. Malm. 992
• * 1.24

  H. Hunt. A nauie set forth.
• * 1.25

  Alfrike 〈◊〉〈◊〉 tour to hys Countrey.
• * 1.26

  Mat. VVest.
• * 1.27

  Hen. Hunt. •…•…he sonne pu∣nished for his others offence 993
• * 1.28

  Simon Dun. Polidor. Mat. VVest.
• * 1.29

  Aulafe king of Norway, and Swein king of Denmark men captaines of this fleete, as hath Simon Dun. 994
• * 1.30

  Henrie. Hunt.
• * 1.31

  VVil. Mal. The king cō∣poūdeth with the Danes for money.
• * 1.32

  Mat. VVest. Simon Dun.
• * 1.33

  Aulafe king of Norway bap∣tised. His promise.
• * 1.34

  Iohn Leyland. Sim. Dunel. 995
• * 1.35

  The Church of Durham buylded.
• * 1.36

  Earle Vthred.
• * 1.37

  Durham town and Mynster built.
• * 1.38

  997 The Danes in∣uade the West partes of this lande.
• * 1.39

  Tanestocke.
• * 1.40

  998
• * 1.41

  999 The Danes ar∣riue in the Thames.
• * 1.42

  1000
• * 1.43

  1001
• * 1.44

  Exmouth.
• * 1.45

  Pentho.
• * 1.46

  Disagreement with counsay∣lers what fruit it bringeth.
• * 1.47

  The misgo∣uernment of of the king.
• * 1.48

  Sicknesses vexing the people.
• * 1.49

  Treason in the nobilitie.
• * 1.50

  The •…•…∣cing of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 p•…•…yle•…•… of the Danes.
• * 1.51

  The death of Queene Elgi•…•…
• * 1.52

  Emma.
• * 1.53

  Hen. Hunt.
• * 1.54

  1002 Emma a daugh∣ter of Nor∣mandie maried to K. Egelred.
• * 1.55

  1012 The .xiii. of Nouember.
• * 1.56

  The murther of the Danes.
• * 1.57

  Hownhill, or Houndhil, a place within Merchi•…•… parish besie the forest of Needwood, somewhat more thā two myles from V•…•…o•…•…cester.
• * 1.58

  The miserable state of this realme vnder the thraldome of the Danes.
• * 1.59

  Hec. Boetius.
• * 1.60

  Lordane whe•…•…¦of the worde came.
• * 1.61

  Hen. Hunt•…•… Sim. Dun. The Danes re∣turn to inuad•…•… Englande. Exeter taken.
• * 1.62

  1003 Hugh a Nor∣man conspi∣reth with the Danes.
• * 1.63

  The counter∣feyt sicknesse of duke Edrik.
• * 1.64

  Wilton spoy∣led.
• * 1.65

  Simon Dun. 1004 Sweyn king of Denmarke.
• * 1.66

  Norwich takē by the Danes.
• * 1.67

  Thetford burnt.
• * 1.68

  •…•…kellus, or •…•…lteketell •…•…uernour of •…•…rffolke.
• * 1.69

  Hunt.
• * 1.70

  •…•…ein retur∣•…•…d into Den∣marke. •…•…m. Dunel. 1005
• * 1.71

  1006 •…•…. Hunt. •…•…weyn retur∣ned into Eng∣lande.
• * 1.72

  The Danes winter in the •…•…le of Wight. They inuade Hampshire, Barkshire. &c.
• * 1.73

  Winchester.
• * 1.74

  1007 xxxvi thousād pound hath Simon Dun.
• * 1.75

  Edricke de Str•…•…on•…•… made Duke or Erle of Mercia
• * 1.76

  VVil. Malm.
• * 1.77

  Hen. Hunt. Simon Dun. An hundreth actes as an 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of lande 1008 Prouision for shippes and armour.
• * 1.78

  Mat. VVest.
• * 1.79

  Danes land a Sandwich.
• * 1.80

  1009 Three thou•…•… pound hath Simon Dun.
• * 1.81

  Sussex and Hampshire spoyled.
• * 1.82

  The Danes re∣turne into Kent.
• * 1.83

  1010
• * 1.84

  Oxford burnt.
• * 1.85

  Stanes.
• * 1.86

  Gipswich in Suffolke. Sim. Dunel.
• * 1.87

  Cepul for∣mica.
• * 1.88

  Thetforde, Cambridge. Hen. Hunt.
• * 1.89

  The Danes arriue in the Thames. 1011
• * 1.90

  Northampton burnt by Danes.
• * 1.91

  How many shires the Da∣nes wasted.
• * 1.92

  1111
• * 1.93

  The king sen∣deth to the Danes. Simon Dun.
• * 1.94

  〈…〉〈…〉 wonne by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Danes.
• * 1.95

