Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 1] with an vniuersall history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitiue age to these latter tymes of ours, with the bloudy times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions agaynst the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperours, as nowe lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realme of England and Scotland. Newly reuised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time agayne published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the helpe of Christ our Lord) Iohn Foxe, which desireth thee good reader to helpe him with thy prayer.

* King Alured otherwise called Alfrede.

* 1.1AMong the Saxon kinges hetherto in this historie a∣fore mentioned: I finde fewe or none to be preferred (or almost to be compared) to this Alured,* 1.2 or Alfrede for the great and singulare qualities in this king worthy of high renowne and commendation. Whether we behold in him the valiant actes, and manifold trauailes which he conti∣nually from time to time sustained against his ennemies in warres, during almost all the time of his raigne, for the publicke preseruation of his people: Or whether we con∣sider in him, his godly and excellent vertues, ioyned with a publicke and tender care, and zealous study; for the com∣mon peace and trāquility of the weale publike: appearing as wel in his prudēt lawes by him both carefully set forth, and with the like care executed, as also by his own priuate exercises touching the vertuous institution of his life. Or whether we respect that in him, which with equall praise matcheth with both the other before: That is, his notable knowledge of good letters, with a feruēt loue and Prince∣ly desire, to set foorth the same through all his Realme (be∣fore his time being both rude and barbarous) All whych his heroical properties, ioyned together in one Prince, as it is a thing most rare, and seldome seene in Princes now a daies: so I thought the same the more to be noted and ex∣amplefide in this good king. Therby either to moue other rulers and Princes in these our daies, to his imitation: or els to shew them what hath ben in times past, in their an∣ceters, which ought to be, and yet is not founde in them. Wherefore of these three partes to discourse either part in order, first we wil enter to entreat of his actes and paine∣full trauailes sustained, in defence of the Realme publicke: against the raging tyrannie of the Danes, as they be des∣cribed in the Latin histories of Rog. Houeden, and Hunting∣ton:* 1.3 whome Fabian also seemeth in this part somewhat to follow. King Alfred therfore, first of al the English kings, taking his crowne and vnction at Rome of Pope Leo (as Malmesberiensis and Polycronicon do recorde) in the begin∣ning of his raigne, perceauing his Lordes & people much wasted and decaied, by the reason of the great warres of Ethelred, had against the Danes: yet as well as he coulde, gathered a strength of men vnto him, and in the secōd mo∣neth that he was made King, he met with the Danes be∣side Wylton, where hee gaue to them battaile. But being farre ouermatched, through the multitude of the contrary part, was put there to the worse: although not wythout a great slaughter of the Pagane army. Which army then of the Danes, after that victorie, by compaction made wyth King Alfrede, to depart out of his dominion of Westsaxe: remoued from Reading to London, where they abode all that winter.* 1.4 Where Halden their king, taking truse wyth Burhered, King of Mercians, the next yeare followinge voyded those partes, and drewe to Lyndesey: in robbing and spoyling the townes and villages as they went, and holding the common people vnder their seruage. From thence after to Repyngdon: where they ioyning wyth the three other Kings of the Danes (called Surdrim, Osketel, and Hamond) grewe thereby in mighty force and strength. Who then deuiding their armie in two partes, the one halfe remained wyth Halden in the countrey of Northum∣berland: the residue were with the other three kings, win∣tering and soiourning all the next yeare at Grantbrige, which was the fourth yeare of King Alfred. In the which yeare King Alfred his men had a conflict on the Sea, with sixe of the Danes shippes, of which one they tooke, the o∣ther fled away.* 1.5 In this yeare went Rollo the Dane into Normandie, where hee was Duke thirtie yeare, and af∣terwarde was Baptised in the faith of Christ, and named Robert The foresayde armie of the three Dane Kinges a∣boue mētioned frō Grantebryge, returned again to West∣saxonie, and entred the Castle of warrham: where King Alfrede with a sufficiēt power of men, was ready to assault them. But the Danes seeing his strength durst not attēpt with him, but sought delaies, while more ayd might come. In the meane season they were constrayned to intreat for truce: leauing also sufficient pledges in the Kinges hand, promising moreouer vpon their othe, to voyde the coun∣try of the westsaxons. The king vpon the surety let them go. But they falsely breaking their league, priuely in the night brake out, taking their iourny toward Exceter. In which iourny, they lost vi. score of their small ships, by a tempest at Sandwych (as Henry Huntington in hys storye recordeth.) Then kyng Alfrede followed after the horsmen of the Danes, but coulde not ouertake them, before they came to Exceter, where he tooke of thē pledges and fayre promises of peace, and so returned. Notwithstanding the number of the Pagāes did dayly more and more increase, in so much (as one of my authors sayth) that if in one day 30. thousand of them were slayn, shortly after they increa∣sed double as many agayne. After this truce taken with King Alfrede, the Danes then voyded to the land of Mer∣cia, whereof part of that kingdome they kept themselues, part they committed to one Ceolulphus: vppon condition

that he should be vassall to them, and at their commande∣ment, with his people at all times.

