Raphael Holinshed - Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (7 of 8)
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Raphael Holinshed >> Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (7 of 8)
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7 THE SEVENTH BOKE
OF THE
HISTORIE OF ENGLAND.
* * * * *
_Egelred succeedeth Edward the martyr in the kingdoms of England, the
decaie of the realme in his reigne, Dunstane refusing to consecrate
him is therevnto inforced, Dunstans prophesies of the English people
and Egelred their king, his slouth and idlenes accompanied with other
vices, the Danes arriue on the coasts of Kent and make spoile of manie
places; warre betwixt the king and the bishop of Rochester, archbishop
Dunstans bitter denunciation against the king because he would not
be pacified with the bishop of Rochester without moneie; Dunstans
parentage, his strange trance, and what a woonderfull thing he did
during the time it lasted, his education and bringing vp, with what
good qualities he was indued, an incredible tale of his harpe, how
he was reuoked from louing and lusting after women whereto he was
addicted, his terrible dreame of a rough beare, what preferments he
obteined by his skill in the expounding of dreames_.
THE FIRST CHAPTER.
[Sidenote: EGELRED.]
In the former booke was discoursed the troubled state of this land
by the manifold and mutinous inuasions of the Danes; who though they
sought to ingrosse the rule of euerie part and parcell therof into
their hands; yet being resisted by the valiantnesse of the gouernors
supported with the aid of their people, they were disappointed of
their expectation, and receiued manie a dishonorable or rather
reprochfull repulse at their aduersaries hands. Much mischiefe
doubtlesse they did, and more had doone, if they had not beene met
withall in like measure of extremitie as they offred, to the offense
and ouerthrow of great multitudes. Their first entrance into this land
is controuersed among writers, some saieng that it was in the daies of
king Britricus, other some affirming that it was in the time of king
Egbert, &c: about which point (sith it is a matter of no great moment)
we count it labour lost to vse manie woords: onelie this by the waie
is notewoorthie, that the Danes had an vnperfect or rather a lame and
limping rule in this land, so long as the gouernors were watchfull,
diligent, politike at home, and warlike abroad. But when these kind of
kings discontinued, and that the raines of the regiment fell into
the hands of a pezzant not a puissant prince, a man euill qualified,
dissolute, slacke and licentious, not regarding the dignitie of his
owne person, nor fauoring the good estate of the people; the Danes who
before were coursed from coast to coast, and pursued from place to
place, as more willing to leaue the land, than desirous to tarrie in
the same; tooke occasion of stomach and courage to reenter this Ile, &
waxing more bold and confident, more desperate and venturous, spared
no force, omitted no opportunitie, let slip no aduantage that they
might possiblie take, to put in practise and fullie to accomplish
their long conceiued purpose.
Now bicause the Danes in the former kings daies were reencountred (and
that renowmedlie) so often as they did encounter, and seeking the
totall regiment, were dispossessed of their partile principalitie,
which by warlike violence they obteined; and for that the Saxons were
interessed in the land, and these but violent incrochers, vnable
to keepe that which they came to by constreint; we haue thought it
conuenient to comprise the troubled estate of that time in the sixt
booke; the rather for the necessarie consequence of matters then in
motion: and heere deeme it not amisse, at so great and shamefull
loosenesse (speciallie in a prince) ministring hart and courage to the
enimie, to begin the seuenth booke. Wherin is expressed the chiefest
time of their flourishing estate in this land; if in tumults, vprores,
battels, and bloudshed, such a kind of estate may possiblie be
found. For heere the Danes lord it, heere they take vpon them like
souereignes, & heere (if at anie time they had absolute authoritie)
they did what they might in the highest degree: as shall be declared
in the vnfortunate affaires of vngratious Egelred or Etheldred, the
sonne of king Edgar, and of his last wife queene Alfred, who was
ordeined king in place of his brother Edward, after the same Edward
was dispatched out of the waie, and began his reigne ouer this
[Sidenote: 979. _Simon Dun._]
realme of England, in the yeere of our Lord 979, which was in the
seuenth yeere of the emperor Otho the second, in the 24 of Lothaire K.
of France, and about the second or third yeere of Kenneth the third
[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._]
of that name king of Scotland.