  Fabian ex Antonino.
• * 1.96

  The Archbi∣shop Elphegus taken. Hen. Hunt.
• * 1.97

  Antoninus. Vincentius.
• * 1.98

  VVil L•…•…mb. ex Asserio Meneuensi & alijs.
• * 1.99

  1112 Hen. Hunt.
• * 1.100

  The Archbi∣shop Alphegus murthered.
• * 1.101

  Myracles.
• * 1.102

  Elphegus bu∣ried in Lōdon.
• * 1.103

  Translated to Canterburie.
• * 1.104

  VVil. Mal. Turkillus held Norffolk and Suffolke.
• * 1.105

  xlviii. thousād pound as sayth Simon Du. & Mat. VVest.
• * 1.106

  H. Hunti•…•…▪
• * 1.107

  Mat. VVest.
• * 1.108

  Gunthildis the sister of K. Swaine mur∣thered.
• * 1.109

  VVil. Mal.
• * 1.110

  Turkillus dis∣closeth the se∣cretes of the Realme to K. Swayne.
• * 1.111

  Simon Dun.
• * 1.112

  Swaine prepa∣reth an armie to inuade Eng∣lande.
• * 1.113

  He landeth at Sandwich. 1013
• * 1.114

  Gaynesbourgh
• * 1.115

  The Northū∣bers yeeld to Swayne.
• * 1.116

  The people of Lyndsey yeeld themselues to him. Sim. Dunel.
• * 1.117

  South Mercia
• * 1.118

  Simon Dun.
• * 1.119

  Sweipe assaul∣teth London.
• * 1.120

  Polidor.
• * 1.121

  VVil. Mal. Earle of Deuō∣shire as hath Mat. VVest.
• * 1.122

  Polidor.
• * 1.123

  Swain run∣neth Den∣marke.
• * 1.124

  Swain •…•…∣neth into Eng∣land to make warre.
• * 1.125

  King Egelred discomfited in battaile.
• * 1.126

  The Oration of K. Egelred.
• * 1.127

  King Egelred determineth to giue place vnto Sweyne.
• * 1.128

  He sendeth his wife and sonnes ouer into Nor∣mandie. Richard Duke of Normādie.
• * 1.129

  Sim. Dunel.
• * 1.130

  Hen. Hunt.
• * 1.131

  Turkill.
• * 1.132

  114
• * 1.133

  King Egelred passeth into Norma•…•…y.
• * 1.134

  Sweyne han∣dleth the Eng∣lishmanne hardly.
• * 1.135

  Fabian. Saint Edmond figliteth for the wealth, but not for the slaughter of his people. Simon Dun. 115
• * 1.136

  Albertus Crantz. Saxo Gram∣maticus.
• * 1.137

  VVil. Mal. Hen. Hunt. Canute or Cuate.
• * 1.138

  Egelred sent for home.
• * 1.139

  Edward King Egelredes el∣dest sonne.
• * 1.140

  King Egelred ret•…•…rnueth into England.
• * 1.141

  Coutes ende∣uor to esta∣blish himselfe in the King∣dome.
• * 1.142

  S. Edmond ditche.
• * 1.143

  Polidor. Fabian.
• * 1.144

  Cnute driuen to forsake the lande.

  He was driuen thyther by force of con∣trary windes as should ap∣pere by M. W.
• * 1.145

  The cruell de∣cree of Cnute against the English pled∣ges. VVil. Malm.
• * 1.146

  This Turkil was reteyned in seruice with Egelred as I thinke.
• * 1.147

  Encomium Emma.
• * 1.148

  Math. VVest.
• * 1.149

  Simon Dun.
• * 1.150

  VVil. Mal•…•… Mat. VVest A counsell at Oxforde Sigeferd and Morcade murthered.
• * 1.151

  Edmond the Kings eldest sonne marri∣eth the Wi∣dow of Sige∣ferd.
• * 1.152

  Cnute retur∣neth into England.
• * 1.153

  Encomium Emma.
• * 1.154

  VVil. Malm. H. Huntin. Math. VVest. Simon Dun.
• * 1.155

  King Egelred sicke.
• * 1.156

  Mat. VVest.
• * 1.157

  Edricke•…•… 〈…〉〈…〉 to thē 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.158

  The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Me•…•… not yeelde. Mat. VVest. Hen. Hunt. 116
• * 1.159

  Warwikeshire wasted by Danes.
• * 1.160

  King Egelred recouered of his sicknesse.
• * 1.161

  He assembleth an army in vayne.
• * 1.162

  VVil. Mal. Edmond king Egelredes sonne.
• * 1.163

  Cnute, whe•…•… countreys •…•…e passed th•…•…gh.
• * 1.164

  Earle Vthred deliuereth pledges to Cnute.
• * 1.165

  Alias Egri••••s.
• * 1.166

  Cnute pre∣pareth to be∣siege London. King Egelred departed this life. Simon Dun. Mat. VVest.
• * 1.167

  He is buried in the Church of S. Paule at London.
• * 1.168

  The pride of K. Egelred a∣lienated the harts of his people.