A chronicle at large and meere history of the affayres of Englande and kinges of the same deduced from the Creation of the vvorlde, vnto the first habitation of thys islande: and so by contynuance vnto the first yere of the reigne of our most deere and souereigne Lady Queene Elizabeth: collected out of sundry aucthors, whose names are expressed in the next page of this leafe.

The seuenth Age, and seuenth part of this Chronicle.

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The seuenth Age

IEsus of Nazareth king of Iewes and onely head of the Christians, with the Father and the holye Ghost, one Eternall God, and almightie Lorde of all things, be∣gotten by his Father God in euerlasting∣nesse, and in the fulnesse of time, taking flesh of the pure Virgin Marie, by the worke of the holy Ghost, and being verie God and man, according to the holy Oracles of the Prophets, to redeeme with his most preci∣ous blood the streyed Sheepe, and loste grote, was borne in Bethlem a City of Iu∣da: where incontinent by the glorification of the Angels, the agnition of the Shepeherds, the veneration of the wise men, the prophecy of holy Simeon, and the admiration of the Doctours, he was had in honour. And then from the .xij. yere of his lyfe, in age, wisedome and fauour both with God and man he encreased: He was in the .xv. yere of the reigne of Tiberius baptised in Iordane by Iohn Baptist, to the example of his, & so executed all things, subduing his fleshe with fasting, the Deuill with prayer, and the world with humilitie. At which time the weekes of Danyell being fulfilled, he taught euery where most constantly, euen to the Crosse, partly with his mightie worde, and partly with his effectuall workes, the kingdome of God, that is, the true knowledge of God the Father and his exceeding charitie towardes mankinde, with the sure confidence in him, the sonne of God: declaring also

the way of helth, and the mutuall loue, with the rewardes of the faithfull and punishments of the vnfaithfull. Then for the confirmation of his doc∣trine and faith, euen with a little beck he commaunded calmenesse to the E∣lements, helth to all diseases, life vnto the dead, obedience vnto the quick, detection vnto thoughts, abolicion vnto sinnes, and flight vnto the Deuill. For all this, after all the passions and labours of mans miserie, which he suf∣fered (sinne onely excepted) whereby he witnessed himselfe to be a very man, and after the innumerable documents and beneficiall deedes (passing mans power) openly shewed vnto his vnkinde people the Iewes, by which he de∣clared himselfe to be true God, as it was before written in the Prophets: he was by the elders of the Iewes and people (his Disciple Iudas Iscarioth betraiyng him) taken, accused, endited, scorned, scourged, crowned with thornes, crucified betwene theeues, and euen then all things fulfilled, with the quaking of the earth, and darknesse of the Sonne, he dyed. After which being buried, he losed Hell, and the thirde day folowing, lyke a conquerour of sinne, death and Hell, he rose againe, from which tyme being .xl. dayes con∣uersaunt with his, in the .xxxiij. yere of his lyfe, with glorious triumph he as∣cended to the heauens vnto his father, from whence he came. Where being the onely Mediator, Intercessor and aduocate of his, sitting on the right hand of God his father, shall in the ende of the worlde be iudge ouer all the lyuing and the dead, rendring to euerie man according to his deseruing, to the faith∣full certeyntie of lyfe, but to the vnfaithfull euerlasting death. Then good and euill segregated, with the whole worlde purged and pacified: our Lorde Ie∣su Christ the onely and verie almightie Emperour of the Worlde, as he hath from the beginning, so doth he now, and for euer shall reigne, to whom eue∣rie knee of celestiall, terrestriall, and infernall creatures shall bowe, and eue∣rie tongue shall confesse that Iesus Christ is the Lorde, to the glory of God the father. Lanquet.

GViderius the first sonne of Cunbalyne began his reigne ouer the Bri∣tons: This man was valiaunt, hardie, welthie, and trusted much in his awne strength, and for that he thought the Romaines had the a∣forenamed tribute with wrong, he therefore of a Knightly courage denyed to them the payment thereof: wherefore Claudius the fift Emperour of Rome, came into Briteyn with a great armie of Romaines (as sayth Polichronica) and wanne againe the sayde tribute without great fight, and therof came a Pro∣uerbe among the Romaines, that the Britaines were neyther strong in bat∣taile, nor faythfull in peace. And that done, he also subdued the Isles of the Orchades, which stand beyond Scotland within the great Occean, and af∣ter returned againe to Rome, in the sixt Moneth that he came from thence.

¶ But Gaufrid sayth, that in the hoste of the Romaines, there was a Ca∣pitaine named Hamo, who entending the hurte of the Britons chaunged his Shilde and Armour, and put vpon him the Armour of a Briteyn, and by that meane being not suspect, he entered into the thickest of the Britons, and lastly came where king Guiderius fought, and shortly after slue the king. But Ar∣uiragus

seing this sodeyne mischiefe, fearing that the Britons would haue geuen back, quickly caused himselfe to be armed with the cognisaunce and Armour of the king: And as King continued the fight with such manhood and courage, that the Romaines were at that time put to flight. And thus was Guiderius slaine of Hamo, when he had reigned ouer Briteyn .xxviij. yeres, leauing after him none heyre.

CAratak, king of Scottes, reigned .xxj. yeres, [unspec 30] a Prince more valiaunt then fortunate, he gaue his whole minde and courage to defende his Realme and subiects from the seruage of the Romaines, with whome he kept long warre, and ayded the North Britons.

ANd in this tyme Saint Paule the elect Vessell of God, [unspec 34/18] being called by a Vision, was made of an open aduersarie and cruell persecutor of the Church of Christ, the most faythful Apostle and true Doctor of the Gentiles: Among whome he taught the worde of God with so great fruit, and encrea∣sed so largely the christian faith, that he was after worthily and rightly named the chiefe of the Apostles.

ARuiragus the yongest sonne of Kymbelyn, [unspec 45/1] and brother to Guiderius before slaine, was ordeyned king of Britons in the yere of our Lorde xlv. This Man did well and knightly behaue himselfe against the Ro∣maines, and slue the afore named Hamo, nere vnto a Hauen or Port of the Sea. And when he was slaine, he threw him gobbet meale into the same sea. And for this cause, that Hauen was long tyme after called Hamons Hauen, which at this day is called Southhamtō. Fabian. But here in a very old Pam∣phlet, which beareth no name, I finde that in the tyme of Hengistafore men∣cioned, and in the reigne of Vortiger, there was a Saxon named Varius Ham and he builded three townes, one in the South, and named it after his awne name South Hams towne, another North fro thence, which he named North Hams towne. Another West, and by North from thence, which he na∣med (bicause he had there made a staple of Wolles) Woluer Hams towne.

¶ Then sayth Reynulph, that Claudius after dyuers happes of Battaile, tooke Aruiragus to his grace, and brought his base daughter Genissa by name from Rome, and maryed her vnto Aruiragus. And because he woulde make the place of the mariage more solempne, he therefore called the Towne of mariage Claudiocestria after his awne name, and after Glouernia, of a base sonne (as some say) of the sayd Claudius Cesar called Glorus, begotten and borne in the same Citie, which afterwarde was Duke of Demecia or Southwales, and at this day it is called Glocester. Hector Boecius the writer of the Scottish Chronicle sayth, that Aruiragus before this mariage was made, was deuorced from his former wife, named Voada, sister vnto Care∣ticus king of Scottes, of a desire that he had to be alyed vnto the Romaines.

¶ Then it foloweth, after the solemnitie of this mariage, which was with all honour finished, Claudius sent certeyne Legions of his Knightes into Ireland, to rule that Countrie, and returned himselfe to Rome.

¶ It was not long after the departing of Claudius, but that Aruiragus roade about his Realme, and with great diligence repayred Cities & townes before decayed and broken with the strength of the Romaines, and as it is of some mencioned, builded the Castle of Douer, and finally intreated his sub∣iects

with such iustice and good order, that they loued and drad him more then any of his progenitors. And this in continuance of tyme made him very wel∣thy, and thereof ensued pryde, so that he thought great shame to be vnder the rule or guyding of the Romaynes, wherefore, at the last he denyed the Tri∣bute before graunted to Rome, wherof, when knowledge came vnto the Se∣nate of Rome, in all hast a Duke was sent from Rome called Vespasian, with certeyne Legions of knightes and Souldiours to subdue Aruiragus.

¶ When Vespasianus was landed in Briteyn (as sayth Reynulph) he sped him so, that in short tyme he subdued Aruiragus to the Empire, and caused him to graunt payment of the aforesayde tribute.

¶ But Gaufride here wryteth howe Aruiragus heéring that Vespasianus was about to lande at Sandwich, met him there with a puyssaunt armie of the Britons, and by mayne force kept him off, that he could not enter the Ha∣uen and land: For so great was the multitude of the sayde Britons, that the sight of them made the Romaynes afeard, insomuch that they durst not lande for feare least the other would haue sodeinly set vpon them, before they could bring themselues in aray and order of battaile, wherefore they hoysed vp their sayles, and departed from thence againe, and went to Tomes in Deuonshire and there aryued, and beyng landed, their Capitaine and Generall Vespasianus marched incontinent towardes the towne, which then was called in the Bri∣tish tongue, Cair Penchuet goit, as ye would say, the Towne vnder the Wood, and at this daye is called Excestre, to the entent to besiege it. And when he had continued his siege by the space of seuen dayes, Aruiragus entending to rayse the same, sodeinly came with his armie and set vpon them, and manye went to wracke on both parties, but neither partie had the victorie of the o∣ther. On the morow both the Capitaynes were made agreed by the mediati∣on and meanes of the Queene Genissa. Thus it apereth that the tribute was payed againe by her intreatie, and not by any violent constreynt or coaction.

¶ After Vespasian had thus recouered the tribute, he then also made sub∣iect to the Empire an Isle liyng in the Sea, which we nowe call the Isle of Wight, and after returned to Rome.

¶ When Aruiragus was thus the second tyme subdued, and brought vn∣der the yoke of the Romaines, he became more mylde towardes them, so that during his lyfe, from thencefoorth, he payde the tribute with lesse grudge, and kept himselfe in their fauours, in such wise that he was of them very wel beloued. And lastly he dyed, when he had reigned .xxx. yeres, and was buryed at Glocester, leauing after him a sonne named Marius.

[unspec 52] AFter the decease of Caratake king of Scottes his yonger brother Cor∣breid obteyned the crowne, and reigned .xviij. yeres. He was fierce and of a valiaunt courage, and beyng confederate with the Pictes, made often times warre against the Britons.

ANd for as much as at this time, Nero that notable Tyraunt Emperour reigned at Rome, vnder whome a great number of the true Preachers and Apostles of Christ, suffered most cruell persecution, Martirdome, and death, I thought it not much impertinent to the story to make some speciall mencion of him, and namely bicause this lande as is aforesayde, was in his tyme againe made tributarie to the Empire of Rome, the saide Nero reig∣ning now as Emperour. But chiefely for that he was a wicked Tyraunt and

a cruell persecutour of the vniuersall Church of Christ.

AT this time as is aforesayde, Nero the sonne of Domicius, [unspec 56/11] being adopted to be Emperour by Claudius, which maried his mother, reigned .xiiij. yeres. This man, although he was brought vp by the reuerent, wise, and learned Seneca, yet by the ineuitable corruption of his nature, he became horrible in all kinde of mislyuing, and so detestable in dissolute wantonnesse, prodigalitie, moustruous lecheryes, beastly crueltie, and couetousnesse, that he seemed to be borne to the destruction of the whole worlde. He was so greatly delighted in singing and plaiyng with the Harpe, in sworde plaiyng, and driuyng of Cartes or Wagons, that he did not onely these exercises priuately, without all measure, but also wearing the garments of Minstrels, Sworde players, and other vile personages, wandered ouer all Italy and Grece, to seeke and haunt common games, where he might trie masteries, and shewe his cun∣ning in those feates: and at his returne, triumphed in the Citie of Rome, and sent into all Countries letters of commaundement to make supplications and reioysing for his victories.

¶ In vncleane lust of his body, he so furiously raged, that he absteyned not from his naturall Mother, Sister, ne any degree of affinitie or kindred. He tooke in open mariage a Boye of excellent fauour, named Sporus, and vsed him as his Wife, he viciously bent and gaue himselfe to filthy imbracings of his awne seruaunts, & in riotous spending of his treasure he exceeded, for he vsed to fishe with Nettes made of Golde, which shoulde be drawne with Cordes of Purple silke: He neuer ware one garment twise: he caused to be put to death his mother, his brother in lawe, his two Wyues, and his instruc∣tor and Schoolemaster, the reuerend Seneca, hauing therevnto no iust cause, nor honest pretence: He commaunded the City of Rome to be set on fyre, and himself in the meane season with all semblant of ioy, sitting in an high Tower to beholde the same, played vpon the Harpe, and sang the destruction of Troy. This Nero was so wicked, that at the last he gaue himselfe openly to such naughtie and wanton lyuing, that in the night season he woulde haunte Brothell houses, and other suspitious places, and oftentimes breake vp mens houses, and eyther robbe and beate them, or else rauishe their Wyues. And after that he had committed most abhominable incest with his naturall mo∣ther, he commaunded her to be put to death. And then maried Poppea, a wo∣man of notable incontinencie. And after all this he caused himselfe to be gel∣ded and cut in the forme & shape of a woman, and so to be abused. And when the Senate had considered of the outragious life & wicked doinges of Nero, they charged him with the setting of Rome on fyre, and he to excuse himselfe charged the christians therewith, whereof folowed a most cruell persecution of the christians, and in this persecution Peter and Paule, the Apostles of Christ, with many other Martirs were put to cruell death. And by his beastly cruelnesse, there were also many noble and verteous men put to most shame∣full death, among the which were the aforenamed Seneca and Lucan, men of excellent learning. Finally, this wicked Tyraunt Nero was proclaymed by the Senate to be an enimie of the weale publique, and iudged to be drawne through the Citie, and to be whipped to death: wherfore he fearing to come into the handes of his enimies, fled into a Farme house of his seruants in the Countrie, where at last he was inforced to slea himselfe. Cooper.

AT this tyme the Scottes, because Corbreid Galdus the eldest sonne of king Corbreid was not of sufficient age, made Dardannus the nephew of Metallane their king, who for his seemely personage was greatly beloued of his people. In the beginning of his reigne, he vsed the counsayle of his No∣bles, but after three yeres he left all iustice and honesty, and stipt into most vn∣cleane vices and cruell tyranny, and lastly endeuoured himselfe to haue mur∣dered Galdas with his brethren, and therefore the Scottes deposed him, and put him to death, when he had reigned .iiij. yeres.

MArius the sonne of Aruiragus, after his father was king of the Bri∣tons: Which Marius as Gaufrid sayth, was an excellent wise man, and gouerned this lande very honourably, and greatly prospered and encreased in welth and ryches.

¶ In the time of the reigne of this Marius, a Duke or King of a Nation called Pictes, which descended of the Scithians, named also of some Gothes, or Hunes, came into this Isle. The aforesayde Duke or leader of the Pictes, as Gaufride sayth, was named Londricus, and he landed with a great Nauy in the Prouince of Albania, now called Scotland, and there vnmercifully he began to spoyle the Country, with sworde and fire: Whereof when Marius was warned, he in all haste assembled his knightes and people, and made to∣wardes them, and gaue them a strong battaile, in the which Londricus was slame, and a great part of his people ouerthrowne. In the remembraunce of which victorie, King Marius caused a great stone to be erected, and com∣maunded therein to be grauen these woordes, Marii victoria, that is, the victory of Marius.

¶ This battaile as the English Chronicle fayth, was foughten at a place which now is called Stanes Moore. But wheresoeuer this stone is set, the Countrie thereabout was long after called VVestmaria, and is nowe called Westmerland.

¶ Now when the residue of the people of Londricus which were fled from the fielde, vnderstood that their hed & Capitaine was slaine: they made their humble request to the king, that he would accept them into his grace, and that he would geue them some land or country to dwell in. And at the last the king graunted them a place in the farre ende of Scotland, which Gaufride nameth Cathenesia, where the sayd Scottes, or Pictes first inhabited. And forsomuch as the Britons disdeined to geue vnto them their daughters in mariage, ther∣fore they acquainted them with the Irish men, and maryed their daughters, and grew in processe of tyme vnto a great people. And for this allyaunce be∣tweene the Irishmen and them, their Country (as sayth Reynulph, in the xxxvij. Chapter of his first booke) was called Irelande, and after Pictauia, and lastly Scotland. But I find in an olde written Chronicle, that when they tooke the Irish women to their Wyues, and vnderstoode not their language they were therefore called Sottes, and afterward Scottes, and their coun∣trye which before was called Albania named Scotland, and this was the be∣ginning of the Scottes, as it is there alleaged. Howbeit, Mathew of West∣minster, Aucthor of the booke, entituled the Flowres of Histories, sayth they were called Scottes, because they were a Nation that tooke their beginning of dyuerse Nations: For Scot, sayth he, is a worde signifiyng an heape of

diuerse thinges gathered or mingled together, according to our common speeche, thou shalt pay scot and lot, that is to say, all such duties as shall bee charged vpon thée.

¶ And when Marius had thus subdued his enimies, he attended and set his minde to the common weale of his lande and subiects, and continued the residue of his lyfe in great rest and quietnesse, and in the ende payde his na∣turall debt or tribute, and was buried at Caerleyle, leauing after him a sonne named Coylus or Coyll, when he had reigned .lij. yeres.

¶ In this time the Citie and Temple of Ierusalem was taken, conque∣red, spoyled, and destroyed by Titus, in such wise that scarcely any man coulde iudge where the place was that it once stood in: which chaunced in the .xj.C. and one yere, after the Temple was first builded by Salomon, and the same day of the Moneth that it was first destroyed by Nabuchodonosor king of Babilon. And in the time of the siege of the same, were slaine of the Iewes xj.C. thousand, ouer and beside them which Vespasian slue in the subduing of the Countrie of Galile. And .xvij. thousand Titus sent into Alexandria there to be kept in most vile and peynfull bondage. And two thousand he brought in his triumph to Rome, of the which, parte he gaue to be deuoured of wilde beastes, and parte were otherwise most cruelly slaine: at which time apered the most terrible example of the wrath & vengeance of God, for the contempt of his worde & veritie. For what hart is so stony or hard that will not tremble for feare, when it considereth that God tooke so sharpe punishment vpon his awne people, whom before he loued most entirely, & among all other nations of the worlde, chose them for his peculier flock and Vineyarde. And shortly after Vespasian the Emperour, and Titus his sonne, triumphed at Rome for their victorie and conquest in Iudea. Cooper. But hereof ye may reade more in Iosephus, and there shall ye finde a most horrible and terrible Historie.

GAldus, after the death of Dardannus, was ordeyned king of Scottes. [unspec 79] This was the most valiaunt Prince that euer reigned among them, and was endued with many excellent and Princely qualities. At the first entry he punished the wicked counsaylours of Dardannus, and after called a parlia∣ment of his Lordes, wherein many noble acts were deuised, and the naugh∣tie lawe of king Ewyn (by the which the Wyues of the commons were free to the nobles) was repealed and fordone. Of him the Scottes made manye goodly remembraunces in the honour of his noblenesse and great victories that he atchieued.

¶ About this time Petulius Cerealis was sente of the Romaines, as Lieutenaunt to Briteyn, where he discomfited Galdus King of Scottes, vanquished the Pictes and the Silurians, subdued to the Romaynes the Countrie of Brigantes or Yorkeshire men, ouerthrewe and chased Vodicia the daughter of the valyaunt woman Voada, and quieted the Kentishe men, and certaine other Britons which rebelled. After this Petulius, a Romaine named Iulius Frontinus was Lieutenaunt in Briteyn, who also warred against the Scottes and Pictes.

ANd after the death of Galdus king of Scotland, succeded Lugtack, [unspec 104] an hatefull and wicked tyraunt, & was as much hated of the Scottes for his vice, as his father was beloued for his vertue. He slue many of the rich men onely to confiscate their goods, and committed the gouernance of the Realme

to most vniust and coueteous persons, and with their company he was most delighted. He defloured his awne Auntes, Sisters, and Daughters, and scorned his wise and graue Counsaylours, calling them olde doting sooles, wherefore in the thirde yere of his reigne he was slaine of his Nobles.

MOgallus, being ordeyned king of the Scottes after Lugtack, at the be∣ginning gaue himselfe to follow the wisedome and maners of his Vncle Galdus, and obteyned diuers great victories against Lucius Antonius the Ro∣maine Capitaine: but in his age he became hatefull in all kinde of Vices, and chiefely in couetousnesse, lecherie & crueltie. He gaue lycence to theeues and robbers to take the goods of their neighbours without punishment. He first ordeyned the goodes of condempned persons to be confiscate to the kings vse, without respect of wyues, children or debtours, for which naughtynesse he was slaine of his Nobles.

[unspec 126/1] COilus the sonne of Marius reigned King of Briteyn after the death of his father. This man was from his infancy nourished and brought vp among the Romaynes, by reason whereof they were louing and kinde to him, and he to them. And for as much as he knewe the power of the Ro∣maynes to be inuincible, he yelded and payde to them the tribute during his life. This Coilus also (as Gaufride sayth) was a liberall man, by reason whereof he obteyned great loue of his Nobles, and also of his commons. And as some write, he made the towne of Colchester, but other ascribe it to one Coill that was king next after Asclepiodatus. And after that this Coilus had reigned in soueraigne peace the terme of .liiij. yeres, he dyed, and was buryed at Yorke, and left behinde him a sonne named Lucius.

[unspec 144] COnarus, which was the chiefe causer of his fathers death, was made king of Scottes, who dissunuled the vices whervnto he was naturally enclined: But assoone as he was established in his kingdome, he wasted all the rentes perteinyng to the Crowne, in his leude lustes, and gaue landes and riches to most vile and naughtie persons, because they fauoured his corrupt liuyng, he inuented new exactions vpon his people, and therfore was of his nobles cast in Prison, and his wicked counsaylours hanged. In his place Argadus gui∣ded the Realme about .xiiij. yeres.

EThodius the first, nephew to Mogallus, was ordeyned king of Scottes, and reigned, xxxiij. yeres. This Man was greatly delyted with hunting, and made many lawes thereof: He rewarded Argadus for his administra∣tion of iustice: He quieted the Isles, and being ayded by the Pictes, he van∣quished Victorine the Romaine Capitaine, and brake downe the Wall of Adrian.

[unspec 180/1] LVcius, or Lucy, the sonne of Coilus, was made king of Brytons, by the ayde and aucthoritie of Marcus Aurelius Antonius then Emperour of Rome, who fauoured him singulerly: He was a very good Man, and folowed his forefathers steps, in all that was good, and his gouernement was so graue and discrete that he obteyned the loue of all his people. This Lucius as sundrie Authors doe write, did sende to Eleutherius then Bishop of Rome, two godly learned men named Eluanus and Meduinus with certaine Epistles and Letters, praiyng him, that he and his Britons might be recey∣ued

to the fayth of Christes Church. Whereof Eleutherius being very glad, sent into Briteyn two noble Clerkes, Faganus and Dunianus, or after some Fu∣gacius and Damianus.

¶ And as the reuerend Maister Iewell, Bishop of Sarisbury, writeth in his Replye vnto Maister Hardings aunswere. Fol. 191. The sayd Eleuthe∣rius for generall order to be taken in the Realme and Churches here, wrote his aduice vnto Lucius the King in this maner folowing.

Ye haue receyued in the Kingdome of Briteyn by Goddes mercy, both the lavve and fayth of Christ. Ye haue both the nevv Testament and the olde: Out of the same through Goddes grace by the aduice of your Realme take a lavv, and by the same through Goddes sufferaunce, rule you your Kingdome of Briteyn: For in that Kingdome you are Goddes Vicare.

¶ Now when these learned men were come, they were honourably recey∣ued of Lucius, the which by their good doctrine & verteous example geuing, conuerted the king and a great part of the Britons. Now after that Lucy had thus receyued the fayth, he by the aduice of the aforesayd learned men, & with the instructions sent to him by the aforesayde Eleuthery, did institute and or∣deyne, that all or the more part of the Archflamyns, which is to meane Arch∣bishoppes, and Bishoppes of the Pagan law, which at that day were in num∣ber (as sayth Gaufride and other) three Archflamins, and .xxviij. Flamyus, shoulde be made Archbishoppes and Bishoppes of the Church of Christ as foloweth.

¶ The first Sea of the first Archflamyn, was at London. The seconde at Yorke, and the thirde at Gloucester. To these three Archbishoppes were sub∣iect the aforesayd .xxviij. Flamyns or Bishoppes. To the Archbishops Sea of London, was subiect Cornewall, & all middle England vnto Humber. To the Archbishoppes Sea of Yorke, was subiect all Northumberlande, from the Bowe of Humber, with all Scotland. And to the third Archbishoppes Sea, which was Gloucester, there was subiect all Wales: In which Prouince of Wales were .vij. Bishoppes, where as nowe is but foure. And at that day Seuerne departed Briteyn and Wales. But after the Saxons had the rule of the land, they altered much of these orders, and to be short, there are nowe but two Archbishoppes in Englande, that is Cantorbury and Yorke, wherof Cantorbury hath the premacie, and hath vnder him .xv. Bishoppes in Eng∣lande, that is to say, Rochester, London, Chichester, Winchester, Salesbury, Exceter, Bathe, Worcester, Hereford, Couentry and Lichefield, Chester, Lincolne, Oxford, Ely, and Norwich. And in Wales he hath .iiij. Bishoppes, Landaffe, S. Dauids, Bangor, and S. Asaph, commonly called S. Asse. And Yorke hath but two Bishoppes in Englande vnder him, which is Caer∣leyll, and Durhame.

¶ Besydes these good orders taken, the sayd Lucius destroyed the temple of the false God Apollo, which then stood in a place called the Isle of Thorney nere London, and was so called for that it was a place all ouergrowne with Thornes, and he erected and made the sayde Temple a place dedicated to the honour of God, and named it Wesminster, as it is called at this day, and en∣dowed the same with such and so great priuileges, that what person soeuer could escape to the sayd Church, for what trespasse so euer it were, the same should be safe body and goodes.

¶ Now after that Lucius had thus set this realme in good order, he died, when he had reigned .xij. yeres, leauing behinde him none heyre, which was the occasion of great trouble to the Realme: For the Britons among them∣selues coulde not agree vpon a Gouernour, by reason whereof there was a∣mong them great discord, which continued the space of .xv. yeres, in the which time, the Empire and Senate of Rome apointed their Lieutenauntes to go∣uerne and reigne ouer this Realme.

SAtrahell the brother of Ethodius (because his sonnes were not of sufficient age to gouerne the Realme) was ordeyned king of Scottes, he was of false and subtile wit, and geuen to such cruelty, that for feyned causes he slue all the frendes of Ethodius to the intent to defraude his heires of the crowne, wherfore he was murdered of his familiers when he had reigned .iiij. yeres.

[unspec 199] DOnald, an humble and gentle Prince was chosen King of Scottes, and reigned .xxj. yeres. He was the first King that coyned any money of Gold or Siluer in Scotland, for the Scots vsed before enterchaunging of wares for chaffer, and one thing for another, and had no money of their awne, but of the Britons and Romaines, and other externall Nations.

¶ About the yere of our Lorde. CC.iij. this Donalde procured certeyne wise and learned men to instruct him, his Wyfe, Children, and Subiectes in the fayth of Christ, which happened, 533. yeres after the beginning of the Realme of Scotland.

[unspec 208/1] SEuerus Emperour of Rome hering of the great discorde in Briteyn, made hast from Rome, and came into this land to apease the vprores of the same. And at this time the Scottes and Pictes inuaded Briteyn, and vexed the Britons very sore: wherfore Seuerus caused a Wall of Turnes to be made, wherein were driuen great stakes, which Wall as sayeth Polichronica was in length. Cxxij. Miles, and it began at the Riuer of Tyne and stretched to the Scottishe See, or from the ende of the Lordship of Deira vnto the sayde Scottishe See, or after some Writers, from Durham to the See afore∣sayde.

¶ And now Fulgenius the chiefe leader and Capitaine of the Pictes issu∣ed out from Albania or Scotland into the land of Briteyn, & destroyed much of the Countrie beyonde Durham. Wherefore Seuerus with an hoste of Britons and of Romaines met with the sayde Fulgenius in a place nere vnto Yorke, where after sore fight, the sayde Seuerus was slaine, when he had ruled this land fiue yeres, and was buried at Yorke, leauing behinde him two sonnes the one named Geta and the other Bassianus, betweene whome there was and euer had bene from the beginning mortall hatred and enmity.

[unspec 213/1] BAssianus Caracalla, after the death of his father, began to rule thys land of Briteyn, he was a Man of nature cruel and fierce and hable to endure all paines and labours, specially in warfare. But as Gaufrid fayth, after the death of Seuerus, great strife arose betweene the Romaines and the Britons then being within the land of Briteyn. For the commons helde for their king Bassianus because he was borne of a Britishe Woman: And on the other side, the Romaines allowed Geta for their king, because he descended of a Romaine. And for this dissension a battaile was foughten be∣twene

the sayde two brethren, in the which Geta was slaine, and Bassianus remayned for king ouer all the land.

¶ In the time that Bassianus was now both Emperour and king of Bri∣teyn, one named Carassus a Briton of lowe birth, but valiaunt and hardie in martiall affaires: purchased of the Emperour the keeping of Briteyn, or as some write onely of the coastes of Briteyn, and promised to withstand the malice of straungers, as the Pictes and others. By meane whereof Caras∣sus drewe vnto him many knightes, and specially of the Britons, promising to them that if they woulde make him king, he would cleerely delyuer them from the seruitude of the Romaines. By reason wherof the Britons (as saith Gaufride) rebelled against Bassianus, and with their Duke and leader Ca∣rassus arrered against him deadly warre, conceyuing the better hope of vic∣tory because he was priuily certified of the Emperours death, who was then slaine by a seruant of his awne in Mesopotamia, when he had ruled this land sixe yeres.

¶But Polidore affirmeth that this Carassus tooke on him the gouer∣nance of Briteyn in the time of Dioclesian, and sayeth that this lande was in good quietnesse the space of .lxxvj. yeres, with whome the Latyn Stories seeme to agree.

CArassus reigned after Bassianus ouer Briteyn, [unspec 219/1] who as before is ex∣pressed, was by the Emperour of Rome deputed for a substitute or a ru∣ler vnder him. This Carassus for that he was not of power to with∣stande the Pictes, or for the fauour that he bare vnto them for ayding him against the Romaines: gaue to them the Countrie of Albania, that nowe is called Scotland: But here is not meant all Scotlande. For as witnesseth Polichronica, that parte which was thus geuen to the Pictes, was the South parte of Albania, and beganne at Twede, and endured to the Scotishe Sea. Of the nature and kinde of these Pictes, is somewhat shewed before, in the story of Marius, but more shall bee shewed hereafter in place conuenient, both of their ofspring and maners.

¶ Nowe it foloweth when the Romaines had knowledge of the death of Bassianus, they forthwith sent a Duke from Rome named Alectus, with three Legions of Knightes to subdue and vanquishe Carassus, who in the ende slue him, when he had ruled ouer the Britons .viij. yeres, and such as are disposed may read more of this man in Fabian and others.

EThodius the seconde was ordeyned king of Scotlande and reigned .xvj. [unspec 224] yeres, he was of dull wyt, geuen to auarice and gathering of riches, and nothing meete to gouerne the Realme: wherefore his Nobles tooke vpon them the charge, and so continued all the time of his reigne.

ALectus a Duke or Consull of Rome, [unspec 226/1] sent as before is sayde from the Senate of Rome, began to rule the Britons: and first he restored the land to the subiection of Rome, and then pursued certaine of the Bri∣tons that had fauoured Carassus against the Romaines. And in that doing, he vsed and exercised many tyrannies and exactions, by reason whereof he fell in grudge and hatered of the Britons. Wherefore, they entending to op∣presse and subdue the power of the Romaynes, procured and excited a Noble

man of the Britons called Asclepiodatus Duke of Cornewall to take vpon him to be their Captaine, who gathered a great hoste of the Britons, and made warre vpon the Romaines, and chased them from Countrie to Coun∣trie, and from Towne to Towne: and lastly Alectus with his Romaines drewe him to London and there abode for his more suretie. Whereof Ascle∣piodatus being warned, he with his Britons came nere vnto the sayde City, where by meanes of prouocation of eyther partie vsed, at the last, the Ro∣maines issued out of the Citie and gaue battaile to the Britons. In the which fight many fell on eyther partie, but the more on the partie of the Romaines, among the which was slaine Alectus, wherfore a Capitain of the Romaines called Liuius Gallus, perceiuyng this mischiefe, and the great daunger that the Romaines were in, drewe back into the Citie with the Romaynes that were left aliue, and defended it with their powers. This was Alectus slaine of the Britons when he had reigned and ruled this land vnder the Romaines the space of .vj. yeres.

[unspec 232/1] ASclepiodatus or Asclepiodotus Duke of Cornewall (as sayeth Gau∣fride) tooke vpon him the gouernement of the Britons, and with a great armie besieged London, and kept the aforesayde Liuius Gallus and hys Romaines in streight holde, and with knightly force and violence entered the sayde Citie, and slue the aforenamed Liuius Gallus, nere vnto a Brooke which then was within the sayde Citie, and threwe him into the sayde Brooke: By reason whereof, the same was from thence foorth called Gallus Brooke, or Wallus Brooke, and at this time the place where that Brooke was, is called Walbrooke. And after Asclepiodatus had thus vanquished the Romaines, he held this lande a certaine of time peaceably and quietly, and ruled the Bri∣tons with good iustice.

¶ And in this time by the motion of some lewde and vnquiet persons, there grewe displeasure betweene the Kinge and a Duke of this lande, named Coill, the which as some say builded Colchester and named it after his awne name in the Britishe tongue Caercolyn, but what the matter of displeasure was, is not apparaunt. But howsoeuer it was, a great number of people were arreysed and assembled on both partes, and in the ende met in the field, where was foughten a great and fierce battaile, wherin Asclepiodotus was slaine, when he had reigned ouer this realme .xxx. yeres.

[unspec 240] ATherco after the slaughter of Ethodius his father, was chosen king of Scottes, and reigned .xij. yeres. At the beginning, he shewed some to∣kens of honest towardnesse: but after he was so wrapped in all vncleane vice and effeminate lustes, that he was not ashamed to go openly in the sight of the people plaiyng vpon a Flute, and reioysed more to be a Fidelar than a Prince: Finally, being pursued for rauishing of the daughters of Nathalas, by a no∣ble man of Argile, he slue himselfe.

[unspec 252] NAthalake tooke on him the kingdome of Scotland, by force, murther, and tyrannie, and trusting to the counsayll of Wytches and Inchauntours, was slaine of his awne seruaunt Nurrey, whome of all men he vsed most fa∣mylierly, when he had reigned .xj. yeres.

COill, Erle of Colchester tooke vpon hym the gouernaunce of Briteyn, [unspec 226/1] and ruled the same very well for a certeine tyme. But as Gaufride saith: When the Senates of Rome had vnderstanding of the death of Asclepi∣odatus, they were ioyous of his death, for that he had euer bene an enemie to the Empire: But forasmuch as at those dayes y^e Romaines themselues were at great dissention, they could not conueniently send any army to warre vpon this Coilus, by reason whereof he continued the lenger in rest and peace.

¶ Howbeit at length, the Senate sent a noble and wyse man called Con∣stantius, who when he was arriued in Briteyn with his army, anone Coilus assembled his Britons: But before he proceded further, he sent an Ambassade to the said Constantius, for that he feared the strength and fame of him, which Ambassade declared vnto him condicions of peace, & graunt of the paiment of the Tribute: But finally, while this matter was in talke, Coilus dyed, & then the Britons for peace sake, entreated this noble man to take to wife Heleyn the daughter of Coilus, with the possession of the land of Briteyn, which by him was graunted. And thus Coilus when he had reigned .xxvij. yeres dyed.

AT this tyme Findock the eldest sonne of Athirco was made kinge of the Scottes, he kept peace with the Romaines, and Britons, and quieted the rebellion of Donald (a noble man of the Isles) by whose counsayle, through the consent of his awne brother Carance, he was afterwarde slaine, when he had reigned .x. yeres.

DOnald was king of Scottes one yere, [unspec 273] he was taken in battail by Donald of the Isles, and shortly after he dyed.

AFter the death of King Donald, great trouble was in Scotland: [unspec 274] For Do∣nald of the Isles tooke on him the Crowne, which was Donald the third, and vsed much Tyranny the space of .xij. yeres: He neuer laughed, but when he heard of the discorde and slaughter of his Nobles, and therefore in the end for his crueltie he was slaine of Craithlint the sonne of Findock, with. CC. of his naughtie Counsaylours.

CRaithlint the sonne of Findock, after the death of Donald the Tyraunt, [unspec 286] was made King of Scottes, and reigned .xxiiij. yeres, with great wisedom and iustice. In his tyme happened great variance betweene the Pictes and the Scottes (which continued friendes from the tyme of Fergus the first King of Scottes, to these dayes) for stealing of a Greyhounde, whereof en∣sued great murder and slaughter on both partes.

COnstantius aforesayde, [unspec 289/1] tooke vpon him the gouernement of the Bri∣tons, and as is abouesayde, first maryed Heleyn the Daughter of Coi∣lus, last King of Briteyn, which Heleyn was very beutifull and fayre, and therewith had learning and many other vertues, and after gouerned Briteyn very wisely and honorablye: But within short tyme after, Dioclesian, and Maximinian had geuen vp the Imperiall aucthoritie, he was chosen Em∣perour, and reigned Emperour and King of Briteyn .xxx. yeres, and then dyed, and is buried in Yorke, leauing after him a sonne named Constantine.

¶ This Constantius was a Man of great affabilitie, clemency, and gentle∣nesse, and therewithall very liberall, endeuouring alwaies to enriche his sub∣iectes, little regarding his awne treasure, thinking that to be his that the Commons had. Wherefore he sayde, that it was better that priuate persons

had the common treasure to the vse of the weale publique, then the same to be locked vp in Princes Cofers. In feastiuall dayes when he bade his Nobles to any banket, he borowed Plate of his friendes to furnishe his Cubbardes withall. Cooper.

[unspec 310/1] COnstantine the sonne of Constancius and of Helyn, daughter of king Coilus, reigned ouer Briteyn after his father, and ruled the lande with much equitie. And albeit, that at this time he was a heathen and Pagan, yet he vsed no tirannie, neither did he compell the Britons to refuse their law, and to worship Idols, as other Tyraunts before had done.

¶ In this time, while Constantine ruled the Britons, one Maxencius which was the sonne of Herculeus Maximianus sometime felow in the Empire with Dioclesian, was of the pretorian Souldiours declared Emperour. Thys Maxencius did there behaue himselfe the worst of all men, and enterprised all maner of tirannie, and persecuted the christians with all kindes of torments. And when Constantine heard of the tiranny of this man. He assembled a great hoste of Britons and Galles for to oppresse his outrage and malice.

¶ And for to rule and guyde this land of Briteyn in his absence, he ordey∣ned a man of might called Octauius, which then was king of Wales & Duke of Gwiscop, which some expound to be Westsex, some Cornewall, and some Wynsore, to haue the gouernement of this dominion. Now when he had pro∣uided all things necessarie for his voyage, he betooke the lande of Briteyn to Octauius, and sped him forward in his iourney.

¶ After whose departure, and during the time that he was occupied in the affaires of the Empire, Octauius being Lieutenaunt in Briteyn vnder the sayde Constantine, ruled the lande to the contentation of the Britons for a certaine time. But when he perceyued that he was in fauour with them, and also that Constantine was nowe farre from him, and considering with hym∣selfe also, that the sayde Constantine being then Emperour, would not, nor could not so lightly returne into Briteyn: he therefore with the helpe of hys friendes and such as he was alyed with, withstood the Romaines that were left in Briteyn by Constantine, and vsurped the rule & dominion of the land: whereof when Constantine was truely certified, in all haste he sent a Duke into Briteyn, named Trayherne, the which was Vncle vnto Helyn the mo∣ther of Constantine.

¶ When this Trayherne was arriued in Briteyn with three Legions of souldiours or men of warre: anon Octauius made toward him with his Bri∣tons, and met him nere vnto the Citie then called Caerperis, and nowe na∣med Portechester, but more truely in a Fielde nere vnto the Citie of Caer∣guent, which at this day is called Winchester.

¶ Now when the two hostes were met, they ioyned a most eger and cru∣ell battayle, wherein was a long and terrible fight. But in the ende, Tray∣herne was inforced to forsake the Fielde, and withdrew himselfe and his Ro∣maynes into Albania or Scotlande. Whereof Octauius being warned, folo∣wed him, and in the Countrie of Westmerland gaue him the second battaile, where then Octauius was chased and Trayherne had the victorie, the which pursued Octauius so egerly, that he compelled him to forsake the lande of Bri∣teyn and to sayle into the Countrie of Norwaye for his safe garde.

¶ But it was not long after, but the sayd Octauius gathered a newe power of people, aswell of Britons as also of Norwayes, and was redye to returne againe into Briteyn. In which tyme an Erle of Briteyn that entirely loued Octauius by treason slue the sayd Traherne a little before the landing of Octa∣uius aforesayde, who afterwardes reigned in this lande at the least .liiij. yeres. but not without great and often warres made by the Romaines. And this shoulde be as most wryters doe affirme, when Constantyne with the ayde of Traherne had ruled this lande .x. yeres. But Polidore affirmeth that this Realme was in good quiet all the tyme of Constantyne and his successors vn∣to the .iiij. yere of Gracian, and maketh no mencion of this Octauius, whereby it may apere what great varietie there is euen among the best and most ap∣proued story wryters.

¶ This Constantine was a right noble and valiaunt Prince, and the sonne of Helena, a woman of great sanctimony and borne in Briteyn, the which Elyn as it is reported of her, founde the Crosse at Ierusalem, on the which our Sauiour Christ suffered his passion, and three of the Nayles wherewith his handes and feete were pierced.

¶ The sayd Constantine was so mightie in Martiall prowesse, that he was surnamed Constantine the great. Of whome it is further written, that when he was in his voyage or iourney, which he made against Maxencius the Ty∣raunt, who was an extreme persecutor of the Christians, he saw in the night season, the signe of the Crosse shining in the Element lyke a fyre, and an An∣gell by it saying on this wise: In this signe thou shalt ouercome. Wherefore receyuing great comfort thereby, he gathered such a courage, that shortly af∣ter he vanquished the armie of Maxencius and put him to flight, who in the chase was drowned in Tyber.

¶ Finally this good Emperour had the fayth of Christ in such reuerence, that alway most studiously he endeuoured to augment the same. And in wit∣nesse of his beliefe, he caused the booke of the Gospelles to be borne before him. And further made the Bible to be copyed out, and sent into all partes of the Empire. Of this man, the kynges of Briteyn had first the priuelege to weare close Crownes or Diademes. He ended his lyfe at Nicomedia, where he receyued Baptisme by Eusebius Bishop there, and was buried at Constan∣tinople, called before Bizance, who lust to know more of his actes and life, may read the sayd Eusebius, who hath written a speciall treatise therof extant among his other workes.

FIncormake, after the death of his Cosyn Cairthquint, [unspec 310] was ordeyned king of Scottes, and reigned .xlvij. yeres.

OCtauius Duke of the Iesses, [unspec 329/1] tooke vpon him againe to rule as king of Briteyn, and in the tyme of his reigne, he gathered such plentie of Treasure that he feared no man, and he ruled the land peaceably, saue that he was now and then as is aforesayd, troubled with warres by the Ro∣maines. And of him is no notable thing written, except that when he was fallen into age, by the counsaile of the Britons, he sent vnto Rome for a yong Man of the kindred of Heleyn mother vnto Constantyne called Maximianus, to whome Octauius offered his daughter in mariage, and to yelde vnto him the Kingdome of Briteyn, the which when Maximianus vnderstood, he consented

therevnto, and prepared in all haste for his voyage, and shortly after he with a conuenient companie landed at Southhamton, whereof Conan Meriadock beyng warned did purpose to haue fought with the sayd Maximianus, & thought to haue distressed him, for so much as he knew right wel, that by him he should be put from the rule of the land. But this purpose was letted by the commaū∣dement of the king, or otherwise, so that the sayd Maximianus, was conueyed safely to the kinges presence: and shortly after the king with the consent of the more partie of his Lordes, gaue his daughter in mariage vnto the sayd Maxi∣mianus, with the possession of this Isle of Briteyn. The which mariage beyng solemnised, and ended, the said Octauius dyed shortly after, when he had reigned as the most wryters agree .liiij. yeres.

[unspec 358] AFter the death of Fincormake king of Scottes, because his heyres were but children, fierce warre was arreared betweene two noble men called Angusiane, and Romak, for the gouernaunce of the Realme: whereof ensued much trouble in the Realme of Scotlande, and great displeasure thereby en∣gendered betwene the Scottes and the Pictes, for as much as by the ayde of the Pictes Romake tooke on him the Kingdome, and vsed great crueltie three yeres.

NOt long after the Nobles of Scotland assembled themselues and set vpon Romake their king and slue him, and then was Angusiane ordeyned king: Betwene whome and the Pictes was great warre for the death of Romake, and in the ende therof both Angusiane and Nectanus king of Pictes were slaine. Then was Fethelmake crowned king, which vanquished the Pictes, and was after slaine in his bed by two Pictes, which were his seruauntes.

ABout this time one Eugenius the first, was made king of Scottes. Here the Scottishe Historie maketh a long processe of the fierce & cruell warre that this king kept against Maximus the Romaine Capiteyn, and the Pictes and Briteyns, which I thinke to be of no more credit than the residue of their Historie, that they haue feyned from the beginning. For vndoubtedly, if they had put the Romaines to so much trouble as their Chronicles shewe, both in the tyme of the Conquest and after: Caesar, Tacitus, Plinie, and other woulde haue made some mencion of the Scottes, as they did of the Trinobantes, Ceni∣magnes, Segontiaces, Bibraces, Brigantes, Silures, Icenes, and diuerse other.

[unspec 379] ¶ The Scottes say, that in this time, after long and cruell warre made by the aforesayde Maximianus, they were vtterly extermined and driuen out of their Realme into Ireland and other Countries, and that then the said Maxi∣mus the Romain, placed in their land the Pictes and Britons. And Hector Boe∣cius sayth, it was for rebellion: But rebellion could it not be properly named, except they had beene subiectes.