This Egelred or Etheldred was the 30 in number from Cerdicus the first
king of the Westsaxons: through his negligent gouernment, the state of
the commonwealth fell into such decaie (as writers doo report) that
vnder him it may be said, how the kingdome was come to the vttermost
point or period of old and feeble age, which is the next degree to the
graue. For wheras, whilest the realme was diuided at the first by
the Saxons into sundrie dominions, it grew at length (as it were
increasing from youthfull yeeres) to one absolute monarchie, which
passed vnder the late remembred princes, Egbert, Adelstane, Edgar, and
others, so that in their daies it might be said, how it was growne to
mans state, but now vnder this Egelred, through famine, pestilence,
and warres, the state thereof was so shaken, turned vpside downe, and
weakened on ech part, that rightlie might the season be likened vnto
the old broken yeeres of mans life, which through feeblenesse is not
able to helpe it selfe. Dunstane archbishop of Canturburie was thought
to haue foreseene this thing, and therfore refused to annoint Egelred
king, which by the murther of his brother should atteine to the
gouernment: but at length he was compelled vnto it, and so he
consecrated him at Kingston vpon Thames, as the maner then was, on
the 24 day of Aprill, assisted by Oswald archbishop of Yorke, and ten
other bishops.
[Sidenote: _Will. Malmes._]
But (as hath beene reported) Dunstane then said that the English
people should suffer condigne punishment generallie, with losse of
ancient liberties, which before that time they had inioied. Dunstane
also long before prophesied of the slouthfulnesse that should remaine
in this Egelred. For at what time he ministred the sacrament of
baptisme to him; shortlie after he came into this world, he defiled
the font with the ordure of his wombe (as hath beene said:) whervpon
Dunstane being troubled in mind, "By the Lord (saith he) and his
blessed mother, this child shall prooue to be a slouthfull person." It
hath beene written also, that when he was but ten yeeres of age, and
heard that his brother Edward was slaine, he so offended his mother
with weeping, bicause she could not still him, that hauing no rod at
hand, she tooke tapers or sizes that stood before hir, and beat him so
sore with them, that she had almost killed him, whereby he could neuer
after abide to haue anie such candels lighted before him.
[Sidenote: _Polydor_.]
This Egelred (as writers say) was nothing giuen to warlike
enterprises, but was slouthfull, a louer of idlenesse, and delighting
in riotous lusts, which being knowne to all men, caused him to be
euill spoken of amongst his owne people, and nothing feared amongst
strangers. Heerevpon the Danes that exercised rouing on the seas,
began to conceiue a boldnesse of courage to disquiet and molest the
sea-coasts of the realme, in so much that in the second yeere of
[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._ 980.]
this Egelreds reigne, they came with seuen ships on the English coasts
[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._]
of Kent, and spoiled the Ile of Tenet, the towne of Southampton,
and in the yeere following they destroied S. Petroks abbeie in
Cornwall, Porthland in Deuonshire, and diuerse other places by the
sea side, speciallie in Deuonshire & Cornwall. Also a great part of
Cheshire was destroied by pirats of Norway.
[Sidenote: 982.]
