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.

Ethelwolf.

EThelwolf the Son of Ecbert succeeded, by Malms∣bury describ'd a man of mild nature, not in∣clin'd to War, or delighted with much Dominion; that therfore contented with the antient West-Saxon bounds, he gave to Ethelstan his Brother, or Son, as * 1.1 some write, the Kingdome of Kent and Essex. But the Saxon Annalist, whose Autority is Elder, saith plainly, that both these Countries and Sussex, were bequeath'd to Ethelstan by Ecbert his Father. The unwarlike disposition of Ethelwolf, gave encourage∣ment no doubt, and easier entrance to the Danes, who came again the next year with 33 Ships; [An. Dom. 837] but Wulfheard, one of the Kings Chief Captains,* 1.2 drove them back at Southamton with great slaughter; him∣self dying the same year, of Age, as I suppose, for he seems to have bin one of Ecberts old Commanders, who was sent with Ethelwolf to subdue Kent. Ethel∣helam

another of the Kings Captains with the Dorset∣shire men, had at first like success against the Danes at Portsmouth; but they reinforcing stood thir ground, and put the English to rout. Worse was the success of Earl Herebert at a place call'd Meres∣war, slain with the most part of his Army. [An. Dom. 838] The year following in Lindsey also, East-Angles,* 1.3 and Kent, much mischief was don by thir landing; [An. Dom. 839] where the next year, embold'nd by success,* 1.4 they came on as far as Canterbury, Rochester, and London it self, with no less cruel hostility: and giving no respit to the peace∣able mind of Ethelwolf, they yet return'd with the next year in 35 Ships, fought with him, [An. Dom. 840] as before with his Father, at the River Carr, and made good thir ground.* 1.5 In Northumberland, Eandred the Tri∣butary King deceasing, left the same tenure to his Son Ethelred driv'n out in his fowrth year, [An. Dom. 844] and suc∣ceeded by Readwulf, who soon after his Coronation hasting forth to Battel against the Danes at Alvetheli, fell with the most part of his Army; and Ethelred like in fortune to the former Ethelred, was re-exalted to his Seat. And to be yet further like him in Fate, was slain the fowrth year after. Osbert succeeded in his room. [An. Dom. 845] But more southerly, the Danes next year after met with some stop in the full course of thir outragious insolences.* 1.6 For Earnulf with the men of Somerset, Alstan the Bishop, and Osric with those of Dorsetshire, setting upon them at the Rivers mouth of Pedridan, slaughterd them in great numbers, and ob∣tain'd a just Victory. This repulse queld them, for ought we hear, the space of six years; [An. Dom. 851] Then also re∣newing * 1.7 thir, invasion with little better success. For Keorle an Earl, aided with the Forces of Devonshire, assaulted and over-threw them at Wigganbearch with

great destruction; as prosperously were they fought with the same year at Sandwich, by King Ethelstan, and Ealker his General, thir great Army defeated, and nine of thir Ships tak'n, the rest driv'n off, however to ride out the Winter on that shoar, Asser saith, they then first winter'd in Shepey Ile. Hard it is, through the bad expression of these Writers, to define this fight, whether by Sea or Land; Hoveden terms it a Sea fight. Nevertheless with 50 Ships (Asser and others add 300) they enterd the mouth of * 1.8 Thames, and made excursions as far as Canterbury and London, and as Ethelwerd writes, destroy'd both; of London, Asser signifies only that they pillag'd it. Ber∣tulf also the Mercian, successor of Withlaf, with all his Army they forc'd to fly, and him beyond the Sea. Then passing over Thames with thir powers into Sur∣rey, and the West-Saxons, and meeting there with King Ethelwolf and Ethelbald his Son, at a place call'd Ak-Lea, or Oak-Lea, they receav'd a total de∣feat with memorable slaughter. This was counted a lucky year to England, and brought to Ethelwolf great reputation. [An. Dom. 853] Burhed therfore, who after Ber∣tulf * 1.9 held of him the Mercian Kingdom, two years after this, imploring his aid against the North-Welch, as then troublesome to his Confines, obtain'd it of him in person, and therby reduc'd them to obedience. This done, Ethelwolf sent his Son Alfrid a Child of five years, well accompanied to Rome, whom Leo the Pope both consecrated to be King afterward, and a∣dopted to be his Son; at home Ealker with the Forces of Kent, and Huda with those of Surrey, fell on the Danes at thir landing in Tanet, and at first put them back; but the slain and drown'd were at length so many on either side, as left the loss equal on both:

which yet hinderd not the solemnity of a marriage at the feast of Easter, between Burhed the Mercian, * 1.10 and Ethelswida King Ethelwolf's Daughter. [An. Dom. 854] How∣beit the Danes next year winterd again in Shepey.* 1.11 Whom Ethelwolf not finding human health suffici∣ent to resist, growing daily upon him, in hope of di∣vine aid, registerd in a Book, and dedicated to God the tenth part of his own lands, and of his whole King∣dome, eas'd of all impositions, but converted to the maintenance of Masses and Psalms weekly to be sung for the prospering of Ethelwolf and his Captains, as appears at large by the Patent it self, in William of Malmsbury. Asser saith, de did it for the redemtion of his Soul and the Soul of his Ancestors. After which, as having done some great matter to shew himself at Rome, and be applauded of the Pope; he takes a long and cumbersome journey thether with young Alfrid again, and there staies a year, [An. Dom. 855] * 1.12 when his place requir'd him rather heer in the field against Pagan Enemies left wintring in his land. Yet so much manhood he had, as to return thence no Monk; and in his way home took to Wife Judith Daughter of Charles the bald, King of France. But * 1.13 ere his return, Ethelbald his eldest Son, Alstan his trusty Bishop, and Enulf Earl of Somerset conspir'd against him; thir complaints were, that he had tak'n with him Alfrid his youngest Son to be there inaugurated King, and brought home with him an out-landish Wife; for which they endeavourd to deprive him of his Kingdom. The disturbance was expected to bring forth nothing less then War: but the King ab∣horring civil discord, after many conferences tend∣ing to peace, condescended to divide the Kingdom with his Son; division was made, but the matter so

carried, that the Eastern and worst part was malign∣ly afforded to the Father: The Western and best giv'n to the Son, at which many of the Nobles had great indignation, offring to the King thir utmost assistance for the recovery of all; whom he peace∣fully dissuading, sat down contented with his por∣tion assign'd. In the East-Angles, Edmund lineal from the antient stock of those Kings, a youth of 14 years only, but of great hopes, was with consent of all but his own Crown'd at Burie. [An. Dom. 857] About this time, as Bu∣chanan relates, the Picts, who not long before had by the Scots bin driv'n out of thir Countrey, part of them coming to Osbert and Ella, then Kings of Nor∣thumberland, obtain'd aid against Donaldus the Scot∣ish King, to recover thir antient possession. Osbert who in person undertook the expedition, marching into Scotland, was at first put to a retreat; but return∣ing soon after on the Scots, over-secure of thir sup∣pos'd Victory, put them to flight with great slaugh∣ter, took Pris'ner thir King, and persu'd his Victory beyond Sterlinbridge. The Scots unable to resist longer, and by Embassadors entreating peace, had it granted them on these conditions: the Scots were to quit all they had possess'd within the Wall of Se∣verus: the limits of Scotland were beneath Sterlin∣bridge to be the River Forth, and on the other side, Dunbritton Frith; from that time so call'd of the Brittish then seated in Cumberland, who had joind with Osbert in this Action, and so far extended on that side the Brittish limits. If this be true, as the Scotch Writers themselv's witness (and who would think them Fabulous to the disparagement of thir own Country?) how much wanting have bin our Historians to thir Countries Honour, in leting pass

unmention'd an exploit so memorable, by them re∣memberd and attested, who are wont ofter to ex∣tenuate then to amplifie aught done in Scotland by the English? Donaldus on these conditions re∣leas't, soon after dyes; according to Buchanan, in 858. Ethelwolf Chief King in England, had the year before ended his life, and was buried as his Father at Winchester. He was from his youth much ad∣dicted * 1.14 to devotion; so that in his Fathers time he was ordain'd Bishop of Winchester; and unwillingly, for want of other Legitimate Issue, succeeded him in the Throne; mannaging therfore his greatest affairs by the activity of two Bishops, Alstan of Sherburne, and Swithine of Winchester. But Alstan * 1.15 is noted of Covetousness and Oppression, by William of Malmsbury; the more vehemently no doubt for doing some notable damage to that Monastery. The * 1.16 same Author writes, that Ethelwolf at Rome, paid a Tribute to the Pope, continu'd to his dayes. How∣ever he were facil to his Son, and seditious Nobles, in yeilding up part of his Kingdome, yet his Queen he treated not the less honourably, for whomsoever it displeas'd. The West-Saxon had decreed ever * 1.17 since the time of Eadburga, the infamous Wife of Birthric, that no Queen should sit in State with the King, or be dignifi'd with the Title of Queen. But Ethelwolf permitted not that Judith his Queen should loose any point of Regal State by that Law. At his Death, he divided the Kingdom between his two Sons, Ethelbald, and Ethelbert; to the younger Kent, Essex, Surrey, Sussex, to the Elder all the rest; to Peter and Paul certain revenues yearly, for what uses let others relate, who write also his Pedigree, from Son to Father, up to Adam.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mat. West.
• * 1.2

  Sax. an.
• * 1.3

  Sax. an.
• * 1.4

  Sax. an.
• * 1.5

  Sax. an. Sim. Dun. Mat. West.
• * 1.6

  Sax. an.
• * 1.7

  Sax. an. Asser.
• * 1.8

  Huntingd. Mat West.
• * 1.9

  Sax. an. Asser.
• * 1.10

  Malms.
• * 1.11

  Sax. an.
• * 1.12

  Asser.
• * 1.13

  Asser.
• * 1.14

  Mat. West.
• * 1.15

  Malms.
• * 1.16

  Sigon. de regn. Ital. L. 5.
• * 1.17

  Asser.