[unspec 383/1] MAximianus or Maximus, the sonne of Leonyn and Cosyn Germain to Constantine the great, tooke vpon him the gouernement of this lande of Briteyn. This man was strong and mightie, but for that he was cruell against the Christians, he was called Maximianus the Tyraunt. Betwene this man and Conan before named, was great enuy and strife, and diuers conflictes and battayles were foughten, in the which eyther parte of them sped diuersly: howbeit, at the last, they were made Friends. So that Maximianus reigned a while in quiet, and gathered ryches and treasure, but

not altogither without murmure and grudge. Finally, he was prouoked and excited to make warre vpon the Galles, through which counsayle, he with a great hoste of Britons sayled into Armorica that now is called little Briteyn, where he bare him selfe so valiauntly that he subdued that Countrie vnto his Lordship, and after gaue the same vnto Conan Meriadok, to holde of him and his successours the kings of great Briteyn for euer. And then commaun∣ded the sayde land to be called little Briteyn.

¶Now for this victorie, the Souldiours of Maximianus proclaymed him Emperour, by reason whereof, he being the more exalted in pride, passed fur∣ther into the landes of the Empire, and victoriously subdued a great parte of Gallia and all Germania. For this deede, dyuers Authours doe accompt him false and periured, wherefore it should seeme that before his comming from Rome, he was sworne to Gracian and Valentinian the Emperours, that he should neuer clayme any part of the Empire.

¶Now after that worde was brought vnto the Emperours that Maximi∣anus had by force of armes thus subdued Gallia and Germania: Gracianus with a great hoste came downe to resist him. But when he heard of the Mar∣ciall deedes of Maximianus, he feared and fled back to the Citie of Lyons in Fraunce: where afterwardes the sayde Gracianus was slaine, and his bro∣ther Valentinian compelled to flee to Constantinoble, for safegarde of hys lyfe.

¶Then Maximianus to haue the more strength to withstand his enimies, made his sonne named Victour, felow of the Emperour. And in this time that Maximianus warred thus in Italy, Conan Meriadoke, to whome as a∣foresayde Maximianus had geuen little Briteyn, for so muche as he and his Souldiours had no will to marrie the daughters of the Frenchmen, but ra∣ther to haue Wyues of their owne blood: sent Messengers vnto Dionotus then Duke of Cornewall and chiefe ruler of Briteyn, wylling him to send his daughter Vrsula with a certaine number of Virgins to be coupled to him and his Knightes in marriage, the which soone after was prepared according to the request of Conan, the aforesayde Vrsula accompanied with .xj. thousand Virgins, were sent by her sayde father toward little Briteyn, as sayeth Gau∣frid and other. But truely it appereth rather to be a Fable, and the wryters herein doe not agree, and therefore I will wade no further therein. But to returne where I left.

¶Maximianus, being thus occupied in warres in Italy, two Dukes na∣med Gwanus or Guanius Capitaine of the Hunes & Melga, king of Pictes, the which as Gaufrid saith, were set on by Gracian and Valentinian the Em∣perours, to punishe and subdue the Britons that fauoured the parte of Maxi∣mianus, warred sore vpon the coastes of great Britaine, and occupied a great parte of Albania. Whereof when Maximianus had knowledge he sente into great Briteyn a Knight and Capitaine called Gracianus, the which with two Legions of Souldiours bare himselfe so valiauntlye, that in a short time he chased the sayde two Dukes into Ireland, and helde the land of Briteyn in good peace to the behoofe of Maximianus.

¶In this tyme Maximianus continuing his warre against the Empire, and entending to be Emperour. Theodocius named the elder, being then Em∣perour of the East part of the worlde hering of the death of Gracian, and the

chasing of Valentinian his brother, sped him with a great power towarde Maximianus, and shortly after at a Citie in Italie named Aquileia tooke the sayde Maximianus and him beheadded.

[unspec 391/1] WHen knowledge of the death of Maximianus was come to Gracian, who then had the rule of great Briteyn, he seased the land and made himselfe king of Briteyn by strength, when or after that Maximianus had gouerned the same, as most Writers doe beare wytnesse, the space of viij. yeres.

¶This Gracian hauing nowe obteyned the souereigne aucthoritie, be∣came a verie cruell Prince and exercised all tyranny and exaccion vpon the people, for which cause he was abhorred of all the Britons, and by them was slaine when he had reigned foure yeres. Then was the Realme a good space without a head or gouernor, in the which time the Britons were oftentimes sore vexed with the aforesayde Barbarous people and their forrein enimies.

IN this time was Augustine the most famous & learned Doctor of Christes Church: he was Bishop of Hippone a Citie in Affrique. This man was of such excellent wyt, that in his childhood he learned all the liberall Scien∣ces without any instructor, and in all partes of Philosophy was wonderfully well learned. At the beginning he fauoured the opinions of them which be called Manichees, but by the continuall prayer of his good mother Monica: and the persuasion of holy Saint Ambrose, he was conuerted to the true faith. They both of them being replenished with the holy Ghost, sang the Psalme, Te deum, aunswering mutually one to another. And afterwardes, in prayer writing and preaching he so much profited the Church, that to this daye hys name is worthily had in honour and reuerence of all men.

A And in this time also was Chrisostomus Bishop of Constantinople, and named the Noble Clerk, and for his eloquence he was called the Golden Mouthed Doctor, and yet escaped he not some persecution by meanes of Theophilus in Alexandria, for he dyed in exile.

THe Scottes (according to their Histories) vnder their king Fergus the second, returned out of Ireland into Albion, and continuing the reigne of three kings, that is Fergus, Eugenius and Dongarde, pursued the Bri∣tons with most cruell warres. But here they discent from the English Chro∣nicles, as well in the computation of tymes, as in the relacion of the whole Historie, For after Beda, Gildas and other auncient and credible Writers, the Scottes came first about this time out of Ireland into that Countrie, which they afterwards named Scotland. But howsoeuer these Histories a∣gree, truth it is that the Scottes being confederate with the Pictes, not long from this time, by consent of all Writers, inuaded and spoyled the lande of Briteyn so cruelly, that the Briteyns were constreyned to sende for ayde to the Romaines, promising that they would perpetually be subiect to the Em∣pire: which request was heard, & a Capitaine sent with a Legion of Soul∣diours, who within a fewe dayes chased their enimies out of the land, teach∣yng them to make a Wall of Tornes and stakes, ouertwhart the lande, from Sea to Sea, that is to meane from the water of Homber to the Scottishe Sea, and ordeyned them Wardeyns and keepers of the Wall (wherewith their enimies might be kept back out of the land) and then they tooke leaue of

the Britons and departed to Rome. But Polichronicon sayeth, that the sayde Wall stretched from Penulton to the Citie of Acliud.

¶But notwithstanding the sayd Wall, the Britons were againe inuaded by the Pictes and Scottes, who spoyled the Country verye sore: So that they were driuen to seeke for newe helpe of the Romaines, who sent to them againe a company of Souldiers, which eftsones chased the Pictes, and made a wall of stone of .viij. foote thicke, and in heigth .xij. foote: which thing when they had done, comforting the Briteynes, and admonishing them hereafter to trust to their awne manhood and strength, they returned again to Rome.

¶ The Scottes and Pictes yet once againe after the departure of the Romaines, entred the lande of Briteyn, and spoyled the countrie, [unspec 433] and chased the commons so cruelly, that they were altogether comfortlesse, and brought to such misery, that eche robbed and spoyled other, and ouer this the ground was vntilled, whereof ensued great scarcetie and hunger, and after hunger death. In this necessitie they sent for ayde to Aecius the Romaine Capitaine beyng then occupied in warres in a part of Gallia. But they had no comfort at his hand. And therefore were forced to send Ambassade to Aldroenus king of little Briteyne to desyre of him ayde and comfort, which they obteined vp∣on condicion, that if they atchiued the victory, Constantyne his brother should be ordeyned king of great Briteyn, for to that day they had no king. Which thing beyng graunted of the Ambassadours, the said Constantine gathered a company of Souldiours, and went forth with them. And when he had man∣fully vanquished the enimies, and obteyned the victory, according to promes made, he was ordeyned king, & guyded this land .x. yeres with such manhood and pollecy, that he kept it in quietnesse & from daunger of straunge enemes.

COnstantine the second, [unspec 433/1] who was the brother of Aldroenus king of little Briteyn, was crowned king of great Briteyn and guyded wel the land the space of .x. yeres, and in great quietnesse. Of this Constantyne is little written, except y^t he had by his wife thre sonnes, y^e which were named, Con∣stancius, Aurely Ambrose, & Vter surnamed Pendragon. But for that he sawe his eldest sonne named Constancius to be dull and insolent of wit, he therefore made him a Monke in the Abbey of S. Swithines at Winchester. And the other two brethren, he betoke vnto Gwethelinus Archbishop of London to nourish and instruct. Some wryte that Constancius entred into religion of pure deuocion, without the consent or knowledge of the king his father.

¶In the Court of this Constantyne (as sayth Gaufride) there was a Pict, that was much loued & greatly fauoured of him, so that he might at all times come to the kinges presence, when he would himselfe. The which beyng an arrant Traytour, and serching conuenient time to execute his detestable trea∣son, by a secret meane slue the king in his Chamber, when he had reigned as king .x. yeres. The Author of the story named the flowers of stories, writeth that he slue him with a knife in a very thicke Coppes, as he was a hunting.

¶ In the tyme of this Constantyne of Briteyn, [unspec 436] their reigned also among

the Scottes one of the same name, who was named Constantyne the first, he was a wicked Prince, and geuen wholy to filthy lust and pleasure of the bo∣dy, and without all vertue of pollecye or noblenesse, wherefore in the ende he was slaine for rauishing of a noble mannes daughter.

[unspec 443/1] COnstantius, the sonne of Constantyne, by the meane of Vortigerus Duke of Cornewall, or as some write of the Iewesses, after called West Sax∣ons, was made king of Briteyn. This man as before is mencioned, was thought by his father, for that he was dull of wit and hawtye of minde to be therefore vnmete to take the charge of the Gouernement vpon him, and ther∣fore his father made him a Monke as aforesayde. But now it came so to passe that by the practise and procurement of Vortiger he was taken out of the Ab∣bey and made king: By meane whereof the sayd Vortiger had all the rule of the lande, so that Constance had but onely the name.

¶ This Vortiger then considering the innocencye and mildenesse of the king, cast in his minde how he might be king himselfe. And among other meanes, he practised to haue about the king an hundreth Pictes, to waite and attend vpon his person as a garde, which beyng brought to passe, he bare him¦selfe so friendly towardes the sayde Pictes, and shewed him selfe so liberall vnto them euery way, that at length he had thereby so wonne their good will and fauour, that they abashed not to say openly, that he was more worthy to be king than Constance.

¶ And in this while Vortiger gate into his possession the kinges Castels and treasure, and looke what he commaunded, that was done, though some did murmure and grudge thereat, and euer in right or wrong he fauoured the aforesayd Pictes.

¶Now when he sawe that he had wonne all their fauours, he made them all dronke on a tyme, and then declared vnto them in that case his pouertie and miserie, and that with teares, saiyng howe he was not able of his awne proper reuenew to wage somuch as fiftie Souldiours, and with that he de∣parted from them vnto his lodging, as a man altogether dismayde, leauing them still drinking and quaffing in the Court. The Pictes hearing him say so, beyng nowe distempered and set in a rage by reason of Wyne, murmured one of them to another, saiyng, why do we not kill this blockish Monke, that this noble Man Vortiger, who is so good and beneficial a Lord vnto vs may enioy the Crowne. And with that they rose vp in their dronken moode, and fell vpon the king and slue him.

¶ After which cruell deede so by them done, they presented the head of Constance vnto Vortiger. Wherof when he was ware, and to thentent that the Britons should thinke that deede to be done against his minde and will, he wept and made semblaunce of all sorow and heauinesse, and caused the sayd hundreth Pictes foorthwith to be taken, and them by the iudgement of the law of the lande to be beheaded, by reason whereof he was iudged not to be culpable, but innocent of the kinges death.

¶When the kings death was knowne to such persons as had the keeping of the two yonger brethren, Aurelius & Vter, they in all hast for the sauegard of themselues fled into little Briteyn, & there kept them vntill it pleased God otherwise to prouide for them. And thus as ye haue heard was king Con∣stance

slaine when he had reigned fiue yere.

COngallus, [unspec 446] the sonne of king Dongarde was ordeyned king of Scotland after the Death of Constantine. He was geuen to peace, quietnesse, and iustice, and was a good and moderate Prince.

VOrtiger after the death of Constance, [unspec 448/1] by force made himselfe king of Briteyn, and ruled, but not all without trouble. For it was not long or that the Pictes hauing knowledge of the death and destruction of their knightes and knismen, inuaded the Northpartes of the land, & did ther∣in great domage and hurt. And besides this, many of the nobles of the Bri∣tons perceyuing that king Constance was not murdered altogether without the consent of the sayde Vortiger, rebelled against him, and dailye sent and sayled ouer into little Briteyn to the ayde and assistaunce of the aforesayde children of Constantine, which put the sayde Vortiger to great vnquietnesse, the more for that that he wist not, nor knewe not in whome he might put his trust and confidence.

¶Now yet in all this broyle and vnquiet time, there was in this Realme so great plentie of Corne and fruite, that the lyke thereof had not bene seene in many yeres passed, wherewith was ioyned lecherie and pestilence, with many other inconueniences, so that vice was accompted for small or none of∣fence. The which reigned not onely in the Temporaltie, but also in the Spi∣ritualtie and heads of the same. So that euerie man turned the poynt of his Speare against the true and innocent man, and the commons gaue them∣selues altogether to dronkennesse and Idlenesse, by reason whereof ensued fighting, strife, and much enuie. Of which aforesayd mischiefes ensued much mortalitie and death of men, that the lyuing scantly suffised in some Countries to burie the dead. And besides this, the king was so heard beset with the a∣forenamed enemies, that he was constreyned, as sayth Polichronica, to sende for Paynems, as the Saxons, to helpe to withstande his enimies and to de∣fend his land, and also he dailye feared the landing of Aurely and Vter.

¶Vortiger being thus beset with many enimies, and then being for the exployte of sundrie his affaires at Cauntorbury, tydinges was brought him of the arryuing of three talle Ships full of armed men at the Isle of Tenet. Wherefore, first he made countenance, as though he had bene in doubt whe∣ther it had bene the two brethren of Constance or no: But when the fame was blowen about, that they were none enimies: anone he caused the lea∣ders and Capitaines of them to be brought vnto his presence, demaunding of them the cause of their landing, and of their Nation and Countrie: who an∣swered vnto the king and sayde, they were of the Countrie of Germany, and put out of their Countrie by a maner & sort of a Lot, which is sundrie times vsed in the sayde lande, and the vse thereof grewe for that the people of that Countrie encreased so greatly, that without such prouision had, the Countrie might not suffise to finde the people that were therein: And that therefore sence fortune had brought them into this land, they besought the king that he would take them to his seruice, and they woulde be ready to fight for the de∣fence of him and his Countrie. And when the king had enquired further, he founde that they had two leaders, named Hengist and Horsus, and they and their people were called Saxons.

¶The king being thus assertayned of the maner of these strangers, & that they were of the heathen and Paganlaw, said, he was verie sorie y^t they were misereaunts, but he was glad of their cōming, forsomuch as he had neede of such Souldiours to defend him and his lande against his enimies: and so re∣ceiued them into his wages and seruice, as saith Gaufride and other writers.

¶Beda the holye man and faythfull Historian sayeth, that Vortiger sent for the Saxons for that they were strong men of armes, and had no lande to dwell in, the which came in three long Shippes or Hulkes, and receyued a place of him to dwell in, in the East side of Briteyn called the Isle of Tenet beside Kent: but Guilielmus Malmisburiensis in his worke De Regibus, sayth, that the Saxons came out of Germany of their awne will and courage to winne worship and laude, and not by any lot or compulsion. He sayeth also that they worshipped in those daies, a God named WODEN, supposed to be Mercury, and a Goddesse named FRIA Venus. In the worship of which God, the third Feriall daye in the weeke, they named Wodensdaye, which we nowe call Wednesday. And in worship of the sayde Goddesse, they called the fifte daye Frees day, which we now call Friday.

¶And these foresayde people were of three maner of Nations, that is to saye, Saxons, Anglys and Iewets. Of the Saxons came the East Sax∣ons, West Saxons, and the South Saxons. Of the Anglys, came the East Anglys, the middle Anglys or Merceys, called Mercij, which helde middle Englande, that stretcheth Westward towarde the Ryuer of Dee be∣side Chester, and to Seuerne beside Shrewesbury, and so forth to Bristow, and Estwarde towarde the See, and Southwarde towarde the Thamys, and so foorth to London, and turning downeward and Westwarde to the Ri∣uer Mercea, and so foorth to the West See.

¶And of the Iewets came the Kentishmen, and the men of the Isle of Wight. Of the first comming of these Saxons into Briteyn, the writers doe varie. But to returne to the storie.

¶These Saxons with the kings power did beate downe the enimies a∣foresayde, and defended the land in most knightly wise, so that the king had the Saxons in great loue and fauour: which fauour Hengistus well percey∣uing, vpon a season, when he saw conuenient time, he asked of the king so much ground as the hyde of a Bull or Oxe would compasse, which the king graunted him. After the which graunt, the sayde Hengist to the entent to winne a large plot of ground, caused the sayde beastes skinne to be cut into small and slender Thonges. And with the same he met out a large and great circuit of ground, vpon the which he shortly after builded a large and strong Castell. By reason of which Thonge, the sayde Castell was long after na∣med Thong Castle, and it was builded in Lyndsey.

¶After this, tydings went into Germany of the plentie and fatnesse of the lande of Briteyn, with other commodities belonging to the same: By meane whereof, the Saxons dailye drewe to the sayde lande, and couenaun∣ted with the Britons, that the Britons should exercise and attende vpon their husbandry and other necessarie traffique, and the Saxons as their Souldi∣ours would defende the lande from incursions of all enimies, for the which the Britons should geue to them competent meate and wages.

¶Then by the assignement and apoyntment of Hengist, there came out of

Germany .xvj. Sayles well furnished with men of warre, and in them came Ronowen the daughter of the sayd Hengist, which was a Mayden of excel∣lent beutie. After whose comming, Hengist vpon a day besought the king that he would see his Castle, which he had newly edified. To whose request the king was agreeable, & at the day assigned he came to the Castle, where he was ioyously receyued. And there among other pastimes, the sayd Ronowen with a Cup of Golde full of Wyne presented the King, saluting and saiyng vvassayle. The King which before that tyme had heard no like salutation, nei∣ther vnderstood what she ment, asked of her father what she ment by that worde vvassayle. To whome it was aunswered by Hengist, that it was a salu∣tation of good lucke and gladnesse, and that the king should drinke after her, and adding also this aunswere, that it was as much to say, as drinke hayle. Wherfore the king as he was informed tooke the Cup of the Maydens hand and dranke: And after he behelde the Damsell in such maner, that he was wounded with the dart of the blinde God Cupide, in such wise that neuer af∣ter he coulde withdrawe his lust from her: but lastly by the instigation of the Deuill, asked her in mariage of her father. And by force thereof as witnes∣seth Polichron ca, he put from him his lawfull wyfe, of the which he had before tyme receyued three noble sonnes, Vortimerius, Catagrinus, and Pascentius. Then the King gaue to Hengist the Lordship of Kent, though Garangonus then Erle thereof thereat grudged with many of his Nobles and Commons.

¶ For this, and because the king had maried a Pagan woman, all the Bri∣tons in a maner forsooke him and his woorkes. Notwithstanding, yet some there were, as well of the Nobles as other, that comforted the King in hys euill doyng. By which meane and other vnlawfull deedes, then dayly vsed, the fayth of Christ began sore to decay. And besides that, an heresie called the Arians heresie began to spring in Briteyn, for the which two Bishops named Germanus, and Lupus (as Gaufride saith) were sent into Briteyn to reforme the people that were infected with the same, and erred from the way of truth.

¶ Then to finish the story of Vortiger, forasmuch as the Britons with∣drewe themselues from hym, he was therefore constrayned to retayne with him the Saxons. By whose counsayle he afterwarde sent for Octa the sonne of Hengist, the which brought with them another companie out of Saronie. And from this tyme the Saxons sought alway occasion to extinguish vtterly the power of the Britons, and to subdue the land to themselues.

¶ When the Lordes of Briteyn saw and considered the great multitude of Saxons, & their dayly repayre into this land, they assembled them together, and shewed to the king the inconuenience & ieopardy that might ensue to him and his land, by reasō of the great power of these strangers, & they aduertised him in aduoyding of greater daunger to expel & put them out of this realme, or the more part of them: But all was in vaine, for Vortiger had such a mind to the Saxons by reason of his wyfe, y^t he preferred the loue of them, before the loue of his awne natural kinsmen & frends. Wherfore the Britons of one will & mind crowned Vortimerus the eldest sonne of Vortiger king of Briteyn, and depriued the father of all kingly dignity, when he had reigned .xvj. yeres.

VOrtimer the sonne of Vortiger, [unspec 464/1] was by the assent of the Britons made king of Briteyn, the which in all haste pursued the Saxons, and gaue vnto them a great battayle vpon the Riuer of Darvvent, where he had

of them the victorie. And secondarily he fought with them vpon the Foorde called Epyfoord, or Aglisphorpe. In the which fight Catrignus the brother of Vortimer, and Horsus, brother to Hengist, or Cosin, after long fight betwene them two, eyther of them slue other, in which fight also the Britons were victours. The thirde battaile he fought with them nere vnto the Sea syde, where also the Britons chased the Saxons, and compelled them to take the Isle of Wight for their suretie. The fourth battayle was nere vnto a Moore called Cole Moore, the which was long and sore fought by the Saxons, by reason that the sayd Moore closed a part of their Hoast so strongly, that the Britons might not approche to them for daunger of theyr shot. Howbeit, in the ende they were chased, and many of them by constraint were drowned and swalowed in the sayde Moore.

¶And ouer and besides these foure principall battailes, Vortimer had with the Saxons sundrie other conflicts and skirmishes, as in Kent, Thet∣foorde in Norfolke, and in Essex, nere vnto Colchester, & left not vntill he had bereft from them the more part of suche possessions, as before time they had wonne, and kept themselues onely to the Isle of Tenet, where Vortimer be∣sieged them, with his Nauie, and oftentimes fought with them by water.

¶And as Gaufride sayeth, when they sawe that they were not able any longer to endure the force of the Britons, and to make their partie good with them, they then sent Vortiger the father (whome they had present with them in all the Fieldes that they fought against the Britons) vnto the king his sonne, praiyng him to lycence them safely to depart againe into their country of Germany. And whiles this matter was in talke betweene the father and the sonne, they priuily conueyed themselues into their Shippes, and so re∣turned home againe, leauing their wyues and children behinde them. Fabian.

¶ When that Rowen the daughter of Hengist perceyued the great mis∣chiefe that her father and the Saxons were in, by the martiall Knighthood of Vortimer: she sought such meanes (as sayeth Gaufride and other) that Vortymer was poysoned, when he had ruled the Britons .vij. yeres.

¶Because the storie touching the end and death of the sayde Vortimer is verie notable, it shall not be amisse to recite it here in effect, as it is written by the sayd Gaufride. When Vortimer had now gotten the victorie of the Sax∣ons, he beganne lyke a good Prince to restore againe vnto the Britons such possessions as were taken from them by the sayde Saxons, and to loue and honour them: And at the request of the holy man Germaine to reedefie such Churches as were by them destroyed and ouerthrowne. But the Deuill by and by enuied at his vertue and godlynesse, who entering into the heart of his stepmother Rowen, moued her to imagine his death: wherevpon she sen∣ding for all the Wytches and Poysoners that she coulde hereof, caused verie strong Poyson to be ministred vnto him, by a verie familier and nere friend of his, whome she had corrupted before with many great giftes. Now when this noble warryour had receyued this deadly poyson, he vpon a sodaine be∣came desperately sick, in such wise as their was no hope of lyfe in him. Then commaunding all his Souldiours to come before him to shewe to them what daunger he stood in, and how the houre of death was at hande, he deuyded among them his treasure and such goodes as his auncetours had left him. And perceyuing them greatly to lament and bewayle the miserable case and

daunger that he was in, he comforted them, saiyng, that the waye which he should goe was commen to all fleshe, and so exhorted them that as they had before sticked vnto him like men, and had shewed themselues valyaunt and couragious in fighting against the Saxons, euen so hereafter they woulde lykewise perseuer in the defence of their natiue Countrie, against all the in∣uasions of forrein enimies. That done, of a great heardy courage he com∣maunded a Sepulcher of Brasse to be made spire wise, and the same to be set in that porte or Hauen where the Saxons were commonly wont to arryue, and his dead corps to be layde in it, that assoone as those barbarous people should see once the Sepulchre, they for feare might returne backe againe in∣to Germany. For he sayde that not one of them all durst be so hardie as to approche the lande if they once saw the sayde Sepulchre. O most hardie and dowtie king, who desyred to be feared of them euen after his death, vnto whome he was a terrour in his lyfe time: But when he was dead, the Bri∣tons performed not his commaundement, but buryed his body at London.

VOrtiger was now againe restored to the kingdome of Briteyn, [unspec 471/1] and shortly after Hengist eyther of his awne accorde, or as Gaufride wry∣teth sent for by the procurement of his daughter Rowen, entred thys land againe with a great multitude of Saxons, whereof Vortiger, being informed in all haste, assembled his Britons and made towardes them. But when Hengist heard of the Britons, and of the preparation that was made against him, he then made meanes for the intreaty of peace, where in the end, it was concluded that a certaine number of Britons, and as manye of the Saxons, should vpon the next May day assemble vpon the playne of Ambrij, now called Sarisbury, or as Gaufride saith, nere vnto the Abbey of Amesbu∣rie, founded by one Ambrius: which day being certeynly prefixed, Hengistus vsing a new practise of treason, charged all his Saxons by him appointed, that eche of them should put secretly a long Knyfe in their hosen, and at such time as he gaue to them this watch or bye worde, Nempnith your Sexes, that is, drawe your Knyfes, that euerie one of them should drawe out his Knyfe and slea a Briton, sparing none, but Vortiger the king onely. And at the day be∣fore appointed, the king with a certaine number of Britons, not ware of this purposed treason, came in peaceable wise to y^e place before assigned, where he found ready Hengist with his Saxons. The which after due obedience made vnto the king, he receyued him with a countenance of loue and amitie, where after a time of cōmunication had, Hengist being minded to execute his purpo∣sed treason, gaue forth his watchword. By reason whereof anon the Britons were slaine lyke shepe among Wolues, to the number (as Gaufride writeth) of .iiij.C. and .lx. barons & noble men, hauing no maner of weapon to defend themselues withall, except that any of them might by his manhood & strength either get y^e knife out of his enimies hand, or else by stones or such like weapō as they might come by, anoy them, by which meanes diuers of the Saxōs also were slaine, so y^t this there trechery was performed. And among the number of these Britons y^t were thus distressed, there was then an Erle called Edolfe Erle of Chester, or rather after Gaufride Edole, Baron of Glowcester, who seing his felowes & friends thus murthered (as the said Gaufrid saith) by his manhood recouered a stake out of a hedge, with the which he knightly defen∣ded

himselfe and slue of the Saxons three score and ten persons, and being ouer set by his enimies and not able to make any longer resistance was com∣pelled to flie to his awne Citie. After which treason thus executed, the king remayned with Hengistus as Prisoner. Fabian.

¶But the sayde Gaufride writeth more fuller hereof in this wise. After the Saxons had accomplished their mischeuous purpose, they woulde in no wise sley Vortiger: But threatning to kill him, they kept him in a holde, and demaunded him to geue vp & delyuer vnto them his good townes and strong holdes as a raunsome for his lyfe: vnto whome the king graunted whatso∣euer they requyred of him, so that he might depart with lyfe. And when he had confirmed his graunt made vnto them by an othe, then was he set at ly∣bertie and delyuered out of Prison. This done, the Saxons tooke Yorke, Lyncolne, and Winchester, and wasting al the Countreys as they went, they set vpon the common people and slue them, as Wolues are wont to deuoure the siely pore Sheepe that are left alone and forsaken of their Shepheards. Now when Vortiger sawe the great murther and slaughter of his people, he gat him into Wales as a man that wist not what to doe, and howe to be re∣uenged vpon this wicked Nation.

¶ Of the taking of Vortiger, and slaiyng of the Lordes of Briteyn (Guili∣elmus de regibus sayth) that Hengist agreed with Vortiger and his Britons that he should enioy the Castell by him before made, with a certeyne lande therevnto adioinyng for him and his Saxons to dwell vpon. And when the said agreement was surely stablished, this Hengist entending treason, desired the king with a number of his Lordes to come and feast with him within his sayd Castle, the which of the King was graunted. And at the day assigned the king and his Lords came vnto the sayd Thongcastle to dynner, where he with his, was well and honourably receyued, and also deyntily serued.

¶ But when the King and his Lordes were in their most mirth, this Hengist had commaunded before, that his awne Knightes shoulde fall out among themselues: which beyng so done, the remnaunt of his Saxons, as it were in parting of frayes, should fall vpon the Britons, and sley them all, sauing only the king. The which thing was done, as ye heard before deuised, and the king was kept and holden as prisoner.

¶ Hengist then hauing the King as prisoner, and a great part of the rulers of Briteyn, thus as aforesayde subdued, was somedeale exalted in pride, and compelled the king to geue vnto him, as Polichronica sayth, three prouin∣ces in the East part of Briteyn, that is to say, Kent, Sussex, Norffolke and Suffolke (as sayth the Floure of Histories) But Guido de Columna sayth, that the aforesayde three Prouinces were Kent, Essex, Norffolke and Suffolke. Of the which sayde Prouynces when Hengist was possessed, he suffered the king to go at his libertie. And then Hengist began his Lordship ouer Kent, and sent other of his Saxons to guyde and gouerne the other Prouynces, vntill he had sent for other of his kinsmen to whome he purposed to geue the same Prouynces vnto.

¶ Thus Hengist beyng in the possession of this Prouynce of Kent, com∣maunded his Saxons to call it Hengistes land, whereof as some Aucthors wryte, the whole land of Briteyn tooke his first name of England: But that is not so, as after shall be shewed in the story of King Egbert.

¶ The Lordship or kingdome of Kent had his beginning vnder Hengist, in the fift yere of Vortigers second reigne, and in the yere of our Lorde after most wryters .iiij.C.lxxvj. But Denys and other which say, it begonne .xxj. yeres sooner, aloweth the beginning hereof to be when Hengist had first the gift of the same, by reason that Vortiger maryed his daughter. This Lord∣ship conteyneth the Countrie that stretcheth from the East Occean vnto the Ryuer of Thamys, and had vpon the Southeast, Southery, and vpon the West, London: vpon the Northeast the Thamys aforesayde, and also Essex, and in this Lordship was also conteyned the Isle of Thanet, which Lord∣ship or Kingdome endured after most wryters, from the tyme of the first yere of the reigne of Hengist, vntill the .xxv. yere of Egbert before named, which by that accompt should be .iij.Cxlij. yeres. At which season the sayd Egbert then king of West Saxons, subdued Baldredus then king of Kent, and ioy∣ned it to his awne Kingdome. Howbeit Polichronica affirmeth it to endure by the space of .iij.C.lxviij. yeres, vnder xv. Kinges, whereof Baldredus was the last. The first Christen King of this Lordship was Ethelbertus or Ethel∣bert, the which receyued the fayth of Christ by Austine or Augustine the Monke, in the yere of our Lorde .iiij.C.xcvj. The which Ethelbert caused the Monasterie of Saint Peter and Paule at Cantorbury to be buylded, and as some say, he first began the building of Poules Church in London. He gaue vnto Austyn and his Successors Bishoppes of Cantorbury, a place for the Bishoppes See, at Christes Church within the sayd Citie, and endowed it with many riche possessions, as more at large shall be shewed in the lyfe of Careticus.

¶This Hengist and all the other Saxons which ruled the .vij. principates of Briteyn, as after shall be shewed, are called of most writers Reguli, which is as much to say in our vulgare speche, as small or petie kings: So that this Hengist was accompted as a little king. The which when he had thus gotten the rule of the thre Prouinces before mencioned, he sent for mo Saxons, and gathered them together that were sparckled abroade, so that in these Pro∣uinces the fayth of Christ was vtterly quenched and layde a sleepe.

¶ Then Hengist with Octa his sonne gathered a great strength of Sax∣ons, and fought with the Britons and ouercame them, and chased them in suche wise that Hengist kept his Lordship in peace and warre the space of xxiiij. yeres as most wryters agree.

¶ Nowe let vs returne againe to Vortiger, the which when he sawe the Saxons in such wise encrease their strength, & the Britons dayly to decrease, for as Gaufride sayth, the Saxons had the rule of London, Yorke, Lincolne, and Winchester, with other good townes. Wherefore the king for feare of the Saxons, and also for that he was somewhat warned of the comming of the two brethren, Aurely, and Vter, sonnes of Constantyne: He therefore considering these manye and great daungers, fled into Cambria, or Wales, and there held him for the more suretie, where before he had builded a strong Castle. Of the which buylding, and impediment of the same, and of the Pro∣phet Marlyn many thinges are written by Gaufride, and reported by the common voyce of the people yet at this day.

¶ Now while Vortiger was thus in his Castle in Wales, the aforena∣med two brethren Aurely and Vter prepared their nauie and men of armes,

and passed the Sea, and landed at Totnesse, whereof when the Britons had knowledge, they drew vnto them in all hastie wise. The which sayd brethren, when they saw that they had a competent number of Knightes and men of warre, first of all made towarde Wales to distresse Vortiger.

¶ Whereof he being well warned, and knowing also that he coulde not make sufficient defence against them, he therefore furnished his Castle with strength of men and victuall, entending there to sauegarde himselfe, but all was in vaine: For the said two brethren with their army, besieged the Castle and after many assaultes, with wyldefyre consumed the same, and Vortiger also, and all that were with him.

¶ Of this Vortiger it is redde, that he lay with his awne daughter, in trust that Kinges should come of his blood. And lastly, he ended his life as be∣fore is expressed, when he had reigned now the second tyme .ix. yeres.

[unspec 475] COurannus, for so much as the Children of his brother Congallus were but yong, was ordeyned king of Scottes, and guyded them in good peace and quietnesse a long space: but at the last he was slaine for extorcion, that Tomset his Chauncelour vsed in his name.

[unspec 481/1] AVrelius Ambrose, the seconde sonne of Constantine was by the Bry∣tons made king of Briteyn. Of him it is written that when he vnder∣stood of the deuision that was in the land of Briteyn betwene Vortiger and the Saxons, and in what maner the Saxons had subdued the Britons, he in all goodly haste, with the ayde of the King of little Briteyn, sped him in∣to his land, and first came to Yorke, and there chased the Saxons that helde the Citie with Octa the sonne of Hengist, and tooke the sayde Octa, and kept him as prisoner a certeyn season.

¶ But howe it was, by treason of his keeper or otherwise, he brake Pri∣son and escaped. And after, he with his father gathered a great hoste, and met Aurelius and his Britons, at a place called Crekynforde, where was foughten a strong and mightie battaile, to the losse of both parties, but the greater losse fell vpon the Saxons: For of them was slaine foure Dukes, and .iiij.M. of other men, and the residue chased to their great daunger. Yet this notwithstanding Hengist continued his Lordship in Kent: and Aurelius Ambrose kept the Countrie called Logiers or middle England with Wales, and chased the Saxons that dwelled in the two Prouinces of East Saxon, and East Anglis out of those Countries.

¶ And in this tyme a Saxon named Ella, with his three sonnes, Symon, Pletynger, and Cissa, came with three Shippes or Hulkes, and landed in the South part of Briteyn, & slue many Britons, at a place then named Cuneue∣shore, or Coningsborough & chased many into a Wood then called Andresleger, and after occupied that Countrie, and inhabited himselfe & his Saxons with∣in the sayde Prouince, making himselfe king and Lorde thereof: By reason wherof and by his might and power, the said Prouince or Country was after named the Kingdome or Lordeship of the South Saxons. The which after most writers had his beginning the xxxii. yere after the first comming of Hen∣gist, which was the yere of our Lorde 482. and the second yere of the reigne of Aurely Ambrose then King of Briteyn.

¶ The kingdom of the South last aboue named had on the East side, Kent,

on the South, the See and the Isle of Wight, and on the West, Hampshire, and in the North Southerey, and conteyned Southhampton. Somerset∣shire, Deuonshire and Cornewall. Of which sayde kingdome Ethelbald or Ethelwald was the fourth king, and the first christen king. This kingdome endured shortest season of all the other kingdomes: For it endured not aboue an hundred and .xij. yeres, vnder .v. or .vij. kings at the most.

¶ But now to returne where we left: Aurely which as before you haue heard, held and occupied the middle part of Briteyn with Cambria or Wales, did his diligence to repayre ruynons places, as well Temples as other, and caused the seruice of God to bee sayde and done, which by the meane of the Saxons was greatly decayed thorough all Briteyn.

¶ And after this, Aurely besieged the Saxons in the hill of Badon or Baathe, where he slue many of them. But dailye the Saxons encreased and landed in great Briteyn, as shall appere. For shortly after a Saxon named Porth, landed with his two sonnes at a Hauen in Sussex, after whose name as some wryte, the Hauen was afterwards called Portesmouth, which Ha∣uen is so called to this day. And lykewise they came to lande in diuers places of Briteyn, so that Aurelius had with them manye conflictes and battailes, wherein he sped diuersly, for he was sometime victour and sometime ouer∣come.

¶ It is written in the English Chronicle and other, that Aurely by the helpe of Marlyn did fetch the great stones now standing vpon the playne of Salsburie, (called the Stone Henge) out of Ireland, and caused them to be set there as they now stand, in the remembraunce of the Britons that were there slaine and buried in the time of the treyterous communication that was had with Hengist and his Saxons as before in the storie of Vortiger is tou∣ched: But Polichronica allegeth the same act to Vter his brother.

¶ In the tyme of this Aurely, as sayeth Polichronica, dyed Hengist in his bed; when he had reigned ouer the Kentishe Saxons .xxiiij. yeres. After whose death Octa his sonne ruled the sayde kingdome other .xxiiij. yeres. Albeit that the Britishe bookes and also the Englishe Chronicle, saye that Aurelius slue in battaile Hengist, & then tooke to his grace Octa his sonne, and gaue to him and his Saxons a dwelling place in the Countrie of Gale∣waye, which seemeth not lykely, for matter that shall after ensue, and also that which before is touched of the Pictes and Scottes in the time of the miserie of the Britons.

¶ Now it foloweth, that this Octa, neyther augmented nor minished his Lordship, but helde him therewith contented as his father had lefte it vnto hym.

¶ And finally in the ende of the reigne of Aurely, Pascentius the yongest sonne of Vortiger, which after the death of his father was fled into Ireland for feare of Aurely, purchaced ayde of Guiliamor king of Ireland. And with a great armie inuaded this lande of Briteyn, by the Countrie of Wales, in taking the Citie of Meneuia, now called S. Dauids, and in wasting the sayd Countrie with sworde and fyre. In the which season and time Aurelius laye sicke in the Citie of Winchester.

¶ For which cause he desyred his brother Vter to gather an hoste of Bri∣tons together, and to appease the malice of Pascencius and his Adherents.

The which accordingly prepared his hoste, and at length ouercame the hoste of Pascentius and slue him and the aforenamed Guyliamour in the Fielde.

¶ Howbeit, Gaufride reporteth this storie otherwise, affirming that Pascentius the sonne of Vortiger, who for sauegarde of his lyfe, fled into Germany, came with a great armie of Germaynes out of the same Countrie against Aurelius to be reuenged vpon him for his fathers death, and gaue battaile vnto Aurelius himselfe, in the which the sayde Pascentius and hys Germaines were discomfited and put to flight. Then Pascentius who durst not after the sayde discomfiture returne into Germany, gate him into Ire∣land desiring ayde of Guillomannius then king of that Countrie, who taking compassion of him, ayded him with all he might. And so by the helpe of the sayde king arriued at Meneuia, now called S. Dauids in Wales: At the which season Aurelius being sick at Winchester, commaunded his brother Vter to gather an armie to appease his malice, the which he did, and then went into Wales to meete hym, where was foughten a cruell battaile be∣twene them, in the which Vter had the victorie, and Pascentius and Guillo∣mannius were slaine.

¶ Now while Vter was thus gone against Pastentius, a Saxon, fey∣ning himselfe a Briteyn, and a cunning man in Phisick, by the entisement of Pascentius & vpon great rewards by him promised, came vnto Aurely where he lay sicke, and by his subtill and false meanes, purchased fauour with those that were nere vnto the Prince, that he was put in trust to minister potions and Medicines vnto the king. This man of some writers is called Copa, and of some Coppa, but of Gaufride Copa. The which when he had espied his conuenient time, gaue to Aurelius a potion enpoysoned: by violence whereof he shortly after dyed, when he had reigned .xix. yeres, and was bu∣ried at Stonhenge besides Amesburie.

¶In the time of the reigne of the aforesayde Aurely (Polichronica sayeth) that the kingdome of East Anglys began vnder a Saxon named Vffa, in the yere of our Lorde. CCCC.xcij. The which conteyned that Prouince which we call now Norffolk and Suffolk. They had in the East and Northsides, the Sea, on the Northwest, Cambrideshire: notwithstanding dyuers wry∣ters affirme Cambridgshire to be parte of the sayde kingdome, and in the West S. Emondes Diche, and Hertfortshire, and in the South Essex. Thys Lordship was called first Vffins Lordship, and the kings thereof were na∣med Vffins, or as some write, they were called Vffines people, but at the last they were named East Anglis.

¶ The first christen king of this principate, was Redwallus, but he was not so constant as was meete for his Religion. His sonne named Corpwal∣dus was more stedfast, which after was slaine of a misbeleuing man, and for Christes faith as some write. But Guido sayth that Sebertus was the first Christian king of this Lordship, and that he made Paules Church of Lon∣don. This Lordship vnder .xij. kings, endured vntill the Martirdome of S. Edmond the last king thereof, the which was martired in the yere of our Lorde .viij. hundreth .lxix. And of this Lordeship at those dayes was Elman or Thetford the chiefe Towne.

THe Historie of Scotland sayth, that the Pictes and Scottes were alyed with this Ambrose, and made partakers and chiefe doers in all the victo∣ries

that the Britons atchieued against the Saxons.

VTer the last and yongest sonne of Constantine, and brother of Aurely, [unspec 500/1] tooke vpon him the Kingdome of Briteyn, and gouerned the same ve∣rye honourably. This man was surnamed Pendragon. The cause thereof, as sayth the English Chronicle, was for that Merlyn lykened him vnto a Dragon vnder a starre apering in the firmament: Whereof there is made long processe in the story of Gaufride, but Layland a man in his tyme very skilfull in the antiquities of this Realme, thinketh this name was geuen him for his great prudence and wisdome wherein Serpentes do excell. But how so euer it were, truth it is, that after Vter (as is aforesayde) was made king, he atchiued many victories against the Saxons, and lastlye slue theyr chiefe Capitaines, Octa, & Cosa, as Gaufride writeth of him: It is also writ∣ten that he was enamored vpō the Dukes wife of Cornewal named Igerne, and for to obtaine his vnlefull lust, he sought many and dyuerse meanes: So that lastly he made warre vpon her Husbande named Garolus, or Gorleys, and at length slue the sayde Duke at his Castle called Tyntagell, standing in Cornewall, and after maryed his wyfe, and receyued of her the noble knight Arthur, and a daughter named Anne. And in the ende he dyed at Verolame by force of poyson, when he had reigned .xvj. yeres, and was likewise buryed at Stonage or Stonehenge, vpon the plaine of Sarisbury, leauing after him the most puysaunt and noble King Arthur.

ARthur, the sonne of Vter Pendragon, of the age of .xv. yeres, [unspec 517/1] or as some wryte .xviij. tooke vpon him the gouernement of Briteyn, and hauing continuall battayle and mortall warre with the Saxons, did meruey∣lously prosper and preuayle.

¶Here sayth Fabian I would fayne declare the fame of this noble Prince to the comfort of other to follow his martiall dedes, so that I might somwhat iustifie my report by some autentique Authour, but hereof I doubt the more because of the saiyng of Reynulph Monke of Chester, which voucheth vpon William of Malmesoury, wryter of the Historyes of Kinges, as is rehersed at length in the .vj. Chapter of the fift booke of the sayd Reynulph, vnto the which place because I would be briefe I referre the reader. But somewhat yet to say to the honour of so great and victorious a Champion as was thys Arthure, I will do my endeuour, so farre foorth as I may be able to auouche my saiyng by sufficient warrandise, and therewith glad the Welshmen, that he should discende of so noble a victour, that so many dedes of honour in his dayes executed. For though of him be written many thinges in the Englishe Chronicle of small credence, and farre discordant from other writers, yet all agree in this, that he was a noble and victorious Prince in all his deedes, and testifie that he fought .xij. notable battayles against the Saxons, and had al∣wayes the vpper hande: But that notwithstanding he could not auoyde them out of his lande, but that they helde theyr Countries, which they were posses∣sed of, as Kent, Southerey, Northfolke, Southfolke. Notwithstanding some wryte that they helde those Countries of him as tributaryes. And the foresayd .xij. battayles as I finde written in the auncient wryter Nennius, who liued about the yere of Christes incarnacion. 620. whose authoritie I

preferre, wryteth thereof as foloweth.

¶ The first battayle (sayth he) was foughten in the mouth of the water of Gleyn, otherwise called Gledy.

¶ The second, the thirde, the fourth and fifth, nye vnto another Ryuer cal∣led Duglesse, the which is in the Countrie of Lyneweys.

¶ The sixt vpon the Ryuer called Bassus.

¶ The .vij. in the Wood of Calidon, otherwise called Carcoite Celidon.

¶ The .viij. beside the Castle called Guynyon.

¶ The .ix. in Careillion in Wales.

The .x. in a place by the sea syde called Trayhenrith, otherwyse Rytherwyde.

¶ The .xj. vpon an hill named Agned Cathregonion.

¶ The .xij. at the hill or Towne of Bathe, where many a one was slaine by the force and might of Arthure.

¶ For as it is reported of him, he slue with his awne hande in one day by the helpe of God, an hundreth and fortie Saxons, he bare the Image of our Lady in his Shielde, which shielde he called Pridwen, his sworde was called Calaber, and his Speare was called Rone, after the Britishe tongue or speeche. Iohn Frosard affirmeth, that king Arthure first builded the Castle of Wind∣sour, and there founded the order of the round Table: but some thinke it was rather Winchester, for there is the Table.

¶ In this tyme also I finde mencion made of a noble and valiant man cal∣led Arthgall, and he was the first Erle of Warwike, and he was one of the knightes of the round Table of King Arthure, after whome folowed by suc∣cession Moruyde, and Merthrude. This Arthgal tooke a Beare for his beast because the first sillable of his name which is Arth in the Britishe speche, and is in English a Beare.