The same yeere by casualtie of fire, a great part of the citie
[Sidenote: 983. Alfer or Elfer duke of Mercia departed this life.]
of London was burnt. In the yeere of our Lord 983, Alfer duke of
Mercia departed this life, who was coosen to king Edgar, & his
[Sidenote: Alfrike or Elfrike duke of Mercia. _Fabian_. _Wil. Malm._
_Matt. West._]
sonne Alfrike tooke vpon him the rule of that dukedome, and within
three yeeres after was banished the land. About the eight yeere of
his reigne, Egelred maried one Elgina or Ethelgina, daughter of earle
Egbert. In the ninth yeere of his reigne, vpon occasion of strife
betweene him and the bishop of Rochester, he made warre against
the same bishop, wasted his lordships, and besieged the citie of
Rochester, till Dunstan procured the bishops peace with paiment of an
hundred pounds in gold. And bicause the K. would not agree with the
bishop without moneie at the onelie request of Dunstane, the said
Dunstane did send him woord, that sithens he made more account of gold
than of God, more of monie than of S. Andrew, patrone of the church of
Rochester, and more of couetousnesse than of him being the archbishop,
the mischiefs which the Lord had threatned would shortlie fall and
come to passe, but the same should not chance whilest he was aliue,
who died in the yeere following, on the 25 of Maie, being saturdaie.
[Sidenote: _Vita Dunstani._]
Of this Dunstane manie things are recorded by writers, that
he should be of such holinesse and vertue, that God wrought manie
miracles by him, both whilest he liued heere on earth, and also
[Sidenote: _Iohn Capgr._ _Osborne_. _Ran. Higd._]
after his deceasse. He was borne in Westsaxon, his father was named
Heorstan, and his mother Cinifride, who in his youth set him to
schoole, where he so profited, that he excelled all his equals in age.
Afterward he fell sicke of an ague, which vexed him so sore that it
draue him into a frensie: and therefore his parents appointed him to
the cure and charge of a certeine woman, where his disease grew so on
him, that he fell in a trance, as though he had beene dead, and after
that he suddenlie arose, & by chance caught a staffe in his hand, and
ran vp and downe through hils and dales, and laid about him as though
he had beene afraid of mad dogs. The next night (as it is said) he gat
him to the top of the church (by the helpe of certeine ladders that
stood there for woorkemen to mend the roofe) and there ran vp and
downe verie dangerouslie, but in the end came safelie downe, and laid
him to sleepe betweene two men that watched the church that night, &
when he awaked, he maruelled how he came there. Finallie, recouering
his disease, his parents made him a priest, and placed him in the
abbeie of Glastenburie, where he gaue himselfe to the reading of
scriptures and knowledge of vertue. But as well his kinsmen as
certeine other did raise a report of him, that he gaue not himselfe
so much to the reading of scriptures, as to charming, coniuring and
sorcerie, which he vtterlie denied: howbeit learned he was in deed, &
could doo manie pretie things both in handie woorke and other deuises:
he had good skill in musicke and delighted much therein. At length he
grew in such fauour, that he was aduanced into the seruice of king
Adelstane.
Vpon a time, as he came to a gentlewomans house with his harpe, and
hoong the same on the wall, while he shaped a priests stole, the harpe
suddenlie began to plaie a psalme, which draue the whole houshold in
such feare, that they ran out and said, he was too cunning, and knew
more than was expedient: wherevpon he was accused of necromancie, and
so banished out of the court. After this he began to haue a liking to
women, and when Elfeagus then bishop of Winchester and his coosen,
persuaded him to become a moonke, he refused it, for he rather wished
to haue maried a yoong damesell, whose pleasant companie he dailie
inioied. But being soone after striken with such a swelling disease in
his bellie, that all his bodie was brought into such state, as though
he had beene infected with a foule leprosie, he bethought him selfe,
and vpon his recouerie sent to the bishop, who immediatlie shore him a
moonke, in which life he liued in so great opinion of holinesse, as he
in time became abbat of Glastenburie: where on a time as he was in his
praiers before the altar of S. George, he fell asleepe: and imagining
in his dreame, that an vglie rough beare came towards him with open
mouth, and set his forefeet vpon his shoulders readie to deuoure him,
he suddenlie wakening for feare, caught his walking staffe which he
commonlie went with, and laid about him, that all the church rang
[Sidenote: _Polychron._]
thereof, to the great woonder of such as stood by. The common tale
of his plucking the diuell by the nose with a paire of pinsors, for
tempting him with women, while he was making a chalice: the great loue
that the ladie Elfleda neere kinswoman to king Adelstane bare him to
hir dieng day, with a great manie of other such like matters, I leaue
as friuolous, and wholie impertinent to our purpose: onelie this I
read, that through declaring of his dreames and visions, he obteined
in the time of king Edgar, first the bishoprike of Worcester, after of
London, & last of all the archbishoprike of Canturburie. But leauing
Dunstane and the fond deuises depending vpon the commemoration of his
life, we will now returne to the dooings of Egelred, and speake of
such things in the next chapter as chanced in his time.
