In the end of the former chapter we shewed what children Alfred had,
their number & names, among whome we made report of Elfleda, who (as
you haue heard) was maried vnto duke Edelred. This gentlewoman left a
notable example behind hir of despising fleshlie plesure, for bearing
hir husband one child, and sore handled before she could be deliuered,
[Sidenote: The notable saieng of Elfleda.]
she euer after forbare to companie with hir husband, saieng that it
was great foolishnesse to vse such pleasure which therwith should
bring so great griefe.
To speake sufficientlie of the woorthie praise due to so noble a
prince as Alfred was, might require eloquence, learning, and a large
volume. He was of person comelie and beautifull, and better beloued of
his father and mother than his other brethren. And although he was (as
[Sidenote: _Will. Malmes._]
before is touched) greatly disquieted with the inuasion of forren
enimies, yet did he both manfullie from time to time indeuour himselfe
to repell them, and also attempted to sée his subiects gouerned in
[Sidenote: King Alfred his lawes.]
good and vpright iustice. And albeit that good lawes amongst the
clinking noise of armor are oftentimes put to silence, yet he
perceiuing how his people were gréeued with theeues and robbers, which
in time of warre grew and increased, deuised good statutes and
wholsome ordinances for punishing of such offenders.
Amongst other things he ordeined that the countries should be diuided
into hundreds and tithings, that is to say, quarters conteining a
certeine number of towneships adioining togither, so that euerie
Englishman liuing vnder prescript of lawes, should haue both his
hundred and tithing; that if anie man were accused of anie offense, he
should find suertie for his good demeanor: and if he could not find
such as would answer for him, then should he tast extremitie of the
lawes. And if anie man that was giltie fled before he found suertie,
or after: all the inhabitants of the hundred or tithing where he
dwelt, shuld be put to their fine. By this deuise he brought his
countrie into good tranquillitie, so that he caused bracelets of gold
to be hanged vp aloft on hils where anie common waies lay, to sée if
anie durst be so hardie to take them away by stealth. He was a
liberall prince namely in relieuing of the poore. To churches he
confirmed such priuileges as his father had granted before him, and he
also sent rewards by way of deuotion vnto Rome, and to the bodie of
saint Thomas in India. Sighelmus the bishop of Shireborne bare the
same, and brought from thence rich stones, and swéet oiles of
inestimable valure. From Rome also he brought a péece of the holy
crosse which pope Martinus did send for a present vnto king Alfred.
[Sidenote: Foundation of monastaries.]
Moreouer king Alfred founded three goodlie monasteries, one at
Edlingsey, where he liued sometime when the Danes had bereaued him
almost of all his kingdome, which was after called Athelney, distant
from Taunton in Sumersetshire about fiue miles: the second he builded
at Winchester, called the new minster: and the third at Shaftesburie,
which was an house of nuns, where he made his daughter Ethelgeda or
Edgiua abbesse. But the foundation of the vniuersitie of Oxford passed
all the residue of his buildings, which he began by the good
exhortation and aduise of Neotus an abbat, in those daies highlie
estéemed for his vertue and lerning with Alfred. This worke he tooke
in hand about the 23 yéere of his reigne, which was in the yéere of
[Sidenote: 895.]
our Lord 895. So that the vniuersitie of Cambridge was founded before
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: The vniuersitie of Oxford erected.]
this other of Oxford about 265 yéeres, as Polydor gathereth. For
Sigebert king of the Eastangles began to erect that vniuersitie at
Cambridge about the yéere of our Lord 630.
King Alfred was learned himselfe, and giuen much to studie, insomuch
that beside diuerse good lawes which he translated into the English
toong, gathered togither and published, he also translated diuerse
other bookes out of Latine into English, as _Orosius, Pastorale
Gregorij, Beda de gestis Anglorum, Boetius de consolatione
philosophiæ_, and the booke of Psalmes; but this he finished not,
being preuented by death. So this worthie prince minded well toward
the common wealth of his people, in that season when learning was
little estéemed amongst the west nations, did studie by all meanes
[Sidenote: The vertuous zeale of Alured to bring his people to an
honest trade of life.]
possible to instruct his subiects in the trade of leading an honest
life, and to incourage them generallie to imbrace learning. He would
not suffer anie to beare office in the court, except he were lerned:
and yet he himselfe was twelue yéeres of age before he could read a
[Sidenote: He is persuaded by his mother, to applie himselfe to
learning.]
word on the booke, and was then trained by his mothers persuasion to
studie, promising him a goodlie booke which she had in hir hands, if
he would learne to read it.