¶ About the fift yere of his reigne, began the Lordship of the West Sax∣ons, vnder the Saxon called Cerdicus and Kenricus his sonne: For Dionice and other say, that this Lordship or Kingdome should haue his beginning the lxxj. yere after the first comming of Hengist, or the yere of our Lord fiue hun∣dreth. xxij. which agreeth with the fift yere of Arthure aforesayd.

¶ This Lordship conteyned the West Country of England, as Wiltshire, Somersetshire, Berkshire, Dorcetshire, Deuonshire, and Cornewall, and had in the East syde, Southhamton, on the North Thamys the famous Ry∣uer, on the South and West, the Sea Occean.

¶ The aforesayd Cerdicus, which of some is called Childericus, landed first at Cerdishore, which now is called Yermouth, an hauen Towne in the Countie of Norffolke. And by the helpe of other Saxons which then dwel∣led there, the sayde Cerdicus at length obteyned the aforesayde Countries, and named them West Saxons, and reigned therein as Lorde and king a certeyn of yeres, and after him Kenricus his sonne.

¶ The first christian king of this Prouince: was named Kyngilsus, and conuerted to the fayth by meanes of that verteous man Brennus Bishop of Dorchester. To whome Quichelinus brother of the aforesayde Kyngilsus, gaue the sayde Citie to make there his See, after that he also had receyued Baptisme of the sayd Berinus. And as Guydo sayth, the sayde Quichelinus gaue after to the Byshoppe of Wynchester .vij. Myle compasse of lande to buylde their a Bishops See, the which was accomplished and finished by

Kenwalcus his sonne.

¶ This kingdome endured longest of all the other, which were seuen in number, or sixe beside this. Some writers accompt the continuance of thys kingdome from Cerdicus to Egbert, and some to the last yere of Aluredus. But Guydo accompteth the continuance of this kingdome from the first yere of Cerdicus vnto the last yere of Edward the Confessor, and by that accompt it should endure fiue hundred and .liiij. yeres: But most agree that it should be reconed from the first yere of Cerdicus to the last yere of Aluredus, for he made one Monarchy of all the .vij. kingdomes, in the which time passed a∣way .CCC.lxxviij. yeres.

¶ But nowe to returne to Arthur, the which by a long tyme dwelled in warre and mortall battaile with the Saxons, by meane of their daylie re∣paire into this lande. The which also alyed them with the Pictes and other Nations, and made their partie the stronger by that meane: But yet King Arthur brought them into such an obedience, that they knowledged him to be the chiefe Lorde of Briteyn.

¶ Finally, when he had by a long time maintained his warres against the Saxons, and specially against Cerdicus king of West Saxons: he for a fy∣nall concorde gaue vnto the sayde Cerdicus (as sayth Polichronica) in his sixe Chapter of his fift Booke, the Provinces of Hampshire and Somersetshire. And when he had set his lande in some quietnesse, he betooke the rule thereof vnto his Nephew Mordred, and with a chosen armie sayled (as sayth Gau∣fride and other) into Fraunce where as sundrie Authors write, he wrought wonders.

AFter the departure of Arthur (as Polichronica sayeth) the aforesayde Mordred being desirous to be king, feared somewhat the might of Cerdicus king of the West Saxons: he therfore sought for his fauour and to obteyne his good will, gaue vnto him certaine Townes, Fortes, and Castels, and other great giftes, so that at the last he wanne him, in such sort that he consented to Mordreds request: in so much that Mordred was short∣ly after at London crowned king of Briteyn, and Cerdicus was after the maner of the Pagans crowned king of West Saxons at Wynchester.

¶ Now when knowledge came to Arthur of all this treason wrought by his Nephew Mordred: he in all the haste made towarde Briteyn and lan∣ded at Sandwiche, where he was met of Mordred and his people, which gaue vnto him a strong battaile at the time of his landing, and there Arthur lost many of his Knightes, as the famous knight Gawen and other. But yet this notwithstanding, Arthur at the length recouered the land and chased his enimies, and after the buriall of his Cosyn Gawen and other of his, that were there slaine, he set forward his hoste to pursue his enimies.

¶ Mordred being thus ouerset of his Vncle at the Sea side withdrewe him to Winchester: where he being furnished of newe Souldiours, gaue vnto Arthur the second battaile, wherin also Mordred was put to the worste and constrained to flee. Thirdly and lastly, the sayde Mordred fought with his Vncle Arthur at Baath, where after a long and daungerous fight, Mordred was slaine, and the victorious Arthur wounded vnto death, when he had reigned .xxvj. yeres, and after buried in the vale or Isle of Aualon,

nowe called Glascenburie, whether he was conueyed to bee cured of hys woundes. Who so lust to know more touching the certeyntie and truth of these matters maye reade the booke of the excellent antiquary Iohn Ley∣land, intituled the Assertion of Arthur, where euerie thing is more at large discoursed.

[unspec 534] EVgenius the thirde, the sonne of Congallus, was made king of Scotland after Conrannus, and reigned .xxxiiij. yeres. The Scottishe Historie af∣firmeth, that he with his Scottes were present in the battailes that Mor∣dred fought against Arthur.

¶The Scottes say that this Mordred was king of Pictes, and that Ar∣thur was slaine in battaile, and the Britons discomfited, and Guanora the Queene taken prisoner by the Scottes with great spoyle.

[unspec 543/1] COnstantine the thirde, the sonne of Cador Duke of Cornewal, and Co∣syn to king Arthur by assent of the Britons was crowned king, and he was by the two sonnes of Mordred grieuously vexed, for that they clay∣med the lande by the right or title of their father. So that betwene him and them were foughten many and sundry battayles, but where or when, it is not shewed, neyther are the names of the two sonnes of Mordred expressed.

¶ But sundrie Authors agree that after the aforesayde two battailes thus foughten finally the two sonnes of Mordred were constreyned of pure force to flie for their safetie. And so the one fled to London, and the other tooke Sanctuarie in the olde Abbey Church of Winchester, dedicated to Saint Amphibalus.

¶Whereof Constantine being warned, left not vntill he had slaine the one within the Monastery of Wynchester, and the other within a Church or Temple of London, of the which crueltie of his, Gildas sore complayneth.

¶When Constantyne had thus subdued his enimies and thought himselfe now in a sure and quiet state: then arose vp his awne kynsman named Aure∣lius Conanus and arrered mortall battaile against him, and at the last slue him in the Fielde, when he had reigned three yeres, who was buried at Stonehenge. But some wryters say, he dyed by the hande of God of a great sicknesse.

[unspec 546/1] AVrelius Conanus after the death of Constantine was crowned king of Briton. This man was noble and liberall, but he vsed to cherishe and make much of such as loued strife and dissention within his lande, and gaue light credence to them that accused other, were it right or wrong. And as sayeth Gaufride and other, he tooke by strength his Vncle, which of right should haue bene king and cast him into a strong prison, and after slue tirannously the two sonnes of his sayde Vncle: But his reigne continued not long, for as sayth Ganfride, he dyed in the second yere of his reigne leauing after him a sonne named Vortiporius.

¶And here is to be noted, that after this time, the Britons decreased of Lordship and rule within Briteyn, and drewe them toward Wales, so that the Countrie about Chester was the chiefest of their Lordship within Bri∣teyn. For dailye the Saxons landed with their companies, and occupied the principall partes of the same, as shall after appere.

¶Now in the time of the reigne of the aforesayde Aurely (as sayteh Poli∣chronica, Guydo and other) beganne the kingdome or Lordship of Bernicia, vnder a Saxon named Ida in the .D.xlvij. yere of our Lord, and in the last yere of the sayde Conanus. This Lordship was in the North parte of Bri∣teyn, and grewe in short while more and more, so that finally, it was named the kingdome of Northumberlande, and was first deuyded into two king∣domes, whereof the first as abouesayde was called Bernicia, and the other Deyra. The meres or markes of this kingdome of Northumberlande, were by East and by West the Occean Sea, by South the Ryuer of Humber, and so downeward toward the West by the endes of the Shires of Notyngham and Derby, vnto the Ryuer of Merse, or Martia, and by North the Scot∣tishe Sea, which is called Foorth or Frith in Scottishe, and in Britishe, the Werde.

¶The Southside of this Lordship is called Deyra, which is now called the Bishoprick of Durham, and the Northside was called Bernicia, which were then departed or seuered with the Ryuer of Tyne, Deyra conteyned the lande from Humber to the Ryuer of Tyne, and Bernicia included the Countrie from Tyne to the Scottishe Sea.

¶In Bernicia reigned first as is abouesayde, Ida or Idas, and in Deyra reigned first Ella, which Lordships beganne both within three yeres. But in processe of time both in one were named the kingdome of Northumber∣lande, which so continued, somewhile vnder one king, and some while vnder two, the space of .CCC.xxj. yeres, as sayth Reynulph Monke of Chester. And the name continued afterward vnto the Saxons and Danes, vntill the comming of Edredus brother of Ethelstane, and sonne of Edward the elder. The which Edredus in the .ix. or last yere of his reigne ioyned this to his awne kingdome. By which reason it should seeme that this kingdome endu∣red vnder that name foure hundreth .ix. yeres.

¶The first christian Prince of this kingdome was named Edwynus, that receyued the fayth of S. Paulyne (as Guydo sayth.) In this Lordship also were included these Shires and Countries now called, Yorke, Notyng∣ham Shire, Derby Shire, the Bishoprick of Durham, Copelande and other.

¶Among the many kinges of Saxones that reigned in thys Lordship, which after some wryters were to the number of .xxiij. there was one which was accompted the .viij. king, named Ethelfridus, who destroyed moe Bri∣tons than all the other Saxon kings, and he was father to Oswy, called Saint Oswald.

¶ But most cruellye raged he against them in a battayle that he had be∣syde Chester, where by the instigation of Ethelbert king of Kent, he slue also two thousande Monkes of the house of Bangor, as sayeth Polichro∣nicon in the .x. Chapter of his fift Booke, the which Monkes were come together to praye for the good speede of the Britons. And besyde this num∣ber of Monkes, there were fiftie that fled, whereby they with their leader Bruciuall were saued. Of such a number of Monkes in one house, might be demed a wonder: But Reynulph and Guydo also do affirme that in the house of Bangor at those dayes, were three tymes seuen hundreth Monkes which liued by the trauayle of their handes.

¶ The cause of the great slaughter of the aforesayd Monkes is declared by Gaufride in the .viij. booke and .iiij. Chapter, who wryteth thereof as folo∣weth. Their Abbot sayth he named Dionotus, was a man singulerly well learned in the liberall sciences, who when Austyn required the Britishe Bi∣shoppes to submit themselues vnto him, and perswaded him to take paynes with him to preach the Gospell vnto the Englishe Nation, proued by diuerse reasons that they ought not to yelde any such subiection vnto him, forasmuch as they had an Archbishop of their awne, nor yet to preach to their enemies the Saxons, which seased not dayly to take from them theyr awne naturall Countrie, for the which cause they hated them deadly, and weighed not what fayth or Religion they were off, neyther did they communicate with them in any thing more than with Dogges. Therfore when Ethelbert king of Kent saw how the Britons disdeyned to submit themselues vnto Austyn, and con∣temned his doctrine, and preaching, beyng highly displeased therewith he in∣censed Ethelfride king of Northumberland, and other of the Saxon kinges also, to assemble a great power of men of armes, and then to go to Bangor and destroy Dionotus, with the Clergie there, & all the sayd religious persons that had so dispised the sayd Austyn. The which Princes folowing his aduice and counsayle, gathered together a wonderfull great army, and so marching forwardes towardes Wales, came into the towne of Chester, where Bruei∣nall head ruler of that towne wayted for theyr comming: Whether also came at that same season an innumerable sort of Monkes and Heremites out of diuerse Prouinces of the Britons, but especially out of the Citie of Bangor, to pray to God to saue and defende their people.

¶ Nowe when Ethelfridus king of Northumberlande had arrered a great power out of all quarters, he set vpon the sayde Bruciuall, who by reason he had the lesse number of Souldiers, was constreyned to forsake the Citie and flie away, but not before he had slaine a great number of his enemies. Now when Ethelfridus had taken the City, and vnderstood the cause of the comming of the sayd Monkes, he commaunded them first of all to be set vpon, and so were there of them the same day a thousand and two hundred martyred. He∣therto Gaufride.

¶ The aforenamed Oswy or Oswolde, was after king of this Prouynce, which gaue with his daughter Elfleda a Nonne .xij. Lordshippes vnto the Church, to buyld therewith .xij. Monasteries, whereof .vj. of the sayd Lord∣shippes were in Bernicia, and .vj. in Deyra, as sayth Guydo and Reynulph in his fift booke, and .xvj. Chapter.

[unspec 548/1] VOrtiporius the sonne of Conanus, reigned after his father ouer the Britons: Of this man is no notable thing written, but that Guydo sayth he was a victorious knight, and that in sundry battayles he dis∣comfited the Saxons.

¶ In the tyme of the reigne of this king, a Saxon named Ella the sonne of Iffus, began to reigne on the Southsyde of the Kingdome of Northum∣berland called Deyra, as before is expressed.

¶ When Vortiporius had ruled the Britons foure yeres, he dyed, leauing none heire of his body.

¶ And forasmuch as all writers agree that the kinges of West Saxons,

at length subdued all the other kingdomes in Briteyn, and made the whole lande of Briteyn but one kingdome or Monarchy, and all other aswell of Britons as Saxons left off: Therefore I entende to bring in the name of euery king of the West Saxons from the first Cerdicus or Childricus, and ioyne them with the kinges of the Britons, for so long as hereafter the sayde Britons continued their reigne within any part of Briteyn.

MAlgo a Duke of Briteyn, and nephew to Aurely, [unspec 552/1] reigned ouer the Britons. This Malgo by the testimonie of many wryters was the comlyest and most personable man of all the Britons that then lyued, and therewithall was a hardie knight. And he so withstood the Saxons, and kept them vnder, that they dammaged not the lande, the which he then had possession of, and as Gaufride sayth, he subdued sixe Prouynces, that is to say, Ireland, the Isles of the Orcades, Gothland, Iseland, Norway, and Den∣marke, and held them in quiet possession.

¶ In the tyme of the reigne of this Malgo, reigned in the Lordeship or kingdome of Kent Ethelbert, who (as sayth Reynulph) assembled a great armie, and gaue battayle vnto Ceaulmus sonne of Kenricus, and then king of West Saxons, the cause whereof is not expressed. But this battayle was the first battaile that was foughten betwene the Saxons, after that they ob∣teyned land and dwelling within Briteyn, which was foughten in a place called Wilbaldowne. And in that fight were slaine two Dukes of Ethel∣bertes, and himselfe with his people put to flight and chaced.

¶ Also the sayd Reynulph witnesseth that the yere folowing Cutwolphus the brother of Ceaulmus before named, fought strongly against the Britons at Bedford, and recouered from them foure Cityes or townes, named Li∣ganbrough, Egelsbrough, Besington, and Euysham.

¶ But now to returne to Malgo king of the Britons, the Authour of the Flowre of Histories sayth, that notwithstanding the many vertues, the which God had endued him with, yet in the ende he forgat God, forsaking all ver∣tue and gaue himselfe to sundrie vices and sinnes, namely to the abhominable sinne of Sodomy: whereof ensued to him the wrath of God, wherby he was afterward fore persecuted of his enimies the Saxons.

¶ It was not long after the aforenamed battaile done at Bedforde, but that the aforesayde Cutwolphus dyed: But yet his sayde brother Ceaulmus desirous of honour, mainteyned his warre against the Britons, so that after he made a newe voyage against them, and gaue them another discomfiture, and tooke from them the Cities of Bathe, Gloucester, and Worcestre, which should be as Reynulph accompteth in the .xxix. yere of the reigne of Malgo.

¶ About the .xxxiij. yere of his reigne Ceaulmus before named, gathe∣red his Saxons, and fought with the Britons at a place called Fechanlege: where after long fight the sayde Ceaulmus chased the Britons, and wan of them victory: but his brother called Cutha, was slaine in the fight, for whom he made great sorow. Thus in his latter dayes, Malgo beyng oppressed and pursued of his enemies, lastly dyed, when he had reigned .xxxv. yeres.

COnwall was made king of Scottes, and reigned .x. yeres. [unspec 568/17] He was a Man of great deuocion, and gaue much to Churches. He made many lawes concerning the libertie of Priestes. In his tyme Saint Colme of Ire∣land,

and Mungo the holy Bishop of Blasquew were in Scotland.

[unspec 578/17] KIncatill brother of Conwallus reigned in Scotlande foure Monethes, and after him Aidane .xxvij. yeres. In his tyme variaunce happened be∣tweene the Pictes and Scottes, because that Lerudeus Kinge of Pictes would not restore to Aidane certaine Traytors which fled out of his land.

[unspec 586/1] CAreticus, or Carencius, as some call him, after the death of Malgo, reigned ouer the Britons. This Man was a louer of ciuile battayle, and was in maners and condicions the worst of all men, and therefore was hated of God and his subiectes, in such wyse as they excited and prouo∣ked the Saxons to warre against him (as sayth Guydo) and chased him from Citie to Citie, and from Towne to Towne, vntill they had recouered from him all such land as his predecessor Malgo, had holden before him.

¶ But Polichronicon addeth more therevnto, and sayth, forasmuch as the Saxons knewe of the dissension betwene Careticus and his Britons, they in all haste sent into Ireland for the King called Gurmundus, King of the Affricans, and he warred so sore vpon the Britons, that lastly the sayd Care∣ticus was faine to take the Towne nowe called Sicester, and therein besie∣ged him with his Britons a certaine time, where, by dailye skirmishes and assaultes he lost many of his people.

¶ When Careticus had a season assayed and prooued the strength of hys enimies, and sawe that they still encreased and his people lessened and mini∣sued: he sodainely left that Towne, and with a certaine number of Britons tooke ouer Seuerne water and so into Wales, then called Cambria, which should be in the thirde yere of his reigne.

¶ Truth it is, that after Careticus and his Britons were thus driuen in∣to Wales, yet he lefte not continually to make assaultes vpon the Saxons that were nere vnto him.

IN this time, or sone after, Ethelfridus ruled the North Saxons, for as sayeth Guydo, he began the reigne ouer Deyra and Bernicia, in the yere of our Lorde fiue hundred .xciij. This is Ethelfridus the sonne of Ethelricus that pursued so sore the Britons, & slue so great a number of the Monkes of the Towne of Bangor as is before rehersed, the which daylie warred vpon the Britons, and the Britons vpon him, so that he destroied & subuerted much of Christes fayth, with the helpe of the aforesayd Gormond: insomuch as the Bishops of London and Yorke, with other ministers of the Church, fled into diuers Countries, so that their Church dores were shut vp after them, or else occupied in the worshipping of their Idolles and false Goddes.

¶ Thus the fayth that had endured in Briteyn from the time of Lucius the first christian king in Briteyn till this day, neere vpon the space of foure hundreth yeres and odde, was almost extinct throughout all the lande.

¶ And when the aforenamed Gurmond had finished his tirannie within the lande of Briteyn, then he sayled into France, where he was after slaine (as sayeth Polichronica) albeit the French Chronicle speaketh nothing of any such man during this persecution, as witnesseth Guydo.

¶ During also this trouble betweene the Saxons and the Britons, the Lordship or kingdome of the East Saxons beganne to take place, as after shall be shewed.

¶ In this time also Ethelbert reigned in Kent, and bare himselfe verie valiantly, in such wise that he enlarged his kingdome to the bounds of Hum∣ber. In which time Gregory, who for his notable deedes was surnamed the great, was made Bishop of Rome: This Gregory as before is touched in the storie of Ethelbert, hauing compassion on the Countrie from whence so fayre children came, as he before had seene, and thinking it not meete that it should be inhabited with Pagans or people of misbeliefe, sent into Briteyn a learned man named Austyne, with other of his brethren, to preache to the Anglis the fayth of Christ. But as sayeth Antoninus in the thirde Chapter, and xij. title of his aforesayde worke: when Austyne was three dayes iour∣ney gone and passed, such a sodaine feare entered into him and his felowes that they turned againe. Then Gregory comforted the sayde companye, and sent them with Letters to the Bishop Arelatensis, wylling him to helpe and ayde him in all that to him needed. The tenour of which Letters and other sent to Ethelbert king of Kent, with their aunsweres, are written with o∣ther questions in the Register of Gregory, and in the bookes of Beda and other.

¶ Austyne being thus comforted, sped him on his iourney and landed on the East side of Kent in the Isle of Thanet with .xl. of his felowes, whereof some were Interpretours, or such as could speake all languages. Nere vnto the place before named, where Austyne landed, stood at those dayes, the ma∣nour or Palace of the sayde king Ethelbert, where at this daye appere some of the ruynous walles, and is called of the inhabitaunts of that Isle, Rich∣bourgh. It is apparaunt betweene the Isle and the Towne of Sandwiche, vpon a Myle and a halfe from the sayde Towne, Eastwarde from Caun∣torbury.

¶ Then when Austyne was landed, he sent the sayde interpretours vnto Ethelbert, saiyng that they were sent from Rome for the saluation of the king and his Realme. The king before time had heard of the fayth of Christ, for he had to wyfe a French woman that was christened, named Berta, and had receyued her vpon condicion that he should suffer her to lyue after her lawe.

¶ Then after a certaine time, the king spake with Austyne, but that was without the house, after the maner of his lawe, who against the comming of the king arrered and displayed a Banner of the Crucifixe, and preached to him the worde of God. Then the king sayde, it is fayre that ye promise, but for that it is to mee straunge and newe, I maye not so soone assent vnto you. But for that ye become so farre for my sake, ye shall be well entreated, and haue all things that shall be vnto your necessarie, and we graunt you leaue to conuert of oure people as many as ye can. And when they had receyued this comfort of the king, they went with procession to the Citie of Cauntorbury, singing Alleluya, where they led their liues, like as holy fathers did first begin in the Primatiue Church, infasting, praiyng, watching, and such lyke god∣ly exercises. Fabian.

¶ At length, when the king had well considered the conuersion and god∣ly lyfe of Austyn and his felowes, he heard them the more gladly, and lastly, by their good exhortacions & ghostly loue, he was conuerted, and christened in the yere of our Lord fiue hundreth .xcvj. and the sixt yere of his reigne, as sayth Polichronicon.

¶Then the king gaue to Austyn a place for his Bishops See, at Christes Church in Cauntorburie, and builded the Abbey of S. Peter and S. Paule, on the East syde of the sayde Citie, where after Austen and all the kinges of kent were buried, and that place is called now Saint Austynes.

¶Then Austyn sayled into Fraunce to the Bishop of Arelatensis, and was of him consecrated Archebishop of Cauntorburie.

¶Now when Gregory was certefyed of the good expedicion of Austyn, he sent to him mo helpers, as Melitus, Iustus, and Paulinus, with bookes and an∣sweres to Austynes questions: that was, that all such goodes as fell to the Church, should be deuided into foure partes: The first part should go to the house and maintenance of the Bishoppes housholde: The seconde to the Clergie, the thirde to the amendment of the Churches, and the fourth to the reliefe of poore people and deedes of mercie.

¶When Austyn had baptised a great part of the kingdome of Kent, he af∣ter made two Archbishops by the commaundement of Gregory, the one at Cauntorburie, the which before was at London, and the other at Yorke, as sayth the wryter of the flowers of stories: and by the helpe of Ethelbert, he assembled and gathered together the Bishoppes and Doctours of Briteyn, that were before disparkeled. The place of the assembly was long tyme after called Austynes Oke, which is expounded to be Austines strength, & is in the Marches or confines of the people then called Wictij, now Wigorniensis, that is to say Worcester. For this synode, as Bale writeth was holden in Worce∣stershire.

¶In this place, he charged the sayd Bishoppes, that they should ayde him to preach the worde of God to the Anglis, and also that they shoulde among themselues amend certaine errors then vsed in the Churche, and specially for the tyme of keping their Easter, the contrary whereof, the Bishoppes of Briteyn held an opinion vntill (sayth Fabian) that Austyn by his prayers she∣wed there a Myracle by a blinde Angle or Saxon.

¶ After the which Myracle shewed, the sayd Bishoppes applyed them to the will and minde of Austyn in that matter: But for all this, there were of them that sayd, that they might not leaue the custome which they so long had continued, without the assent of all such as had vsed the same. Then he gathe∣red a Sinode, to the which came .vij. Bishoppes, but they agreed not.

¶ The Authour of the flower of stories, sheweth howe Austyn hauing conference with the Britishe Bishoppes and Clergie, coulde in no wise per∣swade them at the first, to receyue his doctrine: And beeing by him required to come to a second Synode or counsayle, as they were goyng to the same, they came first vnto a discrete godly man, which had of a long time ledan An∣chores lyfe amongest them, to aske him counsayle, whether at the preaching of Austen they should forgo their olde tradicions or no? who aunswered on this wyse: if he be a man of God, folowe him. To whom they sayd againe, & howe may we knowe that? you knowe (sayth he) that the Lorde gaue this commaundement, saiyng: Take my yoke vpon you, learne of me because I am lowely and meeke in heart, then is it likely that he beareth the yoke of Christ him selfe, and also offereth the same vnto you to beare. But if he be proude and hye minded, you may be sure that he is not of God, neyther ought you to take any regarde vnto his wordes. Then sayde they againe, and how

may we discerne this? Prouide (sayth he) that he and his may come first in∣to the Sinode, and if when you come, he arise vp and reuerence you, then you may be sure that he is Christes minister, and is to be heard obediently of you: But if he dispise you, and thinke himselfe to good to geue any such reuerence vnto you beyng the greater part, dispise you him againe. And it so fortuned afterwardes, that Austyn beyng set downe before they came in, sate still in his Chayre, and made them no countenaunce at all, neither yelded any reuerence vnto them. The which thing they beholding, were by and by in a chafe, and notyng him to be hautye and proude, endeuoured themselues, to contrary and speake against al that euer he spake: But who so desyreth to read more here∣of, shall finde the same set out at large in Fabian in his fift part and .C.xix. Chapter.

These folowing were the names of the British Bishoppes that were in those dayes.

The B. of

• ...Henfortēsis
• ...Tanensis
• ...Paternensis
• ...Bāchorensis
• ...Hereford
• ...Cardiffe
• ...Llandaffe
• ...Bangor
• ...Elinensis
• ...Wiccensis
• ...Morganēsis
• ...S. Asaph
• ...Worcester
• ...Morgan

And all these were vnder the Archebishop of Meneuia, called at this day Saint Dauyes.

¶ Ethelbert as diuers writers doe write being now confirmed in the faith, among other chargeable and costlye deedes began the foundation of Paules Church within the Citie of London, and ordeyned it for the Bishops See of London. For the Archbishops See that before tyme had beene there, was by Austyne and Ethelbert at the sute and request of the Citizens of Cauntor∣burie, translated to Cauntorbury. But of the building of the Church of S. Paule, dyuers opinions be. For some write that it was builded or begonne to be builded by Sigebert king of East Anglis, but more truely king of Essex. This Ethelbert also foūded the Church of S. Androw in Rochester in Kent.

¶Also (as Fabian sayth) he excited an inhabitaunt or Citizen of London to builde a Church or Chappell in the worship of Saint Peter in the West ende of London then called Thorney (and now the Towne of Westmynster, the which at that time was exceedingly forgrowen with Thornes, Bushes and Bryers,) where the sayde Citizen began to builde the Church of West∣mynster, which afterwarde was by Edwarde the Confessour enlarged or new buylded. But by king Henry the thirde it was newly edified and made as it is now a bewtifull Monastery, and he endued it with goodly possessions and riche Iewels.

¶And as Reynulph sayeth, this king when he had reigned .lvj. yeres o∣uer the Lordship of Kent, dyed in the .xxj. yere after that he had receyued the fayth of Christ.

A Idane king of Scottes, [unspec 595] being confederate with the Britons about thys tyme warred fiercely against Ethelfride king of Northumberlande and the Pictes, and ouerthrewe them in two great battailes,

KEnneth Keir the sonne of Conwallus was ordeyned king of Scotlande, [unspec 606] and reigned onely foure Monethes. And after him Eugenius the fourth of that name, xv. yeres. He was a iust and verteous Prince, and instructed in his youth by the holy man Colme. He commaunded all Iuggelers, Myn∣strels,

Scoffers and such idle persons eyther to auoyde his lande, or else to finde some honest craft or occupation to lyue by.

¶During also the aforesayde persecution of the Britons, before anye ruler of them were specially named, began the reigne of the East Saxons (as sayeth Reynulph) vnder Sebertus their first king. Albeit that Guydo de Columna sayth, that it began when the kingdome of the East Anglis began. This kingdome, that is to say, Essex, hath on the East side the Sea, on the Weast Middlesex and London, on the South the Thamys, and on the North Suffolke, and endured two hundreth yeres, as most writers affirme.

¶The first christian king of this Lordship was the aforenamed Seber∣tus, conuerted by the meanes of Molitus Bishop of London, as sayth Guy∣do: But after his saiyng this Sebertus should be the thirde king of Essex. All writers agree that the kings of this Lordship were most commonly na∣med vnder kings, or Pety kings, & were subiects vnto the kings of Mertia.

¶But now to returne to the Britons, which in all this time occupied a part of Cornewall and the Countries of Cambria, as Northwales & South∣wales, and there held them in making of assaultes vpon the Saxons as be∣fore is sayde, the which so continued by the space of .xxiiij. yeres. At which tyme the Britons of one assent chose for their souereigne and ruler the Duke of Northwales named Cadwane.

[unspec 613/1] CAdwane Duke of Northwales, was by one assent of the Britons made their Lorde and gouernour.

¶Ye haue heard before what discorde and trouble was among the Britons in the time of Careticus last king, and long after, by reason wherof the Saxons wanne the more lande. And as before it is shewed that Ethel∣fride king of Northumberlande ouerset the Britons at the Citie of Chester, and forced them to flee ouer Seuerne, and so into Wales, where they then chose or elected this Cadwane to be their Duke and leader. The which af∣ter he was put in aucthoritie, assembled his Briteynes and came againe into Briteyn, and gaue battaile vnto the sayde Ethelfride, in the which they sped diuersly, so that some season the Saxons wanne, and sometime the Britons: But the Britons helde Chester and other good Townes, which they reco∣uered at their last comming.

¶It should seme by the meaning of Reynulph, that this Cadwan should at the length slea the sayde Ethelfride and Osricus, both kings of Bernicia and Deyra. But Guydo and Gaufride saye, that after this Cadwan had the better of Ethelfride, it was agreed by Mediatours that Ethelfride shoulde enioy all the lande ouer and beyonde Humber into Scotland: and Cadwan also should haue the lande from Humber toward the South. To the which saiyng agreeth the Englishe Chronicle, affirming also that he should be the sonne of Bruciuall King of Leycester, the which of other Writers is not testified.

¶It is also there shewed, that after the sayd accorde betwene Ethelfride and Cadwan, that then they continued during their lyues as two most speci∣all friendes and louers, during the reigne of this Cadwan, the two sonnes of Colricus, Kingilsus and Quichilinus after the death of their fathers brother, Colwolphus ruled ioyntly the principalitie of the West Saxons. The which

in their beginning fought against the Britons at Abyndon beside Oxford, and wanne of them the Towne and other holdes, which the Britons in that Countrie occupied. But by agreement of writers, this Cadwane was not at this conflict, neyther medled he so farre within the lande. But as it should seeme by Guydo, these Britons shoulde be some company that shoulde lyue vnder the tribute of the Saxons, the which for the manhood that they had heard reported of Cadwan, rebelled against the Saxons.

¶Then it foloweth, when this Cadwan had thus continued his amitie with Ethelfride, it fortuned, that this Ethelfride for hatred or otherwise, put from him his wyfe being great with childe, and tooke to him another. Wher∣fore this woman being remedilesse, calling to minde the great loue that was betwene her husbande and Cadwan, she went vnto him and most instantly besought him to reconcile hir Lorde and husbande, that she might be resto∣red to his companie. But for that Cadwan, after many meanes and requests made, coulde not bring it about, he therefore tendring her necessitie kept her in his Court vntill she was delyuered of a man childe, whome she caused to be called Edwyn. And soone after was the wyfe of Cadwan delyuered of a sonne, whome the father named Cadwalyn. But the Authour of the Flowre of histories sayeth, that these two children were borne long before this time. The which should seme to be true, for so much as this Cadwalyn was of lau∣full age to gouerne this lande when his father dyed, the which he coulde not do if he had bene borne but now, and of this ye may reade more in Fabian, in his fift booke and .C.xxviij. Chapter.

¶ But to returne to the storye of Cadwan: About the .xiiij. yere of his reigne Quinchelinus that was brother vnto Kyngilsus, and ioyntly ruled the West Saxons, sent vpon an Easter day a Ruffian called Eumerus, to slea Edwyn king of Northumberland. This Cutthrote ruffian came to a Citie beside the water of Darewent in Darbishire, & wayted his tyme, and at the last finding the king smally accompanied, entending to haue runne through him with a sworde enuenomed: But one Lylla the kinges trustie seruaunt, beyng without eyther shilde or other weapon to defende his Maister, start betwene the king and the sword, and was striken through the body and dyed, and the king also was wounded with the same stroke: and after also he woū∣ded another which was a Knight, and then was he taken, and confessed by whom he was apointed to woorke that treason. The knight and the Kinge that were wounded, lay long sicke before they were healed. And the night fo∣lowing the Queene was deliuered of a Daughter, the which King Edwyn caused to be Christened of Paulinus Archebishop of Yorke, in token that he woulde fulfill such promise touching the receyuing of baptisme as he before had made. And she was named Enfleda.

¶ And after Whitsontide then next folowing, Edwyn beyng scantly whole of the wounde, assembled his hoste, and made toward the kinges of the West Saxon, and after a great and sore fight, he vanquished and ouerthrew them. But for all this victory he forgat to be thankefull vnto God, the geuer not on∣lye of his health, but also of the same victory. And afterwarde he receyued letters of exhortation from Boniface then Bishop of Rome, to take vpon him baptisme: And the sayd Bishop likewise exhorted the Queene, and sent vnto her a Glasse to looke in, with a combe of Iuory richely garnished, and a shirt

for the King wrought in sundrie places with letters of Golde: But all this preuayled nothing at all.

¶ How be it, it was not long after, that the King assembled his counsaile, and by theyr agrement he was of the sayde Paulinus baptised within the sayde Citie, the .xj. yere of his reigne, and the yere of our Lorde. 627. He was the first Christian king that reigned in that Countrie. And after him, many of his Lordes and subiectes were also Christened of the sayde Paulinus, and the Flamyns or Bishops which were worshippers of false Goddes, were con∣uerted and made the Ministers of Christes Fayth. In token whereof, they armed themselues as knightes, and bestrydde good horsses, where before by their law, they might vse no armour, nor ryde but onely on a Mare. Fabian.

¶ From this tyme forwarde by the terme of .vj. yeres, during the lyfe of king Edwyn, Paulinus christened continually in both the Prouynces of Ber∣nicia, and Deyra, in the Ryuers of Gueny, and Swala, which he vsed for his Fontes, and Preached in the Shire of Lyndesey, and builded a Churche of Stone at Lincoln, the which of some is supposed to be the Minster Churche. And in this tyme was so great peace in the Kingdome of Edwyn, that a wo∣man might haue gone from one towne to another without griefe or anoy∣aunce. And for the reliefe and refreshing of wayfaring men, this Edwyn or∣deined at cleere Welles and Springes, certeyne Cuppes or Dishes of Iron and brasse, and caused the same to be fastned vnto them with small cheynes, and no man was so hardy to take away any of those Cuppes, he kept so good iustice, and therewith was knightly of his deedes.

¶ He was the first that wanne the Isle of Eubonia, now called the Isle of Man. And by his meanes Orpewaldus, or Corpewaldus the sonne of Red∣waldus king of the East Angles, or Norphis, to whom Edwyn had fled for succour, was conuerted to the true fayth, & a great part of his men with him.

¶ And about this season began the kingdome of Mertia or middle Eng∣land, vnder the strong Saxon or Panyme called Penda, which Lordeship conteyned Huntingtonshire, Herefordshire, Glocestershire, and other, and that was the greatest of all the other Kingdomes. And at that tyme reigned in diuerse partes of this land seuen kinges: Sibertus among the East Sax∣ons: Redwold king of East Angles, nowe called Essex, Norffolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire: Ethelbert king of Kent: Ethelwolphus king of Sus∣sex: Kingilsus, and Quinchelinus king of West Saxons: Penda, of Mer∣tia, and Edwyn of Northumberland.

¶ And for that this Edwyn excelled the other kinges, they enuied at him, and specially Penda king of Mertia, the which prouoked Cadwan king of Britons against him. So that they two assembled a great hoast against Ed∣wyn, and lastly met in a place called hatfield, and after sharpe and sore fight on both sides, there Edwyn was slaine, when he had reigned ouer the Nor∣thumbers .xvij. yeres. Fabian.

¶ When these two kinges Cadwan, & Penda, had thus ouercome the king, and slaine both him & many of his people, they became so cruell to men of that countrie, y^t they destroyed therin great numbers of people, not sparing, men, women, children, religious persons, nor other. Wherfore Paulinus the Arche∣bishop, beholding their cruelnesse, tooke with him the Queene, and Enfleda her daughter, & fled by water into Kent. And because the Bishoprich of Ro∣chester

was then voyde, by reason that Romanus the last Bishop was deade: Paulinus was there ordeyned and made Bishop of that See, and there dyed, and also as Reynulph sayth, he left there his Pall, and the Archbishoprick of Yorke was void .xxx. yeres after. But the Queene which was named Ether∣berga, sayled into Fraunce, and became there a Nonne, and lykewise her daughter Eufleda kept her possession, and was after Abbesse of Stemshalt in the Vale of Whytbie.

¶ After the death of Edwyn, Osricus that was the sonne of Elfricus, which was brother to Ethelfridus, tooke vpon him to be king of Deyra, and Eaufricus the eldest sonne of Ethelfrida, was made king of Bernicia, both the which reuolted from Christes fayth, and became Myscreantes. For the which the wrath of God shortly after fell vpon them, for they were both slaine in the yere folowing, of the aforenamed Cadwan and Penda.

¶ And when the sayd two kinges were thus slaine, Oswalde the second sonne of Ethelfride began his reigne ouer the prouince of Bernicia, as chiefe of that Kingdome of Northumberland, and had the rule of Deyra likewise, whereof when Cadwan was ware, he gathered his Britons, and thought to haue slaine him, as he had before slaine his brother Eaufricus. But when Os∣walde was warned of the great strength that Cadwan had, he made his prayers to God, and besought him meekely of helpe to withstand his enemye for the saluation of his people. Then after he had thus prayed, the two ar∣myes met in a fielde named at that tyme Denysborne or Denyslake, where was foughten a strong battaile, and in the ende Cadwan was slaine, and his people chased, the number whereof did farre exceede Oswaldes hoste. And thus ended the sayde Cadwan when he had reigned ouer the Britons .xxij. yeres, leauing after him a sonne named Cadwallyne.

FErquhard the eldest sonne of Eugenius was king of Scottes .xij. yeres. [unspec 622] In the tyme of this mannes reigne, by his negligence was great diuision, and debate among the Nobles of the Realme, and for his cruelty and negli∣gence in the affayres of the common weale, he was of the Lordes disgraded, and cast in Prison, and for sorrow thereof slue himselfe.

MAhomet, of Arabia, at this time when there was great confusion of things both in the East and West, then began his errour, he came out of a base stock, and being fatherlesse, one Abdemonaples, a man of the house of Ismaell bought him for his slaue, and loued him greatly for his fauour and wyt: For which cause, he made him ruler of his merchandise and other businesse. Then one Sergius a Monke, which for Heresie fled in∣to to Arabia, who instructed him in the heresie of Nestorius. In the meane sea∣son, his master dyed without children, leauing behinde him much ryches, and his wyfe a riche Wydowe of fiftie yeres of age, whome Mahomet maried, and when she dyed, he was made heire, and greatly encreased in ryches: And for his magicall artes, was had also in great admiration and honour of the foolish people. Wherfore by the counsayle of Sergius, he called himselfe the Prophete of God, and shortly after, when his name was published, and then taken to be of great authoritie, he deuised a lawe or kinde of Religion, called ALCARON, in the which he tooke some parte well neere of all the he∣resies that had bene before his time. With the Sabellians he deuyded the

Trinitie: with the Manichees, he affirmed to be but two persons in the dei∣tie: he denied the equalitie of the father and the sonne with Eunomius: and sayd with Macedone, the holy-Ghost was a creature: and approued the mul∣titude of wyues with the Nicolaites: He borowed of the Iewes, circum∣cision, and of the Gentiles much superstition, and somewhat he tooke of the christian veritie, beside manye Deuelishe phantasies inuented of his awne braine: Those that obeyed his lawe, he called Saracens. When he had ly∣ued fourtie yeres, he dyed of the falling sicknesse, the which he had of long time dissembled, feynyng that when he was taken therewith, the Aungell Gabriell appered vnto him, whose brightnesse he coulde not beholde. Cooper.

DOnewald the thirde sonne of Eugenius was ordeyned king of Scottes, and gouerned the realme verteously and wisely .xv. yeres.

[unspec 635/1] CAdwallyn, the sonne of Cadwan, after the death of his father tooke vpon him the gouernement of the Britons, and he was valiaunt and mightie, and warred strongly vpon the Saxons, which were neere a∣bout him, and he wanne from them both Castelles and Townes, and droue them back into the lande toward London: whereof, he••••ing Penda king of Mertia, assembled his Saxons and made towarde the sayde Cadwallyn: But he was in the ende distressed, and glad and fayne to seeke and purchase his fauour and friendship, and to lyue vnder his tribute.

¶ And after this Penda was in great fauour with Cadwallyn, insomuch as he tooke parte with him against the other Saxon Kings. And about this time Kyngilsus one of the kings of the West Saxons, was by the preaching of Berinus conuerted to the right beliefe, and christened of him at the Citie of Dorchester, within .vij. Myles of Oxforde. And Oswald king of Nor∣thumberland, or rather king of Bernicia, was his Godfather, & wedded his daughter afterwarde. And then that Citie was geuen to the Bishop, to the ende that he shoulde there ordeyne his See, where the sayde Berinus sate xiiij. yeres after, and there was buried, vntill Beda Bishop of Winchester trāslated his body to the City of Winchester, albeit, the Chanons of Dorche∣ster said, that y^e body of Beryne was not taken thence but another in the stead thereof, & yet in token that it was not remoued thence a Beare of a wonder∣full worke stood of late daies ouer that graue where this holy man was first buried. It should seeme that this Citie of Dorchester, is now called Dorset. This See was in the time of William Conquerour translated to Lyncolne.

¶About this time Sigebertus or Sigisbertus king of the East Anglis set vp certaine scooles in diuers places, and ordeyned ouer them Scoolemasters and Vshers, as he sometime had seene in Fraunce. And after the opinion of many writers one of them was by him erected in Gtrantbridge, being then the head Citie of his dominion, now called Cambridge, the which in pro∣cesse of time grew to be a famous Vniuersitie, as it is now at this day. And the sayde Sigebert was conuerted to the faith of Christ, by that holye man named Felix a Burgonnion: and finally the sayd king betooke his kingdome vnto his Nephew Egritus, & became himselfe a Monke in an Abbey which he himselfe buylded.

¶ But when Penda king of Mertia warred after in that Countrie, the sayde Sigebert was against his wyll pulled out of the foresayde Monastery,

and went in armes, or as some write vnarmed with a whyte rod in his hande nycely, and so was slaine, and well neere all his hoste that came with him to that Fielde.

¶ After the death of this Sigisbert, Anna was made king of East Anglis.

¶ About the .vij. yere of the reigne of Cadwallyne, a Saxon reigned in Kent named Ercombertus, who helde that principate .xx. yeres nobly. And among other of his famous deedes, he reuiued and quickned againe the faith of Christ, that in some places of his kingdome was sore apalled. For he de∣stroyed the Temples of false Gods thorough all that Countrie and ordeyned by the aduice of his Clergie the time of Lent to be fasted. He wedded the daughter of Anna king of East Anglys, named Sexburga, of whome he receiued a daughter & named her Eukendoga, the which after was a Nonne in a Monastery in France.

¶ About this time, as it were about the .viij. yere of Cadwallyne, dyed Kyngilsus king of the West Saxons, when he had reigned with his brother and alone .xxxj. yeres. And Kenwalcus his sonne was king after him, the which at the beginning of his reigne would not be christened, and forsooke his wyfe the daughter of Penda, and tooke to him another. Wherfore Pen∣da to be aduenged for his daughters cause, gathered his host and chased Ken∣walcus out of his kingdome, and kept him thence three yeres. In the which time, he was with Anna king of the East Anglis and was christened of Felix, and after by the helpe of the sayde Anna recouered his kingdome.

¶When Kenwalcus was thus restored to his lande, he made a Bishops See at Wynchester, and ordeyned there a Bishop named Agilbert, a French∣man borne, but he came out of Ireland. The which when he had sitten there a certaine of time, he was deposed and put from thence, but the cause why, I know not, and in his place was set one named Wyn, of whome sayeth Poli∣chronichon, the Citie tooke the name of Wynchester, as it were Wynnes Ci∣tie. But he was also deposed: And then was Leutherius Bishop, and after Leutherius succeeded Cedda: And after him Theodorus Archebishop of Cauntorbury ordeyned two Bishops to the Prouynce of West Saxon. The one at Winchester, and to that was subiect two Countyes, Southrey and Southhampshire. And the other See he ordeyned at Sherborne, to the which were subiect sixe Counties, that is to saye Barkeshire, Wyltshire, Somersetshire, Dorsetshire, Deuonshire, and Cornewall, but in Wylliam the Conquerours time, the See of Sherborne was turned to the See of Sarisbury, as was also the See of Rammesbury.

¶ It was not long after but that Kenwalcus warred with the king of Britons, the which fought with him at a place called Whyte Gosneborough, and was of him there ouercome. Then Cadwallyne assembled a newe hoste of Britons, and met with Kenwalcus at a place called the hill of Pent, where after a long and sore battaile, the Britons were put to flight.

¶ Ye haue heard before how Oswald was made king of Northumber∣land, the which continued his lyfe in iustice and vertue as a king should do, by the space of .ix. yeres: But Penda king of Mertia, who to him and to all christian men had great disdeyne and enuie, about the .ix. yere of Cadwallyne made warre vpon Oswald, and slue him in a field called Meserfelde, where after his death (as Fabian sayth) God shewed for him many miracles. But

after one yere of his death Oswy his yonger brother recouered the king∣dome, and buried his head in the Churchyarde of Lyndesar, for the bodye was conueyed by the Pagans, and deuyded in sundrie peeces.