* * * * *
_The Danes inuade England on each side, they are vanquished by the
English, Goda earle of Deuonshire slaine; the Danes in a battell
fought at Maldon kill Brightnod earle of Essex and the most of his
armie, ten thousand pounds paid to them by composition that they
should not trouble the English subjects, they cease their crueltie
for a time, but within a while after fall to their bloudie bias, the
English people despaire to resist them, Egelred addresseth a nauie
against the Danes vnder the erles Alfrike and Turold, Alfrike
traitorouslie taketh part with the Danes, his ship and souldiers are
taken, his sonne Algar is punished for his fathers offense, the Danes
make great wast in many parts of this Iland, they besiege London and
are repelled with dishonor, they driue king Egelred to buy peace
of them for _16000 _pounds; Aulafe king of Norwey is honorablie
interteined of Egelred, to whome he promiseth at his baptisme neuer
to make warre against England, the great zeale of people in setting
forward the building of Durham towne and the minster_.
THE SECOND CHAPTER.
[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ _Matt. Westm._ The Danes inuade this land.]
Shortlie after the decease of Dunstane, the Danes inuaded this
realme on each side, wasting and spoiling the countrie in most
miserable wise. They arriued in so manie places at once, that the
Englishmen could not well deuise whither to go to encounter first with
[Sidenote: _Alias_ Wecederport. _H. Hunt._ _Simon Dun._]
them. Some of them spoiled a place or towne called Wichport, and
from thence passing further into the countrie, were met with by the
Englishmen, who giuing them battell, lost their capteine Goda: but yet
they got the victorie, and beat the Danes out of the field, and so
[Sidenote: Danes vanquished. _Simon Dun._]
that part of the Danish armie was brought to confusion. Simon Dunel.
saith, that the Englishmen in deed wan the field here, but not without
[Sidenote: Goda earle of Deuonshire slain. _Matt. West._]
great losse. For besides Goda (who by report of the same author
was Earle of Deuonshire) there died an other valiant man of warre
named Strenwold. In the yeere 991, Brightnod earle of Essex, at Maldon
gaue battell to an armie of Danes (which vnder their leaders Iustine
and Guthmond had spoiled Gipswich) and was there ouercome and slaine
with the most part of his people, and so the Danes obteined in that
place the victorie.
[Sidenote: _991_.]
In the same yeere, and in the 13 yeere of, king Egelreds reigne,
when the land was on each side sore afflicted, wasted and haried by
the Danes, which couered the same as they had beene grashoppers: by
the aduise of the archbishop of Canturburie Siricius (which was the
second of that see after Dunstane) a composition was taken with the
[Sidenote: Ten thousand pounds paid to the Danes. Danegilt.]
Danes, so that for the sum of ten thousand pounds to be paied to
them by the king, they should couenant not to trouble his subjects
anie further. This monie was called Danegilt or Dane monie, and was
leuied of the people. Although other take that to be Danegilt, which
was giuen vnto such Danes as king Egelred afterwards reteined in his
seruice, to defend the land from other Danes and enimies that sought
to inuade his dominions. But by what name so euer this monie (which
the Danes now receiued) was called, true it is that herevpon they
[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ 992.]
ceassed from their most cruell inuasions for a time. But shortlie
after they had refreshed themselues, and recouered new strength, they
began to play their old parts againe, dooing the like mischeefe by
their semblable inuasions, as they had vsed before. By reason hereof
such feare came vpon the English people, that they despaired to be
able to resist the enimies.
