The history of Great Britaine under the conquests of ye Romans, Saxons, Danes and Normans Their originals, manners, warres, coines & seales: with ye successions, lives, acts & issues of the English monarchs from Iulius Cæsar, to our most gracious soueraigne King Iames. by Iohn Speed.

THE ORIGINALL, INVA∣SIONS, AND HEPTARCHIE OF THE SAXONS; VVITH A SVCCESSION OF THEIR MONARCHS IN THIS ILAND OF GREAT BRITAINE, THEIR RAIGNES, MARRIAGES, ACTS, AND ISSVES, VNTIL THEIR LAST SVB∣VERSION BY THE DANES AND NORMANS. But first of the Downe-fall of BRITAINE. (Book 7)

BOOKE VII. (Book 7)

CHAPTER I.

BRITAINE thus aban∣doned of all the Romane Garrisons, and emptied of * 1.1 strengths that should haue supported her now down-falling-estate, lay prostrate to confusion and misera∣ble calamities; no lesse burdened with the tu∣multuous vproares of her owne great men, who stroue for the supreme Gouern∣ment, then of the Barbarous Nations which with conti∣nuall incursions made spoile where they came. These times (saith Ninius) were full of feares, and were prolon∣ged * 1.2 with forty yeeres afflictions: wherein Vortigern then King was troubled with the violence of the Romans, * 1.3 the dreads of the Picts and Scots, and the oppositions of Aurelius Ambrosius, who suruiuing his slaine Pa∣rents, that had worne the Imperiall Purple Robe, sought their reuenge vpon their wicked Murderer: besides the Intrusions of the Germane Saxons, called in for Friends, but prooued indeed the greatest Enemies. Du∣ring the conflict of these tempestuous stormes, some small comforts were ministred vnto the Britaines by Bishop German his presence, who from France assisted * 1.4 them against the Pelagian Heresies, and the perillous assaults of the Scots and Picts, who in diuers skirmish∣es ouercame them.

(2) These dolorous times of Britaines destruction, Gildas the mournfull Historian, who liued not long af∣ter, * 1.5 doth declare. As soone as the Romans (saith hee) had left Britaine, and were returning vnto their home, foorthwith hideous multitudes of Scots and Picts came swarming out of their Carroghes, (wherewith they passed the * 1.6 Scitick Vale) like whole Armies of duskish vermine, which at high noone, when the Sunne is in his greatest heat, began to crawle foorth of their narrow holes an infinite number of hidcous Scots and Picts; which two kindes of People, though in conditions somewhat different, yet they consorted too well in greedie desire of bloud-shed: and ha∣uing intelligence, the associates of Britaine were now retur∣ned with vtter disclaime of further assistance, with more * 1.7 confident boldnesse then euer before, they seize all the Nor∣therne and vttermost part of the Iland, as if it had beene their own inheritance, euen as farre as to the Wall. Against these attempts there were ranged in the high Forts along the Wall, Garrisons of Souldiers, but such as were both slothfull, and also vnseruiceable for Martiall Affaires: which white-liuered Lozels with quaking hearts sate still warding day and night, till their ioints were as benummed and stupid as the stones whereon they sate: insomuch as the naked Enemies did with long hooked Engines plucke from * 1.8 off the wall those miserable Warders, dashing their bodies against the ground. This good yet they got by this their vn∣timely deaths, that being thus suddenly dispatched out of the world, they escaped the imminent lamentable calamities that their brethren and children shortly felt. To bee short, hauing abandoned their Cities and this high defensiue Wall, once more they betooke themselues to flight, and were dis∣persed in a more desperate manner then euer before. For the enemie was more hot in pursuit, and more cruell in the slaughter, the wofull Inhabitants being by their Enemies massacred, and rent in peeces like Lambes in the hands of bloudy Butchers, or in the iawes of cruell and sauage Beasts. In these most miserable times, (necessitie so compelling) the poore distressed people forbare not to rob each other of that sustenance, which could helpe them but for a very small sea∣son: and so their hostile oppressions were increased by their domesticke vexations, for that the whole Countrey by these continuall direptions, was vtterly depriued of the staffe of foode, hauing nothing left to prolong their life, but that only what they get in hunting. Whereupon, about the thirtie nine yeere of Theodosius, and of Christ foure hundred fortie six, the distressed Remaines of the down-cast Britaines addressed their missiue Letters to Actius, whom Gildas calleth Agitius, President of Gallia, in * 1.9 most lamentable manner, and thus inscribed.

To AETIVS Thrice Consul, the groanes of the BRITAINES.

The Barbariaus driue vs backe to the Sea; the Sea a∣gaine * 1.10 putteth vs backe vpon the Barbarians: thus be∣tweene two kindes of deaths, we are either slaughtered or drewned.

And the more to intimate their miseries, and to mooue his assistance, thus they further vrge: Wee (say they) are the Remnant that suruiue of the Bri∣taines, and are your Subiects, who besides the Enemie, are

afflicted by famine and mortalitie, which at this present ex∣treamly rageth in our Land. And putting him in mind that it much importeth the Maiesty of the Roman Em∣pire to protect and succour their Prouince, seeing it had now stood vpon the point of fiue hundred yeers vnder their obedience, whose strength of Souldiers ta∣ken from thence to serue their Emperors in their Wars else-where, was now decaied, and their wealths wa∣sted by maintaining their many Legions in their own Land and abroad: All this notwithstanding the Ro∣mans either would not, or could not relieue, hauing enough to doe to vphold their owne; but returned them againe with heauy hearts into the hands of their most cruell Enemies, who now knowing them∣selues free from the Romans interceptions, as a violent floud brake thorow the Prouince, and bare downe all before them; the Inhabitants flying like chased Deere, some taking ouer Seas into Britany in France; some to * 1.11 South-wales, North-wales, Cornwall, and parts of Deuon∣shire, leauing the best of the Land to the will of their Persecutors, and much of their Treasures hid in the ground, which neuer after they inioyed.

(4) But the greeuous Famine still increasing, * 1.12 though it had this woful issue with some, that it made them yeeld themselues into the Enemies bloudy hands (onely in hope to gaine a little sustenance of food for the present) and for many yeeres after left lamentable tokens (saith Beda) of great desolations * 1.13 wrought by that dearth: yet with those other which were of more noble and resolute spirits it produced a better effect; insomuch as frō out of the Mountains, Caues, and thicke woods, they assailed their enemies, reposing their trust not in Man, but in God, whose help * 1.14 is then most at hand, when mans helpe faileth. These in many skirmishes gaue them the ouerthrow with much slaughter, and that for many yeeres together, when they made their incursions for booties and spoile; which caused these Rauening Irish to returne home; and the Picts a while rested from further mole∣station. Notwithstanding the Britaines returned not from their owne wickednesse, growing strong now daily in repressing the Enemie, but stronger in their owne sinnes and ciuill dissensions. By meanes where∣of, though a surcease of Hostile Warres was imbra∣ced, and the skarres of famine cleerly skinned vp, yet another sore as dangerous as either, secretly bred, and shortly brake forth. For the Land being free from the Enemies wastes, yeelded such plenty and abundance of all things, as the like before no age had seene; and * 1.15 therewithall such riot and excesse, that the peoples sins grew to a plentiful haruest, as by the words of Gyl∣das is apparant.

(5) Certainly it is heard (saith he) that there is such * 1.16 fornication, as the like is not among the Gentiles. Truth with the maintainers thereof is hated: Lies with the For∣gers thereof highly esteemed. Euill is entertained for good, leaudnesse respected more then vprightnesse, darknesse de∣sired before the bright Sunne, and Satan accepted for an * 1.17 Angell of light: Kings then were anointed, not according to Gods liking, but such as excelled others in crueltie; and as cruelly againe by their anointers were they murdered, not for any demerit, but that they might aduance others more sauage then the former. If hee were milde, or inclining to truth, the darts of hatred were on euery side leuelled against him, as the onely Subuerter of the Britaines Estate. What was pleasing or displeasing to God, was all one with them, sauing that the better things commonly wrought most dis∣content: so that rightly the saying of the Prophet, which was denounced vnto the people in old time, might bee applied to our Countrey: Yee lawlesse and corrupt children haue for∣saken * 1.18 the Lord, and prouoked vnto wrath the holy one of Is∣rael. Why should ye be smitten any more, still multiplying iniquitie? Euery head is sicke, and euery heart is heauy: from the sole of the foot vnto the crowne of the head, there is nothing sound therein. Thus did they all things that were contrary to their safetie, as if that medicine which * 1.19 was bestowed by that truest Physitian of all, was needlesse for the world. And not onely the prophaner sort did this, but also the selected flocke of the Lord, and the Shepheards thereof, who ought to haue giuen example to the whole peo∣ple. To speake of drunkennesse, numbers of them lay sense∣lesse and weltring in wine, swelling with pride, contention, and griping enuie, putting no difference in iudgement be∣tweene good and euill: insomuch that it seemeth contempt was powred forth both vpon Princes and people: and all of them seduced by vanities, wandred in errors and by-paths, * 1.20 not lead in the right way. When God therefore was minded to purge his Familie, and to recure them thus infected with the corruptions of sinnes, by heare-say only of Tribulation, the winged flight of an often-tried rumour pierced the at∣tentiue * 1.21 eares of all men, giuing notice of their ancient Ene∣mies, ready to arriue, and fully minded to destroy them vt∣terly, and to inhabit (as earst they did) the whole Countrey from one end to another. Yet all this could not reclaime them, but like vnto mad horses, which taking the bit fast betwixt their teeth, runne away with their Riders, so these leauing the way which leadeth (narrow though it bee) vnto saluation, ranne at randome in the wide way of all wicked∣nesse, which leadeth directly to death. Whiles therefore (as Salomon saith) the stubborne seruant will not bee amended * 1.22 with words, he is scourged for a foole, and feeleth not the whip: for loe, a pestilent contagion fell heauily vpon this foolish people, which (though the enemies sword was gone) in short space destroied such multitudes of them, that the li∣uing were not able to bury the dead. Neither yet also were they thereby bettered, that the saying of the Prophet Esay in them might be fulfilled: God called them to mourning, to baldnesse, and sacke-cloth: but behold, they fell to killing of * 1.23 calues, and to staying of Rammes; loe, they went to eating and drinking, and said withall, Let vs eat and drinke, for tomorrow wee shall die. And indeed the time now drew neere, wherein their iniquities (like as those in times past of * 1.24 the Amorites) should come to the fulnesse. And euen at that instant the like measure beganne to bee heaped vpon the Britaines.

(6) For the common enemie now inuading the * 1.25 Southerne parts, was entred as farre as Stamford vp∣on the Riuer Welland; whom to resist, the Britaines assembled together, and hauing experience what ci∣uilliarres had formerly done, they iointly vnite their meanes and powers, and with one consent elect a * 1.26 King to manage these affaires, which was Vortigerne, by birth extracted from the British Line, nobly de∣scended, * 1.27 had not his many vices blemished the same. The British Historie saith, that hee was Earle of Corn∣wall, and of great command in the daies of Constantine * 1.28 their King, whose simplicitie hee much abused, and whom lastly hee caused to be murdered by the Guard * 1.29 of his Person, the Scots and Picts by him so placed, and to that end instigated: whom neuerthelesse with death hee seuerely punished, to auoid further suspiti∣on. In whose reuenge, these fierce Nations so assaul∣ted his Dominions with rape and spoile, that hee was forced for further assistance to send for these Saxons * 1.30 to his aid. Whether thus, or otherwise, most true it is, the Saxons were sent for, and of hoped Friends, be∣came the tried Enemies to the Britaines and their E∣states, as out of Gildas their Historian wee shall anon declare.

(7) The occasion and maner of this their inuiting and comming, is set downe by a Countryman of their owne Witichindus, a Writer of good antiquity, who thus relateth the circumstance thereof. Britaine (saith * 1.31 he) by Vespasian the Emperour, long since being reduced a∣mong the Roman Prouinces, and held in their subiection, stood them in no small stead: but their Legions abandoned, and destinie (as it seemeth) determining the downfall, be∣came soone assaulted by their neighbour Nations the Nor∣therne Borderers. For the people of Rome after that the Em∣peror * Martiall was slaine by his Souldiers, being tired out * 1.32 with forraine wars, were not able to assist their friends with supply of accustomed aides. And yet had they built a mighty peece of worke for the defence of the Country, reaching be∣tweene * 1.33 the confines from Sea to Sea, where it was thought that the Enemies would assaile the Inhabitants left in the Land. But no difficulty it was for them so fiercely bent, and euer ready to make war (especially where they dealt with a Nation feebled and left vnable to make resistance) to destroy

the said worke. Therefore hearing of the worthy and for∣tunate exploits atchieued by the Saxons, they sent an hum∣ble Embassage to require their aid; and these hauing audi∣ence, * 1.34 spake as followeth.

Most noble Saxons, the poore and distressed * 1.35 Brets, outworne and tired by the many incursions of their enemies, hearing the fame of those victories which you haue most valiantly obtained, haue sent vs. Suppliants vnto you, crauing that you would not deny them your helpe and succour. ☉A large and spacious Land they haue, plentifull and abun∣dant in all things, which wee yeeld wholly to bee at your deuotion and command. Hitherto wee haue liued freely vnder the patronage and protection of the Romans, next vnto whom wee know not any more powerfull then your selues; and therefore we seeke for refuge vnder the wings of your valour. So that we may by your puissance be superiour of our enemies, whatsoeuer seruice you shall impose vpon vs, that will we willingly abide.

To this petition the Peeres and Nobles of the Saxons briefly made answer in this wise. * 1.36

Know yee that the Saxons will bee fast friends vnto the Brets, and ready at all times both to assist them in their necessitie, and also to procure their wealth: with ioy therefore returne yee Am∣bassadors, and with this wished-for tidings make your Countrey-men glad.

Heereupon (according to promise) an Armie sent into Britaine, and ioifully receiued, * 1.37 which in short time freed the Land frō the spoiling enemies, & recouered the country vnto the behoof of the Inhabitants.

(8) But how true this last clause is, may appeare out of the ancient Gildas, who thus recordeth it: To represse (saith hee) many Inuasions of those their ancient * 1.38 enemies, which with cruell slaughters and booties continu∣ally afflicted them, the Britaines fell to consult vpon some conuenient course therein to be taken. Lastly, all the Coun∣sellers, together with the proud Tyrant, being blinded in iudgement, deuised such a protection, as in the end prooued their Countries destruction; namely, that those •…•…rce Sa∣xons, a people sauage and of hatefull name, odious both to God and man, should be let into this Iland, as it were wolues into sheepe-folds, to repulse (for sooth) the Northerne Na∣tions; then which proiect doubtlesse nothing was euer more pernicious and vnhappie vnto this Land. O senses senslesse and plunged into deepest mists of errour! O desperate dul∣nesse, and blinde blockishnesse of minde! Those whom in ab∣sence were feared more then death, now of their owne ac∣cord are inuited by these Princes of Aegypt (if I may so say, thus sottishly counselling their Pharao) to come and rest with them vnder one roofe. Presently out of the Denne of that barbarous Lionesse rushed foorth a kennell of her whelpes, in three long Vessels, called in their Language * Cy∣ula, carried vnder full saile, and with ominous presages * 1.39 fore-prophecying that for 300. yeeres they should possesse that Land vnto which they then directed their course, and * 1.40 for halfe of that space, (viz. one hundred and fiftie yeeres) they should waste and depopulate the same. These being put on shore first in the East part of the Iland, and that by * 1.41 Commandement of this vnfortunate Tyrant, there set fast their terrible pawes, pretending to the Ilanders, defense of their Countrey, but more truly intending the destruction of them. The foresaid Lionesse finding that her first troupe of whelpes sped so well, sends againe a greater Rabble of the same Litter, which heere arriued in Fl•…•…es, bringing with them some other Associates of bastardly and vnnoble brood. And these beginnings, the slips of iniquitie, and the roots of bitternesse, (an accursed plantation well befitting our de∣merits) haue sprung vp, and put foorth in our soile their haughtie boughes and spreading branches. This barbarous Nation thus admitted, professing themselues our Souldiers, and such as would endure all hazards (so they fained) in defense for their good Hosts, first they craued supplie of vi∣ctuals only; which being giuen them, for some time stopped (as we may say) the Dogs mouth: howbeit, afterward they complaine that their wages was not bountifully enough * 1.42 paid, deuising of purpose colourable occasions of quarrell, and threatning that vnlesse they might haue more munifi∣cent entertainment, they would with the breach of couenant spoile and waste the whole Iland. And without further delay, they second these threats with deeds (for our Sinnes, the cause of deserued reuenge, were still nourished) and the fire kindled Eastward, was set a flaming by these sacrilegi∣ous men from Sea to Sea, ceasing not to consume all the Ci∣ties and Countries bordering there about, vntill such time as burning welneere all the Inland Soile of the Iland, it lic∣ked (as it were) with the red tongue of the flame the very Westerne Ocean it selfe. In this violent inuasion, compara∣ble to that of the Assyrians against the Land of Israel in old * 1.43 times, is historically fulfilled also in vs that which the Pro∣phet by way of sorrowfull lamentation vttereth: They haue set fire vpon thy holy places, and haue burned the dwelling place of thy name, euen vnto the ground. And againe: O God the Heathen are come into thine heritage, thy holy Tem∣ple * 1.44 haue they defiled: for all the Fortifications demolished with their Engines, and the Inhabitants together with the Bishops of the Church, and also the Priests and people, with glistering swords and crackling flames, were all at once laid along vpon the ground, yea and (which was a most lamen-table spectacle) the stately Turrets, high mounted Walles, and the sacred Altars, lay all tumbling together (all purpled with the broken and bloudy Quarters and goared Carcases mixed as in a horrible wine-presse. Neither were there any other Sepulchers abroad, saue the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of buildings, and the bowels of wilde beasts and birds.

(9) During this most wofull, desperate, and tem∣pestuous season (saith the mournfull Historian) some * 1.45 poore Remaines of Britaines being found in the Mountains, were slaine by whole heapes: others pined by famine, came and yeelded themselues vnto their enemies, vpon compositi∣on to serue them as Bond-slaues for euer, so they might not bee slaughtered out of hand: which granted, was reputed a most high and especiall grace. Others went ouer Seas into Strange Lands, singing vnder their spread Sailes with a lamentable and mourning note, that of the Psalmist: Thou hast giuen vs, O Lord, as Sheepe to bee deuoured, and hast scattered vs among the Heathen. Yet others remained still * 1.46 in their owne Countrey (albeit in fearefull estate, and con∣tinually suspecting hazard) committing their liues and safetie to the high steepe Hilles, to craggie Mountaines na∣turally intrenched, to thick growne Woods and Forrests, yea and to the Rockes of the Sea.

(10) Thus was Britaine brought to the period of her glory, and the people miserably subiected to a forraine Nation, about the yeere from Christs Nati∣uitie 473. and after the Romans last farewell 28. In which time you see they were most cruelly pursued * 1.47 with all calamities of warre, and lastly betraied by them in whom so much trust was reposed, as mourn∣full Gildas hath ruefully declared.

THE SAXONS ORIGINALL. CHAPTER II.

AS times decaied Ruines haue stopped the Passage of those small Springs issu∣ed from the first fountaine of Nations beginnings, and haue diuerted their streames far from any sure Course, or certaine known Heads; so the originall pa∣rent, place, and name of our English-Saxons, haue bin writtē with a pen of slight touch vpon the leaues of obliuion, or else recorded in those obscure Roules, that as yet lie bound vp in the Office of Times forgetfulnesse: whereby it rests doubtfull from what root these branches first sprang; some bringing them from Asia, some from Africa, * 1.48 some from Macedon, some from Denmarke, and some without all likelihood from Britaine it selfe.

Occa Scarlensis a Frislander borne, affirmeth these Saxons to come of Saxo a Prince of India, who with * 1.49 his two brethren were banished by lot to seeke their destinies abroad, their owne Countries being peste∣red with ouer many people at home. These (saith he) following Alexander the Great into Greece, became Progenitors to their Countries, that from them recei∣ued their of-springs and names: as that from Friso the eldest, his Frislanders descended; from Saxo the second, the Saxons vpon the Riuer Albis; and from Bruno the yongest, the Inhabitants of the Dukedome of Bruns∣wic. And of this opinion also Sufridus Petri seemeth to be. Crantzius doth deriue them from the Catti in * 1.50 Germany, and the Phrygians a Region in Asia; to omit others, who would bring them from Saxo the bro∣ther * 1.51 of Vandale.

(2) F. Albinus a learned Author, doth thinke the Saxons to bee descended from Sacae, a people in Asia, * 1.52 and that afterward in processe of time they came to be called Saxons; as if it were written Sax-sones, as much to say as The sonnes of the Sacae. To this opinion * 1.53 Master Henry Ferrers, a Gentleman of ancient descent, great reading, and a iudicious Antiquary agreeth; whose iudgement for my particular, I haue alwaies honoured, and from the Progeny of his English Mo∣narchs haue taken my principall proceeding in these Saxon Successors.

(3) As touching the ancient place of their aboad, Ptolomie the Alexandrian placeth the people Sasones in the Inner Scythia, betwixt the Mountaines Alani & Ta∣purt; and Amianus Marcellinus siteth the Sacae (no doubt * 1.54 the very same) a fierce and sauage Nation, to inhabit ouer-growne places, commodious onely for cattell, at the foote of the Mountaines Ascanimia and Comedus, neere vnto which the Citie Alexandria, Tribatra and Drepsa were adioy∣ning, and are so set by Ptolemie. Neither is it lesse proba∣ble that our Saxons descended from these Sacae in Asia, * 1.55 then the Germans from those Germans in Persia, of whom Herodotus writeth. And Ioseph Scaliger, a re∣nowned * 1.56 Author, sheweth, that these words fader, mo∣der, brader, tutcher, band, and such like, are at this day * 1.57 found in the Persian tongue in the same sense, as we vse Father, Mother, Brother, Daughter, and Bound, &c. a great inducement (as some thinke) for the Saxons originall from those parts; though in my opinion the Latine, Pater, Mater, Frater, haue no lesse affinitie of sound, and in all likelihood were the Primitiues to these of ours. Of these Sacae, Strabo writeth that they made inuasions into Countries lying farre off, as * 1.58 namely Armenia, where they left the memory of their successe in a part of that Country, by calling it Saca∣cena, after their owne name.

(4) From these parts of Asia, as Seythia and the rest, one Band of them, consisting chiefly of their Youth, * 1.59 proceeded by degrees into Europe, and possessed the Nesse, or Forland, which the Romans called Cimbrica Chersonesus, being at this day the continent part of the kingdome of Denmarke. In which place they were first knowne by the name of the Saxons. And here al∣so they among themselues beganne first to be distin∣guished into other Tribes, as Holt-Saxons (for so Ver∣stegan, out of their old Chronicle, saith they were cal∣led) * 1.60 for their keeping in the Woods: but more pro∣perly (wee may say) into Saxons, Angles, and Iutes. From hence afterwards they departed, and passing ouer the Riuer Elbe, diuided themselues into two Companies; whereof the one taking into the vpper parts of Germany, by little and little intruded them∣selues into the ancient Seat of the Sueuians, which now of them is called Westphalia and Saxome: and the * 1.61 other incroched vpon Friseland and Holland (then cal∣led Batania) with the rest of those Countries that lie along the German Seas.

(5) The time wherein these Saxons should thus infest Germany, by Occa Scarlensis verdict, is as an∣cient * 1.62 as great Alexander: others account it long after, in the raigne of Tiberius. But before Ptolomie we finde them not mentioned by any Author, who flourished in the daies of Antoninus Pius, about the yeere from Christs Natiuity 140. And most certaine it is by Eu∣tropius and Beda, that before the yeere three hundred, * 1.63 when Dioclesian swaied the Roman Scepter, the Saxons out of Cimbrica Chersonesus sore offended the coasts of Britaine and France, with their many piracies, and were fearfull euen to the Romans themselues. These multiplying in number and strength, seated in the Maritime tract of Iutland, Sleswick, Holsatia, Ditmarse, Breme, Oldenburgh, all Frisland and Holland: and in∣deed, according to the Testimonie of Fabius Quaestor, Wholly all the Sea coasts from the riuer Rhene vnto the Ci∣tie Donia, which now is commonly called the Denmarc; and with him Henry of Erfurd affirmeth Saxon-land to stretch from the Riuer Albis vntothe Rhene; the bounds of no one people of all the Germans extending any way so far, saith he.

(6) But these spreading Boughes, are brought by others from a neerer Roote, planted not in Asia or Scy∣thia, but rather in Europe and in Germanie it selfe; * 1.64 grounding their opinion from Cornelius Tacitus, who maketh them to be bred in the same Countrey, though distinguished by Name from the rest, as others more beside then were. Which Saxons (say they) though they were not mentioned by Tacitus in his Descripti∣on * 1.65 of Germanie, yet in Ptolemy, that wrote not much a∣boue fortie yeeres after him, they are named; as also the Gutae, and the Angli, Copartners of their Con∣quest, Tacitus placeth among these Germanes that worshipped Herthum the Mother-earth for their A∣uowrie * 1.66 Goddesse; at first but one People, but after∣wards diuided into three seuerall Tribes; that is, the Saxons, Angles and Iutes, who left the remembrance * 1.67 of their Names stamped (as it were) in the soile from

whence they departed, and also coined new vnto o∣thers, wherof they became possessors.

(7) Ptolomy, among the Sueuians in Germanie pla∣ceth * 1.68 the Saxons, neere to the mouth of the Riuer Albis, in the continent of Cimbrica Chersonesus. And in this Iland of Britaine, Beda telles vs, that the Kingdomes of the East and West Saxons were of them peopled: Whose originall Name, besides the Indian Saxo or the Seythian Sacae, some wil haue Etymologed from Saxum a Stone, because forsooth these people were hard or Stonie-hearted; and some againe from the Axones in Gallia, of whom Lucan maketh mention in this his verse:

Longis{que} leues Axones in armis,

And nimble Axones in their Armour light.

(8) Iustus Lipsius coniectureth, and Engelhusius * 1.69 affirmeth (as Verstegan saith) that the name Saxon, tooke the appellation from the Fashion of the Weapon that vsuallie they wore; which was a Crooked Bowing Sword, somewhat like vnto a Sithe, with the edge on the contrarie side, called by the Netherlanders, a Sai∣sen, and by themselues Seaxen, and the shorter of like * 1.70 fashion for hand-weapons, Seaxes; such as were those that were hid vnder their Garments in the Massacre of the British Nobilitie vpon Salisbury Plaine, when Hen∣gist * 1.71 gaue the watch-word, Nem eour Seaxes, that is, Take you Swords: three of which Kniues Argent, in a Field Gules, were borne by Erkenwyne King of the East-Saxons, vpon his shield of Armes, as some of our He∣ralds haue imblazed. And that their Name was so gi∣uen them from their Weapons, some allege their accu∣stomed manner in wearing thereof, which vsually was to trusse the same ouerthwart their backes when they went foorth to battle; whereby notice was taken, and that name attributed vnto them, as the like hath been vpon like occasion vnto others: for so in Asia the Scy∣thians were named for their skill in shooting; in France * 1.72 the Picards for their long Pikes vsed in fight; and in Ireland the Galloglasses, which bare the Pollax as their principall weapon: and of latter times, vpon lesse oc∣casions haue Surnames growne both to particular men, as also to whole Societies; which may appeare in such as hauing vowed their voiage and seruice for Ierusalem, wore continually vpon their backes a red * 1.73 Crosse, whereby the name Crosse-backe, or in old En∣glish, Crouch-backe, was to them attributed: in which ranke, Edmund Earle of Lancaster (second sonne to King Henry the third) was a principall, and thereby got that name, which he could not claw off from his backe euer since. So likewise those men who entred that Religion of Monasticall life, wore vsually vpon the outside of their Garments the signe of a Crosse, whereby that Order was distinguished and noted from others by the name of Crouched or Crossed-Fri∣ers. But whence or howsoeuer the name arose, among all the Germans there were none in reputation for mi∣litarie * 1.74 deeds comparable vnto these Saxons: neither had any aduentured by Sea and Land so farre to pur∣chase * 1.75 renowne and praise, or perhaps (and that more likely) to supply their owne wants; ranging often * 1.76 from place to place, as men alwaies ready to enter any action: and in Germanie to this day a great Dukedome retaineth from them the name of Saxonie.

(9) The Gutae (no doubt the Iutae) Ptolomie like∣wise * 1.77 placeth in the Iland Scandia, lying very neere the Coasts of Germanie, vpon whose vttermost Promonto∣rie (as saith an ancient Manuscript) the Iutes did for certaine inhabite, which vnto this day of the Danes is cal∣led Iutland. These Iutes, Gutes, Getes, or Gothes (or as * 1.78 Beda calles them) Vites, gaue names to those parts of Britaine which they inhabited, as to this day the Ile of Wight beareth their impression. This variety of names * 1.79 we will no further inforce, then that these Gothes were not the same that had passed Ister by Pontus Euxinus, and ouer-ranne Europe, who were also called the Getae * 1.80 by Iohn Maior. Their name, as Verstegan will haue it, was taken from their agilitie, or swiftnesse of foot: and some of them (as Sebastian Munster declareth) went and inhabited among the Mountaines that diuide Germanie from Italie, whereupon their name grew to be called the Hill-Vites, which are now the Hel•…•…ans.

(10) The Angles (by Fabius Quaestor Ethelwardus, an ancient Writer, and a Noble Person of the Saxons * 1.81 Royall Bloud) are brought from Ould-Anglia, a Por∣tion lying betwixt the Countries of the Saxons and the Gi∣ots, as he writeth them, whose chiefe Towne was by them called Sleswic, and of the Danes, Haathby: but (more particularly) it lay betwixt the Citie Flemburge and the Riuer Sly, which Country by Albertus Crant∣zius is called Anglia. From hence (saith He•…•…ricus * 1.82 Rantzouius) the Saxons, who were also called the Angle-Saxons, * 1.83 went to aid the Britaines. And at this day there is a little Prouince in the Kingdome of Dania, named Angell, beneath the Citie Flemburge, which Lindeber∣gus calleth Little Anglia. Their site notwithstanding * 1.84 is placed by most Authours in Westphalia, where the * 1.85 Citie Engern standeth, and where Tacitus and Ptolomy rangeth them among the Sueutans; which in their times might very well be. Others would haue them in Pomerania, where the Towne Engloen doth some∣what sound their name: so doe Engelheim, Engleburg, * 1.86 and Englerute, places in Germanie, beare witnesse, and are prints of their footing among the Longobards and Sueuians. But the most glorious remembrance of that their name hath beene for these many ages in this Kingdome of England: though Saxo Grammaticus (as erst we touched, Lib. 5. Cap. 2) will needs haue Anglia * 1.87 named from Angul the sonne of Humblus, and Giant-like brother of Danus the first King of Denmarke. But Albertus Crantzius being offended at his folly, telles him that England had the name of Britaine many hundred * 1.88 yeeres after that Angul was dead. Others there are that deriue the name England from the manner of this * 1.89 Ilands situation, being narrow in the West and North, for that Eng in the ancient Teutonik Tongue, as well as in the moderne, doth signifie Narrow, Strait, or a * 1.90 Nooke; and to that purpose doe produce this verse of a Portugals allusion:

Anglia terra ferax et fertilis Angulus Orbis, Insula praedines, quae toto vix eget orbe:

A fruitfull Angle, England thou, another world art said: An Iland rich, and hast no need of other countries aid.

(11) Callepine without proofe deriueth the Name frō Queene Angela: but on as weake a ground as those * 1.91 who will fetch it from their Angel-like faces, alluded vnto by Pope Gregory the Great. Or that of Goropius, from the Angle or Fishing-hooke, because, saith he, * 1.92 they hooked all things to themselues, and might ve∣rie well therefore be called Good Anglers: a very meane conceit in sooth. But howsoeuer, most certaine it is that these Angles stole the name of this blessed * 1.93 Iland from their elder brethren the Saxons (as Iacob did the birth-right from Esau) and called it after their owne; as wee shall further shew when our Historie hath gotten to the age of the Saxons Monarchie.

(12) These all claime their descents from Prince * 1.94 Woden, called by the ancient Latines Othinus; and who is deduced by our Antiquaries, as hath beene said, from the eldest Sonne of the Patriarke Noah, and is accounted the most noble of all the Progeni∣tors of the Saxon Kings, insomuch as they, and espe∣cially the Angle-Saxons, our Ancestors, haue (in their superstitious conceit of such wodden gods) imagined Woden to be their principall God of Battell; whose * 1.95 Wife named Frea, was by the like fancie held a God∣desse, of whom more hereafter.

(13) These had issue between them sundry Sons, * 1.96 and from fiue of them, all the Monarchs of the Eng∣lish-men haue claimed to haue been descended. Wech∣ta the first being reported to be the Progenitor to the Kings of the Kentishmen: Caser the second, to the Kings of the East-Angles: Wethelgeat the third, to the Kings of the Mercians: Wegdeg the fourth, to the Kings of the Dierians: and Beldeg the fifth, to the Kings of

the South-Saxons, to the Kings of the Bernicians, after∣wards Kings of Northumberland, and also the Kings of the West-Saxons: only the Kings of the East-Saxons, claiming to descend of the same race, deriue not their descents from any of the Sonnes of the same men. This may suffice for the Originals of these three peo∣ple; who, as Cisner affirmeth, retained still the same manners after they were seated in Europe, as they had * 1.97 formerly done in Asia. And what those were, let vs heare the reports of Tacitus, and other ancient Au∣thors, who together with the Germans (among whom they dwelled) doe thus describe them.

THE MANNERS AND CVS∣TOMES OF THE ANCI∣ENT SAXONS. CHAPTER III.

THese Germans, and among them the Catti and Sue∣uians, (our Ancestors ac∣cording to Albertus Crant∣zius) were a people (saith * 1.98 Tacitus) well set, sterne of * 1.99 countenance, tall of stature, gray eied, and of a firie a∣spect, and their haire yellow. Vnto whom, Witichindus the Monke addeth and saith, that They were faire of * 1.100 complexion, cheerfull of countenance, very comely of sta∣ture, and their limbes to their bodies well proportioned; bold of courage, hardy in fight, and very ambitious of glory: for which parts (saith he) the Franks had them in great admi∣ration, and wondered at their new and strange attire, their armour and their bushie lockes of haire, that from their heads ouer-spread their shoulders, but aboue all, at their con∣stant resolution and valiant courage. Their heads and beards they suffer (saith Tacitus) to grow at length, and ne∣uer put off that vowed ornament and bond of valour, vn∣till * 1.101 they haue slaine an Enemie: but then vpon blood and spoile, they vncouer their forehead, and say they haue paied backe the price of their birth, and thinke themselues wor∣thy of their Country and parents. Their curled locks (saith he) they binde vp in knots, and standing on end, tie it in the crowne only, that is the harmlesse care they haue of beautie, to seeme more terrible to the Enemy. And by Sidonius Apollinaris his testimony, they vsed to shaue off the * 1.102 haire of their heads, reseruing onely a tuft in the crowne, about which they wore a hoope or plate of copper, which caused the haire to stand vpright, as by these his verses appeareth.

Istic Saxona carulum vide•…•…us, Adsuetum antè Salo, solum timere: Cuius verticis extimas per or as, Noncontenta suos tenere morsus, Altat lamina marginem comarum: Et sic crinibus ad cutem recisis Decrescit caput, additur{que} vultus.

In English thus:

There doe we see the Saxosclad in blew, Bold on the Sea, but fearefull now on land: Their heighted tops vpon their crownes that shew, Are not content to hold their wonted band, But raisd in tufts, where all the rest, doth stand Bare naked shau'd, and hath no haire at all, Which makes full fac'd, but heads seeme passing small.

(2) And that they were indeede bold vpon the Seas, Aegysippus witnesseth. The Saxons (saith hee) a * 1.103 most valorous kinde of men, excell all others in Piracies. In imitation of whom, Isidore affirmeth, that for their * 1.104 valour and nimblenes in seruice they had their name. A people (saith he) stout, hardie, and most valiant, and farre out-stripping all others in Piracies, seemed more fear∣full * 1.105 to liue on Land then at Sea. Whose intrusions and sudden violence both France and Britaine with great dammages felt: for in Gallia they seized into their pos∣session the Country of * 1.106 Baiocasses, as is to be seene in Gregorius Turonensis, who thence termeth them Saxo∣nes * Baiocassions: and in Britaine an Office of Charge was instituted to defend the Coasts from their irrup∣tions, the Captaine whereof was commonly called the Count or Earle of the Saxon Shoare: of whose Piracies and sauage Cruelties, let vs heare Sidonius in his Epistle to Numantius complaine: So many Rowers as you see * 1.107 (saith he) so many Arch-Pirates thinke you behold, they all of them together so command, obey, teach and learne, to rob and steale. There is no enemie so cruell as this, that setteth vpon others at vnawares, and as occasion serùes, as warily slips himselfe away. Hee setteth at nought such as encounter him: hee bringeth to nought those that take no heed of him: whom he courseth, he surely ouertaketh: when he flieth, he is sure to escape. To this seruice, Shipwrackes inure him, they terrifie him not. Be there a Tempest vp, the same serueth them, and to assaile others. They neuer weigh Ancour vpon the enemies Coasts, but with a resolution a∣gaine to returne: and their manner is to kill euery tenth Captiue with a lingring and dolorous torment: for to such * 1.108 Vowes they binde themselues, and with such Sacrifices they discharge their Vowes againe, being indeed not so much pu∣rified by such Sacrifices, as polluted with Sacrilege: and the bloudy and abominable Murderers thinke it a religious thing, rather to torment a Prisoner vnto death, then to * 1.109 set him free for a Ransome.

But when wee shall heare these vnhumane and bar∣barous reports either of the old Britaines or these sa∣uage Saxons our ancient Progenitours, let vs neither be offended at Gildas, or at the reports of these other forrain Writers, who spake thus of them as they were then Heathens, and knew not God: the time of whose ignorance seeing God regarded not, as the Apostle tea∣cheth, let vs acknowledge with due thankes the good∣nesse * 1.110 of a most gracious God, who hath brought vs to * 1.111 a holier conuersation, and hath made vs Iudges of those sinnes in them, that we might flie them in our selues.

(3) Their Apparell was much different from o∣thers, and seemed strange to the Gaules, as Witichindus * 1.112 hath told vs: and Tacitus declareth the maner there∣of; which (saith he) was a kinde of Cassocke, called Sa∣gum, clasped, or (for want of a claspe) fastned with a thorn, hauing otherwise no garments at all, but going starke na∣ked. Neuerthelesse, the richer sort were distinguished from others, by their garments; which were neither large nor wide, as the Sarmates and Parthians vse to weare them; but straite and shewing the proportion of euerie part of their bodie: besides they wore Pelts made of beasts skins.

The Man and Womans attire differd in nothing, saith he, * 1.113 sauing that the women vse linnen Garments trimmed and interlaced with purple, and without sleeues, their armes bare, and bosomes naked and vncouered. Yet Paulus Di∣aconus speaking of the Longobards, comparing them to the Saxons, saith that their Cassockes were large and worne loose, most of linnen, trimmed and set out with very broad Gards or welts purfleet, and embrodered with sundry colours, and the richer sort with Pearles: their haire bound vp in a copper hoope, stood in tufts vpon the crowne, the rest curled and falling downe vpon their shoulders: their beards they kept still vncut, till they had killed an enemie; and for another note of ignominie, they wore an Iron Ring, as a signe of bondage, till they had cast it from them by the Con∣quest of a Man. Great Kniues, or rather broad bending Swords, they trussed vpon little Shields thwart their * 1.114 backes, from which (as we shewed) Engelhusius auou∣cheth * 1.115 they had their appellation. Hee that abandoned or lost this shield in battle (saith Tacitus) was debarred * 1.116 from their publike Sacrifices and Assemblies, the greatest disgrace that could be; for very shame and griefe whereof, many, many times hanged themselues. And vpon these Shields their manner was to lift vp their new elected Generall, and with acclamations so to carrie him tho∣row * 1.117 their Campe.

(4) For Warres, the Germans by Tacitus are repu∣ted the best, who for two hundred and ten yeeres held tack with the Romans. Not the Samnites (saith he) not the * 1.118 Carthagenians, not the Spaniards, or the Gallois, no not the Parthians haue so much troubled vs: for what can the East obiect against vs, sauing the death of Crassus, when he had defeated Pacorus, before trodden downe by Ventidius? But the Germans hauing either slaine or taken Carbo, and Cassi∣us, and Scaurus Aurelius, and Seruilius Cepio, and M. Manlius, haue defeated also fiue Consularie Armies, and Varus with three Legions in Caesars time. Nei∣ther haue C. Marius in Italie, or Iulius in Gallia, Dru∣sus or Nero, and Germanicus molested them at home in their Country, but to their more smart. And yet these Saxons among those valiant Germans were accounted * 1.119 the best for courage of minde, strength of body, and enduring of trauell, as Zosimus saith. Terrible also they were, and full of agilitie, by the report of Orosius: and for their sudden inuasions, most feared of the Romans, saith Marcellinus. * 1.120

(5) Their fashion was to goe foorth singing to the Warres, (or rather they especially are said to march to battle, * 1.121 whereas others are said to goe) carrying before them cer∣taine Images taken out of their consecrated Woods. Their manner was before they ioined Battle, to trie by sin∣gle Combat (therein arming one of their own against some captiued enemie) what successe was to be expe∣cted: and this they kept as a Law vnuiolate, that none might presume to beare Armes before hee was solemnly ad∣mitted, * 1.122 where in a frequent Assemblie a Shield was giuen him by his Parents or Kindred: and this was the pledge (as it were) of his first honour, he being till then reputed but a particular of a Familie, but thence-forward a member of the Common-wealth. They are very sensible; wise; and con∣siderate in their seruice, in preferring choice Captaines, in * 1.123 following their Leaders, in obseruing their rankes, in taking the aduantage and benefit of the day, and intrenching in the night, holding Fortune euer doubtfull, but valour alwaies certaine. Their weapons, as testifieth Ioannes Po∣marius, * 1.124 were long Speares, broad Swords, and the Cros∣bow: these they held in such esteeme, that with a horse furnished, Shield, Sword, and Launce, their Virgins were receiued in mariage, accounting them for the greatest bonds, and the very Patron-Gods of Matrimony: which * 1.125 custome might well bee taken from their neighbours the ancient Saracens, whose Maidens vsually presented to their husbands a Tent and a Speare, in way of Dow∣rie at the entrance of their Nuptials. And among these Germans those Martiall habiliaments were in such vse, that they did meet neither at Feasts nor in Councell, but in their Armour.

A People (saith Tacitus) whom thou canst not so easily * 1.126 perswade to manure the ground, as to prouoke the Enemie, and aduenture wounds; holding small esteeme of that which is gotten by the sweat of their browes, when it might 〈◊〉〈◊〉 been obtained by the expence of their bloud. A strange di∣uersitie (saith he) that the same men should so much loue sloth, and hate quietnesse. It is with them a great shame for their Prince to be ouercome in Valour; but for any one to returne aliue from that Battell wherein the Prince is slaine, a perpetuall infamie and reproach. And that their resolutions were euer noble, and their * 1.127 corage not daunted in distresse or bondage, it well ap∣peared by a whole band of them taken by Symachus, and designed for the Romans pastime of Sword-plaiers, who the same morning that this spectacle was expe∣cted, strangled themselues rather then they would in∣eurre such infamie and basenesse, as to make others pastime with the ignominious vsage of their owne persons.

(6) Their Lawes were seuere, and vices not laugh∣ed at, and good Customes of greater authority among them, * 1.128 then elsewhere were good Lawes; no temporising for fauor, nor vsury for gaine; but bounteous in hospitality, and libe∣rall in gifts, accounting both due to bee giuen and receiued, yea and that without thanks: no Nation freer from adul∣terie, or punishing that sinne more seuerely. For the woman * 1.129 offending, hauing first her haire cut off, was turned starke naked out of her Husbands house, and that in presence of her owne kindred; thence she was scourged with whips tho∣row the Towne, without regard of birth, beauty, age or wealth, and neuer after could finde another Husband. Those that were vnnaturally leaud of their bodies, their manner was to drowne them in filthy mud, and to couer them with hurdles. Yea and greater punishments then these the Pagan-Saxons executed vpon such offenders, as by the Epistle of Boniface an English-man, Arch-bishop of Magunce, which he wrote vnto Ethelbald King of the * 1.130 Mercians, in reproouing his adulterous life, is mani∣fest. For (saith hee) in the ancient Country of the Saxons (where there was no knowledge of God) if either a Maid in her fathers house, or one hauing a husband, became a whore, shee should bee strangled with her owne hands closed to her mouth, and the Corrupter should bee hanged vpon the Pit wherein she was buried. If shee were not so vsed, then her Garments being cut away downe from the Girdle-steed, the chaste Matrons did scourge and whip her, and did pricke her with kniues, and so was she sent from Towne to Towne, where other fresh and new scourges did meet and torment her vnto death.

And their seuere Lawes a long time remaining in the daies of Christianitie, doe declare with what rigor (without regard of person) they both examined and punished this offense: whereof that of Queene Emma, * 1.131 the mother of King Edward the Confessor, is a suffici∣ent example, who being accused for incontinencie of body with Alwyn Bishop of Winchester, was inioined to passe ouer nine Plough-share Irons glowing red hot, * 1.132 she being blind-fold and bare-footed; by which triall shee is said to haue acquitted her selfe, insomuch that hauing passed them all before shee knew it, cried and said; O good Lord, when shall I come to the place of my purgation? This punishment beginning in these Pa∣gans, and continuing vnto the yeere 750. Stephen the Second, and most pontificall Pope of Rome, did vtter∣lie * 1.133 abolish, as too seuere and ouer-rigorous for Christians to vndergoe.

The Virgins of these Saxons were neuer to bee * 1.134 married but once, that they might haue no other thoghts, nor further desire but in case of matrimony: neither had the men pluralitie, excepting great Per∣sonages, and they sued vnto in regard of procreation, for to be without Children, was to be without reputation. * 1.135 So that the testimony of Saluianus, which liued a∣mong them, fitteth well our purpose, saying; Though the Saxons are outragious in cruelty, yet for chastity they are to be honoured. * 1.136

(7) But as in these vertues they out-stripped most Pagans; so in the Zeale of their heathenish superstiti∣ons and Idolatrous seruice, they equalized any of them: for besides Herthus, the Mother-Earth, whom the Angli our auncestors accounted for a Goddesse of Aide: they worshipped Mercurie vnder the name of * 1.137

Woden for their principall God of Battell: after whose victories they vsually sacrificed to him their Prisoners * 1.138 taken in warres, and of him named one of the weeke daies * 1.139 Wodensday, whereon hee was chieflie worship∣ped: whose wife named Frea, was by the like foolerie held to bee Venus a Goddesse, vnto whom another of their weeke daies was assigned for name and seruice; which of vs is called Fridaie.

Isis likewise with them was a Goddesse of great ac∣count, so was Eoster, vnto whom they sacrificed in the moneth of Aprill; whence it commeth (saith Beda) that they called Aprill Eoster-Moneth: and we still name * 1.140 the feast of the Resurrection, Easter. The Images of all these they still bare before them in battle, reputing no small confidence in their aides: and yet (saith Taci∣tus) they thought it vnbeseeming to paint their Gods in the shape of men; hauing euen by Nature doubtlesse writ∣ten in their hearts, a regard to that demaund of the Lord: To whom will ye liken me that I should be like him, saith the holie one Iehoua? They gaue great heede also * 1.141 to the neighing of their Horses, and to the flight and singing of Birds, as ominous fore-shewers of future euents.

(8) These Superstitions, Ethelward euen in his daies complained of: That they had infected the Danes, Normans and Sueuians, with the worship of this God wooden; vnto whom those barbarous Nations offered sa∣crifices, that they might be victorious where they fought. And as Crantz. recordeth, Herald the first of that name, and Norwaies King, was so farre ouergone, that he sacri∣ficed * 1.142 two of his Sonnes vnto his Idols, that he might obtaine a tempest to disperse, and put backe the Armado, which * 1.143 Herald King of Denmarke had prepared against him.

This generall defection of Gods true worship, Adam Bremensis maketh mention of in this manner: In a * 1.144 Temple, saith he, called in their vulgar and natiue speech Vbsola, which is made altogether of Gold, the people wor∣ship * 1.145 the Statues of three Gods, in such manner, as that Thor the mightiest of them hath only a Throne or Bed: on either hand of him Woodan and Frisco hold their places. And thus * 1.146 much they signifie: * 1.147 Thor, say they, beareth rule in the Aire, and gouerneth the Thunder and Lightning, Windes, Showres, Faire weather, Corne, and Fruits of the Earth. The second, which is Woodan, that is, stronger, maketh Warres; and ministreth manly valour against Enemies. The third is Frisco, bestowing largely vpon mortallmen, peace and pleasure, whose Image they deuise and pourtray with a great virtle member. Woodan they engraue armed, like as we vse to cut and expresse Mars.

(9) Their controuersies and doubtfull matters were decided by drawing of Lots, which they euer made of some fruit-bearing tree, and was performed after this manner: If there were publike cause, the Priest; if priuate, the Goodman of the house, or worthtest in the * 1.148 company, tooke those slitted slips, distinguished with certaine markes that had beene scattered at hap hazzard vpon a white garment: and after praiers and inuocation on their God, with eies fixed vpon heauen, and three times lifting the same lots aloft, gaue their interpretations thereof accor∣ding to the markes therein inscribed; which was receiued and beleeued for a most sure Oracle: as the like was obser∣ued vpon other occasions, both by the inspections of Beasts intrals, and singings of Birds, after the accusto∣med maner of other Gentiles, that doted vpon the au∣guration for things of future successe.

(10) For the generall gouernment of their Coun∣trey * 1.149 they ordayned twelue Noblemen chosen from among others, for their worthines and sufficiency: These in the time of peace rode their seuerall circuits to see iustice and good customes obserued, and they often of course at appointed times met together, to * 1.150 consult and giue order in publike affaires: but euer in time of warre one of these twelue was chosen to be King, and so to remaine so long onely as the warres * 1.151 lasted: and that being ended, his name and dignitie of King also ceased, becomming againe as before. And this custome continued among them, vntill their wars with the Emperour Charles the Great: at which time Wittekind, one of the twelue aforesaid, a Nobleman of Angria in Westphalia, •…•…bore ouer the rest the name and * 1.152 authoritie of King; and he being afterward, by means of the said Emperour, conuerted to the faith of Christ, had by him his mutable Title of King turned into the endu∣ring stile and honour of Duke: and the eleuen others were in like manner by the said Emperour aduanced to the honourable Titles of Earles and Lords, with e∣stablishment for the continuall remaining of these Titles and Dignities vnto them and their heires. Of whose descents are since issued the greatest Princes at this present in Germanie. But though they obser∣ued this said forme of gouernment elsewhere, yet heere in Britaine it was otherwise, as heereafter will appeare.

(11) And thus much out of my poore readings, I haue obserued of the originall beginnings, the names, maners, and customes, of our ancient Progeni∣tors, the worthy Saxons, without either amplyfying or impayring their glory: who being of all the Ger∣mans so much deuouted to warre, as that their only fame therein was many times sufficient to daunt the Enemy, were thought vpon by the downe-cast Bri∣taines as the fittest to support their ruiued Estate, of whose Entrance Conquests, and Kingdomes, wee are now next addressed to speake.

THE SAXONS ARRIVALL INTO BRITAINE VNDER THE CONDVCT OF HENGIST AND HORSA. CHAPTER IIII.

WHen the state of Britaine was miserablie torne by * 1.153 the calamities of ciuill Dissensions, Famine, Death, and Robberies, the Romans returned, their owne Strength decaied, and their Afflictions daily augmen∣ted by their wonted Ene∣mies the Scots and Picts, no hope was left to their despairing hearts, that of themselues they were able to defend themselues: and therefore (as wee haue shewed) they called to their aid the Saxons, a Nation fierce and valorous, who to the number of nine thousand, vnder the Conduct of Hengist and Horsa, two brethren, entred Britaine at * 1.154 Ebsfleet in the Ile of Thanet, in the raigne of Theodosius the second, and of Valentintan the third, Emperors of the East and West, about the yeere of Grace 450. Re∣ceiued they were with great ioy as Angels from Hea∣uen, * 1.155 and saluted with songs after the accustomed manner of the Britaines, who appointed them the Iland Thanet for their habitation.

(2) These Saxons in short time made proofe of * 1.156 their Manhood. For ouercomming the Enemie euen in Scotland it selfe, seated themselues in some part thereof; so that their Conquest seemed absolute, and the Britaines freed from their former assaults. Peace thus setled, and the Inhabitants freed, a friendly Com∣position was made betwixt these Nations, wherein the * 1.157 Saxons vndertook to maintaine the Field, and the Britaines to sustaine the Charge. In which league they aboad some certaine time, faith Witichindus, making vse in a ciuill sort of the * 1.158 Brets friendship: but so soone as they per∣ceiued the Country large, the soile fertile, and the hands of the Inhabitants slow to practise feats of Armes: and fur∣ther considering with themselues, that themselues and the greatest part of the Saxons had no certaine place of aboad, they found fault with their pay and want of victuals, ma∣king that their quarrell, as both too meane, and too little for their high deserts, threatning withall, as vnkind Ghests, that shortly they would reckon without their Hosts: and * 1.159 thereupon sending ouer for more of their Nation, entred peace with the Scots & Picts, who all together rose against the poore Brets.

(3) And Hengist, that by the gift of Vortigern * 1.160 had got the whole possession of Kent, sent for more supply of Saxons vnto his ayde, pretending imploy∣ments of their seruice in other parts, but indeede to make strong his owne designes: and these swarming daylie ouer into Britaine got the strength of munition * 1.161 and command of military affaires without impeach: For the King holding himselfe now sure from all in∣terceptions, gaue his immoderate senses scope to nourish more freely their sensuall pleasures, and com∣mitted more audaciously those vices, vnto which his * 1.162 owne corrupt nature was naturally addicted. This Hengist soone perceiued, and to adde more matter fit for flame, fed still the humors of this vicious King, outwardly shewing his care and readinesse for the Lands defence, his counsell and loue to the Nobles in estate, and his courteous carriage to the Commons in generall; but to the King an ouerseeming dilligence, and seruile obedience: by all which, ere it was long, he gaue fire to the traine, that blew vp the foundations of the British policie.

(4) For feasting the King in the Castell of Tonnge, * 1.163 commanded his daughter, a Lady of passing beautie, to attend the banquet, whose excellent feature and seemely behauiour, blew the sparkes of desire so right into Vortigerns wanton eie, that they presently kind∣led a flame in his lasciuious heart: for in the midst of his cups, Rowena (so was the damosell called) with a low reuerence and pleasing grace, saluted the King * 1.164 with a cup of gold full of sweet wine, incharming it with these words in her language; Waes heal hla•…•…po Cyning, which is in our English, Be of health Lord King: he demāding the meaning, would be taught to answer to her owne vnderstanding, and said, D•…•…c heal, that is, Drinke health; whereof when hee had pledged her (as we speake) this bowle infected his senses with no lesse sottishnesse, then that of Belus is said to doe Dido, * 1.165 when Cupid plaid the childe Ascanius betwixt Aeneas and her. And brought more bale to the Land, then af∣terwards did that which was presented to King Iohn at Swinsted Abbey by Simon the poisoning Monke: for * 1.166 notwithstanding that hee had a Queene then liuing, (himselfe not young, hauing sonnes at mans estate, in profession a Christian, whose Religion alloweth nei∣ther polygamie nor adulterie) did importunate Hen∣gist that Rowena might be his wife: which at first with * 1.167 some shew of excuse and vnworthinesse of person, was denied, but lastly consented vnto, and the Nupti∣als performed. And now Fortune casting occasion daily into Hengists lap, hee gaue his aspiring thoughts no rest, till hee had got the Crowne from Vortigerns head, and seized all vnder the Saxons power.

(5) Hengist and Horsa in their Language, as also * 1.168 in the ancient Teutonic Tongue, doe both of them sig∣nifie a Horse, vnto which beast the Saxons had great regard, and whose neighings (saith Tacitus) were their * 1.169 presages, and being white, were imploied in their sacrilegi∣ous ceremonies. Virgil also maketh the Horse to bee a luckie Osse or foretokened successe in Battle, as in this his verse he doth intimate and write:

Bello armantur equi, bella has armenta minantur.

And Crantzius telles vs, that it was a vsuall thing with * 1.170 the Pagan Germans, especially of their Noble-men, to take the names of Beasts, some from the Lion, some * 1.171 from the Beare, some from the Woolfe, and some from the Horse, as heere Hengist and Horsa are said to sig∣nifie.

(6) Which beast they bare in their shields of Armes at their entrance of Britaine, and was blazed, saith * 1.172 Verstegan, in this manner: A Horse Argent Rampant, in a Field Gules: which was the ancient Armes, as hee affir∣meth, of the Princes and Dukes of Saxonie. And albeit those Dukes haue of latter yeeres changed that Coat, yet doth Henry Iulius, now Duke of Brunswicke, a most ancient Saxon Prince, who sometimes bore the White Horse in a Red Field, beare the White Horse for his * 1.173 Creast, hauing for his chiefe Coat of Armies, the two

Leopards, which by Richard Cordelion King of England was giuen vnto his ancestor Henry the Lion, Duke of Saxony, who had maried Mathilda the said Kings si∣ster, and by the Emperour Frederic Barbarossa had been bereft of his Armes, and Titles of honor. Moreouer, Charles Emmanuel the now Duke of Sauoy, who is line∣ally descended from the ancient Princes of the chiefe * 1.174 house of Saxony, by Prince Beral, who came out of Sa∣xonie into Sauoy in the yeere of our Lord 998. and was the third sonne of Hugh Duke of Saxonie, which Hugh was brother vnto the Emperour Otho the Third, doth yet beare for one of his Coats the said Leaping Horse.

(7) This Hengist was doubtlesse a Prince of the chiefest bloud and Nobilitie of the Saxons, and by * 1.175 birth, of Angria in Westphalia, wherein vnto this day a place retaineth the name of Hengster-holt. Hee with his brother were the sonnes of one Wihtgisil, whose fa∣ther * 1.176 was Witta, and his father Vecta the eldest sonne of Voden, as Beda writes him, of whose issue many Kings of sundry Prouinces (saith he) had their originall.

Hee growne now into high fauour with the King, by the mariage of Rowena, and feared of the Nobility * 1.177 for his strength and policie, bare himselfe great a∣mong all, and his supplies daily arriuing, pestred (if it not plagued) most parts of this Iland. For saith Ni∣nius and Beda, the riches of Britaine, and the fertilitie of * 1.178 the soile, were such motiues to their couetous and aspiring mindes, that where they got footing, there they kept stand∣ing, and picked occasions where they were too strong. A∣mong thē that were sent for, by the aduice of Hengist, two principall Captaines, Octa and Ebissa were chiefe, * 1.179 who being embarked in forty Pinnaces, sailed about the Picts Coasts, wasting the Iles that were called the Orcades, and got many Countries from them beyond the Frith, whereby a further terrour was stricken in∣to the Britaines hearts.

(8) The Nobilitie perceiuing what was in work∣ing, and the marke whereat Hengist set his eie to aime, * 1.180 complained to the King of their dangerous estate, shewing themselues agreeued to bee dispossessed of Offices and Charge, (as Guorong the Earle or Lieute∣nant of Kent, by Hengist had beene) the Land pestred with strangers, that sought their subuersion; reproo∣uing him much for his match with that Infidel Kowe∣na, his owne carelesse gouernment and adulterous life, and in such manner, that Vodine Archbishop of London, a man of great sanctitie, feared not to tell him that therby he had indangered both his soule and Crowne; * 1.181 which words by Vortigern were so digested, that short∣lie it cost the good Archbishop his life. But hee still continuing in his lasciuious and carelesse idlenesse, was lastly taught by wofull experience, what miserie wilfull rashnesse and neglected gouernment do bring: * 1.182 for the Britaines his subiects no longer would be thus abused, to see themselues wouen into greater danger by shew of defense, then they formerly had beene by the hostilitie of the enemie; but forthwith disclaimed * 1.183 their obedience to the King, when he had raigned the space of six yeeres, and chose for their Gouernour his * 1.184 sonne young Vortimer.

(9) His Sonne he was indeed by nature, but not his in conditions, who (besides the quarrell of his Queene mother for Rowenas sake reiected) bare an in∣ward loue to his natiue Country, and an outward hate to the strangers that daily sought the subuersion thereof, and presently encountred with them in a pitched Battell neere vnto Ailsford in Kent, wherein Catigern and Horsa, brethren to Vortimer and Hengist, in single fight hand to hand slew each other. * 1.185

In which place Catigern was buried, and a Monu∣ment in memory of him erected: the stones whereof to this day appeare, and stand vpon a great plaine * 1.186 in the Parish of Ailsford, and from Catigern as yet is corruptly called Cits-Cotihouse. The like Monument the Saxons built for Horsa, which time hath now defa∣ced, and whereof Beda maketh mention, who saith, that a tombe bearing his name was in his daies to bee seene in the East part of Kent. The credit whereof is conti∣nued * 1.187 to this day, where the Village Horsted is repor∣ted * 1.188 to haue receiued that name from him, which stan∣deth in the very same place where that Battle was fought, as the Inhabitants report.

(10) Three other Battles after this with variable successe were fought betwixt the Britaines and the Sa∣xons, * 1.189 one at Craford, another at Weppeds-fleet, and the third vpon Colmore; in which last the Britaines bare themselues so valiantly, that the Saxons were driuen into the Isle of Tanet (if not ouer the seas) so that small * 1.190 hope rested for them so long as this valiant Vortimer liued, who had dispossessed them of all their footing in the Continent, and often assailed them in Tanet, as Fabian saith. After this Victorie long hee liued not, but was made away by poison through the meanes of * 1.191 Rowena the mother of all this mischiefe, when he had sate King the space of foure yeeres; and the father a∣gaine reestablished.

(11) Vortigern now was no sooner restored, but that Hengist had notice thereof, who was then in buil∣ding * 1.192 a Castle at Leiden in Holland, as their Annales doe witnesse, and Iohn Dousa in his verses specifie: where leauing all (as it were) at randome, returned to follow * 1.193 his fortunes further in Britaine, and with a mighty * 1.194 Armie of his Saxons thought to land without im∣peachment: but the Britaines growne bold by their former victories, and their bloud not cooled since it was heat in fight, admonished their reestablished King, * 1.195 who with them went to withstand his ariuage. When Hengist therefore perceiued their courage, and knew their hatreds to him and his Saxons, hee sought by smooth words to gaine the shoare; and by some stra∣tageme, * 1.196 his wished desire: therefore pretending only to visit his daughter, yea and to rid the Land of her, if so he might haue leaue of the King and them; and therefore desired a conference in friendly manner: after which, his Saxons should depart the Land, and rest the like friends to the Britaines as they were when first they came in.

(12) This motion seemed reasonable to the No∣bilitie, * 1.197 and the place and time appointed, which was the first of May, and vpon the Plaine of Ambrij, now called Salisbury: whither vpon equall tearmes (as was thought) each partie repaired, and a while conferred with friendly semblances; but in the end the Saxons vrging their wrongs, fel from words vnto blowes, the watch-word first giuen by Hengist their Leader. The Britaines meant simply, and ware no weapons, accor∣ding * 1.198 to couenāts: but the Saxons vnder their long Cas∣socks had short Skeines hid, with which, no sooner the words, Nem eowr Seaxes, were pronounced, but that each slew him with whom he conferred, by which treason the Britaines lost three hundred of their disar∣med Nobilitie, onely Eldol Duke of Glocester, as Ran∣dulph Higden declareth, with a Stake gotten from the * 1.199 hedge, slew seuenteene Saxons. The King they tooke prisoner; for whose ransome, the Countries of Kent, Sussex, Suffolke, and Northfolke, were deliuered vnto these Infidels, who shortly defiled the beauty of Chri∣stianitie * 1.200 with their Paganisme and heathenish cruel∣ties. Then (saith Beda) the fire of Gods vengeance was kind∣led by these wicked Conquerors, and raged first vpon those * 1.201 Countries next adioyning, and afterwards from the East Sea vnto the West, without resistance made to quench the * 1.202 same, publike and priuate houses were ouerthrowne and laied leuell with the ground, Priests were slaine standing at the Altars, and Bishops with their flocks were murthered; neither was there any to bury the dead. And these are the times whereof wespake, and wherein the miserable Britaines abandoned the Land or hid themselues in caues, where in they either perished for hunger, or re∣deemed * 1.203 their liues with perpetuall slauery.

(13) Neither were their calamities greater in out∣ward afflictions then their soules, polluted with the * 1.204 heresie of the Pelagians, brought by Agricola, the Son of Seuerianus a Pelagian Bishop, that did foulely cor∣rupt the faith of the Britaines: to redresse which, Ger∣manus Altifiodorensis, and Lupus Bishop of Trecassa in France, were by the brethren desired, and sent vnto

their thus troubled and declining estate. These pil∣lars of Gods truth, after they had powred forth prai∣ers, and conuicted the Heretikes, lead an Armie of * 1.205 Britaines against the Picts and Saxons, and gained the victorie; after which (like vnto people that drew on Gods vengeance and their owne destructions) they fell to robberies and rapine, one Citie banding against another, and all laid waste by the Saxons and them∣selues. These miseries doth Gildas impute to haue hapned to his Britaines, because they tooke no care to preach the Gospell of Christ vnto those Infidels the English-Saxons, * 1.206 that in their heathenish cruelties sought the Lands destruction.

(14) Vortigern thus dispossessed, for his further * 1.207 securitie betooke himselfe into Wales, where among those vast Mountaines hee built a strong Castle; of whose foundation, Merlin the Welsh Wizard, with the * 1.208 future successe that should afterward follow the Bri∣taines, haue by way of prophecie vainly spoken. This Castle most of our Writers haue said to bee in South-Wales, vpon a rockie and solitarie mountaine called * 1.209 Breigh, or after others Cloarie, in the West of that Pro∣uince, not farre from Radnor, and neere vnto the Ri∣uer Gnaua: but the inhabitants of North-Wales report (by the reports of their ancestors) that in old Bethke∣lert was that Castle, which Vortigern built, and is yet called Embris, from Merlin Embris, as they affirme. And surely (besides the craggie and solitarinesse of the place, which seemed to mee rather an entrance in∣to the shadow of death, then to be the Palace or Court of a King) the Riuer Llynterrenny mooueth much, by which Faustus his sonne, begotten of his own daugh∣ter Rowena, is said to spend his life in continuall * 1.210 praiers.

(15) But whilest Vortigern was busied in building this Castle, and the Saxons making spoiles whereso∣euer they came, the Britaines vnder the conduct of Aurelius Ambrosius, began to receiue some breath of hopes, and to shew themselues out of their Caues. * 1.211 This Ambrosius (saith Beda) was a gentle natured man, which only of all the bloud of the Romans remained then a∣liue, his parents being slaine, which had borne the name of the King of the Countrey. Hee with his brother Vter, commonly called Pendragon, returning out of Britain * 1.212 Armorica, where they had remained from the Tyran∣nie of Vortigerne, landed at Totnesse in the West of this Iland; vnto whom resorted great Troopes of Britaines.

His first Expedition was against Vortigern the scourge of his Country, and murderer of his King: whose Castle straightwaies hee besieged, and by the iust reuenging hand of God, with wilde fire consumed, wherin those adulterous and incestuous persons were burned to ashes.

(16) Next, following the common Enemie, hee gaue battle to the Saxons on the North of Humber, at a place called Maesbell, wherein Hengist was discomfi∣ted, * 1.213 and in flight taken by Earle Edol of Glocester, and beheaded at Conningsborrow, saith he of Monmouth. Howbeit, Matthew of Westminster maketh him fight another battle vpon the Riuer Dun, in Anno 489. wherein, saith he, Hengist was taken. And Polydore * 1.214 saith, that in the same battle Hengist at the first onset was slaine, with many of his Germans: the fame of whose victorie (saith he) is had in memorie with the Inhabitants of those parts euen vnto this day. Yet Gildas, Beda, and Ethelward, Writers of those ancient times, and two of them Saxons, mention not the death of Hengist, nei∣ther this great victorie of the Britaines. And Marianus the Scotish Monke seemeth to affirme the contrarie, where he saith, that Hengist raigned thirty foure yeeres in * 1.215 great glorie, and died peaceably, leauing his sonne Eske to succeed him in the Kingdome of Kent. With whom al∣so Florentius the Monke of Worcester agreeth. How∣soeuer, sure it is, had not the diuine power of God o∣therwise determined, the waning estate of Britaine doubtlesse had recouered her former strength, both by the praiers of Bishop German, the prowesse of this last spoken of Ambrosius, the valorous attempts of Vter Pendragon, and the worthy industries of the Christian King Arthur. The famous resistances of this last mentioned Arthur, the Monke of Monmouth * 1.216 with such fables hath augmented, that his Acts and Trauels may bee compared to those of Hercules, or with the Conquests of Caesar himselfe; insomuch that he hath beene accounted and ranged in the Catalogue of the worlds nine Worthies. And surely (by the te∣stimonie of Malmesbury) hee was a Prince of great worth, and did often aduenture with his small power to meet the Saxons in the face and in Field.

But the Britaines strength daily decreasing, and new supplies of these Saxons daily arriuing, brought the one in despaire to enioy their owne right, and the o∣ther to triumph in their intrusions of wrongs. For continually incroaching forward, and inlarging their limits wheresoeuer they came, droue the inhabitauts before them from their wonted possessions, & seated themselues in the southern and best part of the Land, laying the stones (as it were) of those foundations, whereupon in short time they raised their most glo∣rious buildings.

(17) For euery seuerall Captaine or Commander accounting that part his owne, wherein he first entred or made conquest of, with full resolution determined to keepe what he had got, and (as an absolute King) commanded his Prouince, whereby the Land became burdened with seuen of them at the first: as Hengist of Kent; Ella, of those parts now called Sussex and Sur∣rey; Cherdik, of the West; Erchenwin, of the East; Ida of the North; Crida, of the Middle-land; Vffa, the parts now Middlesex and Essex: which Kingdomes thus be∣gunne and erected, stood not long vnshaken by ciuill * 1.217 dissensions among themselues, each King enuying his equals greatnesse, and seeking to inlarge his owne Dominions vpon the next. In which combustions, few or none of them came to the graue in due time, but were either slaine in warres, or treacherously murdered in peace, or else inforced to sheare himselfe a Monke, and resigne his Crowne to another. To speake of all these together, I hold would bring too great a confusion to our Historie, and a needlesse sur∣charge to the Readers memorie: To auoid which, I will briefly set downe the Conquests, Circuits, Acts, and Descents, that in euery seuerall Kingdome hap∣pened while they stood in their Heptarchie, before they were vnited to an absolute Monarchie; and then (according to my prefixed purpose) continue the suc∣cession of GREAT BRITAINES Monarchs.

(18) For albeit the Land was diuided into 7. seuerall Kingdomes, and each of them carrying a soueraigne command within his owne limits, yet one of them euer seemed to be supreme of the rest; and that Prince who had the greatest power or successe in his warres, was euer accounted and called The King of the English-men, * 1.218 as Venerable Beda in the fifth Chapter of his se∣cond Booke, and Historie of England, euer termeth them.

(19) Such therfore as held the rest vnder, either by Armes or alliance, in amitie or subiection, swaied the whole Monarchy, and were acknowledged as Supremes in power ouer the rest, which succeeded not euer in the same Familie, neither continued in one and the same Kingdome without reuersement, but were car∣ried vpon the Flouds and Ebbes of variable successe, or as destinie pleased to alter the chance: wherof each of them (sauing the East-Saxons only) did attaine to * 1.219 the height of that gouernment, as to the hauen of their wished desires. See therefore (if you please) a generall view of the whole, and afterwards the seue∣rall Histories of euery Kingdome apart, before wee enter into the Succession of the English-Saxons Mo∣narchs.

Heptarchy.	Kingdomes.	Counties.	Kings Successions.	Kingdomes Continuance.	Kings first Christians.
The Saxons Heptarchy.	The Kingdome of Kent contai∣ned Counties,	Kent.	Kings raig∣ning,	1. Hengist, 31. 2. Eske, 24. 3. Octa, 20. 4. Ymerick, 29. 5. Ethelbert, 56. 6. Eabald, 24. 7. Ercombert, 24. 8. Egbert, 9. 9. Lother, 11. 10. Edrik, 6. 11. Withred, 33. 12. Edbert, 23. 13. Edelbert, 11. 14. Alrik, 34. 15. Ethilbert, 3. 16. Cuthred, 8. 17. Baldred, 18.	Beganne in An. 455. Continued yeers 372. Ended in Anno 827.	Ethelbert.
The Kingdome of Souh-Saxons contained Counties,	...Sussex. ...Surrey.	Kings raig∣ning,	1. Ella, 32. 2. Cissa, 75. 3. Edilwach, alias Ethelwolf 25. 4. Berthum. 5. Authum.	Beganne in An. 488. Continued yeers 113. Ended in Anno 601.	Ethelwolse.
The Kingdome of West-Saxons contained Counties,	...Cornwall. ...Deuon-shire. ...Dorset-shire. ...Somerset-sh. ...Wilt-shire. ...Hant-shire. ...Bark-shire.	Kings raig∣ning,	1. Cherdik, 33. 2. Kenrike, 26. 3. Cheulin, 33. 4. Ceaclik, 5. 5. Chelwold, 12. ... 6. Kingils, 32. Quithelin, 1. 7. Kenwald, 30. 8. Eskwyn, 2. 9. Kentwin, 9. 10. Ceadwald, 7. 11. Inas, 37. 12. Ethellard, 14. 13. Cuthred, 16. 14. Sigebert, 2. 15. Kenwolfe, 29. 16. Brightrik, 16. 17. Egbert, 19.	Beganne in An. 519. Continued yeers 561. Ended in An. 1066.	Kingils.
The Kingdome of East-Saxons contained Counties,	...Essex. ...Middlesex.	Kings raig∣ning,	1. Erchenwin, 34. 2. Sledda, 10. 3. Sebert, 21. 4. Sexred, Seward, Sigbert, 7. 5. Sigebert, 23. 6. Sigibert, 13. 7. Swithelme, 14. 8. Sighere. 9. Sebba, 30. 10. Sigherd, 8. 11. Seofrid, 12. Offa, 4. 13. Selred, 30. 14. Suthred, 38.	Beganne in An. 527. Continued yeers 281. Ended in Anno 827.	Sebert.
The Kingdome of Northumber∣land contained Counties,	...York-shire. ...Durham. ...Lanca-shire. ...Westmorland. ...Cumberland. ...Northumber.	Kings raig∣ning,	1. Ella, Ida, 2. Adda, 7. Elappea, 5. 3. Theodwald, 1. 4. Frethulfe, 7. 5. Theodrik, 7. 6. Ethelrik, 5. 7. Ethelfrid, 23. 8. Edwine, 17. 9. Oswald, 9. 10. Oswy, 28. 11. Egfrid, 15. 12. Alkfryd, 20. 13. Osred, 11. 14. Kenred, 2. 15. Oswike, 11. 16. Ceolnuphe, 8. 17. Egbert, 20. 18. Oswulph, 1. 19. Edilwald, 11. 20. Alured. 21. Ethelred, 5/7. 22. Alfwald, 11. 23. Osred, 1.	Beganne in An. 547. Continuedyeers 379. Ended in Anno 926.	Edwin.
The Kingdome of Mercia con∣tained Coun∣ties,	...Huntington. ...Rutland. ...Lincolne. ...Northampton. ...Leicester. ...Darby-shire. ...Nottingham. ...Oxford-shire. ...Chesse-shire. ...Shrop-shire. ...Glocester-shire. ...Worcester-shire. ...Stafford-shire. ...Warwick-shire. ...Buckingham-sh. ...Bedford-shire. ...Hartford-shire.	Kings raig∣ning,	1. Creda, 6. 2. Wibba, 3. 3. Cheorl, 34. 4. Penda, 30. 5. Peada, 4. 6. Wolfere, 17. 7. Ethelred, 30. 8. Kenred, 4. 9. Chelred, 7. 10. Ethelbald, 42. 11. Offa, 40. 12. Egfrid 4 monet. 13. Kenwolfe, 22. 14. Kenelme, 5. mon. 15. Chelwolfe, 1. 16. Bernulfe, 3. 17. Ludecan, 2. 18. Whitlafe, 13. 19. Bertwolfe, 13. 20. Burdred, 22.	Beganne in An. 582. Continued yeers 202. Ended in Anno 886.	Peada.
The Kingdome of East-Angles contained Counties,	...Suffolke. ...Norfolke. ...Cambridge-sh. ...Ely-Iland.	Kings raig∣ning,	1. Vffa, 7. 2. Titullus, 10. 3, Redwald, 44. 4. Erpenwald, 12. 5. Sigebert, 6. Egrik, 7. Anna, 13. 8. Ethelbert, 9. Ethwald, 9. 10. Aldwolfe, 19. 11. Afwald, 7. 12. Beorn, 24. 13. Ethelred, 52. 14. Ethelbert, 5. 15. Edmund, 16.	Beganne in An. 575. Continued yeers 353. Ended in Anno 914.	Redwald.

THE KINGDOME OF KENT BEGVN BY HENGIST THE SAXON, WITH THE SVC∣CESSION OF THEIR KINGS, THEIR ISSVES AND RAIGNES. CHAPTER V.

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KEnt, the first Dominion of the Saxons Heptarchie, was formerly in the daies * 1.220 of Iulius Caesar, the Seat of foure seueral petty Kings, yet neuer called a King∣dome, * 1.221 before that Hen∣gist, the first Saxon Cap∣taine, in fauour of his Daughter Rowena, got it by the gift of King Vortigern, about the yeere of Grace 455. and in the seuenth yeere after his first ar∣riuage, heere he first laid the foundation of those for∣tunes which the Saxons his Nation in this Land after∣wards attained vnto: for hauing possessed the same with Victorie and Wealth the space of thirty one * 1.222 yeeres, (some adde three more) he left it in peace to his sonne Eske; and the rest of the Iland so weakened by his meanes, that others of his Nation were shortly planted in other parts thereof. It contained the Con∣tinent that lieth betwixt our East-Ocean and the Ri∣uer * 1.223 Thames, being bounded vpon the West with Sus∣sex and Surrey.

ESke, the second King of Kent, is reported to bee the second sonne of King Hengist, who accompa∣nying * 1.224 his father into this Iland, made proofe of his great valour in all his Battles fought against the Bri∣taines, and in one of them (as Geffrey of Monmouth re∣reporteth) being taken prisoner, was for a time re∣tained in Yorke, but thence escaping, hee aided his fa∣ther in the Battle of Crekynford; and after his decease, succeeded him in the Kingdome of Kent, from whom * 1.225 those Inhabitants (saith Beda) were called Eskings, amongst whom he peaceably raigned about twentie yeeres, and died in the yeere of our Lord 512.

OCta the sonne of Eske began his raigne ouer his Fathers Dominions, the yeere of Christs Incar∣nation * 1.226 512. and raigned twenty two yeeres, without mention of any memorable Act.

IMerik, the sonne of Eske, and the fourth King of Kent, raigned twenty fiue yeeres, saith Stowe; twen∣tie * 1.227 nine, saith Sauil in his Table collected from our English Writers. He had issue, Ethelbert the first Chri∣stian * 1.228 King of Kent, and a daughter named Rikell, ma∣ried to Shedda the second King of the East-Saxons, the mother of Sebert and Segebald.

EThelbert, the sonne of Imerik, in the yeere of grace 561. succeeded him in the Kingdome of Kent, * 1.229 who by reason of his young yeeres, was sore molested by his neighbour Princes, that sought to inlarge their Prouinces vpon his: for now the Saxons hauing made full Conquest of the Britaines, fell at variance among thēselues, taking all occasions to supplane each other, as Conquerours commonly can endure no equals, and prosperitie euer is looked at with an enuious eie; whereupon Cheulin King of the West-saxons, proud of his victorious successes ouer the Britaines, beganne to * 1.230 disdaine all amitie with his owne neighbour Saxons, inuaded the Territories of this young Prince, and in a set Battle slew Oslaue and Cnebban, two of his Dukes, discomfited the King, and wonne the day. This field was fought at Wiphandun, in the yeere of our Re∣demption 567. and is noted to bee the first Battle be∣twixt the Saxons themselues since their first entrance into Britaine.

But young Ethelbert growne vnto yeeres, repaired his losses with the inlargement of his Kingdome to the banks of Humber, and was the fifth Monarch of * 1.231 the Englishmen, as after we shall heare. His first Wife was Berta, the daughter of Chilperik, King of France, by whom he had Edbald, Ethelburg, and Edburg: a se∣cond Wife he had vnworthy of name, for her ince∣stuous and abominable act, in matching her selfe in marriage with her Husbands Sonne, A sinne (saith the Apostle) not to be named among the Gentiles. Of this King, as also of all the rest that attained vnto the glo∣rie, * 1.232 to bee enstiled (per excellentiam) the Soueraigne Kings of the Englishmen, I purpose to bee sparing in their particular Kingdomes, and to reserue the larger relation of their Acts, Matches, Issues, and continu∣ance, to the times of their seuerall Monarchies, where∣by a more historicall course may be carried, through the successions of the English-Saxon Monarches, and a needlesse repetition of the same things auoided, which otherwise of necessitie would follow. Hee * 1.233 raigned in great glory fiftie six yee•…•…s, and was the First Saxon King that receiued and established the Gospell. He died the foure and twentieth day of Febru∣arie, the yeere of Christ 616. after he had raigned 56. * 1.234 yeeres, and was buried at Canterbury, with this inscrip∣tion vpon his Tombe:

Rex Ethelbertus hîc clanditur in Poliandro, Fana pians Christo, ad Christum meat abs{que} Meandro.

