[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._]
When Cuthred K. of Kent had reigned 8 yeeres, as before is mentioned,
he was constreined to giue place vnto one Baldred, that tooke vpon him
the gouernment, & reigned the space of 18 yéeres, without anie great
authoritie, for his subiects regarded him but sorilie, so that in the
end, when his countrie was inuaded by the Westsaxons, he was easilie
constreined to depart into exile. And thus was the kingdome of Kent
annexed to the kingdome of the Westsaxons, after the same kingdome had
continued in gouernment of kings created of the same nation for the
space of 382 yéers, that is to say, from the yéere of our Lord 464,
[Sidenote: The end of the kingdome of Kent.]
[Sidenote: 827.]
vnto the yéere 827. Suithred or Suthred king of Essex was vanquished
and expelled out of his kingdome by Egbert king of Westsaxons (as
before ye maie read) in the same yéere that the Kentishmen were
subdued by the said Egbert, or else verie shortlie after. This
[Sidenote: The end of the kingdome of Essex.]
kingdome continued 281 yeeres, from the yéere 614, vnto the yeere 795,
as by the table of the Heptarchie set foorth by Alexander Neuill
appéereth. After the deceasse of Kenwulfe king of Mercia, his sonne
Kenelme a child of the age of seuen yéeres was admitted king, about
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
[Sidenote: 821.]
the yeere of our Lord 821. He had two sisters, Quendred and Burgenild,
[Sidenote: The wickedness of Quendred.]
of the which the one (that is to say) Quendred, of a malicious mind,
mooued through ambition, enuied hir brothers aduancement, and sought
to make him awaie, so that in the end she corrupted the gouernour of
his person one Ashbert, with great rewards and high promises
persuading him to dispatch hir innocent brother out of life, that she
might reigne in his place. Ashbert one day vnder a colour to haue the
yoong king foorth on hunting, led him into a thicke wood, and there
cut off the head from his bodie, an impe by reason of his tender
[Sidenote: King Kenelm murthered.]
yéeres and innocent age, vnto the world void of gilt, and yet thus
traitorouslie murthered without cause or crime: he was afterwards
reputed for a martyr.
[Sidenote: _Sée legenda aurea. fol._ 165. in the life of S. Kenelme.]
There hath gone a tale that his death should be signified at Rome, and
the place where the murther was committed, by a strange manner: for
(as they say) a white doue came and lighted vpon the altar of saint
Peter, bearing a scroll in hir bill, which she let fall on the same
altar, in which scroll among other things this was conteined, "In
clenc kou bath, Kenelme kinbarne lieth vnder thorne, heaued bereaued:"
that is, at Clenc in a cow pasture, Kenelme the kings child lieth
beheaded vnder a thorne. This tale I rehearse, not for anie credit I
thinke it woorthie of, but onelie for that it séemeth to note the
place where the yoong prince innocentlie lost his life.
[Sidenote: Ceolwulfe K. of Mercia 823.]
After that Kenelme was thus made awaie, his vncle Ceolwulfe the
brother of king Kenulfe was created king of Mercia, and in the second
yéere of his reigne was expelled by Bernwulfe. Bernwulfe in the third
yéere of his reigne, was vanquished and put to flight in battell by
Egbert king of Westsaxons, and shortlie after slaine of the
Eastangles, as before ye haue heard. Then one Ludicenus or Ludicanus
was created king of Mercia, and within two yeeres after came to the
like end that happened to his predecessor before him, as he went about
to reuenge his death, so that the kingdome of Britaine began now to
réele from their owne estate, and leane to an alteration, which grew
in the end to the erection of a perfect monarchie, and finall
subuersion of their particular estates and regiments. After Ludicenus,
[Sidenote: _Matt. Westm._]
[Sidenote: 728.]
succeeded Wightlafe, who first being vanquisht by Egbert king of
Westsaxons, was afterwards restored to the kingdome by the same
Egbert, and reigned 13 yeeres, whereof twelue at the least were vnder
tribute which he paied to the said Egbert and to his sonne, as to his
souereignes and supreame gouernours. The kingdome of Northumberland
was brought in subjection to the kings of Westsaxons, as before is
[Sidenote: 828.]
mentioned, in the yéere of our Lord 828, and in the yéere of the
reigne of king Egbert 28, but yet héere it tooke not end, as after
shall appéere.
