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 Edward called the Confessor.

FOr so much as God of his mercye and prouidence, who is onely the maker of heires:* 1.1 thought it so good, after the wofull captiuitie of this Englishe nation, to graunt now some respite of deliuerance,* 1.2 in taking away the Da∣nish kings without any issue left behind them: who reig∣ning here in Englād, kept the english people in miserable subiection,* 1.3 about the space of xxviij. yeares, and that from their firste landing in the time of King Brightricus: wa∣sting and vexing this land, the terme of cc.••v. yeres: Now their tiranny here comming to an ende, the next election & right of the crowne fell (as appertained) to Edwarde the yonger sonne of king Egelred and Emma, a meere Eng∣lishman: who had bene now long banished in Norman∣dy, as is aboue declared. A man of gentle and soft spirite: more appliable to other mens coūsailes, then able to trust to his owne: of nature & condition so geuen from al warre and bloudshed: that being in his banishment, he wished rather so to continue all his life long in that priuate estate, then by warre or bloudshed to aspire to any kingdome. This Edward, after the death of Canutus the seconde, or Hardecanute, being sent for of the Lordes into Normādie to take possession of the Realme, although he something mistrusted the vnconstant and fickle heads of Englishmē (yet hauing sufficient pledges laid for him in Normandie) came ouer, with a few Normands accompanied: and not long after was crowned at Winchester. an. 1043. by Edsius then Archbishop of Cant.* 1.4 And not long after that, he ma∣ried Goditha, or Editha daughter of Earle Godwyne: whome he entreated after such sort, that he neither put her from his bed, nor yet delt with her fleshly. Whether it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for hate of her kin (as most like it was) or for loue of cha∣stitie, it remaineth vncertaine.* 1.5 But most writers agree, y^t he continued his lyfe without offence with women: ••or the which he is highly exalted among our story writers and called holy king Edwarde. After he had thus taken vpon him the gouernement of the realme, he guided the same w^t much wisedome and iustice, the space of 24. yeres, lacking two monethes: from whome issued (as out of a fountaine) much godlinesse, mercy, pitie, and liberalitie towarde the poore: gentlenes and iustice toward all men: and in all ho∣nest life he gaue a vertuous example to his people. He dis∣charged the Englishmen of the great tribute called Dane gelt, which before time was yerely leuied to the great im∣pouerishing of the people. Hee subdued the Scottes and Welshmen, which in their borders began to rebell against him. In much peace he continued his reigne, hauing no forreine enemie to assault him: Albeit, as some Chronicles do shewe,* 1.6 certaine Danes and Norgwaines there were, which entended to set vpon Englande: But as they were taking shipping, there was brought to them first one bowle, then an other, of meede or methe, to drinke vp∣on a bon viage. Thus one cup comming after an other: after drinke came dronkennes, after dronkennes followed iangling, of iangling came stryfe: and strife turned vnto stripes. whereby many were slayne, and the other retur∣ned to their home agayne. And thus the mercifull proui∣dence of the Lord dispatched that iourny.

In the time of this Edward: Emma his mother, was accused to be familiar with Alwyn the Byshop of Winche∣ster: vpon which accusation (by counsayle of Earle God∣wyn) he tooke from her many of her iewels, and caused her to be kept somedele more straightly in y^e Abby of Warwel, and the Byshop committed to the examination of the cler∣gy. Polydore sayth, they were both in prison, at Winche∣ster: where she sorrowing the defame both of her selfe and of the Byshop, and trusting vpon her conscience, desireth them of iustice, offering her selfe ready to abide any lawfull triall: yea although it were with the sharpest.

Then diuers of the Byshops made labour to the king for thē both,* 1.7 and had obtayned, had not Robert thē Arch∣bishop of Cant. stopped the sute. Who not well contented with their labour sayd vnto them: My brethren how dare ye defend her which is no woman but a beast? she hath de∣famed her owne sonne the king, and taken her lecherous leman the Byshop. And if it be so, that the woman will purge the priest, who shall then purge the woman that is accused to be consenting to the death of her sonne Alphred: and procured venim to the poysonyng of her sonne Ed∣ward? But whether she be giltie or giltles: if she will goe barefooted for her self foure steps, and for the Bishop fiue, continually vpon ix. plough shares fire hote: then if she e∣scape harmeles, he shalbe assoyled of this challenge and she also.