EDbald, the sonne of King Ethelbert, in the yeere of Christ 617. assumed the Gouernment of Kent, * 1.235 who no sooner, saith Beda, had gotten from vnder the awe of his father, but he refused to entertaine the Do∣ctrine * 1.236 of Christ, and so polluted himselfe with the foule sinne of fornication, as that hee married his Mother in Law, the late Wife to his owne Father: which two hainous faults gaue his subiects both oc∣casion and impunity to returne to their former ido∣latry, who vnder his Father, for fauour, or for feare, had yeelded to the Lawes of the Christian Faith. But

the scourge of God & vengeance from Heauen wan∣ted not to the punishment of this vnfaithfull King: for he was plagued for a season with often phrensie of * 1.237 minde, and raging fury of an vncleane Spirit; but by Laurence Archbishop of Canturbury, he was at length * 1.238 conuerted from his Idolatry and incestuous Matri∣mony, and being baptized, indeuoured to maintaine the state of the Gospell. He married Emme, the daugh∣ter * 1.239 of Theodebert, King of Austrasie, now Lorrayne, by whom he had issue a Daughter named Enswith, who died a Virgin at Fulkestone, a Religious House in Kent * 1.240 of her Fathers foundation; and two Sonnes, where∣of Ermenred the elder died before his Father, and left issue Dompnena, who was married to a Mercian Prince; * 1.241 Ermenberg that died a vailed Virgin, Ermengith a men∣tion; Ethelred and Ethelbert, both murthered by their Cosin-german, King Egbert. His younger Sonne was Ercombert that succeeded him in the Kingdome. This * 1.242 Edbald built a Chapell within the Monasterie of Saint Peter and Paul at Canturbury, in honour of Mary the blessed Mother of God, endowing that Church with sufficient maintenance; wherein, after the continuance of twentyfoure yeeres raigne, he was buried neere to King Ethelbert his Father, Anno 640.

ERrcombert, the Son of Edbald by Emme his Wife, * 1.243 succeeded his Father in the Kingdome of Kent, in the yeere of grace 641. He was a vertuous, religi∣ous, and Christian King: for the Temples of the Hea∣then * 1.244 Idols he suppressed, and commanded the fast of Lent to bee obserued. His Wife was Sexburg, the daughter of Anna King of the East-Angles, by whom he had issue Egbert and Lothair, both Kings of Kent after him; Ermenhild, Wife to Wolfere King of Mercia, and Erkengode a professed Nunne in the Monastery of Saint Brigets in France; where she died, and was inter∣red in the Church of Saint Stephen. In his daies the state of the Church growing to a well setled forme of gouernment, the Prouince of Kent was diuided into Parishes by Honorius the Archbishop, as testifie the * 1.245 Records of Christ-Church in Canturbury. This King hauing raigned twenty foure yeeres and odde mo∣neths, * 1.246 died in the yeere of our Lord 664.

EEgbert, the elder Sonne of King Ercombert, in the nonage of his yong Nephewes, Ethelred and Ethel∣bert, * 1.247 (the sonnes of his Vncle Ermenred) obtained the Rule of Kent, and had not their murther much ble∣mished * 1.248 his peaceable Gouernment, hee might well haue held place with the worthiest of those Kings: but thirsting after an absolute soueraigntie, and fea∣ring lest his owne power should diminish by their growths and rightfull successions, he set his mind on that bloudy, traiterous, and vnnaturall attempt, and with the assistance of one Thurne, found fit place and opportunitie to worke that diuellish designe, casting their bodies into a Riuer, that so their Murthers * 1.249 might not be knowne. But God (saith Malmesbury) that searcheth the heart, reueiled the act, by casting vp their bodies on the shore, and to the open view of the next Inhabitants, who with great reuerence there buried them, and built a small Chapel ouer their Mo∣nument, whose bones afterwards were remoued, and new interred in the Abby of Ramsey in Hantshire. The Lady Dompnena their Sister, and next Heire to the * 1.250 Crowne, that was married to Merwald, a Prince of West-Mercia, and borne him foure Children, founded the Abbey of Minster in Kent: Wherein, saith Stowe, she became the first Abbesse her selfe, and Mildrith * 1.251 her daughter succeeded her therein, saith Capgraue. This King in great quietnesse raigned nine yeeres, and died in the yeere of grace 673. in the moneth of * 1.252 Iuly: leauing issue Edrik and Wigtred, both Kings of Kent, succeeding after Lothaire.

LOthaire the brother of Egbert, by strong handob∣tained the gouernment of Kent. For notwithstan∣ding * 1.253 Egbert left issue Edrik and Wigtred, (as is said) yet Lothaire taking the aduantage of their minori∣ties, and the example of his brothers intrusions, made himselfe King against his, as he had done against the Sonnes of Ermenred, but did not inioy the same with the like peace as he had done. For not onely Ethelred the Mercian warred strongly against him, but also Edrik, by the assistance of the South-Saxons cōtinually sought to recouer his right, whereby the peace of the * 1.254 Kentish was much molested: and lastly, in a bloudy battell was Lothaire shot thorow with a dart, whereof he died vnder his Chirurgeons hand, the sixth day of * 1.255 February, in the yeere of Christ 685. after hee had * 1.256 raigned eleuen yeeres and seuen moneths. The pu∣nishment of the Murther committed by his brother Egbert, was on him repaied, saith Malmsbury, who de∣rided and made iests at the laments for young Ethel∣red * 1.257 and Ethelbert, that were by the people held and ac∣counted Martyrs. His body was buried with his Pre∣decessors, Kings of Kent, in the Monastery of S. Peter and Paul in Canturbury, Anno 685. * 1.258

EDrik, the Sonne of King Egbert, hauing slaine his * 1.259 Vncle Lothaire in battell, succeeded him in the Kingdome of Kent, wherein he sate onely two yeeres, and those in continuall warres with his subiects; in which ciuill broiles lastly hee was slaine, leauing the Kentish Kingdome so torne with dissensions, that it became a pray to many Vsurpers, and gaue occasion to Ceadwalla the West-Saxon, to seeke the annexion thereof to his owne Kingdome; who with his brother * 1.260 Mollo entred Kent, and with fire and sword made waste where they came. To meet these, the Kentish as∣sembled, and getting the aduantage, burned Mollo to death: in whose reuenge Ceadwalla persisted, and wa∣sted * 1.261 the most part of that Prouince before he depar∣ted: so that after for six yeeres continuance no King raigned in Kent, but the Country lay exposed to the tyrannies of oppressors.

WIgtred or Withred, seuen yeeres after the death * 1.262 of his Brother, tooke vpon him the gouern∣ment of Kent, which hee purchased with the good opinion that his subiects conceiued, and with a great summe of money paid to King Inas for his peace. He entred his Kingdome the yeere of Mans Redemp∣tion 693. the eleuenth of Nouember, and two hundred and fiue yeeres, after the death of Hengist the first Saxon. With him raigned one Swebharde, as Beda de∣clareth: but without mention from whom, or vpon what occasion. He founded the Priorie of S. Martin at Douer, and behaued himselfe worthily both in Warre * 1.263 and Peace: his raigne was thirty yeeres; thirty three, saith Beda; and death in Anno 725. leauing issue Ed∣bert, Ethelbert, and Alrick, all three succeeding succes∣siuely in the Kingdome.

EGbert, the first Sonne of Withred, succeeded his Father in his Kingdome, vertues, & valours, where∣by * 1.264 a peaceable gouernment is allotted him by all Wri∣ters of these affaires, for the continuance of twentie * 1.265 three yeeres, without relation of any notable acci∣dent peculiar to himselfe and Kingdome: besides the appearances of two fearfull Comets, in Anno 729. * 1.266 and fourth of his raigne; the one arising immediately before the Sunne in the morning, and the other shew∣ing his fierie beames presently vpon the Sunnes set, both of them striking their gleames into the North, and by West, foreshewing (it may be) the scourge and desolation that the Pagans intended, who were at that instant entred into France and Spaine. * 1.267

EThelbert, the second Sonne of King Withred, and Brother to the last King Edbert, began his Raigne * 1.268 ouer the Kingdome of Kent, the yeere of Mans Salua∣tion 749. and raigned without any memorable act either of his, or of his Kingdomes affaires, the space of eleuen yeeres, leauing this life in Anno 759. and * 1.269 was buried, say some, in the Monastery of Peter and Paul in Canturbury, without issue of his body to suc∣ceed * 1.270 him: howbeit the Annales of Canturbury affirms him to bee buried at Reculuers, in the Ile of Tanet, whose Monument is shewed at the vpper end of the South Ile in the Church, and is mounted with two Spires, if there be not a mistaking of him for Ethilbert his Successor.

ALrick, the third Sonne of King Withred, by the * 1.271

death of his brother Ethelbert, obtained the kingdome of Kent, the yeere of Christs Incarnation 760. no o∣ther * 1.272 glory attending his affaires (saith Malmesbury) besides his vnfortunate fight at Otteford against Offa King of the Mercians, wherein it seemed some honor (though with his ouerthrow) to withstand so puis∣sant and impugnable an enemie. Hee is the last King of Kent that held the scepter in a lineall succession: the * 1.273 rest that followed, both got and enioied it by tyranny and vsurpation. This King is said to raigne thirtie foure yeeres, and to die in the yeere of grace, seuen hundred ninety three.

EThilbert, surnamed Pren; vsurped the Title and Authoritie ouer the Kentish Dominions, when that * 1.274 Prouince was sore oppressed with the inuasion of the Mercian Kenulfe, whose warres against Kent, by suc∣cession from Offa, were continued with such rigour and valour, that the Countrey lay desolate where hee had beene, and the people distressed whither he came. This Pren, Kenulse tooke prisoner, and lead away with * 1.275 him into Mercia: but at the dedicatiō of a Church that he had then founded at Winchcombe, in presence of ten Dukes and thirteene Bishops, he released him at the High Altar, without either intreatie or ransome of re∣demption. The King returning againe into Kent, * 1.276 could not there bee receiued, his place either being supplied by another, or himselfe so disliked, as not worthy any longer to raigne: and hauing had experi∣ēce of the worlds mutabilities, is left againe to his pri∣uate fortunes, from whence hee had stepped, hauing held his estate but for three yeeres continuance. * 1.277

CVthred, saith Malmesbury, was made King of Kent by Kenulfe King of Mercia, when hee had ouer-come * 1.278 and captiuated Ethelbert: notwithstanding hee is accounted for an Vsurper, and bare the title of King * 1.279 the tearme of eight yeeres, without any other act wor∣thy of remembrance, inheriting his predecessors euill happe and calamitie, through factions and ciuill dis∣cords.

BAldred, after the death of this Cuthred, tooke vp∣on him the princely dignitie of Kent, about the * 1.280 yeere of Christs Natiuitie 805. But now the heauen∣lie prouidence determining to bring againe together that which the Saxons had diuided, raised from exile little Egbert, to make him the Great Monarch of the English-men. His first wars were against Bernulfe King * 1.281 of Mercia, and his second against this Baldred, King of Kent, whom in Battle he vanquished, and forced him out of his Kingdome, after he had sate on that prince∣lie Throne the space of eighteene yeeres. This Bal∣dred is said to haue fled ouer Thames, and to leaue Kent to the will of his Conquerour, whither againe he neuer returned, neither yet was heard of after his * 1.282 ouerthrow. This Kingdome then that was erected by Hengist, the yeere of mans happinesse 455. conti∣nued her gouernment 372. and ended her glorie in the yeere 827. being made a Prouince vnto the West-Saxons.

SOVTH SAXONS KINGDOME, THE CIRCVIT AND CONTINV∣ANCE, THEIR KINGS, SVCCESSI∣ONS, ISSVES AND RAIGNES. CHAPTER VI.

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THE Kingdome of the South-Saxons, containing the Countries of Sussex * 1.283 and Surrey, had on the East side Kent; on the South, the Sea and Ile of Wight; vpon the West, Hant-shire, and the North •…•…de inuerged with the ri∣uer Thames. This King∣dome was erected by Ella a Saxon-Captaine, that in the second yeere of Hengists entrance, as some say, brought a supply of his Saxons into Britaine, with whom came * 1.284 his three sonnes, Kymen, Plenching, and Cissa, these lan∣ding at a place which from Kymen was afterwards called Kymenishore, and discomfiting the Inhabitants, * 1.285 that made resistance, became himselfe King of those Southerne parts. But doubtlesse there are many opi∣nions of this mans first entrance and new erected e∣state: for some (as M. Sauile in his Table) set it in the * 1.286 second yeere of Hengists first arriuall, Anno 452. Others in the second of Aurelius, and no lesse then thirty yeeres after that, Anno 482. Harrison will haue it forty three yeeres after the Saxons first en∣trance, and fourth yeere after King Hengist his death, Anno 492. And M. Ferrers in his Succession of the English Monarkes, placeth it in the three and twentieth yeere of King Hengists Kingdome, and in the fifth af∣ter his owne arriuall, the yeere of our Redemption 488. Of such vncertaintie is the beginning of this South-Saxons Kingdome, whose Continuance and Suc∣cessions are nothing cleerer; insomuch that Malmesbu∣rie making seueral Chapters vpon the other six, omit∣teth * 1.287 only this of the South-Saxons: and therefore as wee finde them, let vs haue leaue to relate them, and for the present to leaue Ella as hee was King; till wee come to a fit place where more shall be spoken of him as he was Monarch; whose raigne is set by Stow to bee * 1.288 thirty six yeeres; by Sir Henry Sauile, twenty foure; and by M. Henry Ferrers, thirty two, and to hau•…•…ed in the yeere 514.

CIssa the third and youngest sonne of King Ella, * 1.289

then onely liuing at his fathers death, succeeded him * 1.290 in the kingdoome of the South-Saxons, (leauing the Monarchie to Cherdike king of the West-Saxons, who had planted his kingdome betweene him and the Britaines, hauing taken the charge of warre against them, for maintenance whereof, Cissa yeelded him a yeerely contribution) and liuing himselfe in long rest and peace, founded Chichester and Chisbury, the one a * 1.291 Citie for resort of his people, the other a place of re∣pose for himselfe; which last he fortified about with a strong Trench, for a further defense against all dan∣gers. Of any other his actions, little is recorded by Writers: onely in this they concurre, that hee was a * 1.292 man of great age and small acts, some affirming that hee raigned the space of seuenty six yeeres. * 1.293

EDilwach (by some called Ethelwolf and Athelwold) succeeded King Cissa in the kingdome of the * 1.294 South-Saxons, and was the first Christian of that Nati∣on, conuerted by Bishop Wilfride, as some conceiue out of Beda: yet Beda saith expresly, that the King was baptized before Wilfrides comming. And the History of S. Swithune saith, it was done by S. Berinus, Bishop of * 1.295 Dorchester, who vsually preaching the Gospell in the king∣dome of the Mercians, in the Citie of Oxenford, and pre∣sence of Wulpherus King of Mercia, it hapned that King Athelwold, then a Pagan, was present, who by the indea∣uour of Vulpherus, and instruction of Berinus, receiued the * 1.296 lauer of Baptisme, whom also Wulpherus receiued at the Font for his God-sonne, and in signe of that adoption gaue * 1.297 vnto him two Prouinces, to be annexed to his former king∣dome, that is to say, the Ile of Wight, and the Prouince of Manures in the West of England; at which time also Beri∣nus by King Athelwolds permission, baptized the chiefe Dukes and Nobles of that Prouince. His Queene Ebba * 1.298 was baptized in her owne Ile, the Prouince of the Vie∣cians, being the daughter of Eanfride, who was bro∣ther to Eanheres, and both of them Christians. But it is generally held, that King Edilwach gaue vnto Wil∣fride the Peninsula (as the Latines speake) of Seoleseu, * 1.299 now Selsee in the West, with the demaynes of eightie seuen Tenements, wherein he built the Monasterie that bare the same name, and was his owne Episcopall Sea. Against this Edilwach, Ceadwald a valiant young Prince, of the Bloud-royall of the West-Saxons, being * 1.300 banished his Countrey, making head with the assi∣stance of friends and followers, entred his Territories with an impetuous incursion, and slew the King as he made resistance, when hee had raigned twentie fiue * 1.301 yeeres: in whose raigne and Countrey raged such an extreme Famine, that both men and women in great * 1.302 flockes and companies cast themselues from the Rockes into the Sea.

(4) Berthun and Authun, two Dukes of the South-Saxons, maintained the Warres and defence of their Country against Ceadwald, and by manly valour for∣ced him to retire. These Captaines betwixt them * 1.303 held the dominion of that Prouince, vntill such time as Ceadwald had gotten the Kingdome of the West-Saxons; who bearing in mind the remembrance of his former proceedings, and thinking to inlarge his owne Kingdome with the subiection of the South-Sa∣xons, entred againe that Prouince, and in Battell slew * 1.304 Duke Berthun, harrying the Country miserably be∣fore him. Which State, vnable to withstand the West-Saxons puissance, was by Iue, the next King succee∣ding, made a subiected Prouince, their Gouernment thence forward resting vnder his Successors, after it had stood one hundred and thirteene yeeres: and en∣ded * 1.305 in the yeere of Christ 601. by ordinary compu∣tation. But whosoeuer shall compare the times of the foresaid Kings, Wulpherus and Athelwold together, will easily finde, that it is not easie to finde the certaine concurrence of times, in affaires so clouded in obscu∣ritie, and so farre remote from our preseut times.

THE KINGDOME OF THE VVEST-SAXONS, THE CIRCVIT THEREOF, AND SVCCESSION OF THEIR KINGS VNTO EGBERT; WITH THEIR ISSVES AND RAIGNES. CHAPTER VII.

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THe Kingdome of the West-Saxons, though in time la∣ter * 1.306 then the two former, yet in circuit and fame surmounted them both; whose Monarch was the Maull that first brake the Scepters of the other six Kingdoms in sunder, and made one Crowne of these their seuerall Diadems, more glorious then they all, and that first worne vpon Egbert the West-Saxons heads, and the Scepter swaied in his Imperiall hand; vntill whose time and person wee will continue the succession of their Kings, beginning with Cherdik that first made it a Kingdome, and briefly shew their Acts, * 1.307 whilest it so stood in the Saxons Heptarchie.

THis Cherdik is said to haue brought a second sup∣ply * 1.308 of Sax•…•…s forces into Britaine, in the yeere of our Lord 495. and fifth of the Monarchy of King Ella: his landing being at a place on that occasion cal∣led Chederik-shore, who with his sonne Kenrik, was en∣countred

by the Britaines, vnder the conduct of Na∣tanleod a British Prince, whose Country was then cal∣led * 1.309 after his name; whom he slew in Battell, with fiue thousand more of his Britaines: the fortune of which field gaue resolutions and hopes of better successe; it was fought neere vnto a Brooke vpon that euent called Cherdiks-ford, now by contraction Chard-ford. Heereupon establishing his new erected Kingdome, (which contained Cornwal, Deuonshire, Dorsetshire, So∣mersetshire, * 1.310 Wiltshire, Hantshire, and Barkshire,) he in∣larged the same with the conquest of the Ile of Wight, the gouernment whereof was by him giuen to Stuffe and Withgar his Nephewes, which later slew the Bri∣taines there inhabiting, and named the place of his victory Withgarbirg, assuming the name of King, and was buried at his Citie Withgar, in the same Ile. About seuen yeeres after Cherdiks entrance, Porth a Saxon, with his two Sonnes, Megla and Beda, landed in the West, at the place from him called Portesmouth, whose aid with Kent and Sussex, assisted Cherdik in his Con∣quests. His raigne is set to be thirty three yeeres; and * 1.311 his death in the yeere of grace fiue hundred thirtie fiue: hauing had two sonnes, Kenrik and Chelwolf, the one of which died before his Father; and the other succeeded him in his Kingdome. Chelwolf had issue Cuthgils, whose sonne was Kenfridd, and his sonne Kensy, the Father of King Eskwin, who was the Suc∣cessor of King Kenwalk, and predecessor of King Kent∣win, in the Kingdome of the West-Saxons.

KEnrik, the eldest Sonne of King Cherdik, hauing formerly made proofe of his prowesse in the as∣sistance * 1.312 of his Father, was after his death also verie fortunate in obtaining two victories ouer the Bri∣taines; the one at Searesberige, and the other at Beran∣brig; whose raigne beginning Anno 534. continued * 1.313 twenty six yeers; ending in the yeere of our Redemp∣tion, fiue hundred sixty. He had issue three Sonnes, of * 1.314 which Cheaulin the eldest succeeded him in his king∣dome; Cuthwolfe the second assisted his Brother in his Warres, and was partaker with him of his victories, who died Anno 672. leauing issue one onely Sonne, named Chell, or Cearlike, who proued nothing so ver∣tuous and dutifull a subiect as his Father had beene: for he rose in rebellion against his Vncle, and by * 1.315 strong hand expelled him his kingdome.

The third Sonne of King Kenrik was Cuth, famous in his issue, though mentionlesse for action in him∣selfe: for hee had three sonnes, of which Chelwolf the eldest, was King of the West Saxons (as shalbe declared) Chell the second, was father to Kingils the sixt (and first Christian) King of the West Saxons, and Grandfa∣ther to Kenwall and Kenwin the seuenth and ninth Kings of that Kingdome: and Ched the yongest, was father of Kenbert, Grandfather to Chedwall the most re∣nowned King of the West Saxons; of whom we are pre∣sentlie * 1.316 to speake, and of them all in the succession of th•…•… English Saxons Monarchs: and now to returne a∣gaine to the issue of King Kenrik.

CHeaulin his first sonne, entred vpon the gouerne∣ment ouer the West-Saxons Anno 561. and euen * 1.317 at the first began to disturbe the quiet peace of his neighbour Prouinces, taking aduantage at the young yeeres of Ethelbert, who was made King of Kent in the same yeere that Cheaulin was, whom he discomfi∣ted, and slew his two Captaines, Duke Oslaue and Duke Cnebba, at * Wibbandune, as we haue said. Other * 1.318 Victories he obtained ouer the Britaines, both at Bed∣ford, Deorham, Glocester, Cirencester, and Bathancester. * 1.319 But the fortunes of warres being alwaies variable, at length his successe altered, and at VVannes ditche in * 1.320 VViltshire he was ouerthrowne, and dispossessed of his kingdome by Cealrik his brother Cuthwolfs sonne, when he had raigned thirty three yeeres. Hee had is∣sue, * 1.321 Cuth and Cuthwin: the former serued valiantly in the warres vnder his father at Wimbledon in Surrey, where King Ethelbert of Kent was chased, and his soul∣diers slaine: and with the like valour and victorie hee fought at Fethanleygh against the Britaines, notwith∣standing that therein he lost his life, the yeere of our * 1.322 Lord 585. and the fiue and twentieth of his fathers raigne. Cuthwin his younger brother suruiued his father, but succeeded not in his Kingdome, being then (by reason of his young yeeres) vnable to reco∣uer his right. He had two sonnes, Kenbald and Cuth, the latter of which was father to Chelwald, whose son Kenred had issue, Ine the eleuenth King of the West-Saxons, and Ingils his brother, whose sonne was Eoppa the father of Easa, whose sonne was Alkenmud, the father of Egbert the eighteenth King of the West-Sax∣ons, who reduced the Saxons diuided Heptarchie into an absolute Monarchie.

CEarlik the sonne of Cuthwolfe, who was brother to * 1.323 this last King, succeeded in the kingdome by the eiection of his Vncle, and was the fourth King of the West-Saxons. He began his raigne in the yeere of our Redemption 592. and continued it the terme of six yeeres, without any memorable act by him atchieued * 1.324 besides his Treason spoken of before.

CHelwolfe the sonne of Cuth, the sonne of Kenrik, * 1.325 and Cosen-german to Cearlik the preceding King, began his raigne ouer the West-Saxons, the yeere 598. on whose first entrance, this prouince of the West-Saxons was inuaded both by the Britaines, and also by * 1.326 the Scots and Picts: and the East-Angles likewise mo∣lested his peace, vnder the conduct of Redwald at that time Monarch of the Englishmen. But hee wading thorow these troubles, harried the Prouince of the South-Saxons with inuasions and calamities, in the prosecution whereof he died, leauing the pursuit of his warres and possession of his kingdome to Kingils his Nephew, that immediately succeeded him, after he had raigned the space of fourteene yeeres.

KIngils the Sonne of Chel, who was Brother to King Chelwolfe, succeeding his Vncle in the kingdome * 1.327 of the VVest-Saxons, in the yeere six hundred and twelue, in his third yeere associated vnto him in his Gouernment Quinchelme his Sonne, who ioyntly managed the West-Saxons affaires both of warre and peace. And fighting with victorie against the Bri∣taines at Beandune, they there slew of them one thou∣sand forty six persons, and after that against Penda King of Mercia, neere vnto Cirencester, about the fift yeere of his raigne, where lastly they came to a con∣clusion of peace. This King at the preaching of Be∣rinus (an Italian Diuine, afterward reputed for a Saint) * 1.328 and by the perswasions of Oswald the most Christian King of Northumberland, (who was a suiter to become his Son in Law, by the mariage of Kineburg his daugh∣ter, and was made his Godfather by receiuing him at the Font) receiued the Word of Life, and became the first Christian King of all the West-Saxons; in witnesse whereof, he gaue the City Dorchester, neere vnto Ox∣ford, to his Conuerter, who therein erected his Epis∣copall Sea. He raigned the space of thirty one yeeres, some say but seuen and twenty, and had issue (besides Quinchelinus, who raigned with him, and died before him) Kenwin and Kenwald, that succeeded him; and Kineburg his Daughter married to Oswald, as is said. Quinchelinus had a Sonne named Cuthred, that was baptized with his Father at Dorchester, and is said by Stowe, to haue raigned after the death of Kingils: but I take it rather to be Kenwen, whom some suppose to be his Fathers Associate the terme of foure yeeres, but neuer sole King himselfe.

KEnwald, whom Beda calleth Senwalch, succeded his * 1.329 Father Kingils in the kingdome of the West-Sax∣ons. His beginnings by Matthew of VVestminster are compared to be with the worst, and his endings with the best of those Kings. At his first entrance he fought with victorie against the Britaines at 〈◊〉〈◊〉, whereof he became most insolent, and refused not onely to re∣ceiue the Christian Faith, but also put from him his lawfull wife Sexburg, the sister of Penda King of Mer∣cia, whereby hee became hatefull to his owne Sub∣iects, and sore assaulted by the Mercian King, who followed the reuenge so farre, that he forced Kenwald * 1.330 out of his kingdome, who being driuen to extremity, sought succour at the mercie of Anna the Christian

King of the East-Angles, where he was both courteous∣lie entertained, and at last (wonne to the Christian * 1.331 Faith) was baptized by Bishop Foelix, whereupon hee did recall his wife, according to prescript of Christia∣nitie, and recouered againe his former Maiestie, which he much aduanced by his pious workes. He founded * 1.332 the Cathedrall of Winchester, and the Abby of Malmes∣burie, and when he had raigned thirty one yeeres, gaue place vnto nature in the yeere 673. leauing no issue of his body to succeede him: whereupon Segburg his wife tooke vpon her the gouernment of the West-Sa∣xons, the same yeere that Lothair was made King of Kent, shee being a woman of great spirit and vnder∣standing, * 1.333 and sufficiently worthy to haue managed the Kingdome, had she not beene preuented by death, or rather (as some write) by a religious deuotion, that the affaires of this present life might not hinder her zealous meditations of the future, in desire whereof, she abandoned her Regencie, and built a house of de∣uotion in the Ile of Shepey, wherein her selfe became * 1.334 a Vowesse, and afterward was elected the Abbesse of Elie.

ESkwin after the departure of Queene Segburg, suc∣ceeded in the kingdome of the West-Saxons. Hee * 1.335 was the sonne of Kensy, the sonne of Kenfrid, the sonne of Cuthgils, the sonne of Chelwolfe, the sonne of Cher∣dik, the first King of that Prouince: his raigne lasted * 1.336 but two yeeres, in which time he fought a great Bat∣tle with Wulfere King of the Mercians, at the place then called Bidanheaford, and wherein many of the Saxons on both sides perished, leauing neither issue to * 1.337 succeede him, nor other matters to be spoken of him, though (as it seemeth) hee had dispossessed Kenwin, who had more right to the Crowne then himselfe; or (as Beda and Malmesbury auerre) he raigned with him the space of two yeeres, and Kenwin alone for seuen yeeres more.

KEnwin the brother of Kenwald, and sonne to King Kingils, in the yeere 677. became the ninth King * 1.338 of the West-Saxons, and raigned the space of nine yeeres. Hee was a great scourge vnto the weake and ouer-borne Britaines, making Conquests of their pos∣sessions, and forcing them euen to the Sea-shoare, be∣ing * 1.339 a people allotted vnto miserie, and by these stran∣gers pursued so vehemently, that lastly they were dri∣uen into the West-Angle of this Iland, and their liues defended and maintained among those waste Moun∣taines and hard Rockes, which therein were more propitious and gentle then the stonie hearts of their Oppressors.

CEadwalla a valiant young man, and of the bloud-Royall of the Genisses, saith Beda, being banished * 1.340 from his Country through the enuie of others, who maligned him only for his vertues and worthinesse, succeeded Kenwin his kinsman in the kingdome of the West-Saxons, and with greater glory raigned then any other in that Prouince before him had done. He * 1.341 was the Sonne of Kenbert, whose Father was Ched, the second Sonne of Cuth; and Cuth was the third Sonne of Kenrik, who was the eldest Sonne of Cherdik, that laid the first stone of this kingdomes foundation. His first brunt of furie was against Edilwach, King of the * 1.342 South-Saxons, whom in field he slew: and in another battell Berthun, that had made himselfe King of that * 1.343 State. The Ile of Wight also he almost quite wasted: and though he were vnbaptized, yet did hee binde him∣selfe by vow to giue the fourth part of the spoile vnto Gods vse, and performed it accordingly vnto Bishop * 1.344 Wilfrid, who with Bernewine and Hildila conuerted the people from their Idolatrous superstition, vnto * 1.345 the true seruice of Christ, it beeing the last part of the Saxons possessions that was turned from their Pagan manners. Of which his specious deuotion, Malmesburie giueth this censure: although wee praise his affestion, (saith hee) yet allow wee not the example; for it is written, that who so offereth vnto God the goods of the * 1.346 poore, dooth as it were sacrifice the sonne in the sight of the Father. Kent also with greeuous warres hee twice af∣flicted, and therein spilt so much Christian blood, that * 1.347 nature her selfe was therein offended, and hee at last as much lamented: in repentance whereof, after hee * 1.348 had raigned in great stoutnes the space of two yeeres, in a zealous deuotion went to Rome, where of Pope Sergius he was baptized vpon Easter Euen (saith Beda, * 1.349 the yeere of our Redemption 689.) by the name of Peter, and wearing as yet the white Robes of inno∣cencie, put (as the rite then was) vpon him at his la∣uer of Baptisme, fell sicke, and the twentieth day of * 1.350 April following died, hauing had neither wife nor childe that we read of. He was buried in Saint Peters Church in Rome, vnder a faire Monument, with this * 1.351 inscription thereon engrauen: Heere Cedwall, other∣wise * 1.352 named Peter, King of the West-Saxons, is buried, who died the twentieth of Aprill, in the second Indiction, and liued thirty yeeres or thereabouts, when that noble and mighty Prince Iustinian was Emperour of Rome, and had raigned foure yeeres in the Empire, and Sergius a true pa∣terne of the Apostles, had sate two yeeres in Peters Seat. What hath beene written of this Ceadwall, King of the West-Saxons, by Beda the Saxon and his followers, * 1.353 hath beene attributed to Cadwalader King of the Bri∣taines, by Geffrey of Monmouth the Britaine, Iohn Castor, and More, affirming him to be the same man, and that vpon the admonition of an Angell hee went to Rome, tooke penance of Pope Sergius, there died in the twelfth Kalends of May, and was there buried with * 1.354 the same Epitaph, and after the same manner. But the Writer of the Historie of Cambria, of Cadwaladers go∣ing to Rome, and the other appendances, seemeth to be doubtfull, and saith that it differed from the asser∣tion of Bernardus Guidonius, the neerenesse of the names being the very cause of the like relations, and confidently affirmeth that it was Edwall the sonne of Cadwalader, who in such deuotion went to Rome, and there made such a religious end, about the yeere of our Lord 720.

INe, whom Beda calles Hun, others Ina (the sonne of Kenred, the sonne of Cuth, the sonne of Cuthwin, the * 1.355 sonne of Chelwin the third King of the West-Saxons, the sonne of Kenrik the second, and hee the sonne of Cherdik the first King in that Prouince) after Cead∣wals departure to Rome, tooke vpon him the gouern∣ment of that Kingdome, which hee managed with continuall Victories the terme of thirty eight yeeres. His first attempts were against the Kentish-Saxons, in reuenge of his cosen Molloes death, whose wrath Wi∣thred * 1.356 pacified by the paiment of thirty thousand Markes, saith William of Malmesbury. In the yeere of Grace seuen hundred and eight, and twenty one of * 1.357 his owne raigne (as Matthew of Westminster hath ob∣serued) he fought with the Britaines vnder their Cap∣taine * 1.358 Gerent, whom he victoriously subdued: and in his twenty sixth yeere, against Cheolred King of Mer∣cia, with doubtfull victorie, at the place then called Wodenesbury: and in his thirty sixth, inuaded the South-Saxons with such successe, that hee reduced the same * 1.359 Kingdome into a Prouince, and annexed it in subiection to the West-Saxons: and manifesting his good desires both to the administration of Iustice, and the aduance∣ment of Diuine Pietie, he ordained many good Lawes * 1.360 for the amendment of manners in his people, which are yet extant written in the Saxon Tongue, and trans∣lated into Latine by the learned M. William Lambert.

He built at Wels a Colledge dedicated vnto God, and * 1.361 bearing the name of S. Andrewes: which afterwards Kenulph, King of the West-Saxons made an Episcopall Sea. The renowned Abbey of Glastenburie most state∣lie hee built to the honour of Christ, Peter and Paul (whereof Malmesburie maketh mention in his booke of Glastenburies Antiquities) in a fennie place seque∣stred frō the road way, where formerly had stood the old Cell of Ioseph of Aremathea, and that being decaied Deuy Bishop of S. Dauids had thereon erected a new; which time also hauing ruinated, twelue men well affected in the North parts of Britaine had repaired, but now by this Ina was quite pulled downe, and af∣ter a most sumptuous manner new built; the Cha∣pell whereof hee garnished with gold and siluer, and

gaue rich ornaments thereto; as Altar, Chalice, Censor, Candlestickes, Bason and holie water, Bucket, Images, and Pale for the Altar, of an incredible value: for the gold thereupon bestowed, amounted to three hundred thirtie three pound waight, and the siluer to two∣thousand eight hundred thirty fiue pound, beside precious Gemmes, embrouched in the Celebrating Ve∣stures. Hee instituted also a certaine yeerely paiment to the See of Rome, enioining euery one of his subiects that possessed in his house of one kinde of goods to the value of twenty pence, that he should pay a penny to the Pope yeerely vpon Lammas day: which at first was contributed vnder the name of The Kings Almes, but afterwards was called and challenged by the name of Peter-pence. At length, by the instigation and ear∣nest perswasion of Ethelburga his Queene, hee renoun∣ced the glittering glorie of his present and princely estate, wherein hee had in great prosperitie raigned * 1.362 thirty seuen yeeres and odde moneths; and profes∣sing a voluntarie pouertie, (so great was the zeale, and so little the knowledge of that age) went to Rome, where in the habit of a Religious Man he ended his life in poore estate; and Ethelburga his wife became a vai∣led Nunne, and was made Abbesse of Barking neere London, wherein she ended her life. The brethren of this Inas, were Kenten, whose sonne was Aldelme Ab∣bat of Malmesbury and Bishop of Sherborne, and Ingils that was the progenitour of Egbert the first Saxon Mo∣narch of the whole Iland: and his sister Cuthburga, ma∣ried into Northumberland, sued a diuorce against Osrick her King and husband, and in the habit of a Nunne en∣ded * 1.363 her daies at Winburne in the Countie of Dorset. * 1.364

EThelard the kinsman of King Ina (whom he ordai∣ned his successour at his departure to Rome) was the sonne of Oswald, and he of Ethelbald the sonne of Kenbald, the brother of Cuth, and both of them the sonnes of Cuthwin, the sonne of Cheaulin, the sonne of King Kenrik, the sonne of Cherdik, the first West-Saxon King. He began his raigne the same yeere that King Edbert did his ouer the Kingdome of Kent, and with him was terrified by the dreadfull appearance of two Blazing Starres: of whose Acts, no other mention is recorded, sauing that at his entrance into regall estate, Oswald a Norman of the West-Saxons bloud, emulated his glorie, and troubled the quiet peace of his prospe∣rous beginning: but not able to winne fortune to fa∣uour his proceedings, he quite abandoned his natiue Country, and so left Ethelard to rule the Kingdome in peace, who therein quietly raigned the space of foure∣teene yeeres, without any mention of wife or issue.

CVthred, cosen to King Ethelard, succeeded him in his Dominions, and was much disquieted by Edil∣bald * 1.365 King of Mercia, both by open warre and priuie practises: but these two Kings comming to a conclu∣sion of peace, ioined both their Powers against the ouer-borne Britains, and in a bloudy battle gaue them a great ouerthrow. In this time, saith Beda, the bodies of the dead were permitted to bee buried within the walles of their Cities, which thing before was not lawfull, but their corps were interred without in the Fields; many of whose Tombes as yet are witnesses to vs, that daily finde them in the digging of the grounds adioining, and reserue them for sight, or o∣ther necessarie vse.

The peace of this King was molested by his owne subiect, an Earle named Adelme, who boldly encoun∣tred his Soueraigne in Battle, and fought it out euen * 1.366 to the point of victorie; but failing thereof, and for∣ced to flie, his life was pardoned. And hee made Gene∣rall * 1.367 against the Mercian Edilbald, Cuthreds ancient foe, wherein by his valiant prowesse, with the flight and discomfiture of the Enemie, hee made a worthie a∣mends for guerdon of his life, and was euer after held * 1.368 in great fauour and honour. This King raigned in great fame and victories the space of fourteene yeers, * 1.369 and died in the yeere of our Lords Passion 753. Hee had issue one onely son, whose name was Kenrik, a va∣liant * 1.370 young Prince, who in the ninth yeere of his Fa∣thers raigne was seditiously slaine in his Armie, for bearing himselfe (as it may seeme) ouer-rigorous to∣wards the Souldiers.

SIgebert obtaining the Principalitie of the West-Sa∣xons, raigned therein no long time, and that with∣out * 1.371 all honour or fame. His parentage is obscure and vnknowne, but his vices are made apparant and ma∣nifest; for hee wallowing in all sensuall pleasures, ad∣ded exactions and cruelties vpon his Subiects, setting aside all lawes and rules of true pietie: from which vi∣cious life, when hee was louingly admonished by his most faithfull Counsellor a worthy Earle called Cum∣bra, so farre was his minde from abandoning his im∣pious courses, as that he caused this Noble Personage to be cruelly slaine; whereupon the rest of the Peeres seeing their State and liues were euery day in danger, and the common subiects, whose Lawes were thus vi∣olated, being incensed into furie, they rebelliously * 1.372 rose vp in Armes against him, and would acknow∣ledge him no longer their Soueraigne. Sigebert, by na∣ture as fearefull as he was audacious vnto vice, fledde into the woods as his only safeguard, where like a for∣lorne person he wandred in the day, and in caues and dennes lodged in the night, till lastly he was met with by a Swine-heard that was seruant to Cumbra, and of him knowne to be Sigebert, was presently slaine in re∣uenge of his masters death, in the wood that was then * 1.373 called Andreads Wald, when hee had raigned not fully two yeeres. * 1.374

KEnwulfe, sprung from the bloud-Royall of the West Saxons, after the death of wicked Sigebert was * 1.375 made King of that Prouince; and appeasing some tu∣mults that were stirred for Sigebert, obtained many victories against the ouermastred Britaines: but had not the like successe against Offa King of the Merci∣ans, who at Bensington gaue him a great ouerthrow. He founded the Cathedrall Church of S. Andrewes at Wels, which afterwards was an Episcopall See, and * 1.376 in great honour raigned for the space of twenty foure yeeres; but then Fourtune turning her face away from him, the rest of his raigne did not sute to that which was spent: for he giuing himselfe to pleasure and se∣curitie, banished Kineard, the brother of his Predeces∣sor Sigebert; who dissembling his wrong, gaue place vnto time, and occasion being offered, made his vse thereof. For Kenwulfe comming to Merton, to visit his Paramore, was there set vpon and slaine; and his body * 1.377 conueied and buried at Winchester, after hee had raig∣ned twenty nine yeeres, leauing no memoriall either of Wife or Children. * 1.378

BRithie, lineally descended from Cherdik the first King of the West-Saxons, a man of a soft and quiet disposition, succeeded Kenwulfe in that Principalitie, in the yeere of Christs Incarnation 784. He married Ethelburga, the daughter of great Offa the Mercian King, by whose power he expelled Egbert that ruled a Lordship in his Prouince vnder him, whose fame in∣creasing through his feates of warres, draue many ica∣lousies into King Brithries head, and the more by the instigation of Ethelburga his Queene, who bearing her selfe great, because of her parentage, practised the downfall and destruction of them whom she hated, and by her suggestions this Egbert was banished on suspicion of conspiracie. It afterward chanced, that shee preparing poison to make an end of one of the Kings Minions, wrought thereby (though vnwitting∣ly) the Kings death: for he by tasting the confection, ended his life, after hee had raigned the space of six∣teene * 1.379 yeeres. Wherein, she fearing the iust reuenge of his subiects, fled into France, & by Charles then King, was so courteously entertained, as that for her great beauty there was offered her the choice of him or his sonne. But she in her youthfull and lustfull humor, choosing the sonne, was debarred from both, and * 1.380 thrust into a Monastery, in the habit (not the affecti∣on of a Nunne) where not long after she abused her body by committing of adultery, and was shortly ex∣pelled, * 1.381 and in beggerly misery ended her life, as by ma∣nie that so saw her, we haue heard it reported, saith Asse∣rius mine Author. For this her most hainous crime,

whereby was procured the murther of her Husband, the West-Saxons ordained a Law, to the great preiu∣dice of all their Queenes succeeding; that none of them should haue either title, maiestie, or place of roi∣altie; * 1.382 which was seuerely executed for many yeeres after.

In the daies of this Brithrik, many prodigies appea∣red, and more perhaps then will be beleeued. For it * 1.383 is reported, that in his third yeere a shower of bloud * 1.384 rained from heauen, and bloudy crosses fell vpon mens garments as they walked abroad. And in his tenth yeere were seene fiery Dragons flying in the ayre. Which wonders, some tooke to be presages of the miseries following, both by the Inuasions of the * 1.385 Pagan Danes, that in these times were first seene to ar∣riue in this Iland, and the extreme Famine that after∣wards happened: howsoeuer, sure it is that the Hep∣tarchy now beganne to set in the West, and the rising Monarchy to appeare in King Egbert, whose acts and issue shall be further rehearsed, when wee shall come to the time of his succession among the English Mo∣narchs.

THE EAST-SAXONS KINGDOME, THE CIRCVIT, SVCCESSIONS OF THEIR KINGS, THEIR ISSVES, AND KING∣DOMES CONTINVANCE. CHAPTER VIII.

[illustration]

THe site of the East-Saxons Kingdom, was the Coun∣try * 1.386 of Essex, Middlesex, and part of Hartfordshire, and the Circuit so far as the Diocesse of London now extendeth. It was bounded on the East with the Ocean; on the South with the Thames; on the West with the Colne; and on the North with the Riuer Stowre. The Kings thereof claime their descent from * 1.387 Prince Woden, not as all the rest of the Saxon Kings, but onely by a collaterall line; and Erchenwine became the * 1.388 first King, which neuerthelesse he held as Feodarie to the Kings of Kent. For which cause, it seemeth that Malmsbury mentioneth him not in the Catalogue of * 1.389 those Kings, but maketh his sonne Sledda the first, and tenth in descent from Woden.

ERchenwine, is said to bee the Sonne of Offa, the sonne of Bedca, the sonne of Sigefuget, the son of * 1.390 Sneppa, the sonne of Awpig, the sonne of Supig, the sonne of Seaxnod, from whom all these Kings fetch their originall: His Kingdome began about the yeere * 1.391 of grace 527. and in the fifteenth of Eske the second King of Kent; and his raigne long, but yet without any memorable acts; dying in the yeere 586. and leauing his sonne to succeede in his place. * 1.392

SLedda the sonne of Erchenwine, succeeding in the East-Saxons Kingdome, raigned peaceablie with∣out * 1.393 mention of any warres; for hauing married Ricula the daughter of Imerik King of Kent, was thereby the more fauoured of them, and feared of others; and nothing left (besides his quiet raigne) to be recorded to posterities; neither are many yeeres of successions numbred, but as they are gathered from the Com∣putations of other princes, with whom they either li∣ued, or were linked in action. This Sledda died about the yeere of our Redemption 596. and left issue by * 1.394 his wife Queene Ricula, Sebert, who succeeded him in the Kingdome, and Segebald his brother whose Sons * 1.395 afterward were Kings of that Prouince.

SEbert the sonne of Sledda and of Queene Ricula, be∣ganne * 1.396 his Raigne in the yere of Christs Incarnation 596. and in the thirtie six yeere of the raigne of King Ethelbert of Ke•…•…, his mothers brother, at that time Monarch of the English-men; who in Seberts chiefe ci∣tie London, a Princelie Mart Towne, (saith Beda) of ma∣ny * 1.397 people ariuing thither both by sea and land; new built a Church, making it the Cathedrall of Bishop Mi∣letus, and so wrought with King Sebert, that hee con∣uerted him to Christianitie; and assisted him in that Foundation, where formerlie (say some) had stood the * 1.398 Temple of Diana. This Church these new Conuerts and Saxon Kings, either new reared or inlarged for the honour and seruice of God, and dedicated vnder the name of Saint Paul: which worke Ethelbert further * 1.399 confirmed with sufficient maintenance, as by this his Charter is seene, containing these words: Aethelbert Rex, Deo inspirante, pro animae suae remedio, dedit Episcop•…•… Mileto terram quae appellatur Tillingham, ad Monaste∣rium siue Solatium scilicet S. Pauli. Et ego Rex Aethelbert ita firmiter concedo tibi Praesuli Mileto potestatem eius ha∣bendi & possidendi, vt in perpetuum in Monasterij vtili∣tate permaneat, &c. And that this was the Temple of Diana, some haue further confirmed vnto vs by the incredible number of Oxe-heads there digged vp in the daies of King Edward the First, when the east-end * 1.400 of that Church was enlarged; which were supposed to be of those Beasts that were there sacrificed to this Goddesse Diana. These Kings likewise founded the Church of S. Peter in the West of London, at a place called Thornye, where sometimes stood the Temple of Apollo, as Sulcardus affirmeth; which being ouer∣throwne

by an Earth-quake, King Lucius new built for the celebration of Gods seruice; and that againe being decaied, those Kings restored it to a greater beautie, where Sebert, after thirteene yeeres raigne, (as some write) with Aethelgoda his Queene were bu∣ried: * 1.401 whose bodies in the daies of Richard the Second (saith Walsingh.) were translated from the old Church * 1.402 to the new, and there interred. Hee had issue by the said Queene, Sered, Seward, and Sigebert, whose liues and deaths were as followeth.

SEred, Seward, and Sigbert, the sonnes of King Sebert, raigned as it seemeth, together in the Kingdome of * 1.403 the East-Saxons; all three wicked irreligious men, and deadly enemies to the Christian Profession. These con∣tumeliously presuming to the Lords Table, and holy Sacrament of his Body and Bloud, were prohibited by Bishop Miletus, because they were Idolaters and vnbap∣tized: which repulse they tooke so offensiuely, that they expulsed Miletus, who therupon fled into France. But their impietie was not long vnrewarded: for figh∣ting against Kingils, and Qinchelinus his sonne, (Kings of the West-Saxons) were by them ouercome, and in * 1.404 battle slaine about the yeere of Grace 623. as by the learned Sir Henry Sauile is calculated, whose account for these times I altogether follow.

SIgebert the little, the sonne of Seward, the second * 1.405 sonne of King Sebert, entred his raigne ouer the kingdome of the East-Saxons, the yeere of Christ 623. of whose affaires, little matter is left for vs to relate, sauing that hee hauing both a Brother and a Sonne, yet his Kingdome was succeeded by neither, but by one Sigibert, his Cosen-German once remooued.

SIgibert, the sonne of Segebald, the brother of Sebert, * 1.406 the sonne of King Sledda, and of Ricula his Queene, succeeded his kinsman in the Kingdome of the East-Saxons. This Sigibert reduced againe his Prouince vn∣to the embracing of the Christian Faith, being daily instigated thereunto by Oswie King of Northumber∣land, and receiued Baptisme himselfe at the hands of Bishop Finnan, and at the place called The Wall, procu∣red * 1.407 vertuous Cedda to be his assister for the plantation of the Gospell in his Kingdome. He was murdered by * 1.408 two of his kinsmen, who, as Beda saith, were Bre∣thren, no other cause moouing them, but his ouer∣much lenitie and clemencie. He raigned by the fore∣said * 1.409 account, sixteene yeeres, leauing issue a young sonne named Selred, that succeeded Seofrid in that * 1.410 Kingdome.

SWithelme succeeded his brother in the Prouince of the East-Saxons, nothing being mentioned of his * 1.411 life or raigne, besides his Baptisme by Bishop Cedda, and that his God-father at the Font-stone was Edelwald King of the East-Angles.

SIghere, the sonne of Sigebert the little, entred his * 1.412 raigne ouer the Kingdome of the East-Saxons, the yeere of our Lord 664. and was the eighth King of that Prouince, in part whereof Sebba his nephew raig∣ned, with better commendations then Sigehere at his beginning had done; for Beda reporteth, that vpon a * 1.413 great mortalitie and plague, to appease the wrath of his Gods, Sighere became an Apostata, and forsooke the faith of Christ, wheras SEbba continued constant with those in that Prouince vnder his Iurisdiction: yet by the diligent care of Wulfere King of the Mercians, Sig∣here and his people were reclaimed, throwing downe * 1.414 the Temples and Altars erected to Idolatrie, and ope∣ning againe the Christian Churches for the Saints as∣semblies, that so (saith hee) they might rather die in hope of the Resurrection, then wallow in sinne, and liue in Idolatrie. His wife was Oswith the daughter of Edelfrith, King of Northumberland, whom Capgraue * 1.415 maketh a Saint, and Abbesse of Berking neere London, euen in the daies of her husband.

SEbba, the Brother of Segebert the Little, and Sonne of Seward, (as we haue said) succeeded as sole King * 1.416 in the Prouince of the East-Saxons, and with much equitie and administration of Iustice raigned therein thirty yeeres: towards the end whereof, the better * 1.417 to prepare his mind for contemplation, he relinqui∣shed his Princely Robes, and put on the Habit of Religious Profession in the Monastery of S. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in London; as Radulphus de Diceto, with others at tirme. * 1.418 Wherein this penitent King liuing a while in fasting and praiers, died the yeere of Christ 693. whose body * 1.419 was intombed in a Coffin of Gray Marble, the Couer copped, and as yet standing in the North wall of the * 1.420 Chancell of the same Church.

A miracle thereof Beda reporteth, needlesse either * 1.421 then to be wrought, or now of vs repeated, were it not to point at the blindnes wherein euen good men were then led; and thus it is: They hauing prepared a Tombe-stone, to lay his body in, found it too short by the quantitie of an hands bredth, and hewing it longer, yet would not serue: therefore they minding to bow vp the knees, laid the body therein, and sud∣denly it lengthned of it selfe with more then was suf∣ficient. But surely howsoeuer this tombe was then set on this Monkish tenter, it is now since shrunke againe in the standing, and exceeds not in measure fiue foot in length. His wife (but vnnamed) hee likewise * 1.422 instigated to leaue the momentanie pleasures of * 1.423 princely State, for that which is permanent: which thing with much adoe he lastly obtained, leauing her to follow him in his vertuous deuotions, and his two sonnes to succeed him in his kingdome.

SIgherd, the Sonne of King Sebba, whom Beda ma∣keth a Monke with his Father, followed him also in the succession of the East-Saxons Kingdome; the time of whose entrance is set in the yeere of Christs Incarnation 694. and his death in 701. no other men∣tion being made either of Acts, Wife, or Issue.

SEofrid, the Sonne of King Sebba, and Brother to King Sigheard, either ioyntly raigned with him, or * 1.424 successiuely after him, of whom I finde nothing men∣tioned worthy inserting, hauing had neither Wife nor issue that are recorded.

OFfa, the Sonne of Sighere, and of Queene Oswith * 1.425 his Wife, a man noted for his comely feature and sweet countenance, succeeded King Seofrid in the Kingdome of the East-Saxons, the yeere of grace 701. He both enlarged with buildings, and enriched with lands the goodly and beautiful Church of Westminster, but after he had ruled eight yeeres, being moued with a supposed religious deuotion, hee abandoned Kines∣with his wife (the daughter of Penda the Mercian King) his lands, kinne, and Country, and with Kenred King of Mercia, and Edwine Bishop of Worcester, went to Rome, where he was shorne a Monke, and in that habit died, leauing his Cosen Selred to succeed in his king∣dome. His wife Kineswith after his departure, (with the like penancie) vowed her selfe a vailed Nunne in the Abbey of Kineburg, whereof his sister was Abbesse, who had been wife to Alfrith King of Northumberland.

SElred, the Sonne of Sigebert the Good, who was mur∣thered for his ouermuch clemencie, attained to the * 1.426 Kingdome of the East-Saxons, in the yeere of grace 709. His raigne was long, though his acts are little spoken of, either that others worther affaires fil∣led the pens of those Story-writers, or that his time was so peaceable and vnactiuely spent, that it mini∣stred not matter whereof to indite. Hee raigned 38. * 1.427 yeeres, and died Anno 746. without relation either of Wife or Children.

SVthred, after the slaughter of Selred, was made * 1.428 King of the East-Saxons, which title hee retained, vntill that Egbert King of the West-Saxons, taking Armes against him, expulsed him out of that King∣dome; as also the same yeere he did Baldred, King of Kent, which was in the yeere of Christs Incarnation 827. and made it a Prouince annexed vnto the West-Saxons, * 1.429 after it had stood in state of a Kingdome 281. yeeres.

THE KINGDOME OF NORTHVM∣BERLAND, CIRCVIT AND CONTI∣NVANCE, WITH THE SVCCESSIONS AND ISSVES OF THOSE KINGS, VNTO THE LAST SVBVERSION THEREOF BY KING EGBERT. CHAPTER IX.

[illustration]

THis Kingdome of Nor∣thumberland consisted at * 1.430 first of two distinct Pro∣uinces; whereof the one was called Deira, and the other Bernicia, and were gouerned sometimes by their Kings seuerally, and sometimes vnder one, as successe of warre, or other casualties incident did afford. The royall descents of whose Kings are brought by Florentius both from the Fourth and Fifth Sonnes of Prince Woden, after this manner. Ella, vnder whom the Kingdome of Deira * 1.431 beganne, was the sonne of Iffi, who was the sonne of Wuskfrea, the sonne of Wilgils, the sonne of Westor∣walchna, the sonne of Seomel, the sonne of Suearta, the sonne of Saepugell, the sonne of Seabald, the sonne of Siggeot, the sonne of Suebdeg, the sonne of Siggar, the sonne of Weadeg, the fourth sonne of Woden. And the descent of Ida, the raiser of the Bernicians kingdome, is brought from Bealdeag the fifth sonne of Woden; for Bealdeag was father to Brand, whose sonnes were Be∣orn and Freodegar, the latter of which twaine was the progenitour of Cherdik the first West-Saxon King: and his brother Beorn begat another Beorn also, and hee Wegbrand the father of Ingebrand, whose sonne was Alusa, the father of Angengeal, and this mans sonne Ingengeat, the father of Aethelbright, whose sonne Oesa begat Eoppa the father of this Ida, the first King of Bernicia.

These Saxon Captaines Ella and Ida, about sixtie yeeres after the death of King Hengist, changed the * 1.432 title of this Prouince from a Dukedome to a King∣dome. For Hengist hauing giuen the possession of those North parts vnto Otho his Brother, and to Ebu∣sain his sonne, their Successors held it, with many ho∣stile irruptions the space of 99. yeeres. But now the Britaines subiected, and no resistance made, those Captaines diuide the Prouince into two parts, intitu∣ling either by the name of a Kingdome; the first Deira, * 1.433 was possessed by Ella, which stretched from Tyne, to the Riuer Humber; and the second Bernicia, enioyed by Ida, whose Continent lay betwixt the Tyne and * 1.434 the Frith of Edenborough. These together contained the Counties of Westmerland, Cumberland, Northum∣berland, Yorkeshire, Lancaster, and Durham, and was bounded on the West with the Irish Seas, on the North with the Wall of Scuerus, on the East with the German Ocean, and on the South with the Riuers Mersey and Humber. Ida, saith Malmsbury, raigned fourteene yeeres: and Ella by Matthew of Westmin∣ster, is said to succeed him for thirty yeeres. The issue * 1.435 of Ida legitimate, as Huntington recordeth, were Adda, Bealrik, Thedrik, Ethelrik, Osmer, and Thedred; illegiti∣mate, Oga, Ecca, Oswald, Ailrik, Sogoe, and Sogother. These (saith Matthew of Westminster) arriued at Flemis∣burke with forty Ships, and assisted their Father in ma∣nie * 1.436 of his enterprises. The issue of Ella, by Florentius his record, were Acca, Wife of Ethelfrid, King of Ber∣nicia, and mother to the most Christian Oswald, Mo∣narch of the Englishmen, and Edwine the Monarch and first Christian King of Northumberland. Ida is said to beginne his raigne Anno 547. And Ella in the yeere 559. No other particulars ascribed vnto either, be∣sides * 1.437 the building of Bamburge Castell.

With Ella raigned the two sonnes of Ida, namely Adda and Thedrik, with three others, Elappea, Theod∣wald, and Frethulfe, sprung from Eoppae the father of Ida, all fiue his substitutes ouer the Bernicians: but be∣cause there is no other mention of them besides their names and raignes, I will leaue as I finde them, and proceed to the more worthy of recitall.

2. Adda raigned 7. yeeres	King of Bernicia.
3. Elappea raigned 5. yeeres
4. Theodwald raigned 1. yeere
5. Frethulfe raigned 7. yeeres
6. Theodrik raigned 7. yeeres

EThelrik the sonne of King Ida, hauing outrun his youth in pernicious obscuritie, attained in his old * 1.438 yeeres to the gouernment of both the Prouinces, and whole Kingdome of Northumberland, wherein his time was so spent (saith Malmesbury) that had not his sonne in the glasse of his owne worths shewed the face of his fathers remembrance, his acts and raigne might easily haue beene forgotten. His issue were Ethelfrid that succeeded him, and Theobald slaine in Battle against * 1.439 the Scots. He raigned fiue yeeres, and died, An. 593.

EThelfrid, a man very valiant, and thirstie for re∣nowne, succeeded his father in the Northumbrians Kingdome. Him Beda compares to King Saul in Israel, * 1.440 excepting only in the knowledge of Gods true Reli∣gion: to whom (saith he) might be applied the say∣ing of Iacob touching Beniamin, that like a rauening Woolfe he deuoured his prey in the morning, and di∣uided the spoile thereof in the euening. For he made greater Conquests ouer. the daily afflicted Britaines, * 1.441 then all the Kings of the Angles had done; and peo∣pling their possessions with his Saxons, held the right owners vnder subiection and tribute. This his pro∣speritie, * 1.442 Ed•…•…aden King of the Scots greatly enuied, and attempting to croppe it, and to plant himselfe vpon

the root of like honour, hee assembled a great and strong Armie against him, and at the place called Deg∣siston strooke Battle with him, wherein notwithstan∣ding * 1.443 he was ouerthrowne, and his Scots discomfited, yet with such losse to King Ethelfrid, that Theobald his brother, with the part of the Armie whereof he was * 1.444 Generall, were all vanquished and destroied. This bat∣tle went so sore against the Scotish Britaines, that (saith Beda) no King of that Nation durst attempt to meet the English in the Field for a long time after. And the for∣tune of the day did so much augment both his fame, and also his haughty spirit, that presently he reenfor∣ced * 1.445 his power against the Britaines, that were at * 1.446 Cair∣legion, where of them hee made a most lamentable slaughter, and that not only of the Souldiers prepa∣red for fight, but also of those religious and harmlesse Monks, there assembled for praier.

These Monks were of the Monastery of Bangor in North-wales, famous for antiquity, forme of disci∣pline * 1.447 and spacious circuit. It was situated in the fruit∣full valley now called the English Mailor; and vpon the Banckes of the Riuer Dee, where it extended it selfe as in the circuit of a walled Citie, containing within it the quantitie of a mile and a halfe of ground: two of whose Gates may at this day easilie be discerned, the one of them called Port Hogen, lying by North; and the other Port Clais, situate on the South; the Riuer Dee hauing now changed his Channell, runneth tho∣row the middest betwixt both the Gates, which stand asunder fiue hundred paces. This Monaste∣rie, saith Clariualentius, was the Mother of all others in the World; who in memory of the * Seuen Churches * 1.448 of Asia, did distribute into seuen portions their Monks, euery one numbring three hundred soules, and all of them (as Beda saith) liuing by the labour of their own hands. Many of these assembling at Cair-legion, to as∣sist their Brethren Britaines with their supplications vnto God against this Ethelfrid, surnamed the Wilde, and his fierce Souldiers the Infidell Saxons; with three daies fasts spent their time in continuall praiers. But King Ethelfrid beholding their maner, demanded the cause; and vnderstanding that they called for assi∣stance of their God against him and his Army, set first vpon their Guarder Brockmal, a man of Armes, who to saue his own life, left all theirs to the sword, where∣in perished one thousand and two hundred Christian * 1.449 Monks, besides the discomfiture of the Britaines Host. Many of these were interred in their owne Monasteries, whose bodies, saith Leyland, haue been found in the memory of man, in the rotten weedes wherein they were slaine. But as his fame increased daily abroad, so were his feares augmented continu∣ally * 1.450 at home. For Edwine the sonne of Ella, and third King of Deira, a gallant young Prince, and newly sea∣ted in his Fathers Kingdome, wrought many suspici∣ons in Ethelfrids head; and though he was brother to his Wife Acca, yet the neerenesse of that alliance, no whit diminished his iealous conceits, whom therefore by priuie conspiracies and apparant pursuits hee so daily molested, that he was forced to saue his life by auoiding the Country, and tossed in exile from place * 1.451 to place, was lastly receiued and succoured by Red∣wald, King of the East-Angles, who in his quarrel forth∣with * 1.452 assembled his forces, and meeting Ethelfrid in the field, slew him neere the Riuer Idle, after hee had raigned twenty three yeeres, in the yeere of Christ * 1.453 his Incarnation 617. He had issue by his Wife Acca, (the daughter of Ella) Eanfrith King of Bernicia, Oslafe, and Oswald King of Northumberland, Oslake, and Offa, with two Daughters canonized for Saints, Oswith and Ebba the Nunne; as also by his Concubine, Oswy, the tenth Monarch of the Englishmen.

EDwine thus raised by the helpe of King Redwald, * 1.454 returned to his Country, and was of the Inhabi∣tants made King of Northumberland, and afterward Monarch of the Englishmen; as in their succession shall be declared. Beda (somewhat too much addicted to fabulous miracles) of him reporteth this storie: That whilest hee lay banished in King Redwalds Court, Ethelfrid instigated his receiuer, by promises to take away his life; or if he refused, threatned him warres: * 1.455 for feare whereof, Redwald, partly inclining to this wicked purpose, reuealed the same to the Queene his wife; which a friend of Edwins hearing, told him of his danger, and wished him to flie. Edwine thus perplex∣ed, with troubled thoughts in the dead of the night, * 1.456 sate solitary vnder a tree in dumps, musing what was best to be done; to suspect and flie from Redwald, that had honoured him so much, he held it a wrong; and to thinke himselfe safe in other Prouinces against so powerfull pursuers, he thought it was vaine. Thus di∣stracted in casting what way might be safest, sudden∣ly * 1.457 approched a man vnto him, vtterly vnknowne, who after salutation, demanded the cause why hee sate at so vnseasonable a time, in so vncouth a place, and pensiue manner? Edwine thinking him to be his * 1.458 deaths-man, resolutely answered; It nothing concer∣ned him at all, either to aske, or to know his estate. Oh Edwine (said he) thinke not but that I know thy * 1.459 sorrow, and the cause of thy sitting thus vpon that stone; thy death is pretended, and euen at hand: but what wouldest thou giue to rid thee of that danger, and to make King Redwald thy assured preseruer? Any thing, quoth Edwine, which is in my power. But what shall be his reward (said the other) that shall set * 1.460 thee vpon the throne of thy Kingdome, and that with such glory, as none of thy Progenitors euer at∣tained vnto? I would bee thankfull to that man, said Edwine, in all things, and at all times, as reason requi∣red, * 1.461 and of right I ought. But tell me Edwine, said he, what if the same man shew thee a more safe way to * 1.462 preserue the life of thy soule, then either thou at this present knowest, or any of thy Parents euer heard of; wilt thou consent and imbrace his counsell? Yea, said Edwine, God forbid that I should not bee ruled by him, that thus should free me from this present dan∣ger, set me vpon the throne of a Kingdome, and after these great fauours, should also teach mee the way to an eternall life. Vpon this answere, laying his right hand on Edwines head, he said vnto him; When these things shall in order come to passe, then call to minde this time, and what thou hast promised, and so vani∣shed * 1.463 from his presence. The young Prince thus left betwixt hope and despaire, his friend that had fore∣warned him of his death, came hastily to him with a * 1.464 more cheerfull countenance, Come in Edwine (quoth he) and surcease thy cares, for the Queene hath not onely changed Redwalds mind to saue thy life, but he also hath granted to maintaine thy right against Ethel∣frid thine enemy. Which shortly he did, and slew him, as we haue said.

Edwine thus placed vpon the Princely Throne, his first Wife Queenburg being dead in his exile, receiued * 1.465 in marriage Ethelburga, surnamed Tace, (a fit name for a woman) the Daughter of King Ethelbert, and Sister to Edbald King of Kent, a most chaste and vertuous Christian Lady, whose teacher was Paulinus, and both of them Gods instruments for the Conuersion of the Northumbrians to the imbracement of Christian Re∣ligion. But because we shall haue occasion to speake of this Edwine as he was Monarch of the Englishmen, we will reserue his Acts, Issues, and Raigne, to bee fur∣ther related in the course of his Succession. Hee was slaine in battell against Cadwall King of the Britaines and Penda King of the Mercians, when he had prospe∣rously * 1.466 raigned seuenteene yeeres, the twelfth of October, Anno 633. and was buried in Saint Peters * 1.467 Church at Streanshall, after called Whitby. Vpon whose * 1.468 death, the Kingdome of Northumberland was againe diuided.

OSricke the Sonne of Alfrid (Edwines Vncle) suc∣ceeding * 1.469 in the Prouince of Deira, and Fanfrith the Sonne of Ethelfrid the Wilde, in the Prouince of the Bernicians; these, with the rest of Ethelfrids Chil∣dren, for the continuance of Edwins Raigne, had * 1.470 in banishment beene preserued among the Scots and Red-shanks, and there had receiued the Sacrament of Baptisme: but after the death of their Enemie, these

Princes returned to their owne Country, and former superstitions, renouncing againe the profession of * 1.471 Christ. Yet this their Apostasie (saith Beda) remained not long vnpunished: For Cadwallader King of the Bri∣taines, with wicked force, but with worthy vengeance, slew them both the next Sommer ensuing. Osrike vnprepared, and his whole Army penned in the Suburbs of their owne Citie, he miserably slew; and possessing the Prouince of the Northumbrians, not as a King or Conqueror, but rather like an outragious Tyrant, destroied and rent in tragicall manner, all things before him. Eanfrith vnaduisedly with twelue chosen persons comming to * 1.472 Cadwallader to intreat vpon peace, were cruelly put to death. This yeere (saith he) continueth vnhappy and hatefull euen vnto this day, as well for the Apostasie of these English Kings, as also for the Bri∣tain Kings furious tyranny. Wherefore the Historiogra∣phers * 1.473 of that time haue thought it best, that the memory of these Apostate Kings being vtterly forgotten, the selfe∣same yeere should be assigned to the Raigne of the next fol∣lowing King, Oswald, a man dearely beloued of God.

OSwald, the sonne of Wild Ethelfrid, and brother to King Eanfrith, beganne his raigne ouer the Nor∣thumbrians * 1.474 Anno 634. hauing first embraced Christi∣anitie, and receiued; Baptisme in Scotland, wherein hee was secured all the raigne of King Edwin, and had withall learned some experience in warre. Hee com∣ming vnlooked for with a small Armie, but fensed (saith Beda) with the Faith of Christ, obtained against Cedwald King of the Britaines a great victorie: the * 1.475 manner whereof, with his other acts atchieued, wee will further declare in his succession among the Mo∣narkes * 1.476 of the English-men, whereof hee was the ninth from Hengist.

He sent for Aidan, a Scotish Diuine, to teach his peo∣ple the Doctrine of Christ, inlarged his Kingdome, * 1.477 and reconciled the Deirians and Bernicians, who were at mortall enmitie. He was slaine, and cruelly rent in peeces by the vnmercifull Pagan Penda the Mercian, at Oswaldstree in Shrop-shire, quinto Augusti, the yeere of our Lord 642. when hee had raigned nine yeeres, * 1.478 and was buried at Bradney in Lincolne-shire. His wife * 1.479 was Kineburg, the daughter of Kingils King of the West-Saxons; and his sonne Ethelwald, young at his death, * 1.480 and therefore defeated of his Kingdome by Oswy his Vncle, the Naturall Sonne of King Ethelfrid the Wild. Notwithstanding when Oswin King of Deira was murdered by this Oswy of Bernitia, and he not past six∣teene yeeres of age, entred by force vpon Deira, and kept the same Prouince by strong hand so long as hee liued; and dying, left it to his cosen Alkfrid, the Na∣turall Sonne of the said King Oswy.

OSwy the illegitimate sonne of Ethelfrid the Wild, at thirty yeeres of age succeeded King Oswald his * 1.481 brother in the Kingdome of the Bernicians; at whose entrance, Oswyne the sonne of Osrik, that had denied the Faith, and was slaine of King Cedwall, raigned in Deira. This Oswyne was slaine by King Oswye: after * 1.482 whose death, seizing all Northumberland, he spread his terrour further into other parts, and was the tenth * 1.483 Monarch of the Englishmen, as in his succession we will further speake: His wife was Eanfled, daughter to Ed∣wine King of Northumberland, by whom he had many * 1.484 children. His raigne was 28. yeeres, and death the fifteenth day of Februarie, in the yeere of grace 670. and of his age 58.

EGfrid, the eldest sonne of King Oswy by Queene Eanfled, had beene Hostage in the Kingdome of * 1.485 Mercia, and after his father was made King of Nor∣thumberland, in the yeere of Christ 671. Hee warred, but with great losse, against Edilred King of Mercia, neere vnto the Riuer of Trent, wherein his younger brother Elswyne was vnfortunately slaine, to the great griefe of both the Kings, the one being his owne bro∣ther, * 1.486 and the other his brother in law by mariage: whereupon a peace and reconciliation was made. But Egfred being by nature of a disquiet disposition, inua∣ded the Irish, and destroied those harmelesse and silly people, which (as Beda saith) had beene great friends to the English. Their resistance consisted chiefly in cur∣ses * 1.487 and imprecations for reuenge, which though they could not open heauen, yet (saith hee) it is to be belee∣ued, that for their cause he was cut off the next yeere ensu∣ing by the Picts or Red-shankes, against whom he prepared, contrary to the aduice of his Counsell, and by them was slaine among the strait and waste mountaines, 20. Maij the yeere of mans felicitie 685. and of his age fortie, * 1.488 after hee had raigned fifteene yeeres. His wife was * 1.489 Etheldred the daughter of Anna King of the East-An∣gles: * 1.490 shee was both Widow and Virgin; first maried to Tonbert a Noble man that ruled the Giruij, a people inhabiting the Fenny Countries of Norfolke, Lincolne, * 1.491 Huntington, and Cambridge-shires; and after him also in virginitie continued twelue yeeres with her hus∣band King Egfrid, contrarie to his minde, and the Apo∣stles precept, that forbiddeth such defrauding either in man or woman, except it be with consent for a time, and to * 1.492 the preparatiō of praier; affirming elswhere, that Ma∣riage is honourable, and the bed thereof vndefiled, wherein * 1.493 the woman doth redeeme her transgression, through faith, loue, holinesse, and modestie, by beating of * 1.494 children. This notwithstanding, she obtained licence to depart his Court, and got her to Coldingham Abby, where shee was professed a Nunne vnder Ebba the daughter of King Ethelfrid. Then went shee to Ely, and new built a Monasterie, whereof shee was made Abbesse, and wherein with great reuerence shee was intombed: whose vertues and remembrance remai∣ned to posterities by the name of S. Andrie, she being canonized among the Catalogue of English Saints. * 1.495

ALkfryd, the illegitimate sonne of King Oswy, in the * 1.496 raigne of his halfe-brother King Egfrid, whether willingly, or by violence constrained, liued like a ba∣nished man in Ireland, where applying himselfe to studie, hee became an excellent Philosopher, and (as * 1.497 Beda saith) was very conuersant and learned in the Holy Scriptures, and therefore was made King ouer the Northumbrians: where with great wisdome, though * 1.498 not with so large bounds as others had enioied, hee worthily did recouer the decaied estate of that Pro∣uince, ruling the same twenty yeeres and odde mo∣neths, and departed this life, Anno 705. His Wife * 1.499 was Kenburg, the daughter of Penda King of the Mer∣cians, and by her he had issue only one sonne, that suc∣ceeded him in his Kingdome.

OSred, a child of eight yeeres in age, for the hopes conceiued from the vertues of his father, was * 1.500 made King ouer the Northumbrians; whose steps hee no wayes trod in, but rather in filthy abuse of his per∣son and place, wallowed in all voluptuous pleasures and sensuall delight, violating the bodies of vailed Nunnes, and other religious holy women: wherein * 1.501 when he had spent eleuen yeeres more to his age, his kinsmen Kenred and Osrick conspired against him, and in battle by his slaughter made an end of his impious * 1.502 life. His wife was Cuthburga, the sister of Inas King of the West-Saxons, as by the time may bee gathered, * 1.503 from the computation of Marianus, and the Annales of the English-Saxons; who vpon a loathing wearinesse * 1.504 of wedlocke, sued out a diuorce from her husband, and built a Nunnery at Winburne in Dorset-shire, where in a religious habit shee ended her life, and hee by Kenred and Osricke, leauing his Kingdome to them that wrought his death.

KEnred, the sonne of Cuthwyne, whose father was Leolwald the sonne of Egwald, and his father * 1.505 Adelm, the sonne of Oga, the naturall sonne of Ida, the first King of Deira, after the death of Osred raigned two yeeres, no other remembrance left of him, be∣sides * 1.506 the murder of his Soueraigne Lord and King.

OSrick, after the death of Kenred, obtained the Kingdome of Northumberland, and raigned ther∣in * 1.507 the space of eleuen yeeres, leauing to the world his name stained with bloud in the murder of young Os∣red, no other mention of parentage, wife, or issue of him remaining; for want whereof, hee adopted Ceol∣nulph, * 1.508 brother to his predecessor Kenred, and died vn∣lamented the yeere of Grace seuen hundred twentie nine.

CEolnulph, the brother of Kenred, after the death of King Osrike, was made King of the Northumbrians; * 1.509 which Prouince hee gouerned with great peace and victorie the space of eight yeeres: but then forsaking the Royall Estate and Robes of Maiestie, put on the * 1.510 habit of a Monke in the Ile of Lindesferne or Holy Iland. * 1.511 These were the daies (saith Beda) wherein the accepta∣ble time of peace and quietnesse was embraced among the * 1.512 Northumbrians, who now laid their armour aside, and ap∣plied themselues to the reading of holy Scriptures, more de∣sirous to be professed in religious houses, then to exercise feats of warre, or of Armes. For not only Priests and Lay men vowed and performed Pilgrimages to Rome, but Kings, Queenes and Bishops also did the like: so great * 1.513 (so blinde I might say) a deuotion was in their hearts, and so holy a reuerence held they of the place. Vnto this King Ceolnulph, the said Venerable Beda (a Priest in * 1.514 the Monasterie of Peter and Paul at Werimouth neere vnto Durham) a great Clerke, and Writer of the En∣glish Historie, dedicated the same his Worke, which he continued till the yeere seuen hundred thirty one, and from the first entrance of the Saxons, containing 285. yeeres, according to his owne account.

EGbert, the sonne of Eata, who was brother to King Kenred, succeeded his vncle Ceolnulph in the King∣dome * 1.515 of Northumberland, and ruled the same with the like peace and pietie, the time of twenty yeeres; and then following his example, also forsooke the world, * 1.516 and shore himselfe a Monke, as diuers other Kings in those daies had done, whereof Simon Dunelmensis wri∣teth, * 1.517 and noteth their number to bee eight: as Inas King of the West-Saxons, Ethelred and Kenred Kings of * 1.518 Mercia, Sigebert King of the East-Angles, Sebbi and Off a Kings of the East-Saxons, and Ceolnulph and this Egbert Kings of the Northumbrians. These forsaking the world (as they tooke it) left the Charge that God vpon them had imposed, whose authoritie in earth they swaied, and wherein they might much more haue aduanced Gods glory and Christs Gospel, then for a more easie and priuate life, not warranted by his word, but rather disliked, and perhaps foreshewed * 1.519 by those heauenly creatures the Sunne and Moone, * 1.520 which in those daies were fearefully darkned, and for a time seemed to haue lost their light: for Anno 733. 18. Calend. Septemb. the Sunne suffred so great an Eclipse, that the earth seemed to bee ouer-shadowed as with sack-cloth. And Anno 756. 8. Calend. Decemb. the Moone being in her full, appeared both darke and bloudy; for a Starre (though there be none low∣er then the Moone) seemed to follow her, and to de∣priue her of light: but passing before her, shee againe recouered her former brightnesse. This King Egbert had a brother that bore the same name, and was in∣stalled Arch-bishop of Yorke, where he erected a beauti∣full Librarie (a worke well befitting a Noble Prelate) and plentifully stored it with an infinite number of learned bookes. His sonne was Oswulph, that succee∣ded in the Kingdome. * 1.521

OSwulph, when his father Egbert had put off the Robes of Maiestie, and clad himselfe with a * 1.522 Monkes Cowle, ascended the Throne of Northumber∣land, and sa•…•…e therein only one yeere: for before hee had made attempt of any memorable act, he was trai∣terously murdered by his own seruants at Mikilwong∣ton, the ninth Kalends of August, leauing the Crown vndisposed of vntill the Nones of the same moneth in the next yeere.

EDitwald or Mollo was then made King of Nor∣thumberland, and with great valiancie defended his * 1.523 Subiects. Some say, that at the end of six yeeres hee resigned his gouernment; yet others affirme his raign to be eleuen yeeres, and lastly that hee was slaine by Alured his Successour.

ALured, the murderer of his Lord and Master, be∣ganne his raigne ouer the kingdome of Northum∣berland, * 1.524 the yeere of Christs Incarnation seuen hun∣dred sixty fiue, and continued the same with such dis∣likes, that hee lastly was expelled out of the Prouince by his own subiects, & enforced to abandon the same. He was the son of Ta•…•…win, the son of Bie•…•…hom, the son * 1.525 of Bofae, the son of Ailrick, the naturall son of Ida, the first King of Bernicia. And the sonnes of this Alured were Osred, afterwards King of Northumberland, and * 1.526 Alhnud, slaine by the Danes, and canonized a Saint.

EThelred, the sonne of Mollo, was aduanced to the * 1.527 Regiment of Northumberland, and in the fifth yeere of his raigne, was driuen out of the same by Edelbald and Herebert, two Dukes that warred against him; who hauing discomfited and slaine his Generall and souldiers in a fierce battel, so weakened the hopes of King Ethelred, that he fled his Country, and left the Kingdome in a miserable estate, through the dissensi∣ons of those ambitious Princes.

ALfwald the brother of the foresaid King Alered aspiring to the Soueraignty of the Northumbri∣ans, * 1.528 ruled the same in great Iustice, to his worthy com∣mendations: notwithstanding the wickednes of his people was such, that without all guilt he was traite∣rously murthered by the conspiracie of Siga, 23. Sept. * 1.529 the yeere of Christs Incarnation, seuen hundred eigh∣tie eight, after he had raigned eleuen yeeres, and his * 1.530 body buried at Hexhaem. His sonnes were Alfus and Alfwin, both slaine by King Ethelred. * 1.531

OSred the sonne of King Alured, tooke vpon him * 1.532 the Rule of Northumberland, the yeere of grace seuen hundred eightie nine, and the same yeere fini∣shed his gouernment thereof, being expelled by his subiects, and depriued of all kingly authority.

EThelred the sonne of Mollo, reuoked from exile * 1.533 wherein he had liued the space of twelue yeeres, was againe restored to the Crowne; but he minding the iniuries that his Lords had formerly done him, * 1.534 sought the reuenge by their deaths, as also to establish his Throne the surer, slew Alfus and Alfwin, the sons of Alfwald, as wee haue said, the right heires to the Crowne, and inticing Osred the former deposed King into his danger, commanded him to be put to death at Cu•…•…burge, the fourteenth of September, and yeere of Christ seuen hundred ninety two. And to strengthen himselfe the more against all his opposites, the same yeere he married Lady Elfled, the second Daughter to great Off a King of Mercia, forsaking his former Wife * 1.535 without any iust cause giuen on her part.

These things sate so neere the hearts of his subiects, that after seuen yeeres from his second establishment, they rebelliously rose in Armes, and at Cobre misera∣bly * 1.536 slew him the eighteenth day of Aprill, the yeere * 1.537 of Christ Iesus 794.

AFter whose death, the Northumbrians were sore molested with many intruders, or rather Tyrants, * 1.538 that banded for the soueraignty the space of thirty yeeres. The first whereof was Oswald, that held the ti∣tle * 1.539 of King only twenty eight daies, & then was forced to saue his life by flight vnto the King of the Picts. Next, Ard•…•…lfe a Duke, reuoked from exile: then Alf∣wold, E•…•…red, Ethelred, Readulph, Osbert, and Elle, slaine by the Danes in Yorke at a place, frō Elle his slaughter called to this day Elle-Crofte, and the Kingdome yeel∣ded to the protection of Egbert King of the West-Sax∣ons, who was now become Englands first absolute Mo∣narch, (as holding all the rest of the Kings no lon∣ger for his Associates, but his subiects) in the yeere nine hundred twentie six, after it had stood in forme of a Kingdome three hundred seuenty nine yeeres, and was made a Prouince, and ioined with the rest vnto the English Monarchie.

