Raphael Holinshed - Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (8 of 8)
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Raphael Holinshed >> Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (8 of 8)
THE THIRD CHAPTER.
The king hauing perfect knowledge, that earle Goodwine had refused to
come to the court in such order as he had prescribed him, and that
[Sidenote: Goodwine and his sonnes proclaimed outlawes.]
he was departed the realme with his sonnes: he proclaimed them
outlawes, and gaue the lands of Harold vnto Algar, the sonne of earle
Leofrike, who guided the same verie woorthilie, and resigned them
againe without grudging vnto the same Harold when he was returned out
of exile. Also vnto earle Oddo were giuen the counties of Deuonshire
and Summersetshire.
[Sidenote: The king put awaie his wife Editha.]
Moreouer, about the same time the king put his wife queene Editha
from him, and appointed hir to streict keeping in the abbeie of
Warwell. This Editha was a noble gentlewoman, well learned, and expert
in all sciences, yet hir good name was stained somewhat, as though
she had not liued so continentlie as was to be wished, both in hir
husbands life time, and after his deceasse. But yet at the houre
of hir death (which chanced in the daies of William Conqueror) she
cleared hir selfe, in taking it vpon the charge of hir soule, that she
had euer liued in perfect chastitie: for king Edward (as before is
mentioned) neuer touched hir in anie actuall maner. By this streict
dealing with the queene that was daughter to earle Goodwine, now in
time of hir fathers exile, it hath seemed to manie, that king Edward
forbare to deale with hir in carnall wise, more for hatred of hir kin,
than for anie other respect. But to proceed.
[Sidenote: 1052. _Hen. Hunt._]
In the second yeere of Goodwines banishment, both he and his sonnes
hauing prouided themselues of ships and men of warre conuenient for
the purpose, came vpon the coasts of England, and after the maner of
rouers, tooke preies where as they espied aduantage, namelie on the
[Sidenote: Griffin king of Wales destroieth Herefordshire.]
coasts of Kent and Sussex. In the meane time also Griffin the K. of
Wales destroid a great part of Herefordshire, against whom the power
of that countrie, & also manie Normans that lay in garrison within the
castell of Hereford, comming to giue battell, were ouerthrowne on the
same day, in the which about two and twentie yeeres before, or (as
some copies haue) thirteene yeeres, the Welshmen had slaine Edwine,
[Sidenote: Harold inuadeth the shires of Dorset and Summerset.]
the brother of earle Leofrike. Shortlie after, earle Harold and his
brother Leofwine returning out of Ireland, entered into the Seuerne
sea, landing on the coasts of Summersetshire and Dorsetshire, where
falling to spoile, they were incountred by a power assembled out of
the counties of Deuonshire and Summersetshire: but Harold put his
aduersaries to flight, and slue thirtie gentlemen of honor, or thanes
(as they called them) with a great number of others. Then Harold and
his brethren, returning with their preie and bootie to their ships,
and coasting about the point of Cornwall, came and ioined with their
father & their other brethren, then soiorning in the Ile of Wight.
King Edward to withstand their malice, had rigged and furnished foorth
[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._]
sixtie ships of warre, with the which he himselfe went to the
water, not sticking to lie aboord at that season, although he had
appointed for capteines and admerals two earles that were his coosins,
Odo and Rafe, who had charge of the whole armie. Rafe was his nephue,
as sonne to his sister Goda by hir first husband Gualter de Maunt. But
although they were knowne to be sufficient men for the ordering of
such businesse, yet he thought the necessitie to be such, as his
person could not be presentlie spared. Therefore he was diligent in
foreseeing of things by good aduise, although age would not giue him
leaue to execute the same by his owne hand and force of bodie. But as
the nauies on both parts were readie to haue ioined, they were seuered
by reason of a thicke mist that then rose, wherby their furious rage
was restreined for that time: and immediatlie therevpon, Goodwine
and his complices were forced by a contrarie wind, to returne to the
places from whence they came. Shortlie after by mediation of friends,
a peace was made, and earle Goodwine restored home, and obteined
againe both the kings fauour, and all his former liuings: for he was
such an eloquent & wise man, that he clered and purged himselfe of all
such crimes and accusations, as in anie sort had beene laid against
him. Thus haue some written concerning this agreement betwixt king
Edward and erle Goodwine, where other make somewhat larger report
thereof, as thus.