¶ When Oswy had a season ruled his kingdome, he by vnlawfull meanes procured the death of Oswyn king of Deyra. This Oswyn was the sonne of Eaufricus eldest brother of Oswald, which Oswyn was good of condition and therewith both meeke and mylde, and being thus slaine, as is aforesayde, the sayde Oswy tooke to him as felow of that kingdome his brothers sonne Odylwald, the sonne of Oswald. This Oswald gaue vnto Cedda Bishop of Wynchester before named, a grounde in a place of the North Countrie in the high hilles called Lastyngery, for to buylde an Abbay vpon, which he there buylded, and after taught his brother Chymbillus how he should rule and gouerne that place.

¶ Nowe Penda Kinge of Mertia, which forgat not the strengthening and fauouring that Anna Kinge of East Anglys had shewed to Kenwalcus his daughters husbande, and his enemye, and therefore desirous to be reuen∣ged on him, gathered a power of men of warre and went against the sayde Anna, and slue him in plaine battaile.

¶ After the which victory, the sayd Penda, beyng puffed vp with pryde, and glory, went forward with his host into Northumberlande, entending to slea Oswy, as before he had slaine his brother Oswald. Wherof when Oswy had knowledge, he assembled his power and made towardes him. And for affinite of mariage that was betwene their children, and other causes as af∣ter shall apere Oswy offered vnto him many great offers, to the intent to haue had him to haue stayed from battaile, and to haue had peace with him.

¶ When Oswy perceyued the obstinacie and pryde of Penda, and sawe that by no reasonable meanes he coulde moue him to peace, he sayde, seeyng this Paynym will not receyue our giftes and proffers that we haue offered vnto him, we will now offer it to him that can receyue them. And foorthwith he made his vowe vnto God, that if he had the victorye ouer his enemies, he woulde offer his daughter Elfleda vnto him, with sufficient possessions for to buylde .xij. Abbeys. And shortly after, he ioyned in battaile with Penda, in the countrey of Leedys, not farre from Yorke, which battail was so sore foughtē that the lyke was not seene many yeres before: But in the ende Penda was slaine, and .xxx. of his chiefe Capitaynes, and yet he had three tymes the number of people that Oswy had. And those that escaped the shot and sword, were for the greatest part drowned in the Ryuer Wynwed, which was nere vnto the place of that battaile. And among the Prisoners that were taken at this fielde, the wife of Penda was one, and her sonnes Vncle named Egfri∣dus was another. Fabian.

¶ Then Oswy yelded his thankes vnto almighty God, and according to his former promes, he offered his daughter Elfleda beyng of the age of three yeres vnto God, and tooke her to the Lady of Hilda, Abbesse of Hertsey, or Hertes Islande. And after that the sayde Hilda remoued to the Abbey of Stremshalt in the vale of Whitby .xxx. Myle from Yorke, where she was af∣ter Abbesse, and so was Elfleda also. And Oswy as he had promised gaue landes and rentes to builde .xij. Abbeyes, whereof sixe were in Bernicia, and sixe in the Prouynce of Deyra.

¶ This aforenamed Penda had dyuerse sonnes, as wryters report, that is to say, Wolferus, Weda, Egfridus, besyde other not mencioned. To this seconde sonne Weda, Oswy had before time maryed a daughter of his by con∣sent of Penda his father: Wherefore, by the helpe of Oswy his father in law he was made King of South Mertia, the which Lordship is seuered from the North Mertia by the ryuer of Trent, & it conteined by the recorde of Be∣da fiue thousand housholdes. This Weda also promised when he maryed the sayd daughter of Oswy, that he would become a Christian man, the which he perfourmed after the death of his father. But when he had scantly reigned three yeres ouer the sayde South Mertia, he was by treason of his wyfe slaine (as sayth Fabian) but he sheweth no cause. And after that Kingdome fell to Wolferus the other brother, the which had wedded the daughter of Ercombert king of Kent, named Ermenilda. This Wolferus was shortlye after christened, so that he is accompted for the first Christined king that reig∣ned in Mertia, and was father to Keneredus, and to Wereburga.

¶ And for that it is long sithen I spake of Kenwalcus king of West Sax∣ons, it is to be noted that after he had ouercome the Britons (as before is shewed) and at that tyme had not perfited the Bishops See of Winchester, he then busied himselfe thereabout. And according to the will of Kingilsus his father, he gaue to the sustentation of the sayd See, all the land which lay within .vij. miles of the sayde Citie (as sayth the floure of Histories) and fini∣shed it some deale to his purpose, but farre from that it is nowe.

¶ Soone after that Kenwalcus had ended this worke, he made warre vpon Wolferus of Mertia. But in that iourney fortune was not friendlye vnto him, for he lost thereby and wanne nothing of his entent and purpose.

¶It was not long after, but Ercombert king of Kent dyed, and his sonne Egbert was king after him .ix. yere. And shortly after chaunced great mor∣talitie and death throughout this land of Briteyn, the which continued and encreased more and more during the life of this Cadwallyn, and the lyfe of Cadwallader which folowed him. In the which season or beginning of this mortalitie and sicknesse, dyed many Bishops in this lande, insomuch that Vi∣talcanus then beyng Bishop of Rome ordeyned Theodorus Archebishop of Cantorbury to haue the rule of the Churches of Briteyn. Somewhat before this tyme, Benet that was in good fauour with king Oswy, and descended of riche kindred, forsooke seruice and house and all his kindred, and became a Monke. This Benet was he that first brought the craft of Glasing into this land, and tooke to his scholer Beda, when he was but .vij. yeres of age, and taught him during his lyfe.

¶And here for that speciall mencion is made a little before that Benet was the first that brought into Briteyn the Arte and craft of making of Glasse, I thought it well to adde this note thervnto, which I find written in Reynulph in his fourth booke and fourth Chapter. That in the tyme of the reigne of Tiberius Emperour of Rome, which was not long after Christes incarna∣tion, a certeyn craftes man had found out the Art of myxture and melting of Glasse in such sort, as he made the same malliable, that is to say, to abide the Hammer as Tynne and other metalles do: And he came to the Emperour thinking to haue receyued some rewarde, and shewed it vnto him. The Em∣perour when he saw it, caused some of his awne Glasses to be fet and broken,

and the Artificer forthwith amended them. And when the Emperour had well considered of the man and of his cunning, he demaunded of him if there were any man liuing beside himselfe that could do the like, and he simply an∣swered, none that he knewe or euer heard of, and the emperour aunswered, neither shalt thou euer do it againe, for this Art would make golde and other precious metall to be of no valure: wherefore he commaunded him to be be∣hedded, and it was done, which certainly was a tyrannous deede, namely for that he would attempt to suppresse the giftes of God.

¶ Nowe I will returne againe to Oswy: the which when he had long reigned ouer the Norththumbers, he made Cedda that was Abbot of La∣stingay, Archebishop of Yorke, more of wyll then of good skill, and put out Wilfride the Archebishop of that See: But it was not long after but that Cedda was depriued of that dignitie, by the authoritie of the Archebishop Theodorus, as he depriued other at that tyme, which came to their benefi∣ces against the lawes of the Church, and made him by great instaunce after this, Bishop of the West Saxons. And about the .xxx. yere of the reigne of Cadwallyn, Cissa that was father to Iue king of West Saxons builded the Abbey of Abingdon. Fabian.

¶ In these dayes the Monkes and Clergie of Briteyn set all their minds to serue God, and not the worlde, and were wholy giuen to deuocion, and not to filling of the Paunch and pampering of the bodye: wherefore they were then had in great reuerence and honour, so that they were then recey∣ued withall worship. And as they went by the streetes and wayes, men that sawe them, woulde runne to them and desire their blessings: and well was him then that might geue vnto them possessions, and to builde them houses and Churches. But as they encreased in ryches of worldly treasure, so they decreased in heauenly treasure, as in the dayes of Aluredus some deale be∣gan, and sithen that time hath sprong not all to the pleasure of God. Then they applyed nothing that was worldlye, but gaue themselues to preaching and teaching of the worde of our Sauiour Iesu Christ, and folowed in lyfe the doctrine that they preached, geuing good example to all men. And besides that, they were vtterly voyde of couetousnesse, and receyued no possessions gladly, but were inforced therevnto. Fabian.

¶At this time Oswy king of Northumberlande dyed and Edfridus hys sonne was Kinge after hym and reygned fiftene yeares, after hys father had reygned with hys felowes Oswyne and Oswalde, twentye and eyght yeares.

¶ Then dyed also Kenwalcus king of West Saxons, about the .xxxix. yere of Cadwallyne, when he had reigned ouer them .xxx. yeres, and his sonne Kenewynus succeded him, but entred not into possession before Sex∣burga his mother had ruled that Prouynce one yere.

¶Ye haue heard before howe Wilfride was deposed & put out of the See of Yorke, wherfore he went to Rome and complayned vpon him to Agathon then Bishop of that See, and was well allowed in some things. But the king and Theodorus had there such Procters and friends, that he fayled of his purpose, wherefore he returned to the South Saxons, and after he had preached among them .xv. yeres, he then taught them the arte or craft of Fishyng.

¶ Egfridus or Edfridus king of Northumberlande, claymed the lande that Etheldred king of Mertia helde, for the which diuers assemblies of in∣treatie were had, but they tooke none effect, wherefore eyther partie ga∣thered his strength, and met vpon a playne, neere vnto the Ryuer of Trent, where was foughten betwene them a long and sharpe fight: In the which among a great number on both parties, was slaine the brother of Egfride named Elswinus, but yet the saide Egfride had the better. Then after this battail, meanes of peace was againe made, so that finally Egfride had great sommes of money in recompence of his brothers death, and so the sayde two kings agreed and rested afterwards in quiet.

¶Sone after this time, Theodorus for diuers causes kept a Synode or Counsaile of Bishops and other men of the Church, at Hatfielde: By auc∣thoritie of which counsaile (sayth Fabian) he deuyded the Prouynce of Mer∣tia that Sexwolphus then ruled alone, into fiue Bishopricks, that is one to Chester, the second to Worcester, the thirde to Lichefielde, the fourth to Cedema in Lyndesey, and the fift to Dorchester.

¶About the .xlvj. yere of Cadwalyne, Kenewinus king of West Sax∣ons had occasion of warre against the Britons, so that they met neere vnto the West See, where after a sharpe skirmishe, the Britons were chased. And sone after Edfridus king of Northumberlande made warre vpon the Pictes or Scottes, because they fauoured & ayded the East Anglys against him. But in the ende by colour of fliyng back, they brought Edfride into a streyte among hilles and mountaines, and slue him there with a great parte of his people. And after his death a bastarde brother of his, named Alfri∣dus, the bastarde was king of Northumberlande and reigned among them xviij. yeres.

¶And shortly after, dyed Cadwalyne king of Britons, when he had reig∣ned .xlviij. yeres, and many other things are written of him by Gaufride, but neyther by Reynulph nor by any other authour of good authoritie, and there∣fore I passe them ouer.

FErquhard called Ferquhard the second, [unspec 646/12] the sonne of the late king Ferqu∣harde was made king of Scottes, and reigned .xviij. yeres. This man in his priuate lyfe was verie liberall aboue his power, but when he was auc∣thorised king, he became a cruell coueteous and glottenous Tiran, where∣fore he was striken of God with a vile and peinfull sickenesse, whereof he dyed.

MAldwyn the sonne of Dowald was aucthorised king of Scottes, [unspec 665/31] and reigned .xx. yeres: he made peace with the Pictes and Saxons, and at the last was murdred of his wyfe for suspicion of Adultrie.

CAdwalader, began to rule the Britons and also the West Saxons. [unspec 683/1] He made warre vpon Lotharius king of Kent, and destroyed much of that Prouince, and wanne the Isle of Wight, and gaue the fourth part to S. Wilfride, in the which fourth part were accompted three hundred housholds.

¶The whilest that Cadwalader was busied in one part of Kent, his bro∣ther named Mulkyn with a certaine of Knights were besieged, and lastly brent in another parte thereof. In reuengement whereof, Cadwalader of newe destroyed the more parte of the sayde Prouynce. And the sayde warre

continuing Lotharius aforenamed was wounded and dyed, after whome Edricus was king, and reigned but a short tyme.

¶ Then Cadwalader made warre vpon the king of Southsex named A∣thelwalde, and slue him in plaine battaile, and after made his Prouynce sub∣iect to him.

¶ When Cadwalader had ruled the Britons, and also the west Saxons by the terme of three yeres, he then (as sayth Reynulph Monke of Chester) of pure deuotion renounced the pompe and pride of the world, and went on pilgrimage to Rome, where of Sergius then Bishop of Rome, he was con∣firmed, and after made a whyte Monke, and so continued all his lyfe tyme.

¶ But other write as namely Nicholas Brodrugan in his Epitome, that king Cadwalader reigned ouer Briteyn in great peace and tranquilitie .xij. yeres. And then there happened so great a death among his people, that in maner the lyuing did scarsely suffise to burie the dead, and therefore he fled into little Brtteyn, whose Cosyn Iuor and Iue, being repulsed out of Eng∣lande by the Saxons, went into Wales, where among the Britons, they and their posteritie remayned Princes. And now vpon this great death and cru∣ell warres among the Saxons, the Scottes thought to slip the Coller of obedience, and entered into league with Charles then king of Fraunce, the articles whereof folow in the historie of Achaius king of Scottes.

¶ And here endeth the lyne and gouernement of the Britons, nowe cal∣led Welshmen, which tooke that name of their Duke or leader called Wallo, or Gallo, or else of a Queene of Wales, named Galaes, or Wales. But how soeuer that name came first to them, nowe they are called Welshmen, which sometime were named Britons, or brutons, and descended first of the Troy∣ans (sayth Fabian) and after of Brute, and lastly of Mulmucius Dunwallo: Albeit they were mingled or medled with sundrie other Nations, as Ro∣maynes, Pictes, and others. And now they be English, that in their begin∣ning were named Saxons or Anglis.

¶ And after the departure of Cadwalader, this Realme was called Eng∣land, and the Inhabitantes therof were called Anglis, or English men. And this happened 1972. yeres, or as sayth Fabian 1822. yeres after that Brute first arriued in this Islande: And after the conquest of Cesar 735. yeres: And from the entring of the Saxons vnder their leaders Hengist and Hor∣sus in the tyme of Vortiger 235. yeres.

[unspec 686/4647] ¶ Thus then apereth by the former processe of this worke, that the last yere of Cadwalader, was the yere of our Lord sixe hundreth .lxxxvj. which maketh the yere of the worlde foure thousand, sixe hundreth .xlvij. So that as Fabian sayth, the Britons had the rule of the more part of this land, reco∣ning from Brute vnto this tyme, a thousand .viij.C.xxij. yeres. And now the Saxons or Anglis began fully to reigne, and to haue the whole dominion of this Realme.

AFter the departure of Cadwalader (as Fabian sayth) this land of Bri∣teyn was in great dissention, by meane of variaunce betwene the Bri∣tons and Saxons, and the sayde contencion continued .xj. yeres. And beside this, the great death and mortalitie before mencioned, vehemently and greatly encreased, and by reason thereof folowed great scarcitie, whereof en∣sued

hunger, and vniuersall famine through the Realme: So that by the oc∣casion of one thing and other, the people of this Realme were wonderfully minished and decayed, and that so many and so much (as sayth Gaufride, and also the English Chronicle) the quicke bodies suffised not to burye the dead.

EVgenius the fift of that name was king of Scottes, [unspec 685/3] and reigned foure yeres. In his tyme, as sayth the Historie of Scotland, he warred vpon Edfride king of Northumberlande, and slue him in battayle.

IEwe, or Iuas, discending of the blood of the Saxons, [unspec 687/1] was ruler or king of west Saxons, next after that Cadwalader had renounced the pompe of the worlde. He ruled the west Saxons verye honourably, and mainteyned such warre against the kentish Saxons, that they of Doro∣bernia or Cantorbury, graunted him to haue peace, and also gaue vnto him for a recompence of the death of Mulking brother to Cadwalader before slaine, three thousand pounde.

¶In the .xj. yere of the reigne of this Iewe, chaunced the wonder & mer∣uaile that is written in Polichronica, in his fift booke, and .xxj. Chapter, and he allegeth Bede for his Authour, of one Brigthwaldus, the which after that he had beene a long while dead, was restored againe to lyfe, and tolde manye thinges of great wonder to many men. Whereby he caused great almose, and many deedes of charitie to be done.

¶ In the .xvj. yere of this mannes reigne, Ethelredus before mencioned, [unspec 701/16] which was king of Mertia, forsooke his worldly honor, and became a Monk at Bardeney, when he had long tyme ruled the men of Mertia.

¶ In the .xxiij. yere of this Iew, [unspec 708/23] Colredus then king of Mertia assem∣bled his people, and warred vpon Iew. Wherof when Iew had knowledge he likewyse gathered his people together, and they met to both their harmes at a place called Wodensburgh: where after long fight, eyther of them sped so vnhappely, that it was not knowen whether part had greatest dammage.

¶ Nowe when Iew had ruled the west Saxons nobly by the space of xxxvij. yeres, by the importunate labour of his wife Ethelburga, [unspec 721/37] he renoun∣ced his honourable estate, and tooke on him the wede of a poore man, and be∣came a Pilgrime to Rome. And Ethelburga his wife made her selfe a Nonne in Barking .vij. myles from London.

¶ Also some Authours write that this Iew was the first king that graū∣ted of euery house that had fyre burning in it a penny, to be payed to the Bi∣shop of Rome & his successors, and it was called Rome skot, or Peter pence.

¶ And as Fabian sayth, when he should renounce his estate and gouern∣ment, he resigned the same vnto Ethellardus his Nephewe. This man also as sayth Cooper, builded the Colledge or Cathredrall Church of Welles, and the Abbey of Glascenbury.

EVgenius the sixt of that name, reigned .x. yeres in Scotland. [unspec 688/3] He made peace with the Northumbers, and hated exstremely the Pictes.

AMberkeleth, a cruell Tyrant, reigned in Scotland two yeres, [unspec 698/13] and was slaine by one of his seruaunts, as he was goyng with an army against the Pictes.

EVgenius the .vij. was king of Scottes .xviij. yeres. [unspec 700/15] He was mightye of body, and of honest maners: he made peace with the Pictes, and caused the

Actes of his auncetours to be put in wryting, and commaunded that Histo∣riographers should be found of the common cost.

[unspec 716/31] MOrdack was King of Scotland, and reigned .xvj. yeres. In his tyme the foure diuerse Nations reigning in Albion, had peace betwene them∣selues, that is, the Britons, the Anglis, the Scottes, and the Pictes.

¶ And about this tyme Germanie receyued the fayth of Christ.

[unspec 724/1] EThelard the Nephewe of Iewe, reigned ouer the west Saxons: Of this Man is little written, sauing that he reigned fiue yeres, and then dyed, leauing behinde him none issue of his body. And in his tyme, the reuerend and holy Priest Beda, was famous, who wrote his booke called Anglica Hystoria to Offrike king of Northumberland.

[unspec 729/1] CVtbert the Nephewe of Ethelarde, reigned ouer the West Saxons next after his sayd Vncle, of whome also is little mention made, sauing that in the sixt yere of his reigne, holy Beda dyed, who in his tyme wrote lxxviij. bookes. And this Cutbert when he had reigned .xvj. yeres, departed out of this worlde also. This man made often warre vpon Ethelwalde of Mercia, and sped therein dyuersly.

[unspec 733/47] EDfine the sonne of Eugenius the seuenth, reigned in Scotland .xxx. yeres: This man was geuen to iustice and peace, and kept the league that was made with the Britons, Englishmen, and Pictes.

[unspec 745/1] SIgebert the Cosyn of Cutbert, reigned ouer the west Saxons. He was cruell and tirannous to his subiects, and turned the lawes and customes of his forefathers, after his awne will and pleasure. And because a noble man of his Realme named the Erle Combranus, did some∣deale sharpely aduertise him to chaunge his maners and to be more prudent and temperate towarde his people, he therefore maliciously caused him to be put to most cruell death.

¶ Now for as much as this king Sigebert continued in his malice and cruell condicions, and would not amend, his subiects conspired against him, and depriued him of all kingly dignitie: so that he fell after into great desola∣tion & miserie, for being on a season found in a wood or desolate place, wan∣dering alone without all comfort: he was by a Swynheard or villaine, mur∣dred & slaine, in the reuengement of Earle Combranus death, whom Sige∣bert being king had before most cruelly caused to be put to death in the same place: vnto the which Earle the sayde vyllaine had beene sometimes belon∣ging. And thus was Sigebert deposed and murdered, when he had reigned two yeres.

[unspec 748/1] REnulph of the lyne or blood of Cerdicus the which Cerdicus was the first king of the west Saxons, tooke vpon him the rule and gouern∣ment of the sayde West Saxons. The vertue of this man passed hys fame: For after that he with the agreement and consent of his people had depriued Sigebert their king from his regall authoritie, he then first of all appeased dyuers murmures and grudges that kindeled among his subiects, for the sayde depriuation, and so set his Lordeship in great quietnesse, and rest

touching their ciuile discorde.

¶ About the .viij. yere of the reigne of this Kenulphus, [unspec 756/8] Offa slue a Ty∣raunt named Beoruredus, who before had slaine Ethelwald king of Mertia. After whose death the sayde Offa, Nephew to the sayde Ethelwald, reigned as king of that Prouynce.

¶Of this Offa is tolde many things, whereof something I entende to shewe. He had warre with the Northumbers, and them for a tyme sub∣dued. He also had warre with Etheldrede king of East Anglis, and with Egbert otherwise called Pren king of Kent, whome he tooke prisoner, and led him bounde with him into Mertia.

¶Then after these victories, Offa buylded the Church of Winchecomb. In the time of the which buylding, and in the presence of .xiij. Bishops and many other great estates, he discharged the sayde Egbert of imprisonement, and set him at libertie, for ioy whereof the people there present, made such a shouting and cry of reioysing and gladnesse, that al the Church rang thereof.

¶This king had such displeasure to the Citizens of Cauntorburie, that he remoued the Archebishops See, by the agreement of the first Adrian then Bishop of Rome, vnto Lichefielde. He furthermore chased the Britons or Welshmen into Wales, and made a strong Dyke betwene Wales, and the vtter boundes of Mertia, or middle Englande, the which to this daye is na∣med Offdiche. And after he builded there a Church, which long time after was called Offkirck: he also buylded the Abbey of Saint Albons. Besides this it is written of him that he maried one of his daughters to Brigthricus that was king of west Saxons. And for that in his time there was variance betwene him and the Frenchmen, and that passage and traffique of Mar∣chaunts was forboden: therefore he sent the famous Doctor Anselmus vn∣to Charles the great, then king of France to intreat of peace. Which Charles had the sayde Anselmus euer after in such fauour, that he became hys Dis∣ciple. Fabian.

¶ But nowe let vs returne to Kenulphus, who before time had often warre with Offa, and also had with him many conflicts, [unspec 759/11] but lastly they were agreed. About the .xj. yere of this Kenulphus, Egbert king of Northum∣bers, renounced his kingly dignitie, and became a Monke.

¶And finally, when Offa had reigned ouer Mertia .xxxix. yeres. as saith Guydo, he left the kingdome to his sonne, who also was named Kenulphus, or as some write Egfurtus, and went himselfe to Rome.

¶And the foresayde Kenulphus king of the west Saxons kept strongly his Lordship against the power of all his enimies, and had his subiectes in due order of obedience. Lastly, he was surprised with the loue of a woman that he kept at Merton, whose companie he haunted more secretly, then stoode with his honour. Whereof hauing knowledge, a kinsman of Siges∣bert late king, entending to reuenge the deposing and murthering of his kynsman, awayted the tyme, and beset the house where Kenulph and his Pa∣ramour were smally accompanied. But so soone as the sayde Kenulph had espied his enemies, he set vpon them, and as Reynulph sayeth, though they were in number .lxxx. yet fought he with them a long while, but in the ende he was slaine of Clito his enemie.

¶ It was not long after or worde sprang of the kinges death: wherfore

Offricus then beyng maister of the Kinges Souldiers and garisons, armed himselfe, and tooke with him a certaine of the sayde Cheualrye, and pursued the sayd murderers, and at the last encountered with them, and slue the sayde Clito their Capitaine, with the more part of his companie. And that done, he retorned to Merton, and there tooke the Corps of Kenulph, and with great solemnitie conueyed it to Winchester, where it was with all reuerence bu∣ried, when his father and he had ruled .xxxj. yeres.

[unspec 761] EVgenius the .viij. was king of Scottes, and was slaine of his Lordes for his couetousnesse, filthy lust, and cruelty, when he had reigned three yeres.

[unspec 764] FErgus the thirde was made king of Scotland, and reigned three yeres: He was a foule dronken glutton, and so outragiously geuen to Harlottes, that he neglected his awne wife, and brought her to such penurye, that shee was faine to serue other noble women for her liuing. Wherefore, she mur∣dered him in his bed, and after slue her selfe also.

[unspec 768] SOluathius reigned in Scotland .xx. yeres, and then dyed of the Goute. In his tyme rebelled Banus of the Isle of Tyre, and Gillowham of Gal∣loway, which were brought to due obeysaunce.

[unspec 778/1] BRithricus of the blood of Cerdicus, began his reigne ouer the west Saxons, in the yere of our Lorde .vij.C.lxxviij. This Man before tyme had maryed one of the daughters of Offa king of Mertia, as be∣fore is touched, by whose ayde and power, he put out of his rule Egbert the sonne of Alcumundus, the which Egbert at that day was an vnder king or ruler in the Lordeship of west Saxons, which Egbert was discended of the blood of Genulphus, of whome some part of the story is declared in the .xxv. Chapter of the fift booke of Polichronicon. And after he was thus of Brithri∣cus expulsed, he sayled into Fraunce, and there exercised himselfe in the feates of warre with the knightes of Charles court the French king during the life of the sayde Brithricus.

[unspec 779/2] ¶ About the second yere of this Brithricus, was seene in great Briteyn a wonderfull sight: For sodeynly as men walked in the streete, Crosses lyke vnto blood fell vpon their clothes, and blood fell from heauen lyke droppes of raine.

[unspec 788/9] ¶ This after some expositors, betokened the comming of the Danes in∣to this lande, the which entered shortly after. For as sayth Reynulph, about the .ix. yere of Brithricus the Danes first entered this land. In defence wher∣of, this said king sent forth his Steward of his houshold, with a small compa∣nye, which shortly was slaine. But by the strength of Brithricus and the other kinges of the Saxons, they were compelled to auoyde the land for that time.

¶ Brithricus thus well and knightly ruling his lande, his wife named Ethelburga, not contented with him as she ought to be, sought diuerse wayes and meanes howe she might bring her Lorde out of lyfe, so that finally shee poysoned him with many other of his famely: wherefore she fearing ponish∣ment, fled into Fraunce, and by such frendship as she there had, was well che∣rished in Charles Court the French king surnamed the great.

¶ Of her it is tolde, that when he had information of the vnstablenesse of this womans condicions, he at that season beyng a Widower, and at a time talking pleasantly with her, sayde: Nowe I put to your choyse, whether ye

will haue me vnto your wedded Lord, or else my sonne standing here in your presence: and him that you choose, him shall ye haue and enioy for your hus∣band: But she chose the sonne, and left the father. Then sayd the king, if thou haddest chosen me, thou shouldest haue had my sonne: but for that thou hast forsaken me, thou shalt haue neyther of vs. And after he closed her in an Ab∣bey, where in processe a lewde man kept with her such companie, that shee was voyded that place, and after demeaned her selfe so viciously, that in pro∣cesse of tyme she fell in such pouertie, that she dyed in great penury & misery.

¶ Nowe because of the misdemeanor of this Woman, that shee had thus vnnaturally slaine her Lorde and husbande, the king of Anglis, and specially of west Saxons, would not suffer their wynes to be called Queenes, nor yet suffer them to sit by them in places of great honour or kingly seate, by a long tyme after.

¶ Thus as before is shewed, dyed Brithricus, beyng empoysoned by his awne wyfe, when he had ruled the west Saxons .xvij. yeres.

AChaius was ordeyned king of Scottes, and reigned .xxxij. yeres. In his tyme was made the solemne league betwene Scotlande and Fraunce, against the Saxons or Englishmen: which tooke such effect, that euer sithen that day, the Scottes haue more enclined to the French men, than to Eng∣lishmen. And here I haue entered the Articles of the sayd league as they are written by Hector Boecius in his Scottish Chronicle.

¶ First that the Amitie and confederacie of French men and Scottes to be made for euer, both for the people present, and to come.

2 The Iniurie of Englishmen done to any of those people, shall be perpe∣tually holden as common to them both.

3 When French men are inuaded by English men, the Scottes shall send their armie in defence of Fraunce, so that they be supported of mony and vic∣tualles by Fraunce.

4 When the Scottes are inuaded by English men, then the French men shall come vpon their awne expenses to their support.

5 And if any priuate person, eyther Frenchman or Scot support the Eng∣lish men, against any of them, with counsaile, money, or victualles, or remaine among them during the tyme of battayle: the doer thereof shall be holden a Traytor and an enemy to them both.

6 None of these two people shall take peace or truce with the Englishmen, but by the aduice eyther of other. Hector Boecius .x. Booke. iii. Chapter.

EGbert, or after the Englishe Chronicle Edbright, [unspec 795/1] the sonne of Alcu∣mundus, reigned ouer the west Saxons. This man as is before sayd, was driuen out of the lande of Briteyn by the force of Brithricus. But he hauing knowledge of his death, sped him out of Fraunce, and in so knight∣ly wyse behaued himselfe, that he obteyned the gouernement abouesayd, and was made king of west Saxons.

¶ Bernulphus king of Mertia had this Egbert in great derision, and vsed against him sundrie scoffes, and made of him trifling and rayling rymes, the which for a tyme he paciently suffered. But when he was somwhat stayed in his kingdome, and had proued the heartes of his subiectes, he at the last assembled his Knightes and Souldiours, and gaue vnto Bernulphus a bat∣tayle

in a place called Elindone, in the Prouince of Hampshire. And albeit that in that fight was great diuersitie of number, as .vj. or .viij. againe one, yet Egbert had the victory: For his knightes were leane, pale, and long bre∣thed, so that they might endure to fight long: But Bernulphus Souldiours were fat, corpulent, grosse and short breathed, and therfore could not endure.

¶ Here is to be noted, that after the death of Offa king of Mertia, or mid∣dle England (of whom somewhat is spoken in the story of Kenulphus) reig∣ned his sonne Egfertus, and after Egfertus reigned Kenulphus, the which was father vnto Kenelme, and vnto the two fayre Virgines Quindreda, and Burgemilda. And after Kenulphus reigned the sayd Kenelme: And after Kenelme, Colwolphus, and after him Bernulphus before named.

¶ And nowe to returne to Egbert, who when he had as before is sayde ouercome Bernulphus, he seased that Lordship into his awne hand: and that done, he made warre vpon the kentish Saxons, and at length obteyned also of them the victorie. And lykewyse, he subdued the Northumbers, and caused the kinges of these three Kingdomes to liue vnder him as tributaries, and ioyned them to his Kingdome.

¶ This Egbert also wanne from the Britons or Welshmen, the towne of Chester, which they had kept in their possession vntill that daye. For the which victoryes thus by him obteyned, he shortlye after called a counsayle of his Lordes at Winchester, and there by their aduises, he was crowned king and chiefe Lord of this land, which before this day was called Briteyn: But nowe he sent into all the Costes of this lande his commaundementes and commissions, that from that day forwarde the Saxons should be called Ang∣lis, and the land Anglia, in Englishe, England.

[unspec 819/24] ¶ About the .xxiiij. yere of the reigne of Egbert, Kenelme before men∣cioned the sonne of Kenwolphus was admitted for king of Mercia, beyng then but a childe of the age of .vij. yeres. The which by treason of his sister Quendreda was slaine in a thicke wood, by a tyraunt called Hesbertus.

[unspec 824/29] ¶ In the .xxix. yere of the reigne of Egbert, the Danes with a great hoste entered the second tyme into this land, and spoyled the Isle of Shepey in Kent, or nere to Kent. Whereof, when king Egbert had knowledge, he as∣sembled his people and met with them at a place called Carrum: But he wan in that fight little worship, for the Danes compelled him and his knightes to forsake the fielde. And beyng encouraged by that victory, they drewe west∣warde, and made a confederacie with the west Britons, that liued in serui∣tude: By whose power they assayled Egberts landes, and did much harme in manye places of his dominion and else where, so that after this day they were continually abiding in one place of the Realme or other, vntill the tyme of Herdikenitus or Canutus fortis the last king of the Danes blood, so that ma∣ny were maryed to Englishe women, and many that nowe are, or in tyme passed were, are discended of them. And albeit they were many and sundrye tymes chased and driuen out of this land, and chased from one country to ano∣ther, yet that notwithstanding, they euer gathered new strengthes & power, so that they abode still within the land.

¶ Of the king of these Danes, and of what people they be discended, dy∣uerse opinions of writers there be, which here I passe ouer, because after∣ward I purpose somewhat at large to say more therein.

¶ Nowe it foloweth, in the tyme of the persecution of these Paganes, and Danes, Egbert dyed, when he had well and nobly ruled the west Sax∣ons, and the more part of Englande the terme of .xxxvij. yeres, [unspec 832/37] and was bu∣ried at Winchester, and left behinde him a sonne named Ethelwolph, other∣wise called Edelphus.

COnwallus, succeded Achaius in the kingdome of Scotland, [unspec 819/25] and reigned fiue yeres.

DOngallus reigned in Scotland sixe yeres, [unspec 824/30] & as he was going with an ar∣mie against the Pictes (in the quarrell of Alpine a Scot, which claymed the crowne of the Pictes) he was drowned in a ryuer.

ALpine the sonne of Achaius was made king of Scottes: [unspec 829/35] He pursued the warre against the Pictes, and slue their king Feredech, but not long after he was vanquished and slaine by Brudus king of Pictes, when he had reig∣ned foure yeres.

EThelwolph, [unspec 832/1] or Edelphus the sonne of Egbert reigned ouer the Sax∣ons or Anglis, in y^e yere of our Lord. 832. This man in his youth was very willing to be a priest, and was entered into the order of Subdea∣con. But after he was maried to Osburga his Butlers daughter, a womā of low birth, but in an old writtē Chronicle, I find y^t he was maried to Iudith, daughter of y^e French king, which was Lewes y^e first, by whom he had foure sonnes, Ethelwald, Ethelbert, Etheldread, and Alurede, the which after their father, reigned as kinges of Englande, the one after the other as shall apere.

¶ This Ethelwolph after he had bene a while king, went to Rome, and tooke with him his yongest sonne Alurede, or Alfrede, and taryed there the space of a yere. In the which season he repayred the Saxon schole, the which before tyme was there founded by Offa king of Mercia (as saith Guydo) but more truely by Iewe king of west Saxons, as sayth Mathew of Westmin∣ster. And for that he graunted of euery house in his Kingdome a pennie, as in his story before is shewed: But this schoole was sore decayed, and the house thereof lately brent, the which this Ethelwolph newely repayred, and set it in much better order than before it had bene.

¶ This king also to reforme the grieuous corrections that he sawe there executed to Englishe men for spirituall offences, as in wearing of Irons and Guyues, he graunted of euery house of his lande wherein fyre was brent a pennie, as Iewe before had done, for the mittigating of the sayd corrections. By the which it should seeme, that there was two pence graunted of euerye house throughout the land. For this Rome skot, or Rome shot as it was then called, was of euery house a penny and no more. And therefore it is mista∣ken of the writers, that alege the dede to the one king for the other: Howbe∣it, it may stande by reason, that Iewe made the first graunt, and this king confirmed the same. But the Author of Chronica Chronicarum sayth, that Ethel∣wolph graunted to Saint Peter the Peter pence, and speaketh no worde of Iewe, nor of none other.

¶ It is also shewed by Polichronica, that this king for the acquiting of the Churches of England, of all maner of kinges tribute, payed yerely to Rome three hundreth Markes: that is to saye, to Saint Peters Church, an hun∣dreth Markes, to the light of Saint Paule, an hundreth Markes, and to the

Bishop of Romes treasure, an hundreth Markes. And ouer and besydes all this, of his deuotion he gaue to the Church of Rome, the tenth part of his mo∣uable goodes.

¶ When Ethelwolph had thus sped his businesse at Rome, he retorned by Fraunce, where at that tyme was king of that land Charles the Balde, of whome he was ioyously receyued. And after he had disported him there a season, he maried the daughter of the sayde Charles in the .xx. yere of his awne reigne.

¶ Then Ethelwolph taking leaue of the Frenche King, tooke shipping and landed in England with his wife Iudith by name. And for that he con∣trary to the lawe (made in Brithricus time) set his wife in the kinges throne and magnified her like a Queene, the Lordes of his land arose against him, and tooke from him a great part of his dominion, and made his eldest sonne ruler thereof, the which was done altogether in the reproch of Ethelburga, that slue her Lorde Brithricus as before is shewed. But in the end, the mat∣ter was appeased, and he to his kingly honour was restored. And in the yere folowing died the said Bertulphus king of Mertia. After whose death, Bur∣dredus was made king of Mertia, or middle England, who before had spou∣sed the daughter of this king Ethelwolph.

¶ In the latter dayes of this Ethelwolph, the Danes did much harme in Lyndsey, and also in Kent, and from thence came to London, and robbed and spoyled the Citie. Wherefore Ethelwolph gathered his people, and at the last met with them in Southrey, vpon a downe called Oclea, and there discomfited them, not without shedding of great plentie of the Anglis blood, and forced them to take the Sea, so that afterward they landed in East Ang∣lia, as shall appere. And nowe this good king ended his life when he had reigned .xxij. yeres.

[unspec 835/4] KEnneth reigned in Scotland .xx. yeres, he mainteyned hys warre against the Pictes so fiercely, that he vanquished them in diuers great battayles and slue their king, and lastly chased them vtterly out of the bounds of Scot∣land .1151. yeres (as sayth the Scottishe Chronicle) after they began to haue dominion in that Countrie, and from the comming of the Scottes into Albi∣on (after their opinion) a thousande three hundred .xxj. yeres.

[unspec 855/1] EThelwald the sonne of Ethelwolph after his father reigned ouer the west Saxons or Anglis. This man was very wicked, and maried the woman which his father sometime kept for his Concubine, or as some write his stepmother: But to be short, there remayneth in story no wor∣thy thing written of him, but that he reigned not aboue one yere, & then dyed, but howe he came to his death as testifieth Reynulph it is vncertaine, except it be as one writer sayeth that he was slaine of the Danish princes, Hunger and Hubba.

[unspec 856/1] DOnalde the fift of that name (a vicious and wicked Prince) reigned in Scotlande .vj. yeres. In his tyme Osbret or Osbright and Ella which were kings of the Anglis and Britaines made warre vpon the Scottes, tooke their king and subdued all the Countrie from Striueling to the Irish Seas, and from the water of Fryth and Clyde to Cumber, with all the strengthes thereof. The Englishmen had the landes betwene Sterling and

Northumberlande. This was Clyde March betweene the Scottes and Britons one the one side, and the water of Frith named the Scottish Sea March betwene them and the Englishmen on the other side: and Sterling common March to three people. Britons, Englishmen, and Scottes. And in the Castle of Sterlyng the sayde king Osbright caused his first money to be coyned, which yet we call Sterling Money. And the Englishmen did there build a bridge of stone for passage ouer the water of Frith, in the midst whereof they made a Crosse, and vnder the same writ these two Verses.

I am free Marche, as passengers may ken To Scottes, to Britons, and to Englishmen.

¶ Nicholas Bradyngham in his Epitome sayeth, that after Ethelwald their reigned one Osbright king of Briteyn, who conquered Scotland, and at the last an agreement was taken that from thenceforth the water of Frith should be the March betwene the Scottes & Englishmen in the East parts, and should be named the Scottish Sea. The water of Clyde to Dunbriton, to be Marche in the west part betwene Scottes and Britons. And at Dun∣briton was a Castle called Aclude, and now Dunbriton. So that the Bri∣tons had all the landes from Sterling to the Irish Seas, and from the wa∣ter of Frith.

EThelbert the seconde sonne of Ethelwald reigned ouer the greater parte of England. [unspec 856/1] And in his time the Danes with more strength en∣tered the west part of this land, and robbed and spoyled the Countrie before them, vntill they came to Winchester, and tooke the Citie by strength, and did therein what they would: but the king made such prouision, that by him and his Dukes they were forced to forsake the Citie. And as they went toward their Shippes, they were fought withall, and a great parte of them slaine and taken.

¶ Of this king, nothing else is left in memorie, but that he dyed when he had reigned sixe yeres, and was buried at Sherborne, leauing after him none issue.

COnstantine the second, a good and verteous Prince, [unspec 860/1] reigned in Scot∣lande .xiij. yeres.

ETheldred the thirde sonne of Ethelwald tooke vpon him the gouern∣ment of the west Anglis. [unspec 863/1] And in the beginning of his reigne the Danes landed in East England, called Norffolke and Suffolke: but they were compelled to forsake that Countrie, and so to make againe into their Shippes, in the which retire they were foughten withall and many of them taken and slaine, and then they sayled Northward, and landed in Nor∣thumberlande, where the two kinges that reigned there, met with them, and gaue them battaile, their names were Osbright and Ella, and there was a strong fight: But the Danes with the help of such as inhabited in the Coun∣trie, wanne the Citie of Yorke and held it a certaine time.

¶Then the people of Northumberlande, varied within themselues, and were more readier to ayde and helpe the Danes, then to lyue vnder the go∣uernment of the king of west Saxons. For her is to be noted, that all such kings as reigned there after Egbert, were tributaries, and therefore op∣pressed

the people that lyued vnder them.

¶ Wherfore Etheldredus hering of the ayde and comfort that the Danes had there, assembled his people and sped him thetherward, and sent vnto the aforesayd two kings that had the rule of that Countrie, commaunding them also to prepare their people against his comming. But howe it was, or the king came with his hoste, the Danes so prouoked the Northumbers to bat∣taile, that they met in playne fielde, and fought a long fight: But in the ende the Danes wanne the price, and slue both the aforesayde kings with a great multitude of their people. After which victorie, they subdued much of the sayde Countrie and destroyed the towne of Acliut, the which as sayth Beda, was one of the strongest townes of the North.

¶ When Etheldred had prepared all thing for the warre, and was set forward towarde the North, worde was brought vnto him of the great dis∣comfiture of the Northumbers, and also of dyuers of the sayde Danes, with other that were come to Mertia, and howe that they had wonne the Towne of Notyngham, which tydings letted him of that iourney, and so the Danes kept possession of that Countrie, in suche wise that no Angle had rule therof vntill the time of Adelstone, or as some write, vntill the time of Edredus, so that they helde it in possession the terme of .xl. yeres.

¶Then the Danes being thus possessed of the North Countrie, manned the same, and fortefied the strong holds thereof. And the other companie of them came downe into Mertia or middle England and wanne a part therof with the aforesayde Towne of Notyngham, and dwelled there the more part of the yere following.

¶Wherefore king Etheldred with the ayde of Burdredus, then king of Mertia, layde siege vnto the Towne: the which when the Danes percey∣ued should be wonne, they refused the towne & tooke the Tower or Castell, and defended it in strong maner, in so much that they helde it vntill a peace or appointment was concluded betweene the two kings and them: which was, that they should go free where they woulde, and carie with them their horse & harneys without any pillage. And when this peace was thus made, eyther of the kings departed to their awne, and the Danes returned into Yorke and dwelled there the yere following.

¶And in the yere following, a certaine number of the sayde Danes, ta∣king shipping in the North, purposed to sayle into East Englande, and vpon the Sea, they chaunced to meete with a great Flote of Danes, whereof the Capitaines or chiefe leaders, were named Hungar and Hubba: The which by exhortation of the other comming out of the North, made all one course, and lastly landed in East England or Norffolke, and in processe of time came vnto Thetfoord.

¶ When Edmond king of the Prouynce heard hereof, he assembled an hoste, and gaue vnto them battaile. But Edmond and his hoste was forced to forsake the fielde, and Edmond with a fewe persons fled into the Castle of Fremingham, whome the Danes pursued: But he in short tyme after yelded himselfe vnto the persecution of the Danes. And for that this vertu∣ous Man Edmond woulde not denie, or renie Christ, and his lawes, they therefore most cruellye bound him vnto a Tree, and caused him to be shot to death, and in the ende caused his head to be smitten from his bodye, and cast

amongest the thickest of the Bushes, as sayth Fabian.

¶ Then his friendes with great solemnitie caried the body vnto the Ab∣bey, then called Eglidon, or Eglysdon, and nowe called Saint Edmondes bury, and there buried him in the yere of our Lord .viij.C.lxix.

¶ But now to returne againe to the Danes. When they had as before is sayd martired this godly Man Edmond, and robbed and spoyled that Coun∣trye, they tooke againe their Shippes, and landed in Southerey, and conti∣nued their iourney vntill they came to the towne of Reding, and wanne the Towne and Castle.

¶ And as Polichronicon sayth, the thirde day after they came thither, Hun∣gar and Hubba, as they went in purchasing of prayes, were slaine at a place called Englefield, which Captaines of the Danes beyng thus slain the rest of them kept close together, in such wise that y^e west Saxons could take of them none aduauntage. But within fewe dayes after, the Danes were holden so short, that they were forced to issue out of the Castle, and to defende themsel∣ues in plaine fielde. In the which by the comfort of king Etheldred, and of Alured his brother, the Danes were discomfited, and many of them slaine: whereof the other beyng ware, fled againe to the Castle, and kept them with∣in the same a certeyne tyme.

¶ Then the king commaunded Ethelwold who at that tyme was Duke of Bareoke, or Barkshire, to attend with his people vpon that Castle, and to see that the Danes brake not out at large, while he went into other partes of that Countrie to subdue other of the sayde Danes. But when the Danes knewe of the kinges departure, they brake out, and tooke the Duke vnpro∣uided, and slue him and most of his people, and caused the rest to withdrawe themselues from that towne and Castle.

¶ It was not long after, but that the king was certified of the death of Ethelwolde Duke of Barkeshire, and of the discomfiture of his people, and of the great victorie of the Danes: which vnto him were heauie newes. And foorthwith also, he heard that a Dane was landed named Osricke, whome Polichronicon nameth to be the king of Denmarke, the which Osricke in a short tyme had gathered together by the helpe and assistance of the other Da∣nes a great hoste, and were embattayled vpon Ashedowne.

¶ Vnto this battayle Alured was sent for, to his brother the king with great spede, that he should set forward vpon the Danes. But before he could be ready, the hostes of the Anglis, and the Danes were ioyned together with great violence. And although the Danes had wonne the hill, and the christian men were left in the valley: yet by the grace of God, and manhood of them∣selues, the christian men recouered the hil of the Danes, and slue their Duke or king called Osricke, and fiue of their Dukes, with many of their people, and chased the rest vnto the towne of Redyng.