* 1.6The next yere insuing, which was the vij. yeare of the raigne of Alfred, the Danes; who nowe hauing all the rule of the Northpart of Englande, from the riuer of Tames, with Mercia, London, and Essex: disdained that Alfrede shoulde beare any dominion on the other side of Tames southward. Whereupon the foresayde three kings with all the force and strength they coulde make, marched towarde Chippenham in Westsexe,* 1.7 with such a multitude, that the king w^t his people was not able to resist them. In so much that the people which inhabited there, some fled ouer the sea, some remained with the king, diuers submitted them∣selues to the Danes. Thus King Alfrede being ouerset w^t multitude of enemies, and forsaken of hys people, hauing neither lād to hold, nor hope to recouer that which he had lost:* 1.8 withdrew himselfe w^t a fewe of his nobles about him, into a certaine wood countrey in Somersetshire, called E∣thelyng: where he had right scant to liue with, but suche as he and his people might purchase by hunting and fishing. This Edelyng or Ethelying or Ethelyngsey, standeth in a great Maresse or Moore, so that there is no accesse vnto it, without ship or boate: and hath in it a great woode called Selewood, and in the midle a litle plaine, about of two a∣cres of ground. In which Ile is veneson. and other wilde beastes, with soule and fishes, great plenty. In this wood, King Alured at his first comming, espied a certaine deserte cotage of a poore Swynarde, keeping swine in the woode, named Dunwolphus: of whome the King then vnknowen was entertained and chearished, with such poore fare as he and his wife could make him.* 1.9 For the which, King Alfrede afterwarde, set the poore Swinarde to learning, and made him Bishop of Winchester.

In the meane season, while King Alfrede accompanied with a few, was thus in the desert wood, waiting the euent of these miseries: certaine stories recorde of a poore beggar, which there came and asked hys almes of the King. And the night folowing he appeared to the King in hys sleepe: saying his name was Cutbert, promising (as sent frō God, vnto him for his good charitie) great victories against the Danes. But to let these dreaming fables passe, althoughe they be testified by diuers authours, both Wilielmus Lib. de Reg. Polychronicon, Rog. Houeden, Iornalensis, and other mo. Notwythstanding the king in processe of time, was strēg∣thened and cōforted more,* 1.10 through the prouidence of God: respecting the miserable ruine of the Englishmen. First the brother of King Haldene the Dane before mentioned, comming in with xxiij. ships, landed about Deuonshire: where by chaunce being resisted by a bushment of king Al∣fredes men (who for their safegarde there lay in garyson) were slaine to the number of 1300. men,* 1.11 and their ensigne called the Ranen was taken. Houedenus in hys booke of Continuationis wryteth, that in the same cōflict both Inguar and Hubba were slain among the other Danes. After this, King Alfrede being better cheared, shewed him selfe more at large: so that daily resorted to him, men of Wiltshyre, Somersetshyre, and Hamshyre, till that hee was strongly accompanied.

* 1.12Then the King put himselfe in a bold and dangerous venture (as wryteth Wilelmus Lib. de Reg. Polychron. and Fabian which followeth them both) for he apparelling him in the habite of a Minstrell (as hee was very skilfull in all Saxon Poemes) with his instrument of Musike, entred in the tentes of the Danes, lying then at Eddendime: and in shewing there his interlude and songs, espied all theyr slouth and ydlenes,* 1.13 and heard much of their counsell. And after returning to hys companie, declared vnto them the whole manner of the Danes. Shortly vpon the same, the King sodainly in the night fell vpon the foresaid Danes, & distressed and slewe of them a great multitude, chased them from that coast. In so much that through hys strong & va∣liaunt assaultes vpon his enemies, out of his tower of E∣delyng newly fortified: he so encōbered them, that he clear∣ly voyded the countrey of them, betweene that and Sel∣woodes. His subiectes eftsones, hearing of these hys vali∣aunt victories, and manful deedes, drewe to him daily out of all coasts. Who through the helpe of God, and their assi∣stānce, helde the Danes so short, that he wanne from them Winchester, & diuers other good townes. Briefly, at lēgth he forced them to seeke for peace:* 1.14 the which was concluded vpon certaine couenaunts. Whereof one and the principal was, that the forenamed Gutrum their King shoulde be Christened. The other was, that suche as woulde not be Christened, should depart and voide the countrey.

* 1.15Upon these couenants, first the sayde Gutrum the Da∣nish Prince cōming to Winchester, there was Christened with xx. of his greatest Dukes or Nobles. To the whyche Gutrum King Alured being hys Godfather at hys Bap∣tisme, named hym Athelstane. Who after a certaine season that he had feasted the said Danes: he according to his pro∣mise before made, gaue vnto theyr King the countrey of Eastanglia, containing Northfolke & Suffolke, and part of Cambridshire. Moreouer (as saith Polychron.) he graū∣ted to the Danes that were Christened, the Countrey of Northumberland. So the residue that wold not be Chri∣stened, departed the land, and sailed into Fraunce▪ where, what vexation and harme they wrought, the Chronicles of Fraunce do partly comprehend.

