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 ...

CHAP. IX. The Reigns of the Three Danish Kings, who were Sole Monarches of England, viz. Canute, Harrold, and Hardicanute; with the Memorable Things that happen∣ed in their several Reigns.

Some Observations on the Original of the Danes. A Brief Description of the Country from whence they came: Their manner of War, Religion, Customs, &c.

BEing come to speak of a Succession of Kings different in Nation from the former, it will not be improper to give an account briefly of the Original of the Nation that gave birth to the first of them, &c.

The Original of the Danes is concluded (by some Authors) to have been from Scythia; That a Famine extreamly raging in that Country, divers Colonies had left it, and ranging to seek Food, found out an Island called Scandia situate Northward, not far from the

continent of Denmark; and in time growing too nu∣merous for that scanty place, they Warred on the Danij, and so long continued it, that they grasped the Kingdom with so hard a hand, as to this day it is not wrested from the Race of them; and from thence they called the Country Danes-Mark, or portion of Land, now corruptly Denmark.

This Peninsule, so called by reason it is almost an Island, as it is now held by the Danish King, that is properly called Denmark, is in Length Eighty Miles, and Twenty in Breadth; having but little firm Land; being divided into many Islands; whereof Jutland, for its bigness, is the chief: It borders upon Germany and is a near Neighbour to the lower Frisia; it is difficult to determine whether it receives greater Benefit than Damage from the Sea; for often by the violent Tem∣pests the Banks and Fences being forced by the Waves, the Water not only covers the Fields for a long time, but by the suddainness of the Deluge destroys many Cattle and People, and as well Stately Buildings as Low∣ly Cottages: And the Country is full of Woods con∣taining store of Deer. The Island of Frunen is sepa∣rated from the main Land by a narrow Arm of the Sea: To the Westward of it lieth Juta, to the East Slayland, which, for the Beauty and Fertility of it, is to be preferred before all the other Islands belonging to the Danish King. In it is situate Copenhagen the principal residence of the King, also Roschilt the place of their Burial; near unto which is the Island of Scandia, the first Habitation of the Danes in those parts, as most conclude. But now to the King of Denmark belongs Norway, formerly a distinct Kingdom, and some other Countries, which render his Territories much larger than when the Danes first possessed it.

As for their Religion, when they first Invaded

England, and long after, it was Paganism. Their Idols were many, out-numbering those of the Pagan Saxons; to some they Offered Horses, to others Humane Sacri∣fice, Fruits, Flowers, Water, Bread, Wine, Fish, &c. They were a People very Bloody and Cruel to those they prevailed over, and extreamly Lustful and Trea∣cherous. Their Habit was close girted Coats, their Arms Spears of a moderate length, Battel-Axes, and Faulchions, their Diet many times the Flesh of their slain Enemies, Rost or Sodden; it was about 230 years from their first Invading England, before Canute got the Sole Monarchy, of whose Reign I am next to treat.

The Reign of Canute, Sixteenth Sole Monarch of England, and first of the Danes, that Reigned here.

CAnute, Son to Swane (who as you have heard was Murthered by his Souldiers) began his Reign as Sole Monarch Anno Dom. 1017. He was Crowned at London by Livingus, Arch Bishop of Canterbury; and at his first coming to the Crown kept the English under with a very strict Hand, every where disarming them, and making it a capital Crime for above a certain num∣ber of them to meet together, unless called by his Au∣thority; so that Faires and Marts were in a manner laid aside: He Deposed and Banished the Popular Nobles, conferring their Titles of Honour and Estates on his Danes, and yet not thinking he was sufficiently secured whilst Edward and Edmund, the Sons of Edmund Ironside, remained in the Kingdom; and yet thought that if he should dip his Hands in their Innocent Blood, he must of necessity incur the perpetual hatred of the English, he concluded to take away their Lives private∣ly, so that he might excuse it, and lay the blame on o∣thers; whereupon he sent the Young Princes to his