At the same time that the two sonnes of erle Goodwine Harold and
Leofwine came foorth of Ireland, and inuaded the west countrie, king
Edward rigged foorth fortie ships, the which throughlie furnished with
men, munition, and vittels, he sent vnto Sandwich, commanding the
capteines there to wait for the comming of erle Goodwine, whom
he vnderstood to be in a readinesse to returne into England: but
notwithstanding, there wanted no diligence in them to looke to their
charge, erle Goodwine secretlie with a few ships which he had
got togither, ariued in Kent; and sending foorth his letters and
messengers abroad to the citizens of Canturburie, to them of Sussex,
Southerie, & others, required aid of them, who with one consent
promised to liue and die with him.
The capteines of the nauie at Sandwich aduertised hereof, made towards
the place where they thought to haue found earle Goodwine: but he
being warned of their comming, escaped by flight, and got him out of
their danger, wherevpon they withdrew to Sandwich, and after returned
to London. Earle Goodwine aduertised thereof, sailed to the Ile of
Wight, and wafted vp and downe those seas, till his sonnes Harold
and Leofwine came and ioined their nauie with his, and ceassing from
spoile, onlie sought to recouer vittels to serue their turne. And
incresing their power by such aid as they might any where procure, at
length they came to Sandwich, wherof king Edward hauing knowledge,
being then at London, he sent abroad to raise all the power he might
[Sidenote: It seemeth that earle Goodwine was well friended.]
make. But they that were appointed to come vnto him, lingred time,
in which meane while earle Goodwine comming into the Thames, & so vp
the riuer, arriued in Southwarke, on the day of the exaltation of the
crosse in September, being monday, and their staieng for the tide,
solicited the Londoners, so that he obteined of them what he could
desire.
Afterwards, without disturbance, he passed vp the riuer with the tide
through the south arch of the bridge, & at the same instant, a mightie
armie which he had by land, mustered in the fields on that south side
the same riuer, and herewith his nauie made towards the north side of
the riuer, as if they ment to inclose the kings nauie, for the king
had also a nauie & an armie by land: but yet sith there were few
either on the one part or the other, that were able to doo anie great
feat except Englishmen, they were loth to fight one against another,
wherevpon the wiser sort on both sides sought meanes to make an
atonement: and so at length by their diligent trauell, the matter was
taken vp, and the armies being dismissed on both parts, earle Goodwine
was restored to his former dignitie. Herevpon were pledges deliuered
on his behalfe, that is to say, Wilnotus one of his sonnes, and Hacun
the sonne of Swanus the eldest sonne of Goodwine. These two pledges
were sent vnto William duke of Normandie, to be kept with him for more
assurance of Goodwines loialtie.
[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._ _Matth. West._ _Simon Dun._
_Wil. Malm._]
Some write that Swanus the eldest sonne of Goodwine was not
reconciled to the kings fauour at this time; but whether he was or
not, this is reported of him for a truth, that after he had attempted
sundrie rebellions against king Edward, he lastlie also rebelled
against his father Goodwine, and his brother Harold, and became a
pirate, dishonouring with such manifold robberies as he made on the
seas, the noble progenie whereof he was descended. Finallie vpon
remorse of conscience (as hath beene thought) for murthering of
his coosine (or as some say his brother) erle Bearne, he went on
pilgrimage to Hierusalem, and died by the way of cold which he
[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._ _Will. Malms._]
caught in returning homeward (as some write) in Licia: but others
affirme, that he fell into the hands of Saracens that were robbers by
the high waies, and so was murthered of them.