[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ A nauie set forth.]
The king yet caused a nauie to be set foorth at London, whereof
he appointed earle Alfrike (whome before he had banished) to be high
admerall, ioining with him earle Turold. This nauie did set forward
from London toward the enimies, who hauing warning giuen them from
Alfrike, escaped away without hurt. Shortly after a greater nauie of
the Danes came, and incountered with the kings fleet, so that a great
[Sidenote: Alfrike a traitour to his countrie. _Matth. West._]
number of the Londoners were slaine, and all the kings ships
taken: for Alfrike like a traitor turned to the Danes side. ¶ Matt.
West, maketh other report of this matter, declaring that Alfrike in
deed being one of the chiefe capteins of the fleet, aduertised them
by forewarning of the danger that was toward them, and that when they
should come to ioining, the same Alfrike like a traitor fled to the
Danes, and after vpon necessitie being put to flight escaped away with
them: but the other capteins of the kings fleet, as Theodred, Elstan,
and Escwen, pursued the Danes, tooke one of their ships, and slue all
those that were found therein. The Londoners also (as the same Matt.
West, saith) met with the nauie of the Danish rouers as they fled
away, and slue a great number, and also tooke the ship of the traitor
Alfrike with his souldiers & armor, but he himselfe escaped, though
with much paine, hauing plaied the like traitorous part once
[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ The son punished for his fathers offense. 993.]
before, and yet was reconciled to the kings fauor againe. Vpon this
mischiefe wrought by the father, the king now tooke his sonne Algar,
and caused his eies to be put out.
About the same time was Bambrough destroied by the Danes, which
arriued after in Humber, and wasted the countrie of Lindsey and
Yorkeshire, on either side that riuer. And when the Englishmen were
assembled to giue them battell, before they ioined, the capteines
[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ _Polydor_. _Matth. West._]
of the English armie, Frena, Godwin, and Fredegist, that were Danes
by their fathers side began to flie away, and escaped, so giuing the
occasion of the ouerthrow that lighted on their people. But by some
writers it should appeere, that after the Danes had destroied all the
north parts, as they spred abroad without order and good arraie, the
[Sidenote: Aulafe king of Norway, & Swein king of Denmarke were
capteins of this fleet, as saith _Simon Dun._ 994]
people of the countrie fell vpon them, and slue some of them,
and chased the residue. Other of the Danes with a nauie of 94 ships
entered the Thames, and besieged London about our ladie daie in
September. They gaue a verie sore assault to the citie, and assaied to
set it on fire: but the citizens so valiantlie defended themselues,
that the Danes were beaten backe and repelled, greatlie to their
losse, so that they were constreined to depart thence with dishonor.
Then they fell to and wasted the countries of Essex, Kent, Sussex, and
Hamshire, and ceassed not till they had inforced the king to compound
[Sidenote: _Hen Hunt._ _Wil. Malm._ The king compounded with the Danes
for monie. _Matt. West. Simon Dun._ Aufale king of Norwey baptised.
His promise.]
with them for 16 thousand pounds, which he was glad to pay to haue
peace with them.
Moreouer, whereas they wintered that yeere at Southampton, the king
procured Aulafe king of the Norwegians to come vnto Andeuer (where
at that time he lay) vpon pledges receiued of the king for his safe
returne. Elphegus bishop of Winchester, and duke Ethelwold were
appointed by king Egelred to bring Aulafe vnto him in most honorable
maner. The same time was Aulafe baptised, king Egelred receiuing him
at the fontstone, and so he promised neuer after to make anie war
within this land. And receiuing great gifts of the king, he returned
into his countrie, and kept his promise faithfullie: but the euils
tooke not so an end, for other of the Danes sprang vp, as they had
beene the heads of the serpent Hydra, some of them euer being readie
to trouble the quiet state of the English nation.