To this she graunted, the day was appointed at which day, the king and a great part of his nobles were present, except onely Robert the Archbishop. This Robert had

bene a monke of a house in Normandie,* 1.8 & an helper of the king in his exile: and so by the sēding for of the king, came ouer and was made first Bishop of London, after Archbi∣shop of Cant. Then was she led blindfield vnto the place betwene two men, where the yrons lay brenning hot; and passed the ix. shares vnhurt.* 1.9 At last sayde shee, good Lorde when shal I come to the place of my purgation, whē they then opened her eyes, and shee sawe that shee was past the paine, she kneeled downe geuing God thankes.

Then the king repented (sayeth the story) and restored vnto her, that he had before taken from her, and asked her forgeuenes. But the Archbyshop fled into Normandie.

Neare about this time, about the x. yere of his raigne•• fell passing great snow,* 1.10 from the beginning of Ianuary, to the 17, day of Marche. After which insued a great mortali∣tie of men, morrian of cattel, & by lightning the corne was wonderfully blasted and wasted.

Not lōg after this: a certaine Earle of Bologne, who had married king Edwardes sister,* 1.11 came into Englande: through the occasion of whom: when execution should be done vpon the citizens of Douer, for a fray betwene them, and the Earles men: variance happened betweene Kyng Edward and Earle Godwyne. Who perceauing that he could not wstand the kings malice, (although he gathered a great company to worke therein what he could) fled into Flanders,* 1.12 & was outlawed with his 5. sonnes. King Ed∣ward repudiated his wife, the daughter of the sayde God∣wine: but the second yere after, by mediators he was recō∣ciled to the king againe, and called from banishment: And for his good a bearing, he gaue for pledges his two sōnes, Byornon, and Tostius, which were sent to the Duke of Normandy there to be kept.

During the time of the outlawry of Godwyn: William Bastard Duke of Normandy,* 1.13 came with a goodly compa∣ny into England to see king Edwarde, & was honorably receaued. To whom the king made great cheare, & at hys returne inriched him with great gifts and pleasures. And there (as some wryte) made promise to him, that if he died without issue, the said William should succeede him in the kingdome of England.

In this kinges raigne liued Marianus Scotus the story writer.* 1.14 As concerning the end of erle Godwin, y^e cruell murderer of Alphred, and of the Normandes: although diuers histories diuersly do vary: Yet in this the most part do agree, that as he sate at the table with king Edward at Winsor, it happened one of the cupbearers one of erl God∣wins sonnes to stumble and recouer againe, so that he did shed none of the drinke: wherat Godwin laughed, & sayd, howe the one brother had sustained the other. With whych wordes the King calling to minde his brothers death that was slaine by Godwine: beheld the erle (saying) so should my brother Alphred haue holpē me, had not Godwin ben. Godwine then fearing the kinges displeasure to be newly kindled, after many words in excusing himselfe, sayde: So mought I safely swalow this morsel of bread as I am gilt¦les of the deede. But assoone as hee had receiued the bread, forthwith he was choked. Then the king commanded him to be drawne from the table, & so was cōueyed by Harolde his sonne to Winchester, and there buried.

About the 13. yere of this kings reigne, the sayde King Edward sent Aldred bishop of Worceter to the Emperour Henricus the 4. praying him, that he would send to y^e king of Hungary, that his cosin Edward sonne of Edmund I∣ronside, might come to England: for so much as he inten∣ded to make him King after him, which was called Ed∣ward outlawe. The which request was fulfilled, so that he came into Englande with his wife Agatha,* 1.15 and with hys children, to witte, Edgar Adeling, Margarete, and Chri∣stina. But the yeare after his returne into the realme, thys Edwarde deceased at London,* 1.16 and was buryed at west∣minster: or as Iornalensis sayeth, at Paules church in Lon∣don. After whose decease, the King then receaued Edgar Adeling his sonne, as his owne childe: thinking to make him his heire. But fearing partly the vnconstant mutabi∣litie of the Englishmen, partly the pride and malice of Ha∣rold the sonne of Godwine, & of other (perceauing therby, that he could not bring that his purpose so wel to passe) di∣rected solemne Embassadors vnto Williā Duke of Nor∣mandy,* 1.17 his kinsman: admitting & assigning him to be hys lawfull heire, next to succeede after him to the crowne.