¶ Wherefore the Danes reassembled theyr people, and gathered a newe hoste, so that within .xv. dayes, they met at a towne called Basingstoke, and there gaue battaile vnto king Etheldred, and had the better. Then the king gathered his people, the which at that fielde were sore scattered, and sepera∣ted, and with fresh Souldiours to them accompanied, met the Danes with∣in two Monethes after, at a Towne called Merton, and gaue vnto them a sharpe battayle, so that many people were slaine on both parties, that is to

say, aswell of the Christians, as of the Danes. But in conclusion, the Danes had the honour of the fielde, and the king of Anglis was wounded and faine to saue garde himselfe by pollecy, because might and strength fayled him.

¶ After these two fieldes thus wonne by the Danes, they obteyned and enioyed a great circuite of grounde, and destroyed man, woman, and childe, that to them were disobedient. And Churches and Temples they turned to the vse of Stables and other vile occupations. And to this great sorow was yet added another.

¶ For where the King hoped well to haue recouered his losses by the ayde and helpe of his subiectes, aswell of other partes of the lande, as of hys awne which was the west Saxons, he sent his commissions into Northumberland, into Mercia, and East Anglia: But he had of them small or little comfort, & in effect it was no comfort at all, so that the Countrie of west Saxons was brought into great desolation. For the king was beset with enemies on euery syde, and besydes that, his knightes and Souldiours were tyred, and weried with ouer watching and labour. The number of which aduersities and troubles entring, and deepelye sinking into the kinges minde, with his sore broose and hurt ensuyng of the wound taken at the battaile besyde Merton, shortened his dayes, so that he dyed when he had reigned in great vexation and trouble of the Danes .viij. yeres, without issue of his bodie, and was bu∣ryed at Winbourne: By reason whereof, the rule of the lande fell vnto his brother Alurede. Some write that he first founded the Cathedrall Churche at Exceter.

[unspec 872/1] ALurede the fourth sonne of Ethelwolphe, and brother to Etheldred reigned ouer the west Saxons. This Alured was borne at wantage, x. Miles from Oxforde then a Towne of the king of the west Sax∣ons, who as some write was .xij. yeres of age before he was set to schole: but for all that, he spent so well his tyme, that he exceeded all his brethren that were long set foorth to schole before him. And by the counsayle of a verteous and well learned Monke named Neotus, and other learned men of that tyme, he founded the Vniuersitte of Oxford, and fraunchised the same with many great liberties and priuileges. But the historie of that Vniuersitie of Oxforde seemeth to make it to be of a much greater antiquity, and to referre the beginning thereof vnto certaine Greeke Philosophers that came into this Iland with Brute and the Troyans, and afterwards placed themselues in a place not farre distaunt from Oxforde, called corruptly Crekelad for Grekelade. The which Philosophers being afterwarde allured with the pleasaunt situation of the place, remoued from thence to the soyle where Ox∣forde nowe standeth, and there taught the liberall Sciences. And the same schole being at the length decayed, and brought to extreme ruyne by ciuill warre and alteration of time: Alfred (say some) otherwise called Alurede as a seconde founder restored againe vnto the auncient state, who besides many other godly actes done for the encrease and maintenance of good learning, founded there a College, named the Myckle Vniuersitie Hall, nowe called the Vniuersitie Colledge: and in the same ordeyned a Gouernour by the name of a Master and a societie of .lxxviij. felowes, wherof there were .xxvj. Diuines .xxvj. Philosophers .xxvj. Grammarians, to the mainteyning and

sustenance of the which number, he appointed a competent yerely reuenew to be payde out of the Kings Cofers, by his heires and successours for euer, the which payment did still continue, as the monuments and auncient wry∣tings of the sayde College doe testifie, vntill the comming of Wylliam the Conquerour, who was the first that vpon displeasure conceyued against the students and scholers there, withdrewe the sayde payment.

¶Also he translated manye lawes, and namely the lawe of Mertia, and other out of the Britishe speeche into the Saxon tongue. He was also verye cunning and skilfull in building and making of Plottes, and excellent in hunting. He was of goodly stature and the best beloued of his father of all his other children. In his youth he was somewhat giuen to the pleasure of the fleshe, which hindered him from many a verteous purpose, for the repres∣sing whereof, he euening and morning and oftentimes in the night season woulde resort vnto Churches and there deuoutly praye a long season, and at the last he fell into an exstreme sicknesse called Ficus. For it is sayde that he desired of God that his fleshe might be chastised with suche a sicknesse, whereby he might serue God the better, and yet not to be vnapt to worldly businesse. And when he was cured of the aforesayde sicknesse, then he fell in∣to another more grieuous than that, the which continued with him from the .xx. yere of his age, till he was .xlv. But yet notwithstanding he wedded a noble woman named Ethelwyd, aby whome he had two sonnes, Edward surnamed the Elder, and Egelward, and three daughters: Elfleda that after was Lady of Mertia, Ethelgotha which was made a Nonne, and the third was called Elfrida. And he caused all his children as well daughters as o∣ther to be brought vp in science and learning, and for that purpose reteyned the learned man Asserius and Meneuia and other.

¶ Nowe after this Alured was admitted king, he considering the great daunger that his lande was in, gathered vnto hym his Lordes, and those whom he coulde not winne without strife, he wanne by strength and power: So that shortly, he assembled a great hoste, and in the seconde Moneth that he was made king, he met with the Danes on Wylton hil on the South part of Wilye Bourne, and there gaue vnto them a great battaile, but not with∣out great daunger and losse of men on both partyes. Fabian.

¶Mathew of Westmynster, Author of the flowres of stories, sayth that the victory fell vnto the Danes, because Alureds army was much fewer in num∣ber than the other were: For the force of the nobles and people of the west Saxons was then sore minished and abated, by reason of .ix. battailes that had bene foughten against the sayde Danes the yere past on the Southside of Thames, beside diuers roades and skirmishes made by their horsemen. After the which victorie, the Danes returned to London and wintered there, and thether came also vnto them, Buthredus king of Midddle England, and friendly compounded with them for mony and tooke a truce.

¶Then he renued his people, and in sundrie places fought with the Danes in the first yere sixe tymes: By meane whereof his people were so sore minished and weakened, that he was forced to take peace with his eni∣mies, vpon condicion that they should auoyde the Countries and Prouinces that he had dominion of.

¶Vpon which agreement firmelye concluded, the Danes for a tyme

voyded these Countries, and drewe towards London, and rested them about that coast the greatest parte of the yere folowing: and from thence to Lynd∣sey in robbing and spoyling the Townes and Villages as they went, and holding the common people in seruitude and bondage, and so continued the space of two yeres and more. But before the thirde yere was ended, they went vnto Repindon, and there put downe or slue Burdredus then king of Mertia, and they delyuered the kingdome vnto a seruant of his named Col∣wolphus, vpon condition that he should kepe it to their vse. And then they be∣sieged a towne thereby called Hambourgh, and assaulted it right sharply. After the which assault the inhabitaunts of that Towne of Hambourgh fled vnto Winchester. Fabian. But this storie in all pointes agreeth neyther with Huntyngdon, nor the Aucthour of the Flowres of stories and other aunci∣ent Wryters.

¶ Then the king made againe peace with the Danes, as he had done of∣tentymes before, and in trust thereof he roade with the fewer people, where∣of the Danes hauing knowledge, layde bushementes for him, and set so nere him, that they slue a great part of his companie, in an euening as he rode to∣warde Winchester. But Polodore wryteth, that this was done in a Ma∣nour of the kinges not farre from London, whether the kinge came at that tyme to recreate himselfe with hunting.

¶ And for this treason, Alured was sore amoued against them, and in as secrete maner as he might, he assembled a chosen companie of knightes, and Souldiours, and as Guydo sayth, fell vpon them sodeynlye and distressed a great number of them, and left them not til he had chased them vnto Chester, or as some say to Exceter, and there kept the Danes so short, that he con∣streyned them to geue to him pledges to kepe the peace, and to dwell no len∣ger there then they could prouide shipping to sayle into Denmarke.

¶ After the which agreement, the king returned to Mertia, or middle England. And for that he heard that Colwolphus was dead, to whome the Danes had taken that Lordship to keepe, he therefore seased that Kingdome and ioyned it to his awne. By reason whereof the kingdome of Mertia sur∣ceased, which had continued from their first king named Penda vntill y^t time.

¶And in the fift yere of the reigne of Alured, the Danes (as affirmeth Poli∣chronicon) sayled from Werham toward Excetor, in the which iourney they lost. C.x. of theyr small shippes by a tempest on the Sea: But some of them remayned and occupyed the kinges towne of Chipnam, and the Countrey thereabout, and chased the Anglis and put them to flight, or made them as subiectes vnto them. And so sore their power encreased, that the Anglis lost and decayed dayly, and they preuayled the more a great deale, by reason of the landing of a Prince of the Danes, called Gytrus, which was named king of Denmarke.

¶ King Alured beyng thus ouercome with a multitude of enemies, did lead an vncerteyne, troublesome and vnquiet lyfe, and hauing very fewe fol∣kes about him would walke about in the Wood Countrye of Sommerset∣shire, and had skant to liue withall, but lyued of suche as he and his people could get by hunting and fishing.

¶ How be it, at the length he was well comforted, and shewed him selfe more at large, so that dayly resorted to him men of Wiltshire, Somersetshire,

and Hampshire, vntill that he was well and strongly furnished. Then as sayth a wryter called William of Malmesburye de Regibus, the king put him∣selfe in a great ieoperdie: for he put on him the garment of a Minstrell, and with his Instrument of Musicke he entered the tentes and Pauilions of the Danes, and in shewing to them his pastime, with ieastes and songes, he espi∣ed all their slouth and idlenesse, and also heard much of their counsayle, and after returned againe vnto his company, and tolde to them all the maner of the Danes.

¶ Then the king with a chosen companie fell vpon them by night, and distressed, and slue of them a great multitude, & chased them from that coast. And when he had thus chased the Danes, by counsayle of his Knightes, he buylded there a Tower, and named it Edeling, that is to say, a Tower of no∣ble men: Out of the which Tower he and his souldiours made many assaul∣tes vpon their enemies and did to them much griefe and domage, and at the last clerely aduoyded the Countrie of them betwene that and Selwoodes.

¶This Edeling standeth in a greene Maresse or Moore, so that men can not come at it without Ship, or Boate, and it conteyneth no great ground, but yet therin is Venison & other wilde beastes, and foule, & fish great plenty.

¶ Thus king Alured dayly pursued his enemies, by the helpe of God and his Subiectes, who heering of his victories and manfull deedes, drewe to him continually out of all Coastes: By whose power & strength he helde the Danes so short, that he wanne from them Winchester, and many other good Townes, and compelled them at the last to sue for peace, the which was con∣cluded vpon certeyne conditions, whereof one and the Principall was, that theyr king named as before is sayde, Gytrus, shoulde be Christened, and a certeyne of his Dukes with him. And for that the king would haue the Da∣nes banished out of the West partes of Englande, he graunted to him East Anglia, to abide and dwell in.

¶ Then this Prince of Danes, according to the couenauntes, was chri∣stened at Winchester, (or as Mathew of Westminster sayth, at a place called Alre, not farre from Edeling aforesayde) and .xxx. of the greatest of his Dukes with him. And to the Danish Prince, king Alurede was Godfather at the Font stone, & named him Athelstane. And after he had a season feasted the sayd Danes, he according to his promes gaue vnto their king the Coun∣trie of East Anglia, which then conteyned, Norffolke, and Suffolke, and a part of Cambridgeshire. And also, as sayth Polichronicon, he graunted to the Danes that were christened, the Countrey of Northumberlande. And the other that would not be christened departed the land, and sayled into France, where they rested them with their cosyns and kinsmen, and at those dayes they wasted and spoyled the Country of Fraunce in most despitefull maner.

¶ When this Danishe king Athelstane, had the possession of the Coun∣tries aboue mencioned, then were all such Anglis, as inhabited there vnder his obedience. And albeit that he helde the sayde Prouynce as in fee of the king, and promised to dwell there as his liege man, yet that promise notwith∣standing, he continued lyke a Tyraunt, by the terme of .xi. yeres full, and in the .xij. yere he dyed.

¶ About the .xv. yere of the reigne of Alured, the Danes which before as ye haue heard, sayled into Fraunce, returned nowe againe into England, and

landed in Kent, and at the last came to Rochester, and besieged that Citie, and lay there so long, that they builded a Tower of Tymber, and not of Stone, against the gates of the Citie. But by the strength of the Citezens that tower was destroyed, and the Citie defended vntill king Alured reskewed them. The which had made such purueyaunce for the distressing of them by water, and land, that they were so nere trapped, that for feare they left their Horses behinde them, and fled to their Shippes by night. But when the king was thereof ware, he sent after them, and tooke .xvj. of their Shippes, and slue many of the sayde Danes. After this iourney the king returned to London and repayred certeyn places of the same, which the Danes had hurt & febled.

¶ And in the .xxj. yere of the reigne of this king, the Danes landed in foure places of this Realme, that is to say, in the East England, & the North, and in the West in two places. But by reason the king before their landing had warning of the death of Athelstone the Danishe king of East England, and of other complaintes of the Danes, he therefore went thether himselfe, and in the tyme of his there beyng, the aforesayd newes came to him.

¶And so soone as he heard thereof, and that some of the Danes were landed in that coast, and knewe well that the further that they drewe into those partes, the more they shoulde be ayded and strengthened: he therfore sent messengers in all hast vnto Etheldred Erle or Duke of Mertia and the borderers thereabout, to make resistaunce against the Danes which landed in the west. And that done, the king sped him towarde his enemies and set on them so egerly and sharpely, that in the ende he droue them out of East Anglia. And then they landed in Kent, whether also the king and his people folowed, and likewise draue them from thence. Howbeit, of anye speciall fight or battaile, authours make no mention. After this againe the Danes tooke shipping and sayled into Northwales, and there robbed and spoyled the Britons, and from thence returned by Sea into Est England, and there rested them, for so much as the king was then gone westwarde.

¶ In this meane tyme, the aforesayd Danes had wonne the Towne of Chester, but the Countries adioinyng therevnto, came so sore and so thicke vpon them, that the Danes were compelled to keepe them within the sayde Towne or Citie, and to defende themselues therein as well as they coulde. But their holding and keeping of that Towne continued so long, that they were compelled to eate their Horsses for hunger. And at the last by apoint∣ment they gaue ouer the Towne, and went thence to Northumberland.

¶ And in the while that the king with his hoste sped him thetherward, they leauing their strong holdes & Castels garnished with men and victuall, tooke againe shipping, and fet their course in such wise that they landed in Sussex, and so came to the Towne of Lewes, and from thence toward Lon∣don and they builded a Tower or Castell nere vnto the Ryuer of Lewes. But the Londoners hearing of their doings, made out a certaine number of men of armes, who hauing the ayde of the Countrie, put the Danes from that Tower, and afterward did beate it downe to the grounde.

¶And shortly after, the king came downe thether, and for that he thought that the sayde Ryuer would be a meane to bring enemies eftsones into that Countrie, therefore he commaunded the streame to be deuyded into dyuers streames, so that by reason thereof, where a Ship might haue sayled in tyme

passed, then a little Boate might scantly rowe. And now by reason of the pre∣sence of the king, the Danes were enforced to flie and to auoyde that Coun∣trie, and from thence tooke againe their way toward Wales, and kept along the Ryuer of Seuerne, and vpon the border thereof they builded them a Ca∣stell nere vnto Wales, and so rested them there for a time. And three yeres after this land was vexed with three maner of plagues, the one was warre with the Danes, the other was death and pestilence of men, and the thirde Moreyn of Cattell. The which troubles & aduersities notwithstanding, the king honourably and valiauntly resisted his enimies, and gaue God hartye thankes whatseouer came, and susteyned it with great humilitie & pacience.

¶ And finally, this martiall Prince continuing in all prowes and ver∣tue, at the last dyed, when he had ruled this lande .xxviij. yeres, and first was buried at Wilton, and after certaine yeres remoued and caryed vnto Winchester, leauing after him a sonne named Edward the Elder, for the o∣ther brother called Egelward dyed before his father.

EThus reigned in Scotlande two yeres, he was so swift that in running, [unspec 876/5] he coulde ouertake a Harte or Greyhounde.

GRegour reigned in Scotland .xviij. yeres. This was a sage, wise, [unspec 878/7] and puyssaunt Prince, and a man of great prowes. He recouered Fiffe and Louthian, & the countries that were taken from the Scottes, by the Danes and other enimies, he also droue the Danes out of Northumberland (as af∣firmeth the Scottish history) and made that Prouince tributarie to him: he tooke from the Briteyns Chumber and westme••lande, and vanquished and subdued the Irishmen.

DOnald the .vj. reigned in Scotland .xj. yeres. He made a lawe, [unspec 894/23] that all men that did forsweare themselues, or spake of the Deuill, should be bur∣ned in the lips with a hoate. Iron.

EDward surnamed the Elder, [unspec 901/1] the sonne of Alured began after his fa∣ther to gouerne the Realme of England. This man was not so well learned as was his father, but in honour, fame, and martiall prowes, he was nothing inferiour. Howbeit, Wylliam of Malmesbury in the .xiij. Chapter and second booke of the story of Kinges, affirmeth that he was ex∣celently learned, and folowing the diligence of his father king Alphrede, cau∣sed his base sonne called Ethelstane, who afterwards succeded him, to be well instructed in the Latyn tongue. He was also very profitable to the com∣mon weale in building and repayring many Castels, Townes, and Cities, which were rased and broken by the Danes, he adioyned to his Lordship all this lande, sauing only Northumberland, which was possessed of the Danes. By his first wyfe he had a sonne named Ethelstane the which was king af∣ter him. But the Authour of the flowers of Histories sayth, that he begat Ethelstane of a Concubine named Egwine. By his second wyfe he had two sonnes, Edredus, and Edwynus, and .vij. daughters. And of the thirde wife, he receyued two sonnes, Edmond, and Edred, and two daughters, Edburga, and Edgina.

¶ The first of these three wyues was called Edwyna, the second Edgi∣na, and the thirde Ethleswida. Of the aforenamed seuen daughters, which he had by his second wife, one named Alunda, was maryed to the first Otto

the Emperor, and another named Algina, was maried to Charles the Sim∣ple, King of west France, & the yongest of his daughters as sayth Reynulph, he wedded vnto Lewes king of Guyan, but hereof speaketh nothing the Frenche Chronicle. He set his sonnes to schoole, and his daughters to wooll worke, taking example of Charles the Conquerour.

¶ But because there is diuersitie among writers touching the names of his wiues and children, and also of the number of them, he that findeth fault with the Author whom I folow, may read Mathew of Westminster in the lyfe of Edward the sonne of Alphred, and Reynulph in his sixt booke, and fourth Chapter, and there he shall see howe, and wherein they disagree, and so try out what is most probable and lykely to be true: But yet that the rea∣der may haue some present tryall hereof, I will shewe what the Aucthour called Mathew of Westminster, which compiled his story at the commaun∣dement of Richard the seconde, wryteth hereof, whose wordes are these.

¶ King Edward sayth he, of his first wife named Egwina, begat his el∣dest or first borne sonne Ethelstane: of his wife Edgina, he begat Edredus, Edwinus, and sixe daughters, of the which he maried one vnto the Empe∣ror Otho, another to Charles, king of the west French men, & the third vnto Schitericus, Duke of Northumberland. Of his thirde wife named Ethel∣witha, he begat Edmond and Eldred, which reigned both after Ethelstane. He begat also by the sayd thirde wife, two daughters, that is to say Edburga, which was professed a Nonne, and lyeth buried at Winchester, and Edgina the fayre, which maryed with Lewes king of Aquitaine. But Polidore agre∣eth not herewith, but sayth much otherwise.

¶ In the fift yere of his reigne, Clito Ethelwoldus a neere kinsman of his (for he was Cosyn germaine vnto him on the fathers syde, but as Poli∣dore sayth his brother) rebelled against him, and occupied the towne of Win∣borne besydes Bathe, and tooke thence by force a Nonne thinking to marry her, and went thence vnto the Danes dwelling in Northumberland, and pro∣uoked them to ryse against king Edwarde. But the king pursued him so sharpely, that he constrayned him to leaue that Countrie, and so he sayled in∣to Fraunce, and left the Nonne behynde him, the which the king caused to be restored againe to the house that she was taken from.

The next yere folowing, the sayd Clito with his companie landed in East England, and gathered to him the Danes of that Countrye, and with theyr ayd destroyed and pilled the Countrie about Crekinford, and Crickland. And then he passed the ryuer of Thames, and spoyled the land vnto Bradenestoke or rather Basingstoke, and so from thence returned againe into East Anglia aforesayde. But where mine Authour hath here Crekynfoord, and Crick∣lande, Reynulph hath Crecanefoorde otherwise called Kreklade, whome I do rather alowe.

¶Now the king folowed still his enemies, and spoyled their landes which they helde by composition of him from the Ryuer of Owse, to the border of Saint Edmondes lande, commaunding the knightes of his hoste, that none should drag or tary after his armye, for feare least the enemies should snatch them vp. But the Kentish men trusting to much in their awne strength, came not away as the king commaunded: Wherefore the Danes wayting theyr praye, fell vpon them by bushments, and slue a great number of them,

wherewith the king was sore discontented.

¶ Sone after, both the Armies met, whereafter long and cruell fight, Clyto with a great number of the Danes were slaine, and the residue con∣streyned to flie, and to crie and seeke for peace, the which was graunted vnto them vpon certeyne condicions, namely, that they shoulde keepe them within the boundes to them limitted, & besydes that to pay yerely a certeine summe of money in way of Tribute. After which peace so stablished with them, the king repayred Cities, Townes, and Castels, that by the sayde Danes were battered and broken.

¶ And in the .viij. yere of his reigne, king Edward repayred the walles and also the Citie of Chester. To the which were great helpers, Etheldredus Duke of Mertia, and Elfleda his wife, daughter of Alured, as before is she∣wed, and sister of this king Edwarde. And after the king builded a strong Castle at Hereforde in the edge of Wales. And he enlarged so greatly the Walles of Chester, that the Castell which before time was without the wall, is now within, and the sayde Citie of Chester is at thys day much more bew∣tified and enlarged.

¶ In the .xij. yere of his reigne the Danes repentyng them of theyr co∣uenantes before made, and mynding the breach of the same, assembled an hoste and met with the king in Staffordshire at a place called Toten hall, and soone after at Wodnes field: At which two places the king slue two kinges, two Earles, and many thousandes of the Danes that then occupyed the coū∣trye of Northumberland. And soone after, dyed the noble man Etheldredus, Duke or Earle of Martia or middle England, after whose death, the king forsomuch as he had often proued her wisedome, tooke the rule of that coun∣trie to his wife Elfleda (London onely excepted) the which he tooke vnder his awne rule.

¶ In the .xiij. yere of this king, a great nauie of Danes which in the time of Alured were driuen into fraunce nowe returned againe, and sayled about the west countrye, and landed in dyuerse places, and tooke prayes, and went to their Shippes againe. And at one tyme among other, they robbed and spoyled at a place called Irchinfielde, and tooke a Britishe Bishop, and cary∣ed him to their shippes, and finally raunsomed him at .xl. pound. But assoone as king Edward had knowledge of their beyng in that place, he assembled his people and made towardes them by lande, and sent another armie by wa∣ter to encounter with the Danes Shippes vpon the Sea: whereof the sayd Danes hauing knowledge, fled to Irelande, and by that meanes both esca∣ped the king by land, and his name by Sea.

¶ Then the king for the strengthening of that country made a Castell at the mouth of the water of Auene, and another Castle at Bokingham, and the thirde nere therevnto, that is to say, on eyther side of the Ryuer of Owse one. And after this he returned into Northamton shire, and Bedfordshire, and fought there with the Danes of those Countries, and at the length sub∣dued them and their leader or Duke called Turketillus.

¶ In the .xvij. yere of this king, Elfleda Lady of Mertia, gathered toge∣ther her knightes: And where the Britons or Welshmen brake into the land about Brekenocke, she with her people withstoode them, and among other prisoners and prayes, tooke there the Queene of Welshmen.

¶ And the yere folowing, King Edward builded or newely reedefyed the Townes of Tocester, and Wigmore, and destroyed the Castell that the Da∣nes had made at Temes foord. And the sayde yere the noble Ladye Elfleda wanne the Towne of Darby from the Danes, where they put her in suche aduenture, that foure knightes which were called the Gardians of her body were slaine fast by her.

¶ And in the .xviij. yere of his reigne dyed that noble Princes Elfleda, in the Moneth of Iune, and was buryed in the Monasterye of Saint Peter, which her Lorde and shee before tyme had buylded within the Towne of Gloucester, which Monasterie was after throwne downe by the Danes.

¶ When Elfleda was dead, her daughter named Elswyna helde the Lord∣ship of Mertia for a season: But for that the king considered it to be a thing ouer chargeable for her gouernement, he therefore discharged her thereof, and ioyned it to his kingdome, but not all without some strife. For dyuerse Townes she kept of the king for a tyme, as Notyngham, Tomworth, Der∣by, and other, he supposing that the daughter would haue defended them, as the mother by her lyfe had done, but at the last they came all to the kinges subiection.

¶ When king Edward had reconciled the aforesayde Townes, he then builded a new Towne, right against the olde Towne of Nottingham, on the South syde of the Ryuer of Trent, and made a Bridge ouer the sayd Riuer betwene the sayde Townes. And as sayth Reynulph, the yere folowing in the sayd Citie or Towne of Nottingham, there were two kinges, that is to say of Scotland and Wales, that yelded themselues vnto king Edward. And sundry Aucthours, as Marian the Scot, William of Malmesbury, Henry of Huntington, and other, doth shew that this king Edward subdued the kings of Scotland, and of Combris, about the .ix. yere of his reigne. And of the sayde Authours it is also witnessed, that about the .xx. yere of the sayde Ed∣wardes reigne, the sayd kinges of Scotlande and Combrys, chose king Ed∣ward for their chiefe Lorde and Patrone, which should be aboute the season before expressed.

¶ Then this noble Prince, after all thinges were set in order as afore∣sayde, he builded on the North parte and in the ende of Mertia, a Citie or Towne, and named it Thilwall, and strengthened it with knightes. And after he repayred the Citie of Manchester, which was sore defaced with the warres of the Danes. After which notable deedes by this puyssant prince fi∣nished, with the mariage of his children, and many other thinges which I passe ouer for length, this noble Prince sickened, and dyed when he had vic∣toriously reigned ouer the greatest part of this lande .xxiiij. yeres, and was buried at Faringdon, leauyng after him dyuers sonnes, as is before rehersed, of the which Ethelstane was the eldest.

¶ Marion the Scot in hys Chronicle doth wryte that thys Edwarde subdued Constantine king of Scottes, which reigned in his tyme, and that he helde the Realme of Scotland vnder the obedience of the aforesayde king Edward, the space of .xxiij. yeres.

[unspec 904/4] COnstantine the thirde of that name was ordeyned king of Scottes, and reigned .xl. yeres.

AThelstane, or Adelstane, the sonne of Edward the elder, [unspec 925/1] after the death of his father tooke vpon him the gouernement of this Realme. He was a worthy Prince, valiant, and politique in all his actes and doinges.

¶ In the seconde yere of his reigne, for an vnitie and peace to be had be∣twene the king and the Danes of Northumberland, he maryed his sister to Sithricus their king, vpon promes that he would be Christened, the which he performed, but shortly after he put away his wyfe, and returned to Paga∣nisme, and finally dyed miserably.

¶ And when he had thus accorded with the Danes of Northumberland, soone after he made subiect to him Constantine king of Scottes, and the whole Realme of Scotland at Broningfielde, where also he discomfited the Danes, & slue Malcolme Deputie in that behalfe to the king of Scots, with xx. thousand Scottes, in the which battayle the Scottes confesse to haue lost more people than were remembred in any age before. And this Athelstane folowed this his good lucke throughout all Scotland, and wholy subdued it, and beyng in possession of it, gaue land there liyng in Annandale by his dede, the Copie wherof foloweth. I King Athelstane, geues vnto Paulan, Oddam and Roddam, as good and as fayre, as euer they mine vvere, and thereto vvitnesse Mavvde my vvife. By which course wordes, not onely appereth the plaine simplicitie of mennes doyngs in those dayes, but also proue fullye that he was then seazed of the whole Realme of Scotland.

¶ And after this conquest, the sayde Constantine so humbled himselfe vn∣to the King, that he restored him to his former dignitie. Wherefore, the sayde Constantine sayde in the prayse of a king, that it vvas more honour to make a king than to be a king.

¶ It is also witnessed by Reynulph, and other, that this Athelstane, or Adelstane, should marry one of his sisters named Edith vnto Otho the first of that name Emperour of Almaine, and (as some wryte) receyued from him many precious Iewelles: But of this speaketh nothing the Chronicles of the Romaynes. Howbeit, it is shewed there, that the aforesayde Otho had a wyfe named Alunda, which as before is sayde in the story of King Edward the elder, might be the daughter of the sayd Edward, & of Edgina his second wife, and sister vnto this king Athelstane. But Vincencius sayth, that Hen∣ry Duke of Saxony, which was father vnto the first Otho, sent vnto Athel∣stane, requiring of him his sister to marry vnto his sonne Otto: By which reason it maye be truely sayde that Otho or Otto maryed the eldest sister of Athelstane, but not Edith.

Of the aforesayd Iewels sent by Otto, one was a precious vessell of stone called Onychites, which was of such cleerenesse and also so finely and artifi∣cially wrought, that it appered to mans sight that grene corne had growne within it, and moued and waued as corne doth standing in the field: More∣ouer in it appered Vynes burging and bearing of fruite, and men also to fight, mouing and stirring. He also receiued the great Constantines swoord, wherein was grauen in great letters of Golde the name of the owner: and the hiltes thereof were couered with great plates of Golde, and one of the Nayles was fastened to the Crosse of the sayde sword, that crucified and nay∣led Christ to the Crosse. Fabian. But Reynulph sayth otherwise. He also re∣ceyued the Speare of Charles the great, which after the opinion of some

Wryters, was the Speare wherewith Longeus opened Christes side. And the Baner of Saint Morice, with a part of the holye Crosse, and a parte of the Crowne of Thorne that our Sauiour Christ was crowned with. Of the which Iewels, king Ethelstane gaue part vnto S. Swithines of Winche∣ster, and some he gaue vnto the Abbey of Malmesbury. And some write that this Athelstane was the first annointed king at his coronation. Fabian.

¶Now it followeth in the Historie, how Constantyne king of Scottes, for all his humilitie, and for all the princely fauour that he had shewed vnto him by king Athelstane, forgetting altogither both fayth and loyaltie, as the maner and custome of the Scottes is, reuolted and brake couenaunt wyth the king. Wherefore king Athelstane assembled his knights and power, and made towarde Scotlande, and in his waye he turned to the Towne named Saint Iohns of Beuerley and offered there his knyfe vpon the Altare sai∣yng, that if he returned with victorie, he woulde redeeme his knyfe with a noble price, and that being done, he marched forward on his iourney, and in conclusion, discomfited the Scottes, and brought them againe into due sub∣iectiō. And after according to the promise before made, he returned to Yorke, and so to Beuerley, where he redeemed his knife worthily as before he had promised by endowment and great priuileges graunted vnto that towne.

¶ And Reynulph in the vj. Booke, and vj. Chapter, sayeth that king A∣thelstane after he had subdued the Scottes being then with his Lordes and familiers, neere vnto the Castle of Dunbarre, prayed to God that in that Countrie he might leaue some remembrance or token, that those that were then liuyng, and also such as should come after, might know that the Scots by right should be subiects to Englishmen. And forthwith he toke his sword in hande and smote vpon a great stone standing neere vnto the sayde Castel, with which stroke the stone did cleaue an Elle in length, which in the tyme of Edward the third was there to be seene, as Fabian sayeth.

¶ Ye haue heard before, that King Athelstane, after the death of Sithe∣ricus king of Northumberland, seased that lande or Prouynce into his awne hande, and put out his sonne: which after allyed himselfe with Constantine king of the Scottes and maryed his daughter. By whose prouocation and stirring, he gathered a company of Danes, Scottes, and other, and entered the mouth of Humber with a strong Nauye. Whereof king Athelstane when he had knowledge, did in all goodly haste prepare his armie, and at length met with him and his people, at a place called Brimford, where Athelstane obteyned a great and notable victorie. For after the king by the helpe of God had defended the subtile assault made vpon him by night by his enemies, he in the morning by the helpe of his brother Edmond, and Oddo the Archbishop chased his sayd enemies, and slue there Constantine king of Scottes, and fiue petye, or vnder kinges, and .xij. Dukes, with the greatest part of all the straungers that were there gathered at that time: The which battaile should be done by the meaning of the sayd Reynulph, about y^e last yere of his reigne.

¶ It is also written of dyuerse Aucthours, that the king after this victo∣rye, subdued also the North Briteynes that dwelled at Hereford, and there about, and compelled them to pay him yerely three hundred pound of Siluer xxv.C. head of Neate, and .xx. pound in Golde. But Guido sayth, that the king caused at Hereford Citie, to come before him all the rulers of the North

Briteyn, and there had with them such communication, that he forced them to graunt vnto him as a yerely tribute .xx. pound of Golde, three hundred pound of Siluer, and .xxv.C. heade of Neate, with Dogges, and Hawkes to a cer∣teyne number. After which victories, he went vnto Exeter, and repayred it and the walles thereof sufficiently.

¶ Iohn Lidgate a Monke sometyme of Saint Edmondes bury, made a goodly treatise of this King Athelstane, shewing that he was in so great per∣secution of the Danes, that he was constrayned to call at Winchester a great counsayle of his Lordes. Where, after long debating of the matter, and dy∣uerse Ambassades and messages sent about by the king, and the Danes: It was firmely concluded, that the king should prouide him a Champion to fight with Colybrond or Colbrond, a Gyaunt and Dane, which the Danes had appoynted for theyr Chiefteyne. Wherefore the king in searching through his landes for such a knight, and none could finde, was in great daunger and distresse of heauinesse. And forsomuch as he well perceyued, that mannes power fayled, he by the aduice of his Lordes Spirituall, and Temporall, fell to fasting and prayer, and continued therein by a certeyne of tyme wyth perfect and charitable deuotion.

¶ In the tyme of which sayd abstinence, a vision was shewed vnto Athel∣stane, comforting him, and also commaunding him, that earely vpon the next morning, he should stande at the North gate of the Citie of Winchester, and there he should finde amongest the number of the poore people, a man clo∣thed in Palmers wede whome he should choose for his Champion.

¶ After which vision thus to him shewed, he did according, and founde a man of goodly stature, & some deale striken in age, and apparelled as he was tolde in the vision. Wherof the king first gaue vnto God his heartie thankes, and after made request to this man, that he would take vpon him this Com∣bate for the defence of the lande: And the man layd for himselfe many causes and considerations, as well for his age as otherwise, that he ought to be hold excused to take vpon him such an enterprice. Howbeit, after much discoursing at the last he graunted the king to fulfill his request and commaundement.

¶And at the day assigned and appoynted, he met in the fielde with the a∣forenamed Gyant, called Colbrond without the Gate of the Citie in a Me∣dowe, called Hide Mede, where betweene them two was foughten a long and cruell fight, so that the king was in great feare of his Champion. But finally by the helpe of God, the man wonne the honour of that fight, and slue that Gyant that was of exceding stature, & also of great and passing strength.

¶ Which victorie by the man thus obteyned, with the helpe and fauour of God: the king then with his Baronny fet the Man into the Citie of Winche∣ster with solempne Procession, & conueyed him vnto the Cathedrall Church of the same, where he thanked God with great deuotion, and offered there the Are with the which he had slaine the Danes Champion. After which obla∣tion with due reuerence, and other obseruaunces by him and other finished: The king caused him to be conueyed vnto his Court, where he taryed that night with much entreatye. And in the morning earely he made such meanes that he would needes depart, and that in the same apparell that he came the∣ther. When the king was aduertised that this man would so hastely depart, whome he entended to haue holden with him in his Court, and to haue en∣dowed

him with riche possessions: He commaunded him to be brought vnto his presence.

¶And when he sawe that he could not cause him to tary, he requyred him to shew vnto him his name: wherof also he besought the king to pardon him. Wherfore the king considering his hasty departing, with many other thinges in him to be considered, was then the more desyrous to haue of him some knowledge. And therfore the king was earnest in his desyre and request, and would haue no nay, but that he should declare his name: Then the man per∣ceiuyng that without the kinges displeasure he could not depart without dis∣closing of his name, sayde, he might not discouer his name within the walles of the Citie, without the offence of his conscience.

¶ Wherfore, the king graunted to go with him vntill he were in the brode fieldes: Vpon which graunt thus made, the king commaunded dyuerse great giftes to be to him presented, which all he vtterly refused. Shortly to con∣clude, the king with a certeyne of his Lordes conueyed this sayde man vnto the Townes ende: And when he was thether come, he there requyred him of the performance of his promes. And then the man kneling on his knee, be∣sought the king of his especiall grace, that he woulde put apart his Lordes and other, so that he might shewe his name vnto him onely.

¶ Which beyng done, he besought him that he would kepe his name se∣cret for the space of .xxiiij. houres: the which the king graunted vnto him, and then he sayd, that he was his naturall liege man, and subiect, and that his name was Guy of Warwike. Of which tidynges the king was very ioyous, and offered him then of newe, many riche rewardes and giftes: But all was in vaine, for he would receyue nothing, so that the king and he lastly departed with weping eyen. And after the sayd Guy of Warwicke purchased in a Wil∣dernesse a lodging in an Hermitage, where, by the terme of two yeres and more, he dwelled and kept and hard life. And he heering that Dame Felice his awne wife fed dayly .xiij. poore men for Christes sake, he went thether sondry tymes, and fet there his Almose, his sayde wife then liyng at the Castell of Warwike, not knowyng of any man what he was, vntill at the last, he was visited with sore sicknesse, and that he knewe well he should dye: Wherefore he sent his wedding ring vnto his wife, requyring her in all the haste to come and speake with him, which shee obeyed in humble wise, and sped her vnto the sayde Hermitage with all womanly diligence, and founde him dead at her comming, whome shee besprent with many a salt teare. And as shee was enformed of the Messenger, at the tyme when he dyed, he determined to be buryed in the same place, and euen there she did bury him. And moreouer, as sayth the aforesayde Aucthour, he admonished his sayd wyfe, by the sayd mes∣senger, that she should prouide, for she should die within .xv. dayes next after: which shee also obeyed, and made such prouision that shee was buried in the same place. All which matter the sayd Iohn Lydgate affirmeth, that he tooke out of a certeine booke of Giraldus Cambrensis, otherwise called Siluester Giraldus, which wrote many thinges of the Princes of Englande, as Reynulph also and others doe witnesse.

¶ All which sayd treatise is shewed at length in meter of .viij. staues, by the diligent labour of the sayde Iohn Lidgate, the which I haue here omit∣ted for breuitie sake. This Athelstane by the recorde of sundrie wryters,

brought againe this land into one Monarchy, and reigned as king thereof xvj. yeres, and was buried at the Monastery of Malmesbury, leauyng after him no childe, & therefore the rule of this land fell vnto Edmond his brother.

EDmond the brother of Athelstane and sonne of Edwarde the Elder, [unspec 940/1] reigned next after his brother.

¶In the first yere of his reigne, the Danes of Northumberlande rebelled against him: And for to make their partie the stronger, they sent for a Prince of the Danes named Aulaffe, then being in Irelande, the which brought with him another prince or ruler of y^e Danes named Reignald, with a great hoste of Danes and other straung Nations, and entered the foresayd Countrie, and warred vpon the next borders, in wasting and spoilyng the inhabitaunts of the same.

¶ When king Edmond had knowledge hereof, anone he assembled hys people, and sped him towarde the Countrie, and at the last fought with the sayde two Princes of the Danes, and chased them from Towne to Towne, vntill he forced them with all their company of straunge Nations to forsake vtterly that Prouince, and further he did beate downe the Countrie of Com∣berlande, that had much fauoured and ayded the sayde enimies against him, and tooke therein great prayes, and deuyded the spoyle amongst his knights. And that done, eyther for the good seruice that Malcolyne king of Scot∣lande had in his voyage done vnto the king, or for the truth & allegeance that he in tyme following should beare vnto him, or for both, the king gaue there to the sayde Malcolyn the Countrie of Comberland, and seased the residue of the Lordship of Northumberlande, and ioyned it vnto his awne kingdome. But yet the Danes returned againe in the time of Edred the next king, as after shall be shewed, so that as yet the ende of his kingdome, is not to be ac∣compted. But Polidore alloweth not them that ascribe the vanquishing of the Northumbers vnto this Edmond, affirming that to haue beene Athel∣stanes deede, who also subdued the Scottes: and so as it seemeth is of opi∣nion that the kingdome of the Northumbers, ended in the sayde Athelstanes tyme.

¶ This king Edmond had a noble woman to his wyfe named Elgina, of whome he receyued two sonnes, named Edwyn and Edgar.

¶ This king Edmond, as sayeth Henry Archdeacon of Huntingdon, had warre oftentymes with the Danes, who held many good Townes in middle England, as Lyncoln, Nottyngham, Darby, Stafford, and Leyceter, the which by his knightly manhood, he wanne from them, and he also amended many things within the Realme that had beene long time out of frame, by meane of the Danes: and as Polydore sayth, established many good lawes very profitable for the common wealth. Of the ende and death of this Ed∣mond, there are diuers opinions, for Marianus the Scot sayeth, that while this king Edmond endeuoured himselfe to saue his Sewer from his ene∣my, that would haue slain him in a towne or place called Pulkre Church, the king in parting of the Fray, was wounded to death, and dyed shortly after.

¶ But Wylliam of Malmesbury de Regibus sayth, that the king being at a Feast at the foresayde Towne or place, vpon the day of Saint Augustine, espyed a Felon, sitting in the Hall named Leof, which he before tyme for his

Felony had exiled, and therfore he lept ouer the table and plucked that theefe by the heare of the head to the ground. In which doing the sayde Felon, with a knife wounded the king to death, and also with the same knife wounded many other of the kings seruaunts, and at length was himselfe all to hewen in peeces. Fabian. If this be true, it should seeme that kings at those dayes were neyther so honorably garded nor accompanyed, nor yet kept so prince∣ly estate, as they now vse.

¶ But which of these two meanes was vsed in the kings death, it appereth not certainely, but all wryters agree that he dyed when he had reigned .vj. yeres and more, and was buried at Glascenbury, the which before he had sumpteously repayred, and left after him two yong sonnes, as before is re∣membred Edwyn, and Edgar, but for that they were to yong to rule the land, therefore the rule thereof was committed to Edredus their Vncle, and bro∣ther to their father.

[unspec 944/5] MAlcolme the first and the sonne of Constantine reigned King of Scottes xv. yeres, and at the last was slaine by conspiracy of certaine Traytors.

[unspec 946/1] ELdred or Edred the brother of Edmond and sonne of Edward the el∣der, was made king, for y^t the children of king Edmond were thought to yong to gouerne.

This Eldred was annointed king of Oddo or Otho Archbishop of Caū∣torburie, in the Towne of Kingstone vpon Tamys, and soone after, he war∣red vpon the Danes that then were entered into Northumberland (or after some writers, that then were there dwelling vnder tribute of the king) sub∣dued before of Edmond his brother, and be them downe, and caused them to holde and obey vnto their former couenaunts. And the Scottes then also be∣gan to varie, but he brought them vnto due obedience.

¶ After a certaine terme, the Danes of Northumberlande, which euer continued full of guyle and doublenesse, not being content to holde and keepe the couenaunts before made and promised vnto Edred the king, called vnto them their olde accessaryes and helpers, and bereued from the kings subiects the Citie of Yorke and other strong Townes and Castels, to the great hurte and anoyance of the Countrie, and vtter displeasure of the king.

¶ Wherefore, he being therof aduertised, in goodly and conuenient haste, assembled his people, and sped him thether, and destroyed much of the land. And in that furie brent the Abbay of Rypon, which the Danes kept for a Fortresse and strength, and wanne from them muche of their strengthes which they before had wonne, and brought them againe vnder his subiection.

¶ When this king Edred had thus sped his iourney and was returning into England, nothing suspecting the sayde Danes, a company of them by the exciting of Hircus a king or prince of the Danes, then folowed the kings hoste, and before he came at Yorke set vpon the kings rereward, and destroy∣ed and slue many a man. For the which doing the king was sore amooued, and turned his people againe, entending to haue destroyed the Countrie vtterly.

¶ Wherof the Danes beyng ware, so lowly meked themselues vnto him, and presented vnto him such giftes, that the king refrayned of that great yre that he purposed to them. But amongest other Articles that he bound them

vnto, one was, that they should banish and vtterly refuse their foresaid Duke or king called Hercus: which thing with dyuers and many other they graun∣ted and firmely bound themselues to keepe, as well by hostages taken, as by other surety, and the king returned into England, and ioyned this kingdome to his other. So that here is reconed the ende of this kingdome, which endu∣red iiij.C.ix. yeres.

¶ In the same yere that the king had thus subdued the Danes, a strong sicknesse tooke him, so that he dyed, and was buried in the Cathedral Church of Winchester, in the .xxviij. yere of his age, & when he had reigned .x. yeres.

¶ Polidore sayth, that when he had quieted the Realme, and vanquished his enemies, he became a great benefactor vnto religious houses, but speci∣ally vnto the Abbey of Abindon, who thinking to please God therby, & to gra∣tefy Ethelnoldus then Abbot there accompted for a very holy man, and at the request of his mother Edgina, repayred the same Abbey, first foūded by king Iua, as before is said, and at that season sore decaied, and in maner destroyed.

EDwyn the eldest sonne of Edmond, brother of Athelstane, [unspec 955/1] tooke on him the gouernement of this Realme.

¶ This Edwyn was crowned at Kingstone beside London of the Archebishop of Cantorbury: The which selfe daye of his Coronacion, brake sodeynly from his Lordes, and entered into a secrete Chamber, and there oc∣cupyed himselfe sinfully, and rauished another mannes wife, beyng his nere kinswoman, whose husband as one Aucthour doth testifie, the king had cau∣sed to be slaine before, for that he would haue the vnlawfull vse of her bewtie, and not considering the allyaunce of affinite & kyndred betwene them. Some write that he committed the sayd Act in maner openly lyke a brute Beast, and Guydo sayth that Edwyn contrary to the lawes of the Churche, helde a wo∣man as his Concubine. Wherefore Dunstone who a little before was made Abbot of Clastonbury, first monished him of his fault, and afterwardes accu∣sed him vnto Oddo Archebishop of Cantorbury, by whose power the kinge was caused to refuse and forsake the company of the woman. For the which Edwyn bare great malice vnto Dunstone, and at length by his extort power, he banyshed him the lande, and forced him for a season to kepe himselfe in Flaunders. And for the malice that he bare towarde him, he did much dis∣pleasure to all the Monkes of England, by banishment, and otherwise. Inso∣much, that at Malmesbury he put out the Monkes, and set in secular priestes in their steede. Fabian.

