[Sidenote: HARDICNUTE, or HARDIKNOUGHT.]
After that Harold was dead, all the nobles of the realme, both
Danes and Englishmen agrÈed to send for Hardiknought, the sonne of
Canute by his wife quÈene Emma, and to make him king. HÈere is to be
noted, that by the death of king Canute, the state of things was much
altered in those countries of beyond the seas wherein he had the rule
[Sidenote: Alteration in the state of things. _Simon Dun._, &
_Matt. West._ say, that he was at Bruges in Flanders with his
mother when he was thus sent for, having come thither to visit hir.
1041.]
and dominion. For the Norwegians elected one Magnus, the sonne of
Olauus to be their king, and the Danes chose this Hardiknought, whome
their writers name Canute the third, to be their gouernor. This
Hardiknought or Canute being aduertised of the death of his halfe
brother Harold, and that the lords of England had chosen him to their
king, with all conuenient speed prepared a nauie, and imbarking a
certeine number of men of warre, tooke the sea, and had the wind so
fauorable for his purpose, that he arriued upon the coast of Kent the
sixt day after he set out of Denmarke, and so comming to London, was
ioifullie receiued, and proclaimed king, and crowned of Athelnotus
archbishop of Canturburie, in the yere of our Lord 1041, in the first
yÈere of the emperour Henrie the third, in the 9 yeere of Henrie
the first of that name king of France, and in the first yÈere of
Magfinloch, ali‡s Machabeda king of Scotland. Incontinentlie after
[Sidenote: QuÈene Emma sent for.]
his establishment in the rule of this realme, he sent into Flanders
for his mother quÈene Emma, who during the time of hir banishment,
had remained there. For Normandie in that season was gouerned by the
French king, by reason of the minoritie of duke William, surnamed the
bastard.
Moreouer, in reuenge of the wrong offered to quÈene Emma by hir sonne
[Sidenote: The bodie of king Harold taken vp, and throwen into Thames.]
in law Harold, king Hardicnute did cause Alfrike archbishop of
Yorke and earle Goodwine, with other noble men to go to Westminster,
and there to take vp the bodie of the same Harold, and withall
appointed, that the head thereof should be striken off, and the trunke
of it cast into the riuer of Thames. Which afterwards being found by
fishers, was taken vp and buried in the churchyard of S. Clement
[Sidenote: S. Clement Danes.]
Danes without Temple barre at London. He committed the order and
gouernement of things to the hands of his mother Emma, and of Goodwine
[Sidenote: A tribute raised. _Hen. Hunt._]
that was erle of Kent. He leuied a sore tribute of his subiects
here in England to pay the souldiers and mariners of his nauie, as
first 21 thousand pounds, & 99 pounds, and afterward vnto 32 ships
[Sidenote:_ Simon Dun._ _Wil. Malm._ _Matth. West._
_Sim. Dun._]
there was a paiment made of a 11 thousand and 48 pounds. To euerie
mariner of his nauie he caused a paiment of 8 marks to be made, and to
euerie master 12 marks. About the paiment of this monie great grudge
grew amongst the people, insomuch that two of his seruants, which were
appointed collectors in the citie of Worcester, the one named Feader,
and the other Turstane, were there slaine. In reuenge of which
contempt a great part of the countrie with the citie was burnt, and
the goods of the citizens put to the spoile by such power of lords and
men of warre as the king had sent against them.
Shortlie after, Edward king Hardicnutes brother came foorth of
Normandie to visit him and his mother quÈene Emma, of whome he was
most ioifullie and honorablie welcomed and interteined, and
[Sidenote: _Matt. West._ _Ran. Higd._ _Marianus_.]
shortlie after made returne backe againe. It should appeare by some
writers, that after his comming ouer out of Normandie he remained
still in the realme, so that he was not in Normandie when his halfe
brother Hardicnute died, but here in England: although other make
[Sidenote: _Polydor_.]
other report, as after shall bÈe shewed. Also (as before ye haue
heard) some writers seeme to meane, that the elder brother Alfred came
ouer at the same time. But suerlie they are therein deceiued: for
it was knowne well inough how tenderlie king Hardicnute loued his
brethren by the mothers side, so that there was not anie of the lords
[Sidenote: The bishop of Worcester accused for making away of Alfred.]
in his daies, that durst attempt anie such iniurie against them.
True it is, that as well earle Goodwine, as the bishop of Worcester
(that was also put in blame and suspected for the apprehending and
making away of Alfred, as before ye haue heard) were charged by
Hardicnute as culpable in that matter, insomuch that the said bishop
was expelled out of his sÈe by Hardicnute: and after twelue moneths
space was restored, by meanes of such summes of monie as he gaue by
waie of amends.
[Sidenote: Earle Goodwin excuseth himselfe.]