Herevpon going to his booke in sport, he so earnestlie set his mind
thereto, that within a small time he profited maruellouslie, and
became such a fauorer of learned men, that he delighted most in their
companie, to haue conference with them, and allured diuerse to come
[Sidenote: Asserius Meuenensis.]
[Sidenote: Werefridus.]
[Sidenote: Iohn Scot.]
vnto him out of other countries, as Asserius Meneuensis bishop of
Shirborne, & Werefridus the bishop of Worcester, who by his
commandement translated the bookes of Gregories dialogs into English.
Also I. Scot, who whiles he was in France translated the book of
Dionysius Ariopagita, intituled _Hierarchia_, out of Gréeke into
Latine, and after was schoolemaister in the abbeie of Malmesburie, and
there murthered by his scholars with penkniues. He had diuerse other
about him, both Englishmen & strangers, as Pleimond afterward
[Sidenote: Grimbald.]
archbishop of Canturburie, Grimbald gouernor of the new monasterie at
Winchester, with others.
[Sidenote: Alured diuides the time for his necessarie vses.]
But to conclude with this noble prince king Alured, he was so carefull
in his office, that he diuided the 24 houres which conteine the day
and night, in thrée parts, so that eight houres he spent in writing,
reading, and making his praiers, other eight he emploied in relieuing
his bodie with meat, drinke and sléepe, and the other eight he
bestowed in dispatching of businesse concerning the gouernement of the
realme. He had in his chapell a candle of 24 parts, whereof euerie one
lasted an houre: so that the sexton, to whome that charge was
committed, by burning of this candle warned the king euar how the time
[Sidenote: His last will and testament.]
passed away. A little before his death, he ordeined his last will and
testament, bequeathing halfe the portion of all his goods iustlie
gotten, vnto such monasteries as he had founded. All his rents and
reuenues he diuided into two equall parts, and the first part he
diuided into thrée, bestowing the first vpon his seruants in houshold,
the second to such labourers and workemen as he kept in his works of
sundrie new buildings, the third part he gaue to strangers. The second
whole part of his reuenues was so diuided, that the first portion
thereof was dispersed amongst the poore people of his countrie, the
second to monasteries, the third to the finding of poore scholers, and
the fourth part to churches beyond the sea. He was diligent in
inquirie how the iudges of his land behaued themselues in their
iudgements, and was a sharpe corrector of them which transgressed in
that behalfe. To be briefe, he liued so as he was had in great fauour
of his neighbours, & highlie honored among strangers. He maried his
daughter Ethelswida or rather Elstride vnto Baldwine earle of
Flanders, of whome he had two sonnes Arnulfe and Adulfe, the first
succéeding in the erledome of Flanders, and the yoonger was made earle
of Bullogne.
The bodie of king Alured was first buried in the bishops church: but
afterwards, because the Canons raised a fond tale that the same should
walke a nights, his sonne king Edward remoued it into the new
monasterie which he in his life time had founded. Finallie, in memorie
of him a certeine learned clarke made an epitath in Latine, which for
the woorthinesse thereof is likewise (verse for verse, and in a maner
word for word) translated by Abraham Fleming into English, whose no
litle labor hath béene diligentlie imploied in supplieng sundrie
insufficiences found in this huge volume.
NOBILITAS innata tibi probitatis honorem
_Nobilitie by birth to the (ó Alfred strong in armes)_
(Armipotens Alfrede) dedit, probitásque laborem,
_Of goodnes hath the honor giuen, and honor toilesome harmes,_
Perpetuúmque labor nomen, cui mixta dolori
_And toilesome harmes an endlesse name, whose ioies were alwaies
mext_
Gaudia semper erant, spes semper mixta timori.