King Athelstane thus hauing the possession of these countreis,* 1.16 had all Eastangles vnder his obedience. And albeit that he held the sayd prouince as in fee of the king, & promised to dwel there as his liege mā: yet that notwith∣standing, hee continued more like a tyrant, by the terme of xj. yeare and died in the xij. yere. During the which space, King Alfrede hauing some more rest and peace, repaired certain townes and strong holds afore by the Danes em∣paired. Also he builded diuers houses of religiō,* 1.17 as y^e house of Nunnes at Shaftesbury. An other religious house at Ethelyng he foūded. Item an other in Winchester, named the new monastery. Item, he endewed richly the Churche of S. Cutbert in Dyrham. He sent also to India, to pay and performe his vowes to S. Thomas of Inde, which he made during the time of his distresse against the Danes.

About the xv. yeare of the reigne of Alfred, the Danes returning from France to England, landed in Kent, and so came to Rochester, and besieged that City: and there lay so long, that they builded a Tower of tymber against the gates of the Citie. But by strength of the Citizens, that tower was destroyed, and the Citie defended t•• King Al∣frede came and reseued them. Whereby the Danes were so distressed, and so nere trapped: that for feare, they left their horses behind them, and fled to their ships by night. But the King, when he was thereof ware: sent after them and tooke xvj. of their shippes, & slew many of the said Danes. This done, the King returned to London, & repaired the same honorably (as sayth Houedenus) & made it habitable, which before was sore decaied and febled by the Danes.

The third yeare after this,* 1.18 which was the xix. yeare of the raigne of king Alfred: the foresayd Athelstane the Da∣nish king of Northfolke (which by Alfred was Christened before) deceased. Not lōg after this, about the xxj. yeare of this kinges reigne, the Danes agayne landed in foure places of this land: which was, in Eastinglande: in the North: and in the West, in two places. Before the lan∣dyng of these Danes, it chaunced king Elfred, hearing of the death of King Athelstane, and of other complayntes of the Danes, was then in Eastengland, when these tidings c••me to him.

When King Alfrede was hereof ascertained: forsomuch as some of the Danes were landed in that coast, thincking with themselues the further they wēt in those parties, the lesse resistaunce to haue,* 1.19 and the more speede, as they were wont to haue before: Alfride therefore sending messengers in all hast to Etheldred Duke of Mercia, to assemble to him an host, to withstand the Danes which landed in y^e West, made forth toward hys enemies there, where hee was in Eastanglia, whom he pursued so sharpely, that hee droue them out from those parties. They then landed in kent, whether the king with his people sped him, and in lyke maner draue the Danes from thence, without anye great fight,* 1.20 so farre as in our authors we can see. After this, a∣gayne the Danes tooke shipping, and sayled into North∣wales, and there robbed and spoyled the Britones, & from thence returned by the sea into Eastanglia, with an hun∣dreth ships, and there rested them, for so much the king then was gone Westward.

The fourth host of the Danes, the same yeare came to Chester, which at length they won, but then, the countrey adioyning pressed so sore vpon them, and besieged them so long,* 1.21 keeping them selues wythin the City, that at the last the Danes weryed with the long siege, were compelled to eat their owne horses for hunger. But by appointment, at last they gaue ouer the towne, and went about by North∣wales to Northumberland, whyche was about the xxiij. yeare of king Alfrede: Which Alfrede in the meane while with his host, sped him thetherward. Thē the Danes, lea∣uing their strong holdes and Castles garnished with men and vitaile: tooke againe shipping, and set theyr course in such wise that they landed in Sussex, & so came to the porte of Lewes: and from thence towarde London, and builded a Tower or Castle neare vnto the riuer of Ley,* 1.22 xx. mile frō London. But the Londiners hearing therof, manned out a certaine number of men of armes, who w^t the assistence of them of that countrey, put the Danes from that tower:

and after beat it downe to the groūd. Soone after the king came downe thether. And to preuent the daungers that might ensue,* 1.23 commaunded the riuer of Luye to be deuided in iii. streames: so that where a shyp might sayle in times before, then a litle boate might scantly row. Frō thence the Danes, leauing their shippes & wiues, were forced to flie that countrey, and tooke their way againe toward Wales, and came to Quadruge neare to the Riuer of Seuerne. Where, vpon the borders therof, they builded then a castle, there resting themselues for a time: whome the King eft∣soones wyth his armie pursued. In the meane tyme, the Londiners at Luye taking the Danes shippes: some of them they brought to London, the rest they fired. During all these three yeres, from the first comming of the Danes to Luye, Englande was afflicted with three maner of sor∣rowes: with the Danes,* 1.24 wyth pestilence of men, and mor∣reine of beasts. The which troubles notwithstanding, yet the King manfully resisted the malice of his enemyes, and thāked God alway, what trouble soeuer fel to him, or vn∣to his Realme, and susteined it wyth great pacience & hu∣militie. These three yeares ouerpast,* 1.25 the next yeare folow∣ing, which was the xxviij. of the reigne of Alfrede: the Da∣nes deuided their hoste: of whom part went to Northum∣berland, some to Northfolke, part sailed ouer to Fraunce, some other came to Westsaxe.* 1.26 Where they had diuers con∣flictes with the Englishmen, both by lande and especially vpon the Sea: of whome some were slaine: many by shyp∣wracke peryshed, diuers were taken and hanged, and xxx. of their shippes were taken.

