The history of Britain, that part especially now call'd England from the first traditional beginning, continu'd to the Norman conquest / collected out of the antientest and best authours thereof by John Milton.

Athelstan.

AThelstan next in Age to Ethelward his Brother, who deceas'd untimely few days before, though born of a Concubine, yet for the great appearance of many vertues in him, and his Brethren being yet under Age, was exalted to the Throne, at Kingstone [An. Dom. 926] upon Thames, and by his Fathers last Will, saith Malmsbury, yet not without some opposition of one Alfred and his Accomplices; who not likeing he should reign, had conspir'd to seise on him after his Fathers Death, and to put out his Eyes. But the Conspiratours discoverd, and Alfred denying the Plot, was sent to Rome, to assert his innocence before * 1.1 the Pope; where taking his Oath on the Altar, he fell down immediatly, and carried out by his Ser∣vants, three daies after dy'd. Mean while beyond Humber, the Danes, though much aw'd were not idle. Inguald one of thir Kings took possession of * 1.2

Yorke, Sitric who some years before had slain Niel his Brother, by force took Davenport in Ch••shire; and however he defended these doings; grew so consi∣derable, that Athelstan with great solemnity gave * 1.3 him his Sister Edgith to Wife: but he enjoy'd her not long, dying ere the years end, nor his Sons An∣laf and Guthfert the Kingdome, driv'n out the next [An. Dom. 927] * 1.4 year by Athelstan; not unjustly saith Huntingdon, as being first raisers of the War. Simeon calls him Gudsrid a British King, whom Athelstan this year drove out of his Kingdome; and perhaps they were both one, the name and time not much differing, the place only mistak'n. Malmsbury differs in the name also, calling him Aldulf a certain Rebel. Them also I wish as much mistak'n, who write that Athelstan, jealous of his younger Brother Edwin's towardly vertues, least added to the right of Birth, they might some time or other call in question his illegiti∣mate precedence, caus'd him to be drown'd in the [An. Dom. 933] * 1.5 Sea; expos'd, some say, with one Servant in a rott'n Bark, without Sail or Oar; where the youth far off land, and in rough weather despairing, threw him∣self over-board; the Servant more patient, got to land and reported the success. But this Malmsbury confesses to be sung in old Songs, not read in war∣rantable Authors: and Huntingdon speaks as of a sad accident to Athelstan, that he lost his Brother Edwin by Sea; far the more credible, in that Athelstan, as is writ'n by all, tenderly lov'd and bred up the rest of his Brethren, of whom he had no less cause to be jealous. And the year following he prosperd bet∣ter [An. Dom. 934] * 1.6 then from so foul a fact, passing into Scotland with great Puissance, both by Sea and Land, and chace∣ing his Enemies before him, by Land as far as Dun∣seoder,

and Wertermore, by Sea as far as Cathness. The cause of this expedition, saith Malmsbury, was to demand Gudfert the Son of Sitric, thether fled, though not deny'd at length by Constantine, who with Eugenius King of Cumberland, at a place call'd Dacor or Dacre in that Shire, surrenderd himself and each his Kingdome to Athelstan, who brought back with him for hostage the Son of Constantine. But Gud∣fert * 1.7 escaping in the mean while out of Scotland, and Constantine exasperated by this invasion, perswaded Anlaf the other Son of Sitric then fled into Ireland, others write Anlaf King of Ireland and the Iles, his * 1.8 [An. Dom. 938] * 1.9 Son in law, with 615 Ships, and the King of Cum∣berland with other forces, to his aid. This within fowr years effected, they enterd England by Humber, and fought with Athelstan at a place call'd Wendune, others term it Brunanburg, others Bruneford, which Ingulf pla∣ces beyond Humber, Camden in Glendale of Northumber∣land on the Scotch Borders; the bloodiest fight, say Au∣thors, that ever this Iland saw, to describe which, the Saxon Annalist wont to be sober and succinct, whether the same or another writer, now labouring under the weight of his Argument, and over-charg'd, runs on a sudden into such extravagant fansies and metaphors, as bare him quite beside the scope of being under∣stood. Huntingdon, though himself peccant enough in his kind, transcribes him word for word as a pastime to his Readers. I shall only summe up what of him I can attain, in usuall language. The Battel was fought eagerly from morning till night; some fell of King Edwards old Army, try'd in many a Battel before; but on the other side great multitudes, the rest fled to thir Ships. Five Kings, and 7 of Anlafs Chief Captains were slain on the place, with Froda a