Brother, King of Sweden, with private Instructions to make them away; but he detesting so base a crime, Transferred them to the King of Hungary, where Ed∣mond Dyed; but Edward getting favour at Court and being a Prince endowed with much manly Beauty, and excellent Parts, Agatha Sister to the Empress of Ger∣many fell in Love with him, to whom he was Married, and by her had Edgar Sirnamed Etheling, who Dyed without Issue; Margaret, who Married Malcolm King of Scots; she had Issue Christian a Veiled Nun, Edgar, David, and Alexander, all three Kings of Scotland pro∣ceeded from this Line, as also Maud wife to King Henry the first King of England, who had Issue Maud the Empress, Mother to King Henry the Second; so that the design of making away these Princes abroad, by a wonderful Providence turned in the end to the Advantage of both Kingdoms, in restoring the Saxon Line after the Norman Conquest to England, in the person of Henry the Second, and producing many worthy Kings in Scotland

Canute, to strengthen his Interest, Marryed Emma Sister to Richard Duke of Normandy, and widow to King Ethelred, and soon got possession of the Kingdom of Norway, which has ever since been annexed to the Crown of Denmark; then Warring on the Scots, he made them Tributaries, so that some reckon him to be the possessor of Four Kingdoms; he made a strict League with the Normans, and set out a huge Navy to Sea, bringing thereby a Terror on all the Neighbouring Sea Coasts, laying a Tax of 82000 Pounds on his Eng∣lish Subjects; with which Money, at the perswasion of Queen Emma, he pay'd off and sent away the greater part of the Lazy Danes to their Native Country, which won him much favour with the English; Then he set himself to the contriving and establishing wholsom

Laws for the better settlement of his Kingdom; and for the more firmly founding them, he called a Parliament at Oxford.

He is commended for his aversion to Dissemblers, Traitors, and Flatterers, for one of the latter having told him He was Soveraign King not only of the Land but the Sea, and not only his People but the Winds and Waves were subject to his Command; to disprove and upbraid the Parasite, being at Southampton he caused his Chair to be placed on the Sand, and Commanded the Sea that it should not swell to wet his Royal Robes; but the Waves Rowling towards the Shoar, in their wonted Flowings, Dashed him up to the Thighs, whereupon rising hasti∣ly, he said to his Attendants, Now you see all the Might and Power of Kings is but Vanity, for none is worthy to have the Name of King, but he that hath all things subject to his Laws; and from that time, as several Authors affirm, he not only Banished all Flatterers from the Court, but refused to wear his Crown.

In the Third Year of his Reign with a great Navy he Sailed to Denmark, that Country being then Invad∣ed by the Vandalls, who had over-run the larger part of Germany, and overthrowing them in a bloody Battel, Slaying their chief Leaders, he chased the rest out of his Kingdom, and causes Castles and Forts to be Builded on the Frontiers, to secure it against their Incursions. And so returning with Victory, he was received at London in Triumph, and having settled his Affairs in a flourishing condition, the Kingdom thereby much recovered its Antient Renown, and he having received the Christian Faith, a considerable time before, hearing of the Magnificence of Rome, and desirous to see its stately Structures, the manner of their Living, &c. went thither, not Royally Attended, but as a Pilgrim; where nevertheless being known, he was received with

great respect, and having given liberally to that See, after he had visited all the places of note in that Superb City, once Mistriss of the World, he returned highly satisfied with the Undertaking; causing the Ruined Churches to be Repaired, and Founded divers Religious Houses, giving great Priviledges to the Monastery of St. Edmunds-Bury in Suffolk, which he had re-Edified, and then taking a Progress to restore the Face of Justice in the several Counties, punishing the corrupt Ministers and Oppressors, worn out with the Toiles of War and Indefatigable Study, in settling his new acquired King∣dom, he fell Sick on the Road some Miles from Shafts∣bury, and being conveyed to that Town, in a short time he paid the debt by Nature due from all that are cloathed with Mortality, Dying Anno Dom. 1036, when he had Reigned 18 Years; and tho' the First of the Danish, yet is accounted the 16th Sole Monarch of England.

Remarks on Huntingtonshire, &c.