_With sorow, and whose hope with feare was euermore perplext._
Si modò victor eras, ad crastina bella pauebas,
_If this day thou wert conqueror, the next daies warre thou dredst,_
Si modò victus eras, in crastina bella parabas,
_If this day thou wert conquered, to next daies war thou spedst,_
Cui vestes sudore iugi, cui sica cruore,
_Whose clothing wet with dailie swet, whose blade with bloudie
stainte,_
Tincta iugi, quantum sit onus regnare probârunt,
_Do proue how great a burthen tis in roialtie to raine,_
Non fuit immensi quisquam per climata mundi,
_There hath not beene in anie part of all the world so wide,_
Cui tot in aduersis vel respirare liceret,
_One that was able breath to take, and troubles such abide,_
Nec tamen aut ferro contritus ponere ferrum,
_And yet with weapons wearie would not weapons lay aside,_
Aut gladio potuit vitæ finisse labores:
_Or with the sword the toilesomnesse of life by death diuide._
Iam post transactos regni vitæque labores,
_Now after labours past of realme and life (which he did spend)_
Christus ei fit vera quies sceptrúmque perenne.
_Christ is to him true quietnesse and scepter void of end._
In the daies of the foresaid king Alured, the kingdome of Mercia tooke
end. For after that the Danes had expelled king Burthred, when he had
reigned 22 yeares, he went to Rome, and there died, his wife also
Ethelswida, the daughter of king Athulfe that was sonne to king Egbert
followed him, and died in Pauia in Lumbardie. The Danes hauing got the
[Sidenote: Cewulfe.]
countrie into their possession, made one Cewulfe K. thereof, whome
they bound with an oth and deliuerie of pledges, that he should not
longer kéepe the state with their pleasure, and further should be
readie at all times to aid them with such power as he should be able
to make. This Cewulfe was the seruant of king Burthred. Within foure
yeares after the Danes returned, and tooke one part of that kingdome
into their owne hands, and left the residue vnto Cewulfe. But within a
few yeares after, king Alured obteined that part of Mercia which
Cewulfe ruled, as he did all the rest of this land, except those
parcels which the Danes held, as Northumberland, the countries of the
Eastangles, some part of Mercia, and other.
The yeare, in the which king Alured thus obteined all the dominion of
that part of Mercia, which Cewulfe had in gouernance, was after the
[Sidenote: 886.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
birth of our Sauiour 886, so that the foresaid kingdome continued the
space of 302 yeares vnder 22 kings, from Crida to this last Cewulfe.
But there be that account the continuance of this kingdome, onelie
from the beginning of Penda, vnto the last yeare of Burthred, by which
reckoning it stood not past 270 yeares vnder 18, or rather 17 kings,
counting the last Cewulfe for none, who began his reigne vnder the
subiection of the Danes, about the yeare of our Lord 874, where Penda
began his reigne 604.
The Eastangles and the Northumbers in these dales were vnder
subiection of the Danes, as partlie may be perceiued by that which
before is rehearsed. After Guthrun that gouerned the Eastangles by the
[Sidenote: Guthrun K. of the eastangles died 890.]
terme of 12 yeares, one Edhirike or Edrike had the rule in those
parts, a Dane also, and reigned 14 yeares, and was at length bereued
[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._]
of his gouernement by king Edward the sonne of king Alured, as after
shall appeare. But now, although that the Northumbers were brought
greatlie vnder foot by the Danes, yet could they not forget their old
[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._]
accustomed maner to stirre tumults and rebellion against their
[Sidenote: 872.]
[Sidenote: Egbert king of Northumberland expelled from his kingdome.]
gouernours, insomuch that in the yeare 872, they expelled not onelie
Egbert, whome the Danes had appointed king ouer one part of the
countrie (as before you haue heard) but also their archbishop
[Sidenote: Egbert departed this life.]
[Sidenote: Riesig.]
Wilfehere. In the yeare following, the same Egbert departed this life,
after whome one Rigsig or Ricsige succéeded as king, and the
archbishop Wolfehere was restored home.
[Sidenote: The Danes winter in Lindsie.]
[Sidenote: 975.]