THE CIRCVIT AND SVCCESSORS OF THE MERCIAN KINGDOME, VN∣TILL IT WAS SVBIECTED TO THE WEST-SAXONS. CHAPTER X.

[illustration]

THis Kingdome of Mercia contained more Coun∣ties, * 1.540 and the skirts of that royall Tent were spread with a wider compasse then any of the rest in the Saxons Heptarchie: for in the middest of the Iland * 1.541 this Kingdome was seated, and from the verge of Northumberland touched some part of Middlesex, which was the possession of the East-Saxons: the North thereof was bounded with Humber and Mer∣sey; the East was inclosed with the German Ocean; the West extended to Seuerne and Dee; and the South part neerely touched the Riuer of Thames; containing the Counties now known by these names, of Cheshire, Darby-shire, Nottingham, Stafford, and Shrop-shire, Northampton, Leicester, Lincolne, Huntington, and Rut∣land-shires; Warwicke, Worcester, Oxford, and Glocester-shires; Buckingham, Bedford, and part of Hertford-shire. The first raiser of that Title and name of a Kingdome, was Crida, the sonne of Kenwald, who was the sonne * 1.542 of Cnebba, the sonne of Ichell, the sonne of Eomer, the sonne of Engengeate, the sonne of Offa, the sonne of Weremund, the sonne of Withleg, the sonne of Waga, * 1.543 the sonne of Wethelgeate, the third of the fiue sonnes of Prince Woden. This man, without more fame of his further acts, is said to haue raigned the space of * 1.544 ten yeeres, and to haue died Anno 594. His issue was Wibba that succeeded him in his Kingdome, and a * 1.545 daughter named Quenburge, matched in mariage with Edwin afterwards King of Northumberland, with whom she liued in the Court of King Redwald in the time of his troubles, and died before him in that his banishment. She bore him two sonnes, Osfrid and Ed∣fride, as in the succession of Edwins Monarchy shall be shewed: notwithstanding Beda reporteth this Quen∣burge to be daughter of Ceorle the third King of Mer∣cia, and grand-child to this first Crida.

VVIbba, the sonne of King Crida, not onely held what his Father had gotten, but also inlarged * 1.546 his dominions by intrusion vpon the weake Britaines. His issue was Penda, Kenwalk, and Eoppa, all three Pro∣genitors of Kings afterwards in that kingdome, with a daughter named Sexburg, married to Kenwald, King of the West-Saxons, whom he without iust cause diuor∣ced from him; for which cause great troubles after∣wards ensued, as in the raignes of those Kings wee * 1.547 haue said. He in great honour raigned twenty yeeres, and giuing place vnto nature, left his kingdome to be inioied by another. * 1.548

CEorl, not the son, but the Nephew of King Wibba, succeeded in the dominions of the Mercians, a∣bout * 1.549 the yeere of grace six hundreth and fourteenth. He was sonne to Kinemund, the brother of Wibba, the younger sonne of King Crida, who was the first King of that kingdome. His raigne is set to be ten yeeres, without mention either of Act or Issue. * 1.550

PEnda, the sonne of Wibba, beganne his raigne ouer the Mercians the yeere of Christs Incarnation six * 1.551 hundred twenty six, & continued the same the space of thirty yeeres. He was a man violent in action, and mercilesse in condition, cruell and vnsatiate of blood: he shooke the Cities, and disturbed the borders of the Saxon-Kings, more then any other in that Heptarchy before him had done. Against Kingils and Quinche∣line, * 1.552 Kings together of the West-Saxons, he ioined bat∣tell neere vnto the Citie Cirenchester, where both the * 1.553 parties fought it out to the vtmost, with the effusion of much Saxons bloud: but those comming to con∣cord, he with Cadwallo King of the Britaines, slew in battell Edwine and O•…•…wald, Kings of Northumberland, Sigebert, Egfrid, and Anna, Kings of the East-Angles, and forced Kenwald King of the West-Saxons out of * 1.554 his Country, in quarrell of his Sister. Of these his pro∣sperities he became so proud, that hee thought no∣thing impossible for his atchieuement; and therefore threatning the destruction of the Northumbers, pre∣pared his Army for that expedition. Oswy then raig∣ning King of that Country, proffered great summes of mony, and most precious Iewels to purchase his peace: which being refused, and the battell ioined, more by the hand of God, then power of man, this Tyrant was slaine, and his whole Army discomfited. * 1.555 His Wife was Kinswith, and issue by her Peada, who after him was King: Vulfere and Ethelred, both Mo∣narchs * 1.556 of the English; Merkthel, a man famous for his great holinesse, and Merwald that gouerned some part of Mercia, whose Wife was Edburga, the foun∣dresse of Minster in Tanet, and daughter to Egbert King of Kent; by whom he had issue Meresin, a man of noted deuotion, Milbury, and Mildgith, both holy Virgins, and Mildrith also Abbesse of Tanet, all foure canonized for Saints. The daughters of King Penda, were Kineburg, the Wife of Alkfrid, King of Nor∣thumberland, afterward a Votaresse in Kinesburg Abby, and Kineswith, who maried Offa King of the East-Angles, and became also a Nunne with her sister Ki∣neburgh.

PEada, the sonne of King Penda, in the daies of his * 1.557 father, and with his permission, had gouerned the middle part of Mercia, and after his death, by the gift of Oswy of Northumberland, all the South of that

kingdome from the Riuer Trent, vpon cōposition to marrie his daughter, and to imbrace Christianity; which thing this Peada performed, and was the first * 1.558 Christian King of the Mercians. His Baptisme recei∣ued, to witnesse the first fruits of his profession, hee laid the foundation of a faire Church at Medesham∣sled, * 1.559 now called Peterborrow, but liued not to finish the same, for that he was slaine by the treason of Alkfled * 1.560 his wife in the celebration of Easter, (as Beda saith) ha∣uing had no issue by her. But Robert de Swapham (an * 1.561 Author of good antiquity, who saw the stones of that foundation to be so huge, as that eight yoke of Oxen could hardly draw one of them) saith, that Peada was brought to his end by the practise of his Mother, and not of his Wife; as in these his words is manifest. Peada (saith he) laid the foundation of a Monastery at Medesham∣sted, in the Giruians or Fen-Country, which he could not finish, for that by the wicked practise of his Mother, hee was made away. Whereby this blot is taken from this Christian Lady, and brands the face of her that most deserueth it. This King raigning as substitute to King Oswy of Northumberland aforesaid, by some is not ac∣counted for a Mercian King, his regiment resting vn∣der the command of another.

VVlfhere, the Brother of murthered Peada, set vp * 1.562 by the Mercians against King Oswy, prooued a Prince most valiant and fortunate. For hee expelled the Northumbrians Lieutenants forth of those domi∣nions; fought victoriously against Kenwald King of the West-Saxons; conquered the Ile of Wight, and attai∣ned to be sole Monarch of the Englishmen: whereof more shall be said when wee come to the times and successions of their raignes.

This Vulfhere is said to raigne in great honour for seuenteene yeeres, and his body to bee buried in the * 1.563 Monasterie of Peterborow, which he had founded. His Queene Ermenheld after his death, became a Nunne * 1.564 at Ely, vnder her Mother Sexburg, and there died. His children were Kenred, Vulfald, and Rufin, with a daugh∣ter, * 1.565 named Wereburg, a Nunne in the Monastery of Ely.

EThelred the third sonne of King Penda, in the no∣nage of yong Kenred the sonne of Vulfhere, (who * 1.566 in his tender yeeres rather desired a priuate life then any publike authority in the Common-weale) suc∣ceeded his brother both in the Kingdome of Mer∣cia, and Monarchy of the Englishmen. But when hee had raigned thirty yeeres, gaue ouer the Crowne to his Nephew the said Kenred, and became a Monke in * 1.567 the Monastery of Bradney in Lincolne-shire, where hee died Anno 716. His Wife was Osfryde, Daughter to Oswyn King of Northumberland: and issue, Chelred, that * 1.568 succeeded Kenred in the Mercian kingdome.

KEnred the sonne of Vulfhere, (his Vncle Ethelred changing his Princely Crown for a Monks Coule) * 1.569 beganne his Raigne ouer the Mercians, and his Mo∣narchy ouer the English, Anno 704. wherein he raig∣ned the space of foure yeeres, and then with like de∣uotion of those times, addicted to an easie and quiet * 1.570 Religion, abandoned both Crowne and Country, * 1.571 and went to Rome, where of Pope Constantine hee re∣ceiued the tonsure and habit of a Monke at the Apo∣stles Tombes, and entring a Monastery, therein spent other foure yeeres of his life to the day of his death, * 1.572 which was Anno 708. hauing had neither wife nor issue to reuiue his name, or to rule his kingdome.

CHelred receiuing the resignation of Kenred his Co∣sin-german * 1.573 when he went to Rome, and of suffici∣ent yeeres and discretion to haue succeeded Ethelred his Father, what time the said Kenred was ordained King, raigned with great valour ouer the Mercians, and was likewise Monarch ouer the Englishmen. His * 1.574 peace was disquieted by Inas & his West-Saxons, who for seuen yeeres continuance inuaded his kingdome. His Wife was Wereburge, saith Marianus and Floren∣tius * 1.575 the Monke, who ascribe to her a long life, and to die without Childten. This Chelred raigned the space of eight yeeres, and died the yeere of grace seuen hun∣dred * 1.576 and fifteenth: whose body was buried in the Cathedrall Church of Lechfeild. * 1.577

EThelbald, after the death of Chelred, was made King * 1.578 of the Mercians, and Monarch of the English, the yeere of Christs Incarnation seuen hundred sixteene. He was a Prince giuen to peace, but withall a most lasciuious Adulterer: insomuch that Boniface Arch∣bishop of Mentz wrote his Epistle vnto him in repre∣hension of the same; which tooke such effect, that in repentance of his foule facts, hee founded the Mona∣sterie of Crowland, driuing in mighty Piles of Oake into that moorish ground, whereon hee laid a great and goodly building of stone. He was the son of A•…•…wr, the elder sonne of Eoppa, the second sonne of King Wibba, the brother of King Penda: and raigned fortie * 1.579 two yeeres, in the end whereof he was slaine in a bat∣tell fought against Cuthred King of the West-Saxons, at Secondone, three miles from Tamworth, the yeere of Christ, seuen hundred fiftie fiue, and was buried at Repton in Darby-shire, hauing had neither Wife nor Children.

OFfa slaying Bernred the murtherer of King Ethel∣bald, * 1.580 entred vpon the gouernment of the Merci∣ans, and the Monarchy of the Saxons, An. 758. He in∣larged his dominion vpon the Britaines, ouercame the Kentish in a battell, put to flight the Northumbrians, and vanquished the West-Saxons: the East-Angles also he seised vpon, after he had murthered Ethelbert their King. He raigned thirty nine yeeres, and died at Ofley, the nine and twenty day of Iuly, the yeere of our Lord * 1.581 seuen hundred ninetie foure, and was buried without the Town of Bedford, in a Chapell, now swallowed vp by the Riuer Owse. He was the son of Thingfryd, the sonne of Eanulfe, whose Father Osmund was the sonne of Eoppa, the brother of King Penda, and son of King * 1.582 Wibba, whose Father was Crida, the first King of the Mercians. His Wife was Quendred, and children many; of whom, and of them we will further speake when * 1.583 we come to the time of his Monarchy.

EGfryde, the sonne of great Offa, was by him made King at his returne from Rome, being the only ioy * 1.584 of his parents, and heire apparant to the Saxons Mo∣narchy, vpon which he entred the day after his fathers death, and liued himselfe but a hundred and fortie daies after, deceasing the seuenteenth of December, in the yeere of our Lord God seuen hundred ninety six, hauing had neither wife nor issue that wee reade of, and his body honourably interred in the Church of the Monasterie of Saint Albanes, founded by Offa.

KEnwolfe, the cosen (a farre off) to King Egfrid de∣ceased, * 1.585 and both of them remooued in bloud no lesse then six descents from Wibba the second Mercian King, was the sonne of Cuthbert, (as the Monke of Worcester deriues him) the sonne of Bassa, the sonne of Kenrowe, the sonne of Kentwin, the sonne of Kenwalk, the sonne of Wibba aforesaid, and succeeded King Eg∣fryd in his Dominions. But of this Mercian Monarch more shall be written in the succession and time of that his gouernment. Hee raigned two and twentie * 1.586 yeeres, and deceased the yeere of our Lord eight hun∣dred and nineteene, and his bodie interred in the Mo∣nasterie of Winchcombe in the Countie of Glocester, be∣ing of his owne foundation. His wife was Queene El∣fryde, * 1.587 the daughter (as some suppose) of Offa, who had beene betrothed to Ethelbert King of the East-An∣gles, slaine by her father; by whom he had issue, Ke∣nelm, Quendred, and Burgemhild, of whom more fol∣loweth. * 1.588

KEnelm, the sonne of King Kenwolfe, a childe of se∣uen * 1.589 yeeres old, succeeded in the Kingdome of Mer∣cia, but not in the Monarchie, as his fathers had done, Egbert the West-Saxon at that time being grown great in his fortunes. This young King Kenelm raigned only fiue moneths, and then by the ambitious desire of * 1.590 Quendrid his sister, who seeking the gouernment by * 1.591 the shedding of his guiltlesse bloud, instigated one Askbert his Instructor, by promises of great prefer∣ments and rich rewards, to make him away, who only stood (as she thought) in her way to the Crowne. This * 1.592 wicked practise was foorth with as impiously perfor∣med: for hauing him foorth vnder pretence of hun∣ting,

he slew the innocent King, whose vertuous in∣clination promised great hopes, and whose harmlesse yeeres had not attained to any worldly guile. His bo∣die hee secretly buried vnder a bush, and (if we will beleeue the Golden Legend, where his life is described) * 1.593 was thus found out: A white Doue (which belike had seene the deed done) and had got it ingrossed in a scrole of parchment, posted therewith to S. Peter in Rome, and vpon the High Altar laid it to bee read, where in the Saxon characters thus it was found: In Clenc kon ba•…•… Kenelme Kinba•…•…ne lie•…•… 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: that is, At Clenc in a Cow pasture Ke∣nelme the Kings childe lieth beheaded vnder a thorne. But most true it is, that an obscure sepulcher the body had at the first, and howsoeuer found out, was afterwards with great honour and ceremonie translated to the Monasterie of Winchcombe, which his father had foun∣ded. The murderesse Quendrid, for griefe and shame of so wicked an act, ended her life, without the attai∣ning of her ambitious desire, and hath left her name indeleblie stained with his innocent bloud.

CEolwulfe, the brother of Kenwolfe, and vncle to this murdered young King, as his neerest in bloud * 1.594 was elected their Gouernour by the Mercians: but his glory was not great, nor his raigne long, being still dis∣quieted by Bernulfe, that sought his Crowne; and af∣ter one yeeres Regiment was expulsed by his people, * 1.595 and left the same to his pursuer, abandoning the Countrie for the safety of his life. One daughter hee had, named Elfled, who was the wife of Wigmund, the sonne of Withlafe, the substitute King of Mercia, and * 1.596 himselfe the last that held the Mercian Kingdome in a lineall succession.

BErnulfe obtaining what hee so long desired, made * 1.597 himselfe King when Ceolwulfe was gone, and was the more approoued for his valour in Armes, and the lesse resisted for his ancient descent, being sprung from Osher, a man reputed to be of the Mercian royall bloud. But Bernulfe perceiuing the fortunes of Egbert, accounted those his happie successes to bee his owne shame, and by defiance challenged the West-Saxons to the field: which Egbert accepted, and vpon Ellendon ioined Battle with the Mercians, which was fought to the much losse of both their blouds. Notwithstan∣ding at last the West-Saxons preuailed, Bernulfe being forced to flie with shame. The East-Angles that then had yeelded to Egbert, and but lately before had felt the fury of Bernulfe, thought the time fit to repay him againe, and therefore in warlike manner assaulted his Territories, where hee, in defending his Countrey a∣gainst * 1.598 their attempts, was in a skirmish slaine, after he had raigned not fully three yeeres.

LVdecan then was chosen King of the Mercians, whose bloud was not downe since their last losse, * 1.599 neither reuenge forgotten against the East-Angles; and therefore the yeere following made strength (suf∣ficient to their seeming) to meet these their enemies. But the State of Heptarchie now drawne to the pe∣riod, and the supporters thereof weakened by their own diuisions, the Iland declined to a present altera∣tion, & gaue place to a more absolute kind of Monar∣chy, that in Egbert the West-Saxon was now begun; who aiding the East-Angles against the Mercians, Ludecan their King fought with no better successe then Bernulf before him had done; whose raigne lasted not fully 2. * 1.600 yeers, nor his memoriall reuiued either in wife or issue.

VVIthlafe, the sonne of Oswald, the sonne of Osber, * 1.601 of the Mercian bloud-royall, intruding him∣selfe (as it seemeth) into the gouernment of Mercia, was vnexpectedly vanquished by Egbert the Monarch that had assumed from Bernulfe that Kingdome be∣fore: him hee made his Substitute and Tributarie, who so continued to Egbert and his sonne the time of thirteene yeeres, leauing no other relation of his acts. His issue was Wigmund, the husband of Lady * 1.602 Elfled, the daughter of Ceolwulfe King of Mercia, the parents of Wystan the Martyr, and of Lady Ed∣burg, maried to one Etheland an Earle in the Prouince of Lincolne.

BErthulf vpon the like composition of Tribute, * 1.603 and in the like termes of subiection to the West-Saxons soueraigntie, held the kingdome of Mercia as a Substitute, and without any notable reports of his Acts, so raigned the space of thirteene yeeres. At this time the Sea-rouers out of Denmarkc, that had often infested this Iland with their many Inuasions, got the head so strong, and wing so farre, euen to the middle part thereof, (as this of Mercia was) that they filled with terror the hearts of the Inhabitants, and stained the soile with the bloud of their sides, which in a most barbarous crueltie daily they shed; whose rage was so great, and mindes so vnsatiable, that Berthulf was enforced to forsake the Country, and in a more priuate estate to secure his owne life. He had a sonne named Berefred, who was the causer of Saint Wystans martyrdome.

BVrdred, the last Mercian King, was thereunto de∣puted * 1.604 by Ethelwolfe the West-Saxon Monarch, as a shield of defence against the raging Danes, that made desolations where they came. In continuall imploi∣ments against them he spent his time, and that with such noble resolutions and manhood, that Ethelwolfe held him worthy of his alliance, and made him his sonne in law, by giuing him Lady Ethelswith his daughter to Wife, the marriage being solemnized at Chipnham in Wiltshire, with great estate. This Burdred with Ethelwolfe, warred against the Britaines with vi∣ctorie, and he with Alured compelled the Danes vnder the conduct of Hungar and Vbba, to •…•…dislodge from Nottingham, and depart the Prouince. Yet lastly, after twenty two yeeres raigne, hee was so ouerlaid with their daily supplies, that three of their Kings (as our Writers terme them) whose names were Godrun, Eske∣tell, and Ammond, wintred at * 1.605 Ripindon, and sore wa∣sted his Kingdome.

King Burdred at that time distressed, and himselfe * 1.606 not able to withstand their rage, with his wife Queene Ethelswith fled the Realme, and the same yeere in Rome ended his life, and was buried in the Church * 1.607 of our Lady belonging to the English College there ere∣cted. His Queene in the habit of a Nunne, fifteene yeeres after his death, died at Padua in Italie, and was there honourably buried, the yeere of our Lord eight * 1.608 hundred eightie nine. And now the fatall circle of this Kingdome drawne to the full compasse, staied the hand of all glorious motion from proceeding any further, and with the lot of the rest fell vnder the go∣uernment of the West-Saxons, after one yeeres vsurpa∣tion * 1.609 of the Danes, when it had stood in state of a king∣dome the space of two hundred and two yeeres, and ended in title and regall authority, the yeere of Christs Incarnation eight hundred eighty six.

THE KINGDOME OF THE EAST-ANGLE, THE CIRCVIT OF THAT PRO∣VINCE, WITH THE SVCCESSION AND ACTS OF THEIR KINGS, SO LONG AS IT STOOD IN THAT REGALL ESTATE, AND VNTILL IT WAS VNITED TO THE WEST-SAXONS. CHAPTER XI.

[illustration]

THe Counties (as we now call them) that were sub∣iect * 1.610 to this East-Angles Kingdome, were Suffolke, Norfolke, Cambridge-shire, and the Ile of Ely. The bounds whereof were li∣mitted in this manner: the East and North sides were confined by the Oce∣an; the West, with Saint Edmunds Ditch, and the South altogether with Essex, and some part of Hert∣fordshire.

The first raiser of the title and State of this King∣dome, was a Saxon Captaine named Vffa, about the * 1.611 yeere of Christs incarnation fiue hundred seuentie fiue, whose renowne was such, that he gaue name not onely to that his aspired Dominion, but also from him, the Subiects thereof were a long time after cal∣led Vffines: though lastly, it was reduced into the name and Kingdom of the East-Angles. This Vffa (as * 1.612 Florentius the Monke of Worcester hath laid downe) was the sonne of Withelin, and he the sonne of Hrip∣pus, * 1.613 the sonne of Rothmund, the sonne of Trigils, the sonne of Titmon, the sonne of Caser, the second sonne of Prince Woden. His raigne is accounted only seuen yeeres, without any mention of further matter, wor∣thy the recording, and his death to haue hapned in the yeare fiue hundred eighty one.

TItulus, the second King of the East-Angles, and on∣ly sonne of Vffa that is read of, beganne his raigne * 1.614 the yeere of Christs Incarnation, fiue hundred eigh∣ty three, & continued the same for the space of twen∣ty yeeres. And although the Writers of these times haue made no further mention of his Acts, yet may we well suppose that his daies were not altogether so quietly spent, both in the infancy of that newly ere∣cted kingdom, and when such wars were commenced for the obtaining the whole Iland. His issue was Red∣wald, that immediatly succeeded him, & from whom other Kings of that kingdom were lineally descēded. * 1.615

REdwald, the greatest of all the East-Angles Kings, succeeded his father Titulus in the Dominions of * 1.616 the East-Angles. and Ethelbert of Kent in the Monar∣chie of the Saxons. He receiued and succoured in his Court Edwyne with his wife in their Exiles, and assi∣sted him against Ethelfrid King of Northumberland, that sought his life, as before wee haue shewed, and * 1.617 hereafter in the succession of his Monarchy wee shal haue further occasion. Hee raigned Monarch eight * 1.618 yeeres, and King of the East-Angles thirty one (by the account and computation of the Table annexed to Malmesbury, and others of our English Writers) and died the yeare of our Saluation six hundred twen∣ty-three.

ERpenwald, the younger sonne of King Redwald, (Reynhere his elder brother being slaine in battle * 1.619 by Ethelfred, in the quarrell of distressed Edwine) suc∣ceeded his Father in the Kingdom of the East-Angles, the yeer of our Lord God six hundred twenty foure. He was the first King of that Prouince, that publikely * 1.620 professed the Christian Faith, which hee receiued at the friendly motion and zealous exhortation of King Edwine of Northumberland; but so much to the discon∣tentment & grudge of the people, as thereupon they presently entred into conspiracy to practise his death, which a Pagā Ruffian named Richebert, not long after most traiterously executed. His raigne is placed in the * 1.621 foresaid Table of our Writers, (as it is compared with the other Kings of those times) to extend twelue yeeres; after whose death, those people returned to their wonted Idolatrie, and for three yeeres continu∣ance embraced their former Gentility, from which * 1.622 they were reclaimed by Sigebert his brother in law, who succeeded him in his Throne, hee hauing no * 1.623 issue, to whom it might be left.

SIgebert, the sonne of the second wife to Redwald, and by her born to a former husband, whose name * 1.624 is vnknowne, was greatly mistrusted by his Father in law, King Redwald, that he went about to aspire his Crowne: the motiues of which suspition, notwith∣standing all the endeauours of innocent Sigebert, were still followed with an enuious eye, and his subiectiue * 1.625 semblances, as notes of popularity, were euer concei∣ued to aime at the supreme authority: which blot of iealousie, when it could no otherwise bee wiped out, he abandoned the Court of the King, and Country of his birth, and in France as an exile, al the time of Red∣wald * 1.626 the Father, and likewise the raigne of Erpenwald the sonne, spent his time in study of good Literature, & contemplatiue exercises, where learning the truth of Christs Doctrine, and hauing receiued the lauer of Baptisme, after the death of this said Erpenwald his alli∣ed Brother, returned, and was made King of the East-Angles.

This man (saith Beda) following the examples of * 1.627

France, brought the light of the Gospell into his Do∣minions, and by the assistance of Felix Bishop of Dun∣wich, * 1.628 for a more firme plantation thereof, built a Schoole for the education of children, appointing them Schoole-masters and Teachers after the maner of the Kentish-men; who are * supposed to haue at * 1.629 that time the Liberall Sciences professed among them, in their Metropolitane City Canterbury, which was the paterne (saith that Countries Perambulator) that this Sigebert followed in the erection of his; but whether at Cambridge or elsewhere, hee leaueth for Doctor Caius of Cambridge, and M. Key of Oxford, to * 1.630 be disputed of. And indeed Beda assigneth not the place for this foundation, nor once nameth Cam∣bridge, vnlesse you will say, that out of the ruines of Grantcester, an ancient Citie decaied in his daies, the same arose, and whereof hee maketh mention in his fourth Booke, vpon this occasion as followeth.

Queene Etheldred (saith he) that had been a Virgin, wife to Egfrid King of Northumberland the tearme of * 1.631 twelue yeeres, and Abbesse of Ely for seuen more, for her reputed holinesse after her death and buriall, was thought worthy by Queene Sexburg her sister (who had beene wife to Ercombert King of Kent, and suc∣ceeded her Abbesse in the same Monasterie) to bee re∣mooued out of her wooden Tombe & meane place of buriall, into the Church and richer Monument: but for want of stone, which was scarce in those parts, certaine brethren were sent to find out some for that vse, who comming to 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a little City lest desolate and vninhabited, found by the walles a * 1.632 Tomb of white marble verie faire, and couered with a like stone. This they thought to be found not with∣out miracle, and therefore most fit to intombe her corps, which accordingly they did. But that this had beene the place of Sigeberts Schoole, hee mentioneth not. But whether by him or no, wee know it now the * 1.633 other Vniuersity of England, a seed-plot of all diuine and humane Literature, and one of those springs whence issue the wholesome waters that doe bedewe both the Church & Common-wealth, both, famous * 1.634 for the Arts, for Buildings, and Reuenewes, as their like is not to be found in Europe (saith Peter Martyr) and that most truely. But to returne: Sigebert being weari∣ed with the waighty affairs of this world, laid the bur∣den thereof vpon Egricke his kinsman, and shore him∣selfe * 1.635 a Monk in the Abby of Cumbreburge, which him∣selfe had built, & wherein he liued, vntill that wicked Penda, the Mercian King, with his heathenish cruelty molested the peace of the East-Angles; who after long resistance, finding themselues too weake, besought Si∣gebert, for the better incouragement of their souldi∣ers, * 1.636 to shew himselfe in field; which when he refused, by constraint (saith Beda) they drew him forth, where in the midst of them hee was slaine in battle, vsing no other weapon for defence, sauing only a white wand; when hee had raigned onely three yeeres, and left no * 1.637 issue to suruiue him, that is any where recorded.

EGricke, cosin to King Sigebert, and by him made King, as wee haue said, was sore molested by the * 1.638 continuall inuasions of Penda, the cruell King of Mer∣cia; who lastlie in a set battle slew him with Sigebert, about the yeere of Christ his incarnation sixe hūdred fifty two. And when himself had raigned 4. yeers, de∣ceased, without mentiō either of wife or child, that is read of, further to reuiue his memory to posterities.

ANna succeeded King Egricke in the Kingdome of the East-Angles, the yeer•…•… of grace six hundred * 1.639 fortie two, as the next in bloud to Erpinwald, beeing the sonne of Guido, saith Beda, the sonne of Eni, saith Malmsbury, who was brother to great Redwald; and both of them the sons of Titulus, the second King of that Prouince. This King, as the other two former had done, felt the fury of raging Penda, with his mer∣cilesse Mercians, that sore assaulted his Territories with rapine and spoile. To withstand whose further proceedings, King Anna drew the strength of his East-Angles against them, and encountred Penda in a great and mortall battle, wherein they were all discomfi∣ted and himselfe among them slaine, when hee had * 1.640 raigned in continuall trouble the space of thirteene yeeres. His issue were many, and those of great holi∣nesse * 1.641 or sanctity of life. Whereof Ferminus the el∣dest, and heire apparant, was slaine by Penda in the same battle with his Father, and was with him buri∣ed in Blidribrugh, now Blibrugh, but afterwards remo∣ued to S. Edmondsbury. His other sonne was Erken∣wald, Abbat of Chertside, and Bishoppe of London, that lieth buried in the South Ile, aboue the Quire in * 1.642 S. Pauls Church, where to this day remaineth a me∣moriall of him. His daughters were these; Etheldrid the eldest, was first married vnto a Nobleman, whom * 1.643 Beda nameth Tonbert, Gouernor of the Fenny Coun∣tries of Nothfolke, Huntington, Lincolne, and Cam∣bridge-shires: and after his death remaining a virgin, she was remarried to Egfrid King of Northumberland, with whom likewise she liued in perfect virginity the space of twelue yeeres, notwithstanding his intreaty and allurements to the contrary. From whom, lastly, she was released, and had licence to depart his Court, vnto the Abbey of Coldinghā, where first she was vai∣led a Nunne vnder Abbesse Ehba, and thence depar∣ting, she liued at Ely, and became her selfe Abbesse thereof, wherein lastly she died, and was interred; re∣membred vnto posterities by the name of S. Audrte. His second daughter was Sexburg, who married Er∣combert, King of Kent, vnto whom she bare two sons, and two daughters, as we in that Kingdomes succes∣sion haue shewed: after whose death, shee tooke the habit of a Nunne, and succeeded her sister Etheldrid, * 1.644 Abbesse of Ely, wherin she died and was interred: and their yongest sister Withgith, was likewise a Menchion with them in the same Monastery, and all of them ca∣nonized for Saints. Ethilburge his third daughter was made Abbesse of Berking, neere London, built by her * 1.645 brother Bishop Erkinwald, wherein she liued, and last∣ly died. A naturall daughter likewise he had, whose name was Edelburg, that with Sedrido the daughter of * 1.646 his wife, were both of them professed Nunnes, and succeeded each other Abbesses in the Monastery of S. Brigges in France. Such a reputed holinesse was it held in those daies, not only to be separated from the accompanying with men, wherunto women by God were created, but also to abandon the Country of their natiuity, and as strangers in forraine Lands, to spend the continuance of their liues.

EThelherd, the brother of Anna, the yere of Christs Incarnation six hundred fifty foure, was made * 1.647 King of the East-Angles: the which it seemeth he had attempted in the raigne of his brother, for that hee had assisted Penda in his warres against him; and was the motiue (saith Beda) of the warres against Oswin * 1.648 King of Northumberland, wherin siding with the hea∣then Penda, he was worthily slaine, the fifteenth day of Nouember, when he had raigned onely two yeeres, * 1.649 leauing his name to the blot of infamy, and his Crowne to be possessed by his younger brother. His wife was Hereswith sister of Hilda, the famous learned Abbesse of Streanshale, and great grand-childe to Ed∣wyne * 1.650 King of Northumberland, who bare vnto him Aldulfe, Elswoolfe, and Beorne, all three succeeding E∣dilwald * 1.651 in the Kingdome of the East-Angles.

EDelwald the brother of Ethelherd entred his go∣uernment * 1.652 of the East-Angles the yere of our Lord six hundred fifty sixe, and continued the same the * 1.653 space of nine yeeres, without either mention of any other memorable act: from whom (as is supposed) issued Ethelred that succeeded King after Beorne.

ALdulfe, the eldest sonne of Ethelherd and Queene Hereswith, after the death of his vncle King Edel∣wald, obtained the Kingdome of the East-Angles, and therein raigned without any honour or honourable action by him performed: onely his name and time of his raigne, which was nineteene yeres, is left of him by Writers: and affordeth no further relation of vs here to be inserted, besides his Coine here set.

ELswolf the sonne of King Ethelherd, and bother to this last mentioned Aldulfe, began his raigne ouer * 1.654

the Kingdome of the East-Angles, the yeere of Christ his Incarnation, six hundred eighty three, and conti∣nued * 1.655 in the same, the time of seuen yeeres, without record of any memorable Act, Wife, or Issue, to re∣uiue his name.

BEorne, the yongest sonne of King Ethelherd, suc∣ceeded his brother King Elswolfe in the Kingdom * 1.656 of the East-Angles; no further mention being made of him, his wife, nor Issue, which are altogether pe∣rished, and laid long since in their graues of obliuion.

EThelred, after the death of his cosen Beorne, succee∣ded * 1.657 him in the Kingdome of the East-Angles, issu∣ing (as is supposed) from King Ed•…•…lwald the brother of Ethelherd, and of Anna, both of them Kings in that Prouince. His raigne by writers is said to bee fiftie two yeeres, which notwithstanding was passed ouer * 1.658 without any memorable note: for albeit that his go∣uernment was long, and the declining Heptarchie not vnlikely to haue ministred matters of remembrance to posterities, yet is the same passed ouer by the si∣lence of our Wrirers, and no further mention made of him, besides the education of his yonger sonne Ethelbert, who proued a most worthy King. His wife, and the mother of this vertuous sonne, was Leo∣frun, * 1.659 saith the Writer of his life, without further men∣tion of her parentage, or other issue. This King de∣ceased the yeere after Christs natiuity, seuen hundred forty eight, the same yeere that Ethelbert entred his Kingdome of Kent.

EThelbert, the sonne of King Ethelred, after his Fa∣thers death was ordained King of the East-Angles, * 1.660 whose daies of youth were spent in learning and deeds of charity, and the whole time of his gouerne∣ment in continuall tranquillity; for hee is recorded to be a Prince religious and charitable, sober, pro∣found and wise in counsell. This King being incited by Offa the Mercian (that still thirsted after great∣nesse) to marie Elfryd his daughter, a Lady of great * 1.661 beautie, came vpon that purpose to Offa his Court, then seated at Sutton Wallis in the County of Hereford * 1.662 and was by him there cruelly murdered at the insti∣gation of Quendrid his vnkind (intended) mother in law, no other occasion ministred, but the greatnes of his Port, that much in her eyes ouer-heighted her husbands. His Bride-bed the graue was first at Mer∣den, * 1.663 north from Sutton vpon the Riuer Lug. But af∣terwards vpon repentance, Offa remoued it vnto He∣reford; * 1.664 ouer whom, Milfrid an vnder King of the Mercians built a most faire Church in memoriall of him, which yet beares his name, and is the Cathedral of that See. His Bride, Lady Elfrid, much lamenting * 1.665 his contriued murther, withdrew her self to Crowland in the Fennes, and there vowed chastitie all the daies of her life; notwithstanding some affirme that shee was wife to King Kenwolfe, the successor of her bro∣ther Egfrid. This King raigned the space of forty fiue yeeres, as is set in the Table of our English Writers, and died the yeare of Christs incarnation seuen hun∣dred * 1.666 ninety three, the eighteenth day of May, and his Kingdome intruded vpon by the Mercians, hauing had neither wife nor children, that Historians make mention of: after whose death the Kingdom of the East-Angles was brought to decay, both by the Mer∣cians, West-Saxons, and them of Kent; so that by means of their violence, that Prouince was destitute of her owne Gouernours, the space of seuenty seuen yeeres, vntill lastly the assaults of the Danes, a new-come Guest and most dangerous Enemie, caused the other Kings to stand vpon their Guards, and rather to defend what they already had gotten, then to seeke inlarge∣ment, to the hazard of all: at which time, it is said one Offa, to whom the right of that Crowne belonged, vpon a religious deuotion, tooke his pilgrimage to * 1.667 the Sepulchre of Christ, and visiting in his way a kinsman of his, whose name was Alkmund, at the Ci∣tie Norhenberge in Saxonie, there made his will, wher∣in hee adopted young Edmund his heire, the son of Alkmond: and accomplishing his voiage, in his return died at the Port Saint George, from whence hee sent young Edmund his Ring, and therwith ordained him King of the East-Angles. Alkmund a Prince of great power in those parts, maintained his sons rightfull election, and with a sufficient power sent him to claime the kingdome. These landing in the East of England, at a place called Maydenboure, built a roiall Tower, which hee named, and to this day is called, Hunstantone, situated vpon the North-west point of Norfolke, that beareth likewise his owne name.

EDmund thus arriued, was as willingly receiued and * 1.668 by the East-Angles made their king; in whose time Hungar and Hubba, two Danish Captains, with an in∣numerable multitude of Heathen Danes, entred the Land at the mouth of Humber, and from thence inua∣ded Nottingham, Yorke and Northumberland, where (without respect of age or sex) they laid all wast, and left the Land whence they departed like to a desolate Wildernesse. From thence they came with the like furie into Edmunds territories, and sacked Thetford. a frequent City in those daies: but he not able to with∣stand their violence, fled into his Castle at Framing∣ham, * 1.669 wherein hee was of them besieged; and lastly, ta∣ken (saith Abba Floriacens•…•…s) in a village then called Heglisd•…•…ne, of a wood bearing the same name, or ra∣ther yeelded himselfe to their torments, to saue more Christian bloud; for it is recorded, that because of his * 1.670 most constant Faith and Profession, those Pagans first beat him with bats, then scourged him withwhips, he still calling vpon the name of Iesus; for rage whereof, they bound him to a stake, and with their arrowes shot him to death; and cutting off his head, contemp∣tuously threw it into a bush, after he had raigned ouer the East-Angles the space of sixteene yeeres, hauing had neither wife nor issue that is read of. His body and head, after the Danes were departed, were buried * 1.671 at the same roiall Towne, as Abbo terms it, where Si∣gebert the East-Anglean King, and one of his predeces∣sors, at his establishing of Christianity, built a Church, and where afterwards (in honour of him) was built another most spatious, and of a wonderfull frame of Timber, and the name of the Towne, vpon the occa∣sion of his burial, called vnto this day, Saint Edmonds∣bury. * 1.672 This Church and place, Suenus the Pagan Da∣nish King in impiety and fury burned to ashes. But when his sonne Canute had made conquest of this Land, and gotten possession of the English Crowne, terrified and affrighted (as saith the Legend) with a vision of the seeming Saint Edmund, in a religious deuotion to expiate his Fathers sacrilege, built it a∣new most sumptuously, enriched this place with * 1.673 Charters & Gifts, and offred his owne Crowne vpon the Martyrs Tombe. After the death of this Edmund the East-Angles Country was possessed by the Danes, & so continued about some fifty yeers, vntil that Ed∣ward surnamed the Elder, expulsed these Danes, and ioined that kingdome a Prouince to the West-Saxons, * 1.674 after it had stood three hundred fifty three yeeres.

A CATALOGVE OF SVCH BRITISH PRINCES AS WITHSTOOD THE SAXONS IN THEIR CONQVESTS FROM VORTIGER'NE THEIR FIRST MAINTAINER, VNTO CADWALLADER THEIR LAST RESISTER. CHAPTER XII.

NOw as we haue spoken of euery seuerall Saxon King, that attained vnto, and * 1.675 held possession of any part in the East & South of this Iland, vntill such time as their Crownes were worne by their Con∣querors, and the seuen∣fold diuided Heptarchy, vnited into an absolute Monarchy: so by order of Hi∣story * 1.676 it is required, that their opposers (the Britains) so long as they kept their ground, and stood in defence of their owne rightful inheritance, should be shewed: who with as great a disdaine, and valorous resistance, vnder-went the yoake of the Saxons subiections, as their ancient Ancestors had endeauoured to cleere themselues from the chaines of the Romans captiuity. And vntill God and destinie withdr•…•… from them the hand of defence, they mated the Saxons in all their designes. For albeit that the Romans had robbed the Land of her strength, and the aspired Vortigern, called in these Strangers for his defence: yet their purposes being wisely perceiued, the execution therof was as presently practised, and as eagerly pur∣sued, whilest the pillars (that supported the frame of their gouerment) stood vpon their owne Bases. But the ground-work failing, and those props not many, * 1.677 the waight of all, fell vpon some few, whose acts and manly resistance (Christ assisting) shall further bee re∣lated, as time shall bring them to the yeeres of their aduentures, and carry our History thorow the af∣faires of their times. Meane while, as we haue recor∣ded the names of their Ancestors, and worthy fore∣runners, the resisters of the Romans: so now if you please, behold the Catalogue of their Kings, from the foresaid Vortigern (the first subdued by these Sax∣ons) * 1.678 vnto Cadwallader the last of those British Princes; who left to them his Land, and went himself to Rome: whose times & stories, according to those Guids that lead vs, wee wil declare, referring the credit thereof to our British Historians; against whom howsoeuer some exceptions are, and may be iustly taken, yet are they not altogether to be cast off, in the affaires of these en∣suing Princes, especially Gyldas and Ninius, who liued in, and presently after the times of those resisters. Neither is it to be doubted, but that many others there were of that Nation, no lesse carefull for trans∣ferring the remembrance of their Ancestors actions to posteritie, (no Nation liuing being more zealously deuoted in that kinde,) though their writings haue in Times ruines beene buried, and their remembran∣ces preserued onely by perpetuitie of traditions. and although wee haue shewed the ancient Coines of the Britaines, and obserued a series thorow the Romanes succession: yet be not offended, that I leaue onely Blanks for these latter Princes, as also the first Saxons, wanting the Monies of their owne seuerall Mintes.

Such therfore as I haue found of any Kings stamp, raigning whilest the Land was diuided and enioied a∣mongst * 1.679 them, I haue in the margent of their remem∣brances affixed, with the Armes attributed to euery seuerall kingdome: and hence will obserue the same order, without any inuention or fained inscription: which howsoeuer wee want to furnish their successi∣ons, yet this am I sure of, no Nation in Europe can shew the like, or can come to so true a series of their Soueraignes Coines, as England is able at this day to doe.

VORTIGERN. 1.

[illustration]

Vortigern among the many molestatiōs of the Scots and Picts, was ordained the supreme Gouernor of these affaires; and to that end, with the Britaines full consent was elected their King. For as touching that

Monkish Constantine, the sonne of Constantius, who is said to be the brother of Aldreonus, King of Little Bri∣taine in France, sent for and made King by these Bri∣taines, whose simplicitie this Vortigern is said to abuse, and lastly to cause his murther and death; I rather thinke the storie to be the same that happened aboue fortie yeeres before, in the daies of Honorius the Em∣peror; when Constantius among other Conspirators, was raised vpon a hopefull expectation conceiued in his name.

This Constantius indeed had a sonne that bare his name, a man of a soft spirit, and no deepe reach, and therefore in his youth was made a Monke. But his Fa∣ther risen to his aspiring honour, created him first his Caesar, and next Augustus, till Fortune turned those smiles into frownes, and stained their purple robes in both their own blouds. For not only the same names induceth this doubt, but the place, which was Winche∣ster, and Abbey Amphibilus, where this Imperiall Monke was shorne, doth not a little confirme the same; the remaines of which Colledge, by that strong and thicke wall standing to this day at the West gate of that Cathedrall Church, doth not a little con∣firme. But wanting better directions to our pro∣ceedings, we must follow for these times men of latter yeeres, and not without some suspect of vncertaintie. The rather, for that the Saxons as then the chiefe Actors in this Land, haue purposely concealed all * 1.680 Victors and victories against themselues; neither but sparingly haue recorded their owne.

This Vortigern, howsoeuer attaining the Crowne, was ouer-awed (saith Ninius) by the Picts & Scots, stood * 1.681 in feare of the Roman forces, and dread much the returne of Aurelius Ambrosius, with his brother Vter, surnamed Pen∣dragon: and therefore wanting strength of his owne to maintaine his standing, sent for the Saxons, as wee haue said. He (saith the British Story) was Earle of Corn∣wall, of an honourable Familie and noble descent, his * 1.682 Lady euery way answerable to both; by whom hee had three sonnes, Vortimer, Catigern, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 * 1.683 His second wife, or rather Concubine, (hauing cast off this first) was Rowena, the daughter of Hengist, which Pagan mariage prooued not only the bane of the Land, but so ruinated the Church of Christianity, that a Prouinciall Councell of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sembled in Ann. 470. to repaire those things that this mariage had decaied.

By this Heathen Damosell he had a daughter, who (against the law of God and Nature) was his third wife, * 1.684 that Kings (as he pretended, to excuse his •…•…est) might be descended from the right issue of Kings, vpon whom he begot his sad lamenting sonne Fausius, a vertuous * 1.685 Impe of those impious parents, that spent his life in a solitarie place neere to the Riuer Llynterrenny, as wee haue said; who abandoning the companie of men, among those mountaines serued God in continuall teares and praiers, for remission of the fault commit∣ted in his incestuous generation, for the recalling of his parents to a better life, and for the restitution of his Country to her former libertie.

This Vortigern raigned first sixteene yeeres, and * 1.686 then deposed for his fauours to the Saxons, was retai∣ned in durance all the raigne of Vortimer his sonne, af∣ter whose death reestablished, but oppressed by his Saxons, and pursued by Aurelius, he withdrew himselfe into Wales, and among those vast mountaines built a * 1.687 Castle by Merlins direction, wherof we haue spoken, and more we would speake, were those fantasticke fi∣ctions vnderset with any props of likelihood or truth, which Rand. of Chester in his daies vtterly reiected. * 1.688

In this Castle, Vortigern with his incestuous wife, after hee had secondly raigned the space of six yeeres, * 1.689 was consumed to ashes, by the iust reuenging hand of God, by fire from heauen, as some haue written; or else kindled by Aurelius and Vter, as his Ministers to execute his wrath.

VORTIMER. 2.

[illustration]

VOrtimer, the eldest son of King Vortigern, through the abuse of his fathers gouernment, for which * 1.690 he was deposed by his owne subiects, was erected King of the Britaines the yeere from Christs birth 454. a man of great valour, which altogether hee im∣ploied for the redresse of his Countrey, according to the testimonie of William Malmesbury, whose words are these: Vortimer (saith hee) thinking not good to dis∣semble the matter, for that hee saw himselfe and Countrie daily surprised by the craft of the English, set his full pur∣pose * 1.691 to driue them out, and from the seuenth yeere after their first entrance, for twenty yeeres continuance fought many Battles with them, and foure of them with great puis∣sance in open field; in the first whereof, they departed with like fortune, and losse of the Generals brethren Horsa and Catigern: in the other three the Britaines went away with victorie, and so long vntill Vortimer was taken away by fa∣tall death.

Huntington, Monmouth, Randulphus, and Fabian, name both the places and successe of those Battles: The first was in Kent, and vpon the Plaine neere vnto * 1.692 Ailsford, where the memoriall of Catigern to this day remaineth; & Horsted doth as yet relish of Horsa there interred. The second Battle was fought likewise in Kent at Crocanford, now Craford, where many perish∣ed * 1.693 as well Britaines as Saxons. The third was at Wep∣peds Fleet, with great losse to the Britaines: and the * 1.694 fourth vpon Calmore, where many of the Saxons, after long and sore fight, were slaine, and more drowned in flight, and lastly driuen into the Ile of Thanet, their

first assigned habitation, (if not ouer the Seas) so that small hope rested for them so long as this valiant Vor∣timer * 1.695 liued, who had now dispossessed them of all their footing in the Continent, and often assailed them in the Ile of Tannet likewise, as Fabian confi∣dently affirmeth.

But destiny going forward for the downfall of Bri∣taine, remooued these rubbes out of her way: for Rowena, the mother of the Britaines mischiefe, and the maintainer of the Saxons residence, found the meanes * 1.696 to make this worthy Vortimer away, and by poison caused the end of his life, after hee had valiantly raig∣ned the space of foure yeeres; all which time, by the * 1.697 testimonie of an old Chronicle that Fabian had seene, Vortigern the father remained in durance, and vnder assigned Keepers in the Citie Caerlegion, now Chester, and so demeaned himselfe towards his sonne (then his Soueraigne) in dutifull obedience and faith∣full counsell, that hee wonne againe the hearts of the Britaines, and was againe re-established their * 1.698 King.

It is recorded by Ninius, that after his last victorie ouer the Saxons, he caused his Monument to be ere∣cted * 1.699 at the entrance into Tanet, and in the same place of that great ouerthrow, which by the said Author * 1.700 is called Lapis Tituli, of vs the Stonar, where for cer∣taine it seemes hath been an hauen. In this Monu∣ment hee commanded his body to be buried, to the further terror of the Saxons, that in beholding this his Trophy, their spirits might bee daunted at the re∣membrance of their great ouerthrow. As Scipio Afri∣canus conceited the like, who commanded his Sepul∣chre to be so set, that it might ouerlooke Africa, sup∣posing that his very Tombe would be a terror to the Carthaginians. But how that desire of Vortimer was performed, I finde not, but rather the contrary: for an old Manuscript I haue, that cōfidently affirmeth him to be buried in London: yet others from Ninius the * 1.701 disciple of Eluodugus, hold the place to bee Lincolne. But howsouer his graue is forgotten, yet let this bee remembred, that Sigebertus hath written of him, that * 1.702 is, After he had vanquished the Saxons (saith he) whose drift was not onely to ouer-runne the Land with violence, but also to erect their owne Lawes without clemencie, he re∣stored the Christian Religion then sorely decaied, and new built the Churches that those enemies had destroied.

AVRELIVS AMBROSIVS. 3.

[illustration]

AVrelius Ambrosius, verily descended of that Con∣stantine who in the fourth Consulship of Theodo∣sius * 1.703 the younger, was elected here in Britaine, onely in hope of his luckie name, succeeded Vortigern the Fa∣ther in the Gouernment of Britaine, and Vortimer the sonne, in affection and defence of his Country. He with Vter (saith Geffrey Monmouth) when their bro∣ther Constantine was murthered by Vortigern, fled into * 1.704 France, where they remained the yeeres of his first raigne; whose returne (as we haue heard from Nini∣us) he greatly feared, and whose force at his last he felt to his smart. For hauing againe resumed his Crowne, he liued in his old sinnes, and suffered the Saxons to be Lords of his Land: to preuent which (saith Beda from Gyldas) the Britaines by little and little beganne to * 1.705 take strength, and with some courage to come forth of their Caues, who with one vniforme consent, called to God for his heauenly helpe. They had (saith he) for their Captaine a Ro∣man called Ambrosius Aurelianus, a gentle natured man, which onely of all the bloud of the Romans remained then aliue, his parents being slaine, which bore the name of King of the Country. This man being their Leader, prouoked the Victors to the fight, and through Gods assistance atchieued the victory. From that day forward now the Britaines, now the Saxons did preuaile, vntill the yeere that Bathe was be∣sieged, which was fortie foure yeeres after their first com∣ming into the Iland.

His first expedition (as our British Historians re∣port) was against Vortigern, and his Castle in Wales, * 1.706 wherein that incestuous King was consumed to ashes by lightning from heauen, as we haue said: and then following the Saxons, made toward Yorke, & at Maes∣bel beyond Humber, encountering Hengist, became his Victor: vnto whose mercy (say they) his sonne Occa yeelded himselfe, and obtained in free gift the Coun∣try in Gallaway in Scotland for him and his Saxons. But these his affaires thus prospering against the common Enemie, was enuied at by Pascentius, the youngest son of King Vortigern, who not able either to mate the Saxons, or after his Brethrens deaths to recouer the Kingdome to himselfe, ambitiously sought to prefer his base humor before the recouery of his Countries libertie, which then lay gored in her owne bloud. For hauing gotten the aid of Gillamare King of Ireland, whether hee had fled vpon the death of his Father, and now returned into the west of Wales, first indam∣maged the Citie of S. Dauids, and thence proceeded with fire and sword. Aurelius then sicke in the Citie of Winchester, sent his brother Vter to withstand his force, who slew both Pascentius and the Irish King his partaker, in a set & sore battell fought betwixt them. But before this battell, Pascentius had sent a Saxon, whose name was Eopa, in shew a Britaine, and in habit a Physitian, to minister poison in stead of physicke, which according was effected with Ambrosius his * 1.707 death.

Vnto this Aurelius Ambrosius is ascribed the erecti∣on * 1.708 of that rare and admirable monument, now called Stonhenge, in the same place where the Britaines had been trecherously slaughtered and interred, whose

manner and forme in our draught of Wiltshire wee haue inserted. The matter being Stones of a great and huge bignesse, so that some of them containe twelue tunne in waight, and twenty eight foote or * 1.709 more in length, their breadth seuen, and compasse six∣teene. These are set in the ground of a good depth, and stand in a round circle by two and two, hauing a third stone somewhat of lesse quantitie laid gate-wise ouerthwart on their toppes, fastned with tenons and mortaises, the one into the other; which to some seeme so dangerous, as they may not safely be passed vnder, the rather for that many of them are fallen downe, and the rest suspected of no sure foundation: notwithstanding, at my being there, I neither saw cause of such feare, nor vncertaintie in accounting of their numbers, as is said to be. The stones are gray, but not marbled, wherein great holes are beaten euen by force of weather, that serue for Rauens and other birds to build in, and bring foorth their young. The ground-plot containeth about three hundred foot in compasse, in forme almost round, or rather like vnto a horse-shooe, with an entrance in vpon the east-side. Three rowes of stones seeme formerly to haue beene pitched, the largest outwards, and the least inwards; many whereof are now fallen downe: but those that stand, shew so faire an aspect, and that so farre off, that they seeme to the beholders to bee some Fortresse or strong Castle. A Trench also is about them, which hath beene much deeper; and vpon the plaines ad∣ioining, many round copped hilles, without any such trench, (as it were cast vp out of the earth) stand like great hay-cockes in a plaine meadow: In these, and thereabouts, by digging haue beene found peeces of * 1.710 ancient fashioned armour, with the bones of men, whose bodies were thus couered with earth that was brought thither by their wel-willers and friends, euen in their head-peeces; a token of loue that then was v∣sed, as some imagine.

This Trophey, Aurelius Ambrosius (in memoriall of the Britaines massacre) erected, and is worthily ac∣counted for one of the Wonders of this Iland, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the verses of Alexander 〈◊〉〈◊〉 called The Giants Da•…•…nce, wherein this Ambrosius was interred after h•…•…e had raigned thirtie two yeeres, and wherof the towne Ambresbury beares the name. Others report, that the Britaines erected this most stately Sepulcher •…•…uer the body of Ambrosius there slaine by the sword of his e∣nemies, that his Countries loue, in such a costly peece of worke, might remaine vnto posterities in this, the Altar of his vertue and manhood: for 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 saith, that this man, in succouring his 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, * 1.711 tooke vpon him the Imperiall Robe, and aganist the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 rage of those German enemies, oft times ouer 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 pu∣issant armies, but was lastly slaine by them vpon the plaines of Salesburie. I cannot with silence let passe the ridi∣culous reports of the bringing of the Stones out of Africke into Ireland, and from thence, vnder the con∣duct * 1.712 of Vter the brother of Ambrosius, vnto this Plain, by the industrious meanes of Merlin, surnamed Am∣brose, borne in the ancient City Merd•…•…n, and as Hum∣frey * 1.713 Lh•…•…d saith, of a noble virgin, whose father, for his skill in the Mathematicks, and wonderfull knowledge in all other kinde of learning, was by the rude common people re∣puted to be the sonne of an Incubus, or a male Diuell, which in the similitude and likenesse of men doe vse carnally to companie with women. But how this may agree with his diuine mouth, that telles vs the Spirits haue nei∣ther * 1.714 flesh nor bones; and the whole Scriptures, that man is carnally begotten, conceiued and born, I leaue for others further to dispute. Only I know, that such begettings as Merlines is reported to bee, without fa∣ther, and Simon Magus also, that before him would needs be the sonne of a Virgin, doe not a little contra∣dict * 1.715 our Christian Profession, who acknowledge onely the conception of Christ to be conceiued without the seed of man, or of sinne. But to our purpose: Ambro∣sius Aurelius (by Panuinius accounted the last Empe∣rour * 1.716 of the British bloud) is said to raigne in Britaine thirty two yeeres, and to die in that of Christs Incar∣na•…•…on foure hundred ninety seuen.

VTERPENDRAGON. 4.

[illustration]

VTer, surna•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉, the brother of Ambro∣sius, succeeded him both in valour, and in the Go∣uernment * 1.717 of Britaine. His entrance was with trou∣bles * 1.718 against the Saxons, who vnder the leading of Eske and O•…•…a, the sonnes of King Hengist, had passed with spoile to the Citie Yorke, whither this new-made Ge∣nerall presently rep•…•…d, and giuing them battell, with the discom•…•… of the whole Army, tooke both the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pri•…•…ers, and committed them to safe cu•…•…odie.

But the Brita•…•…es (saith 〈◊〉〈◊〉) becomming disloi∣all to their Prince, seldome assisted him with preuen∣ting * 1.719 counsell: and the Princ•…•… enamored vpon the Duke of Cornwals Wife, consulted more with Mer∣li•…•… to transforme himselfe from himselfe, then to giue direction against the common enemie. For com∣ming to Tindagell Castle in Cornwall, possessed by Gor∣lois, * 1.720 Duke of that Prouince, beheld (in his eye) the Pa∣ragon of Nature, which was Lady Igren, his Dutches and wife. Vter, whose thoughts till then had bin free, and from his childhood had euer followed Mars in the field, was now surprised so far with her loue, that his Shield and Armes were both neglected and vn∣worne, and all his thoughts set on worke to purchase his most wis•…•…ed desire; which lastly, by Merline and Magick was effected, and that after this manner (if we * 1.721

will beleeue him of Monmouth, who is the reporter.) His suites and hopes failing (saith he) to win her vnto dishonor, Merline altogether new-moulded the shape of King Vter, and printed in his face the feature of Gorlois her owne Lord, by which meanes, and with∣out suspect the King dishonourably violated this La∣dies chastitie, in which Bed of deceit, the famous Ar∣thur * 1.722 was begot. The captiue Captaines Eske and Octa in these loose times of his loue, gat loose from their Keepers, and with their ratling armour roused Vter from this wanton Lullaby; who with troopes of strength, and trumpets of defiance, met these Sax∣ons face to face in the field, where betwixt them was fought a most bloudy battell, and that euen almost to the last stroke, and wherein, if fatall destinie had with∣drawne her hand, the Iland had been rid of these In∣truders for euer. For therein (say our Authours) the Saxons perished by the Britaines swords; vpon whose * 1.723 points also Eske and Octa paid their escapes with the losse of their liues. This field was at Verolam, whither Vter sicke, and in his Horse-litter, was borne among * 1.724 his Army, and after long and sore siege, wonne from them that Citie. Finally, when this King had raigned * 1.725 the space of eighteene yeeres, he died by poison put into a well, whereof vsually he dranke, and was buried at Stonhenge with his brother Ambrosius.

Of his surname Pendragon, these supposals are made: At his natiuitie (say some) appeared a fierie Co∣met, in some part resembling a Dragons Head: where∣upon that great reputed Prophet Merline, attributed this heauenly Meteor vnto this Princely new-borne Babe; and gaue him the name of Vter-Pendragon. Others for his serpentine wisdome, deriue the surname of this Serpents Head, who like vnto that of Dan, bit * 1.726 the Horse heeles, so that the riders fell backward. For in all his warres against the Saxons, hee was most fortu∣nate and victorious, with their great ouerthrowes. But others will haue him so named from his Royall Banner, borne euer before him, wherein was portrai∣ed a Dragon with a Golden Head; of which Standerd since, neighbour Nations haue had good experience, and in far Country it hath been displaied in the cause * 1.727 of Christianitie, to the terror of the Pagans, as in Syria by that inuincible English King, Richard the first, surna∣med Cur-de-lion; in Scotland and Wales by that conque∣ring Prince Edward the first, and the same as yet is in field borne for an Imperiall Standard in our English Campes.

KING ARTHVR. 5.

[illustration]

ARthur the sonne of Vter, begotten as is said of La∣die Igren Dutchesse of Cornwall, was crowned * 1.728 King at fifteene yeeres of age, about the yeere of Christ fiue hundred and sixteene; or as Matthew of * 1.729 Westminster hath it, fiue hundred and eighteene. His prosperous entrance was enuied at by Lotho King of the Picts, and by Couran King of the Scots, who had * 1.730 married his owne Aunts, Anna and Alda, the two si∣sters of Ambrose and Vter, each of them expecting the Crowne before him, through the opinion and re∣pute of his bastardie, especially Lotho, who had is∣sue by Anna, Mordrad, and Gawan: the latter of which spent his life in the cause of that quarrell. His first proceedings were against the common ene∣mie the Saxons, whose Captaine Colgerne, he chased from Northumberland into Yorke; which Citie likewise he girt with a strait siege, notwithstanding Colgerne thence escaped into Germany, and of King Cherdick got succour for his Saxons, who with seuen hundred saile arriued in Scotland. Arthur aduertised of his great * 1.731 power, raised his siege, and drew towards London, and thence sent for aid to his Nephew Howel, King of Little Britaine in France, who came himselfe in person to ioyne with his Vncle.

These from South-hampton marched to Lincolne, which Citie Cherdick had strongly besieged, but was thence forced by Arthurs conquering sword. Twelue battels he fought against these Saxons (as Ninius re∣cordeth) with great manhood and victorie. The first was at the mouth of the Riuer Gleyne: the second, third, fourth, and fifth, vpon the Banks of Douglasse, in the Countie of Lineux: the sixth vpon the Riuer Bassus; the seuenth in the wood Calidon; the eighth neere to the Castle Guynien; the ninth in Wales, at the Towne Cairelien; the tenth at Trachenrith, or Ritho∣wode vpon the Sea side: the eleuenth vpon a hill na∣med Agned Cathergonien; and the twelfth at Bathe, or Bathen-hill, where the Britaines (as Beda saith) gaue the * 1.732 Saxons a very great ouerthrow; which (by Gyldas re∣port) happened fortie foure yeeres after the Saxons first arriuage into Britaine, the yeere wherein himselfe was borne.

Of Arthurs successe both at home and abroad, his great magnificence in Court and Countrey, his Banners, and foure Golden Swords borne before him, his Round Tables, and challenges of Martiall Honour, let Mon∣mouth * 1.733 the Writer, Newbery the Resister, and Leiland the Maintainer, be heard for me. But certaine it is (by the report of Malmesbury) that Arthur was a Prince * 1.734 more worthy to be aduanced by the truth of Records in war∣rantable credit, then by fables scandalized with poeticall fictions and hyperbolicall falshoods. Whose Banner was so often spread for the cause of Christianitie, and de∣fense of his Countrey, being the only proppe that vpheld the same. And lamentable it is, that the fame of this pu∣issant Prince had not beene sounded by a more certaine Trumpet: for to say the truth of his Writer euen in a * 1.735 word, hee was well skilled in Antiquities of tradition,

but as it seemeth, not any of ancient credit, so many toies and tales hee euery where interlaceth out of his owne braine, wherewith hee was charged while him∣selfe liued, insomuch as he is now ranged among those Writers whom the Roman Church hath censured to be forbidden.

This hurt therefore those ouer-zealous Monkes haue done to the Subiect whereof they wrote, that through an ouer-much conceited opinion, with the vertue and fame of the person, they haue mingled such matters as may iustly be reiected, whereby their worths are not only depriued of their truly-deserued honours, but which more is, euen their persons suspe∣cted to be nought else but fictions, as Hercules in Ouid, or Hector in Homer. And so hath Geffrey done by this most worthy Prince Arthur, whose warres against the Saxons for defense of this Iland, he hath enlarged with the Conquests of other Kingdomes and Countries, wherein he neuer came: which hath made not onely his Acts to be doubted of, but euen his person to bee called in question, whether any such Arthur euer ru∣led in Britaine. Yet with better regard to the Recor∣ders of his spreading fame, we grant both the man, and many honorable parts in him, though not in the like manner as they haue laid them downe. Neither are we straied so farre from the steps of credulitie, that we can beleeue no more then wee see, or that seeing, bee fore-stalled with a preiudicate opinion: for though we consent not to the fables of Homer, neither to the inuentions that Euripides and Sophocles made vpon the * 1.736 Battles of Troy, yet wee denie not but that there were Warres and Battles at Troy, wherein many Martiall acts vndoubtedly were performed: neither doubt wee of his person, as Seneca seemeth to doe of Iupiters, but * 1.737 acknowledge it with reuerence for truth, yet with this reseruation, that all is not Gospell which is written in Greeke. And had there not beene a truth of things whereupon Poets made their fables, there had beene at this day no fables of Poets in the world. And as Geffrey wondreth that neither Gyldas nor Beda doe mention Arthur nor his great deeds, so saith Randul∣phus, may we at Geffrey, that hath augmented them a∣boue the pitch of credulitie. But for the truth of this Prince, besides a Charter exemplified vnder the s•…•…ale of King Edward the Third, wherein mention is made of King Arthur, to haue beene a great Benefactour to the Abbey of Glastenbury, who as Iohn Rouse reporteth, * 1.738 had giuen Bren-march and other Demaines, to the va∣lue of fiue hundred Markes yeerely, to the said Mona∣sterie. His Armes (being an Escocheon, wheron a Crosse, * 1.739 with the Virgin Mary bearing Christ in her armes) cut in stone, and standing ouer the first Gate of entrance as yet, is said to be the Armes of that Abbey. And Io∣seph, the iudicious Monke of Excester, who followed * 1.740 King Richard the First in his warre for the Conquest of the Holy Land, in his poeticall verses extolleth Ar∣thur with Alexander, Caesar, and Hercules; yea and Ni∣nius, farre his ancient, calleth Arthur an Iron Mall, that both bruised and brake the Lions iawes asunder. * 1.741

Therefore of his person we make no doubt, though his acts haue beene written with too lauish a pen: nei∣ther consent we with those Historians that naturalize him for a Britaine, seeing that Ninius, Beda, Malmesbu∣rie, and himselfe seeme to speake the contrarie: for Ambrosius being the brother of Vter Pendragon, as we already from Beda haue shewed, was a Captaine de∣scended from the bloud of the Romans, whose parents saith Ninius, had worne the Purple Robe, and both of * 1.742 them the sonnes of Constantine, whose father in Bri∣taine against Honorius the Emperour had put on the said Robe. And by his naturall descent from the Ro∣mans, Arthur not only denied them Tribute, but also threatned to haue a Tribute from Rome: for in his Letters to that end sent vnto the Senate, thus in an old Manuscript we finde it indited: Vnderstand among you of Rome, that I am King Arthur of Britaine, and freely * 1.743 it hold, and shall hold; and at Rome hastily will I bee, not to giue you tr•…•…age, but to haue tr•…•…age of you: for Constantine that was Helenes sonne, and other of mi•…•… Ancestors con∣quered Rome, and thereof were Emperours, and that the•…•… had and held I shall haue your•…•… Godd•…•…s grace. Whereby is manifest his bloud was from the Romans. Let not therefore any of our Britaines take exceptions against me for this, neither that I enlarge not his fame, by the enlargement of his Empire in Russia, Lapland, and in making Norway his Chamber of Britaine, as if that Kingdome and Title should bee giuen him by the Pope, that indeed cuts large thongs out of other mens Leather: his Conquests of thirty Kingdomes, and kil∣ling of Denabus the huge Spanish Giant, & his combat with Frolo Gouernor of France, and with Lucius Hibe∣rus the Roman Legate, whose slaine body hee sent to the Senate for the tribute of Britaine by them deman∣ded: seeing that others before mee, farre more rip•…•… Historians, haue made both doubts and obiections against them. And therefore I conclude with this Ar∣thur, as Saint Augustine with the Athenians, whose men * 1.744 (saith he) were euer greater in fame then in deeds. And with Ninius will end with his saying; Arthurus pu•…•…a bat contra illos in diebus illis; & licet multi ipso no•…•…∣res essent, ipse tamen duodecies Dux belli fuit, Vi∣ctorque bellorum: Arthur made warre against them in those daies; and though many were more noble then be, yet was hee twelue times Generall in the Field, and retur∣ned Conquerour. But more constant is the memorie of his death, and place of his buriall, both which are re∣ported vpon warrantable credit: for Mordred the sonne of Lotho, whereof wee haue spoken, affecting the Crown, vpon a pretence of right from King Vter, and supposed bastardise of Arthur, gaue many at∣tempts, through the aid of his Picts, and assistance of the Saxons, to dispossesse him of that wherein he was seated: and lastly at * 1.745 Kamblan or Cambula in Cornwall (saith Leland) this British Hector encountring Mordred, slew him out-right, and receiued of him his owne deaths wound. The witnesse of this Field as yet are those peeces of Armour, horse-harnesse, and other habili∣ments of Warre, which are daily digged vp in tillage of the ground; vnlesse those reliques of Battle be the seales of that fight which Marianus writeth to haue * 1.746 beene in this place betwixt the Britaines and Saxons, in the yeere of our Lord eight hundred and twenty.

If then it bee true that Arthur heere died, this place we may say seemeth to be consecrated vnto Mars: for Tindagell Castle, standing hard by, first brought into the world this glorious Prince, for one of her nine Worthies, and Cambula againe receiued his last bloud. But from this place he was carried vnto Glastenburie in Somerset-shire, where he died the one and twentieth of May, in the yeere of our Saluation fiue hundred * 1.747 forty and two, after he had most victoriously raigned twenty six yeeres. His body was there buried, and six hundred yeeres after was taken vp, and found vpon this occasion: When Henry the second, and first Plan∣tagenet, had swaied the English Scepter to the last of his raigne, it chanced him at Pembrooke to heare sung to the Harpe certaine Ditties of the worthy exploits and acts of this Arthur, (by a Welsh Bard, as they were ter∣med, whose custome was to record and sing at their Feasts the noble deeds of their Ancestours) wherein mention was made of his death, and place of buriall, designing it to be in the Church-yard of Glastenburie, and that betwixt two Pyramides therein standing: whereupon King Henry caused the ground to be dig∣ged, and at seuen foot depth was found a huge broad stone, wherein a leadden Crosse was fastned, and in that side that lay downeward, in rude and barbarous letters (as rudely set and contriued) this inscription written vpon that side of the Lead that was towards the stone:

HIC IACET SEPVLTVS REX AR∣TVRIVS IN INSVLA AVALONIA.

Heere lieth King Arthur buried in the Ile of Aualonia.

And digging nine foot deeper, his body was found in the trunke of a Tree, the bones of great bignesse, and in his scull perceiued ten wounds, the last very great, and plainely seene. His Queene Guineuer, that had beene neere kinswoman to Cador Duke of Cornwall, a

Lady of passing beautie lay likewise by him, whose * 1.748 tresses of haire finely platted, and in colour like the gold, seemed perfect and whole vntill it was touched, but then (bewraying what all beauties are) shewed it selfe to be dust. Giraldus Cambrensis, a worthy Author and an eie-witnesse, is the reporter of this finding of Arthurs bones; and the Crosse of Lead, with the In∣scription, as it was found and taken off the stone, was kept in the Treasurie or Reuester of Glastenburie * 1.749 Church, saith Stowe, till the suppression thereof in the raigne of King Henry the eight, whose forme and rude letters we haue here expressed to thy sight.

[illustration]

The bones of King Arthur, and of Queene Gui∣neuar * 1.750 his wife, by the direction of Henry de Bloys, Ne∣phew to King Henry the second, and Abbat of Gla∣stenbury, at that present were translated into the great new Church, and there in a faire Tombe of Marble, his body was laid and his Queenes at his feet; which noble Monument among the fatall ouerthrowes of infinite more, was altogether raced at the dispose of some then in Commission, whose too forward zeale, and ouer hastie actions in these behalfes, hath left vnto vs a want of many truths, and cause to wish that some of their imployments had bin better spent.

CONSTANTINE. 6.

[illustration]

Constantine the sonne of Cador Duke of Cornwall, and cosen to King Arthur by his alliance in mari∣age, * 1.751 at his death was appointed by him to succeed in his Dominions, and most ioifully receiued of the * 1.752 Commons, as the man, in the opinion of this worthy elector and themselues, accounted most fit to defend the Land from the many oppressions of the Saxons, who now beganne to spreade the wing as farre as to Tyne in the North, and to set downe the limits of their seuerall Kingdomes; which notwithstanding, these strangers daily enlarged vpon the home-bred Inhabi∣tants, the ciuill warres of the Britaines giuing way to the same, and that not onely among themselues, but by the Picts also, in the behalfe of the two sonnes of Mordred, that sought to dispossesse him of the Crown. In which quarrel many battles were fought, but with such successe to the attemptors, that these two Com∣petitors were forced for refuge into London and Win∣chester, * 1.753

whither Constantine pursued them, they taking Sanctuarie in the Churches, and not farre from the Al∣tars he slew them: for which deede, the Priest Gyldas, that flourished in those daies, in his inuectiue reprehen∣sions thus writeth: Britaine hath Kings (saith hee) but * 1.754 they are Tyrants: Iudges it hath, but they are wicked, pil∣ling and harming the innocent people; reuenging and defen∣ding, but whom? Such as be guilty and robbers. They haue many wiues, yet breake they wedlocke; many times swea∣ring, yet periure themselues; vowing, but for the most part with dissembling lies; warring, but stillmaintaining vniust and ciuill broiles; abroad pursuing theeues, and yet at home cherish them, euen at their owne Tables, and sometimes also reward them. They giue large almes indeed, yet heape they vp sinnes high as the Mountaine. They sit in the Seat of sentence, yet seldome seeke the rule of right iudgement, de∣spising the humble and innocent persons, and extolling vp to Heauen proud and bloudie Murderers, Theeues, and Adul∣terers, yea and if he would permit them, the very enemies of God. Many they keepe in prison, and load them with irons, more to serue their owne purposes, then for any guilt in the person, taking solemn Oaths before & vpon the Altars, and yet despise they the Altars, as altogether vile, and but filthie stones.

Of this hainous and wicked offense, Constantine the tyrannicall whelpe of the Lionesse of Deuon-shire is not ignorant, who this yeere, after the receiuing of his dreadfull Oath, whereby he bound himselfe, that in no wise he should hurt his Subiects, (God first, and then his Oath, with the company of Saints, and his owne mother being present •…•…did notwithstanding in the reuerend laps of both his Mothers, the Church, and her by nature, and that vnder the vesture of an holy Abbat, deuoure with sword and speare, instead of teeth, the tender sides and the entrailes of two children of noble and Kingly race, and likewise of their two Gouer∣nours, yea and that (as I said) before the sacred Altars; the Armes of which Persons so slaine, not stretched forth to defend themselues with weapons (which few in those daies handled more valiantly then they) but stretched forth to God, and to his Altar, in the day of Iudgement shall set vp the reuerend ensignes of their patience and faith at the Gates of the Citie of Christ, which so haue couered the seat of the Celestall Sacrifice, as it were with the red Mantle of their cluttered bloud.

These things hee did not after any good deeds done by him deseruing praise: for many yeeres before ouercome with the often and changeable filths of adulterie, and for∣saking his lawfull wife (contrary to the law of God) beeing not loosed from the snares of his former sinnes, hee increa∣seth the new with the old. Thus far Gyldas, for this time, and for the raigne of Constantine; whose life being no * 1.755 better, was cut off in battell by Aurelius Conanus, when he had raigned fully three yeeres, and without issue was buried at Stonhenge.

AVRELIVS CONANVS. 7.

[illustration]

AVrelius Conanus, the Nephew of King Arthur, af∣ter * 1.756 he had slaine his Cosen Constantine in battell, was made King ouer the Britaines in the yeere after Christs Natiuitie fiue hundred fortie fiue. He was of disposition free and liberal, but therewithall of a light credit, and very suspicious, cherishing them that accu∣sed others, without respect of right or wrong, putting some to death, and retaining others in perpetuall pri∣son, among whom his own Vncle was one, whose two sons he caused to be slain, no causes obiected, but that these three were in truth betwixt him & the Crowne: for which, and other the like impious parts, the said Gyldas continueth the tenor of his vehement repre∣hension in this manner. And thou Lions whelpe (as speakes the Prophet) Aurelius Conanus, what dost thou? * 1.757 art thou not swallowed vp in the •…•…thy mire of murthering thy Kinsmen, of committing fornications and adulteries, like to the others before mentioned, if not more deadly, as it were with the waues and surges of the drenching Seas, ouer∣whelming thee with her vnmercifull rage? dost thou not in hating the peace of thy Country, as a deadly Serpent, and thirsting after ciuill warres and spoiles (often times vniust∣ly gotten) shut vp against thy soule the Gates of celestiall peace? Thou being left alone, as a withering tree in the middle of a field, call to remembrance (I pray thee) the vaine youthfull fantasie, and ouer timely deaths of thy Fa∣thers and thy Brethren: shalt thou being set apart, and cho∣sen forth of all thy lineage for thy godly deserts, be reserued to liue an hundred yeeres, or remaine on earth till thou bee as old as Meth•…•…shela? nothing lesse. And thus with ex∣hortations for his amendment, turneth his speech to his Successor.

The raigne of this King, among the vncertain∣ties of other proceedings, is ranged by our owne Hi∣storians, as vncertainly. For some hold him to rule onely two yeeres, and no more, being then cut off * 1.758 by the iust reuenging hand of God for his sinnes: o∣thers * 1.759 allow three yeeres for his raigne, wherein, as they say, most viciously hee liued: and yet Mat∣thew of Westminster will haue him continue in go∣uernement no lesse then thirty yeeres; and Iohn * 1.760 Stow addeth three more: such extremes are weedri∣uen vnto, that haue our relations onelie from them.

VORTIPORVS.8.

[illustration]

VOrtiporus, after the death of Aurelius, succeeded him in the Kingdome of the Britaines, which * 1.761 then was much scantled by the intrusions of the Sax∣ons whom in many battels (as saith the British Histo∣rians) he vanquished, and valiantly defended his Land and Subiects, from the danger of them and of their Allies: notwithstanding these reported actions thus honorably atchieued, yea and his Parentage with suc∣cession of gouernment, may be both suspected and iustly called in question, as by the words of Gyldas is manifest; who sufferd not this King also to passe vn∣touched in his Inuectiue and lamentable passions. And thou (saith he) Vortiporus the Tyrant of South-wales, like to the Panther in manners and wickednesse, diuersly spot∣ted, as it were with many colours, with thy hoarie head in * 1.762 the Throne full of deceits, crafts, and wiles, and defiled euen from the lowest part of thy body to the Crowne of thy head, with diuers and sundry murthers committed on thine own kin, and filthy adulteries, thus prouing the vnworthy sonne of a good King, as Manasses was to Ezechias; how chan∣ceth * 1.763 it that the violent streames of sinnes, which thou swal∣lowest vp like pleasant wine, or rather art swallowed vp by thē, (the end of thy life by little & little now drawing neere) cannot yet satisfie thee? What meanest thou, that with forni∣cation, of all euils as it were the full heap, thine own wife be∣ing put away, with her death, which thou wroughtest, dost op∣presse thy soule with a certain burthē that cānot be auoided?

By this testimonie of Gyldas, this Vortiporus could not be the sonne of bad Conan, as Geffrey Monmouth and Matthew of Westminster affirme him: his Father being compared to godly Ezechias King of Iudah, and himselfe continuing his gouernment, as is said the * 1.764 space of foure yeeres, ended his life without issue to succeed him.

MALGO CANONVS. 9.

[illustration]

MAlgo Canonus, the Nephew of Aurelius Conanus, as some write, succeeded Vortiporus in the King∣dome * 1.765 of Britaine, a man of a most seemely presence, but withall, charged with many vnbeseeming and foule sinnes, by ancient Gyldas, the onely recorder of the Actions in these times; who calleth him the Dra∣gon of the Iles, greater in power then many, but exceeding all in mischiefe and malice; a large gi•…•…r, but more lauish and prodigall in all sinnes and licentiousnesse: in Armes and dominions more strong, and greater then any other Bri∣tish Potentate; but stronger in the destruction of his owne soule, in committing the grand abhorred sinne of Sodomie. In his youthfull daies, with sword and fire he brought to de∣struction his Vncle by the mothers side (being then king) together with many others, and after vppon a shew-see∣ming remorse of Conscience, vowed the profession and life of a Monke; but returned shortly after to his owne vomit, and became worse then he was before: for despising his first mariage, he became enamored vpon the wife of his brothers sonne, whiles he was liuing; and after that he had kept her a certaine time, murthered them both. In these sinnes hee * 1.766 continued the terme of fiue yeeres, and dying without issue, left his Crowne to another.

By these reprehensions of Gyldas it should rather

seeme that these Princes liued all together at one and the same time, vnto whom hee spake personally, and mouth to mouth, which could not be, if such succes∣sions and such yeeres had beene expired, as heere is laid downe. And therefore not without cause some haue affirmed, that these Captaines vsurped authori∣tie together in diuers parts of the Iland, and not suc∣cessiuely one after another; neither indeed as Kings, but rather Tyrants, polluted with these greeuous sinnes, as you haue heard, and are so termed by their own Historian, that bringeth * 1.767 one more to tyrannize, whom neither Monmouth nor hee of Westminster hath spoken of, which is Cuneglasus, whom hee calleth, a Lion tawney Butcher, a Beare, a Contemner of Religion, an Oppressour of the Clergie, that fought against God with his many grecuous sinnes, and warred vpon man with his mar∣tiall weapons. Hee (saith hee) did put away his lawfull wife, prouoked the godly with many iniuries, was proudly conceited of his owne wisdome, and set his whole hope in vn∣certaine riches. If then the head was so sicke, could the body be sound, that (as Beda saith) were so set to breake all orders of truth and iustice, that scant any token or re∣membrance thereof remained? And for witnesse against * 1.768 them, calleth their owne Historian Gyldas, that accu∣sed them of many impieties, and this not the least, that those Britaines neglected the preaching of the Gospell to the Saxons.