HUntingtonshire, is as the former, an Inland County, Bounded by Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, and Cambridgshire; It produces store of Wooll, Cattle, Corn, and many fertil Pastures; it is somwhat Woody, tho' incum∣bered with few Hills of any considerable height, it has many small Streams abounding with Roach, Dace, Chub, Trouts, Carp and Pike, and abundance of Wild Fowle resorts to its Meers and Marshy Places; it contains divers Parks of Deer, and some Warrens, also Quarries of Stone. It is divided into 4 Hundreds, containing 79 Parishes, 6 Market Towns, and 2 Rivers. It sends Members to Parliament 4, viz. Huntington 2, and 2 Knights of the Shire.

Huntington is a very pleasant Town, giving denomina∣tion to the Shire, standing on the Ouse, over which Liver

[illustration] map of Huntingtonshire

HUNTINGTON SHIRE

it has a commodious Bridge. It gives a fair Prospect into the Country, and has a great trading Market, and is adorn∣ed with Buildings of Antiquity: And of this Place Robin Hood, the famous Outlaw, is said to be Earl, in the Reign of King Richard the First.

St. Ives is situate on the same stream, with many other pleasant Towns, and Villages. Here was Born Roger, thence Sirnamed St. Ives; at Cunington the learned Anti∣quary Sr. Robert Cotton was Born. And indeed this Shire has produced divers famous Men, as Gregory of Huntington, who Dyed 1610; Henry of Huntington, Renowned for his History of England; William Whittle∣seay, Arch Deacon of Huntington; William Ramsey, a famous Poet, and others.

In this County a Lake called Wittlesmeer, in the Fairest Weather grows Tempestuous, and Rages with Surges like the Sea; but in a Storm is much Calmer. The whole County is well Watered, and boasts of many pleasant Vilages.

The Seats of the Nobility are Kimbolton-Castle, a seat of the Earl of Manchester; Hinchingbrook, now a seat of the Earl of Sandwich, but formerly the seat of Sir Oliver Cromwel, Ʋncle to the late Oliver Cromwel, called Protector of England, who was a Native of this County-Great Gidding, a seat of the Lord Rockingham; Leygh∣ton, a seat of the Earl of Arran. There are likewise to be seen the Ruines of many stately Buildings, as Castles, Mo∣nasteries, and the like. It produces a sort of soft Stone, much used in Building in those Parts, and in diging for it, rusty Armour, Arms, and Coin, have been found, denoting some great Battel Fought there in former times.

The Reign of Harrold, Seventeenth Sole Monarch of England, &c.

HArrold, Sirnamed Harefoot, (from his Swiftness in Runing, Leaping and Vaulting) Succeeded his Father, Crowned Anno Dom. 1036; He was Second Son to Canute, and upon his coming to the Crown was much opposed by Goodwin Earl of Kent a Person very Powerful, and a Politick Intreaguer of those times, to make Factions, &c. But by his liberal Promises, and present Renuntiation of Taxes, he won the Londoners, and Lords on the North side the Thames to his Party; and having thus far prevailed, he strengthened his Hand by liberally disposing of Gratuities to such as had done him any good offices; he promoted the English to Places of Trust and Honour, sending away more of the Danes; than in doing which, he could lay no greater obligation upon them: For Time, as yet, had not worn out the Mortal Hatred between the two Nations. He took off likewise a good part of the oppressing Tax called Dane-Gelt, which the People not without much discontent had laboured under, especially in the Northern Counties, many Years.

And now Goodwin Earl of Kent, perceiving his Clandestine Practices too weak to enfeeble the Kings Interest in his Subjects affections, like cunning States∣man resolves to struggle no longer against this Tide of Fortune and Success; and thereupon, to make fair with him, entered upon an Inhumane Project, viz. To betray into his Hands Edward and Alfride, Sons to Ethelred and Emma, Born at Islip by Oxford, but brought up the greater part of their time in Normandy; and so cunningly this Traitor to his Country worked the design, as knowing Harrold by any means was de∣sirous