¶ But Mathew of Westminster wryteth, that Edwyn had to his Para∣moure, the daughter of a noble woman of the Realme, and the mother also at his commaundement. And that on the day of his Coronation, he arose so∣deynly from the Table, as he was feasting with his Lordes and Nobles, and departed vnto his preuy Chamber, where those two gentlewomen were, to the entent he might dally with them, and satisfie the sensuall appetite and beastlye pleasure of the body. The which fact of his, sore displeased all his sayde Nobles: and therefore they sent incontinent Dunstone vnto him, to perswade with him to returne againe, and to be mery with them at the table, who as he was by them commaunded, taking his kynsman Bishop Cynesi∣us with him, entered into the kings Chamber, where they found the Crowne

of the Realme, all of glystering Golde very riche and bewtifull, plucked off his head and hurled after a retchelesse sorte on the ground a prety way from him: And the king himselfe tumbling in the dust betwixt the mother and the daughter, vnto whom the sayd Dunstone sayd on this wyse. My liege Lord, your Princes and Nobles haue sent vs vnto you, to besech you to returne a∣gaine vnto your Hall, where is a meete seate for your Royall person and estate, and there to solace your selfe, and to make mery with them, and then blamed the lewdenesse and folly of the Women: and perceyuing the King so vnwilling to aryse, he caught him by the hande, and so brought him backe againe with him vnto the feast Royall, storming and chafing like a mad man. After this one of the Harlotets called Algina rose vp in a great chafe and fume saiyng, how he was a rashe and a sawcie Messenger, that thus would presume to enter into the kinges preuie Chamber, not beyng called. And so from thence foorth, the same woman neuer ceassed to persecute Dun∣stone, till she had brought him into the kinges deadly hatered, and highe dis∣pleasure: And it foloweth in the same Writer, howe by the consent of King Edwyn after she had spoyled his Abbey of all his mouables, shee caused him at length to be banished out of the Realme by the kinges commaundement. After the which banishment, he was faine to flie into Fraunce for his sause∣gard, during the tyme of his sayde exile. And howe there were certeyn tor∣mentors sent beyond the Seas to haue put out his eyes, if they could haue met with hym.

¶ It is read of him, that he tooke such precious Iewels as Athelstane had receyued before from Otho the Emperour, geuen vnto Winchester and Malmesbury, and gaue them vnto alyauntes and straungers. And thus was he not onely vnkinde to Monkes, but also vsed such tyrannie, and other vn∣lawfull meanes to his subiectes, that lastly they abhorring his wicked lyfe, and detestable maners, rebelled against him, and specially the inhabitantes of the Countrye of Mertia, or middle Englande, and also the Northumbers and put him clerely from all kingly honour and dignitie, the which deposition greued him so much that he died for sorow, when he had reigned foure yeres, and was buried at winchester, leauing none heyre of his body, and therefore the rule of the land fell vnto Edgar his yonger brother.

[unspec 959/1] EDgar, the seconde sonne of Edmond, and brother of Edwyn the last king, beyng of the Age of .xv. yeres, tooke vpon him the rule of this Realme. In the beginning of his reigne, he called home Dunstone that before was exiled of king Edwyn. Then he made Dunstone that was Abbot of Glascenbury, Bishop of Worceter, and he ioyned and vnited toge∣ther all the Prouinces and Lordships of England, and made them one Mo∣narchie, and one Kingdome.

¶ In many places he put away Clerkes and Priestes that liued vicious∣ly, or as some wryte that had wyues, and set there for them Monkes. And as sayth Guydo, Reynulph, and other, he buylded and repayred to the num∣ber of .xl. houses of Religion, whereof Abyndon, Peterborough, Thorney, Ramsey, & Wilton were percell of them. And at Winchester, he put in Mon∣kes, where before were maryed Priestes.

¶ The cause wherfore (as sayth Fabian) was, for so much as the Priestes

were negligent in the deuyne seruice, and set Vicars in their places, while they liued at theyr pleasure in other places, and spent the Patrimonie of the Church after their sensuall will.

¶ Then king Edgar gaue to the Vicars the lande that before longed to the Prebendaryes, trusting thereby that they would do their duetyes: But it was not long after, but that the sayd Vicars were as negligent as the other, wherfore the king aduoyded the Priestes and placed there Monkes, though some of his Prelates were not contented therewith.

¶ This Edgar kept such iustice and did so sharpe execution vpon Male∣factors, that neuer before his dayes were vsed lesse felonyes or robberyes then was in his tyme. And to the entent that he would haue the rauenous beastes destroyed throughout his lande, he caused Ludallus Prince of Wa∣les, to yelde to him yerely by way of Tribute three hundred Wolues. By meane whereof, within foure yeres after, in Englande and Wales myght skantly be found one Wolfe alyue.

¶ Polidore here noteth that the Welshmen, which could neuer willingly abyde to be gouerned of the Englishe Nation, founde the meanes at the length to make themselues a Prince of their awne Nation, as in this kinges tyme they had to theyr Prince and gouernour Ludallus, and long tyme af∣ter dyuerse other in dyuerse kinges dayes, which were tributaries vnto the kinges of England: But when they first obteyned this benefite of the sayde kinges, the sayde Polidore confesseth that he hath not found in any auncient Chronicle or autentike Wryter.

¶It is written of sundrie Authours, that Kynadus king of Scottes de∣spised Edgar, for that he was little of stature, whereof king Edgar beyng warned desyred the sayde Kynadus to dynner, and made to him good counte∣nance. After which dyuer ended, he tooke the sayde Kynadus by the arme, and so with him helde company vntill they came to the Fields: where being disseuered from their seruauntes: Edgar drewe from vnder his garment two swordes, and desyred Kynadus to take the choyce of them, and sayde vn∣to him, nowe thou hast good leasure to saye thy strength with mine, which before tyme thou hast so much despised: Nowe let vs proue which is more worthy to be subiect to other: It is not sitting for a Knight to make great boast at the boorde, and to doe little in the field.

¶ When the Scottish king heard the king thus chalenge him, he remem∣bred well his wordes before spoken, and perceyued that they were disclosed vnto Edgar, whereof being somewhat abashed, he answered so humbly and behaued him selfe so lowly and gently, and gaue vnto the king such pleasaunt wordes, that he forgaue the trespasse.

¶This Edgar among other of his Politique deedes, vsed in the Somer tyme, to scoure the Sea with certaine Shippes of warre, and had a great number alwayes in a readynesse. And against the Winter, he prouided to lay vp the sayde Shippes in sure Hauens, and had readie in his awne seruice and in his Lordes, a certaine number of Souldiours that were alway rea∣dy to man the same, when the king had neede of them. And his Shipmasters were in wages with him throughout the yere, who euer attended vppon the Shippes, to see that nothing lacked that was necessarie. By meane wherof he kept his lande in great quiet from outward enimies. And in the Wynter

he vsed to ryde ouer the lande, and to vnderstande how his officers intreated the people. And if any were accused of extorcion or other crymes, and that duely proued against them, he did vpon all such, sharpe correction.

¶ And for so much as in his dayes, great multitude of Danes dwelled in dyuers places of England, which vsed many vices, and specially great drin∣king, whereof ensued dronkennesse and many other vices, to the euill exam∣ples and hurtes of his commons and subiects: He therefore ordeyned cer∣taine Cuppes with pinnes or nayles set in them, and ordeyned and made a law, that whatsoeuer person dranke past the marke at one draught, shoulde forfeyt a certaine payne: wherof the one halfe should fall to the accuser, and that other halfe to the ruler of the Borough or Towne that the offence was done in, where the same should be examyned and tryed.

¶ It is tolde of this Edgar by dyuers Authours, that he vpon a season being at Chester, entred the ryuer of Dee, and there sitting in a Boate, tooke the rule of the sterne, and caused .vij. Kinges, which Guydo calleth Reguli, that is small or vnder kings, and commaunded them to rowe him vp and downe the Ryuer, vnto Saint Iohns Church, which lately was an Abbey of black Monkes, and from thence to his awne Palace, in token, that he was Lorde and king of so many Prouynces.

¶This Noble Edgar had two Wyues: By the first that was called E∣gelfleda the whyte, he had a sonne that was named Edward, who was after king, and slaine by treason as afterwards shall be shewed. And vpon his se∣cond Wyfe Elfrida or as the English Chronicle calleth her Estrild, he begat a sonne named Egelredus or Ethelredus, and after the Englishe Chronicle Eldred, which was king next after Edward the Martir, and of Wilfride, which of some is called a Nonne, he had a daughter named Edith, but shee was base and not in Wedlock. For as Guydo sayeth, this Wilfride, knowing that the king cast to her vnlawfull loue, put vpon her the habite of a Nonne, thinking thereby to withdrawe the kinges loue: But that notwithstanding, she was brought to the kings bed. For which deede he was greatly blamed of the Bishop Dunstane, and by him enioyned to doe therefore seuen yeres penance. And the aforenamed Wilfride, after the childe borne, lyued ver∣teously, as sayeth Fabian. Of her daughter Edith, it is read that at lawfull age she was at Wilton shorne a Nonne.

¶ Edgar, thus ruling the lande after the death of his first wyfe Egelfle∣da, worde was brought to him of the bewtie of a yong Damsell named El∣frida, or Estrild, daughter of Orgarus Erle of Deuonshire: wherefore he sent a Knight of his Courte named Ethelwold, to espie whether the Mayde were of such bewtie, as shee was reported of, or not, charging him, if shee were so bewtifull, that then he should aske her to wyfe for him.

¶But this Knight hauing sight of this Mayden, was so wounded with the darte of blinde Cupide, that he forgate his truth and allegeance, which he did owe to his Master and souereigne, and returned, shewing to the King, that shee was nothing of the bewtie as she was reported to be, but of meane fayrenesse as other women are. Wherfore he besought the king, considering she was her fathers Heyre and a good mariage, that he woulde be so good Lorde vnto him, as to write vnto her father, that he might haue her vnto Wyfe. The which the King graunted, and at the last he obteyned her and

maryed her.

¶In processe of tyme the fame of this woman sprang so wyde, that at the last it came to the vnderstanding of king Edgar: wherewith the king notwithstanding, he were in his minde discontented with Ethelwold, which had so deceyued him, yet kept he good countenance and made semblance as though he had nothing forced of that matter at all.

¶And vpon a tyme, as it were in game, warned this Ethelwold that then was an Erle by reason of his wyfe, or otherwise, that he woulde one night come and lodge in his house, and appointed the tyme when it should be. The Erle being nothing contented with this monition, ranne home almost dead for feare, and prayed his wyfe of helpe in that tyme of neede, and that shee would in all that she might make her selfe as foule and as vnseemely as shee could, and shewed to her all the residue of the matter. Then the woman cast in her minde, the great displeasure that might ensue towardes her against God, to make that foule, which he had made goodly and fayre, and also to her Lorde and husbande against the king, thinking that he should cause her thus to do, to the entent to mocke and deceyue him. Wherefore, in considera∣tion of the premisses, shee trimmed and decked her selfe in most costly and shewing apparell. And ouer that, if Dame Nature had any thing forgotten or misprinted in her, she left not what might be done by womans help to haue it amended and reformed, and at the kings comming receyued him with all ioye and gladnesse. By which meanes, this yong amorous king was soone caught in the Deuils snare, so that he set reason aparte and folowed his awne sensualitie. And for to bring his purpose the better about, he kept forth a coū∣tenaunce as he had bene well contented with all thing, and desyred the Erle, that he would ryde with him on hunting, into the wood of Weluerley, that now is called Horsewood, where he awayting his tyme, strake the Erle tho∣row the body with his shaft, so that he dyed soone after. And then he maried this Elfrida or Estrild shortly, and had by her Egelredus. For the which deede sayth Reynulph, this Elfrida buylded a house of Nonnes at Warwell. But some write that it was for the slaiyng of her stepsonne Edward.

¶ Then Edgar, was crowned king at the Citie of Bathe, or as some write at Kingstone of Dunstone Archebishop of Cantorbury, and Oswolde Archebishop of Yorke, when he had ruled this land .xij. yeres, but Polidore sayth, that Dunstone was not at his sayde Coronation, but remayned yet a banished man. The cause why it was so long or this Edgar was crowned, was sayth Guydo, for his vnlawfull lechery, and specially for the offence done with Wilfride. For the which deede he was enioyned .vij. yeres penaunce, during the which tyme of penance, he was kept from the sayd annoyntment.

¶ It is also reported of this king Edgar, that he beyng vpon a season at the Towne of Andouer besyde Sarisbury, and was enamoured of a Noble mannes daughter, which was of passing bewtye, made such meanes by force or otherwise, that the parentes were agreed that the king should haue his pleasure. But the mother beyng subtyll of wyt, bethought her of a wyle, and when night came, sent a seruaunt of hers, which was both comely and fayre, vnto the kinges bed. In the Morning, when the day began to waxe cleere, the woman began to styrre, and would haue departed from the king: But the king stayed her, and asked the cause of her so hastie departing: The

woman aunswered, I must be at my worke with my felowes at mine houre, to kepe my taske. And when the king had questioned with her further, he learned that she was a bond woman, and she asked of the king freedome for that nightes seruice. The king at this had good game, and cherished that Damosell so after, that he made her Lady of Ladies. For these insolent and wanton deedes, it is sayd, that by the counsayle of Dunstone, he buylded and repayred so many Abbeyes and houses of religion as is before named. Fabian.

¶ Thus this noble Edgar, passing his tyme in vertue, and sometymes medled with vice, at the last had knowledge of the rebellion of the Briteynes or Welshemen: wherefore he assembled his knightes, and entered the land, and did them great harme and waste. And among other prayes, he spoy∣led the Countrey of Glamorgan and the Countrey of Ono: But the king dyed within ten dayes after, when he had reigned the full terme of .xvj. yeres, and was buryed at Glascenbury, leauing after him two sonnes, Edward the Martyr, and Egelredus by two sundry wyues. And here Fabian setteth foorth a story of a lewde and false Iudge, the which the Reader may there finde set out at large.

[unspec 959/2] INdulph reigned in Scotlande .ix. yeres: He kept peace with the Englishe men, and vanquished the Danes that inuaded his Realme.

[unspec 966/8] KIng Duffus reigned among the Scottes foure yeres, and was slaine by the treason of a noble man called Donewalde. After his death apered nei∣ther Sonne, Moone, nor Starre, the space of .vj. Monethes.

[unspec 972/14] CVline a vicious and wicked Tiraunt reigned among the Scottes. He de∣flowred his awne sisters, and rauished other mennes wyues, and daugh∣ters, wherefore he was slaine the fift yere of his reigne.

[unspec 975/1] EDward the sonne of Edgar, reigned after his father: And here ye shal vnderstand, that after the death of Edgar, great strife arose among the Lordes, for the admission of their king. For Elfrida or Estreld, with Alphride Duke of Mertia, made diuerse friendes to haue her sonne Egelre∣dus promoted vnto that dignitie, a childe of seuen yeres of age, that she and he might rule the land together. But Dunstone with the ayde of other Bi∣shoppes, and of the Erle of East England, or Essex, so withstood that doyng, that he crowned this Edward king at the Towne of Kingstone, to the gree∣uous displeasure of the sayd mother Elfrida, and other of her affinitie.

¶ In the tyme of this Edward apered a blasing starre, after the which en∣sued many inconueniences, aswell to men as to beastes, as sicknesse, hunger, moreyne, and other lyke calamities: But none of these thinges fell in the dayes of this Edward, but after his death. The aforenamed Alphride, Duke of Mertia, which in all thinges fauoured much the dedes of the Queene, put out the Monkes at Winchester, that king Edgar had ther set in, and brought in for them wanton Clearkes, or as Reynulph sayth, Clerkes with Concu∣bines (or rather that had lawfull wyues.) But Bunstone, and the Erle of Essex withstood that doyng, and helde against the Duke and such as fauou∣red his partie: For the which arose great strife betwene the Priestes, and the Monkes of England. For the Clerkes that were before tyme put out by Edgar, sayd that it were a wretched and curssed deede, that a newe common company vnknowen, shoulde put out olde landishe men from their places:

and it shoulde not be pleasing to God that had graunted the place to the olde dwellers, neyther ought any good man to alowe such doyng, for the yll en∣sample that thereof might ensue. The Monkes sayde, that Christ allowed neyther the olde dweller, nor yet the person: But who so woulde take the crosse of penaunce vpon him, and folowe Christ in verteous liuyng he should be his disciple.

¶ For this matter was there holden a generall counsayle of Bishoppes, and all the Clergie of England, at winchester, but for all this the strife ceased not. In so much that a newe assembly of the Clergie and other was apoyn∣ted after at a place called the strete of Calue, where the counsayle was kept in an vpper loft. In thys counsayle Dunstone was grieuously despised and rebuked of some vnskilfull men (as sayth Fabian.) And while they were there in this great deuision and argument, which way should be admitted and alowed, sodeynly the Ioystes of the loft fayled, and the people fell downe, so that many were slaine, and the people greatly hurt: But Dunstone with few other that tooke his part escaped vnhurt. This wonder and other caused silence among them that entended to mainteyne the aforesayd quarell, so that Dunstone had all his will.

¶ But to returne to the tyme of the reigne of king Edward, he came vp∣pon a tyme from hunting in the Forest, nere vnto the Castell of Corfe, in the West Countrie: where he losyng his companie and seruauntes, resorted vn∣to the Castle aforesayde, where at that tyme his Stepmother with her sonne Egelredus kept her houshold.

¶ When the Queene was warned of his comming, anone she called vn∣to a seruaunt of hers, whome she much trusted, and tolde to him all her coun∣sayle, shewing to him further, how he should behaue himselfe in the accom∣plishing of her will and minde. And that done, she went towarde the King, and receyued him with all gladnesse, and desyred him to tarie with her that night: But he in curteous maner excused himselfe, and for speede, desyred to drinke vpon his horse sytting, the which was shortly brought.

¶ And while the Cup was at his mouth, the seruaunt strake him to the heart with a sword, or long dagger sharpe on both sydes. After which stroke by the king receyued, he set spurres to the horse, and thought to ryde to the place from whence he came, or else such a way as he thought to mete with his companie. But he bled so sore, that for faintnesse he fell from his horse, hys one foote beyng fast in the Styrrop: By reason wherof, he was drawen of the horse ouer wayes and fieldes, vntill he came vnto a place then named Coris∣gate, where he was found dead. And for that the maner of his death was vn∣knowne, and also he for king not knowen, he was buryed vnworthely at the Towne of Warram, and there rested by the space of three yeres after. In which tyme and season, God shewed for him dyuerse myracles, as sight to the blinde, health to the sicke, and heering to the deafe, with diuerse other, as sayth Fabian. But Polydore wryteth, that his Stepmother Elfrida cau∣sed the dead corps to be caryed in, and buryed in a secret place, where it was after found by miracle.

¶ At the last the same Elfrida sore repenting her fact, entended to visite him by way of pilgrimage. But how or for what cause she entended inwardly I can not say, but the horse or beast that she rode vpō, might not come nigh the

place by a certeyne space, for beating, nor for any other thing that might be done for him by man.

¶ But after this, by her meanes, or as Mathew of Westminster sayth, by Elforius Duke of Mertia, or middle Englande, he was translated from thence to Septon, that now is called Shaftesbury, and there buryed with great honour.

¶And as it is sayd for a testimony of her great repentance, she founded two Monasteries of women, the one at Ambrisbury, and the other at Warwell. In the which place of Warwell in her latter dayes, she refusing the pompe of the worlde, helde there a solitary and streyt life, and ended her life with great penance and repentance, and was there buryed when she was dead.

¶ Thus as ye haue heard, was this yong king Edward murdered, when he had reigned foure, or as some wryte three yeres, leauing behind him none issue, wherefore the rule of the lande fell to Egelredus his brother.

[unspec 977/3] KEnneth reigned in Scotland .xxv. yeres. In his tyme, the Danes arriued in Angus with a great company, and wasted the Countrie very sore, with whom the Scottes met, and after sore fight and great slaughter, by the man∣hood of one Hay (an vplandishman, and his two sonnes) obteyned the vic∣tory. This Kenneth was slaine by meane of a Lady called Fenella, because he had poysoned Malcolme Prince of Comber.

[unspec 978/1] EGeldred or Etheldred the sonne of Edgar, and Elfride his last Wyfe, after the death of Edward his brother reigned ouer this Realme. And in the beginning of this mans tyme, the grounde waxed barrein and all the miseries before signified by the appering of the blasing starre in the dayes of Edwarde, now began to take place and encrease vpon the earth. This king as his other progenitors before him were, was crowned at King∣stone, of Dunstane, and Oswald, Archebishops. To whome as it is written in the lyfe of Dunstane among his prophecies, Dunstane shoulde saye at the day of his coronation. Thou commest to this kingdom by the death of thy bro∣ther, in whose death Englishmen conspired with thy wicked mother, they shall not be without bloudshedding and sworde, vntill there come people of an vnknowne tongue, and bring them into thraldome. And this trespasse shal not be clensed without long vengeance.

¶ This Egeldred was a man of goodly visage and tall of personage, but his nature was mixed with Lechery, crueltie, and dyuers other vices. It is also read that when Dunstane should christen him, as he helde him ouer the Fonte, he fyled the same with his ordure, and that then Dunstane sware by God and by his mother, this childe shall be vnkinde both to God and hys Churche. Fabian. Although myne Aucthour wrote this as matter in that tyme whiche he thought to bee true, yet iudge you nowe thereof as you thinke best.

¶In the second yere of his reigne, a cloude was seene in England in the morning tyme the which appered halfe lyke blood, and the other halfe lyke fyre, and chaunged after into sundrie colours, and at the last vanished away.

¶In the thirde yere of his reigne, the Danes allured by his cowardise, and chiefly for that he was vnskilfull of armes, arriued in sundrie places of his lande, as in the Isle of Thanet beside Kent, also in Southhampton,

Cornewall and Sussex, and in those coastes much harme: and afterwards, some of them came to London, but there they were put of: howbeit, they de∣stroyed a great parte of Chester and Chestershire.

¶And in the ende of the same yere, a great parte of the Citie of London was consumed with fyre, but how it began is not expressed. But ye shall vn∣derstande, that at this daye the Citie of London, had most housing and buyl∣ding from Ludgate toward Westmynster, and little or none where the chiefe or hart of the Citie is, at this day, except in dyuers places were housing, but they stood without order. So that many Townes and Cities, as Cauntor∣bury, Yorke, and other, diuers in England passed London in building at those dayes, as I haue sene and knowen by an olde booke in the Guildhall in Lon∣don named Domes day. But after the conquest it increased, and shortly after it passed and excelled all the other. Fabian.

¶About the .viij. yere of his reigne, the king maried Erle Egbertus daughter, named Ethelgina or Elgma. Of the which he begat a sonne, and named him Edmond, which after was surnamed Ironside, and two other sonnes named Edwyn and Ethelstane, and a daughter named Edgina.

¶In the .ix. yere of this king, for strife and displeasure that was betwene the Bishop of Rochester and him, he with his knightes besieged the sayde Citie: whereof Dunstane sent to the king, admonishing him, that he should refraine from that crueltie, and to suffer the Bishop and his Citie to be in peace. But this message abated nothing at all the kings courage. Then the sayde Dunstane sent vnto him an hundreth pounde in Golde, wylling him to refrayne of that enterprise, the which he receyued and brake vp his siege.

¶About the .xj. yere of his reigne, Dunstane died, but it was not long after his death, before the Danes entred into many and sundrie places of the land, in such wise as the king was to seke to which coast he should go first to with∣stande his enimies. And in conclusion, for the aduoyding of more harme, he was compelled to quiet them with great summes of money: But when that money was spent, they fell to new robbing of the people. Then the king graunted more money: But for all that the Danes robbed and spoyled the Countrie of Northumberland and at the last besieged London. The which their outrage troubled the king very sore bicause he thought they would now haue beene quiet.

¶And for the encrease of the kinges sorrow, Elfricus that then was mai∣ster or admirall of the kings Nauie, fled as a false traytour vnto the Danes. And after that was reconciled: and fled yet againe the second time vnto them.

¶Wherfore the king to be aduenged on the father, commaunded the eyen of hys sonne Algarus to be plucked or done out of his head.

¶But while this persecution thus contynued, by meanes of Elphegus Bishop of Winchester, a peace was concluded for a tyme betweene the king and the Danes. And the Prince or chiefe Capitaine of them named Aulaff, was so exhorted by the sayd Bishop, that he became a christen man, to whom the king was Godfather, so that shortly after, the sayde Aulaff returned to his awne Countrie, without doing of any more hurte, so that for a whyle the warres of the Danes seased. But while they rested, the bloudy Fluxe with brenning Feuers so vexed the people thorow the land, that many dyed therof.

¶And now againe the Danes assayled this land, and did in diuers places

great harme, so that for lacke of a good head or gouernour many things in the lande perished. For the Lordes were at such dissension one with another, that when they were assembled to speake or treate of peace betwene that one Lorde and that other, and if any good thing were deuysed for the hurt of their enemies, anone the Danes were warned thereof by some of the same coun∣saile: whereof were suspected Elfricus and Edricus.

¶And to this sorrow was ioyned hunger and penury, amongst the com∣mons, that euery one of them was constreyned to plucke & steale from other, so that what by the pillage of the Danes, and inward theeues and bribours, this land was brought into great misery and mischiefe.

¶The king being thus wrapped in miserie, left not to gather of his sub∣iectes what he might, as well by vnlawfull meanes as otherwise. For sayth Reynulph, he would for feyned or small causes disherite men of their posses∣sions, & after cause them to redeeme their awne with great sūmes of money.

¶And besides this, he gaue himselfe altogether to lechery, and to the fil∣thy lust of the body: By which vngracious meanes, he brought this lande into such ruyne, that what he might not helpe by strength, he redemed with great summes of money. So that from the first entrie of the Danes, as wit∣nesseth Reynulph in his .vj. booke and .xviij. Chapter, and Guydo and other Authors, and from the first tribute often thousand pound, he brought it at the last in processe of fiue or sixe yeres, to .xl. thousand pound. The which yeerely during his lyfe and after, to the comming of king Edward was leuied of his subiects, and named for the continuance therof Dane Gelt, which is to meane, money payde to the Danes, or Dane money.

¶ In the .xv. yere of his reigne dyed Oswald Archbishop of Cantorbu∣ry, and sone after dyed Ethelgina the Queene. And thus the land continued vnder the greuous Tribute of the Danes, and also the Englishe men sustey∣ned of them great numbers of vilanies and iniuries, as partly hereafter shall appere. The king at this tyme by counsayle of his familiers, about the .xxj. yere of his reigne maryed Emma the daughter of Richard Duke of Nor∣mandy: The which Richard was the thirde duke of Normandy, and the first of that name, and also was surnamed Richard without feare, or Richard the hardy, by whome he had issue Edward the Confessor, which after was king of Englande.

¶ By this mariage, Egeldred began to looke a loft, and thought much of himselfe, and toke vpon him with much more courage then before he had done. Wherefore he sent into all the good Boroughes, Townes, and Cities of his land, secret and streight commissions, charging all the rulers, that vp∣on on a certeyne day, which was the day of S. Brice, at an houre assigned in euery place of this land, the Danes should be slaine, and so it was done. And as the common fame telleth, this murder began at a little Towne in Hert∣fordshire, within .xxiiij. Myles of London called Welwen: For the which deede it tooke the first name, because that the weale of that countrie (as it was then thought) was there first wonne. But who that doth well consider the sequele of the Storye, shall finde little wynnyng or weale that ensued of thys deede.

¶ But before I proceede further, I will here touche somewhat of the pryde and abusion of the Danes, which they exercised in Englande, as I

haue sene in an olde Chronicle. The Danes by strength caused husbandmen to eare and sowe their land, and to do all other vile labour that belonged vn∣to husbandry, and the Dane helde his wyfe at pleasure, with daughter and seruaunt. And when the husband man came home, he should scantly haue of his awne as his seruauntes had, so that the Dane had all at his commaun∣dement, and did eate and drinke his fill of the best, when the owner had scant hs fill of the worst. And besydes this, the common people were so of them oppressed, that for feare and dreade, they called them in euery such house as they had rule of, Lord Dane: But in processe of tyme, after the Danes were voyded the lande, this worde Lord Dane, was in dirision and dispite of the Danes turned by Englishe men into a name of opprobry called Lurdane, which yet is not forgotten, for if one Englishe man will rebuke another, he will for the most part say, thou srt but a Lurdane.

¶ But nowe to returne to our first matter: Truth it is when the Danes were thus murdered throughout Englande, tydinges thereof sprang into Denmarke: which kindled in them such a fury, that the king thereof named Swanus, assembled shortly a great hoste and nauie of Shippes. And with∣in short tyme after, he with his Danes landed in Cornewall. And by trea∣son of a Norman named Hughe, which by fauour of Queene Emma was made Earle of Deuonshire, the sayde Swanus tooke Exceter, and after bet downe the walles.

¶ The he entered further into the land: In which season the king sent vnto Edrycus, charging him to assemble the west Saxons, and to withstand the further entry of the Danes: The which according to his commission as∣sembled the west Saxons, and made good countenance to withstand the sayd enemyes: But when the hostes should ioyne, were it for feare or for treason, he fayned himselfe sicke, and fled from his people. The which for lacke of an head were faine to geue backe to their great hurt, and to their enemies great aduauntage and comfort.

¶ Wherefore the Danes, then resorted to Sherborne and Wylton, and anone spoyled both those townes, and the refreshed them: But Swanus had vnderstanding, that the king was comming towardes him with the power of his lande, he therefore departed thence, and returned with great pillage vnto his Shippes, and sayled about the land, and at the last landed in Norffolke: Where he wasting and spoilyng the Countrie, came to the Citie of Norwich, the which he robbed and destroyed, and after went to Thetford, and did lykewise to that Towne, and fyred it, and spoyled all the Countrye nere there about.

¶ But soone after, a noble man of that Countrie called Duke Vskatell, met with the host of Danes, and gaue vnto them a hard and sharpe battayle, and slue many of the enemies and put them backe. For this and for hunger that then assayled this land, Swanus returned to his Shippes, and depar∣ted againe into Denmarke, and taryed all the Winter folowing. In which season he made great prouision to reenter the land of England.

In the .xxv. yere of the reigne of the king, the aforesayde Swanus with a strong army landed at Sandwich, and spoiled all the country nere vnto the Sea syde, and rested him there, vntill he heard of an armie comming against him. And whe he was ware thereof, he returned to his Shippes againe:

and heering that the king was farre Westwarde, he landed in Sussex, and spoyled it wonderfull sore, and there also he was warned of the comming of the English men, and then anone he tooke shippinig againe. So that when the Englishe men had thought to haue met with him in one coast, then would he flie and land in another. And when the king prouided to meete with them on the Sea, eyther they would fayne themselues to flie, or else they woulde with giftes blynde the admirall of the kinges of Nauie.

¶ By which subtiltie and craftly meanes, they weryed and tyred the host of Englishe men. And where euer they went they slue, brent, and robbed, without all compassion and pitie.

¶ The king then beyng at Shrewesburie, & heering of the great sleight and crueltie of the Danes, called his counsayle to take aduice what were best to be done for the defence of his enemies. Where it was concluded, that the king to haue peace with the Danes, should pay vnto them .xxx. thousand pound. But while this was in doyng, the Danes destroyed a great part of Barkshire.

¶ But when this peace was thus made, Swanus with his company re∣turned into Denmarke. And the yere folowing, the king made Edrycus a∣forenamed, Duke of Mertia. Thus Edricus beyng but of base birth was made riche, he was of tongue false, and subtile of wit, soft and eloquent of speeche, vntrustie, and inconstant of thought and promes, as of him somthing before is shewed, and after more shall apere.

¶ In the .xxvij. yere of the King, a Prince of the Danes named Turki∣lus landed in Kent. The which so grieuously warred in that countrie, that the Kentishmen were faine to make their peace, and so he departed. But yet the persecution of the Danes seaced not: For in one countrie of England or other, they euer were robbing and pilling the English men. So that all the Countrye along the coast, from the North part of England, vnto the Isle of wight, was by them eyther vtterly destroyed, or greatly empayre. And when the king entended to make prouision for to withstande them, euer Edrycus would counsayle him to the contrary, shewyng him that he should spend his treasure, and trauayle his people in vaine. By meane whereof the Danes entered fiftie mile into England, and brent and destroyed diuerse Villages, and Townes. So that they encreased and waxed passing riche, and the Eng∣lish men, nedy, bare, and poore. Thus continuyng this misery, Swanus then being in Denmarke, and heeryng of the encrease of his people within Eng∣land repented him of his former couenantes, and thought that the whole do∣minion of England should of right belong to him. For the which he prepared his armie and nauie in most defensable wise, and sped him into England, and to the ryuer of Humber, and landed in Northumberland, where the Earle and ruler of that Countrye with all the other rulers of the same, sware fealty vnto the sayde Swanus, and promised to kepe that Countrie vnto his vse. And when he had done his will in that Coast, he entred againe the water, and by the Ryuer of Trent, he passed to Gaynsburgh, and so by North Watling∣streete, and subdued the inhabitauntes of that Countrie, and forced them to geue him pledges. Which pledges, with also his nauie, he betooke vnto Ca∣nutus his sonne, while he went further into the land. And he and his people kept on theyr Iourney vntill they came vnto Mertia, killing and sleiyng the

men of that prouince, and reserued the women to vncleane liuyng, aswell the religious as the other, and tooke by strength Winchester, and Oxford, or ra∣ther Exceter, and did in them what him liked.

¶ And after he had thus passed the lande, he drewe the next way toward London: But in passing the Ryuer of Thames he lost some parte of his peo∣ple, eyther for lack of a Bridge or for ieoparding their passage vnaduisedly. And so in fine he came to London and besieged it, where at that tyme the king was. Wherefore Swanus left the Citie, and drewe into Essex, and againe by water passed into Kent and so towarde the Citie of Cauntorbury without any let, welding the Countrie at his will, and lastly besieged that Citie. The which manfully defended themselues against their enimies by the space of .xx. dayes, and then was the sayde Citie taken by the treason of a Deacon named Almaricus, the which before tyme Elphegus then Archbishop of that See had preserued from death. Fabian.

¶ Polidore affirmeth that the Danes besieged the Citie of London, and the Londoners though they were somewhat dismayed at the first, by reason of the sodaine feare, yet they so manfully defended themselues, that at the length they were not afeard to set open the gates of the Citie, and to go out themselues in great multitudes and fight with their enimies: And so valiant∣ly behaued they themselues against them, that they slue many of them, and in fyne compelled Swanus or Sweno their king to get him awaye with the residue of his armie with such hastie expedition, that he ceased not trauailyng day and night vntill he was two dayes iourney from London, and then went he to Bath and there taried, where he was so sore distressed for lack of victu∣alles, that he was fayne to let Egeldred redeeme the tribute, the which he had a little before graunted and bounde himselfe to paye. And hauing re∣ceyued of him a great summe of money for the redemption thereof, he re∣turned into Demmarke, minding ere it were long to repayre to this lande a∣gaine with a greater armie then euer he had before.

¶Mathew of Westmynster wryteth also that after the saide Swanus or Sweno was in dispaire to winne the Citie of London, both because of the losse of his Souldyours that through rashnesse & misaduenture were drow∣ned in the Thamys, and also the manly resistance made by the Londoners in defending themselues, he gate him awaye with speede, and went first to Wallyngfoord and then to Bathe, exercising much crueltie all the waye as they went, and lefte nothing vndestroyed, and at Bathe rested him a space to refreshe his armie, whether Almarus then Erle of Deuonshire, with all the Nobilitie of the west Saxons together wyth their seruantes and re∣tynue, fearing his tirannie, came vnto hym and delyuered hym hostages, praiyng withall that they might, be at peace with him. And afterwardes, when he saw that he might nowe do what he woulde, and that no man durst chalenge the Crowne and fight with him for the same, he caused himselfe to be proclaymed king of England. But the sayde wryter maketh mention ney∣ther of the scarcitie of victualles that shoulde then be amongest the Souldi∣ours, neyther of the redemption of the sayde tribute, nor yet of his sodeyn re∣turne into Denmarke: But here to returne to mine Authour.

¶Then the Danes first spoyled the Citie of Cauntorbury, and tooke the Archebishop and put him in a strong prison, and then set the Citie on fyre.

And the Monkes of Saint Austynes Abbey they tythed, that is to saye, they kylled nyne, and the tenth they kept alyue, the which after were solde and set to all seruile labour. And as witnesseth Antonynus and Vyncent Hisorio∣graphers, they slue and brought in seruage aboue the number of nyne hun∣dred persons of religion. They slue of men, women, and children, in the Citie of Cauntorbury aboue eyght thousande, and that with much crueltie as is shewed in the .vij. Chapter, & xvj. Title, of the worke of the sayde Antoninus.

¶ And finally, for that this Bishop Elphegus, would not condescende to geue vnto them, as sayth Reynulph, three thousand pounde, or else as Poly∣dore sayth, bicause by his preaching and godly lyfe, he went about to conuert these barbarous people vnto the fayth of Christ, after they had kept him in harde prison by the space af .vij. Monethes, vpon an Ester euen, they after many vilanyes vnto him done at Greenewich within three Myles of Lon∣don, stoned him to death, where he laye in the fielde vnburied a certaine of tyme, and after was caryed to London, and buried reuerently in the Church of Saint Paule. But afterward in the tyme of Canutus, he was taken vp againe, and caried to his awne Church.

¶ The king fearing the ende of this persecution, sent Emma the Quene, with her two sonnes Alphred and Edward vnto Richard the second of that name, then fourth Duke of Normandy, which was brother vnto the sayde Emma, with whome also he sent the Bishop of London.

¶ In the .xxxiiij. yere of the king, when the Danes had wonne a great parte of the Countrie of west Saxon, they returned againe to London warde: whereof hering the Londoners sent vnto them giftes and pledges.

¶ In all this season I finde no mention that euer the king gaue vnto the Danes any notable battayle, but kept him in holdes and places for his awne sauegarde, and to the small benefite or aduauntage of his Realme. And at the last he was chased vnto the Isle of Wight, where, with a small company he kept himselfe secret a great part of the Winter, and finally without battaile or comfort, sayled ouer to his wyfe into Normandy, and there helde him a certeyne of tyme.

¶ When Swanus was asserteyned of the departure of the king out of the land, he was enflamed with excedyng pryde, so that he arrered excedyng im∣positions of the people & grieued them wonderfully. And among other of his Tirannyes he demaunded a great summe of money out of S. Edmondes landes, which the rulers denayed, for so much as they claymed to be free of all kinges Tribute. Wherfore he entered into that territory, and wasted and spoyled the Countrie, and besydes that, despised that holy martyr, and threat∣ned the place of his Sepulchre: But the men of that countrie fearyng this Tyrant, gaue them to fasting and prayer, so that shortly after he was slaine or sticked in an Euening amongest his knightes, with the sworde or dagger of Saint Edmond in the Towne of Thetford, as sayth Guydo, but Reynulph and other, in the Towne of Gaynesborough, where he dyed yellyng and cri∣yng the third day after: But Saxo Grammaticus sayth, that the sayd Swanus or Sweno, beyng conuerted vnto the Christen fayth dyed at the length very repentauntly and lyke a good christian man: And that he suffered Etheldred after that peaceably to reigne all his lyfe time as king of this lande by a com∣position betwene them.

¶ In feare whereof Canutus his sonne, after that he was king, closed in the lande of that holy Martir with a deepe diche, and graunted to the inhabi∣tauntes thereof great fredome, and quit them of all kingly taske or Tribute. And after builded a Church ouer the place of his Sepulture, and ordeyned there a house of Monkes, and endued them with fayre possessions. And after∣ward it was vsed that kinges of England when they were crowned, sent for an offering their Crownes vnto S. Edmonds shrine, & redemed them again with a condigne price. Fabian. The which Polydore thinketh not to be true.

¶ Nowe when king Egeldred was certified of the death of Swanus, he by the procurement of his friendes returned home againe to his awne: But the Nobles of the Realme condicioned with him, that he should reforme his olde maners. And for performance thereof, he sent his sonne Edward into Englande before him, and in the Lent folowing the king came himselfe, and with his people sped him toward Lyndsey, where Canutus was at that tyme resiant, not prouided for the kinges so hastie comming.

¶ Wherefore Canutus, beyng not purueyed to withstande the king, fled to Sandwich in Kent. And for that he there proued such persons, as before tyme his father and he had take pledges off, and finding them not firme in their promyses, he caused all theyr noses and handes to be cut off, and then sayled into Denmarke, and returned the next yere with a great Nauye, and sayled about the land, and tooke prayes in the South countrye, whereof the Kinges eldest sonne named Edmond, made prouision with the ayde of Edry∣cus to go against him.

¶ But when he should haue met with Edrycus at a place assigned, and his hoste, he was of him deceyued, and therfore was compelled to geue place vnto his enemies. And as it was after knowne, the sayde Edrycus had pro∣mised his fauour and ayde vnto the sayde Canutus. By reason whereof Ca∣nutus entered the Countrie of West Saxons, and forced them to sweare to him fealtie, and to geue to him pledges.

¶ In this season, the king beyng at London, was taken with a greuous sicknesse and dyed, and was buryed in the Church of Saint Paule, where at this day in the North Isle behynde the Quyer, apereth a token in the wall of his Sepulture, he reigned .xxxvj. yeres, leauing after him two sonnes, Edmond, and Edward.

COnstantine the fourth, reigned among the Scottes thre yeres, [unspec 1000/23] by meane of him, and of Malcolme the sonne of Kenneth, the Realme of Scotland was miserably tormented with ciuile warre.

GRime reigned in Scotlande .ix. yeres, [unspec 1002/25] and against him Malcolme made fierce warre for the Crowne, which was appeased by the counsayle of a Bishop called Fothadus. But the Scottes not contented to sustaine the Ti∣rannie of their king Grime, rose vp against him, whereof ensued much trou∣ble in Scotland. Malcolme vanquished and slue Grime, and tooke on him the Kingdome, and reigned .xxxj. yeres. To him the Lordes of Scotlande graunted first the wardes and mariages of their heyres. And not long after Olanus, and Ouetus, two Capitanes of the Danes inuaded Scotland, and vanquished king Malcolme, and subdued Murrey: But not long after, Malcolme repayred his army, and discomfited the Danes, and slue Quetus.

& And shortly after, Camus another Capitaine of the Danes, inuaded

Scotlande, and nere to Ferrey was discomfited and slaine, and the place to this day is called Camus stand. Fabian.

¶ Then Canutus by the commaundement of Swanus, brake into Scot∣land, with whom the Scottes fought a terrible battail, to the great damage, losse, & hurt of both partes: But after this battaile a peace was concluded.

[unspec 1916/1] EDmond Ironsyde, the sonne of Egeldred, or Etheldred, and also Ca∣nutus, the sonne of Swanus king of Denmarke, did by the consent of certeyne of their friendes on eyther syde, take vpon them the gouerne∣ment of this lande. The Londoners with the assistance of some Lordes of Englande fauoured Edmond: But the more part of the Lordes fauoured Canutus, and specially the spiritualtie that before tyme had sworne fealtie to his father. And he then beyng at Southampton swore vnto them, to be a true and good Iustice, and to entreate the people soberly and righteously.

¶ Then Edmond beyng of the Archebishop of Yorke crowned at London and the solemnitie finished and ended, he sped him to West Saxon, and sub∣dued that Country. In which tyme Canutus drewe with his people to Lon∣don, and would there haue entered: But that was forbodden him of the Lon∣doners. For the which he layde his ordinance about the Citie, entendyng to haue entered perforce: But it was not long or he was faine to breake his siege and to depart thence.

¶ When Canutus was put off from London, he drewe Westwarde, and in short tyme after met with king Edmond in Dorsetshire, besyde Gylling∣ham, where betwene them was foughten a strong and cruell battaile: But in the ende Canutus was ouercome, and compelled to forsake the fielde.

¶ After this, they met againe in Worcester shire, or as Polydore sayth, at Andouer in Wiltshire, where they fought a more strong and fierce battaile: For this was so strongly foughten on both partes, that men could not iudge which part had the better, nor which the worse: But as Reynulph sayth, ey∣ther of them departed from other, eyther for werynesse of fight, or for lacke of the day.

¶ But on the Morowe folowyng, both hostes met againe and fought egerly. The which fight continuyng, Edricus espiyng king Edmond to be at a vauntage of wynning of the fielde, sodeinly pight a dead mannes heade vpon the head of a Speare, and cryed to the hoste of English men, flye, flye, you English men and saue your selues, lo, here is the head of Edmond your king. But Edmond beyng thereof warned, sped him to that part of the field, and behaued himselfe so comfortably amongest his men, that by his knightly courage, his people recouered that which before they had lost, and conti∣nued the battaile vntill night, and caused Canutus to flye that Countrie, and to returne againe towarde London.

¶ Then king Edmond beyng aduertised that Canutus was returned toward London, he folowed him and passed the Ryuer of Thamys, and de∣liuered the Citie from the daunger of the Danes, and after encountered the Danes at a place called Brentford within seuen myles of London, where he had with them a cruell fight, and at length discomfited them. Fabian.