* 1.27Not long after this, king Alfred, when he had reigned xxix. yeares, and vj. monethes, chaunged this mortall life. And thus much (and more peraduēture, then will seeme to thys our Ecclesiasticall storie appertaining) touching the painfull labours and trauailes of this good king: which he no lesse valiantly atcheued, then paciently susteined, for the necessary defence of his Realme and subiects.

* 1.28Now if there be any Prince, who listeth to see and fol∣low the vertuous and godly disposition of this king: both touching the institution of his owne life, & also concerning his carefull gouernement of the cōmon weale: thus the hi∣stories of him do record. That at what time he being yōg, perceaued hymselfe somewhat disposed to the vice of the flesh, & thereby letted from many vertuous purposes: did not as many young Princes,* 1.29 and Kinges sonnes in the world be now wont to do: that is to resolue thēselues into all kind of carnal licence, and dissolute sensualitie, running and folowing without bridle, whether soeuer their licence geuen doth leade them (as therefore not without cause the common prouerbe reporteth of them) that Kings sonnes learne nothing well els, but onely to ride. Meaning ther∣by, that Princes and Kinges sonnes hauing about them flatterers, whych bolster them in theyr faultes: onely their horses geue to them no more, then to any other: but if they sit not fast, they wil cast them. But this young king seeing in him selfe the inclination of his fleshly nature, minding not to geue hym selfe so much as he might take,* 1.30 but rather by resistence to auoid the tentation thereof: besought God that he wold send to him some continual sicknes, in quen∣ching of that vice, whereby he might be more profitable to the publike busines of the cōmon wealth, and more apt to serue God in his calling. Cestrens. Lib. 5. cap. 1. Fab. cap. 17.

Then at Gods ordinance, he had the euill called Ficus, til he came to the age of xx. yeres,* 1.31 wherof at length he was cured (as is sayd in some stories) by the virgin called Mod∣wen, an Irishwoman. After this sicknesse being taken a∣way, to him fell an other: which continued with him from the xx. yeres of his age, to xlv (according to his own peti∣tion & request made vnto God) wherby, he was the more reclaimed & attempered from other more great incōueni∣ences, and lesse disposed to that which he did most abhorre.

Moreouer to beholde the bountiful goodnes ioyned w^t like prudence in this man:* 1.32 in the ordering & disposing hys riches and rents, it is not vnworthy to be recited. How he deuided his goods in two equall partes: the one appertei∣ning to vses secular, the other to vses spirituall or Ecclesi∣asticall. Of the which two principall partes, the first he de∣uided into three portiōs: the first to the behofe of his house and family,* 1.33 the second vpon his workmen and builders of his new works, whereof he had great delight & cunning: the third vpon strangers. Likewise the other second halfe, vpon spirituall vses, he did thus diuide in foure portions: One to the releuing of the poore: An other to monasteries: The iij. portion to the schooles of Oxforde,* 1.34 for the maintei∣ning of good letters: The iiij. he sent to foreine Churches, without the Realme. This also is left in stories written to his commendation, for his great tolerance and sufferance: that when he had builded the new Monastery at Winche∣ster, and afterward hys sonne Edward had purchased of the Byshop and the Chapter a sufficient peece of grounde for certaine offices to be adioyned vnto the same, & had geuen for euery foote of ground, mancam auri pleni ponderis (which was as I thynke a marke of golde) or more: yet Alfrede therwithal was not greatly discontented to see his coffers so wasted.

Ouer and besides,* 1.35 how sparing and frugall hee was of time (as of a thing in this earth most pretious) and howe farre from al vain pastimes and idlenes he was: this doth well declare, which in the storie of William de Reg. & other wryters is tolde of hym. That hee so deuided the day and night in three parts, if he were not let by warres, or other great busines: that eight houres hee spent in studie & lear∣ning: and other eight houres he spent in praier and almes dedes: and other eight houres he spent in his natural rest, sustenance of his body, and the needes of the realme. The which order he kept duely by the burning of waxen tapers kept in his closet by certaine persons for the same purpose. Guliel.