Earle Goodwine was also put to his purgation, by taking an oth
that he was not guiltie. Which oth was the better allowed, by reason
of such a present as he gaue to the king for the redÈeming of his
[Sidenote: The gift which earle Goodwin gaue to the king.]
fauour and good will, that is to say, a ship with a sterne of gold,
conteining therein 80 souldiers, wearing on each of their armes two
bracelets of gold of 16 ounces weight, a triple habergion guilt on
their bodies, with guilt burgenets on their heads, a swoord with guilt
hilts girded to their wastes, a battell-axe after the maner of the
Danes on their left shoulder, a target with bosses and mails guilt in
their left hand, a dart in their right hand: and thus to conclude,
they were furnished at all points with armor and weapon accordinglie.
[Sidenote: _Polydor_.]
It hath bÈene said, that earle Goodwine minded to marie his
daughter to one of these brethren, and perceiuing that the elder
brother Alfred would disdaine to haue hir, thought good to dispatch
him, that the other taking hir to wife, hÈe might be next heire to the
crowne, and so at length inioy it, as afterwards came to passe.
Also about that time, when the linage of the kings of England was in
maner extinct, the English people were much carefull (as hath bÈene
said) about the succession of those that should inioie the crowne.
Wherevpon as one Brightwold a moonke of Glastenburie, that was
afterward bishop of Wincester, or (as some haue written) of Worcester,
studied oftentimes thereon: it chanced that he dreamed one night as he
slept in his bed, that he saw saint Peter consecrate & annoint Edward
the sonne of Egelred (as then remaining in exile in Normandie) king of
England. And as he thought, he did demand of saint Peter, who should
succÈed the said Edward? Wherevnto answer was made by the apostle;
Haue thou no care for such matters, for the kingdome of England is
Gods kingdome. Which suerlie in good earnest may appeare by manie
great arguments to be full true vnto such as shall well consider the
state of this realme from time to time, how there hath bÈene euer
gouernours raised vp to mainteine the maiestie of the kingdome, and
to reduce the same to the former dignitie, when by anie infortunate
mishap it hath beene brought in danger.
[Sidenote: The death of K. Hardicnute. _Sim. Dunel._
_Matth. West._ 1042.]
But to returne now to king Hardicnute, after he had reigned two
yÈers lacking 10 daies, as he sat at the table in a great feast holden
at Lambeth, he fell downe suddenlie with the pot in his hand, and so
died not without some suspicion of poison. This chanced on the 8
of Iune at Lambeth aforesaid, where, on the same day a mariage was
solemnized betwÈene the ladie Githa, the daughter of a noble man
called Osgot Clappa, and a Danish lord also called Canute Prudan. His
bodie was buried at Winchester besides his father. He was of nature
[Sidenote: K. Hardicnute his conditions and liberalitie in
housekeeping. _Hen. Hunt._]
verie curteous, gentle and liberall, speciallie in keeping good
chÈere in his house, so that he would haue his table couered foure
times a day, & furnished with great plentie of meates and drinks,
wishing that his seruants and all strangers that came to his palace,
[Sidenote: Of whom the Englishmen learned excessiue fÈeding.]
might rather leaue than want. It hath bÈene commonlie told, that
Englishmen learned of him their excessiue gourmandizing & vnmeasurable
filling of their panches with meates and drinkes, whereby they forgat
the vertuous vse of sobrietie, so much necessarie to all estates and
degrÈes, so profitable for all common-wealthes, and so commendable
both in the sight of God, and all good men.
[Sidenote: The end of the Danish rulers.]
In this Hardicnute ceased the rule of the Danes within this land,
with the persecution which they had executed against the English
nation, for the space of 250 yeres & more, that is to say, euer since
the tenth yeere of Brithrike the king of Westsaxons, at what time they
first began to inuade the English coasts. Howbeit (after others) they
should sÈeme to haue ruled here but 207, reckoning from their bringing
in by the Welshmen in despite of the Saxons, at which time they first
began to inhabit here, which was 835 of Christ, 387 after the comming
of the Saxons, and 35 nÈere complet of the reigne of Egbert.
∂ But to let this pÈece of curiositie passe, this land felt that they
had a time of arriuall, a time of inuading, a time of ouerrunning, and
a time of ouerruling the inhabitants of this maine continent. Wherof
manifest proofes are at this day remaining in sundrie places, sundrie
ruines I meane and wastes committed by them; vpon the which whensoeuer
a man of a relenting spirit casteth his eie, he can not but enter
into a dolefull consideration of former miseries, and lamenting the
defacements of this Ile by the crueltie of the bloudthirstie enimie,
cannot but wish (if he haue but "Minimam misericordiÊ guttam quÊ maior
est spatioso oceano," as one saith) and earnestlie desire in his heart
that the like may neuer light vpon this land, but may be auerted and
turned away from all christian kingdomes, through his mercie, whose
wrath by sinne being set on fire, is like a consuming flame; and the
swoord of whose vengeance being sharpened with the whetstone of mens
wickednesse, shall hew them in pÈeces as wood for the fornace.
_Thus farre the tumultuous and tyrannicall regiment of the Danes,
inferring fulnesse of afflictions to the English people, wherewith
likewise the seuenth booke is shut vp._