In the same yeare the armie of Danes which had wintered at London,
came from thence into Northumberland, and wintered in Lindseie, at a
place called Torkseie, and went the next yeare into Mercia. And in the
yeare 975, a part of them returned into Northumberland, as before ye
[Sidenote: Riesig departed this life.]
haue heard. In the yeare following, Riesig the king of Northumberland
departed this life: after whome an other Egbert succéeded. And in the
[Sidenote: 983.]
yeare 983, the armie of the Danes meaning to inhabit in
Northumberland, and to settle themselues there, chose Guthrid the
sonne of one Hardicnute to their king, whome they had sometime sold to
a certeine widow at Witingham. But now by the aduise of an abbat
called Aldred, they redéemed his libertie, and ordeined him king to
rule both Danes and Englishmen in that countrie. It was said, that the
same Aldred being abbat of holie Iland, was warned in a vision by S.
Cuthberd, to giue counsell both to the Danes and Englishmen, to make
[Sidenote: Guthred ordeined king of Northumberland.]
the same Guthrid king. This chanced about the 13 yeare of the reigne
of Alured king of Westsaxons.
[Sidenote: The bishops see remoued fr[=o] holie iland to Chester in
the stréet.]
When Guthrid was established king, he caused the bishops sée to be
remoued from holie Iland vnto Chester in the stréet, and for an
augmentation of the reuenues and iurisdiction belonging thereto, he
assigned and gaue vnto saint Cuthbert all that countrie which lieth
betwixt the riuers of Teise and Tine. ¶ Which christian act of the
king, liuing in a time of palpable blindnesse and mistie superstition,
may notwithstanding be a light to the great men and péeres of this age
(who pretend religion with zeale, and professe (in shew) the truth
with feruencie) not to impouerish the patrimonie of the church to
inrich themselues and their posteritie, not to pull from bishoprikes
their ancient reuenues to make their owne greater, not to alienate
ecclesiasticall liuings into temporall commodities, not to seeke the
conuersion of college lands into their priuat possessions; not to
intend the subuersion of cathedrall churches to fill their owne
cofers, not to ferret out concealed lands for the supporte of their
owne priuat lordlines; not to destroy whole towneships for the
erection of one statelie manour; not to take and pale in the commons
to inlarge their seueralles; but like good and gratious
common-wealth-men, in all things to preferre the peoples publike
profit before their owne gaine and glorie, before their owne pompe and
pleasure, before the satisfieng of their owne inordinate desires.
[Sidenote: Priuiledges granted to S. Cuthberts shrine.]
Moreouer, this priuiledge was granted vnto saint Cuthberts shrine:
that whosoeuer fled vnto the same for succour and safegard, should not
be touched or troubled in anie wise for the space of thirtie, & seuen
daies. And this freedome was confirmed not onelie by king Guthrid, but
also by king Alured. Finallie king Guthrid departed this life in the
[Sidenote: 894.]
yeare of our Lord 894, after he had ruled the Northumbers with much
crueltie (as some say) by the terme of 11 yeares, or somewhat more. He
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: _Will. Malmes._]
is named by some writers Gurmond, and also Gurmo, & thought to be the
same whome king Alured caused to be baptised. Whereas other affirme,
that Guthrid, who ruled the Eastangles, was he that Alured receiued at
[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._]
[Sidenote: Sithrike.]
the fontstone: William Malmesburie taketh them to be but one man,
which is not like to be true. After this Guthrid or Gurmo his sonne
Sithrike succeeded, and after him other of that line, till king
Adelstane depriued them of the dominion, and tooke it into his owne
hands.
* * * * *
_Edward succeedeth his father Alured in regiment, he is disquieted by
his brother Adelwold a man of a defiled life, he flieth to the Danes
and is of them receiued, king Edwards prouision against the irruptions
and forraies of the Danes, Adelwold with a nauie of Danes entreth
Eastangles, the Essex men submit themselues, he inuadeth Mercia, and
maketh great wast, the Kentishmens disobedience preiudiciall to
themselues, they and the Danes haue a great conflict, king Edward
concludeth a truce with them, he maketh a great slaughter of them by
his Westsaxons and Mercians, what lands came to king Edward by the
death of Edred duke of Mercia, he recouereth diuers places out of the
Danes hands, and giueth them manie a foile, what castels he builded,
he inuadeth Eastangles, putteth Ericke a Danish king therof to flight,
his owne subiects murther him for his crueltie, his kingdome returneth
to the right of king Edward with other lands by him thereto annexed,
his sister Elfleda gouerned the countrie of Mercia during hir life._