to destroy them, as being the rightful Heirs of the Saxon Line, that by specious pretences of Advance∣ment and Honour, and how also herself might much profit by it, and always stand high in the Kings favour, he so dealt with Queen Emma, that won by guilded Flatteries, and not perceiving the Mortal Hook covered with the Tempting Bait, she was easily perswaded to Write to them on this occasion; which being seconded by Goodwin and the King, the Innocent Princes were decoy'd over, and brought as Lambs to the Slaughter; for no sooner had the Dane got them in his power, but contrary to his Promise, he caused Alfride's Eyes to be put out, and yet not so contented, his Belly was open∣ed with a Razor, and one end of his Bowells being fastened to a Post, he was forced about it by the prick∣ing of sharp Ponyards, till he had twisted them out, and so dyed a miserable death; which is held to have struck Goodwin, the Author of this Mischief, with so great a Remorse, that he could neither Rest in the Day, nor Sleep in the Night, without hideous and fearful Dreams, till he contributed to the Escape of Edward the other Brother, who luckily got away a small time before he was to be Murthered by the like, or other as cruel Torments, by which his Brother fell a Sacri∣fice to Policy of State.

Harrold supposing he had been defeated of the second Game by the contrivance of Queen Emma (for Goodwin Swore himself unknowing of any thing rela∣ting to it) determined to put her to death; but cooling a little on his rash Decree, and considering she was near Allyed to a Powerful Prince, his Neighbour, and had been Wife to two Kings, the last of them being his Father, he changed the Sentence into one somewhat less severe: For first he seized on all her Treasure and Possessions, which were very considerable; and that

not being thought a sufficient Punishment, he Banished her in a manner Naked; so that under such a disgrace, and in that poor condition, being ashamed to go into Normandy, her own Country, she got leave to pass the Seas for Flanders, where she was received Honourably by the Earl of that Province, and there she continued, for the most part, till the Danish Succession failed, and her Son Edward, afterward called the Confessor, was Invited over to take upon him the Crown.

Soon after this Harrold fell Sick at Oxford, and there Dyed, when he had Reigned Four Years: He was the Seventeenth Sole Monarch of England, and Second of the Danish Line, and Reigned Four Years, being first Buried at Westminster, and after held to be removed to St. Clements Danes, without Temple-Barr.

Remarks on Herefordshire, &c.

HErefordshire is famed for abundance of Fruit-Trees, producing great quantities of Cider, and other wholsom Liquors; Its Wooll is held to be the finest in England, especially from those numerous flocks of Sheep that feed on the pleasant Hills about Lempster. It also yields abundance of Cheese, Butter, Swine, and all necessary Provisions for the support of Mans Life; and has some considerable Forrests and Woods. It is Bounded with Shropshire, Worcester∣shire, Glocestershire, Monmouthshire, Radnorshire and Brecknockshire; It gives denomination to a Bishoprick, the Diocess containing this County and part of Shropshire; It is divided into 11 Hundreds, containing 176 Parishes, 8 Market-Towns, and 13 Rivers; and sends 8 Members to Parliament, viz. Knights of the Shire 2, Hereford 2, Lempster 2, and Weobley 2.

The City of Hereford is noted for its Cathedral, of Anti∣•••• but Curious Building; it gave Birth to Ada•••• D'

[illustration] map of Herefordshire

HEREFORD SHIRE

[illustration]

Orleton Bishop of Hereford, and Roger of Hereford, a learned Astrologian; Bradwarden-Castle gave Birth to Thomas D' Bradwardine Arch Bishop of Canterbury; also to John Guillim, a famous Herald, whose Systeme of Heraldry is accounted the best on that subject. This County gave Birth to the Renowned Robert Devereux Earl of Essex, who lost his Head in Queen Elizabeths Reign. The next Towns of note are Stanton, Lempster, Weobly, Ludbury, Rosse, Orleton, Pembridg and Wormbridg.