How studious he was & carefull of the commō wealth and maintenance of publike tranquillitie:* 1.36 his lawes most godly set forth and diuised by him may declare. Wherein es∣pecially by him was prouided, for the extirping and aboli∣shing all theft and theeues out of the Realme. Wherby, the Realme through his vigilant care,* 1.37 was brought into such trāquillitie or rather perfection, that in euery crosse or tur∣ning way, he made be set vp a golden brouch at least of sil∣uer gilded, through his dominiōs: and none so hardy nei∣ther by day nor night to take it downe: for the more credit wherof, the wordes of the Latin story be these: Armillas au∣reas iuberet suspendi, quae viantium auiditatem irritarent, dum non essent, qui eas abriperent. &c. Guliel. Lib. de Regibus Angl. And no great maruel therein, if the Realme in those dayes was brought in such an order, and that iustice then was so well ministred, when the king him selfe was so vigilant in ouerseeing the doings of his iudges and officers. Whereof thus also we read in the saide author testified: Iudiciorum a suis hominibus factorum, inquisitor, perperam actorum asperri∣mus corrector. 1. he was (sayeth mine author speaking of the king) a vigilant inquisitor of the doings of his iudges, and a strict punisher of theyr misdoinges.* 1.38 Iornalensis also wry∣ting vpon the same, thus sayth: Facta ministrorum suorum, & potissimè iudicum diligenter inuestigauit, adeo vt quos ex aua∣ritia aut imperitia errare cognosceret, ab officio remouebat, that is, he did diligently search out the doings of his officers, & especially of his iudges: so that if he knewe any of them to erre eyther through couetousnes, or vnskilfulnes: them he remooued from their office.

And thus much concerning the valiant actes, and no∣ble vertues of this worthy Prince: whereunto although there were no other ornamēts adioyning besides: yet suf∣ficient were they alone to set foorth a Prince worthy excel∣lent commendation. Nowe besides these other qualities & gifts of Gods grace in him,* 1.39 aboue mentioned: remayneth an other part of his no litle praise & commendation, which is his learning and knowledge of good letters: wherof he not onely was excellently expert hym selfe, but also a wor∣thy mainteiner of y^e same through al his dominiōs:* 1.40 where before, no vse of Grammer or other sciences was practised in this Realme, especially about the Westparts of the lād: there through the industrie of this king, schooles began to be erected, and studyes to florish. Although amōg the Bri∣taynes in the towne of Chester in Southwales lōg before that,* 1.41 in kyng Arthurs tyme, as Galfridus writeth: both Grammer, and Philosophy with other tongues was thē taught. After that some writers record, that in the tyme of Egbert kyng of Kent, this Ilande began to florishe with Philosophy. About which tyme some also thinke: that the Uniuersitie of Graūtechester,* 1.42 neare to that which nowe is called Cambrige, began to be founded, by Bede: following this coniecture therein, for that Alcuinus (before mētioned) which after went to Rome, & from thence to Fraunce in the tyme of Charles the great, where he first began the U∣niuersitie of Paris: was first traded vp in the exercise of studies, at the same schoole of Graūtechester. Beda Lib. 111. cap. 18. writing also of Sigebert king of Eastangles,* 1.43 decla∣reth how the sayd Sigebert returning out of Fraunce into England (according to the examples whiche hee did there see) ordered and disposed schooles of learning, through the meanes of Felix then Bishop: and placed in them maisters and teachers,* 1.44 after the vse and maner of the Cantuarites. And yet before these times, moreouer is thought to be two schooles or vniuersities within the realme: the one Grek, at y^e town of Greglade, which afterward was called Kyrk¦lade: The other for Latine, whiche place was then called Latinelade: afterward Letthelade neare to Oxford.