* * * * *
_At what time William duke of Normandie came ouer into England, king
Edward promiseth to make him his heire to the kingdom and crowne, the
death of queene Emma, earle Goodwine being growne in fauor againe
seeketh new reuenges of old grudges, causing archbishop Robert and
certeine noble Normans his aduersaries to be banished; Stigand
intrudeth himselfe into archbishop Roberts see, his simonie and lacke
of learning; what maner of men were thought meet to be made bishops
in those daies, king Edward beginneth to prouide for the good and
prosperous state of his kingdome, his consideration of lawes made in
his predecessours times and abused; the lawes of S. Edward vsuallie
called the common lawes, how, whereof, and wherevpon instituted; the
death of earle Goodwine being sudden (as some say) or naturall (as
others report) his vertues and vices, his behauiour and his sonnes
vpon presumption and will in the time of their authorities; his two
wiues and children; the sudden and dreadfull death of his mother; hir
selling of the beautifull youth male and female of this land to the
Danish people._
THE FOURTH CHAPTER.
[Sidenote: William duke of Normandie commeth ouer into England.]
The foresaide William duke of Normandie (that after conquered this
land) during the time of Goodwines outlawrie, came ouer into this land
with a faire retinue of men, and was ioifullie receiued of the king,
and had great cheere. Now after he had taried a season, he returned
into his countrie, not without great gifts of jewels and other things,
[Sidenote: _Polydor_. K. Edwards promise to duke William.]
which the king most liberallie bestowed vpon him. And (as some
write) the king promised him at that time, to make him his heire to
the realme of England, if he chanced to die without issue. ¶ Shortlie
after, or rather somewhat before, queene Emma the kings mother died,
and was buried at Winchester.
After that earle Goodwine was restored to the kings fauour, bicause he
knew that Robert the archbishop of Canturburie had beene the cheefe
procurer of the kings euill will towards him, he found means to weare
him out of credit, and diuers other specially of the Normans, bearing
the world in hand, that they had sought to trouble the state of the
realme, & to set variance betwixt the king and the lords of the
English nation: whereas the Normans againe alledged, that earle
Goodwine and his sonnes abused the kings soft and gentle nature,
& would not sticke to ieast and mocke at his curteous and mild
[Sidenote: The archbishop of Canturburie banished.]
proceedings. But howsoeuer the matter went, archbishop Robert was
glad to depart out of the realme, and going to Rome, made complaint
in the court there, of the iniuries that were offred him: but in
returning through Normandie, he died in the abbeie of Gemmeticum,
where he had bene moonke before his comming into England.
Diuerse others were compelled to forsake the realme at the same time,
[Sidenote: Normans banished the realme.]
both spirituall men and temporall, as William bishop of London,
and Vlfe bishop of Lincolne. Osberne named Pentecost, and his
companion Hugh, were constreined to surrender their castels, and
by licence of earle Leofrike withdrew thorough his countrie into
Scotland, where, of king Mackbeth they were honorablie receiued. These
were Normans: for (as partlie ye haue heard) king Edward brought
with him no small number of that nation, when he came from thence to
receiue the crowne, and by them he was altogither ruled, to the great
offending of his owne naturall subiects the Englishmen, namelie
earle Goodwine and his sonnes, who in those daies for their great
possessions and large reuenues, were had in no small reputation with
the English people.