For these sinnes assuredly, God gaue their Land to another Nation, and themselues to exile, or to the swords of their enemies. Howsoeuer, some latter Britaine hath rather excused their sinnes by the ouer∣rash zeale of Gyldas, whom he tearmeth a Pulpit-Priest * 1.769 (but no perfect Historian) that beat down sinnes with an ouer-sharpe censure of the sinners, as the ma∣ner of many Preachers is at this day. But (saith hee) let the true renowne of the Britaines appeare to the world: and surely so shall it doe for me. And againe I returne to my intended purpose.

CARETICVS. 10.

[illustration]

CAreticus succeeded Malgo in the gouernment of Britaine, as destitute of vertue and fluent in vice, * 1.770 as any of these his preceding Kings: for it is recorded that hee was a nourisher of dissensions, and sowed ci∣uill warres among his subiects; a sinne odible to God and Man, and vnto the vnconstant Britaines gaue oc∣casion of his hatred: which when the Saxons percei∣ued, was further instigated, and with the assistance of Gurmund an Arch-pirate, and Captaine of the Norwe∣gians, followed against the King, who not able to re∣sist them, fled into the Towne of Chichester for safety, but by the deuice of his pursuers, certaine sparrowes being caught, and fire fastned to their feet, were let flie into the Towne, where lighting vpon straw and * 1.771 other matter fit for flaming, burnt in short space the whole Citie, and Careticus flying beyond Seuerne, secured himselfe among the Mountaines of Wales, wherein he died, after he had vnprosperously raigned three yeeres: and from that time foorth (saith Randul∣phus) * 1.772 the Britaines lost their whole Kingdome in the East part of the Iland, and were confined in the West by the Riuers Seuerne and Dee.

CADWAN. 11.

[illustration]

CAdwan, after foure and twenty yeeres ciuill dissen∣sion maintained among the Britaines, euer since * 1.773 they had forgone their Country, and betaken them∣selues to those vast, but securing Mountaines; of a

Ruler only of North-wales, was made Gouernour of all those parts, a man deseruing well before hee came * 1.774 to that estate, and being risen, maintained himselfe and subiects in great honour and peace. His first af∣faires against the Saxons, was to reuenge the deaths of his Britaines, and harmelesse Monkes of Bangor, slaine (as we haue said) by wild Ethelfrid, the mighty King of Northumberland, who in Field had assembled all their powers, wherein the fatall end either of the Bri∣taines or Northumbrians must needs haue ensued, had not the quarrell beene staied by the mediation of friends. These Kings, then, and there reconciled, embraced peace, with such true friendshippe, that they continued amitie together so long as they liued.

Harding saith, that this British King Cadwan, hono∣rably receiued and worthily cherished Acca, whom * 1.775 this King Ethelfrid had put from his bed, for the loue he bare vnto his Concubine, but is deceiued in ma∣king her the mother of Edwin, that was his sister, and Cadwan to raigne but thirteen yeeres, whereas others * 1.776 allot him two and twentie.

CADWALLO. 12.

[illustration]

CAdwallo or Cadwallin, the sonne of Cadwan, was made King ouer the Britaines, the yeere of Christs * 1.777 Incarnation six hundred thirty fiue. He warred most strongly against the Saxons, and either by Conquest or Alliance ioined amitie with Penda the cruell King of the Mercians, a Pagan Idolater, himselfe by the re∣port of Beda, although a Christian in name and profession, * 1.778 yet in minde and manners so rude and outragious, that hee spared neither womens weaknesse nor childrens innocencie, but put all to death with greeuous and bitter torments, to fulfill his cruell and vnmercifull tyrannie, wasting a long time, and raging ouer the Prouinces, purposed to extermi∣nate out of the borders of Britanny the whole Nation of the English, and to extinguish the very name of them. Neither did he ought esteeme any reuerence or honour to the Christi∣an Religion, which those men embraced: so that •…•…en to this day (saith he) the Britaines custome is to set light by the Faith or Religion of the Englishmen; neither will they com∣municate with them more then with Heathens or Pagans. These two cruell Kings slew the most Christian Ed∣wyn King of Northumberland, with his sonne Prince Osfride, in a great and bloudy battle at Hethfild, the yeere of Christs incarnation six hundred thirty three: and the yeere following, with wicked force (saith Be∣da) but with worthy vengeance, Cadwallo the Britaine slew Osrike and Eanfrid, Kings of Deira and Bernicia, that * 1.779 were become Apostataes from their Christian Faiths, and that with crueltie and losse of the Saxons, as their owne Hi∣storians held it fit neither to mention their names in their monethly Calendar, nor register the yeere wherin they were slaine, in account of their gouernment, but assigned it vnto the raigne of their Successour King Oswald, which was so obserued vnto his daies; so terrible was this worthy Cad∣wallo, and odious the remembrance of this vnfortunate Battle. But this cursed Captaine (saith he) enioied not this felicitie long: for the said Oswald, to reuenge his brothers death, came with a small power, but strongly fensed in the faith of Christ, and neere to the Riuer Denise gaue him bat∣tle, wherein himselfe and late-victorious Host were all slain and confounded.

But we must rememher that Beda was a Saxon, in whose behalfe his penne hath somewhat passed the bounds of equitie (if not veritie) in charging this most valiant Conqueror with tyranny, and his Martiall Sword with crueltie, that was drawne and strucke in defence of his natiue Country, wherein the Saxons claime stood only vpon vniust intrusion. So likewise himselfe being a Monke and Priest, hath euery where blamed the Britaines for dissenting from the Roman Church, in celebration of Easter and other Ceremo∣nies; whereas in doctrine they were as sincere, which is the true substance of the Gospell. But the Britaines record that this valiant Cadwall•…•… died not in Heuen∣feild, * 1.780 neither by the hand of King Ofwald, but that he raigned in great honour the space of eight and fortie yeeres, and in peace died 22. of Nouember, in the yeere * 1.781 of Christ Iesus six hundred seuentie seuen. His body the Britaines buried in S. Martins Church in London, neere Ludgate; whose Image great and terrible, trium∣phantly riding on horsebacke, being artificially cast of Brasse, they placed vpon the same West gate, to the further feare and terror of the Saxons, as Vortimer be∣fore had commanded his at Stonar. But this relation, as also that he married the sister of King Penda, as my often named Manuscript reporteth, I leaue to the best liking of my Reader.

About this time the most blasphemous doctrine of Mahomet began to infect all the Easterne World. For although himselfe liued some nine yeeres before the gouernment of this Cadwallo, yet presently after his death his doctrine was more publikely imbraced. He was borne in Arabia, of a poore and base stocke, and being fatherlesse, was sold for a bondslaue vnto an Ismaelite, whose name was Abdemonaples, a man of exceeding great riches, and in great trade of merchan∣dizing, and Mahomet for his subtiltie in wit, was his fit instrument, and greatly in his fauor. The Master dying, left Mahomet his chiefe Factor, who hauing great riches in his keeping, married his Mistris, and so became heire of all; with whom consorted one Ser∣gius a Monke, which for heresie was fled into Arabia, who instructed Mahomet in the heresie of the Ne∣storians, and now for his wealth and Magicall Arts, wherewith hee bewitched the minds of the people,

assumed to himselfe the name of the great Prophet of God, and began to be famously published for the doctrine which he taught: the which was none other but a confused Chaos of all the heresies that had been before him: for with the Sabellians he denied the Tri∣nitie; with the Manichies, he affirmed but two persons to bee in the Deity; with Eunomius, hee denied the e∣qualitie of the Father and the Sonne; and with Ma∣cedone, taught that the Holy Ghost was a creature. He borrowed of the Iewes Circumcision; of the Nicho∣laitans, pluralities of wiues; and of the Gentiles, much Superstition; and more to cloake his diuellish inuen∣ted fantasies, somewhat he tooke from the veritie of the Gospell. Of these compounded he deuised a Law, and wrote this his Religion in the booke called his * 1.782 Alcaron; and those his Professors he named Saracens, from Sara the wife of Abraham.

Hee died of the falling sicknesse, which long time hee had dissembled, saying forsooth after his tran∣ces, that the Angell Gabriel had conference with him, the brightnesse of whose glorie hee could not behold.

CADWALLADER. 13.

[illustration]

CAdwallader, the sonne of Cadwallo, and last King of the Britaines, after the death of his Father, suc∣ceeded * 1.783 him in his dominions, and with great valour fought against the Saxons, as hee of Monmouth affir∣meth, of whom heare him speake in his owne words. Cadwalader (saith he) raigning victoriously the time of * 1.784 twelue yeeres, fell lastly into a dangerous sicknesse, with de∣spaire of recouery, and vnable to gouerne. Much debate and strife arose among his great Lords, and others of high estate, insomuch that they warred each against others, to the no small annoiance and detriment of the whole Country. At which very time likewise, so great a dearth of corne and victuall raigned, that herbes and roots were the Commons chiefest sustenance: whose third calamitie was mortalitie and pestilence, raigning so sore, and so suddenly, that in their eating, drinking, walking, and speaking, they were surprised with death, and in such number, that the liuing were scarce able to bury the dead; which miseries lasted no lesse then eleuen yeeres continuance, whereby the Land became desolate, and brought forth no fruit at all, insomuch that the King and many of his Nobles were driuen to forsake their natiue Country, and to seeke releefe in forraine parts. Cadwallader repaired to the Court of Alan his cosen, the King of Little Britaine in France, where he was ho∣nourably receiued and maintained.

But now the Ange•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 God sheathing his sword from slaughter, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 earth answering man a∣gaine with her former abundance, those Saxons that were escaped, sent for more of their Nation to their further supplie, who replenished the Cities, and manured the Countrey, at this day called Lhoyger, containing all the Land that lay on the East of Se∣uerne and Dee, dispossessing the poore Britaines of their rightfull inheritance, and diuiding their Lands vnto their owne vse. Cadwallader hearing of their daily arriuage, and their vniust intrusion vpon his home-bred subiects, minded their redresse by his present returne, and to that end had wrought King Alan, for his succour & assistance. But see how it chan∣ced: He being now ready to imbarke his Host, and to hoise vp his sailes for Britaine, and in the silent night much spent in praier & supplication, that God would prosper with good successe these his great affaires, be∣hold an Angell appeared to him, or at leastwise to his seeming he heard a voice, that forbade him the enter∣prise, declaring that it was not Gods will that hee should vndergoe that Voiage, or that the Britaines should rule their Land any longer; but contrariwise bade hie him to Rome, and of Pope Sergius receiue the habit of Religion, wherein hee should die, and rest in peace.

This dreame (for I hold it no other) being told vnto Alan, search was made into the Bookes of both * 1.785 the Merlines, as also into the speech of the Eagle at Shaftesbury, pronounced eight hundred and eighty yeeres before the birth of our Sauiour Christ (if wee doe beleeue these to be true) wherein it was prophe∣cied forsooth, that the Britaines should lose their Kingdome, and that the same should be possessed of others, vntill the time that the bones of Cadwallader should bee brought from Rome. By such toies and illusions in those daies of darknesse, the euer-erring minds of men were content to be lead: for not onely Cadwallader, a quiet and meeke-spirited man, was pos∣sessed with this conceit, that it came vnto him by a di∣uine prouidence, but also King Alan perswaded him to obey his Oracle; and thereupon preparing for his Pilgrimage, gaue ouer his expedition for Britaine, and left his distressed Subiects to bee ouer-runne by strangers, and the Land to bee enioied by a forraine Nation: and receiuing the habit of seeming Religion at the hands of Pope Sergius, died soone after in the yeere of our Lord six hundred eighty nine, and there was buried in S. Peters Church, being the last King of the Britaines bloud, after they had held possession therof the space of one thousand one hundred thirty and seuen yeeres before the Natiuitie of Christ, and six hundred eighty eight yeeres after his Birth, as the Chronicle of Wales, with other Britaine Writers, haue calculated, though (as is said) after the largest size. But howsoeuer this sudden alteration was wrought in Cadwallader, yet whiles he continued a King in health, hee raigned (saith Geffrey) in great magnanimitie, the

terme of three yeers, and fought many Battles against * 1.786 the Saxons, whose sword was euer sheathed with vi∣ctorie; for Lothaire King of Kent he slew in the Field, and Edilwach also King of the South-Saxons, with the ruine of his Country, as the British Historians report, and would haue it.

But Beda, vnto whom more credit is heerein to be giuen, telles vs, that Lothaire was slaine by Edrik, his * 1.787 Nephew and Successour, declaring the manner and day of his death; and that Ceadwall, a young man of * 1.788 the West-Saxons bloud royall, being banished from a∣mong them, fell vpon the South-Saxons, harrying the Country and killing their King. But afterwards la∣menting the bloud he had spilt, whereat euen Nature her selfe seemed to bee offended, in great repentance abandoned his Kingdome, and pilgrim-like went vn∣to Rome, where of Pope Sergius he was baptized vpon * 1.789 Easter Euen, the yeere from Christs Natiuitie six hun∣dred eightie nine. The times thus agreeing, their names so neere, their deuotions alike, Sergius the same ghostly father to both, their sepulchers in one and the same Church, doe strongly confirme that they both were the same and one only man, as we formerly haue said. But with this man Cadwallader, wheresoeuer he died, lay buried the last bloud of their Kings, their go∣uernment, and immediatelie the very Name of Bri∣taine, for many hundred yeeres ensuing, as in the sequell of this Historie (Christ assisting) shall bee shewed.

And now at last, according to my first intendment, I am come to speake of the succession of Great Bri∣taines Monarkes, from which (vpon the fore-shewed occasions of the Ilands diuision, the Saxons possessi∣ons, and these Britaine Resisters) I haue beene ouer∣long staied, and am forced to returne againe to King Hengist, the first of the Saxons, that I may shew their succeeding succession in this English Monarchy: wher∣in of necessitie I must desire the patience of my Rea∣der, if some things be againe touched that formerlie haue beene spoken, the Matter of Historie so much requiring, and the Method that to my proceeding I haue herein proposed, enforcing it.

THE SAXONS SVCCESSIONS IN THE MONARCHY OF GREAT BRI∣TAINE, * 1.790 WHEREOF HENGIST THE FIRST KING OF KENT BECAME THE FIRST MO∣NARCH OF THE ENG∣LISHMEN. CHAPTER XIII.

[illustration]

HEngist, a Prince of the Eng∣lish-Saxons, hauing the * 1.791 Command ouer certaine forces planted in the Low∣countries of Germany, in the yeere of Christs Incar∣nation foure hundred and fiftie, transported them ouer into Britaine, where the fifth yeere after his ar∣riuall, he began his Kingdome in Kent; & hauing sur∣prised his son in law King Vortigern, slain his Britaines, and seized into his possession the best of the Iland, he laid the foundation of a Monarchy, and deserueth to be reputed the first Monarch of the English Nation.

(2) He (as all the Saxon Kings besides) doth claime his originall from Prince Woden, and his wife Fria, by Wechta the eldest of their •…•…uen sonnes, being the * 1.792 fifth in issue from them; as thus: Himselfe was the sonne of Withtgils, who was the sonne of Witha, and he the sonne of Wechta, the eldest sonne of the Deified Woden.

This Prince held the supreme Scepter of this Iland for thirty foure yeeres continuance, and therein died * 1.793 honorably, saith Marianus Scotus. But Peter de Ikham, Polydore, and others say, that he was slaine in battell, * 1.794 or else taken by Edol, Earle of Glocester, and beheaded at Conesborow. Hee left issue behind him two sonnes and one daughter, whose names were Hatwaker, Eske, * 1.795 and Rowena.

(3) Hatwaker his eldest sonne, is reported by Pe∣trus Albinus of Wittenberg, a great Genealogist and * 1.796

Hitoriographer also) to be Duke of the Saxons in Ger∣manie, and there left to gouerne the people at his Fa∣thers departure for Britaine. And if Albinus authority be sufficient, he was the Father of Duke Hatwegat, and grandfather of •…•…erik King of the Saxons, ance∣stor to the valiant Witikindus, the principall progeni∣tor of the most noble Familie of the Dukes of Saxony.

(4) Eske, the second sonne of King Hengist, came ouer with his Father into Britaine, and was his assi∣stant in all his warres, wherein he gaue worthy testi∣monie of his valour: whose Kingdome of Kent after his death he enioyed, and gaue name to that Coun∣tries * 1.797 Inhabitants, who were from him called Eskings, ouer whom he raigned peaceably twenty yeeres.

(5) Rowena, the daughter of King Hengist, was borne in Germany before her Fathers departure, and afterwards sent for by him into Britaine, to further his designes. At whose surpassing beautie and feature Vortigern so 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 lawfull and louing w•…•…, to 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 Paganish bed, and to the 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 and griefe of the Nob•…•…, 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 cond wi•…•…e, and the 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 struction. By her he had a 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 all lawes either of God 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 wife; by whom he had i•…•…ue 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 ly spent the daies of his life, as he was 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 got in that wicked bed.

This Rowena, whom some call Ro•…•…a, by 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 * 1.798 is accounted the Neece, and not the Daug•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…∣gist. But seeing his opinion is grounded vpon 〈◊〉〈◊〉 youth of Hengist, as not sufficient in yeeres to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a daughter so mariageable, I rather thinke and hold this bare testimonie vnable to turne the great streame of other Writers out of their vsuall course and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 chanell.

ELLA THE FIRST KING OF THE SOVTH-SAXONS, AND SECOND MO∣NARCH * 1.799 OF THE ENGLISHMEN. CHAPTER XIV.

[illustration]

ELla a noble Saxon, being sent for by King Hengist, * 1.800 about the three and twen∣tith yeere of his raigne, brought a fresh supply of those Germans to the re∣liefe of his Countrymen, who with his forces lan∣ded at the hauen now cal∣led Shoreham in Sussex, where putting backe the Inhabitants in many skir∣mishes, lastly chased them into a great wood then cal∣led * 1.801 Andredflege, whence often being assailed by the sudden assaults of the Britaines, wherein as may bee thought, he lost the liues of his two elder sonnes, was so hardly beset, that hee sent for more aid of his Sax∣ons, who came to his supply.

(2) His strength thus augmented, and ambition still increased, he fought three cruell and bloody bat∣tels, but the last of them most fatall against the Bri∣taines, in the place then called Macrodes-burne, and be∣sieging the ancient and famous City Anared-Chester * 1.802 situated in the said great forest, and chiefe defensible fortresse in all those Southern parts, intercepted the Britaines that came to their reliefe, and entring the same by an assault, put to the sword all that were found within it. After which great losse, the Britaines sought rather to prouide for their owne safety by fly∣ing into desert places, then by making open resistance to procure their owne too apparant destruction.

(3) Ella in this state continued the time of fiue yeeres before he assumed the name of King, o•…•… the li∣mits * 1.803 of that Prouince assigned vnder his gouernment, but then without any shew of resistance laid the foun∣dation of this Kingdome, which was the second of the Saxons; and as Hengist held Kent, so he had Sussex and Surrey for his Possession, wherein for six yeeres space * 1.804 with Hengist he liued, and that with such approbation of valour as that after his death he became the second Saxon Monarch of the Englishmen, in the yeere of grace 488.

(4) He is said to be the elder sonne of Osa, whose genealogie Florentius of Worcester thus deriueth: Osa * 1.805 (saith he) was the sonne of Ether•…•…ert, and he the sonne of Ingengeat, who was the sonne of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, whose father was Alusa, the sonne of Ingebrand, the sonne

of Wegbrand, the sonne of Beorn, the sonne of Beor∣nus, the elder sonne of Brand, the sonne of Bealdeag, the sixth sonne of prince Woden and of Lady Fria his wife.

(5) His issue were Kymen, Plenching, and Cissa, three valiant sonnes, that came ouer with him, and assisted him in his enterprises for Britaine. From Kymen, the port wherein they arriued, was called Kymenishore; by * 1.806 the Britaines, Cuneueshore, which time and seas hath both shortened, and altered: and now is it called Shoreham, a well knowne hauen in Sussex. This Prince came to his graue before his Father, either by the stroke of warres, or by the course of nature, without further mention of his acts, and his succession, cut off by his death.

(6) Plenching his second sonne, was borne vnto him * 1.807 in the Lowe countries of Germany, and with his bre∣thren assisted his Father to the attaining of the South-Saxons Crowne; but being cut off by vntimely death, whether by the hand of the enemy, or by natures ap∣pointment, is vncertaine.

(7) The yongest sonne of king Ella, was Cissa, whom death spared to liue a long life; but fame as sparing to adorne it with memory of his acts: for no∣thing of him is left memorable, besides the building of Chichester. Fortune indeed set his fathers Crowne on his head, but kept the Imperiall Diademe in her owne hand, to adorne the head of a worthier bearer, which was Cherdik the West-Saxon, vnto whom Cissa gaue yeerely contribution, to secure him from the Britaines, as before and after hath been, and shall bee shewed.

(8) This Ella his entrance and erection of his Kingdome, for time is vncertaine; but his raigne therein, as also in his Monarchie, is more certainelie knowne: for hee was King of the South-Saxons the * 1.808 space of thirty two yeeres, and Monarch of the Eng∣lish-men six and twenty, dying in the yeere of Christs Incarnation fiue hundred and foureteene, which was the thirty sixth after his first arriuall into Britaine.

CHERDIK THE FIRST KING OF THE VVEST-SAXONS, AND THIRD MONARCH OF THE ENG∣LISHMEN. CHAPTER XV.

[illustration]

* 1.809

THe Saxons Sunne, thus ri∣sen and high ascended vp∣on * 1.810 the South of Britaine, began now to spreade his beames towards the West; for Kent being quietly possessed by King Eske, and South-Saxia, with all the subdued, at the dis∣pose of great Ella, Cherdik a valiant Captaine of the Low Country Germans, thought himselfe as sufficient in warres, and as a∣ble to reach at, to weare, and to weld a Crowne of Estate, as either of them that had so done before him: and seeing that Britaine was now the seede∣plot for Diadems, set his affection and preparation that way.

(2) He with his forces entred in the West of that Iland, where he in his first battell so danted the Inha∣bitants, * 1.811 that apparāt signes of approching glory were added to his aspiring hopes: for therein hee slew Na∣tanleod, otherwise called Nazaleod, a mighty King of the Britaines, whereby an easie entrance was laid open * 1.812 to his desired Empire, and a more easie warre left to his posteritie. This battle chanced about the yeere of Christ Iesus fiue hundred and eight, and was fought in the region of Natanleod, (which Country bare the name of the King) and neere vnto a brooke of water in the West of Hampshire, which from Cherdik began to be called Cherdiks-ford, where now a Towne of the same name standeth, but by contraction and short∣nesse of speech is called Chardford.

(3) Florentius of Worcester, the Saxons Genealogist * 1.813 (as I may well terme him) bringeth this Cherdik (as he doth the rest of the Saxon Kings) from the ancient Prince Woden, and that in this manner: Cherdik (saith he) was the sonne of Elisius, and hee the sonne of Esla, the sonne of Gerisius, the sonne of Wigga, the sonne of Friairin, the sonne of Freodegar, the brother of Beorn, the progenitor of Ida the first King of Bernicia, and

both of them the sonnes of Brand, the sonne of Beal∣deag, the fift sonne of the foresaid Woden.

(4) In the seuenth yeere of Ella his Monarchie, was his arriuage, and six yeeres after hee beganne his Kingdome of the West-Saxons, seating himselfe and foundation therof betwixt the Britains and the South-Saxons, for whose further securitie, Cissa King of that Prouince, gaue him an yeerely contribution towards the maintenance of his charge in warre; wherein hee got such reputation, that after the death of Ella, and the thirteenth of his owne raigne, hee▪ assumed the Monarchie vnto himselfe, and was both the first King of the West-Saxons, and the third Monarch of the En∣glish-men, wherein he continued the space of twentie * 1.814 one yeeres, and deceased in the yeere of our Lord fiue hundred thirty fiue, being the three and thirtieth of his Kingdome, and the fortieth after his first ar∣riuall.

(5) His issue were two sonnes, Kenrik and Chel∣wolfe: the one immediately, and the issue of the other collaterally attained to the same possession and title that Cherdike heere first laid.

(6) Chelwolfe his second sonne (for of Kenrik the eldest wee are hereafter to speake) hath little mention made among our writers: more then that hee was the Ancestour of Eskwin the eight King of the West-Sax∣ons, that is to say, the father to Kenfrid the father of Kensy; which Kensy had issue the said Eskwin, who was the Successor of king Kenwalk, and predecessor of King Kentwin in the kingdome of the West-Saxnos. * 1.815

KENRIK THE SECOND KING OF * 1.816 THE WEST-SAXONS, AND FOVRTH MONARCH OF THE ENG∣LISHMEN. CHAPTER XVI.

[illustration]

KEnrik, the eldest sonne of King Cherdick (as is said) * 1.817 being borne in Germanie, and following his father into Britaine, valiantly serued vnder him, as well in the Battle fought a∣gainst * 1.818 King Natanleod, the first day of his arriuage, as in other battles against the Britaines in other places; namely, at Cherdiksford, Cherdisley, and in the Conquest of the Ile of Wight. Im∣mediately vpon the death of his Father, he succeeded in his whole dominions, and was ordained the second King of the West-Saxons, and the fourth Monarch of the Englishmen, beginning his raigne ouer both at one and the same time, the yeere of Christ his Natiuitie fiue hundred thirty foure.

(2) And enlarging his confines vpon the Terri∣tories of the Britaines, gaue them two great ouer∣throwes; the one at Searesbery in Wilt-shire, and the o∣ther at Banbury in Oxford-shire, which was fought the * 1.819 two and twentieth of his raigne, whereby his fame grew more renowned, and his Kingdome in more quiet after. He raigned the space of twenty six yeeres, * 1.820 and left this life in the yeere of our Lord God fiue hundred sixty.

(3) He had issue three sonnes, Chenl•…•…e, C•…•…thwolfe, and C•…•…th. Chelwin the first, succeeded his father in the Monarchie, and West-Saxons Kingdome.

(4) C•…•…thwolfe, the second, assisted his brother in many victories, as presently in his raigne shall follow. And C•…•…th, the third brother, famous in his issue, though mentionlesse for action in himselfe, whereof more largely hath beene spoken in the raigne of Ken∣rik, * 1.821 as he was King only of the West-Saxons.

CHEVLINE THE THIRD KING OF * 1.822 THE VVEST-SAXONS, AND FIFTH MONARCH OF THE ENG∣LISHMEN. CHAPTER XVII.

[illustration]

CHeuline, the eldest sonne of King Kenrike, serued * 1.823 with great commendati∣ons vnder his father, in all his warres against the Bri∣tains, and is specially men∣tioned at the Battle of Banbury in Oxford-shire; and after his fathers death * 1.824 became the third King of the West-Saxons, and the fifth Monarch of the English∣men. Hee much enlarged the bounds of his King∣dome, and increased the power and glorie of the West-Saxons.

(2) For continuing the warres where his Father left, did not onely subdue the Britaines in many Bat∣tles, * 1.825 but also set himselfe against his owne Nation the Saxons, and sought to impose the scope of his power vpon the South of the Riuer Thames: for entring Kent (whose King was then a childe, by name Ethel∣bert, the sonne of Imerik) at Wiphandun or * 1.826 Wilbandun in Surrey, in a set and sore Battle, defeated all his for∣ces, whence the young King was chased, and two of his greatest Captaines, bearing the names of Dukes, were slaine, as we haue said.

(3) Not long after this victory, he set his minde to inlarge his West-Saxons Dominions vpon the pos∣session of the declining Britaines, and to that end fur∣nished forth a great Band of his Souldiers, whereof he made his brother Cuthwin chiefe Generall. These marching to Bedford, gaue Battle to the Britaines, where they slew them downe-right, and surprized soure of their chiefest Townes, at that time called Liganburge, * 1.827 Eglesbourgh, Bensington, and Eusham, which they fortified, to their owne strength, and the Britaines great losse.

(4) And following the Tract of his fore-going fortunes, about six yeeres after sent forth againe his Saxons, vnder 〈◊〉〈◊〉 conduct of the foresaid Cuthwin, who encountred the Britaines at Di•…•…th or Deorham, with such valour and successe, that besides great slaughter of the British Souldiers, three of their Kings, whose names were, Coinmagill, Candidan, and Farimna∣gill, fell in the Field, with the surprizall of these three * 1.828 Cities, Glocester, Bathe, and Cirencester. Then (saith * 1.829 Gyldas) euidently appeared the Lands destruction, the sins of the Britaines being the only cause, when neither Prince nor People, Priest nor Leuite, regarded the Law of the Lord, but disobediently wandred in their owne waies.

(5) But no greater were the sinnes of the Britains, then the vnsatiable desires of the Saxons were to con∣quer: for Cheuline about the last of Malgoe his gouern∣ment, met the Britaines at Fethanleah, in the face of a * 1.830 Field, which was fought out, to the great slaughters of them both, and with the death of Prince Cuth, King Cheulins sonne: notwithstanding the victorie fell on his side with great spoiles obtained, and possessions of many Prouinces, which himselfe no long time enioied.

(6) For growne proud through his many pro∣sperous victories against his enemies, and tyrannizing ouer his owne Subiects, the West-Saxons, fell into such contempt, that they ioined with the Britaines for his destruction. The greatest against him, was disloyall Chell, or Cealrik, his nephew, the sonne of Cuthwin his most loyall brother, whom both the Nations had e∣lected for Generall. Vnder him they muster and march into Wilt-shire, and at Wodnesbeothe (now Wannes-ditch) pitch downe their Standards. Cheuline that thought * 1.831 hee lead fortune in a lease, with confident boldnesse built his present proceedings vpon his former suc∣cesse, and in the face of his enemies displaied his co∣lours. But the Battles ioined, and the Field goared with bloud, the day was lost vpon the Kings side, and he in distresse saued himselfe by flight. Heere might you haue seene the world, as it is, vnconstant and vari∣able; for he a Mars, that had ouer-borne the Britains in so many Battles, and had raised his Saxons vnto so great a height, is forced to flee before his conquered Captiues, and to exile himselfe from the sight of his owne Subiects, after he had gloriously raigned thirty one yeeres, or (as some will) thirty three, and as a

meane man, died in his banishment, the yeere of grace * 1.832 fiue hundred ninety two.

(7) He had issue two sonnes, which were Cuth and Cuthwin, the elder whereof had valiantly serued in his fathers warres, namely at Wimbledone in Surry, against King Ethelbert and his power of Kentishmen, in the yeere of Christ fiue hundred sixty seuen; and lastly in the Battle at Fethanleah, where the Britaines receiued a great ouerthrow. Notwithstanding, as hee was vali∣antly fighting among the thickest of his enemies, hee was there slain, in the yeere of our Lord fiue hundred eighty foure, being the fiue and twentieth yeere of his fathers raigne, and that without issue.

(8) Cuthwin, the younger sonne of King Cheuline, suruiued his father, but succeeded him not, because of his young yeeres; or else (and that rather) for the hatred that his father had purchased of his Subiects, which they repaied him in his owne expulsion, and in this his sonnes depriuation. But although the wreath of the West-Saxons did not adorne this Cuthwines head, yet shone it more bright, and stood with greater maiesty vpon the browes of Ina, the warlike and zea∣lous King of West-Saxons, and of Egbert the victorious and first sole absolute Monarch of the English Empire: both of them in a right line issued from this Cuthwin, as in the seuenth Chapter we haue said.

ETHELBERT THE FIFTH, AND FIRST CHRISTIAN KING OF KENT, AND THE SIXTH MONARCH OF THE ENG∣LISHMEN, HIS WIVES AND ISSVE. CHAPTER XVIII.

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THe flame of the West-Sa∣xons for a time thus quen∣ched, * 1.833 the Lampe of Kent began againe to shine, and to assume the Title of the Monarchie, after it had beene suppressed in them through the raignes of * 1.834 these foure last Kings: for young Egberts entrance, with the great losse of his Kentish, ouerthrowne by King Cheuline, gaue rather inducements to a tributary subiection, then any apparant hopes to purchase an Empire.

(2) But such is the dispose of God in his hidden Counsell, that things of least appearance many times become the greatest in substance, as in this Prince it was euidently seene, who making vse of his owne youth and losse, got thereby experience, both to de∣fense himselfe, and to prouoke others, and with such victories abroad, repaired his losses at home, that as farre as Humber he made all subiect to Kent.

(3) Thus growne to be the greatest of any Saxon before him, hee sought to hold it vp by forraine alli∣ance, * 1.835 and to that end became suter for Berta a most vertuous Christian Lady, the daughter of Chilperik King of France; vnto whom by her father she was last∣lie granted, but with these conditions, that she might reserue her Christian Profession, enioy the presence and the instructions of Luidhard her learned Bishop, with the place of his Queene.

(4) These couenants concluded, and many French Christians attending her in his Court, by their daily seruice of God, and continuall practise of pietie, drew many of the English to fauour their Religion, yea and the King also to bee inclined that way. And as these were working the saluation of Kent, behold Gods proceedings for the conuersion of the rest.

(5) It chanced great Gregory (then but Arch-dea∣con of Rome) to see certaine youths of this Iland brought to that Citie, to be sold for slaues: His Chri∣stian heart pitying at such heathenish tyrannizing, and beholding stedfastly their faces to be faire and Angel∣like, demanded of their Merchants, of what Nation they came; who made him answer, that they were Angles, and by that name were knowne vnto other Nations. Indeed, said he, and not without cause, for their resemblance is Angelicall, and fit it is that they be made inheritours with the Angels in Heauen. But of what Prouince are they? said Gregory. It was repli∣ed; Of Deira, a Country situated in the Continent of Britaine. Now surely, saith he, it is great pity but these

people should bee taken from Dei ira, the ire of God. And farther asking what was the name of their King, it was answered, that he was called Ella; whereunto he alluding, said, that Alleluia, to the praise of God, in that Princes Dominions should shortly be sung.

(6) And to that purpose himselfe, being after∣wards Pope, sent Austine a Monke, with forty others, * 1.836 for assistance, whereof Melitus, Iustus, and Iohn were chiefe. These landing in Tanet, in the moneth of Iuly, about fiue hundred ninety and six yeeres after the In∣carnation of Christ, and one hundred forty and seuen after the first arriuage of these Angles into Britaine, had immediately accesse vnto the presence of King Ethel∣bert, but yet in the open Field, for hee feared to con∣ferre with them in any house, lest by sorcerie (as hee fondly surmised) he might be ouercome.

(7) These preaching vnto him the word of life, his answer was, that presently he could not consent to their Doctrine, neither rashly forsake his ancient and accustomed Religion. But seeing (said hee) you tell vs strange things, and giue vs faire promises of after life, when this life shall be ended, wee permit you to preach the same to our people, and to conuert as ma∣ny as you can; and wee our selues will minister all things behoouefull for your liuelihood. Which pro∣mise hee instantly performed, and in Canterburie his * 1.837 head City, allowed them fit places for residence, and sufficient prouision for their maintenance; wherein these religious men, following in some measure the examples of the Apostles, spent their times in prea∣ching and praiers, watching for the peoples conuersi∣ons, and exercising the workes of true piety, as exam∣ples and motiues vnto others, to embrace the Gospel * 1.838 which they sought to plant.

(8) Neere vnto the East part of the City, stood an ancient Church, built by the Christian Romans, whiles they had dwelt in Britaine, and by them dedicated to the honour of S. Martin, and is so yet called. To this Church the Christian Queene Berta, with her Com∣municants the French, daily resorted to pray, and vn∣to these, and in this Church, Austine and his fellowes began daily to preach: vnto whose Sermons so many of the Kentish also resorted, that a plentifull haruest in short time appeared, vpon the seede-plot of their tillage; for it is reported that ten thousand of the En∣glish people were baptized there in one day, insomuch * 1.839 that the King himselfe forsooke his Heathenish Idola∣trie, and likewise receiued the Sacrament of Baptisme, vnto his saluation in Christ: in witnesse whereof, hee gaue the Lordship and Royaltie of his chiefe Citie Canterburie, vnto Augustine, and resigned his princely * 1.840 Palace therein vnto him, who in the East of this City laid the foundation of that great, and afterwards mag∣nificent Church, dedicated to the seruice and name of Christ, which at this day is the Cathedrall of that Me∣tropolitan See: and Ethelbert to giue him more roome, withdrew himselfe vnto Reculuer in Tanet, where he erected a Palace for himselfe and his successours, the * 1.841 compasse wherof may be traced by an old wal, whose ruines remaine there yet to this day.

(9) Austine thus seated, and in the well deserued fauour of King Ethelbert, got one request more, which was this, that whereas by the Law of the Twelue Ta∣bles, it was forbidden to bury the dead within the walles of any Citie, (the practise whereof, wee daily finde by monuments taken vp in the fields adioining) it would please him to giue to that vse, an old Idoll-Temple standing without the East Wall of the Citie, * 1.842 wherin the King himselfe had wontedly worshipped his Idols. This obtained, and the Church purged frō that prophane exercise, to the seruice of God, be∣ing honored with the name of S. Pancras, King Ethel∣bert added thereunto a most faire Monasterie, built vpon his owne cost, and dedicated it vnto the name of Peter and Paul the Apostles, appointing it to bee the place for the Kentish Kings Sepulchers, and Austine likewise meant it for the burials of his successours in that See. But first it became the Monument of his owne name: for in regard of the Procurer, both Pan∣cras, Peter, and Paul were soone swallowed vp, and the whole called onely by the name of S. Austines. In this place, eight Kings of Kent had their bodies inter∣red, and tenne of their Arch-bishops therein laid, vntill * 1.843 that Cuthbert the eleuenth in succession, in fauour of S. Iohns, a new Church by him erected, procured of King Egbert the sonne of Ercombert, that the succec∣ding Arch-bishops might be buried there. This Mona∣sterie, as all the rest did, came to her fatall period in the daies of King Henry the Eighth; whose vncouered walles stood so long languishing in time and stormes of weather, that daily increased the aspect of her ru∣ines, till now lastly they are made subiect to other publike vses, and the whole tract of that most goodly foundation in the same place no where appearing. Onely Ethelberts Tower, in memorie and honour of * 1.844 the man, as yet hath escaped the verdict and sentence of destruction; whose beauty, though much defaced and ouerworne, will witnesse to succeeding ages the magnificence of the whole, when all stood compleat in their glory together.

(10) These his happie beginnings, Austine sig∣nified by Letters to Rome, and withall demanded di∣rections, how he might further proceed: which que∣stions, were they not written by the Venerable Beda, * 1.845 wee could hardly beleeue that such idle conceits should haue place in the minde of a man so well and fruitfully busied: as, Whether a woman with child might * 1.846 receiue the Sacrament of Baptisme, or in her monethly dis∣ease, the holy Communion, or enter the Church: how long after her deliuerance, the husband ought to refraine her Bed: How the Gifts that were offred on the Altar, ought to be distributed: and vnto what degree of consanguinitie Christians might marie: and many others such like, as though himselfe had neuer read either Moses or Paul. But of the thing then more needfull, for that at that time it stirred most contention, it seemeth he was suf∣ficiently instructed; neither among his other questi∣ons is it once named: and that was, the due time for the celebration of Easter: the difference whereof, be∣twixt the Britaines and the Romans was such, that it caused Lord-like Austen to prophecie (if not to seeke) their destructions; and they in their opinions, to hold him no better then the Man of Sinne: for thus the Storie is reported.

(11) Austine, by the assistance and authoritie of King Ethelbert, called an Assemblie of the British Bi∣shops * 1.847 and Doctours, that had retained the doctrine of the Gospell amongst them, euen from the first planta∣tion thereof by the Apostles themselues, to be holden in the Borders of the Victians and West-Saxons, and at the place vpon that occasion called * 1.848 Augustines Oake: thither resorted seuen British Bishops, and many other well∣learned men (saith Beda) out of their greatest Monasterie at Bangor, where at that time Dinoth was Abbat. These men now ready to goe to the foresaid Synod, came first to a certaine holy and wise man, which liued thereabout an An∣chorets life, to aske his counsell, whether they ought at Au∣stins preaching and exhortation, leaue their Traditions or no: The Anchoret replied, If he be a man of God, follow him. But how shall we prooue (said they) that hee is a man of God? The Anchoret answered, Our Lord saith, Takeyee on you my Yoke, and learne ye of me, for I am milde and humble of heart. If therefore this Austine bee milde and humble of heart, it is like that himselfe beareth the Yoke of Christ, and will offer you the same to beare. But if hee bee curst and proud, it is certaine that hee is not of God, neither must we much esteeme his words. Then they enquired, how they might know whether this Austine were proud or no: Prouide (quoth he) that he, and his companie may come first * 1.849 to the place of the Synod or Councell-house: and if it bee so that when you approch neere him, he arise courteously, and salute you, thei•…•… thinke him to bee the seruant of Christ, and so heare him, and obey him: but if when you approch, hee despise you, and will not vouchsafe to rise at your presence, which are the greater number, let him likewise bee despised of you. And truly (saith hee) as this Anchoret bade them, so did they: for it happened, that when they came thither, S. Austine was already set in his chaire, and stirred not:

which when they saw, forthwith waxing wroth, they noted him of pride, and therefore endeuoured to ouerthwart and gainsay whatsoeuer he proposed. And so the Synod brake vp without any thing done.

Thus then wee see, that the substance of doctrine was embraced in Britaine, before the sending of Austin from Rome: only in ceremonies they dissented, as the most of Christian Churches, without derogation to the Gospell, at this day doe. And this for the cele∣bration of Easter, a matter of no great moment (if we consider our Christian libertie, and the Apostles feare, * 1.850 that the obseruations of daies, moneths, times, and yeeres, turne the hearts after beggerly rudiments, bring againe into bondage, and make his labours for Christ in vaine) yet for the different obseruation only of this Feast from the Romans, how oft are the Britaines tear∣med by Beda, a wicked people, a cursed nation, and well deseruing those calamities which the Lord did afflict vpon them? This controuersie for Easters ce∣lebration, thus begun, continued no lesse then ninety yeeres after, and was lastly concluded in manner as followeth.

(12) This variance (saith Beda) made not onely * 1.851 the people to doubt and feare, lest bearing the name of Christians, they did and had runne in vaine, as the Apostle speaketh, but also good Oswy King of Nor∣thumberland, and learned Prince Alkfryd, with Queene Eanfled, were much distracted and perplexed: for by this variance (saith hee) it often times hapned, that in one yeere two Easters were kept; for the King brea∣king vp his Fast, and solemnizing of the Feast, the Queene with Prince Alkfrid, continued their Fast, and kept that day their Palme-Sunday. To conclude which contrarietie, a Synod purposely was called, and the Question disputed by their best Diuines. The place was Stranshalch or Whitby, whereof Hilda was Abbesse. * 1.852 The chiefe parties for, and against the accustomed time of keeping that feast, were King Oswy and Prince Alkfrid his sonne. The Disputers for Oswy and the established orders, were Colman Arch-bishop of Yorke, with his Scotish Clergie, and Hilda the vertuous and learned Lady Abbesse of the place. For Alkfrid and the attempted alteration, were Agilbert Bishop of the West-Saxons, Wilfrid Abbat of Rippon, with Iames and Romanus, two learned men, and the reuerend Cedda newly consecrated Bishop, appointed Prolocutor of the Assembly.

The Conuocation set, King Oswy made a solemne * 1.853 Oration, wherein hee vrged a necessitie, that those people which serued one God, ought to celebrate his heauenly Sacraments alike, and should keepe one or∣der and rule in the same: the truth of which seruice, and surcease of that long vnchristian variance, for the Christian celebration and time of Easter, was then presently by those learned men to bee handled, and by best approouements to be determined; whereun∣to hee requested their vttermost endeuours, and to that purpose commanded his Arch-bishop Colman first to speake: whereupon Colman with reuerence stood vp and said: The Easter which I obserue, I receiued * 1.854 of my Fore-fathers, of whom I was consecrated, and sent hither for your Bishop. They all (you know) were godly men, and obserued the Feast as we doe now; neither thinke you they kept this tradition without sure warrant from greater then themselues, which was S•…•…lut Iohn the Euan∣gelist, and the Disciple whom Iesus especially loued, who in the Churches which himselfe pl•…•…ted, celebrated the Feast of Easter, as we doe now. Therefore knowing the man so worthy, and the manner so ancient, I hope you will all con∣fesse, it is not safe for vs now to reiect.

Wilfride the declaimer, appointed to answer, stood vp and said: The Easter which we obserue, wee our selues * 1.855 haue seene obserued in Rome, where the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul liued, preached, suffred, and are buried: and in our trauels thorow France and Italie, either for stu∣die or vpon pilgrimage, we haue seene the same order kept: and we know by relation, that in Africke, Asia, Aegypt and Greece, nay thorowout all nations and tongues in the world where Christ hath his Church, that this our time and order is obserued. Shall then these obstinate Picts (I meane the Britaines) and these remote Ilands in the Ocean Sea, and yet not all of them neither, fondly contend in t•…•…is point against the whole world?

But here Colman interrupted him, and said, I much maruell, brother, that you terme our doings a fond contenti∣on, * 1.856 seeing we haue for our warrant so worthy an Apostle as Iohn was, who only leaned vpon our Lords brest, and whose life and behauiour all the world acknowledgeth to bee most wise and discreet.

Godforbid (said Wilfrid) that I should accuse Iohn: but * 1.857 yet we know that he kept the decrees of Moses literally, and according to the Iewish Lawes; and so the rest of the Apo∣stles were constrained in some things to doe, for the weake∣nesse of them who accounted it a great sin to abrogate these rites that God himselfe had instituted; and for that cause S. Paul did circumcise Timothie, offred bloud-sacrifices in the Temple, shaued his head at Corinth with Aq•…•…a and Priscilla: vpon which consideration also spake Iames vnto Paul, You see brother how many thousand of the Iewes haue receiued the faith, and all of these are yet zealous followers * 1.858 of the Law. But the light of the Gospell now shining thorow the world, it is not lawfull for any Christian to bee circum∣cised, or to offer vp bloudy sacrifices of Beasts. Saint Iohn therefore, according to the custome of the Law, in the four∣teenth day of the first moneth, at euen began the celebration of Easters Festiuitie, regardlesse whether it fell vpon the Sabbath day, or any other of the weeke. But S. Peter prea∣ching the Gospell in Rome, remembring that our Lord arose from his graue the first day after the Sabbath, giuing there∣by vnto vs certaine assurance of our resurrection, obserued the Feast of Easter according to the Commandement of that Law he looked for, euen as S. Iohn did, that is to say, the first Sabbath after the full Moone of the first moneth. Neither doth this new obseruation of the Gospell, and Apostles pra∣ctise, breake the old Law, but rather fulfilleth it; for the Law commandeth the Feast of Passeouer to bee kept from the foureteenth day of that moneth, to the twentie and one * 1.859 of the same. And this hath the Nicene Councell not newly decreed, but rather confirmed (as the Ecclesiasticall Histo∣rie * 1.860 witnesseth) that this is the true obseruation of Easter, and of all Christians after this account is to bee celebrated: and thereupon charged Bishop Colman, that hee neither ob∣serued it according to Iohn nor Peter.

To this the Bishop replied, that A•…•…tholius for his holinesse much commended by the said Ecclesiasticall Histo∣rie, * 1.861 and Columba a Father of like sanctitie, by whom mira∣cles were wrought, kept the Feast according as he then did, from whose imitation he durst not digresse.

Your Fathers, which you pretend to follow, how holy soe∣uer * 1.862 they bee (said Wilfrid) and what miracles soeuer they haue wrought, yet this I answer, that in the day of iudge∣ment many shall say vnto Christ, that they haue prophecied, * 1.863 cast out Diuels, and wrought miracles in his name, to whom our Lord will answer, I know you not. And if your Father Columba (yea and our Father, if hee be the true seruant of Christ) were holy and mightie in miracles, yet can hee by no meanes bee preferred to the most blessed Prince of the Apo∣stles, vnto whom our Lord said, Thou art Peter, and vpon this rocke I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall * 1.864 not preuaile against it, and to thee will I giue the keyes of the Kingdome of Heauen. Thus said, the King asked Colman, whether our Lord indeede spake thus vnto Peter, who answered, He did. But can you (said hee) giue eui∣dence of so speciall authoritie granted to your Father Co∣lumba? The Bishop said, No. Then (quoth the King) doe you both agree confidently, that thesewords were prin∣cipally spoken vnto Peter, and that vnto him the keyes of the Kingdome of Heauen were giuen? They all answered, It is most certaine. Whereupon the King concluded this great controuersie, and said, Then will not I gaine say * 1.865 such a P•…•…rter as this is, but as farre as I know, and am a∣ble, I will couet in all points to obey his ordinante, lest per∣haps when I come to the Doores of Heauen, I finde none to open vnto mee, hauing his displeasure, which is so cleerely prooued to beare the keyes thereof.

And with this so simple a collection of King Oswy, concluded this long and great contention for the ce∣lebration of Easter; which heere, as borne before the

time, I haue inserted, to continue the narration there∣of together, & to auoid repetition of the same things, which I seeke purposely to shunne; and so returne a∣gaine to King Ethelbert.

(13) Who now became an instrument himselfe for the conuersions of his Nation the Saxons. The first fruits of his intendements were wrought vpon Sebert King of the East-Angles, his owne sisters sonne, whom not onely hee conuerted to Christianitie, but therein assisted him in the building of the Cathedrall Church of S. Paul for Miletus his Bishop; as also the Church of S. Peters on the West of London, then called Thorny, with the assistance of a London Citizen, as * 1.866 some haue said; and himself at Rochester, built the Ca∣thedral Church there, which he dedicated to the Apo∣stle S. Andrew.

(14) This noble King hauing a care for them that should come after, brought the Lawes of his Country into their owne mother tongue, and left no∣thing * 1.867 vnattempted, that might aduance the glorious Gospell of Christ, or with honour adorne his owne tem∣porall raigne; and is worthily an example to all suc∣ceeding Princes, in all true pietie, and heroicall parts of a true Christian King. He died the foure and twen∣tieth * 1.868 day of Februarie, in the yeere of our Lord God six hundred and sixteene, being the one and twenti∣eth of his Christianitie, the three and twentieth of his Monarchie, and the fifty sixth of his Kingdome of Kent, and was buried at Canterbury in the Church of S. Peter and Paul, afterwards called S. Augustines, in the Chapell of S. Martines.

(15) His first wife was Berta, the daughter of Chil∣perik King of France, as we haue said, who was the son of King Clotayre, the sonne of Clodoue, the first Chri∣stian King of that Country. Shee deceased before the King her husband, and was buried in the Church of S. Peter & Paul at Canterburie, within the Chapell of S. Martines there.

(16) He had a second wife, whose name is not re∣corded by any Writer, being, as is thought, vnwor∣thy of remembrance, because of the vnnaturall con∣tract and mariage of Edbald her husbands sonne; a sinne that both Law and Religion doe condemne: and lastly by her conuerted husband was forsaken, without either note of her issue or death.

(17) The issue of King Ethelbert by Queene Berta were Edbald that succeeded him in the Kentish King∣dome, Ethelburg, and Edburge two daughters.

(18) Ethelburg, the elder, was a Lady of passing beautie and pietie, and surnamed Tace, who greatly desired and intended a Virgins life, had not her mind beene auerted by the intreaty of her brother, the per∣swasions of Bishop Paulinus, and the earnest suit of Edwine King of Northumberland; vnto which Edwine lastly she yeelded to bee his wife, in hope of his con∣uersion, and vnto whom for that purpose Pope Boni∣face directed his Epistle from Rome, earnestly ex∣horting * 1.869 her that shee should bee diligent for the Kings saluation: which shee soone after effected, to the great ioy of both the Kings, and to the comfort and increase of the Christian Faith thorowout Eng∣land.

(19) Edburg, another daughter of King Ethelbert, is warranted only by the testimonie of Iohn Capgraue, * 1.870 a great traueller in Antiquities, and should bee most skilful in his own Country of Kent: notwithstanding he is to be suspected in this, that hee reporteth her to haue beene a Nunne in the Monasterie of Minster in the Ile of Thanet, vnder the Foundresse Domnewe, be∣ing the daughter of her nephew Ermenred, and that shee succeeded in the gouernment of that house, Mil∣dred the daughter of the same Domnewe. Hee repor∣teth also, that shee died and was buried in the same place, and that her body was from thence remooued by the Arch-bishop Lankfrank, to his Church of S. Gregorie in Canterburie.

REDVVALD THE THIRD KING OF * 1.871 * 1.872 THE EAST-ANGLES, AND SEVENTH MONARCH OF THE ENGLISHMEN, HIS WIFE AND ISSVE. CHAPTER XIX.

[illustration]

REdwald, the sonne of Titu∣lus, and the third King of * 1.873 the East-Angles, had been a substitute vnder Ethel∣bert King of Kent, and ser∣ued a long time as his Vice-roy ouer all his do∣minions, whereby he gai∣ned such reputation to himselfe, that either for his owne valour, or Edbalds vices, (contemned of the people for his Apostasie, frensie, and incestuous bed) became the seuenth Monarch of the Englishmen, a∣bout the yeere of Christ his Incarnation six hundred and sixteene; and the twentieth and fourth of his raigne ouer the East-Angles.

(2) This Redwald (saith Beda) had receiued Bap∣tisme in Kent, but in vaine, and without zeale, as it af∣terwards * 1.874 appeared. For returning to his Country, through the perswasion of his wife, returned againe

to his superstitious worships; and in one and the same Temple, after the manner of the old Samaritans, hee erected an Altar for the seruice of Christ, and ano∣ther little Altar for burnt sacrifices to his Idols, which stood vnto the daies of Beda himselfe. But as she was an instigator to the East-Saxons idolatry, so was shee an instrument to the further spreading of Christia∣nitie (though not by her so purposely meant) in sa∣uing the life of Edwine, who afterwards planted the Gospell in all the North parts of the Saxons gouern∣ment.

(3) For Edwine flying the rage of wilde Ethelfrid, was succoured and maintained in the Court of King Redwald, vnto whom lastly, the Northumbrian sent both threats and rewards to haue him deliuered, or else put to death: and surely had not the Queene stood for his life, he had presently died. But she allea∣ging the law of humanitie, the trust of a friend, and the royaltie of a Prince, preuailed so farre, that Red∣wald did not onely saue his life, but assi•…•…ted him in battell, to the destruction of his enemie, and the gai∣ning of Northumberlands Crowne. For vpon the re∣turn of Ethelfrids Ambassadors, vnto whom Redwald * 1.875 had yeelded to make Edwine away, he with his power of the East-Angles were at their backes, and as an ene∣mie made towards Northumberland.

(4) Ethelfrid, whose rage and reuenge was ready e∣nough vpon lesser occasions, with such sudden prepa∣ration as he was able to make, met the East-Angles * 1.876 almost at Nottingham, and that not farre from the Ri∣uer Idle, where boldly encountring his vnequall ene∣mie, at the first brunt slew Reynhere the sonne of King Redwald, to the great griefe of him and his whole host: whose reuenge was so violently sought, that they slew King Ethelfrid in the field, and established Edwine to be his successor; which was the second yeere of Red∣walds * 1.877 Monarchy.

(5) Wherein he raigned the space of eight yeeres, and was King of the East-Angles thirty one, and de∣ceased in the yeere of our Lord six hundred twentie foure; the eighth of Edbalds King of Kent; the thir∣teenth of Kingils King of the West-Saxons, and the eighth of Edwins ouer the Northumbrians.

(6) The Queene and wife of this King is not na∣med by any of our Writers, but that she had been the widow of a Nobleman, descended of the bloud-roy∣all of that Nation, and was a Lady that had deserued great commendations for the many vertues by her possessed, had she been a Christian, or a fauorer of the Christians, or had not been an vtter enemy to their faith. Notwithstanding by her first husband she had a sonne named Sigebert, that proued a learned and most religious Prince, of whom we haue spoken in Chap∣ter eleuenth.

(7) His issue were Reynhere and Erpenwald. Reyn∣here the elder, and Prince of the East-Angles, was slaine as you haue heard, in the battell that his father fought against wilde Ethelfrid, neere vnto the Riuer Idle in Nottingham-shire.

(8) Erpenwald the younger succeeded his father Redwald in the Kingdome of the East-Angles, and was the fourth King of that Nation, whose life and raigne we haue declared in the succession of the East-Angles Kings: Chapter II.

EDVVINE THE GREAT KING OF * 1.878 * 1.879 NORTHVMBERLAND, AND THE EIGHTH SOLE MONARCH OF THE ENGLISHMEN, HIS RAIGNE, WIVES, AND ISSVE. CHAPTER XX.

[illustration]

THe Monarch reuerted from the East-Angles, was * 1.880 next possessed by the Nor∣thumbrians, wherein it was held with greater glorie and for longer time. For Edwine in King Redwalds life growne very potent, after his death became his successor in the English Monarch, and most worthily did adorne the same by his ciuill iustice and diuine pietie: his exile, visions, and obtaining of the Northumbrians Crowne, we haue already spoken of, and therefore without repetition will passe on to his end.

(2) This Edwine, the sonne of great Ella, the first King of the Deirians, was the third King that posses∣sed the same, the eighth of Bernicia, the second (and first Christian) King of all Northumberland, at the age * 1.881 of twenty three, and in the yeere of Christ six hun∣dred twenty foure, succeeded Redwald in the Monar∣chy, and was the greatest King of all the Saxons. For

(as Beda saith) hee subdued all the coasts of Britannie * 1.882 wheresoeuer any Prouinces were inhabited, either of English or of Saxons, which thing no King of the Eng∣lish before him had done; and added the * Meuian Iles * 1.883 vnto his owne Dominions. The first of them, and next the South, was large and fertile, gaue roome for nine hundred and sixty of his English Families, and the second, ground for aboue three hundred Tene∣ments.

(3) His first wife dead, he became suiter for Lady Ethelburg, daughter to Ethelbert King of Kent, decea∣sed, and sister to King Eadbald then raigning: whose Ambassadours were answered, that it was not lawfull for a Christian Virgin to bee espoused to a Pagan, lest the faith and sacraments of the heauenly King should bee prophaned, by the matching with that earthly King, which knew not to worship God aright. But Edwine hearing of the Virgins beautie, integrity, and * 1.884 pietie, was so farre ouergone and rauished therewith, that hee condescended, shee should with her place re∣tain her owne Christian Profession, and enioy the Chri∣stian societie both of her men, women, Priests, and seruants, to bee her attendants in his Court. These couenants thus confirmed, the Lady accompanied with Paulinus the reuerend Bishop, and an honoura∣ble retinue, all of them Christian, came to King Ed∣wins Court, and with great ioy shee was espoused his Queene.

(4) The greatnesse and prosperitie of this Nor∣thumbrian King, was both feared by them a farre, that raigned in no such power, and beheld by his neerer, with an enuious eie: among whom, Quinchelme that raigned with his father king ouer the West-Saxons, sent a desperate Ruffin, whose name was Eumerus, to mur∣der Edwin the next yeere of his mariage; who repai∣ring to his Court, then resident neere the riuer Der∣uent, at the place that is now called Aldeby in Yorkshire, * 1.885 with a double-edged short sword, the point thereof poisoned, and girt vnder his garment, vpon Easter day entred his Palace, as an Ambassadour, and with craf∣tie speech reteined the Kings attention, where get∣ting occasion, and stepping forward, drew his sword, which one Lilla the Kings seruant saw, and wanting wherewith to defend his person, put himselfe betwixt the King and the sword: and thorow his bodie so slaine, the same was so farre runne, that it dangerously wounded the King with his point, and with the same sword, before he could be beaten down by the Guard, slew another seruant, whose name was Fordhere.

(5) It happened the same night, being holy Easter * 1.886 Sunday, that Queene Ethelburg was brought to bed of a daughter: for ioy whereof, and her safe deliue∣rance, the King gaue thankes to his Idols; which Bi∣shop Paulinus, then in presence, greatly reproued, and bade Edwin to giue thankes vnto God, from whom only all goodnesse came; and spake vnto him of our new birth in Christ: at which conference the King much reioiced, and promised that hee would euer af∣ter renounce all his Idols, and worship that Christ whom he preached, if that God would grant him his * 1.887 life, and giue him victorie against that King, who had sent this Manqueller to murder him; in pledge wher∣of, he assigned Paulinus to baptise his daughter, the which vpon Whitsunday following was performed in her, by the name of Eanfled, and shee the first of the Northumbrians which receiued that Sacrament. At which time also, Edwin being recouered of his wound so lately receiued, made an Armie, and marched forth against the West-Saxons, and in battle either slew or tooke prisoners al them that had conspired his death, and as a victorious Conquerour, returned to his Country.

(6) Where continuing in honour, and his affaires prospering to his owne desires, hee was yet in minde distracted, and his thoughts continually perplexed, what God he should worship. The sanctitie of the Christians mooued him much, and the ancient cu∣stomes of his Ancestours sate neere his heart, betwixt whom there seemed a combat in himselfe. And in these dumps sitting one day alone, it chanced Bishop Paulinus to haue accesse to his presence, where laying * 1.888 his right hand vpon the kings head, demanded of him whether hee remembred that signe: whereat Edwine suddenly fell at the Bishops feete, whom hee in haste and reuerence presently lifted vp, and spake vnto him as followeth.

Behold O Soueraigne (said he) by the bountifull band and power of our God, you haue escaped the hand and vengeance of your most hated and dreadfull enemie. Behold also, by his most gracious goodnes you haue obtained the soueraign∣tie of raigne and rule of the Kingdome. Remember now therefore the third thing which you promised him, and de∣ferre no longer to accomplish the same by receiuing his faith * 1.889 and keeping his Commandements, who hath deliuered you from your temporall aduersities, and exalted you to the ho∣nour and Maiestie of a King; whose holy will if you hereaf∣ter obey, and doe his precept which by mee is preached, hee will also deliuer you from the perpetuall torment of Hell, and make you partaker with him in his heauenly Kingdome and eternall blisse without end.

(7) Whereupon conferring with his Counsell, whereof Bishop Coyfi was chiefe, for the establishing of the Gospell, and suppressing of Idolatrie, it was then concluded, that the true God should bee wor∣shipped, and the Altars of their wonted Idols ouer∣throwne: vnto which action, Coyfi himselfe became the first man; for mounted on horsebacke in armour, * 1.890 with a girt sword and launce in his hand (all which was vnlawfull for those Idoll-Priests) he brake downe their Altars, Grates, and Barres, and destroied their Temples wheresoeuer he came. Some ruines there∣of not farre from Yorke, and neere vnto the rising of the riuer Derwent, remained to be seen vnto the daies of Beda, and were then called Gotmund in Gaham. And king Edwine himselfe, with all his Nobilitie, and most * 1.891 of the Commons, receiued the lauer of Baptisme, the eleuenth yeere of his raigne, and of Christs Incarna∣tion six hundred twenty and seuen, one hundred and eighty yeeres after the Saxons entrance into Britaine. The king was baptized the twelfth of Aprill, being Easter Sunday, at the Citie Yorke, in the Church of S. Peters, built then of wood, and was the kings Ora∣torie, which he enclosed about with a deepe founda∣tion; and laying the walles with squared stones, made it the Cathedrall Church, and his Conuerter Paulinus Arch-bishop of that See.

(8) The Gospell thus established in these Nor∣therne parts, spread daily further into other Prouin∣ces, and with such fruit of peace, that in the raigne of this Edwin, and thorowout his Dominions, a weake woman with her new-borne babe might haue passed * 1.892 without dammage or danger ouer all the Iland, euen from Sea to Sea. And so much did the King tender his Subiects, that his prouident care was extended to the way-faring passengers, for whose vse he enclosed cleere Springs by the waies, where he set great Basens of brasse, both to wash and to bathe in; which either for loue or displeasure of the king, no man defaced, or tooke away.

And so great was the magnificence of this Monarch, that (according to Bede) he had not only in Battle the Ensignes proper to battle borne before him, but in his ordinarie passages thorow the Cities and Towns of his kingdome, there alwaies went an Ensigne-bea∣rer before him. And (to vse the words of the same venerable Author) he went not in any street, in which there was not borne before him that kinde of Stan∣dard which the Romans called Tufa, and the English * 1.893 Thuuf. That the Romans had such an Ensigne, as that which here is called Tufa, Iustus Lipsius in his Com∣mentarie * 1.894 vpon that place in Vegetius (lib. 3. cap. 5.) where the seuerall Ensignes of the Romans are recited, doth declare, correcting that place of Vegetius (where Rufa was set for Tufa) by this place of Bede, and in the same shewing, that Tufa signified a Ball, as the Ball (by the example of Augustus) was an Ensigne of Monar∣chie, or absolute gouernment.

(9) But as the Sunne hath his rising, his height

and descent, and euer is moouing in the circle of his celestiall orbe; so man hath his birth time, being, and death, and till then is neuer staied in one certaine point. Kings therefore, as they be Kings, are the Suns of their owne world, but as they are men, goe to the shadow of death: neither can the strength of their power, wisdome, or policie, loue or applause, stay the hand heere that holds the fatall knife; for so in this King Edwin wee see, raised aboue hope to attaine the Diademe, and ruling in loue and liking of the people, was notwithstanding cut off in the midst of his glorie and greatnesse of strength.

(10) For Penda the stout Mercian enuying his peace, and Cadwallo the Britaine seeking to receiue his right, ioined in friendship against this Monarch, and met him as his enemies in the face of a Field. The plaine was large, and called Hethfeild, where after a long and most bloudie fight, king Edwin was slaine, with prince Offryd his sonne, his whole Host put to the sword, or most shamefull flight: which chanced the fourth of October, the yeere of our Lord six hun∣dred thirty three, the sixth of his Christianitie, the se∣uenth of his Monarchie, the seuenteenth of his king∣dome, and the forty seuenth of his age. His bodie was lastly buried in S. Peters Church at Strea•…•…shall, after called Whitby.

His Wiues.

(11) Quenburg his first wife, was the daughter (as Beda reporteth) of Ceorle; but as all other Writers doe witnesse, of Crida King of Mercia. She was married vnto him in the beginning of his youth, (and when he was dispossessed of his inheritance by the Tyrant E∣theifrid, as we haue said) with him shee liued a great part of his banishment, and in the Court of Redwald King of the East-Angles deceased, before her husband could recouer his Kingdome.

(12) Ethelburg, surnamed * 1.895 Tate, was the second wife of this King, who was the daughter of Ethelbert King of Kent, and of Queene Berta his first wife. She was married vnto him in the yeere of grace six hun∣dred twentie fiue, being the second of his Monarchy, and was his wife six yeeres: but suruiuing him, and desirous to liue a religious life, shee returning into Kent, withdrew her selfe to a place not far from the Sea side, called Lymming, wherein shee built a Mona∣sterie of Nunnes, and among them spent the rest of her life, and therein died, and was there buried.

His Issue.

(13) Offride, the eldest sonne of King Edwine, and Quenberg his first wife, was borne in the time of his fathers exile among the East-Angles. He was baptized in the faith of Christ by Paulinus the first Archbishop of Yorke, and was slaine the same day, and in the same battell that his father was. He had a sonne named Iffy, who was baptized also by Bishop Paulins; and after the death of his father and grand-father, for feare of King Oswald, was conueied ouer the Seas into France, to bee brought vp in the Court of King Dagobert, where he died in his childhood, and was there honou∣rably interred.

(14) Edfrid, the second sonne of King Edwine and Lady Quenberg his first wife, was borne in the time of his fathers exile, and baptized with his brother Of∣frid by Bishop Paulinus. After his fathers death, for feare of King Oswald, hee fled to Penda King of Mer∣cia, who was his fathers enemie, and his mothers kins∣man; by whom hee was most treacherously murthe∣red. He left behind him a son named Hererik, who by his wife Bertswith had issue the vertuous & learned la∣dy Hilda, Abbesse of Streansbalch: & Queen Hereswith her sister, the wife of Ethelbere King of the East-Angles brother to King An•…•…a, by whom shee had issue Ald wolfe, Elswold, and Beorne, all three succeeding Kings of the East-Angles.

(15) Ethelme, the third sonne of King Edwine, and the first of Queen Ethelburg his second wife, was bap∣tized by Paulinus Arch-bishop of Yorke, not long after his father and halfe-brethren; but in short space after his baptisme, he departed out of this world, euen in the time that he wore the white attire, which in those daies was vsed to bee worne by such as were newly baptized for a certaine space. His body was with all due funerall obsequies enterred within the new Church of S. Peter in the Citie of Yorke, which his fa∣ther had newly founded.

(16) Vskfrea, the fourth sonne of King Edwine, and the second of Queene Ethelburg his second wife, and the last and youngest of them both, bare the name of his fathers great grandfather. He was baptized by the Arch-bishop Paulinus at one time with his brother Ethelme. After the decease of his father, his mother carried him with her out of Northumberland into Kent; and from thence conueied him ouer into France with his Nephew Iffy, the sonne of his halfe-brother Offrid, where hee continued in the custodie of King Dagobert, being his mothers cosen-german, and there died, and was honourably buried in a Church with his Nephew Iffy.

(17) Eanfled, the elder daughter of King Edwine and Queene Ethelberg his second wife, was borne the * 1.896 night following that her father was wounded and baptized, hee being a Pagan. Shee was afterwards married to Oswy, the fourth King of Northumberland, and tenth Monarch of the Englishmen, as shall bee said

(18) Etheldrid the younger daughter, the fifth and last-borne child to King Edwine and of Queene Ethelburge, was baptized at the same time with Ethelwe and Vskfrea her brethren. She died an infant, the white clothing not yet put off, which in those daies was vsu∣ally worne at certaine set times after their baptisme, and was with like funerall obsequies buried by her brother Ethelwe in the Church of S. Peters in Yorke, which their father had founded.

OSVVALD KING OF NORTHVM∣BERLAND, * 1.897 AND THE NINTH MO∣NARCH * 1.898 OF THE ENGLISHMEN, HIS RAIGNE, WIFE, AND ISSVE. CHAPTER XXI.

[illustration]

OSwald, the fifth King of Deira, the ninth of Berni∣cia, * 1.899 the third of Northum∣berland, and the ninth Mo∣narch of the Englishmen, began his raigne the yeere of Christs incarnation six hundred thirty foure. He with Eanfrith and his bre∣thren, the sonnes of wilde Ethelfrid, and Osrik also the sonne of Alfrid King Ed∣wins Vncle had been secured in Scotland all his raigne, and among the Red-shanks liued as banished men, where they learned the true religion of Christ, and had receiued the Lauer of Baptisme. But Edwines death wrought and divulged, these Princes returne again to their Country, and the Northumbrians King∣dome lately gouerned by one, was now againe diui∣ded into two seuerall parts, as formerly it had been.

(2) Ouer the Deirans, Osrik was made king, and of Bernicia, Eanfrid assumed the raigne; but Gods iustice ouer taking their Apostasie, neither their liues nor this diuision lasted long. For Cadwall the Christian, and Penda the Pagan were Gods instruments, that with worthy vengeance in the first yeere of their go∣uernment, cut the one off in battell, and the other * 1.900 by trechery; whose names and yeere of raigne as vn∣happy and of hatefull remembrance, the Historio∣graphers of those times would haue to be omitted.

(3) But religious Oswald lamenting the effusion of his Countries bloud, long slept not, their reuenge. For assembling his power, which was not great, hee suddenly and vnlooked for came vpon Cadw•…•…, and at Deniseburne pitched downe his tents. The place (saith Beda) stood neere the wall that Seuerus had made, where Oswald for the first day forbare to fight, and among his Souldiers for his Standerd set vp a Crosse of wood; wherunto it seemeth those dawning daies of Christianity were ouermuch addicted. Here Oswald making first intercession to God, the onely preseruer of his people, in sore & long fight obtained great victory, with the slaughter of Cadwallo, and of all his British Army: which so accomplished, many haue attributed the vertue of that Crosse to bee no small cause of that great ouerthrow. This Crosse so set vp, was the first we read of to haue been erected in England, and the first Altar vnto Christ among the Bernicians, whose pretended miraculous cures, not onely in the wood it selfe, but in the mosse and in the earth wherein it was set, let Beda report them, and Stapleton vrge them, yet for my part, I hold them no Article of our canonicall Creed.

(4) But certaine it is, that Oswald himselfe was a most religious and godly king, and tooke such care for the conuersion and saluation of his subiects, that he sent into Scotland for Aidan a Christian Bishop, to instruct his Northumbrians in the Gospell of truth. And whereas the Bishops could not speake their lan∣guage, * 1.901 the king himselfe was interpreter at his Ser∣mons, and gaue his words in the English, as hee spake and pronounced them in the Scotish, which language Oswald perfectly spake, hauing beene there the space of eighteene yeeres. * 1.902

Thus the godly proceedings of the king and Bi∣shop, produced such increase of their heauenly seed, that it is reported in seuen daies space, fifteene thou∣sand Christians receiued Baptisme; and many of the•…•…forsaking the pleasures of the world, to haue be∣take themselues to a religious and solitarie life.

(5) At this time the whole Iland flourished both with peace and plentie, and acknowledged their sub∣iection * 1.903 vnto king Oswald. For, as Beda reporteth, all the Nations of Britannie which spake foure languages, that is to say, Britaines, Redshanks, Scots, and Englishmen, Became subiect vnto him. And yet being aduanced to so roy∣all Maiestie, he was notwithstanding (which is maruell•…•… to be reported) lowly to all, gracious to the poore, and beau∣tifull to strangers. The fruits whereof the same Author

exemplifieth in his bounty and humilitie towards the poore; who vpon a solemne feast day, seeing many such at his gates, sent them both the delicates for him∣selfe prepared, & commanded the charger of siluer to be broken, and diuided among them. The Bishop much reioycing thereat, tooke the king by the right hand, and praied that it might neuer consume; as after his death it did not, but was shrined in siluer, and in S. Peters Church at Bebba, now Bambrough, with worthy honor was worshipped for the many miracles in cures that it did, as likewise the earth wherein his bloud was spilt: with such lauish enlargements haue those writers interlined the deeds of Gods Saints.

(6) But as the Sunne hath his shadow, and the highest tide her ebbe, so Oswald, how holy soeuer, or gouernment how good, had emulators that sought his life, and his Countries ruine: for wicked Penda the Pagan Mercian, enuying the greatnesse that king Oswald bare, raised warres against him, and at a place then called Maserfeild in Shrop-shire, in a bloudie and sore fought battle slew him; and not therewith satis∣fied, in barbarous and brutish immanitie, did teare him in peeces, the first day of August, and yeere of Christ Iesus six hundred forty two, being the ninth * 1.904 of his raigne, and the thirty eighth of his age: where∣upon the said place of his death is called to this day Oswaldstree, a faire Market Towne in the same Countie.

(7) The dismembred limmes of his body were first buried in the Monastery of Bradney in Lincolnshire, shrined with his standard of Gold and Purple erected ouer his Tombe, at the industry and cost of his neece Offryd, Queene of Mercia, wife vnto king Ethelred, and daughter to Oswyn that succeeded him. From hence his bones were afterwards remooued to Glocester, and there in the north side of the vpper end of the Quire in the Cathedrall Church, continueth a faire Monu∣ment of him, with a Chapell set betwixt two pillers in the same Church.

His Wife.

(8) Kineburg, a most vertuous Lady, and daugh∣ter to Kingils the sixth, and first Christian king of the West-Saxons, was the wife of king Oswald, who be∣came both his father and sonne in the day of her ma∣riage, by receiuing him at the Font, and her of his gift. She was maried vnto him in the second yeere of his raign, which was the yeere of Christs Incarnation six hundred thirty six: no other relation made of her besides the birth of his sonne.

His Issue.

(9) Ethelwald, the only childe of king Oswald and Queene Kineburg his wife, was borne in the yeere of our Lord six hundred thirty seuen, being the third yeere of his fathers raigne; and but an infant at his fathers death, was disappointed of the Northumbrian Kingdome by the fraud of his vncle Oswyn. Notwith∣standing at the death of Oswin king of Deira, and then not aboue sixteene yeeres of age, hee tooke the same kingdome, and by strong hand held it against his vn∣cle so long as he liued, and at his death left it to his co∣sen Alkefryd, the naturall sonne of king Osuyne, as in the ninth Chapter we haue said.

OSVVY KING OF NORTHVM∣BERLAND, * 1.905 AND THE TENTH MO∣NARCH * 1.906 OF THE ENGLISHMEN, HIS ACTS, WIFE, AND CHILDREN. CHAPTER XXII.

[illustration]

OSwye, the illegitimate sonne of King Ethelfrid, * 1.907 surnamed the Wilde, at thirty yeeres of age suc∣ceeded Oswald his halfe brother in his Domini∣ons, being the fourth King of Northumber∣land, and the tenth Mo∣narch * 1.908 of the Englishmen, entring his gouernment the thirteenth day of October, and yeere of Christs Incarnation six hundred forty three. His first begin∣nings were much disquieted by Penda the Heathen Mercian, by the rebellions of his base sonne Alkfrid, and by the oppositions of Ethelwold the son of King Oswald: but none sate more neere his heart then Oswyn * 1.909 king of the Deirians did, whose vertuous gouernment did much darken (as hee tooke it) his owne, and the free loue of those subiects, daily to lessen his among the Bernicians.

(2) This Oswyn of Deira was the sonne of Osrike * 1.910

(who did apostate from his faith) and ruling his Pro∣uince in plentie and peace the space of seuen yeeres, * 1.911 was therefore greatly enuied by Oswy of Bernicia, and lastly by him prouoked into the field. Their hosts met at the place then called Wilfares Downe, ten miles West from the village Cataracton, and there attended * 1.912 to hazard the day. But Oswyn finding himselfe too weake for Oswy, and to saue the effusion of Christi∣an bloud, forsooke the field, accompanied onely with one Souldier, and went to Earle Hunwald his friend as he thought, to secure his life. But contrary to trust, hee deliuered him vnto King Oswy, who * 1.913 cruelly slew him the twentieth of August, and ninth of his raigne, at the place called Ingethling; where af∣terwards for satisfaction of so hainous an offence, a Monasterie was built, as vpon like occasions, many the like foundations were laid; whose stones were thus ioyned with the morter of bloud.

(3) Of this Oswine thus slaine, Beda reporteth the * 1.914 Story following: Among his other rare vertues and princely qualities, his humility (saith he) and passing low∣linesse excelled: whereof he thus exemplifieth: The re∣uerend Christian Bishop Aidan vsing much trauell to preach the Gospell thorowout that Prouince, the King for his more ease, gaue him a goodly Gelding with rich and costly trap∣ping. * 1.915 It chanced one day, as the Bishop rode to minister the word of life, that a poore man demanded his almes: but hee not hauing wherewith to releeue him, and pitying his di∣stressed poore estate, presently alighted, and gaue vnto him * 1.916 his horse and rich furniture; whereof when the King heard, he blamed him, and said, What meant you (my Lord) to giue to the begger the horse that I gaueyou, with my saddle and trappings? Had we horses of no lower price to giue away to the poore? To whom the Bishop replied, And is the brood of a beast dearer in your sight, then this poore man the childe of God? The King 〈◊〉〈◊〉 reprooued, turned himselfe towards the fire, and there •…•…dly pausing vpon this answer, presently gaue from him his sword, and in haste fell at the Bishops * 1.917 feet, desiring forgiuenesse in that he had said. The Bishop much astonied, suddenly lift vp the King, desiring him to sit to meat, and to be mery; which the King immediately did, but the Bishop contrariwise began to bee pensiue and sadde, and the teares to trickle downe his cheekes: in which passion hee burst out into these speeches, and said to his Chaplaine in an vnknowne tongue, I neuer till this time haue seene an * 1.918 humble King; and surely his life cannot bee long, for this people are not worthy to haue such a Prince to gouern them. But to returne to King Oswy.

(4) Who after many cruell inuasions of the mer∣cilesse Penda, was forced to sue vnto him for peace, * 1.919 with proffers of infinite treasure and most precious iewels: all which reiected, and the Tyrant comming on, Oswy sought his helpe by supplication to God, and with such zeale as then was embraced, vowed his young daughter Elfled to be consecrated in perpetuall virginitie vnto him, with twelue Farmers and their * 1.920 lands, to the erection and maintenance of a Monaste∣rie: and thereupon prepared himselfe for battle.

(5) The Armie of this enemie is reported to re∣double thirty times his, all well appointed and old tri∣ed souldiers: against whom Oswy with his sonne Alk∣fryd boldly marched, Egfryd his other sonne then be∣ing * 1.921 an hostage with Cinwise an vnder Queene of the Mercians: Ethelwald the sonne of Oswald, tooke part with Penda, against his naturall Vncle and natiue * 1.922 Country: so did Ethelherd the brother of Christian Anna, side with this heathenish and cruell Mercian.

(6) The battle was fought neere to the riuer Iunet, which at that time did ouer-flow his bankes, so that * 1.923 the victorie falling with Oswy, more were drowned in the water then slaine with the sword. And heerein proud Penda lost his life, with the discomfiture of all his Mercian power. Heerein also died Ethelherd, the * 1.924 East-Angles King, who was the only motiue to these warres: and Ethelwald escaping, returned with disho∣nour vnto Deira. The day was thus gotten the thir∣teenth * 1.925 yeere of King Oswy his raigne, the fifteenth day of Nouember, and yeere of Christ his Incarna∣tion six hundred fifty fiue.

(7) After this victorie, king Oswy raigned in great glory the space of three yeeres, subduing the Merci∣ans, the south parts of the English, and made the nor∣therne parts likewise subiect vnto him. He it was that decided the long controuersy for Easters celebration, and founded the Cathedrall Church in Lichfeild for a Bishops See: which Citie, with all South-Mercia, di∣uided * 1.926 from the north by the riuer Trent, hee gaue to Peada the sonne of king Penda, in mariage with his na∣turall * 1.927 daughter Alkfled, on condition that he should become a Christian: all which the said king not long enioied, but was murdered in his owne Court. And the Mercians erecting Vulfhere his brother and their natiue country-man for king, rebelled against Oswy, and freed themselues from a forraine subiection.

(8) Thus Oswy ending in troubles as he began in warres, raigned the space of twenty eight yeeres, and * 1.928 then falling sicke, was so strucke with remorse for the death of good Oswyn, and bloud which hee had spilt, that hee vowed a pilgrimage to Rome, in which repu∣ted holy place hee purposed to haue ended his life, and to haue left his bones therein to rest: but his dis∣ease increasing, and that purpose failing, he left this life the fifteenth of Februarie, and his body to re∣maine in S. Peters Church at Streanshach, the yeere af∣ter Christs birth six hundred seuentie, and of his own age fifty eight.

