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 Edwine.

* 1.1EDwine the eldest sonne of king Edmund afore mētioned, after his vncle Edrede, began his raigne about the yere of our Lord,* 1.2 955. being crowned at Kingston by Odo the Archbishop of Caunterbury. Of this Edwine it is reported of diuers writers, that the first day of his coronation, sit∣ting with his Lordes, brake sodainly from them & entred a secrete chamber, to the company of a certaine woman, whom he inordinately retained (being as some say an o∣ther mans wife) whose husband he had before slayne, as o∣ther say being of his aliance, to the great mislikyng of hys Lordes, and especially of the Clergy. Dunstane was yet but Abbot of Glastenbury, who following the king into the chamber, brought him out by the hand, and accused him to Odo the Archbishop,* 1.3 causing him to be separate from the company of the foresayd partie, by the which Odo, the king was for his fact suspended out of the Church. By reason whereof the king beyng with Dunstane displeased, bani∣shed him his land, & forced him for a season to flee to Flan∣ders where he was in the monastery of S. Amandus. A∣bout the same season the Monasticall order of Benedict Monkes or blacke monkes (as they were called) began to multiply and encrease here in England.* 1.4 In so much, that where before tyme other priestes & Canons had bene pla∣ced. there monkes were in their roumes set in, and the se∣cular priests (as they then were called) or Canōs put out, But king Edwine for the displeasure he bare to Dunstan, did so vexe all the order of the said monkes, that in Malmesbury Glastenbury, & other places mo, he thrust out the monkes, and set in secular priestes in their stead.

Notwithstanding it was not long, but these priestes and Canons were agayne remooued, and the said monkes in their stead restored, both in the foresayd houses, and in diuers other Churches Cathedrall besides, as in the next story of Kyng Edgar (Christ willyng) shall at more large appeare.

* 1.5In fiue kyng Edwine beyng hated by reason of certaine his demeanours, of all his subiectes (especially the Nor∣thumbrians and Mercians) was by them remooued from his kingly honour, and his brother Edgar in his steade re∣ceiued: so that the Riuer of Thamis deuided both theyr kingdomes. Which Edwine after he had raigned about the terme of foure yeares departed, leauing no heyre of hys bodye. Wherefore the rule of the lande fell vnto Edgar his younger brother.

Notes

• * 1.1

  K. Edwyne.
• * 1.2

  Anno. 955.
• * 1.3

  The king sus∣pensed by the Archbishop. K. Edwyne an e∣nemye to Monkes.
• * 1.4

  Monkes put out, and se∣cul••r priestes placed in their roomes.
• * 1.5

  The death of K. Edwyne.