[Sidenote: Turkillus discloseth the secrets of the Realme to K.
Swaine.]
Now had Turkillus in the meanetime aduertised king Swaine in
what state things stood here within the realme: how king Egelred was
negligent, onlie attending to the lusts & pleasures of the flesh: how
the noble men were vnfaithfull, and the commons weake and feeble
[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._]
through want of good and trustie leaders. Howbeit, some write, that
Turkillus as well as other of the Danes which remained hÈere in
England, was in league with king Egelred, in somuch that he was with
him in London, to helpe and defend the citie against Swaine when he
came to assalt it (as after shall appÈere.) Which if it be true,
a doubt may rise whether Swaine receiued anie aduertisement from
Turkillus to mooue him the rather to inuade the realme: but such
aduertisements might come from him before that he was accorded with
Egelred.
[Sidenote: Swaine prepareth an armie to inuade England.]
Swaine therefore as a valiant prince, desirous both to reuenge
his sisters death, and win honor, prepared an huge armie, and a great
number of ships, with the which he made towards England, and first
[Sidenote: He landeth at Sandwich. 1013.]
comming to Sandwich, taried there a small while, and taking eftsoones
the sea, compassed about the coasts of Eastangles, and arriuing in the
[Sidenote: Gainsbourgh.]
mouth of Humber, sailed vp the water, and entering into the
riuer of Trent, he landed at Gainesbourgh, purposing to inuade the
Northumbers. But as men brought into great feare, for that they had
bÈene subiect to the Danes in times past, and thinking therefore not
to reuolt to the enimie, but rather to their old acquaintance, if
[Sidenote: The Northumbers yÈeld to Swaine.]
they should submit themselues to the Danes, streightwaies offered to
become subiect vnto Swaine, togither with their duke named Wighthred.
[Sidenote: The people of Lindsey yÈeld themselues to him.]
Also the people of Lindsey and all those of the northside of
WatlingstrÈet yÈelded themselues vnto him, and delivered pledges. Then
he appointed his sonne Cnutus to haue the kÈeping of those pledges,
[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._]
and to remaine vpon the safegard of his ships, whiles he himselfe
[Sidenote: South Mercia.]
passed forward into the countrie. Then marched he forward to
subdue them of south Mercia: and so came to Oxford & to Winchester,
making the countries subiect to him throughout wheresoeuer he came.
With this prosperous successe Swaine being greatlie incouraged,
prepared to go vnto London, where king Egelred as then remained,
hauing with him Turkillus the Dane, which was reteined in wages
[Sidenote: _Sim. Dunel._]
with other of the Danes (as by report of some authors it maie appeare)
and were now readie to defend the citie against their countriemen in
support of king Egelred, togither with the citizens. Swaine, bicause
he would not step so farre out of the way as to go to the next bridge,
lost a great number of his men as he passed through the Thames. At
[Sidenote: Swaine assaulteth London.]
his comming to London, he began to assault the citie verie fiercelie,
in hope either to put his enimie in such feare that he should despaire
of all reliefe and comfort, or at the least trie what he was able to
doo. The Londoners on the other part, although they were brought in
some feare by this sudden attempt of the enimies, yet considering with
themselues, that the hazard of all the whole state of the realme
was annexed to theirs, sith their citie was the chiefe and
[Sidenote: _Polydor_.]
metropolitane of all the kingdome, they valiantlie stood in defense
of themselues, and of their king that was present there with them,
beating backe the enimies, chasing them from the walles, and otherwise
dooing their best to kÈepe them off. At length, although the Danes did
most valiantlie assault the citie, yet the Englishmen to defend their
prince from all iniurie of enimies, did not shrinke, but boldlie
sallied foorth at the gates in heapes togither, and incountered with
their aduersaries, and began to fight with them verie fiercelie.
Swaine whilest he went about to kÈepe his men in order, as one most
desirous to reteine the victorie now almost gotten, was compassed so
about with the Londoners on each side, that after he had lost a great
number of his men, he was constreined for his safegard to breake out
through the midst of his enimies weapons, and was glad that he might
[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._]
so escape: and so with the residue of his armie ceassed not to
iournie day and night till he came to Bath, where Ethelmere an
[Sidenote: Erle of Deuonshire as saith _Matt. West._]
earle of great power in those west parts of the realme submitted
[Sidenote: _Polydor_.]
himselfe with all his people vnto him, who shortlie after
neuerthelesse (as some write) was compelled through want of vittels to
release the tribute latelie couenanted to be paied vnto him for a
[Sidenote: Swaine returneth into Denmarke.]
certeine summe of monie, which when hÈe had receiued, he returned into
Denmarke, meaning shortlie to returne againe with a greater power.
King Egelred supposed that by the paiment of that monie he should haue
bÈene rid out of all troubles, of warre with the Danes. But the nobles
of the realme thought otherwise, and therefore willed him to
[Sidenote: Swaine returneth into England to make warre.]
prepare an armie with all speÈd that might be made. Swaine taried
not long (to proue the doubt of the noble men to be grounded of
foreknowledge) but that with swift spÈed he returned againe into
England, and immediatlie vpon his arriuall was an armie of Englishmen
assembled and led against him into the field. Herevpon they ioined
[Sidenote: King Egelred discomfited in battell.]
in battell, which was sore foughten for a time, till at length by
reason of diuerse Englishmen that turned to the enimies side, the
discomfiture fell with such slaughter vpon the English host, that king
Egelred well perceiued the state of his regall gouernement to bÈe
brought into vtter danger. Wherevpon after the losse of this field,
he assembled the rest of his people that were escaped, and spake vnto
them after this manner.