¶ But because the Aucthor whom I here folow leaueth many thinges vn∣touched worthy of remembrance, which were done after the sayde battaile

foughten by Andouer, I haue here thought good to supplye his defect by Polydore, who wryteth hereof, as foloweth: When Canutus was this dis∣comfited, he traueyled all night long to Winchester warde, and gate him to a place of safetie: But Edmond as some do write pursued him not, but tur∣ned to Sarisburie to rescue the Citizens there besieged of another company of Danes. Thether also shortly after came Canutus, where not farre from the same Towne they pitched a newe fielde, and as men hauing nowe ga∣thered a new courage & refreshed themselues, fought very fiercely and egerly together, but with equall fortune tyll night came that parted them beyng we∣ryed with long fighting. The next morning the Englishe men anone after the Sonne risyng, stoode ready aranged in battaile ray, awaytyng the com∣ming of their enemies, vntill Canutus came and set vpon them. Then fought they together verie fiercely, but doubtfully withall, and in such wise that ma∣ny went to wrecke and were slaine on both sydes. And when it drewe to∣wardes the euening they gaue ouer on euen hande, neyther partie hauyng victory of other. On the next morowe both the hostes rested themselues, and tooke their repast, & gathered together the deade corpses of them that were slaine the day before, and burned them as the maner was then to do. And all this while they neuer vnarmed themselues. There were slaine at that time aboue .xx.M. on both parties. The night folowing Canutus dislodged as priuely as he could, & marched towards London: The which city his Fleete had now in a maner besieged by water. But assoone as this theyr fliyng was once discried by the day light, Edmond folowed him at the heeles, and with a little ado raysed the siege: Wherefore, he entered the Citie triumphauntly, with great ioy and solempne pompe. Canutus beyng thus disapoynted of his hope, hauing gotten great prayes and bootyes out of the Countries there a∣bout, departed thence to see his shippes which were newely entered into the Riuer of Rochester, called in olde tyme Medeganara, and nowe Medway, where the sayde Canutus taryed a season, partly to encrease his armie, and partly to learne by espyals the secret purposes of his enemies, the which he soone vnderstoode. For Edmond whose nature was not to sleepe hys mat∣ters, hauing assembled his power with incredible celeritie, lay in campe not farre from Canutus, & there made a long exhortation vnto his Souldiours, the effect wherof was, that they should call to minde the number of battayles that they had foughten with the Danes already, and remember withall that the time nowe serued if they would play the men, to represse their cruelty and violence: and therfore he moued them in most earnest maner, that they would not cease to pursue and vrge them, till they had with one battaile cleane van∣quished and conquered them, that an ende might once be made of their long and great trauayles. The Souldiours beyng incensed with this exhortation, and also wery of the intollarable pride and hautinesse of their enemyes which dayly molested and prouoked them, went with a fierce courage to set vpon them. In like maner Canutus, who had commaunded his Souldiours be∣fore, to be dayly and hourely in a redinesse against the comming of the Eng∣lish men, came into the field, and ioyned battail with them, where they fought more then foure houres together, but at the length the Danes began to geue backe. The which when Canutus perceyued, he commaunded his horsemen to rescue them in the foreward. But whiles it so chaunced that some of them

gaue backe for feare, and some made no haste thether, the whle army brake aray, and then feare hauing the vpper hand of shame, they fled away. There were of the Danes slaine at that tyme three thousand and fiue hundred, of the which number many were Dukes, and Capitaynes of great birth: But of Englishe men .vj.C. at the most, and they all footemen. King Edmondnes in∣tent and purpose was to haue had the vse and fruition of that victory, that is to say, so narrowlye to haue pursued his enemies, that he woulde then haue cleane destroyed them, that which vndoubtedly had beene done, if fortune had not bene against him. For whiles after this great battayle he was in great consultation about the pursuyng of his sayde enemyes, he thought it would be greatly for his aduauntage, if he both rested himselfe the residue of the same day, and the night folowing, and permitted his Souldiours to do the lyke. And so this little time seemed sufficient vnto Canutus to saue himselfe, but not to Edmond. In like maner on the next morow, king Edmond assone as it was once day, mindyng to haue the spoyle of the fielde, brought his Soul∣diours out of the Campe, to the entent they should afterwardes pursue their enemyes, and the rather because he had intelligence howe they that were the day before dispersed, were nowe gathered together againe, and had passed the ryuer of Thamys, marchyng as fast as they could towardes Norffolke, and Suffolke. Wherefore king Edmond hasted thether wth all he myght, to ayde his people there against his sayde enemies. And so vpon a watch∣worde geuen he set vpon them. And albeit some layde vpon the hindmost, and some stroke in the middest, aswell on the right hand as on the left, yet the Danes for all that gaue not backe. Euery Captayne encouraged his awne Souldiours to sticke vnto it manfully: But specially king Edmond admoni∣shed his Captaines that they should cause their Souldiours to kepe array, ceassyng not to say vnto them with a loude voyce that the same day if they woulde play the men a little while, they should confirme vnto them all their former trauayles & victories, or else should be the beginning of most greuous sorowes and miseries, if they gaue neuer so little backe. By the which words the Souldiours were sodeynly so animated to fight, that the Danes began a little to shrinke and geue backe. The which when Canutus perceyued, by and by he set vpon the left wing of Edmondes hoste, the which were likeliest to do most harme, and so releued his distressed Souldiours, and that did he with such violence and manly courage, that he felled and layde on the ground as many as were in his way: By reason whereof it came to passe, that a great number of the English men nowe weried with long fightyng, and hee∣ring the rumor of the great slaughter of their company on euery syde, sodeyn∣ly fled away for feare. The which when King Edmond perceyued, he gate before them, and stayed them for a whyle: But when at the length his whole armye was quite disordered and out of aray, it was not then possible for him to set them in araye, and bring them into the fielde agane which they had once forsaken. Here the English men, when the streytes and passages were all stopped by theyr enemyes, so that none of them had any minde to make re∣sistance, or hope to flye away and escape, were almost all slaine, specially such of them as were the best and worthyest Souldiours.

¶ Now king Edmond with a verie few with him, neuer ceassed iourney∣ing Westward till he came to Gloucester, whome Canutus chased the space

of two houres, but could not ouertake him.

¶This losse and discomfiture, though it greatly weakened and dismayed the Englishmen, specially because London and manye other good townes and places were then for feare, rebelled vnto the Danes: yet king Edmond vsed neuerthelesse diligence in preparing a newe armie, and so did likewyse Canutus, which at length came vnto his enimie by long and great iourneys. For they knewe well that if they did fight againe, they should with one bat∣taile trie who should haue all. And king Edmond was nowe vtterly deter∣mined at the next conflict to put himselfe in exstreme hasard, and eyther to wynne all or lose all. And therefore both the armies being nowe readie to fight, stood so nere together that the one might see the other, not farre from Seuerne side. At what tyme Edricus (as some reporte) began to perswade with the two kings, that they should common together before the beginning of the battaile, to see whether they coulde fall to any agreement betweene themselues, because he knewe right well that this thing should be as much for the commoditie of the Danes as of the Englishmen. For now he that be∣fore time was wont to be the chiefe worker of all trechery and mischiefe, be∣ganne to counterfeyt honestie, in going about to set an vnitie and peace, be∣twixt the two sayde most redoubted and valiant princes. The which princes not mislyking with his counsayle, for that present season, refused not to fol∣low it, albeit they thought it would be to small effect and purpose. And so they communed together a little while, not without the great expectation of the beholders what would be the ende and come of it. But where vpon they concluded among themselues it is altogether vncertaine. Some saye that peace was agreed vpō condition that Canutus should haue Mertia or mid∣dle England, and Edmond all the west part of the realme.

¶And in this time Emma the wyfe of Egeldred, fearing the fortune of warre, sent her two sonnes Alphred and Edward vnto her brother Richarde the second of that name and fourth Duke of Normandy.

¶But Edricus, which as before is sayde was euer subtile of wyt, consi∣dering the good fortune of king Edmond and his knightly courage, thought that at length he should ouercome the Danes. Wherefore to saue his lande, and to bring about his malicious treason, he sought the wayes and meanes how he might stand in his grace and fauour, and at length obteyned his en∣tent, and swore to him to be his true subiect.

¶When king Edmond had a whyle stayed at London, he then made to∣ward the Danes that then were in Kent, and met with them at a place cal∣led Otford, and there discomfited them, and chased Canutus to the Isle of Shepey. And there he tooke shipping and sayled about the lande, and at the last entred into the Countrie of Mertia, and spoyled a parte thereof.

¶ Then the two hostes met soone after at a place called Ashedowne, whereafter a long sight Edricus with his retinue fled to the comfort of the Danes: By meane whereof king Edmond was put to the worsse, for many noble men were slaine vpon his party: among the which the Bishop of Lyn∣coln, and the Abbot of Ramsey were two, and were come thether to haue intreated a peace betweene the two princes. But when this was layde to the charge of Edricus, he by his vntrue meanes, so excused himselfe, that no man myght charge him wth any default.

¶ Thus this mortall warre continuing betwixt these two martiall prin∣ces, to the great desolation and mortalitie of the people, one of the Knightes of the partie of king Edmond, gate him to an high place, where he might be somewhat heard of the hoste, and spake in this wise: daylie we dye, and no man hath the victorie: For Edmond maye not be ouercome for his great strength, and Canutus maye not be ouercome for fauour of fortune. What shall then be the fruite of thys continuall strife? none ther but when the Knightes bene all slaine on eyther partie, then the Dukes compelled by nede will accord, or else they must fight alone without Knights. Then seing thys must be the ende, why do they not one of these two? If they accord? why is not this kingdome sufficient for twaine, that sometyme suffised for .vij. If their coueteousnesse and greedie desire of Lordships be so great, that eyther hath indignation to take and part with other, or else the one to be vnder that other, then let them fight alone, that will be the Lordes alone, least if all men fight, all men be slaine, by meane whereof no men shall be left to be vn∣der the Lordship or leading of Dukes, nor yet to defend kings against their strong enimies or nations. Fabian.

¶ Some sayth Polidore, whome it repenteth not me to follow, doe write that the matter was done after this maner. One of the Capitaines, whe∣ther it were Englishman or Dane, it is not knowne, hauing first lycence graunted him to saye his minde, spake in the presence of both the kings on thys wise.

¶ O most doubtie and valiant Emperours, you haue nowe fought long ynough one against another: There hath beene bloud ynough shed betwixt you both. Your valiantnesse and the manly courage also of your Souldiours is sufficiently tryed. And yet can neither of you awaye with good or euill for∣tune. For if it so chaunce that one of you haue the vpper hande of the other, he more fiercely pursueth his vanquished enimie: Agayne, if his fortune be to be ouercome, yet prepareth he a freshe battaile against his vanquisher. O what wilfulnesse is this of yours (noble Princes) that can not be ouercome and perswaded by reason? doe you more regard warre then peace? Whether rageth this your greedie desyre of Empire? If you fight for a kingdome, and that be your quarrell and the cause why ye thus warre one against ano∣ther, deuide you then this most flourishing and wealthie Realme betwixt you, the which in times past was counted sufficient to maintaine .vij. kings: But if glorie doe pricke you to hasard the vncertaine chaunce of Empire or seruitude, deuise you some wayes by your selues whereby the matter maye be determined without any great slaughter or bloudshed which of you both shall haue the souereintie. Thus spake this Capitaine vnto them. But the latter sentence pleased king Edmond, and so did it Canutus also whome fortune fauoured. And so by his perswasions they accorded at the length to trie the matter in their awne persons by dynt of sworde, hetherto Polydore.

¶These wordes thus spoken, were right well allowed of both hostes, for at this time, a truce was made betweene both the princes for a certaine tyme, after which tyme ended, were it by the occasion of these wordes, or o∣therwise, the sayde two princes Edmond and Canutus, agreed to trie their quarels betwene them two onely.

¶ And for this was assigned by both their agrements, a little Isle then

called Olney nere vnto Gloucester. In which place, at the daye and tyme appointed, the two Champions met without company or assistance within the sayde Isle, the hostes of both parties standing without the Isle, and there abyding the fortune of this combate. There eyther proued other, first with sharpe Speares, and after with kyne and cutting swordes. What shall I of this make any longer processe, when eyther had other well proued and assayed, by receiuyng of harde and sore strokes, by the first motion of Canu∣tus, as most Writers testefie, they at the last agreed and kissed together as louers, to the great comfort of both the hostes.

¶And shortly after, by the aduise of both their counsayles they condiscen∣ded and agreed vpon a particion of the lande, which immediatly was done to both their contentations, and they loued after, as two brethren, during their naturall lyues.

¶ But the Serpent Idre, of enuy and false conspiracie which euer bur∣ned in the heart of Edricus, was kindeled so sore, that of pure force it must breake out into a light flame, so that what he might not accōplish by his awne person, he fulfilled by his awne sonne, as testifie diuerse Authors. For as af∣firmeth Guydo, this sonne of Edrycus awaityng his time, espyed when the king was at a house of easement to purge nature, and with a Speare strake him int the fundament, and so into the body, whereof king Edmond shortly after dyed at Oxenford. Notwithstanding there is great diuersitie amongest wryters touching his death which for breuites sake I omit. For Marian sayth, that he dyed at London by naturall sicknesse.

¶ The king thus being slaine, anone Edrycus thinkyng thereby to be great exalted, sped him in all hast to Canutus, and saluted him as king, and shewed him of this treason, onely done for his loue.

¶ When Canutus had well considered the confession of this Edricus, he lyke a discrete and righteous Prince, sayde vnto him in this wise. Edrycus, for that thou hast for the loue thou bearest to me, slaine thine naturall Lorde, which I most loued, I will exalt thine head aboue all the Lordes of Eng∣land. And forthwith commaunded him to be taken, and his head to be striken off, and pight vpon a Speares head, and after set vpon the highest gate in London. But the Aucthour of Polichronicon sheweth in the .xviij. Chapter of his sixt booke that Canutus after the death of Edmond gaue vnto Edry∣cus the Lordship of Martia or myddle Englande, and by his counsayle exi∣led Edwyn the brother of Edmond called the king of Chorles, and through his counsayle also executed many cruell deedes.

¶ Finally, howsoeuer this noble Prince came to his death, it is agreed that he dyed, when he had reigned one yere, and somewhat more, and is bu∣ryed at Glascenbury, by his Grandfather Edgar, and left behynde him two sonnes, that is to say, Edmond, and Edward, as sayth Fabian.

CAnutus or Knot, [unspec 1018/1] by the death of king Edmond had the whole gouer∣nance of the Realme, and forthwith he assembled a counsayle at Lon∣don, and then was consecrated and annoynted king, of Alurede Arche∣bishop of Cauntorbury, where among ther thinges that were debated in the counsayle, a question was moued, whether in the composition made be∣twene Edmond, and Canutus, any speciall remembraunce was made for the

children or brethren of Edmond for any porcion of any part of the land.

¶ Wherevnto, it was aunswered of the Lordes, naye, affirming further∣more with an othe (for the kinges pleasure) that they to the vttermost of their powers would put off the blood of Edmond in all that they might. By reason of which aunswere and promes, they thought many of them to haue stand in the great grace and fauour of the King, but it turned all otherwise.

¶ For many, or the more part of them, specially such as Canutus percey∣ued and knew, were sworne before to Edmond and his heyres, and also were natiue Englishmen, he mistrusted and disdeyned euer after. In so much, that some he exiled, and some were slaine, and some by Goddes punishment dyed sodeynly, and came to a miserable ende.

¶ But shortly after by the counsayle of dyuerse of his Lordes, he outlawed Edwyne the brother of Edmond surnamed king of Chorles. But yet he was afterwarde reconciled to the kinges fauour, and lastlye was slaine by one of his awne seruauntes.

¶ Canutus also by the sayde counsayle, sent the two sonnes of Edmond, named as before is sayde Edmond and Edward, vnto his brother Swanus then king of Denmarke, to be slaine after the opinion of some wryters: But he abhorring that deede, sent them to Salamon then king of Hungary, as sayth Guydo and other. Where in processe of tyme Edmond dyed, and hys brother Edward maryed Agatha the daughter of Henry the fourth, then Emperour of Almaine.

¶ Of the which Edward and Agatha, proceded Margaret that after was king of Scotland, and Christian that was a Nonne, and a sonne na∣med Edgar, and surnamed Etheling: or as Polydore wryteth two sonnes, Edmond and Edgar.

¶Canutus, after he had set certaine things in some order within y^e realme, he then deuyded the same into foure partes. That is to say, the first and prin∣cipall parte, which at those dayes was west Saxon, he held vnder his owne guyding. East England the which conteyned Norffolke and Suffolke, he betooke to the rule of the Erle Turkillus a Dane, or as Polydore calleth him Thrugillus. Mertia he betooke (as some write) to the subtile Erle Edri∣cus. And the fourth part which was Northumberland, he betooke to a Dane named Hircius. But lyke as the man of Indee, can at no time chaunge his colour, so this Edricus neuer chaunged his false maners. And notwithstan∣ding the great benefits that he daylie receyued of his princes, euen lyke as he had bene false and deceyueable to other princes before, euen so now he v∣sed himselfe toward Canutus.

¶ Wherefore he being accused and prooued faultie, was commaunded of the king to haue iudgement: The which was done immediatly, and his head for dyuers causes smitten off, and the same head with the body, for spite, cast into a foule and filthie place. But Reynulph Monke of Chester sayeth, that he was slaine by the kings agreement, within his palace at London, and his body with the head throwne after into the Towne Diche: Thus with shame he ended, that in falshood and dissimulation continued most of his life.

¶ In the .xv. yere of his reigne, he called a Parliament at Oxenforde, where among other things, it was enacted, that Englishmen and Danes should holde and firmely keepe the lawes of Edgar late king.

¶And in this tyme dyed Swanus, that was brother to Canutus king of Denmarke without issue, wherefore that land fell vnto Canutus. For the which cause, he with a strong armie sayled thether to take the possession, and to set the Countrie in an order, or after some writers, to appease and with∣stand the Vandales that then had pierced that lande, and done therein much harme. Wherein Goodwyn the Erle, whose daughter Edward the confessor after maryed with a certaine number of Englishmen, fell vpon the Van∣dales by night, and distressed them in suche wise that Canutus had of them his pleasure. For this deede the king had Erle Goodwyn euer after in good fauour and loued Englishe men more specially.

¶ But Polydore reporteth this storye touchyng the kinges goyng into Denmarke farre otherwise, after this maner. When the Parliament (sayth he) was ended, he determined with himselfe to reforme many misorders in the common welth, and to bewtifie and furnishe the Realme with Nobilitie, and to do things that generally should redound to the great wealth and com∣moditie of all English men. But it so fell that he was sodeinly certified of the inuasion made by them of Norway into Denmarke, and desyred with∣all of his people there to come and ayde them with all speede. The which thing seemed vnto Canutus to be a matter of no small importance. For when Olanus king of Norway heard how the power of Canutus dayly encreased in such wise as he thought was daungerous for his estate, beyng afearde that he would make clayme vnto the sayd kingdome of Norway, which som∣tymes belonged vnto his auncestours, and therefore desyrous to cut off, and empeach his victoryes, he together with his brother Harolde, a right dough∣ty knight, inuaded the Realme of Denmarke, destroiyng and wastyng the Countrie euery where as he went, dayly fighting and skirmishing with the Garrisons that lay in sundry places of that Countrie, in such wise that it was thought he would in short space winne all, if speedy resistance were not madē to deliuer the Realme from such an iminent daunger. Wherefore Canutus mustered both Englishmen and Danes with a tryce, and hauing nowe all thinges redyly prepared for warre, tooke shipping, and the winde seruyng him well, was soner arriued in Denmarke then a man would haue thought, where he found his enemies in armes, and the Country wasted and destroy∣ed on euery syde. Then commaunded he his Banners and Pennons to be displayed, and his Standard to be aduaunced and the army to follow, where euery thing was done as soone as it could be spoken.

¶ And here nowe were the Englishe men specially desyrous to do some noble deedes of armes, as well thereby to winne honour and shewe their manly courage and prowesse, as to purchase themselues the greater grace and fauour with their prince. Then met the two armies and fought so fierce∣lye together, that they filled the Elament with great cry and noyse that they made. Long it was or it apered to whether partie the victory should encline. At the length the English men so fiercely assayled the enemies that they ouer∣came them. On the Morow Canutus pursuyng his enemies, tooke his iourney towardes Norway. And when he was entred into the Countrye, there met him incontinent Ambassadors, which were sent vnto him to intreat of peace, and submission, and to desyre him of a generall pardon, whome he heard very curteously, and after he had receyued Hostages of them, he par∣doned

them of all trespasses and offences whatsoeuer they had done against him: And so was the kingdome of Norway recouered againe. Olanus des∣peyring nowe of victory fled for succour vnto his father in lawe the Duke of the Easterlynges that he might lyue with him more safely in exile: The which Olanus whiles he went about to disturbe the quiet state of another mannes kingdome, lost his awne: yet to say the truth, the same Eodly and innocent man lost nothing at all, in asmuch as in all these his aduersities and troubles, he behaued himselfe alwayes in most honest and verteous wise, and therefore was counted of all men a very holy man. And it foloweth a little after in the same wryter: In this battaile Canutus proued the Loyaltie and manly prowesse of the Englishe men, whome for that cause, he euer after∣wardes loued out of measure, and rewarded them with great giftes accor∣dingly. And when the king had thus taken order with his affayres in Den∣marke, he returned shortly into England. And soone after he maried Emma the wife lately of Egelredus, of the which he had a sonne, & named him Har∣dycanutus, and after the English Chronicle, Hardyknought.

¶But Polidore wryteth that this mariage was concluded on in the former Parliament. For Canutus hauing none issue, but onely two sonnes base borne, and begotten of a Concubine of his named Aluina, of the which two sonnes the one was called Harold, and the other Sweno: And desirous to haue suche issue as might lawfully succede him, maryed Emma the wyfe of Etheldred, which with her sonnes Alfred and Edward were banished the realme & lyued in Normandy with Richard her brother Duke of that coun∣trie, vnto the which Duke the sayde king maried also his sister Hestritha, at the same tyme.

¶In the .xvj. yere of his reigne, the Scots rebelled against him: wher∣fore he with a great armie entred Scotlande, and at length ouercame the king of that lande, named then Malcolme and brought them againe to hys subiection, as sayth Marian the Scot. By reason of which victorie, Canu∣tus was then king of foure kingdomes, of England, of Scotland, of Den∣marke, and of Norway.

¶Then as sayth sundry Authours, after that he had betaken this land of England to the guyding of Leofricus, Egelnothus and other, he then retur∣ned into Denmarke. And from thence he went in pilgrimage to Rome in the .xvij. yere of his reigne, and redeemed the Schoole of Saxons free of all former Tribute graunted as before in the stories of Iew and Offa is some∣deale touched: which redemption of Tribute (as sayeth Guydo) was called Rome Scot, as ye maye reade more in Fabian.

¶ After his returne from Rome, he beganne somewhat to swell with pride: But to say truth, he was a king of great magnificence, and he vsed such iustice mixed with temperance that in his daies, in the west partes of the worlde, there was no Prince of renowne lyke to Canutus and besides that, he was greatly beloued and drad of all his subiects.

¶Thys king Canutus when he had reigned ouer this Realme .xix. yeres, he dyed and was buried at Winchester, leauing after him two sonnes begot∣ten vpon his wiues, the eldest named Harold, and the yongest Hardikanitus, the which while his father lyued, was made king of Denmarke. Fabian.

But Polydore sayeth that Canutus dyed in Normandy, and was buried

at Roane, whose wordes are these: It was not long after, but Canutus was enforced to make great warre vpon Richard Duke of Normandy, bi∣cause he hauing no feare nor regarde vnto the Lawes, had caused himselfe to be deuorced for a verie light and trifling matter from his wyfe Estritha sister (as is aforesayde) of Canutus, who being desyrous to be reuenged vpon the sayde Duke for the same iniurie, prepared a great Nauie and sayled vnto Normandy. Nowe his armie was scarcely set a lande and encamped in the enemies Countrie when worde was brought him of the death of his sonne Sweno Lieutenaunt or Lorde Deputie of Norway, whome he speciallye loued, the which thing so wounded his hart with anguishe and sorrow, that he fell into an Ague, whereof he dyed shortly after. Then (as it foloweth in the same Authour) his funerall obsequy being finished at Roane: the Soul∣diours vpon safe conduyt and lycence graunted them to depart in safetie, re∣turned home againe into England.

HArolde the base sonne of Canutus and of Elgina, or Algina, [unspec 1038/1] after the death of his father reigned ouer England. This man for his nymble∣nesse and swiftnesse of foote, was surnamed Harefoote. In his begin∣ning there was great strife among the Lordes, in a Parliament holden at Oxford, for that some were in doubt of his birth, and whether he were the kings sonne or not, and specially Erle Goodwyn which did the vttermost of his power to haue set him by, and to haue preferred his brother Hardikini∣tus the sonne of Etheldred and Emma, or anye of the sonnes of Etheldred and Emma that were in Normandy vnto that honor. But Leofricus whom Canutus so much loued and trusted, with the ayde of the Danes and Londo∣ners, so stoutly withstoode Goodwyne and hys sonnes, that they fayled of their purpose.

¶Assoone as this Harolde was crowned, he gate him in all haste to Win∣chester, and there tirannically seased vpon all the goodes and treasure which Canutus had left vnto the sayd Emma, and then banished her the lande. The which Emma sayled then into Flaunders, and there of Baldwyn the Erle was reuerently and curteously receyued, and obteyned of him the Castell of Bruges, where she made her aboade during the lyfe of this Harolde. The cause why she went not into Normandy, was because William then Duke there was by reason of his tender yeres and minoritie, not able to gouerne of himselfe, but was vnder the tuition and gouernance of others.

¶ This Harold continued his life and reigne with little fruite, and lesse profite to the land, nor yet of the Subiectes, so that of him, either for vice that was in him, which learned men thought not meete to put in memory, or else for the rudenesse of his lyfe, and spending vainely of his tyme, which was not worthy of memory, nothing at all is put in remembraunce, but that he dy∣ed at London, or as some write, at Oxenford, and was buried at Westmin∣ster, when he had reigned three yeres and odde Monethes, leauyng after him none heyre, and therfore his brother Hardikinitus which was king of Denmarke, was king next after him.

DVlcane king of Scottes reigned at this time, seuen yeres, and was slaine by his brother Germayne Makebreth. [unspec 1040/3]

[unspec 1041/1] HArdikinitus, or Hardiknot, the sonne of Canutus, and of Emma, was nade king of Englande: This man after the death of his brother Ha∣rolde was sent for into Denmarke, or as some write into Flaunders, where he was with his mother Emma, and was most ioyously receyued and crowned at London of Ethelnotus, then Archebishop of Cauntorbury: But he was of such a cruelty, that he sent Alfricus then Archebishop of York, and Erle Goodwyn vnto Westminster, commaundyng them for the iniury by his brother Harolde done vnto his mother Emma, that they should drawe the Corps and dead body of the sayd Harolde out of the ground, or place where it was buried, and cause it to be throwne into the ryuer of Thamys, which was done according to his commaundement. The which Corps after, as sayth Guydo and other, was found by a Fisherman, and buried vnreuerently with∣in the Church yarde of Saint Clement standyng without the Temble barre of London.

¶ And as Reynulph sayth, for a more cruelty, he caused first the dead hed of his sayde brother to bee smitten off from the bodye, and then throwen into the sayde Ryuer.

¶ This king also leuyed the aforenamed Tribute named the Dane gelt, and spent it to the little profite of the Realme, but gaue the same vnto Mariners and Shipmen, and to sundry lewde persons, he gaue great and vnsitting fees and wages, and was of such prodigality, that his Boordes and Tables were couered foure tymes in the daye, and the people serued with great excesse both of meate and drinke.

¶ Nowe for the leuiyng of the aforesayde Tribute, the Commons great∣ly grudged, so that in Worcester two of his seruauntes, which were assigned to gather that money, were there slaine. For the which murder the king was so sore displeased, that he brent a great part of that Towne.

¶ Some Aucthours write that the king betooke all the rule of the lande vnto his mother Emma, and to the Erle Goodwyn, the which Goodwyn had maried the daughter of Canutus, gotten vpō his first wife Elgina: by whom many things were misordered, & specially by the subtilty of y^e Erle Goodwin.

¶ This Erle had many sonnes, as sayth Reynulph, in his sixt booke, and xxv. Chap. By his first wife that was king Canutus sister, & not his daugh∣ter, he had one sonne: The which with the stroke of a horse was throwne into the Ryuer of Thamys and drowned: and the mother was smitten with a blast of lightning, and so dyed. Of whome it is there remembred that she was so vngracious, and of so vile condicions, that she set yong women to whoredome, for to gather by that vnlawfull meane riches. After which wife so dead, he maryed the seconde, of whome he receyued sixe sonnes, that is to say, Swanus, Harold, Tostitus, Wilnotus, Sirthe, & Leofricus, & a daugh∣ter named Goditha, which after was maryed vnto Edward the Confessor.

¶ The two sonnes of Egelredus, that is to say, Alphredus, and Edward, which as ye before haue heard were sent into Normandie by Emma theyr mother came in the time of the reigne of this king into England to visite and see theyr mother, and brought with them a great number of Normans. Then this Goodwyn imagined in his minde, howe he might preferre his daughter Godith to one of these brethren, and thought with himselfe that the eldest woulde disdaine that mariage, and therefore he thought to ioyne her to the

yonger, and to make him king, and her Queene, and to that purpose he com∣passed the death of the elder.

¶ And first Goodwyn practised with the Lordes of England, and sayd, it was a great ieopardie for the lande, to suffer so many straungers to enter the land without licence, wherefore it were necessary that they were restray∣ned in tyme. By which meanes he gate aucthoritie to order the matter in such sort as to him should seeme best, and that of his awne power, because he was of most might next vnto the king: Wherefore he went and met with the sayd Normans, and slue of them the greatest number. For vpon Guyld downe, he slue alway .ix. and saued the tenth. And yet because he thought there was to many of them liuyng, he eftsoones tithed them againe, and slue euerye tenth knight of them, and that by most cruell death, as windyng theyr guttes out of their bodies (as sayth Reynulph) and among other, put out the eyen of the el∣der brother Alphred, and sent him to Ely, where he dyed in short tyme after: But Edward was conueied some other way, and was brought to his mother. But she fearing the treason of Goodwin, sent him sone ouer the Sea againe.

¶ When Goodwyn was after accused for this cruell deede, he excused him selfe, and sware depely that he was forced of the king so for to do.

¶ Then it foloweth, that this Hardikinitus beyng at a feast or mariage dinner at Lambeth besyde London, mery and iocund, while he stood drinkyng he fell downe sodeynly and dyed, or waxed dumbe, and lay vntill the .viij. day after, not without suspicion of poysoning as some wryte, when he had reig∣ned two yeres and was buried at winchester, leauing after him none issue.

EDwarde the sonne of Egeldred or Etheldred and of Emma his last wife, [unspec 1043/1] reigned ouer the realme of England next after the death of Har∣dikinitus: The which Edwarde, immediately after the death of his brother in lawe aforesaide, was sent for into Normandy, and pledges layde for him, that he without fraude should be made king. And then he came with a fewe straungers. But Marian the Scot sayth that some of the Lordes had sent for Edward the outlawe, sonne of Edmond Ironside for to be theyr king, but after the affirmance of the same Aucthour, when he knewe we that Ed∣ward his nephew was in possession of the land, he would meddle no further.

¶ Then this Edward by the great aduice of Goodwyn Erle of west Sax∣on, and Leofricus Erle of Chester, was chosen king at London, and of Ed∣sius, or Cadsius Archebishop of Cantorbury, and Alfricus Archebishop of Yorke on Easter Monday folowing consecrated at Winchester, and in pro∣cesse of tyme after, he wedded Goditha the daughter of the Erle Goodwyn, which he had by his wyfe Thira, sister vnto Canutus the second, that of Guy∣do is called Editha, the which he entreated in such wise, that he put her not from his bed, nor yet had carnally with her to do. Whether it were for hate of her kinne, or for loue of Chastitie, the truth is not shewed: But all Wryters agree that he continued his life without the vse of Women.

¶ This king discharged Englishe men of the great Tribute called Dane gelt, the which before is often mencioned, so that after his time it was more gathered. And also he subdued the Britons or Welshmen that made warres within the boundes of the lande or fonters: But soone after theyr Duke or leader called Griffin, or Griffith, with the ayde of the Irishe men entered the Ryuer of Seuerne, and tooke manye prayers, and departed a∣gaine without fight.

¶ In the tyme of the reigne of this Edward, Emman his mother was ac∣cused to be familier with Alwyn or Adwyne, Bishop of Winchester. Vpon which accusation, by counsayle of Erle Goodwyn, he tooke from her many of her Iewelles, and caused her to be kept very streghtly in the Abbey of War∣well, and the Bishop he committed to the examination and correction of the Clergie: notwithstanding, Polidore saith, they were both committed toward in Winchester. But his mother more sorowyng the defamation of Alwyne the Bishop, than her awne estate, wrote vnto diuerse Bishoppes, & besought them of iustice, affirming that she was ready to abyde all lawfull and most sharpest tryall.

¶ Then dyuerse of the Byshoppes made labour to the king for her, and for the Bishop. But Robert then Archebishop of Cantorbury, beyng with their labour discontented, sayde vnto them in this maner. My brethren By∣shoppes, sayde he, howe dare ye defence her, that is a wilde beast and not a woman? she hath defamed her awne sonne the king. Fabian, and called her lecherous Lemman the Bishop, Christ her God. Polydore.

¶ But be it so, that the woman would purge the Priest, who shall then purge the womā, that is accused to consent to the death of her sonne Alphred, and procured venome to the empoysonyng of her sonne Edward? But how so it be, that she be giltie or giltlesse, if she will go bare footed for her selfe o∣uer foure ploughe shares, and for the Bishop ouer fiue ploughe shares bren∣nyng, and fire hote: then if she escape harmelesse, he shall be assoyled of thys chalenge, and she also.

¶ This was of her graunted, and the day of purgation assigned: At which day the king and a great part of his Lordes were present, but this Robert the Archbishop made default and was not there, were it for pitie or other∣wise. This Robert was a Monke in an house in Normandy, and came ouer by the sending for of the king, and was first made Bishop of London, and af∣ter Archebishop of Cantorbury.

¶ Then shee was blindefolde, and led vnto the place betweene two men, where the Irons lay glowying hote, and passed the, ix. shares vnhurt. Then at the last she sayde, good Lord, when shall I come to the place of my purga∣tion. When they vncouered her eyes, and shee sawe that she was past the paine, she kneeled downe and thanked God. Fabian.

¶ Then the king repented him, and restored vnto her, and the Byshop also, that which he before had taken from them, and asked them forgeuenesse: But the Archebishop of Cantorbury fled into Normandy.

¶ Polydore wryteth that king Edward was offended with his mother, for other causes aswell as for that she was suspected of the incontinent liuyng with the sayd Bishop: For it was layde vnto her charge that she was maried vnto Canutus beyng both a straunger and an enemy vnto the Realme: And

that she succoured not her children in the tyme of theyr exile and banishment, and lastly because there went a brute that she should imagine their deathes.

¶ It was not long after, that king Edward gathered a strong nauie at Southampton, or to saye more truely at Sandwich, forsomuch as he was warned that Swanus king of Denmarke entended to make warre vpon hym. But Reynulph fayth that he gathered this Nauie to withstande Ha∣rold Harfagar, then king of Norway which entended to haue entered Eng∣land. But he was letted by the aforesayde Swanus, that shortly after made warre vpon the sayde Harold and other.

¶ It is also reported of this king that being on a tyme in a certaine exta∣sie of minde or high contemplation in the time of seruice, he fell sodeynly into a great laughter, contrarie to his wonted and accustomed maner. And when the standers by meruayled thereat, and asked of him what was the matter that he so did: he answered how the Danes and Norwayes were about by common consent to haue inuaded England with a great Nauie, and as they were in a readynesse to hoyse vp their sayles and to set forward, one brought foorth a Bolle full of Mede or Methe to drinke vpon a bone voyage: and after that came Bolle after Bolle, so that after drinke came dronkenesse, and after that iangeling, and then strife, and at the last fighting: in the which many were slaine, and the rest returned to their awne home, so that they are now dispersed and gone from their purpose, and I trust (sayth he) that in my tyme forrein Nations and straungers will neuer inuade and disquiet thys Realme againe.

¶ In the .x. yere of his reigne (as sayeth Reynulph) and in the Moneth of September, Eustace Erle of Boloygne came a lande at Douer, which Erle had wedded king Edwards sister. And it so came to passe, that when this Erle was landed he conueyed himselfe in so secret maner from his com∣pany that none of them could tell what was become of him, and they thought he had bene slaine in the towne: And in this search made for him, the hurly burly was such that a Citizen of the towne of Douer was slaine. By meane whereof the people arose, and in the questioning of this mans death, they ranne at length vpon the Erles company, and slue .xx. of his men, and woun∣ded many mo: then the Erle appered and tooke his mens parte: But in the ende he was fayne to withdrawe himselfe with a fewe persons, and roade vnto the king then being at Gloucester, or as Polydore sayth, at Cauntorbu∣ry, and made vnto him a greeuous complaynt of the men of Douer.

¶ But Mathew of Westmynster reporteth this storie otherwise, saiyng: About this time Eustachius Erle of Boloygne, who had maried king Ed∣wardes Sister named Goda, landed with his treyne at Douer, where hys Souldiours as they sought for lodging after a proude and vndiscret maner fortuned to kyll a Townes man. The which outrageous fact when another Burgesse of the same towne perceyued, he kylled him againe that had done the murther. By reason wherof the sayd Erle and his company were greatly moued, and in their rage slue much people both men and women, besides chil∣dren and olde folkes that were troden to death with men and horses. But when the straungers saw that the Burgesses came still m•• and mo, flockyng on euery syde to rescue their neighbours, they toke their heeles like cowards and .xviij. of them beyng slaine in the flight, the rest sled to Gloucester where

the king lay. Howbeit, Polydore sayth that this conflict was at Cauntorbury and not at Douer: But nowe to returne to the matter. After this ryot, Erle Goodwyn, forasmuch as to him was committed the rule of Kent, was char∣ged to ryde thether, and to take wreche vpon the inhabitantes of that towne. But he withsayde that commaundement, and counsayled the king to send for the Wardeynes of the Castle of Douer, and the Rulers of the Towne, for to aunswere vnto such matters as should be layd against them, and if they were guiltye, to punish them, or else not.

¶ This Counsaile of Goodwyn pleased nothing the king, nor such as were about him, wherefore many mo Lordes where sent for. Among the which Leofricus Erle of Chester, & Seward Erle of Northumberland were two.

¶ After which assembly of the Lordes Erle Goodwyn had such monition of some of the counsayle, that he withdrewe himselfe from the Court, and ga∣thered to him strength of knightes out of dyuerse shires, as west Saxons, and Kent, and houed at Beuerston vntill his sonnes came vnto him with mo peo∣ple. Sone after, came vnto him his eldest sonne Swanus, and brought with him a faire companie, that he had arrered in Oxenfordshire, and Gloucester∣shire: And Harolde his other sonne with a felowship that he had assembled in East Englande and Huntingdonshire, so that of these people were made a great hoste.

¶ Then Goodwyn was accused to the king for gathering of so great an hoste: But he excused him and sayde, it was done to withstande the Welshe men, the which prooued contrary. Then he was commaunded to send away the people, and to come himselfe with a certeyne number vnto the Court: but that he refused.

¶ Then the king and his Counsayle beyng at London, Goodwyn and Harolde, was againe sent for, and charged to come to the Court with .xij. personnes to attend on them, and no mo, and to render into the kings handes all knightes fees that he and Harold his sonne had within England. To this by them was aunswered, that they might not come to the counsayle of Trea∣chors & guilefull men, and that also with so fewe men in number they might not without perill or shame passe by the Country.

¶ Nowe during this tyme, a part of Goodwynes knightes withdrewe them, and his power began to deminishe, and the king in this meane season had gathered a strong host. Then Proclamations were made that Good∣wyn should come to the Court, as before is sayde, or else to auoyde the lande within fiue dayes. Wherefore, Goodwyn considering the ieopardie that he was in, tooke with him three of his sonnes, that is to say, Swanus, Tosty, and Gurth, or Biorno, and sayled into Flaunders, where he was receyued of the Erle Bladwyn, whose daughter Swanus his sonne had before ma∣ryed, named Judith. And Harold and Leofricus, two of his other sonnes with a fewe shippes sayled out of Bristowe into Ireland. Fabian.

¶ Of this foresayde variance betwene the king, Erle Goodwyn, and his sonnes, I finde much diuersitye among wryters: For Mathewe of West∣minster somewhat dissenting from my Authour, wryteth hereof as foloweth. Erle Goodwyn beyng greatly moued for the sleiyng of his men at Douer, assembled a great power out of Kent, Sussex, and the West Saxons. And so did likewise his eldest sonne Swanus out of his Seignory or honour, that

is to wete, out of Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Sommerset∣shire, and Barkeshire, as did his sonne Harold also out of his honour of East England, Grantbridge, and Huntyngdon. When King Edward was infor∣med hereof, he also assembled a great army, because he would be in a redinesse to fight with his enemies if neede were. Then came Goodwyn with hys army into Gloucestershire, and sent his messengers vnto the king to require him to deliuer Eustachius and his company vnto him, and if he refused so to do, then to shewe him that he would proclayme open warre against him. Vn∣to whome the king beyng now in a redinesse and well furnished of all things necessary for warre, sent aunswere againe, that he would not sende him Eu∣stachius, chargyng the sayd Goodwyn further, forsomuch as he had raysed an army against him, and without his leaue and licence disturbed the peace of his Realme, personally to apere at the Court at a day apoynted, and there to make aunswere to the sayde iniury, and misdemeanour before him and his Counsayle. But as Goodwyn durst not fight against the king, because hee thought himselfe to weake, so likewise would he not make his personall ape∣rance as he was required. Wherefore, the sayd king by the decree and sen∣tence of his Counsayle, banished him the Realme, with his fiue sonnes: who shortly vpon his banishement, with his wife Gina, and Tostius or Tostio his sonne, and his wife Iudith, the daughter of Baldwyn Erle of Flaunders, and two other of his sonnes, that is to say, Swanus, and Gurth, taking wyth them great store of treasure, tooke shipping, and sayled streight into Flaun∣ders vnto the sayde Erle. His other two sonnes Harolde, and Leofwinus, went vnto Bristowe, and from thence gate them into Irelande. After that the king put away Edith the Queene, onely of displeasure conceyued agaynst her father, and appoynted that she should be kept in safe custody in the Abbey of Redwell by the Abbesse there, without any honourable entertaynement, hauyng one gentlewoman only to wayt vpon her. Hetherto Mathew. &c.

¶ When the king was asserteyned that the Erle Goodwyn with his fiue sonne was in this maner departed out of his land, he shortly after called a Parliament, and by the aucthoritie of the same banished Goodwyn and his three sonnes that were gone with him. And that done the king put his awne wife which was the daughter of Goodwyn called Edithe, a Lady of singuler vertue and learning, into the Abbey of Warwell with one mayden to be safe∣ly kept, and tooke from her such Iewels as she had, as sayth Marian. And so Goodwyn and his said sonnes continued two yeres banished. In the which season he or his retinue tooke dyuere tymes prayers in the Marches of Eng∣land and in the ende drew to him such strength, that he was purposed to haue entered the land with force, and to haue warred vpon the king. But by me∣diatours that fauoured Erle Goodwyn, a peace was made betwene the king and him, so that in the ende he was receyued to grace with his sonnes, and his daughter the kinges wife restored to hir first and former honour. And for this peace to be continued for Goodwynes part was deliuered for pledges, a sonne of his called Wilnotus, and a sonne of Swanus, named Hacum, or as Polydore writeth, two sonnes of Goodwyn, named Tosto, and Biorna. The which two pledges, king Edward sent to William Duke of Normandy to be kept. And Algarus the sonne of Leofricus Erle of Chester, to whome the king had geuen the Erledome of Harolde, & he ruled it discretly in the tyme

of his absence, and at his returne, delyuered it to him againe, gladly and without grudge.

¶ During the tyme of this Banishment of Goodwyn, William Bastard, Duke of Normandy, came with a good company into this land, and was ho∣nourably receyued, to whome the king made great cheere.

¶ And after he had taryed here a certeyne of tyme to his contentation, and pleasure, he returned to his awne with great giftes and rewardes. And Emma the kinges mother dyed shortly after, and was buried at Winchester. And Swanus the eldest sonne of Goodwyn went to Ierusalem, and from thence toward Licia, and dyed by the way of colde that he had taken in goyng barefoote. Then the Normanes that had geuen to the king euill counsaile against Englishe men, were by Goodwyn and his friendes exiled. Among which, Robert Archebishop of Cantorbury that has spoken sore against them was one, of whome Fabian speaketh.

¶ In the .xiij. yere of this king, the Scottes rebelled against him. Wher∣fore Seward Erle of Northumberland by the kinges commaundement ga∣thered a great host, and entered that land, and behaued him so manfully, that in the ende he subdued the Scottes, and chased the king out of his Country, so that after king Edward gaue that kingdome vnto Malcoline, sonne of the king of Cambris, or Cumberland, to be holden of him and his heyres kings, as chiefe Lordes of Scotland.

¶ Vpon Easter Monday the sayd yere, Goodwyn sittyng at the kinges Boorde, with other Lordes in the Castle of Windsore, or as some report, of Winchester, it happened one of the kings Cup bearers to stumble, and to re∣couer againe, so that he shed none of the drinke: whereat Goodwyn laugh∣ed and sayde, nowe that one brother, hath susteyned that other, whereby he meant, that the one foote or legge had stayed the other from falling. With which woordes, the king marked him and sayde. Right so my brother Al∣phred should haue holpen me, had not Goodwyn beene. The Erle then con∣ceyued that the king suspected him of his brothers death, and sayde vnto the king in defending his vntruth: Sir, I perceyue well that it is tolde thee that I shoulde be the cause of thy brothers death. So mought I safely swalowe this morsell of bread that I heare holde in my hande, as I am giltlesse of the dede? But he had no soner spoken the word, and put the bread in his mouth, but he was choked. Then the king commaunded him to be drawen from the boord by the legges, & so was he conueied to Winchester, & there buried. Fab.

¶ Mathewe of Westminster sayth, that the king when he sawe him fall downe strake dead before him, spake vnto them that were present, saiyng: haue away this dogge and traytour, and burye him in some common highe way, for he is not worthy of Christian buriall. Then his sonnes that stoode by drewe him from the Table, and vnwares vnto the king, buried him in the olde Abbey of the same Citie.

¶ But Marian the Scot sayth, that as Erle Goodwyn sate at the kinges Table on Easter Monday, he was sodeynly taken with a Palsey, or some o∣ther sicknesse, and dyed the thirde day after: and his Lordshippes were ge∣uen vnto Harolde his eldest sonne then liuyng, and Haroldes Erledome was geuen to Algarus the sonne of Leofricus, which was the Erledome of Ox∣forde after some wryters.

¶ It was not long after that king Edward sent vnto the fourth Henry then Emperour of Almaine, Aldredus Bishop of Worcester with other no∣ble men, praiyng him that he would sende into England his Cosyn Edward the sonne of Edmond Ironside, for so much as he entended to make hym as Heyre. The which request was fulfilled, so that he came into England sone after, the which as ye haue heard before was named Edward the outlaw. But as sayth Guydo and other, the yere after he came into England, he dyed at London and was buried at Westmynster.

¶ The yere following king Edward through euill counsaile exiled with∣out gilt Algarus the sonne of Leofricus, the which did associate himselfe with Griffyn king or Duke of Wales, and destroyed the Countrie of Her∣forde, and did much harme to the Towne, and set the Mynster on fyre, and slue .vij. Chanons therof. Then the king sent Harold against him, the which chased the Welshmen into their awne boundes, and recouered the sayde Towne by appointment, holden by the sayde Algarus, and trenched it about and amended all hurtes before done by the Welshmen, and lastly reconciled the sayde Algarus and his company vnto the kings grace.