After that Robert the archbishop of Canturburie, was departed the
[Sidenote: Stigand archbishop of Canturburie.]
realme, as before ye haue heard, Stigand was made archbishop of
Canturburie, or rather thrust himselfe into that dignitie, not being
lawfullie called, in like manner as he had doone at Winchester: for
whereas he was first bishop of Shireborne, he left that church,
and tooke vpon him the bishoprike of Winchester by force, and now
atteining to be archbishop of Canturburie, he kept both Winchester
[Sidenote: _Ranul. Hig._ _Fabian_. Stigand infamed of simonie.]
and Canturburie in his hand at one instant. This Stigand was greatlie
infamed for his couetous practises in sale of possessions apperteining
to the church. He was nothing learned: but that want was a common
fault amongest the bishops of that age, for it was openlie spoken
[Sidenote: What maner of men meet to be bishops in those daies.]
in those daies, that he was meet onelie to be a bishop, which could
vse the pompe of the world, voluptuous pleasures, rich raiment, and
set himselfe foorth with a iollie retinue of gentlemen and seruants on
horsse-backe, for therein stood the countenance of a bishop, as the
world then went; and not in studie how to haue the people fed with the
word of life, to the sauing of their soules.
King Edward now in the twelfth yeare of his reigne, hauing brought
[Sidenote: _Polydor_.]
the state of the realme quite from troubles of warre both by sea and
land, began to foresee as well for the welth of his subiects, as for
himselfe, being naturallie inclined to wish well to all men. He
therefore considered, how by the manifold lawes which had beene made by
Britaines, Englishmen and Danes within this land, occasion was ministred
to manie, which measured all things by respect of their owne priuate
gaine and profit, to peruert iustice, and to vse wrongfull dealing in
stead of right, clouding the same vnder some branch of the lawe
naughtilie misconstrued. Wherevpon to auoid that mischiefe, he picked
out a summe of that huge and vnmesurable masse and heape of lawes, such
as were thought most indifferent and necessarie, & therewith ordeined a
few, & those most wholesome, to be from thenceforth vsed; according to
whose prescript, men might liue in due forme and rightfull order of
[Sidenote: The lawes of S. Edward instituted.]
a ciuill life. These lawes were afterwards called the common lawes, and
also saint Edward his lawes; so much esteemed of the Englishmen, that
after the conquest, when the Normans oftentimes went about to abrogate
the same, there chanced no small mutinies and rebellions for retaining
of those lawes. But heere is to be noted, that although they were called
saint Edwards lawes, they were for the more part made by king Edgar; but
now by king Edward restored, after they had bin abrogated for a time by
the Danes.
[Sidenote: 1053 or 1054. _Hector Boet._ _Polydor_.
_Will. Malmes._ _Matth. West._ _Ran. Higd._
_ex Mariano_. _Simon Dun._]
About this time, earle Goodwine died suddenlie (as some haue
recorded) as he sat at table with the king: and vpon talke ministred
of the death of Alfred the kings brother, to excuse himselfe, he tooke
a peece of bread, and did eate it, saieng; God let me neuer swallow
this bread downe into my chest, but that I may presentlie be choked
therewith, if euer I was weetting or consenting vnto Alfreds death!
and immediatlie therewith he fell downe starke dead. Other say,
[Sidenote: This is the likeliest tale.]
that he ended his life at Winchester, where being suddenlie surprised
with sicknesse, as he sat at the table with the king vpon an Easter
monday; yet he liued till the Thursday following, and then died. His
earledome was giuen vnto his sonne Harold; and Harolds earledome,
which was Oxford, was giuen vnto Algar the sonne of Leofrike.
This Goodwine, as he was a man of great power, wise, hardie, and
politike; so was he ambitious, desirous to beare rule, and loth that
anie other person should passe him in authoritie. But yet, whether
all be true that writers report of his malicious practises to bring
himselfe and his sonnes to the chiefe seat of gouernement in the
kingdome, or that of hatred such slanders were raised of him, it may
of some perhaps be doubted; because that in the daies of king
Edward (which was a soft and gentle prince) he bare great rule and
authoritie, and so might procure to himselfe euill report for euerie
thing that chanced amisse: as oftentimes it commeth to passe in such
cases, where those that haue great dooings in the gouernement of the
common wealth, are commonlie euill spoken of, and that now and
then without their guilt. But truth it is, that Goodwine being in
authoritie both in the daies of king Edward and his predecessors, did
manie things (as should appeare by writers) more by will than by
[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._]
law, and so likewise did his sonnes; vpon presumption of the great
puissance that they and their father were of within the realme.