_The oration of king Egelred to the remanent of his souldiers_.
"I shuld for euer be put to silence, if there wanted in vs the vertue
of a fatherlie mind, in giuing good aduise & counsel for the well
ordering and due administration of things in the common wealth, or if
there lacked courage or might in our souldiers and men of warre to
defend our countrie. Trulie to die in defense of the countrie where we
are borne, I confesse it a woorthie thing, and I for my part am readie
to take vpon me to enter into the midst of the enimies in defense of
my kingdome. But here I see our countrie and the whole English nation
to be at a point to fall into vtter ruine. We are ouercome of the
Danes, not with weapon or force of armes; but with treason wrought
by our owne people: we did at the first prepare a nauie against the
enimies, the which that false traitour Elfrike betraid into their
hands. Againe, oftentimes haue we giuen battell with euill successe,
and onelie through the fault of our owne people that haue beene false
and disloiall: whereby we haue bin constreined to agree with the
enimies vpon dishonorable conditions, euen as necessitie required,
which to ouercome, resteth onelie in God. Such kind of agreement hath
beene made in deed to our destruction, sith the enimies haue not
sticked to breake it (they being such a wicked kind of people as
neither regard God nor man) contrarie to right and reason, and beside
all our hope & expectation. So that the matter is come now to this
passe, that we haue not cause onlie to feare the losse of our
gouernement, but least the name of the whole English nation be
destroied for euer. Therefore sithens the enimies are at hand, and as
it were ouer our heads, you to whom my commandement hath euer bene had
in good regard, prouide, take counsell, and see to succor the state
of your countrie now readie to decay and to fall into irrecouerable
ruine."
Herevpon they fell in consultation, euerie one alledging and bringing
foorth his opinion as seemed to him best: but it appeared they had the
woolfe by the eare, for they wist not which way to turne them. If they
should giue battell, it was to be doubted least through treason among
themselues, the armie should be betraied into the enimies hands, the
which would not faile to execute all kind of crueltie in the slaughter
of the whole nation. And if they stood not valiantlie to shew
themselues readie to defend their countrie, there was no shift but
yeeld themselues. Which though it were a thing reprochfull and
dishonorable, yet should it be lesse euill, as they tooke the matter,
for thereby might manie be preserued from death, and in time to come,
be able to recouer the libertie of their countrie, when occasion
should be offered. This point was allowed of them all, and so in the
end they rested vpon that resolution.
[Sidenote: King Egelred determineth to give place vnto Swaine.]
King Egelred therefore determined to commit himselfe into the
hands of his brother in law Richard duke of Normandie, whose sister
(as ye haue heard) he had maried. But bicause he would not doo
[Sidenote: He sendeth his wife and sonnes ouer into Normandie.]
this vnaduisedlie, first he sent ouer his wife quÈene Emma, with his
sonnes which he had begotten of hir, Alfred and Edward, that by their
[Sidenote: Richard duke of Normandie.]
interteinment he might vnderstand how he should be welcome. Duke
Richard receiued his sister and his nephues verie ioifullie, and
promised to aid his brother king Egelred in defense of his kingdome.
But in this meane while had Swaine conquered the more part of all
England, and brought (by little and little) that which remained vnder
his subiection. The people through feare submitting themselues
[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ _Hen. Hunt._ Turkill. 1014.]
on each hand, king Egelred in this meane time (for the Londoners had
submitted themselues to Swaine) was first withdrawne vnto GrÈenwich,
and there remained for a time with the nauie of the Danes, which was
vnder the gouernement of earle Turkill, and from thence sailed into
the Ile of Wight, and there remained a great part of the winter,
[Sidenote: King Egelred passeth into Normandie.]
and finallie after Christmas himselfe sailed into Normandie, and was
of his brother in law ioifullie receiued & greatlie comforted in that
his time of necessitie.
* * * * *
_Swaine king of Denmarke is reputed king of this land, he oppresseth
the English people cruellie, and spoileth religious houses, the
strange and miraculous slaughter of Swaine vaunting of his victories;
the Danish chronicles write parciallie of him and his end, Cnute
succeedeth his father Swaine in regiment, the Englishmen send king
Egelred woord of Swaines death, Edward king Egelreds eldest sonne
commeth ouer into England to know the state of the countrie and people
of certeintie; Egelred with his power returneth into England; what
meanes Cnute made to establish himselfe king of this land, and to
be well thought of among the English people, Egelred burneth
vp Gainesbrough, and killeth the inhabitants therof for their
disloialtie; Cnutes flight to Sandwich, his cruel decree against the
English pledges, he returneth into Denmarke, why Turkillus the Danish
capteine with his power compounded with the Englishmen to tarrie in
this land, his faithlesse seruice to Egelred, his drift to make the
whole realme subiect to the Danish thraldome._