His Wife.

(9) Eanfled; the wife of this king, was the daughter * 1.929 of Edwin and Ethelburg, king & Queene of Northum∣berland. She was the first Christian that was baptized in that Prouince, and after her fathers death, was brought vp in Kent vnder her mother, and thence maried vnto this Oswy, whom she suruiued, and spent the whole time of her widow-hood in the Monastery of Steanshalch, where her daughter Elfred was Abbesse, * 1.930 wherein she deceased and was interred in the Church of S. Peter, hard by her husband king Edwin.

His Issue.

(10) Egfryd, the eldest sonne of king Oswy and of * 1.931 Queene Eanfled, was borne in the third yeere of his fathers raigne, being the yeere of grace six hundred forty fiue. In the twenty fifth yeere of his age, and of our Lord God six hundred seuenty one, he succee∣ded his father in Northumberland, but not in his Mo∣narchie: of whose life and acts, wee haue further spo∣ken in the seuenth Chapter of this Booke.

(11) Elswine, the second sonne of king Oswy, and * 1.932 of Queene Eanfled, was borne in the yeere of our Lord six hundred sixty one, being the ninth of his fa∣thers raigne; at whose death he was nine yeeres old: * 1.933 and in the ninth yeere after, being the eighteenth of his age, was vnfortunately slaine in a battell, wherein he serued his brother Egfrid, against Ethelred king of the Mercians, to the great griefe of them both, the yeere of Christs natiuity six hundred seuentie nine.

(12) Elfled, the eldest daughter of king Oswy and queene Eanfled, was borne in the month of September, * 1.934 the yeere of grace six hundred fiftie foure, being the twelfth of her fathers raigne; and when she was a yeer old, by him committed to the custodie & bringing vp of the renowned Lady Hilda, Abbesse of Strean∣shall, wherein she liued vnder her a Nun, and after her * 1.935 death did succeed her Abbesse of the place, and in great holinesse and vertue, spent therein her life, vnto the day of her death, which was the yeere of Christ Iesus seuen hundred fourteene, and of her owne age sixtie, being interred in S. Peters Church within the same Monasterie.

(13) Offrid, the younger daughter of king Oswy and queene Eanfled, was borne about the fifteenth * 1.936 yeere of her fathers raigne, which was the yeere of our Lord six hundred sixtie seuen: and when she was fully twenty, was married vnto Ethelred king of Mer∣cia, the twelfth Monarch of the Englishmen, in the third yeere of his raigne, and of Christ six hundred seuenty seuen.

(14) Alkfrid, the naturall sonne of king Oswy, did first succeed his cosen Ethelwald, sonne of king Oswald * 1.937

his Vncle in part of Northumberland, and held the same by force against his Father, which afterwards he peaceably inioyed both with him and his halfe bro∣ther King Egfrid, whom lastly hee succeeded in the whole kingdome of Northumberland, as more at large * 1.938 in the same story we haue declared.

(15) Al•…•…fled, the naturall daughter of king Oswy, borne before her father was king, in the yeere of * 1.939 Christs incarnation six hundred fiftie three, and the eleuenth of her fathers raigne, was married to Pe•…•…d: the sonne of Penda, that by his permission had gouer∣ned some part of Mercia, and by Oswy his gift with this Alfled, all the South of that Prouince. She was his wife three yeers, and is of most writers taxed to be the actor of his death, being wickedly murthered in the feast of Easter, the yeere of grace six hundred fiftie sixe, and the fourteenth of her Fathers raigne.

VVLFHERE THE SIXTH KING OF * 1.940 * 1.941 THE MERCIANS, AND THE ELE∣VENTH MONARCH OF THE ENGLISH∣MEN, HIS RAIGNE, ACTS, WIFE, AND ISSVE. CHAPTER XXIII.

[illustration]

VVulfhere, after the murther * 1.942 of his brother Peada, ad∣uanced against Oswy by the Nobles of Mercia, main∣tained his title and king∣dome for twelue yeeres continuance, in the life time of that Northumbrian Monarch, and after his death translated the Mo∣narchy from those Kings, and Country, vnto himself * 1.943 and his successors the Mercians, who now wore the Imperiall Diademe without reuersement, vntill such time as great Egbert set it vpon the West-Saxons head.

He was the second sonne of Penda King of Mercia, and the sixth in succession of that kingdome, begin∣ning * 1.944 his raigne the yeere of Christ his Incarnation, six hundred fiftie nine, and twelue yeeres after, Anno six hundred seuenty one, entred his Monarchy ouer the Englishmen, and was in number accounted the ele∣uenth Monarch of the Land.

(2) His entrance was with trouble against the Northumbrians; for vnto Egfrid their King he had lost the possession of the Iland Linsey, and was expelled * 1.945 the Country: yet three yeeres after he fought against the West-Saxons with better successe, whose Country with conquest he passed thorow, and wan from Red∣wald their King the Ile of Wight? which Iland he gaue * 1.946 to Edilwach the South-Saxons King, whom he receiued his God-sonne at the font-stone: notwithstanding himselfe had lately been a prophane Idolater, and most cruell Heathen, as by the Liger booke of the Monastery of Peterborow appeareth, whose story is * 1.947 this:

(3) King Vulfhere of Mercia remaining at his Castell in Vlferchester in Stafford-shire, and vnderstan∣ding * 1.948 that Vulfald and Rufin his two sonnes, vnder pre∣tence and colour of hunting, vsually resorted to reue∣rend Chad, to bee instructed in the fruitfull faith of Christ Iesus, and had at his hands receiued the Sacra∣ment of Baptisme, at the perswasion of one Werebod, suddenly followed, and finding them in the Oratory of that holy man, in deuout contemplations, slew * 1.949 them there with his owne hands. Whose martyred bodies Queene Ermenehild their mother caused to be buried in a Sepulchre of stone, and thereupon a faire Church to be erected, which by reason of the many stones thither brought for that foundation, was euer * 1.950 after called Stones, and now is a Market Towne in the same County. But King Vulfhere repenting this his * 1.951 most vnhumane murther, became himselfe a Christi∣an, and destroied all those Temples wherein his hea∣then Gods had been worshipped, conuerting them all into Christian Churches, and religious Monaste∣ries: and to redeeme so hainous an offence, vnder∣went the finishing of * 1.952 Medis•…•…am, his brothers foun∣dation, enriching it largely with lands and possessi∣ons:

notwithstanding hee is taxed by William of Malmesbury with the foule sinne of Symony, for sel∣ling * 1.953 vnto Wyna the Bishopricke of London.

(4) He raigned King ouer the Mercians the space of seuenteene yeeres, and Monarch of the English ful∣ly foure, leauing his life in the yeere of our Lord six * 1.954 hundred seuentie foure, and his body to be buried in the Monastery of Peterborow, which was of his bro∣thers and his owne foundation.

His Wife.

(5) Ermenhild, the Wife of King Vulfhere, was the daughter of Ercombert, the seuenth King of Kent, and * 1.955 sister to Egbert and Lothair, both Kings of that Coun∣tie. Her mother was Sexburg, daughter to Anna, the seuenth King of the East-Angles, whose sisters were many and most of them Saints. She was married vnto him in the third yeere of his raigne, and was his wife fourteene yeeres. After his decease, she went to her mother Queene Sexburg, being then Abbesse of Ely, * 1.956 where she continued all the rest of her life, and there∣in deceased and was buried.

His Issue.

(6) Kenred the son of King Vulfhere and of Queen Ermenhild, being the heire apparant of his fathers * 1.957 possessions, was vnder age at his fathers decease; and by reason of his minority, was withheld from the go∣uernment, which Ethelred his Vncle entred into, with∣out any contradiction of this Kenred, who held him∣selfe contented to liue a priuate life: notwithstanding Ethelred taking the habit of a Monke, left the Crowne to him who was the right heire.

(7) Vulfald a young Gentleman conuerted to the Christian faith by Bishop Chad, and martyred for profession of the same by King Vulfhere, is reported * 1.958 by Water of Wittlesey, a Monke of Peterborow, in a Re∣gister which he wrote of that Monastery, to bee the supposed son of King Vulfhere himselfe, and to haue been slaine by him in his extreme fury before he was a Christian, or could indure to heare of the Christian faith. He was buried in Stone, as we haue said, where his father built a Colledge of Canons regular, which was afterwards called S. Vulfaldes. * 1.959

(8) Rufine the fellow martyr of Vulfald, is by the same Writer reported to be his brother, and the sup∣posed * 1.960 sonne also of Vulfhere the King. Their mur∣thers, as he saith, was committed the ninth Calends of August, which is with vs the foure and twenty of Iuly, vpon which day there was yeerely celebrated a solemne memoriall of their martyrdomes in the same place, where they both suffered, and where their Monument was then remaining.

(9) Wereburg, the daughter of King Vulfhere and * 1.961 Queene Ermenhild, was in her childhood committed to the bringing vp of Queene Etheldrid her mothers Aunt, in the Monastery of Ely, by whose perswasion she professed virginity, and returning to her Country in the raigne of King Ethelred her Vncle, was by him made ouerseer of all the Monasteries within his do∣minions. She deceased at Trickingham (now called Trentham) in Stafford-shire, and was buried at Han∣bery. * 1.962 Her body was afterwards remooued to West∣chester, where Leafrik the Earle built in honour of her * 1.963 a goodly Church called S. Wereburgs, which to this day is the Cathedrall Church of that Citie.

ETHELRED THE SEVENTH KING * 1.964 OF MERCIA, AND TVVELFTH MO∣NARCH * 1.965 OF THE ENGLISH: HIS ACTS, WIFE, AND ISSVE. CHAPTER XXIIII.

[illustration]

EThelred, the third sonne of * 1.966 King Penda, and brother to the last declared Vulf∣here, in the yeere of Christ Iesus six hundred seuenty fiue, beganne his raigne in the kingdome of Mercia, and at the same time in the Monarchy of the Eng∣lishmen, * 1.967 being the seuenth King among them that ware their Diademe, and the twelfth person that bare the Imperiall title of the whole: his claime was not immediately nor next in succession, young Kenred his Nephew standing be∣twixt him and the Crowne. But himselfe a child in yeeres, and in them also addicted vnto a priuate life, he gaue his Vncle way to vndergo so publike a charge, which without contradiction was likewise accepted of the subiects.

(2) His entrance was with warre against the Ken∣tish Lothaire, whose Country he destroied, sparing nei∣ther * 1.968 Churches nor religious Abbeys, the King not

daring to appeare in field. The Citie Rochester felt also his fury, whose Citizens were ransacked, their buil∣dings ruinated, and their Bishop Putta driuen to such * 1.969 distresse, that he became a Teacher of good Arts and Musicke in Mercia, to maintaine his aged yeeres from the necessity of perishing want. These stirres (saith Beda) happened in the yeere of grace six hundred se∣uenty * 1.970 seuen; and the next following, so fearefull a Blazing starre, as was wonderfull to behold, first dis∣couered * 1.971 in the moneth of August, and for three mo∣neths together continued rising in the morning, and giuing forth a blazing pile very high, and of a glitte∣ring flame.

(3) The remorse of conscience for the bloud he had spilt, and the places of Oratories by him destroi∣ed, (besides his intrusions into another mans right) strucke so deepe a wound into King Ethelreds breast, that euer hee bethought him what recompence to make. First therefore building a goodly Monastery at Bradney, and that most fruitfully seated in the * 1.972 County of Lincolus, thought that not sufficient to wash away the scarres of his foule offence, but deter∣mined in himselfe to forsake the world, for that was the terme attributed to the monasticall life: wherein notwithstanding, in lesse cares they liued, and their persons more safe from all dangers attempted, then when they publikely administred their lawes to their people, the iust executions whereof, many times breed the ouerthrow of their Princes, and their Per∣sons neuer secure amidst their owne gards.

(4) But such was the religion then taught, and the godly zeale of the good Princes then raigning, whose works haue manifested their vertues to posterities, and faith in Christ the saluation of their soules, in whose Paradise we leaue them, and Ethelred to his de∣uout intent: who to reconcile himselfe first vnto Ken∣red, bequeathed the Crowne solely to him, although * 1.973 he had a sonne capable thereof: then putting on the habit of religion, became himselfe a Monke, in his owne Monastery of Bradney, where he liued a regular life the terme of twelue yeeres, and therein lastly died Abbat of the place, when hee had raigned thirty yeeres, the yeere of Christs natiuity, seuen hundred * 1.974 sixteene.

His Wife.

(5) Offryd, the wife of King Ethelred, was the daugh∣ter of Oswy, and of Lady Eanfled, King and Queene of * 1.975 Northumberland. She was married vnto him in the yeere of our Lord six hundred seuenty seuen, being the third of his raigne, and the twentieth of her age. Shee was his wife twenty yeeres: and passing tho∣row the North parts of Mercia, she was set vpon and slaine by the people of that Country, in reuenge of * 1.976 the death of Peada their King, who had long before bin murthered by Alkefled his wife, and her half sister, as we haue said. And thus strangely came shee to her vntimely end, the yeer of our Lord six hundred nine∣ty seuen, the twenty three yeere of her husbands raigne and the fortieth of her owne age.

His Issue.

(6) Chelred the sonne of King Ethelred, and of * 1.977 Queene Offryd his wife, was the heire apparant of his fathers kingdome, and of sufficient yeeres to haue succeeded him, when he entred into religion; but that it was his fathers will to make amends to his Nephew Kenred, sonne to his elder brother King Vulfhere, that now he might raigne before his sonne, who should haue raigned before himselfe.

KENRED THE EIGHTH KING OF MERCIA, AND THE THIR∣TEENTH * 1.978 MONARCH OF THE * 1.979 ENGLISHMEN. CHAPTER XXV.

[illustration]

KEnred the sonne of Vulf∣here, because of his mino∣ritie * 1.980 at his Fathers death, was defeated of his domi∣nions by his Vncle Ethel∣red, and vntill it pleased him to resigne his Crown, liued a priuate life, where∣unto by nature hee was most inclined. But King Ethelred for the wrongs to him committed, and to re∣deeme the time that in warre and wealth he had pro∣digally * 1.981 spent, yeelded the Scepter vnto his hand, and set his seeming ouer-heauy Crowne vpon his Ne∣phew Kenreds head: who began his raigne at one and the same time, both ouer the Mercians and Monar∣chy of the English•…•…, which was the yeere of Christs Incarnation seuen hundred and foure.

(2) He is in account the eighth King of that Pro∣uince, and the thirteenth Monarch since Hengist the Saxon. He raigned in peace the space of foure yeeres; then weary of gouernment, and desirous of contem∣plation, * 1.982

after the example of his Vncle, sought a more priuate and religious life: and thereupon appointing Chelred his Cosen germane to rule in his place, in the * 1.983 fifth yeere of his raigne, abandoned his kingdome and Country, and departed for Rome, accompanied with Offa King of the East-Saxons, and with Edwine Bishop of Worcester; where both these Kings were made Monks in the time of Pope Constantine the first, Iustinian the younger then wearing the Imperiall Crowne: and in a Monastery at that citie, both these penitent Conuerts in the Coules and Orders of Monks, spent the rest of their liues, and therein died * 1.984 and were enterred; this Mercian King Kenred hauing had neither wife nor child, that I can reade of.

(3) It is not greatly to be wondered at, in that these times to much ouershadowed with superstitious zeal, the holy acts of men, which no doubt were many, & the habit of Monks, the accounted holy garments of humility, were so meritoriously respected and repu∣ted in the deuout hearts of the religious, when by the Clergy (that are accounted the light of the world) in a Councell at Rome held vnder Pope Constantine the * 1.985 first, it was decreed and commanded, that carued Images, which neither had action, nor life, nor could saue themselues from the stroke of destruction, should bee made to the memoriall of Saints, and should be set vp in Churches, with respectiue adora∣tion, contrary to Gods most expresse commande∣ment, and condemned for idolatry by the warrant of * 1.986 sacred Scripture.

CHELRED THE NINTH KING OF * 1.987 THE MERCIANS, AND THE FOVR∣TEENTH * 1.988 MONARCH OF THE ENGLISH, HIS RAIGNE AND SVCCESSION. CHAPTER XXVI.

[illustration]

CHelred, the sonne of King Ethelred, was of sufficient * 1.989 yeeres, and well able of rule, at such time as his fa∣ther resigned his Scepter vnto his Nephew Kenred, had not the pricke of that sinne touched his consci∣ence, * 1.990 which made him to bestow the same as he did; notwithstanding the Crown being too waighty for Kenred to weare, he as freely againe gaue it the sonne, as he had receiued it of the father before, and relin∣quished his claime and title thereto.

(2) Chelred thus aduanced before he it expected, entred his gouernment with great applause of the * 1.991 people, in whose opinions he was held the onely man worthy of their Crowne. Ouer the Mercians he raig∣ned the ninth King, and of the English Monarchs the fourteenth in number, beginning them both in the yeere of grace seuen hundred & nine, and the fourth of Iustinian the younger, Empire.

(3) His quietnes was disturbed by Inas the West-Saxon, whose fame for his fortunes beganne then to * 1.992 grow great. For Kent he had forced to buy their peace with mony: the Britaines subdued, and had inlarged his confines vpon them. And now against Chelred this new rise Monarch, he meant to try chance, whose glo∣ry he looked at with an ouer enuious eye.

(4) His greatnesse likewise Chelred suspected, who either to himselfe or successors, (by the foundation * 1.993 which he laid) would diuert the Monarchy from him and his Mercians, and entaile it to himselfe or his West-Saxons. Hereupon great preparation was made, and each set forward with all the powers, the one to attaine, and the other to keep, the glory and title that both of them so much thirsted after. At Wodnesbury * 1.994 they met, and with vndaunted spirits so fought, that the victory was doubtfull, for neither could say the battell was his, or that he departed with the lesser * 1.995 losse.

(5) These emulations were followed betwixt these two Princes the space of seuen yeeres, and lon∣ger had done, if Chelred had liued, or Inas not been strucke with remorse of conscience for his ouermuch spilling of bloud. Of this Chelred, some Authors haue censured, that he was maruellous in prowesse, and valiant of courage, but his Country miserable * 1.996

by his vntimely death, whose raigne lasted only seuen yeeres: and death in the yeere of our Lord seuen * 1.997 hundred and sixteene: his body was buried in the Cathedrall Church of Lichfield: and he died without any issue.

His Wife.

(6) Wereburg the wife of King Chelred, is mentio∣ned * 1.998 by Marianus the learned Scotish Historian, and by Florence of Worcester, who was the follower and continuer of his History, whom we may reasonably credit in this matter, being not incredible, although she must of necessity be thought to haue been mar∣ried very young, or to haue died very old, because they record her decease to haue beene in the yeere of Christ seuen hundred eightie one, which was almost sixtie yeeres after the death of her husband, * 1.999 and towards the end of the long raigne of King Offa.

ETHELBALD THE TENTH KING * 1.1000 * 1.1001 OF THE MERCIANS, AND THE FIF∣TEENTH MONARCH OF THE ENGLISH∣MEN: HIS RAIGNE AND ACTS. CHAPTER XXVII.

[illustration]

EThelbald, cosen germane once remoued vnto King * 1.1002 Chelred, succeeded him in the kingdome of the Mer∣cians, whereof he was the tenth in number, and of the Monarchs ouer the Englishmen, the fifteenth in * 1.1003 account. He beganne his raigne in the yeere of grace seuen hundred sixteene, and with great honour raigned ouer all the Kings on the South side of Humber, whose time for the most part was spent in peace; yet some wars he had, and those with variable euents.

(2) For in the eighteenth yeere of his raigne, hee besieged Sommerton, and wanne it; and inuading * 1.1004 Northumberland, without proffer of resistance, retur∣ned with great riches by spoile. The Britaines also that were ioined confederates with the West-Saxons, hee molested and ouercame, for whose reuenge King Cu∣thred gaue him battell neere vnto Burford, where he with his Mercians receiued the foile, and lost the Ban∣ner, * 1.1005 wherein was portracted a Golden Dragon, the thir∣ty seuenth yeere of his raigne.

(3) The sinnes of these times both in Prince and * 1.1006 people, were many and great, as by the Epistles of Bo∣niface an Englishman, and Archbishop of Mentz, is most manifest, wherein he reprooued his adulterous life, who refraining to marry, wallowed in filthy le∣cheries; by whose example the Noblemen of Mercia did the like: and their women, as well Nunnes as others, made away their chilaren borne out of wedlocke, whereby * 1.1007 the graues were filled with dead bodies, as hell it selfe with damned soules. And in another Epistle sent vnto Cuth∣bert, Archbishop of Canterbury, he complaineth of the English Nunnes, who wandring in pilgrimage vnder * 1.1008 shew of deuotion, liued in pleasure and wanton fornications, through all the Cities of France and of Lumbardy.

(4) This his Epistle tooke so good effect, that in re∣pentance King Ethelbald released and priuiledged the Church from all tributes to himselfe, and built the Abbey of Crowland in Lincolnshire, for the pacifying * 1.1009 of Gods wrath towards his sinnes; when also it was enacted by Cuthbert and his Clergy, in a Conuoca∣tion held in his Prouince, that the sacred Scriptures should be read in their Monasteries, the Lords Praier and Creed, taught in the English tongue: which accordingly was done. Which Councell was held in the thirty yeere of this Kings raigne, and of Christs incarnation seuen hundred forty eight.

(5) Finally, when he had ruled forty two yeeres, fighting against Cuthred the West-Saxon, in a warre not * 1.1010 prudently vndertaken, he was traiterously slaine by his owne subiects, at the procurement of Bernred a Leader of them, who affecting the kingdome by this stratagem of Treason, sought to attaine it, but was himselfe slaine by Offa the Mercian, before that this ill sowen seed could take any roote. The place of this Great Ethelbalds death, was Secondone, three miles from Ta•…•…worth, in the County of Warwicke; and of * 1.1011 his buriall, Rept•…•…n in Darby-shire, where with honou∣rable obsequies he was enterred, the yeere of Christs humanity seuen hundred fiftie eight, hauing had nei∣the Wife nor Children.

OFFA THE ELEVENTH KING OF * 1.1012 * 1.1013 THE MERCIANS, AND THE SIX∣TEENTH MONARCH OF THE ENGLISH∣MEN, HIS ACTS, RAIGNE, WIFE AND ISSVE. CHAPTER XXVIII.

[illustration]

OFfa, the cosen of King Ethel∣bald, * 1.1014 after some time of Inter-regnum, succeeded him in his dominions of Mercia; a man of so high stomacke and stoutnes of mind, that he thought no∣thing vnpossible for him to attaine: and for vertue and vice, so equally com∣posed, that hardly could bee iudged to whither of them the scale of his carriage most inclined, although * 1.1015 the Monke of S. Albans, and writer of his life, doth blanch out his graces with superlatiue praises. * 1.1016

(2) His Parents hee nameth Twin•…•…reth and Mer∣cella, and himselfe hee saith to haue been first named * 1.1017 Pinered, borne both lame, deafe, and blinde, wherein he so continued vnto his mans estate. The rage of Bernred (saith the same Author) had forced all three into a solitary place, where suddenly by miracle Pine∣red was restored, and for that cause called another Offa; who presently assailed, and in a great battel man∣fully fought, slew the vsurping Bernred. The Nobles * 1.1018 of Mercia being rid of that Tyrant by the valour of Offa, gladly imbraced & receiued him for their King; who began his raigne with greater shew of glory, then any Mercian before him had done, being in number the eleuenth that had raigned in that Prouince, and is accounted the sixteenth Monarch of the Englishmen.

(3) His neighbour Kings foreseeing whereat his eye glanced, sollicited by Letters Charles the Great, * 1.1019 then King of France, against him, who wrote vnto Offa in their behalfe, and in threatning wise commanded him to desist. But he was so farre from fearing of his threats, that to his contempt he was the more eager.

(4) The first that felt his fury, were the Kentish∣men vnder Alrik their King, whose ouerthrow was the lesse dishonourable (saith Malmesbury) for that they * 1.1020 were vanquished by so great a Monarch. The place was Otteford, vnfortunate to them, where their King was slaine by the hand of Offa himselfe, their forces quite discomfited by the losse of this field, and their Coun∣try trodden downe vnder the feet of the Mercians.

(5) From South to North King Offa then mar∣ched, and beyond Humber made hauocke of all that stood against him; whence returning triumphant, he set vpon the West-Saxons, that had formerly ioined with his enemies: the place was Bensinton, which Ca∣stell King Offa tooke, with the discomfiture of King * 1.1021 Kenwolfe, and all his West-Saxons; who sought their reuenge by the aides of the Britaines in Wales. Their King (saith mine Author) was then Marmodius, * 1.1022 betwixt whom some intercourse by letters passed, & great presents to King Offa sent, onely to protract time, and to worke vpon aduantage.

(6) In this Interim of complements, for a further security, Offa caused a great ditch to be drawn betwixt * 1.1023 his and the Britaines borders, which worke began at Basingwark in Flint-shire, and North-wales; not farre from the mouth of Dee, and ranne along the moun∣taines * 1.1024 into the South, & ended neer Bristow at the fall of Wye; the tract whereof in many places is yet seene, and is called to this day Clawdh Offa, or Offaes ditch. Marmodius, who openly bare saile to this wind, and * 1.1025 seemed to winke at Offaes intent, secretly called a Counsell of State, wherein he declared how the Act thus in working, would soone proue the bane of li∣berty vnto their country, and the marke of dishonor to thēselues & posterity for euer; therefore his aduice was, that by some stratagem it might be staid by time.

(7) To this his Britaines consented, the truce yet lasting, and the feast of Christs Natiuity euen then at * 1.1026 hand; in the celebration wherof was held the greatest aduantage with least suspect, to put themselues in action against it; and secretly working the assistance of their allies the Saxons; both of the South, the West, and the North, vpon Saint Stephens day at night, sud∣dainely * 1.1027 brake downe the banke of this fortification, filling vp againe a great part of the Ditch, and in the morning most furiously rushed into Offa his Court,

putting a great number to the sword, who were more intentiue and regard full to the Feast, then to a∣ny * 1.1028 defence from their cruell and mercilesse swords.

(8) These wrongs King Offa delaied not to re∣quite, first making their hostages his vassals and slaues, and then with a great army entring Wales, in a bloody and sore-fought battaile hee ouercame Marmodius and all his associates in the field. Thus * 1.1029 then as a Conquerour ouer all his enemies trium∣phantly after ten yeares wars abroad returned he to his owne Kingdome, neither puffed with pride, nor suffring his title to be enlarged according to his con∣quests: yet he was not neglectiue of regall state, by the report of the Ligger booke of S. Albans, which saith, that in regard of his great prerogatiue, and not of * 1.1030 any pride, he first instituted and commanded, that euen in times of peace also, himselfe and his Successors in the Crowne, should as he passed through any Cities, haue Trumpetters going and sounding before them, to shew that the person of the King should breed both feare, and honor in all which either see him or heare him.

(9) Vnto King Charles of France he wrote in ex∣cuse of his warres, and desire of his amity; whom * 1.1031 Charles againe congratulated with letters of gladnes, both for his victories, and the Christian piety in his land embraced; desiring of Offa safe conduct for such his subiects, as came to his country in deuoti∣on to God, and withall sent to him, (for a present) a Booke of the Decrees of the second Councell of Nice. Which Synodall Booke (to vse Roger Houedens owne words) was sent vnto King Charles from Con∣stantinople, * 1.1032 wherin (alas for pity) by the vnanimous as∣sertion of three hundred Bishops or more congregated in that Councell, were decreed many things inconuenient, yea and quite contrary to the true faith; as is most especially the worshipping of Images, which the Church of God doth vtterly detest. Against which Booke * 1.1033 Albinus wrote an Epistle, admirably strengthned by the authority of the holy Scriptures, which together with the foresaid Booke him∣selfe presented in the name of the Princes & Bishops of this land, vnto the foresaid Charles King of France. Such in∣tercourse both for State and Church had this great Offa with that great Charles.

(10) His last warres (according to mine Author) were against the Danes, whom he forced to their ships * 1.1034 with the losse as well of their booties, as of many of their liues; and then (saith he) with the spirit of humi∣lity, both to recall himselfe from the trace of blood, and to the better establishment of his kingdomes peace, he ioined in affinity with his neighbour Prin∣ces, vpon whō he bestowed his daughters in mariage.

(11) And making Egfrid his sonne a King with himselfe, in great deuotion went to Rome, where * 1.1035 with the like zeale and example of Inas the West-Sax∣on, he made his Kingdome subiect to a Tribute, then called Peter-pence, afterwards Rom-Scot; besides other rich gifts that he gaue to Pope Hadrian for canoni∣zing Albane a Saint: in honour of whom, and in re∣pentance of his sinnes, at his returne (ouer against Verolanium, in the place then called Holmehurst, where that Protomartyr of Britaine, for the constant profession of Christ, lost his head) Offa built a mag∣nificke Monastery in Anno 795. indowing it with lands and rich reuenewes for the maintenance of an hundred Monks: vpon the first gate of entrance in stone standeth cut a Salteir Argent in a field azure, & is assigned by the iudicious in Heraldry to bee the Armes that he bare.

(12) Also in testimony of his repentance for the bloud hee had spilt, he gaue the tenth part of all his * 1.1036 goods vnto the Churchmen, and vnto the poore. At Bathe he also built another Monastery, and in War∣wickshire a Church, where the adioyning towne, from it and him, beareth the name Off-church.

(13) Finally, when hee had raigned thirty nine yeares, he died in peace at his towne Off-ley the nine * 1.1037 and twentieth of Iuly, the yeare of Christ Iesus, se∣uen hundred ninety foure: and with great solemnity his body was buried without the towne of Bedford in a Chapell standing vpon the Banke of Owse, which long since was swallowed vp by the same riuer: whose Tombe of lead (as it were some phantasticall thing) appeareth often (saith Rouse) to them that seek it not, * 1.1038 but to them that seeke it, is altogether inunible.

His wife.

[illustration]

(14) Quendrid the wife of King Offa hath not her parentage set down by any of our Writers: notwith∣standing, the recorder of this his life, saith that her * 1.1039 name was Drida, and that shee was the kinswoman to Charles the Great King of France, and by him for some offence banished his Realme, who arriuing vpon the coasts of England in a ship without tackle, was taken thence, and relieued by Offa, being then a young Nobleman, where shee changed her name * 1.1040 vnto Petronilla; with whom hee fell so farre in loue that hee made her his wife, contrary to the liking of his Parents. She was a woman of condition am∣bitious, couetous, and cruell, as appeared special∣ly in the death of Ethelbert, King of the East Angles, that came to her husbands Court to marry their daughter; whose port shee so much enuied, that shee procured him to bee treacherously murdered: the * 1.1041 manner the foresaid Author declared to be by his fall into a deepe pit, purposely made in his bed-chamber, and vnder his chaire of estate. That his head was cut off, and found by a blind-man, that the well which beares his name sprung vp presently in the place where it lay, that the bloud thereof gaue the blind man his sight, and that Dryda died in the same pit which she had digged for Ethelbert, I leaue to the credite of my author, and the liking of my Reader: but certaine it is that Gods vengeance followed this heynous fact within one yeare after the same was committed, by the death of her selfe, her husband, & * 1.1042 her Sonne, and the translation of that Kingdome from the Mercians to the West-Saxons.

An ancient Saxon coine inscribed with her name, CENEDRED REGIN. we haue found and here placed, which the iudicious suppose to be hers, and that not vnlikely, shee being so powerfull, proud and ambitious.

His Issue.

(15) Egfrid the onely sonne; and heire apparant * 1.1043 of King Offa and Queene Quendred, was the onely ioy and pride of his parents, who succeeded his Fa∣ther in his dominions and title, and in the same yeare also in the shades of death.

(16) Ethelburga, the eldest daughter of King Offa * 1.1044 and Queene Quendred was maried to Brithrick the sixeteenth King of the West-Saxons: shee was a Lady of passing beautie, but withall of an insolent dispo∣sition, hating all whom her husband loued, and practising the deathes of them that she hated. She departed into France after the poisoning of her husband, & for that her offence, a law was enacted to the great preiudice of the West-Saxons Queenes, as in the raigne of Brithrick we haue declared. * 1.1045

(17) Elfled, the second daughter of King Offa, & * 1.1046 Queene Quendred, by the report of Randulph Hig∣den the Monke of Chester, was the second wife to E∣thelred King of Northumberland, who in regard of her had put from him his former wife, for which his subiects rose in Armes against him, and slew him in the last yeare of King Offa his raigne.

(18) Elfrid the third and yongest daughter of * 1.1047 King Offa, and Queene Que•…•…dred, being promised in mariage, and assured vnto Ethelbert King of the East Angles, after the murther of her hoped Bridegroom, with great lamentations, and prophesying threats of reuenge, abandoned the society of men, and with∣drew herselfe vnto the monastery of Crowland in the

Fennes, where in contemplation and solitary sadnes she spent the remainder of her life; and yet there are that suppose her to bee the wife of King Kenwolfe, who was the founder of Winchcombe Monastery, & the successor of his brother Egfride.

(19) Fremund by Iohn Capgraue is supposed to be the sonne of King Offa, who, as he saith, was traite∣rously * 1.1048 murdered by one Oswy that enuied his victo∣ries which he gat against the Danes: his body was buried at Offchurch in Warwickshire, and neere vnto the Palace of Offa; alleadging for his Author one Burghard, who was at his death, and wrote his life; yet some there are that thinke him mistaken, for * 1.1049 that hee calleth him a young man, when as those warres hapned an hundred yeares after King Offa his life.

EGFRID THE TVVELFTH KING * 1.1050 OF THE MERCIANS, AND THE SE∣VENTEENTH * 1.1051 MONARCH OF THE ENGLISH. CHAPTER XXIX.

[illustration]

EGfrid, the sonne of King Offa, succeeded his father * 1.1052 in the Mercians Kingdom, wherof he was the twelfth in number, and in the Mo∣narchy of the Englishmen, ranked in account the se∣uenteenth. He began his raigne the thirteenth day of Iuly, in the yeer of Christ his natiuity, seuen hundred ninety foure. The first businesse that he vndertooke after hee came to the Crowne, was the restauration of antient priuiledges to the Church, which his father had depriued them * 1.1053 of; and great hope was conceiued of his further pro∣ceedings, had not God cut him off by vntimely death. For hauing raigned onely foure moneths, hee gaue place vnto nature, and to another successour, the sins of the people deseruing no such Prince: for whose cause, and his fathers great bloudshed, as Alcuine wrote to Osbertus, he was taken away so soone. * 1.1054

(2) He deceased the seuenth day of December, and in the first of his raigne, hauing had neither Wife nor * 1.1055 Issue that we reade of. His body with all due obse∣quies was honourably buried in the Abbey Church of S. Albans, of his fathers foundation.

KENVVOLFE THE THIRTEENTH * 1.1056 * 1.1057 KING OF THE MERCIANS, AND THE EIGHTEENTH MONARCH OF THE ENGLISHMEN. CHAPTER XXX.

[illustration]

KEnwolfe, not so neere in bloud to king Egfryd, as * 1.1058 he was like him in all ver∣tuous conditions, by him was ordained to succeed in his Dominions, where∣by hee became the thir∣teenth King of the Mer∣cians, and the eighteenth Monarch of the English∣men, in the yeere of our Lord seuen hundred ninety seuen. At home he was an example of piety, peace, and religion, & set the scale of Iustice without respect * 1.1059 to all alike; abroad temperate; humble; and courte∣ous, without vain ostentation or ambitious conceits; in warres hee was stout and victorious; in peace stu∣dious to enrich his subiects: briefly, at all times so carrying himselfe, that enuie could not touch him with her tongue.

(2) Whether vpon a new quarrell begun, or the old retained, (as inheritable to the Mercians against those of Kent) I cannot say; but true it is, that in the entrance of his raigne, he entred that Prouince with a great host of men, and in a fore fought field discom∣fited the Kentish, and carried away prisoner their King, whose sirname was Pren. His kingdome hee gaue to Cuthred, and kept him captiue in Mercia, to * 1.1060 his great griefe, and his subiects dishonour.

(3) But Kenwolfe in peace, & minding the works of true piety, gaue himself to the building of a good∣ly * 1.1061 Church at Winchcombe in Glocestershire; where vpō the day of dedication in the presence of Cuthred (as∣signed his Viceroy in Kent) thirteene Bishops, ten Dukes, many Nobles, and a great concourse of peo∣ple, he led Pren this Kentish captiue vp to the high Al∣tar, and there without either his entreaty, or ransome for Redemption, released and set him free; shewing thereby his deuotion to God, and the heroicall parts of a magnanimous Prince.

(4) His raigne was twenty two yeares, and death in Anno eight hundred nineteene, beeing solemnely * 1.1062 buried in the Church of the Monastery at Winchcombe aforesaid which himselfe had founded.

His Wife.

(5) Elfryd, the wife of King Kenwolfe, hath not her parentage certainely reported by any of our Hi∣storians; * 1.1063 yet some later vpon a likelihood of her name, the place and time agreeing; haue thought her to be the daughter of Off•…•…, affianced to King Ethel∣bert, as hath beene said: but in these obscurities▪ con∣iecture may wander astray.

His Children.

(6) Kenelm the sonne of King Kenwolfe, and of Queene Elfryde his wife, was very yong at his fathers death, and succeeded in the Mercians Kingdom, but not in the Monarchy of the English; King Egbert the West-Saxon King then growne too great. And in the same yeare that he beganne his raigne, by the treason of his vnnaturall sister hee was murthered, and first * 1.1064 obscurely buried, but afterwards solemnly remoued and reposed neere to his Father in the Monastery of Winchcombe, as in the Mercian Kings successions wee * 1.1065 haue said.

(7) Quendred the eldest daughter of King Ken-Wolfe, and Lady Elfryd his Queene, after the decease * 1.1066 of her father▪ ambitiously aspiring to compasse the sway of the Mercian Kingdome wholy to her selfe, wickedly conspired the death of her brother King Kenelme, which was traiterously acted by Askebert her instrument, who had the charge of him: but the same turning to her reproch; for very shame of so damnable a deed, shee within short time after ended her life, but not her ignominie.

(8) 〈◊〉〈◊〉, the yonger daughter of King Ken∣wolfe, and of Queene Elfryd, hath not been so famous * 1.1067 to posterity as her sister Quendred was for her infa∣mous Act; notwithstanding, she may reasonably be supposed to haue lead a better life, and to haue di∣ed a better death; especially of vs, who find her no•…•… s•…•…ained with any aspersion of misdeseruing.

EGBERT THE EIGHTEENTH KING * 1.1068 * 1.1069 OF THE WEST-SAXONS, THE NINE∣TEENTH, BVT FIRST SOLE AND ABSO∣LVTE MONARCH OF THE ENGLISH-MEN, HIS ACTS, WIFE, AND ISSVE. CHAPTER XXXI.

[illustration]

THe Saxon Heptarchy draw∣ing now to a period, the spring of an entire Mo∣narchie * 1.1070 began to shew it selfe, and the glory of the Englishmen more cleere∣ly to arise: for thongh they had weakned each other by their own wars, yet stood their power strong in the possession of the whole, and the ouer∣borne Britaines held still at the worst.

(2) But such is the dispose of the sole disposer of Empires, that they haue their risings, their fuls, and their fals: neuer staying in one and the same point, neither entailed to one and the same Nation, how strong, politicke or populous soeuer. The proofe whereof is apparant in all the Kingdomes of the earth, and this of ours as mutable as any; whose change of State vnto, and in, this seuen-fold Gouern∣ment * 1.1071 hath hitherto beene seene: the seuerall Kings thereof long contending to branch their own foun∣taines furthest and fairest, lastly let them fall into one streame, which so meeting, made a more fa∣mous confluence in this Monarchy, then the seauen heads of Nilus in the Egyptian Sea.

(3) Formerly, the Kentish, South-Saxons, East-Angles, Northumbrians, and the Mercians, through no lesse then eight descents had worne the Emperiall Diademe, whose rayes shone now so bright in the West-Saxons eyes, that they againe sought to reestate * 1.1072 themselues in so glorious a possession. For, where∣as Brightrik was possessed and contented with the West-Saxon Crowne, neither that worne without iealousie and feare; yet others of the bloud royall from Cherdik raised the wings of their soaring thoughts much higher, among whom Egbert was one, neither the last nor the least in the opinion of the people, or suspect of his Prince.

(4) This Egbert hauing commaund of some part of that Prouince, so carried himselfe, that his fame grew fearefull to Brightrik the King, and hatefull to the enuious Ethelburg his most proud Queene, by * 1.1073 whom he was enforced first to secure himselfe with the Mercian Offa; and lastly constrained to flie in∣to France: where vnder Charles the Great, he turned his aduersity into an occasion of his valour, by ser∣uing in his warres, and learned by his politicke go∣uernment, how to rule a quiet or disturbed State.

(5) But King Brightriks death acted, and his Queene the contriuer banished, Egbert is solicited to the wearing of the West-Saxon crowne, where hee be∣came the eighteenth King in number, and nineteene yeares after the nineteenth Monarch of the English∣men; entring his raigne the yeare of Christ Iesus, eight hundreth, being the same yeare that Charles * 1.1074 was made Emperour of the West, and Conwall then ruling ouer the Scots.

(6) His first warres were against the Cornish, and their associats the Welsh, both of them a remnant of the old Britaines, who had beene oftentimes van∣quished, but neuer would seeme to be subdued, and for foureteene yeares continuance held side against Egbert; which their resistance so prouoked his furie that hee enacted a most seuere law against them, commanding that no Britaine should presume to passe ouer great Offaes ditch, and present death to * 1.1075 them that durst set foot vpon any English ground. Their great Caer-legion (now West-chester) hee tooke from them, and at London from their West-gate cast downe the brasen Image of Cadwallo there set vp by the Britaines for a terrour to the Saxons, as we haue said. * 1.1076

(7) His warres thus prospering, his puissance grew dreadfull, and his glory much enuied at by the other Princes, whereof Bernulfe of Mercia was the first attempter that sought to plucke the wing of this west-Saxon Eagle, but thereby wrought his owne downefall; for Egbert ioyning battaile with him at Ellenden ouerthrew his power, and in that quarrell * 1.1077 Bernulfe was lastly slaine.

(8) Kent was the next, and fairest marke in Eg∣berts

〈◊〉〈◊〉, whose 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not gratious in his own subiects * 1.1078 •…•…ight, was the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to be subdued; him he chased o∣uer Thamisis, and added not onely that Countie, but also Sussex and Surrey, for Prouinces vnto his owne Kingdome: next were the East-Saxons, the East-Angles, and in truth all, both vpon the North, and the South of Humber gaue him obedience; so that the bounds of his Dominion were greatly enlarged, and his royall authority by those seuerall Kings ac∣knowledged.

(9) Then hee to confirme his estate called an as∣sembly vnto the City Winchester, where causing him∣selfe to bee solemnly crowned, became the first Sax∣ons absolute Monarch of the whole Iland, so redu∣cing * 1.1079 the Monarchiall title from the Mercians to the West-Saxons, in whose Progeny it continued with∣out reuersement vntill the Danes first got, and againe lost it, and the Saxons issue failing, the same fell to the Normans Duke by Conquest, as in continuance of our history, Christ assisting, shall be seene.

(10) His Coronation was at Winchester, and en∣trance in the yeare of Grace, eight hundred and nine∣teene, * 1.1080 at which time by his Edict in that City da∣ted, he caused all the South of the Iland to bee cal∣led England, according to the Angles, of whom him∣selfe came, and promising great felicity to his State and Successors, was therein not so happy as in his affaires he had beene fortunate.

(11) For those Saxons that by warre and blood, had made themselues Lords of other mens rights, and of one Kingdome no lesse then seuen, are now endangered to bee made seruants vnto subiection, and by warre and bloud their seuen-fold Kingdome brought againe vnto one; neither yet freed from the reuenge of bloodie violence: for that a fierce and cruell nation (the Danes) ceased not con∣tinually to inuade them, till they had subdued and set the crowne thereof vpon their owne heads, who in King Brightrick dayes, and about the yeere seuen * 1.1081 hundred eighty seuen, hauing with three vessels lan∣ded in the West of England, at three seuerall times, in so many seuerall places, sought the ruine of the land in the raigne of this Egbert.

(12) The first was in his thirty third yeare, when with thirty fiue ships they landed at Lindisferne vp∣on * 1.1082 the North of England, where they were met and fought with at Carham, but with such losse to the English, that two chiefe Captaines, Dudda and Os∣mond, two Bishops, Herefrid of Winchester, and Vig∣ferd of Shirborne, with many Souldiers were there∣in slaine, King Egbert himselfe hardly escaping by the couert of the night.

(13) Their second attempt was in the second yeare following, when in West-Wales they landed, vn∣to whom the Britaines there ioyned, and in the place called Hengistenton abode the King in field, where Egbert with prosperous fortune vanquished and slew both the Danes and the Welsh.

(14) The third place of their arriuage was Shee∣pie in Kent, which Iland they sacked, and with much a doe were expelled in the last of King Egberts raign, and but the new beginning of their sauage cruelties.

(15) This Egbert by Florentius of Worcester is said to be the sonne of Alkemund, who was the sonne of Eafa, and he the sonne of Eoppa, the sonne of Ingils, the brother of Ine, the eleuenth King of the West-Saxons, and both of them the sonnes of Kenred, des∣cended from Cherdik the first King of that Prouince: he was but •…•…ow o•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊〉 strong of •…•…mme, very valiant, 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 skilfull souldier, and as great in 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 in warre; he raigned ouer the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 * 1.1083 of thirty six yeares and seuen 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the whole Iland seuenteene: his d•…•…th 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 fourth day of February, and yeare of Chr•…•…s •…•…∣nation eight hundred thirty six.

(16) His bodie was with all 〈◊〉〈◊〉 solemnly buried at Winchester, and his bones sin•…•… taken vp •…•…∣maine with others in that Cities Cathedral 〈◊〉〈◊〉, bestowed in Chests set vpon the Wall of each 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Quier, with these verses neither ancient, nor 〈◊〉〈◊〉, thereon inscribed:

Hic Rex Egbertus pausat cum Rege Kenulpho, Nobis egregia munera vterque tulit.

His wife.

(17) Redburg, the wife of King Egbert, was the first of the West-Saxons, that by their new made law * 1.1084 was depriued of title, authority, or place of a Queene; notwithstanding it seemeth shee bare a great stroke with her husband, in that Iohn B•…•…uer the Monke of Westminster reporteth, that shee pro∣cured a law to be made against the Britains, the pe∣nalty whereof was present death for any of them to set footing within the realme of England, or to passe the Ditch that King Offa had made.

His Issue.

(18) Ethelwolfe, the eldest sonne of King Eg∣bert; * 1.1085 and Lady Redburg his wife, was in his child∣hood committed to the charge of Helmestan 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Winchester, vnder whom hee was carefully tray∣ned vp in learning and vertue, who comming to mans estate proued also a perfect Souldier, and had 〈◊〉〈◊〉 leading of his fathers power against Baldred King 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Kent, whom he forced to flie ouer the Thamisis, and to abandon his Kingdome, which he subdued to the subiection of his father, and afterwards succeeded him in the Monarchy of the Englishmen.

(19) Ethelstane, the younger sonne of King Eg∣bert, * 1.1086 and of the Lady Redburg his wife, was by his father deputed King ouer the Kentishmen, the South-Saxons, and the East-Saxons after hee had brought them vnto his subiection; which people hee most valiantly defended against the inuasions of the Danes, defeating their forces both by sea and land, and at Sandwich gaue them a most memorable ouerthrow, in the yeare of our Lord eight hundred fifty one, be∣ing the sixteenth of his brother King Ethelwolfes raigne; in whose time hee deceased, and is reported to haue left a sonne named Ostride, who by reason of his minority succeeded not in his fathers dominions, which Ethelbert the second sonne of King Ethelwolfe entred vpon, and being Monarch reunited these king∣domes inseparably vnto the Monarchy.

(20) Edgith, commonly called Saint Edith the * 1.1087 daughter of King Egbert, was in her childhood by her brother Ethelwolfe committed to the charge and bringing vp of a Lady in Ireland, greatly renowmed for her holinesse of life, named Modewine, by whom she was afterwards recommended to a Disciplesse of the said Lady, named Athea, and made Gouernesse of a Monastery of the Ladies, by her planted in a place which the King her brother had giuen her, called Pollesworth, situated in Arden in the north verge of the County of Warwicke, wherein she liued, died, and was honourably buried, and the place in regard of her afterwards called Saint Ediths of Pollesworth.

ETHELVVOLFE THE NINTEENTH * 1.1088 * 1.1089 KING OF THE VVEST-SAXONS, AND THE TWENTIETH MONARCH OF THE ENG∣LISHMEN: HIS WARRES, ACTS, WIVES, AND CHILDREN. CHAPTER XXXII.

[illustration]

EThelwolfe, the eldest sonne * 1.1090 of King Egbert, commit∣ted in his youth to the care of Helmestan Bishop of Winchester; and by him vnto Swithun a famous learned Monke of that time, tooke such a liking vnto the quiet and solita∣rie life, (onely enioyed by men of Religion, all other degrees molested to with∣stand the intruding Danes) that he vndertooke the Monkish vow and profession, and was made Dea∣con; shortly after which degree taken, Helmestan di∣ed, in whose place Prince Ethelwolfe was consecrated, as Roger Houeden affirmeth, or at least elected, (as * 1.1091 Iohn Brampton Abbat of Iaruaux writeth) Bishop of Winchester. But the death of his Father King Eg∣bert immediately following, by great intreaty of the * 1.1092 Nobles, and partly by constraint of the Clergy, hee was made King, and was by the authority of Pope Gregory the fourth, whose creature in both professions he was, absolued and discharged of his vowes.

(2) He entered his Monarchy the fourth day of February in the yeare of Christs Incarnation, eight * 1.1093 hundred thirty seuen, and was the nineteenth King of the West-Saxons, and the twentieth Monarch of the Englishmen. His Bishopricke he gaue vnto Swithun his Tutor, and according to his place, combined all his powers to withstand the dangerous Danes, that attempted the vtter subuersion of his faire land: whose fift inuasion in his first yeare happened; which drew the Saxons ciuill warres vnto a constrained peace, hauing more then they could well doe to de∣fend their liues from their slaughtering swords, or to saue their vniustly gotten land from the spoiles of those common enemies; who, not like Conquerors, but destroying Caterpillers, left nothing vndeuou∣red wheresoeuer they came, and had now begunne their mercilesse depopulations in diuers places at once, so that the distracted English were to seeke where was most need first to withstand.

(3) At Hampton & Portesmouth many of these Nor∣way * 1.1094 Pirates had entred; at Hampton with their ouer∣throw, at Portesmouth with victory; and the same time at Carrum, a Troupe of these Danes discomfited King Ethelwolfes power. The next yeare at Merse∣ware, Lindsey, in East-Angle, and Kent, they did * 1.1095 much mischiefe, and harried all the Country before them: yet in his tenth yeare at Pedredesmouth, the Sommerset and Dorsetshire men gaue them a memo∣rable ouerthrow, vnder the conduct of Earle En∣wulfe, Bishop Adelstan, and Osred their captaines.

(4) But in the sixteenth yeare of this King, the great Planet Mars seemed to praedominate continu∣ally, and Fortune to cast the chance of victory euer on his side: for two hundred and fifty ships, (some reckon a hundred more) entred into Thamesis mouth * 1.1096 and set on shore an infinite number of these destroy∣ing Danes. London and Canterbury they had sacked and left wast, had pierced into Mercia, and chased Berthulfe their King out of his Country, and now in Southery had pitched their battle, as able and reso∣lute to abide all the power of the English, whither King Ethelwolfe with his sonne prince Ethelbald re∣paired, and tooke the field at the place called Ocley; wherein after a long and sore fight, the victory fell to the English, with such slaughter of these Norway in∣uaders, as is incredible to report, and the same held as great and famous, as euer had hapned in the land before.

(5) With the like successe his Brother Athelstan King of Kent, fought with the Danes at Sandwich, where chasing them to sea, tooke nine of their ships; and in Deuonshire, Earle Ceorle at Winleshore so ouerthrew their whole power, that in despaire they withdrew themselues into the Ile of Thanet, where they made their abode all the winter season; and if destiny had not withstood the English, the Danes had beene expulsed for euer. But the Saxons

seeming cleared of this common enemy, fell to their wonted quarrels with the euer depressed Britaines, against whom Burthred the M•…•…rcian obtained the as∣sistance of King Ethelwolfe in his eighteenth yeare, * 1.1097 whose daughter Ethelswith hee had obtained in ma∣riage; whereby for a while was encreased the fame and power of that valiant, but vnfortunate King.

(6) In this State the affaires of the land stood vn∣to * 1.1098 the nineteenth yeare of King Ethelwolfes raigne, who now remembring his former Ecclesiasticke pro∣fession, ordained that Tithes and Lands due to holy Church should bee free from all Tributes or Regall seruices; and in great deuotion went himselfe to Rome, where hee was both honourably receiued, and entertained the space of a whole yeare; in which time hee new built the English Schoole, that Offa the Mer∣cian before had there founded, and lately was fi∣red, bearing the name of Thomas the Holy; confir∣ming also his Grant of Peter pence, and further co∣uenanting in lieu of his kind entertainement to pay yeerely three hundred markes to Rome, thus to bee emploied; one hundred to Saint Peters Church, an * 1.1099 other hundred to Saint Pauls Light, and the third to the Pope: the Bride that euermore must be kissed and largely paid.

(7) His returne from Rome was through France, and being a Widower, hee there married Iudith the most beautifull daughter of Charles the Bald then Emperour; in honour of whom in his owne Court, he euer placed her in a Chaire of Estate, with all o∣ther maiesticall complements of a Queene, contrary to the law of the West-Saxons for Ethelburgaes offence, formerly made. Which his doing so disliked the No∣bles, that Prince Ethelbald his eldest Sonne, Adelstan Bishop of Shirborne, and Enwulfe Earle of Somerset, rose vp rebelliously in Armes and sought to depose him; yet by mediation of friends, the matter came to a comprimize, and the land to be diuided betwixt * 1.1100 the Father and Sonne, but with such partiality that the better part west-ward was allotted to Ethelbald: which vnequality gaue great suspition, that this re∣uolt was rather grounded vpon ambition, then any inclination they had for the defence of their lawes, which commonly is the pretence and vaile for all disloiall attempts of seditious subiects against their soueraigne Lords.

(8) Howsoeuer it was, long after this he liued not, but left his Monarchy vnto his eldest sonne Ethel∣bald: and by will appointed. Ethelbert his second, to be King of Kent and Essex, which countries he had conquered. He raigned twenty yeares, one mo∣neth, and nine dayes, and deceased at a place cal∣led * 1.1101 Stamrige, the thirteenth day of Ianuary, in the yeare of our Lord, eight hundred fifty seauen, be∣ing the twenty one of his Raign. His body was first buried at the place of his decease, and afterwards re∣moued into the Cathedrall Church at Winchester.

His wiues.

(9) Osburg, the first wife of King Ethelwolfe, was * 1.1102 the daughter of a Nobleman named Oslake, who had the office of Great Butler of England, and was descen∣ded of the stocke of Stuffe and Withgar two bre∣thren, being noblemē of the people called Iutes, who were the first Princes of the Ile of Wight, and Ne∣phewes to Cherdik, and cosen germans to Kenrik the first and second Kings of the West-Saxons, and the third and fourth Monarchs of the Englishmen. She was the second Kings wife that was debarred of the title and place of Queene. Shee deceased three years before the King her husband, in the nineteenth yeare of his raigne, being the yeare of Christs Na∣tiuity eight hundred fifty fiue.

(10) Iudith his second wife, was the daughter of Charles the Emperour, and King of Fra•…•…e, as wee * 1.1103 haue said: her Mother was Queene 〈◊〉〈◊〉, the daughter of Vodon Earle of Orl•…•…ance. She was a La∣dy of passing beauty, and marryed to this King in France; and when she came into England was recei∣ued with the title and place of a Queene, in abolish∣ment of the peruerse law of the VVest-Saxons, made against the Kings VViues, as before was touched. She was his wife three yeares, and suruiued him without any issue.

His Issue.

(11) Ethelbald, the eldest sonne of King Ethelwolfe, and of Lady Osburg his first wife, was brought vp in * 1.1104 his youth in the exercise of warre, and serued vnder his Father in the great victory obtained against the Danes at Ocley in Surrey, in the yeare eight hundred fifty one: afterwards hee turned his force against his Father; and at his returne from Rome, practised to defeat him of his Kingdome, and was ready to haue giuen him battaile, had not his Father parted with him his Dominion.

(12) Ethelbert, the second son of King Ethelwolfe * 1.1105 and Lady Osburg his first wife, was in the life time of his Father, after the decease of his vncle Ethelstan, appointed and placed his Successor in his Kingdome ouer the South-Saxons, the Kentish, and the East-Sax∣ons, without any mention or meaning (as it seemeth,) that hee should intermeddle further with any other part of England. Notwithstanding after the death of his brother Ethelbald, it was generally holden of all men for law, equity, and reason, that he should succeed him in the Monarchy: and so he did, with the consent of his Brethren, and without resistance, or contradiction of any other.

(13) Ethelred the third sonne of King Ethelwolfe, * 1.1106 and Lady Osburg his first wife, had by the dispo∣sition of his Father in his last will, the one halfe of his Fathers proper inheritance; which was all such land as King Egbert his Grandfather had before hee was King, and was no part of the Demaines of the Kingdome, and this was diuided betwixt him and his brother Elfred, as the kingdome was betweene their elder Brethren Ethelbald and Ethelbert: with an intent that this Ethelred should succeed his brother Ethelbald in the kingdome of the West-Saxons; not∣withstanding, his brother Ethelbert, after the de∣cease of King Ethelbald, entred into the other part, adioining it to his former kingdome, and was king of the whole, and after left it entire to this Ethelred, who succeeded him in the Monarchy.

(14) Elfred, the fourth sonne of King Ethelwolfe and of Lady Osburg his first wife, was borne at Wan∣tage * 1.1107 in Barkeshire, in the yeare of our Lord God, eight hundred forty nine; and the thirteenth of his fathers raign. Being a child of fiue yeeres old, he was sent very honourably attended to the City of Rome, where Leo the fourth then Bishoppe confirmed him, was his Godfather at the confirmation, and annointed him to the expectation of a kingdome: growne in yeares, hee grew so in discretion, magnanimity and fauour of all men, that in the successiue raignes of his three elder Brethren, he ruled as a Vice-roy or se∣condary king vnder euery of them, and after them at the last succeeded in the English Monarchy.

(15) Ethelfwith, the daughter of King Ethelwolfe * 1.1108 and Lady Osburg, was maried to Burthred the twen∣tieth King of Mercia, which mariage was solemnized at the towne of Chippinham in Wiltshire, in the mo∣neth of Aprill, and yeare of Christs Natiuity eight hundred thirty fiue, and the fifteenth of her fathers raigne: but within twenty two years after, they were both forced by the Danes to abandon their kingdom, and departed into Italy, where the King died the same yeare in the English Colledge at Rome: shee liued af∣ter him fifteene yeares in the habite of a N•…•…ne, at the City of Pad•…•…a, and there died, and was honou∣rably buried in the yeare of our Lord God eight hun∣dred eighty nine, which was the eighteenth yeare of her brother King Elfreds raigne.

(16) Ne•…•…te, supposed by Iohn Capgra•…•…e the Legend writer, to be the sonne of King Ethelwolfe, was in his * 1.1109 youth brought vp at Glastenbery vnder Dunstan, who was afterward Arthbishop of Ca•…•…terbury. He proued a man of great learning, and was one of the first Rea∣ders of Diuinity in the Vniuersity of Oxford, at the

foundation, or as some will haue it, the restauration thereof by King Elfred; hee planted a Monastery in Cornwall, whereunto hee vsed for deuotion and studious meditations often to withdraw himselfe, which of his abode there, was afterward called Neotestoke, and when he was dead, his body was with great honour enterred in the County of Hunting∣don, at a place then called Anulfesbery, and afterward in regard of his enterment, Saint Neotes, and now * 1.1110 Saint Needes.

ETHELBALD THE TVVENTIETH * 1.1111 * 1.1112 KING OF THE VVEST-SAXONS, AND THE TWENTIE ONE MONARCH OF THE ENGLISHMEN, HIS ACTS AND RAIGNE. CHAPTER XXXIII.

[illustration]

EThelbald, the eldest sonne of king Ethelwolfe, hauing had * 1.1113 part of the kingdome in the life time of his Father, after his death entred vp∣on the whole, and was the twentieth King of the West Saxons, and the twenty one Monarch of the English∣men, beginning his raigne in the yeere of Christs incarnation eight hundred fif∣tie seuen.

(2) His youth he had spent in the exercise of war, * 1.1114 hauing made proofe of valour in his seruice against the Danes in many battels; and likewise attempted (though not in so good a cause) to haue fought a∣gainst his owne father. Which his assaies, as they see∣med violent and vnnaturall, yet being in the quar∣rell of the West-Saxons law, enacted in preiudice of their Queenes, he was both sided and approued, as hath been said.

(3) But howsoeuer vnwilling he was this faire Queene should sit in state by his fathers side, yet con∣trary to all lawes either of God or man, hee laid her * 1.1115 by his owne, and by nuptiall rites, brought her to his sinfull and incestuous bed. Which act, though foule enough, some haue made worse, in reporting his Wife to be his owne Mother, whom King Ethelwolfe kept for his Concubine. And surely this his sin was not long vnpunished by the shortnesse of his raigne and life, leauing no other memory of his acts, besides this foule blot to his faire name. * 1.1116

(4) His raigne was onely two yeeres and an halfe, and death chanced vpon the twentieth day of De∣cember, the yeere of Christs assuming our flesh, eight hundred sixtie. His body was first buried at Sh•…•…rburne in the County of Dorset, where at that time was the Cathedrall Church and Episcopall See; but after∣wards was remoued and enterred at Salesbury, in the County of Wiltshire.

His Wife.

(5) Iudith, the Wife of King Ethelbald, was the wi∣dow of his owne Father, a most vnlawfull matrimo∣nie contracted against all law of God or of nature; * 1.1117 which being both dissolued and punished by the ha∣stie death of the King, and she returning towards her father and Country in Flanders, was rauished by Bald∣win the Forester of Arden in France, and by him for∣cibly kept vntill shee consented to become his wife, who in regard of that marriage, when he was recon∣ciled to the Emperor Charles her Father, was by him created the first Earle of Flanders, by whom she had issue Baldwin the second, who espoused Lady Elfrid, the youngest daughter of Elfred King of England, from whom, through fiue descents lineally, Ma•…•…d Queene of England, Wife to William the Conquerour descended, and from her, all our Norman English Kings vnto this day.

ETHELBERT THE TVVENTIETH * 1.1118 * 1.1119 ONE KING OF THE VVEST-SAXONS, AND THE TWO AND TWENTIETH MONARCH OF THE ENGLISHMEN: HIS RAIGNE AND ISSVES. CHAPTER XXXIIII.

[illustration]

EThelbert, the second sonne of King Ethelwolfe, who had succeeded his Vnckle * 1.1120 Ethelstan in the kingdome of the South-Saxons, Ken∣tish, and East-Saxons, and for fiue yeeres continu∣ance, ruled those Coun∣tries with great equity and valour, after the decease of his brother Ethelbald, suc∣ceeded him also both in the West-Saxons kingdome, and the whole Lands Monarchie: whereof he was the one and twentieth King, and the two and twen∣tieth Monarch.

(2) His raigne began in the yeere after Christs natiuity, eight hundred and sixtie, and was disquieted from first to last by the inuasions of the bloudy Danes. For presently after his coronation, these com∣mon enemies entred the Land, ruinating all be∣fore them vnto the Citie Winchester, which they sac∣ked, * 1.1121 and left it troden vnder their destroying feete, euen to the ground. But in their returne were en∣countred by the Barkshire-men, vnder the leading of Osrick, Earle of Hampton, by whom they were van∣quished, the prey recouered, and a great number of those Infidels slaine.

(3) In his first yeere also a nauie of Danes and Normans entred into the Iland Tanet, and began their wonted spoiles among those people: whereupon the Kentish compounded their peace for a great sum of * 1.1122 money giuen. Notwithstanding these miscreants, which knew not God, gaue little regard to their pro∣mised couenants, and before the daies of truce were expired, like a sudden floud ouer-bare all before them. These their irruptions to withstand, the Ken∣tish then prepared, rather aduenturing themselues vpon the chance of battell, then to rest vpon a see∣ming truce, wherein their destruction was too appa∣rant, and forthwith assembling all the powers toge∣ther, set vpon those truce-breakers, and with much slaughter forced them at length out of their Coun∣try.

(4) But the date of King Ethelberts life being ex∣pired, hee yeelded his body to the course of nature, * 1.1123 and his Kingdomes to his next Brother, after he had raigned ouer the Kentish, South, and East-Saxons, the terme of ten yeeres, and had sate Monarch of the whole onely fiue. He died the yeere of grace eight hundred sixty six, and was honourably buried in the Cathedrall Church of Shirburne in Dorset-shire, by his brother King Ethelbald.

Hi•…•… supposed Issue.

(5) Athelm, the brothers sonne of King Elfred, mentioned in the last will and testament of the same * 1.1124 King, seemeth by all likelihood to be the eldest son of this King Ethelbert, elder brother to the same King Elfred, although hee succeeded not his father in his Kingdome. For in those daies, if the Kings sonne were vnder age, the succession went to the next brother; and if that brother left his sonne at full age, then it went vnto him; otherwise it reuerted to the elder brothers sonne.

(6) Ethelwald, surnamed Clit•…•…, which is a word of addition giuen to all the Saxon Kings sonnes of Eng∣land, * 1.1125 is mentioned in King Elfreds wil to be his bro∣thers sonne, and is most likely to be the sonne of this King Ethelbert, he prooued a most deadly enemy to his cosen King Edward, the sonne of King Elfrid his Vncle, destroying his townes in Dorset-shire, and be∣ing driuen out of England, ioined himselfe with the Danes, who made him their King in Northumberland, * 1.1126 and vnder his leading, greeuously assailed the Coun∣tries of the East-Saxons, East-Angles, and Mercians, wherein hee was lastly slaine, the yeere of our Lord nine hundred and fiue, being the fourth of King Ed∣ward his cosen-germanes raigne.

ETHELRED THE TVVO AND * 1.1127 * 1.1128 TVVENTIETH KING OF THE WEST-SAXONS, AND THE TWENTY THIRD MO∣NARCH OF THE ENGLISH-MEN, HIS ACTS, AND ISSVE. CHAPTER XXXV.

[illustration]

EThelred, the third sonne of King Ethelwolfe, after the * 1.1129 decease of his Brother suc∣ceeded him in his Domi∣nions, and was in num∣ber the two and twen∣tieth King of the West-Saxons, and the twenty third Monarch of the Englishmen; he beganne his raigne in the yeare of our saluation eight hun∣dred sixty and six, and for the time that hee was King, raigned in continuall warres against the Pagan Danes, whose numbers now were greater, and foo∣ting surer in this land then formerly had beene.

(2) In the first yeare of his raigne, there arriued vpon the English coasts a huge Army of these Danes, * 1.1130 whereof Hungar and Hubba, men of incredible strength and cruelty, were the Captaines: These wintred in East Anglia, made truce with the inha∣bitants vpon certaine conditions, and forbare a time from their wonted rauening.

(3) But in the next yeare the King being busied to put backe a fresh inrode of Danes in the South and West of the Iland then entred; these deuourers tooke aduantage vpon the ciuil broiles commenced among the Northumbrians, who in these turmoiled times sought to withdraw their subiections from the West Saxons, and to set vp Kings againe of their owne. The foresaid Captaines Hungar and Hubba, hauing * 1.1131 in time of their truce strengthned themselues with new supplies of aid, marched further into the North, where finding the people vnprouided of strength, and the two Kings Osbright and Ella of reconciled enemies to be made no sure friends, they harried the Country before them, and entring Yorke slew the two Kings, with infinit number of the English; which City they consumed with fire, and burnt therein all those that had fled thither for succour.

(4) The State thus standing, and their forces en∣creasing euery day, brought new feares vpon the in∣habitants, when euery late victory with increase of Captiues and rich spoiles, ministred occasion & meanes of some other conquest to follow; which these Pagans so pursued, till lastly they set a substi∣tute King to raigne vnder them, ouer all the North Borders beyond the riuer Tyne; and so retiring them∣selues out of Northumberland into Mercia, came to Nottingham, which City they wanne, and therein wintred the third of King Ethelreds raigne, who with the aid of Burthred the Mercian King, constrained * 1.1132 the Danes to sue for peace, and a safe departure, yeel∣ding the City, and againe retyring themselues ouer Tyne, remained in Yorke all the next winter.

(5) The Summers opportunity approching, * 1.1133 their wonted desire for spoile was with it encreased, and to cut off long trauell these Danes by boates passed Humber, where Hungar and Hubba beganne with fire and sword to lay all wast before them, spa∣ring neither Person, sexe nor age. The places respe∣cted for publike good, and sacred Temples con∣secrated onely to God, which all other Tyrants haue forborne, these sauage men as the earths destroiers cast downe and trampled vnder their prophane feete: among which for note were the goodly Mo∣nasteries of Bradney, Crowland, Peterborow, Ely, and Huntington, all laid in leuell with the ground, and their Votaries, aswell the Nunnes as the Monkes, murthered with their vnhumane and mercilesse swords; to auoid whose barbarous pollutions, the chast Nunnes of Coldingham defo•…•…ed themselues to their lasciuious eyes, by cutting off their vpper lips and noses; but to euerlasting remembrance they * 1.1134 remain most faire, and well beseeming faces of pure Virgins.

(6) These Pagans piercing further into the land, came into the territories of the East-Angles, wherein holy Edmund raigned King, whose Martyrdome in most cruell manner they wrought, he constantly cal∣ling vpon the name of Christ, whereof wee haue al∣ready

spoken, and shall bee occasioned hereafter to speake.

(7) But in the last yeare of this Kings raign, their raging power was most great: for with a new sup∣ply two Danish Kings Sreeg, and Halden, entred in∣to West-Saxia, and at Reading the Kings towne in∣trenched themselues: these forraging the Coun∣try, were encountred with at Engl•…•…field by Ethelwolfe Earle of Barkeshire, and his men, who in skirmish slew one of their leaders; and chased the rest backe to their Trench.

(8) These Danes fearing lest delaies would proue dangerous, and knowing that the first successe is commonly seconded with further courage of hope; foure dayes after shewed themselues in field rea∣dy to fight: their hoast they diuided into two bat∣talians; whereof the one was guided by two of their Kings and certaine Earles were leaders of the o∣ther; which when the English perceiued, they also * 1.1135 diuided theirs, whereof King Ethelred had the lea∣ding of the first, and Elfred his brother was Gene∣rall of the second; the place was Assendon, where their Tents were pitched, and the day approached for battaile: King Ethelred in his Tent staid so long in praiers that Elfred vpon a forward courage hasted to encounter the enemy, and that with a most fierce and sharpe fight, wherein hauing spent the most of their strengthes; and ready to decline, and giue backe: Ethelred manfully entred the battaile, and so secon∣ded his brother, and ouer-tyred Souldiers, that hee * 1.1136 made way by dint of his sword through the thickest of their almost-conquering enemies, and with such losse of the Danish bloud, drawne from the sides of one of their Kings, fiue Earles, and an infinite num∣ber of the common Souldiers, that the streames ther∣of seemed as an ouer-swelling tide, altogether to couer the face of the field, and is accounted for the noblest victory that the English till then had gotten of the Danes.

(9) Yet were not these Pagans therewith dis∣couraged, but gathering more strengthes and sup∣plies from other parts; foureteen dayes after, made head againe against the English, and pitching downe * 1.1137 their standards at Basing, abode the cōming of Ethel∣red and triall of battaile, wherein successe was alto∣gether altered; for herein the Kings part was dis∣comfited, and the Danes the winners of the day.

(10) Thus both sides borne vpon rage & hope, in their heat of bloud prepare for new fight. The Danes power was augmented with a further supply sent from beyond Seas, and the English confirmed with hope of successe: These meeting at Merton (two moneths after the battaile of Basing) encoun∣tred each others both boldly and bloodily; where∣in at first the English preuailed, and the Danes were chased; but their numbers the greater, and fresh supply maintaining their 〈◊〉〈◊〉, they r•…•…uered themselues, and wonne the day; wherein King Ethelred receiued his deaths wound, with such slaughter of his people, that little wanted the end of all encounters, to haue been afterwards attemp∣ted * 1.1138 any more by the English.

(11) Great was the valour and resistance of this King; for in his short time of Raigne, as Writers * 1.1139 record, no lesse then nine set battales against the Danes he fought in one yeare, to the great effusion of Christian bloud, and to no little losse of the Da∣nish power; for in his raign fell of them one King, nine Earles, and of the common sort without num∣ber.

(12) He died at Wittingham of his wound receiued the three and twentieth day of April, in the yeare of our Lord God eight hundred seauenty two, and was buried in the Collegiat Church of Winburne in Dor∣cetshire, where remaines his Tombe and his Armes vnto this day, with this Inscription:

In hoc loco quiescit corpus Sancti Ethelredi Regis West-Saxonum * 1.1140 Martyris, qui Anno Domini 872. 23. die Aprilis, per manus Dacorum Paganorum occu∣buit.

His Issue.

Elfred, the eldest sonne of King Ethelred seemeth to be Grandfather to the noble and learned Ethel∣ward, * 1.1141 who being Kinsman, Counsellor and Trea∣surer to King Edgar; wrote an history of his Coun∣try, beginning at the first arriuall of the Saxons into England, and continuing vnto his own time: which history he dedicated to his kinswoman, and cosen germane the Lady Mande Abbesse of Quedlingburg in Saxonie, being the daughter of the Emperour * 1.1142 Otho, by Edgith his wife, daughter of King Edward the elder, and sister of Ethelstane, and Edmund Kings of England.

Oswald, a young sonne of King Ethelred, is men∣tioned * 1.1143 in a Charter of his Fathers, by which he gaue lands to the Monastery of Abingdon neere Oxford; and to which this sonne of his hath his name set downe for a witnes; which Charter is yet extant, recorded in a great Legiet-booke, and Register of the Euiden∣ces of the lands, sometime belonging to the said Mo∣nastery.

Thyre, the daughter of King Ethelred, is reported * 1.1144 by the histories of Ireland to bee married to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 King of the Danes, and to haue had issue King Harald, which Harald, by Queene Go•…•…hild his wife, had issue, Sweyn king of Denmarke, Iringe king of Northum∣berland, and Gonhild Queene of North-Wales. King Sweyn by Queene Sigred his wife, had issue C•…•…te King of England and Denmarke, Ostryde wife of Duke Wolfe, and mother of King Sweyn the yonger, and Thyre the first wife of Earle Goodwin of Kent.

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ELFRED THE TVVENTIE THIRD * 1.1145 * 1.1146 KING OF THE VVEST SAXONS, AND TWENTIE FOVRTH MONARCH OF THE ENGLISHMEN, HIS ACTS, RAIGNE, WIFE AND ISSVE. CHAPTER XXXVI.

[illustration]

ELfred, or Alfred, the fourth sonne of King Ethelwolfe, * 1.1147 though he had beene an∣nointed King at Rome by * 1.1148 Pope Leo in his young years & Fathers life time; yet raigned he in no part of his dominions, before the deathes of all his Bre∣thren, vnder whom hee serued in most of their warres, assisting them like∣wise in all their counsels: the land now miserably torne by the cruell incursions of the bloudy Danes, was left vnto him, both to redeeme, and to raigne ouer, by the death and Testament of King Ethelred his last brother.

(2) Hee beganne his raigne in the yeare of his age twenty two, and of our Lord God eight hundred seuenty two, being crowned in the City of Winche∣ster, the twenty third King of the West-Saxons, and the twenty foure Monarch of the Englishmen: but of some Historians he is famoused by the stile of the first absolute Monarch.

(3) His raigne beganne with troubles and wars in defence of the land which the Pagan Danes inten∣ded * 1.1149 to destroy; and though his powers were smal, yet was he forced into the field within one month af∣ter his Coronation; the place was Wilton in the Coun∣ty of Wiltstire, on the south-banke of the riuer Wily: * 1.1150 where the Danes at first gaue backe and fled but seeing the fewnes of their pursuers, reenforced their battle, and got the field, with whom the West-Sax∣ons entred league, and compounded for their depar∣ture from among them.

(4) These Rouers then with their associates at Reading, got themselues into London, where they wintred; with whom the Mercians likewise compoū∣ded for their peace, which proued shortly to be the destruction of their princely bloud; and lastly, the lands subuersion to a forraine nation. For the * 1.1151 Danes hauing got footing in the North, the West, and the South of this land, (vnto whose aide many new-come guests from their Easterne countries were arriued, vnder the leading of other three Kings, Gurthrun, Esketel, and Ammond) all together set their griping tallents with such fast hold vpon Mercia, that at Ripendon they constrained Burthred the King with his Queene Elswith out of the land, and in his stead placed a King of their owne choise, vpon * 1.1152 condition to deliuer vp the same againe vnto them when they would demaund it.

(5) In the fourth yeare of King Elfred their ar∣mies diuided themselues into two parts, the one of * 1.1153 them guided by King Halden, returned into Northum∣berland; where hee bestowed that Country among his followers, and therein remained for two yeares continuance, doing much harmes both to the English and Picts. The other part led by the last new-come King, came to Granabridge, whence they wintered and spoiled the Country, and there sprea∣ding themselues as Grashoppers vpon the face of the earth, eate vp all where they came; so that King El∣fred was enforced to compound for their departure * 1.1154 out of his owne kingdome in West-Saxia; to which couenants they promised and swore; yet contrary to both, tooke into Deuonshire, and wintred at Ex∣cester, vnto whom a further supply by sea sought to ioine themselues, but met with such boisterous blasts, that one hundred and twenty of their ships were cast away by tempest at Swanwicke vpon our coasts, and their land-army marching towards Ex∣cester, were there welcommed with so sharpe an en∣counter by King Elfred, that they gaue him both pledges and oath to depart with all speed.

(6) But Fortune euer dallying with them, whom shee meanes to down-cast, set the chance of losse pre∣sently

vpon the Saxons side: for now the three Kings Gurthrun, Esketel, and Ammond thought it not good to let Elfred thus rest, and thereupon drew their forces westwards towards him, where at Chi∣pingham * 1.1155 (a Mannor of his) they wintred, and com∣pelled th West-Saxons there, either to yeeld, or to forsake the Country.

(7) King Elfred therefore, with such strength as he had, hasted towards them, and seuenteene miles * 1.1156 from Bristow pitched downe his tents euen in the face of the enemy; where betwixt these fierce nati∣ons a great battaile was fought, to the infinite losse of bloud on both sides, and that vpon such equall departure, as neither could challenge to bee masters of the field; yet the report went, that King Elfred was discomfited, which turned greatly to his ad∣uantage; for thereupon many of the English hasted to his succour, lest the ouerthrow of him should be the bane of them all; his strengthes thus renued with an vnexpected supply, no time was detracted to stay the Danish rage, who were now returned fur∣ther into the heart of the land, and at Abington by Ox∣ford had pitched their standreds for fight. * 1.1157

(8) Thither the English repaired, and the next morning he ordered his Army; neither were the e∣nemies vnprepared, but with braues stood ready to receiue the encounter. The battaile ioyned, conti∣nued with such losse of bloud, that it is accounted one of the sorest that euer betwixt them before had beene fought, and onely parted by the approch of the night, neither party challenging the honor of the day, the losse being so great vpon both sides.

Seuen of these battailes are reported to be fought in that yeare, whereby both their strengthes were much abated, and their spilt bloud so cooled * 1.1158 their liuers; that lastly they concluded vpon a peace; one article was this, that the Danes should admit no more of their nation to arriue in this Iland: but how soone that was broken, the sequels did shew.

(9) For in the yeare eight hundred seuenty sixe, (saith Simon Dunelmensis) Rollo a nobleman of Den∣marke with a great Army entred into England, with * 1.1159 no lesse spoile and destruction then other of those Danes before him had done, notwithstanding the truce: with whom King Elfred met, and gaue him so hoat welcome, that hee liked not greatly his enter∣tainement; and being warned (forsooth) in his sleepe, that better fortune attended him in France, hee left his countrimen to tugge with the English.

(10) The Danes then accounting the peace to be broken, like Bees from the Hiue, infect all the * 1.1160 land, insomuch that this vndaunted King Elfred was ofttimes brought to such extremities, that he hid himselfe out of sight, and in the Fens & Marsh grounds was forced with such small companies as he had, to liue by fishing, fowling, and hunting of wild beasts for his food, hauing no more of his great Mo∣narchy left him, but Somerset, Hamton, and Wilt∣shires only, neither yet them free from the incursi∣ons of the Danes.

(11) The solitary place of his most residency, was an Iland inclosed with the two riuers Tho•…•…e and Parret, at their meeting in the County of Sommer∣set, * 1.1161 commonly called Edelingsey, where he in very poore attire disguised, was entertained into a Cow∣heards house (if not into his seruice,) where on a time as he sate by the fire in trimming of his bow and * 1.1162 shafts, a cake of dow baking vpon the hearth be∣fore him, chanced to burn; the Cowheardesse com∣ming in, and seeing him mind more his bow then his bread, in a great fury cast away both his bow and arrowes, and checking him as her Groom, said, Thou fellow, doest thou see the bread burne before thy face, and wilt not turne it? and yet art thou glad to eate it before it bee halfe baked? little suspecting him to be the man that had beene serued with more delicate cates.

(12) But this Prince, the very mirrour of Prin∣ces, more minding the wealth of his subiects, then * 1.1163 the maiesty of State, disguised himselfe in the habite of a common Minstrell, and in person repaired to the Danes Campe, who lay like sena•…•…, wal∣lowing in wantonnesse, and secure in their owne * 1.1164 conceit from impeach of danger; which Elfred a most skilfull Musitian, and an excellent Poet, did not a little egge on by his sweet musicke, and songs of their valour; so that he was suffered to passe vncontrol∣led into the company of their Princes, at banquets, or else where: whereby he both saw their negligent security, and by diligent obseruance learned the designes that in their counsels they entended.