Marsley-Hill in this County is Celebrated by all Writers for its wonderful Travel, on Saturday the 7th of February, 1571. which was indeed exceeding strange and surprizing, and must not be here omitted: It happened thus, About six of the Clock in the Evening the Earth began to move, with a mighty rooring and bellowing Noise, which was heard several Miles off, and then it lifted it self up a great height, and began to Travel; carrying along with it the Trees that grew upon it, the Sheepfolds and Flocks of Sheep continuing still thereon, and from the place whereon it first stood, by seven a Clock the next Morning, had gone about 200 Foot, and so continued its Travel three Days together, and then stood still; in its passage it overthrew Kinnaston-Chappel. and removed an Yew-Tree growing in the Church-Yard from West to East; throwing down also several Houses, Trees and Hedges: But that which adds more to the wonder is, That two High-ways were turned about 300 Foot from their former Pathes, the East part to the West, and the West to the East, Pasturage being left in the place of Tillage, and likewise Tillage in the place of Pasturage.

As for the Seats of the Nobility, tho' not many, they are mostly of curious Antient Building, viz. Goodrick-Castle, Penyard-Castle, and Eccleswald-Castle, belonging to the Earl of Kent; Wilton, Aconsbury, and Dewswell, be∣longing to the Lord Chandois; and Hereford Palace, be∣longing to the Bishop of the Diocess. There are divers

Quarries of Stone found in this County, which stand the Peo∣ple in great stead; also some Minerals; much Fuel is like∣wise got out of the Ground.

The Reign of Hardicanute, the Third Danish King, and Eighteenth Sole Monarch of England.

HArdicanute, the Third Son of Canute, by a different Mother, viz. Emma, Succeeded Harrold, Anno Dom. 1040: He was Crowned at London by Elnoch Arch Bishop of Canterbury; upon which he laboured to settle his Affairs at home and abroad, kept the Seas free from Pirates, that for some time before had infested the Coast, causing the Danes and Norwegians to build divers Ships for his Service; but being of a rough and uneasy temper, he was not very pleasing to his Subjects: He bore a Mortal Hatred to Harrold his Brother-in-Law, and not being capable of expressing it to any effect during his Life, he shewed it openly after his Death; causing his dead Body to be taken out of the Sepulcher in which it had lain a considerable time, and the Head to be cut off, and then thrown into the Thames, sunk with a great weight of Lead; but some Fishermen draging it up with their Nets a while after, decently Buried it in St. Clements Church in the Strand; for which reason some will have it to take the additinal word Danes, as it is now called.

This Hardicanute is accounted among the Volup∣tuous Kings, taking great pleasure in Banqueting, and often gloried he could Eat more at a Meal, than any of his Subjects; his Table was four times a Day spread with all manner of Delicates that Sea or Land afforded; by which riotous manner of living he greatly wasted his Treasure, and set an example to his Nobles to do the like; so that the Court being Impoverished, con∣sults

were held to raise an exacting Tax on the Com∣mons, which was chiefly counselled by Goodwin Earl of Kent, whereby he fell into the hatred of the People, and went Guarded a long time after, to prevent their fury: The Sum raised was 3••147 Pounds, a great Tax in those days, and grievously exasperated the People, because it was exacted with rigor; insomuch that at Worcester they made an Insurrection, and slew two of the Collectors; which so highly offended the King, that he not only caused divers of the Mutineers to be Executed, but laid the City in a heap of Rubbish by Fire, so that the Innocent suffered among the Guilty; which caused other Insurrections, but they were presently quieted, and many slain.

With part of this Money the clamouring Seamen were paid off, and thereupon a great part of the Fleet laid up, and then the King pursued his former pleasures; whereupon the Scots much wasted the Northern Bor∣ders; but being overthrown in a great Battel on the bank of the Tweed, near to Barwick, they were com∣pelled to sue for Peace; which they could not obtain, till they had made considerable restitution for the dammage they had done in the English Counties. About the latter end of this Kings Reign a terrible Blazing Star appeared for Three Weeks; The Sun at noon day seemed of the colour of Blood, strange and amaz∣ing Voices were heard, supposed to proceed out of the Air, and many other Prodigies are said to have hap∣pened.