[Sidenote: ETHELWULFUS]
ETHELWULFUS, otherwise called by some writers Athaulfus, began his
reigne ouer the Westsaxons in the yéere 837, which was in the 24 yéere
of the emperor Ludouicus Pius that was also K. of France, in the tenth
yéere of Theophilus the emperor of the East, & about the third yéere
of Kenneth, the second of that name king of Scots. This Ethelwulfe
minding in his youth to haue béene a priest, entered into the orders
as subdeacon, and as some write, he was bishop of Winchester: but
[Sidenote: _Henrie Hunt._]
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
howsoeuer the matter stood, or whether he was or not, sure it is, that
shortlie after he was absolued of his vowes by authoritie of pope Leo,
and then maried a proper gentlewoman named Osburga, which was his
butlers daughter. He was of nature courteous, and rather desirous to
liue in quiet rest, than to be troubled with the gouernment of manie
[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._]
countries, so that contenting himselfe with the kingdome of
Westsaxons, he permitted his brother Adelstan to inioy the residue of
the countries which his father had subdued, as Kent and Essex, with
other. He aided Burthred the king of Mercia against the Welshmen, and
greatlie aduanced his estimation, by giuing vnto him his daughter in
mariage.
[Sidenote: Foure especiall destructions of this land.]
But now the fourth destruction which chanced to this land by forren
enimies, was at hand: for the people of Denmarke, Norway, and other of
those northeast regions, which in that season were great rouers by
sea, had tasted the wealth of this land by such spoiles and preies as
they had taken in the same, so that perceiuing they could not purchase
more profit anie where else, they set their minds to inuade the same
on ech side, as they had partlie begun in the daies of the late kings
Brightrike and Egbert. The persecution vsed by these Danes séemed more
[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._]
[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._]
gréeuous, than anie of the other persecutions, either before or
sithens that time: for the Romans hauing quicklie subdued the land,
gouerned it noblie without seeking the subuersion thereof. The Scots
and Picts onelie inuaded the north parts. And the Saxons seeking the
conquest of the land, when they had once got it, they kept it, and did
what they could, to better and aduance it to a flourishing estate.
The Normans likewise hauing made a conquest, granted both life,
libertie, and ancient lawes to the former inhabitants: but the Danes
long time and often assailing the land on euerie side, now inuading it
in this place, and now in that, did not at the first so much couet to
[Sidenote: The Danes sought the destruction of this land.]
conquer it, as to spoile it, nor to beare rule in it, as to waste and
destroie it: who if they were at anie time, ouercome, the victors were
nothing the more in quiet: for a new nauie, and a greater armie was
readie to make some new inuasion, neither did they enter all at one
place, nor at once, but one companie on the east side, and an other in
the west, or in the north and south coasts, in such sort, that the
Englishmen knew not whether they should first go to make resistance
against them.
[Sidenote: How long the persecution of the Danes lasted.]
[Sidenote: _Will. Malmes._]
This mischiefe began chieflie in the daies of this king Ethelwulfe,
but it continued about the space of two hundred yeeres, as by the
sequele of this booke it shall appéere. King Ethelwulfe was not so
much giuen to ease, but that vpon occasion for defense of his countrie
and subiects, he was readie to take order for the beating backe of the
enimies, as occasion serued, and speciallie chose such to be of his
counsell, as were men of great experience and wisedome. Amongst other,
[Sidenote: Two notable bishops in Ethelwulfs daies.]
there were two notable prelats, Suithune bishop of Winchester, and
Adelstan bishop of Shireborne, who were readie euer to giue him good
aduise. Suithune was not so much expert in worldlie matters as
Adelstan was, & therefore chieflie counselled the king in things
apperteining to his soules health: but Adelstan tooke in hand to order
matters apperteining to the state of the commonwealth, as prouiding of
monie, and furnishing foorth of men to withstand the Danes, so that by
him manie things were both boldlie begun, and happilie atchiued, as by
writers hath béene recorded. He gouerned the sée of Shireborne the
space of 50 yéeres, by the good counsell and faithfull aduise of those
two prelats.
King Ethelwulfe gouerned his subiects verie politikelie, and by
himselfe and his capteins oftentimes put the Danes to flight, though
as chance of warre falleth out, he also receiued at their hands great
losses, and sundrie sore detriments. In the first yéere of his reigne,
[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._]
[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._]
the Danes arriued at Hampton, with 33 ships, against whome he sent
earle Wulhard with part of his armie, the which giuing battell to the
[Sidenote: Danes discomfited.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
enimies, made great slaughter of them, and obteined a noble victorie.
He sent also earle Adelhelme with the Dorsetshire men against an other
number of the Danes, which were landed at Portesmouth, but after long
fight, the said Adelhelme was slaine, and the Danes obteined the
victorie. In the yéere following, earle Herbert fought against the
[Sidenote: Englishmen put to flight.]
[Sidenote: They are eftsoones vanquished.]
Danes at Merseware, and was there slaine, and his men chased. The same
yeere, a great armie of Danes passing by the east parts of the land,
as through Lindsey, Eastangle, and Kent, slue and murthered an huge
number of people. The next yéere after this, they entered further into
the land, and about Canturburie, Rochester, and London, did much
mischiefe.