Norman Leader; Constantine escap'd home, but lost his Son in the fight, if I understand my Author; An∣laf by Sea to Dublin, with a small remainder of his great hoast. Malmsbury relates this War, adding many circumstances after this manner. That Anlaf joining with Constantine and the whole power of Scotland, besides those which he brought with him out of Ireland, came on far Southwards, till Athel∣stan who had retir'd on set purpose to be the surer of his Enimies, enclos'd from all succour and retreat, met him at Brunesord. Anlaf perceaving the valour and resolution of Athelstan, and mistrusting his own Forces though numerous, resolv'd first to spie in what posture his Enemies lay: and imitating perhaps what he heard attempted by King Alfred the Age before, in the habit of a Musitian, got access by his lute and voice to the Kings tent, there playing both the min∣strel and the spie: then towards Evening dismis't, he was observ'd by one who had bin his Souldier and well knew him, veiwing earnestly the Kings Tent, and what approaches lay about it, then in the twi∣light to depart. The Souldier forthwith acquaints the King, and by him blam'd for letting go his Ene∣my, answerd, that he had giv'n first his military Oath to Anlaf, whom if he had betrai'd, the King might suspect him of like treasonous minde towards himself; which to disprove, he advis'd him to remove his Tent a good distance off; and so don, it happ'nd that a Bishop with his retinue coming that night to the Ar∣my, pich'd his Tent in the same place, from whence the King had remov'd. Analf coming by night as he had design'd, to assault the Camp and especially the Kings Tent, finding there the Bishop in stead, flew him with all his followers. Athelstan took the

Allarm, and as it seems, was not found so unprovi∣ded, but that the day now appearing, he put his men in order, and maintain'd the fight till Evening; wherin Constantine himself was slain with five other Kings, and twelve Earls, the Annals were content with seav'n, in the rest not disagreeing. Ingulf Abbot of Croyland from the autority of Turketul a princi∣pal Leader in this Battel, relates it more at large to this effect: that Athelstan above a mile distant from the place where execution was done upon the Bishop and his supplies, allarm'd at the noise, came down by break of day, upon Anlaf and his Army, over∣watch't and wearied now with the slaughter they had made, and something out of order, yet in two main Battels. The King therfore in like manner di∣viding, led the one part consisting most of West Sax∣ons, against Anlaf with his Danes and Irish, commit∣ting the other to his Chancellor Turketul, with the Mercians and Londoners against Constantine and his Scots. The showr of Arrows and Darts over-pass't, both Battells attack'd each other with a close and ter∣rible ingagement, for a long space neither side gi∣ving ground. Till the Chancellor Turketul, a man of great stature and strength, taking with him a few Londoners of select valour, and Singin who led the Worstershire men, a Captain of undaunted courage, broke into the thickest, making his way first through the Picts and Orkeners, then through the Cumbrians and Scots, and came at length where constantine himself fought, unhors'd him, and us'd all means to take him alive; but the Scots valiantly defending thir King, and laying load upon Turketul, which the good∣ness of his Armour well endur'd, he had yet bin beat'n down, had not Singin his faithfull second at