¶ About the .xv. yere of king Edward dyed the Noble Duke Seward, ruler of Northumberlande of a Fluxe, of whome Guydo reherseth dyuers notable actes whiche I passe ouer. Of him it is read that when he sawe well he should dye, he caused his armour to be put vpon him, and so armed and sitting in a Chayre, sayde, thus it becommeth a knight or man of honour to dye, and not liyng in his bed as another meane man, and so he dyed and was buried at Yorke, or as Reynulph writeth died at Yorke and was buried in the Abbey of Galmahan which he himselfe had founded. And his Erledom was after geuen to Tosty sonne of Goodwyn.

¶ In the .xvj. yere of this king dyed also the good Erle Leofricus Erle of Mertia and of Chester, & was buryed in the Abbay of Couentrie the which before he and his wyfe Godina had builded. This man purchased manye great priuileges for the towne of Couentrye & made it free from any maner of Tolle, except onely of Horsse. For the which also to haue free, the common fame telleth, that after long request made to the king by his wyfe named Godina, he graunted her to haue it thereof freed, if that she woulde ride na∣ked thorow the Towne, which she did, by meane whereof, it was freed.

¶ But Gaufride sayth that this gentle and good Lady did not onely for the freeing of the said Citie and satisfying of her husbands pleasure, graunt vnto her sayde Husband to ryde as aforesayde: But also called in secret maner (by such as she put speciall trust in) all those that then were Magistrates and rulers of the sayde Citie of Couentrie, and vttered vnto them what good will she bare vnto the sayde Citte, and how shee had moued the Erle her hus∣band to make the same free, the which vpon such condition as is afore men∣cioned, the sayde Erle graunted vnto her, which the sayde Lady was well contented to doe, requiring of them for the reuerence of womanhed, that at that day and tyme that she should ride (which was made certaine vnto them) that streight commaundement should be geuen throughout all the City, that euerie person should shut in their houses and Wyndowes, and none so hardy to looke out into the streetes, nor remayne in the stretes, vpon a great paine, so that when the tyme came of her out ryding none sawe her, but her hus∣bande

and such as were present with him, and she and her Gentlewoman to wayte vpon her galoped thorough the Towne, where the people might here the treading of their Horsse, but they saw her not, and so she returned to her Husbande to the place from whence she came, her honestie saued, her pur∣pose obteyned, her wisedome much commended, and her husbands imagina∣tion vtterly disapointed. And shortly after her returne, when shee had a∣rayed and apparelled her selfe in most comely and seemely maner, then shee shewed her selfe openly to the people of the Citie of Couentrie, to the great ioy and maruellous reioysing of all the Citizens and inhabitants of the same, who by her had receyued so great a benefite.

¶Then Algarus his sonne was Erle after him. But Mathew of West∣mynster wryteth that his wyfe Godina obteyned the sayde liberties of the Erle her husbande then Lorde of the sayde Towne.

¶ Harold the eldest sonne of Goodwyn was now in great authoritie, and ruled much of the kings armie. The yere folowing Algarus was accused by malice, and was banished the lande. Wherefore he fled againe to Griffyn Duke of Wales as he before had done, of whome he was ioyously receyued and mainteyned. The king being thereof informed, sent Harold into Wales to make warre vpon Griffyn, the which quit him in so knightly wise, that he chased the Welshmen, brent the sayde Griffyns palace at a place called Rut∣lane, and destroyed his nauie, and then returned into England about myd∣lent. But about the Rogation dayes the sayde Harold and his brother Tosty were sent thether againe with a strong armie: at which season they destroy∣ed a great part of Wales, and in conclusion brought the Welshmen vnto due subiection, and forced them to geue pledges for the continuance of the same. And that done pursued so sore vpon Griffyn by the commaundement of the king, that in the ende, his awne people for to purchase their owne lyues slue him, and sent his head vnto Harold in the Moneth of August: so that after the death of this Griffyn, by the commaundement of the king, the Countrie of Wales was committed to the guyding of the two brethren of Griffyn, the which fauoured more the kings partie in the time of warre, than they did their brothers. And this warre in Wales thus brought to an ende, Harold by his pollecie reconciled againe Algarus Erle of Mertia to y^e kings grace, so that he continued in his fauour during his lyfe after.

¶In the .xx. yere of the reigne of the king: Harold sayled toward Nor∣mandy to visite his brother Wilnotus and Hacun his Nephew, the which as ye before haue heard, were layd there for pledges for the peace to be holden vpon Erle Goodwynes side against the king. But he in his course of sayling was wether driuen by tempest into the Countrie or Prouynce of Pountith, where he was taken as a prisoner of the Duke there, and sent vnto Duke Wylliam of Normandy: The which forced hym to sweare that he in tyme folowing should mary his daughter, and that after the death of king Ed∣ward, he should keepe the lande of England to his behoofe, according to the will and minde of king Edward as some writers affirme. And it is further written that Harold to be in the more fauour of Duke Wylliam, shewed him that king Edward had in the presence of his Barony of England, admitted the sayde Wylliam for his heyre, and couenaunted with him, that if he ouer lyued the king, he would in safe wise keepe the lande to his vse. For the

which tydings and promise, the sayde Wylliam graunted him his daughter to wife, which then was vnder lawful yeres of mariage with a great dower.

¶ And for to cause Harold to be the more constant in his promes, he deli∣uered to him Hacum his Nephewe and sonne of his brother Swanus, the which he much desyred, and kept still Wilnotus the brother of the sayde Ha∣rolde. After which couenaunts, sufficiently stablished and enacted: Harold departed from Duke William with great and riche giftes, and shortly after landed in England. And at his comming to the kinges presence, he shewed to him all that he had done in the aforesayd matters, wherwith the King was well contented, as affirmeth Fabian mine aucthour.

¶ Mathew of Westminster reporteth the matter thus. Tostius Erle of Northumberland, tooke his brother Harold by the heare as he was bring∣yng a Cup of wine vnto the king, and pulled him downe vnto the ground, all that stood by and behelde it merueylyng thereat. Then Harold againe desi∣rous to be reuenged vpon him for that vilanye, tooke him in his armes, and floong him on the pauement: But by and by the kinges Garde ranne betwixt them, and parted them. After the which altercation, Tostius departed the Court in a great rage, and comming to the Citie of Herford, where Harolde had prepared a great feast agaynst the kinges commyng, slue all his brothers seruauntes that he found there, and mangled and cut them in peeces, and in∣to euery vessell of Wine, Meethe, Ale, or any other kinde of drinke else, hee casteyther a legge, an arme, or some other peece of the bodyes so mangled, sendyng the king woorde withall, that whensoeuer he came to his brothers house, he should be sure to finde powdred fleshe ynoughe to serue him, but if he would haue delicates, he must then be faine to prouide them himselfe. The which mocke of his when the king heard thereof, he commaunded him for his sayde detestable fact and lewdenesse to be banished the Realme. But as Polidore wryteth, he was offended with him, and sayd vnto him as foloweth: Tolde I not thee before that this mischiefe and inconuenience would ensue hereof vnto this Realme by thy meanes, if thou wentest to William of Nor∣mandy: But God eyther turne this harde desteny from vs, or else if it must needes come to passe, graunt that it chaunce not in our dayes.

¶ This cruell deede sprang wide, so that for it he was hated of all men, in somuch that his awne Tenantes, the men of Northumberland, of which pro∣uince he then was Lorde of, arose against him, and in the ende chased him in∣to Flaunders, with a fewe personnes then awayting vpon him.

¶ But the verteous king Edward not beyng contented with the commons doyng, consideryng it to be done without his aduice or commaundement, sent thether Harolde to do correction vpon the heades or Captaynes of the Nor∣thumbers: Wherof they beyng asserteyned, continued their strength and met with Harolde, and his people, and made them to vnderstand that they were freely borne, and freely norished, and that they might not suffer the cruelnesse of any Dukes.

¶ When Harolde had receyued this message, and had well regarded the strength of the Northumbers, he perceyued that without great effusion of blood, he could not correct the misdoers: Wherefore it seemed to him better to fauour the Country, then to take heede of the singuler profite of his bro∣ther, so that he returned to the king with this aunswere, and purchased their

pardon of him, and also so laboured the king, that he assigned them another Duke or Erle that was named Malcharus. And Tostius his brother with his wife and children remayned in Flaunders during the kinges life.

¶ This king also purged the olde and corrupt lawes, and picked out of them a certain, which were most profitable for the commons, and those were called the common lawes of this Realme, for the institution whereof, there happened many commocions and much trouble.

¶ And nowe for an ende of this story, this king dyed the fourth day of Ia∣nuary, when he had reigned .xxiij. yeres .vij. Monethes, and odde dayes, and was buried at Westminster, and left after him no childe, for he was accomp∣ted for a virgine when he dyed.

¶ It is written of him also that he was wont by touch of hand, to heale such as were diseased of the kinges euill, & that of him other kinges and princes of this Realme haue as it were by inheritance receyued the gift of healing that disease, by touch of hand and certeyne prayers, and ceremonies vsed withall, like as they receyued also the custome to halowe and consecrate Rynges on Good Friday, which were reputed good and auaylable against the Crampe.

[unspec 1044/2] MAckbeth reigned among the Scottes .xvj. yeres, which at the beginning did many thinges to the profite of the Realme: but afterward he became a cruell Tyrant, and was vanquished and slaine by Malcolme, by the ayde of the Englishe men.

[unspec 1061/19] IN this yere of our Lorde, Malcolme recouered the crowne of Scotland, and reigned .xxxv. yeres.

[unspec 1066/1] HArolde the second sonne of Erle Goodwyn, and last king of Saxons. This man forgettyng his promes before made to William Duke of Normandy, tooke vpon him as king, and was crowned of Aldredus then Bishop of Yorke, or as some wryte, set the crowne on his awne heade without any consecration or ceremonies. Albeit, as Guydo affirmeth, some of the Lordes entended to haue made Edgar Adeling king, which Edgar as affirmeth the sayde aucthours, was sonne to Edwarde that was the sonne of Edmond Ironsyde, and named of some Edward the outlawe. But because this Edward was yong, and chiefly considering the strength and riches of Harolde, therefore Harolde obteyned the Crown. Howebeit Marian sayth, that king Edward before his death, ordeyned that Harolde shoulde be king after him.

¶ Soone after the king was crowned, he began to reuoke euill lawes, and customes, and established good lawes.

¶ In short tyme after that Harolde was made king, Tostie his brother which as aforesayde was chased into Flaunders, made him a Nauye of .lx. small sayles of Shippes, or as Mathew of Westminster saith, of .xl. and say∣led about the Isle of Wight, and tooke prayes within the sayde Isle, and in diuerse places of Kent. And from thence he sayled into Lynsey, and did there much harme both with fire and sworde. But sone after he was chased thence by Edwyn, and Malcarus, Erles of Martia and Northumberlande: And then he sayled into Scotland, and finding little comfort there, he went from thence into Norway to desyre ayde of King Harolde, who there reigned at that tyme.

¶ When Tostius was thus with his robbers chased, then Harold Har∣fagar king of Norway moued therevnto by Tosto, with a great Nauie of thre hundreth shippes and mo, entered the mouth of the riuer of Tyne.

¶ When Harolde of England had knowledge of this great Nauie of the Norwayes, he sent vnto the aforenamed Erles of Mertia, and Northum∣berland, commaunding them to withstand their landing, while he gathered his strength. Then the aforesayde Erles sped them toward the Norwayes, and gaue vnto them a sharpe and a strong fight, but in the ende the Englishe men were put to the worse, and were faine to geue backe, so that the enemies entered further into the land. The king heering of the discomfiture of hys people, made the more hast towarde his enemies, so that within sixe dayes after he came to Semysford Bridge.

¶ In this foresayde place both hostes ioyned and fought a most sharpe and cruell battaile, wherein was ouerthrowne manye a lustie knight vpon the Englishe partie, but many mo vpon the Norwayes, so that in the ende Harold their king was slaine, and that of the hande of Harold king of Eng∣land, as saith Guydo, and Tostius was also slaine in the same fight. Olanus brother to the sayde Harold Harfager, with Paulus Duke of the Isles or Orkeies were there taken prisoners. The which y^e king caused to be sworne vnto him that they should keepe all such promises as they there to him made, and tooke good pledges for the same, and after suffred them to returne from whence they came. Fabian.

¶ It is also specially remembred of the sayde Authour that one Knight stood vpon the aforesayde Bridge, and with his Axe defended the passage, Maugre the whole host of the Englishmen, and slue .xl. Englishmen or mo with his Axe, and might not be ouercome vntill an Englishman went vnder the Bridge with a Boate or Whyrry and sticked him vpward with his speare through an hole of the Bridge.

¶For this victory, Harold was highly enflamed with pride and also with couetousnesse, so that he deuyded not the prayes of his enimies among hys Knightes, but he kept them to himselfe, or gaue parte vnto such Knightes as he fauoured, and spared it from them that had well deserued, by reason whereof he lost the fauour of many of his Souldiours.

¶In this time the daughter of Duke Wylliam, the which Harold should haue maried, died within age, but not before Harold (sayth Polydore) was king, wherefore Harold thought himselfe the more discharged of his pro∣mes before made to her father. But William warned Harold of couenants broken, and mixed threates with prayers and peticions. Wherevnto Harold aunswered, that a nice foolishe couenant ought not to be holden, namelye the behest of other mennes right and kingdome, without the whole assent of the Senatours of the same lande. And furthermore, a lewde othe might and ought to be broken, and specially when it is compelled to be sworne for neede or for dreede.

Vpon these aunsweres receyued by Duke William from king Harold, in the meane while that messengers went and came, Duke William gathered his Knightes, and prepared his nauie, and all other thinges necessary vnto the warre, and had the assent of the Lordes of his lande to ayde and assist him in his iourney. The like preparation also (sayth Polidore) was made by

Harold to defende the realme from the inuasion of the Normans.

¶And moreouer he so informed the Bishop of Rome then named Alex∣ander the second, that he confirmed him in taking of that voyage, and sent vn∣to him a Banner, the which he willed him to beare in the Ship that he him∣selfe should sayle in. And so hauing all thinges in a redinesse, he sped him to the sea syde, and tooke shipping in the Hauen of Saint Valery, where he ta∣ryed a long tyme before he could haue a meete and conuenient winde: for the which the Souldiours murmured and grudged, and sayd it was a madnesse and greatly displeasing vnto God, to desyre a nother mannes kingdome by strength, & namely when God withstandeth it by the working of his Elemēt.

¶ At the last the wind came about, and he tooke shipping, and helde his course towarde England vpon this ground and title folowing.

1 The first and principall was to chalenge his right, and to haue the domi∣nion of the land that to him was geuen of king Edward his nephew.

2 The seconde was to be reuenged of the death and cruell murther of his Nephew Alphred, and brother of king Edward, which he ascribed wholy vn∣to king Harolde.

3 The thirde was, for to be reuenged on the wrong that was done vnto Robert, that was Archebishop of Cauntorbury, which as he was enformed was exiled by the meanes and labour of Harolde in the tyme of king Ed∣ward, as is aforesayde

¶ Duke William keping his course, at the last landed in Sussex, at a place called Peuenessey nere vnto Hastings. And in his goyng out of his ship, & ta∣king the land, his one foote slipped, & the other stack fast in the sand: the which one of his knightes sawe, & beyng nere vnto him, sayd: now Sir Duke thou holdest Englande, and thou shalt soone be turned from a Duke to a King.

¶ The Duke entering further into the lande, made his proclamations that no man should take any prayes, or do any force to the people: for he sayd that it was reasonable that he should spare that thing that should be his awn.

¶At this time Harold was king in the North partes of England, and had knowledge of the landing of the Normanes, & he made all the haste towards them that he might, and gathered his strength out of the Countries as he came. But the Duke passed still forward, and at the last came to Kingstone, where he and his armie passed ouer the Thamys, and made such good speede that he came to London before the king, where he was holden out vntill he had put in good pledges, that he and his people should passe through the Ci∣tie without tariyng, the which he did, and so went through the Citie, and pas∣sed ouer London Bridge, and so returned againe into Sussex.

¶King Harold entending to know the strength of his enemies sent spies into the Dukes hoste, the which made report vnto the king, that all Duke Williams Souldiours were priestes: For they had their vpper lippes and cheekes shauen, and the Englishmen at those dayes vsed the heare of their vpper lippes shad and not shauen. But Harold vnto that aunswered and sayde, they be no priestes, but are stoute and valyaunt Knights.

¶ Then Gurth, or rather Biorno, one of the yongest brethren of Harold, counsayled him that he should stand a parte, and suffer him with other of his Lordes to fight with the Normanes, forsomuch as he was sworne vnto the Duke, and they were not, saiyng moreouer, that if they were slaine or ouer∣throwne,

that yet he might defende his quarell, and fight for his Country.

¶In this meane time, Duke Wylliam sent a Monke vnto king Harold and made him three offers. The first that according to his othe he should ren∣der the land, or delyuer it vp vnto him as his awne proper possession, and that done, to take it againe of him, and to hold it of him as in Fee, and so to reigne vnder him for terme of his lyfe, and after hys death to returne it to hym a∣gaine, or to such a one of his sonnes as he would assigne it vnto.

¶Secondly, to leaue the kingdome without any more strife.

¶Or thirdly in exchewing of the shedding of christian mens bloud, that he would defend his quarrell in his awne person against the Duke, and they two onely to trie the matter by dent of sworde.

¶But Harold refused these offers, and sayde he would trie his quarrell by dent of swordes, and not by one sworde, and that he and his Knights and Souldiours would defende their Countrie against all straunge Nations, praiyng God to iudge the right betwene them twaine.

¶When Duke Wylliam had receyued this aunswere from Harold, and saw well that there was no meane, but to abide fortune in battaile, he char∣ged his people that might watch, to occupie themselues in prayer, and speci∣ally the Priestes and the religious people, where the Englishmen gaue themselues to drinking and surfeyting. Fabian.

¶Then vpon the morrow being Saturday, and the .xiiij. daye of Octo∣ber, both hostes assayled other in the place where stood the Abbay of Battaile in Sussex. In the beginning of this battaile a Norman called Thilfer splay∣ed a Banner before the hoste of the Normans and slue an Englishman that came against him, and after that another, and so the thirde, and at the laste was slaine himselfe.

¶Then the Holberds smote together with a great showt and cry, and they fought sore a long season. And the Englishmen defended themselues manful∣ly, and the better for that they kept them whole & close together without scat∣tering or spreding abrode. The which when Wylliam perceyued, he gaue a signe vnto his knightes, that they should geue back, and made a countenance as though they did flie. Then the Normans enbatteled their footemen, & set Horsemen for winges on euerie side. By the which, while the Englishmen were disseuered, and soone out of array, the Normans turned againe vpon the Englishmen, and slue them downe on euerie side.

¶This battaile was sore foughten of the Englishmen, so that Duke Wyl∣liam was thrise felled that day, by reason that thre horses were slaine vnder him. Lastly, Harold was wounded in the eye with an arrowe, and fell to the ground and was slaine, and his people scattered, so that well was he that might saue him selfe by fliyng. Then Duke William buryed his men that there were slaine, and suffered his enemyes to do the same.

¶ When the death of Harold was knowne to the Erles of Mertia and of Northūberland, the which for streightnesse of way could not bring their peo∣ple to that field, or else for that they wilfully withdrew themselues from Ha∣rold, because he did none otherwise depart the prayes amongst them & their knightes at the former field of the Norwayes: then they drewe the next way to London, and tooke Agatha Haroldes wyfe, and sent her to Chester. And

they and Aldredus Bishop of Yorke with the Londoners, were agreed and promised eyther to other that they would make Edgar Atheling king, and defend his right to the vttermost of their powers. But that promes notwith∣standing, when they heard of the great strength that dayly fell to duke Wil∣liam, and of his prouisions, they were faine to breake that apointment. And the sayde Erles submitted themselues, and gaue vnto him pledges, and be∣came to him his liege men by homage and fealtie.

¶And thus when Harold had ruled the lande, from the fift day of Ianu∣ary to the .xiiij. day of October, he was slaine, when he had reigned nine Mo∣nethes and odde dayes, and was buryed at the Monasterie of Waltham, which he before had founded.

NOwe for as much as it pleased almightie God to suffer this Duke to conquere so noble a land, and to be Lorde and souereigne ouer so many noble inheritours as then were, and nowe are within the same. I thinke it therefore conuenient to shew the dissent of the same Duke, and howe nere of blood he was vnto king Edward that last dyed.

¶ Rollo who was first an Heathen, and after christened and named Ro∣bert, who maried Silla the daughter of Charles the Simple, sometime king of Fraunce, and had for her dower the Duchy of Normandy, which he ruled xiiij. yeres, and the sayde Robert had by Silla a sonne named William, the which afterward was called Longa Spata, that is to say, William with the long Sworde. This William was Duke after his father .xxv. yeres, and left after him a sonne named Richard, which was named Richard the Hardy, and was the thirde Duke, and reigned .lij. yeres and had by his wife a sonne named Richard the good, and Emma that was wyfe to Egeldred and mother to the last Edward the king. After him the good Richard was Duke, and reig∣ned .xxviij. yeres, and left after him two sonnes, Richard, and Robert. The first sonne after two yeres, was slaine by treason of his brother Robert, so that Robert was then Duke, and reigned .ix, yeres: The which Robert was father vnto this Duke William, and begat him of his concubine, called Arlet. And this William was the seuenth Duke of Nor∣mandy, and ruled it before he conquered England .xxx. yeres. And thus it may apere that Emma was Aunte to Duke Robert, father of William Conquerour, and Em∣ma was mother vnto king Edward, and so this duke William and king Edward of England were by the fathers syde cosyn Germaynes remooued.

Notes

• ¶ And from this place foreward vnto the end of this worke, the numbers that are aboue the lyne in the Margent are the yeres of Christ, and the numbers vnder the lyne, are the yeres of the reigne of euery seuerall king.
• Hamo.
• Guiderius slaine.
• S. Paule.
• Aruiragus.
• Southhātō. Northhātō. Woluer∣hamton.
• Glocestre. Hector Boecius.
• Douer Castle.
• A legion of Knightes is vi.M.vj.C.lxvj.
• Corbreid king of Scottes.
• Nero the Tyraunt.
• A description of Neroes filthy & abho∣minable life.
• Seneca put to death by Nero.
• Poppea, the wife of Nero a shamelesse Harlot.
• Lucan a fa∣mous Clerk, cruelly put to death by Nero.
• Marius.
• Londricus a Duke of the Pictes.
• Londricus slaine.
• Stanes Moore.
• Marris king of Briteyn gaue Londri∣cus people y^e farre ende of Scotland to inhabite in.
• Reynulph.
• Scotts were first called Sottes.
• Marius dead.
• The destruc∣tion of Ieru∣salem and the Temple.
• A wicked law.
• Petulias Cerealis a Romaine sent from Rome to go∣uerne Bri∣teyn.
• Lugtack, king of Scottes.
• 106 Mogallus King of Scottes.
• Coilus king of Briteyn.
• 165 Ethodius Kinge of Scottes.
• Lucy the first christian King.
• Elutherius Bishop of Romes Let∣ter.
• Britaynes first receyued the fayth of Christ, in the yeare of our Lorde. 188. and in 1294. yeres, next after the ar∣riuall of Brute.
• London.
• Yorke.
• Gloucester.
• Seuen Bi∣shoppes in Wales.
• 196 Satrahell king of Scottes.
• Money first coyned in Scotland.
• The Britōs receyued the fayth of christ xx. yeres be∣fore Scot∣land.
• Seuerus.
• A wall of Turnes.
• Geta slaine.
• Note that Albania now called Scot∣land was wholy in the possession of Carassus, and he gaue the same to the Scottes and Pictes.
• Carassus slaine.
• Alectus slaine.
• This brooke came from y^e place which we call nowe Moore field, and that place being then a marish y^e wa∣ter ran from thence tho∣row London into Thames
• Colchester.
• Asclepiodo∣tus slaine.
• Constancius sent from Rome to go∣uerne Bri∣teyn.
• 263 Findock king of Scottes.
• Donald of y^e Isles king of Scotes.
• Craithlint King of Scottes.
• Constanci{us}
• Cōstantine.
• Christians persecuted.
• Octauius v∣surped the gouernment of Briteyn.
• Trayherne.
• Portchester Winchester
• Trayherne slaine.
• Polidore.
• Constātine the great.
• Close crow∣nes came frō Constantine y^e Emperour.
• Romake king of Scottes.
• 362 Angusian king of Scottes.
• 366 Eugenius king of Scottes.
• Note here that the Bri∣tons had the possession of all Scotland.
• Amorica is called little Briteyn.
• Maximianus proclamed Emperour
• Vrsula com∣monly cal∣led Saint Vrsula.
• A fable.
• Gwanus Melga.
• Maximian{us} behedded.
• 397/7 Augustine whome we call Saint Augustyn.
• 403/13 Chrisostom
• 423 Fergus king of Scottes.
• Beda.
• A wall of Tornes.
• A wall of stone.
• Aecius.
• Aldroenus.
• Constātyne
• Here endeth the Dominion and tribute of the Romaines ouer this land of Briteyn, which had continued the space of .483. yeres.
• Constantin•• slaine.
• Constantine King of Scottes.
• Constancius first a Monk and then a king.
• A Gard first appointed to attend on the king.
• Constancius slaine.
• The kings Garde put all to death.
• Plenty of Corne and Fruite.
• Lechery.
• Pestilence.
• Dronkēnes
• Idlenesse.
• Mortality,
• Saxons.
• Hengist Horsus.
• Wylliam of Malmesbury
• The dayes called Wed∣nesdaye and Friday, from whence they came first.
• Saxons. Angles. Iewets.
• Bull hyde.
• Thong Castle.
• Ronowen the daughter of Hengist.
• Wassayle.
• Polichron.
• Vortimer{us}, Catagrinus, Pascencius.
• Arians heresie.
• Germanus Lupus.
• Octa the son of Hengist.
• Vortiger. depriued.
• Catrignus. Horsus slaine.
• Cole Moore.
• Vortimer.
• Thetfoord.
• Gaufride.
• Rowen prac∣tised the poy∣soning of Vortimer.
• Vortiger re∣stored to his kingdome.
• Sarisbury.
• Treason wrought by Hengist.
• Dissimula∣tion.
• Vortiger taken.
• Treason
• Thong Castle.
• A trayterous practise not altogether vnreuenged.
• Polichron.
• Hengistes lande.
• Mathew of Westminst.
• The king∣dome of Kent continued CCC.xilj. yeres.
• Ethelbertus the first chri∣stian king of Kent.
• Reguli. Small kinge
• Aurely. Vter.
• Extorcion.
• Aurelius Ambrose.
• Octa taken & after escaped.
• Crekinfoord battayle.
• Ella. Symon. Pletynger. Ci••••a.
• South Saxons.
• Ethelwald the first Chri¦stian king of the South Saxons.
• Aurely inha∣bited wales.
• Portes∣mouth.
• Marlyn.
• Stonehēge.
• Salsbury playne.
• Hengist dead.
• Octa.
• Pascentius.
• Guiliamore king of Ire∣lande.
• Treason.
• Vffa, first king of the East Anglis.
• Redwallus the first chri∣stian king of the East Angus.
• Sebertus was the first b••lo••r of Paules Church.
• Thetford.
• Vter Pen∣dragon.
• The birth of king Arthur.
• Nennius.
• Pridwen. Calaber. Rone.
• Arthgall the first Earle of Warwike.
• Cerdicus first king of the West Saxons.
• Yarmouth.
• Kingilsus the first chri∣stian king of the west Saxons.
• Berinus bi∣shop of Dor∣chester.
• 521 Guydo.
• The king∣dome of the west Saxons cōtinued fiue C.liiij. yeres.
• Mordred.
• Treason.
• Mordred slaine.
• Gildas.
• Aurelius Conanus.
• Britons decayed.
• Ida the first king of Ber∣nicia, or Northum∣berlande.
• Deyra.
• Bishoprick of Durham.
• Ella first king of Deyra.
• Edwinus the first chri∣stian king of Northum∣berlande.
• Ethelfridus.
• A slaughter of Monkes.
• Gaufride.
• Oswald or Oswy ••••ue x••. Lordships to ••unde .x••. Abbeyes.
• Malgo.
• Iseland. Orchades.
• Sodomy.
• Ciuile bat∣taile.
• Gurmundus king of Ire∣lande.
• Sicester.
• Ethelfridus the sonne of Ethelricus.
• Bishops fled out of this Realme.
• Fayth of Christ decay∣ed in Eng∣lande.
• Persecutiō.
• Gregory Bi∣shop of Rome
• Antoninus.
• Austyn sent into Englād to preache.
• Richbourgh
• Procession.
• Ethelbert conuerted to the fayth of Christ.
• Polichro.
• Christes ••hurch in Caūtorbury.
• Saint Au∣stynes in Caūtorbury.
• Melitus. Iustus. Paulinus.
• A charitable diuident.
• Archbyshops to Caunter∣burie & yorke
• Austynes Oke
• Miracle.
• Ethelbert foūded Pau∣les church in London, but some say Si∣gebert foun∣ded it.
• Archebishop∣rike of Lōdō translated to Cantorbury.
• S. Peters at Westminster.
• The building of Westmin∣ster.
• Minstrels, Iuggelers, & Scoffers ba∣nished as va∣gabonds.
• Sebertus first king of the East Saxons.
• Sebertus conuerted to the christian fayth.
• Cadwane.
• Bruciuall king of Ley∣cester.
• Edvvyn.
• Cadwalyn.
• Mathew of Westminster.
• A vile Treytour
• Enfleda.
• Tokens sent from the By∣shop of Rome
• Ewyn the first christian king of Nor∣thumberland.
• Christening first vsed in Ryuers.
• Cuppes of Iron.
• Eubonia now called the Isle of Man.
• Paulinus.
• Osricus.
• Oswalde.
• Cadwan slaine.
• 625 Mahomet.
• Abdemo∣nalpes.
• Sergius a Monke.
• Alcaron.
• 631 Donewald Kinge of Scottes.
• Penda.
• Dorcester, Lincolne.
• Cambridge
• Sigesbert slaine.
• Anna.
• Ercōbertus.
• The institu∣tion of the time of Lent.
• Kenwalcus.
• Agilbert.
• Wyn, of whō the towne of Winchester tooke his name.
• White Gos¦neborough.
• Oswalde, Meserfielde
• Oswyne. slaine.
• Penda.
• Oswy.
• Vowe.
• Penda slain
• Wolferus.
• Ercombert king of Kent.
• Kenwalcus.
• Kingilsus.
• Mortalitie.
• Glasing first brought into this land.
• Reynulph.
• Tiberius Emperour of Rome put to death him y^e inuēted glasse to abyde the Hammer,
• Glasse made to adiot to Hammer,
• Monkes religious.
• Monkes had in great re∣uerence.
• Decay of Religion.
• The arte of Fishing.
• Theodorus holdeth a Sinode. Hatfielde.
• Egfride slaine.
• Cadwalyn dead.
• The Isle of Wight.
• Nicholas Brodugan.
• Wallo or Gallo.
• Welshmen
• Famine.
• A pittifull and horrible plague.
• Brigthwal∣dus raised frō death to lyfe.
• Rome scot, Peter pence.
• Wellles College.
• A worthie note.
• Beda that reuerend father.
• Beda dyed.
• Tirannie.
• A plague due to a tyraunt.
• Egbert king of Kent un∣prisoned.
• Winchcōb Churche.
• Egbert king of Kent en∣larged.
• The Arche∣bishops See of Caunter∣burie remo∣ued to Lich∣fielde.
• Passage of Merchantes forbodden.
• Lechery.
• Murder. Clito.
• Murder vp∣on murder.
• Lechery.
• Murder.
• Polichroni.
• A straunge & terrible sight.
• The first en∣tering of the Danes.
• Ethelburga.
• Poysoning.
• The names and prehe∣minence of Queenes forbodden.
• 788 A league be∣twene Frāce and Scot∣land.
• Articles be∣tweene the Frenche men and Scottes.
• Bernulphus
• Elindone.
• Briteyn.
• Anglia first named.
• England.
• Treason. Quendreda
• The entrāce of the Danes.
• Ethelwolph
• A Schole at Rome buil∣ded by the Saxons.
• Peter pēce.
• Euery house that had fire a peny.
• Rome skot, or Rome shot.
• Chronica chronicarū,
• Deuotion.
• Charles the Balde.
• Iudith daughter to Charles the French king.
• The name & honour of Queenes re∣stored.
• Scotland conquered.
• Starling money.
• Danes lāded in Norffolke & Suffolke,
• Achad or Achut, a Towne or City by west the arme of the Sea that departeth Englande and Scot∣lande, and it standeth at the ende of the wall that was made to deuide Eng∣lande and Scotlande, and it is thought not to be farre from Carlile.
• Hungar Hubba.
• Fremingham Castell.
• The martir∣dome of king Edmond.
• Saint Ed∣mōds bury.
• Reding.
• Hungar Hubba. Englefield.
• Danes dis∣comfited.
• Barkshire or Bareokshire.
• Osrike.
• Ashedowne
• Osrike slaine.
• Basing Stoke.
• Merton.
• Exceter.
• The founder of the Vni∣uersitie of Oxford.
• Ficus.
• Colwolph{us}
• The Danes distressed.
• Penda.
• Gytrus.
• A poore lyfe of a king.
• A straunge enterprice of a king.
• Edelyng.
• Peace taken with the Danes.
• The Danes christened.
• Athelstane
• Athelstane dead.
• Etheldred.
• Londiners.
• Three great plagues, warre, pesti∣lence moreyn of Cattell.
• This was Edward the Martir.
• Ethelstane sonne of king Edward.
• Edredus. Edwynus.
• Alunda.
• Algina. Charles the simple king of west France.
• Lewes king of Guyan.
• Clito Ethel¦woldus.
• Winborne be∣side Bathe.
• Clito with his company landed in England.
• Crekinford Crickland.
• Bradenestok Basingstoke.
• Clito slaine
• Peace vpon condicions.
• Chester re∣payred.
• Hereford Castle.
• Totten Hall, Wodnes field.
• Etheldredus duke of Mer¦tia dead.
• Elfled ruled Mertia.
• Danes sore vexed Bri∣teyne.
• Irchinfield.
• Auene wa∣ter.
• Bokynghā Castle.
• Tocester, Wigmore, Temesfoord
• King Ed∣ward posses∣sed all Scot∣land.
• Constantine Kynge of Scottes.
• Scotlande conquered.
• The right honour of a King.
• Otho Em∣perour of Al∣maine.
• Onychytes a precious stone, of great value.
• Athelstane y^e first annoyn∣ted king of Briteyn.
• ye may be∣leue this if ye will.
• Constantine kinge of Scottes slain
• Tribute.
• Iohn Lyd∣gate.
• Colbrond a Giant which was a Dane.
• This man was Guy of Warwike.
• Hide Mede beside Win∣chester.
• Colbrand the Giaunt slain by Guy of Warwike.
• Guy of war∣wicks Axe.
• Guy of Warwick.
• Guy of war∣wike dead.
• Danes re∣belled.
• Reignald a Captaine of the Danes.
• Malcolyne king of the Scottes had for his ser∣uice done to King Ed∣mond, geuen vnto him the Countrie of Comberland
• Elgina the wise of king Edmond.
• King Ed∣mond slain.
• A straunge tale of the death of a king.
• Edwyn, Edgar.
• Rebelliō of the Danes.
• Yorke taken by y^e Danes.
• Rypon Ab∣bey brent.
• Danes ha∣uing to their Capitaine one named Hircus did again rebell.
• Danes that inhabited Northum∣berland were againe ouer∣come and put from gouern∣ment for euer
• Kingstone or kings tou••••.
• Dunstone banished.
• King Ed∣wyn depo∣sed.
• King Edgar vnited all the prouinces of this realme into one kingdome, where before they were deuided into seuen king∣domes.
• Execution of iustice hath worthy com¦mendation.
• The destruc∣tion of Wolues.
• Kynadus king of Scottes.
• A chalenge made by Ed∣gar vnto Kynadus the Scottishe King.
• Edgar in Sommer scoured the Sea with his shippes, and in Win∣ter laid them vp.
• A pollecie for the staye of Dronkards.
• A good pre∣sident for the making of penall lawes, and bestow∣ing of the forfeytures.
• King Edgar had vnder him seuen kings within this Realme.
• Ethelfleda the mother of Edward, and wyfe of Edgar.
• Edith the daughter of Wilfride, Which Wil∣fride was a Nonne and Concubyne to king Ed∣gar.
• Ethelwold vsed dissimu∣lation with the king hys Master.
• Déepe dissi∣mulation.
• Ethelwold was fowly deceyued, for Women are not trusty
• Ethelwold slaine and murdered.
• Coronation
• The simpli∣citie of kings in those dayes
• Women are wily.
• The king deceyued.
• Sicknesse, hunger, mo∣reyn and ma∣nye other plagues.
• These I thinke were priestes with their wyues.
• Dunstone was sore a∣gainst priests wyues.
• Some write that this was done by a de∣ceytfull prac∣tise, and after was taken for a miracle.
• Corfe castel
• A traiterous deuice of a mother in law
• A vile mur∣ther.
• Kinge Ed∣ward mur∣thered.
• Septon now called Shaf∣tesbury.
• Ambrisbury
• Warwell.
• Kenneth king of Scottes.
• Dunstones prophecies.
• An angrie Bishop.
• The Danes arriued in Kent. Corne∣wall, Sussex, and diuerse other places of this realme
• London, a great parte thereof con∣sumed by fire
• From the little Con∣d••••t in Chep vnto Fleete bridge and Holborne bridge was the first and chiefest ••arte of the Citte of London.
• Golde was of more force then Dun∣stane.
• Dunstane dead.
• The Danes sore spoyled this realme.
• Elfricus a Traytour.
• King Egel∣dred puni∣shed the sōne of Elfricus in pulling out of his eyen for the offēce of his father.
• Bloudy Fluxe, and brenning Feuers.
• Diuision and dissension a∣mong the Lordes.
• A misera∣ble realme.
• How one mi∣serie begat another.
• Sinne and mischiefe come toge∣ther.
• A tribute called Dane Gelt.
• A misera∣ble Englād
• Emma the daughter of Richarde Duke of Normandy.
• The Danes murdered.
• The crueltie of the Danes
• Miserable bondage and villanie.
• Lord Dane, of the which sprang this worde Lur∣dane.
• Swanus king of the Danes en∣tered into England.
• Swanus fled to his shippes
• Swanus lā∣ded in Norf∣folke & spoiled that countrie.
• Vskatell •• noble man of Norffolke, & named a duke gaue the Da∣nes a foyle, & repulse, and Swanus fled into Dēmark
• Swanus re∣turned againe into England with a great power.
• Admiralles of the Sea were as it a∣pereth blin∣ded in this tyme.
• A great tri∣bute payed to the Danes.
• Swanus re∣turned againe into Den∣marke.
• Turkillus a Prince of the Danes lāded in Kent.
• Edrycus a faile traytor.
• Swanus a∣gaine entered England.
• Canutus the sonne of Swanus.
• Cauntorbu∣ry besieged by Swanus king of the Danes.
• Almaricus a Deacon, a Traytour.
• Tribute redemed.
• Monkes tithed.
• Antoninus Vincent.
• Elphegus y^e Archebishop of Cātorbury stoned to deth by the cruell Danes.
• King Egel∣dred sent Em∣ma y^e Queene and her two sonnes Al∣phred & Ed∣ward vnto Richard the fourth Duke of Normādy, which was brother vnto the sayde Emma.
• Swanus being certifi∣ed that the King was fled began to vse many ex∣actions vpon the people of England.
• Swanus the Danish Ty∣raunt slame by Gods prouidence.
• The misera∣ble death of Swanus Kinge of Denmarke.
• S. Edmōds buty enclosed by Canutus Sonne of Swanus.
• Kinges of this Realme were accusto¦med to offer their Crow∣nes to Saint Edmondes shrine, and to redeme them againe with a great sūme.
• Canutus the sonne of Swanus fled into Denmarke.
• Edrycus a false traytor.
• The death of King Egel∣dred.
• Grime king of Scottes.
• Wardes and mariages of the heyres first graūted to the king in Scotland.
• Camus stand.
• Canutus as∣saulted y^e city of London.
• A cruell fight.
• Edrycus a vile traytor.
• Brentford which we nowe call Brainford.
• London besieged.
• Emma sent her two sōnes Alphred and Edward vn∣to her brother Richard duke of Nor∣mandy.
• Edricus by subtiltie ob∣teyned the kings fauour
• The Danes discomfited at Otford in Kent.
• Edricus a∣gaine as a traytor re∣uolted to the Danes.
• Edricus had a subtile wit
• A good ora∣tion.
• A truce taken.
• A Combate betwene two Princes.
• This realme was deuided betweene king Edmōd & Canutus.
• Edricus his sonne slue king Edmōd with a speare as he sate in a house of easement.
• A iust re∣warde for a Traytor.
• Flatterers.
• Dissemblers well rewar∣de••.
• Edmond and Edward the sonnes of king Ed∣mond, were sent to Swa∣nus king of Denmarke.
• Canutus de∣uided the go∣uernement of this realme into foure partes.
• Edricus the false Tray∣tour put to death.
• A Parlia∣ment.
• Swanus king of Den∣marke dead and Canu∣tus succeded him in the sayde king∣dome.
• Erle Good∣win.
• Canutus ma¦ried Emma y^e late wife of Egelredus & had by her a sonne named Hardicanut{us}
• Malcolme kinge of Scots ouer∣throwne and brought to subiection to the king of England.
• Leofricus, Egelnotus.
• Rome scot redéemed.
• Canutus king of foure kingdomes.
• Canutus dead and left behinde him two sonnes.
• Harold harefoote.
• Emma the Stepmother of Harold is banished.
• Harold dead.
• A cruell re∣uengemēt.
• Dane Gelt.
• Greesse of fare.
• Murther & mischiefe.
• Erle Good∣wyn a subtill man.
• A plague a∣mong Erle Goodwyns wyfe and children.
• Alphredus▪ Edvvard.
• A trayterly practice of Goodwyn
• Normans cruelly mur∣dered by Goodwyn.
• Alphred had his eyen put out and was sent to Ely, and there dyed.
• The death of king Hardi∣kinitus.
• ¶ Here endeth the line or of spring of Swanus, and all the other Danes that ruled in England, so that af∣ter this king, the blood of the Danes was cleerely extinct and put out from all kingly dignitie within this Realme of England. And also the persecution of them seased cleerely after this kinges death, the which had continued to reken from their first landing in the tyme of Brithricus king of west Saxon, and the .ix. yere of his reigne, by the terme of .CC.Lv. yeres.
• This was Edward the confessor.
• King Ed∣ward maried Goditha the daughter of Erle Good∣wyn.
• Dane Gelt discharged.
• Griffyn a re∣bellion in Wales.
• Emma the mother of king Ed∣ward accused of meōtenēcy with the Bi∣shop of Win∣chester.
• A beastly Bishop.
• A cruell penance.
• It is most lyke that he durst not be there for shame that he awarded such a tryall to a kings mother
• A great mi∣racle if it were true.
• The Arche∣bishop was glad he was gone.
• Dronkennes causeth mat∣nes and mis∣chiefe.
• How a folish act begat a great fray.
• Erle Good∣wyn sent by the king to take order with the men of Douer for the death of y^e straungers.
• Goodwin ac∣cused for vn∣lawfull as∣semblies.
• A lewde aun∣swere of a subiect.
• Goodwyn an obstinate rebell.
• Swanus, Tosty, and Gurth, y^e thre sonnes of Goodwyn fled w^t theyr father into Flaunders.
• Goodwen outlawed by the aucthori∣tie of parlia∣ment, and his three sonnes.
• Goodwyn & his people be¦came pirates and theeues.
• Goodwyn a∣gaine restored to fauour.
• Wylliam Duke of Normandy came into England, to visite and see the king.
• Emma the kings mo∣ther dead.
• The Scots rebelled.
• How king Edward gaue y^e king∣dom of Scot∣land to Mal∣colyne, to hold the same Realme of him and his heyres, as chiefe Lords of Scotland.
• A wise reply of a king.
• A notable plague and iust iudgemēt of God.
• Edward the sonne of Ed∣mond Iron∣side, returned into Englād, and shortly after dyed.
• Griffyn prince of Wales, re∣belled.
• Algarus was againe reconciled to the kings grace.
• Seward ru∣ler of Nor∣thumberland dyed with a va••lant cou∣rage.
• Couentrie made frée.
• Algarus a∣gaine accused and banished the realme.
• Griffyn prince of Wales slaine.
• Algarus once againe reconciled to the kinges fauour.
• Harold takē and brought into y^e keping of Willyam Duke of Normandy.
• A stout speck of subiectes.
• The commō lawes of this Realme.
• Mackbeth King of Scottes.
• Tostius ro∣ued about the Realme, and did much hurt.
• Semisford Bridge.
• A cruell battaile.
• Harold Har∣fager slaine.
• Olanus the brother of Harold Har∣fager & Pau∣linus y^e duke of y^e Isles, ta¦ken prisoner.
• A valiaunt Knight.
• Harold in∣flamed with pride and co∣uetousnesse.
• Haroldes excuses to William duke of Nor∣mandy.
• William duke of Nor∣mandy ma∣keth his pro∣uision to come into England.
• Alexander Bishop of Rome sēdeth vnto Williā duke of Nor∣mandy a Bā¦ner to carry with him in his Ship a∣gainst Eng∣land.
• The ground & chiefe cause of William duke of Nor∣mandies cha∣lenge of the Realme of England.
• A reuēgemēt for the bani∣shing of Ro∣bert Archbi∣shop of Can∣torbury.
• The landing of William duke of Nor∣mandy.
• A good pol∣lecy.
• Harold was now in the North parts
• An vnskil∣ful messen∣ger.
• Good coun∣sail is not al∣wayes re∣garded.
• Thre offers made vnto king Harold by William duke of Nor∣mandy.
• Good coun∣sayle if it were true.
• Battail Ab∣bey in Sus∣sex.
• Thilfer.
• King Harold slaine and William the Conquerour had the vic∣tory.
• Agatha Ha∣roldes wife committed to Chester.
• The ende of the gouerne∣ment of the Saxons.
• ¶ And here endeth the gouernement of the Saxons, the which continued from the first yere of the reigne of Hengest in the yere of our Lord .475. vnto this conquest, which was the space of .590. yeres.
• The Pede∣gree of Wil∣liam Con∣querour.