He had to wife Editha, the sister of king Cnute, of whome he begat
[Sidenote: _Polydor_.]
three sonnes (as some write) that is to say, Harold, Biorne, &
Tostie: also his daughter Editha, whome he found meanes to bestow in
mariage vpon K. Edward, as before ye haue heard. But other write,
[Sidenote: _Will. Malm._]
that he had but one son by Cnutes sister, the which in riding of a
rough horsse was throwen into the riuer of Thames, and so drowned. His
mother also was stricken with a thunderbolt, & so perished worthilie
(as is reported) for hir naughtie dooings. She vsed to buy great
numbers of yoong persons, and namelie maids that were of anie
excellent beautie and personage, whome she sent ouer into Denmarke,
and there sold them to hir most aduantage. After hir deceasse (as the
same authors record) Goodwine maried another woman, by whome he had
issue six sonnes, Swanus or Swaine, Harrold, Tostie or Tosto, Wilnot,
Girth, and Leofrike; of whom further mention is & shall be made, as
places conuenient shall serue thereto.
* * * * *
_Edward earle of Northumberland discomfiteth Mackbeth the usurper of
the Scotish kingdome and placeth Malcolme in the same, a controuersie
whether Siward were at this discomfiture or no; his stout words when
he heard that one of his sonnes was slaine in the field, bishop Aldred
is sent to fetch home Edward the sonne of K. Edmund Ironside into
England; earle Algar being banished ioineth with the Welshmen against
the English and Normans, and getteth the victorie; Harold the son of
earle Goodwine putteth earle Algar & his retinue to their shifts by
pursute, pacification betweene the generals of both armies, their
hosts, Siward earle of Northumberland dieth; his giantlike stature,
his couragious heart at the time of his deceasse, why Tostie one of
Goodwins sonnes succeeded him in the earledome._
THE FIFT CHAPTER.
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ 1054. _Hector Boet._]
About the thirteenth yeare of king Edward his reigne (as some
write) or rather about the nineteenth or twentith yeare, as
should appeare by the Scotish writers, Siward the noble earle of
Northumberland with a great power of horssemen went into Scotland,
and in battell put to flight Mackbeth that had vsurped the crowne of
Scotland, and that doone, placed Malcolme surnamed Camoir, the sonne
of Duncane, sometime king of Scotland, in the gouernement of that
realme, who afterward slue the said Mackbeth, and then reigned in
[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ _M. West._]
quiet. Some of our English writers say, that this Malcolme was king
of Cumberland, but other report him to be sonne to the king of
Cumberland. But heere is to be noted; that if Mackbeth reigned till
the yeare 1061, and was then slaine by Malcolme, earle Siward was not
at that battell; for as our writers doo testifie, he died in the yeare
1055, which was in the yeare next after (as the same writers affirme)
that he vanquished Mackbeth in fight, and slue manie thousands of
Scots, and all those Normans which (as ye haue heard) were withdrawen
into Scotland, when they were driuen out of England.
It is recorded also, that in the foresaid battell, in which earle
Siward vanquished the Scots, one of Siwards sonnes chanced to be
slaine, whereof although the father had good cause to be sorowfull,
yet when he heard that he died of a wound which he had receiued in
fighting stoutlie in the forepart of his bodie, and that with his face
towards the enimie, he greatlie reioised thereat, to heare that he
died so manfullie. But here is to be noted, that not now, but a little
before (as Henrie Hunt. saith) that earle Siward went into Scotland
himselfe in person, he sent his sonne with an armie to conquere the
land, whose hap was there to be slaine: and when his father heard the
newes, he demanded whether he receiued the wound whereof he died, in
the forepart of the bodie, or in the hinder part: and when it was told
him that he receiued in the forepart; "I reioise (saith he) euen with
all my heart, for I would not wish either to my sonne nor to my selfe
any other kind of death."