[Sidenote: _Iohn Leland_. _Simon Dun._ 995.]
About this season, that is to say, in the yeere of our Lord 995,
bishop Aldaine which was fled from Chester in the street (otherwise
[Sidenote: The church of Durham builded.]
called Cunecester) with the bodie of saint Cuthbert for feare of
the inuasion of Danes, vnto Rippon, brought the same bodie now vnto
Durham, and there began the foundation of a church; so that the see of
that bishoprike was from thencefoorth there established, and the woods
[Sidenote: Earle Vthred]
were there cut downe, which before that time couered and ouergrew
that place, wherevpon it began first to be inhabited. Earle Vthred,
who gouerned that countrie, greatlie furthered the bishop in this
[Sidenote: Durham town and minster builded.]
worke, so that all the people inhabiting betweene the riuers
of Coquid and Theis, came togither to rid the woods, and to helpe
forwards the building of the church and towne there.
* * * * *
_The Danes inuading the west parts of this land make great hauocke by
fire and sword, they arriue at Rochester, and conquer the Kentishmen
in field, king Egelred ouercommeth the Danes that inhabited Cumberland
and wasteth the countrie, the Summersetshire men are foiled; the
miserable state of the realme in those daies; the English bloud mixed
with the Danes and Britaines, and what inconueniencies grew thervpon,
the disordered gouernement of king Egelred, sicknesses vexing
the people, treason in the nobles, the tribute paid to the Danes
vnmercifillie inhansed, the realme brought to beggerie; king Egelred
by politike persuasion and counsell marrieth Emma the duke of
Normandies daughter, vpon what occasion the Normans pretended a title
to the crowne of England, they conquer the whole land, what order king
Egelred tooke to kill all the Danes within his kingdoms, and what rule
they bare in this realme yer they were murdered, the thraldome of the
English people under them, whereof the word Lordane sprang_.
THE THIRD CHAPTER.
In the ninteenth yere of king Egelreds reigne, the Danes sailed about
[Sidenote: 997. The Danes inuade the west parts of this land.]
Cornewall, and comming into the Seuerne sea, they robbed & tooke
preies in the coasts of Deuonshire & Southwales, and landing
at Wicheport, they burned vp the countrie, and came about vnto
Penwithstreet on the south coast, and so arriuing in the mouth of
Tamer water, came vnto Lidford, and there wasted all afore them with
force of fire. They burned, amongst other places, the monasterie of
[Sidenote: Tauestocke.]
saint Ordulfe at Essingstocke. After this they came into Dorcetshire,
and passed through the countrie with flame and fire, not finding anie
that offered to resist them. The same yeere also they soiourned in the
Ile of Wight, and liued vpon spoiles & preies which they tooke in
[Sidenote: 998.]
Hampshire and Sussex. At length they came into the Thames, and so
[Sidenote: 999. The Danes arriue in the Thames.]
by the riuer of Medwey arriued at Rochester. The Kentishmen assembled
togither and fought with the Danes, but they were ouercome, and so
left the field to the Danes. After this, the same Danes sailed into
Normandie, and king Egelred went into Cumberland, where the Danes
inhabited in great numbers, whome he ouercame with sore warre, and
[Sidenote: 1000.]
wasted almost all Cumberland, taking great spoiles in the same.
[Sidenote: 1001. Exmouth]
About the same time, or shortlie after, the Danes with their nauie,
returning out of Normandie, came vnto Exmouth, and there assaulted the
castell, but they were repelled by them that kept it. After this they
spread abroad ouer all the countrie, exercising their accustomed trade
of destroieng all before them with fire and sword. The men of
[Sidenote: Pentho.]
Summersetshire fought with them at Pentho, but the Danes got the vpper
hand.
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