But howsoeuer it chāced that the knowledge and stu∣dy of good letters being once planted in this realme, after∣warde went to decay: yet King Alfrede deserueth no little praise, for restoring or rather increasing the same. After whose time they haue euersince continued, albeit not con∣tinually through euery age in like perfection. But this we may see, what it is to haue a Prince learned him selfe, who feeling and tasting the price and value of science & know∣ledge, is thereby not only the more apt to rule, but also to instruct & frame his subiectes, from a rude barbaritie, to a more ciuile congruencie of life, & to a better vnderstanding of thinges: as we see in this famous Prince to happen. Cōcerning whose first education & bringing vp, although it was somewhat late before he entred any letter: yet suche was the apt towardnesse & docilitie of his nature, that be∣ing a childe, he had the Saxon Poemes (such as were vsed then in his owne toung) by hart and memory. Who after∣ward with yeares and time grewe vp in such perfection of learning and knowledge, in so much, that as mine author sayeth, Nullus Anglorum fuerit vel intelligendo acutior, vel in interpretando elegantior. The which thing in him the more was to be marueiled, for that he was xij. yeares of age be∣fore he knew any letter. Then his mother, careful and ten∣der ouer him, hauing by chance a booke in her hand, which he wold faine haue:* 1.45 promised to geue him the same, so that he wold learne it. Wherupon he for greedines of the booke, eftsoones learned the letters, hauing to his Scholemaister Pleimundus, after bishop of Canterbury. And so daily grew more and more in knowledge, that at length, as mine au∣thor sayth,* 1.46 Plurimam partem Romanae bibliothecae, Anglorum auribus dedit, optimam praedam peregrinarum mercium, ciuium vsibus conuertens. That is. A great part of the Latin Libra∣rie hee translated into English, conuerting to the vses of his Citizens, a notable pray of forein ware & marchādise. &c. Of which bookes by him and through him translated, was Orosius: Pastorale Gregorij. The historie of Bede: Boëtius de consolatione Philosophiae.* 1.47 Also a booke of his owne ma∣king and in his owne toung, which in the English speach he called a hādbooke, in Greke called it Enchiridion, in La∣tine a Manuel. Besides the historie of Bede translated into the Saxons toung▪ he also himselfe compiled a story in the same speach, called the storie of Alfrede &c. which both boo∣kes in the Saxons tounge I haue seene, though the lan∣guage I do not vnderstād. And as he was learned himself excellently well, so likewise did he inflame all his countrey men to the loue of liberall letters, as the wordes of the sto∣rie reporteth, Illos praemijs, hos minis hortando, neminem illi∣teratum, ad quamlibet curiae dignitatem aspirare permittens.* 1.48 That is. He exhorted and stirred his people to the studie of learning, some with giftes, some by threates, suffering no man to aspire to any dignitie in the Court, except he were learned. Moreouer an other storie thus sayth, speaking of his nobles: Optimates quo{que} suos ad literaturam addiscendam in tantum prouocauit, vt sibi filios suos, vel saltem si filios nō ha∣berent, seruos suos, literis commendarent. That is. Also his nobles so much hee did allure to the embracing of good let∣ters, that they set all their sonnes to schoole: or if they had no sonnes, yet their seruauntes they caused to be learned. Whereby the common prouerbe may be found not so com∣mon, as true. Such as is the Prince, such be the subiectes. He began moreouer to translate the Psalter in English,* 1.49 & had almost finished the same, had not death preuēted him. Guliel. de Regib Angl. In the Prologue of the booke intitu∣led Pastorale Grego. thus hee wryteth: declaring the cause why hee was so earnest and diligent in translating good bookes from Latine into English, shewing the cause ther∣of, why he so did, as foloweth: Quòd Ecclesiae in quibus in∣numerae priscae bibliothecae continebantur, cum libris a Danis incensae sint: quod{que} in tota insula studium literarum ita abolitū esset vt quis{que} minus timeret capitis periculum, quam studiorum exercitia adire. Qua propter se in hoc, Anglis suis consulere &c. That is. The cause was, for that innumerable auncient Libraryes which were kept in Churches,* 1.50 were consumed with fire by the Danes: And that men had rather suffer perill of their life, thē to follow the exercise of studyes: And therefore he thought thereby to prouide before for the peo∣ple of the English nation. &c.

It is tolde of him both in Polychron Malmesb. Ironalen∣sis, and other storyes mo, whereof I haue no names: that he seing his countrey (namely Westward) to be so desolate of scholes and learning, partly to profite himselfe, partly to furnish his countrey & subiectes with better knowledge, first sent for Grimboldus a learned Monke out of Fraunce,* 1.51 to come into England. Also sent for an other learned man out from the partes of Wales, whose name was Asserion, whome he made Byshop of Shyreborne. Item out of Mercia, he sent for Werefrithus, bishop of Worcetor: to whō he put the Dialogues of Gregoy to be translated.* 1.52 But chie∣fly he vsed the Counsell of Neotus, who then was counted for an holy man, and Abbot of a certaine Monasterie in Cornwal. By the aduisement of which Neotus, hee sent for these learned men aboue recited: and also ordained certaine scholes of diuers artes, first at Oxforde, and also fraunchi∣sed the same with many great liberties. Guliel. Iornalens. Fa∣bi. cap. 171. Wherof perhaps the schole, now called the new Colledge (first then begon of this Neotus) myght take hys name: which (afterwarde peraduenture) the Byshops of Winchester after a larger manner did reed••fie, and inlarge wyth greater possessions.

Moreouer, amōg other learned men which were about king Alfrede: histories make mention of Iohannes Scotus (a godly Diuine, and a learned Philosopher) but not that Scotus, which nowe we call Duns. For that Iohannes Sco∣tus came after this, many yeares. This Iohannes is descri∣bed to be a sharpe wit, of great eloquence, and well expert in the Greeke toung: pleasant and mery of nature and cō∣ditions, as appeareth by diuers his doings & aunsweres. First he comming to Fraunce out of his owne countrey of Scotland, by reason of the great tumultes of warre, was there worthily intertained:* 1.53 and for hys learning had in great estimation of Carolus Caluus the French king, whom he commonly and familiarly vsed euer to haue about him, both at table, and in chamber. Upon a time the King sit∣ting at meate, and seeing something (belike in thys Iohn Scot) which semed not very courtly: cast forth a mery word asking of him, what difference there was betwixt a Scot, & a Sot. Whereunto the Scot sitting ouer against the King, somewhat lower, replied againe sodainly, rather then ad∣uisedly (yet merely) saying: Mensa tantùm, that is, the table onely: importing thereby himself to be the Scot, and so cal∣ling the king a Sot by craft. Which word howe other prin∣ces would haue taken to stomake, I knowe not: but thys Charles, for the great reuerēce he bare to his learning, tur∣ned it but to a laughter among his nobles, & so let it passe.

