The history of England giving a true and impartial account of the most considerable transactions in church and state, in peace and war, during the reigns of all the kings and queens, from the coming of Julius Cæsar into Britain : with an account of all plots, conspiracies, insurrections, and rebellions ... : likewise, a relation of the wonderful prodigies ... to the year 1696 ... : together with a particular description of the rarities in the several counties of England and Wales, with exact maps of each county / by John Seller ...

The Reign of Ethelbald the Third Sole Manarch of England.

EThelbald was Eldest Son to Ethelwolf by Osburga his first Queen, and in his Fathers Lifetime held the Kingdom in a great measure, as if he had been his Co-Partner. His Valour the Danes experienced in divers Bloody Battels, in many of which he Prevailed, killing numbers with a mighty Faulchion he used in Fight, which few but himself could wield; yet after the toiles of War giving a little respite to his wearyed Body, Judith his Stepmother came attended with di∣vers Lady's to Congratulate his Success, in a very splendid Dress, so that her Snow-white Breasts ap∣pearing half Naked, added to her Beauty, she being then but very Young, the King was so Charmed or Infatuated, that he became Enamoured of her; and though upon his Address she strongly urged, she was his Fathers Widow, and the Daughter of a King, and that it was inconsistent with the Law of God, and her Reputation, to yield to his desires; her Repulses served but as Air to make the Fire of his Passion blaze to a greater degree, till at last, between willing and unwilling, tempted by Ambitious Inclinations of being a Queen Consort, rather than Dowager, she yielded to be his Wife: And though the Match was highly opposed by his Nobles, who layed before him the Scandal it would bring upon his Children, if he had any by her, and perhaps for his Sins a Punishment upon the Nation, he persisting in his Reso∣lution, was Marryed; though with little Ceremony tending to Magnificence, as usual at the Weddings of the former Kings. And indeed this brought much trouble on the King and Nation; for whilst he Dalli∣anced with his Incestuous Bride, and pursued his wan∣ton

Pleasures, the weighty Affaires of Government were layd aside, and as it were altogether neglected; which gave the Danes great advantage to recruit their Forces, that had been not only weakened by War in the former Reign, but with Famine, attended on by a grievous Pestilence; and when he had Reigned Two Years and Three Months, without doing any thing Memorable, he Dyed Suddainly, supposed by an Appo∣plexy, though some conclude he was Poisoned: After which, Queen Judith, fearing some Mischief might be∣fal her, by reason she had upon this Marriage incurred the hatred of the People, procured leave from Ethelbert, Brother and Successor to Ethelbald, to be Transported to France; but a Storm arising, the Ship was driven on the Coast of Flanders, where undertaking to Travel by Land to her Fathers Court, she was surprized on her Journey by Baldwin Forrester of Ardenna, who com∣pelled her to be his Wife, and by kind usage won so much upon her Affections, That Writing in her own and his behalf many moving and submissive Letters to the King her Father, he not only forgave what had happened, but created her Husband Earl of Flanders, to hold that Country as his Tributary; and from this Match Lineally descended Maud Wife to our William stiled the Conquorer, also Baldwin Earl of Flanders, who was King of Jerusalem, and another of that Name who was by the Latins Invested with the Imperial Diadem of Greece, upon their taking the famous City of Constan∣tinople Anno Dom: 1284. This Ethelbald was Third Sole Monarch of England, Ending his Reign with his Life, Anno Dom. 860.

[illustration] map of Bedfordshire

BEDFORD SHIRE By John Seller

Remarks on Bedfordshire, &c.

BEdfordshire is a very Pleasant In-Land County; it is Bounded with Northamptonshire, Huntingtonshire, Cambridgshire, Hartfordshire, Buckinghamshire, &c. It is plentiful in Cattle, Fowle, Corn, fat Pastures, Forrests, Parks, replenished with store of Timber and Deer; consist∣ing of Plains, pleasant Valleys, and gradual rising Hills, and is said to yeild the best Barley in England, especially in the North parts.

It containes One Hundred and Sixteen Parishes, Nine Hundreds, Ten Market Towns, and One considerable River. It sends Members to Parliament Four, viz. Bedford two, and two Knights for the County.

Bedford, the Shire Town, has been to its cost the Scene of much Action; especially in the Wars between King Stephen and the Empress Maud, Mother to Henry the Second, and in the Wars of the Barons, against King John, and was raz'd to the ground by King Henry the Third, but soon Rebuilt, and ever since flourished in much tranquility and splendor. In a Chappel not far from the Town, Offa the great King of the Mercians was Buryed, which being demolished by the overflowing of the Ouse, his Spectrum is said often to have appeared on the Water of that River.

There is a little Rivolet at Asply near Wobourn in this County, which is famous for its Petrifying Quality, being said to Turn Wood into Stone; and that a Wooden Ladder happening to fall into it, was some time after taken up again all Stone. And that not only the Pivolet or Brook, but the Earth in the Banks of it has the same Vertue. So that it is justly accounted one of the Wonders of our Isle.

Dean is a pleasant Town, Eminent for the Birth of Francis Dillingham, a very Learned Man; as Layton

Buzzard for the Birth of William Sclater; Dunstable called by the Romans Magiovinium, the latter Name being taken from a notable Thief called Dun, who with his Accom∣plices Inhabited it, and for that cause called Dunstable, or Duns Inning Place; it also gave Birth to that Leared Author, John Sirnamed Dunstable.

The River Ouse Waters this County with its pleasant Meanders, passing through Bedford, and hath over it a handsom Stone Bridge, with two Gates upon it. This County is likewise Beautified with some of the Seats of the Nobility, as those of Anthony Grey Earl of Kent, at Wrest-House and Harrold; the Earl of Bullinbrooks at Bletsho and Melchborn; the Earl of Allesbury's at Ampthil and Clophil; Its Hills produce the best Marl, with abundance of Blue Stone like Slate: And the whole County is plentiful in all sorts of Provision, and divers pro∣fitable Manufacturs.