(13) Returning to his comfortlesse company, he told them the condition of the hostile Campe, and how easie it was to recouer againe their decaied e∣states: * 1.1165 whereupon shewing himselfe to his subiects, vnto whose sight nothing could bee more ioyous; on the suddaine set vpon the carelesse Campe of the Danes, and made thereof a very great slaughter, to the great terrour of others in other parts, that had ac∣counted him dead long since.

(14) Hubba, that had harried the English, and now rowzed vpon the newes of King Elfreds victo∣ry and life; with thirty three ships sailed from Wales, and arriuing in the mouth of Tau, where it falleth into the Seuerne Sea, assaied to take there the then-strong Castle called Kinwith, vnto whom the Deuonshire men gaue battle, and slew eight hundred and eighty persons of their retinue; where died the * 1.1166 Danish King Hubba, whose corps being there inter∣red vnder a great heape of copped stones; gaue name to the place, and was called Hubblestone. There and * 1.1167 then was taken the Danish much esteemed Banner, called Reafan, wherin a Rauen was purtraied wrought in needle-worke, (so Asserius Meneuensis reporteth) by the three sisters of Hubba and Hungar the daugh∣ters of Lothbroke (that is Leather-breach) the Dane: In regard whereof, as also for the opinion of good lucke, as they tooke it, it was cuer born before them in their wars.

(15) These aduerse proceedings of the Danes de∣signes, especially falling when the game was neere wonne, made them suspect, how faire soeuer the ball lay to hand, yet fortune would serue it in the end to their losse: for Elfred now flocked vnto vpon euery * 1.1168 side, beganne to build fortresses behind his backe, and forward to march with his conquering sword: whereupon the Danes sent to him for Peace, and de∣liuered him hostages, vpon assurance that they meant as they spake: The conditions were, that their King should receiue Baptisme, and the great Army of the Danes quietly to depart out of the land.

(16) Whereupon Gurmound or Gurthrun the Da∣nish King repaired to the new built Castle of Edeling∣sey vnto King Elfred, and in the place then called Al∣re, was washed in the lauer of Baptisme, whom Elfred receiued for his God-son by the name of Athelstane, and gaue him in free gift the Country of East-Angles. In the same fountaine of Grace (saith Simond Dunel∣mensis) thirty of the chiefe Danish Nobility were ini∣tiated: * 1.1169 vpon whom the truly Christian King Elfred bestowed many rich gifts: And that the limites of the English might be free from their incursions, thus the confines of King Elfreds kingdome were laide forth, as we find it in the end of those Lawes that El∣fred published, whose words are these: Let the bounds of our Deminio•…•… stretch from the riuer Thamesis, and from * 1.1170 thence to the water of Lea, euen vnto the head of the same water, and so forth straight vnto Bedford: and finally, going along by the riuer of Ouse, let them end at Watling street.

(17) But so farre were the Danes from perfor∣mance of couenants, that in this eight yeare of King * 1.1171 Elfreds raigne, and the eight hundred seuenty nine after Christ, this Gurmund and his company winte∣red * 1.1172 at Chipnam in Wiltshire, and a new supply of these Pagans (known by the name of the Wicci•…•…gi) wintred at Fulh•…•…m neere London; yet after vpon better ad∣uice, the one went into their assigned circuit, and the

other departed to the realme of France; and so to his twelfth yeare the land tooke some rest, that had been kept long waking by the loud sound of warre.

(18) In the yeare of Grace eight hundred eighty fiue, these last retired Danes finding France not fitting their purpose, returned into Kent, and put into Medway, where on his East side they began a fierce siege vnto the City Rochester, before whose gate they built a strong Castle: Thither King Elfred hasted, before whose power these Danes could not stand, but were forced to their shippes, and backe againe into France,

(19) Whereupon the King remoued his siege vn∣to London, whence all the Danes fled (as Wolues a∣bide * 1.1173 not the presence of the Lion) the inhabitants * 1.1174 reioicing to see the face of their King: which City hee restored to her former liberty and beauty, and committed the custody thereof vnto Ethelred Duke of Mercia, that had maried his daughter the Lady E∣thelfred, * 1.1175 whose title the King had maintained against Colwolphus, made King thereof by the Danes. Wher∣upon both Kent, the South-Saxons, and West-Saxons came willingly, and submitted themselues to King Elfred. The East-Angles being gouerned, or rather spoiled by Athelstan the christned Dane, who after twelue yeares raigne there died, and was buried at Hadley in Suffolke.

(20) But in the one and twentieth of his raigne, and of Christs Incarnation eight hundred ninety * 1.1176 two: those rouing Danes returned out of France, & againe arriued in Kent in the mouth of the riuer Li∣men, with two hundred and fifty ships, which they drew foure miles into the great wood, then called Andreads Weald, and there destroied a Castle that stood for defence, building another more strong at Apulder, wherein they kept. At the same time like∣wise entred one Hastings, a Nobleman of Norway, * 1.1177 with eighty ships; but with a fairer shew as hee en∣tended, for he sent his oath vnto Elfred not to an∣noy any part of his dominions, and withall his two sonnes to bee baptized: which King Elfred accepted, himselfe becomming the Godfather of the one, and Duke Ethelred of the other; and both they, and his Ambassadors returned with rich gifts. Against these Kentish inuaders, King Elfred fought a great battaile at Fernham, neere vnto Aelesford, wherein he * 1.1178 wounded their King, and forced his Army to flee o∣uer Thamesis; in passing whereof, through ouer∣much hast, and great feare many of them were drow∣ned, and they that escaped, fled to an Iland called Breklesey inclosed about by the riuer Colne.

(21) Newes then being brought into the East, that the Danes from Northumberland had infested the West, and with a strong siege begirt the City Exce∣ster. Elfred left for Generall his sonne in law Duke Ethelred; whilest he with a strong power went to sup∣presse their rage: who hearing of his comming, brake vp their siege, and were gone: vpon the aduantage of his absence, perlured Hastings then wrought, who out of his new built Castle at Beamfield, made spoile of the Kings people, and forraged all the Country * 1.1179 before him. Whereupon Duke Ethelred assembled a power, and first assailing his wel stored Castle, tooke thence his wife and two sonnes, with exceeding spoiles of gold, siluer and garments; all which were presented vnto King Elfred at his returne to London: who out of his princely magnanimity, sent backe to Hastings his wife and two sonnes; because (said hee) * 1.1180 shee was no warriour, and his two sonnes were his God-children: whereupon Hastings repaired his Ca∣stle, and ioined with the other Danes that lay at A∣pulder.

(22) Those then that had fled but lately from Excester, in their returne met with other their con∣sorts, * 1.1181 and rouing about the coast for their prey, fell lastly vpon the ancient City Chester, which presently they beganne to sacke and burne. But the country inhabitants comming to the rescue, begirt them a∣bout with their hoast, and forestalled the passages of all supply of victuals; so that for want of food, the Danes were constrained to eate vp their horses, and vpon composition thence to depart.

(23) Thence fetching a compasse all along the coasts of Wales, in the same yeare they arriued in Es∣sex, * 1.1182 being the twenty foure of King Elfreds raigne: and in the Winter following, drew their ships by the Thamesis into the riuer Lea, by which they passed in those light Pinnaces twenty miles North-ward into the land, and built them a fortresse at the place cal∣led * 1.1183 Weare, thither forthwith the King repaired, and pitched his tets before his enemies in the same place; who seeing their strength, and the danger of long * 1.1184 siege, did that by policy, which power could not so sodainely do: for he diuided the riuer into sundrie streames, whereby the Chanell was made vnnaui∣gable, and the Shippes bedded in the mudde, lay rather to their annoiance then defence; the former * 1.1185 experience of their hunger-starud besiege made thē the more fearefull to fall into the like; and therfore in great hast departed their fortresse, leauing their wiues and children to the mercy of the English. Nei∣ther stayed they till they came vnto the borders of Wales, when at Cartbridge vpon Seuerne they built another Castle, and lay there all the next winter.

(24) Long there they stayed not, without dislike of their lodgings, and cold entertainments, but that * 1.1186 they returned to their wonted spoiles, and diuiding themselues, some to Northumberland, and some into East-Anglia, like Locusts eate vp all as they went: whose breath as it were, so infected the aire, that for three yeares following a great mortality raigned both vpon men and beasts, and ended not much before the death of this incomparable Prince: which hapned to the great sorrow of his subiects vpon wed∣nesday the twenty eight of October, when hee had raigned twenty nine yeares and sixe moneths, of his age fifty one, and yeare of Christ Iesus nine hundreth and one.

(25) The vertues of this Prince are matchable to any that euer raigned before him, and exceed the most that euer raigned after him, both in seruice of God, whose Substitutes they are, in defence of his Country, which charge they all beare, in prouiding * 1.1187 good lawes, the sinewes of Kingdomes, and care of posterities, from which no man is exempted:

The day and night containing twenty foure how∣ers, he designed equally to three especiall vses, and them obserued by the burning of a taper set in his Chappell or Oratory; eight howres hee spent in con∣templation, reading, and prayers; eight, in prouisi∣on for himselfe, his repose and health; and the o∣ther eight in the affaires of his common-wealth and state. His Kingdome hee likewise diuided into Shires, Hundreds and Tithings, for the better orde∣ring * 1.1188 and administring of iustice, and for the abando∣ning of theeues, which had formerly increased by the meanes of long warres; whereby, notwithstan∣ding the multitude of souldiers continually imploi∣ed, it is reported that a Virgin might trauaile alone in his daies through all his dominions, without any violence offered; and that bracelets of gold were hanged in the high waies, and no man so hardy as to * 1.1189 take them away.

Hee was a most zealous, and studious protector and prouider for the Clergy, Widdowes, and Or∣phans, liberall of his goods, wise, temperate and iust, valiant, patient in aduersities, and euer relgious in the seruice of God. A most learned Prince, a skil∣full Musition, and an excellent Poet: the best lawes beefitting his Subiects he translated into the English tongue: as also the Pasterall of Gregory, the history of Beda, and Boetius his consolation of Philosophy, the Psalmes of Dauid (whose godly raigne he proposed to * 1.1190 himselfe for imitation) hee likewise began to tran∣slate, but died before hee could finish the same. And so great a desire had he vnto learning, that (as Alfre∣dus Riuallensis witnesseth) he published this Act: We * 1.1191 will and command, that all Freemen of our Kingdom, who∣soeuer

possessing two hides of land, shall bring vp their sons in learning till they be fifteene yeares of age at least, that so they may be trained to know God, to bee men of understan∣ding, and to line happily: for, of a man that is borne free, and yet illiterate, we repute no otherwise then of a beast, or a brainelesse body, and a very sot. And for the furthe∣rance of this his roiall intent, consorted with Aserius Meneuensis, Grimbald, Iohn Scot and others, neither * 1.1192 permitted he any in office in Court, or elsewhere, vn∣lesse he were learned, which incited his Nobles to the earnest pursuit of learned Arts, and to traine vp their children in good letters: his buildings were many, both to Gods seruice, and other publicke vse, as at Edelingsey a Monastery, at Winchester a New-Minster; and at Shaftsbury a house of Nunnes, wherein hee made his daughter Ethelgeda the Abbesse. But the * 1.1193 foundation of the Vniuersity of Oxford (which hee be∣gan in the yeare of our Lord eight hundred ninety fiue, and whose lectures he honoured with his owne presence) surmounteth all his others, to the continu∣ance of posterities, a liuing spring and gratious foun∣taine, whence issue the streames of all knowledge, that abundantly haue watred both this and other kingdomes.

(26) His body was first buried in the Cathedrall Church of S. Peters at Winchester, vnder a faire Monu∣ment * 1.1194 of most pretious Purphory, afterwards because the lewd-religious Chanons giue it out (to work some feat of their vsual imposture) that his Ghost did walk euery night from house to house; both it and the Monument were taken vp, and by his son the Kings commaund (in detestation of those sorceries) remo∣ued into the Church of the new Monastery: and last∣ly, his body, Monument, Church and Monastery, were taken thence, and remoued without the North∣gate of the City, since called Hyde.

(27) Some alleadge that the malice of those Chanons against him, was for displeasure that he pla∣ced ouer thē a rude Swineheard named Denewlphus, * 1.1195 whom he made their Bishop; but the ground of that assertion seemeth vnwarrantable by the relation of Wigornensis, & also of Tho. Rudburne; the first of which saith, that Elfred caused him to be trained vp in lear∣ning, and the later, that after long study, he attained to the degree of a Doctor of Di•…•…inity in the Vniuersi∣ty of Oxford, and was afterward made Bishop of Win∣chester by the King. For doubtlesse at that time the Bishops of Rome had not deuested our Kings of that prerogatiue-

His Wife.

(28) Elswith the wife of King Elfred was the daughter of Ethelred surnamed M•…•…hel, that is the * 1.1196 Great, an Earle of the Mercians, who inhabited about Gainesborough in Lincolnshire: her mother was Ed∣burg a Lady borne of the Bloud-roiall of Mercia. She was married vnto this King in the twentieth yeare of his age, being the second of the raigne of his brother King Ethelred, and was his wife twenty eight yeares, and liuing after him foure; died in the year of grace nine hundred and foure, and was buried in the Mo∣nastery of Nunnes which shee had founded at Winche∣ster; out of which afterwards King Henry the first took to his wife Ma•…•…d the daughter of Malcolme King of Scots, by whom the roiall bloud of the ancient Kings of England became vnited to the Normans, whereby he wanne much loue of the English nation. * 1.1197

His Issue.

Edward, the eldest sonne, and second child of King Elfred, and Queene Elsewith, was borne about the * 1.1198 beginning of his Fathers raigne, in the yeare of our Lord eight hundred seuenty one: hee was brought vp in his Fathers Court, and carefully attended, and instructed by men of great vertue and knowledge, in learning, and in all other qualities, and exercises conuenient for Princes. He was maried, and had di∣uers children: hee was thirty yeeres of age before his Father deceased, and then he succeeded him in his Kingdome and Monarchy.

Ethelward; the second son, & fift, and last child of King Elfred and Queene Elswith, was borne about * 1.1199 the midst of his Fathers raigne, and about the yeare of our Lord eight hundred and eighty. Hee was in his youth by his Fathers appointment, and for the example of other young Nobles brought vp in the * 1.1200 study of good Arts, at the vniuersity of Oxford, where (saith Th. Rudburne, and the Annales of Winchester) he became a man very learned, and a great Philoso∣pher: he had of his Fathers gift by his last Wil great liuings in the Counties of Deuon, Sommerset, South-Hampton: •…•…he proued a man of great iudgement and wisedome, and liuing vntill he was aboue forty yeres old; hee died the sixteenth day of October, in the two and twenty yeare of his brother King Edwards raign, Anno nine hundred twenty two, and was buri∣ed at Winchester.

Elfleda, the eldest daughter and first child of King * 1.1201 Elfred, and Queene Elswith his wife, was married to Ethelred Duke of Mercia, who in respect of this mariage was suffered to haue all roiall iurisdiction ouer that Country, in as ample maner as the Kings thereof had enioied; and after the decease of her husband, which happened in the yeare of our Lord nine hundred and twelue: shee continued the go∣uernement in the same sort eight yeares, with such resolution and valiant resistance of the common ene∣my (the Danes) that she stood her brother Edward in great stead, as in the relation of his life shall be fur∣ther shewed. She died the fifteenth of Iune nine hundred and nineteene, and was buried in S. Peters Church at Gloucester, leauing issue, a daughter, na∣med Elswin, whom King Edward her brother depri∣ued of that Duchy, which her owne mother enioied, and he his crowne by her assistance.

Ethelgeda, the second daughter and fourth child of King Elfred and Queene Elswith, was neuer mar∣ried, * 1.1202 but tooke vpon her the profession and vow of Virginity, and was by her fathers appointment made a Nunne of Shaftsbury in the County of Dorset, in the Monastery there founded by him: who is also accounted the first of the Towne it selfe. Shee was afterward Abbesse of the house, and therein spent, and ended her life, and was there also buried.

Elfride, the yongest daughter, and child of King * 1.1203 Elfred (and Queene Elswith his wife, was married to Baldwin the second, surnamed the Bald, Earle of Flan∣ders, sonne of Earle Baldwin the first, and Queene Iu∣dith his wife, the widdow of King Ethelwolfe her Grandfather. Shee was his wife thirty yeares and more; shee suruiued him and was a widdow eleuen yeeres, she died the seuenth of Iune, in the yeere of our Lord nine hundred twenty nine, being the fift of the raigne of King Ethelstan her Nephew. She is bu∣ried by her husband in the Chappell of our Lady; within the Monastery of S. Peter, at the City of Gaunt. She had issue Arnulfe the third Earle of Flanders, pro∣genitor of all the Earles of Flanders since his time, & Ad•…•…lfe Earle of Bol•…•…igne and Terwi•…•….

EDVVARD SVRNAMED THE EL∣DER * 1.1204 * 1.1205 THE TWENTIE FOVRTH KING OF THE WEST SAXONS, AND TWENTY FIFT MONARCH OF THE ENGLISH-MEN, HIS RAIGNE; ACTS, AND ISSVE. CHAPTER XXXVII.

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NO greater were the griefes conceiued for the death of worthy Elfred, then were * 1.1206 the hopes of the people in his sonne Prince Edward, whose valour had beene often approued against the raging Danes, & whose vertues were both many and princely; not so lear∣ned as his Father, neither so patient to vndergoe his chance; but as glorious in martiall prowesse, and as fortunate in al his fights, vnder whose hand the Danes euery where fell, and vnder his Monarchy all the Eng∣lish did stoope excepting the Northumbrians.

(2) He entred his raigne the yeare of Christs na∣tiuity, nine hundred and one, and at Kingston vpon * 1.1207 Thames was crowned and annointed with holy oyle. The Danish warres continuing in a successiue maner, * 1.1208 fell as it were hereditaryly from the Father vnto the Sonne, and ripened dayly towards their wished har∣uest. Besides Ethelwald the sonne of Ethelbert, the vn∣cle to this King Edward, young at his fathers decease, * 1.1209 and therefore perhappes held vncapable of gouern∣ment, shewed now the blossoms of vnder-sucking plants, whose fruits are neither plenteous nor plea∣sant in tast; for his humours euer working vpon discontents, drew his thought onely how to make the possessor fall.

(3) He then entring action of rebellion, tooke the towne of Winborne neere vnto Bathe, and besides the * 1.1210 allegiance due to his Prince, in sacrilegious manner brake the hests of holy Church, in deflowring and ta∣king a Votarist to wife: Edward the elder so called, (it may be in regard of this his Opposite) with a sele∣cted Army repaired to Bathe, and thence prepared for the field: whose sight was so cockatrice-like to his cosen-Germans eye, that in the night he bade his Nun and Winborne adew, posting to Northumberland, and proffering his seruice to the Danes that lay for ad∣uantage of rapine and spoile. * 1.1211

(4) Him as a fitte instrument they created their King, and forward in hope of some prosperous suc∣cesse, passed through the East-Saxons, the East-An∣gles, and the Mercians Countries: and laden with rob∣beries came to Crikelade in Wilt-shire, whence they de∣parted ouer Thamesis to Basingstoke; and harrying the * 1.1212 land before them, with triumph returned vnto East-Anglia. Edward thus endangered by these dreadfull enemies, gaue them no aduantage by lingering de∣laies, but followed their tract vnto Saint Edmunds * 1.1213 Ditch, whence in his returne, the Danes gaue him battaile, and obtained the victory, though bought with the liues of Ethelwald and Cochricus their Kings, and losse of many English, which made Edward the readier to enter a truce with them about the fift of his raigne.

(5) That the English were most expert for war in these daies, is witnessed by their resistance of those sturdy Danes, against whom the Commons many times with victory fought, without either King or Captaine to guide them: and they were likewise fa∣mous in other lands: for about this time it was, that the Englishmen at the perswasion of the Gothes, * 1.1214 besieged the great City Argilla in Barbary, which they wanne with such slaughter of the enemy, and spoile of the towne, that for thirty yeares after it lay deso∣late without inhabitants, whereby it was hoped that the Saracens would haue departed Europe, as Io∣annes Leo Afer hath told vs, who according to the * 1.1215 Saracens doth referre this siege to the three hun∣dred and foureteenth of Mahomet Hegira, which meeteth with the yeare of Christs Natiuity, nine hundred and fiue.

(6) The truce yet lasting, the Danes in Northumber∣land were nothing quiet, to stay whose irruptions * 1.1216 King Edward sent a great power, who harried the Country before them, and with much slaughter returned victorious. These daliances of Fortune made the Danes very desperate, and therefore to stay the rowling ball before it should passe their goale, they gathered their powers & entred Mercia, where with victory and spoile they raged for a time. But Edward to aid Ethelred his brother in law, and Earle of that Prouince, mustered his men, and at Wodnes∣field neere Wolfrune-hampton in Stafford-shire gaue thē battaile, wherein the English so behaued themselues that the two Pagan-Kings Cowilfu•…•… & Healidine, the * 1.1217 two Earles Vter and Scurfa, besides other Nobles & * 1.1218 Commons innumerable they slew: and now the clouds of these distemperatures being driuen backe, King Edwards Monarchy ascended the Horizon, and the Sunne of his power beganne to shine very bright, therefore he seeking to hold what he had got, set his thoughts to secure his towns with Castles and walles of defence.

(7) These his proceedings caused him to be both beloued and feared; but his mind still free from any ambitious pride, as may appeare by the intercourse betwixt Leolin Prince of Wales and himselfe, wherof Wal. Mapaeus maketh mention as followeth. What * 1.1219 time Edward the Elder (saith he) lay at Austeline, and Leolin Prince of Wales at Bethesley, intending a Parly, Leolin refused to come downe, or to crosse the Seuerne: Whereupon Edward tooke boat and entred the riuer to∣wards * 1.1220 him, which when Leolin saw, and knew who •…•…hee was, he cast off his rich roabe wherewith he was clad, and which hee had prepared for that roiall assembly, and entred the riuer breast-hie, where clasping the boat with an im∣brace, submissiuely said: Most wise and sage King, thy humility hath ouercome my insolencie, and thy wisedome * 1.1221 triumphed ouer my folly; come, get vpon my necke which I haue (foole as I am) lifted vp against thee, so shalt thou enter into that land which thy benigne mildnes hath made thine owne this day: and after he had taken him vpon his shoulders, he would needs haue him sit down vpon his roi∣all roabe, and so putting his hands iointly into his, did him homage.

(8) In the twelfth yeare of his raigne, as Henry Huntington hath it; Ethelred Earle of Mercia, who had * 1.1222 married Elfleda King Edwards sister, departed this life, she hauing borne him one onely daughter named Elfwen, whose trauell in childbirth was so grieuous, that euer after she forbare the nuptiall imbracements * 1.1223 of her husband, alleadging that it was an ouer foolish pleasure, which brought with it so great paines; and thereupon changing the wonted affection of her sexe from the bed vnto battaile, gouerned Mercia eight yeares after her husbands decease, as another Zenobia, and did not a little assist her brother in his warres: for the Welsh she pursued as farre at Brek∣noke, which she tooke with their Queene: from the Danes shee wonne the Connty of Darby, and assaul∣ting the towne vpon them, put herselfe in great dan∣ger; * 1.1224 for enterprising to enter the Gate, shee was re∣sisted by whole multitudes of Danes; notwithstan∣ding, she persisted, & got entrance, in which encoun∣ter many died, and foure of her chiefe men of war, being Warders of her person-euen fast by her side were slaine.

The Danes in Yorkeshire she constrained to bee at her deuotion, so that some of them became her sub∣iects, some vowed to attend in her aide, and some promised to be prest at her dispose. Her policie in warre proued euer the surest; her counsell of State was regarded with the wisest, and her prouidence in building, and repairing Cities for the weale-publick, or fortifying places for munition of warre exceeded others: which shee extended vpon Chester, Tam∣worth, Lichfield, Stafford, Warwicke, Shrewsbury, Wed∣desb•…•…ry, * 1.1225 Eadsbury, Finborow, Rimcorne, Brimsbery-Bridge and others.

This renowned Lady giuing place vnto Nature, left the warres to bee continued by her brother; her daughter at the dispose of her vncle, and her body to be buried at Glocester in the Monastery of S. Pe∣ter, which her husband and her selfe had formely built.

(9) The last battaile of this King against these vn∣satiate enemies, was in the Country of the East An∣gles, * 1.1226 whereof Edrick the Dane was King; for hee in∣tending new warres with the English; sought to in∣cite other Danes to his aide, whereof Edward ha∣uing intelligence, preuented his purpose, by his so∣daine approch into those parts.

Edrick therefore hauing all in a readinesse, rashly * 1.1227 encountred with his enemy, and fought a fierce bat∣taile to the geeat losse of his Army, and dammage of his life; for returning to his Court after so foule a dis∣comfiture, became odious to his owne subiects, who violently fell vpon him and murdered him; and them selues brought low by ciuill dissention were shortly made subiect to the English King Edward, and that Kingdome with Mercia, ioined vnto his West-Sax∣ons. And now hauing raigned in great warres and honour the space of twenty foure yeares deceased at * 1.1228 Faringdon in Barke-shire, the yeare of Christs incarna∣tion, 924. and was buried in the new-Monastery of * 1.1229 Winchester, which his Father begunne, and himselfe wholy finished.

His Wiues.

(10) Eguina the first wife of King Edward, was the * 1.1230 daughter of a meane Gentleman named Bercher, whose eye-pleasing feature and alluring beauty made her to be educated aboue the degree of her birth, and was brought vp by the nurse of King Edward in ten∣der affection and great esteeme. It chanced Prince Edward in kindnes came to visite his nurse, where see∣ing the admirable beauty of the Maide, fell so farre in * 1.1231 loue, that he tooke her to his wife without the con∣sent or knowledge of his father: In which regard she is reputed by some Writers rather his Concubine then his Queene, no other cause mouing them but her meane parentage, and secret making and keeping of this mariage, although there bee some good histories and many likelyhoods to induce that she was his law∣full Queene.

(11) Elfleda the second wife of King Edward, was the daughter (as Mathew of Westminster reporteth) of * 1.1232 an Earle named Ethelhelme, and Asser the Bishop of Sherborne maketh mention of an Earle in Wiltshire a∣mong the West-Saxons of the same name, who was in great fauour with King Elfred, the father of this King, by whom hee was sent Ambassador to carry his Almes to Stephen the sixt, of that name Bishop of * 1.1233 Rome, in the yeare of our Lord 887 and by all proba∣ble conference of name, time, and place, hee seemeth to bee the man that was father to this Queene. * 1.1234

(12) Edgina, the third wife of King Edward, was the daughter and heire of Earle Sigeline Lord of Me∣apham, Culings, and Leanham in Kent, who was there slaine in battaile against the Danes, Anno 927. She was married vnto King Edward about the fourteenth yeare of his raigne, being the yeare of Grace, 916. She was his wife ten yeares, and after his death she liued a widdow all the times of the raignes of King Ethelstan her sonne in law, of King Edmund, and King Edred her owne sonnes, of King Edwy her * 1.1235 Grand-child, and was liuing in the Raigne of King Edward another of her Grand-children, almost fortie yeares after the death of her husband. It is writ of her that in the yeare of Grace, 959. Shee offered her lands and euidences to Christ vpon his Altar at Can∣terbury. She deceased the twenty fift of August in the fourth yeare of the said King Edgar, and of Christ, 963.

His Children.

(13) Ethelstan, the eldest sonne of King Edward, and the Lady Eguina, was borne and growne to good * 1.1236 yeeres in the time of the raigne of his Grandfather King Elfred, who with his owne hands gaue him the order of Knighthood, after a very honourable man∣ner

of creation, as William the Monke of Malmsbury, a great obseruer of such things, hath left in writing: * 1.1237 who reporteth, that he put vpon him a Purple Robe, and girt him with a girdle wrought with pearle, and a Saxon sword in a scabard of gold, hanging at the same. He was the Successor of his Father in the West-Saxons dominions, and the English Monarchy.

(14) Elfred, the second sonne of King Edward and the Lady Eguina, is warranted by the testimony of * 1.1238 the story of Hyde, to haue been loued of his Father a∣boue all his other children, that he caused him in his owne lifetime to bee crowned King, and to sit with him in his Seat of Estate, as his Partner in the King∣dome, and that he enioyed that great honour but for * 1.1239 a small time, deceasing shortly after his creation, and long before his fathers death; and was buried in the New Monastery at Winchester, which afterwards was remoued to Hyde.

(15) Editha (whom the Scotish Writers call Bea∣trite) the daughter of King Edward and the Lady * 1.1240 Eguma; with great honour was maried to Sythrick, the Danish King of Northumberland, in the first yeere of the raigne of her brother King Ethelstane, being the yeere of grace 915. Within one yeere after her mari∣age, her husband deceased, and his sonne Guthfrid suc∣ceeded him in his Kingdome. Wherefore she forsa∣king that Country, obtained of her brothers gift, the Castell of Tamworth, in the County of Warwicke, * 1.1241 where she began a Monastery of Nunnes, and therein liued, died, and was interred, and both the Monastery and Body afterwards was remoued from thence vnto Pollesworth.

(16) Elsward, the third son of King Edward, & the first of Queen Elfleda his second wife, was born, as * 1.1242 it seemeth, about the beginning of his Fathers raigne. He was carefully brought vp in the study of Liberall Arts, and in all other princely qualities; so that it was expected he should haue succeeded his Father in the Kingdome: but presently vpon his fathers decease, he deceased himselfe in Oxford, and was buried at one time, and in one place with him in the New Mona∣stery at Winchester, in the yeere of Christ Iesus 924. * 1.1243

(17) Edwine, the fourth sonne of King Edward, and the second of Queene Elfleda his second Wife, * 1.1244 was very young when his father was buried, and his brother Ethelstane crowned. Notwithstanding a deep ielosie possessing the King, that his title was too neere the Crowne, he caused him to be put into a little Pin∣nesse, without either Tackle or Oares, one only page accompanying him, that his death might be imputed to the waues: whence the young Prince ouercome with griefe, and not able to master his owne passions, cast himselfe headlong into the sea, and his dead body being driuen vpon the coasts of Flanders, was taken * 1.1245 vp by Adulphe, Earle of Boloine, his cosen-germane, and honourably buried in the Monastery of Saint Bertin, in the Towne of S. Omers. Which fact was much lamented by King Ethelstan, who greeuously punished the suggestions of his owne ielosie, and the procurers of his brothers death; sending great thanks to the Earle that buried him, and rich presents to the Monastery which entombed him, and to appease the ghost of his innocent brother, built the Abbey of Mi∣aleton in the County of Dorset.

(18) Elfleda, the second daughter of King Edward, and the first of Queene Elfleda his second Wife, en∣tred * 1.1246 into the orders of Religion, and tooke vpon her the profession and vow of Virginity, in the Mona∣stery of Rumsey, situated vpon the Riuer Test, in the County of Southampton. In which Monastery, she was * 1.1247 first a Nunne, and afterward Abbesse during the whole time of her life, which was there spent and en∣ded, and her body in the said Abbey buried.

(19) Eguina, the third daughter of King Edward, and the second of Queene Elfleda his second Wife, * 1.1248 was the second Wife to Charles the third, surnamed the Simple, King of France, son to King Lews the bro∣ther of Iudith, Queene of England before mentioned. She had issue by him Lewis the third, surnamed Be∣yond-sea, because he was brought vp here in England with his Vnkle King Ethelstan; and Gillet Duchesse of Normandy maried to Rollo the Dane: who in regard of his marriage, was allowed to bee the first Duke of that Country. This Queene suruiued King Charles her Husband; and afterwards was remaried to Her∣bert, the younger Earle of Vermandoys; which marri∣age * 1.1249 was taken for so great an indignity, because Earle Herbert the elder, father to this Earle, had caused the King her Husband to die in prison, that King Lewis her sonne presently pursued her, apprehended, and committed her to the strait custody of Queene Ger∣berge his wife: so as shee had no recourse vnto him, nor issue by him.

(20) Ethelhild, the fourth daughter of King Ed∣ward, * 1.1250 and the third of Queene Elfleda his second Wife, followed the example of her elder sister Elfleda, and became a Nunne in the Monastery of Wilton, which was sometime the head Towne giuing name to the whole County of Wiltshire, and antiently called Ellandon.

(21) Edhild, the fifth daughter of King Edward, * 1.1251 and the fourth of Queene Elfleda, was maried to Hugh surnamed the Great, Earle of Paris, Grand-master and Constable of France, in the yeere of our Lord 926. being the third of her brother King Ethelstanes raigne. This Hugh was the sonne of Robert, brother to Endes King of France, and father of King Hugh Capet, proge∣nitor of the Kings of France, eue•…•… sithence vnto this day: but shee died before him without any issue by him.

(22) Edgith, the sixth daughter of King Edward * 1.1252 and the fifth of Queene Elfleda, was the first wife of Otho the first, surnamed the Great, Emperour of the West, sonne to the Emperor Henry, surnamed the Fal∣coner. By him she had issue Ludolfe, Duke of Swabe, William Arch-bishop of Mentz, Ludgard married to Com•…•…d Duke of Lorrayn, and Mechthild Abbesse of Quedlingburg in Saxonie: in which Citie she deceased the seuen and twenty of August, in the yeere of Christs Natiuity 947. the eleuenth of her husbands Empire, and the first of her brother King Edreds raigne in Eng∣land. She was buried at the East end of the North side of a Chapell which her selfe had founded in the same Citie.

(23) Elgiua, the seuenth daughter of King Edward, and the sixth of Queene Elfleda his second Wife, was * 1.1253 by King Ethelstan her brother, with her sister Egith sent to the Court of the Emperor, Henry the first King of the Saxons in Germany, who honourably entertai∣ned her, brought her vp with his owne daughters; and after he had maried her elder sister to his eldest sonne, he placed her also in marriage with a Duke of Italy obout the Alpes, who is not named of our Wri∣ters, * 1.1254 but may easily be coniectured by the honoura∣ble disposition of the maker of the match, to haue been a Prince of note and account, worthy of her estate and parentage.

(24) Edmund, the fifth sonne of King Edward, and the first of Queene Edgiua his third and last Wife, was * 1.1255 borne in the twentieth yeere of his fathers raigne, be∣ing the yeere of the worlds saluation 921. and at his fathers death little more then three yeeres of age, was notwithstanding by the carefull prouision of his mo∣ther, * 1.1256 brought vp with all princely education conue∣nient for his yeeres and estate, insomuch as there was generally a great expectation amongst the people conceiued of him in the life of his brother King Ethel∣stan, vnder whom he learned some experience of ser∣uice in warre, and after whom hee succeeded in the Kingdome of England.

(25) Edred, the sixth sonne of King Edward, and * 1.1257 the second of Queene Edgiua his third Wife, and the youngest sonne of them both, was borne about the two and twentieth yeere of his fathers raigne, and yeere of grace 923. which was not long before the death of his father, who left him a little infant in the custody of his mother, by whom hee was carefully brought vp, and prooued a Prince of so great vertue * 1.1258

and valour, as after the death of King Edmund his brother, in regard of the minority of his Nephews, hee was with the generall consent, and liking of the whole nation, chosen to be his brothers successor in the kingdome and gouernment ouer them.

(26) Edburg, the eight daughter of King Edward, and the first of Queene Edgiua, in her child-hood had * 1.1259 her disposition tried, and her course of life disposed by her Father in this manner: he laid before her gorgeous apparrell, and rich Iewels, in one end of a chamber, and the new Testament and Bookes of princely instruction in the other; willing her to make her choise of which she liked best: she presently tooke vp the bookes, and he her in his armes; and kissing her said, Goe in Gods name whither God hath called thee, and thereupon placed her in a Monastery at Winche∣ster, wherein shee did most vertuously spend 〈◊〉〈◊〉 whole life, and in that Abbey was bari•…•…d.

(27) Edgiua, the ninth daughter of King Ed∣ward, and the second of his last Queene, whose * 1.1260 name thee bare, is reported in the history of the Mo∣nastery of Hyde by Winchester, and other Writers of our Country, to haue beene married to Lewes Prince of Aquitane in France, which not long before had beene a Kingdome of it selfe, sometime allotted to the portion of Lewes the third sonne of the Emperour Charles the Great; of which house it seemeth this Lewes was; afterward it became a Dukedome, and the possession of an other Family, by whom it came to be the inheritance after the Conquest to the Kings * 1.1261 of England, which were descended of the house of Angeow.

ETHELSTAN THET VVENTIE FIFT * 1.1262 * 1.1263 KING OF THE VVEST SAXONS, AND THE TWENTIE SIXT MONARCH OF THE ENGLISHMEN, HIS RAIGNE, ACTS, AND SVPPOSED ISSVE. CHAPTER XXXVIII.

[illustration]

EThelstan, the eldest sonne of King Edward (as hath beene said) for the great hopes conceiued of him, * 1.1264 was crowned with a grea∣ter solemnity then any of his ancestors euer before him. The place was King∣ston vpon Thamesis in the County of Surrey, the yeer * 1.1265 of Christ Iesus 924. where, in the midst of the town a high Scaffold was built, and thereon the coronati∣on performed to the open view of all, by Athelmus Archbishop of Canterbury, with shouts of ioy as that of Salomon.

(2) His beginnings were with troubles, and that rather by reason of friends then force of foes: for it is recorded, that Elfred a nobleman, either in fauour of * 1.1266 King Edwards other sonnes, holding Ethelstan a Ba∣stard, or else vpon an ambitious hope blinded of him∣selfe, intended at Winchester to haue pluckt out the eyes of his Soueraine: but his treason being knowne, before the seed could shew blade, he was apprehen∣ded & sent to Rome to purge himselfe by oth: where, before the Alta•…•… of S. Peter and Pope Iohn the tenth, he there abiured the act, and thereupon fell sodain∣ly down to the earth, so that his seruants tooke and * 1.1267 bare him into the English Schoole, where, within three dayes after he died: the Pope denying him chri∣stian buriall vntill he knew King Ethelstans pleasure.

(3) These stormes ouerpast, as great a cloud see∣med to arise vnto Ethelstans sight, whose eye of iea∣lousie euer followed the ascent, and his eare euer ope∣ned vnto the instillations of Parasites, amongst whom his Cup-bearer was a chiefe; who brought daily more and more suspition into the Kings head, * 1.1268 that lastly (as wee haue shewed) hee consented to young Edwins death, though with too late a sor∣row * 1.1269 hee repented the same: for besides his seauen yeares penance voluntarily vndergone, to pacifie

the ghost of his betraied brother, hee built the two Monasteries of Midleton and Michelnesse, as for the * 1.1270 most part such seed-plots were euer sowne in the furrowes of bloud, which hapned vpon this occa∣sion: It chanced his Cup-bearer in his seruice vpon a festiuall to stumble with the one foote, and reco∣uering himselfe with the other, pleasantly to say, you see how one brother helpeth another; vpon which speech the King with griefe and touch of heart, called to mind the death of his innocent brother, and forth∣with commanded execution to be done on him the procurer, to repay his fact with deserued death: & * 1.1271 himselfe was euer after more tender and carefull to∣wards his other brethren, with a more respectiue re∣gard, and bestowed his sisters most honorably in ma∣riage, as hath beene said.

(4) At his entrance of gouernment, to discharge the expectations of his subiects, hee endeauoured both by warres and allianuces to make them strong and rich. First, therefore entring friendshippe with Sithricke the Danish King of Northumberland, vpon whom with condition that hee should receiue Bap∣tisme, * 1.1272 he bestowed his sister Editha in marriage, hee bent himselfe to ordaine Lawes for the weale-pub∣like, & those to bind aswel the Clergie as the Layety, out of which first sprang the attachment of Fellons, to * 1.1273 take hold of such as stole aboue twelue pence, & were aboue twelue yeares of age.

(5) But Sithricke the Northumbrian dying the first yeare of his mariage, and his Queene returning * 1.1274 to a religious life, his sonnes Godfrey and Anlafe, of∣fended that their Pagan-Gods were neglected, and onely by the meanes of this their fathers last wife, stirred the Northumbrians to disquiet the English, which occasioned Ethelstan to inuade their country, and forced Anlafe into Ireland, and Godfrey into Scot∣land, which last so wrought with Constantine their King, that he vndertooke to side in his quarrell, with whom ioined * 1.1275 Howel King of Wales. These in a fierce battle hee ouercame and constrained them to sub∣mit themselues to his will, who knowing the chance of warre to bee variable, and pittying the case of these down-cast Princes, restored them presently to * 1.1276 their former estates, adding withall this princely saying, that it was more honour to make a King then to * 1.1277 be a King.

(6) This notwithstanding, the case of Godfrey so moued the spirit of King Constantine, that hee againe assisted him in his inrodes into the English part, * 1.1278 which drew againe King Ethelstan into the North: & cōming to Yorkshire (as he was a man much deuo∣ted to God-ward) turned aside to visite the tombe of S. Iohn of Beuerley, where earnestly praying for * 1.1279 his prosperous successe, for want of richer Iewels, there offered his knife, vowing that if hee returned with conquest, hee would redeeme it with a worthy price, and thus armed with hope, proceeded forward pitching downe his tents at Brimesburie, his nauie waffing along those seas.

(7) To the aide of Constantine came Anlafe, called by writers King of the Irish, and of the Iles, who had * 1.1280 married his daughter, a man no doubt both hardy and desperate, as appeared by the Action he vnder∣went; * 1.1281 for it is recorded, that as Elfred the English had attempted to know the State of the Danes: so this Dane at this place did to vnderstand the English: for, disguising himselfe like a Harper, hee went from Tent to Tent, and had accesse euen into King Ethel∣stans presence, vntill hee had learned what he most * 1.1282 desired, and then returned againe to his Campe, which part of his was no bolder, or more wisely performed, then was kept secret, and after reuealed by a most faithfull souldier: for Anlafe departed & free from pursuit, this Souldier made the act known to King Ethelstan: who being sore displeased with his enemies escape, imputed the fault vnto him the reuealer: but he replying, made him this answere: I once serued Anlafe (said he) vnder his pay for a souldi∣er, * 1.1283 and gaue him the same faith that I doe now vnto you; if then I should haue betraied his designes, what trust could your Grace repose in my truth: let him there∣fore die, but not through my treachery, and by his es∣cape secure your royall selfe from danger; remoue your Tent from the place where it stands, lest at vnawares hee happily assaile you.

(8) The King seeing the faith of his souldier, was therewith pacified, and forthwith commanded his Tent to bee remoued, where presently a Bishoppe new come to his Campe pitched vp his owne, and the night following both himselfe and retinue were slaine by the same Anlafe that sought the Kings life * 1.1284 in assaulting the place; and pressing forward came to his tent, who awaked with the suddain Allarum, boldly rushed vpon his enemies, & encouraging his * 1.1285 men, put them backe with the death of fiue petty Kings, twelue Dukes, and well neere of the whole Army, which Anlafe had brought.

(9) The memory of this man is made the more la∣sting by a peece of ancient Saxon coine of siluer, in∣scribed with his name, ANLAF CYNYNE, which for the antiquity of the thing, and honour of the man, we haue here imprinted, & placed though in the texture of our English Saxon Kings.

[illustration]

(10) To leaue a memoriall of King Ethelstans great victory, giue me leaue to write what I find; name∣ly, that neere vnto the Castle Dunbar in Scotland, he * 1.1286 praying that his right vnto those parts might bee confirmed vnto posterities by a signe, at one blow with his sword stroke an elle deepe into a stone, which stood so clouen a long time after, and vndoub∣tedly was the whetstone to the first Authors knife: but this is most certaine, that hee ioined Northum∣berland to the rest of his Monarchy, and returning to * 1.1287 Beuerley redeemed his owne knife.

(11) From hence he turned his warres into Wales, * 1.1288 whose Rulers and Princes hee brought to bee his Tributaries, who at Hereford entered couenant to pay him yeerely twenty pound weight of gold, three hundred of siluer, and twenty fiue hundred head of cattle, with hawkes and hounds to a certaine num∣ber, towards which paiment by the statutes of How∣ell Dha, the King of Aberfraw was charged at sixty * 1.1289 six pounds; the Prince Dineuwre, and the Prince of Powys were to pay the like summes.

(12) The Britaines, which to his time with all e∣quall right inhabited the City of Excester with the * 1.1290 Saxons, hee expelled into the further promontary of Cornwal, and made Tamar the confines of his own Empire; so that his dominion was the largest that any Saxon before him had enioied, and his fame the * 1.1291 greatest with all forraine Princes, who sought his friendship both with loue and alliance, by matching with his sisters, and presenting him with rich and rare presents; for Hugh King of France besides o∣ther vnestimable Iewels; sent him the sword of Constantine the Great, in the hilt whereof (all couered with gold) was one of the nailes that fastned Christ to his Crosse: he sent likewise the speare of Charles * 1.1292 the Great, reputed to be the same that pierced Christs side, as also part of the Crosse whereon hee suffered his passion, and a peece of the thorny Crowne wher∣with his blessed Temples were begoared, and with these came the Banner of S. Maurice so often spread by Charles the Great in his Christian warres against the Saracens: And from Otho the Emperour, who had married his sister, was sent a vessell of pretious stones artificially made, wherein were seene Lanskips with vines, corne, and men, all of them seeming so

naturally to moue, as if they had growne and re∣tained life: And the King of Norway sent him a goodly shippe with a guilt sterne, purple sailes, and the decke garnished all with gold. * 1.1293

(13) Of these accounted holy reliques King E∣thelstan gaue part vnto the Abbey of S. Swithen in Winchester, and the rest to the Monastery of Malmes∣bury, * 1.1294 whereof Adelme was the founder, and his Tutelar Saint, in honour of whom he bestowed great immunities vpon the towne, and large endowments vpon the Abbey; hee new built the monasteries of Wilton, Michelnesse, and Midleton, founded Saint * 1.1295 Germans in Cornwal, Saint Petrocus at Bodman, the Pri∣ory of Pilton, new walled and beutified the City of Exceter, and enriched euery famous Abbey in the land, either with new buildings, Iewels, Books, or Reuenewes.

(14) As also hee did certaine Cities with the * 1.1296 Mintage of his money, whereof in London were eight houses, at Winchester sixe, at Lewis two, at Hastings two, in Hampton two, in Warham two, in Chichester one, in Rochester three, two for the King, and one for the Bishop; at Canterbury seuen; foure for him∣selfe, two for the Archbishop, and one for the Ab∣bat, although it appeareth the Archbishop had his before the raigne of this King. For among these an∣cient * 1.1297 Saxon-Coines, we find one of Ceolnothus, who sate there Archbishop in the yeare 831. which both for the antiquity & authority of truth wee haue here inserted.

[illustration]

(15) This Prince King Ethelstan was of an indiffe∣rent * 1.1298 stature, not much exceeding the common sort of men, chearefull in countenance, his haire verie yellow, and somewhat stooped forward as he went, for valour inuincible, in resolution constant, and for his curtesie beloued of all, he raigned in great honour * 1.1299 the space of fifteene yeares and odde monethes, and deceased in the City of Gloucester, vpon wednesday the seuenteenth of October, and was buried at Mal∣mesbury the yeere of Christs Natiuity: 940. hauing neuer had wife mentioned in our histories.

His supposed Issue.

(16) Leoneat, the supposed daughter of King E∣thelstan, is reported by Iohn Rouse and Papulwick, wri∣ters * 1.1300 of the mistrusted story of Guy of Warwicke to bee married vnto Reynburn Earle of Warwicke, and sonne to the same Guy, whose remembrance and reputati∣on is preserued & kept with no lesse renowne among the common people, for the liberty of England saued by his victory in single combate against Colbrand the Dane, then was Horatius the Romane for the pre∣seruatio of Rome, whose historie I wil leaue for others to enlarge that haue more leasure & bettet inuention.

EDMVND THE TVVENTIE SIXTH * 1.1301 * 1.1302 KING OF THE VVEST-SAXONS, AND TWENTIE SEVENTH MONARCH OF THE ENGLISHMEN: HIS RAIGNE, ACTS, DEATH, WIFE AND ISSVE. CHAPTER XXXIX.

[illustration]

EDmund the fifth sonne of King Edward, borne vnto him by Queene Edgiua his * 1.1303 third and last wife, at the age of nineteen yeeres suc∣ceeded his brother King Ethelstan in his kingdome, and Monarchy: hee began his raigne the yeare of the worlds saluation 940. and with great solemnity was crowned at Kingston vpon Thamesis, in the fifth yeare * 1.1304 of Otho the first Emperour of that name, and his bro∣ther in law; his valour had often beene tried in the warres of King Ethelstan against those stout and sturdy enemies the Danes, Scotish, Irish, and Welsh∣men, that often had assaied to disturbe his peace.

(2) Athelstan deceased, and the crowne scarse set * 1.1305 vpon King Edmunds head, but that the Danes in Nor∣thumberland, disliking subiection, called again An∣lafe out of Ireland to be their King; who now in the

infancy of Edmunds estate, with great power of men purposed to subdue all before him; but Edmund as forward, with full resolution ment to keepe what was got, and so gathering his power, proceeded towards the North, and at Leicester encountred with the Danes: howbeit, through the interceding of the Archbishops of Canterbury and Yorke, Odo and Wolston, the matter was mitigated before it came to the vttermost.

(3) The next yeare of his raigne, the said Anlafe (whom some hold to haue beeene the King of Nor∣way) * 1.1306 being dead, an other Anlafe, sonne to King Sithrick, of whom we haue spoken, intruded vpon * 1.1307 the Kingdom of Northumberland. These heads, as Hidras, springing vp each after others, drew King Edmund againe into the North, who raging like a prouoked Lion, subdued, as he went, those townes where the Danes kept, and got from them Lincolne, Leicester, Darbie, Stafford, and Nottingham, com∣pelling them to receiue Baptisme, and to become his Subiectes; so that the Country was wholy his vnto Humber. These his proceedings caused Anlafe * 1.1308 and Reinold the sonnes of the Danish Gurmo, subduers of Yorke, to yeeld themselues wholy to his deuotion, offering him subiection, and withall to receiue the Christian faith; for performance wherof, they like∣wise receiued Baptisme, vnto whom King Edmund was Godfather, to Reinold at his Confirmation, and to Anlafe at the Font: but how soone they fell from both, the sequell shewed; for casting off the faith and fealty thus promised, they stirred the Northum∣brians to another rebellion, yet with no better suc∣cesse * 1.1309 then desert; for they were forced into a perpe∣tuall exile, and King Edmund adioined that Coun∣try to his owne gouernment; without the admittance of any Secondary or Vice-roy to rule there vnder him.

(4) Cumberland also, which seldome was quiet, hauing beene a Kingdome entire of it selfe, and now * 1.1310 aided by Leolin King of Southwales, he vtterly wasted: and apprehending the two sonnes of Dunmaile King of that Prouince, commanded the eyes of those o∣uer-bold Princes to be puld out, and gaue their in∣heritance to Malcolme King of Scots, to hold the same by fealty from him. Thus by power and policie clearing those coasts whence the sharpest stormes had continually blowne, hee returned into the South, and there set himselfe to ordaine lawes for the good of his people, the which, left time the consu∣mer of al things might chance to obliterate, were by the labours of the learned Lambert translated into Latine, and imprinted in the yeare 1568. next, to * 1.1311 shew his loue to God, and bounty to his Church, he gaue the towne of Saint Edmondsbury with the liber∣ties thereof, wholy to that Martyr, and to the Monks that liued in seruing at his Altars.

(5) But as each thing hath his spring, growth, & decay; so all men their dates, howsoeuer eminent in degree, & the shank of their Compas so set in a center that the Circle of their lines are oftentime abrupt, before it be drawn to the full round: for so with o∣thers, we may see in this Monarch, who being safely returned from many great dangers of war, at peace in his Pallace, came to a lamentable & vnexpected end: for at his Manor of Pucle-kerkes in the County of * 1.1312 Gloucester, whiles hee interposed himselfe betweene his Sewer and one Leoue to part a fray, was, with a thrust through the body, wounded to death the twenty sixt of May, in the yeare of our saluation 946. when hee had prosperously raigned the space of fiue * 1.1313 yeares and seuen moneths, and his body, with no lesse sorrow then solemnity, was buried at Glasenbu∣ry

His Wife.

(6) Elfgine, the onely wife of King Edmund, hath not her parents declared (for ought I find) by any * 1.1314 of our Writers: but this is affirmed, that shee was married vnto him in the first yeare of his raigne, which was the yeare of Grace, 940. and that she was his wife foure yeeres & vpward, after whose slaugh∣ter she remained a mournfull widdow all the rest of her life, which she spent with so great vertue and o∣pinion of the people, as by the writers of that age shee is commended to posterity by the name of a Saint.

His Issue.

(7) Edwy, the eldest sonne of King Edmund, and Queene Elfgine his wife, was borne in the second * 1.1315 yeare of his fathers raigne Anno 942. When his fa∣ther died, hee was but foure yeeres of age, and in respect of his minority was not permitted to succeed him in the Kingdome, but forced to giue place to his vncle Edred, vnder whom he liued nine yeares; and in the tenth, his vncle being dead, and himselfe then growne to the age of thirteene, was admitted to the succession of the Monarchy.

(8) Edgar the second sonne of King Edmund, and * 1.1316 of Queen Elfgine, was borne in the third yeare of his fathers raigne, the yeere of Christ Iesus 943, and was but three yeeres old when his Father died; notwith∣standing, he proued afterward a Prince of great expe∣ctation, and in the second yeare of King Edwy his bro∣thers raigne, being then but foureteene yeeres of age, he was chosen King by the Mercians and Nor∣thumbrians, both which people he gouerned vnder the title of King of Mercia, for the space of two yeeres befor his brothers death, and then succeeded him in the whole Monarchie.

EDRED THE TVVENTIE SE∣VENTH * 1.1317 * 1.1318 KING OF THE VVEST-SAX∣ONS, AND TWENTIE EIGHTH MONARCH OF THE ENGLISHMEN, HIS ACTS, RAIGNE, AND ISSVE. CHAPTER XL.

[illustration]

EDred, the sixth sonne of King Edward, borne vnto him by Queene Edgiua * 1.1319 his third and last wife, at the age of twenty three yeeres succeeded his bro∣ther King Edmund in the nonage of his children in al his dominions, and was the twenty seuenth King of the West-Saxons, and the twentie eight Monarch of the Englishmen. He began his raigne in the yeere of Mans saluation 946. and was annointed, and * 1.1320 crowned at Kingston vpon Thames in the County of Surrey vpon Sūday the seuenteenth day of August by the hands of Otho Archbishop of Canterbury.

(2) His Coronation robes scarsly put off; news was brought him that the Northumbrians had re∣uolted and stirred a dangerous insurrection; notwith∣standing the Couenants that his brother Edmund had made with Malcolme King of the Scots to secure the same. Therfore lest delaies might proue dan∣gerous, with a great Army hee entred into the verge of Scotland, without sight of enemy, or any resistance. But peace being concluded betwixt E∣dred, Malcolme and the Northumbrians; yea and the * 1.1321 same confirmed strongly by oath, yet was it little re∣garded of the last named lurers; for no sooner was Edred returned, but that they sent into Ireland for Anlafe, the sonne of Gurmo the Dane, who had been expelled the Country as we haue said.

(3) Anlafe gathering a fleete and forces accor∣dingly, came into Northumberland, where he was with great ioy receiued and made their King, which * 1.1322 title hee maintained for foure yeeres continuance, banding against Edred, and still holding him play, till lastly the Northumbrians disloiall to both, took their feather out of Anlafe his plume, and sent him pack∣ing to the place, whence he came, electing one He∣ricus King in his stead. * 1.1323

(4) Edred awaked with the wasts that they made, prepared a iourney into those parts, where with fire and sword hee bare downe all before him; and albeit he was a man religiously bent, yet spared he not the Abbey of Rippon from flames, but laid all vnto ashes as he went, the enemy not daring to shew the face. In his returne suspecting no perill, sud∣dainely an hoast brake out of Yorke, and fell vpon the Rere-ward of his Army, marching but carelesly, * 1.1324 and broken out of their array, whereby many peri∣shed before any complete order of resistance could be made. The King seeing this bold attempt of these Rebels, stroke downe his standard, turning his face againe to the North, and threatened the reuenge, with the Countries spoile and their liues.

(5) In this plot of sedition Wolstan Archbishop of * 1.1325 Yorke had sowne some seed of treason, both in the assistance of action, and counsell for the enterprise, very ill beseeming a man of his ranke: this Wolfe therfore hauing thus awaked the Lion from rest, was the onely man that fell in his pawes; for the Nor∣thumbrians expulsing their statelesse Hericus with sub∣missiue teares and golden showers, so pacified the King, that their offences were therewith cleane wa∣shed away: but hee good man (a Saint at the least) was mued vp in prison (against whom accusations daily came, and namely, that he had commaunded sundry of the Burgesses of Thetford to bee slaine) where heeabode till he was by Edred vpon a reue∣rent regard of his calling, released from thence: for as this King is commended for his lenity towards the vertuous; so is he no lesse for his iustice towards the vitious, and for the practise of his Religion, as * 1.1326 forward as any, suffering not onely his manners to be reproued and corrected, (a quality truely roiall, and best beseeming Princes) but also (so much below the pitch of soueraigne Maiesty) his body to bee chastised at the will and direction of Dunstan Abbot

of Glasenbury; vnto whose custody, he also commit∣ted the greatest part of his treasure and richest iewels to be lockt in his chests, and vnder the keyes of this Monastery.

(6) The stately Abbey of Mich at Abington neere Oxford built by King Inas, but destroyed by the Danes, he newly repaired, indowing it with lands & * 1.1327 faire reuenewes, and confirmed the Charters with seales of gold: hee also ordained Saint Germans in Cornwal to be a Bishops See, which there continued till by Canutus it was annexed to the Episcopall See of Kyrton in Deuon, both which Sees were after∣ward by King Edward the Confessor translated to the City of Excester: but sith the brightest day hath his night, and the highest tide his present ebbe, what maruaile is it, if then Edred in the middest of his strength were seazed vpon by sicknesse and death, which surprised him after hee had raigned in great honour nine yeeres and odde moneths, to the great griefe of his Subiects, who solemnly interred him in the old Minster within the City of Winchester, the yeere of Christ Iesus 955. whose bones with other Kings, to this day are preserued in a guilt Coffer, fixed vpon the wall in the south side of the Quier.

His Issue.

(7) Elfred, the sonne of King Edred, was borne before his Father was King; neither find I mention * 1.1328 of his Mother, or any act by him done; onely in the sixt yeare of King Edred his raigne, which was the yeere of Grace, 952. he is mentioned for a witnesse to his Fathers graunt of lands in Wittenham, to Ethel∣wolfe a Duke of England in those daies, as appeareth by the Charter thereof, bearing date in the yeere a∣foresaid.

(8) Bertfrid an other, and as it seemeth an elder sonne of King Edred, was borne before his father * 1.1329 was King, without any mention also of his Mother, who liuing in the second yeare of his fathers raigne, namely Anno, 948. was written for a witnesse in the same yeare, to his grant of lands in Bedlaking, to Cu∣thred one of his Barons, the Charter whereof is extant to bee seene vnto this day.

EDVVY THE TVVENTIE EIGHTH KING OF THE VVEST-SAXONS, AND * 1.1330 * 1.1331 TWENTIE NINTH MONARCH OF THE ENGLISHMEN: HIS RAIGNE, ACTS, AND DEATH. CHAPTER XLI.

[illustration]

EDwy, the eldest sonne of King Edmund, after the de∣cease of his vncle Edred, * 1.1332 succeeded him in his do∣minions, and was the twentie eighth King of the West-Saxons, and the twen∣tie ninth Monarch of the Englishmen: he began his raigne in the yeare of the worlds saluation, 955. and was annointed & crowned at Kingston vpon Thame∣sis, by the hands of Otho the 22. Archbishop of Can∣terbury.

(2) Yong hee was in yeares, and vitious of life, if the Monkish Story-writers of those times * 1.1333 his deadly enemies may be credited, not past thir∣teene when he entred gouernment, and that begun with a capitall sinne: for they report, that vpon the solemne day of his Coronation, and insight of his Nobles, as they sate in Counsell, with shamelesse and vnprincelike lust, he abused a Lady of great estate, & his neere kinswoman, whose husband shortly after he slew, the more freely to possesse his incestuous pleasure: and to fill the pennes of his further infa∣my ready to their hands, that wrote his life, hee was a great enemy vnto the Monkish orders (a sore in those dayes very tender to be touched, and may well be thought the cause of many false aspersions on him,) whom from the Monastery of Malmsbury Glasenbury and others, hee expelled, placing mar∣ried Priests in their roomes: Dunstan likewise the * 1.1334 Abbot Saint of Glasenbury hee banished the Realm,

for his ouer-bold reprehensions; if not rather for retaining the treasure deliuered him by King Edred, and demaunded againe in his sicknesse; when by the voice (forsooth) of an Angell from heauen, his * 1.1335 iourney was staid, and those rich Iewels not deliue∣red the King in his life; I will not say kept backe, lest Dunstan with Balaam (whose stories are not much vnlike) should bee thought to follow (as he * 1.1336 did) the wages of deceit.

(3) Howsoeuer, the reuerent opinion of the Monks single life, and the conceiued holines of Ab∣bot Dunstan in those misty times, did daily counter∣poize * 1.1337 young Edwy in esteeme, which made his best acts construed, and recorded to the worst; insomuch that his Subiects minds, ebbing as the Sea from the full, drew backe the current of their subiectiue affe∣ctions, and set the eye of obedience vpon Prince Ed∣gar his Brother: and albeit his young yeeres may seeme to cleare him from the imputation of so lust∣ful a fact, as he is charged with, at the day of his assu∣ming the Crowne; and the separation from his wife, (as too neere in consanguinity) wrought griefe en∣ough in his distressed heart, yet pittilesse of his e∣state, and carelesse of their owne allegiance, the Mer∣cians with the Northumbrians did vtterly cast off obe∣dience, and sweare their fealty to Edgar, not fully foureteene yeeres aged: Ed•…•… then raigning in a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 decaying estate, was he•…•…d of such his subiects, in no * 1.1338 better esteeme, then was Iehoram of Iudah, who is said to haue liued without being desired: for very griefe whereof after foure yeares raigne hee ended his life, the yeare of our Lord 959: whose body was buri∣ed in the Church of the new Abbey of Hide at Win∣chester, erected without the Wall in the North of that City.

His Wife.

(4) Elfgine, the wife of King Edwy, was a Lady of great beauty, and nobly descended, yea, and by some deemed somewhat too neare in the bloud roiall, to bee matched with him in spousall bed: her fathers name is not recorded, but her mother was Etheigiue, whom some scandalized to haue beene his Concu∣bine, and the onely causer of Dunstans banishment. The subiects disliking of this vnlawfull marriage, & further instigated by the Monkes, (whose humo∣rous * 1.1339 pleasures, or displeasures could very much sway the state in those daies,) failed by degrees to performe their duties to their King, and her they likewise enforced to a separation, in the third yeere of his regardlesse gouernment, and of Christ Iesus, 958. without other mention of her life or death.

EDGAR SVRNAMED THE * 1.1340 * 1.1341 PEACEABLE THE THIRTIETH MONARCH OF THE ENGLISH-MEN, HIS RAIGNE; ACTS, WIVES AND ISSVE. CHAPTER XLII.

[illustration]

EDgar, the second son of King Edmund hauing raig∣ned * 1.1342 two yeares ouer the Mercians and Northumbri∣ans, in the dayes of Edwy his Brother, to the great impairing of King Edwyes reputation and esteeme; after his death at sixeteen yeares of age was chosen to succeed in all his dominions, and was the thirtieth Monarch of the Englishmen, or rather now of whole England, all other titles of Kingdomes falling vnder his scepter, and becomming Prouinces annexed vnto his absolute Monarchie.

(2) He beganne his raigne in the yeere of Christs Natiuity, 959. and was crowned (as some write) the same yeare at Kingston, vpon Thamesis, by Otho * 1.1343 Archbishop of Canterbury. But Randulphus Higden in his Polychronicon, referreth it to the twelfth yeere of his raigne: William Monke of Malmesbury to the thirtieth yeare of his age, and the Sax Chronicle

of Worcester Church, to the yeere of Christ, 972, and that in the City of Bath, hee was annointed and con∣secrated with great solemnity by Dunstan Archbi∣shop of Canterbury.

(3) The raigne of this King is said to haue beene altogether in a calme tranquility, and therefore hee was surnamed the Peaceable; his vertues were many, * 1.1344 and vices not a few, the one gloriously augmented, and the other fairely excused, by those Monkish wri∣ters, vnto whose professions he was most fauoura∣ble: his Guides were Dunstan Archbishop of Can∣terbury, Ethelwold Abbot of Glasenbury, and Oswald Bishop of Worcester, three stout Champions against the married Clergie, (for women in those dayes were great bugs in their eyes,) therfore the married Priests he displaced, & brought in Monkes of single life to possesse their roomes, whose sinnes of incontinency grew after to be great, as the world did then witnes, which caused Treu•…•…sa the translator of Higden, to blame King Edgar, charging him to bee lewdly mo∣ued in following their counsell against married * 1.1345 Clerkes.

(4) So doe Malmsbury and Higden taxe him with too fauourable affections towardes the Danes, who * 1.1346 dwelled alike in euery town with the English, though formerly they had sought the destruction of all, and still lay in wait attending for the spoile of his true subiects, who apt enough vnto euil, lerned the beastly sinne of quaffing, and emptying of cups, which King Edgar was enforced to redresse, by enacting a law against excessiue drinking, ordaining a size by certaine pinnes set in the pot, with penalties to any that should presume to drinke deeper then the marke.

(5) His policie was no lesse prudent (but much more successefull) for the destruction of Wolues, that in his daies did great annoiance to the land; for the tribute imposed vpō the Princes of Wales by the Eng∣lish * 1.1347 King Ethelstan (as we haue said) he wholy remit∣ted, and in lieu thereof, appointed certaine numbers * 1.1348 of Wolues yeerely to bee paid; and Ieuaf, or Iage Prince of North-Wales, did for his part pay him yeere∣ly three hundred, which continued for three yeeres space, but in the fourth was not a Wolfe to bee found, and so the tribute ceased.

(6) His Nauie roiall, containing three thousand and sixe hundred ships, he diuided into three parts, appointing euery of them to a seuerall quarter to waffe the Seas, and secure the coasts from Pirats, and * 1.1349 forraine enemies, wherein himselfe euery summer would saile with those in the East parts, vnto those in the West, and sending them backe to their charge, would with the West saile into the North, and with the northerne fleete compasse againe into the East, whereby the seas were scowred, and his Kingdom ex∣ceedingly strengthned.

(7) The like custome vsed he in the winter sea∣son in his ieysts, and circuits throughout his Coun∣try, * 1.1350 so to take account of the administration of his lawes, and the demeanour of his great men, especial∣ly of his Iudges, whom seuerely he punished, so often as he found the execution of their places ballanced either with bribery or partiality; so that there was neuer lesse robbery, deceit or oppressions, thē in the raigne of this worthy King.

(8) His state thus flourishing in peace and prospe∣rity, he caused diuers Princes to bind themselues vn∣to his allegiance, but perchanceit may iustly be doub∣ted, whether in such performance of homage and seruice, as Malmsbury, Florentius, Randulphus, Ma∣rianus, Houeden, and other writers affirme to haue * 1.1351 beene at the City Chester, where (they say) Kennadie King of Scots, Malcolme of Cumberland, Maxentius an Arch-Pirate, with the petty King of Wales, Duff∣nall, Griffith, Hunal, Iacob, and Indithil, did with oares row his Barge vpon the riuer Dee, from his Pallace to Saint Iohns Church, and thence againe backe to his Pallace, himselfe the while steering the helme, and saying in his glory that then his successors might trulie account themselues Soueraigne Kings of England, when they enioyed such a Prerogatiue of sublimity, and supreme honour: although (saith M. Fox) he might much bet∣ter, and more Christianlike haue said, God forbid that * 1.1352 I should reioice, but in the Crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ.

(9) Warres he had none in all his raigne; onely towards the end, the Welshmen moued some rebel∣lion, which to preuent, hee assembled a mighty Army, and therewith entred into the County of Glamorgan, sharply punishing the ringleaders there∣of, * 1.1353 but his souldiers doing great harms in the coun∣try, laden with spoiles for the returne, the King out of his bounty commanded all to be againe restored, whereby hee purchased singular loue and honour of the inhabitants.

(10) To his magnanimity was ioined much de∣uotion, * 1.1354 but most especially towards the Monks, for whom, and for Nunnes hee built and repaired forty seuen Monasteries, intending to haue continued their number vnto fifty, as himselfe testifieth in these words of his Charter.

The Monasteries, aswell of Monks as of Virgins haue beene destroied, and quite neglected throughout England, * 1.1355 which I haue now determined to repaire to the glory of God for my soules health, and so to multiply the number of Gods seruants and handmaides: and now already I haue set vp forty seuen Monasteries with Monks and Nunnes in them, and if Christ spare me life so long, I am determined in offering my deuout munificence to God, to proceed to fifty, euen to the iust number of a Iubilee.

And by this his Charter did not onely approue the enlargement of S. Maries Monasterie in Worce∣ster, * 1.1356 and the restoring of Votaries in stead of married Priests, but himselfe either new founded or repaired many others, as the house of Ely, Glasenbury, Abing∣ton, Burgh, Thorney, Ramsey, Wilton, Wenton, Win∣chorne and Thumstocke with great cost, and large en∣dowments, hauing the Clergie in an high and re∣uerent esteeme, and most of all his Confessor Dun∣stan: but with this wheate, there were tares grow∣ing, though the late Monkish Writers bind them vp for good corne: for some men tell (saith Randulphus Higden) that Edgar in his beginning was cruell to Citi∣zens, * 1.1357 and lecherous to maidens, whereof these his acti∣ons ensuing beare sufficient witnes.

(11) The first was committed against the virgine Wolfhild, a sacred Nunne as some affirme, though * 1.1358 others somwhat mitigating that sacrilegious offence, haue reported, that she to auoid his fleshly and las∣ciuious lust, was forced to take the habite of a Men∣chion vpon her, and in the same brought to his bed, wherein the chast S. Edith was begot, and for whom, say they, he vnderwent his seuen yeeres pe∣nance * 1.1359 without the wearing of his Crowne.

(12) A like offence hee committed against the virgine Ethelfleda, the daughter of Ordmar a Duke a∣mong the East-Angles, who for her surpassing beau∣ty was surnamed the White; on whom he begat his eldest sonne Edward; for which fact as M. Fox affir∣meth, hee did his seuen yeeres penance inioined by Dunstan: and indeed by Osberne it appeareth, that Edward was not legitimate, where he writeth, that * 1.1360 the child begotten of the harlot, he baptized in the holy fountaine of regeneration, and so giuing his name to bee called Edward, did adopt him to bee his sonne. With whom agree Nicholas Trinet in his English story, * 1.1361 written in French, Iohannes Paris in his French sto∣ry, written in Latine, both of them calling Edward a sonne illegitimate; as also doth Vincentius and Antoninus, howbeit William of Malmsbury, Mathew * 1.1362 Paris, Mathew of Westminster, Randulphus and o∣thers, will haue her his first and lawfull wife, and Edward in true matrimony to haue descended from them.

(13) An other instance of his lasciuious life is produced by the forenamed Writers, and thus both occasioned and acted. It chanced Edgar to heare a Virgine and daughter to a Westerne Duke, excee∣dingly * 1.1363

praised for her incomparable beauty, the touch of which string from his care resounded to his heart, and as a bait it drew him presently into those parts; where comming to Andeuer, commanded the damsell to his bed: The mother tender of the Virgins honour, brought in the darke her maid, but not her daughter, who, all as well pleased the King in his sinnefull dalliance: the day approching, this late laid maid made hast to arise; but the King loth to part yet with his supposed faire Lady, demanded why she made such hast? who answered him, that her taske was great, and hardly would her worke be done, if day should preuent her ere she rose; but yet being staied aboue her howre, vpon her knees she made this humble request, that shee might be freed from her shrewde dame, alleadging, it was not fitting, that the woman who had tasted the pleasures of a Kings embracements, should endure a serui∣tude vnder the rule of any other. The King percei∣uing the deceit, and therewith moued to wrath, yet could not recall what hee had done (or rather vn∣done) and therefore turned his conceiued wrongs vnto a iest; but so, that hee both sharpely checked the deceiuer, and kept this damsell, (whose night∣worke and pleasance had fully wonne him) for his Concubine, whereby she ruled them that lately had the command of her: and to vse the words of Malms∣bury, he loued this Concubine most entirely, kee∣ping true faith of his bed to her alone, vntill the time he married for his lawful wife Elfrida the daugh∣ter of Duke Ordgarus.

(14) His last lasciuious Act, was as Dauids ioyned with bloud, and wrought in manner as followeth. * 1.1364 Fames lauish report of beauteous Elfrida (the paragon of her sexe, and wonder of Nature) the only daugh∣ter of Ordgarus Duke of Deuonshire, sounded so lowd * 1.1365 in those Westerne parts, that the Eccho thereof was heard into King Edgars Court, and entred his eares, which euer lay open, to giue his eyes the scope of desire, and his wanton thoughts the raines of will: to trie the truth whereof, hee secretly sent his minion or fauourite Earle Ethelwold of East-Anglia, who well could iudge of beauty, and knew the diet of the * 1.1366 King; with Commission, that if the Pearle proued so orient, it should bee seized for Edgars owne wea∣ring, who ment to make her his Queene, and Ordga∣rus the Father of a King.

Ethelwold a iolly young Gallant, posted into De∣uonshire, and guest-wise visited Duke Ordgarus his Court, where seeing the Lady surpassing the report, blamed Fames ouer-sight for sounding her praise in so base and leaden a Trumpet; and wholy surpri∣sed with her loue, himselfe beganne to wooe the Virgin, yea, and with her Fathers good liking, so as the King would giue his assent. Earle Ethelwold re∣turning, related that the maide indeed was faire; but yet her beauty much augmented by babling reports, and neither her feature or parts any wise befitting a King. Edgar mistrusting no corriuall in his loue, nor dreaming false fellowship in wooing, did with a sleight thought passe ouer Elfrida, and pitcht his af∣fections the faster another way. Earle Ethelwold fol∣lowing the game now a foot, desired Edgars assistance to bring it to a stand, pretending not so much for any liking to the Lady, as to raise his owne fortunes to be her fathers heire, to which the King yeelded, and for his minion solicited Ordgarus, who glad to be * 1.1367 shrowded vnder the fauours of such a fauourite, wil∣lingly consented, and his daughters destinies assured to Earle Ethelwold.

The marriage solemnized, and the fruits thereof a short time enioyed; the fame of her beauty beganne againe to bee spread, and that with a larger Epi∣thite then formerly it had beene: Whereupon Ed∣gar much doubting of double dealing, laid his angle * 1.1368 faire to take this great gull; and bearing no shew of wrong or suspect, inuited himselfe to •…•…unt in hi•…•… Parks, and forthwith repairing into those parts 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not a little grace his old seruant, to the great ioy of Ordgarus the Duke: but Ethelwold mistrusting the cause of his comming, thought by one policy to disappoint another: and therefore reuealing the truth to his wife, how in his proceedings hee had wronged her beauty; and deceiued his Soueraigne, requested her louing assistance to saue now his en∣dangered life, which lay in her power, and of the meanes he thus aduised:

Like as (said he) the richest Diamond rough and vncut, yeelds neither sparkle nor esteeme of great * 1.1369 price, nor the gold vnburnished giues better lu∣stre then the base brasse; so beauty and feature clad in meane aray, is either sleightly looked at with an vnfixed eye, or is wholy vnregarded, and held of no worth; for, according to the Prouerbe, cloth is the man, and man is the wretch: then to preuent the thing that I feare, and is likely to proue my present ruine, and thy last wracke, conceale thy great beauty from King Edgars eye, and giue him entertainement in the meanest attires: let them (I pray thee) for a time bee the nightly curtaines drawne about our new-Nuptiall bed, and the day∣ly cloudes to hide thy splendent Sunne from his sharpe, and too too piercing sight, whose vigour & raies will soone set his waxen wings on fire, that ready are to melt at a farre softer heat. Pitch (thou seest) defileth the hand, and we are forbid to giue occasion of euill: vaile then thy fairenesse with the scarfes of deformity, from his ouer-lauish and vnmastered eye; for the fairest face drawes euer the gaze, if not the attempts, and natures endow∣ments, are as the bush for the wine, which being immoderately taken doth surfet the sense, and is a∣gaine cast vp with as loathing a tast. Of these dregs drunke Amnon after his fill of faire Thamar, Herod * 1.1370 of Mirami, & Aeneas of Dido; yea, and not to seeke examples farre off, King Edgars variation in his vn∣sted fast motion doth easily bewray it selfe: for could either holy Wolfhild, beautifull Ethelfled, or the wanton Wench of Andeuer, keepe the needle of his compasse certaine at one point? nothing lesse, but it was still led by the load-stone of his euer mutable and turning affections. But thou wilt say, hee is religious, and by founding of Mo∣nasteries hath expiated those sinnes. Indeed ma∣ny are built; for which time and posterities must thanke holy Dunstan, from whose deuotion those good deeds haue sprung: but is thy person holi∣er then sacred Wolfhilds; thy birth and beauty grea∣ter then Ethelfled the White, daughter also to a Duke? * 1.1371 the former, of an holy Votary, hee made the sinke of his pollution; and the later is branded to all ages, by the hatefull name of a Concubine, and her sonne among vs esteemed for a Bastard. These should bee motiues to all beauteous and ver∣tuous Ladies, not to sell their honours at so low and too-late repented a price. Neither think (sweet Countesse) that thy husband is iealous, or suspects thy constancy, which I know is great, and thy selfe wholy complete with all honourable vertues: but yet consider I pray thee, that thou art but young, & maist easily be caught, especially of him that is so old a Master of the game; neither perswade thy selfe of such strength, as is able to hold out so great an assault; for men are mighty, but a King is much more. I know thou art wise, and enough hath been said, onely let mee adde this, that euill beginnings haue neuer good ends: and so with a kind kisse; hoping hee had wonne his Wife to his Will, prepared with the first to welcome King Edgar.

Lady Elfrida thus left to her selfe, began seriously to thinke vpon this Curtaine Sermon, whose text she distasted, being taken out of an ouer-worne and threed-bare cloth prouerbe, as though her fortunes had been wholly residing, and altogether consisting in her parentage and apparell, but nothing at all in any parts of her self•…•…

Hath my beauty (thought she) been courted of * 1.1372

a King, famoused by report, compared with Helens, and now must be hid? Must I falsifie and bely Na∣tures bounties, mine owne value, and all mens re∣ports, only to saue his credit, who hath impaired mine, and belied my worth? And must I needs de∣foule my selfe, to be his only faire foule, that hath kept me from the State and seat of a Queene? I know the name of a Countesse is great, and the Wife of an Earle is honourable, yet no more then birth and endowments haue assigned for me, had my beauty been far lesse then it is. He warnes me of the end, when his owne beginnings were with tre∣chery; tels me the examples of others, but obserues none himselfe: he is not ielous, forsooth, and yet I must not looke out; I am his faire, but others pitch, fire, wine, bush, and what not? Not so holy as Wolf∣hild, nor so white as Ethelfled; and yet that must now be made far worse then it is. I would men knew the heate of that cheeke wherein beauty is bla∣zed, then would they with lesse suspect suffer our faces vnmaskt, to take aire of their eies, and wee no whit condemnable for shewing that which cannot be hid, neither in me shall, come of it what will.

And thus resoluing to bee a right woman, desired nothing more then the thing forbidden, and made preparation to put it in practise. Her body shee en∣dulced with the sweetest balmes, displaied her haire, and bespangled it with pearles, bestrewed her breasts * 1.1373 and bosome with rubies and diamonds, rich Iewels glittering like starres depended at her necke, and her other ornaments euery way sutable. And thus, rather Angell, then Lady-like, shee attended the approach and entrance of the King, whom with such faire obei∣sance and seemely grace she receiued, that Edgars gree∣die eye presently collecting the raies of her shining beauty, became a burning glasse to his heart, and the sparkle of her faire falling into the traine of his loue, set all his senses on fire: yet dissembling his passions, he passed on to his game, where hauing the false E∣thelwold at aduantage, he ranne him through with a Iaueline, and tooke faire Elfrida to his wife. * 1.1374

(15) These were the vertues and vices of this King, little in personage, but great in spirit, and the first vnresisted Monarch of the whole Land, whom all the other Saxons acknowledged their supreme, with∣out diuision of Prouinces or title. He raigned sixteene yeeres and two moneths in great tranquillity and ho∣nour, and died vpon tuesday the eighth of Iuly, the thirty seuenth of his age, and yeere of Christ 975. whose body with all funerall solemnitie was buried * 1.1375 in the Abbey of Glasenburie.

His Wiues.

(16) Ethelfled, the first wife of King Edgar, was surnamed in the Saxon English En•…•…a, in Latine Can∣dida, which with vs is White, because of her exceeding great beauty. Shee was the daughter of a Duke a∣mongst the East-Angles, named Ordmar, and was mar∣ried * 1.1376 vnto him the second yeere of his raigne, and the eighteenth of his age, being the yeere of Christs Na∣tiuitie 961. She was his wife not fully two yeeres, and died the fourth of his raigne, in Anno 962.

(17) Elfrida, the second wife of King Edgar, was the widow of slaughtered Ethelwold, of whom wee * 1.1377 haue said. She was daughter to Ordgarus, and sister to Ordulfe, both of them Dukes of Deuonshire, and the Founders of Tauestoke Abbey in that Countie: a La∣die of passing great beauty, and as ambitious as faire: for after the Kings death, she procured the murther of King Edward her sonne in law, that her owne sonne Ethelred might come to the Crowne: and afterwards to pacifie his and her first husbands ghost, and to stop * 1.1378 the peoples speeches of so wicked a fact, she founded the Abbeys of Ambresbery & Whorwell, in the Coun∣ties of Wiltshire and South-hampton.

His Children.