An other time, the same king being at dinner, was ser∣ued wyth a certaine dish of fish: wherein, were two great fishes, and a litle one. After the king had taken thereof his repast, setteth downe to Iohannes Scotus the foresayde fish, to distribute vnto the other ij. Clarkes sitting there wyth him: which were two tall and mighty persons, he himselfe being but a litle man. Iohannes taketh the fish, of the which the two great, he taketh and carueth to himself: the litle fish he reacheth to the other two. The king perceiuing this his diuision thus made, reprehended the same. Then Iohannes, whose maner was euer to finde out some honest matter to delite the King, answered to him againe, proouing his diuision to stand iust and equal. For here (sayth he) be two great, and a little, poynting to the two great fishes & him∣selfe: And likewise here again is a litle one and two great, pointing to the litle fish, & two great persons, I pray you (sayeth hee) what oddes is there, or what distribution can be more equall? Whereat the King with his nobles, being much delighted, laughed merely.

At the request of thys Charles surnamed Bawld, the Frenche king, this Scotus translated the booke of Dionysius, intituled De Hierarchia, from Greeke into Latin, worde for worde, quo fit (as my author sayth) vt vix intelligatur Latina litera,* 1.54 quum nobilitate magis Graeca, quam positione construitur Latina. He wrote also a Booke De corpore & sanguine Domi∣ni, whych was afterward condemned by the Pope In Con∣cilio Vercellensi.

The same Iohannes Scotus moreouer compiled a booke of his own, geuing it a greeke title, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, De naturae diuisione. In which booke (as sayeth my foresayd author) is contained the resolution of many profi∣table questions (but so) that he is thought to followe the Greeke Churche,* 1.55 rather then the Latine, and for the same was counted of some to be an hereticke: because in that booke some thinges there be, which in all poyntes accorde not with the Romish Religion. Wherfore the Pope, wry∣ting to the saide king Charles of thys Scotus, complayneth, as in his owne wordes here followeth:

Relatū est Apstolatui nostro, quòd opus Dionysij Areopagitae, quod de diuinis nominibus, & de caelestibus ordinibus, Graeco descripsit eloquio, quidam vir Ioannes (genere Scotus) nuper transtulit in Latinum. Quod, iuxta morem Ecclesiae, nobis mitti, & nostro iudicio debuit approbari•• praesertim quum idem Ioan∣nes (licèt multae scientiae esse praedicitur) olim non sane sapere, in quibusdam frequenti rumore dicatur. &c. That is: Relation hath bene made vnto our Apostleship, that a certaine man called Iohannes a Scottish man, hath translated the booke of Dionysius the Areopagite: of the names of God, and of the heauenly orders, from Greeke into Latin. Which Booke, according to the custome of the Church, ought first to haue

bene approued by our iudgement: namely seeing the sayde Iohn (albeit he be sayde to be a man of great learning and science) in time past hath bene noted by common rumour, to haue bene a man, not of vpright or sounde doctrine, in certaine pointes. &c. For this cause the sayde Scotus, being constrained to remoue from Fraūce,* 1.56 came into England, allured (as some testifie) by the letters of Alured or Alfrede, of whom he was with great fauour entertained. and con∣uersant a great space about the king: til at length (whether before or after the death of the king it is vncertaine) he wēt to Malmesbery, where he taught certaine scholers a fewe yeares, by the which Schollers at laste most impiously he was murthered and slaine with their penkniues,* 1.57 and so died, as stories say, a Martyr, buried at the sayd monaste∣ry of Malmesbury with this Epitaph.

Clauditur in tumulo sanctus sophista Ioannes, Qui ditatus eratiam viuens dogmate miro. Martyrio tandem Christi condescendere regnum Qui meruit, regnans secli per secula cuncta.

King Alfrede hauing these helpes of learned men a∣bout him,* 1.58 & no lesse learned also himself, past ouer his time not onely to great vtilitie and profite of his subiectes, but also to a rare & profitable example of other Christen kings and Princes, for them to follow. This foresaid Alfrede had by his wife called Ethelwitha, two sonnes: Edwarde and E∣thelward, and three daughters: Elflena, Ethelgora, and Ethel∣guida: Quas omnes liberalibus fecit artibus erudiri. That is, Whome he set all to their bookes and study of liberall arts: as my storie testifieth. First Edward his eldest sonne succee∣ded him in the kingdome,* 1.59 The second sonne Ethelward di∣ed before his father. Ethelgora hys middle Daughter was made a Nunne. The other two were married, the one in Marceland, the other to the earle of Flanders. Thus king Alfrede the valiaunt, vertuous and learned Prince, after he had thus Christianly gouerned the realme the terme of 29. yeares & 6. monethes,* 1.60 departed this life. v. Kal. Nou. and lyeth buried at Winchester. An Dom. 901. Of whome thys I finde moreouer greatly noted and commended in histo∣rie, and not here to be forgotten, for the rare example ther∣of touching this Alfrede: that wheresoeuer he was, or whe∣thersoeuer he went, he bare alwaies about him, in his bo∣some or pocket, a litle booke cōtaining the Psalmes of Da∣uid, and certaine other Orasons of his owne collecting. Wherupon he was continually reading or praying when soeuer he was otherwise vacant,* 1.61 hauing leisure therunto. Finally what were the vertues of this famous king, thys litle table here vnder written, which is left in ancient wri∣ting, in the remembraunce of his worthy and memorable life: doth sufficiently, in fewe lines containe.