After the death of Godwin, Harolde his sonne waxed so in the kings fauour: that he ruled the moste and greatest causes of the realme, and was liefetenant of the kings ar∣my: Who with his brother Toston or Tostius (sent by the king against the Welchmen) subdued their rebellion. But afterward, such enuie grewe betwene these ij. brethren, for that Tostius saw his brother Harold so greatly aduanced in the kings fauour,* 1.18 that at Herford, the said Tostius slew all his brothers men. Whom when he had cut in pieces, he poudered their quarters and mangled parts, in barrels of salt, vinegre, wine, and other liquors. That done, he made a power against his brother Harold (being king) with the aide of certaine Danes and Norgaines, and fought a bat∣tail with him in the North, as after shal follow (God wil∣ling) to be seene.* 1.19 So vngratious were these wicked chil∣dren of Erle Godwin: that if they had sene any faire man∣sion or maner place, they woulde slay the owner there∣of, withall his kinrede, and enter the possession thereof themselues.

At length it came in the minde of this Harolde to saile ouer the sea (as Polydore sayth) into Normandie to see hys brother Wilnotus,* 1.20 as also his cosin Hacus, whom y^e king had sent thither to be kept for pledges, as yee heard before. Polydore sayth these pledges were Tosto & Byornon, but that can not be, for Tostius was then in England. But as Henricus Archdeacon of Huntington sayeth, his iourney was into Flāders, as semeth more like. For it is not to be thought, that Harold who was a doer in y^e cruell murther of Alphred, and of the Normanes: wold venter into Nor∣mandy, & therefore more like it is,* 1.21 that his sailing was in∣to Flaunders. But as the storie proceedeth, he being in the course of his sailing, was weather driuen by tempest into the prouince of Pountith, where he was taken as a priso∣ner, and sent to Duke William of Normandy. To whome he was made to sweare, that he in time following shoulde marry his daughter: and that after the death of King Ed∣ward, he should kepe the land of Englande to his behoue, according to the will & minde of Edward (after some wri∣ters) and so to liue in great honor & dignity next vnto him in the realme.* 1.22 This promise faithfully made to the Duke, Harold returneth into Englād (with his cosin Hacus the sonne of his brother Suanus being deliuered vnto him.) But Wilnotus brother of Harold, the duke kepeth stil for performance of the couenāts. Thus Herold I say, retur∣ning home, sheweth y^e king al that he had done in the fore∣sayde matters. Wherewith the King was well contented. Wherby it may be gathered, that king Edward was right wel willing, that Duke William should reigne after hym, and also semeth not vnlike, but that he had geuen him his promise therunto before.* 1.23

Among all that were true and trusty to king Edward of the english nobility, none had like commendatiō as had Leofricus erle of Mercia and of Chester. This Leofricus purchased many great liberties for the towne of Couētry, and made it free of all maner things, except onely of horse. Which fredom there was obtained by meanes of his wife Godina, by riding (as the fame goeth) after a strāge maner through the towne. This Leofricus with his wife Godi∣na, builded also the abbey of Couentrie, & indued the same with great lands and riches.* 1.24

You hearde a little before, of the comming ouer of Ed∣ward called the outlaw, sonne of king Edmund Ironsid: whom king Edward had purposed to haue made king af∣ter him. But soone after his comming ouer, he deceased at London. This Edwarde had by his wife Agatha, a sonne & a daughter called Edgar Adelyng, & Margaret. Which Margaret being maried afterward to the king of Scots, was the mother of Matild or Maude Quene of England and of Dauid king of Scots. &c.

This vertuous & blessed king Edwarde, after he had reigned 23. yeres, and 7. moneths, died and was buried in the monastery of Westminster,* 1.25 which he had greatly aug∣mented & repaired, but afterward was more inlarged af∣ter this form which it hath now, by Henry the third, sōne of king Iohn.

They that write the historie of this King, heere make mention of a dreame or reuelation that shoulde be shewed to him in time of his sicknes: how, that because the peeres & bishops of the realme were seruantes not of God, but of the deuil: God wold geue this realm to the hād of others. And the king desired vtteraunce to be geuen him, that hee might declare the same to the people, whereby they might repent. It was answered againe, that neither would they so do, or yet if they did, it should be geuen to an other peo∣ple. But because it is a dreame, I let it passe.