King Ethelwulfe in the fift yéere of his reigne, with a part of his
[Sidenote: Carrum.]
armie incountred with the Danes at Carrum, the which were arriued in
those parties with 30 ships, hauing their full fraught of men, so that
for so small a number of vessels, there was a great power of men of
warre, in so much that they obteined the victorie at that time, and
[Sidenote: The Danes wan the victorie in battell.]
[Sidenote: Danes are vanquished.]
[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._]
[Sidenote: 851.]
put the king to the woorse. About the tenth yéere of king Ethelwulfs
reigne, one of his capteins called Ernwulfe, and bishop Adelstan, with
the Summersetshire men, and an other capteine called Osred, with the
Dorsetshire men, fought against the Danes, at a place called
Pedredesmuth, and vanquished them with great triumph. In the sixtéenth
yeere of his reigne, king Ethelwulfe and his sonne Edelbald hauing
[Sidenote: Ocley.]
assembled all their powers togither, gaue battell at Ocley, to an huge
[Sidenote: Two hundred and fiftie ships saith _Hen. Hunt._]
host of Danes, the which with foure hundred and fiftie ships had
arriued at Thames mouth, and destroied the famous cities of London and
Canturburie, and also had chased Brightwulfe king of Mercia in
battell, and being now entered into Southerie, were incountered by
king Ethelwulfe at Ocley aforesaid, & after sore fight and incredible
slaughter made on both sides, in the end, the victorie by the power of
God was giuen to those that beléeued on him, and the losse rested with
great confusion to the miscreants.
[Sidenote: The Danes eftsoones vanquished. Danes ouercome by sea.]
Thus king Ethelwulfe obteined a glorious victorie in so mightie a
battell, as a greater had not beene lightlie heard of to chance within
the English dominions. The same yeere also Athelstan king of Kent and
duke Ealhere fought by sea with the Danes, and tooke 9 of their ships,
and chased the residue. Moreouer, one earle Ceorle hauing with him the
[Sidenote: The Deuonshire men vanquish the Danes.]
power of Deuonshire, fought with the Danes at Winleshore, and got the
victorie. This yéere was verie luckie to the English nation, but yet
the armie of the Danes lodged all the winter season in the Ile of
Tenet. And this was the first time that they remained héere all the
winter, vsing afore time but to come and make an inuasion in one place
or other, and immediatlie to returne home with the prey.
[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._]
[Sidenote: 852.]
In the 18 yeere of king Ethelwulfes reigne, he aided Burthred king of
Mercia against the Welshmen (as before is mentioned) and gaue to him
his daughter in marriage, the solemnization whereof was kept at
Chipnham. The same yéere king Ethelwulfe sent his sonne Alured as then
but fiue yeeres of age to Rome, where he was consecrated K. by pope
Leo the fourth, and was receiued of him as if he had beene his owne
sonne. Duke Ealhere or Eachere with the Kentishmen, and one Huda or
rather Wada, with the men of Southerie, fought against the armie of
[Sidenote: Great slaughter of Danes at Tenet.]
Danes at Tenet, where great slaughter was made on both sides, the
Englishmen preuailing in the beginning, but in the end, both their
foresaid dukes or leaders died in that battell, beside manie other
that were slaine and drowned.
In the 19 yéere of his reigne, king Ethelwulfe ordeined that the
tenths or tithes of all lands due to be paid to the church, should be
frée from all tribute, duties, or seruices regall. And afterwards,
with great deuotion he went to Rome, where he was receiued with great
honour, and taried there one whole yéere: he tooke with him his sonne
Alured, who had béene there before as ye haue heard. He repaired the
[Sidenote: The Saxons schoole.]
Saxons schoole, which Offa king of Mercia had sometime founded in that
citie, and latelie had béene sore decaied by fire. He confirmed the
grant of Peter pence, to the intent that no Englishmen from
[Sidenote: King Ethelwulfs liberalitie to churches.]
[Sidenote: _Will. Malmes._]
[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._]
[Sidenote: Mancusæ.]
thence-foorth should doo penance in bounds as he saw some there to doo
before his face. It is also written, that he should acquit all the
churches of his realme of paieng tribute to his coffers (as before ye
haue heard) & moreouer couenanted to send vnto Rome euerie yéere three
hundred marks, that is to say, one hundred marks to saint Peters
church, an other hundred marks to saint Paules light, and the third
hundred marks to the Pope.
[Sidenote: The ladie Iudith.]
In his returne thorough France, he married the ladie Iudith, daughter
to Charles the bald, then K. of France, and bringing hir with him into
his countrie, placed hir by him in a chaire of estate, with which déed
he offended so the minds of his subiects, bicause it was against the
order taken before him, for the offense of Ethelburga, that his sonne
Ethelbald and Adelstan bishop of Shireborne, with Enwulfe earle of
[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._]
Summerset, conspired to depose him from his kinglie authoritie; but by
mediation of friends, the matter was taken vp, and so ordered, that
the kingdome was diuided betwixt the father and the sonne, with such
parcialitie, that the sonne had the better part lieng westward, and
the father was constreined to content himselfe with the east part
being the woorst.