Notes

• * 1.1

  An. 872.
• * 1.2

  Alured K. of Eng∣land.
• * 1.3

  Ex Rog. Houe∣deno. H. Hunting. Polychronicon. Fabiano.
• * 1.4

  Burhered being expulsed hys kingdome went to Rome and there dyed in the Englishe house.
• * 1.5

  Rollo a Dane first Duke of Normandy.
• * 1.6

  Anno. 879.
• * 1.7

  King Alfrede flyeth into a desert wood.
• * 1.8

  Etheling which is to say the Ile of Nobles.
• * 1.9

  A swineheard made Byshop of Winchester.
• * 1.10

  Henr. Hunting. lib. 5. de. Histor. Angl.
• * 1.11

  Inguar and Hubby slayne.
• * 1.12

  A bold aduen∣ture or attempt of king Alfrede, ventring himself into the tentes of the Danes.
• * 1.13

  Ex Fabiano.
• * 1.14

  Gutrum the Prince of the Danes was Christened.
• * 1.15

  King Gutrum named Athel∣stane.
• * 1.16

  Norfo•••••• Suffolke geuen▪ to king Gu∣trum.
• * 1.17

  The Nun•••• of Shaftes∣bury buil∣ded.

  The Mona∣stery of E∣theling. The new minster at Winchester besieged 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Danes.
• * 1.18

  An. 892.
• * 1.19

  The Danes driuen from Norfolke.
• * 1.20

  The Danes returne a∣gayne to Norfolke••
• * 1.21

  The Danes driuen out of Chester.
• * 1.22

  The Danes driuen from Lewes.
• * 1.23

  The riuer of Luye deui∣ded in three.
• * 1.24

  3. plagues in England.
• * 1.25

  An. 897.
• * 1.26

  The Danes ships taken.
• * 1.27

  An. 899.
• * 1.28

  The vertues and godly lyfe of kyng Alfrede de∣scribed.
• * 1.29

  The incli∣nation of nature cor∣rected in K. Alfrede.
• * 1.30

  The godly petition of king Al∣frede.
• * 1.31

  Modwen∣na.
• * 1.32

  King Alu∣red how he deuided hys goodes in two partes.
• * 1.33

  Polycron. Lib. 5. ca. 1. Guliel. lib. de regibus.
• * 1.34

  The liberall hart of king Alfrede.
• * 1.35

  How well and godly this king spent his tyme▪
• * 1.36

  The godly lawes of King Alfrede.
• * 1.37

  A notable ex∣ample of thi••∣••ery and felony banished thys Realme.
• * 1.38

  Ex histori•• lornalensi.
• * 1.39

  King Alfrede commended for learning.
• * 1.40

  When learning first began to be set vp in England.
• * 1.41

  Chester a place of learning. The Vniuersitie of Graunchester by Cambridge.
• * 1.42

  The vniuersitie of Paris 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be∣gan by iiij. Ra∣banus, Alcui∣nus, Claudius, Ioan. Scotus.
• * 1.43

  Sigebert king of Eastangle•• a scepter of Schooles.
• * 1.44

  Two a••ncient schooles in England, one for Greeke, the other for latine.
• * 1.45

  Ex historia Guliel. de Re∣gibus Ang.
• * 1.46

  Pleimondus teacher to king Alfred, and af∣ter Bishop of Canterbury.
• * 1.47

  Bookes transla∣ted out of latine by K. Alfrede.
• * 1.48

  None permit∣ted to haue any dignitie in the court except he were learned. Polycron. lib. 6. cap. 1.
• * 1.49

  The Psalter translated into English by king Alfrede.
• * 1.50

  The cause why the king turned latine bookes into English.
• * 1.51

  Learned men sent for and pla∣ced about the king.
• * 1.52

  The dia∣loges of Gregory translated Neotus •• Abbot. The schole and vniuer∣sitie of Ox¦ford first begonne••▪ King Al∣frede. The new•• Colledge in Oxford Ioan. ••••••∣tus.
• * 1.53

  The aun∣swere of Ioannes Scotus to the French king.
• * 1.54

  Ioan Sco∣tus transla∣ted Hierar∣chiam Dio∣n••tij. from Greek to Latine.
• * 1.55

  The booke of Ioan∣nes Sco∣tus called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Ioannes Scotus adi∣cted more to the Greeke Churche then the Latine. Ioan Scotus accused of the pope for an here∣tike.
• * 1.56

  Ioannes Scotus slayne by hys owne scollers.
• * 1.57

  Ioan Scotus a Martyr.
• * 1.58

  This Ethel∣witha buil∣ded first the house of Nunnes at Winche∣ster. The chil∣dren of K. Alfrede.
• * 1.59

  All hys daughters learned.
• * 1.60

  The decease of King Al∣fred.
• * 1.61

  An. 901.