When he had Reigned about two Years, being In∣vited to a Noblemans Wedding, held at Lambeth in Surry, situate on the South side the Thames, he there Eat and Drank so unmeasurably, that he immediatly Sick∣ned, and being carried from the Table, fell into a grievous Surfeit, and not admiting his Physitians to

Bleed him, which they advised as the only Remedy for his Recovery, he soon after Dyed; and leaving no Issue behind him, with him dyed the Danish Monarchy in England; and it devolved again on the Saxons: For Edward, the Seventh Son of Ethelred by Queen Emma, having escaped many dangers, was sent for upon the Death of Hardicanute from Normandy, (whither he had retired to save his Life upon the Death of his Brother Alfride) and Proclaimed King.

Remarks on the County of Kent, &c.

KEnt is a very large and spacious County, and advanta∣giously seated, being almost wholly invironed with the Sea, except its Western parts, which borders upon Surry and Sussex: Besides the Thames, which parts it Northward from Essex, its principal Rivers are Medway, the Rother, and the Stowr. It abounds in Fruits, Corn, fat Pastures, and exceeding profitable Marshes, for the feeding of Cattle, which are bought up Lean from other Counties, and sent thither to be made Fat: It produces particularly the greatest quantity of Cherries of any County in England, &c. It is divided into 67 Hundreds containing 408 Parishes, 2 Cities, viz. Canterbury and Rochester, the former being an Archiepiscopal See, having the Primacy of all England; the latter is likewise a Bishops See: It has likewise 31 Market Towns, and 4 Rivers more than before mentioned, a∣mong which Lewisham River is famous for the large store of Fish found in it, its Stream carrying about several Mills. It sends Members to Parliament 10, viz. Canterbury 2, Maidston 2, Queenbourough 2, Rochester 2, and 2 Knights of the Shire. Besides which, 3 of the Cinque Ports being in this County, viz. Dover, Rumney and Sandwich, do each of them send two Barons up to the Parliament, called Barons of the Cinque Ports.

[illustration] map of Kent

KENT By J. Seller

[illustration]

Canterbury is by some Authors said to have been Built 900 Years before the birth of our Saviour; it was given by Ethelbert the Saxon King of Kent to Austin the Monk and his Companions, and in their time the Cathedral was Founded, in which Eight Kings of Kent lie Buryed. It suf∣fered greatly by the Fury of the Danes, especially in the Reign of Ethelred, when 4200 of its Inhabitants were slain. Here King John and his Queen Isabela were Crowned; King Henry the Third and King Edward the First Married: Edward the Black Prince, Henry the Fourth, and Queen Joan, were Interred here; and the Cathedral was long famous in Superstitious times for Pilgrimages made to visit the Shrine of St. Thomas of Becket (a Popish Saint and Martyr) slain at the Altar in the Reign of Henry the Second.

Rochester, formerly called Roffchester, as Builded by one Roff, Lord thereof, is a very pleasant City; it was de∣stroyed by the Danes, and suffered much after Rebuilding by two dreadful Fires in the Reigns of King Henry the First and King Henry the Second; it has in it many fair Churches, and leading to it a curious Arched Bridge of Stone.

Maidstone a flourishing Town, situate on the Medway, for a meer Town, is reputed the handsomest, and best of Trade, in all the County.

Feversham is of great Antiquity, very pleasant and com∣modious in its situation; in it King Stephen and Queen Maud were Buried.

Dover is renowned for its Castle, said to be Built by Julius Caesar at his second Landing: Queenborough Castle was Built by Edward the Third. At Wye J. Kemp the learned Arch Bishop of Canterbury was Born. Greenwich is famous for its Park, and stately Palace; and near it is the New Hospital founded for Decayed Merchants: Horstead took its Name from Horsus one of the first Saxon Invaders.

Tunbridge is famous for its Medicinal Waters, and the great resort to its Wells. The Seats of the Nobility are Knobl, belonging to the Earl of Dorset; Penhurst, to the Earl of Leicester; Bocton-Malberb, to the Earl of Che∣sterfield; Hoathfield and Sylom, to the Earl of Thanet; Chenvening, to the Earl of Sussex; Lingstead Lodg, to the Lord Tenham; Leeds-Castle and Grenway-Court, to the Lord Culpeper; Alington-Castle and Maidstone Place, to the Lord Astly; Bromly-House, the Bishop of Rochesters seat.