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ 1057.]
Shortlie after, Aldred the bishop of Worcester was sent vnto
the emperour Henrie the third, to fetch Edward the sonne of Edmund
Ironside into England, whome king Edward was desirous to see, meaning
to ordeine him heire apparant to the crowne: but he died the same
[Sidenote: _Henr. Hunt._ 1055.]
yeare after he came into England. This Edward was surnamed the outlaw:
his bodie was buried at Winchester, or (as an other saith) in the
church of S. Pauls in London.
¶ About the same time K. Edward by euill counsell (I wot not vpon what
occasion, but as it is thought without cause) banished Algar the
sonne of earle Leofrike: wherevpon he got him into Ireland, and there
prouiding 18 ships of rouers, returned, & landing in Wales, ioined
himselfe with Griffin the king or prince of Wales, and did much hurt
on the borders about Hereford, of which place Rafe was then earle,
that was sonne vnto Goda the sister of K. Edward by hir first
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ _Simon Dun._]
husband Gualter de Maunt. This earle assembling an armie, came forth
to giue battell to the enimies, appointing the Englishmen contrarie to
their manner to fight on horssebacke, but being readie (on the two &
twentith of October) to giue the onset in a place not past two miles
from Hereford, he with his Frenchmen and Normans fled, and so the
rest were discomfited, whome the aduersaries pursued, and slue to the
[Sidenote: The Welshmen obteine the victorie against Englishmen and
Normans.]
number of 500, beside such as were hurt and escaped with life.
Griffin and Algar hauing obteined this victorie, entered into the
towne of Hereford, set the minster on fire, slue seuen of the canons
that stood to defend the doores or gates of the principall church, and
finallie spoiled and burned the towne miserablie.
The king aduertised hereof, gathered an armie, ouer the which Harold
the sonne of earle Goodwine was made generall, who followed vpon the
enimies that fled before him into Northwales, & staied not, till
[Sidenote: Stratcluid.]
hauing passed through Stratcluid, he came to the mountaines of
[Sidenote: Snowdon.]
Snowdon, where he pitched his field. The enimies durst not abide him,
but got them into Southwales, whereof Harold being aduertised, left
the more part of his armie in Northwales to resist the enimies
there, & with the residue of his people came backe vnto Hereford,
[Sidenote: The citie of Hereford fortified by Harold.]
recouered the towne, and caused a great and mightie trench to be cast
round about it, with an high rampire, and fensed it with gates and
other fortifications. After this, he did so much, that comming to a
communication, with Griffin and Algar at a place called Biligelhage, a
peace was concluded, and so the nauie of earle Algar sailed about, and
came to Chester, there to remaine, till the men of warre and marriners
had their wages, while he went to the king, who pardoned his offense,
& restored him to his earledome.
[Sidenote: The decease of Siward earle of Northumberland.
_Ran. Higd._]
After this, in the verie same yeare, being the 15 of king
Edwards reigne, as some writers affirme, Siward the noble earle of
Northumberland died of the flix, of whom it is said, that when he
perceiued the houre of death to be neere, he caused him selfe to be
put in armour, & set vp in his chaire, affirming that a knight and a
man of honour ought to die in that sort, rather than lieng on a couch
like a feeble and fainthearted creature: and sitting so vpright in
his chaire armed at all points, he ended his life, and was buried at
Yorke. [O stout harted man, not vnlike to that famous Romane remembred
by Tullie in his "Tusculane questions," who suffered the sawing of his
leg from his bodie without shrinking, looking vpon the surgeon all the
while, & hauing no part of his bodie bound for shrinking.] The said
Siward earle of Northumberland was a man of a giantlike stature, &
thereto of a verie stout and hardie courage, & because his sonne
Walteif was but an infant, and as yet not out of his cradell, the
earledome was giuen vnto earle Tostie one of Goodwins sonnes.