the same time slain Constantine; which once known, Analf and the whole Army betook them to flight, wherof a huge multitude fell by the Sword. This Turketul not long after leaving worldly affairs, be∣came Abbot of Croyland, which at his own cost he had repair'd, from Danish ruins, and lest there this memorial of his former actions. Athelstan with his Brother Edmund victorious, thence turning into Wales, with much more ease vanquish'd Ludwal the King, and possest his land. But Malmsbury writes, that commiserating human chance, as he displac'd, so he restor'd both him and Constantine to thir Re∣gal State; for the surrender of King Constantine hath bin above spok'n of. However the Welch did him homage at the City of Hereford, and covnanted yearly payment of Gold 20 pound, of Silver 300, of Oxen 25 thousand, besides Hunting Dogs and Hawks. He also took Exeter from the Cornish Bri∣tans, who till that time had equal right there with the English, and bounded them with the River Ta∣mar, as the other Brittish with Wey. Thus dreaded of his Enemies, and renown'd far and neer, three years after he dy'd at Gloster, and was buried with [An. Dom. 941] * 1.10 many Trophies at Malmsbury, where he had caus'd to be laid his two Cosin Germans, Elwin and Ethel∣stan, both slain in the Battel against Anlaf. He was 30 years old at his coming to the Crown, mature in wisedom from his Childhood, comly of person and behaviour; so that Alfred his Grandfather in blessing him was wont to pray he might live to have the Kingdome, and put him yet a Child into Souldi∣ers habit. He had his breeding in the Court of Elfled his Aunt, of whose vertues more then female we have related, sufficient to evince that his mo∣ther,

though said to be no wedded Wife, was yet such of parentage and worth, as the Royal line dis∣dain'd not, though the Song went in Malmsburies daies (for it seems he refus'd not the autority of Ballats for want of better) that his mother was a Farmers Daughter, but of excellent feature; who dreamt one night she brought forth a Moon that should enlight'n the whole land: which the Kings Nurse hearing of, took her home and bred up Courtly; that the King coming one day to visit his Nurse, saw there this Damsel, lik'd her, and by earnest suit prevailing, had by her this famous Athel∣stan, a bounteous, just and affable King, as Malms∣bury sets him forth; nor less honour'd abroad by Foren Kings, who sought his Friendship by great guifts or affinity; that Harold King of Noricum sent him a Ship, whose Prow was of gold, sails purple, and other golden things, the more to be wonderd at, sent from Noricum, whether meant Norway or Bava∣ria, the one place so far from such superfluity of wealth, the other from all Sea: the Embassadors were Helgrim and Offrid, who found the King at Yorke. His Sisters he gave in marriage to greatest Princes, Elgif to Otho Son of Henry the Emperour, Egdith to a certain Duke about the Alpes, Edgiv to Ludwic King of Aquitain, sprung of Charles the Great, Ethilda to Hugo King of France, who sent Al∣dulf Son of Baldwin, Earl of Flanders, to obtain her. From all these great suitors, especially from the Emperour and King of France, came rich pre∣sents, Horses of excellent Breed, gorgeous Trap∣pings and Armour, Reliques, Jewels, Odors, Vessels of Onyx, and other pretious things, which I leave poetically describ'd in Malmsbury, tak'n, as he con∣fesses,

out of an old versifier, some of whose ver∣ses he recites. The only blemish left upon him, was the exposing of his Brother Edwin, who disavow'd by Oath the treason wherof he was accus'd, and implor'd an equall hearing. But these were Songs, as before hath bin said, which add also that Athel∣stan, his anger over, soon repented of the fact, and put to Death his Cup-bearer, who had induc't him to suspect and expose his Brother, put in mind by a word falling from the Cup-bearers own mouth, who slipping one day as he bore the Kings Cup, and recovring himself on the other leg, said aloud, fa∣tally as to him it prov'd, one Brother helps the other. Which words the King laying to heart, and pon∣dring how ill he had done to make away his Brother, aveng'd himself first on the adviser of that fact, took on him seav'n years penance, and as Mat. West. saith, built two Monasteries for the Soul of his Bro∣ther. His Laws are extant among the Laws of other Saxon Kings to this day.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Malms.
• * 1.2

  Sim. Dun.
• * 1.3

  Malms. Mat. West.
• * 1.4

  Sax. an.
• * 1.5

  Sim. Dun.
• * 1.6

  Sax. an. Sim. Dun.
• * 1.7

  Florent.
• * 1.8

  Florent. Sim. Dun.
• * 1.9

  Sax. an. Malms.
• * 1.10

  Sax. an. Malms. Ingulf.