(18) Edward, the eldest sonne of King Edgar and Queene Ethelfled his first wife, was born in the fourth * 1.1379 yeere of his fathers raigne, and a little before his mo∣thers death, in the yeere of Christ Iesus 962. He was a child disposed to all vertue, notwithstanding great meanes was made by his mother in law for the disin∣heriting of him, and the preferment of her owne son to the succession of the Crowne; yet by prouident care taken in the life time of his father, he succeeded him after his death, as right heire both of his king∣dome and conditions.

(19) Edmund, the second sonne of King Edgar, and * 1.1380 the first of Queene Elfrida his second wife, was borne in the seuenth yeere of his fathers raigne, being the yeere of grace 965. He liued but foure yeeres, and died in his infancie, in the twelfth yeere of his fathers raigne, and was honourably enterred in the Monaste∣rie of Nunnes, at Ramsey in Hampshire, which King Ed∣gar had founded.

(20) Ethelred, the third sonne of King Edgar, and * 1.1381 the second of Queene Elfreda his second wife, and the last of them both, was borne in the eighth yeere of his fathers raigne, and yeere of saluation 966. He was ver∣tuously inclined, beautifull in complexion, and com∣ly of stature; at the death of his father being but se∣uen yeers old, and at his brothers murther ten: which deed he sore lamented, to the great discontentment of his mother, who for his aduancement had com∣plotted the same, and wherein at th•…•…se yeeres he vn∣willingly succeeded him.

(21) Edgith, the naturall daughter of King Edgar, * 1.1382 had to her mother a Lady named Wolfhild, the daugh∣ter of Wolshelm, the sonne of Byrding, the sonne of Ne∣sting, the two latter bearing in their names the memo∣rie of their fortunes: the last of them being found in an Eagles nest, by King Elfred as he was on hunting. This Edgith was a vailed Nunne in the Monastery of Wilton, and according to some Authors, made Ab∣besse thereof by her father at fifteene yeeres of age, saith her Legend. She died the fifteenth day of Sep∣tember, the yeere of her age twenty three; the sixt of her brother King Ethelreds raigne, and of Christ Iesus 984. By all which accounts it is manifest, that she was borne before Edward, and by Master Fox proued, that * 1.1383 for him, and not for her, King Edgar did his seuen yeeres penance. She is greatly commended for her chastitie and beauty, which later she somewhat aug∣mented with more curious attire then to her profes∣sion was beseeming: for which Bishoppe Ethelwold * 1.1384 sharply reproued her; who answered him roundly, that God regarded the heart more then the garment, and that sins might bee couered as well vnder rags as robes.

This Edgith, as Iohn Capgraue reporteth, after the * 1.1385 slaughter of her brother Edward, the holy Archbishop Dunstan would haue aduanced to the Crown, & inue∣sted her against Ethelred the lawfull heire, had she not by the late experience of Edwards fall, vtterly refused that title, which neither belonged to her right, nor was safe for her person to vndertake. Her body was buried at Wilton, in the Monastery and Church of Saint Denisse, which her selfe had caused to bee built.

EDVVARD SVRNAMED THE * 1.1386 MARTYR THE THIRTIE ONE * 1.1387 MONARCH OF THE ENGLISH-MEN, HIS RAIGNE, AND DEATH. CHAPTER XLIII.

[illustration]

GReat were the troubles & sidings that presently en∣sued * 1.1388 the death of King Ed∣gar, about the election of one of his sons to succeed; Queene Elfrida with Al∣ferus Duke of Mercia, and many other Nobles com∣bined for young Ethelred, disauowing Prince Edward as illegitimate, and therfore not reputable for suc∣cession: against them and Ethelred stood Dunstan and the Monkes, holding their states dangerous, & their new-gotten footing vnsure, if in the nonage of the King, these their opposites should rule all vnder him; whereas Edward was altogether wrought in their * 1.1389 mould; whose title they abetted, as being lawfully borne, and begot in the nuptiall bed of Queene E∣thelfleda. Their claimes thus banded amongst these States-men, began to be diuersly affected among the Commons, and had put the game to the hazard, if the wisedome of Dunstan had not seene to the chase; for a Councell being assembled to argue their rights, the Archbishop came in with his banner and crosse, and not staying for further debating de iure, did de facto, present Prince Edward for their lawfull King; and the assembly consisting most of Clergy-men, per∣swading peace, drew the approbation of the rest, and so was the Prince admitted and proclaimed their So∣ueraigne.

(2) He beganne his raigne at twelue yeares of age, in the yeare of Saluation 975 and was soone after by * 1.1390 Archbishop Dunstan crowned King at Kingston vpon Thamesis: being the thirtie one Monarch (since Hengist) of the Englishmen. His beginning was mi∣serably afflicted with barrennesse of the ground▪ 〈◊〉〈◊〉 mine amongst his people, morrai•…•… 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉 their further terrour, a fearefull•…•… 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉: * 1.1391 which men thought to bee signes from heauen, as sent from God, for the sinnes committed against the married Clergy, whose cause was much pittied, espe∣cially of the Nobles, & whose complaints of wrongs they instantly vrged, that without deserts they were expulsed from their ancient possessions; a thing which neither God nor goodmen euer allowed, and was contrary to the prescript rule of Christ, that wils * 1.1392 vs to doe, as wee would be done vnto: whereto the Monkes answered, that Christ respected neither the person nor place, but onely them that tooke vp the Crosse of Penance and followed him, as themselues in their single life pretended to doe. But they good men little knew the incumbrances of wiuing; for o∣therwise they would haue felt, that the condition of the married, was more truly a suffering of the Crosse, and enduring of Penance.

(3) These Church men thus diuided and rent, were diuersly sided as affection did moue, and that not onely of the meaner sort, but euen of the Nobles & great Ones; for the Mercian Duke Alferus fauou∣ring * 1.1393 the iust cause of married Priests, destroied the Monasteries in his Prouince, cast out the Monkes, and restored againe the ancient reuenewes to them & their wiues: contrariwise, in East-Anglia the Priests went to wracke, where the Monks were maintained by the authority of Edelwin their Duke, who in their quarrell, with the assistance of his brother Alfred, and of Brightuoth Earle of Essex, raised a mighty Ar∣my, and stood with that power for their defence.

(4) The fire thus blown from a sparke to a flame, was feared to mount higher, if not quenched in time, and therefore by mediation, armes laid aside, the cause was referred to be heard in Councel, & at Win∣chester first the assembly was held, where after long disp•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…ch against the Monkes it was greatly 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 •…•…ide had 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…own 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…at the mat∣•…•… 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 vp∣on

the refectorie Wall, where the Councell sate. To this great Oracle S. Dunstan, desired them deuoute∣ly to pray, and to giue diligent eare for an answere: who, with as great bounty, as they in deuotion, made * 1.1394 it not squemish to giue them this aduice; God forbid it should be so, God forbid it should be so (said he,) you iud∣ged well once, and to change that againe is not good.

This was authority sufficient to suppresse the Priests, who now with their wiues went downe the wind; and indeed too blame they were to suspect this their Iudge, who neuer was heard to giue wrong sentence before: but they vnsatisfied men, thought once more to blow the coale, though therewith they were likely to burne their owne lips; for per∣swading the people, that this was but a subtile pra∣ctise of the Monks, in placing behind the wall a man of their owne, who through a truncke vttered those * 1.1395 words in the mouth of the Roode; it was therfore instantly desired, that the cause might once more come to scanning.

(5) This lastly was granted, and a great assem∣bly congregated at Cleue in Wiltshire, whither re∣paired * 1.1396 the Prelates with most of the States of the land, besides Gentlemen and Commons an innu∣merable sort.

This Synode being set, and the controuersie pro∣pounded, a hote and sharpe disputation ensued, and a while was maintained with many bitter inue∣ctiues, ill beseeming such persons: But whether through the weakenesse of the foundation, or the ouer-presse of weight, or both, the ioysts of this vpper-loft, wherein the Councell was held, suddain∣ly * 1.1397 brake, and down fell the floore with all the people thereon, whereof many were hurt, and some slaine outright, onely Archbishop Dunstan then Pre∣sident, and mouth for the Monkes remained vnhurt: for the Post whereon his chaire was set (and not without miracle) stood wholy vntouched. * 1.1398

Thus by this fall, fel the cause of the secular Priests; and the Monkish foundations vnderpropped with more surer pillars, Dunstan vuburdened of many imputations, the peoples affections drawne to the Monkes, and the Priests at liberty now to accompa∣ny their wiues without any cure, though not without care; and all this was wrought by the prouidence * 1.1399 of Dunstan, and his strange preseruarion on the post; no lesse wonderfull then that which with the like truth is related of him, how when a huge beam of a house was suncke out of the frame, and like to rui∣nate the whole building, with onely making of the signe of the Crosse thereon, with his fingers hee made it returne to his former place: so wonder∣fully potent was he in such woodden miracles. To which, why should wee not giue credite, since the very Harpe which hee had touched could worke miracles? as when of it selfe it sounded melodiou∣sly that Hymne, Gaudent in coelis animae Sanctorum, * 1.1400 &c. Yea sith the blessed virgine Mary her selfe, is said to haue come to solace him with her songs, Cantemus Domino Sociae, &c. For, as for Angels * 1.1401 singing familiarly vnto him, and Diuelsin shape of dogs, foxes and beares, whipped by him, that was but ordinary; as likewise his making the shee-diuel to roare, when comming to tempt him to dalliance, * 1.1402 in shape of a beautifull lasse, hee caught her by the nose with hote burning pincers, and so spoilde a good face. But to leaue those figments wherewith our Monkish stories are stuffed to the deluding of their Readers, and dishonouring of those, whom thereby they thinke to magnifie; let vs looke backe to yong Prince Edward.

(6) Who in all princely parts was an imitator of his Father, and for his modest gentlenesse worthily fauoured of all men: but as enuy is alwaies the at∣tendant of vertue; so had he them that much ma∣ligned his life, namely, the fauourites of Prince E∣thelred, whereof Queene Elfrida his mother was chiefe, who lastly betraied him, and that in this ma∣ner.

(7) King Edward for his disport was hunting in * 1.1403 a forrest neere vnto the sea, vpon the south-east shore of the County Dorset, and in the Iland Purbeck; not farre off, vpon a small riuer, stood pleasantly seated a faire and strong Castle called Corfe, where his mother in law Queene Elfrida, with his brother Prince E∣thelred, were then therein residing: Edward that e∣uer * 1.1404 had beene louing to both, held it a kind office, now being so neere to visite them with his presence, and thereupon either of purpose or chance singled from his attendants, hee secretly stole from them all, and came alone to the castle gate.

(8) The Queene who had long laine in wait for occasions, now tooke this as brought to her hand, * 1.1405 and therefore with a face as meaning no guile, shee humbly and cheerefully gaue the King welcome, de∣siring him to grace her and her sonne with his pre∣sence for that night; but hee with thanks refused the offer, as fearing least his company would soone find him missing, and craued onely of his mother a cup of wine, that in his saddle hee might drinke to her and his brother, and so bee gone. The cuppe was no sooner at his mouth, then a knife in his backe, which a seruant appointed by this trecherous Queene stroke into him; who feeling himselfe hurt set spurs to his horse, thinking to escape to his more faithfull company.

(9) But the wound being mortall, and he fain∣ting through losse of much bloud, fell from his horse, and one foot entangled in the stirruppe, hee * 1.1406 was thereby rufully dragde vp and downe through woods and lands; and lastly left dead at Corfes-gate: which hapned the eighteenth day of May, after hee had raigned three yeares and sixe (some say eight) monethes, the yeare of his age sixeteene, and of Christ Iesus 979. His body found, was first buried * 1.1407 at Warham without all funerall pompe, but after three yeeres by Duke Alferus remoued, and with great celebrity enterred in the Minster of Shaftesbury: and for this vntimely death, he gained the surname of Martyr.

(10) Queene Elfrida sore repenting her cruell and step-motherly fact, to expiate her guilt, and pacifie * 1.1408 the crying bloud of her slaine sonne, built the two said Monasteries of Almesbury and Worwell in the Counties of Wilt-shire and Southampton, in which la∣ter she liued with great repentance and penance vn∣till the day of her death, and in the same lieth her bo∣dy enterred.

These and other the like foundations built vp∣on the occasion of rapine & bloud, howsoeuer they may shew the sorrowfull repentance of their foun∣ders: yet their stones being laide with the simmond of murther, and the morter tempered with bloud, haue felt the wrath of him, who by his Prophet hath pronounced, that from the wall the stone shall crie, and the beame out of the timber shall answere it; Woe vnto him that buildeth a towne with bloud, and erecteth a City by iniquity. * 1.1409

ETHELRED COMMONLY CAL∣LED * 1.1410 * 1.1411 THE VNREADIE, THE TVVO AND THIRTIETH MONARCH OF THE ENGLISH-MEN, HIS WARS, RAIGNE, WIVES AND ISSVES. CHAPTER XLIIII.

[illustration]

EThelred the sonne of King Edgar, & brother to King * 1.1412 Edward the Martyr, at the age of twelue yeers entred * 1.1413 his gouernment ouer the Englishmen, the yeere of mans saluation, 979, and was the two and thirtieth Monarch since King Hen∣gist: he was crowned King at Kingston vpon Thamesis the foureteenth of April, being Easter day, by the hands of Dunstan Archbi∣shoppe of Canterbury, who did it much against his will.

(2) He was a man neither forward in action, nor fortunate in proceedings, and therefore commonly called the Vnready: his youth was spent in idlenes, feeding his senses with all voluptuous baites, his middle yeares with a carelesse gouernment, main∣taining * 1.1414 ciuill diss•…•…nsions, and his latter end deser∣uingly in continuall resistance of the bloud-thirsty Danes. With these imputations by writers hee is taxed, though we find no such iust cause in recor∣ding his life; but to such extreames are euen great Monarches themselues brought, that their breath and dignity once left and laid downe, they are sub∣iect to the censures of euery affectionate and ma∣lignant reporter. And that this King lay lyable to such mens humors, the working of Dunstan euer against him, is a sufficient witnes, who not onely did refuse to act his Coronation, but would haue preferred Lady Edgith a bastard before him to the Crown, as we haue said. And besides the generall * 1.1415 quarrell of the Monkes and married Priests, to which later himselfe and his Abetters were better inclined; his iust indi•…•…nation conceiued against the Bishop of Rochester, •…•…d that not pacified without the Bishops * 1.1416 submission and payment of money, was cause inough for those Monkish Writers to brand the Lords An∣nointed with their marks of infamie, vnto whom they impute the miseries of those times, and the destru∣ction of the English by the intruding Danes.

(3) These Danes had kept quiet euer since the disliked raigne of King Edwy, without any notable attempts, for the space of twenty two yeares: but now perceiuing the hearts of the subiects to bee drawn from their Soueraigne, they thought it a suf∣ficient occasion to forward their intendements; and omitting no time, in the second of his raigne with * 1.1417 seuen ships they arriued vpon the coast of Kent, spoiling the Country; but most especially the Iland Th•…•…at, from whence they did great hurt likewise to the towne of Southampton.

The English led in dislike of young Ethelreds go∣uernment, were the rather drawne to impute these and other aduersities to this vnfortunate Prince, by reason of a prediction of Dunstan, who had prophe∣sied, That they should not bee free from bloud and sword, * 1.1418 till there came a people of an vnknowne tongue, th•…•…t should bring them to thraldome: and that opinion was skrewed deeper into their fearefull conceit, by a cloud appearing of bloud and fire, immediately af∣ter his vnaffected Coronation.

(4) The next yeere, those •…•…ouing Da•…•…es entred the British Seas, and coasting to Cornwall destroied * 1.1419 there the Abbey of Saint Patrick, P•…•…land in De•…•…∣shire, * 1.1420 and many other places vpon those shores; the like was done vnto Cheshire by the Norway-P•…•…rates, which broke into those parts in the same yeare. * 1.1421

(5) And these calamities were seconded with o∣thers as fe•…•…full; for in the yeare 982. the City London was mise•…•…bly destroied and defaced by fire, * 1.1422 whose beauty then chiefly extended from Ludgate * 1.1423 westward; for, that within the walles, and where the

heart of the City is now, was then neither beautiful, nor orderly built; what time also raged a sicknesse till then vnknowne in England, which was a strong burning feuer, and bloody fluxe, as also scarsity of victuals, and murraine among cattle. This hand of * 1.1424 God thus correcting the sinnes of all, was receiued as sent for the offences of some few, and wholly imputed to the King and his Raisers; Dunstan still prophesying further woes to the land, when himselfe should be dead.

(6) The Danes hereupon more boldly assaulted each shore, and in so many placcs at once, that the * 1.1425 English were to seeke, where first to withstand. In * 1.1426 the West they were encountred by Goda Earle of Deuonshire, as saith Simon Dunelmensis, by whom they * 1.1427 were ouerthrowne, though with the losse of his life, * 1.1428 as also of Sternwold a man of great esteeme and va∣lour in those parts, who serued there vnder him.

(7) In the East their leaders Iustine and Guth∣mond warred with better successe; for at Malden * 1.1429 in Essex they gaue Brightnod the Earle, a great and bloody battaile, wherein himselfe with most of his people were slaine. The Danes thus prospering, more boldly went forward; and where they set their tallants, there they held fast, and lay on the land like vnto Grashoppers. These euils King E∣thelred could not redresse, his strengthes being small, and his subiects affections lesse; therefore calling to Counsell his Statesmen & Peeres, demanded their aduice what was best to bee done. Some few of these proffered the King their assistance, but more of them perswaded vnto a composition, whereof Siricius Archbishop of Caterbury was chiefe; and in fine, * 1.1430 ten thousand pounds paid to the Danes for their departure.

(8) This golden Mine once entred, was more ea∣gerly digged into, by these still-thirsting Danes, who finding the branch so beneficiall at first, hoped the veine in following, would proue farre more boun∣tifull, and therefore regardlesse of promise, the next yeere prepared themselues againe for England, and with a great fleete dispatched to sea: the newes * 1.1431 whereof strucke such terror into the English hearts, * 1.1432 that despairing of hope, they accounted themselues the bond-slaues of misery: The King therfore with much adoe prepared a Nauie, whereof hee made Elfrick Earle of Mercia Admirall; who setting from London vnto the seas, had power sufficient to put * 1.1433 backe the enemy: but hee once a traitor could ne∣uer proue true; for, hauing been banished, forgi∣uen, and now taken into fauour, found meanes to bee false, and to betray his charge; and sending the enemy intelligence of his power and intents, gaue the way to their escape; and another fleete of Danes en∣countring with the Kings, at first hee fainedly and faintly fought against; and lastly, turned to their side; through which treason many Englishmen died, and the Kings Fleete and power was greatly weake∣ned; but he escaping due punishment himselfe, left his sonne to answere the fault, whose eyes King Ethel∣red caused to be put out.

(9) About which time also another Danish Fleet entring Humber, wasted the countries of Yorkeshire * 1.1434 and Lyndsey: against these King Ethelred sent his power, vnder the charge of three valiant but treche∣rous * 1.1435 Captaines, namely, Frena, Godwin and Frede∣gist; for the battle but begun, these with their fol∣lowers fled away, which was the occasion of a great ouerthrow of the English; notwithstanding the coun∣try people not able to disgest their intollerable dea∣lings, fell vpon the Danes, slew some, and chased the rest. At what time also other of the Danes with ninety foure ships sailed vp the riuer Thamesis, and * 1.1436 laid their siege against London, giuing it a great as∣sault; but the Citizens thereof so manfully defen∣ded themselues, that they chased the Danes thence to their shame and great losse: yet fell they so foule vpon Essex, Kent, Sussex, and Hampshire, that the King was enforced to compound a peace, with the payment of sixteene thousand pounds: for confir∣mation whereof, Ethelred sent to Southampton for An∣laf these Norwegians King, and honourably enter∣tained him at Andeuer, where the same time he re∣ceiued Baptisme, King Ethelred taking him at the * 1.1437 Font for his God-sonne, and with great gifts returned into Denmarke without any further harme done to the English.

(10) But God and destiny suffering it, (that would haue the Saxons to fall before the Danes, as formerly the Britaines had done before them) no co∣uenant could be so surely made, but was as slackly in thē performed; for albeit this Anlaf honourably kept both faith and promise, yet others of his Coun∣try continued their inuasions, and as an other Hydra shewed their still-reuiuing heads.

(11) For the nineteenth yeare of King Ethelreds * 1.1438 most troublesome raigne, and of our saluation 997. the Danes with a great fleete sailed about Cornwall, and came into the mouth of Seuern, robbing, as they went, Deuonshire, Cornwal, and South-Wales: and mar∣ching further into the Continent, consumed Lydford, and the Abby of Saint Ordulfes at Essingstocke, thence passing through Dorsetshire with fire & sword, found not a man in the way to resist them, and wintering in the Wight liued by spoiles gotten in Hampshire and * 1.1439 Sussex.

(12) The next Spring they put into the mouth * 1.1440 of Thamesis, and so by the riuer Medway arriued at Rochester: thither the Kentish with their strengthes repaired, but vnfortunately fought, and left the field to the Danes, who shortly after hoised their sailes, & with a merry gale arriued in Normandy.

(13) King Ethelred thus rid of these his vnlooked * 1.1441 for guests, sought to remoue those leigers that lay in Cumberland, whither hee repaired, and with sore warre wasted the Country, before whose sword the Danes were notable to stand; which somewhat encouraged the spirits of his people, and bettered their conceits towardes him: but farre this sunne past not without a cloud, nor was his successe entailde to be fortunate.

(14) For the next yeare, those Danes that depar∣ted from Kent, came now from Normandy with their full sailes, and landing in Exmouth, their first and greatest fury was against the City of Exceter, which when they fiercely besieged, they were so valiantly * 1.1442 beaten by the Citizens, as that enraged aboue mea∣sure with the ignominy of that repulse, they thence as a sodaine floud bare downe all that stood in their way; and then plainely beganne to appeare the rise of the Danes, which euery where lorded it, where they had to doe, and the fall of the Saxons, whose ouer∣topped Monarchy, and weake walles now wanted props to hold vp the weight; for the Captains of the English (saith Higden) wanting lore in deeds of Arms, their direction neuer prospered; if ships were made they neuer sped well, but were either chased of the enemy, or destroied by tempest; if the Nobles e∣uer assembled to consult of the State, that time was rather spent in whetting the spleene each against o∣ther, then iointly agreeing how to redresse their pre∣sent danger, or to represse the common enemy: for most of the Nobles were allianced into the Danish * 1.1443 bloud, whereby not onely the secret of those con∣sultations were reuealed, but being imploied in ser∣uice, many of them reuolted to the enemy. The Clergy as backward as any, denied the King their * 1.1444 assistance, pleading their exemptions from warre, and priuiledge of the Church, when the land lay bleeding and deploring for helpe, and scandalized all his other proceedings for demaunding their aide: to these were ioined scarsity, hunger and robberies. These miseries caused the summes of their compo∣sitions to bee augmented, whose last was sixteene thousand, now twenty thousand, immediately twen∣ty four, then thirty, and lastly, forty thousand pounds, vntill the land was emptied of all the coine; the Kingdome of her glory; the Nobles of courage; the * 1.1445

Commons of their content, and the Soueraigne of his wonted respect and obseruance.

(15) The Danes thus preuailing; did not a little glory in their fortunes, and grieued the poore English, whose seruice they emploied to eare and till the ground, whilest themselues •…•…ate idle, & eate the fruit of their paines, abusing the wiues and daughters of their hosts where they lay, and yet in euery place for feare and reuerence were called the Lord-Danes, * 1.1446 (which afterwards becam a word of derision to such sturdy and lazy lozels) so that the like daies of miserie the land neuer felt. To redresse which, the carefull King Ethelred was farre too weake, and therfore inten∣ding to doe that by policy, which he could not by strength, he deuised a desperate stratagem that pro∣ued the destruction of the Saxons royall bloud, and * 1.1447 conquest of the land to another nation.

(16) For seeking to disburden the Realme of these deuouring Danes, which by open force hee could no waies doe; he attempted in a bloudy mas∣sacre to destroy them, giuing a secret commission vn∣to euery City within his dominions, that at an ap∣pointed time they should set vpon, and kill all the * 1.1448 Danes; the day was the thirteenth of Nouember, being the festiuall of S. Bricius, the yeare of Christ Iesus 1002, and presently after his marriage with Emma, the flower of Normandy; in confidence of which affinity, hee presumed to do what he did. His * 1.1449 commaund was accordingly performed, and with such rigour, that in Oxford the fearefull Danes for refuge tooke into the Church of S. Frideswyd, as into a Sanctuary of venerable antiquity and priui∣ledge among ancient Kings; but they in fury regar∣ding neither place nor person, set the Church on fire, * 1.1450 wherein were burned a great sort of those Danes with many rich ornaments, and the Library thereof vtter∣ly * 1.1451 defaced. At which time (if Malmsbury say true) King Ethelred himself was in that City, and had sum∣moned * 1.1452 a Parliament both of Danes and English, with which euen the King was much grieued: and there∣fore at his very great co•…•… beautifully repaired the Church, and all the losses accruing by the fire, en∣dowing it with large priuiledges and donations, as appeareth by his owne Charter, mentioning the * 1.1453 tenour of that Danish slaughter.

In this massacre, Lady Gunhild, sister to Swaine King of Denmarke, a great and continuall friend to the English, with her husband and sonne, together were slaughtered, although she lay in hostage vpon conditions of peace, whose husbands name was Palin∣gus (saith Malmsbury) an Earle of great might, & both of them Christians.

(17) Newes brought into Denmarke of this sud∣daine stratagem, no neede there was to vrge them to * 1.1454 reuenge, or to adde more fuell vnto that ouer kindled * 1.1455 fire; for preparation being made, the yeere ensuing, Swain with a great Nauy landed in the West, spoiled * 1.1456 the Country, and gaue assault to the City of Exceter, which by the trechery of one Hugh a Norman (whom * 1.1457 in the fauour of the Queen, King Ethelred had made Gouernour of that City) he razed and leuelled with the ground, all along from the Eastgate to the West.

This treason and stirres great of themselues, but made much more rufull in the relating, caused Ethel∣red presently to muster his men; ouer whom hee made Earle Edrik (for his couetousnes surnamed Stre∣ton) * 1.1458 his Generall, who bare a braue shew till it came to the push, and day of battle: but then to couer his treason, he fained himselfe sicke, and left his soul∣diers to shift as they could. The Danes hereupon rifled Wilton, and passing forward tooke Salisburie in their way, to which they were as welcome as wa∣ter into ships; but hearing that the King himselfe in person was preparing to giue them battle, they left the land, and tooke againe to sea.

(18) The next yeare following, (which was the twenty foure of King Ethelreds raigne, and of grace, * 1.1459 one thousand and foure,) King Swaine with a mighty * 1.1460 fleete of ships arriued vpon the coasts of Norffolke, where landing his men, hee made spoile of all be∣fore him, and comming to Norwich sacked the Ci∣ty, * 1.1461 with great slaughter of the Citizens; then tooke he Thetford, and set it on fire, notwithstanding hee had entred a truce with them: but for want of vi∣ctuall which then was scarse in the land, he returned to sea, and so into Denmarke. * 1.1462

(19 Where making preparation for another ex∣pedition, encreased his Nauie and number of men, * 1.1463 and the next Spring arriued at Sandwich, miserably desolating the Countries along the sea side, neuer * 1.1464 staying in any certain place, but to preuent the Kings Forces roued from coast to coast, euer carrying to their ships their booties and prayes, and to encrease the calamitie, the haruest was neglected, and in ma∣ny places spoiled, both for the want of labourers, & by the feet of the souldiers which lay in field all that season, who from place to place trauailed, al∣though in vaine-

Towards the Winter the Danes tooke into the Ile * 1.1465 of Wight, and in the deepest time thereof, passed through Hampshire, into Barkeshire, vnto Reading, Wallingford, Colesey, and Essington, making clean worke wheresoeuer they came; for that which they could not carry they consumed with fire, with triumphes euer returning to their ships.

(20) The King lying in Shrewsbury, vnable to re∣sist, * 1.1466 called to him his Councell, to consult what was best to bee done; whereof Edrik was a principall, and in so high esteeme with the King, that he crea∣ted him Duke of Mercia, and gaue him his daughter * 1.1467 Egith in marriage: notwithstanding, these gluts of fauours wrought onely the disgestion of falshood in him, who could taft nothing vnlesse it was saused with treason. This man, then the Kings onely A∣chitophel, perswaded him to pay thirty thousand * 1.1468 pounds to the Danes for their peace, whereof no doubt some fell into his owne Coffers.

(21) This intollerable imposition extorted of the Subiects especially at that time when the land was least able, made many suspect great matters against Edrik, and some did not feare to accuse him to his face, to bee the onely causer of this payment; char∣ging him as ouer-affectionated to the Danes, and to haue bewraied the Kings secrets and designes vnto * 1.1469 them: but he seated in the heart of his Soueraigne, rubd off this staine with a few fawnings, and a faire shew, being 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in wit subtle, in speech eloquent, * 1.1470 and for riches inferiour to none, (a stone that could turne euen great streames aside) so that these sup∣posals of treasons (as proceeding from enuy to him for his good seruices) wanne him greater trust, and sent he was Ambassador to the Danes to mediate for peace: where reuealing the weakenes of the land, and the feares which the English conceiued of a conquest, treacherously disswaded them from giuing * 1.1471 eare to any motiues of Truce.

(22) The State of the land thus standing, or ra∣ther * 1.1472 hanging at suspence, King Ethelred gaue order, that out of euery three hundred and ten hides of land a shippe should bee built, and of euery eight hides a complete Armour furnished. These mee∣ting at Sandwich, and furnished with souldiers, made * 1.1473 shew of such resistance, as had not beene seene, al∣though the euent was nothing but a shew. For Wil mot a Noble man of Sussex (banished for some of∣fence by King Ethelred) with twenty Sailes roued * 1.1474 vpon the coasts, and by Piracy did much hurt among the English Marchants: wherefore Brithrik the bro∣ther of Edrik to winne himselfe honour, got the Kings consent to pursue this grand-Pirate, with fourescore saile of the foresaid ships, threatning to bring in Wilmot either dead or aliue: but his sailes * 1.1475 being spread vnder a faire wind, a violent tempest sodainely arose, and outragiously droue his shippes vpon shore, where distressed and torne, their bea∣ten huls lay vnable to recouer themselues, or the Sea: Wilmot taking aduantage of this present mishap, fell 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vpon them, and after much slaughter of

their weather-beaten warders, set them all on fire; so that all this preparation proued not onely vaine, but also very hurtfull.

(23) At the receit of the said thirty thousand * 1.1476 pounds, the Danes departed, in semblance satisfied, and friends with the English; but how long that la∣sted the sequele shewed: for the next haruest, and yeere of saluation 1009. a great fleete of their ships * 1.1477 strongly appointed landed at Sandwich, vnder the conduct of three Danish Princes, Turkil, Henning and * 1.1478 Anlafe: these comming to Canterbury, were com∣pounded with by the Citizens, paying a thousand * 1.1479 pounds for their departure; who thence in the Wight, Sussex and Hampshire made hauoke of all. * 1.1480

King Ethelred seeing no truth in their promises, nor quietnesse; in State, his land thus exhausted of prouision and coine, thought it best to aduenture once for all, and to commit his cause vnto God, by the fortune of warre. To which end hee gathered his power, and comming vnlooked for, when the e∣nemy was altogether vnprepared, and taken at dis∣aduantage, he had made an end of the quarrell if wic∣ked Edrick had not perswaded him from fight, and put him into a causle sse feare with his forged tales. The Danes thus escaping returned to Kent, and the * 1.1481 winter following lodged their ships in the riuer Tha∣mesis, whence often they gaue assaies for London, though to little purpose.

(24) Then took they through the Chiltern woods vnto Oxford, which they fired, and in their returne wasted all the countries on both sides of Thamesis, * 1.1482 but hearing that London was prepared against them, they crossed ouer at Stanes, passing through Surrey into Kent, where they fell to amending their ships, and thence sailing about the coasts of Suffolke, tooke Ipswich, and pitched their battle vpon Rigmer, a∣gainst Vikel (Gouernour of Norffolke) and his English, * 1.1483 vpon the fift of May; where they wonne the day with a great slaughter made of the Suffolke, Norffolke, and Cambridge-shire men, and after harried those Countries with the borders of Lincolne and Hun∣tingtonshires; burning Thetford and Cambridge, and rifling all the Abbies and Churches that stood in their way, and then through Essex returned vnto their ships.

(25) Neither rested they there long in quiet, ere, * 1.1484 as people wholly deuoted to spoile, they brake into Buckinghame, Bedford, and Northampton-shiers, the chief Towne of which last, they set on fire after much slaughter of the Inhabitants; and thence entring Wiltshire depopulated all before them, which was the seauenth Shire in number that they had laid wast like a solitude.

(26) And now not satisfied with spoil nor bloud∣spilling, they prepare a new expedition for Canterbu∣ry, * 1.1485 and in September beleagered the Citie, which by treason of a Church-man they wonne, tooke Elphegus the Arch-Bishop, and slew nine hundred Monks and men of Religion, besides many Citizens, without all mercy: for they tithed the captiue multi∣tudes after an inuerted order, slaying all by nines, * 1.1486 and reseruing onely the tenth to liue; so that of all the Monkes in the towne there were but foure saued, and of the lay people foure thousand eight hundred, by which account M. Lambert collecteth * 1.1487 that there died in this massacre forty three thousand and two hundred persons.

The Archbishop Elphegus, for that he refused to charge his Tenants with three thousand pounds to * 1.1488 pay for his ransome, they most cruelly stoned to death at Greenewith the nineteenth of April follow∣ing.

Turkillus the Leader of these murtherers, tooke into his possession all Northfolke and Suffolke, ouer whom he tyrannized in most sauage maner. The rest compounding with the English for eight thousand pound soiourned a while quiet among them. * 1.1489

(27) But King Swaine hearing of the dissensions, and weakenesse of the land, in the yeare of Grace, * 1.1490 1013, with a great number of ships arriued in the mouth of Humber, and entring Trent landed at * 1.1491 Gainsborough; whose terrour stroke so deepe into the Northumbrians conceites, that they with them of Lyndsey yeelded themselues to the yoake of his subiection, so that now ouer all the North from Watling street he raigned sole King, and exacted pled∣ges from them for their further obedience. From the North hee sought to spread his wings further into the South, and leauing his sonne Canute to take * 1.1492 charge of his shippes, and new conquered countries, sped himselfe through Mercia to Oxford and Win∣chester, bringing all vnder the power of his com∣maund: with which gales of his fortunes, hee was so pusfed vp, that thinking nothing vnpossible for him and his Danes to doe, in the heat of his courage he came vnto London, and presently begirt the walles * 1.1493 with a strait siege.

(28) In the City lay vnfortunate King Ethelred, who (as Simon Monke of Durham reporteth) had * 1.1494 with him, and vnder his pay Turkillus the Danish Prince before spoken of, and forty fiue Danish ships to defend the coasts. King Swaine at his first com∣ming fiercely assaulted the City, hoping his fortunes would haue proued as before; but the presence of the King, and London the eye of the land, made the * 1.1495 Citizens aboue measure couragious, who beat the Danes from their walles, and sallying forth of the Gates, slew them on heapes, so that Swain himselfe was in great danger, had hee not desperately runne through the midst of his enemies, and by flight es∣caped their swords; marching both day and night in great feare vntill hee had entred Bath, where E∣thelmere Earle of Deuonshire with his Westerne peo∣ple submitted themselues vnto him. But this last * 1.1496 ouerthrow, and want of victuals, caused him after he had receiued a certaine summe of money, to hast in∣to Denmarke, minding with more power, and bet∣ter aduantage to prosecute the quarrell.

(29) Not long it was ere he returned, and im∣mediately was met by the English, where betwixt them was strucke a fierce battaile, which had been * 1.1497 with good successe, had not the treasons of some hindered it, in turning to the Danes. King Ethel∣red therefore seeing himselfe, and land betraied in this manner, to those few true English that were left, he vsed this speech as followeth.

(30) If there wanted in me a fatherly care, ei∣ther * 1.1498 for the defence of the Kingdome, or admini∣stration of iustice in the common wealth, or in you, the courage of Souldiers for the defence of your natiue Country; then truely silent would I bee for euer, and beare these calamities with a more deiected mind: but as the case stands (be it as it is) I for my part am resolued to rush into the midst of the enemie, and to lose my life for my Kingdome and Crowne. And you (I am sure) hold it a worthy death that is purchased for the liberties of your selues and kindred; and therein I pray you let vs all die, for I see both God and de∣stiny against vs, and the ruine of the English nation brought almost to the last period; for wee are o∣uercome not by weapons and hostile warre, but by treason and domesticke falshood; our Nauy be∣traied into the Danes hands, our battaile weakened by the reuolt of our Captaines, our designes be∣wraied to them by our owne Counsellors, and they also inforcing compositions of dishonourable peace, I my selfe disesteemeed, and in scorne tear∣med Ethelred the vnready; your valour and loial∣ties betraied by your owne leaders, and all our pouerty yeerely augmented by the paiment of their Dane-gilt, which how to redresse God one∣ly knoweth, and we are to seeke; for if we pay money for peace, yea, and that confirmed by oth, these enemies soone breake it, as a people that nei∣ther regard God nor man, contrary to equity and the lawes of warre, or of nations: and so farre off is all hope of better successe, as we haue cause

to feare the losse of our Kingdom, and you the extinct of the English nations renowne; therefore seeing the enemies are at hand, and their hands at our throats; let vs by foresight and counsell saue * 1.1499 our owne liues, or else by courage sheath our swords in their bowels: either of which I am wil∣ling to enter into, to secure our estate and nation from an irrecouerable ruine.

(31) This lamentable Oration deliuered from the passions of a iustly-pensiue King, touched the hearers to the heartes, and asmuch distracted their afflicted minds: to abide battaile they saw it was bootlesse, the treason of their leaders so many times defeating their victories; to yeeld themselues to the enemy, would but beginne their seruitude and mise∣ry; and to flee before them, their eternall ignominy and reproch.

Thus their opinions were canuased, but nothing put in practise, whereas meane whiles the Danes went forward with victories, and had got the most part of the land, yea and London also by submission; wherewith vnfortunate Ethelred more and more de∣iected, * 1.1500 sent his wife Emma with his two sonnes by her, vnto her brother Richard Duke of Normandy, and for his owne safest refuge committed himselfe vnto Turkil the Dane, in whose shippes he remained a while at Greenewich, and from thence went into the * 1.1501 Isle of Wight, where he abode most part of the win∣ter, and thence sailed into Normandy to his wife and brother, leauing the Danes lording it in his realme.

(32) These were the daies of Englands mour∣ning, shee being vnable to maintaine her defen∣ders, and yet enforced to nourish and cherish her de∣uourers: for the Danes in two factions most cruelly * 1.1502 afflicted the land like two milstones crushing & grin∣ding the grain. Swayn as an absolute King, extorted of the English both victuals and pay for his souldiers: and Turkil on the other side, in defence of the Eng∣lish, commanded the like for his ships and men; so that the Danes had all, and the English maintained al. Neither were churches free from their spoils, (whom other Conquerors haue held most impious to vio∣late,) but either suffered the flames of their consu∣ming fire, or were forced to purchase their standings with great summes of money. Such composition King Swaine demaunded for the preseruation of S. Edmunds Monastery in Suffolke; which because the Inhabitants refused to pay, he threatned spoile both to the place, & to the Martyrs bones there enterred; in the midst of which iollity (saith Houeden) he sud∣dainely * 1.1503 cried out that he was strucke by S. Edmund with a sword, being then in the midst of his No∣bles, and no man seeing from whose hand it came; and so with great horrour and torment, three daies after vpon the third of February ended his life at Thetford (others say at Gainsborough:) but with his death died not the title of the Danes, who imme∣diately aduanced Canutus his sonne for their King.

(33) The English that liked nothing lesse then bondage, especially vnder such tyrannizing intru∣ders, * 1.1504 thought now or neuer the time to shake off the yoake; and therefore with great ioy and hast sent in∣to Normandy for their natiue King. Ethelred now not vnreadie for the recouering of his right, fore∣slowed no meanes either to hasten or strengthen the enterprize, and hauing the assistance of his brother of Normandy, in the Lent following landed in England, vnto whom resorted the people from all parts, accounting it their greatest ioy to see the face of their King.

(34) Canutus then at Gainsborough, Souldier-like mustered and managed his men, and holding it good * 1.1505 policie to keepe that by bounty, which his father had got by tyranny, made no spare to purchase the hearts of the English; by which meanes those of Lyndsey became his Creatures, with an agree∣ment to find him both horse and men against their owne King and Country.

Ethelred therefore now raging for reuenge, with a mighty host entered Lyndsey, where hee burnt all the Country, and put the inhabitants to the sword. * 1.1506 Canute not able to resist this puissant Army, held the sea more safe for him then the land, and en∣tring Humber, sailed to Sandwich, where being sore grieued at the miseries of these his confederates, re∣quited King Ethelreds friends with the like, and commaunded that those pledges which had beene * 1.1507 deliuered by the Nobles vnto his Father, should * 1.1508 haue their noses slit, and their hands cut off: which cruelty acted, hee sailed to Denmarke, as hope∣lesse of any good issue in England.

(35) But Turkil the Dane, retained (as we said) into King Ethelreds pay, seeing successe so sodainely altered, sore repented him of his reuolt from the * 1.1509 Danes, and knowing now the time to recouer his reputation, with nine of his shippes sailed into Denmarke, instantly importuning Canut to addresse againe for England; alleadging the feares and weak∣nesse of the people, the beauty and fertility of the land, an Eden, in respect of their owne barren seat, and (which did most moue) himselfe would assist, when the English least thought it: with these and the like hee spurred him on, who of himselfe was forward in a full curriere.

Canutus therefore with the aide of his brother Harrold, rigged forth a Nauie of two hundred saile, all furnished with souldiers and abiliments of warre, whose terror landed in England before him, and his * 1.1510 power by report made greater then it was; and to encrease the terrour of this fearefull enemy, the sea with a spring-tide brake into this land, and destroy∣ed both townes and many inhabitants; a signe fore∣shewing (as was thought) the successe of that fleete, borne hitherward vpon those waues; and to encrease the English miseries, thirty thousand pound was * 1.1511 then collected by way of Tribute to pay the Danish auxiliary Nauy lying before Greenewich. The States also conuening in a grand Councell at Oxford to determine vpon the great affaires of the Kingdom, were diuided into factions, and two Noblemen of the Danes there murthered by practise of Edrick the Traitor. These (I say) were accounted ominous amongst the English, that made each mole-hill to seeme a mountaine, and euery shadow the shew of an enemy.

(36) In the meane while Canutus had landed at Sandwich, and giuen a great ouerthrow to the Eng∣lish; * 1.1512 entred Kent, and by his sword had made way through the Countries of Dorset, Sommerset, and Wilton.

Ethelred lying dangerously sicke at Cossam, the ma∣naging of these warres was transferred to Prince Edmund his sonne, who preparing to meete the enemie with his Army in the field, had sodainely notice that Edrik his brother in-law ment to betray him into his enemies hands; which newes strucke a great astonishment vnto his heart, and caused him to retrait his host into a place of security; where∣by Edrik perceiuing his trecherous purposes were * 1.1513 disclosed, gaue more open proofe of his intend∣ments, flying to the enemy with forty of the Kings shippes; whereupon all the west Countries submit∣ted themselus vnto Canutus. * 1.1514

(37) By this time King Ethelred had recouered his sicknesse, and minding reuenge on his most wic∣ked sonne Edrik, with purpose to trie his last for∣tunes * 1.1515 by hazard of fight, summond all his forces to meete him at a certaine day and place; where being assembled, he was instantly warned not to giue battaile, for that his owne subiects ment to be∣tray him.

King Ethelred euer vnfortunate in this, to find treasons amongst them that ought him most trust, * 1.1516 withdrew himselfe to London, whose seruice against the Danes he had lately seene, and therefore accoun∣ted his person most sure in their walles. Prince Ed∣mund with his power posted ouer Humber, where obtaining Earle Vtred to side in his quarrell, entred

the Countries of Stafford, Leicester, and Shropshires, not sparing to exercise any cruelty vpon these inha∣bitants, as a condigne recompence for their reuolt. Neither did Canut for his part spare the Kings sub∣iects, but through Buckingham, Bedford, Huntington, * 1.1517 Nottingham, Lincolne, and Yorkeshires, made spoile of all, so that the miserable English went to wracke on all sides; insomuch that Vtred also forsaking Ed∣mund, became subiect to Canut: whereupon Ed∣mund hasted to London to ioine his strength with his Fathers, and Canute with no lesse speed sailed a∣bout the Coasts into Thamesis, preparing his Armie for the siege of London.

(38) At which time King Ethelred, either faln in∣to relapse of his last sicknesse, or tired with the ma∣ny * 1.1518 troubles, and daily renued treasons against him, gaue vp his ghost, and found rest by death, which neuer hee could attaine by li•…•…e, the twenty third of April, and yeere of our Saluation 1016, when he had most vnfortunately raigned thirty seuen yeeres, and nine daies: his body was there buried in the Cathe∣drall * 1.1519 Church of S. Paul, and bones as yet remaine in the north-wall of the Chancell in a chest of grey-Marble, reared vpon foure small pillers, couered with a copped stone of the same, adioining to ano∣ther * 1.1520 of the like forme, wherein Sebby King of the East-Saxons lieth intombed.

(39) Of Parsonage he was very seemely, and of countenance gratious, affable and courteous to his Subiects, and a maintainer of iustice among them, as by his excellent Lawes which himselfe made, and by his sharpe, but godly and wise censures against * 1.1521 vnlearned, bribing, delaying, partiall Iudges & Law∣yers, and their purloining officers (at large set down by M. Fox) is very apparant. Very louing and ten∣der affectionated he was to his brother King Edward; for whose death hee made such lamentation, that his mother beat him with a taper of waxe that stood before her, yea and so sore that he could neuer after wel endure the sight of a taper. Fauourable he was to the married Priests, and least esteemed the opulent and idle liues of the Monkes, whose pens therefore (as in such cases we euer find them partial) haue been * 1.1522 very lauish in his dispraise, accusing him with sloth and vnreadinesse of Armes, of voluptuous•…•…es and lechery, couetousnesse, pride and cruelty: whereas in following the records of his life, laying aside the Danish massacre, we find no such sinnes, neither a∣ny mention of Concubine that euer hee kept, or name of child vnlawfully begot, hauing had many by his wiues, which were as followeth.

His Wiues.

(40) Elgiua, the first wife of King Ethelred, was the daughter of an English Duke named Thored, * 1.1523 who is reported in the history of that time, to haue done great seruice against the Danes. She was mar∣ried vnto him when hee was seuenteene yeeres of age, in the sixt of his raigne, being the yeare of grace 984. and was his wife seauenteene yeares, who de∣deceased in the twenty foure of his raigne, and of Christ Iesus, 1003.

(41) Emme, the second wife of King Ethelred, was the daughter of Richard the second Duke of * 1.1524 Normandy, and sister of Duke Richard, and Duke Robert Father to William the Conqueror; her mother was sister to Herfast the Dane, Grandfather of William Fitz-Osbert afterward Earle of Hereford. She was a Lady of passing beauty, and therefore commonly called the flower of Normandy; married vnto him in the twenty and fift yeare of his raigne, & yeere of Saluation, 1003. with whom shee liued thirteene yeeres, and suruiuing him was remarried to King Ca∣nute the Dane.

His Issue.

(42) Ethelstan, the eldest sonne of King Ethelred * 1.1525 and of Queene Elgiua his first wife, was borne a∣bout the eight yeare of his Fathers raigne, and yeere of Christ, 986: hee liued vnto the age almost of twen∣ty fiue yeeres, (being then by great likelihood) cut off by vntimely death in the warres of the Danes, ra∣ging then most extreamely, which was the thirtie third of his Fathers raigne, and of Christs Natiuitie 1011.

(43) Egbert, the second sonne of King Ethelred, and Queene Elgiua his first wife, seemeth to haue * 1.1526 beene borne two yeeres after his brother Ethelstan, in the tenth yeare of his Fathers raigne, and yeare of our Lord 988, and to haue deceased in the very prime of his youth before the death of his father, or of his elder brother, and before hee had done any thing in his life worthy of remembrance after his death.

(44) Edmund, the third sonne of King Ethelred & * 1.1527 Queene Elgiua his first wife, was borne in the ele∣uenth yeare of his fathers raigne, and of Grace 989 and of all his fathers Children proued to be the on∣ly man that set his helping hand to the redresse of the estate of his Country distressed by the miserable oppressions of the Danes, which hee pursued with such exceeding toile, and restlesse hazards of his body, as he was therefore surnamed Iron-side; and when hee had followed those warres with great cou∣rage the space of seuenteene yeeres vnder his Fa∣ther, being come to twenty seuen of his owne age, hee succeeded him in his Kingdome and troubles, as presently shall be shewed.

(45) Edred, the fourth sonne of King Ethelred, and of Queene Elgiua his first wife, was born about * 1.1528 the foureteenth yeare of his fathers raigne, being the yeare of Grace 992. His name is continually set downe, as a witnesse in the testees of his fathers Charters, vntill the thirtie fift yeare of his raigne, by which it appeareth that hee liued vnto the two and twentieth yeere of his owne age, although I find no mention of him, or of any thing done by him in any of our histories, and it seemeth he died at that time, because his name is left out of the Charters after that yeare.

(46) Edwy, the fift sonne of King Ethelred, and * 1.1529 Queene Elgiua his first wife, suruiued his father and all his brethren, and liued in the raigne of Canute the Dane, who being iealous of his new-gotten e∣state, and fearefull of the dangers that might accrew vnto him by this Edwy, and such others of the Eng∣lish bloud roiall, practised to haue him murthered, which was accordingly done by them, whom hee most fauoured, and least suspected, the yeare of our saluation, 1017.

(47) Edgar, the sixt sonne of King Ethelred and of * 1.1530 Queene Elgiua his first wife, was borne about the twentieth yeere of his fathers raigne, beeing the yere of our Lord God nine hundred ninetie and eight. He seemeth by the Testees of his fathers Charters, to haue beene liuing in the one and twentieth of his raigne, but beeing no more found in any of them af∣ter, may be supposed by all coniectures, to haue died in, or, about the same yeere, beeing but the eleuenth after his owne birth, and the seuenth before his fa∣thers death.

(48) The eldest daughter of King Ethelred and * 1.1531 Queene Elgiua his first wife, although her name bee not to bee found in any writer of those times, appea∣reth notwithstanding, to be married to one Ethelstan, a Noble man of England, who was the principall Commander of Cambridge-shire men, at the great bat∣tle fought betweene them and the Danes, wherein the English-men had the ouerthrow; and this sonne in law of King Ethelred, with the rest of the chiefe Leaders, were slaine in the yeere of Christs Natiuity 1010. be∣ing the two and thirtieth of his father in lawes raigne.

(49) Edgith, the second daughter of King Ethelred * 1.1532 and Queene Elgiua his first wife, was married to Edrik Duke of Mercia, who for his couetousnesse in get∣ting was surnamed Streattone: This Edrik was the sonne of one Egelrik surnamed Leofwin, an elder bro∣ther to Egelmere the grandfather of Goodwin Duke of the West-Saxons; and beeing but meanely borne, was thus highly aduanced by this King; notwithstanding

he was euer a traitor to his Countrie, and a fauourer of the Danes, betraying both him, and King Edmund his sonne to King Canut, that he thereby might gette new preferments by him, who worthily rewarded him as a traitor and put him to death.

(50) Elfgine, the third daughter of King Ethelred and of Queene Elgiua his first wife, was the second * 1.1533 wife of Vtred surnamed the Bold, sonne of Earle Wal∣defe the elder, Earle of Northumberland, by whom shee had one onely child, a daughter, named Aldgith, married to a Noble-man called Maldred, the sonne of Crinan; shee was mother of Cospatricke, who was Earle of Northumberland in the time of William the Conquerour, and forced by his displeasure to fly into Scotland, where hee abode and was ancestor to the Earles of Dunbar and of March in that Countrie.

(51) Gode, the fourth and youngest daughter of King Ethelred and Queene Elgiua his first wife, was * 1.1534 first married to one Walter de Maigne a Noble-man of Normandy, greatly fauoured by King Edward her bro∣ther; who liued not long after the marriage, and left issue by her a sonne named Rodulfe, whom King Ed∣ward his vncle created Earle of Hereford. This Earle Rodulfe, died the one and twentieth of December, in the thirteenth yeere of his vncles raigne, and was bu∣ried at Peterborough; leauing issue a young sonne na∣med Harrald, created afterwards by King William the Conqueror, Baron of Sudeley in the Countie of Glou∣cester, and Ancestor to the Barons of that place suc∣ceeding, and of the Lord Chandois of Sudeley now be∣ing. This Lady Gode, after the decease of the said Water de Maigne, was remarried to Eustace the elder, Earle of Bulloigne in Picardy, a man of great valour in those parts of France, and a most faithfull friend to King Edward her brother; which Earle was grand-fa∣ther to Godfrey of Bulloigne, King of Ierusalem, albeit it seemeth he had no issue by this Lady.

(52) Edward, the seuenth sonne of King Ethdred, and his first by Queene Emme his second wife, was * 1.1535 borne at Islipe in the County of Oxford, and brought vp in France all the time of his youth, with his vncle Richard the third of that name, Duke of Normandy, mistrusting his safety in England vnder King Canute the Dane, although he had married his mother; but hee found the time more dangerous by the vsage of his brother Elfred, at his beeing heere in the raigne of King Harrald sonne of the Dane. Notwithstanding hee returned home, when Hardiknut the other sonne (beeing his halfe brother) was King, and was honou∣rably receiued and entertained by him, and after his death succeeded him in the Kingdom of England.

(53) Elfred, the eight sonne of King Ethelred, and * 1.1536 his second by Queene Emme his second wife, was conueied into Normandie for feare of King Conute, with his eldest brother Edward, and with him retur∣ned into England to see his mother, then beeing at Winchester, in the second yeere of King Harrald surna∣med Harefoote; by whose practize hee was trained to∣wards London, apprehended by the way at Guilford in Surrey, depriued of his eie-sight, and committed pri∣soner to the Monastery of Elie: his Normans that came with him most cruelly murthered, and hee himselfe soone after deceasing, was buried in the Church of the said Monasterie.

EDMVND SVRNAMED IRON∣SIDE * 1.1537 THE THIRTIE THREE MO∣NARCH * 1.1538 OF THE ENGLISH-MEN, HIS WARRES, ACTS, RAIGNE, WIFE, AND ISSVE. CHAPTER XLV.

[illustration]

EDmund, the third sonne of King Ethelred, and the eldest liuing at his Fathers * 1.1539 death, succeeded him both in his dominions, & in his troubled estate a∣gainst the Danes; entring his gouernement in the moneth of April, and crowned at Kingston vp∣on Thamesis, by Liuingus Archbishop of Canterbury, the yeere of mans saluation 1016. Notwithstan∣ding, a great part of the English, considering the puis∣sance of the Danes, both feared and fauoured Ca∣nut, especially, a great part of the Clergy, who at Southampton ordained him their King, swearing to him the fealty of true subiection; but the Londoners stood most firme to Prince Edmund, and were prin∣cipall * 1.1540 Actors for his election.

(2) In reuenge whereof Canutus who had besie∣ged

the Citie before the death of King Ethelred, cau∣sed his ships now to be towed, and drawne vp the * 1.1541 Thamesis vnto the west side of the bridge, and from the riuer with a deepe and large Trench encom∣passed the City, shutting vp all entrance or egresse of any: but the Citizens manfully stood in resi∣stance, whereto the comming of their new King for their succour, did not a little encourage them, and daunted the Danes, who now thought it best to breake vp their siege and be gone: and the ra∣ther (saith the Author of Encomium Emmae) for that King Edmund sent Canute a peremptory challenge of single combate, which he neither accepted, nor * 1.1542 yet staied the siege to trie his chance; but waying his anchors sailed along the Coast to the Ile of Sheepie, where he wintred with his Nauie and men.

(3) But loth to lose opportunity, when time serued for warre; on the sodaine he assailed the west of England, and brought much of those parts vnder his commaund: to meet whom the restlesse Iron∣side prepared, and with such small power as his lea∣sure would admit to leauie, he hasted into Dorset∣shire, where Cannut was forwarding his owne for∣tunes, and at Penham neere Gillingham, each met o∣ther * 1.1543 in the field, wherein a sore battaile was fought, and bloudy to the Danes, where many of them were put to the sword, and the rest to flight.

(4) Canute immediately tooke into Winchester, to secure himselfe from danger, and the rest escaped towards Salisbury, and there begirt the Citie with a * 1.1544 strait siege. King Edmund as ready to saue, as they to destroy, made presently thitherward with his small and ouertired company; whom Canut, waiting for aduantage, followed with a great host, and in Worcestershire, at a place called Sherostan, in the sight of his enemy pitched his battaile. To the aide of Edmund came many of the English, so that his Army was greatly encreased, and their coura∣ges inhaunsed, which made the Danish souldiers som∣what to droope.

(5) Notwithstanding, vpon the twentieth of Iune, 1016. their battailes ioined, and with equall fortune continued all the day, vntill the night con∣strained them to part. * 1.1545

(6) But their bloud not cold, the next day they buckled together againe with no lesse courage then before, till at length the Danes were going down, & the English in great forwardnes of victory: which when the Traitour Edrik perceiued, he cut off the head of a souldier, whose name was Osmearus, like vnto King Edmund both in haire and countenance, and shaking his bloody sword with the halfe-gas∣ping * 1.1546 head, cried vnto the host of the English: Flie yee wretches, flie, and get away, for your King is slaine, behold here is his head, therefore seeke now to saue your owne liues.

(7) But Edmund hauing present notice of this trea∣cherous stratageme, and seeing his men ready to giue ouer the fight, hasted himselfe where he might be best seene, encouraging his Army to stand to it like true Englishmen, and posting from ranke to ranke, both performed the parts of a wise Gene∣rall, and vnderwent the dangers of the meanest soul∣dier: his men seeing his presence, & the apparant trea∣chery of Duke Edrik, bent their bows against the trai∣tour, and had shot him to death, had he not presently auoided to the enemy: but the night approching, parted againe the battaile of this second day: Duke Edrik excusing his fact, as beeing meerely mistaken in the countenance of the man, and thirsting to saue the bloud of the English; was taken againe into fa∣uour, * 1.1547 and bare himselfe outwardly faire for his Country.

(8) The third day appearing, both the Armies prepared for battaile, but yet stood still without any attempt, onely refreshing their wearied, and almost tired bodies, and burying the dead slaine in the two daies fights before.

(9) The night following, Canutus in great si∣lence brake vp his Campe, and marched very fast towards London,, against whose Citizens he carried * 1.1548 great spleene, and most earnestly desired the con∣quest of the Citie, which in a sort was still besieged by the Danish ships.

(10) The Centinels the next morning certified King Edmund (who was addressing himselfe for the battaile) of the suddaine departure of his enemies, whereupon hee as ready to preuent their designes, followed them by tract euen vnto London: where with small adoe, hee remoued their siege, and en∣tred the City in manner of triumph. The Danes * 1.1549 thus discomfited, great hope was conceiued, that these faire proceedings would haue a prosperous end.

(11) Edmund, therefore following the aduantage of their discouragements, two dayes after at Brent∣ford bad them battaile, and that with their great ouerthrow; notwithstanding, in passing the Thame∣sis at the same place, he lost many of his men, who were drowned before they could re•…•…ouer the shore: vpon which losse the Traitor Edrike plaied, who earst had much feared the downefall of the Danes. For hereupon hee perswaded his brother in law King Edmund to come to truce with Canute, which * 1.1550 as he confidently affirmed, should be to the great benefite and contentment of Edmund: Canute him∣selfe so plotting it, that by his meanes hee might continue his hopes, and bring his enemy into his * 1.1551 danger.

(12) The affaires thus standing, King Edmund returned into the West, and Canute with spoiles vn∣to his shippes that were in Medyway, not far from Rochester, where he a while lay still to learne what Edmund meant to doe; who contrariwise louing * 1.1552 nothing lesse then to linger his businesses, made preparation against those truce-breakers that had wasted the Country in their returne, and with a great Army entred Kent, where he pitched down his tents neere vnto Oteford.

Canut, who had prepared himselfe in most war∣like array to meete his approch, beganne the bat∣taile in a furious manner, which continued verie bloudy for foure howres space, vntill the foot of his vaward beganne to shrinke, which when hee perceiued, he drew his horsemen for their aide; but whilest the one gaue hastily back, & the other made * 1.1553 as slowly forward, the array of the whole army was broken, and the Danes slaine on all hands: for it is reported that Canute lost foure thousand fiue hundred men, and King Edmund onely six hundred; the rest of these Danes trusting to their legs: whom if Edmund had pursued in chase, it is thought, that day had ended the warres betwixt those two Na∣tions for euer: but Destiny, that would haue the Saxons downe, who had raised themselues by the fals of the Britaines, made Edrik her instrument, & mall of the English, who kept King Edmunds ha∣sty foot from following his enemies, by guilefull vrging the danger of ambush, and the ouer-wearied bodies of his souldiers, so that Canute thereby had leasure in safety to passe ouer into Essex.

(13) Where beginning againe, with the increase of his power to despoile al the Country before him, * 1.1554 brought feare to the inhabitants, and to himselfe submission of many English. King Edmund there∣fore made preparation thitherward, and at Ashdone three miles from Saffron-Walden, gaue battaile to Canute, wherein a bloudy slaughter ensued, though a while with equall chance of foile or of victory, vn∣till lastly the Danes beganne to giue backe, which when the euer-traiterous Edrik perceiued, he went with his strength, vnto their side, and maintained their battaile, which otherwise was at point to be lost, whereby the Danes regained the day, and the betraied English, the ouerthrow. There died of Edmunds Nobility, Duke Alfred, Duke Goodwin, Duke Athelward, Duke Athelwin, and Earle Vrchell, * 1.1555 with Cad•…•…th Bishop of Lincolne, and Wols•…•…y Abbot

of Ramsey, besides other of the Clergy that were come thither to pray for the preseruation of the King and his Army. The remembrance of which field is retained vnto this day, by certaine small hilles there remaining, whence haue beene dig∣ged the bones of men, Armour, and the wa∣ter-chaines of horse-bridles.

(14) King Edmund thus traiterously forced to re∣tire from the field, on foot marched vnto Glouce∣ster with a very small Army, leauing Canut ouer-swollen * 1.1556 in conceit for this his great victorie, vnto whom then the Londoners submitted, and so did * 1.1557 many other great townes of Name; after which hee followed Edmund into the West; who now like a Tygar robbed of her Whelpes, seeking the reuenge of his lost day, gathered a most puissant Army, meaning to trie the vttermost chance of Fate, or Battaile. Their hostes meete at Dear∣hurst neere vnto the riuer Seuerne, where they * 1.1558 were resoluedly bent to establish the ones title with the others downefall; and now being ready to ioyne, a certaine Captaine of vncertaine name, stept forth (as is reported) betwixt the two Ar∣mies, and vttered in effect this speech.

(15) Many battailes haue beene fought, and too much bloud already spilt for the soueraignitie * 1.1559 of this Land, betwixt these two fierce Nations, and the valours of the Generals, Captaines and Souldiers sufficiently tried; wherein euen fortune her selfe seemeth to haue beene conquered; for if one Battaile were wonne, it was not long kept, neither the loser so weakened, but that hee had both courage and power to winne the next: what is the marke then that you aime at? is it honour and fame? Titles indeed which accompany war; but neither long enioyed, nor much attained vn∣to by the common Souldiers, by whose valours and bloud it is for the most part wonne. Let him therefore that would weare the Diademe, beare the hazard himselfe, without the confusi∣on of so many men, and either trie the fortune of a single combat, who shall commaund, and who obey, or diuide betwixt them the King∣dome, which may suffice two, that hath main∣tained seuen.

(16) Some affirme that this speech was Duke Edriks; but I hardly belieue so good a motion * 1.1560 should proceede from so bad a man; by whom so euer vttered, it was acceptably receiued by Ed∣mund and Canut, who thereupon in sight of their Armies, entred into a small Iland, embraced about with the armes of Seuern, called Alney, adioyning vnto the City Gloucester, where those princes in complete Armour at first assailed each other most * 1.1561 dangerously on horsebacke, and after as valiantly on foot. The Ironside was strong, and fought for his Kingdome; the Dane not so tall, but eue∣ry way as stout, fought for his honour, and so the combate continued with an absolute resolution, till at length Canute hauing receiued a dangerous wound and seeing himselfe ouermatched in strength, wi∣shed * 1.1562 a comprimise, and thus spake to Edmund with a loud voice.

What necessity should thus moue vs most valiant Prince, that for the obtaining of a Title, we should * 1.1563 thus endanger our liues? better it were to lay ma∣lice and Armour aside, and to condiscend to a lo∣uing agreement: let vs therefore now become sworne brothers, a•…•…d diuide the Kingdome betwixt vs, and in such league of amity, that each of vs may vse the o∣thers part as his owne; so shall this land be peacea∣bly gouerned, and we iointly assistant to each others necessity.

Whereupon they both cast downe their swords, imbracing as friends with the great ioy and shou∣ting of both their Armies, who stood before doubt∣fully wauering betwixt hope and feare, and looking for their owne fortunes, according to the successe of their Champions.

Thus was the Kingdome diuided betwixt those two Princes; Edmund enioying that part that lay * 1.1564 coasted vpon France, and Canute entring vpon the rest.

(17) Thus then the Saxon Monarchy spent to the last period, and their tottering crowne fast grasped with a hard Danish hand, was suddainelyy torne from the Ironssides helmet, by his complotted and hastned death. For Duke Edrick a very compound of treasons, glutted with the fauours of both these Kings, to scrue himselfe deeper into Canut his con∣ceit, contriued the end of renowmed Edmund: who being retired to a place for natures necessity, was * 1.1565 thrust from vnder the draught into his body with a sharpe speare; which done, the treacherous Edrick * 1.1566 cutting off his Soueraignes head, presented it to Canut with these fawning salutations. All haile, thou now sole-Monarch of England; for, here behold the head of thy Copartner, which for thy sake I haue aduen∣tured to cut off.

Canut, though ambitious inough of soueraigne∣ty, * 1.1567 yet of princely disposition, abashed, & sore grie∣ued at so vnworthy and disloiall an attempt, repli∣ed, and vowed, that in reward of that seruice, the brin∣gers owne head should be aduanced aboue all the peeres of his kingdome. Which high honour whiles this pro∣digious * 1.1568 wretch greedily expected, (and indeed for a time, saith Malmesbury, hee found some shew of fa∣uour with the King:) soone after, by the Kings com∣maund, his head bad his shoulders farewell, and was placed vpon the highest Gate to ouerlooke London.

(18) The traiterous death of this worthy Prince, * 1.1569 as some affirme, was acted at Oxford; yet the Au∣thor that wrote Encomium Emmae, and liued the same time, blancheth the matter, saying that hee died of a naturall death in London: God minding his owne doctrine, that a Kingdome diuided in it selfe, cannot long stand, and pittying the English, tooke away Edmund, lest if the Kings had continued long together, they should both haue liued in danger, and the Realme in continuall trouble.

That hee died in London, Simon the Monke of * 1.1570 Durham agreeth, and saith further, it chanced a∣bout the Feast of S. Andrew: and Marianus is of the same opinion, being the yeere of Christ, 1016. Whensoeuer, or howsoeuer, his Raigne was but se∣uen monethes, and his body buried at Glastenbury; neere vnto his Grandfather King Edgar.

(19) He was of personage tall, for courage, har∣dy, * 1.1571 strong of limmes, and well could endure the trauels of warre, insomuch that some deeme the surname Ironside, giuen him onely vpon that occa∣sion•…•…. With him fell the glory of the English, and the aged body of their sore bruised Monarchy seemed to bee buried with him in the same Sepul∣chre.

His Wife.

(20) Algith, the wife of King Edmund, was the widow of Sigeferth, the sonne of E•…•…grin a Danish * 1.1572 Nobleman of Northumberland; which Sigeferth, with his brother Morcar, was murthered at Oxford by the treason of the neuer-faithfull Edrick: & this Lady being of great beauty, and noble parentage after the death of her husband, and the seisure of his lands, was by King Ethelred, cōmitted in charge to the Monastery of Malmesbury, where Edmund see∣ing her, grew in great loue, and there married her a∣gainst the liking of his father, in Anno 1015.

His Issue.

(21) Edward the eldest son of King Edmund, and Queen Algith his wife, was surnamed the Outlaw, be∣cause * 1.1573 he liued out of England in Hungary as a bani∣shed man, through the raigne of C•…•…t, and of his sonnes the Danes. But when his vncle King Ed∣ward the Confessor, had obtained the English crown,

he was by him recalled, and most honourably in his Court enterained, till lastly, hee was taken a∣way by death in the City of London, the yeere of Christ, 1057. He married Agatha sister to Queene Sophia, wife to Salomon King of Hungary, and * 1.1574 daughter to the Emperour Henrie the second; by whom hee had Edgar, surnamed Etheling, confir∣med heire apparant by Edward Confessor, his great Vncle; which title notwithstanding, proceeded no further, for that hee was depriued thereof by Ha∣rold his Protector.

The daughters of this Edward, as after shall be said, were Margaret and Christian, the younger of which became a valed Nunne at Ramsey in Hampshire, * 1.1575 where shee in that deuotion spent her life, and was there interred.

Margaret the elder, and afterward sole heire vn∣to the Saxon Monarchy, married Malcolme the third of that name, King of Scotland, and commonly called Canmore: from which princely bed in a li∣neall descent, our high and mighty Monarch, King IAMES the first, doth in his most roiall person v∣nite the Britaines, Saxons, English, Normans, and Sco∣tish imperiall Crownes in one.

(22) Edmund, the second and yongest sonne of King Edmund, and of Queene Algith his wife, after his fathers decease being a Child, was with his bro∣the * 1.1576 Edward, sent by Canute to Olaue King of Swedon his halfe brother, to the intent, that he by murther should make them both away: but this King taking pitty on the innocent Childrens estate, sent them to Salomon King of Hungarie, to the intent to haue them saued, where they were receiued with great fauour and honour: and Mathew of Westminster reporteth, that this Prince married the daughter of the same King; and other Writers of these times, that he died * 1.1577 in the same Country without any issue of his body.

(23) These two sonnes of the Ironside thus posted away, and the crowne already set vpon the Danes head, had not the meanes of themselues to displace it, nor the English, hearts to assist them to their right: so that they rather secured themselues from violent deaths in this their exile, then made claime to that which was vnrecouerable; and left the Danes quietly to possesse the land, which so long they had molested with their sturdy Armes.