Diuers lawes were before in diuers countreis of this realme vsed, as the lawe first of Dunuallo Molinucius, w^t the lawes of Mercia called Mercenelega: then the lawes of Westsaxone kinges, as of Iue, Offa, Alfred, &c. whyche was called Westsaxenelaga. The thirde were the lawes of Canutus & of Danes called Danelaga. Of all these lawes which before were diuersly in certain particuler countreis vsed and receiued: this Edward compiled one vniuersal & commō law for al people through the whole realm, which

were called R. Edwardes lawes: which lawes being ga∣thered out of the best and chiefest of the other lawes, were so iust, so equall, an so seruing the publike profite & weale of all es••ates: that mine authors say: the people long after did rebell against their heads and rulers, to haue the same lawes againe (being taken from them) and yet coulde not obtaine them.

* 1.26Furthermore, I read and find in Math. Paris. that when Will. Conquerour at his comming in, did sweare to vse & practise the same good lawes of Edwarde, for the common lawes of this realme: afterward (being established in his kingdome) he forswore himselfe, & placed his owne lawes in their rowme, much worse and obscurer then the other were. &c.

Notwithstanding among the said lawes of Edward, and in the first chapter and beginning therof, this I finde among the auncient recordes of the Guildhal in London. The office of a King, with such other appurtenaunces as belong to the realme of Britaine: set forth and described in the latine stile, which I thought here not vnmete to be ex∣pressed in the English tong, for them that vnderstande no Latine. The tenor and meaning wherof thus followeth.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Anno. 104••.
• * 1.2

  King Ed∣ward the con••ellour.
• * 1.3

  England a••∣flicted by the Danes the space of 255. yeares.
• * 1.4

  K. Edward crowned.
• * 1.5

  Holy king Edward a virgine i•• maryage.
• * 1.6

  Methe i•• Greeke sig∣nifieth dr••∣kennes.
• * 1.7

  Aceasation of the Archbish. against Em∣ma, the kinges mo∣ther.
• * 1.8

  False accu∣sation pur∣ged by hote yron.
• * 1.9

  A straunge thing if it were true. and with∣out false conueyance.
• * 1.10

  Great snow and morta∣litie in Eng∣land.
• * 1.11

  Variaunce betweene the king and Godwyn.
• * 1.12

  Godwyn with hys v. sonnes out∣lawed. Godwyn reconciled to the king vpon pled∣ges geuen.
• * 1.13

  William D. of Norman∣dy came in∣to England to king Ed∣ward.
• * 1.14

  Marianus Scotus, whē he liued. The end and death of vngodly Godwyn. Ex lorna. Malmesbe∣riensi. Polydor. Fabiano & alijs. Gods iust punishment vpon God∣wyn, for the murthering of Alphred. Periurie plagued. Edward the outlawe sonne of Edmund Yronside sent for to England.
• * 1.15

  Anno. 1056.
• * 1.16

  The death of Edward, sonne of Edmond Yronside.
• * 1.17

  William Duke of Normandy admitted heyre to the crowne.
• * 1.18

  The enuy and discorde of bre∣thren.
• * 1.19

  Vngracious children of a wicked father.
• * 1.20

  A place of Po∣lydorus Virg. examined.
• * 1.21

  Harold taken of the Normands.
• * 1.22

  Harold promi∣seth Duke Wil∣liam to marry hys daughter, and to keepe the realme for hys behoofe.
• * 1.23

  Erle Leofricus euer true and faythfull to hys prince.

  How Couentry was made free. Godina wife to Leofricus.
• * 1.24

  The Abby of Couentry builded by Leo∣fricus.
• * 1.25

  Edward the outlaw.

  Edgar Edeling.

  Margaret Queene of Scottes.

  Matilde Queene of England.

  Dauid King of Scots.

  The death of King Edward.

  Westminster re∣payred.

  Guliel. Mal∣mesber.

  Ex lornalen.

  Ex Historia Ri∣chardi. 2. iussu composita.

  The lawes of K. Edward.
• * 1.26

  Ex Mathaeo pa∣riensi. William Con∣querour sworne to K. Edwardes lawes, yet went from it.