[Sidenote: 857.]
Of this trouble of Ethelwulfe some write otherwise, after this manner
word for word. ¶ Ethelwulfe king of the Westsaxons being returned from
Rome & the parties beyond the seas, was prohibited the entrance into
his realme by Adelstane bishop of Shireborne, and Ethelbald his eldest
sonne; pretending outwardlie the coronation of Alfride, the mariage of
Iudith the French kings daughter, and open eating with hir at the
table, to be the onelie cause of this their manifest rebellion.
Whereby he séemeth to inferre, that this reuolting of Adelstane and
his son, should procéed of the ambitious desire of Ethelbald to
reigne, and likelie inough, or else this vnequall partition should
neuer haue béene made.
But howsoeuer the matter stood, king Ethelwulfe liued not long after
his returne from Rome, but departed this life, after he had ruled the
kingdome of the Westsaxons the space of 20 yéeres and od moneths. His
bodie was buried at Winchester. He left behind him foure sonnes,
Ethelbald, Ethelbert or Ethelbright, Ethelred, and Alsred or Alured,
which was begotten of his first wife Osburga. A little before his
[Sidenote: Onelie Westsex saith _Matt. Westm._ and _Sim. Dunel._
saith that Ethelbright had Sussex also, and so dooth _H. Hunt._]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
death he made his testament and last will, appointing his sonne
Ethelbald to succéed him in the whole regiment of his kingdoms of
Westsex and Sussex, which he held by inheritance: but the kingdoms of
Kent and Essex he assigned to his son Ethelbright. About the same time
also the Danes soiourned all the winter season in the Ile of Shepie.
¶ The old Saxons doo bring the genealogie of this Ethelwulfe to Adam,
after this maner following.
Ethelwulfe the sonne of Egbert,
the son of Alcmund,
the son of Eaffa,
the son of Eoppa,
the son of Ingils,
the son of Kenred,
the son of Coelwald,
the son of Cudwine,
the son of Ceawlin,
the son of Kenric,
the son of Cerdic,
the son of Eslie,
the son of Gewise,
the son of Wingie,
the son of Freawin,
the son of Fridagare,
the son of Brendie,
the son of Beldegie,
the son of Woden,
the son of Frethelwold,
the son of Freolaffe,
the son of Frethewolfe,
the son of Finnie,
the son of Godulfe,
the son of *Geta,
the son of Teathwie,
the son of Beame,
the son of Sceldie,
the son of Seafe,
the son of Heremod,
the son of Itermod,
the son of Hordie,
the son of Wale,
the son of Bedwie,
the son of Sem,
the son of Noah,
and so foorth to Adam, as you
[Sidenote: _*De quo Sedulius in car. pasch._]
shall find it by retrogradation from the 32 verse vnto the first of
the fift chapter of Genesis. Which genealogicall recapitulation in
their nationall families and tribes, other people also haue obserued;
as the Spaniards, who reckon their descent from Hesperus, before the
Gothes and Moors ouerran their land; the Italians from Aeneas, before
they were mingled with the Vandals and Lumbards; the Saxons from
Woden, before they were mixed with the Danes and Normans; the
Frenchmen at this day from the Thracians; the Germans from the
children of Gwiston;
[Sidenote: _Iohn Castor._]
[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._]
[Sidenote: _Matt. Parker._]
[Sidenote: A kings son and heire a bishop.]
and other people from their farre fetcht ancestrie. To conclude, of
this Ethelwulfe it is written, that he was so well learned & deuout,
that the clerks of the church of Winchester did chuse him in his youth
to be bishop, which function he vndertooke, and was bishop of the said
see by the space of seuen yéeres before he was king.
* * * * *
_Bertwolfe king of Mercia tributarie to the Westsaxons, the fame of
Modwen an Irish virgine, she was a great builder of monasteries, she
had the gift of healing diseases, Ethelbald and Ethelbright diuide
their fathers kingdome betwixt them, Ethelbald marieth his mother, he
dieth, Winchester destroied by the Danes, they plaied the
trucebreakers and did much mischiefe in Kent, Ethelbright dieth;
Ethelred king of the Westsaxons, his commendable qualities, his
regiment was full of trouble, he fought against the Danes nine times
in one yere with happie successe, the kings of Mercia fall from their
fealtie and allegiance to Ethelred; Hungar & Vbba two Danish capteines
with their power lie in Eastangle, Osbright and Ella kings of
Northumberland slaine of the Danes in battell, they set Yorke on fire,
a commendation of bishop Adelstan, his departure out of this life._