The End of the Seuenth Booke.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Britaine abando∣ned of the Roman Garrisons.
• * 1.2

  Ninius.
• * 1.3

  Great troubles in the raigne of Vortigern.
• * 1.4

  Bishop German an assister against the Pelagians.
• * 1.5

  Gildas.
• * 1.6

  The Irish Sea.
• * 1.7

  Scots and Picts (the Romans de∣parted) seize all the Northerne parts.
• * 1.8

  Scoti and Picts catch the Bri∣taines with long hookes.
• * 1.9

  Britaines send for helpe to Actius President of Gallia.
• * 1.10

  Beda Hist. Angl. lib. 1. cap. 13.
• * 1.11

  Britaines flie into France, South-wales, North-wales, Cornwall, Demonshire.
• * 1.12

  A great Famine. Gildas, ibid.
• * 1.13

  Beda, lib. 1. c. 14.
• * 1.14

  Britaines trusting in God, ouer∣come their ene∣mies.
• * 1.15

  Beda hist. Aug. lib. 1. cap. 14.
• * 1.16

  Great sins among the Britaines.
• * 1.17

  Gildas.
• * 1.18

  Esay 1.
• * 1.19

  Britaines did all things contrary to their safetie.
• * 1.20

  Psal. 106. 40.
• * 1.21

  Britaines heare of an inuasion, yet not reclai∣med.
• * 1.22

  Prou. 29. 19.
• * 1.23

  Esay 22. 13.
• * 1.24

  Britaines ini∣quitie.
• * 1.25

  The Enemie in∣uadeth the Sou∣therne parts.
• * 1.26

  Britaines vnite their powers.
• * 1.27

  Vortigern of the British line.
• * 1.28

  Earle of Cornwall.
• * 1.29

  The Scots and Picts set to mur∣ther Constantius.
• * 1.30

  Wil. Malms. The Saxons 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for.
• * 1.31

  Witichindus.
• * 1.32

  Martian he mea∣neth.
• * 1.33

  The Romans worke for the Britaines defence, raced by the Northerne Bor∣derers.
• * 1.34

  Saxons great Warriours and fortunate.
• * 1.35

  Britaines. The Britaines Ambassage and speech to the Saxons.
• * 1.36

  The Saxons an∣swere to the Pe∣tition of the Britaines.
• * 1.37

  Saxons good ser∣uice at their first comming.
• * 1.38

  Gildas.
• * 1.39

  Keeles.
• * 1.40

  Saxons prophecie to possesse Bri∣taine for 300. yeeres.
• * 1.41

  The Saxons first arriuall on the East part of this Iland.
• * 1.42

  Saxons inuent oc∣casions of quar∣rell.
• * 1.43

  Saxons spoiles comparable to the Assyrians vp∣on the Israelites. Psal. 74. 8.
• * 1.44

  Psal. 79. 1.
• * 1.45

  Britaines 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the Moun∣taines.
• * 1.46

  Psal. 44. 11.
• * 1.47

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 pursued with all calami∣ties of Warre.
• * 1.48

  Saxons, the vn∣certainetie from whence they came.
• * 1.49

  Occa Scarlensis. Saxons from Saxo a Prince of India.
• * 1.50

  Sufridus Petri Crantzius.
• * 1.51

  Saxons of the Catti in Germany.
• * 1.52

  Saxons from Sacae a people in Asia.
• * 1.53

  F. Albinus in Progy•…•…. Mr. Henry Fer∣rers in his proge∣ny of English Monarchs.
• * 1.54

  Ptolemy Geogra. in description of Asia. Amian. Marcel. li. 23. cap. 10.
• * 1.55

  Michael Nean∣der.
• * 1.56

  Herodotus. Ioseph Scaliger.
• * 1.57

  Persian & Saxon tongue agree in many words.
• * 1.58

  Strabo.
• * 1.59

  Saxons comming into Europe.
• * 1.60

  Verstegan. cap. 1. Holt-Saxons. Saxons Angles & Saxons Iutes.
• * 1.61

  Sebastian Mun∣ster. lib. 3.
• * 1.62

  The time of the Saxons entrance into Germanie.
• * 1.63

  Eutropius. Beda. Saxons fearefull to the Romans themselues.
• * 1.64

  The names of these Saxons Tribes.
• * 1.65

  Tacit. Descr. Germ. cap. 1.
• * 1.66

  Tacit. Descr. Germ: cap. 6.
• * 1.67

  Saxons. Angles. Iutes.
• * 1.68

  Ptolem. Geogr. in de•…•…r. Ger. The place of the Holt-Saxons in∣habiting. Beda Hist. Angliae. lib. 1. cap. 15.
• * 1.69

  Iustus Lipsius and Engelhusius deri∣uation of the Name Saxon.
• * 1.70

  Saxons weapons called Saisen, Se∣axen and Seaxes.
• * 1.71

  British Nobilitie massacred.
• * 1.72

  Scythians so na∣med of Scyttan to shoote. Picards for their long Pikes. Galloglasses for their Pollax.
• * 1.73

  Such as had vow∣ed their voiage to Ierusalem, na∣med Crosse-backe. Crouch-backe.
• * 1.74

  Arianus. Zosimus.
• * 1.75

  Seneca in lib. de Ira.
• * 1.76

  Egin•…•…ardus.
• * 1.77

  The place of the Iute Saxons in∣habiting.
• * 1.78

  Iutes called Gutes, Gothes, or Uues.
• * 1.79

  Ile of Wight how so named.
• * 1.80

  Iohn Maior. Verstegan Restit. cap. 5. Sebastian Munst. lib. 3.
• * 1.81

  The Anglia Sax∣on-place o•…•…n∣ha 〈◊〉〈◊〉. •…•…uld-Anglis.
• * 1.82

  Crantzius.
• * 1.83

  Henr. Rantzoui∣us.
• * 1.84

  Lindebergus.
• * 1.85

  A Prouince in Dan•…•… cal•…•…ed lit∣tle England.
• * 1.86

  Words of affinity with the name Angles.
• * 1.87

  Saxo Gramma∣ticus.
• * 1.88

  Albertus Crant∣zius.
• * 1.89

  Verstegan.
• * 1.90

  Eng signifieth narrow.
• * 1.91

  Callepine. Beda hist. Eccl. lib. 2. cap. 1.
• * 1.92

  Geropius Becca-Angles so called of a Fishing∣hooke.
• * 1.93

  Angles stole their name. Gen. 27.
• * 1.94

  Saxons both An∣gles and Iutes de∣scend from Woden.
• * 1.95

  Woden esteemed a God. Frea the wife of Woden.
• * 1.96

  Wodens fiue sons their names and Seignioties.
• * 1.97

  Cisner.
• * 1.98

  Crantzius.
• * 1.99

  Tacit. in descript. of Germanie.
• * 1.100

  Witichindus, lib. 9. cap. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Sauous described.
• * 1.101

  Tacit. descript. of Germanie.
• * 1.102

  Sidonius Apollin.
• * 1.103

  Aegysippus.
• * 1.104

  Isidore.
• * 1.105

  Saxons excelling all other in Pira∣cies.
• * 1.106

  Baie•…•…. Gregorius Turo∣nensis.
• * 1.107

  Sidonius, lib. 8.
• * 1.108

  Saxons kill euery tenth Captiue.
• * 1.109

  Saxons accept no ransome.
• * 1.110

  Act. 17. 30.
• * 1.111

  An admonition to the Read•…•….
• * 1.112

  Witichindus, lib. 9. cap. 2. Tacit. Descript. German. The Saxons vesture.
• * 1.113

  The homely fa∣shion of the an∣cient Saxon wo∣men in their attire. Paul. Diacon.
• * 1.114

  Witichindus.
• * 1.115

  Engelhusius.
• * 1.116

  Tacit. in descript. Germ.
• * 1.117

  Tacit. bist. 4. cap. 6.
• * 1.118

  Tacit. descript. Germ. cap. 5.
• * 1.119

  Saxons of all the Germans the va∣liantest. Zosimu•…•….
• * 1.120

  Marcel. li. 28. c. 7.
• * 1.121

  Tacitus. The Saxons goe singing to the warres. The Saxons vse first to trie by single combat.
• * 1.122

  The custome of admitting their souldiers.
• * 1.123

  The Saxons wise∣dome in warre.
• * 1.124

  Ioannes Pomarius. The Saxons wea∣pons.
• * 1.125

  Their Ceremo∣nies in marying. Tacitus.
• * 1.126

  Amian. Marcell. lib. 14. cap. 3.
• * 1.127

  Saxons their reso∣lute courage.
• * 1.128

  Tacit. descr. Germ.
• * 1.129

  Saxons great pu∣nishers of adul∣terie.
• * 1.130

  Chron. of Hol∣land.
• * 1.131

  Ran. Higd. in Po∣lyer. l•…•…b. 6. cap. 23.
• * 1.132

  Queene Emma her punishment.
• * 1.133

  Stephen 2. Bishop of Rome.
• * 1.134

  The Saxons Vir∣gins maried b•…•… once.
• * 1.135

  The Saxons did highly esteeme of hauing children.
• * 1.136

  Saluia•…•….
• * 1.137

  Tacit. descr. Ge•…•… cap. 6.
• * 1.138

  Mercury wor∣shipped of the Saxons for Woden.
• * 1.139

  An old Manu∣script. Wodensday dedi∣cated to King Woden. Friday dedicated t•…•… Queene Frea▪ Isis a Goddesse of the Saxons.
• * 1.140

  Eoster a Saxon Goddesse. Beda de tempori∣bus.
• * 1.141

  Esay 40. 25.
• * 1.142

  Crantzius Nor. Hist li. 3. ca. 3.
• * 1.143

  Herald King of Norway his wic∣ked sacrifice.
• * 1.144

  Adam Bremensis.
• * 1.145

  Vbsola a Temple of the Saxons all of gold.
• * 1.146

  The Saxone Gods in their Temple Ubsola, and their properties.
• * 1.147

  Hence Thurs∣day seemeth to be named.
• * 1.148

  Tacit. in descript, Germ.
• * 1.149

  The gouernment of the Saxons.
• * 1.150

  Ioannes Pomarius.
• * 1.151

  Chron. Sax.
• * 1.152

  Verstegam Restit. cap. 3.
• * 1.153

  An. Do. 450.
• * 1.154

  The Saxons enter Britaine vnder Hengist & Horsa. W. Malmesbury.
• * 1.155

  Beda 1. 15.
• * 1.156

  Saxons ouercome the Enemie, and free the Britains.
• * 1.157

  A composition betwixt Saxon and Britaine.
• * 1.158

  Britaines.
• * 1.159

  Witichindas.
• * 1.160

  Hengist had the whole possession of Kent.
• * 1.161

  Fabian.
• * 1.162

  The King giueth himselfe to secu∣ritie.
• * 1.163

  Io•…•… Stow. Hengist seasteth the King.
• * 1.164

  The King in loue with Rowena.
• * 1.165

  In the Fictious of Virg. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 1.
• * 1.166

  Caxton 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.167

  Mark. 10. Vortigern would needs haue Ro∣wena to wife. Will. Malmesb. de Regibus.
• * 1.168

  Verstegan Restit. cap. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.169

  Tacit. destri. Cer. cap. 2.
• * 1.170

  Crantzius.
• * 1.171

  Pagan Germans account of tyran∣no•…•…s beasta.
• * 1.172

  Hengist and Horse their At•…•….
• * 1.173

  The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Ar•…•….
• * 1.174

  The Duke of Sauoy, his Armes.
• * 1.175

  Chron. Sax. Hengist, his Country and parentage.
• * 1.176

  Floren. Wigoru. Beda hist. Ang. li. 2. ca. 15.
• * 1.177

  Hengist, his first rising.
• * 1.178

  Ninius.
• * 1.179

  Octa and Ebissa a tettor to the Britaines.
• * 1.180

  The Nobilities complaint.
• * 1.181

  Vortigern repro∣ued by the Bi∣shop of London.
• * 1.182

  He continueth in his folly.
• * 1.183

  His subiects dis∣claime their obe∣dience.
• * 1.184

  They chuse Vortimer.
• * 1.185

  Catigern and Horsa their sin∣gle fight.
• * 1.186

  Iohn Stowe, Cits-Cotihouse, Catigern his Mo∣nument.
• * 1.187

  Beda hist. Aug. lib 1 cap. 15.
• * 1.188

  Horsted the place of Horsa his Mo∣nument.
• * 1.189

  The Battels be∣tweene Britaines and Saxons.
• * 1.190

  The Saxons dri∣uen ouer Seas.
• * 1.191

  Vortimer poiso∣ned by Rowena.
• * 1.192

  Leiden Castle in Holland, begunne by Hengist.
• * 1.193

  Iohn Dousa.
• * 1.194

  Hengists landing resisted by the Britaines.
• * 1.195

  Matth. Westm.
• * 1.196

  Hengist vseth treacherie.
• * 1.197

  At Salisbury-Plain the Britaines and Saxons treat of agreement. Will. Malmesb. de regibus.
• * 1.198

  The Saxons sud∣denly murder the Britaines.
• * 1.199

  Randulp. Higden. Polychr. li. 5. cap. 1.
• * 1.200

  Diuers countries deliuered to the Infidels.
• * 1.201

  Beda hist. Angl. lib. 1. cap. 15.
• * 1.202

  Great spoile and desolation ouer all the Land.
• * 1.203

  The Britaines abandoned the Land.
• * 1.204

  Beda hist. Angl. lib. 1. cap. 17. Pelagianisme brought into Britaine by Agricola.
• * 1.205

  The Heritikes conuicted.
• * 1.206

  The principall cause of the Bri∣taines miseries.
• * 1.207

  Vortigern flieth into Wales.
• * 1.208

  Merlin the Welsh Wizard. He builded a Ca∣stle there.
• * 1.209

  The differing o∣pinions where this Castle was built.
• * 1.210

  Faustus spent his life in continuall praier.
• * 1.211

  Aurelius Ambro∣sius Captaine of the Britaines. Beda hist. Eccles. Angl. lib. 1. ca. 16.
• * 1.212

  Aurelius Ambrosi∣us and Vter Pen∣dragon returne out of Britaine Armorica.
• * 1.213

  A Battle at Maesbell. Hengist discom∣fited. Geffry ap Arthur. Matth. Westminst.
• * 1.214

  Polydore.
• * 1.215

  Hengist raigne.
• * 1.216

  Geffry ap Arthur, Arthurs acts aug∣mented with fables.
• * 1.217

  The Saxons often at dissension a∣mong them∣selues.
• * 1.218

  The mightiest of the Saxon Kings alwaies King of the Englishmen.
• * 1.219

  Onely the East-Saxons intruded not on their neighbours do∣minions.
• * 1.220

  1. An. Do. 455.
• * 1.221

  Kent in the daies of Iulius Caesar the Seat of foure Kings.
• * 1.222

  Hengist his raign and death.
• * 1.223

  Of Hengist see more in the suc∣cession of the English Mo∣narchy, cap. 12.
• * 1.224

  2. An. Do. 488. Petrus Albinus. Eske the second King of Kent. Retained priso∣ner in Yorke.
• * 1.225

  His raigne and death. Beda hist. Angl. lib. 2. cap. 5.
• * 1.226

  3. An. Do. 512. Octa his raigne.
• * 1.227

  4. An. Do. 532.
• * 1.228

  Florent Wig•…•…. I•…•…erik the sonne of Eske. I•…•…erik his chil∣dren.
• * 1.229

  5. An. Do. 561. Ethelbert the sonne of I•…•…erik.
• * 1.230

  Cheulin in•…•…adeth his Territors,
• * 1.231

  Ethelbert the fifth Monarch of the Englishmen. His first wife, and children by her. In the life of Saint We•…•…rg His second wife.
• * 1.232

  1. Cor. 5. 1.
• * 1.233

  Repetition auoi∣ded in this Hi∣storie.
• * 1.234

  Beda Hist. Eccles Angl. lib 2. cap. 5. He•…•…r. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.235

  6. An. Do. 617.
• * 1.236

  Beda hist. •…•…ccles. Aug. lib. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. cap. 5. Edbald, his s•…•…. ther dead, refu∣sed the doctrine of Christ. He married his Mother in Law.
• * 1.237

  Edbald often plagued.
• * 1.238

  Reclaimed from Idolatry by the Archbishop.
• * 1.239

  His Wife.
• * 1.240

  His Daughter.
• * 1.241

  His Sonnes, and their issue.
• * 1.242

  Edbald, his libe∣ralitie to the Church. Beda hist. Angl. lib. 1. cap. 6. His raigne and buriall.
• * 1.243

  7. An. Do. 641.
• * 1.244

  His care of Gods worship. Beda hist. lib. 2. c. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 His Wife and issue.
• * 1.245

  Kent diuided into Parishes.
• * 1.246

  His raigne and death.
• * 1.247

  8. An. Do. 665.
• * 1.248

  Egbert his mur∣ther.
• * 1.249

  The fact re∣uealed. Wil. Malmesbury de gesti•…•… rerum Anglorum.
• * 1.250

  Their bodies so∣lemnly buried. Dopnena their sister.
• * 1.251

  Her religiousnes.
• * 1.252

  Egbert his raigne and death. Beda hist. eccles. Ang. lib. 4. cap. 5.
• * 1.253

  9. An. Do. 673. Lothaire intru∣deth into the Kingdome.
• * 1.254

  Matt. Westminst.
• * 1.255

  Lothaire slaine.
• * 1.256

  Beda hist. Eccles. Angl lib. 4. ca. 5. & 26. His raigne.
• * 1.257

  Lothaire maketh but a •…•…est of murder.
• * 1.258

  His buriall.
• * 1.259

  10. An. Do. 686. Beda hist. Angl. lib. 4 cap. 26. Edrik his raigne. His death.
• * 1.260

  Ceadwalla and Mollo inuade Kent.
• * 1.261

  Mollo burned to death.
• * 1.262

  11. An Do. 693. Wigtred his meanes of at∣taining the Kingdome.
• * 1.263

  His bounty to the Church. Beda Hist. Eccles. Angl. lib. 4. c. 26. & lib. 5. cap. 9. His raigne and death.
• * 1.264

  12. An. Do. 726.
• * 1.265

  Edbert a vertuous prince. His raigne.
• * 1.266

  Two blazing Starres.
• * 1.267

  His Buriall.
• * 1.268

  13. An. Do. 749. Ethelbert his raigne.
• * 1.269

  His death.
• * 1.270

  His buriall.
• * 1.271

  14.
• * 1.272

  Alrik the last of lincall succes∣sion.
• * 1.273

  All the Kings of Kent after Alrik vsurpers.
• * 1.274

  15. An. Do. 794.
• * 1.275

  His imprison∣ment.
• * 1.276

  His releasement.
• * 1.277

  His raigne.
• * 1.278

  16. An. Do. 797.
• * 1.279

  His raigne.
• * 1.280

  17. An. Do. 805. Baldred tooke vpon him the kingdome of Kent.
• * 1.281

  Egbert, Monarch of the English-men.
• * 1.282

  This kingdomes beginning, con∣tinuance, and end.
• * 1.283

  The limits of this kingdome.
• * 1.284

  An. D. 488.
• * 1.285

  The Inhabitants chased into a wood.
• * 1.286

  The diuers opi∣nions of Ellas first entrance.
• * 1.287

  Ma•…•… omitteth this Kingdome.
• * 1.288

  Ella his raigne and death.
• * 1.289

  2.
• * 1.290

  An. Do. 514. Cissa Succeeded.
• * 1.291

  Chichester and Chisburis founded by Cissa.
• * 1.292

  Stow.
• * 1.293

  Cissaes Raigne.
• * 1.294

  3.
• * 1.295

  Liber Historialis S. Swithune VV•…•…ion.
• * 1.296

  Beda. lib. 4. ca. 13.
• * 1.297

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 Edil∣b•…•…es Godfa∣ther.
• * 1.298

  Ebba the wife of VVolfere.
• * 1.299

  Beda lo•…•…o ci•…•…ato. Selsee in Sussex.
• * 1.300

  Cap. 15.
• * 1.301

  His raigne and death.
• * 1.302

  Beda hist. l. 4. c. 13.
• * 1.303

  Ceadwald driuen backe.
• * 1.304

  Beda Hist. Eccles. Angl. lib. 4. cap. 15.
• * 1.305

  The continuance and end of this Kingdome.
• * 1.306

  The VVest Sax∣ons the first that brought the Heptarchy to a Monarchy.
• * 1.307

  Florent. W•…•….
• * 1.308

  2. An. Do. 495. The time when Cherdik entred into Britaine.
• * 1.309

  An. Do. 508.
• * 1.310

  The circuit of this kingdome.
• * 1.311

  The first Kings raigne, issue, and death.
• * 1.312

  3. An. Do. 535. Kenrik his battels.
• * 1.313

  •…•…anbery in Ox∣sordshire.
• * 1.314

  His issue, Cheau∣lin, Cuthwolfe, and Cu•…•….
• * 1.315

  Cearlike the son of Cuthwolfe, re∣belleth against his Vncle.
• * 1.316

  Chedwall, the most renowned King of the West-Saxons.
• * 1.317

  4. An. Do. 561. Cheaulin the time when he began to raigne. An vnquiet and ambitious neigh∣bour.
• * 1.318

  Wimbledon. cap. 5. Sect. 5.
• * 1.319

  Stowe.
• * 1.320

  Ouerthrowne by Cealrik.
• * 1.321

  His raigne. His issue, Cuth and Cuthwin. Cuth a va•…•…nt vvarrior.
• * 1.322

  Slaine 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Fe∣thanleygh.
• * 1.323

  5. An. Do. 592. Cearlik the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 King of the West-Saxons.
• * 1.324

  His raignes con∣tinuance.
• * 1.325

  6 Chelwolfe when he began to raigne.
• * 1.326

  VVest-Saxons in∣usded by three sundry Enemies. Hen Huntingd. His death.
• * 1.327

  7. An. Do. 611. Kingils his com∣ming to the Kingdome. Quinchelinus his associate. Wil. Malmsbury. Marianus. Florent. Wigorn. Their victorie ouer the Bri∣taines.
• * 1.328

  Kingils conuer∣ted to Christia∣nitie, the first of all the VVest-Saxons Kings. Beda hist. Angl. lib. 3 cap. 7. Oswald a witnes at his baptizing. His gift to Kingils.
• * 1.329

  8. An. Do. 643. Beda hist. Angl. lib. 3. cap. 7. Kenwald re•…•…th the Christian faith.
• * 1.330

  He 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 out of his Kingdome.
• * 1.331

  Ro•…•… ald wonne to the faith of Ch•…•…ist.
• * 1.332

  His vvorks of de∣uotion. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Malmsbury. His raigne and death. Vita Alel. His Wife gouer∣neth the king∣dome.
• * 1.333

  An. Do. 674.
• * 1.334

  She becomes a Nunne, and is elected Abbesse of Ely.
• * 1.335

  8. An. Do. 675.
• * 1.336

  Eskwin his raigne not long. Hear. Huntington. His battell with VVulfere.
• * 1.337

  He died without issue.
• * 1.338

  9. An. Do. 677. Kenwin, when he began to raigne.
• * 1.339

  A great scourge to the ouer-born Britaine
• * 1.340

  10. An. Do. 686. Beda hist. Eccles. Angl. lib. 4. ca. 15.
• * 1.341

  Ceadwall raigned with greater glo∣rie then any other.
• * 1.342

  His descent.
• * 1.343

  His warres a∣gainst the South-Saxons.
• * 1.344

  His vow to God.
• * 1.345

  The last of the Saxons that were conuerted to Christ.
• * 1.346

  An vnpleasing •…•…fice to God.
• * 1.347

  His great bloud∣then in Kent.
• * 1.348

  His repentance.
• * 1.349

  His baptizing.
• * 1.350

  His death.
• * 1.351

  His buriall.
• * 1.352

  Beda hist. Eccles. Angl. lib. 5. ca. 7.
• * 1.353

  The history of Ceadwall attri∣buted to Cadwel∣lader by Geffrey.
• * 1.354

  Booke of S. Al∣bans, part. 5. cap. 61. D. Powel History Ca•…•…b. pag. 9.
• * 1.355

  11. An. Do. 688. Floren. UU•…•…gorn. j•…•…e his descent.
• * 1.356

  Ine his first •…•…ts.
• * 1.357

  Wil. Malmsbury.
• * 1.358

  Matth. Westminst. His battle with the Britaines.
• * 1.359

  His conquest of the South-Saxons.
• * 1.360

  His loue of Iu∣stice.
• * 1.361

  His zeale to pietie.
• * 1.362

  His last estate wherein he died.
• * 1.363

  His Wife.
• * 1.364

  12. An. Do. 726.

  [illustration]

  Matt. Westminst. Ethelard terrified by the appearing of two blazing starres. The continu∣ance of his raigne.
• * 1.365

  13. An. Do. 740.

  [illustration]

  Hen. Hunting.
• * 1.366

  Adelme a rebell.
• * 1.367

  Vanquished by Cuthred.
• * 1.368

  Restored againe to fauour.
• * 1.369

  Cuthred his raigne & death.
• * 1.370

  Matt. West. Kent ik his sonne.
• * 1.371

  14. An. Do. 754. Sigebert, his raigne without honour. Wil. Malmsbury. Giuen to vicious∣nesse.
• * 1.372

  His subiects rise against him.
• * 1.373

  His death.
• * 1.374

  His raigne.
• * 1.375

  15. An. Do. 755. Kenwulfe his de∣scent. Hen. Hunting. His victories against the Bri∣taines.
• * 1.376

  He founded a Cathedrall Church.
• * 1.377

  He is slaine. Buried at Win∣chester. Simon Dan.
• * 1.378

  61 An. Do. 784.

  [illustration]

  Hen. Hunting. Matth. West. Simon D•…•…. Ran. C•…•…st. lib. 5. cap. 25.
• * 1.379

  His raigne and death.
• * 1.380

  His Wife.
• * 1.381

  Roger 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.382

  A Law against the Saxon Queenes.
• * 1.383

  Asser.
• * 1.384

  Will. Malmesb. The prodigies that happened in this Kings time.
• * 1.385

  Matth. Westm. H•…•…r. Hunt. The Pagan Danes inuade this Iland in this Kings time.
• * 1.386

  The site of this Kingdome.
• * 1.387

  The descent of these Kings.
• * 1.388

  An. Do. 527.
• * 1.389

  Malmesb. de Gest. Angl. cap. 6.
• * 1.390

  1. Erchenwine the first King of the East-Saxons.
• * 1.391

  His descent.
• * 1.392

  His death.
• * 1.393

  2. An. Do. 587. Sledda the second King. His mariage.
• * 1.394

  His death.
• * 1.395

  His issue.
• * 1.396

  3. An. Do. 596. Sebert the time when he beganne to raigne.
• * 1.397

  Beda Hist. Eccles. Angl. lib. 2. cap. 3.
• * 1.398

  Sebert conuerted to Christianity by Ethelbert.
• * 1.399

  S. Pauls Church built.
• * 1.400

  S. Pauls Church aforetime the Temple of Diana. S. Peters Church in Cornhill built: a fore time the Temple of Apollo. Sulcardus.
• * 1.401

  Stowe.
• * 1.402

  The. Walsingham.
• * 1.403

  4. Three Kings ioyntly sway the Kingdome. Enemies to Chri∣stianitie. Beda hist. eccles. Ang. lib. 2. cap. 5. They are put from the Com∣munion. Miletus fled into France.
• * 1.404

  Rand. Cest. The three Kings slaine.
• * 1.405

  5. An. Do. 623. Segebert the Little. Matth. Westminst. The time when he began to raigne. His successor.
• * 1.406

  6. Beda hist. Angl. lib. 3. cap. 22. Sigebert his des∣cent. He restored the Christian faith.
• * 1.407

  He was baptized by Bishop Finnan.
• * 1.408

  Rap•…•…o Cogshall. His death.
• * 1.409

  His raigne.
• * 1.410

  His issue.
• * 1.411

  7. An. Do. 661. Beda hist. Angl. lib. 3. cap. 22. Swithelme bap∣tized.
• * 1.412

  8. An. Do. 664. When Sighere began to raigne.
• * 1.413

  Beda hist. l. 3. c. 30
• * 1.414

  Reclaimed by the King of Mercia.
• * 1.415

  His Wife.
• * 1.416

  9. An. Do. 664. W•…•… Mal•…•…s.
• * 1.417

  〈1 line〉〈1 line〉.
• * 1.418

  Rad. de Diceto.
• * 1.419

  His latter end. His death.
• * 1.420

  Sebba his Coffi•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.421

  Beda bid. Angl. lib. 4. cap. 11. A miracle.
• * 1.422

  His Wife.
• * 1.423

  An. 1•…•…o. 694.

  [illustration]
• * 1.424

  11. Seof•…•…d the sonne of King Sebba.
• * 1.425

  12. An Do. 701.

  [illustration]

  Rich Ci•…•…st. Beda hist. eccles. Angl. lib. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. c. 20. His latter end. His Wife.
• * 1.426

  13. An. Do. 709. 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. Selred the sonne of Sigebert the Good.
• * 1.427

  His raigne and death. He•…•…. Hunting.
• * 1.428

  14. An. Do. 747. Suthred King of the East-Saxons.
• * 1.429

  West-Saxons stood a King∣dome 281. yeers.
• * 1.430

  Northumberland how diuided at first.
• * 1.431

  Florent. Wig•…•…rn. The pedegree of these Kings.
• * 1.432

  The time when this Prouince be∣came a King∣dome. W•…•…. Malmsb.
• * 1.433

  This Prouince diuided into two Kingdomes.
• * 1.434

  Deira & Bernicia.
• * 1.435

  Ida his raigne. Malmsbury. Ella his raigne. Ida his issue le∣gitimate and ille∣gitimate.
• * 1.436

  They arriue at Flemisburke with forty ships. Ella his issue.
• * 1.437

  Bamburge Castell built by Ida and Ella.
• * 1.438

  6. An. Do. 589. Ethelriks youth obscurely spent.
• * 1.439

  Beda hist. l. 1. c. 33. His raigne and death.
• * 1.440

  7. An. Do. 593. Beda hist. eccles. Angl. lib. 1 cap. 33. Ethelfrid very thirstie of fame.
• * 1.441

  A greater Con∣queror then all the rest.
• * 1.442

  Or, Ed•…•…. Marianus. Ed•…•…den enui∣eth Ethelfrid.
• * 1.443

  Edanade•…•… ouer∣throwne.
• * 1.444

  Theobald slaine.
• * 1.445

  Ethelfred proud of his victorie.
• * 1.446

  West chester.
• * 1.447

  The description of Bangor Mona∣sterie.
• * 1.448

  Bernardus Clari∣ualentius. Bangor Monaste∣rie the first in the world. Beda hist. eccles. Angl. lib 2 cap. 2. Her Monkes di∣uided into seuen portions. Liued by the la∣bour of their hands. Their praier and fasting. Ethelfrid enqui∣reth the cause of their praying.
• * 1.449

  He slaieth a great number.
• * 1.450

  Ethelfrid in feare of Edwine.
• * 1.451

  Edwine forced into exile.
• * 1.452

  Succoured by Redwald.
• * 1.453

  Henry Hunt. Ethelfrid slaine. His raigne. Florentius. His issue. Iob. Capgraue.
• * 1.454

  8. An Do. 617. Beda hist. Eccles. Ang. lib. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. cap. 12. The storie of Ed∣wines banish∣ment.
• * 1.455

  His life in dan∣ger.
• * 1.456

  Edwine in doubt what to doe.
• * 1.457

  One vnknowne came to him. de∣manding the cause of his sorrow.
• * 1.458

  Edwine his an∣•…•…rrer.
• * 1.459

  The man shew∣eth him his griefe vntold him.
• * 1.460

  He demandeth what he would giue to be eased.
• * 1.461

  Edwine his answer.
• * 1.462

  He promiseth to shew him how to saue his soule.
• * 1.463

  Hee suddenly va∣nisheth away.
• * 1.464

  Edwines friend bringeth him good newes.
• * 1.465

  His wife a chaste Christian Lady.
• * 1.466

  His death.
• * 1.467

  His raigne.
• * 1.468

  His place of buriall.
• * 1.469

  9. An. Do. 633. Osrike King of Deria.
• * 1.470

  Eanfrith King of the Bernicians.
• * 1.471

  They renounce the profession of Christ. Beda bist. ce•…•…les. Angl. lib 3 cap. 1. Cadwald Gods instrument to punish them.
• * 1.472

  Cadwall.
• * 1.473

  The British Kings tyrannie.
• * 1.474

  9. An. Do. 634. Oswald.
• * 1.475

  His conquest of the Britaines.
• * 1.476

  Oswald the ninth from Hengist.
• * 1.477

  Hector B•…•…t. His care of his people for re∣ligion. His death.
• * 1.478

  Raigne.
• * 1.479

  Buriall. Wife.
• * 1.480

  Issue.
• * 1.481

  10. An. Do. 643. Oswy the illegiti∣mate of Ethelfrid.
• * 1.482

  Beda bist. Eccles. lib. 3. cap. 1.
• * 1.483

  The tenth Mo∣narch of the English-men.
• * 1.484

  His wife. Issue. Death. Beda lib. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. ca. 5.
• * 1.485

  11. An. Do. 671. Beda bist. lib. 3. cap 24. Egfrid.
• * 1.486

  Beda bist. l. 4. c. 21.
• * 1.487

  Beda hist. Angl. lib. 4. cap. 26.
• * 1.488

  His death.
• * 1.489

  Raigne.
• * 1.490

  Wife, who was both a Widow and a Virgin.
• * 1.491

  Beda bist. l. 4. c. 19.
• * 1.492

  1. Cor. 7. 5.
• * 1.493

  Heb. 13. 4.
• * 1.494

  1. Tim. 2. 15.
• * 1.495

  Canonized for a Saint.
• * 1.496

  12. An. Do. 686. Alkfrid.
• * 1.497

  Matth. Westminst. A great Philo∣sopher.
• * 1.498

  Beda 4. 26.
• * 1.499

  His raigne. Wife. Issue. Beda bist. l. 3. c. 21.
• * 1.500

  13. An. Do. 705. Osred. Beda hist. l. 5. c. 19. Will. Malmes.
• * 1.501

  His wickednesse.
• * 1.502

  Raigne.
• * 1.503

  Wife, who be∣came a Nunne.
• * 1.504

  Marianus scotus.
• * 1.505

  14. An. Do. 716. Kenred.
• * 1.506

  His raigne.
• * 1.507

  15. An. Do. 718. Osrick. His raigne.
• * 1.508

  His adopted sonne. His death.
• * 1.509

  16. An. Do. 729. Ceolnulph.
• * 1.510

  His raigne.
• * 1.511

  A Monke.
• * 1.512

  Gladsome times.
• * 1.513

  Matth. West.
• * 1.514

  Bedaes booke to K. Ceolnulph.
• * 1.515

  17. An. Do. 738. Egbert.
• * 1.516

  His raigne.
• * 1.517

  Simon Dunelm.
• * 1.518

  Diuers Kings that became Monkes.
• * 1.519

  Will. Malmes.
• * 1.520

  Eclipses of the Sun and Moone.
• * 1.521

  His issue.
• * 1.522

  18. An. Do. 758. Oswulph. Simon Dunelm. Hear. Hunt. His raigne. Death.
• * 1.523

  19. An. Do. 759. Editwald or Mollo. Wil. Malmes. His raigne. His death.
• * 1.524

  20. An. Do. 765. Alured. Simon Duncl•…•….
• * 1.525

  Flor. •…•…igor.
• * 1.526

  His issue.
• * 1.527

  21. An. Do. 774. Erhelred. Mat•…•…b. West.
• * 1.528

  22. An. Do. 778. Alfwald.
• * 1.529

  His death.
• * 1.530

  His raigne;
• * 1.531

  His issue.
• * 1.532

  23. An. Do. 789. Osred. His raigne.
• * 1.533

  An. Do. 794. Ethelred.
• * 1.534

  Will. Malmesb. Ma•…•…b. West•…•…. He•…•…y Hunt. Simon Dun.
• * 1.535

  Randul. Higden in Polyc•…•…re.
• * 1.536

  His raigne.
• * 1.537

  His death.
• * 1.538

  24.
• * 1.539

  Oswald King 〈◊〉〈◊〉. daies.

  [illustration]

  The continuance of this kingdome.
• * 1.540

  Mercia.
• * 1.541

  The limits of it.
• * 1.542

  An. Do. 582. Crida.
• * 1.543

  Flor. Wigor.
• * 1.544

  His raigne.
• * 1.545

  His issue
• * 1.546

  2. An. Do. 593. Wibba. Mat•…•…b. West. His issue.
• * 1.547

  Cap. 9. Sect. 7.
• * 1.548

  His raigne. His death.
• * 1.549

  3. An. Do. 614. Ceorl.
• * 1.550

  His raigne.
• * 1.551

  4. An. Do. 626. Penda. His raigne.
• * 1.552

  He•…•…r. Hunt.
• * 1.553

  Matth. West•…•….
• * 1.554

  Beda bist. Angl. lib. 3. cap. 18.
• * 1.555

  His death.
• * 1.556

  Wife. Issue. Ingulphus.
• * 1.557

  5. An. Do. 656. Peada.
• * 1.558

  Beda hist. Angl. l. 3 c. 21.
• * 1.559

  Hugo de Peterbor.
• * 1.560

  His wife. His death.
• * 1.561

  Beda hist. Angl. l. 3. c. 24.
• * 1.562

  6. An. Do. 659. Vulfhere.
• * 1.563

  His raigne.
• * 1.564

  His vvife.
• * 1.565

  His issue.
• * 1.566

  7. An. Do. 675. Ethelred. Simon Dunelm.
• * 1.567

  His raigne.
• * 1.568

  His wife, His issue.
• * 1.569

  8. An. Do. 704. Kenred.
• * 1.570

  His raigne.
• * 1.571

  Beda hist. Angl. lib. 5. ca. 20.
• * 1.572

  His death.
• * 1.573

  9. An. Do. 709. Chelred.
• * 1.574

  Monarch of the English-men.
• * 1.575

  His vvife.
• * 1.576

  His raigne.
• * 1.577

  Death.
• * 1.578

  1•…•…. An. Do. •…•…10. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.579

  His raigne.
• * 1.580

  11. An. Do. 758. Offa.
• * 1.581

  His raigne.
• * 1.582

  Flor. Wigor.
• * 1.583

  His wife. His issue.
• * 1.584

  12. An. Do. 796. Egfryde. Flacc•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.585

  13. An. Do. 797. Kenwolfe.
• * 1.586

  His raigne.
• * 1.587

  His wife.
• * 1.588

  His issue.
• * 1.589

  14. An. Do. 819. Kenelm.
• * 1.590

  His raigne.
• * 1.591

  Roger Higden.
• * 1.592

  His death.
• * 1.593

  Legend... 〈◊〉〈◊〉. sol. 175.
• * 1.594

  15. An. Do. 820. Ceolwulfe. Matth. Westminst.
• * 1.595

  His raigne.
• * 1.596

  His issue.
• * 1.597

  16. An. Do. 821. Bernulfe.

  [illustration]

  Simon Dunelm. Wil. Malmes.
• * 1.598

  His death. His raigne. Henr. Hunt.
• * 1.599

  17. An. Do. 824. Ludecan.
• * 1.600

  His raigne.
• * 1.601

  1•…•…. An. Do. •…•…26. Withlafe.
• * 1.602

  His issue. Iob. Capgraue.
• * 1.603

  19. An. Do. 839. Berthulf.

  [illustration]

  Will. Malmesb. Berefred the cau∣ser of S. Wystans martyrdome.
• * 1.604

  20. An. Do. 852.

  [illustration]

  Matth. West. The Danes depart the Prouince. They returne with 3. Kings.
• * 1.605

  Repton.
• * 1.606

  Burdred and his wife flie the land.
• * 1.607

  Hee buried at Rome.
• * 1.608

  His wife at Padua.
• * 1.609

  The kingdome of Mercia brought in subiection to the West-Saxons.
• * 1.610

  The circuit af this Prouince.
• * 1.611

  1 An. Do. 575. The first King of the East-Angles. Beda hist. Angl. lib. 2. Cap. 15.
• * 1.612

  East. Angles cal∣led Vffines.
• * 1.613

  Vffa his genea∣logie.
• * 1.614

  2 An. Do. 383 The second King of the East-Angles. His raigne.
• * 1.615

  Florent. Worcest.
• * 1.616

  3. An. Do. 593. Beda hist. l. 2. ca. 5. The third King of this Kingdom.
• * 1.617

  Cap. 9. Sect. 7.
• * 1.618

  See more of him in Chap 18. His raigne.
• * 1.619

  4 An. Do. 624 The fourth King of this Kingdom.
• * 1.620

  The first of this Prouince that publikely 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. Matth West. Beda hist l. 2. c•…•… 15 The people re∣iect Christ.
• * 1.621

  The King slaine by a Traitor. His raigne.
• * 1.622

  Iohn S•…•….
• * 1.623

  The Subiects re∣claimed by Sigebert.
• * 1.624

  5 An. Do. 636 The fifth King.
• * 1.625

  Sigebert supected of treason a∣gainst Redwald.
• * 1.626

  He goeth into exile.
• * 1.627

  Beda hist. Ang. l. 3. c. ••••.
• * 1.628

  Sigebert with the assistance of a Bishop doth pro∣mote religion and learning.
• * 1.629

  Will. •…•…mbert. in Peramb. of Kent.
• * 1.630

  M^r. Caius, and M^r. Key.
• * 1.631

  Beda hist. Angl. lib. 4. cap. 19.
• * 1.632

  Grantcester.
• * 1.633

  Beda maketh mention of Grantcester, but not of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Schoole there.
• * 1.634

  The Vniuersities of England, a∣boue all other in Europe.
• * 1.635

  Sigebert resig∣neth to Egricke, and liueth in a Monasterie.
• * 1.636

  He is constrai∣ned to resume it againe, and is slaine in battle.
• * 1.637

  His raigne.
• * 1.638

  6. An. Do. 638. The sixth King. Penda a cruell King of Mercia. Egrick and Sige∣bert both slaine by Penda. His raigne.
• * 1.639

  7. An. D. 642. The seuenth King. Beda hist. Angl. li. 3. cap. 18. Malmesb. de gest is Regum Angl.
• * 1.640

  Anna slaine in battle by Penda.
• * 1.641

  Anna his issue. His raigne. Firminus he•…•…e apparant.
• * 1.642

  Erkenwald Abbat of Chertside, and Bishop of Lon∣don.
• * 1.643

  Etheldrid Ab∣besse of Ely.
• * 1.644

  Sexburge Ab∣besse of Ely after her sister. Withgith a Mēchi∣on in Ely Abbey.
• * 1.645

  Ethilburge Ab∣besse of Barking. Beda lib. 4. cap. 6.
• * 1.646

  Edelburge Ab∣besse of S. Brigges in France. Beda lib. 3. Cap. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.647

  8 An. Do. 654 Ethelherd the eighth King.
• * 1.648

  Beda hist. Angl. lib. 3. cap. 24.
• * 1.649

  His raigne.
• * 1.650

  Hereswith the wife of Ethelhert
• * 1.651

  Their children.
• * 1.652

  9 An. Do. 656.
• * 1.653

  10 An Do. 664

  [illustration]
• * 1.654

  11 An. Do. 683
• * 1.655

  His raigne.
• * 1.656

  12. An. Do. 714 Beorn the twelfth King.
• * 1.657

  13 An. D. 714. Ethelred the thir∣teenth King.
• * 1.658

  He raigned two and fifty yeeres.
• * 1.659

  His sonne Ethel∣bert. His wife Leofrun. Flores Wigor. Ioba Capgraue.
• * 1.660

  14. An. D. 749. Ethelbert the foureteenth King.
• * 1.661

  Giral. Cambrensis
• * 1.662

  Ethelbert murde∣red by Offa King of Mercia.
• * 1.663

  Buried at Mer∣den.
• * 1.664

  After at Here∣ford, ouer whom was built a faire Church. Iohn Capgraue.
• * 1.665

  Elfrid his espou∣sall vowed chasti∣ty. Os•…•…rt de Cl•…•…e.
• * 1.666

  He raigned forty fiue yeeres.
• * 1.667

  Offa heire to the Crowne, adop∣teth Edmund the sonne of Alkmond.
• * 1.668

  15 An. Do. 870. Edmund the fif teenth King The Danes inua∣sion. Polydor. Virg.
• * 1.669

  Fabian.
• * 1.670

  Edmund taken of the Danes, and put to death for the faith of Christ.
• * 1.671

  Malmes. His raigne.
• * 1.672

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 Church 〈◊〉〈◊〉 S. Edmondsbury builded in honor of Edmund. This Church ra∣zed to the ground by Sue∣nus a Danish King.
• * 1.673

  Reedified and richly endowed by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sonne.
• * 1.674

  The Danes ex∣pulsed hence by 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.675

  Hither•…•… the Sa∣xons Heptarchy.
• * 1.676

  The British Op∣posers.
• * 1.677

  Resisters of the Saxons.
• * 1.678

  Vortigern the first and Cadwallader the last resister of the Saxons.
• * 1.679

  A successiue Se∣ries of Great Britaines Coines.
• * 1.680

  Saxons haue con∣cealed all victo∣ries against themselues.
• * 1.681

  The causes of Vortigerns feare, and his sending for the Saxons.
• * 1.682

  Beda lib. 1. cap. 14.
• * 1.683

  〈8 words〉〈8 words〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 His second wife 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉.
• * 1.684

  His third vvife 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 daughter.
• * 1.685

  Fausius the sonne o•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by his third wife.
• * 1.686

  Vortigern how long he raigned. Fabian. Chro. Vortigern depo∣sed and impri∣soned.
• * 1.687

  He flieth into Wales.
• * 1.688

  Polychr. li. 5. ca. 1.
• * 1.689

  Vortigern and his wife destroied by fire from heauen. Henr. Hunt. Rand. Higd. 5. c. 1.
• * 1.690

  2. An. Do. 454. Vortimer the se∣cond resister of the Saxons.
• * 1.691

  Vortimer how long he main∣tained warre against the Saxons. Foure chiefe battles, and the successe of the first.
• * 1.692

  The place of the first battle. Beda lib. 1. ca. 15.
• * 1.693

  The place of the second battle.
• * 1.694

  The place of the third battle. The place of the fourth battle.
• * 1.695

  The Saxons quite dispossessed.
• * 1.696

  Vortimer made away by Rowena.
• * 1.697

  Vortimer the continuance of his raigne. Fabian. Chro. par. 5. cap. 89.
• * 1.698

  Vortigern reesta∣blished King.
• * 1.699

  Ninius.
• * 1.700

  Vortimer his monument the Stonar.
• * 1.701

  Uortimer suppo∣sed to be buried in London.
• * 1.702

  Sigebertus.
• * 1.703

  3. An. Do. 466. The third resister of the Saxons.
• * 1.704

  Galfrid. M•…•….
• * 1.705

  Beda hist. lib. 1. cap. 16.
• * 1.706

  Geffrey Caxton, Polych.
• * 1.707

  Hector Boetius.
• * 1.708

  Aurelius Ambro∣sius erected Stonhenge.
• * 1.709

  The description of the Monu∣ment of Ston∣henge.
• * 1.710

  Ancient fashio∣ned Armor found at Ston∣henge.
• * 1.711

  〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉.
• * 1.712

  〈◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Do•…•….
• * 1.713

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Bri∣•…•…e.
• * 1.714

  Luke 24 39.
• * 1.715

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 in his 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.716

  Aurelius Ambro∣sius, the continu∣ence of his 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.717

  An. Do. 498.
• * 1.718

  Mat. Westminster.
• * 1.719

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.720

  A•…•…ex. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Uter 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in loue with La∣•…•… Igren.
• * 1.721

  〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉.
• * 1.722

  An ancient Ma∣nuscript.
• * 1.723

  Geffrey, &c.
• * 1.724

  Iohn Harding.
• * 1.725

  Pendragon the continuance of his raigne.
• * 1.726

  Gen. 49. 17.
• * 1.727

  In gold and iew∣els, as Hardig saith.
• * 1.728

  5. An. Do. 516.
• * 1.729

  Matth. West•…•….
• * 1.730

  Scotia Chron.
• * 1.731

  Matth. West•…•….
• * 1.732

  Beda hist. Angl. lib. 1. cap. 16.
• * 1.733

  Monmouth. Wil. Ne•…•…. Leiland.
• * 1.734

  Wil. Malmes.
• * 1.735

  Of Ieffrey Ar∣thur, or Monke of Monmouth.
• * 1.736

  Hom. Iliad. lib. 5. Euripides. Sophocles.
• * 1.737

  Seneca in his Morals.
• * 1.738

  Iohn Rouse.
• * 1.739

  The Armes of Arthur.
• * 1.740

  Iosephus Isc•…•….
• * 1.741

  Arthur an Iron Mall.
• * 1.742

  Ninius. Malmesb. de ge∣st•…•… Reg. Angl.
• * 1.743

  A namelesse old Manuscript, chap. 154.
• * 1.744

  〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 10.
• * 1.745

  Camel•…•…ord.
• * 1.746

  Marianus Scotus.
• * 1.747

  Wal. sonne•…•… An∣tiq. Glasten. Arthur the con∣tinuance of his raigne.
• * 1.748

  The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 tresses of haire my •…•…e saw in a coffin digged vp in an old house neere Pauls in London, very beautifull in shew, but be∣ing touched, was nothing but dust.
• * 1.749

  Iohn Stow.
• * 1.750

  Arthurs bones in •…•…ombed.
• * 1.751

  An. D. 542.
• * 1.752

  Brute booke.
• * 1.753

  Gyldas. Ab•…•…r suc•…•….
• * 1.754

  In his Booke De excidio Britan. Hum. Lluyd. Bre. Brit.
• * 1.755

  Constantines raignes conti∣nuance.
• * 1.756

  7. An. D. 545. Mat. Westminster.
• * 1.757

  Gyldas.
• * 1.758

  〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.759

  〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.760

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 the con∣tin•…•… of his raigne.
• * 1.761

  8. An. Do. 578.
• * 1.762

  Gyldas.
• * 1.763

  2. King. 20. 21.
• * 1.764

  Uortiporus, the continuance of his raigne.
• * 1.765

  9. An. D. 581. Mat. Westminster.
• * 1.766

  Malgo Canonus, the continuance of his raigne.
• * 1.767

  If •…•…erdix be not another whom beda calleth a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 King, lib. 4. cap. •…•…3.
• * 1.768

  Beda hist. Angl. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 1. cap. 21.
• * 1.769

  Hum. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Brit.
• * 1.770

  10. An. Do. 586.
• * 1.771

  Sc•…•… Cr•…•….
• * 1.772

  Careticus, the cō∣tinuance of his raigne. Polych. lib. 5. cap. 6.
• * 1.773

  11. An. Do. 163.
• * 1.774

  Wil. Malmesb.
• * 1.775

  Cadwan, the con∣tinuance of his raigne. Iohn Harding. Chro. cap. 90.
• * 1.776

  Paulus Diaconus.
• * 1.777

  12. An. Do. 635.
• * 1.778

  Beda hist. Angl. lib. 2. cap. 20.
• * 1.779

  Beda hist. Angl. lib. 3. cap. 1.
• * 1.780

  Geffrey Monm.
• * 1.781

  Cadwallo or Cad∣wan, the continu∣ance of his raign.
• * 1.782

  An. Do. 625.
• * 1.783

  13. An. Do. 685.
• * 1.784

  Geffrey Monm.
• * 1.785

  D. Powel. Chron. of VVales.
• * 1.786

  Cadwallader, the continuance of his raigne.
• * 1.787

  Beda histor. lib. 4. cap. 26.
• * 1.788

  Cap. 15.
• * 1.789

  Beda hist. lib. 5. cap. 7.
• * 1.790

  Saxon Mo∣narchs.
• * 1.791

  An. Do. 450. Beda. Malmsb.
• * 1.792

  Floren. Wigorn.
• * 1.793

  Hengist, how long he raigned.
• * 1.794

  Maria. Scot. Peter Ikham.
• * 1.795

  Geffrey Mon. Polydor Uirgil.
• * 1.796

  Petrus Albinus.
• * 1.797

  Beda hist. Angl. lib. 2. cap. 5. Eske, how long he raigned.
• * 1.798

  〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉.
• * 1.799

  E•…•…, Mo•…•…at.
• * 1.800

  An. D. 581. Beda. hist. lib. 2. cap. 5.
• * 1.801

  Matt. Westminst.
• * 1.802

  Henry Huntington
• * 1.803

  An. Do. 488.
• * 1.804

  E•…•…, how long h•…•… raigned.
• * 1.805

  Florent. Wigorn.
• * 1.806

  VVil. Malmsb.
• * 1.807

  Florent. VVig.
• * 1.808

  See Chap. 6.
• * 1.809

  Cherdik.
• * 1.810

  1. An. Do. 495.
• * 1.811

  M•…•…. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.812

  Henr. Hunt.
• * 1.813

  Flor. VVigorn.
• * 1.814

  cherdik, how long he raigned.
• * 1.815

  See chap. 7.
• * 1.816

  Kenrik.
• * 1.817

  1. An. Do. 534.
• * 1.818

  Mat. VVest•…•….
• * 1.819

  An. Do. 556.
• * 1.820

  Kenrik, how long he raigned.
• * 1.821

  In Chap. 7. Soft. 2.
• * 1.822

  Cheuline.
• * 1.823

  An. D. 561.
• * 1.824

  Matt. Westm.
• * 1.825

  Henry Hunting.
• * 1.826

  Wimbledon.
• * 1.827

  Ail•…•….
• * 1.828

  Matth. West.
• * 1.829

  Gyldas.
• * 1.830

  Th•…•…. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.831

  Leyland.
• * 1.832

  Cheuline, how long he raigned.
• * 1.833

  An. Do. 561.
• * 1.834

  VVil. Malmes.
• * 1.835

  Beda histor. lib. 1. cap. 25.
• * 1.836

  Austine com∣meth into Eng∣land.
• * 1.837

  Austine and his followers main∣tained in Cantur∣bury.
• * 1.838

  Beda hist. lib. 2. cap. 26. Beda hist. lib. 1. cap. 26.
• * 1.839

  Gregory lib. 7. cap. 26.
• * 1.840

  Canturbury giuen to Austine.
• * 1.841

  Wil. Lambert P•…•…mb. of Kent.
• * 1.842

  The buriall of the dead granted within the Citie.
• * 1.843

  S. Austines Mo∣nasterie.
• * 1.844

  Ethelberts Tower yet standing.
• * 1.845

  Beda hist. lib. 1. cap. 27.
• * 1.846

  Austines questi∣ons to the Pope.
• * 1.847

  Beda hist. lib. 2. cap. 2. Rand. Cest. Sigebertus. Galfr•…•…d. lib. 8. cap. cap. 4.
• * 1.848

  About South∣h•…•…oton as is thought.
• * 1.849

  The Ancho•…•…es counsell.
• * 1.850

  Galla. 4. 9.
• * 1.851

  Beda hist. lib. 3. cap. 25.
• * 1.852

  Stranshalch Synode.
• * 1.853

  King Oswy per∣swadeth to vnion.
• * 1.854

  Colmans speech to the Synode.
• * 1.855

  Wilfrides answer.
• * 1.856

  Colmans 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.857

  Wilfrids mode∣ration.
• * 1.858

  Act. 21. 20.
• * 1.859

  Exod. 12.
• * 1.860

  Ruff•…•… lib. 10. cap. 6.
• * 1.861

  Colman.
• * 1.862

  Wilfrid.
• * 1.863

  Matth. 7.
• * 1.864

  Matth. 16.
• * 1.865

  The Synod mild. lie dismissed by King Oswy.
• * 1.866

  Holinsh. hist. Ang lib 5 cap. 21. Beda •…•…or. lib. 2. cap. 3.
• * 1.867

  VVil. Malmes. Wil. Thorne. Register Cant.
• * 1.868

  Beda hist. lib. 2. cap. 5. Ethelbert, how long he raigned.
• * 1.869

  Beda hist. lib. 2. cap. 11.
• * 1.870

  Capgraue.
• * 1.871

  Monarch 7.
• * 1.872

  Redwald.
• * 1.873

  An. D. 616.
• * 1.874

  Beda hist. Angl. lib. 2. cap. •…•…5.
• * 1.875

  Beda hist. Ang. lib. 2. cap. 12.
• * 1.876

  Henry Hunting.
• * 1.877

  Redwald, his raigne.
• * 1.878

  Monarch. 8.
• * 1.879

  Edwine.]
• * 1.880

  An. Do. 617.
• * 1.881

  An. Do. 624.
• * 1.882

  Beda hist Angl. lib. 2. cap. 9.
• * 1.883

  Hebrides.
• * 1.884

  Ethelburs good parts.
• * 1.885

  A conspiracie.
• * 1.886

  Beda hist. Angl. lib. 2. cap. 9.
• * 1.887

  Bishop Paulinus.
• * 1.888

  Beda hist. Angl. lib. 2. cap. 12.
• * 1.889

  Edwine put in minde of co∣uenants.
• * 1.890

  Idolatrie abo∣lished.
• * 1.891

  Beda hist. Angl. cap. 13.
• * 1.892

  Beda hist. Angl. lib. 2. cap. 16.
• * 1.893

  Tufa the Romans Ensigne.
• * 1.894

  Iustus Lipsius.
• * 1.895

  I•…•…ce.
• * 1.896

  Beda hist. Ang. lib. 3. cap. 15.
• * 1.897

  Monarch 9.
• * 1.898

  Oswald.
• * 1.899

  An. Do. 634.
• * 1.900

  Beda hist. Ang. lib. 3. cap. 1.
• * 1.901

  Beda hist. Ang. lib. 3. cap. 3.
• * 1.902

  Ho•…•…. Boetius.
• * 1.903

  Beda hist. Angl. lib. 3. cap. 6.
• * 1.904

  Beda hister. lib. 3. cap. 9.
• * 1.905

  Monarch. 10.
• * 1.906

  Oswy.
• * 1.907

  An. Do. 643.
• * 1.908

  Beda hist. Angl. lib. 3. cap. 24.
• * 1.909

  Oswyes enuie.
• * 1.910

  Oswyn King of the Deirians.
• * 1.911

  Oswyn King of the D•…•…tans.
• * 1.912

  Cataracton. Village.
• * 1.913

  Oswyn betraied into the hands of Oswy.
• * 1.914

  Bedas his report of Oswyns vertue.
• * 1.915

  His gift to the Bishop Aidan.
• * 1.916

  The Bishops Almes to a poore man.
• * 1.917

  King Oswins re∣pentance.
• * 1.918

  Bishop' Aidans testimonie of King Oswyns pie•…•…e.
• * 1.919

  Beda hist. Ang. lib. 3. cap. 24.
• * 1.920

  Elfled the daugh∣ter of King Oswy.
• * 1.921

  Alkfrid.
• * 1.922

  Ethelwald.
• * 1.923

  Iunet Riuer.
• * 1.924

  Penda slaine.
• * 1.925

  Ethelwald his escape.
• * 1.926

  Liber Lichfeild. Tho. Rudburne.
• * 1.927

  Oswy his gift to Penda.
• * 1.928

  Beda hist. Angl. lib. 4. cap. 5. The time of King Oswy•…•… raigne.
• * 1.929

  Eanfled.
• * 1.930

  Steanshalch Mo∣nasterie.
• * 1.931

  Egfryd the eldest sonne.
• * 1.932

  Elswyne the se∣cond sonne.
• * 1.933

  Beda hist. Angl. lib. 4. cap. 21.
• * 1.934

  Elfled his eldest daughter.
• * 1.935

  Hilda Abbesse of Streanshall.
• * 1.936

  Offryd the youn∣ger daughter.
• * 1.937

  Alkfryd a •…•…∣rall sonne.
• * 1.938

  Chap. 7. sect. 1•…•….
• * 1.939

  Al•…•…fled a natural daughter.
• * 1.940

  Monarch II.
• * 1.941

  Vulfhere.
• * 1.942

  An. Do. 659.
• * 1.943

  Beda hist. Angl. lib. 3. cap. •…•…4.
• * 1.944

  Vulfheres pa∣rentage.
• * 1.945

  Linsey Iland lost to the Northum∣brians.
• * 1.946

  Beda hist. Angl. lib. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. cap. 12.
• * 1.947

  Lib. peter•…•….
• * 1.948

  Vulferchester Castell.
• * 1.949

  Vulfhere slaieth his two sonnes.
• * 1.950

  Iohn capgran•…•….
• * 1.951

  Vulfheres repen∣tance.
• * 1.952

  Now 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.953

  W. l. Mal•…•…sbury.
• * 1.954

  The time of his raigne.
• * 1.955

  Ermenhilds pa∣rentage.
• * 1.956

  Queene Sexburg Abbesse of 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.957

  Kenred the first sonne.
• * 1.958

  Uulfald a suppo∣sed sonne. Water Wittlesey.
• * 1.959

  S. Vulfaldes Col∣ledge.
• * 1.960

  Rufine another supposed sonne.
• * 1.961

  Wereburg, the daughter of Vulfhere.
• * 1.962

  Buried at Han∣bery.
• * 1.963

  S. Wereburgs Church.
• * 1.964

  Monarch 12.
• * 1.965

  Ethelred.
• * 1.966

  An. Do. 675.
• * 1.967

  Circumstances belonging to the beginning of his raigne.
• * 1.968

  〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉.
• * 1.969

  Putta Bishop of Rochester.
• * 1.970

  Beda hist. Angl. lib. 4. cap. 12.
• * 1.971

  A blazing starre.
• * 1.972

  The occasion of founding Brad∣ney Monastery.
• * 1.973

  Ethelred res•…•…g∣neth his Crown.
• * 1.974

  The continuance of his raigne.
• * 1.975

  Off•…•…yd. Be•…•…a hist. Angl. lib 3. cap. 11.
• * 1.976

  Beda in E•…•…t. Off•…•…yd slaine.
• * 1.977

  Chelred the first sonne.
• * 1.978

  Kenred.
• * 1.979

  Monarch 13.
• * 1.980

  An. Do. 704.
• * 1.981

  The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pertaining to his •…•…trance into 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.982

  The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of his raigne.
• * 1.983

  Beda hist. Angl. lib. 5. cap. 20.
• * 1.984

  Kenred and Offa turne Monks.
• * 1.985

  Bale.
• * 1.986

  Leuit. 2•…•….
• * 1.987

  Monarch 14.
• * 1.988

  Chelred.
• * 1.989

  An. Do. 709.
• * 1.990

  The appendan∣ces of his ingresse into gouernmēt.
• * 1.991

  Chelred worthy of the Crowne.
• * 1.992

  Inas King of the West-Saxons.
• * 1.993

  Chelred prepa∣reth against Inas.
• * 1.994

  Henry H••••ting.
• * 1.995

  Mat. Westminster.
• * 1.996

  Iohn 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.997

  The continuance of his raigne.
• * 1.998

  Inas wife. M•…•…rian Scot.
• * 1.999

  She died sixtie yeeres after her husband.
• * 1.1000

  Monarch 15.
• * 1.1001

  Ethelbald.
• * 1.1002

  An. Do. 716.
• * 1.1003

  The precedents of his raignes initium.
• * 1.1004

  •…•…and. Cestern.
• * 1.1005

  Henry Hunting.
• * 1.1006

  Chron. of Holl.
• * 1.1007

  Ro. •…•…i.
• * 1.1008

  Nunnes infamy.
• * 1.1009

  Crowland Ab∣bey buil•…•….
• * 1.1010

  The continuance of his raigne.
• * 1.1011

  Wil. Mal•…•…bury.
• * 1.1012

  Monarch 16.
• * 1.1013

  Offa•…•…
• * 1.1014

  An. Do. 758.
• * 1.1015

  Wil. Malmsbury.
• * 1.1016

  Liber M. S.
• * 1.1017

  The parents of Offa.
• * 1.1018

  Bernred slaine.
• * 1.1019

  King Charles the Great.
• * 1.1020

  Malmsbury.
• * 1.1021

  Bensinton Castel taken by King Offa.
• * 1.1022

  Liber S. Albans, M. S. Marmodius a Welsh King.
• * 1.1023

  Offaes ditch.
• * 1.1024

  Chron. Wallis.
• * 1.1025

  Marmodius trea∣chery.
• * 1.1026

  The Britain•…•… ac∣cessary to it.
• * 1.1027

  Saxons assistance.
• * 1.1028

  Offa•…•… ple 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.1029

  Marmodius van∣quished by Offa.
• * 1.1030

  The Ligger of 〈◊〉〈◊〉. M. S.
• * 1.1031

  King Charles con∣gratulateth Offa.
• * 1.1032

  Ro. Houed. •…•…nal. part 1. The second Councell of Nice.
• * 1.1033

  Alcuinm.
• * 1.1034

  Offa•…•… last wars.
• * 1.1035

  Offa went to Rome.
• * 1.1036

  His repentance.
• * 1.1037

  Off-ley Towne.
• * 1.1038

  I〈◊〉〈◊〉 S Al•…•…s M. S. 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉.
• * 1.1039

  In the life of S. Albane. prefixed before the Led∣ger booke of that Abbey.
• * 1.1040

  Offa affectioned to Quend•…•…d.
• * 1.1041

  Quend•…•…d her trechery.
• * 1.1042

  Quendred rewar∣ded with the like paines.
• * 1.1043

  Egfrid the only son of Offa.
• * 1.1044

  Ethelburga the first daughter.
• * 1.1045

  Cap. 7. Sect. 16.
• * 1.1046

  Polycbr. •…•…sted the second daughter.
• * 1.1047

  Elfrid the third daughter.
• * 1.1048

  Iohn Capgraue.
• * 1.1049

  Burghard.
• * 1.1050

  Egfrid.
• * 1.1051

  Monarch 17.
• * 1.1052

  An. Do. 794.
• * 1.1053

  Egfrid restoreth antike priuiled∣ger.
• * 1.1054

  Fl•…•… Albinus.
• * 1.1055

  The continuance of his raigne.
• * 1.1056

  Monarch 1•…•…
• * 1.1057

  Kenwolfe.
• * 1.1058

  An. Do. 794.
• * 1.1059

  Ke•…•…olfes praise.
• * 1.1060

  Wil. Mal•…•…b.
• * 1.1061

  Winchcombe Mon•…•…ry.
• * 1.1062

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.1063

  Elfrid•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vn•…•….
• * 1.1064

  Ken•…•… d•…•…th.
• * 1.1065

  Chap. 10. •…•…ct. 14.
• * 1.1066

  Qu•…•…dred th•…•… el∣d•…•…st d•…•…ughter of K•…•…wolfe.
• * 1.1067

  Burg•…•…ild 〈◊〉〈◊〉 younger daug•…•…∣ter.
• * 1.1068

  Monarch 19.
• * 1.1069

  Egbert.
• * 1.1070

  An. Do. 800.
• * 1.1071

  The seuen fold gouernment mu∣table.
• * 1.1072

  west-Saxons am∣bition.
• * 1.1073

  Egberts exigents and reliefes.
• * 1.1074

  Simon D•…•…el. saith 80•…•…. Mat. Westminst•…•… saith 801.
• * 1.1075

  Iohn B•…•….
• * 1.1076

  Chap. 12.
• * 1.1077

  Chap. 10. sect. 16.
• * 1.1078

  〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉.
• * 1.1079

  Egbert the first sole Monarch.
• * 1.1080

  An. Do. 819.
• * 1.1081

  Floren. •…•…igorn.
• * 1.1082

  Simon. D•…•…n. Henry Hunting. Mat. W•…•…st.
• * 1.1083

  〈◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊〉
• * 1.1084

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.1085

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 son•…•…e.
• * 1.1086

  E•…•…an yonger sonne.
• * 1.1087

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 a daugh∣ter.
• * 1.1088

  Monarch 20
• * 1.1089

  Ethelwolfe.
• * 1.1090

  An. Do. 837.
• * 1.1091

  Roger Houeden. Iohn Brampton.
• * 1.1092

  Henry Hunting. Mat. Westminster.
• * 1.1093

  Wil. Malmsb.
• * 1.1094

  Simon Dunelm. Henry Hunt.
• * 1.1095

  An. Dom. 838.
• * 1.1096

  Henry 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Ar•…•… •…•…iual.
• * 1.1097

  Si•…•…on Dun.
• * 1.1098

  See Chap. 10. Sect. 20.
• * 1.1099

  Wil. Mal•…•…sbury. Simon. Dun.
• * 1.1100

  Wil. Mal•…•…s.
• * 1.1101

  Ethelwolfes time of raigning.
• * 1.1102

  Osburgs parents.
• * 1.1103

  Iudith a second wife.
• * 1.1104

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 the first Sonne.
• * 1.1105

  Ethelbert the second sonne.
• * 1.1106

  Ethelred a third sonne.
• * 1.1107

  Elfred a fourth sonne.
• * 1.1108

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 a daughter.
• * 1.1109

  Ne•…•… a suppo∣s•…•…d 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.1110

  S. Need•…•…s Towne.
• * 1.1111

  Monarch 21.
• * 1.1112

  Ethelbald.
• * 1.1113

  An. Do. 857. Floro•…•…. Wigo•…•….
• * 1.1114

  His wars against the Danes.
• * 1.1115

  •…•…l. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.1116

  The time of his raigning.
• * 1.1117

  1. Cor. 5. 1.
• * 1.1118

  Monarch 22
• * 1.1119

  Ethelbert.
• * 1.1120

  An. Do. 860.
• * 1.1121

  Hen. •…•…unting.
• * 1.1122

  The Kentishmen compound for their peace.
• * 1.1123

  Ethelberts ti•…•… of raigning.
• * 1.1124

  Athelm the eldest sonne.
• * 1.1125

  Ethel•…•…ld the se∣cond sonne.
• * 1.1126

  He•…•…y H•…•…ing.
• * 1.1127

  Monarch 23.
• * 1.1128

  Ethelred.
• * 1.1129

  An. Do. 866.
• * 1.1130

  Hunger and Hubba.
• * 1.1131

  The Danes march North∣ward.
• * 1.1132

  Ing•…•…s.
• * 1.1133

  An. Do. 870.
• * 1.1134

  Fl•…•…es Histor.
• * 1.1135

  Assendon battaile.
• * 1.1136

  Scala Chronicon.
• * 1.1137

  Basing battaile.
• * 1.1138

  〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.1139

  〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.1140

  Scala Chr•…•…n. Marian. Scot.
• * 1.1141

  Elfred the eldest sonne.
• * 1.1142

  The Abbesse of Quedlingburg.
• * 1.1143

  Oswald a yonger sonne.
• * 1.1144

  Thyre a daughter
• * 1.1145

  Monarch 24.
• * 1.1146

  Elfred.
• * 1.1147

  An. Do. 872.
• * 1.1148

  Marianus. Florentius.
• * 1.1149

  Asser.
• * 1.1150

  Speculum hist. Ricardus Cirence∣strencis.
• * 1.1151

  Mat. West.
• * 1.1152

  Polychro. lib. 6. c. 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.1153

  An. Dom. 875.
• * 1.1154

  Elfreds compo∣sition.
• * 1.1155

  Three Kings against Elfred.
• * 1.1156

  An. Do. 876.
• * 1.1157

  Abington.
• * 1.1158

  Seuen battailes in one yeare.
• * 1.1159

  An. Do. 876. Simon Dunel.
• * 1.1160

  Elfreds exigents.
• * 1.1161

  Edelingsey Iland.
• * 1.1162

  Asser. S•…•…. Hist•…•…. Ric. Cir•…•….
• * 1.1163

  Polydor. Virg.
• * 1.1164

  〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.1165

  H•…•…y Hunt. An. Do. 878
• * 1.1166

  An. Do. 879:
• * 1.1167

  Asser. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.1168

  Danes send for peace.
• * 1.1169

  Sl•…•… D•…•…lm.
• * 1.1170

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. Lambere in his booke of the old English lawes.
• * 1.1171

  An. Do. 879
• * 1.1172

  Mar•…•….
• * 1.1173

  An. Do. 889.
• * 1.1174

  Asserius. Flo. Wigorn.
• * 1.1175

  Wil. Malmsbury.
• * 1.1176

  An. Do. 892.
• * 1.1177

  Si•…•… Dun.
• * 1.1178

  Fernham battaile
• * 1.1179

  * Bea•…•…fles.
• * 1.1180

  Hastings wife and children set at liberty.
• * 1.1181

  Excester and Chester besieged.
• * 1.1182

  An. Do. 895. Flor•…•…. Wigorn. Marian. Scotus.
• * 1.1183

  Ware.
• * 1.1184

  The riuer Lea deuided and •…•…ade vnnauiga∣ble.
• * 1.1185

  Henry H•…•…ting.
• * 1.1186

  An. Do. 897.
• * 1.1187

  Seal. Chr. Regist. Hyde. Tho. Rudburne. Reg. Hig.
• * 1.1188

  Asserim Men.
• * 1.1189

  wil. Malmsbury.
• * 1.1190

  Elfreds good studies.
• * 1.1191

  Alfred•…•… Ri•…•…es∣sit 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in Apo∣logia Oxen.
• * 1.1192

  Aserius. Grimbald. Iohn Scot.
• * 1.1193

  Annales of Win∣ton Monast.
• * 1.1194

  Mal•…•…s. de Reg. l. 2. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 4.
• * 1.1195

  Wigornensis. Th. Rudburne.
• * 1.1196

  Elswith.
• * 1.1197

  Malcolme King of Scots.
• * 1.1198

  Edward the eldest sonne.
• * 1.1199

  Ethelward the second sonne.
• * 1.1200

  Rudburne Anna∣les 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉.
• * 1.1201

  Elfleda the eldest daughter.
• * 1.1202

  Ethelgeda the se∣cond daughter.
• * 1.1203

  Elfride the yo•…•…∣gest daughter.
• * 1.1204

  Edward
• * 1.1205

  Monarch 24.
• * 1.1206

  An. Do. 901.
• * 1.1207

  Speculum hist. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Ciren.
• * 1.1208

  Iohn Stow.
• * 1.1209

  Ethealwld his minority.
• * 1.1210

  Winborne taken by him.
• * 1.1211

  Henry 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.1212

  Ran. Higd.
• * 1.1213

  S. Edmunds ditch.
• * 1.1214

  An. Do. 905.
• * 1.1215

  Ioannes Leo Aph•…•…r in Descrip•…•…. A•…•…ric. lib. 3.
• * 1.1216

  The Danes breake truce with the Eng∣lish.
• * 1.1217

  An. Do. 910.
• * 1.1218

  Simon Dunelm. Two Danish Kings slaine.
• * 1.1219

  Wal. Mapaeus.
• * 1.1220

  Leolin his ho∣mage to King Edward.
• * 1.1221

  His admiration of King, Edwards mildnes.
• * 1.1222

  Hen. Hunting. An. Do. 912.
• * 1.1223

  Elfleda dislike of wedlocke.
• * 1.1224

  She winneth Brec•…•…k & Darby
• * 1.1225

  Many towns planted by her.
• * 1.1226

  Polydor.
• * 1.1227

  Edrick his do∣ings.
• * 1.1228

  The time of King Edwards raigne.
• * 1.1229

  His death and buriall.
• * 1.1230

  Eguina.
• * 1.1231

  Prince Edward marrieth Sg•…•…inae.
• * 1.1232

  Elfleda.
• * 1.1233

  Stephen the sixt Bishop of Rome.
• * 1.1234

  Edgina.
• * 1.1235

  Two Kings her sonnes.
• * 1.1236

  Ethelstan the first sonne.
• * 1.1237

  Wil. Malmsb.
• * 1.1238

  Elfred the se∣cond sonne.
• * 1.1239

  Crowned King in his fathers time.
• * 1.1240

  Editha the first daughter. Mat. Westminster. Po•…•…dor.
• * 1.1241

  Tamworth Ca∣stell.
• * 1.1242

  Elsward the third sonne.
• * 1.1243

  Buried at Winche∣ster.
• * 1.1244

  Edwine the fourth sonne. Wil. Malms.
• * 1.1245

  Iames Maier, in his Annals of Flanders.
• * 1.1246

  Elfleda the se∣cond daughter.
• * 1.1247

  R•…•…msey Mona∣stery.
• * 1.1248

  Eguina the third daughter.
• * 1.1249

  Her marriage with Herbert disliked.
• * 1.1250

  Ethelhild the fourth daughter.
• * 1.1251

  Edhild the fifth daughter.
• * 1.1252

  Edgith the sixth daughter.
• * 1.1253

  Elgiua the se∣uenth daughter.
• * 1.1254

  Married to a Duke of Italy.
• * 1.1255

  Edmund the fifth sonne.
• * 1.1256

  Three yeere old at his fathers death.
• * 1.1257

  Edred the sixt sonne.
• * 1.1258

  A good Prince.
• * 1.1259

  Edburg the eight daughter. Ran. Higd. polic. lib. 6. cap. 4.
• * 1.1260

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 the ninth daughter.
• * 1.1261

  Aquitaine belon∣ging to 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.1262

  Monarch 26
• * 1.1263

  Ethelstan.
• * 1.1264

  An. Do. 924.
• * 1.1265

  Crowned at Kingston vpon Thamesis.
• * 1.1266

  Wil. Malmsb.
• * 1.1267

  Pope Iohn the tenth.
• * 1.1268

  Parasites.
• * 1.1269

  Edwins death.
• * 1.1270

  The occasion of the founding of Midleton and Michelnesse Mo∣nasteries.
• * 1.1271

  His Cup-bearer put to death.
• * 1.1272

  Sithrick. Wil. Malmsbury.
• * 1.1273

  A law against Fellons.
• * 1.1274

  Godfrey and An∣lasse the sonnes of Sithrick.
• * 1.1275

  Ludwall saith Malmsbury.
• * 1.1276

  An. Do. 937.
• * 1.1277

  Mat. West. Rand. Higd.
• * 1.1278

  King Constantine assisteth Godfrey.
• * 1.1279

  Wil. Malmsb. Simon. Dun. Ran. Higden.
• * 1.1280

  Anlafe King of Ireland.
• * 1.1281

  Hector Boetius.
• * 1.1282

  Anlafe his policy
• * 1.1283

  Anlafe his soul∣diers fidelity.
• * 1.1284

  Wil. Malmsbury.
• * 1.1285

  Fiue Kings and twelue Dukes slaine.
• * 1.1286

  Polier. lib. 6. cap 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Dunba•…•… Castle.
• * 1.1287

  Beuerley.
• * 1.1288

  The Princes of Wales tribute.
• * 1.1289

  Corn. Wal.
• * 1.1290

  Wil. Malmsbury.
• * 1.1291

  Ran. Higd. in Po∣lier. lib 6. cap. 6. The King of France his Pre∣sents to King El•…•…elstan.
• * 1.1292

  Consta•…•… sword with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 naile of the Crosse sent into England.
• * 1.1293

  Holinshed.
• * 1.1294

  S. Swithens Abbey
• * 1.1295

  King Athelstans beneficence.
• * 1.1296

  Iohn Stow.
• * 1.1297

  Ceolnothus coine. An. •…•…31.
• * 1.1298

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 vertues.
• * 1.1299

  The ti•…•… of his raigne.
• * 1.1300

  Iohn Rouse. Papulwick.
• * 1.1301

  Monarch 27
• * 1.1302

  Edmund.
• * 1.1303

  An. Do. 940.
• * 1.1304

  Si•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉,
• * 1.1305

  Wil. M•…•….
• * 1.1306

  An. Do. 942.
• * 1.1307

  Mat. Westminster
• * 1.1308

  Wil. Malms.
• * 1.1309

  An. Do. 944. Simon Dun.
• * 1.1310

  King Dunmaile.
• * 1.1311

  Wil. Lambert.
• * 1.1312

  Marianus.
• * 1.1313

  Wil. Malms.
• * 1.1314

  Elfgine.
• * 1.1315

  Edw•…•….
• * 1.1316

  Edgar.
• * 1.1317

  Edred.
• * 1.1318

  Monarch 28
• * 1.1319

  An. Do. 946.
• * 1.1320

  Polier. lib. 6. cap. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.1321

  Edred. Malcolme.
• * 1.1322

  Anlafe commeth into Northumb.
• * 1.1323

  Wil. Mal•…•….
• * 1.1324

  R•…•…nd. Higd. S•…•… Dun.
• * 1.1325

  Wolstan.
• * 1.1326

  Wil. Malms.
• * 1.1327

  〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.1328

  Elfred.
• * 1.1329

  Bertfrid.
• * 1.1330

  Monarch 29.
• * 1.1331

  Edwy.
• * 1.1332

  An. Do. 955.
• * 1.1333

  Edwyes 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.1334

  M. Fox Acts and Monuments.
• * 1.1335

  Wil. Malmsb.
• * 1.1336

  Iud. 1. 11.
• * 1.1337

  Abbot Dunstan.
• * 1.1338

  〈1 line〉〈1 line〉.
• * 1.1339

  Iohn 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.1340

  Monarch 3•…•…
• * 1.1341

  Edgar.
• * 1.1342

  An. Do. 959.
• * 1.1343

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. Ran. Hig•…•…. W•…•… M•…•…. Saxon 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.1344

  Edgar the Peace∣able.
• * 1.1345

  Pol•…•…er. lib. 6. cap. 9
• * 1.1346

  Wil. Malmsbury.
• * 1.1347

  cap. 38. Sect. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.1348

  Cron. Wald.
• * 1.1349

  Marianus. Alred. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Ran. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.1350

  Edgars honest vigilancy.
• * 1.1351

  Edgars league with diuers Kings.
• * 1.1352

  Gal. 6. 14.
• * 1.1353

  Polychron.
• * 1.1354

  Monastery bulk by King Edgar.
• * 1.1355

  Ex chart. Reg.
• * 1.1356

  M Fox in his Acts and Monu∣ments.
• * 1.1357

  R•…•…. Higden.
• * 1.1358

  Wil. Malmsbury. Mathew Paris. Mat. 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.1359

  Policr. lib. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. cap. 9
• * 1.1360

  Osbern in vit•…•… Dunstan.
• * 1.1361

  Nicholas Trinet. Ioan. Paris.
• * 1.1362

  Vincen•…•…. Antonin.
• * 1.1363

  Edgar 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with a damsell.
• * 1.1364

  Malms. de regibus.
• * 1.1365

  Duke Ordgarus.
• * 1.1366

  Ethelwold.
• * 1.1367

  Edgar a suter for Ethelwold.
• * 1.1368

  Edgars plot to discouer Ethel∣wold.
• * 1.1369

  Ethelwolds speech to Elfrida
• * 1.1370

  2 Sam. 13. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Virgil Aened. Amnon and Thamar.
• * 1.1371

  Wolfhilds Ethelfled.
• * 1.1372

  Elfridaalone.
• * 1.1373

  Elfrid•…•… disloi∣altie.
• * 1.1374

  Ethelwold slaine.
• * 1.1375

  The fifteenth, saith Higden.
• * 1.1376

  Ethelfleds pa∣rents.
• * 1.1377

  Elfridaes se∣cond wife.
• * 1.1378

  Wil. Malmsbury.
• * 1.1379

  Edward the el∣dest sonne.
• * 1.1380

  Edmund the se∣cond sonne.
• * 1.1381

  Ethelred the third sonne.
• * 1.1382

  Edgith.
• * 1.1383

  Acts and Monu∣ments, in vita Edgar.
• * 1.1384

  Polychr. lib. 6. c. 9.
• * 1.1385

  Iohn Capgraue, in vita san•…•… Edi•…•….
• * 1.1386

  Monarch 31
• * 1.1387

  Edward.
• * 1.1388

  An. Do. 975. Simon Dunel. Roger H•…•…en.
• * 1.1389

  Edward the son of Ethelfleda.
• * 1.1390

  An. Do. 975
• * 1.1391

  A bla•…•…ng starre.
• * 1.1392

  Wil. Mal•…•…. Fox.
• * 1.1393

  Wil. Mal•…•…. Simon D•…•…. Ra•…•…. Higd. Iohn Capgra•…•…. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in vita Edgari.
• * 1.1394

  Dunstans coun∣sell.
• * 1.1395

  The Priests sus∣pition of the Monkes.
• * 1.1396

  An. Do. 977.
• * 1.1397

  A heauy mis∣chance.
• * 1.1398

  Polychr. lib. 6. c. 12
• * 1.1399

  Priests without cure, but not without care.
• * 1.1400

  Wil. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.1401

  Mal•…•…s. de gestis Ponti. •…•…1.
• * 1.1402

  〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.1403

  Wil. Mal•…•…. Polyd•…•…: Rand Chest. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 P•…•….
• * 1.1404

  Alfredus 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Flares Histor. Rich. Cirecest. Speculum hist.
• * 1.1405

  Queene Elfrid•…•… perfidie.
• * 1.1406

  Mat Westminster. Simon D•…•…l. Fabian.
• * 1.1407

  Polydor. Wil. Mal•…•….
• * 1.1408

  Almesbury and Worwel Mona∣steries founding.
• * 1.1409

  Habacuc 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 11.
• * 1.1410

  Ethelred.
• * 1.1411

  Monarch 32.
• * 1.1412

  An. Do. 979.
• * 1.1413

  Wil. Malmsbury. Spe•…•…l, Histor.
• * 1.1414

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 life, malitiously reported.
• * 1.1415

  〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.1416

  Bishop of R•…•…e∣ster.
• * 1.1417

  An. Do. 980.
• * 1.1418

  •…•…lyer. lib. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 13
• * 1.1419

  An. Do. 981.
• * 1.1420

  Si•…•… D•…•….
• * 1.1421

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.1422

  An. Do. 982.
• * 1.1423

  T•…•…. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉.
• * 1.1424

  Polychron. lib. 6. cap. •…•…3.
• * 1.1425

  Wil. Malmsbury.
• * 1.1426

  Mat. Westminster
• * 1.1427

  Simon Dun.
• * 1.1428

  An. Do. 989.
• * 1.1429

  An. Do. 991.
• * 1.1430

  Malmsb. de gest. Pontif. l. 1. Polycr. lib. 6. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 13.
• * 1.1431

  An. Do. 992.
• * 1.1432

  Wil. Malmsbury.
• * 1.1433

  Elfrick Earle of Mercia.
• * 1.1434

  An. Do. 993.
• * 1.1435

  Simon Dun. Polydor. Mal. West.
• * 1.1436

  A Fleete of Danes on the Thames besiege London.
• * 1.1437

  Matt West. Simon Dun.
• * 1.1438

  An. Do. 997.
• * 1.1439

  An. Do. 998.
• * 1.1440

  An. Do. 999.
• * 1.1441

  An. D. 1000.
• * 1.1442

  Roger Houed. Annal. pars pr•…•….
• * 1.1443

  Higden. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.1444

  The Clergies co∣ustousnesse.
• * 1.1445

  The effects of it.
• * 1.1446

  Hector Boetius.
• * 1.1447

  Ethelreds bad policie.
• * 1.1448

  Polycr. li. 6. ca. 15. The massacre of the Danes.
• * 1.1449

  Henry Hunting.
• * 1.1450

  Matth. West.
• * 1.1451

  Register of S. Frideswydes.
• * 1.1452

  Malmsb.
• * 1.1453

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 Charter
• * 1.1454

  Hen. Hunting.
• * 1.1455

  Simon Dun.
• * 1.1456

  King Swaines inuasion.
• * 1.1457

  An. D. 1003.
• * 1.1458

  Earle Edrick for his auarice sur∣named 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.1459

  An. D. 1004.
• * 1.1460

  Simon Dun.
• * 1.1461

  Norwich raced.
• * 1.1462

  An. D. 1005.
• * 1.1463

  Henry Hunt.
• * 1.1464

  An. D. 1006.
• * 1.1465

  The Danes in the Ile of Wight.
• * 1.1466

  An. D. 1007.
• * 1.1467

  Edrick an vntrusty Councellor.
• * 1.1468

  Simon Dun.
• * 1.1469

  His accusations.
• * 1.1470

  His subtilty.
• * 1.1471

  His treachery.
• * 1.1472

  An. D. 1008. An. Reg. 30.
• * 1.1473

  Henry Hunting. Simon Dun.
• * 1.1474

  Matth. West.
• * 1.1475

  Brithrick (chasing Wilmot) crossed by tempest.
• * 1.1476

  Money paid the Danes.
• * 1.1477

  An. D. 1009.
• * 1.1478

  Three Danish Captaines.
• * 1.1479

  Money paied the Danes.
• * 1.1480

  Three thousand Pound. •…•…aith Simon Dun.
• * 1.1481

  Edrick againe perfidious.
• * 1.1482

  An. D. 1010.
• * 1.1483

  Henry Hunt.
• * 1.1484

  The Dene•…•… for∣rage the Coun∣tries before them
• * 1.1485

  An. D. 1011. Henry Hunt. Vincentius.
• * 1.1486

  Addit. ad Asseri•…•….
• * 1.1487

  Wil. Lambert. in Peram.
• * 1.1488

  Polychr. li. 6. c. 16. An. D. 1012.
• * 1.1489

  Money paied the Danes
• * 1.1490

  An. D. 1013.
• * 1.1491

  Simon Dun.
• * 1.1492

  Canute.
• * 1.1493

  London besieged
• * 1.1494

  Simon Dunel. Mat. Westminster. Henry Hunt.
• * 1.1495

  Poly•…•…
• * 1.1496

  Wil. Malms. Mat. Westminster.
• * 1.1497

  A Battaile be∣tweene Danes & English.
• * 1.1498

  Ethelreds Oration.
• * 1.1499

  Paines taking for safetie.
• * 1.1500

  Henry Hunting. Simon Dun.
• * 1.1501

  An. D. 1014. An. Reg. 35.
• * 1.1502

  Swaine and Tur∣kils domineering.
• * 1.1503

  Houeden. Annal. pars prior. Fabian. Chron. par. 6. cap. 200. Polychron. lib. 6. cap. 10.
• * 1.1504

  An. D. 1015
• * 1.1505

  Canutus winneth loue of the English.
• * 1.1506

  He is chased by 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.1507

  Matth. West.
• * 1.1508

  Wil. Mal•…•….
• * 1.1509

  Turkil inciteth Ca•…•… against, England.
• * 1.1510

  Canutus and his Nauie.
• * 1.1511

  Money collected for the Danes.
• * 1.1512

  Wil. Malmsbury. Henry Hunt. Mat. Westminster. Simon Dunel.
• * 1.1513

  Matth. West.
• * 1.1514

  Simon Dun.
• * 1.1515

  An. D. 1016.
• * 1.1516

  Londons fidelley.
• * 1.1517

  Canutus deuastatiōs
• * 1.1518

  Ethelred dieth.
• * 1.1519

  The time of his raigning.
• * 1.1520

  His Tombe in S. Pauls in London.
• * 1.1521

  Fox M•…•…yrologe in King Egelreds life ex Hist. Ior∣•…•…lens.
• * 1.1522

  Polycr. li. 6. ca. 13.
• * 1.1523

  Elgiua the first wife, by some called Elflede.
• * 1.1524

  Emme the second wife.
• * 1.1525

  Ethelstane the el∣dest sonne.
• * 1.1526

  Egbert the second sonne.
• * 1.1527

  Edmund the third sonne.
• * 1.1528

  Edred the fourth sonne.
• * 1.1529

  Edwy the fifth sonne.
• * 1.1530

  Edgar the sixt sonne.
• * 1.1531

  The eldest daughter.
• * 1.1532

  Edgith the second daughter.
• * 1.1533

  Elfgine the third daughter.
• * 1.1534

  Gode the fourth daughter.
• * 1.1535

  Edward the se∣uenth onne.
• * 1.1536

  Elfred the eight sonne.
• * 1.1537

  Edmund.
• * 1.1538

  Monarch 33
• * 1.1539

  An. D. 1016.
• * 1.1540

  Polycr. lib. 6. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. •…•…7.
• * 1.1541

  Henry Hunting. Simon Dun.
• * 1.1542

  Proffer of single combat.
• * 1.1543

  An. D. 1016. In the Rogation 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.1544

  Polydor.
• * 1.1545

  Simon Dun. Matt. West.
• * 1.1546

  Wil. Malmsbury. Edrick•…•… 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉.
• * 1.1547

  〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉.
• * 1.1548

  Canut marcheth to London.
• * 1.1549

  Dislodged by Edmund.
• * 1.1550

  Edrik•…•… wicked counsell.
• * 1.1551

  Henry Hunt.
• * 1.1552

  Edmunds prepa∣rations.
• * 1.1553

  Polyd•…•…. Fabian. Ran. Higd. Mat. Westminster. Henry Hunt. Wil. Malms.
• * 1.1554

  A battaile be∣tween Edmund & Canute.
• * 1.1555

  Wil. Malmsb. Simon Dun. Ran. Higden.
• * 1.1556

  Edmund put to retire.
• * 1.1557

  London yeeldeth to Canute.
• * 1.1558

  Mat. Westminster. Polydor.
• * 1.1559

  The aduice of a Captaine for sin∣gle combat.
• * 1.1560

  Matth. West.
• * 1.1561

  Edmund and Ca∣nute at single fight.
• * 1.1562

  Mat. Westminster.
• * 1.1563

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…o 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.1564

  The Kingdome parted betweene them.
• * 1.1565

  Edmund mur∣thered.
• * 1.1566

  A Spit, saith Higden.
• * 1.1567

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 puni∣sheth the trai•…•…
• * 1.1568

  Wil. Malmsbury.
• * 1.1569

  Old Man•…•…st. Fabian. Ran. Higden.
• * 1.1570

  Simon D•…•…el. Marian. Scotus. Ed•…•…ds raigne. Polychr.
• * 1.1571

  The feature of Edm•…•…nd.
• * 1.1572

  Algi•…•….
• * 1.1573

  Edward the out∣law.
• * 1.1574

  His wife.
• * 1.1575

  His daughters.
• * 1.1576

  Edmund.
• * 1.1577

  Mat. Westminster